It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas at The Grove

... well, that is if torrential rain for days on end is your idea of what Christmas looks like. Personally, I'd prefer snow, but that's not going to happen here. So gray skies and raindrops it is.

Despite the gloomy weather, I'm slowly getting into the Christmas spirit. I'll admit, it has taken me a bit longer to really feel the season, if you know what I mean. It definitely snuck up on me this year. I think it is work and stress and the fact that my house didn't even have a tree until the end of last week. But with the decorations finally up and after sending out my Christmas cards and attending two holiday parties (one with the boy's family, one with friends), I am starting to come around.

Though the date never changes and I knew it was coming, I think I really realized Christmas is here about two weekends ago. (About the same time I started all my holiday shopping, ha!) On that Saturday, the boy and I spent the afternoon perusing the fabulous artists and creators at Unique L.A.'s third annual Holiday Show. I was on a mission to buy handmade and get a few people checked off my gift-giving list. Of course, I mostly saw things I wanted for myself! I bought the coolest, chunky (and pointy!) quartz ring by Kittinhawk and, like last year, I stopped by Danni's booth, Oh, hello friend, to say hi. Ok, and buy a few things. What can I say...?

Anyway, after browsing and buying for a couple hours, the boy and I were starving. Shopping sure works up an appetite! So we headed over to The Grove for dinner at Morels French Steakhouse and Bistro. It was our first time there and it was delicious. Expensive, but delicious. (I got the roasted tilapia served atop basil mashed potatoes with sliced tomatoes, zucchini and fried capers. Yum.)

But the best part of our quick trip, and what really kick started me getting into the holiday mood, was seeing all the wonderful decorations. From the huge, glistening Christmas tree to a "flying" reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh to a water fountain show set to classic carols, you couldn't help but feel a bit more jolly.

Want to see? ...

So, are you feeling festive this holiday season? Or have you been distracted, like me?

And, perhaps more importantly, who else still has more shopping to do? (Not to mention all my wrapping!) I know I sure do! I'm always finishing up last minute. That's what Christmas Eve is for, right? :)

Fall faves

***

Thank goodness for the weekend. Lately, each day has seemed impossibly, perpetually long, one stretching into the next, with hardly a chance to catch my breath or get some sleep. And with the end of daylight savings time two weeks ago, nightfall comes sooner, making it seem like there are even less hours in the day to accomplish everything on my to-do list. Not that darkness has ever been a reason to stop my work.

*** 

No, only the weekend does that. So yes, thank goodness it is here. It is cold, rainy and completely gloomy outside, but I’m not that concerned. I am enjoying the chance to just stay inside, lie in bed, read a magazine-- just be lazy, you know? And forget, at least for a little while, that all my deadlines are moved up a day because of Thanksgiving.

The other good thing about a day like today is that it actually feels like fall is here. For a while there, the Southern California sun made it feel like summer in September. It wasn’t until around Halloween that the air seemed to change-- the smell of autumn was finally on the wind.

Feeling that brisk breeze, I was reminded of my favorite things about fall…

***

One of course being that chill in the air. Where I live, it doesn’t snow. And more than that, it doesn’t often get cold enough to button up in a cozy coat. Now, I am a Cali girl and I do love warm days and sun on my skin. I’ve said many times how I disdain the rain. But, I also relished the college semester I spent in Washington, D.C. There from January through May, I got to experience the tail end of an East Coast winter, and I absolutely loved being able to wear my purple peacoat. (In a sea of black coats, I wanted to stand out. There was no question the blonde in the purple coat was from the West Coast!) The boy always gives me a hard time about wearing sweaters on even warm days-- I like to cover my pale arms!-- but now I can pull out all those long sleeves in the back of my closet without hesitation. And I’m thinking I may be in need of a new coat to welcome the season. This red belted plaid version is festive, yes?

***

Another fall favorite, along the same lines, is layers. Again, it’s not often that I can bundle up so I love how the cool weather makes tights and scarves a necessity. 

***

But perhaps what I adore even more about fall fashion is the boots. Oh, how I love boots. Over jeans, with textured tights, I think they just make every outfit look effortlessly chic and put together. If fall were an outfit, Taylor Swift’s ensemble would be it.

***

Another of my fall faves is just as comforting as wrapping yourself in a big blanket or a cable-knit sweater, just in a different way. I’m talking about soup. I’m a big fan of soup but it is simply too hot to eat in August. But lately, it has practically become a food group for me. Our pantry is stocked with cans of Progresso. And just yesterday I treated myself to tomato bisque in a bread bowl. But the best is when my mom has a big pot of homemade soup bubbling on the stove, making the whole house smell delicious. My favorite is her chicken enchilada soup. It’s spicy but simple, creamy but healthy. (The recipe is from a Weight Watchers cookbook, I believe.) And anything with huge chunks of sweet carrots in it, topped with toasted strips of tortillas, is perfection in my book.

***

My final fall fave would be just about the best thing on a rainy day like today: hot cocoa. When I think of a perfect fall day, I think of leaves turning color outside, of families cranking up fireplaces that have sat idle for months, and of cold hands holding warm mugs of hot chocolate. With an abundance of marshmallows, of course. 

***

Or a swirl of whip cream. Both are divine. Pick your poison.

Oh, and I can't forget to add specialty Starbucks coffees that only come out at this time of year to the list. Caramel Brulee Latte, anyone? I had my first of the season yesterday and it was just as amazing as I remembered.

However, with all this laying around, snuggling under the covers and eating I plan on doing (let's not forget Thanksgiving is in just a few days!), perhaps I should put hitting up the gym on my list of fall favorites.

Hmmm, maybe later, once the skies clear. For now, I’m content to just stay exactly where I am.

So tell me, what are your fall faves?

Hope you're staying warm and dry,

Rainy days

It's been awfully rainy here in "perpetually sunny" Southern California, and Simi is no exception. As I type, I can look out my window and see (and hear) the rain showering down, pitter patter on our balcony. It comes in waves... hard then soft. A drizzle and then a downpour. I'm not much of a rain-loving person and Hazel isn't much of a rain-loving doggie-- she doesn't get her walk when it's dumping buckets! (Plus, she just got groomed yesterday.) While I don't prefer to splash in puddles or walk in the rain-- though, singing could be fun-- I can appreciate the wet storm from where I sit now-- perfectly dry and content indoors. And I must say, the rain hums a lovely lullaby in the evening, offering soothing sounds to sleep to. Only problem? Then, I don't want to wake up!

To celebrate the rainy weather that is expected to last the rest of the week, here's a few pretty images I found on Etsy. Of course.

from Labokoff

from Ciao, Chessa!

from Irene Suchocki 

from Little Brown Pen

from Gabrielle Kai 

Tell me, what's your favorite thing about the rain? Do you love to splash around or would you rather stay inside like me, warm and cozy?

By the way, don't forget to enter my first-ever giveaway if you haven't already! I will announce the winner tomorrow!

A bowl of goodness

June has been taking its "gloomy" reputation pretty seriously this week. It has been raining on and off today, at times pouring, leading me to question, "Where did the beautiful, So Cal summer weather go?"

As I have mentioned before, I am not a big fan of rain. But it is good for the land and it is a good excuse to have soup.

That's right. I saw the rain out our balcony window and the first thing I thought was, I can finally enjoy that golden butternut squash soup in the pantry. I picked up a few cartons of Campbell's V8 soups a week or so ago at the grocery store because they sounded delicious but I hadn't gotten around to trying them yet. I have sweet red pepper and southwestern corn, too, but it felt like a butternut squash day.

(I'm eating a spoonful now and it was a good choice. It's delish! Creamy but still some texture, and very filling. All I added was a bit of pepper, because I like a little more spice.)

What I love most about these is that they are surprisingly healthy for cream soups. The bowl of goodness I am eating today has just 140 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving, which is 1 cup. And like V8 juice, it is a full serving of vegetables. Because of these stats, I allowed myself to have some small slices of sourdough toast alongside my mug of soup (I love eating soup out of a large mug, especially Cup of Noodles because that's how my "Grandmama" used to always give it to me. With a straw, too.)

So, is it raining where you are today? Are you craving some soup now? I know I am not the only one who loves soup on a cold day (though, my boyfriend and best friend NEVER eat soup. I tell them they are missing out). 

And if you have tried any of the other Campbell's V8 soup flavors, let me know if they are worth the price because, even though these soups are healthful and tasty, they are not as cheap as regular soup. (If I am remembering right, they are about $3.50 a carton).

Still, I am very happy to have found a satisfying replacement to that creamy tomato bisque soup that is sooo good but sooo bad at a whopping 30-ish grams of fat per serving! Golden Butternut Squash, you can stay. But I'm sorry Creamy Tomato Bisque, you got to get to stepping.

Under my umbrella ella ella

It's raining, it's pouring, my puppy is snoring...

Ok, well she isn't right now, but she was earlier. Too funny to hear such noises coming out of her sweet, little body.

But it really is raining cats and dogs right now. I'm such a California girl for saying this, and many people will disagree with me, but I hate the rain. Yes, I know we are in a drought and we need it, blah blah blah. Fine, maybe hate is a strong word. So let's just say I'm not a big fan of heavy precipitation, especially if I have to go out in it. Or if I am moving, as you might recall. Just think: wet hair, smudged makeup, muddy shoes... and so many snails to watch out for!

What's worse is when it is raining and you have a really busy, stress-filled day. Like I am today, for instance. All I want to do is cozy up with a good book and a warm mug of hot chocolate. Or, just take a nap. Like Hazel has been doing all morning. What a lucky dog.

No such luck for the working girl, which is why I was absent yesterday (sorry!). But I will be back with more later once I finish typing out all my articles. I still have to tell you about the LACMA!

Red Umbrella print via Carambatack Design