Still Painting.

No, I am still not done with that one painting... I have started looking at colors for the other painting though! So, in the mean time here's a little sneak peek of how far I've come.

After a lot of procrastination, I went out and bought the paint I wanted, searched high and low all over the apartment for my paint brushes (which hadn't been used in years). I also had Joseph's mom send me my old paints, which coincidentally had dried up. Oooooooops!

As I sat there starting to paint, I knew Joseph would sneak a picture of me and post it to his facebook with some kind of comment about how long it had taken me to start!

After a few days, I had finished this much. I was pretty proud of myself and really motivated to finish the entire thing...


Towards the end I started to just slather paint on at the bottom. I was trying to make some kind of effect at the bottom, which didn't look the way I wanted it to. So I've kept on painting to make it a little darker down there...

Still not the finished product. I have a better picture of it somewhat complete and actually hanging on the wall! Maybe I will post it once I had finished BOTH paintings ;)

Kitchen Possible.

After months of making small purchases and keeping my big picture in mind, I finally got what I have been wanting and waiting for since initially moving into our place. It truly does take time to build your own kitchen (in this case, an extension of our kitchen)

The finishing touch was the chalkboard. I looked through every mall, department store, and shack trying to find the perfect chalkboard for this space. I even recruited Denise to help me. After many attempts and suggestions, she finally found the one I was looking for! Everything on this table was hand-picked for or by me.

I have to smile every time I walk past it, especially when it isn't cluttered with keys, papers, or the night before cooking mess.

We purchased the table from a friend who was moving to L.A. and needed to get ride of it fast. Probably the best buy I have ever made in a long time.

This Bodum French Press (which honestly makes on the best cups of Joe, if you don't have one... get one!), was a gift from my dear friend Jessica. She asked me what I wanted for my birthday earlier this year, and I told her this. The look on her face was.. "Really?? Seriously??" and of course, I had to explain to her, the big picture.

Aside from that, I bought myself a Nepresso Aeroccino Plus (aka a high tech milk frother) that I had been looking for forever because Nepresso stopped selling it on its on... until recently again!

These cute Flour & Sugar holders, I bought at Target. Thanks Denise for the tip!

And lastly, this cookbook holder (from Crate & Barrel) and small Pig toothpick holder (from Pottery Barn), were gifts from my favorite person, Denise! Thank goodness for Denise, where would I be in this California world without her?

There's just one thing missing... perhaps an Nepresso Espresso Machine for Christmas :)

On the Go.

Take a look at the picture below. What's wrong with this picture? Aside from being turned on it's side, of course (my silly phone or computer wouldn't allow me to turn it the right side up).

Notice anything that might catch your eye? Or maybe leave you a little breathless?

Well, it just so happens to be my new iPad! Erica and Chris gave it to me as a gift for planning their wedding. I was never totally in love with the iPad until I had one. Now, I am getting into the habit of using it as a big PDA. Yes, I do have a Coach planner, which Joseph reminds me of every time I say that my iPad is my new planner. Sorry Coach, the iPad is still a little more chic, this day in age.


The night that Erica & Chris gave it to me, Erica made me die a little more when she showed me what Rachel Zoe carried her iPad in (Louis Vuitton, of course).... but for the time being, I bought the Apple iPad case....

....until I can get my hands on one of these...

If the print is too small for you to see, that might be a good thing. From top left:

Oscar De La Renta: $290
Louis Vuitton: $390
Burberry (Yellow): $475
Salvatore Ferragamo: $390
Yves Saint Laurent: $795
Gucci: $290
Chanel: $1,555

Want a closer look? Check out the article here.

I have walked to more than a few Louis Vuitton boutiques the past two weeks trying to get my hands on the their iPad case, but guess what? NO luck. Not only are they not coming out with more until possibly 2011, but they are not doing a wait list because they are too high in demand and not enough supply. Not to worry, I have someone on the case, thank you Denise :)

Bag Dilemna.

As most of you already know, I have a bag obsession.

No, not a shopping bag obsession (well, maybe that too since I tend to keep my hig-end shopping bags like Hermes and Louis Vuitton, which Joseph think is absurd... but is it?) but a hand-bag, man-bag obsession. Some are obsessed with shoes, which I could be too, but in all reality, I prefer a new bag over new shoes.

A new Louis V. would be just fine with me! What do you think of the Davis?? I've never been crazy about the Signature Monogram print, but the combination with the black leather is quite attractive. I think it's kind of a classic bag.

While perusing the new Givenchy collection with Denise, I fell in love with the Eden. It's a nice big hold-all, and while the picture doesn't do it quite a bit a justice, the leather is kind of distressed that has a combination of black and brown tones. It's a little more trendy than I usually like but really cool.

And of course, I am still lusting over a Mulberry bag, except now I am head over heels for the Oversized Alexa. It's a combination of their iconic Bayswater bag (which I initially loved) and their men's signature briefcase. It's timeless and has more character than a lot of their other bags.

All of the sudden, I am loving Proenza Schoeler's PS1 bag. I had never really heard of the brand before until recently. Partly because it is a relatively new company, founded a few years ago by two Parson's students. The design is sleek, the color is almost exactly what I want and it looks so cool.

Another color that I liked in the PS1 bag...

But in reality how different are the Alexa bag and the PS1?? The price is close to the same but the only problem is that I can't physically hold and touch these because they aren't sold near me. Mulberry only has a boutique in New York and I would have to drive up to L.A. to see any kind of Proenza-Schouler items. Decisions, decisions.

What do you think suits me best?!

Becky's Wedding.

How many of you actually enjoy the flying experience? I like that I can fly across the country in one flight and that within (5) hours or so, I should arrive in Chicago from San Diego. However, for me, this is usually not the case.

I had a flight booked from San Diego to LA to Chicago the night before one of my best friends wedding, in August. However, with my flying luck, I landed in LA late which caused me to miss my Chicago bound flight. I thought "No big deal, it was the airlines fault, they will fix it." Well that was a silly thought because they ended up making me feel like it was my fault and then booked me on a red-eye flight to Philadelphia and then on the first flight out to Chicago from there....

After much frustration, they did give me a mean voucher, which I actually demanded because I was going to have to wait (4) hours for my next flight...

Upon arriving in Philadelphia, I was ecstatic to see that they had a Dunkin Donuts cafe so that I could get some coffee! We don't have any in San Diego, which is something I miss from Chicago. I then boarded my flight and arrived in Chicago (ten hours after the fact...) at 9:30 a.m.

But it was all worth it because my mom picked me up and took me directly to the salon where all the girls were getting their nails done. I treated myself since I was so exhausted and over all the travel dilemma.

After getting our nails done, we got ready, went to the rehearsal, and then to the rehearsal dinner, where everyone was waiting for us.

My mom got to be a part of all the wedding festivities...


As well as Joseph and his mom & sister.

Joseph and Becky.

Cute. Doesn't Becky look just like her mom!

That night, we went out with friends and had a great time. I ended up staying with Becky at her parents house. The next morning (after about 3 hours of sleep) her mom played the song, "We going to the chapel..." which is the song that her mom played for her on her wedding day decades ago.

Becky started crying and we call hugged, laughed, cried, and got ready for the day.

The ceremony was beautiful and not to mention emotional for everyone. You could definitely feel all the love and support for the new Mr.. & Mrs. Gavillet.

Cute little favors, chocolate covered Oreos!

After the eating, drinking, and toasts, we started the dance party.

Can you tell how laid back and fun Becky is!

The best part was when her mom pulled out a few sets of hula-hoops out of nowhere and started handing them out for people to hula-hoop on the dance floor!

The dancing seriously did not stop until the very last minute. We even ended up going out after the wedding to continue the dance party. It was truly one the best weddings that I have ever been to. I can say from experience that attending your best friend's wedding definitely puts life into perspective.

Birthdays.

I love birthdays, weddings, and celebrations in general, don't you?? I love the ritual of getting together with people you love and eating, drinking, and just being together. Maybe that explains why I get lost in my work of planning parties!

One of my very good friends, Jessica (on the right) just turned 21 and even though she insisted that she didn't want to go out or get drunk.... that mission was accomplished with the help of her family and friends.

Happy Birthday Jessica, I know you really enjoyed yourself, and so did everyone else celebrating with you!

One week later, was Joseph's 24th Birthday! It was a full house, or bar, at Nunu's with guests even including Chris & Erica on a Tuesday night no less! (For those of you who know Erica, know that her bed time is around 8 p.m.)


Friends far and wide came out to celebrate Joseph's big night.

Obviously he was having a great time. He insisted on taking these balloons with us to Nunu's. He wanted everyone to know it was his birthday!

What sweet faces :)

One of Joseph's co-workers, Satomi, is a baker and made him this toilet birthday cake, with a little chocolate fondant poop to boot!

Jessica was our photographer for the night. Thanks Jess!

Joseph loves to lick people's faces and make out with everyone or anything in sight when he is drunk. He had a great time, and needless to say I had to take him home in a taxi... and yes, the balloons came along for the trip as well!

First Look.

I have so much to catch you up on!

Here is a sneak peek at our place...

(keep in mind that these were taken a little under two months ago, so some things have changed a bit)

The hallway that you walk through before seeing our bedroom to the right and the rest of the place straight ahead. I have BIG plans for this hallway... you'll see!

Welcome to our living room / kitchen / office.

The view into our place from the patio.


A bird's eye view from our bedroom.

Our teeny-tiny bedroom. But isn't it cute?!

Joseph's Office from where check Facebooks, Skypes, and works on SD Chic Guide.

Won't you stop by for a cup of coffee?? Or better yet... a glass of wine :)

Flower of Life.

Being a Visual Merchandiser definitely has it perks!

About (6) months ago, as we were cleaning our visuals props "closet" at work, my fashion retail job was throwing things out or sending them back to New York to make room for more stuff. Hidden away with some other little treasures were various sizes of canvas' for painting. I was able to snag (2) 4'x6' canvas'.

I thought, "I can paint these and hang them in our new place when we move...." So, after about six months, I have finally semi-finished one, after much thought and various opinions on what I should paint.

After much thought, I decided to paint a set of the Flower of Life. To different people, the symbol means different things. To me, it represents how everything in the universe is connected. We need one another to make a whole. It seems a little silly, but I really liked it.

So, here is my drawing on the canvas it self:

I was originally going to get a poll on which (2) sketches to actually pick and paint, but then I resorted to asking people as they came to our apartment. The choices were all over the board, but one common pick was Choice (D), the orange painting. So I started that one....

My personal second choice is.....


Option (G) but in more of a citron color. I am in the process of special ordering the perfect color.

What do you think? What would you choose?