Settling

This Friday the 13th, I will have officially lived here for one month. I can't believe it! Time flies! I've loved living here, although I still don't think it has kicked in that it is permanent and not just a fun summer.

I still love my internship. It is so much fun to watch outfits be constructed, and different stylists' choices for their clients. Working in the fashion world is very exciting, and so busy. I'm pretty sure my day at work today was much more vigorous than a day at the gym!

My fourth of July, I went down to Hermosa Beach for the night with some girlfriends. We all packed into a hotel room, explored the numerous bars at the pier, envied all of the amazing beach parties going on along the strand, and enjoyed a delicious dinner at the fanciest Cheesecake Factory I have ever seen. Literally, it looked like a yacht club. And we sat outside overlooking the marina..it was amazing.

(the picture doesn't even do it justice. ok, i'll stop, i get it.)

(cayle & i)

Since then, my future-roommate and I have been constantly apartment hunting. It's getting hard to keep them straight! There are a lot of pro's and con's to every single one. Some have great locations, walking distance to amazing shops and restaurants, but are a little more run-down, while others are more of a drive to exciting outings, but have great features and are very spacious. Decisions, decisions.

Apart from that, I've been spending a lot of time with Nina and the gang. Her home is so welcoming and Tempur-Pedic bed is just so impossible to refuse. I've gotten her hooked on Nip/Tuck, so we watch episode after episode late into the night, catching up on years of sister bonding time.

Most importantly this week, MY BIRTHDAY is just 5 days away! Although I'm secretly hoping to be surprised last minute by some visitor or another, I know better than to get my hopes up. I'm in the process of planning a great birthday dinner, and fun night out afterwards! I can't wait!

A Little Bit Of This

This week has been surprisingly very busy. Tuesday night I went out for a comforting mexican dinner with my cousin at El Chavo in Silverlake. Their Cadillac Margarita was muy delicioso.

Wednesday night I had movie night in with my sister Nina; I've practically moved into their house. It is just so hard to leave their company and amazing pool. We got up early by noon and went on a walk around the neighborhood. Everyone talks about hiking and walking, the difference lies in whether you are walking on or off a road. I call everything a walk.

Thursday night I met a new friend! We had met via my sorority's national Alumni page for the area. We went for a great dinner at Porta Via in Beverly Hills. We hit it off immediately, she just might become my new roommate!

Friday I spent the day at work, got my nails done (obsessed with the color - Essie's Absolutely Shore), checked out an apartment, then went back over to Nina's. We went out to a late dinner at Desert Rose, then afterwards off to El Cid to see some live music. She is currently taking guitar lessons, and her teacher was playing there live! He was great - an extremely talented guitarist and singer. You can hear his music on his band's page: Wise Cub. After Wise Cub, his friends' band also performed. It turns out, the drummer is McLovin from Superbad! I got a little excited - that's about the extent of my celeb sighting here.

I spent Saturday with Nina and my niece & nephew. I managed to get everyone obsessed with Words With Friends, so we sat around the kitchen table playing each other on our iPads for hours on end. Then Saturday night, I finally tried In N Out Burger!!

It was so good. It definitely lived up to the hype. I didn't love the fries, but apparently they are better if you order them "Animal Style" off of the Secret Menu (I'm learning).

Saturday night I went out in Santa Monica with my roommate and his sister who is visiting. It was my first night out in LA! We went to a place called Central, which was very different from any place I'd usually go, but reminded me a lot of the bars in Edinburgh. Overall it was a super fun night, stopping for late-night breakfast at Denny's (first time there too!).

LA Living

My time in LA thus far has been a whirlwind. I arrived just over a week ago, and met my mom at the airport. Right from there, we headed to Santa Monica to pick up my new car. We were vagabonds for the week, hopping from house to house of family and friends for almost a week.

The first house we stayed had two of the most adorable Golden Retrievers I have ever seen. I wanted to take both of them with me; I’m going through a little bit of dog withdrawl.

The next day, my mom and I decided to tour some apartments I’ve had my eye on for some time. They were beautiful. A perfect location, great pool, gym, huge, spacious apartments in a gated community. Needless to say, now everywhere else looks like a dump in comparison. The  hardest thing right now is trying to find a roommate my age. Multiple websites are flooded with open bedrooms, but with older rooommates. It is a bit trickier than I expected to meet people here!

It has been great catching up with family and friends I rarely get to see. Now I will see them all the time!

Welcoming my cousin & friends back from being on the road touring with a delicious spread! 

Mom’s last night out here, we checked into a great hotel and celebrated the evening at the rooftop bar with delicious cocktails and some great food!

I started my internship Monday – it is amazing! So much fun, and never a dull moment. For now I’ve been enjoying my days off, still on the hunt for a great apartment, roommate, and job. In the meantime, I move into my summer apartment on Saturday! Yipee!

More to come…pictures, not text, I promise!

Stella & Dot

During my sorority's Senior Week, one sister put on a Stella & Dot trunk show. If you've never seen their jewelry, look now - you'll be obsessed! Worried about breaking the bank? 50% of the line is under $50! The jewelry can be seen everywhere, on television, in magazines, on celebrities - a contestant in the Miss USA pageant was wearing a necklace just last week! After drooling over every single piece, I decided to become an Independent Stylist, and be able to host trunk shows of my own.

After building a significant collection of items over the past few weeks, and holding my first trunk show in New York City, I am ready to do more!

Hosting a trunk show is a great opportunity. You are able to invite all of your friends over, break out some wine, cheese, crackers and all of your favorite goodies, and browse the Stella & Dot collection. There is no cost to host, and no pressure to buy! In fact, as hostess, you even get great discounts and free jewelry!

Check out the website to see the jewelry and even shop online, or contact me and I will come host a trunk show for you and all of your friends!

The Real World

So, since I graduated college a few short weeks ago and am now entering the real world, I thought it was time to re-launch my blog.

On May 19, I graduated Cum Laude on a beautiful Saturday, with amazing friends and family there cheering me on. They (still) have the sunburns to prove it! Each night of the weekend was celebrated with a delicious dinner at my favorite local Portsmouth restaurants, Agave and The Library.

I had been planning to move out to Los Angeles at the end of June, but recently got word that I got the internship at an incredible Fashion PR company in West Hollywood - and I start soon! I've been scrambling to figure out flights, car shopping, and where I am going to live.

Now, my ticket is officially booked, and I am off to Los Angeles on Wednesday! I just have to figure out how to pack my entire life and wardrobe into two not big enough suitcases.

Wish me luck!

Pizza Pie & Beer, Oh My!

Last night, my friend Becky met me after work and we went a few blocks away to the Limelight Marketplace on 21st & 6th have pizza at Grimaldis. I have heard nothing but great things about Grimaldis, voted best pizza in NY, with their main location just under the Brooklyn Bridge. Recently, when I heard about a new location so close to where I work, I couldn't wait to go.

The place was adorable, surprisingly pretty empty at 6 o'clock in the evening. The tables were adorned with casual red checkered tableclothes, and just as I expected, the pizza was incredible. We split a regular pizza, with fresh crushed tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Six slices of perfectly warm crispy deliciousness. Their prices were extremely reasonable, too (only $12).

(photos courtesy of www.grimaldis.com)

Afterwards, we took a stroll around the Limelight Marketplace, which was full of cute home accessories, clothes, and our next stop, Baci Gelato.

I had a Cherry Yogurt (tart with cherries mixed in), which was delicious, but still doesn't compare to Gelatissimo in New Canaan, which is still the best Gelato in the whole wide world (perhaps I'm biased).

Afterwards, we headed down to the East Village to a bar called 13th Step. It was super busy, and filled with a fun, young crowd. They also had great Tuesday night specials ($1 drafts!) Definitely a place I would both recommend and go back to.

sunday brunch

sunday, my friend lauren and i decided to go to my absolute favorite place for sunday brunch - dos caminos.

we enjoyed delicious guacamole, pollo tacos, and bloody marys!

afterwards, we stopped into a nearby theater and saw Friends with Benefits, which was so good! i loved it, and highly recommend it (but perhaps don't see it with your parents). it was hilarious, honest, and did a great job of portraying the reality of complicated relationships.