Late Summer Fun.

There are few things I love more than a late summer picnic.

But if I had to list the few things I love more, I would say dusk, friends' birthdays, impromptu photo shoots, old western towns, picnic baskets, and sparkling wine.

Last night I got to have all of those things.

It was the perfect end to one of those weekends that doesn't quite go as planned. Friday afternoon I had a work emergency, and had to stay late. Saturday, I had to work again on account of the work emergency. Saturday afternoon I spent shopping and watching the most awful movie Anne Hathaway has ever been in. Luckily, my friend Caitlin suffered through that tribulation with me, and we both left in a foul morbid mood. 

By the time Saturday night rolled around, I was a wet blanket. I didn't want to go out, or party, or dress up. So I didn't. I stayed home and *crafted. By the time Sunday rolled around, I couldn't have been more thrilled to go celebrate my lovely friend Jess' 24th birthday with a picnic at Paramount Ranch. And what a celebration it was. I think it was just what I needed to snap me out of my funk.

So cheers to birthdays, and old friends, and new friends, and late summer evening picnics! Sometimes that's all you need.

Paramount Ranch is a little slice of heaven.

Birthday Girl Jess & Lovely LoCar.

Picnic Buddies!

That's cute.

Pepp/Oaks gal pals.

*P.S. - I made the picnic basket I brought (see picture 1). Check back here in a couple of days for a DIY how-to. It was a hit.

Starting Over.

This blog gets further and further away from Venice, but I promise, on my honor, the next post will be about my beach city life.

But this post is about Idaho. and weddings. and my summer vacation. which lasted a whole 6 days. That's a really long time when you're not in school. I remember thinking about how summer vacations seemed endless when I was in highschool and college, and toward the end, I just wanted to be back at school with my friends and starting something new. Not a chance, now. That 6 days was gone in the blink of an eye.

There's still the excitement of starting something new, though. My good friends Alex and Liz are starting their new marriage together, Fall is starting, and football is starting, and I am starting over. I'm turning over new leaves, making new promises to myself, vowing to start (another) diet, and stop sugar-coating things (literally and figuratively), and thinking about starting a new blog (or two). More on that later.

I'm excited to get started with starting things.
But in the meantime, here are a few pretty pictures of my vacation, and my pretty friends, and a pretty wedding in pretty Sun Valley, Idaho.

You're invited.

Bridesmaid dresses and gilded shoes.

Like I said, I have pretty friends.

There never was a more handsome group of Fantasy Football nerds.

The blushing bride.

Team Midnight. And John.

Team Mist!

Congratulations Alex & Liz!

Hometown Safari

I'm beginning to forget what the inside of my apartment looks like. In the past 10 work days, I've been on set for 6 of them, and slept in my own bed for 3. It's been a grueling and tiring couple of weeks, but rather successful in terms of booking television shows at work. Nevertheless, I've had to fight the urge to fall asleep standing up, and I've been essentially living out of a suitcase.

So naturally, on my first free weekend in a while, I decided to go out of town. In any other context, this would make no sense whatsoever and I'd have a serious date with my bed, and a dozen DVD's, but I went to visit my family on Sunday and Monday, and traded one beach city for another with a trip to Santa Barbara.

I found out not too long ago that my parents are probably moving to Camarillo, and I got especially sentimental about Santa Barbara while I was home. Growing up as a military brat, I never had a hometown or a childhood home to go back to, so when we moved to SB almost 10 years ago, I finally let myself put down roots. I made friends (many of whom have since moved), I found my local hangouts, and secret spots. I got attached. This trip home was bittersweet, but I tried to make the most of it, and decided to do a little photo-safari of my hometown. It's amazing the things you get so used to seeing when you live in a place for a while. Even so, it truly is one of the most beautiful, and unique places in the world. The pictures speak for themselves.

On that note, if anyone wants to do a trip to Santa Barbara in the next month or two, call me! There's nothing I like more than showing people my adopted hometown. It's a lot like Venice's milder, more mature, conservative sister. But Santa Barbara knows how to party. I mean, I'm a beach city girl, so I should know.

1. The Santa Barbara Wharf

2.Tunics at the Indian Market

3. The grand old Granada Theater

 

 

4. Flamenco dancers for SB Old Spanish Days

5. Antique shop treasures

6. Happiness is a double-letter score

7. Downtown culture in La Arcada

8. Lower State murals

9. Shops on State

10. Get some sun.

11. Happy Home.