Where would we be.....

...without those wild nights?


Just wanted to give a little birthday shout out to my friend Marcello who edited this video for 311. Their 10th studio album UNIVERSAL PULSE was released yesterday, now on 311 records.
Good for them and good for M! Excited for the summer shows.

Can't wait to see all my friends.
xo

holidaze

I HAVE INTERNET AGAIN! It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Felt disconnected from the universe but also liberated. Life's been really crazy, busy, stressful. It's been lots of fun too but it's mostly work week=overwhelming and weekend=ridiculous fun. I've had no time to catch up. NEED SLEEP. 

Here's some Nov/Dec scenes.

Thanksgiving....made an amazing sweet potato ap that is SO EASY to substitute

&is soo delish. Also a pic of me & the 2 eldest gals on my dad's side, Diana &Jessica. 

went to a holiday party at a spa my mom&sis go to...we all got free massages, Lisa got a facial &I

got a fancy-shmancy treatment I will not blog about ;) Also, Lise, her bff & I celebrating her bday.

went to a rockin' christmas party w/my gals w/some special peeps...

FINALLY saw Edward Sharpe & the magnetic zeros...sooooo good live.

also saw Florence & The Black Keys (@kroq almost acoustic christmas) thanks to my sis :)

got to hang backstage, met Jim Halpert my dream bf & got a pic with the Black Keys guys (!!!)

Last note, stopped by the mall with Dad & Lisa and Old Navy's got some deals going on! Got some long sleeved tops since my wardrobe is seriously lacking in anything warm. (most of it is still in the NJ apt) these tops were cute and only $8 instore! They don't have the cute colors or special online. Although, I am glad I looked because my sister and I both want this techno hoodie and it's only $15 online! The hoodie cord is IPOD HEADPHONES! Love it, although, of course, the color I want is not online. Oh life!

waffle-knit tee // techno hoodie

edit......

just tried on the tops.I'm returning the white/pink 

one & getting a fleece sweater they had for   $10!

I can't believe it. A week til Christmas & two weeks til this crazy year is over. It's been a huge year. I am still reeling from everything that's happened, good and bad. The last few weeks have been rough for me because I'm so tired but I do appreciate that that's a good thing. 

Mini panic, I can't figure out what to do for New Years. I really want to go to Arizona to see RX Bandits, but I know I won't be able to talk my girlfriends into it. Is it worth it??? Maybe!

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND! :)

xo

Perfect weekend

Had a really really great weekend. Went so quick! Friday got to see my favorite band ever (yes, EVER... they win, they've taken over everything else, hands down.)

RX Bandits

sooo happy everyone came down...my sister rocks, thank you :) 

got SILLY drunk in Vegas....Rich got us a really cool suite and we went to a nice Texas style dinner. Played a little but mostly kicked around, hung out, relaxed and acted silly together. I had a lot of fun :) Now here's to a 2 maybe 3 day work week! Can't wait for family time.

birthday lust list

well well well... it's that time of year! one week until my day of birth! I'm not too phased by age or numbers and I have always said 25 was the scary number for me and I'm glad to be leaving it. 26 sounds like a rounder, more mature age. Plus it's been kind of an intense year and I am more than happy to put it behind me. My mom asked me yesterday what I wanted and I started to think..... what DO I want? hmmmm.....

deffo need a new blackberry!! can't decide which to get

 oversized sweaters via urban

oh hey, the rack is having an event on my

 b-day! prob be buying myself a gift or 2 :x

practical: a flickr pro account :) so i can share my pretty pix

my best friend Kelly is currently in transit, moving back

to LA.  I couldn't be more excited&can't imagine a better

 way to spend my weekend than with my two gals. I think

I see two tat's in my near future as well.....stay posted!   ;)

this pic made me smile :) a little example of the moments I'm looking forward to

southernwisdom via uo

maybe a spicy bday make out sesh?  ;)

peep more spicy kisses

hey hey, a girl can dream......

xxx

10 Things: Summer Style

ITS SUMMER!!!!

yeah I know we're in the middle of it now but in California it really just barely feels like it's begun. Even on the 4th we were cold! And work is finally slowing down to where I can take a day or two off and book a vacay.  vacation! that's all I can think about. Funny enough, my best friend just popped the question to of "what should we do for new years?" are you joking?! ook! well here's my top 10 fabulous summer plans. They're not listed in order of importance but I guess in somewhat sequential order.... here we go!

mel and i at our KoL show #1

10. Kings of Leon... yep, just happened but I still have to talk about it. my summer kick off, first road trip, tailgate, sweat-it-out summer show. Played some new tunes, now I'm re-obsessed and I want to go to like... the rest of their tour. yep, all of it. 

9. 311... three eleven, three three eleven. come on, this is me and if I wasn't going to a couple 311 shows in the summer something's wrong. So our schedule is up north (maybe...depends on #8) and then OC and San Diego. Same two venues I saw KoL, ha! their setlists have been pretty ridiculous this summer so I'm excited. I am always happy to see them. 

8. Rage Against the Machine @ the Palladium....what?!?! yeah. Might have a visitor and might try to go. IF I can find tickets. :::crossingfingers::::

7. Girls Weekend... I am jealous of everyone with a summer birthday. THREE of my favorite gals have birthdays this weekend, ridiculous. So I'm heading up to Solvang for my friend Ana's birthday for sunning, wine tasting and some healthy goss. I can't wait, I love a little weekend getaway. We might stay at the hotel from Sideways!

6. Lollapalooza... yes, I am making the trek for the 3rd year to one of my favorite cities, to be with some of my favorite people and take in one of my favorite festivals. I'm going to bounce around and just take in a variety of acts... it's just fun to go. Highlights: Metric, Gaga, The Black Keys, Dirty Projectors, MGMT, Arcade Fire. 

5. Outside Lands... well I have been dying to go up north and Melissa and I are just nutty enough to do it, trek up to San Fran to take in another festival and another Kings of Leon show. Yep, going there! Highlights: The Strokes (since I may skip them to see Gaga at Lolla) My Morning Jacket, Edward Sharpe.

4. Lady Gaga... Gaga is coming to LA!!!!! I am going to go with my girls, have a couple drinks and dance my face off. 'nuff said. 

3. John Mayer..... oh the JM! He was a highlight of our summer last year... we got super up close and personal to John, the tunes, and the abs. I love him. His music means so much to me and I love going with my sister and my best friend. Can't go wrong.

2. RX Bandits.... to cap off the summer, going to see the RXB 3 full album shows at the end of September. Saw them in NYC and it was ridiculous. I'm going to be on the hunt for more tickets so I can drag friends. PLUS, Dexter comes back on the Sunday, so I get to go home to that. I couldn't be happier.

1. Beach, baseball games, pool days, warm nights, happy hours, road trips, bbq..... Looking forward to more of this. Really happy right now and excited about what's to come. I love summer and I am embracing it! 

Totally rad

So before I make my Frugal Fest post (still waiting on pics from my sisters cam!) I wanted to share some snaps from my Saturday night. I went to an 80s party with my friend Lizzy. We had so.much.fun. and it was especially awesome because everyone dressed up! I hate theme parties where people aren't friendly and open to have fun. We met a lot of people, danced and danced and danced. The band was awesome, outfits were great... I love the 80s! 

 

Things I Learned at 3/11 Day

3/11 Day falls every year on March 11 but it's officially celebrated bi-annually by the band (three-eleven)  and their thousands of fans with three days of festivities and a 5 hour concert. It's usually in New Orleans, but it's been derailed twice. Once, by Katrina and this year, by a doctors convention that booked ALL of New Orlean's hotels. It took a month to process and share with you all of the things I learned this year. Enjoy. 

1. As much as I love my boyfriend... it's always more fun to stay with my girls. For the first two I attended, we implemented a "no boys" rule where we kept our room girls only and all stayed in the room all 3 nights. Those trips and memories are priceless. The last trip got messy, and this one we were spread out and the girl time seriously lacked. No impromptu shopping trips, sharing clothes, doing each others hair and make up, going to random dance clubs, closing out the bars, and then laying in bed watching "COPS: Bad Girls."

I missed my ladies. I guess a good compromise that I tried to set up is to stay closeby everyone. It's a bummer to be so secluded at different hotels. Next time, adjoining rooms!

2. Gotta learn to take it easy... as excited as we all are to see each other, there is no reason to buy shot after shot after shot! And if we're going to do that... do not wear heels. Note to one of my buddies... slow down before the show! It IS called 3/11 day. You don't want to get sick or sleep through it. The point of partying is not to miss out on all of the fun.

There's always next...next year. 

3. Maximize your time... don't sleep in all day, don't waste time waiting around for people, take initiative, eat early and make the most of your time. Charge your phone and your camera and be ready for the day and the adventures that will unfold.

And don't dwell when things doesn't work out. Overreacting doesn't help ;)

4. Make sure your electronics are on your side... you're going to want to see so many people and there are going to be lots of people who want to see you... but that doesn't mean anything if your phone dies at 9pm and the night's barely started. It was kind of a bummer after the fact to see pictures of things people did and wonder, wtf, where was I? Also a bummer was getting home and realizing your camera was on a ridiculous setting that made all your pictures basically unusable. 

It's a vacation you've been waiting 2 years for... it can be a bummer to not see people and not get the high-quality pictures you wanted. Be prepared, then make the most of it!

5. Truly make the most of every moment. It's a gift to be surrounded by good friends. Not to be too sentimental, but this group and these friendships are a gift. I got goosebumps several times. This bond is so deep... some people are so treasured they will be carried forever. Shannon and I saw Mark Holt shirts during the show and had a moment where we had to choke back tears. His presence was felt as well as Mike Hardman's. Running and Beyond the Grey Sky  were emotional tributes.

It's beautiful to know that through this love, they will be carried in peoples hearts forever.

6. Let go... no reason to hold on to a grudge or bring old feuds with you. I really should have let some things go to make the most of my trip. I have to admit, I did avoid bars and situations because people I had no desire to be around would be in the vicinity. I definitely missed out. And I know that others did the same thing. Kind of a bummer because that's not the place for it.

Next time, bury the hattchet and just grin and bear it. No need to be friends with everyone, but not worth it to keep enemies. Leave the attitude at home!

7. Plan better! Save more! Do more! Shoulda, woulda, coulda... my hotel was awesome but it could have fit 10 more. We definitely did not budget for the trip. I missed out on buy ANY merch! I'm glad I've been to Vegas countless times but I didn't walk the strip or go to any of my usual favorite spots and I missed out on many a photo op. 

Next time, the shoe box piggy bank is making a return... as well as a to-do list. 

All in all, I don't want it to sound like I had an awful trip. I just mismanaged a lot... waited around, excluded myself and planned poorly. But I did get to see (mostly) everyone I wanted to, spent at least an hour or so, shared a drink or two, snapped a pic, dropped a knee... you name it. 

The show itself was unforgettable. No matter what, the entire group was together, the love was felt, the place was rocked... It made everything else worthwhile. I really truly love being a fan of this band and grateful for everyone that has come into my life because of this journey. I appreciate those relationships, above anything else.

Much love to my friends :) 

I've got a clique that's more like a family... 

Memphis 2006

New Orleans 2008

Vegas 2010

(sorry if the formatting is all messed up, I switched over to the new blogger format and it won't work with me, AT ALL! HELP)

11/09

This month was my birthday month. My birth DAY is November 9 but it was 11/9 all month :) it was an insane whirlwind of fun and madness and emotion. I was fired on the 3rd day of the month and proceeded to have 2 days of depression, until my best friend flew in from North Carolina and I was forced to put it aside in my mind.


the coolest bar in brooklyn, where you win tickets for free beers!


Then, my old job asked me to fly home to LA to help them with a huge, crazy Neiman Marcus order. So the day after my birthday Eric dropped me off at JFK at 5AM and I had a day to hang out with my dog, lunch with my parents, and trek 2 hours with Melissa to see 311 on their fall tour opener. I saw a lot of old friends at that show, celebrated Mel and I's mutual birthday week... just had a ridiculous amount of fun.



The next day it was back to work and I crammed in long days and got tons and tons of stuff done. I finished my work load and didn't have to work Saturday so Friday night I went to see my Lojic boys. It was a great show, great bar, great night. The next night we went out in Long Beach for my sister's boyfriend's sister's birthday (a grand family affair) that ended with a late night stop at Wockano.



Sunday was my cousin's baby shower, which I was very happy to be in town for. Got to hang with the family and the kids and eat some crazy good food and play the rice, tp and all the other random games.



That rounded out the middle of November... I didn't do much the other days I was in town other than work. Flew back to NYC on the 20th and I'll blog about that week tomorrow :)