a shout out to my bridal party

Mondays are never my favorite day of the week, and this one is no exception. After having the best weekend up in Santa Barbara with my closest friends it's hard to get back to the real world. I was majorly spoiled for my Bachelorette weekend and I felt so incredibly loved- still do. This is just a little post and I'll talk more about it on Wednesday, but I have to give a little shout out to my best friends and bachelorettes. Lizzie, my MOH and best friend, did the BEST job planning this weekend. Every little detail was taken care of and we all had the best time because of it. She seriously needs to go into the professional Maid of Honor business because she's amazing! Hanna and Pauline also were incredible. Hanna compiled a playlist with songs that everyone said reminded them of me. I had to guess who picked each song and I got them all right!! Such a great keepsake, too. Pauline is a great graphic artist and made cute banners to put around the hotel suite as well as an awesome itinerary and map for the weekend. It was amazing! Ok more details on Wednesday. Time to get back to work, find a seamstress for my alterations, oh yeah and unpack! 

I hope you all had a fabulous and special weekend!

xox

wedding wednesday: bridesmaid dinner!

On Friday night I invited out my bridesmaids for dinner. Of course they didn't know they were bridesmaids yet {hehe I'm so sneaky}. I organized a night out since everyone was in town for Thanksgiving and I popped the question to them after ordering dinner and before appetizers! I made an individual card for each of them and tucked a magnetized picture frame inside with a picture of the two of us! They said yes!!

Pauline, Elizabeth, Hanna and Nora!

We went to Pizzeria Mozza {best.pizza.ever!} and had such a fun time. Remember when Matthew and I went over the summer? And were waiting outside for an hour? Still worth it but this time I got a reservation way in advance. Nothing but the best for these girls :)

Elizabeth is my maid of honor! We've been friends since we were little girls, we even used to plan a double wedding a la Bride Wars! We had a big planning night on Saturday and were up until 2 am going over ideas. We have so many fun projects planned!

Hanna and I have been best friends since middle school! We played soccer together, made up silly dances, ate lunch together everyday for 4 years in high school, and have had some of the cheapest dinner dates ever! This girl is gold {although she prefers silver!}

Pauline and I met in high school Spanish class. Instead of Mr. Schu we had Fergie, a 70 year old man with the dryest sense of humor. Pauline and I managed to pass while gossiping about boys and predicting the next drama on The O.C.! Sigh I miss those days!

Nora and I have been friends since birth {well, her birth..she's younger} since our parents were good friends. We grew up together, spending holidays at each others houses, ringing in the new year countless times! We even tried to get Brandy's attention one year since she lived across the street! {no luck}

I'm so grateful to have these four amazing friends and I couldn't be more excited that they're going to stand up there with me on the most important day of my life!! yay girl power!!

xox

hanna's birthday dinner!

Saturday was Hanna's birthday {woo hoo!} and Elizabeth and Pauline both came up to LA to celebrate! We went to a Mexican restaurant called Malo in Silverlake that Matthew recommended. The food was anything but malo {which means bad in Spanish}. I got potato and cheese crispy tacos and filled up on lots of chips and salsa! soo good!

Pauline and Lizzie


Hanna and Todd


our mandatory bathroom picture!






It's always so much fun when the four of us get together! And it was also nice to see them all in person after the proposal!

Happy birthday Hanna berry! I love you soo much!
xox

P.S. You can see pictures from Hanna's bday last year here.
P.P.S. Make sure to enter the giveaway for the Oufi bag!

rollin' through sushi school!

On Friday evening Hanna, Elizabeth and I went to a sushi making class! I've always wanted to do this before and the fact that it was sushi {my favorite food!} was even more amazing. It was three fun-filled hours of cutting, rolling, eating and talking! Definitely an experience I'll always remember!

adding sushi vinegar to the rice



Hanna and Lizzie working on their cucumber rolls! {rice on the inside}

California roll with the rice on the outside! {not as tricky as it looks!}


Cheering with our spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado hand rolls!

Shrimp, Salmon, Octopus and Yellowtail Nigiri

The teacher, although not Japanese, has had extensive training in the U.S. and Japan since she was in high school. She taught us so many things I'd never heard before. She's extremely picky when it comes to sushi and I couldn't believe she hadn't gone out and payed for sushi in 10 years! She said that once you have it a certain way you can't have it any other way. I somewhat disagree with this because there are some amazing and innovative sushi chefs in LA but from a traditional standpoint I guess I can understand. Traditional sushi is really basic so as long as you've made good rice and have fresh fish you're pretty much set! I definitely feel a lot more confident in my sushi skills and I'm hoping to put it to the test soon!

a pool party

I never finished posting the pictures from my trip to Vegas. My best friends and I got a really great deal on a suite at the Venetian. The best part was having easy access to TAO Beach, although once we got there we realized how small it is! I was SUPER excited when I found out Lauren Conrad was hosting. I have a little girl crush on her so I was really hoping to see her. I even put a braid in my hair a la LC. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures worthy of sharing. She was hidden behind a lot of people in this huge cabana area but I saw her doing press pictures and dancing with friends. It was pretty exciting!

highlight of the day: otter pops!!

blue tongues!


Hanna and I were trying to do a Spice Girls pose and Lizzie and Pauline did KISS?

Best picture I got of her! haha

I hope you all have a great weekend! What are your plans?

Matthew and I are going down to San Diego tomorrow to see his new baby nephew! I can't wait!

xox

3rd Annual Vegas Trip + Lizzie's Birthday!!

I got back late last night from a fun weekend in Las Vegas! It's been a tradition for our group of friends to go the first weekend in August. We went for Elizabeth's 21st birthday 2 years ago and have gone back every year to celebrate. It's something to look forward to!

Hanna and I put cute lace and bow stickers on our fingers!

We all got in on Friday afternoon and decided to have a nice dinner that night. We went to one of Mario Batali's restaurants called Enoteca. It's a casual, bistro style restaurant in San Marco Square. It reminded me of going to Lupa in New York with Matthew.

Spagettini with mushrooms and thyme and the Margherita ‘D.O.C.’ pizza with buffalo mozzarella



Lizzie was surprised with a birthday dessert!



Can't forget the mandatory shoe picture!



Happy Birthday Lizzie!

I love you so so much! You are my bestest friend and honestly my life wouldn't be the same without you. I miss those days when we played with our American Girl dolls and had tea parties. And those days in high school when we'd see each other at school, lunch, recess, and church, and still end up talking on the phone for hours each night. It really seems like just yesterday. We are the same in so many ways. You still have that girly, adorable spunk, and the biggest heart of anyone I know. Having you for a best friend has been such a wonderful thing! I had an amazing weekend celebrating your birthday! I love you lots!!

xox

You can see some pictures from last year's Vegas trip here