lovely little life

Dear Santa

2011-12-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

I think I've been a pretty good girl this year and would really love to capture next year's memories and adventures with this sweet little baby :D

Canon Rebel T3i

and as a further incentive i'll leave some milk and cookies for you too. People have told me that I make a pretty mean cookie... no seriously I do.

Acquired

2011-10-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

Just treated myself to a pair of black suede wedge booties after the world's worst parent meeting. I may be a young therapist, but that's no excuse for anyone to talk down to me or blame me for their child's problems. GAH. After clicking "BUY NOW" I suddenly feel so much better. Retail therapy works people!

ps. Pretty Mommy is offering 20% off when you "LIKE" them on Facebook

Bittersweet October

2011-10-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

October is a sad month for me and has been for the past four years. Learning how to accept that my mom is not here anymore is downright awful. There are times where I have some random question about cooking or life and I instinctively grab my phone to call and ask for her advice only to realize that I can't. It is quite possibly the worst feeling ever. Oh mom, I miss you so much it hurts.

Last Sunday I ran the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon in her honor. She would probably find it pretty comical because of all the excuses I asked her to write for me in middle school so I could avoid running a mile during P.E. in the scorching Texas sun. I think she vouched that I had my period for like a year straight. Just another reason why she was the BEST.

Love you mom, & miss you like crazy.

The Russian River

2011-09-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was spent celebrating my dear friend Travis's big 4-0 on the Russian River (not the one in Russia, the other one in California). This was my first time visiting and it didn't let me down. Found some great little boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries. Too bad we didn't stay longer. By the end of the weekend I had to literally drag my stomach off the floor. I forgot my camera but Instagram saved the day! Here were some of my favorites:

Moustache Baked Goods - get the homemade oreo
Boon- macaroni and cheese
Arboretum - micro succulents and unique jewelry
Costeaux- french bistro with the BEST princess cake

Things Kids Say

2011-09-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

I work with kids everyday all day long. They are life's little comedians. I've only been at my new jobs for two weeks but have already heard some crazy stuff. These are the highlights from this week:

During a classroom observation:

Boy: " I went to Chuck-E-Cheese yesterday and won 274 tickets! I love Chuck-E-Cheese!" (looks at girl) Did you go to Chuck-E-Cheese?"
Girl: " Um nooo, I don't like that place. You know that rat? I don't trust him."

haha I can't argue with that.

After eating a bag of mustard/onion flavored pretzels:

Ani: "Melissa?" (forehead pressed against mine-big blue eyes staring at me )
Me: "yeah?"
Ani: "Your breath smells like tacos."
Me: " Thanks."

called out by a 4 year old! Me so embarrassed.

Will post more next week.

(pictures above are from earlier this week with my little Ani. Burger and Derby were so intrigued by this little person and couldn't stop kissing her. In return she drew their portrait which is now hanging above my desk at home. So Precious.)

Pardon the interruption

2011-09-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought that my bad blogging habits couldn't get any worse... they do . I was caught in the midst of the most painful job search known to man and spent countless hours trolling craigslist and begging for interviews. It felt so depressing and disheartening to apply to a gazillion jobs and check my email 12394870987 times a day to find NOTHING. Geez man, I spent almost my whole life getting an education and this is what happens? Fast forward a month and a half of crying, praying, and thoughts crossing my mind of moving back into my dad's house (my last resort) and finally I'm sooo over it. I completely stop searching and begin to accept my fate as a homeless bag lady with lots of shoes and two dogs in my shopping cart. The next day I get three interviews. Then the week after I get not one, not two, but four job offers! How is this possible?!??!? Happy tears of relief rolled down my cheeks as I heard the happy news. I feel so grateful and blessed to have this experience is behind me (for now), and let me tell you- I've never felt so happy to work close to 12 hour days and come home dead tired. To those of you going though the job search process because of our crappy economy, I'm sending you lots of positive thoughts and luck your way. You can do it!

Oh btw, the pictures above are from the San Francisco Gocar tour we took last weekend. Lots of happy things to celebrate =) I highly recommend it (even for locals). They also run tours in Miami, San Diego, and even Madrid. You will like, promise!

Happy Campers

2011-07-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

I can personally attest that I am not the most outdoorsy person in the world. As a kid, I went camping pretty often but camping in Texas is far from fun when you factor in the heat, humidity, and man eating insects. After camping or "glamping" as my friends who have voluntarily put themselves in Man vs Wild situations call it, I have a new found appreciation for nature. Yay for: fresh air, hiking, campfire, smores, and playing in the sparking blue Tahoe waters, but what I really LOVED most was being able to unplug from the rest of the world even for just a few days. No email, no phone, no facebook. Sooo refreshing and exactly what I needed. I think another camping trip is in my future.

Too short

2011-07-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

These are the sweet faces that I am greeted by everyday. Recently while at the dogpark, a lady whose son was enamored by Burger and Derby asked how old they were. I told her they were approaching 6 and 7 and she blurted out, "oh wow, they're old!". My heart stopped for a second and suddenly I was picturing myself in the heartbreaking scenes of Marley and Me. I HATE when I am reminded that the time I have with them is short, too short if you ask me. When I think of everything and everyone in my life, nothing has brought me as much happiness and showed me more love than these two. I can hear people saying, "oh shutup you crazy dog lady, you're being so dramatic!". Sorry man, can't help it. I'm a mess just thinking about a world without them. Heelllllp!

le weekend

2011-07-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

Took a break from the usual weekend hoopla and kept everything low key. It's nice to step away and just appreciate the little things.

From our SF urban hike-

discovering the best almond croissant @ La Boulange

much needed haircut for him @ Mystic Haircutting

early dinner @ Shanghai Dumpling King

Fourth and Family

2011-07-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

I spent the holiday weekend with my mom's side of the family in Southern California. Family time has been a rarity over the years. With everyone's crazy work schedules and living situations, it's tough to get us all in one place. This time we managed to get 9 out of 12 cousins, 2 aunts, 2 uncles, and 8 dogs together. That is a lot of estrogen and canine.

There's really something special about being with your family. You can let your guard down and just be you. Seriously, like the day when you wake up and realize you only have two cents to your name, they're all you've got... and really all you need.

Photos above taken in Los Angeles, CA
Bottega Louie
The Bradbury Building (as seen in 500 Days of Summer)
The Getty

Bay Area Guide Doggie Edition- Fort Funston

2011-06-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering what dog heaven looks like, I'm pretty sure it's something like Fort Funston. This gorgeous piece of coast is reserved for the enjoyment of the Bay Area's lucky four-legged friends. I brought Derby and Burger here this past weekend and have never seen them have so much fun. They spent hours taking turns cautiously testing the waters and chasing fellow furry beach goers. Seeing them so happy made my heart swell. If you live here, YOU MUST take your dogs and expect lots of thank you wet kisses after.

Fort Funston

Skyline Blvd.

San Francisco, CA 94101

(415)561-4323

What I've been up to...

2011-06-16T22:32:00.001-07:00

Scenes from gold beach, portlandia, and sf. More to come soon!

Trying to blog on the iPad. Any suggestions as to what app to use?

Hello!

2011-06-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Hi blogland, I'm still alive. Just as my injured leg finally started getting better, I was chosen as a juror in a month long trial (lucky me) so that really limits all the cool things I can post here haha... I will recap the past few weeks as soon as I have a hot minute. Hope ya'll are swell-- enjoy the new layout.

Missy and Mandi's San Francisco Food Crawl

2011-04-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

post boiling crab food coma

lunch @ american grilled cheese kitchen - can't go wrong with their mushroom special

their mac and cheese was ahhmazzingg

next stop: Dynamo Donuts in the mission

i get to be chauffeured around thanks to my bummed leg

Mission Beach Cafe Epic Brunch

melt in your mouth pancakes. We were sorry for only order one. Should've known better tsk tsk

mushroom truffle eggs benny

short rib hash- it was melt in your mouth yumminess. ORDER THIS

Beautiful day in the neighborhood. Can't wait to move here soon.

Anthony's Cookies for dessert

We tried everything under the sun, but the definite winner is the cookies and cream ! it's like a chocolate chip cookie/ Oreo hybrid.

My sister came out to visit me this past weekend and we made sure to do the the three things we do best:

1. Eat

2. Shop

3. Repeat

We spent two days exploring the city and discovering all the culinary goodness it has to offer. Our ultimate goal is to move there as soon as possible so we can do this every weekend. We dream of the day when we will both be able meet at the corner cafe after work and walk to the nearest happy hour for drinks. I feel like there have been a lot of road blocks this year that have made the move to sf far from reach, but it makes me that much more determined to make it reality. I'm not going to let anything get in my way.

Blog Challenge- Day 4

2011-04-12T21:24:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Your favorite photo of your best friend---

Our first photo together ever. Looks like I'm not sure how I feel about her yet

Mandi during our San Francisco food crawl this past weekend (more pictures to come in next post).

We always end up with Angelina Jolie-esqe lips after grubbing on extra spicy crawfish

I've really been looking forward to this post because because it gives me a chance to brag about my kid sister. She's the best in the west- the kind of sister who will drive 500 miles just to make sure you're okay and buy you nice things just because she thinks it will look good on you. I can tell her anything without feeling judged but loved and understood instead. I really can't imagine life without her. She really is my best friend.

Blog Challenge- Day 3

2011-04-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

Day 3: Your favorite store

If you're talking about retail, then Nordy's is my hands down favorite. I've been known to go a little overboard during their infamous half-yearly and anniversary sales especially when left unattended. Who can resist their high quality merchandise, top-notch customer service, and not to mention amazing "no questions asked" return policy- if you're not satisfied, bring that sucker back. You can tell how much I shop at Nordstrom by the looks of my battered credit card. I think there used to be a picture on there but it rubbed off after all the swiping. Oops!

Blog Challege Day 2

2011-04-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

Day 2: A photo of something you ate today--

There's nothing better than a little frozen yogurt to beat the Bay Area heat wave. Let me tell you, after craving it all day, it totally hit the spot.

I have four little furry babies in my care this weekend. Don't worry I haven't become a deranged animal hoarder, just a good doggy aunt. I love how the world stops when I pull out a piece of bacon. Melts my heart.

Blog Challenge Day 1

2011-03-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

Day 1: A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Derby wouldn't stop licking my arm while I took these. Couldn't stop laughing

My day started out a little rough after waking up to an awful dream. I've been having really weird ones lately, like the ones where you're trying to run away from circus clowns and suddenly your legs stop working in mid-stride. If you know me, you know that I hate being chased and am also totally weirded out by clowns. So needless to say last night's dream was basically my worst nightmare. Now that I'm awake everything is better. It was a GORGEOUS day outside. The depressing weather is finally gone and the sunshine is here to stay. I passed the day lounging on the couch scouring the interwebs for new recipes, clothes I cannot afford, and future vacation destinations while listening to trashy reality shows in the background. There's nothing like spending a nice, quiet, lazy day alongside my two favorite furry sidekicks. Being homebound can be incredibly boring, but I know that I will miss days like these when things are back to "normal" i.e. crazy work weeks with no time for anything lol.

how was your day?

//questions? ask away here//

30 day blog challenge

2011-03-29T14:41:00.001-07:00

Hi, my name is Missy and I've been a (really) bad blogger. Lately, I've been lacking motivation to blog mainly because my life has been primarily centered around my couch, dvr, and netflix account since my not so fun injury. So boring! Who would want to read about that?

Soooo... I figured it would be appropriate to participate in a 30 day blog challenge that has been circling the blogosphere to help jumpstart my blog and keep me accountable.

AND

Since I have all this extra time on my hands I finally decided to formally open my formspring too. I signed up for it ages ago, but wasn't sure if anyone would even want to ask me questions in the first place. I love reading other bloggers' formsprings. It is such great little tool to get to know your favorite bloggers and ask questions you've been dying to know like: "hey where did you get that dress?", "what moisturizer do you use?", "where is the best place to get donuts in San Francisco?" , etc. etc. After much contemplation I thought, what the hell, it'll be entertaining and keep me busy.

Help curb my boredom and Ask Away here: http://www.formspring.me/Mahleezah

Day One of the blog challenge starts tomorrow. Wish me luck =)

Eating Well- Morimoto Napa

2011-03-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hi guys- Sorry for being MIA lately. I've unfortunately had a number of complications with my injury since the last post, and long story short- have been relegated to staying at home or shuffling to doctor's appointments. No fun at all. Thank goodness for my sweet friends who have graciously taken me out to lunch or on afternoon shopping trips. Without them, my days basically look like a standard couch potato's (and trust me it's nothing worth blogging about).

Anyways, sorry about all the complaining. I'm just looking forward to getting better soon.

This weekend was an absolute dream. I ate and drank like a queen around San Francisco and later ended my eating spree in Napa at the one and only Iron Chef Morimoto's. This place did not disappoint and is surely worth sharing about. The words fresh and innovative come to mind when I think about their amazing spread. During my visit I discovered a new found love for uni (sea urchin) and am pretty sure that donuts are my favorite food- which explains why I crave them on almost a daily basis. If you are ever in town and love Japanese food, I strongly urge you to try Morimoto Napa. You won't be disappointed. Cross my heart.

cheers!

1 of 3 sake carafes- I think they called it a tour of Sakes

Sushi like buttah

Rock shrimp tempura

Black Cod goodness

this "bento box" was LEGIT

oh so fresh

Uni Carbonara... I die

I heart uni

My friend Shifali and I getting our drink on

Best way to end a meal: Coffee and...

Donuts! Fluffy melt in your mouth goodness

Donut dipping sauces

As if we needed more drinks

The Iron Chef was missing in action, but hopefully I can meet him one of these days.

Don't Mess with Texas

2011-03-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

What can I say... our trip was short but definitely sweet. One thing my friends learned is that everything is always BIGGER in Texas, including our waistlines which expanded exponentially over the course of a weekend. We ate and did as much as we could, but didn't have enough time to do everything. What a perfect excuse to come back again next year right?

Authentic Texas Backyard BBQ @ Rudy's

Don't mss with Texas yo

want bread? They'll give you a loaf

Trudy's Mexican Margaritas- This is enough to make you all kinds of loco

@ Trudy's

The injured travelers.

cupcakes from an airstream trailer @ Hey Cupcake

Yummy Amy's Ice Cream

Jo's coffee will make you feel like a cool hipster

This mom was super chic- pushing a stroller dressed to kill

Marco and Mabel happy finishers!

Kjersti and Greg ran together the whole way =) that's love!

The injured with all the champs

Real Southern Cooking @ Hoover's with Chef Hoover himself. What a sweetheart.

This is what I'm talking about. I can feel my arteries clogging and heart swelling with love.

Vacation from a Vacation

2011-02-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Week 3 of mission Getbettersoon is approaching and my unintentional vacation is becoming well, kinda boring. As much as I love the boob tube, I quickly discovered that you can only watch so much reality t.v. before you officially fry every intelligent brain cell left in your head. The only thing I really enjoy about being confined to the house is having my dogs snuggled next to me all day long. These furry love muffins are the best medicine I could ever ask for.

Tomorrow I get a nice break from all the resting and am heading Austin, Texas, one of my favorite cities ever where I spent a good part of my college hay days running around till the wee hours of the night painting the town red. I'm stoked to be able to show my friends around one of the greatest cities ever. After all my bragging, I hope I don't let them down. Lots of picture sharing to come. Have a good weekend ya'll.

Down but not Out

2011-02-03T13:47:00.001-08:00

Last week I caught myself wishing for a way to take some time off work so I could chip away at my growing to-do list. Well I guess I got what I wished for. A little mishap on the Tahoe slopes has put me out of commission for about 6 weeks. To be honest, I was devastated when it happened. All I could think about was that I would be missing out on running my first half marathon and forced to forego most of the snowboarding season. It's not the most ideal way to take a vacation, but I'm determined to make the best of it. Now that I've come to terms with the situation, I can focus on healing and accomplishing whatever I can during my unexpected hiatus. I'm so grateful for all the people in my life who have been more than helpful and supportive. I want to send a big hug and thanks to all of you.

Tahoe on my mind

2011-01-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

Right before the holidays I made a short but sweet getaway to Tahoe with my girlfriends Nathalie, Mabel, and Karla. Fast forward a month later and I'll be back on the Tahoe slopes this weekend. I just couldn't stay away. There's just too much good stuff to be had, and not to mention, i'm kinda tired of this little thing called work. Work hard, play hard right?

Hope you all have a spectacular holiday weekend =) Stay warm!

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

815 girls - Missy, Donna, & Tina

Happy new year! Looking forward to a fresh start. There's no better way to kick off the year than re-uniting with your best friends. Seriously, they're the best.

Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays with your friends and loved ones. Here's to an awesome 2011!!!

Weekend Glimpse

2010-11-30T22:26:00.000-08:00

Mabel & I channeling our best Minnie Mouse ( I just noticed that we are both wearing stripes)

Mickey mouse is kinda OCD

Inside Mickey's barn. He raises chickens and plants veggies, so I guess he lives a green lifestyle.

Prepping to meet Mickey

Where dreams come true

Enjoying L.A. life

Brunch @ the charming Little Next Door

sister love

I heart eggs benedict

Best croissants EVER. I could inhale a hundred of these in one sitting

exploring venice beach

After a short blogging hiatus, it's really good to be back. Now that the holidays are soon approaching, I hope to be able to blog more regularly.

My Thanksgiving weekend was definitely eventful. Braving the nightmare holiday traffic was worth every minute of spending quality time with family, eating a delicious home cooked feast, experiencing the magic of Disneyland and all that L.A. life has to offer. I had one amazing time.

I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life all the people in it. Hope you all had a wonderful time with your loved ones too! Here's to the holidays =)

2010 San Francisco Mermaid Race Recap

2010-11-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

Running loves

My trusty kicks- Nike Lunar Glides

Half way through the run- already red in the face!

Kjersti Smokin the competition

cheering mabel on to the finish line

moral support @ the last lap

YAY Karla!

treated ourselves to a yummy brunch @ St. Michael's Alley

I spy the cutes furry baby ever

This Sunday, my lovely friends and I took part in the annual San Francisco Mermaid 10k Race. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful running conditions that day. Clear skies, gentle sunshine, and the cool bay breeze soothed all the natural discomforts of long distance running. The breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge made it perfect. I finished in 65th place overall and 14th in my age division at 1:02:53. It was hands down one of my favorite runs ever, and I can't wait to do more.

If you guys have any suggestions for a good Half Marathon please let me know!

The first signs of Fall & Giveaway Winner Announcement

2010-11-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

While walking my dogs the other day, I came across this lone fallen red leaf. Fall in the Bay has been a little delayed this year, but this is a pretty good sign that it'll be here soon.

Congratulations to Michelle! You won the CSN giveaway thanks to random.org =) A big thank you to everyone who participated. I look forward to hosting another giveaway soon.

Michelle, Please send me your contact info so that I can forward you the gift certificate.

xoxo

Weekend in Review

2010-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Brunch @ the ahhhmazing BLD in West Hollywood

coffee perfectly executed with a french press

goat cheese and wild mushroom fritatta

the best pancake I have ever tasted

on our way to Boulevard 3 for Mandi's Birthday Festivities

sisters!

The girlies

Celebrating V.I.P style

Had a fantastic weekend celebrating Mandi's 24th in style. I think the older we get, the more we love and appreciate each other. I remember when we were both in high school and did not want anything to do with the other. Now, we're inseparable, and it's been that way for almost ten years. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Unfortunately the weekend came to an end and now I'm nursing a horrible stomach bug, but hopefully it will go away soon so I can get back to normal. Have a lovely day everyone!

i'll announce the giveaway winner tomorrow =)

Donut Day

2010-11-04T22:06:00.001-07:00

I had a serious hankering for donuts yesterday and decided to forego lunch for some melt-in-your- mouth goodness. One donut turned into two, and before I knew it I was taking a whole box home. Unfortunately all the sugar got to my head because I ended up accidentally locking my keys in my car. After several S.O.S. calls and facebook statuses, I was finally rescued haha. Even after all that hoopla, I think it was all worth it in the end.

I'm off to L.A. for the weekend to celebrate my little sister's birthday. Let the festivities begin!

have a lovely weekend everyone =)

Fillin the baking void

2010-11-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

My oven and I have sadly become distant over the past couple of months. Last week I filled my baking void by trying my hand at something simple and new: Andes chocolate chunk cookies. Andes mints bring back fond memories of my childhood. I used to look forward to them after every family Friday night meal at Luby's cafeteria (one of my favorite restaurants in the world). These cookies hit the spot, and brought back good times. Makes me miss Texas all over again.

You should try it too! Click here for the printable recipe.

It's the last day to join the CSN giveaway. Come join the fun!

Weekend in Review

2010-11-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Bringing Burger and Derby to a "Howloween Pawty"

trying to make friends

after mommy duties, Drinks at Single Barrel San Jose's newest Speakeasy

New Sunday Brunch Spot: Naglee Park Garage

Getting my climb on at Planet Granite

I think I used muscles that have not been used in years or EVER

me and my belay partner Mabel We laughed throughout our entire lesson. Our instructor was NOT amused. haha

I don't know what I would do without weekends. Weekends according to me mean: sleeping in, Burger and Derby time, wine, catching up with friends over dinner and drinks, lazy Sunday brunch, going for a good run, and getting active. I try to savor every last minute of it before Monday rears its ugly head. Mission accomplished =)

What does your favorite weekend look like ?

ps. There's still time to enter my GIVEAWAY, so come join the fun!

Halloween Style Ideas- Audrey and Betty

2010-10-27T21:56:00.001-07:00

Classic Audrey Hepburn- Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's

The lovely Betty Draper

click here for my mad men tutorial

The months have flown by, and Halloween has totally crept up on me! I've been consumed with mourning the end of summer, and that probably explains why all the halloween fare surrounding me has gone unnoticed. A combination of poor planning and an attempt to save money have left me no choice but to forego the whole experience this year (except for taking Burger and Derby to a "Howloween" pawrty with the lovely Cinnamon of course haha).

Even though I won't be celebrating, I wanted to share my costumes from the past couple of years with you in case you're looking for some ideas. I constructed these costumes from things right out of my own closet and borrowed accessories from my friends. I am a believer in buying things that you can use again, as opposed to buying a packaged costume that you only use for a few hours and then find it years later behind the washing machine collecting dust and cobwebs. You can find my tutorials for both Audrey and Betty's costumes here and here.

Hope it helps =)

Don't forget to join my giveaway- a chance to win a $45 gift certificate from CSNstores.com!

Lovely little life Giveaway Announcement!

2010-10-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

My generous friends at CSNstores.com have graciously allowed me to give away a $45 dollar gift certificate to one of my lucky readers =) You know how much I love to cook and entertain, so if it were up to me, I would have no problem putting it towards furniture like this beautiful drop leaf table above, or maybe some killer shoes, but since it's not me who's gonna do the shopping you can pick! CSN offers an endless amount of beautiful quality items from furniture, decor, and kitchenware to luxe apparel, so I have no doubts that you'll be a happy shopper.

You have three chances to win- Here's how to enter, it's super easy! :

1. Add me as a friend by becoming a follower of my blog (via google friend connect) on the right hand sidebar. If you're already a follower leave me a comment telling me that you have already done so.

After becoming a follower, you can enter two more times by:

2. Mentioning my giveaway on your blog (dont' forget to notify me if you have done this)

3. or Leaving a comment on this post

Enter by next Wednesday =) Winners will be announced by random.org

Good Luck!

xoxo

Sonoma through Pictures

2010-10-21T22:06:00.001-07:00

Preston Winery and Organic Farm weigh and pay.

vintage spool rack

you can tell this farm is organic... They chickens have names!

Wine and cheese? Yes please!

out-takes from our self-time photo shoot

I heart white picket fences. Too bad my dress blends right in

Dutcher Crossing Vineyards- Check out the amazing view!

I am a total sucker for bicycles

Nat and her pumpkins

Grapes are ready for harvest

fairy tale pumpkins

Exploring the Dry Creek General Store. Waaay better than a SevenEleven

This is how I look like when I wake up. NO JOKE! My hair always looks like I've been in a crazy cat fight.

Until next time Sonoma! You've been good to us =)

I'm heading back to wine country this weekend AGAIN to celebrate my dear friend, Kjersti's, birthday! I smell more good wine and food coming my way. Hope you all have a lovely weekend. Enjoy!

xoxo

ps. Watch out for my giveaway this coming Tuesday =)

Escape to Wine Country Part I

2010-10-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

J vineyards and winery

Preston Vineyards

I can't remember the name of this place, but this giant petite four was sooo good! I'm in love with marzipan now.

Me and my lovely friend and fellow native Texan, Nathalie, gladly spent our entire Saturday exploring the quieter side of wine country- Sonoma. I don't know how I managed not to ever come here considering I pay wine country a visit at least 4 times every year. Sonoma gives you everything you want from Napa minus the touristy bustle and drunken groups that often come stumbling into wine tastings. You won't find that here... Think homey, organic, family-owned, farm feel. Somehow, it has the ability to make you feel like you're drinking wine in your own backyard. Nat and I had a blast and spent most of the day laughing and reminiscing about college and the sad realities of being an adult. These aren't even half of the pictures from our photo shoot we managed to pull off thanks to nice drunk strangers and the self-timer, so stay tuned for part II =)

Escape to Wine Country

2010-10-14T19:14:00.001-07:00

@ the infamous French Laundry last year

After a taxing week at work, I'm more than ready to get away. My friend Nathalie and I are heading to Sonoma tomorrow and hitting up all the good stuff. Wine, food, and shopping- everything a girl needs to get her head back on straight. Can't wait to share our adventure with you all. Lotsa pictures to come soon. Have a beautiful weekend!

quick hello

2010-10-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

I have about 5 minutes before my next meeting, so I thought I'd take time to share one of the funniest pictures ever. A couple weeks ago I went country western dancing and ended up rockin out with grandpa. I hope I can manage to harness half his energy when I'm his age.

Eat, Drink, Run

2010-10-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

Team Thing 1 & Thing 2

Mabelieux and Karlieux

we did it!!!

We both felt like wonderwoman afterwards

After our race celebrations. Cajun food and Sangria yummmm

the next day in SF with Mandi and Lydia

driving around the Castro

Wandering around la Mission

Indulging in homemade ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery

sisters sharing an ice cream cone

A couple of weeks ago, my friends and I took part in the annual Palo Alto Moonlight 10k race. I loved everything about the experience, and it only reinforced my love for running. Throughout my entire life, I found myself making every excuse not to run. The only time you'd probably see me running anywhere was to get to a good sale. Living in the Bay area has really helped motivate me to stay healthy and active. You can't live here and not participate in some kind of hobby that doesn't get you off the couch. I mean hello, why live in the Bay if you're not going to take advantage of the gorgeous weather! I'm in love with the idea that you can enjoy all the amazing food here but still create a balance between indulgence and a healthy lifestyle. So eat, drink, and run to your heart's content my friends. Next race is November 14th- The San Francisco Mermaid Race. Can't wait!

ps. check out my friend Kjersti's blog for expert running tips you can use everyday ;)

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Good Morning

2010-10-06T11:08:00.001-07:00

my favorite furry alarm clocks

best part of waking up: fresh espresso

breakfast of champions

I took the morning off today and skipped out on my weekly Wednesday meeting. This week hasn't been the easiest time for me, so attending a meeting that usually bore me to tears didn't exactly seem like something that would do me any good. I forgot how nice it feels to wake up at a decent hour and actually take time to enjoy breakfast instead of scarfing it down as I bolt out the front door. The best part about today was waking up to Burger and Derby's kisses instead of an evil blaring alarm clock. They always know how to put a smile on my face. This is the first time in a long time that I can say "good morning!" and actually mean it. It feels soooo damnnn gooooddd.

ps. Thank you all for sending your kind thoughts about my mom. It really helped me get through the toughest day of the year.

Remembering Mom

2010-10-03T22:41:00.001-07:00

Today I want to take a moment to remember my Mom and what an amazing person she was. It's been three years since she passed, and I find myself missing her more everyday. Although my heart is heavy today, I take heart in knowing that she is always with me.

Mom, if you're listening thank you for all that you did. I miss everything about you- your big heart, contagious laugh, delicious cooking, and most of all the way you could genuinely make everyone you encountered feel special and let them know that they mattered. You were definitely one of a kind. Everything I am and all that I have achieved is because of you. I love, miss, and think about you everyday.

Your Daughter,

Missy

Blogging, I miss you

2010-09-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

(my sis and I after finishing the Palo Alto Moonlight 10k Race)

post to come later

Hey loves,

So sorry for being M.I.A. I've been attempting to find a happy medium between my new life as a responsible adult in the work force and having fun in between. So far I'm sad to report that I haven't been very successful. I've either been barely "making it" to the next day or feeling like I've been run over by a large truck. Everything else in my life seems to have taken a backseat to anything reminiscent of sleep. This includes everything I'd rather be doing, blogging being one of many. However, the one thing that has kept me sane throughout this process has been my daily runs. No matter how tired I am, it's something that I cannot end my day without. I treat it like another part of my hygiene routine- and compare it to the act of brushing my teeth. Like my running routine, I know I have to slowly integrate the things I love back into my life without letting the mundane beat of the daily grind get in the way. I'm going to add blogging to my hygiene regime and see how it goes. Like all things in life, I'm sure it'll get easier.

I bet a lot of you are thinking "oh cry me a river!" and you're right. I should do less crying and more doing.

So to all my working ladies- How do you do it? I'll take any advice I can get!

xoxo

Run Run Run

2010-09-23T22:41:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday! I'm stoked that the work week is finally over! Tonight, me and a bunch of my friends are running the Annual Palo Alto Moonlight Run for charity. It's my first race ever so I feel stoked but nervous and scared at the same time that I might end up as runners' roadkill.

I took some time last night to make a little last minute Race playlist which is comprised of songs from my college hay-days in the Durrty South. There's nothing like running to the beats of Snoop Dogg and The Ying Yang Twins to get your heart pumping and kick-start your adrenaline.

Wish me luck!

Check out my running interview on my lovely friend Kjersti's blog. She's my running idol and graciously shares a wealth of running tips and wisdom from her many years of training, so go check it out!

Weekend Peek

2010-09-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Alli's big 2-6 @ Morocco's

Sugar Therapy Girls

Janet and Karla performing a Spanish rendition

We need more tambourines and perhaps more COWBELL

driving to the peninsula with derbeezy

the lovely KJ and her delicious sunday spread

Time flies when you're having fun, and this weekend felt extra short- Celebrated Alli's birthday Moroccan style, sang karaoke in the city till my voice gave out, and ended the weekend with a lovely homemade traditional Utah dinner.

I live for these kind of days =)

Hope you all had a good start to your week!

Look out for another Lovely Little Life giveaway soon =)

Lovin Lunchtime

2010-09-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

The Divine Pesto Sandwich from Loving Hut

I know my face looks especially hideous here, but it illustrates exactly how I feel about this yucky drink!

Wednesdays definitely do not play nice with my stomach. In between my two job sites, I usually only have time to scarf down a couple crackers and a granola bar as I drive like a maniac to my next destination. Today I had an extra 30 minutes to spare, so I treated myself by trying a vegan restaurant that I've been wondering about for a long time- Loving Hut. Their pesto sandwich was fresh, light, and delicious - no trace of "eating regret" in sight. I will definitely be back for more!

(And for every praise, there is always a complaint... sorry)

Later, I was reeled in by all of my friends' Facebook posts singing the praises of the infamous Starbucks pumpkin spice latte so I had to go see what the hoopla was all about. It has been almost 4 months since I've banned Starbucks after purchasing my super amazing life changing espresso machine, so buying this drink was a big deal. To say the least, I was sorely disappointed and ended up having to choke down $4 worth of a latte that tasted like cough syrup. yuck! I don't know if it was the barista or just me, but the Pumpkin Spice Latte is an expensive no go for me =( What do you guys think?

City by the Sea

2010-09-13T22:07:00.001-07:00

all the yummy sweet stuff

a little vino never hurt anyone =)

the bustling cannery row

ran into a classic car show- 1960's porsche

depression era house in a recession

this reminds me of the beach boys song "surfin USA"

soaking up the sun

eagerly waiting for a yummy brunch @ From Scratch (foodie post on little crumbs of sunshine to come)

The best thing about living in the Bay, is the ability to escape to beautiful places close to home that make you feel like you're on a vacation far far away. This weekend, Carmel was the place to be. This quaint, sleepy, town that promptly shuts down at 6pm was the perfect place to relax, get some fresh air, and of course eat some good food. I'm a city girl through and through, but even crazy city girls like me can use a breather now and then. Beautiful way to spend a weekend =)

Remembering Summer: Chi-Town 2010

2010-09-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

WOW BAO!

@ the American Girl store- every girl's dream =) Here is my twin.

the Bean

Nesting

It was HOTTTTT. Thank goodness for sculptures that spew h20

The ultimate hot dog @ Portillo's. I'm pretty sure I had a mini heart attack afterwards. But it was totally worth it.

Architecture that makes you go WOW.

Musical

Original Playboy Mansion- where the playas used to play

On the amazing Chicago Food tour thanks to my dear Jenny

Shots of balsamic vinegar and olive oil? YUMM!

Patriotic @ Navy Pier

Ridin the Subway

My favorite place in Chicago- Wicker Park

I have a niche for picking sweet stuff

@ Baked with my oreo pie. Still packin on the LBS. hehe

the legendary Wrigley Field

oh, and of course SPRINKLES! Oprah's pick.

Chicago,Windy City, Second City, Chi-town... Call it what ya wanna, it's awesome. For someone who has a penchant for history, architecture, shopping, and most importantly FOOD, this place was perfect. The only thing I did not appreciate was the 100 degree weather and the blazing summer sun. Even though my skin was slowly turning into shoe leather, it didn't stop me from painting the town red. Chicago, I will definitely be back for more =)

Happy September & Giveaway Announcement

2010-09-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

{Burger buying fresh produce at the Farmer's Market)

Happy September lovelies =) It's hard to believe how fast time flies sometimes. Work has started up for me again, but I've been dragging my feet all week wishing it was still summertime. I have a few days before my my life gets super busy, so i'm going to take advantage of it and have one last hurrah !

Burger would also like to announce our lucky giveaway winner :

The lovely Jennifer from i art you

Congratulations!

Thank you all so much for participating. We'll be hosting more giveaways soon.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! How will you all be spending it?

Texas Girl on the Golden Coast

2010-08-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

Soaking up the sun

The charming Oceana Hotel Santa Barbara

Love the teal accent

The Oceana's outdoor patio- perfect place to enjoy afternoon wine and cheese

Downtown Santa Barbara

Indian street Fair

Going Green

Me. Poolside. with ipad in hand= priceless

right before I ate a massive brunch

I can't believe I waited this long to visit Santa Barbara. It's a beautiful beach town. and is the perfect place to be when you need some much needed R&R. Who doesn't love walking along the beach, riding bikes downtown for good food and retail, and lounging poolside- ipad and vino in hand? I stayed at the charming Oceana Hotel, which made me feel like I was in some kind of summer home dreamland styled by the visual director of Anthropologie. It was heaven. So yes, Santa Barbara is pretty much da bomb, and if you won't take my word for it, then take Oprah's- she lives there, so it must be good!

Summer Travels- Life's a Zoo

2010-08-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Picturesque Coronado Island

Smellyphant @ the world famous San Diego Zoo

The cutest baby at the Zoo

Best part of the visit: feeding the Giraffes

The closest I'll ever be to a polar bear

the elusive panda. Apparently all they do is eat and sleep. Livin the good life

I'm so bummed that summer is coming to an end soon, but I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to travel throughout the past few months. My first stop was in beautiful San Diego. The beautiful weather was enough to make me want to stay forever, and after my visit to the Zoo, I was smiling from ear to ear. Oh the summa time =)

Home sweet home

2010-08-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

{poolside @ the Oceana hotel in Santa Barbara}

The past two weeks have been absolute vacation bliss, but it's always nice to come back and settle into the comforts of home. There's nothing like the feeling of my two furry boys welcoming me back with doggie kisses and unconditional love (conveniently ignoring the fact that their mommy left them for two weeks to prance around America while stuffing her face and indulging in completely unnecessary retail).

Since I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things, I've decided to extend my giveaway until next Tuesday, so come and join the fun =)

Birthday Giveaway!

2010-08-11T22:48:00.001-07:00

Hello Lovelies, Long time no see! I have to apologize for being a really bad blogger lately. I feel like I've been on a non-stop birthday celebration train because shortly after my birthday, I spontaneously decided to take a week-long road trip along California's beautiful coast. You would think that I would take a break after being on the go, but instead I'm packing my bags again and heading to Chicago tomorrow for some foodie lovin!

In honor of my birthday month, my generous friends at CSNstores.com have graciously allowed me to give away a $50 dollar gift certificate to one of my lucky readers =) You know how much I love to entertain, so if it were up to me, I would have no problem putting a gift certificate towards gorgeous dining room pieces like the beautiful table and retro china cabinet above. CSN offers an endless amount of beautiful quality items from furniture, decor, and kitchenware to luxe apparel, so take your pick!

Joining the Giveaway is easy! Just visit my new lifestyle blog I host with my lovely cousin Alli: Little Crumbs of Sunshine and become a follower! Leave us feedback on the comments section or comment on this post for 2 extra entries. Giveaway will remain open until Wednesday August, 18.

A grown up Birthday Wishlist

2010-07-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday marks another year of good life and health for me, and although I know those are already two amazing gifts in itself , I thought it wouldn't hurt to post a little wish list just for fun ;)

{ I just bought an espresso machine earlier this month (and I love it) but it definitely has nothing on this baby}

{ I've been eyeing this purse at Anthropologie for months! It's soft as butter and the best part is that it's on sale!}

{ In my dream world I would wear these everyday and they'd be as comfortable as my nike running shoes}

{ just because it's yellow and pretty}

{ I have a black thumb and plants usually never survive in my care, so this dried arrangement of billy buttons are perfect for me}

{ I love ceramics, and these next two items would look good in my next kitchen (wherever that may be)}

I'm curious... what's on your birthday list this year?

Organization Inspiration

2010-07-21T01:52:00.001-07:00

{all images from decor8, for more pictures click here}

This week, I've been struggling with some really bizarre sleeping patterns which consist of sleeping no earlier than 3 am and waking up around noon. I don't want to complain, because I feel extremely fortunate to be one of few adults who still get to enjoy somewhat of a carefree, summer, but I can't seem to kick the guilty feeling of not getting much of anything done during the day. I feel like such a teenager, well, an old one at that.

One of the things on my summer to-do list was to organize my house from top to bottom, but seeing as I have been in dreamland for the past week, it hasn't been successful. I started doing some cleaning last week, and realized that I have come dangerously close to becoming a hoarder. For whatever reason, I feel compelled to keep anything and everything because it either has some form of sentimental quality, or may perhaps come in "handy" in the future. I'm sure this is what the hoarders receiving interventions on television used to say before their house was declared a landfill... haha I laugh now, but that could easily become me. I'm using these photos of my favorite house tour on decor8 to give me a good kick in the butt. This charming little home in Vienna is only a meager 650 square feet, but is perfectly styled with necessary items that are functional yet beautiful at the same time. Letting go is hard, but I think I can do it. We'll see how it goes...

If you have any home organization tips, please send them my way =) I need all the help I can get!

xoxo

The beautiful Pacific

2010-07-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

{ Ready... Set..}

{JUMP!}

{obligatory jumping shot}

{fun with the underwater camera}

{Island Tour}

{ the pops}

{Popsicles by the sea}

Here's a glimpse of our little family getaway to the Punta de Uian Resort off the coast of Zambales, Philippines. I can't remember feeling this relaxed and happy in a long time. I miss them already.

The Filipino Celebrity Experience

2010-07-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

{ Manila Day Concert: Arnel Pineda, Current Lead singer of legendary 80's Rock Band Journey}

{ somehow we only got a picture of his beard and my insanely large face lol}

{The MTRCB Film Awards}

{With Alfred Vargas, Actor & newly elected Councilor of Quezon city}

{Lucy Torres and Richard Gomez}

{ Attending a taping of "Talentadong Pinoy" (Talented Filipinos)}

Thanks to my Aunt who is on the board of the Philippine Film Committee, we were lucky to be able to take part in different facets of the Philippine entertainment industry during our visit. I have always adored Filipino showbiz ( I can watch hours and hours of The Filipino Channel if left unmonitored), so the experience was especially fun for me. You can even catch us on the July 4th episode of "Talentadong Pinoy" =)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Watch out for my giveaway next week!

Island Adventure Sneak Peak

2010-07-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

{ I made it! finally got my Master's degree checked off the list }

{Manila Bay}

{Eastwood City by night}

{Punta de Uian Resort}

{Bonifacio High Street}

{Came back from the trip with a whole new do, and I love it =)}

Hi there! I'm finally back and ready to get back into the swing of things. I hope you all are having an amazing summer thus far! Adjusting to all the time changes has made me feel like I've been gone for an eternity, but I'm slowly getting used to sleeping at a decent hour and waking up no later than 1 in the afternoon.

I throughly enjoyed my trip to the Philippines, and was able to experience the country and its culture on a whole different level. We did everything from indulging in spas and relaxing at resorts to serving the Filipino Community. I learned a lot about my family's heritage and spent a great deal of quality time with them (usually around a table of delicious home-cooked food). Here are some snapshots of my trip. More to come soon!

Also, my cousin Alli and I are launching a new foodie-lifestyle blog together that will include reviews of restaurants, cooking videos/recipes, crafts, and other fun stuff. Our first post will include a giveaway, so feel free to join the fun =)

Glad to be back,

Missy

Here comes another Milestone

2010-06-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's here! After all the late nights, compulsive cramming, and experiencing caffeine induced delirium, I'll be walking across the stage tomorrow night with my Masters degree in hand, surrounded by my amazing family and friends . ( I've been thinking a lot about all my best friends back home in Texas, I wish you all could be here too!)

After graduation, I'll be leaving on a family vacation to the Philippines on Monday night, and will be gone for about three weeks. I'm so stoked, and ready to partake in obscene amounts of eating and shopping. We will also be making a pit stop in Palawan (a popular beach resort destination), where I plan on laying out on the beach with a Pina Colada in hand ;) If anyone from/or is familiar with the Philippines is reading this and has any shopping,eating,sightseeing suggestions, send them my way (in the comments section) ! I'd really appreciate it =) I'll be back with lots of pictures to share from all my adventures and maybe even a couple updates throughout!

xoxo,

Missy

My little buddies

2010-06-03T23:29:00.000-07:00

These furry beings bring so much joy to my life =) Happy Weekend everyone!

It's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood

2010-06-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

{our view from the hotel window}

{the girls still recovering from the night before}

{Cafe Divine- our delicious brunch spot}

{cinny came too!}

{gorgeous day in North Beach}

{I found my own personalized apartment building: Casa Melissa}

I wanted to share pictures from one of the most beautiful days in San Francisco's history. It was sunny, 75 degrees, and perfect! I wish everyday was like this =)

Still fab at 30

2010-06-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

(The tiramisu cake I special made for the birthday girl}

{mabel making a wish}

{VIP booth @ Slide}

{the Sugar Therapy girls}

{beautiful Martha & Olga}

{Mabel and J-Lo}

{this is before the club started to feel like an oven}

{we all graduate next friday!}

{dancing the night away}

My lovely, dear friend and business partner, Mabel, celebrated her 30th in style this weekend. We headed to the city for good food, drinks, and dancing. Needless to say, the celebration did not end there. We later crashed at the San Francisco Grand Hyatt overlooking the city slept in, nursed our poor hangovers, and enjoyed a delicious birthday brunch in North Beach (more pictures later). Mabel would die if I told you she was 30, but I don't think she looks a day over 21. Mabel, if you're reading this, you are the bestest =)

hello... anybody out there?

2010-05-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

The past few months have been extremely busy for me to say the least. Now I know why they call deadlines, deadlines-- because once you've finished them, you'll probably feel brain dead. Anyways, my blog has become a casualty of all the busyness. It makes me really sad because I feel like it has lost some (if not all) of its quality because of the lack of attention I've been able to give it as of late. Hopefully after today, my little blog will return to what it once was. I'm happy to announce that I just finished writing the last paper of my educational career, so now I can go back to tending to my little piece of the blogosphere! I have a lot of exciting plans for the summer and I can't wait to share my adventures with you all again =) Thanks for sticking by me during this wild ride!

xoxo

Soooo Proud

2010-05-26T22:20:00.000-07:00

Congratulations D! I couldn't be more proud of you =)

I can't wait for this week to be over. Lots and lots of more exciting things to come!

Earth Friendly Cupcakes

2010-05-23T22:35:00.001-07:00

{earth- friendly red velvet cupcakes baked in silicon cups sans the traditional paper liners}

I baked a ton of goodies this past week as graduation gifts for my kiddos. It was sweet watching them enjoy them as we commemorated all that had been accomplished during our time together. The red velvet cupcakes were especially amusing because the kids were so confused as to what flavor they were. Some were convinced that they were strawberry, some were mystified, and others could care less (they were just happy to be ingesting sugar). Nonetheless, I'm really going to miss them, but I'm glad I got to work with them and share two of the things I'm passionate about :1. making a difference 2. baking =)

Pass me the coffee please

2010-05-18T23:00:00.001-07:00

The next several days are going to be pretty interesting... "interesting" meaning I will need a personal caffeine IV to stay awake. Just when I thought I was going to fly through the home stretch to graduation, several deadlines suddenly fall on the same date (which I admit was some poor planning on my part because I was too busy enjoying the high from completing my thesis). So now what? I guess I'll just have to end my educational career with a sleep-deprived bang. I smell lots of 12 hour days and late nights in my future. Thank goodness I can count on my best friend in the world, Mr. Coffee who has stood by my side all these years, and has yet to ever let me down. I salute you!

Eating Out Around the Bay

2010-05-17T23:21:00.001-07:00

{oh, I love eating. I fear the day my metabolism starts slowing down}

Thanks to Yelp, I found another good Korean Barbeque place to help me gain some extra junk in my trunk.

Jang Su Jang was delicious. The colossal dumplings, spicy tofu soup, tender and flavorful Kalbi, delightfully crispy seafood pancake, and unlimited side dishes were the perfect way to celebrate the end of a hectic work week. I give this place extra brownie points too because I didn't leave smelling like a greasy bbq pit. Good food and no greasy smell is enough to keep me coming back again and again!

Doggy Days

2010-05-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

{ on our way to the dog park}

{derby always staying close to mom}

{time to go}

There's nothing I love more than spending time with my two sweet boys =)

Hope you all had a sweet weekend!

Class Ring Revamped

2010-05-12T22:39:00.000-07:00

{ My college graduation 2006, Baylor University}

{Old school Bling }

{pretty, practical, and yellow- my favorite color!}

click here for more info

I finally ordered my graduation invitations today! It felt pretty surreal, and almost strange. I still have a couple weeks till it actually comes into full fruition, so I think I'll just sit back and enjoy my last few moments as a student. Anyways, inside the invitation order form, there was another brochure for graduate class rings. I took a quick glance and everything was hideous. Chunky, brassy looking things straight out of an 80's year book. YUCK. (okay, I admit I own one from high school that I recently found collecting dust at the bottom of my vanity drawer in my dad's house). There has got to be something better than sporting outdated brass knuckles!

To the rescue comes David Yurman. His petite diamond and citrine sterling-silver band ring is the perfect piece of hardware to commemorate a girl's hard work and commitment to feeding her brain excess knowledge over the past twenty something years. Twill look nice on one of my little fingers ;)

Poor little buddy

2010-05-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

Burger had his teeth cleaned last week and woke up miserable and delirious. The poor thing wasn't himself for days (he's okay now), but you have to admit that he's especially cute when he doesn't feel well.

Sweet Things and Fried Chicken?

2010-05-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

{professional taste testers}

{Oakland's famous Chicken and Waffles}

Thanks to my dear Alli, I had the pleasure of tagging along with her to the Sweet Shoppe festival in Oakland. We sampled tons of yummy sugar laden goodies and topped the day off with lunch at Oakland's famous Chicken and Waffles. It was such a sweet way to end the week! A joint food video blog is in the works, so look out for it soon =)

Now back to the daily grind... (insert a major sigh here)

Celebrating Mom

2010-05-06T22:56:00.000-07:00

This Sunday will be bittersweet for me. It's Mother's day, and as much as I would prefer to avoid it all together, there's no escaping it. Mother's day ads and commercials are everywhere I turn. My heart has been heavy all week in anticipation of this day, but the more I think about it, the more I am determined to do what the day is intended for: celebrating the life of the most important woman in my life. I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing woman my mom was. She had the biggest heart and was the epitome of a selfless human being. She taught me that the best things in life are free and the best way to be pretty was to have a beautiful heart. She worked hard everyday so my sister and I could have the best opportunities possible. Mom, thank you so much for everything you did. I miss you and think about you everyday. You are always and forever in my heart. I love you.

Your Daughter,

Missy

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and to all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Va Va Vegas!!

2010-05-06T00:07:00.001-07:00

{Sonic strawberry slushies... YUMM}

{the vegas strip}

{Dinner & Drinks @ the Rum Jungle- mandi & I dreamed of going here when we were 16 lol}

{my loves and I @ dinner}

{fairy tale like forest at the Wynn}

{my favorite place to party: XS @ the beautiful Wynn hotel}

{Mabel and Bobby- crazy cats ;) }

{Dancing the night away- yes, we're dancing in water. that was the best part!}

{ it was fun getting the VIP treatment thanks to Martha's good friend, the DJ }

{sister love}

{and more dancing...}

{my pretty ladies}

{coming home @ 6am. the sun was already up. haha}

{the next day we managed to wake up and go to a hilarious sexy male dancer show. I almost had a heart attack from laughing so much}

{the gorgeous garden setup at the Bellagio}

{exhausted but still smiling}

Vegas was LEGENDARY. My friends and I had an amazing time. We pretty much danced the night away and partied until the sun came up. Our pre-graduation celebration was successful, and I'm glad we were able to commemorate all our hard work. Until next time Vegas!

Sometimes you need a vacation from a vacation

2010-05-04T23:36:00.001-07:00

{the unlucky one =( }

My friends and I had an amazing time in Vegas, but now I think I need time to recover from all the fun haha. I have tons of pictures to share, but my laptop is at its storage capacity, so in the mean time while it loses some weight, I wanted to show you my cute little succulents I planted a couple of months ago. I've been smitten by these things ever since I found them during a random trip to the Home Depot. I know I have a black thumb, but since succulents don't require a lot of attention, I thought they had a fighting chance surviving in my care. Unfortunately, I lost one in my thesis writing frenzy, but the rest of them still seem to be alive and kicking =)

Vegas recap tomorrow! Have a beautiful day.

xoxo

Viva Las Vegas!

2010-04-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

{last year's vegas trip at the Wynn Buffet. My eyes were bigger than my stomach lol }

My girlfriends and I are off to Las Vegas for some sun, dancing, drinks, good food, and R&R. After 3 years of grad school, I think this is a much deserved trip for all of us =) I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share next week.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend !!!

Is it too late for Spring Cleaning?

2010-04-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

Remember when I was making a bunch of hoopla over Spring cleaning? Well... I think it all flew out the window when my thesis took over my life. I wouldn't dare post any pictures of its aftermath, but I did find a a couple pictures of the armoire I snatched up on clearance from Ikea for $14.99. During my Spring cleaning itch, I organized my closet and decided to use this thing to hold the clothes I wanted to wear for the week. It came bare, so I bought some fabric and used my handy little sewing machine to make some curtains to spruce it up. Don't laugh at my brick of a T.V. I've had it since college and now it's an antique ;)

I feel like a million bucks...

2010-04-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Thesis done. Vegas this weekend. Graduation around the corner... life couldn't be better =)

Thanks for all your support and encouragement during this wild ride! Ya'll are the best. Here's to life moving forward (and consistent blog posting)!!!

xoxo,

Missy

An Oldie but a Goodie

2010-04-21T23:10:00.001-07:00

I recently found this polaroid of my sister, Mandi, and I at Disney World in 1988. We were convinced that we were princesses, and believed Mickey Mouse was real. Check out our gigantic L.A. Gear hightops and my hot pink fanny pack. It was no doubt the 80's, and I can't help but smile and laugh =)

Taking a breather

2010-04-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

{way too excited to try Blue Bottle coffee... I ended up burning myself lol}

I cheated on my thesis this weekend to spend some time with my dearest friend Jenny. She was in town for a conference and I couldn't resist taking a little breather from it all. We had dinner at a local San Francisco organic Japanese Restaurant, Minako. The food was amazing, and we loved our sassy waitress, Judy, who is also incidentally the owner of this little gem of a restaurant. Great food and great conversation made for a perfect night =)

Wishing you all a lovely week!

xoxo

The library is my temporary home

2010-04-14T21:13:00.001-07:00

{via etsy }

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been a walking mess as of late. I joke that the library has become my temporary home, but it's sadly true. It reminds me of a time in college when I attempted to pull an all nighter for a test I had at 8am... While studying in the library, I convinced myself to "rest my eyes" for just a few minutes. I ended up abruptly waking up at 7 in the morning slouched in a chair, with drool all over my face to the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Turns out, I fell asleep while studying, and they were already getting ready to open up for the day. I'm pretty sure I bombed that test. haha I miss college so much. Those were the good old days. I'll be back soon! Feel free to share your fondest college mishap too =)

xoxo

Supah Cool

2010-04-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

I took this picture awhile back as I strolled down Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. The guy on the left is such a cool cat. He totally made the picture =)

My thesis is coming along sloooooooowly but surely. I'm devoting my entire being to finishing it so I can get back to living a normal life!

Have a beautiful week everyone!

Down but not Out

2010-04-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

The stress of writing my thesis while juggling work and school is starting to get to me, but I'm not gonna let it bring me down! With graduation only 8 weeks away, I have a lot to look forward too =) I think I will need lotsa moral support until then. Wish me luck!

Easter Weekend in Review

2010-04-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

{Relaxing in the Marina District}

{Coffee @ the Plant Organic Cafe}

{I somehow ended up at Comicon. It was an interesting experience}

{me and a big bad storm trooper}

{hi totoro!}

{yummy red velvet cupcake @ baked sf}

{chez maman's amazing brie burgers. I will be back for more}

{Hanging out with the doggies after Easter Brunch}

My Easter weekend was relaxing and rather interesting. I took a stroll around the City, ate amazing food, and somehow ended up at a Comic-con convention... LOL. It was an interesting experience, and definitely worth the pictures with all the characters =) I'm already mourning the end of the weekend, but I'm crossing my fingers for a nice week. Wishing you all happy Monday!

Kitchen Musings

2010-04-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

{my challah french toast topped with melted brie, fresh strawberries, and bananas}

{shrimp scampi goodness}

Last Sunday was spent creating lots of good food with great friends and family. In a perfect world, I would be able to do this everyday =) Hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Reason number 10,239,123 I should be living in the City

2010-03-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

{oh tartine, I miss you already}

{banana creme goodness}

{best view in town}

{on top of the world}

There are plenty of reasons why I should move to the City, but this weekend I found two more.

Tartine Bakery & Twin Peaks

One serves the best banana creme tarts in the world and the other is the best place to hike off all the decadent calories and enjoy 360 degree views of San Francisco.

I'm on the lookout for more reasons. If you have any, please feel free to send them my way!

xoxo

A day in Wine Country & Giveaway Winner Announcement

2010-03-29T23:03:00.001-07:00

{ waiting to eat an epic brunch}

{the boonfly cafe's world famous bloody mary}

{i heart donuts}

{mandi and michelle catching up @ guinis (the best sandwich shop ever) }

{Castello de amorosa}

{finally got a picture with the winery mascot after chasing him across the vineyard grounds for a good ten minutes}

{cheese heaven}

Sorry for the delay with announcing the giveaway winner. My little guy, Derby, hurt his leg and I've been running around town looking for specialists to perform his surgery =(

So without further ado, congratulations Jozen! You've been chosen as the winner by random.org. Please send me your contact info so I can get the mixer to you asap =) Thank you all for participating! I'm looking forward to being able to host more giveaways in the future.

Here are some pictures from last week's rendezvous in Napa. I miss it already. Hope everyone is having a great week.

xoxo

Celebrating Spring with the Sister

2010-03-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

{lounging at the Boonfly Cafe in Napa}

My sister, Mandi, just left this morning after spending her Spring Break in the Bay with me. Every time she visits, my clothes and jewelry mysteriously go missing, and somehow I end up gaining ten pounds and spending an excessive amount of money. She's such a bad influence, but I wouldn't have it any other way =)

ps. I've extended my hand mixer giveaway till tomorrow: Click here to enter!

Enjoying my sorta spring break

2010-03-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Spring is finally here! I've been celebrating its beautiful return with my sister who is here visiting from SoCal. So far we've hit the Tahoe slopes, went wine tasting in Napa, and frolicked in the City. I'm loving every second of it =) Lots of pictures to come later.

Don't forget to enter my mixer giveaway! Click here to join the fun =)

What's your favorite thing about spring?