LATELY

Today I am driving up north to meet a few friends before we head up to Tahoe. It's a long drive to do alone, but I've made sure I've got music and a few audiobooks to keep me company. 
As this year comes to a close I can't help but get sentimental. I don't want my breakup to overshadow what an incredible year I've had. I try to remind myself that one day, I'll look back on this time and be grateful for all the lessons it's taught me. Every sadness or disappointment that I've had in my life has brought me somewhere even better than I could have imagined. A day will come where everything will feel right, and all of this will make sense. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile... 
Happy Weekend! xo

HAPPY WEEKEND

Happy weekend my dears! I'm off to Ojai today to spend the holiday with my family. I'm hoping while I'm there I'll have more time to do important things, like relax, cook and of course Instagram. My sister will be home for Christmas this year and I'm so looking forward to creating an epic gingerbread house {our tradition} to outshine all from years past. We'll see how creative we can get. Do you have any family traditions you're looking forward to most over the holiday?

 photo via

LATELY

The quote "when one door closes another one opens" has rung very true for me these days. The last few weeks have brought on all kinds of interesting opportunities and photo jobs and I couldn't be more grateful. It feels like the universe is at work. 
I'm quite happy the weekend is here, aren't you? I'm looking forward to finishing up my Christmas shopping and spending time with friends. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...
Happy Weekend! xo

HAPPY WEEKEND

Happy weekend my dears! This has been quite a week. I'm trying to juggle photo shoots, photo editing and blogging with packing up my house of seven years to get ready to move. I've got a lot on my plate and it's proving to be very overwhelming. I don't recommend moving around the holidays. It's a total nightmare, but I am getting excited about a new start. Now I just need to find an awesome apartment to move into. 
Any fun plans for the weekend? My best friend from college will be in town, so I'm looking forward to getting a little catch up time with her. 

{photo via}

LATELY

The last few weeks have been emotional and challenging, but they have also overwhelmed me with blessings. I usually find it hard to lean on others when times are tough. I like to feel like I can handle things on my own. Maybe it's experience or turning thirty, but this time, I haven't been afraid to ask for the support of my friends and family to get me through. They have all been there for me and I will be forever grateful. It's times like these that make you think about what you really want in life and how far you've come. I like where I'm headed. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...
Happy Weekend! xo

THANK YOU

Beyond the fact that it's Thanksgiving, I wanted to thank each and every one of you that read my blog. I can't tell you how much Sweet Thing has changed my life in the best of ways and that's all because of you. I want you to know I am so grateful to those of you who take time out of your busy lives to comment here or interact with me on Twitter or Instagram. Having that communication with my readers is so important to me. To all of you who commented on my breakup post or emailed me- thank you. You brought me to tears. Your words of encouragement have lifted me up, let me know that I'm not alone and that it will get better. You all inspire me everyday. 

Wishing you the most wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

THANKSGIVING IN OJAI

one. terrain bakeware $9-$31
two. carving set $69.95
three. smeg refrigerator $1,999
four. patent oxfords $165
five. sequin shorts $125
six. fair isle sweater $98
seven. gold wishbone $48
Tomorrow I'm heading to Ojai to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I'm feeling a little sassy these days and sequin shorts feel like a necessity. I really like them paired with a cozy sweater for a slightly toned down look. Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday and I couldn't be more excited to spend a few days relaxing in the beautiful country and spending time with loved ones. I need a little time to decompress after all of these big life changes. Where are you headed for the holiday weekend? 

SEE THE WORLD

I see the world as a place forever changing and evolving. A place to learn about yourself and others. 
How about you, how do you see the world?
Today I am thrilled to be teaming up with Lookmatic and IFB for their #SeetheWorld contest. I am wearing the FDR and Kitty frames both of which showcase the many parts of my personality. The FDR's  are my favorite pair of glasses because they make a statement in a subtle way. They show of my more serious side- that loves to read or sit in a coffee shop and people watch. The Kitty frames show my fun side, my love of travel and all things glamourous. They make me feel like a modern day Audrey Hepburn, and who wouldn't want that? 

AHA SHAKE HEARTBREAK

This is very difficult for me to write, but James and I broke up. There was never a day that passed that I didn't think we would be together forever, so as you can imagine this is quite painful and shocking for me. Even though we've been together for three years we've known each other since we were seventeen, so It feels like a death in some ways and I am going to need to mourn this loss. I wanted to share this with you for a few reasons. I started this blog after we had been dating four months so Sweet Thing has never known a life without James. Our adventures and travels have often been documented here and he also contributed mixes regularly. Another reason I wanted to share this is because it's real life. It's easy to imagine how amazing other people's lives are while looking through the rose colored glasses of a blog. Blogs are positive, happy places and Sweet Thing has certainly been that for me. I have no intention of making this blog into a big sob-fest, but I think it's important to let you know that my life is not perfect. Nor is anyone else's for that matter. I will get through this, but it will take time. Sadly time is the only thing that heals. I am feeling scared for the changes about to take place. I will be moving out of the house I've lived in for seven years, so that alone is overwhelming. I am also feeling excited about what the future holds. I have to believe that something good will come of this. 

THANKFUL

Since Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, Glitter Guide asked me to send them a photo holding a sign of what I am thankful for. They also asked us to stray from the usual- family, friends, etc. In some ways this couldn't have come at a worse time, since I've been struggling so much emotionally, but in other ways it's times like these that you need to take a step back and realize all the good that's in your life. I know I still haven't really shared with you why I'm in such a sad place and for that I apologize. I promise to fill you in this week, but for now it's just too fresh. Please excuse me while I take a little time to listen to music and heal my heart. 

 **i'd also like to thank phil & afton for taking this photo & letting me use their awesome apartment

LATELY

This has been one of the toughest weeks of my life. I am not exactly ready to talk about what's going on, but in the midst of all my sadness I felt like it was important to reflect on the positive. I hope to feel ready to share more with you next week, but for now please except the cryptic nature of this post. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...

Happy Weekend!! xo

HAPPY WEEKEND

What a strange week. I can't help but think about so many of you still without water and power, including my sister who lives in lower Manhattan. What is nice to see is how you've banded together and are helping each other through this difficult time. It's hard to grasp exactly what's going on or what you're going through, being so far away, but you are all in my constant thoughts. This weekend I'm wishing you a little warmth, a lazy morning, some cozy socks and a comforting breakfast.  

 {photo by sarah maingot for toast}

LATELY

Happy weekend! Friday is here and I've got quite a packed weekend ahead of me. Tonight I'm celebrating a dear friend's birthday and tomorrow I've got a baby shower, a photo shoot and a Halloween party to attend. All fun stuff though. What about you, any plans for the weekend? James and I just went apple picking for the first time, and if you haven't been I highly recommend it. It felt great to get out of the city for the day and explore a new place. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...

MEMORIES

To be honest, I couldn't think of anything to blog about today {sometimes that happens} so as Halloween draws near, I thought I'd share a family photo from Halloween circa 1992. My mom and I went as Ivana and Ivanka Trump and my dad went as our limo driver. I remember my mom let me wear false eyelashes and they were so heavy I could barely open my eyes. Oh and yes, I've pretty much had bangs on and off my whole life and as you can see dark brown is not my natural hair color. Do you have any favorite Halloween memories when you were a kid? What costume are you most proud of?


LET'S BAKE

one. nested baker set $99
two. wood cutting board $160
three. spades measuring cups $32
four. chandler in whisky tortoise $95
five. apron $56
six. falcon enamelware prep set £54.99
seven. rolling pin $70
It's that time of year, where all I want to do is pretty much live in the kitchen. I have never been much of a baker, but lately I have become consumed with it. I'm determined to be good/better at it. I always like the ability to improvise when cooking and I think the main reason I'm slow to come around to baking is the mathematics involved. But, I've got to say I'm quite enjoying the challenge of using more of my left brain. What about you, do you like the simplicity of following a recipe, or do you like to add/subtract ingredients as you go? 

{pie photo by michael graydon, styling by nikole herriott}

HAPPY WEEKEND

Happy friday! This week has been a little more low-key than usual, which has been nice. I've been cooking up a storm. Even though it's been in the 90's here, there is somethings about this time of year that makes me want to cook and bake and have friends over. I'm getting excited about Halloween, aren't you? One of my neighbors goes all out on the decorations and it always makes me smile when I pass his house. I have no idea what I'm going to be, but I always manage to throw something together last minute. What's in store for you this weekend? Do you have a costume yet? 

 {photo by murray mitchell}

LATELY

Maybe it was my recent trip to Ojai or a mid-week concert with friends, but these last few weeks have seemed to fly by. Overnight it suddenly feels like fall in LA and I am starting to get excited about cozy dinners at home, the first fire of the season and spiced cider. There is nothing I love more than this time of year. I'm trying to take full advantage of these autumnal days, because I'm sure they wont last. Any fun plans for the weekend? For the first time in a long time I don't have any plans and I'm pretty thrilled about it. Maybe I'll catch up on all my blog reading or get a head start on holiday shopping. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile... 

HAPPY WEEKEND

Happy weekend! Any fun plans? I've been in Ojai one day and I am already starting to unwind and enjoy a slower pace of life. Both Teissia and I took our laptops outside and quietly worked under the oak trees while sipping rosé and listening to the water trickle from our fountain. Pretty much heaven. I sometimes wonder if I could ever live here again. Raise a family here. But then Los Angeles always draws me back in. The excitement, the restaurants, the people are all still too appealing for me to think of returning to small town life. Do you ever think about moving back to your hometown, or are you sure you'll never go back?