Saying Goodbye to Summer

    As I start this post, please know that I mean summer as lightly as possible... Today is November 13th, and it was 81 degrees in Los Angeles.  I hate to complain about the weather, but I am very much jonesing for some layering weather.
    This year I really tried to make the most of my summer... I just wanted to recap some of the highlights!

First trip of the summer was to Santa Barbara!!!

The Beach!

Bikes bikes bikes

    Andrea and I have been best friends for 15 years this fall and we decided to celebrate with a wine tour in the San Ynez valley. It was amazing.  I can't say enough about how much I needed this break after a VERY long season of my show this year.

    Wine Tasting in Barnsdall Park!

Delicious wine with beautiful architecture in the background!

Complimented by one of my favorite couples!

Epic sunset and view of LA

    Once a month in the summer, there are wine tastings at Barnsdall Park, on the lawn of the Hollyhock House, which was built by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of my favorite architects. The setting is epic, the wine is amazing, and I never get to go!!! Its always on a Friday night, and I am always working. This year, I actually made it to one, and it was spectacular. Surprisingly, it was one of the more family friendly events I had been to in a long time. Lots of cute chubby little toddlers waddling around to DJ's while their parents lounged on blankets and sipped wine. It was so nice. 

Wilco and Neil Young (!!) at the Hollywood Bowl

Wilco getting ready to start!

The gang before the show!

Epic seats and sounds for Neil Young

    Its no secret that I love the Hollywood Bowl. I post about it every year. This time the lineup wasn't as amazing as I would have liked, but I did see two pretty outstanding shows. Wilco and Neil Young were both everything I had hoped they would be. Neil Young played forever, and just jammed out. You can tell he still has a solid love of performing. It was incredible. 

San Francisco, well it was just outstanding... but I think I talked enough in the last post.

Beautiful sunset while we walked.

Tea Tasting!

Chinatown

   Thank you summer/hiatus of 2012 for being so much fun and quite an adventure. I expect next year to be just as good...once the vampires go back to ground.

xo

Patterns Patterns Patterns

    Loralie from Ellenore Postmarked came by today to look at the progress of the apartment and to discuss what was next on our list of projects.  Its actually been a few days since I have been in my apartment during the day, so it was a nice reminder how warm and lovely the space is. I was looking at pictures of the apartment from just a few months ago... the change is awesome! 

before

before

after

after

    Its a whole new space. I love the pale pink color. Its strangely neutral for being pink and the light reflects so warmly off it. The rug is awesome too. I don't know if you can see it in the photos but the chevrons are all different widths and spacing. It has a somewhat chaotic feel to it that I love. I think it throws off the girliness a bit. I also really enjoyed how Loralie seemed to really be in love with the room as well. I know I know, she designed it, but she seemed genuinely tickled as to how it was coming along.  

We still have a few more projects for the room. First is the panels on the murphy closet. Loralie and I really like the idea of filling them with a pattern so they aren't so stark white. That fabric will also be used to cover a backing for the Ikea shelves so they feel less dorm room. Earlier in the week she dropped off some fabric samples. This is the one I fell in love with:

    Its actually more of a mustard yellow in real life. I feel like it will play off the pink really well. I also like that it goes with all my already very geometric feeling patterns.

    We also chose some fabric to make a few throw pillows as well. I love how it ties all the colors in the room together.  

    Next weekend we are going to go look for economical pet friendly sofas, aka what does Ikea have that is comfy and looks well made. In order to prepare for this adventure, I downloaded the pantone app onto my phone and snapped a few pics for swatches and color matching. The app is pretty incredible. You take a pic with your iPhone (sorry bb and android...not yet suckas!) and it color matches it for you. If the color doesn't seem exact, they also have all of their fandecks in the app and you can access them as well! I made a quick color palette and emailed it to Loralie and myself so we will have it handy on the day.

    Pretty cool right? The top is the Moroccan rug,  next the chevron rug, followed by the nailhead chairs, the walls and finally the awesome ottoman. I freaking love this app. for reals.  I hope you all have a nice easter. I am about to hop a plain the Arizona... travel safe and enjoy the weekend!

xo

Ellenor Postmarked!

   I adore my apartment. Its true. Out of every place I have lived in Los Angeles over the past 9 (!!) years, this is the best. I more than adore it. I love it. I never want to move. Ever. I know, I know. Everyone says "You need to own a home." Honestly, do I need to? I get the tax break and all, but would I find a place, in this neighborhood, with this much character, in my price range? I think not.

    That being said, decorating is not my forte. I know what I like, but I am constantly second guessing myself. I am also easily swayed by the trend of the moment; forgoing large investment pieces for kitchy items I will hate in the fall.  If you follow this blog at all, you know I am always getting a new rug, or moving my furniture around, or a new duvet cover. Yet it still never seems right. Thats where my friend Loralie Orr comes in.

    Loralie and I lived a couple doors apart in a fun apartment building in West Hollywood. She has always had a great sense of style and a keen eye for design. I will say I was not surprised when I received an email this fall letting me know that she was opening her own interior design business.

  Ellenor Postmarked.  It was such a great idea...design from afar or near. Ala carte or full service. All with these little guides to lead you on your way. If you get a chance, please bump over and look at her cute site. Its really well put together and very descriptive. I have to say I was intrigued to say the least, especially when I saw some of the photos of her work...

I mean seriously look at this shit! The plum metallic stripes on the ceiling?! AND LOOK AT THAT LIGHT FIXTURE!!!

And this room? Can I just move all that to my place now???

And last but not least, I love her work here on the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter

www.ellenorpostmarked.com


    So Sunday my sweet friend Loralie came over to start the process of us remaking my place. It was really interesting to see her work. She took measurements of my rooms and of my furniture; and had all sorts of really great ideas about upholstering and resourceful shopping. (If you remember, one of my new years resolutions was to get into better financial shape, and Loralie totally understood that) I had made a design board on Pinterest, and she was really excited to take a look at it. (I also spied the Domino book in her little satchel, and I thought "What a savvy gal!")  Loralie is so funny, and sweet. I didn't mind admitting my pension for trend of the moment, or that I couldn't quite seem to put to words why I hate my living room shelves, but I just did; and she just seemed to get it. Just off the top of her head she recommended some paint ideas and lacquering tips that  would never have crossed my mind. This is going to be super fun. I can feel it.

 So here are the OFFICIAL BEFORE PHOTOS: 

   
    Today I made my very first purchase for the new design. I know it was a little premature, as Loralie is still working on the layout... but I emailed her and she said to snatch these little craigslist babies up! I mean seriously...who would give this pair up?

   Love! So please stay tuned! I promise to keep you all updated with my Ellenor Postmarked adventures!

xo

Early Birthday Date

Kevin and Melissa took me on an early Birthday date last night, and we had the BEST time!


First we had a DELICIOUS dinner at Mas Malo downtown. It is the sister restaurant of one of my fave mexican restaurants in Silverlake.

Mas Malo

Mas Malo is on 7th and Grand. Its absolutely beautiful, in a grand sweeping ballroom with epic ceilings. We had crunchy and chewy chips and a salsa flight for starters, and I had a spicy cucumber margarita... omg in heaven.

We saw this, and although this would normally be up my alley, we stayed away.

This was super fun and we had a great time....but now it was time to move on to the desserts! We crossed the road to Bottega Louie. 

 

The French Macaroons are seriously amazing. We tried salted caramel, pistachio, espresso, earl grey, rose, and vanilla. The flavors were incredible. Mind you, at $1.75 per macaroon, they aren't cheap.  In my mind, they were totally worth it. Also, they guy that helped us was smokin' hot. Melissa said he was def gay, ah well. You win some, you lose some. 

Last but not least, we went and saw this movie at LA Live. 

LA Live is the new movie theatre/restaurant/concert venue downtown. Its all bright and shiny and new. It felt weird seeing a movie there since most of the theaters in Los Angeles are historical and beautiful. The movie itself was cute and popcorn worthy, but the crowd sucked! Totally ghetto! Everyone was talking, on their cell phones,  just being overly rude. I thought it was just a fluke, but today at lunch, another friend of mine had the same experience there. I think from now on I will be sticking to my side of town for movies, but I am glad we checked it out.  

Over all it was a super fun night. I love Melissa and Kevin, and I love downtown LA. 

A True LA Experience

Last night, Julia and I decided to go get our nails done. We were close to Julia's house in the Valley, so she recommended s place she like where they served wine. Wine and Nails? Yes please.  So off we went to...

click me for info!

This is the back entrance... The one that Julia and I used. I was telling her a story as I opened the door and was quickly shooshed by a film crew. Thats right.  We walked right into a reality TV shoot.  RIGHT INTO THE FRAME of this show.

I think Julia wanted to leave, but I really wanted to get my nails done.  They made us sign releases, and we listened to the most ignorant, stereotyping, annoying conversation while we got our manicures.  I had made a huge mistake.  I have seriously lost brain cells due to this event. They made us sit on either side of the "wives"  so we are def going to be on camera during this episode. I was joking that I was going to put it on my IMDB account under "Uncredited annoyed patron."

This is of course after they left, and I am toasting Julia to the quiet and intelligence that came back in the joint. The manicure itself is really cute, hand mixed combo of coral with red glitter. Thats right. I like the glitter. 

***Upon inspection of their website, it appears that The Painted Nail is the mecca for reality TV. All sorts of "wives" get filmed there. They even have their OWN reality show about to premiere. So gross. Would I go back? Maybe...I really like my polish. Only if I can be OFF CAMERA.

xo