Dear(ly)

Gabey and I getting our pampering on

Dear Gabey,
You know how they say some people come into your life and you're never ever the same? Well you're that person for me. Thank you for our friendship, your energy, and well everything. =) You have brought so much goodness to my life, and I'm going to miss you so so much. I can't wait to come visit you in NYC and watch you do fancy Broadway musical things. ;) Break a leg. xoxo

Dear Matan (aka my brother),
I am so excited you are coming to visit. You know you haven't been down here in about 1.5 years right? =) I'm really looking forward to spoiling you and showing you a good time.

Dear Sea World Dolphins,
Uhm it's been about 2 weeks since I have seen you. There's something seriously wrong with that, and we need to reconnect this weekend, mhm k?

Dear Nadav,
There's no one else I'd rather spend a lazy Yom Kippur with. ;) XO

Dear Jason Mraz,
I am seeing you Saturday night and I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo flipping excited about it. Seriously now, you are kinda my favorite.

Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for all your input about my upcoming Europe trip. I am so excited to follow up with you and put all of your advice to good use.

Dear House,
Ok lets reason here. Yes, we love you. Yes, we think you love us too, but why are there MAJOR mishaps every time we try to renovate you?! I mean seriously we picked one stucco color, the store gave our contractor the wrong color, and now we need to figure out how to fix these shenanigans. Wamp wamp.

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And just a little review of some fun things that have happened around here lately

About that upcoming trip
Reflecting and moving forward
Recap of a girly blogger weekend in Palm Springs
A silly conversation with my boyfriend
That yummy apple cake I made
When I ask my boyfriend to take outfit pictures for me
I blog because...

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Happy Weekend Friends :)

 

Surpriseeee

So remember that time I made a goal to go to Europe last summer, butttt it never happned? Welllll that was all due to silly complications, but it is all good because....

SURPRISE

Image from Eye Poetry Photography

Nadav and I will be going THIS SUMMER. Woop woop woooooop.

We are still in the process of finalizing the flight arrangements, butttt it looks like we'll be spending about two weeks in Italy and 4-5 days in Paris. 

Now I need your help! =)

Where should we go? Where should we stay? What are your must-dos? Where should we EAT? =P

I am SO EXCITED eekkkk!

Growing

Today (And Everyday, But Especially Today)...

I will strive to be a better version of me
See the good in people
Gossip less, laugh more (and no that does not mean I will laugh more about less gossip ;)
Be kind to others
Be especially kind to the people I love
Appreciate the little things
Remember that being tired/hungry/sick/PMSy is not an excuse to be a bitch.
Call my parents and brother
Be so grateful for the blessings in my life
Spend time looking forward to the good things that are on their way
Know that I am constantly growing and sometimes I make mistakes. That's okay, it's all part of the journey
Make sure that my passion for life, learning, and adventure continues to grow. :)

Hope you have a sweet, sweet day

Palm Springs Girly Getaway

This past weekend I ventured to Palm Springs with Farra, Kelsey, and Olivia for a blogger girl weekend in the sun. 

We had a fabulous weekend at The Saguaro hotel, and now I am in need of some serious recuperation. In the meantime here are a few camera photos from the trip-dizzle. ;)

We had an awesome time. I'm convinced a weekend in Palm Springs is the perfect little SoCal getaway. :)
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Hope you have a great week

 

Advertise On LA&B

Just a little post to let you know that I have some advertising spots opening up in October. I would love to help you grow your awesome shop, blog, or business. Click here to learn more about my stats, the process, and even purchase advertising space.

On A Sweet Sunday

Glimpses from last Sunday because these photos just make me think happy thoughts..

and I like to share happy thoughts with you. 

Lunch from The Green Truck (this is how I lured Nadav out of the house during a football Sunday)

Yumminess (and this is how I tricked Nadav into staying out longer than he had planned on a football Sunday)

An afternoon at the Hillcrest Farmer's Market (and yup, sometime around the orange stand Nadav remembered that he wanted to be home watching football)

So we went home, and I baked an apple cake

Getting all dressed up for Rosh Hashana dinner with the fam and Nadav

My outfit: Lace cropped top-Really old and from Anthropologie, Tank top-Old and from American Apparel, Skirt-c/o Jigsaw London

Just some of the yumminess I consumed that night

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Wishing you the sweetest weekend =)

What Colors Should We Paint Our House?

So this is the outside of our house...

 For awhile there that yellow paint was charming. Except now the paint is majorlllly chipping and we've decided to do something about it. We're going to stucco the house a light tan/beige color, and do our best to make it look more modern, but maintain a little of that 1960s "charm" (I use the word charm loosely because I'm not really sure how charming the exterior of the house is hehe).

I love pops of color, and I plan on making our front door pop. I'm thinking a green, blue, or red door. (Okay I was throwing around the idea of an orange door but Nadav quickly nixed that... boys). We're also discussing purchasing new shutters and painting them white or a different color that will complement the door color.

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I'm loving this color scheme, and I think it fits our beachy home quite well. ;) I think a tan house with a blue door would be perfect.

Image from Juxtapost

Buttt I also really love a tan/beige house with a green front door....

Image from Juxtapost

Decisions Decisions...

Now my oh so smart blogger friends,

what color(s) do YOU think we should choose?

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We have completely renovated the interior of the house. Check out the changes we've made here :)

 

Conversations With My Boyfriend

The conversation that happened yesterday over Gchat

Me: So this is pretty ;)

Image from People Magazine

Nadav: lol.. what a tiny diamond

Me: I know i can barely see it it's so tiny

Nadav: Must be like 10 karats , and it only costs 2 mill LoL 

Me: That is so in your budget, yes! =P 

Nadav: Totally maybe I'll buy 2 

Me: 2? Who else are you planning on proposing 2?

Nadav: Well, I figure 1 for each hand right? 

Me:  Yaa that's true. but then you might as well get me 6. One for each of my longer fingers. 

Nadav: Yea, but your hands might fall off from the weight at that point

Me: It's ok, I'm an OT. I know exercises for that kinda thing.

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And for the record
1. No I am not engaged, and yes I am ok with that. =P
2. I would never leave the house with a ring that big, unless I had body guards with me at all times.
3. Nadav and I have some pretty silly conversations and I plan on sharing more of them with you. He is not yet aware of my plans.
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Win ad space on my blog over at Dearest Lou today :)
  

Sweet Sweet Apple Cake

Sometime Sunday morning I decided it would be a good idea to bake a cake and bring it to Rosh Hashana dinner in OC with my family and close friends.

So ya, a cake, you're thinking it's no big deal right? Wellll, I had never, ever baked a cake from scratch in my life which made this a pretty big deal.

On Rosh Hashana it's customary to eat lots of sweet foods, specifically apples and honey to welcome in a sweet new year. I found this recipe on my favorite food blog, Smitten Kitchen and decided to give it a try.

Sure, there were some issues that ensued along the way.

Like the time I mistook 2.5 teaspoons for 2.5 tablespoons and basically dumped the entire bottle of vanilla into the mixing bowl, oh and the time I accidentally poured the entire open bottle of cinnamon onto the apples. Lets not forget about the time I forget to grease the pan before pouring in the batter and had to pour all the batter back into the bowl, clean the pan, and grease it.. and and anddd.. 

Needless to say I was sweating by the time I called Nadav into the kitchen to help me get the cake out of the pan. 

But in the end, the cake was a majorly sweet success.   

Photo from Smitten Kitchen

If you're on the lookout for a yummy fall recipe give this cake a try =)

Mom’s Apple Cake
6 apples, Smitten Kitchen recommends using McIntosh apples
1 tablespoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar
2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tube pan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
 Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, orange juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones, then add eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean.

Hope you have a great day :)

Adventures In Taking Outfit Photos With My Boyfriend

I will be the first to say that Nadav is very supportive of my blogging. He's happy that I have found a hobby I love and his computer nerdiness comes in very handy when I need html and Photoshop help. And then every once in awhile I ask him to take outfit photos for me. Sometimes he's "just not in the mood", but I whine he does it.

Friday evening we decided to take a bike ride around Mission Bay. I asked Nadav to take some outfit photos for me. Here's how the conversation went...

Me: Hey Babe, can you take a picture of my shoes?

Nadav: Uhhhhh do I have to?

Me: Uhm yes. And get down towards the ground, like move your body down so you're at the same angle as them.

Nadav: Why do I have to get down?

Me: Because you just do.

Nadav: Ok fine, I got your shoes.

And no, I did not edit those photos one bit =P

Me: Ok, I kinda think the sun is shining on me, am I in the shade?

Nadav: **looks through pictures** You're fine.

Cough

Nadav: Ok now jump or do a back flip or something

Me: You know I don't know how to do a backflip

Nadav: Ok just jump then

**I start jumping**

Nadav: I didn't catch you jump, keep jumping, keep jumping, keep jumping.

**He looks through pictures**

Nadav: Nope didn't get it. Keep jumping

I love my boyfriend ;)

And just in case you're wondering... this is what I wore that night at the Bay

Top: Target (really old, and hmm not so flattering =P), Jeans: Joe's Jeans, Shoes: Avarcas USA

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Today is the very last day to enter to win a $150 credit to Jigsaw London. Make sure you get your entries in :)
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Hope you have a great week, and a happy new year if you celebrate Rosh Hashana like me ;)

I Blog Because...

I don't know if it's just me, but lately I've noticed a lot of bloggers writing about "blogger burnout". You know, that period of time where blogging just starts to feel like a chore, but you do it because, well you just feel like you have to.

A few months ago I definitely had some serious blogger burnout, but I stuck to my blogging. 5 days a week I was knocking out those blog posts, even if I didn't want too, and even if I dreaded sitting at home and writing them. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not, but I do think it is a testament to my dedication. ;)

Then in August I had a month off of work. A month to recover from how burned out I was feeling about life (not just blogging), a month to reconnect with the things I loved to do, and really a month to remember why I loved blogging. I realized that I was taking blogging and social media too seriously. This is not my job, but it's something I love to do. It is okay to skip one day of blogging, it is okay to put off returning an email for a day or two, and it is okay to stay off of twitter for a weekend. The world will definitely go on and my blog is not going anywhere either. ;)

These days that passion is back, and I look forward to blogging everyday. Hooray!
In light of all that that I thought it would be fun to remember the reasons why I blog.....

I blog because...
1. It is my passion.
2. I have something to look forward to everyday, something to think about it, and smile about.
3. I have made so, so many good friends through this blogging world. Friends that I've met and hang out with regularly, and some friends that I've never met but am so thankful for.
4. My life has completely changed since I started this blog.
5. Sometimes I talk in hashtags... and I like it that way.
6. Honestly, I have changed in so many ways since I started this blog. I am confident, more dedicated, more inspired, more creative than I'd ever thought, and so excited to plan blogger events (except when I get frustrated and burned out.. which happens more often that I should admit hehe)
7. I started to think that I'm kinda, sorta a little funny... or at least that's what you tell me. ;)
8. I want to inspire.
9. My job is a unique one, and sometimes I like to share a little bit of it with you. (well as much as I can but privacy is pretty important in my field)
10. Expressing myself through writing and photography is way more stimulating than sitting on the couch and watching Real Housewives of Any City, but don't get me wrong I do that regularly too hehe)
11. Learning the smallest thing on Photoshop makes me oh so happy.
12. My job is a challenging one, and blogging serves as an outlet. An outlet that is so different and takes my mind off the craziness that can ensure.
13. I want to continue to grow.
14. Lets be honest, occasionally getting free stuff is really really fun.
15. I want to document the special moments.
16. Blogging has become a part of me. I am no longer just a girlfriend, daughter, sister, friend, and occupational therapist. Nope, now you can add blogger to that list and I can't imagine it any other way.

Why do you blog?

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I'm still craving a new blog design and haven't quite decided on the designer yet. Any recommendations? :)

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Have you entered to win $150 to Jigsaw London?

Happy Happy Weekend My Friends =)

 

Happily

Happy List, cuz it's my blog, and I'll smile if I want to... 

Or something like that ;)

Farra, Paulina and I at the San Diego Fashion Week Press Event Monday night.

1. A clean house. Aahhh.
2. Planning a 10 year best friend anniversary celebration with this girl. We decided that 10 years is kind of a huge deal. It's been 10 years, she's gotten engaged, married, and had a kid... and well, Nadav and I are still dating. (No pressure though hahaha)
3. Bubble baths, Lush bath bombs, and my Kindle (and no I was not reading 50 Shades of Grey while bubble-bathing, get your minds out of the gutter).
4. Rosh Hashana, apples and honey, and time spent with my family and Nadav.
5. The very minimal drop in ridiculously high for San Diego temperatures. I also appreciate that the drop is so minimal I am still able to wear shorts and go to the beach after work. (Have I mentioned that I love my city, because I do =P)
6. The Chargers winning their first game of the season my boyfriend avoiding depression for the evening
7. A new school year that is kinda sorta maybe starting to settle down.
8. Godiva milk chocolate clams. I know I shouldn't eat them, but mannnnn they tickle my pickle.
9. Speaking of food and how yummy it is... Next week is San Diego Restaurant Week, and yes I will be unleashing my inner fatty. Have any good restaurant recommendations? Please send them my way =)
10. Finally learning how to make a collage on Photoshop. It's about time, right? #NerdyBoyfriendPerks
11. All of you. Thank for your comments, your love, and for making me smile each day :) I am so grateful.

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Wishing you a sweet sweet day =)

Jigsaw London $150 Giveaway!

Remember that time I went to the beach and wore this outfit?

 Yup, it's pretty much one of my new favorite outfits, and I've reworn it way more times than I should admit. =P I love its simplicity and how I comfortable I feel in it.

And that cute black skirt? Well, Jigsaw London sent it to me, it is so versatile, and I am so impressed with its quality. I know I will wear it lots, and lots... and well lots.

Now, do you want something fabulous by Jigsaw London too?
Yup, thought so. =P

Well today is your lucky day because Jigsaw London is giving away a $150 credit to a Lemons, Avocados & the Bay reader. Weeee!

All you have to do is enter below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 (Sorry, but this giveaway is only open to readers in the US, Canada and Mexico. Also, a one time use gift code will be awarded, it cannot be redeemed in stores and cannot be turned in for cash).

And just in case you haven't quite you decided if you should enter or not (but really now, that would just be silly)...
Here are a few of my current favs from Jigsaw's online shop. I love the classy simplicity of their clothing. Every item can easily be dressed up or down too. So much goodness, I wish I could have it all :)

 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor (eh wait what?!)

 

It's A Zumba & Pilates Party

If you've read this blog for awhile you've probably seen a few posts about my Gabey. 

Gabey is one of my very, very best friends. He the most fabulous person I know, and exudes positive energy unlike anyone I have ever encountered. Being around him just makes you feel good. =)

Gabe also happens to be the BEST Zumba and Pilates instructor I have ever taken, and I don't mess around with that kinda stuff. (Lets just put it out there I am a serious gym class snob and don't have patience for bad instructors =P) Unfortunately for me Gabe is moving to New York City very soon to pursue acting. I am so happy he is chasing his dreams, but I know life just won't be the same without him.

To celebrate Gabe's wonderfulness, Kore Pilates Studio is hosting a huge party in his honor. 

The event will take place on Thursday Sept. 27 at 6pm at Kore Pilates Studio in La Jolla.

There will be music, good food, drinks.. and the best part?! Gabe will be teaching a Zumba class and Pilates class.

Kore Pilates is asking for a $10 donation for the event and all proceeds will go towards Gabe's move to NYC. 

If you're in the area, like to have fun and want to take a great workout class you HAVE to come this party. It's going to be awesome. 

You can RSVP here

 Just for fun, a picture of Gabey and me getting facials at Lush. ;)

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And of course, make sure you take some time today and think about the innocent lives that were lost and the tragedy that happened on 9/11/01. Never forget my friends, never forget.

Brazilians, The Beach, And An Escape

Football season has arrived my friends, and sure, I'm fine with it. I'll watch some Chargers games and I will always cheer on UCLA. But really now, I would much rather spend my Sundays at the beach than on a couch or at a sports bar. Nadav on the other hand, well he doesn't move much on Sundays during football season likes to stay home and obsess over his fantasy teams. Farra's husband Bryan loves himself some football too, so yesterday Farra and I left the men on the couch and made our way down to Pacific Beach for our own little version of Sunday Funday.

We started our afternoon at PB Sushi.

And then stumbled upon a Brazilian Festival in Pacific Beach. I really loved seeing the pride and love Brazilians have for the country.  

After making our way through the Brazilian Day festival we checked out Urban Outfitters where I found this treasure!

 I will be sporting this shark bag at Sea World, and yes I am so flipping excited about it. hehehe #nerdalertnerdalert

 The beach and boardwalk were next on our agenda, but more on that beautifulness later. =P

Sushi, beach time, best friend time, and a silly shark bag. I'd say it was a good Sunday. =P

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Hope this week is a good one