Five Good Things

1. It's ten in the morning. I'm still in my pajamas. 
2. Waking up without an alarm. It always feels like a small victory when I don't need anything else to wake me up in the morning.
3. Skype. Long distance friendships? No problem, I've got the internets.
4. A new roommate! Our fourth roommate is moving in today. After a month and a half of transition, our house will be complete. 
5. Ben & Jerry's pint ice creams. Specifically "what a cluster." 

Truly Madly Deeply

Dress: Covet Boutique in San Francisco.
Necklace: Standard Style Boutique in Kansas City. Shoes: Rampage (DSW). 

Me with my high school girlfriends Kelly, Gwen, & Alex.

The first kiss!

Here it is, the last San Francisco/Napa Valley post and it's the wedding post! For some reason picking out a dress for this wedding was so difficult for me. Thank goodness San Francisco has great shopping and a cute little boutique on Union Street saved me. (Note: Look! Pink Lipstick too!)

The bride Laura has been a close friend of mine since elementary school. I'm not sure if everyone loved Savage Garden in the late 1990's but gosh we did. You may remember them from their hit "I Want You" when they reference cherry cola. Well anyway, they came out with a song called "Truly Madly Deeply" when Laura and I were in 5th grade. And instantly we were obsessed. Like most preadolescent girls do, we dreamt the boys we had huge crushes on were singing those beautiful lyrics straight to us. I remember on sleepover laying in her older sisters bed  playing that song on repeat, not talking to each other, and dreaming of our 5th grade heart throbs. (Shockingly) those relationships didn't work out for either of us, but a girl can dream, right?

Napa Rappa

Blazer: JCrew. Top: Anthropologie. Shorts: Gap.
Shoes: Nine West (Nordstrom Rack) Earrings: Lia Sophia

I think the only appropriate place to wear a sparkly top is Napa Valley. I've had this top for a while now and there's never been quite the right place to wear it but wine tasting seemed like a great option. Pairing it with pair of denim shorts also seemed to made me feel like less of a disco ball. 

The day before Laura's wedding we went to a winery handful of different wineries. Our clear favorite was Peju. It really had nothing to do with the wine and everything to do with our new friend Alan. 

Alan was our sommelier (aka the person who served us wine.) At first Alan seemed like a nice older gentleman and then out of no where he started rapping. Yes, rapping. He even coined a new name for himself, the "nappa rappa." By the end of our time there we were his biggest fans. Alan even free styled for Laura & Radley's video. Hopefully you all got to see his skills at the end of Ben's video here. 

He truly was a delight.  

Here he is, the one and only, Alan.

Pink Lipstick & Sea Lions

Sweater: F21. Blouse: F21. Pants: JCrew. Shoes: Nine West (Nordstrom Rack.)
Earrings: JCrew. Braclet: H&M. Belt: H&M. Sunglasses: Target. 

I've never been a huge make up girl, so the thought of lipstick always scared me. But let me tell you, when I was in San Francisco, I fell in love with lipstick. I know, it seems a bit dramatic but it really does add a whole new element to a simple outfit. Who knows how long this will last for me but for now I'm going to run with it. Pink lipstick with everything. 

For the second half of my week in San Fran, my parents and my best friend from high school Gwen joined me. One day we were the ultimate tourists. We road a trolley car to Fisherman's Warf, saw sea lions on Pier 39, ate sour dough bread, wandered Ghirardelli square, and took a bay boat tour. My camera was an extension of my arm. 

Here are some tourist pictures. Take a bay boat tour, you won't be disappointed. 

My mom and me on the boat.

San Francisco skyline. 

My love Gwen.

And of course, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Come on, love these buddies.

July Twenty Twelve

It's crazy to me that July is already over. It seems like every summer goes by quicker than the one before. My July playlist is pretty much a lot of my old favorites, and then obviously some new Rihanna.

1. Old Pine - Ben Howard
2. Holocene - Bon Iver
3. Shake It Out - Florence & the Machine
4. On Your Porch - The Format
5. Carry On - Fun.
6. By the Mark - Gillian Welch
7. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go - Indelible Grace
8. Honey and the Moon - Joseph Arthur
9. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
10. Holding You - Katie Herzig
11. Big Parade - The Lumineers
12. Roll Away Your Stone - Mumford & Sons
13. King and Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men
14. Lie to Me - Sara Bareilles
15. Where Have You Been - Rihanna
16. But for You Who Fear My Name - Welcome Wagon
17. Rain - Patty Griffin

All You Need is Love

My friend Laura (you should read her blog here.) and her phenomenal new husband Radley are such incredible friends to so many. It was absolutely no surprise to me that their wedding was one of the best celebrations I've ever been to. 

One of my close friends Ben put together a collection of video snapshots and pictures of the weekend to give to Laura and Radley. He was able to capture what the day was all about. 

Obviously wanted to share it with you all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I must admit, I've watched it 7 times already. Oops?

San Francisco, I adore you.

A close childhood friend of mine, Laura, got married this past weekend in Napa Valley. So instead of just taking a quick trip to California, I spent the week leading up to her wedding in San Francisco. I am obsessed. I seriously cannot get enough of the city. 

Sweater: Francesca's. T-shirt: American Apparel. Denim Shorts: Gap. Shoes: Steve Madden
Earrings: Lia Sophia. Necklace: Anthropolgie 

One thing that was a bit of a surprise about San Francisco was the weather. People had mentioned to me that it's a bit chillier than expected, especially for August. It was actually a wonderful treat. After many hot summer days in Chicago, it was refreshing to wear a sweater and feel completely comfortable. 

Fall, I'm ready for you.