tricks + treats

i have been slacking in the normal baking & crafting area.
apparently life has been a little crazy lately (as i know life gets)
but i am back & happy to be baking.

i made some fun little witch cupcakes last night.
these are the ingredients you will need if you choose to make them yourself:

cute right?

happy halloween weekend to all!!

midweek update.

- i haven't blogged since last week. when i miss a day (or two) i get emails saying "um, hello? you forgot to blog today" or my favorite "i went to check your blog before i started work today and i got nothing. please don't do that again" ha! i mean...... so sweet and really funny. so for those of you who email me, i am sorry. i knew i was funny.... but i didn't know i was THAT funny (i kid i kid) no but seriously - i don't "forget" to blog. just some days i literally don't have time to eat lunch let alone blog. my apologies. (and well at least i know a few people read this)

-i have been listening to Taylor Swift on repeat. go buy her new cd. it's so good.

-i have the best birthday gift for my brother (in February!) i don't know if i can keep a secret for that long. but i am so excited.

-for halloween i was going to be a dancing with the stars winner. like, make the mirror ball trophy and all. Plus i was going to even borrow a contestants dress (my friend Shauna is friend's with everyone - including a dancer too) so needless to say i was going to win EVERY contest for halloween. but a small glitch happened so i needed a new outfit. Now, i am going to be a CHERRIO cheerleader (and my friend will be Sue from GLEE) cute right? i know. we will still win. i am SO excited.



-we carved pumpkins tuesday night. well, i am 1/2 way done. who decides on writing words on pumpkins. just silly. i might be done with my pumpkin by halloween. who knows. needless to say i didn't win.

-the giants are in the World Series. i wish i followed baseball so i knew the players names and could cheer like i knew what i was talking about. my roommates are obsessed (like will be Giants players for Halloween and know everything about them obsessed) i still hope they win.


-i went to Miami last week for a quick 48 hours. i love the oddo family. they are just my favorite. congrats to katie again on her senior game of college. so impressive. how cute is she?! i wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home with me.



-my mom's 60th birthday is next month. i am already planning a few surprises. eeeek!

-i can't believe November is next week. gross about time passing, but ya for the holidays!!

-we made homemade pizzas on monday night. they were delicious! thank you trader joes.

-when you lose your phone and no one is home to call it, you can go to this site and it calls your phone! whoa! it really works. oh technology. you get my every time.

-i am really looking forward to trick or treaters this year. i just love the little kiddos and their cuteness!!

-i am making the cutest halloween cupcakes tonight. stay tuned for tomorrow's post. you will die on cuteness overload.

obsessed.

this has been on repeat all day while working.
seriously, i love her.
(ps. i am alive for those of you who have been asking...i have just been a bit busy!)

fun photo (s) friday.

some pics from our marathon in Chicago.

hello Miami.

i'm off to Miami for a quick 48 hours to go cheer on Katie in her senior college soccer game.

um, seriously?
where does the time go?

i absolutely adore Kate (and her cute AMAZING family)
so i can't wait to give them all big hugs and lots (and lots) of love!!

if you know them - you know that no family is like them.
i just can't wait to squeeze their faces!

i am sure there will be lots of laughs, happy tears, and lots of lots of funny stories.

oh boy. i can't wait!!!

good luck to the best soccer player i know.
i can't wait to see you!!!!!

go #30!

living out of a suitcase.

i might as well buy this chair for my office.
lately i feel like i live out of a suitcase.
actually, i know i have been....
i just got back yesterday from a work trip, leaving tomorrow for Miami, was just in Chicago....
i could go on but i won't.

i love my job because i get to travel...
i especially love my job when i can still do my work and take a vacation at the same time.
(i guess that's not really a vacation if you are still working......... but to me it is)

i can't wait to share the pictures from my Miami trip.
getting to spend a quick 48 hours with the people i love most, all while celebrating a special someones accomplishments.
i've been waiting for this day for years.
how lucky am i?

i hope y'all (i accidentally said this this week and reminded me of my dad)
so i am sticking with it.
where was i going with this?
oh ya, i hope y'all have a happy hump day.

don't forget to wear purple today (#SpiritDay) to pay tribute to those young lives lost tragically to suicide as a result of anti-gay bullying.

i've got my purple on, do you?

disconnect to connect.

i love this.

happy 1 year to me.

it's crazy what happens in a year.
heck, it's crazy what happens in a day, week, and yes definitely a year.
1 year ago today i started a new journey.
i made a decision (a big decision) for myself
i needed to move away from home and heal.
i hated leaving my mom, and i especially hated leaving her in an empty house.
i had many sleepless nights of worrying.
many lists of pros/cons.
many conversations with friends and family (and yes, even strangers)
i needed to make a decision.
i was being offered 2 great jobs in 2 great cities.
pros and cons to both, of course.

however, 1 year later.
and a slowly healed heart.
a new journey.
a fresh start.
new friends.
new memories.
new stories.
new obstacles to overcome.
i have survived.
i did it.

sure i needed a lot of help along the way (and still do at times) but i am thankful today.

no one else could ultimately decide for me whether to stay in a town where all i could think of was the loss of my father and all the pain i have felt losing him or to go where i would worry i would forget all of the memories that made him perfect.
which job to take?
which new life to start?

i am happy to say after 1 year (today) of being at my job and new journey.
i feel i made the right choice.
i am better.
day by day.
it's a slow process. but i am better.

gosh it's just crazy to think how much happens in a year.

i am happy to know that this past year i have learned a lot about myself and a lot about the admiration i still (and will always have) for my dad.

how lucky was i?

fun photo friday (not so fun)

dear weather,

you are killing me (not literally)
you can't make up your mind and it's getting silly.
one day you are 113 degrees.
the next you are 60 degrees.
what?
i don't get you one bit.

seriously, choose a number and stick with it.
i just want to wear my cute boots, leggings, and scarves.
i think you want that too.

now make it happen.

tgif.

wear your passion.

i found this on the internet recently. i love it.
thought you might love it too.

bestie's 26th birthday.

happy birthday to my very best friend miss chelsea.

i feel loved because of you.
i know i always have a shoulder to cry on because of you.
i laugh because of you.
i live to do something great in this world because of you.
my dad smiled more because of you.
my life is better because of you.
i feel complete because of you.
i wouldn't be where i am today because of you.
i love love because of you.
i am joyful because of you.
i am a better person because of you.

thank you for being the light of my life.
i love you more than words can say.

thank you for being so wonderful.
especially this past year.

to many more years of you being fabulous...

kisses.

not me monday (marathon edition)

wowza! what a week we had.
i can't even begin to explain the feeling i had while crossing that finish line (all for the love of our dad) and i can't even begin to explain how fun of a weekend we had.
welp, here goes nothing.
all the things i did not do this week.
you know the drill.

i did not love flying into my favorite city in the world........ and being reunited by so many of my favorite people all at one time.
i did not love going to a tapas restaurant with old friends, fire game (where mr. #6 scored the 600th goal and killed it) and had great seats!!
i did not like drinking massive amounts of water and Gatorade like it was going out of style.
i did not love the marathon convention where some serious runners showed off their serious running attitudes (all serious and ready).
oh and not to mention free swag. i did not love this.
i did not love my marathon tee and marathon medal. might wear this out randomly. ya, i said it.
i did not love how my brother did just that. everywhere. even to bed. ha!
i did not love waking up at 5am (3am CA time thankyouverymuch) to run 26.2 miles with 47,000 others while 1.5 million watched. i mean......... really? double amazing.
i did not love seeing our friends with signs cheering us on! (i also did not love my brother and me stopping at mile 22 to see my brother drink a beer from friends) who does that? it was like he could run 50 miles, no problem.
i did not love how my brother and i laughed during the marathon saying "are we really running a marathon right now"
hilarious.
i did not love sitting down after the marathon. i've never been so excited in my life.
i did not love meeting our running team and team leader! best.people.ever.
i did not love everyone laughing at us while we tried to walk (backwards) down the stairs post marathon. seriously, hardest thing to do. ever.
i did not love having to carbo load the night before. more pasta? yes please!

i did not love finishing my 2nd marathon.
i may never run again............. however, loved it all.

thank you ALL who donated and supported us!!!
we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
i know our dad was proud of us. i was proud of us.

what a great marathon we had.

post your not me mondays.
it's so much cheaper than therapy.

we're ready.

(picking up our bibs downtown)

we are so excited for tomorrow!!!

fun photo friday.

this is exactly what we are doing at this moment in Chicago.
resting, eating, and hydrating (and of course laughing at Ellen)

Jill and i picked up my brother at the airport this morning then grabbed sandwiches and salads

(and lots & lots of water)

we are resting until dinner with friends tonight...
then off to the Fire game to root on #6.

2 days until the big day.

getting excited!!!

favorite city in the world.

well folks, i am off to Chicago!
Brother bear and i are running the Chicago marathon (duh!) on Sunday.
i have only been talking about it for 6 months now.

(pictures from my iphone when i lived in Chicago a few years back)


we have raised (and still counting!) $5,300!!

it amazes me when people go the extra mile (no pun intended) to help out for charity.

if you still haven't donated and would like to click on this link.

everyone who donates will get a cute thank you and a picture of brother and me post race!

(ohh enticing right?)

we are so excited.

i will be gone until Tuesday.
i just love Chicago.

lots of pictures and updates upon my return!
(i might sneak in a few blog posts while i am there)

so stay tuned......

i can't wait until we cross that finish line.
oh boy oh boy!!

wish us luck!!

rain rain, go away.

it was pouring all day today in LA.
these are the days i want to snuggle by the fire, watch movies, and stay in my pjs from
dusk to dawn.
(didn't happen but the thought was nice)

my friend B sent me this picture of her dog today.



can you say, cutest face ever?
my favorite little boston and her little rain coat.

sassy little thing isn't she?

i love the rain just because of pictures like this.
just priceless.

thanks B for the pic!
made the rain a little more enjoyable!!

barn wedding.

it's no secret that in another life i was a wedding planner.
i have notebooks full of inspiration.
i have ideas overflowing in my brain (all the time).
i love hearing about all the little details that go into throwing the perfect wedding.
i love love.
and i love people's pure happiness.
i want to give my friends all my ideas when they get married because i have so many cute
(or so i think) ideas!!
a girlfriend and i have been talking about starting a wedding planning business
(one day we will)
i just can't wait.
i'm not ready yet, but one day i will be....
and one day i will rock it.
i just know it.

if i were to get married tomorrow.
it would be in a barn like this:


with mason jars filled with drinks.
and lots and lots of other cute things.

no but seriously.
a barn wedding is to die for.

internet lusts.

oh ya know, just some things i have been lusting over lately...

this hot pink color from sephora.

this wedding website.

this braided headwrap from anthropologie.

these amazing pancakes.

loving these perfect October nail polish colors.

our marathon donations. you guys rock!

can't wait to throw this kind of a movie night.

these cutsey lamps.

WELCOME DEAREST OCTOBER.


Dear October,
Please give me the motivation to fully unpack all my boxes in my new place. it is not fun trying to walk through a room when you have to jump over them, and even falling when no one is around. quite embarrassing to myself.

Dear October,
Please give me the ability to run 26.2 miles without dying. I would really like to live to tell about my 2nd marathon. And possibly even realize i might in fact actually like running when i don't HAVE to do it.

Dear October,
Please never ever get rid of your pumpkin spice lattes. i am able to wake up at 5am each day because of you. keep up the good work.

Dear October,
I love your colors. Never change. I will miss you too much.

Dear October,
Don't judge me for wanting to play Christmas music already. It's my favorite time of year and I don't care what other people think.

Dear October,
Can you please realign my ribs in my body so I am no longer in any pain. That would be nice. Really nice.

Dear October,
Please find me the perfect chair for my office. I would build you myself if i knew how, but would rather just purchase one.

Dear October,
Let's try not to stress about the lack of money in my bank account. Don't worry too much because the winning lottery ticket is waiting for you.

Dear October,
Please make sure I don't get any cavities from the amount of Halloween candy i will be consuming. My dentist is not a fan of you, but i love you dearly.

Dear October,
Never leave me. I just love you too much.