Current Obession: Outerwear

If you could create a chart of how much I need jackets, coats and winter clothing items and how much I want them, you would clearly see that they don’t mesh. My need of outerwear is so little in Southern California, yet I can’t help but dream of cold weather and of purchasing some jackets guilt-free.

But unless I win the lottery soon (my luck could be changing, I recently won…wait for it…$15 on a scratcher), I won’t be purchasing any jackets or coats soon. Not really worth the investment (or at least that’s what the adult part of my brain has to tell my impulsive side to curb any “unnecessary” shopping).

But a girl can dream right? Dream of leather, shearling and wide lapels. Some of the style’s I’m currently obsessing over above.

xoxo

Sandi

general

Another year older

…28 is going to be a good year. Lots of big adult things are happening. I’m excited, anxious and impatient for the next amazing chapter in my life. This is going to be my last year celebrating my birthday as a single lady…crazy, exciting and amazing things will happen this year.

Today on my birthday, we confirmed our date and location and Frank officially, officially is done with his undergraduate degree. I’m taking both these things as great signs for the year to come. I’m ready to confront this next year with lots of positive energy and thoughts.

This year like every other year my parents woke me up with “Las Mañanitas.” It’s an old Mexican mariachi song and it makes me cry every time. Cry out of happiness and gratitude for the people in my life who put up with me and who love me and make me want to be a better person.

I’m getting too emotional at my old age. Good night!

xoxo

Sandi

wise words

Thoughts on a Friday

just read

Just Read: Yes, Please

I’ve been on a strong lady kick lately with my book choices. In the past I steered clear of any kind of memoir thinking it would be too preachy. But as predictable as it may seem, sometimes hearing advice from a strong, successful woman is exactly the motivation you need to keep you focused and dedicated to your goals.

In “Yes, Please”, Amy Poehler keeps it real. Real about her career, SNL, being a mom, success, divorce, love and everything in between. It never feels preachy or condescending. It just feels honest. Honest advice and stories from a hilarious successful woman who doesn’t claim to be perfect.

There are two big lessons I’m taking from “Yes, Please.” The first being that it’s OK to ask and get help on the way to reaching your goals and living your life. If someone is offering to help (someone that cares for you and has the right intentions) then gladly accept it…don’t feel guilty about needing help. This rings really true to me, especially lately. A year and half ago, Frank and I moved from SF to the L.A. area with no jobs and lots of things we wanted to accomplish. We moved in to my parents house while we got settled and found jobs. About six months later, we both had steady jobs and a year and half later…here we are: planning a wedding, getting ready to move out and celebrating a year at our jobs.

At first though, we needed a lot of help and at first it felt a little humiliating and defeating. But I’ve come to realize we’re lucky to get the help and when my parents need anything, we’re happy to help. This is something that applies to career choices as well, if someone is willing to help you out with a job or promotion….take it. You never know when you’ll be able to return the favor for someone else.

The other lesson that I’m taking is that it makes no sense to be in competition with your peers. It’s counter-productive. It’s to your benefit to surround yourself by strong and smart people.

“I want to be around people that do things. I don’t want to be around people anymore that judge or talk about what people do. I want to be around people that dream and support and do things.”

This is a hard one to practice. It’s only natural to want to get ahead and when people around you are succeeding, it’s hard not to feel jealous. To not get that sneaky thought, “Why not me?” The truth is though you should cheer your friends on. We should all make it, having successful and smart friends can only help you.

Above everything though, this book is hilarious. It’s motivating, smart and hilarious. Highly recommended!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Traffic and Turkey

Weekend Recap: November 27-30, 2014

After four days off, I go back to work tomorrow (insert crying emoji here). Thanksgiving has come and gone and we’re that much closer to the end of the year (yeeks!). My turkey day was filled with lots of family time (including a wonderful visit by my future mother in law) and cousin time spent yelling at a TV playing Super Smash Brothers. I’m really straddling the line between adult and kid, but I’m OK with that.

My long weekend off started hellish/in the most L.A. way possible. I encountered mind numbingly horrible traffic. The kind that makes you want to just park your car in the middle of the road and walk home. The kind where you find yourself looking at the clock then looking at the road then looking at the clock until you’re dizzy. It took me about 2 and half hours to go less than 25 miles. It was horrible, but thankfully that was the worst part of my weekend and the rest was a whole lot better.

My days off were spent eating…eating…some drinking…lounging…chilling and shopping. It all felt very lazy and American. It was great!

Also it finally rained on Sunday and I got to bust out my North Face jacket. It’s the little things, right?

To close off this weekend, let me just say a few cheesy things. First off, everyday I find myself more and more grateful for my parents and fiance. (I’d be lost without them). I’m thankful for my close friends (I consider them family) and for my health (can never take that for granted). But most of all, I’m just thankful for the opportunity to keep improving and growing into the kind of person that I want my loved ones to be proud of (sorry about ending on a preposition). I’m the worst right? Cheesy rant over!

Here’s to another week (the first of my birthday month!).

xoxo

Sandi

current obsession, style and design

Current Obsession: Winter Prints and Patterns

Here in Southern California we are #blessed (read in J.T. and Jimmy Fallon voice) with great weather. Snow never falls and rain can’t always be counted on. With all this great weather abound, sometimes it’s hard to get in the holiday spirit. My “solution” to this non-problem is a healthy dose of denial and seasonal prints and patterns. Let’s pretend it’s colder than it is, and wear some plaid!

I posted some examples above that I’m currently daydreaming about. The great thing about these are that they look great with any basic top or bottom…no need to overthink. A basic pair of jeans, or a white tee are all you need to fool everyone into thinking you’re super cool and chic. Isn’t that what’s really important?

I shall be on the hunt for more of these (already have a few tops…two dresses and some scarves) in between Christmas shopping….which always starts out with the bestest of intentions and usually ends with me feeling guilty over buying myself gifts. Wish me luck!

xoxo
Sandi

current obsession

Current Obsession: #serialpodcast

Where do I even start? Well first I’ll say I’m a big podcast fan. I subscribe to about 10 podcasts and listen to them all week while I’m at work. I’m lucky enough to have one of those jobs where I can put on some big headphones and can zone out and just write for at least a few hours everyday uninterrupted (ok, there are some minor interruptions). I usually listen to comedy podcasts, but about two weeks ago I heard about Serial. I was instantly hooked.

In Serial, journalist Sarah Koenig tries to uncover what really happened 15 years ago in a quiet Maryland town. In January of 1999, high school student Hae Min Lee was murdered. Her ex-boyfriend, popular and charming Adnan Syed was arrested and has been serving a life sentence ever since. Seems pretty cut and dry until you hear the details. I could go on for hours (and have with my best friend and boyfriend who are equally obsessed), but basically there was no physical evidence, shoddy timelines, and things that don’t add up. People who say Syed at the time of the murder, no physical evidence against him. The State’s case relies on the confession of Syed’s friend Jay, who provided a shoddy timeline that put Syed in jail.

That’s the short, short version of a super riveting story that’s being told very well. But beyond the entertainment value, one of the reasons I’m obsessed with this podcast….and honestly, podcasts in general is the art of having to wait every week for a new episode of what is basically a radio show. It seems so dated but it’s no less entertaining than binge watching. I’ve been thinking about this lately, the idea of binge watching and how it’s changed advertising. But for now I’ll just say the experience does feel different than other forms of entertainment.

So if you haven’t already, go go go listen to Serial. It’s smart, and riveting and when you’re all caught up you’ll join millions (yeah, millions) of people who have downloaded the podcast and join in our insanity. Here’s a crazy intense subreddit in case you don’t believe me.

Rant over. Go listen!

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: San Diego Bound

Weekend Recap: November 15-16, 2014

It has been one of my missions as an adult to find a “place.” When I was in San Francisco, my friends and I thought we found a bar that would become our place. We’d become regulars and they’d cheer every time we came around. Well that never happened, but that dumb idea still lingers in the back of my dumb head. Here in the L.A. area, the closest I can say to having a “place” is Golden Road Brewery. It’s not terribly close, but it’s worth the drive to drink some good beer in a chill environment. Am I a regular? No. Does anyone there know my name? Nope, not even a little bit. But it’s usually among the first choices thrown out when my best friend is in town and wants to hang…so that’s as close to a “place” as I’m getting. I’ll take it!

On Saturday we made the little over half hour drive to Golden Road to sit, drink some beer and do lots of people watching (which are two of my favorite things…ever). We went into the photobooth and great (read: ugly) memories were made. Example below.

Sunday, Frank, my parents and I decided to make the 2.5 hour drive down to San Diego. Why? Well with the holidays quickly approaching (eeks!), my parents decided that it would be a good time to take a trip before my dad becomes totally consumed by work (my dad works and has worked in the restaurant industry my whole life and the holidays are super stressful and busy for my dad). It’s always fun and encouraging to spend time with my parents. Their relationship is constantly motivating and always leaves me hopeful for what my own marriage will be like after 30 years.

We spent a fun day at Old Town San Diego where we ate some bomb tacos and walked around taking in all the rustic charm that San Diego has to offer. By charm I mostly mean food. Example below!

We ended the night with an AMAZING dinner (yay! more food!) over looking the harbor. It was tiring and well worth it (the sign of any good weekend activity). Until next weekend!

xoxo

Sandi

current obsession

Current Obsession: Paper Goods

Every year around this time, I start to spot cute planners and calendars and I think to myself, “This is the year I become super organized! I will write things in my planner and circle dates on my calendar!”. To date, this has never happened. Usually what happens is I’ll buy a cute planner and use it for about a month before I forget about it and start to rely on my phone and Google calendar.

But this year, like every other year, I will make the resolution to keep a planner, write goals, and keep myself accountable. As convenient as having a calendar on the cloud available whenever, there’s just something about putting pen to paper that I’ll always love. Feels more permanent and gives me more motivation to stick to a plan.

Here’s a few paper goods I’ve been obsessing over:

Beer and Food 2015 Calendar via Moorea Seal

Cal Paper Pusher Risograph Calendar via Design Milk

Moon Phases calendar via Moorea Seal

Simplified Planner via Emily Ley

Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce via Etsy shop ninjandninj

Green Painterly Cheetah Planner via Kate Spade

xoxo

Sandi

weekend warriors

Weekend Warriors: Any Excuse to Go To Santa Barbara

Weekend Recap: November 8-9th, 2014

We need no excuse to make the drive to Santa Barbara. The city is beautiful, the weather is perfect and one of my best friends lives there. Every time we visit, Frank and I have a twenty minute discussion on why we should move there. Not sure if it will ever happen, but it’s nice to dream. This weekend we had an actual reason, we had a potential wedding venue to visit (eek! adult things!).

After work on Friday, we made the drive to see my friend and her cute house. We chilled. We drank. We were (a little too) merry. On Saturday we recovered by walking around State street and taking it a little easier. Later on, we had dinner at this really cute place called, Benchmark Eatery. Service was awesome and the place was really cute. The picture below is of the world’s largest onion rings. MMM, friend food!

On Sunday we said our goodbyes and drove up to Lompoc to look at a gorgeous venue. It was beautiful! Don’t want to jinx it. But we really like it…we shall see!

On to another week!

xoxo

Sandi