Wednesday, August 31, 2011

26!


Today is my BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday to ME!!!


Rather than write a whole long post about everything that’s happened this year, I figured I’d keep it light :) So in honor of my 26th birthday, here is a list of 26 things I am thankful for:

  1. The most fabulous family and friends in the world…
  2. A great job that I look forward to every day…
  3. A sweet and handsome boyfriend who loves me, listens to me, and makes me laugh…
  4. Beautiful Los Angeles weather…
  5. A beautiful apartment filled with lots of nice things…
  6. … and a great roommate to share it with!
  7. My health – absolutely priceless…
  8. Buying fresh flowers every Sunday (and arranging them in my favorite Jonathan Adler vase!)…
  9. My Glamour, US Weekly, and Elle Décor magazine subscriptions…
  10. Fun dinner parties with fabulous guests…
  11. The Drybar!
  12. The opportunity to take lots of fun vacations and trips to see the people I love…
  13. SUSHI – at least twice a week!
  14. Air conditioning! (It’s a right, not a privilege)…
  15. A closet filled with pretty dresses…
  16. …and sparkly shoes…
  17. …and shiny purses!
  18. Good books and trashy TV shows…
  19. The Brentwood Farmer’s Market…
  20. Friends who let me hold their cute babies…
  21. Anything and everything PINK…
  22. Facebook and Twitter…
  23. Interesting, inspirational blogs (and new blogger friends)…
  24. Diet Coke!
  25. The ability to pay my credit card bill (especially those months when it’s EXTRA high) :)…

and last but not least…

  1. A place to share it all… Queen of LA!

25 was filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, and 11 months of great shopping :) I can’t wait to see how 26 turns out!



Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Birthday Celebrations Have Begun!

Back from vacation! Palm Springs was fabulous, as I knew it would be. R and I got back late on Sunday so I didn’t have time to blog yesterday, but I had lots of emails and texts wanting to know how it was, so obviously I knew I needed to do a recap!


We arrived on Friday afternoon and checked into our room at the Parker Palm Springs to find a surprise – a bottle of champagne chilled and waiting for us! The Parker folks knew we were coming to kick-off my birthday celebration and this was the perfect welcome note. (I also cannot tell a lie… when we opened it, it made the LOUDEST pop and Rami screamed. I can’t resist a little teasing.)


Here we are after dinner – after all that talk about bright colors, I ended up wearing a pale grey DKNY dress and this INSANE necklace that I recently bought (and can’t recommend enough – it is FABULOUS and dresses up everything!)



(I must also note that after a delicious dinner at Mister Parkers – oysters, tuna tartare, pork belly, duck, and scallops, YUM – we had just returned to our room when there was a knock at our door… the Parker sent up a tiny birthday cake for me! LOVE!)



Saturday morning we woke up and had brunch at Norma’s, which was fabulous, and then headed out to the pool. I have to admit we did not like the adult pool at all – it smelled like cigarettes and had nowhere near enough lawn chairs – so we headed to the other pool, where I sat my tush down on the pool steps to read my People magazine. Cue approximately 800 children screaming, shrieking, and cannonballing into the ball around me, soaking me and my magazine. I couldn’t help but laugh – even when a small boy swam up to me and said scornfully, “You know this is the KID’S POOL, lady!” and proceeded to shoot me in the face with a water gun. I behaved myself and did not drown the little monster, but only because my boyfriend THE TEACHER AND FAN OF ALL CHILDREN was watching.


Posing before the pool in a tiny doorway just my size!


During the late afternoon, it all of a sudden got cloudy and started thundering – Rami insisted we go inside before it started raining. I wanted to stay and play on the hammocks but I reluctantly followed him back to our room, where I proceeded to PASS THE FUCK OUT FOR FOUR HOURS. Vacation, yall! Apparently, he read his entire book and watched TV while I slept, only waking me so I could eat my room service soup, after which I fell asleep again.


Saturday night we went back to Mister Parkers for dinner – this time I wore a bright red chiffon dress and my beloved turquoise Kendra Scott earrings – and we feasted again, this time on French onion soup, risotto, mussels, and a steak for my man, complete with butterscotch pot de crème for dessert… amazing.



Sunday’s weather was much nicer and sunnier – albeit HOT AS HELL – so after another delicious brunch (where I did a naughty thing and ordered lobster macaroni and cheese… oops), we spent another afternoon by the pool, this time sans screaming children. Poor R wanted to read his book in peace but I forced him to swim with me :) After showering in the Palm Springs Yacht Club (their spa) and making sure to sample ALL their Molton Brown toiletries, it was time to go. I managed not to throw any tantrums but believe me I was sad to go!


You tell me that doesn't look like the best thing on earth.



OBV I need to show yall some pictures of the hotel itself. I thought the décor was so interesting and retro – Jonathan Adler perfectly captured the vibe of Palm Springs throughout the entire proprerty. I loved the little “Adler-esque” touches – brightly colored straws, embroidered napkins, his signature animal-shaped salt & pepper shakers… go check the website out to see more pretty images :)






If you want to splurge on a fun weekend, the Parker is the perfect place to do it! Christine was our concierge (the one who sent us the champagne and dessert!) and she was just lovely. I also definitely recommend the Glutton Package so you can indulge to your heart’s content – we definitely did!


Birthday celebrations so far… fabulous!




Friday, August 26, 2011

Palm Springs Things

I am so excited for our Palm Springs getaway this weekend! Apparently everyone in the universe will be there this weekend, too – I know at least four other people who are going. Crazy!


Of course, in my excitement, I decided to compile a whole list of things I WISH I was bringing to the desert. Palm Springs is all about chic and easy pieces – the more retro, the better! Here are some that I am loving...

It’s going to be 110 degrees this weekend, so you better believe I’ll be spending the whole time in the pool! This bathing suit is gorgeous – I am obsessed with the bright colors and the pretty pattern – and Trina Turk is THE Palm Springs designer… her boutique in the middle of town is insane!




Speaking of Trina Turk… look at this blouse. Easy, flowy, perfect with white capris or skinny jeans, and it’s on sale to boot!


I tried this Diane Von Furstenberg dress on last week in Bloomingdales and fell in love. It’s the easiest, most comfortable dress and that shade of blue is insane. Problem is the price – it was 40% off and it was still crazy expensive. It would have been perfect for this weekend with a brown skinny belt and some flat brown sandals, but I had to pass :( waiting for the sale!



These Kendra Scott Wren earrings are drop dead gorgeous, aren’t they? You know I’m a Danielle girl through and through, but I may need to snag me a pair of these. The only question is, what color? I’m partial to the orange, the bright green, and the deep blue…


Wearing a statement necklace is VERY Palm Springs – I think I’ll probably be rocking one with a simple sundress at least one night while we’re there – and this Kate Spade one is so cute! It also comes in cream and black, but you know me – the brighter the better. Love the yellow!


You’ve gotta have somewhere to put all this cute stuff, don’t you? I am loving these straw bags – the turquoise raffia tote would be fabulous to bring down to the pool (filled with sunscreen and some good magazines, of course) and how could you not love those beautiful pom-poms on the other one!?

I’m so excited - my bags are packed and I am ready to go! I’ll be back next week with pictures and stories galore! Enjoy your weekends :)




Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Home Improvements

As many of you know, my dear sister Bailey Janna bought an apartment in New York City last week - mazel tov to Bay!


This process has been long and drawn out and she has basically spent the summer preparing for her new place - ie, emailing me picture after picture and link after link of furniture and home decor ideas for my approval and consideration (mostly because she knows I am the home decor MAVEN of the Silverman clan). I am not shy about expressing my opinion and have sent her back too many strongly-worded text messages and emails to mention... mostly expressing my disapproval at her inclination towards $3,000 couches and neon colored rugs.


ANYWAY. All this talk of home decor and new furniture has given ME the itch to redecorate, much to my mother’s chagrin. I have lived in the same apartment - which I ADORE - for nearly three years now and though for the most part I am surrounded by things I love, occasionally a girl wants something new, you know? So... here are a couple small changes I have made to my apartment recently...


I convinced my friend Stevie - aka, the Mensch with a Wrench - to come over and help me hang some new art on my walls (remember what a great job he did hanging my enormous painting above the couch?) He works in construction so I knew he’d do a great job, and he did - the prints are perfectly lined up and look fabulous!



Isn’t he adorable? Sorry ladies... he’s taken by my beautiful friend Ashley :) The prints above are reproductions of famous chairs, done by Anne Harwell of Annechovie, and these below are super tiny (4x4) squares of fireworks done by an artist originally from Poland - here’s the link to her Etsy site.



I have a gorgeous wooden table and matching beautiful dining room chairs, but I’m not crazy about the seats - they’re covered in a brown suede that I personally think needs a little “punching up.” I am expecting this fabric to be shipped to me any day now - it’s a little kooky, but considering it matches my turquoise rug, brown furniture, and pink accent pillows, I think it’ll make an awesome touch when I recover my dining room chair seats!



After seriously MONTHS of research and web comparisons and dragging my poor mother around to various furniture stores around the greater Los Angeles area and NEARLY pulling the trigger on this Crate & Barrel set (which WILL be mine one day), I randomly came across this coffee table and side table set from WALMART of all places. They fit all my criteria - large but not too large, black frame with a glass top, extra shelving... and they were less than $150 for the set! Insanity. They arrived a couple days ago and I’m going to set them up soon. In the meantime, if you are looking for a super cheap fancy modern coffee table/side table set, I’m selling my current one! Email me for pictures :)



And finally... I can’t BELIEVE I’ve never blogged about my bedding obsession but suffice it to say I have a problem. At least three or four times a year, I buy an entire new bedding set and keep it in my room, in its packaging, for about six weeks before I decide I hate it and return it, unopened and unused. This year, I had purchased and returned sets from Crate & Barrel, Amazon, Urban Outfitters, and was about to bite the bullet on a new Anthropologie quilt when my mom came across this beauty in a catalogue. The moment I saw it, I knew this was the one:



She ordered it for me a few days ago and I CANNOT WAIT!!!! It’s everything I ever wanted... pink, a little Moroccan-inspired, simple but pretty... my bedroom is going to look GORGEOUS!!!!


So there are my home improvements. Nothing drastic, but it’s a start! Will keep you posted on my progress... I have my eye on a new rug and I just bought a tiny vintage table I want to update. Stay tuned!


(But before I go, let’s pay tribute to the REAL Home Improvement star :) still so dreamy!)







Monday, August 22, 2011

A Summer Shabbat!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Mine was filled with some quality boyfriend time, a little shopping with Mama, a delicious garlic-filled dinner and a comedy show with new pals, and some cousin bonding, but I started the whole thing off with some friends and fun at a BIG Shabbat dinner at my place!


I’ve blogged before about the Shabbat dinners I like to throw at my apartment, and the last one I did was in April - it was definitely time for another one! I invited some pals, they in turn brought other pals, boyfriends and girlfriends and significant others tagged along... in the end more than 20 people packed into my apartment on Friday night - it was great!



Can’t throw a Shabbat without GB... she’s the world’s biggest help and best co-hostess ever!


The menu (forgot to get a pic of the whole table!)

Fresh challah

Veggie platter and hummus

Goat cheese and olive tapenade crostini

Baked brie and crackers

Corn, tomato, parmesan & arugula salad

Chicken Parmesan

Cheese lasagna


And of course...

Sea-salt caramel cupcakes with vodka whipped cream

Chocolate brownies

Chocolate-covered marshmallows

Oreo pie



My cute boy and best co-host ever!


GB and I with our new friend Allison! Remember my beloved pal Bracha? Her roommate Allison just moved here from Denver and doesn’t know anyone in LA... obviously she had to come to Shabbat to meet some friendly new faces!



This is what happens when you tell Matt and I to be normal...


My darling ABC :)


So handsome... if only he wouldn't blink in every photo :)


A shockingly normal pic of Ash and I! (She's the one who made the insane brownie/cupcakes)


The whole crew - thank god for camera self timers!




I absolutely LOVE throwing parties and hosting people - I am Martha Jewart’s daughter, after all! Sometime this week I’ll do a post on some of the Queen’s tips for entertaining, so check back in a couple days for that :)


Hope your week is off to a great start!





Friday, August 19, 2011

Pretty Parker

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to go to the Parker Palm Springs for vacation. The hotel is supposed to be GORGEOUS - the entire thing was decorated by one of my favorite interior designers, Jonathan Adler, and I regularly drool over all the pictures.





Well, guess what? They were running a special and I decided I could wait no longer... so Rami and I are going!!! We’re going to spend the weekend before my birthday there :) happy early birthday to me!!!


Everything I’ve read about the Parker Palm Springs says it’s absolutely amazing. Fancy dinners, huge pools, valet men wearing pink pants, retro-chic interiors everywhere? PARKER YOU ARE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE.



I can’t wait to lounge by the pool with a vodka lemonade slushie during the day and then get all dressed up at night for dinner at Mister Parkers. I’m thinking a colorful yet casual ensemble to match the vibe - what do you think?



Gara Danielle Rainbow Druzy Ring - J.Crew Maxidress

Kenneth Jay Lane Turquoise Necklace - Steve Madden Leopard Wedge Sandal

(ALL OF WHICH I NEED, SO SOMEONE PLEASE BUY ME.)


We’re going next weekend. I am literally counting down the hours!




Thursday, August 18, 2011

Pen Pal


Did I ever tell yall I had a pen pal?

Well I do, and she's awesome. Her name is MRM and we are basically internet soulmates and have tons in common... except for the fact that she lives in Germany.

No big deal - we write to each other all the time! (And keep on Facebook, Twitter, Gchat, etc.) Anyway - I'm guest posting for her while she's in the hospital, so go check me out there :)

And for future reference, her blog is www.preppygirlmeetsworld.com - bookmark it!



Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I've Got A Mission and a Target for Missoni: Target

So. Four weeks from today Target will release their special collaboration with Missoni and my head is going to explode.


I LOVE MISSONI. If you have read this blog for even 20 seconds you know I am all about prints and color, the brighter the better, and that is what Missoni is all about. I have a pair of Missoni flats that I love so intensely I can hardly bring myself to wear for fear of ruining them.


That is why I am so fucking excited for the Missoni for Target launch. Gorgeous, original, AFFORDABLE Missoni pieces? And not just clothing – shoes, bags, home décor, menswear, kitchenware, EVERYTHING! My heart is palpitating at the thought of it all!


I’ve had shopping goals/shopping lust before, but never like this. When the Missoni for Target line comes out, I will destroy anyone and everyone who gets in my way. Literally I will have no problem knocking frail or elderly people over in my haste to get my hands on some of this stuff.


I am posting what I want here – not so you can see it and be like “OMG I NEED THAT TOO!” – but so you know what to stay the hell away from online and/or in Los Angeles-area Target stores. Because if you get it and I do not, there will be a problem :)


The following items WILL be mine. Like these mugs: I don’t even DRINK COFFEE but I want these mugs just to pretty up my countertop in the kitchen!





OH HELLO AMAZING ROBE. You will be made into a jacket and you will be worn with jeans and a black tank and black suede wedges EVERYWHERE.



I LOVE ORGANIZING THINGS!!! And what could be better than organizing things with MISSONI bins?!





I have a glass shower door but that will not stop me from getting this black/white chevron shower curtain, just in case. And don’t think I won’t be snapping up the matching towels, too!







There is no way on earth that middle tray will not be mine.


May need to purchase every single one of these little makeup/toiletry bags.







Missoni office supplies. I can die happy.






You can click here to see the rest of the items in the Missoni for Target lookbook. Make sure to have a towel handy to wipe up all the drool :) SEPTEMBER 13TH CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!