Saturday, December 20, 2014

#honeymoondownunder

Well friends, we are OFF! Tonight we leave for our long awaited honeymoon. I can't believe it's finally here!

We will celebrate two months of being married while we are away - on Christmas, actually! fun! - and I can't believe that our wedding was two months ago. I really can't. Time is flying!

Actually - time flew all year. 2014 went so fast. It was a truly wonderful year, probably the best of my life. Planning our wedding. Traveling fun places and seeing my friends and family. My bachelorette party, a definite highlight. Buying a house. Bailey getting engaged. Celebrating the engagements and weddings of so many people I love. And of course, getting married to my best friend!!! 

So my pals, I bid you farewell for the rest of 2014. I promise in 2015, I will try to be a better blogger!  I love keeping up with everyone and sharing fun stories and posts on this blog. I hope the rest of your year is amazing! Happy New Year! 



Monday, December 15, 2014

Honeymoon Packing Has Already Started

Never in my life have I looked forward to a trip more than our honeymoon. It is less than a week away AND I CANNOT WAIT. I am literally counting down the days.

As I mentioned a while back, we are going to Fiji and Australia!!! We fly directly to Fiji, spend five days there (on an over-water bungalow #omglifedream), then spend a night in Brisbane before heading to the Great Barrier Reef for three days. From there we go to Sydney for a week before heading home. This is the trip of a lifetime… I seriously need to be ON THAT PLANE RIGHT NOW.

It's been very cold in LA lately (like 60 degrees... please, I know how ridiculous I sound), so I am ready for some sunshine. I mayyyyy have gone a little crazy over Black Friday/Cyber Monday, so there will be lots of new goodies coming along with me!

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ONE: Some people have a hard time finding bathing suits… me, not so much. (Jeans are another story…. I basically need a Xanax before I go into the dressing room.) I love La Blanca’s one-piece tanks – the colors are so bright and vibrant and the suits are actually comfortable – no riding up or pulling wedgies out necessary! I own them in lots of colors - navypinkmint... Pro-tip from me to you: I buy them CRAZY discounted at the website 6pm.com.

TWO: Every year, Mara Hoffman makes a new version of her FANTASTIC beach bag. I own two – this one and this one – and her new one is just as gorgeous, of course! I love this bag because it has sturdy leather handles, a giant outer pocket, AND a smaller pocket inside that zips to protect your valuables. I never travel without it.

THREE: Some beauty essentials - my favorite sunscreen to protect my skin and my favorite tantowels to boost whatever tan I do manage to get, of course! And I've gotta get a fresh manicure/pedicure for the trip... I'm thinking a fun bright pinkish coral for my hands and something fun for my toes! Essie's Guilty Pleasures and Penny Talk fit the bill just fine. 

FOUR: Two weeks on a beach = a lot of books being packed. Did yall know I am a speedreader? I’ve been holding off on buying/reading anything good lately cuz I know I’m going to want to do it while relaxing on a chaise lounge. I’m very excited to read the new Amy Poehler book, the new Jodi Picoult book, and Lena Dunham’s book, among others.

FIVE: I got this new chambray cover-up for the trip and I am very excited about it. I like that I can also wear it out and about as a dress in addition to wearing it by the pool! It also comes in black and white - such a good basic.

SIX: Rachel Pally is my go-to for flattering, comfortable maxidresses. I bought this beautiful dress when it went on double sale and it looks SO GOOD on, if I do say so myself! Mine is red, but I am really liking this turquoise color too... might need to get another.... 

SEVEN: Shoes! This nude sandal, by Franco Sarto, is insanely comfortable - I own several pairs and wear them all the time! I also have my eye on some of these cute options - these leopard Steve Maddens are so cute and very reasonably priced, and I CANNOT EVEN HANDLE my love for this rainbow-y Trina Turk thong!

EIGHT: For pulling my hair back out of my face on the beach, after swimming, while reading, you name it - I love Emi-Jay hair ties because they don't leave a crease! Of course mine are leopard print. Did you expect anything else?!

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So friends – have you ever been to Fiji? Brisbane? Hamilton Island? Sydney? Please, give us your recommendations, we want to hear them!!!


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The BFF's Bachelorette

I spent the weekend in Las Vegas at a very fun bachelorette party. My BFF from college, Miss Julie Ann, is marrying her fiance Stuart in January, so we headed out to Sin City to celebrate her, Vegas style!

I was supposed to fly out Thursday night, but when I arrived at LAX that evening, suitcase in hand, I was greeted with a flight delayed for SIX HOURS! When I realized all the other flights to Vegas were being canceled (terrible fog in Vegas), I saw the writing on the wall, cut my losses and rebooked my flight for Friday morning. Lucky me, that meant I got to go home and watch Peter Pan Live with my husband and some friends.... I mean, yay for friends, but UGH for Allison Williams. 

Anyway, my flight there on Friday morning was uneventful and as soon as I arrived, met up with everyone for lunch at Lotus of Siam - yum! Have you heard of it? It's been consistently called "the best Thai restaurant in America" and I kindaaaaaa agree. I recommended we go there for an early lunch and we had a delicious meal :) look at this happy and slightly NSFW bride-to-be!

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We spent Friday afternoon gambling and shmoozing (I got my hair blown out... WHY is there no Drybar in Vegas?! Someone make that happen!), then came back to the rooms to hang out and rest and open our weekend gifts... look how cute! I designed our bachelorette tanks - "Just Stu It" was PRETTY GENIUS if I do say so myself! :)

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On Friday night, we had a big group dinner at Spago, which was delish, and then came back to the room to play some bachelorette games :) 

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This is so fun.... on Saturday afternoon we surprised the bride with an 80's themed dance class! A dance instructor came and taught us a special dance to "What A Feeling" from Flashdance and we rocked it out, complete with neon leggings :) Let me just say - I am not proud of this - but three days later I AM STILL SORE from our crazy dance moves. If we remember the dance, we are sure to rock it out on the dance floor at the wedding!!! #iamold #butthatwasfun 


Out of all of our friends, Julie and I are the ones who love to gamble the most. We both love playing the Goldfish and Sex and The City slot machines. Here's the bachelorette casually winning $100 on SATC! We screamed so loud!

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Some pictures before heading out Saturday night....

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We had dinner at Sushi Samba, which was delicious, and then after dinner, our private room randomly turned into a karaoke club? But we were the only ones in it? It was so bizarre, but so fun - of course we immediately started making requests and getting onstage and dancing and singing. I could not resist channeling Nikki Minaj and rapping out Anaconda. The bride may have joined in. Haha. 

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After dinner & karaoke, we made a brief stop at TAO for some clubbin. Now let me say this.... I am NOT a fan of clubs. I did it for my friend because I love her, but this is my solemn promise in a public location - you will never again catch me in da club. It is SO not my scene!!! At one point Gerrick, Stacy and I went to the bathroom and when we came back, we had lost the rest of our group.... we cautiously ventured onto the dance floor so that we could cross the room... and of course at that exact moment, TAO started shooting off red glitter and smoke and streamers everywhere, all over us! Gerrick was like "WE HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE" and I just started laughing hysterically. We danced for an hour and then left to go to sleep like the old almost-thirty year olds we are. 

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We spent Sunday gambling, shopping, and having lunch at Giada - which was phenomenal and I can't wait to go back! Actually, I could say that about Vegas itself... it was a great weekend and we are all very excited for Ju & Stu's wedding in just a few weeks!!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

A Day of Thanks

Happy belated TG, ya'll! 

Even though we had no furniture, even though everyone had to sit on little poufs instead of real couches, even though I had to rent tables and chairs, Thanksgiving at our new house turned out pretty darn great after all :)

We started cooking two days before, me and my mom and Bay and Ram. I have to say, it was SO fun getting to use a) the new kitchen to cook and host for such a big group and b) all our new kitchen wedding gifts!!! I was all like "TRIVET? YOU NEED A TRIVET? YOU WANT SOME BRAND SPANKIN' NEW TUPPERWARE? I GOT YOU." 


My sis came in town on Tuesday night - we had the best time together all weekend long. When the cooking started, she was equal parts helpful and distracting. Here she is convincing my husband that after the two of them spent, ohhhh maybe 20 minutes arranging the cheese platter, that it was time for them to "exercise" and "do yoga." Cue the stretching and downward dog-ing in my kitchen while I was arm-deep in making stuffing. #thesetwo 


Here are some pictures of our tables, before the guests arrived! My mom let me borrow some of her chargers and silverware so the tables all matched :) We went with white tablecloths, burlap runners, silver chargers, black cloth napkins, and gold napkin rings, complete with little turkey candlestick holders. Martha Jewart looooves her a Thanksgiving tablescape!


#nofurniture #ugh 

Here are some of the apps - I set out a delish cheese spread with different types of crackers, fig jam (inside that little turkey holder!), nuts, truffle salami, and turkey-bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese. SO GOOD THAT I ACCIDENTALLY KINDA FILLED UP ON THESE.


Ram's mom created the cutest veggie platter shaped like a turkey! I love it.


And here's our feast! Everyone contributed and it was all so, so yummy. My mom barbecued a turkey and my uncle fried another one - literally in my backyard, next to my pool! Thank god we live in LA and it was 75 degrees :) I ended up making macaroni & cheese, chicken apple sausage stuffing, charred onion dip, mashed potatoes, and roasted potato stacks (by far the clear winner, we had zero leftover). We also had brussels sprouts salad, roasted green beans, sweet potato pie, arugula/squash/pomegranate seed salad, cornbread muffins, and two kinds of cranberry sauce. YUM. YUM. YUM. 


Don't even get me started on dessert. There were like 20 pies. I couldn't even stage this photo properly and make it look nice, we were all so full and lazy! I had the smores one (made by my aunt) and it was PHENOMENAL. 


Me and my cute boo. Such a good host, he is. (PS. The night before Thanksgiving, our new bookcase - that stunning brass beauty you see peeking out behind us) was delivered and I went CRAZY arranging it with all our pretty frames and books and Judaica and stuff. I NEED MORE FURNITURE GUYS, IM DYING WITHOUT IT. MY STUFF NEEDS A HOME!!!!!)


I am so, so thankful for so many things: wonderful family and amazing friends, the health and happiness of everyone I love, our new home, and of course, the love of my life. I never take any of it for granted - I think to myself all the time about how I am so very grateful for my life. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday celebrating with your loved ones too!

Monday, December 1, 2014

The 2014 Jordan Marisa Rose Hanukkah Wish List

Holy cow, it's December. How did that happen? This year has FLOWN BY. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was crafting the 2013 Jordan Marisa Rose Hanukkah Wish List!

Now, just because I'm a grown married woman doesn't mean these lists are going to stop. Au contraire! Now I have a cute new husband who will likely find this sort of thing helpful! I pin things I see and like all the time to my Pinterest "Wanty McWanterson" board, but he doesn't even know what a Pinterest is. I'm just helping him out :)

(PS. I've been making these lists for a LONG time. Check out 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009's lists - CRAZY!)

Anyway! Here are a couple things I'm really into right now:



ONE:
It's time for me to upgrade my makeup brushes and now is the time to do it - tons of makeup brands inside department stores will be offering deals on brush sets! I have my eye on this Lancome set - they are a crazy good deal right now.

TWO:
Love me some Kendra Scott. The Quincy earrings are sparkly and iridescent, but neutral enough to go with anything. (YES, in my eyes these count as a neutral. That should tell you everything you need to know about me!)

THREE:
Drybar giftcards... self-explanatory. NOTHING makes me feel more like a total bombshell than a shiny, shiny blowout.

FOUR:
These glittery heels make me want to go dancing! They come in black and gold... I can't decide which ones I like better. God bless you, Kate Spade.

FIVE:
I've been on the hunt for some creative jewelry storage options for the new house and I think this gorgeous, gilded tree branch necklace-holder from Anthropologie would look perfect piled with baubles on our new dresser!

SIX:
The statement necklace to end all statement necklaces. I love the pastel shades of the Swarovski crystals - it would look amazing with anything from jeans and a simple top, to a stunning LBD!

SEVEN:
I love the idea of this Loren Hope necklace - wear it short as a choker, or longer with the bow-tie dangling as a lariat. So chic!

EIGHT:
It's time like these that I wish Jewish people did Christmas stockings... if we did, I'd be crossing my fingers that someone would have stuffed mine with these Essie polishes! I used to own the lavender one, Splash of Grenadine, but I left it at the nail salon a while ago and I've been missing it! The other one, Penny Talk, is a newer find... my friend Natalie lent me hers and I'm obsessed with the shiny rose gold color.

NINE:
I've been using my hot pink $11 Marshall's wallet since 2011. I think it's finally time for an upgrade, and I'm thinking this glitter wallet (with polka dots on the inside!) might be just the thing to get me to switch over!

TEN:
For the past few years, I've gotten a new pair of Ugg slippers around the holidays. These are actually by J.Crew, but I can't resist the leopard print and how comfy they look!
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Hanukkah is just a few weeks away.... I'm getting excited for latkes and candle-lighting and playing dreidel and of course, presents!