#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! 

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!

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 - navy, pink, mint... 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!!!

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!

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! :)

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 :) 

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!

Some pictures before heading out Saturday night....

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. 

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. 

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!!!

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!

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!

Hostess With The Mostest? No. Definitely Not.

Most of the time I am very smart. On occasion, I am a total idiot. Like the time I offered - no, INSISTED!!! - on hosting Thanksgiving for my family and Ram's family this year, ONE MONTH AFTER MOVING INTO OUR NEW HOUSE THAT HAS ZERO FURNITURE AND IS STILL FULL OF UNPACKED BOXES.

I think I naively thought that not only would the house be fully unpacked but also magically full of furniture (which is a joke because I can't even find anything online I like enough to go see in person, let alone actually purchase), and also I think I was really excited to use all our new beautiful china and tablecloths and runners and silver? Which, may I remind everyone, IS ALL still in boxes? And when I say we have no furniture, I am not exaggerating. Our living room is empty. Our dining room is empty. Upstairs bedrooms... empty. We have no kitchen table or chairs. I am PRAYING our couch (ordered 2 months ago) comes before the holiday!

So yes. I'm a total moron. We will be hosting TWENTY FIVE family and friends on Turkey Day and I will be seating everyone on rented tables and chairs, like the classy girl I am. I better come up with a real cute tablescape idea to distract everyone... the more glitter, the better, I think. #lifemotto

In the meantime I'm just focusing on the delish dishes I'm planning on serving everyone! My mom and my uncle will both be bringing the turkeys (25 people = multiple turkeys), and I think Rami's mom is going to handle all the desserts (I ain't no baker) so I want to really bring it with the appetizers and side dishes! I took Wednesday off work so that I can spend the whole day in my new kitchen cooking with my sister... I actually can't wait :)

Here's what I'm thinking... warning, half of this stuff is from Martha's website. What can I say? I JUST TRUST HER.

Appetizers: Goat cheese stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. Bailey's favorite! I'm drooling just thinking of them. Plus a fresh baguette and some killer dips - maybe a charred onion dip and a spinach-artichoke dip? And then, of course, a cheese plate - I make the BEST one. I have to blog about it someday.

Veggies: Rami has requested roasted brussels sprouts - I'm considering this recipe, although last week I made an Asian-inspired version that was so good! Definitely a green bean recipe. This cauliflower gratin looks insane, too. CRANBERRY SAUCE, of course, but my secret is I like it best from the can :) And maybe my favorite thing ever, creamed spinach?

Carbs -AKA, the reason why I love Thanksgiving (turkey does nothing for me): Definitely mashed potatoes - you can't have Thanksgiving without them! Sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top... yum. I am also debating either a delicious, traditional mac & cheese casserole, these adorable little muffin-pan potato cakes, OR a savory bread pudding, maybe this one with mushrooms and gruyere?! And of course, stuffing... I like stuffing with cornbread and big chunks of chicken apple sausage. OMG. YUM.

Mmmmm.... Thanksgiving is just a few days away.... I can't wait!

Our Mini-Moon!

I am trying so hard to be a better blogger lately.... I missed writing on here! It drives me crazy to go "out of order" when I have a million things about the house and the wedding to update everyone about, but for now, "out of order" is better than nothing, right? :)

More wedding updates will come soon (I think subconsciously I'm delaying writing them since I'm hoping to get our photos back from our photographer to accompany each post) but in the meantime, let's talk about our MINI-MOON!!!!

Since we knew our big honeymoon wasn't going to be until two months after the wedding, we wanted to go away for a couple of days right afterwards to be alone before heading back to "real life." I'm so glad we did - it was so nice to have this little vacation for just the two of us, especially right after the craziness of the wedding weekend! 

We wanted to go somewhere relatively close-by - we didn't want to get on a plane, and we didn't want to go somewhere where we would want to sightsee and explore... all we wanted was to lay around! Since I was a little girl, I have always loved the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa (I even briefly considered it for the wedding), and when Ram reminded me he had never been there, I knew it was the perfect place - relaxing, beautiful, and only an hour drive away! 

We drove up the Monday afternoon after the wedding and stayed until Wednesday night - just two nights, but it was so nice! When I made the reservation, I mentioned it would be for a little honeymoon getaway, and when we checked in, the hotel had graciously upgraded us to a beautiful suite, and left us a little surprise!

I took some photos of the grounds, but they do not do it justice - it is STUNNING there. Everything is so green and lush, the buildings are just impeccable - I stole a few photos from their website to share. Look how beautiful!

We basically spent our entire time there laying by the pool. Since it was the middle of the week, the pool was virtually empty and the weather was PERFECT - 75 degrees and sunny with a gorgeous breeze. #godblessyoucalifornia. We read books and swam and ate fruit & melon skewers. It was heaven.

On Monday night, we went to one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Suzanne's. It's the best restaurant in Ojai and everything was delicious. The OVI concierge had made our reservation for us, and when we walked in, the hostess greeted us by saying "You must be our newlyweds!" and took our picture on the patio with all the lights!

We ate shrimp dumplings and mushroom soup to start, followed by chimichurri-marinated steak (Ram) and goat-cheese stuffed shells with grilled shrimp (mine - yum). We were so happy!

On Tuesday night, we visited their world-famous spa - Ram got a massage and I had an Orange-Honey Blossom Body Wrap. Afterwards, we were driven by golf cart back to the restaurant area (I was literally still wearing my spa robe!) to partake in the hotel's "S'More's Package," We sat by their beautiful fire-pit on the patio and were brought an enormous platter of marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey's, and Reese's! It was heaven. I literally told Ram that I had died and gone to heaven. 

 

While we were there we also visited the main town area and walked around, bought books at a GREAT bookstore our friend Rachel recommended called Bart's Books, ate dinner our second night at a little Italian spot called Osteria Monte Grappa... it's just the cutest little town.

The entire time we were away (and most days since then, if I'm being honest), we have kept just holding our left hands up to show each other our wedding rings. It feels CRAZY to be married - everything is exactly the same, but also so different :) 

It was a fabulous mini-moon and we can't wait to go back! So happy Ojai is just an hour away!

Our Wedding Photos... A Sneak Peek!

Last week I woke up to the BEST EMAIL. It was from our wedding photographers, Amy & Stuart, with a link to some sneak peeks of our wedding pictures!!!!

I had emailed them last week asking if there was any chance they would send over a couple images of the two of us so I could put one on our holiday cards - we have NEVER done them before but I figure if you can't do it the year you get married and buy a new house then when can you!?

I had honestly figured we would get two, maybe three pictures to hold us over til the rest of them were ready... but our photographers sent over more than 50! In his email, Stuart wrote, "I was only going to do a few, but once I started, I was so stoked about how good they looked that I couldn't stop." Um, I'm not complaining!

Let me now just quickly gush about Amy & Stuart. I can't even begin to tell you what artists they are. Truly, their photos are like works of art. Living in LA, we had the option of hiring many, many talented photographers, and indeed, we met with quite a few while choosing who to hire for the wedding. I took this decision very seriously - after all, you never wear the dress again, the food is only eaten once, nobody but the bride cares about the linens... but the photos? The photos last forever! I personally love taking pictures (#onceasororitygirlalwaysasororitygirl) but Ram can sometimes be shy in front of a camera... we wanted to pick a photographer who made us feel comfortable, someone who would put us at ease and make us laugh the day of the wedding when we were feeling nervous or overwhelmed... and in the end, it was only ever going to be Amy & Stuart.

They're a husband and wife team (and they actually did my friend Merav's wedding five years ago) and from the moment we met them, we knew they were the ones! We loved chatting with them, we loved their sample albums they showed us and the pictures we stalked on wedding websites, and then a few months later when we did our engagement shoot at the movie theater, we knew we had made the right choice, 100%! They were funny and sweet and creative and just so great. The day of the wedding, we spent three hours straight taking portraits with each other, with our wedding party, with our families, and they were amazing the entire time. I couldn't recommend them more....

And I couldn't be happier with these pictures! They TRULY took my breath away. See for yourself!!!

:) :) :) !!!!!!! :) :) :)

One of these babies is going on our holiday card this year... which one would you choose?! I would seriously love your opinion, I am having a hard time narrowing them down... After I send them out I'll post it here so you all can see!

Bash, Please: A Thank You!

There is no way that I could begin blogging about our wedding without dedicating an entire post to the amazing team who helped put it together - the extraordinary women of Bash, Please.

From the moment Rami put that ring on my finger, I knew that I would be kicking off wedding planning with one very specific phone call - and sure enough, less than 48 hours later, I had myself an appointment with Kelly and Paige, the talented owners of BP, which is a full-service event planning and production company. I met with them in their studio at Culver City and it was love at first sight - for me at least! (I think maybe my talk of glitter cannons and sparkle bridesmaid dresses may have scared them initially...) :)

Why Bash, Please? Truly, there was no question as to who we were going to hire to be our wedding planners. Long before we even got engaged, I had started reading wedding blogs, and consistently found myself struck by certain weddings that just had IT - that certain special something, that attention to detail that made the wedding SHINE. When I'd scroll down to read the vendor list for those very special weddings, I saw the same name over and over again listed under "Planning & Coordination" - Bash, Please.

After our first meeting, Paige and Kelly connected me with their Event Producers Melissa and Sydney, who became our partners for the wild ride of planning this shindig - and truly, throughout the year, they also became our friends. I will always treasure and truly appreciate the many times they shlepped out to the valley to meet with us in person, discussing details over snacks at my mom's kitchen table, and the countless patience they showed while answering my BILLION AND A HALF insane emails. I even dragged them to SoulCycle with me one day. They sent me a rainbow sprinkle birthday cake at midnight on my birthday, for gods sake! 

BP's attention to detail is unparalleled - they do it all, and they do it with a smile on their faces. They created our invitations and helped us tie perfect bows and stuff every single one of them, they came up with the idea for our place-card wall and our awesome dance-floor decals, they sat with me and showed me how to craft paper flowers for our DJ backdrop, they negotiated and haggled with every single vendor, they found back-up options for rental chairs and couches and tables, they shlepped heavy tablecloth linens to every single floral mock-up... I mean, the list is unending. They were the best investment we could have made at the beginning of the planning process and the smartest decision I think we ever made. 

Their taste is impeccable, their suggestions unique and absolutely genius... I wanted our wedding to be different and special and sparkly and colorful and very US, and they immediately understood our vision and set out to make it all happen. The day of our wedding, I didn't have a single moment of anxiety or doubt or hesitation that it would all unfold spectacularly - I trusted them implicitly and knew they would make everything look spectacular. And in the end, it was better than I ever could have imagined. 

I write this in part so that I can send it to them and hope that they truly understand how much they mean to me and how talented they truly are, but also to remind myself - months or years from now when I reread this - how grateful I am for EVERY SINGLE THING they did to help make this the wedding we always dreamed of.

It has been almost two weeks since the wedding and the phone has still not stopped ringing with friends and family calling to tell us how extraordinary it was. I love, love, LOVE hearing every single compliment, but I really can only take part of the credit - even when it was my idea, it was Melissa and Sydney and the BP team who made it happen for us. 

Bash, Please, and especially Mel and Syd - Ram and I love you and will always be grateful for all your hard work. Thank you for making us the wedding of our DREAMS! 

Our Wedding - 10.25.14

Our wedding was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life. 

The entire thing was perfect from start to finish. I wanted to freeze every single second, every single minute of being surrounded by all the people who we love who were there to celebrate with us, and I wanted to live in those moments forever.

I cannot even find the words to describe it. It was simultaneously the most fun, the most sparkly, the most rainbow/colorful, the most touching, the most poignant, the most beautiful, the most loving, the most memorable experience of my entire life. 

I have an ENTIRE list of things to blog about while it's still fresh in my mind - the flowers, the cake, the bridesmaid dresses, my gown, the food, my AMAZING wedding planners, our hair and makeup team, the band, the DJ, the photographers, the videographers, my few DIY details, our FLOWER AND CONFETTI CANNONS, the LIVE PAINTER, the little special extras, every single thing!!!! I promise I will tell you about all of it! (And then my photos will come in a few months and I'll tell you about all of it AGAIN, so get ready for that).

But in the meantime... a few of my favorite photos shot by our amazing friends :)

A photo posted by Jordan (@queenjord) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:49pm PDT

I am riding on a high like no other. I am still floating on cloud nine.
It was the best night of my life.

And now I am a WIFE!!!!!

I couldn't be more in love with my adorable husband and so happy to start our lives together as a married couple. Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate or who sent us your best wishes. It means everything to us. 

I'll be back soon with more details. I promise!

Love,

Mrs. R!!!!! 

Wedding Week!

It's here. I can't believe it.

Fourteen months ago Ram proposed to me onstage at our favorite comedy club, and fourteen months minus one day later we were off to the races and the wedding planning had begun!

And now it's here. In a few days I am marrying my best friend, the nicest, smartest, funniest guy in the world, the cutest boy with the cutest dimples I ever saw, the love of my life.  I cannot wait!!!!

Showing off our marriage license!

The wedding planners are amazing and have been by our sides since day one. The photographer and videographer are on lockdown. I'm obsessed with our florist. The band is ridiculous and I can't wait to dance all night. I said yes to the dress - and it's freaking amazing, if I do say so myself. And of course, I've got a few other sparkly surprises up my sleeve :)

I will obviously try and go back to our regularly scheduled blogging shenanigans after the wedding... So much to fill you in on! Every single detail! In the meantime, if you would like, please follow along with all the fun with our wedding hashtag - #happilyeverraffter :)

Thank you all for checking in over the past few months to see how everything has been going. You are all great and wonderful, and I love you.

Next time I blog, I'll be a MRS!!!!!! 

xoxoxoxo

New House, New House, New House!

Hello? Is anyone even out there? Considering it’s been weeks since I last popped in, I wouldn't blame you if you all jumped ship.

I personally hate reading blogs where the author just talks about how busy she is all of the time, but… that’s where I am right now. Between the wedding and the house, my to-do list is approximately one million items long (and color-coded, if you must know how crazy I really am), and unfortunately the ole’ blog is suffering because of it. But I do promise that when we are finally moved in – which should happen, oh, about TWO WEEKS before the wedding – I will give you all a FULL, DETAILED, GRAND PLAY BY PLAY on everything. I have grand plans for posts on every single solitary detail of the wedding, don’t you worry :)

In the meantime we can talk about the house for a little bit!

I CAN’T WAIT to blog about all the “before’s and after’s” about all the construction we are doing in our new house. It is SO exciting to see all the new things we’ve picked out finally going in! This whole process is an excellent lesson in patience for someone like me, who likes for things to be done IMMEDIATELY ASAP AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. For the first month of renovations, I couldn’t see any differences from day to day and it was driving me crazy. I kept calling it “the boring stuff” and I think my contractor (who is EXCELLENT by the way, if you live in Los Angeles PLEASE email me and I will refer him!) was going to kill me. He explained over and over that what I called “the boring stuff” was actually the most important – laying the right foundation, sanding and priming each surface carefully, installing recessed lighting before painting, doing it all the right way the first time, etc etc. Obviously I knew that, but it didn’t mean I didn’t have the occasional whine fest :)

Now, a month and a half in, the exciting stuff is finally starting to happen! Our kitchen cabinets and countertops are in - that was crazy. Can't wait to show off pics. I picked white and glass cabinets with chrome hardware, a gorgeous white flecked Caesarstone for the counters and the island, and the most beautiful kitchen backsplash EVER which has yet to be installed or I would be showing pics right now :( Here's a little sneak peek!

We picked appliances! That was a fun three hour excursion to Lowe's, my new favorite place and one that I frequent at least twice a week now #homeownerproblems. We will have a French-door refrigerator, which I am particularly excited about - Ramz is not on board with it quite yet ("Why is the freezer on the bottom?!") but I know he'll come around once it's stocked with hummus and beer :) 

I hate beige. I think it is the most boring non-color of all time. I don't want anything in our new house to be beige. I painted the entire house a nice, creamy white - Dunn Edwards "Droplets" - and the whole house looks completely different already! The outside of the house was beige and is currently being painted a pale grey, which looks great with our door, which is a beautiful bright red! I ordered new house numbers (these to be exact) and new outdoor lanterns (these to be exact) and can't wait for them to be installed :) Now to find a fabulous snazzy doormat... any suggestions?

One of the most exciting things we've done lately? We bought a couch!!!!! I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for a new couch for AGES. When I moved into my first apartment after graduating college, my parents bought me a couch that I loved at the time. Seven years later (and one ENTHUSIASTIC RUNNING LEAP TO SEE THE MAD MEN PREMIERE by my darling fiance that broke the springs on the entire left side), that couch had seen its LAST DAYS. We took it apart and left it by the dumpster when we moved and I couldn't have been happier to see it go. In the new house we will have a beautiful new sectional from Crate & Barrel! I picked out a beautiful tweedy grey fabric and in 10-12 weeks we will be sitting pretty on that baby watching TV and keeping all food and drinks far, far away from it :)

WHEW! This post was kind of like word-vomit. I think I had to get it all out. I am SO excited and so overwhelmed I think I'm going crazy. THIRTY SEVEN DAYS TIL OUR WEDDING and our contractor promises we'll be in the house in less than two weeks. SEND PRAYERS FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!

Twenty Nine, Damn Fine

So I turned 29 last week. Unlike in past years, where I made The World's Biggest Deal about my birthday and celebrated for weeks on end, this one was fairly low key. In fact, I think it's safe to say this was my quietest birthday EVER.

Maybe it's the fact that in between doing things for the house and the wedding I still barely have time to breathe, let alone plan anything crazy. Orrrrr maybe it's the fact that (speaking of the wedding), in less than two months I will be having a GINORMOUS bash with literally everyone I've ever said hello to in my life. Or maybe I'm just growing up?!

Nah :) I may be getting older (just realized this was my last birthday with a "2" in front of my age - AHHHH) but I'm not a grownup yet. And I did still manage to have some fun birthday celebrations!

Over the long weekend (my birthday ALWAYS falls on Labor Day Weekend), my sis and her fiance came into town. Friday night we took them to the comedy show where we got engaged, since they had never seen it, and then we had dinner at Republique, which was delicious and the first of MANY birthday dinners to come :) #silvermansisters #goodhairdays

The next night, my mom, Bay, and JM all had a rehearsal dinner to go to (more on that in a sec), so my darling husband-to-be took me out to my favorite restaurant, Animal, for dinner. Just the two of us and some pork belly sandwiches - what more could a girl want for her last night of being 28!?

When we came home that night, we all hung out on the couch waiting for the clock to turn midnight... and when it did, Bailey brought out a fabulous surprise... this amazing funfetti sprinkle cake from my AMAZING WEDDING PLANNERS!!!! It was delivered earlier that day but saved for midnight. When I opened the box I almost died. What a fantastic surprise!!!!

The next morning, I woke up to a Starbucks in bed, courtesy of Ram :) and then headed out to Drybar for a little hair pampering with my mama....

... Since later that day, it was time for our dear friend's wedding! Funny story: this was the wedding of the son of one of Rami's best family friends... who married the daughter of one of our best family friends, at the same hotel we are going to get married at next month!!! So basically every single person we've ever met was there, and both our siblings were in the wedding party... my sister walked down the aisle with Rami's brother as bridesmaid and groomsmen!

I was bored with everything in my closet so I rented a dress from Rent The Runway - it was my first time trying it out and I was a little nervous but ended up loving the dress! It was a black Badgley Mischka one-shouldered gown and so comfortable. My only issue was it was a bit big on top so when I started dancing, you could see my bra. Oops. Oh well. I wish I had a full length pic so you could see but this one will have to do!

I love this collage ... on top, me and some of my oldest friends of more than 25 years... on bottom, my siblings - both sides!!!

More pics I love: my amazing family - how glam does my mama look!?

Things got a little crazy in the photobooth....

The wedding was absolutely beautiful and it was so fun dancing the night away with all our family and friends. It made me SO excited for our own wedding - which is seven weeks away BUT WHO'S COUNTING HAHA OH GOD.

A few days ago, I walked into SoulCycle and was greeted with this fun little surprise - my SC friend's birthday was the day after mine and we celebrated during class and afterwards with a fun group dinner! Have I mentioned lately how much I love Soul? Cuz I do.

And just yesterday birthday celebrations officially concluded with a special dinner date at the new Mastro's Ocean Club that just opened in Malibu - Rami went there with his parents when I was in Israel and KNEW he had to take me. It was delicious and quite the scene... but the absolute best part, besides being taken out on the town by my man, was this ridiculous dessert. Butter cake anyone?!?!

So that's how I rang in 29! So far it feels damn fine :) Thank you to everyone who called and texted and emailed and Facebook. It totally made my day! Here's to an amazing year ahead!

Emmy Review: Loving Red, White, & Blue!

Last night we had some pals come over for pizza and salad and Emmy-watching on my couch on my mother's couch (since she is my roomie and landlord these days while we wait for our remodeling to be done). The show was blah, sort of predictable, but the clothes were pretty good so I'm happy!

Before we chat about the fashion let me just say I HATED that the Emmy's were on a Monday. Like, the red carpet started while I still had an hour of work left. I rushed home in traffic and didn't even get to do my usual elaborate award show preparations, AKA, make a sick cheese plate. #bringbacktheSundaynightEmmy's 

Anyway, I did my usual perusal of InStyle mag's red carpet coverage to determine my Best Dressed of the evening and you know what? This year, there was a THEME! Every dress I loved was either red, white, or blue-ish... what a delightful patriotic coincidence! #godblessAmerica

Enough hashtags and enough blabbering. Let me show you what I loved!

RED:

Claire Danes, Kaley Cuoco, and Sarah Hyland are pretty in pinkish red! Of these, I like Sarah's look the best - it's SO young and fun, it's making me re-think my dislike of crop tops. I also like Claire's side cut peekaboos, in a similar vein. Kaley's dress is a little wacky but you know I love me a poufy ruffle with a hot pink detail. Cute ladies!

WHITE:

Maybe it's cuz I'm in permanent bridal mode but I was really drawn to white on the red carpet this year! Padma Lakshmi is always dressed impeccably and this gown is stunning - minimalist and chic and sleek. I love me a huge-ass bow so I am all about Julianne Hough and I bet Ryan Seacrest is feeling sad he kicked her to the curb right about now. And finally, Allison Williams, who I actually HATE, is wearing maybe one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen - I LOVE that full white skirt and the  yellow band around her waist with the black velvet tie. 

BLUE:

Navy is REALLY having a moment now, isn't it? It looks fabulous on redheads, as Debra Messing is demonstrating for us - I love the asymmetrical cut-outs on her gown. I also am loving Natasha Lyonne's short mermaid/peplum-esque lace dress - the length is perfect! Just wish she had worn cooler shoes. And finally, my beloved Julia went and surprised us all in a very edgy, funky beaded number - I'm also loving the length on this one. Another all-time fave!

Okay I cannot lie... I have one more, and it DIDN'T fit in with my theme... Samira Wiley in BRIGHT NEON YELLOW!

Girlfriend is killing ittttttt. She's my favorite OITNB character and my favorite of the whole red carpet! That florescent yellow is seriously perfect with her gorgeous dark skin.

That's a wrap, folks! See ya'll back on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, which, on that subject, MINDY KALING BETTER BE NOMINATED FOR AT LEAST ONE. That's all, I'm done.

PS. Two posts in two days! Aren't you proud?! Cross your fingers this momentum keeps going.