star spangled 'Merica

Ten days of LA palm trees | Can't beat that perfect blue sky
Jana Kramer "Goodbye California"

Oh how I love 'Merica!

 I can't believe that it's already been a week since I returned from LA. (Does anyone else feel as though 2013 is FLYING?) Someone, TAKE. ME. BACK. ALREADY.

A couple months ago, I knew that it was about time that I take a vacation. My destination? Sunny LA to visit my fave, Kendall and Peter to celebrate one of my favorite holidays: 4th of July! Best decision...EVER.

I hopped on that plane, listened to Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA about a million times, and once I landed at LAX, I ran through there to find Kendall & Peter! The whole weekend was incredibly relaxing. I think my brain was so happy and filled with so many endorphins. Limited time with my email inbox is quite beautiful. Who knew?

My weekend in a few snapshots:

Goodbye Washington, DC...

Celebrating 'Merica the right way. Beach + BBQ + Fireworks

LOVING the 'Merica trunks behind us.

Spent Saturday afternoon shopping in Santa Monica.

 Highlight from lunch: Nutella Latte. YES.

What's more American than baseball? Let's go Boston!

We know a lot about baseball...right?

More fireworks after the Red Sox win! These fireworks had my heart. Oh my, gorgeous!

Sunday brunch at Sunny Spot. Two words: RUM. CREME. Still dreaming of this deliciousness.

How could I leave this?



*Sigh* I'm missing LA so much. I want to go back already! What an amazing long weekend. I came home refreshed and so ready to take on the work week!



friends who inspire

Since the start of post-grad life, I've been dipping my toes into a pool called "social life." The last time that I had an inkling of this so-called "social life" was...quite possibly junior or senior year of high school. The last four years have been a wild, non-stop ride. 

I've been spending some of my nights after the "9 - to - 5" job (yes, there's a reason for quotation marks) hanging out with friends. There's even the occasional Sunday Brunch after volunteering at Kid's Quest. Don't you know, the two main ways to my heart are froyo and brunch? It's crazy to think that some of my closest friends, JAKE, have been together since 5th grade. That's a doozy. We've literally seen each other grow up and pass through so many, SO MANY different stages of life. For all those wondering, JAKE stands for Julia, Alice, Karen, and Elaine. Yes -- the acronym is not only necessary...but we are actually known as that. Our boyfriends through the years have found it incredibly amusing. But, they know not to mess with any of us because we are more than friends...we're sisters. Ever heard of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? That's us...but in real life.

And then there's Lesley, whom I've known since freshman year of college. She's now moving to Paris to travel for a couple of months. Crazy, huh? What I love the most about this "social life" is that I get to slow down for a few hours and be present. The phone is off and I am 100% there soaking in all this friend time. LOVE every second of it. I love hearing what everyone has done, are doing, where they're headed, what they're thinking, and so on. 

Being a witness to so many transition phases has been awesome. What I've come to realize is, my friends are so incredibly inspirational! There's no doubt in my mind that they're each headed towards INCREDIBLE things: being a female executive, traveling the world, gaining new experiences, finding a cure for brain diseases, educating the nation about health issues, and the list goes on. I'm so crazy blessed to have each of these women in my life to inspire me. They push me in ways that I could not do so myself. They relay stories to me that I could never experience myself. As cheesy as it may sound, I truly hope that each of us have that circle of people who surround us with support, love, and inspiration. What better way to live?