Sunday, December 4, 2011

Tis the Season for Scarfs and Boots


I am completely and utterly obsessed with scarf’s and boots, which can be confirmed by my ever growing collection.  One might think I lived somewhere other than the consistently sunny and 70 degree So Cal but I love that it gets just cold enough to rock my favorite fall/winter attire without having to deal with ice or snow. So you can imagine my delight when the last few weeks I could finally feel the chill in the air confirming that I have several months ahead where every outfit can be chic and cozy. 

I recently received an emailer from Rachel Zoe’s team with a link to a YouTube video (http://bit.ly/snPqar) where in under 5 minutes you can learn more ways to wear a scarf than I ever could have imagined - my heart about burst. A good scarf collection can add a pop of color or pattern to any neutral outfit and make it appear as though a professional stylist dressed you herself.  It really is all about accessories!  Not to mention that a beautiful scarf can make the perfect gift for any woman or man on your list.

Then there are boots - flat boots, tall boots, short boots, ankle boots, cowboy boots.  They really are the most comfortable yet fashionable footwear.  Rugged, sexy, edgy – you name it – there’s a boot to slip into for that and it will transform your entire outfit.  I do believe Steve Madden (www.stevemadden.com) is king of the affordable yet stylish stomper but I LOVE getting recommendations from others who have found their perfect boot, so please share yours with me so I can add them to my Pinterest board and lust after them.

What clothing item/accessory/shoe do you gravitate towards during the winter season?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Own It!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m all about supporting strong woman and that I love being surrounded by tough, smart, independent, beautiful ladies as it pushes me to be a better woman as well.  If you also know my friends, then you know that they all embody those adjectives.  However, sometimes even the strongest of us have self doubts and insecurities caused by scars life has left on us and for these moments I wanted to share the mantra of “THE Group” - you know who you are.  


This mantra was coined by one of the ladies in THE Group and basically is – own it!  It should be delivered with conviction and sass.  Not having a good hair day – own it! Feeling fat in that fabulous outfit – own it!  Don’t feel like you’re going to do well in a job interview – go in and own it!  You get the idea – now own it!  Thank you to THE Group, Megs, Audrey, Denise, Nicole and my other close girl friends for always being there to remind me that I also embody all those adjectives above. I know that I wouldn’t be half of who I am today without your constant love and support.


www.kristinrogersphotography.com

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Jewelry that Rocks!

A friend and fabulous lady, Jessica McInnis, has tapped into her creativity and started a rad collection of jewelry that can be found on www.urbanearmor.com.  You would never know that during the day she's in accounting with all this style and beauty oozing out of her – she is the gorgeous gal modeling the jewelry on the site! 

I always love sharing a good find and this is definitely one of them. I’m sporting the jaw dropping statement necklace (shorter version of the Bevor) in the picture below but am also coveting the Gorget earrings on her site. 

The necklace was personally delivered to me by Jessica and be still my heart – the packaging is perfectly branded and just as fun as the necklace itself.  I’ve been rocking my present from her a few times a week ever since – thanks Jessica!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

My Next 30 Years

The song lyrics from Tim McGraw's My Next 30 Years (see lyrics below) resonates within me in such a profound way because I couldn't have said it better myself when reflecting upon what my next 30 will hold. Today, I have entered my 30's with confidence. In my next 30 I will continue to evolve into the best version of me, check off items on my bucket list, and be fully engaged in the most precious moments that life offers - those spent with my family and friends. Here's to the next 30 - L'chaim!


My Next 30 Years - Tim McGraw

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here

Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done
Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears
And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I’m doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, In my next thirty years


Sunday, October 16, 2011

a+e make it official

Festivities’ for our special day kicked off Wednesday afternoon once we were both officially off of work and our fun loving son arrived in SoCal.  We enjoyed having a few days to tie up any loose ends and spend time with Gav and his Mama.  Friday we all headed to LA to meet up with the rest of our family and friends and begin the celebration.  I enjoyed a leisurely afternoon with my gals getting pampered before meeting up with my soon to be hubby for our rehearsal dinner at Cafe Del Rey in Marina Del Rey.  The fun grey and yellow décor paired with the view of the sun setting over the marina and a room filled with our closest family and friends set the stage for the evening – and what an evening it was!  Thank you to Jim, Barb, Donette, and Nick for hosting such a lovely dinner in our honor.  We were definitely feeling the love! 

Then came Saturday – the big day!  While us gals and adorable flower girl Jordan again got pampered and beautiful the boys worked their behinds off to set the stage at Smog Shoppe and make sure that every last detail was perfect.  Major thank you to all the groomsmen and my hubby for bringing our vision to life!  An additional huge hug to Megan who did double duty as a bridesmaid and our coordinator, keeping me out of any details that were being taken care of the day of. Our day went so smoothly and we are beyond appreciative that Megs and Stacy went above and beyond to make sure we just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves.









Before I knew it Evan and I were having our first look just outside of our venue with our fab photographer Kristin Rogers who captured this private moment – what a stunning man I was going to marry!  He looked so handsome in his grey suit, paisley tie, and yellow suspenders…not to mention the awesome boutonniere by Third Day Floral (thanks Alvia!).  We then proceeded to take several photos where the personalities of our goofy group definitely came to the surface – check out some of the pics below.  Who comes up with an idea to take a pic with all of our eyes closed? Oh that’s right, that would be us!  Having fun with our friends beforehand definitely helped ease the nerves about everyone staring at us while we said our vows, thank goodness!  Around this time I was elated to see that my group was complete when Lisha (ready to pop with twins) and Phil arrived – it wasn’t till the last minute that we knew if Lish could make it, but that is one determined girl and she made sure to be there for me as she always has been.  All of my girls helped keep me calm during the planning and showered me in love and support - I love you all beyond words (special shout out to the best MOH ever James)!

















Ok, sorry detour…back on track - our ceremony was truly one of my most cherished moments from the day.  Rabbi Mayersohn brought love, humor, and honesty to every moment of our ceremony and I could not be more grateful to him for making this one of the best moments of my life.  Those who were there probably mostly remember how I was ready to guzzle down the wine - which is only funny since I’m not a drinker, but I was parched from nerves and couldn’t help myself.  My nerves calmed though as soon as I could hold Evan’s hands and look into his eyes as the Rabbi provided a flawless ceremony.  We stood under my favorite piece in the wedding, our chuppah, made from my mother’s wedding dress and my grandpa’s tallis – truly priceless.  I was also able to share some funny looks with my brother-in-law, AJ, throughout the ceremony.  It was so nice to have his fully engaged face to look at in the background. 









Shortly thereafter we were being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Raabe, dancing the hora, visiting with our family and friends, and enjoying a memorable cake cutting.  Oh and I must not forget to mention that early on in the reception our son tore up the floor with his break dance moves and accurately retold this story to me later where he was sure to let me know that he used his tie as a prop – he is such a ham and I love it!









Just like my mother, my favorite part of any meal is of course the dessert and I don’t think there is a friend or family member who didn’t mention to me just how delicious the desserts were – fist pound to Theresa’s Custom Cakes for not only providing yummy desserts but also ones that were lactose free!  




Although I know Evan and I didn’t want it to end, the evening whizzed by in a whirlwind of fun and excitement and we then got to enjoy leaving the best event of our lives as a married couple.  I would not have changed a single thing and can’t thank our parents, family, friends, and vendors enough for helping us to create a wedding of our dreams – we love you!  Thank you also to my amazing husband who was truly a partner through the planning. I’m so glad that we were both highly involved and that our wedding day was representative of both of us and our love – love you babe!





Our vendors rocked!
Wedding Coordinator – www.kensigntonryan.com
Kristin Rogers Photography – www.kristinrogersphotography.com
Third Day Floral – www.thirddayfloral.com
Huntington Catering – www.huntingtoncateringcompany.com
Theresa’s Custom Cakes – www.theresascustomcakes.com
Rabbi Mayersohn – www.californiarabbi.com
Chuppah – www.four-branches.com
Smog Shoppe – www.smogshoppe.com
Tact Event Management – www.withtact.com
The Dresser Bridal  – www.thedresseronline.com
Bridesmaids Jewelry – www.31bits.com
Groomsmen Socks – www.express.com
Groom and ring bearer tie’s – Me and Matilda – www.etsy.com