Sometimes a girls’ weekend is just what I need to get back on track and remember how utterly lucky I am to have such incredible people in my life… and how very grateful I am for them. This particular weekend was a getaway in celebration of one of my very best friend’s birthday. Seeing as so much went on {far too much to adequately capture in a few short words}… I figured I would leave it up to the following images to take you through our exhilarating whirlwind of a weekend.
If you’re looking for something soulful, folksy, and music with serious intelligence {the lyrics are stunning}… listen to Ray LaMontagne {check out the songs “Let It Be Me” and “Sarah” to get started}. The Ray LaMontagne concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl {an exceptional outdoor amphitheater} rocked all of my expectations… very rarely is a singer more impressive in person than on their album… but LaMontagne’s voice is eerie and earnest and its effect is made more powerful if you are in close proximity. Perhaps it was the strawberry shortcake martinis or the exhilarating {and crazy} pedicab ride that preceded my concert experience… or maybe it was just LaMontagne’s talent… but this was a night for the books.
Hall & Oates {a duo comprised of Daryl Hall & John Oates} absolutely killed it in the 70’s. Too young to have heard of them? No, you’re not… Too cool for them? Definitely not. With songs like “Rich Girl,” “Maneater,” and “Out of Touch” {click the title to be linked to the song…}, you’ll be thrown into the throes of the 70’s before you know it… and that’s a good thing. I was so {unexpectedly} blown away by their concert that I purchased my very first official band T-shirt… I’ve already worn it twice.
My company {learn all about it here} was hired to coordinate and design an extravagant Malibu estate wedding. The weather was perfect, the bride couldn’t have been more beautiful, and the groom made everyone smile throughout the day. After the intimate rose covered ceremony {photos of the ceremony are excluded at the request of the bride and groom to preserve the intimate nature of the nuptials}, we all loaded onto a luxury charter bus and ended up on Melrose Avenue at Providence restaurant {read all about the restaurant here} to enjoy a fourteen-course meal with wine pairings. The day was… perfect.
People that you love… and {if you’re really lucky} that love you… make everything worthwhile. I have a tendency to get caught up in all of the beautifully busy moments of life {as I’m sure you do, as well} and, in turn, my birthday came and went without all of the pomp and circumstance to which the people around me have become accustomed {I am known to have a great affinity for throwing a party for any reason at all}. Don’t get me wrong, my actual birthday was fabulous… it was just a bit understated in comparison to my natural proclivities {I couldn’t find the time… or justify taking the time… to do something to celebrate my own birthday… there were too many other things to be done!}. Those closest to me {most notably my sister [you can read a “love letter” I wrote to her here] and closest friends} noticed this and, two days after my actual birthday, totally knocked my little socks off with a party at Blush {read about this hotspot here and here} that was full of all of the things I L.O.V.E. {leopard print, cotton candy, martinis, hot pink…}… and, most importantly, it was filled with the people I love.
My 26th birthday was a beautiful whirlwind {as was most of the month of July… thank you for putting up with my quasi-sporadic posting, dear readers}… As I was swept about here and there, I didn’t have my wonderful camera with me the whole time… but I did take some photos on my iPhone. Here is a look at my birthday… bits and pieces of it… via my phone snapshots.
