I've Injured Myself Yawning...

Well, not really.  

But this picture I came across while surfing the net {do people even say that anymore?} pretty much sums up my two-week Christmas vacation in a nutshell.

...And I'm lovin' every minute of it.

Here's to a relaxing end of 2011!

Monday Manicure

Like I've said before, I'm sort of a freak about painting my own nails.  I actually just realized that I haven't NOT had nail polish on my nails since June...is that bad?

Today I ventured out of my comfort zone and decided I'd try the Shellac Manicure phenomenon. 

We'll see about this!

Not Your Average "Food Truck"

OK, maybe I've been living under a ROCK for the last few years, because when I heard that we were having two food trucks visit our campus, I just didn't get that excited.  

The lunch I had packed myself was less than appetizing, so I gave the food truck Barcelona OntheGo a shot.  OH.MY.GOODNESS.  

 

This is what I ordered:  USDA Prime Top Sirloin & Fries with Chimichurri

{via}

We have The Lime Truck coming on Thursday...can't wait!

Have you ever tried any of these fancy gourmet food trucks?

Happy Weekend

{via Pinterest}

Thanking God for the weekends ~ and wishing you a happy one!

The Best-Kept Secret in Orange County!

I normally don't do restaurant reviews, but I feel it would be a SIN to not share this with you...

Brasserie Pascal at Fashion Island

This ritzy restaurant puts your average happy hour to shame.  They have what they call the "Perfect 10" Menu ~ all items on it are under $10.  I thought, there has to be some catch, right?  All the items on that menu must be measly.  And they probably only offer it once a week...the skepticism went on and on.  

Then I tried it.

Man, was I wrong!  Not only are the portions beyond generous, but this crazy deal is offered Sunday-Thursday ALL DAY and Friday-Saturday until 6:30 p.m.  No joke.  How did I never know about this?

My husband and I both ordered the filet mignon {although there were many other tempting options, it seemed like the popular choice when looking around the restaurant}.  I was so excited to eat it, there was no way I would have been able to take a picture.  

I found the one below online ~ but what you don't see is the rich blue cheese butter that they put on top of the filet.  That was our favorite part!  

Can you believe it?  ALL this for $10!

We also tried the macaroni & cheese with smoked bacon {delicious} and the garden salad {equally yummy}.

One of our favorite parts of our meal was the bread.  We've been eating Paleo for a while lately...but sometimes you just can't say no to a warm piece of bread ~ especially some as good as this was.  They serve slightly toasted bread with a homemade olive aoli.  The aoli is a mayonnaise base with garlic, anchovies, and kalamata olives.  SO GOOD.  So worth it.

It's not every day you walk out of a restaurant wanting to call everyone you know to tell them about the next restaurant they must try ~ but we totally felt that way here.  

If you live in Orange County, or are out this way, please, please, please do yourself a favor and try Brasserie Pascal.  You won't regret it!

P.S. The restaurant is located at Fashion Island, Newport Beach...who doesn't love a little shopping after enjoying a delicious meal?

Operation Christmas Lights

After living in our home for over two years, we are finally biting the bullet.  We're hanging Christmas lights.  

This is not our house ~ but do you recognize it from one of my all-time favorite movies?  {We are teachers living in Orange County...there's no way we could afford a place like this!}  Our house will look much more "quaint", as I like to say.  We're going for the gingerbread house effect.  If it looks decent enough when we're done, I'll be sure to post. = )

We also finally put up these globe string lights out on our patio that I got for my birthday in August ~ can't wait to see what they look like in the dark!

I want to put up all of my other Christmas decor, but it's 85 degrees outside...that's just wrong.

Hope you all are having a lovely Sunday!

Fall Favorites

It's almost time to officially say goodbye to Fall.  My friend Jessi recently posted her Fall Favorites on her blog, Life's a Happy Hour, which inspired me to do the same.  Consider it my last attempt to hang on to all things Fall. 

Here are some of the products I've been loving this Fall:

1.  Striped Chunky Knit Sweater {Forever 21}

2.  Vampire Diaries {CW}

3.  UGG Boots

4.  Rubbish Cabled Slouchy Cardigan {Nordstrom}

5. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

6. Essie - Downtown Brown

7. Scatter Leaves {Crate & Barrel}

8. Grand Chenille Pillow Covers {Pottery Barn}

9. Slatkin & Co. "Leaves" room spray {Bath & Body Works}

10. Slatkin & Co. "Leaves" candle {Bath & Body Works}

11. Kloe Black Wedge Booties {Target}

12. Frenchi Marled Infinity Scarf {Nordstrom}

13. Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberry & Acai Berries {Costco}

14. Enzo Angiolini 'Saylem' Riding Boot {Nordstrom}

15. 'Always' Skinny Jean {GAP}

I hope you all had a wonderful Fall ~ Winter, here we come!

Fall Field Trip ~ The Getty Villa

To kick off the Fall season, my husband and I took a trip up the coast to Pacific Palisades where we visited the Getty Villa.

The Getty Villa in Malibu is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.  We loved exploring its beautiful grounds on a lazy, misty Sunday.  And we couldn't help but feel like we were right back in Europe!

Here are some shots from our day:

Enjoying a mocha, a latte, and some muffins before we start our day.

"Fall outfit" + boots + coffee + art & history = Happy Ashley

View of the Pacific Ocean!

 

The ampitheatre...do you see what I see?

One of the many beautiful courtyards

Beautiful!

Being silly in the gardens...this is sort of our tradition.

Mosaic tilework

Loving the Greek Key

White daisies...my favorite!

We ended the day with a lunch on the beach at Gladstones, Malibu.  Although a bit overpriced, the food is pretty good, and you can't beat the people-watching or the view.

If you are in the Southern California area, you MUST visit The Getty (and The Getty Villa)!  Admission is FREE!

Breaking Dawn! Breaking Dawn!

Remember how big of a Twitard I am?  Well...the time has come.  Breaking Dawn is in theaters tonight - or should I say this morning? 

I rounded up some of the ladies in my office, and we're heading to the 12:02 am showing. 
{Starbucks will be included}

Is anyone else as excited as I am???

 

EEEEEEEEKKK!!! 

In honor of Breaking Dawn making its debut tonight ~ here are some photos to get us in the Twilight spirit...

Check out this party via Hostess With The Mostess:

And I can never forget this gorgeous faux Cullen wedding featured on My Sweet & Saucy last year:

I mean.....come on.

GORGEOUS!

Feeling Thankful...{a belated Veteran's Day weekend post}

I'm feeling quite thankful this Veteran's Day weekend.  Here is a list of a few of the things I'm thankful for {in no particular order}:

1.  Sleeping in on Friday morning

2.  Getting all of my grocery shopping done by 10 a.m. on Saturday

3.  Cold, "Fall" {for California} weather

4.  Wearing my Enzos all weekend:

5.  Sipping on a hot chai tea latte while catching up with friends at a local Starbucks {and getting a good seat ~ the big leather sofa}

6.  Making a yummy Pinterest-inspired paleo breakfast:

7.  ...Also completing a Pinterest-inspired home project {post coming soon!}

8.  Curling up on our chaise lounge with the Cardinals blanket that I made for my boyfriend eight years ago {he's now my husband = )}

9.  Finding the perfect gift for my Mother-in-law at Nordstrom, and treating myself to quite a few things at Forever 21

10.  Enjoying the scent of my favorite fall candle just about 24/7:

 {Seriously - behind my favorite Anthropologie candle, it's the best scent.  Ever.  Available at Bath & Body Works}

I hope you all had an awesome long weekend ~ and took some time to count your blessings as well!

{Sweet} San Clemente

My little hiatus is over, and I am starting to feel a little more inspired to blog {woo-hoo!}

I'm going to brag for a moment and say that I have the best husband ever.  For my 25th birthday in August, my husband planned a surprise day for me.  I HATE SURPRISES.  Literally.  I'm a control-freak, and I'm not afraid to admit it.  I hate going on for a whole week not knowing what surprise awaits me on the weekend.  What do I wear?  Should I bring a jacket?  Will these shoes be OK?  How long will be gone?...etc, etc, etc.  

So, after a little grumbling on my part, my husband let me open my gift and see what we were going to be doing for the weekend.  He had made a photo collage {impressive!} of photos of beautiful San Clemente, pictures of our beach cruisers, and the metro link.  I was thrilled! 

Here are some photos from our day...

 

In Old Towne Orange, ready to get on the train! 

 On our way!

 First stop:  La Galette Creperie.  An amazing crepe breakfast right on the coast!

No seaside breakfast is complete without a delicious mocha.  This one was awesome.

 

We strolled the pier and then lounged around the beach all day...I could think of far worse places to spend a day.

If you live in Southern California, I highly recommend using our public transportation system.  It's a luxury that we don't take advantage of enough!

The San Clemente stop on the Metrolink drops you off literally right on the sand (you can see the tracks in the picture!).  

After our day at the beach, we rode our bikes around the town, ate some delicious Mexican food, and stopped in many of the cute shops in Down Town San Clemente.  I'm already dying to go back!

I also got a white Fossil watch {which I love} - but spending this day with my husband was the best gift I could have ever received.  After our little rough patch, it was just what the doctor ordered.  And far more special than any material possession I could have been given.

One of the best days to date.