Blog Events: QSW Spring 2012 Water Dancer

Last night I went to my first blog event in LA and for me it was a BIG deal. Exactly one year ago marks the date when I really began to hit blog events hard, and on the regular. Going to blog events has opened so many doors for me. Plus they are confidence builders and I've met so many amazing people at them. Is it absurd to say partying on the weekly changed my life in the best way possible?
Well you all knew I was a party animal. So that can't REALLY surprise you.
You know I had to make new friends to join me in the Photobooth.

And beyond being an anniversary for myself, last night felt full circle for me. The event last night was hosted by Quiksilver Women, a line designed for "women" like myself who wore Roxy as teenagers but are now all grown up.
As a teenager was a huge Roxy Quiksilver fan. So much so, that for my senior project my Mom contacted Roxy and arranged to have me flown down to Huntington Beach to job shadow one of their fashion designers. I came home with stars in my eyes and bags & bags of swag. I was hooked on dreaming after that experience.
Meeting the Quiksilver Women Team & designer John Moore was an absolute thrill and I was honored to be in attendance with some of best and most stylish bloggers out there (Emily from cupcakes & cashmere & Liz of Late Afternoon to name a couple). And I just adored Quiksilver's Water Dancer video & concept, which compared the beauty of ballet & surfing; two of my favorite things to watch but can only clumsily attempt. It was an amazing night to say the least and I'm counting my blessing, all of them.
These LA girls sure know how to rock the heck out a photobooth!

The amazing spread at Everleigh on Sunset. It was such an awesome venue and I love farm to table restaurant concepts.

There was a craft table at the event where you could make friendship bracelets out of the Quiksilver Women fabric scraps.
It was such a cute idea & a great way to meet new friends.

Oh and for good measure, I just wanted to share that I submitted my survivor application & video. Because when I say I'll do something, I do it, far fetched as it may seem. Let's just say Tom's founder Blake Mycoskie and his book Start Some That Matters has really inspired me.

Happy Wednesday y'all. I'm almost ready to pack up & head north, almost.

Things I Love: Half Birthdays

Today I turned 29 & a half.

AND A HALF.

And let me tell you, that half matters. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind (Tornado? HURRICANE?).

And I've gone through probably the biggest life change I have had thus far. My 29th birthday on June 14th marked a year since I sick with pneumonia.

During the two months that I spent in & out of the hospital, I began to reflect on why I was so unhappy with my life and I began to make some changes.

I decided I didn't want to be a teacher anymore. And I took a leap of faith that I could propel my blog into something more then a hobby.

I grew a pair (Mom, just Urban dictionary it) and started going to every party, event and meet up I heard about.

It might look easy, but it's hard to do. Going blindly into an event, party or situation is scary, and I'll be the first to tell you that.

{You don't even know how many times I got back in my car, drove away, and FORCED myself to go back and go inside}.

But I did it, and it paid off.

A year later I go to parties and events several times a week, and I couldn't be more gracious and excited about EVERY single one I attend.

And I am MORE then grateful & blessed with all the new friendships I've made, all the reconnecting I've done with old friends & all the relationships that have grown stronger these past months.

I have met some AMAZING people these past six months, and it's been unreal.

I'm looking forward to my next 6 months and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be celebrating every SINGLE last day that I have in my Twenties.

It was a decade in my life that shaped and changed me into the woman (a Grown Ass one, obvi) that I am today.

I hope you're living the life you love, and if you're not, try to make some changes.

Big & small.

Loving your life is an amazing way to feel, trust me, I haven't always felt this way.

Don't be afraid.

Time to start party planning, my birthday party is going to be a doozy!!

Photobooth's are going to be necessary, duh.

Blog Events: Eve of Hope

A couple weeks ago I was honored, and blown away that I was invited to attend the National Breast Cancer Foundation's Eve of Hope hosted by Whitney Port {from The Hills} at Chandon in Napa. It was an amazing event to say the least.

I wasn't sure what to expect but when the PR company offered to chauffeur us out to the winery I knew it was going to be a BIG deal. Not going to lie -- I was NERVOUS!! So I was more then excited when Gigi from Gigi Ouf the Blog (who I just recently hung out with at the Rip Curl Pro Event) contacted me and told me she would be attending as well and wanted to meet prior to being shuttled out to Napa.

Gigi and I had met at a blog event before and had been Twitter and blog friends but we never really had a chance to connect. When I met her at Bart (after I RAN to catch the train) we hit it off right away. There's so much to love about Gigi, she's sweet, gracious and likes to have fun as much as I do.

When we arrived at the Ferry Building where the shuttle was picking us up, Gigi and I decided we deserved a much needed glass of Sauvignon Blanc, thinking we were late we downed it in about 2.5 seconds. Come to find out, we were some of the first to arrive, so our next mission was to find a road soda (aka drinks for the ride). I think that's exactly when Gigi and I knew we were on the same page and were bound to have fun together.

Friends that have fun together, stay together and Gigi & I are FUN!

We each sipped on a Copa De Vino (thanks HIPLIP!!) on our cruise to Napa, it was perfect!

Once we arrived everything was AMAZING. There was a Red Carpet, a runway for the Whitney Eve fashion show, tables with appetizers paired with bubbles and a dance floor that you just KNOW I was eyeing.

You don't even know how amazing this caviar was!! The Head chef Perry Hoffman told Gigi and me that can of the Pointed Snout Caviar Avance´ cost $2,300. INSANE!!

And when Anne Sage spotted me across from the parking, when I was hobbling around barefoot with my Louboutin's in my hand (they're NOT walking shoes) it was certain the night was going to be a good one.

Oh and yeah, she's got the moves like Jagegr, duh.

Coincidently, my dress was a Robert Rodriquez dress I purchased a few years ago after seeing Lauren Conrad rock it.

Attending the event was extra special for me because, I'm sure like many of you, know someone who is, or who has, suffered from Breast Cancer. My friend Courtney's mother, Debbie, is currently in her chemo process and I can see how hard it is for not only her, but her entire family. Breast Cancer is something that can happen to any of us ladies, think how truly shocking the Giuliana Rancic news was.

My thoughts go out to anyone who lost someone to this disease or anyone who has suffered through it or knows someone who has

And don't forget to make sure to check, examine and keep up with doctor appointments. It's SO important.

The Runway show was very fun, all the Whitney Eve dresses were adorable.The last model who walked was a forty something year old breast cancer survivor and she KILLED it.

I love seeing things like that, I was too busy cheering her on to get a picture.

It was an amazing night and I met some amazing people. It was the kind of event I used to dream about going to.

Oh yeah, and I met Whitney Port. Her whole family was in attended and I actually REALLY enjoyed her sister (also pictured) Whitney, on the other hand, wasn't all that interested in meeting me. LOL.

I'm so thankful for the events I am invited to and for the fabulous people I there. I'm sure many more fun & silly times with Anne & Gigi will go down in the future and I couldn't be more grateful to call them friends.

I almost forgot, the three of us blog ladies made it in this past Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle style section I am still trying to get my hands on a copy. If anyone has one that I get that would be AMAZING!! Thank you!

Look of the Day: Rue Turns One

Blogging is something that I love & adore. I love documenting things, sharing my life and thoughts with people, but most of all I love how blogging has lead me to meet so many amazing people on and off line.
I have been blown away with the community of San Francisco bloggers, their generosity, their openness and just their plain radicalness. Oh and hey Diane Steele, THEY ARE FASHIONABLE. I am beyond blessed to be welcomed into such an awesome community of people.

Let's just say when Anne Sage of Rue Magazine invited me out (just to PLAY) on Saturday night I just about died. How could I be so fortunate to call someone like Anne a friend? I mean just this week the she and her pal Crystal celebrated their one year anniversary of Rue magazine (CONGRATS LADIES!!) and they are the current tastemakers for Gilt City SF (check it out, those girls have STYLE & TASTE). I am one lucky girl, counting my stars (and wising on them...).
I love you all so much and I don't know what I would do without you all.

Melissa from Savy in San Francisco & I at Rue Magazine's Turns One Party. Let me just say BEST PARTY EVER!
My Dress is a four year old Parker ditty but this one is almost identical.
My shoes are also oldies but goodies 12th Street Cynthia Vincents but this pair also by her is just as badass and is on sale!

I've been dubbed the unofficial photo-booth queen of the group.
What can I say?
I like to get silly, and I like that silly documented!




I think silly and happy is the way to be.

Things I love: SF Blog Friends

Last night I had the pleasure of attending Refinery 29's Fashion's Night celebration party and I had a blast - to say the least. The Refinery 29 team is pretty radical, just sayin. The food was amazing, the drinks were flowing and I met SO many amazing people. It was a good time.

I love going to blog events like last night's because they are fun, informative, and it's great way to network. But most of all I love seeing my friends. I used to call the group of women I see at events "blog friends" but lets be honest after months of seeing them on an (almost) weekly basis these ladies have become my friends.

While I was going through a rough part of my life I would look forward to seeing these ladies. None of them knew what I was going through, and it was nice and refreshing to start clean with them. The friendships I have developed with them are so special to me. I have learned something from all of them and they all inspire me (SO MUCH!). You know who you ladies are and I can't wait to see you all tonight!! xx

My fit.
My fave Free People sweater (similarhere & here).
My new Scout Twill Zip Crop pants c/o Jbrand(LOVE them!! I could wear them everyday if I could get away with it.)
Ash Lotus wedges (another fave)and some other regalia not worth mentioning.

Refinery 29 did a fab job of making us feel more then welcome and special.
I love feeling VIP.

I did not have any but the sushi looked amazing, so I paparazzied it.

Fashiontini, you know I helped myself to complimentary dranks that were being served.

Jeanne and I. I love her and so happy she came into my life. Maybe one of these days she'll invite me over to see her baby =)

Um yeah this fig toast was amazing and it was the only veggie friendly option. Katie(BKA MrsZambrano) and I discussed vegetarianism last night, it's something I've gone back and forth with over the years and am pretty passionate about.

Oh Samantha came out to play.
Last night my friend Tracy asked me if I have always been goofy.
Yes, Tracy, I've always been this way [insert klutzy drink spillage].

Super stoked for Fashion's Night Out tonight!
I hope you are participating in your city and locals I hope to see you tonight in SF!