What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, everyone! How were your weeks? Mine was pretty busy—getting back to the grind after being on vacation is always an adjustment, and I've still been processing the whole turning-30 thing, too. In fact, I meant to write a post on my thoughts on that for today, but it seemed kind of heavy for a Friday, so you get to read that next week instead (ha). In the meantime, I will tell you that I've suddenly become obsessed with bringing tons of bright color into my home (thanks to this chalkboard from the amazing ACS and this rug from Proud Mary), so...I feel like that's a good way to start off a new decade.

No links this week, just one last picture from San Diego—a spray of pink bougainvillea and sunshine. Pretty much the epitome of Southern California, as far as I can tell. (When can I go back, again?)

Thanks for all your sweet comments on this week's travel posts, by the way (in case you missed any: the first day, La Jolla, Coronado and my favorite bites of the trip). They made my days.

Hope you have a great weekend, friends, and I'll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

San Diego: Favorite bites.

Like you, I'm sure, one of my favorite things to do when visiting any new-to-me city is eat--I love learning about places through their flavors. San Diego, you'll be happy to know, did not disappoint, so today I thought I'd share with you my top three bites of the trip.

Coronado.

We visited Coronado the Sunday after my brother's wedding, and I don't think we could have picked a better day to do it: The laid-back vibe was the perfect antidote to the previous few days' "go-go-go-my-brother's-getting-married-OMG" mentality.

A friend of my mom's told her that the Hotel del Coronado—built in 1888—was a must-visit and that we had to at least stroll through the lobby, so that's where we started (be warned that if you park at the hotel, you can expect a steep hourly fee, although easy access to your car in a crowded area might be worth it). As we walked up, my aunt randomly mentioned that my great aunt and uncle were married at the hotel when my uncle was stationed in San Diego during World War II—something I didn't know and was so happy to learn. Gotta love that personal connection.

Entering the lobby, we were immediately offered fresh lemonade by the staff, and then we found ourselves wandering through the labyrinth of shops downstairs, eventually ending up on the beach, where we strolled right up to the water's edge and admired the juxtaposition of mountains and ocean, something you just don't see here in Florida. Afterward, we headed back to the hotel and settled into a cabana on one of its decks, where I downed a really tasty (and—real talk!—very expensive) margarita, and we all listened to live music and toasted to being in California together, something that will probably never happen again. (That's my wild and crazy aunt dancing in the photo above, by the way.) If you're visiting Coronado, I highly recommend doing all of the above: Walk around the hotel, stroll to the beach, and then have a bite or a sip at one of the restaurants.

Afterward, we took a walk through the little downtown, stopping in at a couple of cute shops (where I bought the biggest sunglasses ever—I love them) and eventually settling down at a restaurant for a late (al fresco, of course) lunch before heading home. What a great day.

P.S. If you missed it yesterday, our adventures in La Jolla.

La Jolla.

La Jolla is what really made me fall in love with San Diego, because if I'm being completely honest, the marina area around our hotel reminded me a lot of Sarasota, just with way better weather. But driving into La Jolla, with the Pacific Ocean as our backdrop, was a completely new experience for me. I've never been to the West Coast—the farthest west I've been is Denver, actually—and I was determined to dip my toes into the Pacific on this trip. La Jolla—with its stunning (and ice-cold) blue water, sunbathing seals (!!) and sandy cliffs—was the perfect place to do that, and this may sound cheesy, but standing on the beach with rolled-up jeans and my toes in the water was one of those perfect indelible moments for me. I loved it.

Afterward, we drove around the main shopping area, admiring the adorable stores and restaurants and the gorgeous homes snuggled  into the sides of the hills. La Jolla sort of brought to life the California I imagined, and if I could make living there a reality, I would do it in about two seconds.

P.S. I am dumb and thought La Jolla was pronounced "La Jall-a." It is in fact pronounced "La Hoya." Hooray for factoids! Oh, and that's my mom and me in the picture above. xoxo

San Diego Week.

Oh, you guys. I love California.

Seriously. Sarasota is a pretty fantastic place, but California—and specifically San Diego? They are something else. We arrived on Wednesday, August 1, on a flight from Orlando, and from the second I stepped off the plane, I was smitten. First of all, it was 72 degrees outside. In August. As a lifelong Floridian, this is something I almost couldn't wrap my head around, because here it is a delightful (um, not) 90 degrees every day, which means it feels like 100 degrees-plus, and the humidity is always crazy, crazy high. When the temps dropped into the mid-60s that first night, I almost fainted I was so happy.

It helped that we were staying at a great hotel—a Sheraton on Harbor Island with views of the marina—and that we were central to everything; it didn't take us more than 20 minutes to get to any of the places we visited. And although we were San Diego for my little brother's wedding, which took up a huge chunk of our time (as well it should), I really felt like we did (and saw) (and tasted) quite a lot.

So this week I'll be telling you about bits and pieces from the trip—I am by no means any kind of travel expert (in fact, I am woefully, woefully under-traveled for my 30 years), but I love to share, so there you go. Hope you enjoy—see you back here tomorrow. xoxo

What are you doing this weekend?

I tweeted yesterday that I had grand plans for my blog while I was in California—I totally wanted to schedule posts and I even thought maybe I'd update from San Diego—but life (and a wedding) (and my 30th birthday) got in the way, and honestly, it was kind of nice to unplug. So I'm popping in to say that I'll be back next week with all sorts of stuff about the wedding, my impression of California (a.k.a. my new love) and thoughts on turning 30. Until then, I hope you have a fabulous August weekend. And here's a photo of a cute giraffe who lives at the San Diego Zoo, just because.

Imaginary outfit: Summer wedding

I love this outfit for a summer wedding, and I realized after I put it together that it's kind of a fancier version of the sightseeing outfit I posted a week ago—they both feature similar feminine-but-muted colors, the exact same shoes and sunglasses, you get the drift. But seriously, isn't that dress perfect for warm summer nights? It looks like it would move beautifully. And flat sandals may not be appropriate for every wedding, but for the one I'm going to, they totally are. Add a gorgeous clutch (perfect for holding that pretty lipgloss and the sunglasses when the sun goes down) and a splash of my new favorite perfume and you're all set. I'd wear this in a heartbeat. (Click the image for all the shopping credits.) 

Hooray for summer. 

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! Did you have a good week? What are your plans for the weekend?

Since I'm traveling next week, I'm going to use the next few days to get my stuff in order—make a packing list, straighten up the house, pick up extra supplies for the kitties, do laundry, etc. So it'll be quiet, but productive (hopefully).

Oh, and in the meantime, here are three fun links:

Ashley's amazing—and amazingly detailed—Paris travelogue (part I, part II) is only fueling my desire to get to that city someday soon. Also, the photographs are stunning (I mean, the light). Yeah, totally not helping the wanderlust...

I like this song and its message a lot.

Martha Stewart doesn't give a damn.

And in case you missed anything here this week: A happy list, an imaginary outfit for sightseeing in San Diego, the easiest no-cook summer salad with burrata (!) and the Year of Lettering project.

Have an excellent weekend, friends! See you here Monday. xoxo

Photo via Hither and Thither

Imaginary outfit: Summer sightseeing

As you know, because I've been talking about it ad nauseum, I'm headed to San Diego next week for my little brother's wedding, so I thought it would be fun to put together two imaginary outfits: This one, which would be perfect for walking around and seeing the sights, and another, which I'll post next week, for a sunset wedding on a boat. I love the neutral colors in this outfit—something about the nudes in the top, bag, shoes and sunglasses just makes it feel relaxed—and of course a good book is a necessity, as is a pop of pink, just because.

P.S. Click on the image to see item credits! 

A happy list.

Today, just a little list of 10 things that are making me happy:

1. ACS. (Hi.)

2. The bright pink roses (eight for $3.99!) from Trader Joe's that are happily hanging out in a gallon-sized Ball jar on my coffee table.
3. Coffee. I love you, coffee. Particularly the Coava Kilenso beans I picked up from Perq recently.

4. The memory of the toasted marshmallow milkshake I had this weekend. Oh my God, that was good. A totally-worth-it indulgence and the perfect accompaniment to an awesome burger. (P.S. Here's a marshmallow shake recipe I'm dying to try at home on a special occasion.)

5. The tiny bubbles that flew out of the top of the dish soap bottle when I squeezed it this morning. So cute, and really, is there anything happier than a bubble? 

6. The weather report for San Diego next week. You guys: Highs in the low 70s, lows in the 60s. Those are, like, late-fall temperatures to this Floridian. The thought of weather like that makes me so happy I want to cry.

7. New books! Three, to be specific: Two Kate Atkinsons and one called Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart. Books are the best.

8. The crazy amounts of rain we've been getting lately. This doesn't make me happy all the time, I admit, but there are some nights when there's nothing better to do after work than curl up with the kitties, a cup of tea and a book or a movie. 

9. My porch garden! The lemons are still growing, and now, thanks to ACS, I have herbs--thyme, oregano, basil and parsley--and tomatoes. Sadly, I've killed all but one of the tomato plants, but the one that's still alive just sprouted a blossom, so, you know, fingers crossed.

10. Getting to see extended family next week in California, especially in such an unfamiliar location. While I've had some mixed feelings about this trip, the excitement about seeing family has definitely not waned. Can't wait to see them.

What's been making you happy lately?

Photo of San Diego via. Looking forward to dipping my toes in the Pacific, too.

I need a vacation.

Friends, after a week of stress and then a week of sickness, I feel like I am in need of a vacation. And not a staycation, mind you: An actual change-of-scenery, real-live vacation. I was planning a little getaway for my 30th birthday in August, but my brother's getting married in San Diego right around the same time (like, four days beforehand, to be specific), which means that "little getaway" has become "major family travel event." So in September, I'm making ACS take a belated birthday trip with me to some beautiful Southern locale—Savannah or Charleston, most likely (although Nashville also has slowly been creeping up both of our respective "must-visit" lists, I think).

Until then, though, I'm wondering if there's a weekend I can sneak away sometime in July. Asheville looks like a fun city, as does New Orleans (though there's no way in hell I'm going there at the height of summer), and I have cousins in Atlanta who, actually, will have just had a new baby that I'd love to meet. Two of my best friends live in Boston and New York, as well, and I'm dying to get up that way to see them, so the options are definitely there—I just need to make the plans. Where have you guys traveled lately? Do you ever feel the need to just get away?

P.S. Savannah and Charleston travel recaps, respectively.
P.P.S. The photos above are from Bruges, Belgium. Let's not even talk about how badly I want to get to Europe. 35th birthday in Paris or bust!

All photos via This is Glamorous

Travel idea: New Zealand.

New Zealand has never been on my list of places to visit for the simple reason that I'd never thought about it before. But after staring at photographer Jessica Lorren's beautiful, soothing photos of the gorgeous scenery, I can say with all honesty that I definitely would not be opposed to going there.

P.S. The top of my list of places to visit? Paris. (Le sigh.) How about you?

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends. How were your weeks? What are your plans for the weekend? I had a really good week: I was productive at work and at home, I did a lot of yoga and spin, and this weekend I get to see one of my best friends from college—and we're going to our favorite college-town coffee shop/hangout, too. Hooray, nostalgia! It should be fun.

Oh, and if you're in a reading mood this weekend, here are a couple of links for you:

I was so sad to hear about the death of the remarkable Roger Ebert. This essay, "Roger Loves Chaz," is wonderful. (via Hannah)

I'm heading to San Diego this summer, so "36 Hours in San Diego" is right up my alley. (PS: Any travel tips are much appreciated!)

"Why I Left News": I tweeted this a week or so ago, but it's stuck with me. Even though I don't work at a daily, I can relate to at least some of what Allyson writes. Powerful and thought-provoking and a little scary (especially if you're in media).

And in honor of Mad Men returning this Sunday (yay, yay!), I loved this interview with costume designer Janie Bryant.

And from earlier this week: April flowers for you; the best local honey I've tasted; on being kind to ourselves; and books I've recently read and loved. (Thanks for all your wonderful comments, too!)

See you back here Monday!

Snowy egret photo, snapped on Sarasota's South Lido Beach, by Matt Cattell. I love this feathery little guy.

Charleston: Travel tips.

Oh man, even today, I am still wishing I was back in Charleston—there's so much that we didn't get to see or eat or do, and I'm totally making a mental list for my next trip. In the meantime, here are three little travel tips (in lieu of my usual three Friday links) if you're planning a trip to Charleston yourself—and by the way, if you are, I'm totally jealous.

Plan your itinerary carefully. Next time we go back, we're making time to spend at least a few hours at one of the local plantations—Magnolia, Drayton Hall or Boone, for sure. We didn't have time this trip and I really wish we did. There's also a tea plantation (!) on Wadmalaw Island, just outside of Charleston, and I'm dying to go there, though I did pick up a box of its Charleston-made breakfast tea at a local gourmet store. I'd also like to hit some antiques shops; we didn't do that and I feel like there's probably a lot to be found.

Make restaurant reservations well in advance. I made our Thursday-night Husk reservations two (maybe even three) weeks in advance and I'm glad I did: There's no way we would have gotten in otherwise, or at least not until late at night. I couldn't get us into FIG, Chef Mike Lata's much-applauded restaurant, on Friday a week out, and Fulton Five, an Italian restaurant across the street from our hotel, couldn't seat us until 9:30 without a reservation, which would have been fine if we weren't starving. We ended up getting into another nearby restaurant without a reservation (although at first we weren't sure if we'd be able to), but I have to say that, compared to our other meals, it was by far my least favorite. So my advice: Pick where you want to go in advance (Charleston magazine is helpful for this, as is Olivia's blog and, of course, good old Google), and then make OpenTable your best friend or just call.

Walk everywhere. Seriously, it's worth it. Walk down Meeting Street to the Battery and gaze at the amazingly beautiful houses—seriously, they're jaw-droppingly gorgeous and impeccably maintained—and the stunning water view. Walk up and down King Street and shop. Walk through Charleston City Market, which bustles every day. Walk down little side streets, where you're sure to find tons of gems—I wish we'd done more of that. Walk to the Charleston Museum, or to the Old Slave Mart museum (and enjoy the feel of the centuries-old cobblestones beneath your shoes). Your feet might hurt at the end of the day, but you'll feel good.

Have a great weekend, friends! xoxo

P.S. We're thinking New Orleans for our next trip!

P.P.S. There're more Charleston photos on the Pink O'Clock Facebook page, too! Click here to see.

Photo: My own.

Charleston: Historical sight-seeing.

On Friday, after spending Thursday afternoon and night shopping and eating, my mom and I decided we wanted to do some historic sight-seeing, so I busted out our map (hello, tourist) and...promptly led us away from where we were planning on going. We walked quite a long way in the opposite direction, but it was a happy accident because we ended up being able to look at all the amazingly beautiful homes on Meeting Street and ultimately wound up at the Battery. It was really cold--at least for us Floridians--and the wind was whipping off the water, but the sun was shining and dogs were playing in the park and it was just so cool to stand and look at buildings and trees that had been there for hundreds of years.

While we were in that area, we took a tour of Calhoun Mansion, which is...well, I'll let its website do the talking, but it was amazing. Thirty-five rooms, 35 fireplaces, a 90-foot cuppola, the most incredible woodwork I've ever seen and, oh, 24,000 square feet housing the most eclectic collection of...stuff...I've ever seen--we're talking Egyptian furniture, taxidermy, silver, Persian rugs, Tiffany lamps, etc. It's a private residence, too, so someone lives there most of the year. Totally cool and over-the-top--I mean, you just have to shake your head and laugh at the ostentatiousness of it all--and the landscaping is equally gorgeous. Plus, the history of the house was interesting.

After our stop at Calhoun Mansion, we walked back up Meeting Street to the Charleston Museum and Joseph Maginault House, and then over to Chalmers Street (above--cobblestones!) to see the Old Slave Mart museum. The Charleston Museum is great and gives a great history of the city, especially its role in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, and the Maginault House is amazingly well-preserved, but you cannot miss the Old Slave Mart. It's possibly the only known building used as a slave auction gallery still in existence, and it's incredibly moving to stand within its walls.

You know, it's a really neat feeling--especially when you're used to standing in buildings that were built in 1980 (oh, Florida)--to stand in those that were actually constructed in, like, the 1780s. I'm an inherently nostalgic person, too, so it was really affecting.

Honestly, I could have spent the entire two days (and then some) walking through historic sites and gazing at stately old houses and peeping through gates and standing by the water letting the wind tousle my hair (and then going out for amazing meals afterwards). Charleston, I never thought anything would usurp Savannah as my favorite Southern city, but you've managed to do it--and you've managed to make me want to live there some day, too.

Photos: My own

Charleston: Fulton Lane Inn.

My mom has a hilariously terrible record of picking hotels, so when it comes time to plan a trip, I'm the one who does the research and ultimately picks where we'll stay. This trip was no exception, so when my time off from work had been approved (and after I made our Husk reservations!), I set to work making Google my BFF.

Charleston: Husk.

To say I was a little excited about dining at Sean Brock's Husk is a bit of an understatement: I made a reservation for my mom and me the day we decided we were taking our trip to Charleston. And man, am I glad I did—that meal lived up to our expectations and then some. Here's my adoring review, if you'd like to read it...

Charleston!

My mom and I had the best time in Charleston this weekend--it was seriously a fantastic trip and I keep finding myself thinking about when I can possibly go back. We managed to make the two days we spent there a perfect mix of historic sight-seeing (home tours, the Charleston Museum, a walk to the Battery), eating (particularly dinner at Husk, which I'll be posting about tomorrow, breakfast at Hominy Grill and treats from Caviar & Bananas and Wildflour Pastry) and shopping (hello, King Street stores!).

Actually, I'll be posting about our trip most of this week, so if you're interested in hearing about Charleston from a tourist-y perspective, stay tuned. But first: How were your weekends? How are your weeks going so far?

See you back here tomorrow. xoxo

Photo: My own, of beautiful white camellias in bloom outside Calhoun Mansion on Meeting Street.

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, everyone! My mom and I are in Charleston for the weekend, so this'll be a quick post, but expect lots of pictures from the trip next week.

How were your weeks? I hope they were fantastic. Oh, and if you need some reading material, here are three fun links from around the web:

Shameless plug: I wrote an article about how to plan an over-the-top party for our February issue, if you'd like to read it... (Sarasota magazine)

So interesting: What 13 people wore for an interview with Anna Wintour (one spent more than $5,000!). This is fascinating to me. (NY Mag's The Cut)

I am loving Jessica Dang's Single Girl Dinner blog. (This post, in particular, is so sweet and poignant.) Such a fun one. (Single Girl Dinner)

And bonus: The video above made my week. We can all use a little pep talk, right? Thanks, Kid President.

See you back here on Monday.

P.S. Happy February! xoxo

Charleston.

So as I mentioned on Friday, my mom and I are taking a little trip to Charleston, S.C., soon, and I am so excited I could squeal. So far the only thing on the docket is dinner at Husk the night we arrive, and my mouth is already watering. I've also been poring over Olivia's beautiful blog and her gorgeous photographs of Charleston, like the one above.

It's funny: During my senior year of college, everyone I met asked me where I wanted to live after graduation, and my response was always three words, spoken without hesitation: "New York City." But one day I gave that same response to a good friend, who in turn cocked his head, looked directly at me, and replied, "You know, I don't see you in New York. I see you somewhere in the South, somewhere like Charleston."

My 22-year-old, NYC-loving heart was insulted by that—did he not think I could make it in the city?!—and refused to acknowledge the idea that maybe New York really wasn't the right place for me. I'm pretty sure I tossed my ponytail and responded with a haughty, "No way! Charleston? Never."

Of course, these days—after spending almost seven years in Sarasota, which is not exactly the Deep South (too many snowbirds/transplants) but which is definitely not the Northeast—I've changed my tune, and I often think of that little exchange between my friend and me. While I'm still not sure Florida is my home for the long haul, I know that my desire to live in NYC has passed*, and I've come to really enjoy living in the part of the country that I do. I love Sarasota; I'd also move to Savannah or Charleston or New Orleans in a heartbeat. Turns out I really do like abundant sunshine and Southern accents. Who knew?

*This is, of course, provided that Martha Stewart Omnimedia or Bon Appetit magazine don't come a-knockin'. (Call me if you want to, Martha. We're best friends, remember?)

Photo by Olivia