Change can be good thing!

Change has always been a pretty fearful thing for me, but I recently learned that it can also be a very good thing. Yes lovelies this picture is of me dressed as a Hindu Bride for our recent Hindu engagement ceremony. For those of you that are keeping score we’ve had double parties since we are having double the ceremonies, Hindu and Jewish. I was honored to be celebrated and embraced in Honey’s culture and yet I was fearful to be seen like a fish out of water. Or embarrass anyone!

It took me several weeks to look as comfortable as I do in this picture. And how did I do it? Well, I had to let go and stopped fighting the change. I also saw how happy it was making the people around me. Can I also tell you a little secret? I felt like a true princess dressed in a sari with so many yards of gorgeous fabric and jewelry.

And my father flew to San Francisco to be apart of the ceremony and in addition to Honey’s family and friends we had our friends come and support us as well. The engagement ceremony felt like a taste of what the Hindu wedding ceremony will feel like.

So lovely, why do we fight change so much?

As soon as I stopped fighting, I felt a sense of calm come over me. I suddenly knew that I was being pushed and pulled in all of the right directions. The next day I saw these engagement photos and felt comfortable and happy. It felt like we had gone through a true rite of passage. Plus Honey and I felt loved and supportive. Have you ever struggled with making change? Tell me sweetie do you think change can be a good thing?

Lady In Red dress memories

Have you ever watched a woman walk into a room and it feels like time has stopped? The breath from men and women seem to have been taken away. Well, have you ever been that woman? So comfortable in your own skin and confidant in that dress, you can feel all eyes on you?

I have very fond memories of my red dress that I used to wear to family events and functions. When appropriate, I would slip into my perfect shade of red and slink slowly to the dance floor. If it wasn't right away then soon after the Lady in Red song would play.

Who knew if I was I really being watched, but I felt alive and feminine. I felt the glamour in my bones.

The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;



Sometimes fashion can feel like a Bliss Fest and when it works it so works. And even though it's been many years, I can still picture that dress and so can my friends and family.

Isn't it amazing how fashion and design can make you feel? Honestly those red dress memories still speak to me. What can you remember that was fashion worthy sweetie and you find yourself smiling about? Can't wait to read your comments about your closet stories! Lady in Red is dancing with me....

Happy Birthday to me lovelies!

Today is my birthday lovely and with only 5 short weeks to our wedding, I plan to spend my day relaxing. Honey and I are planning on having some brunch (in our San Francisco neighborhood) with friends and then taking a drive to Stinson Beach.

Have you ever been? The drive along the coast is so pretty and serene with trees lining the sides of the streets.




Is there anyway to have just one birthday cupcake? No of course not...thanx sweetie!

And I salute you as well!

I'd love to make a wish on this fairy card. How girlie am I?

Roses of all colors are always welcomed!

Hoping this post makes you smile and you have a wonderful day and I'm off to play in the San Francisco sunshine on April 25th. Thank you lovely for coming with me on my blog ride!

Inspirational Weekend Quote

"As our days go by, all we can do is to promise to be better then the day before." How much do you love this inspirational weekend quote sweetie? Oh I do.

Since I can't be like anyone else, I promise to improve myself. I like how this quote still gives me permission to make mistakes, take a step back and then have the power try again.

It's almost like pressing rewind of my life on a DVD...

Next days are fresh starts to a new beginning of being me.

We just have to recognize the gift or find good people in our lives who can remind us of this.

I promise to remind you of this inspirational quote if you remind me? Have a wonderful weekend and remember to strive for the best. What do you think of this quote?

You spin me right round baby right round....

The music starts playing and it doesn't matter if I'm on a crowded dance floor or standing alone in my bedroom, I close my eyes and move. I loved the free feeling when I would spin as a child and not have a care in the world. But as adults, I notice how people dancing beside me on the dance floor have a concerned look on their faces.

Old tapes are playing in their adults heads like, "What are people thinking of me as I move? Am I good dancer? Do I look silly?" Is it still OK for adults to spin?

But I won't let those tapes play for me. Dancing is my time to let go and move. In fact when I watch others dance professionally, I can feel my feet moving and my stomach in knots especially when the dancers are incredible.

You can tell, lovely, when someone is an incredible dancer by the control they have over their entire body. From head to toe they are feeling the beat and translating the music into movement.

When I open my eyes and other dancers are not feeling comfortable, I wish I could give them some advice to just... Close your eyes, let go and spin.

How much better would this world be if we had art, dance and song to lean on? I recently had a massage in Calistoga (yes I know I'm a brat) and the masseuse confided in me. I let her know that she had healing hands and appreciated her relaxing me. She then asked me, "Why can't I let myself go and enjoy anymore?" So I told her about my theory of spinning. And you know what she started to spin right there and had a huge smile on her face. So sweetie what do you think about my theory of letting go?

Girlie boutique Napa inspiration!

I wish I could escape into girlie boutique inspiration today. Don't you sweetie? A place where only flowers, pink and comfy beds exist. And as I recover from a lovely weekend away with my girlfriends in Napa (Tra Vigne is still the best restaurant), I am reminded that sisterhood is some of my glue that keeps me together. Love ya ladies!

Why do I feel so girlie when I have a flower in my hair? Feminine and powerful is an incredible combination!

These tights remind me to feel the girlie inspiration and hold onto the young spirit.



These rain boots give me the inspiration to jump into puddles and spin.

I promise to add these sheets to my girlie boutique one day!



White lights, pale colors and sipping wine outdoors helps me melt into my girlie self.

Ah stunning Jessica Biel. You seem so comfortable in your own skin. Work it, work it, own it own girl!

I love the deep red of these roses from GrowersBox. Infact I was inspired by these roses to paint my nails fishnet stockings last night. Ah sweetie don't ya just love being a girl? What inspiration to you pull from lovely?

Inspirational Weekend Quote

What a wonderful and challenging inspirational weekend quote! Would you feel braver to try new things if you knew you could never fail or would you not push yourself further? Never being able to fail is such an interesting concept. How would you learn from your mistakes?

I appreciate trying and sometimes failing as that's my way of growing. And never failing at school, at relationships, with money, friendships and parenting could present new issues. How would any of us stand out in the crowd? Think outside of the box if everything we tried was successful.

Maybe we would find another way...

Another way to measure our successes would be to set a different bar without failure. Take this inspirational weekend quote away with you and let me know what you would you do without ever failing?

You've entered the comfort zone!

Every day at work I imagine my slippers, favorite mug and over sized chair at home. It's my own perfect comfort zone. It doesn't matter how tough my day was, when I'm home I sink into my comfort and melt away. What do you miss when you leave for your day?

Why do I love almost every one of these comforting pictures and can someone please get some flowers and put them on my bedside table? Thanx sweetie!

Shoes spread all around our bedroom give me a sense of calm. Shoes remind me I'm home when they fit me perfectly.



Ah yummy comfort! All I want to do is melt into this blanket.

These retro candles call to me because of their warmth and color. I also have a weakness for smelly candles that fill every room.

I work hard at making my home the comfortable sanctuary that it is. Size doesn't matter to me, but the people inside. And as I took steps last weekend out of my comfort zone, I encourage you to take the leap as well. Go on lovely you can do it! Where do you think it will take you?

In two words...Italian honeymoon!

Yes we just bought tickets to go on our honeymoon…drum roll please…to Italy. Which I know will be one of the most magical places I've ever seen. Honey and I were talking about traveling to Belize or Hawaii, but both sets of our parents called to encourage Italy. There’s something so calming to know that after all of our hard wedding work, we can get on a plane to Rome and get lost while we still feel the newlywed bliss.

Italy, I can’t wait to be welcomed by your history, cobble stone streets, beauty, food, wine, music and warmth of people. Can someone call ahead and let them know we’re coming? Thanx sweetie.

I am so excited to go to the Italian countryside and be calm. We can drive the Amalfi Coast without having to talk about what flowers to pick or discuss menu selections. Sure wedding planning is a rite of passage, but our treat is visiting Italy.

And I knew we made the right honeymoon decision when we started to tell people. For example, recently while standing in our local supermarket the grocer asked us about our wedding planning and we told him our news. A woman waiting in the line behind us started to tell us of her incredible Italian honeymoon. She wished she could still be there watching the Italian sunset and eating olives.

Life will take over for Honey and I after our glow has gone. Our days will become more about our daily lives together, seeing friends and family, lunch making, children rides to and from baseball…but we can quickly think back to our time away.

It was the book Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert that spoke to my soul about letting go and enjoying the travel.

You haven't read it oh you so have to!

So what advice do you give us while we are away our Italian honeymoon? Should we be tourists and see everything Italy has to offer or get lost in the Italian countryside?

Inspirational Weekend Quote

With movies like Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too hitting number 2 at the box office, I like thinking about this inspirational weekend quote. I get my inspiration from not feeling 'I'm ready to annoy someone for the rest of my life' about my soon to be marriage.

Let me explain.

Honey has told me when we have disagreements we have no other choice, but to work it out as we are"stuck" together. So when we say our vows I really am staring back at the person that I get to laugh with, spend almost every day with, create a family with and yes annoy forever.

So finding the humor in this thought makes it all OK for me. Imagine our Rabbi turning to me during the wedding ceremony and asking, 'Laura do you take your Honey to have and to hold and to annoy from this day forward?" I do!

I do, I do I do!!!!

Without laughter in a relationship forever is going to feel like a very long time. And now the words from my little sister, "Sometimes the two of you laugh so hard, my face hurts." I wouldn't have it any other way little D! Can you find your inspiration in this weekend quote?

Can I ever compete with a foodie?

I wish I were a foodie. See I can finally admit it and I even feel a little jealous when I'm sitting a restaurant with foodies. It's like they know the secret to dreaming about food. Talk about it even when they are eating a meal. Foodies must have a secret code that I don't know about it. I honestly don't think about my next meal until I'm hungry and please keep this a secret, but I've even skipped some meals. Shocker!

I can however, see food as the art that it is when I watch chefs create meals filled with color and creation.

I fell in love with Top Chef on Bravo for its top of the line drama and, oh yeah, for its food. Top Chef creates dishes like a seamstress does for fashion shows.



But all I really want to do is put on some retro gloves and cook at home. After watching the cooking shows, I somehow convince myself that I too can cook. Oh sweetie you do that too, now I feel so much better.

Wonderful Foodie post and blog by Sam L. Roth

Don't even get me started on how I wonder how my foodie friends are also addicted to coffee. Is there such a thing as a drip for your arm? So foodies must appreciate caffeine as well. Just save me a little red wine and I'm a happy camper.



And yes you are looking at iPhone apps just for foodies. What will they come up with next? I never want to compete with a foodie because I'll never win. But I can totally appreciate their love and obsession with food? So lovely do you consider yourself a foodie?

Puma is a cougar in training?

My three girlfriends and I were recently sitting at a coffee shop when the topic of our relationships came up. Doesn’t it always? I quickly realized that all three of us were all in different stages. One was living with her girlfriend, another engaged etc. Sure I made a joke about how my stock was about to go down, but it was my friend who needed the advice about her non-boyfriend that she’s been seeing for almost a year.

Yup her non-boyfriend that she sees every weekend, most nights, they spend weekend getaways together and have been each other’s plus one at work events. And then I laughed out loud when she called herself a cougar because of their age difference.

I suggested that, “She wasn’t a cougar, but a puma.” Don’t you agree? A cougar is a woman who is in there forties and hunting for twenty year olds. A puma is a (cougar-in-training) woman in her thirties dating a younger man. And I’m so glad my girlfriend laughed.

Why do we feel better with labels though?

With her new puma status she seemed to carry herself a little stronger and sit up a little straighter in her chair. Never mind she was caring for someone that wasn’t giving back the way she wanted.

'Puma' seemed to make her feel better. It seemed confusing to be seeing someone she cared about and yet they checked in periodically to make sure that the other one hadn’t fallen in love because of their ‘understanding’. I encouraged her to break up from her non-boyfriend and find someone who deserves her time, energy and care. Maybe she just feels the puma pull to being free and unattached. Or is this a myth as she seems attached to me?

Pumas are cougars in training, but where does the training come from if you have a broken heart. I hope she gets this non-boyfriend out of her system soon and see’s how wonderful she is. So lovelies do you agree or disagree with my advice? And just remember she’s probably reading this post…

Inspirational Weekend Quote

Don't you wish someone had told you this inspirational quote when you were younger? Never be afraid to make a mistake! I'm all about learning from my mistakes and if you're surrounded by people that can support you through then you should never be afraid to try. Or fall that far!

Some attempts will be a success and some failures, but I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

Children need to feel safe and as soon as they do they can feel free to try. Isn't that what exploring mistakes are all about? I believe it's the same with adults.

Stand on the diving board, take a deep breath and take the plunge!

"The worst mistake is being afraid to make one", is a life lesson that I stand beside. Life is too short to be afraid. We must take risks and without the risk there is no growth.

I wish I could write this inspirational weekend quote on my front door so every time I come home I am reminded to not be afraid. Do you agree with this quote sweetie? How do you feel when you make a mistake? Have a great weekend!