Feeling Happy-Go-Lucky

The tail end of dusk. The air is heavy with the heat of Indian summer and the scent of overripe jasmine. Crickets. I wouldn't want to change this moment for any other.

Scenes from a Civilized Existence

Or so it seems...it's been almost two months since the move and it still feels like everything isn't quite settled. Despite my unsettled impressions, I found some evidence of settled-ness on my camera. From the top: afternoon tea break with my husband one weekend, some roses from Whole Foods and some ripe, delicious figs. (Figs are in the farmer's markets right now. Get some!)

Feeling Happy-Go-Lucky

I went running tonight which means I've stuck to my new exercise program for a week. What is this challenging program, you ask? Oh, well, it's quite simple: if I didn't exercise yesterday, I need to exercise today. And it's been great to get back into this routine after the madness of my summer and moving and all that. It helps that it is mild and not windy over here...I don't have the same excuses I did in San Francisco. I'm feeling better every time I run. Yay!

East Bay Explorer: Berkeley Hill

We took a 2.5 hour walk up in the Berkeley Hills this weekend. The area is famous for its distinctive architecture - many classic Northern Californian architects built here in early in the 1900s. It is such an incredibly lush and beautiful neighborhood to explore in - giant hills, incredible vistas and houses, old trees and small parks dotting many of the blocks. Just a relaxing, lovely place. Have I mentioned I love living in the East Bay? The whole time I was peering into these gorgeous houses and Idriss kept running away - he was terrified I would be spotted. Speaking of, can you believe the little work-shed, above? I want one!

Do you have any favorite East Bay walks you'd like to recommend? Please do!

P.S. Alice Waters lives up here - right near Indian Rock Park - anyone know where?

East Bay Explorer: Jack London Square

I think I mentioned I moved to Oakland, right? Well, for those of you not in Northern California, Oakland is in the East Bay (in relation to San Francisco) along with Berkeley. After almost 8 years in SF, it's been super exciting to start to really explore a new city, and I am just loving it. So I'll have "East Bay Explorer" columns quite a bit, I hope, as we get to know Oakland better.

Jack London Square is on the water (SF Bay) and it's an old industrial area that has been somewhat revitalized with new restaurants and such. Blue Bottle Coffee has their roastery here and I've already been several times. There are all sorts of industrial kitchens (Miette) and old food stalls that I believe are still in use. I snapped these pictures of the neighborhood when a storm was coming on (in September??? WHAT???) so you can see the fog we deal with in these parts.

Chair Lust

Has anyone seen this chair in person at Anthropologie? It is so stunning and vibrant...and expensive. I'll have to settle for dreamy scenarios in which I redecorate my living room around this fancy number...

Charming Sonoma Wedding

Sweet flowers for a small wedding up in Sonoma this weekend. I really love how they turned out - I only wish I remembered to snap pictures at the reception site! Made with several kinds of dahlias, astilbe, jasmine, garden roses, billy balls, scabiosa, ranunculus, clover, sedum. Congratulations again Quentin and Samya!!

Feeling Casual...

My clothes lust just will not settle down...Plaid jacket and striped sweater from Lauren Moffat, tuxedo-striped pants from the Gap, navy dress and booties from J. Crew.

Most exquisite blankets ever...

The colors...the lusciousness...the luxury oh my! Can a blanket this artistic be so louche at the same time? I might daydream about these forever...available here.

Feeling Fancy

I love these floaty dresses for fall - I would pair them with heathered tights and these gorgeous purple flats and a chunky sweater. Yummy! Since I feel like I've been shopping deprived I'll be posting about fashion a bit more here, so I can plan outfits I am not going to buy anytime soon. Dresses by Madewell. Flats by Kate Spade.

Most Romantic Dress Ever

This lacy confection has me swooning...from J. Crew.

Feeling Happy-Go-Lucky

Late summer melons are unbelievable this year. Just had the best watermelon of the season and have many other types of melon waiting at home for dinner tonight! Thanks to my lovely husband for lugging them all home for me.

Oakland Wedding Part Three: Tables

I made so many arrangements, flowers were practically hanging from the rafters. It was fun for the flowers to be so lush and plentiful, I think life should always be like that!

Oakland Wedding Part Two: Altar

Lovely Oakland Wedding - The Bouquets

I was so lucky to do a beautiful wedding with an amazing, low-key bride this weekend. It was held at the pizza temple in Oakland known as Pizzaiolo, which is a beautiful restaurant and one of my favorites. There are the loose bouquets. Altar and table arrangements coming up next.

Flowers included: garden roses, 6 or 7 different kinds of dahlias, chocolate cosmos, scabiosa, yarrow, sedum, billy balls, celosia, jasmine and a few more that I can't remember.

Pillow Pile

Can't get enough of color and pattern these days. Somebody stop me!

Feeling Happy-Go-Lucky

I still can't believe this is the view from my living room. My husband and I feel like we are living in a vacation cottage rather than an apartment in Oakland! More pics to come of the actual apartment once we're more settled.

Ladies Luncheon

I moved recently and haven't had much time to blog. But I wanted to show you all these cute pictures of a Ladies Luncheon at my friend Mel's house. She did a great job setting the table (and cooking the food! not featured here) and I wanted to show you the table setting along with the low-key flowers I put together.

I'm doing back-to-back weddings these next two weekends, and I'll have lots to share! The color palettes are gorgeous and I cannot wait to get my hands on the flowers!