Recap:
Then the photographer picked us up.
We set up camp in Old Sac & the fun began!
We met up with some of Brittany's friends and we had so much fun! Everyone looked amazing!
Caitlin Bee used to be a pinup model. She's such a natural!
In case you were wondering, we modeled handmade leather purses! They were so adorable and since I now have $25 credit to Amelia's (photographer/pursemaker)Etsy store, I already have my eye on a few one I want!
Beautiful ladies!
On Saturday 11/8, I met up with Caitlin & Heidi! Heidi & I were the bestest of friends when she lived here- now we are besties from a distance. She is the one that introduced Caitlin & I right before she moved to Utah to pursue a new adventure. We missed her so much, so it was a dream having her here with us for a few hours! We went to Heidi's favorite Sacramento destination- the Farmer's Market!
I didn't buy anything, but boy, did I have fun!
Whatever grower decided to transport these Apple Hill apples there was a genius! Can I just say that Apple Hill apples are unparalleled! Their Pink Ladies are the best! I was very tempted to buy some!
Heidi insisted on buying an Asian Pear for each of us. They were so juicy!
Cute, right?
This girl...
It was hard when our time was up & I had to drop Heidi off. I was so bummed! I hope I get to see her again soon! Word on the street is that she might be in town in December for a wedding. My fingers are crossed!
After that, I went home, snagged Bubs & he dropped me off at my parents house & then headed to his parents' house to replace the rear struts on my car. He's a boss when it comes to cars. Anyways, my parents are getting a new kitchen. This is their current lack of kitchen.
They've also been doing major renovations of their house since they moved in almost 1 year ago. (My, how time flies!) They had the fireplace/wall removed (it separated the kitchen &living room). They're getting a new wall & fancy fireplace put in. This is the view from the kitchen.
The back house/"Cottage" had a pathway put in!
Since the kitchen is gutted, the Cottage now houses the makeshift kitchen. Little Miss & I hung out in the Cottage & played Defend Your Castle & Club Penguin. It was so hard! She kicked my butt.
This is all the junk that used to be the kitchen cabinets & such. It turned the driveway into a weird sort of cabinet graveyard.
Little Miss & Mother & I went to the Galleria to got shopping! Yay! We stopped in Pottery Barn first. It was like a shabby chic winter wonderland. I was (& still am) in love.
Cute candleholders! I want to figure out how to make this. Suggestions are welcome.
Little Miss "needed" new jeans for school, so naturally, Miss Skinny Minnie led us to Hollister, where there was a sale going on. Mother & I had a good laugh over the name of these jeans.
Mother had to take a picture when we she saw this backdrop.
After the mall, we headed back to my parents' house & picked up Mr. CHiPy & headed over to my in-laws' house for a super yummy dinner. Bubs was still working on the car. He worked on it for like 8 hours straight! He is a saint!
Don't be fooled by the semi-bored/annoyed look on his face. He loves the attention.
Mom-in-law always makes the best food on the planet! She has a divine gift.
After dinner, my fambam left, so mom-in-law & I played Quiddler. Its a spelling game, so naturally Bubs & dad-in-law hate it. Ha.
Bubs would not allow himself to eat dinner until he finished with my car- which was like 8:30ish. What a trooper.
Bubs picked out my shirt for church on Sunday 11/9.
Wednesday 11/12 was the 2nd Annual Relief Society Service Auction! Last year was a blast, so I was so excited to attend again this year! It did not disappoint! Every table was decorated by a different sister! My friend Pat did our table & it was so cute! She made this "snowglobe" & we ate off fine china! Talk about devotion!
It was so well done! I had a blast! Our auctioneer, Ann, was a hoot!
She made this centerpiece! The flowers are real BTW, which totally fooled me. They were so perfect looking that I thought they were fake!
I won this super adorbs (adorable) homemade advent calendar! It's made with baby food jars! Cute, right?
On Thursday 11/13, I hopped a flight for LA (Los Angeles, not Louisiana) for a work conference. This is the cabbie that took me to my hotel. I haven't been in a cab for years! I felt like I was back in NY!
I stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel in LA. You guys. It was so fancy!
There were fancy business people all over the place. I felt underdressed.
I scouted out the conference rooms, & stumbled upon this super cute bathroom!
My view from the 3rd floor, where the conference rooms were at.
Then I headed to my room. You have to insert your room key into the slot before you can take the elevator to any of the guest floors. Talk about security!
My room had a warm beverage station. I ended up drinking the Chamomile tea. It was pretty good.
The shower was super nice & the shower head was positioned like seven feet up, so I didn't have to duck when I washed my hair! That was a first! (Yay for not having #TallGirlProblems)
I loved the sink! Everything about my room was so posh!
The armoire lit up inside when the doors were open! Fancy!
...and then I found this. It was perfect.
The decor felt like reminiscent 1960s meets Ikea.
Look at the huge tv! I watched The Dark Knight for a bit.
...and then I ran around my room taking selfies. Ha.
This was my view. Pretty, right?
This is what I wore that day. I've had this hat since I was like 16. Memories...
Another way you know a hotel is fancy is when the free toiletries are "Ylang Ylang" scented.
This is the weirdest way I've seen a toilet paper roll hanger look. It holds it from underneath so it looks like its floating. Ghost toilet paper!
For dinner, I went to the bar/lounge in the lobby. The music was so dancey and loud, I felt like I should have been in a nightclub more than a restaurant. They had all of their tvs on & USC was playing, so naturally everyone there was in full gear. One lady even brought pom poms. These people...
The shower really was this high up. This was my view from underneath. Amazing! I will never get over the awesomeness of this shower.
There was a cute little table that was the perfect size to showcase my jewelery. If I still used my Instagram, this is what I would have posted.
On Friday 11/14, my conference started. OOTD!
I was running a little behind, so I snagged breakfast in the little cafe in the lobby. This was my view for breakfast.
It was a surprisingly long walk to the conference room. There was a whole wing full of just conference rooms!
...and then the fun began!
The training group provided a super fancy gourmet lunch. It was nice to pig out & meet some peeps in my field of work too!
I had a total of 11 hours of training that day, so I was pretty tired. I opted for dinner in the lobby in yet another restaurant. I had the Flatbread Margherita Pizza which was so good, as well as cheesecake!
Can I just take a minute to point our how small this cheesecake is? Needless to say I was very tempted to buy another piece. But I thought better of it because it was $10.
OOTD for Saturday 11/14. More instruction! Thankfully, my boss phoned & told me I could take off early & spend the rest of my trip with family. That made me so happy!
As I waited for my ride, I saw something bizarre. The hotel across the street had this tv screen on the side & for some reason it had flames. It looked like the building was on fire. I will never understand these LA hipsters...
We have a tradition of going to Grandpa's favorite burger place, Volcano Burger, after we visit his grave. I got the Chili Cheeseburger.
I took a picture of this for my seester (read: sister). This is her last name. Miss you, Lex!
I was in luck because I got to watch the 'Bama game with Grandma.
Grandma & Bubs were arguing/getting sassy via my texting convo. She dictated her responses to me & I sent them to Bubs & then I would read her his responses. More proof that these two are my faves.
I measured myself again. Thankfully, I haven;t grown since 2007.
I'm 100% positive that if I took all of her recipes and put them in a book, it would be the holy grail of cookbooks. True story.
She told me stories about growing up in Alabama & the adventures that she & Grandpa had in South Africa. I come from good stock!
We had our cornbread with Chicken Corn Chowder. I was so spoiled!
This is my cousin/twinsie, Lindsey. We were besties growing up. I got to meet her daughter, Ainsley! Talk about being cute as a button! Fun fact: Lindsey & I look the most alike of anyone in the family. We did not plan our outfits to match, which is proof that time apart does not change our twin status. Note the chambrays...
...and the boots...
...and the almost identical rings...
For being 5'10, she has super small hands & feet! Which makes her husband, James' hands look like bear claws.
This is my room. Grandma still calls it my room, even though I haven't lived here in a few years. One thing you have to know about Grandma is that she does not decorate like your typical Grandma. She was shabby chic long before it was cool.
This past week:
Weekly Obsessions x3 :
These leggings.
Mother bought me these leggings when we went shopping. Between how opaque they are & the faux leather stripe I am loving them!
...and I got these boots too. Merry (early) Christmas to me! Yay! I swear, we looked at like 5 different stores for boots, but they were either the wrong color/style/heel height/size/price. But then Target came to the rescue! I hit the jackpot with these beauties for $40! The best part is that they are so comfy! I wear them every chance I get!
I love our doormat. We got it right after we got married with a Bed, Bath & Beyond giftcard & I'm still in love with it!
She bought me this sweater too & I love it! It's so soft, it feels like I'm wearing a fuzzy blanket & it looks cute too! Another Target win.
The full outfit. Love!
You guys: it's almost Thanksgiving. This calls for a late/early Thankful Thursday!
Thankful Thursday: eternal perspective, the power of prayer, clothes, food, shelter, the light that the Gospel of Jesus beings into my life, family, visiting teaching, the Relief Society, hugs, Bubs now being a paid employee (!), a loving Heavenly Father who is always looking out for me, my Savior and older brother, Jesus Christ, the constant opportunities Bubs & I have to learn & to grow, the blessing of having Bubs as my eternal companion.
I hope you all have an AMAZING Thanksgiving! Love you all!
You guys: it's almost Thanksgiving. This calls for a late/early Thankful Thursday!
Thankful Thursday: eternal perspective, the power of prayer, clothes, food, shelter, the light that the Gospel of Jesus beings into my life, family, visiting teaching, the Relief Society, hugs, Bubs now being a paid employee (!), a loving Heavenly Father who is always looking out for me, my Savior and older brother, Jesus Christ, the constant opportunities Bubs & I have to learn & to grow, the blessing of having Bubs as my eternal companion.
I hope you all have an AMAZING Thanksgiving! Love you all!
