Summer is just around the corner, and in California that means one thing – fresh summer produce at its best! I’ve been stocking up on berries at the supermarket to have on hand for healthy breakfasts, and the berries are so inexpensive (between $1.50 – $2.00 per basket) I can’t resist!

How delicious does this look??  Fresh berries, nonfat greek yogurt (virtually no calories and high in protein) and a drizzle of honey.

I’ve also heard that local honey helps with allergies – which have been out of control this year – so this breakfast is double the goodness!

For all those Carrie Bradshaw wannabe’s, today is your lucky day!  I’ve been dreaming of shoes, and put together my wish list.  It’s pretty lengthy, and over the top extravagant, but a girl can dream!  Who doesn’t love a fabulous pair of shoes that you feel awesome in every time you slip them on.  *Note: fabulous shoes do not equate with comfort.

Enjoy!
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A Walk on the Wild Side:

Just drink in all those crazy studs, spikes, and straps.  Nope, we aren’t talking anything naughty – just some fabulous edgy styles. I am especially loving the spiky, gold, pointy toed Louboutan’s with the ankle strap.  If only… Feeling nervous about the sky high stilettos?  Stick with a tamed down version of these wild shoes, and go flat – the Sam Edelman’s are THE COMFIEST flats I’ve ever owned.  The bottoms are quilted, and it feels like I’m wearing slippers.

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She’s a Lady (whoa whoa whoa):

Couldn’t help myself with a little Tim Jones there…  The next group here is nothing short of ladylike.  Any white gloved, brimmed hat wearing lady would agree.  Take classic lines, thin delicate heels and pair them up with frilly bows, pretty jewels, and pretty colors, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.  I’m pretty sure everyone will agree that the cobalt blue Manolo Blahnik’s are THE MOST iconic shoe of all time, followed by their sweet silver peep toe sister (thank you SATC).

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Footloose and Fancy Free

Doesn’t this just make you laugh?  Cheers to a happy, sunny Friday!
xo

Ok, are these not absurdly, eye poppingly, jaw droppingly gorgeous?!  Insanity!!

I had no idea that BlueNile hosted such a wealth of engagement ring porn!  One might wonder, what I was doing on BlueNile?  I swear it happened accidentally!  I am on their email list after ordering a pair of pearl earrings, and with my 10% off email, clicked through to the site today.  The sparkly baubles on the homepage had me at hello, and forty-five minutes later, here I am.

Halo Settings:
   

Just look at these bad boys – I thought the halo settings above were really spectacular.  I LOVE the floating setting at the top, and don’t even get me started on the Tiffany’s Legacy replica.  Rings #2 and #3 are SO close to the Tiffany setting, at a fraction of the price).  The last ring above is so pretty but, it’s not one I would have asked for unless I saw it – is that stone an asscher cut?  The channels really make it look deep and beautiful, but I wonder if it would be harder to get a quality cut like that…

Solitaire Settings:
  
  

Oh the classics – like a Chanel suit, these will always be in style.  The round solitaires on a pave band (#1 & #2) are still my fave, but I also love the heirloom band on the square cut asscher stone (#3 above) – it’s so unique and delicate.  While it’s not my style, that canary yellow diamond is a stunner – so rare, and so pretty, I couldn’t leave him out!

For more ring porn, check out the “Recently Purchased Engagement Rings” section.  (I am not getting paid to say this – it’s just that amazing)  In my humble opinion, the fact that they show recently purchased rings – not stock photos – is a HUGE selling point!

Ok… I’m done now, but I think I seriously have an illness.  This diamond obsession is borderline clinical, but I just can’t stop!  Look how pretty they are.  Look how sparkly they are…. I just HAD to share some of this glittery eye candy for all the other diamond junkies out there.

Despite the fact that it is Memorial Day weekend, the weather is far from warm.  It is snowing in the mountains, raining in the valley, and windy as heck on the coast!!

Since I had the day off yesterday, I spent the day with my mom.  My new birthday ritual – instead of asking for a present – is to ask for a day of shopping with my mom.  I really just love the alone time.  It’s sort of been a ritual since high school when we’d go shopping for homecoming or prom dresses.  We  try on dress after dress, and get lunch from this cute bakery.  This year I was very decisive – a trait very un-like me.  After quite a few “no’s” I found a yes, and I didn’t feel like I needed to try on much else.  Sold!  My new dress (to be worn at a wedding later this summer) is very Betty Draper – white sleeveless boatneck, with a full inverted pleat skirt, with a rose pattern on it.  Lots of peaches, tomato reds, and greens – so summery.  I’m in love.

Today I am heading out for a little wine tasting with my best friend Kira.  Unfortunately for us, rain is in the forecast which makes Napa so much less fun, but that’s the way the mop flops, eh?

Hope you all have a lovely, safe, and dry weekend!
xo

By the way, aren’t my peonies so beautiful?  $6 at Trader Joes!!  Get em while they’re hot I tell you – they will probably only be available for another few weeks!

You can tell it’s almost summer from all the amazing produce in the stores!  Last night, I was in the mood for a light summery dinner (even though the fog rolled in around 5pm) and stopped by Molly Stones on my way home.

I found the most amazing melon, and so I thought I’ll just add a little prosciutto and call it a day!  When Kris works late, I don’t have to worry about making a dinner that will fill him up (a dinner that usually involves some sort of starchy potato or carb like pasta), and so I picked up some fresh mozzarella and tomatoes for a caprese salad on the side.

The secret to a good caprese salad is in the balsamic.  I don’t usually splurge on fancy balsamic, but I will tell you there is a huge difference between the $4 balsamic in the store and the $40 balsamic at the farmer’s market.  Unfortunately, I only had the $4 balsamic, so I’ll let you in on a little secret.  Reducing this in a pan on the stove for a few minutes does wonders!  Just put the balsamic in a non-stick pan, turn the stove up to high, and let it simmer and reduce until it has a syrup-like consistency.  You will be amazed at how sweet and yummy it is.  Just drizzle over the sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil with some extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper!

So simple, and so delicioso 🙂