Current Food Favs in LA...

 1. Church and State in DTLA

My father-in-law took Cory, his sister, her husband, and me to this French restaurant a few weeks ago and I was in heaven. After eating out with Dion Persson, you don't want to eat out with anyone else. He let us order almost every appetizer and dessert on the menu. The goat cheese with lavender honey is to die for.  I swear I ate about 30 of those crackers with mounds of that cheese on top. The brie, arugula, peach, and caramelized onion tarte was out of this world, too. For dessert, I got the mocha pot de creme, and it was worth every calorie. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

2. The Farmer's Market at The Grove

Cory and I just went, and we loved it. There's every type of food imaginable, cute shops, fresh produce, and yummy desserts. It's a foodie's paradise! We ended up eating at a great taco stand and then got crepes for dessert. Such a fun place to go with something for everyone. So many places to choose from that you could be there a while!

3. SK's Donuts and Croissants in Santa Monica

It has recently become my mission to find the best 'cronut' in LA. SK's is my favorite so far because they have a ton of flavors to choose from and their donuts are really good too. I loved their Tiramisu flavored 'cronut' and their chocolate glazed old-fashion donut.

4. BLD in West LA

My parents took Cor and I, here, a couple weeks ago because I had heard good things about it. My dad and I just about died over their chef's meat and cheese plate. It was so good, my dad got one for both him and me to take home! Apparently their breakfast is really good too, but I still have yet to try it for myself.

5. 26 Beach in Venice

I know I've already posted about this place on a previous blog post back when I recapped Cory's and my 2 year anniversary, but this place is so good! Go for breakfast, and get one of their many flavors of french toast. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

school spirit

I went back to my Alma Mater, Newport Harbor High, to do this "school spirit" themed shoot. I love the way it turned out. My cousin, Alex, is such an amazing budding photographer. I figured with the letterman-style sweater, this location would be perfect. 

I felt so nostalgic walking through those old hallways. You see that black and white picture up there, in the hallway full of lockers? That's Dodge Hall where I had French with Mrs. Wodark and math with Mr. McCarty. I used to fall going down (and even up!) those stairs in that building. I used to meet my very first boyfriend, there, during our ten minute morning break time when we first started going out. And since the bathroom upstairs was right next to Mrs. Wodark's classroom, it was the bathroom my best friend and I stopped to reapply lipgloss from our Stila lip pots before lunch. 

It was interesting being back. It was as if my mind had pulled out an old picture book, like the ones that are full of dust and yellowing pages, and slowly cracked that book open to reveal pictures I had forgotten my mind had taken. 

The ability to reminisce is a beautiful part of the mind, but remember that there is nothing more beautiful than the here and now. Thanks for reading!

Fall? Are you there?

Sweater: Forever21 | Jeans: similar | Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell | Necklace: Charlotte Russe  

Photography by Alex V. Summers 

I'm ready for fall and all the sweaters and boots and warm drinks in hand that come with it! Sadly, here in Southern California, it is nowhere to be found. Still, I already know this outfit will be a go-to of mine when fall decides to show up around here. The wine color of this sweater is my favorite trend of the season.

All I Need

Hello, friends. It feels like the length between my posts keeps getting longer and longer, but I do have some new things coming this way to this blog of mine. For tonight, though, I wanted to write a little bit about something that has been on my mind lately.

Have any of you read, The Five Languages of Love? If I can recall correctly, they are: time, service, gifts, words of affirmation, and touch. For me, I feel most loved when someone gives me his or her time. There really are very few things that make me feel more fulfilled and loved than having one on one time with a person I care about (whether it be my husband, friend, or family member). That time gives me the chance to genuinely connect and weave together more and more of those "invisible threads" that Nietzsche believes to be the "strongest ties."

So, with that said and in the most sincere and nicest way possible: 

To all I have loved, love, and will love, 

I do not need a hug.

I do not need a compliment.

I do not need your money or gifts.

And I do not need you to do my dishes if I make you a meal.

All I could ever want and need is to spend time with you. Tell me what you need so we can both feel loved, too.

Always and Forever,

Whit

Chicago: Part II

My mom, sister, and I spent part of one of the days in Bucktown/Wicker Park. We got there through the subway system, which was an adventure in itself. The area was a fun place to go shopping/walking around because it is full of local boutiques and eateries that are only found in Chicago. We stumbled upon the cutest shop full of homemade bath and body products, similar to Lush, but way cuter. The soap bars are shaped as cakes and cupcakes - a girly girl's paradise! The cute shop owner had even created a candle that when the wax has melted after being lit for a few minutes, you can use it as a warm, soothing lotion! Best. Idea. Ever! She has an online shop, mojospa.com, that you can buy all her products at! We then ate at the Bongo Room, which my mom and sister agree have the best banana pancakes you will ever eat.

That next day, Saturday, we went on a boat tour of Chicago through the river that runs through the city. No one knew that the tour would be on some crazy speedboat that would end up getting my whole right side drenched. I was already in a bad mood, so that didn't help any. If I wasn't in a bad mood and the tour was on a regular boat instead of some crazy, splash mountain-esque ride, I probably would have enjoyed myself.

That night was the wedding, and it was beautiful. It was one of those weddings that seems like it should have been in a movie. A little chapel on a street corner in the city with a beautiful, traditional Catholic ceremony. After, everyone waits outside on either side of the steps for the stunning bride and her groom to smile happily as they float down the chapel steps and into a trolley car. That's really what it was like. I got to take a few pictures of my outfit while we were waiting. I'm loving the wine color trend, lately. And isn't my dad handsome!

Chicago: Part I

It's been too long since my last post on this blog! I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago with my family for my cousin's wedding and to visit my little sister, who goes to school there. These are the highlights of my first day there with my mom.

 First stop, "The Bean," formally called "The Cloud Gate," located in Millennium Park. Fun for pictures and "mirrored selfies" in its' reflective surface.

From there, we went to the John Hancock Observatory to see the 360 degree view of the city from the 94th floor. It was expensive and it got a bit hot up there, but the view was one of a kind. I probably wouldn't do it again, but I am glad we went. Not to mention, the fun photo opportunity at the end was definitely worth the trip.

After the observatory, my mom and I walked down "Miracle Mile" admiring the beautiful architecture and the creative floral arrangements along the sidewalks. That street is a dream and a shopper's paradise. Later that night, my mom and I met one of my friends/college roommates (who lives there, now, with her husband) at RPM. To be honest, we didn't love it, but it is always fun to go to a new restaurant and catch up with an old friend!

Peace Love and Braids

Top: French Connection | Jeans: CarMar | Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell | Sunglasses: Juicy Couture

Nothing compares to a freshly clean and organized apartment. And nothing is better, especially after a day of deep cleaning, than getting dressed up and going out to dinner with my guy. I saw this braided hairstyle on a bride and decided to recreate it, myself, last night. I was thinking of doing a tutorial post, so comment below if that would be something you would like!

That One Time I Was A Fashion PR Intern...

Yesterday I was nervous but excited to start interning at a fashion PR firm in West Hollywood. I had my outfit all picked out and got up early to make sure I got there early. On my way I called them and explained I forgot to ask where to park. The girl told me I could either choose to pay metered parking, park my car in a two hour spot, or park at a Ralph's that I never did seem to find. Red Flag Number 1. Still, I brushed it off and parked a street away in two hour parking, which then meant I had to watch the clock (because LA parking enforcement is crazy), walk to my car, find another spot to move it, and walk back to the office EVERY TWO HOURS. WTFreak? 

As you can see in the picture (taken right when I got there and before everyone had come in to work), all the girls work in a close space. I was excited to meet girls my age and maybe make some friends, especially since we would all be working, together, in the same room. But as I watched each girl come in the door, look at me, look away, and sit at her designated spot without any smiles or hellos or introductions, I became increasingly bitter toward these mean girls. Red Flag Number 2. Two girls to my right, sitting side by side, were having an instant message conversation and would take turns laughing out loud to whatever each one would say. Then when I got back from lunch, five of them were sitting around (one girl was slumped low in the chair I had been using with her feet propped up on the desk), whispering to each other. As I walked in, they took one look at me, didn't say anything, and continued in a low whisper gossip. Red Flag Number 3. And by then, I was over it.

Even more,

1) It was an unpaid internship, so I was literally paying in gas to work for them.

2) They had me doing menial tasks that had nothing to do with learning about PR or the world of fashion, including organizing a closet that looked as if it had just barfed up its' clothes. Believe me, I'm not above doing those tasks, but to never once teach me anything about what they were working on is not okay in my book.

3) They told me I would help stylists with pulls in their showroom. Translation: You will watch the stylist pick out the clothes he or she wants and then you will scan and bag them.

4) Through conversations I would overhear throughout the day like "how many interns are working today" or "what days are you working" meant that they have tons of people who they have basically doing slave labor. Which meant this "internship" had no potential for me to grow into the company.

5) Did I mention they were just mean? They only times they would talk to me would be to tell me what to do. The rest of the time, they acted as if I didn't exist.

So I emailed them and said "thanks, but no thanks."

This Weekend Part II: Santa Monica Sunset

The Santa Monica Pier

This one reminds me of Cole with the surfer, his board, and the golden light of the sun.

All last week, I wanted nothing more than to go to the beach to watch the sun go down. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were such clear days, though, that there were no clouds in the sky to make my favorite cotton-candy-pink clouds. Earlier on Saturday, we decided we probably wouldn't make it to the beach because we had gotten up early to start our day and a night in sounded relaxing. It wasn't until I saw the clouds forming in the west, as we were coming home from Chinatown, that I knew we had to go. We went home, changed, packed a picnic, and raced to the beach just in time to see the sunset. It was funny that when everyone was leaving, we were just getting there. I am so glad we decided to go, though, because it was beautiful.

I am beyond grateful to be back in this beautiful state, that I call home, with my love and to have my family so near.

Speaking of family, my grandma and grandpa and aunt and cousin drove up to LA early yesterday morning. Cory and I had been asked to speak in our church sacrament meeting and they came to support us, which I was so grateful for (thanks, you four!). Since I write out every single word I want to say before I give a talk, I thought I would share a portion of it.

As I gazed out on the orange sky with clouds as fluffy and pink as cotton candy, I felt closer not only to Cole, but also to my Savior. I found peace in knowing that He lives; that the world around us is full of His beauty; that if we stop to look for him, whether it is through prayer, faith, or even through the beauty of the earth that He has created, even when life may have us in our darkest moments, we shall find Him, and we shall find His peace...

This Weekend Part I: Chinatown

When my dad and my sister first went to Chicago, in order to make sure it was where she wanted to go to school, they came back raving about this little place called Wow Bao. Apparently these pastries filled with both sweet and savory options were amazing. Now that Kim is in Chicago, she keeps talking about them! Even though I'm going out to visit her at the end of the month, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on one. I figured that Chinatown is only a 20 minute drive, so why not find these little bao buns? So that's what Cor and I did! We ate a delicious BBQ pork baked bao, a chicken bao, and a sweet cream bao. The above picture is the sweet cream bao and Cory's "I just can't get over that it looks like an egg" face. After stuffing ourselves with bao (only a $7 meal for the both of us!), we decided to explore Chinatown and walk off our bao bellies.

I asked Cor if he would take the picture of us...

Take 1: Finger blocking my face.

Take 2: Finger purposely blocking my face.

Take 3: Finger still in the frame, but I'll take it. Then a nice lady came up and asked if we wanted her to take the picture. Clearly...

Chinatown was a fun and surprisingly romantic adventure. I'll definitely be back for those BBQ pork baked baos...MMMMM!