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!