30 things to do before I turn 30!

June 14, 2013 By 9 Comments
Today marks 6 months until I’m 30.  (Patty, are you kinda freaking out?)
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I want to take advantage of the last little bit of my 20s, so I’ve decided to make a list of 30 things to do before the big day.
The list is comprised of: Things I’ve never done before, things that I’ve done, loved and need to do again, some big things and some small things. So here we go:
1. Launch the Milly & Grace online store!  This is currently in the works.  It is a huge undertaking but we will get there soon!  Stay tuned!
onlinestore
2. Host a beach BBQ. One of my favorite things to do in the summertime.  We don’t do it nearly enough!
3. Bake a pie from scratch.  
4. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art – I know I know.  I’m embarrassed to admit it!  I’ve even tried to get there but as I make my way up 5th Ave I can never get past Bergdorfs.
5. Clean out my closet.
6. Learn to grill – My husband Steve is a grill master so I’ve never needed to learn. But I think it’s something I should know.
7. Continue our Hollister tradition for the 3rd year in a row – The Nantucket Stay-cation!
8. Write a “just because” handwritten note every week. 
9. Get a puppy! We have only been talking about this for years and it’s time to make it happen.  We’ve decided on the breed Portuguese Water Dog but we haven’t found our puppy yet.
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10. Visit the “other” island- Martha’s Vineyard!
11. Read the Great Gatsby – I know it’s an American classic but I must have missed out on this one because I went to high school in Australia.  (See Allison’s post on Gatsby!)
12. Start practicing yoga again.  It’s been about 4 years.
13. Pay for the coffee for person in line behind me.
14. Go strawberry picking at Bartlett Farm.
15. Send someone flowers. 
16. Create my own cocktail!  Steve invented a cocktail that is now called the Stever.  I would like to have my own too!
17. Visit Tuckernuck – Tuckerneck is small island off the tip of Nantucket.  Never been and think I should go!
Tuckernuck
18. Participate in a workshop to help me become a better blogger.
19.  Be better about saving my money!  For the past few years, all of my savings have gone into opening and improving the store.  Now that we are in the swing of things it’s time to start saving for the future.
20. Roast a chicken.
21. Try paddle boarding– Hoping my friend Annie can help me with this one!
22. Watch Casablanca.
23. Go skinny dipping!  Woah!  Living on the wild side!
24. Break my magazine hoarding habit.
25. Organize all my recipes.
26. Find the Hidden Forest out here on Nantucket!
27. Get a massage. (Or 2 or 3)
28. Really learn to surf – Actually catch a wave without Steve’s help!
29. Connect with and commit to a non profit organization that really matters to me. 
30. Enjoy the sunrise & sunset all in the same day.

  sunset

Wish me luck!
Filed Under: 30before30, Emily, Growing Up 9 Comments

The Situation Is…

June 14, 2013 By 1 Comment

A little introduction:

Welcome to the first “The Situation Is…” with your homegirl, Allison.  I don’t know how “the situation is…” became one of my sayings but it did…(and it did BEFORE Mike “The Situation” graced us with his presence on MTV’s Jersey Shore.)

I use it in every situation.  You can use it to preface an explanation or when you’re letting your friend know she is being crazy or announcing your current state of feeling/emotion or what you are into or when you are discussing the plan for the night…

Here are some examples:

The situation is…  (Repeat this before each line)

– Caroline is the boss of us.    – I miss my family.    – You are being a little cray cray right now!

– I am so sleepy.  -You’ve got to get over that guy!  – I love flavored sparkling water.

See!  It works for everything.

SO now that you know what “The Situation is…” is, on to the post…

A few weekends ago, I went on a Dinner and a Movie date to see Gatsby with one of my besties, Riley.

And THE SITUATION IS… I love Baz Luhrmann and all of his amazingly creative, quirky, exuberant and over the top movies.  He is a true artist and visionary.

Baz

THE OTHER SITUATION IS…. GATSBY IS SO IN RIGHT NOW, AND MILLY AND GRACE IS SO ON BOARD WITH IT!  We wish we could wander into one of Gatsby’s parties…

GATSBY QUOTE: “He threw all those parties hoping she would wander in one night.”

I Party With Jay

GATSBY QUOTE: “The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside”!

Wish I was sipping on Santa Barbara Chic’s Guava Sangria with a touch of sage cocktail right now…

Guava Sangria - SB Chic

Us girls would never show up to Gatsby’s door without proper attire and of course… a hostess gift for the host of all hosts! I’m sure Jay would love some Bella Cucina treats.

Skip over to Milly & Grace… The girls and Tim will be happy to help you get all dolled up!

M&G Gatsby Party

You can also pick up some gorgeous Art Deco inspired jewels by DanniJo at Milly & Grace.

Dannijo jewels

And finally for my favorite Great Gatsby quote…

Daisy to Gatsby

Filed Under: Allison 1 Comment

Instyle Event for Velvet’s Store Opening featuring Olive & June

June 13, 2013 By 2 Comments

O&J 1

Last night, I attended Instyle Magazine’s party for the opening of Velvet by Spencer + Graham in Brentwood.  The party featured Drybar, an amazing LA-Original blow dry bar who has been saving women’s lives since 2010, and also INTRODUCED to the world Beverly Hills’ newest and hippest nail salon, Olive & June!!

O&J 3

All the women (and even some of the men) got to shop, sip on cocktails, get our nails done and get our hair did…

Um, sounds like the PERFECT night out!

O&J 4

EVERYONE was buzzing about Olive & June!  They all waited patiently to get polished by O&J’s manicurists with RGB polish.

The girl who dreamed up the idea for Olive & June is my friend, Sarah! (Look at her in action below!)  I am so proud of her!  It was only a few months ago when she first told me about her dream to open a trendy nail salon in Beverly Hills where women can come and hang out with their girlfriends while getting their weekly mani/pedis.  I know that Olive & June is going to be the newest HOT SPOT in town.

O&J 2

Our other friend Crystal came to the event too!  We all met at Tracy Anderson Method Studio.  We have spent many hours dancing and sweating together!  Love these girls!

O&J 5

For all the LA readers…

Olive & June will be opening it’s doors soon!  They are moving into a cute little place on Canon (next to La Scala).

Thank you, InStyle, for such a lovely event!

Filed Under: Allison, Brentwood, Event, InStyle Magazine 2 Comments