Autumn-Themed Outdoor Dinner Party

Mike & Nichole

Kristen & Joel

Andy & Levi

Husband Franco & Me

I've wanted to start monthly, rotating, themed dinner parties with some friends for a while now, but never took the initiative to plan one. Finally, while talking about it with my friend Nichole in August, I committed to host the first one at the end of September. I designed invitations, letting the elegant gold script font set the tone for the rest of the party. Nichole and I pinterest-ed our ideas and put them all together at what I call a dinner party success!

 The conversation was lively. The food was delicious. The night was magical. We caught up with old friends, and made new ones. It was a night to remember and I look forward to repeating it!

Dinner Party Details:

Invitations: 

      Designed by me.

Where: 

      Right outside our triplex building in our long cement driveway. It was a perfect location for it since it was close to our front door--to ferry the warm food in and out--and the weather was just right. (I wish we had thought to remove the trash cans so they wouldn't be in the background of the top picture...)

Decor:

      I rented the white folding chairs and two white rectangle tablecloths from one of the many inexpensive party rental places here in Pomona. We used two folding tables and put them together to form one long table. Everything else on the table came from my party decoration collection, from the milk glass vases to the mason jars to the bamboo place mats my friend brought me from Thailand. Nichole put the finishing touches by adding the bejeweled napkin rings, the "Love" tags on the jars, the battery-powered candles, and the pine cones. I bought the plates, flatware, and napkins from Target. The stripey straws are from Garnish.

Centerpieces: The big bouquet of flowers is from Trader Joe's. I grouped different colorful vegetables for the other centerpieces, a less expensive and useful alternative to flowers. And I got to cook with them afterwards.

Food:

    appetizers // 

      -amazing bruschetta (by Nichole)

      -greek olives

      -brie & crackers garnished with fresh figs

      -ham

    drinks //

      -Izze sodas

      -homemade lemonade

    main dishes //

      -rosemary & thyme roasted chicken

      -roasted fingerling potatoes

      -steamed haricot verts

      -strawberry spinach salad with vinaigrette (by Nichole)

    dessert //

      -strawberry popovers (prepared by Kristen)

      -ice cream cones (by Mike & Nichole)

Photography by Mike and Nichole

all food was prepared by me, with help from the other guests. for most of the recipes, see my pinterest board "dinner parties."

*Thank you, Mike & Nichole, Joel & Kristen, Levi & Andy, and Franco for coming and helping out! Hope you had as much fun as we did. xo

By The Sea, You And Me, Oh, How Happy We'll Be.

It's almost the end of summer, and we finally got to squeeze in a day at the beach. We picked Newport because of the clean, soft sand and the clear blue water...and apparently everyone else in Southern California did, too. It took us a half hour to find parking; every lot was full and every inch of curb space was taken. I'm glad we got there early--who knows how it would have been later in the day.

The beach itself wasn't packed, so that was good. It was the perfect day for Clarke's first time at the beach! As you can see from the picture above, it wasn't too successful when I dipped his toes in, but he loved the sound of the waves and the warm sun on his skin. (Don't worry, I liberally applied baby sun screen on him all day. Me, not so much. I have the red skin to prove it.) It's days like these that make me so grateful and lucky to live close (enough) to the shore. I never want to move away!

Thanks, Nichole & Mike for the invitation. We had a blast!

Weekend.

We moved! We're in Pomona now about four blocks from Franco's school. Such a change from where we were in Chino Hills, but we really like where we are now. Making changes for the better!

We're in full-blown organization mode over here! About time, since it's only been two weeks since we moved in. I'm always so particular about furniture placement & especially about hanging frames. I draw plans  (sometimes using an online program called floorplanner), change my mind like 20 times a minute, browse the internet and pinterest for inspiration, make wish lists, inspiration boards, "to buy" lists, etc. It takes me forever. If it weren't for Franco, everything would still be in boxes right now. But I finally had to sit down, or, rather, get up and put those plans to fruition! So I have a goal to get my office in a closet organized as well as Clarke's little nursery corner by the end of the weekend. We're still in a one-bedroom, but there's more than one window (like our last apartment) which I'm loving!

Have a wonderful weekend!

images from instagram {@anniecastrejon}

Antiquing.

A couple of weekends ago Franco and I went antiquing. Pomona has a famous "Antique Row" which houses dozens of antique and collector's shops, varying from the totally kitchy to the absolutely charming. Though the only things we bought were a Darth Maul action figure for $3 and a few necklaces for a dollar each, I saw some potential buys for the future, including a cherry red children's wooden chair for $18. I hope it's still there next month! Some things were priced high, I thought (but what do I know about the worth of antiques??) but there were some pieces I would have totally brought home with me if I could fit them in our apartment.

I really wanted to buy this lovely vintage turquoise, red, and yellow umbrella, but it didn't have a price and I was too lazy to go downstairs (this store was three floors) and ask. Remember, I was 7 1/2 months pregnant walking all day in shoes too snug for my feet...I do regret not making the "trek", however. I hope it's still there when April showers begin...

I bookmarked some vintage toys for our boy, but I thought it a little too early to buy him trucks he won't use until he's a little older. There were shelves and shelves full of these beautiful, old trucks, horses, and other things to play with. I'm more partial to the sturdy wooden and metal "toys" of the past. Those garish plastic singing toys will have no place in our home. Well, maybe, if the sound can be turned off.

Le Weekend

To-Do List:
üshopping
ülibrary
ülaundry
üdrop-off and pick up franco from school

üclean house

It's the weekend! To-do list is done, and now we're off to have dinner at another couple's house here in our complex. Ah! We survived the first week of optometry classes. We can do this, I think.

Have a great weekend!

p.s. I like to keep my to-do lists short. I feel more accomplished when I actually finish everything on them in a timely manner.

This Week + Happy Weekend!

 

This week:

-eating lots of meals prepared by my momma. I love coming home from work and hearing, "Time to eat!" almost immediately. It makes me smile a little.

-watching movies on the monster t.v. that takes up half of our bedroom. {We moved into my family's t.v. room last week}

-playing Just Dance 2 for hours on family night {yes, we play that a lot, but remember, we only own like 3 games}.

-listening to my papi play his own beautiful compositions on the baby grand.

-testing out the 50mm/f1.4 lens I borrowed from the CSUCI library and loving it! I'm preparing for a newborn photoshoot this Saturday. I think I'll be all right now that I know how to use this miracle lens. {Guys, the light! It's amazing.}

-cuddling with Cecil da Bunny lots, and lots, and making him totally frustrated that he scratches me and licks me until I let him go.

-living simply with the man I love.

Happy Weekend, and Happy Easter!

First Weekend In April

We had a busy first April weekend! 

{Can you believe it's April already??}

First, it was my lovely mom's birthday last Friday.

 April Fool's! 

No, really, it was. 

She had a jolly jump and everything! And great food, as always. I love you, mama.

 Franco was getting a little sick, so we were grateful that we could spend the weekend in our apartment watching General Conference, a semi-annual conference held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have to say the entire name, now, don't I? :) Specific prayers were answered and we were spiritually and physically uplifted by the words of our prophets and leaders. Isn't President Monson the best?

Between and after sessions, we packed up most of our little studio.

It's looking pretty bare now and I can't help feeling sad.

 

 We'll be living out of these for two and a half months while we live with my family.
Yay!

 While Franco and the boys watched the priesthood session on Saturday night, I got together with my sisters in law and we had a little photoshoot. My nieces apparently love eating those lemons! I love that last picture. It's very "frolicking in the country"-ish!

That was our weekend! This week will be a blur, I know, but I'm excited to get on with the next big step in our lives! Have a great week!

Well, They Say The Sky's The Limit.

Happy Tuesday!

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to volunteer for Cinemagic Rocks! (last year's here) and help with the cast photography. I only helped the photographers, but between shoots I got to watch the dress rehearsals for all of the performances. The picture above is from the last song, Bad by MJ. My brother Lev is the one in all black...the one that looks like he's fifteen when he's only twelve (sigh). Sarah, one of the YW from church, is the one in red with red hair to match! Kick those legs up high!

I loved watching them rehearse. There were other songs like Dynamite, Ponde Replay, and Rock And Roll All Night by Kiss--complete with Gene Simmons capes and facepaint. It promises to be a great show next month!

Farmers Market, The Grove, and Hollywood Blvd With The Mays...In The Rain.

It rained all of Monday. 
It never stopped. Not Once.
Everything from a light sprinkling to hardcore pourage, we got it all day long.

But I had already gotten the day off and it was the only day we could goof off with our cousins Ed & Rachel before they headed inland, so we braved it the best we could. It was Franco, my brother Charlie, my cousins, and me. Despite the weather, we had a pretty successful day.

First, we took them to one of our favorite places in L.A., the Farmers Market. {Past trips here and here.} We ate there--took us a while to choose what we wanted to eat because the options are endless!--and then walked around The Grove shops. We may have spent too much time at the Apple store playing with their iPad's on display. Oh how iWish iCould own one...

Pardon the language on the root beer's label, but it was some darn good soda.

 

After one of our headlights blew {rain and European electrical systems don't mix} and Franco replaced it at a nearby Auto Zone {thank you, Ed's phone with Google search}, we headed to Hollywood Blvd to walk around a bit more.

Graumman's Chinese Theater; Barbara Eden--bonus points if you know who that is!

 

 

Eddie has a thing for cold desserts though it's 50 degrees outside, so we found a pinkberry and had us some really healthy frozen yogurt. Best. thing. ever. I may or may not have had two...

Look at all that fresh fruit...

 

By the end of the day, our feet {and other limbs} were cold, numb, and tired but we had a lot of fun. But then, when is southern California not fun?