Fall Wish List:

Boots:

Shirt Dresses:

Beautiful skirts with tights and boots:

Comfy sweaters:

Pretty necklaces:

all images via anthropologie

What are you dreaming about for the fall? Jeans and boots? Comfy sweaters? Do tell!

The Best Cookies Ever

My cousin Darci gave me the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies. They are delicious (like I eat 6 at a time delicious) and I think you should make them too! I was in the mood to do some baking and somehow I convinced Peter that it would be fun if he helped. I think he mostly enjoyed eating the cookie dough.


Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs (room temp if possible)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt (I added 2 teaspoons of sea salt for a sweet/salty creation!)
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar together in a mixer (I'm not cool enough to have a fancy mixer, so I just use my hand mixer.) Then add the eggs, one at a time. Beat until creamy. Add the vanilla.

In another bowl mix the dry ingredients together before slowly adding them to the creamed mixture. When combined, stop the mixer and add the semi-sweet chips. Mix up and then drop by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Mold them into a ball as best as you can with the spoon for a more shaped cookie.

Bake on 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

(Thanks for the great recipe Darci!)



I forgot to take a picture of the finished cookies. This is reason #23 why I'm the lamest blogger ever. I guess you'll just have to make some to see (and enjoy) the final product!

Thoughts..

I'm sitting at my computer trying to write about our trip to Ohio but I've deleted my work 4 times now. I simply don't know how to put it into words, not because it was so amazing and not because it was horrible it was just..

Are we happy in Ohio? Yes, it's home, we know it and the people there like the back of our hands. On the flip side, are we happy in LA? Yes! It's exciting, new, adventure, we don't know what each day will bring us. We are honestly happy in both places.

We were asked countless times, "how long are you going to be in California?" or "are you ever coming back to Ohio?" We have no answer for these questions.

If we were still in Ohio we would be buying a house, starting a family, working comfortable jobs and while all that sounds very appealing that is simply not where we are right now. We're still soaring through the opportunities, enjoying our youth, and exploring each new turn in California. Sure, we've broken down a few times and had a few "what the hell were we thinking" moments but we have also made new friends, tried new things, found ourselves outside our comfort zone, and discovered new paths. We've also learned how very important it is to be best friends. No one understands me like Peter, and that's because we've experienced this journey together.

I had a great week in Ohio, I love my friends, family, and the simpler (and much less expensive) life of Ohio. But ultimately I'm happy to be back to our new home in California and excited to see what comes next.



(If you made it to the end of this rambling post I applaud you, I know I don't usually talk about serious stuff on here, but it was what I needed today. You deserve a chocolate chip cookie.)

I'm on a boat...

I got my swim trunks, and my flippy floppys..


Yes, this weekend we'll be "on a boat!" but we won't be with Andy Samberg and T-Pain, we're spending the weekend with family on Lake Erie.

I plan to read my book, drink cocktails, swim, and enjoy family time before we head back to the city of angels Sunday night.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about or who Andy Samberg and T-Pain are, see this video. It's a joke, Mom.

Beauty Bar

In my humble opinion, the best salon in the whole world is right here in Ohio. It's called The Beauty Bar and is located in a beautiful old house in Toledo.


One of my best friends is a stylist at this amazing place and recently started a super cool blog called Behind the Chair at the Beauty Bar. On the blog she will be highlighting salon specials, product reviews, celebrity hair, and all kinds of exciting beauty information. Last week she featured OPI's new fall collection. I love OPI nailpolish and the new colors are beautiful!

Stop by the blog and say hello to Shannon, and if you're in the Toledo area I definitely recommend you checking out the Beauty Bar. You can visit her new blog here!

Where are we?

We're not in LaLa land this week folks. In fact, we are very very far away from LA..

So where in the world is Ali?

I'm in Ohio folks! It's hot and humid here, I'm afraid I may melt.

We spent the weekend with my family having a blast at the Marriot in Cincinatti. My family loves hotel rooms, we always spend our weekends together in hotels since we're all from different locations around the country (NYC, South Carolina, Chicago, Florida, San Fran, and LA!)



Now we're back in Toledo enjoying time with friends and hubby's family.

It's good to be home.

(but don't worry LaLa Land, I still love you!)

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

We had such a great time at the Dodgers game! (I swear to you EVERY time I go to a baseball game it goes into extra innings, I think I'm a curse!) And even though the Dodgers lost, I really enjoyed getting back to my roots and cheering on the home team!

Here are some pictures from the game for your viewing pleasure!

This is where Dugout Daisy was sitting! Directly across the stadium from us!

Also, this is LA so there were of course some celebrities at the game. They did a little tribute to MJ because his brother Jermaine was there! And the best celeb of the night, the gorgeous Josh Duhamel!!

I Scream for Yogurt? (Part 2)

A long long time ago I told you about how much I love Pinkberry here. Well through the months of living in LaLa my love for Pinkberry and many other frozen yogurt establishments (Twist! Yogurtland!) has grown. Then a few months ago Pinkberry released 2 new flavors for summer; Passionfruit & Coconut.


I am in love. (The picture makes it look like it's no different from Original, but trust me, it is!)

I can't even begin to describe how much I love the coconut pinkberry with chocolate chips and strawberries. It's changed my life a little bit.

In case you're wondering there's a Pinkberry within walking distance from my apartment which also happens to be the mall I work at. Needless to say, I'm a fanatic.

My Bad

I'm sorry for my blogging break. I'm embarrassed and ashamed. I have an entire list of things to tell you about but I've been slacking. I don't want this to become a burden, because I really enjoy writing and sharing my life in LaLa Land with you.

For now.. I'm doing something very exciting tonight. One of my favorite summer pastimes, and this is my first time doing it in LA! I'm sure you can imagine my excitement.

I'm going here:

To see..

Play..

Next week I'll be back and full of exciting things to talk about, like Pinkberry flavors, shopping excursions, and even a trip to Ohio to see the fam. I'm sure you're all "totally stoked" but in the mean time, have a great weekend!