Decadent Luxe*

Love is in the air and it’s time to start preparing for your mailbox to pile up…unless it’s finally your turn to hand out your own wedding invites. David’s Bridal will meet all your needs in this department. From custom wedding invitations to eco-friendly to value sets, they’ve got you covered. I envision mine to be elegantly simple with a splash of color like robin’s egg blue or coral peach. Shop now and receive 20% off your entire order!

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Goldfrapp – Utopia

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Google Chrome now offers designer themes for those of us who are slightly obsessed with all things fashion. I switched from Tory Burch to Matthew Williamson. The bold colors and patterns are quite a treat for the eyes when staring at a computer screen.

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The Octopus Project – The Adjuster

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I asked the lovely Stephanie of Paisley Petunia to write a guest post on things to do around LA…

Hi, I’m Stephanie. 1/2 of the blogging duo that is Paisley Petunia. I am so honored that Wendy asked me to share a little about my adopted city – the city of angels. I’ve lived in LA for over 10 years (wow, where does the time go?)…I came to attend UCLA (go bruins) and just… never…left. And boy do I love it here. LA gets a bad rap from many, but you know that’s kind of ok with me. I am done with defending it. You just can’t beat the daily sunshine, the warm weather and the proximity to the beach (not to mention mountains nearby too). That’s why I live here. If you’d like, I’ll take you on a tour of some of the best places in the sprawling metropolis.

First stop: Venice.

I am partial to Venice, it will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my home for 6+ years and its mix of cool/urban/funky/hippy/yuppy-ness is very unique. Strolling Abbot Kinney Boulevard is a must do when visiting LA. Start by getting caffeinated on AK by none other than the talented baristas at Intelligentsia. They pride themselves on high quality beans and brewing techniques. One cappuccino will give you a good strong buzz to start your day.

photo by Quoc Ngo

1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd | Venice, CA 90291
website

Brunching it: have you ever tasted red velvet pancakes? These puppies are ginormous, oozing with frosting and pretty much out of this world. It’s perfect for me as I prefer sweet to savory for breakfast and dessert is welcome any time of the day.

Larchmont Village
107 N LARCHMONT BLVD. 323.461.1528
website

Now off to work off that extremely decadent breakfast. A little hike, perhaps? This particular park is a little bit of a hidden treasure. It’s nice and short, but if you take the stairs it makes up for its brevity with an intense vertical challenge. The 360* view spans from west from Downtown, to the Hollywood Hills, (the Hollywood Sign!), Santa Monica Mountains, up the Malibu coast, Santa Monica Bay and down to Palos Verdes. Take the path down to enjoy the view and shake out your trembling legs.

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
(Park on Jefferson Blvd for free, no entrance fee for hikers).
6300 Hetzler Rd. Culver City, Ca 90232
website

photo by Christina Murphy

And a visit to LA would not be complete without some shopping. There’s the new mall at 3rd Street Promenade, W 3rd Street boutiques, the idyllic Grove and the glitzy Rodeo Drive. These are all great, but if you want one-of-a-kind glamour, I present one of my favorite true hidden gems in Shareen Vintage. Shareen has a stylish eye for vintage and her store is actually a full size warehouse filled with vintage from all decades of the 20th century – organized by period and type of clothing, you can spend hours and hours trying on clothes (she even provides the snacks and the prices are really reasonable for vintage). My most favorite pieces of clothing come from Shareen. She will consult, offer her styling tips and help pick the right items for you. Just remember its girls only, so brothers/gentlemen callers/friends must wait outside.

1721 N. Spring St. (Enter on Baker St.)
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 276-6226

website
Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm.
Sundays from 12pm-6.pm

Change into your new-to-you fancy party dress from Shareen and head to Downtown LA for a night on the town. Currently enjoying a resurgence, Downtown is once again a destination and not a drive through. There’s tons of new bars, restaurants and art galleries. But experience an LA tradition – the French Dip Sandwich. 2 rival restaurants in Downtown both claim to be the originators of this fine beef dip treat: Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet and Philippe The Original. If you meet someone from LA you can ask them if they are a Philippe’s person or a Cole’s person; as most people have a deep rooted loyalty to one over the other since the restaurants have both been around since 1908. Yep, you read that right, both are now into their second century. Must be doing something right.The decor has been restored to its original glory. The French Dip Sandwiches are the star, while sides include diner classics like bacon potato salad, mac & cheese, coleslaw, creamed spinach and watch out for the spicy pickles. The item not to be missed is the Famous Bourbon Pecan Pie. I proudly declare Cole’s as The best Pecan Pie in LA. It has the right balance of gooey sugar and nuts, and the bourbon adds a fun surprise. After dinner, find the door marked with a martini glass symbol and enjoy creative cocktails in the speak-easy in the back.

Cole’s
118 east 6th street Downtown LA 90014
website

On one of our famous sunny and warm days, one must take a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu (a convertible makes it all the more enjoyable). My favorite destination to set out for is Malibu Wines, a wonderful little treasure tucked up in the windy hills above Malibu. In a large grassy, shaded area among the vines, there are numerous picnic tables with umbrellas for you to claim for the afternoon. There is live music to enjoy while you sample a flight of wine tastings from one of two local wineries, Semler and Saddlerock. They provide the glasses and they’re yours to keep. Bring a picnic and settle in for a competitive round of horseshoes or croquet, or just lay back and take in the view. An afternoon at Malibu Wines is not to be missed.

Malibu Wines
31740 Mulholland Highway Malibu, California 90265

website
818-865-0605

Thanks for letting me share some of my favorite things about LA. If you have any questions or need recommendations for your visit, feel free to contact me at s@paisleypetunia.com xoxo

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Download these sweet DIY Valentine stickers to add to fruits lying around the kitchen for your lover to discover!

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The FLIR – Phere

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Moodorama – Jazz Tip

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It’s almost time to start making restaurant reservations and begin planning your Valentine’s Day. Every year, the boyfriend and I dine out and attend the art museum. He’ll eat anything, so where we eat is usually left up to moi. I always read up on a number of places and pick an eatery we’ve never tried before. The majority of restaurants we’ve been to have been impressive, with the exception of one or two disappointments. While deciding where to dine this year (perhaps Cafe Intermezzo or Maggiano’s), I wanted to share some wonderful spots for the occasion…

11 Stories is a rooftop lounge atop the Glenn Hotel with a lovely view of the city. They serve appetizers and drinks and usually have DJs providing ambient music. Though February 14th might be a bit chilly to spend outdoors, the beauty and feel of this place will quickly overcome the cold. It would be a nice beginning to the evening. I spent part of my 25th birthday there and was welcomed with complimentary drinks from the friendly staff.

Wisteria is a tiny, warm, romantic restaurant that’s perfect for a date. They’ve made the Top 10 in Best Dessert, Best Wine List, Best American Food, Best Celebrity Chef, Best Romantic Dining, etc. We spent last Valentine’s Day there. While the boyfriend didn’t think the food was anything special, I loved the Southern Fried Okra appetizer and overall environment.

Aqua Blue is a favorite of mine that I have mentioned several times before. We’ve spent birthdays and anniversaries there and like to find random excuses to go. The boyfriend enjoys their lobster, I enjoy their Firecracker Chicken and we both enjoy their champagne. Their Warm Chocolate Cake isn’t too shabby either. On Fridays, they have live music and often have drink specials.

Bistro Niko is a lovely French restaurant with a lively atmosphere. We dined there for a friend’s birthday a few months ago and loved it. They have amazing Gougeres (cheese puff basket), French Onion Soup and Saumon Beurre Rouge (salmon in red wine sauce).

Elevation Chophouse and Skybar is located on an airport (boyfriend’s work) with a view of the runway so you can watch planes take off and land while you eat. I only order the nachos or pasta there. Pretty much everyone I know just loves this place. A lady friend is the pastry chef, so make sure you order dessert.

Canvas is a quaint little cafe and bakery with a large, delectable menu that would make for a nice brunch or lunch date. I’m a fan of the French onion soup and blueberry muffins and look forward to trying everything else in the near future.

The High Museum of Art has a special Valentine’s night every year with bands, dancing, drinks, snacks and full access to the galleries. From 6-10pm, $25 per person, $40 per couple.

The Atlanta Winter Wine and Jazz Festival falls on the 20th, but it can still be considered a Valentine’s Day event. $25 per person gets you wine tastings, food, jazz music, shopping, etc.

Sips n Strokes would make an adorable group date or girls only outing for Valentine’s Day. For $25-$35, you learn how to paint while sipping wine or champagne for 2-3 hours and get to take your masterpiece home. We went with some friends last year and had a lot of fun. You can see our experience here.

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