An American in OC

 

I am an A.M.E.R.I.C.A.N. Tried and true, red white and blue, the whole bit. I go crazy on the fourth of July with the banners and flags and parties!  I get a little weepy every time (no, really. EVERY TIME) the national anthem is played or I hear a country song about America. Is it patriotism? The deep love for one's country? I don't know but whatever it is, I have it.  I have the deepest respect for this county and what we stand for and the soldiers that have and still are protecting us.

Which brings me (naturally..) to… Ralph Lauren. I have always loved this lifestyle.  The dark leather, the horses, the home in the Hamptons, the green and blue plaid, the summers on a prairie somewhere… All of it. I have always been obsessed with the shoes, the leather bags, Pink Pony, Black Label...you name it folks.  I go into the Ralph Lauren stores or online and just breath in that whole lifestyle.  Although I love a good European designer as much as the next girl, there is something about RL that just remains...American, you know?   Of course, to a large extent, everyone  shows a curated lifestyle, right? No one's life is as perfect as the highlight reel we reveal on our blogs and on Instagram.  I like to just pretend that this doesn't apply to my beloved Ralph Lauren.  If you need me, you can find me in my leather wingback chair, in my perfect wood-paneled library, wearing denim and plaid, sipping my sweet iced tea.

By the way, my shirt (old) and shoes are RL. The shoes are my favorite. I love loafers. I think a high-heeled loafer plus a pantsuit  is just about perfect. And this color. I cant get enough of it.  I think my loafer is sold out but HERE is the boot version-- it has the same details as my loafer (and it would be so perfect for fall!) Hope your Monday is just beautiful! As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  xo Michelle

Celebration + Big Canyon Country Club















On Saturday night, my firm celebrated its annual Anniversary dinner at Big Canyon Country Club  in Newport Beach. It was a beautiful night to gather together in a stunning location, with these wonderful people I work with--smart, impassioned, ethical, and loyal.   It's also an opportunity to catch up with everyone's significant others, which I love to do.  My firm is not like most law firms--I genuinely like everyone I work with and we all enjoy doing things together.  I sort of think that whatever you do for a living-- the place you do it matters. The work is the work--it will be the same wherever you go. To me, it's the people you surround yourself with that make all the difference.

 I wore this Equipment shirt (old, but the short sleeve version is HERE) with a tiered skirt I got at the beginning of the year from Ann Taylor and Stuart Weitzman heels.  How was your Saturday night? Hope it was just lovely! Enjoy today, dear reader! Xo Michelle

Beauty and Brains {Book}

So, if you know me, you know I am a reader. I love to read. Its like my favorite thing to do to relax. Take a bath, get in the jammies and read.  I usually have 3 or 4 books going at once, too.  I also buy kind of a lot of beauty items- I am constantly acquiring new nail polish, lip gloss, eye cream, etc.  I was thinking that when I write to you all about my most recent product purchase, every once in a while, I will throw something in here for our brains. Maybe a book review, maybe a good website for current events. We are tip-toeing into 2016 and that's an election year. We need to do our best to weed through the mountains of stuff and learn about the real issues (I do anyway).  I am both disgusted with and fascinated by politics. Plus, I am always looking for that one good place to get a quick dose of current events (because none of us has the time to leisurely flip through  a few newspapers while sipping our lattes from a china cup and saucer- yeah right!) Maybe we will figure it out together.   So here goes!

BEAUTY {Lush Cosmetics}

Beauty: Lush Cosmetic's Vanilla Dee-Lite Lotion and Vanilla Puff Powder. I had never used this before but a store opened in the mall close by me and I was drawn to it. The ingredients are all natural, handmade, not tested on animals (that is really important to me) and there are about fifty different scents!  Plus, they have these bath ball things and you throw them into your bath and they fizz and turn colors and scent the water- soo fun! Its a great store to browse through. So far, the lotion smells great and isn't too heavy and the powder has a little subtle sheen! Go check them out at www.lush.com or at Fashion Island or the Shops at Mission Viejo! Brains:   The Nightingale by  Kristine Hannah.   I just finished reading it and I loved it. I am sort of a World War buff and this story is set in France during the Nazi occupation and it tells the story of two sisters and what they went through during those terrible times. I've read a lot about the various battles in World War II and the atrocities that occurred but not too much about what happened to the citizens of occupied countries. It was brutal for them, because the people who were left behind were typically vulnerable and somewhat helpless--older people, women and children-- with the men being away, fighting.  They were deprived of everything we take for granted-- food, water, blankets and their dignity.   As terrible as the backdrop is, this story is about courage and compassion and selflessness and the lengths people will go to for those that that they love.   It is about love in all different forms and with all different complexities, from that shared by the sisters, to that shared by best friends, by the love of a mother for her child and for the love of one's country.  It was great.  These kind of books stay with you long after you turn the last page and I love that.  If you try it, let me know what you think. Or if you have a favorite book. Or, if you are thinking of buying a book and aren't sure- I've probably read it! :)  Happy day, loves. Michelle

Hardhome Recap- Game of Thrones Episode 8

I know I am a tad behind here on the re-cap (Sorry. I've said it before... jobs really do ruin everything) but last night's episode?  What in all that is holy are those White Walkers?  I was perched on the couch, with a stack of work related documents on my lap to review, figuring (because this season has been sort of uneventful) that I could multi-task a bit and work while watching GOT. No. No, no no no.  I was on the edge of my seat, holding onto a dog with either arm, just stressed out and anxious beyond belief. Lets talk:

• Cersei?   Hilarious spoon raps to the head. And the water slurping from the concrete floor.  Nun Confession Requester does not seem swayed by Cersei's plotting of her demise. I predict a few more hard spoon whacks in Cersei's future (good!)
• I love Tyrion and Dany together-- oh, the banter!  So witty! So loaded with innuendo. I am glad that Tyrion is advising her and I like seeing him on top of his game (rather than chained up or throwing up)-- I predict good things to come from these two together;
• Ok, that little servant Crow- Ollie? He is creepy and I think he is going to attack or otherwise try to kill Jon Crow.  His ears really perked up when Sam said that a man sometimes has to make hard choices  that others do not understand for the greater good. You can tell that he is really, really REALLY not happy with this "Lets be friends with the Wildlings" campaign.   His whole family was slaughtered in cold blood by the Wildlings (I thought it was the Thenns, who are in a creepy league of their own) but still. Jon Crow is one of my favorite characters and I get really stressed thinking about someone killing him (its GOT. The good guys all die. I mean, I know all men must die but the good ones seem to do it earlier that necessary in this show);
• That scene at the Wildling town of Hardhome though....I am a reader of the books. I've read them all. Some twice. I am currently re-reading Book 5...this hasn't happened!  And for some reason, it was the spookiest scene to me- when the dogs started barking and the mountain looked all misty. What can kill these guys? They just seem unstoppable. But when the creepy White Walker king walked to the edge of the dock and was just staring at Jon Crow. My gosh. Spookiest thing ever. I watched out of half-open eyes.  I had no idea what he was going to do with those raised arms-- dredge up  something from the water? Levitate the boat?  Turns out, he was just saying " Check it.  Check this. " And it was the silence as they stared at each other. I sort of wanted Jon to scream some bravado at him, but there was more power in the silence.  Oye. Dragons? What is going to stop them.? We will find out!  What did you all think?  Let me know! Michelle