Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes yesterday! After a long drive last night (long because one of my cats meowed the entire time), I’m finally home in NJ for the holidays. That also means I go into full cooking/baking mode and should really keep some distance from my computer so it doesn’t end up with cookie dough or cake batter on it…again.

I’ll see you around the interwebs on Monday! In the meantime:

• these words make my heart sing (listen to the song)
• these stories brought tears to my eyes
• your snowpeople would be the talk of town if you created a scene like this (I love black holiday humor)

 
Hope you have a joyous holiday, friends!

{image from Home & Gardens}

ACME Party Box Company does make party boxes for adults, but the kids’ party boxes are cute too! Wouldn’t some of these be fun for a theme party — or just because?

{all images from ACME Party Box Company}

Today, I will not just indulge in delicious food and laughter with family and friends. I will take time to make a list of all I’m thankful for. And I’ll start that list right now.

I’m thankful for your friendship and support and kindness. For all of you who leave comments and for those who read, your words and thoughts and presence (even if a quiet one) mean the world to me. I hope I have the chance someday to return your kindnesses ten-fold.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving — whether it is an official holiday today or just a moment of reminding yourself how fortunate you are.

{image by Jennifer from A Girl and A Camera Photography via The Self Portrait Project}

I know Patrick Dempsey and John Krasinski are already married, but I’m still allowed to have my crushes, right? And I may be coming a bit late to the game, but charm, good looks, and talent are just the beginning of these two men. They’ve got good hearts too, and that, in my book, takes them from drool-worthy to downright admirable, the type of guy that is worth marrying.

After his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Patrick Dempsey started The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing at the Central Maine Medical Center. Each year, the center organizes The Dempsey Challenge, a festival where runners, walkers, and cyclists help raise money for the center.

John Krasinski’s boyish charm alone wins me over, but to top it off, he has also been a big supporter of Feeding America, First Book, and Clothes Off Our Backs. He’s also donated money to 826 National‘s ScholarMatch to help one student pay her tuition.

Handsome men supporting charities? I’ll take them both.

Who do you think is marriage material and not just another pretty face?

{images here and here}

Anyone else interested in joining the Secret Order of the Narwhal Society First Rank?

They’re the unicorns of the sea…

{pin from etsy seller Touch the Dutch}

A cupcake for your Monday morning?

You must be thinking: is this cupcake it? Could it be that Brandi is opening a bakery?

No, there is no bakery in my future, except for the one where I bought this peach cupcake with almond frosting. (It was so good.)

The treat came from a sweet place called Baked and Wired, located in the heart of Georgetown, one fabulous area of Washington, D.C.

So what’s the big news?

{trumpets please!!}

I got a job! And I’m moving to the DC area!

Technically speaking, the job is in Arlington, just across the bridge from Georgetown. And it’s as sweet as this cupcake. Maybe better, since I don’t think I’d be very happy eating cupcakes forty hours every week, but I will be happy working at this job that much. The job is with a non-profit (not Baked + Wired), and I even get to handle their social media.

So, in a few weeks time, I’ll pack up my bags and boxes and furniture, and take a little road trip from NJ to VA.

I just need to find an awesome apartment. (If you know of any, would you let me know? Though I have an application in on a fantastic one right now — keep your fingers crossed for me, will you?)

For anyone in the VA/DC area, I’d love to meet you.

For everyone not in the area, you’re welcome to visit. I’ll always have a place you can stay and a meal waiting for you.

{photo by me}

While dining at Styer’s Cafe at Terrain on Friday night, I commented to Rachel that I had always though that the cafe would be a perfect location for a wedding. She, however, remembered that someone had already beat me to it. And what a job Elizabeth of Peacock Feathers did planning her wedding here.

Sigh…maybe someday.

{photos by Our Labor of Love, wedding styled by bride Elizabeth, images found on Once Wed in this post and this one}

Typically, when I’m looking for party planning inspiration, I find myself searching through wedding blogs. There may not be anyone getting hitched at the events I plan, but I think any gathering of friends and family should have great care put into it.

I recently discovered ACME Party Box Company and have just been blown away by their party themes. The best part is that everything you need is right there and so well curated.  And it’s always the little touches like napkins that get me. I tend to plan the menu before anything else and find myself so exhausted by the food preparation that I don’t put much effort into the styling.

All I have to say is never again. Now I just need to start planning my first return-to-the-East-Coast party…

I’d love to know — where do you go for your party inspiration?

{all images from ACME Party Box Company}

The best dinner parties start with family recipes. Especially the handwritten ones. The right ingredients — local and fresh.

A few flowers on the table.

Some place settings.

Bottles of wine.

And loved ones, of course.

Easiest equation in the world.

{all images from Jillian Clark Events, photographs by Mel Barlow}

Easter has always been a time when my family gathers together and is thankful for each other. Last year, my brother and I went out for brunch together in San Diego. But this Easter was my first year without any family around. It seemed only natural that I host a brunch and invite UCSD friends that had no where to go for the holiday.

And I really couldn’t have imagined anything more perfect. The food was fantastic, the company the best, and the mimosas abundant.

We all managed to find ourselves in happy little food comas by the end of the meal.

Doesn’t it all look splendid? My friend Mindy took care of the table while I was in the kitchen making french toast, and I must say, she did a truly spectacular job. (I also handed her my camera, so she’s responsible for these photos as well.)

After things were cleaned up and everyone was gone, I drove up north to have Easter dinner with Heather and her family. They were so welcoming and warm. And they let me hunt for Easter eggs. How could things get any better?

I don’t really have words for how lucky I am to have spent my day with these people.

Did you have a lovely weekend? Did anyone else find themselves in sugar shock from all that Easter candy? Hope you’re recovering well on this beautiful Monday!