Goodnite Irene

girl crush…danielle aka dani from grit!

January 27, 2015

talk about breaking the internet…today’s edition of girl crush is going to give that kardashian character quite the run for her money.

ladies and gentlemen, i present to you danielle wellbrock-gallinger, aka dani, danielle has grit, the glue that holds GRIT cycle together, and my nickname for her: the hottest thing to ever happen to a spin bike.

dani’s sold-out classes are not to be missed. always a sweatfest; she makes your time on the bike fly by, with you holding your own ass at the end of class.

let’s get to know a little more about this #goddessonabike

tell us a little bit about yourself dani:

Can I list Ass Kicker as a career? I run GRIT Cycle and teach classes there. My formal title is Director of Operations, but my staff just refers to me as Mama Bear.

I have a super sexy husband, Glenn, and three fur babies….two Snuggle Puggles: Verona, “the Snoogs”, and Ouzo, “the Tank”, and my little meatball French Bulldog: Duke, “the Bootie”.

I have many passions! My family most of all, anything Disney, churros, beer, nachos {I am passionate about food}, reading books, Halloween, making lists, and organizing things. {type A all the way}

name your 5 bottom of the jar products?

Josie Maran Argan Oil

Yves St. Laurent Touche Eclat

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Laura Mercier Crème de Pistache Body Cream

Jo Malone Dark Amber and Ginger Lily Cologne

who is your style icon and why?

I am not really sure I have a style icon. I wear what I like. I am not incredibly trend driven.

what is your winter fashion must-have item?

I have a few: My Doma black leather jacket, Frye Dorado riding boots, and my Vince thermal beanie.

what is your favorite smell?

The lumber section of Home Depot.

how do you define luxury?

Luxury is having everything on my to-do list checked off.

what’s the last book you read and loved?

Lamb by Christopher Moore and I just re-read Generation Kill by Evan Wright {I am not monogamous in my book reading.}

what are your vices?

Beer, nachos, churros, shoes, wigs, and lipstick!

finish the sentence….i can never leave the house without:

Sunglasses.

what advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

I would not give myself any advice! Each step in life is a learning experience whether good, bad, or in-between and I cherish every failure, bad tattoo, and triumph the same.

what does your ideal 2 weeks off look like?

Traveling with my hubs and exploring a new corner of the earth!

what is your idea of perfect happiness?

Happiness is being imperfect and accepting life’s imperfections

family members excluded what is your most prized possession?

My education!

in what historical era would you most like to have lived?

It really is not that far back in time, but I would have loved to be in my 20’s in the mid to late 1970’s.

what are your favorite things about living in southern california?

I love the weather and the close proximity to Disneyland

what are your least favorite things about southern california?

It is expensive!

thank you so much dani for the sneak-peak into your beautiful heart and soul; your fan base just grew exponentially.

make sure you check out dani’s fabulous classes at GRIT cycle.

my life….of late….

January 26, 2015

as you can see i can’t keep this under wraps {or hidden beneath baggy shirts} any longer.

hunkiest, jones, priscilla and i will be welcoming the newest family member in april.

we have discovered a new definition for joy.

although this has been a formidable pregnancy {for the last twenty-three weeks i’ve battled hyperemis gravidarum–severe nausea every two hours, without any reprieve;} the “hellos“, kicks, and disco-dancing taking place in my belly are more than worth how sick i feel.

our beasts are already natural babysitters.

it’s amazing how they can sense these things; rarely do they leave my side.

priscilla, especially, likes to get her snuggle on with my bump.

we spend most of our time here, in bed, trying to keep fluids and saltines down.

nursery rhymes + lullabies are rehearsed, we’ve been practicing our “inside voices” and not barking in the house {myself included.}

i’ve had to cut back on my work schedule a bit, but i hope to keep teaching as long as i can.

exercise has actually been the only thing to quell the nausea.

and trust me i have tried every, stinking, in some cases stupid remedy:

ginger, salt, carbs, protein, seabands, coconut water, acupuncture, prayer, IV fluids and intravenous medications, crying, bitching, meditating and begging—all to no avail.

i’ve lost one tooth and all self-respect.

but the time left is so short, and i cannot wait to meet my precious, baby girl.

so that’s my news on a monday!

oh…and the winner of the box of santa barbara bars is:

celena fahey!!

congratulations celena; i will be in touch to get your address.

it’s friday and i’m in love!

January 23, 2015

happy red-velvet-friday to you m’loves.

it’s friday, and i’m a buck-toothed, tail-waggin, giddy-ass, disco’ing donkey.

even though i work the weekends i still love me an end-of-the-week party; mostly in my bed, with a remote control, my dvr crammed with shows or my latest read.

reading all your kind, welcome-back comments slapped me into a silly delerium; thank you darlings.

here are a few of the fancies currently tickling my soul-bone:

ohmahgah!!

please tell me you’ve digested these salty, savory piñatas for your mouth?

trader joes just started selling them; i’m pretty sure i bought the costa mesa branch out clean, but you’re welcome to try.

i mean does it get better than this guest list:

marcona almonds: ✓

sea salt: ✓

black summer truffle: ✓

what else does one need in life?

in my case two gallons of water due to all the sodium consumption; a small price to pay for such oral happiness {yes, i said that.}

what does your january fridge look like?

i’ve never been one commit to new year’s resolutions; especially of the diet nature; nothing like telling me NOT to eat something to send me on a weeklong trans-fat/high fructose syrup bender, but i’m not averse to an occasional tasty tweak here and there.

here is a list of must-have {health conscious} items we all could pick up next time we’re grocery shopping.

you can imagine my shock that my saliferous, hypertension-inducing nuts didn’t make the cut, but i am happy to report that i do eat a grapefruit every day.

i’m foaming at the mouth, old yeller style, for these yoga mats from mark and graham.

the go-to online store for everything monogrammed, mark and graham just released these gorgeous mats.

it’s the perfect motivation for me to get back in the studio and find my crow pose again.

yoga class aside, the crankiness of my knees and back have reached an all-time high. i’ve been marinating in these bath salts every night.

completely natural, vegan, and cruelty-free valentina’s home-brewed magickal mineral salts are the only antidote for soreness, fatigue, and general malaise.

the jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood in sweet dreams lullabies your mind and body into a peaceful sleep.

i love the refreshing pick-me-up of the sunny outlook salts when i’m feeling especially down in the dumps.

there’s also nothing like a fresh charge of rosemary to get you focused and on track; habit breaker helps stir the pot on resolutions and goal-setting.

and because it is a new year the essential oils of anise, bergamot and cacao in prosperity give you that extra dose of easy street as you relax in the bath.

i buy these individual salts at mother’s market, but they’re also available online.

although mother’s market is the shopping post i adore most; it is unfortunately not a dog-friendly market.

here is a list of surprising businesses that {unbeknownst to me} are dog friendly.

you know i’ve ALWAYS wanted an excuse to visit tractor supply co.; now i finally have my excuse.

ok, stuff like this totally geeks me out:

the geniuses at info we trust were able to diagram the daily 24hr schedules of history’s most brilliant, innovative and prominent minds; breaking down their typical, must-do day.

french novelist/playwright, balzac is a man after my heart. he, too, had an “epic caffeine addiction” {is there any other kind?} and was known to down as many as 50 cups of BLACK {duh} coffee a day.

he also required a ton of sleep that included daily naps after his marathon coffee-sprees.

lastly, my playlists have been heavy with this new song from ellie goulding.

i’m afraid it’s the closest i will get to seeing/reading fifty shades of ~~shit~~ grey.

the whole soundtrack {which isn’t fully released until 2/10/2105} is fabulous..but this week “love me like you do” is blowing my mind.

so tell me kitty-kats…what is currently rocking your world.

see you on the other side of sunday…

and do forget to enter for a free box of santa barbara bars.~~~~~~~CONTEST CLOSED~~~~~~~~~

love,

katie

i’m back! {with free food!!}

January 21, 2015

m’loves, it’s been too long.

remember me?

the binge-eating, dog-rescuing, coffee-slamming headcase you once knew?

all of the above still applies with maybe an extra order of neurotic and nausea on the side, {but that’s for a later post.}

i’ve missed you so; like the smell of springtime and a smaller-sized waist– i have longed for you.

in order to earn my way back into your hearts and hard drives i’ve come to suck up:

how does free food sound?

scratch that–how does free, healthy food sound? healthy AND delicious, not the cardboard-tasting, is that cat litter in my mouth-type-of-health food so often shoved down my face.

alow me to introduce the santa barbara bar, a nut, fruit + seed based bar coming directly from a wholesome bakery in santa barbara, california; a locale where good health twinkles just as bright as the s0-cal sunshine.

what the santa barbara bar lacks in terms of gluten, soy, and refined sugar; it more than makes up for with protein, fiber, + super-foods.

best of all these bars are tasty and satisfying. i liken them to those sugar-laden {aka delicious} granola bars i grew up on as a kid–except without the threat of cavities and type II diabetes.

coming in three, distinct and yummy flavors: cranberry white chocolate, peanut chocolate cherry, and {my favorite} coconut almond, at only 180 calories, these are the perfect bars when you’re on the go or in between meals.

santa barbara bar is all about encouraging people to “raise their bar” in all avenues of life; whether it’s improving the quality of your own life, or someone else in your community; the santa barbara bar hopes to inspire all to #raiseyourbar.

so here’s the gist: santa barbara bar is graciously giving away a whole box of bars {a variety pack} to one of my lovely, lucky readers.

simply leave a comment either here on the blog, on facebook, instagram, or twitter, saying how you demonstrate a #raiseyourbar type of living, or you can just say “hi.“

each comment is worth one entry—if you comment on all four–you’re entered four times!

the winner will be randomly selected and announced next monday 1/26/2015.

woo to the hoo!!

wednesday wellness to you m’loves! so happy to be back.

~~~~~~~CONTEST CLOSED~~~~~~~~~

it’s friday i’m in LOVE!

September 26, 2014

pumpkin-spice tidings to you m’loves.

fall is in the air {albeit by route of my scented candles} and i couldn’t be happier.

these un-airconditioned, sleepless nights are no longer the romantic, nostalgic, and interesting reads on facebook…..i need to SLEEP!!!

the AC guy promises to install next week, and i couldn’t be more excited.

{just in time for the weather to cool down and the fireplace to get crackling again.}

here are a few other items kicking up my boots:

i cannot contain my love for samantha friedman jacoby!

samantha shot photos of me this summer, and it was the easiest, most fun, and anxiety-free photo-session i’ve ever had.

samantha is a mad genius, and made me look one thousand times better than i do in real life.

if you’re ever in need of a southern california photographer, look no further than samantha. you will NOT be disappointed.

there’s no doubt, fall is a foodie’s favorite time of year {say that five times fast.}

comfort food season is back in full swing, and kitchens teem with aromas of homemade, savory stews, and nutmeg spiced pies.

as much as i am a sucker for a warm casserole, for me, this time of year is all about the honeycrisp apple.

juicier than a peach, with the perfect combination of sweet and tart, the honeycrisp apple craze is felt all across the nation, even on twitter.

difficult to grow, and thus unfortunately the most expensive apple in the market, the honeycrisp has a very short season from late august to october.

they are best eaten raw with no accoutrements.

because you’ve been so honeycrisp-healthy, you can now afford to indulge in my newest obsession: high road craft ice cream.

we discovered high road craft ice cream on our trip to south carolina.

hand crafted in georgia, high road started out as a group of chefs making homemade ice cream for other chefs. it wasn’t long before the demand to buy high road in markets and online grew, and now lucky for me, so will my thighs.

but expanding waistbands aside, this stuff is worth every calorie.

flavors like “bakesale,” “mr.butterpants,” mixed berry buttermilk,” and “brown ale caramel” will turn you into a fan as well.

one fall ritual i will not be partaking in this year is my consumption of the “pumpkin spice latté”.

a favorite i look forward to every september, my heart is broken after learning about all the crap that actually goes into these autumnal tasty treats.

luckily i found this delicious, non-toxic replacement.

no big plans for me this weekend other than a couple of standing napping appointments i have with two terrible beasts.

what about you m’loves? pleasae thrill me with tales of table-top shimmies and drunken cab rides home.

until next time, weekend happy to you.

love,

katie

girl crush: leigh beach

September 25, 2014

don’t let that pretty face fool you; this beauty queen has a mouth on her that makes sailors ask for smelling salts; and i say that with complete admiration and envy.

on today’s latest installment of girl crush i give you the hilarious, charming, gorgeous, albeit right-winged, and talented leigh beach.

leigh is a fellow spin instructor at equinox newport beach. she has turned sunday mornings into a can’t-miss, rousing revival of great music, laughs, and ass-kicking.

she is my sister in sarcasm, a partner in profanity, and a loving soul who is completely devoted to those she cares for.

i feel so lucky to call her “friend.”

leigh is the wife to political consultant, eric; and together they happily parent three of the greatest kids: rylan, sawyer, saxon.

you can keep up with their gut-busting adventures on leigh’s popular blog, three before thrity.

when not taking us on hills & sprints, getting to carpool on time, and hobnobbing with political elite, leigh also finds room in her whacky schedule to work at lululemon at fashion island.

today she’s made the time to give us a little behind-the-scenes look into her full life.

name 5 bottom of the jar products?

Trader Joes Coconut Body Butter Lotion. It’s got that “I just landed in OC from Waikiki smell.”

L’Oreal mascara. It’s the only brand I’ve ever used. I don’t believe in spending a lot of money on mascara…so I’ve never tried anything else. And I never leave home without it on.

Batiste Dry Shampoo. A girlfriend who also happens to be my hair stylist has finally convinced me not to wash every day…I use this dry shampoo between washes. It smells great and keeps my hair from every looking greasy.

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey perfume. That reminds me. I’m all out. #anxiety

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. “Bottom of the bottle” counts too, right?

who is your style icon and why?

Can I have more than one? Twiggy. Kate Moss. Drew Barrymore. Rachel Zoe and Nicole Richie. I love bohemian style…It’s so effortless and cool. But I got my appreciation of all things fashion from my mom. I’m pretty sure she wore heels to the delivery room…

how do you define luxury?

Dancing until way past midnight and hiring a babysitter to get up with the kids in the morning. Sleeping through the night. Sleeping in until 11am. The automatic tailgate button on my car.

what’s the last book you read and loved?

“Naptime is the new happy hour” and “Sippy cups are not for chardonnay.”

what are your vices?

Goat cheese and chips and guacamole. And country music concerts.

finish the sentence…

.i can never leave the house without: underwear. I’ve never been able to go commando. Now that I have children in elementary school, I’m sure they appreciate this too.

what advice would you give your 25 year old self?

Slow down. It’s not a race. Wear more sunscreen. And, that tattoo you got a few years ago? Yeah, they’re calling it a “tramp stamp” now.

what does your ideal 2 weeks off look like?

Hawaii with the whole fam. On the beach every day. Dinner out. Every. Single. Night.

give me your 5 deserted island items….people and things?

Me, Eric, the kids. And a babysitter. Shit. That’s 6. Oh and toilet paper. Is it bad to swap a kid for TP?

what is your idea of perfect happiness?

A house with AC. A kitchen with an island that’s big enough for the whole family to gather around. A king-sized bed. His/Her closets. His/Her bathroom sinks. I believe these are the keys to a happy marriage. {Still working on Eric for #s 1 and 2}

family members excluded, what is your most prized possession?

It’s a toss-up between our home and my college diploma. Both I’m very proud to own. I almost didn’t graduate from high school on time but I graduated from college with honors. Just took me a little longer to get my shit together.

in what historical era would you most like to have lived?

The 70s. But then I really wouldn’t have made it out of high school.

what are your favorite things about living in southern california?

Fish tacos. The beach. Flip flops year round. Only owning one umbrella for a family of 5 and having no idea where it is. Riding our bikes down to the peninsula. Being near my family. I grew up in San Diego with my mom. She moved up here after my kids were born. My dad lives here too and both my parents help us out so much with our kids.

what are your least favorite things about southern california?

The keeping-up-with-the-joneses mentality…though my guess is that probably exists in a lot of communities outside of So Cal too. Not showing enough love to my boots and jackets. Sky-high tax rates. Sky-high gas prices. A democrat for a Governor. Sorry, what was the original question? The obsession with USC Football Sorry, my ACC-loving husband jumped on my questionnaire.

see? how can you not LOVE this girl!?!

thank you so much leigh beach for letting me adore you.

your wit, honesty, and overall lovelieness make you even more crushable.

summer in the south

August 23, 2014

named the ‘devil’s elbow cottage,’ our sweet, abode is nestled among 300 year live oaks.

we watch over the marshes and waters of the pinckney island wildlife refuge, in what’s called “low-country;” a snippet of south carolina’s most beautiful and historical land.

for one week, we have made merry on this 150 acre private island.

from hour one we were in deep smit.

with a front porch made for afternoon, sipping of sweet tea, we spy on baby dear and a neighborhood of great egrets play in the bog.

tea for him, coffee for me; a screened porch for us both.

scrambled eggs and a smile every morning for the boy i adore.

early mornings {when the temperature is in the cool 90′s} we meander through different parts of the quag; a hose down at our dock is always our final stop.

late-afternoon cocktail hour adjourns under the palmettos and myrtle oaks.

i really don’t see the need for a car.

yes, it is hotter than georgia asphalt, but i can always nose out a breeze.

my husband disagrees vehemently with these statements; the only fight between us concerns the use of air conditioning.

if i had my way we’d eliminate it completely.

i swing for hours.

and we find a church so stinking adorable, i become a believer right there on the spot.

south carolina’s history is inescapable.

even in the 19th century, the people of low-country revered their pets.

in this building i have the meal of a lifetime: an endive/arugula salad drizzled with black truffle vinegarette, a cheese plate so good i ask for smelling salts, and a blackberry cobbler topped with homemade brown butter ice cream that will haunt my culinary dreams for years to come.

i make a friend.

reading spots, with every possible view, are uncovered each day.

there may have been some pampering.

the look of not wanting to go home.

the seduction continues for one more day.

i don’t know what i’ll miss most about this trip.

the night-blooming jasmine providing a sweet, fragrant balm from sunrise to sunset?

the surround-sound sonata of cicadas harmonizing within the live oaks, heavy with spanish moss drapery?

i’m already yearning for more thunder and lightning storms who show up unannounced, smack in the middle, of a sunny, hot day.

and i regretfully admit to my new attachment to this salty, muggy air that has transformed my hair and skin back to a shiny, dewiness i haven’t seen in 20 years.

but most of all i’ll miss this time with my man. we hardly get these long stretches together, and i’ve bottled these memories up to last me until next time.

so….until next time.

it’s friday i’m in love…

August 15, 2014

friday happy to you m’loves!

it’s smiles and snuggles all around here these days.

why does priscilla think she’s a canine-blanket?

she’s thanking me for finding newport tails, a dog-walking, dog-obedience, & daycare service located in newport beach.

twice a week priscilla and jones are taken out with their neighborhood friends, and for two hours they play, swim, and get the exercise i’m unable to give them, lest it’s on a spin bike.

we LOVE newport tails!

here are few other things i’m loving:

this summer i have read more books than i did during ms. mooney’s dreaded AP english course.

some have been great; some just provided a pretty accessory for my nightstand.

i still have a full shelf i’m trying to tackle before the leaves change and pumpkin spiced lattés return.

but i’m already looking forward to fall; this list of incredible books coming out has me rethinking my workload next season; wishing to swap a paycheck for historical fiction.

speaking of fall, have you seen the new lookbook for joseph altuzarra for target?

it all goes on sale on september 14th.

i don’t think there’s an item i DON’T want.

i’m not one for sleeping on sidewalks the night before a movie opens, or camping out for concert tickets, but i might pluck down a lawn chair for tuxedo jackets and wrap dresses.

if given the choice of sandwiches, the peanut butter and jelly will always win queen of my homecoming court.

supply me with a plate with this salty/sweet combo bite, and i’m 8 years old again, back on coral tree circle, gobbling down back t0 back episodes of different strokes and facts of life.

when i’m having a rotten day i definitely can cheer myself up with a peanut butter & jelly sandwich….or two.

apparently we have sandwich stereotypes.

what’s your favorite, all-time sandwich?

check out what your favorite says about you.

so are you guys on stellar?

please tell me you are.

i am obsessed with steller; an app that takes instagram and storytelling to the next level.

i definitely have the blind barber on my brooklyn to-visit list, and outside lands 2014 looks like it was a show not to be missed.

i have signed up; don’t judge me by my first story; it’s a learning process for sure.

{you can judge me by how many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches i can consume in one sitting; paging OA.}

yesterday i snagged this beach bag from soludos.

i’ll be using it as my carry-on for my upcoming week in the south.

it holds everything and is machine-washable; a plus for me…… i freak out about all the germs that get on bags, etc when i travel.

so yes tomorrow hunkiest and i take our summer vacation.

remember this post on lake life?

we’re sorta, kinda re-creating this; maybe even add a road-trip along the way.

the theme for our trip is “screened porches and sweet tea.”

wishing you a restful weekend of slow-jams, afternoon naps, and make out sessions at midnight.

it’s friday i’m in LOVE

August 1, 2014

happy august to you m’loves!.

the speed of this summer is giving me whiplash.

i have two words for august:

SLOW! DOWN!

i hope you guys stopped by the mary jo matsumoto’s summer flash sale i told you about yesterday; you don’t want to miss these deals.

speaking of mary jo matsumoto and her fabulous’ness, a couple of weeks back i spied this embroidered fable dress from freee people in her art inspired blog post on joaquin sorolla; i couldn’t get into my greedy, little hands fast enough.

i’ve been living in this dress all week.

crazy-comfortable, this v-neck maxi works all year-long. right now it’s summer appropriate with sandals, but come winter-time i’ll be rocking it with my motorcycle boots and favorite puffer vest.

the colors they offer seem to change…already the tangerine version i bought {along with a black} has been replaced with this shadow purple rendition.

so it’s no secret i’m kind of a psycho about the sun.

protecting myself from those dangerous and pesky UVA/UVB/UVC rays feels like a second job sometimes. it is a rare occasion when i’m not underneath some sort of hat.

the half-japanese in me has been forever on the hunt for a parasol-type cover for when i MUST be outdoors longer than the walk from my car, to whichever edifice i’m heading toward.

enter the brelli.

the brelli is an eco-friendly, luxury umbrella that protects 99% of UVA/UVB/UVC rays, and withstands up to 40 mph wind and rain.

hand carved from thailand and then manufactured in the usa, the lightweight brelli is coated with a sun protection canopy that never wears off.

i snagged one up on the one king’s lane sale {still in effect until today,} but if you miss the sale you can still get a brelli directly from their website.

have you guys heard meghan trainor‘s single “all about the bass” yet?

so fun.

we’ve been tucking and squeezing to it all week; it’s a perfect, happy, bee-boppy, summer tune.

did you know that every time you throw your hands in the air it raises your dopamine {the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and motivation}?

my friend dawn summerford, of working your body, filled me in on this little, known fact; she and i are often involuntarily throwing our hands up in the air mid spin class {typically during a favorite hip-hop song,} and it’s no wonder we both get ridiculously happy from doing it.

so, with my hands in the air, i wish you a happiest of weekends.

see you on the other side of sunday m’loves.

summer flash sale!

July 31, 2014

psst.

to all my fashion-forward, kittens:

listen up, this is not to be missed.

tomorrow, friday august 1st, running for three days, mary jo matsumoto is having a have-you-lost-your-mind!?!? flash sale on her website; we’re talking 50% off the already, reduced prices—i had to email mary jo twice for clarification on sale; i couldn’t believe the bags were actually going to be available at these prices.

they are.

all of my most beloved mjm bags are available:

{clockwise from top left}

the bridge tote, the linen + leather tote, the trestles tote, and my summer favorite, the newport harbor tote.