welcome to today’s latest edition of girl crush. i cannot contain my excitement that my stunning friend, anna ziebarth agreed to stop by gni today.

mother to zoe and lux, anna runs heavy petal flowers, orange county’s go-to floral design company for weddings and special occasions, with her equally beautiful sister, jena.

i’ve known anna for over ten years {gulp}, and she is literally the COOLEST person i know.

a trend setter like no one else, anna has an effortless, rocker chic, with an edge of california beach, girlie-girl style, that if she were a celebrity, paparazzi and fashion blogs would be following her every sartorial step.

and although the comparisons are often made, anna was our it girl way before alexa chung came onto the scene.

anna was also working the mid-century modern look in her sick, decked out pad, practically, at the TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY.

like i said, this girl, is a style trailblazer.

let’s pick her brain, and get to know a little more about my anna.

no. 1: name your 5 bottom of the jar products?

epicuren kukui nut lotion, epicuren x-treme screen sunscreen, lily lambert roll on perfume #22, dior show mascara, aquaphor- i use this for everything cuts, scrapes, dry skin, lip gloss…..you name it

no. 2: who is your style icon and why?

rachel bilson, i want everything she owns.

no. 3 what is your spring fashion must have item?

i just bought a pair of earnest sewn esra jeans and i’ve been in them every day, and i’d like a pair of warby parker reading glasses- since my recent failed eye exam i’ve turned into quite the eyeglasses connoisseur.

no. 4: finish the sentence….i can never leave the house without:

my ritual cleanse insulated re-usable shopping bags and Iphone.

no. 5: what advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

 “life is about to break your heart into a thousand pieces, but just remember to never lose sight of who you are and who you want to be. the journey will be long but worth it and when you look back you won’t regret a thing.”

no. 6: what would you do with 2 weeks off?

hawaii never gets old for me. i’d love to do one week on oahu with my daughters just surfing and sunning and the second week just relaxing, eating and reading at the four seasons maui with my boyfriend kevin.

no. 7: give me your 5 deserted island items…

my daughters zoe and lux, and kevin my boyfriend (they’re getting grouped as one), tyler rose bikinis, my canon DSLR camera- it’s big and bulky, but never disappoints in capturing my priceless memories, arugula- I can eat it morning, noon and night!, and my jura coffeemaker- a Xmas present from my girls and ex husband last year, and it makes the best coffee ever, i don’t go out for coffee, i go home.

no. 8: you and your sister, jena, run one of the most in-demand floral design businesses in southern california, heavy petal flowers; people are still talking about the kick-ass flowers from my wedding {seriously- i had the baddest, most rock star, hot-pink bouquet to date}, how do you keep such a successful business flourishing while at the same time, raise two incredible daughters, find time for your relationship, and manage to make it look so free-flowing and fluent? you never break a sweat anna nor cop an attitude. 

when I was younger i thought i had to do it all. i was pretty overwhelmed and not really pulling it off. i’ve been humbled, i learned to ask for help, keep things simple and learned to give myself a break.

 thank you so much anna girl. i adore you.

i’m in utah this weekend for a wedding….

it’s a “traditional greek-orthodox, mormon union”.

{pause for effect}

what in the name joseph smith and baklava am i supposed to wear to THIS?

i have a couple of options, but i can’t decide.

maybe you can help.

i’ve constructed some storyboards {with MAJOR embellishment and fantasy as far as what’s REALLY in my closet} but this is sorta, kinda, what i’ve got going on {when i wear my rosiest colored glasses}.

i have the neutral, longish, elegant, bit of a badass, fish out of california, statement.

i am also partial to going bright, albeit still conservative, with a killer cuff and spiky pump.

 and then there’s this fresh, ultra flattering, springtime, kelly-green dress i have been wanting to wear, with a necklace of ribbon and pearls, a lacy clutch, and, of course, any excuse to buy these ridiculous stompers.

so what say you?

weigh in m’loves?

what shall katie wear?

get up no. 1: dress, ring, clutch, shoes.

get up no. 2: dress, cuff, clutch, pumps.

get up no. 3: dress, necklace, clutch, stompers.

spring training was going so well, and then came my birthday.

homemade macaroons!

a dozen cupcakes!

not just one…A dozen.

brownies, homemade vanilla frosting, boxes of candy, the gifts of confection were abundant and i did not hold back.

it was, after all, my birthday.

but this year apparently my birthday is taking on some sort of lent quality.

what is supposed to happen once a year, has now stretched into a two-week celebration; i’m still receiving pastries and bon bons.

last friday a piece of key lime pie, the size of key west, was delivered to spin class accompanied with an equally substantial amount of whipped cream.

as i’ve stated before, i don’t want to be rude…

but i my holiday pants from thanksgiving and christmas are now un-affectionately addressed as my birthday pants.

so here i am publicly announcing the end of my birthday wonderful.

as much i enjoyed the merrymaking, i do not enjoy the idea of diabetes.

from here on out it’s kale smoothies, salads and sundaes.

sweeter tasting than my girl spinach, kale is now believed help lower cancers in bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate.

kale’s detoxifying properties is why she’s the darling of juicing, smoothies and cleansing regimes.

according to new research, certain components and traits of kale can help us detox at a genetic level.

avocados will be in every stinking one of these said meals. people are so afraid of avocados because of their high fat content, but their fat is exactly why we should be eating them. the physterols- which account for the major amount of the avocado fat- is what helps fight off inflammation. avocados are also high in oleic acid {a fatty acid} which staves off heart disease and helps produce anti-oxidants. {anti-oxidants fight off unstable molecules known as free radicals, and free radical damage may lead to cancer}. the high fiber content of an avocado makes it a winning choice as well.

so there it is m’loves. out for all to see. i’m off the sauce….{frosting, cups of cake, roons of mac, pies of key lime}. my birthday was magnificent, but i’d like to see another. at least in the same size jeans.

today mr. sunshine stalks me like an undeniable 8th grade crush. he won’t leave me alone, and i LOVE it.

peeping in through my windows, spying on me early in the morning as i try to bathe, following me to and from my car at the gym, this guy means business; sunny days are here to stay: bring on the happy, the jaunt in your step, it’s a grand journey, this roller coaster ride of a world.

albeit exhausting, my weekend was a crock pot of all the ingredients in my life that make it full and delicious: work, family, friends & beasts.

saturday began with two intense classes. first an early morning equinox spin where we rang up watts and rpms that got the facebook and twitter status’ all a-flutter. then i hurried off to yogaworks where i taught my last pilates fusion class after 8 years. a bittersweet hour indeed, for i’ve come to love many, dear people there.

but i’m moving on to a new studio…..more on that to come.

the race to never slow down continued in saturday’s on-going pilates training. we worked the cuckoo-clock out of double-leg kick, and then broke out into an impromptu let’s see why all of us pilates/yoga instructors are always in so much pain.

lisa, our trainer, concluded me: overworked.

{ba dum bump}

reinforcements are always important for these types of trainings. i feel like room mom. i make sure to repeatedly stock the studio with chocolate for my girls. it just keeps for an overall mood of silly and light during these long, tiresome days.

sunday morning was for mother. we brunched hard!

i go ladylike in dress only……truck driving, foul-mouthed, hip-checking, elbow throwing linebacker is how i typically like to work my buffet. the heels provide for a nice disguise.

i went downward dog deep into the cheese station. this morning i was still finding remnants of humboldt fog in my hair, and i’m pretty sure there’s a housewife nursing a bruised shin today; sorry, but when tater tots are on the line, i go for blood. i don’t care if they are for your kids.

after my 5 plate binge i had to go right back to pilates….here’s priscilla showing her protest.

i felt her pain. the last thing i wanted to do after eating for 12 was rocking swan dive. i miss my family, but the always-have-to-be-working-psycho in me won yesterday’s battle between beast and mommy. i think it was my first victory ever with priscilla.

after hours of neutral spine, low belly engagement, and knitting my ribs so shut i had to call a locksmith to open them back up, i finally retreated to my bath.

i’m convinced a 2 hour bath can do more than any drink, pill and ice cream sundae to soothe a tired, stressed girl’s soul. using salts and oils from my beloved melissa, i drifted into a drowsy, bliss of dreams sweet.

a weekend happy indeed.

tell me m’loves about your weekend. please share with me your adventures and smiles.

]]> http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/scenes-from-a-weekend-9/feed/ 1 http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/happy-weekend-29/ http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/happy-weekend-29/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 11:46:59 +0000 katie http://goodniteirene.com/?p=16463 weekend happy to you m’loves.

can you believe miss may is almost half past her tee time?

how do you plan to wrangle your saturday and sunday free?

yesterday i had my face zapped by oc’s fabulous age eraser, francine oca.

i swear by this woman’s trickery with the laser. the results are sans pareil; with one strike of her wand, age spots and wrinkles begone!

but, one must deal with the torrid, scaby vestiges of dead skin of yore as they hold on for dear life, and unhurriedly fall off my face, revealing virginal, melasma free skin.

the next couple of days i must wrap my meatball face in shrouds of covertness; there are other people to consider.

#notforpubliceyes

on saturday and sunday i hope to lotte berk and pilates my extra birthday weight off of these thighs.

last week’s celebration most definitely had a pastry theme; and my j brands are feeling it.

one of the many tasty sweets i received was a tupperware full of homemade, buttercream, vanilla frosting.

t’would be rude not to finish, no?

my mother taught me better than that…

speaking of mothers, on sunday afternoon i plan to tack on any lost weight with a giant mother’s day brunch.

we are going big with a decadent buffet…

cue the rocky music….

the forecast is for sunny, blue skies, both literally and figuratively.

nothing like a cerulean ocean view and poufy skirt to complete a beautiful weekend.

i can’t think of a better combo bite.

and, of course, our weekend would not be complete without…. game of thrones.

are you as obsessed as we are?

are you sucked into veep too?

so ring me a riddle of your weekend desires m’loves….

see you on the other side of sunday.

i’m loving the fresh, instant spruce to the room, my face & even sometimes my mood, that the bright, sharp shade can give me.

here are a few of my current fancies and booty i’ve scored in the last month…..

there’s nothing that makes me more giddy than throwing a big, white bow somewhere unexpected on an already fabulous ensemble; it’s like the stocking stuffer on christmas morning.

i’m a sucker for scarves and bows. come warmer months you typically see me with a giant piece of silk tied about my head.

right now, i’m trying to hunt this bow’d chemise down like it’s the main course for thanksgiving dinner. if anyone can help a sister out, free stuffing and yams for you.

i’m loving my porcelain milk, glass bottles. we keep them out on the counter to refill our coffee pot, water filter, beasts’ bowls and even use them to water our plants. they are the perfect size, and {i think} look pretty just on their own.

i’m using these canisters to keep my coffee fresh and store treats for the beasts.

this ceramic can looks sharp in the fridge storing leftovers and on the table as a serving dish. i like that it’s not plastic, and i, again, think it looks cool {such a shallow girl i am}.

here summer, summer, summer, summer!

i can’t wait to mix my whites. white on white on white is such a pretty {non} color concoction in my fashion playbook.

and nothing screams school’s out like white jeans.

this $12 steal from one king’s lane is currently putting the dapper in the homestead. it’s dippy how one little, inexpensive knickknack can make me so happy.

and finally, my rachel pally caftan just arrived. i plan on living in this all summer long. move over priscilla, there’s a new lady of the house!

so there you have it. crushing on white. hard.

what colors or non-colors are you currently gravitating toward?

thursday happiest to you m’loves!

]]> http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/white-out/feed/ 0 http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/girl-crush/ http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/girl-crush/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 14:06:13 +0000 katie http://goodniteirene.com/?p=16803 welcome to goodniteirene’s newest series: girl crush.

i am so lucky to know buckets and scads of incredible women near and far. mothers, designers, business owners, artists, teachers- all inspiring me daily.

i’ve wanted to share with you my love for them, and now i finally can.

so here goes…..the first of many girl crushes…..

misha nesselrod

misha is co-owner of the hottest salon in town: holiday. she is THE make-up artist and eyebrow guru go-to. no pants on fire here, EVERYONE i know goes to misha for their fabulous brows. good luck getting an appointment, but it’s so worth the waiting list.

in addition to keeping orange county glamorous, misha is mother to the adorable raya, she just celebrated her 10 year wedding anniversary, and is expecting her second baby. she really does do it all, and always with that beautiful face and cheeky charisma. i love this girl.

here’s to getting to know mish’ a little better….

         • name your 5 bottom of the jar products?

I can’t live without Epicuren’s Protein Mist and their ORAC Age-Protect Serum, Mineral Tint SPF20 Foundation by Looking Glass (my cosmetics line), Eve Pearl Treatment Concealer and Cover Girl Lash Blast in the orange tube. I could go on and on…

         • who is your style icon and why?

Brigitte Bardot- she’s just so damn sexy- even going to the market in capris and flats

  •  what is your spring fashion must have item?

Well, typically, it’s a great pair of wedge sandals with some fun colors.  But this year, it’s a Belly Band from Xpecting and Paige Premium Maternity Denim. 

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

Under eye concealer and a bra.

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

The same advice my father has always given to me, “This is no F-ing dress rehearsal.”

        • what does your ideal 2 weeks off look like?

Oh man, how about a cook’s tour through Italy and France? Then of course, a 2 week follow-up spin/pilates extravaganza to burn off all of the cheese and wine.

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

My husband and daughter, my girlfriends, and music- that’s a party right there!

          • you are hands down the hottest eyebrow guru in orange county {good luck for all our readers getting an appointment}, how do you manage to do it all: run a successful business, raise a beautiful, smart daughter, and still make time for your husband? {i know you two just celebrated a big anniversary}.

We definitely try to have a date night, even if it means having microwave popcorn and watching a basketball game on TV at home. We did whoop it up for our 10th wedding anniversary though. We went out to Vegas with and renewed our vows with Elvis. I tell ya, even though it was kitschy, it meant so much to say those vows again and know exactly what they mean!

  • what would you say is the most important for someone going into business with a partner….{you own THE hair and make-up studio of orange county hands down}?

Communication is the key to success here. Holiday Salon is celebrating 9 years in business because of the bond between me and my 2 partners. We don’t always agree, but we back each other’s decisions 100%. Also, a good legal partnership agreement keeps everyone accountable.

          • what are your favorite things about living in southern california?

I have the best memories from growing up in Newport Beach. It was so laid back and we would ride our bikes everywhere. From the beach in Newport down to 1,000 Steps in Laguna, we enjoyed our Summers on the sand and in the water.  I still get a kick out of going to my favorite places like C’est Si Bon (where I used to work), Ruby’s Sandwiches, and Mi Casa.

    • what are your least favorite things about living in southern california?

Traffic on the 55 freeway and “entitled” people- no thanks!

thank you so much misha! your fan club just grew exponentially.

]]> http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/girl-crush/feed/ 1 http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/apparently/ http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/apparently/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 12:24:03 +0000 katie http://goodniteirene.com/?p=16762

i have on good authority that wheatgrass will take my vitamix juices to a whole new level of health.

in addition to detoxifying the liver, fighting off tumors and neutralizing toxins, wheatgrass is healing for stomach problems: peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract..

sign me up….

i have never been able to drink an actual wheatgrass shot, but i’m thinking the wheatgrass in a smoothie will be doable.

tell me m’loves…do you wheatgrass? what are your favorite ways to down it?

]]> http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/apparently/feed/ 5 http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/scenes-from-a-birthday-weekend/ http://goodniteirene.com/2012/05/scenes-from-a-birthday-weekend/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 13:26:17 +0000 katie http://goodniteirene.com/?p=16690 monday happy to you my most beloved.

t’was a birthday unforgettable….maybe one of my best….yes, could have been my greatest.

here are a few snippets of the bliss…

although the official birthday was technically on saturday, the festivities kicked off on thursday with an out of this world pizza and a gaggle of my dearest girls whom i’ve known 30+ years.

friday the party continued bright and early at the gym with surprises all around: flowers, balloons, a princess crown, sweets and serenades….i am sore from all the smiling.

some of my dainties included homemade macaroons and a goodie bag of urban decay products….cue the swoon.

i was in chocolate confection heaven as i discovered two, new must-have products…this and this!

flowers and bonbons continued throughout the weekend, but one of the best gifts of the whole celebration included a solid, 3 hour, alarm-clock free nap with my beast….absolute heaven.

on saturday night hunkiest and i went to my favorite restaurant in town, tamarind. we ordered enough food for all of new dehli, and didn’t have a single spoonful left for a doggie bag home. we took gluttony to guinness book levels, and yet didn’t feel an ounce of shame, even with lentils and naan in our hair.

saturday night’s perigree, super moon literally stopped our car ride home; it was even more otherworldly than the photographs show, cue the tim burton music.

i fell asleep with the sweetest pillow talk ever, as priscilla and i recollected our day’s events.

sunday night the weekend crescendoed as i got to spend the evening with my two, most favorite men in the world….

a birthday happiest indeed.

so tell me m’loves….how did your weekend fare?

and as much as the fancy, marketed ads and promises of new potions and lotions catch your eye and maybe even your one-time pocket-book, you still come back to your tried and true.

i have many of these. especially on my bathroom vanity.

sure i have other stuff i use and i like: oils, serums, tonics, balms etc….but they don’t get my full exclusivity.

today i share with you my bottom of the jar products:

for morning cleanser and for evening cleanser i always come back to boscia. they are hands down the best. i actually go through the oil version faster. it feels like it gets my face cleaner and makes my skin feel cashmere soft. and nothing works better to remove make up.

 i’m also a sucker for andalou naturals. their probiotic + c moisturizer is the first face cream i have consistently used in my entire life. i notice a dull difference when i forget to use this product. i also book a twice a week date with their enzyme mask. it’s especially useful if i have an event or night out with hunkiest. this mask gets my skin sparkly and enlivened.

 another must is this soothing, hydrating cactus mask by mychelle. this is definitely a WONDER product. i love throwing this baby on my face, getting into the bath tub, and letting nature take its course. it smells divine and feels like a mini-facial.

like the hundreds of thousands, i too, am a devotee to c e ferulic for my anti-oxidant use. everyday after washing my face this juice goes on, and since then i have noticed a major difference in my pigmentation. 

 this eye cream is the product which has been with me the longest on the list. i’m an eye cream fiend. it’s probably the product i buy most of. i’m always on the hunt for something to top annemarie borlind, but i have yet to find it. it’s super creamy and the only product to ever feel like it completely moisturizes my eyes.

of course…every night….pea-size….mixed with moisturizer. given.

my holy grail sunscreen. this and my eye cream are probably my desert island items. i slather my elta md on all day long. i love the non-feel of this sunscreen. i can even drench my face in it right before teaching spin class {i sometimes get sun rays where i teach} and it feels like i have a completely naked face. i apply it all the way up into my eyelashes, and i’ve never had it sting or burn {zero chemicals}.

i’m on quick ship with this sunscreen because i go through it so often.

so there you have them: my work horses, my bottom of the jar, trustworthy products.

tell me m’loves, what are YOUR bottom of the jar products?

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