Friday, October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Photography by Amy Stein

What was your favorite costume as a kid?

Thursday, October 29, 2009

THE BURGER BUS

To me, nothing solves the problems of the world and makes the sun shine brighter, than a good old-fashioned cheeseburger. I'm a HUGE fan. So often we go overboard trying to be elaborate and sophisticated and it often ends up falling short. But a cheeseburger ... rarely lets you down.

Michael and Cheryl Gardener are the founders of The Burger Bus. It's a tricked out, squat yellow school bus that tools around Santa Barbara serving burgers. They've developed a near-cult following; publishing the schedule of where the bus will be located at the beginning of each week on their Web site and via their Twitter feed.
Their burgers are grilled fresh and are made with grass-fed hormone-free patties. They're wrapped on a toasted ciabatta bun made by our local Daily Bread. The ingredients are also local and the quality is the The Best. Burgers start around $7.50 and sides include things like yam fries, onion rings and fried pickle chips. YUM!!!
The best part? They are available for catering!!! Can you imagine having The Burger Bus pull up for your next party - whether a 40th birthday in your backyard, a corporate retreat or for cocktails at your wedding reception? How fabulous! Now that's high class comfort.

What's your comfort food?

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

VENUE: SANTA BARBARA YACHT CLUB

If you haven't heard of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, there's a reason. It is a not-for-profit private club, which means that it is not allowed to advertise as an event venue. As a result, you won't read about it on SantaBarbaraWedding.com or in the Independent's Annual Wedding Guide Issue. Most people that know of it, do because they've attended an event there or know someone who has.
SBYC is about as close to the water as you can get for an event venue. There is a stretch of sand on the side and in front perfect for a ceremony. It is somewhat public, as you will have tourists walking along the breakwater ... but there is a low wall separating them, so you won't have anyone right in your space. The upstairs deck is excellent for cocktails, and you won't be able to match the view anywhere else as you look over the harbor and watch waves crash.
Dinner and dancing is in the main dining room, which can seat up to 120 guests comfortably. There is a distinctly nautical look and feel to the dining room as sailing trophy cases line the walls and the chairs wouldn't be found anywhere else (You could bring in rentals). There is a cozy fireplace that can be lit and a dance floor is available. The price is reasonable with a $2,000 site fee, and fairly priced food and bar makes it very competitive. One thing to note, the club is never closed to Yacht Club members. So during your reception, there will be members hanging out in the bar, which is a separate but attached room. However, your guests will have their own bar, so they won't be competing in line, and members are respectful. You are also required to have a member sponsor you in order to host your event at the club... This is a very easy hurdle, trust me. If you would like more information about hosting your event at SBYC, feel free to contact me for an event packet or to set up a tour of the facilities. Happy planning!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

LOVING: CHLOE & REESE

I am a HUGE fan of clothes by Chloe & Reese. They are a modern take on classic styles and they are oh-so feminine. I'm generally a bit of a tomboy myself, but I have a secret streak of girly that loves to dress up in pretty clothes made in luxurious fabrics, and these fit the bill! And the best part? Each design is available in 24 different color/fabric combinations so that you can customize your looks as you see fit! Dresses range in price from $240 - $630 and are available in sizes 00-14.

SO perfect for bridesmaids ... choose one dress and let your girls pick their color, or give them a color and let them choose their dress. How cool is that!


The chloe & reese online Custom Shoppe is available at www.chloeandreese.com
And how fabulous is this jacket??? LOVE! xo

Monday, October 26, 2009

DIY - ONESIE MONKEYS

I've had a lot of questions from readers about the onesie monkeys I made for Chris & Tami's baby shower. They're so easy to do! So I thought I'd share a little how-to today ...

What you need:
Infant Onesies
Brown and Tan Construction Paper
Black or Brown Marker
Ribbon
Labels
Scissors
Pencil
Glue

Start be creating yourself a template. Place a onesie vertically, so that the waist down is on a piece of construction paper. Trace (snuggly) the outline of the onesie, leaving holes for the legs. Then remove the onesie and draw legs coming out from the holes. Repeat the process on another piece of paper for the top half of the monkey to create arms and a head.Now that you have a template, trace onto fresh sheets of brown paper and use scissors to cut out the top and bottom halves of each monkey.
Using the tan paper, create a template for the face, trace and cut out. You should be able to fit 5 faces on a sheet of 8.5x11 paper. Using a black or brown marker, draw eyes, a nose, lips and cheeks. Glue the face onto the front of the head.On your computer, design labels (I used Avery shipping labels from Staples) that give your guests direction; "Personalize me!" Stick the labels on the front of the onesies.Open the onesie and insert the head and shoulders into the top half. Then insert the waist and legs. Close the snaps and lift the monkey by the head to straighten out your monkey. There will be a gap in the middle where the halves don't meet (no one will know but you).Cut a length of ribbon approximately 4-inches. Fold it over on itself and glue to the back of the monkey's head (preferably with glue gun or gorilla glue so that it will hold up to some tugging).
Let the glue dry overnight before hanging your monkeys. Have fun, xo!
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