'Tis the Season for Holiday Parties and Festive Holiday Attire

I love the holidays for many reasons, the tree, decorations, taking the time to be with family and friends, constant parties, and of course the perfect excuse to dress up in fabulous festive clothes!

Since it is officially December the Holiday Parties are starting to mount thus the need for an array of festive outfits!  Here are some ideas!

The perfect outfit for a night of party and bar hoping! 

Earrings- JCrew
Purse- Zara
Top- Tibi found on Shopbop
Pants- Zara
Heels- Alice and Olivia found at Saks

The Perfect Thanksgiving Outfit...

A grand affair with china and good silver or a friendsgiving complete with a fried turkey and football here are some outfit ideas for both!

The "Classy" Thanksgiving

 

                    

Dress- Diane Von Furstenburg
Earrings- JCrew
Tights- Hue found on Piperlime
Booties- Ninewest found on Piperlime

A "Casual Friendsgiving"

          

Necklace- JCrew

Vest- JCrew

Flannel Top- Penfield found at Madewell

Courds- James Jeans found on Piperlime

Bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs found on Piperlime

Boots- Frye also found on Piperlime 

*After a long, very busy, and very sad week at work I am finding it hard to turn my thoughts away from my coworkers, patients, and their families.  In the past 8 days I witnessed an entire family holding hands and praying out loud, in unison, over their dying daughter, sister, cousin, or niece.  I am not a very religious person however this was by far one of the most peaceful passings I have seen.  In the room next to them a husband picked up his wife and carried her to the gurney for her daily radiation then picked her up and placed her on the table and eventually placed her back in her bed, everyday.  As I finish this post and eventually head to my Thanksgiving dinner at my "California families" home I hope that today I can remind myself how blessed I am.   I am reminding myself to take a moment and say a quick Grace for those who perhaps have less to be thankful for this year.  And hope that whatever the outcome is, one day down the road, they come to a place where they can once again give thanks. 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Love,

A xoxo

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Mother...

Nancy S. Chase

My first Christmas... Isn't she beautiful?
(I would like to think I got a bit cuter with age...  hopefully)

I think I spent most of my 1st year in this backpack.

My mother is one of those amazing people that everyone looks up to and goes to for advice... literally everyone including my best friends. She is the person you want to be at your side, advocating for you, giving you the confidence to do more and holding your hand when you fall. It appears as though in my appreciation for her I have followed in her footsteps from going to The University of Miami (Go CANES), becoming a nurse, to moving to the fantastic city of San Francisco.

Hugging my mom after my graduation from The University of Miami

Although she never once pressured or even suggested I go into nursing I chose to be a nurse because of her.  She started at an intensive care nursery and then when she married my father she moved to New Hampshire and was the manager of the maternity unit at one of the nearby hospitals.  From there she held a variety of roles in outreach, consulting, and expanding the extent of care available to children in New Hampshire.  I was always so proud of her, if she were late to pick us up I always said that there must be a sick baby that she was caring for.  However, the most important reason why I was so proud of her and why I also wanted to be a nurse was for what she did outside of her everyday job.  She was the person called out onto the soccer field if someone was hurt, friends call for advice or she will be the person they bring to appointments.  She takes on my grandparents health and if she can't be at an appointment will send questions and call and talk with the doctors herself.  What my parents instilled in my sister and me is to be there for others.  After growing up with my mother as the remarkable role model that she is I realized early in high school that I want to be there for people the way is.  She is everything you look for in a nurse and I can only hope that I am half that for my patients, friends, and family.  

Skiing at Squaw

In Seattle after running a half marathon in honor of our dear family friend Betsy. 

I hope that nursing is not the only characteristic that she passed along to me.  She is effortlessly beautiful and elegant, hardworking, and has an amazing sense of adventure.  The adventure part I am pretty sure I have as I too moved across the country and have an equal appreciation and enthusiasm for roller coasters, bridge jumping and any other take your breath away activity.  At nearly 58 she went bridge jumping with my sister, cousins, and I.  And because she isn't special enough she did for a reason.  My 19 year old cousin had to have his baby toe removed because it had a cancerous lesion and so to show her love and support for him she jumped with us (at low tide non the less).  

My parents at their wedding reception... 31 years ago!

So here is to you Mom... I could have written so much more but you are already probably blushing and embarrassed that I published this much.  I am so honored and lucky to have such a beautiful, caring, and adventurous women as my mother. xoxo

Love,

Abby 

Rashley Continued...

Ashley's Wine Country Bachelorette Weekend!

Back in March, Ashley had started planning her bachelorette party, deciding on wine country and finding the perfect Chateau for us to spend the weekend.  Realizing it was hard for her bridesmaids who all live in the midwest to plan a California bachelorette she had started doing most the planning.  Finally we (her San Francisco friends) kindly thanked her for all the work she had done and took over. Mara was in charge of Friday night's dinner, Annie was in charge of the wine tour transportation, the Chicago girls took over Saturday dinner, and I was in charge of the Saturday picnic and with the help of Maura the extra little details for Saturday.  

July 20-22: 15 women get together to celebrate the lovely Ashley. 

Friday: We carpooled up to the exquisite Francis Coppola Winery where we spent the day lounging by the pool, drinking cocktails and getting to know Ashley's hilarious friends from Chicago and college. 

Friday night:  Mara had organized a fantastic night in downtown Healdsburg at Dry Creek Kitchen, where we were given a private room with access to the adorable courtyard, delicious passed apps, and unlimited wine and beer. It was a beautiful night so our waiters and bartender helped pull together aderondacks and we all sat around drinking and enjoying the warm night. 

The San Francisco ladies... 

Obviously really comfortable being the center of attention... ha.

And the bride can still do splits! 

Friday night ended with the San Francisco attendants bringing down the house with one hell of a dance party, fantastic showing all around... Mara then decided that making the frittata was a good idea so at approximately 2am Mara, Sarah, Kate and I were cooking away.  

Saturday:  Annie had been in charge of the transportation for the wine tour which is not an easy feat.  Limos are pretty pricey especially when we have such a large number so she did some research and found Jack and his Big Red Engine Co.  Not only was he hilarious and so accommodating it really put an  original and amazing spin on the day.  

The weeks leading up to the weekend I did a fair amount of internet searching to find the perfect fire truck wine tour drinking glasses and attire... The week of I went around to different party and craft stores and with the help of my craft box (yes I have one) I crafted these...

Hillbilly Wine Glasses

To keep up with the fireman theme... I made this for the bride. 

... and a hat for everyone

The day was beautiful but very, very hot! So the hats didn't stay on for fear that they would melt. 

We stopped at three wineries staying the longest at Bella where we had reserved a tour and a picnic table.  The girls (with the exception of Annie and myself who stayed behind to set up the picnic) took a tour through the wineries caves and vineyard.  It was so hot that I had to wait for them to return before I could set it all out so the presentation was not as pretty as I had planned but considering the cheese literally melted within 5 minutes, I think it turned out ok.  The night before (post dance party) I had made a Capresse salad, Watermelon and arugula salad, and a Sesame Kale salad.  Minus the melting cheese it was the perfect hot summer picnic... especially with the refreshing watermelon.  

Saturday night: The out of town girls put together a delicious Mexican Fiesta and Ashley's weekend concluded with a night of great food, pinatas, and more dancing and laughing. 

A couple pictures of the amazing Chateau, Thank you Ashley, for bringing together some many wonderful women and for treating us to this beautiful house! We love you!

The Celebrations of Rashley! AKA Rian and Ashley...

my hilarious and fantastically original friends' pre-wedding celebrations...

February: Rian finally proposes to Ashley while on a weekend getaway... 

July 13th: Rashleys' engagement/bridal shower at the speakeasy themed bar Bourbon and Branch.

Although I was on this planning commitee I really can take very little credit since Mara, Maura, and Annie did most the organizing.  They did a great job and I am pretty sure Ashley and Rian had a fantastic time! 

En route via Uber...

Skirt: Madewell, clutch: old Banana Republic, shoes: last fall's Sam Edelman, gold bracelet: borrowed from my cousin, turquoise bracelet: gift from my Aunt I believe she got it from Isabel Harvey though. 

The happy couple receiving their engagement gift from all of us- A years subscription to the 

PlumpJack Wine Club! 

The night progressed to Johnny Foley's which had a live band and with in 10 minutes of us being there a packed dance floor! 

And Finally per the grooms request... Karaoke at some swank karaoke bar whose name I can no longer remember.  There were some impressive performances! 

Overall a successful celebration of the two love birds (Ashley and Rian that is)!

Stay tuned for Ashley's Wine Country Bachelorette Weekend...

*Photos courtesy of Mara Bailey-Olson and myself.