Happy freakin Monday beautiful people!!
It's been a minute since I've posted {just over a week} BUTTT I have been soooo dang busy...
Surprising, I know.
BUT -- If you're new here, HELLO AND WELCOME!! If you're a returning reader, welcome back and y'all probably know why I have been so busy. Lemme fill you in if not.
My last post {all about my Perricone favorites} was posted September 14th, the day before one of my best friends flew out to visit me from San Francisco. From the 15th until the 18th we were so dang busy, primarily just eating our way through LA {the usual} and shopping {but failing at it}. We literally went back and forth from my hometown to Malibu to Beverly Hills to Santa Monica to Downtown to to to... You get the picture BUTTTT basically we were having absolutely NO so we just bet our lives on a package from Revolve to appear on my doorstep by Saturday morning after ordering a couple of outfits after midnight on Thursday {in case you were wondering, they arrived}. THEN on Saturday evening I had a lil birthday celebration with some girls {I'll get into that in a lil bit}, Sunday was my birthday so I spent it with my family, and then the whole week I spent with my mama and nana.
Let's dive into the details right away though cause I know that's what ACTUALLY brought you to my blog today.
Let me preface this post by telling you this year was BY FAR one of THE BEST birthdays of my life. If y'all remember, last year was a bit of a fog and I didn't even eat dinner or blow out my candles cause I was too busy throwing up BUTTTT this year I wanted it to be small and I wanted it to be classy {aka no girls leaning over toilets}. I have never felt so loved or so special in my life. I am sooooo freakin grateful for all my friends and family and I am one lucky girl.
THE LOCATION
Truthfully, I got ZERO pictures of the location cause I didn't really think of it and my brand new Valenino shoes were too busy getting ruined by going through the holes in the wooden floor {rip birthday shoes}. I think at that time I was too worried about my shoes and wanting to cry cause they were a birthday gift from my parents and I hadn't even had them for 24 hours or even worn them for an hour.
I will tell you though that getting reservations for groups during COVID-19 is EXTREMELY difficult. If you're planning on getting a group together for any kind of celebration, don't plan on finding places that will seat more than 4-6 people together.
Considering my birthday was September 20th, my mama and I began calling restaurants the first week of September to see who would originally seat 15 {my family of 4 + an additional 9 girls}.
My original plan was to do the Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch and that was a HUGE ordeal. We were told we had reservations but by the time we went to confirm they had lost them... Ultimately we ended up finalizing that we were actually going to go there after speaking with a manager on September 18th at 6:00 pm BUT a week prior to the 19th, we were scrambling... We literally called ALL of the cute and "trendy" restaurants throughout Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Malibu BUTTTT the maximum amount of people allowed at a table would be 6 {if not 4}. It was a TOTAL cluster, but I could not be happier that the Malibu Cafe worked out.
For those of you who don't know much about the Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch, it is nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains {off of Kanan and Muholland}. With a restaurant and winery, a cute lil pond with "love boats," twinkling lights, games, and so much more, this destination is absolutely BEAUTIFUL for anything and everything, not to mention the food and cocktails are absolutely INCREDIBLE {but we'll get into those a lil bit later}.
THE SET UP
Once again, my mother NAILED IT!! I've said it once and I'll say it again {and continue to say it}, I truly think my mama should get into the party planning business. When my friends think of my mom, THIS is literally what she is known for. I kid you not, she goes above and beyond. From the balloons, to the floral arrangements, to the unicorn and champagne party poppers, to the sparkles and cups, the table set up was an absolute DREAM...
I'll link as much stuff below as possible that my mama used to decorate... BUT SERIOUSLY, HOW FREAKIN CUTE?!?!
THE FLORAL ARRANGEMENT -- My mama did the floral arrangement on her own in our very kitchen. IT WAS STUNNING!! Before planning my lil celebration, I knew the color scheme I was going for: PINKS {if you couldn't tell by now}. So natura
lly, my mama bought out two Gelsons locations and selected a HUGE variety of flowers to put together. I don't think she realized how large // tall it was going to end up but it was perfect. She had bo
ught a MacKenzie Childs Waste Bin {that matches some items I already own} and used that as her flower pot // vase. From there, she just layered flowers and it just continued to grow. Now, it's sitting on the kitchen counter for all to see and still about ten days later it still looks soooo fresh and like it was just put together.
THE GOODIE BAGS
You've officially made it to one of the best parts because I wish I could replay the girls opening their goodie bags over and over again {I still need to edit my birthday vlog but there was so much content cause I was actually sober this year lol}. Anyways, I just want to say I am so freakin lucky because of what I do for work these days. Loads of you may know I am pretty much "funemployed" and no longer working in real estate BUT creating content is something I've been doing for almost two years now and because of that I have had the opportunity to work // partner with some amazing companies.
Let's open up the goodies now...
CORKCICLE -- I don't even know the last time I used a "normal" water bottle... I literally began my reusable bottle collection while I was in college {also yes, I've filled one with wine for class} and before I ever thought I would be doing instagram stuff and working with companies {i.e. Corkcicle}, the majority of them were Corkcicle.
I swear, Corkcicle has NEVER disappointed me!! In addition to the leak-proof cap, the triple insulated stainless steel design incapsulates heat for 12 hours and a cold beverage for 25 hours. The bottles are truly amazing... I will wake up, put fresh ice and water in my bottle, and the ice will still be in there by the evening.
If you follow me on insta g you would know that I had the opportunity to work with Corkcicle on the release of their Slim Arctican {the can holder for seltzers} a couple of months ago. Because I loved having the opportunity of working with Corkcicle, leading up to my birthday {about a week in advance} I reached out to my contact who had previously reached out to me.
She graciously sent over EIGHT Color Block Collection Canteens in the white and rose gold color which worked perfectly for my lil party and the girls absolutely LOVED them {and as much as my brother wanted to keep the one at his place too, I made him give it to his girlfriend}.
GOLDSHEEP CLOTHING -- If you look at the photo of the pink goodie bags above you can ever so slightly see a lil gold envelope peeking out... THAT is what the Goldsheep leggings {and sports bras} come in!!
I have been so lucky to be working with this company for almost a year now and they have supplied some of my FAVORITE sets of workout clothes {proof is on my insta g}. This year for my birthday, I reached out to them {yes, bloggers reach out to companies} and asked if they would like to be included in the celebration and posted on my blog.
Considering it was SUPER last minute, I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst. THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOVE TO THOUGH!! Goldsheep Clothing provided each girl with a different design from their G Street line which was so dang thoughtful of them. ALSO, did I mention because it was so last minute {and truly just meant to be}, they wanted me to pick up the leggings fresh off the press in Costa Mesa? Yeah, so it just so happened that my dad was in Newport and was going to be driving home Friday afternoon {at the same time the woman who I work with at Goldsheep wanted me to stop by}.
ANYWAYS... The girls LOVED their leggings and in less than 24 hours Megs and I were already wearing ours {again, the opening will be included in the vlog}. For those of you who are looking for a new brand of leggings that isn't "basic" like Lululemon or Alo, I would 12/10 recommend Goldsheep to you!! Goldsheep is a vibrant, one-of-a-kind legging brand that is dedicated to bringing light to favorable images and putting them on legs for the rest of the world to wear.
{I'll take a pic to update this post soon}
LAPCOS -- UGH guyssssss!! I failed you!! I didn't take a picture of the LAPCOS face masks BUT they were just the basic sheet masks. I had bought multiple variety packs and in each bag, I provided the girls with three different sheet masks at random.
Although they aren't necessarily my "favorite mask," I have been using the LAPCOS sheet masks for a few years now and they are always so refreshing to have on your face. With a selection of honey, vitamin c, charcoal, red wine, pearl, etc. your options are endless and if you are to purchase these face masks {or any other sheet mask} I highly recommend you putting it in the refrigerator prior to using them.
The chill on your face will help with the swelling and puffiness, so I like using these sheet masks when I wake up or as I'm getting ready for a night out {which hasn't been in done in five ever}.
LOLLIA -- I have been using Lollia products for YEARS now!! I swear, my signature scent was Wish for THE LONGEST time and to this day, I still continue to use it {and keep the lotion in my handbag and an extra perfume bottle in my car}. This post isn't about the products I already have and use all the time though...
My mama decided to go the extra mile and drive throughout the entirety of Los Angeles {I'm talking about from Sherman Oaks to Santa Monica to Beverly Hills} to find a pink Lollia bottle to match the color scheme: Lollia Always in Rose Bubble Bath. I think she went to a total of six places and then I went to a store on Melrose to pick up the last of them. When I tell you she went above and beyond, you best believe me... I also never knew that a bottle of bubble bath would be $70.
It was so thoughtful and it truly pulled together the entire table with the pops of pink in the cellophane. I have yet to try it {cause I'm ALL for the aesthetic and currently have it on display in my bathroom}; but, I have NO doubt that it will smell incredible.
LET'S INDULGE:
To say the very least, I am SOOOOO freakin happy I chose NOT to wear Spanx because the previous night Meggy and I went to Laurel Hardware {12/10 recommend} and my biggest regret was wearing those bad boys...
Note to self {and others}: NEVER wear anything restricting during a celebration!!
Now back to the food -- IT. WAS. INCREDIBLE.
DRINKS -- In addition to not getting ANY reception at Calamigos Ranch, I ordered a drink called the No Reception {which is like a spicy margarita} without the jalapeño... AND YESSSS I ORDERED A SECOND ONE!!
Each girl got a drink or two or three so it did add up but my oh my can I say my drink was AMAZING!! The mix of fruity and tequila was absolute perfection {I couldn't taste the alcohol} and if I wasn't going to be driving home that night I probably would have ordered a third. I have never been disappointed by a drink at Calamigos Ranch {and I loved the drink so much I had another No Reception when I went back for dinner last night}.
If you like drinks with tequila, I HIGHLY recommend what I had; although, I head the other drinks were incredible too if you're more of a mezcal or vodka kinda person.
DINNER -- I will preface this by saying I am very fortunate and lucky to have parents who want to celebrate with me and are willing to pay for my friends and I so the cost of the drinks, appetizers, and dessert was all covered by them {thanks mom and dad!!}.
I got ZERO photos of the appetizers {the roasted cauliflower was my fav} but I think those may appear on the vlog once I get around to that. Our appetizers consisted of multiple plates of roasted cauliflower, summer squash, and fig burrata toast {click here to see the full menu} and for about an hour we munched on those. Honestly at that point, I could've stopped eating BUTTTT I'm a good girl {and a girl who likes to eat} so I obviously ordered a main plate.
I actually think everybody ate WAYYYY more than we had all originally planned but the food was too good to stop {and after going back last night for din for another friends birthday and only getting one cocktail and the chicken to eat and my total being $85+ I am realizing how much truly went into this birthday din}... Again, thanks mom and dad!!
ROCKIIE'S CAKES -- Holy freakin heck, the moment I took my first bite of this cake I was absolutely speechless. This was the cake of my dreams and SOOOOO much went into it.
Let me give y'all a little back story: Every year since my sweet sixteen, my mama has bought Susie Cake birthday cakes and // or cupcakes for my brother and me. Even when I moved to TX, a Susie Cakes was put in at the lil shopping plaza just down the street from my school so it worked out AND we were able to personalize them {click here to see last years cake // cupcakes}. This year, the Calabasas store {closest to our house} is temporarily closed due to COVID and then we called the other Susie Cakes shops and they weren't making any personalized goodies due to COVID.
I quickly hopped onto Google and managed to find a cake shop near my house called Rockiie's Cakes. I worked with the owner, Raquel, and had a FacetTime to explain to her what kind of cake I was wanting and what I wanted it to look like. I literally searched Pinterest for hours and found a bunch of cakes with different details I liked: ombre coloring, a white chocolate drip from the top, fresh floral decor, etc.
On September 19th {a week after my FaceTime with Raquel and the day of my party}, I was absolutely SPEECHLESS!! The cake was BEAUTIFUL. With a funfetti batter and buttercream frosting, this cake TRULY was the cake of my dreams and the girls LOVED it... Not to mention, I had some left over that I was able to freeze and eat throughout the week... I'll start monitoring my food intake in October {**wink wink**}.
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NOW -- If y'all made it this far in my blog post, I applaud you and thank you so much. To this very day {over a week after my birthday} I can't get over how loved and special I felt. I am so dang excited for what this lap around the sun has in store for me: hopefully a new job, a big move, and some nice adventures... I love you all and thank you so dang much for all the birthday wishes and the support when it comes to my blogging.
Make sure you follow me on insta-g {I currently have a giveaway going on}, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel cause I am hoping to post my birthday vlog in the next week or so, and make sure you follow me on TikTok because your girl is starting to get active on that!!
Have a fabulous week!!
While I would love to post twice this week, my cousin is getting married this weekend so I have A LOT to do before then!! I also just RSVP'd to my other cousins baby shower {via zoom lol}. So much love is in the air!!
LOTS OF LOVE!!
xoxo V
