Golden

Monday, February 20, 2012


 Isn't this golden Monique Lhuillier gown to die for? I don't usually go gaga for gowns with heavy beading, but the dressmaker's daughter in me can't believe the construction of that heavenly bodice (and it inspired a whole week of Midas touched details)!

John surprised me at the office on Friday afternoon in his favorite navy suit and a bouquet of white tulips; we had tickets to see the Assad Brothers perform in Berkeley, but my sweetheart turned it into a real live date! We got sushi and shared an enormous Sapporo, then listened to a truly beautiful concert. Of course, the westbound closure of the Bay Bridge was a fly in the ointment, but we took a long, late night drive home–fans of All the King's Men know how magical riding in a car in the dark can be! 

John left the house early for a full day of opera rehearsals, so I did what any girl with the house to herself would–with a cup of tea and a raspberry scone, I settled in to read my favorite blogs and watch television I'd be mortified to make John sit through. He not so patiently watches the Bachelor with me, but I just couldn't make him sit through Say Yes to the Dress or Pretty Little Liars–don't judge me! When John finally got home that evening, we decided to only thing that could help kick his cold was spicy Indian food (you didn't think we could go a whole weekend without it, did you?) and The Rum Diary; if you haven't seen it yet, I couldn't recommend it more highly! John and I were actually in stitches, and of course, all I wanted was a daiquiri as the credits rolled.

We made plans to meet my cousin and her boyfriend for brunch on Sunday morning, but after we put our names down on the third page of a two-column waiting list at Outerlands, we decided chipotle benedict at the less popular Sea Breeze Cafe was our best bet for breakfast during morning hours. We headed home well-caffeinated hours later and settled in to watch a documentary about Eliot Spitzer called Client-9 (can you tell we made good use of our Netflix subscription this weekend?), then got into what would be our normal Sunday night routine–a good clean of the house so it requires minimal upkeep throughout the week, and a labor intensive supper, the sort of thing we won't cook on Thursday night. But then I grinned and remembered–our offices are closed today!

Are you enjoying a President's Day off? I'm thinking a little yoga, some reading (maybe even at the beach) and plenty of indulgent blogging–what do you plan to do with the bit of extra weekend?

Photo by Kristin Vining.

30 comments:

  1. Lena, this dress... what can I say? Stunning. I'm not into colored wedding dresses but I would not say no to wearing this. Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend (I love reading about John and your adventures :). And so glad you liked the Rum Diaries. I got yesterday because I love movies set in the Caribbean ... But so good to know it's a good one to watch. Happy Monday!

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  2. Enjoy your day off! Jared is at work today, seems like a split with who has to work and who doesnt.

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  3. I had completely forgotten about President's Day. Your weekends always sound so dreamy. Don't apologize for watching Say Yes To The Dress. We all watch... hahaha!

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  4. i wish i had today off!! your weekend sounds like it was fantastic--hoooray for surprise suits :) how sweet. i had a similar saturday morning... h had to go into work for a few hours so i took the opportunity to watch the young victorian..again :) happy monday! xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams

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  5. Awww John is so cute! I love white tulips - you're one lucky lady :-)

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  6. You lucky lucky girl! A date with the man of your dreams and Monday off? I heart you :) xo

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  7. Ha ha...I almost thought you went an entire weekend without Indian! Not so much! Sounds lovely!

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  8. The fact that someone as sophisticated as you watched Say Yes to the Dress and Pretty Little Liars makes me feel so much better, haha! :) My John was here for the weekend so we had lots of fun!! Some highlights were exploring in downtown Austin, getting lost in Whole Foods, and venturing out to an Austin legend--the Salt Lick barbecue!

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  9. What a stunner!! This dress is making me want to get married again! The bodice is absolutely stunning on it too. Aw, sounds like you enjoyed an amazing date with your guy, what a romantic night. xo veronika

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  10. Okay so that dress is to DIE for in every way. I'm swooning over the though of John showing up in a navy suit (is there anything hotter than a man in a suit? Why don't more of them take note??) And Rum Diary is on our must do this, the preview looked fantastic! Enjoy your day off and do a tree pose for me. I'll be sitting at my desk all day with bad posture :)

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  11. I adore that he surprised you! How amazingly sweet. Love hearing about your weekend.

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  12. This dress is stunning, an absolute confection!!
    The sun is shining bright today so we are off sledding with some delicious hot chocolate in tow to keep the chill away.
    Enjoy the beach!!

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  13. I actually tried to recreate a Lena & John weekend complete with yummy pastries and Indian food and failed miserably. Your weekends just always sound so much more relaxing and dreamy than mine. How do you do it!

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  14. One of my favorite things about Mondays is knowing you will write a post about your lovely weekend!!!!

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  15. Oh my gosh. I watched so much Atlanta SYTTD on Friday night then Gone With The Wind came on and I ended up talking with a drawl to the dog way before my boyfriend got home from work! The glass of whiskey might have helped with that.

    The next day he surprised me with a chocolate strawberry cupcake (even though he only got it to try to lure me out of a store. It worked.) and I was a happy, happy girl.

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  16. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING gown!!!! What a fabulous sounding weekend and boy aren't tulips wonderfully romantic?!

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  17. Haha I kid you not, we just finished watching The Rum Diary -- and I wholeheartedly agree, it was so good. Glad you hear you had a lovely long weekend! I love those times when I have a chance to catch up on Gossip Girl (I won't judge if you won't ;)

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  18. Gorgeous dress and frankly it sounds like a dreamy weekend! Love that he picked you up in a suit!

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  19. this dress look like a piece of art! enjoy your day off today!

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  20. I worked today, we had a photo shoot- the first session the year! Hair stylists, make up artists. camera and charming children ( at My age everyone is a child except my mom! It went great except for all the classical ballets which we on a medium adult girl who really wasn't a ballerina except she could do pointe, but we had her squeezed into smalls and she would have looked so much better in mediums.... finished with oysters and wine and Merlinda! now that is a day to remember..

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  21. No judgment here! I love Pretty Little Liars too! I have to check out the Rum Diaries. Not only do I LOVE Johnny Depp, but I heard this was a great book that makes you want to sip cocktails beachside.

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  22. We were meant to watch The Rum Diary this weekend too, but somehow we ended up with too much on and never got around to it... next weekend it is!

    ~ Clare x

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  23. What a nice surprise! I did laundry on my extra day off. There was so many rainy dog walks that I was happy to do it!

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  24. Um, I just know I have to meet you and John in "real life" one day. He sounds like such a charmer. What a lovely weekend, and a stunning dress. Can't wait for the inspired week. xo

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  25. First of all, that dress is gorgeous. Your weekend sounded amazing. That is so adorable that your guy brought flowers on Friday and the rest of the weekend sounded perfectly relaxing.

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  26. had no idea you were the daughter of a dressmaker! will she be making your wedding gown!?

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  27. that dress is amazing!! funny story.. i went to high school with the girl who played chenault in rum diary. i actually ran into her this summer!

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  28. Lena, are you kidding me with this weekend? And it all started off with your fiance showing up all dressed up to take you out? Dying. And I love that he sits through The Bachelor. Not only do I erase any evidence of me watching it on our OnDemand menu, but I pretend to violently hate it:) Maybe he's doing the same thing?!! Anyways, your weekend sounded magical, as always!

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