iconic movie moments.

i simply can't get enough of this movie.

a couple of years ago on halloween, a sweet friend and i curled up after our late starbucks shift to enjoy a bit of the 80's. i seriously think i am in love with this film, and if you haven't seen it, then you reallyreally should. this is the closing scene from, "the breakfast club" one of the iconic films john hughes brought to life oh so many years ago. {a few of the others include, "sixteen candles," "pretty in pink," and "some kind of wonderful."}

*keep in mind that these should have been "r" rated by today's standards. my mama was right in keeping me from them for awhile, but now i finally get to bawl my eyes out every time i see judd nelson raise his fist in victory because he finally got his girl. um, pass the pint of ice cream. i'm a fan.

what about you? i would just love to hear about a girly/funny/sweet movie that i can curl up with when autumn finally gets to LA.

the hollywood bowl.

{ready for a picnic}

have you ever seen the movie, "beaches?" it's pretty much my favorite movie...ever. i cry every time, and chocolate-chip ice cream has proven to be the perfect partner for, "the wind beneath my wings." in the beginning of the movie, bette midler is singing on the stage of the hollywood bowl in LA. {you can watch it here!} ever since, i've wanted to visit the renowned bowl. if not for my own experience, for the exciting idea that i was standing {kind of} in cc bloom's shoes.

this weekend? it happened.

some sweet friends from church gave us free tickets to see the LA philharmonic orchestra perform Tchaikovsky. Our program was complete with fireworks, the USC drum line, the LA children's choir and ballet performed by the American Ballet Theater. in a word? amazing. Tchaikovsky is well-known for penning the score to, "The Nutcracker," and "Swan Lake," music many of us have been accidentally exposed to over the years.

in all honesty? i was a bit nervous, especially before i realized all the neat perks our program had in store. i would never describe myself as, "cultured," and classical music goes right over my head. i love country music and bette midler for heaven sake! as far as i was concerned, Tchaikovsky was going to be accompanied by my nookbook and a bottle of lemonade.

it wasn't needed.

the hollywood bowl is absolutely gorgeous, nestled in the east hollywood hills. it's actually right off the 170, which is shocking.  the acoustics were mind-blowing, and the family atmosphere is incomparable in LA. we brought a picnic lunch and blankets {nights get chilly!}, and had a night more than worthy of bette midler. {sorry. i had to throw that in there!}

are you headed to the hollywood bowl?

1. don't use the parking that the bowl offers. it's insanely expensive/frustrating. there are numerous bus lines and shuttles that run the gamut around hollywood. at only $5 a person, you're set!
2. bring a lunch, and wine is welcome. food is a bit pricey, and it's more fun to pick up yummy deli sandwiches and macaroni salad from your local market.
3.  try the lemonade/garlic fries. okay. not at the same time, but they're both worth the price! {$10 for both}
4. keep it cheap. the bowl has hundreds of seats for you and your loved ones. you don't need to sit right up close. the farther you get from the stage, the more fun the atmosphere. in the summertime, nosebleed seats are only $1!! Can't beat that.

 {leading letters}

 {best friend waiting oh-so patiently}

 {lemonade!! watermelon lemonade!!}

{before the crowds// families + yummy picnics!}

 {ready for the show.}

sprinkles.

have you made a trip out to beverly hills lately? if not, then i highly recommend it. once you push past the tourists ogling the rodeo drive sign, you can make your way to the line of people that stretches down santa monica boulevard. they wait for good reason.

sprinkles cupcakes is considered the, 'first cupcakery,' and caters to us LA people who have a sneaky sweet tooth. the bakery has since gone gone nationwide with beverly hills as the flagship store, which...just recently opened up an ice cream parlor, as well.

um, yes please.

the ice creams are extremely flavorful {try them first!} and intense, while the team puts together a 'cupcake sundae' that pretty much became my lunch/dinner. it was just as full of decadent goodness and calories as you may imagine. but it was oh-so yummy.

the store switches out ice cream and cupcake flavors daily, so you don't have to worry about this being any old cupcakery. instead, you can look forward to chai or dark chocolate or coconut...it just depends on the day of the week. make sure to pick up a calendar before you leave! {we promise. you will be back.}

**we got a dark chocolate cupcake with mint ice cream. what kind of sundae are you going to create?

 {ice cream recipe}

{love the fun layout!}

 {a sundae from heaven.}

{sharing}

{it didn't last long..}

happy friday!

When the going gets tough? 

Grab some goldfish. 

Happy Friday!!

Music: Monday.

i like to dance around my apartment. yes, it's true. i have hidden microphones stashed everywhere, a scrub brush or wooden spoon is always available for my crazy dance moves and off-key accompaniments.

last night i finished up the "footloose" remake, (definitely was awful. see the original) and the songs that played while the credits rolled were much too exciting to be left alone. i spent the rest of my evening flipping through spotify and touring the musical sensations of the twentieth century. i sang into everything from a spatula to a glass bottle of flowers, and it was one of the best evenings all weekend.

this was one of the songs that i sang/danced over. i think you'll find it quite fitting.

let her dance - the bobby fuller four