Giving Thanks

Thankful.

It's a powerful feeling, something that roots you in the majesty of the moment while guiding you to another place where hopes and dreams hang out.

Being thankful.

It's contagious, as the soul smiles wide when you appreciate what you have, who you are, where you're headed.

Being thankful every day.

It's both the eternal challenge, and glittering, golden opportunity.

I feel very, very thankful today...

Hipster Hangin' in Brooklyn

For New York work trip #2, I flew out a few days early to spend some "off duty" fun time with my friend Ellen who moved back last year from L.A.

We had the BEST time exploring the city and making like tourists - cool ones, of course - in the eclectic neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that came to sort of define our generation's hipster cultural movement that's now mainstream.

Some snaps are below, as pictures tell the story of this sun-dappled afternoon in Brooklyn way better than I could with words...

Graffiti streetscape before crossing the Brooklyn Bridge

It was quite a moment for me to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge!

So lucky to stumble across this magical greenhouse patio at super cute Wild restaurant

A summer scene of yummy burrata, tomatoes, baby figs and a glass of rose

Fell in love with this panama hat at the sublimely vintage Goorin Bros. hat shop

Ellen's stylish pick

Tables of interesting books lining the leafy streets

The stinky cheese I chose at the delightful Bedford Cheese Shop -- the staff apparently gets creative carte blanche for their "whoa!" written descriptions ... my Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor goat cheese was immortalized as: "If Humbolt Fog is the cocaine of cheese, this is the giant crack rock..."

People watching on the patio as the sun lowered at Trix

Cheers to a memorable afternoon getting to know Williamsburg...

New York, New York

I just got back from a whirlwind work trip to New York. We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental that overlooks leafy Central Park and a cluster of white-hued skyscrapers from its perch on Columbus Circle.

After hitting the pavement hard for 12 media appointments with top magazine editors, my sunken bathtub and bath salts, the dreamy bed near the window wall, they swallowed me into R&R bliss, realms and realities from the electricity of this city that never turns off...

Midsummer's Dream

It was a go-go-go weekend, and a highlight was my friend Haley's 3-year anniversary party for her beautifully bohemian clothing line called Junim.

The mellow Sunday party was something out of a midsummer's dream! Things unfolded at her hushed little cottage in the Hollywood Hills, in a fairy-like outdoor space with handmade dreamcatchers swaying from leafy trees, wildflowers in a mish-mash of colorful bottles and silk-dyed ribbon garlands hovering over the table with popcorn in hand-painted bags and fruit-toppled sangria. Cool tunes, old and new, played from one corner of the studio - I sort of flipped out when "My Girl" from The Temptations came on (ha!).

Racks of her whimsical tie-dyed silk dresses, funky and sequin shifts and gypsy separates lined one side of the cottage studio, and I of course hightailed it to the bathroom to try one on!

Those dreamcatchers!

Hanging out with Kristen and Carlie

Ribbons for days...

Girls Night!

It was Saturday night in L.A, and not even a rare showing of rain could keep us inside. I mean, sometimes you just NEED a fun night out with girlfriends!

The night began with catching up over rose wine -- or as I call it, "summer water" -- and snacks at my place.

Then a moody Hollywood lounge with delicious white sangria toppled with fresh fruit.

All capped with some hip hop and '90s jams at a hole-in-the-wall spot on Fairfax Avenue that reminded me of a no-frills college house party.

Mission accomplished!

Oh, Napa Valley

When you go to Napa Valley, the moments are so magical that maybe only photos can halfway capture the fleeting luminosity of it all. Herewith, some snapshots from last weekend's work trip to Napa...