Five on Friday

If you've been reading this week it will come as no surprise to you that we've been sprucing up our landscaping and getting our outdoor areas ready for summer.  We've uncovered our balcony furniture (we need to use that space more often!), landscaped our front walk and set our deck up.  One area we haven't touched in the two years since our house has been built is our lower deck area.

We debated whether or not to lay brick or add an actual deck platform but we opted for the easier route of cleaning off the platform and adding a garden area to cover up some dirt and flowers for appeal.  I forgot a before picture but this is the "getting there" picture.  Stand by for the finished product once we get our furniture in place.  And yes, that is Stella supervising inside the door.

Froyo is the perfect treat all year round but we always forget to go grab it just because.  Last weekend we were so hot doing housework out in the heat we opted to meet some family for a cooling treat later in the day - many more of these nights to come.

I'm a sucker for a pageant but I feel like I've been too busy to just sit and watch the past few Miss USA/Miss America's in the past years but Sunday it was pouring and the perfect time to just be.  Now I'm campaigning for Derek to take me the short drive down the shore in September for Miss America.

How cute is Stella?  She crawled right up to cuddle & watch too.

We usually make our California trip late summer but this year we're doing it early for many reasons and it sort of snuck up on me!  I've  been in major planning mode all week to get a game plan of what we want to do, eat, see, etc.  Although one thing I'm certain of - there will be lots of relaxing.  I think we pretty much have our favorites and new things to try down  but any Newport Beach/Malibu & Westlake Village/Beverly Hills but send any suggestions my way!

A shot in Malibu from last year's trip (dress | sunglasses | earrings)

And lastly, here's what I'm loving this week (everything is either on sale or a new arrival)...

kimono | bow bag | bracelet | neutral bag | striped off the shoulder top 

Happy Weekend.  Cheers!