Round Two in the “Fave Finds” series!

A few weeks ago we took Scott’s mother to San Francisco as a surprise trip for her birthday. The trip was planned beautifully by Scott’s sister Lauren and her fiance Josh (who will be getting married at the spectacular Firestone Vineyard this fall – where I’ll get to be a real-live guest, A GUEST! Dancing and hors d’oeuvres WATCH OUT!!) I have been to San Francisco numerous times from my first visit at age 3, to my last one in 2006 (when I wore flip flops and cursed my bad judgment and frozen toes the entire trip). We always visited the same places. Pier 39. Ghirardelli Square. Ride the cable car, eat the clam chowder, rinse and repeat.

But never to the Ferry Building. It was the first place Lauren and Josh took us and it is now on the top of my list of favorite places in the city. Rows upon rows of the cutest shops selling cheeses, teas, herbs, home decor. A vibrant bustling Farmer’s Market surrounded the outside, where we picked up a delicious breakfast & steaming cups of coffee. I was most enamored with the flowers. How I wished I could bring home a bunch of colorful ranunculus or branch of peach blossoms. (Where can you buy a whole branch from a tree here? Anyone?)

Here’s a bit of what I captured (all taken with the point-and-shoot) in between my shrieks of joy and lamenting of “why don’t we have this in LA?” Can’t wait to return! What are your favorite places in SF?

I returned home from WPPI last month equipped with a few different things that I felt would really help my business grow. Fresh new ideas. A big dose of inspiration. A huge bag filled with tradeshow brochures galore (which has since sat untouched by my desk – fail!) And then there was the grand prize. The cherry on top. The colorful little toothpick in my proverbial chicken salad sandwich.

Say hello to the new star of my photo-making collection!

I had been eying the 5D Mark II for some time and was planning on hunting one down upon my return to LA. But when B&H lured me to their booth at WPPI and informed me that they had one ready to ship, I was sold. SOLD. Before I knew it, I was signing and smiling away. I’ve used it for a couple of shoots already and I can hereby declare that I’ve fallen madly in love. I might as well be scribbling “Adrienne hearts 5DMkII <3 <3 <3” all over my notebooks. The full frame is perfect. The ISO capabilities are just dreamy. The click of the shutter makes my heart skip a beat. LOVE!

A few of the first shots this bad boy captured upon exiting the box:

This last one is of some herbs we picked up at the Farmer’s Market a couple weeks ago. As much as I ADORE herbs, I try not to get too close to them as to not immediately destroy them with the wrath of my brown thumb. I think I seriously cause them to shrivel with a single glance. It’s a dangerous place for vegetation in here!

I almost wanted to burst into a rendition of “My Favorite Things” as I walked through the Vibiana a couple weeks ago for this year’s Pamper Me Fabulous event. It was as if someone had peeked into my mind and pulled out all of my most adored things – fruity drinks, delicate chocolates, girl talk, fresh magazines, spa treatments, sweet architecture & design, overflowing swag bags, and best of all, a good cause – and made a huge fabulous event out of it. I thought Pamper Me Fabulous was a 100 on the Fabulometer (a new device I just invented) last year, but this year’s event was completely off the charts!

I started snapping away the second we exited our car and first caught site of the majestic Vibiana (I believe I was ooh-ing and clicking away while Scott was still struggling with the bags). Upon stepping inside, we found ourselves in a decadent oasis in the midst of downtown LA – clean lounge furniture, magazines on tables, and an amazing line-up of salons and spas, bazaars, and of course, the food, the FOOD. When I’m on the job, it’s always about focusing on the shots and not on the Fabulous Tier of Endless Cupcakes, but I do admit to being convinced by the woman at Mignon Chocolate table to try ONE teensy Mojito-flavored morsel.

Amanda, Ada, and the their team at Fresh Events definitely outdid themselves this time. The ambiance was divine, the treatments as relaxing as ever, and the causes beyond noble. This year they put together the Fabulous Female Awards as well, recognizing amazing women who serve within our community. The awards ceremony concluded the day perfectly with a message of empowerment and giving.

And now for a walk through the day!

The drinks below are amazing fruit smoothies from Glowelle. They come in luxe flavors like Raspberry Jasmine and Pomegranate Lychee and are chock-full of vitamins to refresh your skin from the inside out!

Councilwoman Jan Perry kicks off the Fabulous Female Awards.

Karina Smirnoff presents; Alice Crisci, who launched a foundation for breast cancer patients, speaks about her cause.