Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh....

Miss me? The past week has been filled with love, family, relaxation and inspiration. We left Thursday morning for LA, arrived to a crisp breeze and sunshine, drove to Santa Barbara for my beautiful sister's wedding and checked into our amazing cabin at El Capitan Canyon. I'd love to say I took lots of great pictures to share with you, but, for once, I decided to experience the weekend rather than trying to capture the whole thing to experience later. Here's just a quick look at the weekend's events (with just a few pics taken by more diligent photographers than I). I apologize in advance for the ridiculous number of parentheticals that are sure to follow - chalk it up to a lack of coffee...

Thursday night - BBQ hosted by the groom's (wonderful) family

Friday morning - Watching my daughter experience the ocean for the first time, squooshing my toes in the sand (yeah, that's my tattoo)


Friday evening - Rehearsal dinner at the campground

Saturday - Wedding run-through at the incredible venue (seriously, pictures do not do it justice)


Saturday afternoon - Hair and makeup at the Bacara Resort and Spa (sheer, unadulterated decadence)


Saturday evening - Wedding and reception (here's my daughter with the adorable ring-bearers)


Sunday - Back to LA for some family time

Monday - More fun at the beach and back home

You know how sometimes you just need a break from the ordinary to start seeing things in a new way? I realized on the plane home that I'd been in a bit of a design rut and was both surprised and delighted to find my head positively bursting with new ideas and concepts for future projects. I won't lie and tell you that re-entry into our "normal" schedule hasn't been a bit of a b*tch (pardon my French), but I'm managing to catch up slowly but surely, and without that awful overwhelmed feeling that so often accompanies the end of a break from routine. For the moment at least, I find myself content, relaxed, focused and inspired. Not a bad place to be.