Reasons I moved back to California.

I've been keeping a mental list over the past week of the things that I am really appreciating since I've been back on the West Coast, + thought I'd share a few of them.  (Proximity to friends + family is obviously a given, so it is not mentioned below.)

* I have been driving around for the past week with the roof on my car open - day and night.  The temperatures have been blissful here.

* I forgot how great the produce here is.  I mean - I have not been eating much outside of produce over the past week: spinach, cucumbers, apples, bananas, bell peppers, squash, edamame...if it's green, I've probably eaten it this week!

* Accomodating special diets is easy.  Practically everything has a gluten-free option at the stores here!

* Orange and pink and red sunsets like I watched yesterday.  Enough said.

* My new bedroom is the size of my entire New York apartment.  My bedroom.  Not to mention that I also have a living room, a kitchen, a dining nook, a hallway(!), and a bathroom...all of which are not located in the same room. 

* Did I mention it was 83 degrees here on Saturday?

Going gluten-free.

So for about six months now, I've been getting fevers regularly.  I mentioned to my doctor of a brother-in-law a few weeks ago how at least once a week, I get super achey and run a temperature.  His eyebrow went up right away, + he made sure to emphasize that this was, indeed, not normal.  He added himself to a list of doctors that have suggested over the past seven years that I may have a gluten allergy, which could be causing the inflammation which triggers the fevers.

I've had multiple doctors over the past seven years suggest that I may have gluten issues, a couple of them even suggesting that I may have Celiac's.  Seven years ago though, having gluten allergies were not nearly as well diagnosed as they are even now, so it was a really hard thing for me to wrap my mind around.  Not to mention that I was in college back then, + I mean....beer has gluten, so that wasn't something I was interested in forgoing at that point in time.

Enter my commitment to a Gluten-Free March.  I get annoyed at these hit-and-run fevers and aches, so I am willing to edit gluten out of my diet to try to see if that improves the situation.  I had started back on February 25 to do no gluten, but I messed up a few days in (oops), so I restarted on March 1st.  It's surprising how many things have gluten in them that we don't even realize - America truly is a wheat nation.  Sticking to foreign cuisine has been my safest bet thus far: Greek, Japanese (soy sauce has gluten, by the way!), Thai (they generally use rice noodles), Mexican (double check to make sure the tortillas are corn, not flour!). 

I am totally learning as I go.  I moved into my apartment officially (yay!!) on Friday evening, so I did a fresh grocery run this weekend, + I can safely say the food in my apartment is 100% gluten free.  (Thank you, Trader Joe's.)

Do you have follow a gluten-free diet, or have you ever?  I'd love to hear any tips that you may have.  I'll keep you all posted throughout the month to let you know how I'm doing, + how I'm feeling as a result.

Getting back into the swing of things.

It feels good to be back in LA + not have to think about packing my suitcase again for a few weeks!  I was welcomed home with some chilly 50 degree weather this week (boo, I know, 50s in February - we're so spoiled) + I had a handful of things on my agenda to get taken care of over my first few days home in order to get my apartment ready to be moved into.

To get you up to speed - I signed my apartment lease a few weeks ago before I headed to Vegas, but because I was leaving the following day, I wasn't able to get anything into my new place before that trip.  When I returned from Vegas for the two days before I went back to New York, I was able to do all of my furniture shopping (Really!  I got everything I needed taken care of!) and I set the delivery date for as soon as I got home from New York.  So I returned this weekend from my trip, + I finally got my refrigerator ordered!  Who would have thought that 25 would be so gosh darn exciting that I'd be ordering appliances of my very own within the first 48 hours of my mid-twenties?  Kidding, of course :)

So my furniture was all delivered this week, + I am now just waiting for my refrigerator to arrive on Saturday, + I will be all set for the official move in!  It feels like it has taken FOREVER to get settled back here in LA, but once I'm in, I know I will be super cozy and comfortable in my new abode.  Oh, I cannot wait to curl up on that pretty new couch of mine!

I turned 25.

Birthday week was fantastic.  I cannot remember exactly how many nights in a row last week I was served dessert + a birthday song.  And I love when strangers at the next table join in on the birthday song...doesn't that just make it all the more fun?? 

I had dinner every night with a different set of friends, and on Thursday night, a group of friends + I met at the Ace Hotel lounge for some late night snacks + a midnight toast to my officially turning 25.  (Picture above is my dessert + song from that night!)  Everyone there that night agreed the next day that they hadn't laughed so hard in a long while, which just further solidified that I have kickass friends.  I had a blast, was surrounded by some of my nearest + dearest, + I am beyond anticipating an amazing year ahead!

I am back in LA now for a few weeks, so I will finally be able to get back up to speed on my goings-on, catch up on your blogs, + get settled into my new apartment!  More on that this week :)

Happy Monday!
xoxo.

Forget Waldo...Where's Lacey?

Oh hey!  I'm back in Nueva York again this week for another trade show.  January + February are two of our busiest months of the year, hence my traveling here, there, + everywhere.  I returned from Las Vegas on Thursday, made all of my furniture purchases on Friday + Saturday, + I hopped back on a plane bright + squirrely on Sunday morning to head to New York.  The above is the view from my hotel...how can you not love this city?

I can't believe my birthweek is actually upon me.  Twenty-five?!  Who do I think I am, getting old like this?  Kidding...I know I am plenty young.  I'm totally not one to dread a birthday - I think with each one, it should be a celebration of all of the good, bad, and character building days that you survived in the past year.  And cheers to the ones ahead...it's so true that we as humans get better with age.

On that note though, I am ready to kiss 24 goodbye.  It was a really good year, it was.  Everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - worked out the way it was meant to and I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this point.  You all know though that I conquered a cross country move and withstood a rather rattling break up in the second half of 24, so I am ready to ring in 25 with a clear mind, open eyes, and a happy heart.  My goal for 25?  To continue to work to be more present in everything I do.  Think about it...it's a good one to strive for.

And with that, the countdown begins to Friday....

xoxo.

I'm in Vegas!

I know, I'm slacking majorly lately...bare with me for about a week longer, and my travel schedule will begin to slow down.  (I have been updating my tumblr from my phone with pictures of my adventures though, if you want to check that out here!)

I'm in Viva Las Vegas for a week of Fashion Trade Shows, and I'm having a great time seeing customers, chatting with my coworkers who are in from different parts of the country, + I even had a chance run in yesterday with a blogger that I've followed for a few years now: the gorgeous Mara from M Loves M...such a small world!

I'm back to LA tomorrow, + then I turn around on Sunday to head to New York for a week of more trade shows!  It's a fun time, + someone's gotta do it :)

Cheers to a great weekend to you ladies, + thanks for understanding my disappearing act lately.  xoxo

Catching up.

Good morning from rainy Southern California!  I took the day off today to try to find that home of mine that I've had on my mind for over two months now.  I'm finally in LA for the entire week, and my travel season is beginning to wind down for a while (a couple more trips and then March begins to resemble a little bit of normalcy), so it's time to get all of my personal things in order.  Numero uno: Find my new apartment.

It's been over a week since I have checked in to say hello, so a bit of a recap for you:  I spent a week in Dallas, and I so enjoyed it!  In between my work duties, I got to visit with my dear friend CK and her fiance AL, who are getting hitched next month in Dallas!

Then I headed back to NY for the week for meetings, and I had a great time with my old friends, newly made friends, + my colleagues there.  Sleep wasn't the first thing on the agenda that week, so I crashed pretty hard this weekend once I returned.  I've been in bed the past few nights no later than 930, trying to recup before my next trip this weekend.

Where do I head this weekend?  I'm off to Viva Las Vegas for another trade show (trust me, there is no other reason I spend more than 48 consecutive hours in Vegas, unless it is for work!), and a few of my fabulous coworkers from around the country are all flying in as well (shoutouts to ALC, LB, + JW! and a ghost shoutout to KD, who will be missed!), so I cannot wait for a great work week!  Once I get back from Vegas, I'm home for a couple days, then back to New York for five days before I fly home in time to toast my birthday night :) 

Speaking of my birthday, coming up on 25 is starting to feel a little strange.  For as long as I can remember in my career and friend groups, I've been the youngest.  And I'm plenty happy with not having to whisper my age when a colleague inquires how old I am, but it's strange pondering how my position in all of those situations is starting to morph into me finally just joining the regular ranks.  Does that make sense?  I'm still mid coffee cup, so I feel my mind is a bit groggy still.  Forgive me if I sound like I'm just rambling.

Also, over the past couple of weeks, I've had some really interesting conversations that I want to kind of share in a nutshell soon.  Two in particular in my mind have really stuck, and I think that they're ones I'd love to share with you gals, just in case they are thoughts that can hit you like they did me.  I'll figure out how to put them into words and will keep you posted.

Until then, I'm off to finish my coffee and get ready to pound the pavement.  Thanks for sticking with me during the weeks that I disappear because of a crazy schedule.  If you are on twitter though, definitely follow me there, because that's much easier to do quick updates on!  (@laceyinthecity)

Have a great Tuesday!  xoxo

New York: I'm baaack

Guess who's back, back again!  I'm way too white to say stuff like that...  But I just did anyway. 

I am back in Nueva York for the work week to have some meetings and hopefully not get snowed on.  This girl has gotten way too spoiled way too fast with sunny Southern California weather!  Not to mention that I came here directly from a week in Dallas, where the weather was quite pleasant in the high 60s and 70s all week.  (Thank you, Texas!) 

Cheers to a fab Monday + a killer week to come!  What do you have on your agenda this week?
PS - Only 25 more days until I'm 25!  Weird.

Lacey in the Big D!

I forgot to tell you - I'm in Dallas this week!  I arrived on Sunday evening, + I'm here until this coming Sunday evening.  It's Dallas Apparel Market Week (translation: the week apparel and accessory designers show buyers their new goodies for Summer 2012), so I am in the Big D hanging out with Khloe + Lamar meeting + greeting my new Texan clientele! 

I don't think I ever really elaborated my job change that happened when I moved back to LA at the beginning of this month.  I previously managed East Coast accounts for the company I work for, + now I've transitioned + am handling Central US accounts.  That means I'll be traveling to Dallas multiple times a year for markets + to call on stores here, + to Colorado a few times a year to call on accounts there, as well.  I was super lucky + super grateful to be able to stay with the same company that I've been with for the past two years (today actually marks the official two year anniversary of being with them!) + I'm looking forward to lots more time here in Tejas! 

Have you ever visited Dallas?  Do you travel a lot for work?  If so, what do you do for your job?

Taylor on the cover of VOGUE.

If you know me at all in real life, you know that I want to be Taylor Swift when I grow up.  (Forget that I'm older than her.)  No joke...I adore her.  I don't do the celeb obsession thing often, but when it comes to TSwizzle, I'm a huge fan.  The girl writes her own music, plays her own music, kicks billboard chart butt, + still manages to be the sweetest + most adorable thing ever. 

So obviously, I am super excited to see her on the cover of the February 2012 issue of Vogue.  Well done, T. Swift, well done.  And well deserved, my friend!  I can't wait to pick up my copy (the issue hits stands today!).

Do you like/love/adore her like I do?

When a song can take you somewhere.

Imagine it: 

Christmas 2003, Boston, Massachusetts.  I was sixteen years old, my little sister LMG was 13.  My dad was 49 that year.  My dad loved good music, and he liked to always stay up-to-date on the latest, so he had just purchased Alicia Keys' new album "The Diary of Alicia Keys".  Also being a fan of nice electronics, he'd just bought a new Bose player for his house.  He lived in a two family house at that time, in the downstairs unit from his brother and his brother's wife.  He brought the Bose upstairs that night into his sister-in-law's kitchen, and he put on the album.  We sat around the kitchen table - me, LMG, Darkwing, and his sister-in-law - LMG + myself sipping on coffee frappes and the adults toasting with beers (and my dad's cheeks turning red because he hardly ever drank alcohol), playing the Alicia Keys album on full blast.  Snow was almost two feet deep that year, and it was snowing that night again as we all took in the music, each other's company, and eventually stood up and boogied a little in the middle of the kitchen floor.  

Everytime I hear anything from that Alicia Keys album, I think of that night.  Especially when I hear the above song, because it was the one that we ended up spinning around the floor to first. 

Do you have any particular songs that bring back memories for you?