over packed

All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go!!!! Yay! Vacation time! My auto reply message is up. My bags are totally over packed and I'm ready to head off to stop #1 on my fun filled summer vacation.

First stop is weekend with my girls! College girlfriend weekend in Skaneateles NY. Such a cute cute town. Jenn is from there and all 5 of us are going to her sisters house. We can't wait to see expecting "mama Jenn". Our first friend to have a little one on the way!!! On Monday we are heading to the CUSE to have lunch on campus and don't worry, I'll take many college pics!

Monday I am heading down to Fort Lauderdale to be with Beau for a few days. Miss him! I am looking forward to lots of time in the sun (what my new big hat was purchased for!). My mom arrives on Thursday and the two of us are driving to Naples Florida for a little R&R until Sunday. Then its back to life here in DC until ......I figure out my move date to sunny Florida, job, all that stuff! For now, I will finish my cocktail (grapefruit vodka and limeade) and not think about all of the real world stuff. Vacation awaits me!!!!!!

xoxo

bad hair day

It's humid, rainy or I'm running late, my go to hair style, a ponytail and a headband! Recently I have realized that my headband collection is growing growing growing. A little teasing, a little hair powder, elastic, headband, done.

Hair powder is a must! It makes my hair hold the little bit of tease and the pouf you need for the pony. I am a huge fan of Bumble and Bumble spray powder. I use the "blondish". The powder comes in all different shades, don't be afraid, its amazing! Try it!

Even when I was little I was obsessed with headbands. I wonder if my bow, flower, headband love will ever go away? I don't think so. I love everything from the drugstore Goody elastic headbands for every day or a headband I spent more on then a pair of shoes for an event. Today it is raining so I decided a little flower would brighten it up...I'm rockin the yellow flowers:)

xoxo

Wednesday Day Dreams

My fabulous friend Meg sent this board to me a few weeks ago. She said it was SO ME! I love it. It makes me happy. The black and white, pinks, Lily Allen, the cotton candy machine. This board made me dream. ooooo, what if I could have a cotton candy machine at home and make cocktails for a party topped with fluffy pink cotton candy!

I'm day dreaming in the middle of the week! xoxo

Ruffles! Obsessed.

I have been obsessed with Ruffles for awhile, but recently...LOVE! I saw this black dress at Anthropologie on Sunday and can't get it out of my mind! I must have this! The red dress that Cat Deeley wore on So You Think You Can Dance (one of my new summer love shows!) was AMAZING. Recently everything I see in with frilly ruffles, I fall in love with. I leave for vacation on Friday and I have my ruffly J.Crew bikini packed. I'm bringing the frills to the beach. Hopefully I can add the ruffly Anthro black dress to my closet soon.

Black Swirled Rosette Dress - Anthropologie $188

Entourage Zipper Dress - Lulus $63

Satin Flower Bobby Pin - Forever 21 $1.80

Solid Ruffle Bandeau Top - J.Crew $40

Flynn Metallic Snake Ruffle Sandal - Loeffler Randall $225

One Shoulder Ruffle Top - Target $14.99

Motif Ruffle Sandal - Steve Madden $29.95

Cat Deeley's Red Dress ....who knows who made it and how much? She styles herself. I LOVE THAT DRESS!!!!!

xoxo

Day Trip to Philly

I haven't set the exact date, but I know my move is coming up soon. I have been learning to take advantage of every minute I have to spend my time with friends. One of my bestest girlfriends from college lives in Philly. I hadn't seen Christa for so long! We only live two and a half hours away and I know that soon I will not be a train ride but a plane ride away. I decided last minute to take full advantage of my Sunday off and hopped on the train after my event at work, late Saturday night. What a fabulous day we had out in Philly! If you haven't been to the city of brotherly love recently or are planning a day trip there, take our quick trip list and go!

After a few cups of coffee we managed to pull ourselves off the couch and grab a QUICK breakfast. Marathon on the Square has AMAZING breakfast quesadilla (get it with turkey sausage. yum.) A few bites into our yummy dish we realized we had to run off to house hunting. I got to tag along with the DeSiderato's while they looked at potential condos. Fun for me! After looking at units with views and a building with a pool, Christa and I decided it was time for some pampering and shopping time in shopping in Rittenhouse Square.

The Anthropologie there is awesome! The building is so interesting and its a great 4 level store. I am now obsessed with a few new items. Thanks Anthro. We always seem to be able to manage spending at least an hour there browsing. A few shops later we decided we needed a break and got a table at Parc. I felt like I was in Paris! Parc is an adorable Bistro and Cafe. It was the perfect place to drink rose and people watch. I could go to Parc everyday, read a book an drink some wine, I'm in love! After some yummy frites and a few glasses of wine we decided we were ready for something sweet.

The day ended with a trip to the chocolate filled restaurant, Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man. OMG. I don't know what to say, Brandi, you would have been in love! Chocolate chocolate chocolate. Around the table we had chocolate martinis, chocolate "concoctions", gooey cakes and ice cream sandwiches. It was out of control. I would go again, however....I would share! I have a complete sweet tooth, but couldn't finish my cookie sandwich with marshmallow fluff, peanut butter ice cream, soft baked chocolate cookie and peanut butter dip.

When I got on the train at 9:30pm I was full, relaxed, sleepy and SO happy that I had gone up to Philly for the day. I'm glad I made the day trip fun filled and packed. I wish I lived in the same city as my sisters and my besties, maybe some day, for now the Amtrak or a plane ticket will have to do even if its for a day full of wine, shopping and good girl time.

xoxo

A Beer and a Burger

Today Beau is opening the doors to his new location in Plantation, FL. If you live in the Southern Florida area, stop by today! Duffy's will have a band, lots of deals and well...beau will be there;) Me, well thinking of the opening made me crave a yummy summer brew and a burger. Now don't get me wrong, they sell much more then burgers. However, isn't there something about a hot summer day that makes you want to grill outside and drink an ice cold beer. Ok, well I do! I wish I had a backyard where I could invite everybody over and maybe make the mini burgers that are so cutely displayed above.

Fresh, Fabulous, Fun

A few weeks ago Sidra Forman did the flowers and chuppah at a wedding at work. They were so pretty, natural, seasonal and lovely. I had never worked with Sidra before and after looking at her site was so interested in her work.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going over to her house for lunch with my colleague Pam. We had such a lovely time! Sidra is so much more then a florist. She has created such a wonderful lifestyle of eating well, growing gardens, arranging flowers and teaching others to use the items that are available in their local markets and farms. It was so much more then a networking lunch, I felt like I had known her years. Sidra has a beautiful garden in the back of her house that has an amazing fig tree and many flowers that she uses for her arrangements. For lunch she had just baked fresh bread and a yummy green bean salad and a chopped veggie salad, the homemade cashew butter was amazing.

I learned during lunch that Sidra and her husband use to own a restaurant, before that she was a lawyer. Now Sidra and her husband have started opening their home as a restaurant every now and then. Guests have been a mix of new friends, old friends, birthdays and celebrations. I was so inspired when I left of what she has created and it made me want to go home, cook a healthy dinner and change some of my daily habits.

The usual networking turned into such a pleasant surprise. Lunch ended with a yummy cup of french press coffee and homemade vegan fresh mint, chocolate cookies. Maybe we can all get together for a dinner soon at Sidra's Restaurant 1508. It would be a delightful evening!