Happy {Birthday} Weekend!

Surprisingly enough this week has flown by - praise the lawwwd! Some friends and I are headed to Boston for the weekend to visit friends, play tourist (I've never been!) and to celebrate my birthday (on Saturday). I think I'm going to continue the tradition and eat a cupcake for breakfast. Cheers to another year . . . I have a feeling 24 is going to be wonderful!

 

A song for your weekend . . . sorry I had to : )

 

Okay, here's another that has been on repeat

 

Turning 24 with this mantra

 

The true identity of Andy's mother

 

10 house plants that clean the air

 

DIY | concrete candles

Get to know The Sartorialist

 

Inside Rosie's closet

 

The Lion Whisperer - ridiculously scary and cool!

 

8 home décor essentials

 

The perfect versatile summer dress 

for the beaus

 

essentials for men

by tom ford and me

 

1. a sense of humor and a killer smile | it'll get you a long way, but remember intelligence goes farther

2. a grooming kit | or at least a pair of tweezers

3. knowledgeable in sports | because nothings better than some friendly competition
4. white tee and dark jeans | it's equivalent to the girl next door look

 

5. read print | daily paper, subscribe to a health or lifestyle magazine

6. pick up the phone | stop with the silly tweets and flirting texts

7. a tailored suit | is dangerously sexy

 

dressing well is a form of good manners

 

8. printed socks, classic watch, glasses/sunglasses | you should own all four . . . and have fun with them
9. a signature cologne | two dabs and you're golden

10. chivalry | it's not dead . . . and don't ever let it die

photo credits

Happy Weekend!

photo credit

Whew, what a week! I've had jam packed days all week - all good and fun things. I haven't opened the blog up since Monday - oops. This weekend I plan on catching up on what's been going on, but here are some fun reads I've come across lately . . .

 

 

A song for your weekend - Can't wait for Steve's first big tour!

How to | get ready in the morning under 10 minutes

Bacon, pancetta, prosciutto . . . errrr, what's the difference?

I'm taking notes on Natalie's navy & blush picks

A spring wishlist - because I'm sick of black snow and we were tricked with a couple sunny days this past week . . . spring hurry up!

10 signs you're a total Pisces - at least half of them apply

Winter skin savers

Clever kids make me laugh

What to do when your best friends live far away

Behind the Bit awards with Ellie Goulding

The perfect spring dress 

Happy Weekend!

Let's celebrate this weekend with people we love, indulging on sweets, and taking time for ourselves - sounds nice doesn't it? Doing anything specials this Valentine's Day? I've got plans to wine and dine with a couple friends. The rest of the weekend I have allotted time to clean and organize. I started replacing a meal with a kale juice - so I am determined to master some tasty concoctions. Have a lovely weekend and enjoy these links if you're in the reading mood . . .   

A song for your weekend
An Origin Story | a story of two friends with a similar and bizarre background
A comforting breakfast for a snow-filled weekend
Needtobreathe | Prove the Poets Wrong | a look at their journey thus far
I believe Lela Rose's fall 14 collection was made for me
What type of relationship should you actually be in? (I got 'The Social Butterflies' - yep sounds about right!)
Commuting | made simpler
Karl Lagerfeld in 24 hours - can we all agree he's a brilliant and talented diva?
In case you're in a blog-reading mood - head on over to Love Taza who shares stories on her cute little fam (you're welcome in advance)
A rational woman's approach to Valentine's Day
A little weekend inspiration from NYFW's street style photographed by The Sartorialist
How to find where you belong
11 kale salad makeovers

be mine?

When it comes to Valentine's Day my experiences have always been a little anticlimactic. Let's be honest - the real holiday is February 15th (when all the sugary treats go on sale and you can actually get a decent reservation). I love small, thoughtful gifts (or a bouquet of white tulips), but wouldn't one of these be sweet to give or receive?!

 

take me away to | napa valley

Beautiful weather, savory food, proximity to the salty ocean, and wine country - Napa is calling my name! A weekend trip with best friends, taking the scenic route through vineyards and valleys, indulging on cheese and wine, seems ideal doesn't it? My roommate when I was interning knew her wine and it rubbed off on me, sort of. I love a glass (or two) with dinner. I think experiencing the process from grapes to wine would make a spectacular weekend getaway.

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dress // panama hat // sandals // sunglasses // bag // scarf // polish

monday muse

I think we should add a day between Saturday and Sunday, don't you agree? My Monday's are typically very long days and the complete definition of Manic Monday. An extra day would be delightful to catch my breathe before my week started. For now, a little weekly inspiration must be suffice.

 

woods & fresh air // now that is a good lookin' front row // dangerous & lovely - a wholesome combination // spring flowers // pink lips - pretty look for Valentine's day // how gorgeous is this lace bathrobe? // Cara looking oh so classy // the cutest cake smash // a gem outfit

 

photo credit found on Tumblr

A big congratulations and hug to my brother who graduated Friday and is officially a Navy Sailor. I couldn't make it to Chicago on Friday, but here's a shot of Josh and Jessica. He has made us some pretty proud sisters!

 

Happy Weekend!

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Happy cozy weekend! We're expecting snow this weekend (which makes for slick sidewalks and black snow) and I plan on staying inside and catching up on my reading and style recaps from New York Fashion Week. I've been trying to read this one book I purchased right before I left for the holidays. Guess what page I'm on? 5. Now isn't that ridiculous! I've got a date with my couch, a hot cup of green tea, and Beautiful Ruins. Stay warm and enjoy these fun links from around the web . . .

 

 

A song for your weekend

 

DIY mini vase magnets



 

Power couples of NYC: true love stories

 

13 predictions about the future that were spectacularly wrong 

 

Great tips for hosting your first brunch

 

The Matchbook Girl is on point

 

Great advice from Meredith Grey

 

Card making & cocktails totally just made the agenda for next week

 

The best 5 ingredient pasta dish

 

The Gangs of New York . . during Fashion Week, of course!

mount snow

This past weekend was a fun, cold, and adventurous few days. Friday evening some friends and I piled in an SUV and made our way up to Mount Snow. Saturday was my first time skiing on real slopes. I had Kelsey and Casey show me the ropes on the bunny hill. After I made it down on my third try without landing on my behind, we took the lift to the next level. Unbeknownst to me, that level was a blue. I was scared out of my boots, but did pretty well (read: made a few strides and then face-planted). Let's just say I ate a lot of snow and made some pretty graceful falls if I do say so myself. Despite all the falls, I had the best time! And can we talk about the view?! It was insanely gorgeous!

Kelsey, Casey, and Michelle

Tyler and Michelle

I mean . . . that fall . . . it deserves a standing ovation, ha!

the three amigas!

At the ski lodge after a full day of skiing.
Michelle, Tyler, Casey, Brittany, me, and Kelsey

On Sunday some of us stayed back. We took the opportunity for a little impromptu photo shoot thanks to the talented Casey Hyde.  

Meet our new friend, Stuart. Isn't he cute?!

Who doesn't love a red beanie?

you're looking pretty good Friday

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Friday has never looked so good. You know when you have something to look forward to it takes fooorever to get there? Yeah, I have had that feeling all week. It's time for a little road trip. Some friends and I are making the trek up to Vermont for a ski weekend. Stay tuned for a full report next week! Have any fun plans for the weekend? Stay cozy and enjoy these links from around the web . . .

 

A song for your weekend - because I liked it so much at Sundays Grammy's minus T. Swift's dancing

 

I just purchased my first Rag & Bone jeans and to say I'm in love is an understatement

 

What a dreamy kitchen

 

A snow and ice storm that shocked the south - seriously, my mom was stuck in her school overnight.

 

Guys trying to guess how much women pay for products

 

Bronze swirl mug is a chic replacement for ceramics

 

Chicken parmesan meatballs - perfect snack for Sunday's Super Bowl

 

This dress is on my wish list for all the summer weddings on my calendar, so is this Tibi number and Valentino gorgeous-ness

 

Who's your celebrity crush? Here's mine.

 

10 questions to ask your mother

 

50 women, 50 hilarious quotes

 

Keep up with my weekend travels over on Instagram!



Happy Weekend

TGIF. I have been counting down until the last minute for the weekend to start. Have any fun plans? While I don't have anything specific, I do have a friend in town so I'm sure we'll find some trouble to get into. My only request is we stay inside since it is still freezing outside - seriously the wind cuts right to the core.

 

Can we talk about Ashley Olsen for just a bit? The Olsen twin is my weekend inspiration. She knows how to start it off right with a cocktail (a tasty mock-tail if that's what you fancy instead). Loose waves, smoky eyes, and a little black dress is the perfect outfit for when a girlfriend comes into town. Enjoy your weekend and take a peek at these links from around the web . . .

A song for your weekend

Audrey's best style moments

Anyone else out there an over packer? Shabby Apple shares some great tips!

What people want in your state - how true is yours?

35 books to read before the movie comes out this year

How to stay creative

The Art of Presence

Eating light and hearty can be done

Sundance street style done right

Chicken + Waffle sliders - these would be yummy for the Super Bowl Sunday

A little reminder 

A pretty tea set to use when reading Tea and Crumpets with Julie Blake

Best coffee table books (I'd go for this one)

palette of berry & grays

Hey . . . you know what day it is?! Haha kidding, but that Geico commercial seems to never get old. I'm always barreled over laughing. Anyway, happy Wednesday friends - it's almost the weekend! If you live anywhere in the vicinity of snow storm Janus, I feel your pain. Walking to and from work in the snow and slush is not fun at all. A neutral palette with berry inspired hues has gotten me rejuvenated for the rest of the week . . . not to mention those cute little smiles above and pots of coffee.

a weekend in park slope & long island city

Before this weekend I had only been in Brooklyn twice and never stepped foot in Queens. With Casey being our trusty tour guide, Kelsey and I had a couple successful days of exploration. First stop in Park Slope was Zito's Sandwich Shoppe. Everything looked so good on the menu that we split sandwiches and devoured rice and mac and cheese balls. It was the best! Then we strolled down 5th Avenue and shopped the local stores; Goorin Bros Hat Shop being my favorite. After that Casey took us to Brooklyn Boulders, where he can be found most days. Let's just say climbing rock walls is not my sport and prefer outdoor climbing, ha! But we had a blast meeting new people and watching expert climbers!

 

 

Sunday we met Casey in Long Island City for church and fellowship. After a southern style lunch {y'all, there was corn casserole and I could not have been more excited} we walked around a few blocks and stopped for coffee at Sweetleaf.

 

 

I'd say this weekend was full of adventure. How was yours?

travel essentials

A trip out of the concrete jungle I live in to breathe fresh air and to escape the chaos brings a refreshing sense back into life {all the smog catches up, ya know}. Packing my favorite essentials and necessities in a minimal way makes the trip that much more inviting. Not to mention the Everlane Weekender bag makes the perfect travel companion, don't you agree?  

 

1. A travel case to hold all my morning and nightly routines.

2. Sunnies for summer getaways.

3. When the weather warms up, I like to switch out my perfume for subtle bath oil.

4. Scallop detailed flats for long strolls and easy packing.

5. Only in my dreams would I ever wear $1200 pajamas {seriously J.Crew?!}, but a matching set of pajamas are necessary.

6. A pink gloss to lighten up your face. Plus, I think it deserves a spot in my lip-wear collection!

7. A lightweight scarf for chilly nights and sophisticated layering piece.

8. My iPhone is my address book, GPS, camera, boom box, and Google search maestro.  

9. A pen and journal to jot down thoughts, inspirations, or a fun game of hangman.

Charleston // Tenerife // Boston // Nashville // Arizona // Paris

above images

Brunch in NoHo

The best part of a New York City weekend is Sunday Brunch. Seriously, I'm not kidding.  There are so many incredible restaurants in Manhattan and we found a little hidden gem over the weekend. It looked as if we found a little café in Mary Lennox's secret garden. The Smile is not only a pretty sight to the eyes, but the food is amazing! Egg sandwich on English muffins, sweet potato hash browns, bottomless coffee, and a spiked lemonade and basil cocktail . . . how can you go wrong?

Afterwards, we explored our surroundings of NoHo {fun fact: stands for North of Houston - pronounced house-ton | SoHo stands for South of Houston} and then back up to our neck of the woods, Sutton Place to take a peak at the Queensboro Bridge.  

Every state has their own rednecks. And yes, that is a truck with lifts with a flag in the back.