Photo Overload and Other Updates

Ever misplace your camera adapter for over two months (eeeek!)? Good, me neither! Here are some extremely overdue photos from the holidays and my trip home. 

Downtown Salem, Massachusetts.

Freshly roasted coffee beans ready to be ground. I can almost smell them just from looking at this picture!

Raisin-studded brioche from Seven Stars sliced for French toast.

Thistle + tulips from the Thanksgiving table.

Orange + dark chocolate chip scones sliced and ready to go into the oven. These made a great take-home favor at a Christmas get together with friends.

Our Christmas tree that we tagged and cut down from a local tree farm. I miss the holiday decorations!

My favorite vintage ornament from the 1950s that was gifted to my by my grandma.

Santa's suit + matching sparkly nails.

Newest s'more obsession from Brooklyn's S'more Bakery.

My family's hand-stitched stockings lined up on the mantle.

Colorful wrapping paper + glittery ornaments.

The best ombré birthday cake ever (made by Tiane's talented sorority sister). 

Fun joint birthday celebration with Tiane and Alex.

The decadent oreo in a blanket cookie from Bakeshop.

Spiky NYE decorations on my mom's table.

Lighter-than-air homemade doughnuts for brunch on New Year's Day.

Colorful tassel garland hanging over my Washington, DC poster in the guest room.

So that's what's been going around in these parts over the past few months. I can't believe Christmas has come and gone once again and I'm another year older. I actually forget how old I am sometimes now. If that's what happens when you're officially 'old' then I'm there! I have been hard at work on my 30 before 30 list. There are some simple things I'd like to accomplish (ahem, getting the courage to chop my hair) and of course some loftier goals (like take a trip outside of the country and brush up on my French skills). I think 2013 came so fast that I haven't had enough time to fully process all that went on in 2012. I'm still working on reflecting on last year's resolutions and building from there. I hope you all had a great end to the year and that 2013 is starting out strong for you!  

Adventures in Northern Michigan-Part Three

On the girls' last day in Michigan, we celebrated my youngest sister's birthday. It was hot and sunny, so she wanted to rent a jet ski to take out on the lake, which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip for everyone! It was great to be able to spend the majority of the day on the beach and zipping around the lake. We capped off the perfect evening with margaritas, fajitas, and live music alfresco at the only Mexican restaurant in town. 

Chips + salsa. Pretty much the best snack ever.

Guacamole + lots of bright colors.

Sangria/margarita hybrid: the sangria splash.

Sisters!

Michigan sunsets are unreal.

Snapped just after the sun dipped down over the horizon. People on the beach applauded!

Holiday Photo Mash Up

Here are a few photos from my vacation this past week. I crammed in as much as possible and enjoyed celebrating both Christmas and my birthday. Even though I wish I had a few more days to relax, I'm feeling recharged and ready to take on 2012!

Let the Birthday Celebrations Begin

Just got home from a fun pre-birthday dinner at Zengo in downtown DC. We shared a fun meal of Asian and Latin American-insired tapas. The meal ended on a sweet note, with churros and Mexican hot chocolate. It was delicious! I love birthdays, especially when they're stretched out for a whole week.

Cutest Card Goes To

Tiane seriously sends out the best Christmas cards ever. I love all the personalized little details and illustrations she makes. Plus, the lottery ticket inside is an added bonus.

Thanks, Tiane, and have a very Happy Birthday!

Weekend Snapshots: Overdue

Essie's California Coral--so bright and summery!


Best cracker ever. Seriously, good little dippers for hummus or guac.


Freshly grated nutmeg going into zucchini bread batter.


Early Saturday Pinkberry run. No line!


Used local RI summer ale...


...to make a tasty littleneck clam and mussel dinner!


M's chocolate birthday cake that I slaved hours over!


New favorite summer cocktail: vodka + sparkling blueberry juice.

Oops! I'm a little overdue with this photos, but they're from a couple weekends ago when M's birthday weekend continued. We did a lot of running around on Saturday and then stayed in to cook a local seafood feast, complete with clams and mussels in a spicy Narragansett summer ale and roasted tomato broth. It was insanely garlicky (and therefore insanely good!).

I felt like I spent most of the weekend in the kitchen because I ended up baking zucchini bread for a brunch on Sunday and then M's family came over for a birthday cookout in the afternoon where we served up grilled corn and sausage and peppers. Whew! It was definitely a packed summer weekend and I can't wait to keep the entertaining going next weekend when my cousin Leslie visits!

How are you spending this weekend?

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to my beautiful momma! I wish I could be home to celebrate with you and the girls. (Notice her arm party-so fashionable!).

Classic Chocolate Birthday Cake

Today we celebrated M's birthday with a family cookout. The menu included frosty margaritas, grilled corn on the cob, sausage and pepper sandwiches, farmer's market tomatoes, and of course a chocolate birthday cake! I used this recipe, and although it was time consuming, it was fun to make and a major hit with the whole fam! Plus, I can now cross another item off of my summer bucket list.

Birthday Love

{flashback photo from a frigid Redskins game in 2009}

Happy "Larry Bird" Birthday to my partner in crime, the photo-dodging, makes me laugh 'til I cry, silly-serious, supportive, loving, infamous M. I heart you-lots.

Let's Play Dress Up

I love any excuse to don a pair of sky-high heels and tonight was no exception. In honor of Glenda's 30th birthday, her boyfriend threw an intimate surprise dinner party at a great Mediterranean restaurant downtown. It was just Glenda and twelve of her girlfriends, which is a nice way to celebrate without going for an over-the-top bash. There was even a fancy cake shaped like an iPad with her blog iced on to it! I had a great time and got to rock my favorite leopard heels. Of course, they paled in comparison to the birthday girl's sexy nude platform sandals.

Happy Birthday, Glenda!

Day Eighteen: Your Favorite Birthday

Let me start off by saying that it's definitely not easy to have a birthday on New Year's Eve. I'm not saying it's as bad as having it on Christmas, but it sure can be tough, especially when you're in elementary school and none of your friends can come to a party on New Year's (because it's New Year's and all). It's just not a convenient time. People are traveling and have lots of family obligations. That being said, my parents still worked really hard to make my birthdays special, and as I've gotten older, I've really come to appreciate that the whole world celebrates my birthday with me (and there are always fireworks, a huge perk). I've spent birthdays in Paris, the Dominican Republic, Pittsburgh, DC, and of course here in Little Rhody, but nothing beats a birthday spent at home with my family. In case you haven't realized it, I really enjoy traditions and am somewhat a creature of habit, so having a reliable birthday tradition was perfect.


I went through a stretch (circa 1994-1998) where every year on my birthday, my family and a few of my closest friends would celebrate by going to lunch at Planet Hollywood in DC. It was always a special treat to go to such a fun restaurant and check out all the cool movie props and costumes. I'm not sure what prompted this tradition, but it went on for quite a while. I can always remember the wall that had faces of famous celebs that we'd all try to identify. Movie clips played throughout the restaurant and the girl's bathroom was designed to look like a movie star's dressing room. One particular menu item stands out in my mind - an appetizer of chicken tenders that were coated in crushed Capt'n Crunch cereal! The best part was that we usually had the place to ourselves (because who really goes out for lunch on New Year's Eve?) and it was followed by Baskin Robbins ice cream cake and presents back at my house. Then, my parents would go out to a New Year's party and my sisters and I would terrorize the babysitter and try to stay up until midnight to watch the ball drop.

These were some of my best birthday years, and ones that I still remember fondly. I'm still not sure how I'll be celebrating this year, but I'll definitely think of my past Planet Hollywood celebrations!

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to my amazing boyfriend, Marc! I'm so happy that we're celebrating together today and I hope all of your birthday wishes come true.

Here's to many more!

images via beauty in everything

Luck Be a Lady Tonight

I know the time at work today is going to crawl, not only because it's Monday, but also because it's a mini Friday for me. You see, I have an impromptu getaway planned for this evening (and the day off tomorrow). I'm whisking my boyfriend away to the MGM Grand Resort & Casino (in Connecticut) for his birthday. I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate with a fancy dinner and some gambling (although I don't really know how). He's entering a poker tournament tomorrow morning and I plan on taking full advantage of the cabanas by the pool. I've never even been to Atlantic City or Vegas (or any casino for that matter), so this should be quite an adventure. Any and all tips are welcome, but I think I'd be better off sticking to the shops and spa.

Wish me luck!

Little Swimmers

I attended a first birthday party yesterday and was having trouble coming up with a fun gift. Luckily, my friend Heather pointed me in the right direction and I went straight to Baby Gap in search of a swimsuit. Once I arrived, I thought I'd never leave! There were soooo many cute little suits and beach accessories. It was more fun than shopping for myself!

I ended up purchasing the shark bite trunks and matching flip flops with a tiny rash guard shirt (for when Mini Justin learns to surf)! I could have scooped up loads more, but I don't have any babies to outfit right now. These are just some of my favorites (how cute is the giraffe print?!). Click here to see the full collection. And be prepared to awwwwww!