Brunch Diaries: Trafford

My sister was in town visiting this weekend, which was the perfect excuse for us to try a new place for brunch on Sunday. Trafford is a bright, cheery spot in the East Bay overlooking the water. I have been for dinner several times before, but this was the first time I tried their brunch. The wide open space paired with the sunshine pouring in (not to mention the mimosas) made for a great afternoon with my sister and M.

Menu displayed on a clipboard.

Ceiling lights + canoe.

Instagramming, of course!

Cup of sugar.

Iced coffee.

Brunch bubbles.

Lobster benedict special.

Traditional benedict.

I'm in love with their reclaimed wood tabletops. 

Wild blueberry hotcake.

Everything was so delicious and since they've just recently started serving brunch, we practically had the upstairs to ourselves! I definitely recommend checking Trafford out and I can't wait to come back and eat outside on the deck when it finally gets warmer. Where's your favorite place to enjoy brunch?

Valentine's Day in La Jolla

I can't believe how quickly my week in California passed by! I got back to Providence last night and am definitely still on west coast time. Here are some snapshots from last Tuesday, which was spent exploring la Jolla. I think this was definitely one of my favorite days of the entire vacation. La Jolla is so picturesque and the weather that day was nearly perfect. I enjoyed spending the entire day with M, something that we haven't been able to do in past years.


I started off my morning with a blowout at the Drybar in Del Mar.


The perfect beachy cosmo-tai, which made me feel like a celeb!


We found out what all the hype was about at In-N-Out (so good!).


Lots of pretty Valentine's flowers for sale in La Jolla.


Clear blue skies and an intricate mosaic on the front of a church.


Hearts decorated all of the boutique windows.


Arcade building at sunset.


Gazing out at the Pacific in my favorite scalloped blazer.


La Jolla cove and Torrey Pines in the background.


A breathtaking California sunset and red + pink balloons.

The day could not have been more perfect and relaxing!

Fall Flowers

Pretty Thanksgiving tulips from M's mom.

Little Thanks

After seeing Taylor and Taylor's posts about the little things that they're thankful for, I had to join in and complete the Taylor trifecta (cheesy, I know)! So here are 27 little things I'm thankful for right now (in addition to the major players: my family, boyfriend, friends, and health)

- surprise letters and packages in the mail
- reading a text from one of my sisters and being able to picture exactly how they'd be saying it
- caramel apples
- Sunday morning coffee runs and grocery shopping
- being tucked in at night
- Coldplay's new album
- sushi dates
- witnessing a parent's reaction to their child saying their first word or taking their first step at work
- cozy winter sweaters, mittens, and hats
- holding hands
- finally listening to Christmas music
- furry earmuffs
- cinnamon raisin Ezekiel toast
- encouraging fantasy football messages from my dad
- personalized stationery
- words with friends
- new bracelets, especially when they're sparkly
- Bayou Bakery's French press coffee and beignets
- accomplishing a home diy project on my own
- neat handwriting
- heirloom tomatoes
- the Muppet movie
- Pinterest
- Chuck Bass
- peppermint Pinkberry
- trying a new recipe and having it turning out really well
- mulling spices

What are some of the little things you're thankful for this Thanksgiving?

image via we heart it

Going Gray

The best part of painting is witnessing the drastic transformation of the room. When M saw the (almost) finished product, he said it felt like a completely new living room. I can't wait to see what it all looks like when the furniture is back in place and the pictures are up on the walls. I have a fun Pinterest-inspired project in store for above the fireplace, too!

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.

Summer Bucket List

Inspired by Emily, Danielle, and Samantha, I've decided to come up with my own list of things I'd like to accomplish before Labor Day.

1. Enjoy fresh clams and drinks on the deck by the beach.
2. Attend an outdoor concert.
3. Plan a weekend getaway in Newport (including beach days!).
4. Take in a Red Sox game at Fenway.
5. Use up all of my restaurant gift certificates and Groupons.
6. Watch one of the Movies on the Block downtown at Tazza.
7. See fireworks!
8. Read a good book (or several)--this is at the top of my list.
9. Bake M a homemade birthday cake.
10. Have some sort of summer BBQ or housewarming party (eight months after moving in...).

This list is just to get started. There's so much I hope to do while the weather is warm. What's on your list this summer?



images via we heart it

My Growing Library

I was so happy to come home from my trip home to a stack of new magazines and another book by Steve Martin (gifted from M, of course)! I've been a fan of his ever since he starred in Father of the Bride (and the subsequent sequels). I just finished reading An Object of Beauty and I must say, Steve Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. The newest book in my collection is actually a memoir that Steve wrote about his own career in stand-up comedy. I'm only a few pages in and I can already tell I'm going to love it. Side note: doesn't Kate Winslet look amazing on the cover of Glamour? Love her hair!

Roses are Red

I love how these Valentine's Day roses are brightening up my kitchen.
Fresh flowers make me extra happy.

Mama Said, Mama Said

Mama said there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this my mama said.

Today was one of those days. Nothing seemed to go quite right. Usually the gym is my best bet to shrug off any stress from the day, but I was beyond exhausted when I left the office at 7. Sometimes, when I have a hectic day, it helps me to come home and do something mindless and routine, like laundry. It's oddly calming, the sorting and swapping and folding. Plus, it's productive (and fresh laundry smells good). A few other things that made my day just a little bit more bearable: my boyfriend doing most of the prep work for dinner, discovering these ruffled pants at lululemon, and finally downloading the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone (I'm still figuring out how to use it!). Another bonus? Friday is so close!

What do you do to bounce back from a rough day?

Borrow From Your Boyfriend

Lately, I've really enjoyed flipping through all of the great fall fashion magazines that are in circulation. I get kind of giddy when the September issues start to arrive, mostly because they're thicker than all of the summer issues combined! One of my favorite trends is clothing and accessories inspired by menswear, including relaxed fit jeans, boyfriend cardigans, structured bags, and sophisticated glasses. I wouldn't recommend wearing everything at once, but a few pieces mixed into your wardrobe could look polished without being overly masculine. I'm especially loving those horn-rimmed glasses! Feeling really bold? Throw one of your boyfriend's oxford shirts over jeggings and cinch it with a cute leather belt paired with flats. Easy, right?!








blazer, watch, sweater, handbag, eyeglasses, jeans