Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Looking forward to a fun time with family, friends, and ice cream (undoubtedly). Have a happy weekend!

nailed it

Ok, so I'm addicted. So what. New color: Baguette Me Not. I'm an unabashed carboholic, so the name alone justified the purchase. And it is a shade of pink, so hello... oh so practical. 


Well, if you think I'm bad about nail polish, meet Melissa of The Daily Nail. Homegirl decided to try to rationalize her massive nail polish collection (which is now up to over 500) by painting her nails every day for a year. But not just painting them, she is a graphic design artist, so her designs are incredible. Check out her blog!  

when life gives you lemons...

Three of my most favorite friends came to dinner last night, and it was absolutely wonderful. In preparation for their arrival, I got this weeks homework done on Sunday night. So, after getting my butt kicked- literally- at the gym, I had to keep myself occupied. I spent a good portion of the day looking up recipes on Foodgawker. I absolutely love this cute idea from Cheeky Kitchen- a gourmet lemonade party. Ok, a lemonade party? Maybe not... but how fun would be it be to serve these on memorial day weekend?! 

Wouldn't these be so delicious and refreshing in an icy glass of homemade lemonade?

the big picture

Last semester I took a course in Health Communication. One day we were talking about art therapy and I discovered Stephen Wiltshire (when we happened upon him I vaguely remembered reading about him in the paper or in a blog maybe?). He is an incredible artist who is renowned for doing these detailed cityscapes... from memory. 

Take this 18ft. picture of New York city, for example. He sketched it after taking a 20-minute helicopter ride around the city. Stephen was diagnosed with autism at a young age, and turned to art as a way of expressing himself. He works methodically and every last detail is drawn to scale. 


Isn't it awesome what people are capable of?

Every 15 Seconds...

...a child dies from a water-borne illness. 


Every. 15. Seconds. 

Are we going to standby and watch this happen?

If you haven't, please be sure to check out the Water to Wine Projet to see how YOU can b a part of the solution!

not even the rain

(found this image here)

There is something poetic about a rainy day. I can't help but feel a deep sense of contentment. I'm sitting here, drinking my latte(which always tastes better on a dreary, dismal day) and listening to a Pandora station that I have crafted quite masterfully. It is the perfect accompaniment to the falling rain and the wind chime that sings gracefully on the back porch. It doesn't matter that today's agenda includes lots of homework, some quality time for my already sore legs and the treadmill, and a busy night waiting tables, because it is raining. And I am happy. And thankful.

This morning I remembered this poem, which I have always loved very much. Fortunately, it is just as beautiful as I remembered. Thank you, e.e. cummings, for gracing the world with this treasure.


somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near


your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully, misteriously) her first rose


or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;


nothing we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing


(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

Earth to Table

Earth to Table: Seasonal Recipes from and Organic Farm by Jeff Crump and Bettina Schormann

A few months ago I was shopping in Martin and Osa and I spotted the most fabulous cookbook. The pictures, the recipes... heavenly. But I was living la vida unemployment, so I refrained from purchasing. Well, it has been on my mind since March, so I finally ordered it. Just in time for all the fresh, local summer veggies! I cannot wait to try out some of these recipes! 

Need a Vacation?

Summer school. Is kicking. My butt. 
Seriously, the amount of reading you are expected to do is astronomical. 


I sure could use a vacation. Fortunately, 4 weeks from today Adolescent Psychology & Nutrition and Behavior will be a thing of the past (gotta love electives).  Until then, I have the Essie Resort collection to be my little escape. 


Check it.

Colors from left to right: Lapis of Luxury, Turquoise and Caicos, Playa del Platinum, and Splash of Grenadine.


My first two purchases were Lapis and Playa, but that was only after 30 minutes of painful deliberation. (I just couldn't justify getting all four at one time... especially since Ulta didn't have a sale going on). 


I'm considering buying the other two as a reward for finishing my first week of summer school... good idea, right?


Side note: OPI will always be my first love. Gosh, nothing beats that brush! But this collection gives OPI a run for their money.


Found the photo here. 

coffee buzzzzz

It is official. I'm a coffee snob.  Yesterday I went to Starbucks twice. And was disappointed. Twice. 


Ok, I think my world just came crashing down. 


Here's the thing... Starbucks is who taught me to like coffee/espresso in the first place. Who has caused this divide between me and my first love?


Enter Saeco Royal Exclusive 30153 Espresso Machine. 

This is the mother of all coffee makers. The beans and water go in the machine so you don't have to grind them, you don't have to get out a filter, you don't even have to fill it up with water if you hook it up to a water line. All you do is push a button to tell it what you want, it even steams the milk! Hello! This is everything I ever dreamt of. Once I figure out how to get this electronic servant to make whole wheat pancakes I will be set for life. 

Amazon is sold out, but Ebay has several refurbished options available. I might have to save up a few paychecks and purchase one, or I might never go back to school! Either that or spend all of July gradually weaning myself of this double-shot latte habit. 

On another note, my darling boyfriend is coming to visit for the weekend and I cannot wait to show off my new-found barista skills!

Currently Reading...

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller


If you have read Blue Like Jazz, then you know that Donald Miller is an excellent writer. Well, he wrote a story about his life, and some people decided to make it into a movie. His latest book talks about the process of "editing his life" to make it into a movie. It starts like this:


"If you watched a movie about a guy who wanted a Volvo, and worked for years to get it, you wouldn't cry at the end when he drove it off the lot, testing the windshield wipers. You wouldn't tell your friends you saw a beautiful movie or go home and put a record on to think about the story you'd seen. The truth is, you wouldn't remember that movie a week later, except you'd feel robbed and want your money back. Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who wants a Volvo. But we spend years actually living those stories, and expect our lives to feel meaningful. The truth is, if what we choose to do with our lives won't make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either."


I haven't finished reading yet, but I am really enjoying it. It is such a fresh, interesting, challenging look at things. 

all that glitters

The weather has been unseasonably cold the past few days, so instead of hitting the beach yesterday I did some shopping with my mom. I'm not much of a make-up girl... ok, let's be real I rarely wear anything more than mascara and maybe a little blush/bronzer, BUT Clinique has the loveliest eyeshadow palette for summer 2010. So lovely, in fact, that my mom and I each had to get one! 

"Brandied Bronze" by Clinique ($25)

I'm a sucker for gold/bronze shadow, but I can't wait to use this teal color as a liner!

Bloom where you're planted.

Saturday my mom and I made a trip to our local garden center. I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I'm no photographer, but here are a few shots I captured with my little baby camera because you can't hide pretty. Even if your camera is little and you're a total novice. 

Side note: Learning how to garden is the last thing on my to-do list to complete my transformation into Martha Stewart. About that...

Chocolate Chip Cake

Today is a good day. Not only is it absolutely beautiful outside, but breakfast looked like this:

And I only felt moderately guilty for eating cake for breakfast because I went for a little run when I woke up. (emphasis on the little)


This cake is heaven. So moist, so delicious. Absolutely heavenly. It is my grandma's recipe and I have decided to share it! 


Chocolate Chip Cake:
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 box of instant vanilla pudding (3.75 oz)
4 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk


Mix on medium speed for 5 minutes.


Fold in 1 bar of German chocolate (grated- reserve 2 tbsp. for garnish) and 1 cup of mini chocolate chips. Bake in a greased bundt pan at 375 for 1 hour. 


Allow to cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar and reserved chocolate shavings. Flowers optional. :)


Sidenote: another reason why today is going to be absolutely fantastic is because I will be doing some work for the Water to Wine Project (updating the website and such) So be sure to check it out later this week!

Happy Mother's Day

I learned a very valuable lesson when I was ten years old. I was having a friend spend the night, and on the way home from school we stopped and bought friendship key chains. (What does a ten year old do with a key chain? I have no idea.) So we got these key chains. They were two puzzle pieces. One said best, the other said friends. All was well until my supposed “bff” wanted to spend all night playing video games with my little brother and totally ignoring me. Well, my friend left the next morning and I “forgot” to give her the friendship charm. Monday morning my mom drove me to school, and before I got out of the car I handed my mom the key chain. She looked a little puzzled (no pun intended) and I told her quite frankly, “Samantha* isn’t really my best friend anyway.”

Well, 10 years later my mom is still my best friend. Honestly.

Happy Mother’s Day!

*Name changed to protect the not-so-innocent sleaze who was totally macking on my baby brother. 

Fresh Kicks

Let's face it- I'm a flip flops girl. I grew up on the beach and the thought of wearing "real shoes" during the warmer months seems blasphemous. But when I saw these shoes at Old Navy back in March I was intrigued. I bought them in Tarragon and have fallen in love.

I was thrilled to see this post at A Cup of Jo. Not only are these shoes super comfy, but they are stylish too? And with the Old Navy version costing only $16, I can afford them in every color! Now I just have to figure out a way to fit them in my closet...

Holy Guacamole

Wednesday was Cinco de Mayo and the lovely Jordan and I had some friends over to celebrate. I decided to take a shot at homemade guacamole, and it did not disappoint. It only involved 4 ingredients and minimal work, making it perfect for even a culinary novice. 


Easy "Homemade" Guacamole:
Fresh guacamole (I used Wholly Guacamole, but any brand will do)
A little bit of lemon juice
A splash of salsa
1 avocado


Combine the first three ingredients. Dice avocado. Mix it up. Enjoy. 

(my sweet boyfriend did the "dirty work" for me while I worked on some queso)


It is so simple and infinitely better than the store bought stuff.

Perfectly Polished

Sunday night I pulled my first all-nighter of college. 14 hours in the library, multiple cups of coffee, and 20 pages later, I finished the night, er morning, with breakfast, a shower, and a nap. After I woke from my slumber at approximately 1:30pm (yikesorama), I rewarded myself with a trip to Ulta and later had chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream for dinner. You're only in college once, right?


Well, now let's talk about nail polish. 

These are the latest additions to the family... I mean collection.

1. Cozu-melted in the Sun, from the Mexico collection (just in time for Cinco de Mayo!) In person it looks a little more pink than the picture... and mega-sparkly.)
2. Conga-line Coral- so bright and fun... perfect for summer!
3. Melon of Troy- I tried this color out when I got a mani/pedi last weekend, and it is lovely!


To the untrained eye they may all seem strikingly similar in color, but I assure you they are vastly different. And I love them. Happy girl... and did I mention that it's summer? Holler.