Guilt-free Friday!

After accidentally waking up in time to watch the Royal Wedding, I solidified all future plans for life after graduation: find a prince & become royalty. Wasn't Kate absolutely beautiful? My favorite part though was when Harry looked at Kate coming down the aisle, turned to William with a boyish grin and said, "Wait 'til you see her." Isn't that darling? 


A gracious bow & curtsy until we meet again...


Hey! It's ok...


...to be completely lost without your planner. Or to have completely lost your planner. Whatevs.


...to stockpile items that look fabulous no matter how much tiramisu you consume: nail polish, shoes, scarves, etc.


...if it took 4 years of college for you to realize you're going to make an exceptional housewife. Ex.cep.tion.al. 

[via]

The Beginning of the End

I had my last day of undergraduate classes today, in typical undergraduate fashion... A major deadline for a magazine assignment that never did seem exactly right, but finally a frantic submission, a hurried lecture and a windy walk back to my apartment in 85% humidity. And just think, a few months from now I will look back on my college days with such fondness... oh nostalgia. Spending the remainder of the afternoon working on a paper (honestly, this is the most collegiate I've felt all semester) and then dashing off to induction. Oh, c'est la vie. 


Did I tell you I made a cake? No? Well I did. From scratch. For Rob's birthday. (I'm really pulling out all the stops to try to convince him to propose, but I don't know if I've quite won him over yet.) Anyways, I used Ina's Strawberry Country Cake recipe and it was pretty good, but I overcooked the cakes a bit, which is funny, because I took them out 5 minutes early. Hmph. Oh well, at least it looked pretty. 

 [The recipe says to use one cake and cut it in half, but what fun is that? I used two.]

 [The birthday boy making Peter cry. Typical, but this picture makes me laugh.]

[And if you absolutely hate how the cake turns out, I recommend having another glass of wine. You just might change your mind.]

the mean reds

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds? 
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues? 
Holly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? 
Paul: Sure. 
Holly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!

One of those days, my dears, just one of those days...


[image here and quote via imdb]

Guilt-free Friday!

Happy Good Friday, chickens! So excited to be kicking off this Easter weekend with some of the people who mean the most to me. I hope you, too, are enjoying this very special holiday with the people you love. May we never forget what Easter is all about... the immeasurable sacrifice of a loving Savior and the hope and joy of eternity with Him. 


Until next time, loves...


Hey! It's ok...


... to be a total tech lover, iPhone junkie, computer addict... but still do your best thinking with your trusty pencil in hand. 


...to use #hastags on the reg, even if you don't actually have a #twitter account.


... to expect/demand an Easter basket (and all-you-can-eat chocolate bunnies on Sunday morning) regardless of how old you are.

[via weheartit and bippityboppityboo]

rough around the edges

I have always been particularly prim and proper, even as a child. I tend to blame it on growing up with a British nanny, but for whatever reason I tend to gravitate toward the classics- a tailored trench, the perfect sheath dress, a delicate string of pearls, etc.

But as much as I love pieces that are polished and put together, I have a penchant for rugged, natural things as well (as seen here). There’s a special place in my heart (and/or wallet) for unique jewelry. Here are a few beautiful, and affordable, pieces from Urban Outfitters that I’m currently craving…

Mineral Pendant Necklace
Semi Precious Stone Post Earring
Wrapped Shimmery Metal Post Earring
Druzy Rock Ring
Raw Stone Ring
Dara Ettinger Melanie Petrified Wood Ring

And, if you dare, the Diamond in the Rough collection is absolutely stunning, and slightly out of my college student price range. (Warning: Should you decide to take a peek, you might fall in love. I'm talking about deep, meaningful, head-over-heels, his-n-hers towels, let's-grow-old-together L-O-V-E*) They mix natural, rough diamonds (untouched, uncut, unpolished) with pave diamonds to create gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Sneak peek?

Seriously, they blow Tacori out of the water. (Just sayin) Aaand I want it all. Like, yesterday.

*Yes, that was a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days reference. #duh. 

breakfast

Breakfast on the porch was quite possibly my best idea all morning. 


It feels good to be home. 

Charleston (again!)

As our senior years draws to a close, Jordan, Britney and I decided one last girls getaway was a must before graduation. We loaded up and hit the road Thursday afternoon and had the most wonderful day Friday...

We shopped all morning...

 And stopped for the most amazing lunch at the Palmetto Café in the Charleston Place Hotel

 I couldn't decided (everything sounded delicious) so I opted for the Palmetto Café Lunch Sampler (a tasting of She Crab Soup, Crab Cake, Chicken Salad, the "21" Burger and Fries) Every single bite was absolute perfection.

 Feeling revived from lunch, we shopped the rest of the afternoon. We purchased matching "friendship" rings (because I'm secretly 10 years old.) No matter how far apart we may be next year, I will always think of these beautiful women when I look at my shimmery pearl.

 After doing some major damage on King Street, we decided to join Jordan's aunt and uncle at a Charleston Raceweek Event!

 We ate dinner by the water

 and sipped boat drinks all night! (seriously, I was living a Jimmy Buffett song and loving every minute of it)

 I even dominated at a little cornhole (sorry Brit!)

We finished the evening on the boat. 

It doesn't get any better than that. 

Thanks J for an amazing trip!

iBowl

Reason #952650715363 why I need to work for Real Simple.

#problem (iPhone on counter=muffled sound and sub-par listening experience)

#solution (by Real Simple, of course) 


A plain, old bowl can instantly amplify the sound of your iPhone. Perfect for listening to music while cooking and much simpler than toting your iHome to the kitchen. iBowl. 


For more cleaver uses for everyday items click here.  

In the green

I painted my nails yesterday (duh) and my sweet roommate was kind enough to let me borrow a polish I had been contemplating buying for a while now...

[Refreshmint by China Glaze] 

I have been dying for the perfect shade of sea foam green, and I had high hopes for this hue. 


It shows up a little more blue than green, and it kind of makes me feel like a total hipster. Maybe the problem is my skin tone, or maybe I'm just a pink/coral/red/peach girl through and through. 


Right after I finished polishing, I read this article from Refinery29 which claims "Green is the new neutral." That may be true, but I think I'll be sticking with every shade of peach this season.


So tell me, what are your thoughts on wacky nail polish colors? I tend to gravitate toward them (in the bottles) but can never quite pull them off. 

Listening to...

I cannot get enough of this song!
Adore adore adore..

"Wildflowers" by Tom Petty

"You belong among the wildflowers, 

You belong in a boat out at sea.

Sail away, kill off the hours,

You belong somewhere you feel free."

Guilt-free Friday!

Happy Friday, little tomatoes! Any exciting weekend plans? Mine are still up in the air, but the prospects of sunshine and relaxation are promising. That's one thing I'm really going to miss about college... 4 day weekends every weekend. But then again, unemployment is like a perpetual weekend, so life after graduation might not be so bad after all. In the mean time,


Hey! It's ok...


... to whine a  little when you don't get your way. (Or wine a little when things are particularly upsetting)


... if the biggest decision you feel like making today is which earrings to wear (p.s. when in doubt, pearls.)


... if laying out in the sunshine has come to replace trips to the gym, all that matters is that you're sweating it out. (Just don't forget the SPF!)

[I simply adore this straw hat by kate spade (duh) and am willing to beg, borrow(permanently), or steal]

Top Chef, Watch Out.

Last night I cooked dinner. And it was not a Healthy Choice. I mean dinner was healthy, but it wasn't a Healthy Choice, as in the selection of frozen entrées I typically "cook" on week nights. Anyways, I digress. 

Chicken with Cannellini Beans and Arugula. Good, huh? I was impressed too. And so was Taylor, but he has exceptionally low standards when it comes to my cooking and always approves of my culinary endeavors. Well, at lease he does to my face.


 A while back my mom made this recipe from Real Simple and it was so good. And then she shipped me back to school and I don't have things like shrimp and fresh herbs. But I do have frozen chicken breasts and Italian seasoning, so I improvised. 


If you're in the same boat as me (sans shrimp) all you have to do is dip boneless/skinless chicken breasts in eggs (I used egg beaters) and dredge then in bread crumbs, seasoned salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, or just whatever you have on hand. Seriously, if I've learned anything during 4 years of college, it's that cooking isn't all that serious. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Hello tasty perfection. 

Worth Repeating...

"I believe in pink. 

I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. 

I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. 

I believe in being strong, 

when everything seems to be going wrong. 

I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.* 

I believe that tomorrow is another day 

and I believe in miracles."

-Audrey Hepburn

*I have to agree, I do believe I have some of the happiest, and prettiest, friends. :)

Sephora

I don't usually wear much makeup. In fact, my daily look typically involves any combination the following:

Neutrogena Visibly Even daily moisturizer SPF 30 (I spent 2 weeks in Africa without luggage, and I was so thankful to have packed this in my carry-on)
Estee Lauder bronzer (a compact I have had for far too long, but it is the perfect shade and I simply refuse to toss it)
Bare Escentuals blush in Avant-Garden
Bare Escentuals Flawless Definition volumizing mascara 
(and always an eyelash curler)


But that doesn't mean I don't love cosmetics as much as the next girl. In reality, not wearing a lot of makeup daily makes getting glammed up all the more special. 


My lovely aunt gave me a Sephora gift card for Christmas and I have been dying to spend it... the only problem is that I cannot decide what to spend it on! Well, that and the fact that after I spend it I won't have an excuse to spend hours perusing the Sephora website. But here's what I'm wanting so far:

Tarte Femme Naturale Eye Palette
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam To Go
Buxom Waterproof Smoky Eye Stick
Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint
Twirl by Kate Spade Roll-On
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

What wold you spend it on? 

I would love some recommendations!

Guilt-free Friday!

Friday again? Even though the days have been getting longer, time continues to fly by. This weekend my good friend Spring is supposed to be returning to town, bringing along her counterparts Sunshine and Blue Skies. Looking forward to the re-opening of the Farmers' Market with my dearest Lauren and I have every intention of bringing home a big bundle of fresh blossoms. Besides that, it's basketball, friends, and a little r&r. Hoping your weekend it delightful, too! Until we meet again...


Hey! It's ok...

... to think the whole "April Fools Day" thing is an over-rated joke.

... to buy all organic foods, to wear natural mineral make-up, and to use chemical-free cleaning products... but maybe sometimes occasionally microwave that take-out in the styrofoam container it came in 

... if your body is still adjusting to daylight savings time (or to at least use that excuse when you sleep in until 11:30)

[I much prefer dogs, but doesn't this sleepy kitten just look adorable? image via sundayinbed]