Friday Favorites

I have been watching this show ever since they aired it back in the day on Nick at Nite. I'm sure you remember the lineup that included The Wonder Years, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Happy Days. I received the complete series set from my boyfriend last year for a birthday gift, making it one of my most favorite gifts to ever receive. I've probably watched every episode a hundred times, and I still laugh like it's the first time I've seen it. I credit Lucille Ball with my love of gingers to this very day. When I moved out of Vermont Tom and I took a little detour to Jamestown, NY which happens to be her hometown. I totally geeked out on all things Lucy by visiting the museums and almost every landmark that was credited to her. I highly recommend her memoir Love, Lucy along with the I Love Lucy board game for all Lucy fans. The best part is that I have now gotten my younger sister hooked on Lucy so we now have Lucy bonding moments. And now, cue Lucy homage:

 

Road Trip!

I've been busy traveling on a few road trips last month what with weddings, graduations, and a quick holiday weekend with the boyfriend and his family so I figured I would do a little post on some convenient packing tips that helped me. If you're anything like me, then you likely overpack too many clothes that only end up taking valuable suitcase space. Luckily, there's help for the mini hoarders in all of us.

1. Organize. I hate both packing and unpacking. I'm the type of person who doesn't touch my suitcase until about a week after I return, mainly because that's when I likely need to do laundry. I had a gift card to Vera Bradley for my birthday so I decided I would go ahead and buy a hanging organizer for myself. Gene-balls idea! I love this because of all of the zippers so I can keep things separated, i.e. shower stuff, skincare, contacts stuff, etc.

Vera Bradley Hanging Organizer Lime's Up

2. Makeup. I normally keep my makeup fairly simple unless I know I need to get fancy somewhere. My basics include: tinted moisturizer, mascara, and lip balm. I may actually head over to my local Target to get this cute makeup bag. Best part is that it has 2 separate compartments! I swear, I'm not OCD. I just really enjoy compartmentalizing everything. I wonder what that says about me.

Sonia Kashuk Double Zip Foldover Over Cosmetic Bag

3. Packing. I learned from Farleigh that it saves way more space if you roll your clothes versus traditionally folding them. All I can say is true story! It's especially more convenient for me now in the warmer months because I mainly wear skirts and dresses whenever I go out so I don't have the heaviness of denim. I also pack outfits for each day that I'm on vacay plus 1-2 spares depending on how long I'm gone. And I have gotten better at only packing 1 extra pair of shoes instead of 3-4 (Yes, I have done that before. Ask me how many times did I actually wear every pair of shoes when on vacation.) You may also ask, so what about wrinkles? No need to pack an iron when you have the Downy Wrinkle Release. Seriously, just found this stuff today in the travel size toiletries section of Target. Talk about a life saver. I may never travel without this ever again.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

So those are my main tips on trying to get the packing thing right. Let me know what other tips you may have for packing light.

Wanted: New Motivation

I've been on vacay for the past couple of weeks for weddings and graduations so obvi this means I've fallen off the bandwagon gotten sidetracked with my running. I decided to hit the gym tomorrow morning and the best way for me to get some motivation is to add some new songs to my iPod. Some of these are new and some are oldies but goodies. What are the odds I'll wake up tomorrow with a body like Shakira? Or how about Scarlett Johansson a la The Avengers, which was fan-freaking-tastic. Joss Whedon is geneballs.

Beyonce "Countdown"

Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe"

Nicki Minaj "Starships"

Shakira "Hips Don't Lie"

Let me know if you have any other recommendations. One of my favorite parts about listening to music while working out is listening to my guilty pleasures on repeat.

Happy Birthday, Stumpz!

Oh Stumpz, it's your birthday again!! You gave me my first memory of Vermont after we hung out at Crossroads and then my itty-bitty apartment afterwards. Love and miss you!

Happy Happy Birthday, Krumpz!!!

Happy Birthday, Krumpz. Love and miss you tons!!!

What's On My Nightstand

I apparently have reading ADD and am getting through several books at the same time. I've never been like this before so I'll blame grad school (I kid...sorta). I will always love reading books and, while I get the point of a Kindle, there is nothing quite like physically flipping through the pages of an amazing story. So here are the list of books that currently have a bookmark at some point in them. Hopefully, I'll get through all of them soon and will stop adding more to the pile!

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan (yes, I'm still reading this...)

Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

What are you reading these days?

Colors of the Wind

Farleigh's pedicure post inspired to list some of my favorite mani/pedi colors that I plan to wear this spring and summer. I believe that keeping my toes in great shape with a fun color just makes me feel so much better and happier.

Zoya in Pippa (obvi I had to get this color): I'm currently wearing this on my nails. It's warmer and more of a marigold color than the bright neon yellow in the image.

Zoya in Arizona: A little obsessed with an orange tone since Pantone released tangerine tango as the color of the year.

Zoya in Wednesday

Butter London in Disco Biscuit


Sally Hansen in Pacific Blue

Zoya in Carmen

Yes, I do have a lot of Zoya colors on here. It happens to be my current fave brand to use for nail polish. I normally keep my toes in the pinks or reds and my fingers in whatever bright color I feel like at the moment. Now that I've done this post I feel like changing up my mani and maybe pop in some Bridesmaids.

Pedicure Season!

Is there anything better than reaching that lovely day when temperatures shift from winter to spring and the birds starting chirping, "pedicure, pedicure, pedicure?" No, my friends, there is not. I am a firm believer in the art of the pedicure. One should never leave the house with crusty feet and unprepared toes. Please, if you are going to wear flips flops with your JCrew suit on the Metro, you'd best have some nice looking toes. And by nice looking toes, I do not mean a French pedicure or little flowers. No, I mean charming, friendly colors.

Here are some suggestions and some of my favorites:

Reds: OPI, I'm Not Really a Waitress, www.opi.com, $8, OPI’s Big Apple Red, Essie’s Who’s She Red
Essie Nail Polish in Lion Around, $8, www.essie.com
CND Colour in Raspberry Parfait, $9, www.cnd.com

Dior Vernis in Purple Mix, $21
Essie Nice Is Nice (from the French Affair collection for Spring 2011-- hard to find-- Mademoiselle is what I would consider the perfect, classic pink so go with that instead)
Chanel Pêche Nacrée (from the Les Perles de Chanel collection)

Go forth, take off those wool socks!

Should you need recommendations for awesome pedicure places in the DC area, let me know in the comments.

This is Why I'm Not Hot... But I'm Working On It

My time in Vermont really took a toll on my general fitness level. Yes, I can make excuses that I totally trashed my knee skiing at Killington (truth and I have the torn meniscus to prove it), and yes I didn't have to stuff that much cheese, beer, pancakes, wine and well let's face it, everything down my pie-hole. However, I'm not fooling anyone any longer. It has been seven full months since I've left Vermont, my student loan deferment period has ended, and I am still carrying a whole wide-load's worth of junk in my trunk. So I am slowly getting back on track.

Fundamental to this process have been several things. First, there is a gym located on the 12th floor of my apartment building and it takes a lot of pathetic excuses to honestly believe myself when I say, "Oh, I'm too tired to take the freaking elevator upstairs." Second, I've finally looked myself dead in the eye after stepping on the scale and said, "Damn, girl. You have hit maximum density." Third, I make fitness an activity. For example, I plan these really long walks on the weekends with a destination multiple miles away. Most importantly, I've come to terms with the fact that I like to workout in cool looking clothes.

I did away with all my my cotton tee-shirts. You know the ones, ladies. The huge, unflattering, hot tee-shirts with logos from college or trips or whatever. I've replaced them with cute sweat wicking shirts. Examples below (FYI: I refuse to buy anything from Lululemon anymore due to the Founder's nutball explanation for why he used crazy Republican principals on one of their bags recently. No can do, Republican dude. No more money for you from me).

Under Armour: Women's UA Tech Shortsleeve Tee-- cute colors and does exactly what it says it will do-- recommend http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/pid1228321
Lucy: Speedy Short Sleeve Top -- really comfy and very breathable -- recommend http://www.lucy.com/Speedy-Short-Sleeve-Top/110168_SALE,default,pd.html?cgid=Tops_Short-Sleeve%20Tops&dwvar_110168_SALE_color=GRAPEFRUIT/LAVA

Target also has really great deals on workshop clothes and I've found awesome stuff on the clearance rack at http://www.citysports.com/

It is a process and I can't say I've lost inches or a huge number of pounds, but I'm thinking this is a tortoise and the hare sort of battle. I might be slow, but my workout outfits are cute as hell.

Laura Mercier Flawless Face

The siren song of Sephora lured me with her ruthless money hungry and sweet talking ways two weeks ago and I am so pleased with my purchase. Mostly I was there under the guise of "buying my Mom a birthday present," which I did but I've also been feeling like I need to start wearing a more "professional and polished" look to work. I have a long standing hatred of any and all foundations, which is the source of my lack of polish. I feel like foundation makes the person look corpse-like and fake. I've long held that when I wear foundation my face feels like it is suffocating. However, when you are the only woman in a room during an important meeting who is wearing nothing other than blush, one eye shadow and mascara (and hoping your glasses cover the fact you haven't slept thanks to a bottle of wine the night before), one may begin to feel like they should kick it up a notch (not that I'd know anything about that...).

So I launched myself into Sephora and went to the Laura Mercier section because she has never failed me. I purchased the Flawless Face kit (not the oil free-- because I've got dry skin) and I love it. It comes with primer, tinted moisturizer, concealer (two types), and translucent setting powder, as well as two full size brushes and some powder puffs. The coverage is buildable but light and hasn't made me break out despite a sudden heat-wave in DC. These are fantastic products for people who need a more polished look but don't want a "full face" of makeup. It evens my skin tone out and lasts all day. I'll 100% be buying the full size versions of these products when my Flawless Face kit runs out.

I also brought home the following loot:
Fresh Sugar lip treatment http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P57002 (amazing)
Truth Creme Advanced Hydration-- Ole Henriksen (amazing moisturizer which isn't heavy and smells fantastic, hasn't broken me out) http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P308101&categoryId=C19980
Replacement for my trusty and AMAZING (yes, all caps. You must buy this product-- looks universally good on everyone) eyeliner called Black Gold from Laura Mercier http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P109941&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5809

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Make it Work

There's no cooking in the kitchen! OK, enough of that. How about we just have some more of this...


That's what I'm talking about. I've had a cupcake craving for a couple of days now, and there's not really a bakery in this two-bit town that makes a cupcake up to my standard. It's quite unfortunate, really. My mom was attending a potluck church thing so I figured I would do the charitable thing by baking cupcakes for her to bring just so I can satisfy my wee little craving. They pope should just put my name down for sainthood. I got the cupcake recipe from here, which based its cupcake on the Martha Stewart recipe.

Apparently, making a Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting can be tricky (which I found out for myself). I made the mistake of adding the strawberry puree at the wrong time with the egg whites and the sugar in the saucepan. Needless to say my meringue didn't peak so much. Since I had a time crunch and limited resources (i.e. 45 minutes and no more eggs) I looked online to see if I could salvage this soupy mess that just did not seem to want to turn into frosting. I found one website that suggested putting it in the fridge for 20 minutes and then beating it into delicious fluffiness. Again, time crunch so I put it in the freezer for 10ish minutes. After beating it for the second time I thought it would surely turn out but alas it curdled. Luckily, the same website suggested heating 1/4 of the frosting in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and streaming it back in the remainder frosting while beating on low. Voila! It worked and I saved the day for my mom (Not really since she was already bringing a tiramisu. Man they will really love her!).

Moral of the story: Always listen to Tim Gunn and just make it work. Oh, and eat a cupcake.

Gratulerer med dagen, Farleigh Danger!

Many hugs, Korean food and scorpion bowl birthday wishes are headed your way!

Happy Happy Birthday, Farleigh!!!

Currently Reading

I'm a fan of Paulo Coelho's work. One of my favorites to read over and over again is The Alchemist. If you have to read only one Paulo Coelho, then that would be it. I'm curious to see what Brida has in store for me.

“ 'Never be ashamed,’ he said. ‘Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.’
‘How will I know which is which?’
‘By the taste. You can only know a good wine if you have first tasted a bad one.' ” - Paulo Coelho, Brida

Skincare "Haul" of Shame

I know. That was a terrible pun I just bought a new exfoliator last week. But I visited my local Ulta yesterday and saw a gift duo of the Befine Exfoliating Cleanser and the Gentle Cleanser. I had heard amazing reviews on the Exfoliating Cleanser and really wanted to try it, but if you clicked on the links you would see that each retails for approximately $24. I will gladly tell you I paid WAY less for the gift duo. They happened to have a sale sticker for around $9 but when I went to the register it actually turned out to be $6.50 for both. *insert Paco happy dance* Somebody is going back to Ulta tomorrow to stock up on some more at this ridiculously amazing price. I'll give you one guess as to whom.

I couldn't hold my patience and just had to try the Exfoliating Cleanser tonight. Seriously, it was the most amazing thing I have ever put on my face. It starts out as a gentle scrub and then turns into a creamy cleanser, making your face feel all sorts of happy and fresh. Plus, I really like that it has this light sweet oats scent, which totally makes sense since it contains brown sugar and oats. And in case anyone is interested, it is paraben free and not tested on animals.

The box says to use it as part of my daily skin care routine so I'm considering having this be part of my nightly skincare ritual. Or maybe I'll move the Soap and Glory for 2x a week at night and use the Befine in the morning. I don't think I have the patience to just let it sit on my shelf until I use up the other products that I currently have.

Latest Shopping Haul

I have an upcoming wedding (as a bridesmaid) in April so obviously this warranted a shopping trip. I'm fairly sure I justified my purchases because I will "need it for the wedding".

This grey pencil skirt will actually be part of our bridesmaids' outfits (yay for things I can wear again!). I bought this over the weekend from the White House Black Market, which has some pretty cute stuff. I've never stepped foot in one before, let alone purchase something. The bride wants us to pair this with a white ruffle-y or tie neck blouse. She hasn't found one yet so let me know if you find a white top that would go great with the skirt (The theme is an antique brunch. Hello eggs benedict and mimosas!).

I randomly found this conditioner in the sale bin at my local Target today. The sale sticker said it was marked down to $4 but when I checked out it was actually $2. *Insert high five* I've never tried the Burt's Bees conditioner before but I won't complain about $2.


I happened to be in the market for an exfoliator and thought I'd try this from Sephora. I plan on updating my skincare routine so I'll let you know whether or not I'm pleased with this one.

I also needed a body scrub and, lo and behold, this happened to be in the same area as my new exfoliator. I haven't tried it yet, but I will let you know what I think about it also.

I got the Mineralize Concealer in NW20. I really needed a new under-eye concealer for the wedding. It will be on a Sunday at 11 a.m. so add that to a boozy rehearsal dinner the night before and no sleep = high odds of looking like a hot mess in the a.m. (No worries, I already made plans to pack my Vita Coco). I had to choose from this, the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, and the Laura Mercia Undercover Pot, but I mainly chose Mac since it was the least expensive. When the makeup artist applied it on me I wasn't really fond of it in the beginning, thinking it looked funny but as the day wore on I liked it more. It's still on fairly well without any creasing after about 7 hours so I'm quite pleased with it.

So there's my latest shopping haul for anybody who is interested in seeing what I bought. I will update soon about my new skincare routine so *crossing fingers* that I will love my new Soap and Glory products. At the very least they smell yummy.