Current Obsession: Gilmore Girls

Monday, January 12, 2015

Friends,

I have a major confession to make. I cannot stop watching Gilmore Girls. All day. Everyday.

Everyone and their mother has been blogging about their Gilmore Girls obsession, subsequently fueling mine, but hey... if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Carly from The College Prepster blogged about finding the ultimate Rory Gilmore reading list on Buzzfeed which includes every book that Rory talks about in the series... that is one loooong (339 books) reading list. Has anyone ever attempted this?

This show is just too good to resist. I mean, the cheeky characters from the quaint and quirky little town of Stars Hollow, the presh mother-daughter relationship between Rory and Lorelai, all of Rory's different boys throughout the seasons, LUKE... Everything about this show is absolute, literal perfection.

I've laughed big, hard, loud belly laughs and I've cried big, ugly, Kim Kardashian tears. This show just gives me all of the feels. I never really watched it when it was on air. I would catch reruns after school on ABC Family every once in a while, but I never watched the series unfold from start to finish.



One thing this show has definitely done for me is magnify my coffee addiction. Every time Lorelai says "coffee coffee coffee" or Luke pours a cup into one of his kitchy mismatched mugs, I run to my Keurig, power that baby on, and pop in one of those cute little pods. It just doesn't feel right to watch the show without a cup of my own.

So, I have a question for you all -- who's your favorite Gilmore Girls character? I'd love to know!! I absolutely love Melissa McCarthy, so Sookie has always been a personal favorite.




p.s. I'm currently on Season 5 and I mean....team Luke forever and ever. I don't know how the series ends, so don't spoil it for me pleeeease.





Weekend Notes

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Hi, friends!!

Wow - Sunday already. I always have a hard time coming to grips with Sunday evenings turning into Monday mornings. The weekends go way too fast!!

I hope you all had a lot of fun this weekend and got into all kinds of crazy shenanigans (or took lots of cat naps...whichever is more your speed).

I have a love/hate relationships with weekends most of the time due to my retail schedule. A weekend completely off is a one-a-month kind of luxury. Most weekends I spend the majority of my time folding clothes and hanging out at the mall...nothing crazy exciting.

Some weekends, like this one, are a complete and total breath of fresh air. I was off Friday and Sunday. A-MAZ-ING.

I spent most of Friday morning cleaning and relaxing. I slept in a little bit, which was phenomenal, and then binge watched Gilmore Girls and cleaning my apartment. Super low key. Super relaxing. After a peaceful day of laying around doing (practically) nothing, I was ready for some fun and some company. I ended up making plans to go out to dinner with two of my dear friends -- the couple who got married on National Wear Your Lilly Day (#NWYLD). I have not seen these two in (what feels like) ages, and it was so lovely to catch up with the two of them. The conversation was wonderful and we talked, laughed, reminisced, and celebrated the fact the Ben, Elizabeth's hubby, got a new job (yay!!) Dinner was yummy (all of the pasta, all of the carbs), and I was so ready to hit the hay when I got home.

Saturday was mainly spent at work and I finally took down my Christmas tree -- hold your judgment, please!!

Today was the cherry on top of a great weekend. I really love having a Sunday off every once in a while. Sundays just might be my favorite day of the week, but this Sunday was super special. My friend Sasha was in town visiting Elizabeth (from Sweet Spaces) and we all made plans to go to brunch and celebrate reuniting with a few mimosas and some delish breakfast food.

Sasha and I were both bridesmaids in Elizabeth's wedding and have been friends ever since. She lives in Virginia, so I never get to see her anymore (boo!!) -- brunch was definitely a fun time! Elizabeth warned me that she was going to be wearing her newest Lilly dress and Sasha is always wearing something adorable, which meant that I couldn't just roll out of bed and go to brunch in my workout gear (aka, my typical brunch attire). It was a great excuse to have to get up and put together a cute outfit. I mean, who doesn't love an excuse to dress up a little bit?!

Isn't Elizabeth's Kate Spade clutch just to die for!?! I have some serious bag envy.

After brunch, we headed out to do some shopping at the Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, and HomeGoods. Sasha found an adorable leather skirt and Elizabeth picked up a pack of makeup removing wipes. I was on the hunt for a Kate Spade mug I had seen the other day, but for some reason (I'm claiming temporary insanity) I passed..... It's pretty much all I've been thinking about ever since... it was $12 and a pretty blue color that read "seize the day" on the inside rim... and it matches my "skirt the rules" mug perfectly.... but I digress. We ended with a quick trip to Starbucks for a latte (and a pastry to satisfy my sweet tooth). It was truly a lovely Sunday afternoon !!

Lipgloss: Smashbox // Shirt: Old Navy // Necklace: J Crew Factory // Skirt: J Crew Factory // Boots: Jessica Simpson // Boot Socks: Target //  Nails: OPI Shim Merry Chic // Watch & Bracelet: Kate Spade 

After our little afternoon date, I headed home to change (sort of) to head to dinner at my boyfriend's parents' house. His family does a cute little family dinner every Sunday evening -- such a great excuse to slow down, sit down, and talk to each other about all of the fun and new things going on in their lives. I love that his family does this and definitely think that it's time I set aside a time each week to hang out with my parents (mom & dad, since I know you're reading this -- when are we getting together!?!).

Shirt: Old Navy // Vest: Old Navy // Necklace: JCrew Factory // Jeans: Gap // Boots: Jessica Simpson // Watch & Bracelet: Kate Spade

Now I'm winding down, watching more Gilmore Girls (I'm on some seriously emotionally damaging episodes and may or may not have been sobbing while I've been writing this post), and catching up on all of my thank you notes. Today has just been glorious.

Let me know how you all spent your weekend!! I can't wait to hear all the juicy details!!



10 Life Lessons I've Learned From Carrie Bradshaw

Monday, January 5, 2015

My biggest, wildest dream has always been to be Carrie Bradshaw. Ever since I watched my first episode of Sex & the City, I have idolized Carrie. Her confidence, her apartment, her man, her job, her closet -- I wanted it all! Fast forward about 9 or so years, and not much has changed. Just tonight, while talking to my bff Elizabeth, I casually dropped into the conversation how much blogging makes me feel a teeny tiny bit closer to achieving my dream of morphing into Carrie Bradshaw.

Seriously. That closet.

Thinking about all of this makes me giggle a little bit, but in all honesty, why? Carrie Bradshaw is a fantastic role model. Sure she made a ton of mistakes throughout the series, but ultimately, she was an icon. There's a reason the series is still successful to this day. Carrie is the epitome of "girl power". She had an amazing writing career, incredible friendships, and the strongest sense of self of any fictional character I know.



Today, I'm going to share 10 of the best pieces of advice, or life lessons, that I have learned from Miss Carrie Bradshaw.

disclaimer: If you've never seen Sex & the City 1) um... what? and 2) call me up ASAP - I have the collectors edition and a few bottles of red ... or we can make cosmopolitans (her signature cocktail). Seriously, we'll have ladies night.



10 Life Lessons I've Learned From Carrie Bradshaw

1, It's a totally wonderful thing to be a strong, single woman.

"Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you're pretty, sexy, & you're taking your time deciding how you want your life to be & who you want to spend it with"

What an important lesson to learn in your early twenties. This time last year I was going through a strange phase in my life. All of my best friends were happily coupled off. One was married, one was engaged, and one was in a wonderful relationship with a man who adored her. Then there was me.... alone. I envied my friend's happiness and relationships and hoped that one day I would be as lucky. While it is definitely a great feeling to be in a secure, healthy relationship with a person who thinks you're the sun and the moon, it is equally wonderful to be alone and to be secure with that. Being single and confident in yourself is an amazing feeling. The biggest thing this taught me is that my time is valuable and that I am wonderful. Single and fabulous (exclamation point)!

2. It is 100% okay not to be a perfect, domestic, stepford wife.

"I will never be the woman with the perfect hair who can wear white & not spill on it"

Those friends I referred to above? Yes. Those girls are the definition of domestic goddesses. I, on the other hand, am a mediocre cook (at best), a decent baker, and I do not think of my life 5 years in the future. Don't get me wrong, I think that being a little bit stepford wife-y is fantastic -- I just will never be that girl. For example, I recently decided that I would buy crisp, beautiful, white sheets to match my beautiful white comforter... the actual, literal night that I purchased these sheets, I may or may not have spilled red white all over (spoiler alert: I did). But you know what? I like myself, messes and all.

3. Your true friends will always be there for you, throughout every season of your life.

"They say nothing lasts forever, dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style"

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. Nothing better than true friends who will always love you even if you suck sometimes. (Shout out to Kourtney, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth for being literally the best).

4. Just because people move on and chase their dreams, it doesn't mean that they will no longer be a huge part of your life.

"After all, seasons change, so do cities. People come into your life & people go, but it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart & if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."

No matter where life takes you, the people who truly matter will always be there for you to celebrate all of the important matters in your life. I am so fortunate to have girlfriends who are so supportive of my decisions and goals and these girls know that I back them 100% no matter what. How lucky am I?

5. It is so important to love yourself before you can expect anyone to love you.

"The most exciting, challenging, & significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself...& if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous"

There is no sense being in a relationship if you feel you have to hide your flaws or insecurities from your significant other. In order to be in a truly rewarding relationship, I think that is is so, so, so important to be totally, completely, comfortable with yourself first. 

6. Just because a relationship doesn't last, doesn't mean that your feelings are/were invalid.

"Some love stories aren't epic novels. Some are short stories, but that doesn't make them any less filled with love."

Just because something doesn't last forever, doesn't mean it wasn't an important time in your life. People come into our lives for a reason and sometimes that reason is hard to see in the present moment. Everyone teaches us some sort of lesson. What we take away from each failed relationship is what is truly important and significant; just because it didn't work out in the long run, doesn't mean that the feelings were never there/

7. It is okay to leave some things in the past.

"Maybe the past is like an anchor holding us back. Maybe you have to let go of who you were to become who you will be."

While everything and everyone we meet teaches us a lesson of some sort, some people just aren't meant to stay in our lives forever. It is 100% okay to cut people out of your life if they do not fit into your dreams. If someone isn't willing to support you and your crazy ideas, do you really need to make it a priority to keep them in your life?

8. You are perfect just the way you are. You do not need to conform to any societal norms to make other people happy.

"Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free til they find someone just as wild to run with them."

There is no reason in life to be anything but happy. Do everything you want to do. Do them with the people who want to do these things with you. Don't change who you are or what you want for someone else.

9. Never judge another person's relationship.

"When it comes to relationships, maybe we're all in glass houses & shouldn't throw stones because you can never really know. Some people are settling down, some are settling, and some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies."

It is so easy to have an opinion about every aspect of your friends' relationships. It's so easy to look from the outside and judge the decisions people make, but why? Everyone has their own quirks or problems, it's a part of life. As long as our friends are happy, what other business do we have sticking our nose where it doesn't belong? I think the major lesson here is to learn to be supportive. If your friends are happy, that is all that matters.

10. Sometimes you have to make not-so-logical decisions. Sometimes you have to follow your heart.

"Sometimes you gotta quit thinking so much. If it feels right, it probably is. So just go with it."

& as a bonus.... my all-time favorite, justify all of my life decisions, quote.....

"It wasn't logic. It was love"

forever searching for Mr. Big.
I'd love to hear some of your favorite Sex & the City quotes!
Until next time

Cheers,


* all pictures were found in a pinterest search

NYE details

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Well hello there!

I hope that you all had a magnificent time ringing in the new year. New Year's Eve has always been one of my favorite holidays. Maybe it's the promise of a fresh start as we leave our mistakes behind that I look forward to each year or maybe it's the sparkles, sequins, and glitter.... I mean, you be the judge (hint: it's the latter). NYE is such a fun holiday. You get to dress up and take pictures and drink champagne...what could be better?

This NYE, my midnight kiss just so happened to be my glass (juice box?) of wine. As I've previously mentioned, the boyfriend is traveling for work right now -- so unfortunately he spent his NYE in Atlanta. While I definitely missed kissing my handsome guy as the ball dropped and we welcomed in 2015, it allowed me to spend the evening with my best girlfriends, which was definitely a blast.

I started my NYE morning meeting up with my momma for brunch at one of our favorite spots. If any of you live near a Joseph Beth Bookstore that has the Bronte bistro attached, GO! The food is amazing, the ambiance is cozy, and they have an entire cocktail menu where each drink is named after an author or a book.... I totally geek out over it every time. It's just so fun! I indulged in baked brie with a caramel sauce and pears and a mimosa made with grand mariner (yummy!) and my momma chose the quiche du jour which was a veggie lovers quiche with chicken... SO GOOD. Have I mentioned that I adore Bronte bistro?

After brunch, we did a little window shopping, picked out a retirement gift for one of my mom's coworkers, returned some Christmas presents, and then wished one another a very happy new year. I love the relationship I have built with my mom. As I get older, I have realized that the time I get to spend with my mommabear is precious and the memories are priceless. I am one lucky girl to have a friend and mother as wonderful as mine. (Mom, if you're reading this -- love you bigger!)
so delish!!

Cheers to 2015!

sidenote: My wonderful boyfriend treated me to this murfee for Christmas. I am absolutely obsessed with it and have been wearing it every chance I get! It's perfect for the winter months as I can pair it back to grays and navy and wear it with a quilted vest or a dress, but it's going to be just as perfect in the spring and summer! The teals and pinks and greens in this scarf are just gorgeous. Shop the Trunk Show murfee here!

After brunch, I went back to my apartment to get ready for the evenings festivities. Last year, I had purchased a zip-up leather dress for a Sex and the City themed girls' trip (clearly I was the Samantha), and NYE was a great excuse to pull that dress out again. (sidenote: I also wore it to my birthday party...I just love this dress). It's everything a NYE dress should be: sexy, fun, and a little ridiculous. Although I typically opt for head to toe sequins, a little sparkle on my nails (I used Essie's Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low -- a metallic-y, sparkly silver-y, gold color) and sparkly J. Crew tights were enough for this girl this year. 

The prettiest Gin & Tonic there ever was

After getting ready, one of my bffs, Kourtney, came to pick me up to drink wine and touch up hair and makeup. We had wonderful girl talk, listened to Taylor Swift, and reconnected before our dinner reservations. It was lovely. Oh, the wine we were drinking? Pinot Grigio from a juice box.... always classy.

I think we clean up nicely, yes?

We met up with the rest of our friends at Seasons 52 for dinner. If there is a Seasons 52 near you, please do yourself a favor and go! The wine list is extensive and they change their menu up seasonally, depending on the produce that is in season. They also have the most delicious flatbreads as an appetizer option. I had the seasonal Bay Scallops (divine), a bottle of Chardonnay (split with Kourt), a field green salad, brussel sprouts, and finished it off with a s'mores dessert shooter (those cute little ones in the shot glasses). To avoid being publicly picked on by everyone at the table, I didn't take any pictures.... but, trust me when I say it was all beautiful and delicious!

Post dinner, we called an Uber and headed off to our friend's apartment in Mt. Adams where we spent time drinking (more) wine, catching up with old and new friends, and having lots and lots of fun. Our friend Jared has this amazing apartment that overlooks the city -- breathtaking. The perfect location to celebrate a new year!

the view from his balcony - gorgeous

It was definitely a night for the books and I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for all of us! What were your NYE plans? Quiet night in? Crazy night on the town? Evening spent with friends and family? I'd love to hear all about them!



CHEERS!













101 in 1001 Days

Thursday, January 1, 2015

I will be the first person to admit that I am no good at New Year's Resolutions. I love the idea of a good goal setting session and I love the idea of ending one year making a list of things I hope to improve or do in the upcoming year -- but I am terrible at following through.

This year is going to be different. 2015 is going to be a year of measurable success and change. I'm going into this new year with the support of a fantastic, caring family, the most fabulous group of girlfriends anyone could ever ask for, and a boyfriend whom I just adore. I can't wait to see where this year takes me.

So... to turn these goals into a reality, I was inspired by the one and only Mackenzie Horan to write a list of 101 things I want to do or accomplish in 1001 days. Mackenzie is the mastermind behind the Design Darling blog and boutique -- definitely check her out...she's on her second 101 in 1001. The really cool thing about these 101 in 1001 lists is that there's a set time period and all of the goals are measurable and can be crossed off once completed. It's kind of a cross between new years resolutions, a to do list, and a bucket list.

I am so excited to get started and get things crossed off of this list! If any of you decide to write a 101 in 1001 list, definitely send me a link and let me know -- I would love to read your lists!

Here goes nothing. 1001 days. 2.75 years. cheers as we start this journy together!



start date: January 1, 2014
end date: September 28, 2017

disclaimer: these are in no order currently. I will add my list to a page at top of my blog and you can check on my progress as I go. I'll categorize my goals on the 101 in 1001 page. I will also write an update post at the beginning of each month so I can share some fun stories from this experiment.

1. go one month without shopping
2. go one month without fast food
3. volunteer for a cause I am passionate about
4. read 5 autobiographies or biographies (memoirs count too)
5. read 5 new classic novels

6. read for 30 minutes every night for a week
7. get a chemical peel
8. start a new blog series
9. publish 3 how to posts
10. get a promotion

11. take my grandpa out to dinner
12. run a race (5k, 10k, half-marathon)
13. take a roadtrip with my girlfriends
14. leave a 100% tip for great service
15. send snail mail birthday cards to 10 friends

16. attend 5 musicals or plays at local theatres
17. travel somewhere new and exciting
18. try 10 new cincinnati restaurants
19. go to a yoga class once a week for a month
20. go two months without Starbucks

21. have professional pictures taken
22. host a giveaway on S+W
23. send thank you cards once a month
24. save $20/month to put towards a Society Social barcart
25. pay for a stranger's coffee

26. go camping
27. go apple or berry picking
28. play tennis
29. go social media-less for a weekend
30. get my wisdom teeth removed

31. guest blog
32. host a guest blogger
33. start a new blog series
34. send Christmas cards
35. inspire someone else to make a 101 in 1001

36. learn to drive a stick shift
37. go fishing
38. sing a song with David and record it
39. run 3x a week for one month
40. get a massage

41. save $1,000 for a rainy day
42. have a pen pal
43. go to church at least 1 Sunday each month
44. hit 500, 1,000, 1,500 followers on Instagram
45. host my parents for a dinner party

46. have a fully stocked bar - (tequila, vodka, rum, gin, bourbon, white wine, red wine) and all of the fixins
47. buy my dream Society Social couch
48. buy my blog domain
49. take a trip to a vineyard
50. take a bus trip to the Kentucky Derby with all of my best friends -- relive my college days

51. donate to my high school alma mater
52. try a cycling class
53. buy a nice camera for my blog
54. create my own logo - or hire someone to create one
55. create S+W business cards

56. perfect a cocktail recipe and make it my signiture drink
57. play 18 holes of golf
58. meet with other local bloggers for brunch
59. consistently update my resume
60. plan and host a fabulous 25th birthday party

61. buy and organize an address book and fill it with the necessary information
62. get up early and go to a coffee shop for work purposes once/week for 1 month
63. cook/bake 10 things from pinterest
64. go to a wine tasting class
65. attend a wine and painting class for a girls night out

66. complete a month of the blogilates workout calendar
67. buy a desk for my apartment
68. (finally) paint my bedroom furniture
69. collect 10 fashion and style related coffee table books
70. blog a "10 favorite things to do in Cincinnati" list

71. use my library card 10 times
72. make my bed every morning for 1 month
73. create a collab series with my bff Elizabeth
74. attend the local farmer's market in my neighborhood at least 5 times each summer
75. give something up for Lent and stick with it

76. perfect 5 "go to" recipes
77. introduce myself to my neighbors
78. read the newspaper every day for 1 month
79. find doctors that I like and make appointments for the future
80. go to a Red's game

81. watch 15 TED talks
82. launch an online boutique or etsy shop
83. attend a final friday in OTR & blog about it
84. subscribe to a monthly box - ipsy, birchbox, naturebox etc.. (January 2015 - Birchbox)
85. drink 8 glasses of water every day for 30 days

86. buy cute desk accessories from Design Darling for #67
87. buy new glasses
88. host a "stock the bar" party for one of my friends -- new home, engagement, etc party
89. buy a pair of Hunter rainboots
90. go two weeks without dessert or sweets

91. keep fresh flowers in the apartment every week for 1 month
92. see a movie in Washington Park in the summer
93. go out to sing karaoke with friends
94. take a weekend trip to Chicago
95. take a beach trip

96. bring donuts or bagels into work to say thank you
97. plan blog posts out for each upcoming month by the 15th of the current month
98. spend a weekend at a bed and breakfast
99. go cabrewing
100. make a new spotify playlist each month
101. save $5 for every goal accomplished (#84)



 
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