Birthday Weekend!

This is a long one so buckle up kids.  :) 

Did you ever have one of those weeks where you're not quite sure where the week went, but somehow it's gone?? That sums up my week. I shuttled between tutoring, errands, the playground and housework only to realize the weekend was here. And I wasn't ready. 

The house wasn't ready for our guests, the clothes weren't ready to be worn, the prep for my next tutoring job wasn't done and I most certainly wasn't ready to turn... Well the number doesn't really matter, now does it?  'You're only as old as you feel' my mom says.  Remember that, folks. 

My birthday this year was kind of thrown together at the last minute. I didn't really have time to think about exactly how I wanted to celebrate and by the time I did figure it out, the place I wanted to eat was all booked up. C'est la vie, right? 

I dropped my daughter off with my in-laws and headed to get my hair done. It was LONG overdue. 

Two and a half hours, a head massage and a blow dry later I pranced home, swinging my hair from side to side. I rushed over to another tutoring job to close out my afternoon and ate dinner with the whole fam. 

My big birthday weekend was about to begin!  Except my husband had to chaperone the Homecoming Football game.  I headed to the school where I used to teach to see the game and to see the Dance Team perform. I used to coach the team (dance not football, haha) so it holds a special place in my heart and I loved watching their routine.   

I hopped out of bed on Saturday to go to my favorite class at the gym, Soul Body Barre. (Check out my review of it here.)

The afternoon heated up and we headed to the Fells Point Festival to enjoy some food, drinks and friends. 

Our beer tickets were almost out and everyone was hungry.  Really hungry.    

Not everyone wanted sushi so we split up for dinner, half for sushi, half for pizza at Chazz (I wrote about it a month ago if you want to check it out here).  

Even though my favorite sushi place, RA, was booked up we decided to show up and wait for a table. 

Isn't their ceiling just the coolest?  Love!

We sat outside and ordered a bottle of wine while our sushi was being made.  

Nick had ordered enough sushi for about 10 people and we devoured it.  Along with another bottle of Meomi. 

Hannah, our server, brought out a few surprises throughout our dinner including quail egg and deep fried cheesecake.  

I didn't have the stomach to try the quail egg, but Nick did!  

I definitely ate the cheesecake though.  Cinnamon-y, smooth with a thin crunchy crust that cheesecake is just straight dangerous.  Delish, mmm mmm good.  

We met up with the others and headed to one more bar.  It may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for some of us.  But we did run into our friend Big Jim who treated the boys to some serious shots.  They were proportional to his 6'5 frame. Unhuman sized shots, really.  

Realizing things were gaining momentum we decided to head home and relieve my husband's parents from babysitting duty.  

Waking up the next morning at 6am to the gurgling of AB was easier for me than it was for Nick.  Lets just say Big Jim's shots came back to haunt him.  Or maybe it was the quail eggs. {yuck}

I walked downstairs to be greeted by flowers, balloons and family.  It was a perfect start to a Sunday.  

We headed to Mama's on the Half Shell for brunch.  They have amazing food, and brunch does not disappoint.  It is my absolute fav.  Trying to keep a 15 month old entertained while we eat a slow, casual brunch is a challenge so I didn't have much time for pics.  Sorry guys!  Just know it was delish.  

We meandered home from brunch, bid farewell to my in-laws and relaxed a bit.  My wonderful cousin Meg sent me the prettiest little baby tulips in pale pink, which were waiting for me at home after brunch. (There's a pic in the collage above).

The rest of the day was spent walking through our neighborhood along the waterfront.  We stopped at a grassy knoll for a little family time too.  

We picked flowers, tickled and chased AB around, and after a while headed home for bathtime and dinner. 

Nick made my favorite dinner - grilled chicken and veggies over rice and I ate it up in a hot second.  

What wonderful weekend with friends and family and what a way to celebrate my birthday!  Thanks to everyone for being there to share in my celebration and for those who sent many birthday wishes, cards and gifts!  Time with family and friends is always time well spent.  

And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!

Glossybox

I got the best surprise in the mail yesterday. My husband's family sent me Glossybox for my birthday. {THANK YOU!!!}  Similar to Birchbox, in that beauty products get delivered straight to your door, Glossybox supposedly has higher end and nicer products.  It's only my first box but I will keep you posted on how I like it.  

This decorative box arrived at my door and I tore into it.  

Lo and behold, a more beautiful box inside!  

I opened the second box - the suspense was killing me, especially since my one year old kept grabbing the box away.  But inside I found a bunch of products wrapped in black tissue and tied with a pale pink bow.

It screamed, me.  A little brochure capped off the parcel which listed pics and descriptions of the box's contents.  

I have yet to try my products but I'm excited to! 

Are you dying to know what's in the box? Yes?  Ok,...  

• An eyelash curler. Somehow I never replace these as I should but this one came just in time. 
• A travel BCBG fragrance.  Great for a mom on the go.  No more smelling like baby wipes, diapers or food for me!
• Liquid eyeliner - which I've always wanted to try but never wanted to buy (for some strange reason)
• A hair treatment to thicken and strengthen hair. My hair is already pretty thick - thick enough for most hair salons to charge extra for my blow dry...buuut who couldn't use more hair? 
• A makeup remover pen.  Like a tide pen for your face, it's an easy way to remove any mistake you make while putting on your face.  No washing and starting over here.  

Check out more about each product below.  

I'll let you know how I like the products later on, but until then relax, sit back, and pamper yourself with some products you already own.  

And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!

Pie, Wine, and Pizza

Your birthday only comes around once a year and so does the celebration.  The great thing about birthdays though is that everybody has one, so celebrating your friends' birthdays makes it feel like birthdays all year long!  

My bffl, Tiff's birthday is tomorrow but who wants to celebrate on a Tuesday?  So we headed out on Saturday night for some birthday festivities.  

Our first stop was the Four Seasons (!!!!!!!) to hit their happy hour at Wit and Wisdom located next to the lobby.  We waltzed up to the hotel and tried to contain our awe at the fancy cars, fancy bellman, and fancy decor.  That's right, we belong here (HA).  Wit and Wisdom was gorgeous as I expected. It looked like Restoration Hardware but more chic.  And with color. 

We sat outside on the comfiest, biggest couches.  The sun was just beginning to set and the sky was ablaze with pink, purple and gold, the breeze lightly floated from the harbor as the boats made their way home for the night and we four sipped on cocktails.  The night could not have begun better.  

We chatted about work, family, food and football (well we all started to, but Tiff and I lasted about 2 minutes before we started talking about her shoes).

  

He blinked. Sorry Drew, it's the only pic I had of all of us!

And now I look weird...

And Tiff is happy it's her birthday, lol

A few cocktails later and our bellies were rumbling so we bid the five-star Four Seasons goodbye and walked on over to Chazz for some pizza.  

Opened by Chazz Palminteri (the guy from the movies A Bronx Tale and Analyze This) the place smells like the exact moment when cheese begins to bubble melt. It was heaven.  We cozied up at a table outside for some people watching, pizza, and more wine.  I ordered the Prosecco, Tiff and the boys, the Pinot Noir.  More laughs and some time later our pizzas arrived.  Cheese, Veggie, and...well I don't remember, but it looked delicious and we ate it all.  I blame the wine.  Check out their menu here.  

"Someone" must've told the waitress it was Tiff's birthday because before we knew it out came a flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, topped with a single candle (which didn't stay lit with the outside breeze).  As we sang happy birthday and Tiff "blew" at the candle another surprise arrived.  Courtesy of the lovely staff at Chazz our waitress delivered limoncello cream shots for everyone.  If you've never had limoncello it's an Italian lemon liquor.  If you don't like lemon flavor it's definitely not for you.  The cream cut the harshness of the limoncello and it was smooth and clean. It was the most delicious shot I've ever done, and housed in the classiest shot glass I've ever had the pleasure of using.  

"For the blog, for the blog" ;)

We moseyed over to Tiff and Drew's hotel to finish off the night with some Dangerously Delicious Berger Cookie pie - known on their menu as the Baltimore Bomb.  Berger Cookies might as well officially be the state cookie of Maryland because they are a staple around here.  A firm cakey cookie covered in chocolate icing, Berger Cookies are insanely sweet but every bite delicious.  The clever folks at Dangerously Delicious Pies took this much famed cookied and turned it into an even more delicious, buttery flaky pie.  OMG.  You may recognize Rodney Henry, the owner and founder of Dangerously Delicious as he was a finalist on the show Food Network Star.

Midnight came all too fast and we headed home to relieve our babysitter.  A night spent with good friends, good pizza, good pie, and great wine is deserving of a toast.  

To Tiff, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne.

Don't judge a book by its cover

People think they have New Yorkers all figured out - harried and rude, opinionated and rich. But people forget that the people of New York are just that, people - with emotions and hardships and real stories. A place where anything can happen and anything goes, New York is one of the greatest cities in the world for good reason.  You can find it here, do it here, and live it here.  

If you want to read the stories of the real New York check out the Humans of New York (HONY for short) website, Facebook page or pre-order Brandon Stanton's book that is coming out this fall.  

Stanton wanders the city streets capturing photographs of interesting NY folk asking them a question or two about themselves, the answer of which become the captions to the photos- they tell the story.  I began perusing the photos on a rainy day when I was bored.  Five pictures later, I was hooked.  Without realizing it, I was assuming certain things about these people of NY based on the pictures alone. (Like the man who appeared apathetic with all the tattoos) 

Photo courtesy of www.humansofnewyork.com
8 April 2013

Until I read the captions. Turns out his mom died when he was 18.  I was intrigued by the photos and became captivated by their stories. I didn't realize I was even making presumptions about the people in the photos until the captions told a different story.  

I was embarrassed.  I had always prided myself on accepting all kinds of people.  I've been friends with punk rockers, jocks and cheerleaders, people of different races, sizes, religions, sexual orientation - so I never expected to create snap judgments about the people in these photos. I guess we are all guilty of something similar at one point or another, but I think recognizing it is what's important.  Get out of your bubble once in a while, it's good for you.  And the world.  Luckily, my snap judgments were a reminder to myself to slow down and remember that everyone's got an inner story, despite what their outer image may project.  

The stories are often deep and profound despite the subject's  just having met Brandon Stanton.  

However, some are funny, and some, are just too stinking cute.  Like this one entitled, "Today in microfashion..."

Photo courtesy of www.humansofnewyork.com
Taken on 15 August 2013

How adorable is she?  My goodness!


Many of them are heartfelt.  Like this...

Photo courtesy of www.humansofnewyork.com
26 August 2013

"We met 55 years ago on a teen tour, and have been best friends ever since." “What’s her best quality?” “She’s loyal.” “What’s the toughest thing she’s ever helped you through?” “I don’t know if I should say this, but I’m going to. Fourteen years ago, I got lung cancer. Then seven or eight years ago, I got breast cancer. And now the lung cancer’s back. I must have set a record or something, because it was fourteen years ago, but now it’s back, and it’s metastasized, and the prognosis is not good.” “She’s doing good. The chemo is working.” “She’s right, I’m doing ok, and I’ll make it longer than expected, but the prognosis is not good. And I’m gonna cry now, but I've got to say— and I know it’s a cliche— but she’s been there every step of the way. Every appointment, every surgery, every time I've done chemo, she’s been there. And I couldn't have come this far without her.”

Or surprising...

Photo courtesy of www.humansofnewyork.com
27 June 2013

"Follow your heart." 

"And where has that taken you?" 

"Exotic climates." 

"Such as?"

"Well I leave in three days to return to Kabul, where I’m currently stationed. Before that, it was Iraq for three years. Then Burundi. Then South Africa, where I was Nelson Mandela’s legal advisor."

Humans of New York is a reminder, as cliche as it sounds, not to judge a book by its cover and to perhaps pay more attention to those around us.  Everyone has a unique story all their own and most people, even New Yorkers, are willing to share it.  We could learn a lot from one another, you know? And that, my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!"

"If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it" - Ferris Bueller 

Round Trip for a Day

Today couldn't have started worse.  I was running super late and I had to catch a plane.  But that was late too.  I was only going to NY for the day but being a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) I am not used to being the one to leave my daughter.  She does everything with me - we go grocery shopping together, we go for runs together, we play together, she even follows me to the bathroom, so I guess we do that together too???  Anyhoo, I could've spent an extra few minutes with her before flying out if only I had know the plane was to be delayed.  But c'est la vie.

Once I was on my way I began to get excited.  Excited to be an adult, alone, peacefully reading Glamour.  And doing the crossword in the back of the airplane magazine.  Nerd alert.  

As we began our descent I couldn't wait to go see my friends for the day.  And L's bridal shower couldn't be a better reason to celebrate. Jen picked me up at the airport and we headed to Liz's cousin's house.  All I have to say about pulling up the house is WOA. 

Gorgeous house inside and out!  

Once inside we greeted Liz's mom and other family members as they anxiously prepped the food and awaited Liz's arrival.  

We grabbed a drink and headed outside to the pool to check out the decor and catch up.  It was the perfect country chic garden party.  White table and chairs sat around the yard topped with beautiful floral china.  Each table had china from a different member of Liz's family so it wasn't just beautiful, it was also very meaningful.  Mason jars filled with wildflowers adorned each table and scented handmade soap favors marked each place setting.

Her mom and aunt made all the food from scratch, and although I had to leave the shower early to head home for my husband's work event, I did get to sample some of it.  Homemade crab cakes, tortellini, salads, chicken cutlets, sangria - a whole gluten free menu just for us.  Again I forgot to take pics of the food.  My stomach takes over and my brain shuts down.  Sorry guys!  

Liz arrived promptly and everyone was so happy to see her.  No one is more deserving of a gorgeous bridal shower than she is.  Liz gives of herself to everyone else and truly goes out of her way for those she loves.  She works furiously in her career but seems to somehow always remember the little things that just make people's day.  Despite living in different states, she never fails to send me a birthday card (early I may add) with a birthday poem inside.  

J, L and I have been friends since high school
(J & L since elementary school, omg!)

I'm sure all that truly know Liz feel the same way, which is why the gift table was overflowing with stuff!

You can't even see the front of the table anymore!

I am so happy that Liz and I have remained friends since high school, but more importantly that she has found a wonderful man in Fab.  They are a model of what a kind, thoughtful, smart, loving relationship should be.   To Liz & Fab ladies and gents - And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!  (And it will be.  In November, when they tie the knot! xoxo)  

Folding like a Pro

Some people are just born to enjoy cleaning.  I am one of those people.  But my sister-in-law, she doesn't just enjoy it, cleaning sweeps her off her feet! 

I have never seen a more organized closet in all my life.  Mine is organized, but it gets super messy from time to time.  Hers is never messy.  Never.  Her closet looks like something straight out of a out of a catalog.  All. of. the.time.  I don't know how she does it, but I love it!  

Never one to be stingy, I am going to share the wealth with all of you.  So here it is, my first guest post (!) - K. is going to tell you how she folds her tee-shirts, because in my opinion, is the coolest part of her whole closet.  She stacks her perfectly folded tees the way J.Crew and other retail stores do - all the same size, facing the same way, employing the exact same folding technique on each one.  

If any of you get inspired to re-fold and re-organize your closets, do share, I wanna see!!  You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest (use the buttons at the top right of my page).  And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any more fun stuff!

Take it away, K...

OCD

Some define OCD as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but I see it as Organized Captivating Debonair.  I’ve always been told I have OCD, especially when people enter my closet, but I don’t really see that as a bad thing.  Being organized is something that comes naturally to me, and makes my life just a little bit less chaotic.  Between class, studying, cooking, working out, and the occasional TV episode/season, there isn’t much time to be fiddling around trying to find something or tidy up.  If you’re organized from the get go, than it will just make life that much easier.

 

A great place to start is in your closet.  You can do this gradually over time as you wash and put away your clothes.  I’m currently going to veterinary school away from home.  Even down here in Grenada, I have my closet just as orderly as back home in Georgia.  Probably the first thing people say when they see my clothes are how neat my t-shirts look and how it looks like a department store display!  I haven’t let anybody in how effortless and easy it is to do until now.  So no more bunching your t-shirts in that bottom drawer, and follow these ridiculously easy steps.

Lay your t-shirt face down on your bed, or the top of your dryer, any flat surface will do. 

Fold one half in.  I like to go just a few inches away from where the collar starts (okay…yes that is my OCD talking). 

 Fold the other half of the shirt in the same fashion.

 Now fold your t-shirt in half, and you are done! 

There you have it!  The lost art of t-shirt folding in 3 easy steps!  I like to color coordinate them, but that is just a personal preference (okay, okay…it’s the OCD talking again).  Seriously though, this is something really easy to do as soon as your clothes come out of the dryer.  Fold them right away, and than you’ll always have neat t-shirts.  No more digging through that bottom drawer to find your favorite shirt!  

 Thanks for the tutorial, K!  

Somehow mine never turn out quite like that... Isn't that just insane how perfect they are?!  Blows me away every time.  Thanks to K. for sharing her secret with us and for inspiring us to re-fold our closets!  And that secret my friends, is worth a glass of champagne (even if it's not our closet!)