T,

We recently celebrated the 4th anniversary of our 21st.....We are SOOOOOOO OLDDDDDDD!!!!  

I can't believe how old we are.  It's unreal to me that we've already hit the quarter century mark.  But anywho.... Idk about you, but I had an absolutely amazing birthday.  The original plan was to go see one of our favorite hot mess bands play; but due to the insane amount of people out celebrating St. Paddy's day, my group had to switch locations.  It actually worked out for the best though because it was easier to spend time with everyone who came out for me at the bar we went to instead.  It was really special to have my friends come out in support/celebrate my birthday because I don't see them that much.  It made me realize how lucky I am to have the people in my life that I do.....The birthday would have been a million times better though if you'd been home for us to celebrate together....maybe next year :)

I found this dress while out shopping with Mom and thought it would be a PERFECT birthday dress......it was unfortunately a little small.

Check out my Thrift Store outfit!!!  I ended up wearing this out.....strayed away from my usual black on black on black.  The entire outfit cost under $10.....beat that!

One of my best and most supportive/amazing/beautiful/fun/etc friends made me this gorgeous bracelet that I'm now OBSESSED with!

D got me these beautiful flowers<3  He's to good to me :)

Do I look 25???  I hope not!!!

Miss you

xoxo

K

 

I'm a goof

T,

I loved your previous post!!  I wish I did fun stuff like that.....I'll have to start making time to do so.

Anywho..... I'm on day 11 of working non stop and I'm starting to lose my mind a little bit.  Sorry if everything I post is a little random and doesn't making sense....like I said I'm losing my mind lol I can't wait for tomorrow so I can sleep in...I might even hit the gym!!

I'm seriously concerned about this picture......Are we waxing boobs now?  I already do enough vagina's and I really don't think I can handle adding on boobs......DON"T MAKE ME DO IT!

If you would like something other then your boobs waxed....please come see me :)

In my attempt to quit smoking I have become addicted to Starburst and Eclipse gum.  I'm like the Starburst fairy at work because I'm always running up to the front and giving the girls candy.  It's helping for the most part but I still owe a certain someone some miles for cheating :/

I've been back on my health kick recently.  I went to Trader Joes and got a bunch of healthy nom noms and I've been making an effort when I eat out to get giant salads.  I got this on my 12 hour day lunch break and the veggies and protein really helped me power through the rest of the day.

BTW.....It's our BIRTHDAY on Friday.....what are you gonna do to celebrate??

Miss you

xoxo

K

Tuesday Pickup: Cold Weather Edition

This past week has been a blur and I'm glad I have this post to look forward to--even thought it's early, Tuesday has already been brutal.  There was a series of missteps (I believe the term is, cascading failures) that made me miss my bus into work and therefore miss the sweet spot of 7-7:45 gym time when I'm the only one there.  Not a tragedy, but the extra 25 minutes of waiting outside for a bus put a damper on my gym enjoyment.  I'm still cold.

DC has been frigid recently. Usually this time of year we're into the 60s and it's sunny everyday.  Instead, we've had what feels like weeks of wet, cold weather. Case in point: there's a predicted snowstorm heading into town tomorrow.  It's like I'm back in the northeast!

I love visiting the Kennedy Center for their free exhibitions and performanced.  Their latest theme is called "Nordic Cool" and it uses art and artists from the Nordic region.  Above is one of the large installations in the Hall of the States, and one of the dresses featured in an icy forest of fashion.

My favorite pieces were in the miniatures section.  In one of the rooms, the walls had a row of suspended boxes, each with a diaorama inside.  The dresses in this picture mimic larger dresses on mannequins outside.

Another miniature.  I have no idea what these are, but they're gorgeous.  I want to wear them on a jacket!

Finally, a picture of me on the balcony.  If there weren't so much fog you would be able to see the Potomac river int he background.  I was originally swaddled in about four more layers, but took them off for a quick photo.

I'm getting chills just looking at these!  Time for some tea!

 

Challenge Response!

Sorry it took me so long, K.  It was a crazy weekend (crazy awesome).  No Tuesday pickup, instead I'll do your challenge response.

I bring this briefcase to work every day, and have my packing down to a science.  When I'm out on the weekends it's usually a few snacks and a water bottle... and that's it.  I don't even bring my wallet, just an ID, credit card and maybe $20.  So you get the contents of my work bag, which are much more interesting:

Laptop, Smartrip card, two types of candy (in case my blood sugar dips), one snack, a pen and notebook (my Doha Journal), eyeglass cleaners, a compact, a flash drive, wallet and water bottle.  Lipgloss and phone go in my pocket, and I carry much lunch bag and coffee mug separately.

Voila!  It's nothing fancy, but you have to keep things light when commuting on the metro.  Occasionally I have to sprint for a train, and the less I have to carry the faster I run!





 

Friday Purse Challenge

T,

Our Friday challenge this week is to post a few of your favorite things you carry around in your purse.  Finding an item in my purse is like looking for a needle in a haystack; but I always carry around a few basic and easy to find things.

I like to switch my bag every week or so depending on my mood/what I need to carry around.  I usually have an extra pair of leggings and a shirt in my purse for outfit changes/nights out, and this bag can fit all my odds and ends with the change of clothes.  I got it at Aldo Accessories last year on sale.  It's a good bag ...except the cream 'leather' has picked up some of the black from my jacket and now has a greenish tinge on the opposite hem.

I have my tweezers, scissors and eyebrow comb with me at all times.  I need them for my job.  I have a bad habit of tweezing random hairs of of friends sometimes so my little kit comes in handy.  I also have a little Coach wallet my bestie JJ gave to me about two years ago.  

I carry my make up bag with me for touch-ups throughout the day.  It has eyeliner, bronzer, mascara and a BB cream.  It's my everyday cheap makeup.  I like to carry my inexpensive makeup around and keep the more expensive stuff at home.  I also have 'Help, I Have a Headache,' which YOU gave to me for xmas.  I get the worst headaches. The pill case it's really helpful to have.  Thank you :)  I keep 'Tease' by Victoria Secret spray with me for the occasional spritz of fragrance   I love home it smells and I always get compliments on it.  The mini bottle is perfect for knocking around in my bag.

So, These are just a few of the many things I carry around on a daily basis.  Whats in your bag???

Miss you!

xoxo

K

T,

I tried taking pictures of my favorite sparkly item....but my camera makes sparkles look blurry so my pictures keep turning out horrible :(  My favorite item is a bracelet that broke and  converted into a necklace using an old pair of nylons.  I"ll try to steal someones phone to take a better picture.  In the meantime though, I saw you posted some pictures of yummy nom noms you made so I'm going to post some pictures of what I've had recently.

I used green beans, carrots, celery, onions and potatoes with some rice to make a healthy soup

I went to Panera and got a yummy spinach salad with a broccoli and cheddar soup....It was SO good and a perfect little lunch on a chilly day.

Ok, this looks kinda gross but it was really good!!  Green beans, edamame, kale and rice with soy sauce.

I'm trying to be a little healthier in my eating habits.  It was going well until I got Girl Scout cookies...I think cheating with the cookies is acceptable though because I'm helping a little girl reach her sale goals.  Remember when we use to sell GS cookies?  We were a killer sales team!!!!

I feel like I'm getting sick so I'm taking it easy and drinking tea.  I'm also trying to quit smoking this week.  I've gone 24 hours without smoking so fingers crossed I stick with it this time.  It's so hard!!  I definitely think that surrounding myself with people who don't smoke is helpful though and also having a goal in mind....My new goal is to be able to go running with one of my best friends.  She's really motivating me to get off my ass and get in shape.  I'm lucky to have such good friends who support me being healthy<3

That's it for now.

Miss you!

xoxo

K

Tuesday Pickup

First off, K, you still need to respond to my Friday challenge.

 

 

 

When friends come to visit, I harass them into appreciating art with me.  When nice friends come to visit, they agree to take pictures of me in the gallery--like this one, in front of a stunning painting of the Grand Canyon.  Pieces like this are so beautiful, and I'm amazed at how someone would have the patience to create such a piece.

In a quest to add more protein to my diet, I've started cooking with lentils.  This is the start of a delicious lentil soup with tomato, sausage, and spinach.  No broth, no special spices, just delicious veggies and 28 oz of canned tomatoes.  Take away the sausage, and it's vegan!  One batch made so much I had to freeze half, and I'm looking forward to when I get to have it again.

 

I've been integrating pins into my wardrobe, mostly because I need to justify keeping them around, and also because I don't wear much jewlery so there's always room to spice up my outfits.  Two of my favorites this week were a pin from the Tate Modern that went with a basic grey sweater dress and oxford shirt, and a thrift shop find that I strung up as a necklace.

After literal weeks out of stock everywhere, I finally found some of my favorite tea--Stash Lemon Ginger.  I grabbed three boxes just to be safe. It's my go-to for decaf tea, refreshing with a bite.

Another culinary adventure: making Okonomiyaki.  It's kind of like a japanese scallion pancake, loaded with cabbage, crab meat, and egg.  I also made a super spicy sauce to go with it.  The entire process was fun, but now I have almost six cups of leftover chopped cabbage... does anyone have a suggestion for what I could do with it?


 

V-Day Wrap up

T,

My Valentines Day started out ROUGH!!  The morning/afternoon was spent in bed throwing up and when I finally mustered up enough strength to go to CVS and get some Gatorade......I walked all the way there only to realize I'd forgotten my debit card at the restaurant I'd been at the night before.......It was a disaster.

Until I got these!!!!!!!!

  Three dozen beautiful Tulips from my (sometimes) thoughtful boyfriend ;)

He got me a cute card too.

My outfit choice was black (obviously) but it was one shouldered and a little flowy...not my usual style.

I figured since it was my first Valentines Day in a while with someone who's name didn't start with J that I should go outside my usual comfort zone and wear something a little different.......New first initial=new style choices.....That was dumb lol I apologize.

Anywho.....I'll respond to your Friday Challenge tomorrow.

Miss you!

xoxo

K

  

Friday Challenge

It's been a fantastic Friday so far, K.  I slept in until 7, got a free sample of crème brûlée frappuccino at Starbucks, caught the express metro, and have lots of fun things to do at work today.  I hope your Friday is looking bright as well!

I challenge you to display your favorite sparkly accessory.  Mine is a scarf I bought in Dubai from a place called Stradivarius.  I love it because I can wear the scarf to dress up an otherwise plain top.  The pictures are from Monday, when I had on a cobalt skirt and black sweater.  The gold really makes other accessories pop, and it's fun to wear an office-appropriate spangly piece.

 

That is as fierce as I get.  K, it's your turn.

 



Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's day, K!  I'm not a big one for the holiday, but in my opinion, any opportunity for chocolate and flowers is a reason to celebrate.  While I was out at the farmer's market this weekend I spotted the perfect treat: chocolate heart-shaped ravioli.  I was told it is best served warm with vanilla ice cream.  Delicious!

Also this weekend, when mom visited she bought me some beautiful flowers.  Boba lost his vase but I think it's good for him to get some fresh air an a change of scenery.  The flowers smell fantastic, they absolutely brighten up the apartment.

P.S - V day means I get to wear my love earrings.  I can only do it once a year, so I enjoy it!



 

Tuesday Pickup

Ouch, it's been a week since my last post!  Things got a bit hectic, so I'll try to make up for it this week.

I missed Friday's post due to work travel in Virginia.  It snowed overnight, and the dusting was beautiful--nothing compare to yours, K, but a good showing for the south.  Driving home on Friday afternoon I passed beautiful hills, farms, and cattle ranches.

Typical of the area, I stopped into a convenience store and was greeted by a wall of chewing tobacco.  Gross, but fascinating.  Who knew there are so many varieties to choose from?

I took part of Saturday to work on my journals, and completed my scrapbook for Singapore!  The remaining piece is the title page.  I also bundled up under blankets to sit on my balcony, enjoy the sun and keep writing my Doha journal.  I've fallen behind schedule and am trying desperately to catch up.

This past week was restaurant week in DC, and I went to Mintwood Place with friends to sample their food.  I started with Beef Heart salad that included a poached egg nestled in the lettuce, parsnips, and slender cruotons.  Then a five-grain risotto with squash and broccolini.  The coup was dessert: baked Alaska they fired at the table.  Every patron whipped out their camera for this piece.

 

I went to the Martin Luther King library to pick up a few new reads.  After Cleopatra I'll be starting on Sacre Bleu, with Sherlock Holmes if I need a breather.

 

 

 

Nemo

T,

IT SNOWED!!!!!!!  We had a massive snowfall here in Boston!  I was snowed in for a day but after the travel ban was lifted I was able to get back to Lex and take some pictures of all the beautiful snow :)

JJ had to come over to help me dig out the car from the garage.....thanks JJ!!!!

Note how the snow was up to above my knee's!!

The snow is taller then the bobcat shoveling it!!!

These ppl had a lot of snow out front!

I wish you were here so we could play in the snow and then make yummy hot chocolate together!!  I'll make some snowballs and store them in the freezer so next time you're home we can have a snowball fight :)

On another note......I'm happy mom was able to get home safe and she got to stop over in DC to spend some time with you :)

Miss you Starfish!

xoxo

K

T, 

These are a few things making me happy today :)

Dakota :)  I woke her up taking this picture.  She's so cute!

My bathroom European Wax Center Display.  I'm in love with these products and use them every day to keep my skin silky smooth and bump free.

This just makes me laugh so hard.

Hi :) This little guy pops up out of my tea cup to say hi :)

Gel Manicures

On a different note, I'm a little nervous about the storm coming in this weekend.  I don't like it when it excessively snows and 21 inches is excessive.  To bad you aren't home T....we could go sledding and drink hot chocolate!!!

Miss you!

xoxo

K