Dessert and Dinosaurs

That outfit from work does make you look like a period fairy, K.  I'm not sure how I like it for a waxer, but then again: I'm not a pro.

I was able to attend a fancy soiree this past weekend, and had a fantastic time, if for no other reason than I got to wear this beautiful dress I've been hanging on to since the summer.  I bought it in Qatar knowing full well it wasn't appropriate for the local culture, so I shelved it until I got home.

Me in the Gem Room

 

The party was hosted at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and it was beautiful.  The entire museum was lit up in blue and packed with food, wine, dessert, and people chatting.


Looking down from the second floor

 

 

 

Dinosaur room (including delicious flatbread)

 The MNH is the busiest of all the Smithsonian museums, and I've only ever seen it swarmed with school groups and tourists, so I absolutely took advantage of the free reign we had to explore some of my favorite exhibits which I had almost all to myself.  I beelined for the dinosaur exhibit.  Once you got past revelers swarming the bar, the exhibit was practically empty.




Bar + dinosaurs = badassery

Do you see any people around me?  No? That's because there were none.  I was (obviously) shocked

Another couple highlights were seeing the hope diamond and ocean room.  Adding people in formal dress made the exhibits that much more interesting.

And best of all, the event gave me an excuse to be out after a light snow.  At night, especially down PA Ave in Penn Quarter, it sometimes feels like you have the city to yourself.

One note:  A big draw of the evening was the open butterfly exhibit; usually you have to pay to get in,so everyone wanted to try it out.  But I have a (totally rational) fear of butterflies over 3" as that is when they start to resemble giant flying bugs.  I respectfully declined, deciding that running screaming from the museum would not look good to my colleagues.



 

T,

The best thing I did this past week was start at my new job as a Wax Specialist :)

It's a little difficult going into a new environment and meeting a team of new people but I'm adjusting....and loving it!

My specialty has always been facials and this is purely waxing; so to say I was nervous my first day is an understatement.....I was terrified.  Thankfully, I was tortured in Esthetics school by having to do a ton of Brazilian waxing so doing them now is nothing.  I can now bang out a Brazilian in under a half hour without breaking a sweat....go me!!

My dinner is getting cold and I'm exhausted so I'm going to keep this post short.......I will though share some pictures of me in my uniform......which you have dubbed the "period fairy" look :)

xoxoxo

K

P.S- Don't mind my face :/ I look like a dork!

Friday Challenge

Happy Friday!  K, I challenge you to share the best thing you did (or started doing) this week

Mine is beginning my journal from Qatar.  During the six months I spent in Qatar (June-Dec) I kept a diary on my laptop that's clocking in at about 70 pages.  I'm amazed I didn't drop off halfway through, which is a huge thing in and of itself.  Now that I'm back, I want to have it in an actual journal instead of a word file.  So I'm transcribing the entire work into a leather journal that I've been saving for just such an occasion.

Before....


It's a huge endeavor, but I'm taking it slowly at about a page a day, plus five per weekend (harder than you'd expect) bringing me to ten pages transcribed a week.  If all goes well, I'll be done by mid-March.



Oh goodness, what have I gotten myself into?
 

This past weekend I sat down and started writing, and am currently on page twelve. I have a ways to go, but am very excited!





After!

P.S - I'm attending a fancy party tonight.  Be jealous (I'll post pictures soon)

Blue Shoes: they are the best

 

K, I see your post on looking and feeling awesome, and think it's spot on except for one item: I leave the apt with wet hair every day.  I get out of the shower, brush it, and throw it up in a bun--no time for hair dryers, I have a metro to catch!

I digress, this post is about my fantastic blue heels.  I went through college admiring beautiful shoes without being able to afford any.  And even if I could, how many engineering labs allow open-toe heels? (I'll end the suspense: zero)

But now I'm in an office and work almost exclusively with men, and I need to wear heels to meet them at eye level.  I typically wear simple heels, but sometimes a girl has to wear something eye-catching.

DC's warm weather makes these winter-appropriate. And look at those buttons! 

I found these on sale at Forever 21, and like to pair them with grey or black and minimal accessories. 
 

Open toe shoes with opaque tights are a trend I can get behind.  They're fun and still in the office dress code (I think).



 

"If you feel good; you look good."

-Angelo B.

Our father always said that......and it's true.  I feel my best and most confident when I look good.  My friend and I have been recently discussing our making more of an effort to be 'put together'.  Here are a few of my thoughts....

Hair;  Never leaving the house with wet or unbrushed hair.  My hair falls flat unless I blow dry it so I've made  it a priority in my primping process.   

Nails;  Who doesn't instantly feel better after getting a manicure?  Having pretty nails always makes me feel instantly glamorous.  I love looking down at pretty hands.

A Cute Outfit;  I'm trying to look more my age and less like a teenager.  Uggs and leggings are my comfy go to but don't lend well to my  'adult' image.  Throwing on a cute top or pair of jeans with a leather boot is an instant stylish fix to everyday drab.  

Those are just a few things that help me feel pulled together and pretty on a day to day basis.... Thought I'd share them with you.

xoxo 

K

Cute belt and sweater with a black backdrop outfit :)

T,

These are my favorite things at the moment......

Cinderella's Castle............What girl doesn't want to live here?  I'm watching Cinderella as I post right now....

Alex & Ani bracelets............ I'm a little behind the eight ball in this trend but I love them and I love how you me and mom all now have our own to connect us<3

Starbucks red cups...........The first sign the holidays are coming and I'm so sad they are gone.

OPI 'I'm not really a waitress' red.................This color just screams classic glam to me....I love it.

Febreze Plug Ins..............Keeping my room smell linen fresh and keeping me happy.

xoxo

Friday Challenge

K, I challenge you to post five things making you happy this week.  Mine are:

 The cold and wet weather in DC has an upside: I get to burrow under warm layers.  An old LL Bean jacket and scarf do the trick nicely.

Do you remember watching Making the Band?  I found an old OTOWN CD, and the only part of the front booklet I kept was the picture of Jacob.

An ice cream scoop makes dessert classy, and I'll also use it for consistent cookie size the next time I bake.

My vacation mug from Singapore and some loose-leaf tea from K.  The tea is delicious, and the merlion mug makes me so happy.  I love how the inside is blue.

And number five is starting a blog!


Your turn,
- T

This is a test

Testing to see how the layout works.  Enjoy my favorite piece by Shakespeare, Sonnet 130

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
     And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
     As any she belied with false compare.