Pic of the Day

pic via here

 

Since I'm feeling very blah today, here's a cozy picture of where I'd love to be.

 

pic via here

 

And one to make you smile.

Heart Umbrella

So, I was just going through my "likes" on Pinterest and found the heart umbrella I posted about earlier today! Now I know I was meant to order this thing. And how romantic & sweet is this picture with it?! Hope you're having a lovely Monday.

Quote of the Day

  {pic via here}

Happy Weekend

pic via here

I am absolutely thrilled to have my big brother, little nephew, niece, AND mom here for the weekend!  We are planning a trip on Saturday to the Texas Hill Country which means picnics in sunshine, wine tasting and antique shopping plus lots of board games and storytelling.  It is always amazing to having them here with me and I'm really looking forward to helping him celebrate his birthday.  Then after they leave on Sunday, one of our favorite people ever is flying in from LA on Monday for two days.  It's definitely going to be a wild weekend, but special nonetheless.  I hope you have a lovely weekend and please enjoy these links from around the web.

celebs on pregnancy

hilarious commentary on David Beckham's bum

a moving photo by Yoko Ono on John Lennon's death

and in celebration of their wedding anniversary, their wedding album

npr on dubstep and SXSW

green sunglasses

Katie Holmes' beauty secrets

perfect schoolbag for kids

gift guide for men

cute peter pan collar

buy shoes for a good cause

most hilarious birth announcement ever

Pretty Flowers

happy spring.

a pretty picture to brighten your screen.


{photo via Pinterest}

Quote of the Day

{pic via here}

My [almost] First Date Story

 {photo available here}

Don't you love remembering your first date with that special person in your life?  The giggling, your butterfly-filled stomach, and just an overwhelming amount of euphoria.  I honestly don't remember mine, but I do remember what was supposed to be my first date with my boyfriend of 7 splendid years.

We met in creative writing class in college and quickly became friends.  In fact, I tried to introduce him to a few other girls from class but that didn't quite work out well.  Then after a few months of hanging out, we had this one night where we spent hours on the phone talking about complete nonsense - do you squeeze your toothpaste from the top or bottom, favorite condiments for hotdogs, which side of the bed do you sleep on - and I could feel myself starting to have feelings for him.  A few weeks later it was Halloween, so some friends and I hung out at a local bar then went back to my place.  At about 3 am, everyone but me had crashed out.  So, I called him up.  Because I'm a mumbler and was whispering to keep from waking someone up, he decided to just come over and hang out.  Sitting by the pool that night, talking about random things I found myself wanting to kiss him.  I don't know if it was the moonlight or the alcohol, but it was at that moment I knew I liked him.

A few weeks later I decided to gather all of my courage and call him.  But not just call him, I wanted to ask him out.  He was totally up for it and said he'd love to go to a movie and dinner that Friday night.  Thursday rolled around and I was getting really excited about our date, until he called.  He said some friends had came into town and they all really wanted to get together and play Texas Hold 'Em.  He asked if I would mind us rescheduling.  I was a little sad about it, but decided to be a good sport and said it wasn't a problem.  Luckily for me, my friends were planning to go to Latin Night on Friday so I joined them and spent the entire night drinking, dancing and have an absolute blast.  When the bars closed around 2am, we weren't quite ready to finish having fun so we went to an after-party and kept on dancing.  It was about that point that the alcohol made me lose all sense of reason.  

I told my friends of the courage it took me to ask a guy out and how he had cancelled last minute.  Being in a drunken state as well, they encouraged me to call him that instant and let him know how horrible he had behaved.  Drunkenly obliging, I called him and told him he was a jerk for not going out with me that night.  He had just finished playing poker with the guys and was on his way home, but having noticed the drunken state I was in decided to come over to the party and make sure I got home safely.  About 15 minutes later, we walked into my apartment and I began telling him everything - about how much courage it took to ask him, about how much it stunk that he had cancelled and about how much I wanted to kiss him that night.  I was a babbling fool that was stopped only by his lips touching mine.  I looked at him in amazement, completely sure I had just imagined our first kiss.  He grinned back at me, and at that point I was his forever.

So, I guess you can say it was the best almost-first-date.  Either way, it was the beginning of "us".

Quote of the Day

photo copyright of redoryon, found here.

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For my birthday almost a year ago, a co-worker gave me a "gift book" for my desk from Hallmark containing various quotes from different people.  Unknown to her at the time, I was in the middle of trying to decide to quit my job and go to pastry school.  As I flipped through it, the above quote struck a chord with me.  I loved making desserts.  Absolutely loved it.  Something about the precise production of a creative dessert made me happy.  Perhaps it was the opportunity to be creative I loved.  Or maybe I loved it because of the affirmation you receive once serving a dessert - the Oohs! and Aahs! were encouraging and made me want to keep baking.  It's were I found my heart to be at that particular time and this quote told me it was time to start doing exactly that.

I have exactly three months of school left before I begin my externship and today was the first day back after winter vacation.  It felt great to be in class again, to know that I would be learning more about the thing I most want to do.  Furthermore, Chef went off into these huge tangents today in class which were actually very inspiring.  She told us how the industry has evolved and what to expect once we get out there - tons of "words of advice" that I truly appreciated and needed. 

Just this morning I woke up feeling scared about where life may be taking me (especially since I don't really know yet), but now I'm feeling a little excited.

So, remember to "do what you love, because it's what you were meant to do".

Sick Day

I'm feeling so under the weather today.  It sucks.  But a cup of cocoa always makes everything better.

{picture via Pinterest}

Creative Outlets

After a crazy day at school, this made me smile.

(photo via Laughing Squid)

Ryan Gosling

He is so cute.

(pic found here, via here)

Cake

What a wonderfully easy way to decorate a cake!  So cute.



{Photo courtesy of Lisa Hubbard}

Audrey Style

A striped shirt and black pants never looked so chic.

{photo courtesy of Secrets of a Belle}

11-11-11

Make a wish.

It's 11:11 on 11/11/11.

{photo via Pinterest}

Disappearing Act

So, I kind of disappeared from the blogosphere for a week.  I know, I'm a horrible blogger.  Last week was rough.  Really rough.  Every now and then, life just is that way - a couple of thunderstorms come your way and you can either play in the rain (and not think about the possibility of getting sick or struck by lightning), or you can curl up and read a good book and watch a couple of movies.  As you may have guessed, I did the latter.  Stress built up and things just got a little crazy, so I took a step back to regroup.

Either way, thank you.  Your support of my blog is much appreciated and I hope everyone is having a lovely week.

{photo via TinyWhiteDaisies}

Romantic Hairstyles

I love these hairstyles - so romantic, chic & feminine - perfect for a dinner party or wedding.  And I am dying to dye my hair red.  Unfortunately I cut all my hair off 6 weeks ago (8 inches!) so now I can't do any of the above hairstyles.  But one day....

How about you?  Have you tried any great new hairstyles or changed up your color?

{photo from Aisle Candy via Pinterest}

smile

totally stinky day at school today, but this definitely made me smile :)

{photo courtesy of Jennifer Thai}

Home Design Ideas from It's Complicated

Just watched It's Complicated today for the 1000th time and I am still drooling over Meryl Streep's fictional house.  It is absolutely amazing and makes you want to buy a Tuscan-inspired home in California almost immediately.  I can imagine dinner parties by the pool, playing Scrabble on the raw wood dining table, and making chocolate cupcakes in the kitchen.  The house is romantic, easy, and cozy with its neutral colors, clawfoot tub, and mature trees.  Below are just a few pictures from the set of It's Complicated for your viewing pleasure.

 

  

 

The last movie still pictured here is what brings you back to reality.  Just seeing it makes you remember it's a fictional house since no one has that great of a garden.  It's absolutely impeccable and reminds me more of the community gardens around town than someone's home garden.  It would be great though...

{pictures courtesy of Traditional Home,  IMDB and Elle Decor}

Happy Weekend

I am so excited for today, because of the Gypsy Picnic!  Austin being the  rad & young city that it is, is having a food truck festival downtown with a cook-off, live music, beer tastings, and even a dog fortune teller.  So, I am actually headed there soon, but wanted to stop by and wish everyone a wonderful weekend.  Hope it's fantastic and filled with laughs.  In the meantime, here are a few posts from around the web...

absolutely love Eat, Drink, Chic's Mixed Bags.

25 unique Halloween costumes by New Yorkers.

"Best of Austin 2011" by the Austin Chronicle, just in case you want to visit.

a really sweet & sad story my boyfriend emailed me.  love is powerful.

the unfortunate loss of such an amazing photographer.  a few of his pics are posted here.

"Flick Chicks", an article in the New Yorker by Mindy Kaling of the The Office = hilariousness.

sincerely adore J.Crew's looks.

the perfect Fall coat.

Two Thumbs Up for Hotel Americano

Yowser!  The word "sexy" is not usually used when it comes to a hotel, but Hotel Americano is just that.  It is a sexy beast.  Located in Chelsea's Art District, this hotel is a reason to fly to NYC and just stay put.  Forget the Statue of Liberty and Central Park and hang out at the Hotel's uber chic bar, take a swim in their modern pool, or take in the City's lights from the balcony.

Designed by Mexico City's famed architect Enrique Norton and Paris-based interior designer Arnaud Montigny, the modern rooms feature natural materials, soaking tubs, marble-clad bathrooms, platform beds, fireplaces and iPads with in-room controls and for ordering room service that arrives in bento boxes.

 

Mirroring the Hotel's incredible designs, the dining room, patio & grill features "French fare with a Latin flair" led by Executive Chef Olivier Reginensi.  And then there is the Jetsons-inspired bar which serves up signature cocktails and Mezcal from behind a Brazilian-style bar.

Of course, if you feel like you just have to leave the room, the front desk can arrange to have bicycles delivered from Bowery Lane Bicycles for a ride around the city that inspires so many.  And just in case your mind is clouded by the sexiness of the hotel, check out this City Guide by Joanna Goddard to find the best places to shop, eat, relax, or not look like a tourist.