Need for Green

Happy St. Paddy's Day!  The green is abundant and Spring is on it's way, right?  Well here in Washington, it is all white today.  We had our heaviest snow of the year last night/this morning...7-9 inches in most parts of the area today!  Enough already!  Bring me Springtime!

I feel like you all are feeling just like me today, and need an extra special dose of green with your cup of coffee.  Cheers to Spring and a city of green--I know we all need it!

American Cool

Last week, I went to the National Portrait Gallery to see its newest exhibit, "American Cool".  It featured individuals in American culture since the 1940s that have helped define "cool" in our country.  Most featured were familiar to me, a few not, but I definitely all had that quintessential cool factor that we all seem to admire.  A few of my favorites: Jimi Hendrix, Bill Murray, Chrissie Hynde, Frank Sinatra--we just a few of artists, athletes, actors, authors, musicians and social activists that made there mark in shaping our culture.

I really enjoyed this exhibit, and encourage you all to take it in.  It is at the Portrait Gallery until September 7th, so plenty of time to see it! 

The Hexen

Dolce Vita Hexen

I'm not normally a shoe-girl, but lately have been on a bit of an obsession coveting all the new Spring shoes that are coming out.  At the top of my list--the Dolce Vita Hexen.  I love the mix of neutral and black, a bit dressy and a bit bohemian.  I do not need to start buying again, especially now that I have to pay for Georgetown, but boy do I love these shoes.  Love them.

Big News!

Remember a month or so ago when I mentioned that I was working on a project?  Well, part one of that has been fulfilled:  On Saturday, I received my acceptance letter from Georgetown University!  This has been an unspoken dream of mine for many, many years, and I am so excited that I can finally call myself a Hoya!  I will be working toward my Master's in Public Relations and Corporate Communications, taking one to two classes a night each semester.  It will be challenging, and hard work, but I couldn't be more excited to begin. 

Thanks so much for all the positive words of encouragement and the congratulations--it means so much to me!  Now, off to find a way to pay for this!

Tory for Spring

Tory Burch Reva Snake-Print

If you know me well, you know my fondness for the designs of Tory Burch.  Lately though, I have been pretty disappointed overall in the quality and styles coming out.  The last two Tory products I have purchased, a pair of flats (not Revas) and a purse, have both completely fallen apart.  Unacceptable for the amount of money spent on them, even on sale. 

While this has made me question whether or not I want to purchase her products any longer, I must say that I am a bit obsessed with two items in her Spring line. First, the above Revas, to replace my flats and another pair of three-year-old Revas that are now toast.  A great neutral color, but definitely not boring.

Tory Burch Trixie Dress

My other obsession is this dress.  No, I will not be paying full price for it (a bit high, don't you think?) but if I could find it on major sale, I might just have to break my boycott and snatch it up.  I have been looking for a great white/off-white lace dress for a few years now, but haven't found THE one.  I think this might just be it.

Has anyone else had problems with Tory products lately, or is it just me?  As obsessed as I have been with her, these latest purchases have definitely soured me.

The Oscars

I'm guessing that by now, you all think that my favorite dress of the night was the amazing Lupita Nyong'o, right?  Well, although I thought she looked absolutely amazing, there was one queen of the night that took her best dressed title--Cate Blanchett.  She is what a movie star should look like.  Absolutely stunning, and fitting that she also took home the Best Actress statue.

A few of my other favorites--the silver medal goes to Lupita.  The color was gorgeous, and I loved how it flowed...very princess-like.

The bronze medal goes to Sandra Bullock.  I absolutely love this color on her--perfect for brunettes with her coloring--and her hair and smokey eye was the perfect compliment to the gown.

Honorable mention goes to Charlize Theron.  Since I missed watching the red carpet, I didn't realize that the gown actually had nude straps until I saw the pictures.  Watching her onstage, I thought that the sweetheart neckline was a bit severe, but with the nude straps, it totally works.  She really can do no wrong, and once again knocked it out of the park with this choice.

Paper Dresses

I've been a bit under the weather this week, so plan on doing nothing this weekend but resting and getting ready for the Oscar Red Carpet on Sunday night!  For a bit of inspiration, check out this stylish 4-year-old and her amazing momma that has made her Oscar dress recreations...out of paper!  Stay tuned for my favorites next week...and have stay warm this weekend my friends!

Shoes Blues

So long, old friend. You will be missed.

Well, it seems that my favorite shoes of all time must finally be retired.  Think I've worn them down to the bone?  Ha!  I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't notice how bad they had gotten and I've been walking around like this for a few weeks now.  The sad part of this story is that Cole Haan no longer makes these Nike Air leopard pumps, so I'm on the hunt for a new pair. 

Trouble is, all the replacements I have found are so damn expensive!  I thought I might find some on sale considering that Spring should be around the corner, but no such luck.  So far, these are my favorites below.  If you have any recommendations, please let me know! 

J.Crew Collection Valentina Calf Hair d'Orsay pumps--These are pretty, but not sure if I want a d'Orsay pump.  I haven't bought a pair of J.Crew shoes in a few years, but the price seems a bit ridiculous for the quality of J.Crew lately.  Next.

Kate Spade Karolina Pump--Of all the shoes I found, these Kate Spade pumps look the most like my Cole Haan pair.  Again, haven't bought Kate Spade shoes in years, but the last pair I had were excrutiating to wear for more than five minutes.  Hmm, maybe not.

Donald J Pliner Pointed Toe Pumps - Brave Leopard High Heel--These are reasonably priced, and a good height, but not sure about the metallic heel.  They might warrant a closer look though.  Definitely a good option to try on.

L.K. Bennett Pointed Toe Pumps - Florete High Heel--I've never worn L.K. Bennett, but hey, if the Duchess of Cambridge can prance around in these for hours, then I'm sure they will hold up well on the marble floors of the U.S. Capitol.  Not holding my breathe, but these just might be the winners.

Manolo Blahnik BB Suede 90mm Pump--Unless of course, I win the lottery, in which I will be ordering these babies.  Made to Order, straight from Paris.  Then again, for that kind of craftmanship, I have to wait 8-10 weeks for delivery.  Not sure I am that patient.  Even for these beauties.

Mountain Home

I'm off to West Virginia and my grandparents' house in about five minutes for a nice, long, relaxing extended weekend.  Going to work on a few projects, catch up on my reading, watch some sports with my Pap, take my Mema out shopping, and hopefully sleep in the next three days!  Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and a wonderful weekend!

The Book Thief

Yesterday I finished my book club choice for this month--"The Book Thief", by Markus Zusak.  It is definitely one of the best books I have read in a while.  Even though it was, at times, incredibly heartbreaking, I couldn't put it down.  It tells the story of a spirited young girl living in Nazi Germany during World War II.  So, not exactly a lighthearted story to begin with, but it was remarkably well written to show the innocence of childhood and struggle of adults to do what is good and what is right for their fellow humans.  I highly recommend this book...even though it left me with a heavy heart, it also reminded me of the power of words, and that there is good in every corner of the world. 

Happy!

It seems the only thing harder than getting going on a Monday morning, is getting going on a Tuesday morning after a long weekend.  Waking up was a bit rough this morning.  Luckily, I have a new fix for the scaries, and it comes from the one and only Pharrell Williams.

I have been a fan of Mr. Williams since his N.E.R.D. days--probably even before that, and didn't even know the music I loved was created by him.  He is incredibly talented, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his new song "Happy".  First of all, it was created for the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack--how adorable is that?  Also, the song (and the man with it) has been nominated for an Academy Award.  I hope he wins. 

Anyway, just thought I'd share my new favorite song with you on this tougher-than-usual start to the work week.  I hope it makes you "Happy".  Doesn't it just make you want to get up and start dancing?  If nothing else, it definitely puts a smile on your face.

Obsessed, Part II

Once again, Lupita Nyong'o knocked it out of the park, this time at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards (BAFTAs).  From the red carpet photos I saw, she was once again my favorite of the night.  The color is stunning on her, and what I love about her style is that she wears such simple and classic lines, but somehow manages to make them look fresh and modern.  This dress is stunning, and I would absolutely wear it if I had the chance--probably another reason why I am obsessed with her style--I would happily wear everything she fashions.

To see more of her amazing style, see my previous "Obsessed" post on her.  And look forward to one more incredible look in just two weeks--she is nominated for an Academy Award for her amazing work in "12 Years a Slave".  I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us that night!

Snow Day!

A major snowstorm on the East Coast shut down DC yesterday, and with over a foot of snow, even I got to stay home from work on Thursday!  I'm back to work today, but it was really nice to have the yesterday off.  I did some chores around the house, dug out my car, and watched a lot of Olympics coverage.  Nice and slow...just what I needed after a busy work week!  Happy long weekend everyone!

The "Wet" Brush

The "Wet" Brush

I had heard rumors about this wonder product for months now from many of my mom friends.  "This brush works wonders," they said.  "It combs out the rats' nest in minutes, and without tears," they said.  "Hands down, the best brush ever," they said.  Still, I had my doubts.

So when looking in my stocking this Christmas and found a purse-sized The "Wet" Brush from my sister, I was excited to give it a try.  Two months later, I am sold.  Best. Brush. Ever.  Thanks Lindann!

My hair is naturally curly, and I have a ton of it.  Factor in my tendency to go a few days between washes to keep it healthy, and well--it takes a long time to get these tangles out after showering.  I have no idea what makes this brush so special, but it definitely does the trick.  What was once a painstaking process to comb through my hair now only takes a minute or two, and I have less breakage too!  Highly recommend you giving this product a try...for the price, why not?

Mid Week Wrap-up

I missed my weekend wrap-up on Monday--oops!  As I mentioned last week, on Saturday I went to a benefit for Luke's Wings, sponsored by the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution.  I found out a few years ago that I am a DAR, and am thinking about joining this year (if I can ever find the time to chart my genealogy).  One project at a time.

After fear that a migraine was going to sideline me that night, I quickly recovered and ended up having a ball!  We started the night at the Four Seasons Georgetown bar, and the headed to the City Tavern Club for a night of dancing!  We shook our booties all night long, and needless to say, my physical therapist was not too happy with me and my sore legs on Monday.  It was worth it though to have a fun night out with my girls!

Happy Birthday Mema!

Sally Ann Edwards Peluchette

Today is my Mema's 84th birthday.  Happy Birthday Mema!  Wasn't she a beauty?  Still is today! 

My Mema and I have a very special relationship, and I am blessed to call her one of my best friends.  After 10 children and 23 grandchildren, what she wants most in the world is a great grandchild.  And as her eldest granddaughter, I get my fair share of grief about it.  Ha, I'm such a disappointment, but she still loves me!  Sorry Mema, looks like you're going to have to wait at least another birthday for that special wish!  Wish I could be there with you today to celebrate!

Olympic Junkie

I don't know about y'all, but when it comes to the Olympics, I am completely addicted.  Doesn't matter if it's the Summer or Winter games, once the torch is lit I am glued to the TV until the closing ceremony.  Oh yeah, and I end up crying at least once a night.  What can I say--the pursuit of victory just gets to me.

So of course, I've been watching all of the NBC promo shows this week leading up to today's first events.  Last night, the show was "How to Raise an Olympian," and there was one story in particular had me tearing up before the games even started.  It was on Amy Purdy, a Paralympian snowboarder, and how she came back from an illness with an almost 2% survival rate, lost both her legs, and is now an Olympian.  Truly inspiring, and I hope they air her competition for the world to see. 

For those of you that missed it, here is a link to an interview with her. And below is a Poptech talk she gave--such an inspiration!

Dream Gowns

Donna Karan Resort Collection

Hello my pretties, did you miss me?  I have been working on an important project the past few weeks that have taken up all of my extra time and attention, but finally finished today.  Hooray! 

Now on to the important topic--gala season.  It is officially upon us in our nation's capital!  With DC's dreary winter lingering, it seems a daunting task to get all dolled and head out for a night on the town.  Thanks to my ever shrinking size (praise the Lord), I am running out of clothing options in my closet.  To tailor or just rebuy everything is a topic for another day, but for now I must find a gown that fits me, and in a hurry!  This Saturday I am attending DAR's Sweethearts and Patriots Gala, to benefit Luke's Wings, which supports service members who have been wounded in battle.  Such a wonderful cause, and who knows, maybe if I find the perfect gown, I might just have a hero of my own by the end of the night.

Budget is my problem, so if anyone knows of any great sales out there, please fill me in!  But since it's a dreary, rainy day, I think today I'll daydream of walking in wearing one of these beautiful creations, starting with the incredible Donna Karan above.  How perfect is this dress for a sweetheart theme gala?  I would be in heaven wearing that amazing gown.  Heaven!  This one below is also stunning.

Also loving this Halston Heritage gown, which although on sale and somewhat in my price range, is only available in a size 2.  Le sigh.  Maybe next year.  The silhouette is perfect for an hourglass figure. 

Halston Heritage Velvet Striped Gown

The ultimate splurge?  I could always pre-order this gorgeous Alexander McQueen for a mere $6,200. 

Alexander McQueen Feather-Print Strapless Chiffon Gown

Then again, maybe I should shop my closet just one more time.  Seems just a tad more economical, don't you think?

Lemon and Thyme Chicken Breasts

 

Lemon and Thyme Chicken Breasts

I thought I would share with you one of my new favorite recipes--Lemon and Thyme Chicken Breasts.  This recipe is so simple to make, yet tastes so yummy that I can eat it for days in a row.  I believe that this was tailored from an Ina Garten (my favorite) creation in order to be 100% paleo, but of course I found it on good old pinterest (via fortheloveofcooking.net).  Enjoy!

Lemon and Thyme Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:
1-2 tbsp olive oil
5-6 cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 cup of chicken broth
Zest from 1 lemon
Juice from 1 lemon
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Two sprigs of fresh thyme
1 lemon cut into 4 wedges

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; add the minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, making sure not to burn the garlic. Add the chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, and thyme leaves to the pan. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Place the chicken in the baking dish along with the lemon wedges and the two sprigs of thyme.
Place into the oven and bake, basting occasionally, for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Drizzle the pan sauce on top of the slices of chicken and serve. 

Grammy's Favorite

While the Grammy's is not my favorite fashion night of the year, it is always a fun red carpet to watch to see what crazy outfits people will come out wearing.  Last night there were a few interesting choices (nice grill, Madge), but nothing exceptionally bizarre.  Same goes for those who knocked it out of the park...nothing majorly spectacular on this year's red carpet.  There were a few I liked:  Pink's red Johanna Johnson and Taylor Swift's Gucci chain mail gown were both winners in my book.

For me, though, there was only one true winner: Ciara.  Dear Lord, if I can look this incredible while pregnant, I will never complain about another body issue again.  She is glowing and she is stunning in this custom-made for baby bump Pucci.  Incredible.

Weekend Wrap-up

What a great 3-day weekend!  I took full advantage of the somewhat warmer weather this weekend, and then today, woke up to a snow day in Washington, DC!  This weekend, I did some closet purging, saw some art, went to a game, had a great girl's lunch and gave back to my community in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

I must get better at taking more photographs (wasn't that a New Year's resolution?  Oops!), but I did take one from the Wizards game this weekend.  Got spoiled with suite tickets, but still managed to totally behave myself (two more weeks until I get a drink!). 

Also if you are in DC in the next few weeks, make sure to see the Van Gogh exhibit at the Phillips Collection.  They've extended the exhibit for a few more weeks, so hurry and get to Dupont to see some of his most famous works.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Obsessed: New Style Icon

 

First, apologizes--I was one sick puppy at the beginning of this week, and am only feeling totally back to normal today.  Thank God.

Now to all I missed this week--originally, I was going to do a best dressed of the Golden Globes post, but after seeing the photos from last night's Critic's Choice Movie Awards, I have decided to focus on just one gorgeous woman--Lupita Nyong'o.

Wow, does this woman have style.  She has killed it on red carpet after red carpet this year, and I am so excited to see what showstopper she pulls out for the Academy Awards.  Gorgeous skin, amazing body, and her style--she wears what I would wear if I had 1) money and 2) her figure.  Simple, elegant, perfectly tailored, sexy and stunning.  Lupita is my new favorite style guru.

L'Oreal Age Perfect Face Oil

Winter is not a friend to my face.  The combo of the cold Mid-Atlantic winds and the blasting of the radiator heat in my condo really do a number on my skin, which typically results in red, chapped and peeling skin, especially around my lips, nose and forehead.  A few months ago, I started seeing more and more articles about the benefits of face oil as an additional moisturizer, so I decided to invest.  I have been using L'Oreal Age Perfect Face Oil now since Thanksgiving, and I must say, I am a believer!

I started out using this at night, but with this crazy weather, am now using it twice a day.  In the morning, I put it on after my medicine, eye cream, sunscreen and moisturizer.  It works to seal all of that in, and adds a nice glow to your skin under your makeup.  I was worried about this making my face greasy or prone to additional breakouts, but I've experienced none.  At night, I put on my medicine, then slather it on my face, neck, and decolletage.  The best part is, I haven't had to break out my humidifier yet this winter!  True believer in this product, so thought I would share my newest great beauty discovery!

Little Corn Island

 

 

 

These frigid temperatures here in Washington is making me long for my upcoming vacation even more, and last night I started researching lodging options (primarily to look at the gorgeous, sunny scenery).  We have pretty much nailed down our itinerary, and then I came across the Yemaya Island Hideaway & Spa on Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.

Um, if this isn't the picture of paradise, then I don't know what is.  Yes, no matter what else we do while there, I will be staying here in August.  I can just feel the good vibes radiating through me already, can't you?  It might be 7 degrees in Washington, but staring at this incredible place warms me up just right.

Whole 30 Challenge

Last March, I decided to take the plunge on this crazy food challenge, and it ended up changing my life.  Spelled out in the book, "It Starts with Food" by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig, the Whole 30 challenge is a 30-day commitment to strict paleo eating.  No sugar, no dairy, no grains, no beans, no alcohol...and no cheating.  I won't lie, the first few days were definitely tough...I had pretty bad symptoms of the "carb flu"...but luckily, it only lasted a few days.  What happened after was pretty incredible--not only did I lose a few pounds (which is not really what this is all about), but the ways my body carried excess fat had shifted.  I was leaner and after 30 days, felt amazing.  I had more energy than I had felt in at least a decade, my skin cleared up, I was sleeping better, and my whole outlook on life had changed.  I was hooked.

Since then, I have pretty much stuck with the 80/20 paleo eating guidelines that are recommended after the 30-day challenge.  And then came December.  My birthday, Christmas, ridiculous late nights at work, holiday parties...I think that there were days that all I put in my body were cookies, bread, cheese and alcohol.  Not my best, and honestly, all that cheating has caught up with me. 

I had been talking to my sister for months now about trying it out, and she decided that today was the day to start.  Perfecting timing for me too, right?  Time to get back to business.  I'm excited and ready to get back on board and detox my body of all the junk I have put in it toward the end of 2013.  I would encourage anyone who has been thinking about taking the plunge to dive right in!  The first week or so might have you thinking that all of us devotees have lost our damn mind, but trust me, stick with it!  You will be thanking me in the end when you come out feeling more incredible than you have in years. 

Happy 2014!

Love this. Couldn't resist the Golden Girls.

 

Happy New Year!  I am incredibly optimistic and hopeful about this new year...not that 2013 was a horrible year, but more one of realization and awakening.  Yes, there were some down moments and events, but instead on dwelling on that, I have been reflecting upon how much I have learned and grown through these experiences, and now look forward to 2014 being a year of putting that all into action.

 

I've been thinking a lot about my resolutions this year, because I really wanted to come up with goals and challenges for myself.  And since the best way to stick to goals and challenges is to make them accountable, here you go:

 

1.  I will no longer put my life on hold for an unworthy man.

No matter how handsome, charming and sexy his British accent is (ahem, you know who you are)--no more!  Time and time again, I get way too ahead of myself in relationships, and end up putting my needs aside in the hopes that the dreams in my head will come to fruition.  Silly girl--I've finally learned that a woman worth having isn't one who stands waiting, and the man I want won't keep me waiting anyway.  This year, I will live my life in the now, and if a gentleman shows up during all my living, then wonderful!  If not, at least I'm doing what makes me happy.

 

2.  I will treat myself and my body with the love and respect it deserves.

This means first and foremost, I will get healthy!  Focusing first on recovering from my injuries, and once I do, not overdoing it so I don't get sidelined again this year.  I will also focus not only on clean eating and drinking in moderation (my age has caught up with me in hangovers), but I also vow to stop letting my emotions take over.  No more emotional eating, spending, or shutting myself in on the couch!  I will get outside and move more, restart my yoga practice, and work on focusing on the positive and not the negatives.  When I am eating right, sleeping well and moving more, I feel incredible--so why wouldn't I want to feel incredible every day of the year?  Duh.

 

3.  I will travel more, read more, see more and do more.

Like I said, this is a year of action!  My trip to Nicaragua is my big ticket this year, but I also will visit a friend in Brooklyn, try to get back to Arkansas a few times, get to the beach at least once or twice, and hope to explore a city in the US in which I've never been.  I also need to take advantage of all this city has to offer--go to more art exhibits, festivals, new restaurants, and cultural events in town.  There is so much to see and do in DC, and I need to get off my butt and do them!  No more endless nights spaced out in front of the TV!

 

4.  I will spend time organizing, cleaning and preparing myself for each week ahead.

This one will probably be the biggest challenge for me, because it means taking on stuff I really don't like to do.  I need to really look into my finances, set a budget, and stick to it!  Organize my condo so that I purge myself of items I no longer need, and organize what I do have.  Really deep clean, and then keep up with my cleaning a bit every day so that it doesn't become a daunting chore.  And finally, I need to spend my Sundays getting ready for the week ahead--planning my meals, fixing my breakfasts/lunches, making my to-do list, scheduling my free time, etc.--so I am not wasting time and money needlessly.

 

So I realize this is a lot to take on, but I know I can do it!  I have some lofty ambitions for this year, and I feel like if I focus on these four items first, everything else (fingers crossed) will better fall into place.  Who's with me?!?!  What are your resolutions for this year?