Favorite Things Friday IX

My love of live music is well documented here, so no need to go into that again.  But I want to highlight one song that right now is near the top of my favorite list! 

Luke Bryan's new song "Crash My Party" is my go to song these days.  I mean who doesn't love a catchy tune... PLUS the song is the perfect song for me right now.  Because after all... don't we all just want a man that is willing to put us first?  So yep... I'm still looking for the guy who will always let me Crash His Party!

So go quick and take a listen because it is on my Friday Favorite list!  Check out the video here!

Tuesday Travels... across the Pond

Last year during the month of April within the span of 15 days I visited two countries and traveled to the big apple. Needless to say the second country I visited looked a little suspiciously at my passport.

The first trip of those incredible days was to visit London, England on a pretty quick decided trip. Approximately 2 weeks prior to Easter I found out my mother would be in England over Easter. Thinking there was no way I could afford a last minute flight I did what everyone does... check anyway. I was shocked to see that the flight was actually pretty reasonable.

So with a few phone calls to Mom to make sure she was in fact staying over Easter for business, I decided to take my first trip to England. A week or so later I was at the airport about to board my first flight overseas. Mom had warned me about the length of the flight and I was a little nervous about the duration... until I heard my name called at the gate.

I proceeded to see the gate agent who asked if I was in fact traveling alone. After confirming that yes, I am a single girl traveling alone today on this way long flight, she asked if I would mind relocating my seat for a family to sit together. My thought was it really didn't matter where I was sitting ... the flight was going to be long... so sure. People... here is where being nice and doing the right thing pays off. Because when I boarded the plane and began to head right to my seat, the nice flight attendant politely told me to head to the left... to my seat in ENVOY! SCORE!!!! Hello peeps... not seeing the problem with traveling to England... my seat lays down flat and I have a cute travel kit with socks, eye mask and hand cream! Needless to say I wasn't sure what the issue was with traveling so far. I mean I got served a 5 course meal! :)

My love of traveling is well documented and I don't mind doing it alone. However, I must admit that it was a little weird being in a foreign country with a phone that didn't work and trying to meet up with someone...and not even being able to buy a soda because I didn't exchange any money!

But the trip was amazing. It was a wonderful few days in London with my favorite traveling partner... my Mother! The first day we took a typical black taxi, rode a touristy red double decker bus and walked a ton. But we had a great time and the weather was incredible - the sun was shining and it was wonderful. Now the rest of the days we were treated to typical London weather that was overcast and had me in the same hoodie and UGG boots for the next three days. But it was incredible! So here are a few scenes from our great trip to London....

(And PS... I got the same great call at the airport to see the gate attendant. And you guessed it... SCORE again! So based on this trip, I'm not quite sure what the issue is with this flight. Yes it was long, but pretty comfortable! )

Favorite Things Friday VIII

This week is the 18th year that I have volunteered to help run a high school baseball tournament. There is nothing like spending 5 days outside with the sound of the crack of a bat all day... and night... long. By now, I think we have seen it all - rain delays for no reason, real rain delays that lasted hours with 3 more games to play, more injuries than we can count including one that had us looking for teeth at home plate (sorry for the over sharing!)...the stories are endless.

So here is to one of my favorite sports... baseball...and one of my favorite times of the year.... five days full of high school baseball with athletes that play the game only for the love of the sport.

Reflections in the Mirror

As individuals, and especially women, we are often times very hard on ourselves (ok - always hard on ourselves!). We strive to be perfect in every aspect of our lives - our work life, our personal life, our family life. But one of the areas we are most critical tends to be our physical appearance. We look at individuals on tv and magazines and feel that is what we have to look like to be successful, to be loved, to be liked by others.

As we stare in the mirror, we don't always see what we need to see, or what we should see, but rather what we want to see. Which normally is a very harsh depiction of the reflection staring back in the mirror.

Rarely do we get to see what others see of us. I'm not talking about the others that see us as less than we are, or those that want to tear us down. But see ourselves from the eyes of those that see the beauty within everyone.

I was lucky to have this chance.

Recently while reading a blog that I frequent.... ok...that I read everyday.... I read about a new project that Kristin Vining was starting. If you are not familiar with Kristin Vining, you are missing out. She is an incredible photographer that up until now primarily focused on weddings. I have admired her work from afar and assumed that I would never have the opportunity to work with her based on the timeline my love life is on! But thankfully Kristin's heart brought her to a new project - KVP Woman. Through this, Kristin focuses on the beauty in all women - no matter their age, shape, size, color.

Last week I was the lucky one - I got to spend a few amazing hours with Kristin and her amazing team... which consisted of another blogger that I stalk...errr frequently read.... Lindsey Regan Thorne. With the amazing work of Lindsey on the hair and makeup and the incredible vision of Kristin behind the lens... something magical happened.

I got to see a different reflection in the mirror. Not one of negativity. Not one of flaws. But a reflection of what lies in all of us.

We are each unique and we are each special - and it is about time we celebrated that!

So.... seek out Kristin at www.kristinviningphotoblog.com and head to find out more about the amazing things she is doing as a part of KVP Woman.

And check out the great work from Lindsey at www.lindseyreganthorne.com.

I was lucky to have both come in my life... and so should you!

Tuesday Travels... Daydreaming of the Vineyard

So in my attempt at looking back at some fun times and remembering them before the memories fade, I am hoping to start a Tuesday Travels series where I look back at trips I have taken, places I have been or destinations that are still on the list.

I have a travel bucket list... places I have wanted to go or want to go back.  Martha's Vineyard has always been on that list... not just for the Kennedy connection... but it combines so many of my loves... boats, amazing houses, water, Vineyard Vines... and I mean who doesn't love a place that you can only take a ferry to! 

Martha's Vineyard is a place that my Mother and I have always talked of going.  You see... my Mother is probably my favorite traveling companion.  We travel well together, know just the right amount of time to spend together and apart and tend to like the same amount of partying and down time.  So it really works out well.

Due to the generosity of an amazing friend, I was able to take my Mother on an amazing vacation during Mother's Day 2012.  It wasn't cheap... but certainly wasn't as expensive as it could have been if I was renting the amazing house we were staying in for a full week!  But the memories I made with my Mother were priceless... and hopefully I made her first Mother's Day without her Mom one she will always remember fondly.

So... a few of my memories from the trip... to be amended if at some point in the next three years I get the photos we took with Mom's camera... (and Mom if you are reading this... I love you!!)

One of the first places we went after we departed the ferry and had everyone laughing at our mode of transportation (think Fred Flinstone car... seriously... our luggage BARELY fit!) was this amazing site.  Really no words for how amazing it was. 

This photo was taken on the beach near the house we were staying at.  The think I love the most... the footprints you see most prominently are mine and my Mom's!

Think Jaws people.... This is one of those photos that drives my Mom crazy... she gets frustrated that all my photos are "crooked".  It is too look artsy Mom!

If you are a Kennedy crazy like me... this beach should ring a bell with you... 

I mean really... could this house be any cuter?!?!?

Loved this sign outside of  Vineyard Vines...

If you have not made the trek... I highly recommend traveling to the Vineyard and experiencing it for yourself!

Favorite Things Friday VII

So you know you have a problem when two of the most fashionable people you know comment on the amount of necklaces and jewelry you have... read... houston, we may have a slight problem!

To my credit... I only purchase the jcrew jewels on sale... and I have not walked in a Tiffany & Co. store in months.  So I think we are doing quite well... thank you.

So... my Favorite Things Friday... all kinds of Jewels!

The first set are from jcrew... and I do love some jcrew jewels!  I mean a statement necklace can change the world people!

Now if I was more computer savvy I would post pics from a few of my favorite things... but who am I kidding... pretty sure there are not very many things I don't like from there.  So just go check out the website!

So now... hit the malls and cute stores down your version of East Blvd. and add some statement jewels to your wardrobe.  Because my favorite thing about them... they never go out of style, and for the most part you always stay the same size! 

Scenes from an old iPhone

I have an "i" life to say the least... and in an attempt to get everything backed up... I set out to get photos off of my old iPhone.  I will say - that is one complaint that I have with the iPhone - it is not easy to get all of those easy to take photos off of your phone.  And if I plug it in to iTunes and do it... I can never find where they go and each time my computer tells me I am out of room!  So... I finally think I found an easy way to get my pictures off and on my external hard drive... well... at least it worked on the first iPhone - but not so much on the current iPhone.

Now... with that rambling intro... it was fun to look back on some of the photos that I took with my old iPhone... so a look back into a snapshot of those 2 years...

If you didn't believe me....each of these photos are from a different concert!

Then a few snapshots from games here and there.... this was opening day of the new Giants stadium and MNF in Cowboys stadium.

Then one of these years we actually had a white Christmas... so cool!!

 And I found it interesting this was the last photo on this phone.  This is the last picture I have of my Grandmother's house... just as she left it.  I would give anything to talk with her again - I miss her so much!

Favorite Things Friday VI

Tonight while surfing through the tv channels I ran across one of my favorite things... Sex And The City. I remember in college planning our weekends round Sunday nights. Gathering together in our Suite in Granville South to watch as girlfriends together.

At the time, it was just great tv. Now, watching the episodes...and the movie... back, you relate differently as time passes by.

So in honor of Carrie Bradshaw and the girls... a few of my favorite looks and lessons learned.

"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone that loves the you you love, well that's fabulous."

"The fact is, sometimes it's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun."

"Can you really forgive if you can't forget?"

"'When it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?"

"I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet."

"Some people are settling down, some people are settling and some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies."

"After all, seasons change, so do cities; people come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."

A little slice of relaxation... DIY style

So I read a lot of blogs that focus on changing rooms in their homes, renovating kitchens to make them amazing, or simply redecorating a room with a specific purpose.  Well... when you live in a 1 room condo that is less than 1,000 sq. feet - you don't have many options for change!

However, one area that was driving me crazy was my balcony.  I have an amazing view (or at least it is amazing to me!) that I am not taking advantage of.  The furniture on my balcony was purchased within about a month of moving into my condo... seven years ago!  So it was time for an update.

Here is the before...

Pretty bland and looks junky.  I really was spending ZERO time on my balcony because it wasn't comfortable... and the cement floor was driving me crazy!

So... I work up early Sunday morning with the crazy idea to tackle the balcony (read... procrastinating in tackling the closet that was on the list for Sunday).  So with a budget in mind I set out to look. 

Here is what I knew I was looking for:
1.  A seating option that was comfortable and would last for several years.  I wanted to be able to curl up and read a book, or sit on my balcony with a cup of coffee and enjoy the view and be cozy.
2.  A rug... I wanted it to cover most of the cement that you see in an effort to make me want to walk outside in my bare feet!
3.  Pretty things to dress it up!

So after trying to measure my balcony with a tape measure that was a giveaway item at some event... I struck out with a shopping list.

I went to Lowe's first... no luck.  I was looking for a low budget, cozy and something that I could take home today.  After all ... I had been planning this day for all of 45 minutes and wanted instant gratification for my planning!  Now... as I was getting ready to leave I wandered through the garden plants.  I have never successfully owned a plant in my life, but something made me want to get one.  Now, understand that I have been through the garden section and loaded up a cart many times before... only to put everything back and walk out empty handed.  Today was not going to be that day.  I started where any crazy, never owned a plant woman starts... with a pretty pot!  I picked out two amazing white pots that I then found pretty colorful plants to fit in the pots.  Key... fit in the pot.  So I left Lowe's with two pots and two flowers in my possession.

Next I stopped at Home Depot - now I am sure it was just the one I stopped at... but they did not have a large selection of furniture or rugs.  So I quickly jumped in the car and headed down South Boulevard.

My next stop was at the Mother ship.... TARGET!  I mean... I can shop in some Target.  I looked at their patio furniture and didn't see anything that hit me.  And the rugs were ok... but just not speaking to me.  So I jumped back in the car and headed to the next stop.

Now... before I go further, I should probably disclaimer that we have been looking for furniture for a project at work.  After researching all major options, we are close to settling on Pottery Barn.  So... for weeks now I have been staring at a photo of the most amazing furniture that was screaming for me to be hanging out on it.

So... I next stopped at World Market.  I have not been in one of their stores for years.... but the sign stating 30% off outdoor furniture had me at hello!  So... after about an hour of sitting on furniture and testing cushions... I settled on World Market.  After loading two chairs and a table that I scored already put together, I was on my way back to Target.  Because I mean... there was still room in the SUV and all roads lead back to Target!

I ventured back to the patio section and found some adorable lanterns that were going to look great on the table I got.  Then I was on a search for a rug.  This was a crucial missing piece!  So... after going through nearly the entire store I stumbled on the most adorable blue rugs... that I was so sad I was sure were indoor rugs.  Until... reading further... the sticker said INDOOR/OUTDOOR!!!  SCORE!  Well... kinda score... they only had 2 and I thought I needed 4.  So quick load up in the car and off to another Target I went!

Needless to say... the SUV was JAM PACKED by the time I arrived back home to tackle putting the furniture together and starting to see if my vision had worked!  I ended up a little over budget - but not much!

So... what do you think of the finished product??  I am happy... for no other reason that I spent about an hour taking a nap on my new chairs and walking in my bare feet over the feel good rugs.  That is success in my book!