breakfast for boyfriend

images via moi

This past sunday I made the most delicious homemade waffles for boyfriend, only to find out that boyfriend does not really like waffles. Still, they were ah-mazing, if I do say so myself. You can clearly tell from the picture above that I am a waffle genius. To recreate this work of art, please see recipe below.

2 eggs, separated

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup melted butter

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.

Beat egg yolks; add milk and melted butter.

Stir dry ingredients together and add egg yolk mixture.

Mix until smooth.

Fold in egg whites.

Bake in hot waffle iron.

p.s. Do not pour entire mixture into waffle iron at once. It will overflow. Trust me,  I learned the hard way. If you pour like a normal person it should make around  six waffles.

the perfect present

This week, I've been searching far and wide for the perfect present for boyfriend. You see, it's our two year anniversary this weekend. July 3rd to be exact. So I've been hunting the internet, running through stores, and planning over hushed phone calls. Finding the perfect present is an all-encompassing task. One must throw oneself into it wholly and fully. I have done just that. Fingers crossed.

obsessed: lennette newell photography

 images via lennette newell photography

How cool are these photographs? I have a bit of an obsession with animal photography and lennette newell's images are so beautiful and raw. The stark composition really creates an unexpected and powerful emotionality. I would love to buy an original print of hers. Tres expensive ($800-$1500) but most definitely worth the price if you can afford it. For now, I think I'll just gaze wistfully at this post.

Not bad for a monday morning... enjoy!

the yellow brick house (vilnia, lithuania)

 

images via design tavern 

Located in the lithuanian valley of river vilnia, this yellow brick house is both historical and modern. The park where the house stands is filled with rare rock formations dating back to the ice age. And the original structure is made of valuable vilnius bricks. So when the owners realized they needed to expand their living quarters, instead of destroying the property, they built a house of glass around it. The result is stunning. 

I die. I die. I die. Imagine waking up every morning to this. So sleek, so modern, so sexy. Truly inspired.

p.s. If you love this, you'll also love my post on the cullen residence.  

because it's wednesday

I saw this little guy and I died. So precious. Happy hump day everyone! The week is almost over!

fathers day weekend

images courtesy of moi

Father's day weekend was spent lounging by the pool, prancing around town, and eating dinner on the beach. Sort of unbelievable. My favorite activities were as follows:

Catching up on some much needed reading. Skipping a beat by sarah pekkanen is a wonderful novel if you're looking for insightful summer chic lit. I definitely recommend. I read and read and read while boyfriend listened to his ipod.

Splurging on a mani pedi with little sister. So luxurious. Every once in a while I think it's important to just treat yourself. Especially when little sister is having boy problems. Believe me, nothing fixes boy problems like a mani pedi.

And last but not least, celebrating one person in particular: dad.

p.s. The fun orange-red polish I'm wearing in the picture is called monsooner or later by OPI.

feeling nautical

Summer's here and I'm really enjoying the preppy, nautical style I'm seeing everywhere. Growing up in New England, I can't help but love the images above. As an aside, I've been trying to pressure boyfriend into buying a pair of sperry topsiders and I think he's finally convinced. I might just have to buy a pair myself. And if I do, I might just have to stop at j.crew and pick up a pair of khaki shorts. This has turned into quite the shopping trip. It's times like these I wish I didn't have such an active imagination. Enjoy...

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." William A. Ward

"He who lets the sea lull him into a sense of security is in very grave danger." Hammond Ines

obsessed: steve madden fantasik wedge in khaki

 shoes via steve madden

I bought these shoes from DSW for $40 two weeks ago. And let me tell you, this was the best decision I've ever made. They're four and a half inches and ridiculously comfortable. This is coming from someone who is a big baby when it comes to uncomfortable shoes. As in, I refuse to wear them. And when I do wear them, I don't walk in them. I basically perch myself on surfaces and stick to a no more than two blocks per outing rule. However, these shoes last and last. They're a bit squishy under the balls of your feet which prevent soreness. The straps are lined in some sort of super soft fabric which prevent rubbing. You will look super tall and and get tons of complements. Plus, they go with everything. Jeans, leggings, maxiskirts, maxi dresses, shorts. Buy these shoes. You will not regret it. 

dealing with negativity

image via fallen rose media

a rainy weekend

My plans for the weekend involved sun, sun, and more sun. Unfortunately, mister weatherman is predicting rain, rain, and more rain. I guess this means I will not be wearing my new red bikini from marshalls (insert sad face). However, I am not going to let this ruin my weekend because I've compiled my very own list of fun rainy day activities. Take that mister weatherman!

1. splash in puddles while wearing cute rainboots
2. host a wet and wild relay race
3. take beautiful rain photographs
4. makeout with boyfriend, so romantical
5. play monopoly, pictionary, and scrabble  
6. reminisce over old photo albums
7. call girlfriends for a spa night
8. take a long, indulgent bath
9. cozy up with a good book and bottle of wine
10. whip up some baked macaroni and cheese
11. clean out closet for makebelieve burberry trench

Yay rain! Who needs to wear an adorable red bikini anyway?

curling up in a ball

After a horrendous, awful, terrible day, I'm spending the night in bed watching trashy television and eating chocolate chip cookies. VH1 has a new series called single ladies, which is basically a racially mixed sex and the city set in atlanta. I watched this for three hours and loved every minute of it. Highly recommended if you're trying to pamper yourself while hibernating. There's something about stacey dash that just makes everything better. There's also something about stacey dash that makes me feel like I shouldn't be eating chocolate chip cookies (her body is bananas). If you have no idea who I'm talking about, she's most known for playing cher's bestfriend in clueless. Also a must see while hibernating. I'm going to go watch real housewives of new york now, followed by a bit of wallowing in self-pity and some much needed sleep.

obsession: dia frampton (the voice)

Seated behind a piano in a soft white dress, dia frampton performed a chilling rendition of the song heartless on nbc's the voice last night. I was left speechless. The performance was soul stirring and so refreshing. This is truly one of the best performances I've seen by a vocal artist, including consummate professionals. Regardless of the competion, dia is someone that should be closely followed. Obsessed.

"That was the most refreshing unique thing I’ve seen on the show so far" (Adam Levine)

"Very original, the greatest rendition of that song I’ve heard" (Cee Lo Green)

"This is my favorite moment" (Blake Shelton)

sherbert dreams

images via Carolines Mode

These images are so amazing I just had to share. I die. I die. I die. Perfect for a summer rendezvous with european millionaire boyfriend. No, boyfriend is not actually a european millionaire. Irrelevant. I'm envisioning Paris. Milan. Venice.

If I owned these dresses, I'd go grocery shopping in them.

daytrip to new york

 

This weekend, boyfriend surprised me with a daytrip to new york. After taking the subway to the heart of the meatpacking district, we wove in and out of city blocks until coming across what appeared to be a Biergarten. Boyfriend grabbed my hand, pulling me through ping pong tables and trinken signs, through couples munching on scones and sipping hot coffee, through white marble hallways that curved into sleek hotel lobbies.

Until finally, we came across a corridor of glossy, black elevator doors. Thoroughly confused, we stepped inside and began our ascent up to the top. Turns out, boyfriend had been suavely steering us to a very specific locale:

the skybar at the standard hotel

As we entered the beautiful penthouse lounge on the uppermost floor, plush tan carpeting, cream wrap-around couches, and panoramic views of the entire city awaited us. 

And so, like something out of a movie, we began our afternoon by gazing into the glistening new york city skyline, sipping mimosas, and toasting to our future. A spectacular beginning to a spectacular day.

denim is the new black

denim by Citizens of Humanity. images via Spring 2011 Lookbook.

I had a shopping extravaganza at Nordstroms a few days ago which involved jeans, jeans, and more jeans. The good news is they were all forty percent off. The bad news is I still spent a few hundred dollars. I rationalized this by telling myself it was worth it. Denim is a staple in any wardrobe. And since gaining a few pounds and going up a jeans size, I've been living in cargo pants and leggings. So I decided it was time to splurge. And splurge I did.

I'm loving the above collection. So simple and streamlined. Paired with neutral tops, tousled hair, and woven wedges. This model definitely pefects the casual, not trying, sexy vibe. An overall perfect weekend look.