Long Weekend---Bliss

jeans & Cardigan: gap; booties: aldo; top: goodwill

Guess what I did this weekend... Nothing. Well not entirely nothing, I mean I did something, but in the grand scheme of doing something versus nothing. I basically did nothing. SSF and I (with the exception of a planned family gathering and hair appointment) just did whatever we felt like this weekend... and it felt great. It was the first time in awhile that I didn't feel bogged down by school, work, wedding planning, etc.

All in all, it was refreshing. I took some time to reflect on things, clean out my closet (literally), and just spend some quality time with SSF that didn't involve me sitting on the couch with my laptop while he watched TV.

On a totally unrelated note, I've been having the best luck at goodwill the last couple times I've gone. I found this amazing polka dot top a couple weeks ago and over the weekend I scored some other seriously excellent goodies I can't wait to share.

How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

Ps. this last picture was too sexy not to share.



You can thank the wind for that work of art. :)

Gettsyburg

SSF and I took a field trip up to Gettysburg this past Saturday with about 60 other graduate students from my program. Strange, considering I study business but just go with it. The point of it was to make the connection between business and military strategy.

All that aside, just being there and walking the battlefield was unreal. I've never been on a battlefield, but being there and seeing how they fought, so close to one another, neither wanting to back down, makes me realize how privileged I am. It also reinforces my appreciation and respect for those that serve in the military today.

No history lesson today, just wanted to share some of the photos from my trip.


a North Carolina monument on the confederate line (sidenote: 1 in 4 fatalities were a North Carolina soldier)



also part of the North Carolina monument above



the view from the confederate line looking across the battlefield to where the union army stood



the Virginia Monument honoring Robert E. Lee that looks straight out across the battlefield to a similar monument of General Meade (of the Union Army)



the view from Little Round Top on the Union side 



a Pennsylvania monument on "The Angle", the site of Picketts Charge and the bloodiest hour of the battle. 9.500 soldiers dies in a matter of 50 minutes. 



another area of "The Angle". Union soldiers crouched along this stone wall, looking across the battlefield, waiting for the confederates. 



a long line of monuments of the Union side. 


Unfortunately or fortunately we did not experience any paranormal behavior.


(If you are ever in the area I recommend going to check it out, especially with a tour guide. Just think how different our lives could be if the the Confederate Army was successful at Gettysburg.)

Winding Down

button down shirt-Forever 21, t-shirt-Target, shorts-gap, diyed, shoes-Old Navy

That last picture cracks me up every time I see it. I don't even remember what I was saying, but based on my face I'm sure it was sassy.

Anyway, this weekend we spent some time in Ocean City with SSBF's family. Ocean City is not exactly my beach of choice because it is crowded with rude Marylanders, not the cleanest, and at 2.5 hours away, a pain in the butt to drive to for just a day or so. But it was a beach, and it was free, and therefore totally worth it. 

 I think if I had to chose between unbridled access to J.Crew with no beach trips ever or life on the beach without J.Crew I would totally pick the latter. I've always had a good, casual, beachy look, might as well put it to some use. Long story short: I love the beach. haha.

It's all downhill from here though, the unofficial end of summer and my 26th birthday are less than a week away with my graduate classes in full swing soon after. Ugh. I'm trying to stay positive though. To keep me distracted I've been desperately searching for some good fall skirts. I've recently developed this compulsion for skirts.  Strange, I know. What's worse is that I also have no desire to spend money. I'm in complete conflict right now. Case in point- we went to the Rehoboth Outlet mall this weekend and I didn't spend a dime. Have any of you every felt like that? You want something, but you don't to spend money on it? I'm not used to this feeling.

O's game

embellished tank & scarf-J.Crew, cutoffs-diyed also seen here, button-down-f21 also seen here, hat-Eugenia Kim for Target, shoes-Old Navy

Ahh baseball. SSBF and I are huge baseball fans. We are those people that want to visit all the baseball stadiums before we die. He is a Detroit Tiger's fan and I of course am an obnoxious Phillies fan. Living in Baltimore we've adopted the Orioles as our own. Well, SSBF actually started as an Orioles fan. We have plenty of paraphernalia to prove it (including a video from 1989 titled "Worst to Almost First"). I mainly feel sorry for the Orioles and like to cheer for them because hardly anyone else does. When the Yankee's and Red Sox are in town their fans generally out number the hometown crowd. It drives me crazy. I also love this stadium. I think just ascetically it's one of the best. It has such unique features like the warehouse that runs the length of it (background) and center field opening to the skyline. SSBF reminds me all the time how most modern parks in the last 15 years have been designed based off of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

So I told you guys yesterday I picked this hat up at Target. What I left out is that SSBF didn't want me to get it. He said he didn't like it and he didn't like "hats on girls". Silly boys (almost) never understand fashion. I ignored him of course. I love this hat. It was the perfect accessory and paired with this linen scarf, jewelry was basically unnecessary. It attracted a lot of attention though. Like an obscene amount. I guess I'm not surprised. Baltimore is hardly a fashion capital. I'm going to have to get used it, I can feel myself living in this hat for the remainder of the summer. Truth be told, I've wore it eveytime I left the house Saturday and Sunday, including a trip to the grocery store. Hehe.

A baseball game coupled with no homework to do (and a speedy sale of my textbook on half.com)....
I'd say it was a pretty good weekend.

"stuff we haven't done in forever"

It has been hot as hell around here lately. Seriously. I'm hardly surprised, its pretty typical for us Mid-Atlantic states to get hit with a brutally hot summer after a ridiculously snowy winter. I've been mentally preparing myself for this since our second major snowstorm.

I think if I had to give Saturday a theme it would be " stuff we haven't done in forever." As of that morning SSBF and I had nothing really planned for the day but it all just kind of figured itself out. First SSBF wanted to go play putt putt which we haven't done in a lifetime so I was easily swayed. We found this golf park down by the airport that had a nice little course plus a driving range and batting cages. It was literally across from the runways so as we were playing planes were zooming over our heads. I've never been that close to a landing plane before, it was awesome. Then on the way home we stopped and got Slurpees from 7-11 (something we haven't done in forever). I think I actually forgot how delicious Slurpee's were. Is that possible? I'm not even much of a soda drinker but I think I could have a cherry & coke Slurpee everyday of my life. Later we went out for dinner to Champs and rented the movie (something we haven't done in forever)  "Remember Me". Have you seen it? I was a little skeptical of it because it starred Robert Pattinson and I've never seen him outside of his Twilight role but its reeeally good. You must see it.

What do you guys think of the romper and button up combo? I have been using my button down shirts as pseudo-cardigans lately. It's much lighter than a sweater which is great in sweltering heat. I like how the combination felt really beach-y. It was like being there, without actually being there.

One other quick thing I would like your opinion on, I want to know what you guys thought of my "Spending Diary" feature. I know I haven't done one in awhile but I was thinking about bringing it back, and was hoping to get some more reader submissions and participation. What do you guys think? Yay or Nay?

Monday, Monday.

Ahhh.. another weekend. I swear these things go by far too fast. I can't really complain though when my biggest problem is feeling a little lost in my own sense of style. I seriously have not been this happy in a long time. SSBF and I had a relaxing weekend. We worked in our garden, went to see Jonah Hex (his choice) and then went to the bookstore.It's been a loooong while since I actually read a book. The decision came down to a classic; "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand or an all too common for me economics book called "Naked Economics" by Charles Wheelan. I went with the classic.

SSBF laughed at me when I threw this blazer on to go to the movie, mainly because it was 90 degrees outside. Jokes on him though because this blazer is gauzy and lightweight. I didn't feel any hotter outside and in the movie theater I actually remained a comfortable temperature. Why I really wore it though is because I loved how the striped patterns complemented one another. (Pardon the blurriness, my camera unlike me, hates stripes). I was also feeling slighty under dressed in my tank and shorts. I think that means I'm getting old.

I'm sure you noticed a slight change to the upper righthand corner of the blog. It's in anticipation of a post I have coming for you guys later this week. And let me tell you it is exciting! I really can't wait to share it with you all. But, you have to wait until then:)

Blazer, Banana Republic Outlet $20
Tank, Target $15
Shorts, Gap $19

Susana de Moya Foundation Fundraising Luncheon

SSBF and I were invited to attend the Susana de Moya Foundation's Fundraising Luncheon on Sunday afternoon by one of SSBF's students. The Susana de Moya Foundations purpose is to "merit acdemic excellence and inspire Dominican youth" and SSBF's student had applied for and been awarded a scholarship through this foundation! Pretty impressive for a 6th grader I would say. I don't think I knew what a scholarship was in 6th grade..

It was an amazing experience to be there despite the fact I needed most of the luncheon translated to me by the students mother because they did a majority of the speaking in Spanish. We got to enjoy some delicious Latin cuisine and I was even serenaded by an up and coming Latin artist.

The event itself was held at The Elkridge Club in Baltimore. Now a golf course and country club the Elkridge Club was once a hunt club formed around the time of the Civil War. The building is original to that time period and is absolutely amazing.

I've been wearing this blazer a lot lately. Maybe its redundant, but I just can' get enough of it. It's been the perfect way to finish off any outfit. The dress has seriously been sitting in my closet for four years. I had to rip the tags off ysterday before putting it on! Everything in time, but four years?!

Oh well.

*Dress, random store in Michigan

*Blazer, Gap Outlet

*Shoes, Aldo

*Bag, Dooney & Bourke-- Thank you SSBF mom.

the weekend that got away...

This weekend came and went right before my eyes without a single outfit picture to show for it. Sorry ladies.

Friday night I went out to celebrate my last day at Enterprise oddly enough with people that don't work there anymore either. It was great. We started the night with dinner at Ryleigh's Oyster and followed it up with beer and bar shuffleboard at Don't Know? Tavern. Both amazing places in Federal Hill (Baltimore). SSBF and I don't get down to Baltimore often so this was a nice change of pace for us. Bar shuffleboard was aweosme. Seriously. I want one of those things for my basement.

On Saturday I realized why gardening is considered a hobby. SSBF and I spent the better part of 5 hours slash an entire afternoon working on both the front and back of the house. I spent at least an hour on just pulling up crab grass that was overtaking an area of the garden in the back. We desperately wanted to add some color so we bought some annuals to scatter about. Marigolds for the front and Impatiens for the back.

 |Marigolds|

|Hydrangea|

|Various flowers in the back of the house|

We also laid some mulch down to cover up our icky looking clay soil. It's incredible how different it looks. This week we will be heading to Lowe's to purchase this patio set, then the backyard will be complete!

Finally on Sunday I had resigned myself to cleaning in prepartion for my parents visit next weekend. In an attempt to clean the floor under our sofa I started moving furniture around. You see SSBF and I have never been 100% happy with the layout of our living room. Well, that one innocent little act turned into something completely different. I ended up moving the papazan chair that resided collecting dust in the corner of our living room to the guest bedroom. Which then led to a need to reorganize that. I had been using it as my own personal shoe closet. So after a 2 hour trip to target behold I ended up with the most amazing set up for most of my shoes. The more seasonal ones are resting in an organizer under the day bed.

ahhh, like a dream come true and with each unit costing 12.99 each (3 shown here) it was a rather cheap project.

I love productive weekends.

"times, they are a-changin"

With the onset of the music festival season I've been wanting to channel my inner rocker. I've always appreciated the ease of throwing on a couple of layers, some kick ass accessories, and heading out the door. I wish I could say we were actually heading to a concert, but it was juts a normal Saturday around here. I held a gun to SSBF's head and forced him to the outlet malls so I could do some much needed shopping. I only ended up with four pieces total but I was happy with the discipline I used. From J.Crew I bought a knit blazer that is much more appropriate for early spring then summer but at $26 it was a great purchase for when fall rolls around again.At Gap it was all about summer. I found a romper that rivals the ones I've been eyeing from Urban Outfitters at a fraction of the cost ($31.98). I also found a great pair of high-waisted denim shorts and a light and airy vest to layer on tank tops.

SSBF has been dying to see where I will be working from when I start my job at Under Armour (1 week left at Enterprise!). So later that night we took a drive up to the inner harbor to see the building. It is in this fantastic little area right off the water in a business park. I didn't want to seem like a crazy person taking pictures of my work, but I couldn't resist taking some of the view. I can totally see myself here, everyday for lunch (they have adirondack chairs lining the dock!).

(SSBF is so secretive, he hates when I take pictures)

I'm still finding it hard to believe that in a weeks time I will be working for Under Armour, a premier sports apparel company. I'm so excited about this opportunity. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Even at work people have noticed a change in my personality. I am so much happier knowing that I'm not stuck at Enterprise anymore. I'm not much of a believer in fate, but something brought me to this opportunity. I applied for other jobs in the past to leave Enterprise only to be turned down. If only I had I know that this job was around the corner for me. I'm not even going to try to begin rationalizing how I got here. I'm just happy that I am here. It's going to be a huge change for me and SSBF but I am looking forward to it.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

*Tank, Old Navy

*Vest, Random Kohl's brand

*Shorts, DIYed from a pair of jeans

*Necklace, DIYed see here

[[ post title by Bob Dylan]]