Fashionably Friday

I’m so excited to have a fashion event to tell you about on the blog today!

But first some other tid bits…

* Let’s see, I am finally working on a recipe page!  It’s about damn time, and hope to be done by Monday!

* Saw Hangover 2 last night.  Eh…it was funny but not NEARLY as funny as the first, and also not NEARLY as funny as Bridesmaids!!

* Thankfully the humid 90+ degree weather around here has subsided!  We only have a few window AC’s at my house and we have NOT put them in yet :(  It’s been a sweaty few days.

Smoothies help beat the heat:

• skim milk
• frozen berries
• piece of frozen banana
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 1 packet chocolate amazing meal
• 1T chia seeds

Blend until smooth (or until blender sounds like it’s going to give out…maybe that’s just me)

* Since we’re on a fashionable Friday theme, I suppose an outfit or two is appropriate.

Lightweight dresses are my go-to choice on hot summer days!

Also Instagram makes pictures taken on your phone look so much cooler!!

Dress: Forever 21!
Shell Necklace:  from my grandmother, guarantee she got it at a yard sale
Cuff Bracelet: other grandmother (I inherited a ton of her old funky jewelry)
Sandals:  Greece!  Bought on our honeymoon!

* Adorable pup pictures

 

Ok let’s get to the fashion event.

Wednesday night I was invited to a special Ann Taylor event at the Ames Hotel in Boston that was put on by the Junior League of Boston and Ann Taylor!

I received the invite from my local blog friend Sarah (from Sarah Fit).

The event was to celebrate and spread the word about the brand new store that just opened in the Chestnut Hill Mall! 

It’s a brand new store concept and is supposed to give you a new kind of shopping experience.  I don’t know what the store is like yet, but they had some merchandise to check out at the party and I will say that I found some shoes, jewelry, clothes and sunglasses I am now lusting after!

The Ames Hotel was a fabulous location to host this cocktail party.

The various merchandise items were displayed all around

WANT these earrings!!

There were passed hors d'oeuvres as well as various flat bread pizza’s at the bar

This one is my favorite, it has duck, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and arugula:

I also enjoyed some Sauvignon Blanc

 

  and of course…dessert!

I went for the cream puff, filled with a white and dark chocolate filling

Chocolates…

My outfit for this evening:

    

Hot pink silk top:  LOFT
Black and white eyelet shorts: LOFT
Nude heels: Rampage (Macy’s)
Purse: B. Makowsky

It’s funny how one print or more “stand out” item can draw some attention…I received SO many compliments on those shorts!!  I almost didn’t even buy them! 

We also received great little swag bags on the way out!

Super cute canvas bag contained:

• catalogues
• Ann Taylor coupon (yes!)
• perfume sample
• gorgeous cuff bracelet!!   

 

Thanks to Ann Taylor for the wonderful gift bag!! 

Also a big thanks to Sarah and the Junior League of Boston for the invite…I had a blast!

Coming Home

Well this isn’t about my actual home, where I live with my husband and pup…this is my 2nd, well no make that 3rd home (of course my 2nd home is where I grew up, previously my #1 home :) 

My 3rd home is UNH!  My alma mater, where I spent 4 AWESOME years of my life!  Seriously, I just love it there, I still miss college so much and it makes me so happy when I get to return.

Luckily that’s what Homecoming is for!

I graduated in 2004 (eww that makes me sound so old now), and since then have attended 3 or 4 homecomings.  Up until last weekend I hadn’t been to homecoming since 2007 and I’ve missed it so.

Usually this involves a hotel room for Friday and Saturday night.  You want to stay over Friday because people line up to get into the tailgating area EARLY!!!  And Saturday because you’re going to want a nap between tailgating and whatever you do Saturday night :)

However, now that we have a new member of the family….

…homecoming was now a day trip.  Totally fine by me as the tailgating portion is the best part anyways…unfortunately this means getting to UNH by 7:30/8AM.

Luckily early weekend mornings deserve delicious bagels…French Toast bagel from Bagel World!  Warm and delicious.  I also had an iced pumpkin spice coffee to get me going.

We arrived around 8AM and the line was RIDICULOUS!!  Luckily we made it in but we were at the end of the people who did. 

Oh college, how I’ve missed you and your ridiculousness!

Another thing I found quite hilarious is how we’ve, um, matured.  Check out the spread..

complete with table cloth!

I decided to use the Almond Cream filled scone mix that was in my King Arthur goodie bag to contribute to the group!

Funny that we all got different mixes from King Arthur that day and I ended up with the Almond item…it was fate I tell you. 

These scones had an almondy filling and even an almond glaze!  They looked and tasted so good!

We may have improved on our food selection over the years but other than that we all just wish we were still in college!

Nothing quite like a mimosa at 9AM

And maybe a jello shot or two… what? When in Rome…

And as fast as the food spread was set up, it was easily shoved to the side so we could play flip cup!

Friends…

“you’re a tiger…Grrrr baby grrr!”

Joc and I

So SO happy I wore my rain boots, the rain the few days before made for a MUDDY tailgating field.

Brian and I

The crowd (actually I believe this was a picture of ‘the girl with the way too short skirt on’ haha)

     The boys   

Fun FUN day!!  Can’t wait for next year!

Fergalicious

Got a last minute invite to the Black Eyed Peas concert last night!!  SOOO FUN!!!

I'm pretty sure the only type of concerts I’ve been to in the past are laid back rock show (DMB, Guster….etc), this was my first Hip Hop show and it ROCKED!  Basically a dance party the whole time and the BEP have enough hits to make a whole concert out of them!

We were up in the nosebleeds but who cares!

Then whilst I was out shaking “My Humps” (haha couldn't resist), my BFF Jocelyn talked me into an impromptu week day beach day!!  Of course I wasn’t really playing hooky too much, because I went into work for the morning, but then we headed up to Gloucester for some relaxing time on the beach….best.idea.ever.

On our way up we grabbed coffee and bagel sandwiches from Bagel World.

I love Bagel World…BEST bagels I’ve had around here.  Nice chewy smooth exterior with delicious soft yet still chewy interior.

The star was definitely the Chicken Salad on a Whole Wheat bagel, scooped out, add all veggies.

sandwich heaven.

Other Summer Randomness:

yogurt and berries :)

These were the berries from the farmers market, plus some wild blueberries I picked up from a little shop in Cambridge. 

teeny tiny strawberries!   

TJ’s non-fat Greek yogurt, berries, sliced almonds

Then we have a summer dinner I made for my mom who came over this past weekend…

Wild Alaskan Salmon

• grilled in foil with:
• olive oil
• lemon slices
• garlic
• fresh parsley
• salt & pepper

Corn Salad

• 2 ears of fresh corn, cut off cob
• In medium skillet heat:
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 tsp olive oil
• add sliced sweet white/yellow onion
• after 4-5 min add corn
• and 1 sliced zucchini
• salt and pepper
• serve over salad of:
• Baby Spinach and whatever else you’d like!

This corn lately has been RIDICULOUSLY sweet!

Also, clearly pulled one of my carrot plants too soon…

Carrot Nubs.  And that’s why I call the garden a “learning experience”

So far the garden stars are: Basil, Cucumber, Summer Squash, cherry tomatoes, mesclun lettuce, Mint, chives, parsley, sage, oregano, thyme

Garden fails: snap peas, dill, peppers, cilantro (used to be good, now it’s done)

Wait and see:  I thought Zucchini was going to be a fail, but this week we’ve started sprouting!!  The bigger tomatoes are coming, slowly. 

Our first Beefsteak next to a “nub”

So glad tomorrow's Thursday!  Almost time for the weekend :)

My little cousin’s bday party is Saturday, anyone have a great idea for a gift for a 5 year old boy???