Reevaluating Restaurants

Yesterday I had one of those days that just worked perfectly.  I was up and going early enough in the morning to make myself a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, which is always a great way to start off.  I was busy all day with work and errands, but I still managed to fit in two leisurely meals with family and friends.  That means all I put into my belly that I made in my kitchen was one delicious glass of OJ.

I adore eating out.  Good food, good company, and I don't have to cook or clean - what else could be better?  The only thing I don't love is when I see the mouthwatering descriptions of the dishes on the menu, I wind up wanting one of everything and eating more unhealthy food than I intended.  I swear that the bread basket in front of me is the devil in carbohydrate form.  

To avoid the inevitable guilt and an extra hour on the treadmill the next day, when I make plans to meet someone for a meal, I look at the menu online before I go to the restaurant.  What would I do without modern technology?  Reading through the the menu prior to the meal allows me to evaluate the nutritional value of the dishes instead of simply giving into my weak willpower.  My best friend is leaving tomorrow for a summer internship in LA, so we met for the Last Brunch at a restaurant I never tried before, Peach Valley.

I chose the California Omelet as an egg white omelet with broccoli instead of red onions and asked for them to put some fresh avocado on top.  Instead of ordering the bread option and breakfast potatoes that come with all omelets, I chose a cup of fruit instead.  I am most definitely one of those customers all servers despise because I can never order the dish as it is described on the menu.  However, the omelet my way was delicious, and I was very happy with my choice of seasonal fruit instead of the tempting fried goodness when I went dress shopping after brunch.  

California Omelet with some minor changes, Peach Valley

For dinner I met my mom and grandmother at Mildred's Big City Food, one of my grandma's favorite restaurants.  Mildred's is one of those lovely establishments with white tablecloths and cloth napkins - not exactly the kind I frequent while away at college, so it was a welcome change.  As usual I looked at the menu the night before and chose the salad I wanted, but when I was in the restaurant I decided to add an order of strawberry gazpacho soup, which was cool, light, and spiced to perfection.  Gazpacho is a family favorite, but I never tried it with a strawberry base before, and I highly recommend it.  You can find Martha Stewart's recipe for strawberry gazpacho here.  You're in for a treat!

Strawberry Gazpacho, Mildred's Big City Food

Bleu Cheese Salad (with spiced walnuts and dried fruit), Mildred's Big City Food

I hope you and yours have a wonderful weekend!  If eating out is on your schedule, try looking at the menu before you go to the restaurant, and you'll thank yourself (and me!) later.

Hump Day

Happy Hump Day to me!  To ensure I didn't get bogged down in the humdrum nature that earns Wednesday its notorious nickname, I indulged in some online shopping and added to my vast boot collection.  I know that seems crazy since it is so hot here in central Florida that I wouldn't consider wearing anything but some form of sandal when I face the heat and step out of the air conditioning.  However, I like to stock up on seasonal staples for the fall and winter during the summer because they are often on considerable sales.  Nothing too trendy, just the essential boot or solid coat or sweater.  Keep it classic so that by the time you can feel a chill in the air the pattern or shape isn't already out of style. 

London Fog Heritage Raglan Sleeve Trench Coat with Detachable Liner $178.00  $106.80 (40% off) from Nordstrom here

Vince Chunky Knit Sweater $245.00 $146.98 (40% off) from Nordstrom here

Since I go to college in St. Louis, I have many pairs of boots.  Riding boots, leather boots, wedged boots, heeled boots, black boots, brown boots, grey boots, Steve Madden boots, Hunter boots, suede boots, cowboy boots, ankle boots, and yes, even $10 canary yellow rain boots from Walmart I bought for Dayglow, which is a concert where the main attraction is having colorful paint thrown on you - a sticky, messy, and glorious experience.  My "Dayglow boots" as I dubbed them resemble a toddler's splatter painting, but they actually turned out so cool and funky that I kept them for a future music festival or themed party.

I am a shoe lover on a college budget, so naturally I am a devoted shopper at DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse).  I have bought many a pair of extremely expensive shoes for highly discounted prices at DSW.  I am a DSW Rewards Member as well, and unlike the hundreds of other rewards and points memberships I hold, DSW actually delivers.  Two days ago I received a $20 coupon in the mail that read "Where have you been?"  I had not shopped at DSW in a while, but this coupon got my attention and I immediately made a beeline for my laptop.  Clever marketing technique, no?  With the already discounted DSW price, my $20 coupon, and free shipping (on all orders of $35 or more for DSW Rewards Members), I paid a grand total of $59.94 for a pair of grey Coconuts Tennessee boots originally priced at $275.00.  See them on DSW's website here.

Today's Inspiration

God Bless America

For most Americans, Memorial Days marks the beginning of the summer season - long, hot days filled with the beach, bathing suits, and barbecues followed by beautiful, starry nights.  It is also finally socially acceptable to go out in public in all of the white clothes you had to resist wearing since last Labor Day.  

However, we do have to remind ourselves that Memorial Day is about more than having a day off from school and work. My grandfather served in the US Navy, and thankfully he came home safely and lived a long, happy life. He married his high school sweetheart, and they had 4 children and 12 grandchildren (I'm #11).  Below, you can see Grandpa Bill looking dashing in his Navy whites; it's no wonder my grandmother fell in love with him.  Almost 70 years later, the original black and white photograph still hangs on her refrigerator.  

I think of Memorial Day as a day I should forget all of my comparatively trivial problems and truly appreciate the sacrifice the military makes for all Americans.  For some people Memorial Day comes every single day of the year, and we should remember the fallen heroes who never come home.

My grandmother and grandfather, married and in love for 60 years

"Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure."

                                                       -President Abraham Lincoln 

Happy Memorial Day!

Fruit, Flowers, & Fashion

Feast your eyes and treat your taste buds as you salivate over some delicious fruit, beautiful flowers, and flawless fashion.

Strawberries and blueberries and raspberries and blackberries, oh my!  I want to pledge allegiance to berries and nail art galore this summer.  I took the photo on the left at my favorite farmer's market, and I have to admit that mouthwatering red and blue summer fruits make me that much more thankful for this wonderful country as Independence Day rolls around the corner.  Now I have to let you in on a little secret - the Ciate Caviar Manicure Kit in Red, White, & Blue pictured on the right was actually introduced for the summer Olympic games of 2012 that were held in Great Britain, but it's my manicure of choice anyways for this Fourth of July.  Shhhh, no one ever has to know.

Red, white, blue's in the sky

Summer's in the air and

Baby, heaven's in your eyes

                                                        -Lana Del Ray, "National Anthem"

Ah, the very pink of perfection.  From freshly washed flowers to delicate designer dresses, I have a weak spot for anything and everything pink.  The Diane von Furstenberg 'Machava' Cutout Shift Dress from Nordstrom for $325 shown on the left can be found here, and it is perfect for a dressy brunch or an outdoor event.  Pair it with a neutral blazer and kitten heels and it could even be office appropo!

Who knew palm trees could spruce up both Sunday brunch and the classic pant and blouse combo?  The palm tree fruit platter is a super easy way to get creative and make it look like you cut fruit for a living.  All you need are kiwis, bananas, and either clementines or blueberries, depending on whether you want to illustrate the sand or the sea.  The pants suit on the right can be found on Mickey's Girl's blog - a trendy and generally inexpensive online boutique I adore.

Step into the pretty little patch of dandelions on my neighborhood's golf course that I captured on camera and make a wish!  I'll tell you my wish if you tell me yours...I wish for the Sanctuary Braided Belt Lace Trim Dress from Nordstrom pictured on the left found here!  After all it's on sale right now, down 40% from $148.00 to $88.80.  It's perfect over a bathing suit or paired with sandals or booties for a casual summer look.

My favorite summer fruit is watermelon, and my favorite summer item of clothing is a bikini, obviously.  How else am I supposed to regain the tan all my Northern friends think I was blessed with at birth?  People from Florida are pasty in the winter too, folks!  But we glow in the summer because everyone knows shirts and shoes are not required when the sun's shining during the glorious months between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  So give me a slice of Lilly Pulitzer's Boardwalk Bikini Top pictured on the left!  You can find it here for $68, and all of Lilly's swimwear is mix-and-match and available in many different patterns.  

Believe me, I love a big bouquet of red roses just as much as the next girl (even if the giver is my dear old dad).  But there's something about wildflowers that gets me every time.  Wildflowers are so colorful and beautiful when they ripple with the wind, and I always stuck them behind my ear and gave them to my mom as presents when I was little, so I guess I'm nostalgic.  I promise that you will relive the carefree giddiness left behind in your childhood if you put on the V&K Studio Balloon Dress pictured on the left ($285), make a wreath of wildflowers for your hair, and run barefoot through a meadow.  And if you can't fit frolicking into your busy schedule, wear the dress and walk briskly through the parking lot on your way to work or school - same effect guaranteed.

Let me list some of the many health benefits of grapefruit: it curbs hunger, helps lower "bad" LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides, boosts metabolism which can help you drop a few pounds, and firms skins by helping produce healthy collagen.  So cut a ripe one in half and take a big bite, and you can thank me later.  If you want to try a homemade exfoliating grapefruit face wash, you can find directions here (a super simple DIY - tested and loved by yours truly).  Now let me list some of the many fashion benefits of the Mara Hoffman Printed Sleeveless Column Shift Dress pictured on the right: it can easily be dressed up or down, the vibrant color looks wonderful with every skin tone, it looks great paired with flat sandals, heels, or wedges, the slit neck encourages you to accessorize with one of your favorite chunky necklaces, and the funky pattern is perfect for summer.  You can buy this dress from Bloomingdale's for $299 here.

I have been crazy about cherry blossoms ever since I visited the Jefferson Memorial during my fifth grade Safety Patrol field trip to Washington D.C. way back in the day.  While all the other kids were taking selfies together, I was exercising my youthful photography skills on the blossoming cherry trees...I had friends, I promise!  Not only am I a sucker for their exquisite shade of the palest of pinks, but their potent fragrance is memorable enough to have an entire line of products named after them at Bath and Body Works.  The Roland Mouret Piora Cross-Back Sheath Dress in Light Pink for $2,100 from Neiman Marcus pictured on the left can be found here.  Paired with nude pumps, this sleek feminine look is classic and striking.

Spotlight on Vogue

For all of you who worship Vogue as much as I do, you will love the feature "In Bloom: Floral Arrangements Inspired by the Spring Shows" by Katherine Bernard and Rebecca Stadlen.  Vogue asked florists to create arrangements inspired by a look from the spring collections.  Read the article here!

Photo courtesy of vogue.com

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them."

                                                 -Henri Matisse

Color Them Wonderful

Pretty in Pink

Clockwise from top right:

1. butter LONDON, Teddy Girl Nail Lacquer, $15.00

2. Kelly Wearstler, Rose Quartz Point Necklace, $395.00 $198.00

3. Victoria's Secret, Strappy Add-2-Cups Push-Up Halter Top, $58.50 $43.50 with Strappy String Bottom, $66.50 $49.50

4. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." -William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Red Red Wine

From left to right:

1. Whole Foods, Organic raspberries, $5.99

2. Christian Louboutin, Decollete 554 Strass 100 mm, $3,395.00

3. Walgreens, Revlon Super Lustrous-Creme Lipstick Love That Red, $7.99

Mellow Yellow

From left to right:  

1. DVF, Barbie Dress in Limoncello, $325.00

2. "May your life be like a wildflower, growing growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day."

3. Lemon bars - the most indulgent summer dessert!  For a recipe click here.

Orange you glad?

Clockwise from top right:
1.. John Moran Florida Nature Photography, Early Bird
2. Chocolate covered orange peels - click here for a recipe from Whisks and Whimsy, a baking blog.
3. Christina Hendricks, Actress: Mad Men, Joan Holloway (voted Best Looking American Woman by Esquire Magazine in 2010)

Summertime Blues

Clockwise from top right:

1. Tiffany Blue Box (the contents of which are every woman's dream)

2. The Large Blue, Phengaris arion

3. Etsy, 1930's Vintage Czech Perfume Bottle, $76.00

4. "Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere, got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair, only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair." -Zac Brown Band, Knee Deep

The Grass is Always Greener

Clockwise from top right:

1. "A single green light, minute and faraway..." -F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1
2. Roger Vivier, Shopping Belle Toujours, Apple Green, $1,632
3. Afghan Girl photographed by Steve McCurry for National Geographic in a refugee camp in Pakistan in 1983 during Afghanistan's bloody civil war between the Soviet Union.  Her piercing green eyes made the photo famous and earned it the honor of being selected as one of National Geographic's 100 Best Photographs.  It is one of the most widely reproduced photographs in the world.
4. Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan.  This book contains sixty-four straight-forward, memorable rules for everyday healthy eating.  I read it in an hour, and it completely transformed my thinking about nutrition - a must-read for everyone, even if you're not a foodie or health nut!  Purchase from Amazon here.

The Color Purple

From left to right:
1. Amethyst Geode (my February birthstone!)
2. Lulu Lemon, In the Flow Crop, Power Purple, $78.00.  The best workout gear for any level of activity, available in many more styles and colors!
3. Herve Leger, Blake Lively Herve Leger Bandage Dress, $1,050.00 $279.00

I Can Sing A Rainbow

Clockwise from top right:

1. Romero Britto, Looking Into The Future (I have a Britto print in my hallway!)

2. Ladurée Macarons - a simply divine treat

3. DANNIJO, Kiss Kiss Me Arm Party, $427.00

4. Fruit salad, the classic summertime staple.  Wash, cut, throw in a bowl, and enjoy the sweetness nature has to offer.  The more colorful your fruit salad, the more nutritious (and the more delicious!)

Pray for Oklahoma

I am brokenhearted for the people of Oklahoma and sending prayers, love, and well-wishes their way.

Sweet Summertime

Ahhhh, summer.  Time to don colorful bathing suits, lather on that SPF 30+, and dip your toes in the water.  For three sweet months Florida girls embrace the quote "Salt in the air, sand in my hair," and every single one of us has made these eight beloved words our Facebook status at least once during our teenage years.

There's no denying the fact that sunshine, sand, and water bring out the best in everyone.  Smiles and laughter abound, skin turns tan, and hearts grow light.  But as a college student the real world calls, and summers become a time to beef up your resume and line up internships, jobs, and extra classes.  So I booked a few weekend beach getaways into my busy schedule to satisfy my eternal summertime yearnings, and I hope all of you also have an opportunity to take off your cover up, close your eyes, jam out to your summer playlist, and relax at the water's edge. 

It's a smile, it's a kiss

It's a sip of wine, it's summertime

Sweet summertime

-Kenny Chesney, "Summertime"

"Palm trees, ocean breeze, salty air, sun kissed hair.  That endless summer, take me there."

Kiss me hard before you go,

Summertime sadness

-Lana Del Ray, "Summertime Sadness"

Happy summer 2013 from yours truly!  I wish you a sweet season filled with sunny days and long, unforgettable nights.  

My sister, Sunny, and me at the beach in 2013

Selfie Time

I am going to dive right back into the blogosphere with one of the most beloved (and also most hated) types of photography that has taken the world of social networking by storm...selfies!

Celebrities (and plenty of us lowly plebs as well) have caused quite a stir with choice "selfies" posted on social networks such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  "Selfie" was Urban Dictionary's Word of the Day on October 12, 2012.  

selfie (n.)

"A picture taken of yourself that is planned to be uploaded to Facebook, Myspace, or any other sort of social networking website.  You can usually see the person's arm holding out the camera in which case you can clearly tell that this person does not have any friends to take pictures of them so they resort to Myspace to find internet friends and post pictures of themselves, taken by themselves.  A selfie is usually accompanied by a kissy face or the individual looking in a direction that is not toward the camera."

However, I now present you with the best selfie ever taken - a true gift to humankind, featuring Meryl Streep and Hillary Clinton.

The Huffington Post