Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to my roommate Alicia!!!

Below is her 21 birthday...doesn't she look excited!?!? I don't know why I can't turn around for a cuter photo...


This year we'll be going to NY for a few days!!!

We'll try to take some better birthday pics this year :)

Ready set...

Sorry...but a fair warning that all of my posts will be about my upcoming escape/trip to NYC for Liza's wedding.

All of these Madewell/Crew outfits scream vacation to me!!

I'm soooo ready to go!! :)

It's Friday

In serious need.

of a vacation.

i think that's what this gal is thinking, as she cocks her head to the side in her adorable hat.


she's thinking..."omg, get me OUT of this friggin office. you people are driving me crazy."

i think she's packed and ready, but could be a tish hung over from last nights' pre-vacation cocktails.

and she's completely chilled out...at her destination...ready to roll.

i know i am. totally looking forward to new york next week for Liza's wedding!!!

all via jcrew's looks.

Macy's ?

Not that I'm knocking Macy's (I don't shop there much)...but have you seen their new bar III line?

Prices aren't visible yet---but if they're comparable to other Macy's prices...I could be shopping there more often! Check out the full look book here!

Modern Art.

Just your modern interpretation of George Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon".

I could use..

one of these.
Don't you have weeks like that?

Ok I'll take 2.

Affordable fashion.

Where do I go? South Africa of course!!! Well, at least that is where I got my market-weaver's bracelets. Madewell is now selling these for only $10. (I have to admit I bought 6 for under $20 in Africa, but who can get there on a whim?)

They are hand made in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa. I bought them at a teeny gift shop in SA at the Waterfront!

This morning..

i would like to drive back home.....

to this apartment view...

put back on my pjs...
and enjoy a cup (or two) of delicious coffee, without a care in the world.

one can dream..

inspired by Anthro

Doesn't this look like a dream world? My favorite shot from the Anthro video campaign shot in India.

morning work outs.

So I work out nearly every morning. (caveat-----with Aunt Anne's funeral and other dramas, I've been less diligent, but am getting back on the horse again, which started yesterday).

Now, let me just say, there are benefits to working out in the morning!!

1. You finish the worst part of your day, right at the beginning.

2. You burn calories all day long.

3. It helps you wake up.

4. You actually did the work out, instead of possibly putting it off.

5. Working out increases mental acuity, so you're more alert throughout the day.

6. Work out in the morning, and be less likely to eat crappy, greasy foods the rest of the day.

I do realize there are some negatives to working out in the morning!!!

1. O-m-g I have to get out of bed at what time?! I get it. It's tough. If you get up the same time every day (I get up at about 5:40), it'll get easier and easier.

2. Getting up early (It deserves two spots).

3. Getting to work later (I get in between 8:30 and 9, which means I work through lunch, or stay later).

4. Sweating for that first hour you get to work. Now I don't think this happens to everyone, but it does to me. My heart rate keeps pumping (plus add in the coffee) and causing me to sweat for a little while.

But seriously...if I leave my work out until the evening, I might as well kiss it goodbye. I'll find a happy hour, or a nap, or an errand to replace it within five seconds. Occasionally I work out in the morning, and then take another class or yoga in the evenings to get me extra tired so I sleep like a baby.

Also...who doesn't love cute work out clothes? Sometimes I splurge on Lululemon work out clothes (I love these pants, these, and these tanks), but Target has my favorite sports bras and tanks.

Things that make me smile today.

1. This jam, sent to me by DailyCandy. I have to get my hands on Miss Eliza.

2. Ava Witherspoon---seriously how adorable is she!? I was reading about them in the U.S. Weekly while enjoying some coffee this am.

3. Let's go ahead and make that #3 on the list...coffee. Coffee gives me that morning jolt I need to open my eyes a little bit wider (even though I endure 60 minutes of work out before it). It also makes my heart race just a bit so I plow through a few hours of work right in the morning.

4. A couple of Tumblrs I've tumbled upon (wah wah). First off-what they hey is a tumblr?! I'm working on figuring that out just yet. Nonetheless, the unofficial JCrew tumblr is fab (appropriately named 770 after their corporate store), as well as this tumblr called cognac and coffee (yes please).

I think that sums up my loves for the day..that is until I start perusing the Internet and that list continues to grow.

DIY Pouch.

My roommate and I really want one of these clutches. But wouldn't it be fun to customize it especially for you!?

Here's the DIY. It's something I might try this weekend if I can squeeze it in.

I'm in the mood to cut costs and find creative (and free or cheap) ways to spruce up the otherwise boring and plain. Are you with me?

neons & neutrals

this who what wear reminded me how much i love...neons and neutrals right now. the subtlety of the neutrals (nude, light coral, cream etc) mixed with the wow-effect of the neons...ah! can't handle it!

pop for play...

or work...

or nice and calm...

is it so wrong to love both!?

less affordable swimwear.

so just ignore the other days' post where i talked about affordable swimwear and step onto the dreamboat with me...

i'm obsessed with this suit.

it is utterly overpriced. and utterly fabulous. funny how those two things usually coincide for anthropologie.

my name sake

That is what Aunt Anne always calls me, her name sake. My dad is an only child. He was raised by his mom (my fabulous, rockin', 84 year old, bingo playing, and jogging grandma), 2 aunts, and his grandmother. Up until yesterday, one of these aunts was still living. Aunt Anne died at 98 years old (her birthday is on Valentine's day, and it couldn't be more appropriate) yesterday morning.

98. YEARS OLD! I realize that means she had lived quite a full life, but the news was still devastating to us all. My grandmother called me and we sobbed on the phone. There's so much we have that is because of Aunt Anne's sacrifices. When everyone was going through school, she quit and went to work to support the family. She helped discipline my unruly father. On top of that, when my sisters and I were growing up, she spent a month at Christmas with us, and we went to visit her 2 weeks out of every summer.

Nearly two years ago was the last time I saw Aunt Anne. Now that we're grown, it's harder to get up there to see her. Here she is below, reuniting with my dad for the first time in probably five years...
Here they are having very deep discussions, as usual. She is the most wise woman you've ever met. She has more life experiences than anyone I know. She could also drink anyone under the table through her 80s :).

One of my cute little cousins wrote this about her. The beatitudes are a set of eight blessings contained in Matthew's gospel.

When Aunt Anne greets you, she always says "God love you, honey!"

Here is where we come from. In the bottom center, my great grandmother Tarooz and my great grandfather Elias. One of the children, my Aunt Maheb, is missing in the photo because she is the oldest, and never came over from Lebanon. At the time, you were only allowed to take one child with you on the boat, and Aunt Anne was a baby (and the second oldest) at the time.

Aunt Anne is the second from the top left. My grandmother is the bottom left, next to Tarooz. From this photo, only my grandmother, Uncle Joe (the man wearing that pimp suit!), and Aunt Lateefa (top right) are living.

Here she is again, notice her love for neon green. I think that's where I got my obsession for neon and bright colors!! My dad said recently that they named us perfectly. My middle sister, Virginia was named after Aunt Gina (top left in the above picture, passed away when I was 4), and they are so similar. I have grown to be so similar to Aunt Anne...always accessorizing, always in bright colors, always cheerful.

God love you, Aunt Anne! You'll be missed, but we'll carry on your legacy.

The search for affordable swimwear.

Several things. 1) I'm tired of spending a fortune on JCrew swimwear. 2) I'm underwhelmed by their offerings this year. 3) Their prices are getting higher and higher, causing you to drop $100+ instead of $60+ on an outfit that is worn only in the water!!

Start: looking for other options.

I've found two great options thus far.

Old navy! Prices starting at $10 and styles are ca-ute!

Land's End! What the what? Look how cute these suits are!! Trendy neon colors, great shapes, and cute patterns!

Have you found any other options you want to share???

Make up your mind!

one..

or two??

one..

or two??

one..

or two??

sometimes it's a really tough decision...

JCrew May catalog

Of course it's adorable. Of course. The current catalog is all about love-and includes best friends, real life couples, and real life kiddos. So presh.

Isn't this totes cute? (the couple, and the totes).

I think she nailed the nerdy/cute look.

Jenna's picks are always so dreamy!

And is it weird that I'm really into her eyebrows?

As well as their eyebrows...