Weekending

Happy Friday readers!

It's been a busy, long week over here!

I've been wanting to recap our weekend all week, and now that the new weekend is here, I guess it's as good a time as any!

Last weekend was a fun one for the books! The highlight of the weekend was probably puppy-sitting Bryce's parents new pup, Beau! He is the cutest, sweetest little yellow lab and it makes me so excited for when we will have a lab puppy of our own! We are currently on the list for a litter that should be born in the next few weeks. A few people are ahead of us, and we want a black female, so fingers crossed that it all works out!

Side note: I have been living in this T. Marie necklace I bought while in Charleston. 

Tiffany, the designer behind the fabulous necklace is an Atlanta native and was a fellow Southern C Summit attendee! Also, these coral jeans I bought last summer in NYC are a wardrobe staple (I wear them about once a week!) and are currently WAY marked down, here!

After feeding and playing with Beau for a bit, we headed down to the newly opened Quirk Hotel Rooftop to celebrate our friend Greylan's birthday!

The views of the city were absolutely incredible, and the rooftop had a bit of a beachy, cool vibe! Most of us in the group are Richmond natives and kept saying "I don't feel like I'm in Richmond!" We've seen our city grown and change a lot in these last few years! 

I sipped on a couple of Hummingbird cocktails, which I would highly recommend, and then we, with most of the group, headed next door for a delicious dinner at Graffiato.

Saturday  morning we were up with Beau bright and early and headed to the South of the James Farmers Market! It was our first visit since this fall, and I was excited to see that the market has expanded this year!

Beau was a trooper his first time at the  market and it was so fun showing him off! We picked up some yummy local arugula, mushrooms, and honey! I also grabbed some pretty flowers to take to my mom for her birthday. 

Finally, we ate a quick bite before heading home! We tried out the Southern Charm BBQ stand, and were not disappointed! This BBQ bowl with smoked cheddar grits was on point! We also couldn't resist sharing a Mrs. Yoder's donut...they are our favorite of all Richmond donuts! Local friends, they now have TWO food trucks at the market, making the donut line much more bearable!

After the market, we got to work in the kitchen! My mom's birthday was on the 15th and we were headed to my parents that evening to celebrate. I had offered to bring both a salad and cake. I fixed my go-to arugula and quinoa salad (recipe here) and tried a new cake recipe! It was a hit, and I will be sharing soon!

I clearly still need a little practice when it comes to the chocolate ganache icing, but, nobody complained about that yummy pool of chocolate!

Sunday was low-key. We took the pooch for a walk, I got a run in, and we did lots of yard work! Our front bushes were in dire straits and Bryce's mom was nice enough to gift us some boxwoods! We dug out the old bushes, weeded the beds, and planted 6 cute little boxwoods! After such a productive morning, we wound down with a yummy snack and some House of Cards!

And now another weekend...and birthday...is here! Tomorrow is Bryce's mom's birthday! We are having she and his stepdad over for an al fresco dinner tonight to celebrate! Rain is in the forecast for the rest of the weekend, but I'm hoping it will give us an excuse to both relax and get some things done inside around the house!

What have you been doing lately on the weekends?

Do you have any fun plans this weekend?

Have a great weekend!

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Kentucky Derby Bars

Happy Thursday readers!

This week has been a whirlwind, and I am counting down the days until Sunday when I can relax!

Between trying to get back in the groove from my Charleston trip, planning to take a Cinco de Mayo themed dinner to friends who just had a baby tonight, and being in my cousin's wedding (plus providing bridesmaids' brunch the morning of) this weekend, my head feels like it's going to spin off!

Thanks to all the wonderful comments, emails, and texts responding to my "Defining My Niche" post on Tuesday. It seems that wholeheartedly for many of us, lifestyle is a niche...and, it's what we love most in the blog world.

Can y'all believe that we are already nearly a week into May? Not to mention, Kentucky Derby weekend is here!

We will not be watching this year, as my cousin's wedding will be filling that time, but last year we attended a Kentucky Derby party hosted by one of my book club friends and her husband.

I took Kentucky Derby Bars with me and they were a huge hit. While they did not photograph well, trust me they were good! I am excited to be sharing the recipe with you today!

Kentucky Derby Bars (Recipe credit here)
Serves 18-20

Ingredients
For the cookie crust:
2.5 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp water
2 sticks butter, softened
1/4 C granulated sugar
3/4 C brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 C chocolate chips

For the filling:
1.5 sticks (12 tbs) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
3 eggs
3/4 C all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
3 tbs bourbon
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 C chocolate chips
1 C whole pecans

For the bourbon sauce:
1/4 C water
1/2 C brown sugar, packed
1/2 C heavy cream
2 tbs bourbon
1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a 9x13" baking dish.

To make the cookie crust, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy. Add eggs. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add water and beat to combine.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Spread evenly into greased baking dish and bake 10-12 minutes.

While the crust bakes, make the filling. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, flour, salt, and bourbon and continue to mix until well combined.

Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans.

Pour batter over the cookie crust.

Bake until filling is set and the top is light golden brown, about 45 minutes. (If top starts to get brown, cover it with foil.)

Let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.

While the bars cool, make the bourbon sauce. (I had to make Bryce do this step, because bourbon makes me gag!) Whisk together the heavy cream, bourbon, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Combine the brown sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil, watch closely and whisk until the mixture starts to smell like caramel and turn a golden color, and then to a light brown (approximately 5-6 minutes).

When you see that it has started to turn brown, slowly pour in the heavy cream mixture, whisking constantly and quickly.

Continue to heat over medium-high until mixture has thickened and is a light caramel color (approximately 5 minutes). Remove from heat.

Cut the bars and drizzle bourbon sauce.

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Do you have Derby plans?

What is your favorite Kentucky fare?

Have a great day!

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Five on Friday

Happy Friday readers!

Can you believe May is practically here!?

I hate that April has been a bit of a slow blogging month for me. I am ready for and have high hopes for May!

Today I'm sharing 5 random tidbits for the Five on Friday.

ONE

The Tory Burch Spring Event is here!!!!

My patience has finally paid off...Tory Burch's big spring sale is here! She is offering up to 30% just about everything with code BLOOM. I've known that she usually hosts this sale in April, and often launches it on a Thursday so I have been monitoring my inbox like a hawk! Yesterday my dreams came true and I was finally able to order the much coveted Lexington Wedge! They've already are shipped and are due to arrive on Monday...I can't wait!

And if I wasn't on a budget, I would certainly splurge on more items during the sale. Like these...

and these...

I'm not always a biggest fan of Tory clothing, but she's killing it this season, right? And if I had my bikini bod in shape, I'd be splurging on some swimwear; like these...

And I of course, always swoon over her handbags. Like these...

Have you shopped the sale yet? What did you score?

TWO

Southern....C....Summit!

via

I can't believe that this time next week, the Southern C Summit and my trip to Charleston will be wrapping up. I don't know what I'm most excited for...the amazing swag bag; drool-worthy welcome brunch; poolside yoga; or books, bites, and sips, just to name a few! Be sure you follow along on Instagram to join me in Summit adventures!

THREE

Chicken Balti Al Fresco

Those that follow on Instagram saw that last night Bryce and I had the first al fresco meal on our patio for the season! It was a gorgeous night and a real treat after Bryce's travels earlier in the week. What made it even better was that Bryce took all the initiative on dinner...he meal planned, shopped, and cooked. I was in heaven! We tried a new recipe Bryce had seen on the show Mind of a Chef and it did not disappoint. You can find the Chicken Balti recipe here.

FOUR

La Croix Cocktails...yes, please!

I've shared my love of La Croix, particularly coconut on social media before. Those of you that follow along on Facebook particularly liked this link that I shared. That being said, I figured I'd share on here, as well: "9 Cocktails Made with LaCroix, a Sparkling Water with a Cult Following." One of my go-tos at home, is simply Coconut La Croix with a lime wedge (or two!) and vodka!

FIVE

Seeking Dry Shampoo Recs!

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Cracking up over this eCard right now! I got my hair done early last week and talked to my hair dresser a lot about the appropriate frequency for washing hair. I have fine hair that tends to get oily pretty fast and never quite understood how people could go days between washes. She explained that it's really about training your scalp for less washes. When you shampoo every day, it dries your scalp out, and in turn you produce more oil. I'm on week two of washing my hair every 2-3 days and it's going okay so far. I use baby powder as dry shampoo as necessary, but am thinking I may  need something better, particularly for day 3. Any recommendations?

What's been on your mind lately?

Have a great weekend!

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Little White Dresses

A sleepy Monday over here, my friends!

Every so often I battle insomnia and last night happened to be one of those nights. I am literally running on fumes today as I got less than 2 hours sleep last night...not a good way to start the week!

This weekend Anna, my best friend from UVA, came into town. She is getting married in September and was in town from New York City to attend to wedding tasks, but she set aside some time for me on Friday night. Prior to her moving up north, we saw each other every few months, and now we're lucky to get in one or maybe two good, long visits a year. That being said, time with her is cherished! I picked her up from the airport on Friday night and we headed to a local favorite, Stella's. We were the last ones to leave the restaurant and then made our way to her brother's where she was staying. We opened a bottle of wine and parked ourselves on his porch swing, talking into the wee hours of the night. I came home so happy and relaxed from my visit with her.

During our conversation, she gave me the task of helping her to find a rehearsal dinner dress. I've never been known to turn down shopping and got right to it!

 A little white dress is a staple in every Southern lady's closet. And regardless of whether you're a bride or not, it's so fun to pull out crisp, white dresses this time of year, so I decided to share my finds with you.

Anna's rehearsal dinner will be at a rustic location on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She is giving her fiance, Charlie, the reins in terms of choosing a menu for the night. It's looking like a good old fashioned Southern barbecue might be in the cards. That being said, I immediately knew an easy sundress would be in order for this laid back night.

Addy Eyelet Shift Dress

Moon River Embroidered Shift Dress

(Anna, this dress screams you!)

Whisper Light Double Strap Dress

Broderie Off Shoulder Sundress

Starla Lace Dress with Capelet

(this is my personal favorite!)

Laced Garden Shift

Hale Eyelet Dress

Textured Floral Body-Con Dress

Strapless Lace Fit & Flare Dress

Ruffle Dress with Lace Up Back Detail

Do you own a little white dress?

Have a great day!

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Spring Wish List: Wants

Happy Thursday friends!

This week has been a doozy! To say I am ready for Friday would be an understatement.

Today I am rounding out my Spring Wish List, by sharing the fashion items that I want. You can read about my Spring needs here.

New Lilly

I always like to pick up a few new Lilly pieces this time of year, and especially have my eye on the Gretch Skort Romper above! I have 2 other Lilly rompers and live in them all summer, so I think this would be a great addition to my closet! I also think both the Iona Lace Shell and the Bailey Sleeveless Top would be great for work and play; and I can never get enough of my favorite shorts, the Callahans.

Mint Jeans

I have a pair of coral J. Brand jeans (similar) that I bought last summer and live in! I think colored denim is so fun and want to add a pair of mint jeans to my collection next. I saw these at Nordstrom recently and really liked them! Not to mention they're available in 9 different colors to fill all your colored denim desires!

Slim Crossbody Bag

I have 2 crossbody bags currently, but both are on the larger side. With summertime coming, I know I'm going to want to be "hands free" at upcoming events, and want a crossbody bag that isn't bulky. At the top of my list is the Gigi NY Chelsea Crossbody in Poppy! I love that the strap can also be removed and it can be carried as a clutch! 

So there you have it, the top 3 items on my spring wish list that are purely wants. I can't guarantee that this list won't expand...particularly when I'm in Charleston in just two weeks! I'm sure I'll be seeing wants around every corner!

What's on your current wish list?

Have a great day!

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Weekend Recap

Happy Monday readers!

Did y'all have a nice weekend?

Ours was great and I'm happy to share it with you today.

Once the weather warms up, I find that the weekends go by so much faster because we spend more time out and about rather than cooped up inside.

My weekend kicked off with an April Fool's Day Tea Party and Luncheon that my mom hosted for my grandmother. My aunts and cousin Margeaux were there. I couldn't stay as long as everyone else, because I had to get back to work, but it was nice to get some family time in!

After work I headed home and Bryce and I chilled for a little bit. We started watching Call the Midwife on Thursday night at the recommendation of a few coworkers and are hooked. We sipped on a beer and enjoyed an episode. On a side note, I mentioned on Instagram Bryce is thrilled to be drinking beer with me these days. I am not a beer fan, but have discovered that I love sour beers! My favorite so far is Duchesse De Bourgogne.

After an episode, we got ourselves in gear and headed to a nearby restaurant Postbellum for dinner. They have a rooftop bar and the weather was too gorgeous to not be outside. I ordered the Romaine Salad that was topped with crispy brussel sprouts, fingerling potatoes, and nuts. It was delicious! Bryce got the Cabot Cheddar Burger which was equally good! We weren't too far from Shyndigz, a dessert bar I've been dying to try. When it first opened it was walking distance from our house, but we never got around to visiting. Being so close by on Friday  night, I wasn't going to let the opportunity pass by. That being said, we were still too full to think about dessert, so we decided to do a little bar hopping. We walked to nearby Rancho T and sipped on a cocktail there. I feel like I am constantly saying this, but we have been going, going, going lately so it was so nice to have some quality time and conversation just the two of us on Friday  night! After Rancho T we made our way toward Shyndigz which is on the same block as the cool new hot spot, District 5. We pretty much never "go out" anymore, but I still wanted to check it out. It was only about 9:30, so we were able to get 2 spots right at the swanky bar. I got the Peach & Razz Margarita. The bartender warned me that it was sweet and she was not lying! It was very good, but took me a while to drink!

After District 5, we finally made our way to Shyndigz and it did not disappoint! We ordered the chocolate peanut butter cake and the key lime pie. They were both amazingly delicious, not to mention huge. Needless, to say I felt a little jittery on the ride home. Definitely had a sugar high!

Saturday morning we slept in and then I headed to my cousin's bridal shower. I wore this dress that arrived on the doorstep just in the nick of time Saturday morning. It is currently 40% off with code TICKTOCK and is a great piece that can be worn for work or play!

This necklace that my cousin Margeaux gave me as a surprise "surcie" paired with it perfectly!

I was charged with the task of making her ribbon bouquet!

I finished the bouquet when I got home with the help of scissors and glue! My mom had the great idea of incorporating these paper flowers that were used as decor and cupcake toppers at the shower and I thought they aded the perfect finishing touch.

Bryce was fishing with friends when I got home, so I had made plans with my friend Amanda. We went for a walk through the neighborhood and to a nearby Starbucks. It was a nice chance to get some exercise and girl time in one! That evening we headed to a friends for dinner. It was organized by Bryce and some of his hunting buddies and I have enjoyed getting to know their wives better over the last few months. We had an amazing steak dinner and even better company!

Sunday we went to brunch and the grocery store before getting the house ready for my Ronald McDonald House Red Shoe Crew meeting. The 2nd annual Red Shoe BBQ is coming up soon on April 29 so this was our last meeting together before the event. Richmond friends, you can get your tickets here!

I kept things simple, putting out roasted garlic and tomato basil hummus, pimiento cheese, salami, and marcona almonds. The store didn't seem to carry my normal pita chips, so I got these instead and they were really good!

The weather was pretty enough to open up the French doors and it was so nice to have the fresh air in the house! When Bryce came home, we sat at the table and munched on the spread. I have a feeling we'll be opening these doors up a lot more frequently in the coming months!

I also couldn't resist snapping a few pics of the flowers blooming in our front yard. Everything has really come alive! Next to bloom will be our irises and then it's peony and hydrangea time! I can't wait!

Finally, last night we watched a little more of Call the Midwife and went to bed early. 

What did you do this weekend?

Have a great day!

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Spring Wish List: Needs

Happy Thursday friends!

I've mentioned it a lot lately, but I am giddy for spring...and spring shopping! After very little shopping all fall and winter, I am dying for some fun bright, new pieces for the warmer weather.

That being said, between now having a car payment, being a bridesmaid in two upcoming weddings, and heading to the Southern C Summit next month, I am definitely having to stick to a budget! I decided to divide my spring wish list this year into two categories: Needs & Wants. This way I can prioritize my shopping and stick to a budget! Today I am sharing my Spring Needs with you!

NEEDS

New Tan Wedges

Y'all know I've been dreaming about these Tory Burch wedges for over a year now. I'm hoping for a Friends & Family sale in April, but I have found 2 similar pairs, at much lower, price points, too (here and here). I am debating if I should get one of those pairs instead? If I do that, I'll be able to justify buying something (or maybe even a few things) off my wants list. What do y'all think?

Light Blazer

Blazers have never really been my thing. I love them on others, but feel like they just never quite work on my body. I have a black blazer that I think I've only worn once all fall and winter. That being said, with warmer temperatures coming, I have a feeling I'll be wearing sleeveless dresses more frequently, and having a great light blazer will be necessary to wear with those dresses for important meetings, or in cold spaces! I am really loving some of J. Crew's sleek options, particularly this one. I think they would make for a more flattering fit on me. 

New Nude Heels

I've had my current nude heels for over 5 years now, and it's safe to say, they've seen better days! My current pair are Franco Sarto with a round toe, slight platform, and matte leather. I love them and really like this similar Franco Sarto pair! I bought mine for a bargain at Marshall's. I'll likely look there again, but have found some other great pairs online, in case their selection isn't up to par. AND, if I'm really going to call this a "wish" list, I'll admit that the L.K. Bennetts are the pair I really want!

What are your current wardrobe needs?

Have you done any spring shopping lately?

I'll have a more fun wish list post coming soon with my spring wants!

Have a great day!