Quick Trip to Boston
Posted on February 9th, 2016
If you thought it was strange for us to go to Boston on a non-holiday weekend in February, I don’t blame you– but I promise there is a good explanation!
Friday night was the opening of the Hasty Pudding’s newest show. The Hasty Pudding is both a social club and the country’s oldest theater company. It also happens to be a drag show– twelve men on stage, but six of them are playing women. Ian had the honor of writing their musicals the past two years with two of his roommates/now groomsmen (I know, he’s kind of a big deal), but it was so great to be back just for fun with so many alumni.
Their opening night is a black tie spectacle that also features a celebrity honoree as their “Man of the Year.” The Man of the Year is roasted, participates in a skit about which they know nothing about in advance, and receives a golden pudding pot. We had enjoyed events with Neil Patrick Harris and Chris Pratt the past two years, but this year we enjoyed…
Joseph Gordon Levitt! Who, in this particular photo, is doing a Seth Rogan impression while wearing remnants of a Robin costume from earlier in the skit. He also voluntarily took off his pants at some point; I honestly can’t remember why. It’s fine.
But let’s back up. Want to know why I look cuter than usual in Friday night photos?
I got my first blow out! I knew we would have time to kill on Friday afternoon, and I definitely knew I would need a little pampering after the red eye, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to head to Drybar off Newbury Street.
And the champagne? Yes, please. The only difficulty was dodging all the busy Friday afternoon Newbury Street shopping traffic.
Just kidding. I meant “protecting my hair from the crazy swirling snow.”
Back to the weekend. On Saturday, we had brunch with family and I went with my godmother to see the most incredible production of Pippin at the Boston Opera House— if you’re in the area and can see it in the coming days, you must!!
But then a small wrinkle… Because of our schedule, Ian kindly brought my Saturday night party clothes/makeup/etc. from our Air BnB to Harvard. Except… he forgot the one really important part? The dress!!!!
Mint Julep to the rescue! Always my favorite boutique in Harvard Square. By some miracle they were having a fantastic sale, so I scooped up this Julie Brown dress at a great price! I like it better than the dress I was planning to wear. Hopefully Ian will forget my clothes more often 😉
We had dinner and drinks with friends, and then went to another party at the clubhouse before our very early Sunday morning flight.
Let’s just say Monday morning reminded me why we don’t live like that every weekend. But in the meantime– cheers!
Blue in Boston
Posted on February 8th, 2016
We’re back from New England!
The main reason we took our trip this weekend was to go to the Harvard Hasty Pudding’s Man of the Year event with Joseph Gordon Levitt. More on that tomorrow, but for me, I knew that meant one important thing: a new black tie dress. I had been to this event the past two years, so I knew that girls opted on the slightly more causal side of black tie, and always looked fun. This dress from Nordstrom was the perfect thing… especially once I looked at the price tag!
Blowing snow made for some interesting (and chilly) moments.
A note on the dress: I know it’s a little big. I kind of pushed it on the timeline (oopsie) so ran out of time for alterations, so here we are. There’s always next time. But I love this color blue– it works in all seasons, and can definitely work for more casual black tie events, too.
Given that it was cold (February in New England, duh), I wrapped up in my favorite Lilly Pulitzer scarf/wrap/blanket/whatever I want it to be. Cozy, but with a few shimmery threads to make it elegant. I got this years ago, and have worn it non-stop in a variety of capacities ever since.
I also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to break out the glitter pumps. Thanks to the snow, I dutifully wore my boots from place to place before swapping out to keep my sparkly shoes safe. I kept the jewelry simple with pearls.
PS I’m loving my new wallet/clutch! One of the Nordstrom perks is being able to attend employee-only sample sales, where I was lucky enough to score this blush beauty at a very reasonable price. Fits my phone, a chapstick, etc. so I don’t really need anything else when going out. On the other hand, it’s easy to stash in my bigger work bag day-to-day, and just pull it out for meetings as need be.
More on our surprisingly snowy weekend in Cambridge tomorrow!
Home to Harvard
Posted on February 4th, 2016
While I can’t say I’m looking forward to the red eye flight, Ian and I are so excited to return to Harvard tonight. And not just because of the food!
Okay. Maybe a little bit because of the food.
It’s my first trip back since Ian’s graduation, so I did a little stroll down memory in the name of nostalgia.
In case you missed it, I didn’t go to Harvard, but, through Ian, it played such an important role in my life. During the years while Ian was at Harvard, I was an unhappy sophomore at Vanderbilt, a UPenn student waking up early and working about thirty hours a week while in school, and a consultant working in Manhattan. It was a lot of turnover, and not a lot of constant.
But when I was in Cambridge, I did the typical college student thing, and Ian’s incredible group of friends kindly let me latch on. I certainly had my share of college shenanigans at Penn, but I didn’t really allow myself to relax in the same way. I spent more and more time at Harvard, eventually going about every other weekend last year. And while I don’t miss long distance dating or incredibly yucky college dorms, I definitely miss our New England adventures with some of our closest friends.
PS Take a good look at this photo of Ian and his roommates– these are the exact seven men who will be at the end of the aisle next August!
Maintaining the Sparkle
Posted on February 3rd, 2016
I’m not afraid to admit it. Every time someone asks to see my ring, I am excited about being engaged all over again. It’s such a joy, and Ian picked a winner, so I’m happy to share! Many girls– myself included– work to keep well-manicured nails for showing off their ring, but these friendly observers are not really interested in the color of polish I chose. They want to see the sparkle!!!
My at-home cleaning methods cannot compete with the professional steam cleaning at the jeweler, but it definitely does the trick in maintaining the shine I first saw on that beach in Malibu. Ready for my high-tech, fancy secret?
If you, too, are feeling fancy and want to keep your rings looking sparkling, I highly recommend trotting to the drug store and picking up a bottle of Windex of your very own. Windex is an ideal product here because it’s designed specifically to leave absolutely no residue that might leave a film on your diamond.
I clean my rings about every two weeks by mixing about a tablespoon of Windex with a splash of water, and dropping the rings in for about 20 minutes. When I take them out, I rinse them thoroughly, and take 3-5 minutes to just admire them. That’s a requisite step, by the way.
See? Works like a charm. On my mom’s most recent visit, we put her rings in, too… Let’s just say it revealed the importance of regular cleaning to fight build up.
I guess Gus and those Greeks might have been on to something…
Heartfelt Style
Posted on February 1st, 2016
February is here! Which means we’re that much closer to months that are actually fun.
I don’t pay much attention to trends or fads, but there is one aspect of seasonality with which I’m totally on board: holiday theme dressing!
As a young optimist, I think it’s important to put up a festive front all through the year. Nothing too crazy– just an item or two that you can break out, year after year, in conjunction with whatever holiday is upon us. I keep tartan and sparkles for Christmas and New Years, plenty of navy & white stripes for summer holidays, and a few key heart-adorned outfits for February.
I put together a few options for those of you still building out your Valentine’s collection…
Kiss Flats // Heart Elbows (only $30, if it’s your size!) // Intarsia set // Crossbody // Sweetheart Sneakers // Cupid Earrings // Clutch // Subtle in Navy // Latte Mug // Necklace // Velvet slippers // Stripes // Heart sweater // XO sweater
I think my favorite is the Topshop heart sweater— how amazing would it be with red pants??
I am still hanging on to the Lilly Pulitzer Valentine’s Day Elsa tops they put out a few years ago (practically vintage, right?), and added a red dress for date night that I’ll be sharing soon!
{Insert heart-eyes emoji here, with pun intended}
Wedding Wednesday
Posted on January 27th, 2016
In the past month, I’ve gone from being overwhelmed about wedding planning to inspired. These weddings are some of the reason why!
Midwestern Country Club (I couldn’t pick just one!)
These weddings take place in venues all over the world, but (I know it sounds silly) they all look like I want our wedding to feel. Warm, radiant, romantic, personally experiential… I think I’m really getting close to nailing down my style– time to execute!
Booking It in 2016
Posted on January 26th, 2016
I wrote about several New Years resolutions last week, but neglected to share one of my own– more reading!
I genuinely love reading, and always have, but (as for so many of us) I’ve been finding it harder to make time since leaving school, which was basically a world of structured reading. Besides my job (duh), volunteering, and running, I essentially have four main hobbies: needlepointing, cooking, blogging, and reading. And I really like them all! So I haven’t exactly figured out how I’m going to make more time for reading when I don’t really want to spend less time on the other activities…
Less sleeping, perhaps?
But! Part of the key to finding time for reading is having amazing books on deck. I’m currently reading The Nightingale, but here are a few others on my list per the suggestions of others (with a few others that I’ve enjoyed recently thrown in, too):
Look Again // The Storied Life of AJ Fikry // The Martian // Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore // The Buried Giant // Big Magic // The Book of Unknown Americans // Brooklyn // The Nightingale // All the Light We Cannot See
A huge range. The current plan is to try reading for twenty minutes (or more) before bed each night. Please hold me to it by suggesting your favorites, too!
Sunday Sparkle
Posted on January 25th, 2016
Though I keep up with my fair share of blogs, I rarely come across a photo of a blogger and think, “well, I have to look like that.” Yet when I saw this Instagram of Emily Ley, creator of the magical Simplified Planner and adorable mama, I couldn’t double click fast enough.
In order to replicate her look, I tracked down her glitzy/casual top! Such a good price. (Note: runs a little big, I wish I had sized down)
White jeans and sandals aren’t quite right for Seattle in January, but the top was the perfect touch of sparkle for a Sunday brunch by the water. We couldn’t believe how lucky we were to get to actually see the sun in January! Not typical here in the Pacific Northwest.
I kept it simple with my most favorite jeans, and the flats (similar, but these can’t be beat) I was lucky enough to snag brand new for $38 at a Nordstrom sample sale. #perks The top was also the perfect backdrop for my beautiful topaz jewelry from Ian!
PS My mama is in town for a visit and it’s the best!
Don’t Knock It ‘Til You Diet
Posted on January 21st, 2016
Disclaimer: Before I jump in, I would ask all of you to consider whether reading this post is a good idea for you. For some of you, it might not be constructive or helpful to hear about body confidence, exercise, dieting, etc. There are times when I click out of posts just like these for my own well-being, so I just want to give you the opportunity to do so now. Here’s a puppy to look at instead; I’ll see you back here again soon!
I’ve thought for several months about this post. On the one hand, I’m not an expert by any means. I’m just me, and I only have my own story. But I do feel my story is accessible and relatable, and lots of the dieting and fitness world is not. It feels like there is a whole aesthetic and lifestyle overhaul required with making this kind of life change, and frankly, it’s intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be like that, and I wanted to share with anyone who needs reassurance and a dose of realism, whether you’re approaching a new resolution or need a nudge to continue your own journey.
On May 3, 2011, I realized I was unhealthy. The realization happened suddenly, but the lifestyle did not. It was the end of my freshman year, and while I had gained the “freshman 15,” I had also gained the “12th grade 20.” Which isn’t really a thing, but it was for me. I worked out lightly approximately two times a week, and was not at all mindful with my nutrition decisions. I just didn’t feel good. I went home for the summer ready to make a change.
I consulted a nutritionist at first– I had struggled with a disordered relationship with food a few years prior, and wanted to make sure I stayed clear of bad habits– and jumped in. The beginning was so hard. I woke up at 6:30am and used the elliptical five days a week, and I walked three miles with my mom after dinner every night. I counted my calories carefully, and stopped drinking Diet Coke (that didn’t last!). By the end of the summer, I had lost twelve pounds, and already felt much, much better.
About six months in I started running, which warrants a post all its own. I still remember how excited I was the first time I ran three miles consecutively. It was a lot harder to track calories while at school, but I managed to lose 10 pounds that year. The next 10 pounds, however, took 18 months. I wasn’t always making dieting a priority, but I worked out six days a week, and I knew I was in a healthy place, so I was not concerned, but there was always the nagging in the back of my mind that I could do more.
This year, I did, and I have lost another 10 pounds– unsurprisingly, the hardest of them all. I still run six days a week, but my eating needed a little attention. I ended up consulting a nutritionist again, whose one simple directive changed my approach and freed me from counting calories. “If you think you’re feeling hungry,” she said, “ask yourself if you would eat a lightly dressed spinach salad right now. If the answer is yes, you’re hungry. If the answer is no, you’re bored.” (some people use carrots or even apples when asking themselves the same question)
It doesn’t matter what I weighed to start, and it doesn’t matter what I weigh now. Here’s what matters in all of this:
- I changed my lifestyle without any gimmicks. I didn’t follow a special diet, I didn’t do a special fitness program. I didn’t give up any foods (although I only eat peanut butter and restaurant pasta a few times a year). I just followed basic physics, and I lost weight because my body used more energy than I consumed.
- I went slowly because I wanted to work with my metabolism, not against it. It’s been hard to be patient! It took me 42 months to get to my goal weight. But (other than normal fluctuations) the scale hasn’t gone back up, and my weight won’t yo-yo. I fueled my body in such a way that I changed its set point without starving it.
- I didn’t let this change completely dictate my life. I still go out with friends to dinner on the weekends, and I always work out before my day starts to make sure I never have to choose between the gym and whatever else comes up in the evenings.
But let me also not sugar coat it– this does require a lot of discipline. I get up at 6am every day to get on the treadmill, and I have only one or two drinks per month.
And I also feel amazing. And strong. And resilient. And proud. I know what I’m capable of, and it’s a lot! My journey isn’t over, and never will be, because my body is something for which I need to care always. It enables me to breathe and move and think and love, and allows me to be me.
If you are just starting your journey, let me assure you that you can do this. It might be hard, and you will be faced with a million daily decisions. Take them one at a time; leave them behind once you make them. Figure out what works for you, and know that it might not be what works for your friend or that fitspo blogger.
You can do this.
PS If you’re interested in hearing more about my specific strategies, please let me know!
Resolutions: Cooking
Posted on January 19th, 2016
There are three main reasons why people prioritize cooking more: 1) For their wallet 2) For their waistline 3) For their wisdom (aka skills). All are noble pursuits, and there is no reason you can’t address all three with one strategy.
Conventional wisdom suggests meal planning is the answer for all… and I do agree, but that skips a crucial first step. First, you need to build up an arsenal of recipes around which you feel excited to plan. I was (very, very) late to the Pinterest game, but do find it to be the best resource for storing recipes. I come across delicious looking recipes all the time, but need somewhere to store them. When I’m planning on Saturday, I have a visual place to scroll through and determine not only what looks good but what uses enough similar ingredients (without being identical dishes) so that I can be cost effective with my ingredients. I started stocking up, and now I have a backlog of dishes I can’t wait to make.
I am just not one of those people who can make a casserole on Sunday and eat if for lunch every day for a week, but I have no trouble revisiting it later. One thing I keep in mind is how well a dish will freeze. I try to cut recipes to yield four servings so that Ian and I can eat two for dinner and freeze the rest for a later night. Bonus: once you develop a stockpile of frozen things, you won’t have to work up the energy to cook as many nights! It’s definitely more cost effective than super small batch recipes, too.
This can be a tough resolution to stick to simply because life will try to get in the way, but if you’re planning simple meals and buying the ingredients in advance, it will be easier to get it done. And don’t set the bar too high– I never kid myself into thinking I’m going to cook dinner on Friday or Saturday night, for example!
I’m going to try to get better about sharing recipes I’m making in the coming months, but in the meantime, check out my Pinterest board for ideas. I also love Skinnytaste and Pinch of Yum, but there are so many wonderful food blogs out there. And when all else fails, I make a quiche. You’ll see a handful of slow cooker recipes, too– I’m a morning person, so for me 10 minutes of prep before work to come home to a fully cooked dinner is a dream!
For what it’s worth, this is the absolute easiest meal in my arsenal. And please note: sometimes, that emergency frozen pizza in your freezer counts as cooking.
