Keep Loved Ones Close to Your Heart

I am truly greatful for the friends & family in my life and for my wonderful fiancee :)

GRANDMA CARTA

A remarkable woman

Grandma with Sarah-isn't she the cutest?

It is always important to reflect on your life and cherish the close relationships of friends, family, significant others close to your heart. As I watch my grandmother turn 90 recently and struggle with difficulities that come with age I reminsce about memories I've shared with her as a young girl and what a role model she has been to me.

A few days ago, my dad told me that she is already planning out a special outfit to wear at my wedding and told him she wouldn't miss it for the world. She is quite the fashionista with one of the biggest hearts imaginable.

Right now she is in the hospital after a few falls and a broken wrist. Sending love and warm thoughts her way. I love you grandma

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Pay Less for Designer Looks!

There seem to be more and more designers popping up at Target, Payless and other discount stores! My girl, Lauren Conrad now has her line at Kohls.

Love the wedges above, they are affordable but fun- for a trendy number. What are your favorite designer bargains?

CYNTHIA VINCENT WEDGES AT TARGET

A Sucker for Contests and Give-Aways!

So charming from the outside

a huge fan of breakfast nooks

that washer and dryer are right up my alley

adorable kitchen

I don't know what it is-I've only ever won a cd player in a contest when I was about ten years old but I love entering contests and give-aways just to test my luck and have a little fun. I love going to hgtv.com and entering their house give-aways.

The lastest one is an eco-friendly cottage in Plymouth, Mass. Here are a few pics of the digs! Isn't it so sleek and inviting :)

I should have been an interior decorator...love this stuff....

Home Sweet Home~

So my man and I are off to CT this weekend to take care of a number of things, including some wedding planning-menus/cake tasting..yum :) Whenever I go home I am reminded of why I love the small & quaint town I am from, especially the water-it is so relaxing and pretty to look at. I spent much of my childhood taking boat rides through the Thimble Islands as a young girl. Enjoy your weekend, wherever you may be jetting off to!

gorgeous, right?!

love all of the little details

a wedding captured by Steve Depino (who will the photographer for my big day too-yay :) )

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an engagement shot with my guy-so sweet

A place of our own

the house I've loved since I was a little girl

can you guess what movie it's from?

As our wedding approaches in September and my soon-to-be hubby finishes school at American University, I can't help but notice how I have this new desire to move to a new place and actually own our first home.

As much as I've loved living in D.C. I've grown tired of being in a city and am equally tired of paying rent every month and knowing I'll never see that money again. I would love to have a place of our own, to grow into and one day raise babies in :) Also, with being in a small apartment-we're often tight on space and when the weather gets nice (like now-I'd love to be outside on a patio more, have a vegetable garden and enjoy the scenery)

another fav, in Orlando FL

across from my cousin's home

Anyway...my honey is from California and it will be interesting to see whether or not we end up back there in the next year or so. I've always been into Tuscan/Mediterranean homes but lately California ranch style homes are growing on me..among other styles (my babe was raised in a ranch-style home!) I like homes with lots of charm & character and definitely am not into the modern feel. HGTV is such a great way to spend nights cuddling up to my man and dreaming about a place I can one day call home :)

Needle-pointing

*really into bees-this would make the cutest belt*

love this one-it has an exotic feel to it!

Recently my friend Emmy (who also happens to be my MOH :) ) suggested we try out needle point together as a fun project. At first- visions of old ladies huddled by the fire under blankets working on their needle point came to mind..would we turn into these women?! :P But after visiting the cutest store, and our first lesson-I have a new outlook and find the activity quite fun and relaxing!

I'm currently working on a bracelet-more pictures to come~

http://www.thepointofitallonline.com/

The Last Song

I have to admit that I'm not much of a Miley Cyrus fan-I find her voice annoying and manly and think she will soon become another Hollywood train wreck like Lindsay and the rest of the gang. I think the only thing Miley has going for herself is the song-*Party in the USA*, because lets be honest, who doesn't like to rock out to that song.

Despite my Miley dislikes-I have to confess I totally want to see The Last Song and think it is totally a "Kate pick!" What do you think? Maybe she has some redeeming acting skills after all, we shall see.

Who can resist a love story? Definitely not me :) I'm living my own every day....

http://touchstone.movies.go.com/thelastsong/

Daddy's little girl--no matter how old

Tuscan vacation

As I drove through the city and enjoyed the April sunshine, I couldn't help but admire a dad who had his little girl dangled around his neck and who kept tightening her grip around him as they went along-she probably felt like the luckiest girl. Or the little ballerina hand-in-hand with his dad on their morning coffee run.

These little glances of fatherly love remind me of my dad, who although being in CT-doesn't usually feel that far away. We've always been especially close-both of us very emotional, sentimental, comical and hopeless romantics. As my wedding day approaches (only a little over 5 months now, wow!) I often think about what cherished moments are in store for us as he walks me down the aisle to my soon-to-be hubby or dances with me to 'It's A Wonderful Life' for our father/daughter dance. I know that I will always be his little girl...

love him

(this is how I use to travel as a little girl)

Fro Yo Satisfaction

My fav combo from Sweet Green:

loaded up with strawberries, blackberries

and mini chocolate chips

I guess the phrase has stayed with me from my college days but I refer to frozen yogurt as fro yo! Not to say that I'm complaining-after all of the snow we've had in D.C., the sunshine and gorgeous weather has been much appreciated... but it sure has been hot here the last few days (reaching 85 yesterday) and I have to say a tasty treat is in order.

A little secret--check out the Sweetflow truck schedule so you can grab some fro yo and your neighborhood :) http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/06/sweet-green-washington-dc-sweetflow-mobile-frozen-yogurt-truck.html

Weekend Aftermath

We had so much fun this past weekend-we made it to Annapolis, Easton and St. Michaels! Here are a few fun highlights from our trip. What wonderful weather we've been gifted with~

Enjoying Annapolis

Little pup enjoying some ice cream :)

My babe in the elevator of our great hotel

So much beauty around me

Great view

Lunch date in St. Michaels...

love the water front, makes me think of CT

Easter Getaway!

Today my boy and I are off to Easton, Maryland to stay at the Tidewater Inn for the night! I love the chance to get away and explore new areas outside of the city. On the way we're planning on a quick stop in Annapolis (another city I love)-let the fun begin! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend.

Giveaway on Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles~

I almost forgot to mention in my previous post that smartandsassywithsprinkles has a giveaway on her blog-it's with CSN Stores and is The Budd Leather Lizard Grain Ladies Calf Stud / Ring Box I'm crossing my fingers that I win :) I love all the bright colors-just in time for spring.

Joining the wonderful world of blogging!

I finally have given in to blog world and after seeking inspiration through fav blogs like Smartandsassywithsprinkles and adventuresofkag I joined the craze!