Showing posts with label Summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer. Show all posts

Sep 14, 2016

Review: Arctic Zero's New Pints!

I was SO bummed when, after an absolutely gorgeous labor day weekend full of lovely strolls on perfect high 60s-low 70s days, the summer decided to make a return visit and burn me up with 90-something scorcher days.

So I was SO thrilled when a surprise package from Arctic Zero showed up on my doorstep! Exactly what I wanted to help me cool down on these hot days.

The Flavors:


Arctic Zero Review

The original creators of healthy, high protein, low-sugar and low-fat 'ice cream' are constantly coming up with new brilliant ideas and their Chunky pints are the perfect addition to their line! 

Aug 30, 2016

5 Reasons Why I Liked The Secret Life of Pets

'The Secret Life of Pets' is no 'Inside Out' or 'Frozen,' but it got a lot of flack from critics and I don't think that was at all warranted! I would say it's not that far under 'Finding Dory,' the other big animated release of the summer, in terms of quality and both my sister (11yo) and I enjoyed it!

The Secret Life of Pets

Source: Giphy

If you were excited to watch the movie and now put off by the poor reviews, read on for five good reasons to give 'The Secret Life of Pets' a shot, after all!

Aug 21, 2016

Travel Wrap-Up: My Trip to Germany!

Tomorrow I start my new job at a tech startup in Cambridge, MA! I've already moved into my new apartment and love it. The location is great, my roommate is really nice, the common spaces are lovely, and (for the first time in a while) I've finally taken the time to really decorate my room in a way that reflects my personality and makes me happy!


I have a cat hanging from my light switch! So yes, I love my new home. I'm also so excited to start my new job tomorrow and learn a lot!

Before that, here's a photo dump post of some beautiful images from my summer vacation with my family in Germany! I'm already looking forward to visiting them again next summer. <3 p="">


I love strolling around the Schloss Derneburg property!

Jul 27, 2016

The Best Acai Bowls in Boston

I love acai bowls! They're fruity, sweet, refreshing, creamy, and have some yummy crunch from the granola.

I love the combination of different textures and flavors from the blended fruits, chopped fruits, and granola. I love that they make a perfect breakfast, snack, or light lunch. I love that they're portable and delicious and satisfying without weighing me down or making me sleepy (the opposite of what a lunch should do, especially on a work day).



NYC is an acai bowl heaven, but I've been in Boston all summer and am making the move here (or, rather, Cambridge) full time in just a few short weeks. Luckily for me, moving to Boston might mean that I give up some of my NYC favorites (at least unless I move back some day) like Juice Generation, Magic Mix Juicery, and Juice Press. But I don't have to give up acai bowls!

There are several places in Boston where you can get an acai bowl. Here are my two favorites!

Jul 2, 2016

Independence Day Eats!

It's Independence Day weekend!

It's a place where this pickup line CAN work 100 percent of the time.

...sorry, I couldn't resist the patriotic pickup line.

I'm celebrating the long weekend with a trip to Providence, Rhode Island. It's under two hours out of Boston and can be reached with just the red line and the commuter rail, so you can get there for $20 round trip. Not bad for a long weekend getaway!

I'll share photos of Providence later, but for now here are some great holiday-themed foods to bring to your Independence Day barbecue, potluck, or any other celebration that requires food. Enjoy the yummy red, white, and blue!

Jun 29, 2016

Style Post: Summer Special Occasions

Winter is full of fun dress up events, from work holiday parties to New Year's Eve celebrations. But summer can be just as fun for those of us who love dressing up!

While summer has holiday galas, summer has weddings, baby showers, and soirees galore! I love this elegant, but summery, dress from ASOS for any of the above except weddings. 


Don't wear white to a wedding and most certainly not an all white dress! If you're not going to a wedding, however, summer is the perfect time to dress up in white. I'm not sure what it is, but I love white dresses!

I think they just feel so much lighter and floater and twirlier (we'll pretend that's a word).


Another advantage of choosing an all-white dress for your event is that you can add a pop of color with fun accessories and don't have to worry about clashing colors or having too much going on at once. Though I'm a big fan of pink, I tend to favor a pop of classic blue or red for my accessory color accent!

As is often the case, a little goes a long way. With the embellished bodice of this dress, just the blue earrings and simple eyeliner is enough to finish the look. I'm not big on going overboard with the jewelry or makeup, especially not in the summer! It just weighs your airy summer look down.

Jun 26, 2016

What Being a Hobby Baker Is Like

I love baking! Baking is so fun, makes my apartment smell cozy and inviting, and can make others happy, too. I've also had the opportunity to work with some cool companies on recipes.

But being a hobby baker has its trying moments, too, just like anything else. Here's what you don't see in the cheerful recipes and pretty food photos!

When you're asked to bake cookies for an event, but they need to be sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and whatever the other latest food trend is:


When you're elbows deep in flour and someone tries to join in on your solo baking project:


May 21, 2016

The Old and The New

Life is full of old things that appear in our lives in new ways. Sometimes we re-purpose old belongings, sometimes we re-visit old places, sometimes we try new versions of old things.

I love the old-new combination and here are some of the old-new things in my life right now!

Old jacket, new shoes -

Remember this jacket from last year? Pairing it with new pieces makes it more fun and great for late spring/early summer in Boston!


The gold sneakers give it some warm weather pizzazz.

May 1, 2016

How To Find A Summer Sublease

I cannot remember the last time that I have lived in the same city for a solid year. I live primarily in NYC these days, and have for almost two years now, but there's always a month here, two months there...

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...you get the idea. As such, I now consider myself somewhat of an old hat at finding subleases, especially in busy cities like Boston and NYC.

The first time I looked for a sublease, no less in NYC, it felt like falling into an internet pit of inflated rents, stock photos, and poorly written descriptions.

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Don't worry, it's not really so scary! I just found my summer sublease in Boston 1.5 weeks ago and I'll be moving back up for the season in just 2 weeks. Yay!

Read on for the best places to look for subleases, whether you're budget-minded or more concerned with amenities.

Apr 28, 2016

Style: Florals and Fitting Out

Fashion isn't just about clothing. I'm not an egg short of a full carton, I just mean that while clothing is, of course, part of fashion, you're not done once you've picked out the clothes for your outfit. 

In other words, clothing is necessary for great style, but not sufficient. Accessories finish a look


Accessories are all too often overlooked because, unlike pants, no one is going to raise an eyebrow if you forget them. You'll feel under-dressed if you forget to put on a shirt one day, but the same usually doesn't apply for a bracelet.

But, like lingerie, your accessories can change how you feel in your outfit and throughout your day. 


It's great when other people appreciate our style, but most important is that we appreciate our own style and that it makes us feel good and comfortable in our own skin.

Jul 6, 2015

7 Reasons to See Pixar's 'Inside Out'!

'Minions' comes out in just a few days! I'm not sure who among I, the 22-year-old, and my little sister, the 10-year-old, is the more excited one.

An accurate representation of how we're responding to the approach of the 'Minions' movie release
Still, before you rush to the cinemas to see 'Minions,' there is another movie that is already out in the cinemas that you should definitely consider watching.

Pixar's 'Inside Out'!

INSIDE OUT 18

I had high hopes for this movie, because it's a Pixar movie and I love all things Disney, but it exceeded my already high expectations by far. I loved every moment of the movie!

If you haven't seen 'Inside Out' yet, here are seven reasons why you should!

Jun 29, 2015

What Is In My Bag? Girl on the Go Edition!


Some stereotypes are rooted in truth. The widely spread perception that it's impossible to go into a Target and only buy one thing is definitely one of those, at least for me!

Target always seems to have everything I need, not to mention a whole host of things that I didn't realize I needed it until I saw them posed alluringly on the perfectly organized shelves of my favorite one-stop shop...

But let's focus on the things that we actually need today, shall we? I always think 'what's in my bag' posts are a lot of fun, because there's so much variation in what different women choose to keep in their handbags. A handbag's contents can say a lot about a person's day-to-day life!
Since many of the essentials in my bag are available at Target, here is what is in my bag during this summer of travel and adventure (I'm in Germany at the moment, after having spent a wonderful June in Boston)!


First, an explanation - if you're a long-time reader, you know that I am not a big fan of purple. The bag itself isn't mine, but one that I borrowed from my mom! I only packed one bag to take with me for the summer when I left NYC and I was getting quite bored of it by the time I joined my mom in Germany. She was nice enough to let me use hers to mix things up a bit!

That also explains the glasses - those are also a leftover of hers. But the rest is intentional! In no particular order, here's the breakdown:

Jun 11, 2015

Recipe Roundup: My Picnic To-Try List!

I love trying new recipes and I love cooking for people.

Being in a different city this month means that I have a fresh group of guinea pigs taste testers to try recipes on...


...so I have so many recipe ideas for recipes to create, as well as a pinterest backlog of other food bloggers' recipes to try!

Here are some awesome picnic-friendly recipes from the blogosphere that I can't wait to try making this month!

Jun 8, 2015

Summer Style Essentials: The Weekend Getaway Shortlist

Summer is here!

I know, I know, you know. It's not news anymore. But summer just requires that sort of enthusiastic announcement of its presence.

One of my favorite things to do in summer is to travel. Beach trips are especially great in summer, because the heat can be so stifling that there's nothing quite like a nice long soak in the ocean to cool you off.


Summer travel is all about fun and spontaneity, though, so you don't want to be bogged down with loads of luggage - that's especially bothersome if you're just taking a quick daytrip or weekend getaway. Skip overpacking and stick to the style essentials!

To get you started, here's a list of five of my summer style essentials for any destination.

May 15, 2015

Stress-Free Travel Essentials!

Summer is just around the bend and, judging by the weather in NYC lately, it may even be coming a little early this year! I'm going to be out of NYC this summer and while I'm excited for a change of pace, I'm sad that I'll have to leave NYC (temporarily) soon.

I'm going to be traveling by train (to Boston, for the month of June) and by airplane (to Germany, for the month of July), so here are my travel essentials for any kind of travel - land, air, or even sea!

May 6, 2015

Horizontal Running and Other Reasons To Get Excited for May 15

The girls that brought us horizontal running, fat hearts, and pitch-slapping are back!



Universal Studios, Schick, and Skintimate are combining forces to bring the Barden Bellas back to the big screen for Pitch Perfect 2 in just over a week! 






Fat Amy is your hot date on May 15 and, unlike blind dates and setups, she's sure not to be boring!

If aca-awesome acapella, witty banter, and Fat Amy's antics aren't enough to sell you on Pitch Perfect 2, the fun plot should be. 

In this sequel, the Barden Bellas start off at the top of their game - but then the fall is faster and steeper than the ascent. After an exposure incident with Fat Amy and the President of the United States of America, the Barden Bellas are not only disgraced, but banned from performing! 



But these girls don't give up that easily.

Instead, they band together again to compete at a worldwide competition that no American team has ever won. The stakes are high and their odds are low, but that's exactly what will make it so fun to watch!

I'm definitely grabbing some girlfriends, a cute girls night outfit, and plenty of water to rehydrate from all the laughing that will happen - Friday night plans, done!

In the meantime, check out any Ahold retailer (including Stop & Shop, Giant, or Martin's) for Schick razors and Skintimate shaving gel to get your legs ready to rock, like I do!


If you buy any 2 Schick women's shave items (minimum $10 value) between now and May 23, you'll get a printout at check-out to redeem a code for a free movie ticket to see Pitch Perfect 2 in theaters!

You can dazzle and get pumped at the same time - beginning April 15, limited edition Pitch Perfect 2 packaging is available in stores nationwide for Schick Hydro Silk Razors, Skintimate Shave Gel, Schick Intuition®, Schick Quattro For Women® and Schick Xtreme3®!

Need some inspiration to Rock Your Legs? Check out this awesome music video!

What's a girls night without lots of photos for the memories, after all? With this beautiful spring weather, it would be a shame to be stuck wearing pants to hide that winter fur. 



I love winter, but I am definitely also celebrating the return of spring. NYC is so beautiful in the spring! Since I'm (temporarily) leaving the city in a few weeks to spend a month in Boston and the next month in Germany, I'm trying to soak up as much of NYC as I can before I go. I'm going to miss my city!

What are your favorite Friday night activities?

Who is your favorite Bella?

Do you sing?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick® & St. Ives® . The opinions and text are all mine.

May 2, 2015

Vacation Every Day!


Guys, it's May. MAY.

Wasn't it 2014 yesterday? Spring snuck up on me and now it's already almost summer!

I can't wait for my summer. I have so many fun plans and, while I'm going to miss NYC like crazy while I'm gone for pretty much the entirety of this summer, the change of pace and scene will be fun.

I'm spending June in Boston and July in Germany, then back to NYC in August. Since this is my last month in the city, before my temporary departure, I'm making the most out of it! With this lovely spring weather, that includes taking full advantage of my NYC rooftop. That, and exploring new neighborhoods!


I knocked off both of those to-do's with a single tropical-themed rooftop girls get-together. With spontaneity and GoogleMaps as my guide, I armed myself with my MetroCard and earbuds for the looong trek across the river to Brooklyn. Twenty-five minutes later, I emerged from the subway and strode into the Pathmark, straight for the summer aisle.

Tropical Rooftop Girl's Get-Together Essentials:

   * Paper umbrellas (you're never too old or too chic for paper umbrellas)
   * An assortment of chocolates, chips, and a fruit and veggie platter
   * Palm Breeze sparkling alcohol spritz in Pineapple Mandarin Orange


Check. Back in Manhattan later that afternoon, I packed a basket full of the above essentials, gathered together a few girlfriends, and headed to the roof. Party time!

I was excited to share Palm Breeze with my friends. Palm Breeze is a flavored malt beverage, which (in street language) means that it's an alcoholic drink made with a malt base. Sound familiar? That's because that's similar to how beer is made! But while beers often target primarily male audiences, and I'm really not a fan of the taste, Palm Breeze is unique in that it's the first drink that's primarily out there for women.


My friends and I aren't big drinkers, so we skipped mixing the alcohol spritz with any stronger drinks, like liquor, and enjoyed them on their own. Palm Breeze also comes in a Ruby Red Citrus flavor, but we didn't get to try that one this time (the supermarket was out). The Pineapple Mandarin Orange, however, was a huge hit.


It was fruity, fresh, and - between the alcohol spritz that we're all not used to and the fun of being in the sun and gathered as a group - had us laughing and having a riot in no time!

Since there's no island getaway in my summer plans this year, this was the perfect little tropical vacay for every day! Get your girls together for a spontaneous get-together, dress up in your spring-chic style, and head outside to soak up some sun and laughs!

Don't feel like hosting a get-together, but still want to have fun with friends? Check out the Palm Breeze/Blo Bar events for a fun time minus the prep and planning! There are events in San Diego, DC, Austin, and Dallas.

Being an early 20's woman can be a confusing, uncertain thing sometimes. But it can also be so much fun! Many of us don't yet have the responsibilities of spouses and children, so we can be spontaneous and do what we want when we want. I think it's important to embrace that now and then, because if life moves at all like this year did, we'll be at the next phase in the blink of an eye!

What are your summer plans?

What's your favorite thing to do with your girlfriends?

What is your favorite drink?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Feb 19, 2015

Women Entrepreneurs: An Interview with Liane Fitzgerald of Roy Swim

As a 20-something woman forging an untraditional path professionally, it's always great to learn about other young women who are following their dreams and thriving!

I met Liane Fitzgerald, a hot new swimwear designer from Martha's Vineyard who's also a 20-something woman, at a photoshoot recently and she agreed to an interview for the blog!


Roy Swim is a small handmade swimwear company based out of Martha's Vineyard and New York City.  All bikinis are designed and handmade by Liane FitzGerald. Check them out on Instagram @roybikini

Read on for the who, what, when, and why of Liane actualizing her dream, as well as a great spring break special!

Aug 3, 2014

How to Throw The Perfect End of Summer Party

It's been a great summer and we still have a month left of summer as we head into August. I'm already looking forward to fall with the crisp, cool fall weather, apple picking, Halloween parties, and gradual approach of Christmas. But before we can welcome fall, we must bid a great adieu to summer.

How?

END OF SUMMER PARTY!

Enjoy the last weekend evenings of summer with friends, but without the stress of throwing a big to-do. A summer evening party should be fun and relaxed from prep to party to clean up!

Here's how to throw a summer sundown shindig completely stress-free!

- Invite a manageable number of people.

You might have 869 Facebook friends, but that doesn't mean that you need to invite all of them to the same Friday night get-together. An ideal party size for a tress-free get-together is between five and ten. If you think about it, you don't really get anything out of inviting more than ten people - do you really socialize thoroughly with all of your guests when you have a 50+ guest party?


Huge crowds are great for wild parties now and then, but no one really wants to host those. If you do host one of those, you should be prepared for a lot of prep and even more clean up work.

Instead, invite a small group of friends for a warm, comfortable, enjoyable party on a summer night. We still have a month of summer left, so you can throw multiple easy get-togethers rather than inviting them all at once.

- Keep the menu simple.

I'm as guilty as the next girl of an inner Chef Remy that looks at a block of cheese and has visions of something fabulous.




I know, I know - it's tempting to go crazy and try to put together an impressive spread for party.

But I caution you to please, please, please consider saving the kitchen experiments and culinary wizardry for another time, preferably one where you don't have guests and it's A-Okay if you collapse into a bawling mess of flour on your kitchen flour.

Guess what the difference between a funny fail and Failure with a capital 'F' and silent tears is?

Guests.

Trust me, no one will complain about a nicely arranged platter of fruits, cheeses, nuts, crackers, and cookies. No one is going to say 'HEY! These aren't homemade, you delinquent domestic!'

And if they do, don't invite them to your next party.

- Don't forget liquid libations.

I'm not much of a drinker, but that doesn't mean that I should forget about my guests who do enjoy a drink or two.

I'm not suggesting that you take it upon yourself to get everyone absolutely wasted (please don't, especially if it's a rooftop party or if your friends will require the use of their livers in the future). However, some bottles of beer and a bottle of a wine or two are an appreciated touch that will help get the party started faster and put everyone a little more at ease, especially if they don't all know each other.


I suggest a nice rose for the season! It's the wine of summer and you can get a decent bottle for under $20.

- Choose an outdoor setting. 

You and your guests will automatically feel more at ease than if you're all bumping elbows on your couch. Also, cleanup is way easier when you're sitting on the grass or a NYC rooftop than over carpeting.


Especially with the aforementioned rose. Are your friends as klutzy as mine (and me)?

What are your top summer party tips?

What's your favorite summer adult beverage (or other)?

What's your summer song of 2014?

Jun 25, 2014

What Living in NYC is Like, According to Disney's Frozen

I'm a New Yorker now, guys!



So maybe the cost of living in the city doesn't make me quite as euphoric as Olaf on a summer day...

...though there's an interesting parallel between Olaf's delusional love of warmth, despite how bad it is for him, and my love of NYC, despite how bad it is for my finances.

Overall, however, NYC is a wonderful city for young professionals. We're energetic and can deal with some hard work, sleepless nights, and budget-necessitated instant ramen-centric diets.

There are a lot of things that are unique to life in NYC, but here's a quick list (courtesy of some adorable Frozen GIFs) that touch on what living in NYC is really like.

When you first get a permanent address in Manhattan and are like YHEEEEEEEEEEEEE.



I've been wanting this (and saying it would happen, even though my parents laughed at me for imagining I could predetermine my future so early on) since elementary school. I feel like NYC is the one place where that's really not uncommon - people dream of moving here all of their (too-young-to-move-yet) lives.

When you realize you're going to be mildly claustrophobic for a while, but umpteen-million roommates is worth living in downtown.


1120frozen

When you first try to navigate the subway to get to work.


When you discover the map function on your smartphone and EVERYTHING IS AWESOME.


Elsa Trying Apple Maps

When you get your bills for the first time and realize your paycheck disappeared.



When a rando tries to sketch on you in the line at your corner bodega.


Disney Frozen review

When you try to make friends without the aid of school/classes/extracurriculars. 



The day after you go to your first all night dance club.

Gif from Frozen of Anna dozing off sitting up in bed with her hair a mess
When you finally meet some friends who are just as lost (and hilarious) as you.



And that's it for now. I've only lived here for a little over three weeks, so....stay posted. 

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Who knows what will happen next? It's NYC, anything could happen.

What is your favorite Disney movie?

Do you want any of the same things now as you did when you were a kid?

Who is your favorite Frozen character?

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