Amish Country

I took a lovely work trip to Amish country, here are the highlights!

Lititz, PA

My wonderful B&B: The Lititz House

Reading on the back porch

Wilbur Chocolate Co.

Heavenly Soaps & Scents ~ the cutest store with natural & locally made bath items!  Check out these wine candles made in old wine bottles, they all were different wine scents! Syrah was my favorite.

A Tea Affair was wonderful for a tea lover!  And the owner was great to talk to :) I came home with Provence {rose, lavender, elderberries} & Palace Marzipan {very almondy}.  They had so many delicious flavors & can't wait to order Mexican Winter {chili, orange, cinnamon, coconut & red pepper}!

Beautiful old church

I adore The Tomato Pie Cafe! I loved them so much I ate there twice!

Delicious chocolate ale at Bulls Head Public House 

Catching some Amish ladies buying shorts at Target?!?!?!

Left:  Bobbi Brown Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15 

in Pink Seashell & Orchid Pink

Right: Bobbi Brown metallic eye shadow

 in Gold Dust & MAC eye shadow in Neo

Lovely mani to wind down the week :) Essie Shop Till I Drop

 Best part of the trip home ~ Cantina Laredo in the Philly airport! 

Work Trip (?)

I got back from Philly & had a wonderful time!  It was a work trip- not like you'll be able to tell from the photos :)  I do feel spoiled that I supervise such a fun place!  And we got engaged here so it is always sweet to visit :) 

 I was NOT getting sick from the airport this time!

 Wait... am I flying to Philly or Dallas?

 Satellite radio makes all the difference!! 

 Gorgeous spring day at Philadelphia Premium Outlets

 My dream house! 

 Boo!!!  Panera with only unsweet tea?!?!?

 Best restaurant ever!  Legal Sea Foods - I always hoard my per diem so I can indulge!

 King of Prussia Mall - shopping heaven! 

 Duck Soup Cafe - cute mom & pop cafe

 Salad Works - I am obsessed with this place!

Flight home with my Nook & my bright dress I'd never be able to get away with in the office! :)

Seester's Wedding

It is difficult to put into words sometimes when utterly amazing things happen.  My sweet little Seeester got married, you could tell they were so happy & in love, it was beautiful, perfect for her.  I am so happy for her & the new chapter in her life of marriage.

Here are some photographs of the wedding at Sandals in St. Luica!

Rehearsal Dinner ~ James & I

Rehearsal Dinner ~ the new family James, me, Dad, Mamma Kay, JJ & Tim

 Gorgeous!

Seester & I at the reception :)  A&W

James doing his thang.

Taking full advantage of a flight to the Caribbean... James & I decided to stay an 4 extra days :)  Thanks to Living Social we had a pretty sweet 2 bedroom villa to relax in!  Here are some of our vacation pictures after the wedding was over.

I found my favorite type of RUM CAKE!!!!!! 

When we were going through customs I had to declare "rum cake" and "rum balls," the guy looked at my intake form & said "Really?"  haha

 Gorgeous beaches! 

 I can sure appreciate a good rum punch :) 

 Segway tour! aka James' favorite part of the trip

 Don't I belong on the beach?  My skin doesn't get to vote.

 My vacation obsession!!!  I seriously drank these the entire time!!

On the way to the airport home.  Please note James' vacation beard.  Ew.

Time Well Spent

With all my free time not wedding planning I am wholeheartedly enjoying getting back to my favorite hobbies (notably reading, cooking, shopping & entertaining).

Reading ~ 

These two books I've read recently I would say are a must read!

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain:  written as mostly historical/biographical with fiction filling in the cracks.  It is about Ernest Hemmingway's first wife Hadley & their years in Paris.  Beautiful & tragic at the same time.

My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme:  Autobiography based on letters written by Julia & her husband during their time in Paris.  The book focuses on her love of all things French & her journey of being an acclaimed chef who pioneered the revolution of cooking in the US (away from TV dinners).

Both of the books were wonderfully inspirational.  Especially since both ladies found the adventures of the lives in their late 20's/ early 30's.   And I am now obsessed with Paris.  Trip anyone?? :)

I would not say it is a must read because everyone does not appreciate Russian novels (the Russians don't like them either), but I am re-reading Anna Karenina after seeing the movie.  I would not say the movie is a literal adaptation, it was beautiful and fascinating in its own way.   If you do decide to read it, do get the P&V translation!

Cooking ~

Thanks to Julia Child for the inspiration & for my sweet friend Erika for getting me a new cookbook (a good friend finds a classy way of finding a birthday present for you that says "I know you like to eat, enjoy!" haha).   I made a recipe from Sunday Brunch by Betty Rosbottom.

Berries with Lemon Creme Fraiche!  (it's French & fabulous)
The bacon is there because I live with a man now.  Apparently fruit & creme isn't "breakfast".

We tried to make our own copy-cat recipe for the BLT & Peppercorn salad at Pi Pizzeria!  It turned out really good despite James' heavy hand with the red onions ;)  

Entertaining ~ 

On Friday evening some lovely ladies came over to eat desserts, drink champagne & watch Liz & Dick.  Yes I DVR'd a Lifetime movie... but I really love Elizabeth Taylor!!!   The company, cookies & champagne were fabulous... the movie was lacking (probably acting ability).  But I did love all the fur coats :)  And I do feel inspired to use a red lip / heavy eyeliner look soon!   I used my new Neimans + Target dessert plates!!!  And made Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies.  Always delicious!

Shopping ~ 

... more to come soon!! :) 

Birthday Love

Monday I turned 28!  I always have loved my Birthday!  Yes, with a capital "B" it is a holiday after all.  I think having a December birthday made me cling with extra devotion to my day of birth.  No, it is not fair to send a kid a Christmas present with a card that says "Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas" nor is it ok to wrap a birthday present in Christmas paper.  Wrapping paper is cheaper than toilet paper.  Seriously?

Luckily I have a wonderful husband & very sweet friends who never make me feel slighted on my Birthday :)

The highlight of my day was being able to take off work & do whatever I wanted!  Translation ~ spend all day in my new lulu wunder unders taking it easy :)  I caught up on a few episodes of Fashion Police!  I ate a meatball sandwich from Subway for lunch!  I organized two bookshelves in the 'hoarder room'! I read a book on my Nook! I perused the many Christmas catalogs I've got in the mail! I took a nap!  Just some of my fun birthday activities :)  For an introvert ~ it was the best self present!

In the evening my dear friends & I went out to eat at Pi Pizzeria.  It is a favorite of James & I ~ very delicious pizza!  And James surprised me with a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake, a childhood fav!