Friday, May 29, 2015

Friday Afternoon

I've been seriously under the weather and tossing and turning on the couch all week long. I hope you all had a great week and enjoy your weekend. Thank god I'm starting to feel better, I can get off the couch and actually eat things, my weekend is looking up :) See you next week!!! 

Enjoy this Brooklyn home tour

Make sure to check out these Crazy Optical Illusions

Did you know these celebrities were roommates

(image via hipvangelist)

Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Design Files

Five things to have in the Kitchen:

1.My mom got me this Breville Tea Maker, I use it every day. 
2.One of my go to cookbooks is the new The Kitchn Cookbook.
4. Get yourself A new Juicer.
5. I love my Anthropologie Timer

(image via the design files)

Monday, May 25, 2015

Weeked Wrap Up...

 bubble baths and pretty little liars...
 new birchbox subscription and enjoying cupcakes
 and cashmere at home.
 summer is on its way. 
 so excited to be rereading this series with my guy,
enjoying some bronzing, reading and relaxing 
with this little guy. 

(images via intsagram)

Friday, May 22, 2015

this week's favorites...





My weekend is full of being straight lazy. The apartment complex pool and the large stack of books on the nightstand are calling my name. I'll also be enjoying an intimate show this weekend of an oldie but goodie, any Pennywise fans? Enjoy your weekend!!!  

(1,2,3,4,5)

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Lime + Raspberry Sangria Popsicles

Since I'm not that big of a desert person (although the butter cake at Maestros is pretty fantastic and the white chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory is my particular favorite desert), my choice for an after dinner treat is usually always a popsicle! There's something so quenching about flavored ice to me. Well, it's time to kick it up a notch and play around with some of favorites, this lime and raspberry sangria recipe sounds delicious and perfect for hot summer day. 

Ingredients
6 ounces of raspberries
2 limes
1 cup sugar
1 1/3 cups of Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc

Directions
Add the 6 ounces of raspberries to a small sauce pan, sneaking a few. I mean, raspberries are freaking in season and these organic berries are delicious. Okay, mash them quickly before you eat them all!
Add 1/2 cup of the sugar to the raspberries (eating one more ain’t gonna hurt nobody!) and then warm the mixture over a medium-low heat, until it just begins to bubble. This helps combine the sugar with the raspberries. Now remove them from the stove and let them cool.

In a large measuring cup (one that at least holds 4 cups), juice the two limes. Notice my restraint on not eating the limes? Not the same as raspberries, lovely lovely raspberries.

Add the remaining half cup of sugar and let it sit for about 5 minutes, to dissolve. Don’t just stand there and watch. Maybe put on Call Me Maybe and dance around for a few minutes, take a few shots of tequila and then drunk dial an ex? Just a suggestion.

Now that the sugar has dissolved into the lime juice, you should have about 1 cup of liquid. No biggie if you do not. Pop open that Fumé Blanc and add enough of the white wine so that you have 2 1/3 cups.

Okay, so you can do these pops one of two ways. You can make them exactly like I did and go for the food porn or you can make them straight up because ain’t nobody got time for that! If you are doing them straight up, just ignore this next step.
So mix together the wine and lime mixture, and set aside about 1/2 cup of it. Take another lime, halving it length-wise and then slice it VERY thinly.
Add the raspberry compote to your lime and wine mix, mixing it well and divide it amongst the popsicle molds. Make sure to divide the chunky pieces of raspberries so that everybody gets some.
 Now place them in the freezer.
If you are doing the food porn thing, you will notice that the pops did not fill up all the way. So, only freeze your pops for about an hour. Just enough so they mix is slushy like. Now add a lime slice to each pop and top it off with the remaining lime mixture. Pop them back in the freezer for about 10 hours.
(image and recipe via cooking stoned)

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

The Daily Escape

Now that school is over and I can relax/enjoy quiet evenings all to myself, there is nowhere I'd rather be than in a log cabin overlooking a lake all to myself with piles of books, beach scented candles, scrolling through my Netflix list and relieving myself from all the stress that has built up in the last several months. Last week I finally got around to reading The Quiet, it's been on the shelf, collecting dust for over a year and I'm just now getting to it. Reading it in this moment was exactly what I needed. This beautifully written and researched book by Susan Cain is definitely one of those life changing books, it answered so many questions and has helped me embrace a part of my identity I've always kept secret.
 For every time someone told me I was shy or quiet growing up, you were only partly right. I was quiet (but never shy), I participate in small talk but it certainly is not my forte, I'm too much like my father. Philosophy and passion is the root of my being, when I speak the thought process and effort behind my words (and actions) is strong, my brain is in a constant state of overdrive because I over think and analyze everything. I avoid people who talk just for the sake of talking and I limit myself to an hour or two at parties, I just cannot handle it. I hope I never come off rude or appear mad, but I need to be alone in order to re-energize! As introverts our brain chemistry is different and extroverts simply don't get it! I often struggle with how people perceive me and some of my reclusive tendencies but this is a major part of the book that our society needs to address and make note of. There's something to learn from introverts. Cain is right on when she explains that we live in society and world that can't stop talking. She points out "if you're anything other than an extrovert you're made to think there's something wrong with you." It's kind of the story of my life, I was never a party girl in high school or even college. I use to think something was wrong with me because I didn't want to go out every weekend with my friends. Coming to that realization was very empowering for me.  People like Dr. Seuss, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, J.K Rowling, George Stephanopoulos and Steve Wozniak, they all preferred solitude and are renowned introverts, so I'm happy with the company I have. 

By all means, the summer is a time for vacations and escaping your home life. But this summer make an effort to give yourself a break and find some alone time (whether it be in your home or on vacation). Escape the constant chatter and learn to be quiet and still, even if just from a bit :)
         
(image via the berry)

Monday, May 18, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

 saturdays are for sleeping in...
 mother/daughter days are for pink manicures.
 a quiet nigh in means summer recipes and movies.
 children room displays. 
 cheers to the weekend. 
enjoying an overcast weekend. 

(images via instagram)

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Saturday Happy





Have you been the following the restoration of this once abandoned and neglected french chateau
Built in the mid 1700s then forgotten, an Australian Family is turning this once lost beauty into a new and beautiful home. Follow the blog and keep up to date with all it's latest projects. What is making you happy this week?

(images via chateau de gudanes)

Friday, May 15, 2015

Friday Mornings

Happy Friday everyone! What are your weekend plans? Other than having a mother/daughter day tomorrow, my plans consist of laying out by the pool, raiding the Michaels home sale, tending to some serious cleaning, bringing my parents dogs over to the apartment, enjoying the cool weather, reading my books and trying a few new recipes. Have a good weekend, here are few links to send you on your way :) 

 If  you haven't, stop by and see the new and improved Cup of Jo



Make sure to check out the Suffragette teaser trailer

Falling for these beautiful photographs of Marsailles

(image via the everygirl)

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Top Five





When it comes to maintaining skincare, makeup and hair care during the summer months, I prefer my look to be super natural. So medium shades of pink are my go to lipstick color, Benefit's Posiebalm being my absolute favorite! What's your favorite lipstick color? 

(1,2,3,4,5)

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

The Librarian Suggests

What  I am reading at the moment: I just barely finished school and I have already read through three books on my list of juvenile fiction. The Letterford Mysteries written by Deron R. Hicks are simply divine. Meet the Raymond Khoury for children, the first in the series, Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave starts the series off and takes place all over Europe, where Colophon Letterford the young female protagonist takes you on an adventure out to discover family secrets and treasure. An excellent historical adventure novel for kids! Buy it or check it out from the library, your kids will surely love it. I'm trying to take my time reading the last of my Anthology subscription since the magazine will be over later this year. When I read the editor's letter regarding the end of Anthology, I was seriously upset. It was my favorite print magazine. At least I saved my entire collection of the magazine. What I watching and listening too at the moment: As far as music, I have been listening to Ciara's latest single, Dance Like We're Making Love way too much. I've been a long time fan and her latest album is pretty fantastic. I am also quite addicted to the ABC show, Pretty Little Liars. Every episode, I feel like I have 'A' figured out and then I'm just completely wrong. What are you reading, listening too and watching?

(image via buzzfeed)

Monday, May 11, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

I absolutely love this bag my coworker gave me. 
 celebrating the end of the semester with new books.
enjoying mother's day with some butter cake... 
 checking out curry salmon recipes. 
a surprise my mom gifted me!!!!!!

(images via instagram)

Friday, May 8, 2015

this week's favorites...





this weekend includes catching up on the list of books I need to start, indulging in oranges and clementines, dreaming of this walk in pantry and trying out a few new recipes, finally getting around to hanging some art and going in between lounging by the pool and swimming some laps
(1,2,3,4,5)

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Free Time

For the first time in seven years, I will not have to think about school work and it feels all too wonderful. For the last several years I have been in one state of mind, worry; and even if in the end I got the high grade on an assignment, the anticipation and waiting for the professor's feedback has always made me nervous (I'm no Einstein but hard work and dedication has gotten me to this point and I'm extremely proud of myself for making it this far)! So here it is, the end of the road and I seriously cannot believe that my collegiate years are almost over. I thought it would be a huge relief and for the most it is, but now that I have a pretty good nine to five job and all this free time ahead of me, what do I do now? Honestly, I'm worried about wasted time, my biggest fear is not fulfilling all the things I want to do in my life. I made a promise to myself in high school that I will live with no regrets, I intend on keeping that promise. 

All I have known in my life is academics and while I have entertained the idea for going for another degree, the possibilities and opportunities that lie in the unknown of my future is kind of exciting. I really don't see myself just being this one thing, I love my job but being a librarian is not the only thing that defines me. I'm interested in so many things, it's a matter of figuring out what means the most to me and going for it and not being afraid. What do you do in your free time? What are the important things in your life? Don't live in regret, go after what you love and pursue it, there's no greater feeling than passion. We need more passionate people in the world. Don't settle people, you owe yourself to be great

(image via just you wait)

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Top Five





With summer on the way and in the mood for some serious shopping, I'm looking at getting rid of my high school flip flop collection and looking to add something with a little bit of style. These are my top five favorite styles I'm looking forward too this season.  

(1,2,3,4,5)

Monday, May 4, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up...

 rose and veggetti kind of night. 
 edits, revisions and spending friday night 
finishing final papers. 
 the eye has to travel...
loving this pink and gold passport.
 lonely planet made my day with these travel books.
hanging art includes parisian maps and soft colors.

(images via instagram) 

Leading Ladies

Five Things to Know About Bernadette Marie: 1. Trained and completed two degrees, an AAS in Communication Design and BFA in Textile S...