Dinner Date

 

I have never officially hosted one outside the library but I love the NPR listening party kits that are provided on their podcast page site. If you and your friends are into podcasts, I highly suggest starting a club or hosting dinner parties semi-regularly to spark intellectual and engaging conversation between friends and coworkers. And what better way to start with this month. Since the month of March celebrates Women and March 8 is the official date for International Day of the Girl, NPR has kits to cover a history lesson, interviews with women like Gloria Steinem and Nina Jacobson, women in politics and pop culture, women and the workplace along with other audio content on wise words from women. Interested, then get your kit today and host your very own party this month!!! 

(1,2,3)

Saturday Happy

I've been so busy with this week that I completely forgot about a special day. I didn't celebrate the fact that this blog has been running for six years!!! Despite it being an interesting and trying year I unfortunately had to take a semi-break from the blog. It's still something very important and dear to me, never did I think it would last this long. But for those who have stuck around and continue to read, I'm hoping to expand on the blog in the coming year. I've kept it secret for a while, but it's my resolution for the new year to sort of intertwine the blog into my career. So let's keep our fingers crossed for a brighter future :) 

Happy Happy Birthday Sit and Stay Awhile!!!!

(image)

A New Sister

This past Saturday my brother and my new sister exchanged their vows. It was a perfect spring day in  North Carolina to share love, experience joy and to celebrate these two extraordinary people. I tried to keep it together during the ceremony but couldn't help from tearing up. Cocktail hour helped relieve some emotion and united family and friends to officially congratulate the couple. By the reception, the drinks were flowing, the music was playing and everyone was flocking towards the dance floor to get their jig on. A few snapshots to share with you all :)

(Images provided for Sit and Stay A While by Sarah O'Brien)

Weekend Wrap Up

Snapshots from my brother and new sister's wedding over the weekend. It was a perfect day in Durham, North Carolina to celebrate such an important and quite emotional day for our families. Welcome to the O'Brien family, Sarah!!! More to come :)

(images via instagram)

The Wedding Dress

Last August I ventured to North Carolina to be a part of the planning process for my brother and sister-in-law's wedding and now that it's just a few days away, wedding dresses have certainly been on my mind (and am already thinking about what mine will one day look like). Which by the way, the bride's wedding dress is to die for! When she sent me pictures of her trying on the dress last summer, I was instantly in love. Since then, I've mentally been imagining my own dress. At this point all I know is it's going to be lace, with a little bit of a low back and the neckline laying across my collarbone. I also love the idea of having colorful shoes underneath the dress, like a bright pink or red!  

(1,2,3,4,5)

A New Year

As if this past year wasn't chaotic enough, 2014 is going to be one long but also very exciting year for me. I will officially be done with school (hopefully for the rest of my life) and finally looking for a steady paycheck-which means there's an excellent chance I'll be moving for the third time. Let's hope it's a permanent move, so I can settle already. It may be a roller coaster of a year with writing my portfolio, confidently defending myself in front of a panel of professors, graduating and going from interview to interview, hoping for a permanent position as an official librarian. 

With a new year means starting the next chapter in my young adult life. Adding a little sparkle and boldness to my wardrobe, creating, establishing and finding the right style to match my body type and personality. As well as settling in and creating a comfortable and cozy home and finding the chef inside me are some of my biggest goals for this coming year.  Learning to be more aware, present and maintaining a well balanced lifestyle is something I view as being a solid foundation for a healthy individual. Staying fit, eating healthy but indulging in favorite recipes and the occasional treats, finding the right exercise for you, spending more time outdoors, traveling and learning about what spirituality means to you is something we should all think about.  What's in store for your year?

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Around the Tree

Once the chaos of family arriving from airports and pulling up into the drive way, the smell of cocoa and wassail, the wrapping and packaging put away and cookie sheets of sugar cookies and brownies are on display on every inch of the kitchen counter, it's finally time to gather around the tree. 

It's time to catch up with your children, reread a few of your favorite children's Christmas books and enjoy the fact you can sit down for more than twenty minutes and marvel at the tree. It's time to string the lights and pull out the old box of Christmas decorations you remember as a child, you look around as everyone grabs for their favorite ornament and smile. You slow down, stay in the moment and take the time to appreciate having the entire family home and together for the holidays.  

(image via the inappropriate homeschooler)

Happy Three Years

Today marks the three year anniversary of Sit and Stay A While. It seems like it was only yesterday I was up until two in the morning sitting at my desk staring at a half written essay that needed to be turned in by Friday when I decided I wanted to create a blog. A professor encouraged me to turn to the blogosphere and dive into the Anthropology/Archaeology community; while that was fun and full of debate I started checking out fashion, cultural and lifestyle blogs and decided to start my own 365 photography project. Three years later, I've continued to post twice a day on what's making me happy, what is currently inspiring me and what keeps me motivated during the nine to five job and through school to keep a healthy balance in my life. This has been an outlet that has shown me creativity and artistry comes in many forms and to embrace it all. It has been an atmosphere where I am constantly learning about the technology driven world and what the future holds for the blogging community and it has been a place for me to accept criticism (both good and bad). My readers constantly encourage me to keep up my writing endeavors and for them I am forever grateful. I hope you continue to stay a while with me as I don't plan on stopping any time soon.

(image via the domestic rebel)

Weekend Wrap Up

 forest green and plum, my fall go to. 

ending the weekend well, with mood board

additions and a cup of tea.

 out and about. 

 saturday afternoons call for a quick stop 

for sandwiches. 

plum hats, wicked nails and ready for fall. 

leather mini squirts, cocktail rings and dorothy 

shoes, party ready.

(images via instagram)

Weekend Wrap Up...

 side swept pony's and forest green theory crop tops.

 early and quiet friday morning.

 stormy weather calls for popcorn and a movie.

 keeping safe in the blazing sun, carrying my feed 

bag everywhere I go and enjoying my fun filled 

travel guide around town.

 we're the cool cats at the party.

 date night leftovers, this is what happens when 

you leave your food in my fridge :)

 devouring books and biographies on people who 

remain masters of art. 

girls night complete with pink stem glasses.

(images via instagram)

Weekend Wrap Up...

 so happy i got to share this important moment 

with my guy.

 the most beautiful arrangement of flowers

 i've ever seen.

 champagne and strawberries while getting 

ready for the ceremony.

the flower girls, that's all that needs to be said!

thanks for snapping this shot, 

mom and dad! 

the moment is about to arrive!!!!

 party time, the reception was absolutely stunning.

 the bridal party got ready in an old schoolhouse,

i was speechless stepping into this space!

my best friend got hitched this weekend and I 

couldn't be more excited for her and her husband!

(images via instagram)