August

Oh. Hey there, August. Did not expect to see you so soon, but I'm not going to lie -- I'm pretty happy about it. Summer has a been a bit stressful this year -- lots of little things -- and I'm hoping to turn that around this month.

Some things I'm looking forward to:

• More Olympics! I'm so obsessed. I can't stop watching and cheering for Team USA. And I'm not just one of those people who watches the popular sports -- I get into it all. Handball, Table Tennis, Shooting -- you name it. USA ALL THE WAY! (Side note: as a former child gymnast, I'm a huge gymnastics fan and couldn't be more proud of the Fab Five!)
• Jack's 30th birthday (eek!). It's going to be the best 30th birthday party anyone has ever had because Jack totally deserves it (did you see the marriage proposal?! Need I say more?). Slideshows, cupcakes, and mac & cheese are just some of the things on the itinerary. Oh and day drinking. Duh.  
• Montana. Jack and I going to Kalispell the last week in August for our friends' wedding and I can not wait! It's going to be 5 days of pure awesomeness. 
• Upstate New York. More vacation! We're also spending a few days with my dad before we head out west (he's graciously agreed to watch our two monsters) and I'm so excited. Peggy Sue has recently discovered swimming and it's going to be hysterical to see her run wild.
• Getting back on track with training. So far so good with the IT band and I'm starting to get excited about the marathon again.
• Baking cupcakes. I love my cupcake of the month feature but I've fallen way off the ball. I'm definitely ready to jump back on it. 
• Taking more photos. I've been slacking on documenting anything besides my pets and porch garden but with all the partying and traveling, I think there will be plenty of photo opps.
• Starting to plan my wedding. Say what?! I think it may be time. We've been engaged since April and if we want to get married fall 2013, we should probably at least start talking budget and savings. Or I may just continue to fantasize about having the biggest bun ever.

What are some things you're looking forward to in this final month of summer?

Who wears short shorts

{via}

Questions: 

• Would shorts this short be appropriate on the streets of Boston? 
• Are these shorts even that short or is it just an optical illusion because they're high-waisted? 
• Would I be able to pull this off even though my waist isn't Barbie-sized and my hair isn't short?
•  If yes, would I be crazy to go with a red cheetah print version?

Discuss.

Polka dot mullet {outfit}

Lipstick: Revlon Orange Flip | Earrings: Bauble Bar | Sunglasses: HM |  Dress: Unknown (little boutique - no brand) | Belt: Mom's from the 80s | Shoes: Nine West (old)

I first saw this dress in the window of small little boutique in the North End several weeks ago, and while I loved everything about it -- from the massive white polka dots to the mullet cut to the overall vintage feel -- I kept on walking (willpower, baby). But I couldn't stop thinking about it and when Najeema Tweeted about an amazing sheer neon pink mullet dress at TopShop, I couldn't resist any longer. I needed this dress. And I needed it NOW. 

And I am so happy that I gave in (willpower, shmil-power). Not only does this dress feed my polka dot obsession, it's super breezy and floats up behind me when I walk down stairs. Like a cape. But better. Plus the back sheer panel? Did not see that one coming! It's the perfect dress to wear in this heat wave and I'll probably be wearing it nonstop all summer.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Thank you, Alex, for the photos and for splashing around in this random fountain with me!

Summer: on repeat

I'm a very nostalgic person and as a result, I have several mini summer traditions. They all bring back different memories of  past summers and make my current summers that much more fantastic.

Watch: Blue Crush  (Senior year of high school)

Admittedly this is a very crappy movie, however, it never fails to get me pumped up for summer. It's filled with cheesy music, a tanned and ridiculously fit Kate Bosworth, and lots of half-naked people. As a 17-year-old girl, I thought this was the absolute coolest story line (surfers!) and I think my friend Shannon and I watched  it at least 20 times in two months. (That's a conservative estimate.)

Read: Summer Sisters (Junior year of high school)

I've read this book every single summer since I was 15, and there's a good chance that if we ever meet in person I will bring up this book and pressure you to read it. It pretty much changed my life and taught me a lot of interesting things ... and words. 

Eat: Watermelon (Childhood)

One of my earliest summer memories is sitting in my backyard on a super hot day, eating watermelon with my mom and brother. I remember it being glorious and simple.

Drink: Dunks' Iced Coffee (College and Jack)

I live in Boston. This stuff is everywhere. It's a fantastic hangover cure and better yet, it makes Jack SUPER happy since he hates hot weather (He's from the Midwest. And part polar bear).

Do you have any summer traditions? I'd love to add some to my list!

Recipe box: summer sandwich

OK this isn't really a recipe -- it's a sandwich. But I enjoy a little sandwich inspiration now and again, and this combo of veggies is so delicious that I had to share. (I also just noticed it uses mainly mini-vegetables, which makes it instantly more adorable and internet-worthy.) 

Ingredients for about one Bianca-sized sandwich (aka it's not small):

• Day old, crusty bread (I used a mini-baguette)
• Garlic clove, peeled 
• 6 to 8 cherry tomatoes, chopped in half
• 2 baby cucumbers, sliced
• 1 cup (or so) baby arugula
• Hummus
• Salt and pepper

Directions:
Toast the bread and rub some garlic on it. Spread on the hummus. Add the arugula, cucumber, and tomato. Sprinkle salt and pepper, to taste. And enjoy (preferably with a glass of white wine)! 

Rain

Summertime

I haven't had a true summer vacation in years and yet I still get ridiculously excited for this season. Sure nothing in my daily life changes -- i.e., I go to work everyday -- but I guess out of habit my mood shifts with the warm weather. I feel carefree(ish) and happy. I even go out on weeknights and still have the energy to run early in the morning and function at work. (Yes I know this is a pretty sad definition of "carefree" -- I'm a 25-year-old old person. Sigh.)

I contemplated making a list of things I want to do this summer but the reality is, I just want to have fun. No pressure to get things done. I want to savor the sunsets, drink loads of ice coffee, dine al fresco, and wear inappropriately short dresses in public. (Guess I'm not THAT old.)

So here's to summer 2012. May it be the best one yet!

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Book club

{via}

I absolutely love book club. It's quintessential girl time and it's the best. Plain and simple.

We always ALWAYS have so much fun -- chitchatting, eating cupcakes, and drinking wine. If the book sucks, we don't discuss it at length but that's fine by us --  we're mostly there for the company (and wine -- book club stereotypes are true). And while we didn't all know each other in the beginning, we mesh perfectly. It's quite incredible. I leave each meeting with the biggest smile on my face and a million times happier.

If you have the opportunity to join a book club, I highly recommend it. It will definitely brighten up your week!

Oh and in case you're interested, the next book we're reading is Summer Sister by Judy Blume. It's one of my favorite books of all time -- I've read it every single summer since I was 14 -- and in my opinion, it's the only way to kickoff the season.  

Peach party

I occasionally quite often lose all sense of reality at Costco and end up filling my cart with random items that just aren't very practical in large quantities (though they are fantastic deals!). In that moment of wholesale insanity, I think it's completely feasible for two people to eat 10 avocados, four loaves of bread, and 24 Greek yogurts before their expiration dates.

My latest impulse (great deal) purchase was a box of a dozen peaches. They were already semi-mushy at the store but that naturally did not stop me. I grabbed the box and started fantasizing about all the recipes I'd make -- one last summer peach hurrah!

Fast forward to today -- one week later -- and those peaches are still sitting on my kitchen counter.

But this time -- unlike the avocados and the breads and the yogurts -- I refuse to let Costco win. This weekend I'm going to throw a peach party* and (for real!) make one of the following (easy?) recipes:

• Peach-basil ice cream topping. (From The Pioneer Woman) The only thing I have more of than peaches is basil. No one told me it grows like a weed -- so I planted two plants on my front porch. And now I'm swimming in the stuff.
• Earl Gray peach preserves. (From Eat Live Run) I'm not quite sure how I feel about the Earl Gray-ness of this recipe but I have all the necessary ingredients in my kitchen so I might as well try it out. (Plus Jenna's never steered me wrong before. She's legit.)
• Vanilla-roasted peaches with raspberries. (From Martha Stewart) The idea of roasting peaches with butter and vanilla just seems right to me. Could be the perfect summer to fall peach recipe.
• Peach hydration mask. (From bien-etre) Yes this is a face mask. No it's not edible (sorry boyfriend). Let's hope this plan doesn't backfire.

Which recipe do you like?


*I don't know where this peach party nonsense is coming from. I've never had, been to, or even heard of a peach party.

'Tis the season for my birthday (and it rules!)

As a child, I never understood why adults were so secretive and awkward about their ages. I was told I'd get it when I was older. But I don't! I'm just as excited to turn 25 today as I was to turn 10, 13, 16, 21, and everything in between. (And not just because I get to rent a car sans fees.)

Boyfriend says that I'm still not old enough to understand adults. He says when I turn 29 I will realize that getting older isn't that great. That will be the end all, be all. (Note: he recently turned 29.)

Whatever the reason, I still think of my birthday as a new beginning -- a fresh start -- and I like to spend the day wearing a fabulous dress, laughing with friends, and planning for a fantastic year ahead. (Slightly Pollyannic, I know, but it's my birthday so deal.)

Kind of like this:.

I still get this excited for cake.

So, 24, thanks for the memories, but here's to you, 25. You're going to be the Best. Year. EVER.

( ... until 26.)

Labor Day mashup

As may be evident by the photos above, my Labor Day weekend was filled with random -- yet completely awesome -- things. I survived my first ever 20 mile run (I'm not crazy -- I'm training for the NYC marathon), got all dolled up for drinks with fantastic friends, relaxed on the beach, and tackled some much needed cleaning. Combine that with a lot of silliness and a little baking and you get a great way to end the summer -- and to kick off the fall.

Hurricane (non)survival kit

Looks like Miss Irene didn't wreak that much havoc on Boston -- lucky for me since my hurricane survival kit consisted of coffee, donuts, pancakes, and Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow nail polish. So while I'm well-fed, pampered, and over-caffeinated, I don't think my preparations would've gotten me too far in the case of a real emergency. (Though I feel a powdered sugar doughnut would still come handy.)

Porch perching

My boyfriend and I moved into our apartment in early July and in the past two months we've taken full advantage of one its greatest features: the front porch. It's a fantastic place to drink wine, hang out with the dogs, and watch the sunset. And while neither one of us knows a thing about gardening, thanks to an extremely awesome and helpful man at Home Depot we've even managed to grow some plants on our treetop paradise!