101 in 1001 2.0 / recap

Somehow my second 101 in 1001 list has come to an end. Officially my cutoff date was May 29, 2016, but June was crazy and now that I'm about ready to kick off my new list, I wanted to wrap up the last one! Some items I checked off in the final months...
36. Take a staycation and spend the night in a hotel. A and I spend the night at The Liberty hotel in Boston in May and it was soooo nice to just be away for the night. We watched tv, ordered breakfast in bed, and I took a long very bubbly bubble bath. 

51. Nothing exciting to show, but I finally did a deep clean of the apartment myself. I straight up Googled cleaning tips and my biggest takeaway was to get thee some microfiber cloths. I got these from Amazon and they've been perfect not only for cleaning, but as dish towels! 
64. Read 30 new books. Click here for some of my favorites. 
84. Write a new list. Coming soon!!
89. Plan a wedding. I help friends and family here and there and of course get to help clients at work. But now I'm working on ours!!
97. I learned a little Photoshop while working on our Save the Dates/Invites. 
100. Take a creative class. My friend and I scored a Gilt City voucher for a floral arranging class. So fun!

Anyone else working on a 101 in 1001 list? Leave me the link the comments!

wed / boston public library

I have always had a pretty clear vision of the way I wanted my actual wedding to be, however that definitely doesn't stop me from having many more "wedding alter egos", as I like to call them. Whether it's a black tie New Years Eve wedding at the Plaza Hotel, a sunset beach ceremony, or a glamorous city wedding in Boston, I could easily plan 6 different weddings for myself. 

In a new series of wedding alter egos, I wanted to highlight one the most classic, beautiful Boston venues: the Boston Public Library.  

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I would wear this dress:

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Carry this bouquet for a fall evening:

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And drive away in this car:

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weekend

{photo by Bruce Weber via source} TGIF! This has been a doozy of a week and I'm ready for a break. How fabulous is Mrs. Iris Apfel?? I am dying to see the documentary and am keeping my eyes out for an opportunity to see it here in Boston. 
I have an action packed Saturday with the West Elm/Style Me Pretty pop up shop in Fenway and then heading to a Derby party. Sunday I plan to work on apartment things and getting ready to move in with A. What do you have in store?
And now for your reading pleasure...
Famous Women on Female Friendships
Love avocado toast? I also make Nutella, peanut butter and banana. Here are 5 more toast ideas.
Currently on my nails.
I've been daydreaming NONSTOP about the apartment once I move in with A later this month. I love this paint color, this rug, these tones, and this little corner. 
If Disney princesses texted their princes. Hilarious!
RBG is a badass...and has great relationship advice. 
In case you missed it, I shared some of my favorite Watters wedding gowns earlier this week!

weekend

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Happy weekend! That is all :)

50 things 90s kids won't be able to forget. 

Twenty-four easy lunches. I need to put this to work!

This Downton Abbey parody with the cast and George Clooney is HYSTERICAL!

I really need to stop buying clothes, but I LOVE these tanks from Loft and would like to add more to my closet. 

Did you see my new Boston Guide?! 

19 Secrets of Couples who Stay Together Forever.

local / boston guide

I've lived in Boston for over 7 years now and I thought a little guide to my adopted city was in order. May I direct you attention to the new page at the top of the blog? The list includes my favorite restaurants, shops, and things to do. Is there anything you think I missed?

weekend

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My beautiful friends Leah and Becky are the brains and talent behind Plante Clothing and their spring collection is launching in just a few weeks! They won Best Emerging Designers at Charleston Fashion Week last year and I am so proud. Be sure to check out the look book here. 

This home design by Bailey of Biscuit Home is AH-MAZING! The midcentury modern furniture is beautiful and the turquoise pops are perfection. 

For all the engaged peeps in the house, 10 questions you need to ask before hiring a wedding planner. 

A historic color book that long predates Pantone. 

I loved Meg Biram's profile of Carly from The College Prepster as part of her Get Shit Done series.  Interesting images of what the Boston 2024 Olympics might look like should Boston win the bid.  I hope you're staying warm and cozy on this snowy weekend!

weekend

{source} I've been eyeing this sweater from JCrew.
I ordered this Rifle Paper calendar for my cube and can't wait to put it out! I had wishlisted this wayyyy back when the original art was spotted on Instagram in the spring. 
8 tips for decluttering. 
Eastern Standard brunch is in my future for my birthday on Sunday!
This article is super helpful when addressing holiday cards. I just watched Reckless this month and wish it wasn't cancelled!! I love that it takes place in my hometown. 
This little table arrived for the apartment and is already so handy. 
What your ice cream flavor says about you.
32 amazing makeup tricks just in time for holiday festivities!

weekend

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This pumpkin party cooler from THE Martha Stewart is so easy and adorable! It makes me want to throw a Halloween party!! Anyone have some fun plans for tonight? I'll be poking around Beacon Hill with some friends/coworkers. 

It's been awhile since I posted links and it's high time I brought that back.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out my Charleston recap.

Fun movie and snack pairings from Cupcakes and Cashmere.

These dogs of the world posters are so cute! 

It seems like all of my favorite bloggers are doing the One Room Challenge and I'm especially loving the living room Mackenzie is doing and Molly's new bedroom. 

Are you a City Girl or Southern Belle? I got Southern Belle!

Disney Princess in historically accurate outfits.

A and I have been on a bit of a BBQ kick and can't quite decide if we like Soul Fire or Sweet Cheeks better. 

decorate / boston brownstone

I love interiors and I especially love when I come across one in Boston. I feel a closer connection to the space; maybe I've met the inhabitants if only in passing or maybe I've admired the exterior of the building. This "gorgeously layered Boston brownstone" caught my eye on Pinterest and I feel like I could move in tomorrow. My favorite elements are the textured or patterned neutrals layered with pops of color. I tend to choose more neutral paint colors and invest in more neutral furniture and then accessorizing in color. Any interiors catching your attention lately?

local / haymarket

On Saturday, A and I went to Haymarket (the actual market, not the T stop) to pick out a ton of produce and figure out what to make later. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THE AWESOMENESS?!?!?!

For $11 we got 6 quarts of strawberries (in our over-excitement, we didn’t inspect them closely, so only about 2.5 quarts were edible), 2 pints of blackberries, a bulb of fennel, 2 lbs of potatoes, 2 eggplant, a papaya, 9 radishes, 4 jalapenos, 2 avocado, 2 tomatoes, a zucchini, and a bunch of asparagus. I will be taking FULL advantage for the remainder of the season. I even walk right past the market on my way to the gym on Fridays and never stopped to look. 

We threw veggies on the grill, but of course those berries needed some brown sugar and butter…

…and vanilla ice cream…

Delicious. I used a recipe from Pinterest. 

What have you been cooking this summer?

weekend / summer

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Happy long weekend my dears! Anyone have any exciting plans? I’m planning to take it easy and get ready for a fun week next week: making my friend a birthday dinner, going to the Boston Ballet, and leaving for a wedding in Las Vegas. 

Here are some fun things from around the interwebs…

I’m loving this dress and this dress, but can’t come up with an excuse to get one.

Tory Burch stores are pretty freaking awesome!

20 adorable pups going home from the shelter. 

I tried two new easy dinner recipes this week and LOVED them. Orecchiette with Leeks, Peas, and Pecorino (I might add Pancetta next time) and Korean Beef Bowls.

I FINALLY read Dan Brown’s Inferno this week. Amazing as always.

An MBTA map of Boston/Cambridge bars. I agree with some, but not others. Thoughts?

local / highball lounge

Tonight I’m so excited to attend the #bostonbloggers event at Highball Lounge. Highball is located at the Nine Zero Hotel on Tremont Street and the vintage vibe is so fun and there are even board games! I can’t wait to drink a #duckierosé :)

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local / boston marathon

I posted this on Instagram today, but wanted to share here too:

As my beloved adopted city hosts the 118th Boston Marathon, Vice President Joe Biden’s words ring in my ears. Amid sadness and remembrance, it’s an amazing feeling to see Boston excited and ready to cheer on the runners. #bostonstrong

local / red sox game

Baseball season is back and as much as I can get frustrated at the crowds and traffic around a Red Sox game, there really is nothing like attending a game at Fenway Park.

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My sweet boyfriend got us tickets for tonight since we’ve both had a tough couple of weeks at work and I’m so excited for a hot dog, beer, and baseball. Maybe spring really is coming…

weekend

Don’t these lovely ladies make you itch for a dressy masquerade party? Reminds me of my junior prom…

A few things I’m loving this week:

I did some Dine Out Boston eating over the past two weeks. My favorites were the brussel sprout caesar salad at Met Back Bay, the Elote Con Chili atZocalo (never had it? find a Mexican or tapas place STAT), and the Papardalle with Lamb Ragu at Clink.

I’m re-reading Ella Enchanted for the zillionth time. That book is one of my very favorites and I’ve been falling in love with Ella and Char all over again.

Sur la Table sent me a mini catalogue; who knew there were so many fruit specific tools?!

I’m newly addicted to Veep.

Am I the only one who loved diagramming sentences?

JCrew does it again with this fun color film.

15 things you didn’t know about your iPhone.

And a few design tips from the masters.

Happy weekend-ing!!

inspired / john varvatos

Really amazing light fixture in the @johnvarvatos store in #boston. #decor #design cc: @durbinadam

weekend

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How sweet is this fall engagement photo by Gina Brocker Photography? I love that it’s so cozy and loving and fall. I’m working both days this weekend and prepping to have some friends over on Monday. As usual, I’ve made social plans too: BU/BC hockey game tonight to celebrate a special birthday and seeing my cousin who is in town for work!

Happy weekend!

weekend

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We have yet another gorgeous fall weekend ahead of us in Boston, just in time for the Head of the Charles Regatta. I sadly was out of town last year and had to miss not only the fun and the energy of the races, but seeing friends from college. In between working parts of both Saturday and Sunday, I’ll be out and about cheering on Boston University and my friend Tom who is coxing a club boat! 

Have a great weekend!

diy / sewing class boston

I posted what feels like forever ago about the hand blocked fabric I ordered from Etsy to make Euro shams with. I started out by following a Pinterest tutorial and it was all wrong. (Note to self: don’t follow just any tutorial on Pinterest.) 

I did some Googling and found Grey’s Fabric and Notions in the South End. I signed up for a 1 hour private lesson and liked that if I needed more time I could rent the sewing machine time as I needed. Ashley was really awesome and I loved that she showed me each step and checked on me (or I could call her over when I un-threaded the machine for the 10th time), but I had the chance to work a bit on my own.

The shams aren’t perfect (since the fabric is handmade, it’s a little tougher to cut in super straight lines…plus I’m pretty new at this), but after several months, I finally finished them and feel like my bedroom looks so much more complete!

Now I just have to decide which way to make my bed!

wed / signature cockail

Signature cocktails have been a trend for awhile in weddings and events. Some couples choose drinks that match the color scheme, while others choose to feature the bride’s favorite and the groom’s favorite. Another way to choose your signature cocktails is to pick drinks that relate to the bride and groom’s hometowns. 

Since I live in Boston, I have to share one of my favorite cocktails in the city: the Boston Tea Party. I discovered this at The Marliave in Downtown Crossing and the mixture of tequila, earl grey tea, lemon and ginger beer is amazing.

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Not big on cocktails? Try featuring beers local to the bride or groom’s hometown. 

What drinks are you featuring at your wedding?