Long Weekend Mode

Last night I used the rest of a gift card from a spa and treated myself to a manicure.

I know, I know-the color is appalling.  When I picked it out I thought it would be more coral, less Halloween.  The thing is, I have trouble telling people I don't like something because I'm always scared it will cause conflict. As soon as the first nail was painted, I slapped on a smile and told her how wonderful it looked. Hey, at least it was free!

I leave for the beach tomorrow with this little guy, and it couldn't have come at a better time.  This week has been exhausting, and I'm just tired from trudging through the month that was August. The thing is, as soon as I get back from my mini vaca, my schedule is only only going to get crazier.  After Labor Day I start two classes, along with the full-time job thing. Lately, I've been questioning if I can handle being in school. All of the students at Penn moved back to campus today, and heading back to work after lunch, a government worker approached the boy walking in front of me to ask him if he wanted to register to vote. He said he would if he could, but he was only 17 and wouldn't turn 18 before the election. 17! I then realized I will be 17, PLUS 10! Yikes. Hopefully the kids in my art classes won't wonder why the old lady with the Jack-o-lantern nails is taking their course. Gulp.

Luckily I have the beach separating me from my worrisome Fall schedule, and I'm focusing on the things below instead.

Lots of books!

My sun hat I never even wore this summer.

Lounging with these guys.

Feeling Good About Dinner

Sometimes healthy recipes end up lacking in flavor and substance. I try to cook with fresh ingredients, but when I'm craving hearty pasta or anything with lots of cheese and carbs, I usually indulge and never feel good after. Real Simple magazine had a healthy recipe section, and I decided to give one a whirl. Chase and I were both skeptical, and I made sure we had ice cream in the freezer to balance out the blandness that was sure to be our dinner. I was wrong. This recipe had tons of flavor. And the best part? We had leftovers to eat with tortillas and avocado the following night. Yum.

I didn't flatten the chicken, or even slice it.  It was easy enough to cut up in same bowl with everything else.

I did end up having ice cream, but that's kind of a give in with every meal.  The thing about this dinner is it's so healthy I didn't have to feel bad about it.

Valley Forge Bike Trip

We rented bikes on Sunday and road the route along the Valley Forge National Park.  The last time I road bikes was in college up to Cabrillo National Monument.  It looked like this.

I remember at the time thinking there wasn't any view that would ever top the ocean on both sides, the white gravestones spotting the cliffs and the tip of the island with the lighthouse ahead. I still feel that the views in San Diego can rival most, but Valley Forge was really beautiful on Sunday. I'm hoping to head back this Fall when the leaves change, although there is something to be said for green grass and blue skies.

If you look closely at the photo below you can see a pretty girl in a green dress and a guy on a blanket having a picnic between the trees.   Our relationship is a bit more comfortable, and we spent the day huffing our way around the bike trails, trying not to curse at the steep hills. I'm not sure if I have what it takes to star in The Notebook.

Customized Liquor Bottle Tutorial

Some people have asked me how to make the personalized liquor bottle labels, so I'm including a quick tutorial below.

Make a simple label in a design program or even in Microsoft Office and print it out on thicker card stock. Use a metal ruler, a cutting board and an exacto knife to trim the around the edge.

I used isoproanol from the lab at work to remove the tequilla label, but soap and warm water or a little nail polish remover will also work.

Use spray on glue and cover the back of the label completely.  I quickly lined up the label and smoothed it out with my hands (the photo was stuck on beforehand using a standard glue stick).

If your bottle doesn't have a straight edge like mine did (wine bottles tend to be round), you can use a rubber band to hold the label on until the glue dries. An easy idea to customize any alcohol for an event!

(Please ignore the terrible cutting job with Jill's right hand!)

Jill and Mike!

 Two weeks ago my best friend Jill got engaged, and on Friday she stayed the night at our little apartment and I got to meet her future husband!  We had so much fun catching up (Jill and I) and getting to know each other (Chase and I with Mike). We also fit in a Saturday brunch before they headed off to Lancaster to an engagement party. I was so excited to be able to celebrate their engagement in person! They are both so perfect for one another and I can't wait to hear about their first year together in Virginia with Jill starting school. Exciting changes!

Pictures from our time together are below.

A Birthday Journal

A friend had a birthday last week, and I decided to give her something a little more personal than the standard bottle of wine. She's a student, so I thought a journal would be appropriate for daily notes, thoughts and otherwise. I purchased this journal kit and used some fancy paper I already owned, my metal ruler, spray glue, a glue brush and exacto knife. The instructions in the journal kit were overwhelming. I knew right away I would never be able to figure it out if I attempted to use them. After a quick google search, I found a blog with beautiful instructions, but it was still a little complicated to scroll up and down between the pictures/steps, all while keeping my gluey fingers away from the iPad screen.  I tailored them down in the simplest way I could below.

The end result was less than perfect, but I also find it thoughtful.  I think the gift became nicer, a little bit crooked and clearly not store bought :)

Chicken Curry- a la Crockpot

I decided to use my crockpot for dinner tonight since the oven makes my apartment unbearably hot.  Martha Stewart recommends this chicken curry recipe.  I didn't have any ginger on hand, but it wasn't really missed in the final result. We served the curry over rice, and the entire dish was such an easy solution to a warm summer night, I'll probably make it again before the end of August.

Dreaming of Autumn

I used to be a summer girl. Growing up in Massachusetts, the winters were incredibly long and bitter, and the thought of summer would get me through. Summers in New England are warm, but not oppressive, and even when the occasional heat wave rolls through, a giant thunderstorm will follow and bring cool air with it. I always spent my summers outside, either working at an outdoor park, sitting by a pool, or reading on my porch swing well into the evening. My love for summer weather eventually contributed to my decision to move to San Diego. The sunshine changed my mood for the better, and I wanted to have it available all year round.

The first summer we spent in Philadelphia was brutal.  I remember moving our stuff into our third floor apartment and being appalled by how hot it was. We used some of our savings to buy little window air conditioner units, and I don't remember being able to turn them off until the end of September. While Chase was at school and in between looking for a job, I hunted for an outdoor space to escape from our apartment. I never succeeded. One night Chase returned from class to announce he was taking me to a park (!).  The park ended up being private property squeezed behind a city hospital, and we were quickly asked to leave. It was such a shock to come from a place with endless sandy beaches and an apartment complex that had a pool.  I started to hate summer.

Each summer has gotten a little better in Philadelphia. We plan strategic weekend trips to the beach, and visits to the city pool but as we are nearing mid-August, I again wish for summer to be finished. The city buildings trap the heat, and we have had little rain to cool things down. I am becoming an Autumn girl, and I'll dream of it to get me through this summer.

This Fall, I'll be looking forward to:

1.   using my oven without feeling as if my apartment will spontaneously combust

2.   cooking with apples

3.   hard cider

4.   boots

5.   opening all of our windows

6.   wearing my hair down

7.   leaves

8.   my favorite crossing guard who will return to our neighborhood elementary school post

9.   cooking with butternut squash

10. cool nights that require thermal sheets and my down comforter

Rainy Morning--> Humid Afternoon

Dressing for the weather on work days can be complicated.  I'm lucky that I don't have to be fancy at my current job, and most days I resort to jeans and a simple top. This is fine in moderate weather, but as the summer comes to an end, I'm expecting the weird chilly morning /rainy weather that turns to blistering hot in the afternoons.  This is typical of Philly, and it always frustrates me when I have to lug around my tall rain boots, thick sweater and giant umbrella in the heat of the afternoon. Above are selections from my own closet I have recently bought to carry me into Fall. (I cut myself off from "summer clothes" shopping, but all of these items can work in both seasons!)

1. Good quality t-shirt

I've been wanting a Vince tee ever since I casually brushed my hand against one in a Nordstrom years ago. The fabric actually stopped me in my tracks. These shirts are beyond soft and have the subtlest bit of stretch that hangs in all the right places. I could never justify the high price tag, but I almost did a little jig last weekend when I found one in blue at TJ Maxx. I've already worn it on its own and can't wait to layer it throughout the Fall.

2. Stiletto ankle jeans

The jeans are another TJ Maxx find (on the sale rack!) for $24.99, and I absolutely love how light and airy they are. In the winter I want my jeans to be warmer and more durable, but on summer days when I'm faced with 8 hours in an air conditioned office, I need jeans that won't make me sweat on my commute. The ankle length is also perfect for sandals in the summer and boots when things get chilly.

3. Lightweight Scarf

There isn't much to say about this scarf except that it was on sale ($14.99) and it's light enough to wear in the summer. I wore it on the beach in NJ, and I plan to wear it into the Fall.

4. Rain Parka

I love this rain jacket.  I used a gift card to buy it, and I look forward to wearing it whenever the forecast calls for rain.  If you have a commute and find yourself struggling to walk with a heavy jacket at the end of the day when the rain stops, this lightweight parka is great for rolling up and stuffing in a work bag. 

5. Rain Booties 

I hunted these rain boots down for almost a year before finding them at 60% off on Endless. (They seem to be sold out now.) My favorite thing about these boots is that I can wear them in the morning when it's raining, and not have to bring a change of shoes for the rest of the day. I definitely recommend owning a pair of short rain boots. I used to be a tall rain boot kind of girl, but these boots converted me, and I'll never go back. I haven't found any issues with the height being too short, and unless I'm forced to commute to work in a hurricane, they should do just fine.