FOURTH OF JULY: WHAT TO EAT + DRINK

This time tomorrow, I'll be heading for the runway at the tiny airport near our beach house in North Carolina, ready to touch down for a weekend of family, sunshine, craziness, and of course, food.  We do a traditional cookout on the Fourth - cheeseburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, and corn on the cob.  I personally think there's nothing better after a long day on the beach.  You can keep it simple like we do, or make your All-American meal as fancy as you want (sriracha corn or bacon bourbon baked beans, anyone?) Or go the surf route instead of the turf and enjoy some good fresh lobstah. According to my personal philosophy, a meal is not complete without dessert, so finish it off with a yummy shortcake topped with the perfect American color-combo: white whipped cream and red and blue berries!

And of, course, how could I forget something to wash it all down with? Crack open one of Budweiser's American-themed bottles to be extra festive (yes, even I will drink Bud Heavy for the occasion).  Or celebrate with another summer staple - watermelon. Soak it in tequila, dip it in salt, and you've got a portable margarita! You can sip a strawberry daquiri on the beach, or sit on the front porch and watch the Forth of July parade with some Front Porch Lemonade - a yummy mix of bourbon and ginger and lemonade. (And y'all know how much I like my bourbon.)

Above all, remember this: eat, drink, and be aMERIcan.

CHEESEBURGER / GRILLER LOBSTER / BUDWEISER / STRAWBERRY DAQUIRI / CORN ON THE COB / STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE / FRONT PORCH LEMONADE (WITH BOURBON) / TEQUILA WATERMELON / BACON BOURBON BAKED BEANS

FOURTH OF JULY: WHAT TO WEAR

dorothy perkins dress / jcrew bikini / forever 21 shorts / PJK skirt / clare vivier clutch / jcrew striped shirt / charlie jade maxi dress / sea bags tote / lovers and friends shorts / dolce vita top / jcrew sunhat / design darling necklace / forever 21 shorts / ray ban aviators 

I'm kicking off the countdown to one of my favorite holidays, the FOURTH OF JULY, with a little outfit inspiration. I always dress up for the 4th - both because I'm always at the beach for my family reunion and we never half-ass anything, and because half my closet is navy and white stripes anyway, so it's not entirely difficult. While the heinous accessories of American flag handkerchiefs tired around my head, leis, red white and blue beads, and other monstrosities from Party City might be well in my past (and luckily for me, immortalized in photographs), I still plan out a festive Fourth outfit.  

I'm just at the beach with the fam, so I tend to stick to a jorts-and-top combo, but I may have to step up my game to the fireworks shorts above.  And if you're doing anything remotely fancy, that maxi is a must.  I've found that pretty much everyone has blue and white in their closet, but red is a bit harder to come by. If you don't have that perfect red/white/blue printed skirt shown above, you can always just throw a red coral necklace on with your favorite Breton striped shirt or eyelet top.  

The bottom line: there no excuse not to dress up and party like it's 1776. #murica

HAPPY JULY!

Happy first day of the best month of the year!

July 4th, smack dab in the middle of summer, beach days, barbecues, popsicles, and my birthday (!!!!).... 

What more could a girl ask for?

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HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

Happy Memorial Day! Raise your beer to all the brave men and women who've fought to preserve our freedom.

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

ONE / TWO

Shout out to all you baby mamas, including my own. Keeping on doing what you're doing!

CINCO DE TACO

In honor of the upcoming Cinco de Mayo weekend, I give you THE BEST TACOS EVER.

Make many, and enjoy with chips and guac, sombreros, and margs on margs.

(clockwise from top left)

01. Chili-fried Butternut Squash Tacos with Mango Pineapple Salsa 

02. Baja Fish Tacos

03. Corn + Tomatillo Tacos

04. Crockpot Cheddar Beer Chicken Tacos

05. Roasted Veggie Tacos with Avocado Cream and Feta

06. Chipotle Butternut Squash, Black Bean, and Goat Cheese Tacos

07. Shrimp and Zucchini Tacos 

And of course, enjoy....

ONE / TWO

HAPPY EASTER

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Happy Easter amigos!

Wishing I was at home to celebrate with my family and a big Easter brunch.

(And of course, my favorite - Peeps!)

SPRINGBREAKERS

01. warby parker sunglasses / 02. kendra scott earrings / 03. stradivarius blouse / 04. etsy high-waisted jean shorts / 05. ancient greek clio sandals / 06. nine west clutch / 07. jcrew bikini / 08. the market basket co. straw tote / 09. gorjana rectangular hoops / 10. mara hoffman dress / 11. dsquared wedges

It's that time of year again - SPRING. BREAK.

Yes, we get it even here in Spain.  Technically, it's semana santa - aka Holy Week aka the week before Easter, but a week of no classes is a week of no classes, right?  I'm headed out of town Sunday, hitting up the Canary Islands, Valencia, and Mallora before making my way back to BCN.  That's right - enough of these cultural European cities.  This girl's tryna get her tan on.  

In the world inside my head, this is what I'd pack - a big tote bag and sandals to walk around town during the day, sunglasses and a bikini for the beach, and a tropical shift dress and wedges for when the sun goes down.  After all, you can only fit so much in a carry on, but when you're headed to the beach, you don't need much!

IT AIN'T EASY

This weekend is St. Paddy's Day.  (Not St. Patty's Day).  It's one of my favorite holidays, because it always seems to mark the start of Spring and pretty much all it entails is drinking lots of beer. (And also putting on lots of sunscreen, thanks to the fair skin and freckles that actually stem from my Irish heritage.)  This year, however, St. Patrick's Day is going to be a little bit different than just a giant fraternity party.

This year, I'm going to be in DUBLIN.

That's right - this girl's going to be at the heart of it all, in actual Ireland, to celebrate.  Sure, it'll be lots of American tourists, but whatever.  I'll be with a bunch of my friends (and I mean a bunch - St. Paddy's Day seems to be the Spring version of Oktoberfest for study abroad students).  I'll be rocking my green jeans.  I'll be drinking actual Guinness.  And I'll be in actual Ireland.

BAM!

For those of you significantly less cooler than me (just kidding), you can still celebrate in style.  

Check out some of these green picks to get you in the spirit for this weekend!

LOEFFLER RANDALL PUMPS / MICHAEL KORS COCKTAIL RING / SALONI MARIE BLOUSE / SEA DRESS / LINDA FARROW FOR THE ROW SUNGLASSES / STEVEN SHOES / MICHAEL KORS BAG / RAG & BONE CARDIGAN / FADE TO BLUE JEANS

BE MEIN

If you haven't thought of the perfect something to get your Valentine, just send them one of Ben Kling's fabulous Dictator Valentines. (Leon Trotsky is my fav, in case any of y'all were wondering).  Hope everyone celebrates all the love in their life today, no matter what kind!

Me, I'll be celebrating my love of chocolate, champagne, and cheesy romantic comedies.

Big plans.

BE MINE, VALENTINE

all images via my pinterest

JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY

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Between going to London this past weekend, Valentine's Day, and Fashion Week, I've got far too much to blog about and way too little time. Expect some London pics, some V-day suggestions, and some Fashion Week recap coming soon to a screen near you. So buckle your seatbelts and keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle - this week is going to be crazy!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to a spectacular 2013!

Wishing y'all a happy new year - go out and celebrate!

images (clockwise from top left): 

ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR / FIVE / SIX / 

SEVEN / EIGHT / NINE / TEN / ELEVEN / TWELVE

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Give, cherish, and celebrate.

See you fools in 2013!

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

Talk about a twist on a classic.

Only four days left!!!!

EENIE MEENIE MINEY MOE

via furbish.

DESIGN*SPONGE THANKSGIVING TABLES

Continuing with the Thanksgiving-themed posts for the week, I bring you a little tablescape inspiration, courtesy of Design*Sponge.  They tapped some of their favorite artists, designers, and shop owners to style tables for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a great idea, and cool to see each individual put their own twist on things.  Above are some of my favorites to get you in the mood for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!

clockwise from top left: spartan / furbish / jayson home / eddie ross / john derian / matt armendariz

DRINK OF THE DAY: BOURBON PUMPKIN SHAKES

In honor of Thanksgiving tomorrow, I present the best way to use all that leftover pumpkin!
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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: THANKSGIVING

So here's the deal: you're home for Thanksgiving at your parents' house.  Maybe it's just your close immediate family, maybe you've got your third cousin once removed there.  Point is, it's Thanksgiving dinner with the family, and you've somehow been volun-told to make a dessert.  This is where your life turns into a choose-your-own-adventure paperbacks I used to check out of my middle school library, where picking the wrong thing could lead to DEATH.
(Or, you know, just being ridiculed and possibly cut out of the will).

**DISCLAIMER: This is an exaggeration.  The author passes no judgement if you make a pumpkin pie, at any point on the homemade to store-bought continuum.  Pumpkin pie is delicious.  She is merely pointing out that this might be a good chance to actually make one of those recipes you always pin to Pinterest.  Also, no matter which option you pick, there is no guarantee of tears of either joy or sorrow.

OPTION 1: Rustic Apple Pie Tart.

I guess it's technically a tart, but it also has the word pie in it, so it counts.  

Also, bonus points if you make it in a cute mini cast iron skiller.  (via.)

OPTION 2: Bourbon Pecan Pie.

One word: bourbon. Also, it was featured in Garden & Gun, so it's gotta be pretty good. (via.)

OPTION 3: Spiced Bourbon Apple Pie.

I repeat - bourbon.  Also a good one for people who don't like pumpkin. (via.)

OPTION 4: Shoefly Pie.

According to the website, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert.  Main flavor: molasses. (via.)

OPTION 5: Sweet Potato Pecan & Bourbon Pie.

Again with the bourbon.  And the pecans. Twist! This one's got sweet potato in to as well. (via.)

OPTION 6: Crack Pie.

A recipe from Milk Bar by way of Bon Appetit; so called because of its addictive qualities.

Warning: may require an intervention. (via)

Make the right choice & may the odds be ever in your favor, my friends!