12 in 12

I met a friend for dinner the other night at a fun, local cafe with great food and live music. We noted how many fun places to eat Raleigh has to offer, and she came up with the idea that I should visit one new-to-me restaurant each month and write about the ones I try. Sort of like a New Year's resolution and bucket list rolled into one! Here are my 12 for the coming year:

1. Sitti
2. Sushi O
3. Jose and Sons
4. The Remedy Diner
5. Bida Manda
6. Joule Coffee + Table
7. Seaboard Cafe
8. Cala Vela
9. Sam & Wally's
10. The Big Easy
11. The Borough
#12 - TBD

I've been wanting to try some of these places for while - Sitti and Bida Manda look especially interesting. I'll let you know how it goes!

Apartment Update

I'm beginning to understand that wherever I live, I will probably never feel "finished" decorating - it's more of an ongoing (as in, forever) process. But, now the new place has begun to feel cozy and much more like home. The living room is definitely my favorite room in the apartment. My roommate and I didn't know we would have a fireplace until we walked in on move-in day, but, let me tell you, it has already been put to good use!

Here is a peek at what it looked like when we first moved in:

Here's a glimpse of my view nowadays:

The wreath above the mantel is by far my best purchase to date, despite what others may say about my hanging it over the mirror. You know who you are...

Success!

Tonight is a night of great achievement. I cooked at the apartment and didn't ruin anything! The last time I tried to make food here, things did not end well. In fact, things ended at Chipotle down the street because of some dried-out sweet potatoes and some burnt steaks. This time around I opted for a no-heat-required recipe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie. It's one of my favorites because it tastes amazing - perfect for a summer evening - and it's healthy! Guess what I'll be having for breakfast tomorrow?

Here's the recipe from Carrie on Living:

Be forewarned - this is a vegan recipe, so it has tofu in it. I am not a vegan, and I don't like tofu, but I can't get enough of this pie, so it's definitely worth a try!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie

Ingredients

• For crust:
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• ⅔ cup dry almonds
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup pitted dates
• For filling:
• 1 12-ounce package organic silken tofu
• 1½ cups pitted dates
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup cacao
• ⅓ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup unsweetened soy milk

Instructions

1. Crust: Combine the coconut, almonds, and salt in a food processor and pulse until the nuts are finely ground.
2. Add the dates, 2 to 3 at a time, pulsing between additions until well-incorporated and the mixture is crumbly but slightly sticky.
3. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate or tart pan with removable bottom. press the mixture thinly, firmly, and evenly onto the sides and bottom of the pan.
4. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you make the filling.
5. Filling: Combine tofu, dates, vanilla extract, cacao, peanut butter, and soy milk in a high-speed blender and process until smooth.
6. Use the tamper if necessary to push the ingredients into the blade.
7. Pour the blended mixture over the crust and use a spatula to smooth the top.
8. Place entire pie into the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving so filling can firm up.
9. Serve cold.

Enjoy!

J. Crew for Fall

If you know me at all, you know the love I have for J. Crew. (I may or may not have been known to claim that if J. Crew were a man, I would probably marry him.) In any case, even though some of their pieces are a little too "straight-off-the-runway" for me, I love lots of the classic styles that J. Crew offers. I usually can't afford to buy their clothes at full price, but it's still fun to browse the store and the website!

Here are a few of my favorites for the ladies:

Side-Zip Stripe Tee

Buttercream Cashmere Boyfriend V-Neck Sweater

Navy Quilted Vest

Sandstone Staduim-Cloth Cocoon Coat

Laine Boots

Don't these Vintage Pajamas look so cozy!

And some of my favorites for the gents:

Secret Wash Shirt

Elbow Patch Sweater

Penfield Outback Vest

Quoddy for J. Crew Canoe Shoes

Every guy needs some fun socks for the fall!

Happy shopping!

Wedding Wear

When deciding what to wear to a wedding, one must consider some very important questions:

1. What did the invitation look like? If the invitation is embossed with scrolling letters and tied with ribbons, it is likely that the wedding will be more of a formal occasion. However, if the invitation comes on a postcard with a RSVP website, it's a safe bet that the wedding will be a much more casual affair. 

2. In what season does the wedding take place? For a casual summer wedding, a light, floral dress would be perfectly appropriate. For a more formal winter wedding, a darker, floor-length dress might be the better option. 

3. What time of day is the wedding? Daytime affairs tend to be more casual, while evening weddings are usually more formal. Flat sandals would be fine at an earlier wedding, while heels would be more appropriate at an evening event. 

I attended a formal wedding several weeks ago and wore a black and gold dress and a pearl-drop necklace - both from J. Crew - with black, patent-leather pumps from Cole Haan (similar shoes found here). The dress and necklace were both on sale at the J. Crew store after Christmas, and the I found the pumps heavily discounted at T. J. Maxx. Good clothes don't have to break the bank!

Here are my brothers and sister with me at the reception. Don't they look amazing!

The District of Columbia

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I really want to go to Washington DC for a day. Actually, there are a lot of places I would love to travel to see, but DC seems the most reasonable at this point in my life.

When I was in middle school or high school my family took a trip to see the museums, and I remember two things very vividly:
     1. We waited hours and hours in line to see the Hope diamond (such a let-down, by the way).
     2. We went to two different air and space museums. That's right, two. I wanted to go to the history museum to see all the first ladies' inaugural ball gowns. But no. Apparently my parents thought two museums dedicated to air and space would be beneficial for my brother who wanted to go into the air force at the time. We literally saw every airplane that was available for viewing. I was not a happy camper.

If I go this fall, I would avoid the air and space museums at all cost, and instead I would love to go to:
    1. The National Gallery of Art
    2. The National Museum of American History
    3. The International Spy Museum
    4. A fun cafe for lunch (any recommendations?)
    5. See a show at the Kennedy Center

I'm also slightly bitter about a promised a visit to Mount Vernon that never materialized. Clearly I'm more scarred than I realized about my childhood excursion to our nation's capital. Maybe I'll get to visit George Washington's home on one of my "grown-up" adventures.

Grown Up

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Being "grown up" is kind of scary. Ok, a lot scary. All the newness in my life is exciting, but it can also be massively overwhelming at the same time. I love my apartment, but it still feels like someone else should be living here and I should just be visiting. I also love having a new job, but it's often frustrating to still be learning the ropes and feeling one or two (or sometimes three or four) steps behind.

All growing up and all through college I would constantly think to myself, enjoy this now, because one day it won't be this way anymore. I would lie in bed at night and hear my brothers stomping around the room above me - Don't be annoyed. One day you won't live here anymore. Enjoy having everyone under the same roof. I would walk across campus to an early morning class - Don't wish this away. One day you won't be a student here anymore. Enjoy the days of having a schedule and be thankful you get to study something you love. I would always try to savor each moment, even the difficult or mundane ones, because I knew things would eventually change and I could never go back.

Things have changed. I can't go back. So even though I feel as though I'm standing in a deluge of all that is unfamiliar, I want to appreciate the good moments as well as the hard ones because I know this won't last forever. I don't want to wish this time away only to look back and regret not enjoying these crazy, difficult, fun, overwhelming, growing-up days.

Celebrity Style: Keri Russell

I love Keri Russell. Ever since I saw The Magic of Ordinary Days and realized she has curly hair, I have been a fan. Now, thanks to Pinterest, I also know that she has great style! I posted a picture of her adorable living room here, and her simple, classic outfits are fantastic.

It's no secret - I love stripes. And navy and white strips are the best kind, in my opinion. I also love the fact that it would be easy to recreate this look with a striped tank and a pair of white jeans.

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She looks amazing in all white - something I probably would not be brave enough to try. I love how she pulls classic shapes together - like these high-waisted tailored pants and white blouse - and yet adds her own flare with the platform pumps and popped collar.

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And just as stunning as her all white ensemble is this black jumpsuit with a pop of pink.

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Just check out her shoes! I like that she pairs some trendy pumps with her structured blazer and cigaret pants. This is another one of her looks that would be easy to recreate.

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Ok, confession time. Women who dress to the nines when they fly intimidate me. You know the ones I mean: the 5 inch heels, the layers of jewelry, the perfectly coiffed hair, and the flawless makeup. Even on my regular days, I just let my hair air dry and throw on some basic makeup. I don't know how it can be practical to travel like that! On the other hand, it bothers me when people wear their pajamas on the airplane. Granted, there are some long international flights, but you're on a plane - people have to look at you! At least let them look at something pretty. Keri nails "travel style" with classic, comfortable pieces. You can never go wrong with some skinnies and a button up!

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Fall Pieces

Raleigh weather has been glorious this summer. I mean, days upon days of sunny 80 degree weather - who could complain?! I love being able to pair shorts with bright sweaters in the middle of July. But this cooler summer weather and the fall styles in retail windows have me thinking ahead to days of jeans and vests and scarves. Until then, here are a few of the things I have my eye on for the fall:

Blue and white has to be my favorite color combination. 

This classic scarf from Sole Society is right up my alley.

Loft now carries an adorable line from Lou and Grey. 

This slouchy, linen jacket would be perfect for a cool summer evening or a brisk fall day.

I loved this herringbone vest that J. Crew Factory  carried last fall, but they sold out before I could snag one. This year as soon as I found out they were back in stock, I ordered one right away! My cousin just moved from Maryland to Raleigh (right across the street from me! But thats another story for another day) and I told her that one of my favorite things about winters here is that most days you can throw on a vest and a scarf and you're good to go! No bulky coats to lug around and swelter underneath once you're indoors. 

At my new job, I have to keep my things in a locker while I'm working. A casual clutch would be perfect because I could grab it on my way out, toss it in my locker, and still have something classic to carry if I have plans after work. I love this simple, leather, foldover clutch from K. Slademade - even though it is a little out of my price range right now.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy all the summer Raleigh has left!

Newness

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Everything seems to be beginning all at once. This week. Today.

All though college, I wondered what life would be like once I was done with school. Now that I'm no longer a student, I realize I am just "starting" - new job, new address, new people, new opportunities, new perspectives. Life seems to have reset itself, and I am relishing it.

Today was my first day working in an environment that is absolutely new to me. I have almost always been self-employed, so working a fast paced job in a large company is such a refreshing change. Even from what I saw today, opportunities are endless and everyday there is something new to learn. Later this week I'll be living at a new address, and I can't begin to describe how excited I am make an empty place into my place. Life feels like a blank slate today. Anything can happen. So many things will happen, and I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for when they do.

Oh, Instagram...

I saw this article the other day and had to chuckle:

What I Instagrammed Vs. What Was Really Happening, or My Entire Life is a Lie

Olivia is on point with her witty, yet slightly self-depricating perspective on "presenting the real version of yourself" via Instagram. I'm definitely guilty of number 2. But number 9 hit closer to home, because, even though I don't really eat pastries, her "What it Looks Like I'm Doing" pretty much sums up how I want people to perceive me - and I don't even own a bike! 

In all fairness though, I do like to see well presented, aesthetic pictures on Instagram - even those that are obviously staged - because it's nice to catch a glimpse of someone's creativity. Little bits of beauty from the lives of others can often inspire me to go ahead and paint that picture frame, or read a new book, or grab coffee with a friend, or try a new recipe. Nothing wrong with that. But it's also a good reminder to avoid presenting myself as someone that I'm not. 

Inspiration

Moving comes with some major perks: deciding on furniture and decor, for example. All those hours on Pinterest will finally pay off! Here are a few living spaces that have caught my attention lately:

 Emily Henderson's adorable first apartment.

Keri Russel's Brooklyn living room featured on Elle.

Laura Bateman's D.C. apartment featured on The EveryGirl.

And this cozy little corner from Domino.

Hopefully, I'll be able to post pictures from my own little apartment soon! 

Moving Out

     Moving out. Two parts exciting plus eight parts "what the heck have I gotten myself into!" You mean I have to be a grown up now? With insurance and utility bills and everything? Man, if I had known what it meant to "grow up" back in 5th grade, I would have just stayed there forever - doing homework, playing house, digging holes in the yard with my brothers, and begging my mom for a dog. Yet, here I am, sitting at home on a couch in my bedroom (which is much too small for a couch) getting ready to move this white, three-seater to my new apartment in a few short weeks. Raleigh better look out!