Scenes from the Beach 2014

I'm sad that our vacation is ending tomorrow. I love the beach and the sand and the fun. It's been a relaxing time and the forecast today is calling for rain. We'll spend our time doing a little shopping. There are lots of fun memories of our week.

Happy Friday Real Girls!

Birthday Happiness

Hi Friends! Today is my Birthday so I'm taking a little blogging break. I love my birthday and take the day off from work every year. I will be spending the day with my Mom and {msL}. Tonight I will be having drinks and listening to a band play at one of my fave local bars.

Oh Happy Day!

Vacation Recap - Fun, Sun, DIY, and Beach Hair

As I type this, my brain is filled with all of the things that I have to do at work tomorrow.  We are reluctantly home from vacation.  It was a great week. I firmly believe that I pay for vacation before I leave and after I return.  My email box was packed with unread messages and I'm still catching up on work while attending every meeting that exists. Tonight I may need a vacation from my vacation. I'm planning an evening swim and and early bed time.  There may also be wine involved. I'm trying to get back to blogging as well. I've missed you all.  Since time is limited I thought I'd share some pictures from our vacation.

From top to bottom....

• My soon to be, sister in law Erin works for a sailing and boating company.  She got us the rental of two kayaks for the week. That's Erin sitting in the kayak (and my other sister in law Mary, she coordinates our yearly trip).   
• DIY ring made from copper wire.  I made a quick trip the local hardware store on our first rainy day and grabbed some wire, pliers and other crafty items.  DIY details coming soon.
• Sarah (my soon to be niece) standing in front of the wild horses.  I snagged this one from her facebook page (thanks Sarah!).
• One of my beach hair styles. This one made me feel like a kid. I don't think I've worn pigtails in years. Glasses are Foster Grant from Walgreens (similar). Hat is Eugenia Kim for Target from a few years ago (seen here). 
• Nightly, family volleyball game. The house we rent has a volleyball court on the attached lot. I didn't get any pictures but we also use the court for the BeerLympics. It's a crazy, drunken obstacle course that starts with holding a bat and turning in a circle ten times!
• All of our SUVs and Jeep lined up next to our towels and chairs. Our 4-wheel drive on the beach.  In this section of the Outer Banks it's legal to drive your vehicle on the beach. It was an wonderful day.
• It's not crowded at all.  I love these photos of my family in the distance walking on the beach and in the surf.  
• Me with beach hair, french braided and posing with Liz. Swimsuit from Target (no longer available).

The beach is still calling but I'll have to be satisfied with pool time. 

Weekend Rewind via Instagram - Fun All Around

Taking pictures is so much fun but I always forget to bring my camera or I'm lazy about downloading photos. Having a phone that takes great pictures saves me on a regular basis.  I love all of the photo apps on the iPhone.  Instagram is my favorite but I love the composite apps too, like PicFrame. I took some of my Instagram photos from our weekend fun and compiled them in PicFrame.

From the top left...

• Me and Laila hamming it up for the camera.
• Adam and his Gamma on the swings.
• Laila and Adam fishing at the pool.
• A possible wedding venue option - We might have cocktails and cigars out here.

Over the weekend my Honey and I had two special house guests.  Her grandkids stayed with us for the weekend so their parents could have some time alone. She was a young mom so she's a young grandma and we have great fun with them. Our neighborhood pool has a "Fish Out" every year before they open the pool.  They stock the pool with fish and you can come catch them. You pay an entry fee and get poles and bait. We went with our neighbors and had a great time. Then we took the kids to the park and to Dairy Queen for ice cream. I'm still hunting for a great wedding location that won't blow our entire budget.  I'm trying to narrow it down but it's not easy.

From the top left...

•  One of my fun Goodwill finds.
•  My new $14 shades, from Walgreens!
• A fun watermelon lip color for spring and coral nails.
• Layered tops and necklaces.

I always smile when I wear my star bracelet.  I snagged it for just a few dollars and I love it. My new shades were an impulse buy. I spied them while I was at Walgreens dropping off a prescription. They are made by Foster Grant. I love the colored mirrored lenses. I've been on the hunt for a watermelon colored lip stick.  I found this one, Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart.  It's smooth like a balm with buildable color. The polish is Spoiled by Wet n' Wild in Lox-y Lady.  It's only available at CVS and this week you can buy two bottes and get one free. At $1.99 each you can stock up! Last week I wore one of my favorite jackets and layered it with a spring colored shirt, worn open and a tank. Then I layered a ton of necklaces.  I really like the look. It was business with a twist.

If you don't have an iPhone and can't follow my Instagram pics on your phone, you can check them out on Instagrid. All of my photos are instantly posted there.

Frugal Fashion Friday - Free (or Almost Free) FUN!

Today is Frugal Fashion Friday but instead of fashion, today is all about FUN!  I love doing things that I enjoy that are free or almost free.  I thought I'd compile a list of the things that I love just for you all.  This weekend you can try them out, no matter where you live and they are all budget friendly.  I even have a few ideas for Valentine's Day gifts. It's a very popular holiday and one of the biggest days to give gifts. I have a confession to make, I think Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday.  I think that you should tell your special someone "I Love You" every day. But my Honey is a big mushball and loves Valentine's Day so I celebrate for her.

At the County Fair - we cashed in our change for the entry fee and a ride on the Ferris wheel

Create a Carpet Picnic -  Grab your favorite goodies and create your very own indoor picnic.You don't have to cook a full dinner, you could just do snacks and finger food.  If you're feeling adventurous, you could create your own campfire using a Sterno can.  Using the Sterno heat you could cook hot dogs, and s'mores. Just grab a can of Sterno and put it into a heat proof dish. I use a ramekin and a plate underneath.  You can purchase a pack of wood skewers from your local grocery store for a few dollars.  Grab your hot dogs, marshmallows, and other items. Then light your Sterno and you're ready to go.

Visit an Art Gallery or Art Museum - In the DC area the Smithsonian museums are completely free. It's one of the most amazing things about living here.  Check your area for free or low cost museum admission. If you don't live near a free museum, check out a local art gallery.  It will be a great place to see new and emerging artists and it's free! You can also Google "free art museums" and you'll get results for your city or all over.

When I think of art and romantic gestures I always think of the movie Some Kind of Wonderful. Keith paints a picture of Amanda and gets a friend's dad to hang it in the art museum. The dad lets them into the museum after hours and the painting is hanging in the gallery. That's not my favorite scene in the movie but it's a good one.  If you haven't watched it, you should.

Consult a Going out Guide - There are tons of apps for checking out the local happenings.   My favorites are the DC Going Out Guide and Got Eventz.  They are both free apps that provide info on local movies, music, events, restaurants and bars. The DC Going Out Guide is an extension of the Washington Post. Check your local paper or tv station they may have their own app. Got Eventz provides details nationwide.

Got Eventz Lite (free) App Interface

There are free apps for restaurant reviews and reservations like Urbanspoon and Open Table.  You can also use these great tools online.

In the mood for a movie? You can check movie times or buy your movie tickets on your phone or online using Fandango.

Progressive Dinner with Friends - Enlist a few of your friends to join with you in a progressive dinner.  Each house or apartment makes one course.  You travel to each location and enjoy.  The only cost for you is the course you have to make and possibly gas (if you need to drive). You can just plan a few courses or create a cocktail time along with your dinner and dessert.

Visit a Playground or Go Sledding - Nothing can bring out your playful side by doing something child like. Once my Honey was very stressed and I took her to the neighborhood playground to swing.  How can you be stressed when you are flying through the air on a swing like a five year old? Winter is also perfect for child like pursuits.  It doesn't cost you anything to grab a trash can lid or plastic bin lid and sled down the local hill.  When you're done, you can go home and make some adult hot chocolate. 


Snap Photos - If you have an iPhone or an Android you can use a photo app to create fun photos that you can post and print. Take photos of your fun. I have an iPhone so as you know I love Instagram.

You can download photos and print them out. Incredibooth  is another fun app.  It creates a photobooth on your iPhone or iPad.  Snap pictures together or of each other and save them for later. They make a great gift or even better, "just because". Incredibooth is only 99 cents on the app store. There are several different photo options available with the app. You can also buy add-ons if you'd like. Download your photos to your computer or email them and post them online or print them out.  The possibilities are endless. A great DIY!

There are tons of other photo apps available at different prices. I'm a fan of the free or low cost apps.  My service is through AT&T.  I'm very happy with the options and services I get through them. If you have an Android you can check out these cool, free, photo apps for Android.

If you don't have a smart phone, you can use the camera you own or use a disposable camera. You can have it processed as digital images to print or share online.

Create Your Own Card - If your an artist and can create amazing personal cards, I'm jealous! If art isn't your thing I have a simple solutions.  Use a blank piece of paper or card stock and clip phrases out of magazines and newspapers that express how you feel and add a picture or two (from the magazine or from your phone).  Write your own message inside. A handmade card is more personal than one you purchase. You don't have to be Picasso to cut fun phrases out of magazines. Just use your imagination and your DIY ideas. It doesn't have to be fancy, it's from the heart.

I love finding creative ways to have fun on a budget.  Creating unique and memorable gifts and memories is always special.

Follow Me on tumblr!

I just set up a new page on tumblr.  It's a fun way to grab cool content from my blog, other sites, and anything that insprires me.  Check it out! 

Fashion Week Is Calling

Fashion Week is almost here (September 8 - 15). Sadly, I won't be able to travel to NYC this month for the great events and festivities.  Thursday evening (September 8) is Fashion's Night Out (FNO).  This evening of festivities, shopping and fun, has become an annual event that has spread nationwide and even worldwide. Luckily, the fashion savvy of the DC area will be hosting quite a few events in the area. 

Fashion's Night Out Georgetown

Fashion's Night Out Plus (sponsored by Curvy Magazine)

Fashion's Night Out Tysons

There will be Fashion's Night Out Events all over the country. There are events in many cities. You can use the search feature on the Fashion's Night Out website to find events outside NYC and across the country. There are also FNO events happening online.

If you're lucky enough to get to NYC for the evening. There is even an app to help you plan your shopping and fun. Isn't there an app for everything now?

Will you be attending FNO events in your city?

Fashion, Fun and Friendship

One of the most beautiful things about the DC area is the diversity. That fact was never more evident than at the event I went to last night. I attended a mixer and meet up for the DC Fashion and Beauty Bloggers. It's a group of people (many bloggers but others as well) who love fashion and beauty and live in the DC area. I'm so thankful that my friend Allison of Wardrobe Oxygen turned me on to this great group. I got to meet so many great women last night. They were from all walks of life, different shapes, sizes, nationalities and all fun and interesting.

The event was held at Carbon in DC. Carbon is a eco-friendly clothing boutique in the Woodley Park area of the city. There were also designers present. I met Gingie McLeod of SAINTCHiC, Liam Michael of Liam Michael Shoes, Nora Fischer of Nora Fischer Designs and Jenny of KOLTON J. Carbon has so many beautiful clothes and accessories. If you love cutting edge design and want to be ecologically responsible, this is the boutique for you. They even have photographs from local photographers adorning the walls. Thanks to Carbon for hosting us!

I decided not to lug my big camera to the event. Unfortunately, I only got a few pictures and they aren't great. Please indulge me. Included in the pictures are just a few of my favorite local bloggers. At the end is a full list of some of the great fashion blogs of DC.

Click HERE to see a picture of Allison and I on her blog, Wardrobe Oxygen.You have to scroll down a little. Check out her outfit first. She's so chic!  I met lots of great women, that I've been wanting to meet, fellow bloggers whose blogs I read regularly.

DCFABBers chatting about fashion at Carbon

Lisa of The Quarterlife and Alina of The Hyperbalist

These beautiful and blurry women are...
Lacey of A Lacey Perspective, Allison of Wardrobe Oxygen and Robrette of Weight-A-Minute

My Memorial Day Weekend in Photos

I had a fun and relaxing weekend with my family. We took a little road trip and then had a cook out, including my special margaritas. Lots of fun and happy times.

Fun and Sunny Manicure like The Looks for Less

Road Trip!



Vintage Shopping - An antique ostrich fan I spotted (but didn't buy)



Friday Night at the Drive-In



Saturday Wine Tasting at Three Fox Vineyards



Great Music for our Little Rocker Chick



Margaritas on a Hot Day



Shiny Purple Manicure





Best of Blog World - My Recent Picks

In addition to writing this little blog, I'm also an avid blog reader. I have Google Reader on my laptop and my iPhone.  When I have time, I check out other blogs for fun reads and inspiration. I thought I'd share some of my favorite posts from recent weeks, with you. I know you're scratching your head trying to figure out what the things below are and why they are in my blog this week.  Well, read on my friends, all will be revealed.

• Fabulous local blogger (and friend), Allie of Wardrobe Oxygen has a great blog about dressing your body, shopping economically, music, her beautiful daughter and lots of other fantastic tidbits. Her post about Bras this week made me nod my head yes and laugh.

• An amazing and quick DIY vest from Kirsten of Studs and Pearls! It's even great for those who think they aren't creative or can't sew.  You only need scissors and a scarf.

• I love the fun and sunny manicure on The Looks for Less.  I'm planning to try it soon. It may be a bit bold for some but you could tone it down by using more muted but Spring like colors.

• Kimberly of Fab Finds Under $50 is one of my favorites. This Daily Outfit post illustrates exactly why I love her blog. She's put together a fun and accessible outfit, gives you fantastic organizational tips and throws in a yummy recipe. Multi-tasking at its best.

• Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere has great style and is always trying out fantastic recipes. I made marshmallows from a recipe she published during the Holidays. I can't wait to try this homemade Pop Tart recipe!

I hope you have as much fun reading these blogs as I do.  Maybe you'll even find a new idea, recipe or project.