{Infusion}

I always find that hosting a dinner party is a new outlet to experiment. Educated in the south, where they take great pride in their themed dinner parties, table settings, and menus, I picked up a few habits. I enjoy the little things when hosting much more enjoyable. Fore example, place cards, trying a new appetizer, or a signature cocktail. Although definitely fun muddling strawberries for a strawberry and cucumber cocktail, I find the summertime is perfect for infusing water with different fruit and flavors. Since I drink more water than alcohol, it comes natural to look into my freezer and find trays of ice cubes with different fruits frozen in. I remember the first time I tried iced water with slices of cucumber in Washington D.C. at a party. It became my drink of choice that summer. As the years have passed, I became friends with the owners of an organic soda company (Cannonborough Beverage Co) all mixologists at the top bars and restaurants in Charleston, they taught me what marries well. Strawberry jalapeño, lemon mint, ginger beer, honey basil, etc. I love mixing up the basics to make amazing results.

What's your favorite infusions? 

XOXO

My Summer 2014 Playlist

In no particular order, these have been on repeat since June 1st..

Disclosure- Latch featuring Sam Smith

Hey Bartender- Lady Antebellum 

Love- Jana Kramer 

Am I Wrong- Nico & Vinz 

Problem- Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea 

Safe- Katie Armiger 

I Wish I could Break your heart- Cassadee Pope 

Rude- Magic

2 On- Tinashe featuring Schoolboy Q

Chandelier- Sia 

Leave the Night on-Sam Hunt 

Shower- Becky G 

Meanwhile Back at Mama's- Time McGraw featuring Faith Hill

Really Don't Care- Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd
American Kid- Kenny Chesney 

Monday Morning Inspiration

 “I believe in intelligence. I believe in the ever-expansion of your mind through books, travel, and new experiences. I believe in having conversations with people who have a different point of view than yours and in staying current on world events. Of challenging yourself to set higher expectations and to dream bigger dreams. And I believe in health. In eating healthy, nourishing your body, and being good to your soul. I believe in exercising to add longevity to your life, to add strength to your mental and physical abilities, and to foster self-discipline. I believe in pull-ups, cardio, and strength-training. I believe in getting adequate amounts of sleep so that you are energized throughout the day. I believe in confidence and beauty in the form of a smile to a stranger, of a hand that reaches out to help without question or reservation. Kindness towards others, determination to succeed, and the courage to forgive; that is beauty. Our internal integrity, our ability to respond with grace, the gifting of our time, and the mark we leave on the world — that is the beauty that should define us.

I believe in beauty that is real.”

You Are So Much More Than What You Look Like -Jessica Jensen – Thought Catalog- Thursday July 3^rd, 2014

Road Trip: {Packing for 10 days of travel}

I am always a last minute packer. Looks like I need it? Throw it in duffel or my suitcase and go. Lately I have been trying to pack more versatile pieces so that I can mix and match outfits. I also try and layout possible outfits to coincide with the itinerary- yes, this couple LOVES itineraries- there is no such thing as winging it. This is my summer trip, as much as I would love to take a week to sit on Kiawah Island with a Yuengling in hand, this summer won’t be the time. I will be back to my second home in November though, so I am not too upset. This trip, Steve and I are taking ten days, TEN WHOLE DAYS, to drive from St. Louis to Wilmington NC, to Pinehurst NC, to Williamsburg VA, to Quantico, to Ann Arbor MI, and then back to St. Louis. One GIANT loop.  We have a lunch with my other dads, Steve is meeting my grandparents, celebrating my great grandfathers 102^nd birthday with him,  history geeking out in Williamsburg, taking Steve to my favorite campus: William and Mary, seeing Quantico, and finishing with a wedding in Michigan.

When packing I try to make three separate sections: clothing, electronics-if needed, and toiletries.

I have a complete luggage set from Kenneth Cole but I have been eyeing this overnight bag from Marly Lilly for some time and it might go on my Christmas wish list or my 'whenever I can afford it' list. This would be perfect for the trip.

Marley Lilly $64.99 

1.  I always have a travel bag readily available that contains a new toothbrush/ toothpaste, Q-tips, travel sized shampoo, conditioner, and hairspray, and bobby pins. Then I pack my toiletries bag which will always contain my every day makeup, my Naked2 palette, make up remover wipes, clean makeup brushes etc. Another small bag will have hair straightener, brush, dry shampoo, dry oils for glossy hair, etc. I also will pack my vitamins, inhaler, a nailpolish for touch ups, face scrub, and my razor. 

2. I like to make a list of what I will need for the ten days, or however long I would be gone to stay organized and not over or under pack. I also tend to roll my clothes instead of folding and stacking in my suitcase. This helps to pack more and save space while also leaving clothes less wrinkly.

• Four pairs of shorts: khakis, white, black, and coral 
• Two pairs athletic shorts- grey, black
• Jeans, 2 white, one blue
• 3 Nice dresses for wedding/ going out
• 4 Casual dresses: black tshirt, two striped, floral
• One or two bikinis? 
• Coverup if needed
• One sweater
• Four tshirts 
• 4 Tank tops
• 6 tops
• A clutch, crossbody, pink handbag
• Toiletries
• Running shoes, nude pumps, black pumps, sandals, leopard flats, Keds 
• Whatever you are forgetting 

3. Electronics: l usually don't take my laptop but since this is a longer trip and I still will be checking my email for work, I need to pack my laptop and charger. For the car, I need to have my iPod, charger, headphones, cell phone wall and car charger. 

Since we are taking my car, I also need to make sure my car is cleaned, vacuumed and oil is changed. 

Despite last minute odds and ends like a cooler for Gatorade, water, and snack. We should be good to go! I am so excited for this next adventure and to see Steve's face at Monticello and Williamsburg. It's going to be fun! 

XOXO

4th of July!

          Happy Fourth of July! I am spending my day by the pool with my family and boyfriend, followed by fireworks at the country club (my old job). For breakfast, I am making Belgium waffles (even if they did beat us in soccer) topped with blueberries and strawberries and homemade whipped cream. Patriotic, I know. Carbon's Golden Malted Pancake & Waffle Flour is my favorite mix to use; you just add an egg, milk, and melted butter. Using my mom’s Krups Waffle maker, they come out perfect!

            No, this is not my body, but this is my swimsuit. I got this last season online and it only comes out of my dresser on the Fourth of July. Gotta represent! Although I’m not on a boat or an island like last 4^th of July, definitely looking forward to a day off and family time! 

Happy 4^th!!

XOXO

Relationship Series: Part 4: Perfect Dates

I’ve had my share of dates and a few months ago, my little sister, new to the dating world, asked what she should do for her second date with a guy. She’s 17 so it’s a little more limited to things like ice skating, dinner and a movie, group date, etc. But she asked me what my perfect date would be, and when I told her, she was hysterically laughing at her nerdy sister. But I have a few ideas for, in my opinion, perfect dates for the 21+ crowd. 

So what did I tell my sister? This one is for the book lovers:

A perfect date would be a nice dinner that ended with a walk to a book store that of course had an attached coffee shop. The more hole in the wall the better, but I am also a frequent shopper at Barnes and Noble, they are open late on weekends too. A great dinner and then a 20 or 30 minute detour in a book store, where you may find me sitting on the floor in between aisles with a stack of books. It happens regularly. And of course a cup of coffee (decaf) to round out the night. 

Cheers version:

Take her to a place that is very familiar to you. One she has never been to, but you know the menu front and back without looking at it, perhaps give her suggestions if you know what she likes. Make sure not to sound too smug but enough to where she knows you are well liked. A girl can gauge a lot about a guy by how he treats the wait staff at a restaurant, as well as how he tips.

Adventurous:

I love a good adventure, I never back down from a challenge, and I love traveling and seeing new things. So a late night wine bar and a walk on the beach where the stars are the only thing out is one of my favorites. Who doesn’t want to get lost in crash of the waves, the overwhelming ocean, and sand in your bare feet? As someone who has hiked the continental divide, swam in the barrier reefs, climbed the Mayan ruins in Belize, I love anything and anyone that likes to be one with the natural world. So another perfect date? Doing a 4 or 5 hour hike up a mountain. This might have happened in March, and we might have run down 90% of the mountain. The view at the top was completely worth the huffing and puffing and the endorphins on the way down made it a great date!

Dress to Impress:

I am a jeans girl but I do love to put on a dress and heels on periodically. It’s more about the 'getting ready process' just being absolutely wonderful, it’s almost a spiritual experience. Going from a 7 to 10 in an hour is a Godly experience. So those few dates where a nice dress and heels that you will regret wearing at the end of the night are completely worth it. Especially when you are at a steakhouse getting wined and dined.

The Double and Triple Dates:

Group dates can be fun as long as everyone has something in common. When you are trying to get friends to go to dinner together, make sure everyone gets along and so conversation doesn't lull. Depending on the group: a bonfire, classy dinner party with board games, heading to a bar or going all out and dancing would be my choice of group dates.

St. Louis Zoo:

I have a soft spot for zoos. And I love the St. Louis Zoo the most. I am known to go quite a bit during the winter when the crowds are sparse. I am a biologist, I love all things science, and I tend to marvel at the animals. The sea lion house, the gorilla house, the elephants, the lions, etc…. The only section I don’t like are the penguins. I just don’t find it appealing. But if it’s around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, you can find me at the zoo.

Anything musical, theatrical, or a good festival:

In St. Louis, they have the Muny and the Fox. I’ve been to New York City to watch the Rockettes in their Christmas show, I have been to the Fox for the Nutcracker. I haven’t been to the Muny in years but I do love musicals and plays.  My first concert was at 20 years old, Brad Paisley showed me the light. A great concert of her favorite band or singer would work perfectly. I used to love going to festivals down south: grits festival, cajun festival, flowertown fair, etc. It's so much fun to walk through booths, eat funnel cake, and act like a kid for a few hours. St. Louis has a Greek festival I want to check out. 

Sports:

If she is a sports fan, tickets to a baseball game, football, college of NFL, ice hockey, etc. I love pretty much all sports. I get super into it. As my boyfriend knows, I’m not being rude, I am just watching the game. Sorry I’m not sorry. I’m a girl who loves football, plays fantasy, and enjoys a good sports bar.

No matter where you take her on a date, just make sure you have your phone put away, you are dressed appropriately, and the conversation comes easily. And have fun, don’t put pressure on a date. Enjoy yourself.

XOXO

You know you are in your mid-twenties when...

Upon graduation from college, I find that people do one of two things. They either gracefully morph into adulthood with their new job, apartment, and horrid bills/ loan payments that continually come every month…Or, they fight the system and try to pretend they are still in college and refuse to embrace the impending years closer to their 30s. It’s funny how much you change in such a short span of time, slowly at first and next thing you know, you are signing your first lease without your parents, having another birthday thinking “my parents were married for two years” at your age, and looking around and seeing rings, babies, jobs, etc. This series is going to be devoted to those little changes that I am just noticing about myself. Those, you know you are in your mid-twenties (I am 24) when….

And todays post: You know you are in your mid-twenties when you no longer subscribe to Cosmo, Glamour, and InStyle. You let those subscriptions go for Southern Living, Bon Appetite, and Coastal Living. When did that happen?!  My Cosmo was the first to go, it said essentially the same thing each month, then InStyle- just because I needed groceries rather than drooling over a Dolce dress that I could never afford, and last Glamour. I still religiously follow Hollywood drama and celebs but just online. Now I find myself perusing stacks of home décor, garden, food, hosting ideas etc. I enjoy fantasizing about what a room will look like in my house, what color palettes would work, and how to make a house masculine and feminine, tied up in.. maybe a bow? As I am preparing to decorate my apartment, I gladly and am almost giddy looking though Southern Living, Pinterest, etc. for inspiration. (Even if it’s on a budget)  When did I start getting dreamy eyed looking at Martha Stewart Living and summery pasta salads..I don’t know, but I like it.