Memorial Day Weekend

What a fantastic weekend. Jam packed with good fun and great friends. I'm so sad it's over! Here's some pics to recap... loved every second of it.

Friday

Friday I headed out to dinner in Beacon Hill with Meg, Lauren, and Kate. Kate is a REALLY SUPER fun friend from St. Lawrence. She cracks me up and it's always so fun when she comes to visit. We decided to go to Harvard Gardens and had a great meal. They're food is actually really good, which I never knew! After dinner the girls went out for more drinks and dancing and I headed out to Cambridge to visit Rebecca who was in the Bean from Brooklyn. YAY!

Rebecca was hanging out in Harvard Square with some friends from college/NYC. We went to this really nice pub, Daedalus, which had an amazing roof deck. It was such a nice night, perfect to be spending time outside. And when the night got cooler, we made it under some cozy heat lamps. Warm summertime goodness.

Saturday

Saturday Zan and I hit the road to Hartford to meet up with Hannah, Todd, and some of their Maine friends for the Dave Matthews Concert. Woohoo! SO FUN.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday

Sunday we made it back to Boston in time to meet up with Bailey and Kevin for brunch. They were in town for a wedding and I was so happy to catch up with them and hear about their honeymoon in Hawaii. Becca drove up from The Cape and we had ourselves a real live Cusp reunion. LOVE!

The rest of the afternoon Beck, Becca, and I took a mini tour around Boston that consisted of going to Urban Outfitters and walking along the Charles. So great to have old friends in town. Love you girls so much-- come back soon!!

xoxo.

White Pants and Jack Rogers.

Summertime! It's official. It starts right now. I'm heading out to dinner tonight and I've decided to break out the ultimate summer wardrobe pieces to get me in the mood. White pants and Jack Rogers. It doesn't get much more summer than this.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

From beantown to nz...

And the very last, but certainly not least, birthday post of May (and there sure have been a lot!) goes to...

Drumroll please....

Miss Alexandra Herter!!

Dropping like it's hot since 2004:

Love you, Als! See you in September! xoxo, Ans

Cafe Fixe

Today I stopped by Cafe Fixe on Beacon Street in Washington Square on my way home from volunteering. Such a cute little place! It seems like Cafe Fixe prides itself on simplicity. Everything is very basic, but it is just what you are looking for. They have delicious looking croissants (my favorite), muffins, and the like. I got a Cafe Au Lait and it is so incredibly creamy. I can't wait to try the latte next time- according to yelp it's fantastic. It's never very busy (I walk by almost every day) and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves while they are there. Small conversations happen outside on the mini tables, a student here or there is working at their computer, people are reading the paper, families with young children sit and eat breakfast: It has a pleasant ambience.

It's just such a nice place to stop in and get your morning beverage. A little pricey, but I can overlook that every once and a while. 4 stars in my book.

photo source: last 3 pics from yelp.com

Cafe Fixe

1642 Beacon Street

Brookline, MA 02445

Hours:

Monday-Saturday 6:30 am-7 pm

Sunday 8 am-7 pm

LOST: The End.

** This post contains spoilers.**

**If you have not yet watched, don't read!**

The End.

I can't believe it. What a show.

First off, I would like to start by saying that I LOVED this show. I am proud to say that I have been watching since October 2004. DAY 1: The Crash. From the beginning I was hooked and I stayed right on board till the very end.

What did you think of the finale?

Here are my thoughts: It was fantastic. I've been thinking about it for days. I watched it again last night. The whole 2.5 hours. Brilliant. I absolutely loved how they brought everyone back together. What a special feeling I had the last 10 minutes of the show. Shivers running through my body. Tears running down my face. Yes, a lot of my questions did not get answered, but really-- what would be the fun in that? I think if they did answer all our questions we would only end up disappointed. Part of the fun of the show has been analyzing and discussing anyways, it's always been about your interpretation! Although the last image we see is the destroyed plane with absolutely NO survivors, leading us to believe that everyone died instantly from the very beginning, I like to believe differently. In my mind they really did live through everything we saw on the island, they did meet the "others", have experiences with the Dharma Innitative, traveled through time, yada yada yada... and each character in their own time did die and move into a purgatory-like place "a sideways world", where they eventually found each other and were ready to move on into heaven. Heavy stuff for sure, but fascinating nonetheless. Brilliant.

Again, I love how they brought all the old characters back. Charlie, Boone, Shannon! LOVED that moment when we heard Shannon's voice. My heart burst with joy for Syid! I was crossing my fingers we would see her again and they didn't let me down. I loved every "awakening" and the memories and scenes that came flooding back with each moment. Sun and Jin, Clare and Charlie, Saywer and Juliet. Each reunion brought tears to my eyes and happiness to my heart. And lastly, I was incredibly touched by Jack's heroism, his willingness to risk his life to finally save the island, literally and gloriously ending exactly where he began. BRILLIANT.

Did they answers all my questions? Of course not.

Was I disappointed in that? Maybe.

In the end, does it matter?

Not at all. There were holes, definitely, but whatever. It's about the journey after all and what a terrific journey it was.

Thank you, LOST for a great 6 years. I will miss you!

a special day for erin...

A poem for my Aaron:

You are so pretty

You are so smart

I feel so much love for you

deep down in my heart.

You are so stylish

And funny too

I love drinking bevys

and eating sushi with you.

To my beloved booger

on her 26th BDAY

Sending hugs and kisses

and loads of laughter your way.

YAY YAY YAY

Hip Hip Hooray

Happy Birthday!!!

tastes like summer.

Here's some strawberries and a bowl of sherbet to keep you cool today.

Mmmmm... tastes like summer!

To the Capitol... of the good old U.S. of A.

Toodeloo, Readers!!!

I'm off to Washington, DC for the weekend! Zan’s sister is graduating from Georgetown and I wouldn’t miss it! DC is one of my favorite cities hands down, I feel semi-familiar with it since my best friends’ from home went to GW University and I visited a few times throughout the years. My strongest memories are of Chipotle and some sweaty bar in Foggy Bottom? The name escapes me. Good times. Last year Zan and I took a 10 day trip to visit Nell and were total tourists. I made a regimented to do list-- we were very serious. I’m super excited to go back... so much to see and do and so much is free!

Back to blogging when I return! Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

aeb.

Serenity

photo credit: design*sponge

How fabulously cozy is this little bungalow?

I'm in love with everything about this porch. The colors are so inviting and I just love the wooden side shingles, it gives it a bit of a rustic feel without being too "rustic". The couch and arm chair are perfectly vintage and the two round tables are a unique touch. My favorite part to this room are the lamps (with their robin’s egg blue stems) and the curtains in my current favorite color: peachy salmon pink. I can just picture reading the latest bestseller snuggled up under a blanket listening to a little Mozart for Your Mind.

Pure serenity. *sigh*.

Flashback: The Wig.

I am literally crying right now I am laughing so hard. I just happened to be browsing PW's "happiness" photos for her recent photography contest and this photo was at the very top of the list. Besides this picture being hilariously funny on its own it reminded me of a night back in college when my friend Tracy found an old wig of her mothers and brought it to the Brickhouse for us ladies to play with. The memory made me giggle into hysterics and then I remembered that I still have the pictures! Thanks to Snapfish, the best of times have been preserved and are just waiting for moments like these to resurface.

And so, as I do realize you may have "had to have been there", I'm posting these because they're just too funny not to. I just can't help myself. I'm hoping these photos will bring giggles to you as well. Because who doesn't like to giggle like a little kid every once and a while? That's what I'm doing right now that's for sure.

The Wig, circa 2004:

Ridiculous and I love it. Julie somehow missed out on all the fun-- either that or she ran away from the camera. Do you blame her?

Have a good night!!

Getting ready for summer:

I'm getting so excited for summer, it's practically here! Besides the rain today I'd say we've had a pretty great run for spring. I feel like I really got a chance to wear my favorite spring outfits and I wasn't even pretending to be warm, I really was! This spring/summer I'm embracing my pale skin and vow to take extra good care to protect it from the elements. I have already bought 2 bottles of sunblock, next step is to start protecting my face. I do wear an spf 15 moisturizer every day, but in that hot summer weather on that sandy beach you just NEED some extra protection! I'm particularly interested in purchasing a summer hat this year. J.crew and anthropologie have some cute ones-- but I'm sure I can swing by the outlet mall and find a practical one for less. We shall see in time what I end up with...

Here is what I am using for skin protection:

Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer

I love Neutrogena products and this is one that I have been a fan of for a long time. It goes on smooth and doesn't leave a greasy feeling, plus you know you're face is getting protection all day.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sun Block

This stuff is magic. It goes on so light you don't even know it's on! Which means it's the stuff for me because I HATE that icky sunblock feeling. SO sticky!

And as far as my head goes, I've been looking into a few options:

Summer Straw Hat by j.crew

Whirling Plaid Sunhat from Anthropologie

Eric Javits Packable Floppy Hat from Saks

(LOVE the orange detail!)

Ribbon-Wrapped Hat from Anthropologie

Straw Trilby Hat by j.crew

(The last two are more for fashion's sake I'll admit-- but I do love them.)

Hope I can still get my summer freckles!!!!!

Dear Enzo...

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Dear Enzo,

Thank you so very much for showing me the world the way you see it, from the heart of a loving, funny, loyal, and especially terrific dog. Thank you for introducing me to your wonderful family, to Denny, Eve, and Zoe. I so enjoyed your story. I laughed. I cried. I can't stop thinking about it. I adored this book. Thank you, Enzo. You're an amazing friend and I wish I had a dog like you.

Love,

Me.

dEElicious banana muffins.

I was all ready to make chocolate chip banana bread last night when I happened to read my friend's blog in which she happened to post about banana muffins. I said to myself, What the heck!, and decided to give them a try. Final verdict: They are beyond incredible. Beyond. They are amazingly moist and delicious and wonderful.

You can find the recipe here at: a pretty a day.

I used 4 bananas instead of three and I added chocolate chips for an extra goodness that can't be beat.

It all starts with a penny.

This is my awesome cousin Peggy holding the new book:

Be Thrifty: How to Live Better with Less,

which she is published in!

Congrats, Peg!!

I have not personally gotten a hold of my copy yet, but I can't wait. This is so my kind of book. I am always looking for ways to be thrifty. Like scanning the streets on September 1st for old furniture people are literally throwing away-- you know, stuff like that. I hope the Brookline Booksmith carries this book. In fact, I'm going to email my buddy Paul over there and see what the dealio is. If they don't have it yet they better start ordering!!

"Thrift—the word derives from thrive. Be Thrifty—it's how to thrive, and feel good and virtuous about it, too."

Happy Bday MEH!

Happy Birthday to a friend nearest and dearest to my heart. Love you Maureen Elizabeth. Miss you TONS. Hope your day was filled with happiness and wet kisses from Scout!! Wishing so badly I could be celebrating with you. I'm having a bevy for you tonight... might make it two! Cheers to 25! ♥♥♥

Flowers for Friday

Here are some pretty pretty tulips for you...

Have a happy Friday and a relaxing weekend!

What are you doing this weekend? I'm not doing much of anything and it's just the way I like it. Have a good one! xoxo.

a birthday post for bailey ♥

Happy Birthday B!

I hope you and Kevin went out to a nice dinner with fine wine and tasty treats! Already planning my next weekend to Brooklyn. If I'm away too long my hands start to shake. Not even kidding.

Remember this pic? Summer at Skaneateles Lake...some of my most favorite memories. (I originally tried to steal some of the professional photos from the wedding, but the photographer wouldn't have it. Put some sort of block on the pics. Gosh darn.) I had so much fun looking through old pictures tonight for this post. Classic times we've had for sure.

Glad to find this oldie and glad to have a friend like you! Love you lots! Happy day! xoxo.

Where ice cream makes the meal.

I can't even believe it. Friendly's has come to Brookline.

I love it...but seriously, I can't even believe it. Brookline seems like a place where small businesses are valued. Take Brookline Booksmith for instance, or the delicious crepe place on the corner. I also like to support the local shops, going to Temptations Cafe before Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks, but sometimes you just want a taste of your childhood. And that's what Friendly's is to me. A magnificent taste of my childhood. And I will devour it. And appreciate it. And soak up all that clown cone goodness.

I wanna go to Friendly's.

YAY.

rugs aplenty...

Just browsing the Garnet Hill catalog today. I get one in the mail at least once a week and I don't think I've ever even bought anything from them (besides my amazing PJ's, but I got those at the outlet). I do love looking through the catalog though, the clothes look so comfy and I adore the bedding. Today I discovered they have so many rugs in beautiful patterns and colors. I love how these rugs just light up a room, they are so fun and playful.

Here are some of my favorites:

Dresden Hooked Wool Rug by Company C

Blue Sea Star Doormat

Lilly Pulitzer® Buckets o' Goodies Hooked Wool Rug

Tiger Fish Doormat

Concentric Cutting Garden Chenille Rug