She's Alive

I can't believe it's been 5 months since I've blogged. My excuse? Well, the job was getting busier and then we had this little old storm named Sandy who completely rocked my world.

Some photos of my work place the following day:

I work in property management so you can imagine how this affected my life. Our residents (not to mention myself) had no water, electricity, heat etc for days. With a tenant population over 30,000 (yes, like a city population) life safety was our #1 concern so I was at work for 30 days with little to no sleep AND I had to miss my college roommate's wedding WHICH I WAS IN!!!

All of that said, the experience was like none other and now that I can safely say that there were no casualties at my work place and everything is beginning to function, I wouldn't change the experience I gained for anything.

So, on to the normal, lighthearted posts....my wedding is in less than 2 months so even though it is not Tulle Tuesday, I figured I would share my pretty final wedding mood board. Most of these inspirations are going to be replicated so I can only hope that photos of my actual wedding will look a lot like the below. I apologize most of these photos are from Google Images so please send me links if they are your photos!!

There will be 2 HUGE 7 foot trees of babys breath on either side of the "altar"

 These are the exact table overlays which I rented and will go over ivory table cloths

 Alternating short poufs and tall poufs of flowers on the tables.

 There will be a large, 3 foot urn on the escort card table like the below but bigger.

I recreated these exact place cards myself

 This is the venue, so an example of how it will be set up.

 Our head table is going to have 28 people at it!! So we are going to do a low centerpiece down the middle of the table like so. 

 I made my own lace place card holders for the head table. I didn't think that I needed to have all of the bridal party go to the escort card table for their seats since the head table is sort of self explanatory HOWEVER, I did want to set up a seating arrangement so that friends are next to friends.

So these pretty things will be placed on each plate.

Last but not least, here are my shoes....

If anyone knows where I can get an all lace veil, please let me know. It seems that they only make lace bordered veils these days. I will probably end up making my own but that's risky, of course.

If you have any other questions, let me know. My inspiration came from a TON of Pinterest and a lot of blogs. A few of my favorites are:

Nicole's Guide to Style

I actually follow Nicole on bloglovin but her wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty. DOUBLE WHAMMY!

Check it out here

Fash Boulevard

I die for this wedding. Her dress is very similar to mine (although mine is pink...yup...pink).

FASH - where did you get your veil? I am dying to know.

Check it out here!

I mean I DIE. These ladies are so absolutely beautiful. Sigh.

Discount Codes for your Shopping Saturday

If you are anything like me, Saturdays are spent shopping. Online. In stores. Any. Way. I. Can.

I hardly EVER pay full price for items. A few of my secrets...

#1 - Promo Codes
** simply Google " (insert store name) promo code". Sites like retailmenot.com provide discount codes that people enter. Return the favor by entering any promo codes that you receive from stores.

#2 - Get Paid Back
** I subscribe to Lucky Magazine which, by the way, always has the BEST items which you can buy in normal stores. When you are a subscriber, you automatically are eligible for myluckyrewards.com. If you shop through myluckyrewards.com, you actually get a percentage of your purchase back. Once a quarter, they send you a check!!! No joke. I usually get a check for around $70 and almost every store that I purchase from participates in myluckyrewards.com.

#3 - Ask Your Friends
** my best friend Ju Ju Bean and I always text each other before we buy something to see if the other has a promo code or credit. Victorias Secret always sends those $10 rewards so if I know I'm not going to use mine. I give her the code. Sharing is caring!!!

#4 - Wait
** bottom line. I miss out on some items because I wait for them to go on sale but 99% of the time I find something similar for cheaper OR the item I want goes on sale and I'm able to get it. For designer items, H&M or Zara or Forever21 are likely going to replicate the hot styles so just wait it out.

#5 - Make Lists
** I make lists of items that I want. I put the brand that I'm obsessing over but describe the item so when I'm out at the cheaper places I can keep my eye out for something similar. My lists are a little out of control I have to admit.


So, before I head out this evening to shop, here are some promo codes that I'll probably use

BCBGeneration.com - "BCBGENPSW" gets you 25% off until September 14th

CB2.com - I have 2 of these so I'll share 1 "85420 01001 58993 3654" gets you 15% off online until today, September 8th at midnight! Hurry!!

French Connection.com - "PSWF12" gets you 25% off until September 14th

Quick! Before Summer Is Over!

If you don't get "Goop", now is the time. "what's goop? Goop is a digital media and e-commerce company founded by Gwyneth Paltrow" This week was focused on Lobster Rolls and Gwyneth provided us a list of NYC Lobster Roll options. mmmmm. New York

Photo, top: Paul Wagtouicz

Pearl Oyster Bar 18 Cornelia St. 212.691.8211 The lobster roll that was ahead of the trend in New York many years ago is still one of our favorites, made with a generous amount of fresh lobster salad (Hellmann’s mayo, lemon and chives) on a crunchy griddled bun.

Photo, top: loco2.com

Grand Central Oyster Bar 89 East 42nd St. 212.490.6650 On the lower level of Grand Central station is this very cool, old-New York restaurant (almost 100-years-running) complete with vaulted ceilings, myriad oyster varieties and a great lobster roll. Grab one at the counter before hopping on your train or head to the cavernous saloon and stay a while.

Red Hook Lobster Pound 284 Van Brunt St., Brooklyn 718.858.7650 Specializing in fresh-catch lobster, these guys offer an awesome, no-frills roll in two styles: Maine (cold with mayo) or Connecticut (warm with butter). If you can’t get to Red Hook, they now have trucks that travel about the city.

Ed’s Lobster Bar 222 Lafayette St. 212.343.3236 This casual New England style lobster bar serves the dressiest of rolls, which is notoriously similar to Pearl’s – big chunks of lobster, lightly seasoned and tossed with the perfect amount of mayo on a soft, buttery brioche bun.

Mary’s Fish Camp 64 Charles St. 646.486.2185 The simple recipe (much like Patrick’s perfect roll) includes fresh hunks of lobster, Hellmann’s mayo, super-fine celery and a whisper of scallion on a Pepperidge Farm bun. Delish.

Luke’s Lobster 93 E. 7th St. 212.387.8487 Large chunks of claw and knuckle meat are mixed with just a touch of mayo at Luke’s, which now has outposts all around town. The casual environs, counter seating and wholesale connections (Luke’s dad is in the Maine lobster biz) keeps prices around $10 cheaper than the restaurant competition. They also offer half rolls, if you're just up for a snack.

Manage Your Social Network Settings In One Place

Not sure where I got this link but it's pretty cool!! Manage all of your social network settings in one place @ http://blisscontrol.com/. Yes, it's that simple!!

Easily manage all your social network settings

Pick a setting and a network and click Go

 

* click to choose

Change profile picture

 

On

 

* click to choose

Twitter

https://twitter.com/settings/profileGo

Avocado Madness

Check out these amazing recipes, all with avocados!, from Philly Mag!

Guacamole isn’t the only thing to make with avocados—that’s the lesson I learned a few weeks back when I made a plate of linguine tossed with a delicious creamy avocado sauce. Now, cooking with avocados is my newest obsession. I’ve made that sauce twice and used avocado slices—topped with lemon juice and some spices—as yummy side dish for grilled chicken. It’s no wonder my good cholesterol is off the charts.

But what else can I add to my avocado repertoire? Here are eight (non-guacamole) avocado dishes I’ll be making soon enough.

Creamy Avocado & White Bean Wrap
via Eating Well

The protein in the white beans and healthy fats in the avocados sound like a match made in nutrition heaven. Bonus: This recipe is perfect for vegetarians.

Vegetarian Chili with Avocado Salsa
via Cooking Light

You can make this 300-calorie chili in under 30 minutes—talk about a win-win.

ALT Sandwiches
via Health

This recipe’s so simple it makes me wonder why I didn’t think of it myself: a healthier riff on a BLT, subbing the B for avocado.

Avocado Fries
via Health

If your kids (or husband) are clamoring for French fries, try this alternative—a 270-calories-per-serving take on the fast-food staple.

Sweet Potato Veggie Burger with Avocado
via Healthy Happy Life

Based on this post, you probably think I’m a vegetarian. I’m not—I just love, love, love vegetables and can’t get enough. This sweet potato burger will be a great substitute for my frozen Trader Joe’s veggie patties. The avocado slices on top are the icing on the cake.

Avocado Gazpacho
via The New York Times

You can bet that I’ll be soaking up every last minute of the summer by feasting on the season’s best produce. Which is why this tomato-meets-avocado gazpacho is absolutely perfect.

Avocanana Bread
via the California Avocado Commission

Avocado meets Chiquita in this riff on classic banana bread. The avocado replaces the butter or shortening most baked goods call for.

Avocado Daiquiri
via Prevention

Monday FUN DAY

Em Dot and I are just dying over these videos today, after a long wedding weekend, they really hit the nail on the head....

FRIDAY IS PIE DAY!!!

Ok I know this has nothing to do with pies but they are SO cute.

16 Handles - Thank you!!!

Thank you, 16 Handles, for opening a store closer to my apartment. 

In about 3 months I will divorce you because you will make me fat, but for now, I LURVE YOU.

For those of you who live in the Madison Square Park/Flatiron area of NYC (or Murray Hill)....

BEHOLD!!!! 3rd avenue location!!!!!!!

16 Handles opens today, with FREE frozen yogurt happy hour

Aug.20, 2012 in Restaurants & Food

Word is in from the tip email box that another 16 Handles location is opening Northeast of Madison Square Park, and to celebrate they will be having a free frozen yogurt happy hour today (Monday) from 5-6pm. The new location is at 428 3rd Avenue (between 29th and 30th Street).

The concept at 16 Handles is that they have 16 flavors on tap, and you literally pick which flavors you want, plus add any toppings, in a do it yourself kind of way. Check out the flavors at http://16handles.com/flavors.php. And here is a topping list athttp://16handles.com/toppings.php.

16 Handles was founded by Solomon Choi and they now have over 20 locations of the popular frozen yogurt spot. Yelpers pretty much give the place 4 stars at most locations. Our friends at Eatopia say to try Irish Mint, Birthday Cake, or Strawberry Fields. Salted Caramel looks enticing too.

Get your free frozen yogurt today (5-6pm)!

****too bad I missed the free yogurt :-(

I am alive

My sincerest apologies. Since my new role at work, I have had zero downtime to blog. By the time I get home, all I want to do is eat and sleep.

Since it is Tulle Tuesday, and I have two weddings in a row in the coming weeks, I guess I have no other option.

I am on the hunt for a pair of shoes for the wedding. My dress is a sort of blush color. Here's what I'm thinking of leaning toward. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Tulle Tuesday - Latest detail inspirations

Latest detail inspirations for my wedding day...whenever that may be....