Category: life

This week I’ve been doing some journaling in my daily planner to be intentional about writing down three things that brought me joy that day. It takes just a minute and helps me reflect on the day on a positive note. My weekends are getting busier making my weeks busier as I make time to get work done, run errands and then the usual to-do list for the day. After a year and a half of taking it slow, I am getting an adrenaline rush as my weeks and weekends get busier because it’s when I thrive best. Last weekend we spent all day Saturday in Old City in museums and had lunch on the rooftop at Liberty View at the Independence Visitor Center. I shared more about our day in a blog post here where I share a ton of free things to do in the historic district. On Sunday, Jake had signed us up to work a charity event at the Philadelphia Zoo. It was fun to volunteer and then spend the afternoon at the zoo. It was like 103 degrees so we were excited to get home and spend the rest of our night in our living room with the AC on blast!

If you have a Disney+ account, great! If you don’t have an account, you should sign up now because there is so much included on the streaming platform not just cartoons. This week, we watched the new Disney+ movie Luca and to be honest, I sat down to watch expecting it to be kind of childish and not the best. Just a few minutes in and loved it! Cute story line and loved the whole thing from start to finish. We also started watching Monsters at Work, the Monsters Inc spinoff show. While catching up on the Real Housewives franchises, I wanted something to watch in the background while I got some work done. Started to watch the reality tv show Family Karma on Bravo and wow, where has this show been?? Not sure why it took me so long to watch but it’s everything that makes reality tv good. I made Jake watch the first episode of the Gossip Girl reboot with me because he doesn’t understand the concept since he never watched the original. He kept asking if this was supposed to be about high school kids because it’s not like the kind of school he went to! This fall I am going to do a rewatch of the original Gossip Girl with Jake because it’s been too long since I’ve watched it and Jake is missing out ha! Since my days are getting busier, I am setting a goal for myself to wake up earlier so I have more time in the day. I also want to continue eating healthy and drinking more water. Little life style changes that make a big impact on my day can make a big difference. Almost done with re-watching Dexter and need a new show for Jake and I to watch. Overwhelmed with so many options!

Wearing Essie Virgin Snow nail polish this week because I want a subtle pop of color.
The Essie Gel Top Coat is my favorite top coat because it protects my nails all week from chips.

Using St Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Lotion this week to get a little tan without laying out in the sun. With one application, I wake up the next morning with the perfect shade of tan.

Ordered this jewelry cleaner after I went to wear bracelets last weekend and couldn’t because they were so dirty!

This is my third time ordering these storage bags for our linens.

A friend recommended Flo Vitamins for helping with wacky hormones and I am excited to see if they work. Even if they just do half of the things they claim to do, I will be a very happy person!

Happy Nordstrom Sale! Shared the booties that I thought are worth purchasing on Facebook. Wanted to be intentional with my purchases this year because I already have so much stuff so I just ordered pink Ugg slippers and another set of comfy pajamas in navy blue.

Took a bit longer than I’d like, but finally finished reading The Virgin Queen by Philippa Gregory.
This week I started to read The Pink Suit by Nicole Mary Kelby about the famous pink suit that Jackie wore when JFK was shot. The book is about how the suit came to be, the dressmaker and how it became famous.

Did a biiiiiiggg grocery run this week at a grocery store in the suburbs and then Trader Joe’s. The car was packed with groceries and I was exhausted when I got home. I didn’t take any photos this week but I made a quick dinner with yellow rice, shrimp and sweet potatoes. For nights when I don’t want to spend too much time cooking, I love cutting up a lemon, sprinkling Mrs Dash and rosemary on everything and throw it in the oven.

Trying to be on a strict diet since our cruise is only a few weeks away. EEK! Stocked up on salad kits for lunches. To get my protein, I got popcorn chicken to heat up in the microwave and chop it up into my salads. The salads are filling and a healthy lunch so I don’t snack until dinnertime .

Lot’s of things I’m loving this week!
These new Friends magnets for my fridge.

The “Edith” Podcast by Crooked Media. It’s even better what I imagined it would be.

I have been working out every single day. Sounds boring but I have been loving @Kirastokesfit on Instagram for fun workout inspiration. It’s challenging but it gets the work done and makes me see results with a daily 20 minute workout.

These mini ice cream cones are the perfect sweet treat that allows me to indulge but only like 100 calories.

Oui oui! I’ve been loving the Duolingo app lately as I brush up on my French skills. At night in bed I spend a few minutes going over lessons and it’s an easy way to learn a language. Not ready to go to Paris yet but it’s fun to be able to pass the challenges and think to myself, it’s not that hard!

Got some fresh flowers at Trader Joe’s on Monday for the living room.

I love to listen to french music at night while I get ready for bed. I just tell Alexa to play french music and it’s so relaxing while I wind down for the night.

Getting better at making time to read before bed. Even if it’s just 10 pages, it helps me fall asleep faster and get better sleep.

Needed a new nail file and grabbed this Olive and June set at Target and loving it! Very affordable and hope they add more to their collection.

Still finding ways to get a break from this heat wave that is here to stay in Philadelphia. Luckily we got a nice break last weekend and got to enjoy the holiday weekend. While on our way to Old City last Saturday we had to cut our walk short when an unexpected thunderstorm made us seek shelter so we went to brunch at Lou Bird’s. On Sunday, we made our way to Old City again to do some touristy things for the 4th of July. Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Elfreth’s Alley – all of the classic touristy things which I haven’t done in forever! Couldn’t let the holiday weekend end without a trip to the beach. Spent Monday at Long Beach Island and it was the perfect beach day. I think after last summer when we were inside all day everyday, we have been doing a lot of planning ahead when it comes to weekend plans.

I had a lot of expectations when it came to the Gossip Girl reboot and sat down to watch it waiting to be disappointed. After one episode I was happy to see what direction they are going in and paying tribute to the OG characters.

Loved watching this weeks Real Housewives of New York because it was filmed in Philly.

Retinol is a very important step in your skincare system and the trick is learning how much to use. Especially with my extra time in the sun lately, I need a Retinol that can work for me. Every other night I have been using my Olay Retinol cream that has been a favorite for a long time. I talked more about it in a blog post here. I love that it is effective, easy to use morning and night, and most importantly it’s very affordable.

Made some delicious purchases this week 🙂
Went to the grocery store while hungry and that is never a good idea! Picked up lots of fresh fruit and veggies. I’ve been trying to eat healthy so I stocked up on salad kits for lunches which have been an easy and healthy lunch every day this week. When I need a light snack I’ve been having sliced peaches and blueberries and it’s the perfect summer snack.

Lunch at Campo’s

These mini ice cream cones when I’m craving a sweet treat

Brunch and mimosas at Lou Bird’s was delicious

Exploring Old City

Our beach day to LBI makes me want to plan another one.

Ice cream with sprinkles at Skipper Dipper

Happy July! I think July may be my favorite month because summer is in full swing and there is so much fun to be had. I’m looking forward to trips to the beach, getting together with friends and enjoying every second of summer! Right now we are in a heat wave and even in this horrible heat I am loving it compared to the cold winter we just had. This weekend, we are seeing some friends, going to stay in the city most of the weekend and play tourists and then go to the beach hopefully on Monday. Hope you all have a fun and relaxing weekend – we all need it!

Recently stumbled upon the E! tv show, The Royals on Prime. It was a show that I wanted to watch but wasn’t available on demand so I quickly fell behind. It’s been great background noise while I get work done. Jake and I are still watching Dexter together at night. I forgot how many seasons there are LOL!

I talked about this exfoliating facial on the blog earlier this week and I am still loving it! It seriously is a game changer in getting soft, smooth skin. It’s been almost a full week since I used it last and I still am seeing the difference in my skin.

Ordered these toys that look for sushi for Ed and it’s the cutest thing!

Ordered new sandals after doing a big purge of old shoes to make room for new ones. Got some embellished slides that look fancy that are comfy. These pink ruffle slides were too cute not to get!

Loving this look that I shared on the blog for an easy go-to look for summer.

Swapped out some living room decor for summer while I was tidying up the house this week. I recently got some new artwork from Hobby Lobby and some more faux flowers to put in vases around the house.

We hosted a little dinner party last weekend and had so much fun cooking and entertaining! Looking forward to more get togethers with friends this summer.

Hi Friends! After a vacation to North Carolina to spend a few weeks with my parents, I am excited to be back to work in Philly. It was so nice to be in warm weather and lay out by the pool, reading magazines and doing some laps in the pool. We had cousin camp so every day was a new theme of meals and activities to do with my family. We were all joking that by the end, we all needed a vacation because we were tired from so much fun. Summer is in full swing here in the city and Jake and I are busy scheduling some fun things to do in the next few weeks. I love summer and the warm weather so so much! We were only gone for two weeks but the weeds took over our backyard, so I spent a few days getting the yard back in shape. I love our backyard and I try to lay out and read on the grass everyday. I’m sure we will have dinner outside at least once this weekend. Happy weekend! Hope you all have some fun and enjoy the nice weather.

After two weeks with no time to watch tv, I’ve been trying to catch up on my shows. This week during lunch, I’ll watch an episode of the Real Housewives. I am so behind so it’s a nice excuse to get cozy on the couch and catch up with all of the drama.

Last night while Jake was playing video games, I watched the Kardashian reunion with Andy Cohen.  I have to say I wish we had more of these reunions during the Kardashian franchise. I loved his questions and the insight on the series after all of these years. Finally sat down and watched Housewife and the Hustler yesterday and was texting my friend the whole time because the show was full of very interesting information we did not know before.

Jake and I just finished season 4 of Dexter and since I already saw this show a few times, it was interesting to watch Jake watch that very dramatic season finale. I swear he just sat there in shock with big eyes because he did not see that coming!

When I was packing my suitcase for two weeks at my parents house, I had to be very intentional about what I was going to bring with me. With a shorter trip, I can just bring the basics and sometimes my skincare routine will be lacking but it’s only for a few days. But with two weeks away from all of my products, I knew I needed to bring the right products to keep my hair and skin healthy. 

• Suave Kids Detangle Spray
• Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum
• Not Your Mother’s Way To Go Leave in Conditioner

• Beekman 1802 milk drops
• Peter Thomas Roth Moisturizer
• Dermalogica Clear Start 
• Lancome Eye Cream 

I picked ups some more faux florals to use in vases around my house. Buy them once and they look good forever!

I saw this wood tray all over Instagram and I just needed to have it! I’m still working on styling it in the kitchen but it is great for decorating on my kitchen counter and then for serving at a dinner party.

Hobby Lobby’s spring shop is 50% off so I went to just browse and walked out with such pretty artwork under $10 for the house. We also picked up some cute new plastic plates for outside and some hand towels because I can never have enough!

Ordered this new bikini for our cruise in August and wore it around the pool last week. It’s a bit itsy bitsy but will be fun to wear on our trip!

I’ve had these books in my shopping cart since forever and finally hit the check out button when I saw them on sale.

Now that our social calendars are getting a little busy, now is the time to pick up a few dresses for easy outfits. Rounded up a few cute options here.

Picked up Chipotle for dinner on Tuesday night while running errands and got the veggie bowl. I’m trying to eat healthy after being on vacation for two weeks and eating non stop.

Highly recommend this shampoo and conditioner line if you plan on doing a lot of swimming and washing your hair this summer. I used it while on vacation and I swear it saved my hair from getting dry and brittle with all of the chlorine and washing.

Miss having my morning coffee by the pool every morning but now i get to have it with Ed in the backyard. It’s fun to watch him chase the birds.

Hello, June! It is so nice to see you. As much as we avoid it, there is change all around us. It’s something we often dread and drag our feet when we are confronted with it. There are at times like these rare instances of change are welcomed. For instance this change in weather and promise of sunny days for the next few days. This summer will be very different than the previous one. My social calendar is filling up faster than ever and I’ll admit I am getting a little anxious about how to socialize again. I forget how to properly pack, get out of the house on time and even put together outfits. Change can be scary, however this time around I’m looking forward to getting back into the busy life. For those who are also nervous about a new season, a time of change and expectations society and even we put on ourselves, take a deep breath. We got this!

Jake is back in the office so that has been an adjustment for all of us, including Ed the cat. Last weekend, we packed up the car to head to Bayhead, New Jersey to stay with my family friends. It ended up being a very rainy weekend but we ended up having more fun than just a day at the beach. I took Jake to a local favorite of mine for lunch before walking around town to see the shops before warming up in a coffee shop. Of course when the rain started to pour and we had some time before dinner, we went to the aquarium on the boardwalk to stay dry. Even though it was raining, it was nice to go to the beach on Memorial Day Weekend. The next morning we were up early to go to the bakery to grab some treats to enjoy while sitting by the water for a bit before heading home.

This week I’ve been packing my large suitcase to spend a few weeks in North Carolina with my family. Of course I’m excited to spend time with everyone but I’m most excited to spend time at the pool lounging around and drinking sweet tea while I read a few books.

Since we had a few rainy days here I’ve been watching a lot of shows while I’ve been getting work done. It was nice to have something to look forward to every Sunday while we watched Mare of Easttown. SNL has been creating some amazing skits based off of the Philadelphia culture and the show. I’ve always been a fan of period pieces so I quickly binged through Victoria on Amazon Prime. An amazing show about Queen Victoria and her reign that shaped England. Of course season 3 ended with a cliffhanger and production for season 4 is delayed with filming restrictions. In one night I binged Zelda the Beginning of Everything, also on Amazon Prime. I knew of Zelda Fitzgerald but didn’t really know her story until I watched the series. Wish it kept going to watch the final downfall of Scott and Zelda because the series was so well cast. Somehow the show The Romanoffs slipped my radar when it first came out and I’ve been watching it while I pack. I won’t give too much away but each episode is a mini movie with a different cast telling the story of where the Royal Russian family are today.

Using this shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair healthy after a recent haircut. I forgot how nice it is to have soft silky smooth hair!

I use this skincare product every night for an extra cleanse and I cannot believe how much dirt comes off of my face even after I wash it.

For extra moisture, I have been using these milk drops and this serum at night.

Best faux plant for $5 that looks real and won’t die.

Comfy sandals that are great for summer.

• Went to the movies for the first time since 2019 to see Cruella.
• Shared some patriotic outfit ideas on the Blonde Rosie Facebook page.
• Looking for a new nude lip combo? Found the best duo here.
• In honor of the Friends Reunion, here is an article that breaks down what Rachel Green’s life would have really cost.
• Packing this top for North Carolina for when we go out to lunch.
• Put together a little round up of what I’ve been up to and some shots from Instagram on the blog. It’s nice to look back and see what I’ve been up to the last month.
• Kind of weird but there is no more mask mandate in New Jersey so that was a bit of a shock.
• Walking around Point Pleasant with a warm cup of coffee in my hand last weekend.