      My usual Must-Haves list is comprised of designer clothing and accessories that I have-to-have or am lusting over and can't afford. These days, the must-have items on my list are necessary beauty products during a pandemic. Never thought I'd say that! I'm sensitive to scents and hate the smell of hand sanitizer, but it's a necessary product to have on hand! I was so happy when NCLA Beauty launched a small lineup of Hands Clean sanitizer available in lavender, eucalyptus, watermelon and unscented. You can pre-order these little bottles of hand sanitizer at Revolve. I got lip fillers (and botox) a few days before the stay-at-home order came into effect AND my lips are perfect - BUT, now I have to wear a face mask. Enough said! I'm happy to see many of my favorite clothing brands producing face masks - I know the quality is there. I pre-ordered three cute GRLFRND masks at Revolve. The best place to order cheeky, cloth face masks is Etsy. You can also order personalized masks. If you want a hefty mask with replaceable filters, there are many online stores to choose from. I believe face masks will be around for a while and everyone should have at least one. It seems like many people are struggling with DIY beauty these days. Most rely on hair, nail and tanning salons to keep their beauty in check. Fortunately, I prefer to do my own gel nails and apply self tanner at home. I do however get my hair colored every three weeks and had to learn a new skill during these unusual times. dpHUE is my go-to hair coloring brand. The dpHUE root touch-up kit is easy to use, the color is perfect and the solution completely covers roots (even greys). Paired with the dpHUE gloss, this color touch-up duo is perfect for someone who requires single process coloring. I posted a lengthy DIY root touch-up video a few weeks ago - Scroll down a little.. Another necessary step in most beauty routines is waxing or threading the upper lip and eyebrows. The Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover is an excellent DIY threading tool. You simply twist the handles, while gliding the coil spring along your upper-lip. It's painful, but does a great job removing unwanted hair. You can purchase this Tweezerman beauty tool at Sephora. Being able to do your own nails is a necessary skill to have. You never know when your go-to salons (and the entire world) may close for months! I was introduced to gel nails a few years ago and went to the salon four times before deciding to do it myself. I purchased gel polish in a variety of nude shades, base and top coat polish, remover, foils and an LED nail lamp. My go-to brand is CND. I recently discovered Static Nails. The lineup includes reusable press-on nails (I gotta try these) and long-wear polish that promises to last up to 10 days. The shades are gorgeous and it seems like either one would be easier than applying/removing gel polish. Of course, I have a few items in my cart! Admittedly, I like tanning beds. BUT, the last place I wanna be is baking inside a horizontal UV radiation bed that someone else just laid in. SO, I'm going back to DIY self-tanning. My go-to brand is St. Tropez. I've been using it for years. BUT, as of late, I'm experimenting with new brands. I'm going to apply Luna Bronze Self Tanning Lotion later today.. This process takes a little practice. I suggest purchasing a light color, a tanning mitt and body exfoliator. Read the instructions carefully and stay away from water and excessive activities that will make you sweat for at least 6 hours. Applying self-tanner is a quick way to enhance your stay-at-home skin. On the bright side, if you screw it up, nobody will see it - Unless you post pics. 
I was challenged to a Bug Out bag competition. I had thirty minutes to gather all of the items I deemed essential if I had to leave my home and go into survival mode. These items should be of the utmost importance. I didn't include self-defense items or proper food, but I think I did a great job for someone who hasn't been preparing for an apocalypse. I hope you appreciate that I included prosecco, coconut water and avocados. AND, there's a color theme! For those of you who aren't familiar with a Bug Out bag - It's a bag (usually a sturdy backpack) containing essential items for survival. It typically has camping gear, non-perishable food, a change of clothes and self-defense items. You can buy pre-prepared Bug Out bags for up to thousands of dollars. Your Bug Out bag needs depend on your level of paranoia! I do think having a Bug Out bag for your pet is smart. Often, emergencies happen and we forget to pack essentials for our pets. My Toy Poodle, Teddy, has an extensive Bug Out bag that we can grab-and-go.. 
I celebrated my 40th birthday yesterday. It seems like forever to some, but time has gone by so fast - especially the good moments. I don't feel old and thanks to botox, I don't look old either! Yesterday was the perfect 40th birthday celebration. Thank you Teddy for enduring another photo shoot. You're a super star poodle model.
I was not aware of most of these 1980 facts, but in all fairness, I was a baby! I'm a little disapointed in the "famous people born". Was hoping for someone with more depth. I suppose Ryan Gosling is ok - Who doesn't love The Notebook?! I can't believe Post-It Notes were invented in 1980 - I love them! I'm one of those old people that refuses to keep notes on my iPhone and sticks pastel-shades of Post-It Notes everywhere.
My little dog model went to doggy daycare for the first time yesterday. I spent my birthday lunch watching him on the daycare webcam. He sat in the corner and closely observed the regulars. I'm sure he was overwhelmed and hope he gets comfortable at daycare in the near future.. By the time we did this birthday photo shoot, he was exhausted.
Thank you Shai for the lovely flowers and Limerick poem. It reads..
This Urban Stem bouquet is called the Limerick - hence the humorous poem!
I purchased my Forty AF t-shirt and Hello 40 socks from Etsy. I frequent this site for celebratory products. The apparel is good quality and inexpensive. There's also a wide variety of items for every occasion.
Urban Stems is my go-to online flower delivery company. Thank you husbano for the Metropolitan bouquet and your kind words. Oh and thank you Teddy - I love that you singed the card by yourself!
My favorite - a Dior box. I LOVE my new kicks. They're a step down from the oversized "dad shoe", but still sporty. These Dior sneakers are super light and super white (wish me luck keeping them that way).
My birthday celebration ended with famous Georgetown Cupcakes - delicious! I could barely eat one, cause they're so sweet. It was great day - Bindass for lunch and cupcakes for dinner.
Here we are dancing to The Git Up. Thank you husbano for the perfect birthday. I plan on celebrating all week and can't wait to see what else you have planned.. 
What is glamping? It's fancy camping. Glamping at Getaway House is by no means roughin' it! AND the best part is you can glamp year-round, cause you have a cozy, heated cabin with everything you need.. Getaway House has small cabins stocked with everything you need to camp comfortably. There is a bathroom with a hot shower, a small kitchen with a two burner stove, sink and fridge. The kitchen is also stocked with cooking supples and provisions. Each cabin has a super comfy bed and a lovely view of the outpost. There is also a bin filled with fire wood (for a fee). All you have to pack is comfy clothes, food and beverages.
YETI is a Glampers best asset. The tumbler will keep your hot beverages super hot for hours and the wine glass will keep your cold beverages chilled. I take these two everywhere I go. YETI has a vast selection of drink ware and coolers. I love this brand. It's super expensive, but worth the cost.
If you're fortunate to have a Getaway House within a reasonable driving distance, I highly recommend a weekend "getaway". The wall-sized window sits beside the bed and allows for breakfast with a view. This is the best feature at Getaway House. Teddy loves sitting in the window.
I'm not the outdoors type, but do enjoy a little stroll with my Teddy Bear. He loves running in the leaves. We've only visited the Getaway House during the Fall/Winter and are looking forward to a few weekends away during the Spring and Summer. I'm sure the compost is even better when the trees are full of leaves.
I suggest you put away your phone and relax a little. I enjoy reading my cookbooks in bed, next to the oversized window of course. Do prepare a glamping menu - I often make sausages with scrambled eggs smothered with cheese and served with hot salsa for breakfast. I pre-cook the sausages at home, so they just require a re-heat. Of course we barbecue hotdogs - this is usually the first thing we cook. Sheppard's salad is fresh, is easy to prepare at the cabin (will post a recipe on the blog soon). This chopped salad is smothered with feta cheese and pairs nicely with burgers or any other protein. I pack snacks for late-night gaming and lots of wine and beer. My camping menu is not health-conscious at all!
I'm not a huge fan of sitting by the fire. The smoke irritates my eyes and I hate smelling like campfire. Teddy and I usually watch while the husbano gets the fire going and cooks the food. If you love a good campfire, you will enjoy this aspect of glamping at Getaway House.
While the Getaway House cabins are cozy and have everything you need, I suggest you get out, run through the leaves and breath in the fresh air. The Getaway House outposts are well thought out and there's a lot of ground to cover. Just keep a lookout for wild animals, cause they come outta nowhere.
Pack rubber boots, AND YES, you should absolutely go trompsin' through the woods with no trousers on! Why not? I'd be a little weary of the spider webs though. I came face to face with a huge momma while tryna capture the perfect glamping photo. What I wouldn't do for a pic! 
While 2019 was a great year for me, I'm looking forward to 2020 - My goal is to get out of my comfort zone, travel a little and appreciate myself more. I have so much to be grateful for and am looking forward to spending 2020 in my new home (first time buyer) and enjoying time with family and friends.. This was a fun photo shoot - I purchased the backdrop from Amazon and the glasses from Party City. If you're like me and prefer to stay home on New Years Eve, this is the perfect setup for a celebratory photo shoot. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Take a minute (away from your phone or camera) and enjoy the great moments, be healthy - but indulge once and while, don't be too hard on yourself and try something new - get out of your comfort zone. I wish you all a brilliant 2020.. 
The best gift you can give this holiday season is an Oxfam gift. Oxfam is a nonprofit organization that funds projects worldwide in an effort to end injustice of poverty. The gifts you purchase for friends, family and colleagues is an actual donation. Oxfam will apply those funds where it is needed and the person you've purchased the gift for will receive a vibrant card. Your gift will bring attention to this worthy cause, put a smile on someones face and benefit those who are less fortunate.
This innovative, charitable concept is brilliant. I would love to receive a card with a cute, baby chick that says, "I Bought A Dozen Chicks For You". A donation made in my honor is the best present. Oxfam gifts has an extensive catalog of charitable gifts that you can choose from. There are animal, sustainable, water, women and children, education, making a living and emergency necessities gifts. The gifts range from $18 to a $2500 investment in a small business.
When you choose your gift you have the option to print your own card (download a PDF), eCard (sent via email) or no card. The picture above shows how the printed card will appear. I like to email the cards. The thoughtful designs are well done, colorful and informative. The eCard reads, "Hello (insert name). You received an Oxfam gift from (insert name)". As the receiver scrolls through the card the gift is stated and a brief summary about Oxfam Gifts appears. The receiver then has the option to browse other gifts or share the gift they received. If you receive an Oxfam Gift this holiday season, please share. Most of my friends live in other cities, and yes, you'll be getting an Oxfam Gift this year..
The Getaway in Shenandoah is a 20 acre plot of land with small cabins scattered about. The cabin (Getaway House) is a thoughtfully designed, cozy space, with all the essentials for a relaxing weekend in the woods. I used to go camping with friends often when I was younger and hadn't thought about a mini adventure vacation in well over a decade - And then I saw the Getaway House on Instagram. I gotta say, Instagram is the perfect platform to advertise. If it wasn't for the GH ad, I wouldn't have found this little haven just two hours from DC.
When we pulled into our personal camping space, we were excited about the setup AND we hadn't even seen inside the cabin yet. First step to the best camping trip is to pour a glass of wine or crack open a beer. Then I walked around the small site and took photos (for the blog). When booking your Getaway House, you can include your dog for a small fee. Upon arrival we noticed there was a long leash attached to the picnic table. We attached it to Teddy's harness and let him roam. He's never been without a short leash and kept looking back to make sure it was ok for him to explore - so cute! The leash was just long enough for him to wander the perimeter of the site. This was a nice amenity for our little bear.
The Getaway House is perfect. A little smaller than I expected from online photos, but the innovative design is everything you need for a short getaway. There's a small table with a bench/step along one side and chair at the other. The bench doubles as a step to the elevated queen size bed. This bed was SO comfortable. There's a small kitchen area, with a two burner stove, mini fridge, sink and shelf with provisions and dishes. The provisions are for purchase. Our host was kind and left s'mores for the adults and doggy s'mores for Teddy. There was also dog dishes. I appreciate the amenities for our Teddy Bear. The bathroom is super small, but clean and has everything you need. You gotta squish by the toilet to close the door and get to the shower, but you are camping, so be happy you have a hot shower. On that note, I kinda drained the hot water, but it was replenished in less than an hour. The shower is tiny, but clean (very important) and featured Pharmacopia shampoo, conditioner and body wash. There's a fan in the bathroom and you can open the small window for ventilation.
Our camping space was located on a small hill, so we were looking down in to the woods. The full-sized window located next to the bed and overlooking the woods was mine and Teddy's favorite feature. You can bring down the blinds at night for more privacy, but we opted for no window coverings, so we could see the sun come up. I was hoping Teddy would see an animal, even a squirrel would do, but no luck this time. I read on Instagram that campers had deer outside their window - Which is nice, as long as you're inside!
We only spent one night at the Getaway House and I was bummed that I didn't get lay by the window all day (check-out is at 11:00 am). Next time I "getaway", Imma lay there all afternoon and relax. I was also terrified that I would look out the window at night and someone or thing would be looking back at me. It's beyond dark and a little scary. I refused to hang by the fire in the dark. I was nervous that we wouldn't see our attacker in time - AHS just started and takes place at a murderous camp in the 1980's.
The small area surrounding the cabin is perfect. There's a picnic table, two Muskoka chairs, logs to place your beverage and a firepit and grill grate. There's also a container containing wood and a few startup logs. The wood is for purchase and all provisions will be charged to your credit card sometime later. We started our fire late and didn't give it the attention required to heat up the grill grate. Our hamburgers took forever and weren't very good. Camping 101 and we botched it. The menu will be better next time and I'm definitely going with hotdogs on the grill - They're super easy. We camped in October and it was really cold in the morning. This would be a great time to get the fire going. Next time we're gonna start the fire in the am and relax by the flames during the day. We'll probably retire early and unwind in the cozy bed when it gets dark. There are many things to do in the area, but we just wanna relax. Maybe next time, we'll take a stroll through the outpost, but I'm not the adventurous type, so there will be minimal activity.
Teddy had the best time. This dog is living his best life - always in the car, going on trips and being spoiled the entire time. I pre-made bacon, scrambled eggs and chicken for him. Spoiled! He laid horizontal across the bed and my husband laid diagonal - I had the worst sleep squished between them. AND Teddy didn't wanna get out of the bed in the morning. He's a lazy camper.
We stayed at the Getaway House for one night to see if we'd like it AND we're obsessed. We've already booked more weekends. It's camping in a small, rustic cabin and is the perfect mini vacation. You can sit by the fire and eat at the picnic table or cook inside and enjoy the view. I'm branding this vacation in the wilderness "glamping".
This innovative camping style is brilliant. Just two hours from the city and you're sleeping in a tiny, simple cabin in the woods. It's perfect for people who just want to relax. Too often we (you're also guilty) miss out on amazing experiences, cause we're on our phone or trying to "capture" the moment. I recommend you shut off your phone and place it in the cell phone lockbox. Get out your camera and take photos the "old fashion" way. Embrace the peace and quiet, cause soon you'll be back at work and counting down the days till your next getaway. 
I've just come from wandering the FRESHFARM Market in Dupont Circle and I LOVED IT! I'm a huge fan of markets and I was really looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed - this market is impressive. The people, beautiful products, vast variety of beverages and food, thoughtful stands and persons attending them, make this market a must-see. I'm sure most locals frequent this market, but this should should be on every "what to see in DC" list. Prepare yourself for a crowd, yummy samples and an overall great experience. Grab your shopping tote, cause you're gonna need the space.
Named one of the top farmer's markets in the country (Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London), this market has a lot to offer. During peak season, there are over fifty farmers offering fruit, vegetables, baked goods, district-made beer and spirits, cheese, meat, poultry, eggs, jams and pickles.. It's a Sunday haven for locals to shop fresh and organic foodstuffs and beverages. FRESHFARM Market is open from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on Sunday and is overflowing with shoppers. I thought if we arrived around 9:30 there wouldn't be too many people (being that it's Sunday morning), but no, this place was super busy. There was a lineup of over 30 people waiting for bagels. We didn't get to try the bagels, cause I had my dog with me, but I'm convinced they're delicious.
The produce is brilliant in color and super-fresh. As shoppers are purchasing produce, the stand attendees are replenishing stock and ensuring the stands are perfect. The owners and staff were really nice (most of them) and happy to answer any questions. There were also samples (love that). We didn't buy any produce, cause we were going out of town, but I'm a big vegetable fan and will definitely frequent the FRESHFARM Market for my weekly grocery shopping.
My favorite stop was the King Mushrooms stand. I'm a huge fan of the fruiting body of fungus and had no idea there were so many different kinds. The guy tending to the stand was pleasant and explained that mushrooms have many health benefits. I purchased a small bottle of Lion's Mane Double Extraction in an effort to give my failing memory a jolt - it's been a week and nothing yet, but these things take time.
The Chicken of the Woods mushroom is beautiful - like coral. I've never had this type of mushroom, but plan to visit the market this weekend and buy some. The sun was shinning and I was able to capture good photos. I have more mushroom pics, but my blog is limited and there's so much more to talk about.. Oh and most of the people tending to the stands allowed me to take photos. It was a nice photography experience.
Right Proper sounds like something a Newfie would name their beer - I'm from Newfoundland and had to buy some. The display was huge and there was a nice selection of beer. The guy assisting us seemed to be more concerned with waving to people at the other stands and wasn't overly helpful. I kinda feel bad that I'm harping on you, but you can do better. You potentially lost a loyal customer - This beer better be delicious and "Right Proper" to ensure a return to the Right Proper stand.
I'm not a baked goods fan at all. I love sandwiches, but the bread is just a means of transportation to my mouth. Albeit, the baked goods at the FRESHFARM Market were appealing, especially the sweet and savory pastries. My dog would have been jealous if I ate something and didn't share with him and wheat isn't healthy for dogs, so I snapped a few pics and wandered to the next alluring stand.
The Gordy's Pickle Jar stand was a "must stop and buy something" moment. My husband loves anything pickled, but our hands were full (we already purchased beer and a bottle of whiskey), so we opted for just the Bloody Mary Mix. We will definitely be regulars at this stand.
The flowers at the FRESHFARM Market were unique - even I was impressed and I'm not a big fan of flowers. Albeit, I had to have a bunch. The flowers were displayed individually in buckets, so you can create your own bouquet. These flowers were the only pop of color in my neutral home and lasted a week. I've been converted to a flower fan.
I moved to this neighborhood mid-summer and was anticipating the Dupont Circle market, but was preoccupied with decor. I finally got up on a beautiful Sunday morning, grabbed my pink shopping tote and ventured out. There's a lot to love about this neighborhood, but the FRESHFARM Market is my favorite attraction so far. I'm declaring myself a regular and looking forward to see what's offered during the festive holidays.. 
I just bought my first home and am cheating on fashion for furniture and decor. I'm having so much fun decorating and and recently added a lifestyle section to the blog, so I can share my home style. I was beyond excited to host a few special folks (Erin and Bob) a few weeks ago and wanted my table setting to be modern and memorable. I had a blast shopping for table decor. AND, I'm confident that I created a trendy table that represents me as a host. I got a few compliments!
I realize my oversized, Game of Thrones table is not trendy, but I lost the battle on that one. All I can do is jazz it up and make it my own.. I already had classic-white Le Creuset plates, so I decided to go with a black, white and gold theme. My inspiration came from hours of perusing the internet and the perfect set of brushed gold and resin flatware from CB2 - we'll come back to flatware.. I approached this project like I would a fashion shoot. The theme, vibe and color scheme must be cohesive AND I can't afford five different table settings (I spend too much money on shoes and bags), so the theme of my trendy table setting has to be suitable for many occasions. A neutral color palette, with a little gold is perfect.
I recently started a subscription at Dry Farm Wines. It's an online health-focused wine club. Each month I receive six natural wines curated from family farms. There is a long list of benefits, but most importantly, these wines have lower sulfites (< 75 ppm) and lower alcohol (< 12.5%). Some of the wine bottles are intriguing. Pictured above is a white wine in a green wine bottle with a beer cap. It resembles a giant beer bottle and adds a little interest. The details of Dry Farm Wines is also a great dinner conversation.
I also opted for unique pieces, like this handcrafted and painted mango wood bowl from CB2. The suggested use is for bread or napkins, but I like to use this as a salad bowl (dry salad of course). These oversized salad serving utensils from IKEA are nice, but basic. I'm still looking for the perfect set - maybe gold or olive wood.
I have too many unique glasses to choose from - wine and champagne flutes, goblets, mason jar mugs, whiskey glasses, hand painted glasses and a wide variety of colors. I have a glass for every beverage - Even port sipping glasses! The one thing that changes on my table each occasion are the glasses. For this neutral, trendy table setting, I'm using my personalized b.a.gorgie stemless wine glasses. I like stemless wine glasses, cause you can serve red or white wine, as well non-alcoholic beverages in the same glass.
I love this marble and brass cheese board from William Sonoma. I think it's suitable for casual dinning or a formal setting. The handles make it easy to carry this heavy marble board. The brushed brass handles and "cheese" lettering give this board a modern vibe. This witty cheese board started my obsession with white marble. I also purchased marble coasters with gold pineapples from William Sonoma. They're fun and combined with the marble cheese board, my trendy table has personality. I also like to display mismatched coasters. These antique brass hammered coasters from William Sonoma are festive and standout. The antique brass matches the gold tones on my table perfectly.
This CB2 flatware set prompted me to go with the black, white and gold theme. This Earl brushed gold and resin 20-piece set is modern and quirky. I love the pinstripe detail. I'm considering to purchase a brushed black flatware set as well for casual dinning. This pinstripe and gold set is suited more for festive occasions. This flatware set is super-light. I was hesitant to keep them, in fear that the light-weight would seem cheap, but the mixed material and contemporary look outweighed the lack of heft. The CB2 vapor black and white salad plates placed on the Le Creuset dinner plates are intriguing and add a little texture to the setting. They are created by dipping porcelain into a white and black soapy glaze.
I can't go in to a CB2 store and not purchase something - it's the Sephora of decor. The in-store and online displays are inspiring. I purchased my center piece in-store. It is comprised of a petrified wood salt and pepper set, and oil and vinegar cruets atop of a marble and brass server. I leave this display on my table at all times, or if I'm doing a charcuterie at the kitchen counter, I'll temporarily place it there. The marble server floats on a sculptural gilded base, elevating the salt and pepper set and cruets. This CB2 marble server comes in two sizes. If you purchase both, you can place the small one slightly under the larger for a tiered display. The porcelain oil cruet and vinegar cruet have a Gatsby-esque vibe and contrast nicely with the textured glass cruet. I combined oil and dry herbs, along with dried hot peppers in the glass cruet. I also purchased a marble and brass wine coaster for red wine and a marble and brass wine chiller for the white wine. These wine holders are a stylish addition to my trendy table setting. They're also great for serving wine on my marble countertop - they protect the fragile marble.
The Kuleto wine pictured above is not from Dry Farm Wines, but rather a long-time favorite red wine. Always make sure to serve a pitcher of water. I place one or two (one on each side of my giant table) IKEA Korken bottle's with a stopper. Of course, I serve Evian water. YES, people can tell the difference between tap water and bottled water. You can also serve one still and one carbonated water.
My go-to stores for this table decor were CB2 and William Sonoma. Other great decor and furniture stores that I frequent are Crate and Barrel and The Pottery Barn. I had so much fun creating a trendy table setting. I had no idea shopping home decor would bring me so much pleasure - I kinda wanna create two different settings. Stay tuned.. 
|
