Raised in a Barn, Born in a Pew

I started getting Pottery Barn catalogs sent to my apartment (aside from Netflix and some other catalogs, I don't get anything else sent there). Anyway, like many American women, I think this is straight up my style. I just love the mix of rustic and girlie. Add that to the twine and some of the other details and you've got my nautical obsession covered too! Here's what I loved most from this catalog:

Chalkboard in the kitchen. Mason jar lighting. Tiered pizzas.

Letters, cream-covered books, and twine!

Jute lighting. Grass centerpiece (what up, Michelle, circa 2002!)

White hydrangeas, plate of fruit, neutral couch.

Love,

Stephanie Marie

I Like to Ride My Bicycle

Check out my new ride!! Isn't she perrty? I got the bike, pedals, helmet, shoes, and little butt bag. The guy was like, "wow, you're buying everything." Well, friend, when you have none of it and need all of it, you have to buy it! Anywho, I'm psyched to get out there on the BWI trail and try my bike on for size :) The guys at the Performance store in Baltimore were super helpful with picking everything out and giving me advice on where I can ride by myself. For instance, don't go on the NCR trail with a road bike because of the stone surface. Good to know! Today and tomorrow are supposed to have precipitation, so I'm hoping to get out there Thursday. Hooray for fitness and socializing with my new toy! 

On a terrifically different side note, I've been craving the beach! My friends in San Diego have been posting pictures of palm trees and bathing suits, a few bloggers I read are on vacation in Hawaii and San Diego, and I'm just over this "mild" winter. Luckily, my family is taking a girls' trip to Bethany Beach in a few weeks, so I don't have too long to wait for the beach. It's still going to be cold, but I love the beach in all weather. You bet your bottom I'll be bringing Patty O'Green along with me to the beach! 

So to satisfy my beach neediness in the meantime, I've queued up a few cold-weather beach goodies (old and new) in my Netflix. Look out "Charlie St. Cloud," "Sabrina," "Dan in Real Life," "Dolphin Tale," and "Soul Surfer"! I'm coming for ya! (I still have some Oscar movies that I want to watch, but now that I don't have a deadline, I'm going to watch them when I'm in the moooood.)

Have any good cold-weather beach movies I should add to my list?

Love,

Stephanie Marie

PS. Feel free to take a shot every time I say the word "beach" :)

French Foodies

The end of our fabulous Brooklyn weekend ended with food, of course. All of us are foodies. Maybe that's one of the reasons we all get along so well: a deep appreciation for all things sweet and salty :) Based off of Kath's roommate's recommendation, Michelle, Kath, Jenny, and I headed up to St. Germain for one last meal together. The place was adorable. It was very eclectically decorated and the food was amazing. I went way off course with a roasted veggie and goat cheese sandwich. Honestly, tell me that you're smothering anything in goat cheese and I'm on board! I'll let the photos speak for the food and decor. Gotta love the French inspiration!

Michelle and Kath, and the necklace Kath gave all of us :)

Me and Jenny. We like stripes.

Wall art on the chair backs.

My veggie sandwich and delicious greens.

On our way out of the city, Michelle and I captured the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which we'd been gazing at all weekend. Luckily, even the $13 charge to get across the Verrazano couldn't mar my view! I really appreciate when a town has any sort of view, whether it's a view of a valley, the ocean, or, in this case, the bridge. Just gives you something off in the distance to wonder at while sipping a latte :)

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from 3rd Ave.

At that, my friends, was a beautiful Brooklyn weekend! If you're in the area, you should definitely check it out! And even if you're not, it was only a three-hour trip for us to get home to Baltimore. Not too shabby, eh?

Done any local traveling that you loved?

Love,

Stephanie Marie

Luck, Love, and Losers

We spent most of Saturday walking around Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass...gotta love the neighborhood acronyms). We took the subway from Kath's (over in Bay Ridge) to have brunch at Bubby's by the river. The service wasn't that great, but my trout scramble was very tasty and the view of lower Manhattan was amazing. It was super windy so we tried to stay warm, even when taking a quick walk around Brooklyn Bridge Park. If it had been ten degrees warmer, I'm sure we would have walked across the Brooklyn Bridge or at least sat outside the restored carousel for a bit. Guess I'll just have to go back when the weather's warmer! 

Manhattan Bridge from DUMBO.
Photo by Michelle!

After brunch, we headed back home for a nap and shower. A little Friends with my friends :) Once we were ready to go, stilettos and all, we headed back onto the subway to head to the Lower East Side. My sister and Jenny had both recommended this restaurant called Freeman's, so that was our destination. However, the restaurant (at the end of a spy-like alleyway) was tiny and no tables were left by the time we got there. Definitely want to call for reservations ahead of time that next visit to NYC!

Walking down the alley to Freeman's.

Luckily, Freeman's recommended a place a few blocks away called Sauce. We braved the cold, trying to locate the restaurant and finally fell upon it. Thank god we didn't give up hope that we'd find it because it was one of the best meals ever! PLEASE go there if you ever find yourself in Manhattan. Even though it was packed at 930 and there was nowhere for us to stand while waiting, it was the best experience. It had the best wine of my life, the friendliest staff (even though we were continually in their way), the most delicious tapas, and just loud enough music to bump to. They even had a potato linguini for gluten-free Michelley! Delish! It was meant to be. Seriously, if we had booked a reservation at Freeman's or hadn't been turned away from them we never would have found this place! So fortunate.

Getting wine while we wait at Sauce.

The most amazing wine ever. Seriously. EVER.

After dinner, we tried to get into some bar (the Library, maybe?) that was in the back of a pawn shop. So random. I love it when it feels like you're on a secret mission, but the bouncers were jerks and wouldn't let all of us in. So not worth the "cool" factor of a behind-the-pawn-shop appeal. So we moved onto the Whiskey Ward which was perfect for our large group. A few drinks later, a few insults from some random Puerto Rican who called himself Ricky Ricardo, and I was ready to head home. Luckily (or unluckily since she wanted to leave because of Ricky Ricardo), Kath's roommate Steph was ready to go too. Side note: I love going out with friends who are OK with going home in shifts. It makes it so much less dramatic when some people want to stay and some people want to go. I was in bed around 230 and didn't even hear it when the other three ladies popped in around 430. Gotta love that :)

So, there you have it! Saturday had a few highs and a few lows, but overall it was another memorable day with people I love!

Love,

Stephanie Marie

Brooklyn With A Bang!

Instead of a weekend update, I thought I'd post pictures from each day I spent in Brooklyn this past weekend. I had a blast visiting Kath and Jenny with Michelley. Couldn't have planned a better first trip to Brooklyn! 

Michelle and I arrived to Kath's around 930pm on Friday and, after a quick wardrobe change and wine guzzle, went straight to her local bar for a drink. Then, we hopped in a car with Kath's roommate, Steph, and trekked over to the Brooklyn Bowl for a concert. Tragedy was a trip. Gold, glitter, and guffaws for all!

Michelle, Kath, Jenny, and Steph at the first bar.

Tragedy at the Brooklyn Bowl.

Lance, the sweat mopper, after the show.

Me, muffintop, and Kath's new drumstick.

Hope you had a great weekend! Saturday and Sunday pictures up next :)

Love,

Stephanie Marie

Happiness #4: Being With Loved Ones

Note: Numerically this shouldn't be Happiness #4, but I really think my post about loving the outdoors should be Happiness #3. So let's just go with it, shall we?

Moving back to the East Coast has really taught me a few things about what it is that I need to be happy in this life--staying in shape, eating well, and being in nature are all some of those things. I've come to learn them either by missing something that I was able to do easily living in San Diego (for example, hiking on a random evening) or by doing something that I wasn't able to do easily living in San Diego (for example, having brunch with my family on a random Sunday).

Several other people are dealing with finding their happiness. Of course, there's Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project. But there's also Funky Junk Interiors, Naturally Ella, and Explore Dream Discover. I wonder why it is that everyone is thinking, talking, and collaborating about this now. Why today? Why this way? Why is it so apparent to everyone now that we may not be as happy as we want to be? I have a job, I have a family, I have friends. I have a roof over my head, I can afford to travel and buy new things. And yet, sometimes I find that I'm still sad or lonely. And that pisses me off! Is it an American thing? Does this American Dream have us forever pursuing that perfect life? And so we feel that we won't be happy until we're all millionaires and philanthropists? Well, friends, that's not going to happen for 99% of us, so we'd better take the time now to figure out how to be happy with how we already are. It's time that we take a step back and realize that we can be happy. Hell, that we already are happy!

Maybe we think: when x, y, and z are done...that's when I'll be happy. When I have x and y in my life...then I'll be happy. Well, screw that. I say let's do the Oprah thing and instead of listing what we want let's make a list of what we need to make us truly happy. I'm sure it's not millions of dollars, but things that are much more achievable and controllable. Let's focus on the good.

Here's the start of my list. You may think that some of the things on here are silly, but they make me happy. Go make your own list if you don't like mine ;)

creativity
hiking
being with friends and family
traveling
photography
reading
hot tea
candles
Bath & Body Works' spearmint eucalyptus scent
desserts
exercising
being healthy
being kind
keeping in touch with loved ones
trying new things
exploring where I live
being valued at work
being on time
organization

Today, Michelle and I are going to drive to Brooklyn to visit Kath and that makes me happy :) I'll be spending time with my friends, trying new restaurants and foods, traveling to a new city, and hopefully taking some walks outside.Spending time with friends and family is definitely one of the best things in life. And when you've known people long enough to be yourself completely around them, to be able to tell them that there's something on your happiness list that you'd like to do with them because that makes you happy? That's the best! I don't want to make people guess what I need. If I need a little help making me happy, I know there are people in my life who are happy to help :)

How will you find your happy this weekend?

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Photo courtesy of pinterest.