Friday, March 30, 2012

Keep on Rollin'

First we're going to do this nice and easy.
Then we're going to finish rough.

Yesterday (Thursday) I wore my black cotton pants from Old Navy, a red polka dot shirt I had to buy from Target (due to a coffee spill on my way into my first day of orientation at a new job), and a black cardigan from Gap, I think. Anyway, I saw this girl walking through the streets on Wednesday morning wearing slightly cropped pants with heels. Since I don’t have a pair of black slightly cropped pants like she did and I’m not really in a place to go shopping for an article of clothing to recreate one look, I decided to do an experiment with the pants I DO have. And this is the result:

I actually really like the effect that rolling my pants did to the overall look of the outfit. Completely different than just plain pants, right? The only thing I didn't like was because they're cotton, when I sat down in my chair the knees sort of poofed out. I just patted them back down when I stood up to go anywhere, but that was the only drawback...that and my chilly ankles!
 
Nice and easy: Regular un-rolled look.
The (diamond in the) rough: Rolled pants.

What makes this outfit even more special is the rolled pants reminds of being in the second grade when my sister would stand me on the stairs and roll my jeans for me. Pleat and roll twice! She refused to let me out of the house without rolled jeans because, come on, that would be embarrassing! Dear fifth-grade-Jen, I think the poofy bangs were more embarrassing then me not rolling my jeans, but we'll just go with the pants for your sake. I dedicate this outfit to my 13-year-old sister. She'd think these pants were rad.

Enough talk about pants? Tried any fun twists on your regular clothes to get more bang for your buck? Gotta be honest, I kind of want to raid my closet and see what other cool things I can come up with! Consider this experiment a success! Proud Steffie keep on rollin' ;)

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Food on a Stick and Other Delicious Ramblings

Due to my busy schedule this past week, I haven't had a chance to show you a few things I've been up to that I thought would be fun to share. The first thing is this guacamole I made from Trader Joe's guac in a box. I don't usually put as many ingredients into my guac as Joe does, but it was delish! Only thing missing is some Mexican hot sauce! I must say, having all the ingredients packaged together is genius. I wish they did this with more things...hot cocoa in a box, clam linguini in a box, homemade pizza in a box. It could be the 2.0 version of food on a stick, which reminds me that annual food on a stick day was this week. So random, but...again...genius! Maybe if Justin Timberlake did a theme song for TJ's they'd have more food in a box. ;)



Also this week, Michelley and I went for a walk around Patterson Park. I have to say, I love living this close to a park. I mean, sometimes I want to live in a town where I won't run by 50 people in a 10 minute time frame, but other times it's just so nice to see all the BaltimorIANs (not -ONs) playing outside, walking dogs, and having fun. So this is a shot from Patterson Park of the Natty B'oh sign. There's also a ice skating rink, duck pond, Japanese pagoda, and several sports fields in this park. Gotta love green urban spaces!


What have you been up to this first week of spring?

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Katniss' Theme Song

For all my fellow Hunger Game lovers,
This Hunger Games parody song is hilarious. Can't wait to see the movie!
 
Thanks to Bonnie and Alex for getting me hooked!

What's your theme song?

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Weekend Update: March 23-25

It's been a busy week so far, which means I've little time to say hello. So I thought I'd pop in and share my weekend update a few days late. You guys don't mine anyway :) I had a nice, relaxing weekend. The rain made it perfect to visit my friends Teresa and Lois in Southern Maryland. It takes me two hours to drive there from Baltimore, so it was nice to put on some tunes and take in the scenery. It's a whole different world down there with horses, fields, and old stuff (aka historic buildings). I do love me some country!

Because of the rain, most of the blooming trees lost their petals. The falling pear petals made driving up my parents' road like driving in the snow. It was pretty cool, but sad that all that beauty is already falling. Anyway, here's the recap of my visit down south.
Cherry bomb in Baltimore.
Jackson in front of a little white church.
From Solomons Island (the church's view).
The little coffee shop we visited on my way home Sunday.
Berkshire lined with petals.
How's your first week of spring?
 
Love,
Stephanie Marie

Friday, March 23, 2012

Fancy Feast and Lessons Learned

Happy FRIDAY! Holler :) This week has been busy for me. Meetings at work, biking after work, dinners and drinks after biking. It's been gooood. I biked to and from my friends' house on Wednesday and took home a few lessons learned:
1. Get a light for night time biking.
2. Don't bike at night unless you have a light...the cops definitely saw me biking, but luckily they were busy doing something else :)
3. Hop on the bike going down hill or on a flat surface, but never UP hill. I almost bit it trying to clip in. Quite ironic since Michelle had JUST asked me if I get nervous clipping in or out. Well, if I didn't before NOW I DO! Good thing to note: My body just took over and ripped my shoe off the clip.
4. Go to Michelle and Ray's if you're hungry!
Last night I met up with Amy to get our nails done for spring! Holler at me, sandal lovers! I'm sporting purple toes and pink fingers. Love. This nail salon (Babylon, if you're ever in Baltimore) was so much better than the last place I went. It was light years better. I will be returning!

After, we hit up Hudson Street Stackhaus for an adult, it's-almost-the-weekend beverage. I introduced Amy to Alagash and I got something super strong, which I didn't realize it until I got home and felt tipsy. I mean, I'm a lightweight, but one drink is just ridiculous. Clearly, it was the alcohol percentage and not me! It came in a wine glass, and I'm usually all for feeling fancy, but frankly, if I want to drink out of a wine glass, I'll buy wine, thank you very much. Next time, I'll just get the Alagash too.

Anyway, it's been busy, but I'm looking forward to a fun-filled weekend. More girl time with some friends. Can't beat that! Hopefully the weather stays nice, but even if it doesn't it won't matter too much. Games and Twilight Eclipse Part I do not require sunshine.

Anyone going to the Hunger Games premier?! I'll be waiting until the craziness dies down. Learned that lesson the hard way...twice...from the Twi-hards. Takes me a few times to figure these things out :)

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Beach Girl Classics

On our last day of the girls' beach weekend, we headed to downtown Bethany to check out a few shops and a few of beach classics. Beach Girl, get it? Like the Beach Boys' Classics...but we're girls? ;)

To me, visiting the beach means more than just sun, sand, and surf. Which works out, since the only thing we got this past trip was the sand! To me, the beach also means taking in the sights, experiencing the vibe, and finding my future beach house :) Here are a few of the classics that we took in on our final day at the beach:
Downtown Bethany's totem pole.
Sisi and Lili on an Adirondack chair.
My new dream house.
Don't you just love beach houses, furniture, and random monuments! I love getting to know new towns and love visiting new beaches even more. Some day I'll live in a small beach town where I can walk to the main street and visit my friends at "Beach Tree" coffee shop...or some equally ridiculously named establishment. Some day. Until then, I'll keep trying new ones to see where I'm going to land. A girl can dream, right? Got any beaches I should visit while shopping for real estate? ;)

Goodbye beach! SEA you next time!
Love,
Stephanie Marie

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Kids 'n Play

My dad "crashed" the girls' Bethany Beach trip this past weekend when he drove down Saturday afternoon to spend some time with us. Can't stay at home when the girls were so close!

We had such a great time at the playground before dinner at Harpoon Hannah's that we didn't mind having a cock in the hen house, so to speak. Of course, the girls wanted the adults to play with them, so Jen, Dad, and I did a little slidin', climbin', and swingin'. Mom stayed on solid ground to snap some photos of the fun times.

We are a clumsy bunch, so it's quite surprising that none of the adults got hurt! Although the ground was nice and springy at this one in our neighborhood. You get to see different parts of town when you have two little ones. Never thought I'd know where all the playgrounds in Bethany Beach are! They should have an ap for that ;)

Jen and the girls. Lili waiting "patiently" to climb.
Panpa on the wall climb. Kid at heart :)
Monkey see, monkey do!
Lili made it all the way to the top!
Grandpa and Sisi climbing "careful".
It's times like these I'm so grateful to have such a close-knit family. And close PHYSICALLY to boot! It took Jen and the girls five hours to drive down to Bethany, but I'm hoping she still thinks it was worth it! Hi, family!
Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
 
If the words sound queer and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey,
Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy."
 
Love,
Stephanie Chizik

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Beach or Bust!

Although Saturday (and the rest of the weekend, for that matter) turned out to be gray and a bit wet, we didn't let that get in our way. We were at the beach, and the girls were willing to don winter coats and boots just to get into some sand! We lasted just long enough for some sand toys, kite flights, and "picmic" snacks. We warmed up after our beach time at the Penguin Diner. These girls love them some penguinos! :)
Lili and Sisi watching a beach wedding. Brave bride!
Lili loves her cup!
Sisi and her monkey hat.
The girls' snack time on the blanket.
Gwan-ma and Sisi coloring the place mats.
Don't you just love family trips? It's funny to think that most of my friends were probably already drinking by this time, since they were a bit farther south at Ocean City for a bachelorette party. My, how different one weekend can be!

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Monday, March 19, 2012

Girls' Trip: Bethany Beach

Just got back from my girls' weekend in Bethany Beach! My mom, sister, nieces, and I had an amazing and exhausting time! The weather wasn't as great as it was inland (guess the marine layer hits the East Coast too?), but we didn't let that bother us! 

I drove down on Thursday after a Women in Defense luncheon in Aberdeen, Maryland. Figured it made more sense to drive the rest of the way over the Chesapeake than coming back down south to cross the Bay Bridge. It was fun to try a new route :) So Thursday night my mom and I watched Loyola loose boo. But we enjoyed a nice seafood dinner at the Cottage, had some lovely wine, and hung out. Friday we got up early for breakfast and to get in a full day's work. Gotta love teleworking from the beach! Dream. Come. True!

After work we snuck in a quick bike ride. This was the only time I got Patty out, but it was worth taking her to the beach regardless. Loved having some company on a lazy afternoon ride. Come along with us for a ride!
Path along the Sea Colony.
Mom on the trail.
Loved these canals.
Oh hey, Mom! Are we in Europe?!
Love,
Stephanie Marie

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Fleet Street Blooms

I spotted this tree on Fleet Street on my way into work this morning (see full image here). This is right on the edge of Little Italy, which is adorable if you're ever in Baltimore. It seems like everything just popped open over night! All the trees during my commute and at work are just full of color. Maybe it was the 80-degree day yesterday? I love seeing these pear trees covered in blossoms and hope to get a good shot of my parents' street. That is one gorgeous drive :) Oh, and please excuse the reflection from my dashboard. I didn't have enough time to open my window for this shot.

Love,
Stephanie Marie



Tuesday, March 13, 2012

White Space

Normally I don't really mind daylight savings time. Any reason for more sun while I'm awake works for me. However, this week has been so difficult for me to get into a regular sleep cycle after this spring forward. I sort of feel jet-lagged. So, I decided that even though I have to work today and work out tonight and do all those regular types of things, I will daydream about sleeping in a room like this one from the Blakes Hotel in London:
 
Until I can get home and fall into my own bed :)

Is anyone else affected by the time change this year?
Ooommmmm.

Love,
Stephanie Marie

Photo courtesy of pinterest.