TEA TIME

I recently met my good friend Carrie for brunch at the Cambridge Tea House. 

The place was incredibly charming, the service was fabulous, and the food was oh-so delicious!

Carrie had an egg sandwich, fruit, and tea {which they brought in the sweetest little pot}.

I had a mushroom quiche, fruit, and a lemon poppyseed scone with homemade cream + strawberry jam... umm... yep - divine. Oh, and my coffee was wonderful, too {which was extra points since they're a tea house}! 

It was a wonderful way to start the day...

meaningful conversation with a friend, a new place, and homemade food.

Yes, please.

PRACTICALLY PERFECT

How was your weekend, friends? We had good one. I worked on Saturday, but had Friday off... and it was a wonderful, perfect day off. The Mr and I had lunch at Bar Louie - a place that always reminds me of my time living in Chicago because of the way it opens to the outside like many of the bars and restaurants there {I wish more places were like that here in Columbus}. Our food was wonderful and the weather was perfect for sitting outside. 

After stuffing ourselves we walked to North Market and stopped by our friend Brittany's pretzel shop - Brezel. Brittany is from the same little hometown as the Mr and me, and how cool is it that she started her own business. Brezel's hand-rolled Bavarian-style pretzels are simply delicious, so if you're in the Columbus area you must try them! Brittany's manager was sweet enough to pretend I wasn't there and let me snap some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

This was followed by a little shopping at the mall {both trying to find jeans with no luck}, an impromptu dinner at the cutest little place in Gahanna {we were there so the Mr could sell a guitar}, and disc two of a documentary tv series we're watching called Long Way Round. There was even a nap in there somewhere, which I never indulge in, and it was so nice. 

Like I said, a perfect day off.

MY DAY OFF {AT THE MALL}

I know I've probably mentioned this before... I don't love to shop. I love clothes, but I just wish they would appear in my closet. I do like online shopping because I can take my time... think about things... search for exactly what I want without running all over the city. In fact, I would say I am an online shopping guru. I can find anything you need; however, in a store I often just get overwhelmed, wondering if there is something better somewhere else, and I leave empty handed. I also get sucked in and end up wasting hours and getting nowhere. AND I just plain don't like to spend my day off from the store shopping after helping others do just that all week. But, I digress - Sometimes it just becomes necessary to physically try something on in person. 

Last Friday was my day off for the week and I got up early; on a mission to the Easton mall. I had an agenda {see my list}. What I realized was - I need to get out more! While I knew from blogs, magazines, and television that neon was a trend - I was shocked at how much of it is out there. It is everywhere. Every single store I walked into was plastered with bright neon colors. From clothing to shoes to jewelry. The below pictures are from GAP and J.CREW. The closest I came to jumping on the neon bandwagon was when I tried on the below color-block striped tee from J.CREW, but if I ever actually make the leap I think I'll grab the citron yellow version.

I enjoyed a yummy lunch at one of my favorite places, North Star Cafe. Their Northstar Burger {made with organic brown rice, black beans + beets, and topped with white cheddar}is heavenly. They were also giving out free samples of their amazing peanut butter cookie. I was also pretty impressed by these table locator contraptions I have never seen before. I'm aware I'm probably behind the times {remember I said need to get out more}but they program the number, hand it to you, and when you insert it into the silver stand on whatever table you choose - they know where you are so they can bring you your food! Hey, I'm easily impressed. 

Even though I did not find what I was looking for, I did come home with a few good finds: my new favorite white tee - the painter tee from J.Crew, and a couple of trendy cheap pieces - a mustard midi skirt, tribal print summer sweater, and a pair of pajama-ish harem pants {see here}.  Yep, I know the Mr. will love those. 

THE GLAD GAME {LEAP DAY}

Yesterday I was glad for the following:

> finding my old silver horse pin {from when I was a youngin} in my jewelry box

> new boots {*that actually fit} = happy feet

> my Mr. surprising me with my favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream from UDF 

{which made me happy x 2 because it meant he actually read my blog}!

*Those of you that know me well, know I have a very very very hard time {thats 3 verys} finding shoes. 

More on this sometime soon. Because I know you're all interested in my shoe issues. No?

MY DAY OFF

Today I'm taking the day off from blogging {well... I suppose this is a post, but you know what I mean}.

I am spending a much needed day off with my Mom.

A day we've had planned since last month, but is especially wonderful after this week.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

{lobster bisque in a bread bowl at Chocolate Cafe... oh-so good}

COOKIE MONSTER

These cookies are to die for, and I am not even a huge cookie person.

In fact, when I was little I only liked chocolate chip cookie dough, but not the finished cookie. 

I even picked around the chocolate chips to just eat the plain dough.

So, I suppose it should be no shock that these cookies {with all of their doughy goodness} are my new favs.

Thanks to my cousin I now have the recipe to pass along to you.

She made them for Christmas and I could have eaten the entire tray.

Not kidding.

THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY {NAH NAH NA NAH NA}

Today is my birthday.

I think 33 is going to be a good age + good year. 

My first birthday as a Mrs.

I also like the way 33 sounds + looks much better than 31 or 32. 

There is something to be said for it's symmetry.

Yesterday I emailed the Mr. this recipe {I found on pinterest} with a little blurb like, 

"wish we had time to make this for my birthday"... or something to that effect. 

I had absolutely no delusions of that actually occurring... 

so I was beyond surprised after dinner... 

when my amazing husband unveiled my very own lemon cake with cream cheese frosting.

How lucky am I? I know... pretty lucky.

A LITTLE ON MY LATELY

Happy Friday, everyone! 

I work tomorrow {Saturday} so Friday doesn't quite hold the same meaning this week. 

I'm not complaining though... looking forward to the weekend anyway.

A picture is worth a thousand words...  

Here is a little on life lately according to Instagram.

{my bird print blouse from Asos / our favorite bar / a yummy Christmas drink / 

Bailey's new favorite spot thanks to this / a new scarf / dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant / 

our new mantle decor... a work in progress / the Mr. hard at work /  

Great-aunt Elsie's 100th birthday / arriving home from the Nutcracker / volcano rolls from Tai's... SO good / pinning away on pinterest / another cat picture / yesterday morning I had grits {country bacon} that we picked up in SC when we were on our honeymoon... I can't find the variety pack in Ohio because folks in the midwest just don't appreciate grits like they should {pretend I'm saying this in a southern accent.}}

OH HAPPY DAY

Over the last five years, Sunday has become my favorite day of the week, but Saturday held that spot for the previous 27 years. I loved Saturday because there was still one more day off that followed! Typically my Sunday evenings were spent dreading going to school or work the next day; however, managing a boutique and working frequent Saturdays sort of makes them lose their appeal. So... Sunday it is. Lovely Sunday. The store is closed and it's the one day of the week I always have off. 

This particular Sunday, my mother-in-law and father-in-law {M & B} came to spend the afternoon with us.

We went to lunch at Tip Top. Tip Top is yet another brain child of Liz Lessner, the creator of most of our favorite places... Surly Girl, Dirty Franks and Jury Room {recently talked about here}. We ordered the Ohio Nachos {potato chips with all of the fixings}. On a scale of 1 - 10 {10 being the most spicy} how would you order a bloody mary? Well, M ordered an 8 and I over-estimated myself a bit by ordering a 7. The husband had a cowbell {beer with a little bloody mary mix}and B had a whiskey drink because he is a whiskey man.

Just a bit of our weekend.

A LOVELY DAY OFF

A lovely Friday off work spent with the Mr.

It started with a trip to Buckeye Donuts... 

Husband's choice on the left + mine on the right.

A cold walk later found us at Urban Outfitters to look for Bucky the cardboard deer.

We had to order him online. I also talked about him here + here... because I really like him.

He's on sale right now for $39*

Below are a few items I added to my mental wishlist at UO.

Hat + Sweater + Fringe bag.

Time for lunch!

Second time for me, but first for the Mr. = Jury Room! 

Owned by the same woman who owns some of our other fav places.

For me, a caramelized onion & grilled provolone cheese with brandy au jus dipping sauce.

French onion soup made into a sandwich! *Yummy*

A trip to the Green Lawn Cemetary followed.

Not sure how we didn't know this place existed because it was so interesting {started in1848}

The creepy moment occurred the ONE time I ventured out of the car to take a picture.

The Mr. pointed it out when I was back in the car...

the tombstone I had just snapped a pic of had our last name on it.

*heebie jeebies*

The amazing, brought-tears-to-my-eyes moment happened when we spotted a buck + doe.

We stalked them for at least 15 minutes.

Slowing driving around and following them while we took loads of photos.

So beautiful.

The Mr. and I are buying a nice camera for Christmas instead of exchanging gifts!

Our iPhones are great, but sometimes you just need something better.

This was one of those times.

It just dawned on me that we went to Urban Outfitters to buy Bucky the deer,

and then we saw real deer that very day....

Coincidence you say? I think not.

BAKING IN PICTURES {the only kind of cooking I do}

A few weeks ago I was craving chocolate chip cookies...well, that's not entirely true. 

I was craving cookie DOUGH!

I love our new towel from Anthropologie.

and we got to try out our new wedding gifted cooling racks!

I ate a lot of cookie dough. Husband ate a lot of cookies.

HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS

My sister's friend, Tessa, had a Gold Canyon Candle party a few weeks ago. It was a lovely few hours spent sipping wine and choosing a few candle scents (I can't wait for my candles to arrive)! She and her husband just bought a house and it's amazing how quickly Tessa turned it into a home. Tessa is absolutely adorable... when it comes to fashion she is a free spirit who loves vintage, and her home reflected that same aesthetic.

Isn't her office so cute? It's really more of an inspiration room. I love how she has some of her favorite vintage finds displayed on a trunk to enjoy. I look forward to being able to create my own space like this when we buy a house.

YELLOWSPRINGS...

On Halloween the Mr. and I decided to take an impromptu day trip to Yellowsprings. This little town in Ohio is full of hippie shops, artists and liberal thinkers. We had lunch at Ye Olde Trail Tavern, which happens to be the oldest building in Yellowsprings and the second oldest restaurant in Ohio. I had pumpkin soup and a grilled cheese...yum!

On the way home we stopped at Young's Dairy and got pumpkin icecream! They also had a petting farm!