Cake Love

I love simple non-traditional wedding cakes. At the end of the day people care more about how good a cake tastes than what it looks like. I love these sweet and simple ideas.

Point A: Seen on 100 Layer Cake.

Point B: Seen on you are my fave.

Love love love.

Clothing Finds

I went bathing suit shopping two days ago, which was unsuccessful and utterly depressing. So then I proceeded to do what I always do when I'm bummed: eat and shop with Kristina. My shopping was very successful and I found a few gems on sale.
First of all, I got this Leifsdottir Blue Dot Blouse, which I love:
I got this plum colored Deletta Noisette Top, with sweet rosettes at the neckline:
I couldn't resist buying this Anna Sui top, although I'm not sure how I'll wear it yet:

BEACH BEACH BEACH

If you can't tell by this post, I can't stop thinking about the beach. I just can't wait to go. After work, I am heading straight to Barnes & Noble to get those two books and then off to Target to try to find a bathing suit.

I'm digging this one: See more of their cheap suits here.

This suit from good ole Urban Outfitters is cute too, although I'm not sure I can do a one piece: Seen on I *Heart* You.

Beach Reads

I am heading to Wilmington, NC (Lucas's hometown) for a little R&R this weekend. We're just going for four days, but I can't wait to go! After an intense semester in D.C., reading four books for class in one week, and jumping right back into my internship at UGA, I really can't wait to lay on the beach. I hope the weather cooperates with my beach plans. I plan to pick up a few books before going, to catch up on some much needed leisure reading. I know one thing for sure - I will not be reading any books about U.S. foreign policy!

Has anyone read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert? I've heard good things, and now that the movie is coming out with Julia Roberts, I really want to read it! Let me know what you think!
I also want to read Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. I started running regularly about a year ago. Since then, I've noticed it taking a toll on my knees and joints. This book is supposed to be an inspiring story about how to make running enjoyable rather than work. I'm looking forward to reading it! Does anyone have any other beach read suggestions?

Peonies

I love my mom's garden. I love to go home and drink coffee on our porch with my mom and admire her flowers. The older I get, the more I enjoy these simple pleasures in life.


Anyway, now that I'm done writing this Hallmark card, just want to say I love peonies! They are hands down my favorite flowers. Lucas and I just spent the weekend in Asheville, NC where we visited the Biltmore Estate. There were so many peonies in the gardens that I could have just died happy right then. My mom has been working on her peonies for years now, and they are absolutely beautiful this year.

Guacamole

On Cinco de Mayo we were in the midst of finals, so Kristina, Hayley, and I took a study break to get taco salads at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Athens. Since we still didn't get our fill of Mexican food, yesterday Kristina and I made a huge bowl of guacamole and finished it off in record time. Generally we just keep it simple with avocados, tomatoes, and ground salt and pepper, but this recipe looks so good! I mean...anything with cilantro is good right? Recipe from Simply Recipes. Spotted on Moon Face.

INGREDIENTS:
2 ripe avocados
1/2 red onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped
Garnish with red radishes or jicama. Serve with tortilla chips.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avacado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl.
2. Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, lime or lemon, salt and pepper and mash some more. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness. Be careful handling the peppers; wash your hands thoroughly after handling and do not touch your eyes or the area near your eyes with your hands for several hours.
Keep the tomatoes separate until ready to serve.
Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.
3. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidation from the air reaching it. Refrigerate until ready.
4. Just before serving, add the chopped tomato to the guacamole and mix.
Serves 2-4

TOMS Shoes

I have been debating on whether or not to buy a pair of TOMS for a while now.

It is fantastic that the company donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair sold, it's just that it seems a little ridiculous to pay about $50 to donate a pair of shoes to someone. I could easily go to the store and buy a much less expensive pair of shoes for $20, which would probably offer more foot support, and then donate the remaining $30 to a philanthropic organization. Don't get me wrong, it is pretty fantastic that as a for-profit company, TOMS has donated so many shoes to children in need. I just feel like sometimes people buy them and wear them so that everyone can see what a charitable, do-gooder they are. At the end of the day, I think it is important to discern the difference between donating to charity and wearing TOMS.

But with that said, TOMS recently teamed up with Teen Vogue to have a "Style Your Sole" contest. I love the winning shoe (pictured above) - I think the design is really great. And I suppose buying a pair of TOMS is better than buying a different brand of espadrilles. Thoughts?

World Cup's Stars

I am so excited for the World Cup to start! I spent the summer of 2004 in Germany enjoying all of the World Cup festivities, but no South Africa for me this year. Bummer! I guess I will just have to settle for watching the games on TV and enjoying the bodies of the players in the new Vanity Fair spread, shot by the one and only Annie Leibovitz. GO PORTUGAL! :)