Golden Birthday Celebration

I've always loved birthdays, but I haven't really had a party or celebration since I turned 18, so for my golden birthday I wanted to really do... something. One of the best things about living in the Shenandoah Valley is the abundance of vineyards and wineries. Lucky for me, my mom had  "won" (i.e., was willing to pay the most for) a private tasting for 10 at King Family Vineyards from a silent auction. 

My birthday was right in the middle of the boyfriend's exams, which was fine... whatever. On my actual birthday, we got take out, and he studied, and I ate a delicious veggie burger with pimento cheese and bacon onion jam. And yes, I get that the bacon contradicts the veggie burger, but they are just so good together. Besides, we  already celebrated my birthday a few weeks earlier with a 10 course tasting menu at Uchi, so it really was fine.

On the Friday after my birthday, exams ended and my weekend golden celebration began. 

I wouldn't call my self Type-A, but having ADHD means I have to be extremely organized and break projects down into small parts to get anything done. I can't just put 'clean living room' on my list, I need to break it down into 'pick up Dixie's toys', 'vacuum the carpet', 'tidy the coffee table', 'fold blankets', etc. My to do lists are always a little crazy long, but you get to cross so much more off and it's oh so satisfying. It also means that every last detail of this party was documented.

I'm going to start with the decorations because decorations are always the best part. Obviously, I went with a gold theme for my golden birthday and complimented it with hot hot pink and teal. Cheeky (sold at target) has a new collaboration with DESIGNLOVEFEST and it's amazing. It has the best paper plates, plastic cups and cutlery, and to go coffee cups. Virginia has pretty strict alcohol laws, and you are not supposed to have open containers in cars. Even cars with a hired driver. Combine that with the desperate need for coffee during a 9:30-4:30 wine outing, and the coffee cups were easily the best purchase I made. My other favorite decor were the giant "26" balloons. We could have gotten them filled with helium at the grocery store, but I forgot. Instead, my mom and I used paper straws to blow them up. It was a struggle. They suggest using a bike pump. 

I didn't want to buy (okay, that's a lie I still want them...  I couldn't justify buying) fancy weck juice jars that I would probably use once, so I used gold spray paint on plastic juice bottles. Did it look as nice as weck jars? Probably not. But I liked it. You can browse or buy all my decorations for the party through my Amazon Universal Wishlist here.

Now for food. Everything on the menu is so easy to make but will still impress your guests! The Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar takes a little set up, but even that is very low key. You can pick want toppings and mixers you want to use and make it as simple or extravegant as you want. I used Charleston Spicy Bloody Mary Mix and Old Bay Vodka for the Bloody Marys. The cheddar cheese cubes and jerky stocks were my favorite toppings. For the mimosas, I was surprised how good pink lemonade mimosas were! Pineapple juice is also great!

saffron-cardamom lemonade

As for our picnic, the saffron-cardamom lemonade and baked Cuban sliders were the biggest crowd pleasers. They are so easy and addicting, I actually make batches of both on a regular basis. A good portion of both can be made ahead too!

You can download the full party menu and party prep checklist here:

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 ...aaand here are all the recipes. The breakfast casserole has ways to go before I include it here, but I've included the recipe that I based mine on.

SAUSAGE HASBROWN BREAKFAST CASSEROLE  |  CARDAMOM-SAFFRON LEMONADE | GREEN GODDESS CREAM CHEESE  |  BAKED CUBANS  |  FIG & BRIE BRAID

A tip for the cream cheese: if you don't like any of the herbs (I'm looking at you, parsley) and really like another (hellloooooo basil) don't be shy about messing with the proportions set in the recipe or leaving something out all together.

Oh, and I know there are unlimited buffalo chicken dip recipes on Pinterest, but when I make buffalo chicken dip, I just combine 1 jar of Robert Rothschild Farm's buffalo bleu cheese dip and 1 tub of Graul's chicken salad. There is zero clean up, and it's instantly delicious. What more can you ask for? I also use apple slices to use instead of chips for the dip (trust me, it's so good and totally work with crab dip too).

Final note on foood: most vineyards have charcuterie and cheese plates made-to-order, so I didn't include it on my menu even though cheese is a must.  

Finally, my absolute favorite thing I purchased for my party was my fujifilm instant camera! It is so fun to use and the pictures turned out great! 

Thanks for for reading about my party! Keep scrolling for more pictures of our fun at Pollack, Stinson, Kings Family Vineyards, and  

Spring Checklist

I meant to post this like two weeks ago but a certain fluffy demon has taken up all of my attention. She's decided that it is now officially warm enough to swim in the creek and dig for groundhogs, and she will go swimming or digging whenever she damn well pleases. That means whenever she is outside, I have to acheive super-human levels of attentiveness or she will dart off and return 45 minutes later completely soaked or covered in mud. She also insists on being outside at all time.

Now that I've taken her on three walks today, she is sleeping at my feet and I can finally write this.

The temperature swings in the mountains are crazy. I'm not just talking about it being 70 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next (even though it does that too), I'm talking about it being 30 degrees at 9 a.m. and 70 degrees by 1 p.m. of the same day. It's hard to convince yourself that shorts are the right outfit choice when you are waiting for your window to defrost. It's even harder to believe it's already spring. 

To cure my spring-denial, I've compiled a list of 10 things you need to get in the swing of spring! (Sunshine not included).

01. SunnyLife Picnic Basket for 2 ($75 at ShopBop)

There are a few things I love about this basket. (one) The classic braided banana leaf exterior. A lot of picnic baskets are now made from soft-cooler material, which may be functional, but it's definitely not the same. (two) The adjustable leather shoulder strap. Most of the classic-style picnic baskets only have a handle that makes a fully-loaded basket way too difficult to carry. Not only is the leather strap stylish, you can load that basket up with all the food you desire and still be able to carry it! (& three) It has a special compartment just for your wine. Okay, technically they call it a "beverage compartment" but I know a wine holder when I see one. Don't try to fool me SunnyLife. 

02. Lace Dresses : Self Portrait ($411 at ASOS) | Lovers+Friends ($180 at Revolve) | Bardot ($140 at Revolve)

Spring dresses are calling, and nothing says spring more than lace and florals. I am BEYOND in love with this light blue floral lace Self Portrait dress with subtle nude lining. The lattice trim adds structure to the boddice while box pleats add loads of volume to the skirt. I am confident I would wear this dress ALL THE TIME. ....but a $480 dress that I don't 100% have a need for isn't quite in my budget right now. Luckily, the Caspian Shift Dress by Lovers + Friends brings you gorgeous blue lace at a much lower price ($180). I love the pattern of the lace, the racerback with exposed zipper, and scallop trim! The last lace dress sells for $120 and features lace that looks like delicately falling petals. Even though this is a midi dress, the lining stops around mid-thigh to really highlight the gorgeous soft-pink lace. 

03. S'well Bottles: Pink Champagne ($25-$45) | Pastel ($25-$45) | Violet Crush ($25-$45)

I am obsessed with my S'well Bottles and I'm not going to apologize for it. I carry at least one of my me S'wells with me at all times. If you aren't automatically convinced by how cute they are, here are the technical highlights: it will keep drinks cold, like really cold, for up to 24 hours, hot drinks stay hot for up to 12, and the bottles have ZERO condensation, so you can throw it in your purse and it won't sweat all over your Simplified Planner or Day Designer! And if that wasn't enough, they are non-toxic, non-leaching, and BPA free. The 9 oz & 17 oz fit in a standard sized cup-holder, but the 25 oz holds an entire bottle of wine (so you can forgive the cup holder thing). Lastly, S’well has teamed up with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help provide clean drinking water to children around the world. My three current favorite S'well colors are sparkled Pink Champagne from the Glitter Collection, the semi-matte Pastel from the Color Block Collection, and glossy Violet Crush from the Shimmer Collection (currently 15% off!). 

04. Strappy Sandals: Matt Berson ($189 at ShopBop) | Loeffler Randall ($175 at Loeffler Randall)

 It's finally warm enough to let your toes breath! Free them from your snow boots and layers of wool socks... and maybe get a pedicure real quick. I know I need one, but hey, want to know another thing this small town doesn't have? #smalltowncharm? Ugh, anyway... sandals are the most wonderful shoes and these two are spring staples. The Matt Bernson sandals have are simplistic perfection and have padded footbeds to keep you feet comforted + double straps to keep them secure. They are also made from leather dyed a color they call "Bourbon Rebel." They've taken the crown for best color names. Sorry J.Crew, but really you lost that title a long time ago. If color is your calling, these bright fuchsia Loeffler Randall sandals are for you. The strappy upper is made from napa leather and includes a toe strap, so they will easily slip on but not off. The signature leather sole has a non-slip finish and a lightly padded insole for comfort! & did I mention that they are BRIGHT pink?

05. Leather Bicycle Drink Carriers: Wine ($37.02) | 6-Pack ($59.95) | Growler ($39.95) 

Lexington is super bike-able. Not only is it super tiny, but the speed limit never really goes above 25 mph. We also are only a short drive away from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is great for long rides with a beautiful view. But this isn't about those long rides, this is about getting to a backyard barbecue, afternoon sips and snacks with the girls, or the local brewery. These leather bike accessories are perfect for carrying a bottle of wine, a 6-pack of beer, or a growler wherever you need to go. each accessory fastens to the top tube of the back and the wine and growler carriers have secure leather straps that hold the front and back of a standard wine bottle or a standard 64 oz growler in place. The 6-pach carrier also attatches to the top tube of your bike and is so stylish that you may want to use it even when you aren't on your bike. I personally can't wait to use the growler carrier to bike to Devil's Backbone on Wednesdays for half-price growler refills!

06. Sonix iPhone Case: Cactus ($35 at ShopBop) | Flamingo ($35 at ShopBop) | Palm Tree ($35 at ShopBop) 

I am going to go ahead and acknowlege that it is ridiculous that Apple can't make a phone that doesn't shatter, but at least there are some ridiculously cute iPhone cases out there. Sonix phone cases are one of the few that offer protection and style without the bulkiness. You obviously won't get the same protection as an otterbox or lifeproof case, but do you really need that much protection in your daily life? Or maybe your life is much more wild and crazy than mine and you really do need the star protection. If you aren't climbing mountains of throwing your phone at walls on the reg, these cases are for you. All of the cases are transparent, so you can still admire your beautiful rose gold iPhone while protecting it from cracked screens and annoying chips. The metallic accents on the cacti, the flamingos' metallic feathers, and the metallic gold palm trees will add some extra spring sparkle to your phone and your day! 

07. Light Cardigans: ASOS Swing Cardigan ($43) | ASOS Boxy Cardigan ($51) | Ted Baker Woven Front Cardigan ($168)

You can finally say goodbye to giant puffy jackets zipped up to your chin and say hello to open cardigans. You can wear cute tops again without them being hidden under five extra layers for warmth! That is the main beauty of cardigans. They keep you warm without obscuring your adorable top. The ASOS Swing Cardigan is made from lightweight fabric with a soft finish. It's sized to be true-to-fit, but has longer sides that are perfect for wrapping around yourself when a cool spring breeze come along. My absolute favorite thing about it is the embroidered elbow patches: one elbow is embroidered with a hamburger and the other with fries! It's hilarious and I love it.  The ASOS Boxy Cardigan is also made from a lightweight fabric, but it has an open waterfall front and an oversized fit meant to fall generously over the body. Lastly, the Ted Baker cardigan is beautiful,mlike all Ted Baker is, and is made from smooth woven fabric. It also is the slimmest cut of the three cardigans with a wrap front. 

08. Cookbooks: Bowl + Spoon ($15.62) | The Love & Lemons Cookbook ($21.57) | Cravings ($17.67)

So I'm currently on a self-imposed cookbook purchasing ban until I actually go through all the bookmarks in my current cookbooks, but these three are patiently waiting in the "Saved for Later" section of my Amazon Shopping Cart. My next purchase will be Bowl + Sppon from The Sprouted Kitchen. The book is filled with recipes like Golden Quinoa and Butternut Breakfast Bowl, Spring Noodles with Artichokes, Pecorino, and Charred Lemons, & Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce - all of which are fancy enough to serve guests but also simple enough to eat with a spoon on the couch. That's my kind of cooking. The Love & Lemons Cookbook is next on my list because it answers the time-old question of "what the F do I do with a gazillion <insert vegetable here> in my CSA box? For me it was always beets or garlic scapes. Thank god for hipster appreciation for scapes and posting about it on Pinterest. This book also features pantry stocking tips and gluten-free/vegan modifications for the recipes. Finally, Chrissy Teagan is amazing and I love her and she needs to take over hosting Top Chef ASAP. Padma is the worst. & I don't know about you, but I am dying to try some John Legend-ary fried chicken with spicy honey butter, all-day breakfasts like cheesey cheeseless eggs, and her mom's Thai classics. YUM.

09. The Pineapple Co. Large Pineapple Cup ($99 at W&P Designs) 

Pineapples are everything and this cup is as good as gold. Besides being adorably tropical, apparently the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and warm welcome. So why not welcome others to your home (or welcome yourself home from a long day at work) with this two-piece brass pineapple tumbler and filled with a well-crafted cocktail. The large glass holds 16 oz and comes with a matching straw that can be used with the top on. For a more affordable option, check out the 12 oz tumbler for only $35! You can also buy a set of three matching straws for $15.

10. Mustache Bubble Umbrella ($38.99 at Hunter Boots)

I love a good pair of rain boots, but why should you limit yourself to just one good rain accessory? This transparent bubble umbrella has a colorful trim inspired by the Hunter "mustache" on the Orignal Tall boot. The rubber curved handle matches the mustache and is extra grippy for those lovely out-of-the-blue extra windy downpours. The bubble umbrella is also my favorite style because the wire is pointed down, and not out, so you don't have to worry about poking random passerbys in the eye whole walking on busy sidewalks! Hooray!

Happy spring + don't forget to... 

Beauty Refresh : Arbonne

I've written about Arbonne products before, like their sunless tanner and chocolate protein mix. For those who aren't familiar with the brand, Arbonne skincare products are based on botanical principles and sold through independent consultants, like Stacey Molli, and through their website (linked here). Stacey introduced me to Arbonne products last year, and I'm so exited to share some of the products I have been trying over the last few weeks! 

Click the links below to jump to a specific product, or scroll through to read about them all!

1. Lustre Fortifying Shampoo & Fortifying Conditioner

2. Liquid Sunshine Lip Balm

3. Ebony Eyeliner

4. RE9 Advanced Skincare Set

5. RE9 Advanced Lifting & Contouring Cream

...and be sure to check back next week for my review of some of Arbonne's edible & nutritious products!

01. LUSTRÉ FORTIFYING SHAMPOO & FORTIFYING CONDITIONER

I haven't colored my hair in almost a year, but before that it was constant, highlighting, lightening, balayage-ing, etc. Basically, every part of my head had been bleached at some point. The Lustré Fortifying Shampoo and Fortifying Cream Conditioner are designed to take dull or chemically treated hair and return it to all its healthy and luminous glory. Since my hair is no longer colored, I can't comment on how well it preserves color. I can say that the shampoo made my hair feel so clean without drying it out and the conditioner left my hair feeling strong and hydrated, but not greasy or weighed down. Even when I let my hair air dry and didn't use any extra product, my hair had so much shine. Both products also smell amazing. I still can't stop smelling my hair! 

02. LIQUID SUNSHINE LIP BALM

This lip balm came right when my lips were painfully chapped and my puppy had eaten my normal lip therapy balm.  I doubted weather a lip balm made for sun protection could heal my winter lips, but after carrying it around for five days, my lips were repaired! 

The Liquid Sunshine Lip Balm is a bit more solid than other balms; it doesn't melt and glide on as soon as it touches your lips. Instead, it really feels like it clings to your lips to form a protective layer (from the sun or the wind, whatever your weather situation may be). Because it's a bit more solid, it sticks to your lips and not much else. It doesn't even stick to my hair!! This will definitely be a staple in my beach bag this summer. And hey, even if you aren't on the beach, the coconut flavor will bring a little bit of the beach to you!

03. EBONY EYELINER

I've been digging black liquid lately lately for its bold, precise lines, but that can be a bit much for a day look. Arbonne's Ebony Eyeliner is soft and easy to apply. It glides so smoothly that it's actually possible to not mess it up on the first try (somewhat of a miracle for me). Plus, the liner smudges easily and then stays put for longer wear.

The ebony color isn't as harsh as typical black liner and it makes your eyes look brighter. I think it's absolutely perfect for adding dimension to a smokey eye, but it's also subtle enough to wear during the day.  

04. RE9 ADVANCED SKINCARE SET

I had sampled the RE9 Advanced Extra Moisture Restorative Day Crème before (and by sampled, I mean stole it from my mom's bathroom), so I was excited to actually try the entire line. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to my skincare regimen,  but I was determined to give it a real shot & follow each step no matter how tired I was. MORNING & NIGHT. 

Normally, my skincare regimen includes washing my face in the shower or with a facial wipe, and putting on lotion. RE9 Advanced Set has five steps: Smoothing Facial Cleanser, Regenerating Toner, Intensive Renewal Serum, Corrective Eye Crème, and face crème (either Restorative Day Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen, Extra Moisture Restorative Day Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen, or Night Repair Crème).  

I'll be honest, it was a paaiiiinnn the first few day. It took me longer to get ready in the morning and kept me from my beautiful, comfortable bed at night. but, OHMYGOSH. My skin has never felt so firm or looked so smooth. I have never used products that have had such visible results, so it is 100% worth the extra steps. I was worried that all those steps really meant putting more stuff on my face that could clog my pores, but my skin stayed totally clear.

Here is all the clinical and technical information: 

"After 24 hours*

• 83% reported improvement in skin firmness.

After just 4 weeks*

• 92% reported reduction in the appearance of wrinkles.

• 96% reported reduction in the appearance of fine lines.

• 100% reported refinement in skin texture and smoothness.

• 100% reported improvement in skin moisturization.

*Based on independent clinical study of 24 women"

05. RE9 ADVANCED LIFTING AND CONTOURING CRÉME

While the regular RE9 Advanced line supports collagen and protects youthful appearance, the RE9 Advanced Lifting and Contouring Créme focuses on tighter, firmer, and more defined skin with SPF 15. From what I can tell, you should favor the lifting & contouring cream if your focus is improving elasticity over reducing fine lines for overall smoother skin. I felt that the regular RE9 Advanced made my skin plenty firm, and the Lifting & Countouring cream didn't do too much extra, but I'm also not sure how much my skin elasticity could improve. The Lifting & Contouring cream was also tested over 8 weeks, and I dint consistently use the product for that long. It made my skin feel hydrated and I really don't have anything negative to say about it, I just liked the regular RE9 Advanced moisturizer better! If you're looking to improve elasticity without injections or surgery, it's definitely worth purchasing!

As for the clinical stuff, after 8 weeks:

• 83% showed improved appearance in elasticity.

• 86% showed improved lift in the midface area.

• 91% showed improvement in the appearance of facial contours.

If you are interested in any of these products or are curious to see what else Arbonne has to offer, head over to their website (linked here) or get in touch with Stacey Molli through her Arbonne Profile! 

exes & ohs

on my radar

Here are the five things I am obsessed with this week:

01. PopSugar Active

five-minute yoga sequence

The town I live I doesn't have a gym. Technically, I could work out at the college gym, but I since I genuinely do not understand where the entrance is and how their weird honor code works, I try to avoid it and workout at home. The PopSugar fitness app is great. It has quick home workouts (like their 5-Minute Ab, 10-Minute Arms, 20-Minute HIIT, and 30-Minute Full Body Yoga workouts) or even plans for you to use at the gym (like their Boredom-Busting 40-Minute Elliptical and their Go Intense Printable Power workouts). My favorite part of the app is the challenges. I am currently doing the 31-Day Body Weight Challenge. Each day, the app will send you a reminder at a time of your choosing and will tell you what exercise to do. It's way easier to work out when I don't have to figure out what to do and the challenges seem so much more achievable when they're only 30 days! You can download the app and try it out for yourself here. 

02. ASOS Denim

Another thing this town doesn't have is a lot of shopping. There are literally two clothing stores if you don't count Walmart, which I do not. Recently, my favorite pair of jeans finally gave out, and instead of buying one new pair costing $100+, I turned to ASOS and decided to buy multiple pairs. They are wayyy more affordable, and with free shipping both ways, I figure I could just return the ones I didn't want. Well, I ended up loving all of them. My favorite are the Ridley High Waist Skinny ($55) and the 'Sculpt Me' Premium ($60) Jeans. They are serious about their high waist and I love it. The jeans also have a lot of stretch without losing their shape. It's great. Check out the entire collection here.

03. Customizable Ray Bans

I'm not sure when it happened, but at some point, I stopped buying bags and started buying sunglasses. Now my sunglasses collection has gotten crazy. Being able to create custom Ray Bans hasn't helped. You can customize aviators, aviator light rays, aviator juniors, clubmasters, round metal, caravans, justins, erikas, cockpits, andys, and all the wayfarer models: original wayfarers, new wayfarers, wayfarer foldings, wayfarer prints, wayfarer light-rays, and wayfarer juniors. They have a lot of wayfarers. But choose your lenses, frames, temples, tips, and any engraving. You're eyes will be ready for the sun, even if your skin isn't.

04. Arbonne Liquid Sunshine Tinted Self-Tanner

Speaking of skin... I can't even remember the last time my arms saw sunlight, and I'm pretty sure if I had to find new foundation, the shade would be called "translucent" or "shimmerless vampire." Sunless tanner normally has an awful smell, takes a few days to develop, and can make you look like an Oompa Loompa. But Arbonne's bronzes instantly during application and develops an even, natural-looking tan within two hours. As a bonus, it leaves your skin feeling hydrated and actually smells good! I like to use it the day of a big event or leading up to a week at the beach, but it doesn't actually contain any sun protection, so be sure to use some sunscreen screen when your actually at the beach!

05. Club W

Did I mention that this town also only has one teeny tiny wine store? And yes, once again, I am not counting Walmart. Club W was an easy choice for me (okay, the truth is that I signed up after seeing an ad on Instagram very early in the morning and then woke up a few hours later and wasn't sure if I dreamed signing up and buying 6 bottles of wine or if it really happened. It really happened). It's easy: you create a taste profile, they recommend wines, you pick the bottles you want, they ship the wine directly to your door. They create their wine by forming relationships with winemakers from all over the world, and most bottles are only $13 with a few specialty bottles selling at a high price point. I love the cute graphic labels on the bottles and the stuff inside the bottles is pretty great too! Each wine also comes with a card with a flavor profile of a wine, when and at what temperature to drink it, and a recipe to pair with the wine! 

Have a great week darlings!  

The Sweetest Valentine

Valentine's Day is just a few days away, and that means it is the appropriate time to binge on all things sugar (as long as they are chemically dyed red or pink, that is).

There are lots of ways to get your Valentine's Day candy fix: you can incorporate it into cookies/brownies, melt it down to make edible shot glasses, toss it in some popcorn, or even carry around a bag of candy wherever you go. 

My favorite way to get my sugar fix is milkshakes, and I'm obsessed with the epic, overloaded milkshakes that have been popping up everywhere! I know it's 29 degrees out (on a good day), but milkshakes are oh so satisfying!

My first Valentines Day milkshake is cherry (with bits of real cherry). Cherry is easily the best milkshake flavor in existence. Its a fact that cannot be disproven. I've had enough milkshakes to know. For Valentine's Day, this shake was appropriately pink and extra sugary!

The second milkshake isn't actually a milkshake, it's a float. A CHEERWINE FLOAT! I discovered this magical combination when I moved to Virgina and was introduced to Cookout by my mom and brother who love frequenting the one in Greenville. I thought it was going to be more red, but the vanilla ice cream turned it pink. I'm okay with it. 

The key to getting the candy to stick is using a ton of extra cold whipped cream! Like way more than you think. The worse that can happen is you have to eat extra whipped cream. You can also make candy kebabs using tooth picks, or hell, go the extra mile and use full-size skewers.

After some research in the seasonal candy aisle at WalMart (aka, seeing how much candy I could fit in one basket), I decided to top my milkshakes with ring pops, peanut m&ms, and Valentine's-themed sprinkles. I also used strawberry marshmallows, smarties, and sour worm hearts.

Now that I've written this and uploaded the pictures, I should probably go drink the rest of these shakes before they melt or before the Dixie monster gets them!

Update: I was too late to save the whipped cream, but the milkshakes are safe!

Happy Valentine's darlings! Indulge your sweet tooth!