a tea party

A few weeks ago my mother threw a delightful English tea party - a perfect dreary afternoon with friends. We pulled out the china and had everything from scones to tea sandwiches to truffles. We went for a shabby-chic style, with mismatched plates and dishes...just over-the-top girliness. My favorite happened to be the biscotti ;)

I blow up my twitter feed on Sundays with updates and thoughts about downton abbey - ugh. I won't regale  you here with my downton musings, but I do wish so badly that we could have tea like they do on a daily basis. sigh!

check out the video that goes with this post here! 

ten things

via 

Ten things that are getting me through dreary January...

1. Korres lip butter, which I never thought I'd love this much. I am finding myself substituting it instead of chapstick - and I love the color. This little pot of goodness is a go-to nowadays...I have it in a lighter shade, but would love to try out a darker, dramatic red!

2. My cross body bag from Coach (similar above). I have never realized how much I liked  having my hands free with a cross body bag. I used to use a wristlet, and even that got annoying. This little guy goes with my black jeans, and is quite slim; it fits a pretty good amount of my stuff. See it here. 

3. Elf!! My goodness, where have I been? I missed the memo on Elf. So their cream eyeliner is a new favorite of mine; I use it more for nights out with friends rather than work, because you can really create a serious cat-eye. The price is right, and it's at Target...so to get ahold of.

4. A little treat to myself in 2014 is a subscription to Birchbox. I have been really excited to get my little box in the mail (I got one for mom too, and it's fun to open them together!). I am still figuring out how it works - I keep getting tea, which I already have enough of - one of the best products I have found so far through Birchbox is the Beauty Protector line. Really good stuff for hair!

5. My first pair of Nike Free sneakers - and my first ever neon shoes - are making me pretty happy. I know this is lame, but workout gear actually makes me want to work out...it's a sure fire way to motivate me.

6. Starbucks! Duh. I have some gift cards to put to work from Christmas and couldn't be more excited. I think it's actually kind of pathetic the effect of the "idea of having coffee" or "sneaking out after work for Starbucks" gives me...

7. Okay, I have a serious obsession with Downton Abbey. And thank the heavens above that season 4 is underway. I think I have memorized the scripts from every previous episode. I have this secret belief that I am Lady Mary to the core (or at least was) and can't wait to see how the season plays out. I already have my predictions and favorites and least-favorites. :) 

8. Jergens Natural Glow foam has been a long time moisturizer I use, because I have a serious affinity for bronzeness - except that this time of year, the doldrums, I am the pastiest and palest and feel just so gross. Jergens is kindaaaa helping.

9. I've found that I am beating my black jeans from AE into the ground from constant use. I have worn these jeans through high school and have just never found the willpower to switch to another brand. These just work! And right now AE is selling them for under $30! I might need to buy more, since I am wearing them every weekend, getting good use out of them.

10. My favorite bracelet is an Alex and Ani that my best friend gave to me last year for my birthday. I wore it every single day in Italy and I feel weird if I forget to wear it - it's simple, pretty, feminine, and I love the fact that people ask me where it's from. I get asked that a lot, actually! They're really cute gifts, and very stackable :) Just another thing that is making me happy. 

what's getting you through these ridiculously cold days?

ciaooo, xo

i miss my old blog.

For three years I blogged at a different URL, which I loved and updated almost every day. And due to unforeseeable circumstances, I had to start over (mysterious, right?). I really do miss my old blog. I feel like it's hard to recreate the same flow here, although I am trying my best. The two blogs are really similar in look and nature - I think this one is 'cleaned up' a bit - but now that I am working full time it's increasingly difficult and frustrating because I can't devote the time I want to this blog. Or your blogs. I felt so much more connected to other bloggers and that's one thing I want to work on from this point.

I totally would go back and re-post every single thing from the former Anticipation. But that's lame and a waste of time. So I thought I'd post a few of my all time favorite photos from my old posts, maybe with a snippet here or there. Why not (and in no particular order...) ??

a vase of fresh white peonies I received on my last day of student teaching. 

One summer, I made home made frozen yogurt dots! So delicious.

From my notecard/etsy shop - one of my favorite flat notecard designs. 

this night I discovered how to use a telephoto lens plus shutter priority...

summer weddings. 

another telephoto lens adventure.

  a happy desk.

 one of my favorite summer dates that sticks out in my mind.

october trips to long beach island

an impromptu picture which i think is nearly perfect in its imperfection

i just love the muted colors in this one.

 sweet, sweet summer

 college town

 fresh back-to-school cut

 another one, perfect in its flaws

 the snowy halloween, i think it was '11

ahhh, and that's nothing.

breakfast date

skinny jeans ae (reallyyy old) | leather booties banana republic || cross body bag coach || oxford ae  (old) || cardigan lou and grey (loft) || necklace banana republic || sunnies ray ban || earrings gifted (kate spade)

S and I ventured out into the ice cold temperatures this weekend (today's high is 7). I was so giddy because we had a snow day last Friday - three day weekend! - and we thought a saturday morning breakfast would be just the perfect was to start a technically extended weekend. Braving the poorly-plowed roads and the single digit cold made it all the more fun! I stupidly took my jacket off for these pictures, hehe. But I love my cozy Lou and Grey cardigan from Loft. I basically lived in it all winter break - it's comfy, and I love the heathered oatmeal color. Definitely wearing it to work this week, as my room is freezing and there are no more snow days (at least for now)...

ciao! xo