Girls Night In

Happy Friday!

via Pinterest

I've had a lot on my mind lately like what my next step in life will be, the fact that my boxes are still sitting in my parents living room, and I had to shovel 3 inches of snow off my car before work in early October, I don't think I can deal with that all winter. I knew announcing the fact that I am dating and proceeding with my life would hurt some people, but I have to be true to myself and realize this is MY blog, and I can't write and not share about the positive things in my life for the protection of others. Life goes on. But one of the main reasons my healing process has been so much smoother, is the blessing of a new bestie at work. Which is why I'm excited for a Girl's Night In  tonight consisting of comfy pj's, deli, wine, and chick flicks!

via pinterest

So to celebrate empowerment, I wanted to share a poem/ forward all us women have read before,

but gets me everytime and is always a good reminder in life.

MAYA ANGELOU

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out

and rent a place of her own,

even if she never wants to or needs to....

something perfect to wear if the employer,

or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to

retelling it in her old age....

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,

and a recipe for a meal,

that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny.....

how to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,

and confront a friend without

ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,

the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more......

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .

whom she can trust,

whom she can't,

and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...

be it to her best friend's kitchen table..

or a charming Inn in the woods...

when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish in a day...

a month...and a year...

Have a great weekend!

Moments of the Week

Snapshots Through the iPhone


Happy Weekend folks! It's been a super busy week but also very fun... from my favorite Vietnamese Pho in Reno to Mexican & Margaritas with my Mom in Grass Valley.

& tomorrow

I'm headed to the Candy Dance 

in Nevada's Oldest Town, Genoa! 

Can't wait to share it with you.

Fashion Friday

Autumn Breeze

Little Black Feathered Dresses

This post is in participation with Blonde Episodes Fashion Fridays.

A Photograph Never Grows Old by nicoletterenee featuring black dresses.

It's Labor Day Weekend!

Happy Friday!


Here are some little things about my week...

Pulling out one of my favorite recipes my Dad used to make:

Baked Chicken Breasts marinated in Louisana Buffalo Wing Sauce

w/ Mashed Potatoes & Buffalo Wing Style Gravy.

PHOTO ABOVE: Archives from my Chicken & Biscuits with Frank's Wing Sauce.

Use the sauce drippings for the gravy... it is THE best!

I met and fell for my new neighbor... Booter, a HUGE Alaskan Malamute.

After he wandered onto our deck without his owner, and my little Sage got her first meet & greet with a dog since she was a kitten, she fearlessly walked up to him and they were nose to nose on opposite sides of the glass. I called about 5 agencies as I was worried about him because his collar address read about 25 miles away, but I discovered his owner relocated to our neighborhood and allows him to wander. Needless to say I've got a new friend... and puppies on the mind!


 A perfect shot!

Mom and I went to the outdoor store and played around. I had a perfect shot 20/20!

 Approaching 100,000 views on the blog! Plus some really other great things lined up.


Remember the family reunion I mentioned, it's this weekend... I get to see all my family I haven't seen in years!

Also, to all you Scrapbookers out there... I'll be having a giveaway very soon!

 But first I'm kicking off the weekend with the Rib Fest TONIGHT in downtown Reno!
I'm sure they will be much better than mine.

Mmm... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!
Stay safe.

Happy Friday!

Moments of bliss this week through the iPhone...

1.  Finding the perfect bush of daisies.
2.  All the yummy food!
3.  Farmer's Market at Truckee Thursday's.
4.  Beautiful carmel apples at the Old Fashioned Sweet Shop.
5.  Yours truly.
6.  The food trucks!
7.  The view of the historic homes on the river.

Happy Friday!

Pool Days

Fashion Friday

Bright dresses are one of my favorite things about summer. This new dress from Bershka I picked up in Nice is just that... bold, fun, and flirty.

Dress & Shoes - Bershka

Scarf - Zara

Secret: The truth about doing these fun little shoots outside in the humidity is it's tres difficult. After just doing hair and makeup, then stepping outside, you need a whole crew to do immediate touch ups!


I'm curious to know what are my reader's favorite posts? I know I have a variety of food, travel, photography, lifestyle, and some fashion. I know some of my favorite bloggers are ones that showcase a glimpse into their personal life with their own photos and some food and fashion of course! Please participate in the poll on the sidebar or leave a comment... I'm curious!


Also, come back Monday, I'm going to be starting up Dream Jobs again, a segment I started a few years ago. But this time I'm going to give YOU the links to real dream job listings that are currently up for grabs!!!

Have a great weekend my friends!

Countdown!

Friday Favorites


Happy Friday! Whew what a week... aside from trying to narrow down a wardrobe to a medium-sized suitcase, restore 2 computers in our house (really bad timing), and only booking half my accommodations here are some little things that gave me pleasure this week...

*Cleaning out the fridge and cabinets has been quite interesting. When you think you don't have any food in the fridge, oh there really is still so much to mix as my mom taught me. Some very interesting creations that weren't half bad. But all this preparation has been a good diet. Yesterday, I just forgot to eat until I had 5 almonds at 5:30pm. If you know me, you know I'm not the kind of person who just forgets to eat.Yes, stress is a good diet too.

Girls first attempt at fillo dough earlier this week... epic fail as my friend Elle Marie would say.

* My cat was fluorescent yellow for two days! (She got into my floral arrangement, and the pollen got all over her - turns out wiping the rusted color off only rubbed into her fur giving her a beautiful bright yellow coat.)

Day 2 after it faded a little. I'm going to miss her so much!

*Booked a week in a chateaux! Oh wait til you see this beautiful place, the architecture and grounds are breathtaking. It was a fabulous deal, especially after all my Paris accommodation comparisons, which I still don't have anything booked, I think I wasted a week of my life searching for just the right place. Sigh...

*Finally purchasing a backup hard drive. Peace of mind, achieved.

*Chinese with my sweetheart last night. (We really haven't spent much time together this week at all. His grandmother is slipping away after a very graceful and long life.)

*Cleaning out my iTunes... what fun going through old music! My mission was get the memory condensed from 3.7G to 2.99G. Goal accomplished... boy has my taste in music sure changed.


A glimpse at my packing: Here are some of my accessory essentials... scarves (light and easy to change up an outfit), bracelets, two set of earrings, and one Anne Klein watch bracelet I've had since high school, necklaces I love... plus did you know if you put syran wrap over the top of your travel size liquid bottles before screwing the cap on, it helps to prevent spills!

Happy Friday!

Also, I guest posted over at Behold the Metatron yesterday, for my favorite Manhattan food blogger Kris while she is in Barcelona. click here to read my recipe for easy entertaining!

P.s.  I do get every comment emailed to me, so I will be able to see each one, which I love to read! I won't however be able to reply to each and every one. But I will stop in to my favorite blogs and say hi from time to time. This also goes for Facebook and Twitter.

Friday Favorites

Greetings! Hope everyone has had a lovely week. My mind has been like a sponge this week, doing so much research on France. There is never enough time in the day, but I'm loving every minute of it. So here are some highlights of the week.

1.  Splurging on this heavenly cheese imported from Saint Agur, France accompanied by a French wine. I know some people either love or hate blue cheese, but if you love it... you have to try this creamy goodness. All in name of research... ahh!

2.  Spending the full 60 minutes on the eliptical machine twice this week! Ok, that is a huge deal for me... I'm not a workout girl. Although, I may have only been canceling out the cheese!

3.  Summer clothes!

4.  Getting told by a random stranger that I look like Zoey Deschnel... yes! I love you stranger.

5.  Sacrificing St. Patty's festivites to work. I felt like Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde when she skips the fraternity parties for studying for the LSATs and she passes, because if I hadn't I wouldn't have brainstormed a new division for PHOTOgraphy Getaways... and that is...

New affordable one-day workshops!!!

So far, I have Versailles and Beynac-et-Cazenac on the website.

They are less than $100!!

Source.

Beynac-et-Cazenac... An Ever After Photo Tale.

Includes a one hour cruise on the Dordogne river in a Gabarre.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

€70.

Versailles... Pictures in the Park

Friday, May 20, 2011

€45 or €65 w/ Palace Admission. 

So if you are planning on being in France in May... add this to your plans.

There will be more listed soon... including the U.S.!

Have a good weekend!

Friday Favorites

Highlights of the Week


1. Wearing my new Anthropologie top!

2. Mucho networking and advancement for Photography Getaways this week:

a.)  Face time with a major local & chain camera shop this week and leaving some business cards with the manager.
b. ) A power session learning soooo much more on my camera that will benefit me majorly!
c. ) My first PRish event taking photos for a American Foundation for Suicide Prevention event at the Top Rated Sundy House in Delray Beach, plus free advertising in the brochure.
d.) Meeting THIS fashion photographer... who would love to go to Ireland for Photography Getaways to film the workshop!
e.) Realizing some trial and error things on the Photography Getaways website that will help immensly for the future.
f.) Getting a start on the Photography Getaways SHOP on the main website...
g.) Getting to test some TOP of the line photography equipment for free for a few days!

3. Meeting a radio personality last night that I listen to every morning! Well at least up until a few weeks ago while I was getting ready for work the past few years.

4. Great hair returns!

I picked up my favorite shampoo while in Beaufort... which I will reveal and do a product review next week. This stuff works WONDERS for my naturally dry hair!
Plus I trimmed The Bangs. I got told twice last night, including by the radio personality, that "you look familiar... it must be The Bangs." Ha.

5. Gossip Girl marathon until 1:00am
Since The Bachelor has been on, I've been forced to choose between the two. I caught up on 4 GG episodes Weds night. Blair & Dan kiss??!!! I Love the Writers of Gossip Girl.

6. Missing the puppies!

Trying to dodge muddy puppy paws from getting on my new top.

7. Chatting with the African Grey parrot.

8. Coming dangerously close to being in a tornado yesterday (in Florida) I even saw flying metal debris!

Note: After prepping this post last night, I woke up to the disasters in Japan.

My heart goes out to all the people who have lost their lives and are affected by this...