COUNTDOWN IS ON..

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So the Bachelorette is over, and might I add finally-after what was by far the LONGEST finale ever... and you're probably wondering what in the world are you going to watch on television at night now? Not to worry ya'll, because your televisions are about to be taken over beginning on Friday with the start of the Summer Olympics in London.  Woo Hoo! I am so excited, and love watching the Summer Olympics.  The Opening Ceremonies, in case ya'll don't already have your dvr set, are this Friday on NBC, and from what I can tell they are going to be a bit delayed for us here in the U.S. with them set to come on beginning at 7:30p.m. (EST).  Four years ago, the Beijing Olympics liteerally took the opening ceremony to the next level and set the bar high for London this year, so I look forward to seeing what they have in store for us.  

While I'm mentioning the Olympics, I have to tell ya'll that you must read this touching story about Dominique Moceanu and her sister, Jen Bricker.  I absolutely love watching gymnastics during the Summer Olympic games, and remember Dominique Moceanu when she was a member of the 1996 gold-medal-winning U.S. women's gymnastics team. This heartwarming story is incredible, and amazing and definitely worth taking a few extra minutes to read.  

Oh and hope ya'll enjoyed the eye candy above, I mean does it get any better than the amazing Ryan Lochte? Absolutely not...he's gorgeous! Yes, I'll be tuned in to any and all of the televised men's swimming events if only to catch a glimpse of this guy with his shirt off.  Happy Tuesday!

HAPPY WEEKEND & COCKTAIL TIME!

Happy Friday! I hope ya'll have had a good week and have something fun planned for this weekend! I can't believe it is already July 4th almost.  It is very weird having the 4th fall on a Wednesday this year, so I'm sure there are plenty of people celebrating the holiday both this weekend and next and maybe for the lucky ones, all week long. You have to try ou the margarita & dip recipes and let me know what you think of them.  Both the margarita & Guadalajara sour recipes are the perfect refreshing choice for happy hour over the hot weekend! Would love to know your thoughts on the recipes and if you have any other favorite cocktails recipes to share, please do! Hope your weekend is fabulous! 

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TINY BITS OF TRUTH...

CURRENTLY LOVING..

I am absolutely in love with these Amanda Uprichard print silk shorts.  I have always been a fan of silk shorts for summer but really never felt like I could pull these off until just recently.   I popped into a local boutique this past weekend and immediately was drawn to the bright print of these shorts.  Once I tried them on and liked them I of course had no clue what I was going to wear them with and how to style them.  Jessica, the amazing store manager (it happened to be her last day at that store), helped me put together a perfect outfit, and I was sold on the entire look.  

I have to share with ya'll a little bit about the store manager, Jessica.  She had such a magnetic personality and told me the reason she decided to quit her position as store manager was that after living in New York City for 9 1/2 years and having grown so much during that time, she just felt like it was time for her to find out what she really wanted out of life.  She went on to tell me that she recently had an uncle pass away that opened her eyes again to how short life really is and that at the end of the day what really matters is family and the relationships you've made and have cultivated in your life.  Yes I'm sure you are thinking how in the world did you have a heart to heart with the store manager, and I have to  admit this isn't unusual for me to meet someone and be able to tell you their entire life story by the time I walk away from the conversation.  I'm not sure if that is due to the fact that people seem comfortable to share these personal things with me or that I will ask a million questions always in every conversation?  I tend to think of it as a combination of both, but regardless, it happens quite often and I love hearing about other people's journey in life.  It really is eye opening and she just reminded me again to take time to figure out "what this whole journey of life is really all about."   Honestly, I can't remember the last time I spoke with someone with such a genuine, calm, and positive energy and outlook on life.  The greatest take away from our conversation was just to make sure you don't wake up in ten years after keeping your nose to the grindstone and not coming up for air, and realize at 40 the life you envisioned might not be possible anymore.  I came across a quote I pinned a while back that reminds me and hopefully ya'll to simply "Enjoy life now, this is not a rehearsal." 

CUT OFF CRAZY

My absolutely very favorite thing to wear during the summer happens to be my J Brand denim cut off shorts.  I originally bought my first pair of these three years ago and literally would not take them off, don't judge they are that fabulous.  After realizing that at the rate I was wearing them they were surely not going to make it to the following year, I immediately purchased two additional pairs of them and have stocked up on the colored denim cut offs this past year as well.  Needless to say, I am a believer that cut offs can be appropriate for so many different occasions: the beach, a summertime BBQ, a casual brunch, the movies, a friend's rooftop for dinner, drinks for happy hour, and many more.  I recently came across an amazing deal on some cute colored denim cut offs at two different stores and had to share these budget friendly options with ya'll as well.  Both Topshop and Old Navy have several colors of denim cut offs that are the perfect summer staple.  Old Navy's shorts are only $17.50, at that price you can take one pair in every color! Do ya'll have a favorite brand of cut off denim that I need to try out? 

J Brand Cut Offs/ Old Navy Cut Offs/ Topshop Cut Offs

THIS OR THAT?

Happy Monday and hope ya'll are having a good start to the week!  Recently, I have come across several similar items that I knew I loved but couldn't decide which I thought I would get more wear out of.  Decisions, decisions! The turquoise tassel earrings below are everywhere these days and I have seen them on so many people and love the look but still can't decide if they are way too big for me since I rarely wear earrings much bigger than studs.  What do ya'll think about the earrings? Let me know, curious if they are too much of a statement piece or just the right amount of color to make any outfit complete! 

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TINY BITS OF TRUTH

NO PLACE LIKE NEW YORK CITY

Last weekend I walked the Brooklyn Bridge with friends to have brunch at Bubby's in Dumbo.  It was the second time I've actually walked the Brooklyn Bridge, and I must say if you have never done that while living or visiting New York City, it is definitely worth it, and a wonderful experience, not to mention you can get some incredible photos from the bridge of the city.  The first time I ventured across the bridge was two years ago when I was living in NYC for the summer and got the bright idea to take my parents with me in the 100 degree heat to trek over a mile one-way across the bridge.   Let me just say, I highly recommend you DO NOT take your parents across the bridge in the dog days of summer to wait  in line at Grimaldi's while the pizza bus unloads with an entire bus full of people who will be ahead of you in line.  Overall, they absolutely loved the chance to see something they never would have done had I not suggested it,  and really we all enjoyed Grimaldi's pizza, probably would have thought it was amazing had we not been standing in line outside waiting for over an hour to get a slice of it! A few photo favorites from the first time across the bridge are below.  

However, this past weekend could not have been more perfect. Everything about the day, the gorgeous sunny but not too warm weather, the stroll across the bridge where I captured the photos below, and the brunch, oh the brunch was AMAZING.  Bubby's is also located in Tribeca, but I loved the spacious layout of the one in Dumbo and we did not have to wait at all to get a table which is rare on a Sunday around brunch time.  Overall it was a wonderful day, and a second great experience walking the bridge.  Have any of ya'll walked across the Brooklyn Bridge? If so, aren't the views amazing? 

Finally, that leads me to the video, A Year In New York, shown below.  I mean it speaks for itself, and reminds me there is no place like New York City.  Don't get me wrong, I love Austin, TX and I will always hold it near and dear to my heart, but I get excited every single time I return to NYC and every single day I wake up here is exciting, a new adventure, and I have no clue what I might see or experience on any given day here in the city.  There is no place like it, and the video is another reminder of what makes this city so fabulous!