Glee

This show never ceases to amaze me. One of my favorite songs this season..

Ahh fall sunsets...

Nor'Easter

After finally getting my lazy butt off the couch from last week's never-ending rain, I headed out to check out the damage from the November Nor'Easter. The flooding was a lot worse than I expected. Here are a few shots from the storm...

It's been awhile since my last post, but I figured it's time to update with pictures from my new camera and trip to LA! I recently purchased a used Canon 40D from a good friend, so I just started playing around with it in LA.

Here's one on the Santa Monica pier...




Hiking Temescal Canyon...



Sunsets in Laguna Beach...



Moments in Hollywood...



And, of course, my best friends...

Zac Brown

"Chicken Fried" started out as my go-to Friday pump up song, but now it's hard not to be hooked on Zac Brown Band. Along with great tunes, they are the most humble, appreciative band I've see in a long time (Zac Brown said he would stay and sign autographs for everyone in the pavillion at his show the other night). It's refreshing to see such a talented group remain ordinary through their rise to fame. I got the chance to hear their newest song, "Colder Weather," the other night and LOVE it. Here's a live version of the song...

Cougar Town

I know I said Glee was on the top of my list for fall shows this year, BUT Cougar Town is a riot. Courteney Cox was funny in Friends, but this is her best role yet. She plays a recently divorced woman in her 40's who attempts to relive her 20's. Even though the show is only half an hour, you will be laughing the whole time at Courteney's antics and uncontrollable mouth. Take a look at this clip and see for yourself...

GLEE

Yes, September brings cooler weather, football, and changing leaves, but most importantly, BRAND NEW fall TV shows! Of all the indulging television this season, Glee, on FOX, draws me in the most. This show portrays high school misfits who put all their time and energy into singing in the glee club. The show is original, hilarious, and musically phenomenal. Of all the comedic characters, the overbearing cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, is by far the most entertaining. She constantly tries to destroy glee club and everyone involved in the success of these talented students. Who doesn't love a good musical? Watch the show on FOX, Wednesday at 9 PM.

AC off, windows open, and 70 degrees makes for perfect fall weather. What a way to start September on the Outer Banks. This is my first time living here past September and I'm loving it so far. I'm working at a local coffee shop, Front Porch Cafe, for a little while until I figure out my next move. Along with the perk of drinking all the free coffee my heart can take, I enjoy the people I work with and getting up bright and early. Go to frontporchcafeonline.com where you can order from a wide range of house, varietal, organic, and decaf blends.

Beef-Bourguignon anyone?

Wow...I am SLACKING on the blog. I just went and saw Julie and Julia with my mom and of course (along with every other viewer), it made me want to cook. American women will be slaving over Julia Childs famous, Beef-Bourguignon, for hours after seeing this film, along with wanting to eat everything in sight from their mouths drooling for two hours long. I give the movie an 8 for Meryl Streeps' and Amy Adams' brilliant performances, but I give this Baked Penne with Corn, Zucchini, and Squash from Williams-Sonoma a 10 for its delicious appearance (I haven't cooked it yet...). This will be my next meal!

Flying By

Am I the only one who thinks summers FLY by?  I have been back and forth between the Outer Banks and Suffolk all summer busy with weddings, preparing for weddings, and wedding showers.  EVERYONE gets married in the summer.  I think I'll opt for a fall wedding when it's cooler and people aren't super busy with vacations, etc.  Don't get me wrong, summer weddings are beautiful, but I love when the leaves start changing colors and the temperatures drop in the 70's.  Needless to say, I am excited for FALL :-)

Redecorating

My Mom and I thought it was time to redecorate my room at the beach house without having to repaint the light blue walls. I found this colorful, organic comforter at Pottery Barn, along with the red, quilted pillows. It goes perfect with the walls and white furniture, but I may need to find a neat picture to put above my bed. I'm thinking a painting with birds in it to go with the forest theme in the comforter. This Woodland Organic Duvet is on sale now (of course, after I've already bought it!) for $99.

I went and saw Bruno the other night and was a little disappointed (imdb gave it a 7.2/10). Don't get me wrong, the film had its hilarious moments, but the media definitely hyped it up. I enjoyed Bruno's old skits from Da Ali G show much more, especially when there were less bare frontal shots. You'll still get a kick out of some of his jokes, but PLEASE don't take your mother :-)

I think I found my calling...

Nicole Speight, Professional Dog Photographer?

SPF

My idol, Will Ferrell, just released his new " Willpowered" sunscreen line with titles such as "Sun Stroke," "Sexy Hot Tan," and "Will Ferrell's Forbidden Fruit Sunscreen."  Each with an SPF of 30, the bottles alone are quite the conversation starter AND the proceeds go to cancer survivors.  These sunscreens are available for $11.99, but I found them on Amazon for $8.89  :-)

   

No need to hype them up

Just recently I bought a couple dresses by the designer, Hype, at the Posh Boutique in Nashville, TN. I LOVE this designer and their creative tank dresses. I wore this dress to the CMA Festival with a pair of cowboy boots. Too cute!

Beautiful Sunset

I made it home from a long bike ride the other day just in time to catch the most gorgeous OBX sunset. I only wish I had a more professional camera (praying I save enough money for a Nikon D5000) to capture all of its beauty!

Favorite things

One of my favorite things about summer is driving down the gravel road to my house surrounded by tall, corn stalks. There's something magical about sitting on my front porch in the silent summer looking out onto beautiful green and puffy, white clouds surrounding me.

I am SO excited for Bruno coming out July 10th. Here is one of my favorite clips from Bruno in the Ali G show...

Jobless

Friday marks week three of being jobless (ahhh!). I know, I know...NOT the best time to quit a stable job, but life is too short, right? My mind is set on Nashville, TN, but I have a second interview in Wilmington, NC next week. I hope to get some leads for Nashville SOON or I may be moving back to NC...Either way, I'll be happy :-)

Here are a few hilarious photos from the CMA Fest (country music brings in a rare breed of people from all across America):

CMA Music Festival was well worth the $150, $9 24 oz. Coronas, and more country music artists than you can name.  I was a little sketched getting our tickets on craigslist at the last minute, but our seats turned out GREAT.  We had a clear view of the stage on the end of the row in the 100 level section.  I've been to Nashville quite a bit growing up, but I've never experienced Nashville like this. Hidden boutique shops in midtown, delicious restaurants and of course, the city's musical influence are only a few things that make Nashville amazing.  So amazing that I'm considering moving there :-)  

Pond jump

The backyard  barbeque for the future Mr. and Mrs. Oliver was quite a success!  Burlap covered tables, monogrammed cupcakes, and floating flower balls were a few of the decorations that made the shower stand out. Luckily, we had beautiful weather to sit around and enjoy the live band and delicious food with family and friends!  Did I mention our late night pond jump with the bride and groom?  

Men vs. Wild

Will Ferrell (my idol) joined Bear Grylls on Man vs. Wild Tuesday night in an Arctic adventure.  Even though Will Ferrell is not fit for the wild, his humor made up for his inconsistencies in the cold, desolate Arctic. Here is a preview for those of you that missed this episode on the Discovery channel Tuesday night:

  

Ali G does it again

Ali G's famous Bruno character is back at it again in his upcoming film debuting in July.  If you've watched Da Ali G show on HBO, you know how outrageously funny Sacha Baron Cohen's character, Bruno is.  Some of you may find it mildly inappropriate when he talks about getting Freddie Prinze Jr. naked in front of a Catholic Priest or when he persuades a a group of angry, college wrestlers to appear on Austria Gay TV, but  the character, Bruno, will make you fall out of your chair. I, for one, can't wait to see this film!  Just check out the movie trailer:

Flower Balls

I love the idea of having flower balls to jazz up a party. For the "backyard barbeque"wedding shower this weekend, I am going to make floating flower balls to put in our small pond. If you've ever been to the Wynn in Las Vegas, they have the most gorgeous flower bouquets hanging from trees in the lobby. These floating bouquets are similar to some that were at a wedding I went to in Maui last summer. Mine are going to be much smaller, consisting of green and yellow fake gerber daisies.

When I was little, my family (WHOLE family) took road trips to Nashville,TN almost every year. We loaded up our green, Ford mini-van, set our box TV in between the seats, and drove the eleven hours from Suffolk, VA through the Great Smoky Mountains. One of my favorite stops along the way was Dolly Parton's famous, Dollywood. Located at the bottom of the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Dollywood is one of the most popular family vacation destinations (at least my sister and I thought so as kids). With that being said, we might make it one of our stops along the drive to Nashville in a few weeks for the CMA Music Festival. I also want to visit the Biltmore in Asheville, NC (because Richie Rich was filmed there, duh) and maybe do some hiking along the way. So excited!

America's Next Top Models?

I spent this past weekend in OBX with three of my best friends from UNCW.  As you can see, we have a little too much fun when we get together. It is a rare occasion that we can all get together for a fun, catch-up weekend, so this was a real treat :-)  I only wish we all lived next door to each other still... 

My sister and I got this amazing dog painting done for my parents this past Christmas by the talented Alessandra Sulpy. If you're dog obsessed, like my family is, you will appreciate the detail and accuracy she puts into her creations. I sent her pictures of our three dogs, picked a neat background, and this is what she came up with. The pricing depends on how many dogs are in one picture and the size of the canvas. Ours came out to $150 for a 10X16 painting. Well worth it!

Heartless

Kris Allen's performance on American Idol last night blew Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey's performances out of the water. His performance was inventive, edgy, and as Randy said, better than Kanye's original version (ha! Take that Kanye). AND, his rendition of the song was pure acoustic. From the beginning of the season, I picked Adam to win it all, but now I'm rooting for Kris big time. Don't get me wrong, Adam is very talented, but I think everyone assumes he will win. I think Kris Allen might surprise everyone. Just check out this performance from last night:

My very first rock concert was No Doubt in 5th grade with a friend and her mom. Growing up, I was in love with the band and idolized Gwen Stefani. Even now, if I could have one fashion role model, she's it. No Doubt has a new single out, "Stand and Deliver," previously recorded by Adam & The Ants and Sugar Ray. I saw it performed on Gossip Girl (yes, Gossip Girl) last night and I think No Doubt might be making a pretty sweet comeback. I can't wait to see what they come up with next! "Sunday Morning" is still an all-time favorite...

Country Music Festival

I haven't been to Nashville, TN since I was little, so I am super pumped to go to the CMA Country Music Festival for four days in June (crossing my fingers).  The line-up includes artists such as Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, and many more!  My personal favorite, Dierks Bentley, will also be playing and I cannot wait.  I've been dying to see him for the longest time.  If you haven't checked out any of his tunes, listen to sweet and wild:  

Four days of non-stop festivities in the birthplace of country music sounds like a great start to my summer.  

KICKBALL!!

We had our first kickball game last night (Team, "Drink You Pretty"), which was probably the first time I've played the sport (is it even a sport?) since middle school. Regardless, it was freaking hilarious. The rain, mud, and slick grass did not allow for a clean, skillful game. Then again, who has skills in kickball, anyway? I think everyone saved those skills for flip cup POST kickball...

Oh, and did I mention Team Drink You Pretty kicked BUTT in both games?

Kings of Leon

Straight out of the country music capital of the world (Nashville, TN), this family puts on a performance that will mesmerize you for hours. I must say, it was one of the best concerts I've seen in a really long time. Throughout the whole show, I was curious as to how they came up with such unique melodies. After reading their bio on their homepage, I found out that Caleb (lead singer) had written most of the songs off their newest album, Only By the Night, while on pain meds, during his recovery from shoulder surgery-ha! One of my favorite songs, The Runner, comes from their second album, Because of the Times. Check it out:

"Hang Loose" or Die Trying

Being in the way back, I hoped the road wouldn't be too meandering, but the beautiful views worked to keep my mind off of my uneasy stomach. To my right, I could see the red mesa rock formations and conifer trees that grow on all sides of the cliffs. To my left, I peered down out the window to what looked like a thousand feet down a steep, stony cliff with no guardrail to keep our SUV from staying on the road. It all made my heart race rapidly, even the goats nibbling grass on the picturesque, green hills leading down the abrupt cliffs...

Andy Bernard

How can Andy not be your favorite character on The Office?  As days drag on, I only dream of someone that hilarious sitting in the cubicle next to mine.  

My family, along with two other bridesmaids families, are throwing a wedding shower for Claire (best friend) and Brenan outside at my house. It's a very casual,
"down-home" type party with a live band, barbecue, drinks, etc. I found these invitations on invitationconsultants.com and thought they were adorable. Besides the blond hair, how cute are these for the party invitations?

In the spirit of Vegas (our flight leaves at 5:53 today!), I thought I'd share a picture from my last trip. For my 21st birthday, my parents took three of my best girlfriends, my sister and me to Vegas a couple years ago. We stayed at the beautiful Bellagio Hotel, right on the strip and had the best time. This picture was taken at Hard Rock Hotel's club, Body English, where we were greeted with free champagne and VIP wrist bands. Can't wait for Claire's bachelorette celebration this weekend!

When did we start relying so heavily on our cell phones? And now, with the latest technology (crackberry, iphone), we have our smart phones glued to our palm (I know, I know, I do it too). In a way, I think all these forms of technology have made us more impersonal and detached from society. Not to mention, blackberries can be trouble. I think I might feel lost without mine...Noone should have to rely on any one device as much as we do.

Lately, I've really been missing Wilmington. This may be because it's about that time to start hitting Wrightsville beach, running the loop at dusk, and grillin' out in Jamesborough Court. It has been the dreariest past two months here in DC (go away, rain!). I can't believe it's almost been a year since graduation. Time FLIES! Don't ever take one moment for granted.


I miss being around all my best friends...

Mom's addicted to shoes, I'm addicted to SUNGLASSES. Although I've lost about ten pair over the past ten years, I still continue to buy all different styles and colors. I own a pair of red Ray Ban's with tortoise shell sides, but LOVE these turquoise retro shades for summertime...

Retro shades made a comeback a while ago, you say? Doesn't stop Ray Ban from continuously manufacturing awesome sunglasses!

This photo encompasses everything I love about being home-my dog, running free, blue skies, openness...Last weekend was a great Easter weekend at home with the family!

No words...

If you don't have HBO, you might want to think about getting it for this. Last weekend I sat down and watched the entire first season of Eastbound & Down. Based in Wilmington, NC (yeah, UNCW!), the show is centered around the life of ex-baseball star, Kenny Powers. Not only does his stylish mullet and manly physique appeal to viewers, but his cocky, bad ass persona makes you want to pee your pants. Coming from Executive Producer, Will Ferrell, you can't expect much less than outrageously, inappropriate dialogue and talented improv. And if you've ever lived in Wilmington, you can expect to see a little Hiro, (amazing Japanese Steakhouse) as well!
Check out this hilarious clip and watch Sundays at 10:30 on HBO...

My mom and dad are in love with the artist, John Silver. Based out of Manteo, NC, he works with oils, acrylics, and watercolors in order to create truly amazing paintings. My family owns about six of his paintings and my mom is constantly looking to buy more. A lot of his inspiration seems to come from jazz and New Orleans (and of course the Outer Banks too). Check out this painting:

If you're ever visiting Manteo, NC, stop by the John Silver Gallery on the waterfront for a friendly, invigorating experience.

American Idol may not be on the top of your list for Tuesday night entertainment, but if you had flipped to Fox last night and caught a glimpse of Adam Lambert's performance of "Mad World," you'd be impressed. Simon even gave him a standing ovation.


I think he may win it this year...

Best shoes EVER

One of my friends just sent me my third pair of Sanuks. These shoes might be the most comfortable pair of shoes out there–outshining Crocs by a mile. So comfortable even, that I wore them for three weeks straight while backpacking through Europe. Supposedly, they invested in a new sole, so they won't smell so bad after three weeks of no socks...
Here's the pair I just got...these are called the "Laurel"and are well worth the 45 bucks.

While we're on the topic of traveling, last year I went to St. John for spring with two of my best friends. St. John may not be your typical spring break hot spot for the college go'er, but if you're looking for relaxation, white beaches, and turquoise water, then St. John is your spot. Whether you want to indulge in the natural beauty the island has to offer, or grab an ice cold beer at Kenny Chesney's favorite hot spot, Woody's, St. John has plenty to do.

I took this photograph on the beautiful beach of Trunk Bay (with a little help from photoshop, of course)

Backpacking

Backpacking through Europe was one of the greatest adventures of my life. Both Anna (pictured) and I learned things about each other (and ourselves) that we never knew (until we missed trains, biked 13 miles around Tuscany, etc.)

Of our five destinations in Europe, Interlaken, Switzerland was the most audacious of them all. In one day, we went canyoning (cliff jumping, repelling, etc.) and rafting in FREEZING water. Our day began at 7 AM (after staying out way too late), with a hike to the top of a waterfall, in what felt like 50 lb. equipment. Despite feelings of nauseousness, they all disappeared on our first jump into foaming, rocky, glacier water.

Needless to say, our time in Interlaken was well-spent- and if you're looking for an outdoor adventure, this is the spot. We had the best time with our guides from Alpin Raft. If you're ever in the area, go to them for a risky venture.

As Claire's (best friend) faithful maid of honor, I have planned a weekend away in Vegas coming up in 2 weeks with some of our closest friends! All of the crazy bachelorette festivities will take place at the Planet Hollywood right on the strip. Since this is my very first time as a MOH (maid of honor), I've been researching different party ideas. The Knot has some great "must-have party props" listed for the big weekend! My favorite idea might be having Claire carry around a naked, male blow-up doll!

How's this one for starters? http://www.bachelorette.com/harblowupdol.html...I love the "Hot Facts: He has no penis, so there is no risk of arrest or eye injury"

Even better...http://www.bachelorette.com/tyler-knight-inflatable-doll.html

Who's with me on that?