Take a peek at the latest DC tourism video I came across via Scoutmob.
Finally a video that shows some of DC’s heart and soul instead of all of the focus on politics or its benefits for an educational family vacation.
The most exciting part of DC is its people and I feel this video captures that perfectly. This city has so much to offer and it is so great to see some of our personality shown to the world. I am proud to call it my home!
I won’t harp on the heat too much, but let’s just say I’m probably going to make my plans this weekend around the availability of air conditioning.
Not sure what you are going to get into this weekend? Here are some fun ideas:
Artomatic
Feeling a need to connect with your artsy side? Take a trip over to Crystal City to check out Artomatic, a month-long art festival featuring more than 1,000 artists on 10 floors of an old office building scheduled for demolition. It is completely free for the public and there is something for everyone with visual and performance art, as well as music, film and fashion exhibits. Art is available for purchase, too. The show ends on SATURDAY, June 23rd, so check it out while you still can! Plan your visit.
Alexandria Food & Wine Festival Head over to John Carlyle Square in the Carlyle District of Alexandriato sample fares and libations from local restaurants and other vendors. The event itself is free, but tickets are needed for food and wine samples. A ticket book is $20 and entrance to the wine garden is $10. The event is Saturday from 12:00 – 5:00 pm, rain or shine.
BYT Local Tourist Series: Nat Geo
Who doesn’t want to party in a museum after hours? Join Brightest Young Things and National Geographic as they partner to present you with exclusive after-hours access to the museums exhibits, Titanic: 100 Year Obsession; Samurai: The Warrior Transformed; Big Cats & More. Peruse exhibits while noshing on food, sipping beverages and taking in some TED-style talks, music performances, and “rare” Nat Geo footage. It sounds like it has the potential to be a bit overwhelming, but all in all, looks like a great time. Tickets are $20 advance purchase and $25 day of – you can purchase them here.
Corcoran Free Summer Saturdays
Available all summer, patrons can check out the Corcoran exhibits for free. The museum will also be running gallery tours, workshops, demonstrations, and performances.
Holy heat wave, people! It is HOT out there. If you are anywhere on the East coast, you are likely trying to avoid the 100 degree temperatures while trying to get from Point A to B without looking like you could have just run a marathon. I’ve run two of them and trust me, I think I looked better crossing the finish line than when I arrived at work this morning. Heat, humidity and no air conditioning on the metro do not bode well for this girl.
Sweat happens, but that doesn’t mean we have to let it beat us. Dressing for hot summer weather while still remaining office appropriate can be a challenge. Halter tops and shorter hemlines are tempting, but you can still look great while beating the heat with this simple formula:
1 light, airy dress + 1 lightweight blazer = the perfect outfit for a hot day
The key is to pick summer dresses in breathable fabrics, such as cotton or linen, that are not too form fitting. Go for sleeveless and pair it with a lightweight blazer at the office. The office A/C is usually working overtime on exceptionally hot days, so you’ll likely need that blazer to keep warm indoors.
Take the blazer off on your walk to or from work or for that happy hour cocktail your parched self will clearly need. Pick up a pair of nude wedges if you don’t already have them. They are a summer stable and will take you from work to play and everywhere in between. Not to mention they are in stores everywhere this season, so you can easily find a pair that match your price point.
The even better news? You can get twice the wear by pairing almost any of these dresses with tights, boots and a cute cardigan for the Fall!
It’s no secret that I love a good makeup product. If I was forced to answer that age-old cliche of a question about what one makeup product I’d choose to wear for the rest of my life, I’d have to say it would be a toss up between eyeliner and mascara.
For a fair-skinned, blue-eyed lady such as myself, eyeliner is essential for defining my light features. If you have the good fortune of having features that don’t need some help in the definition department, eyeliner is still a fun, creative way to punch up your look.
As somewhat of an eyeliner aficionado, I’ve gone through dozens of different types – liquid, pencil, crayon, liner pots, drugstore and department store versions, I’ve tried them all. There are several great pencil options out there, but my absolute fool-proof favorite is LORAC’s Front of the Line Liquid Liner.
For $22, this liner lasts – both on your face and in your makeup bag. I never have to reapply and, while I don’t wear it every day, I’ve had one that is pushing 6 months. It is my go-to for anything from just a basic daytime look to a smokey eye, and is the absolute best product I’ve found to create a dramatic winged, cat-eye look. The felt tip makes no-nonsense application a breeze, even when attempting difficult looks.
LORAC products are not always easy to find. You can purchase via their website, at Sephora.com, or in Sephora stores located in JCPenny stores.
If you’re on the hunt for something with a bit more instruction, check out LORAC’s Close Up Real Life to Read Carpet Eye Tutorial, complete with a shadow trio, mascara, primer, brush, instructions and, of course, the Front of the Line Pro Liner!
My philosophy – a bad case of the Mondays can always be easily remedied with some retail therapy. An even quicker solution? Retail therapy at a discount! A good bargain has the potential to put anyone in a good mood.
Here are some Monday sales to help turn your frown upside down.
J. Crew – 30% off all sale items with online code SHOPNOW
Great deals on the dresses and pants in particular! Check out their accessories, too!
This is a big one. Virtually of my undergarments have been purchased via the VS semi-annual sale, but why not think outside the bra, uhh box? Treat yourself to a bathing suit and some beach cover ups!
***One tip, this year’s suits run very small! If you’re in doubt of sizing, err on the side of caution and size up.
Ahhhh accessories. They can make or break an outfit. A statement necklace will take a cotton dress from casual to chic and the earrings can add just the right finishing touch to a blouse and jeans. They aren’t called “statement” pieces for nothing! Summer is the perfect time for an accessories refresh.
The bright, bold colors of the season are making their mark on accessories in stores everywhere. It is tempting to buy up one of everything in every color, but you don’t necessarily need to spend more, you just need to spend better.
Lou Lou is one of my favorite stores to frequent when I want an envy-inducing piece of jewelry on a budget. The store features all types of accessories – earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, sunglasses, scarves, watches and even bags. Prices for smaller items start in the single digits ($8) and can go up to $200 for top of the line items, but the majority of merchandise can be found for $10 – $75.
I typically visit Lou Lou for earrings and necklaces, but patrons will find a superb variety of choices to accessorize their wardrobe. The selection ranges from the understated, think stud earrings and single-color scarves, to the unique, read: brilliant baubles and bright, funky sunnies.
Here are some of my personal favorites from Lou Lou’s website:
With 8 locations in the DC Metro area and a 9th to open soon, there isn’t a Lou Lou far away. If you aren’t a DC area resident, peruse Lou Lou’s website. You’re sure to find something you just can’t live without! At this price point, it is the perfect opportunity to try some of the season’s top trends.
There is only one thing I despise as much as moving, and that is moving in the summer. We had to do it last July and now, due to unforeseen circumstances and greedy property management companies, we might be looking at moving AGAIN this July.
After scouring craigslist and finding very little of interest, I had to wonder, isn’t there a better way to do this?
Well, yes. There is! Live Lovely – a darling site a friend passed along to me to help aid in my apartment search. And that is what Live Lovely promises to do, “help renters save time, stay organized and get the edge in their apartment rental search.”
The brilliant concept allows you to plug in your desired neighborhood address and search criteria, # of bedrooms, price range, pets, etc. and then returns all of the listings in your area. The interface shows the listings on a map, so you can view them geographically which, let’s face it, is always where a housing search starts – location, location, location!
Live Lovely distinguishes new listings from old ones and let’s the searcher know how long something has been on the market. Users can create a profile, save and organize properties, print property information and even create a Renter’s Resume to help get the leg up on the property.
The site is beyond user-friendly, it is user-focused, which is refreshing when dealing with the stresses of finding a new apartment in a competitive market such as DC. Open houses draw more people than Local 16’s rooftop and listings go faster than you can say Obama. Seriously, the place is gone before I have time to hit send my craigslist inquiry.
Take a look at the site yourself and I promise it will be your go-to for your all of your apartment searching needs. Spend five minutes on the site and you’ll never visit craigslist again. Lovely pulls all of the data from there anyways, so you won’t miss a thing!
Here is a screenshot of a search for 2 bedrooms in DC:
Blue pins are older listings and orange pins are new listings I haven’t viewed yet.
Check out the site and let me know what you think! Maybe they can post some recommendations on movers or how to negotiate with property managers!
A Saturday in DC in the summer holds infinite potential. A girl just never knows where she might find herself, so she has to be prepared for anything. This past Saturday, I went from a bridal shower, to a snazzy outdoor hotel bar, to the Pride parade and a Pride-celebration house party and miscellaneous other stops along the way.
How’s a girl to be ready for any spontaneous event that might present itself? My answer is a maxi skirt. The length instantly dresses up an outfit and it pairs so well with a casual top and a statement necklace that you can easily transition from one event to the next without looking over or under dressed.
I just blogged about my favorite new basic tank, so of course I had to break it out for the occasion. Here was my outfit of choice (I’m in the middle):
Bridal showers are becoming a more regular occurrence as I slowly approach the big 3-0. I was at a friend’s shower on Saturday at the University Club in DC. One of the things I love most about bridal showers is their uniqueness. Sure, they all typically involve the bride opening gifts, playing at least one silly game involving rings or toilet paper and answering random questions about the bride. However, the details surrounding these traditions are what make each shower so special.
This particular shower was a more formal affair than others I’ve been to. The invitation called for a bridal tea and the details did not disappoint! Tea sandwiches in all varieties were served as well as petit fours, macaroons and fruit tarts for dessert. Of course, there was tea available but most of us chose champagne!
While all of this was prepared by the University Club, it is a fantastic DIY theme too. Tea sandwiches are easy to make and the desserts can be found at your local supermarket.
Focus on keeping the details ultra-feminine and allow yourself to be inspired by the theme. Give guests teas as favors, have everyone bring a recipe with tea as an ingredient (green tea ice cream, for example) or feature the bride’s favorite desserts in fingersized portions.
Check out the flower arrangements and noshables we were treated to on Saturday. You can also get some great ideas from Martha Stewart!
