Friday's Letters

Dear Blog: I'm happy to be back. Writing for you helps de-clutter my often haphazard brain. You guide things into perspective and allow me to re-live things in life that I enjoy most.

Dear To-Do List: You're pretty good for organizing my brain functioning too, but I feel like these days you only grow longer and never shorter. We need to work on that.

Dear Sabrina, You're the greatest pup ever, and we love you lots, but this trying-to-eat-the-cat-phase that you're going through has really got to stop. Yes, your mouth fits around her head; that's not a good reason to put it there. And while we're at it, can we also work on the awful high-pitched shrieking bark you do out of frustration when the cat refuses to be eaten?

Dear Eliza: I'm sorry. I promise the puppy is not a punishment... or she at least wasn't supposed to be.

Dear Law School Friends Who Invited Us to the Beach: THANK YOU! We are pretty much packed up and will be heading your way soon. I still can't explain how excited I am for some sun and lounging and food and friends.  Also, CONGRATULATIONS! You're finished!

Dear Husband: You are also finished! I am so very proud of you and all of your diligent, hard work for the past 3 years of law school. I'm not sure how you managed to be an amazing student, pet-parent, loving husband, and still have a social life, but you did. AND NOW YOU NEVER HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER LAW SCHOOL EXAM AGAIN! There is still the Bar.. but you're not allowed to think about that until after graduation. K?! 

Oh, and one more thing, husband. Thanks for being the best travel planning partner! I cannot  wait to traipse through Europe with you. I have a feeling we are never going to want to come home.

Hope y'all are having a fantastic Friday!

Love,

DD

"Summertime....

and the living is eeeeasyyyy."

For the last several work days, I've been sitting in my windowless office daydreaming of what is to come this weekend. Betcha can't guess where I'm headed?!

Yep, to da beach! Growing up in Mississippi with family living on the coast, the beach was at least a semi-annual trip. We'd always go for Spring Break (even if it was 65 degrees and windy, we were determined to get tan and have fun in the sun even if it meant bodies covered in chill bumps!), at least once in the summer, and if really lucky, again right around Labor Day. There's almost nothing better than the hot sun, a good book, beach snacks, and the turquoise salty water to cool you off. Since moving to Virginia, husband and I have only made it back to the beach once. He took me approximately 8 1/2 months ago (not that I'm counting) for a weekend birthday trip to the sleepy shore-town of Cape Charles.

This weekend we will be introduced to a new beach -- the highly anticipated North Carolinian (?) Outer Banks. People love these beaches, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!

I do feel mildly bad that while I'm here daydreaming of sun and making beach wishlists in my windowless office, husband is in a windowless room taking his 3rd of 4 law exams... at least by the time the week is over, he will be completely finished with all law school tests forever! (phew, less guilty feeling now)

ANYWAY, here's a list of a few suits and beach necessities I've been eying. I'm particularly excited about these beach towel steals at Target. Nate Berkus has a whole line of colorful, geometric patterns and all for under $20! I'm also a tad in love with anything J Crew AND seer sucker...

 Seer sucker Top  // Seer sucker Bottoms //  Retro Black Sunglasses  // Moroccan Bikini Top // Moroccan Bikini Bottoms // Retro Coral and Cream Swimsuit // Scalloped Bikini Top // Scalloped Bikini Bottoms // Stripe Beach Towel // Nate Berkus for Target Towel  // Ray-Ban Erika Sunglasses   


Wishing everyone lots of fun in the sun!
DD

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Well this will be short and sweet and a little fashion-tastic, because, folks, its getting kinda of busy around here and trying to get over a cold (thanks sweet husband) while not getting enough sleep isn't making life easier. BUT somehow or another I have found some time to do a little bit of internet window shopping and pinning and I'm bringing it all to the blog today.

1. Don't know if I've mentioned this yet or not, oh wait, I have.. more than once, but I'm pretty excited about football season and going to see our Bulldogs play this weekend in Kentucky!

 

2. Using the out-of-state football game as an excuse, my husband and I have decided I need to take the day off on Monday and enjoy a long weekend of outdoor adventures in and around Virginia. We will definitely be driving along the Blue Ridges to explore, eat, and relax. I cannooottt wait!

 

3. Now onto the fashion part of what I'm loving this Wednesday... first of all, how about a little maroon love? Oxblood, burgandy, wine, maroon... call it what you will. I am LOVING that this sultry hue is everywhere right now. I want to own more of it! (I figure MSU t-shirts don't exactly count...)

4. I am obsessed with ankle boots. Especially the oh-so-chill, but still very adorable suede, casual boots like these. She looks like she may be hiking here, but I don't know if that's such a great idea...

 

5. Have you heard about the new online J.Crew factory?? I'm pretty excited! On October 11, they will launch a new site devoted soley to their factory sales... as if I don't justify all my purchases enough.

 

6. And finally, today I am sending a little extra love to my hubby. (As if I could possible love hime more). Yesterday he not only went to get a few forgotten groceries while I was at work, but he also picked up me up a magazine (which is kind of a luxury over here) and took my favorite broken necklace to a jewler to repair... it's been riding around in my backseat for ages. Pretty nice guy, huh?

 

 

Hope everyone is having a happy hump day!

 

Love,

DD



There and Back Again

**Fair Warning: This post is a million years old, but I needed to get it out of my draft box and move on with my blogging life.**

Monday, July 9

Well friends, I told you I would be M.I.A. from the blog world for a bit, and I didn't lie!
The past 8 days took me all over the south east and to see my husband and LOTS of family and friends. 

My little Honda Civic got VERY LITERALLY over 2,000 miles put on it this past week and I spent a good 30 + hours enjoying the view from within.  It was an incredible week, but man, talk about needing a vacation from your vacation! As much as it pains me to re-separate from my darling husband, I've got to tell you: this girl was pretty stoked to sleep in her own bed last night and spend a quiet Monday behind a desk.

The following is a small account of the hubs and I trying to experience some new things from some great southern cities. We started off in Birmingham where Joe is working for the latter half of the summer...

1. Vulcan, an almost 200 year old statue that overlooks Birmingham, Alabama and features a history of Birmingham museum and park... and we experienced the whole shebang. We toured the park and the museum and then climbed to the top of Vulcan for a magnificent view overlooking the "Steel City."
2. A not-so-great self-taken photo at the top of Vulcan. Well hello bangs! At least my husband's cute.
3. There's a new place in Bham called Steel City Pops. If you live in the area and have not been, you MUST GO! I'm not sure if they are only open for the summer or if it will be year-round, but the new popsicle business was bustling when we arrived and for good reason! Homemade, fresh popsicles made from whole fruits, vegetables, cream, or all of the above. This is my Strawberries and Cream and it was TO DIE FOR!
4. After leaving Birmingham, Joe and I hit the road to head even further south to a little place I like to go..New Orleans, Louisiana. Basically our ENTIRE trip was planned around where to eat and drink (there may have been a few law firm interviews mixed in, but we all know what was really the important part of the trip.)  This was one of the many venues we managed to cram into our two-day trip. French 75. It's a cocktail lover's dream come true. Listed as one of Esquire magazine's Top 5 Cocktail Bars in America, this classy joint was at the top of my husband's list of places to stop in. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
5.I was a horrible photographer during our trip, but I did manage to at least get a photo of one of my NOLA favs.. did anyone say beignets? Why, yes! And these giant beignets accompanied by a live jazz trio at Cafe Beignet was just what our mid-afternoon in the Big Easy required.
6. We finished up our last night in New Orleans by visiting the city's area best known for its plethora of music clubs... Frenchman Street! The night we were in town, this jazz club hosted Kristina Morales & the Bayou Shufflers. Fabulous!

As I said, I failed as the trip photographer, but I am happy to report that the rest of the week was just as tremendous with lots of visits to grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends from all over Mississippi.

Hope your Monday was as peaceful as mine!
Dianna

P.S. I realize it is no longer Monday, but we will just pretend this was posted on the day it was orginially intended. But really, HAPPY WEEKEND!