Stuff I Like

1. Sprinkles Cupcakes

Sprinkles has recently opened a shop in NYC and I finally gave them a try last week.  I know I write about cupcakes and other sweets quite often so please take my word for it when I tell you these were the BEST CUPCAKES I'VE EVER HAD!  I find the place where most cupcake shops go wrong is having dry cake or having sticky sweet frosting.  Sprinkles sells amazingly moist cupcakes with just the right amount of scrumptious frosting.  I tried the cinnamon sugar (buttermilk cake covered in cinnamon and sugar instead of frosting) and the life changing vanilla milk chocolate (vanilla cake with milk chocolate frosting).  Have you been to Sprinkles?  What's your favorite flavor?

2. Philosophy Purity

I've always had trouble keeping my skin clear but I've recently found a product that's really been working for me.  Philosophy's Purity facial cleanser.  Not only has it been clearing up my skin, it also smells great and doesn't dry out my skin.  I'm thinking about giving their On a Clear Day a try.  Has anyone else used it?

3. Black Mass

I grew up in Massachusetts with a very Irish father...which resulted in treating St. Patrick's Day dinner like most people treat Thanksgiving, a love for the Dropkick Murphys, a bit of a feisty temper, and a fascination with the Whitey Bulger story.  I just assumed everyone knew about Whitey and when he was arrested last month I was shocked how little my New York friends cared.  Whitey's arrest was big news at home.  The arrested inspired me to read Black Mass which is all about Whitey and the Irish mafia in Boston.  The Departed was loosely based off of his story and the book reads like you're watching a movie.  I really recommend checking it out!

4. Shot Glasses

Virginia Beach, Justin Timberlake Future Sex Love Show, South Padre Island, Dylan's Candy Bar

I think buying a shot glass is a great way to make a memory of a trip or event.  I'm not the type to buy one just for the sake of buying it, but if I find a particularly cute of funny one, I always pick it up!

5. NFL Lockout is OVER!!

It's official...Football season is on!!!  I was all over the Pats' website yesterday and I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful sight than the players arriving at Gillette Stadium!  I usually spend every weekend in the fall at a sports bar glued to the TV for the games.  I don't know what I would have done without the season and I'm really looking forward to it starting up!

Crazy, Stupid, Love

I was a very very lucky girl last night and had the opportunity to attend an advance screening of Crazy, Stupid, Love thanks to the lovely ladies at Urban Girl Squad!  If you're a woman in NYC...go to their site immediately and sign up!  It was the first of their events that I've attended but they offer a lot of fun and interesting activities...some (like last night's movie) are even free!

My roommate served as my hot date for the evening and we both absolutely loved this movie!  The beginning is a bit slow but once Jacob (Ryan Gosling) and Cal (Steve Carell) team up it really picks up.  Their on screen dynamic is hilarious!  I also really enjoyed the few little sub plots and romances they don't show in the trailer.  I don't want to give anything away but there's a completely unexpected and hilarious twist towards the end.  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time as during that scene!

Besides making me laugh, the message of the movie really resonated with me.  When Jacob meets Hannah (Emma Stone) he realizes he's not interested in random hookups anymore but about the girl he can stay up with all night just talking and laughing.  While I'm not usually one for random hookups....I've been realizing this lately too.  It's not just about the physical attraction...I've dated more than enough of the "so what if he treats me horribly...he's really cute" types haha.  It's about finding the person you can talk with for hours, who will support you, and who makes things right just by putting their arm around you.  So that's what I'm going to start looking for...hopefully it'll work out better than some of my previous dating adventures.

Weekend Wrap Up

It was hot hot hot in NYC this weekend!  However, I was not going to let it stop me from having a good time.  Here's what I got up to.


Friday

On Friday night we used a Rue La La deal and checked out Stir.  I absolutely loved this place!  The appetizers were delicious (I highly recommend the eggplant parmesan sliders and spinach and artichoke dip), the martinis were strong and exotic (try the cucumber and the elderflower), and the DJ was killing it (can we say Ja Rule and Brit Brit?).  The only drawback is that at $14 a pop for a martini, Stir can be a little expensive.  I recommend hitting it up during happy hour when the martinis are just $9.

Saturday

Melissa and I beat the heat on Saturday and saw Friends with Benefits.  I'll pretty much see any movie with Justin but this movie was adorable!  It's essentially a romantic comedy that pokes fun at the stereotypical romantic comedy.  It was easy to relate to, Mila and Justin had some serious chemistry, and there were some really great jokes.  Justin also looked damn fine without his shirt on.  Before the movie started they showed a preview for Abduction with Taylor Lautner.  Anyone else excited to see it?  I think it looks good!

Sunday

Yesterday I knocked off a couple more items on my Summer in the City list!

4. Have cocktails at a rooftop bar.
5. Eat at Eatly.

I met up with Kelsey for lunch at Eatly, an amazing little place that's both a grocery store and a series of Italian restaurants.  After roaming around the grocery store portion and drooling over all the Italian pastas, meats, and pastries we headed up to the rooftop for lunch at Birreria, Eataly's beer garden.

The beers at Birreria were a little bit expensive but it was a neat place and the food was delicious.  We kept talking about how it would be a great place for a first or second date.  A rooftop beer garden is laid back but unique enough to make it a memorable evening.  I grabbed a flourless dark chocolate cake on my way out and it was to die for.  I will definitely be going back in the near future to try the gelato.

Oh, I also give myself this killer mani that I found on Pinterest.

What do you think?  To do it yourself, paint your whole nail the neutral color and let it dry completely.  Then wrap small pieces of scotch tape around your nails, leaving just the tips exposed.  When you paint the tips, the scotch tape will keep the lines perfectly straight.

Saturday Silliness

I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of people watching.  I always wonder what's this person's story?  Where are they going?  What's their life like?

Well the folks over at http://whyareyouonmytrain.com have decided to look for these answers by interviewing passengers on the subway.  I really love these videos and I think it's a great way to take a peek into the lives and minds of others.  I've included one below but I encourage you to head over to the site and view some of the others!

Shakespeare, Candy Bars, and Threesomes from whyareyouonmytrain on Vimeo.

Stuff I Like

In addition to this post...check out my "Stuff I Like: DC Edition" over at Keep Caffeinated and Carry On.


1. Mint Water

When I was in California last week, one of the companies provided MetroMint water at our meeting.  It was the most delicious water I have ever had!  It was crisp, cool, and refreshing.  I think all water should be mint flavored...it would definitely cut down on all those bad breath situations out there.  The website says there's a chocolate mint variety out there as well.  I'm tracking it down ASAP!

2. Pasta Salad

Rach made this pasta salad for our trip to VA Beach and I have been obsessed with it ever since!  It's easy to make and it's a nice light dish for this hot weather.  I made it for a cookout recently and it was a big hit.  I suggest you give it a try for your next BBQ.

3. Bengay

We always used to tease my dad about using Bengay but ever since this week's migraine made all my neck and shoulder muscles tense up...I am addicted!  Seriously this stuff is a miracle cream.  It took all the tension away almost immediately.

4. 90s Pandora Station

How many 90s music fans do I have out there?  Now how many of you have checked out the Summer Hits of the 90s station on Pandora?  Go and listen to it ASAP!  They've got everything from the Counting Crows and the Gin Blossoms to Britney and NSYNC.  And even jams you forgot about like that "how bizarre, how bizarre" song.  I promise this station will not disappoint.

5. Recipe Greeting Cards

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Jbunny sent me a fabulous card this week that also included a cupcake recipe.  I thought it was such a cute and useful card...especially with how much I love to cook!  I couldn't find the exact version she sent me but see the links in the photo captions above for some retailers!

Oh, How Pinteresting

I'm home recovering from the migraine of death I had yesterday.  There's no better way to spend a quite day at home than with Pinterest!

Source: southernliving.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: myunrehearsedlifetheblog.blogspot.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: favorcreative.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: ourbrighteyes.tumblr.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: curlygirlstore.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: curlygirlstore.com via Leanna on Pinterest

Source: imgfave.com via Leanna on Pinterest

It All Ended: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I know the blogosphere was all a buzz before the midnight premiere of the final installment of Harry Potter....and now I'm dying to hear what everyone thought!

What were your favorite parts?  What made you laugh or cry?  Did you think it stayed true to the books?  How did you feel once it was over?  What did you do to make it through the next day?

Personally, I absolutely LOVED the movie!  It was my favorite one of the series.  I thought the battles translated perfectly in the film and they touched on all the key parts.  The only part a could have done without was the flash forward at the very end.  SO. CHEESY.

My favorite part of the movie?  Probably when Professor McGonagall yelled out "BOOM" when they were preparing for the battle.  But if we want to be serious about it, the Snape flashbacks were incredible.

I luckily had a reverse halfday on Friday and didn't have to be in the office until 1pm.  It's the only reason I survived.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

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California Love

I'm baaaaaaack!  After spending the majority of last week on the West Coast...this lady is back to NYC.  I hope you all enjoyed reading the guest posts from the lovely Daniela, Maura, and Jbunny.

My trip to San Francisco was an absolute whirlwind!  It was my first business trip and I didn't realize how unbelievably exhausting it would be.  Between running around to meet with clients, the student participants in our program, and colleagues in the Bay Area...there wasn't a ton of time for site seeing.  My boss was a really good sport though and let me squeeze in a few cheesey tourist activities.  So without further ado...my trip in pictures!

Monday

Tried Peet's Coffee for the first time...delicious!

Toured the Pixar Studios

Mike and Sully!

Tuesday

We went to see the Golden Gate Bridge but it was SO FOGGY this was all we could see.

I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time!

Even though it was freezing...I stuck my feet in.  Now I can cross off another item on my 30 before 30 list.

Wednesday

The view from our hotel

We had some free time after our meetings and decided to drive up a mountain.  The view was gorgeous!

No trip to the West Coast would be complete without a stop at In-N-Out!

My first In-N-Out burger...animal style!

So that was my trip to California.  As you can see it was pretty foggy and cold while we were there.  Next time I'd like to check out SoCal and enjoy some of the sun!

Lust List

I'm drooling over the new fall styles coming out.  Here's what I've got my eye on so far:

Links to all these items can be found on my Fall Fashion board on Pinterest.  What are you lusting after this fall?