Off the Bucket List...Hot Air Balloon ride!

My very sweet boyfriend took me to Napa to celebrate our anniversary and he surprised me with a hot air balloon ride! He set it all up with Calistoga Balloons, and we took off at 6am to start our adventure. It was really fun with gorgeous views! And afterwards, we enjoyed a tasty brunch including mimosas!

<3 <3

    

Artizia and Wilfred Love

Last week one of my girlfriends and I went shopping downtown and I bought a sweater from Artizia that I had been eyeing for awhile. Its perfect for layering and it can also be worn upside down to be shortened! I definitely think I will get a lot of wear out of it.

Wilfred Diderot Sweater (I got mine in a charcoal grey) 

Traveler's Heaven...Barcelona

This summer for part of my Masters program I spent six weeks in Dubai and 2 months in London. Throughout the summer I traveled to different countries whenever I could squeeze in even a two day trip in between school.

I think my favorite place out of the eight countries I visited this summer was Barcelona. One of my girlfriends from high school came and stayed with me in London for about 10 days and we decided our weekend getaway trip had to be to Spain. We stayed at Hostal L' Antic Espai and it was the cutest hotel I've ever stayed in. It was more like a bed and breakfast and the owner was really sweet and helpful and the price was reasonable. I would definitely say if you are going to Barcelona, stay at this place!

Complimentary breakfast on the lovely terrace.

Champagne to welcome us to Barcelona!

Margaritas at lunch time on the beach. 

The Nativity Facade

Gorgeous beach in Barcelona. <3

Dessert to DIE For!

I made these yummy peanut butter chocolate chip bars for the second time on Saturday and I liked them just as much the second time around. I doubled the recipe to make even more, but I think they turn out a bit better making them in a smaller pan, the way the recipe calls for.

6 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 c natural chunky or creamy peanut butter 
1 c sugar
1/4 c light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 c flour
1/4 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 c chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease an 8 x 8" pan

Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

Cream the butter and peanut butter together until smooth. Beat in the sugars until combined.

Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.

Stir in the flour mixture. Add the chocolate chips, stirring until combined.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 30 minutes. Cool completely before cutting. (The cooling takes some time, but you definitely want to wait before cutting them)


Eat and Enjoy! 


*courtesy of one of my favorite baking blogs Bake at 350*

Great Beauty Web Find!

So one of my girlfriends brought over her amazing curling iron for us to use this weekend when we were getting ready. I used it once and am now hooked, so of course I immediatly purchased one this afternoon online from this site. If your in the market for a new curling iron, definitely buy this one! It is on the pricey side but it was on sale on the site I got it from for $69.99 with free shipping. I'm definitely not the best at doing hair, but this iron makes it really simple and easy even for people like me!

Jose Eber 25mm Curling Iron

New Web Obsessions

So Being new to the whole blogging scene, I've been checking out and exploring many different kinds of blogs and new sites. Among some of my favorites have been one of my sweet English friends who's blog combines advice and recommendations of all sorts roseandthistle. Also another awesome blog is one I found through my friend couldihavethat.

Also lately I've been checking out polyvore which displays tons of cute, trendy items and gives you the links in where to find and purchase them. It's super awesome, and very dangerous to my bank account.

As far as new shopping pages I'm newly in love with baublebar and alainnbella. I am going to a girlfriend's wedding at the end of October in Southern California and I am debating purchasing a pleated tube dress from alainnbella (see below). Perhaps I could accessorize it up with some jewelry from baublebar. :)

My First Blog!

So I am new at this whole blogging thing, but I've been following a few of my friends blogs and a couple others, and I've really enjoyed the style tips, recipes, and random info! So I've decided to create my own blog with all of my favorite things including travel pictures  and tips, recipes, my favorite fashion, and other things going on in my life that are fun and interesting (which will be plentiful of course!). Thanks for visiting and I will try to create some fun things to read and see soon!


<3