The best of both worlds...

So I realize I've made a grave mistake in styling my cute little 1 bedroom in the "city." It's somewhat neat that you can look at my place and so clearly see the two sides of me- if you will be gracious enough to take my personal observations with a bit of understanding and laughter if you must ;)

Cup of Te 1) Modern and chic grounded by bits of tradition, sentimental trinkets, and comforting textures a.k.a. my living room and adjoining kitchen. To get a better idea here's a picture that I saved a couple years ago that I referenced for inspiration- lines are not quite as harsh, but the same aesthetic!
Cup of Te 2) Vintage loves, romantic, soft a.k.a. my bedroom that is painted in a soothing mocha and accented with distressed ivorys and creams. It's still a work in progress, but just so you can get a better idea, I splurged on this ruched voile bedding set from Pottery Barn!
My place is a lot like me, you get what you see, and it's pretty straight forward! Although I'm pleased with my initial foray into interior decor, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the work of Chicago based design firm Summer Thornton seen here. I wish I had taken to heart her trademark of mixing high and low, rough and polished, classic and irreverent! Instead I've ended up with two aesthetically opposite rooms, when I could have had the best of both worlds- vintage and modern all in one! *ahh, me* If only re-decorating were in the budge!

Maybe in a couple months ;) What's your style aesthetic darlings?

So Necessary: A little personality...

Do you ever wonder what it means when people exclaim, "That's so you!" I love it when someone's personality shines through the everyday items with which they surround themselves. I came across two things today that I thought were bursting with personality!

How stinkin' cute is this bike bell?! My sister friend Meg thought of me and sent me the link because I won't shut up about giving my bike a makeover haha I'm thinking I need to make this purchase!!

Oliver app plates from Cb2!
How cool is little Oliver? He's having a perfect day at the beach and stylin' on glazed porcelain. How's that for an app plate?

What are some things that make people say "that's so you!" Pray tell my loves! :)

Domestic Goddess?

It's no secret that I'm currently without a j.o.b. and am searching for something, in all honesty, PERFECT. Besides getting back to the real me (it's working, I'm incredibly joyful lately!), I have plenty on my plate on a daily basis!

I usually start my day by hand-washing all the dishes...

and scrubbing down whatever is in need of it. (p.s. Go for it Mrs. Beckham, but I don't clean and eat at the same time, gross)

Then if I find the pantry is running low, I grab my Trader Joe's and Harris Teeter bags and head to the store for a few essentials. Today my list includes Morningstar veggie links, roasted red peppers, mangos, peaches, organic soy milk, and more veggies!

Some days if there's time I try to experiment with a new recipe or two, which you can read all about in my Food Adventures! If it's something sweet you can bet that I will be taking a few "taste-testers." ;)

I can't go very long without planning a social event, even if my friends and I have to make up a fake holiday! Ahem, "Siete de Marzo" was one that will go down in the books as an all time great! I guess it's no surprise that my parents are always telling me that it seems every time they call, we are entertaining in one way or another. Let's just say I like to think that I plan and throw a good party ;)

And of course, I try to find time to love on my nephew and neighbor, Cooper, when I know he is itching to get out in this Spring time weather!

Fabulous pics via

If only I pulled all this off looking as glam as Victoria!!

Happy Tuesday darlings!

Color Crushin'

via

I find myself being drawn to a certain color combo lately, obviously, pink is involved, and we have already discussed my love of pink and blue, as far as the latest obsession? It's pink and orange! The two standing on their own are favorites, but together they are even more vibrant and intoxicating! I'm imagining my (in desperate need of a makeover) bike in a vintage Hermes orange with rich camel colored handle bar covers and basket to match lined with a pink and orange multi-color fabric! Of course all this would be topped off with a shiny bell which I'm channeling from the 90's movie Now and Then! (Right, Meg? ;)) What's your favorite color combo darlings? For now...it's pink and orange colored daydreams for me!!

Oh, Hermes!

Exotic dinner party anyone?

I've always wanted a Goyard, but when I saw this the
necessary factor sky-rocketed. *sigh*

Is it just me or has Matthew Williamson always been a genius?

I love vintage, but 1970's vintage PUCCI?! Beyond.

xoxo!

Magic for your Monday

Good morning loves! I'm back and ready for a busy week before another wedding at the coast! What kind of fun did you get into the past weekend?

Slightly dreary here so I thought sharing these fun pacman pictures by my fave Brooklyn based photographer and street artist would add a little cheer to Monday, Monday. I've never seen such a creative sense of humor, and her work always makes me smile!

Sunday Reading...

{via}

Seeing as I'm already at the beach, I would love to stay and catch up on some reading, butt in chair, toes wiggling around in the sand, refreshing breeze blowing through my hair...etc. etc. :)
But as reality would have it, I'm most likely packing up my car, bidding adieu to the beautiful town of Beaufort, and settling into the drive while reveling in the past weekend's fairytale festivities!
If you're doing a little Sunday reading, here are some posts you have may missed on fashion, food, interior inspiration, and a little something just for fun. Enjoy!

**Plus a big shout out to the new MR. AND MRS. WILLIS!!!**

Down the aisle we go!

Once again I've been delinquent in remembering exactly where these photos came from, but I just got so carried away in the sheer perfection of the hair pieces worn by the bride and her maids! Equal parts whimsy and elegance! These women are gorgeous and pull off the unexpected color combo of grey and yellow (love!) with such ease and panache!

It's finally the big day so I'm most likely primping and preening with the girls now- hopefully my attempts in doing my own hair and make-up will turn out! Eeek!

p.s. Stay tuned...I'm hoping to capture some special moments on the D40 (if he cooperates with me) and share them with you ;)

In My Cup of Te...

Remember my happy list? Well, it's time to share another item, rather person, who made THE list! Drum roll please (only because she deserves one in all her awesomeness)....
REGINA SPEKTOR!

It was love at first song when I heard "Fidelity" for the first time back in '06, and my love for Regina has grown with each song! A few of my favorites, including Fidelity, are On the Radio, Samson, Better, Edit, Summer in the City, and my latest Eet!
She's trained in classical piano, writes her own original songs, and LOVES NYC! I didn't think she could possibly be more my Cup of Te, but then I discovered an interview she did over at Rockstar diaries! She's refreshingly grounded and all around inspiring. Here's an excerpt from the interview that made me love her even more! She was asked what her life goals are besides obviously music...

"I guess just all the things that everybody wants:

To feel like they’re actually doing something and not just reenacting the same thing over and over, and not getting stuck.

Just opening your mind and seeing more of the world and trying to understand how people live and what they think.

All that stuff that will sound really fluffy and disgusting if you write it down. Just be part of the world. Really really live. You know?

One of my big goals is to just not do things out of fear but [to] be really open, which is hard I think. It’s a full time job for people to stay really open. It’s like a second job."

I've always loved her music, and now I'm also a fan of her refreshing outlook on life! Do you love her yet darlings? You really must check out her music!

Signing off!

{via}
With all my pretty dresses and peep toes in a row, it's time to hit the road- Beaufort bound! I was a hot mess of happy tears on Sunday night helping Amber choose her bridal portrait for the reception, and I can't wait to see how stunning she will be in person!

I hate to leave y'all hanging (if you so happen to be following along with me ;) so I've lined up a few scheduled posts to keep you company while I'm gone!
Kisses!
Rox

Pleasantly Unexpected...

My apologies! I saved these so quickly that I don't know the source!

As I run some last minute errands before leaving tonight for my best friend's wedding (so excited! ah!), I can't help but to revel in all the pleasantly unexpected moments that are bound to happen at weddings that are filled with so much love and genuine happiness. I know this is corny, but I'm such a sap so I have to say that my heart might burst with joy I'm so happy for these two!!

Since I've been daydreaming of the pleasantly unexpected, it was only natural that I was extra inspired by these photos from my "dream home" folder! Chandeliers in a closet and laundry room? And a beautiful antique mirror above the cooktop? Pleasantly unexpectedly perfect!

Soccer boys are sexy too...

Remember when Italian Futbol stars stripped for Dolce and Gabanna? I applaud their ripped torsos (yummy), but really boys, tightie whities?! Gag! So NOT necessary!! Since most of them did not at LEAST stick to the boxer briefs (which I happen to love), I'm sharing this awesome action shot instead!

Being raised in the states, nonetheless the good ol' South, I'm wildly enthusiastic about American football (fantasy football here I come), pig pickin's, ice cold beer, and everything that goes along with it, but I was also raised in a soccer family. My dad played on the national level so from the moment we were old enough to walk my brothers and I were made to sport the cleats and shin guards, and to the amusement of the other neighborhood kids, run drills and sprints around our house while my dad yelled at us with a stopwatch in hand! ha! What a sight, and how terribly mortifying!

With soccer rooted so deeply in my childhood, I cannot help but to appreciate it as an adult! My very first professional soccer game was in Melbourne, Australia- Man. U vs the local Socceroos! And tonight for a mid-week recharge, I'm off to watch Mexico vs. Iceland with a group of friends at the Carolina Panthers stadium right down the street! What are you doing to get through hump day and the rest of your week my loves?

As for me, you know what they say, "OLE! OLE! OLE! OLEEE! OLEEE!"

p.s. I've decided to pull for Mexico, you don't suppose these would be appropriate do you? The height on those heels, I know! But the colors represent so fabulously! ;)

"You are your Father's daughter..."

Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes. ~Gloria Naylor

Today's post is dedicated to my dearest Dad on his 55th birthday! I always take it as a treasured compliment when people tell me I'm like you in so many ways!

No doubt that the "Baracuda Club," was off on one of hundreds of scuba adventures in the South Pacific! Sharks, spear guns, and 200+ depths! I know where I got my adventurous spirit ;)
*Dad's on the far right!*

John Travolta in Flashdance? Nope, that's just Dad :)
Shall I daresay that's where I got my oh so suave dance moves and sense of snazzy style?! I die over this picture!

Thanks Dad for passing along your drive to be the best, your adventurous spirit, your laugh, your love of cabernet ;), and so much more! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Tik Tok...

Yes, you heard it! Those are the seconds that are quickly passing in the countdown towards bikini season!!! Ahhh!

After training for and running a marathon for Team in Training in '06 and then subsequently partying my little (ok, not so little!) hiney off in NYC for the better half of '07, I never really got back on the workout wagon! '07 also marked my entrance into the grown up world of working 50+ hours a week and sometimes more, and it was so, that I never achieved that perfect work/life balance. Happy hour (especially in the midst of Manhattan withdrawals) was just much more comforting than the silly treadmill!

FINALLY after 2 years of being miss fatty pants, sheesh I can't believe I let myself be photographed in a bikini LY, not to mention these photos are tagged on FB! ekk!- I'm back with a vengeance!! Kelly Ripa, a.k.a. K RIPPED if you hear me gushing about her, is my new role model. I know better than to compare myself to the likes of Marissa Miller, and Kels has a petite frame like me so I have deemed her a realistic idol! She also jokes about her "girls" or lack thereof, which makes her even more like me! LOVE her!!

Are you on the workout wagon? I just wanted to share a few of my fave workout songs as of late! This is my soundtrack to kickboxing a.k.a. turbokick, spinning, strength training a la P90x, hip hop hustle (So fun!), and whatever else entices me to hop into my beloved Under Armour!

1. Tik Tok by Kesha
2. What Is It by Baby Bash
3. Heaven by DJ Sammy
4. Bette Davis Eyes Club Mix by Deep Rhodes Company
5. Walk It Out Remix by DJ Unk
6. In My Head by Jason Derulo
7. Cyclone by T-Pain
8. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira
9. Don't Stop Believin' by Journey
10. Deepest Blue by Deepest Blue
11. Hero/Heroine Boys Like Girls
12. Ghetto Story by Baby Cham

What's on your workout playlist? Quick! Share! Before I'm so over mine and lose motivation :)
xoxo My little gym rats!

I need a secretary...stat!!

I'm dying for a secretary! Age is not an issue- young or old will do, but the ability to organize while simultaneously being stylish is a must!

Antique blue never looked so fresh!

A new coat of paint inside and out is just My Cup of Te!

This would be the perfect solution for small spaces, which is what I have to work with! Oh the long overdue hand-written letters and absolutely inspired posts, I would write if I had a chic little corner to call my very own!! *sigh* Perhaps I would even add a sweet little touch with a deliciously happy bunch of camellias perched atop the fold-out desk! What do you think loves? Necessary, right?

So Necessary: Dabney Lee Ice Bucket

Discovered over at...
1. I know it's a little early in the week to feature a picture that includes alcoholic beverages, but just for good measure I'll have you know, for the sake of my liver and my mom's sanity, I try to lay off the happy hour until at the very earliest Thursday. Ok seriously, maybe Wednesday ;) I swear!
2. A quick fyi, I love an ice cold beer, but My Cup of Te really includes vodka cocktails, patron on the rocks (because you just don't water down anything of that quality and taste!), and last, but far from the least, the classic mojito.

So with that out of the way, how necessary is that monogrammed ice bucket from Dabney Lee?! My bar cart is in dire need of accessorizing, and I've been eye-ing several items, including this pretty, pretty tray I just bought from CnB. The coordinating ice bucket and wine cooler would set me back approx 1 Benjamin, and frankly I cannot afford that!! And although I'm dying to buy it, the personalized DB version is probably not the smartest decision either. *sighhh*

I need something a bit more cost effective! Do you have any suggestion my loves? In the meantime, I will be strong and try to refrain myself from the aforementioned goodies, but I'm not sure how my will power will hold up at happy hour later this week!
Cheers loves!!
**Mother dearest, if you're reading, I promise I'm not cheers-ing tonight ;)

Monday (Madonna) Morning Up 'n' at 'em!

I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things... I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind. ~Leo F. Buscaglia

My friends picked me up for breakfast on Saturday morning, and while waiting, Husband confided in Wife that I was the Asian version of bright, cheery Tenley from the latest season of "The Bachelor"- is that good or am I flat out obnoxious? I don't "dream in cartoons," but that particular morning I was feeling especially joyful for no reason at all and bounded out of my building declaring what a "glorious" morning it was! Of course I was met with a burst of laughter because I had just re-affirmed the said observation as if on cue.

A new found appreciation for the "little things" and these joyful mornings have been much more frequent since I made the scary escape from "the man," but for some reason it makes me nervous when I wake up feeling this good. I have many things for which to be grateful, but when I feel like this for no particular reason, I wonder how long my mood will really last. It's so silly, but I find myself dreading the moment my feel good feelings will fizzle. Does that make any sense?

Well either way, I'm hoping to maintain my joyful outlook all day, and when I came along this inspiring post featuring lyrics by Madonna, I knew I was getting off to the right start! I thought it was such a positive note on which to start a Monday morning that I had to share!

'There's only so much you can learn in one place
The more that I wait, the more time that I waste
I haven't got much time to waste
It's time to make my way
I'm not afraid of what I'll face
But I'm afraid to stay
I'm going down my road and I can make it alone
I'll work and I'll fight till I find a place of my own'

{via}
I have a feeling that I'm on the verge of figuring things out, (fingers crossed), so I'm off to get my week started in hopes that clarity and direction will soon be friends of My Cup of Te!
Happy Monday loves! Here's hoping to a great week for us all!
Cheers,
Rox

Food Adventures: Roasted Red Pepper and Mango Salsa

Lately I've been on this roasted red pepper kick- it was love at first sight, rather bite, when my mom introduced them to me a few weeks back! I eat them plain, on veggie burgers, in salads, on just about anything that makes sense! They not only add a deliciously rich red to your meals, but they're also a good source of fiber and vitamins C and A!

Considering this, it was only natural that I find a way to incorporate roasted red peppers into an impromptu meal for a pleasantly impromptu dinner invite! My friends Meg and Mike (from Supper Club!) who were exhausted from golfing all day knew that I would be having dinner for one, and were thoughtful enough to have me over! I met them at the grocery store downstairs, and we quickly brainstormed ideas for dinner sans recipes. After perusing the less than appetizing fish selection, we decided on grilled chicken with roasted red pepper and mango salsa!

Here's what you'll need:
1 can roasted red peppers (you can roast them yourself, but for impromptu purposes these are just as delicious!)
1 ripe Mango
1 small red onion
1 Avocado
Cilantro (I used Dorot from Trader Joe's because I feel the flavor infuses quicker)
Fresh garlic or garlic powder
Lime juice (I forgot the lime!!! argh. M&M probably wanted to smack me because I couldn't get over the fact it was missing that extra kick haha)

Chop, mix, and let it sit for a few in the fridge to let all the flavors mingle together in the lime juice **If you forgot it like me, don't sit through the entire dinner whining about it...let it go ;)

For next time, I'll add some cayenne pepper for some heat to complement the sweetness of the mango and peppers! I was thinking maybe some olive oil too to help the flavors mix? Not sure, but either way this salsa was a fresh, tasty, topping for the butterflied chicken that was grilled to perfection!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday darlings! Cheers, Rox

Bienvenue!

Remember that cold, rainy day back in February, when our little groundhog friend served us with the news that we were in for 6 more weeks of winter?! Well, now we no longer have to daydream in pastels and delicious Dior ads! Punxsutawney Phil, I hope you stop and smell the roses today- the time has come to welcome Spring!
Cheers to a lovely weekend darlings!
xo

In My Cup of Te...

If you have read my profile, it says it all! But in case you haven't, I'm on a little journey to find the me that I felt I lost working for "the man!" I was in a bad place, and needed some serious changes in my life and with a quickness! I started out by buying a sketchbook to fill with thoughts, magazine tears, basically anything I encountered throughout the day that brought a smile to my face. :) Next, and partly because I read the book The Big Idea by Donny Deutsch, I sat down and made a list of all things that bring joy to my life! I decorated the very first page of my brand new sketchbook with a quick sketch of "My Cup of Te" followed by all the happiness inducing items that made it to my list!! I love my "happy list" and often stop to read it when reaching for my sketchbook!

The reason I'm sharing all this is because in just reading my happy list there is happiness, and I want to share that with you! Once a week I will pick one or a few items that made the list and dedicate a post- in hopes that you will be inspired as I have been!

And FINALLY without further adieu, first up is..... Dining Al Fresco!!!!! On the eve of a weekend that promises 70 degree plus weather, all I can think of is being outside. Wouldn't you??

In My Cup of Te...

...the perfect lighting consists of flickering candles- everywhere, and
especially suspended in Mason jars...

...tables magically light up and dinner is served by the sea..

...all I need is a little space a.ka. a sidewalk in Aix
and une table pour deux s'il vous plait...
...wine is chased by a vineyard's sunset
and the day is bid farewell amongst friends...

Happy Friday, dears!
Rox