Signing off: Places to go and people to meet!

It's been a hectic week preparing, but I'm finally off to catch my flight.

I will be back in a couple of weeks with fun stories of far off lands- the culture, the food, the fashion, and everything in between!  'Til then my loves!

 Cheers,

Roxy

Ole!

I grew up in a soccer family.  Playing soccer, watching soccer, and still loving it as an adult.  The World Cup starts today in South Africa so naturally I'm excited for the games to begin, but Vanity Fair has me singing "Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!" for more reasons than one.  Soccer boys in patriotic boxer briefs anyone?

Cheers to Friday loves!

Packing is a pain in the...

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How do you really go about packing?  Well, the process thus far has turned my bedroom into a disaster zone of shoes, purses, dresses, skirts, blouses, etc., etc,. etc., and has caused me to empty the last of my Bailey's and Vanilla Vodka into my stainless steel martini shaker while frantically phoning my mother.

Mom: I was waiting for your phone call.  I knew this was going to happen.  (chuckles) 
Me:  Help.  Everything I've touched has made it to the "yes" pile.  Half! Half! Of my closet is on the floor.  This is INsaane.  I need deats.  ASAP.  Where are we going?  Who are we seeing? What kind of parties will we be attending/throwing?  Obviously we will be going to the island, I know that, but what about-
 
Mom:  Okay, okay. (insert calming motherly tone) Here is what you'll need: two pairs of jeans, several pretty blouses to coordinate, one cocktail dress, a -
Me:  1?  ONE cocktail dress?!  You ask the IMPOSSIBLE!! How am I supposed to choose one of 50, and what if I don't feel like wearing it when it's time to-

Mom: And please limit your bag to one.
Me:  OH, pshhh, piece. of. cake.
Mom: (Silent shock) 
Me: (Silent sigh of relief. Phew! A reasonable request.) Of course.  Wait.  Do you mean A (pronounced as a short sounding vowel) PURSE?! What?! I was agreeing to one suitcase!  Not 1 purse for God's sake! And what about clutches, and-

Mom:  Oh, and it would be nice of you to bring your Chi.
Me: Excuuuse me?  That thing will probably explode if I plug it into an Asian wall.  And. That. Thiing. Was  nearly 200 hundred dollars.  You break it, you buy it.
Mom:  Never mind.  Can I call you back?

So there you have it.  My marbles are scattered to all ends of the apartment, and instead of packing, I am writing you to discuss the pain of packing.

And waiting for my amused mother to call me back.

Music Festival Muse

I wish I could, but I can't.  But if I did, I would...

... wear all of the below....at...

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How's that for the ultimate music festival muse?

Bonnaroo!  Yes, it starts today, and if I could only pay such a stylish visit to my fave Regina.  Who would be on your main stage list?  And would you join me in my Bohemian chic glory?

Pizza and Ice Cream

 Sometimes all you need in LIFE is cheesy stolen stromboli, meatballs with NO spaghetti, coconut AND banana ice cream (sometimes a girl needs 2 scoops), and sweet, sweet friends. 

You see, I'm leaving for a big globe trottin' adventure in just 3 days in which time I will miss 1) a very important birthday and 2) a very important "ripper."

AND...although I will ONLY be gone for 3 weeks and a handful of days, I have the type of friends who will treat such a night, a night that should just be pizza and ice cream, like a GRAND farewell. :)

p.s. Internet access will be sparse on the island, but thanks to one of the above, I will be keeping tabs via hand-written journal.  In this digital age, and in the spirit of grace and civility, I have to say some things in life are best written by hand.

Asian Freckles?

So I'm no Lucy Liu, but in the summer time my nose starts to look like this...

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I've always wanted a freckle or two, that is ever since I fell in love with spunky Ann with an -e from Green Gables, and I would've killed to have as many as this...

or scattered so perfectly like this...

or to have some as smokin' as this...
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I'm not so sure why many people think badly of freckles (Do you after the above pics?) or even try to cover them up. I think they're so stinkin' cute and scream I'm fresh faced and lovin' the summer sun!

So... when my mother called me to come a little closer, as she reached out her hand to brush "something" off my nose (always cleaning up after her children!), I was extra delighted to announce that my summer freckles have arrived...however few they are!

HA! Who knew? Cheers to Asian freckles! ;)

Food Adventures: Lemon Mint Cake and a quick DIY!

Having spent the whole day with the mom, I thought I'd share a recipe I braved just for her!

So there's not many people for which I would brave baking, so I decided since my mother makes that list, Mother's Day was the chosen day. She love loves lemon desserts, and I love Giada so Lemon Mint Cake it was. 2 hours and a disaster of a kitchen later...

Lemon Mint Cake, fresh pink peonies from the Farmer's Market and a homemade card just for Mother dearest...

...drizzle with lemon zest syrup, bust out the Kate Spade china (yes, the china mother strongly insisted (aka forced) me to get), and enjoy.

*The cake was fresh and not too sweet, and although I followed the recipe to a T, it was also a little dry. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but I guess opening a bakery is not in my future*

I had one left over peony bloom after I got carried away and did this,

but no vase. Not a pretty one at least. SO...

...I tore off a piece from the paper that the flower stand used to wrap up my blooms and wrapped up the only hideous (well, actually just Christmas themed) vase that was left.

Fresh flowers, homemade cake, and a happy momma- it was a pretty good day.
Cheers loves,
Roxy