Harbor Fest

In my opinion, nothing quite beats Harbor Fest. Everything about Harbor Fest is appealing to me-- the hot weather, the crowds, the food, the boats, the fireworks, the vendors, the concerts. It's the kick off to the summer. 

Although the festival seemed smaller this year, it was still a blast. I got to wear my new sailboat Lilly (obsessed with RRR!), I won tickets to the racetrack, met a sorority sister of mine all the way from Florida, and I got to meet a real life mermaid! It was such a great day. 

Harbor Fest is the biggest and longest running maritime festival running for three days on the Elizabeth River. It celebrates nautical history and provides fun for the whole family. Historical ships are brought in from all over the world and attendees are given the opportunity to explore the vessels. Booths upon booths line the downtown Norfolk waterfront selling everything from homemade jewelry to nautical home decor. Companies rent spaces to promote their brands and products through fun games and activities. That's how I won tickets to the racetrack! Food vendors line waterside drive selling delicious fried foods and even more tasty drinks. There's various concerts, shows, even a performance by the United States Coast Guard to keep you entertained throughout the day. To top the day off, a beautiful fireworks show illuminates the Norfolk sky. If you've never experienced Harbor Fest, you have to add it to your 2016 Summer Bucket List! 

xx

Bridal Shower Gift Idea

decals // tumbler // koozie // tank top // makeup bag // tote bag

Saturday I attended a bridal shower for my beautiful friend and sorority sister, Kelsey. It was the very best shower I have ever been to. Seriously. It was at a beautiful river house with a killer view. The food was delicious, the games were a lot of fun, and the love for Kelsey was perfectly abundant. There was sangria, a tray of cupcakes, and enough chevron and teal to last Kelsey long into her happily ever after. The day was ideal. 

When I was deciding what to get Kelsey for her shower, I couldn't settle with a toaster or some kitchen towels. Those kind of gifts are obviously so much more practical and probably more of what she was hoping for (or else she wouldn't have registered for them, lol), but I wanted to do something specifically for her. Something that celebrated only her. For her birthday, her future hubs bought her a few things with her new monogram on it and I remember how much she LOVED that. Being our sorority's very own Miss Monogram (thank you very much), I knew that this would be the perfect gift for her.

I knew that I was going to get too excited and buy everything I could, so I tried to keep a price limit per item and get her the "monogram essentials". I tried not to spend more than $15 per item, of course that didn't happen, but there were a handful of things less than $10, so that counteracts.... right? This was so much fun to put together and I looked forward to opening the mailbox everyday and seeing the newest addition to the basket waiting on me! Of course, I ran into some items that were less than perfect and ran into some shops that could also be described as less than perfect, or just down right rude. But I also found some really incredible shops that produced really awesome products. I had a minor crisis 10 days before the shower, but a couple of these shops really helped me out and were so wonderful to rush my orders. Check out my favorite shops from this project (listed above) and tell them I sent you! I will definitely be ordering a few of these items for myself in the future! 

I'm so happy that Kelsey loved her gift and I am beyond thankful to have been included in such a special day for her. The day was classy, eloquent, and beautiful, just like her! Kelsey is one of the most special people I have ever met. Her heart is kind and caring, her personality is easy-going and determined, she is extremely giving and patient and understanding, and she is hilarious. These things and so much more tell me that she is going to be an incredible wife. I am so excited for her! Only 47 more days! I love you, Kels! 

xx

Eat Your Way Through HR: Luna Maya

Name: Luna Maya 

Location: Norfolk, VA

Day & Time Visited: Saturday 7:30

Type: Mexican 

Price: $$$

Rating: A+

Website: Luna Maya

Saturday night, the BF and I headed to Luna Maya to celebrate one of my sweet friend's birthday. In the heart of Ghent, this place is literally 5 minutes from where we both went to college. How we have never been here is beyond me. This was by far the best meal I have had in a loooong time! 

The menu was incredible. Seriously. I opted for saying no to the tacos (what a hard choice) and saying yes to the chicken quesadilla. Side note: I am NOT a quesadilla person, at all. But something told me to try it and WOW, am I glad that I did. It was delicious! I paired it with their strawberry mojito and was in a serious mexi-coma. The BF ordered PASTEL DE CHOCLO CON CHORIZO... corn and chicken casserole basically. Somehow I managed to come up for air between bites and sips to ask how he liked it. He loved every bit of it! Bonus: the entrees came with rice and beans. 

We all met up at 7:30 and were pleasantly surprised when 10 of us got seated immediately. That's right. The world's best mexican food AND no wait. This place just kept getting better and better! Our waiter was fantastic. The price was pretty decent in our book, too. It cost $45, on the nose, for two entrees and two grown up drinks. 

Overall, we give this place an A+. I wish there was something higher to give them because they deserve it. We will definitely be back for more 'dillas and drinks in the near future. But next time, we'll enjoy their amazing patio! 

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The last few weeks have been truly chaotic for us. I've been working 50 hours a week and we've both been studying and taking the biggest tests of our lives. * Congratulations to my handsome BF for passing his FE and becoming a real engineer!!! This weekend calls for A LOT of celebrating, so look out for the next installment of EAT some time next week. The blog has been put on hold for a few weeks but with our tests behind us and the last day of school for my kiddos being next week, summer is upon us! Which means more adventures, more delicious eats and drinks, and even more blogging! As always, thanks for stopping by! If you have a suggestion of where we should next, your opinions on Luna Maya, or just want to say hi (please, say hi!) leave it in the comments below! 

xx

Eat Your Way Through HR: East Coast Tacos

Name: East Coast Tacos 

Location: Suffolk, VA

Day & Time Visited: Friday 7:00pm 

Type: Mexican 

Price: $$

Rating: B- 

Last Friday, the bf and I decided to conquer a place off of our Restaurant Bucket List. We decided on East Coast Tacos for an early Cinco de Mayo. 

The drive was about 25 minutes to downtown Suffolk, not bad. Plenty of parking on the next street, if you're into parallel parking... bless the bf for this one. Quick walk around the corner and you're there! 

The food was your normal, everyday mexican restaurant type stuff: chips and salsa, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, etc. I ordered the tacos (I'm in search of the world's best taco) and the bf ordered a huge burrito. The only thing that really stuck out to me with the tacos was that the taco shell was unlike any other taco shell. It was thicker and I kind of liked it more than a normal, easy to break taco shell. The bf enjoyed his burrito but agreed that it wasn't amazing. Unlike most mexican restaurants, his burrito came solo dolo. Which for him is fine, he's not a fan of rice and beans. Personally, I think it makes the price tag worth it when it comes with a side. 

The price was okay. It ended up being around $30 for us (no alcohol or appetizers), which is more than we usually pay at our neighborhood mexican restaurant.  

Overall, we say this place was a B-. Everything about it was mediocre. Service, food, atmosphere, price... ehhh. It's not some place that we would drive all the way out there again for, but if we were already in the area and looking for a quick bite, we'd go. 

Hopefully you've enjoyed this review! Check back next week for the next episode of Eat Your Way Through Hampton Roads! If you know of a place that we should try, leave it in the comments below! Thanks for stopping by! 

xx

March Favorites

Fun fact: I'm obsessed with watching youtube videos. Some of my favorite videos to watch are monthly favorite videos. It's fun to see what products, apps, clothes, food, music, etc. people have been loving and get ideas on some stuff that I'll love, too! So as I was chugging through cardio day this morning, it hit me. Why not start doing monthly blog posts on some of my favorite things. 

So here you have it, month #1 of favorites!

1. iPhone 6: I only got this four days ago but it was by far the highlight of my entire month. I had my  iPhone 4s since 2011 and it finally basically gave up on me. So, I put on my big girl pants and bought myself the iPhone 6. It's so beautiful and perfect and I love it! 

2. March Madness: I have been 100% addicted to watching the games and checking my bracket. I'd say I'm doing pretty well, too! I have 3 out of 4 of the final four teams. Can't wait to see it come down to Kentucky and Duke in the championship! Go Blue Devils! 

3. iHeart Radio: I used to listen to the Bobby Bones Show every morning on my commute, which was about an hour every day. Since I've graduated, I've only been catching 5-10 minute snips here and there when I'm on my way somewhere. iHeart Radio lets me listen to them every morning, including while I workout! 

4. Burt's Bees Pomegranate Chapstick: I'm not huge on lipstick and I've yet to find a lip stain that agrees with me, so this chappy is perfect! It gives me just a little bit of color on my lips while making them feel incredible and look super healthy! 

5. ODU Men's Basketball: Piggybacking off of March Madness, I had to include my Monarchs! My alma mater made it all the way to the NIT Semifinals in Madison Square Garden last night. ODU was such a small university when I graduated high school and my mind is literally blown by how big they've gotten in five years. And yes, I did bawl like a baby when I heard the crowd doing ODU chants on ESPN last night. M-O-N-A-R-C-H-S, MONARCHS! 

6. Blender Bottle: Since I've been a good girl and have been going to the gym, I decided to reward myself and spend some money on protein powder and a blender bottle. (Okay, technically the boyfriend bought me this bottle, but still!) 

7. Lilly Planner: As I've stated time and time again, I'm a planner and a list maker, plus- I've been working crazy hours at work this past month while still trying to have a social life. My planner has literally become my best friend. I have everything color coordinated and written out so it's super easy to attempt to organize my life. 

8. Bath & Body Works Sleep Lotion: Remember that resolution about organizing my life? Well, it had it's rewards. I literally found so much stuff in my room that I didn't even know I had. Like this favorite: Lavender Chamomile bedtime lotion! I put this on at night right before bed and it's like magic. I'm knocked out within 20 minutes and I sleep all through the night. Plus I love the morning after smell that lingers the next day. 

9. Rimmel London Perfect Match Concealer: I never understood what people meant by dark circles and under eye bags. But boy, do I now. This concealer has been doing an awesome job for my under eyes, plus (!!) it's pretty good for blemish coverage and a great highlighter! 

10. Naked Basics 2 Palette: Babe bought me this for Valentine's Day (along with the Anastasia contour palette-- that will most likely be featured in the future when I can figure it out!) and I'm obsessed. Urban Decay is heaven on earth when it comes to eye shadow. I've used it every single day since I got it. Love love love it! 

11. Lilly Pulitzer for Target: Do I still feel like Lilly coming to Target is a dream? Yes. Have I done hours upon hours of research on this line? Yes. Do I have a spreadsheet of what I am buying from this line coordinated by online only and in store purchases? Yes. Am I absolutely insane for all of this? ....moving on. 

12. Bucket List: I actually stole this from my BFF. She was talking about hers one day and with some encouragement from her, I started one. A few things on the list include: going to a game in Yankee Stadium, attending Mardi Gras, and vacationing in Palm Beach while channeling the queen herself. 

I hope wherever you're reading this from, it's warm and there's birds chirping and flowers blooming! Thanks for reading, have a great day! 

xx

Valentine's Day Tulle Wreath Tutorial

My mama gave me the idea for this super cute Valentine's Day wreath! It was so easy to make, so cheap, and seriously took less than an hour. My daddy likes to call it the "Wow Factor Wreath" (lol!) but the ladies of the house think it's gorgeous! 

What You'll Need: 

- a styrofoam wreath 

- letters or a word 

- multiple colors of tulle 

- pretty paint

- scissors 

- a ruler 

- a glue gun 

*All the supplies needed for this wreath were purchased at Walmart. 

Total Cost: $12 

First, I wanted to spice up the love some some! I used tooth picks to add XO's, hearts, and kissy mouths to the word. I bought this word at Walmart for, I think, about $2. 

To start the actual wreath, you need to wrap the tulle around an object that is about 10 inches long. I chose to wrap it around my mama's iPad. I've used this same method when making tutus (fake grown-up over here!) and it seriously is sooo much easier than measuring out each strip with a ruler! 

Once you've wrapped all the tulle around your object and it looks like this, it's time to cut. 

                                      

Just run your scissors right down the edge one one side to cut the strips. 

You'll then be left with a stack of 20 inch strips! Do the same method for the red tulle and the white tulle. 

  

Once you've cut all of your strips, it's time to start tying them! You basically just want to make little knots with each strip around the styrofoam wreath. Fold the strip in half and slide it under the wreath. Then take the tail ends and pull them through the looped end. Then just pull tight! Continue this all around the wreath, alternating colors. 

After you've tied all the pieces on, it should look something like this! 

Hot glue your wooden word or letters on and you're all done! 

I absolutely love this wreath and will probably keep it up well past Valentine's Day. I hope that you've enjoyed this tutorial! Keep an eye out for more tutorials in the future for fun, easy, and cheap holiday decorations! 

Happy early Valentine's Day to you and yours! 

xx

Valentine's Day Gift Guide.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holiday's. Walking into a store and taking in all the reds, pinks, purples, hearts, balloons, cards, bags, candies, everything makes my heart smile. As I've mentioned before, spoiling the people around me is one of my favorite past times, so I tend to go a little over the top, however, my bank account would never show it. You can pour out your heart without pouring out your wallet. Here's a Valentine's Day Gift Guide for everyone in your life without breaking the bank! 

1. Ralph Lauren Wallet, $14 at TJ Maxx

Last year, I wanted to buy my boyfriend something different than candy and clothes. I was strolling through TJ Maxx when I stumbled upon this bad boy. It was so him and he absolutely loves it! (He switched his wallet over at Valentine's Day dinner last year, lol.) 

2. Broquet, $10-30 

Although I've never made one for him, I know my honey would absolutely love this! Tailor this to his interests! If I was making one for my babe, I'd include cigars, skittles, lotto tickets, and lots of airplane bottles! It's simple to make, too-- attach your "flowers" to wooden skewers with hot glue, arrange them in a decorative pot or beer mug, and add some Valentine's Day stickers and ribbon! (The dollar store has a TON of really cute embellishments right now!) 

3. Watch, less than $100 at Macy's

I bought my babe this exact watch for graduation. I won't say exactly how much it was because more than likely he's reading this, but I will say that I got it on an amazing deal! I love that I got him a quality watch from a designer brand but for far less than retail! Plus Macy's sends out 20% off coupons all the time! Add a cutesy card like "I love the time we spend together!" and you'll be Valentine's Day ready! 

1.  Friendship Bangle, $28 at Alex and Ani

I'm obsessed with the Alex and Ani bangles! They're lightweight and perfect for stacking. This BFF pair takes me back to my childhood days of buying BFF necklaces at Claire's but these are far cuter. There's hundreds of designs for every occasion, sorority, college, pet, military branch, and whatever else you can think of! 

*These are great for your wish list, too! 

2. Cutesy Pink Tumbler, $15 (idea from here!)

Obviously change the tag from teacher to bestie, but how cute is this! This is probably the easiest and most fun gift to give to your girls! Fill the cup with Valentine's Day candy, a face mask packet, a $5 starbucks gift card, or any of the stuff above! Target has a ton of cute little treats in their dollar bin (heaven on earth) right now! 

3. Valentine You're the (bath) Bomb, less than $15 (awesome tutorial here!)

I live under a rock, so up until recently, I had no idea how magical bath bombs truly were. That being said, give your girls a gift to help them relax! This tutorial is so easy and unbelievably cheap! Throw them in a mason jar like this and (of course, my favorite) embellish it up! They'll absolutely love that you spent the time to do something homemade and love that they have an excuse to leave those dirty dishes in the sink until morning. 

1. Too Faced Blushing Bronzer, $34 

(Amazing Ulta gifts here)

Okay, okay. This is more than I would usually ever spend on makeup but you deserve it! Four years ago, I bit the bullet and bought the Urban Decay Naked Palette for myself for Valentine's Day and it was seriously the best gift I ever could have bought myself! I'm still loving it! 

2. Kendra Scott Elle Earrings, $34 at Nordstrom

Thanks to my bestie and boyfriend, I am the proud owner of two pairs of Kendra Scott Elle earrings (white and cobalt!). And to say that I'm obsessed would be an understatement! I'm a huge fan of statement jewelry but these are so simple and classic that it's a statement without yelling 

"HEY Y'ALL I'M HERE!" These are perfect to add to your wish list this Valentine's Day because whether you're dropping "subtle" hints to your man or thinking of treating yourself, these beauts are on sale just in time! Retailing at over $52 usually, these are about $20 cheaper. Win, win in my book! 

3. Lilly Pulitzer Tumbler, $15 Lilly Pulitzer

Honestly, anything Lilly related will always be on my wish list. But these are soooo perfect! So perfect, in fact, I have three... or four or five... My mom won't let me feed my addiction to these cups, BUT if I did, it'd be this Hot Spot one! These hold an entire bottle of water and do a great job at keeping it cool all day! I promise that these tumblers will brighten your day! 

Happy shopping! 

xx