Award Winning - Golden Globes

About this time last year I wrote a post about loving to watch the red carpet coverage of award season. It was one of the first posts I ever wrote and all of it is still true. Last night was the Golden Globes, I saw a lot of plunging necklines, cutouts, lacy, and florals. Here are my favorites from the red carpet:

Jennifer Lopez | I want to look this good when I'm her age!

Joanne Froggatt | So sad this is the last season of Downton Abbey :(

Jenna Dewan Tatum

Lily James

Amy Adams | Probably my favorite dress from the Globes (plus I love her hair color)

Jennifer Lawrence

Kate Winslet | Stunning!

Photo source

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 36

Wow what a week. Certainly was busy and I'm counting down the hours until the weekend. Last night we had an event on campus for our students and it went really well. I'm looking forward to the upcoming events I'm involved in planning. It's the fun part of my job.

By the way, this is my 100th post :) 

In a week I'm getting my hair cut. I'm not adventurous when it comes to hair which is ironic because mine grows so fast. If I were to get a bad cut it would be gone in about a month.  Pinterest always has a lot of styles and these are some of the ones I've pinned over the years. When I pinned it I was either interested in the cut or the color.

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What do you think? What should I do? Share in the comments below.

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Top It Off

What better way to start the New Year than to show you my recent top purchases? Let's start...

Target:

Merona Women's Layering Tee

This layering tee is perfect on it's own or paired with a vest, sweater, or just a scarf. Lightweight and comfortable. Also seen here.

Macy's:

Lucky Brand Long-Sleeve Brushed-Knit Cardigan

I wanted this cardigan so bad last year, but by the time I went to purchase it after Christmas it was sold out in my size. When I found it 50% off on Lucky's website I snatched it up as quick as I could and I'm so glad I did. It's sold out on Lucky's website, but it's still available at Macy's. Feels lightweight, but this cardigan is actually really warm. Also seen here.

Loft:

Mixed Media Sweatshirt Tee | Color Block Bateau Tee
Lou & Grey Signaturesoft Back Zip Tunic | Marled Two-In-One Sweater

Wore the first top to my birthday dinner and it was the perfect dress up or dress down option. The other three tops I ordered online and should be arriving this week. I'm really excited to get them because Veronika at Veronika's Blushing did a snapchat review of the bateau tee and back zip tunic and she made me even more thrilled I placed my order when I did because I think these will go fast!

I've been wearing the layering tee and Lucky Brand cardigan on repeat! Lots of sales are happening this time of year so take advantage of them! Until next post...xoxo Becca

New Year, New You

Welcome to 2016! Why is it the new year always brings the feeling of a clean slate? Not that I mind, it's a great time to start something new, kick a bad habit, or improve on yourself.

I couldn't help but share this cartoon, it is an honest representation of what a lot of us do with our well intended New Year's Resolution. The best two resolutions I've accomplished were giving up soda and fast food. Even now I hardly ever eat at fast food restaurants, but I do struggle with no soda when it comes to Dr. Pepper. The second was several years ago. As a "fixer" I try to fix everyone's problems. This particular year I worked on being a good friend and listener, but when the conversation ended it was time for me to forget about it rather than try to come up with solutions and then worry the person wasn't taking my advice.

My motto for 2015 was "this is my year." I stepped outside my comfort zone on so many occasions and I grew as a person. The hubs and I made a lot of choices in 2015 and we couldn't be more happy with the outcomes.

To be honest, after 2015 I'm not sure what to tackle next, but this caught my attention. It's an extension of past resolutions, but 2016 could be the year I apply this more. I am a people pleaser and a fixer so this speaks volumes to being more self focused.

What is your New Year's Resolution? Share in the comments below.

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 35

Growing up I remember my mom baking for the neighbors; cranberry bread and GORP (type of trail mix) are the two items I remember most. p.s. I tried this one year...our neighbors didn't seem as excited as I remember neighbors being when I was young. Talk about disappointment! Anyway, she'd box them up with cute ribbon and gift tags. Family Christmas traditions have always intrigued me because everyone does it different. The hubs' family has an oversized coloring book they've colored in every Christmas Eve for the last 30 years (pictures below). I think it has seen better days, but dang what a fun memory to have and to look back on. This year is the last page of the book, who knows what we'll do next year...

First year, 1984

2014

What are your Christmas time traditions? Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Decorate gingerbread houses? What about wearing matching pajamas? One day the hubs and I will start traditions for our own family, here are some that piqued my interest (thank you Pinterest).

Wrapping Christmas books and reading one each night before bed. Source 1, Source 2

I really liked some of the ideas shared here. My favorite are The Annual Snowflake Cut Out Competition and The Dollar Tree Ten Minute Giving Spree. 

I hope you enjoy time with family and friends! I'm taking the rest of the year off from blogging, but will be back in 2016! Thank you for reading this year, your comments mean the world to me. I love when people tell me they've been following along and I never even knew it! Until next post...xoxo Becca

Pounding the Pavement - New York Trip Part 3

This is the last part of our New York trip, read part 1 and part 2 to catch up. We moved fast so keep up ;)

Day 3 was our last full day in NYC and we made the most of it. Starting off with a trip to Central Park. We walked around a little bit and took some pictures, but it was really warm so we ventured out of the park and made our way to 5th Avenue. The shops....oh my goodness...so many gorgeous shops. Bergdorf Goodman has window displays that rivaled the Taj Mahal (Vanity Fair images 1-10)! Added perk, seeing The Tiffany Diamond in person. Goooooodnessssss that thing was huge! The picture below doesn't do it justice.

 

After our shopping venture we grabbed a cab to Grand Central Station and the High Line. Who was there? Oh you know, just Bradley Cooper stopping by to have some lunch. Celebrity sighting #2! We walked several blocks of the High Line before heading back to the hotel for some drinks and snacks. Then off to dinner at Cara Mia, a place recommended to us by our New York friends. It didn't disappoint! With reservations at 7:45pm we still had to wait a little. The restaurant is extremely small with tables close together. The bread and olive oil served as an appetizer was delicious. The dishes we ordered were amazing, served piping hot, and the fresh pasta was a hit! Highly recommend if you are looking for Italian food in NYC. Dessert...a New York cheesecake at Junior's.

Grand Central Station

View from the High Line

That wraps up our adventures in New York. I hope you enjoyed the recap and  pictures. Until next post...xoxo Becca

Bites of the Big Apple - New York Trip Part 2

Read Part 1 here. 

Late night and early mornings, that's what we experienced in NYC. It was worth it to see so much of the city. We grabbed a traditional bagel at a store next to the hotel and off we went.

We all agreed we wanted to visit the 9-11 Museum and it was recommended we purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid lines and tickets selling out for the day we wanted to go. To avoid the crowds on the subway we decided on a 10am ticket. Bagel in hand we may our way there. Before I go any further, this was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Being a freshman in high school in 2001 doesn't lend itself to acknowledging the magnitude of the event. As an adult I understand the impact it had from a community level all the way up to a global level.

The day started with a 15 minute video developed exclusively for the museum featuring key political members; George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki etc. Their recount of the day's events was indescribable, you just need to hear it for yourself. The first part of the museum reminded me a lot of an art exhibit; soaring ceilings, dark wood floors, void of sound. Kuddos to the developers of the museum, they did a fantastic job. The second part of the museum takes you through the timeline of the day, the artifacts, and the voices of loved ones lost and those left behind. Photography was not allowed in most of the museum, but here are a few of the photos captured.

“No day shall erase you from the memory of time” - Virgil

It was a very heavy experience and we left the museum in silence. Not much was said amongst the group other than how emotional the visit had been.

To lighten the mood we headed to Chelsea Market to get lunch. There are many options to choose from, but we went with Chelsea Creamline because there wasn't a wait. I had the Griddled PB&J plus banana sandwich and it was deliciously sweet and filling. Dessert was from Doughnuttery and Bar Suzette Creperie.

After lunch we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the Radio City Rockettes. On the way, the hubs bought a hotdog from a street vendor. A New York must right?

We finished up our evening with dinner and drinks with family friends.

I hope you've enjoyed "traveling" with me. Day 3 will be posted on Monday and then it's back to Favorite Pin Friday on Christmas day. Until next post...xoxo Becca