Saturday, April 30, 2011

Miami

I've been terribly slow on updating, this is a recap of our stay in Miami for a friend's wedding at the beginning of the month.  



Viscaya


The Mansion


The pool


Sculpture and Biscayne Bay


View from gardens of the mansion



Patio/outdoor sitting rooms


Gazebo by the water.  There were a ton of wedding/Quinceniera pictures being taken here all afternoon


Viscaya is gorgeous and although I am partial to historic places ( being a history major and all)  A. really liked it as well, so we'll consider him 'unbiased'.

Viscaya is a house built by James Deering in 1916.  It has 10 acres of gardens and a forest.  It is set on the gorgeous Biscayne Bay and has interesting architecture inside and out.  If you are going to Miami anytime soon I highly reccommend it!

  





Heather

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding Love

I've always had a love for royalty.   Particularly after a school trip to London when I was in 9th grade.  Seeing Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.  There is something so magical about it all.  

Unfortunately I have a real job now and could not stay home to watch the wedding but I'm not going to lie, I considered taking the day off!  I  loved Kate's the Duchess of Cambridge's dress.  It was gorgeous and I won the bet with some of my friends that it would be a McQueen creation.  Absolute perfection.

















These two clowns should have worn something more appropriate.  But I'm not really surprised.


What an adorable little girl.  Such a great picture to show her one day!


TGIF and have a wonderful weekend.


Heather

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011

Misc. Monday



Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters


(1) Today sadly ends my 10 day Easter/Spring Break.  I enjoyed every minute of it but the home stretch until June is going to be killer.

(2) This is the third time I've sounded like a man lost my voice this year.  My students are going to start to wonder if I really sound like this.

(3) I'm really working on this couch to 5k program.  I did do track in HS but I was by no means a 'runner'.  This program takes that into account and is meant for new runners.  I decided to start the program with my former college roommate and its working out well!  I will keep you updated!
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(4) In the same vein I have started using the widget from the daily mile to track my workouts.  When I've lost some weight I will start a tab with my weightloss!

(5) Saturday was amazing in the mitten.  It was 75 and gorgeous.  I am ready for summer!

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Back to lesson planning I go!

is it bad that I am already ready for the weekend?





Heather

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I can't believe its already Wednesday!




I'm Loving that I'm on Spring Break this week and I'm getting the chance to relax and catch up on things around the house.

I'm Loving that this weekend is Easter and I'll get to spend some time with the fam.  

I'm loving that it hasn't snowed in two days and tomorrow is supposed to actually look like Spring!

I'm loving these things:

Banana Republic
Banana Republic
Coach

Coach


Have a lovely night!


Heather


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Hello Tuesday

I'm starting to think Michigan doesn't realize it's almost May.  I woke up to (tons of) snow coming down yesterday.  At least by the afternoon it was actively melting.



(1) It was great to get a call from a good friend from H.S. yesterday, she was giving me a live blow-by-blow of the Boston Marathon, I wish I could have flown to Beantown to watch it!
(2) I got these awesome feather extensions today.  They were on American Idol and I've been seeing them everywhere.  Mine look like the lighter ones pictures and I only have one set (for now).   I plan on getting some fun colored ones for the summer (pink!).  They are super quick to put in (your stylist will do it) and can be reused.  



Mine are most like these, but I only have one set.  Super cute!



Today has been a great day,  I'm on Spring Break, had a nice run this morning, got my hair done, and the purse I bought is almost here.  Can't get better than that!

Happy Tuesday all!

Heather

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

It almost feels like Spring!


I saw this list on a few blogs and thought I'd play along.  

I'm not going to lie, today kind of dragged and I need a little distraction.


Current book(s):
Still 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'.  I almost cringe when I say I've been reading it for a couple months.  I used to read a few books a week (in a lawn chair in the sun of course ;)  ).


Current playlist:
I'm still loving anything by The Script and Jason Aldean.


Current color:
My nails are an awesome color: Teenage Dream (by Katy Perry)


Current drink:
Coke...I'm trying to cut them out completely but I need the caffeine.  I'm going to drink 4 more waters today I promise!

Current food:
Nothing at the moment but we're having venison spaghetti for dinner.  My dad is a hunter and we have tons of venison left over, thanks dad!

Current favorite show:
I'm loving The Vampire Diaries and How I Met Your Mother.

Current wishlist:
To be able to organize a girls vacay with my cousins.  The latest idea is to go to Las Vegas, which would be awesome!


Current needs:
For Spring Break to start...the kids are starting to get squirrely already...

Current triumphs:
Making it {almost} through my first year of teaching!

Current bane(s) of my existence:
Tackling my post-vacay mess.  I'm behind in laundry, unpacking and cleaning and feel a little like a failure...lol.

Current celebrity crush:
Matthew Goode from Leap year and Alexander Skarsgard from True Blood....mmmm

Current blessing:
To have a job (and hopefully keep it)!


Current indulgence:
Starkbucks.  I've had it twice this week already...bad for my diet and wallet...

Current outfit:
Black slacks and cute offwhite and black lace insert tee (I love Target and get asked where I got it all the time!)

Current excitement:
Spring Break....3 more days....


Current mood:
Exhausted...


Hope everyone is having a great week!


Heather

Monday, April 11, 2011

Misc. Monday

Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

(1) Today is MONDAY and I am in an amazing mood...why might you ask?  I have today off....a four day work week and then SPRING BREAK!!!

 Not that it's been much like Spring around here...but in Michigan we'll take what we can get....


Pic Credit
 (2) I am on a green kick, like bright Kelly green.  I got a super cute skirt from Old Navy on sale for $15 but I can't seem to find a pic of it.  When I've gotten in a little better shape, I'll post a pic.

(3) Leap Year was on HBO today.  I LOVE that movie.  It's not the most ingenious romantic comedy but its set in beautiful Ireland and the actor in it has a great accent.  I love this scene.







Back to grading/planning my last week before break.  :)







Heather 

New Name

I'm trying out a new name, we''ll see how I'm feeling it in a few weeks.  I wanted something reflecting my absolute love of travel that still left room for other types of posts.  I'm new to blogging so some changes are to be expected I'm sure. ;)


'Ciao Bella' is a saying any woman who has visited Italy would be familiar with.  Italian men (usually shopkeepers) say it to you on your way out, "Goodbye beautiful", although Ciao can also mean "hello".  Most Italian women are 'immune' to the fowardness of Italian men but for the most part I found it...oddly endearing.











 Some gorgeous pictures of Italy to drool over.  I'm thinking summer 2013 for my 3rd trip there, plenty of time plan!

What do you think??


Heather

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesday



First off I feel that my blog has been neglected.  We were in Miami for one of my best friend's weddings last week and it's made the last week kind of crazy!

(1) I'm loving how blissed out I'm feeling after our mini vacay in Miami.  Here are some of the highlights:



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The Savoy Hotel on Ocean Dr in South Beach.   We LOVED this hotel.  I found it on the blind price feature on Expedia.  I knew I was getting a hotel on the beach on South Beach and that it was on the actual beach, but nothing else.  It was around $120 a night, a lovely old art deco style and had huge rooms.
         



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This is the view of The Savoy from the beach.  They had cabanas and everything!
   


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The Beach.  It was sunnier than it looks in this picture (crappy cell phone pic)
   

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Viscaya.  A turn of the century European inspired mansion on Biscayne Bay.  Beautiful.  I highly recommend it!


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Another pic of the gardens at Viscaya.  Gorgeous!
   

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Red Velvet Cake from Ice Box in Miami.  Oprah called it, 'The Best Cake in America' and it does not disappoint!
  
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My future car.  (I wish)


I will post an entry on our mini-Miami vacay this weekend.  These were my pics from my cell phone.  It was 90 and sunny, perfect for me!

(2) I'm loving that this week is a 3 1/2 day week from me and next week is a 4 day week, followed by Spring Break!  It really doesn't get much better than that!



(3) I'm loving Spring items that are out now!  Here are a few:

Disco mini
Disco Mini from J. CREW





VSpink---MSU


Anthropologie


Beach coverup from Antrhopologie.








 (3) I'm loving 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'.  One of the best books I've read in awhile.  Next on the list: 'Water for Elephants'.
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(4) I'm loving that I've lost 12 pounds in the last few weeks and joined up with some lovely ladies at Sparkpeople.com for support.  Summer here I come!
 
 
Have a lovely rest of the work week!
 
 
Heather