LETS GO PENS!!!

   As I discussed in my post about the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh LOVES its sport teams, and the Pens have again made the playoffs.

This is after the Pens won the Stanley Cup in 2009

   Growing up I never watched hockey, but since moving to Pittsburgh I have become a big hockey fan.  It is such a fast paced game, and so fun to watch, especially live.  Not surpringly, Pens fans love to show their support for the team. 

This is a coffin which reads "Dead Wings" attached to a motorcycle I saw when the Pens were playing the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup.

  One of my favorite spring activities in Pittsburgh is watching the Pens in the playoffs, it is usually finally warm outside and it is so fun to watch the games at a local bar.

They also set up a jumbotron outside of the stadium for fans to come watch the game.

Another playoff tradition is the "Beard-a-thon"  This is a NHL tradition and something both the Pens players AND fans participate in. If the Pens make the playoffs they shave for the very last time the day before the first playoff game, and they do not shave until they lose a game.  The beard-a-thon also acts as a fundraiser for the Mario Lemieux Foundation.

This year DFH decided to join in on the beard a thon.  The bad part, DFH is not allowed to have a beard at his job, only a mustache, so he looks like this:

As much as I am all about our Pens making it to the Stanley Cup I don't know if I can look at this for another two months.  Jokes!! ( Kinda)

Oh, well...LETS GO PENS!!!

Calypso for Target

Calypso made for Target brand debuts on May 1, online and in stores and  it looks like they have a fabulous collection!!!  The collection includes separates, swim, accessories and home goods and will range from $1.99 -$79.99. in price

Here is a sneak peak:

Happy Friday xoxo

Are you ready for this???

  High waisted bathing suits are popping up everywhere!!! It is a vintage look from the 1950's

As much as I love that it would cover my tum, I don't know how I would feel about tan lines above my belly button.



Are you In or Out this summer??

Carb Free Spaghetti ...yum!

   This past weekend DFH and I finally made Spaghetti Squash, and it was fabulous I could not get enough.  The best part about it is, it honestly tastes like spaghetti and it is guilt free.  It is also super easy to make. 

  Spaghetti Squash is available year round, we were not able to find it in our local supermarket, but we did find it at Whole Foods.

   We bought a 3.5 lb. Spaghetti Squash which was perfect for two people.  There were directions right on our squash with how to prepare it.  You can either microwave the squash or bake it, which is what we did.

The Squash was too hard to cut in half so we microwaved it for about 3 minutes before we baked it. ( Make sure you poke holes in the squash with a fork before you microwave it, to prevent an explosion.

Place the halves of Squash open side down, in a pan, with a small amount of water in the bottom.

Cook for about 45 minutes  at 375 degrees, the inside should be tender.

Take out the seeds and begin to scrape out the insides.

You'll see the strands look like spaghetti noodles

  Now just add your favorite sauce and enjoy!
 We chose to add turkey sausage, diced tomatoes, and a lemon butter sauce, which was delicious.  Marinara Sauce would work well too.

The finished product:: It tasted better then it looks.

The Future of Flying

 

A few weeks ago I was out of town for the weekend.  I went to check-in online twenty four hours before my flight, and the airline gave me the option for a text message boarding pass.   Moments later I received a text on my phone with my name, flight number, seat and a scanable bar code. 

   I carried on for my luggage so I was able to skip the check in counter completely.  I went through security and to the gate with only my phone and ID and both were able to scan my phone. 

This made my life so easy!  No need to find a printer or wait in line to print out your boarding pass or worry about losing your paper boarding pass in your Mary Poppins carry on bag.

Next time you fly, look for this easy option.

I want to ride my bicycle....

"Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle

I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like..." - Queen

      It is a beautiful spring day in Pittsburgh, I wish I had one of these lil beach cruisers to ride around on

 Kate Spade NY partnered with Adeline, Adeline NYC boutique bike shop and came out with this beauty

Lilly Pulitzer Printed Cruiser

xoxo

LETS GO PENS!

Royal Gifts

 In just a few weeks on April 29th Prince William and Kate Middleton will wed and everyone is getting ready for the big event on the other side of the pond. 

Bath and Body Works has come out with their own limited edition Royal Wedding Collection

Princess in Training

If the Tiara Fits

Cath Kidston USA has also come out with a Royal Collection

 William and Kate Reuseable Bag:  I would be so so trendy carrying my groceries at the Giant Eagle.

Will and Kate Tea Towel

The Royal Carriage Keychain

Royal Wedding Gifts also has some unique Kate and Will pieces

I love coasters, who wouldn't love some commemorating the royal engagement.

Some Royal Thimbles

I love how everyone is trying to get their 2 cents from the big day, I can't lie I do love Kate Middleton and her fabulous head pieces I might just have to get my hands on some of this royal merchandise. 

Get your dress fix

  This year I was invited to 100 million weddings, not to mention 100 million bachelorette parties, bridal showers, etc.  which means I need about 100 millions dresses x 3 to wear to these events. 

   A lot of times I can get away repeating a dress with different friend groups, but thanks to good ol' facebook you don't want to be "tagged" in 10 different photo albums wearing that same bright pink silk dress to every event.

   Weddings are expensive enough so I try to keep my dress budget down as much as possible.  I have found a few websites that offer super cute, fun, trendy, unique dresses at an affordable prices to help keep myself within budget. 

   MOD CLOTH has so many cute dress options for weddings, showers, or a night out

    Love the color of this dress and the scallop accents.

I love the button down front on this

I am Obsessed!!

FRANCESCAS: also has great reasonable options, they have stores located across the country as well, which makes it easy to return items or swap for a different size.

I love ruffles, I think you could dress this dress up or down to wear to a wedding or a shower

I am really into the one shoulder right now, amazing colors

Francesca's also has great costume jewels in EVERY color

I NEED THIS

And This

LULUs is another great site



coral is so great for summer events.

SHOPMAMIE also has adorable affordable options, the owners are a friend of a friend, and they do home trunk shows in addition to running their website.  They were nice enough to come to our home and do a show for us, we all got some great items.

 

The crocheted neck on this dress is super cute

This is one of the cutest things I have ever seen!!! You could definitely dress this romper up with some heels.  A pink romper with ruffles AND bows...perfect!

More fun jewels ( this comes in a variety of colors)

Love these for a wedding

Most recently I discovered VESTIQUE, another fabulous dress site with extremely reasonable prices

This would be great for a shower or bach night on the town

Perfect for a wedding, I love the polka dots and the uneven scalloped neckline

I love everything about this outfit

Check out these sites for more fun affordable options.

What are your go to stores/sites for all of your events?