february fun awaits : )

picture credit {here}

february is brought to you by martini rossi champagne & the color red <3  check out all the amazingly awesome lifestyle maven posts to come this month.

• bubbly goodness : ) champagne = wine of the month
• feb 2nd – ground hog’s day
• table for two and other date night ideas
• feb 3rd – chinese new year (year of the rabbit)
• simple, sensual, sumptuous: romantic menu for two
• feb 6th – super bowl sunday
• sweetheart cocktail – drink of the month
• what are you saying – what’s your ideal <3 day?
• thoughts on LOVE
• feb 14th – valentine’s day
• lovely blog of note
• for the love of chocolate
• feb 21st – presidents’ day
• sinful chocolate cake recipe (it’s sinfully delicious…)
• winter weather – photos of the month
• feb 24th – mom’s birthday : )
• return to the mat

question of the month:  what's your ideal valentine's day?  romantic dinner for two?  homecooked meal?  boy-bashing with your girls?.....

bachelorette amazingness

han, me & cate

saturday night was erin's (my cousin) bachelorette party.  fun times.  fun times.  needless to say we had lots and lots of fun drinks, good laughs and delicious food : )

erin (bride-to-be)

we started our evening at the melting pot.  fondue goodness.  i mean, seriously...who does not love melted, oohey-gooey cheese?!  and then dessert.  oh, dessert!  soooo good.  "flaming turtle" = melted chocolate, caramel and pecans and also "s'mores" = melted chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker crumbles.  and you get to dip cheesecake (yay!), brownies, pound cake, marshmallows, rice crispie treats, strawberries and bananas.  yum! 

brownies and cheesecake and pound cake...oh my!!!

han, me, cate

after melting pot we meandered over to yakitori boy where we had a private room for our evening of karaoke.  (ps i love karaoke : )  we sang some top 40 and also some oldies but goodies.  awesomeness.

lychee martinis

cate, erin, han, chrissy, me

after singing our hearts out we hopped into some cabs and headed over to our 3rd and final stop.  a super cool bar (totally decorated for halloween) where we could dance and drink to our hearts' content!  we had a great time : )  can't wait til it's my turn to be the bachelorette...won't be long now...

have you checked out my vintage purse giveaway?! 

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weekend's here early

craig texted me at work yesterday and asked if i wanted to go to happy hour at bobby simone's after work.  yes!  who doesn't enjoy 1/2 price cosmos on thursday?  i mean, honestly?!  there's really no better way to usher in the weekend a day early than to go to happy hour(s) at your fave watering hole.  if you haven't indulged recently...i highly recommend it!

drinks arrive : )

so pretty...

me & craig <3

for the love of guinness



hey!  that's mine!





refill, anyone?

tgif!  so, what're you up to this weekend? 

(i have my cousin's bachelorette party to attend.  fun times await!)

oh, and if you haven't checked it out yet - i'm hosting a giveaway for a vintage purse! 



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girls' night in (can be even better than girls' night out)

pink drinks

this past weekend, craig had friday night plans with his guys, so i had our cottage all to myself.  i invited my sis, han, over for a much needed girls' night.  we enjoyed some cocktails, made a delicious dinner, watched a movie and indulged in countless reality shows : )  needless to say, we had a blast!  (even olive enjoyed the evening.)

we all need some girl time once in a while.  here are my suggestions for making the most of your super girly night : )

brownies...yum!

recipe for girls' night

prep work: get into your sweats or pjs

1 awesome sister (or best friend....or both)

2 delicious cocktails (if they're pink, even better)
1 yummy homemade pizza : )
1 chick flick (we watched the "back up plan" with jlo.  we agreed it was better than we anticipated!)
3-5 girly reality shows ("say yes to the dress", "four weddings", etc.)
1 batch of gooey brownies

perfection!  enjoy girl time..