Looking for a new pink spring easy shoes!

Hello friends.  Today, the snow won't stop falling here in the Mid-Atlantic.  It's fairly miserable and I am (like everyone else in town), desperate to think of warmer weather to come.  Today, I started perusing spring easy shoes and found a few that I just LOVE!

Okay, I know everyone else thinks of them as "sneaks" but, to me - they are just easy shoes.  Easy to throw on, easy to match with anything, just easy to wear in general.

1. Love the suede of this adorable slip on sneaker.  I can just picture it with boyfriend jeans and a light, breezy white tee-shirt come May.  Sadly, J. Crew is out of my size of these (*pout*).

The VANS® FOR J.CREW CLASSIC SLIP-ON SNEAKERS IN SUEDE

found HERE

2. Classic Vans slip-ons.  Again, cute pink shoes, a pair of loose fitting light washed jeans.  One of my (many) comfy fitted tees.  Might be a match!

The Classic Vans Slip-On in Prism Pink (yep, you're sensing a pattern here)

found HERE

3. Of course we can never count out Sperry to enter the game!  These I see a bit more versatile with cut off shorts and a fun shirt.  I'm also drawn in by the throw back lace job.  I kind of feel like I might be in middle school again.  *Heart*

Seacoast Canvas Sneaker in Coral

found HERE

4.  I want to love the TOM.  Everyone else seems to already preach it's wonderfulness.  I just.  I just can't.  I think my size 10s would look ridiculous in them.  But... if I ever get up the nerve, I'm going with these babies!

Pink Icing Canvas Classics

found HERE

Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Anyone out there also thinking about spring/summer easy shoes?

-E

Hey! Hi! It's me. Sorry I've been gone for so long!!!

Um, hi everyone!  So - yeah.  I got a little busy this week and am JUST NOW posting what I was supposed to post LAST Monday!

B and I got a one night's stay at the Joseph Ambler Inn for a wedding gift and being that my birthday was last Monday, we decided to take our stay last weekend.  

It was a quaint little location about 45 minutes outside of Philadelphia.  A nice easy drive for us.  We stayed in the Thomas Wilson house, which was nicely (and newly) renovated.  

The entrance to the facilities.

Entrance to check-in.

B taking the lead.

The Thomas Wilson House.

Parlor at the Thomas Wilson House.

Quick selfie.  LOL.

Our room!

Put the Prosecco on ice!

Heading out for a late lunch.

The JBar.

B posing for the first of many photos.

Prosecco and fire time after lunch.

The view out the Thomas Wilson House front door.

B taking a picture of something.

Cozy!

Dinner at the JBar.  Our stay came with a $20 food credit, 

which was very nice.

Mmmm...  Carmel cake!

Breakfast was in the main restaurant.  By this point, B was tired of 

pictures.  What a trooper!

Overall, the place was clean and comfy.  We enjoyed our quick getaway and quiet night of relaxing.

-E

January Travels - Short but Sweet

Sadly, B and I didn't get to travel too much this January.  It could have possibly been that I'm swamped at work, he's swamped at school/work, and - well, it's just too darn cold!  Regardless, we did get in a few fun times away from home.

After the wedding (which was on New Year's Eve), we spent a few days in Cape May which is where the wedding and after party had been:

We got pictures taken on the boardwalk in Wildwood before the ceremony.  Although it LOOKS like a warm summer's day, I can promise, it was hovering just around freezing!

Afterwards, we hung out in the hotel for a little while, waiting for "go-time".

We had a delicious breakfast at The Blue Pig in Congress Hall.  A MUST go if you're in town.  Upscale casual.

A little history.

THE Blue Pig.

How could I not take a photo of a bathroom stall that has a fireplace?

For my mom's birthday, my brother, his wife and I (B had to work - boo) drove up to Vermont because my parents have decided to retire to Mount Snow (yeah, I don't get it either).

The view of the driveway outside of my parents' house.  

The five of us had a lovely dinner at Two Tannery in West Dover and then retired for the evening. Unfortunately it was a very short stay as we had to return home after breakfast the next morning.

February holds another trip to Vermont and a brief stay in Bucks County, PA!  I'm so looking forward to both!

-E

Breaking out the "good" china

It's one of those blistery cold nights and I was in the field today.  I am quite frozen and am having a bit of an issue thawing this evening.  I've taken a hot shower and cooked a warm dinner.  Not so sure my 4-year old watching Frozen for the ump-tenth time is helping either.  So, I have decided to have a warm cup of tea.

Typically, I would just boil the water and gulp it down in my "magic mug" (more on that later) but tonight, I decided to break out the "good" china.

Okay, so maybe it's not super fancy china, it's just some Arklow Irish Bone china that I got a set of at an estate sale many moons ago.  It's a pretty set, a dainty set and I like it.  

The dinner dishes are done, and the table is cleared (you can see the floral print cloth napkins that we're currently using - trying to be a bit more eco-friendly).  In the corner of that picture is a vase full of colorful flowers my husband surprised me with yesterday while I was dealing with a sick kiddo.  

Looking at that picture, it makes me realize that - sometimes, you don't need a special occasion to break out the good china.  That the special occasion could be that your baby is feeling well again, a husband that is kind, and a good meal in your tummy.

They say that there's always an occasion to break out champagne and well, I am applying that to the good china!

(I had to laugh at this picture, too.  His and hers (mine has the VV Whale on it).)  

So, go treat yourself to a cup of tea in your good china!  

-E

Sick Days and Wishing for the Weekend

My little one was sick (again) today.  So was her babysitter.  You know what that means?  That means that I needed to stay home with her.  I got to work from home today.  Unfortunately, a stomach flu four year old takes up a LOT of time so, I still need to catch up on a lot of work but, it was still nice to be able to stay home with her and comfort her while she was feeling poorly.  I also have gotten in a good amount of cartoon watching and maybe even a little cat nap for myself.  *so lovely*  The only issue now is that, well, I'm not feeling so hot at this point.  I'm sure I'm just psyching myself out and that I will be more than fine!

There is something that I have to be totally honest about.  I am kid free this weekend (K is with her dad) and my handsome hubby B, is taking me to a bed and breakfast for my (I'm not telling how old) birthday.  We are headed to the Joseph Ambler Inn in North Wales, PA.  I am so very excited.  We love going away on quick overnights and since we live in a very historic section of the country, we get to stay in some really cool places.  We've already been to the Sayre Mansion in Bethlehem, PA (great breakfast, and fabulous porch for sipping coffee and relaxing!), and the Inn at Glencarin in Princeton, NJ which was seriously one of my absolute favorites (the wine reception!  the pretzels! the awesome innkeepers!  the pretzels!).

I just adore heading out on one night stays, it gives me a chance to relax and unwind without costing an arm and a leg.

The Little Weekend That Could (and Erin becomes obsessed with Twitter)

It's been dreary here in New Jersey.  A battle between the snow that never happens, and the weather forecasters.   I have also spent the better part of the week dealing with preschooler sickness and a Subaru Outback that just keeps wanting to give me issues.  And, then of course, there is the never ending carousel that is work.

So, right now I am sitting, curled up, next to my little faux fireplace with my lap top on my coffee table, dreaming of Spring and less hectic times.  I may or may not also have the Fios 90's music channel on (thanks VH1's Hindsight).

Here are a few of the fabulous things that I have found (thanks to TWITTER, my new/old obsession - you can follow me at @thenewnrml if you like to read my daily musings on life):

1. THESE Jimmy Choo shoes from Nordstrom.

find HERE

I highly doubt that I will ever be able to afford these shoes.  Maybe after B is done nursing school and I land a higher paying job.  Oh but, boy, I love these.  Like really, really love these.  I wonder if they are comfortable?

2. Coming in at a little more reasonable is this HOT PINK bag from Sew Addicting 

It's not listed on her Etsy Shop just yet but she put it up on Instagram and promises it will be on her new website when it launches!  

It's HOT PINK!  I comes with a gold foil embossed monogram!  It's less than $75!  I NEED IT!  

Every year my Mom and Dad give me a little bit of money to get myself something fun.  I seriously think that THIS bag is going to be that something fun!

PS - just got the info that they can emboss both the PINK and WHITE side.  Gah!  Now it's a no brainer.

3. J. Crew's Drapey Chino Pant

find HERE

Theses are not my typical style of pant.  I tend to like crisp, defined lines.  But, I love these.  They look comfy.  They look professional.  They have an elastic waist. Their name is DRAPEY.  That is a very cool name.

I need them this spring.

What are you doing this dreary Sunday?

- E

Hi!

Hi Friends,

Well, here I am again.  Starting this blogging thing all over (again).  A lot has changed since we last met.

• My "baby" turned 4

Four going on seventeen!

• I moved into my very own house
• I got a cat

She's one of those angry-looking-at-all-times cats

• And, I well, got married to a wonderful guy (and with him came 2 preteen step sons)!  

One of my favorite wedding photos

So, this is a whole new journey for me and I thought, since my memory is SO BAD, I should maybe chronicle my experiences.  Maybe in the meantime, someone will read them, maybe even enjoy my antics?  Who knows?  Stranger things have happened!

- E