Weekend

Happy Friday loves! Hope everyone had a great week, I know mine was busy busy busy with lots of late nights at work! I am so happy Friday is finally here and that it will be celebrated with all my kiddos at the hospital. We are having a Halloween parade today with all of the pediatrics patients and I cant wait. I will be dressing as a ballerina mouse, somewhat resembling Angelina Ballerina. As for the rest of the rest of the weekend I am looking forward to actually staying in town, catching up on shows, doing some cleaning, and relaxing. Here's this week's finds and links...

// This sangria recipe looks like the perfect thing to try this weekend. 

// This vest is currently on it's way to my house and I can't wait. I love the quilting and brown piping outline.

// Not only is it in one of my favorite cities but this home tour is one of my favorites.

// If your like me and have no plans of dressing up tonight and hitting the town, check out this list of ways to celebrate Halloween from the comfort of yoga pants and your own home.

// This is a favorite as of lately.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Yours truly,
Emily Ann

Skin Care Routine

I am one of those people that could easily be described as a product junky. I have baskets upon baskets in bathroom closet of so many different products, both and beauty. Some of them I use seasonally and unfortunately some of them I have never used or only used once and decided to store it for another time. I also tend to do a fair amount of mixing between what I buy from department stores and drug stores. Some items I like to save my money on while others I don't mind paying a bit more for because I know it works and if something works why change it.

As of lately the above products have been my go to and have been working quite well. Shower wise, I am pretty easy going and normally stick to drug store shampoo and conditioner. I am the first one to admit I am pretty terrible when it comes to my hair and I honestly think its been 5+ months since my last hair cut. Body wash is also something I don't spend too much on but normally stick to Dove or Neautrogena. I am a big lotion person as I tend to have dry skin, especially in the winter and this lotion has been my favorite. It has a slight fragrance but tends to fade pretty quickly but does keep my skin moisturized throughout the day. I received a sample of this cleansing oil and while I was hesitant at first to use it, I am fully addicted now. It takes off all my makeup and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or dry. If I am having a breakout or my skin needs a bit more attention then normal, I use one of these two masks ( 1, 2), both are amazing and I have been using them for a good bit now. As for face lotion, I tend to skip between department store and drug store brands frequently but always seem love this simple lotion from Aveeno.

What are some of your favorite skin care products?

Yours truly,
Emily Ann

Weekend Recap

Monday we meet again. Anyone else particularly not looking forward to this week as much as me? Nothing against Halloween or anything but when you've had a great weekend like I had, Mondays are just a drag. 

This weekend I traveled home to Annapolis to surprise my mom for her birthday and spend the weekend with her and my grandmother. I was lucky enough to get Friday off and was in time to surprise my mom before heading out to dinner for her birthday. 

Right after driving down the driveway honking like a crazy person yelling surprise out my window... that girl. 

For dinner we headed downtown Annapolis to Luna Blu. I had actually never been to this little spot before, but it was perfect and located right off of State circle. 

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For dinner I had the arugla salad to start and the Rockfish over angel hair with lemon and capers... amazing. With full bellies and a few glasses of wine, we headed home and called it a night. 

Saturday mom and I laid around the house catching up on Greys and Scandal and then headed out for a marathon day of shopping. It had been a really long time since my last shopping outing and I could not wait to snag some goodies for Fall and Winter. Here's a few of the things I got...

Quilted Zip Front Vest in canvas

Cowl Neck Tunic Sweater

Hi-Li Cocoon Tee

Textured Boot Socks

(Note: I'm not a huge fan of how these look under boots, I got them more to wear around the house with an oversized sweater or sweatshirt.)

French Terry Dress

Roll Sleeve Blouse

Stripe Tassel Scarf

Reversible Tote

Last but not least and probably my favorite buy of the weekend.... (sorry for the iphone pic)

Unfortunately I couldn't locate these online but they are Steve Madden from Nordstrom Rack and absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to wear them with my leather leggings, new blouse, and a fun scarf or necklace. 

My favorite part about my shopping day was almost everything I got was on sale and I managed to get everything above for less then $200. Saturday night I had a movie night with mom and gram and watched The Other Woman, had pizza and salad for dinner, and was asleep before 11. 

Sunday my mom had to head into work for a bit but I decided to get on the road and meet some friends in Richmond for brunch. 

There are so many yummy brunch places in Richmond it's often hard to choose which to go to but yesterday we decided on The Roosevelt. I had the pancakes with ricotta cheese and stewed apples, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. After brunch I was back on the road to Raleigh and spent the rest of the day doing unpacking, doing laundry, and grocery shopping. 

Overall it was an amazing weekend and I am so glad I could go home to spend some time with my mom and grandmother, they are such a great. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Yours truly, 

Emily Ann

Please & Thank You

I'll take one of everything above please and thank you. Fall is officially here and it was so chilly in the beginning of the week we made the jump to turn on the heat. I am not complaining one bit though, I have loved the excuse to break out some of my favorite sweaters, boots, and scarves. I love this multi-color poncho and think it would be great with along white sleeve t, jeans, and boots. It would also go great with this bag and this watch I have been eyeing for too long now. Over the past few months I've been searching for a new fragrance and while I've used this one before, it's always been a favorite and has such a classic smell. This candle also smells amazing and it one of my favorites.

Hope everyone is having a great week, only 1 more day until Friday!
Yours truly,
Emily Ann

San Francisco day 2

I am back today with another recap of my recent trip out to San Francisco, this day includes day 2 and heading to Sausalito! 

Saturday morning we headed out for a walk and to grab some breakfast and coffee and ended up finding a gem of a spot located at the bottom of Lombard St. We had yummy smoked salmon bagels, lattes and enjoyed sitting outside at Caffe Sapore. I would definitely recommend this breakfast place if you are ever visiting in the area, their menu was amazing and their latte was just what I needed to get my day started. 

After breakfast we headed around the city for a bit more walking and then home to change before catching the ferry over to Sausalito,

Sausalito is hands down one of my favorite parts about visiting San Francisco and both times I've made it out there, have made it a point to include this fun little city. We spent the day outside, walking around, and enjoying the weathering with a few drinks. One of the places we were able to hang out at was Bar Bocce, which had a great outdoor space and it's own little beach area. 

After Sausalito we grabbed the ferry back to the city and headed to another favorite SF spot of mine, Mezes Kitchen and Wine Bar. My friend Angelica and I had discovered this gem the year before and I was so excited to get back there. 

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After dinner we grabbed ice cream sandwiches from Over The Moon and called it a night. 

So essentially day 2 consisted of eating, drinking wine, oh and eating some more... can't say I hated it. 

Yours truly, 

Emily Ann

This and That

Happy Tuesday friends! This post is an attempt to share a bit of what I have been up to lately since I slacked majorly on posting last week. I am hoping for a better week this week but am also having a "flare up." If you are a long time reader, you will know that about a year ago I was diagnosed with a form of autoimmune liver disease which I posted about here. While it wasn't the great news to receive, I am lucky to have caught it early and have been able to manage it with daily meds and frequent doctor check ups/ lab draws. The downside is that every once in awhile I experience a flare up of symptoms; itchy skin, low energy, and the worst part insomnia. I am hoping to get my symptoms under control so that I am feeling better and have the energy to get back to my regular posting. Until then, here's a bit of whats been going on in my world....

Making fun Halloween crafts with some of my little ones...

I work in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on a pediatric floor and a majority of my patient's are babies with congenital heart defects. I love making these little crafts for parents and think it's a special way for them to document part of their process in the hospital. 

Speaking of babies... one of my best friends just had this little cutie- Mr. Paxton. He is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to meet him this week. 

We also have been dealing with a baby of our own in our house, Piper Mae. While she may look cute, this little girl has been getting into absolutely everything. Having a puppy is no joke but we we love her and wouldn't trade her for the world. 

This song has been on repeat for about a week now. Spotify is basically how I survive my morning and evening commute, without it I think I would be lost. To check out other songs I am currently listening to, check out my new Fall playlist.

Last weekend was ECU's homecoming and I am ashamed to say it was the first home game of the season I attended. I had so much fun catching up with friends I hadn't seen in awhile and cheering on the Pirates. 

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! 

Yours truly, 

Emily Ann

Weekend

So I definitely dropped the ball this week on posting and I apologize, no good excuse other then life just got a bit busy. Next week I promise to finish up my San Francisco recap and do a bit of a life update in general on what I've been up to! This weekend is ECU's homecoming and I am planning on going for just the day on Saturday and then plan to spend the weekend relaxing and catching up on shows. Here's this week's links and finds....

// Julia Robert's NYC apartment is up for grabs and it is absolutely stunning. 

// Anthro is currently offering 20% off full price items with code FALLFUN. I love this simple this simple pullover, perfect for easy weekend wear. 

// This recipe... yes please. 

// This quote made me laugh but is also 100% true. I am hoping to get in some serious disconnect time this weekend. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Yours truly, 

Emily Ann

Weekend

Maybe I am still having a hard time adjusting to life after my west coast visit or maybe it's the fact that it gets dark earlier a little bit each day... whatever it is this week was long. From staying at work late almost every day to getting a little gym injury, I am beyond thrilled the weekend is finally here! On top for this weekend is attending a friends housewarming party, catching up on a few shows, and possibly crossing some items of my fall bucket list! Here's a few finds and links from this week...

// Anyone else excited to check out H&M's new beauty line? 

//With not a lot planned this weekend, I am thinking it could be the perfect time to break out the crockpot and try a new recipe. 

// This Los Angeles home tour... to die for. 

// This top is nearly identical to the actual J.Crew shirt that was ever to popular last year, I love the deep blue color. 

// I am an overanalyzer by nature, in fact it's probably one of my worst qualities. This is a great reminder and something I am 100% guilty of. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Yours truly, 

Emily Ann

Please & Thank You

 Thank goodness we have made it half way through the week already because it has been a long one. This week's please & thank yous includes a few gems, including beautiful leather bucket bag. Pair this top with some jeans and these booties and you have a perfect easy weekend outfit. I also have been wanting a signet ring for quite some time now, and this one for less then $100 would be amazing. Unfortunately my skin is already noticing the weather change and has been requiring a bit more love then normal. I love this brand and am looking to try out their exfoliate kit as well as their moisturizer and night cream. And because who doesn't love a yummy smelling candle?

Yours truly,
Emily Ann

San Francisco Day 1 Recap

Happy Monday friends! I am officially back to the blog after a vacation to the West coast and taking a week to get back into my routine. Today I am excited to share day 1 of my trip...

We arrived in San Francisco around 11:30 and headed to meet Angelica for an early lunch near the ferry building overlooking the bay bridge at Hog Oyster co. 

We sampled a dozen oysters from all over the west coast and they were absolutely amazing. Definitely a little bit different oysters here on the east coast but so tasty. 

The restaurant had an amazing view and it was so nice to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. 

After lunch Ang headed back to work and Aubree and I headed to her apartment to rest for a little, shower, and change for happy hour. 

Ang was the perfect host all weekend and took us to the most amazing spots all over the city. Our first stop of the night was El Techo de Lolinda located in the Misson. We sat on their rooftop and had rose flights + chips and guac, both of which were delicious. I didn't get a picture of the view from the rooftop but you could see the entire city all the way around the deck and with the sun setting it was amazing. 

Next we headed to dinner at maybe my favorite spot all weekend, Beretta. Ang had told me how amazing their pizza was and being that pizza is my favorite food, I couldn't wait to check it out.  We had the walnut bread to start which was amazing and topped with burrata cheese and a mushroom honey... literally getting hungry just thinking about it. I didn't get any pictures of our meal but I did grab a picture of the wallpaper in the bathroom (creepy?) because it was stunning. 

And shocker, more Rose at dinner. 

For having been up since 4:30 in the morning, I think we did pretty good for our first day in SF.  I will be posting more about my trip throughout this week! Hope everyone has a Monday!

Yours truly, 

Emily Ann