Wednesday Eats- Experimenting with Gnocchi

Happy Wednesday Friends! Thank goodness we are half way through this week, these past few days have been too long! 

Last night I tried a new recipe that I am super excited to share! I saw the recipe when I was flipping through the latest Real Simple and could not wait to try it out! Let's not waste any time and get right to it...

Gnocchi with Summer Squash, Basil, and Feta

( I changed the original recipe a bit but stuck to the basics- the link above will take you to the directions recommended by the magazine.)

Ingredients: 

Gnocchi

Yellow Squash (1-2 depending on size and how much you are making)

Half a yellow onion 

Garlic

Olive oil

Chopped Frozen Spinach

Salt and Pepper

1. Chop zucchini and onion, toss in olive oil and salt and pepper- roast at 400 for 20 minutes. 

2. While you are roasting your veggies boil water for gnocchi. Gnocchi only takes about 2-4 minutes to cook. Once the water is boiling add the gnocchi, once they begin to rise to the surface they are finished. 

3. Cook frozen spinach according to directions. 

4. Once veggies and gnocchi are finished, toss together, and top with feta!

Enjoy!

Taken from Real Simple. 

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Yours truly, 

Emily

Let's Talk About A Sale...

Some of you may have already seen or heard about Piperlime's End of Summer sale but if you have not... I suggest you check it out. They have so many great pieces at such a steal right now, here's a few things I have my eye on...

Tinley Road- Mint Pave Earings 

LA Made- Cami Maxi Dress

AG Jeans- The Stilt Jeans, loving for fall!

Hive and Honey- Raglan Tee

Kate Spade Pueblo iPhone cover

Make sure you take advantage of this awesome sale! Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

Yours truly,

Emily

Weekend Report

Happy Monday Y'all! 

I have quite the update after the amazing weekend I had.. lets get to it!

Friday, I left work at 12 and headed to Baltimore to throw my best friend a surprise birthday party! I hit some major traffic on my way and got there a little later than I wanted but got right to work when I arrived. I had loads of decorations and brought a ton of yummy food to make and some easier things to throw together like cheese and crackers. Everyone arrived around 7:15 and Alison arrived around 8:30. She had absolutely no idea and was so surprised, here's a few shots from the party...

Just as she was coming in the door

So great to catch up with old friends!

Aaron (Alison's boyfriend), The birthday girl, and me!

The rest of the night was spent taking too many shots and heading out to the bars in Federal Hill. 

Saturday morning I woke up feeling slightly under the weather and thought about hanging around Baltimore for the weekend but decided to rally and head back to Richmond. Being that I've been away every weekend for the past month... I was itching to get back to my apartment to have a quite Saturday night in. 

On my way back to Richmond, I couldn't help but stop at Potomac Mills to do a bit of shopping. I planned to also hit up Ikea while I was there but did a bit too much damage at the mall and decided I better head home. In my shopping spree I picked up these goodies...

How adorable is this dress I scooped up from Marshalls?! Gotta love a good Marshalls/TJ Maxx find and a steal at only $34!

I also picked up this gauzy summer top from Forever. While I know summer is ending, I have one more trip to the beach and though it would be perfect with some shorts and wedges. 

If you saw my post last week about Fall favorites, you might remember that I have seriously been eyeing up some utility jackets. I found this great one at a boutique for a great deal. I can't wait to wear it come fall with some skinnies and booties!

Saturday night was spent in at my friend Lauren's eating pizza and watching Playing For Keeps. Not an eventful night but it was exactly what I wanted post Friday shenanigans. 

Saturday morning I was up early to enjoy a little "Emily" time...

Coffee and mags in bed... perfect Sunday morning in my book. 

I didn't let myself lay around too long and actually managed to catch a barre class! I haven't been in weeks but it felt so good to be back and definitely left me a little sore today. The rest of my lovely Sunday went a little bit like this...

Catching up on DVR of Devious Maids, pinterest, and a good 'ol Coke

Being that I had so much time on my hands yesterday, I decided to get a little creative with my meal planning and made egg, spinach, and feta cups alongside with banana oatmeal muffins (recipe to come!) I had enough goodies to have one egg cup and one muffin every morning this week, and also enough to freeze for later! 

The rest of Sunday evening was spent making my homemade veggie enchiladas and watching Summer Catch... a pretty good Sunday I would say!

How did you spend your weekend?

Yours truly, 

Emily

5 On Friday

Happy Friday Y'all!

 I am so happy to be back this week for 5 on Friday and definitely missed it last week!

 This week absolutely flew by with being off on Monday and working long days the rest of the week. I managed to fit a ton in, in just a few days and am even more excited to be off this weekend and celebrate my best friends birthday! Shocker that I will again be traveling, for the 5th weekend in a row but it will be totally worth it because this girl is throwing her best friend a surprise party! I will be sure to have all the details on Monday but for now, lets review this past week!

(One)

 Monday my week started off still at the beach soaking up the last few bit of rays before retiring for the summer. It was the most perfect beach day spent relaxing in the sun reading my new book- 20 Something, 20 Everything. 


(Two)

This week I was in the mood to whip up something yummy and decided on sesame quinoa, roasted asparagus and mushrooms AND a yummy fillet of salmon. Alongside a glass of white... it was the perfect night in catching up on Devious Maids. 

(Three)

Sorry about the quality of the picture but it was too cute not to share. As most of you know I work in a Children's Hospital and this past week, one of my patients decided a royal tea party was in order. The tea party included formal invitations, dressed up teddy bears, real tea and cookies, and streamer wands... it was quite the event. 

(Four)

This week was insane crazy but I managed to fit in a couple good workouts, including a killer new spin class and great run. I finished my run with a little green juice which left me energized and ready for the day. 

(Five)

Today marks the day of my best friend, Alison's birthday! I have hardly seen her all summer and little does she know that tonight I am throwing her a surprise party! I am beyond excited to see the look on her face and get to spend the night celebrating with her!  Expect a full report after the weekend. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Yours truly, 

Emily

Fall Favorites

Fall Favorites by ead0724 featuring kate spade

J.Crew merino wool shirt / Oasis metallic jacket, $77 / Frye leather equestrian boots / ALDO leather pointed toe flat / Kate Spade dot bag / Kate Spade / Hive & Honey statement necklace / Tasha tube scarf

Alright y'all cal me crazy but this girl is ready for fall! It is by far my favorite season and I am literally counting down the days until there are cooler temps, pumpkin everything, and most important... football season! I am sure this will be one of many wish lists for fall but so far these are all on my radar. I am saving up for a few key pieces for fall, including a utility jacket, finally biting the bullet and buying Frye boots, and some new comfy but cute sweaters that can be worn both our and to work!

Whats on your fall wish list? 

Yours truly, 

Emily 

A Catch Up Is In Order...

Hey Y'all I am officially back in my apartment and back from my last beach trip of the summer... possibly. Last week I was house/dog sitting for a friend of mine and although I had the greatest time at her cute little house with her dogs, my whole week seemed a bit off not being in my own apartment. The week was even more set off by the fact that I knew I had to be up at the crack of dawn on Saturday to make another trip to the beach with a group of my girlfriends. We hit loads of traffic but made it to the beach just in time to set up our chairs and crack a beer when the rain started... womp womp womp. Overall it was a great weekend and I am so happy I have been able to see these girls so much this summer!

I am now back in Richmond and excited to get to my own routine and being in my apartment. Unfortunately this will not last too long as I will be heading home on Friday for my best friends birthday but I have not seen her in WAY too long so it will be worth it. 

I also wanted to touch base on my post last week about my 20's. I apologize if any of it came off negative or whiny, it was truly not my intention. I think everyone goes through a phase of wondering what the heck they are doing in life and also thinking about where they want to go. I can't thank you enough for all the positive and encouraging comments! As chances would have it, one of my best friends actually got me this book for my birthday ...

I have started reading it and am loving it so far. It's filled with all sorts of fun exercises that really get you thinking about what you want in life and how to turn these thoughts and wants into actions and plans. Look for a review soon!

In other news, y'all Fall is officially on the way and this girl could not be more excited! The past few mornings have had serious cooler temperatures and left me craving all things fall. Don't get my wrong, I love summer and have thoroughly enjoyed my trips to the beach and laying in the sun but when it comes down to it... I am fall girl. And what kind of fall girl would I be if I wasn't already getting excited for new fall purchases! Look for a post on new fall goodies I've had my eye on...

Hope everyone has a great week!

Yours truly, 

Emily

Lost in Translation- Your 20s

This is going to be one of those over sharing semi emotional posts so if your not interested... feel free to ignore. 

As many know, last week I had a birthday and turned one year older. I love birthdays and while I had the most amazing time celebrating with my friends and family... I kept thinking about where I am in life. I kept thinking about how everyone says your 20's are the best time of your life and to enjoy them as much as possible. I don't know about anyone else but so far... I haven't found my 20's to be all that great and exciting. Let's examine shall we... you graduate school, possibly move home or start your first job in which you are probably severely underpaid and more poor then you were in college. If your like me, you move somewhere where you know no one, make enough to live paycheck to paycheck and buy yourself things you really can't afford and are forced to live off of bananas ans asparagus the following week. Sounds stellar right? 

This week I have been doing a lot of reflecting trying to figure out where exactly I am lacking in life and where I want to improve. Not even just goals and ambitions in life but even simpliar questions like where do I want to live? While I am happy in Richmond, would I be more happy living in North Carolina where a majority of my friends are, would I even have a job in North Carolina, or would I be more happy if I moved back home and saved money while I figure out exactly what it is I want to do? I have been thinking about these questions all week and I have yet to come up with an answer. 

If you asked me when I was 15 what I thought I would be doing at my age, I would have told you working, with a boyfriend hopefully soon fiance and working to own a home. This couldn't even be farther from where I am in life right now. I am single, and not a miserable or desperate single, but a single nonetheless, I have a one bedroom apartment, and there are days when I have wine for dinner... probably more often then I would like to admit. 

All of this leads me to my ultimate question... what the heck am I doing with my life and what do I want to be doing? 

While I have yet to come up with an answer to this question an fully am prepared to leave it answerless for the time being... I have found some helpful resources and wanted to share...

- This article talks about how to survive a quarter life crisis... yes they are real. 

- Another article on staying positive during your Mid 20 crisis

- 20 things to let go of in your 20's 

- 31 quotes about being in your 20's

- A helpful reminder on why your 20's are awesome

Again I thoroughly apologize for the rambling but I am hoping I am not the only one who feels a bit lost in translation...

Yours truly, 

Emily