Lovely Time

This past weekend I met up with Lydia, Megan, and Tiffany.  We try to plan to get together at least once a month and so far we have been very successful.  Since brunch seems to be our favorite time to meet, we went to Lena's Cafe and tried their delicious specials.  We then went to the downtown New Haven, walked around a little bit and admired our pretty surroundings.  There were so many places to pick from, but we decided to just pick an area of the Yale campus despite the very cold weather.  

blogger cheers / my huevos rancheros brunch special

pretty Yale campus / Battel Chapel

it may have been winter, but I love this pretty campus / Battel Chapel

another lovely time with Meg, Tiffany, & Lydia / ended the afternoon with a cookie and breve

After the photos were taken, we all ventured to some of the shops and boutiques. Since we were all together, we all decided to go back to Coco's of Madison (the third trip for Megan, Lydia, and I within a span of a month) to see what new wares they had.  It's hard not to go since everything in the store is ten bucks.  I scored a Dolce and Gabbana skirt and a spring/summer scarf.  I can't wait for the next time we hang out again!

Bloggers Who Brunch

It was a cold and windy day, but that didn't stop Lydia, Megan, and I from meeting up for brunch this past weekend.  We went to a fabulous restaurant called Nellie Greens which is right on the docks, which was pretty cool.  Can't wait to go back there when it's warmer and the boats are actually in the water, and not covered up and put away for the season.  As always it was great conversation, good food, and fabulous company.  Seems like it was yesterday when I first met up with these gals, when it's actually almost exactly a year!  Cheers to that!

After some delicious food: I got the vegetable Benedict, Lydia had stuffed french toast, Megan had pancakes with bacon we headed for some retail therapy to burn all the calories we had for brunch.  At Coco's of Madison (the sister store of our usual stop Coco's on the Green) where everything in the store was ten dollars!  Yep, you read that right, ten bucks!  Everything!  We went through racks of clothing and left with some serious bargains.  I bought a tweed skirt and a motorcycle-ish jacket.  Of course a meet up is not a meet up without some photos.

Photos taken by Lydia

Check out what Lydia and Megan wrote and wore that day.  Sadly we weren't able to take a group photo because it was too darn cold!  Can't wait for the next meet-up.

When Bloggers Get Together

It's pretty much a great time when I get together with my fellow bloggers and meet new ones.  This time we went to Chowder Pot for lunch.  Lydia, Amber, Megan, Tiffiany, and I had a nice time talking about our holiday plans, time-off (if any), and Christmas shopping.   You know, the usual.  There were some delicious peppermint bark from Lydia and I gave everyone a mug with a crocheted cozy and a star ornament.  Yep, swag bags are always cool for meet-ups!

It was a dreary and drizzly morning but by the time we finished our meals it stopped raining and we drove to the town green where the usual photo shoot happened with these gals.  These photos were courtesy of Lydia.

Lydia, Amber, Me, Megan, and Tiffany

We then went to Coco's on the Green where everyone found some great and fabulous deals.  I didn't think I would find anything until I looked inside the glass display case by the cash register and saw a patent leather Kate Spade wallet.  I snatched it up for $18 plus 20% off!! Hello that's a bargain!  If you ask me, I'm pretty good at justifying why someone should purchase great finds.  So if you're on a tight budget or don't plan on buying anything, you might not want to go shopping with me. Then we went to Sarah's Cupboard where Lydia bought a great mirror and Megan bought a big slouchy sweater for a whopping $1!  Then there was the Cedar Chest where I was in hopes for finding something great since I had great luck last time....but alas with no luck I went home without anything.  Lydia found a great leather vest and Tiffany bought some shiny ballet flats.  Overall it was a fine afternoon of good food, fabulous and fashionable company, and great shopping.  Can't wait for the next time!

[Yay! This is my 200th post!]

Thrifting With Bloggers

Last minute plans are great when they work out, don't they?  This past weekend Lydia of Chic on the Cheap, Megan of Closet Fashionista, and I decided to go check out some of the great places in Lydia's neck of the woods.  She took us first to an awesome consignment shop (named after a cute little doggie) named Coco's on the Green.  It was a great little store that had quality name brand pieces not to mention their tent sale in the back of the building.  Surprisingly out of all the racks and racks in the store, a black Ann Taylor tote caught my eye.  I resisted from buying it because seriously, do I need another black bag?!  I can't even tell you how many I have.  Go ask my husband.  No, actually don't.  We then ventured off to SARAH's Cupboard Thrift Shop and it was filled with everything that you can think of.  I was very close to purchasing a beer stein.  Very close.  I'm sad that I didn't take a picture of it since I was holding on to it inside the store for most of the time we were there.

the black tote bag that I was eyeing; blue tag deal heels
halloween decor at the last stop; cute downtown area

Then on our final and last stop, I finally found something to buy! Practically new Nine West heels that were half priced because it was a "blue tag day"!  Holler!  Lydia found some very bold leopard print pants that were also blue tagged.  It so happens that we were such big spenders that we both spent nine bucks plus tax on our purchases.  Megan didn't buy anything but she did spot several pieces that were very drool worthy such as an Hermes scarf and Prada ankle boots.  

Of course a day with these ladies would not be complete without a little photo shoot thanks to Lydia for always being so prepared with her handy tripod and camera.   

jacket: H&M (old)

blouse: Olive & Oak

jeans: Vigoss

bag: Perlina

loafers: Candies

Yes, that's me.

Lydia of Chic on the Cheap

Megan of Closet Fashionista

Megan and I ready to pose.

Lydia, Meg, and I

We tried a "jumping" shot..so it didn't quite work out.  Spirit fingers anyone?!

Ok this one worked better...for Megan who is definitely off the ground!

After three stores, and a little photo shoot we all decided to have a bite to eat at Donovan's Reef where they had a tasty selection for dinner.  It was a tough call.  Megan and I both had the fish n' chips and Lydia had the mashed potato truffle pizza (I'm ordering that next time).  And last but not least we stopped at Ashley's (the best ice cream in my opinion) to end the day.

It's always fun to hang out with these ladies.  Hurrah to last minute shopping trips and to future meet-ups.  Thanks to Lydia for taking us on a little tour of her part of CT.  It's nice to visit places that I don't really go to, especially with someone who knows the area.  Check out Lydia's and Megan's blogs for their write up of our meet-up!

Day Date With Bloggers

Me. Lydia, Amber, Megan, Courtney, and Bethany [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

It was a beautiful day.  Perfect for a day date with a few lovely ladies.  I met up with Lydia, Megan, and Courtney and we went off to meet up with Amber and Bethany in West Hartford.
This was also our last blogger meet up before Courtney left Connecticut so we wanted to make sure that she had a proper blogger send off before her journey back to Canada.  The weather was typical of a June day in New England, but surprisingly not too humid compared to the past few days of heatwave that we had the previous week.  As long as it wasn't raining, it was all good!

Beautiful day for a drive.

We all had some crepes at a cute little French cafe called Le Petit France Bakery.  How fitting for a blogger meet up, right?!  Oui oui!  I had a savory crepe called the St. Michele that had goat cheese, artichokes, and sun dried tomatoes with a bottle of Perrier sparking water.  It was the first time I've ever had a savory crepe and it was magnifique!  We chatted about bloggy stuff you know, the usual.

After our fabulous lunch we went to Blue Back Square.  However before that, I made sure to add more quarters to my parking meter....because I just wanted to make sure I didn't get another ticket for expired time on the meter, folks!!  We then ventured off to Charming Charlie's which was a mecca of accessories - a surefire hit for these fashionable ladies.

After several times of walking around in the color coordinated store, we then walked over to a consignment store called Second Time Around.  I don't think I've ever been to such a store that had Prada and Christian Loubiton heels encased in glass.  It was pretty cool, but way over my budget.  Like a few hundred bucks over my budget.  Then, in true blogger meet up fashion, we then took some pictures.... These awesome pictures were taken by Lydia.

The lovely Bethany of More Fruit Please  [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

Amber of The Girly Bird [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

Courtney of Sartorial Sidelines [photo courtesy of Courtney]

Megan of The Closet Fashionista [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

Lydia of Chic on the Cheap [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

And that's me...shying away from the camera. [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

And of course a photo shoot is not complete without me doing something silly. [photo courtesy of Lydia A]

After the little photo shoot, Bethany and Amber left and the rest of us decided to go back to Blue Back Square for some Pinkberry and Starbucks.  We then went to Nordstrom Rack and TJMaxx.  I think we all bought cute little additions to our wardrobes.  I bought a new Anne Klein watch for $30.00 with the coaxing of Megan and Lydia.  Thanks ladies!  I love my new watch.

After a long day of lunching, walking, and shopping we ended our meet up at Eli's on Whitney which is a cute little pub in Hamden, CT.  We were pretty ravenous for dinner and I definitely wanted a glass of Pinot Grigio.

Cheers to another successful meet up!

We're getting much better at blogger meet ups lately.
Another successful blogger meet up under our belts!
P.S.  Courtney I wish you the best!! We will miss you!

If you'd like to see what the other ladies wrote about our bloggy day, please check out their blogs:
Chic on the Cheap
Closet Fashionista
The Girly Bird
More Fruit Please
Sartorial Sidelines

Blogger Dinner Date

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting up again with my blogger friends Courtney, Lydia, and Megan.  It took a while for our schedules to sync, but we finally decided on a date and a time that worked for everyone.  Plus, it's always nice to go out after the work week is over.  We caught up from our last meet up over yummy seafood dinners and some libations.  It's always nice to chat about blogging with other bloggers face to face, laughing it up over silly things, and discussing new endeavors.  Cheers to successful blogger meet ups!

One of the best seafood places by the shoreline.

Close up of my Pinot Grigio

We clink to blogger meet ups! 

Yummy dinner: broiled scrod.

After dinner, we decided to head down to a local coffee shop for dessert and coffee and to change the scenery.  I really wished that I brought my camera with my because it was such a nice area of town that I haven't been to.  So cute and quaint.  I'll have better pictures next time.

Dessert at Common Ground even better with an iced latte.

Brought home a peanut butter cupcake for the husband.

Here's what the other ladies posted about our dinner date:

Lydia of Chic on the Cheap
Courtney of Sartorial Sidelines

Worth the Parking Ticket

Smita of Hogger & Co. and I have been talking about meeting up next time I was in Boston for a while.  I had an informal retirement reception at the college that I attended earlier in the day, then headed to Beacon Hill for my dinner date with Smita.  I headed toward downtown Boston with the fear of bumper to bumper traffic, but I was relieved that everyone was leaving while I was headed into the heart of Boston.  Yes!  I remember the traffic, but I definitely do not miss it.  To add to my excitement, I found the perfect parking spot right by the restaurant even though my parallel parking skills were tested.  I had enough change for the meter - 2 hours.  Nice!  Smita and I chatted it up at The Paramount over some Sam Adams and salmon burger (for her) and crab cake burger (for me) with fries of course.  We laughed, talked about blogging, our work, and living in Boston.  I think we covered a lot on our first meet-up!  Honestly, it seemed as if we had met already - it was awesome!  After paying for our dinner, we walked back toward my car and found that dreaded bright orange envelope on my window.  A ticket!  But you know what? What's $25 bucks paid to the City of Boston?!  I had so much fun meeting the wonderful and super nice Smita that the ticket was just another photo op for me.  Haha.  You're not going to get me down parking meter guy!  Smita said "boo"... I say Boo-Ya!.  

It was a great day in Beantown. 

Nothing like a Sam Adams in Boston.

Me with my Sam! Cheers!

The lovely and talented Smita of Hogger & Co

Me with a present from the City of Boston.