How many states have you visited?

A few weeks ago, Annie posted a map of the United States that showed which states she had visited. I randomly started thinking about it today so I made my own map using this website.  Here it is :)

I only included states where I've spent some time - not states I've merely driven across on a road trip or only experienced during a flight layover :) My parents love the Western / Southwestern U.S. (especially my daddy!) so we took quite a few long camping trips there when I was growing up which accounts for that section of the country. I was born and raised in the South (and went to grad school there!), and I went to college in the Midwest which explains those regions. And I presently live in the Mid-Atlantic region :)

I want to visit all 50 states, but I am very eager to see New England! Those old houses, quaint towns, and rocky beaches are calling my name :) And I think I need to visit New Jersey. I find it kind of odd that I havn't been there before?! Maybe I can make a quick trip there on my way to New England ...

Easter Centerpieces

I was browsing through Martha Stewart's website the other day and found two Easter centerpiece ideas that I'm eager to try. Aren't these so pretty?

Tiered Bouquet

Arrange spring flowers in egg cups and then display the mini bouquets on cake stands. I don't have any egg cups right now, but I would be willing to buy some to make this :)

Tulip Egg Basket

Peonies are my favorite flower, but tulips are a close second! I love how the tulips actually do look like eggs when they are grouped close together in baskets like this :)

Of course I could also forgo flowers entirely and go with a centerpiece of Easter candy. I'm totally OK with that :)

Easter Candy Parade

(images from Martha Stewart)

Living in "Upstairs, Downstairs"

Did anyone else see the new Upstairs, Downstairs on Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday night? I love all things BBC and British so of course I was glued to the TV screen :) The acting and costumes were great, but I was really drawn to the set decor designed by Eve Stewart (who was also nominated for an Academy Award for her design work on The King's Speech). I could definitely live at 165 Eaton Place!

Here are some sketches of the set design:

(images from Masterpiece Theatre)

And here are pictures of the finished product:

The blue on the walls of the foyer is gorgeous. This picture doesn't do it justice!

This picture is a little bit better. Love!

 

 The other rooms aren't half bad either :)

(images from Masterpiece Theatre via Little Augury)

I think I see some Dorothy Draper influence on the set. What do you think?

 

(images from The Greenbrier via Whitehaven Interiors)

Weekend Recap

It's a sunny Monday here :) This weekend was a pretty rainy, cloudy, chilly one here in the DC 'burbs, but it's gorgeous today, and I'm very thankful for a little bit of spring!

On Friday, I had the day off of work so I spent the morning doing some errands and then headed over to my friend, RMZ's, house for lunch. Her sister (also one of my friends), MM, was visiting from New Jersey, and we had a great time catching up over some very yummy taco salad. After lunch, I took the train to Alexandria, VA, where I volunteered for a Junior League event. I think we had about 60 Girl Scouts plus leaders come to spend the night at a historic inn/tavern (now a museum) and learn about Alexandria's history. They earn a badge for it, but I forget which one :) I was a Brownie for a few years in elementary school, and we never got to do anything like that! I would have been crazy excited to do an overnight in a museum when I was little! I also managed to find time to pop into Lavender Moon Cupcakery while I was in Alexandria (I always find time for a cupcake) :) They were running a "happy hour" special while I was there so I got 6 for the price of 4 (I couldn't turn down a good deal even though I was originally only going to buy 2!). Peter and I tried 3 of the cupcakes when I got home around 11:00pm. We had never tried cupcakes from this bakery before, and we agreed that they were OK. Some of the cupcakes were dry, but the frosting on most was really good. Not Georgetown Cupcake delicious, but I also didn't have to wait in line for 2 hours to get my cupcakes :)

Saturday we had a lazy morning of sleeping in and then making a big breakfast. We made a "Dutch Baby" (I know it sounds weird, but it's really easy and good!) I had never heard of a "Dutch Baby" before Peter and I were married, but he grew up eating them. It's basically a baked pancake (it puffs up in the oven and then deflates when you take it out) that you serve with fresh lemon juice and powdered sugar.

(image from Martha Stewart)

Then I went shopping in search of a pair of white jeans for the summer. I've been a little hesitant to buy white jeans (I've never been a huge fan of white clothing, shoes, etc.), but they look so cute with tunics that I thought I would give a pair a try this summer. I had no luck finding anything, though :( Most of the stores that I visited didn't sell white jeans, and those that did have some in stock did not have petite sizes. If anyone has recs for a good pair of petite white jeans, please send them my way! Saturday night I made Orange-Glazed Salmon for dinner, and then we watched Gran Torino which I had never seen before.

(image from IMBD) 

I'm still thinking about/processing this movie. Wow! Clint Eastwood is a great storyteller - and actor!

On Sunday we went to church and then came home with plans to take a bike ride on the Crescent Trail to Georgetown, but it was fairly cloudy and chilly yesterday (even though the weather crew on the news had promised me a day of sun and 73 degrees!) so we scrapped those plans and just stayed home until a dinner that we attended at our church. We are planning a bike ride tonight when we get off of work, though, to take advantage of the loveliness that is outside right now :)

Marley Lilly Monogrammed Hat Giveaway!

EAS of Let the Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore is hosting a great giveaway for a Marley Lilly monogrammed hat. These hats are so cute for the beach, steeplechase races, polo matches, etc.! The winner gets to pick which style floppy hat and the color. The giveaway ends Sunday, April 17th, at 5pm EST and is only open to U.S. residents. The winner will be drawn using Random.org. Head on over to Let the Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore to enter :)

Vineyard Vines New Arrivals

I got my new Vineyard Vines catalog in the mail yesterday and immediately started drooling over some of the new offerings :)

Summerland Scarf Dress

Margo Ruffle Skirt

Tenley Tunic

Seersucker Patchwork Shorts

Mallory Cardigan

(images from Vineyard Vines)

These are my faves, but, honestly, I think I would wear anything in that catalog! And I'm too excited about VV's upcoming women's swimwear collection! You know it's going to be fun :)

Lilly Pulitzer on Rue La La

(image from Rue La La)

I'm sure other bloggers have been sharing the news, but just in case you havn't heard yet, Rue La La will be hosting a Lilly Pulitzer sale tomorrow (Wednesday / April 6) starting at 11:00am EST. If you need a free invitation to Rue La La, you can click here (There are never any responsibilities to buy anything, ever; it's completely free). Good luck :)