I'm On A Boat

We'll be enjoying Jimmy Buffett, chowder and all things New England this weekend, which would be fun except that it's monsooning outside. I doubt hope you'll have as much fun as us!

P.S. Don't worry, we brought our flippy floppies.

Show My Heart

I know I joke about Husby a lot sometimes, but he really is my heart.

Adorably Distracted tagged me in a Show My Heart meme, so I thought it would be fun to show you a different perspective of our relationship.

The rules: "With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a phrase (or quote), an item of clothing, a place, and (just for fun) a Disney princess. If you want to join in, tag six more blogs."

--
A Photo


This was a romantic day Husby planned during our honeymoon. While we ate the most decadent meal of freshly caught fish, lobster and steak, little fish swam all around us.

--

A Poem

LOVE by Shel Silverstein

Ricky was “L” but he’s home sick with the flu,
Lizzie, our “O,” has some homework to do,
Mitchelle, “E” prob’ly got lost on the way,
So I’m all of love that could make it today.

Husby and I really are kids at heart. All the fun and laughter I write about is real. It's us. And I wouldn't change any part of it for the world.

--

A Song

I close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways

I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor

This was our wedding song and is the epitome of our relationship. In true H.I.T. and Husby style, we tripped while dancing in front of everyone, but ended up just laughing it off. James Taylor is always cool, calm and collected no matter what, and so is our love for one another.

--

A Phrase

"Princess Wallet?"

We love our nieces. The older of the two is quite inspiring and loves all things Disney Princesses. Whenever we’re feeling silly or onto a good idea, we use the phrase “princess wallet,” which she coined during our trip to Italy.

--

An Item

May 19, 2007

As my Grandma wore these pearls on her wedding day, I wore them on mine.

--

A Place


Our favorite summer destination - a place where we can kick back and relax; a place where Jimmy Buffet rules; a place where you eat chowder for lunch and burgers for dinner – it’s our little heaven on earth.

--

Disney Princess


Because she reminds me of my niece. Princess wallet?

--

Now, show me your heart:

Innerworkings of a Real-Life Barbie Doll
Just Another Day in Paradise
Small Town Girl
Life of a Busy Wife
Classy & Fabulous
I Love You More Than Carrots

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Yesterday, my hair went from this:

Photo Credit: Gabriela Maj/Getty Images

To this:

Photo from here.

Husby was very diplomatic about the new 'do.

H.I.T.: Do you like it?

Husby: It’ll take some getting used to.

I think he just might be learning a thing or two. I better keep my eye on him.

The One With the Bugs

Talking to my mom on the phone:

H.I.T.: I’m done. Next time we have plans on Saturday, I’m staying home on Friday night.

Mom: Or, you can just make sure you don’t catch those hangover bugs.

H.I.T.: Maybe I should hire a drink sampler?

Mom: Perfect! They can taste your beer and tell you if any hangover germs are lurking.

H.I.T.: I knew there was something wrong with that beer I drank.

Mom: It had nothing to do with the fact that you had 5 of them, along with some Irish Car Bombs. It was those damn bugs.

H.I.T.: Exactly. I knew you’d understand.

Hangover From Hell

On Friday night, Husby ambushed me.

I was invited to join forced to go out with the guys. We drank way too much beer and might have thrown in a few Irish car bombs for good measure.

I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s quite possible that I wasn’t at all.

I drunk twittered (bad idea). Drunk Facebooked (even worse with mobile photos floating around). And was a dancing fiend (no tables were injured this time).

Then came Saturday morning.

Let’s just say nothing beats an early morning of praying to the porcelain Gods. The worst part though? Husby and I had plans. One of his college friends was having a surprise 30th birthday party, and we needed to leave stat in order to make the 3 ½ hour drive to get us there on time.

Except there was no way I was ready for a moving vehicle or moving anything yet.

So I committed the number one hostess faux pas. I cancelled last minute. As I lay in bed, guilt ripping up my insides perhaps it was the alcohol?, Husby got ready to leave. The plan was to tell them I was sick.

Which should have worked fine, except my accomplice wasn’t on the same page as me.

That’s right, Husby ratted me out! Sure, he told them I was sick, but he also went on to add that we were out drinking the night before. Sigh. My young husband has much to learn.

Now, instead of writing an apology about catching a stomach bug, I have to eat my pride and admit that I was too hungover to attend this birthday bash. I feel like a horrible person and friend for using such an excuse.

Sure I can blame Husby for not sticking to the story, but the truth is it’s time I grew up and learned my limits. After all, big girls don’t cry.

I Love New York

The scent of garbage in the morning,
Sidewalk hop-scotch with dog poo,
Jockeying for umbrella space during thunderstorms,
Midnight wake-up calls from car horns.

Constant pushing and power walking,
Stolen taxis from under your nose,
East river walks, cars dangerously speeding by,
Sardine-packed subway rides.

It’s Aggressive.

It’s Loud.

But it’s still Home…

For now.

Kitchen Wearables

Now that we have a signed contract, I’m all about house. I have lists galore of all the things we need to do (and buy) to make our new house a home. Naturally, the first place I’m focusing on is the kitchen.

Yes, the kitchen.

If you spent over three hours of every day in this room, wouldn’t you want it to be just right too? Thought so. So on this list is everything we didn’t register for and then some, including hostess aprons.

You know, the ones that are fashion-forward for those nights you are constantly running back and forth from the kitchen to your guests?

Oh yes, those.

What?! You mean I need a separate apron for that?

No, you don’t, but if you’re like me, you might want to think about it. When I hosted my holiday dinner party, I wore a plain red apron to keep my black dress clean while cooking. Worked wonders until I sat down to dinner still wearing the ugly red thing. Opps.

Lucky for me, hostess aprons are everywhere these days - in magazines, on television, heck, they’ve even made it to blogland. Unlucky for me, their everywhere these days! How is a girl to choose? I’ve narrowed the list down to a few of my favorites. What do you think?

Jessie Steele Aprons Bib (in Audrey Blue Poppy Fields)

Cupcake Provocateur Cindy Apron (in Lemon Meringue)

Jessie Steele Aprons Bib (in Josephine Red & Pink Polka Dots)

Aunt Jessie’s Vintage Black/White Parisian Fashionista Full Apron

It’s too bad I wasn’t wearing one of these when I sat down for dinner. My guests never would have known the difference.

Sushi & Sake

Last night, I joined Husby for a delicious sushi and sake filled work dinner. We had quite a few laughs…the first being on me.

Before leaving the house, I picked up a small Tote umbrella and dropped it in my purse. Naturally, it was pouring rain by the time I was downstairs. Since I was running late, as usual, Although I was about 10 minutes early, I decided the size wouldn’t matter and I would grab a cab.

Big mistake.

Let’s just say the “wet dog” look isn’t very attractive or appropriate when meeting one of Husby’s colleagues for the first time. Thank goodness Husby was the customer and the couple we were meeting happened to be close friends.

Now for the good stuff.

We decided to order “omakase,” which means the chef hand-selects your entire order. While letting our waitress know which fish we didn’t like, the conversation turned into a Seinfield episode.

Husby: No sea urchin, roe or eel.

Waitress: So no sea urchin, roe, eel, shrimp, or crab?

Husby: Shrimp and crab are OK. Just no sea urchin, roe or eel.

Waitress: So no sea urchin, roe, eel, shrimp, or crab?

Husby. Shrimp and crab are OK. Just no sea urchin, roe or eel.

This conversation actually repeated itself a good four times before the waitress finally said OK.

Seriously, four times.

We were dying. While rehashing the conversation for the umpteenth time, Husby pours himself some sake and a little more soy sauce in anticipation of the meal to come. He takes a sip of sake.

Husby, spits out his drink: What the @$%*?!?!?!

Water begins shooting out of my mouth all over Husby I am laughing so hard.

Husby, pointing at me accuses: You knew!

H.I.T., In between laughing fits and drying my face: Well, I was about to let you know that you poured soy sauce into your sake cup, but…

At this point, the other couple is doubled over in laughter. Husby looks at me, at them, and at me again, before breaking out into a huge grin. His face may have been wet from my water, but at least he didn’t look like a poodle.

The One With the Lean

Out to dinner with Husby:

[Husby begins leaning to one side.]

H.I.T.: Husby, Stop!

[Husby smiles.]

H.I.T.: Everybody knows what you’re doing!

[Husby looks both ways.]

H.I.T.: Please don’t…

[Husby smiles again and straightens out.]

Husby: What?

H.I.T.: Men.

Monday Musings

This morning I turned around and walked straight into our door…

…that’s just how I roll.

Now, I have a swollen nose that won’t stop running.

***

While walking today, I saw a traffic cop shaking her groove thing while ushering traffic through the streets of New York.

Now that is making the most of what you’re given.

***

Speaking of making the most of what you’re given, the most fabulous excellent A. Tierney has graciously offered to give my readers a 15% discount.

Say what?!

That’s right, 15 percent off, now through August 15th. Just enter “NYC” at checkout.

As if I didn’t need another reason to buy:

Bamboo Green Bangle

Anchor & Rope Bangle

Down East Large Tote (in Penobscott Bay)

But please don’t tell Husby. New house and all…

Sin City

A few years ago, my mom went through her closet and sold some items on e-bay. Most were dresses from the 80s, because who doesn't want to be stuck in that era?!?. She didn’t want to donate them since they were expensive.

It was shocking how many people bid on them.

We were all enthralled at the war that developed - $50 jumped to $100 and leapt even higher. It became our new obsession. After school, we would run upstairs to see how fast the lots were growing. After seven days, the first lot finally closed.

A blue and green sequin dress with matching shoes and purse. Yes, sequin.

As a child, I always thought it would be the perfect dress to wear in Vegas. Apparently the buyer did too. Her name?

Miss Vegas.

We had a great laugh over the idea that someone actually wanted this dress. Maybe it was for Halloween, we thought? We were mean kids. We decided to take a look at some of the other items Miss Vegas was bidding on. We figured if she was buying something as ugly dated as my mom’s dress, her other items would be equally hysterical interesting.

Oh, they were...

Thigh-high, silver go-go boots – size 12. Blonde Wig. Hot Pink Platform Heels – size 12. And more 80s style sequin dresses. At first we thought, Pretty Woman?

But then it dawned on us.

Giggling, we teased my mom even more over her 80s clothes. She didn’t care–the sale of those items bought her a new stylish wardrobe–and neither did Miss Vegas, who ended up buying a few more items from my mom’s lots.

Beauty Giveaway Winner

And the winner of the

is...

Naturally Caffeinated Family

Congratulations to this mother of two adorable little boys!

Last Chance To Enter My Beauty Giveaway...

Contest ends TODAY at 11:59 a.m. EST.

Image from here.

AVON Calling

After writing about my perplexing complexion, you wouldn’t believe how many people provided home remedies, tips, product suggestions, anything and everything to help me erase those nasty little bumps.

Even AVON called.

Now I’m not going to lie, when AVON Lady in SC reached out to me and offered to send me a few products to try, I was a bit skeptic. I hear the word “AVON” and immediately think about Peg Boggs putting make-up on Edward Scissorhands "old lady."

Boy was I wrong.

I’m OBSESSED with Ideal Shade Smooth Mineral Makeup ($10) and Smooth Mineral Blush Duo ($10). This stuff is fabulous. Seriously. I can’t stop talking about it especially after a few glasses of wine at a 4th of July BBQ.

Like everyone and their mother, when mineral makeup first hit Sephora I bought the popular brand starter kit and tried it out. Twice. No matter what I did it always seemed heavy, dry and the wrong color. And with a hefty price tag, costs quickly added up if I needed to mix two foundations to achieve the perfect shade.

So imagine my surprise when a less expensive mineral makeup worked BETTER. AVON’s products are light-weight and look natural – a must for any makeup that I wear –while still offering medium coverage to hide any imperfections. Free of oil, talc and fragrance this product won’t clog hormonally charged pores and I swear it actually improved my skin tone. Not to mention it doesn’t dry out my already thirst-quenched skin!

I also tried Ideal Shade Concealer Stick ($6), which offered full coverage on my dark under eye circles (from all that sleep talking) and Wash Off Waterproof Mascara ($1.99), which held up to its name while still giving the illusion of lush lashes.

Ordering from AVON is easier than ever in blogland. Simply visit AVON Lady in SC and click on the “I Sell AVON” image in the left side bar.

Want to buy the products for free??

Then enter Mrs. Newlywed’s AVON Giveaway for a chance to win a $30 gift card.

Either way, you better hurry. I’m buying mass reserves of my favorite products now. For the next ten years. Joking. Sort of.


Photo from here.

Some News...

No, not baby news. If you follow me on twitter, you already know, that...

OUR OFFER WAS ACCEPTED!

Yep, you heard me right. Husby and I are moving on up...to the suburbs. We're working on contracts now and will be closing this fall.

So sorry if I've been MIA. I'm heading to inspections today and have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. I promise to catch up on my reading tomorrow. Until then, have a great day!

The One With the Agreement

At dinner, discussing which direction a town is located:

Husby: It's north.

MIL/FIL: No, it's east. H.I.T., what do you think?

H.I.T.: Hmmm...[looking at Husby] I agree with you.

Husby/MIL/FIL: Now there's a first.

Maybe Monday Meet-up Award

I may or may not be eating s'mores for lunch today.

For the most part, I know that I can expect a good meal/dish when following Martha's recipes. But there are a few times when I've had to really tweak the recipe. This weekend, I made the S'mores Cookies featured in the July/August issue of Everyday Food. They looked delicious. They tasted...quite bland OK. Sometimes there is no substitute. And now, all I want to eat is the real deal. Go figures.

So much for the Blueprint cleanse.

Last month after quite a few trials and tribulations, a few of us NYC-area bloggers met up to put a face-to-the-blog. The lovelies in attendance included “B” is for Brown, Paisley & Pearls, Preppy Coastee and Sunshine In The City. It was so much fun we decided it should be a monthly meeting.

I know most of us like to remain anonymous (myself included), but if you live in the area and are interested in meeting some fellow bloggers send me an e-mail at nyc.housewife.in.training@gmail.com.

The next NYC blogger meet-up is tentatively scheduled for July 22nd.

Jules over at Chic & Pink gave me the Social Butterfly Award! I'm beyond flattered that this fabulous blogger choose me.


I'm passing this onto the following social butterflies:

An Undomesticated Newlywed (private blog)
Blue Eyed Bride
I Love You More Than Carrots
Just Another Day in Paradise
Learning to be a Wife
Misadventures of a Newlywed

Finally, don’t forget to enter:

Contest ends Friday, July 17th at 11:59 a.m. EST.

Image from here.

Blueprint Hang Ten Awards

So if you follow me on twitter, you’ve read me tweeting about my love for green juice. After a boozy weekend to celebrate the fourth, a friend blackmailed convinced me to do the Blueprint Cleanse with her for five days. I did the Renovation Cleanse.

And it was amazing.

Seriously. I know I complained about the disgusting green juice, but you would too if you were drinking romaine, celery, cucumber, kale, parsley, green apple, spinach and lemon juice first thing in the morning and again for lunch. Once I got past the taste and really focused on why I was doing this cleanse, I couldn’t believe how much better I felt.

I have more energy. I’m more focused. I have this inner peace that makes me want to meditate all day long. I’m happier. I’m less likely to “snap” when something goes wrong.

I’m a stronger, healthier ME.

That’s not to say I didn’t experience some side effects. Detoxing processed foods, fat, dairy, meat and gluten from your diet is HARD. By day 3, I ended up cheating in the afternoons, eating a quarter of a mashed avocado with lemon. And at night I would experience a slight headache and black outs from lack of sugar if I moved too quickly. I also got the best sleep of my life – sans sleeping aids.

It’s definitely not for everyone. I went on it after a weekend of binge drinking to cleanse my system. Husby and I are also trying to conceive this week, so I thought a full system detox would help the process. The best part about it though? After a week of drinking nothing but fresh-squeezed juice, the last thing I want to eat is some fat, greasy burger with fried fries on the side. I’ll let you know in two weeks if I’m still staying away from those fatty foods.

So on top of my cleanse, I was tagged in a Hang Ten meme by BLC, The English Preppy nominated me Queen for a Day, and given the You Are A Great Read Award from Glamour Girl!?! I feel so loved right now. Thanks lovelies!

So here are ten things you may or may not know about me (that also make me awe-summm):

1. I love creating scrapbooks.
2. And giving them to people as birthday presents (ie. Digital Scrapbook for FIL featuring his life in photos).
3. I love baking.
4. And surprising friends with their favorite dessert at a dinner party (ie. Pecan pie).
5. I love supporting my family/friends’ dreams.
6. And providing any help I can along the way to achieving them (ie. My mom’s Etsy store – coming soon!).
7. I love taking photographs.
8. Especially of important moments for friends/family, since they are normally too busy creating the memory to photograph the moment (ie. Easter morning in Germany).
9. I love walking on the beach.
10. And talking with Husby about our life, our aspirations for the future, anything and everything.

And I am passing this award onto the following blogs that make me think, smile and giggle:

Bobby Pins Required
French Kiss
Inner Workings of a Real-Life Barbie Doll
I Pick Pretty
Mermother of Identical Mermaids (private blog)
My Teacups in Peony
Really, Are You Serious?
Small Town Girl
Sparkles of Serendipity
The New Black

Beauty Giveaway

It’s never too early to start preventative wrinkle care. I’ve been a loyal fan of both Kiehls and Kinerase in that department for quite some time now. Unfortunately with my new perplexing complexion I have to cut some favorites out of my routine.

What does that mean for you?

A fabulous anti-aging beauty giveaway
(plus a little something for the mister in your life) starring:

Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
Kinerase Lip Treatment

When I’m about half-way through any product, I purchase its replacement. So instead of throwing these items away, I’m giving them away to you, my faithful readers!

Just you wait. It get's even better.

I’ve added in my newest beauty fav – Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Fair to Light – a hydrating oil-free sunscreen that protects against UVA/UVB rays while providing the perfect amount of coverage for days at the pool/beach, on the boat, or while working out. And you know how much I love my coverage right now.

And because it doesn’t seem fair to only pamper women, I’m including Husby’s favorite facial luxury – The Art of Shaving Shaving Cream.

Last but not least, I'm sending this off in true NYC style with an adorable Henri Bendel Heritage Makeup Bag.

So run, don’t walk, and enter this giveaway valued at over $150. Here’s how to enter:

1. Become a follower (or let me know that you are one).
2. Leave a comment with your go-to beauty fav.
3. Activate e-mail in your profile (or leave your e-mail address in the comment). If I can’t contact you, you can’t win.

For additional entries (you must leave an ADDITIONAL comment for each extra entry):

1. Follow me on twitter (or let me know that you already follow me).
2. Add my button to your blog and tell me where to find it.
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link to your tweet.
4. Add the giveaway photo to your sidebar, linking back to this post and tell me where to find it.
5. For 3 extra entries write a post about this giveaway on your blog, linking back to this post through the word: NYC Housewife-In-Training (comment 3 times with the word “post”) and leave the link to your post.


Rules:
*Only open to residents of the continental U.S.A. (sorry folks – international shipping is a nightmare).
*Winners are chosen by random.org, so make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!!!
*Once selected, winner has 48 hours to contact me, otherwise another winner will be chosen.
*Contest ends Friday, July 17th at 11:59 a.m. EST. Winner will be posted that day.
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

Hostess Brunch Basket

Growing up, my mom always kept a stack of impromptu hostess gifts at her disposal and ours.

Invited to a friend’s summer house for the weekend? No problem. Take this candy dish and fill it with the mom’s favorite sweet. Going to a boyfriend’s for the holidays? Bring this flora table book and a nice bouquet of flowers. Beach BBQ coming up? Here’s a fish shaped serving platter with matching tongs.

No matter the occasion, she had us covered.

What I loved most about her gifts was even though they weren’t always picked up with that particular person in mind, she always found a way to personalize it. The gift would inevitably become part of making memories from the evening or weekend, whether a bouquet on the table or sweets after dinner.

So when Husby and I were headed to our friend’s rental house for 4th of July, I knew it was time to make my mother proud. Being that it was a three-day weekend, we settled on two gifts – treating the couple to dinner and bringing a hostess basket filled with items for 4th of July brunch*.

Our basket included:

1. Veuve Clicquot champagne
2. Domaines Ott rose
3. Stonewall Kitchen Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam
4. Starbucks House Blend Coffee
5. Casper 4th for July cocktail napkins
6. Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits
7. Cranberry Orange Scones
8. Oreo Truffles

That morning, we woke up bright and early. We made a delicious quiche and enjoyed brunch on a patio overlooking the vineyard. While this basket might not carry any reusable items, it definitely created a memorable moment.

H.I.T. Arsenal Recipe #11: Cranberry Orange Scones

1/3 cup sugar
3 cups flour
2 ½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
1 cup dried cranberries
2 TBS fresh orange zest
¾ cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Using a pastry blender (or a fork) combine sugar, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cut in the butter. Mixture should resemble coarse meal.
2. Stir in dried cranberries and orange zest. Stir in buttermilk. Mix batter until moist, not sticky (I used my hands).
3. Remove dough and, using hands, roll out onto a lightly floured surface to about 3/4-inch thickness. Cut into eight 3-inch rounds (top of a glass works well).
4. Place scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush tops with milk and a light sprinkle of sugar. Bake for 25 minutes, turning sheet 180˚ after 10 minutes, until golden brown. Enjoy!

*While some may think bringing a menu item imposes on the hostess, we know this couple and rental house kitchen accommodations well enough to know the gesture would be appreciated and not scoffed at.

The One With The Sleep Talking

Sleep talking this morning:

H.I.T.: Banana Fanana Fo Famama...

Husby: Are you trying to wake yourself up?

H.I.T.: No...I was reading a children's book.

Husby: I would have loved hearing an adult novel.

H.I.T.: Shut up. Good morning.

College Daze

This weekend, Husby and I reverted back to our crazy, booze fueled youthful college days, complete with shot-gunning beers on the beach and dancing on table tops while chugging vodka straight from the bottle sipping champagne. More than a few hangovers were experienced, along with some great memories.

No, I will not post pictures of me booty shaking dancing on a table.

But before our alcohol-induced stupor, otherwise known as 4th of July weekend, we had a eye-clawing minor marital disagreement involving Wendy’s and an afternoon rainstorm.

After sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for two hours, I announced my hunger. It was close to dinner time and we were nowhere near our destination. After much cajoling, Husby relented and we were on our way to Wendy’s.

Hello, Frosty.

My Frosty was taking a long time, so Husby said he would get the car, leaving me with our order. So far, no problem.

Then, the rain came.

And not just any rain, buckets of water pouring out of the sky. Clutching my purse to my chest (which, by the way, held our very expensive, brand new, digital SLR camera and no zipper closure) with one hand, the bag of food in the middle, and our soda and Frosty in the other hand, I huddled under the small awning cursing Husby for not grabbing the food in a vain attempt to stay dry.

Husby, opens the window a crack: Hold on, I’m coming.

H.I.T.: Open your window so I can pass you the food.

Husby: No, I got a better idea.

Husby proceeds to ignore my suggestion. He turns the car around so that I am now staring at the passenger side door.

H.I.T., standing there speechless.

Husby, looking at me, gesturing with his hands that I should come inside.

H.I.T., pushing all the items in my hand up so he can see that there is no way I will be able to open the car door, let alone stay anywhere near dry, while making “I’m so angry with you” face.

Husby, opens the door to my side and pushes it open: C’mon.

Looking at all the items in my hand, I know I’m going to have to sacrifice something. I look at the soda. I look at the Frosty. I know that a chocolate shake really doesn’t go well with burgers. And, it’s the Frosty’s fault I’m in this predicament in the first place because I’m not about to blame myself or the weather. In one swift movement, I’ve made the choice and am inside the car.

H.I.T.: Next time you leave to get the car, don’t leave me stranded carrying everything.

Husby: Sorry. Can I have a sip of soda?

H.I.T.: I don’t have any.

Husby: What happened? Is it inside still?

H.I.T.: Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Would you like a sip of my Frosty?

An hour and a half later, we arrived at the beach house and were well on our way to the first night’s debauchery. The first thing Husby did? Drink a whole bottle of water in 1 minute. He turned down my Frosty.

Fake Tanning 4th of July Twitter

Husby and I are headed out East this weekend. In NYC talk, that means we’re making the 3 hour drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic to South Hampton. Fun.

We’re looking forward to beach clambakes and bonfires, bicycle rides to the farmers market and a few crazy moments thrown into the mix. We’re not looking forward to dressing up in order to grab breakfast at Golden Pear, two lane traffic jams and gaining 10 pounds from eating fresh Tates cookies.

This week started out fabulously. Remember I mentioned a giveaway that I won and then lost? Well, I won it again! I received a Brighton-inspired Floral Weave Bracelet from Finders Keepers Jewelry Monday afternoon.


Then on Tuesday, the lovely lady over at Park Avenue Princess tagged me with the One Lovely Blog Award:


This woman embodies UES glam. She is the perfect mix of Audrey and Charlotte. Check her out if you haven’t already.

And because you all provided such love and support to Husby and me last Friday, I’m giving everyone who commented on that post this award. Thanks again to everyone. I couldn’t ask for better bloggy friends. You guys rock.

Yesterday, I decided to fake tan for our upcoming weekend at the beach. Maybe I should have test run it first. The lady, who vehemently told me that the solution will NOT turn darker, convinced me that she needed to spray twice in order to give me “a little color.” I now look like a LesLo oompa loompa wannabe. Just add a white hat and I’m set.

And finally, after much goading, I’m now twittering away. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be a fly on the wall in the H.I.T. household?

Happy 4th of July weekend!

Raising the White Flag

Given the attempted invasion two nights ago, and the fact that I’m out of blue tape, I’ve raised the white flag.

Not that white flag! Get your mind out of the gutter. The flag for a new bed – one of king-sized proportions.

Our bedroom is our sanctuary or battlefield, depending on the day. It’s a place where we can unwind and relax. But most importantly, it is a place where we should be able to get a full night’s sleep. without worrying about border invasions.

The décor in our room is masculine modern with clean, simple lines, so in keeping with that theme we’re looking at platform beds. We’ve narrowed our choices down to:

Modus – Newport Platform Bed in Cordovan


Lifestyle Solutions – Domain Low Profile Platform Bed


Night & Day – Spices Coriander Platform Bed

Which bed do you recommend for keeping Husby enemies at bay? Or is there another choice you think we should consider?