TangerineHearts

What The Fug?!

2011-08-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

Oh, Jeffrey Campbell

you are late to the Fourth of July WTF Party.

via repeat WTF offender Urban Outfitters

I don't care who you are or how eclectic your style is, these are hideous but they can be yours for $149.00.

Happy Friday Lovelies!

Knock Knock

2011-08-04T09:32:00.000-04:00

Who's there??

Really silly office and home products that's who!

Have you ever heard of Knock Knock?

If you haven't definitely go check them out,

they put the fun in functional.

Look at some of these fun & funny products:

Streamlining the grocery list.

The Future Hubs and I have one of these on our fridge!

Who couldn't use this?

Don't tell me you wouldn't love to walk around handing out some of these!

Adding a little fun to your everyday office products.

and my personal fav, rate that wine!!!

Happy Almost Friday!

Creative Cocktails

2011-08-02T15:58:00.001-04:00

Normally I'm a wine & beer kinda gal but lately funky, infused cocktails have really been catching my eye!

I decided to step out of my comfort zone a little bit to try a few new cocktails at some of my fav local haunts.

The Mexicali Garden at Surf in Nashua, NH was a concotion of tequila, cucumber and hot sauce. Refreshingly spicy!

Peachy Sangria goodness perfectly describes the Mambo Mama at Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill in Tyngsborough, MA

At 900 Degrees in Manchester, NH it was A Day at the Spa. Muddled watermelon gives summery perfection to this flirty, feminine martini.

I'm certainly dreaming of delicious cocktails now!

Have you tried any new ones lately?

The Final Countdown

2011-08-01T09:39:00.000-04:00

In 31 days I will be saying I do and going from Miss to Mrs!

I can't believe how fast the last year and a half went by. These last 30 days will be spent putting together all the little details of our wedding, along with final dress fittings and relaxing.

I've ordered some fun wedding things from Etsy,

via Etsy shop Dear Emma

and yesterday we picked up The Rings!

I can't wait for everything to come together.

Happy Monday

What The Fug?!

2011-07-29T11:30:00.000-04:00

I've accepted that the Romper is now a thing.

I'll probably never wear one, I just don't think they're for me,

but I will admit that there are quite a few really adorable ones out there.

This is not one of them.

MC Hammer meets military?

Yours for $859.00 via Shopbop.

Happy Friday Folks!

Would YOU wear this??

*Sorry for the extended absence, if you follow me on twitter you know I've been dealing with a lot*

Unplugged.

2011-07-05T10:48:00.001-04:00

I had an absolutely amazing holiday weekend.

it included:

a sushi date,

mini golf,

movie night,

brunch with the girls,

and a fabulous BBQ pool party on the 4th.

And I have not one single photograph to show for it.

That's right, I snapped no photos, I didn't even turn my laptop on once, and it felt good!

Sometimes it's nice to unplug, sit back and enjoy life as it comes.

I enjoyed my little techno break but now that the weekend is over I'll be back to my picture snappy self!

Do you ever unplug?

I highly recommend it (just for a day of two)!

What The Fug?!

2011-07-01T09:38:00.004-04:00

Are you feeling patriotic?

Are you also a hooker?

Then you're in luck,

In honor of Independance Day WTF?! is saluting flag garb gone wrong!!

streetwalker special via Papaya Clothing

Designer flag dress via Catherine Maladrino, just add cowboy boots and a budweiser.

And no 4th of July is complete without an American Flag Bikini.

I wouldn't be caught dead in ANY of these.

Would YOU?

Happy 4th of July!!!

And to my Canadian friends, Happy Canada Day!

I will likely be rocking red, white & blue but I'll try and keep it classy.

{via}

Wedding Wednesday: Surprise Bridal Shower

2011-06-29T16:50:00.003-04:00

Two of my beautiful bridesmaids, the Future Hubs' Sis Tiffany and Kinsey Michaels threw me a surprise bridal shower this past weekend! Since my future in-laws and some of my friends couldn't make it to New York I was so grateful that they got to celebrate with me here at home.

A scavenger hunt sent me all over town but my final destination was a beautifully decorated party with no shortage of champagne. Our wedding colors, royal blue and yellow were prominently displayed in the party decor.

There were fun games and of course, presents! Guests mingled and munched on finger sandwiches, cheese plates & pink champagne cupcakes (pictured at top of page).

I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends & family,

Bring on the wedding!

*all photos by Kinsey Michaels

Maxed Out in Temecula Valley Wine Country

2011-06-28T21:40:00.001-04:00

A trip to California wouldn't be complete without a little wine tasting. You all know how much I love my vino so our little day trip to Temecula Valley Wine Country was a welcome addition to our SoCal getaway!

I decided to sport a maxi dress for the occassion, pairing it with white & gold accessories it was a comfortable and classy ensemble.

We visited four different vineyards starting with Callaway Vineyard & Winery, the next stop (and my fav) was Bailey Winery where we took home delicious 2007 Cabernet Franc, then it was onto Falkner Winery and our last stop Danza del Sol.

We frolicked among the grapevines in between tastings and silly photoshoots.

One surprising difference between wine tasting in California versus Long Island is that they give you the glass you were drinking out of! We collected quite a few on our tour of Temecula's Wine Country.

What I'm wearing:

BCBG Maxi dress

Coach handbag & vintage Coach belt

Old Navy espadrille wedges

Aviators from a kiosk in Sarasota, FL

Kate Spade & Aldo necklaces

bangle from The Limited

The San Diego Zoo

2011-06-22T00:43:00.001-04:00

I absolutely love going to the Zoo.

I've probably been to Zoos in 6 different states as well as in Canada but it never gets old for me. Maybe it's touristy but it's also really fun and a great way to spend a day, especially if you are with family.

One of the many stops we made in SoCal was to the San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoo is huge and they have tons and tons of animals. We were lucky enough to see vultures feeding, elephants getting pedicures and koalas eating among many other things.

I totally just want to hug that koala but I've been told they're pretty vicious? Can anyone confirm that? Koalas aside, My absolute favorite animal at the zoo though? Giraffes!

We saw soooo many different animals and they were all very active which made the trip extra fun for us and the 4 1/2 year old kiddo who joined us.

We ended the night at Point Loma where I had the strongest Mai Tai of my life then watched a beautiful sunset over the harbor. I'll be posting about all the places we ate & drank in San Diego soon.

Do you like the Zoo? If so, what's your fav animal?

Back to Reality & Beach Giveaway Winner

2011-06-10T09:34:00.000-04:00

If you follow me on Twitter then you know that I made it back to Boston this morning after a very long, tumultuous journey back from California.

All travel issues aside we had an absolute blast in So Cal! I cannot wait to tell you all about it. We wined, dined, and did a lot of sightseeing.

Now that we are back in New England I am focusing on my next adventure, my new job. I didn't actually post about it on here but I left my job in higher education and took a management position for a leading hotel operations and development company. I couldn't be more excited to return to the industry where I started my career. Of course I am also very nervous since my first day is Monday!

OK well, the winner of the Bobbi Brown Beach Giveaway is....

Meghan from VioletSage!

Congrats girly!

Email me your shipping info and I'll get that right out to ya.

I'm looking forward to catching up with all of you and promise to have some Cali pics and posts up soon.

What The Fug?!

2011-06-03T21:59:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the super late post, I spent all day packing and cleaning because we are San Diego bound tomorrow morning!!

Woohoo!

I'm so excited to be heading back to Cali, especially because I'll be hanging out with my bffl for 6 lovely days and there's a possible bloggy buddy meet-up in the works.

So this week's WTF comes from a serious repeat offender: Urban Outfitters.

Ummmm...

the prints might be nice, separately. And even though this model is clearly thin the peek-a-boo tummy actually makes her look round in the middle.

Also, I pretty much had this swimsuit in 1991...

Ok maybe we had matching lime green & hot pink ones.

Would YOU wear these?

Happy Friday Lovelies

27 and 1 dresses

2011-06-02T10:48:00.002-04:00

Jaime from the fabulous blog La Vie...Jaime has started up a new venture that's all about bridesmaids! Her new blog is called 27 and 1 Dresses and it's full of ideas, tips and real bridal shower features.

{via}

I was lucky enough to be featured on her blog and write a guest post all about my bridal shower! Check out my Real Bridal Shower post here.

If you're a bridesmaid in someone else's wedding or getting married yourself follow along with 27 and 1 Dresses for lots of inspiration!

{via}

ps there's still time to enter the Bobbi Brown Beach giveaway!

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-01T11:41:00.000-04:00

We had a really fun and busy Memorial Day weekend.

We started the weekend with very fews plans a just kind of winged it but we ended up having a ton of fun.

On Saturday we hit the stores for the memorial day sales and got the Future Hubs some fab new summer clothes. We ended the evening at a BBQ where we got to catch up with a friend we haven't seen in months.

On Sunday we enjoyed breakfast on our patio, finally picked out the tux FH will wear at our wedding and spent the rest of the day lounging poolside.

and on Monday we attended the memorial day parade in downtown Nashua then another BBQ!

It was great to see people clapping for all the servicemen and women in the parade. Memorial Day is all about thanking our troops for the service and sacrifices they have made for us. And of course family & BBQ's.

I hope you all had a lovely long weekend, I'm looking forward to seeing what you were up to!

Beach Giveaway CLOSED

2011-05-31T14:18:00.003-04:00

I guess there is no spring here in New England since the temps have been in the 80s for the last couple of weeks!

In honor of Summer arriving early I'm giving away one of my favorite summer fragrances.

Bobbi Brown's Beach

{via}

"If one scent could capture the atmosphere and attitude of summer, this best-selling fragrance is it. Designed with a lightly intoxicating blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin, this eau de parfum is wearable anytime, anywhere."

This fragrance is literally the beach in a bottle. I love spritzing it on in the morning, it gives me that feeling of having just left the beach without the hassle of being covered in salt & sand.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you love most about summer!*

{open until Friday, June 3rd 11:59pm EST}

good luck

<3

*if your comment doesn't link back to a blog please be sure to leave a valid email

Sangria Saturday

2011-05-28T10:12:00.002-04:00

As a Sangria lover I'm surprised it took me so long to finally make some myself! I jumped on the homemade sangria bandwagon though and mixed up a delicious yet simple batch of classic sangria.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma's Entertaining with the Seasons this recipe is as easy as it is delicious.

Ingredients:

1 bottle (750 ml) red table wine

(we used Bogle Petite Syrah)

24 ounces dry ginger ale

3 cups fresh orange juice

1 orange

1 lemon

1 lime

Directions:

Cut the lemon, orange and lime into thin slices.

In a large pitcher or punch bowl combine wine, ginger ale and orange juice. Add fruit slices, stir and cover. Chill for 2 hours or up to 12 hours.

Remove, stir and pour over ice.

Garnish with fruit slices, if desired.

Enjoy

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

2011-05-27T20:43:00.001-04:00

Happy Long Weekend!!

Wether you are going somewhere or staying close to home I hope you enjoy the weeked and remember: friends don't let friends drink and dress themselves <3

{via}

Straight Up now tell me....what were you thinking?

Some prints just don't mix well. Or at all.

Happy Friday!

To The Woman Who Gave Me Life

2011-05-26T09:17:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday!

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful Mother. She has always been there for me through good times, bad times, rebellious stages and break-ups. I couldn't ask for a better friend & mentor.

Love you Mom!!

Showers of Happiness

2011-05-24T10:12:00.000-04:00

This past weekend my Mom & Sister (and awesome MOH) threw me a fabulous bridal shower at Danfords Hotel & Marina in Port Jefferson, NY.

We had the most adorable little private room, the Harborview, decorated with royal blue napkins & mini potted plants with shovels that doubled as the favors. Isn't that a cute idea! I can't take credit for it though, it was all my Mom.

Champagne punch, fruit & cheese and delicious cake kept us satisfied before the catered lunch while fun games, great conversation and a ton of gift opening kept us entertained.

I'm still slightly in shock over the sheer amount of gifts we received!

The coveted KitchenAid mixer is now mine, it's a staple in every cook's kitchen and I can't wait to put it to good use!

My adorable little cousin Jessica made a wishing well with all the kitchen essentials. Spatulas, scrapers, ice cream scoops and so much more. It's safe to say we now have a very well stocked kitchen and can finally get rid of some stuff that we've been using since college haha.

Shower games got everyone laughing when I was quizzed with trivia questions about the Future Hubs. Out of 15 questions, I got 10 right. Not bad?

My Sister gave a beautiful speech thanking all the guests for coming and we descended into girl talk for the remainder of the party.

It was an absolutely perfect day! My friend Kat even drove up from Maryland to attend! and of course, I want to say a special thank you to my Sis & Mom for all their planning.

For details on my shower outift check out this post and look out for more details on the shower games later in the week as a guest post.

Dressed to Impress

2011-05-23T20:45:00.002-04:00

my bridal shower ensemble

andrew marc ny dress

ny & co. cardigan

aldo shoes & necklace

vintage coach belt

essie tart deco nail polish

forever 21 bangles

Don't Rain on My Parade

2011-05-19T16:04:00.001-04:00

...unless I have a really stylish umbrella!

One thing I kind of love about NYC is that when it rains everyone seems to break out the black umbrella it's like part of some kind of New Yorker uniform. Then suddenly in the sea of black you'll catch a glimpse of someone's brightly colored, patterned umbrella and it instantly makes me smile.

It's been raining for days in New England with no end in sight and it got me thinking about how stylish an umbrella actually could be. Rain kind of sucks but I think a cheerful, fun print could make it a little bearable?

bright red polka dots from Target

vibrant, lime greem trimmed bubble umbrella from Totes

keep it classy with Burberry at Nordstrom

Tory Burch's pretty blue flowers

Is it raining where you are?

Do you sport the sleek black umbrella or go for a pop of color?

And if you happen to have a little tyke in your life, please get them one of these! so cute!

kidorable

Recipe: Peanut Butter - Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-05-18T11:17:00.006-04:00

I made this recipe for a family ski weekend. I thought it would be nice to have something sweet to munch on in between hitting the slopes. I am happy to say that these cookies were a big hit!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 tbsp light corn syrup

2 tbsp water

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and stir in the corn syrup, water, and vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the peanut butter mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop by 1/4 cup cupfuls 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden. Allow to cool 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

The recipe says it makes 2 dozen but I ended up with way more cookies than that! Good thing my coworkers also love baked goods.

Enjoy

Burlington by Food

2011-05-17T10:13:00.001-04:00

Aside from the monumental amount of sightseeing we did on our little weekend jaunt to Burlington, Vermont we also ate some really tasty food! With so many places to choose from Burlington is a hidden gem among the restaurant world.

Our first stop was Sweetwaters for local brews and a bison burger. Right in the heart of the Church Street Marketplace, Sweetwaters was also the perfect location for people watching.

For dinner we once again headed to Church Street but this time we ate at the more refined, Church & Main.

Dinner was phenomenal, all of the plates were beautifully crafted and tasted even better than they looked. I started with the pear salad, followed by the 8 hour braised beef short ribs served over cheesy grits with a syrah jus.

For breakfast the following day my Dad was intent on crepes at the Skinny Pancake. We got there super early, 8 AM! in order to beat the crowd! I had an Early Riser with egg, cheese & bacon while the future hubs had the Crepadilla, a massive crepe version of the mexican fav. I wish I'd snapped a pic of his!

Our final foodie stop was lunch at American Flatbread which aside from one salad on the menu serves only pizza. We dug into the Medicine Wheel (a classic cheese pie) and the New Vemont Sausage pie. Both were delicious but since I just can't wrap my head around sauce-less pizza I preferred the classic cheese version.

Making Burlington even more charming is the fact that many of Burlington's restaurants use local ingredients. Most of the

Restaurateurs get their produce, meats and cheeses from local farms & dairy companies, a fact proudly displayed in almost every place we dined. They also carry quite the selection of local brews keeping every inch of the menu close to home.

On the dessert front since Vermont is known for their maple syrup we indulged in a soft serve raspberry & maple swirl at the train stop for the Champlain Valley Flyer part of Vermont's scenic Green Mountain Railroad.

If you're ever heading to the Burlington, VT area I highly recommend having a bite to eart at some of these places!

Scenes from the Weekend

2011-05-16T22:16:00.000-04:00

{sushi}

{salted caramel ice cream}

{cat in a bag}

{beermaster tour}

{criss-cross ballet flats}

{hot hot hot sauce}

What The Fug?!

2011-05-13T12:44:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been doing a little online shopping? window shopping? regular shopping? have you ever come across something so hideous it made you go "who on earth would wear such a thing?!"

Well if you have, feel free to send it my way.

I would love to feature reader finds on What The Fug?!

the more the merrier, ya know?

This week the WTF is just that; a reader submission.

Sent my way by the lovely Rachel from The Redheaded Fashionista this dress was spotted at Urban Outfitters.

Rachel says "It looks SO terrible on the model. It can't possibly be flattering on anyone"

Truer words were never spoken.

Overalls, of all kinds, should remain in the toddler category. You can probably still get away with them at 8 or 10 but the line must be drawn somewhere!

What do YOU think?

Will you run off and buy this dress?

Special thanks to Rachel and Happy Friday the 13th!

muawhahaha!

Trend Alert: White Hot

2011-05-11T13:27:00.001-04:00

I never really put a lot of thought into wearing white until we were headed to a white party on our cruise in 2009.

It's a very basic color that add a lot of heat and I am loving all the white I am seeing around the fashion world! Everything from shoes to handbags to swimwear is popping up in white.

I have been on the search for dresses for upcoming events and I keep coming back to white. I think a little white dress would be perfect for summer cocktail parties, bbq's (or my bridal shower).

Elliott Lucca Campillo Fringe Hobo in Linen

Qupid Ceduve wedges from Lulu's

One shoulder dress from BCBG.

They actually have a whole section devoted to white!

ruffle trim bikini from Victoria's Secret

What are your thoughts, is white boring and basic?

Or do you think it could be fun and flirty?

What The Fug?!

2011-05-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

Another Friday is here!

I'm especially excited for this weekend since my little Sis will be in Boston and I will be spending part of my weekend in the city with her.

And of course Mother's Day is Sunday! Who has brunch plans?

Today's WTF features flatforms.

Have you guys ever heard of these?

I wasn't aware such a thing existed until Lei Ann brought them to my attention via Twitter.

Perhaps better described as clodhoppers. I couldn't imagine stomping around in something like this, I think they're awful! but if you dig 'em grab a pair at Nordy's.

What do YOU think?!

Happy weekend lovies,

and to all the Mamas out there have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Confessions

2011-05-05T11:57:00.000-04:00

I like to sleep with socks on.

I keep up a tough exterior, but I cry very easily.

Sometimes, I wear watches that don't even work.

I once got so absorbed in a book series that I called out sick from a job for 2 days.

as a teenager I had blue hair & a tongue piercing.

sorry no photos.

I like my pizza cold.

I am obsessed with getting rhinoplasty

(but will probably never do it.)

I prefer to watch chick flicks when I'm alone.

I think mohawks are rediculous.
Especially on children.

I keep up with current events
but don't really care about politics.

I don't like self-help books.

Sometimes I miss smoking.

Do you have any confessions?

oh, and happy Cinco de Mayo!

{all images via weheartit)

Wedding Wednesday: The Flowers

2011-05-04T11:36:00.001-04:00

While visiting New York for Easter the Future Hubs & I had the chance to sit down with a florist. We looked through pictures and played around with different floral arrangements in an effort to narrow down what we want for our wedding.

Sticking to our color scheme of royal blue & pale yellow we decided on a combination of white & yellow roses, blue delphiniums, yellow gerber daisies, and white hydrangeas.

{all images found via google image search}

My bouquet will be feature white, yellow & blue while the bridesmaids will carry all yellow. The yellow will really pop against the royal blue dresses the Girls will be wearing!

Our centerpieces will be very tall and feature hydrangeas & roses. I'm basically going for a clean look with very little greenery. The church pews will also be decorated with roses.

It's so exciting to finally have a visual for our big day!

Happy Hump Day!
<3

Sightseeing in Burlington, VT

2011-05-03T10:29:00.001-04:00

The future Hubs and I spent the weekend with my Parents exploring beautiful Burlington, VT. Burlington is the perfect walking city, especially on a sunny day. We were lucky enough to have ideal weather for our little weekend escape.

Our first stop was the Church Street Marketplace. Located right in the heart of Burlington this car free street is lined with shops & restaurants. Outdoor seating was in abundance and it was a perfect place for people watching. We a large part of the afternoon here and returned in the evening for dinner.

We wandered all the way down to the harbor and on to Battery Park taking in the breathtaking views of Lake Champlain. The Lake was at a record high and actually flooded in several places! In the summer the Lake is alive with ferry's, boat tours and other excitement.

We headed back north to scope out the campus of the University of Vermont. Such pretty architecture! UVM is definitely an idyllic college campus, who wouldn't want to study there? It's right out of a movie.

Even though it was closed for tours we went to take a quick look & walked around the grounds of the Ethan Allen homestead before hopping in the car to head to South Burlington.

One spot I was determined not to miss during our trip was the Magic Hat Brewery. Home to one of my favorite beers, #9! Vermont is home to several breweries and has even been rated #3 in The Huffington Post's Top 12 Cities for Beer Lovers. Magic Hat offers free tours and free samples, how could you go wrong?

Vermont is home to several cheese companies specializing in cheddar. We made a quick stop at Shelburne Farms to grab some of their aged cheddar cheese and explore the grounds. Shelburne Farms is an absolutely beautiful property, they even have their own Inn overlooking Lake Champlain.

Our final stop was on the way home, the Ben & Jerry's factory! I'm not sure if the tour was really worth it but they do give a free sample at the end. If you've never been, I say go once.

I still can't believe how much ground we covered in two short days! I highly recommend Burlington for a weekend getaway we had a great time exploring the city and taking in all that Burlington has to offer.

Spring Worthy Skirts

2011-05-02T11:52:00.001-04:00

For the East Coast spring means the return of open toe shoes, sandals, dresses & skirts. Slowly but surely you'll see more and more spring worthy fashions around town while our legs & toes make their triumphant return to the sunlight.

Some of the trendiest spring styles are skirts with pops of color or flowy fabric, paired with neutrals or colorful cardis there is no shortage of options and it's one springtime fashion fix that I cannot get enough of.

Bold Colors...

This colorblocked version by Elie Tahari would be great paired with neutrals or prints while the sunny, yellow Kate Spade skirt will add a fabulous pop of color to any look.

Pretty Pleats....

Pleats are making a comeback and I'm loving the pleated skirts I've spotted. The blue skirt from Modcloth adds color & texture while the clean, white version from French Connection is perfectly pretty.

If you want to see a great way to rock the pleats, check out how Mara of M Loves M styled hers.

I'm drooling over so many spring fashions lately it's hard to choose just one!

Happy Monday

What The Fug?! Royal Wedding Edition

2011-04-29T11:11:00.001-04:00

There was so much hype about Kate excuse me, Catherine Middleton's wedding dress and of course, she looked stunning in her Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown but what about the wedding guests?

London is quite fond of hats and more recently, fascinators. I'm still not even really sure what those are but I do know that there were some crazy hats and things present today.

My pick for most over-the-top what the fug style Royal Wedding fashion is...

Princess Beatrice

(on the right)

high fashion? or just high??

What do y'all think?

Easter in New York

2011-04-26T22:17:00.000-04:00

We were able to spend Easter in NY with my family, It's always so great (and rare) when we can all be home for a holiday.

On Saturday night we had a cozy dinner at home with my Parents and siblings. We dined on lamb, broccoli casserole & mashed potatoes and washed it all down with good conversation & delicious red wine.

After dinner we we relaxed in the great room while the boys watched the Bruins beat the Canadiens in double OT. My Mom had the most gorgeous tulips on display, I just adore spring flowers.

We woke up Easter Sunday to discover that the bunny had visited us! I can't believe he found us all at my Parents house. wink wink.

I've had the same Easter basket for my entire life. You can probably tell which one it is since it's falling apart!

After chowing down on blueberry pancakes and of course, candy we headed out for a sunday morning stroll.

It was absolutely beautiful outside and we enjoyed the fresh air. There were plenty of little critters out and about and flowers springing up everywhere!

Normally we spend Easter at one of our Aunt's & Uncle's homes but since my Grandmother has been living in a nursing home since last fall we decided to pack it up and bring Easter to her. My Grandmother suffers from Alzheimers and receives better care where she is. Being able to spend a holiday with her was the best Easter gift.

Some of the beautiful women in my family. My cousin Kelly, on the left, looks amazing almost 2 months after her horrible car accident. She still amazes me everyday. Easter is really all about family for me and there was no shortage on this trip!

I hope everyone had a great Easter!

I've enjoyed reading all about your egg hunts and family gatherings.

What The Fug?!

2011-04-22T12:21:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!

I am scooting off to New York this evening to spend Easter weekend on Long Island with my family. I am so looking forward to a relaxing weekend filled with good conversation, fine wine & family.

With my bridal showers & bachelorette on the horizon I have been spending some time browsing dresses online. I am determined to find the perfect one for each joyous occassion but in the process I discovered this...monstrosity.

It reminds me of the dress Julia Roberts wore as a hooker in Pretty Woman only it worked for her in the movie, it does not work here!

It's just awful. I found it at Lulus and for a whopping $55 you too can channel your inner hooker. Ew.

So tell me, would YOU wear this?

and what are your Easter plans?

I sure hope the bunny comes this year...

Spring & Summer Sandals

2011-04-20T18:59:00.001-04:00

What's my favorite part of spring & summer?

the shoes of course!

I love my boots dearly, don't get me wrong, but when I can finally break out some peep toes, sandals or wedges I feel like winter is finally over.

Wedge sandals are my absolute favorite style but this year I am favoring flat styles a little bit more and luckily there are so many pairs to choose from!

A perfect gold & tan pair from Steve Madden

I absolutely adore this turqoise pair from Aldo. It's also available in white, peach and beige. Those colors scream warmth to me!

An absolute steal at $7.50 these sandals from Forever 21 are perfect for days spent on the boardwalk.

These JCrew gladiator sandals are a bit of a splurge, but so cute it might just be worth it.

Are you already planning your spring and summer wardrobe?

What shoes do you plan to rock?

Celebrity Shoe Envy

2011-04-15T14:08:00.001-04:00

Have you seen these pics of Khloe Kardashian's closet full of shoes?

{via}

Color coordinated and filled to the brim with designer labels I am having some major shoe envy.

Do you dream of a shoe closet like Khloe's?

Happy Friday Lovelies!

What The Fug?!

2011-03-25T10:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!

I am so excited for the weekend, starting with game night tonight followed by a super low key evening at home. I can't wait to give myself a mani/pedi.

I realized that I haven't featured much men's fashion here for WTF?! (Adam Lambert doesn't count) and that needs to change.

I was browsing Aldo's website when I decided to check out some of the men's shoes thinking maybe I could find some flip flops for the Future Hubs. Instead I found these:

Whaaaaaaaat is that?

I know the gladiator sandal has been popular for women but I do feel that perhaps it doesn't quite translate to men's fashion. My co-worker said she wouldn't be surprised to see a man wearing these...in Europe.

Would YOU let your man wear these?

Enjoy your weekend!

Shop With Confidence Sweepsteaks

2011-03-24T11:14:00.001-04:00

Shop It To Me has teamed with American Express Premium Return Protection to offer one lucky fashion-lover a $3000 shopping spree with Whitney Port! That's not all -- each day through April 2, we'll be giving away a PRP subscription and $100 to shop Whitney's No Regrets Spring Picks.

Enter to win by completing the following steps:

Follow @ShopItToMe and @AmericanExpress on twitter

Tweet the following phrase:

Want to win a $3000 shopping spree w/ @whitneyeveport? Follow @shopittome @americanexpress & RT to win: http://bit.ly/fgu5Rz #NoRegrets

Good Luck!!

Recipe: Dijon Green Beans

2011-03-21T21:15:00.001-04:00

I used to be really intimidated by side dishes because of the timing. I was afraid that the side would be done before the main dish or vice versa. Lately though I am all about the sides.

One of the best parts about grilling season; while the Future Hubs is outside working his magic on some chicken or steak I can stay in the kitchen and whip up some snazzy sides.

Dijon Green Beans

I found this recipe in a Cooking Light special edition magazine: 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Recipes. Of course I made some changes so here is my adaptation of this delish side dish.

Ingredients

12 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

dash of salt

Directions

In a serving bowl combine EVOO, mustard, parsley, lemon pepper & salt.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, add green beans and cook for approximately 3 minutes or until beans are cooked through but still firm. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Toss the green beans with the Dijon mixture and serve.

We served our green beans with grilled marinated steak tips & a little pasta salad that I threw together. The green beans are full of flavor and have the perfect amount of bite.

Enjoy!

Stripes, Shamrocks & Green Beer

2011-03-20T21:38:00.001-04:00

Since I'm Irish I like to go all out for St. Patrick's day.

Wear green, drink green and of course, eat some corned beef and cabbage!

For a night out on the town I donned my new Libertine for Target dress. The emerald green & navy stripes were a perfect match for the green holiday.

I accessorized my dress with some gray socks, a navy sweater from Express, Target boots, a double wrapped brown belt and a cute little shamrock necklace.

For dinner I indulged in some corned beef & cabbage with Irish soda bread.

Sipped on a green cocktail

and later, tried my very first green beer!

It was a perfect holiday evening spent listening to live Irish music, enjoying green spirits and spending quality time with the people I love.

How did you spend your St. Patty's Day?

Go Green For St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T09:24:00.003-04:00

"When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter

You can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy,

All the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling,

Sure, they steal your heart away."

"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand."

"May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go,
and guide you in whatever you do--
and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always."

Happy St. Patricks Day

Taste of the South End

2011-03-16T11:55:00.001-04:00

I was delighted to have the opportunity to attend Boston's Taste of the South End this year, an event that benefits the Aids Action Committee. Over 35 local restaurants and vendors participated in the event bringing samples of their delicious food, wine or other libations.

the red signs each depict a different station

Held at the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts this year's TOSE was jam-packed with yummy things to discover. Being a food lover myself I was in heaven walking around sampling cuisines from many of Boston's top restaurants.

This fried chicken sandwich from Flash's Cocktails was one of the best I've ever had, the fact that I was super hungry and it was the first thing I ate probably helped too. The cocktail they were serving up was equally delish.

From Stephi's on Tremont; chilled seared duck breast with Okinawan sweet potato "vichyssoise" and cherry compote on a sour dough crouton. There was so much flavor packed into one small bite that this was one of my top picks of the evening.

The Upper Crust Pizzaria brought a selection of Italian favorites including their famous gourmet pizza. While I skipped the pizza I did try one of Santina's Spinach Squares.

Decidedly my favorite of the night, a selection of Indian specialties from Mela. The samosas, paneer, chicken tikka masala, and basmati rice were all tasty and cooked to perfection.

In addition to the amazing food and drink there were live demonstrations from some of the South End's top chefs. Pictured above, the executive chef from Stephi's on Tremont.

Some of my favorites not pictured include a habanero watermelon margarita from Masa, mini cupcakes from the Boston Center for Adult Education, tasty sangria from the Upper Crust, braised berkshire pork belly from Union Bar & Grill and an Asian braised soft taco from Myers & Chang.

One of my last samplings of the evening, an "adult" ice cream soda featuring raspberry Belgium Lambic poured over vanilla ice cream from Picco. Yum.

a view of the hustle & bustle

The Taste of the South End was an amazing experience that introduced me to some amazing restaurants while at the same time benefitting a wonderful charity. I now have a very long list of restaurants I'll be going back to!

Inspiration: DIY

2011-03-14T12:06:00.000-04:00

I have been contemplating ways to incorporate some personal touches into our wedding reception and despite proclaiming that I didn't want to be responsible for any "arts & crafts" projects I think a little DIY project might be necessary.

The Future Hubs and I are really into wine. One of the ideas is to somehow incorporate our love for the vino into our table settings. I mentioned this to a friend of mine and she sent me these:

{via}

Which got me thinking that instead of using faux corks for the place cards I could use real bottles & corks for the table numbers and someone out there loves wine as much as we do because the other day I saw these fabulous wine bottle decorations via Style Me Pretty.

Isn't that so great? It's exactly what I had envisioned but in order to make them mine & fit in better with our royal blue & pale yellow color scheme I'm planning to combine the SMP version with my Holiday DIY from December!

But with a pretty monogrammed B.

This is my current table inspiration, I think the silver wine bottles would be a great addition!

What do you think of my Wedding DIY idea?

If you're married, what personal touches did you include in your big day?

Spring Ahead

2011-03-09T16:06:00.001-05:00

Spring is a devious little season here in New England.

She has a tendency to trick us into thinking she's on her way and then bam it's cold again, but I digress. This roller coaster weather hasn't stopped anyone from looking ahead to spring.

And that of course includes spring fashion trends. I'm happy to see a lot of last year's trends are sticking around and also happy to see some new trends hitting the stores.

Nautical Inspired Stripes

I wrote this post last year

and the trend is still going strong!

Banana Republic

Forever 21

Pretty Prints & Patterns

ModCloth

Nordstrom

Fun Flats

Michael Kors says comfort is in for Spring!

Aldo

Steve Madden

Maxi Dresses & Skirts

Shopbop

Lulus

Flared or Wide Leg Jeans

Gap

William Rast

These are just a few of my favorite trends for Spring.

What trend are you most looking forward to?

Little Miracles

2011-03-06T17:10:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that less than two weeks have gone by since I woke up to the news that my seventeen year old cousin had been in a serious car accident. For days the words swam around my head, my phone permanently glued to my hand waiting for news.

My family collectively held it's breath while her young life hung in the balance. The doctors were very careful to say only if; if she wakes up.

In less than two weeks she has opened her eyes, started breathing on her own, moved her arms, legs, fingers, spoke three words, remembered her address, spoke more, undergone reconstructive surgery to repair crushed bones in her face.

She is a miracle.

Thank you to all of you for your thoughts & prayers. I really do believe it helped.

Sometimes you pray, hope, wish, beg and sometimes,

someone is listening.

In less than two weeks I have experienced some of life's greatest miracles from overcoming the odds of survival to the creation of a brand new life.

Life's little ways of reminding you of what is most important. The little miracles that happen everyday.

And to add some sunshine to one of your lives, the winner of the CSN Stores giveaway is:

Congrats!

Expect an email from me soon.

What The Fug?!

2011-03-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

The 80's called.

They want their skirt back.

Unless you're on your way to an 80's themed party or dressed up as a cowgirl for Halloween, this Guess skirt should never be worn in public.

And at $64.95 (on sale) you could find this cheaper at the Salvation Army, I guarantee you they'll have one.

Happy Friday lovelies!!

Would YOU wear this?

I hope everyone has some fun things planned this weekend!

I promise to have updates on my cousin and a giveaway winner announcement by the end of the weekend.

Layer It On

2011-03-03T14:49:00.001-05:00

You know that saying, "the more the merrier"? Well I think it should apply to accessories too. I know sometimes simple, understated accessories work best but other times it's a pretty chic look to layer them on for a more fun, mixed media effect.

{via}

I love the layered looks the ladies are rocking above! I think stackable rings and bunches of bangles are my new accessory must have and a great way to add color & texture to a look.

affordable & adorable at $6.80 from Forever 21

stackable amber rings $75 from Etsy shop SecretCharm

Juice Couture bangles $88 from Nordstrom

pretty feminin rings $17.93 from Asos

Kate Spade idiom bangles $17-$42 each

House of Harlow 1960 jagged rings $100 via Shopbop

I regularly throw on a bunch of bangles to add a little something to an otherwise understated outfit. I'm so loving the inexpensive Forever 21 bangles, I think a little shopping trip might be in order asap!

What do you think, will you be rocking the layered look?

Also, thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway, winners will be announced soon!

Recipe: Crockpot Smashed Potato Soup

2011-02-28T22:07:00.001-05:00

I'd like to thank everyone for your sweet comments on Friday's post and for keeping my family & cousin in your prayers. She's making a little progress each day.

I wish I had discovered this hearty potato soup recipe at the beginning of the fall/winter season. I guarantee I would have made it on an almost weekly basis. It's so simple but so full of flavor and seriously fills your tummy! It almost makes me excited for the fall so I can make it all the time...almost.

Smashed Potato Soup

adapted from Better Homes & Gardens Slow Cooker Family Dinners cookbook

Ingredients:

3 1/2 pounds potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

1/2 chopped yellow pepper

1/2 chopped red pepper

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions

4 strips low sodium bacon, diced

additional sliced green onion

Directions:

In crockpot, combine potatoes, peppers, garlic and black pepper. Pour chicken broth all over.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours (we did 10). Meanwhile cook chopped bacon until crispy, set aside.

After 8 to 10 hours mash potatoes slightly with a potato masher. Stir in cream, cheddar cheese and the 1/2 cup green onions.

Top individual servings with additional sliced green onion, bacon and cheddar cheese.

This recipe makes 8 servings; 243 calories per serving (without toppings).

Enjoy!

Blog at the Moon with Boston Bloggers

2011-02-27T12:40:00.000-05:00

Last night Boston Bloggers headed to beantown to check out it's newest hot spot, Howl at the Moon. Part night club and part dueling piano bar Howl at the Moon was buckets of fun. And in true VIP fashion we skipped the long line and cover free, and were led right to our reserved tables.

I was happy to see some familiar faces and thrilled to see some fresh faces. There was a great mix of Boston Bloggers representing all different genres of the blog world.

top left: Elizabeth from Don't (White) Sugar Coat It, Me, Nicole Saylor.

top right: Alesha of A Mile in Fab Heels, Ginny of Ginntastic, Kinsey Michaels

bottom left: (clockwise from left) Elly of Adventures in Refashioning, Katy from ModlyChic, Alesha, Ginny, Elizabeth, Nicolle, Kinsey, Me and Alexa from Punctuate With A Kiss

bottom right: Kinsey, Katy and Alexa

Howl at the Moon is famous for 3 things; their multi-talented musicians, their chicken nachos and the 84 ounce drinks served in, that's right, buckets!

They played everything from Elton John to Eminem while the lively crowd sang a long.

We decided to be daring and ordered the Fruit Roll Up bucket. It comes with colorful twisty straws and apparantly it's "the most fun you can have with you clothes on" do you agree Ladies?

All of the menu items were $10 or less. The chicken nachos (bottom left) were made to share and came complete with all the toppings.

Howl at the Moon is located at 184 High Street in Boston's Financial District. Get there early, by 7:40PM the line was around the block!

For more info on Boston Bloggers, to join and to get the deets on the latest events head to BostonBloggers.com

What The Fug?!

2011-02-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

Happy fabulous friday Lovelies!

I'm sure everyone is more than happy to welcome the weekend, myself included.

A couple of announcements today;

if you haven't entered my giveaway for a $35 CSN Stores gift card, there's still time!

And if you're a Boston area blogger there is a meet up happening on Saturday, check out Boston Bloggers for all the deets. I would love to see you there.

Now on to the bad fashion!

I happen to be a fan of pretty prints and fantastic footwear just as much as the next lady but these wedges from Aldo seem to be a dizzying mess of color and prints.

my eyes!!

maybe the green is better?

yes? no? have your eyes rebelled against you?

I personally think the green is a little better.

The shoes do have a 1970's vibe to them which I normally like but I think perhaps they are just a little too loud for me.

What do YOU think?

Would any of you fab fashionistas dare to step out in these?

On a more serious note, I don't normally do this but my 17 year old cousin was in a serious car accident on Wednesday. She's currently fighting for her life in the ICU and I would appreciate it if you could say a little prayer for her, or keep her & my family in your thoughts.

Much love to all of you.

L-O-V-E and a GIVEAWAY! CLOSED

2011-02-23T20:34:00.002-05:00

The CSN Stores were kind enough to let me shop their 200+ online shops to find some items that would add a little charm to my home. With everything from cookware to backyard swing sets I knew I would find something!

These love blocks are so adorable and fill a little space that always needed something extra.

The distressed look and little floating heart put a little smile on my face everyday.

I also snagged this awesome wine rack, you can never have enough wine storage and this will make a great addition to my home or a great housewarming gift for someone else's.

You should definitely click on over and check out what CSN has to offer and then come back and let me know what you would buy because CSN is graciously offering one of my fabulous readers a $35.00 gift card that's good in any of their online shops!

This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada only, to enter be a follower of TangerineHearts and leave a comment telling me what you would buy with your gift card!

For extra entries tweet (I'm @TangerineHearts) or blog about this giveaway!

The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, March 2nd at 11:59pm.

Grayscale.

2011-02-22T12:02:00.001-05:00

I tend to gravitate toward darker colors in my wardrobe, black has always been a friend to me. Lately I have been trying to branch out and add more vibrant colors and prints to the mix but I have a little obsession with one color.

gray

From boots to outerwear gray appears in my wardrobe in many capacities.

Gray seriously goes with anything.

It's just such a classic color that I don't think it will ever be out of style. From casual wear to evening attire check out some of my favorite gray pieces.

gray skinnies are a must have!

Citizens of Humanity via Shopbop

a comfy cardi fits into any wardrobe.

from Gap

I rock a gray handbag on the regular.

L.A.M.B via Nordstrom

anyone can pull off gray pumps

the calwell from Aldo

for work or play

Thread Social via Gilt Groupe

(invite here)

even evening wear looks good in gray

Shoshanna via Saks

A classic gray pencil skirt, a scarf or other accessory. Even nail polish...

Essie Chinchilly

the possibilities are endless!

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

2011-02-18T13:30:00.001-05:00

Folks, it's that time again!

Friday

I do love me some Friday but I'm actually spending my evening at the office (yikes). Sooo no fun plans for me tonight but I should be able to catch up on my blog reading!

I'm teaming up with my girl Mandy again this week and we have decided to pick on Miley Cyrus but can you blame us? She makes it oh so easy.

Um, she's 'all grown up y'all'.

Miley honey, sometimes less is more.

The Herve Leger dress is indredibly unflattering and the Louboutin's are just too much.

The only description that fits is: eyesore! it's like an optical illusion gone wrong, maybe if I stare long enough I'll find the hidden message?

Pop on over to Life in the Fashion Lane to get Mandy's take on Miley's Faux Pas!

Portland Pie Company

2011-02-17T08:11:00.000-05:00

The Future Hubs and I recently dined out at Portland Pie Company's newest location in Manchester, NH.

As a New Yorker, I'm quite picky about my pizza but of course I'm always willing to try the new pizza joint in town.

The Portland Pie Co. serves up crafty pizzas with funky local names on their own specialty dough.

You can choose from wheat, garlic, basil, beer or gluten free and either make your own pie or choose from their extensive list of signature pies.

We chose the Nor'easter with the garlic dough, a buffalo chicken pizza that's generous on the Frank's Red Hot. We asked for the blue cheese on the side since FH isn't a moldy cheese fan and added traditional red sauce to ours (it's just not pizza without it!). It was every bit as delicious as we imagined and it's served with chopped celery for some buffalo wing nostalgia. It wasn't quite New York style, but they don't claim to be and I didn't mind.

The Portland Pie Co. also boasts a selection of locally brewed beers but I decided to go with an old favorite, Stella Artois which they served in a Stella glass!

I was a little bummed that we didn't get more adventurous and try the beer dough so imagine my delight when I found it in our local grocery store! Of course I snatched it up and went to work creating my own signature pie: a spicy hawaiin pie.

beer flavored dough, sauce, mozzarella, bacon, fresh pineapple chunks & jalapenos.

Yum.

I should so get a spot on their menu, right?!

Portland Pie Co. has several locations throughout Maine and New Hampshire. It's definitely worth a visit!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

{via}

Have a beautiful day!

What The Fug?!

2011-02-11T10:26:00.000-05:00

Today is a good day.

1. it's Friday

2. I'm only working 4 hours

3. I'm off to Stratton, VT for a ski weekend!

Yes!!

WTF?! is brought to you by Arden B today.

Everyone once in awhile I find something really cute from Arden B. The rest of the time I think they are marketing to hookers. Seriously, just look through their dress collection and tell me you don't picture someone street walker strutting her stuff in some of these! (if you are a streetwalker, I apologize.)

This dress reminds me of girls I would see clubbing when I was 18.

And it's really ugly.

Would YOU wear it?

Does anyone have anything fun planned this weekend?

Early V-Day celebration? going gift shopping? Make sure you check out my gift guide!

Disclaimer: The opinions featured on What The Fug?! are solely my own and are not meant to insult, or discourage anyone from shopping at, certain retailers.

Seeing Red and Pink

2011-02-09T12:26:00.002-05:00

I feel like people often get lumped into two categories when it comes to Valentine's Day, lovey-dovey lovers of the holiday and the anti-valentine.

{via}

I fall somewhere in the middle.

As a lover of anything involving hearts I have no problem with Valentine's Day but the Future Hubs and I aren't really the go all out gift giving type, we are more the romantic candle lit dinner type.

{via}

In past years we have enjoyed a nice dinner out but this year I am planning to make a nice dinner at home. The menu is still in the works but will likely involve either filet mignon or seafood and of course, a bottle of fine wine.

I'm certainly not against giving gifts though and for those of you that will be giving gifts this year I created a little gift guide that is fit for every pocket!

For Her

for the fragrance lover...

Clinique Happy Heart $42.50 (for fragrance only)

Coach Poppy $60

for the shoe lover...

Kate Spade Darla $298

for the accessory lover...

Forever 21 necklace $7.80

Forever 21 heart earring trio $3.80

Collection XIIX Sheer Tie Dye Scarf via Nordstrom $38.00

for the home decor lover...

Pier One love wall frames $59.95

Urban Outfitters heart chalkboard $36.00

For Him

for the fashionable man...

David Donahue dress shirt via Nordstrom $125.00

Gap vintage striped polo $29.50

for the well accessorized man...

Jack Spade wallet $150.00

Forever 21 Fedora $13.90

for the gadget lover...

U-control rc helicopter via Brookstone (FH has one!) $39.95

Apple iPod touch (starts at) $229.00

for the wine lover...

rabbit corkscrew via the Wine Enthusiast $59.95

adjustable temp wine chiller via Sharper Image $99.99

4 month membership to Wine of the Month Club, classic series $128.49

I would love to hear what your plans are for Valentine's Day!

did you get your honey a gift?

are you cooking up something delicious?

are you and your girlfriends having a night out?

let me know!

Champagne For My Real Friends

2011-02-08T09:43:00.004-05:00

After seven months apart, my bestie and I were reunited for one crazy fun weekend!

Some highlights include:

apples to apples

white pomegranite martinis

hometown hoodies

mimosas

brewery tours

brick oven pizza

shots

all night girl talk

beer towers

dancing

It's amazing how we can just pick up right where we left off,

and down way too many Washington Apple shots.

That's why best friends are so great.

We went to our favorite bars, ate at our favorite restaurants and spent time with our favorite people.

We took time to celebrate my birthday together.

And hugged.

a lot.

She's back in Cali now, so until next time...

Mad for Mimosas

2011-02-06T14:08:00.000-05:00

When I read about a new restaurant opening up in Merrimack, NH called The Homestead I immediately checked out their menu since I just love when a new place opens up in our area.

One of my favorite things about my visits to New York City are the brunches, often served with bottomless beverages. So what caught my eye on The Homestead's menu? Sunday brunch with $1.99 mimosas!

I was sold.

{via}

The Homestead certainly lived up to its name in ambiance. A roaring fire and exposed beams in a large open barn style space. It was warm and inviting from the moment we walked in. Upstairs, the tavern features oversized couches just begging for relaxation with a cool drink.

Of course I immediately ordered myself a mimosa.

It was refreshing and delicious, made with freshly squeezed orange juice. The Homestead's other brunch drinks, screwdrivers & bloody marys were also $1.99 and served in adorable mason jars.

So the drinks were great! What about the food?

I ordered the banana stuffed french toast while the future Hubs ordered the grilled chicken bltc. Both were served with their signature homefries, and both were delish!

The service was also friendly with our server telling us about the lively weekends in the Tavern and being more than helpful about the menu items. She also kept the mimosas coming which made me very happy!

The Homestead is definitely a new favorite, we've been back twice!

Part of the Homestead & Fratello's Restaurant family you can find this location at 641 DW Highway, Merrimack NH.

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

2011-02-04T11:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday!!!

I had the laziest week of all time.

TWO massive snowstorms hit New England giving me two full days off of work and what did I do? Nothing! Super lazy, I know.

I'm happy the weekend is here though and I'm off to go skiing yet again and I'll be attending a little shindig on Sunday. Do ya'll have any plans for the big game?

I decided to feature a male this week, I don't think any men have graced the pages of What The Fug?! before so it's time.

I think Adam Lambert is a repeat WTF?! offender but this outfit is beyond awful.

{via}

The clothes, the accessories, the hair...ugh.

What do YOU think?!

Have a fabulous weekend!

and whoever you cheer for, enjoy the game!

Disclaimer: The opinions featured on What The Fug?! are solely my own and are not meant to insult, or discourage anyone from shopping at, certain retailers.

Downhill Skiing

2011-01-26T09:14:00.001-05:00

Nestled into NH's White Mountains, right down the road from the famous Mount Washington, is Wildcat Mountain. With a summit of 4,000 ft and over 2,100 verticle feet of trails & terrain there is plenty of room for downhill skiing fun!

I've had the opportunity to ski many of NH's resorts and Wildcat fits right in with the White Mountain standards. Tons of fresh, powdered snow and a nice mix of easy, moderate and expert trails. It was so exhilerating and fun to be flying down the mountain on a pair of skis.

We spent the entire day exploring Wildcat's trails and terrain. This was only the second time the Future Hubs' has been on skis and I'm impressed with how well did! By the end of the day we were pooped!

After skiing we took a dip in the hot tub at our Inn, had a nice dinner at the Red Parka Pub in Glen, NH and then headed back to our hotel to hang out at the bar. We listened to oldies tunes from the live band and indulged in a chocolate brownie dessert.

The next day we took the scenic route home, stopping in some of NH's cutest little mountain towns like Jackson, N. Conway, Conway and taking a scenic ride on the Kangamangus Highway.

We've got more snow coming this week and that means much more skiing will be done this winter!

What The Fug?!

2011-01-21T13:20:00.002-05:00

Friday is upon us again lovelies and I could not be happier.

I thought I would get lucky with a snow day but alas, only a 3 hour delay so I braved the storm and dragged myself to work.

I didn't do any extensive online "window" shopping this week so I asked Kinsey for ideas on where to find some uglies and she suggested TopShop and boy did I hit the jackpot. I could probably use TopShop for every WTF?! for the rest of the year!

But I chose this Maxi dress.

If someone could explain to me why on earth anyone would want to wear this, I am all ears.

I can't even fathom how you could wash such an item. Bathing suit cover up? maybe, but there are much cuter ways.

If any of you would wear this please speak up, and also send photos.

Happy Friday!

<3

Disclaimer: The opinions featured on What The Fug?! are solely my own and are not meant to insult, or discourage anyone from shopping at, certain retailers.

Save The Date

2011-01-20T09:26:00.002-05:00

Now that they have reached our friends & family, I thought I would share our Save The Dates with you all!

We went with a magnet becuase we thought they were fun and a great way for people to keep them hanging around. They'll also be a great keepsake for our family, friends and us!

{our last names are blacked out}

We used the engagement pics we took on our apple orchard photoshoot back in October. I think they came out great and the response from our friends & family was overwhelmingly positive.

We ordered these from Wedding Paper Divas, the same place we ordered our engagement party invites. Unfortunately the first batch they sent were all wrong and we had to wait for a new batch to be printed up but we're happy with the end result.

226 days left

But who's counting?

;)

Upscale Mexican Fare & A Delicious Wine Bar

2011-01-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

To celebrate my birthday the Future Hubs and I decided to go out for a nice dinner.But, instead of hitting up one of our favorites, we tried somewhere new!

We saw Mezcal Tequila Cantina on the Phantom Gourmet and the prospect of upscale Mexican immediately put it on our "to try" list. We decided to make the hour drive to Worcester, MA for my Birthday dinner.

Our choices: golden fried jalapeno rice balls (not enough jalapeno), grilled chicken burrito (perfect in every way) and the Carnes Y Patatas (steak & jalapeno cheddar mashed potatoes, so amazing)

We kicked off our meal with some signature Margaritas. I tried the Sangria Margaria, it was delish! Mezcal had a very lively atmosphere, definitely great for groups!

For dinner we ordered the Platos Completas for 2. The meal included Mezcal's freshly made guacamole & salsa, choice of appetizer, traditional plate and special plate.

After our very indulgent and very delicious dinner we decided to check out Bocado. A wine & tapas bar with the same owner.

We enjoyed a Tempranillo flight and sweet potato banana empanadas for dessert.

Overall it was a perfect birthday outing with my love!

pssst! are you reading this in a reader? please click over and check out the new look of TangerineHearts!

Pool Halls & Patterned Tights

2011-01-17T10:18:00.000-05:00

I kicked off my birthday weekend with drinks and billiards with some good friends.

I dressed up in casual yet classy shirt dress accessorized with a belt, tights, boots and funky jewelry.

Dress: H&M, Boots: Target, Belt: Vintage, Bangles & Long Necklace: Forever 21, Cheers Necklace: Kate Spade, Tights: Marshalls

We enjoyed some Washington Apple shots, tequila shooters and tried to sink some balls.

We make pool look so stylish.

Twenty Seven

2011-01-16T17:40:00.000-05:00

That's how old I am today!!

Happy Birthday to Me.

I haven't changed much, right?

What The Fug?!

2011-01-14T10:30:00.001-05:00

TGIF!!

Even though I had a break mid-week thanks to the big snow storm that hit New England I am still super happy that it's Friday, especially because it's my birthday weekend!! Woo!

I'm only 26 for a few more hours, my 30's sure are looming around the corner. I am having a low key birthday weekend, dinner with the in-laws, dinner with the future hubs and maybe some time with friends. The big party happens when my Bestie arrives from San Diego at the end of the month. Don't worry, I'll share the fun with y'all!

I chose this week's WTF?! because I knew there would be mixed opinions. Personally I would never wear it but I could see some fashionistas pulling it off. I do think that it could be a better DIY than spending $79 though!

This example is from Urban Outfitters but I have seen similar skirts at ModCloth and Lulu's. The latter being less expensive of course.

So,

Would YOU wear this?

Could you DIY this?

Disclaimer: The opinions featured on What The Fug?! are solely my own and are not meant to insult, or discourage anyone from shopping at, certain retailers.

What Ever Happened to Diet and Exercise?

2011-01-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

When I got the February 2011 issue of Marie Claire magazine there was one cover story that immediately caught my eye.

"The New Dangerous Diet That Really Works. Would You Go This Far To Be Thin?"

The truth is, a lot of people would.

I was shocked that a magazine so recently surrounded by controversy (see article) would put something like this on their cover. The cover is almost daring people to try this diet.

This "diet" called the HCG Diet invloves eating only 500 calories per day and taking injections of HCG (the pregnancy hormone). The belief is that HCG burns more fat as energy. Eating only 500 calories a day is never safe. Either is taking unapproved injections.

This diet is obviously not approved by the FDA, and while Marie Claire does include a small column with Doctors' opinions (that it's bogus) and other side effects the fact that this article is out there in the first place really bothers me.

Yes, a lot of fashion mags tend to put a focus on being thin and beautiful but at the same time these magazines are also influencing young girls. While some people will read this and think "wow that's crazy" someone else might think "I should try this". I think magazines have a responsibility to ensure that they are not encouraging people to pursue any diet or exercise habits that could be dangerous to their health.

I realize it might be common sense that this diet is unhealthy but Marie Claire should take into consideration that women with eating disorders or unhealthy obsessions with weight loss exist in their reader pool.

What do you think?

Does it cross a line to put something so dangerous out there?

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

2011-01-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

Friiiiidddaaayyy!!!!

I don't know about you but this week felt long. I am so ready to relax and enjoy my weekend.

And nothing kick starts my weekend like a little Celeb fashion gone horribly wrong.

It's winter, celebs and regular folk alike are hitting the slopes and ski bunnying it up all over the country.

Nothing beats some fabulous layers, cozy boots and tres chic winter wear.

Unless you're Jessica Simpson.

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Girl, you are not doing yourself any favors here.

Even fellow bloggy pal and J Simps fan Mandy is weighing in on this uh, interesting look over on her blog Life In The Fashion Lane, check it out!

What do YOU think?

Disclaimer: The opinions featured on What The Fug?! are solely my own and are not meant to insult, or discourage anyone from shopping at, certain retailers.

My Current Obsession

2011-01-06T17:34:00.002-05:00

Tan boots

Since the beginning of fall, (way back haha) I have been obsessing over tan or camel colored boots.

I have quite a few pairs of boots in my closet yet they are all either black or gray since I don't wear brown (I know). I realized though that a perfect addition to my collection would be a pair like these.

Steve Madden Maryn in Cognac

BP Baywood at Nordstrom

Unfortunately while gorgeous, boots over $100 aren't quite in my budget right now so I went with these prettiesfor $23.99 at Target. It's a fashion win!

Pop Champagne

2011-01-05T11:05:00.001-05:00

Dressed to the nines with the champagne flowing, my New Year's Eve was spent at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

We were by far the youngest guests but that didn't stop of from enjoying the four course dinner, live music and top shelf drinks. I decided to savor the bubbly for most of the evening and there was no shortage of paper tiaras, fun hats and noisemakers!

At midnight, there was a balloon drop, champagne toast & plenty of kisses!

Happy 2011

And now begins my Birthday Month!
11 days and counting!

TangerineHearts

What The Fug?!

Knock Knock

Creative Cocktails

The Final Countdown

What The Fug?!

Unplugged.

What The Fug?!

Wedding Wednesday: Surprise Bridal Shower

Maxed Out in Temecula Valley Wine Country

The San Diego Zoo

Back to Reality & Beach Giveaway Winner

What The Fug?!

27 and 1 dresses

Memorial Day Weekend

Beach Giveaway *CLOSED*

Sangria Saturday

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

To The Woman Who Gave Me Life

Showers of Happiness

Dressed to Impress

Don't Rain on My Parade

Recipe: Peanut Butter - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Burlington by Food

Scenes from the Weekend

What The Fug?!

Trend Alert: White Hot

What The Fug?!

Confessions

Wedding Wednesday: The Flowers

Sightseeing in Burlington, VT

Spring Worthy Skirts

What The Fug?! Royal Wedding Edition

Easter in New York

What The Fug?!

Spring & Summer Sandals

Celebrity Shoe Envy

What The Fug?!

Shop With Confidence Sweepsteaks

Recipe: Dijon Green Beans

Stripes, Shamrocks & Green Beer

Go Green For St. Patrick's Day!

Taste of the South End

Inspiration: DIY

Spring Ahead

Little Miracles

What The Fug?!

Layer It On

Recipe: Crockpot Smashed Potato Soup

Blog at the Moon with Boston Bloggers

What The Fug?!

L-O-V-E and a GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

Grayscale.

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

Portland Pie Company

Happy Valentine's Day!

What The Fug?!

Seeing Red and Pink

Champagne For My Real Friends

Mad for Mimosas

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

Downhill Skiing

What The Fug?!

Save The Date

Upscale Mexican Fare & A Delicious Wine Bar

Pool Halls & Patterned Tights

Twenty Seven

What The Fug?!

What Ever Happened to Diet and Exercise?

What The Fug?! Celebrity Edition

My Current Obsession

Pop Champagne

Beach Giveaway CLOSED

L-O-V-E and a GIVEAWAY! CLOSED