Birthdays!

I celebrated my 27th birthday this weekend and it was wonderful. As much as I hated the thought of creeping into my late 20's, my friends and family put in a ton of effort to make my day extra special. I'm truly blessed.

Top memories of the weekend:

Sweet cupcakes.

Spa day at Emerge.

Gift cards to my favorite stores. 1 and 2.

An (extra) chocolate covered fruit arrangement.

Dinner with N at Hamersley's.

Cards upon cards from friends and family near and far.

Drinks at Bokx and pineapple upside down shots.

Flowers from my favorite 2 year old.

Family brunch.

Two Oprah-approved pot pies.

Thanks for all the love!

Springstreets

I just came across the most amazing gift for N. I saw it and I had to have it, I mean, he should have it. As most of our friends and family know, we are both huge Springsteen fans. Through Twitter, I learned about New York graphic designer, Dan Cassaro, and his recently released map of New Jersey. This is not just any map of Jersey. On this map, called Springstreets, all the streets, buildings, parks, etc. are named after lyrics from Springsteen songs.

Check it out!

Amazing, huh? I'm going to frame it for N, so one day we can hang it in our future "man cave" in our future house :)

Say Cheese!

Last night, N surprised me with the most beautiful, hi-tech camera I've ever seen. It's a Canon EOS Rebel T1i:

Amazing right? I've been talking about getting a fancy camera FOREVER and taking a photography class. Well, I now have no excuses. Please post comments if you can recommend a really awesome photography class in the Boston area. In the meantime, I'll be snapping shots like a mad woman!

Oh, and did I mention I have the best boyfriend in the whole world!?

Our Story - N&J

Do you remember this awesome Google commercial from the SuperBowl? In honor of N's birthday, I made him a video of our story using Google's SearchStories Video Creator.

Check it out below! It's just a snip-it of how fabulous our story really is :)

I Like Baking

Wednesday is N's birthday, so I decided to bake him a special treat this weekend to celebrate. I read about a Harvard grad student's cupcake recipe site on one of my favorite blogs, A Cup of Jo, so I decided to try the coconut rum cupcakes with coconut cream cheese frosting, given N's love for coconut.

We brought them over to my parents' house last night for dessert and they were a big hit! Ribs for dinner was a big crowd-pleaser too :)

Much love to the birthday boy xoxo

In Need Of...

Cute, affordable dresses for the weddings, showers and bachelorette parties I have this summer. N and I have 5 weddings coming up - 5 people! I know that will be the norm for the next few years as our friends get married, but it's a lot to take on.

I recently bought this Elie Tahari dress at Marshall's. Do you see the retail price? I bought it for $100. Score! Do you think it's too dark for summer weddings? That was my concern, but for the price, I couldn't pass it up.

I'm now on the hunt for a few more bargains for the wedding season. I'm typically drawn to strapless dresses and I really like this dress from Anthropologie.




What do you think? For $170 it's not much of a steal, but is it worth it? I still have some time to decide and for the spring dresses to go on sale.

Please share links to your favorite dresses and any helpful hints of where to go for a bargain! My wallet will thank you :)

Hola!

March has been a very stressful month for me, but N and I did manage to escape for a few days to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It was just what the doctor ordered. Below are a couple pictures from our fabulous vacation:

I'm already ready to go back!

365 Days of Bliss

N and I celebrated our first anniversary this weekend! He wined and dined me at the Back Bay's new restaurant, City Table, and we spent the night at the uber classy Lenox Hotel. Both exceeded our expectations.

It was a perfect night away with my favorite guy.

My favorite part of the night: taking our dessert to go and eating in front of the fireplace in our room! Some ladies want champagne and rose petals, but I'd opt for the apple and pear crumble any day.

Special Gifts

Happy New Year!

It's definitely tough to get back into the swing of things today. The last two weeks have been filled with lots of family and friend time. Egg nog drinking, movie watching and eating until I couldn't eat anymore. Perfection.

I also received a slew of fabulous gifts and I am very thankful.

But this year I bought myself the mother of all gifts. A major splurge. I bought a Gucci bag. The thing is beautiful. It should walk and talk given the hit to my bank account, but the minute I touched the leather, I couldn't resist and I broke out the debit card.

And I gave a very special gift. I made a pot roast. Correct, I don't eat meat and I made a pot roast. All for my meat-lovin bf. He died and went to heaven. The smile on his face let me know that the special dinner entree was his favorite Christmas gift of all. It's the little things in our house.

What special gift did you receive/give?

Sometimes You Just Have To Ask

The holidays are quickly approaching. Scary I know. Every year I like to get started on my shopping early, but in the process, I always find a ton of things I want to buy for myself. Is it sad that I'm 26 and still make a Christmas list? I.think.not.

This year, I need a new iPod. Mine shit the bed and I really miss bringing it to the gym and using my Bose SoundDock (it is currently collecting dust on my dresser). Thank you, Nana, for crossing that one off my list.

Here comes the splurge...I fell in love with this boyfriend jacket from J.Crew. However, I would never spend the money and buy it for myself. So I let N know that this would be my perfect gift and it will be waiting under the tree for me on the 25th.

Unlike most people, I'm not into surprise gifts. If I know someone is going to buy me something, I feel I might as well tell them what I'd like and be really happy with it, rather than have to trudge back to the mall and make a return. I feel it's a win-win.

Do you agree? What is on your "wish list" this holiday season?

It's My Party

Today is my birthday! And it's Friday! So I guess I should celebrate...all weekend.

The weekend will be full of friends, family, margaritas, shopping and spending time with N. Oh, and maybe a cupcake or two :)

Bittersweet - But More On The Sweet Side

Newsflash: I moved in with N this past weekend! Woah big move.

We packed up all my belongings in my cozy (little) apartment, loaded them into his truck, and as I was about to lock-up for the last time - I cried. Don't get me wrong, it's not because I want to stay. I've had some fabulous times on Cedar Street and I wouldn't change any of the twists and turns in my life that led me to the place I am today -I cried because it's a bittersweet feeling to move on to a new chapter in your life in such a physical way.

The minute we walked out the door, I was over it. Sometimes a girl just needs a minute.

I'm excited to be coexisting with my main man and making what was once just his home, ours :)

Bruce Came Back

I am lucky to have a fantastic boyfriend that took me to see Springsteen at the Comcast Center on Saturday night. As I'm sure you all know, or read about back in April, I'm a Bruce fanatic and it only helps that N is too. It was my first time seeing him play at an outdoor venue and it was perfect. We tailgated a bit before the show and a nice breeze helped break the summer heat.

As always, the band was awesome and the man himself couldn't have looked better. The highlights for me were: Trapped (a new favorite), She's the One (a forever favorite) and the most beautiful love song EVER, If I Should Fall Behind.

Bruce kept the energy up with a set list that really rocked the house.

Jackson Cage

She's the One

Working on the Highway

Hungry Heart

Outlaw Pete

Badlands

Working on a Dream

Seeds

Johnny 99

Point Blank

Raise Your Hand

Burning Love

For You

Trapped

Waiting on a Sunny Day

The Promised Land

If I Should Fall Behind

Backstreets

Lonesome Day

The Rising

Born to Run

Rosalita

Detroit Medley

Hard Times (Jay Weinberg made his appearance for the encore which was stellar)

American Land

Dancing in the Dark

Born in the USA
Twist & Shout

Much different from his original list, and that much better. The show is always magical and the boys never disappoint.

If You Found A Hundred Dollar Bill On The Sidewalk...

How would you spend it? There is a lot you could buy for $100, but I would do the following:

Buy this adorable dress from J.Crew - $39.99 (on sale!)

Treat the fam to an icecream at Pizzi Farm because Dad has paid one too many times (my pick: Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip frozen yogurt) - $14.00

Share an Upper Crust Garden Veggie pizza with my best girl friends accompanied by a hefty glass of chardonnay - $20.75

Rent a movie On Demand with N - $4.99

Call in sick from work and head to Good Harbor beach in Gloucester for the day - $20 to park ($25 on weekends)

I'm pretty happy with my choices and the grand total comes to... $99.73. Perfect.

For my blogger friends, please share your lists on your blogs. For my non-blogger friends, I'd love to read your lists too. Shoot me a comment with how you would blow 100 bucks if you had the chance!

The Highlight Of My Weekend

Spending the day with N in the North End. Oh and a bowl of chocolate chip gelato from Caffe Vittoria.What did you do this Memorial Day weekend?

Our Romantic Getaway

I don't have much time to write about my vacation at work, but I'll sum it up in one word - FABULOUS. Here are the pictures to document just how much fun we had.

Day 2: Bahamas, Atlantis Resort & Casino.

We got really good at taking our own pictures.

My first piña colada of the trip. Could I look happier?

Next stop, the aquarium at Atlantis. The fish loved N.

Holy octopus.

Day 3: CocoCay Beach, Bahamas.

N was really excited about the BBQ for lunch.

It was really windy, so we headed back to the ship.

Before dinner. N likes these pictures (because he looks great), so I put them up. I'm not a fan, but the mudslides look delish.

Day 4: Key West, Florida.

We hit up Sloppy Joe's for a margarita (10:00am).

Even more drinks at lunch.

And the Schooner Wharf Bar did us in.

The Blackberry and a cigar - perfection.

And somehow we made it back to the ship.

THE END :)

BRUUUUUUUCE

And the earth-shaking, booty-quaking, Viagra-taking, love-making, Le-gen-dary E - Street - Band were in full effect last night at the Garden and they were nothing less than amazing. Here is the set list:

Badlands

Candy's Room

Outlaw Pete

She's the One

Working on a Dream

Seeds

Johnny 99

Youngstown

Raise Your Hand

I Wanna Be Sedated

Spirit in the Night

For You

Waitin' on a Sunny Day

The Promised Land

Jungleland

Kingdom of Days

Radio Nowhere (w/ Jay Weinberg)

Lonesome Day (w/ Jay Weinberg)

The Rising (w/ Jay Weinberg)

Born to Run (w/ Jay Weinberg)

* * *

Hard Times

Thunder Road

Land of Hope and Dreams

So Young and in Love (w/ Dropkick Murphys' Tim Brennan)

American Land (w/ Dropkick Murphys, Jay Weinberg)

Glory Days (w/ Dropkick Murphys, Jay Weinberg)

Seven Nights to Rock

The highlights for me were (in no particular order): For You, She's the One, Radio Nowhere, guitarist Tim Brennan from the Dropkick Murphys proposing to his girlfriend on stage, and Bruce's tight jeans. What can I say, the man is dead sexy. If you were at the show, you'd have to agree that Max's son, Jay, truly kicked it up a notch when he took the place of his old man behind the drums. Seriously, he's 18? I wish I had that much talent.

It was a special night for me, not only sharing the experience with N (our first Springsteen show as a couple), but my mom, uncle, sister and nana were in the house. Yes, my 77 year-old nana was rockin' out to Glory Days close to midnight.

To the BOSS and the boys,

Thank you for making last night as magical as ever. You stroke the fire in my belly too.

xoxo,

Bean

Today Is Just One Of Those Days...

And I'm counting down the minutes until I'm on a cruise with N to the Bahamas and Key West. 18,720 minutes to be exact.

I've heard it's pretty warm outside today in Boston, but I haven't moved from my cube, so I wouldn't know (insert extremely crabby attitude). Hence why my scheduled vacation days can't come soon enough.

I won't hate spending a few days in tropical paradise

I Love You More Than...

My friend over at PR Moonlighting recently blogged about her two year anniversary with her boyfriend (congrats!) and how she used the site I Love You More Than Blank to let him know just how much she loves him. I did this for N a couple weeks back. Here is the heart I made for him:

Now I will explain why. Freddie is not real. Freddie is the miniature bulldog N and I plan to get at some point down the road. I have my heart set on a dog sooner than later, so I talk about him like he already lives with me. "Freddie would love going for a walk here..." - you get the picture. I talk about this imaginary dog so much that N feels like he will be kicked to the curb once he's really mine. I assured him he will always be #1, but Freddie comes a close second.

The Morning Commute

If you read this blog, I'm sure you have an idea of how much I hate taking public transportation to work. I went to my parents' house for dinner on Wednesday and I tried painting the picture of the morning commute. I've also tried describing it to N on several occassions and I guess you can't fully grasp the concept until it becomes part of your daily routine.

Here it goes.

First, the train has a distinct odor. Not a nice odor. The odor of burning brake pads and sweat. Boston temps are usually in the teens during the Winter, so the heat on the train is blasting to keep passengers warm. This is awesome ONLY for the few minutes it takes to defrost because on most days when people are dripping wet from snow or rain, the heat/wet combo makes for for a swampy mess. Not to mention I'm usually bundled up with a hat, scarf, gloves and the shiniest, puffiest jacket you will ever see - this does not equal hottness.

Now, finding a seat. It is every man for himself. During dinner, my mom asked, "do men usually give up their seats for women or the elderly," HELL NO, MOM if you find a seat you hold on to it for dear life. The trains are set up to have seating for two people on one side of the aisle and seating for three people on the other side. In my opinion the two-person seat is ideal because there is less of a chance to touch the other person. This is a big deal. Once you spot a seat and make the big attempt to sit down, you have to slide, ever so slightly into the seat, careful not to touch the person beside you. If you do, even by accident, there is no doubt that person will give you a dirty look for invading their personal space.

People do not speak on the train. Even if you are mid-conversation with someone you know waiting at the T stop (this has happened to me on several occassions), the conversation MUST be abruptly cut short because the glares you will get if you continue to chit-chat on the train will most likely be fatal. Same goes with talking on a cell phone. I always keep my phone on vibrate, but if you don't, you better pray it doesn't ring on the train. For the poor soul fumbling to find a ringing cell phone in his pocket, briefcase or at the bottom of a backpack, I feel for you. You will be the brunt of passengers' gasps as this is the mac-daddy of commuter no-nos. N doesn't understand the cell phone rule because he feels this would be a great opportunity for people to be "sealing deals and making moves." I agree, but I'm not going to be the first one to break from the norm.

A day in the life...oh how glamorous!