Hiatus

Hi my gems!

I am finally back after my two month hiatus.  These past two months have been a whirlwind as I began to prepare for a new journey in my life- a journey I have spent a decade imagining and years preparing for, and I let me tell you I cannot be more excited.  A few months back I was accepted into medical school.  I cannot be more honored, privileged, and blessed to spend the rest of my life helping people through the field of medicine. As I begin my new journey, I hope to continue with Gems and Gelato’s as long as possible since it has always been a creative outlet for me & a wonderful balance to the hectic science world.

What have you been up to so far this summer my gems?! Don’t forget to comment & subscribe below. xo

 

A Weekend in Philly

{A weekend in Philly}

A couple weeks ago, Brian and I spent the weekend in Philly.  The weather was great, the food was fantastic, and the trip couldn’t have been more fun.  We started the weekend with an open mind, excited to try some good food and explore what Philly had to offer.  We started off at Reading Terminal Market– which was amazing.  We walked up and down the aisles filled with great pastries, produce, seafood, and of course, ice cream.  After consuming an unconceivable amount of cookies and ice cream from the merchants we walked along the streets to find adorable cafés and restaurants overflowing with people in the gorgeous sunny weather.  We had our mind set that this is where we would come back for dinner and boy was it the best decision of the weekend.  The first night we ate at The Corner.

Before I tell you about this place let me back track a bit.  It was Saturday night around 7:30- probably prime dinner time in the popular little hub of food heaven.  We had no reservations and were hoping to get in at least somewhere (being NYC people, we should have thought about making a reservation before hand). We walked aimlessly into about 5 restaurants and after a half hour of being told the wait was about “an hour and forty-five minutes” we were hungry and getting anxious. So, we happened to try one last spot before giving up- The Corner.  The hostess told us that the wait was just as long but if we wanted we could sit at the chef’s table right away.  I wasn’t sure what the heck a “chef’s table” was, but Brian and I were so hungry that we decided to give it a try.

BEST DECISION OF OUR LIVES.

We sat at this long marble counter facing the open kitchen. We were able to watch the chefs prepare all the food and asked them about certain dishes.  The food was fantastic, one of the chefs even gave us a little bit of hush puppies to try since we told him we’ve never had them before.  It wound up being such a great experience and look forward to eating there again.  On Sunday we went to the Phillies game and tried out another restaurant for dinner on the strip called El Vez which was amazing.  I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend & I’m excited to explore Philly again soon!

{Reading Terminal Market}

{Mussels @ The Corner}

{Grilled Pork Chop @ The Corner}

{Phillies Game}

{Brian at the Phillies game enjoying the warm weather}

{Guac & Chips @ El Vez}

Please comment and subscribe below.  Have any of you been to Philly & know of any great hot spots?

A Weekend in Ithaca

A couple of weekends ago my parents and I went to Ithaca, New York, for my sisters swim meet. My friend, Jaclyn, decided to come along  with us, which added even more fun to the party.   Ithaca is only about a three and a half hour drive from our house, but it was just so nice to get away for the weekend.  We started off the weekend by heading over to the swim meet, then to Kilpatrick’s Publick House for some lunch where we had their fish and chips, sheppard’s pie, and burgers. Yum.

After we absolutely stuffed ourselves on some lunch, we set out for some local sight seeing around Ithaca before the second session of the swim meet started. We happened to stumble upon Buttermilk Falls State Park, which was such a fun time!  It actually happened to be the first time I saw a waterfall and was super excited despite that fact that it was almost frozen over.

{Buttermilk Falls State Park}

Next, we headed over to a local food store to pick up some groceries for dinner.   As we were checking out, I asked the cashier how to get to Cayuga Lake- one of New York’s Finger Lakes.  After a little bit of navigating we made it, and let me just tell you, it was  perfect.   When we got there, the sun was setting and the reflection off the frozen lake was breathtaking.

{Cayuga Lake}

{Jaclyn and Dad standing on frozen Cayuga Lake}

{Jaclyn and me venturing out onto the lake}

Until next year, Ithaca.

* I do not recommend standing on frozen Cayuga Lake unless stated otherwise 

Liebster Award

I am so happy to announce that the beautiful Bobbi from http://www.productdoll.com/ has nominated me for the Liebster Award! 

The Liebster Award Rules: 

(1) Link back to the blogger that nominated you

(2) Answer the 11 questions requested by the nominator

(3) Choose 11 nominees with small followings – about under 200

(4) You cannot nominate the person who nominated you

(5) You must let the bloggers know they were nominated

Answers to Bobbi’s Questions:

1. What is your most prized possession in your closet?

Right now it is my new Forever 21 shirt.  It is just perfect, so perfect that I have two of them.

2. Who is your style icon?

I love Miranda Kerr’s style.  She is effortlessly fashionable, I love that.

3. What is your favorite magazine?

Glamour & Self

4. Lipstick or lip gloss?

Lipgloss, but lately I’ve been all over the Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm‘s which I feel are a happy medium between lipstick & lip gloss. Love them.

5. Since it is almost Valentine’s Day, who would you want to have as your celebrity Valentine?

Since my boyfriend Brian is not a celebrity, I guesssss I’d have to settle for celebrity valentine James Franco.

6. What is your favorite movie?

This is a toughie, I have way too many favorites. But, one of my new favorites is the Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa  McCarthy, which I literally watched 5 times the first week I  saw it.

7. If you could go shopping with anyone, who would you pick?

If I could go shopping with anyone, it would definitely be Tim Gunn. He has such a good eye for style and just seems so sweet.

8. Who first taught you how to do your makeup?

The first time I learned how to do my makeup was when my mom brought me to the Clinique counter at the mall.

9. When was your last fashion purchase and what did you buy?

Oh goodness, let’s see… I believe it was a chain headband.

10. What do you love about being a blogger?

I absolutely love connecting with other new bloggers who are on the same journey as me.  It has been a lot of fun so far.

11. What are your dreams and goals as a blogger for 2014?

I would love to inspire others to find the hidden gems in life because life is a beautiful thing and there is so much to smile about.

My nominees:

1. http://jessisdesign.blogspot.com/

2. http://thelittlespork.com/

3. http://chuzailiving.wordpress.com/ (over 200 followers but totally worth nominating)

4. http://themakeupsaga.wordpress.com/

5. http://www.brittanysjoy.com/

6. http://simplysweetmelissa.blogspot.com/

7. http://the-fashion-blender.blogspot.com/p/about-fashion-blender.html

8. http://cityjulep.com/

9. http://www.sprinklesandstyle.com/

10. http://www.bellesinbows.com/

11. http://tastefullyprep.blogspot.com/

My Questions for the Nominee’s:

1. How did your blog get it’s name?

2. What are three things you cannot live without?

3.  Who is your role model?

4.  Gold or silver?

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world (and money wasn’t an issue) where would you go?

6. How do you make, or plan to make, the world a better place?

7. What is one thing you want to accomplish next year?

8.  Who is your style icon?

9.  What is your favorite dessert?

10.  What is one of your secret talents?

11. What are your blogging goals for 2014?

DIY Monogrammed Wine Glasses

{DIY Gift Set: Monogrammed wine glasses paired with red wine}

Valentines Day is coming up and it is my favorite holiday. Don’t ask me why- it could be because when I was little my mom and dad always seemed to include my sister and me on their Valentines Day “date night.” So, from a young age it was less of the romantic holiday and more of a holiday to express how much we love the family and friends in our lives.

Last week I was in a super crafty mood and made the cutest DIY Valentines Day basket:  monogrammed stemless wine glasses paired with a bottle of red wine.  Etching the wine glasses puts a personal touch on the gift set and was so easy that anyone can do it, pinky promise.

What you’ll need: 2 stemless glass wine glasses (my local dollar store had them- crazy),Glass Etch Cream, paintbrush, stencil, and rubbing alcohol.  Since I couldn’t find any monogrammed stencils I liked in particular, I printed a monogrammed letter and taped it to the inside of the glass and used it as a guide. So if you can’t find what you’d like in stencil form…do what I did, simple as that!

Next, following the directions on the class etching cream, I rubbed glass surface with rubbing alcohol, then carefully painted the monogram using the paper guide behind it, let the cream dry for 15 minutes, then washed it off.

I am positive a valentine will love this thoughtful gift set- I mean who wouldn’t.  Don’t forget to comment and subscribe below. Happy Tuesday!

My Past Month Via Instagram

1. Surprise Birthday get-together with our college friends

2. My dog, Rolex, on the beach. Get it? He’s a watch dog.

3. Brian and my friend at his family bakery picking up Thanksgiving pie orders

4. Mexico, makes me depressed thinking of how I’m back in the cold weather- let’s not talk about it

5. Brian on the jetty at the beach

6. Brian and his puppy Mumford- Mumford’s face is just the cutest!

Personal Struggles Against the Internet

We probably have all been there at some point. You open your laptop, go online, and find yourself doing exactly opposite of what you went on there to do.  You enter the unforeseen layers of the internet and sometimes never return.  Here are just some battles I always lose to the internet:

YouTube

Youtube how to [fill in the blank]

Get distracted by the suggested videos on the side

[Click]

Enter the black hole of YouTube

Watch cute babies laughing and kitten videos for the next hour

How cute, though?

Living Social/Groupon/ Every other deal site on the internet

Look for a great deal, because why pay full price

“Oh look a Costa Rica vacation for 7 nights. Looks great, pictures are persuasive, tempted to book the flight right now.”

On second thought I should probably save my money.

Buy 5 other local deals instead to fill my hearts empty space of sans Costa Rica sadness

Google

Attempt to Google “Government Shutdown Aftermath”

Accidentally type “google” into the google search bar. [backspace]

Start typing and Google suggests something ridiculous

Now I’m interested. [Click]

What was I googling again?

Oh right… Bernese Mountain dog puppies.

Pinterest

“Let’s see what kind of cake I can make for Ali’s birthday”

Repin 357 pins onto my style inspiration, kitchen inspiration, and backyard inspiration boards.

Am I serious with this amount of pins? Style? Ok whatever, I let it slide. Home ideas? Who am I kidding… I’m not an interior designer and I still live at home. Ugh.

Shut computer.

Still no cake recipe.

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide Under $100: For Kids

1. Seedling Design Your Own Super Hero Cape

2. Melissa & Doug Cloe & Zoe Dress Up Dolls

3. Doodle, reusable, 4-Piece  Placemat

4. Finger Printing Set: Fairy Tales Edition  or  Monsters Edition

5. Fortune Cookie Baby Booties 

6. Seedling Make Your Own Snow Globe

Day 5: The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Kids.  I have found the cutest gifts for kids, gifts I kind of want to try out for myself- minus the fortune cookie booties. Gifts like: design your own superhero cape, dress up dolls, reusable/washable doodle placemats, finger printing set (fairy tales & monsters), fortune cookie booties (I died when I first saw these), and a make your own snow globe kit.  Just click the links above to find out where to buy them.

I hope this made your holiday shopping a little bit easier. Happy holiday gifting!

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide Under $100: For the People Who Have Everything

1. Major Scale Musical Wine Glasses- Set of Two 

2. Scratch Map Travel Edition

3. Ticket Stub Diary

4. My Life Story- So Far

5. IQ Test 

6. Driftwood Iphone Charging Dock (Here it is for the Samsung Galaxy)

Day 4: For the people who have everything.  Seriously, is it just me or are these the absolute worst people to get presents for?  Every unique present idea is shot down with something along the lines of “they probably have that.”

Books? They definitely have them all. They probably even have a secret library. Electronics? Got it. Their kid probably got an Ipad at their 2nd birthday and can use it better than me.  Painted unicorn? Probably have that too.

So, I went on a search for presents I am pretty sure they don’t have. A musical major scale set of wine glasses (to play music as you drink- way cool), a scratch-off map of places they have been, a ticket stub diary of all their adventures, their own book- My life story so far, an IQ test, and a driftwood Iphone/Galaxy Charging Dock. For… drum roll please.. under $100.

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide Under $100: The Foodie

1. Menu Mashup- The Food Game

2. Kitchen Coquette: The Go-To Guide for Those Random Life Scenarios When Food Is the Only Answer

3. The Spice Lab Gourmet Sea Salt Sampler 

4. Ballard Bee Company Wildflower Honey

5.  Takeout Menu Organizer 

6. Destination Dinners Exotic Dinner Kit 

Day 3: The Foodie! I have to admit, if you haven’t already realized, but I am a total foodie.  So, picking out 6 unique “Foodie” gifts under $100 was not a challenge one bit. I picked out a menu mashup food game, a go-to guide for random life scenarios when food is the only answer, a sea salt sampler, wildflower honey, an awesome take out menu organizer, and a destination dinners exotic dinner kit. Pretty much perfect “foodie” gifts.  We love food,  we love gifts, so obviously we all will love food gifts.

Time to take food shopping to a whole new level.