Spring-spiration!

Finally, Spring has (pretty much) sprung!  It doesn't seem like it with the overcast sky today, but I swear it's here.  This past weekend I took a quick 48-hour trip with my momma to the Outer Banks to get her house ready for the season, and I got a little taste of spring weather.  The locals were complaining about the freezing weather, but when we walked outside to a 55 degree day, we were fiiiine with it!  Anyway, I think it's about time for a Spring fashion wish list!

1. Destroyed Denim & a Simple Tee - I know distressed denim was a trend several years ago, but for some reason I am dying to rock a pair of destroyed jeans with a simple tank and embellished sandals.  I still can't bring myself to spend $200+ on a pair of jeans, so I may see a DIY project in my near future.  I'm sure I have a pair of jeans just waiting to be ruined somewhere ;)  The look above includes a stack of Alex & Ani bracelets and glitter sandals from Tar-jay.

2. Fresh Florals & Bright White - The buds are soon-to-be blossoming and I'm trying to wear them all!  I'm reaching for the stars with these white shorts, but they can easily be switched out for white jeans while the temps are still warming up.  The top is from Polyvore and sandals are from Zara.  The two polishes are Essie Mezmerised and Mint Candy Apple!

3. Comfortable Maxi & Clean Neutrals - I feel like a could work the crop top trend if I had a high-waisted maxi to pair with it.  Add some chunky wedges and long necklace... can someone please put this outfit in my closet? Please?  By the way, the bag picture above is the mini satchel from Cambridge - dying for one with my initials (in gold... hint hint, Scott).

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Those a just a few outfit ideas I'd like to try out this Spring.  If anyone wants to put these looks together and hang them in my closet I'd lurve you forever!

Redesign: Basement Style

Two weeks ago I came home to the sweet sound of a razor blade on carpet.  We've been wanting to redo our basement for almost two years, and Scott finally decided enough was enough and started ripping out the carpet!  By the next day the carpet was out, furniture was listed on FreeCycle, and we were picking out tile.

We picked out Cold Steel from Behr for the walls and light gray 12x24 tiles; they look tan above but they are really a light gray.  The floors should be done today (fingers and toes crossed... come on luck of the Irish!), and we'll be ordering a sectional this week.

This past weekend Scott and I went furniture shopping and it was quite the experience!  We went from store to store seeing what was available, out of budget, and just ugly.  We dealt with salesman 20 years on the job versus 2 weeks; I was over it 6 stores later.  I ended up really liking a piece from Macy's, but once we got home and measured it with with fish tank measurements (Scott's upgrading to a bigger tank), I realized it would be way too snug.  So onto plan B!

In terms of measurements and price, the Whitten sectional from Raymour & Flannigan is our best bet.  The pillows will have to be switched out since they don't fit with the color scheme, but I found a couple I like at Target.  The area rug is from Target, too, and I'm hoping it will tie the gray from the tiles in with the neutral tan couch.

The lighting in the basement is no bueno so I'd like to get a lamp that brings a lot of light in and have an electrician come out to look at putting some high hats in on the stairs.  We're also working on refinishing the stairs and installing a runner - lots of things to pick out and projects to finish!  I'll be posting about installing the runner ourselves and a few other DIY projects along the way - stay tuned :)

Visiting The Allergist aka How I Like To Waste My Wednesday Night

A few weeks ago I was trying to come up with ways I could rush out of work early leaving a few co-workers annoyed to sit in an office somewhere for 3+ hours and listen to things I already know about myself.

Okay, that's not exactly how this all came about, but that's how it felt last night.  Heads up, this post is just littered with complaints; you've been warned.

Ever since I can remember I've been popping my collar I've had allergic reactions to medicines, metals, lotions, fragrances, animals, seasonal allergies, etc.  You name it, I sneeze it.  But for the past year, I've had reactions out the wazoo that don't tend to go away too quickly so my doctor recommended I see an allergist. It took 5 weeks to be able to get in and 5 years* to fill out all the paperwork.
*Slight exaggeration.

If you've ever visited the allergist, you know you have to provide your entire medical history and then some.  They want to know what kind of house you live in (Summerhouse was an option and I was tempted to pick that), how often you keep your windows open, and what type of flooring you have in your house - nosy much??

So I get to the allergist (thanks Molly for coming with me!) and first I see the doctor's assistant.  She gets some more info from me which was basically everything I filled out, but, hey, let's talk through it!  Then I sit and wait to see the doctor.  He was very nice and did a quick examination before telling me we would do the prick test.

Back into the hallway we went to wait for the doctor's assistant.  She took me into her office where we started with a breathing test.  I've done these before since I have asthma, so I'm familiar with how they work.  You take a big breath and blow as hard as you can into this contraption that measures your lung capacity.  Nothing like getting lightheaded nice and quick.

The prick test though... ahmagad.  They numbered my arms with 41 dots and then used this little needles that felt like bites.  And let me tell you, they hurt!  Molly definitely had to distract me a bit because this part sucked and my arms starting getting really itchy.

Annnnnd back into the hallway to wait 15 minutes while the allergy dots develop and itch even more.
I can tell right away that only three things are welting up.  When the assistant calls us back in, she looks at my arm and the numbers and tells me that I'm reacting to cats, dogs and birch trees.  I'm pretty sure my reaction looked a little like this:

If they had read the novel of paperwork I filled out and/or listened to the verbal list of allergies - I already know that I'm allergic to cats and dogs.  I've had a blood test.  This is not news to me.  And the fact that I waited so long (oh, I should mention, we're 2 hours in so far) to find out what I already knew was juuuust lovely.

So back into the the hallway we go (again) to wait (again) to talk to the doctor (again).  He "diagnoses" me with asthma and tells me how I can help lessen the effects of cat allergies, what soaps I should use (already using), what lotion I should switch to (already using), and what allergy medicine I should take (already taking).  I was so frustrated at this point hearing things that I already know.  Over ittttt.

At the end of my three hour waste of time field trip to the allergist, they said they'd like me to come back for some more extensive testing.  I made the appointment but it's getting canceled.  Not really looking to waste even more time (and money... not looking forward to that bill) to find nothing new out.

If you read this entire bitch-fest I'm impressed.  Excuse me while I go refill my tissue holder.

How I Plan A Trip

Whenever I'm getting ready to go away, I do quite a bit of research and planning.  Not every minute is scheduled and planned, but I definitely have a good idea of how the trip is going to go.  I've always been a planner, so planning vacation to me is fun.  I'm talking about planning around local events, deals, and places to eat, not planning what time to set your alarm everyday and exactly hour many hours will be spent on the beach.  Trips are meant to be fun and relaxed, but that doesn't mean you should travel unprepared!

Depending on if I'm traveling internationally or not, my planning will be a bit different.  Right now, I'm getting all our reservations together for New Orleans next month.  We're only there for a few days, so planning them out a bit will help us see as much as we can.  Here's my advice for planning ahead for a stress free and fun vacation!

1. Read all about it and ask around

Some of my greatest resources are my friends!  If they've traveled wherever you're heading (and you trust their opinion), friends can be a huge asset in planning.  Get their thoughts on where to stay and must-see places.

In addition, I always search Google to find out what the weather should be like, the places to see, and usually some history.  I like knowing where I'm headed to have a better idea of what will work for not only myself, but who I'm traveling with.  It's important to take into account who is on the trip and what their interests are.

2. Get the scoop on local food

Trying new foods is a huge part of traveling, and there are some great resources that can help you decide where to stop and where to skip.  I always check the Food Network site and, of course, Yelp!  Yelp is great for recommending places for any meal of the day, while I check out the Food Network for specialty stops.  If there is a place nearby mentioned on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and it sounds good to me, it's making the list!  After reviewing places on both sites, I try to make a few reservations.  These are obviously helpful if you're traveling with a large group during a busy time (check and check for NOLA!).

3. Understand your surroundings

Google Maps is incredibly helpful in deciding where to stay.  I normally find a hotel within the area we want to stay and check out how far it is from the airport and places we specifically want to see.  For New Orleans, Google Maps is incredibly helpful in finding out walking times and even biking terrain.  It's nice to see a street view of the hotel we'll be visiting so we know what to look for and what is around the corner.

4. Check out local events

Knowing what is going on where you're visiting is crucial.  This information helps understand why hotel rates could be high and if you're going to be walking into a stampede or a ghost town.  If you're traveling internationally, you have to do this!  I remember when we visited Italy the first time some of the towns were on their summer siesta so they were basically closed...like the entire town.  Trust me, look into what's going on wherever you're headed!

5. Groupon is your new BFF

Groupon is awesome for both hotel deals and local deals.  Look out for those and local activities like pub crawls and tours.  Often times you can snag a great deal so it's worth checking often.

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Hopefully some of these tips can help you plan your next trip.  Once I get closer to leaving, I start to plan my outfits and what makes the cut into my suitcase!  If you have any trip planning tips, leave me a comment :)