Date Idea: Apple Picking

October 10, 2017

Express Chunky Cardigan (comes in 4 other colors) // BP White Long Sleeve Tee (only 19 bucks) // Express High Waist Distressed Denim // Steve Madden Booties // Mantra Band Pendant (She Believed She Could, So She Did) // “A” Pendant // Daniel Wellington Petite Melrose Watch // Lucky Wrap Ring // Gold Stud Earrings // RayBan Aviators

It’s FALL Y’ALL! Well, it’s actually finally kinda starting to feel like Fall here around Philly. Just last week it was 90%!! (Can you imagine how much fun I had teaching third graders in my non-air-conditioned classroom?? Insert long eye roll) Anyyyywhoooooo, B and I were super excited that the weekend was calling for some cooler weather! So, with that in mind we decided to plan out one of our favorite day date activities: apple picking. We headed out a local and fabulous place to do so called Tabora Farms and Orchard. If you are ever in the Philly suburbs, you really need to stop at this place. No, for real…. you HAVE TO! It is just the cutest. Not only can you apple pick, but they have a gorgeous bakery, deli AND wine tasting. Yeah, you heard me right….WINE TASTING. The place itself is just so pretty and makes for a fun and relaxing day date with your bae. Tabora Farms and Orchard also holds many events, so be sure to check out their events page here.

Another reason I love apple of any fruit picking as a fun date idea is because you get to spend quality time together in a gorgeous outdoor setting. My other fave part about it is that you can make this date two parts!! B and I love to go apple picking and then pick an apple themed recipe to bake together with the apples we picked! Stay tuned for a blog post on the quick, fun, and easy apple recipe we made!

What’s your favorite day date with your main squeeze??? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop me a comment below!!

Shop the post:

How He Proposed

August 10, 2017

Proposal Night Outfit Deets

Alison: Lush Tunic (only $27) // AG Black Skinny Jeans // Valentino Rockstud Dupes // Black Leather Moto Jacket // Tiffany Studs // Burberry Watch // Tory Burch Boots (you’ll read about these in the text)

Brian: Black Peacoat // Ralph Lauren Jeans // Ralph Lauren Dress Shirt // Ralph Lauren Sweater // Wingtips

Happiest Thursday to y’all! Today I’m sharing something a little new with you. The Dating Diaries is taking a little break but will resume soon. (peep the previous Dating Diaries here) Why you ask??? Welp, B and I getting excited to celebrate our first wedding anniversary in October and I wanted to share some of the things we did while planning our big day! I have a bunch of fun posts to share with all of you brides to be!! Today, I thought I would get a little more personal with y’all and share our proposal story! So away we go!!!

If you read Monday’s post, y’all already know what a “Secret Date” is. If you don’t, read it here, first so you know how our proposal unfolded.

It was November and it was B’s turn to plan a secret date. Little did I know that I was going to be a fiance by the end of that weekend! So, in true B fashion…he pulled out all the stops. (I mean I know I’m a little biased, but B is THE BEST at planning dates!) Anywhoooooo, he had me talk at half day of work that Friday and we headed off. Once we arrived at the train station, I had a sneaking suspicion that we were heading to NYC. I was getting super pumped for a trip to NYC, because I just LOVE it sooooooo much. My suspicions were right and we arrived in NYC just a short train ride later. We checked into our beautiful hotel where B had reserved a gorgeous rooftop suite for us! B informed me that we were going to spend the rest of the evening looking at the Christmas displays, seeing the tree being put up in Rockefeller center and sipping some cocktails. It was the perfect Friday evening!! I honestly didn’t think anything was up bc every year since we have met, we have visited NYC to see the xmas lights and tree!

Saturday we headed out early to the Meatpacking District. Brian took me to do a few of my fave things….brunch, wine, and shopping!! We strolled around and enjoyed the beautiful fall day! (PS: He really threw me off by buying me Tory Burch boots a few hours before he proposed! My friends back home were watching my Facebook/texts and when the saw he bought me the boots…they were all mad bc they thought he wouldn’t propose bc he was buying me expensive boot! lol…that B is quite the trickster!!)

After taking in the sights, we headed back to our hotel to shower up and get ready for the night. We got all fancied up and headed out. We ended up at a hotel where B said we were going for a happy hour event. It was a little before 5 pm and unfortunately the event wasn’t ready to start yet. Little did I know, but that “event” would change my life forever. Since we couldn’t get in yet, we headed to a nearby bar to grab a drink.

Finally, we made our way back to the event and we headed in the elevator up to the rooftop. When the doors opened and I turned the corner, there was a little table and chairs set up with candles and champagne. I kind of started to wonder why we were the only ones were there…but I still had no idea what was coming. B took my hand and started his little heartfelt speech and got down on one knee. I of course, screamed, “YES”…I’m sure everyone in NYC heard me!!! Even more amazing….once I turned around I saw the photographer!! B had not only rented out the whole rooftop bar for us, but he had also hired a photographer to capture the wholeeeee thing!! So awesome!! We popped some champagne and the photographer took many photos of us to capture our special memory. After the photos, B had planned for everything and we had an extra 45 mins on the rooftop so that I could call everyone and tell them we were engaged!! It was such a magical memory!!

The night didn’t end there though. B had reservations at a gorgeous steakhouse and then dessert at a fancy chocolate place!! It was one of the best night of our lives!! We rode the train home that Sunday and stopped for lunch where both of our families were waiting to congratulate us and celebrate!!!

All in all….my hubs did such a stellar job with the proposal. I am sooooooo lucky to have such an incredible guy who goes the extra extra mile to make me one happy, happy girl!!!

Come on and share the LOVE!! How did your hubs propose??? I’d love to hear about your happy ending. Drop me a comment below!!

Shop the post:

How to Keep Your Relationship Fun!

August 7, 2017

Outfit deets:

Alison: Black tunic (have it in five colors and under $30) // Distressed Jeans (similar) // Seamless Cami // Tory Burch Miller Sandals (color is sand patent) // Tote Bag // Quay Australia Sunnies // Monogram Necklace // Hermes Clic Clac Bracelet // Daniel Wellington Petite Melrose Watch // Lucky Wrap Ring // Crossover Ring // Gold Stud Earrings

Brian: Navy Linen Shirt (on sale for $22) // Shorts (only $30)// Slip on sneakers (only $32)// Rayban Aviators // Basic Blue Tee

Happy Monday lovelies!! Hope y’all are having a great start to your week. I’m super excited about today’s post and I can’t wait to share with you. If you have read my dating diaries, you are already aware that it took me a hot minute to finally find my Prince Charming. Once I knew he was “the one” (which didn’t take me long to figure out) I knew that I would do whatever it took to keep that deep love going strong. If you have been around these passionate parts a while now, then you know that B and I take a lot of pride into researching things to do etc. We got to talking one day about dating. To us, even when you are married, we still think it’s important to date each other. It keeps the relationship fresh and strong. As we talked back and forth about ideas for dates and so on…we thought of a super fun idea!! This “idea” is one that we practice EVERY.SINGLE.MONTH! It is so much fun to do. Once you try it….you’ll never look back! So, what is this magic idea? We call it the “Secret Date”. Here’s how it works. Each month one of us plans a “Secret Date” for the other person. For example: August: I plan a date for B. September B plans a date for me. The most fun part about the date is that it is a secret. I mean, the other person has no idea where the date is or what it is until they get there. I know, I know…that’s prob already making some of you anxious not knowing where or what you would be doing, but TRUST me…the secret part is what makes it soooo fun!!! So, how do we come up with these secret dates? Back when B and I came up with the idea, we both sat down and just brainstormed lists of all the things we each love. Then, I kept B’s list and he kept mine. This way we always have an idea list to start from. Here are some of the things we each put on our list.

Brian

craft beer, pizza, Philadelphia Eagles, La Salle Basketball, wings, whiskey/bourbon, rooftop bars/beer gardens, college football, Batman, Star Wars, comics, steak, Quizzo, beach

Alison

wine, fancy cocktails, cooking/baking, anything pink, flowers, outdoor/rooftop bars, live music, any type of festivals, working out, Friends, Harry Potter, Penn State, NYC, shopping

Your list can be anything and everything you can think of!! A few examples of past Secret Dates we’ve done.

Brian planned a day at the Penn State vs. Temple game for me. I didn’t know until we got close to the stadium and he even had adorable Penn State tees for us to change into when we arrived. He also had gotten us tickets to not only the game but one of Philly’s coolest tailgating experiences called the PhanCave.
A date I did for Brian was taking him to the Philadelphia Eagles training camp. I bought him a new jersey with our last name on the back for him to put on when we got there. We also picked up my little bro and sis in law on the way. Brian thought we were going to help my bro do something at his house!!
The date you see in the pics is one I just took Brian on. I researched all of the outdoor beer gardens and rooftop bars in Philly. We headed down early on a Saturday. We went to a bunch of different beer gardens and tried beers and sampled snacks. One of our favorite things to keep cost down is to share an app or two instead of eating huge meals. Plus it’s fun to try a bunch of different snacks out.

Since relationships are something that I am really passionate about, I’m hoping to bring you lots more fun date ideas and of course my crazyyyyy stories and the adventure it was to finally meet my husband. Keep your eye out for a whole new series of date nights for you and your s/o to try!

What’s the best date your s/o has ever planned for you? Do you have a go-to date night that’s your fave? Spread the love and drop me a comment below. I’d love to hear how you keep your relationships going strong.

The Beer Gardens and rooftop bars featured in this post are: Spruce Street Harbor Park, Morgan’s Pier, Haas Biergarten, and the Revolution House. Please feel free to ask any questions…I’d be more than happy to answer them for you.

Shop the looks:

Dating Diaries: Episode 15 + Red Tank Dress

August 2, 2017

Red Tank Dress (comes in black too, here) // Beaded Necklace // Lace up sandals (only $40)// Cult Gaia Ark Bag // Dupe for Cult Gaia Bag (less than 1/2 the price!) // Rayban Aviators // Hermes Clic Clac Bracelet // Daniel Wellington Petite Melrose Watch // Lucky Wrap Ring // Crossover Ring

Happiest of Hump Days to y’all!!! I’m winding down on my outfits on my recent trip to Bermuda and I couldn’t pass up sharing this beauty. I LOVE this dress because it is so versatile. It can be dressed up or down, and can be worn as a summer or fall look! I’ll def be wearing this into fall paired with a denim jacket and some booties! It is also comes in a black version and a similar navy style. The best part is that they are all around 50 bucks!! What a score!! I absolutely love red paired with any shade of blue….so I added this gorgeous aqua necklace to make a bold statement. Add some cute flat sandals and some sunnies and you have the perfect casual look.

Dating Diaries: Episode 15

If you are new to the dating diaries or just want some good belly laughs, peep the previous episodes, here.

Ahhhhh, date number 15. What a treat you were. I’m sure you all are wondering why in the world was I still going on dates at this point. Welp, ladies, for any of you out there in the dating game, sometimes it can feel hopeless going on date after date that ends horribly. I, on the other hand, actually tried to put a positive spin on each terrible date. I figured each date gave me a little more experience, I learned new things about myself, and it helped me to narrow my focus to what I really DID want in a husband. Good news is, I found him! It took me awhile, but I’m so happy I persisted, bc he is the best thing to ever happen to me!! The moral of the story is, you know that quote…”Good things come to those who wait.” ?? Welp, it is undoubtedly TRUE! Anywhooooo, Date 15 was tall, dark, and handsome…just the way I like em’!! Lol. I met him through a dating app, but it ended up that he actually knew a friend of mine. (I figured I could count that as a setup, amirite?) Hehe. We ended up meeting at one of my fave local places. (no, no, it’s actually NOT a Mexican restaurant this time. I’m sure y’all are shocked!!) If you ever are in the area from May-October….you absolutely MUST check this place out. It’s called the Tiki Bar and it’s located at Spring Mountain Ski Area. I was so pumped to meet date 15 because this place is known for their yummy Hurricane drinks and food. We met on a balmy Friday night. I was feeling confident in my flowy maxi dress and was ready to see what this new guy had to offer. Tiki Bar is an outdoor place that overlooks the ski area. They have huge grills to cook and you select your meals out of deli case. (Think: an outdoor version of Melting Pot with huge grills!!) We said our hellos and ordered ourselves some of the famous Hurricanes. I was so pumped bc I thought this place was such a fun atmosphere for a first date and I couldn’t wait to pick out some food and cook together. Unfortunately for me, I left that night with an empty gut and no second date in sight. #sigh #eyeroll The date started off great, drinks were flowing, the convo was great…that is until, a gaggle of 21 year old girls rolled in. It was one of the girls birthdays and she had just turned 21 that day. It was only a matter of minutes before my date decided that he wanted to buy these girls some shots. I kinda felt like that was a weird thing to do on a first date, but figured maybe he was trying to look like a big shot (ps: you looked like a creeper) and show off that he could buy a whole round of shots. That of course did not impress me at all. The 21 year old girls politely said thank you and moved to another spot at the bar. Date 15 and I continued our convo and ordered another hurricane. A few minutes later, nature was calling and I excused myself to the ladies room. Upon returning, I noticed date 15 was no longer sitting at the bar. As I scanned the crowd, I heard some chanting….”Shots, Shots, Shots”. Welp, guess who was in the middle of the crowd screaming at the top of his lungs? Good ole’ date number 15. He had meandered back over to the 21 year olds and was buying shot after shot plus downing some himself. #soclassy I called his name a few times, but at that point, he was buzzing off hurricanes and shots so he didn’t even hear me or prob didn’t even remember I was even there! So, I did what any respectable gal would do…I made like Houdini and disappeared. Ain’t nobody got time for a guy who leaves your date to down shots with a group of 21 year old girls. The ride home was less than stellar, mostly bc I I missed out on some chillin’ and grillin’. I never did find out what had become of date 15…maybe him and 21st bday girl are married by now…who knows? My Prince Charming was clearly not this guy….shots on a first date was not my Prince’s forte.

Pro Dating Tip #15

Although I am a huge fan of LMFAO and Lil’ Jon….I do not care to be part of shots, shots, shots, shots, shots on a first date. #nuffsaid (dang it….now that song is in my head!!)

So, ladies???? Shots on a first date??? Classy or Catastrophic? What’s your take? Drop me a comment below…I’d love to hear from you.

Shop the look:

Dating Diaries: Episode 14 + Tropical Two Piece Set

July 26, 2017

Tropical Print Two Piece Set // J. Crew Double Hoop Earrings // Cult Gaia Ark Bag // Dupe for Cult Gaia Ark Bag (less than 1/2 the price!!) // Jaylen Wedges // Hermes Clic Clac Bracelet // Daniel Wellington Petite Melrose Watch // Crossover Ring // Orange Rayban Aviators

Would also look great with: white tank // white cutoffs // white skinnies // distressed white skinnies

Holllaaaa y’all!!! It’s Hump Day!!! Before we get to the newest Dating Diaries installment, I’m sharing this dream of an outfit. I can’t tell you how much I absolutely LOVE this outfit. It was def one of my faves from my recent trip to Bermuda. I wore this over to a place called the Dock for drinks on the south side of the island. It was the perfect beachy/island outfit for vacation! It is actually two pieces and you can pull the skirt up or down depending on if you want to show any skin. I wore the skirt high-waisted so it looked more like the two pieces were attached. The skirt also looks adorable with a plain white tank and you could even wear the top with some white skinnies or cutoffs.

Dating Diaries: Episode 14

If haven’t had the chance to read the previous Dating Diaries, you can peep them here.

Oh date number 14!!! So, if you haven’t figured out yet by my “Dating Diaries” locations or by my plentiful Taco Tuesday instastory posts….I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD! Anytime I can get my hands on salsa, queso, or guac, I’m in heaven!! Anywhooo, that will make it no surprise that I met date number 14 at another cherished mexican joint called Tex Mex. Man, thinking about it makes me want to runnnnnnn to my car and drive over for a marg and chips!! Taco Tuesday was upon us and when I walked in, I saw date 14 sitting at the bar. I knew it was him bc he had a freshly shaved head like he did in his pics. I don’t know about ya’ll, but I loved a shaved head…I find it very sexy!! So, we were off to a good start. Lol. We got my traditional fave…margs, salsa, guac and chips!! Then, we got down to talkin”. He was very muscly..is that a word? #hubbahubba His muscles sparked convo about the gym and we talked about our respective routines. At the time, I was taking a lot of barre classes #liftoneburn and he was into crossfit. We talked about working out while we were scarfing chips. #cheatday The convo was flowing and from our gym talks we started to transition into chatting about other things that interested us. I talked about teaching, and being creative, and my love of dancing. (ps: if I ever see you out in public and there is music, I WILL dance like a cray cray..bc as Gloria Estefan once said: The Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya’) When it was date 14’s turn to tell me about his passions, he went on to talk about his art. He loved all forms of art, particularly sculpting. Wow!! I thought. He is burly, sexy and sensitive??? What more could a girl want??? He told me all about his ranch style house and how he was turning one of the garages into a studio. Me: I was impressed! He had a great job, was very fit, kind, AND had a really cool sculpting hobby! In my mind, I was already saying “yes” to a second date! We kept the chatting going while we sipped a second marg. I was really digging date 14! After, we paid the tab and made our way to the parking lot, he stopped me. I was getting hyped and excited, hoping he was going to ask me out again. He looked at me and said, “There’s something that I’ve been wanting to tell you all night.” The butterflies were going crazy in my stomach bc I couldn’t wait to hear what he was going to say! I was on the edge of my seat! That is until, he opened his big, fat mouth and said this: “Ya know, I’ve really been noticing your rack all night. I mean, I really, really like them, they are beautiful. I’d like to have a second date with you. You could come over to my studio, and I could sculpt your breasts.” Me= “UMMMM, what?” (I think I said WTF in my head a million times at that point) Him: “No, no, no…it’s not like that. I am an artist..so it wouldn’t be weird for you to be topless and me to sculpt you. I’d only have to touch them for a little bit. It’s a form of art…it’s what I do. I’m an artist.” Me= complete silence with a side of bitchy resting face. By this point, I think he realized that I was silently plotting to kick him in the b*lls during his whole “art” speech. He told me I should “think” about his offer and he’d be in touch. I think I prob sat in my car for like at least 10 mins bc I could not comprehend what just happened. I finally snapped out of it and cruised home replaying that creepy art speech over in my head. Did that really just happen? I’m sure you prob guessed that I did not go out with him again….so don’t y’all run out to the nearest museum and be looking for a replica of my rack…bc it isn’t there! Lol. This guy was a real persistent one though. After several incessant texts/calls/messages etc. I ended having to give him the ole’ Verizon block. Welp, pretty sure Prince Charming would only try to get me back to my carriage on a first date, not ask to sculpt my rack. So, another date gone bad….maybe date 15 would be better? Maybe…

Pro Dating Tip #14

You know what’s NOT a good topic to bring up on a first date? Your date’s “rack”. Oh and while we’re at it…you prob also shouldn’t refer to her breasts as a “rack”. Last…NEWS FLASH: Pretty sure no classy gal will take you up on an offer for sculpting her rack on a second date. You are not Leo and I’m not Rose. So unless, we’re on the set of the Titanic, you won’t be drawing me “like one of those French girls”. #nopetothenopenope