Sunday, April 24, 2011

Hoppy Easter Every Bunny :)

Hi All!!

Hoppy Easter!! I hope that everyone had an amazing weekend. Being Catholic I obviously appreciate this holiday for more than just the baskets and seersucker! But that's not to say that I don't love all the treats and fun that come with it.

We went to our local parish downtown (thanks to Mumsie and Dad for coming down here) and then we headed over to Little Italy to Ciao Bella for an Easter brunch and we had an amazing time. We were literally the first ones at the restaurant promptly at 12! We had one on one service with the bar manager who was not only knowledgeable but friendly and funny! My parents were eating that up! The food was off the charts- which I think around here is a lot to say with Italian, because there are so many amazing Italian restaurants on every block. We had great drinks and food which made our Easter that much better.

We will be heading back to Ciao Bella for my parents' anniversary and I can't wait because I know we will have an amazing time!

After our brunch we headed over to spend time with BF's family for some dessert, which I have been waiting patiently for 40 days!! I certainly made up for it today: with cake and candy and about a whole bag of jelly bellys :)

I am so fortunate for my family and friends and the wonderful town we live it! I hope everyone else was able to have an amazing Easter with their families and friends!

Tata!

JHM

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Spring Fever- Maryland Pink and Green Giveaway!!!

Good Morning All!

As I become more settled in the blog world I see giveaways just about everyday. I normally don't bother because 1. I have terrible luck at winning and 2. I'm usually running a muck so I never have time to do all the steps to win the prize! But this time I'm making TIME!

Bethany over at Maryland Pink and Green is hosting a giveaway for one of the most fabulous spring pieces I have seen yet- the Monogrammed Derby Hat from Marley Lilly. I just started following Marley Lilly about six months ago and I am in love with just about everything. They have a wide variety of things (aka pretty much every single thing you could ever want Monogrammed) and their prices are perfect for an "out of college yuppie" like myself. 

Now I hope everyone heads over to her blog to check it out BUT I really hope that she chooses me. I mean there are two events next Saturday alone that this hat would be perfect for-- Hunt Cup or the famous croquet match between Navy and St. Johns in Annapolis and then we have Preakness just around the corner. Bethany choose me, I promise to take tons of pictures!!

Best of luck everyone and Happy Spring!!!

JHM

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Blustery Blog Day

It is a Blustery Day in Baltimore everyone!!

Since it has rained enough to fill about a million Olympic sized pools I am staying under the covers watching Lifetime. Last night we celebrated my good friend leaving for Colorado at Asahi Sushi in Fells Point. It is a BYOB sushi place which I think is awesome because it is cheap and delicious!

We made our way to some of the bars in downtown Fells and had a great night! It was nice to hang out with my group of friends from college because despite the fact that we live close we all have busy lives so it is such a treat to see them. This morning I went to breakfast with my friend from NJ and her parents which was really good but unfortunately we picked a bad day to be outside. As of right now there is quite the storm brewing...hence being inside and writing on a Saturday.

I am now just waiting for BF to get home from NYC so we can hang out and relax.

I will make sure to take cover in all of this rain!

Tata!

JHM

Sunday, April 10, 2011

One Door Closes... Another One Opens!!

Happy Sunday All!

I think I love April! Most people think... um April? there is so much rain why would you ever like that. You are spot on... but with the rain comes the warmer weather us "Baltimoreans" have been waiting for!! After a frigid winter season I am ready for some sun, boats, dresses and sandals!

I think another reason that I love April so much is the fact that in the past 10 days SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!

Last weekend I headed up to NYC for our tradeshow and Mumsie came along as a traveling partner, which was really nice. We stayed at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square which was right in between Times Square and Hell's Kitchen (an area in NYC with TONS of restaurants- for those who have never visited). We ate at BECCO an amazing authentic Italian restaurant with a famous all you can eat pasta dinner and the next night we went to Sangria 46 for Tapas! NYC has some of the best food in the world (in my opinion) my parents are former NYCers so Mumsie was super nostalgic! ...If you are heading to NYC anytime soon, let me know I'll shoot over some great suggestions.

We also made sure that we made a stop over at the Lilly Pulitzer Madison store and then at the Junior League of NYC headquarters, which is located in the historic Astor building.




This week was also particularly excited because:
1. I got a great new job!!! I currently work in Marketing and was hoping to transition into fundraising and when the opportunity presented itself I decided I would take it! I will definitely miss my boss because she is probably one of the smartest and most amazing people I've ever met but it was time to move forward. 
2. My best best friend bought a house and got engaged all in one day!! YIPPEEE! Congratulations to Megan and Josh! 

On Saturday my brother was nice enough to help me volunteer for the BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter) at their Easter fundraising table at a local dog park! He even woke up early after a night of dancing at his girlfriend's prom, what a great guy!!

Interested in volunteering or donating?? Head to their website!!
Thanks for being a great sport little brother!!
Talk about sensory overload! It really has been an amazing month and it's only the 10th!!

Hope everyone is having an amazing month!

Tata!

JHM

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

March Wrap Up

Afternoon Everyone!!

Due to the severe lack of blogging you can tell that March was no ordinary boring month. It went so fast my head spun!! I like to think of this blog as something I can 1. use to keep my memories 2. remind me what I actually do with my life :). So here is my March wrap up (courtesy of my trusty sidekick- Lilly planner):

March began with our Junior League Event which I blogged about a couple times- Kids in the Kitchen- overall it was really fun and I think the kids had a good time as well. That same weekend I went to my first Tastefully Simple Party, which was really fun. You know you are definitely a yuppie woman when (1. any excuse for a get together is excuse enough and 2. you love quick and easy cooking "enhancers") you step into these parties! I bought a couple different things a beerbread mixture, a strawberry ball  dip mix and The Trio- a packet of three different types of dips, perfect for parties.
I have yet to try anything, but I am sure there will be an occasion soon!

The next two weekends were spent celebrating my favorite saint- St. Patrick!! We celebrated in Federal Hill and in my neighborhood- Canton. Canton is known for it's Irish festivities, we have entire square dedicated to the Irish- O'Donnell Square. Check out some fun pictures! As much as I love being Irish I think I was definitely tuckered out after two weeks of celebrating!
 At Mother's in Federal Hill!
You can't see but I promise I had green pants on!! 

This was the first nice day in FOREVER! Chose to bring out my "green" Lilly skirt


This past weekend I was able to cross something off my life bucket list: Atlantic City!

My good friend turned the big 2-5 on Saturday so she wanted to try something new (new for all of us actually!) Baltimore is about three hours away from AC so we packed up our things and headed to the "Boardwalk Empire". Now I am a huge fan of the show so I was super pumped to get there but as I suspected it was not really my cup of tea :(. I don't know how to play card games so us girls just played the penny slots (I won $50 by the way- paying for my share of the hotel!) and everyone smoked which drove my allergies up the wall! It was a wonderful time hanging out with my girlfriends...although next time I'm suggesting somewhere tropical! 

 First time on the slots
The girls at Angeloni's II restaurant in AC
Just realized we are sitting infront of a Yankees poster...ICK!!! Go Sox!

Even though it wasn't my scene I really did have fun and I'm proud of myself for trying something new! Next stop...VEGAS!

Finally last but not least... it was Fabulous BFs birthday on Tuesday... sadly he is so swamped at work he couldn't even enjoy it! We did get to celebrate on Sunday night by going to our absolute favorite sushi place- Sushi Hanna. If you are ever in Baltimore I highly recommend the rolls are HUGE and delicious! It is BF and my goal to try all the different sushi places around Baltimore- Sushi Hanna still takes the cake!

I hope that everyone's March was fun and fabulous! I am really just waiting for spring to happen! Come on warm weather! It's time for some SEERSUCKER!

TaTa!

JHM

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Baltimore Boutique Sale and Tea!!

Good Morning All,

I am sorry for the lack of posts. One wonders where time really does go?? I promise to do a month's recap soon. But I really wanted to get this out there because there are two events that I think are super fun and work for a great cause!

The first is the Junior League of Baltimore's Boutique Warehouse Sales hosted FRIDAY-SUNDAY in Timonium, MD. Come enjoy many of Baltimore's top boutiques at slashed prices... I do believe there were a pair of Hunter boots I've got my eye on! If you can make it on Friday, join us at the Baltimore Style Magazine sponsored Preview Party. For $20 you can get in for first picks of all the great merchandise. For more information on this event or joining the Juniore League of Baltimore head over to their website (yup that was the advertising girl in me, coming out!)

Next is a wonderful event hosted by Ellen Allen Annapolis for the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore. The Spring Tea will be held on Sunday April 10th from 3-5 at the RMH HQ in Baltimore.

Hope to see you all there!!

Tata,

JHM

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Calm and Quiet Weekend

Good Evening Everyone!

This weekend was such a nice treat! I relaxed and hung around with no plans all weekend! I think it is definitely what I needed after busy busy weekends and some really busy weekends to come!

Thursday night we had our reinstated girls night! My roommate had been out of town so we had a hiatus but we had everyone over for her return. It was really nice to see everyone and have a wonderful dinner with good friends.

While at dinner I got a phone call from BF saying that he won a weekend trip to Williamsburg Plantation! We were overjoyed to hear this because we never win anything! He was at a car show that the Williamsburg Plantation was sponsoring and he entered into their contest and won! We will be going soon! I have never been before but I would love to hear any ideas of things to do!

We spent our Friday relaxing, first Mexican dinner at Miguels in Silo Point and then back to my place for movies. Saturday I was up and early for the Junior League's Kids in the Kitchen event. It went really well and I think the kids had a really wonderful time! Here is a picture of the kids with Poe, the Baltimore Raven.
I literally had to jump out of the way, the kids were so excited! 
It was nice to meet them and hear about the things they like to do! I spent Saturday night in with BF and my parent's pup Fenway eating Chinese and watching movies.

This weekend was much needed as it looks like March is already full with fun events!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Tata,

JHM