weekend wishes

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this weekend consists of:

~ two birthday parties - dinner for one of my sorority sisters + sunday brunch (with mimosas) for a co-worker

~ lounging around in cozy, knit socks and a mug of hot chocolate with a book in my lap

~ lunch dates with the littles of my Greek family

~ oh and of course, finally writing my recap of Eco Fashion Week and the Grand Opening of Top Shop

my weekend wishes or mainly just one wish - that the boy gets back to the #bestcoastwestcoast safely. oh and that I get tons of sleep... so I guess that counts as two... :) 

What are your weekend plans?

and to start off this relaxing, rainy weekend, below is a playlist for your ears' delight:

hellloooo weekend.

To start this weekend of fun, celebration and relaxation, I'm grabbing drinks with a new friend for the happiest of hours.. happy hour! Can't wait to catch up with her over sangria.. such a gem.

It's been a long week, but finally today is Friday! Events on the agenda include a senior night outing to Capitol Hill with my Alpha Class and Founders' Day at the chapter house on Sunday. I'm absolutely excited to hang out with these girls - my best friends - my sisters!

Reminiscing of the good 'ole college days (I know.. it's been only 6 months) has got me wanting to volunteer more and be a better alumna for the chapter, PRSSA and my lovely alma mater. So to start giving back, I'm attending a PRSSA workshop and presenting a mini-session on "online branding." I hope those kids are ready for a rockin' prezi!

Last, but certainly not least on the list... PACKING FOR SF! I'm absolutely stoked to go meet up with the work friends for some bonding. Don't even get me started on what I should bring... IDK. meoww... :( I'm worried I don't have the appropriate outfits since we're "glamping" - glamorous camping, as my team leader calls it. Post on Sunday will probably include frazzled me attempting to pack (throwing clothes around) and stuffing as many pair of shoes as possible into my carry on.

What are your plans for the weekend? Hope it includes sunshine and sangria! 

Title courtesy of Rihanna's "Cheers (Drink to That)"

oh weekend adventures

Sometimes the best weekends are those that don't go according to plan...

friday.

This past weekend, the only activity crossed of my agenda was my info-meeting with the Lake Washington Alumnae Association of my sorority. Obviously by my picture below and multiple Facebook Mobile uploads, you are now well aware that I thoroughly enjoyed my PB&J Bon Bons from Local 360. 

I seriously cannot say enough how delicious these little pieces of fried dough with warm, yummy peanut butter in the middle, dipped in a sweet berry preserved compote were.. especially with my shot of milk. I've always wondered if I'd ever call food "cute?" Umm... now I do.

During Happy Hour, they come in threes!

After that little ADPi shindig, it was bedtime for me... yes, I went to bed before 9:30 p.m. on a Friday night. Am I embarrassed? Heck nahhh because my pillow was calling my name and demanded that I go to bed without setting my alarm clock. Oh how I live for the weekends!

The T.G.I.F. Katy Perry video from the last post.. lies.... I did not wake up next to a stranger, or raged like a cray cray... complete opposite.. so sorry for the boring, old lady life I live... #fridayfail

saturday.

You'd think I would wake up at 11:30 a.m. on a Saturday right? I wish I did... my body sensed light and morning rays of sunshine at.... 6:45 a.m. Yes, I was awake at the crack of dawn for no reason at all, and I made myself sleep for at least three two hours more before I threw on a pair of running shorts, a running top, messy bed hair into a pony and then kicked my butt out the door for a run. 

Seattle was sunny this weekend in case you couldn't tell by the crowded streets of Pikes Place Market, loud patios of happy drunkies and plethora of tweets exclaiming how beautiful the weather was in the Emerald City. Everyone goes nuts about the weather here... snow or sun... or well, anything besides rain gets plenty of hype. 

Having clear skies and sunny rays made my run so much more pleasant, and it was on the run that we discovered that wine tasting wasn't happening anymore... so what to do with a free afternoon? Oh I know... I'm going to do what I do best... go grocery shopping. You may think it's weird, but I actually took my time to look cute for Whole Foods. Bahaha I mean, you always want to look polished right? Plus your attitude goes up at least 5 notches when you're feeling/looking like a million bucks. Don't worry friends, no prom dress or anything for the store... just a J.Crew zebra-khaki print skirt, ruffle light blue blouse with rolled up sleeves tucked in, my new Jack Rogers, an ADPi tote bag from Convention and K.Spade shades. Wish I had taken a picture for y'all because I was most def. bringing Southern Style to Seattle.

Saturday ended with happy hour at Cactus in South Lake Union with my little Diamond sister, Jenn. It was fabulous catching up with her and chatting about school, work and how we needed to hang out more often. Unfortunately, we forgot to snap a picture of our date... but lucky for us, we have a family dinner this Friday with the whole group, which may result in a Fam Bam Jam (oh the good 'ole days at the frat). I'll be sure to document adventures of that outing. 

For happy hour, I highly recommend getting a glass of sangria ($5) and their calamari ($8). Absolutely delectable... calamari comes with fried jalapenos... party in my mouth. yum.

sunday.

a day of rest, church, new Pinterest recipes and retail therapy... and most importantly, here are my picks from today's shopping spree:

Halogen Stretch Cotton Pencil Skirt, Yellow Acacia, $59

Pencil skirts are a work staple, and since this is a bright yellow, it will bring some pop to the office. Paired with a navy blazer or a crisp white blouse with turquoise jewelry... can you say... love?!

 Vince Camuto Safari Tribal Caftan in Poppy Polyester chiffon, $99

absolutely gorgeous... the print is breathtaking and complements so many different pairs of colored-pants - coral, stone, white, black, denim and even a bright blue (LOVES)

                            

Vince Camuto 'Caribbean Strip Skirt' Petite, $89

obsessed with this skirt... the adorable gold zipper on the back. swoon. but it would have made a huge dent in the bank account along with my other purchases.. so good-bye skirt.. maybe some other day. some day soon. please.

Rubbish Chambray Shirt in Dark Wash, $49

Chambray is a must have this spring and summer, and I love it with red pants as seen on the model. On a hot summer day, toss on a pair of white denim shorts and some feathered earrings and heyyyooo, we're sporting tribal and bohemian. To dress it up for the office, tuck it into a high-waisted colored skirt (maybe the pencil skirt pictured above), and bedazzle with some jewels and wedges. Soft, comfy and oh-so-trendy.... chambray is here to stay.

Jolt Skinny Jeans in White Wash, $44

These were a must-have... a-how-come-you're-not-already-in-my-closet purchase... I was surprised that I didn't have white full-length skinnys. I had white denim capris but they're cut at a length that is not appropriate for work or with heels. My other white denim pants were boot-cut, and only look good with sandals since the hem was cut for flatter shoes. So when I went shopping today, they were on the top of the list. I searched high and low for a pair, and finally settled on these Jolt ones from Nordstrom (B.P.). I could have easily snagged a pair of J Brand, Paiges or my favorite Hudsons from T.B.D. or the ones on sale at the Rack... but for some reason, I just wanted a pair of no-name, simple branded jeans - just everyday skinnys that I could wear and tear. I almost died when I bought these because I saw the same cut in four different colors... including my favorite. coral. But too bad, the only sizes left were 00.... obvi, I wasn't going to even attempt to squeeze into those.

After three hours, I was ready for home to catch up on some trashy Real Housewives of Orange County and a snack... snack of the day? Basil, lemon and garlic infused non-fat greek yogurt as a dip for sesame crackers, carrot chips and kale-spinach rolls. Yum... absolutely delectable... together with a mason jar of pink lemonade.. it was a sunday funday.

For dinner, I whipped up a tofu, ginger, kale, white bean and portobello mushroom soup. Healthy, light with veggies and protein... yum in the tum.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and for my Seattleites, you better have soaked up some rays!

What about you m'friends- did you have fun activities for basking in the sunshine? Better question: do you prefer to plan your days or be spontaneous on the weekends? I mean clearly... shopping was not on my agenda, but that was an "okay" awesome alternative. haha

happy easter weekend.

friday.

lake union

Every weekend begins with a healthy run... and lucky for me, the office decided to close early (3 p.m.) for Good Friday/Passover! Did I get out right at 3? Umm.. well, not really.. haha more like 3:45, but regardless, I was able to enjoy the beautiful sunshine that afternoon in Norts (Nike running shorts) and an oversized t-shirt.. Yes, you heard right. No sweats - it was that warm outside!

The water was absolutely breathtaking, and of course, made me curious if the puppies would be out at Myrtle Edwards Park, down by the waterfront. I love it when people walk their dogs out by that park... they are just absolutely adorable! So, ran from SLU - past the Space Needle - and down to the piers and through the park... a hard but oh-so-worth-it run. Took in some rays and then realized it was already 5 p.m., which meant it was time to get back and eat/get ready for evening of fun festivities with the girls. Indulged myself at the Whole Foods salad bar and treated myself to a little fruit tart (courtesy of my mother who stocked my fridge with desserts). 

Note to friends: Whole Foods has an awesome salad bar - I filled my bowl to the brim with fresh arugula, spring greens, organic beets, celery, cucumbers, organic tofu, edemame, kidney beans, almonds, sprouts, red onions and some fresh strawberries - all drizzled with an all-natural, no-oil, fig balsamic vinaigrette. (only $9 for a bowl... depending on how much ish you pack into that bowl)

[1] our lovely drinks [2] Me and Carly

Time was tickin' fast... and before I could even catch a breath, it was almost time to go out! Amanda (a fellow co-worker) arrived at my place first, and together, we cabbed to Cap Hill (picking up Carly on the way).

Our first stop was Grim's - my favorite place on Cap Hill for the following reasons:

1) They serve their drinks in mason jars.
2) It has a butterfly lounge... need I say more? BUTTERFLIES!!!
3) I have met some of the cutest guys there.
4) They have a dance floor called, Woods. It's like this place belongs in a storybook... butterflies and woods... outrageously awesome.
5) This was my first non-Ave (University District aka college scene) bar last year.

Drink of choice for the night: Tom Collins
(Carly's: Vodka Sprite with muddled limes | Amanda B's: Spiced Rum and Diet Coke)

The Girls and me at Purr

We made an appearance at Purr to pick up two of my besties... Carl and Robert! Now here is my opportunity to tell you why I like gay bars - which I've been asked several times...

1) I don't get hit on by creepy guys because well, they aren't into women. duh.

2) You get the best compliments, and you know it's real because those guys are always in style.

       ex:. "Girl, I love that dress... you look so hawt, girl!!"

3) They play all the best music aka top 40s aka BRITNEY, betch.

My besties - Carl and Robert

But don't get me wrong, I love me a straight bar... and getting my flirt on with my sistah-friends. So we decided to try out Barca (I was a first-timer). It was definitely a different ambience.  The men were FRATTY. I thought I had escaped the GS (greek system). These men... more like boys... were eyeing girls like cattle. disgusting. The beer goggles weren't really on, so I could see quite well all the "moves" that were being played out. ewww like get yo' hands off my shoulder.. who gave you permission, yo?

One drink there... and it was lame music. We needed to get out of there fast. So we ditched Barca, Carly went home, and it was Amanda-squared skipping in our heels to meet up with Carl and Robert for a dance party at R place! We made two quick detours  - one at Ranch Bravo where we refueled with tacos and the other at Linda's, a popular dive bar. (I may have had an awkward moment... getting hit on by a woman was quite interesting.)

Finally, we made it onto the dance floor of R place - loud, fun fist-pumping songs and sweaty people.. um.. you know it's a real partayyy when there are go-go dancers. The night ended with a giggly, cab ride and sore feet.

saturday. 

It's officially peonies season - my favorite flowers have arrived.
I bought 4 stems at Pikes Place Market on Saturday morning after my run.

Saturday morning began with another long run - this time it was just down to the piers, ending at Pikes' Place Market. When I got to Pikes, all I could see was color. Reds, yellows, greens, pinks - flowers were in bloom everywhere. I was immediately drawn to the tulip stand... but didn't have cash on me. Luckily, I remembered that there was an ATM down the street, but when I headed down Pike, my eyes caught bucket of pink peonies - my favorite flowers!! Their season had just started, and that flower stand was one of the first to have them in the area. Of course, I was hooked... so I bought four stems (one for my bathroom, and three for my desk at work). 

Quickly ran home, trimmed and put them in water, hopped in the shower and got ready for adventures to the mall. The girls and I (Shirley and Amanda B) had plans for mission retail therapy. Let's just say five hours later, I was "shopped out."

sunday. 

Dungeness crab eggs benedict and a Hibiscus Kiss brunch cocktail

Easter Sunday began with sunny rays shining through my window, waking me up at 7:30 a.m. Yes, I woke up that early without an alarm clock, and it felt amazing. Put on my Sunday best and headed to Christ Our Hope, Catholic Church on 2nd avenue, where I heard the Lord's Word and sang His praises. It was a beautiful service, and a great way to start the new liturgical year.
Awkward moment at church? Getting "matched" and asked if I had heard of the Catholic Singles' events. Apparently, there is a "Catholic" version of match.com... and I was highly encouraged to go check it out.

Celebrated the day with brunch at Etta's, one of my favorite T.Douglas restaurants. I had a delectable Dungenness Crab eggs benedict drizzled with a crab butter hollandaise sauce, homemade fries and crisp honey apples - paired with a Hibiscus Kiss brunch cocktail - grapefruit, champagne and bitters.

The combination of sun, booze and brunch may have made me all warm and fuzzy because the moment I arrived back at my studio... I fell into a 2-hour nap, that left me so refreshed.

As much as the day sunny day made me feel energized, I was not motivated to make the cake pops, I had planned to whip up on Friday. What resulted instead was a cooking frenzy... five pots, two pans, and countless bowls later, I made hearty rosemary, ginger kale and chicken noodle soup, kale-wrapped salmon on top of sauteed asparagus, and beef bourguignon. boom. chef-in-the-making, betchesss.

Now here I am with a spotless kitchen and a pile of laundry.... what's a girl to do? I know.. go to bed because it's way past her bed-time. Taking one household chore at a time.

It's the freakin' weekend

1.

black diamond, bay. bay.

This past Friday, my Alpha Theta sisters and I had our hottest event of the year....the black diamond ball. Held at the EMP (Experience Music Project) in downtown Seattle, the night was filled with magic, fun, mystery and great memories -- theme: Masquerade Ball. 

Off to a rough start at first... you know the usual sorority check-in drama (equatable to PRAMA - prom + drama)... but everyone ended up having a marvelous time tearin' up the dance floor. 

Best friend - ROB!
note: even though he wasn't my date.... we still color coordinated 

Miss AKG - lovesss you Rooms! 

2. 

 UW PRSSA (Public Relations Students Society of America) 

On Thursday, UW PRSSA held elections for new executive board officers. This past year, I served as a Co-Director of Visual Communication... and as of Thursday, I am the new PR Director. CHYEAH buddy... I'm so excited for this upcoming year -- it will be amazing! Looking forward to working with the new team.

UW PRSSA Executive Board 2011-2012

President Allie Hooker

Vice President Brianna Ahron 

Treasurer Konrad Palubicki

PR Director Amanda B. Nguyen (yours truly)

Secretary Shirley Kim

Community Outreach Kara Moreno

Historian Carl Turner

Social Media Sean Fraser

New team :: new goals :: new year 

3. and this is the part of the weekend when I freaked out and went crazy - you lucky ducks get to read it all here:

MIKE POSNER...

photo courtesy of Kartik Tiki Rishi

Woke up at 7 am this morning to be at Rainier Vista (the grassy knoll/lawn in front of Drumheller fountain on UW campus) to help Robert Higa, my best friend and ASUW Arts & Entertainment co-director with the ASUW A&E's Spring Show. There were about 15 of us volunteering which meant backstage access... EEK! My task today: Pick up Phil Strong with Robert from the airport... not gonna lie, I had notta clue who Phil was or who he represented. I thought he was one of Clipse's managers (another rap group that was featured at the show). Anywho, Robert tells me to casually call up Phil and tell him we were on our way. I left him a message in my utmost professional voice, and then picked him out front of United Airlines as Robert maneuvered the ASUW mini van to the curb. We then became besties... first name and texting basis -- even cracked a joke or two. 

When we got back to UW, all of just waited around for the show to start. 

Sol opened up the concert; he was amazing. A little vulgar with his Trojan song -- I'll let your mind run with that, but overall, he got the crowd pumped. A fellow UW Husky, he was singing his heart out to his peeps, and it was just gratifying to see him party rock it up on stage. 

Next on stage, CLIPSE brought the beats with their "Grindin" and "What Happened to that Boy."
Honestly, I had no idea who they were until today.... apparently, they rap with Pharrel and Keri Hilson. A little too G for me.. but I tried to keep up with the thizz face and yelled "swag," "leggo," "homie," and other "G" sayin's... total poser... #fail  #A+forEffort

and then.... 

he plays the piano.... I'm in love.
images via 

there he was.. MIKE POSNER

31 minutes to take off... that's how it began except every minute was counted off like a second.. so more like 31 seconds 'til Posner was on stage. 

I don't have many words to describe all the emotion and excitement I was feeling when he got on stage. 

EPIC. I had waited for so long to finally hear him live and meet him in person. Since his youtube days of producing music in his dorm room at Duke and his very first old school music video for "Drug Dealer Girl," I was hooked and a huge fan. (You'll learn to know that I'm a big underground music fan.) 

images via 

This afternoon, he sang a bunch of his new songs such as "Cooler than Me," "Please Don't Go" and "Bow Chicka Wow Wow." BUT I looked forward to the older - original songs: Smoke and Drive and "You Don't Have to Leave."

Being backstage was amazing... front row and in front of the barrier, Posner was so close and within reach. 

 and then out of nowhere... he reps a UW jersey!

images via 

Of course at the end of the concert, I HAD to get my poster autographed and take a picture with the one and only Mike Posner... and oh yes, I didn't get just one picture.. I got two! CHYEAH Bay bay. 

YAY - so happy.... straight cheesin'

right as I gave my camera to his manager, Patrick.... he asked

"You ready?" and I replied "Totes... I'm totes ready." #tsm

<> THROWIN' THE D with Mike P. <>

So... remember Phil, whom I mentioned earlier? Well, turns out he wasn't Clipse's manager... He is MIKE POSNER'S PRODUCTION MANAGER. sayyyy what?!?!?!

Can't believe it... I'm such a groupie -- huge fan -- love LOVESSS loves it!

what an amazing weekend.