Five on Friday

One. BAFTA Dresses - Well...the BAFTA Awards were actually almost a week ago but y'all know I love a good dress and so I had to share some of my favorites from the UK equivalent of the Academy Awards! The British are just a delightful bunch; their quirky humor and their lovely country are my favorite, so of course the favorite dresses from this event had to make the blog!

The Duchess wins - always. She looks like a goddess. Stunning!

Michele Yeoh - she just looks beyond regal. This look is amazing.

Cate Blanchett - someone joked she looks like she's wearing the Infinity Stones...but I kind of love it.

Regina King - this is just fantastic. She looks brilliant & I love that color!

I didn't see too many dresses I disliked but I figure - even though I'm convinced not a single soul besides my Mom and younger sister read this blog - the world needs kindness and not negativity. So those are the dresses I loved and that's that!

Two. Memes of the Moment - I figured I'd include this each Friday...because we all have those funny little things that cheer us up or get us through the week, right? My friends and I send memes back and forth through the office each day and they usually leave us all in stitches! These were just a few that tickled my funny bone this week. 

I feel like this is Elanie Bennis from Seinfeld... right? 

This last one - cracks me up. Are y'all excited about the live action version of Aladdin? Based on what I've seen so far... Aladdin is just sort of cute, Jafar is way too attractive to be evil...and then they released big ol blue Will Smith this past week and I'm dead. *cue tears & laughter* I'm still looking forward to seeing it, but oh man...

Three. Valentine's Day - Well, I may not have a romantic valentine (*sigh*) but my day still was quite lovely. A co-worker gifted me a delicious Reeses' chocolate heart and once I got home, my Mother had cooked a delicious meal with a special dessert: lemon curd in tartlets with fresh fruit and whipped cream! Yum! My sweet pup gave me a card and I gave him a delicious conversation heart cookie to snack on!

My valentine gift(s) were pretty fantastic - a deluxe edition of Bohemian Rhapsody (you better believe I popped that thing in the Blu-Ray player to watch the full Live Aid performance), two pair of butter soft leggings from one of our favorite shops in the area and two Russell Stover strawberry cream heart! I feel the love y'all!

Four. The Annual Cold - It has arrived with a vengeance this past week! I feel such a personal connection to the meme below... I blew (literally) my way through an entire box of Kleenex at work yesterday, it was not pretty. I'm hoping the end is near and that this cold is making it's way out of my system, but until then - y'all can imagine me looking like this little fellow below!

Five. Weekend Plans - The weekend is here...and it's a long weekend! Hurrah! I'm not sure what's on the agenda for tonight but it might involve some cold medicine, lying on the couch and feeling better, ha-ha! My friend Danielle and I are headed to the movies on Saturday night to see Isn't It Romantic - I'm sure there will be cocktails and plenty of laughter, we always have a great time together! I'm not sure what Sunday has in store but I do know that Monday is a day off work and who doesn't love that? Here's hoping by the time the long weekend is over, I'll be feeling like my normal self again! 

Y'all have a good weekend - I can't believe February is halfway over! We better embrace the next few weeks and enjoy, because March will be here before we know it! 

Happy Heart Day

Watson Wednesday

Just casually waiting for your plate of dinner - nothing to see here...

It's Icy...

Songs would have you believe that it's a "marshmallow world" in the Winter - but I'd like to counter that on this Tuesday, it's really more of a Rock Candy Mountain type situation here in Northern Virginia. The forecast calls for rain/sleet/snow in some form or another for the next two weeks and so I am trying to embrace it as best as can - with pictures of the ice formations growing by the hour...

Literally everything is coated in a layer of ice - well...the roads aren't, thank goodness. But all of nature's bounty is gently shellacked in a crystalline wrapper that looks beautiful. 

Chocolate & Cold Medicine

Well - Monday has arrived gray and cold - the rain outside is freezing and the ground was covered in a light layer of ice pellets here, there and everywhere. The past weekend feels like it has passed in a blur... I almost feel like February is passing that way as well! So very quickly! 

Friday night involved having dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant and then perusing the Target, where I found an adorable pair of shoes and a lunch box on sale for $9.99! The shoes were on Big Mama's Fashion Friday and it positively cracked me up because when I found them, my Mom immediately said "those shoes were on Big Mama's post today - do you remember that? Did you see them?" 

The lunch box is just the cutest thing - I don't have a picture of it and I'm not really sure why but it's delightful. The elderly gentleman checking me out at Target reminded me that it was; in fact, a lunch box and not a purse. Yes sir - I do know that. Thank you anyway. 

Saturday morning I slept in, had coffee and then committed myself to 45 minutes on the elliptical before getting ready for the day. I'd fully intended to wear my cute new shoes but the warmer weather we had all during the week last week had disappeared by Saturday morning - the high was 34 and the wind was whipping, so I figured exposed skin wasn't the best idea. Promptly after taking this photot of my cute new shoes, I went and changed to something that allowed for socks!

My Mom and I went to Chocolate Escape in Old Town Winchester on Saturday afternoon and it was delicious! Then again, what would you expect from an event that had 19 different restaurants offering all sorts of delectable chocolate treats to sample? We started with a Death by Chocolate cupcake and Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate (pictured below) at 147 North - a little hole in the wall style bar - and of course, it was divine. 

We followed that stop with chocolate truffles and hot chocolate at Espresso Cafe, the purchase of peanut butter stuffed, chocolate dipped strawberries and a sampling of wine (just me) at the wine shop... and we popped in for a table at Brewbaker's but after waiting 15 minutes to be waited on, we decided it wasn't worth the wait. *sigh* 

The German Kitchen was all sold out of it's chocolate caramel crunch cake by 3:00 (the event ran until 5:00...) but we were more than happy to create our own miniature brownie sundaes at Red Fox Creamery - I chose coconut cream ice cream with mine while my Mom chose cherry vanilla! Our final stop on the Walking Mall was at Union Jack Pub and this treat was my very favorite: a Campfire Naan that had Nutella, chocolate chips, marshmallows and a graham cracker crumble, all drizzled with chocolate sauce. It was divine! 

We finished our chocolate afternoon with seats at George's Foods & Spirits, where I had the miniature chocolate cake and a miniature chocolate martini and my Mom tried the chocolate mousse! We split a pot of coconut cream tea and then called it an afternoon! After popping in to Wal-Mart for some supplies, we headed home and I made a pot of Pulled Pork Chili for supper - it was so yummy - I'll have to share the recipe sometime! We watched My Best Friend's Wedding - such a blast from the past - and then, after feeling increasingly less than spectacular all afternoon, I took some medicine and crawled into the bed. 

Sunday morning I woke up with a rather raw feeling throat but otherwise, I was alright. After church, we had a delicious lunch at Macado's, grabbed some groceries and headed home... and at this point I was feeling a little less than stellar. I walked my dog and then proceeded to curl up on my couch and nap. The rest of Sunday evening feels like it passed in a blur - I watched an episode of Great British Baking Show, ate leftover for dinner, took a bath and ended up crawling in bed around 9:20 since I didn't feel well. 

Now it's Monday, there is some sort of weird rain/sleet combination falling outside and I'm hoping maybe my already scheduled doctor's appointment will offer some idea of relief from the sore throat and pressure I'm feeling in my head. Given that I think I've got a good old fashioned cold - it probably won't - but a girl can dream. Until Wednesday ya'll - adios!

Five on Friday

It's Friday y'all! This week I am looking out the window at bright blue skies and sunshine, a definite change from last week's weather! The weather this week has been almost a dream with temperatures that hung out in the mid 60's... although the forecast for the weekend and next week seem to be showing a drop in temperatures and more snow on the way. *sigh* I suppose it is still only February!

One. Chocolate Escape - Old Town Winchester has this wonderful thing called Chocolate Escape and I'm attending this year - YUM! All the businesses and restaurants offer chocolate items; be it desserts, truffles, chocolate dipped bacon, chocolate beer, etc... each small plate is $3 and there are 19 restaurants participating with chocolate temptations! Now - obviously I'm not going to eat chocolate goodness at ALL 19 places - but still, it's fun to have the option!

Several of the retail businesses are also participating with special sales and offers on chocolate and love related items, so all in all - it should be a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Granted, I'll have to chain myself to the elliptical on Saturday morning...but it will be worth it!

Two. Things That Made Me Giggle - Honestly, the memes below are just a few that my friends and I shared between one another this week that made me laugh! So I thought I'd share them with you too, maybe they'll give you a smile!

Coffee - it's good dark...but not too dark!

This could not more perfectly describe me - it's so sad y'all! 

100% what I do when I text a friend sitting across the office from me!

Three. Perfect Valentine Bundle(s) - Perfectly Posh is offering Valentine Bundles that are perfect for however you want to spend your Valentine's Day! The Gettin' Busy Bundle has a Jungle Juice Chunk, Lady Limoncello Body Scrub and Brazilian Bombshell Body Butter for $58, The Lookin' for Love Bundle has Under Wonder Primer, Be So Gold Liquid Eyeshadow and Red Carpet Swipe Lip Stain for $59 and the Stayin' In Bundle has Schwanky & Soft Exfoliating Foot Creme, Toes Before Bros Foot Mask and Rubby Scrubby Foot Stick for $55!

All three bundles include a free gift with purchase and are available through the end of the day on Sunday, February 10th! You can shop the bundles and more at http://NatalieSummerlin.po.sh

Four. Freddie's Flight Schedule - This is actually from September 5th of last year but I stumbled upon it and couldn't resist sharing. This is an arrivals board at Heathrow Airport in London and it was in celebration of Freddie Mercury's birthday. It makes me smile and I love the creativity!

Five. Have a Happy Weekend - Honestly, those four things are all I've got on this lovely Friday! So I'll wish you all a happy weekend! Enjoy yourself and make good memories!

Watson Wednesday

Monday night after I finished exercising and having dinner, I flopped down on the couch in an attempt to just relax for a few short minutes and flip through my newest copy of Vanity Fair. My pup almost immediately hopped on top of me, stretched out and stayed there for almost thirty minutes. 

I'm not sure what inspired the sudden bout of snuggles and need for cuddles, but I'll never say no to them. And even though these pictures aren't the best or the prettiest, I love them because they have my precious pup and I!