Friday's five things: 4th of July edition.

I turned in my final assignment for my summer class today. Finally. I now have just over 2 months off with NO OBLIGATIONS WHATSOEVER... outside of work... I'm off to Washington, DC/Maryland tomorrow to spend some time with my bestie B, my brother, my cousins in VA, and some other friends & sorority sisters from college.

I'm excited for B's family's Maryland crab fest tomorrow, brunch at Logan Tavern with my fam on Sunday, the Nationals vs. Pirates baseball game with my sorority sisters on Sunday, and then just chilling out for the rest of the weekend.

We'll hopefully see some fireworks somewhere on Monday/set off some of our own and try {not} to burn down B's neighborhood...

Can't wait for continued shenanigans with my bestie.

Love this beautiful cake from Glorious Treats. It looks really complicated, but I think I could even pull it off in my tiny NYC kitchen next summer for the 4th. I might even make it for Labor Day this summer, just to see if I can...

{photo via Glorious Treats also}

Also, I was in Minnesota last weekend {pictures to come next week when I finally take them off my camera} and went to pick up a new pair of Minnetonka Moccasins. They're made just minutes from my house, but have somehow become really popular in NY and DC in the last few years. Well, partially due to the fact that J.Crew has started some kind of partnership with Minnetonka Mocs and does a few special models each year {like these, that cost twice as much as the originals}.

Anyway, they were out of the style I wanted at our local Foursome boutique, but my mom ordered them for me, and I can't wait to get them! {Get your own from Zappos.}

I'm off to pack, get the kitties set for a long weekend alone, and try to squeeze in a workout of some sort before eating {delicious} junk food and drinking margies all weekend.

Epic summer tk.

I'm getting so excited for this summer. The Summer Friday schedule was just released at work (which, of course, just happens to work in my favor this year after the chaos that I walked into last year), and I am busy planning the next month/entire summer full of fun activities. Here's how the calendar looks so far:

5/7 - Kentucky Derby (actual plans tk, but no doubt it will be something fun)

5/17 - seeing HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING on Broadway, starring Daniel Radcliffe

5/18 - Theory sample sale at Clothingline

5/21-22 - the Taste of Nolita, including samples from 7 restaurants and drink specials at a few bars

5/23 - Young to Publishing Group happy hour to kick off BookExpo America at The Frying Pan

5/26 - my parents arrive for Memorial Day Weekend; we're seeing SPIDERMAN: TURN OFF THE DARK on Broadway that evening

5/27-30 - tourisming, good meals, brunch, family time, etc. with my parents & bro

6/23-26 - home to Minnesota for a weekend at the lake

7/4 - 4th of July at Coney Island, including the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. I must see this once in my life.

7/15 - Harry Potter 7 Part 2

7/22-24 - visit D.C.? Maybe?

8/?? - one week during the month of August will be the Central Park Film Festival, which I thoroughly enjoyed last year and CAN NOT wait for this year. I want to try and go to at least 2 or 3 of the movies this year!

9/2-5 - Minnesota for Labor Day weekend, which may just have to include a trip to the Minnesota State Fair

And lots more tk. These are just the bare bones of the fabulosity that is summer in NYC and Minnesota.

What are you looking forward to this summer??

Spring break.

So, the big trip has come and gone. I spent last week in Paris and Copenhagen, and it was amazing. It was also my first "grown up" vacation, the first that I've taken since I've been working full-time. Extra special.

I am working on some major vacay recaps... but I need to cull through my 350 photos first. Stay tuned.

Lunchtime shopping.

The most dangerous part about this cold weather is that when I stay in my cubicle for lunch, I tend to shop online...

I'm going to Paris & Copenhagen in a little more than 2 weeks, and I still have a lot to prepare for before I leave! I've realized that I don't really have good, weather-appropriate shoes for trekking all over Europe. I also have a broken digital camera that needs to be replaced ASAP. And I need all sorts of other things like travel size shampoo, band-aids, and perhaps a new dress or top for hitting the town.

I really want new flat black classic-looking riding boots that I could potentially wear and walk in comfortably for the whole trip. That may be asking too much, though, and at this point, I have to find something fast so I have a little time to break them in before I leave! I've ordered 2 pairs online so far that both failed miserably, and I tried on about 5 pairs in Macy's last week with no luck there either.

Today, I just ordered the Codi boots by Bandolino, on sale for $129.99 from Piperlime.com. It's so hard to say, but the comments make me hope that they may work. My problem is that I have wider calves and ridiculously skinny ankles.. so a lot of boots bunch up around my ankles. Cross your fingers that these are the ones!

In other news, I've been ridiculously busy for the last few weeks with work and school, and on top of it, I was sick for pretty much the last two weeks and unable to accomplish just about anything... There's no sign of anything slowing down any time soon, especially when I'll be going out of town for 10 days, but at least now that I'm back to full health, I'll actually be getting more done!

Friday's Five Things.

Another blog scheduling thing I'd like to try: Friday's Five Things, something I've picked up from Emily at Cupcakes and Cashmere, another blog I love. This is a simple list of five things (anything!) that I love or am lusting over or that make me happy right now, today, this Friday.

For today:

Smith's Rosebud Salve, $6 from Sephora. You can put it on anything.

Cuddly kittens. They were bombarding me this morning with snuggles when I was getting ready for work.

Planning my trip to Paris and Copenhagen in March. I stumbled across The Naughty Paris Guide... and don't think I will be buying this particular guide book... but it made me giggle.

Spring semester doesn't start until the 24th. Which means I now have 5 evenings a week to myself, to go to the gym, meet friends for dinner, and return things to Bloomingdale's. This makes me even more excited to finish my Master's next spring so I can reclaim my evenings again! (You know, and to be accomplished academically and achieve success in my career... but mainly the free time thing... JK)

January & February is always a good time for fresh oranges.

That is all.