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July 22, 2013

{Nom Alert} Mexican at La Calaca Feliz

Last week, I met up with my friend Brooke in her new neighborhood of Fairmount to try a Mexican restaurant I have heard tons about. La Calaca Feliz (2321 Fairmount Avenue) is a contemporary Mexican restaurant based on bold, traditional flavors. They also have a location in the burbs called Cantina Feliz (Fort Washington) that my friend Tara had been raving about, so off we went.

We dined on a Wednesday around 7:00 & street parking was tough. We ended up in a lot right next door. The atmosphere of La Calaca Feliz was fabulous. To get to our table, we walked through the crowded bar & past the busy kitchen area. The tables were cozy and our spot looked out to their outside seating area, which seemed like it would be fun if it was not 100 degrees out. We started off with two refreshing margaritas and perused the menu.

For an appetizer, we ordered the “Nachos de la Casa” (black beans, queso, arbol chile, pickled jalapenos, radish), and of course, added shortribs. Naturally. The nachos were delicious, and actually my favorite part of our meal. Off to a good start!

The #1 thing Brooke & I had heard was a must try at La Calaca Feliz was this little corn on the cob number. We each ordered the “Elotes Loco” (lime mayo, queso fresco, chile pequin) and were seriously impressed. If you haven’t had anything like this before, it is definitely a must try. Fresh, yummy & unique.

By the time we got to our entrees, we were both a little stuffed. Brooke ordered the “Crispy Cauliflower Taco” (nopales, guajillo salsa, guacamole) and really enjoyed them.

I tried the “Enchilada con Mariscos” (crab, shrimp, chipotle cream, salsaranchera), which was just as good reheated the next day at lunch. Talk about lunchbox envy!

Overall, I loved the place! Dinner was reasonably priced and everything was delicious. You all know I am on a never-ending quest to find amazing Mexican food in the city, and I think La Calaca Feliz has been added to my list! Tell me: where is your favorite place to grab nachos & margs in Philly? xx

July 20, 2013

No Thigh Gap? No Problem. {Summertime Solutions}

It’s the middle of July, it’s hot as hell, and I am constantly trying to wear the least amount of clothing possible. Many, many years ago, my summer dressing routine was quite different than what it is now. If I was going on a vacation, or knew I would be walking around for awhile, cool & flowy dresses were out of the question. My thighs, which, yes, are on the bigger side, rub together…a thought that makes spandex shorts sound amazing even on the most sweltering of summer days. If you have never experienced, yes I’m going to say it, “chub rub,” then this may be hard to understand. But if you have, you know my pain. Probably the last time I had a “thigh gap” was when I was an infant, and after trying a few “solutions” to no avail, I thought I was doomed to be the girl in shorts forever.

Until I stumbled upon this little gem:

Secret Shield is a product made by the Etsy shop Skindura. It is a 100% veggie derived natural balm with a twist up top. The application is super simple & leaves ah-mazing results for hours. I literally apply this before I go to work in the morning and, while I am not strolling around all day, it does the trick from 9-5. When I need to run some errands around the city, this is my go-to. If I know I’m going to be out all day – I just throw one in my bag and reapply in the bathroom.

Secret Shield comes in two sizes, 1 oz. & 2 oz., for $12 & $20, respectively. I started with the smaller size in the summer of 2011, and have been using the product consistently EVER. SINCE. That’s 7 years. Each 2 oz. bar lasts you at least a whole season, and you really do get your money’s worth for the product.

If you are like me, dreading dressing for this heatwave & need some relief, I urge you to try this product. It’s the answer to my summertime prayers. While this post may not have been the most glamorous one I’ve ever written, if I can help even one of my curvy sistas shed the biker shorts & pull out her prettiest dresses this summer, I have done my job.

July 9, 2013

Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia {Everything You Need To Know}

The buzz came in waves: Picnic dinner party. All white. Dancing. Wine. Surprise location. I was intrigued, and I needed to know more. But the secrets Dîner en Blanc keep are all part of the equation . . . the very fabulous, glamorous, unique equation.

To cure my curiosity, I got a chance to chat with Natanya DiBona, Dîner en Blanc (DEB) Philadelphia’s Co-Host, about the whitest event of the season. Turns out, curiosity is what lead Natanya to DEB in the first place. When her Aunt & Uncle told her about an invite-only all-white picnic in their city of Montreal, Natanya did some research & was instantly hooked, leading her to the co-host position of DEB Philadelphia.

Image via: Georgi Anastasov Photography

DEB started 25 years ago in Paris, and has since grown to over a dozen cities around the world. The goal of the event is simple: give residents a reason to celebrate the public space of their city. DEB is essentially a pop-up picnic dinner party, in that invited guests (sign up for the DEB wait list here), clad only in white, bring everything with them! That’s right: your table, chairs, linens, china, and dinner are all coming & leaving with you. That personal investment, Natanya says, is what transforms the event. Everyone brings something to the table that they’re proud of or passionate about, and the event feeds off of that.

While the location of DEB is not revealed to guests until they’re walking to the event itself on August 22nd, last year, it took place in Philly’s Logan Circle. As you can see by the pictures, the night looked magical.

Image via: Georgi Anastasov Photography

For the Philly lady, DEB is a must this summer. The weeks leading up to the event, as Natanya described them, generate a serious amount of buzz and build a tremendous community among Philadelphians. The excitement she described reminded me of kids the summer before they go off to college, trading tips on where to purchase dorm room necessities and Facebook stalking potential new friends down the hall. It seems fantastic, that is, if you get a spot . . .

Image via: Sean Corbett Photography

Because DEB takes place in a public space with restrictions, not everyone who is interested can lawfully attend. But, I’ve got the lowdown on the thee phase invite process. Invitees for each phase will get an email this month with info on the date they can register. Phase 1 tickets are first offered to all of the registered guests of last year’s DEB (AKA you signed up for you & your date on the DEB website). Phase 2 tickets are offered to suggestions or recommendations of Phase 1 attendees. And then there’s Phase 3, the wait list. Don’t let the numbers swirling around out there about the size of the wait list discourage you from signing up. It does not matter what order you put your name on the wait list, everyone on there gets the same email with the opportunity to register at the same time. So, if you have not signed up yet, do it now and wait for that email!

Image via: Georgi Anastasov Photography

In order to allow room for all of the invited guests, the DEB co-hosts must account for every inch of space, so there are some pretty strict guidelines on what can & can not come with you and on you. Your table (which, remember, must be carried by you!) must be at least 28” high x 28” square, and at most 32” high by x 32” square. Your clothing must be elegant – AKA no white jeans, shorts or baseball hats. Pretty reasonable, right?

Image via: Sean Corbett Photography

You can keep up with all of the Dîner en Blanc happenings on their Facebook & Twitter pages. Plus, I have a few final tips & tidbits Natanya shared with me that I get to share with all of you . . .

1. Since the event is BYOB, 21 & over only, please!

2. Shop early for your picnic supplies & outfit! Not only do stores start putting out their Fall stuff soon, but other DEB invitees start their shopping!

3. DEB is open to & encourages all types of pairings. Mother & daughter, Aunt & niece, neighbors, etc. You must fill in the name of your date when you officially register, but don’t worry, you can always change it later.

4. When you sign up, you’ll need to pick your Pedestrian Leader. If you’d like to sit near another table or two, make sure you all pick the same leader.

5. For my ladies who hate to cook, DEB offers some options for pre-made dinners. Visit their site for more info.

Now that I’ve given you all of the info you need to know about Dîner en Blanc, what do you think? Will you be attending? I personally can’t wait! In the final moments of our chat, Natanya told me DEB is “an event that celebrates the city.” Count me in, Philadelphia. 🙂

June 26, 2013

DIY Japanese Paper Washi Tape Table Top

I’m baaack! First, let me apologize for my absence this month. To sum it up, work has been crazy! But don’t you worry, I’m ready with lots of posts to satisfy your summer blog reading schedule. And today, I have a fun one 🙂

Because I am young & can’t afford to buy glam new furniture, I accept any & all hand-me-downs. This high-top table was in my parents’ kitchen growing up, however over the years, it has taken quite the beating. It needed an update. A cheap one.

While doing some of my normal browsing of BuzzFeed, I came across an article on adorable ways to decorate with washi tape. This post lead me to the blogs of Elise Blaha & Lady Croissant, both of whom made plain furniture look fabulous using a little thing called Japanese paper washi tape. I had to try it!

My extensive search for washi tape (Etsy, craft stores, etc.) led me to Cute Tape. This site has so. many. rolls. of. tape! After I decided what color scheme I was going for and a rough estimation of how much I would need for my table (I guessed, really), I landed on the six pack in Pretty Sunset. The tape, with shipping, cost $19.

Then, it was time to craft! I considered trying a chevron pattern, but without the patience to measure all of that out, I decided on simple stripes.

The first strip of tape was the hardest. I tried to use a ruler as I couldn’t find my trusty yard stick (not). I was not concerned with perfection, so I kind of winged it.

Once I had the first strip down & flat (make sure there are no air bubbles!), I put down one strip on each side, back and forth, back and forth. This process took about an hour.

I left about the same amount of tape on each end of the strip, and when I was finished all of them, I folded them under the top of the table.

And voilà! My brand new $19 table was complete. I am really, really happy with the result. I may get a piece of glass to put over the table to prevent damage, but for now, I just use a coaster and try not to spill. 🙂

So what did you think of my easy/inexpensive/cute DIY project? Would you like to see more? xx

June 6, 2013

{Chomp Chomp} East Passyunk’s Flavors of the Avenue

Last month, I explored a new area of the city with an event fit for any Philly foodie! Flavors of the Avenue is an annual food festival that takes place on East Passyunk Avenue, a young & thriving Philly neighborhood filled with awesome restaurants & shops. “Flavors” coincides with the Crafty Balboa craft show, so the day is a great glimpse into the what the neighborhood is all about.

May 22, 2013

{Song Obsession} Sweater Weather

I subscribe to a lot of YouTube channels. In addition to the fab makeup tutorials, shopping hauls & product reviews that normally take up my feed, I love following unique musicians. I found Meghan Tonjes about a year ago after watching one of her original music videos & have loved her covers ever since. So when I saw this little gem pop up in my subscription box earlier this month, I couldn’t stop listening. And I haven’t ever since.

Meghan & Michael Castro sound delightful together (and he’s just adorable, actually) . . . but I really love the song. Having never heard of The Neighbourhood before, imagine my delight when I found their video & loved it equally as much.

Check out the videos and let me know what you think! And if you ever by chance pass me while I’m driving and see me dancing and playing the drums on my steering wheel, just know I’m probably listening to Sweater Weather.

May 19, 2013

{Snazz Up Your Man} Indochino The Traveling Tailor Is In Town

It’s wedding season, and who deserves a pick-me-up more than the #1 man in your life? Whether that man is your hubby, father, brother, BF or BFF, I bet you know someone who is in need of a new look. Maybe he has been talking about picking up a new suit forever or wants to break out of his fashion rut. Well lucky for him, you are a well educated Philly lady and know just the place to take him! But hurry & make plans quick – you’ve only got one week! If you’re a woman looking for a suit, take a look at this guide to tailored women’s suits and creating your own custom suit experience.

Meet Indochino, the traveling tailor pop-up shop, here in Philly (1518 Walnut Street) now through May 27th.

May 14, 2013

Preakness at the Piazza {Benefiting the National MS Society}

Looking for something to do this Saturday night? Pull out your floppy hat and preppiest dress (and grab your man a bow-tie) and head down to Preakness at the Piazza! The event is taking place at Northern Liberties’ Piazza at Schmidt’s (North Second Street & Germantown Avenue) and features an open bar, fun music, buffet dinner & of course adorably clad young Philadelphians showing off their summer style – all while watching the 138th Running of the Preakness! Place your bets, kids . . .

Need some style ideas? Check out my fellow Philly FABB bloggers rocking their best Preakness style on PHL17’s Eye Opener yesterday:

Tickets for Preakness at the Piazza range from $55/person (for groups of 5+) to $70/person and are still available! I’ve also seen some coupon codes floating around on their Facebook page & some blogs. I unfortunately am not able to attend, but I can’t wait to see pictures! Will you be there? xx

May 12, 2013

Philly Gets Crafty {East Passyunk Avenue’s Crafty Balboa}

My first weekend visit to East Passyunk Avenue was awesome. In addition to sampling yummy food during the Flavors of the Avenue event (more on that later!), my family & I got to experience Crafty Balboa, a South Philly craft show. It was a beautiful day & a great supplement to the food festival. I was amazed with how many talented artists the Philadelphia area has to offer!

There were all types of vendors at the show – from accessories, to paper goods, to jewelry, to dog treats – it was endless! Check out some of the things that caught my eye . . .

Adorable watercolor paper goods by Betsy Ann Paper

Pretty handmade jewelry by Anna Beau Designs

Philadelphia skyline onesie by Spruce Avenue Design & Illustration

Laser cut Philly zip code keychains by Masters of None

Unique jewelry by Old Blood Designs

The cutest treats & accessories for your pets by Pupcakes Bits & Pieces

Gorgeous greeting cards by Moxie House Paper Goods

Super unique & whimsical creations by Milkshake Crafts

Bright Philly coasters by Black Heart Letterpress

Fun pet illustrations by Superdeduper

Awesome Philly inspired gifts by Frankadelphia

Stunning hand dyed cotton scarves by Porl Handmade

Fab Philly cards & illustrations by Rachelink

Crafty Balboa was an awesome experience. I have been shopping on Etsy for most gift giving purposes the past few years, so the fair was great for adding some more shops to my rotation. I will definitely be hitting up some local Philly artists for my next few gifts!

Do you own anything from these talented Philadelphia artists? Any new shops or Etsy stores you have to recommend? xx

May 2, 2013

Makeovers at Sephora Philadelphia

Looking for a fun girl approved activity for the weekend? Philly’s local Sephora (1714 Chestnut Street) is the perfect place to hang with a girlfriend and get a fresh new look at the same time!

My friend Kenya & I recently stopped by Sephora for some Sunday afternoon makeovers. Sephora offers a few different options for makeup applications at their Beauty Studio (the stand in the middle of the store), each with a different minimum purchase. If you’re going on the weekend as we did, I recommend making an appointment a day or two before, either over the phone or at the store. You might also be interested in this Sephora Gift Card if you ever want to stop by and treat yourself.

We chose the Customized Makeup Application. We were each seated in chairs at the Beauty Studio and began to chat with our own Beauty Expert (the Sephora makeup artists) about what we were looking for.

After our chat, our Beauty Experts were off – hustling around the store to find products they wanted to try on us. Once they were finished selecting, it was time to get started! We went through skincare (a quick cleanse & tone), primer, foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, blush, eyebrows, lips & of course, the eyes! As they worked their makeup magic, our Beauty Experts answered each & every question Kenya & I had. They talked over our specific problem areas & enhanced our best features – while showing us how to recreate the techniques at home.

I had asked to stay neutral on my eyes, but my Beauty Advisor tried to break me out of my shell with a deep green/blue eyeliner from Urban Decay. After telling her I had never tried orange blush before, she found me a gorgeous shade that worked super well with my skin. It was great to be taken outside the box with my makeup options.

After about an hour of being pampered & learning about makeup, we were finished!

Kenya & I were both very happy with our makeovers. I walked out with an the Urban Decay liner, Anastasia Brow Wiz (hello – I’ve never done anything to my eyebrows before!), Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, and a new foundation brush. Some of Kenya’s items were out of stock at the store, so Sephora gave her a Free Shipping coupon for the website. I love that!

I think I will definitely be back for my foundation and concealer (and mascara, and blush, and lipgloss . . .), but I needed to spread out my purchases a little bit. Thanks to my Beauty Expert Haneefah – you were great!

Here is a little more of my finished face in the light of Anthropologie soon after.

The makeovers were a great experience. I highly recommend the service if you need a new look for an important night out (like your birthday!) or just want to learn more about the whole wide world of makeup! You can get more information about the Sephora Beauty Studio on their website.

What are some of your favorite beauty products or techniques? I’d love to hear them! xx