philly

August 8, 2018

5 of my Favorite Philly-Area Lady Grammers

In the land of grammin, it’s so easy to have your feed overrun by posts you passively scroll by on the search for something you connect with. I follow QUITE a few of Philly peeps over on my Instagram, but I always look forward to posts from some specific accounts. My favorite Instagrammers wisely use bio.fm to make sure transitioning between their different social media profiles is very seamless. Today, I wanted to share with you 5 of my faaavorite Philly Instagram accounts (all run by amazing women, of course!) that always get me to double tap. They all have so many followers, which is what everyone wants! You guys should consider using instagram tags in your posts in order to get more likes and followers, maybe one day you’ll be on my top 5 favorite accounts!

Did I miss one of your favs? Let me know in the comments below which grammers you love! xx

November 18, 2013

Post-NYC Reflections

New York City is an amazing place. There is a unique hustle & bustle about the city that I personally have not been able to find anywhere else in the world. But each time I go, for a quick trip or for work or most recently for Lucky FABB, I appreciate my own city so much more.

The morning after I returned from three crazy days in NYC, I hopped in my car and drove over to Whole Foods, as I love to do early on Saturday mornings. This trip was more out of necessity, as I traveled an insane amount last month and needed fresh groceries desperately. I decided to get a few other errands out of the way on my trip, so after a stop at Starbucks for breakfast & a latte, I ran to Fine Wine & Good Spirits and the bank, three stops I completed entirely in about a half hour.

Once at the grocery store, I roamed the aisles peacefully, not bumping into anyone or even having to wait in a long line. I walked to the (free) provided parking lot, and got in my car. And just as I reached the bottom of the spiral ramp leading me back out into my city, I stopped. The side street was empty. It was calm. And it was so, so beautiful. I was instantly, once again, filled with joy about the city I live in. I know Philadelphia is mine, and I belong here. I am blessed (yes) to get the opportunity to travel and experience other places, but I am always so happy this is the place I get to come home to.

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. 🙂

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

April 16, 2013

Sharing the Love {My First Liebster Award!}

Last week, the lovely Jade of stylewallflower nominated me for a super cool Liebster Award! In case this is a relatively new term to you (like it was to me!), allow me to explain. A Liebster Award is given from one blogger to another as a way to get to know new & fabulous people.

There are a few interpretations of how many followers the nominated blogs should have & how many bloggers to nominate, but either way, it’s an awesome honor. So with that, on to the questions!

Share 11 things about yourself . . .

1. My little sis Lindsay is my BFF. I feel pretty lucky to have her as my sister.

2. I will never get tired of visiting in Disney World.

3. My favorite artist is Kurt Halsey. My apartment is covered in prints of his work, mostly from my many Art Star calendars.

Kurt Halsey brunette print "as big as the trees" / Her Philly

Image via

4. Almost every pair of earrings I own are from thrift stores.

5. I am a proud sister of Delta Gamma sorority!

6. I’ve been blessed with parents who love traveling. Some of our best vacations include Italy, San Diego & Miami.

7. I have a huge obsession with YouTube beauty gurus and their lives. Especially the British ones.

British YouTube beauty gurus Fleur, Zoe, Louise and Tanya in Disney World

Image via

8. I still take my laundry home to my parents’ house every chance I get.

9. I listen to Elvis Duran & the Morning Show every day on my way to work.

Elvis Duran and the Morning Show cast photo

Image via

10. I have two guilty pleasure movies: Love & Basketball and Varsity Blues.

11. Otters are my favorite animal. I could watch the otters at the Philadelphia Zoo for hours.

Answer the 11 questions given to you . . .

1. What was your major in college? Communications with an English minor.

2. Why did you start blogging? I wanted to meet new people, write more, and have an excuse to document my exploration of a new city.

3. Pick: Mr. or Mrs. Carter? Mrs. Go Bey!

4. Favorite celebrity baby? Even though she is not a baby anymore, Suri Cruise.

5. Where was your favorite vacation? Italy.

6. What is your favorite neighborhood in Philly? Although I am trying to broaden my horizons, Rittenhouse will always have my heart.

7. What is your dream job? Anything that involves a little social media & some writing!

8. Favorite designer/celebrity collaboration? Prabal Gurung For Target.

9. Which musician do you wish would just stop making music and go away? NICKLEBACK & CREED. Like, for real.

10. What was your favorite concert and when? I love Coldplay concerts. I’ve been to two, and they were both amazing.

11. What are you looking forward to this summer? Phillies games, weekend trips with my friends & going home to the beach!

Nominate 5 Bloggers . . . (you better check them out!)

1. Celestine from Java Aficionado

2. Georgette from Grown and Curvy Woman

3. Melissa from Ring the Alam

4. Brittiny from Fashion of Philly

5. Karima from Skinny Minority

11 Questions For My Nominees to Answer . . .

1. What is your favorite video on YouTube?

2. Do you like the Philly sports teams?

3. What is your favorite area to shop in the city?

4. #1 tips for new bloggers?

5. Recommend your favorite book.

6. What is your dream vacation?

7. Give us your favorite hidden Philly gem?

8. Are you more or a beach or pool girl?

9. Is there a beauty item you can’t live without?

10. What is your favorite Philly restaurant?

11. How has blogging changed your life?

That was fun! Thanks again to Jade for nominating me. I also wanted to take this time to acknowledge the tragedies that took place in Boston yesterday. Sending you Philly love, Beantown. xx

April 12, 2013

A Sweet Treat {The Igloo Frozen Yogurt}

During my senior year of college, two froyo shops opened up within a few steps of my apartment. It became our weakness, as it was always fresh & consistently yummy. Since moving to the city, I have had many yummy froyo trips, but, perhaps luckily, none have been as close as my college spots.

So, I was excited to hear about the Grand Opening of The Igloo (2223 Grays Ferry Avenue), a new frozen yogurt shop in Philadelphia.

The inside of the shop is bright & modern. The set-up allows for a nice flow to move people through the line.

The shop has lots of yummy flavors, like Raspberry & Pomegranate, Tahitian Vanilla, and Cookies & Cream. Each self service pump has a mixed pump in the center to swirl together two complementing flavors. I chose Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate! Yum.

Next comes the toppings! It seems everyone loved Peanut M&Ms this day 🙂
In addition to candy toppings, The Igloo also has some fruit, sprinkle & crushed cookie options.

My favorite topping was the chocolate sauce that hardened into a shell. My friend Kenya & I did a pretty good job with our creations, don’t you think?

Just to add to the cuteness factor of this post, check out Kenya’s new puppy, Sushi! He is a fluffy little American Eskimo, so he totally fit right in at The Igloo 🙂

I definitely will be visiting The Igloo during the upcoming months for a sweet treat! They apparently have a salted caramel flavor that I really want to try – yum!

What are some of your favorite dessert spots in Philadelphia? xx

April 9, 2013

Insta-Month: A Look Back {March}

March was a busy month! Between birthdays, reunions and weekend trips . . . sprinkled in with some amazing opportunities, I had a full schedule, and I absolutely loved it! Check out some of the highlights . . .

#1 thing to love about March: Shamrock Shakes // The best mozzarella special at my fav Philly gem, Salento

Tara & I about to experience the #WesterosVIP event // My favorite Game of Thrones (p)imp, Tyrion Lannister

With Carling & Ashley at the Harlem Globetrotters game // There is not much better than crab fries & cheese

One of my favorite days of the year – free Rita’s water ice // And favorite day of the year Part 2 . . .

Celebrating Amy’s birthday @ Sons of Essex in NYC // My obsession with kale (topped w/ bacon) grows daily

Coming from a Philly pizza enthusiast, SliCE has my fav pizza presentation // Our pretty city from a roof deck

A normal blogging night 🙂 // Right before my big #DaringlyHigh Trapeze Lesson with Fly School Circus Arts

Some thrift store finds at my favorite shop in South Jersey // Finally got to try a burger at Rouge!

If you’re craving some more Her Philly Instagram action, follow me! Some of these photos came from my personal account and I just really wanted to share . . . are you feeling special yet? xx

What was your favorite moment of March? (This is a judgement free zone, it’s OK if you say Rita’s or Shamrock Shakes . . . )

March 31, 2013

No Dishwasher? No Problem!

One of the hardest things for me to deal with when I moved out of my parents’ place was the lack of dishwasher. I am a dishwasher girl, through & through, and the thought of cleaning dishes made me feel like a real life Cinderella (and also apparently a snob).

I was not happy to find out that living in Philadelphia post-college, the dishwasher scene does not get much better. After awhile, I was over the dry hands and cracked dishes from things slipping out of my grip. So when I finally saw an article in a magazine about how bad dish-washing liquid is for your skin (I have since misplaced said magazine, of course), I knew I needed something to combat this. After an extensive Etsy search, I found HostessCouture.

HostessCouture is a sweet little Etsy shop based out of Princeton. Owner Madison Harley and her partner stock the shop with unique denim jackets, cute aprons, and, of course, fashionable dish gloves. I got the Glamorous pair in December, and I am happy to report that the outer decorations have stayed perfectly intact! Here are some of my other favorites from the shop:

The gloves are great because the are all “industrial strength” latex on the outside with a comfy cotton lining on the inside. I love that if I need my hands (dry) while I’m in the middle of washing, I can slip these off & it’s all good. The only thing I find troublesome is where to hang the gloves to dry when I’m finished using them. I usually just lay them across the faucet.

The gloves each run at $15/pair and ship FREE! Madison let me know a lot of her customers pick up the gloves for bridal showers, engagement parties, Mother’s Day, and even as a gift for gardeners.

What things do you use to make grown up chores more fun? And Happy Easter to anyone who celebrates! xx

March 25, 2013

{The Delivery Dish} Tres Jalapeños

After a long week and no time to grocery shop, I decided my Friday night dinner would be a dose of my favorite cuisine. But after ordering takeout in Philadelphia (regularly) for over 3 years, I have yet to find my go-to Mexican spot. I did a quick search on GrubHub and found Tres Jalapeños (901 South 8th St.). They had decent reviews, so I decided to give them a try.

I ordered the Green Beef Enchiladas ($9.25), Side of Chips ($2.50) and Side of Guacamole ($2.50). Everything arrived in less than the time GrubHub had estimated, but was a little cool. Nothing a quick pop in the microwave can’t solve!

My enchiladas were described as: Three corn tortillas filled with ground beef and topped with green sauce, fresh cheese, onions, sour cream, rice and beans. They ended up being delicious with just the right amount of spice. Sometimes corn tortillas throw me off, but these were great. The guacamole was creamy & yummy too! My only complaint was that the chips were a little bland, (I feel like a bad Mexican food fan to say I would have preferred Chipotle’s lime & salt chips but hey . . . they’re good.)

The portions were pretty big, so I saved half of my meal for “brunch” the next day (still avoiding that grocery shopping thing . . . ). And to my surprise, my meal tasted just as good reheated in the morning!

So maybe I’ve found my new Mexican go-to. Next time, I’ve love to try their Shrimp Jumbo Quesadillas or Mole Chicken Burrito. Do you like Mexican food? What are some of your favorite Mexican spots in Philadelphia?

March 18, 2013

{Quick Trip} NYC Broadway Getaway

Looking for a quick weekend getaway activity that will help you relive a little slice of your childhood? I’ve got just the thing . . . (and full disclosure: it does not take place in Philly!)

For Christmas this year, my mom got our family tickets to attend Matilda on Broadway. This past weekend, we drove up to NYC for some shopping, some chomping and the play! While I am a huge fan of theatre and love going to see plays to begin with, I thought Matilda was truly spectacular.

We attended one of the Preview Performances (March 4 – April 14) at the Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th St.). We were in one of the top center rows, but could still see everything on the stage perfectly. The sets were beautiful and so well done, and the special effects were fantastic. As most of the songs were performed by children, I wasn’t immediately in love with any of the music when I heard it. However today, I have been listening to this song on repeat . . . so it has definitely grown on me!

We were truly so impressed with the child actors (we saw the adorable Oona Laurence as Matilda) and thought they outshone most of the adults (except, of course, the hysterical Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull – and yes, that’s a man). We were even lucky enough to run into two of these adorable little nuggets (Jack Broderick as Bruce & Ted Wilson as Eric) outside of the theatre after the show! How cute are they?

Matilda runs through early December and tickets range from $32 – $147. They also offer student tickets for some performances. The play runs about 2.5 hours with intermission – the perfect length! I highly recommend Matilda on Broadway (and a weekend in NYC!) as a great getaway option for Philadelphians of any age.

Have you attended any Broadway plays recently? What’s your favorite?