New Blog!

As of October 6, 2014 the blog has a new location! 

You can now find me at www.thehippiememoirs.com 

I hope you all continue to follow along as I begin a new adventure! 

Peace and Love, 

Em

Currently...

Reading // Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I know I'm a little late to the game but I am determined to read the entire Harry Potter series this Fall! 

Listening to // Thirty Seconds to Mars, the Civil Wars, & Jack White just to name a few. 

Feeling Thankful // For all of life's different seasons and the start of new chapters. 

Thinking About // Blogging. I am working on some big and exciting things for my little internet space but at the same time I am also feeling drained and uninspired. I know as bloggers we all go through this ebb and flow but I am really racking my brain trying to think about things to write about. 

Eating // Smartfood White Cheddar popcorn. This stuff is addicting and dangerous to have around. I also enjoyed a pumpkin chai latte last week that was divine!! 

Watching // My sister and I watched The Fault in Our Stars this week. It was beautiful and just like the book and I cried my eyes out. 

Bummed out on // The fact that summer is officially over but I am also looking forward to fall and sweaters and pumpkin flavored everything!!

Loving // The fact that the Orioles are going to the Play-offs and that they're the A.L. East Champions! If you didn't know already, I am a huge baseball fan. And after 14 years of losing seasons I am so excited that Baltimore is doing so well!!  

Peace and Love, 

Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 

1. Stunning.  2. Girls' best friend.  3. Love the colors of this photo.  4. I'm not much of a watch gal but this one is perfection!  5. A Portland travel guide.  6. Leather and lace.  7. Layered necklaces.  8. Love this shot.  9. All white with wood accents.  10. My favorite.  

Peace and Love, 

Em

One of Those Weeks...

photo credit: Horace and Mae

It has just been one of those weeks where: 

- I completely failed at blogging. I started my "10 Things" post for Sunday and didn't even finish it, my brain was void of blogging ideas, and I just didn't feel motivated to post anything. I know every blogger has weeks like this but I was disappointed in my lack of presence here on the blog. 

- I set out to deep-clean my room last Sunday and it has gone untouched. Bags, boxes, and clothes are everywhere. 

- My sleeping has been off. I wake up at all hours of the night and can't fall back asleep so I end up watching numerous episodes of Grey's Anatomy and The Wire. This means that this week has been full of afternoon naps.  

- I spent way too much time at the Apple store, but three trips later my phone is finally fixed. 

But instead of dwelling on these negative things I will look on the bright side: I have made lots of progress in the book I am currently reading, I bought a few new items for my Fall wardrobe, and I've spent lots of time with great girlfriends. 

I hope you all have a great Friday and a happy weekend :) 

Peace and Love, 

Em

A Summer Evening in Fell's Point...

I live about 20 minutes outside of both Baltimore and Washington DC and I don't take advantage of it like I should. Lately I've become more adventurous and am trying to make more of an effort to explore the cities around me. A few weeks ago I went with my friend, Haylee, to Fell's Point for dinner. If you are ever in the Baltimore area you need to visit Fell's Point- it's one of my favorite parts of the city. It contains high-end shops and some of my favorites (Anthropologie anyone?) and a great selection of restaurants. Haylee and I enjoyed dinner at Sofie's crepes. I've never actually had a real crepe before and these were delicious. After a little window shopping we headed down to one of my favorite places to get gelato- Pitango. This place makes some of the best gelato and has some of the most delicious flavors you could dream of. I ended up mixing a scoop of the mojito gelato with a scoop of the dark chocolate and it was absolutely divine. We ended the night with a walk down around the docks. These little summer adventures are going to be missed... 

Peace and Love, 

Em

August In Retrospect...

1. I shared my current beauty favorites.

2. A playlist perfect for days spent at the beach.

3. I talked about my short trip to WV.

4. My last summer trip to the beach.

5. I touched on my summer reading list.

Peace and Love, 

Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 

1. Chic and white.  2. Whip that hair.  3. Could he be any cuter?!  4. So true.  5. Carrot cake doughnuts.  6. Nothing I love more than peach season.  7. I adore this braided crown!  8. A lovely large horse print.  9. Choppy bangs.  10. A hidden pink gem.  

Peace and Love, 

Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10  

1. Blueberry brownies.  2. White tee & cut-offs.  3. Water slide.  4. Simple & lovely.  5. Wild.  6. Peonies are my favorite.  7. Adventurer.  8. Popsicle party backdrop.  9. Blue stairs perfect for any beach house.  10. The ideal couple.  

Peace and Love, 

Em

Summer Reading...

Beginning the summer with a reading list of 58 books was way too optimistic. So far I've read about 6 books this summer, which isn't bad but there are so many books that I want to read! In these final weeks of summer I am determined to cross three more books off of my list. Wish me luck! 

Did you read any books this summer that you loved?! I'm always looking for new recs :) 

Peace and Love, 

Em

Take Me Back...

Last Thursday my friend Haylee and I took what will probably be our last beach trip of the summer :(  We drove up to Rehoboth and spent the day laying out on the beach. We spent time wandering into some of the local shops, buying souvenir t-shirts, and sipping on fresh dairy-free smoothies. These day trips to the beach are one of the things I will miss most about summer. So for right now I am going to relish in the thought of my feet in the sand and sea-salt air in my hair....

Peace and Love,
Em

WV...

Last weekend I went with my mom and grandparents out to WV for their family reunion. I went along last year and decided to go again this year since it will probably be the last time I am able to go for a while. It was really nice to be able to spend some time with family members that I don't get to see that often! The weekend included conversations that lasted until 2 am, roaming around Fayetteville, and a great dinner at the King Tut Drive-In where we had everything burgers and black raspberry milkshakes. Not to mention the fact that the rainy drive home through the smokey mountains was quite dreamy :)  

Peace and Love, 

Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 

1. Beautiful Mykonos.  2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites.  3. Best friends on the road.  4. Giant book wall.  5. Pretty jewelry dishes.  6. Esther 4:14.  7. Pink and glittery.  8. White peach and green tea bellini. YUM!  9. Color blocked door.  10. Summer love.   

Peace and Love, 

Em

Beach Daze (A Playlist)...

August is flying by and as Summer is coming to an end I am squeezing in a few last day trips to the beach. To me, there's nothing more relaxing than laying in the sand while the sun beats down on you and the salt water swarms around you with the breeze. I always love making playlists for days spent at the beach! Give me a good book and some great music to listen to and I could lay out for hours. I hope that the rest of you are making the most of your summer and getting in plenty of beach time! Enjoy.

Peace and Love, 

Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10  

1. SJP.  2. Love this!  3. This smoothie looks AH-mazing!  4. Dreamy cottage.  5. Perfect colors for summer.  6. The 10 best Ice Cream Sandwiches in San Fran.  7. Pretty eye masks.  8. Beautiful neutrals.  9. A teal tub and tiled floors.  10. A whole lotta sparkle. 

Peace and Love, 

Em

Current Beauty Staples...

These days I am always looking for ways to achieve a natural look while still having a little fun with my makeup. While most days I try to keep it simple I also frequently get the urge to rock a cat eye or wear a bright lip. Recently I have stumbled upon a few products that I am just loving and I thought I'd share! 

The majority of my new favorite products are by Benefit. I've always loved Benefit- they're packaging is super cute- but the only thing I've ever purchased is their perfume (it's my favorite!). While in Nashville my cousin gave me a few samples to try and I feel head over heels for them.  

First up is the Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lipgloss. This lipgloss has the perfect amount of shimmer and is a beautiful nudey-pink color. I'll wear it all by itself or on top of a lipstick and it always looks perfect! 

Lately I've been obsessed with trying different mascaras. I'm not one to wear false lashes so I'm always on the hunt for a mascara that will provide me with the best volume and length. Benefit's They're Real Mascara is seriously one of the best mascaras I have ever tried!

Next, is Benefit's The POREfessional. This pro balm acts as the perfect primer and it minimizes the look of pores. I have never been one to use primer in the past but a few of my girlfriends were raving about it so I just had to try. My skin feels so smooth after using this and I can definitely tell a difference in the appearance of my foundation. Along the same lines is the Boi-ing Concealer. I have always struggled with dark circles under my eyes and blemishes. This concealer is by far my favorite of any that I have tried. It is so smooth and glides on while lasting all day long and covering up all types of imperfections. I also love that it looks so natural and you can't even tell that you have makeup on!

Finally, I have to mention my favorite lipstick! I have to say that I'm a sucker for lipsticks and lipglosses. If I am at the store and see something I like, I buy it, even if I have more than enough at home. However, there is one lipstick that is my tried and true and that I use all the time. It's Snob by MAC and it's the perfect balance between a natural color and a pop of pink. Like I said, I tend to keep my makeup pretty simple these days, so a pretty pop of color goes a long way!

What are some of your favorite beauty products? What's the one beauty item you can't leave home without- I'd love to hear!

Peace and Love,
Em

Currently...

Reading // "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald" by Therese Anne Fowler. I've just started this book so I don't know what to make of it yet. Fitzgerald has to be one of my favorite authors though so I'm excited to learn a little bit more about his lady. 

Listening to // Anthropologie's playlists on Spotify. The music is always so cool and chill- I love listening to it at work! You can find all the playlists here. 

Feeling Thankful // For time spent with friends and family. I'm so thankful that I've been able to spend quality time with my dearest friends and family over the summer making memories and living life. 

Thinking About // Future goals and plans. There's so much I want to do in life and I just need to figure out how to get started. Working on making plans and getting things organized for some big adventures.

Eating // Golden Oreos. There aren't too many sweets that I'm addicted to but there's just something about Oreos that always makes it hard to just have a couple. Lately I've been a fan of the Golden Oreos- they are just so yummy! My sister also had me try the Birthday Cake Oreos- ummm, delicious!

Watching // Old episodes of Psych and Grey's Anatomy. Also, NY Med has become my guilty pleasure (do you watch this show? I don't know why but I love it). I'm also thinking about re-watching True Detective before summer's out. 

Bummed out on // The fact that summer is almost over. But let's not dwell on the fact....

Loving // Coconut-scented anything and everything! I've always loved the scent of coconut but lately I just can't get enough whether it's a candle, body spray, or shower gel. It's all SO good and perfect for summer! 

Peace and Love,
Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10  

1. These look too good to eat!  2. Great summer style.  3. Beach polaroids.  4. A stunning black and white facade.  5. Girl crush.  6. Handsome Harry.  7. Pineapples & summer just go hand in hand.  8. Three lovelies.  9. Ying-yang.  10. Riffling through pages.  

Peace and Love, 

Em

July In Retrospect...

Here's the round up for July: 

1. The month started off with us celebrating the 4th. 

2. I spent a perfect day at the beach with two ladies who I love. 

3. I took the most fabulous trip to Nashville. 

I really sucked at blogging in the month of June and I promise to be better in August! I can't believe there is only one month of summer left but I am going to try and make the most of it :) 

Peace and Love, 

Em

Behind These Walls...

While on my trip to Nashville, my Uncle took us to one of his favorite streets in downtown Murfreesboro. I have always loved visiting the town square there, with it's quaint cafe's, record shop, and vintage clothing stores and the neighborhood streets surrounding it are just adorable. 

I am a big sucker for old houses with hardwood floors, hidden rooms, and lots of charm and detail. While walking around the neighborhood I could only imagine the kind of architectural charm that could be found inside these houses (I even peeked through a few windows). 

Are you a fan of old houses? I think they're just dreamy! 

Peace and Love, 

Em

10 Things I LOVE...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 

1. A cute little nook.  2. Strawberry Cheesecake Popsicles.  3. Healing.  4. Beach babe.  5. Loving these shoes!!  6. Underneath the stars.  7. A great use for a cake stand!!  8. Iced coffee is one of my favorite things.  9. Jenny Lewis' new song "One of the Guys" is my current jam.  10. A cute black bikini and beach time.  

Peace and Love, 

Em

Oh, Nashville...

I fall more and more in love with Nashville with each visit and this time was no different. We started off the day with a picnic in Centennial Park. We spent time taking photos and enjoying our view of the Parthenon. After lunch we headed to Broadway to do some sight-seeing and shopping. If you are ever in the Nashville area you need to stop by Earthbound Trading Co. It's the coolest little store with lots of eclectic and bohemian goodies. I could have spent hours shopping there.

After some more shopping we headed to The Frothy Monkey for an afternoon coffee. This place had the coolest vibe to it- I could totally see myself hanging out there all the time. I tried the iced hazelnut white mocha. It tasted like heaven in a cup of coffee- so delicious!! The Frothy Monkey is now on the list of my favorite places in Nashville.  

Feeling refreshed and with coffee in hand we headed over to the new Hatch Show Print Shop. Every time I've gone to Nashville in the past 3 years I always make a point to stop at the Hatch Show Print Shop. This place is responsible for making all the raddest posters for concerts and music events that take place around the Nashville area. They sell vintage and one-of-a-kind prints and if you're lucky you'll find something featuring your favorite band or artist. I didn't end up buying anything this time but it's always fun to look around and see what new things they are selling. After the print shop we took a stroll around the Country Music Hall of Fame and went over to Margaritaville to listen to some live music.

Our final around Broadway was to the Ryman. The Ryman is another place that I always visit each time that I come to Nashville. It has such a magical feel to it and I love thinking about all the incredible musicians that have performed there.

After that we headed over to the Hillsboro area. I had never visited this part of town before but I new that there were some pretty cool restaurants and shops there. My cousin first took us to one of her favorites, and now one of mine, Pangaea. How I walked out of this store without buying anything is one of life's great mysteries. They had the coolest collection of jewelry, perfume, home accessories, clothing, stationary, and books. I walked around the store 4 times just to make sure that I saw everything.

We ended our day with dinner at Fido. Fido has been on my list of places to visit in Nashville for a long time and, let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I tried their iced local latte which is a blend of honey, cinnamon, espresso, and milk- heaven! I had the best two cups of coffee that I have ever had in my life in one day in Nashville. I paired my latte with a serving of their buttermilk blueberry pancakes which made for the perfect dinner.

I had a fantastic day with my sister and cousin visiting some new and old favorite places in Nashville. It was so fun becoming more and more familiar with this city. Hopefully, the next time I visit it will be for good :)

Peace and Love,
Em