Hippity-Hoppin' Easter Weekend

Happy Monday!  It's a sleepy, exhausted Monday morning for me.  I have a paper due at noon, and even though I meant to get it done while I was home for Easter, it just didn't happen.  Last night turned out to be quite a late night of writing.  I will say it was worth it though to have a relaxing weekend at home to celebrate Easter.



I'll share a few highlights of the weekend with you.



My Thursday plans with Cuties A and B were cancelled, because Cutie A got sick.  It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though, because Thursday my sinus infection was in full force.  Thursday and Friday I just spent time relaxing and recuperating and was able to start reading The Help.  I love it so far and am already on page 259!  Hopefully I'll be able to finish it soon despite all my upcoming projects, papers, and tests.

Saturday, Cutie A and I were both feeling much better and I got in some much needed time with Cuties A and B.  Cutie A has started playing lacrosse and her practice is right around the corner from my house.  I got to watch her practice and scrimmage!

Ignore my crazy hair, it was quite windy!

Cutie A then went with me on some errands.  That night the "Cutie" family invited me to go to a Flying Squirrels game.  The Flying Squirrels is a minor-league baseball team that just came to Richmond last summer.  The wind cleared up, the sun came out, and it was the perfect night for a baseball game.  We started with dinner at Kitchen 64 and then headed to the ball game!

Our seats were right behind 3rd base!

We were happy after lots of peanuts and funnel cakes!

It was an exciting and close game.  The Squirrels were up against the Altoona Curve and had to play 11 innings!  Ultimately, the Squirrels won 3-2!

Sunday morning, I woke up to a lovely Easter basket.  My basket is really special to me because it was made for me when I was just a baby by a loved one who I liked to call "Tricky Nikki" when I was younger. 

Contents:  lovely new pajamas, Waiting for Superman, lots of candy!

We had brunch as a family at Strawberry Street Cafe.  It was a particularly emotional Easter for our family, because today would be my grandfather's 88th birthday.  He passed away about two and a half years ago and was one of the kindest, most incredible men.  Above all, he had the greatest faith in God.  He never missed mass and always said our blessings at meals.  It was definitely hard not having him there for both Easter and what would have been his birthday, but we managed to keep the day upbeat and fun!

Strawberry Street Cafe is known for their bathtub brunch bar.

the tub!

My dad and I have always had a tradition of ordering French toast to share.  We both order whatever we're having for brunch, and then add a separate order of French toast to split.  Yesterday was no different!

All of the plates had a strawberry on them!

Sadly, we didn't take as many family pictures as I would have hoped, but here are my favorite two from the day!

With my Grandmas!

Mommy, Allie, Daddy

How was your Easter weekend?

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Easter Dreams

Happy Good Friday!  In honor of Easter, I thought it might be fun to come up with a "Dream Easter Basket."  In my family, Easter is all about spending time with one another.  The basket tradition is fun, but we don't go over the top.  That is fine by me, especially because I'm quite the family girl, but it certainly was fun coming up with this fantasy basket.

Dream Easter Basket by sundressesandsmiles featuring ballet flats



What would be in your dream Easter Basket?



Additionally, I decided to participate in the White T-Shirt Challenge posted by WhatMissLoves.  The challenge was to put together a cute look using just a simple white tee shirt.  This is the look I put together!  Head on over to her blog tomorrow (Saturday, 4/23)  to check out what other people came up with!

White T-Shirt Challenge by sundressesandsmiles featuring kate spade jewelry

Finally, thanks to Elizabeth from Life with Elizabeth and Jennifer from Blue-Eyed Belle for the "One Lovely Blog Award."  I received this award last week, so to see my random facts and the bloggers I awarded, click here.  

I hope everyone has a very Happy Easter!  Look out Monday for my Easter highlights.  I'm particularly excited, because, I was put in charge of finding a brunch location this year.  I decided to try a Richmond classic, Strawberry Street Cafe, hopefully it will not disappoint!

What are your Easter plans?

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Craving Summer: Lemon Shrimp Pasta

As the weather is warming up, I find myself craving summer.  One of my favorite things about my home is our huge backyard.  We live on a little over an acre of land, which is pretty rare for our area.  We have a nice patio right behind the house, a pool with a great deck my dad built, a volleyball net, and then some extra room to spare.  My dad loves landscaping and gardening (sadly, I did not inherit his green thumb) and in the summertime we spend most of our time in the backyard.



Last May, I decided I wanted to cook a really nice meal for two of my best friends, LPC and ALG, to kick off the summer and have a little girls night.  I went to Target and got cute things for my tablescape (which, by the way, is a new word I've learned blogging) and got cooking!  Now, I'm craving a taste of that delicious meal as well as summer fun with friends.

ALG, LPC, Allie

Please ignore my slight sunburn

The menu for the night was a Lemon Shrimp Pasta and one of my summer (or anytime of year for that matter) favorites, Sangria.  ALG also brought some homemade chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert.  I got both of the recipes online, however, I wrote them down by hand, and therefore can't cite them to their proper source.

Sangria

• 1 bottle red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Roja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)--I have no memory of which I used


• 1 lemon cut into wedges


• 1 orange cut into wedges


• 1 lime cut into wedges


• 2 tbsp sugar


• Splash of orange juice or lemonade (I used OJ)


• 2 shots of gin or triple sec (optional)--I used the gin and may have been a bit generous when adding it, hehe!


• 1 cup strawberries


• 1 small can of diced pineapples (with juice)


• 4 cups Gingerale (I used Sprite because I don't really care for Gingerale)

1. Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange, and lime into the wine.  Toss in fruit wedges and pineapple, then add sugar, OJ, and gin.


2. Chill overnight (I learned that this is key to making a good Sangria!)


3. Add Gingerale (Sprite in my case), strawberries and ice just before serving.

Lemon Shrimp Pasta

Makes 6 servings. 

• 1 lb of shrimp


• 12 oz angel hair pasta


• 1/2 cup pine nuts (these were expensive, so I skipped them)


• 1/4 cup olive oil


• 3 cloves garlic


• 2 tbsp lemon zest


• Juice of 1-2 lemons (1/4 cup or so)


• 1 tbsp table salt


• 2 cups grape tomatoes


• 1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, mint (I used all 3)


• 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper (I did not measure this, just added some pepper)

1. Cook angel hair pasta al dente


2. Cook shrimp on a skillet (until pink) with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, herbs, salt and pepper


3. Combine with pasta and grape tomatoes.  Add more salt and pepper as necessary to taste

Voila, the final product!

It turned out quite nice, if I do say so myself!

We had so much fun sipping (or, maybe, gulping) sangria and chitchatting all night!  

What are your favorite summertime meals?  Are you craving summer as badly as I am?

As a side note, in case you were wondering, I went to the doctor and have a sinus infection, which is a bummer.  Luckily, however, it's not contagious, so I can still spend some much-needed time with Cuties A and B.

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Meet Cuties A and B

Hello!  Today I wanted to introduce you to two of my favorite kids in the world.  I babysit for a lot of families, but this one takes the cake.  We're going to call them Cutie A and Cutie B.



I started babysitting for Cutie A and Cutie B when I was a junior in high school.

This is them back then!

Cutie B and Cutie A

I think it was love at first sight and I continue to babysit for them in summers and when I'm home.  They also come visit me here at UVA and in the fall, I even had Cutie A spend the night with me after a football game.

This was them the weekend before move-in day my 1st Year at UVA

The next summer I was lucky enough to go with them to the beach!

Cuties

We have so much fun together.  Cutie A is a little version of me; our hobbies include splash contests off the diving board, making friendship bracelets, and playing some intense games of Crazy 8's.  Cutie B is a goofball.  He loves to make people laugh and has some good jokes up his sleeve.  

This is currently my desktop background.

Did I mention they like to be silly?

It's funny because Cutie A and Cutie B's mom says she trusts me with them moreso than she does her own mother!  Additionally, this summer, their dad was telling me how someone asked who Allie was in conversation.  Rather than saying, "Oh, she's our babysitter," his response was, "I don't know.  She's like my older daughter or niece or something."  I don't consider watching them a job.  They're like family and we have such a good time together.

Maymont is one of our favorite places to go.

Our picnic spot in the Japanese Gardens

Our last day together last summer!

I wanted you guys to meet them, because, I'll be watching them full time this summer and because they're a huge part of my life.  It's funny, because, my mom has always said that you don't really know what love is, until you have a child.  I love Cutie A and Cutie B so much, that I can't imagine what it will be like to have my own kids someday.  

This summer I'm sure that many of my posts will be about our adventures.

Tomorrow, I'm planning to pick them up from school and take them to see the movie Hop.  I've been feeling a bit under the weather, so I am wishing and hoping that all is better by tomorrow and I won't have to cancel our get together.

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Dotty for Dahl House!

Hello everyone!  Today I am feeling particularly cheery-- yesterday I had the best day!  Why you ask?  A few reasons--the weather was gorgeous so I pulled out a favorite Lilly skort for the first time this season; I won some teaching goodies in class; babysitting was so much fun (the little boy and I rode bikes and then the mom actually surprised me with one of my favorite ice creams, Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie); AND, last but certainly not least: I actually got into bed at a decent hour.  All of this combined put me in a great mood for the day and week ahead!  Now onto today's post...



Last week, I was contacted by the dahl house.  I had never heard of this company before, but one look at their website and it was love!  Whitney, the owner, creates hand painted products for the home and is so talented.  She has a knack for detail and never uses stencils; additionally she will customize many of her pieces for you, using specific colors and ribbon or by adding a monogram.  Check out some of my favorite finds below!



I have a feeling this frame will soon be mine (with a monogram added at the top, of course!)

Spring Topiary Frame

love, love, love the gingham ribbon along the edge!

I'm buzzzzing for these bees!  (get it!?)

Bee Waste Can

Wouldn't this be precious in a little boy's room or beach house?

Anchor Tissue Box

And now, drumroll please, I'd like for you to know that the dahl house is running a spring special for the next two weeks, offering 25% off their Jumbo Dot Collection and wanted me to share it specifically with YOU, my readers!   The Jumbo Dot Collection is oh so cute and perfect for spring!  All you have to do is enter code EAS2011 at checkout and place your order by May 3rd.

I wouldn't mind having a few of these in my Easter basket!

My two personal favorites are the Waste Can and Frame.

Jumbo Dot Waste Can

Jumbo Dot Frame

All of the items in the Collection can be customized by color, ribbon style, and optional personalization.  

So...what are you waiting for?  Head on over to the dahl house and get dotty! 

Have a great day!

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Whirlwind Weekend!

Happy Monday!!  Whew, what a whirlwind weekend I had!



Friday night UVA had Relay for Life.  Alpha Phi raised over $7700 for the American Cancer Society!  Our pledge class also raised enough money to be featured on the back of the tee shirt.

Go APHI 4th Years!

Saturday morning I was supposed to participate in Cavaliers Care.  Cavaliers Care is a day each year in the Spring when UVA students and alumni in Charlottesville and other major cities come together and do service projects all around their cities.  Alpha Phi had a team this year, and I was pumped about our project.  We were supposed to be participating in the 4th Annual Rivanna River Sojourn, canoeing down the river and collecting trash.  Unfortunately, however, due to the weather, our trip was cancelled.  Saturday we had storms all day and even a tornado warning!  Though I was disappointed to not be able to participate, it freed up my day Saturday to get a project and other homework done.

Sadly, our canoes stayed ashore.

Saturday night was formal, and luckily the weather cleared up just in time!  It was a bittersweet occasion as it was my last Alpha Phi date function.  The night turned out to be very special. I got my dress at Monkee's, one of my favorite boutiques in Richmond.  The weekend I bought it was their Anniversary Weekend.  With every purchase that weekend, you got a free pair of earrings.  I wasn't really expecting much out of this "free" pair of earrings, but surprisingly I loved them and actually was able to wear them with the dress!

pretty earrings!

A group of fourth years had dinner at The Local before.

All of us!

Allie, OBS, MET

I had never been to The Local, but had heard incredible things about it.  They use all organic, locally grown ingredients in their cooking. As an appetizer I had the Truffled Mushroom Ragout Fettucine-- it was HEAVEN in my mouth.  For my entrée I had Duck with Orange Sauce and Garlic Redskin Mashed Potatoes, which was also delicious!

YUM!

I took NGV as my date.  He and I have been friends since first year and had a blast letting loose on the dance floor!

NGV and Allie

I also ran into some old high school buddies, one of which I hadn't seen since senior year!

TJC, Allie, BWS

Additionally, my favorite of our new first year pledge class is NMV.  She is one of my residents and I really feel blessed to be her RA!  On bid day she texted me saying:  "We're sisters now!" and I couldn't be more thrilled to call her a sister.

Allie and NAM

After formal I stopped by and visited my friend CMV who was the RA on coverage for the night.  He and I had the most engaging conversation about religion, family, our life outlook, etc.  We ended up staying awake until 6 AM talking!  Though I was incredibly exhausted from it yesterday, it was well worth it and a great way to end an already fun night!

Finally, Sunday we had an Alpha Phi 4th Year Wine Tasting at Cooper Vineyards.  The vineyard is owned by   Dr. Jeff Cooper whose daughter, LPC is my best friend in Alpha Phi.  Cooper Vineyards is the first winery in Virginia to build a green tasting room.  Last weekend, was the Grand Opening of the room and we were the first private tasting in it!  My favorites of the tasting were the: Chardonnay 2008, Viognier 2009, Rhapsody, Soleil, Sweet Louisa, and Noche (chocolate infused!!).  I opted to have a glass of the Sweet Louisa, which Dr. Cooper likes to refer to as "sassy grape juice!"  

Some of the girls!

The rest of us!

RJH, LPC, HRJ, MFM, ABE

Allie and Miss Cooper, herself!

I finally got to wear my Wisteria Tunic!

Group before heading back to Cville!

If you're ever in Central Virginia and want to check out some of the local vineyards, Cooper Vineyards is a must visit!

As you can see, it was quite the eventful weekend.  I made so many great memories!  

What did you do this weekend?

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One Month & A Cornbread Recipe

Yippee!  Today my blog is one month old!



Below is one of my favorite songs:  "I Should Be Sleeping" by Emerson Drive.  I'm posting this song today, because its lyrics could easily be tweaked to show how I feel about this blog.  I find myself often up late at night (when I should be sleeping...) thinking about Sundresses and Smiles!  I am constantly getting new ideas for blog posts from the world around me; I find myself mentioning posts I've read in conversation; and I look forward to free time when I can check my blog reads out!  I am so glad that I started this new endeavor and have had all of your support along the way!