Saturday, October 11, 2014

Meet Bo!

Belle, the dog that my family had since I was little passed away last May.  Her passing nearly killed my family because she was a huge part of the family and we loved her so much.  Belle was the best dog ever, although I am totally biased.  Belle was a black lab and was the sweetest girl ever.  Therefore, my family couldn't think about getting a new dog anytime soon because we couldn't replace Belle.

Two months ago my mom and I were out to lunch in Sherlington and decided to go look in the animal shelter.  Fast forward 20 minutes, we found the most adorable puppy and had to have him in a matter of minutes.  Long story short the whole family was at the shelter  within a couple hours and we brought him home the next day.

Meet Bo! 

He is a Black mouth Cur and the cutest puppy ever! 


oops I sometimes let him sleep in my bed 

my older brother Quinn and Bo




                                           How cute is he? He loves sleeping under this ottoman
                             
My parents tried to sneak Bo into my field hockey game.... but they got kicked out 

....he is pretty cute in a bag 


This was Bo's first night home 

Bo with one of his brothers (we were gonna adopt both, although thought one was enough.... we were right!) 

Sean holding little Bo!


I love my new puppy (he is not so little anymore, he is 25 lbs now) he could never replace Belle, although he has his own place in our family.  I don't remember having a puppy because I was so little when we got Belle so being able to experience Bo as a puppy is so much fun.  Although the bite marks on my arms would show otherwise.  

xoxo
olivia 

Friday, August 22, 2014

"Open When.." gift for college students

One of my close cousins left this week for her freshmen year of college and I wanted to make a cute gift for her to take with her to school.  A collage is my go to gift for people although this time I thought I would try something different.  I have seen "open when..." gifts all over pinterest and thought I would try to do my own spin off of it.  "Open When" gifts are typically for couples so I decided to change it to fit for a friend.

The idea is to mark each envelope with "open when..." and then write what the person receiving the gift should be feeling at the time they open the envelope.   


I only made a couple envelopes although there are many other options
I used: 
-open when you need money: I put $5 in it (because even $5 can help sometimes) 
-open when you need a laugh: I put a funny picture of us in it (to remind her of all our fun times together) 
-open when you need chocolate: I put a hershey's bar in it (because chocolate always helps) 
-open when you're angry: I put a picture of Ann Hathaway with a "punch here" sign on her face (because sometimes punching Ann Hathaway in the face makes you feel better) 
-open when you're happy: I filled it with confetti (sometimes being happy calls for a celebration and every celebration calls for confetti) 
-open when you aren't feeling anything in particular: I put a chap stick in it (because why not... I always need chap stick) 
-open when you're lonely: I put a picture of myself in it saying to call me (talking to a friend can help) 
-open when you miss home/your family: I put a picture of our family in it and wrote that we miss her just as much as she misses us 


Sealing the envelopes with a pretty ribbon helps present a beautiful package.  


This part is definitely not needed but I had free time and decided to draw on the flap of the envelope to add a pretty effect.  

Its an easy and unique gift to give and the person receiving the gift will love the personal effort. 

XOXO
Olivia 


Thursday, August 21, 2014

2 Amys

  


I've been to 2 Amys once before and I can say it has to be one of my all time favorite places for pizza (compared to NYC pizza :)  The pizza is so delicious and unique and I love the overall vibe of the restaurant.  


I obviously had to take a picture with the cute menu because I had freshly painted nails (that doesn't happen that often.... mine are always chipped) 
             

                 
                                      I have a total weakness for diet coke! 

                  






The pizzas are about medium in size so they would be fine for a single serving or to share.  My mom and I shared an arugula and sausage pizza.... it was absolutely delicious!!!! Although my brothers and dad all created their own masterpiece.  Quinn had a pizza with probably 5 different types on meat on it... typical.  


The boys were not happy that the pizzas were not cut before they were brought to the table and were very difficult to cut on our own.  Therefore, this is Sean's way of eating the pizza easily.  


 address: 3715 Macomb St NW 
             Washington, DC 20016          (202) 885-5700         or         visit their website here  

They unfortunately do not take reservations although I have never had a problem getting a table in a timely manner.  

I'd love to know what your favorite pizza restaurants are, comment below! 

XOXO
Olivia 




Monday, August 11, 2014

DIY Tassel Garland










Tassels are the newest and cutest trend and I for one am obessessed  with them.  They add a fun texture to an outfit or are a cute decoration to a party's scheme.  I have made tassel garland several times and feel that I have finally mastered how to make them properly.  Below is a step by step instruction on how to make tassel garland.  

1. Take one sheet of tissue paper (I chose pink obviously!) that is completely unfolded 


2. Fold the paper once vertically (like a hotdog) 


3. Fold the paper again horizontally (like a hamburger) 


4. Fold it vertically again (like a hot dog) 


5. Begin to cut medium strips in the paper, make sure to leave about an inch or two from the top


6. Continue to cut into the paper until there are cuts all across the paper 

7. Completely unfold the paper until it is as large as the starting piece of paper 


8. Cut down the middle of the paper (If you want the tassels to be larger you will skip this step and step 9) 



9. Now you will have to equal sized sheets of paper 


10. Begin to roll up the paper starting from one side and finishing when you reach the other


11. Now you will have a tassel that looks like this after rolling up the paper

12. Twist the center  that was left uncut in step 5, forming two sides of the tassel 

13. Fold one side of the tassel over the other and secure with tape 


Mix with other fun colored tassels and hang on a string or ribbon and you are in business! Enjoy  

XOXO 
Olivia 











Thursday, July 17, 2014

Weekend Recap

I'm writing about what I did last weekend, although the upcoming weekend is nearing; doesn't seem right, does it?
 Every Saturday morning in July you will find me at a swim meet.  Last Saturday my team, the Donaldson Run Thunderbolts raced Lee Graham.  We won and are now 4-0, which needless to say is very exciting.

Our meet theme was Yacht Club, which started as a joke when I was younger and is now one of the best themes.  (Emily Brooks left and me right). 
I wore this old kids Vineyard Vines shirt (it actually used to be my younger brothers'...oops!) this monogramed hat and an old Lilly Pulitzer skirt.   

Emily Brooks, Ellie Bellios and me, prepped out from head to toe.  

The other teams' theme was "Frat Party," they dressed in togas and put red solo cups and ping pong balls in the pool.  I thought it was hilarious although the parents of the young kids on our team did not.  


Basically every weekend this summer my older brother, Quinn (a raising senior in high school) goes to colleges for football recruitment camps and my dad goes with him.  Therefore, my mom, younger brother and I are left in Arlington.  After the swim meet we decided to drive to Georgetown to shop and explore.  

I always hear people talking about how good the bakery and coffee shop, Baked and Wired is; they did not lie.  This place is a life changer!  The cupcakes and iced lattes were the best I've ever had.  It might be because I live so close to Georgetown Cupcake (literally 5 mins tops) because I don't get the hype over their cupcakes.  They are good but they are not great for the amount of time you have to spend in line to get the cupcake.  



I love individually owned stores, they have so much more character, Baked and Wired was no exception! The people that work there seem to have so much fun and the creative names of the cupcakes show it.  

There were so many different cupcakes to choose from that I couldn't decide what to get so my younger brother, Sean and I both order red velvet cupcakes.  They were so good!!!! I am already craving another.  

I wanted to get a "cute picture" with Sean because I don't seem to have any.  Now I know why... he looks like this in every picture because he doesn't like to have his picture taken.  One of the funniest things is that Sean sorta looks like the viner Nash Grier so many girls will come up to him and ask to take a picture with him because he looks like Nash.  Yet he won't even take one good picture with me....boys! 

I wore these Kate Spade earrings in sea foam green (sadly they don't carry this color anymore) I wore a scalloped crop top from Pac Sun similar to this and these Ray Bans.  

Even though the canal smells bad (as Sean liked to remind us) it does look pretty in the middle of Georgetown.  


Comment below what your favorite bakery is or your favorite places to go in Georgetown.  

follow me on the app Bloglovin by searching www.oliviacoxtopknot.blogspot.com 

xoxo
Olivia