I Don't Really Like to Pack...

but this video makes me feel better about it but ONLY IF, I have the F1 Spacepack. Oh yeah, it has to be in turquoise I think it's the only way that it will motivate me.

Spacepak from FLIGHT 001 on Vimeo.

Take a Sip through Stripey Straws...

I MUST incorporate these paper stripey straws by Jack and Lulu immediately in an upcoming project. I love stripes and I think that however they are used, it would make for a really awesome touch! It's just something about stripes that makes me swoon!

{photo courtesy of Jack and Lulu}

Paris in Georgetown...

My friend Ells and I are going to try to head down and join in the fesivities of Georgetown's 7th Annual French Market during our lunch. If the flier is any indication of what's to come, I think that I'll be pleased as punch! I love warm weather and all the sweet treats it brings to our area!

{photo courtesy of Georgetown BID}

Happy Earth Day...

be sure to love one another and the Earth. Let's do our part to help beautify this gift (the Earth) that we've been charged over and do well by it.

{artwork courtesy of persimmonandpink}

The Martha Stewart Show...

....my friends and I went to the Martha Stewart Show on Tuesday as one of my monthly birthday activities for the month of April (yeah since this is a big year, I'm doing fun activities all year each month) and let me just tell you that I LOVED every bit of it! We had such a fantastic time hanging out in New York and most of all being a part of the live studio audience. We were on the The Color Show donning our blue shirts courtesy of American Apparel and most importantly..on the front row. You can even see us during the first four seconds of the show and peppered throughout the entire show. TALK ABOUT EXCITED. I even won a prize for being the most energetic audience member! ha ha

I had a simply marvelous time walking around downtown New York donning our Penelope Toop Party Hats, eating breakfast at The Empire Diner and having lunch at Rickshaw's Dumpling Bar! It was a wonderful Tuesday and you know what? I'd do it all over again!

Shecky's Girls Night Out...

Shecky's Girls Night Out from Shecky's on Vimeo.

I'm excited to head to Shecky's Girls Night Out. It should be fun from what I've heard. You get to do a little shopping, get spring beauty treatments, goodie bags & freebies and just have a really good time with your gal pals.

If you didn't catch the DC one, they have some touring other cities. Be sure to check them out for more information.

The weather is great, sun is shining, people are all about so why not get out and enjoy it!

Have a Lovely Weekend...

I'm looking forward to having a very relaxing (well doing some PT work of course) weekend. Heading to the movies tonight for a mother/daughter movie "date night" and then tomorrow we'll see how the days ahead trots along.

I spotted this video by "The Girls with Glasses Show via Black*Eiffel and it really made me wish that I had a great talk show with one of my friends, did really cool videos with an amazing concept, that we were outfitted in must have outfits, had a totally cute and friendly dog (that would be Hampton's job), created great props and munched on deliciously frosted cupcakes! But alas I didn't really think of it, so I'll be tuning into this show once it begins. From the clip alone, it really looks like it's going to be a great show! As a girl that wears glasses (well contacts the majority of the time), I think this is just a wonderful idea!

With all that said, have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the video!

Letterpress Giddiness...

I'm so excited that I probably cannot adequately express it in words but it's worth giving it a try!

I'm super de duper de, fantastically, want to shout it from the corners to the mountain tops overjoyed that I, yes, I have finally, finally found a letterpress class and you've guessed it, that I signed up for with the hurried quickness of a giselle (they're pretty fast right?).

Suann of simplesong, sent me the wonderful email that she had posted workshops at her studio and I jumped right on it! So I'll be in class in June like a good student ready to learn. Hopefully I can take a few pictures to document my letterpress experience.

{photos courtesy of simplesong}

This is why...

I need a Polaroid and learn how to take really pretty pictures or do fun things with them, so that my pictures would somehow look like Matt Schwartz' (found via Twig & Thistle) of She Hit Pause Studios. If not, then I will just purchase a few of his prints that spark my fancy.
{photos courtesy of She Hit Pause Studios}

Weekend Re-Cap...

Though it's Wednesday, I hadn't been able to get to the computer to post about my weekend, hence it's lateness.

This past weekend was simply beautiful (weather, company, activities & all).

Saturday, I spent the better part of the day walking around Georgetown and finally eating at this restaurant that I've been wanting to venture to, Bangkok Joes. The food was delicious and I had one of the best lemonade ice tea combos ever, their signature Ginger Lemonade Iced Tea (yum yum and yum) and for a nice sweet treat I headed back over to Dolcezza (honestly it's amazing, they make their gelato and sorbetto fresh EVERY MORNING). I also spotted a little place on one of the side streets called Baked & Wired. B&W had sweet treats galore, a coffee shop, treats for your doggies, a mini art gallery (on the walls) and places for you to read, work on the laptop and have nice conversation. I'll def. head back there just to soak in the ambiance.

Sunday after Easter service, I headed to the National Museum of American History to see the First Ladies Dresses & Julia Child's kitchen. Both exhibits were fantastic and I would like to go back and explore others. Afterwards, I headed to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants Lauriol Plaza, where I stuffed myself into a Sweet Sunday Stupor.

It was an amazing weekend and I look forward to many many more!

Good weather, good food, good company and good activities, what could make for a better weekend?

{photo courtesy of Camille Styles}

Happy One Year Penelope Toop {Darling}...

Today marks one full year that Penelope Toop {Darling} has been up and running (happy birthday to me?)!

I've blogged my little ♥ out for a year and hopefully it will continue until I'm plum tuckered. This blog "world" has been a wonderful experience and has given me a chance to document my thoughts, likes/sometimes dislikes, to explore some fantastic sites and meet some great people. Thank you for those who have taken the time to pleasantly comment on things I've posted and even to those of you who just peruse the site for your enjoyment

Penelope Toop {Darling} will continue to pepper life with humor, post pretty and interesting things (well things I find pretty and interesting with the hope that you do too) and hopefully I "improve" in the forthcoming year!

Simply wonderful things make me happy! Also have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

{photo courtesy of Flickr}

Hip Hip Hooray for April Today...

That means (to me) that it's the perfect weather to begin traveling!!!! Today I've seen, people out and about, enjoying the bright sunshiny weather and the joy that it brings! So let's plan our places to travel, pack a bag and let's hit the road!
{photo via We Heart It}

Have a Lovely Weekend...

Take this weekend to enjoy the wonders of the weather be it sunny or rainy, warm or cold. Find a new little something that sparks your interest or enjoy a great meal. Love yourself and love the ones you're with!

Have a lovely weekend!

{photo via Style Me Pretty}

Kiki and Coco...

Those who know me, are already fully aware that I have love(♥) for Paris so I was beyond tickled pink when I saw this video, first spotted on (via Simple Lovely) and it’s so spectacularly beautiful. It’s comprised of photos of a little girl Kiki and her doll Coco in and around Paris. Doesn’t it just make you want to buy and ticket and just go………. It also makes me want to take really cool pictures, add music and make a video!

Congratulations Smith Baby...

Congratulations are def. in order to my friend/co-worker K. Smith for the arrival of her little one Jonathan. He was born this morning to a wonderfully loving Mom and Dad! I'm happy to report that Mom and baby are doing well. I think that Jonathan is going to recognize my little voice after telling him to move so I could feel him wiggle around in his mom's tum!
Congratulations again Smith family, whoo hoo! If you need a sitter, Hampton and I are always available (ha ha ha)

{Photo via Daily Candy Kids}

Dewey's for Surey...

I think that someone should surprise me (with the dog in tow) by taking me here and just let me roam wild and free! And then let me pass out from glee in the car. Any takers, friends family and/or loved ones? I mean they even have candy hanging from the ceiling!!!! Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd you can even have parties there! (I think I need a medic stat).

{photo courtesy of Dewey's Candy Shop}

Hampton is Four....

Happy 4th Birthday to the best little dog a pet owner could ever have.

Hampton has been and is a wonderful delight to my life. He’s always full of little surprises (going through my purse and leaving its contents strewn about the room, the poops and tinkles, the ripped papers, the trash that somehow makes it out of the trash can, the missing food, the treasures deposited when he gets upset, the chasing of the neighbors kids, squirrels, cats and birds etc.), sweet as sugar pie (the excitement when I come home, the wet kisses, the snuggles, the playfullness etc.) and just one life’s greatest treasures.

Even though he has no clue as to why I made such a merry fuss this morning (the constant happy birthday Hamptons had him running around n circles and hopping all over my room), he’ll know something’s up when we get to the pet store and he gets his free birthday gift or when he gets his own little bowl of doggie ice cream.

Hampton if you could read (I’d be rich, no really, we'd live off your earnings and you would be an even more pampered pooch), you would be thrilled to see how much you mean to me!

Happy Birthday and I hope we celebrate many many more together!

I think a BonBon is in Order...

Today it just hit me that I would like to make some ice cream bonbons at some point (meaning soon). I scoured the net and happened upon this seemingly easy recipe. Not only does the recipe seem tasty, but the pictures are def. drool worthy! How can you NOT like chocolate, cookie crumbs and ice cream!

I can't wait to try it out and of course tell you all about it. AND if things go well, I can surely see these being used at a small party!

{photos and recipe via Ceramic Canvas}

Bath Milk Party Favor...

Over the weekend, one of my dearest friends had a baby shower for her little second addition. As one of the party favor gifts, I created small bottles of Bath Milk and put them amongst other things in a small party bag.

The photo isn't the best (hint hint I need a better camera gift givers) but hopefully you get the gist. I found little round cork topped bottles, filled them with scented bath milk, made a label, added a little gem topper (to be swapped from the cork styled one) and make a little card of instructions and voila.

The party bags were a hit as well as this small favor!

Floral Studio Part II...

I had such a fantastic time at my flower class on Sunday. Shawn (teacher and owner) & Katy were delights to work with and commended everyone on their individual pieces. We even had a few guests there as well, Bob, the cat and Jack ,the rabbit (who liked to nibble on the loose rose petals on the floor). Upon my arrival, their were tasty treats for the students to nibble on like cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries and then it was time to get started.

We learned a few basics about the flowers we would be using and how to tend to them, how to use floral clippers and a floral cutter amongst a host of other things. Our class was intimate (about six students) and we just had the most wonderful time. And what was a nice little cherry on top is that we used two of my favorite flowers, peonies and ranunculus!

I'm so glad that I was able to attend and hopefully I can make it to the next one!