sarah
another summer week in the books! i spent it being very jealous of one of my homegirls. y'all know how i am about my birthday and her's was this past week. i guess i'm not the only person with birthday anxieties because she said "screw that!", hopped on a plane with her boyfriend, and spend 3 days in Cabo San Lucas. they spent most of it bickering like an old married couple, but the pictures she posted showed nothing but tranquil days lounging on the beach, eating brunch on a boat, and horseback riding. i'm jealous. and totally stealing the idea.

follow me on Instagr.am @_sarah_smile, same as Twitter

Sunday


as i mentioned last week, it was Artscape Weekend in Baltimore. probably the coolest thing about the city. it's a total weird fest with tons of art, jewelry, and clothes for sale, exhibits, free plays and dances, tons of food and music concerts. i just went for the food this year, but that's just me.


Monday


this is a regular size bag of potato chips. had they been Utz, they'd probably be 75¢. i paid $2 for this bag from a fru fru sandwich shop in Union Station. i regret nothing.


Tuesday


photo a day: mirror. i love my apartment. it's filled with all sorts of cute details and tons of character. case in point, the mirrors in my bathroom are screwed in and capped with these lovely glass flowers.


Wednesday


i don't like to broadcast my healthy eating habits because then people would be like "oh! you're trying to lose weight?" and i'd have to explain to them that i'm perfectly healthy, just not skinny. shits awkward. but, i was on a fruit and veggie kick last week, trying to undo the week of latte/croissant breakfasting from the week before. but Wednesday night, hump day found me with no inspiration for dinner. then this happened. then gravy fries happen. and that's all i can say about that.


Thursday


photo a day: sunshine. another skygram from my view on the Marc train. it's a daily inspiration and solidifies my love of train-riding.


Friday


Friday lunch with my coworkers. i look forward to this day on Tuesday when i'm eating reheated leftovers from Sunday. it gets me through to know i'll be rewarded with meals like this Seafood Fra Diavolo. and cupcakes. those happened again too.


Saturday


Saturday was spent with my boyfriend, doing what Brits do... yelling chants at a soccer game. this is a Tottenham-Liverpool exhibition in Baltimore. i find it wild that two England teams came all the way to M&T Bank stadium to play soccer, but there were over 40K people there. my bf let me know that if we were in England, it would be twice and many people, twice as loud, and twice as much pandemonium.
sarah
it's Artscape weekend here in Baltimore. it's also rainy and unseasonably cool here in Baltimore. quel dommage. it actually was really cloudy and dreary for most of the week and that made me SAD. but, anywho, on to the pictures. i didn't take many this week and i was feeling particularly uninspired with my stagnant eating, sleeping, and working schedule. i must snap out of it!

follow me on Instagr.am @_sarah_smile, same as Twitter

Sunday


photo a day: finger - my sorority sign. did i tell you i was in a sorority? oh, well, yeah... i am in a sorority. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Iiiiiincorporated! to be exact. furthermore, my chapter sorors were down in New Orleans for Boule and that mad me extra SAD to have missed it and the food and fun... man!


Monday


photo a day: sign. i'm a Capricorn. i'm not too much into astrology, but i do find some coincidences to be intriguing.


Tuesday


photo a day: my addiction. you already know. but, to be more specific, my NEW addiction is a toasted croissant dipped into my whole milk mocha for breakfast. my waistline hates me for it so i'll be on a fresh fruit only kick for breakfast until further notice.


Wednesday


photo a day: plate. i show what's on my plate all the time, so here is just a close-up of the "rustic" detailing. BTW, this pasta is made with pancetta and... egg yolk. zOMG carbonara heaven!


Thursday


photo a day: animal/insect/pet. the DC pigeon. a rare brown one. they're thugs, just like the squirrels. they stand right next to you in the food truck line at lunch.


Friday


photo a day: eyes. this is my sleepy time look, but for authenticity, imagine my eyebrows looking like caterpillars, as they do 62% of the time.


Saturday


photo a day: 9 o'clock - you already know! cleaning off my DVR and only moving from the bed to forage for food. BTW, have you seen Take Me Out? when i first saw the premise for it, my feminist Spidey senses went off... 30 gorgeous women vying for the attention of one scruffy man?! but, it's actually good. the women are beautiful, funny, smart, and in total control. many a douchebag has left without a date. check it out! i'm glad i did.
sarah
totally missed a week. and what had happened was... i was just tuckered out. and lazy. what else is new? i actually had a fun-filled week and weekend and kept putting off later and later on Sunday. next thing i knew, it was Tuesday. triflin'.

follow me on Instagr.am @_sarah_smile, same as Twitter

Sunday


#NaturalMoment - my boyfriend has a secret crush on my grooming habits and it manifests itself in surprise divots in my hair butters and body creams. it's his way of complimenting me... stealing my beauty butters.


Monday


i didn't post any pictures on this day. i have no idea why... must have something to do with me being called a "nigger" by a homeless looking Santa Claus in Starbucks...


Tuesday


riding on the Marc train to and from work, i see some amazing sights. the mist in the mornings, the graffiti under bridges, and the clouds during the evening... just stunning. i don't know if it has anything to do with being so close to the airport, but the clouds sit so low, i swear the sky is falling.


Wednesday


here is some of the graffiti wall art.


Thursday


photo a day: texture - as i've gotten older, i've fallen in love with the texture of runny egg yolks. something we were always warned against as children, i was previously squeamish about yolks and would only eat eggs scrambled. one day, out to eat with my old roommate, who always loved a rare steak and sunny side up eggs for brunch, i was tempted to try it and have been hooked ever since. now, i put a fried egg atop anything... warm salads, pasta, grilled meat, and it's a great excuse to make hash!


Friday


i have to say that i think Friday the 13th typically brings me good luck. i had a great day and was in the best of moods. not to mention, Fridays i have lunch dates with my coworkers. this is a simple and unassuming miso soup from a hole-in-the-wall sushi carry-out. followed by...


a trip to Starbucks for a free sampling of their new beverages, Refreshers. i got the Very Berry Hibiscus flavor, all while watching my back for Racist Santa. the day was topped off with...


cupcakes! we weren't even supposed to get cupcakes because we only had fifteen minutes and the line at Georgetown Cupcake is notoriously long. so what?! i waited nearly 45 minutes for this delectable beauty and i regret nothing.


Saturday


since my boyfriend stole half of my stash, i took the opportunity to re-up on some of my staples. the best news?? my mommy treated me to these hair goodies! take that, Racist Santa!
sarah
this first week of July was too hot! the weather consistently passed the 100°F mark and the humidity... off the charts! that being said, i kind of enjoyed it. i didn't do anything for the Fourth of July, but i didn't really want to. it was nice having a day off in the middle of the week. i spent some of it with my bf, some of it shopping with a friend, and the rest of it with the television, LOL! to top it all off, i think i finally have my commute to a T! i am a master of the Marc.

follow me on Instagr.am @_sarah_smile, same as Twitter

Sunday


Sunday Brunch at City Cafe, of course, LOL. i should take stock out on this place... this heavenly salmon BLT was only made better by my suggestion to add in a fried egg. crazy good!


Monday


photo a day: busy. i don't trust any Starbucks that isn't busy. this isn't a long wait, BTW... just 5 minutes, tops. that's key. if it's busy but slow, walk away.


Tuesday


Tuesday night, i was so excited to be off for Fourth of July the next day, instead of passing out at 10.30p, i passed out at 11.30p. Thug life.


Wednesday


photo a day: fun. No fun on my block. it was a ghost town! everyone was gone for the Fourth.


Thursday


cloudy skies. praying for rain and relief from these heat advisories.


Friday


Friday night dinner. using the last of my roast chicken, i made some chorizo refried beans and pineapple salsa to concoct a slammin taco! then, i washed it all down with some watermelon ginger agua fresca. so good, i burned a takeout menu as sacrifice.


Saturday


photo a day: garden. judge me. i let my herbs go. i didn't have the time/energy to repot it, turn over the soil, add Miracle Gro, or even remember to water it. i am so sad, but i do plan to regenerate it, probably next weekend. i've got my eye on some herbs at the farmer's market...
sarah
happy July! hope you are enjoying the heat! you would think with the weather consistently passing the 100°F mark this week, it would be a very miserable time, but i've had a terrific week and i hope you all did too! i'm still broke and i'm still tired but i have so many reasons to smile, to laugh... except for seeing that Tyler Perry movie. that was the only dark moment in my week (>_<)

follow me on Instagr.am @_sarah_smile, same as Twitter

Sunday


nothing like lamb for Sunday dinner served with a side of arugula spiced cousous.


Monday


Spiderman saves the day.


Tuesday


photo a day: where i shop. believe it or not, Anthro is very affordable if you know how/when to shop. catch a sale and you'll have a quality, unique, extremely well fitting piece of clothing that'll fast become a staple in your wardrobe.


Wednesday


curious culinary combinations. Cheetos and... a latte?!


Thursday


if i had this kind of view, i would be the kind of lady who took baths. with milk & honey while wearing an oatmeal face mask and burning lavender and vanilla candles. instead, my viewless bathroom makes me a hot 10 minute shower kinda girl... that burns incense and has almost empty amenities.


Friday


Friday should've sucked. i received a laughable paycheck, i was dragged to see the travesty that was Madea's Witness Protection, and there was a freak storm that stranded my family and me in a restaurant and knocked out some towers. BUT, Friday was awesome because the evening before was a great night spent with my bf, my paycheck came through on time, and i was stranded with the people i love in a fantastic restaurant eating fantastic food. if you're ever in Baltimore, check out Woodberry Kitchen and get the CMP for dessert, if for the brûléed marshmallow topping alone.


Saturday


another Saturday with me spent catching up on sleep. it wasn't quite the sleepy haze as last week, but it was the same schedule of sleep, tv, food, sleep, light cleaning, tv, food... and i loved it! i've found a Saturday groove and i ain't ashamed! one of the meals i made was simple Hasselback potatoes, which i imagine to be a lazy man's scalloped potatoes. it's yummy and i topped it off with the remainder of my roasted chicken tossed with my housemade BBQ sauce. i roast off some chicken on Sundays and shred it up to toss in quick meals throughout the week so i'm not stuck with the prospect of making a full scratch meal on a Tuesday night when i get home at 7.30p. it saves me from going to sleep tired and hungry or eating a huge bowl of cereal at 10p.