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.

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!

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...

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.

another week down and what a rough one it was. i mean, my spirits are high right now but i'm sooooo tired! this was my first full week at my new job and i'm just getting used to the commute, which is a lot rougher than it should be. it should take 1.5hrs, but DC traffic is terrible! i don't remember it being this bad and the scary thing is, i don't think there is anything the city can do about it; it's just overcrowded. it takes 2 hours for me to get home, if i'm lucky, and by the time i do, i have three hours to maybe cook, maybe shower, and catch my breath with a bit of TV. then i pass out before 11p and wake up at 6a to do it all over again. i'll get used to it tho. i am grateful for the job and that i'm not in the house on my ass all day.
follow me on Instagr.am @_sarah_smile, same as Twitter

Sunday


in celebration of Father's Day, here is a picture of me and my daddy at my master's graduation this year. my father and i are kindred spirits... i get my extroverted, pensive nature from him and as such i've always been a daddy's girl.


Monday


photo a day: something you didn't know about me - i used to play tennis with a passion. you wouldn't know it these days because i haven't picked up my racket since my junior year of college. i played my last game a week after my ex and i broke up in 2005 and even didn't play my last year in undergrad. i've been wanting to get back on the court for the past three years, but grad school, lack of time and money... one day.


Tuesday


photo a day: imperfect. my pinky fingers are a bit imperfect. they both bend inward instead of being straight, like my other fingers.


Wednesday


photo a day: fave photo i've ever taken - Tiffany would kill me if she knew i posted this picture, LOL! this is from senior year of undergrad. for Tiff's 21st birthday, we decided to do 21 shots. chaos ensued and i snapped this picture. crazy night. drink responsibly.


Thursday


i was really feeling this lady's style... her turban with a side bow, her pageboy haircut underneath. it made me frown at my own frumpy style. moreover, working in DC a block away from a mall and tons of shops, i feel so shabby, not chic. a couple of weeks ago, i was sobbing on my bf's bed about how unpretty i felt. he was there for me though, telling me all the reasons why he was there by my side. i still wanna go on a shopping spree though. i could only afford to buy one pair of shoes this day. so i did.


Friday


after a kinda rough Thursday, this gif i found made my Friday really breezy. it had me giggling well into the evening.


Saturday

because i'm just getting used to my new job and my commuting schedule, i didn't even make it out of bed Saturday, so i have no picture to post for this day ( ._.) sorry! good news is, i feel really well rested today and am ready for the work week!

Happy Father's Day! i hope you all had a great week. mine was interesting. again, the weather was beautiful and i started a new job. it's great to be back in DC on a regular basis, but i must get my commute under wraps... because 3 hours just to get home is NOT the business. but, i spent the weekend with my family in DC for my mother's birthday/grandmother's birthday party/father's day. a lot went down on Saturday and i saw close to 200 family members and friends. it was great (^_^)

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

Sunday


this is me. this is my hair. i don't talk much about my hair and being natural as much as i thought i was going to when i started this blog, but that may have something to do with the fact that i think there are other people who do it well enough... Curly Nikki, Quest for the Perfect Curl, Naptural85... no need to reinvent the wheel. but i do lurve my hair and i still contemplate sharing my regimen, tips, and fave products. one day.


Monday


photo a day: door. this is the door on my wall-to-wall built-in wardrobe in my room in my apt. one of the main reasons why i got the apartment was for the hardwood floors, the built-ins and...


Tuesday


the decorative fireplaces! photo a day: from a low angle. there are two fireplaces in my apt. i've been meaning to get nice candelabras for them, but i've been meaning to do a lot of things. the ambiance hasn't suffered. i remember when i first saw the apt... i went the same day the ad went up on Craigslist because it's in my desired location, i was the first to see it, i saw two other apts afterward and ran back over immediately and signed the lease. i play no games.


Wednesday


i've got plans for agua fresca and pickled watermelon rind... hello summer!


Thursday


my first day at my new job assignment and i find out it's directly across the street from one of my favorite Thai restaurants... it only made perfect sense to go there for lunch!


Friday


photo a day: yellow. this was the only photo i took on Friday and i'm sorry for it... these are some really fugly shoes and i wish i had something better to share with y'all.


Saturday


Saturday was my mother's birthday, but it was also the day of the surprise birthday party of my grandmother (whose birthday was actually the month prior. my mother loves to celebrate her birthday by giving thanks to my grandmother... and it was the only way we could really surprise my gramma. she's nosey). we spent most of the morning pulling out pictures and here is where i noticed a lot of our pictures are scarily similar. me and my mother look like the same person.

it's been a long time... i shoudn't have left you... without some fine mens to obsess to. Man Candy alert!!

it must be the warm weather and the fact that men are now walking around with big, shiny muscles in thin, tight tank tops, but i have been quite the hound dog lately. whether it be a shirtless man on Instagram or a tall chocolatey man in cargo shorts glistening in the sun at the wine mixer but i got my creep shades on and i'm giving every fine man a #HeyBoo.

TV has also been good to me. between summer tennis, watching the NBA playoffs by proxy, and the upcoming Olympics, i'm checking out all the hard bodies. and you should too. let me help you out.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga


nicknamed the Muhammad Ali of tennis, the Frenchman got pretty far at the French Open at Roland Garros this year. coming so close to beating that a-hole Djokovic, he lost 4 match points in the quarterfinals. i was heartbroken. he's so cute! there's always Wimbledon...