TGIF / rabbit rabbit

In case you didn’t know, today is FRIDAY. As in, the WEEKEND is FINALLY here. I’m just going to RANDOMLY use CAPS letters to show HOW EXCITED I am.

Honestly, the first week back after a vaca is rough. I know I shouldn’t complain, because, like, I had a whole week off from work, but still. It was not easy waking up at 5:15 every day this week after getting used to a sunny 8am wakeup and a leisurely “getting dressed” process comprised of going to the gym, catching up on Bachelor, and drinking 3 or 4 cups of coffee while still in my pjs. You can probably imagine what the transition is like after a 2.5-month summer vacation.

Ok now that everyone who reads this blog officially hates me, I’ll move on.

Tonight, Boyfriend & I are going to have dinner at one of my favorite Boston restaurants: Stephanie’s on Newbury. After one particularly long day, he surprised me by telling me we have a Friday night dinner reservation. Little mid-week surprises are the absolute best.

(Of course, the above picture is a wishful-thinking image of summertime, since the patio seating is not really appealing when it’s below 40 degrees outside.)

I’ve mentioned this restaurant before, and it’s special because we went there for our first Valentine’s Day dinner back in 2009 (!!!) and again for my birthday that first summer. Between then and now, there’s been so many other visits. If any restaurant is “our” place, Stephanie’s is definitely the one. I have so many good memories of cocktails outside, red-orange lighting, dinners prolonged by in-depth conversations, and, of course, the best bread basket ever (consisting of Irish Soda Bread. Um, yes please.)

Aside from all the food I’m going to eat, I am really looking forward to just getting fancy! I haven’t had an excuse to wear a dress or put on some dangly earrings in a while, and I absolutely love dressing up. Sometimes I think the process of getting ready for a night out is just as fun as the night itself, and I really enjoy the period of time where I get to blast some music, blowdry my hair, and apply makeup.

I go through phases of what I consider my “getting ready” music. I’m not going to lie- there was a time in college when all I would listen to was the West Side Story cast recording. I specifically remember an evening when a friend of mine walked into my dorm room, paused, and said, “What is this? Marching band music?” Um, hello, it was the rumble scene. Duh.

Right now, as in tonight, I think my getting-ready tunes will consist of this:

I definitely fluctuate on my T+S love and will go through periods of not listening to them at all, but lately I’ve been all over their newer stuff. Their older CDs just bring me back to sophomore/junior year of college, and who really needs that kind of nostalgia when you’re trying to make new 2013 memories, but their newer songs feel like “now”.

In other news, while  in NYC, I bought these earrings:

I’ve only worn them once since, but I really like them because they have the dangly chains attached to the back of the earring, so you can mix & match the chain with other studs. Although the stars are a little “Ashlee Simpson circa 2005″, I think they are a fun accompaniment to an all-black outfit. Or any outfit.

Of course, the next dilemma will be what to wear, but I’ll cross that bridge later.

TGIF, y’all!

Reader Question(s):

• What music do you like to listen to when getting ready to go out?
• Where is your favorite fancy dinner spot?