Weekend – Page 16 – Blondie Birdie

Cupcakes and Championship Belts

April 11, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, everyone!

First things first- I’m positively beat. I spent a good portion of last night rocking out to Franz Ferdinand at the House of Blues thanks to a hookup from Boston’s latest independent radio station- indie617. Getting home late and then waking up early to get a good stretch and a shower in before work doesn’t bode well for me!

But despite needing an extra cup of coffee and some serious under-eye concealer this morning- I had an amazing time. Be sure to peep my Instagram for some pics/video!

It seems I’ve been going non-stop in recent days- including last night’s show- and am more than likely going to be in need of a spa day soon so that I can get a little rest and relaxation in before I hit the ground running again. Hot stone massage? Here I come!

This past Saturday marked my friend Stef’s birthday party- and our circle of friends, who are almost always too busy to coordinate anything that allows us all to be in the same place at the same time- managed to pull it off without a hitch! There were decorations, cupcakes, plenty of booze, kiddie balloons- and a pretty intense game of Cards Against Humanity.

Imagine 12-13 people sitting around, throwing down some of the most horrific and offensive cards imaginable- and not being able to stop laughing. That was my Saturday night and I couldn’t have asked for anything better, really.

On Sunday, after spending a good chunk of my morning in the kitchen baking/cooking- I headed to my friend Phill’s apartment for his annual Wrestlemania viewing party with snacks in tow. While I had dressed up like Alexa Bliss for the Royal Rumble back in January– this time I went for a hometown hero look and dressed like Boston’s very own Sasha Banks- purple hair included.

And, themed food is a must- so I brought small pigs-in-a-blanket and an applewood-smoked BBQ sauce that I called “Sasha Franks with Legit Sauce”. I wasn’t the only one who went all out, of course. I ended up eating half of my body weight in ‘Dean Ambrosia’, ‘Tag Team Meat Brawls’, and New Day-inspired pancakes.

And despite a weird, slightly unsettling ending to the actual Wrestlemania event (there was a lot of blood pouring out of someone’s head from a botched elbow to the face)– I had such a fantastic and fun time. I can’t wait for ‘Summer Slam’!

But, for now- I’ve got to get to work. Expect more photos from last night’s show to be up within the next few days- as well as a recap of some other events I’ve got going on a little later this week!

Enjoy your Hump Day, everyone!

– Ashley –

“Hippity, Hoppity…”

April 4, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Hump Day, everyone!

It’s worth asking “is it Friday yet?” even though I already know the answer. This week feels like it’s dragging- and the on/off again snow and rain isn’t particularly helping things around here. That’s right- we’re still getting flurries here in Massachusetts- and it’s enough to make me want to just scream into the abyss at this point!

Sunday, however- was lovely- and not just in terms of the weather (which was sunny and warm most of the morning/afternoon.) My family- immediate and extended- gathered for a huge Easter dinner together and it was so much fun since the last time all of us were together was on Thanksgiving!

Being able to catch up with everyone all at once was refreshing. One of my cousins announced he was expecting a baby with his longtime girlfriend, while another cousin is heading down to New Orleans for a vacation through this coming weekend. The food was fantastic, the Sox won, and my mom surprised everyone with mini Easter baskets/presents loaded with candy- which was a huge hit with my niece and my cousin’s younger step-sons.

And while there was definitely tons of snacks/desserts- my mom planned ahead and stocked up on some cheap Tupperware so she could send each and every single person home with plenty of leftovers at the end of the night! Smart thinking- since none of the food will go to waste- and also because she had a lot less to clean up the following day!

But I’ve got to get to work. Today is filled with meetings and phone calls- so I’m really looking forward to getting home tonight and being able to decompress (and work on perfecting a recipe that I’m hoping to share this coming Friday!)

Hang in there, everyone! We’re almost to the weekend!

– Ashley –

OOTD: Casual Saturday

March 26, 2018by Ashley DeLarge3 Comments

Good Morning and Happy Monday, everyone!

Time to get back to the grind and start getting things done at work- all while simultaneously preparing for Easter dinner with my family this coming weekend! I’m still on the fence about what I’m going to be cooking/baking to bring with me- although I’m pretty intrigued by the concept of Japanese cheesecake. I’ve seen a few recipes floating around lately and it looks surprisingly simple (and delicious.)

We’ll see how that goes!

But I’m getting ahead of myself a little. This past weekend- despite some snow flurries here and there- was actually pretty nice out. Nice enough where I could spend some time running errands and briefly go hiking in just a t-shirt (and then a light faux-leather jacket whenever the snow started to fall.)

Skinny jeans/jeggings and a well-worn band t-shirt is actually my go-to weekend outfit when I’m just hanging around the neighborhood and/or getting things done during the Springtime. I know enough musicians and artists where I’ve developed quite a nice collection of merchandise over the years- but on Saturday I was rocking a David Bowie tee I picked up during my recent trip to Brooklyn.

Paired with some black ankle boots, a couple of studded rings, and that aforementioned faux-leather jacket and you’ve got the makings of an effortless, always-chic and pretty badass looking ensemble that works during the day- and even better at night if you’re going out for a casual hang.

Case in point? I hit a couple of dive bars around the city Saturday night in this and felt comfortable and cool the entire time. Bowie just does that, I think.

Side note: These boots are ridiculously comfortable. Hitting the pavement or climbing up a nearby (and rocky) hill in one of the neighboring State Parks to catch a view of the skyline during the snowfall? My feet stayed dry and warm. The small, chunky heel on these works wonders with evenly distributing pressure.

One of these days I’ll have to show off the rest of my band tee collection I’ve accrued since my teens. So many memories that always look good with a comfortable pair of jeans and boots or sneakers. Even the ones that don’t fit anymore are kept in storage for safe keeping. I just can’t bring myself to part with them!

But that’s another post for another day. I’m off to get some work done!

Have a terrific Monday, everyone! Let’s get through this week together! We can do it!

– Ashley –

“There’s a starman waiting in the sky…”

March 20, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning, everyone!

This week’s blogging schedule may be a little off. Instead of my usual Monday, Wednesday and Friday posts- I’m updating today and Thursday (and posts should be back to normal next week!) I was away/out most of this past weekend- which left pretty much no time at all to decompress at my place, catch up on e-mails, and get working on my Blondie Birdie stuff for the week before I was suddenly hurrying back to the office yesterday morning bright and early!

But what a weekend I had! On Saturday, I opted to spend St. Patrick’s Day in Brooklyn, New York- kicking things off at the Brooklyn Museum where I caught their “David Bowie Is” exhibit (which runs through July 15th.) Featuring mementos from Bowie’s childhood up until his death in 2016- including costumes, letters, photographs, instruments, handwritten music sheets, and so much more- the self-guided audio tour was fascinating and gave an intimate look into the life of one of the most talented, entertaining, versatile artists and visionaries of our lifetime.

I truly could have spent the whole day in there dancing and singing along to the music. It was brilliant- and it you’re in Brooklyn anytime soon- I can’t recommend checking it out enough!

Photos aren’t allowed within the exhibit, but I snapped those in the queue area.

Of course, while I was there- I checked out the rest of the museum, as well- which boasts a pretty impressive art collection. One of my favorite exhibits, apart from the Bowie exhibit and tucked away in a far corner on the fourth floor was Judy Chicago’s ‘The Dinner Party’- a large, triangular dining table scene where each seating arrangement was decorated specifically for various groundbreaking women throughout history.

The museum was a little more lenient about allowing photographs throughout the rest of the exhibits, of course…

(Click the thumbnails to enlarge.)

And with Saturday being St. Patrick’s Day- I made sure to grab a Guinness at a nearby pub before i had to get back to my train to catch a late night ride home!

On Sunday, while I had every intention of heading down to catch the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade- the cold weather and packed sidewalks caused a bit of a road block, and coupled with the newly shortened parade route due to the still towering snowbanks from the recent series of storms/blizzards- finding a decent spot that wasn’t in the direct path of the very chilly wind proved to be a daunting and somewhat hectic task.

My BFF and I finally decided to celebrate the extended holiday indoors with spicy food and an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” mini-marathon bundled up under blankets. Worth it. Best of all? Friends who did manage to find a spot with a decent view sent some photos over from the parade- which was super sweet of them!

But for now, I’ve got to get to work for the day! A little later on this week, I’m talking Spring makeup (tomorrow is the first day of the season, after all- even though it doesn’t feel like it here!) including finding the best foundation for your skin tone and type. I’m excited to talk about all the hues and trends I’ve been loving lately!

But until then- enjoy your Tuesday, everyone!

– Ashley –

Bomb Cyclones and Burgers

March 7, 2018by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning, everyone! I’m currently in the midst of preparing for what will be the second major Winter Storm to hit New England in less than a week- and moving to Nevada is looking better and better right now, honestly.

Last Friday night, we got slammed with major rainfall, dangerously high winds and flooding when Winter Storm Riley barreled over us. While my neighborhood (thankfully) remained above the rising water levels and only lost power in small, quick increments- areas of Boston and Quincy were all but completely submerged- especially when high tide came in.

Power lines and trees were blown over and uprooted, and by the time the storm passed- it looked like a tornado had touched down.

Things got so serious that the National Guard came in to help First Responders get people who were trapped with nowhere to go and no heat/power to safety and shelter. It was an absolute mess- and unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

And now, with residents only just returning to their homes for the first time since the storm moved inland- we’re about to get slammed by Winter Storm Quinn- which is reportedly going to dump a considerable amount of snow on us. Whether or not I’ll be able to get to and/or remain at my office to accomplish anything is still a mystery- but I know for a fact I’m probably just going to give up on shoveling anything in the aftermath.

Nope. I am DONE with this weather. Where is Spring? We keep getting teasers- but I’m ready for it to get here and stay here already.

I digress. Despite the weather, I had a pretty good weekend. I got a lot accomplished in terms of errands and tasks I’d been putting off- and I got to spend some time with friends around my hometown, as well! Sean, who had lost power in his own apartment- made the trek to Central Massachusetts with me to get out of the cold and spend some time playing board games and grabbing late night burgers with a few of our longtime friends from back home.

Can’t let a Winter Hurricane keep us down! 3/4/18

Sunday was all about brunch, relaxing, getting ready for the work week- and flipping back and forth between the Oscars and ‘The Walking Dead’ as the night wore on. It was nice just to do nothing for a day- although this coming weekend is looking like it’s going to be pretty busy. I’m glad I could embrace and enjoy the laziness while I had the time!

For those of you who live in New England – stay safe and warm and let’s ride this thing out together! To those of you watching this unfold from other parts of the world- please send snacks. We need them.

See you all on Friday, everyone!

– Ashley –