#CityWeekly: Favorite Fall Foods

It's officially fall! The temperatures have drastically dropped over the past week in DC & I am settling into the new season. Emily from the Vivre Blog & I decided to welcome October this week with our favorite fall foods. Head over to Emily's blog to check out her picks in Silicon Valley!

I love the flavors of fall they are so comforting. I also love having the smell of pumpkin spice fill my apartment (thanks to my favorite Nature's Wick candle.) Anyways, when the temps start to get cooler I go in search for comforting food. So I bring you my favorite fall foods in DC!

1. District Doughnut: fall flavored donuts

If you love donuts as much as I do I highly recommend District Doughnut. They have amazing fall flavors like Caramel Apple Streusel & Pumpkin Spice. The donuts are made fresh daily & the menu is always changing. Check the website before you plan to go to get the flavor you want!

2. Nicecream Factory: Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream

My two favorite things have collided to make one amazing treat! Ice cream + pumpkin spice = heaven. Thanks to Katie from A Touch of Teal for teaching me about this amazing flavor. After she posted a picture to her Instagram I ran to get it! The temperatures might be getting colder but that doesn't stop me from enjoying ice cream. Especially when it's fall flavored, am I right? They also offer the ice cream with espresso. I need to try that next!

Via

3. Sauf Haus Bier Hall: Pretzels & Beer Cheese

I am seriously obsessed with pretzels & beer cheese. My sister & I used to make both of them when I lived in Boston. I am still convinced our beer cheese is the best but, this beer hall comes in close second. The pretzels are also huge! We ordered one & it served three people happily. This is the perfect place to enjoy a fall night with friends. Good food, good beer & a cozy place to relax, that's my kind of a night!

Via

4. Tryst Cafe: Mulled Apple Cider

Get cozy at this cute coffee shop with a book & some hot apple cider. I love the comfort I get from drinking hot cider & the memories it brings back. I also love Tryst it's so cozy! The decor makes you feel right at home.

Via

5. Bayou Bakery: Gumbo

When it gets cooler outside we all want to warm up next to a bowl of soup. I love the Gumbo at the Bayou! It's the perfect comfort food for a cold fall day. I always order it with a side of corn bread, which makes it a very hearty meal. If you're in DC this is worth heading to Arlington for (just saying!)

Via

I hope everyone is enjoying the new season & the changing weather. What are your favorite fall foods? Don't forget to stop by the Vivre Blog to see Em's favorites.

Xo,

Emily

Julep Review

I have to start with the fact that this post is in no way sponsored by Julep. I wish it was though, because I love Julep products so much that I had to put myself on a budget! I am a self-proclaimed nail polish addict, and Julep polish is definitely my favorite.

I thought I would do a little review of some of my favorite Julep products after I received a giant (I told you I have a problem) box this weekend.

First, the nail polish is some of the longest lasting that I have used that still dries quickly. There are tons of colors and finishes. I'm a huge fan of the Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat. It really increases the longevity of a manicure. No manicure is complete without the Freedom Polymer Top Coat either. It goes on so shiny and dries super-fast for no smudges. So many people think that I get gel manicures way more than I could ever afford. Plus, with these products, the damage to natural nails is minimal.

Nail polish isn't the only reason to order a Maven Box. Almost all of the beauty products that I have tried from Julep are fantastic as well. Some favorites are the Bare Face Cleansing Oil and Konjac Cleansing Sponge. It probably sounds gross, but I usually hate washing my face. The Bare Face Cleansing Oil doesn't leave that weird tight feeling that most face washes do.

The best part of Julep is the rewards - Jules. I buy a monthly Maven Box most months, and with Julep, the Jules actually add up to free products multiple times a year. There's no feeling bad for splurging with some Jules when I need a pick-me-up! The perks of being a Maven also cut down on the cost and make these products much more affordable.

Best, 
Amber

Fall Into Fashion

What girl doesn't love having Bloomingdale's to herself while being served champagne + hors d’oeuvres, helping a great cause & getting 10% off purchases? That's exactly what happened last week at the Junior League's Fall Into Fashion event. I was lucky enough to get an invite to attend!

I am not currently a member of the Junior League but I know many women who are. The Junior League is a nation wide organization that volunteers their time to better their communities. The event did just that– 10% of every purchase was donated to the DC chapter & their literacy initiatives.

So I did what any girl would do & went shopping, come along!

The whole store was reserved for the event. What a great way to shop!

But first, champagne then shopping!

I acquired a shopping buddy, Terrell! If you love her dress as much as I do you can shop it here. 

Then we headed downstairs to look at shoes + makeup!

It was a great night of shopping & supporting an awesome cause, truly inspired by the amazing women who dedicate their time! I am sad I will be out of town for the rest of the Junior League Holiday Shops but, stay tuned a lucky reader could win tickets ;).

Xo,

Emily

Friday Favorites

I hope you all had a great week! Mine was busy & I am looking forward to the weekend. One of my first friends that I met in DC, Allison is getting married on Sunday. I am really excited to celebrate her big day!

Here are my favorite links from around the web this week:

1. October Calendar (Oana Befort)
It's officially October you guys! Seriously, where did September go? Gear up for fall + the month ahead with this adorable calendar. Free download for your devices!

2. 40 Reasons to Choose Happiness (Design Sponge)
How can you not be happy after looking at this? It's a good reminder even when the weather turns & we start to feel down there are plenty of reasons to smile. I love looking at the pictures people submitted!

3. DC Metro Restaurant Map (Thrillist)
Finally! A break down of the DC metro with restaurants at each stop.

4. 10 Lessons I've Learned in My Career (Cup of Joe)
Love this article! She has some great points. I also love the advice she gives, this is a great read for anyone.

5. Try This: Easy Homemade Cronuts (A Beautiful Mess)
I don't think this one needs an explanation! Have you ever had a cronut? They are a mix of donut + croissant & they are heavenly. If you need me I'll be in the kitchen making these...

Have a good weekend everyone! Do you have any fun plans?

Xo,

Emily

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P.P.S. I updated 27 Things Before 27 with something I accomplished (yay!)

#CityWeekly: Pizza Places

After a mini break, Emily from the Vivre Blog & I are back to bring you this weeks #CityWeekly. I don't know about you but I love pizza. Not only is it delicious but it's also a food that brings people together. When in doubt always go with pizza! That's why this week Emily & I are bringing you the best pizza places from coast to coast. Don't forget to check out Em's picks in Silicon Valley at her darling blog. 

There is never a shortage of good food in DC but sometimes you just want to go back to the basics & enjoy a good pizza. So if you're in the area here are my top picks!

1. Vace

I discovered this Italian market in 2010 when I was interning. It's one of my favorite slices of pizza in the city! It's located in Cleveland Park & is the perfect lunch spot before heading to the zoo. The pizza is made fresh everyday, you can grab a slice to go or you can order ahead of time to pick up a full pizza. The only downfall is there is no indoor seating since it is an Italian market.

2. Il Canale

Thanks to my friend Terrell, I recently discovered Il Canale in Georgetown. Not sure how I missed this yummy restaurant! It's nestled in the tree lined streets which makes it a perfect spot to retreat to. The pizza is traditional thin crust & is cooked in a wood-fired oven. It has been named the best in DC several times, I am not arguing with that! The staff is also very friendly, helpful & they made my experience great. 

3. &Pizza

Need a quick personalized pizza? How about you try &Pizza! There are various locations throughout the city. Each location reflects the different neighborhoods vibe which, makes each experience unique. You can choose from a menu of pre-made selections or make your own with as many toppings as you'd like. The price is right too & it's great for a quick bite!

Via

4. 2 Amys

One of my all time favorite pizza places in DC. The pizza here is so good that it is"Denominazione di Origine Controllata" status. This means they are legally permitted the ingredients & methods of preparation necessary to produce authentic Neapolitan Pizza. It's basically certified by Italy, which means it's amazing. Enough said? 

5. Pizza Paradiso
Not only do they have three great locations (Georgetown, Dupont Circle & Old Town) they also have an amazing beer menu + pizza selection. The pizza is a thicker crust & is cooked in a wood burning oven. If you're a crust person like me you will love this pizza. This is the perfect spot to spend a Friday night with friends & enjoy a good pizza! You can thank me later.

Via

Don't forget to stop by Emily's blog to see her picks in SV. Do you have a favorite pizza place?

Xo,

Emily

Eastern Market Festival

It was a lovely weekend! The sun was shining which made it a beautiful fall day in DC. On Saturday Z & I planned to FINALLY get Bluebucks at Eastern Market. Lucky for us there was also a festival happening. It quickly turned into a double feature. Nothing makes me fall in love with this city more than walking around with friends.

Upon arriving I quickly hurried through the crowds at the farmers' market. I ran straight into the indoor market to get my beloved pancakes (note: on Saturdays you need to be in line by 12:30pm to get them.)

I was happy I made it just as they were closing the breakfast line. I stood in line for Z & I since he was running late (naturally!)

When Z arrived we ordered our pancakes & I was a happy camper. So happy in fact I didn't even get a picture of these delicious little cakes... I know, right? I am sorry! I guess that gives you more reason to go. Take me with you!

After pancakes I naturally had to stop at the pickle booth. I am never in Eastern Market so when I am I get all my favorite things. The pickle booth is no exception! I highly recommend it.

I think it's worth mentioning they give you three pickles! Now tell me that's not a bang for your buck, exactly. 

Now I was ready to check out the rest of the festival!

I was excited to learn about ScratchDC. It's similar to cooking programs like Blue Apron but all of the recipes are locally sourced. They package the meals, chop the ingredients & deliver them to your door that day. I am dying to try it! What a great idea, anything local I am all about.

I also spotted the DC Flower Truck, I have no idea how I didn't know about this before! It's like a food truck but for flowers. You can buy them pre-arranged in cute vases or in a bundle of flowers. I will be following along on Twitter to get some the next time it's near me. I fell in LOVE!

^ I will take all of them please!

After leaving the Flower Truck we stumbled upon District Doughnuts. This place has been on my list since it opened! I obviously had to stop in.

Unfortunately they were out of a lot of flavors by the time I got to them. So I ordered the Brown Butter flavor. It made up for the lack of options! I will be coming back...

I took my donut for the road & watched the aerialist outside.

We came, we saw, we ate & we had a great time. Eastern Market I love you! 

What did you do this weekend?

Xo,

Emily

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