I’ve always loved Cinco de Mayo.  When we first moved into our house, a few months after getting married we threw a huge Cinco de Mayo fiesta, mariachi band and all, and though our schedules have been busy since then, I’ve been dreaming of ways to throw fiesta numero dos.  And a a Cinco De Mayo girls’ night in seems like the perfect way to celebrate.

Every great party has it’s very own signature cocktail; in comes the Sauza-rita, easy-as-could-be to make, delicious, and perfectly festive.  {And don’t let the addition of a bottle of light beer scare you – I know it made me nervous – but it actually adds some fizz (and alcohol!) to the drink, and the whole thing winds up as a perfect party margarita.}

The Sauza-rita recipe:

• 1 can Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila*
• 1 bottle light beer
• 1 can frozen limeade
• 1 can water

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Dear Dove, bravo! (If you haven’t seen the three-minute video that Dove posted on YouTube, that teaches a vital lesson about how we view ourselves compared to how others see us, do it.  By the way, I love this quote from Dove on the making of the video: “Women are their own worst beauty critics,” Dove says. “Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful … we decided to conduct a compelling social experiment that explores how women view their own beauty in contrast to what others see.”)

Dear weekend, hello, I love you.

Dear perfect outdoor party, make me throw a dinner party, why don’t you!

Dear dreaded treadmill, I’m thinking of giving ballet a try again after reading about these five “real women” workouts. Anyone know of any (inexpensive) adult ballet studios in Miami?

Dear late twenties, you think someone could have warned me about all of the baby parties we’d be attending at this stage in life. I swear, first it was wedding after wedding, and now, all I do is buy baby shower and birthday gifts for friends. (Not that I’m complaining … okay, I’m complaining a little … but hey, at least there’s cake.)

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I’m completely taken with Moda Operandi‘s latest campaign for Spring 2013. Chock full of roses in bloom and delicate vintage details, and put together like a well-read scrapbook of antique treasures, the glamorous Karlie Kloss models crush-worthy pieces like the Meadham Kirchhoff Yes Tee, the Suno Cutout Floral Dress, and the show-stopping Marc Jacobs Check Sequin Gown. I want it all.

That Giles Leather and Pegasus Gown is possibly the most beautiful dress I have ever seen … okay well, one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen (because I’ve seen a lot of good dresses.)

Images via Refinery 29 // Courtesy of Moda Operandi

Last week one of my blogging bff’s, Alyson, tagged me in her “Five Random Things” post.  The idea behind the posts: bloggers share five random things that readers might not have known about the girl behind the blog and then that blogger tags five friends.  Though I know I don’t always share every bit of my private life on the blog, I thought it would be fun to share the truly random.  Sooo, like a good blogger, I’m posting my own five random things, and trust me, they are random.

I wear Coppertone Baby Sunblock every single day – the one in the pink bottle with the blue lid. Partly because I love the smell (it reminds me of childhood and happiness and sunshine) and partly because I’m terrified of cancer.  I also wear layers and layers of clothes – tights, sweaters, boots – I ignore Spring and Summer completely.  And for the record: I live in Miami.  {My baby brother, who’s in his early twenties, calls them “poetry dresses”, everyone else jokes that I dress like a nun (except for my sister, who thinks everything I do is cool … love that kid! #scissors), and I’m pretty sure my fashion soulmates are some cross between Stevie Nicks and Rachel Zoe.  My husband sings that Iron & Wine song, Love and Some Verses, to me all of the time – “Love is a dress that you made long to hide your knees” – and I adore him for just getting me.}

I’m terrified of scary movies.  I can’t watch them.  Truth be told, the suspense-filled scene in The Little Mermaid where Ursula busts out of the water all pissed off … that gives me palpitations.  No joke.

I am the picky-est eater … and it’s actually something that bugs me about myself.  It started when I was a baby and I wouldn’t eat most baby food, from there I slowly refused so many forms of meat and by middle school I wouldn’t dare touch red meat, and I haven’t since.  I also won’t eat anything slimey (okrah, blech!) or that has a funky smell.  I also hate milk (which is totally weird, I know.)  I hate leftovers … hate them, and if I think something is even a little stale (cereal, crackers, etc.) I’ll throw it out (much to my husband’s dismay, who has a total obsession with stale stuff … umm, can you say “opposites attract?”).

I have trouble making eye contact with people.  I’m actually pretty shy, and something about staring directly into someone else’s eyeballs kind of freaks me out.  I didn’t realize my then-boyfriend, now-husband had blue eyes for at least the first few weeks of dating.  He thinks it’s hilarious ( … especially because back in the day when we dated – high school, to be exact – every girl noticed his blue eyes … whoops!)  On a bright note, the first thing I notice when meeting someone: their shoes.

I get bit by the travel bug often.  Blame my parents for my sense of wanderlust — they used to stick us in a car, plane, train at all ages, every Summer, Spring, and Winter break and off we went.  Now I want to go everywhere, see everything.  Hubby and I pinched all of our pennies to make our European Honeymoon happen two years ago and now that we seriously lucked out and won the Rimmel trip to London this Summer (and of course I’m extending the trip to include two weeks bouncing around England and Italy), I’m already talking about our next six trips.  I just can’t help myself.

So there it is!  Tagging Sarah, Lauren, Joelle, Chelsea, and Mae!

Image 1: here {Tights, Steve Madden Tarnney Boots (gifted), Lulu’s Cheetah Print Stud Purse (gifted)} // Image 2: here (via A Paper Proposal // Photography by: SMS Photography)