Brunch is the Breakfast of Champions

{Enjoying a spicy Bloody Mary, which nicely zapped some allergy stuffiness (a prerequisite for all steadfast dorks). Lipstick: Siren by L'Oreal}
Last weekend, my husband and I committed to going long on a good old-fashioned Sunday breakfast-lunch at a local restaurant. We don't usually favor the place for dinner, but their brunch is aces. Who doesn't love brunch, at which you can get eggs, alcohol, raw bar, sweet treats, a nice afternoon buzz, and an excuse for a mid-day nap? Both of us tend to get tunnel vision when it comes to our work, so this year we are determined to purposely make time for our life together and all the sweet meals and moments that make the weekends oh-so-worth-fighting-for.

We had no sooner taken our seats when we were greeted by the beautiful and incredibly sweet SueAnne! She and I used to work together in the cosmetics department at Nordstrom, and she is such a doll. She was one of the much-envied, uber-polished Chanel girls, while I grumpily slung Free Gifts and Youth Dew perfume at Estee Lauder. (It was said on the street that my brief, cantankerous management of said counter "drove the business into the ground." My bad.) SueAnne also sports one of the most stunning tattoo collections I have seen.

{Flowers and Korean characters and poetry, oh my! Her own photographs.}

We are professional diners. Following Bloody Marys and coffee, we started with some raw bar and calamari, then the incredible, perfectly salty country ham above, with mustard and warm pretzely-buttery-rolls and an heirloom tomato salad. He went for a Reuben and I had a delicious chopped salad with grilled shrimp. Satisfaction.

{Perfectly cool, temperate weather with diminished humidity always increases my urge to stack on metal bangles and bracelets: Random Macy's find, vintage chain bracelet, Target bangle.}

What I Wore: Tyte for Macy's jeggings (and yes I bought them ripped;I love the look but don't exactly get artful tears from playing outside or roughing it in any manner - please, I'm a girlie girl and proud of it), old Banana Republic crochet top, hundred-year-old Claire's sunglasses, Target gold drop earrings, DIY necklace (vintage door-knocker bauble on Forever21 chain), assorted bracelets, chunky gold ring from Forever21, beloved Dolce Vita desert-gray lace-up booties found for a ridiculous price at T.J. Maxx, and my studded green Aldo doctor's satchel, which I cannot get enough of.

Of course, it wouldn't be Sunday without some aggressive procrastination, so before settling in to grade some quizzes and write some lesson plans, I broke out my new Essie Nail Lacquer in Geranium and watched some Ferngully while it dried.

--- xoxo