Calling all local New Yorkers (and those who live close!) I have some exciting news to share! I'm super excited to announce I'm going to be apart of Lovely Happenings Fall Workshop on October 10th! 

At the event you can look forward to a day filled with meeting some fun NYC bloggers & lifestyle experts, lifestyle workshops, an awesome DIY project from yours truly, and other awesome things like a mimosa bar and a photo booth! Think of an awesome girly day filled with some of your favorite things, your girlfriends, and other sparkly and fun things! Like a real-life interactive Pinterest! The best part about it?! You can join in for the fun too because tickets are now on sale! I promise once you check out the pics from the last event you're definitelyyy going to want to come!

I'm pumped to be apart of the DIY section of the event! While I can't give away what I have planned for you lovelies just yet, I will say it's going to be fabulous! Make sure you also check out some of the other awesome bloggers who will be at the event too, including some of my NYC favorites!

All I have to say is.. I'm SO excited about the event and I think you will be too! Tickets are limited so get them now while they're hot! And if you aren't in the area... you can still join in for the fun on social by following Lovely Happenings on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Double points if you follow them on all ;-)

Photos courtesy of: Lovely Happenings

Holy macaroni. As of today, I have officially lived in NYC for 5 years. Guys, that's half a decade, say whattt?! While it certainly wasn't my intention to stay this long when I first packed my bags.. I'm still here! 

5 years ago I was just a bright-eyed 21 year old willing to take a chance on the unknown. I've come along way since then (as most twenty-somethings do in 5 years) and hitting this milestone is quite the point of reflection for me.

Over the last 5 years I've both loved and hated the city at times. I've pushed my limits and then pushed them some more both professional and personally. I've explored and appreciated all of the things the city has to offer while also realizing there's much to explore. I've been lucky in love and have met new lifelong friends who have made enjoying the city so much more fun. This city has pushed me past my boundaries and opened my mind to ideas and ambitions I never even knew I had. Being so far from family has been something I've struggled with year-after-year but it has forced me to really take on the "I'll figure it out" mentality. 

The last year has especially been a monumental one for me. One of some growing pains but one that has been preparing me for my next chapter and I'm excited for what that chapter holds. So thank you New York and all of the amazing people who have supported me along the way to make it to this milestone. I couldn't have made it here without all of your love <3. 

Is there anything better than a wine night with your girlfriends?! I don't think so! Luckily thanks to the awesome team at ANEW Wine I got to treat some of my best friends to an evening of just that!

I was really excited to try out their wines too because the it's actually from my home state of Washington! Shout-out to the Columbia Valley! Bringing all of my favorite things together for one night -- home, friends, and wine <3

We got to try the ANEW Rosé and the ANEW Pinot Grigio, both wines from 2014. I tend to favor wines that are light so both of these appealed to my palate. ANEW's wines are described as refreshing and rejuvenating and I would say both fit that description well. They were the perfect combination of being crisp with fruity notes. I can be a little picky about Pinot Grigios and I have to say I really enjoyed theirs. 

Of course no party is complete without some fun decor! I had fun making some prints to match with the vibe of the wines. You know it's going to be colorful if it's coming out of my studio!

The weather for our evening really couldn't have been much better. You never quite know what you're going to get in August in NYC so we lucked out on the perfect summer temps. To make sure our wine stayed the perfect temp too, I popped a few frozen grapes in each of our glasses. I picked up this tip from Pinterest and love it because it doesn't affect the taste of the wine and keeps the wine chilled just right. It makes the glasses look kind of pretty too!

Some of the ladies enjoying their wine!

Even Scoots joined in for our fun, sans wine of course, he has a few more years before he hits the legal drinking age ;-)

For the evening's pairings I picked  a wide array of cheeses, fresh fruits, crackers and some other tasty bites. If there's one thing I've learned from various wine tastings, it's how much of an impact the food pairing can have on the taste of the wine. I always think it's fun to compare the differences between the taste when paired with different items. The pairing suggestions (see below) also suggest trying the wines with seafood or cream-based dishes, which I'm sure would be totally delicious! You have to try the Pinot with strawberries or the Rosé with the brie or the gouda. LOVED those combos!

We had such a fun evening! I'll definitely be picking up some of their wine for future wine nights, especially with Fall TV nights just around the corner ;-) The prices are super reasonable too, which is always a plus! 

All of my friends were super excited they got to head home with a little goodie bag too! Cheers to ANEW Wine! Thanks for such a fun evening :)

Make sure you check out their website for more information on where you can pick up some of their wines and make sure to "like" their Facebook page!

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**Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. ANEW Wine provided me with wine and other promotional materials in exchange for a blog post. This post and all opinions stated are based on my own ideas and honest experience with the products and have not been influenced based upon the sponsorship.