{MY BIG MOVE!}

Today, I am celebrating...

MY BIG MOVE!

Can you guess the city?

Let me fill you in on what's been going on lately! As some of you know, it has been my dream to move to California for a little while now. Ever since my last trip to the West Coast, I have been mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially preparing for "the big move". It finally hit me one morning this past summer; I decided I would take a road trip across country and start a new beginning in California the following spring. (It's true, just ask my mother.) Well, get this...

Golden Gate Bridge

On that trip to California, I made an effort to visit my federal agency's office in San Francisco and meet with some of the staff. Fast forward a few months and you'd find me starting to apply to several federal positions...all located in the sunny state. Well, needless to say, the amount of government job postings that are cancelled, postponed or for internal promotion only are many...and I wasn't having much luck. Being continually promoted at my current agency has been wonderful, but my desire to move outweighed my desire to stay. So, I kept trying. And trying. And trying some more. And all the while believing that my dream would one day turn to reality. Right? The truth is, I wanted to exhaust all of my government opportunities before looking elsewhere...

Alcatraz

Well, by the time the recent holiday season hit I started thinking it was time to switch up my game plan. I began networking outside of the government, talking with family, looking into the Peace Corps...and seriously entertaining the idea of traveling full-time for a few months. You see, sometimes you just have this desire to keep moving, keep going, keep living in a new way. I promised myself I would at least meet my 3-year mark with the government for better reinstatement purposes down the road (if need be). Then I could pursue whatever path I wanted...

Muni

So I submitted my last government application...and it just so happened to be for a position within my agency's San Francisco office. Since this kind of opportunity is rare, I didn't think much of it...and was more focused on making travel plans than anything else. A few days later, I sat down with a coworker and asked her what I needed to know about leaving the federal government and what the protocols were for reinstatement, if I chose to come back later on. She told me what she thought and asked for my resume. She said she didn't personally know anyone in our SF office, but figured it couldn't hurt to relay my information anyway. The next day was my 3-year workaversary...and I had an email request for a phone interview with two of the men I'd met when I visited the SF office!

Boardwalk

Timing is everything. Who knew that I would apply for a position working directly under people I had already met...and that they would recognize my name and immediately get in touch with me?! We had a splendid phone interview that day (I technically already had an in-person interview) and I was offered the job two days later. Within one week, everything I was hoping for became a reality...and even better than I could have imagined! The location, the job, the time frame...all came to be. And now I'm in the process of relocating my life to the West Coast via road trip! Sometimes when God opens a door, he pushes you through it!

My new car?

I am ecstatic to begin this new chapter in my life. There is so much to look forward to! A fabulous city, new relationships, career exploration, plenty of travel opportunities, etc. I have A LOT of planning to do and, while a little overwhelmed, trust that everything will fall into place. It's amazing how when something is right...even the small details play a big part in the process! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I plan, travel & begin this new adventure. Not only do I have a lot to 'wrap up' over the next few weeks, I also have plans to travel abroad! Talk about a packed schedule!

Chinatown

It's not going to be easy saying goodbye to friends and family (or my pups!), but I'm lucky to have such a huge support system on the East Coast. I just hope I can keep it together until I leave! Regardless...

Life is a beautiful adventure. 

Here's to following your dreams :)

Images courtesy of © 2013 Chateau de Victoria and Pinterest

{Cheers to 2012!}

Today, I am loving...

My Recap of 2012

Where do I begin? This year has been incredible! So much so that I've been spending the last couple of weeks in semi-hibernation mode, taking in all that has happened and appreciating just how blessed I've been. I cannot thank my friends enough for including me in so many fun activities and for joining me in my adventures. My family has been super supportive in all that I've sought out to do and accomplish, and I am all the better because of it! Thank you guys. So in honor of the best year yet, here are a few of my favorite 2012 highlights:

Mardi Gras

Enjoyed: the Endymion ball, beignets & coffee, bead catching during parades, drinking Hurricanes and Grenades on Bourbon Street, meeting my first Brazilian love of the year, dancing along Frenchmen Street, visiting Oak Alley Plantation, taking a cocktail tour around NOLA, shopping on Magazine Street, being "adopted" by friends Mary & Tom, river-riding on the Steamboat Natchez

New Hobbies

As most of you may already know, one of the things I've taken up this year is indoor rock climbing. It's awesome! I've also dabbled in pursuing new things (that's what bucket lists are for) and have tried new ventures, such as archery and shooting.

Prague

Liked: walking around Old Town, writing on the Lennon Wall, seeing street performers on the Charles Bridge, clubbing at Karlovy Lazne, going on a comical guided city tour, checking out Prague castle, joining in a city-wide bar crawl, visiting the "Dancing House"

Bratislava

Fond of: seeing the President's palace, walking to the top of Castle Hill for a view of the city, eating Slovak dumplings with our friend Matus

Budapest

Loved: enjoying some R&R at the Szecheny bath house, walking along the Danube, photographing Castle District and St. Stephen's Square, forming a large group of friends - made up of Americans, Dutchmen and Germans - at Szimpla, satisfying my inner "foodie" at Central Market Hall, touring the Human Body exhibit, being convinced by our roommates that staying out all night at Morrison's until our flight the next morning was an excellent choice

Mont Saint-Michel

Adored: staying at a B&B on the rock, touring the monastery, eating crepes and homemade strawberry ice cream, seeing everything lit up at night, being the subject of pictures for a bachelor party (they were older, but hilarious!), shopping in the alleys

Nice, Cannes, Monaco

Relished: (Nice) staying in a fabulous apartment in Old Town, sunbathing on the beaches, dancing on tables at Wayne's with new friends almost every night (it's a must!), buying new sundresses, eating ridiculously good food, (Monaco) walking the Grand Prix track, watching the changing of the royal guard, admiring fast cars, seeing the Monte Carlo casino, (Cannes) checking out the red carpet for the Cannes Film Festival, relaxing on one of the only sandy beaches in Southern France

London

Appreciated: visiting the Tower of London, watching the changing of the guard outside of Buckingham Palace, goofing around in Diana's playground, checking out Westminster Abbey, patiently waiting next to Parliament for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee boat parade (we saw her!), going on an adventurous 'Jack the Ripper' street tour, walking around Olympic Park, meeting up with our English friends for a pub crawl, window shopping in Notting Hill

Canada

Savored: (Toronto) going to the top of the CN Tower, walking around the Distillery District, stumbling upon a music festival near our hotel, touring the Bata Shoe Museum, visiting Casa Loma, biking around the Toronto islands, (Niagara) wine tasting at Trius, overlooking Niagara Falls, shopping at Niagara-on-the-Lake

Beach Trips

Over the summer, I went on a few beach trips with family and friends to both North Carolina and the Eastern Shore. I enjoyed reading, eating crabs, going on long walks, drinking sangria, dancing the night away, people-watching on the boardwalk & relaxing in the sun.

Outdoor Adventures

Among my summer to-do items were jumping out of an airplane and organizing a tubing trip to Harpers Ferry. Both turned out to be extraordinarily fun!

Wine Tastings

Being the wine lover that I am, I planned a few girls-day-out trips to local wine festivals for the fall season. Sun, live music, wine, cheese, bread, olive tapenade, good company...I can't think of anything more enjoyable! And it was.

Concerts & Festivals

There is something magical about live music. Starting off the year with lots of jazz in New Orleans, I enjoyed attending many concerts & festivals such as Sweetlife, Augustana, Buckethead, The Flaming Lips, Idina Menzel, Florence + The Machine, VirginFest and the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

Football

Maryland, Virginia Tech, Ravens...I was brought along to many fun tailgates & football games this year! We had pretty amazing weather this past fall, not to mention an abundance of awesome seats ;)

Wooded Escapes

Planning a camping trip for 12 people was interesting at first, but certainly worth it! Green Ridge is a great location and our group was a blast; we ate like kings, had a marine on hand for any potential crisis, went on nature walks and laughed for hours. Additionally, my family decided to get together for a long weekend at Massanutten Resort; hiking, playing basketball, competing in air hockey, spending evenings in the hot tub and going zip-lining were all part of our agenda!

Turning 25

For my birthday, I was joined by 15 of my closest friends for dinner at one of my favorite Baltimore restaurants, Pazo, and then ventured out to Fells Point to drink & dance with a few more friends and coworkers. The entire day and evening was extremely special, and I cannot thank my parents enough for being so thoughtful!

Holiday Celebrations

I enjoy holiday-related activities, like going on a pub crawl for St. Patrick's Day and watching Fourth of July fireworks with a myriad of friends dressed in red, white & blue. To celebrate the holidays & beginning of a new year, I always get a group of friends together for dinner at a local Japanese steakhouse. This past Easter, I hosted an "adult" egg hunt; it was a hit! For my sister's 21st birthday, we threw an Olympic-themed party and really got into it (outfits and all). I decided to glam it up as Cleopatra for Halloween and rally friends for a couple of fun events. Of course, I also had to find my inner 80-year old and get into the Christmas spirit via an ugly sweater party!

Cheers to Another Year!

And last but not least, THANK YOU for supporting my blog. It really means a lot! I wish you all a wonderful 2013 :)

Images courtesy of © 2012 Chateau de Victoria

{Christmas in the Kitchen}

Indulge in...

Holiday Goodies

'Tis the season to satisfy your sweet tooth and fill your stomach with the most delicious of foods! Whether at work, home or a friend's, I am constantly surrounded by endless goodies (homemade banana bread, oatmeal cookies, chocolates, you name it I've eaten it). I don't feel guilty either. I enjoy eating, and I really like to try new recipes when I can. I had fun making apple pie and sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving, but sometimes it's nice to add new things to the holiday grocery list. So in addition to the traditional foods I indulge in at Christmas (king crab legs on Christmas Eve, monkey bread on Christmas morning, etc.), I'm planning on incorporating these simple yet tasty treats as well:

 

Rolo Sugar Cookies

I did a test run on these and they turned out great! To make a traditional sugar cookie even sweeter, just put a rolo in the middle of the cookie dough ball, bake 7-10 minutes in the oven and voila! Deliciousness.

Pomegranate Sparkling Wine

I've already stocked up on champagne, so this little number looks fabulous. Just take your flute, add pom seeds and a splash of pom juice, fill the rest of the glass with your [champs of choice] and there you have it...a tasteful toast!

Cheese Tree

Who doesn't like cheese? I prefer havarti, swiss, brie, mozzarella, cheddar...okay, I prefer most cheeses! So why not add baby tomatoes, olives, a little garnish and put it all into an adorable Christmas tree formation? Done and done.

Chocolate-covered Fortune Cookies

Yummy! I always love finding out what my fortune is, so why not make the experience even more scrumptious? I'm planning on adding this to our family "cookie decorating" night coming up!

Cocktail Sausage Wreath

Just looking at this makes me hungry! Wrap cocktail sausages in Pillsbury crescent roll dough, bake accordingly, place them in a circle, add some slices of red pepper for a bow and serve with your own toppings/dipping sauces. Mmm!

Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

I'm a huge cheesecake buff (did I mention I like cheese?) and this is an enticing spin on your traditional recipe! Why not combine two delicious treats into one? Check out how to make these bars here. Bon appetit!

 Happy Baking!

Images via Pinterest 

{Sassy Schoolboy}

What I'm wearing today...

Channeling My Inner Schoolboy by Chateau de Victoria

Today I'm channeling my inner schoolboy. Over the weekend, I stopped by J. Crew and picked up a ridiculously perfect plaid blazer to go with my dark-colored toothpick jeans. Paired with gold jewelry, a fabulous orangey-red nail polish, my go-to fall/winter bag, a few spritzes of sexy perfume and some suede booties...I'm downright obsessed with the finished look! I've also been keeping it a little simpler these days with my makeup (I like a winged eyelid with a kohl liner, black lashes and a touch of blush/bronzer). I also decided my straight hair needed a little revamping this week; I've braided my hair into a bun and played around with curls! Big things are happening folks!!

Actually, they are. For one, I received a significant raise at work. Wahoo! I also just discovered that the back pain I've been enduring over the past several weeks is actually due to a herniated disk in my spine, which is also causing a nerve to be pinched. While this news sounds quite distressing, I'm very relieved to know exactly what the next steps are in the healing process! I've been given a neck brace to wear in the evening, a tens unit to wear whenever necessary and will be the recipient of several epidural cortisone injections. But I'm trying to stay positive! Though bummed I can't rock climb for awhile, I'm still able to work out (somewhat) and stay fit. At the end of the day, I'm a lucky lady...all things considered!

Images via Pinterest 

{Cobalt & Teal}

What I'm wearing today...

Cobalt & Teal by Chateau de Victoria

J.Crew Jackie Cardigan // Express Colored Jeans // TOMS Wedge Boots // Michael Kors Watch // Aqua Blockstripe Loop Scarf // Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo // MAC Eyeliner // Sugar Rose Lip Balm // LC Lauren Conrad Bow Earrings 

You know those days when you just feel good? And to make it even better, you're outfit is a direct reflection of your attitude? Well, today is that kind of day. I feel awesome, funky, colorful, lively and comfortable. My body is the definition of c o l o r b l o c k i n g. Because today is simply a rockin' kind of day...

Images via Polyvore and Pinterest

{Color Me Pretty}

Accessorize yourself with...

Pops of Color

I know I probably sound like a broken record. Color, color and more color. Sure, I love neutrals. Yes, I have plenty of brown, grey and black clothing to go around a time or two. But this season, I've decided to stop my routine of wearing mostly brights during the spring and summer seasons and start adding them to my fall and winter wardrobe as well. For instance...

I decided to invest in a few new items for my closet, including colored jeans. Cobalt, teal, maroon, rose, mint...I wanted to have more of a variety when it comes to pants. It's already proving to be worth the investment. I love a good, dark pair of jeans...but for those days when I want to wear a neutral-colored, over-sized knit sweater or spice up an otherwise traditional 'winter' outfit, these definitely do the trick!

Sometimes, just one piece of brightly colored clothing is enough to make a bold statement. Another item of clothing I love in a great color is a coat. Over the years, my coat collection has grown...and I'm slowly working my way through my favorite colors.

My top-pick color is red. It adds such a pop to your look and compliments every skin tone. I also have grown fond of mustard yellow, burnt orange, bright purple and kelly green. I've got my eye on a certain color this winter, but may need to practice a little self-restraint and add it to my wish list for now.

For me, a perfect fall outfit is a chunky sweater, paired with colored jeans, a lot of gold accessories and a fabulous pair of boots! Or perhaps a little black dress with colored tights and an eye-catching overcoat. Or maybe even...well, the possibilities are endless!

Images via Pinterest 

{Instagram Moi}

Follow me on Instagram

@vmaruca

(and join in on my adventures!)

www.instagram.com/vmaruca

Images courtesy of © 2012 Chateau de Victoria