Pearl and Poppy

Thursday, October 26, 2017

My Current Netflix Obsession

Patty Clark October 26, 2017 0 Comments

So I was lost in the world of Netflix without a solid show for me to bingewatch for quite a long time. I had started Friday Night Lights but THEY TOOK IT OFF NETFLIX WHEN I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH SEASON 1. I'm not bitter or anything. It's fine, whatever Netflix. Anyway, one of my friends was just finishing up a show that she knew I'd totally love. A lot of you have probably already seen it but 90210 was brand new to me!

It is honestly such a good show. Probably terribly written to people who actually care about that stuff, but if you know me, you also know that I'm here just for the drama. The character development might be a little spotty, but with couples splitting and getting back together things are always interesting. They really know how to end an episode with a cliff hanger so you just have to keep watching. I just finished season one yesterday and I am hooked.
Favorite character: Adrianna
Least favorite character: Everyone from the Kansas family (I know I'm probably supposed to like them, but they are so annoying!)
Hottest guy (so far): LIAMMMM
Anyway, basically the show is about this family from Kansas (they are so freaking annoying) who moves in with the dad's mom in Beverly Hills. The kids start going to this super wealthy school there and all their new friends have crazy drama that they aren't used to in Kansas. It's a really quality show and I definitely recommend if you like a good teen drama.

Already seen 90210? Here are some of my other favorite shows of all time (tbh they are all pretty basic so there's a good chance you've seen most of them already):

Definitely a quality show right here. It's basically about a girl named Zoey Hart who is from New York and moves to a small town in Alabama because she is trying to become a doctor and needs training or something. Anyway, she immediately meets two hot southern boys, the local southern belle (who immediately hates her), and all kinds of stereotypical Alabamian people. I think it might be what made me fall in love with the south? Not sure, but it was a step in the right direction.
Favorite character: Annabeth
Least favorite character: Brick Breeland
Hottest guy: Wade

GILMORE GIRLS
One of the first shows that I totally binge watched because I had the whole thing on DVD (this was before I even had Netflix). I am a total expert at this show because I have rewatched it more than three times. If you don't already know, it's about a mother and daughter (mother had daughter when she was 16) and their fun relationship. It also follows their love lives and their cute small Connecticut town. If you haven't seen this I don't know what you've been doing with your life (probably very productive things unlike me)
Favorite character: Jess
Least favorite character: Dean
Hottest Guy: This one is super tough because Logan is probably hottest but I love Jess so much more!

Okay this show is so cheesy and stupid, but my friends and I all watched it in eighth grade and I've had a special place in my heart for it ever since. It honestly is probably written better than Gossip Girl, the OC, or 90210, but the whole supernatural aspect of it makes it a bit cheesy. The writers definitely know how to write a good romance though! Basically, a human girl's parents both die in a car crash, and she is going through a rough time when she meets a vampire (who she doesn't realize is a vampire for like five episodes) and they fall in love but he has a brother who is also hot and is in love with the girl too. It gets very complicated honestly but it is on Netflix. You have to bingewatch the first like ten episodes in order to get into it.
Favorite Character: Caroline
Least Favorite Character: Bonnie
Hottest Guy: Honestly too many to count, but my heart belongs to Stefan (or Klaus...)

If you haven't seen Gossip Girl you better get on your Netflix and watch it right now this very instant. It is such a well known show among this generation that I see references to it almost every day. The drama is spot on, the romance is nicely dragged out throughout the six seasons, and everything about it makes you wish you lived in NYC's Upper East Side.
This one is about a group of teens that are CRAZY rich and live in penthouses on the Upper East Side of New York. It also follows this family from Brooklyn (the Humphreys eww) who are basically really annoying and feel entitled to a superior opinion about everything because they aren't rich and live in the "real world". If you haven't gotten the vibe yet, I really hate the Humphreys. The two Humphrey kids go to the same prep school as the rich Upper East Siders and spend their whole lives trying to fit in with them. Jenny Humphrey practically sells her soul (multiple times) to be cool. I would feel bad for her if she wasn't so manipulative. Anyway, this is probably one of my absolute favorite shows and you HAVE to watch it.
Favorite Character: Blair Waldorf
Least Favorite Character: Jenny Humphrey
Hottest Guy: Chuck Bass (Nate is hot too but Chuckkkk)

The OC was my summer '17 show. I watched the entire thing in a little over two months this last summer. It isn't something that I would rewatch, but I did enjoy it while it lasted. The last season is absolutely terrible but I prevailed. I think it's really similar to 90210 except I think I liked the characters better. It takes place in Newport Beach, CA. A rich family adopts a teenage boy from the wrong side of the tracks and he has an on again off again relationship with the rich family's next door neighbor. He then goes to the prep school that all the rich kids go to and gets in fights with the waterpolo players. Then every once in a while they throw in something totally crazy and kill off random characters. It gets very intense, but it's a pretty good show.

Favorite Character: Seth Cohen

Least Favorite Character: Julie Cooper

Hottest Guy: Probably Ryan but I love Seth too

So I know that everyone has seen Friends, but since I was making a post with my fav TV shows I decided to add it. I hope you all know that it's about six friends that live in NYC together. It's really light hearted and definitely the least dramatic show on my list of favs.

Favorite Character: Chandler

Least Favorite Character: Probably Phoebe but I definitely don't hate her or anything

Hottest Guy: Joey I guess but he's mainly just funny

If you have show recommendations PLEASE let me know. I love a good new show!

Xoxo♡

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Birthday Haul!

Patty Clark October 22, 2017 0 Comments

So this weekend I hosted a fun birthday BBQ at my ranch. Just under 30 people came and it was a super fun night! I wasn't expecting everyone to bring me presents because my actual birthday was over three weeks ago, but I still was given some really nice gifts!

Aren't my friends generous?

Here are some of my favorite things that would definitely be good gifts to give to any of your friends too.

Birchbox
Sally Hansen Nail Polish

One of my friends gave me a birchbox which is so much fun because it just has a bunch of beauty samples in it. They're things that I would never really buy for myself, but it's definitely fun to try out. I also got some Sally Hansen polish which is always a necessity. The pink one is actually argon oil infused, so it is really healthy for your nails!

Small boutique = no link (sorry!)

These are just some bathroom/bedroom things from another friend. The soap is all natural and smells really nice, and the spray is a rose petal aroma therapy room spray. The candle has a nice citrus smell and would be really relaxing with a bath. These are all from small boutiques in my town, so I can't give you guys the links, but check out your local stores because they're full of treasures!

The Secret Lives of Baked Goods

This is the CUTEST recipe book. It combines my love for baking with my love of history! All of your classic American dishes are in here, but the author also tells you the history of the dish. It's obviously mostly desserts because "baked goods", but this would be a fantastic gift for any baker!

Tumbler

This Kate Spade tumbler is SO adorable. I was actually shopping in this small store downtown and I was so close to buying this for myself because it's just so pretty and unique, but then I decided not to in the end. Luckily for me, my friend knows me extremely well and bought it for me! It's insulated, so it keeps drinks cold for a long time. The citrus print is so preppy and cute as well!

(You can make this gift anywhere! Target has everything you need.)

This gift is the epitome of fall. From one of my best friends, it includes a pumpkin candle, a white, soft blanket, and lots of fuzzy socks! And she put it in a cute wire storage basket. It might be a very basic present, but honestly those are the best (and the easiest to buy).

Other fun gifts I got were the What Do You Meme card game, lot's of candy, and some baked goods. My birthday bbq was super fun, and I am so grateful that so many of my friends drove all the way out to my house to attend!

Much love <3

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Back to School :(

Patty Clark August 13, 2017 0 Comments

When can it be me in that cap and gown?

This post is more of just a rant, but you guys, I literally go back to school tomorrow. How is summer already over?! Though I'm excited to see my friends, I'm still dreading having to go to class and do homework. Actually, mainly I just hate the homework. If homework didn't exist and school only consisted of listening in class and taking tests every once in a while, I would love it. But noooo, after our seven hours of learning we have to do four more hours of reviewing. And also my school is a college prep school and so classes are really hard. Some teachers just assign stupid time consuming work though, and so over all, I really just hate homework. But that makes me hate school, too, which is sad because I love learning interesting, useful things! I never learn those things in school though because even if they actually are taught, they're hidden in piles of useless work that is so impractical!
We do manage to do some fun things, though. Like for example, my school has a rivalry with the public school for basketball, and so whenever we play them, everyone wears their preppiest clothes and brands just because we're the prep school.

Prep Day (a.k.a. Bring Your Yacht to School Day)

Our dances are also always a blast (I'm on student council, so I'm required to say that... usually it's true though I swear!). Last year my friend Avery and I got put in charge of planning Winter Formal with a budget of $3,500. It was such a fun dance and we had over 200 people come (out of 375 students who go to our school).

Spot me on the far left

Okay so maayybe I'm being a little over dramatic about going back to school. In fact, writing this post has reminded me of the fun, social parts of the whole process. Hopefully tomorrow won't be absolutely terrible like I've been imagining it to be... I guess I'll have to let you know.

Xoxo <3

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Q&A With Yours Truly

Patty Clark August 09, 2017 0 Comments

Okay you guys this is just a little get to know me q&a. I found these questions here, and if you have any other fun ones, let me know in the comments!

Are you named after anyone?

I am named after people on both sides of my family. I have a great aunt named Patty and a cousin named Patricia.

When was the last time you cried?

I actually cry A LOT. I'm a pretty emotional person. I think the last time I cried was two days ago because I got in an argument with my parents over something.

If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself?

Well obviously it depends on what kind of person I would be if I were another person! But I think I would be friends with myself? I don't know this question is kind of confusing.

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Yes. I am a very, very sarcastic person. Depending on who I'm talking to, I can tone it back but usually I'm pretty sarcastic.

What's the first thing you notice about people?

I honestly tend to notice what they're wearing, but that isn't something that I use to completely judge them or anything. In a conversation, I notice how kind they are because I think kindness is really important personality trait.

What's your eye color?

Brown eyed girl, baby.

Scary movie or happy endings?

Happy endings!!! I love romantic movies honestly. Scary movies are just too...well...scary.

What's the farthest you've ever been from home?

I think Hawaii. Unless the east coast is farther from California than Hawaii... either way I've never been out of the country sadly.

What are your hobbies?

I like shopping, baking, reading, hanging out with friends, and driving around my ranch

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Well originally, I wanted to be CEO of some major business and live in New York and be like an entrepreneur, which still sounds kind of fun, but now I'm starting to see myself more in the agribusiness setting maybe managing a large industrial farm or ranch. We shall see.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

Well obviously preppy, but I also like to add some beachy or sometimes country vibes into my style because I'm from California and I live on a ranch.

What sports do you play?

Currently I play tennis, but when I was younger, I played volleyball and basketball, too.

What's your favorite drink?

Honestly, my all time favorite drink has to be Coca Cola. It's just so refreshing, so classic, and SO American. I will never get sick of it.

How tall are you?

I tell everyone that I'm 5'7", but PLOT TWIST! Really I'm 5'6 and 3/4"

What would you name your children?

I have been debating this in my head for years, but I can only really settle on a few boy names. Girl names are too hard! So if I have a few sons, their names will be Eric, Liam, and Johnny. If I have a few daughters... well I don't even know. I'll have to get back to you on that one!

Monday, July 31, 2017

Guide to Alexandria, VA

Patty Clark July 31, 2017 0 Comments

ALEXANDRIA, VA

Founded 1749

Alexandria was one of the cutest towns I have ever been in. I wish that I got to stay there for more than a few hours, but even in that short amount of time, I fell in love with everything about the town from the history to the cobblestone streets to the shopping to the food. This travel guide is going to be a lot shorter than my Georgetown one, and is maybe more of a review than a guide. Either way, it will have some good information for any tourist like me.

This little guide is going to be set up differently than my Georgetown one because I am just going to tell you what my day in Alexandria consisted of.

I arrived to Alexandria by Metro from DC. At the King Street Station, I hopped on a little trolley that took me straight into old town Alexandria. It dropped me off at the waterfront (pictured above). My sister and I strolled around a bit and immediately found the cutest store I have EVER been in.

It's called The Lucky Knot and it sold all of my favorite Southern Prep brands like Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines. It also introduced me to a bunch of similar brands that, being from California, I had never heard of before! I spent over an hour in that little store looking through dresses and jewelry. I left with an adorable pair of earrings that I am currently wearing as I write this post.

After some shopping, my sister and I walked around on some of the side streets which had such old, gorgeous houses on them.

Also, who can resist an actual cobblestone street? I saw some of those in Georgetown, but the ones in Alexandria felt even older and more historic. The houses were all brick with old lanterns hanging on them. I kind of wish that cars weren't allowed on the streets because they just look so out of place, but I guess the modern world has to catch up with us somewhere. My sister and I also stopped at Carlyle House. We were too late to get a real tour of it, so sadly I don't really know the history of the building or what it was used for, but it was very pretty from the outside and the gardens were beautiful.

photocreds

There are tours from 10:00am to 4:00pm and I would strongly recommend doing that. I wish I could have. To complete our little tour of the town, my sister and I had dinner at Gadsby's Tavern. George Washington ate here very often before his presidency, and the restaurant still serves traditional meals from the colonial times.

They seated us at George Washington's personal table (according to this historian that was taking pictures of it before we sat down). Inside it was candlelit, and the sun was still out, so it wasn't too dark. We ordered peanut soup to start us off.

It was a very interesting taste... like a mix of peanut butter, apple cider vinegar, and some other random tastes that I couldn't name. I thought it was pretty good, but my sister didn't like it as much. It was SO filling though, so I would not recommend getting it as an appetizer like we did. For our entrees, I ordered a lamb chop and my sister got some sort of steak if I remember correctly.

There was so much food, but it was all delicious! While we were eating, we found out that the reason that there were so many people in town that day (it was packed!) was because it was Alexandria's birthday! Every year, Alexandria holds off on 4th of July fireworks, and then has a big celebration on July 8th for the anniversary of the founding of the town. This was a wonderful surprise, and so my sister and I decided to wait at the waterfront until 9:00 for the firework show.

It was held on the dock, and there was a pretty big crowd. Getting out of the town proved to be a challenge and Uber was very expensive because so many people were using it at once. But even though the crowd was a pain, the fireworks were so worth it and served as a special end to a fantastic day.

I'm not sure what hotels or lodging are in old town Alexandria, but I would totally recommend staying there for a few nights. It is such an amazing town, and even though I only got to go for a few hours, I miss it like crazy!

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

A Guide to Georgetown, D.C.

Patty Clark July 19, 2017 2 Comments

GEORGETOWN, D.C.

Founded in 1751

View from the Georgetown Waterfront

I recently got back from a two week long trip to Washington, D.C. I went there for an entrepreneurship camp at Georgetown University and then a political conference with the Young America's Foundation. I spent the majority of my trip in Georgetown. Being from California, I have never been to a place quite like it. With a few cobblestone streets (those still exist?) and tons of historical brick buildings, walking through the town was like a dream. All I needed was a coach with a horse and maybe a long, poofy dress and I would have been in the colonial times. It was amazing to see some of the side streets even more than the main ones like M street and Wisconsin because the emptier ones have been left alone a bit more. Anyway, if you are visiting the D.C. area, Georgetown is a must not only for shopping and dining, but just to walk around. I'll break down my stay into a few categories for you.

Lodging

Adorable brick houses on a side street

Though I'm sure there are a couple of upscale hotels in Georgetown, the real way to get a feel of the area is to rent one of the brick houses for a few nights. I was lucky enough to have a friend from home living with her family in Georgetown for a month, so I stayed with her for four nights. Their house was close to the corner of N street and Wisconsin Ave. which made it right in the middle of everything. My friend and I could walk anywhere in no time. I'm sure renting a house like this is pretty pricey, but check out airbnb to see if it's something you can afford. If you need to stay in Washington, it's really easy to bob on over to Georgetown.

Transportation

Capital Bikeshare photocreds

In Georgetown specifically, it's probably easiest to walk everywhere. I would not advise renting a car during your vacation because there is so much traffic. To get to Washington, D.C., I would either Uber (which will cost anywhere between $8 and $15), take the metro from Foggy Bottom which is a little less than a mile from the heart of Georgetown, or if it was nice outside, I would rent a Capital Bikeshare bike for $2 for 30 minutes, and I would take the beautiful bike path along the Potomac River that pops you out close to the Lincoln Memorial. Once you get into Washington, there are bike stations everywhere where you can turn in your bike. Then once you're finished sight seeing or whatever took you to Washington, you can find another station and rent a new bike for $2 to take to Georgetown. Riding bikes was my favorite mode of transportation because it's cheap, pretty, and only takes about 15 minutes if you take the bike path from Georgetown's waterfront to the Lincoln Memorial. Taking an Uber can take longer depending on traffic, and it's way more expensive. The metro is definitely cheap, but it is a pretty long walk from M Street to Foggy Bottom, the nearest station to Georgetown.

Dining

French toast at Boulangerie Christophe

A little crepe store on M Street

Got my Laduree macaron <3

Milkshakes and burgers at The Tombs

Salted Caramel Georgetown Cupcakes were to die for

The food in Georgetown is AMAZING. I ate my way through that town like nobody's business and I probably gained a few pounds, but it was worth it. Okay so I'm going to break my favorite places up by brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

For brunch, my favorite places were Boulangerie Christophe on Wisconsin Ave. It was a French bakery with a restaurant upstairs and served such a good brunch. Also, there is a place in an alley off M Street called Kafe Leopold. They also had a delicious brunch menu. Both of these restaurants had beautiful desserts, too.

For lunch, the European style market Dean and Deluca had a great deli where I got plenty of club sandwiches during my stay. Also, if you're looking for something way more affordable, try Falafel Inc. It's $4 for a delicious Falafel wrap. If you don't know what falafel is, ask the guy at the counter because he is the nicest guy ever. I think he might've been the owner...? Not really sure, but everyone in there is so friendly. Also, Martin's Tavern is a great place for lunch. It has a fun vibe to it and isn't very fancy like a lot of places can be. I never tried dinner at Martin's, but I'm sure it would also be great. Another place for lunch or dinner is the Tombs. Right next to Georgetown University, the Tombs is a really cool college hang out where you can get great shakes and burgers. The waiters are really nice and friendly there.

For dinner, I usually ate at some of the places I listed for lunch, or I went to Washington to eat at other restaurants. In Washington, I went to places like the Hamilton, the Dubliner, and a Texas barbecue place where I ate enough food to feed an elephant.

Lastly, dessert. I had so many fun desserts while staying in Georgetown from cupcakes to tarts to crepes. Georgetown Cupcake is famously known, and though the line takes forever, it is worth a try. Plus, if you look on their website, every day they have a "cupcake of the day" which is free! Not a lot of tourists know about this, but it's definitely something to look for. Another cupcake place is called Baked and Wired. A lot of people claim that this bakery is superior to Georgetown Cupcakes, but I think that they're equally good. I got a strawberry cupcake at Baked and Wired and it was delicious. For ice cream, you could always head over to Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Dazs on M street, but the best ice cream in town has to be Thomas Sweet on Wisconsin Ave. I got a hot fudge brownie sundae there and it was so good! The line there can be pretty long, too, but they're open late into the night for those late night sugar cravings. My friend and I found a little crepe place on M street, and I don't remember what it was called, but they were so friendly, and the crepes were sooo good. I got a nutella and strawberry crepe with strawberry ice cream and whipped cream on top. It was like a full meal. The other desserts I had while staying in Georgetown were just little tarts and things from French bakeries like Boulangerie Christophe.

The food is pretty pricey in Georgetown, so if you're staying there for an extended amount of time, I would go to Safeway on Wisconsin and get some groceries to make a few of your own meals!

Shopping!

Lilly Pulitzer (obviously!)

The upstairs at Kate Spade

Vineyard Vines: A must when you're on the East Coast

Where do I even begin? The shopping in Georgetown is fantastic. All of my favorite stores that I don't see very often in California (Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, etc) were all there. Also, since I was there around the 4th of July, everyone was having a sale! I didn't end up buying much (because I spent so much money on food oops), but I spent a lot of time looking around at J Crew, Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, and more. Most of the shops are on M street, and the ones that aren't on M are on Wisconsin. You can walk everywhere. They have a lot of preppy stores but they also throw in places like Free People so there's a pretty good mix. I planned on buying some Lilly Pulitzer things, but then I remembered that their annual sale is coming up soon so I decided to wait.

Other Things To Do

Georgetown University

Historic Houses

Gardens <3

You don't have to spend a ton of money to have a good time in Georgetown. Sure the shopping and dining are amazing, but just to walk around and see the buildings is fun! I stayed in the dorms at Georgetown University for a week for a summer camp, and if you are visiting the area, take a tour of campus! It's beautiful and has some cool places to take pictures (the steps from the Exorcist, anyone?). There are also some really historic buildings randomly scattered throughout the town. Take some time to look those up online and go see them! The waterfront is also a nice place to walk especially at sunset. Georgetown is a beautiful town, and I really recommend going there even if it's just for a day while you stay in D.C.

March's Book (Little Women) Review

Patty Clark July 19, 2017 0 Comments

Oh my goodness you guys, I am so, SO sorry that I didn't complete this book review back at the end of March! Well, Little Women was a fantastic book! It took me a little while to finish reading because of school, but I would say I finished it around mid April. I don't know about all of you, but I personally love books set in the 1800s. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors, and so I am always looking for similar books. Little Women takes place in Northern America during the Civil War (at the beginning of the novel), but the war doesn't totally affect the story other than the fact that the girls' father is off fighting. The story revolves around four young girls living with their mother and follows their lives as they grow up, fall in love, start families, and just experience life. It was nicely written and didn't get boring at all. I can't decide whether I should write any spoilers because I have one complaint that I am still frustrated about, but I would give away the whole thing if I said it.... I don't think I'm going to, but if you think you have the same complaint comment below. I'll give you a hint: it has to do with Jo and her choices once she is grown up (actually just one choice that COMPLETELY threw me off). Anyway, if you've read Little Women and need to vent about this choice, I am here for you because I read the book like 3 months ago and I still am not over it. Other than this disappointing choice of Jo's (the second oldest sister), the book was a lovely read! 10 out of 10, I completely recommend.