The Best InfuZed Bottle You’ll Ever Buy

Recently, I was surprised & delighted to win the pre-launch/kick off contest held by The Infuzed Bottle and I couldn’t’ have been more thrilled! (Lizzie was pretty intrigued as well 🙂 )

I’ve had on my radar to check these little ‘infuser’ guys out, read reviews and find the best one for me, but in typical fashion, I kept putting it off. While I’m not much of an adventurer of anything outside of drinking water, I do love to mix up my water – from a fizzy sparkling water to a variety of fruit infused water blends. Having these combination options helps me to not get bored of my water, while keeping up my hydration consumption!

Today, I’m sharing my review of The Infuzed Bottle and why you should or why you shouldn’t invest in one.

It’s So Pretty!

How could you NOT want to strut around the office, the gym, your daily errands, etc. without this little beauty in your hands? From day one when I started using the chic, gold topped, fashionable glass bottle, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E I saw wanted to know where I got it from. It’s a show-stopper!

It’s Easy to Clean! (AND – It’s good for the environment)

With an elegant glass structure, you have to be delicate. BUT – I personally always feel I’m able to get glass clean or sanitized versus plastic. Plastic harbors Bisphenol-A, a chemical known as BPA, which can mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones. A.K.A. TOSS/RECYCLE YOUR PLASTIC BOTTLES FROM YOUR KITCHEN CABINET. As quotes by The Infuzed Bottle, “Friends don’t let friends use plastic!” Exposure to BPA is a concern because it creates possible health effects on the brain, can have a direct correlation to high blood pressure, as well as health effects related to behavior and prostate glands. Yikes!

For Infuzed Bottle, you can get it sparkling clean by simply hand washing your bottle in warm soapy water. AND – know you’re being socially responsible!

It’s Easy to Keep Tabs on Your Hydration!

The Infuzed bottle holds 500 ML of water, equivalent to approximately 17 fluid Oz, so if you’re one to aim for the ideal of eight 8-once glasses of water in a day, you only need four full helpings to exceed your goal.

It’s Healthy!

I know what you’re thinking … of course it’s healthy, Brittany, it’s W-A-T-E-R for goodness sake! But, I mean even more than that – Don’t fall for flavored waters, vitamin waters, etc. that can be filled with artificial sugars and sweeteners! Maintain your nutrients and vitamins by using FRESH fruits and veggies. PLUS – they’re a great snack afterwards J

There are SO Many Ways to Use it!

Not in the mood for cold infuzed water? Try a hot mixture! The Infuzed Bottle has both hot and cold functionality. Don’t worry – whatever you decide to mix it with will get caught in the stainless steel strainer. That means so extra seeds, chunks or tea leaves for you! Not sure where to start? Here’s a few of my favorites combos for you to try:

  1. Strawberry + Cucumber + Mint
  2. Lemon + Lime + Splash of Ginger
  3. Grapefruit + Pineapple
  4. Raspberry + Lemon (tastes like pink lemonade!)

HINT HINT: It’s always best to chop, slice or dice your fruit into bite sized chunks before adding to your Infuzed Bottle. It helps to get the natural juices released and flowing! If you’re adventuring into berries, you can even try muddling them before you add them in for some extra bold flavor!

Still need some convincing? Try it for yourself! They’re on sale for a limited time – just $39! PLUS – if you use code BRIT10 you can get an added 10% OFF!
I promise you that you will fall in love <3 <3

Until next time!

xoxo
Brittany

Cheery & Charming Traveler’s Guide: 8 NEW Places to Visit in New York City

As always, New York was a whirlwind! Up and back in 2-days, via the Vermonter & Acela Express made for a jam-packed, fun and exciting adventure for our Valentine’s Day this year. Aside from my first time at Madison Square Gardens + seeing Billy Joel live, we covered a TON of ground and visited a slew of new spots!

Whenever I find fun, new spots, I’m always pressed to share! So, I’m quickly jotting down my top 7 favorite places we visited for any of you who may be looking for a cool, trendy or cozy new spot to check out next time you’re in the area!

  1. Hanoi House
    We had dinner here Thursday night and let me tell you – it was I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E. Placed appropriately on the historical, adventure seeking, 119 St. Mark’s Place, you’ll arrive in a (not-so-surprisingly-small), delicately quaint, romantically dimmed, intimate spot in East Village. But – don’t let the size fool you. Hanoi House is known for “The Absolute Best Pho in New York,” “The Absolute Best Octopus in New York,” “The Absolute Best Vietnamese Restaurants in New York,” and more. I mean . . . WOW!!! Once you’ve had a moment to take in the eloquent details, brace yourself as you’re about to be spoiled with a breathtaking, unbelievable, well-cultured, imaginative display of Vietnamese cuisine! From the Crispy Crab & Pork Spring rolls (Nem Ran), to the Spicy Octopus (Bach Tuoc Ca Ri) – delightfully displayed over roasted sweet potatoes, coconut curry, charred scallion and shishito peppers, to the Hanoi Style Beef Pho Soup (Pho Bac), – a classic 16-hr broth with heritage Black Angus filet mignon, brisket & rice noodles AND an add-on option of bone marrow (must have!) on the side, our dinner was simply divine. The only thing that will leave you feeling disappointed after this visit, is the wish that you could fit everything on the menu in your belly!
    P.S. make sure you get there early!! They don’t take reservations and the place was nearly filled upon our arrival, 15-minutes post their opening at 5:30.
    P.S.S. our dear friends own this place, so go. check. it. out. !!!
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  2. Joe & Pat’s Pizzeria NYC
    I don’t know about you, but I know that when I visit New York City, I’m not leaving until I’ve had a proper slize of za 😉
    Joe & Pat’s Pizzeria is more formally known in the Staten Island area of New York. Wanting to break in and make their presence known in the Manhattan area, they opened their NEW location at 168 1st Avenue. Priding themselves on a secret Neapolitan recipe for a special thin crust pizza that has made their restaurant famous, I was so glad to have enjoyed this gem during our trip! We sat at the antiquely pounded copper counter top on the corner of the bar and enjoyed catching up with friends and admiring the original, characteristic stained glass windows before, quite literally, demolishing our pizza. Looking for the perfect NY fold? You found it!! Can’t decide which kind to try when you visit? Psst… if you order a large, they allow you to do half and half! But, they also have a smaller, personal 10” option as well. Not to mention – the bartender and staff were  amazingly warm and welcoming, making for a fun, social lunch break on Friday!
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  3. C&B – East Village, Thompson Square Park
    I’ll keep this one short and sweet, just like this shop! Seriously one of the cutest little coffee shops in East Village! We stopped in for a quick espresso (always needed!) and loved seeing the kitchen staff live, in action, flipping, kneading and pounding their homemade dough!! I mean, you just can’t get that just anywhere in Baltimore! Plus, you can take your coffee/espresso/latte and enjoy a casual stroll around Thompson Square Park after, which is right across the street!
  4. Tacombi
    SALT! SALT! SALT! LOVED this Mexican spot we found on 267 Elizabeth Street. And come on … a old school, authentic Volkswagen Bus as the taco-making station?! We only stopped in for a quick taco (or two…) and kept on our exploring, but the atmosphere was so traditional and genuine, it’s definitely worth a visit and some cliché photos! P.S. the tacos were awesome too!
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  5. L’AMICO
    This is probably one of my favorite spots in NYC – although a little more ‘commercial,’ in feel, the atmosphere is to die for and this is going to sound weird, but I love their bathrooms! Haha! While separate male and female, the hand-washing station connects the two via a shared wash-sink area with a reflective, stained glass like mirror for separation. It’s a great spot for a casual happy hour, quick bite at the bar (they have amazing selection of appetizers, wood-burning pizzas, fresh pastas, and selections of charcuterie), or in our circumstance, a late night cap for topping off Saturday evening after the concert. We stayed in the hotel above it – The EVENTI, which I would TOTALLY recommend if you’re ever seeing a show at Madison Square Gardens. It was about a 5 minute walk from the concert!
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  6. BUA Bar
    Cute and friendly spot to stop to get a snack or drink beforehand if you try our Hanoi House! It’s right across the street and felt so intimate. The space is decorated with countless lit candles that grace spaces in the walls where bricks have intentionally been removed. Candles also delicately and artfully line random fashion behind the bar liquor bottles, shelving, and pretty much anywhere you look!
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  7. Westside Market
    Talk about a local food market!! I WISH we had something like this in our small town, Federal Hill! Then again, I get we may not have the same volume to sustain this type of operation 🙂 It felt like I had walked into the Costco-version of a market! Never-ending, colorful supply and variety of fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, deli meats, cheeses, traditional grocery, flowers and more! Super cool spot to stop by, take in the colorful spreads and patronize a local business (with some salty and sweet snacks while you’re there!)
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  8. The Pennsy Food Hall
    Last, but not least – and definitely not a big secret as it’s right above Penn Station, but this is a great, vibrant and convenient spot to grab-and-go a snack before you catch the train ride home. It’s more of an incubator-type feel with a variety of small eateries, so there’s a little something for everyone. From sushi, to tacos, to bar food, to sweet treats, ice cream and more! Plus, they sometimes have a DJ that slings throwback songs and top beats to get you boppin’ and grovin’!

Do you have any favorite spots or gems to share? I’d love to hear! Ping me in the comments below!

Talk soon!

xoxox
Brittany

A Birthday Getaway to Napa Valley

It’s been a week since we returned from Napa and I can’t tell you how much I’m still missing it everyday!

Let’s be honest – – who wouldn’t want to ring in their birthday with a 5-day span, consisting of waking up and eating your body weight in cheese & wine?!

. . . Just me?

Alrite then…. 🙂

To me, there was no place quite like it – incredible views, breathtaking landscapes, endless rolling hills, relaxing spas, delectable pairings & tastings on every corner, indescribable restaurants with wine lists longer than I’ve ever seen, consisting of wine types I’d never even heard of, and the list goes on…

Day 1 of our trip (was my birthday – WOO HOO!!!) began with a first quick stop at Rodney Strong Vineyards and a tour, tasting and pairing at J Vineyards & Winery.

First plus – they’re right next to each other. And, when I say “right next to each other,” I don’t mean the Napa version of, “right next to each other, which we learned could mean quite literally 40+ minutes apart – haha! These two are about a 2-3 minute walk from tasting room door to tasting room door. Could it get much easier than that?!

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We learned all about Judy Jordan, the founder of J Vineyards & Winery, and her road to fruition in the world of sparkling wines, beginning at just 25 years old !!! Can you even imagine starting your own winery and vineyard at 25 years old…? Insanity. We had a wonderful wine ambassador & tour guide named Taylor who guided us through the storytelling of all the successes and challenges July encountered – including losing her entire crop in her early years due to flooding from the Russian River Valley. Judy had to start. all. over. from. scratch. BUT – check out the photos below to see the beauty that exists today!

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I love wine.

I love touring the uniquely built facilities, filled to the ceilings with wine varieties that will be aged well beyond even some folks’ lifetimes.

I love learning the intricacy and process behind each carefully crafted ‘wine-recipe.’

I love the warmth and intimacy a bottle of wine brings to friends who enjoy it together.

I love the complicated analysis of stressing the vines juuuuust the right amount, in time for harvesting in order to get more boldness and flavor from the fruit.

It’s literally the coolest thing to me!

Moving on from our tour at J, we ventured out to Healdsburg to explore a private tour of MacMurray Estate Vineyards! Traditionally not open to the public, I felt extra special as we had the privilege of walking their gorgeous 284-acre ranch, in the heart of the Russian River Valley. And, super cool – we were also able to tour the home on-site, previously owned by a once movie legend – Fred MacMurray! The home has since been pristinely restored to the state it was when he and his family lived there. I felt like I stepped back in time 60 years – old school refrigerator and all!

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Leading to the most incredible part of our day – a tasting atop the highest hill at the vineyard, overlooking the entire winery and Russian River Valley.

What. An. Incredible. Day.

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BUT – – it doesn’t end there! Birthday dinner was still in store!

Having stayed in the quaint surrounding of Sonoma Square, where, “It’s sweet to be slow,” we had the convenience of a leisurely stroll through the park to the 21-year-famous, farm-to-table, longtime favorite – the girl & the fig. They had an awesome, seasonal menu with vegetables and herbs from their very own farm right in Sonoma! Rated one of the top ten best restaurants in the United States by Bon Appetit, I’ll end here on saying I truly felt like the most special, most spoiled, and luckiest birthday girl in town.

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However… our adventure didn’t end here. Can you believe this was  O N E  D A Y ?!

Stay tuned for more following our journey of eating and drinking our way through Napa!

xoxo
Brittany

P.S. Here’s a video of all the fun in action 🙂

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I Visited Peloton in NYC and This Is What Happened

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BUBBLELIME high wait yoga pant legging //  move with you womens workout tank

<< PELOTON: cheese so hard. >>

Let’s be real in saying that the conference I attended wasn’t the only awesome part of being up in NYC this week. It WAS NYC, of course!! And, what more could you want?! I spent my time gallivanting NYC streets, delighting in boutique shops, sipping fun cocktails along the way and snapping the occasional Times Square/Rockefeller Center selfie… but, my personal favoriteeeee …

I MADE IT TO THE PELOTON NYC STUDIO for my very first IN STUDIO CLASS. EVER. !!!!

From the second I walked in the door, they made me feel like I belonged there – – as if I was family and had been there at least eight times in the past month.

I was quickly given my shoes, assigned a bike (IN THE FRONT ROW, of course) and guided to the I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E. locker room, filled with every toiletry you could ever imagine you’d ever need – haha! FOR REAL though. Not to mention, I felt especially spoiled and delighted that both water and a towel were prearranged for me, upon arrival at my bike in the studio! Like – –  WOW, Peloton fam !!!

My class with Alex Toussaint made me sweat more than ever before and I loved all the members’ excitement of having a “real-life ‘in-home rider’ (their phrase, not mine LOL) in their class” Hahaha I didn’t even know that was a “thing.”

My trip ended with crashing my amazing NYC cousin’s bachelor pad and grabbing a quick bite of sush with him before I jumped back on the steam engine, headed to the good ol’ 410.

P.S. …. I might have indulged in a little photo shoot fun while I was waiting for him to get out of work…. hahaha a bored girl’s gotta do, what a bored girl’s gotta do!

I swear his Corgi pup, Joe, took the photos !!!

<<see the video below>>

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<< keep your face always to the sunshine and shadows will follow behind you >>

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<< a little quality reading on ‘how to stay alive in the woods’ >>

Impromptu Date Night

Nothing makes my day more than a text for an impromptu date night! Nothing to stress about or plan ahead for, but something to perk me up, give me a little extra pep in my step and sometime to look forward to after work. But… I’m terrrrribbllleeeee at finding something quickly to wear. Call me the most indecisive lady on the planet. I mean… if someone asked me what I wanted my final meal to be, I’d be the one like… “lasagna… no, filet… no, lobster… no, spaghetti… no, tacos…. no, pizza…. no, ramen…” and on and on and on. Not to mention the weather here in Baltimore has been less than ideal – I think we’re on the 6th straight day of rain. Throw some hail in there too…

If you follow my instagram (@brittanyleighxo), you’ll notice one of my new favs I’ve been wearing a TON recently is this super cute (AND super soft) free peoplefaded denim jacket. Paired with a comfy, gray jersey knit dress and some cute, pink Steve Madden slip-ons, this was definitely one of my coziest and most favorite fast date night outfits!

What’s your favorite thing to throw on for a quick date night or social event? 🙂

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// free peoplefaded denim jacket // steve madden slip-ons // michael kors white ceramic watch // large open circle necklace //Minnow

oh… and here’s a few yummy pics from date night dinner at Minnow 😉 (my favorites – 🥃 old fashioned & 🦐 ceviché)

If you’re ever in Baltimore, this is an AWESOME gem! Always amazing, always fresh, always incredible & friendly service. They even have an indescribable bottomless tapas brunch on the weekends!! 🙌🏼🥂😎💯

Talk soon!
xoxox
Brittany

Who Doesn’t Love A Fake Wedding?

Who doesn’t like a good wedding? I do!! This year, we joined friends from Volunteering Untapped as they hosted this year’s Black Tie Baltimore’s Fake Wedding. It was essentially an excuse to get some nice duds on and go hang out at one of the coolest venues in town, the Baltimore Museum of Industry.4fcb7e67-7b69-4c88-be7e-39e211e24e3d-2V7A7611Image by dcrefined  

We saw some friendly faces, met some new ones, and hit the dance floor like our best friend just got married. Delicious food & libations were included in the ticket price and a live band kept the dance floor full all night! I highly recommend checking this out next year if you missed!

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All proceeds benefited the charity partner, Volunteering Untapped (VU) so they can expand the amazing work they’re doing every month bringing charities and hundreds of volunteers together, creating impact, and making it all so easy! If you haven’t heard of Volunteering Untapped previously, definitely check them out!! They’re connecting volunteers with charities and each other in a way no one else is by organizing volunteering events at different charities around Baltimore on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:00AM – 1:00PM with an awesome after party. See tomorrow’s volunteering opportunity here!

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Check out their homepage www.volunteeringuntapped.org to see what they’re up to. Maybe you’ll even sign up for their super protected email listserv to hear about upcoming events (no spam!).

It was a super fun date-night evening! Personally, I’m always pressed to find new sites with stylish dresses at affordable prices, so I thought I would share this one with you. This subtly cross-thatch/polka dot patterned navy plunge dress is from Hello Molly! I also love that when you click on their dresses, there’s s typically a video of a model wearing the dress so you can better see how it flows, falls, etc.

// chalet girl maxi dress navy // cole haan crowns of light necklace // loveliness nude ankle strap heels // brooks brothers plaid stretch wool jacket // brooks brothers slim-fit stretch wool suit trousers //
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Talk soon!

xoxo Brittany

Life Ain’t Always Perfect, but It’s A Beautiful Life

SUPERBOWL! One of the days I look forward to the most each year. Everyone is excited, people are giddy to see the newly debuted commercials, food prep is in motion, Super Bowl pulls are flowing, and the pressure to wear a cute outfit to the Super Bowl party is on! Here’s a sneak peek of (what I thought 🙂 ) was my casual, perfect outfit of the day!

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HALOGEN® Long Sleeve Knit Tunic  //  LEVI’S Denim Overalls // Kari Layered Necklace // Shiraleah Quilted Hobo Bag // Vans Classic DX Slip-On Sneaker 

This HALOGEN® Long Sleeve Knit Tunic is only $39 and fit slimly and comfortably under these adorable, light and distressed wash LEVI’S Denim Overalls.
I chose to wear it with a black long sleeve, given the season and time of year, but would be equally as cute with a white tee or cropped top in the spring and summer months! Super excited to update with that look when the weather begins to defrost. I’ve never been one for overalls in the past, but the jean material was surprisingly super comfy and they fit really well!

Okay, moving onto all of our fun festivities that were planned for the day! Leaving our little Samson at home …

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We ventured down the street (absolutely love how close all of our near-and-dear city folk are to us), to our friend Matt’s house to help prep for the day and delight in a few libations.

  1. Seriously … how cool is his little under the stairs bar area for a lofty condo or apartment for space conservation?! So chic and I love the fun, extra touch of the LED lights! (not to mention the gorgeous back splash!)
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  2. Love that the boys have this quirky little tradition of new, crazy golf pants each year for Super Bowl. Adds a little goofiness and spunk to the day!
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Next… FOOD!!! From freshly shucked oysters… to salty prosciutto… to savory brie… and homemade jalapeno poppers, it was truly an awesome day shared with friends!

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Then… I decided to jet home to let our little furball out before the game started. Then disaster struck. What had begun as a beautiful Sunday, quickly turned into a yucky, rainy, nightmare of a day when I arrived home to our condo with a gushing water main break around the rear of our building. Having a “terrace level unit,” which I love dearly, was suddenly not ideal. Water was rushing into our back patio, quickly flooding, as the clogged, storm drain on our patio worsened. As the water rose, nearly flooding into our home, the flowing water was simultaneously ambushing a nearby storage room that housed our seasonal clothes and other personal items.

Needless to say, everything in storage has been ruined by Baltimore city water gook – all of my clothing favorites and a number of new, personal wedding treasures… destroyed. While we await next steps from insurance adjusters, I’m left with nearly no clothes for this upcoming spring, much less summer.  (So bear with me in future blog posts as I work to rebuild a wardrobe – bleh!)

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What an end to a day. What we can be extremely grateful for is that we didn’t have substantial, if any, overall damage inside our home. Our general belongings are spared. I know… while it may be a frustrating experience and process, we have so much to look around and feel fortunate we still have! There’s always something to be thankful for 🙂

Welp – until next time!

Stay tuned for my next post – our trip to Miami where I attempt to figure out this clothing sitch’ for our trip in the most creative way possible!!!

xoxox
Brittany