📣 Take Me Out to the Ball Game! 🎵

Last Saturday was a day of firsts for me! As a lifelong Pittsburgher, stepping into PNC Park for the first time was a moment I'll never forget. But here's the twist – my loyalty wasn't with the home team. Nope, I was proudly donning my Cubs gear. As a proud Pittsburgher, it might come as a surprise to my local readers that I was rooting for the Cubs. But there's a sentimental reason behind it that connects me to the team.

You see, my dear grandfather was a man of dreams and steel. Back in the day, he teetered on the precipice of becoming a bona fide pitcher for those illustrious Cubs. But life had other plans for him, nudging him toward a different career path at J&L Steel. Talk about a curveball! However, his love for the game never wavered, and his stories of near-glory on the pitching mound ignited a fire within me, starting an unconventional allegiance to the Cubs. So, there I was, a proud Pittsburgher, sporting my Cubs cap and ready to shout from the rooftops, "Go Cubs, go!" Being at the game, I felt a connection to him and his unwavering spirit.

To make the outing even more special, it was a double date with one of my best friends, her boyfriend, and my fiancé, Adam. We were all eager to soak in the atmosphere of the ball game and create lasting memories together. The excitement in the air was palpable as we entered the stadium, the anticipation building with every step.

As we settled into our seats, the stadium pulsated with an electric energy, infused with the fervor and enthusiasm of ardent fans. The ambiance was alive with the harmonious symphony of cheers, chants, and the collective heartbeat of the crowd. The resonant crack of the bat, the soul-stirring roar of the spectators, and the tantalizing aroma of freshly popped popcorn permeated the air, forming a delightful sensory overload that I will never forget.

Throughout the game, we cheered, laughed, and bonded over our shared love for the sport. It was a perfect blend of camaraderie and friendly rivalry, with fans from both sides engaging in good-natured banter. The innings ticked by, each one bringing a new wave of excitement and anticipation.

As the game reached its climax, tensions ran high. The Pirates and the Cubs battled fiercely, each team vying for victory. Every play, every pitch, held us in suspense, and we couldn't help but get caught up in the drama unfolding before our eyes.

In the end, even though the Cubs didn't clinch the win that night, the memories we made will last a lifetime. And beyond the final score, what truly mattered was the experience itself. The joy of being surrounded by friends, loved ones, and fellow baseball enthusiasts created a sense of belonging and community that transcended the game itself.

From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd, every moment felt like a piece of history unfolding before my eyes. Attending my first baseball game was a milestone in my life, a cherished memory that I will carry with me forever. It reminded me of the power of sports to bring people together, to unite us in a shared passion and create bonds that defy boundaries.

Sharing this experience with my fiancé Adam, and our friends on a double date, made it even more special. There's something about the camaraderie of a ball game that brings people together, regardless of the team they're rooting for.

So here's to the magic of baseball, to the thrill of the game, and to the treasured moments spent with loved ones. Take me out to the ball game, indeed!

What’s your favorite pastime? And any particular team you root for? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!!


Xx, Bree

#OOTD: Fit To Be Tied (Feat. SheIn + Rocksbox)

One of the many things I love about Pittsburgh is that though it is a small city, you can always find something to do. The Burgh is known for tons of fun events ranging from food festivals (We are known to have some of the best food and restaurants in the country after all!), live music, art crawls, and of course sports games. This weekend was no different, when Pittsburgh held its 40th annual Three Rivers Regatta, which was held at Point State Park. And of course after hearing about all the awesome activities going down at the regatta, you know I had to take sometime to check it out and be a tourist in my own city for the weekend.

Three Rivers Regatta 

As many of you know, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and know the city like the back of my hand. From its hottest bars, coolest museums, and best places to grab breakfast, I've been to them all. So, it's quite surprising that I never actually attended The Three Rivers Regatta until this year! However, I have to say I'm so happy I decided to go this past weekend because it was quite the sight to see. Though I have to say watching the Red Bull Flugtag competition took the cake, seeing the mass amount of boats on the river as well as seeing the boat race was pretty sweet too. I also finally had the perfect opportunity to style my newest blouse from my sponsor, SheIn!

The reason I chose this outfit is because I felt that a laid back look was best for a weekend that would be spent downtown and among large crowds of people. This blouse was a prefect choice because not only is it light weight and kept me cool during the humid August weekend, it also is quite the interesting piece though its front looks a bit plain--but I'll get to that in a minute. I chose to pair this top with these highwaisted shorts that I received from SheIn last year (Unfortunately these specific shorts are out of stock but you can find similar ones here and here!), due to the fact I thought these shorts added a nice contrast to the outfit and balanced out the amount of skin I was showing. And lastly, I chose to pair this outfit with my trusty white Chuck Taylors because a girl has to be comfy while walking around the city!

As I mentioned earlier, though this blouse looks a bit plain from the front, the back is what makes this top so fun! The reason I love this blouse so much is along with its airy summer appearance, is because I am absolutely in love with tie back blouses. I just think this trend is such a great look for summer and though it keeps your look casual, it is also a bit daring and subtly sexy.

Though I have reviewed these shorts in the past, I feel as though they deserve an honorable mention in this post because they are so incredibly comfortable! Though all of my clothes from SheIn are pretty comfy, at first I was skeptical about these shorts because they are highwaisted, however much to my surprise, when I slipped them on, they weren't too tight and fit me just right! And have since become one of my favorite pair of shorts, they also go with a variety of different tops and come in handy for quite a few different looks, making them one of my most versatile pieces. 

Curious about my smart watch? You can check it out here!

Curious about my smart watch? You can check it out here!

Last but not least, I have to mention my bag from my sponsor, Sydney Love. I'm sure some of you may recognize it from a post earlier this year, but I just have to say it is the ultimate bag to take with you for a weekend full of fun. This bag isn't only fashionable, but it is also incredibly functional! I've actually started referring to it as my "Mary Poppins bag" because it fits anything and everything you could possibly need!

One Last Look

How have you explored your city this summer? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a cool photo of a summer event you went to recently? I'd love to see it so feel free to tag me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes.

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Hollywood Cafe: St. Paddy's Day Celebration

For anyone who doesn't like in the 'Burgh, you may not know that St. Patrick's Day is a huge deal for us Pittsburghers. Every year, we actually have a "St. Patrick's Day Week" which is filled with various celebrations, parties, parades, and admittedly a ton of alcohol, personally, I think the holiday is an absolute blast. As I've mentioned here before, my heritage is predominately Russian, but I actually do have a little touch of Irish in my family tree too, so any reason to celebrate, right? With that being said, in celebration of the holiday, last Friday I decided not to venture out into the city, but instead headed to where I was born and raised, and celebrated at a little hole in the wall pub in Beaver County.

Beaver County?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area, Beaver County is made up of a bunch of old mill towns, the most prominent ones being Aliquippa, Monaca, and Ambridge, the last one being where I am from. And though these towns do seem a bit run down and not much to look at, in recent years the cities, Ambridge specifically, have been working hard on a gentrification project, to bring life and culture back into the town, and I have to say thus far, the community has done a knock out at bringing back businesses, specifically restaurants. Though I may be biased because I am from this area, I have to say the some of my absolute favorite pubs and eateries are in Ambridge, and one of them being Hollywood Cafe.

Hollywood Cafe

That little hole in the wall pub I mentioned earlier? Yep this is the one. Hollywood Cafe is hands down one of my favorite places to eat as well as to just stop by on my way home from to unwind after a fraught day at work. And though I do not remember the first place Hollywood Cafe called home, my mum does and that was no other than the main street of Aliquippa, back in the 1930s. 

Though Hollywood Cafe moved from Aliquippa to Ambridge back in the mid 2000's for location and spacing reasons, the interior, recipes, and ownership are all still the same. Though the original owner has since gotten out of the restaurant biz, his son, Chip, has kept the family business booming for the past 8 years after the move from Aliquippa. The place itself is laid out and much how you would expect a mum and pop type bar to be, but the thing that makes Hollywood Cafe stand out is their absolutely excellent food.

Though Hollywood's menu is small compared to other places in the Pittsburgh area, they still have quite the variety. From appetizers and pizza, to burgers and salads, it's a guarantee that you'll find at least one thing you'll love, and in my case, my absolute favorite thing on their menu is actually what they are most known for, and that is their wings. However, since this isn't a restaurant review and I am far from being a foodie, just take my word for it, and give them a try for yourself! Hollywood is open 12PM-2AM (Food is served from 3PM-12AM) 7 days a week and is located at 2917 Duss Ave, Ambridge, PA 15003.

The Green Scene

And of course since this was a party type occasion, I took the opportunity to dress up in one of my favorite dresses from the Pittsburgh local boutique, Terry Jolo. The reason I chose this swing dress for the occasion, was due to it's festive green pockets as well as its laid back look. To style this look, I simply paired it with some simple opal earrings along with my green and navy, plaid flats.

Sláinte! 

And last but not least, here are a few of my favorite outtakes from Hollywood Cafe's St. Patrick's Day Celebration!

Though I am not normally one to drink beer, I did have to get in on the fun for this party.

Patron at the St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Hollywood Cafe also was all dressed up in green to celebrate the big day.

Patrons playing pool during the party.

Bartender, Niece, went all out for the affair.

One Last Look

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? If so how did you spend it this year? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Love my dress? Be sure to check out my article on Terry Jolo Brand here, and be sure to visit Terry's website here!
 

And lastly, remember if you wanna check out Hollywood Cafe for yourself, their hours are 12PM-2AM (With food being served from 3PM-12AM) and they are located at 2917 Duss Ave, Ambridge, PA 15003. Later babes!

Xx, Bree