Random Friday

Hooray for short weeks, yes?  Hmm.  Do short weeks always feel like the longest weeks ever to you?  They certainly do to me.  It's been a rough week over here and I'm always glad to see Friday.  (Unless I'm on vacation.)  Well let's get to it.

1. It rained quite a bit this week.  I finally discovered that if you take a picture of a rain soaked window, then it's so much easier to understand that the picture is of rain.  Duh.  Seriously, I just realized that.

2. I have friends who have some seriously thought out and beautiful table decor.  (You know who you are.)  Me?  Not so much.  This week the husband and I had the great idea to buy an herb and pot it and use it as table decor.  Yes that qualifies as a great idea.  I would give you instructions on how to pot a plant (much like I did here), but really, just throw the plant in the pot and fill the sides with Miracle Gro.  (Oh and water it, yeah that's important.)  We chose a mint herb.  It's evident in the picture below that we shouldn't have table decor.  I mean, look at all the mess.

3. I made another Pinterest recipe.  I know, look at me.  Domesticated and all that.  I'm actually pretty good at following recipes.  Find the recipe here.

Via (I inhaled mine so fast, I didn't have time for pictures)

4. and 5. I'm still determined to convince my husband that I need a kitchen aid mixer.  He says I can buy a hand mixer.  Womp, womp.  I'm also trying to convince him that we need a beach vacation.  Not a fancy beach, just a body of water located very, very far away from my office.  No cell phone service would be a bonus, but that would probably require a plane ride and I'm not very good at that.  Hey, that's a good random fact.  I don't fly well, at all.  I'm extremely claustrophobic and I'm a firm believer that one should be able to 'pull over' using all methods of transportation.  I don't like feeling trapped.

Via

Well, there you have it.  Another random week.  Have a great weekend!

Wedding Dresses and... Target?

So I discovered last week, in the land of the internets, that Target sells wedding dresses now.  I had no idea. It's actually a line by Tevolio that is available at Target.  Now, there are two thoughts you could be having right now.  You could be saying, "Buy my wedding dress at Target?  I would never!" or you could be saying, "It would save us so much money to get a less expensive wedding dress at Target!"  I mean, because really.  Brides usually spend $2,000 or so on their wedding dress.  If that's you, then great - I'm not here to judge - really.  I hope it was/is amazing and you looked/look fabulous.  My wedding dress was under $1,000, because we were trying to keep costs down.  If I'm being completely honest, my dress was a gift from my mother-in-law, so we actually paid nothing.  Anyway, I'm rambling on to say this may be great for you or you may roll your eyes and move on.  All I'm saying is hear me out on some options.

Bridal Gown Options

Dress 1 // Dress 2 // Dress 3

One could easily wear these gowns with simple jewelry and a nice updo (think pearls and a chignon), or accessories can be added for a little bling factor (think a flashy head headpiece and a sparkly sash).

So maybe you are not interested in bridal gowns.  They also sell bridesmaids dresses.  This would be a fabulous option for bridesmaids.  They are not too expensive and come in an array of colors.  Bonus is that if the bridesmaids never wore them again, then at least they didn't cost too much.  They have some cute options, though.

Bridesmaids Dresses

Dress 1 // Dress 2 // Dress 3

Another option is to shop these dresses for wedding related occasions.  If you are a bride-to-be, then you probably need a cute dress for your bridal shower or maybe even your bachelorette party.  These dresses can even be worn as a reception dress.  They are shorter and would be easier to dance in.

Wedding-related Dresses

Dress 1 // Dress 2 // Dress 3

Another bonus is that Target also has flower girl dresses.  The selection is not so broad in this area, though.

Flower Girl Dresses

Dress 1 // Dress 2

You might also be able to find a very pretty dress in this collection to wear TO a wedding.  I would not wear a white dress to a wedding, though.  Call me old fashioned.  So, what do you think?  Does this seem like a good option?

*Target only knows me as the woman who spends so much she keeps them in business.  I wasn't given anything and the opinions are my own.

Random Friday

Welcome to Friday.  Let's look at the list of randoms that this week provided.

1. First things first, today is my husband's birthday.  I would say he's way old, but he's younger than I am, so he can't be that old.  Right?  Right.  Happy Birthday!

My two Loves

2. & 3. I went to an Etsy Fair at West Elm this week.  I'm not sure what constitutes an actual 'fair' these days.  I was thinking lots of little booths set up filled with pretties.  Well, there were four tables.  So, yeah.  Luckily I live right across from West Elm, so I didn't really go out of my way to attend the 'fair'.  Plus, they had cupcakes and champagne.  Yummo.

That being said, I still managed to buy something.  I actually don't own a statement necklace, believe it or not.  This necklace called to me.  I mean, come on, it's even navy - my current go to color.

P.S. My face isn't really yellow

The vendor I purchased it from had such a cute set-up.  She handmakes the necklaces. They were all so lovely.  Her shop is d.p.c. by Dora Yim.

4. So Jillian Michaels is currently kicking my ass.  30 Day Shred is no joke, people.  I sweat and complain the entire time.  I've also been working on introducing some healthier eating habits into my life.  Let me just preface this by saying I am no expert in nutrition or fitness.  But, I do the 30 Day Shred every (mostly) day, I eat a salad for lunch, and we try to eat salmon, shrimp or chicken for dinner.  But I do also eat sweets, which probably sabotages the whole thing.  The cupcakes above?  Yep, had one.  Anyway, I'm trying.  The picture below is salmon and couscous.  The salmon is delicious and the recipe can be found here.

5.  I hope you have a very Happy (and Long) Weekend!

Popsugar: May

I was very excited to get the May Popsugar box, based on how well I liked the April Box.  I was not let down.

Kooringal Giselle Mid Brim Hat
Description: This hat is crushable and durable, so it can easily be packed for an afternoon by the pool or a vacation to the beach.  It also provides 50+ protection from UVA rays.
Price: I can't find the actual hat online and prices are not listed on other items on the website.
Review: I am so very excited about this hat.  I dye my hair, so I am very interested in protecting it from the sun.  This will also shade my face and possibly my neck.

The Modern Margarita 
Description: This is a modern margarita mixer set.
Price: $8.29
Review: I haven't tasted this yet, to be honest.  I don't drink tequila (due to an awful college experience), but the husband pointed out that I can add vodka, instead.  So, I am very excited to try these out.  Or, I may take the set to the next 'girl's night' that I attend (that's not held in a bar).

Mindy Kaling Conversation Cards
Description: Mindy Kaling transformed her book into conversation cards.  
Price: $13.45
Review: I'm not sure I would sit down with my girlfriends and go through them, but they are very entertaining to read.

Beauty Blender and Blender Cleanser 

Description: The beautyblender's unique shape and texture apply makeup with ease, fitting into the contours of your face for a flawless finish.  The cleanser is to clean the blender.

Price: $23.95 for both

Review: I have the cheap amazon knock off and I love it, so I can only imagine how much I will love this.  I'm waiting to use it with the DD creme that is coming in my Julep box. 

Pacifica Natural Lip Tint

Description: Smooth, easy to apply lip tint.  It is 100% vegan and the color is universally flattering (sugared fig)

Price: $7.00

Review: This lip tint is very moisturizing.  It's easy to wear in the summer or really anytime for me, since I'm not that into most lipsticks or lip products with a lot of color.  I like tints.  It also smells good.

$30 Charm & Chain Gift Card: 

Description: Charm and Chain is jewelry website.  The pieces are expertly curated from over 50 different jewelry designers.  The prices range.

Price: $30

Review: I haven't purchased anything yet, but I think I've narrowed it down to the following few pieces - Gorjana Kennedy Drop Necklace, Kenneth Jay Lane Woven Circle Earrings, Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings, Wendy Mink Tanzenite Drop Earrings.

Special Extra: Way Better Snacks: 

Description: Chips made with simple and clean ingredients.

Price: $3.49

Review:  I gave these to the husband and they were gone within 5 minutes of him opening them.  So, I'm assuming that's a big thumbs up.

I thought it was a pretty good box.  Keep in mind that this box is $35 a month.  Interested?  Sign up here.

**Disclaimer: If you sign up through the link I provided, I will get credit for it.

Trending: White Denim

White denim is everywhere.  Seriously.  And although I don't mesh well with anything clothing that is white, I always love styling new trends.  What goes with white?  Well, everything.  White is a neutral.  Remember the fun that was learning neutrals here and here?  Below are just a few ways to wear the current trend.

White Denim: Seven for All Mankind

Outfit 1

Top: Jack Wills // Clutch: Accessorize // Wedges: Sole Society

Remember the oh so popular chambray shirt?  Remember that it can pretty much go with anything?  It's extremely versatile.  Well, it pairs nicely with white denim.  The neon yellow on the sides of the clutch add a pop of color, while the wedges bring in additional neutral colors.

Outfit 2

Top: Mango // Earrings: Kate Spade // Shoes: BCBG

Another very popular way to wear the white denim trend is to create a monochromatic look.  I appreciate the metallic stripes of this top as it brings in a little break to the outfit.  I would keep all jewelry minimal and simple, such as these silver hoops.

Outfit 3

Top: Mango // Bracelet: Cache // Shoes: Lori's 

Let's just be super trendy here and pair white denim with a floral print.  This light pink keeps the outfit soft.  The silver band across the shoe also brings in a hint of the silver shoe trend.  The bracelet ties into the color of the top.

Outfit 4

Top: Madewell // Aviators: Ray-Ban // Watch: Michael Kors // Shoes: Piperlime

Doesn't this look super casual and comfy?  The tank is perfect for a hot, summer day.  The gold accessories keep the look simple, but pulled together.

Not sure about this new trend?  Or are you ready to jump right in and wear it all summer?  Below are a few options at every price point.

Save: Forever 21 // Spend: Loft // Splurge: J Brand Jeans

If I think something is super trendy and won't stay in style long, then I tend to buy the less expensive options.  If I think something will be around for a while or turn into a classic, then I invest a little more into a quality piece.  So what do you think?  Trendy or classic?

Random Friday

Hello Lovelies.  Looks like we all made it through another week.  Here's some randomness for your Friday.

1. Petco was having a sale on Eukanuba, which is the only brand we feed Lola.  Plus, I had a coupon.  Major score.  This, by the way, will feed her for just over four months.  She was elated.  Hey, she knows a good deal when she sees one.

2. Looks like Becks is retiring from 'football'.  He played for 20 years and holds quite a few titles.  What's a super star to do after retirement?  Focus on his ambassadorial duties.  Swoon.  Read more here.

3. Remember that Pinterest update a few weeks (months?) ago?  Some loved it, some hated it.  I just realized that with the update, Pinterest will now tell me if I've already pinned something.  Mark that as awesome.

4. The husband's birthday is this month (hear that, Grandma?) and so as any normal person would, we like to celebrate the whole month.  We are headed out of town to see a Toadies concert.  We don't normally travel for concerts, but it's the Toadies.  And I love my husband.  Never heard of the Toadies?  They are based in the DFW area and I don't think they are very well-known outside of Texas.

5. My heart goes out to those affected by the tornadoes this week in the DFW area.  We didn't get any major damage, just lots of rain, wind, thunder and lightning.  The sirens did go off in our area and much to my husband's dismay, I dragged him and Lola down to the parking garage.  We are thankful that we are safe.

It's hard to take a picture of rain

Have a great weekend.

Peach Green Tea Smoothie

I finally made something that I pinned on Pinterest.  I confess, I get caught up pinning all the pretty things and then I don't quite get around to making any of the projects or recipes.  I pinned this recipe several months (maybe longer) ago.  It may be due to the fact that it's on my "Can I be healthy?" board, which let's be honest here, I don't exactly visit on a daily (weekly, monthly?) basis.  But, it's swimsuit season, so I thought I should attempt to get in shape.

Here's the pretty Pinterest picture.

Source

So, what goes in it?

1 large peach
1/2 banana
1 green tea bag (well just the tea)
1/2 cup ice
1 tablespoon honey

I got out of the shower and made a cup of tea.  Then I put it in the freezer and continued getting ready for work.  Once I was ready (roughly 30 - 45 minutes later), I took it out of the freezer to use in the smoothie.

The peach and banana need to be sliced up.

I'm pretty messy, so bear with me on these photos.  We have a Magic Bullet, so I put the fruit, cooled tea, and ice into the 'cup'.

Then I blended it all together for a while.  Well, until I thought it was 'smooth'.  Which is just whatever to me. Then I added honey.  Feel free to add more honey if you want a sweeter smoothie.

By this point the husband realized what a huge mess I was making in the kitchen, so he came down to help me.  Mix in the honey and then blend a little more to get it good and mixed.

The great thing about the Magic Bullet is that after its blended I just screw on a cap and take it with me.  There's no ridiculous blender cleaning to fuss with later.

In hindsight, I would have added some more ice and honey and blended it a little more.  It was, however, pretty tasty.  See the lid?  Yeah, I'm fancy like that.

So, why do I love, love this smoothie?  I'm lactose intolerant, so I can't drink a smoothie that is made with milk.  Yes, I realize I can use soy or almond milk as substitutes.  I've never really enjoyed a smoothie made with either.  Green tea, I love, which is why this smoothie is perfect for me.  I hope you try it out.

Inspiration

So for today's post I was inspired by something a little off the wall.  This is part of the medication I was prescribed when I was under the weather last week.  My first reaction when I opened the bottle was, "So pretty!".  I was also very, very sick.  Ha.  Anyway, I thought I would use this 'inspiration' and put together a couple of looks.

Look #1

Top: ModCloth // Mint Jeans: Mango // Necklace: Channing & Co. // Sandals: Miss Selfridge 

The pretty lavender peplum pairs well with the more form fitting jean.  The necklace adds a strong pop of color to this otherwise very pastel outfit.  The nude sandal is a neutral color, but the hint of mint pulls the outfit together and the studs are just a fun, added bonus.

Look #2

Top: Wallis // Skirt: Les Pommettes // Bracelet: Maurices // Flat: Banana Republic 

I love the subtle print of the top paired with the pocket detailed skirt.  The purple here is still lavender, but not overly pastel.  The bracelets introduce a hint of coral, which pairs well with the color palette.  The bold shoe is a neutral that keeps the outfit grounded (literally).

If you don't have the time and patience to pull together an entire outfit of separates, then find one piece that has both colors incorporated into it.  This is definitely a splurge item, so keep that in mind.  It does however, fabulously mix the two colors, as well as others.  If it weren't for the price, I would definitely add this dress to my wardrobe.  The yellow shoe adds a pop of sunshine.

Dress: Cynthia Rowley // Earrings: Stella & Dot // Clutch: John Lewis // Shoes: L.K. Bennett

What inspires you?

Well... it's Friday

I don't really have any randoms today.  It's been a hell of a week.  I spent most of it laying on my couch wishing my head would just go ahead and explode.  I missed a lot of work.  I'm proud to say that I still had two other posts this week as usual, but that's only because for once in my life I was ahead in blogging and they were already scheduled before I got sick.  I'm no longer ahead.  I barely know what's going on in the world (thank you USA Today app), much less have any random thoughts.  My week consisted of soup, medicine, sleep, and horrible daytime TV.

Chick-fil-a chicken noodle soup is the best.  It's not very wallet-friendly when you eat it at least once a day for an entire week, though.  Also, nothing makes you feel worse than craving this soup on a Sunday.  Jason's Deli just does not even compare.

I did, however, get to see what a week in the life of Lola looks like.

Have a great weekend!

Wishing: The Beach

The temperatures are starting to rise in the Dallas area.  We have a day or two here and there when the temperatures dip a little, but we are definitely on the path to a super hot summer.  I'm going a little stir crazy and am in need of a few days away, preferably on a beach.

Fedora: Windsor // I dye my hair and the salt water of the ocean does enough damage to my color, so I try to at least protect it from the sun.

Hair tie: Nordstrom // There's nothing like hair sticking to your neck under the hot summer sun.  I always pull mine back off my neck.

Swimsuit Top: Sperry // Bottom: J. Crew // I've been searching for a new swimsuit (even though there is nothing wrong with the ones I already have) and I came across this top and bottom.  Separately.  As I've already mentioned, I'm on a navy kick lately and that fits perfectly into the nautical theme.

Cover up: J. Crew // I also like the idea of using this chambray button up as a cover up.  This allows for discretion on how much is covered up.  One button or all can be buttoned (all might be a tad hot).  I would also roll up the sleeves.

Sandals: Aerie // I'm not much of a flip flop wearer - they are strictly beach wear in my opinion.  But, theoretically I'm at the beach for this scenario, so they are very fitting.  The pop of color here is perfect for the beach.

Sunscreen: Neutrogena // I tan very easily and it's very important to me to keep my skin protected.  I also have super sensitive skin, so this is really the only sunscreen I can wear.

Sunglasses: Zappos // In my opinion aviators never go out of style.  They are a very classic shape and I've been wearing them for a couple of years now.

Now I just need to convince my husband that we need a beach vacation.

Popsugar: April

So I realized that I never did a review of my Popsugar Must Have Box for April.  I was not liking my Birchbox and a reader suggested that I try a Popsugar box.  This box is $35 a month, which is quite a bit more than $10 for Birchbox.  The big difference is that the products in this box are full-size, not sample size.

1. Tatcha Petal Fresh Evening Aburatorigami Beauty Papers
Description: These are blotting papers that won't mess up your make-up or dry out your face.
Price: $15.00 for 40 sheets
Review:  I have oily skin that really gets shiny during the more humid months.  These are easy to use, just take one out, blot and throw away.  They are also in a very convenient size.  I can put them in my purse or in a clutch.  They are also frangrance-free which we all know is very awesome for me.

2. Shashi New Nugget Bracelet
Description: It's a bracelet that comes in three shades: cobalt, turquoise, and gray.
Price: $30 for one
Review: This bracelet is very cute and very stackable.  I've worn it stacked with my other bracelets and solo with just my watch.  I don't think this is something I would have ever purchased on my own, but I do really like it and I'm glad it came in the box.

3. Kai Perfume Oil
Description: A perfume oil with the light, fresh smell of gardenia and white exotic flowers
Price: $48
Review: A little goes a long way.  Plus, this is an oil, so it rolls on.  When I first put it on, it smells kind of like a forest.  Which, in my opinion is what all 'all-natural' products smell like.  However, as the day progresses the scent changes to a sweeter smell.  I don't know if this has to do with body heat or what, but I absolutely love it.  So much so that I will buy this when I run out.  That's saying a lot, because you know how much I hate trying new perfumes.

4. Alter Eco Dark Quinoa Chocolate
Description: Delicious chocolate with the perfect amount of crunch, it's also 100% Organic & Fair Trade Certified
Price: $3.99
Review: This is delicious.  The description is right, the quinoa provides the perfect amount of crunch.  It's dark chocolate, so one little square is enough to satiate my sweet tooth.  And trust me, I have quite the sweet tooth.

5. The Green Garmento Four-In-One Reusable Dry-Cleaning Bag
Description: This eco-friendly option eliminates the need for those single-use plastic bags you get from your dry cleaner.  It serves as a hamper, a duffel to bring clothes to the dry cleaner and a garment bag.  The fourth option is to use as a garment bag when traveling.
Price: $9.99
Review: This is a pretty cool product.  The husband and I regularly take clothes to the cleaners, so this bag works perfect for us.  I will say the bright pink "popsugar" on the side is one downside to convincing my husband to take/pick up the dry cleaning, though.  We use the bag as a hamper for our clothes that need dry cleaning, we use it as a duffel to take our clothes to the cleaners, and then we get it back with all our clean clothes in it, sans plastic wrap.

There you have it.  I would have paid $106.98 for all these products.  Are you interested in the Popsugar Must Have Box?  Sign up here.

**Disclaimer: If you sign up through the link I provided, I will get credit for it.

Random Friday

Well it's Friday.  We finally made it.  Here's some randomness for your day.

1. Beauty Brands is having a huge mascara sale, a LashBash.  As in - name brand mascaras are on sale for $10.98.  Now is the time to buy some mascara if you like name brands.  Check out their website to see which brands are on sale.

2. Starbuck's is bringing back their frappuccino happy hour this month.  It starts today from 3-5. Not sure what to order?  They have quite the selection here.  As for me, I love a chai tea frapp with soy milk.

3. Sad news.  Chris Evans of Kriss Kross passed away.  He was only 34.  He was not that much older than me, which kind of surprised me.  The husband and I were just singing "Kriss Kross will make you jump, jump."  The other day.  Yeah.  We're fun.

4.

This impromptu clown convention happened right outside of our window.  I'm not sure what it was about.  Just another day in the city.

5. You can now follow my blog on Bloglovin.  I know, I know.  I'm late to the game.  The button is over there on the side ->->->->->

Happy Weekend!

Under Armour

I went to a breakfast the other day that was put together to raise scholarship funds from Texas Tech Alumni. The keynote speaker was the CEO of Under Armour.  He put together a fabulous presentation and did such a great job that I now want a pair of Under Armour shoes.  I had no idea they even made them.  What does Under Armour have to do with Texas Tech?  Apparently TTU was the second university to sign them for their athletic department.  Guns Up.  Now, I don't really wear tennis shoes for everyday wear, so these would strictly be for running (ahahaha - okay, okay walking or riding my bike).

Via

Via

Via

I love the color options.

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