Friday, August 30, 2013

Random Friday

1. The Skimm.  I'm a pretty busy person, as I'm sure you are as well.  .  I do watch/listen to the news, but some days I just don't have time to weed through everything to get to the important topics.  That's where The Skimm comes in.  It's a daily newsletter that is emailed to me.  I read it every morning and I feel like I know what's going on in the world.  I've been meaning to blog about it for a while now.  You're welcome.

2. Project Runway (Spoiler Alert).  I'm a week behind as usual.  Last week I seriously broke down in tears when Justin was eliminated.  Earlier in the show I felt like we were getting to know him better when he said that the glamping trip was a great time to get to know the other contestants since he couldn't work and read lips in the work room.  So, yeah.  Tears.  I cried even more when Tim Gunn used his save.  I also cry at really sad commercials.  Yes, I'm that person.

3.Football!  College football to be more specific.  There's just something about sitting in a stadium filled with thousands of other fans all rooting for the same team that makes me all warm and fuzzy.  Or my living room with my husband and my dog, who for the record also cheer for the same team as I do.  I'm attending Texas Tech's first game of the season this evening and I am just thrilled.  I will also not need the previous mentioned warm and fuzzy feeling since it will be about 103 degrees.

4. Pumpkin spice latte.  So I know I said I wouldn't really do a Fall blog post until it was actually Fall, but I'm going to break the rules.  Starbucks will start selling Pumpkin spice lattes on September 3rd..  They are my favorite thing at Starbucks.  They are actually selling them early if you use the special code.  Spread the word.

5. I will leave you with a picture of Lola.  She was taking a very long nap during the MTV Music Awards and then she heard them announce that Bruno Mars was about to perform.  She just had to watch.


Have a great (and hopefully long) weekend!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

OOTD: Skulls

I have a thing for skulls.  I mainly use the print in accessories, such as a scarf or ring.  However, a very good friend of mine came across this top and knew it was perfect for me.  I like the way she thinks.  I paired it here with a very feminine color.  I like to pair edgy with softer pieces, which is also why I wore my hair in a bun.  Or I did that because my hair was dirty.  Either way works.



Top: Kohl's (similar) // Tank Top: Loft // Shorts: J.Crew Factory // Sandals/Watch: Target (old)

Friday, August 23, 2013

Random Friday

Work has been hectic, hence my lack of blogging this week.  I have ideas swirling in my head, I just lack the time to get them typed out.  Anyway, let's get on to the randoms.

1. Sprinkles does ice cream now.  Thank goodness I cannot eat ice cream and I'm serious about this.  I already eat enough cupcakes!  I mean, seriously, just look at this.  That is a cupcake top sitting on a cup of ice cream.  Gah.


2.  Apparently Joseph Gordon Levitt was in my neighborhood last night and I totally missed out.  He was at the Angelika introducing a free screening to his new movie, Don Jon.  Consider my heart broken.

Source
3. I keep making recipes from Pinterest with every intention of photographing the process so I can do a blog post.  Yeah, that's not working out for me.  With one recipe I took pictures of every single step EXCEPT for the final product.  Geez.  I ate the entire thing and then remembered I needed a picture.  Oh, fail.  The husband made these chicken paninis with leftover crock pot chicken.  Very delicious (but no picture proof.)


4. My favorite craft beer is now being bottled.  I am so freaking excited, especially because my neighborhood bar has it on rotation and the last time I went in, it was not it's rotation time.  It's Revolver Blood & Honey and it is fabulous.  If you do decide to buy it and you're local, then go to Total Wine & More to get it.  That's the cheapest place I can find it.  Speaking of Total Wine & More, go there for all your beverage needs.  They have the lowest prices I've seen in the DFW area.  They have beer, wine and liquor (which means they are closed on Sundays).



5. Blog related random: I've been having some issues with Disqus lately.  It's eating my comments and I haven't figured out how to fix that, yet.  So, bear with me.  I may actually just do away with Disqus.

I'm off to convince my husband that we need to watch the MTV Music Awards this weekend.  Wish me luck.  Have a great weekend.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Random Friday

1. I have a confession to make.  I am so over chevron print.  It was a fun, but short love affair.  I was completely taken over and mesmerized by the fine lines zig zagging into such an easily identifiable print.  Alas, that love affair is over.  Now I just wish everyone else was over it, as well.  It's like seeing an ex-boyfriend everywhere I look and it's making me nauseous.

2. I have a very hard time drinking a lot of water throughout the day.  I know I'm supposed to drink 8 glasses a day or something like that.  It would probably make my skin look so much healthier, I just have a hard time doing it.  I've tried to think of things to add to my water to make it more appealing, such as crystal light or lemon juice or something.  Well, I've finally discovered what works for me and thought I would share.  A straw.  Yep.  I'm that simple.  If I put a straw in my water bottle, the water is gone within the hour.  Now I know drinking from a straw is not the best for the wrinkles around my mouth, but honestly I would rather drink enough water a day than worry about the wrinkles.  For now.

3. Apparently August 5th was my blog's anniversary.  Whoops, I didn't even notice. Celebrate with me by imbibing in your favorite beverage.  Speaking of beverages, I tried the Summer Shandy this past weekend and I have to say it is really good.  It has a lemony flavor to it, but it's not really lemonade-y.  It's also fabulous on a hot day.  Of course it's a summer seasonal beer and now I must buy cases and cases to last me through hibernation.


4. My InStyle Fall edition arrived and I am super excited.  Granted 400 pages are ads, but I love looking through all the pages and seeing all the new styles and ideas.  I'm not going to go on and on about how it's almost Fall and do a whole post about it while it's still ridiculously hot in Texas.  I don't feel like Fall will ever arrive.  I'll get excited when it does. (Note: the last few days it's been below 100 degrees and that has almost felt like Fall.  Yes, 92 degrees is almost Fall weather.)


5.  Here's my Project Runway random.  (I'm a week behind.)  Sandro is crazy.  He kind of doesn't really have a filter.  He would also qualify for anger management classes.  It was so interesting to watch him in the competition.  I feel like his emotions were intense.  When he was mad, he was so mad, but he would also burst into tears over simple things.  Also, does it bother anyone else that Sue spent $400 in the last challenge when the recommended amount was $200?  She also made two dresses when she could only show one on the runway and she ended up in the bottom three.  That's kind of insane.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Beauty Spotlight: Mascara

I'm kind of weird when it comes to mascara.  For the longest time I only wore mascara on my top lashes.  I felt like when I put mascara on my bottom lashes it looked too spidery.  Then I received a mascara in my Birchbox (when I subscribed to Birchbox) that did absolutely nothing for my top lashes.  So, by chance I tried it on my bottom lashes and it looked pretty good.  The key was that this mascara was not meant to add volume.  So, for a while I used my regular mascara on my top lashes and the Birchbox mascara on my bottom lashes.  Well, the time was approaching to replace my mascara(s).  I did not want to buy the Birchbox mascara.  It was far too expensive.  I also didn't want to buy two mascaras in general.  So, I'm flipping through my Instyle magazine and came across this mascara (in an ad): Maybelline the Falsies Big Eyes.

I've actually read mixed reviews on this mascara, but I just want to share my opinion.  Let me tell you a little about my eyelashes.  They are semi-full and naturally black.  I like to use volumizing mascaras because I like the extra oomph.  Eyelashes are important to me, y'all.  Is this the best mascara in the whole wide world.  Probably not.  I do have some clump issues here and there.  BUT.  I do feel like it makes my eyelashes more voluminous and I do love the little wand for the bottom lashes.  I also use that little wand on the base of my top lashes.  Another thing I would like to point out is that with my former mascara my lashes would stay curled for about two hours.  With this mascara, my lashes stay curled all day. 

Here is a picture of my lashes at the end of the day, with no extra curling or application throughout the day. 

This is why my review for this product is so positive.  I say give it a try, at $7.99 a tube it's not much of a risk.

I'm wearing very black, by the way and it also comes in waterproof.

*Maybelline has no idea who I am and I did not receive anything for this review.  The opinions are my own.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Random Friday

1. J.Crew Blazer:  J.Crew made over their schoolboy blazer and I absolutely love it.  I must have it.  Sometime, ya know, when it goes on sale and I have a coupon.

2. Orange is the New Black.  I've only seen one episode and I honestly thought it was meh until the very last part.  Cue the drama.

3. Project Runway.  Yep, again.  I'm still behind a week - shocker.  I forgot to mention last week how awesome I think it is that they are doing a credit card/debit card type of situation this season.  Usually they just give them a budget for each challenge.  This year they have $4,000 to use however they please.  I'm a numbers girl and I can't tell you how exciting this is for me.  Nerd alert for sure.

4. Sonic has this new hot dog called a pretzel dog.  It is delicious.  I know that kind of sounds weird and obviously fast food is very unhealthy, but I love hot dogs.  Plus, the plain one is only $1.99. *Sonic does not know who I am.


5. I was reading my Women's Health magazine and came across an article about Elizabeth Banks.  She says she likes cupcakes because if she had a full cake, she would eat the full cake.  In my head I immediately think, "Yes!"  That is the exact reason why I love cupcakes.  Thank you, Elizabeth Banks.  (This was in the September 2013 issue)

Have a great weekend.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Popsugar: July

Holy crap can you believe it is August?  This summer seriously just flew on by.  Unfortunately August brings the hottest temperatures and I'm really starting to feel it in Dallas.  So let's step back into July for a second while I review the Popsugar Must Have July box.  What is the Popsugar Must Have box?  It's a monthly subscription box that is $35/mo.  Get more details HERE.  Let me just say that June is still the best box I have received thus far.  That being said, I still really enjoyed the July box.


Mighty Leaf Iced Tea
Description:  A box of four lightly sweet iced tea pouches.
Price: $6.25 for a box of 4 pouches
Review:  I love flavored iced tea, so this was right up my alley.  We've made two pouches so far and it is very good.  I will say that my love for sweet tea is so overpowering that I have to add just a little more sweetener to my glass.  The husband loves it as is, though.

Supergoop SPF 30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum
Description:  A super lightweight serum that counteracts the signs of aging.  It protects and primes skin.  It hydrates and moisturizes and is free of parabens and fragrances.
Price: $42
Review:  I absolutely love this product.  It really is very lightweight and moisturizing.  Since I have combination/oily skin I use this in place of my moisturizer and the SPF 30 is so, so important to have for the summer.  It also keeps me less oily during the day.  It is pretty pricey, but I may just have to splurge and get this once my bottle is empty.  I like it that much.


BaubleBar Rose Double Curb Chain
Description:  Rose gold is so on trend right now.  This necklace can dress up a t-shirt or be worn with a dress for a night out.
Price: I can't find this particular piece on their website.  A similar piece is priced at $42.
Review:  This is my first rose gold piece.  I do like rose gold, but I'm not the best at styling it.  I'm getting used to it.  This box also included a coupon code for BaubleBar, so I may use it to buy some rose gold earrings.

HannahMax Dark Chocolate Crunchy Cookie Chips
Description:  All natural, crunchy cookie chips.  Free of trans fat, artificial flavors and colors, preservatives and GMOs.
Price: $23.96 for a 4 pack
Review:  Hmm.  I didn't like these.  It really might have been because they are dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie chips and I'm not a fan of dark chocolate.  They do have other flavors and I probably would eat an entire bag of the cinnamon sugar in one sitting.  I did like the crunch of the cookie.


NCLA As If!
Description:  Nail polish that is free of DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde and Camphor.  It's also never tested on animals.
Price: $16.00
Review:  I received the pastel lavender color.  Pastels are very much on trend right now, but they do not really work with my skin tone.  I will probably wear this on my toes, but it's just too much for my hands.

Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray
Description:  An ice tray that makes two-inch cubes which melt slower.
Price: About $8.95
Review:  I saw this tray and thought to myself, "Awesome!  Now I can make mini popsicles."  The husband saw this tray and said, "Can I have it!?"  Apparently two-inch ice cubes are perfect in a glass of scotch.  So, he is using them with his scotch.  We are also using them in our peach tea, listed above.

Interested in signing up?  Sign up HERE.  (Yes, I get credit)

Is anyone getting the Limited Edition Fall box?  I'm very tempted.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Kidd's Kids Day

I've decided to write today's post about something that is near and dear to my heart.  It felt really odd adding it to my regular Random Friday list, so I decided to not do Random Friday today.  It will be back next week.

If you live in the DFW area, today has been declared Kidd's Kids day.  If you are not familiar, this is in honor of Kidd Kraddick, the host of Kidd Kraddick in the Morning.  He passed away on Saturday. A lot of people in the listening area took his passing very hard.  It's hard not to.  He hosted the show for over 20 years, which means a lot of local people grew up listening to him.  Kidd's Kids day will be a day dedicated to raising money for Kidd Kraddick's charity, Kidd's Kids.  Kidd worked hard every year raising money for this event.  Each year a group of terminal and chronically ill children receive an all expenses paid trip (with their families) to Disney World.  The charity pays for the entire trip.  That may seem very frivolous, a trip to Disney World. Why wouldn't they just help pay medical bills?  Kidd points out every year that this is a trip where they get to act like a child that is not sick.  They get to not focus on their illness.  They get to have fun.  Read more about Kidd's Kids Day HERE.

*Taken from the linked article*
Donte: Online at 1061kissfm.com; by texting KIDD to 52000 to automatically donate $10; via phone at 214-866-8106; or at any of the 20 Raising Cane’s in DFW.