High Five for Friday

We made it through another week! I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday. Here's my line up for the week...

1. McFlurrys!! We had McDonald's Monopoly coupons for free McFlurrys. I made sure we used them before they expired.

2. Taco Tuedaze at Tijuana Flats with friends. My favorite!

3.  New sunglasses!!

4. Saturday, my aunt is doing my hair for me. I'm thinking of changing up my hair color and I'm pretty excited about it. This picture is my hair inspiration!

5. We are going camping this weekend with a group of our friends. I really enjoy camping, so I'm looking forward to it. 

Hope you all have something exciting planned for this three day weekend!!!

Fall Scarf Wish List

I absolutely love scarves! Unfortunately, living in Florida limits my opportunity to wear them as much as I'd like. With Fall right around corner though, I decided to put together a little wish list of scarves I've got my eye on! Hopefully I might be able to snag one or two, plus I've got a birthday coming in a couple months (hint, hint).

1. AEO Ikat Loop Scarf - $24.95

2. FashionABLE Saba Infinity Scarf - $36.00

3. Aerie Striped Loop Scarf - $24.95

4. With Love From CA Paisley Print Infinity Scarf - Sold Out
 
5. Forever 21 Metallic Technicolor Scarf - $9.80

6. Forever 21 Frayed Lace Scarf - $8.80

7. Forever 21 Nautical Scarf - $10.80

What I Wore Wednesday

 

 

Happy Wednesday! We are officially have way through the week. Today I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday. I wore this outfit on Sunday when our friends Justin and Latoya came over for dinner. It's an oldie but a goodie. This entire outfit is at least a year old if not more, so I didn't try to find links because I doubt I'll be able to find them! The shoes are from JCPenny, the jeans are from Kohl's, and the top is from Macy's. I like this outfit because it's comfortable and can be dressed up or down.

 

 

 

 

Concert List

Since I went to the Backstreet Boys concert on Friday, it got me thinking about what other concerts I've been to. So I've attempted to compile a list below. I know it's not all of them, so I'll try to add more as I think of them. The parenthesis indicate how many times I've seen that particular group.

·        Lynyrd Skynyrd (3)

·        Grand Funk Railroad (2)

·        Doobie Brothers

·        Sammie Hager

·        Marshall Tucker Band

·        Steve Miller Band

·        N*SYNC

·        Billy Ray Cyrus

·        Reba McEntire

·        Elton John (2)

·        Slightly Stoopid/311

·        Backstreet Boys

·        Eric Clapton

·        Black Label Society

·        CCR

·        Martina McBride

·        JJ Grey and Mofro

·        Green Day

What's your list look like?

Weekend Fun

Happy Monday Everyone!! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was definitely a blast. Friday night my friend, Reina, and I went to the Backstreet Boys concert. DJ Pauly D and Jesse McCartney opened for them. As a fan of Jersey Shore, I was pretty excited to see Pauly D in real life (not gonna lie!). The rest of the weekend, Mike and I hung around the house, got some much needed cleaning/laundry done, and went to the movies. Sunday evening, our friends, Justin and Latoya came over. We ate dinner and watched Big Brother! It was a very relaxing/productive weekend. Now I'm recharged and ready for the week.

High Five for Friday

It’s Friday again and I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday! This week has been a good one - busy/productive and went by quickly, which is always nice. I’m excited to spend a weekend at home; we’ve been traveling the last few and we need a breather. We have some fun things planned, but also plan on getting some errands and cleaning done too. Here are a few things that made my week good…

1.      I found this super cute notebook at Target. I’ve been using it to write my never ending “Things to Do” lists in.

2.      I bought these ear buds, also from Target (I shop there a lot). I always have such a problem with ear buds falling out of my ear, but these are designed for women and the box says they won’t fall out. So far, I really love them! They haven’t fallen out at all, they’re comfortable, and they are pretty!

3.      Mike and I made this really yummy dinner. Recipe can be found here.

4.      The newest issue of Better Homes and Gardens arrived. I can’t wait to read it this weekend!

5.      My friend, Reina, and I are going to the Backstreet Boys concert tonight. I’m super excited to have some girl time and enjoy the show!

Have a great weekend!!

Blackened Chicken Alfredo

I started making versions of this recipe a few months ago and they have all turned out really delicious. I say “versions” because this was the first time I’ve actually written down any measurements. What I like about the recipe is you can change it to fit your taste. If you like spicy, add a little more chili powder or cayenne pepper. If you don’t like spicy or even a little bit of a kick at all, then don’t add either of those ingredients. Either way, it will still be really yummy. This recipe doesn’t include any homemade Alfredo sauce recipe or anything super fancy. What makes this recipe unique is the rub for the chicken and blackening of the chicken rather than frying, baking, etc.

Ingredients:

1 lb skinless boneless chicken tenderloin or breasts, thawed

3 tbsp garlic powder

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

 

1 tsp onion powder

2 tbsp crazy salt

¼ tsp chili powder

1 tsp black pepper

3 tsp butter, melted

1 jar store bought Alfredo sauce of your choice

Pasta of your choice, I used about ¾ of a box of spaghetti noodles

Directions:

Begin by placing your cast iron skillet on the stove and heating to the highest setting. The skillet must be extremely hot for the blackening to work. I believe you can use a regular skillet as well, but I’ve never tried it so I can’t say for sure.

Mix the garlic powder, onion powder, crazy salt, chili powder, and black pepper in a shallow bowl. I used a pie pan which seems to work really well.

 

Next, dip the chicken in the melted butter and get it nice and coated. This will help your rub mixture stick really well to the chicken. Once the chicken is buttered up, place chicken (one at a time) in the rub mixture until evenly coated. Place chicken on a plate until all the pieces are completed.

Once the cast iron skillet is nice and hot, place the chicken on the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. When you flip the chicken over it should be black/charred on the cooked side.

 

 

 

WARNING: Make sure to turn your stove fan on. The skillet will get very smoky!!

Meanwhile, cook your pasta according to the box directions. Drain, return pasta back to pot, and add Alfredo sauce. Continue cooking on medium low heat until Alfredo sauce is hot.

When the chicken is done, remove from pan and let cool a minute. Then, cut the chicken into one inch pieces. When Alfredo sauce is ready, gently fold in the chicken with the rest of the pasta and sauce.

 

Then enjoy! I like to serve this meal with fresh bread and butter. Try it and let me know what you think!

 

Life Lately

This weekend was extremely busy, but full of fun, family, and friends. Right after work on Friday, Mike and I headed to Orlando to my parents’ house. All the guys (my dad, two brothers, Mike, and two of my uncles) went to a Kiss concert and had a blast! Meanwhile, the girls (my mom, me, my aunt, and my cousin) went to Panera for dinner and did a little shopping. It was great to have a little girl time. Saturday morning we all woke up and had a big breakfast with a little more family time. Then my parents, Mike, and I stopped at Bass Pro Shop for some more shopping. We all got a little something (that's always the best)! From there, Mike and I headed back to Tampa. Saturday night we went out with two of our friends, Mike and Ashlee, to Ybor for dinner and a comedy show. It was a great night out! Sunday we slept in a bit, and then went to Mike’s parents’ house in Bradenton. His mom was out of town, but we spent some time with his dad and went to lunch. Once we got back home, we just wanted to relax and get ready for the week ahead. The weekend went by super quickly (doesn’t it always?), but time spent with family and friends did my heart good. I failed at taking lots of pictures, but here are a few from our weekend.

Some of our loot from Friday's shopping adventure

Mom & Dad at lunch after Bass Pro Shop

 

 Mike working on his new "toys" at his parent's house on Sunday

P.S. I made a great meal last night and hopefully have the recipe here on the blog tomorrow. Have a great Wednesday!!

High Five for Friday - Food Edition

Happy Friday everyone! We made it another week and it’s time to celebrate. I decided to make this week of High Five for Friday a food edition. We had lots of great meals this week and I wanted to share it with you all…

 

1. Monday night I was seriously craving some spaghetti. So that’s what we had for dinner! It was really yummy with some garlic bread on the side, and we even had leftovers for lunch the next day.

2. So I pinned this recipe a long time ago for a copycat version of Bonefish’s Bang Bang Shrimp. I had been a little intimidated, but finally decided to give it a try. It turned out SOOOO good!! We will definitely be making it again.

3. No week is complete without a little dessert, right? I just baked premade cookies and spread some of Publix’s delicious buttercream icing in the middle. Super sweet and oh so good!

4. Currently, Mike and I are working at the same location. It’s been so nice to enjoy lunch together every day…especially if we are eating these great chicken wraps!

5. Wednesday night I just wanted something simple and good to eat for dinner. This is what we came up with and it was perfect.

Mike and I have a very busy weekend ahead of us and we can’t wait! Hopefully, I’ll have lots of good pictures to post on Monday. Have a great weekend!!

Birchbox - August Edition

If you’ve never heard of Birchbox you are missing out. I absolutely love it! You pay a monthly subscription and once a month you get a box full of goodies at your door. I really love surprises, so this may have something to do with my obsession for Birchbox. The box usually includes about five products of either hair, beauty, or skin related goodies. When you initially sign up there will be a bunch of questions to answer about yourself so the ladies of Birchbox can send you the best products for your hair type, skin type, make up preference, etc. However, you can login online at any time and tweak your preferences if they change. I have been a subscriber of Birchbox for about a year and half now, and, while some boxes are better than others, I have never received a bad box. There’s always a least one item in every box that I’m excited to try. I love that I get to experiment with different products or brands that I might not necessarily just go buy on my own. The products sent are usually in a trial size or mini version. If you find a product you absolutely love, you can go on the Birchbox website and purchase the full size versions. There are lots of free shipping offers, plus you get points for every purchase you make. Once you reach 100 points, you get $10.00 off your purchase. I really can’t say enough good things about Birchbox. If you have been on the fence about trying it, you should definitely take the plunge and go for it!

Let’s check out my August box:

 



 

 

1.      Whish Coconut Milk Correcting Gel – This is meant to be applied twice daily, both morning and night, to your face and neck area. It’s supposed to help with wrinkles, unevenness, dryness, and sun damage. I haven’t used it yet, so I can’t give my honest opinion, but I don’t typical suffer from any of those skin issues.

2.      ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick (Kitty) – So far I’m loving this lipstick. It goes on silky smooth and the color is great. It adds a little life to my lips without being a super bold color. Plus it’s called Kitty, so of course I’m going to like it.

3.      Violet Oasis Organic Argan Oil – I’ve gotten a couple different brands of this type of oil in my Birchboxes and I really like them. It can be smoothed over your face, neck, body, or hair. I’ve only really used it in my hair and it works wonders. After using the blow dryer and straightener/curling iron I put a couple drops in my hand (a little goes a long way with this stuff) and just smooth it over my hair. It adds a ton of shine and tackles out of place hairs/fly-aways like no one’s business. These oils are usually on the expensive side, so I haven’t ordered a full size version yet. Luckily, these little bottles last quite a while!

Whish Hair Inhibiting DeodorantSwipes – This deodorant wipe not only tackles odor, but also helps slow hair growth. It can be used in the morning or anytime you need a refresher. This sounds like a great product to throw in your gym bag!

1-2 – Miss Jessie’s Original RapidRecovery Treatment & Super Sweetback Treatment – I haven’t tried these products yet, but I’m very excited to do so. The Rapid Recovery Treatment is supposed to smooth damaged hair, while the Super Sweetback Treatment is used to promote hair growth. My hair grows really slowly, so anything that says it can help with hair growth I’m always eager to try. I’ve used other products by Miss Jessie and they usually smell really good!! I’m hoping this will also be the case with these products.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? What are some of your favorite products?

 

 

 

What I Wore Wednesday

This is my first ever outfit post and I'm really excited! Today I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday. She created this weekly link up to help motivate women to get a little snazzy at least once a week and share it with this awesome online community.

Tank - Target/ Skirt - I made following this tutorial/ Shoes - Target/ Necklace - Caroline G.

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

At Home 'Gel' Manicure

I found a tutorial on Pinterest for an at home gel manicure and decided to give it a try. It worked pretty well, and after a few tweaks of my own I’m really happy with it! I still don’t think it’s as nice as going to the salon, but it’s pretty darn close. I have to be honest; I haven’t always been the best at painting my nails. It’s taken me a lot of practice, but I’m finally getting better at it!

First things first, you will need Gelous Nail Gel (you can find it at Sally Beauty Supply). This is what will make the manicure “gel” like. You will also need whatever color nail polish you wish to use, my favorite brand to use is Essie. For this tutorial I used the color "Cute as a Button".  You may also use a top coat if you like, but you don’t need one.

1.      Clip and file nails to the shape you like.

2.      Put a coat of the Gelous Nail Gel on and let dry completely.

3.      Repeat step two again…trust me.

4.      Paint your nails with the nail color of your choice and let dry completely. It’s really important to let the color completely dry or you may get little bubbles on your nails.

5.      Put another coat of the Gelous Nail Gel on and let dry completely.

6.      Paint a second coat of the nail color of your choice and let dry completely.

7.      Now you can either put on a top coat or finish up with one more coat of the Gelous Nail Gel. I’ve done it both ways and actually prefer the Gelous Nail Gel.

Side note: If your nail color only needs one coat then you can skip steps 5 & 6.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it really doesn’t take long and the results are great!

Simplified Planner

I have been drooling over this planner ever since I read about it here. First of all, I’m a sucker for any sort of organizational anything! I love planners, notebooks, pens, all of it! Second of all, just look at it! It’s gorgeous! Plus, once I found out this planner is created by an awesome designer from Tampa I wanted it even more! Emily Ley has a great shop and blog with lots of personalized and organizational notebooks, binders, note pads, and more.

The Simplified Planner arrived in very cute packaging and I was very excited to open it. The binder itself is really durable and I love that the corners are protected with gold covers. The planner comes with dividers for Calendar, To Do, Home, Work, and Heart. Of course, the ‘To Do’ section is my favorite. I can never make enough lists! The planner also comes with monthly and weekly calendar pages for one year. I have quickly been filling mine up! One of the unique aspects of the weekly calendar pages are boxes to plan for lunch and dinner. I love this idea, as I have been trying to meal plan for a while now. This is extremely helpful!

Also, Emily provides a library of free printables to help you customize your planner to your needs. I have never seen this before and think it’s a wonderful idea.

Do you use a planner? If so, what's your favorite?

High Five for Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!! I'm so ready for the weekend! Here's a few things I enjoyed from this week:

1. I finished a skirt I was working on and it turned out great! You can see the tutorial I followed here. The tutorial includes pockets, but I did it without and still really like it.

2. I started a new cross stitch project this week that I'm super excited about. It's the hardest pattern I've ever attempted, so we'll see how I conquer this challenge!

3. Wednesday night Mike and I helped our friends Justin and Latoya move into their new apartment. They have been away for a year, so we are very excited to have them close again!!!

4. Thursday evening it was double eviction night on Big Brother...enough said.

5. I'm looking forward to having a relaxing weekend. Saturday Mike and I are thinking of catching a movie and doing a few things around the house. Then, Sunday we'll be headed over to my grandma's house to celebrate my mom's birthday with everyone. Can't wait!

What are your weekend plans?

Favorite Lipstick Lately

1. Maybelline Color Whisper - Pin Up Peach

2. Revlon Lip Butter - Strawberry Shortcake

3. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm - Hibiscus

4. Revlon Lip Butter - Cotton Candy

5. Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm - Apricot Twist

I’ve never been one to wear much on my lips…pretty much just a Chap Stick kind of girl. However, recently, I’ve tried to venture out of my comfort zone a little and try some lip wear with a little color. I like all of the above choices because they are all really moisturizing. I hate any sort of dry feeling on my lips. Plus, all of these have a pinkish color to them so they add to my overall appearance without making me feel like my lips are on display (if that makes sense). I’ve been really good about adding lip wear to my morning routine, now I just need to work on reapplying throughout the day!

Do you wear lipstick? What are some of your favorites?

Blogs I Like

I don’t even actually remember how I came across my first blog. I think I was on Pinterest and clicked on something interesting which lead me to a blog. From there I found another one and then another one, until I had a nice little collection of blogs I enjoy reading regularly. Blogs can connect you to other people who have similar interests, which is what I love about them. For me that’s reading about anything craft related, hair, make-up, cute pet stories, etc. After a while, you kind of feel like you know the person (at least that’s how it’s been for me). So today I thought I’d share a few blogs that I really love and have been a reader of for at least year.

1.      The Small Things Blog

This is the first blog that I started reading and it is still my favorite. Kate is the blogger behind this masterpiece and gives excellent hair tutorials, make-up advice, and I feel like she’s a genuine good person. Now she is also pregnant and super cute! Kate always has fresh content that’s interesting, as well as occasional FAQ videos on various topics that are very good. I learn a lot from this blog, which is probably why it’s my favorite.

2.      Gussy Sews

Gussy is another blogger that is really cute and is also a new mom. She has tons of life advice and business advice for those running a handmade business. Gussy makes really awesome totes, pouches, baby bags, etc. I love reading her shop updates and seeing how creative she is. Often times after I read her blog I feel very inspired and can’t wait to work on a project of my own.

3.      Lauren Elizabeth

Lauren is the sister to Kate from The SmallThings Blog, which is how I came across her blog. She is very fashionable and likes to do lots of outfit posts. I like this because it helps me know what’s in style and gives me ideas for my own wardrobe. Lauren also does occasional DIY projects, which, of course, I love! By the way, Lauren and Kate are fellow cat lovers, so if you love cats they both post silly stories and pictures of their cats.

The blogs listed below are all blogs that I have only recently started reading, but so far really enjoy.

               DelightedMomma

               RusticLiving

               Lulabelle

               Oh,Sweet Joy!

Mason Jar Love

In the past two years I’ve developed a deep love of mason jars. I just can’t enough of them! It started while my husband and I were planning our wedding. There are a million and one ways to use a mason jar at weddings (thanks Pinterest!). We ended up using them as candle holders, vases, drinking glasses, and more for our big day. We encouraged our guests to take some home, but we still had almost 40 jars left at the end of the wedding. I started finding little uses for them and slowly became obsessed. Here are some of the ways I’ve incorporated them into everyday uses:

Pen Holder - Home Office

Q-tip Container

Silverware Server

Drinking Glass

Pen Holder - Work Office (Painted Mason Jar)

High Five for Friday

Sorry I have been a little absent on the blog this week. It's been a bit busy!! Here are my favorite things from this week...

1. Spending time with family on Anna Maria Island last weekend. It was a blast!

2. Riding this awesome bike...

3. Eating lunch at Skinny's, a restaurant on the island.

4. Riding around on the trolley.

5. I'm going to Orlando this weekend to spend some quality time with my little brother. Can't wait!


Hope everyone has an amazing weekend!!!