Confessions with a side of Hashtags

I just found out that the phrase "on fleek" originated with Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian. It all makes so much sense now. #stopmakingupwords

I just watched a video about how taking loads of selfies in fact does not lead to better self-esteem but actually makes us more self-conscious and more likely to focus on our flaws, and my thought was "Um, duh??" #icouldhavetoldyouthat

I didn't really care all that much about the Lilly Pulitzer/Target collab, just not my thing. But now that everything is gone and I'm seeing pictures of the stuff they had I'm kind of like "Awww, that's so cute, I want it! " #alwayswantwhatyoucan'thave

I just finally looked into Blogging for Books and signed up instantly because um, free books? Yes, please! But now I'm kind of nervous. I haven't really done book reviews on the blog before because I don't really know what to say about a book without giving too much away and I feel like I would just be awkward. But too late now, they're sending me a book as we speak. #stillexcitedaboutthefreebook

Do you ever have one of those days at work where you've only been there for 30 minutes and you're already thinking, "Yup, I'm going to be raiding the vending machine today." #notmyproudestmoment

I just ate my last Cadbury egg and I'm kind of sad now #chocolatestash

When Adam isn't going to be home for dinner I eat like a 5 year old. Like my options are either soup from a can or PB&J. I just really don't like to cook after working all day, especially when it's just for me. #lazy

After the BBQ party I was looking through the pics people posted on FB of me and totally agonizing over them because I HATED how I looked in pretty much all of them. Why does this always happen? Why am I the least photogenic person on the planet?? #I'msovainIproblythinkthispostisaboutme

Um, yes. Literally all the time. I hate Facebook so much. 

Weekend Recap: Staycation Edition

Happy Monday everyone! I had a wonderfully relaxing, full weekend, which makes Monday slightly more bearable. Slightly. 

As I mentioned, we were supposed to be going to Charleston this weekend but we had to cancel, so instead we decided to have a little Staycation right here in J-Ville! We were able to relax and really enjoy our time together, which was so nice! 

Friday evening we just grabbed a pizza and relaxed at home watching movies. The next morning we had planned to go to the zoo, but the weather was forecasted to be pretty bad. By the time we would have been heading that way it was looking ominous, it ended up POURING and we even had tornado warnings! So postponing the trip to the zoo was a wise choice. 

Before the weather got too bad we were able to make it to Maple Street Biscuit Company for a late brunch! 

I loved the decor and it had a really cool vibe! They sell maple syrup and maple coffee, which I got to try, SO good! I want to go buy a bag of it now. But I should probably drink the 12 bags of coffee I currently have in the pantry first.

The food. OMG. So, so good. Definitely not something we could eat all the time because holy calories, but it was a wonderful treat! The biscuits were amazing and those sweet potato fries, OM NOM NOM. I will be dreaming about those all week. I definitely want to go back! 

After brunch on the way back home it started pouring buckets, so we spent the afternoon at home and then went to dinner at The Flying Iguana and had yummy chips and salsa and tacos. Then we went to Books-A-Million and read magazines and drank coffee, one of our favorite rainy day activities! 

Sunday the weather was MUCH better, so we went to the zoo! I have waaay too many pictures of the animals, so I'll probably do a separate post with those, but for now here's a few! 

Had to pose with the Flamingos since I was wearing my Flamingo shirt! 

The giraffes were SO ADORBS. 

Mint chocolate chip ice cream! My fav. 

After the zoo we had a late lunch at our favorite BBQ spot and did some shopping. Sunday evening was relaxing and getting ready for the week! How was your weekend? 

Coffee Date Linkup/Friday Favorites Smash Up

So I'm doing things a weee bit different today because I wanted to join in on sharing my highlights of the week for the Coffee Date Link Up with Gold and Bloom today! Except highlights are pretty much the same things as favorites, so really it's not different at all and forget I said anything. Except don't forget about the Coffee Date Link Up cuz it's rad and you should join. Also link up with all of these other lovely ladies: Meet at the Barre, Momfessionals, September Farm, and xoxoRebecca.

Have I rambled enough? Ok!

First, a Friday dance, made all the more awesome by the fact that I get off work at noon today:

FUTURAMA #love

          Highlights of the Week 

      (AKA things that made me smile): 

This video:

Puppies howling. Your weekly dose of cute. You're welcome. 

This song (and Tom Hanks in the music video. I didn't think it was possible to love Tom Hanks any more, but I do): 

Is this song kind of obnoxious? Ok, yes. But it's also fun and catchy. Ergo I like it. Don't judge me. 

This show: 

It's ridiculous and awful and I love it. Plus Quinn from HIMYM. 

This cake: 

We had a baby shower for a coworker this week and I got to make the cake! So fun, I LOVE baby showers! 

These funnies: 

A dog owner's life: 

Ya think??

But really though: 

Humor for band geeks like me: 

Ok, lovelies, I'm off to frolic and adventure with my guy this weekend. There may be pictures of animals at the zoo and ridiculous yet delicious food involved. Peace! 

My Jamberry Experience

* I received these products as complimentary for testing and review purposes, but all opinions are my own. 

I love the way my nails look with a manicure! So polished (haha, no pun intended) and professional, I feel like it makes my whole look feel more pulled together.

However I pretty much never keep my nails painted because:

A: I'm not very good at painting them, so they look pretty rough and

B: They get smudged or chipped approximately 2.5 seconds after I'm done and they just look worse and worse over the next couple of days until I'm forced to remove it.

When I get them professionally done they obviously look much better and last a little longer, but I'm so hard on my nails that they still chip within a day or two, sometimes sooner. So, gigantic waste of money unless I'm doing them specifically for a special occasion.

So I was really excited when Amanda reached out to me to ask if  would like to try Jamberry! Of  course I said yes! Amanda is an independent consultant with Jamberry, and she suggested their new wrap, Country Club. Well. I'm one to go with the expert recommendation, and when I saw the pictures of it I loved it, so Country Club it is! 

                       

So she sent this wonderful kit with everything I would need for my Jamberry manicure:

Included:
Wraps
Cuticle Oil
Mini Heater
Application Kit with file, buffer, scissors, orange sticks, rubber cuticle pusher, alcohol prep wipes, and nail clippers.

I was nervous about getting started because I had never done any kind of wrap on my nails and I was afraid I would apply them wrong. So I pulled up the Jamberry how-to video on YouTube. 

   

                                       

They made it look so simple and laid it out in an easy step-by-step tutorial. I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually really easy to apply, and they turned out looking so good!  

One tip I have is to make sure you press the wrap down really well on your nail, and that there is no part of the wrap that is peeling up when you are finished. There were a couple of spots that I missed or didn't push down as well, and they are the only parts that are starting to peel up. 

It's been about a week since I applied these and so far I am highly impressed! This is after doing a thorough cleaning of the house last Friday and Saturday, and I was not wearing gloves or anything to protect my nails. I was actually kind of intentionally not careful, if that makes sense. I wanted to see how well they would hold up. 

                                       

With a regular manicure a week in, if I still had the polish on it all, it would be majorly chipped and rough looking. I am SUPER hard on my nails y'all. There are just a few spots where the wrap is pulling up or chipping, but it's such an improvement over a traditional manicure! 

Thanks SO much to Amanda for the opportunity to try these wraps! I'm super excited to try more colors now! 

Check out the Jamberry collection on Amanda's site: http://www.anthjams.jamberrynails.net

Raspberry Peach Lemonade

I found this recipe on Eat, Drink, Love and made it for the party this weekend. Loved it! It's the perfect refreshing Summer drink. It is VERY tart as written, even with the full amount of sugar suggested, so if you like a sweeter lemonade you might want to increase the sugar. It's a little time consuming, but really easy!

Original recipe found here.

In a medium sauce pan, add 1 cup of water and the sugar or agave nectar. Heat on medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and add sliced peaches and raspberries and simmer for about 5 minutes. 

Pour the fruit mixture into a blender. Puree the fruit until smooth. Let cool completely. 

Once cooled, pour the fruit puree through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher. 

Add the lemon juice and the rest of the water. Stir to combine and serve over ice.

Ingredients: 

3 medium peaches, peeled and sliced
6 oz. raspberries
6 cups water
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (I suggest at least 1/2 cup, more if you like it sweeter)
1 cup fresh lemon juice (6-7 lemons)

Directions: 

1. In a medium sauce pan, add 1 cup of water and the sugar or agave nectar. Heat on medium heat until the sugar dissolves. reduce heat and add sliced peaches and raspberries and simmer for about 5 minutes. 
2. Pour the fruit mixture into a blender. Puree the fruit until smooth. Let cool completely. 
3. Once cooled, pour the fruit puree through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher. Discard the solids (or save them and freeze them like I did because they would be really yummy in yogurt or whatever) 
4. Add the lemon juice and the rest of the water. Stir to combine and serve over ice. Enjoy!