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Friday Favorites

Even though it was a short week, it wasn’t exactly an easy one….was it? It always seems to work out like that. I am glad that Friday is here and I **think** the rain is finally moving out of our area for tomorrow. I don’t really know what happened, but my allergies went insane this week! I have been downing Wal-itin D (Walgreens brand) and Sambucol Elderberry like it is my job. I don’t think we have any set plans this weekend, what about you?

Favorite Moments: Laura and I hit up Saigon on Wednesday for lunch. We always share the spring rolls and order our own entrees. Well, I have been wanting to try their dumplings, but didn’t want to not get the spring rolls. What is a girl to do??? I suggested we split the spring rolls, dumplings and a bahn mi so we could each get a taste of everything we wanted. Laura played along and it was seriously the best idea ever! Everything tasted so amazing, and we topped it off with some thai teas to go. Delicious food and even better company? That is the way I like to spend my Wednesdays!

When I was picking Zoe up from daycare Wednesday night, her teacher was telling me how big of a help she was at clean up time. Meanwhile, Zoe is walking around picking up every single toy on the ground outside of the “play area” and handing them to the other teacher. Apparently my OCD cleaning habits with her toys is rubbing off on her. I am not sure if I should be proud or worried that I created a monster. That evening when it was time to go to bed, she freaked out because her teapot wasn’t put back in the exact right spot and she had to fix it immediately. She cracks me up.

Favorite Finds: You guys, I have been on the hunt for some perfect summer shoes since about March. I keep looking at pairs and not really finding anything I absolutely love. I bought this tassel pair at Target that I love, and these DV Blush Wedges. Both are fabulous finds!!! But I also needed a new pair of black sandals that are little more casual, but still work appropriate. And I needed something cognac. Macy’s is running a $10 off $25 or a 15-20% off your purchase right now. I scooped up these Marc Fisher sandals for a good deal. And you all, they are a dupe for the $600 Chloe shoes that I loved a few months ago but wrote off because…who pays $600 for one pair of shoes??? Not this girl. I used my Ibotta money I have earned from grocery shopping the last few months, so I didn’t even have to really “pay” anything from them. If you aren’t using Ibotta, you need to be!!! Here is my referral link, go sign up with it and you can make $10 to start out with! https://ibotta.com/r/ptgvoaa

Next up are these Marc Fisher Cognac wedges with the woven bottoms. I am so obsessed with rock studding on shoes, purses, furniture. If gives it a little edge, but is still classy. Like seriously, how gorgeous are these????? I found a pair that are similar in the cork for $20 less. But I just think for me, it is worth it to have the woven look. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but I plan to soon.

Favorite Drink Recommendation: Have you seen the Mint Watermelon Tea from Trader Joes???? It is seriously SO amazing!!! Do yourself a favor and add this to your list next time you are there. Steep it and pour it over ice. Summer perfection in a cup.

Favorite Post: If you haven’t read Allison’s post I Love Me yet, go do yourself a favor and hop on over there!

Favorite Funnies:

Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

June 1, 2018 by Nadine

Friday Favorites

This week went by surprisingly fast, considering the three day weekend is upon us. I suppose being slammed at work helps with that. There just isn’t enough hours in the day to get all the things done that I need to do! I am not sure what our plans are this weekend, I just know I am thankful that we get an extra day!!!

Favorite Moments: My oldest niece graduated high school on Monday! She is already a CNA and has been taking college classes all year. She is so smart and I just know she is going to go far! My oldest nephew made the basketball team and has amazing grades. My sister raises some darn good kids!

When I was heading to Loft the other day, I saw this gaggle walking along the side walk and heading to the crosswalk. Geese gotta shop too! It really was the cutest thing.

This girl is at such a fun age right now!! She is so smart and understands a whole lot more than what she can say. And she is just so sweet! She has been saying hi to each and every one of her classmates at school when we get there in the morning. And now when we leave at night, she has to run over and wave bye to them all and gives her teacher a hug.

Favorite Purchases/Memorial Day Sales: Memorial Day Sales are happening people!!! Nothing makes me feel like getting more for my money than a dress on sale. You buy one article of clothing, and it is an entire outfit! Right now, Loft has 40% off your purchase. I scooped up this gorgeous blue dress that is so light and airy. PERFECT for the south this time of year! The back was a different material than the front, and I really liked it. I felt like it made it fit better, and gives it a more expensive look.

I want to scoop up this fig bar back sleeveless swing dress from the Loft too. They didn’t have the color I wanted in stores. It is under $30 with the sale! They had the autumn sage color and I tried it on, it just isn’t a color I want to wear in the summer. It was pretty though, and I liked the fit. I live for a good swing dress.

I also scooped up this high-low dress from Macy’s. They are running a 20% off your purchase sale online, or you can scoop it up in stores for $29. I love the detailing on it, and it is soft cotton. You can’t get more comfortable than that! You add some pretty wedges and it is nice enough for work. Or at least in my office it is.

Favorite Recipe: How delicious and fun do these mini Korean taco boats sound?

Favorite Funnies:

Me at work like…

Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

May 25, 2018 by Nadine

friday favorites

Friday Favorites

Yanny or Laurel, anyone? Obviously it is Laurel, I am not an animal. It has been a week. Work is busy, adulting is hard, it has been rainy and gross, and I am ready for the weekend! I am not sure what we are doing this weekend, I am just glad to have a little break!

Favorite Moments: Chris’s birthday was Monday. Every year, we each pick up two slices of cookie cake for each other’s birthdays. Cookie cake is LIFE! We choose to do individual slices because there is zero self control (at least on my end) when it comes to cookie cake sitting around. It sucks when your birthday falls on a Monday, but this hopefully made it a little better!

On Tuesday, my cube neighbor brought me beautiful hydrangeas. How sweet is she????? They still look like this today!

Laura and I hit up Urban Cookhouse on Wednesday for lunch. It is highly likely that I will order the Very Berry Salad with grilled turkey every. single. time. SO GOOD. What is it about salad from a restaurant that is so much better than one you can make at home?

Laura brought me the cutest cup back from her trip to San Fran, and she got Zoe a super fun purple tshirt that received squeals when presented to her. I love coffee cups that are big enough to hold 12 ounces and some frothed milk 🙂

Zoe and I stopped for some frozen yogurt at Yogurt Mountain that afternoon. She was so excited when she saw all the different toppings and yogurt flavors. She kept pointing and saying “me me me me!!!!” She was more excited about her blueberries and nilla wafer than the actual yogurt itself. She loved sitting there though, she is such a people watcher. I am sure we will visit a few times this summer.

Her eye is a little swollen in these pictures, we had a doctors appointment to get it checked out. Silly allergies.

Yesterday I had lunch at Farm Bowl with a friend. Having an acai bowl for lunch is seriously such a treat! I cant even tell you how many times I laughed. So good for the soul.

Favorite Recipe: How good does this sweet potato enchilada skillet look?

Favorite Lust: These double frayed jeans from the Loft are so cute on. I regret not purchasing them when I was there last week and might need to go back for them next time they are running a sale.

I really like the height of these wedges. They aren’t very high at all, and the ankle strap is stretchy with no buckle. The gunmetal color would match so many things. I saw them at Macy’s, but I know other places carry them also. Thoughts?

Favorite Funnies:

Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

May 18, 2018 by Nadine

friday favorites

Friday Favorites

Friday!!!! Can you believe we are already through the middle of May??? Chris’s birthday is on Monday, so I am hoping we can celebrate some this weekend. Last year, work ruined his birthday weekend and we barely even got to see him, yet alone do anything special. I keep forgetting that it is Mother’s Day weekend too.

Favorite Moments: One of my friends saw my pictures of Brat Brot and said she wanted to try it out with me. Twist my arm!!! Being the good friend that I am, I accompanied her on Tuesday for lunch. This time I got the foot long frankfurter and Bavarian Potato Salat (which was basically a german potato salad that was vinegar based with BACON!!!!) It was sooooo delicious! The frankfurter had some kind of smoked mayo and curry ketchup on it. Plus that mustard? Yes, please. This time I just opted for an ice cold root beer. Next time I want to try the Colaweizen (which is Tucher Hefe and Coca-Cola.) Sounds lovely.

Lately, Zoe has been little miss independent. She likes to walk to the car in the evenings when I come pick her up, instead of being carried. She stops in the hallway outside her class door and puts her hand up in the air for me to hold it….and she walks out to the car saying hello to every person who passes us. If they don’t say hi back, she yells “hey! Hey! Hey!” until they do. (I mean, WTF is wrong with the people who ignore a tiny little human who is trying to say hi to you????) And she stops to look at the bushes and plants on the walk. Every day. She takes such delight in it. Like it is the first bush she has ever seen in her life. She likes to point at different sections of it, showing me how all the leaves look just a little different. Reminds me that we all need to stop and smell the roses more.

Her hair is starting to grow out now. It is longer in the back now, touching past the collar of her shirts. I am going to have to start learning how to do hair soon! Any mamas that have any advice, throw it my way! Poor kid has my super baby fine hair. So there isn’t much of it.

Favorite Recipe: Chris made up our meal plan this week. On Wednesday, he had this Chicken Avocados Taco recipe on the menu for dinner. You guys!!! TACO STUFFED AVAOCADOS?!?!?!!? Just get on this ASAP. Trust!!!!!

And for those of you who are all, I am not the best cook. I dont have time. This literally was done in under 20 minutes because you use a rotisserie chicken. The hardest thing for me was pitting my not yet ripe avocados. So drop your excuses and just do it!

Favorite Lusts: Last week I went to Loft because they were having a 40% off sale and I am in some serious need of some wardrobe staples. I picked up this short sleeve black swing dress and it is the nicest material!!!! Reminds me why it is better to pay more for better quality. I am looking at you, Old Navy.

When I was there, I saw this dress and fell in love!!! Unfortunately, they are sold out of my size in stores and online right now. Please restock!!!!

I think this bar back dress is really cute too! Can you tell I like solids?

I also saw this beautiful beaded split neck blouse there, but again, had none in my size. How gorgeous is this??? I wonder if you can see through it? Why is everything so damn see through these days??? It is already in the 90’s here. I cant be wearing multiple layers in this heat! I just loved the color, and the tiny little colored bead detailing around the edges was so cute!

Favorite Funnies:

Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

May 11, 2018 by Nadine

favorites, friday favorites

Friday Favorites

Hey there! Friday couldn’t seem to get here fast enough, am I right? The rain has moved out and it is supposed to be a gorgeous weekend down here in the south! I am not sure what the plans are this weekend, but I know for certain I am going to soak up some nice weather.

Favorite Moments: Laura and I met up for an on the fly lunch at Avondale CommonHouse to celebrate some good news for her. We both tried the Buffalo Cauliflower Po’Boy and shared the Bruleed Banana Pudding. Cream Brulee and banana pudding are my top two favorite desserts ever. So when you combine them??? Magic you guys. Pure magic.

Yesterday Chris texted me asking if I had ever been to Brat Brot. It is a new Biergarten and sausage house that just opened literally RIGHT behind my office building. He had sent me a few pictures of the inside of the place, so I went and grabbed two of my co-workers and decided to crash his party. I ordered a radler which was made with a delicious pilsner and blood orange sparkling water. OMG It was so good!!! This has to be the coolest place ever!! I cant believe I can just walk to it anytime I please from the office. Definitely going to go back to try out the food. Laura, wanna do lunch there next week???

Favorite New Beauty Products: I have always been a big time fan of Lancome. I switch between their foundation and Estee Lauder as my two holy grails. Influenster sent me a VoxBox of a bunch of new products from Lancome and I squealed in delight when I opened them!!! You guys!!! I am so excited to share some of these with you. I have been using all of them for two weeks now and these are definitely something you are going to want to check out!!!

The Skin Feels Good tinted glow moisturizer is amazing!!!! It reminds me of IT CC Cream only about a million times better. The IT CC Cream never settles in to my skin so I can’t really make it work for me. This stuff is a light weight SPF tinted moisturizer that really provides a light/medium coverage. It has a good smell to it and it stays allllll day long on me. I am going to LIVE in this stuff for the spring summer! The color they sent me (01C Cool Porcelain) was perfect!

The Lancome – Advanced Genifique Sensitive Antioxidant Serum has been a game changer as far as makeup application goes. I never wear a primer because they never do anything for my skin. I put this stuff on under all my other face treatments in the morning and notice a huge difference in how my makeup looks when I am finished. MUCH smoother appearance!!! A little drop of this stuff goes a long way, so I see the bottle lasting a really long time.

Next up was the Lancôme – Renergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Firming and Dark Spot Correcting Moisturizer SPF 30 which is another amazing product! Super light weight, but also very moisturizing. I love my Clinique moisturizer, but it has zero SPF and will not work for me in the summer. I think an SPF 30 moisturizer that is working to combat my dark spots is a wonderful switch up. I am loving this stuff and have had no adverse effects since starting it and you all know I have sensitive, finicky skin.

Last but not least is the lipgloss!!!! The Lancome – Prismatic Plump Lip Gloss is sooooooo stinking cool!!!! They sent me the shade Effervescent, which is like a lavender/pink holographic color that looks so neat by itself, or over any of your favorite colors. I am seriously so impressed with this stuff and plan to purchase a few more. Though, I have to say the color I got is my favorite. It feels so good and nourishing on my lips and it really gives a multidimensional effect!

Favorite Read: I am majorly lacking in passion and creativity lately. Of course, I have a huge passion for my husband and daughter. I love being a mom more than anything I have ever done. But when I am at work, or after Zoe goes to bed…I just exist. I am doing the bare minimum to get by. I have zero light burning inside of me. I feel unbalanced and unmotivated. I read this post on how to find what you are passionate about as an adult, and it really resonated with me. If you are feeling this way, please tell me I am not alone. Or if you have been there, what did you do to make it better?

Favorite Recipe: How yummy and easy does this look for a snack??