Favorites – Page 5

Currently Loving- October 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING- OCTOBER 2017

Hi everyone! October is coming to a close and it’s officially holiday season! Hooray! It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

I have to take a minute to talk about that front stoop up there. Isn’t it dreamy? As much as I love the Christmas season and decor, this fall decor is giving me all the feels. It’s from one of my favorite bloggers, Alaina Kaczmarski of The Elizabeth Street Post. I’ll talk more about her later in this post.

But we’re not here to talk about the holidays, we’re here to talk about October. I’d like to share some of the things that came across my path that I loved during this gorgeous month.

Some Cooler Weather

Time for more of those outfits, amiright? About midway through the month it got a little chilly, left for a bit, then on the 28th there was that glorious cold front that came through. It was rainy and cold, and I stayed in and watched Hallmark Christmas movies all day while I worked on Beautycounter business and wrote several blog posts. It was one of those perfect fall days. Only thing that would have made it better was an unnecessary fire in a fireplace I don’t have. Ha! 🙂

I’m a Beautycounter Consultant

That brings me to my second favorite thing about October- Beautycounter. I’ve shared with you some of the products that I’d been using from them before, but this was the month that I signed on to become a consultant. I have a full post on why I joined that I’d love for you to read here. Here are some of my favorite products that I’ve been using from the very beginning of my journey with this wonderful company.

These were the original products that I started with from the brand, and I’ve not turned back. I love them so much, and they’re a safer option for your skin care routine. For more of my favorites read the original post here. You can also check out my right sidebar and choose the Safer Beauty tab to learn more. You can also visit my website with Beautycounter directly right here.

Tip Time

I was listening to Young House Love has a Podcast a while back, and Sherry was saying that one way they keep paper clutter out of their house was to take pictures on your phone of the pages that you like in a magazine and then upload them to a secret Pinterest board so that you don’t have a million magazines lying around your house. And I was like, duh!!! Why didn’t I think of that?! Thanks, Sherry! I just wanted to share that with y’all because it really is that easy! I got rid of SO MANY magazines because I did this and was able to pass the magazines along to friends and the local hospital waiting rooms.

Lighting

As always, I’m trying to find ways to improve my home and make it more “me”. Well, I’ve recently discovered the wonder of the world of lighting. Light fixtures are some of the most brilliant works of art out there. Although, I’m more of a traditionalist when it comes to lighting, there are some really fun and funky options that could totally make your space. Here’s a few that I really love.

Antique Whitewashed Wood Bead Chandelier- World Market

I’ve saved the best for last. The is a photo of one of my very favorite bloggers that lives in one of my very favorite homes I’ve ever seen. Her style is impeccable, and I find myself wanting to copy her decor every time I see a new photo of her home. Look at this chandelier. Look at her whole apartment! It’s seriously one of the most beautiful homes. Remember the front stoop at the top of this post? Same blogger. Her style…ah! I love it! Check out her full home tour here. Trust me, you want to! And then you’ll be mad at me because you’ll immediately want to change everything about your home because her home is perfection.

Music

Every morning when I have my quiet time I listen to instrumental praise music. That’s the name of the Pandora station I listen to, actually. It has introduced me to so many new artists that I wouldn’t have known because I typically don’t listen to instrumental music. But in the mornings with Jesus, it’s nice. This song stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it, and it still does even though I’ve heard it probably 30 times. I posted about it on my Instagram a while back, but I’m going to share it again here. Have a listen, won’t you?

One more, and DON’T judge ok? I am a big fan of Leslie Odom Jr. He plays Aaron Burr in Hamilton and is starring in the upcoming Murder on the Orient Express. The man has a beautiful voice, and it’s very unique. Last year he came out with a Christmas album, but I didn’t get it for whatever reason. Well, this year he announced he’s re-releasing a deluxe edition of the album. And, well, I caved. And I’m so glad I did! It’s SO GOOD! It was worth the $10 on itunes and will be great to play when I put up the tree. I’m more of a Rat Pack Christmas kind of girl than a Mariah Carey Christmas kind of girl anyway, so Leslie Odom Jr. fits right in with what I like.

Countdown to Christmas

The only other thing I’m loving during October is the Hallmark Channel. The harvest movies were fantastic, of course, and October was the kick-off for Countdown to Christmas. Like I said, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

I hope everyone has had a lovely October, and I wish you a very Happy November!

XO,

Elizabeth

Currently Loving- September 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING- SEPTEMBER 2017

Hi friends! Anyone else feel like September just kind of blurred by? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that October is, like, tomorrow. But it is, so I’m here to share some of my favorite things about September. I do, however, love October. It’s officially time for slightly cooler nights, lots of actual pumpkins (not just pumpkin spice), and things start changing colors…those beautiful colors. I digress…In no particular order here are some of my September favorites:

Walmart Finds

I’ve told y’all about the website Bauble Bar before and how much I love their jewelry. I just don’t really love their price tag. It’s not outrageous or anything, but I love a deal. That website inspired me to make these earrings instead of paying nearly $40 for them.

Well, a while back I found these for $32. And these for $34.

Cute, right? Well, I follow this Instagram account called WhoaWaitWalmart. And they posted this picture.And in case you can’t read that price, it says $4.00!! AND just this week they put on their Instastories that they are all marked down to $2.00! Bummer for those of us who live in Greenville because they didn’t get any of this cuteness, but I did find them in Montgomery at the Walmart on Chantilly. Here’s what I got. Don’t these look almost identical to the Bauble Bar ones? I paid the full $4, but still! I’m pretty bad at math, but that’s an eighth of the price right? I’m counting it as a win.

I’ll never quit black and white stripes. And how fun for Halloween?I convinced myself I just needed one more pair so I could have game day earrings.

Now that they’re $2.00, I want to go back and get all the others I wanted. Anybody know how to grow a money tree? Because if you go back and look at that picture of all the earrings, how could you say no to any of them? So much goodness!

Ginger Hair

In case you don’t know this about me, I go through an annual period where I want to dye my hair red. I’ve done it once, and I didn’t realize how much upkeep it is to be a ginger. It faded so quickly, and I got nervous and let it grow out to a weird color before I dyed it blonde again. Well, it usually happens around fall. (Must be all those awesome Pinterest photos.) But I always chicken out. I get too nervous that I’ll look ridiculous or that I won’t be able to keep it up. Also, I want one of the more expensive processes to be done, so where’s that money tree again? Anyway, here’s what I want to do this time. Come follow me on Pinterest for more pointless red hair inspirtation. 🙂 Isn’t it so gorgeous? Initially, I think it isn’t that drastic of a change, and yet as I’m writing this post I’m totally thinking, I could NEVER! But it’s SOOOOO pretty! I don’t know what my obsession is. I just love it. One day I’m going to do it and never look back. 🙂 Also, anyone watching Making the Team with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? I have loved this show since it started. Kelli is cutthroat, and I love her! This beauty right up there is Stephanie. In this season, her hair is so gorgeous. Every time they show her, I say out loud how much I love her hair color. Maybe I’ll do it over Thanksgiving break so I have a week to get used to it. (Who am I kidding? I’ll be saying this again next September.)

Beachin’

Paul and I went to the beach recently with my parents and brother. It was a quick trip but much needed and definitely enjoyed. We were in Gulf Shores, and though we’ve been there countless times, we found new restaurants and had a great time. If you’re going soon, you should visit Fisher’s Dockside and pretty much order anything. It doesn’t disappoint.

Fashion Week

Fashion week has been happening all over the world recently, and I pulled together a few of my favorite looks from some great designers.

Oscar de la Renta

Carolina Herrera

See that silver dress above? Well, it looks stunning on the red carpet, but Sarah Paulson wore it to the Emmys earlier this month, and I really didn’t like it. Perhaps it’s the styling differences, but I loved it in the show. Here it is at the Emmys. Alberta Ferretti

Now for some fashion funnies

I’m not knocking fashion as an art, but I’d never wear those glasses nor the purple swim cap dress. And it sort of looks like the 80’s are back at Gucci. Hmm…Fun to look at, and laugh at, at least.

Broadway Under the Stars

If you’ve never gotten the chance to go to Broadway Under the Stars at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, you are missing out on life! The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra comes to play music from Broadway shows past and present. They played Hamilton, y’all! It was the most perfect weather, and we had a wonderful spot complete with three little girls in front of us who ballet danced to nearly the whole thing. Next year, you must go! It’s outside on the grounds, hence “under the stars”. And the moon was full and enormous. It was practically magical.

And I just love this building and always have to take its picture.

Also, we carried a picnic dinner from Jason’s Deli. I got the Caprese Panini, and all I can say is, how have I never eaten here before? Holy crap it’s good! And bonus, if you dine in, you get a complimentary ice cream cone for dessert. #winning

Sean on the Porch

If you’ve never heard of Sean of the South, then click his name and go read his latest post. You won’t be able to stop at just one. He’s a magician with words. It’s unbelievable how good he is at telling stories. He’s a good ol’ southern boy who loves his wife, mama, and dog. He writes feel good stories, sad stories, love stories, and everything else in between. He recently came to Greenville to speak and play some guitar out at Nanny’s Fine Dining. It was a true pleasure to hear him tell stories in person. He’s just as good at that as he is at putting them on paper. Promise me you’ll go check him out. Just go ahead and sign up for them to come to your email every morning, ok?

September was pretty good to me. I’ve clearly had a busy one. How was your September? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Elizabeth

Currently Loving- August 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING-AUGUST

I feel like I say this every month, but how in the world is August over already?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is a bad thing. Because it leads me to my first favorite of August:

Fall

Okay, so I know it’s not fall yet, but August has notoriously been the month where I start really itching to wear scarves, boots, and sweaters. Unfortunately, living in the southern portion of Alabama is just not conducive to those things in August. However, a girl can dream, no?

Let’s start with fall decor. I don’t exactly have a front door to decorate, but Pinterest lets me see what I could do one day when I’m not in an apartment. This front porch is perfection. I’m obsessed.I think I mostly love the buffalo check pillow in the picture below. But the hay, the rustic bench, pumpkins, and lanterns are so charming. Something else I don’t have is a fireplace, but how great is that garland? I also love when there’s something in the fireplace that isn’t ashes from a leftover fire. I love this container of wood. And that “Thankful” sign. Next up for fall is, of course, fall fashion. If you’ve known me for any amount of time, you probably know that I love a scarf. I have too many to count; it’s shameful, really. Anyway, I found a few more I’d like to add to my collection. I actually like both of the entire outfits, but I especially love those scarves.

Next is a poncho (maybe not a poncho-I can’t quite tell if it has arm holes. I think it does, but maybe it’s a blanket scarf or just an oversize cardigan). Again with the buffalo check. I can’t get enough.

TV Show(s)

Any Game of Thrones fans out there? Paul and I just recently binged the series. We were caught up in real time by about episode three of this season (7). And we, like most of you, are wondering how in the heck we are going to wait until the next season! It definitely left us wanting so much more, so I’ll be excited for that one to come back.

We are mostly ready for September to bring our regular shows back that we love so much: NCIS, Bull, Big Bang, and so.many.more. We have a show or two most every night that we watch. We love us some TV.

Podcasts

Do y’all listen to podcasts? I am fairly new to this realm of entertainment, but I have to say, I really like it. I have three that I’m really loving lately. All, of course, are right up my alley from home decor to Broadway.

Young House Love Has a Podcast– If you’ve never heard of Young House Love, they are a married couple who started a blog many years ago, and are so knowledgeable about so many things regarding home decor and renovation. They are renovating a beach house right now and it’s PINK! It’s so stinking cute. I’ve linked to their website in their title, you should check it out. All of it. Their blog is the one that really got me interested in blogging myself.
Sorta Awesome– I’m new to this one (only about 4 episodes in and there are over 100), but I am really enjoying it. They talk about Netflix a lot, so they’re basically my soulmates. They also talk about life in general. I like them. They seem like nice girls. 🙂
Little Known Facts– The is the Broadway one. Ilana Levine interviews all sorts of people from the Broadway community. They sing a good bit and share behind the scenes information. And Ilana’s speaking voice is so calming and almost child-like. She is just wonderful to listen to. She played Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, if anyone remembers that musical several years ago.

A Vegan

Yes, that’s right, a vegan. I subscribe to several channels on YouTube. And often times, YouTube will suggest videos that you might be interested in. Well, one day I saw this before and after picture of a girl who had lost a lot of weight and the title of the video was something to the effect of “How I lost 70 pounds”. So I clicked on her, and she just sat explaining herself and was so real about everything. Usually there’s a gimmick or a fitness program attached to these types of videos, but this girl just said, nope, nothing did this for me, but me. She began eating a high carb diet. Yep, HIGH carb. Hmm…my skeptic ears perked straight up. But I kept listening. Turns out, she’s a vegan and her YouTube name is High Carb Hannah. She makes the most delicious looking meals-all plant based and vegan-friendly. She is very passionate about the way she lost weight. She said it took her two years, but it was because she was transforming the way she ate. I’m not turning into a vegan by any means, but I do love these plant based meals she shows you how to make on her videos. I’ve got plans for a burrito bowl, and I can’t wait. I’ll share with you when I make it.

She gave me the idea to make these black bean burgers. I found the recipe on Pinterest and gave it a try with my dad a few weeks ago while my mom and Paul were out of town. (High Carb Hannah just posted this week about a black bean, sweet potato burger, and it looks AMAZING!)

Forgive my bad, unedited photos from that night, but this is how it went down. They were seriously amazing, y’all. I want to eat them again but not as a burger. I sort of want an avocado type sandwich with the black bean patty. If anyone wants to know any tips about making these, let me know and I’ll do a quick post about them. And if you’re looking to clean up your diet, check out High Carb Hannah. I like what she’s doing for people by spreading the news that plants are good and good for you!

Now, let’s gear up for some football!! We’ll be yelling War Eagle here in the Norman house. I hope y’all have a safe Labor Day Weekend. Enjoy that extra day off! I know I will.

XO and War Eagle,

Elizabeth

Currently Loving- July 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING

Well, I hope you didn’t forget about me. I’ve been a little MIA this month due to lots of things, but a lot of it was because I’ve been enjoying my last month of summer vacation before school starts back.

I’m here to share a few things I’m currently loving this month and just to fill you in on life. There’s been a lot going on here around the Norman house, so let’s dive right in, shall we?

Let’s Start with the Negative

This month had so many wonderful things and still more wonderful things are happening the last few days of this month, but one pretty negative thing that happened was that I fell and sprained my ankle. I was walking down the back stairs to leave, stepped onto the stepping stones at the bottom of the stairs, but I stepped on it just right to roll my ankle off of the stone and go down to the ground. Arms flailing, dropped everything, hit the dirt. Paul wasn’t home, of course, so I called my mom to come help me. I couldn’t get up on my own and was scared to since I heard my ankle crack when it rolled off the stepping stone. She only lives a few minutes away, so she came right over carrying a walker that my grandparents’ used when they couldn’t get around well. And all I could thing was, “You’ve got to be kidding me. She brought me a walker?!” Turns out, it helped, she got me up and inside, and she even gave up her whole afternoon to drive me around so I could be x-ray’d and seen by the doctor. Thankfully, no break or fracture! I did get crutches, and, y’all, those things ain’t no joke. I’ve never had to have crutches before, and I feel like I’m a pretty coordinated person, but they were hard to maneuver and quite frankly, a pain in the you-know-what.

Another good thing about this situation, I was looked after and cared for and checked on by my wonderful family and friends. I greatly appreciate their worrying about me and taking care of me! I’m still in the brace in the picture above, but those crutches are long gone! (Praise the Lord!)

Now the Bittersweet

Last year when we moved back to Alabama from Louisiana, I was fortunate to get a job teaching at the school from which I graduated. I had the best class and the best experience at a school during a year of transition. But all good things come to an end, as they say, and my time there has ended. I pursued a job in public school, and I got it. I’ll be teaching third grade, and I’m looking forward to the new school and new age group. I’ve only taught Pre-K and Kindergarten, so third grade is a new challenge for me, but I know this is the right thing for me to do at this point in my career.

With that being said, to Mrs. Ellinor, Mrs. Debbie, Mrs. Susie, Mrs. Kaye, Mrs. Alicia, and Mama, thank you for taking me in and helping me out in every way you could. I literally couldn’t have done it without your help. I am so blessed to have come into an environment that truly felt like family, that was supportive, that was fun, that was never boring, and that had such dang good food! I’ll miss birthday celebrations! 🙂 And when things were so tough for our family this year, thank you for taking care of me and my mama. I love y’all so much!

Current TV Faves

It’s no surprise to see that heading. If you’ve been here more than once, you’ve probably seen something about television shows or movies.

Last month I mentioned that I was into Gossip Girl. (Paul likes to call this “trash tv”.) Apparently I really like “trash tv”. I managed to watch all episodes of Gossip Girl, all episodes of Southern Charm on Bravo (the past seasons are On Demand), and a few other shows that rank up there on his “trash tv” meter…I guess…I happen to quite like these shows and know that other people do too, so shut it, Paul. 🙂

But the truth is, Paul likes TV as much as I do, and though we may not watch “trash tv” together, we do watch a lot of great shows together. One we really got into was Stranger Things.

Holy moly, y’all! I don’t do scary, but this one was so good! We couldn’t get enough. Funny story, we watched it, finished the last episode, and the next night out bathroom light started flickering non-stop. *Gasp* I needed Eleven!! 🙂 Turns out, we just needed to change our light bulbs. And I heard they released the trailer for season two! I’ll definitely be watching.

Then we decided it was about time we jumped on the Game of Thrones train.

What a stinking emotional roller coaster! Anytime you like someone, they die. When you hate someone and they finally die, you cheer because they were so horrible. We have one episode left in season six, then we can catch up with season seven and be live with everyone else. I watch a lot of it through my fingers because it’s pretty graphic with the violence, but the story is interesting, and I totally get the hype now.

Also, the Mother of Dragons…favorite character, hands down.

Then Tyrion. He’s so funny! All three of these characters are really great, actually.

One more, maybe more wholesome and culturally educating thing I’ve been watching is the Smithsonian Channel. I decided maybe I was watching too much “trash tv” and needed something educational in my life, so I found the Smithsonian channel. My brother was in town a while back and found a show called Aerial America and that episode was about Philadelphia. He and my dad just went there on vacation, and he was pointing out all the things that they had done and seen. I became intrigued and looked up more shows that are on this channel. My most favorite so far is First Ladies Revealed. Amazing show! If you get this channel, just watch something. It’s so informative. And if you love history, you’ll love it.

Speaking of First Ladies

I’m currently reading Laura Bush’s memoir, Spoken From the Heart.

You can see the crutches propped against the wall in this picture. I stayed off of my ankle a few days and was really able to dive into this amazing book during that time. I bought this from a thrift store and very long time ago and, like so many other books on my shelf, I’ve never gotten around to reading it. But in that effort to have more wholesome things in my life instead of the “trash tv”, I decided I’d give it a go. Laura Bush is excellent with words. She can describe a Texas landscape in a way that I know if I looked up that area, the picture in my mind would be exactly what I saw in a real photograph. She is a well-read woman who writes like a seasoned author. I am not finished yet, but I am absolutely loving it. I wish I had been old enough to truly follow, understand, and appreciate this administration as it was going on. I highly recommend this one.

Beauty Product

I’ve spoken about Beauty Counter products before here on the blog. I have been using their charcoal soap and charcoal mask for several months now. I am also using their sunscreen and have started using a foundation that I’m really enjoying. I apply it with a brush and find it very blendable, and you can build up coverage if you aren’t satisfied with the first application. It doesn’t feel too heavy, and the best part is- it’s a safe product for your skin. If you click the picture it’ll take you to the page about this product. I encourage you to look around the site if you are looking for safer beauty options.

Last but Not Least

I sure hope y’all are still reading.

Here’s just a few more random things I’m currently loving this month (most of these are recaps from Instagram, but I did thrown in a few I haven’t shared): Still obsessing over watermelon. Most of my local people are nearly out of their watermelons, though. Hopefully our local grocery stores have some good ones. These were an early anniversary gift from Paul. Aren’t they fabulous?! They speak directly to my leopard-loving heart. You can get your own pair from the lovely boutique called Simply Chic Baton Rouge. They will ship to you here in Alabama. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Absolutely amazing! I have loved visiting the Alabama Shakespeare Festival since I was kid. (The bathroom still has the same wallpaper, y’all! If any of you remember from field trips, that is.) This summer I was the third wheel on my parents’ date night to see Mary Poppins. It was a fabulous show, and if it’s still running, get your tickets now and go! And that gorgeous building…I just love it. I recently got to experience BBQ 65 right off the interstate at the Pineapple exit. I got the smoked chicken sandwich with white BBQ sauce and friend green tomatoes. Just go. Do yourself a favor and go. You won’t be disappointed, and I’ve not heard one person say anything bad about what they ordered. DO IT! My mom’s birthday was this month and we had a delicious supper. My brother came home, and we spent the afternoon in the kitchen cooking for her. I gave her a Mary Kay Andrews’ cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook, for Christmas. There’s a recipe in there called Grits and Greens, and it’s southern deliciousness like you’ve never tasted. We thought it’d be good to put shrimp in it, so Andrew, my brother, made the shrimp, I made the casserole, and of course you have to have some Conecuh sausage to go with it. Birthday banana pudding for dessert, and we were all full as ticks. (That one’s for my daddy!) 🙂 So much goodness on that table right there. Mmm…And just for fun…I love me some Snapchat. This filter is everything, and I can’t get enough of it. Its as fun as the one that gives you big lips and teeth. It’s the little things, right?

I sure hope y’all had a great July and a great summer. Enjoy these last few days before school starts for you and/or your kiddos. I know I’m going to!

Currently Loving- June 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING

How is June over?! That means summer is halfway over. For teachers July always means you have to really start thinking about school again. Because, contrary to popular belief, teachers really do have to do work in the summer. There’s a lot of planning and putting your classroom back together. It’s no joke. So don’t hate on your teacher friends during the summer. They do a lot of stuff in those two months to prepare for your kiddos to come into their classrooms the next school year (on their days off, no less).

Watermelon

Another favorite this month- watermelon. Oh my goodness. There’s a man selling watermelons for $10 across the street from the country club, and I first thought it was steep for a watermelon, but I’ve changed my tune because they are absolutely worth every penny. Watermelon is maybe my favorite thing ever about summer. So delicious!

The Tony Awards

It’s no surprise to people who know me that I love award shows. I am a major lover of The Golden Globes, The SAG Awards, and The Oscars. But probably my most favorite award show is The Tony Awards which honors the accomplishments of people in theater. I have been fortunate to see Bernadette Peters in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway. I saw The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway as well on Mr. W.S. Godwin’s trip he used to take every year to D.C and New York. I was thirteen years old and did not know how huge this was to see such icons on stage. I wish I had kept the Playbills! And then while in Louisiana I was able to see Wicked when it toured through New Orleans. Holy crap! When is this movie coming out so more people can love it?! Someone please make a movie!!!

The reason the Tony’s are one of my favorite things is because Ben Platt, the lead actor in Dear Evan Hansen won for best actor in a musical. You may remember him as Benji, the weird roommate of Jesse in Pitch Perfect. He performed in their finale in the first movie and reprises his role in Pitch Perfect 2.

Google Images/ Click the image for a link to his acceptance speech.

But during his acceptance speech at The Tony’s he said, “The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.”

I thought that was such a profound statement. Perhaps I’ve watched too many teenage/high school dramas lately, but being strange is often something that really hurts people and something they try to hide because others don’t seem to understand their “weird”. But Ben says to do it anyway. And I agree. If you’re the theater nerd in your group of friends and they think that’s crazy, let them think that. One day, that strange thing is going to help you do something that makes you happy. I’m here doing it now by writing a blog that probably only a handful of people read.(Thanks, Mom, Mrs. Robyn, Aunt Sharon, and Christy) 🙂 Ha! But you know what? I don’t care. If it makes me strange then that’s okay, because who knows? One day it could be the most powerful thing I’ve ever done.

Google Images/ This is actually an image from a blanket. I need it!

Home Improvements

My next two favorites come in the form of home improvements. I don’t go too many places over the summer. This is a pretty busy time for Paul’s line of work, so I spend a lot of time at home relaxing, reading, watching Netflix (I’ve gotten into even more shows, y’all.) I think I’ve officially got a problem. But I also get projects on my list out of the way in the summer because I have lots of time to do it. So, I can’t let June go by without mentioning my two favorite home improvements:

The Rug Switcheroo

The Leopard Curtains

More TV

So, I said I’ve gotten into more shows, but one that I’m rediscovering as an adult is Designing Women. Y’all…..I can’t get enough! It is so witty, and I am loving the strong woman that is Julia Sugarbaker. She is fierce. And how funny is that show? I know some of y’all remember it, and if you don’t, just search it on your cable box. I bet it’ll give you the times and channel that it’s on. And look at that 80s hair and fashion! Love!

Google Images/ Click this picture for a link to a “Where are they now?” article.

The Shack

I also have to reiterate my love of The Shack. I posted a review of it on Thursday, but it has been sticking with me since I finished the book. And I encourage you to watch the movie too. The library here has it available to check out for one night. And it’s free! Support your local library!

Professional Golfer

Cam with his mom and dad, Todd and Ginger.

Lastly, I was able to watch my husband’s cousin win his first professional golf event. Paul has been coaching him through videos, countless texts and phone calls, and every now and then in person while Cam was at college and we were in Louisiana. It was great when we moved back that they could do more lessons in person. So when Cam went to the regional competition for the NCAA and then on to the national championship competition in Chicago, it’s an understatement to say how proud of him we were. Cam knew he wanted to go the pro route, and Paul has been able to be there every step of the way since we’ve moved back. It’s been a lot of fun to watch. Then Cam was able to win his first event as a pro! I shared a golf cart with Paul and his Aunt Ginger, Cam’s mom, to see him win, and it was very cool. I feel very honored to have been allowed to be there. I’m not sure if Cam knows how proud Paul is. He didn’t stop laughing and smiling until we got home from the tournament. He was in the best mood and all because he was so happy for Cam. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for this guy. He’s the real deal, y’all!

So, my June was fun. How about yours? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Here’s to another month in the books and to a great July!

Currently Loving- May 2017

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

I can’t believe that May is almost over! But if that means anything, it means that summer vacation has officially begun.

So, obviously, summer is one of my favorite things about May. Teachers work hard during the nine months we are in school, and when May 25th rolled around for me, I sure was happy to welcome some “me time”.

I’ve got some projects already on the agenda for summer. First is to make and hang my curtains for the living room. I played around with them the other day just to see how I felt about them. I think I’m gonna like it!

That’s right! Some leopard print curtains are possibly making their grand entrance to the living room. I won’t know how I’ll like them until I get them up there, but I think that if I don’t like them in the living room, they just might work perfectly in the bedroom.

Then- I’m still working on how I want them to hang (inside the window as a make-shift roman shade or outside the window as a valence), but I’m hoping to get the kitchen curtains done too! I talked about it a bit here in my kitchen post a bit, and here’s the fabric I’ll be using.

I also hope to fix this painting. I still think it needs something.

Another thing I’m planning to do is finish the, oh, FIVE books I’ve started reading at once. I’m shaking my head at myself as I type. I usually knock out a lot of books in the summer. Last summer was pretty awesome in the book department with some of my favorites being The Nightingale, Me Before You, and Baby Proof. Here’s hoping I finish the five I’m currently reading plus a few more!

A few products I’ve been into lately are dry shampoo and self tanner. Now, it’s not that I’ve just recently in my life discovered these things, it’s just that I would like to share that I’ve found some pretty good options at a great price point.

Dry Shampoo from Dove

I have used both of these and like both of them a lot. I have very oily skin and an oily scalp, so growing up, I had to wash my hair every single day. Had I known about dry shampoo in college……I don’t even want to talk about it. My life would have been so much easier. I usually wash my hair one morning and style it, then I spray in the dry shampoo before I go to bed (when my hair tends to get the oiliest). The next day I only need a few more spritzes when I’m styling my hair. I can usually go two to three days without washing my hair when using the dry shampoo. This stuff is only around $5-$6 at Walmart, so it definitely doesn’t break the bank.

Jergens Self Tanner

I’m as pasty white and pale as they come. I just am. I’ve always been told to just embrace it, but it’s one of those things that annoys me about myself, so I use sunless tanner. Now most people know Jergens for their self tanning lotion. And when they first came out with the lotion, it was a gradual building thing, so you had to use it several days to build up a color. But this mousse stuff is great!

While I was living in Louisiana I was introduced to my still-favorite self tanner by St. Tropez.

I had never used a mousse before, and the formula is SO GOOD. But at $42 a bottle and a $7 mitt to apply it, I always felt guilty about spending so much money on it. I use it a lot in the summer, so I went through it kind of quickly. Then one night it was on QVC and THAT I did not feel bad about! 🙂 But that has been used up, of course, so I was on the look out for something a little easier on the pocketbook. That’s when I found this post by Cassie from Hi Sugarplum. I decided at around $13 a bottle (most mousses aren’t much cheaper than that), I knew I wanted to try it. Then one day I was walking down the clearance aisle at Walmart and found these for $2!

It makes the application so much easier and also keeps your palms from staining. I am very happy with the Jergens mousse, even though the St. Tropez is still my favorite. I don’t feel orange unless I really over apply the tanner (three coats in three days- I don’t recommend that). And it lasts! I last tanned on Monday, and I still have a nice glow today (Sunday).

Some Netflix shows I’ve binge watched this month have been:

13 Reasons Why– Holy heavy stuff! I knew there was a lot of controversy around this show, but someone I worked with told me it was actually really good. I decided to give it a try as I put my students’ scrapbooks together, and I couldn’t stop watching. It’s based off of the book by the same title, but I had never been interested in reading the book. It was a very well-acted show. It was a show full of heavy, intense, graphic content. When it was over, I couldn’t stop talking about it to Paul. Critics said that it glorified suicide. I absolutely did not get that vibe. I did, however, immediately say that I’m not sure I would want my teenager to watch it. Certainly not without my viewing it before they did and maybe even only watching it together. It had several teachable moments, but it was very, very heavy. I keep saying that word. I can’t think of a better one to describe it, though. It was hard to get caught up in it and only think about high school and that age-range. But in all honesty, adults and young children have suicidal thoughts that go unnoticed or ignored. I think if I had to come away with something so heavy in concept and content, I would say that it taught me to be more aware. More aware of the people around me-friends or not. You never know what people are going through, but mostly because you never ask and they don’t tell. Ask. Be a friend. Help them if they need it. Being there for someone can mean so much to someone. Even if it’s a text at the end of the day to see how they’re doing. Just care and be kind to people.

Anne with an E– Okay, let’s lighten things up, shall we? Anne with an E is based on Anne of Green Gables. I did not read this book or the series when I was younger, but as an adult I’ve heard so many people say how wonderful the books were and how great Anne is. I read that this series is a grittier version of the book and previous series and movie. I have never seen those either, so this is my first encounter with Anne Shirley. And she is absolutely delightful! I love the way they talk, and I love how strong she is. It is very women-positive and girl power. Just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you can’t do anything you want to do. It’s a wonderful story, and I hope they continue with more seasons.

Girlboss– This show got horrible reviews, but I thought the character of Sophia seemed spunky, and she started an internet business, so I was interested. It’s inspired by the book, #Girlboss, and the life of it’s author, Sophie Amoruso. I bought the book at a thrift store not too long ago, but haven’t read it yet. So, the series seemed like a fun way to get introduced to the Girlboss world. It was just that-fun. It wasn’t fantastic, but I enjoyed it. She’s a tough chick that doesn’t take any crap from anybody and works her tail off to achieve her goals. That was my takeaway from the show- work hard and it’ll pay off.

Okay, one last favorite.

I am a long-time lover of HGTV and especially Fixer Upper, but when this one came on the map, I knew I wanted to give it a go. I’ll be honest and say I thought it was going to be a worse version of Chip and Jo, because how does it get better than those two? But, y’all, I am so glad I did! I think these two are such a sweet couple, and dang is he a talented wood worker. I need a piece of furniture built by Ben and a painting by Erin ASAP! I don’t think I share exactly the same style as Erin when it comes to interior design, but that’s what makes the world go ’round, right? She has a great eye and sees things I could never see. She talked about a green roof with green trim on one house they did a few episodes ago, and I thought, ew! And then the reveal happened, and it was one of my favorites. That’s talent, y’all. I know most people are watching this already, but I just wanted to give it a shout out. If you’re not, check out HGTV on Tuesday nights at 9:00. And DVR those old episodes to see what else they’ve done. You won’t be disappointed!

Oh wait! I know I said that was the last one, but just one more! Paul turned 30 this month!!! He didn’t really want too much by way of birthday parties or huge celebrations or anything, but I couldn’t let his birthday happen without making his feel a bit special, so I woke up extra early and blew up 30 balloons to cover the living room floor. I hung streamers on the bedroom door frame so that when he opened the door when he woke up, he’d get a surprise. I baked him brownies for breakfast, and I put a 30 pack of beer in the fridge with more balloons. He sent me this Snap Chat after he woke up.

Happy 30th again, babe! I love you, and you were totally worth the almost passing out from blowing up 30 balloons. 🙂

Thanks for sticking around with me and this long post. I’ve had lots of favorite things about the month of May. Here’s hoping you had a marvelous May and that June is even better!

Currently Loving- April 2017

April has been a fun month. For starters, it’s my birthday month. I am not really a huge birthday celebrator. I tend to play the “birthday card” when it’s convenient for me. (Can we have pizza for dinner? Will you bring me a glass of wine? – Basically when I need something and feel too lazy to do it myself, I ask Paul to do it.) 🙂 But I never want a big party, and I don’t care what people give me. I don’t need presents. Like my dad has always said, it’s just another day. I still have to get up and go to work more often than not and go about my daily business. However, I am very blessed and have people in my life who love me and made me feel very special. I turned 31 and had a fabulous birthday weekend spent with family, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. All I wanted was cheese dip, tacos, and fruit pizza. And I’ll be danged if I didn’t get it!

School celebration for our joint birthday party

I even got peanut M&Ms from one student and a pair of earrings from another. How sweet were they? I even got two birthday dinners. (Tacos were lunch.) My family cooked for us on Saturday night a scrumptious dinner and that awesome fruit pizza. Then on Sunday, I got steak, a baked potato, and a chocolate pie. I felt very spoiled and very full. It truly was a great weekend. Thank you to my wonderful families and to my husband for always making me feel special not just on my birthday but everyday.

Switching gears to products- A few things I’m loving lately in the realm of beauty products is a new company I’ve discovered called Beauty Counter. Beauty Counter is a safer beauty company that doesn’t use harsh chemicals that are found in virtually all of our cosmetics and skin care. I am slowly (very slowly) but surely making the switch to these safer products, and so far, I’m in love. I purchased the Charcoal Bar for washing my face. I use it both in the morning when I wake up and at night. Some nights, if I’m extra lazy, I use it to remove my makeup and cleanse my face. But most nights I use coconut oil to remove my makeup and then wash with the Charcoal Bar.

When I bought the bar, I heard wonderful things about this Charcoal Mask. Now, it’s not like the scary charcoal masks you’ve seen all over Facebook that pull the blackheads out of your face and make you cry in the removal process, but it is a cleansing, detoxifying, smoothing mask that leaves my face (every single time) feeling smoother and softer than I’ve ever felt it. I have extremely oily skin, and I believe these two products were some of the best ones for my skin type in this company’s line of skin care.

There are so many products I’d like to try. They can be pricey, but they have nice incentives and a little goes a long way with all of their products. My consultant said she was on month 3 or something of the one bar of soap. That’s a long time for daily use of a bar of soap. I’ve had mine for about a month and have so much left. Also, I haven’t even put a dent in the mask. It’s going to last a while for sure.

I ordered their sunscreen this week during their special they were running for the best sellers. (I think it ended, but it’s worth popping over to see if it’s still going on.) Did y’all know about all the harmful chemicals in sunscreen? Whoa!

Beauty Counter Protective Allover Sunscreen

Because I ordered during the sale, I am receiving a full sized mascara with the purchase of my sunscreen. I can’t wait to use it!

If you are reading this and want to place an order, my consultant is a friend from Louisiana, and she is wonderful! She would love to help you. Her website is found here. She can also be found on Facebook. Feel free to message her for more details and info. Or if you want to know more from me about how my products are working out, let me know and I’ll hook you up with Kelly.

April, well actually March, brought on a serious battle with my allergies. I haven’t lived in Alabama for 8 years, so I’ve gotten used to the changing of seasons in Louisiana. Y’all, when I tell you I couldn’t breathe for two months, I’m not kidding. I take a daily allergy pill and have for several years now, but nothing, and I mean nothing, was stopping this! I even did the Netty Pot. (Perhaps the most unpleasant thing I’ve ever endured.) I’ve been known to be a little stubborn, so I finally went to see Dr. Slagley. He fixed me right up with a shot (miracle working stuff right there) and all the other meds I needed to get well. And within two days I could breathe through my nose again. I have thanked God so much for that since I’ve been able to do it. I will never take it for granted again. Thank you, Dr. Slagley. I’m sure I was the 1,000th patient of yours that came in with these same symptoms, but I’m well now.

Say hello to the countdown to summer. I’m so stoked! One of the perks of being a teacher is definitely having summers off. That doesn’t mean we don’t work hard during the school year. We totally earn our break. I do love the kids and will miss them, but this teacher loves her summers.

It was my first year being able to attend Putting on the Ritz, and I’m so happy I was able to. Putting on the Ritz is a local production featuring all local talent from top to bottom, on stage and behind the scenes, directors, costume designers, choreographers, everything. The talent here is just wonderful. There are so many talented children too. One little red head, in particular was stealing the show with his stellar dance moves. This year’s theme was An Evening of Pure Imagination and had a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory theme for many of the numbers. Other acts were tributes to those gone on before us like David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and Merle Haggard to name a few, The Beatles, there was a fun Vogue number, and even a performance by the youth featuring the song from Trolls, “I Will Get Back Up Again” (I love that song 🙂 ). Maybe my favorite one was Tom Jones. Those sparkly pants and wig! So fun! Mr. Tommy did an amazing job, and I laughed a lot.

My father-in-law was in a quintet with some very talented musicians doing the tribute and sang Merle Haggard’s, “Mama Tried” wonderfully.

There were two other performers that truly blew me away with their talent and that’s Joseph Longmire and LaTonya Johnson. Holy cow, y’all! I hope they are in the Putting on the Ritz for many years to come. He has such a smooth voice, and the boy can dance! And LaTonya is a powerhouse. She sang “You Don’t Own Me” and that’s the dang truth. Don’t nobody own her! She proved that when she belted at the end of the song. I was so into their performances that I didn’t get any video or pictures of them, but trust me, they are fabulous.

All of the people involved in getting this thing put together deserve so much praise. I mean, this was so fun to see local people come out to just have a good time and enjoy other local people putting their talent out there at our very own Ritz Theater. If you have never been, next year is a must. My first year was great!

Easter was this month. I always enjoy Easter. I was able to go to church with my parents. Paul is always working on Easter, it seems. When will golf courses learn to close on Easter Sundays? If you can close for Jesus’ birth, you can close for Jesus’ resurrection. Anyway…….I quite enjoyed the day with my parents and the day before we had our Easter celebration with Paul’s family. We dyed eggs and hid them for the children and ate a very yummy dinner. I’m so enjoying being able to spend this time with family. I’ve missed it these past 8 years. It’s so good to be home.

Our community has suffered a tremendous loss therefore making April one of the worst months of many people’s lives. But one of my other April favorites is the way our town, community, schools, churches, etc have come together to rally around a family and a group of teenagers that lost a friend and loved one much too soon. I’m not sure how I would have reacted if I had been in their shoes at such a young and impressionable age, but I know that there has been such an outpouring of love from them to each other and for them from the community. It’s still very early in the stages of grief for these young people and for this family, but I know that because they are such a close bunch, they will get through this. And they’ll get through it together. Their bond will forever be strong and deep-rooted. I hope they carry that with them for the rest of their lives and look back on the happy memories of their friend. I know the pain is indescribable, but I’m thankful for the people of this community who come together to take care of their own. It’s truly inspiring and a testament to how special this person was. Though I didn’t know him or his family personally, I’ll be praying for them and his friends, and I ask that if you’re reading this, you’ll say a prayer for them too.

On a happy note, spring is a time for new things. April brought lots of new things to my life. Every month seems new to me in this old/new town of mine. I look forward to what May has to bring, and I wish you a happy May as well.

Currently Loving-March 2017

Can it be April already? I feel like this has been the fastest year ever. In an effort to slow down and reflect on this past month and what I enjoyed, I’ve come up with a list of things that I would like to share with you. My hope is that these things bring some happiness into your life as well.

One thing I’ve recently discovered (and I know I’m a little late to this party) is Kari Jobe’s new album The Garden. If you’ve never had the pleasure of listening to this mega-talented woman sing, please go to YouTube and have a quick listen, then head over to iTunes and download The Garden or any of her other amazing music. I tend to listen to praise and worship music during nap time at school and one day I was scrolling through my usual list of instrumental praise music and decided I wanted to listen to some Kari. (Sidenote: Her Pandora station is pretty fantastic too.) There was a playlist for The Garden, so I decided to listen. I’m so glad I did. The song, “The Garden”, almost had me in tears. It’s so beautiful. It will bless your soul. Go listen!

Switching gears to beauty. I got Sarah Jessica Parker’s new perfume, Stash, for Christmas. I’m still loving it. It’s technically a unisex fragrance. I love it so much for myself, though, that I’d be intrigued to smell it on a man. There’s a warmth to it that I just love. I wear it day and night but like to spritz on a little extra when going out in the evening. It’s just so lovely. Stash is sold at Ulta and is available in a rollerball if you’d like to try it without committing to a whole bottle. I know fragrance is so individual, but if you like warmer scents, you might like this one.

Can we just talk about these for a second? Perhaps my favorite candy of all time. Let’s just say that I love them so much I’ve been known to say that these better be in Heaven when I get there.

This month brought the return of Designated Survivor. We recorded the show when it originally started but never got around to watching it. One night when our DVR was cleared of everything else that we watch, we pushed play and were hooked. The season premier was so great and last week’s episode!! Y’all!! Are you watching too? You need to go catch up if not!

Paul’s not a huge movie watcher, but if I can get a “guy movie” in his sights, he’s going to at least consider it. Cue Hacksaw Ridge. Mel Gibson may have a reputation of being a bit crazy, but the man can make a movie. It is a war movie with its fair share of gore, but the story was so beautiful. And one I had never heard before. It tells the story of Army Medic Desmond Doss and his heroic actions to save 75 of his fellow soldiers ALONE. He did all of this without firing a single weapon and was awarded a Medal of Honor. It was an inspiring story of standing up for what you believe in and not backing down even when the odds are tremendously stacked against you. It’s a must watch.

I’m a pretty avid reader, well, more so in the summer than during the school year, but from August through May I like to listen to audio books. This month I listened to The Girl in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. Boy, was it a good one! I am not a scary movie person or a ghost story person. Not once in Louisiana did I want to go on one of those ghost tours in New Orleans or in St. Francisville. When I watched The Grudge in college, I was so thankful that my dorm roommate was not in town because I slept with the lights on for three nights. I do not do scary stuff. This book, though it had some scary parts, is a thriller which is slightly less scary to me. I can do thrillers most of the time. This one is about a woman who goes on a cruise and thinks she hears and sees something horrible, but when she tells the people in charge of the cruise, no one believes her. Everyone thinks she’s crazy…or do they? That’s all I can say because I don’t want to give anything away if you’re intrigued and want to read it. If this is your genre, you’ll like it. I did figure out the ending before it all unfolded, but that’s okay. I got to have that moment of victory in the last chapter when my suspicions were confirmed.

As a teacher I am so fortunate to get to still have a Spring Break. It was glorious to sleep in and be lazy. That’s me in PJs and slippers mid-morning.

I finished a series I was watching on Amazon called Z: The Beginning of Everything about Zelda Fitgerald. I didn’t know she was originally from Montgomery. Thought that was pretty cool. It was a fun show, and I love that it’s a period piece. I am a sucker for that 1920’s fashion. Zelda was a real spit-fire, and I kind of liked that about her.

I also got to go shopping with my mom to a new store (well, new to us) called At Home. Y’all, it was like Heaven. We had made our way around the store, though not all the way through, and I stopped and looked at my mom and said, “This is what Heaven is going to be like for me: home decor, Cadbury Mini Eggs, and Jesus.”

March also brought a reunion with some very special old friends. I have been friends with these people for nearly 20 years. They are the kind of friends that even though all four of us hadn’t been together in almost seven years, we fell right back into our pattern of easy conversation, jokes, and hilarity that may or may not have involved a belt that contracts your abs for you. We went around the circle talking about our current life situations including jobs, relationships, children, and even some crazy neighbors one of us has-I mean REALLY crazy. It was good for my soul to see these people that feel like family, and I pray we get to do it again before seven more years passes us by.

Well, that’s what I’m loving this month. Have any of you also discovered some of my favorites from March? Do you have some great music, books, beauty items, or T.V. shows you are loving lately? Tell me about them in the comments. I hope March was great to you and here’s to an even better April.