livin for the weekend

what a week!

i didn't even have time to watch all 2 hours of tuesday night's so you think you can dance, so i definitely haven't had time to fit in a blog post. thankfully it's friday and the day feels a little calmer.

i don't know about yall, but as soon as warm weather rolls around, i live for the weekend 24/7. there is something unnatural about sitting inside surrounded by beige walls and fluorescent lighting when it's 85 degrees outside. thinking about starting a petition to install a pool in our front yard at work and let us work poolside...a girl can dream.

last weekend we went down to wilmington to celebrate memorial day as it should be celebrated...by the beach. we stayed with a couple of our good friends and had such a fun time! our dogs also had quite the playdate all weekend long. their dog is a pit bull/shepherd mix who weighs about as much as a mini elephant and our dog is roughly 13 pounds. it was entertaining to say the least, and loki slept for about 2 full days to make up for it.

we went out to wrightsville beach saturday and sunday and it was beautiful! not quite as hot as i would've liked, but i'll take what i can get in may.

doesnt get much better than this

love this view

a little waterway action

we have another great weekend coming up that i'm so excited about! my parents are coming into town this afternoon. for Christmas we all bought my dad a gift pass to the rusty wallace racing experience at charlotte motor speedway, so on sunday we're all going to put our redneck gear on and go watch him take 8 laps around the track. by himself. in a high-speed racecar. it's going to be awesome.

hope everyone has a great weekend and is looking forward to all of the upcoming summer weekends like i am!

happy first summer weekend!

even though it's not technically summer, summer in my mind starts today as soon as i leave work!

hope everyone has a fun, safe and warm memorial day weekend! we will be heading down to my neck of the woods for a weekend in wilmington with friends. hoping for lots of sun, good food, and relaxing.

summer is finally here!!

how backyard produce changed my life

ok, that title is a little dramatic. it's kind of true though!!

i've heard a little here and there about local produce delivery programs, especially in the past few years when the organic/local eating "trend" (if you can call it that) really started to take off. we eat our fair share of veggies and fruit, but a lot of the veggies i used to buy were frozen and/or canned so i didn't have to worry about shelf life.

while that's wonderfully convenient, i started getting pretty tired of the same sauteed/seasoned, from-the-can green beans. of course i could've just committed to buying fresh produce each week instead of canned/frozen, but lots of times the selection at the grocery store isn't great and i'd always panic and not be able to decide what to buy.

i ran across backyard produce (http://www.byproduce.com/) which bills itself as an online farmers market, and decided to give it a try.

they offer 4 different options:
-"flying solo" geared for one person, gives you 40 points per week
-"just for two" especially for couples, 60 points per week
-"family of four" fairly self-explanatory, 80 points per week
-"extended family", 100 points per week

each week the ordering opens on thursday, so you log in to your account and can take your time viewing all of the items that are available for the next week's delivery. not only do they have organic, local veggies and fruit, you can also get bakery items, coffee, seasonings, and cheese.

the items all "cost" different points..for example, a bunch of kale is usually 5 or 6 points. a whole pineapple is 12 points. blueberries and strawberries are 10-12 points apiece. since we got the "just for two" package, each thursday i log on and spend my 60 points however i want to. i always get berries, apples, and bananas to use in smoothies and as snacks. i might throw in some oranges, pears, or another fruit that looks good depending on my mood, then i try to spend the rest of my points on veggies. i love ordering broccoli; it's always the perfect sized bunch. green beans, kale, spinach, and cucumbers are my other faves.

then wednesday rolls around and when i get home from work there's an insulated box with an ice pack full of what i ordered sitting on my porch! it makes it more exciting for me to cook veggies when i anticipate them being delivered so much! while i'm unpacking the box and cleaning everything, i start planning in my head how i'm going to use everything that week.

i highly recommend backyard produce for anyone in the delivery areas, which are scattered throughout north carolina. the link to the delivery area maps is here: http://www.byproduce.com/deliveryarea

if you sign up you'll be supporting local and organic farmers who deserve our business much more than conventional megafarms shipping their products all over the place covered in pesticides and who knows what else. i've never been a huge proponent of choosing local/organic (mostly because i just didn't care one way or the other) until i did a little research on it lately, and it makes me feel good knowing that i'm supporting someone in my local community trying to make a living and grow things in a healthy way.

here's a picture of one of my recent boxes, full of green beans, kale, oranges, spinach, cucumbers, apples, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries. yummmm!

our first anniversary

[this was supposed to post on 5/19 but posted on the 10th instead! womp womp...]

today is such a special day that i've been looking forward to for awhile! i can finally say happy anniversary to my hubby :)

one year ago today was such an exciting, happy day and this past year has been so much fun! we got married, had an amazing hawaiian honeymoon, and became homeowners. i learn so much about michael every day and everything new just makes me love him more. i'm so blessed to be able to call him my husband, and i can't imagine living life without him.

happy anniversary baby! looking forward to many many more!

tackling grease stains

ever since i married michael, i've been slowly learning new stain-fighting laundry techniques. he has a tendency to do a little too much work before changing out of his good clothes, so i've encountered a few things that have needed some creative stain solutions.

the latest and greatest discovery gets grease out of clothes like MAGIC. i'm talking a few hours of treatment and there is literally nothing left behind. i really thought 2 of michael's new pairs of pants were ruined but thankfully this super simple recipe worked like a charm!

all you have to do is put dishwashing detergent (like dawn) on the spot. i rub it around a little to make sure all of it is covered. sprinkle baking soda on top and rub it in a little too, creating somewhat of a paste. let that mixture sit on the fabric for a few hours (i've done anywhere from 2 hours to overnight), wash, and be amazed!!

i'm trying more and more to use regular household items for things instead of buying specialized products, so this made me so happy! (side note: i will always be devoted to shout for regular stains...that stuff is genius in a bottle)

do any of you have tried-and-true laundry remedies using items from around the house? id love to hear them!

may birchbox

my birchbox arrived yesterday!

here's a breakdown of may's goodies:

• beauty protector leave-in conditioner: i used this one this morning and it smells so wonderful!
• coola spf 30 cucumber face moisturizer: i used this last night before i went to bed and i realllly love the cucumber scent! it's also a really light moisturizer which i love.
• folle de joie eau de parfum: wearing this today! it's very fresh and springy.
• sumita color contrast eyeliner: havent tried yet 
• yes to grapefruit facial scrub and dark spot correcting serum: i didn't use the serum, but i did wash my face with the facial scrub this morning. i have to say, i didn't love it! it really dried my face out, and am i the only one who thinks grapefruits smell sort of like bugspray??

even though i'm not a fan of the yes to grapefruit products, this box was still a good one! the leave in conditioner alone was worth it. i love that birchbox keeps the products relevant to the time of year...this box was full of really light, fresh-smelling samples which is perfect for spring!

forever favorites [kitchen edition]

this is one of my favorite topics because i get so much use out of these things...kitchen tools.

i cook almost every day and bake usually once a week, so it's important to me to have good kitchen tools and gadgets around. here are some of my must-haves:

oster myblend 20-oz personal blender: we have green smoothies for breakfast almost every weekday now and this little blender is what i use to make them. it's small, which i really like since it sits on the countertop, and it's kinda cute. it's also really powerful for being so small...i just throw in all of the ingredients, shake em up one good time, and push down. voila!

cuisinart griddler: we got this griddler as a wedding present, and i honestly didn't know how much use i would get out of it. i have been pleasantly surprised at how often i use it. it has reversible plates that are flat on one side and have grill marks on the other. i use it all the time for making pancakes and grilling up meat that has to be cooked before i use it in a dish.

kitchenaid stand mixer: i don't think i have to explain much why i love this thing. if i didn't have it, i doubt i would bake half as much as i do. it makes clean-up so much easier and you don't have to do anything! just stand back and watch the magic happen. i also love how there's always a pretty pop of color and shiny steel in the corner of the kitchen.

furi rachael ray gusto grip 3-knife set: these 3 knives are the only ones i need in the kitchen. the large santoku knife is amazing, and i use it at least once a day. i really like the case they come in too; it keeps me from stabbing myself when i reach in the drawer to get them.

this post makes me want to go home and start cooking!

forever favorites [fashion edition]

look at me doing these series posts like a real blogger!

i love clothes. i really really do. if i could do only one thing forever, #1 would be cuddle my husband, #2 would be eat, and #3 would be shop. there are really only fractions of a point separating 2 and 3.

i'm a big fan of cheap clothes, which is why a majority of my wardrobe comes from forever 21. as a general rule, i tend to buy clothes that i keep for 1-2 years. this is for a variety of reasons, but mostly because 1-they're trendy only for a short period of time and 2-i get tired of them. i'm sure goodwill has seen an upward trend in forever 21 clothes in my lifetime thanks to my closet rotation. my rule for myself is when i buy one new thing, one old thing goes to goodwill. it keeps me (and my closet) a little more organized.

because i like to buy new clothes so often, it's really only practical for me to spend most of my shopping time in good ol f21...with an occasional trip to target, kohl's or marshall's sprinkled in for good measure. the day i outgrow forever 21 will be a sad one...(if you think that day has already come and gone, please keep it to yourself).

anywho, here are a few of my favorites that i will keep and wear and love year in and year out.

jack rogers navajo sandals in platinum: i can thank my brother for this obsession. for my college graduation he bought me a nordstrom gift card, part of which i used on my first pair of navajos. i've been through a few pairs since, and i wear every pair out until you can't even tell what color they're supposed to be. they go with literally everything, so they're my constant go-to during spring and summer.

forever 21 skinny jeans: forever 21 sells jeans for like $10. no, they're not the best quality in the world, but each pair lasts me at least 2 years and they're insanely comfortable. i used to buy only american eagle, gap, or express jeans and it is not worth it! they last longer but usually i get tired of the same pair of pants after a few years anyway, and it's much easier to give away a $12 pair of jeans than an $80 pair. i'm a huge fan.

old navy coats: old navy has some of the best outerwear! i have this peacoat in a slightly darker camel color and i wear it alllll the time in the winter. it goes with any color outfit and looks equally cute with jeans as it does dresses. it probably cost around $75 when i bought it, and i wouldve been willing to pay way more than that for it if i knew how much i would wear it.

target boyfriend v-neck tees: target's mossimo brand v-neck boyfriend tees are perfection. they're so soft and have the perfect neckline for layering or wearing on their own with a statement necklace. they come in all different colors and are also super cheap.

what are your wardrobe staples?

forever favorites [beauty edition]

i'm not a huge beauty products person. i've used the exact same drugstore makeup for years, and fancy $100-per-ounce products do nothing to excite me. i'd rather spend my money on clothes (or food)...let's be honest. i do enjoy getting my birchbox full of samples each month, but that's more for the thrill of getting it in the mail. i use up the samples or give them away, then revert back to my old ways.

that being said, i have a list of several favorites that i have used for as long as i can remember and will never stop using (unless they're discontinued, which might send me into a tailspin).

aussie 3 minute miracle: this deep conditioner is amazing. i've used a million different deep conditioners and this one is still my favorite. part of the reason may be because of the awesome bottle that stands up on its dispensing end and doesn't have a lid...it just squeezes. it's the little things.

bath & body works liplicious lip gloss in whipped vanilla: buying lip gloss is awful. every other kind of lip gloss i buy is either too shiny, too sticky, or has huge chunks of weird glitter in it. this is my go-to favorite and i feel unprepared for life if i don't have it with me. even if i don't have chapstick, it's moisturizing enough to wear all day by itself and it's such a pretty color once it's on. (not to mention it tastes like pancakes)

olay complete all day moisturizer w/sunscreen: moisturizing my face is a fairly recent habit for me. i started using a moisturizer on my face as part of my daily routine in college, and now i wouldn't go a day without it. this moisturizer is really light and makes my face feel really smooth and even. it also contains spf 15 sunscreen, which took me awhile to get used to since i love a good tan, but i'm finally to the point where worry about wrinkles/skin cancer is clearly more important. it only took me 26 years.

ralph lauren romance: i'm a victim of buying perfume for pretty bottles only. i figure, all perfume smells good to somebody, so why does it really matter? plus, smelling perfume in a department store is such a nightmare that i just flock to the prettiest package and high tail it out of there. i've finally learned that's a bad plan, and i've reverted back to an old favorite.

bath & body works vanilla bean noel lotion: no one knows that this is my favorite more than my family. i ask for multiples every year at Christmas and i always make it last until at least october. it's my favorite smell ever! the other vanillas just aren't the same.

rubbing alcohol: yep, you read it right. i use regular old, $1 per bottle first aid rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to clean my face twice a day. this is something my mom taught me to do and even though a ton of people have told me not to, it's the best thing for keeping my face clean. i've never had an issue with breakouts because of it, and it's not harsh enough (if you get the right dilution) to do any harm to your face or its natural oils. it is pretty drying, especially when you first start using it, but if you use the correct moisturizer afterward it's really no problem. it's the cheapest facewash around! (not to mention it's the #1 ingredient in toners anyway)

are you a beauty product hoarder or simplistic like me?

duvet shopping

next on my home to-do list (after we paint our front door...which no, we still haven't done. don't judge, it's been rainy!): shopping for a new duvet cover or comforter for our bed.

we currently have this duvet cover, which we got from ikea as soon as we moved into our house last fall. i still love it, but it is ikea and not the best quality in the world, so we knew it wouldn't be pretty and white forever (especially with our black furry dog crawling all over it).

our bedroom is mostly black and white, with some turqouise accents. i like our current comforter because it's still black and white, which michael appreciates since it's fairly masculine, but it's also floral, which appeases my need for something feminine. it goes really well with our sheets too, which are gray and we LOVE.

sticking with the black/white/gray theme, i've been doing a little online browsing...any votes?

anthropologie

kohls

macys

urban outfitters

zgallerie