favorites

April Favorites

Wow! Where did the month go? I feel like I blinked, looked at the calendar and it was April 15th. And now- Bam! It’s over! Don’t we always feel that way, though? I mean, except for January. I’m always glad to see that one go. But what a quick month it’s been. Maybe because it’s been so full of such wonderful things. We had Easter, I helped throw a baby shower for a friend, I went to the beach, we had state testing, which wasn’t a favorite of the month, but it was totally a huge part of the month and a stress inducer. There were hair appointments (always good days), a book release I was excited about, the premier of the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and so much more. Let’s dive in to all the good things I’ve deemed my favorites of the month.

Favorite Book of the Month

I can’t remember a time when Beth Moore wasn’t teaching me about Jesus. Her memoir was on my radar, but I couldn’t decide if I wanted to read the physical copy or listen to her read it to me on Audible. I decided to go with the Audible version. And listen, I knew some of her back story. I mean, I’ve listened to countless interviews, done a Bible study of hers, and watched all the Youtube videos. (This one is my favorite.) But, y’all, I was not prepared for some of these stories. I was not prepared for her to share as much as she did. If you’ve been studying under Mrs. Beth and have been blessed by her, please consider getting on the waitlist at the library or using an Audible credit for this one. You’ll love it.

Favorite Purchases of the month

Paul’s counsin’s incredibly stylish wife started a new online boutique called Not the Norm that has the cutest clothes. She had her first pop up at the beginning of the month, and I scooped up two colorful tops, which are way out of my comfort zone, but I love them both! The next pop up is on Saturday, May 6th at the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce. You should definitely come, you should definitely start following them on Instagram, and you should definitely go ahead and shop online.

It wouldn’t be a new month if I didn’t buy a book. This one was a highly anticipated release. So highly anticipated that I preordered it. If you’ve been around long enough, you know that I love Laura Tremaine. She wrote a book I loved called Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. She hosts a weekly podcast called 10 Things to Tell You that is a delight to listen to and learn from. And now she’s written a new book called The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs. It came out early this month, but I haven’t been able to start it yet. I can’t wait!

Favorite Thing I Watched

I am so behind on shows, but I was most excited about the return of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Though it’s the last season, I’m still excited to see how they will wrap it up for us. I sort of appreciate the weekly release of the episodes. It’ll help me savor it. I have been such a huge fan of the show since the beginning and have watched the previous seasons multiple times. It became on of those “comfort shows” for me. If you’ve never watched, you must start at the beginning. Know that seasons 3 and 4 aren’t always top notch, but stick it out anyway. The endings will leave you floored. And just one more reason to watch it- the costumes. Gosh, that fashion is divine!

Paul and I watched Daisy Jones and the Six like the rest of the world. It was just okay for me. No, that’s not true. It was actually very good and well done. But I had just reread the book and had so many ideas fresh in my head, and when the show didn’t match my expectations, I turned my nose up at it. I thought the book was perfectly done and didn’t see any need to change anything, so I had a hard time with the show. However, if you’ve never read the book, I’m guessing you loved/will love the show, and I do recommend it. And while we’re talking TV fashion, Camilla’s outfit at the album cover shoot…that head scarf and oversized sunglasses- PERFECTION!

Favorite Thing I ate

Having lived in Louisiana one can get used to a caliber of food that just isn’t matched anywhere else. And one also cannot replicate that food on her own either. During Lent, Paul and I were thrilled to give the boiled crawfish from Pip’s a try. It was delicious, and we made ourselves incredibly satisfied over who-knows-how-many pounds of crawfish one Friday night. We even called over my parents, who never got crawfish while we lived in Louisiana. While it wasn’t my dad’s idea of a good time, mom liked it pretty good. It was a nice taste of our other home.

My birthday falls at the end of April, and my mom offered to make me a cake. She made a delicious chocolate cake with chocolate icing last year, and I told her I’d like that again. She decided to do a different recipe this year from the one and only Ina Garten. It was delicious, and I recommend finding any excuse to make it.

Other Favorites

Red Aspen Press On Nails
in Nina On Cloud Nine

I cannot get over how wonderful these press on nails are! The learning curve is short, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll love the natural look, the longevity, and the price. Nina on Cloud Nine is the perfect white mani. If you’re one who paints her own nails, you know how many coats it takes to get an opaque white mani. This takes about 20 minutes from start to finish and zero dry time! Get yours here.

Naghedi St. Barths Tote

It’s been high time for a new handbag around here, and I was kind of digging the woven tote bags I’d seen some of the influencers carry. Most of the ones I saw were the larger size one from Amazon. I think those are so cute, but I was in the mood for a change- smaller purse, bold color. Enter Naghedi. I first laid eyes on the St. Barths Tote via @nashvilletash in the gorgeous orchid color (no longer available). But I wanted one that I could carry longer than spring and summer. That’s when I perused the website and found it in poppy. She’s a bright orange that I will carry all year round. It’s neoprene, machine washable, and thoughtfully made. There are tons of styles and sizes. It’s a bit of an investment but not a huge one in comparison with more couture bags. It’s a total win in my book!

Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion

I’ve droned on and on about my oily skin here, especially when talking about Beautycounter. Honestly, I’ve been dealing with it since I hit puberty. I was using and loving the Countertime Collection at Beautycounter, which is the anti-aging line that has a retinol alternative called Bakuchiol in it. It was super hydrating and I knew it was keeping those deep set wrinkles at bay. (Also, the eye cream is truly incredible and worth every penny!) Anyway, I just kept being EXTREMELY oily throughout the day, so I decided that I was going to experiment and see if a different moisturizing routine would help. I swapped the Supreme Cream (night) for the Soft Cream (day)- I put this on at night before bed. I was foregoing moisturizer in the mornings because the Soft Cream was too much moisture for my skin under my makeup, which happens to be a tinted moisturizer base.
I decided I needed some type of moisturizer in the morning, so I finally gave the Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion a try. The beauty of this moisturizer is that it’s sort of like a mood ring for your face. It just knows what you are/need. I have been less oily than every before! It is so light and absorbs quickly into your skin. I cannot get over the sorcery that is in this product. 🙂 If you don’t love your current moisturizer, you must give this stuff a try! It’s pure magic!

I Feel Like I’m Missing Tons

April may have been fast and furious, but it was great! Lots of fun and lots of blessings. I hope April brought joy to your life, and I hope that May brings even more. We have another birthday I the house in May and let’s not forget the end of the school year! Counting down the days. Hope to share more soon.

Favorite Things of 2022

Happy New Year! We’re almost two weeks in to 2023, and I hope you’re all doing well. I’m hoping for good things for us all this year!
Today I want to share some of the stand out things of 2022. We’ll span the whole spectrum of categories, so grab a seat and read on.

Life

Target Dress (old,unavailable) | Similar Target Sandals

Paul and I started going back to church in the summer and have really enjoyed it. We haven’t always been able to go to church together. His work schedule never really allowed it while we lived in Louisiana, and when we moved back to Alabama we weren’t really sure where we fit. Anyway, I’m just really happy to be able to attend church together and to grow together in our faith. God opens doors right when we need him to, and I am so grateful that he does.

Safer Beautycounter Sunscreen | Matrix by Lauren Groff | Quay Sunglasses (Ever After)

This summer was the first one that I didn’t have a second job. I fully embraced summer vacation and took time off. It was glorious. I read so many books!

Other highlights of the year were:
Growing tomatoes for the first time and acquiring a second rose bush and a lime tree that is incredibly high maintenance, but the limes are GOOD!
Marrying off my best friend in the sweetest ceremony.
Attending two Auburn football games.

2022 had a few upsets for us too. One being the loss of my Aunt Sharon. We share a birthday and had a very special bond. I miss her terribly, but God continues to show His goodness and faithfulness even in times of loss, grief, hurt, and disappointment. On the morning she died, I was heading out the door to work, and when I opened it there was the biggest cardinal just sitting on a powerline looking at me. I gasped, and it flew away. I hadn’t heard the news yet, but in that moment I knew it was my sign that she had passed. As I was pulling into the school parking lot, my mama called to tell me my aunt had died early that morning. My friend told me the cardinal was a God wink to let me know she was okay. I believe it. God works in mysterious ways and no doubt knows that old saying about cardinals showing up as lost loved ones. His goodness and faithfulness never fails.

Listening

Nicolle Galyon released her debut album called Firstborn. Nicolle is a songwriter of many songs that you know and love in the country music genre, but she finally put out her own album, and It. Is. Incredible. She is one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation, and I could listen to her album over and over again and never tire of it. Oh wait, I did that.

Towards the end of the year and still now (let’s blame it on Yellowstone coming back in November) I started listening to Lainey Wilson (specifically Bell Bottom Country), and I think I really like her. If you’re following me on Instagram, you’ve likely heard her songs popping up in stories. I wake up singing one almost every morning.

Watching

The White Lotus on HBO Max was a show Paul and I tried in season one and couldn’t really get into it. Well, a podcast I listen to started devoting their episodes to season two of The White Lotus and that made me very curious. I wasn’t sure if I needed to finish season one to fully get season two (you don’t) but I powered through it and ended up really liking it.
But season two!!!
That was the better one for me. It’s set in Italy so it’s breathtaking scenery, and I liked the characters better. Highly recommend.

House of the Dragon was the other show I was very excited about watching this year. It came out in August on HBO Max and is a prequel to Game of Thrones focused on the ancestors of Daenerys Targaryen. I thought it was incredible and can’t wait for more. I think if you’re a GOT fan then you’ll like this one.

Reading

Hands down my favorite book of the year was Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It is nearly 900 pages, but it is the most beautiful and complex storytelling you’ll read. I laughed and cried and cringed my way through. There were things I could never imagine living through, and then the next page would have me wishing I was right there with the Hat Creek Outfit. After reading it I started watching the mini series, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch the last part of it because I had the notion in my head of what the ending of the book was supposed to be like. And even though Robert Duvall could not have been a better Gus, I could not let the show influence my vision of how the ending of the book went. If you read one western in your life, please make it Lonesome Dove.

A very close second and a complete shift in content is another book I have to share with you, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. This book follows Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1960s, who hosts a cooking show that teaches women far more than cooking. It’s about her life and the struggles of being a woman in the world of science in a time when women “belonged in the home”. There’s also a dog in the book named Six-Thirty, and I’ve never loved a fictional animal more. What a delight of a book. Add it to your TBR list.

Wearing

This Goodwill blazer is one of my favorite wardrobe additions.
Boyfriend button down (Size Large) | High wasted jeans (could have sized down one) | Similar Sneakers | Similar Earrings (mine are black) | Loopy Phone Case (Plaid)

Blazers have taken over my wardrobe. I bought one several years ago and have worn it now and again, but as I started seeing them pop up in the fall fashion trends, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I’ve gotten one locally, one from Amazon, and one from a thrift store. I think blazers are an easy way to elevate a basic look, add a sophisticated layer, and provide warmth without the bulk. I’m not sure I’ll be quitting these anytime soon.

Current favorite pumps in nude.
Jeans | Pumps (Color: Chestnut)

I was in desperate need of a pair of black pumps when I found a pair in Target and bought them on a whim. I fell in love. So in love that I bought them in a nude color, too. Are they the most well made pump you could own? Nope. But are they comfortable, the perfect, comfortable heel height, and affordable? Yep. I wear them all the time and with everything. I’ll report back if I get the courage to wear them all day teaching.

Another Target shoe I bought in black and then again in nude is this two-strap sandal. I also wear these with everything and do wear these all day at school. Those block heels can take you the distance! They are comfortable and have a cushiony foot bed. Love ’em.

I’ve reached borderline obsession status with my next favorite: Vivian Drew Earrings. I have slowly been collecting pieces from this brand for several years, but it turns out that when I send her Instagram posts over to Paul’s DMs, he buys them and gives them to me for birthdays and anniversaries and Christmases. Take that tip to the bank, girls! Works every time. 😉 The quality is excellent. The very first pair that I bought still looks brand new. Check out her site here and give her a follow on Instagram.

Beauty

I have been with Beautycounter for several years now, but I have never tried the Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick until October and wow, wow, wow! I decided to get the At the Red-y Lip Duo holiday set, and I’m just wondering why I never got this lipstick before. It really is conditioning and the color payoff is surprising for a sheer lipstick.

The other thing I’m still loving is the Countertime Line from Beautycounter. It’s the anti-aging line that uses Bakuchiol in place of Retinol. This makes it less harsh and safe for those who are pregnant and nursing. I truly love it.

Shop my faves

Here’s your one-stop-shop for all of my 2022 favorites.

Lonesome Dove Book
At the Red-y Lip Duo
Amazon The Drop White Blazer (fits TTS)
Vivian Drew Earrings (this style currently on sale)
Countertime Skincare Regimen
Target Nude Two-Strap Sandal (fits TTS/wearing color Chestnut)
Target Black Two-Strap Sandal (fits TTS)
Target Black Pump (fits TTS)
Target Nude Pump (fits TTS/wearing color Chestnut)
Lessons in Chemistry Book

Here’s to 2023!

More good music. More interesting books. More entertaining television. More affordable fashion. More safer beauty. More church. More Auburn football. More relaxing. More time with friends and loved ones. More God winks. More blessings.

Until next time.

Currently Loving- August 2019

Is it fall yet? August is my least favorite month of the year. My goodness, it’s hot in Alabama. I seriously think I’d like to move further north. I’m not meant to sweat this much. Anyone else?
There were some good things that I loved during this hellish month, but this heat just ain’t one of them.

Currently Loving- July 2019

Hi friends! You guys, I made a list of the things I’ve been loving this month, and it is so long! I love that and hope that that will continue for the rest of the year. I’ve found so many small things to love and be thankful for this month, and I’m just happy to share so you can be reminded to stop and appreciate the small things, too.

Currently Loving- March 2019

Where is 2019 going? Already three months in? Why do I feel like I blinked and it’s gone? I’m not complaining. It’s that much closer to summer break, and it’s been a great month (other than all the pollen and allergy issues that have hit me like a ton of bricks). So many great things happened in March, and I’m pretty excited to share them with you today. This post is basically a compilation of everything I did this month. I don’t have a whole lot of products to report about, but if you’re nosy about what I got into, read on! 🙂

Currently Loving- February 2019

Um, where did February go? I feel like the month went by so quickly that I don’t have as many favorites this time. However, the Oscar Fashion portion is going to be pretty lengthy, so it’ll make up for the lack of other favorites. 🙂 I hope you all had a great month and that March will be even better.

Lady Gaga at the Grammy Awards

I was completely in love with her whole look that night. The dress was so eye-catching and glamorous. Her hair and makeup was sultry. And that necklace was the perfect compliment to the dress. Then she went and changed for her performance, and I lost my mind. More sparkle, and she looked fabulous.

I’ve never wanted to be a rock star more. So many people criticized her performance for being terrible and strange. But like my favorite quote says, “The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.” Keep doing you, Gaga.

Where the Crawdads Sing

This book was one of the best books I’ve ever read. It was incredibly descriptive, heartbreakingly beautiful, and I was surprised all the way to the end. I could not recommend Where the Crawdads Sing more. Ms. Owens is a phenomenal writer, and I hope she gives us more of these types of books.

Oscars Fashion

Oscar night is like my Super Bowl. Heck, it might as well be as exciting as Christmas morning. I love this day so much because there’s actual “pregame” programs on TV starting at 4pm and sometimes earlier. E! covers a ton of the red carpet, and I tend to stick with them until showtime. This year there was drama about Kevin Hart being the host of the Oscars which led to there being no host at all, and I actually enjoyed the show better that way. I didn’t have to listen to someone push their political agenda through a monologue, and I didn’t have to cringe through bad jokes. I thought the night flowed quite well, and I enjoyed it a lot. I mean, Queen opened the show! How much better does it get? In my opinion, there doesn’t need to be another host. Each song that’s up for Best Original Song gets performed throughout the night, so why not let one of them be the opener? I think most people enjoyed Queen singing with Adam Lambert. I know I did.

But this section of the post is titled Oscar FASHION, so here are my favorite looks of the night.

My favorite look of the night. She looked incredible. This lovely gown is by my all time favorite designer, Oscar de la Renta.

On anyone else- a pink potato sack. On Gemma Chan, haute couture…with pockets!

The Mother of Dragons looking gorgeous in lavender. I loved the asymetrical neckline.

Brie Larson looked absolutely fierce in this metallic dress that showed off her impeccable superhero body.

Ashley Graham- Not 100% sure what she was doing there, but she looked awesome, and I couldn’t get enough of this classic yet killer silhouette. Probably would have done a different necklace, and I could have done without those things sticking out of her updo. Other than that, gorgeous.

Amy Adams has left me feeling meh all award season, but she knocked it out of the park with this look. Total movie star.

The Disco Ball dress was one of my favorite looks. It just screamed glamour and was a tad bit extra. I loved it.

Pink was the color of the night. Julia Roberts didn’t walk the red carpet (to my knowledge), but she walked on stage to give the final award looking like a total babe. Pink really is her signature color.

I really like the wow factor a ball gown gives. I loved the black and how classic that was. But Gaga kept it Gaga with those leather gloves and the hip structure. But can we talk about that Tiffany necklace. I bet she had security for that one.

Now for some Vanity Fair Oscar Party looks:

Oscar de la Renta again. It’s a bit extra, but in this bright white it’s just fresh and pure perfection.

I like the dress itself, but it fits her perfectly. I love this look on her. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Yes, yes, yes. She ages backwards. I love the blue and black together. It’s not done enough.

At first glance I wasn’t very impressed, but then she started working that cape, and it grew on me. The news of the night was that this was her first appearance since being diagnosed with MS, hence the cane.

Great color for her and loved that it was a two piece.

However, I loved most that she wore turquoise jewelry with the red.

Hello, Mr. Draper. He looked so handsome. Stopped me in my scroll so I knew he had to be included. I also read he’s in the new Top Gun sequel or remake or whatever they’re doing. Not mad about that. #amiright

Could these two be any cuter? Not loving the track suit look over a gown, but I love her attitude about the whole thing, and the matching made it work. She’s the best. They’re hilarious.

I actually liked this dress better than the one she wore on the red carpet. A giant black ball gown. Yes please. She’s a tad over-tanned, but she looks stunning. The dress is perfect.

Here’s a few more looks that I liked (I can’t help myself.):

Some of my favorite moments:

When they walked out, I giggled the entire time they were out there. Did you catch her using that rabbit puppet while he talked? This was pure genius. Google it if you didn’t watch. It’ll provide a much needed laugh.

Olivia Colman was so surprised that she won for Best Actress. It was the best acceptance speech of the night and is also worth a Google. Can’t wait to see The Favourite.

I don’t really even need to caption this picture, but while you’re Googling the other two bits, Google this one too. It was something else.

And if you need more and differing opinions plus alternative looks, head to Erin Gates’s blog post here. She’s put together an incredible Oscar fashion post that’s even pretty funny.

Homemade Pizza

On Oscar night I always eat pizza. This started when I would drive to my friend Rochelle’s house and we’d all eat pizza, sometimes in our PJs, and watch the show. However, we’re older now and takeout pizza doesn’t sit well with our aging bodies, so we have taken to mostly making our own pizza or very carefully ordering and taking lots of heartburn medication before we go to bed when we do order out. Ha! I knew immediately this year that I wanted to make my meatless white pizza, so I did just that. You can get the recipe here.

Paleo Brownies

I also knew I’d want dessert after my pizza, so I whipped up these delicious paleo brownies again. I made them for the last book club, and I really enjoyed them. If you aren’t following Elisabeth and Butter on Instagram, you’re missing out on some amazing recipes. Not all of them are paleo or healthy. But she makes some delicious looking stuff, y’all. Get the recipe for the brownies here. (I subbed brown sugar for the coconut sugar but kept everything else the same, and they were amazing.)

Well, it was literally fashion and food this month with one book thrown into the mix. What can I say? I am who I am.

What were your thoughts on Oscar fashion? I want to know your favorite look. Have you seen any of the movies up for Best Picture? I’ve watched four so far: Black Panther, A Star is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody, and BlacKkKlansman. Really want to see The Favourite and Green Book. I’ll watch Vice, but I’m not dying to see it or anything. Thinking about watching Roma since it’s on Netflix, but I know I’ve got to really commit because of the subtitles. Which ones have you seen?

Anything else fun happen during February for you? Tell me in the comments. And cheers to March!

My Favorite Fall Accessory

Some of you might say, “Elizabeth, I know your favorite fall accessory is definitely a scarf.” And you’d be making a pretty valid point, but fall in the south is still pretty warm, and the accessory I always pull out first will not make you hot. Continue reading “My Favorite Fall Accessory”

Currently Loving- July 2018

Happy August 1st!

I’m back to school today. 🙁 Sad that my summer break is over but happy to be sharing my favorite things from July. One of which was my anniversary yesterday. Happy 8 years to us! You can read all about our wedding here.

Okay, let’s get to it. Continue reading “Currently Loving- July 2018”

Currently Loving- November 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING- NOVEMBER 2017

Time to put away those pumpkins and bust out the Christmas trees, Santas, and if you live in my house, glitter! Anyone else feel like you blinked and November was over? Holy crap! It flew by and even though December means that a lot is about to be added to our calendars, I’m looking forward to it.

This Blog

My first favorite this month is this blog. I have been learning so much (still have so much to learn), and I have just been having fun playing with the new things I’ve learned.

I really enjoyed writing my Changes post. It was pretty personal, but it’s the truth and something that’s going on in my life. It was fun to write out my thoughts and feelings about this particular topic, and I hope that if anyone else is feeling this way that they found a hint of encouragement from that post. No one is alone in their feelings.

I also enjoyed putting together all of my Holiday Gift Guides. I think I was most proud of the Gifts for Him guide because I’ve always been so bad at picking gifts for Paul. I remember getting him things for Christmas one year, and he took them back. Now, in his defense, he is horribly hard to buy for because he’s like most men and gets what he needs and wants throughout the year, so come Christmas there’s nothing left to get. But he told me after he read the post that he liked everything on the gift guide and thought the orange and blue golf shoes were very cool. 🙂 #wifewin Now, will he actually get any of those things? I can’t say yet!

My New Favorite Lipstick

That picture was a very happy mail day. I knew that I wanted to incorporate these lipsticks into my beauty routine as soon as I saw them. I read that we actually ingest our lip products. Yikes! So if our lip products are made of toxic materials, I think it’s a perfect place to start to make the switch to safer beauty. I received this holiday set from Beautycounter with the understanding that I could share with my clients and anyone interested in learning about the brand, but that they were to be put up for Christmas. Well, I have pretty much worn them everyday. (Sorry, Paul.) I love them so much. They truly are long-wearing, deeply pigmented, and smell and taste of peppermint. Did I mention I love them? I’d love for you to try them. You can check them out on the website here. They are currently out of stock until December 8th, but that’s plenty of time to order, get them in, and wear them to your holiday parties (or gift them). There’s also an option to be notified when they are available. Or I can do all the work for you. Just ask me how! One less thing for you to remember to do. 🙂 And if you’re local, call, text, or message me. I’d love for you to try them for yourselves.

Christmas Decor

If you follow any home decor bloggers on Instagram, then you’ve already been bombarded with picture after picture of Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, Santas, you get the picture. I’ve got to be honest, it’s one of my favorite things about Instagram. I love to see how other people decorate their homes. Do they go traditional or trendy? Do they have one tree or four? What are their family traditions? What outfits do they pick out for Christmas cards? And what about those party outfits? There’s always a lot of sparkles and sequins, and I love me a good sparkle.Look at Fran Bacon of The Fashion Lift in her sparkly jumpsuit! She’s from the UK, and she’s my ultimate in hair goals. Those bangs! I wish mine would look so good. Not that I have them, but if I did, I’d want them to be just like hers. And the woman can rock a bold lip. She’s just so chic! You can find her on Instagram here. Great fashion sense and always fun to listen to because of her accent. 🙂

I’ve also been enjoying my own Christmas decor. I have a Holiday Home Tour coming to the blog soon, so you’ll get a peek into our home and at our decor. I mentioned in my Changes blog post that I decided not to go traditional this year, and it’s been fun. I’m enjoying it this year. I can’t wait to get some presents wrapped and put under the tree. Here’s a sneak peek.

Auburn Won the Iron Bowl

Don’t you just love this Snapchat filter?

It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger! It was such a fun game, and I’m so happy I got to watch it with a bunch of Normans. Loud, bouncy Normans. There was a lot of jumping and high fiving and yelling during that game. At one point I look over and Ian (our nephew) and Paul were doing some kind of handshake, and the next thing I knew they were both lying on their backs with their legs and arms up in the air. I was informed that’s how the handshake ends. So much excitement! Now to get Georgia again this weekend. I heard Coach Malzahn say, “The best is yet to come.” 🙂 I believe Coach, and I believe in Auburn and love it!

9JKL

Have y’all been watching this show? I am so happy that Paul and I gave it a shot. It’s a funny 30 minute sitcom that will have you laughing out loud. Anytime we go to watch our DVR, I always request this show first. The dad is my favorite character, and during the Thanksgiving episode I looked at Paul and proclaimed them (the dad and mom- Harry and Judy) my soul mates.

Brief synopsis: Josh lives in an apartment (9K) in between his parents (9J) and his brother, sister-in-law, and their baby (9L). Hilarity ensues because of the boundaries, or lack thereof, amongst the family. It’s right up there on the “Funny Meter” with The Big Bang Theory. Here’s a clip-the one that made me think we were soul mates.

One More I’m not finished with this one yet, but it is very intriguing. I can tell that if I haven’t read it by Christmas break, I’ll definitely finish it then. My Aunt Sharon came to town and told me she was bringing it to me if I hadn’t read it yet. She’s very well-read and has excellent taste in literature, so I knew I’d better follow her advice and get right to this one. Have you read this one yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

So, what are you loving this November? Tell me in the comments! Have a very happy Friday and weekend and be looking out for my Holiday Home Tour in the next few days.

XO,

Elizabeth

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!