Birthday Wrap-up

This past weekend was my 28th (AAAHHHHHHH!!!) birthday.  I was fortunate enough to celebrate for two whole days...one with Hubs and one with the girls...so much fun!  

I won't go into a play-by-play of events, but here are two of my favorite things from my birthday.

1.  On Friday (my actual birthday), after a fun afternoon of doing all my favorite things, Hubs took me out to dinner.  We decided to eat somewhere new (to us) and our decision was DiGiulio Brothers.  Y'ALL...OH MY STARS.  I have no idea why it took us this long to eat at such a phenomenal restaurant.  Seriously, GO.  NOW.


2.  This.

My new beach bag/summer tote...Isn't it pretty?!  I pointed to this from across the store once on a grocery shopping trip to Target when Hubs was with me.  And then he went online and ordered it.  And surprised me with it when I woke up on my birthday.  MAJOR points for Hubs...I love it when he is secretly paying attention!!

So far, 28 isn't so bad...I just HATE the fact that it's SO close to 30.  (Dying a little...)


ANNNND I'm just a little sad that no one made me this......

http://www.theendlessmeal.com/birthday-cake-popcorn/

Guess there's always next year.  Hint, Hint.

Friday Crush : Gatsby

I am beyond crushing on Carrie Mulligan ( & Leo) in The "new" Great Gatsby.  I want it all to be real-life and I want to be IN it.  I want all of my future parties to be 20s themed and I am now on a mission to buy copious amounts of scarves and headbands to wear in my hair at all times.  

I can't possibly pick a favorite moment or outfit from this movie, but this is definitely one of them.  I adore the wardrobe in the scene below.  I know I would look just darling in her outfit and Hubs would kill in that sweater.  I just KNOW it.  So perfectly summer.

My new BFFs.  I DIE for these two.

I fully intend to own this in the near future.  Because in my next life, it's going to be true.

Summer Reading

Need a good book to read this summer?  This is one of my all-time favorites.  I have read it at least 5 times and recommend it to EVERYONE I come in contact with.  I read this book in one sitting (every time!), staying up until the very wee hours of the morning because I can't put it down.  Oh, and you'll cry like a baby...at least I did.  

If you like to read and need a new book, do yourself a favor and buy this one. It's really THAT good.

The Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares

Photo: tumblemepinkk

Sunless Tanner Recipe

I have fair skin.  And I've always hated it.  HATED IT.  As a child we would go swimming all the time.  My mom would grease us down with SPF 1,000 50+, you know the kind that is so thick that no amount of "rubbing it in" does anything and you spend the whole day with white streaks up and down your body.  But that wasn't enough, I still had to sit and wait for the sunscreen plaster to "soak in" (like that's gonna happen) while I watched my sister and everyone else jump right in.  It was obviously soul crushing since I still remember it.  But, I guess I should be grateful there was no "t-shirt swimming" in my life, right?!  Maybe everything does have a silver lining.

Photo: Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images

In high school, I was forbidden from going to the tanning bed.  So, I turned to the lovely orange-hued spray tan and I LOVED it.  I seriously thought I should be on the cover of Bronzed Beauties or something.  I'm pretty sure I walked around the house in the shortest shorts I was allowed to own and a sports bra for DAYS after each spray tan.  I only got two...you're welcome, family.

I became more sophisticated defiant in college and decided I was going to the tanning bed whether my parents liked it or not.  Obviously, I didn't tell them.  

Since then, I have tried many ways to get (and stay) tan all summer and use as little sunscreen as possible.  Talk about being blonde dumb.  I did not listen to one single lecture from my parents about skin cancer (even though both of them have had numerous skin cancer spots removed) or let one single excruciating sunburn stop me.  But I'm old now and don't have time to deal with the ramifications of sunshine on my skin.

The sunburn I got a few months ago was one of the most painful experiences in my life thus far.  I had not been that sunburned in 5 years or so and it was AWFUL.  So, since I'm spending more money on sunscreen and big hats, I don't have any left over for professional spray tans.  Plus, I just don't have the time.  (I'm one of those people who can't do anything else on the day an appointment is scheduled because I'm so obsessed with being on time.)

Solution: 

http://www.thecreativityexchange.com/2011/05/recipe-for-the-best-self-tanning-lotion-2.html

I bought the exact lotions in the picture and I think they work great!  It took me forever to find the Banana Boat lotion in the light/medium color (Walmart was the only place I could find it).  

I have now used this "recipe" twice and I love it.  There is a slight smell, but I kind of like it and Hubs doesn't even notice it.  NO STREAKING either.  I put it on at night (every 3 days or so) after I shower and shave, let it dry for a few hours before going to bed and I'm golden, literally.  I mix enough for one leg at a time...equal parts of each lotion in my palm mixed together with my finger and then applied to skin.  WASH HANDS after!!  

So happy I found something CHEAP that works!  Everyone feels better when they are "tan", am I right?!

Enjoy Life

Ok, is it just me or what?!  I have been getting increasingly annoyed with Facebook and the people on it.  I deleted the Facebook app from my phone several months ago and I LOVE it. I was to the point where I was spending too much time "checking Facebook" and not enough time with actual human beings.  I was documenting every SECOND of my life, just so I could put it on Facebook so (people who really don't care) could see it.  LAME.  

Does it not mean anything unless other people can rave about how wonderful it is?  Why are we such show-offs, always trying to "one-up" everyone else?  

Ok, the end.

A few sayings that I love and need to practice more.

Pretty Planners

It's Teacher Appreciation Week and y'all, teachers need some love!  

May Designs is my obsession this week.  They make fabulous completely customizable planners and note cards.  You can customize what it looks like on the outside AND what type of pages you want on the inside.  There are so many patterns and colors to choose from and they're all amazing.  They even have "bump diaries" for all the expectant mommies out there!  The only reason I haven't ordered one yet is because I simply cannot make up my mind on which pattern I want.  

I am one of those people who like to physically write down everything.  I hate my iPhone calendar...it's little and not colorful or pretty.  I am a list maker, to the max.  And my favorite part about having a pretty planner to write in, is color coding everything in my calendar.  Totally normal, I know.

These are a fun, cute, personal gift for anyone (especially teachers!) on any occasion.  And just maybe someone will surprise me with a gift card to get one!

This is an example I made on the May Designs website.

I Work Out...

First, a shout out to Hubs...8 months!  Woot!  Can't believe our wedding day was that long ago, but I've been loving every second of being a wife!

A package came in the mail the other day for Hubs and I asked what it was.  He made the mistake of telling me it was one of my birthday presents.  That turned into one several games of Rock, Paper, Scissor to determine if I could open it early.  Long story short, I did not open it...until two days later.

The BEST decision (besides marrying him) that I have ever made was introducing Hubs to Pinterest, giving him my password and showing him my board "I want, I need".  Genius move on my part.  Genius.  I did this before my last birthday and have gotten awesome gifts ever since!  

This is my awesomely perfect "early" birthday present from Hubs.

This shirt is 110% me and I wore it all weekend while being sick in bed with stupid allergies.

In the husband department, I WIN.  Can't wait until my birthday is actually here to see what other surprises there are!  Let's just hope I stop finding packages in the mail or I might not have anything left!

May

My Birthday!  Cinco de Mayo!  Summertime!  Married EIGHT months!  

What's NOT to love about May...so excited this sensational month is finally here!