Ahh! This week has been a short one with the holiday on Monday, but I am so excited the weekend is almost here. I am so looking forward to this weekend because A and I haven't been on a date night in months, so he made a reservation at our favorite local restaurant to eat al fresco out on the patio. This restaurant is known to have outdoor concerts, so I am hoping one is playing while we are there! I can't wait! 

This definitely isn't new item, but it is something that I never realized how much I actually use it. 

Coconut oil. 

I cook with it.

I use it as a hair mask.

I use it to take off my makeup.

I use it as a body oil.

I use it as shaving cream.

I use it to soothe sunburn.

I add it to my coffee for sweetener.  

And, there are so many more uses for it. Check for more ways here. 

I'd love to know your favorite uses for coconut oil! 

I hope y'all have a great weekend and be sure to follow on Insta! 

Oh and if you missed it, check out my guest post on Medicine and Manicures! 

I'm linking up with Stephanie, Caitlyn and Laura this week so be sure to check out their pages! 

xoxo

Guest Post for Medicine and Manicures

I can't tell y'all how excited I was when Kristina reached out to me to ask me to be a guest on Medicine and Manicures. She and her fiancé are in St. Maarten on their engagementmoon right now, and I know they are having a great time! She is hands down one of my favorite bloggers and was one of the first bloggers I ever started following! Her style and her personality are what draws me to her posts.

Thank you Kristina for inviting me to be ramble on about manicures!

Please visit her blog to check it out...I know you will love her as much as I do!

Here is a sneak peak of what you might see….

My nail collection, favorite colors and tools and tips and tricks!

Linking up with Annie and Natalie today for Thoughts for Thursday! Don't forget to stop by and check out their pages! 

Apps & Pitch Perfect 2

One of my favorite things to do on a Friday night includes apps, cocktails and a movie. There is a great restaurant near our local movie theater that has a fantastic happy hour. As you can see below, these apps will feed multiple people, and at just $3.50 each, you can't beat that.  I love ordering multiple appetizers and just sharing them for dinner. And yes, that is thyme in my St. Germain Elderflower cocktail. Chicken lettuce wraps, chicken nachos and spinach and artichoke dip for the win. 

Y'all, there aren't many movies that I laugh from the minute the movie starts to the end of the credits. I absolutely love the original Pitch Perfect, but I think I have to admit that the sequel was just as good, if not even better than the first. The originals are usually better, in my opinion, but this sequel was just too good. Rebel Wilson makes this movie. She is without a doubt, one of the funniest actresses on the big screen right now. The songs were so on point.  I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did! And, I can't wait to buy it once it comes to DVD! 

So, grab a bag of popcorn and a large diet coke, and enjoy!

Tomorrow is the big day! Don't forget to check back in tomorrow because I will be guest posting for one of my favorite bloggers, and I can't wait for you to see who it is! 

Pool Bag Essentials

Happy Memorial Day! I hope everyone had a safe and long holiday weekend. I want to take the time to  thank those who have served our country for allowing us to have freedom. 

This past Saturday was the opening weekend for the pool that we are members at, so I was thankful to get out there for the first time this season. I carefully packed by bag accordingly to be sure I didn't forget anything! 

These are my 10 Pool Bag Must-Haves:

Beach Bag/Tote

I got this bag at the Lilly for Target shenanigans, and it is the perfect bag to carry to either the pool or the beach. It is big enough to carry all of my essentials. Obviously, this specific bag is sold out, but any bag or tote will do!

Towel

I also snagged this towel at the same time I got the bag, and is sold out, but any large towel will do. I like large towels so it covers the entire chair.

Bathing Suit

This is one of my new favorite bathing suits because of the fit. The top is from Target, and the high waisted bottoms are from Old Navy. 

Coverup

I recently found this coverup at Old Navy on sale, and it is the perfect length for the pool. It is flowy and not too tight to wear over my bathing suit.

 Lip Balm

I am a total lip junkie, and this moisture plus lip balm is perfect for being out in the sun. It has SPF 15 and does an excellent job of protecting my lips from getting chapped and exposed to the sun. 

Sun Screen

I'm not going to lie, when I was a teenager and in college, I was not a big proponent of sunscreen. As I get older and as my skin changes, I am a huge advocate of protecting my aging skin. I use this to protect my face and love it! 

Sunnies

Any type of sunglasses will do the trick, but it is very important to protect your eyes while in the sun. I have had my polarized Ray Ban aviators for years now, but you can find them here. 

Hydro Flask Water Bottle

This water bottle is one of my favorites. I can literally fill it up with ice when I leave the house, and it will not melt. I typically fill it up 5 or 6 times while I am at the pool because staying hydrated while in the sun is so important. 

Magazines/Book

I don't get the chance to read much at home because there are always other things going on, so this is always a perfect opportunity to catch up on the latest gossip or summer read.

Sandals

These aren't pictured, but sometimes finding the perfect pair of sandals can be hard, but Tory Burch never fails me. 

I am so glad that this is a short week because I am already ready for the weekend! I hope y'all have a great week! 

xoxo

Can't Live Without It: OxiClean

We are on the final stretch to the weekend! I am so glad we made it to today because that means an extra long weekend!

Linking up with Steph, Cait and Laura for Can't Live Without It!

I am uh-sbessed with OxiClean. It seriously gets all spots and stains out. My husband will probably hate me for saying this, but oh well.  He played golf last week in the rain and was wearing khakis, and he may or may not have slid all the way down the muddy hill. Brought those bad boys home, threw some OxiClean in the washer…and bam! They were like new. 

True story.

A, don't hurt me but it worked, right?

PS. Although I probably don't need to, I add this to every wash because I can tell a major difference when I don't. 

Y'all, I am so excited for a special post coming up next week! I've been asked to guest blog for one of my most favorite bloggers ever, and I can't wait for y'all to find out who it is!

Have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!

xoxo

Thank You

Today I just wanted to reach out to you and say thank you. I've kind of been down in the dumps lately for a few reasons, but I know the future holds some positive news and adventures, but it just takes time. There aren't always immediate answers, and my patience has been forced to grow astronomically. 

I understand that a lot of you are probably thinking, "What is she talking about?" but thank you for just being you. Thank you for coming to my little space daily and for your sweet comments. You don't understand how sometimes just a comment or email will brighten my day. 

Thank you to all of my friends and family who have personally reached out to me to let me know you are praying. Prayer is powerful, and I truly believe it works. 

Reach out to those dear and near to your heart, because sometimes they are going through hidden obstacles and just a hug or smile can bring them up to a better place. 

That's all I have for today, but tomorrow I'll be sharing my Can't Live Without It, so be sure to check back in! 

Oh! And stay tuned for next week...I'm very excited about a certain post coming up!

Linking up with Annie and Natalie for Thoughts For Thursday! 

Birthday Gift Ideas for Girlfriends

I love birthdays. I love celebrating friend's and family's and of course, my own! Whether it is a surprise birthday party (that Andrew has successfully accomplished 6 years in a row) or a small get together, everyone's birthday is special and should be recognized. 

I celebrated two of my girlfriend's birthdays tonight and seriously had to think about what type of gift to get them. I wanted the gift to be unique to both of them and to be something that they will actually use and not re-gift or not have a use for.

For these two special friends, I ended up getting them the same thing because let's be real, we are all very similar and like the same things so I knew they'd both enjoy it. Also, I got them two of the gifts that are in this list below!

Here are some gift ideas that I not only enjoy giving, but also receiving!

What are your favorite gifts to give or receive?

The Bachelorette Season Premiere

Who's ready?! I tell myself every.single.year that I am not going to watch the next season. And every.single.year I watch it and can't stop myself. It's a problem, I know.

This year has a major twist. I would love to know how many times Chris Harrison has said "This is going to be the most shocking season ever!" over the years. But, there really is a twist this year. For the first time ever, there are two bachelorettes. The men will end up handing out a rose to only one bachelorette to see which one will continue out the season. From then on, either Britt or Kaitlyn will end up giving out the final rose to their future husband.

The Bachelorettes
Britt, the charasmatic yet emotional beauty. We all vividly remember her. When she was on Chris Soules' season, I picked her to get the first impression rose, and I also thought she'd make it to the end. She was one of my absolute favorites from episode one, but as the season went on, I think we can all agree that she wasn't the sweet Britt that we met at the beginning of the season.

Kaitlyn, the fun loving and absolutely hilarious and slightly inappropriate beauty. She was one of my favorites from Chris' season as well. Although it took me a little longer to figure out that she was a front runner, I ended up really pulling for her towards the end. She was truly heart broken, and I am so glad she's back.

Now, who is it going to be? Which bachelorette will get to continue the season and find her true love?

My vote is Kaitlyn! I think she is here for the right reasons and is more real and relatable than Britt.

As far as the men go, I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to be...but it's still early in the game. There were a few that stood out, but not many. A little disappointed.

Who do you think the lucky man AND woman will be?

ps. I'm a wimp and go to bed super early, so I fell asleep before it was even over SO if they gave out the rose to one of the girls...don't tell me! I will finish it tonight!

A Weekend We Look Forward to Every Year

As we wrap up this fun filled and very busy weekend, I thank my lucky stars everyday for these special people in my life. I am surround by great friends and am so fortunate!

Ok, now onto what you came looking for. I got off work early on Friday and joined my husband's company for their "topping out" party. BBQ was served, and although it was delicious, my girlfriend and I just had to stop for a Circa doughnut and almond and coconut macaroon. She also happens to be a master planter and has the biggest green thumb I know, so I talked her into taking me shopping for flowers. They may or may not be still sitting in my yard to get planted. Any volunteers? 

We enjoyed a seafood dinner Friday night to celebrate A's "topping out"…again. I am so very proud of him and all of the hard work he has put into his job!

Shots all around.

 For the past three years, we've enjoyed going to the BMW ProAm. As members of one of the hosting clubs, I usually am content with staying in the member tent, but it was so nice out that we did a lot of walking..and stalking! This is hands down, one of our favorite weekends that we look forward to every year. 

The best side of Oliver Hudson

Please hold for just a moment while I reminisce from two years ago when we met him on the 18th hole.

Ok. Done. 

After a long day in the sun, we grilled out and relaxed outdoors

Hmmm, Cakebread wine. A favorite of ours. 

I love Sundays at the ProAm. We got there early in the morning and walked a few holes, then planted my rear in the member tent. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and I even got a little tan!

 Sunday night consisted of hanging out at the Greek Festival. These pictures don't do it justice, but everything from the gyros, pizza, lemonade and even fried cheese were amazing! 

The fried cheese flamed with Hennessy. Need I say more?

See, I promised you that there would be lots of food, friends and golf this weekend…and that's what you got! Counting down the days until the long weekend!

xoxo

Can't Live Without It: Seche Vite

Happy Friday! I don't know about you, but this week flew by for me! We had a busy one, but I am so looking forward to all of the events we have planned for this weekend!  

I am linking up with Stephanie, Caitlin and Laura again this week. I really enjoy writing these posts, so thank you for the linkup, ladies! 

Let's get right to it...because this is a good one and a definite must-have! 

One word. Okay, maybe 4. Best. Top. Coat. Ever. 

This is the only top coat that I've been using for the past few years, and it's probably the only one I will ever use. This has definitely reached Holy Grail status for me. And, unless there is something else that is mind blowing better...this will continue to stay in my weekly manicures! I do at-home weekly manicures because it saves a ton of money and time. Don't get me wrong, I love going and getting pampered, but let's be real. By now, I can do my nails in about 15 minutes and save $25...so, winner. Because I'm so used to doing my own nails, I honestly can do my nails better than then manicurist. 

I use this base coat, two coats of color, then one coat of Dry Fast Seche Vite. Depending on the colored polish, my nails will usually last about a week before chipping. The top coat provides the shiniest and smoothest nails. Before I started using this, my previous top coat would make bubbles in my nails...does that make sense? They weren't smooth at all! I can honestly paint my nails in bed and fall asleep 5 minutes later because it dries that fast! I'll wake up and have beautiful, shiny and smooth nails!

Before

After

Color on my nails: Essie Splash of Grenadine 

Do yourself a favor and go buy this now!! 

Be sure to follow along on IG over the weekend...there will be lots of food, drinks and friends! What's new? But, we are headed to the BMW ProAm so I will be on the lookout for a couple of celebrities. If you want to see what it's about and who I met last year, check out my post here. 

Thoughts for Thursday: Local Art Show

Last night, I went to my very first art show. The art show just happened to take place on the same street that I live on,  so it was very convenient and a no brainer that I had to check it out. I kind of had an idea as to what to expect, but it blew my expectations out of the water.  By the time I got there, the show had been going on for about 7 hours and was jammed packed. I had never seen so many ladies in my neighborhood, much less all in one house! This house was perfection, and the absolute best location for this type of event.  The setup was beautiful, plus they served wine! Win for me.

The art show was featuring several different local designers and artists, a few of which I follow on Insta and have been eyeing all of the gorgeous pieces of art. One of the first designers is Shanlou.  This is a co-ownership of two extremely talented women who design and make beautiful necklaces and bracelets. Anywhere from horse tail tassel to stone to spike to tusks to to arrows to crosses. You get the idea...lots of options! 

Another shop featured was Marquin Designs. She has the most beautiful modern, abstract and vibrant pieces, including pillows! 

There were several more local artists that showcased precious prints, clay pots, necklaces, bracelets, headbands, etc. 

Please excuse the indoor lighting

I'm not sure how often they have these, but I'll definitely go back next time. Do you have any local events like this in your area? 

I'm linking up with Annie and Natalie today, so thank you ladies!

Be sure to check back in tomorrow for Can't Live Without It's linkup with Steph, Caitlin and Laura!