I am so happy to report to you that I have finished the first book in what seems like years….probably because it has been! 

I have to first thank my sweet friend, Caroline, because she was the one that recommended this book. I have read a few Jane Green books in the past but had never gotten the chance to read this one. When we took our trip to Arizona for the National Championship, I picked it up from Amazon (thanks Prime Mail!)

Quick Summary
Jemima Jones is a twenty-something British girl who works in PR and is overweight. Way overweight. She is surrounded by beautiful coworkers and roommates and has even fallen head over heals for Ben, a coworker. She knows that Ben will never have an interest in her so she knows that she wants to make a change in her life. When she meets Brad, a gorgeous Californian over the internet, she has the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself as JJ, the slim, beautiful, gym-obsessed, glamorous and trendy girl. When her long distance beau demands they meet in real life, she knows that she can't hide her duckling self behind emails anymore and becomes the woman she's always wanted to be. With a surprise ending and some heart break throughout, JJ not only learns about true love and addiction, but she learns more about herself than she's ever known. Remember Ben, who she lusted at before her transformation? Who will she end up with…Ben, Brad or alone?

My thoughts after reading it
Loved it. Couldn't put it down!
She has some guts to travel across the country to meet someone she met on the internet!
How does your self esteem change after a transformation like that?
Does Ben like JJ only because she lost the weight and only sees her beautiful after the dramatic change?
Sometimes people claim to be someone they're not because they can hide behind a computer, but when it's time to meet the person…that's scary!

I actually let my mom borrow this book and she read it in one day and couldn't put it down, either. She was so obsessed that she went to the library and rented 4 more Jane Green books!

Would I read it again? Absolutely.

Have you read this book? What books have you been loving lately?

I've actually already started another book and because I loved this so much, I picked up another book by Jane Green. It's called Mr. Maybe and I'm loving it so far! Stay tuned for another book review…but it might be a while because I've only had time to read a chapter or two at night. Off to read, I go! 

A Beauty Haul

I first want to say thank you to everyone who has reached out to me lately because they noticed I haven't blogged in a while. I was hoping and praying that 2016 would be our year and that a fresh start would change a lot of things. But, was I ever wrong. I'm not quite ready to talk about what's been going on but that is why I've been absent from this little space. 

It's been a while since I've shared a beauty haul and honestly that's because I wasn't allowing myself to buy any new products until I ran out of the old. 

Over the past few weeks, I've run out of some of my favorite products such as cleansing water, cleansing oil, primers, perfume, blush, setting powders and bronzer. So, I was able to justify buying new products. 

 Pixi Rose Water 

Bare Minerals Skinsorial Oil Obsessed

Nivea Men's After Shave 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Tocca Perfume in Colette

India Hicks rollerball in Wild Spiderlilly

Wet N' Wild Ombre Blush 

Milani Blush

Milani Translucent Pressed Powder

Wet n Wild Translucent Pressed Powder

Revlon Lipgloss in Sky Pink

Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

I have used most of these products so far but I want to test them out for a few weeks before I review them. However, I've been using the Pixi Rose Water and Men's Nivea After shave on a regular basis. Men's after shave you ask? I would never believe that I'd be buying that but it's actually one of the best primer's I have ever used! I am joining the YouTube cult favorite and I've been loving it so far. 

Are there any new products you've tried lately? 

I'm hoping to begin blogging again on a more regular basis but it might just take me some time to get back in a regular routine. I hope you have a great weekend! 

Weekending

Hi friends! I feel like it's been a while since I've written a weekending post but we actually enjoyed a full weekend, so it seemed fitting. 

I rushed home after work on Friday to put out some yummy appetizers for our friends. We had a going away party for one of Andrew's co-workers so we had a little pre-party at our house beforehand. 

At the going away party…only managed to get a picture of a few of us but it was such a fun night. Too much red wine and up past midnight…haven't had that combination in a long time. 

Our Clemson Tigers were playing our biggest rivals, University of South Carolina in baseball and they played in Greenville on Saturday so we did a little tailgating before the game. Pulled pork BBQ sandwich for the win. 

| Sorry the pictures are grainy but we sat behind the net in the box suites | 

It's a homerun! Our Tigers won 2 out of the 3 games so they won the series which is awesome because USC actually has a decent team. 

After a full day of baseball, we went home and changed then met some friends out for happy hour and dinner to celebrate Jeremy's new endeavor. 

It was so nice to sleep in on Sunday, got lunch and then spent hours in the yard pulling weeds, picking up sticks and hauling off laves. Fun, huh? I certainly worked up an appetite but wasn't feeling like spending a lot of time in the kitchen so Trader Joes Kung Pao Chicken and organic brown rice for the win…and a glass of Rose. 

I've got a really busy week coming up, one night including happy hour with a few local Greenville bloggers that I am really excited to meet! 

Have a great week! 

A Photoshop Lip Kit

I hope you enjoyed your weekend! Ours was filled with food and friends and lots of sunshine! I may have even snuck out of the house to grab brunch and a quick pedicure with Stephanie. 

Speaking of, she got my one of the best and most practical gifts of all time for my birthday last week. If you know me, then you know that the harsh winter does a little number on my lips every year. And if I'm lucky, they stay chapped all year long. I will never win that battle. 

 Waxing Kara Honey Lip Balm | Mirabeau Lip Shimmer | Smith's Rosebud Salve 

Anyway, Steph knows this about me and has even had to photoshop my lips out of some pictures because let's be real, chapped lips don't look good on anyone. 

How thoughtful is this little goodie bag of lippy products she got me? 

All of these are from Anthropologie and I'm pretty much obsessed with all of them, especially the Dr. Lipps nipple cream…what? Yes, that is to be applied on your lips and not the suggested area. 

I've been using all of them this week and I'm here to say that my lips have never looked or felt better! 

Thanks for birthday present! 

28!

Today I turn another year old and while birthdays are sometimes hard for me to accept, I am praying that 28 is the best year yet. 

My 27th year was honestly probably one of the hardest years of my life so I welcome a new year and new beginnings. 

via 

There are so many things I'd like to accomplish this year and I will post them in a later post. I want this year to be a year that I remember and will never forget. 

Thank you to my wonderful husband and friends that took their time to celebrate this weekend with me. I am so thankful for my people. 

Happy Monday! xoxo

Warby Parker Home Try-On

Online shopping and prescription glasses...who would have thought? When I saw that Warby Parker came out with their new Spring Collection, I was thrilled and definitely jumped on the opportunity to try their eyewear for the first time. This girl has been eyeing their products for a long time…pun intended. I love WP for three simple reasons. A high end look and feel at a super affordable price, chic and in trend styles for every face. And lastly, my personal favorite, an at home try-on service that will be the easiest thing you've ever done. Period. 

How does it work? Whether you are in need of optical frames and lenses or sunglasses, WP has you covered. Just go to their website, click on the tab Home Try-On, select your gender and either optical or sunwear, and start shopping! There are so many different styles to choose from and within each style, there are several color options as well. Simply find one pair you like and click "Try at home for free." You can select up to 5 pairs for free. 

Once you have made your selections, create an account and provide your information so they can send them to you! I received an email right after I placed my order and another after they shipped with a tracking number. I received my glasses within just a few days. You have 5 days to try them on and see if you want to purchase them. Then, when you are done trying them on, send them back with the provided pre-paid shipping label. Best part is…they are only $95 if you want to purchase them! Oh, and did I mentioned that the price includes prescription? All you have to do is upload your prescriptions, and voila! 

One thing I will advise…check the measurements on the details of each piece. I didn't really take this into consideration when making my selection, but found that the two pairs of sunglasses didn't fit my pea head as well as I hoped. They were gorgeous styles but just didn't fit my small framed face. 

Their 2016 spring collection is beautiful and I honestly had the hardest time picking out just five pieces. Be sure to check out their new styles they've added this season. 

Ok, ready for it? Prepare yourself. Steph did a great job with her photography skills, but your model is pretty awkward. Excuse my rogue hair, her fan was on and I didn't realize it looked cray until afterwards. 

Laurel in Tea Rose Fade (my personal favorite) 

Haskell in Crystal with Maple 

The most fun pair of all! Oliver in Maraschino 

Yes, I understand that I am wearing sunglasses in bed but this was the best option for lighting. Just go with it. 

Everett in Midnight Blue. I honestly thought these were more like black in person. 

Banks in Striped Sassafras 

 Overall, I was so impressed with the customer service, products, and type of service that Warby Parker was able to provide. I highly recommend their at home try-on service. It was so nice to enjoy trying on my glasses in the comfort of my Stephanie's bed, instead of having to get into all of the mall traffic and go into a store to try on glasses. 

Click here to see more eyeglasses and sunglasses here! 

TGIT Catch Up

Y'all know I am a big fan of non-educational TV shows, so I was super excited when a few of my favorite shows premiered last Thursday night. For those of you who don't know what TGIT is, it stands for Thank God It's Thursday….when only the best shows come on! 

Oh, Shonda Rhimes. You've done it again. 

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Every time I tell someone that I still watch Grey's Anatomy, their reaction is "That is still on?" Why yes. It is, and yes, I absolutely still watch it. I thought it might be hard to watch once Derek was gone, but I was very wrong. 

Can we just say, Holy Meredith? I sure wasn't expecting that and hated seeing her like that! I am excited about the upcoming season though. 

Scandal. What kind of scheme is Jake and Papa Pope up to? Whatever it is, I don't like it. 

Has Marcus replaced Harrison? Harrison was easily one of my favorites on Scandal and may he rest in peace…but I just don't understand Marcus' role now. 

Poor Red. Does anyone see Abby and Fitz hooking up? 

And lastly, my favorite. How to Get Away with Murder. Oh gosh. 

Is Annalise falling apart? I am always so intrigued on how she turns on her clients and wins her case. Framing Philip? Genius. 

When will we get the full scoop on Wes and Annalise's past? 

What else did I miss? Not going to lie. I was a little disappointed in the three but then again, it's just the first episode. We still have a ways to go and guess what…only two days until the next episode!