Thursday, March 28, 2013

Birchbox!

I just wanna take a moment to tell you about one of my favorite "little things" in life... 
BIRCHBOX!
Today I was having a tough time because of some issues with my mail man and possibly other factors as well. I realized that I was not receiving my favorite part of the month. I contacted the wonderful girls at Birchbox and they made it all good and well again! So here is a little bit about the organization. I mean who doesn't love samples of high end products (that are specialized for you) every month?!

For $10 every month (and an initial personalizing survey) you receive a beautiful pink box that is filled with excellent surprises! It is always such an exciting moment when I open my front door to see my pink box sitting on the porch. Inside the ladies of Birchbox have done an excellent job wrapping the items up with adorable tissue paper and bows. It is a surprise each month on what items will be in the box, but the fun part has just begun. Once you have poked and prodded through all of your fun new products (and tried them all) you log on to the Birchbox website. Here is a look at the products that were in my last box~ ~ 






Here is where you get to fill out surveys on each of the items in your box for the month. These surveys help the Birchbox crew make sure they are sending you things that are perfect for you and each of their customers. Each survey you fill out earns you 10 points towards your account and the best part is those points are equivalent to money in the Birchbox online store! So rack up those points and buy full size products of the stuff you loved most from your boxes. Okay ladies (and now gentlemen) now it's your turn, I have only told you a little bit about the greatness go check out their website to find out more!

Try it out y'all... they won't disappoint! 


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday Ten: Life Tips

Tuesday Ten: Life Tips

1. Keep your current nail color on your bed side table...

I do believe number one is pretty self explanatory, but just to make sure I will explain. I think that by keeping whatever color of choice, that you are currently sporting, at your bedside it will encourage touch ups through the week. I will once again say how much a good nail color can complete any look even if it's a "lazy" day. Whenever I see the ends of my polish starting to wear away I just do a quick touch up swipe and everything is better!

2. Chai Latte K-cups...

I have recently discovered the deliciousness of the Chai Latte K-Cups! This is such a wonderful night time drink because as far as I can tell my sleep has not been affected. I always want something warm before bed such as tea or hot chocolate. This is the perfect mixture of both! I love chai tea, and this k-cup blends chai with warm milk. You can find a pack of 16 for around $11 at places like Walmart and Target. 

3. 60 seconds post-shower...

These valuable seconds are meant for one thing and one thing only... moisturizing! After a warm shower your pores are open and willing to have them packed with moisture. Pat off with a towel and grab your favorite moisturizer and go to work, but remember its a race against the clock :)

4. "Go-To" Jewelry...

Find a piece of simple/classy or wild/funky (if that is more your style) and make this your "go-to" piece of jewelry. I personally wear a white gold ring my parents gave me when I turned sixteen. I wear this ring and two simple silver chain bracelets everyday! I never get tired of these pieces because they are simple and silver so they truly go with everything in my wardrobe. Becoming attached to a piece of jewelry is alright by me because it means you have a little piece of "you" in every outfit you put together. 

5. Don't Forget Your Coffee in the Morning...

This is really just a personal life tip... No one wants to see me in the morning without my coffee. I'm almost positive some of your lovely people are the same way! So please for the sake of everyone's sanity and well-being have your cup (or 4) of coffee in the morning. 

6. Magic Mascara...

This tip is for those unfortunate days when the coffee maker broke down or your alarm decided it hates you. One of my major life rules is that there is ALWAYS time to apply a quick coat of mascara on my lashes. No matter how late I am there is time to grab my favorite tube and carry it along or stop in a reflective window and make those lashes big and beautiful. This may sound a tiny bit crazy, but there is a method to my madness. Mascara can make your eyes look ten times more awake even if you forgot to drink your nectar of the gods. SO, if you only pull one thing away from this post today make sure it is this. Here are the two tubes of mascara I am currently using  (both are in Very Black)!

7. Notes of Inspiration...

I know how cheesy this seems, but leave yourself notes to find around your room or home.  It really works! I always forget about some of the notes that I have posted and they really brighten up my day when I find them again. One of my favorites is in my closet, and yes as embarrassing as it is I will share it with you... It reads, "You are looking rather skinny today." It makes me smile EVERY TIME! Leave some silly ones, some inspirational ones, and some motivational ones. It really does make a difference in your day. 

8. Decorate Personally...

By decorating with your monogram or Lilly Pulitzer it really makes your room or work space very personalized. I love most all of the Lilly Pulitzer patterns and they make excellent desktop backgrounds, phone backgrounds, or even planner covers. Two of my favorite patterns right now are A Little Leg and Ya Gotta Regatta. Try these two patterns out with your monogram or even just as a wallpaper for your phone or laptop!

9. Plan to Plan Ahead...

I would be lost without my Lilly Pulitzer 2012-2013 Planner. Literally, lost! I write everything in this beautifully organizer planner. Everything from when I need to call someone to when my next hair appointment is (even if I got it cut the day before). I think my head would fall off if I did not keep my life somewhat more laid out by using this day by day. When life is starting to feel too busy to even sit down and breathe it is time to write it out. Once everything is down on paper it somehow magically looks more achievable. STICK WITH IT! If you write down that you will start that dreaded ten page paper that is due next Monday on the block for today... at least TRY to start the paper. Be good to yourself as well. I like to reward myself sometimes by blocking off time for things like a nice relaxing face mask!

10. Smile!

Last but certainly not least, smile. Smile at least ten times everyday. Sometimes I just sit, think, and smile to myself to make myself feel better about something that didn't turn out quite like I planned. No worries, just smile!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Top Ten Wishes on my Wishlist

So my 21st birthday is coming up quick and I've been pondering what I will be wanting to buy with my birthday money. I've decided on a top ten to put on a wishlist and I think it would be fun to share some of these items with y'all! Enjoy!

1. New Nike Running Shoes-- I have been really doing well with my new gym routine and making sure I get there everyday. Lately I haven't been as satisfied with my running shoes as I should be and decided that a new pair of Nike's may be in my future. Plus, you can't go wrong with Tiffany blue! Here is the pair that I have decided on...



2. Vintage Band T-shirts-- After searching high and low the search for vintage band t-shirts continues. I think it would be such a fun and summer-like outfit to throw a great band tee with some distressed boyfriend jeans. Here are a few that I have been searching for now for quite some time...

3. Monogrammed Quarter-zip-- As you already found out about me from my bio, I am obsessed with my monogram. Personally, I believe there is nothing cuter than sporting something with your initials on the front. I have been searching for a decently priced monogrammed quarter-zip pull over. I do believe this will be the one...




4. Boyfriend Jeans-- Distressed or in mint condition these jeans are definitely in this season. Hopefully I will be able to find a pair that will fit my somewhat difficult to fit booty. Here are some of my top choices...























5. Scalloped/fringed Bikini-- Black is always a great choice of color when it comes to summer time and finding the right bathing suit. This has been my color of choice for the past few years now. During this previous summer I could be found sporting a basic black bandeau top and tie side black bottoms. This summer the scalloped bikini is the "in" look. I am hoping to grab up one of these super cute bathing suits soon... 








6. Bro Tanks-- Yes, obviously I am not a "bro", but I must say a classic or fun phrased "bro" tank is such an easy outfit on sunny days. It is one of my favorite looks with my work out shorts or even a cute pair of capris or jean shorts. I have fallen in love with a website that makes "bro" tanks for girls with great phrases on the front. Check out their site: Kiss My Southern Sass. There is nothing more relaxed than a tank and your sunglasses hanging around your neck on a cute croakie! Check out some of the tanks I will soon be getting... 

 7. Snapback-- Judge me if you will, but a fun snapback is another excellent accessory to go with your "bro" tank look. Just another reason not to have to do your hair that morning! A backwards snapback is a great way to where lazy day waves. Here are some of my favorites...











8. Chevron Dresses-- I can't get enough of the pattern chevron. It is so in season for this spring and summer. Hopefully I will be able to grab a few chevron dresses in a few fun colors. This is such a great outfit to add some cowboy boots to and wear to a summer concert! Check these out... 







9. Statement Necklaces/Bows-- Well I am cheating a tiny bit by throwing these two together because I found eleven major wishlist items instead of exactly ten... but hey, I think that the accessories can go together! I love a good statement necklace and I absolutely think it can pull a simple outfit together without really trying to hard. Another great accessory for this spring and summer are big bows. I think the solid colored or floral bows are cutest by far because they can add a touch of color to a simple outfit. Here are some of the bows and necklaces that I will be grabbing soon!




















10. Customized Cornhole Boards-- What college kid doesn't love a good game of cornhole?! I have finally talked my daddy into making me a set of my own for my yard so I can have some friends over for a bit of day drinking and fun! If you didn't already notice from my bio I am also obsessed with my school so I will be getting the mascot and rotunda on my boards. I can't wait for sunshine and summertime. Grab yourself and drink and go find a set of cornhole boards!


Sunday, March 17, 2013

Quick and Easy Meal (first edition)

Hey Y'all! Today I made a quick and easy meal of Buffalo Chicken Sliders for dinner that I think everyone will enjoy. Hope you have a crock pot! I found this recipe in the April copy of FamilyCircle magazine (yes, I am 20 years old and get the FamilyCircle magazine). It has got to be one of the easily recipes I've ever made, and absolutely delicious!

Grab your crock pot and get ready to make some magic!
I absolutely love my slow cooker from target ($30.00). It gets the job done every time. 

On my last grocery shopping trip I picked up a large bag of boneless and skinless chicken breasts. These are always handy to keep in the freezer for quick and easy meals such as this. This recipe calls for about three of these chicken breasts (1 1/2 pounds of chicken). I used the microwave defrost setting to half way defrost the three chicken breasts. Trim away any excess fat that you don't want on the chicken and lay them in the bottom of the slower cooker. 

Now my favorite kind of buffalo wing sauce to use for recipes like this is Moore's Buffalo Wing Sauce. It has a pretty mild flavor and it won't overpower every one at the dinner table! Grab your measuring cup and add 1/4 cup of the wing sauce to the top of the chicken. I just drizzled it so that each of the chicken breasts were covered. Next, add 2/3 cup of water. Here is the easy part... turn the slow cooker on HIGH for 6 hours and  wait! Not only does this make an excellent dinner it also makes the house smell wonderful all day!
I came to realize that the chicken was ready to shred about 5 and a half hours. Whenever you go to stir the sauce and the chicken starts to fall apart and look done it is probably a good enough time to take it out and start the shredding. Grab a bowl and place the three chicken breasts in the bottom of it and shred them with two forks. If the chicken isn't spicy enough to taste for your taste go ahead and drizzle some more wing sauce over the shredded chicken and toss together. 

Once your chicken is shredded and hot and ready go ahead and grab some potato rolls and load 'em up!
If you like blue cheese on your buffalo chicken you can also add some blue cheese crumbles to top them off.  
An easy and cheap side for this meal would be chopping up some celery and carrot sticks and calling it a day.  




                                                                          
Although, tonight I was in a salad mood so I tossed some romaine hearts and balsamic dressing together and added some Salad Toppins and croutons. Yum! Well I hope you enjoy this super quick and easy meal!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Tuesday Ten

Every Tuesday (hopefully) I will be posting some of my favorite top tens. Enjoy!

Like I stated in my "About Me" post I am addicted to nail polish. Some may say this is an unhealthy addiction although I believe it is better than some! Once again, like I said in my previous post, nail polish is one of the ways I feel put together even when I'm not. Here are ten of my top favorites!

1. Lilacism

               2. Russian Roulette

    3. Mink Muffs

       4. Set In Stones

               5. Nonfat Soy Half Caff


6. Cajun Shrimp

7. JACKIE OH!

8. Mint Sprint

9. Coral Reef

10. White On




Wednesday, March 6, 2013

10 Things About Me

1. I am an undergrad student attending Longwood University in Farmville, Va.
2. I am studying/getting a masters in Special Education and hope to gain a second masters in Occupational Therapy. 
3.Dancing was a major part of my life for almost 18 years.
4. Singing has always been my first love. 
5. I enjoy baking, a lot. 
6. Nail polish helps me feel put together even when I'm not. (I have an unhealthy amount of nail polish)
7. I love my monogram. As much as I look forward to getting married someday, I do not want my monogram to change. 
8. My mother is a first grade teacher and I have high hopes that one day I will have been able to change as many children's lives as she has. 
9. I believe a smile is the perfect way to complete any outfit. 
10. Family has and always will be a huge part of my life, I was blessed with two wonderful parents and two outstanding sisters.