My 31st Birthday

Was this past Friday and it was a pretty darn good one!

I took the day off of work and relaxed which was fabulous!

Here are a few things I received for my birthday.

Jimmy Choo perfume that I've been wanting for a while, it's a great scent to transition into fall with.

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               Totally out of the blue was this Emporio Armani watch, which I LOVE!  This was actually from my MIL and FIL, seriously I have the best in-laws ever, hands down!

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               JR took me to a local french resturant called Can Can Brasserie, amazing and delicious!

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And now the celebration continues because I'll be having dinner tonight with some of my besties, drinks tomorrow night with some bloggie friends, lunch and dinner on Thursday with some more dear friends and I'll get to see my parents this weekend for my birthday!  I know ya'll wanted to know my itinerary for the week, right?! haha : )

What can you get for $42?

All of this! 

 

From Left to Right:

Bath and Body Works - I had two coupons, one was for a free travel size signature fragrance and the other was 20% off your entire purchase.  So I got myself a hand soap for the kitchen, the 5 mini hand sinitizers (I had already put one in my car) and they were having a sale on the beach candles, buy one get one free, yes!  So my total and BBW came to roughly $16 not bad for all of that! 

Next up came Target - I needed some cotton pads for my mani's and I've been stalking all of the target's in my area for that watch in the picture and finally found it!! I also found my absolute favorite sally hansen top coat, Double Duty, I didn't think they made it anymore.  My total came to roughly $20 at tarjay.

Then on to Victoria Secret because I had a free pair of panties coupon, and yes I'm that girl who goes into VS and only gets the pair of free panties and I am not ashamed to admit it, if you want to send me a free merchandise coupon then I'm gonna use it and may or may not buy anything!

Last stop was to Old Navy where I got the bargain of the century ya'll!!! As I was perusing their racks I came across the above maxi dress and looked at the price tag, WHAT?!, I thought there's no way this is right!  And then I saw a couple more of the same dresses and checked their price tags and they were all the same $5.97 I KID YOU NOT!  That maxi dress was under $6, they didn't even have t-shirts on the sales rack for less than $8! 

And that my friends is how you have yourself a little shopping spree for $42!

What are some of the awesome bargains ya'll have found lately?!  I'm dying to know!

What's on my phone

Happy Thursday Friends! 

I love taking random pics with my iphone and thought I'd share a few of the ones that are currently living in my phone : )

1. My morning coffee - I try to alternate between tea and coffee because I take my tea without sugar, trying to be a little healthy.

2. Okay so if you were a kid growing up in the late 80's early 90's like me then you totally remember the kool-aid commercials with the big kool-aid man/pitcher busting through the brick wall and yelling, "OH YEAH" so as I was leaving the mall I looked over at this building and that's what I saw, totally took me back to Saturday morning cartoons and made me crack up laughing because it was so funny to see!

3. Peonies, peonies, peonies at Fresh Market, oh my good gracious the heavenly scent of this flower, ugh so good!!

4. A little afternon snack -- Cheerwine and shrimp with Old Bay seasoning -- doesn't get much better than that ya'll!

1. My favorite breakfast oatmeal -- the Quaker Real Medleys are sooo yummy, my favorite is the peach and almond, seriously good and healthy!

2. My new favorite razor, hello smoothness!!! This razor is amaze!

3. My water cup and orange nails a la elf (I am actually not happy with this nail color and had to take it off because it started chipping, boo!  I love the color but not good quality for some reason?  I wore one of the other elf nail colors last week and it was fine, not sure what happened with this color though?

Tomorrow's Friday and I'm getting excited for the weekend! : )

The best of my Vacation-Staycation

JR and I were off the week of the 4th for our annual "staycation" and I have to say that I had a GREAT time.  We did something every day so it felt like we got really good use out of our time because nothing is worse than going on vacation and then coming back from out of town and feeling like you need another vacation to recuperate from your first vacation, you know what I mean? 

Yeah, you know what I mean.

Here's a little rundown of some of my favorite things I did while on my staycation!

Went to the Movies.......

Oh yeah, Magic Mike was some kind of good ladies, if you haven't gone to see this yet, then grab some of your girlfirends and go, you won't be dissapointed!

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Went with JR to see ted, hilarious!

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Went out with Friends.............

Went to On the Rox to watch the european soccer championships, lots of mimosas and lots of fun!

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Went to The Funny Bone comedy club and had even more fun!

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Eddie Ifft was the stand up comedian and he was pretty dang funny, either that or I had a little too much wine, hard to tell.....

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Fixed some yummy food.........

This greek salad is my favorite!

Bought a couple things.........

This e.l.f. nail polish set I scored at TJ Maxx for $3.99 and I'm dying over the colors!!!! I'm obesessed with any shade of coral right now!!!

Went to the River...........

Ended my staycation with a lazy day on the river, nothing beats drifting in the water on a float when it's 110 degrees out!

Great week ya'll!  Does anyone else love their staycations as much as I do??!

June and July Birchbox

Hi Friends!  Sorry I've been absent from the old blog lately, it's been a busy summer!  So busy that I completely missed posting June's Birchbox, yikes!  I figured I'd just do a double birchbox post to catch up though, so here we go.

June's Birchbox.........was okay, really didn't blow my socks off....

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Here's the breakdown of the box and what I thought.

~ Modcloth Headband - cute but haven't worn it yet and probably won't wear it often, it's not really my style.  I would have preferred one of the designer ziploc bags that a lot of people got.

~Masqueology Brightening Mask - super excited to try this out!

~ Comodyness Self-Tanning Intensive - okay, I don't know about ya'll but I am so not good with putting a self tanner on with a towlette!  I did not like this product at all, I received two of the towlettes and used one of them and ended up looking like a streaky hot mess!  I had to exfoliate to get it off, I'm just not good at trying to put a clear tanner on with a little wipe becuase I can't see where I've already applied and where I haven't.  Towelettes are not for me!

~theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen - I've heard good things about this product but I'll be honest, I haven't used it yet.  I'm a little intimidated by the intensity of the color.

~Supergoop SPF 30+ Everyday UV Lotion for Face and Body - good stuff!  Used it and like it!

July's Birchbbox..........was Themed and Themed = Awesome!

This was a Glamour inspired box and I was really excited about what I got!

~amika Obliphica Hair Treatment and Nourishing Mask - I've been on a hair product kick lately so anything hair related I'm loving!  I can't wait to try these out!

~Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner - I'm a liquid eyeliner gal so I was psyched to get this and it came in an Olive Green color which will be fun to try out!

~boscia B.B. Cream SPF 27 PA++ - I've been hearing so much about the B.B. cream (still not 100% sure what it is exactly) but was excited to give it a try!  I put it on this morning before I put the rest of my makeup on and so far I'm really liking the look it's giving me.  It's given my skin a nice even look and little luminous as well.

~LARABAR uber - I love larabar's and have never tried the uber variety so I'm excited to give this a try and see what I think.

~Harvey Prince Hello perfume - love it!  It reminds me of the Viva la Juicy, which I wear almost every day!

~Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds - so fun and definitely one of those things you can never have enough of!!

The July box was a lot of fun and I love all of the bright colors!!! So tell me, what did you get in your July box, I'm dying to know!!

HAPPY

4th of

JULY!!!

Hope ya'll have a great day!!!

Summer Essentials

I love my co-worker!  I covered for her while she was on vacation and she came back with a big Sephora bag with the Summer Essentials in it for me!! How awesome is that!!?

We share a love of nail polish, makeup, and all things beauty!  So she said she wanted to get this for me :-) so sweet!

I am obsessed with the Lorac Tantalizer, I can't even describe how amazing it is!  And the nail polish is the best summer color!!

I've used everything except the supergoop sunscreen and the face cream and the samples are a really nice size too!  It also comes in a great see through makeup bag, perfect for traveling!

Has anyone else gotten this?  What do you think?

That's it for now loves, forgive the absence, it's been a little crazy around here lately but I should be back to my normal blogging soon!  Happy Humpday!

Wine Taste Girl's Summer Fashion Link Up...Sundresses

Hey everyone!  I hope ya'lls memorial day weekend was fun and relaxing, I know mine was and I didn't want it to end!

I'm so excited to be linking up with Shannon over at Wine Taste Girl for her Summer Fashion Link Up!  Summertime is so much fun with all of the dresses, sandals, bangles, and more!  I live in sundresses and maxis because they're so comfortable and you can easily dress them up or down depending on the occasion.

My new favorite Sundress, that I actually bought for a wedding a couple of weeks ago, is this little number!  It plays on the color blocking trend with the orange and fuschia (purple/pink to me) and is so breezy and comfortable I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of it!

So fun!

Now ya'll, I have to tell you I have never been able to take good pics of myself, ever!!

But I really wanted to show what the dress looks like on so here are a few so you can kind of see how it looks, please excuse the weird face and the super pale skin, this girl needs to get on the self-tanner!

Why yes that is two mirrors you're seeing and the second mirror is actually on a stool that's just how I roll! haha

 

I can't wait to see everyone else's favorite Summer fashions and get some inspiration!!

Go check out Wine Taste Girl for more!

Makeup Organization on the Cheap!

Don't you just love when you get inspired by another blogger and they're fabulous ideas?  It's one of my favorite things, honestly!

So when I saw The Bargain Blondes post on $5 Makeup Organization I knew I needed to get my butt in gear and get to organizing!

The Before: Not so organized!

And after going to the dollar section at my local Target and getting these little buddies.....

The After: So much better right!?

And I already had a little vase from the dollar store so I threw some yummy coffee beans in and there you have it, nothing better than smelling coffee while I'm doing my makeup in the morning! 

Now disclaimer, I still have the drawer from the before photo with stuff in it, I basically just pulled out the makeup that I use a lot because there wasn't enough room for everything.

And now I want to know, what blogger has inspired you to do a little project?!!? : )

Mango Motion!

I try to paint my nails on Sunday evening for the coming week and I always have fun thinking of what color I feel like going with!  I had originally thought it was a dark color kind of week, but then I saw this bottle of fun polish that I originally bought for my toes because it's such a fun and bright color and thought this would be better!

Mango Motion

This color is actually a lot brighter in person and it's perfect for the neon craze right now!

Just some rasberries that I got on sale at the store and am eating with my lunch.  They're so yummy but the seeds, oh my there's a lot of seeds!

Did anyone else wear Lip Smacker when they were younger!?

I wore this Vanilla Frosting lip gloss all through my college years and I LOVED it!!! I recently got this bottle and it takes me back to the good old days!

It also adds a nice little shine to your lips and the smell is AMAZING!!  I love it!

Are you on Instagram, if you are let me know your name and I'll be sure to follow you and if you want to follow me I'm downtownsouthern : )

Birchbox: Gossip Girl Edition

Happy Monday Loves!

I received my May Birchbox in the mail on Thursday and was so excited when I realized it was another special edition!  This time it was Gossip Girl and all I could think was over the top luxurious and I was right!


Birchbox



I love when they put the cute wrappers around the box!

 This is Miracle Skin Transformer in SPF 20, it's a tinted moisturizer that I haven't tried yet but looks good!

Miss Dior perfume, I love this scent!! It's very romantic and feminine!

I've never tried any Dior makeup so I was really excited to try this Diorshow Extase Mascara.  I've used it a couple of times and absolutely love it!   

My favorite item in this box has to be the Shu Uemura shampoo.  When I saw Shu Uemura I thought eyelash curler, I didn't realize they did hair care products as well.  I tried this shampoo yesterday and WOW, this stuff smells beyond amazing and it made my hair so incredibly soft and light!  This might be the first birchbox product that I have to get the full size bottle because it's just such a great product!

And the extra was this cute stationary! 

 

If you haven't gotten on the Birchbox wagon yet then go HERE to join!  For $10 a month it's a great way to try out new products!

So tell me, what did you get in your box!!?

xoxo

List of 99!

Aimee over at Chronicles of a Dime did this post and I thought is looked fun so here goes!

Bold what you've done.

1. Started your own blog

2.Slept under the stars

3.Played in a band

4.Visited Hawaii

5.Watched a meteor shower

6.Given more than you can afford to charity

7.Been to Disneyland

8.Climbed a mountain

9.Held a praying mantis

10.Sang a solo

11.Bungee jumped

12.Visited Paris (only the airport though)

13.Watched a lightening storm

14.Taught yourself an art from scratch

15.Adopted a child

16.Had food poisoning

17.Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18.Grown your own vegetables

19.Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20.Slept on an overnight train

21.Had a pillow fight

22.Hitch hiked

23.Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24.Built a snow fort

25.Held a lamb

26.Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28.Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29.Seen a total eclipse

30.Watched a sunrise or sunset

31.Hit a home run

32.Been on a cruise

33.Seen Niagara Falls in person

34.Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35.Seen an Amish community

36.Taught yourself a new language

37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39.Gone rock climbing

40.Seen Michelangelo's David

41.Sung karaoke

42.Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43.Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44.Visited Africa

45.Walked on a beach by moonlight

46.Been transported in an ambulance

47.Had your portrait painted

48.Gone deep sea fishing

49.Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50.Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51.Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52.Kissed in the rain

53.Played in the mud

54.Gone to a drive-in theater

55.Been in a movie

56.Visited the Great Wall of China

57.Started a business

58.Taken a martial arts class

59.Visited Russia

60.Served at a soup kitchen

61.Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62.Gone whale watching

63.Got flowers for no reason

64.Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65.Gone sky diving

66.Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67.Bounced a check

68.Flown in a helicopter

69.Saved a favorite childhood toy

70.Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71.Eaten caviar

72.Pieced a quilt

73.Stood in Times Square

74.Toured the Everglades

75.Been fired from a job (not technically fired but my job was eliminated)

76.Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77.Broken a bone

78.Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79.Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80.Published a book

81.Visited the Vatican (engaged in the vatican!)

82.Bought a brand new car

83.Walked in Jerusalem

84.Had your picture in the newspaper

85.Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve

86.Visited the White House

87.Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88.Had chickenpox

89.Saved someone's life

90.Sat on a jury

91.Met someone famous

92.Joined a book club

93.Got a tattoo

94.Had a baby

95.Seen the Alamo in person

96.Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97.Been involved in a law suit

98.Owned a cell phone

99.Been stung by a bee

I think I got 42 out of 99, who wants to play?!

Happy Friday!

domino's back?

Okay I think you all know that I have an addiction to magazines and I can tell you that one of them was the domino magazine a few years ago.  domino was a home decorating magazine geared for people in their 20's and 30's and I loved it, but of course I got on the band wagaon a little late because a month or two later they pulled the magazine off the newsstands.  It was really sad : (

Well JR and I were in Home Depot on Friday night doing a little plant buying and when we were walking out the door, what do you think I saw? 



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All I could think was WHAT?!?  I didn't get a long look because we were leaving but I was excited at the prospect of my favorite decorating magazine coming back to the newsstands ya'll!

So I went online and got dissapointed all over again.....

1) This magazine is a special edition, they're not coming back full time

2) It's $10.99, I'm sorry did you just say $10.99? 

 I think I could buy a years subscription for that! 

3) Apparently it's got some old material from their other magazines in it mixed with some new material : (

Total letdown, but on a brighter note, I'm making a dent in my magazine mountain and will soon be able to start buying new ones again.....or maybe I'll just feed my new addictions and buy nail polish and makeup!

Happy Monday ya'll!

A few things I'm loving right now!

1. I got these Luna bars from Target on Sunday and I'm trying to eat them for breakfast.  I really love the Kind bars as well but I couldn't find them at Target so I went with these.

2. My favorite La Croix flavor is Cocunut.  The only thing I really drink is water and I like to splash a little of this yumminess in to give it a nice tropical flavor.  I can't drink this stuff right out of the can because it's just too intense for me but a little splash in my regular water = YUM!  It makes me feel like I'm sipping a pina colada on a beach somewhere!

3. The dollar section of Target right now.....AWESOME!  They've got these adorable gift bags for a $1 because you can never have too many gift bags!  And they've also got some great little organizing bins as well!

4. I'm doing it!  The May Photo a Day challenge, lets see how far I get........

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5. I can't wait to see this movie, I think it looks hilarious!

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My Current Addictions

Happy Monday Loves!  I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, mine was very nice, relaxed on Friday night, went with Hubby to brunch on Saturday, and went to Target on Sunday.  I also did a little cleaning out and organization of some of my things.  And of course ended the weekend with Game of Thrones on HBO, hubby and I are obsessed with that show! So good!

So I took these pictures last week while hubby (I'm going to call him JR from now on because hubby is kind of starting to annoy me, the name, not the man : D)

JR and I decided that last weekend was a good time to take a little mini vacation staycation, it was fabulous but because I'm a procrastinator by nature I'm just getting around to posting about these now.

Here we go...........

I love lip gloss!  It's been an addiction of mine for a while and if I had to choose lip stick or lip gloss, it would be lip gloss hands down!  These are the lip glosses that I keep with me in my makeup bag at all times.  I think I have a problem ya'll.

But I can't help it, I need choices!!

Now I thought I was pretty bad with my lip products that I kept in my purse, but have ya'll seen Mendi's (from Her Late Night Cravings) What's in My Bag video???  Mendi, honey, you need an intervention : ) but I loved your video and you too Jayme!!! If you haven't watched her video go and watch it and you'll know what I"m talking about! haha!

So along with lip gloss, I'm also currently addicted to nail polish and elf makeup!  I can't get enough of them right now!  I walk into Target and immediately go to the makeup isle! 

An addiction that I'm currently curbing.....magazines!  I've vowed that I am not going to buy another mag until I've gone through my ridicuously large amount of magazines and tear out what I want to keep and recycle the rest.  But I might have fallen off the wagon and bought the Glamour with LC on the cover and In Style with Jen Anniston on the cover, ugh, it's like crack!  It's been a process but I think I got through 12 mags this weekend.

I gotta know what are your current addictions?!