Friday Favorites: Amazon Edition

As we are slowly, but surely getting settled into our new house, Amazon Prime has been my best friend! Every single day, I come home to a package of something we need, that I just ordered two days earlier, and I didn't have to go to the store to get it! Serious Mom win all around. I wanted to show you guys some of my favorite things that I have purchased to make our house a little bit better these first couple weeks :) 

Ahh my favorite thing..Twinkle Lights! These super durable lights just give our deck that extra bit of coziness. You will see them turned on at our house every, single night. AJ and I have enjoyed some great little at home date nights out there under the lights. You can get them HERE.

In order to enjoy our twinkle lights and GORGEOUS flowers E planted, bug repellent is a MUST. During my four years over on the left coast, I totally forgot just how awful the mosquitoes are here!! We spray down our bodies, light citronella candles and use a Thermacel Lantern. It has been a godsend, and it kept those pesky bugs off Gigi and MJ last weekend! You can get it HERE.

Maddie Jane has become obsessed with the Trolls movie lately. And because she is finally watching something besides Barney (hallelujah!!) I have been watching it a ton too. She prefers to watch it on the iPad, but with our new Amazon Fire Stick you can watch Netflix on any TV so easily (along with YouTube, Hulu, Pandora, HBO Go.. the list is endless) I would highly recommend it!! AND it has our Alexa built in too, so it's voice controlled! Technology I tell ya.. so stinkin cool.

With the craziness of the move, this Mama miiiight not be taking regular showers. I have really tested my hair to see just how many days I can get away with. I had used THIS dry shampoo before, but I tried THIS one this week, and I love it even more!! Because time with this cutie slash sleeping in, is totally more important, right!? 

We are at Lake Oconee this weekend with the family! I'll see you back here next week to give you the run down! Have a great weekend :) 

xoxo, 

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Friday Favorites

Holy cow I have not done a Friday Favorites in MONTHS. Life is a whirlwind when you are traveling like crazy, planning a 2000 mile move across the country, changing jobs and you know all the other every day things of being a wife and mom. So anywho.. I am linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci and sharing some of my favorite things from the week.

First up and my absolute FAVORITE is that we have a house!! It is so so soooo nice to finally have that done and to be able to start figuring out how to fill it up. It's quite the feat to go from 900 sq feet to 2200 sq ft, but I will get it done slowly but surely. We are just renting for a year before buying, so not really worried about getting it perfect.

Next up is my FAVORITE afternoon activity.. podcasts. My commute most days is over an hour, so I pass the time by listening to podcasts. This week I have been listening to S Town and it is... interesting. 

Soaking up our last few weeks in California has been my FAVORITE. Last Sunday morning we headed down to the beach to walk around and play at the playground. 

This tiny girl will forever and always be my FAVORITE.

Stripes are my FAVORITE thing to wear and consequently I put Maddie in them pretty frequently too. Love, love, love twinning with my girl! And I sure hopes she always looks at me like that. Make my heart melt girlfriend!! 

Side note, because I have to leave the house at 6:30 every morning, I have been trying to not shower in the mornings as often. In this picture, my hair is totally dirty saved the grace of dry shampoo. I got THIS dry shampoo in a birch box and it is my FAVORITE. But man oh man it hurts my wallet...

So Kelsey suggested I try THIS one. I don't love it as much, but for a fourth of the cost.. I'll take it. And bonus.. it smells so good!!

Getting out of my mom uniform last week and hanging out with my girlfriends was my FAVORITE. Obsessed with this cute little outfit.. you can find the links below..

TOP | JEANS | SHOES

Speaking of girls' nights. My nightly ritual after Maddie goes to bed is a glass of red wine, a piece of dark chocolate, and a face mask. I have tried several, and these are my FAVORITE. And conveniently the cheapest ones I have tried too! You can buy them HERE.

I was so reluctant to give up SnapChat for Insta Stories, but it's my FAVORITE. Big life changes over here, ha!! I mean just looook how cute. 

Another phone feature that's my FAVORITE.. the portrait feature on the iPhone 7. My sweet Molly Polly doesn't get enough love on the blog these days. But look at the pup model!! 

Bla as you can see it's "May Grey" over here in Cali, so I am trying my best to have some color. My FAVORITE new product I've been using are these tans towels. They tan really evenly (if you haven't had too many glasses of wine, oops) and give a really natural look (read: NOT orange). You can buy them HERE.

That's all for today! I hope you guys have a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend. Bummed to not be with my mom for the third year in a row, but SO looking forward to some sweet time with the girl that made me Mama. And not to mention, AJ does Mother's Day SO WELL. So dang lucky to be doing this parenting thing with him!!

xoxo, 

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Friday Favorites

Hey, y’all!!  It's Friday and I'm linking back up with Narci, Erika, and Andrea for Friday Favorites! 

1. Wet Brush

We recently received a Wet Brush in a swag bag from a charity event we went to. I had heard of them, but never knew what the fuss was about. Let me tell yeah.. they are AMAZING. No snags, no pulls, so easy to brush my tangle mess of a head after a shower. And they are less than $10, so do your head a favor and go grab one. 

2. Bruce in Town! 

Maddie Jane finally got the chance to meet AJ's godfather, Bruce! He was in town for a little over a day in route to San Francisco. He came over Saturday night and we grilled steaks. 

Sunday we headed to the Automotive Museum. It was really, really cool and would def recommend it to anyone in LA. (And I could normally care less about cars, and throroughly enjoyed myself!)

Maddie girl cood and ahhed until she just couldn't last any longer. (Side note: We left our Bob stroller in GA since we were coming back so soon and grabbed this one from Target for $15. Now, I'm not going to let go of my Bob bc #cupholders #somuchroomformystuff, but this was the best $15 I have spent in forever!! So easy to move around, get in tiny spaces, and MJ loved how much she could look around!) 

3. My sick girl

FINALLY our girl is on the mend. Sunday night she started getting sick and it just got worse, and worse, and worse. And we finally ended up in urgent care with a fever (she has a respiratory infection..) Lots of tylenol/motrin, warm baths, humidifier, and baby vick's and we are finally getting back healthy!

She was NOT herself at all. NO smiles or laughs.. lots of frowns and crying. Oh it broke this Mama's heart. Beyond excited we have our happy girl back. However she is laughing and no sound is coming out, because poor girl lost her voice! 

4. Shopping Cart Riding

Maddie Jane is finally big enough to ride in the shopping cart! I have been counting down the days until I didn't have to awkwardly push the stroller/pull a buggy through the store. She LOVES riding around and of course flirts with everyone she sees. 

5. We're going HOME!

Tonight, we are hopping on Maddie Jane's SEVENTH flight to head to Georgia!!! We have a wedding this weekend in Atlanta, AJ is headed to France to speak at a conference on Sunday, I will be working remotely in Sandersville, and THEN we are all heading to Edisto for a week with these crazies! I can barely sit still I am SO EXCITED.

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April Birchbox Review

So I've told you guys before how much I looovee getting my Birchbox every month. My sweet sister in law, Alix, got this subscription for me for Christmas and it has seriously been the best thing ever. I have decided to give you an insight as to what comes in these boxes each month.

Might I add how cute the actual box is.. I don't want to throw it away!

Whish Shave Cream

Let me preface this whole schpill with the fact that I normally shave with only water. I HATE shaving my legs, so I do it as quickly as possible (and most of the time do a terrible job!). So this is blueberry shave cream, yes blueberry!! haha Fortunately, it doesn't smell too strongly. (It actually comes in six different flavors.) It lathers pretty well and you can get a really good shave with it! I will note that I cut myself, which I never do.. Ehh I prob wouldn't spend $20 on a big bottle of this. But.. 

You can purchase it HERE.

Beauty Protector Oil 
I talked about a very similar product made by this company on one of my Friday Favorites. I discovered it in my very first Birchbox and immediately purchased the larger bottle. This product is a little different.. it's an oil and you only need a TINY bit to go a long way. It would be great to tame the crazy hair some people are cursed with, but I prefer my spray protector. The spray doesn't get your hands all oily and it also acts as a detangler. I think this would be a great finishing product for those ladies with the "fly aways". #ImBlessedWithStraightHair #IDontKnowWhatImTalkingAbout

You can purchase it HERE.

Temple Spa: Beach Be Still Calming Face and Body Balm 
This face cream smells amazing and feels soo good when you put it on. You know that tingly, calming feeling. However, I didn't feel like my face was moisturized 5 minutes later. Living in dry Southern California, I have to put on moisturizer twice a day. While this smells great, I just need something a little stronger to leave my face feeling moisturized all day. If you have naturally oily skin, this might be the product for you!

You can purchase it HERE.

 Cynthia Rowley : Beauty Brightening Illuminator
I try to have my make up routine to under 10 minutes. I don't enjoy putting on makeup, I don't like having a ton of goup on my face, and really I would just rather spend that time in the morning sitting on the couch watching the news. However, this little product is a quick and easy addition to your routine. You put it over your make up to add some extra highlights (shininess) to your cheeks, nose and temple. I'm probably not adding this to my daily routine, but I think it would be a fun addition on a night out on the town!

You can purchase it HERE.

So this box was actually a terrible representation of my love of Birchbox! I didn't fall in love with any product.. but I did have fun trying them out! And let's be honest, the best part about all of this is getting a package in the mail!!


Today I'm linking up with East Coast Chic for Random Thoughts Thursday. Go check her out!!

xoxo, 

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Friday Favorites!!

Happy Friday Y'all!! As always, I am linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favorites!! 

1. Blow Dry Bars 

I am so so obsessed with blow dry bars. It's absolutely perfect if you are feeling lazy before a dinner out or pampering yourself for a big occasion. Just sit back, have a cocktail and look amazeballs in under an hour. Make up yet to be done at Blo in Shreveport...

2. Spending time with AJ 

Crazy what one weekend apart from each other can do. Bla bla I know I'm being mushy, but hey! I LOVE my husband!! It was great spending one on one time with him last night while pup was at daycare. 

3. Red Gel Manicure
Or as AJ calls it my Elizabeth nails. (His mom is always rockin a red mani!) I normally have nude or light pink nails, but I wanted to give a pop of color to my black and white dress tonight!

4. Joanna Gaines 

Oh my goodness, I was already obsessed with this woman, her family, and her show Fixer Upper on HGTV. Now I am even more blown away by her testimony I saw floating around Facebook this week. What a powerful message to send on waiting for God's timing. I know I sure needed to hear this (this week and every week)!! 

5. My siblings! 
Apparently it is national sibling day! I am technically an "only child" by my mom and dad, but I have been blessed with other siblings in the un-traditional way. I have two half siblings that are some of my biggest supporters and have given me the best nieces in the world. I have two sister in laws that actually look more like me than my blood siblings! The sweetest brother in law in the world that always takes the time to genuinely ask how I am doing. And the sweetest step sister who has allowed me to finally play the big sister role that I have always wanted to be!

I hope y'all have a great weekend!! Check back next week for all my Louisiana fun!! 

xoxo, 

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Friday Favorites

1. Funny T-Shirts

I saw this shirt on Facebook this week - LOVE it! Someone tell me where I can buy it!

Which led me to looking at more funny t-shirts that seriously need to be in my closet. How perfect would this be for Saturday morning running errands? 

AJ is always making fun of me and how I constantly am running out the door. I am hardly ever late to an actual event or work, but boy do I push it. No matter if I have 30 minutes or 2 hours to get ready, I will use every single bit of that time. (And usually end up doing my make up in the car.)

2. THIS Hair Product 

My sweet sister in law, Alix, gave me a Birchbox subscription for Christmas and it is seriously one of the best gifts I have ever received. I LOVE getting mail, and who doesn't want a personalized box of goodies each month?? My very first box had this amazing leave in conditioner/detangler in it, and I was instantly hooked. I immediately had to go order the large bottle. It leaves my hair feeling SO smooth and smelling SO good.

2. Southern California Sunsets

I took this one Tuesday night while we were having dinner on the balcony. LOVE that this is our backyard. We might move to the burbs one day, but I sure do love city living and watching the sunset over the West LA skyline.

The next two are from the beach in Santa Monica back in December. #nofilter 

"You own the skies, and still you want my heart."

4. Army Jackets!! 

I'm currently obsessed with army jackets. AJ got me one off my Pinterest Christmas Wish List and I wear it at least once a week. I love how versatile it is and the light weight material. And well.. apparently so does every one else.. 

Nick Hilton, Ali Larter, and Rachel Bilson rocking it.

My favorite way to style mine is with a stripe shirt. Actually I love styling anything with a stripe shirt, it's an out of control obsession. I wore mine today with my FAVORITE Seven Jeans and wedges. 

You can get mine HERE 

Another affordable one HERE from Forever 21

Splurge on one HERE at Express

5. No More Cords!!

It only took 4 different orders from Amazon and 3 months, but our cords are finally hidden! My sweet husband is checking every project off on his list! 

First week of blogging in the books! I hope y'all have a great weekend!! 

xoxo, 

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