TV Reviews [finale edition]: PLL, Mindy Project + Glee
P R E T T Y L I T T L E L I A R S
{Season 5, Ep. 26}
If I only had one word to describe this episode: disappointment. There was so much build-up to this episode for the #BigAReveal, and what did we get? A name. Charles. That’s it. But who the heck is Charles?? Okay so maybe we know Charles is Jason’s twin brother, but is it a character we already know by another name? Or are we creating an entirely new character? Marlene King said when we found out in this episode who A was, we would be heartbroken. I can’t be heartbroken about someone I don’t even know. All of my thoughts and questions are summed up perfectly in this hilarious (as always) Buzzfeed: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/whats-a-charles
{Season 3, Ep. 21}
{Season 6, Ep. 12 & 13 – series finale}
wednesday, my inspiration.
The most vibrant sound in the room is one that can either soothe or distress.
The wick is almost at its end, but fights for dear life, throwing its light from side to side and forcing itself to be heard and not forgotten.
At times it competes with the screaming thunder, but its benefit is its consistency –
laying a raspy baseline throughout the room.
The puppy is confused. He looks up from his sleepy state on the newly carpeted floor, searching for the source of the hissing and buzzing.
The thunder stops and the rain begins; the wick seems to play in harmony with the pitter patter. Occasionally birds add a verse, bringing the illumination of spring.
The girl sits on the couch drinking it all in.
She sits in her cushy sweats wine in hand, after removing her corporate attire. She sits with fragrant food in the crockpot, waiting for husband to arrive home. She sits on her immaculate couch, admiring her new rug. She sits oblivious of how thankful she should be of nearly everything around her.
She sits in silence.
She allows herself the peace and rest and lack of distractions that are so hard to come by. She doesn’t feel the need to turn on the radio, or the tv, or grab her magazines.
She sits in silence.
And then the hail begins.
My Arkansas Bucket List
A few things you should know about me before starting this post: 1. I’ve lived in Arkansas almost my entire life. 2. I can’t sit still.
Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the thing. We’re planning this super awesome trip to Europe in the fall – one that I will certainly be posting about incessantly pre- and post- trip. However, since we have limited money and limited vacation time, that means the summer is wide open. But who can live through a summer without doing anything fun?! Certainly not me. See point 2 above.
So, I’ve decided this will be the Arkansas Summer. I will go and see and do all the wonderful things my home state has to offer – some of which I’ve done before (but it’s been a while) or some of which I have yet to do, but always wanted to. For those of you who live here you know how beautiful and underrated this state is. For those of you who don’t live here, you would be shocked to see all it has to offer, and hopefully I can share a glimpse into its beauty with you.
1. Float the Buffalo River
2. Eat a famous hubcap burger at Cotham’s [Scott/LR]
3. See the new Crystal Bridges exhibit, Van Gogh to Rothko [Bentonville]
4. Dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park [Murfreesboro]
5. Climb Pinnacle Mountain [Little Rock]
6. Go to the drive-thru wilderness safari [Gentry]
7. Climb to Hawksbill Craig and take a cliche picture
8. Enjoy an evening at the drive-in movies [Fayetteville]
9. Tour the Ozarks through railway [Springdale to Winslow or Van Buren]
Other must-dos for Arkansans, but that I’ve done regularly so not on my list: Horse races at Oaklawn [Hot Springs], Weekend in Eureka Springs, NWA breweries [read my post about that here], Concert at the AMP [Rogers], Saturday morning Farmers Market [Little Rock/Fayetteville/Bentonville], Tailgate and go to a Razorback Football Game [Fayetteville]
POST UPDATE: Check out my updated bucket list thanks to your recommendations and my new series Discover Arkansas!
Have a recommendation of something to add? See something you want to do with me? Let me know! xo xo
TV Reviews: Empire, Revenge, Mindy Project + TWD
My TV obsessions are currently in full force as seasons are coming to a close and there are a lot of OMG moments. And guess what, I’m not a silent watcher.
I LOVE talking about my fictional best friends almost as much as I enjoy watching them. I get so excited when I finally find someone who’s as into a show as I am and wants to discuss. Case in point from Friday night – found someone (finally!) who watches Empire and it totally made my night. Case in point from Sunday – I have multiple text threads discussing The Walking Dead, including some live-texting.
So, I’ve decided to start a weekly recap post of my TV shows including my commentary. The shows will probably change from week to week. For example, PLL and Nashville aren’t in here this week, but they’re two of my favorites. You might watch these shows, you might not. You might enjoy my commentary, you might think I’m way too into TV. Either way, these posts are pretty much for me to get my OMG moments out and bond with any other diehard TV fans I just might not have met yet.
Grab some popcorn, and enjoy!
[WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD]
E M P I R E
[Season 1, Ep. 10]
Why am I SO obsessed with this show?! I also CANNOT stop listening to the music on Spotify. {Especially “You’re So Beautiful” – The White Party version. I’m in love with Jamal’s voice.}
Okay so we did get a resolution in this episode to Jamal’s daughter + Raven randomly showing up for 2 seconds in one episode. She’s Luscious’ daughter, really?! It ended in gunfire, really?! It was a little overly dramatic, but I’m glad the arc didn’t last long; HOWEVER – Lola was the cutest little girl ever! And the song Jamal + Hakeem sang to her to get her to go to sleep?? I wanted to die. Also glad Naomi Campbell is out of there – I couldn’t stand her. But Cookie and Malcolm – I CAN stand. Omg, love it. Another thing I can stand – Jennifer Hudson. Let’s see more of her and Andre!!!
R E V E N G E
[Season 4, Ep. 15 – still 1 episode behind]
This season has been killing it, yeah? I’d lost interest the last few seasons, but they’ve been stepping up their game. Let’s talk about a few things – namely, Jack. But first, Louise. I would LOVE for her to be part of the inside group. I wasn’t sure about her at first, but now I love her, and it was solidified with her perfectly played part of “Oh, this isn’t pilates??” *bats eyelashes* She’s too cute and keeps Nolan entertained with more than just Emily.
But let’s get to Jack. How he played Margot?! Oh My Gosh. Too freakin’ perfect. I knew he was up to something when he said “You’d do anything for your child,” but still! He was so believable. I had no clue about the bracelet. Way to go, dude. But, let’s talk about that speech with Emily at the end. WAAAAAAH. I was totally dying. Why, Emily, why?! You obviously love him. Yes, Ben is hot, but Jack is the love of your life! We all know this! He was the sweetest thing ever and totally got his heart broken. I can’t even.
T H E M I N D Y P R O J E C T
[Season 3, Ep. 19]
Stephen Colbert is gold. Seriously, as a Catholic priest that was once wild and now pious? Gold. This episode was one of the funnier ones this season. Mindy and Danny are adorable as almost-parents. And Mindy is hilarious in church (reminiscent of one of my favorite scenes of her in church with Casey rapping). A few of my favorite lines include Danny quizzing Mindy on the Apostles and instead she lists the Beatles. Also, “There’s a sequel to the Bible, but not to Gone Girl?!” upon discovering the New Testament. LOL, classic Mindy. I also surprisingly have been loving the pregnancy arc. It hasn’t gotten too mushy or steered away from its core, and I can’t wait to see Mindy as a mom, mostly because I think we have a lot in common.
T H E W A L K I N G D E A D
[Season 5, Ep. 14]
Okay, some major sh*t went down this week, and we are so ready for the finale in two weeks!! This was a very gruesome episode. Noah’s death was so violent and sad and disturbing and unexpected, UGH. I was actually more sad than I thought I would be, and especially when Glenn was sad. But Eugene carrying out Tara and pulling the van around to distract the walkers was awesome. 10 points for Eugene. And -10 points for stupid Alexandria guy.
A few more things:
Father Gabriel – WTF?? Not that I’m that surprised, but come ON. These people saved you!
Rick and Carol planning together is awesome. Yes, they’re planning to kill someone and yes, that’s bad. But I love them working together and can’t wait to see that guy get his revenge.
Why didn’t we see Daryl in this episode????
xo xo
[Read more posts about my TV obsessions here.]
life lately
{enjoying this || warm days + new books}
{surprised by this || snow days + mesmerized looks}
{cutting this || six inches! short hair, don’t care}
{singing this || happy birthday to FIL at his surprise 50th + marcus on his golden birthday!}
{celebrating this || a night out with co-workers to squander our bonuses away}
xo xo
Short hair, don’t care
Raise your hand if you’ve ever chopped off your hair.
Raise your hand if you were as nervous and stressed out as I was.
Y’all, I was a mess. Why is that? Why was I so wrapped up in myself about my HAIR?? I loved my long hair, and I felt like it was my identity. For the longest time I couldn’t even imagine cutting my hair. It took me so long to get it as long as it was and I felt so beautiful with long hair. I often thought if anyone really wanted to punish me they should cut my hair in my sleep and I would be devastated. I recognize how narcissistic this sounds, and that’s one of the reasons I went through with it.
My worth is not in my hair. It’s not in my clothes. It’s not in the car I drive or the house I live in or the trips I take. Praise the Lord for that, seriously.
When I finally cut it, everyone kept asking, “What does your husband think?” Of course he loved it, but when I told him that, he said, “Why does that matter? If you’re happy, I’m happy.” Awww.
But he’s right. I should be confident in myself and my choices. It doesn’t matter what other people think. I know that’s easier said than done, but I really do think self-confidence is radiant. You can tell when someone loves their body no matter what their size and it’s just so beautiful.
I’ve only had my short hair for two days, but I have been LOVING it. It’s so fresh and easy. I feel more trendy and modern. And I’m so ready for spring. It’s given me the push I needed to transform myself into a healthier version of me – working out, toning my body and loving me for me.
“A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” – Coco Chanel
xo xo
Book Reviews: Love, Lust + Lies
Eleanor & Park: This book was recommended to me on Facebook, and I’m so glad I looked for it on a whim at the library. It’s a simple story with simple characters, but the author makes you fall in love with the simplicity. I think it’s because we can all relate – a young love story that isn’t bound to last, but you put everything into it like it will. The air between the lovebirds was palpable, sitting next to each other on the school bus sharing music and comics and sweaty hands, and made me wish I was there myself.
Grade: A
The Reader: I remember when this movie came out and just from seeing a few salacious lines about the plot, thought who in the world would want to see this?! But let me tell you, I read the book and then watched the movie in two days. The author turns something you don’t think would be interesting into the most fascinating love story I’ve heard in a long time. The writing was just superb and swept me away. One of my top 5 books of 2014.
Grade: A+
Yes Please: I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book. I LOVE Amy Poehler, and this definitely doesn’t change that fact, but I was expecting a laugh-out-loud-till-you-cry book and unfortunately that’s not what I found. I was probably comparing it too much to other similar books that I that I adore – Bossypants by Tina Fey and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling. It certainly had it’s funny moments, but probably what I loved the most was hearing the behind the scenes of SNL and Parks and Rec.
Grade: A-
Girl on the Train: This book was just as good as everyone said it was. I loved the way the story was told, through 3 different perspectives and in morning/evening narratives. It kept your mind reeling throughout, following different leads of what could have possibly happened to girl who disappears. I can’t say it was quite as good as Gone Girl (of which it has been compared), but it was a terrific way to spend my snowy Saturday morning.
Grade: A
xo xo
[Read all of my book reviews here]
One-Pot Chicken Lo Mein {recipe}
I’ve stated before how much I love Buzzfeed. And when I saw an article “21 Fresh Ideas for Chicken Dinners” and all one-pot meals by the way (winning!), I decided it was going to be the week of chicken.
I bought two bags of frozen chicken breasts and ingredients for 3 chicken meals for the upcoming week. The first was for Honey Mustard Rosemary Chicken. I thought it was good not great, husband thought it was delicious. When he’s happy, I’m happy, and it was very easy, so I consider that a win.
The following night we made chicken lo mein, and THAT I loved. I have a few learnings for next time (add cilantro and limes – duh!) because I will definitely be making it again. After chopping the veggies and cutting up the chicken, it was so easy! You literally just throw it all into a big pot and let it simmer together.
O N E – P O T C H I C K E N L O M E I N
Ingredients
½ lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into small chunks
1 – 13.25 to 16 oz. box of linguini or fettuccini pasta, broken in half
4 medium carrots, peeled and cut in thin 3 inch long strips
1 medium red bell pepper, cut in thin 3 inch long strips
1 bunch green onions, white part sliced and green part cut in 3 inch long strips
¼ cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon corn starch
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
For garnish: lime wedges, cilantro + more soy sauce
Directions
- Add the chicken, then the pasta, then the remaining ingredients to a large stockpot and cover. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cook covered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until most of the liquid is gone and the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the lid and let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Tonight we’re making our last chicken meal of the week – Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta. I’m drooling now just thinking about it! Hopefully we’ve saved the best for last, and I’ll share the recipe with you soon!
xo xo
[Get more of my recipes here]
life lately
Outside of my #26shadesofgold birthday party and the wedding festivities, here are a few more photos from my life lately.
{celebrating this || southern food + southern art}
{enjoying this || our first snow day}
{dying over this || puppy cuteness}
{excited about this || bentonville film festival coming in may}
{loving this || our valentine’s day celebration with a couples massage}
xo xo
favorites, round 4.
1. Joggers: New obsession of mine and husbands. I’m practically living in them any time I’m at home, and just wish I could live in them any time I’m not home. They’re so comfortable, and come in a million colors. We already have 3 in our household, and know it won’t be long before its more.
2. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson + Bruno Mars: I’m obsessed with this song! Ask husband, any time it comes on the radio I freak out and turn it up. Even though I’ve heard it probably a million times at this point.
3. Bobbi Brown Lip Balm: This was a Christmas present from sister K and I now can’t go a day without it! It feels so good on, and gives lips the perfect amount of shine.
4. How To Get Away With Murder: This has been one of my favorite shows this season! I look forward to it every week and have been audibly surprised too many times to count. Viola Davis is perfection.
5. Salads in a Jar: I wrote a blog post about make-ahead meals, including salads in a jar. They’re so easy, delicious and versatile!
6. Podcasts: After Serial, our eyes were opened. There are so many amazing stories out there just waiting to be heard! We’ve started listening to This American Life, Invisibilia and The Dinner Party Download. There’s just not enough time in the day!
xo xo
To see some of my previous favorite things: favorites., favorites, round 2., favorites, round 3.
Lazy, Hazy Weekend
Sometimes all you need is a guilt-free, lazy, hazy weekend.
And that’s exactly what I’ve had.
After the craziness of the last month, husband and I were excited to have a weekend with very minimal plans. (I can’t have no plans, because then that would just stress me out.)
Friday night we went out with friends for dinner and drinks and had so much fun. We talked craft beer + $100 whiskey, laughed about shark bites/tacos and dreamed about a trip to Thailand.
Then it was glorious, wide-open Saturday. Some days I say I want to stay in bed all day, but then I really don’t. I get anxious and think about all I need to do or feel guilty for being such a bum. But that was not the case next weekend. I had no problem at all laying in bed all day (I’m talking literally since wake-up to 4pm) catching up on my current TV shows, watching Gilmore Girls, reading all my magazines and blogging. It was fabulous. We then got a call asking if we wanted to go to dinner and a movie. Since we had literally no food in the house and felt like maybe we should be social, we got out of our pajamas for none other than pizza.
[I call this my, just-rolled-out-of-bed-but-only-for-pizza look]
We decided to continue our laziness, and after dinner didn’t go to the movie, but went home to watch our own movie on the couch (back in our joggers). We finally saw The Theory of Everything and LOVED it.
Sunday has been almost as amazingly lazy as Saturday, but unfortunately I did have to venture out in the cold to go to Walmart.
[I call this my, college-student look – UA baseball cap, fayettechill sweatshirt, uggs]
Don’t you just love these kind of weekends? I certainly love my busy, fun weekends with husband and friends, but I also adore these where you can really experience some relaxation and peace. It was exactly what I needed this weekend. And to top it off, we’ll enjoy a cozy night in with champagne and The Oscars.
xo xo
Oscars 2015: Predictions
I LOVE the Oscars. I will be plopped in front of the TV from the second they start the red carpet coverage until the last word of the final speech. And of course, with ballot and champagne in hand. I’ve hosted several Oscar parties in the past [you can see pictures here and here], but after a month of hosting duties, including a Birthday blowout and 50-person wedding brunch, I will be very content in my joggers on my couch.
I was on a mission to watch all of the nominees for Best Picture, but unfortunately have failed. We will, however, make it to 6/8 after watching The Theory of Everything tonight.
Though I haven’t seen all the nominated films, I’ve read voraciously about who will win, who should win, and who will be a surprise. Below are my predictions – put your money on me or not!
B E S T P I C T U R E
[Nominees: Boyhood, American Sniper, The Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, Selma, Birdman, Whiplash, Grand Budapest Hotel]
I just adored this movie. It was all I wanted and more. I’ve read reviews people didn’t like it because it was boring, or too long, or didn’t have much of a plot. But that’s exactly why I liked it. It didn’t have a plot with a climax and grand finale, because it was just about life. Life doesn’t have a plot. It has it’s ups and downs and in betweens, and this movie captured it so perfectly.
B E S T A C T O R
[Nominees: Michael Keaton – Birdman, Steve Carrell – Foxcatcher, Bradley Cooper – American Sniper, Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game, Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything]
We saw Birdman and I wasn’t the biggest fan. However, there was no denying the acting was phenomenal. They were nominated in three categories, including Edward Norton and Emma Stone. If it hadn’t been for the acting, I might have walked out of the movie. Michael Keaton was so realistic as this schizo actor, he truly made me believe in what he was seeing.
B E S T A C T R E S S
[Nominees: Julianne Moore – Still Alice, Reese Witherspoon – Wild, Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night, Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything, Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl]
I haven’t seen this movie, though I’m dying to, but I’ve heard just incredible things about Julianne Moore. She seemed born to play this role she does it so well. She’s a very clear win, but I do want to also applaud Reese Witherspoon and Rosamund Pike for their performances. They absolutely deserved their nomination.
B E S T S U P P O R T I N G A C T O R
[Nominees: J.K. Simmons – Whiplash, Robert Duvall – The Judge, Edward Norton – Birdman, Ethan Hawke – Boyhood, Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher]
Again, I haven’t seen Whiplash, though again, I’m dying to. Out of what I have seen, I would have picked Edward Norton to win. However, from what I’ve read and heard J.K. Simmons is a pretty clear winner and did an exceptional job.
B E S T S U P P O R T I N G A C T R E S S
[Nominees: Patricia Arquette – Boyhood, Emma Stone – Birdman, Laura Dern – Wild, Keira Knightly – The Imitation Game, Meryl Streep – Into the Woods]
Patricia Arquette was the clear star of Boyhood. Ethan Hawke was pretty good, the main boy Ellar Coltrane was really good, but Patricia was amazingly good. She was a mother – the good, the bad and the ugly, and made me feel for her throughout. My second choice to win this award would have been Laura Dern – surprisingly transcendent in Wild through her minimal scenes.
Will you be watching Sunday night to see who takes home the top honors?
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Oscars 2014: 5 Best + Worst Dressed, 10 Facts You Should Know About The Oscars
Spring Fashion: Fringe, Mules + More
Okay, we had our snow day, so now I’m officially ready for spring. Can I get an Amen? At least dream with me for a minute while we discuss the spring fashion trends …
W I D E L E G P A N T S
High waisted and wide leg are the pants for spring. Typically these are not my style. I’m still lovin’ the skinny jeans, but how cute is this outfit?! I’ll definitely be trying this one out.
O V E R S I Z E D F L O R A L
Floral’s been having it’s moment for a minute, but now it’s all about the BIG floral. This totally makes it seem more wearable to me.
F R I N G E
Fringe: jackets, cardigans, dresses, purses, jewelry – it’s all over the place! Isn’t this jacket from Free People TDF??
S H O E S: M U L E S
I don’t know how comfortable these shoes are yet, but they’re certainly stylish. I’ve seen mule heels, platforms and flats, so there’s something for everyone.
C O L O R E D S U E D E
I honestly don’t think I own anything suede. This trend is all about suede in bold colors for the season. You could even mix suede and fringe together – and mules!
S H O U L D E R B E A R I N G
I love this trend. Shoulders can be so sexy, right? Off the shoulder is definitely the easiest way to go, but also cutout shoulders like in this photo.
Which trend are you looking forward to the most?
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 2013: Sunny Style, 2011: Spring [Fashion] Is In The Air, 2010: Fashion Week Designers Reveal Spring Trends
A Valentine Wedding
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:13
Four years ago, my mom was engrossed in my wedding – where should we have the rehearsal dinner? what’s my something blue? how can we get taylor swift to come sing at the wedding?
And four years later, it’s the exact opposite. What an amazing feeling to get to watch a parent get married. I could literally feel the presence of God in the sanctuary and feel the joy radiating from my mom, excited for a new life ahead of her – falling upward.
I’ve shared in a blog previously my path to getting here [the only constant is change]. It hasn’t been easy, and honestly, it’s still not close to being complete. I’m still struggling. I’ve had a roller coaster of emotions the past few weeks you could hardly imagine, with sleepless nights and tearful days.
But let me tell you, He blesses the faithful. He may take away, but He also certainly gives, and what He has given me has been so valuable already – an amazing, loving, beautiful bonus family of sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and more.
I will never forget my dad and the love he and my mom shared, but I also will not let myself grieve instead of opening up to love. “But the greatest of these is love.”
Enjoy some pictures below from our Valentine Wedding weekend.
S A T U R D A Y N I G H T
“Rehearsal” Dinner
Hosts: Spencer + Kristin, Bret + Erika
[beautiful mama]
[from ohio and okc – what great friends to make the trip!]
[two of the wonderful hosts: kristin + spence]
[surprise acapella group serenaded us all – they were amazing!]
[meanwhile, husband and I are in the pantry pouring whiskey shots for a surprise toast]
S U N D A Y
Wedding: United Lutheran Church, Bella Vista
Post-Wedding Brunch: Alderman Home
Hosts: Kyle + Mille
[congrats to the beautiful bride + groom, mr. and mrs. nelson]
[didn’t get any pictures of the actual wedding, but here is mom + fred giving valentine’s candy to the kids after their song “joy, joy, joy”]
[the boys (my new nephews) – bruce, nelson, henry + jack]
[fred ❤ robin]
[champagne bar was a huge success]
[head over heels for macaroons + the newlyweds]
[my beautiful servers! they were amazing helping prep for the brunch]
[sister, sister!]
[my wedding gift: “a new road together” via etsy]
[love my mother and so overjoyed to be part of this special day!]
And now the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon, two weeks in Hawaii by way of San Francisco – oh how jealous I am as we are having our first snow of the year!
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Sistahs in Vegas
F R I D A Y
{ready for Vegas!}
{view from our room}
S A T U R D A Y
{adorable mom drinking coffee getting ready for the day}
{mid-day shopping break – margaritas, chips + guac, El Segundo}
{beautiful sisters ready for an evening out!}
{one of the best dinners (and most expensive) I’ve ever had, Nobu}
S U N D A Y
{shopping + lunch at The Venetian}
{pancetta + goat cheese pizza, Mario Batali’s Otto}
{the best show ever – Michael Jackson ONE!!!}
{drinks after the show at Mix, Mandalay Bay – incredible view!}
M O N D A Y
{Eiffel Tower selfie}
{amazing brunch at Mon Ami Gabi – cheers to a terrific weekend!}
xo xo
[Other Vegas weekend picturebooks: January 2013, Vegas Throwback 2010-2012]
Weekend in Vegas: Wardrobe Prep
I’m headed to Vegas this weekend with the sistahs (mom and two new sisters, read more on that here) and I’m so excited!
I love traveling, but I’m the worst at packing. I usually just throw a bunch of clothes in a bag, with ideas of outfits in my head, but I never really plan it out. So, in an effort to save space (to of course make room for NEW clothes) and be less stressed deciding what to wear, I’m planning out my outfits for the weekend. What’s funny is for someone who’s such a planner, this actually kind of stresses me out – realizing I can’t change my mind at the last minute about what to wear!
F R I D A Y N I G H T
[comfortable for the plane, but cute enough to step into vegas || t-shirt, Forever 21; jeans, BlankNYC, booties + cardigan, Elysian Boutique]
S A T U R D A Y
[focus on comfortable shoes for walking and quick dress changes for shopping || dress, Elysian Boutique; shoes, DSW]
[dinner reservations at Nobu calls for fur + bling || dress, necklace + fur vest, Riffraff; shoes, BCBG]
S U N D A Y
Day outfit: I will be spontaneous and purchase something Saturday to wear for Sunday! Eeek!
[sunday afternoon show + evening drinks overlooking the strip || jacket, H&M; dress, Elysian Boutique; clutch, Ann Taylor Loft]
M O N D A Y
[after a weekend in vegas, it’s time for comfort and casual heading home || boyfriend jeans, J. Crew]
Come back next week to see our Weekend Picturebook from Vegas. Hope you have a wonderful weekend wherever you are!
xo xo
Make-Ahead Meals: Breakfast Burritos + Mason Jar Salads
Typical New Year’s Resolution: Go on a diet. Lose Weight.
My New Year’s Resolution: Be more conscious of what goes in my body. (And hopefully losing weight will happen more naturally)
I’ve started making small changes in my diet. The biggest one being no more diet cokes every day. I’m not saying no more diet cokes forever, because I think having one every now and then is fine (like with mexican food – yummm) but definitely not one every day. I’ve only had 2 in the last month and I’m feeling just fine. Granted, I am drinking more coffee now because I still haven’t crossed that no caffeine hurdle BUT I’ve started drinking black coffee – no milk, no sugar, just black. Without those coke chemicals like aspartame, I already feel better about what I’m putting in my body – water and coffee.
The food is harder. Figuring out what to eat 3 times a day is hard enough, but then trying to make it healthy?? Ugh. I honestly have no clue what I’m going to do when I have kids. Feeding two is enough.
Lately though I’ve been inspired to eat healthier (and easier) with make-ahead meals.
B R E A K F A S T : E G G, S A U S A G E + P O T A T O B U R R I T O S
I have been vowing for months to make these make-ahead breakfast burritos via momadvice.com. Husband and I are not good at eating a solid breakfast. I typically just grab a Kind bar and maybe some fruit, maaaybe, if I eat anything at all. He sometimes eats yogurt. Then by lunch I’m so hungry I’m ready to eat anything and everything in my path. Not a good start to the day.
I needed something quick to grab, filling and fairly healthy. I’m not an egg eater at all (hard boiled eggs make me want to vomit), but when mixed with a bunch of different flavors (specifically mexican flavors, like huevos rancheros) I like them enough. I know they’re a good source of protein so I found this recipe great for breakfast. We’ve already gone through two rounds of these in just a few weeks. They’ve become our staple breakfast or sometimes lunch, and they are delicious. You can also change them up however you like!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- salt & pepper
- 1 lb Italian Turkey Sausage — if you haven’t tried this, it’s what totally makes the recipe!
- 9 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- jalapenos
- ½ pound shredded cheese of your choice
- 18 tortillas, soft-taco size (8-inch)
- To roast potatoes, preheat your oven to 475 degrees. Drizzle diced potatoes with oil and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Toss the potatoes together to evenly coat in oil and seasonings, and spread out into a single layer on the parchment. Roast until browned on the bottom and tender, about 20-25 minutes.
- Brown your sausage. Once it is cooked through, set aside in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the cream (or milk substitute) and pour into the sausage skillet. Cook over medium heat until just set, stirring as needed. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine, and transfer to the bowl with sausage.
- Make an assembly line – tortilla, cheese, followed by a small handful of potatoes and a scoop of the egg/sausage mixture. Roll the tortilla up.
- For freezing, place burritos on a wax- or parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer until firm, at least an hour. Transfer to large freezer bags and keep frozen for up to one month.
- For reheating, place a frozen burrito in microwave for 35 seconds on each side.
L U N C H : M A S O N J A R S A L A D S
I had been seeing this trend for a while now and thought it looked amazing, but it wasn’t until a friend posted on Instagram pictures of her salads for the week that I decided I had to try it. It is SO simple and so customizable. There are literally thousands of ideas for different salads on Pinterest. I decided to make mine with no meat, but you could easily add in canned chicken if you wanted.
What’s so great about the salads is that the dressing is in the mason jar. You don’t have to have a separate container for dressing. You just grab the jar and go.
Tips for layering:
Start with the dressing of your choice.
Add the hard veggies that you don’t mine getting soaked, like tomatoes, peppers, carrots.
Add the second layer of veggies or protein, like beans, cucumbers, artichokes, olives.
Add the meat here if you want.
Add the cheese, I like feta or a little gorgonzola.
Add the lettuce, my preference is spring mix.
Voila!
I keep a bowl and fork at my desk at work, so then all I have to do is pour it out, mix it up a little and it’s a great lunch full of veggies!
What are your favorite make-ahead meals?
xo xo
Golden Birthday Party [Details]
A few things about me: I love birthdays. I love parties. I love hosting people. I love gold.
Thus, the golden birthday party was born.
As a birthday present to myself, I decided to host a birthday party at our house. It was my GOLDEN birthday after all. For those who don’t know what that is – it’s when you turn the age of your birth date, in my case 26 on the 26th.
I’ve been planning this party for months, even sending out the save the date in December. I’ll be posting a blog later with all my party planning tips, but for now enjoy all the golden details!
D E C O R
{These gold wine bottles were my favorite and I can’t wait to use them again. They were also insanely easy to make. Take the wine bottle, cover it using spray glue, then pour TONS of glitter on top. Voila!}
{More wine bottle decor and a beautiful banner from Etsy}
{Bathroom details – print from Etsy}
{No party is complete without a photo booth! Make sure to have lots of props (the more random the better), and clearly showcase the event hashtag so people remember to post their photos.}
{Gold spray painted and glittered snowflakes. Bought the wooden snowflakes from a local boutique, then DIYed them gold!}
{Birthday Wall! Probably my favorite thing of the night – hang black butcher paper and have gold sharpies for guests to leave you a birthday message!}
F O O D + D R I N K
{Of course there has to be a gold cake for a golden birthday!}
{and my favorite dessert – macaroons, dusted in gold shimmer!}
{Spray paint mason jars for straw and fork holders – so easy and chic. Napkins from Swoozy.com}
{Gold solo cups (obviously)}
Not pictured: Keg of Golden Ale + Gold Jell-O Shots
E T C .
{One of my favorite birthday gifts – a polaroid camera! to capture the night in a unique way}
{Dress from Rent the Runway}
{black and gold nails on fleek}
{and of course, my best accessory!}
xo xo
weekend update [golden birthday party prep]
F R I D A Y N I G H T:
a satisfied craving [loaded baked potato]
2+ hours of a brilliant, moving film [boyhood]
an evening of pure RELAXATION on the couch with my boys
S A T U R D A Y:
[golden birthday party errand #1] cake dreaming + ordering with mom
[golden birthday celebration #1] mexican brunch (complete with sparkling margaritas and hilarious recounts of our separate, but both ridiculous new years eves) + pedicures with my girl S who unfortunately will be out of town for the golden birthday party
starbucks stop with husband for flat white + iced coffee [fuel]
[golden birthday party errand #2] my favorite employer: walmart for glitter, glue, frames + more
[golden birthday party errand #3] guess who for drink pricing (and drinks)
pizza, wine + 30 rock after a full day of errands
S U N D A Y:
[recharged] via serving coffee with a smile + worshipping at church
learned the background of piri piri chicken [while eating it] and deciding it’s our new favorite food
[golden birthday party errand #4] home depot for tools + things we know nothing about to mount things we bought at ikea we know nothing about
glitter + gold spray paint + wine bottles + mason jars and 3 pinterest projects later [golden birthday DIY complete]
hours [literal hours] realizing we are not the handy type [with said things from home depot], but figuring it out anyway and being so satisfied with husband’s job well done
breathing a collective sigh of relief that house projects + golden birthday projects are complete for now
sitting on our front porch [in the 60 degree weather! in january!] drinking a beer, watching the sunset + realizing how truly thankful we are for it all
xo xo
The only constant is change.
My mom is getting re-married in February.
The end of January into February will be a rush – from a golden birthday bash, into a weekend in Vegas with my new sistahs (we’ll get into that), straight into the wedding weekend full of everything wedding, including a big brunch at my house on the wedding day.
But I’m stopping to breathe, think and write about it – my catharsis.
I found out a few months ago, so I’ve had some time to really process. I’ve processed day and night, in tears and in smiles, with friends and in solace.
Y’all know I don’t sugarcoat these things. I haven’t sugarcoated my year and the difficulties I’ve gone through while losing my dad. So I’m not going to sugarcoat this. It took me a while to understand. It took some words of wisdom from wise people, some prayer and a lot of love.
A few thoughts from the small-minded, selfish head of mine:
Why so soon? What’s the rush? What does this mean for me? Who are these new people who will be my family? How am I expected to interact with them? How long will it take until everything feels comfortable and normal? Will it ever feel comfortable and normal? Am I disrespecting my dad? How can I move on? How am I the only one who seems to still be grieving? Why can’t I move on?
But, here are a few things I’ve learned over the last few months (again, thanks to wise people, prayer and a lot of love):
Life is short. We’re meant to love. We’re not just meant to love only once in our life, but potentially more. We just have to open ourselves up to it. Why would I ever stop love and happiness in the life of one of the people I care about the most?
God knows what he’s doing. He purposefully puts people in our lives for very specific reasons. God cares for my mother and know what she needs at this time. Who am I to say that God’s timing is incorrect?
Everyone grieves differently. This one has been such a hard lesson for me to learn. If I’m still crying and upset, I don’t understand why you’re not. If I don’t see or hear you talk about it, I think you don’t care abut it. Not everyone shares their feelings publicly like I do, so I can’t then assume they don’t have feelings.
But, here’s the best news of all – my mom’s fiance and his family are the best possible people I could ever ask for to become family. Seriously. I’m not exaggerating. If I didn’t believe that, I just wouldn’t say anything about them at all. I consider myself beyond lucky – I now have 4 incredible families I get to call mine: the wonderful Appletons, who I spent the majority of my holidays with growing up and will always love dearly; the beautiful McLaughlin/Woodwards, who I’m enjoying getting to know more and more in my adult years; the fabulous Aldermans, who have openly embraced me into their family; and now the Nelsons …
Not only do I now have another great male figure in my life, who is an amazing man of God and gives terrific advice and sermons, I now have sisters – as an only child, something I only DREAMED about when I was young, but knew it could never possibly happen. I’m reminded of the Bible story of Sarah giving birth to Isaac at age 90 – when she heard this was to happen in a year, she laughed because she thought it was impossible, but the Lord said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
So here we are, almost a month from the wedding. Our families have integrated seamlessly. We’ve had Thanksgiving together and Christmas together. We’ve gone pole dancing together and had incessant group texts together… AND we’re going to Vegas together the weekend before the wedding to celebrate (“the sistahs” – me, mom and the two sisters E + K).
As husband said as we left Christmas dinner, “If you were going to add to your family, these would be the people.”
Thank you, Lord, for providing love and happiness for my mom. Thank you for providing sisters (and their amazing families) who are thrilled to be part of mine and husband’s new life stages (babies… soon! disclaimer: not currently pregnant) to share their advice, hand-me-downs and endless love.
But most importantly, thank you, Lord, for helping me through this constantly changing thing called life.
xo xo
life lately.
{laughing at this || a mother’s birthday celebration never to be forgotten}
{enjoying this || a wonderful christmas party with some of my favorite people + nerf guns}
{obsessing over this || #teamadnan}
{loving this || the best christmas present – one of my dad’s old scarves with my initials monogrammed on it}
{celebrating this || 2015 with my two baes}
{doing this || anything I can to stay warm during #polarvortex}
xo xo
Resolutions. [10 days later]
Turn off the TV by 9pm. Get in bed and read.
Cook more with my husband.
Step away from my phone when around other people.
Blog more. Blog about what matters to me, not for others.
Embrace who I am. Don’t force things I’m not, like spontaneity.
Read the Word of God every day, even just for 5 minutes.
Go outside. Enjoy our backyard. Enjoy our energetic puppy.
Be engaged. In world events, in relationships, in work, in play.
Do small, unexpected things for people I care about.
Make our house a home.
Be more conscious about the food that goes in my body.
Love my body.
Take each day as it comes. Do not worry about tomorrow.
Travel somewhere new. In my hometown, in my state, in my country, in my beautiful God-given world.
B E H A P P Y.
xo xo
2014: My Top 5 Movies, TV Shows + Books
M O V I E S
5. Unbroken: I left the movie equal parts inspired by humanity and disgusted, ashamed of humanity. The story was phenomenal and the acting was beautiful.
4. Gone Girl: This was my #2 favorite book last year, so I was highly anticipating the movie. It was even better than I could have imagined. Rosamund Pike was the definition of perfection.
3. Wild: Reese Witherspoon captivated you from the moment she stepped on screen. The cinematography was astounding and the movie made me cry {almost} as much as the book.
2. Chef: Oh my gosh, this movie! You have to go watch it. You HAVE to. That’s all I can say. It’s funny, it’s smart, it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
1. Interstellar: This movie blew me away. We talked about it for the next week, discussing it like it was a real story. That’s the sign of a great movie.
Still on the list to see from 2014: Boyhood (DYING to watch this), Whiplash, Theory of Everything, Foxcatcher
T V S H O W S
5. Pretty Little Liars: This is my extremely guilty pleasure show. I honestly can’t tell you why I enjoy it as much as I do as a 25 year old. (Well, I tried to tell you in my blog post here.) But I’m so excited to watch this show every week.
4. The Good Wife: I binged all 6 seasons of this show this summer, and can’t believe I’ve gone this long without watching it. Alicia Florrick is my role model.
3. The Mindy Project: A consistent favorite, per usual. And now we have the best couple on TV (by far) and it’s too much happiness and laughter to contain.
2. The Walking Dead: Another consistent favorite, per usual. How this show tops itself every season is beyond me, but I’m just as much wrapped up in this apocalypse now as I was day 1.
1. Orphan Black: This one shocked me. Seriously, shocking how addicted I am to this show. The number 1 reason is easy – Tatiana Maslany, and the fact that she hasn’t been nominated for an Emmy makes me reconsider my entire existence.
B O O K S*
*read this year, not necessarily published this year
5. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green: I thought it would be an easy, predictable young adult read, but it had so much more depth than any other YA book I’ve read. The characters, the plot, the writing – it was nearly perfect. (Also, loved the movie)
4. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink: I read this book in a day and loved every second of it. The author turns something you don’t think would be interesting into the most fascinating love story I’ve heard in a long time. (Also, again, loved the movie)
3. I’ll Drink to That by Betty Halbreich: This autobiography is phenomenal. I’ve only read a few autobiographies in my life, but this one outshines them all. Her life is so fascinating that I often felt like I was reading fiction.
2. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell: I am officially Malcolm Gladwell’s newest, biggest fan ever. His writing is simply superb, weaving in hard facts with anecdotes so perfectly that you believe everything he says without batting an eye.
1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed: A woman hiking a 1,100 miles in a journey of self-discovery – sounds a little boring, huh? Not even close. I felt so connected to the main character by the end that I could feel her tears in my eyes. This is officially on my list of top 10 favorite books of all time.
BONUS: P O D C A S T S
1. Serial: The only podcast I’ve ever listened to. It’s literally all I can think about.
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 2013: Top 5 Movies, TV Shows + Books, Top 10 Movies of 2012
Weekend Picturebook: Mini Getaway to KC
{First things first: BBQ. These were literally some of the best ribs I’ve ever eaten in my life. I’m drooling right now just thinking about it. – Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ}
{We loved our boutique Hotel Sorella on the Plaza – from the artwork to the adorable breakfast nook to the unfortunately unusable rooftop pool.}
{After a long day of shopping we enjoyed an amazing meal at Zocalo’s, including margs, tacos, guac + discussing our 2015 resolutions.}
{After dinner we walked outside to find it snowing … HARD. We were not prepared, but loved it. We walked around the beautifully lit Plaza like a giddy young couple, then raced back to our hotel for warmth.}
{And warmth we received – drinking coffee + baileys at the rooftop bar.}
{Before heading home the next day we made a stop at our new favorite coffee shop, Kaldi’s. Cappucinos + Mochas TDF!}
{And of course had to make one final (long and expensive) stop – ikea! Photo: loading up the mini to the brim in 12 degree weather!}
xo xo
[We like Kansas City quite a lot – check out our other weekend picturebooks: August 2011, May 2013]
m.davis xoxo 
