the help

"Thank you for helping me remember why you are a part of my past, she said...
For a while I forgot."

midnight train



"...said he's goin' back
To a simpler place and time.
And I'll be with him
On that midnight train to Georgia,
I'd rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine."

- Gladys Knight & The Pips "Midnight Train to Georgia"



manicured stripes

 

 

 

 

Stripes!

 

 

Striped nails seemed like a different idea to try this week.

 

Surprisingly, I got more compliments on this sporadic design than I would have imagined!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the fish market

Alaskan Cod, Asparagus with Spinach, Mushrooms, & Almonds and a Homemade Tartar Sauce

I've never  really been a huge seafood fan

(except for King Crab Legs...mmm)

Recently, BB has been hinting for me to try it again, and really give it a whirl.

I was all in.

The next time we were out, she picked out a few different types from the fish market- that she thought I would like too!

She - as expected - did a great job. She cooked this Alaskan Cod to perfection and the homemade tartar sauce made the entire meal!

It was phenomenal!

She picked out other types as well that I am even more excited about.

I'm glad to finally be incorporating fish into our diets - it's so good for you!

exposed brick

I Love Home Depot.

It seems each time I go... I walk out with more projects than I went in with!

;-)

Naturally, a while ago I got an idea....

The brick/wood shelving unit came together great.

*and my baby was SO sweet for helping me (twice) load and unload 100 bricks... for a shelf ;-)*

*Thanks babydoll! xoxo*

I love the look of brick, but it's hard to incorporate if you aren't lucky enough to have exposed brick as an accommodation to begin with.

So, I decided a brick/wood shelving unit would look great against a large wall we hadn't figured out what to do with yet.

*We added one more shelf after this picture was taken*

I also will stain the wood. I want to give it a different color, without losing the knots that give it character and  it's natural vibe.

american cream

 

American Cream Conditioner

Lush Description:

"American Cream is our dreamy, medium-strength for soft, shiny and bouncy locks. Softening honey, scalp clarifying lavender and fresh oranges make a conditioner suitable for all hair types to soften rough ends and keep hair calm. Not to mention the absolutely delectable strawberry vanilla cream scent."

About 2 months ago I stopped using conditioner and switched to using only Lush shampoos. I have noticed a big change in my hair, for the better. That being said, I had been wanting to try a Lush conditioner for a long time so this was a product I picked up at my recent trip to the Mall of America.

I bought a small bottle to start...

My opinion? It's a decent conditioner. The smell is what I love most... the yummy scent reminds me of a sorority house for some reason lol. The sweet vanilla scent doesn't linger but it also isn't heavy and greasy, which is nice.

Would I buy it again? I don't know. Probably not, but I'm going to give it a chance, finish the bottle, and then decide :)

terracotta facelift

*my cute terra cotta pot got a makeover!*

funky fashion

"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different."

~Coco Chanel

Mockingjay

 

 

I finished the third book of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins yesterday.

 

It wasn't as good as the first, or second book (obviously), but it was good none-the-less. It was very different than the first two... you didn't really know where it was going at any point during the book... but it kept me entertained and captivated me until the very last sentence and I would absolutely recommend this series to anyone!

 

 

While I was very patient and kept my eyes and ears closed to the hype regarding the first movie - as soon as I had time today I went and bought it.

 

I couldn't wait any longer!!!

 

 

Really, it was perfect timing.

 

Boo thang has to work an odd shift this evening, so here's what I came home to...

 

 

 

 

(I already know I'll wanna watch it again, so we decided we will watch it together tomorrow!!! lol)

 

 

*We also picked up a new fall "maple pumpkin" scented candle :)*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

atmospheric effects

The weather lately has been phenomenal.

It was only fitting that the sunrise yesterday was just as breathtaking.

shredding

Blah...

I wanted them to end up looking like "beach bum" bottoms...

like the denim was a tell-tale sign of an endless summer

* I allowed room for the w/d to pull and play with the fresh rips and tears (hence the "clean" look above),

I pulled out & used all my gadgets then (after bleaching certain places lightly & quickly)...

 

Voilà!

painting the roses red

my lil' man

"If you can make 'em laugh, you can get away with anything"



pretty bubbles...



"...and I felt to the ground
tasted ashes on my tongue
thinking that only the dead
are forever young

There was peace in the twilight
and for a moment among
it was a world without danger
a world without war
and I will take all your suffering
if it will do any good
cause' we are one flesh,
one breath,
one life,
one blood..."



"One Blood" Terrence Jay/GSE/Green Street Hooligans




 



tax free birthday

Babes had a birthday!

It was also "tax-free" weekend :-D

We partied like college kids, snuggled, and laughed so hard it hurt... We got goofy, serious, and sexy. Had some hi-larious pranks (LOL), and an epic failure that still managed to make us laugh...

we shopped tax free, ate good, and enjoyed each other's company.

The whole weekend was a blast.

beginnings of a beautifully long night <3

mmm...



throw it in the bag







HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOLL!! XOXO



fragrances of fall

BBW recently opened their line of fall scents for the year... of which I always look forward to and adore ♥

As soon as I got the update - I was THERE!

For the house I wanted some new fall candles, so the babes and I each picked up a scent to start us off. We also got some scents for our vehicles. I love the autumn season, so it is crucial to me that our home smell like fall and be decorated accordingly to truly welcome our beloved favorite season.

Around the end of August - as summer really closes - I go out and pick up all the real goodies for the season ahead :-)

starbucks mania



OBSESSED.

Since their cold drinks are so good - I thought I'd try the ice cream... NOT impressed.

beautiful fool

And I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby

mani update



blue nails this week!



Random updates:

I've been swamped.

I'm slowly but surely getting the hundreds of pictures I took on my work trip organized to post... lol... I promise they will be up soon!

Babes and I had a photoshoot this past weekend, it was a blast - pics to come!

Vacation planning is in the works!!

Football tickets? Hell yeah!... college football IS MY SHIT.

 Hardcore back to my fitness/health routine. Damn, it feels good to be a gangster ;)

back in business

It took a while after the move, with the crazy summer schedule & all but...



As of this weekend, I'm back in business ;-P

a starbucks morning

I love Sunday mornings ♥

This morning was an early one, complete with Starbucks coffee and an irresistible snuggle sesh ♥

dog days of summer

 <3