Memorial Day Weekend recap

Friday, Geof and I both got let out of work early. I went to get a mani and then we headed right for the movies to see The Hangover 2. This place becomes a ghost town on the weekend during the summer months, especially on holiday weekends when everyone heads to the shore. We were able to get to the theater in no time, which is always nice. The sequel was funny, but nowhere near as good as the first one. I did like it though and it’s tough to compare them since the first one is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Zach Galifianakis had me laughing out load at many points and I also didn’t mind staring at Bradley Cooper for 2 hours. It would have been nice to incorporate Doug into the shenanigans this time around.


Essie Borrowed & Blue


The Hangover Part II

After the movie, we headed to Uno for some pizza and then home to get ready to go out for the night. Our friend Dan came over to meet up with us and we went to The Deck for the night. The weather was perfect for being outside on the river and I had a good time with the guys. I also bumped into some people I haven’t seen in awhile, which is always nice.

Saturday, we relaxed around the house most of the day and went out to Media in the evening for a date night. We had another gorgeous evening and it was nice to stroll around town. We settled on dinner at Fellini and it was absolutely delicious. There is nothing like authentic Italian food and it’s B.Y.O.B.


Beautiful sunset


Mozzarella Sticks wrapped in spring roll wrappers


Fellini

Sunday, we went to the pool and it was glorious! It felt like forever since I spent time in the cool water and basked in the sun. This past winter was too long, so I’m more than happy to see that summer is almost here. We got to catch up with our friends from the pool and made it a great day.


Getting ready to head to the pool!


View from my lounge chair at the pool...it looks like the clouds are forming a heart

We got home from the pool and my mom came over to visit. Geof made us bleu cheese stuffed burgers and I made s’mores for dessert. So good. We caught up on So You Think You Can Dance on the DVR and had a relaxing night in.

Monday was pretty laid back. We ran some errands, went to Old Navy (I got some great workout pants thanks to a coupon from sweet Kathie), Bed, Bath & Beyond and then to Chik-Fil-A for lunch. I’m super excited about the zero gravity chairs we got from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I’ll be lounging in one all summer long at the pool.

Once we got home, I ended up organizing and going through some more things to get rid of. We have been on such a mission lately getting the house together and it feels good. In the evening we watched the remaining episodes of Modern Family and Cougar Town on the DVR.

I hope you all had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend too!

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!!

The Good Life

It’s almost time for the long weekend and the unofficial start to summer. I can’t help but be a little giddy with excitement.

Have a look at these images, turn up this song and enjoy!


Good Life – OneRepublic Song Lyrics


OneRepublic - Good Life

Woke up in London yesterday
Found myself in the city near Piccadilly
Don't really know how I got here
I got some pictures on my phone

New names and numbers that I don't know
Address to places like Abbey Road
Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want
We're young enough to say



Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado



Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out
Sometimes there's bs that don't work now
We are god of stories but please tell me
What there is to complain about

When you're happy like a fool
Let it take you over
When everything is out
You gotta take it in



Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life



Hopelessly
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss
Hopelessly
I feel like the window closes oh so quick
Hopelessly
I'm taking a mental picture of you now
'Cause hopelessly
The hope is we have so much to feel good about



Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life, oh, this is

To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out
Sometimes there's bs that don't work now
We are god of stories but please tell me
What there is to complain about

Images via we heart it

NuMe Giveaway & Review

The folks at NuMe Professional Styling Tools were kind enough to send me the NuMe Mini Flat Iron to review. When I first opened the package, I couldn’t get over how small and compact it was, while still having the normal features of a regular sized flat iron. The design is also adorable and I love the cute zebra print. Another surprise is that it works with dual voltage, so it can be used anywhere in the world. If I’m ever whisked away to Europe, this is definitely coming with me!



I used the flat iron to straighten my hair beginning to end and really put it to the test. It took about a half hour, which was to be expected since it’s smaller than a normal sized flat iron. The ceramic plates on the iron are tourmaline-infused to prevent dry and damaged hair. I also noticed how quickly it heated up and was impressed with the fact that I didn’t have to keep going over pieces of hair again and again. Lastly, it comes with a one year warranty so you don’t have to worry about not being covered.

Ultimately, this is something I would use for touch-ups and keep in my purse so that I can take it anywhere when I need my hair to stay straight.



One of you lucky ladies has the opportunity to win the following prize pack valued at $525!

Here’s what’s included:
-Mini Flat Iron
-Vintage Flat Iron
-19mm Curling Wand



To enter:
“Like” NuMe on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall letting them know that you came from Chic & Pink. Leave a comment on my blog letting me know you did this.

Extra entries:
Follow @NuMeProducts on Twitter +1 entry
Be a follower of my blog +1 entry
Follow me on Twitter @ChicnPink +1 entry
Post about this giveaway on Facebook or on your blog +1 entry
Tweet about this giveaway +1 entry (can be done once a day for an entry per day)
You can Tweet this: I just entered a #Giveaway to win @NuMeProducts hair styling products from @ChicnPink here: http://tinyurl.com/3zfxlm7

That’s a chance for 18 extra entries! Please leave each entry as a separate comment below.

Giveaway will be close on Tuesday, June 7th and winner will be announced Wednesday, June 8th.

NuMe is also offering an introductory package discount for Chic & Pink readers here
Coupon Code: CHICNPINK
Effective Until: 6/8/11

Good luck!

Weekend recap

Sorry for the unexpected blog break. I don’t really have an excuse other than just being busy and not having anything too exciting going on to tell you all about.

Friday, I took a late evening nap which I regretted later because it was impossible to go to bed later that night. When I finally did get up we went out with our friend Dan, his daughter and her friend for some pizza at Pinocchio’s.

Saturday, Geof and I went to Delaware and I finally got some clips for my Pandora bracelet. I couldn’t wear it without them. We also went to the movies and saw Bridesmaids. It was really funny and had many laugh out loud moments. My only complaint was that it was a little long. Overall I would highly recommend it. Kirsten Wiig carried the movie very well and did a great job in the lead role. After the movies we went to Red Robin, Ulta and finally to Target. We finally headed home just in time to catch SNL. The short with Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and Andy Samberg cracked me up.



Sunday, we worked in the basement most of the day and got rid of another load of stuff. It feels so good to consolidate and condense. The whole downstairs is looking better than it’s probably looked since our wedding. In the evening my mom came over and we watched the finale of Celebrity Apprentice and caught some of the Billboard Music Awards.

Revlon Runway 2011

I’m a sucker for limited edition beauty products, especially when the price is right and it’s a worthy of being so hard to find. I knew I needed this polish and lipstick for two reasons:

1. The lipstick was featured at the Rag & Bone event during Fashion’s Night Out back in September and is appropriately named ‘Fashion’s Night Pout’. It was released specifically for the event and could be purchased at that time for $50 a tube with the money going to charity and a photo op with Halle Berry.

Gucci Westman, Global Artistic Director for Revlon designed this shade specifically for the event. It was music to my ears when I found out that it was being released as a limited edition product for the rest of the general population to purchase. If you can get your hands on this, please do! It’s supposed to be a universally flattering nude and I can see why. It’s a very neutral nude and doesn’t pull too cool or warm toned.

2. The nail polish was another must-have for me. This shade is named ‘Black with Envy’ and it's being compared to Chanel’s ‘Black Pearl’. I’ve seen swatch comparisons online and I have to say they’re very similar. I’d also much rather pay $5 for a bottle of the Revlon than $20+ for the Chanel. The formula of Revlon polishes is another plus for me. They glide on very smooth and I like the brush.

Do you track down limited edition beauty items?

Late weekend recap

Friday, we spent the evening in getting caught up on the DVR with everything from Gossip Girl to Friday Night Lights. I made chicken quesadillas for dinner and it was a relaxing night at home.

Saturday, Geof and I went to Subway for lunch and then went to the gym for some much needed cardio post-vacation. We came home and got ready to head out for the night. There was a carnival going on in a neighborhood nearby, so we went there for awhile. It was a blast! We also bumped into some friends from the pool, which is always nice. We rode a few rides like the Himalaya and Fun Slide. The night also wouldn’t have been complete without some yummy funnel cake. It was so much fun!


Ferris wheel!


Geof going down the slide

Sunday was Mother’s Day and we took my mom to brunch at Generations. She really enjoyed herself and it was great to celebrate her for the day. Afterwards, we went to Target and then back to my mom’s for some pics by her azalea bushes. Once we got home, I took a long afternoon nap, did some work in the evening and called it a night.


Pretty!


My mom & I

VH1 Best Cruise Ever 2 - Day 4

This was the last full day of the cruise and we had to make it count. We started the day off with lunch, met up with Chad & Amy and headed down to the Candlelight Lounge for Pop Culture Trivia. We made it fun, but the questions were pretty ridiculous and it wasn’t what we thought it was going to be. Afterwards, Geof and I decided to head off to the casino for some slots. Note to self: Never gamble on a cruise ship. They’re there to take your money, not make you money. I need to learn to play table games.

There were acoustic shows all day on the Lido Deck and we got out there with just enough time to catch Train’s entire set. It was the first time we saw them on the cruise and they were excellent. We had an early dinner after Train and then headed off to our cabins to get ready for the night.


Enjoying Train on the Lido

The evening started off with a robe party hosted by Lifehouse. There were people all over the ship in their pajamas and robes, including Chad! The first show of the night we wanted to see was Deck of Jack. They drew a large crowd and even got Ben from Lifehouse to come up and play. The song that had me laughing the most was about Jim Shearer’s days working at McDonald’s and when there manager would leave they would make 100’s of nuggets and “blow out the bin”. This was back when all the food was ready made and sat in those bins/boxes. I guess you had to be there, but it had everyone in stitches.


Geof and I ready for the night!


Me with Danny from The Script, Geof & I with the boys from Lifehouse and Geof with some the guys from The Daylights

Later, we went to the Candlelight Lounge to see the rest of Mat Kearny’s set. Like I said in my previous post, he is so talented and I’m really glad I got to see him on the cruise. After Mat, SafetySuit was up to play the last show on the ship. I cannot think of a better way to end vacation then have my favorite band play last. The Candlelight was mobbed and they put on one hell of a show. Things really got pumping once front man Doug Brown made the official announcement of Bin Laden’s death. There was a really camaraderie among the cruisers and we even got a U.S.A. chant going. Doug told us a story about how his father was in one of the towers on 9/11 and thankfully was able to make it out. I can’t imagine what their family went through on that day.


Deck of Jack, Mat Kearney & SafetySuit


The gang!


Amy & I with Doug



The thing that continues to set SafetySuit apart from other bands is their stage presence and energy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a large or small crowd; they always give it their all. I realize I’m a little biased since you all know I’ve seen them one too many times, but I saw many people on Facebook that had never seen them before that said the same thing.


Geof & I with Mat Kearney

We ended the night with our crew up for some late night snacks. I was so dehydrated from all the singing and dancing that all I wanted was water. Lots and lots of water. It was pretty much a pout fest on how much we didn’t want our trip to end.


Best.Time.Ever

Last year was pretty darn hard to top, but I think we did it. I had so much fun this time around and felt even more relaxed. Thank you all for taking this little journey along with me through my recaps!

VH1 Best Cruise Ever 2 - Day 3

We started the morning bright and early with breakfast and then met up with Tracy & Steph to get to our Cozumel excursion. It was a beautiful day in Mexico and we really couldn’t have asked for better weather the entire cruise.

We went right to the docks to board our catamaran and get the day started. The guys on the crew of our excursion were a blast. There was one named “Nacho” that looked like a Mexican Jack Sparrow. No joke.


Our excursion!


Tracy & Steph with Nacho!

We went out to the reef and jumped in the water for about an hour of snorkeling, seeing lots of colorful fish in what was a great experience. Then it was time for fun in the sun with margaritas when the catamaran took us all to a beautiful beach for some playtime in the ocean. The beach was filled with all kinds of goodies including everything from water slides to trampolines. It was so fun! The slide was the best part, but climbing it was an upper body workout. I did it once and that was enough for me. On the other hand, the water trampoline was awesome. After we got back onto the catamaran, they gave us a ride back to the docks, filled with more drinking and some cheesy line dance music, which was a ton of fun. I’m so glad we did this excursion because it was a blast and worth every penny.


Sun & Fun!

When we headed back to the ship for a quick lunch, we grabbed Chad & Amy and then went back on the island to hang out at Fat Tuesday, where we spent a few hours talking, drinking and laughing. On our way back to the ship, we spotted Jimmy from Train and took a funny picture with him at the bar. After that we saw our buddy Jim Shearer who happened to be filming a segment for the Top 20 Countdown and they ended up putting us in the shot with him, which was really exciting. Hopefully, we should be in the very last segment of the show this weekend when they air the countdown.


Fat Tuesday


The gang with Jimmy from Train


Us with The Inspiration in the background


Getting ready to be on the Top 20 Countdown

Once back onboard, I was feeling pretty worn out from sun, swimming and margaritas. We had took a nap, grabbed some dinner and roamed the ship before getting ready for the night. We headed up to the Paris Lounge to see Mat Kearney and The Script. I can honestly say that I didn’t know much about Mat or his music before the cruise and left vacation a huge fan. He has some great tunes and is a genuinely nice guy. After he went off, it was time for The Script. I’ve been looking forward to seeing these guys for months and they did not disappoint. Danny has an incredible voice and even though they’re considered rock/pop, he has a flow to his singing that almost reminds me of rap/R&B. They really put on a show and Danny’s stage presence kept everyone engaged the entire time.


Me with Jason Wade from Lifehouse


Mat Kearney


The Script

After the show, we headed up to The Candlelight Lounge to find Chad & Amy. We bumped into Ryan Star and chatted with him for a little. He was another very nice, talented artist on the cruise. We caught part of the Civil Twilight show and then went to see the Yacht Rock Revue on the Lido Deck. They were doing covers of U2 songs that night. We stayed for a bit and then went with Tracy and Stephanie to get some late night snacks. The weather was beautiful, so we dined al fresco. It was great to relax and chat awhile with good friends.


Us with Ryan Star

VH1 Best Cruise Ever 2 – Day 2

We slept in until 11 and headed out of our cabin for a fun day at sea! We started the day off with some lunch and then went down to the Serenity Deck to relax and look at the beautiful ocean for awhile. We also took a walk down the Promenade Deck and ran into Pat Monahan from Train. He was very nice and it was great to chat with him for a bit. From there, we went up to Lido Deck and met up with Tracy and Steph for some sun and fun. The four of tackled the awesome water slide a few times.


Starting the day off with a margarita!


Time to tackle the slides!


Us with Pat Monahan from Train

Deck of Jack was playing on the Promenade Deck at the Violin Bar, so we made sure to get there early for that. Jim Shearer from the Vh1 Top 20 Countdown is the lead singer of the band and they are absolutely hysterical. There are no words to describe how hard they had us all laughing. They sing about everything from Turtle Wax to Apollo Creed. We were there with our “Wolfpack”(me, Geof, Chad, Amy, Steph & Tracy) and had a blast.


Jim Shearer with his band Deck of Jack

From there, we went to plan our land excursion and then had dinner with Steph and Tracy in the Mardi Gras dining room. After dinner, we went to our cabin to get ready for the evening.

We met everyone up in the Paris Lounge for SafetySuit and Lifehouse. Both shows did not disappoint and we all had a blast. From the concerts we went up to the Candlelight Lounge for Karaoke. People sang some really random songs. It was fun to see though.


Geof & Chad ready to rock


The ladies


Jason from Lifehouse


Us at Karaoke

To cap the night off, we all went for a midnight snack at the buffet and ran into John from SafetySuit. He chatted with us for awhile and then J from SafetySuit came along and we said a quick hello to him too. We all hung out for awhile longer enjoying some late night laughs and shenanigans. By the end of the night, I officially lost most of my voice.


This pic says it all!