I'm THANKful for the special people in my life!

It’s Day 8 of the Plenty To Be Thankful For Blog Challenge & Swap



Today’s topic is the special people in my life

This is an easy topic and I’m sure anyone that knows me can guess my answers. To make it a little more fun, I’m going to give you 5 reasons why I’m so THANKful for each person I’m lucky enough to have in my life.

Geof
1. He lets me warm my cold feet on his legs every night.
2. Gives the best hugs and makes me feel loved.
3. Tells me I’m beautiful at least once a day with or without makeup.
4. Gets me like no one else and always has my back.
5. Makes the best tacos of anyone I know.



Mom
1. One of the best shopping partners out there.
2. Loves Lady Gaga, just like her daughter.
3. Strong, independent and smart.
4. Doesn’t care what others think (if only I could be more like that).
5. Giving. She will drop everything to help her family and friends.



Kristen
1. Can make me laugh on even the worst of days. I’m laughing in my head as I type this at some of the things she comes up with.
2. Doesn’t know how to have a bad time.
3. Will listen to me be ridiculous and tell me I’m being ridiculous.
4. Her dedication. When she says she’s going to do something, she does it.
5. Is as pretty as she is smart and as good a cook as she is crafty.



Colleen
1. Beautiful inside and out. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like her.
2. One of the hardest working people I know and so intelligent.
3. The best listener on planet earth.
4. One of those friends you can go weeks without talking to and pick up right where you left off.
5. Has never judged me or made me feel like less of a person.



Amy & Chad
1. My favorite couple and as awesome as they come.
2. Made my past few vacations some of the best ever.
3. Their mutual love for good music.
4. They’re adventurous. They will just pick up and GO!
5. The four of us get along like peas and carrots.



YOU!
1. Keep me sane some days.
2. Give me a place to ramble and leave me sweet comments that make me smile.
3. I truly love reading about your happiness and joys in life.
4. You inspire me to do more.
5. Where else would I have learned to cook new things, try a new craft and HAVE to have a new nail polish because someone blogged it?!

There you have it! I believe friendships come in quality and not quantity. I have a few special people in my life that I don’t know what I’d do without. For that, I’m very thankful.

Source: jellybeanjunkyard.wordpress.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

I'm THANKful for My Hometown!

It’s Day 3 of the Plenty To Be Thankful For Blog Challenge & Swap.


Today’s topic is My Hometown!

I’ve lived in my hometown, just outside of Philadelphia for most of my life. Living in this area, there is plenty to be THANKful for like…

Sporting and Entertainment Venues

Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center are so easy to get to for games and concerts. Citizens Bank Park is also a beautiful ballpark and pretty amazing to watch a game in.

Airport

This may sound silly, but it’s very nice living so close to an International Airport

Culture

Philadelphia is such a historic city. Sometimes I take for granted how many opportunities are right in my backyard. I need to start being more of a tourist in my own city

NJ & DE

I can get to either of these states in a jiffy. It’s a nice convenience when looking for a change of scenery. It’s also easy to get to NY & MD if I want (another thing I need to take advantage of).

City/Country Balance



There’s a nice contrast between the city and suburbs. If you’re looking for trendy restaurants, unique stores and eclectic bars – you have the city. If you’re looking small vineyards, mom and pop shops and the great outdoors – there’s the county.

I’m THANKful for YouTube (and other internet fun)!

It’s Day 2 of the Plenty To Be Thankful For Blog Challenge & Swap!





Today’s topic is YouTube (and other internet fun)!

SafetySuit - Let Go

The best thing about YouTube is being able to find any song or music video at any time. It reminds me of what MTV used to be when I was a kid. With that said, I can watch SafetySuit’s new video for the song “Let Go” whenever I feel like it. For that, I am very THANKful!

Sophia Grace & Rosie on Ellen

The next best thing about YouTube is viral videos. There are so many that guarantee a laugh even when you’re in the worst mood. Sophia Grace and Rosie stole my heart when I saw them on Ellen.

Beauty Gurus

Another great thing about YouTube is the endless amounts of reviews and tutorials to learn to do your hair like this or your makeup like that. One of my favorite girls on YouTube is Michele1218. She’s classy and knows her stuff. I trust her reviews and love her style.

Pinterest

As far as other internet fun goes, I have to say that I’ve been very THANKful for Pinterest. The website has a ton of inspiration and lots of fun. It’s like getting a new virtual magazine every time you log on.

I’m THANKful for My Guilty Pleasures!

I’m participating in the Plenty To Be Thankful For Blog Challenge & Swap.



Today’s topic is Guilty Pleasures!

Here are some that I’m Thankful for:

Reality TV

We all know that most reality shows kill brain cells, but after a long day of work it’s just the mind numbing thing I need to relax. I love the Real Housewives of just about anywhere and always get hooked on The Bachelor/Bachelorette.

Magazines

Curling up with a good magazine never gets old.

Sleeping in late

Thank goodness for weekends. I love sleeping in late.

Painting my nails

It’s relaxing and pleasurable at the same time.

Summer Beauty Essentials

It’s almost summer and about that time to give our beauty routines a facelift. I don’t know about you, but as soon as the warmer temps hit, I’m ready for flip flops with pastel pedis and glowing skin.

Here are some of my beauty besties for summer:

Summer Beauty Besties by Jules7127 on Polyvore.com

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Fashion Scoop – I love the Cremesheen formula from MAC because it’s not sticky and this is the prettiest pale pink that looks good alone or on top of lipstick.

Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Golden Light – This is a great all-around bronzer and the matte finish works really well for me on my lighter skin.

Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise & Caicos – Just about any pink or pastel will do, but I especially love this color from Essie. It’s the prettiest shade of blue and reminds me of a tropical getaway. I love it on my toes.

EOS Lip Balm in Lemon Drop w/SPF 15 – These balms are not only fun because of the shape, but they also work really well at keeping lips soft and protecting against the sun.

Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect After Sun Moisturizer in Coconut Papaya – This lotion is great after a day at the pool or the beach. It hydrates, smells amazing and gives a nice sheen. It looks especially good on your legs with summer dresses.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock, SPF 30 – This is hands down the best SPF I’ve ever used. It doesn’t have that typical sunscreen scent and it applies evenly and lightly.

Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Wave-Enhancing Spray – Want summer beach waves? This is your new best friend. I love this and have been using it for two years. It gives natural looking waves like you’ve spent a day at the beach.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Perfume – This seriously smells like summer in a bottle. I can’t even describe it. It’s somewhere between an exotic beach, coconuts and citrus/floral. If you see this in your local department store…smell it. It’s amaze-balls and already sold out online (last time I checked).

Bare Minerals Glimmer Eyeshadow in Nude Beach – Mineral products are great in the summer because they give a sheer wash of color and don’t feel too heavy. This is a beautiful, universally flattering shade for all over your lids. Just throw on some mascara and you’re good to go!

Do you love any of these products as much as me? Are there some that you’d like to add to the list?

Shameless

This is hands down my new favorite show. Similar to The Office, it originated in England and is now taking off with the American adaptation Sunday nights on Showtime. I went in with low expectations and was hooked from the first episode. It’s fast paced and there is always an interesting storyline.



It follows the lives of the dysfunctional Gallagher family and their cohorts. The cast is great and I couldn’t imagine anyone besides William H. Macy playing the role of Frank, the alcoholic father on disability because of migraines. His eldest daughter, Fiona played by Emmy Rossum is more of a mother to her other 5 siblings than a sister since their mom took off. The kids all work together to keep their lives afloat by doing odd jobs and putting their money together. Fiona’s boy toy, Steve, played by Justin Chatwin is also a great character and some nice eye candy.


Just another day in the Gallagher house


Steve (Justin Chatwin)

My favorite character from a humor perspective is the Agoraphobic mother, Sheila played by Joan Cusack. Her daughter is the girlfriend of one of the Gallagher kids and she is hysterical.


Sheila (Joan Cusack)

If you’re offended by foul language, bad behavior and overall shenanigans, this might not be the show for you. Watch out for Rossum as she gives an outstanding performance. I sense a Golden Globe nomination next year.


Fiona (Emmy Rossum)

Super sweet!

Steph over at Thoughts From Cali gifted me with the Irresistibly Sweet Award. Being that it’s the month of love, I find this award to be perfect. Thanks Steph for thinking of me!

The rules are that I list 5 sinful indulgences. This is an easy one.

1. Manicures and pedicures. Getting pampered at the nail salon is so relaxing and a definite indulgence. I walk out feeling like a million bucks.



2. A trip to Starbucks. I don’t go often, but when I do, it’s a treat. My beverage of choice is a skinny cinnamon dolce latte.



3. Reality TV. Shows like The Bachelor, Jersey Shore and Real Housewives top the list.

4. Cupcakes. In moderation of course!



5. Lipgloss. A swipe of the perfect pink gloss and I’m ready to go.



I’m going to pass this along to 3 more Irresistibly Sweet Bloggers:

Leeann @ Join The Gossip
Gwen @ Handbag Obsessed
Meghan @ The Perfect Compilation Tape

Happy Friday!

Best Drugstore Beauty Products

This year I’ve been more into makeup than ever before. For that reason, I thought I’d share some of my favorites that can be found right at your local drugstore that work just as well, if not better than higher end brands for a much lower price point.

NYC Individual Eyes Custom Compact in Bryant Park (for blue eyes)


I purchased this on a whim being that it was under $6 and I’d heard some positive reviews on it. Once I tried it out, I realized that I’d hit the eyeshadow jackpot. The colors are gorgeous, pigmented and it also comes with a primer and illuminator. The illuminator is great not just for eyes, but also to highlight cheekbones and use on Cupid’s bow. It’s also the perfect size for travel. They make these in different shades for different eye colors and the colors in this palette are very flattering for blue eyes. They definitely got it right.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick/Lipgloss


It’s no secret that I have a lipstick/gloss obsession and I’m very picky when it comes to this category. I’ve come to love Revlon’s lip products. They’re Super Lustrous Lipstick is creamy, doesn’t dry out my lips and they have a ton of shades to chose from. You can usually find these for about $5. My favorite shades are Luminous Pink and Silver City Pink. I usually wear it with a pinky nude lipgloss on top for the perfect color.

The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss is another favorite of mine in the shade Peach Petal. It’s a peachy nude and it also has an SPF 15, which makes it very nice for spring and summer. You can usually find these under $7 and I find them very similar to higher end glosses like Chanel’s Glossimers that are over $20.



Revlon also makes another formula of lipstick called Revlon Colorburst and there is a shade called Soft Nude that’s great. It’s very similar to MAC’s Crème d’Nude for half the price.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation


This was another one I bought thinking nothing of it and has become my go to foundation. I don’t think I’ve used one from a drugstore since I was a teenager, but I find myself reaching for this more and more. It’s very creamy and almost melts into your skin. I wouldn’t recommend this for ladies with oily skin, but for normal to dry skin, it works really well. It provides decent coverage and evens out my complexion. For around $8, it is a beauty bargain.

NYC Blushable Crème Stick


Yes, another NYC Product, but this is just as good as the first. These crème sticks are no more that $4 and are comparable to the NARS Multiple that costs more than $30. The NYC sticks come in a variety of shades. Some can be used as a blush while others are better as a bronzer. I have this in the shade Pink Flash and it adds the perfect amount of natural looking flush to my cheeks. Another great shade is Plaza Pink. It’s a more toned down shade of Pink Flash and is a light peachy pink. They’re very easy to blend out with a blush brush and are my favorite drugstore find this year.

Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencils


These pencils from Milani glide on like a dream are comparable to Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. The Milani pencils are less than $7, while the Urban Decay pencils cost about $17. Because the Milani pencils are metallic, they’re not safe for use on the waterline, however, these are great for the upper lashline. I only wish they came in more shades.

Essence XXXL Lipgloss in Rising Star


The only place I’ve found these glosses is Ulta, but it’s worth the trip. They are only $1.99!! It deserves two exclamation points because they’re that unbelievable. Rising Star is a beautiful milky pink shade with a slight iridescence. It can be worn on its own or over lipstick. It has a pleasant scent that isn’t overpowering and they’re not at all sticky.

I hope some of these recommendations were helpful!

What are some of your favorites?

Tagged!

I was tagged by Meghan at The Perfect Compilation Tape. I discovered her blog in the summer and she is super sweet. She lives in Chicago with her husband and it’s so fun reading about all of her adventures in life and as a teacher.

1. What kind of hair (color/cut) have you always wanted but never had the nerve to do it? For cut, I have always wanted to try something really different like a graduated bob. I would never have the guts to do it. As far as color, I always wanted to try red. This I did for a short time. It looked good for about 3 days and then faded fast since I’m a blondie.

2. If you haven't been/or could do it over, where would/did you go on your honeymoon? We went to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for our honeymoon and it was pure relaxation. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. We also got to go to Hawaii for our 1st Anniversary and that was the trip of a lifetime. I really want to go back there someday.


Us in Playa del Carmen, Mexico


Hawaii last September

3. What is your dream car? I’m not into fancy cars. As long as it’s dependable and good on gas, that’s fine with me. I’d be happy with a Honda CR-V or Nissan Murano for my next vehicle.

4. If you would move anywhere in the world where would you go? I would either move to the South or live on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

5. What famous lady would you love to be or be bff with? I would go with either Kourtney or Khloe Kardashian. They seem fun, real and I know that we would have a blast.

6. What colors did you do or do you want to do for your wedding? My colors were wine and champagne. We did a fall theme and the colors blended in nicely with everything. I honestly thought the ladies looked so pretty in their bridesmaid dresses.



7. What trashy reality show are you embarrassingly addicted to? I watch a lot of bad reality shows. The one I’m most embarrassed to admit that I watch, but will is the Bad Girls Club. Pure trash!

8. Do you remember your first kiss? How old were you and how awkward was it? Ew and yes. I think I was about 13 and it was not a good kiss.

9. What is your guilty pleasure? A lazy Sunday, curled up on the couch with movies and a blanket.

10. What is your favorite chick flick? There are so many that I don’t think I can pick just one. In no particular order: Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing, Grease, How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days, The Wedding Planner, Legally Blonde…there are a lot.

11. What is your favorite beverage? Diet Pepsi/Coke

12. What is your theme song? So Small by Carrie Underwood. I love this line “While you sit around thinking about what you can't change and worrying about all the wrong things time's flying by moving so fast you better make it count 'cause you can't get it back”

13. Who is your style icon? From the past I would say Audrey Hepburn. Now I would say Reese Witherspoon.

14. When was the last time you cried and why? Tuesday. It has been a rough week.

15. What playlist/cd is on your CD player/iPod right now? I’ll go with what’s in my car. The past few days I’ve been listening to the Purple Rain soundtrack. I love Prince!



16. What is your favorite dessert? Cupcakes!



If you made it all the way through this, congrats! You probably know more about me than you needed to.

I tag anyone that wants to play along. Please let me know if you do so that I can come and read your Q&A.

I wish everyone a lovely weekend!

Friday Favorites

I don’t know about you, but I am more than ready for the weekend. I wanted to share some of the things I’m loving right now:

Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

I cannot get enough of this song. She certainly has another hit on her hands. I’m sure it will get played out in a few weeks, but for right now I love it.

Jersey Shore

The gang is back together again in Miami and it is better than ever. This show is such a guilty pleasure of mine. GTL, baby!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Peach Petal

The formula on this gloss is great, especially since it’s a drugstore brand. I believe this shade was originally limited edition, but I have been seeing it with the regular colors lately. It also has an SPF of 15 which makes it perfect for summer. The shade is a nude/light peach and perfect for pairing with a dramatic eye or for wearing on minimal makeup days.

Fla-Vor-Ice Light

I remember these freezer pops very well as a kid and was happy to see that they make a light version. These have been the perfect light summer snack with the dog days of summer.

Have a great weekend everyone!

8 Things Tag

It’s time to catch up on some awards and tags that have been passed along to me. This is the first of a few that I need to post.

I was given the 8 Things Tag from Join The Gossip. Leeann is such a sweetheart and we have become good friends through blogging. It’s too bad that we live on opposite coasts, because I think that we would be great friends. It’s a good thing there’s email. We both enjoy music, especially live music and that’s what got us talking. She is beautiful and one of nicest ladies around!

8 TV Shows I Like To Watch:
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Biggest Loser
3. Gossip Girl
4. Vampire Diaries
5. How I Met Your Mother
6. Melrose Place (this is probably getting cancelled)
7. Keeping up with the Kardashians
8. Grey’s Anatomy


I secretly wish that Geof and I could be friends with Barney, Marshall, Lilly, Robin and Ted.

8 Favorite Places to Eat & Drink:
1. Newtown Grill
2. Don Pablo’s
3. Spice
4. Cheesecake Factory
5. Jones
6. Dilworthtown Inn
7. Chart House
8. Melting Pot


This is the historic Dilworthtown Inn. Geof took me here after he proposed at Longwood Gardens.

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. Traveling
2. Continuing to get in better shape and keep at it
3. Becoming a parent someday
4. Getting our dream house someday
5. Meeting blog friends. I’m going to be meeting up with Trish next month and Gwen and I constantly talk about this. Once Lis has her baby, I hope we can get together. If Leeann makes it out to Philly this summer, I’d love to see her too.
6. Summertime (pool time and BBQ’s)
7. Sex And The City 2 coming out in the movie theater
8. Spending time with friends and family

I cannot wait to see this movie.

8 Things That Happened Yesterday:
1. Worked
2. Made chili and biscuits for dinner
3. Took the dogs to the groomers
4. Caught up on Gossip Girl
5. Found out the my friend’s father passed away :(
6. Had my weekly weight-in and was down 3.2 pounds (really only 1.4 since I gained the week before from vacation). Down a total of 18 pounds.
7. Caught up on blogging.
8. Made plans for the weekend



8 Things I Like About Winter:
1. Scarves
2. Christmas (the holiday, the lights, the cheer…everything)
3. Gingerbread Latte’s from Starbucks
4. Skating season
5. Snow (in small amounts…nothing like what we had this past winter)
6. An excuse to stay inside to have a lazy day on the couch
7. Comfy hoodies when I’m bumming around the house
8. Being near a fireplace

Mmmm...Gingerbread Latte's

8 Things On My Wish List:
1. Louis Vuitton Black Denim Neo Cabby MM Black Denim
2. iPhone
3. Christian Louboutin Cathy Patent Sling Back Pumps in Nude
4. A trip to Bora Bora
5. MioPINK Motiva Heart Rate Monitor Watch
6. Tickets to see Lady GaGa
7. Canon Rebel
8. Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings


Lusting after these Kendra Scott earrings for summer

8 Things I’m Passionate About:
1. Family
2. Friends
3. Music
4. Animals
5. Loyalty/Honesty
6. Trying new things
7. Travel
8. Work and blogging



8 Words or Phrase I Use Often:
1. “Like” (bad habit and hard to break)
2. “Whatever”
3. “Ew”
4. “Oh my gosh”
5. “Dude”
6. "Babe"
7. “Clearly”
8. “What’s up”

This probably started around when Clueless came out

8 Things I Learned From The Past:
1. It is possible to get over things that you never thought you could…relationships, deaths, etc.
2. Don’t let yourself be a doormat or let people mistake your kindness as a weakness
3. Things are never perfect. I used to get these big ideas about a party/event I plan going a certain way and it never does. I’ve learned to roll with it and have fun.
4. Never say never and don’t give up.
5. Be polite and gracious no matter how someone else acts.
6. Being a grown up doesn’t mean that you have to be boring. It's okay to act like a kid sometimes.
7. Working hard doesn’t always pay off or get you ahead. I think you need luck and the right people around you.
8. Let go of bitterness towards others and certain situations. Letting the anger fester inside only causes unnecessary stress.



8 Places I Would Love To Go Visit/See:
1. California (LA, Wine Country)
2. Bora Bora
3. Anguilla
4. Texas
5. Rome
6. London
7. Naxos, Greece (any of the Greek Islands really)
8. Aruba

Naxos, Greece

8 Things I Currently Want/Need:
1. Keep working on fitness/eating healthy
2. Make more time for myself to read/relax
3. Travel as much as possible
4. See live music more
5. Practice skating in the summer
6. Try new things with Geof
7. Visit a theme park this summer (I love all rides)
8. A bigger house


Dream house

I am now supposed to tag another 8 bloggers for this.

Ladies, you’re it:
1.Vynuss Vision
2. Pink Preppy Lilly Lover
3. Confessions of a Control Freak
4. Biology Gal
5. Saving the Best for Last…(fingers crossed)
6. Peeptoe Pumps and Pearls
7. Confessions of a Southern Belle
8. Sweet Southern Prep

All of the blogs above are fantastic and these ladies are all super sweet. Please pay them a visit. Thank you again to Leeann for tagging me with this!