Springy Style

Spring can be a weird season to dress for. When is too soon for sandals? White pants? Straw hats? How late is too late to still be wearing boots? Wool? Normally I dread spring shopping... and generally just avoid it all together. I go from basically winter to summer when it comes to my wardrobe. But not this year, my friends! I'm loving these spring trends from some of my favorite (and most affordable) stores!

Bright, flirty skirts! White pants! Horizontal stripes - in nautical colors! Sleeveless dresses! Straw hats and belts, omg. I am gravitating toward outfits that are school/work/play appropriate these days. The more versatile, the more I love it! These are all outfits that fit into just about any budget - even mine! - and can be found at Ann Taylor, Loft, Gap and Banana Republic :)

This just got me really excited for birthday shopping! Now if only I can muster up the patience to wait for gift $$$...

Blogs + Coffee = Love

I don't love my own blog... in fact, most days I hate that I even have it. But I have come to realize that I love reading other blogs! Some of the most peaceful "me" moments as of late have revolved around me sipping a cup of coffee while catching up on my favorite blogs. I have some new favorites, and some old favorites, and here a mix of both that I have enjoyed most lately:

My Sweet Savannah

Hooked on Houses

Ramshackle Glam

Cupcakes and Cashmere

The Newlywed Diaries

The Possessionista

Emphasis Added!

The Pioneer Woman

My blog reading has led me to a few conclusions about myself: 1.) I am extremely nosy... I love knowing other peoples' business, and if they want to blab about it all over the internet for me to read - you better believe that I will! 2.) I'm a s.u.c.k.e.r for celebrity gossip and I love nothing more than reading about where they got their $1,400 shoes they wore to some sporting event they only showed up at to be photographed or who made the overpriced bag they are carrying on a date with their reality show boyfriend. 3.) I'm a wanna-be decorator, and someday the hundreds of beautiful home decorating and DIY pictures I've saved away on my computer WILL be put to good use {maybe not by me personally, but in my home somehow} 4.) Most of what I love to read is some combination of the following: fashion, food, and family.

At least I'm drawn to a fairly equal mix of celebrity gossip and cooking blogs. And somehow I think the stay-at-home-moms-decorating-their-house-on-a-budget-and-raising-babies blogs cancel out the ones I read that just showcase sinfully overpriced fashion on emaciated celebs. Right? Check out some of my faves... just don't blame me when you get hooked :)

Almost!

Its almost my birthday! Its almost my biiirthday!!!

Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family... probably too big at times (one year I think I had like 6 parties. excessive you say? yes, I'm aware.) but that is the last thing I'd ever complain about! The over-the-top birthday celebrations continued well into my teen years, and sadly in my early 20s not much has changed :) The husb loves it... not. When we first started dating he indulged me and went along with the ridiculousness of "birthday month" but now that we are married {and getting to be ages that are somewhat less exciting}, he has reigned me in a bit. We now do "birthday week." Fine by me - just so long as he doesn't try to abbreviate my celebrations any more as the years go on!

Here is what I have learned about birthdays in my (nearly) 24 years of life:
- They get less and less fun as you move farther away from your 21st.
- Parties are no longer the norm, they are actually almost embarrassing... until you hit 30 or the dreaded 5-0.
- GIFTS IDEAS GET WAY HARDER TO THINK OF!!!

Now that I'm a big girl I go out and buy most of my "needs" as I, well, need them. Like, if I need new sneakers? Why wait for a birthday, just buy them. Need new bathing suits? Order some. The wants are the things I try my hardest to save for Christmas and birthdays,  but when the time comes around to actually compile the list of things I've been ogling for months --- I draw a blank! Or as the case may be... my list has grown so long that I can't even narrow it down. This year, I'm plagued with having to narrow down. Here are some of the "wants" currently on my wish list:

I've been crushing on two-toned Michael Kors watches for months. Ever since my sister got one at Christmas I have thought it was the cutest most versatile little accessory! Add to that the fact that I have to use my cell phone as a watch (gets annoying) and the great price... and I think this sucker just might have moved into the #1 slot on my list!

 I have heard nothing but rave reviews about this Nars blush in Orgasm! Sheila wears it, and she is basically my make-up guru since I am c.l.u.e.l.e.s.s when it comes to cosmetics... but now that I know my reality TV idol Emily Maynard wears it - I am obsessed! The $27 price tag makes me cringe, but I could justify it as a gift rather than an everyday purchase.

 

I just may have to have this perfume. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh = heavenly! I first caught a whiff of this stuff while I was flipping through the pages of a magazine, and when it got Andrew's stamp of approval I knew it was just meant to be my summer fragrance! He is super picky about my perfumes, but this is one we both agreed smells amazing... its light, and floral-y, and just screams "SUMMER!"

This Kate Spade beauty definitely goes in the I-want-you-but-totally-don't-need-you category of my wish list. Kate teases me with emails almost daily, and today I found this gem in my in-box for 25% off the already low sale price! Teal is not usually my favorite accent color, but this bag is so fun and springy, and I'm just really liking that it is a great bag for a great value!

One of these gift cards would also be much appreciated as I am finding that my warm weather work wardrobe is somewhat lacking. It would be nice to cutesie up my summer clothes now so that I'm not sweating to death in cardigans in the sweltering Georgia heat that will hit me like a brick wall any day now.

I'm also hoping for a charm of his choice from the hubbs to add to my Pandora bracelet and, of course, a fancy pants romantic birthday dinner date! As a rule, I send my wish list to Andrew first and let him have first pick of what he wants to get me. Sometimes he wants to be creative and come up with his own ideas, and other times he appreciates the not-so-subtle hints I drop.

Lucky for me, I have lots of special people in my life who are asking for my wish list... so while I might not get everything on there, I know that I will end up with at least a few of the goodies on my list and will undoubtedly be flooded with lots of love via text, card, call and email from the people who mean the most to me on my bday. And if I've learned nothing else in my 24 years, its that the latter is what will really make this birthday special! Gifts from my list would just be the icing on my (cheese)cake :)

Get grilling!

For my fellow Southerners, you know that grilling season has commenced! The weather down here has been a little erratic - 80 one day, 56 the next? - but the evenings almost alllways cool down to a perfect temperature for cooking out. So, we have been taking advantage! But after our dual spring break weeks, where we splurged and indulged, we need to cut back a few cals and toss a couple of nutritious meals on the grill. 

Some of our grilling *healthy* favorites include: ground bison burgers, turkey burgers w/ feta and spinach, beef/chicken and veggie kabobs, and salmon and asparagus! All are easy peasy to make, and if you have a cute grillmaster I hear they taste even better :) Here is how we grill up our most loved fish!

The ingredients are so simple (you already own most of them, I promise) and now that we have a little grill basket this is even easier to cook - but I took the pics before we owned the handy grilling contraption so I'll have to save its grand introduction for another post! Here is all you do to make this nutritious grilled meal:

What you need:

• 2 salmon filets (or a single cut ~3/4 lb. for two people)
• A bundle of asparagus
• Minced garlic (we like the kind in olive oil)
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Then:

• Wash the asparagus and snap the little ends off, then spread them on a piece of foil
• Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil, lemon juice, and sprinkle w/ salt and pepper to taste
• Put the salmon filets in a separate piece of foil and do basically the same thing... except drench it in the olive oil, lemon juice, and then scoop on as much minced garlic on top as your little heart desires!
• Transfer your foil "pouches" to the grill - salmon over the flames, and the asparagus on the top rack or off to the side of the heat - with the sides folded up so your yummy stuff doesn't roll out
• The salmon should cook in about 20 min depending on how well-done you like it, but just check it with a fork and it should be cooked once it sort of flakes apart
• The asparagus, off the heat, should cook in about the same time as the salmon... you can scoop a little minced garlic over it when its close to being finished, too!

You can serve it all over a bed of spinach if you are like my hubby and are into lots of greens... or, if you are more like moi you can pair your feast with a good-for-the-heart-so-its-totally-justified glass of vino! Seriously so easy... and since grilling outdoors is soo much more fun than being cooped up in the kitchen while your other half watches Seinfeld re-runs, I plan to post some of our other grilling favorites soon!

Enjoy!!