sweet // simple // genuine // quiet // love

I was going through some old notebooks of mine when I came across a "journal entry" of mine from Friday September 5, 2014. I don't actually keep a journal but on a random page in this random book I wrote "Today I feel like journaling. I don't know why exactly except that I have thoughts to get out of my head that maybe I'll want to remember some day." Guess what- I was right! I am so glad I wrote theses things down because I do want to remember them. The things I wrote really struck a chord in me as I re-read them tonight so I decided to share them here as another way to look back and remember. So here goes...

Friday September 5, 2014

Today I feel like journaling. I don't know why exactly except that I have thoughts to get out of my head that maybe I'll want to remember some day. 

Tonight Adam and I went to dinner. He suggested we go out which doesn't happen as often. Usually I want to go out (because I don't want to cook or I don't want to be in the house). It was sweet of him to suggest. I didn't even think I'd see him tonight because he has a derby tomorrow. But he came home and we went out. 
He suggested going to the next town. That never happens but I always ask. Tonight it was his idea. After dinner we drove home and he talked on the phone the whole way. I didn't mind but I was a little disappointed we didn't go anywhere else. As we pulled in the driveway and he got off the phone he asked if I wanted to go get ice cream. I've been asking to do that a lot lately but it doesn't usually happen. Tonight it was his idea. After ice cream we drove past a Redbox and I asked if we could get a movie (knowing he doesn't like watching movies). He said yes. A chick flick even! When we got home he did his best to watch for a while but he gets bored in the middle so he turned his computer on. Thirty minutes or so later I looked over and he wasn't looking at his computer- he was watching the movie. 

He did everything I wanted to do tonight. 
He is so sweet to me. 

Sometimes I get so caught up in the fairy tales and the chick flick romances that I start to feel like my marriage is missing something. I tend to get down on myself thinking "If only I were {insert negative thought here} then our marriage would be perfect, it would be a fairy tale, we'd always get along."
I'll admit we have flaws and things to work on but you know what? We aren't doing too bad.

My husband was sweet and kind and thoughtful tonight. That sounds exactly like a marriage should be. Considerate. Patient. Loving. I don't need fancy gifts, expensive vacations, or sweep-you-off-your-feet declarations of love. My husband loves me. The kind of love that forgives fights and hurtful words. That withstands rough patches, boredom, or ruts. He loves me no matter what I look like or how messy our house gets. He appreciates when I make him dinner, do his laundry, or rub his back.

When we went out tonight I didn't stop to think about the fact that we were doing all the things I like to do. I was happy and having a good time but I didn't stop to think about how my husband was doing all the things I love to do without making a "scene" or trying to get recognition by saying "See! We're doing what you want!!" He just did it and didn't need to point it out. I think that's love. Not declare-your-love-on-the-empire-state-building love but just sweet, simple, genuine, quiet love. And that's just what I want.

P.S. also if further proof of his love should be needed- he just woke up and saved me from a big huge centipede. It was huge and nasty and he woke up and killed it. THAT is true love!

-Me 

August Favorites!

I'm a little late getting this posted but I wanted to share my favorite things from the month of August!

Beauty!

1. e.l.f. nail polish remover pads

These nail polish remover pads were only $2 at Walmart and I bought them with the intention of using them when I travel so I didn't have to lug around a huge bottle of remover and some cotton pads. To my surprise I ONLY use these at home or away! They are awesome. When I'm using a dark color I use a pad for each hand but with a light color I can usually get away with only using one pad! They have lasted me a really long time and I'm so glad I bought them! 

2. Deborah Lippmann nail polish in It's Raining Men

This nail polish is always a favorite of mine. It is such a classic red, the brush is really nice, and I only need one coat to get an opaque color on my nails. I can't say enough great things about this polish. What makes it even better is that I got it online for sale at only $6.00 (regularly $18!). It is the only polish I have from this brand (because of the price tag) so I'm glad I was able to take advantage of great sale to try them out!

3. Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished acne spot treatment

This is from an Ipsy bag a few months ago and I'm really loving it! One of my favorite parts is that it has doe foot applicator so I don't have to touch my face with my fingers to apply it! I love trying different spot treatments and this is a brand I'd have never tried otherwise if it weren't for my Ispy subscription!

4. Bare Minerals 5 in 1 bb Advanced Performance Cream eyeshadow

This is another Ipsy item that has become a daily-use product for me. I like using this as a base for my eyeshadows. I haven't tried using it alone (which I think is what it is meant for) but I have pretty oily eyelids so I set all cream products with a powder.

5. Revlon tweezers

I purchased these tweezers from Walmart a few years ago and I just absolutely love them. They are the best drugstore tweezers I've ever used. They grab the hairs so easily which makes plucking my eyebrows quick and easy!

Fashion!

Earrings from Walmart

I bought these earrings over the summer and wore the heck out of them in August. I love the colors and the style. I think they go with so much and I'm so glad I picked them up (and for only $5!)

Mint floral scarf from 3Brunettes Boutique

This was another fashion favorite for me in August. It is the perfect lightweight infinity scarf for summer! I purchased it through Jane.com but it was from the online store 3Brunettes Boutique.

Sandals from Walmart

I've been loving these sandals all summer long. They were $12 from Walmart and I think they are absolutely adorable! I love how the white makes my skin look a little bit tanner and how the silver details sparkle in the sun! They are comfortable and cute!

Household!

1. Bins from Dollar Tree

I have gone crazy re-organizing my house with bins from Dollar Tree! They have so many different shapes and sizes that I can find pretty much anything and everything I need for so inexpensive! The pink bin shown came in a 2 pack and the blue bin came in a 4 or 5 pack. They are so great! I definitely recommend checking out your local Dollar Tree for some inexpensive organizing tools!

2. Febreze Air Freshener with Gain

I fell in love with this scent from Febreze a few years ago when it first came out and I rediscovered it this past month. I put a few around my home and have been loving the fresh clean scent. I'm already in love with the original Gain scent so it didn't take much to convince me I needed the air freshener too!

3. OxiClean Dishwasher Detergent

I bought this detergent on a whim one day when it was on sale and had a $2 off coupon on the bottle and I'm so glad I did because I love it! You only need to use half the amount as other detergents and the dishes get cleaner! They sparkle, I'm serious! I love this stuff! I hope I can find it on sale again when I run out because I'm hooked!

4. Sprayway Glass Cleaner

My husband actually bought this cleaner a couple years ago and I have refused to use it because I've always been a loyal Windex fan but I caved and decided to try this stuff finally and I hate to say it... but... I think it is better than Windex. Way less streaky!

Food!

1. Dreyer's Outshine strawberry fruit bars

My husband and I love these popsicles (especially in the heat of August!). They have the best flavor (more like real fruit less like artificial candy) and there are pieces of real strawberries in them! It is delicious! We've also tried and loved pineapple & lime.

2. belVita cinnamon brown sugar Breakfast Biscuits

My sister introduced me to these breakfast biscuits and I've been hooked ever since. They are super easy to throw in my bag and bring to work for breakfast. They taste really good and are actually filling! I've tried other flavors but this is my favorite.

Pets!

1. Bixbi Daily Essentials Chicken Breast Jerky treats

These treats came in a Barkbox and our puppy loves them! They are healthy and made in the USA which I always look for in dog treats. Ruby has already eaten the whole bag!

2. Hartz Hairball Remedy plus chicken soft chews

These chews have been awesome for our long-haired cat who gets hairballs really easy (especially in the summer). Having the medicine in a soft chew form makes it really easy to administer too.

Music!

Hilary Duff- Oh yeah she's back. My 12 year old self freaked out in August over her new songs. :) I will love her songs no matter what.

My favorite country song in August was Drunk On a Plane by Dierks Bentley. 

It is such an upbeat fun song (despite the lyrics lol)

Memories!

August was such a busy month! The first half was fun family time and lots of doctor appointments. I got my wisdom teeth out on the last day of July and ending up going back to the dentist a few times because of complications. I'm happy to report my mouth is almost completely healed (finally! thank goodness) but it was all liquid and yogurt for a while there. Including on my 5 year wedding anniversary! (not the best timing for wisdom teeth removal but the dentist said it couldn't wait) My husband got me a brand new camera which was so sweet and such a surprise!

I also started going to a new doctor in August. She is up in the city so there were a lot of trips to the city for appointments and tests. And a lot of phone tag with the doctor's nurse! It wasn't fun at the time but looking back I'm just glad to have found an office I like!

We had a family reunion at the beginning of August so it was great to spend time with cousins and aunts and uncles that I don't see very often.

And I got to eat the best cheese fries ever with my favorite cousin :)

My BFF and I went to dinner at Macaroni Grill one weekend. I hadn't been for years and years so it was fun to go again. We had these amazing mac & cheese bites with a truffle dip. They were delicious. Then we went to Outback steakhouse for my favorite oreo shakes. They come in the cutest bottles and are hands down the best shake I've ever had in my life. It was really fun to have dinner at one place and a dessert somewhere else! We sat at the bar because we didn't want to wait 20 minutes for a table just to order dessert and we felt so funny at a bar surrounded by people drinking alcohol and we were drinking milkshakes... bahaha but it was so worth it! Afterwards we went to Target and wandered around for at least an hour. I love the store. I so wish I had one closer than an hour and a half away!

My husband and I decided it was time to put a new furnace in our house and to finally get A/C! My brother works for a heating/cooling company so he did the installation and we were able to get a really great discount! My brother came down 3 weekends in August so it was really fun getting to hang out with him AND one of those weekends his girlfriend and their 2 kids came down to spend the night which I absolutely loved! It was so fun playing with my nephew at the park and going out to lunch and to the store. And then getting to hold my sweet little niece! Gahh I just love them! 

And finally, Dollar Tree finally opened near my house which was so awesome and I've been like 5 times! I'm addicted. 

I hope you had a wonderful August!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Budget-Friendly Decor & Organization (Before & After)

A month or so ago I got a $5.00 off coupon in the mail for Family Dollar. I hadn't shopped there in a while so I decided to stop in and check out their selection of bins for some organizing I wanted to do in my kitchen. I found exactly what I was looking for and then some! (I picked up some of their outdoor/patio decor.) 

The bins ranged in price from $1 - $3. The decor was $1 - $10 but they were on sale BOGO 1/2 Off. Then I used the $5 off coupon!

I need to preface the following "Before" photos by saying that I am embarrassed to post these on the internet! These were some real trouble spots in our kitchen. It is easy for clutter to take over if you don't have a functional organization system in place. I am happy to say I have accomplished that in these areas. These photos are over a month old but the areas still look like the "After" photos! Some times I put in place organization that doesn't work for us and soon the space clutters up again but this is working for us and makes it easy to control the mess! 

Take a look...

Spice cabinet: Corralling all of the seasoning packets! No matter how hard I tried to stack them all together neatly they always slipped down, fell over, and never ended back up where I had initialing placed them.

Before...

AFTER!

The small pink container is the perfect size for holding seasoning packets. From my tupperware drawer I grabbed a small container to hold the various sauce packets. Now this space is orderly and clutter free. When I need a spice packet I can easily grab the pink container, get what I need, and put it right back! 

The pink container came in a 3 pack for $1.00.

Kitchen Command Center cabinet: This portion of a shelf in the cabinet above my kitchen desk houses several items that we use in this area of our home or walking out the door. However, it piled up because there was no good way to keep them orderly sitting on the shelf.

Before... 

AFTER!

Another one of the pink bins holds everything together perfectly and again allows us to pull it out, get what we need, and put it all back right where it was. Nothing is falling all over and it allows us to easily see what is is in there!

Under the Kitchen Sink: This has always been a problem area of our home. We store so many bottles and cleaning products here that things were always pushed around, spread out, and chaotic looking.

Before... 

AFTER! 

One $3.00 bin allowed me to bring order to this messy cabinet! When I pull one bottle out I can see the empty spot it came from and put it right back. Nothing slides around or spreads out because each item goes right back into the bin. I put the short products in the front and the tallest items in the back so nothing gets lost!

Now to the other side of that same cabinet where I keep boxes of garbage bags, grocery bags we save and reuse, and large bottles of detergent.

Before...

AFTER! 

This $1.00 bin now holds the grocery bags (which I'm rolled up and tied to save space) and the extra garbage bags we have in the other sizes aside from our huge Costco box.

Here's what the whole cabinet looks like now...

I hated opening this cupboard before but now it makes me so happy! The best part is that it actually works for us! This area still looks the same even after a month of use!

The final area I have to show you is a shelf in our pantry we use to hold snacks such as chips, crackers, and granola bars. The boxes and packages were taking up so much room and quickly became a jumbled mess!

Before... 

AFTER! 

Look at this! LOOK! It makes such a huge difference! All I did was buy 2 clear bins for a $1.00 each (They came with lids but I'm not using them for this project so I have them stored away) and organize all of our snacks by throwing away the boxes and packages and putting everything in the bins! It looks 100 times better I think! Plus, it is so much easier now to keep track of what we have and what we are running low on. Before we never knew how much of something was left until the box was empty. I hated it! We don't buy the same snacks every week but I haven't had any problem making the different items fit together in the bins. I actually quite enjoy arranging all of them!

Now go pick up some cheap bins and organize that clutter in your house!

But before you go take a look at the cute decorations I picked up and how I'm using them!

Home Decor...

Teal Ceramic Solar Lantern (with solar top removed) 

This ceramic jar came with a cheap little solar lid on it. I didn't really think it would work and didn't like how it looked so I popped it out and am instead using it to hold a bottle of lotion in our guest bathroom! I was lucky that the lotion happened to fit. When it runs out maybe I will move the jar somewhere else. I could even put in some battery powered tea lights if I wanted to use it as a lantern! But for now I'm loving how it looks on the bathroom counter to hide the ugly bottle of some yummy smelling lotion!

I love when I find creative uses for items in my house! Who would have thought a cheap solar lantern would actually make a great lotion holder in the guest bathroom!?

Red & Blue glass candle holders

White ceramic solar lantern (with solar top removed) 

I bought another ceramic jar from the same line but in a different color and pattern. I again took off the lid but have this jar in an arrangement on my front porch along with two other jars I picked up. These glass jars were only a $1.00 each. They came in a variety of colors and seemed like great quality. I love the metal handles on them and think they would look cute with tea lights in them hanging on a hook. For now though, they live as decorations on my front porch!

White flower metal garden stake

Bronze solar lantern with candle 

The last items I picked up was the metal garden stake in the flower pot and the bronze lantern on the ground. I love this lantern. I think it has a timeless look to it and would go well with any kind of patio decor. The garden stake was only $1.00 and adds some interest to the potted Marigolds.

That's everything I picked up from my trip to Family Dollar! I hope you enjoyed seeing these items and how I'm using them in my home. 

I'll leave with a few photos of my silly kittens as I tried to work on this project...

My little NON-helpers

With my back turned she climbed into the bin. I thought if I picked up the bin and put it in the cabinet she would jump out...

I was wrong. She knows she's the boss around here.

xoxo

Quick Mid-week Grocery Haul

Happy Saturday!

I have a couple pictures from when I stopped at Walmart earlier this week to get some groceries and a few odds & ends we needed. My grocery schedule has been a little off lately and I haven't been going every Thursday like I used to. This week we had mostly everything we needed for dinners but ran out of a few things for lunch. We needed a few toiletries and some party decorations for a craft project at work. I am not a fan of these small in between shopping trips so I'm determined to get back on regular shopping schedule!

The food...

Bread: Harper's Homemade Bran Bread

Milk: Great Value 1% Milk

Lunch Meat: Oscar Mayer DeliFresh Cracked Black Pepper Turkey Breast

Sliced Cheese: Kraft American Singles && Sargento Ultra Thin Cheddar-Jack

Shredded Cheese: 4 Cheese Mexican

Extras...

Party Decorations: 2 blue/1 white paper tissue balls (which I'm using to make 3D paper fish)

12 pk aqua colored balloons (to make some octopus)

Red party plates (which I'm using to make paper crabs)

3 pk paper tissues fans (I'm using to make jellyfish)

Aqua streamers (for the octopus & jellyfish)

Yellow streamers (for the octopus & jellyfish)

Toiletries: Degree Men deodorant twin pack

Revlon Colorstay foundation for oily/combination skin 

If you are interested in what we've been having for dinner lately click  here!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cute & Affordable School Supplies from Walmart! {+ a few beauty products}

I made two trips to WalMart recently. The first was to pick up a prescription (which obviously meant I needed to wander through the school supply section) and the second was with my friend to purchase things we didn't need (which resulted in the purchase of a few beauty products).

Take a look...

Covergirl -- Line Exact liquid eyeliner & Lashblast Volume mascara 

(both in color: Very Black)

I had a coupon for $3.00 off any 2 Covergirl products. I decided to purchase an old favorite I was out of and try something new! I have loved lashblast volume for years. It is always my favorite mascara to go back to. The eyeliner however, was a new product for me. 

I've been loyal to the L'Oreal Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner for quite some time but the small packaging is part of what drew me to this CG product. If you've ever seen the L'Oreal liner you know the lid is ridiculously long. Like... doesn't make sense it is so long. I thought perhaps this would be easier to work with. I do love the size but I've been having a hard time getting as thin a line as I would like. I don't know if the felt tip is too thick or what but my liner always turns out too thick when I use this. I also feel like it is a little too dry. I'm having to go over certain spots multiple times to achieve an opaque black. 

To be quite honest, I don't think I'd purchase it again. I have such better luck with the L'Oreal liner I think I'll just stick with that.

Olay Fresh Effects {Everything Off} Deluxe Make-up Removal wet cloths

Whenever I talk about makeup wipes I always say the Simple Cleansing Wipes are my favorites and that I'm always disappointed when I try a different brand. I went to Walmart to pick up a pack of those exact wipes but Walmart was out!!! (People are catching on, they're the best). These caught my eyes on the shelf below. I've seen them talked about on YouTube (I'm pretty sure those people were paid to talk about them though... so I never trusted their opinion) so I decided to check out the package. They are almost a dollar cheaper for the same number of wipes and I figured I would like something called "Deluxe Make-up Removal Wet Cloths". 

I was wrong.

These aren't wet. Not nearly wet enough. And the fragrance in them is so overpowering it makes my eyes burn! The cloths feel thin like they will rip easily. It says on the package that it removes waterproof eye make-up. I can't even get it to remove regular mascara. I would hate to try waterproof.

 Gahh.... I hate them. I'm going to finish the package because I won't waste them. But I want it to be known I hate them. The only thing going for it is its cute packaging. That's all.

Now on to the really fun stuff! The school supplies (or since I'm not really going back to school we will call them really cute office supplies!)

Scotch Magic Tape + bonus roll of Scotch Expressions tape

I bought the 3 rolls of plain ol' tape so I could get the "free" role of freakin' cute patterned tape. I think it stems from my washi addiction. I will say it was only $2.97 for all 4 rolls and I will save the three plain rolls as backups at my desk. So they won't go to waste but yes, I bought it just for that one cute roll. And how cute it is!? I mean, really. I can't wait to start using it!

Post-it Super Sticky Notes

I bought one pad of Post-it notes in a bright coral pink color I didn't already have. I'm somewhat addicted to Post-it notes and couldn't resist the color... It was cheap though. And you can never have enough sticky notes so I felt justified :)

College Ruled 5 subject poly notebook (8.26 x 6.75)

I'm a sucker for cute notebooks. The cute purple cover and the different colored tabs of this notebook are right up my alley. I like that it isn't quite a full size notebook which makes it easy to carry in my purse but is still large enough for substantial lists (I write big lists...). I'm also a fan of the plastic-y tabs. I think it will help them last longer and hold up to wear and tear!

Studio C The Sugarland Collection 5 subject notebook

The print. Did you see the print? I love the print. Gahh this is so cute! And what can I say... I always need notebooks and it is nice to find ones that are both cute AND sturdy. The cardboard cover and tabs are very thick and sturdy. I like having notebooks to corral all of my lists together and one with tabs means I can categorize my lists too!

Studio C The Pattern Play collection folder with pockets

I was so excited to see this folder! I think it will be a great organization tool and its so cute! I'm a full believer that organization and home management can be cute! Aside from the adorable color and pattern these folders feel sort of plastic-y/vinyl (that might be the totally wrong description but I just mean to get across that it isn't paper) so it is going to last! It won't tear or fray like paper does which makes it a great long-term addition to my home management organization system.

Imagination Academic Year weekly/monthly dated planner

You might be thinking "But Brittany, you just bought a planner not too long ago, why do you need another one!?" Well, I was finding that there were so many things I wanted to write in that small planner that I was running out of room. When I saw this adorable planner for $9.00 I knew I had to pick it up. I'm thinking of using it for finances and cleaning. That might seem like a weird combination but the biggest lists I make are cleaning lists and the things I forget most are finances (most of our bills are automatic but I just want to be more aware of when things are going to go through and I think keeping track of it in a space that is less cramped will help me achieve that). Then I can save my small planner for appointments, birthdays, fun plans, etc.

That's everything I picked up! I'm really excited about the new office supplies I picked up. There is something about school supply season in the stores that makes me want to wander every aisle of every store with a "Back to school" section. (& pick up a few cute things, lets be honest)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xoxo

July Favorites! Skincare, Beauty, Food, & Memories!

I can't believe July is over and we are already a week into August! 2014 is flying by!

I've gathered up some favorite things from July and want to share them with you today.

I'll start with some random favorites 

(all my favorites are random to be honest. but these are even more random and could not be categorized)

BIC Intensity Fine Point pens

Lily Pad Press greeting cards (purchased at Walmart)

Pens - I ordered these pens online from Staples in May (i think) and I have been loving them ever since. They came in a pack with black, purple, aqua, pink, and green but the black and purple have been my favorites. They write so nicely and the best part is, they don't bleed through paper! (I also think my handwriting looks cuter when I use these pens)

Cards- It might seem weird to have a favorite greeting card line but I had 3 birthdays in July and my anniversary August 1 so I bought 4 cards from this line in July and I have purchased from them in the past. The cards are really nice quality, unique, and absolutely adorable. I hate having to wander around the aisles trying to find a card when most of them are cheesy and embarrassing. I love knowing I can walk right to this section and find exactly what I'm looking for. These cards are the best!

Skincare! 

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

As always, these makeup wipes are my favorite. Every time I try a different brand I am disappointed. They are less than $5 for 25 wipes. The cloth is thick and feels nice on the skin. They are wet enough, even down to the last cloth. They are gentle and they really do remove my makeup. I have found they are better for face makeup than eye makeup (like liquid liner or mascara) but they can still do the job it just takes a little more work. I love them. I'd totally recommend them to anyone in a heart beat.

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant

Deodorant is skincare, right!? I know it might seem weird sharing (or even having) a favorite deodorant but July was hot here in Utah and every day I found myself grateful for such an awesome deodorant. So here I am. Sharing that deodorant with you.... :)

Seriously though. This stuff smells awesome. Lasts all day. Keeps me from sweating. & doesn't leave marks on my clothes. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR IN A DEODORANT!?

Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil

I purchased this oil a while back from WalMart and just fell back in love with it. The first time I heard about cleansing oils (a few years back in an email from sister) I thought it was idea ever. I already have oily skin so why would I want to put more oil on it? Then a little while later I read this blog post from someone with oily skin who loved cleansing oils. Not too long after that I got free sample of a cleansing oil and I loved it but I never bought any because I didn't want to pay for a high end cleansing oil. And then Garnier released their Nourishing Cleansing Oil AND put a coupon in my Glamour magazine. The rest is history. I love this stuff. I'll admit it feels really weird at first rubbing oil all over my face but it is so gentle, it lifts away all of my makeup, and it is amazing AMAZING at removing all kinds of eye makeup. I just rub it in and rinse it off. I have found the rubbing and rinsing goes so much easier when I use this little silicon scrubby pad I got from Sephora. It is super soft so I even use it on my eyes and it helps take everything off even quicker.

I could talk about this forever because I love it that much. Oh, one last thing. It says on the bottle "Dry Skin" but I haven't had any issues with it and I have oily/combination, acne prone skin. I would imagine it works well on any skin type though because it is so gentle.

Simple Soothing Facial Toner

I have another product to rave about. I have been searching for the right drugstore toner my whole life (practically) and I have finally found it. I have tried many high end toners (the Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion being my favorite) but hated paying the high end price. I've always tried many drugstore toners and hated how harsh and drying they were. Then along came this little guy. It is calming, gentle, soothing, fragrance free and doesn't dry out my skin in the slightest. And it is only $3 or $4. I'm so in love and so glad I finally tried this toner. I imagine this is the start of a beautiful relationship.... :)

Tokyo Milk Dark hand cream in La Vie La Mort

I ordered this hand cream a year or two ago from Sephora and found myself using it nightly in July. I kept it in my nightstand and before bed I would use a small amount on my hands. I love the unique scent and the light texture. It soaks in quickly and leaves my hands feeling really soft. It is in this really cool metal packaging which I think looks so cute. It was pricey, I definitely splurged on this but I'm so glad I did because it is such a favorite.

Beauty!

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Rosy Lipped

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Lemonade

These two have been my favorite lip combo throughout July (and still into August). The Revlon lip butter is just a little too pink for me so I don't like wearing it alone. The Almay gloss is pretty much the color of my lips and doesn't show up as much more than a sheen. Together though I get the pretty pink lip butter and can tone it down a bit & add a nice gloss with the Almay liquid lip balm. Plus, it is always nice to find moisturizing lip products that also look cute!

Realtree For Her perfume

I got this perfume sample in an Ipsy bag a few months ago (June maybe?) and I used the entire thing in July. It is a larger sample size than the usual free sample you get online. Realtree actually sells this size on their website. I immediately fell in love with the scent and wore it every day until it was gone. It is a sweet but fresh scent that isn't overwhelming. I was really pleased to see on their website that a full size bottle is only $20! I love finding perfumes that smell good and don't cost an arm and a leg!

Food!

Dannon Light & Fit Plain Greek yogurt

I'm obsessed with Plain Greek Yogurt! But don't go thinking I eat this for breakfast with fruit and granola. Oh no! I use this with lunch and dinner in place of sour cream! I've used it on all kinds of mexican food dishes. I've mixed it in to cream sauces. Stirred in seasonings and made it into a dip for chips and veggies. It tastes exactly the same and is so much healthier! My husband can't even tell the difference!

Reusable Water bottle (purchased at WalMart)

Another favorite from July was my reusable water bottle. It doesn't have a brand name anywhere but I have been purchasing this water bottle at WalMart for years. I have had green, purple, and now I'm using blue. I like the size, that its double walled, and the straw. I find it easy to use, not too heavy, and holds enough water that I don't feel like I'm constantly having to refill it. Plus, I love that the mouth of the bottle is wide enough I can easily add ice cubes right from my freezer!

Music!

Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay

Magic - Coldplay

Paradise - Coldplay

Summer - Calvin Harris

I Don't Dance - Lee Brice

Blog!

Pink Peonies 

I have been loving the blog Pink Peonies. I discovered the blog in July and quickly became addicted. I love her style, beautiful home, and cute puppy dog! She has the most amazing wardrobe and closet to store it in. She's even from Utah which is exciting (to me 'cuz I live in Utah so it might not matter to you lol). I definitely recommend checking out her blog (link above).

TV!

Rookie Blue

I really got back into Rookie Blue this season and have been watching all of the episodes on Hulu. I don't find myself watching as much TV in the summer because my usual shows run in the fall/winter so it is nice to find something I look forward to watching each week.

Favorite Memories!

July was a really great month for me and I hope it was the same for you! It started out with Fourth of July weekend. My husband and I stayed home instead of traveling up to be with family so I planned lots of good food (which you can see here What We Ate: 4th of July Weekend). We watched the fireworks on a sleeping bag in our backyard since our city sets them off just a few blocks from our house. They always put on a really good show!

I did go up to be with family on other weekends, and even had family come down to my house! My parents came down for dinner one night and we had a little BBQ. I spent the weekend at their house and went to the Aquarium with my best friend (which you can see here Weekend Vlog to the Aquarium). Then my 4 month old niece slept over at my parent's house. I always love getting to spend time with her. I think she is just the cutest! A few weeks later I got to have another sleep over with my niece when my brother came down to the visit and stay the night!

My husband had a lot of farming to do in July and when he wasn't farming he was building his derby car for a a Demolition Derby. Yep, he spends all year building the car so that he can drive around in an arena with a bunch of crazy guys and they crash their cars into each other. Boys are silly. The derby was towards the end of July and he had a lot of fun. This is his second derby with that car and he says he thinks he can get a third out of it!

My best friend came down for the derby (it was her first) so it was fun watching with her. Then we had a 2 day sleepover which was so much fun. She lives about an hour away so when she is in town we hang out a lot! We went out to eat, did a little shopping, and watched 6 or 7 movies! It was a blast!

There were three birthdays in my family in July. First was my brother's girlfriend. Then my husband. And the last day of July was my other brother's birthday. I had a lot of fun shopping for birthday presents and picking out birthday cards! I even took my husband on a birthday shopping spree but he didn't really buy anything for himself (I think he bought things for the yard and something for the dog. Like I said... boys are silly.)

I ended the month by getting my wisdom teeth out on the 31st. I wasn't thrilled about getting it done (especially since it was the day before our 5 year wedding anniversary) but I was having a lot of pain in my mouth so it needed to be done.

I'm very excited for August and I can't wait for Fall to be here so the weather can start cooling down! Plus, my birthday is in September! There are lots of good things to look forward to. I hope the same for you!

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo