Friday Favorites | Baby Shower

TGIF!

Let's get right to those favorites from the week!

I ordered this adorable dress from Etsy for one of the gifts I gave my brother and SIL at their baby shower.

I can't wait to see my niece rockin' this while she watches our favorite team!

It is so tiny (3 month size)!

Hence, why I held my hand next to it :)

After my Pinterest Fail, I needed a back up plan for the shower favors.

I went with every one's favorite...chocolate chip cookies!

I think the shower turned out great!

It was held at a tea room, so the decor was very eclectic.

I just love this tea cup set!

Yes, I did give that dress above in a team logo bag!

Clementine's made the food and the cake.
For being white cake and frosting, it was so good!

#plainthingsaremyfavorite

I am not going to bore you with all the photos I took, but baby Lily received a ton of wonderful things.

Especially clothes!

I may have told the entire room that I wanted that navy and orange outfit in my size ;)

#favorite

And every girl needs a Cleveland Browns bear!

On Sunday, my favorite ninja practiced his sword fighting skills outside while I ran some errands.

And I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Mic and his dad down by the creek talking :)

#countryboys #asleastmyfatherinlawis

X discovered these Melissa and Doug sticker books at our friend's house Saturday evening and he was obsessed!

I picked up a couple of them while out running errands and he has not put them down!

His new favorite thing for sure!

On Tuesday, I joined a couple of my favorite southern ladies for another round of Let's Talk - Hair & Beauty.

You know it is going to be a good day when you hear one of your favorite hair bands on the radio on your way to work :)

And just for fun, my favorite Warrant song too :)

Your welcome ;)

Eek! And guess what is back?
My favorite frap at Starbucks!
S'mores!!!!
YUM!

Starting tonight (Thursday) is the weekend that my little family looks forward to every year.

The NFL Draft is one of our favorite things to watch.
Probably because we are Browns fans we get more excited than others.
We actually watch/plan our day/evening around the draft Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!
Again, we are Browns fans. lol!

Hope you all had a wonderful week!

Linking up with Andrea, Narci & Erika :)

Style Perspectives | Plaid

What happens when you totally forget to write your post for a Wednesday link up party?

You write it for Thursday and cross you fingers that nobody cares ;)

Joining the ladies at The Blended Blog for

Today the topic is Plaid!

Oh boy do I love plaid!
I actually wrote never finished a post about being Mad for Plaid back in the Fall, and now I'm kicking myself for not having it to reference.
So.......I guess I am starting fresh.
That's what everyone wants anyway right?

So plaid in my world typically means a flannel shirt.
On weekends during the Fall/Winter you will probably find me wearing one of my flannels thrown over a graphic tee or tank, and some sort of hat.
Starbucks in hand is optional.

Old flannel from the men's section at Target

 I also pair it with my go-to distressed jeans and some boots.
Cowboy, hunter, snow, etc.

Old flannel from a local boutique

Distressed Jeans - same brand

Old boots from JCP

I received this plaid cardigan from my December Stitch Fix box and absolutely love it!

The colors are perfect!

And of course it goes well with my other go-to pieces :)

During the Spring/Summer months I turn to another form of plaid...gingham.

#allthehearteyesforgingham

How do you style a plaid or gingham shirt?
Are you brave enough to rock plaid pants or shorts?

Don't forget to check out the other stylish ladies at The Blended Blog and see their plaid looks.
I am loving Alison's plaid top from Old Navy!

My Style Perspectives
White Pants
Bright Pants
Spring Sweater
Simplicity
Graphic Tees

Link your #ThinkingOutLoudThursday post below,
and don't forget to link back to X-tremely V & Penny's Passion!

What's Up Wednesday | April

Mel - Shay - Sheaffer

What we're eating this week

A little of this and a little of that.

Mic's work and golf schedules are nuts right now!

We are lucky if we see him for dinner at all during the week :(

X is on the pickier side these days, so making actual dinners seems pointless when I am the only one there to eat them.

But, we do still have pizza every Friday night together :)
But summer is coming and I can't wait to start grilling our dinner every night!

What I'm reminiscing about

Facebook is killin' it with the On This Day app!

Pictures from 4 years ago popped up last week from when X and one of his best friends had their first play date :)

Love that these two are still best buds!

I hope they continue to be for many more years!

What I'm loving

Can I say my hair?

I know that seems totally weird, but the last couple of haircuts I have gotten are just on point for "my style".

The long layers just lay or flow great!

Add a few curls or waves and I love it even more!

Strange coming from the girl that typically has her hair thrown up into a bun, but I have been leaving my hair down more these days.

And Mic even compliments me on it more these days.

WIN, WIN for sure!
You can read more about what I use to style it here.

What we've been up to

Unfortunately, work :( 

Running your own business definitely has some perks, but you also have to put in the work to get those perks.

I feel like I am eating, breathing, and sleeping work these days.

What I'm dreading

Everything and nothing.
Does that make sense?
I mean, I dread going to work and such but at the end of the day it really isn't that bad.
Just exhausting.

What I'm working on

Finding some new workout DVD's.
With Mic out of the house so much these days, I need to find something good that I can do at home.
Any suggestions?
I love doing the 21 Day Fix ones since they are only 30 minutes, but I am getting bored.
What are your favorite pilates, yoga, dance, etc. videos?
Any YouTube channels I need to check out?

I have done the above one a couple times now and it is pretty good.

What I'm excited about

Having friends over this summer!
While our house is definitely a work in progress, I am excited to get the backyard in order to have cookouts, swim parties, and bonfires :)

 And no, our fire pit is not intentially made to look like a turtle. lol!
#pleasefadequickly

What I'm watching/reading

My DVR is crazy full these days.

I think I have 15 episodes or something like that (basically the entire season) of Big Bang Theory, 7 of The Blacklist, and 6 of Vikings :(

I have kept up on Supergirl (season just ended) and The Voice.

And when Mic and I actually see each other, and X is sleeping, we watch an episode of Banshee.

What I'm listening to

Still obsessed with Love Yourself by Bieber and My House by Flo Rida

7 years by Lukas Graham

Church Bells by Carrie Underwood

What I'm wearing

Beginning on Thursday evening I will be living in all things orange & brown!

It is time for the 2016 NFL Draft!

Go Browns!

What I'm doing this weekend

Shh...don't tell anyone, but currently we don't have any plans.

Meaning, if the weather is nice we will be at home getting some things done outside.

And if the weather isn't nice, we will hopefully be getting some things done inside :)

Oh, and we will be watching the NFL Draft too!

What I'm looking forward to next month

Toddler Ball begins - my friend and I signed up to coach together - meaning X and his best bud up there are on the same team :)

And we are spending a long weekend at Lake Michigan with my dad and step mom and going to a Kite Festival.

What else is new

Just trying to prepare for X to finish his first year of preschool in May!
How is that possible?
Didn't I just take this picture?

Can't wait to ask him those same questions :)
Also, we are set up to have someone watch him at our house this summer, so I am excited and nervous.

Bonus Question

What is your favorite Mother's Day gift to give or receive?

I love to give something personalized to my mom - like a necklace, new bead for her charm bracelet, etc.
She likes pictures! lol!
I am more about experiences than items, so I typically like to go somewhere for the weekend.
Hitting up different places to eat, checking out new spots, etc. with Mic and X :)
Mother's Day 2015, 2014, 2013

My very first Mother's Day with X :)

Let's Talk | Hair & Beauty

Linking up with Andrea & Erika for

Today it is all about hair and make up!

I don't know about you all, but I personally love finding out what products other ladies use.

I have found some awesome products that way!

So first things first, I was daily hair washer for years.

Pretty much for 35 out of my 37 years.

A couple of years ago I noticed that even with the use of shampoo & conditioner made for color treated hair, my color was fading more than normal.

Add the fact we knew we were going to be moving to a house with well water (adds a nice rust tone to your hair), and I knew I needed to do something fast.

So I switched to Paul Mitchell shampoo & conditioner.

And I started washing my hair every other day.

In the beginning it was rough!

But once I, and my hair, got used to it it turned out great :)

These days I even go 3 days sometimes before washing!

So after I wash my hair I immediately add 2 pumps of Moroccanoil Light to my hair.

Think mid way down to the ends.

But before that, I comb my wet hair out with a Wet Brush.

Thank you Shay for bringing that wonder into my life!

Then I dry my hair upside down using my hands.

For extra volume, and when I have time, I use a vented brush once it is hair way dry.

Day 1 hair is usually pretty natural and straight.

Day 2 hair I add some waves/curls with my 1inch Hot Tools curling iron.

I spray with a bit of hair spray...I typically use Suave or whatever is on sale since I don't use hair spray that much.

And then I add some texture with my Moroccanoil Molding Cream.

And it comes out like this...

And when it isn't down, it looks like this...

 Thrown up into a make shift bun :)

And I typically don't use dry shampoo that often because it seems to weigh my hair down.
But when I do, I reach for one of these two...

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones

batiste Dry Shampoo

They are pretty similar in my book.

And I love that they are both made for dark hair.

Before I move on to make up I have a question for you all.

Do any of you use the Moroccanoil Shampoo or Conditioner?

I am thinking about making the switch, but was looking for some feedback first.

Thanks in advance!

Now onto my make up products and routine.

Again, I keep things pretty simple.

I apply a light moisturizer (typically something for sensitive skin) and then apply my make up.

First thing I use is my Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm.

This stuff is pretty light in coverage, but has a bit of a glow built into the formula.

For a night out when I want a little more coverage, I switch out the beauty balm for Bare Minerals bareskin foundation.

I apply both of these products with my beauty blender sponge from Target.

Then I use ELF concealer under my eyes, around my nose and mouth.

I apply this with the wand, but then blend with my sponge again.

Moving on to my eyes.

Again, super simple.

I mix two shades (Foxy & WOS) from my Urban Decay Naked Basics together and apply all over my lid from lashes to eyebrow.

They I lightly line my upper lashes with a dark black-gold shadow from Bare Minerals (no longer available).

similar

Curl my lashes and apply a coat of mascara.

I finish everything with a quick swipe of blush on my cheeks and forehead, and done.

And hopefully I look pulled together ;)

Now I want to know what you use!

Comment below your go-to, can't live without hair and make up products!

I am always looking to improve my look :)