Memorial Day Must-Haves

Iono about all you pretty people but if there's one holiday that gets me 50 shades of excited...it's Memorial Day weekend!

...3-day weekend
...the official kickoff of summer
...good friends
...good food
...even better booze
...did I say "3 day weekend"??!!

(Ok and because she would absolutely KILL me if I didn't say it...it's also Katie's birthday weekend #yourewelcomekatie)

Last week, I was already itching to sport my red, white and blue. We were getting all our plans settled, picking out new swimsuits and making our grocery list so I posed the following question on Twitter:

...and it goes without saying you girls did NOT let me down. It looks like my vision of Memorial Day was almost spot on with everyone else's! Whatdya say we all get together and have one BIG Memorial Day/blogger party? Yes?! Ok you plan it. I'll pack the wine.

Without further adieu and with YOUR assistance, I present to you:

+good music (ahem...preferably FGL!) by @Amandaar
+festive bikini by @KaitSawyer
+sunscreen by @fromCAtoKS
+your favorite pair of sunnies #absolutenecessity by @EasyPeasyGlam
+BOOZE #moreofanecessitythanthesunglasses by @Shesabigstar
+lawn chairs (ahem...really cute adirondacks from World Market? Yes.) by @TayFrizz
+furchildren by @CarolineLGray
+guacamole salsa (yes, yes and yes!) by @BrookeM225
+American flag beer pong swim trunks by @thebeau
+Essie "Ole Caliente" by @yourstruly
+adorable flips by @twsrblog
+BBQ...DUH! by @PerfectlyJenn

Not pictured: any body of water....pool, beach, lake, river, ocean, hot tub, bath tub...just get in it.

My choice: the Frio river

{Real men wear pink shades}

What do you do have planned for Memorial Day weekend?! 

PS: Don't forget to enter to my giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! Only a few days left!

What do you crave?

Hey there friends! Happy Friday to you all!

Per usual, I'm here to make you spend money. You know...because what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't entice you to drop your entire paycheck at one of my absolute favorite new boutiques?!

I stand corrected...you will NOT drop your entire paycheck today because, well, everything these fabulous ladies carry is...get this...LESS THAN $50.

Meet Lana & Regan. The beautiful (& incredibly blessed with fabulous hair) women 

behind Crave Boutique!

Oh yes. 

They went there.

Read my lips. Err-text.

Nothing. Over. Fifty. Dollars.

I've clearly been stalking their site ever since I found out about them and decided to made myself a little wishlist. Or "Cravelist", if you will... ;)

Tied with a Bow Top

You know my obsession with bows. I need this in my closet like yesterday.

Simply Shift Dress

That color combo...swoon! {might I add...it's only $27!}

Tan Chevron Scarf - $12

And back to this dress...

Obviously...I went with the pink & black. 

{Hello? Do you know me?}

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE every stinkin' last thing about this dress!! The gold accents on the buttons, the sleeves...It's not too long, not to short. Not to fitted, not too baggy. Since it's so lightweight, I can probably get away with wearing it all summer long with dressy flips or even pair it with some black tights & patent pumps in the winter and sport it then, too! (Not to mention...I got a TON of compliments on it! Thanks, Regan for stylin' a sister up!)

And the bestest part?

Thirty dolla make ya holla!

If you're already obsessed, like me, you can find them online, on Facebook or even follow their precious boutique on Instagram! (Pssst! They do giveaways on Instagram every once in a while!)

Now go.

Be free.

And shop Crave!

Or send me something off my Cravelist. ;) 

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. - No-Bake Apple "Pizza"

There's absolutely nothing better than finding something on Pinterest that 

A) actually lives up to your expectations 

and 

B) you already have every ingredient for 

Amiright or amiright?

Ok. So maybe there are better things in this world...like newborn babies, puppies, Duck Dynasty and Tito's Vodka but you get mah drift.

The original pin didn't really have a creative name so I just took it upon myself and named it...the "No-Bake Apple Pizza". Oh ya. Sometimes you just gotta take matters into your own hands...

Original pin:

(Boo you...highly skilled food photographer! #kidding #jealous)

Annnnd here we go!

Here's what you'll need:

gluten-free oats | almond/peanut butter | apple (I prefer Honeycrisp #applesnob) | dark chocolate chips

Also needed:

One photobombing puppy

Step one: Slice your apple into 1/2 inch slices (I don't measure anything y'all so just eyeball it, k? No need to bust out the tape measure people...)

Step two: Layer your toppings in the following order. Use however much you want. Get crazy, y'all! 

• Almond/peanut butter
• Gluten-free oats
• Dark chocolate chips

(The original recipe called for nuts but I don't like nuts in my food so I omitted that part.) 

Step three: DEVOUR!

Done.

Done.

And

Done.

Don't let the pictures fool you...I assure you I ate FOUR of these by the time I finished taking pictures of them all! Okay...Oakley helped.

Ye knowith ze drilleth! 

1. Link up using the linky tool below.

2. Link back to Katie & I so other people can know where to find the link up!

3. Paste our button (HTML code below) at the bottom of your post.

4. Visit & re-pin other blog images to get new inspiration and find new friends!

Join us every Thursday for Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. 

We promise we'll love you forever! ;)

Liquid Goodness

Being a girl from the South, while I'd like to think I'm not too terribly demanding, I'll be honest...there are three things in my world that must be spot on:

My cowgirl boots.

My country music.

And my sweet tea. 

...specifically the kind that's served in mason jar form...

...and from a convenient, non-tea-bag-steeping, squeezy bottle. 

(Is it just me or is steeping tea bags the most obnoxious thing ever?!)...

 Enter: Crystal Light Liquid. 

That's right party people...no more powdery mess, no steeping of tea bags (Can I get an amen?!) , 

0 calories, all liquid goodness, and comes in 6 genius flavors:

iced tea | peach bellini | pomtini | strawberry lemonade | mango passionfruit | blueberry raspberry

While I'd usually have fresh iced tea set out for my parties, I tested out the new Crystal Light Liquid at our recent housewarming party and needless to say, it was a HUGE hit! Some might call it lazy, but I call it efficient. (Hey, I had a LOT to do in a little bit of time so boiling and steeping tea bags was not in the plans.) Fortunately, a few drops of this stuff hit the spot and helped get the party started!

I'm still anxious to run out and pick up the peach bellini and pomtini flavors and give em' a test drive but until then, I know the iced tea Crystal Light Liquid will be making a regular appearance in my kitchen, my purse and even my desk drawer.

Do I think the iced tea flavor is every Southern girl's dream? Absolutely. Stuff is UH-DIC-TING and adds just the perfect amount of flavoring to spice up that boring ol' glass of water!

Now that you know mine...what's your party planning, time-saving secret?!   For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card leave an answer in the comments below! 

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: ""#SweepstakesEntry""; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post"
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 5/14 - 6/4.
Be sure to visit the Crystal Light page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Weekend To-Do's

one. Rescue drowning mouse from community pool - check!
two. Work outside on a sunny Friday afternoon- check!
three. Find & purchase adorable "LOVE" bracelet - check!
four. Make feet really happy with new bow flips - check!
five. Consume one too many"Ridgeback Ales" at a local brewery - check!
six. Take one too many photos of Miss Oakley - check!
seven. Enjoy my very first Furmother's Day - check!

And finally...

eight. Surround myself with the most beautiful and important women in my life - check...check...check!

I hope y'all had an equally fantastic mouse-saving, pool-going, ale-drinking, puppy-kissing, momma-loving weekend!

 

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. - DIY Bow Holder

Today...TODAY...just might be my favorite post I've written in a while. 

For several reasons:

A) It's Thursday...who doesn't love themselves a good Friday eve?

2.) After a month(plus)-long break, Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. is officially back in action!

D) This week's project is a special little gem for my nieces...TRIPLET nieces...in case you forgot. #proudaunt

So last weekend, since my sissy-in-law is locked up on hospital bedrest, a few of us went over to their house and helped put together the nursery! 

PROOF

Working hard? Or hardly working? I'll let you be the judge...

Well...baby daddy has his crap together so the cribs and furniture were all set up and ready to go. It was the rest of our jobs to fold/hang clothes and put everything in it's designated spot so the day those tiny little chicklets come home from the hospital, their room is set and ready to go! 

When the time came to put their cajillion hair bows away, we quickly realized they had no where to hang them! 

Now what's a baby girl's nursery without a bow holder?

Exactly...

So I took matters into my own hands and in 5 simple steps, you can too!

original inspiration

Here's what you'll need:

Glassless frame (any size...mine was 16x20...I think?) | 1.5 inch thick ribbon (any flavor) | hair bows...LOTS of 'em

Not pictured: Hot glue gun, scissors, triplet neices

Step 1-2: measure your ribbon and cut enough strands to spread across your frame. I spaced mine out about an inch and a half away from each other.

Step 3: hot glue those puppies onto the back of your frame, making sure they're evenly laid out and stretched as tight as possible to see that the ribbons don't sag.

Step 4: Apply 'said' hair bows to ribbons!

Step 5: Stand back and give yourself a high-five for totally rocking this Pinterest project!

You know the drill! Link up below and add our button in your post today!

Quick Reminder (& A Belly Full of Babies!)

Hola friends! So I took a quick break from working...you know...because working from home is so ungodly terrible...to remind you all that the one, the ONLY Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. link up will be BACK up tomorrow morning!! Be sure to take all your pictures tonight and get your posts ready for tomorrow morning!

 

I'm so excited to share my project with you all! It may or may not involve something for my nieces, who, by the way...are 30 weeks today and just growing (& moving around) like crazy!! My sister-in-law is such a trooper y'all and is hanging in there like nobody's business!

We went and visited her up at the hospital on Saturday night and I swear those little nuggets were having a dance party up in that tummy of hers!



  Is there anything better than a belly full of triplets?? I think NOT!

 

(Sorry...totally went off on a rabbit trail there. Can you tell I'm anxious to meet those little girls?!)

So anywho...just in case you have nothing better to do with your day or need inspiration for the linkup tomorrow, here are a few of my favorite SPD projects I've completed in the past:

Paleo Cookie Dough

Fiesta Themed Baby Shower

Guacamole Salsa

Tissue Paper Garland

 

Copycat Outfit

Long Distance BFF Mugs

 

New to these parts and not sure what the heck I'm talking about?

So every Thursday my co-host, Katie, and I host a weekly linkup where you get to show off your latest Pinterest creations! All we ask is that you include the button we created (above), as well as the original pin from where you got your inspiration from and show us what you come up with! Whether it's a recipe you've been wanting to try, a craft of some sort, a new hairstyle, a fashion idea, etc...it's time we get to tackling those Pinterest boards! Yes?!

 

Oh ....and Katie and I decided if ALL of you out there in blogworld don't participate, we're unfollowing all of your blogs effective immediately. See you all tomorrow!! ;)

Day 1 @ The New Gig (+ What I Wore)

So. Yesterday was my first day at the new gig and in honor of that, I thought I'd give you all a little inside scoop!

First of all-let's just say taking a new job was quite possibly one of the biggest/toughest/scariest decisions of my life. No joke. It is NOT easy leaving a very, very stable company you've been with for 4 years for a start up company that hasn't even been around a few months. But then again...it's not everyday you're given an opportunity to get in with a company at its infant stages and being 26 and childless, Beau and I just felt it was the right thing for me, for us, to do. So...I took the leap!

That being said, my new position is with a healthcare software company here in Houston and I'll be working as the Social Media Analyst! Right up my alley? I think YES! And the best part?! As of now, I'm working from home 3 days a week and am in the office the other 2. Also right up my alley? Definitely a YES!

My favorite new co-worker has fur and four legs... :)

Anywho...some of you may or may know that though I loved many things about my "old" job (which is still so weird for me to say!) the one thing I got burnt out on BIG time was the fact that I had to wear solid black suits, plain Jane shirts, plain jane jewelry, NO perfume, panty hose (yep-panty hose) and closed toe black heels.

If you're thinking to yourself "YUCK!"...you're right.

Don't get me wrong...I own enough black suits to stock the Limited, and sure, it was SO nice not having to figure out what I was going to wear each and every day but after a while, it got so mundane and I felt like my appearance just got more and more sloppy.

When I read through my new company's handbook and saw the dress code was "business casual" I instantly shrieked in excitement and then immediately turned to panic mode because I had no idea what the hay "business casual" even meant!

A few shopping trips and a tornado of a bedroom later...I was set for my very first day as a Social Media Analyst!

White Top (mine was a little different than the peplum pictured above) - The Limited

Tan slacks - The Limited

Coral cardi - Old Navy

Tan peeptoes - Kohl's

Bow earrings - Kate Spade

Wedding ring - from the husby

Gold watch - Betsey Johnson

Turquoise bracelets - old

Leopard iPhone case - from Katie

BFF Bangle - Kate Spade

Life Planner (mine is the pink/green succulent design...a little different than pictured above)- Erin Condren

This was the best #OOTD pic I could do at 7am...forgive me...

So there we have it! So far-I'm very excited, anxious and thankful for my new journey! A HUGE thank you to everyone who has been so incredibly supportive during this new "adventure" in our lives! It is appreciated more than you know!

Jewelry That Tells A Story

A necklace, is a necklace, is a necklace.

But what a regular necklace is not is a Living Locket.

I was introduced to the Living Lockets from Origami Owl about a month ago and let me tell you...mine hasn't been back in my jewelry box since the day it was delivered to my doorstep!

So what's this "Living Locket" I speak of and are "lockets" really making a come back?

To answer the first part of that question, Living Lockets tell a story. You start by picking out charms that have meaning to you. Next, you choose your favorite locket and chain. Finally, you get to add personality with a handstamped metal plate or even dangles.

To answer the second part of that question, YES! Lockets are totally making a come back and I couldn't be more excited.

To be perfectly honest, when I first sat down to design mine, it was completely different than what you see in the above photo. It was silver, with initials, a cowboy boot and even a laptop (for my obvious love of blogging and social media...ha!). Then I switched a few charms out, decided I really wanted to give this whole gold trend a try, switched out my charms again and FINALLY came up with my masterpiece!

So what does my Living Locket mean to me?

I chose the gold "Love" plate because, well, I just love it. No really...I love love. I love what love stands for. I love what love has to offer. And most importantly, I love knowing what it feels like to love and to be loved. (Whoa. That was a LOT of "love"!)

As for the charms, they each have their own meanings too:

• The cross represents my faith in Christ.
• The gold rhinestone heart represents...you guessed it...more love.
• The diamond rhinestone represents April; the month I was born and the year I married my Beau Beau.
• The red rhinestone represents January; mom, brother, Beau and Oakley's birth month and also the anniversary month of my dad's passing.
• And finally, my absolute favorite part of the locket...the topaz rhinestone; dad's birth month.

Putting all these charms together meant SO incredibly much to me! Who would have thought I could be so emotional about a necklace?! ;) But no...really...it represents family and I know darn good and well that without mine, I'd be nowhere.

It's funny to see people look at my necklace and kind of tilt their head trying to figure out what it is. Eventually they'll ask what it all means, which then gives me the opportunity to explain my Living Locket, which also just so happens to be my story.

I'm excited about these little things! You can continue to add to your locket throughout the years by adding more charms and they make incredible gifts. (Psst! Mother's Day is May 12!)

If you need any help whatsoever designing your necklace, Holly with Origami Owl is YOUR GIRL! She's THE sweetest and such a huge help! Don't hesitate to contact her with any questions! 
***
On a second note...thank you EVERYONE for the overwhelming amount of birthday love I received yesterday!! From tweets, to blog posts to blog comments and emails...you all really know how to make a girl feel special on her 27th birthday! Love y'all!! xoxo

Dear 27

Dear 27,

This morning I woke up one whole year older. It's amazing how SO many things can change in just one single year. I don't know about you but me? I like change.

This time last year, Beau and I were living in our tiny one bedroom townhome smack dab in the middle of Houston. It was just the two of us in our little box and a few dead animals on the walls.

This year I woke up in our new home that lies many, many miles away from the big city. I rolled out of the coziest of king size beds, with my husband by my side and our sweet puppy at our feet. I climbed into my bathtub (aka: my new form of heaven) and soaked up my very first few minutes of being 27 years old.

Beau, who usually sleeps in several hours past me, came strolling into the bathroom in nothing less than a pair of red, white and blue boxers (you're welcome for the visual), with a steaming mug of THE best Texas Pecan coffee in his hands as he quietly serenaded me with his very raspy, very sleepy version of "Happy Birthday". It was then that I knew 27 was going to rock my damn socks off.

This morning as I drove off for my morning commute I was greeted with the most beautiful sunrise over the east and all of a sudden I felt overcome with a huge sense of gratefulness.

Grateful for life.
Grateful for love.
Grateful for another year to live a life of love.

So 27, I think it's safe to say we're going to get along real well. I already like where we've been but even more so, I like where we're headed.

Sincerely,

The Birthday Girl