I might regret this…

This poor closet needs to be organinzed...stat!

So for those of you that know me, you know I love to shop. I shop when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m bored, when its 3pm…ok maybe not that last one but you get the drift. I love shopping! I especially love finding great deals and I refuse to pay full price knowing whatever item will be on sale in a week.  Now that my love for shopping has been expressed, I’m going to do something I’ve never done before. I am going to ban shopping from my life until May 2013. Why you ask?!?! I asked myself that same question when I found those words coming out of my mouth as I told my husband (ok, they didn’t came out of my mouth, they came out in a text via Words with Friends since that’s mainly how Michael and I communicate while he’s deployed!) Anyway, I have decided to push myself not to shop until May 2013 because I realized I have entirely too many clothes, most of which I don’t wear. Hell, I still have stuff with tags on them that have moved with me over the last 3 years and 2 moves (yes, we moved 2 times in less than 3 years…love the military!) and we’ll be moving again in 8 months. I realized I always wear pretty much the same few outfits because I love them but I have a lot of cute things in my closet that I love and they deserve just as much wear as my every day fall back items. The fact that my husband has to keep his clothes in the spare bedroom closet because I took over our closet (pictured above), our dresser, and our hall coat closet is just sad...not to mention the clothes I have stored in our basement! So that’s that. I am challenging myself to shop in my own closet(s) until we move back to the states! Wish me luck!

xoxo

J

What We’re Lovin’ Wednesday

Funny thing…Michelle and I are both loving the same thing today! Unbeknownst to us, Michelle and I both bought the same Old Navy Rock Star skinny jeans (in camp fire) and we BOTH love them! We both own other ON rock star skinnies, but they haven’t had a dark wash out in almost a year…so I guess we both saw that the camp fire color was just released and we snagged them! We actually both have the same sheer peach top (we may live apart, but yes, we still shop for each other!) that I grabbed for us in TJ Maxx and we decided to each show you our take on how to wear our favorite skinnies and the peach shirt!

My outfit may look a little fall inspired, and it is, because it feels like fall here. Seriously, it's been pretty damn chilly in Germany! Upper 60's to low 70's, insane! I decided to pair my skinnies and sheer peach top with brown leather wedges, a leopard print belt, my Louis Vuitton, and my gorgeous earrings my friend Bridget got me (thanks B!) I think the outfit is cute and perfect for this odd summer/fall weather! Also, I apologize for my cheesy closet mirror self portrait! PS, love your outfit, Michelle! I would never have thought to tuck this shirt in...I will be copying your outfit since I have similar shoes :)

xoxo, J

My take on the outfit is more geared to Knoxville's hot,sticky weather. I mean, any temperature under 90 is a cool front this time of the year. As you can see, this is my attempt at prepping it up--tucked in, skinny belt, and a soft bun. The platform heels are a bone color and it takes some serious skill to walk in them. I would definitely wear this outfit out to dinner but would slip on some ballet flats if any walking (outside of to and from the car) was required! Happy Wednesday!! PS--Jenn-love your take on the outfit!!

xoxo, M

I'm back too :)

Hey all! Unlike Michelle, I have no valid reason for not posting this past week other than I didn’t feel like it and I’ve been grumpy! As I mentioned in a previous post, I am doing a Paleo diet challenge for a month in my crossfit class (I’ll post another time about crossfit…but I pretty much love it and I’m hooked!) I’m on day 6 of this challenge and have quite a ways to go! Anyway so the Paleo diet is no dairy, no grains, no beans etc…you basically have to eat what a caveman would eat. So this month consists of veggies, lean proteins and fruit….which is why I’ve been grumpy. The fruit and veggies part is fine since I normally eat a lot of them, but I LOVE dairy and pasta and bread and anything else I’m not supposed to have on this diet. Luckily this challenge is only a month long and I’m currently out of my grumpy phase, which is why I’m posting J

The pictures are of two different meals I’ve made so far on the Paleo diet, spaghetti squash with tomatoes, kale and spicy Italian turkey sausage and then coconut flour pancakes…they sorta tasted like coconut sawdust, but I need something carb like, so they’ll do for the next month! There are some awesome Paleo blogs that I’ve found and I plan to try some of their recipes so I’ll keep you posted on my month long Paleo adventure!

xoxo

J

I'm back!!!!!

Well hello, friends. After three days in D.C. followed by 4 days in Denver, I'm glad to be back in Knoxville. While the trip was "strictly business" I managed to make the most of it by hitting up some restaurants, getting my toesies painted, and getting my sweat on at barre class. In D.C. I took a class at the Barre3 studio in Georgetown. The Barre3 method is a barre based workout method that includes elements of yoga and pilates. Though it may sound like an easy workout, it is 60 minutes of anything but. I do Barre3 regularly in Knoxville and the Georgetown studio did not disappoint. BONUS: Apparently Barre3 has gained popularity on Pennsylvania Avenue. Vice President Biden's wife, Jill, was in class with me.

In Denver, I headed to the nearest pure barre studio to check it out. Similar to Barre3, pure barre is a 60 minute class but at a much quicker pace and with less of an emphasis on yoga. While I enjoyed my pure barre class and felt like I got a good workout, I left class feeling like my form was all wrong and that I didn't work my core to its core:)

However, to each their own. I encouage you to give barre a try.

XOXO, M

Yum!

What is this chocolatey deliciousness you ask?!? It’s GREEK YOGURT!  I found this simple recipe on pinterest (I love pinterest!!) and I tried it out not expecting it to be too exciting…but it was! At least in my book it was! I have a serious sweet tooth! I LOVE chocolate but don’t want to eat junk food so this recipe seemed like a good alternative! The recipe (here) called for maple syrup, which I didn’t have so I used stevia and that worked just fine. I am about to torture myself start a Paleo diet challenge for the next month with my crossfit class (should be interesting since it cuts out carbs and dairy and those are my 2 favorite things!!!) but there is a Paleo friendly version (recipe here) of this made with coconut milk which I will be trying too!

xoxo

 J

I’m 384! What are you?

I just got back from donating a double session of blood platelets! Doesn’t sound very exciting, but it was! Apparently I have a pretty high platelet count (384 woot woot!) and realized the Armed Services Blood Program could use my platelets more than my blood, so guess who will be donating a double session every month?!?! This girl! If you are military, military spouse or an ID card holder, I urge you to look into blood, plasma and platelet donations. If you are not affiliated with the military, you should still try and donate via the red cross! Help save lives, people! I helped save 2 today! NBD ;)

xoxo

J

What we're lovin' Wednesday

I’m loving my new shower curtain! Honestly, I smile every time I see this adorable thing! The color is gorgeous and the pattern is awesome…I wouldn’t mind having actual curtains like this! I did a bit of Home Goods shopping while I was in the states and grabbed this beauty, an awesome area floor mat, and some great pillows (all of which I will show in another post) and of all those things,  I think I may love this shower curtain the most!

xoxo

     J

I'm loving my super easy and go-to summer meal: the greek salad. I made one on Monday and added some baked chicken and it was as equally delicious as it was easy to make. Like Jenn, I really don't measure out anything, I just go by taste...then add a little extra salt. Here goes:

Preheat over to 350 degrees
I used 3 small chicken breasts and seasoned them with a little s&p, olive oil, and lemon juice
bake for 40 minutes ( I like to make sure the chicken is really done, as I have a fear of food poisioning)

While the chicken is baking I use an old school large wooden bowl as the canvas to my Grecian masterpiece.

I prefer really crisp greens, so I typically use something like Romaine.
2 homegrown tomatoes that are quartered
Athenos crumbled feta (or whatever feta you prefer)
1/4 red onion, finely sliced
1 half cucumber sliced (thin or thick, whatever you prefer)
1 pinch of oregano
s&p

Dressing:

Equal parts olive oil and lemon juice

Enjoy!

XOXO M

Summer Color

(Essie: Tart Deco, Cute As A Button, Bazooka)



I know it’s the middle of July and most people in the US are dealing with unbearable heat waves but I am currently living in what feels like fall weather in Germany! It hasn’t gotten above 70 since 4^th of July and has been generally pretty crappy and rainy! I immediately want to break out my dark OPI nail polishes to go with my mood, but then I realize, it’s mid-July, it’s still summer, snap out of it! The way for me to cancel out this fall type weather (and mood!) is to paint my nails bright and dress is somewhat summer fashion, even though it’s cold! Hope you all are staying cool and rockin the fun bright nail polishes while you still can!

xoxo

J





Quick Fennel and Apple Salad

Hi all! I have a non recipe that would be perfect in the fall, and since it hasn't gotten above 70 in Germany, it feels like fall for me now! I just made this quick and easy fennel and apple salad as I was cleaning out my fridge. I took some thinly sliced fennel, a pink lady apple and some walnuts then topped it with a mixture of a little honey and a splash of apple cider vinegar.  Super light and easy salad! I think it would also be great over baby spinach with some crumbled blue cheese too. Enjoy!

xoxo

  J

What we’re lovin’ Wednesday

I know what you're thinking, 'really Jenn, you love a hairbrush? Really?!?' the answer is yes, yes I do. I’ve never been one to really care about brushes. I usually buy whatever Goody or Conair brush I find at Target or CVS. Within a few months I'm out buying another brush because I'm pretty rough on my hair and my brushes, so the tiny plastic balls on the end of the bristles always disappear and scratch my head. I know you're supposed to be gentle, work from the bottom up with a wide tooth comb blah blah blah. That doesn't work for me. I like to see results. I have naturally wavy hair (my husband calls it 'mermaid hair' sweet, right?) which inevitably gets knotty so when I brush my hair I want the knots out! I don't want to worry about breaking my brush. I found this amazing wood bristle brush from TJMaxx of all places. The brand is Bass Wood Bristle Brush, 100% bamboo. I've got to admit, I love it and I actually look forward to brushing my unruly waves because this brush gives me a little scalp massage AND takes the knots out. Win, win!

xoxo

 J

Last week I was at Target picking up a few normal household items when I decided to peruse the cosmetics section. I ended up leaving Target with a couple of additional items that were definitely not on my shopping list (this seems to always happen to me at Target). What I purchased was a $3 bronzer by E.L.F. and an $8 eyeshadow quad by Sonia Kashuk. Let me just say, I am DELIGHTED with each of these purchases, as they help create an easy and natural looking summer makeup look. As you can tell by the picture, the eyeshadow is shimmery, but it doesn't look tacky. I've worn it on the weekends and at work and it gives off a subtle sheen, which was the look I intended. PLUS, the product was not tested on animals.


I must say that I am a Bobbi Brown bronzer devotee but I am extremely pleased with this E.L.F. product in that it looks very natural, doesn't make my look like I'm auditioning for Housewives of New Jersey (sorry Jenn), and is inexpensive.


The nail polish was purchased last year at Target and it is still one of my favorites. It's called Peach Daiquiri and is a reddish shade of coral that is flattering on my fair skin. In the past I haven't had much luck with coral polishes that are more on the orange side, because they just look too orange on me.


XOXO,
M

Natural Beauty (makeup edition)



Hi All! Here’s the last post to my “Natural Beauty” series…the Makeup post! Fun! My makeup approach is more of a natural, barely there makeup look. I’m not a fan of matte looks on me so I go more towards products that have some subtle shimmer and leaves a dewy glow. I have freckles which I don’t try and hide and if I get a zit I’m pretty lazy about hiding that too. I don’t like spending tons of time doing my makeup so I’d say for a night out my routine would be 15mins max! I guess I’m sort of a lazy makeup person, but that’s what works for me.

My typical day makeup consists of Tarte’s Amazonian Clay tinted moisturizer if I feel like I need a little coverage (and I mean little because it doesn’t offer much except to even out your skin tone) or I use Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum which also evens out my skin tone. I use a little Bare Minerals Warmth bronzer and either Tarte’s cheek stain or Sula blush, I swipe on some Physician’s Formula mascara and use some EOS chapstick and done! Pretty quick and easy!

Now when I want to get “crazy” with my makeup if I’m going out for dinner or drinks, I do the same as above, swipe on one of Sula’s cream shadows (they are a sheer gorgeous shimmer color that’s build-able) add some Physicians Formula liquid eyeliner and a bright lip stain and done.

I know this makeup routine isn’t for everyone, but its simple and works for the natural look I like. I tend to spend more money on the Tarte products because they work well on my skin and give a finish that I love. The products are pricey but worth it because they last awhile and you don’t need to use a ton at a time. You don’t need to buy high end products or spend a ton of money if you don’t want! I adore Sula products too and they are inexpensive. Their blush is highly pigmented and you only need a little each time. I use their cream eye shadows and love them too! Physicians formula has some great products as well but read their labels I’m not sure if all their stuff is paraben free. Let me know if you have any favorite paraben free brands!

xoxo

     J

Orzo and Zucchini Salad

Hello All! I had to post this recipe I got from my wonderful cousin Nikki! She made this light pasta salad for Father’s Day and I loved it so much I had to get the recipe and share!  I just made this today and was delighted by how easy it was! This salad is great at room temperature or chilled. Enjoy!

Ingredients

-Coarse salt and ground pepper
-1 cup orzo
-1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
-2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
-1 garlic clove, minced
-1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
-1 to 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar

In a medium pot of boiling salted water, cook orzo until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain well. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet to cool completely.

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add zucchini and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes.

Transfer orzo to a medium bowl; add zucchini mixture, basil, vinegar, and remaining teaspoon oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine.

 xoxo

     J

Can it get any hotter?

Enough is enough all ready, heat and humidity. As luck would have it, my first summer in Knoxville resulted in record breaking heat last weekend at 105 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday. Our neighborhood looked like a ghost town because everyone was indoors. The neightborhood pool was too hot to go in and the thought of going to an air conditioned movie theater was quickly vetoed because we knew the car would get to about 400 degrees during the 90 minutes we'd leave it in the uncovered parking lot. This left giving the house a thorough cleaning as the best option. Oppression I tell you!!

Now on to the good news, I received a surprise in the mail earlier this week from Mark. It was a couple of items from Lululemon, including this awesome sundress. Yes, it is a tad too long so I'm getting it hemmed. However, it is extrodinarily comfortable and perfect for a day at the lake, pool, or beach. Plus, it would be perfectly acceptable to wear it out to a low key dinner afterwards.

 As if the heat hasn't made me sweat enough, I'm off to the gym to get in a little cardio.

Happy Friday! XOXO, M

What we're lovin' Wednesday

We're loving the red, white, and blue!
Happy 4th of July!!

xoxo,

J & M

My Style Muse

I just love her and, in particular, her style. Look how cute this red little Alexander McQueen number looks on her!! She pairs it with her beige patent heels too. PERFECT! The future Queen of England knows that style far outweighs fashion, and she has a really keen sense of clothing pieces that look flattering on her body type. That is half the battle right there. Oh, Kate. How I love thee.

XOXO,

M

You smell pretty ;)

I’ve got to thank my lovely best friend and blog buddy Michelle for getting me hooked on my favorite perfume! When we lived in DC together she introduced me to what has been and still is my favorite perfume for summer, Emilio Pucci Aqua. This is an amazingly light and fresh summer scent that reminds me of being on a beach in Greece! Pucci has the iconic bright colors for summer so the bottle is gorgeous in its own right, but the scent, oh that wonderful scent! I’m in Germany and it is dreary and rainy most days, but it doesn’t stop me from bringing the sunshine in with this beauty! What’s your favorite summer fragrance?

xoxo

J

Hello, Pretty!

Ok, I must admit that I am not Internet savvy, so please excuse the fact that I have to provide you with the link as opposed to the actual picture of this adorable shoe I found while perusing one of my favorite shopping websites, Piperlime. The Kate Spade "Kimmy" is the shoe of dreams for me at the present moment.

http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=78867&vid=1&pid=291999002

A mix of beige and black patent leather, the 3.5 inch wedge heel would be the perfect go-to shoe for work and it's versatile enough to wear with skirts, pants (both skinny and regular), and dresses. The shoe is a little above my price range, though, at $298. I might be making excuses, but I have not made a major individual splurge in a LONG time. What do you think? Should I pull the trigger and order? XOXO M

It finally arrived!

Due to popular demand, this beauty was on back order for close to 5 weeks. Late last night after arriving home from what seemed like the longest baseball game in history, I noticed the area rug I ordered from Crate&Barrel finally came in. Before I even unrolled it I though that I might need to exchange it for a smaller size. However, much to my astonishment the 4x6 fit PERFECTLY in the main "work" area of the kitchen. I can't begin to describe how much better this rug looks in place of this ugly placeholder I was using until I found something nicer. The color is called Harper Maize and its a a nice blend of gold and creme. It seems to be pretty heavy duty so I'm sure that it will wear well. Next purchase: matching 5x7 runner. Happy Saturday!

XOXO M

Yes please!

Yes please is exactly what I said to myself when I saw these adorable Bandolino flats on clearance at TJMaxx. I tend to wear a lot of neutrals and I love the pop of patent leather coral on the heel and toe of these shoes, though these pictures don't do the color any justice! I think these will look adorable with a pair of cropped skinny jeans, what do you think?

xoxo

      J

Natural Beauty (face edition)

Hi all! This is the next post in my ‘Natural Beauty’ series- in search of paraben free products! I love St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Cleanser and I interchange that a few times a week with St. Ives Fresh Skin Make Up Remover and Cleanser. I adore the Green Tea cleanser more than anything as it helps combat redness which I tend to get with my crazy sensitive skin! I swear, my skin is crazier now at 30 than it was when I was a teenager! I’m going to blame some of it on stress….thanks to my hubby being deployed. Way to go Michael ;) haha no, but really I’ve always had sensitive skin and I find using more natural products have helped.

As far as lotion goes, I have a bit of a regimen I recently started and it seems to be so far so good! I wash my face with the above mentioned products. Sometimes I use Say Yes to Blueberries Pre-Moistened towelellets first to get the initial gunk off my face. I then follow up with c. Booth Tea Tree toner, and either Say Yes to Carrots SPF daily moisturizer or Say Yes to Blueberries night time hydrating cream and I use Avalon Organics Vitamin C eye cream because I am noticing the slight start of crows feet creeping in. Damn it for being 30 and damn it for always being out in the sun and squinting when I was younger!

I was just given a sample of Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil that I’ve heard wonderful things about so I will be adding that into the routine at some point and I’ll report back!

Comment below and let us know what your skin care routine is like! What works, what doesn’t?

xoxo

      J

What we’re lovin’ Wednesday

What I’m loving today is this adorable pair of stud earrings! I got them at Taxico Sterling (you may recognize that store name from seeing it in airports with some gaudy giant silver leopard sculpture out front) I think I got mine at the Philadelphia airport, but I’m not certain. I know Taxico Sterling is at the Philly Airport, Miami, Dc/Reagan and Dulles and I’m sure at others! I’ve had them for over 3 years and used to wear them religiously when I worked in an office in DC. I totally forgot about these little gems until I went through my jewelry to pack up for Germany. I haven’t worn them the last 2 years since I haven’t been working in an office, but I decided to rekindle my love affair with them because I think they’re just too cute not to! What are you loving today?

xoxo

     J

So what I'm loving this Wednesday are my sunglasses. This is the first new pair I've purchased in, probably, a half decade so they're pretty special. When I look at them I can't quite place them in a category other than to say they are a hybrid of Wayfarer and maybe cat eye? Not only are they comfortable, they look good on a variety of face shapes. When I went to buy them online (like so many of my other purchases) they were sold out. I ended up tracking them down at a local Sunglass Hut and am so glad I did.They are quite lovely....

xoxo

     M

I caved...

Hi all! So I recently caved in and hopped on the Toms shoe bandwagon. I don’t normally like to buy things I see so many people wearing, but after reading the reviews and loving the fact that every pair purchased supplies a pair of new shoes to a child in need…I caved, for a good cause :) The truth is, I think these shoes are awkwardly adorable and like all the reviews said, they are super comfy and pretty much molded to my feet after one wear! If you are thinking of possibly purchasing a pair at some point, be aware they do stretch a little and they don’t sell half sizes. I wear a 7.5 normally and I got a 7 after reading they would stretch. They are still a tad snug but definitely stretching a little more with each wear! Pretty soon they should fit my foot perfectly! What are your thoughts on the shoes? Love them, hate them? Leave a comment!

xoxo

       J

Roasted Corn Salad

Hi loves! I’m back with another non-recipe (I don’t have any exact measurements again) but I promise I will have some recipes with measurements at some point! This salad is delicious and pretty simple to make! Hardest part is chopping the ingredients, and that’s not even that bad! Hope you enjoy!


Ingredients:

-Corn (I’ve always used on the cob, this would probably work with frozen/thawed and pan roasted though)
- Red Pepper chopped
- Jarred Roasted Red Pepper chopped
- 1 can of black beans or black eyed peas rinsed and drained (or both!)
- Onion chopped
- Avocado chopped
- Lime Juice to taste
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Splash of rice wine vinegar
- Cilantro (I use tons of cilantro because I love it!)

　
Roast corn on the grill or in a cast iron pan until lightly charred. You’ll hear the corn popping a little and you should start smelling a hint of popcorn smell when its ready. If you are grilling it, you can lightly rub canola oil on it so it doesn’t stick to the grill. Take it off the grill and let it stand and cool while you throw the beans, some chopped onion, chopped red pepper, and chopped roasted red pepper in a bowl. After its cooled, cut the corn off the cob, add it into the bowl, squeeze on lime juice to taste, add a splash of rice wine vinegar and as much cilantro and you like, mix it all up, season with salt and pepper to taste then add the avocado in last and fold gently to keep the chunks from breaking. Put in the fridge for a little while to cool down and let the flavors combine then enjoy!

　
As with all of my “non recipes” I don’t use measurements… I do it to taste. If you don’t like a certain ingredient, find a substitute for it that you do like or leave it out all together. I love anything with lots of lime and cilantro so I’m liberal with it! This salad is great for hot summer days! Let us know if you have an easy summer recipe we should try!

xoxo

    J

Pretty Amazing...

Yesterday was a pretty awesome day in East Tennessee. For the past week forecasters we calling for temps in the 90's and, indeed, their predictions were correct. Mark and I were fortunate that two of our friends asked us to come over and spend the day at "the lake." Though Mark is just 3 weeks fresh out of surgery, we were not going to pass this opportunity up as we both love being with our friends and enjoying the outdoors. With the sun shining and the water clear and warm, we spent all day enjoying lifes little pleasures. I must admit, I felt like a kid again eating popcicles, playing with our friend's dog "Harley," and kayaking around the dock. I can't help but smile as I write this because the memory is still fresh in my mind. How do you all or "ya'll" spend your summer? Lounging poolside? At the beach? Lakeside? May the rest of the summer be this magical! XOXO M

Sunshine and Sangria

Hi All!  I hope you’re enjoying your weekend! I’m spending this beautiful day sipping on some Sangria at my parents house and video chatting with the hubby. It’s my last weekend in the states and it’s nice to be able to sit back and relax (even though I should be packing!) This sangria was super easy, we just threw some Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries in a pitcher and it’s delicious!

xoxo

J 

Hello World!

Tyrone is looking out the window and Lucy is being dramatic.

Good Morning! Michelle introduced you to Duke and Dylan, so now you can meet their cousin’s Tyrone and Lucy! Unlike Michelle, I will admit that I can be a crazy cat lady! I love these guys! My cats have traveled more than most humans, and for the simple fact most cats don’t really like change I am extra lovey with them when we have to move with the military. We are actually gearing up to fly back to Germany next week so the cats have their ‘pet passports’ in check!

I adopted Tyrone back in 2006 when I was living in a tiny studio apartment in DC. A year later I convinced Michelle to move down to DC into what could possibly be labeled the best apartment ever. I was nervous for her meeting Tyrone because I knew she didn’t really like cats, but like Duke and Dylan, Tyrone is more dog. I like to think living with Tyrone for a year got her on the cat bandwagon! After Michael and I married in 2009, he was about to leave for the military and he thought Tyrone would get lonely so we adopted Lucy. The two are best buds now! Lucy is definitely all cat, she is super clingy and can be somewhat dramatic (see picture above!) but Tyrone's mellowness cancels her clingyness out. I promise I won't post any more cat related posts...unless its super funny! Hope you all have a great weekend!

xoxo

     J

Real love is...

Front: The Disposable Heroes Project

Hi Everyone! So if you know me or you read the “about us” section, you know by now that my husband is in the military. He is currently deployed and we are getting close to the end of a year long deployment!!! Only a few months and he’ll be home! YAY! Anyway, I wanted to share the awesome racer back tank I just got from The Disposable Heroes Project. I make donations yearly to various charities, but obviously anything supporting the troops hits close to home for me. The fact that I can help support them and buy a cute top all at once is a bonus! I bought this top thinking I’d workout in it, but it’s a great quality American Apparel tank! I might have to rock it with a cute outfit too! We’ll see if I can work it into an every day outfit and I’ll post some pics! Can I just add that I ADORE the little dog tag print on the back that says “Real Love Is Trading Your Pearls For His Dog Tags.“ What do you think of it?

xoxo

      J

Look how awesome they are!

Look how awesome they are! Let me first preface this post by saying I am NOT a cat lady, I swear. In fact, I get the distinct feeling that they are dogs but in cat bodies. Initially, I was all about adopting a puppy. That was until I dog sat for a friend and needed to scale back my ambitions. A few weeks and petfinder.com searches later, and I was all "meet your new mommy" at Petsmart. Because Mark had recently moved to Knoxville and I was in Pittsburgh I thought that a cat adoption would make or break our relationship. He ended up LOVING the cats.  In fact, I often find all three sitting together on the couch watching SportsCenter. So World, meet Duke and Dylan. Good night.

XO M

Quick Quinoa Recipe

Hi All! So I’m actually going to call this a non recipe and more of an idea because I don’t have/use any exact measurements and I tend to make this differently every time depending on what I have in the fridge!

If you haven’t tried Quinoa yet, you should! Its super delicious and good for you. If you currently use couscous, try and swap it with quinoa to see how you like it. Quinoa is gluten free, high in protein and provides 9 essential amino acids. What’s not to love?!?!

I usually use Bob’s Red Mill Organic Quinoa, but there are plenty of other brands on the shelves, so scope them out!

　
Ingredients:

-Bobs Red Mill Organic Quinoa (or any Quinoa of your choice) follow instructions on the back of the package to prepare-- usually just involves boiling it for a set time.
-3 Tbs of Newman’s Own Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing (you can use more or less to get your desired taste)
-Halved grape tomatoes
-Pitted and chopped Kalamata Olives
-Chopped Cucumber
-Crumbled Feta Cheese
-Chopped Artichoke Hearts

　
Cook the quinoa according to the package directions, let it cool in the fridge once its done cooking. Then add some Newman’s Own Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing, as many halved grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumbers, artichoke hearts and feta cheese as you want and enjoy! I don’t normally add salt or anything since the olives and cheese are salty enough. The beauty of this dish is that it is super simple and you can tailor it how ever you like! Don’t like olives? Omit them! Love them? Add more!

Do you have a favorite recipe using quinoa? Comment below and let us know!

xoxo

      J

Natural Beauty (body and hair edition)

Hello loves! This post is one of a series of posts I will be doing about my make-up/skin care/hair care routine using products that are paraben free. No, I’m not a crazy hippie and no, I’m not an expert in natural products. I do, however, know a few things that have driven me to make my routine about 98% paraben free, and as free from added chemicals as I can get. You do not need to spend a ton of money to find paraben free products. Sure, some products are pricey, but throughout my “Natural Beauty” posts I will explain why I will pay a little more for certain products and what brands I’ve come across so far!

Parabens are common preservative used in cosmetics that are thought to mimic the hormone estrogen, which some studies show plays a role in the development breast cancer. The FDA believes that we should not be concerned about the use of parabens in cosmetics because they're applied at low levels. However, as someone who has dealt with cancer in my family that is one reason I look for my every day products to be made paraben free. Another reason being I have pretty sensitive skin and would like to avoid putting tons of chemicals on my skin to cause any further irritation. Again, I am not an expert, this is just my opinion.

As far as hair and body is concerned I’ve hunted down some great paraben free body washes, lotions and shampoos! I use St. Ives body wash in whatever fragrance looks and smells good! St. Ives has great body lotions as well but since this is now the summer season I’m on a kick with Tree Hut Coconut and Lime shae butter lotions. They smell AMAZING and are super hydrating. Hair wise I use Organix shampoo and conditioner or Alba Botanica shampoos and conditioners and since I have pretty rough water in Germany I use Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque once or twice a week to try and combat how dry my hair gets here!

Between the St. Ives, the Tree Hut and the Organix, they are all great products under $10! The Alba products are under or around $15 and the Macadamia products run under $30 usually, but I think its fine to splurge since its not something you use daily and it works really well.When shopping for paraben free products, read the labels- most will say Paraben free! All of these brands can be found at Target, CVS, Ulta and other similar stores in their natural section. Comment below if you have any favorite products or new ones I should try!!

xoxo

       J