My Latest Obsession

I am completely obsessed. Poor hubs saw the gleam in my eyes, and the Micheal's bags on the floor and new he was in for a serious crafting session (which usually makes a mess through our entire condo!). I woke up with the idea for throwing a shower for a girlfriend with a "Love is in the air" theme-what better to convey that then PINWHEELS! They are so sweet and whimsical, and a bit nostalgic all at the same time. I'm hoping to hide a small fan somewhere (maybe behind flowers) so that they will all spin softly throughout the shower!

On invites, as decor and even little ones on cupcakes! Weeeeee

Inspiration...

Happy Thursday!

In Desperate need of a tan!

I did it, I tried on my first bathing suit of the season, it was terrifying. Thanks to "buff brides" i definitely fit into smaller suit sizes which is always nice, but I realized one thing as i tugged the bright spandex over my white tushy-I NEED A SERIOUS TAN!

I have been really really happy with the self tanner I have been using for the past few years, but I am always and forever in search of new beauty products.

My Current go to ...

Clarins-Self Tanning Instant Gel
Doesn't streak, still smells a little, gives decent color-its worked well in winter months, when having a dark tan with 3 feet of snow on the ground would look absurd!


I need to try these...

Tan Towel

these things are always sold out at blue mercury and magazines always rave about them, so I am going to have to give them a whirl

St. Tropez Bronzing Lotion

I used this a while ago, and while the smell was pretty bad the results were a deep, dark glow-I am willing to give it another go:)

What do you use?? I would love to have some new products to try, Especially for the face!

Happy Friday!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Happy St. Patricks Day!! On this first St. Patricks Day as a "Mc" I will leave you with one little saying (that we had printed on our St. Patricks Day Cards-yes I know I am nuts!)

May your pockets be Heavy,

and your Heart be Light,

May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

Hope you all have a wonderful day:)

Put on your BIG Girl Panties, and Deal with it!

Amidst my ongoing efforts to find the perfect organizational system for everything in life, I spent my 15 minutes of daily decluttering yesterday, organizing the complete chaos that it my underwear drawer. I have read a zillion different articles about the best way to organize your "intimates" and over the years have attempted almost all of them. I found a nifty little organizer from the container store that, in combination with a "rolling method" I discovered on an organizational blog, I might actually have a working system for keeping my "undergarments" neat an organized!


I came to a sad realization during this decluttering process. My underwear drawer looked like that of a teenagers, not just in its lack of organization, but in its styles and colors. I think (gasp, gulp), I have officially out grown (not physically, thank goodness) the "Pink" line from Victoria's Secret. I don't really see the 5 for $25 fuchsia thongs with orange dogs and lime green polka dots as "age appropriate" anymore. I even laughed at some of pairs I got rid of. Therefore, I have made it my mission to re-vamp, and re-stock my newly organized drawer with pretty, classic, and more lady like styles.

A few of my faves...

Hanky Panky

And as a parting note to my dear "Pink", its been fun-but we both knew it would last XXOO

Happy Birthday to Me!!

What a year it has been!

I am still in the midst of celebrating this first day of my 27th year with Hubs, who is the most incredible man in the world-btw!

I absolutely wouldn't be where I am today without all of the love I have received from all of you wonderful bloggers throughout the past few months:)

So Thank you a million times over!!!

Bloggy Blog Love

This is long overdue, but the most fabulous Lily Lemontree bestowed upon my little blog a very, very sweet award last week....

The Beautiful Blog Award!

I mean how could Marilyn not brighten your day??

There were only a few guidelines to follow, tag as many blogs as you wish for the award, link back to the doll who bestowed this honor unto you and let those bloggers know that you have passed this adorable gem to them!!

Three daily reads I am hooked on:

Jakie Fo

Deliciously Organized

Haven & Home

You must go and check these out!!

Signature Scents.

Every year around this time I am itching to get into "Spring mode", so I usually wind up getting a bottle of purfume for my birthday (Mom & I used to go to Saks every year and pick one out). I always find myself craving something new and fresh and lighter to help get me through the end of the winter. At least I can smell like spring, even if there is still snow on the ground:(

I am going to stick with some of my standbys but I would love to add a few new scents to my rotation...

My Staples.....

Smells like orange Candy
Bond no 9. "little Italy"

My Everyday scent, Lily "Squeeze" It is fruity and cheerful and oh so fresh!



Laura Mercier Almond Coconut
Rich and Decadent, yet not overpowering! This is so nice to layer over the body souflee or mix with other scents!




Fresh Sugar Lychee (my wedding day scent!)
So clean and crisp, yet sweet all at the same time, it is even better layered over the lotion!

My New Obsessions....

MAC Turquatic, MV1 & Mv3

amazing, all in their own right and at $25 a pop, one should own all 3!

D&G #3

Delicious and sweet, but still edgy-this could be my new everyday!

illy is just Silly.

Until this neanderthal diet started I would take my morning coffee with a little bit of skim milk and maybe a tiny bit (or maybe 2-3 packs) of sweet and low. Well since "cavepeople" (to be PC) did not have access to cows, milk is outlawed and so is everything artificial (aka EVERYTHING delicious and sweet). I have been drinking coffee black or with a little bit of coconut milk, which doesn't do anything but make it a little lighter, yeesh! Regardless, I never really cared what the coffee tasted like plain, until now.

This is the best coffee on the planet and I am not sure that I will ever be able to drink anything else, sweetened or not!

Done.

Lovely Locks

About 3 months ago hubs purchased me the T3 hair dryer. I have given it a few months and a trip to the hair dresser before I posted on the condition of my hair and my personal opinion of the hair dryer.

My hair is thick and long and dry from being highlighted for years, so before I got this dryer it was visible fried. I did a pretty good job at hiding it, with about 30 minutes of blow drying and another 20 minutes with the flat iron, but all in all it was an hour long process at least for locks that still werent perfect. My hair has dramatically changed, even my hair dresser noticed how much it has improved. The health of my hair is now close to perfect but the time that the T3 has cut off my "getting ready" process has really been incredible. I actually set a timer to see, from start to finish, how long it would take.....9minutes and 27 seconds!!!! That is from sopping wet hair, to bone dry, silky smooth, frizz free locks with absolutely zero need for a flat iron. I have always been careful about products and making sure to take good care of my locks, but I thought a blow dryer was a blow dryer. I was wrong. The T3 is amazing. I read some really mixed reviews about it when hubs first picked it up for me, but I haven't had a single problem with it, and it works as well today as the first day I used it. So if anyone is in the market for a new blowdryer, or needs to cut time (and tools) out of their morning routing this is a seriously wise investment!

Health & Fitness (seriously.)

The irony of a post about health and fitness on a blog with cupcakes in the title is just hilarious to me! So here goes...


Part 1 (exercise)

This is the final week of my "Buff Brides" 24 week program, and I cannot even believe the results.I had to get measured for two bridesmaids dresses on Saturday, and had the pleasure of standing uncomfortably in my skivvies, with my pasty winter skin glowing under the florescent lighting, as a tiny little seamstress wrapped a tape measure around my "bust", "waist" & "hips", always a joy. Boy was I surprised! Not only has the weight melted off, but I have lost lots of inches as well! Lifting weights has transformed my figure, and the book outlines everything so clearly that it has been quick and easy. For anyone, at any fitness level this book will totally rock your world! I am just pretty panicked because I don't know what to start after I finish the last workout!

Part 2 (diet)

Ok, so I haven't exactly been eating as well as I have been exercising. I love sugar, I just love it, candy, cupcakes, sweets of any kind-it may very well be an addiction:( Hubs is an avid "Crossfitter" and part of the lifestyle they promote involves a "Paleo Diet"-aka "The Caveman Diet". His gym started a 38 day "paleo challenge" to help improve performance (weight lighting abilities) and overall health-supposedly there are lots of benefits to it. Well somehow, I had a moment of weakness and told him I WOULD DO IT WITH HIM!!! We took "before" pictures, and he showed me the list of what we could eat , I am still looking for the flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, and confectioners sugar, but I cant seem to find it anywhere on the list.

Today is day #2 and so far I have only tried to gouge my eyes out once. I will be cheating on Saturday for my birthday, I will drink wine and eat cake, but I am going to try to make that the only day I do so for the next 38. Wish me luck!

I hope I don't end up looking like this guy.....( I would love his french fries though)

Hope Everyone is having a great Monday:)

What Time is It??

First and foremost, an apology for my most recent absence! Who knew starting a job, planning a shower for twin sister brides to be and preparing for your hubbys birthday could be so time consuming? Not having an Internet connection at my new job didn't help either. But I am back:)

My girlfriends who Mom and I threw the shower for last weekend stayed with me and hubs (he couldn't tell them apart!) and we had the best time ever! It is crazy that we have all been friends for 20 years, and none of us are even 30! They both always have fabulous jewelry and accessories, but their love for watches really set me on the hunt for a few new fun "time pieces" to spruce up my new extremely casual work outfits....

Here are a few that I am loving....

Michele
Swatch!

Toy Watch

Hope everyone is having a fantastic Thursday:)