Friday

It’s here once again! I’m only slightly bummed that I still have to work tomorrow, but next week is a short week for me (details on that later), so that’s keepin’ me pretty happy. Also, my vacation is now less than a month away! I love having happy things to look forward to.

So far, the plan for the weekend is to do my new Sally Hansen kit, paint my toenails, and attend a couple of graduation parties with Brad. Absolutely no complaints here on free food. None whatsoever.

Here’s a tune off the new Friendly Fires album to kick start your weekend.  I’m a huge fan of their first and I heard some excellent things about the new one. I bought it off of Amazon, but I’m holding off on listening to it until the 2 hour drive to graduation party numero uno on Saturday. For some reason, the first listen sinks in a lot better for me in the car.

Modern Family

I’m aware that I’m about two years late, but I am in love with Modern Family. I don’t know what took me so long to finally watch it.

When it comes to “sitcoms,” I can be very picky. They have the possibility of going extremely well or bombing horribly. It’s a tough job to make people laugh week after week for years and years. While I adore shows like How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, and (classic) Friends, they are all very similar. Too similar. Laugh tracks. Friendship. Romantic entanglements. Living with and/or across the hall from your best friends in a cozy and rather roomy apartment where all kinds of craziness ensues (with a bar or coffee shop to mix it up every so often). Perhaps that’s why I like them. It’s the familiarity.

As of late, my favorite has been Parks and Recreation, which is an insanely good show you are truly missing out on if you haven’t hopped on board. If you like The Office, then you will LOVE this. And why do we love The Office? It was a new approach to the sitcom. First of all, I love a show that doesn’t have a laugh track. Don’t tell me when to laugh! Be funny enough to make me laugh consistently and without pointing it out. But that’s not what really won people over. The show sort of broke down the fourth wall. The characters know they are on camera. They acknowledge the camera (Dear Jim Halpert is famous for it), and it has become a character in the show. And, to put a cherry on top of that delicious cake, they added real emotion. I have cried at episodes of The Office (and now Parks and Recreation) because they have made me care so much about the characters by really allowing the audience to be a part of the show. The characters speak directly to the camera (and, thusly, us), showing us into their (fake, I know, but still!) personas. It is truly fantastic when a comedy can bridge so many gaps and touch so many areas of your brain, and heart, and funny bone.

Which brings me to Modern Family, which is basically a new spin on the mockumentary TV show that The Office made famous. Instead of looking into a workplace, we get an inside glimpse at,well, a modern family. There’s the typical husband and wife + 3 kids, the gay male life partners with an adopted Asian daughter, and the grandfather who is married to a younger Colombian woman and has to deal with a stepson on top of it all. It’s a genuinely funny and genuinely heartfelt show that touches on so many different aspects of family, good and bad. I have definitely teared up at a few episodes, as much as laughing out loud.

I don’t want to say too much and give it away, but you have to check out this show. I highly recommend it (but you’ve all probably been watching it since it started and don’t need me to tell you that).

Summer Blues

The Black Keys make me want to dance and drink beers at an outdoor concert all night long with great friends.
It is the perfect music for unbearable heat, though it will make things hotter.

My Latest Obsessions

There are quite a few things I find myself raving about these days, in the best of ways. It’s always fun to have little obsessions to gush over and tell all of your friends about. Here are my latest and greatest…

Pinterest

As if I needed a new website to spend more of my time on, Pinterest has suddenly taken over my life. My sister and I requested invites before the new year, but I didn’t start using mine religiously until the past week or so. The site is a fun and excellent way to “pin” pictures and links of inspirational outfits, your favorite celebrities, recipes you want to try, hairstyles you love, or pretty much anything else you can think of. They are little inspiration boards on the internet to collect and share. I always log off feeling a bit more inspired, having my eyes opened to delicious foods, beautiful clothes, and tons of interior design ideas. I highly suggest you request an invite and hop on board!

A Beautiful Mess

If you aren’t already reading A Beautiful Mess on a daily basis (or following Elsie on Twitter), then you simply MUST! This blog is so inspirational to me. Elsie Larson is incredibly talented and has worked so hard to achieve so many of her goals (and successfully!). The site is chock full of DIY projects, outfit posts, the cutest pictures, and the sweetest and most inspirational stories. Add this to your daily reads if you haven’t already…you won’t be sorry. (At the very least, check out the sweet video from her wedding…so lovely.)

 

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

Yes, I know I already blogged about the greatness of my latest beauty obsession, but it had to be done again (and, quite possibly, again in the future). I have  done two different sets, and I already have my next box waiting for the weekend. I am so in love with the incredible ease of these nail polish strips, how good they look, how I can do anything after I put them on and they won’t budge, chip, or nick. I have always had a hard time painting my nails and keeping up with them, so I just stopped. These have added a little fun to my life…it’s my treat to myself. So easy to do…if you are contemplating them, stop and just buy them already. You’ll love them, promise.

Chobani Yogurt

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Greek yogurt, but it has absolutely replaced and surpassed all other yogurts for me. Chobani is my favorite brand, and they have an excellent selection of flavors (as in, there are more than what you see above available). I just tried the peach flavor for the first time yesterday…yum. I have yet to have one I didn’t like.

Zooey Deschanel

Oh come on, who doesn’t LOVE Zooey Deschanel? Great actress, great singer, and overall adorable, awesome, fashionable icon. I find myself all too often lusting over some article of clothing or accessory and categorizing it by Zooey Deschanel movie/moment. Example: The sunglasses I bought at Old Navy are very Zooey Deschanel in Failure to Launch. Yeah, it’s something I strive for more often than not. But, can you blame me? If only I could rock blunt bangs like her.

Retro-style Swimsuits

I can’t enough of retro-style, full-coverage bathing suits. If I had more money, it would probably go towards several more swimsuits in classic styles like this. The best part is, a lot of places are offering bathing suits like this. I couldn’t be more thankful. They are so flattering for curvy gals, and are sexy but modest. I can’t do string bikinis, but I still want to look cute. This is how you do it. I love this and this and I also obviously love polka dots.

Love

Cheesy? Yes. Tacky? Maybe. True? Definitely. I am happily in love, and it feels so good to say and feel that. I know I am very lucky and blessed to have an excellent boyfriend, whom I can also call my best friend. Having someone to share the good and bad times has been such a blessing for me, and it’s all the more exciting as time goes on and you learn new things. The giddy, silly, happy, flirty feelings don’t go away…they change into new and often deeper feelings.
With wedding season in full force, it’s impossible to run away from lovey dovey stuff. I am personally not ready for marriage, but it’s so nice to watch people who are ready cement that love for one another in sweet, romantic ceremonies and cute receptions that capture their lifestyle. And that first dance as husband and wife will getcha everytime.
Let’s not forget that love comes in all kinds of forms. I am lucky to have romantic love in my life, but the love of my family and friends is just as important (more so). I am so thankful for the great people in my life  (near and, unfortunately, far) who support my choices, pick me up when I’m down, make me laugh until I can’t breathe, and keep me up until 4 in the morning. This is one obsession that will never get old.

Weekend

Well, that was a quick one. Jam packed with pizza, beer, X-Men: First Class, naps galore, dinner and drinks with friends, late-night conversations, and a lazy Sunday spent entirely in pajamas. It is going to be so tough getting back into a long-week swing, especially with a Saturday work shift ahead. (Man, I really need to get a job doing something I truly love…)

Unfortunately, nothing can cure my Sunday night blues (except for maybe a 3-day weekend like last one),
but a Dairy Queen waffle bowl sundae always helps.

Friday

What a short week! The long weekend was something I needed in so many ways…it was hard to get back in the swing of things. But here it is, another weekend again! I’m bummed that I look forward to the weekends so much that I wish away every other day. Or feel like weekends where I have to work or have un-fun obligations are a waste. Every day is a gift, with the potential to be something truly great. I have to remember that, even if I am not so happy with how I spend the majority of the day. That will change soon enough, hopefully…

Not much planned here. Brad and I are going to see X-Men: First Class (I jokingly say he’s dragging me to it, since he’s a huge X-Men fan, but I’m all about it) and I have some volunteer work on Saturday morning to do. Other than that, it should be filled with the normal maxin’ and relaxin’. Hopefully a double date with sister Maria and Josh on Saturday. I miss hanging out with them! Otherwise, all I need is sleep,
good eats, and cuddles with Brad and I’m a happy camper.

Here’s a funky tune to start your weekend right! Have an excellent one. See you on Monday!

Summer Mood

The weather has been scorching hot these past few days. Although it’s pretty unbearable at times, I couldn’t be happier. When the heat and sunshine of the summertime hit, it’s hard to get down. All I really want to do is crack open a Bud Light Lime (Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat or Summer Shandy would also do the trick), sit on a deck with great people, and lounge by the pool.
And that’s exactly what I plan on doing for the next few months.

Just some favorite photos from last summer. Can’t wait for more to come…