Jewelry Haul and Join Me for a Link Up!

On my marathon shopping trip this weekend I bought quite a bit of jewelry!  As I was showing off my finds to Mr. Banker I could see him trying to add up the damage in his head.  He was surprised to see the price tags: $1.50, $3.89, $7.99.  And then he said "You know, I can't really say you blow a ton of money on jewelry" (Implied: not like you do on shoes, bags and clothes...)

This is true.  I'm a costume jewelry fiend, but when it comes to committing to an expensive item I always chicken out.  At this point in life jewelry is easy to lose and easily broken (so says the mom that had her child break a strand of wooden beads in the pediatrician's office. Tiny. Beads. Everywhere.)

My family is not big into jewelry. There are no heirloom pieces, except the fabled pearls that my Grandmother has told me are mine when she dies.  Not that I've ever seen her wear them.  Gifts of jewelry aren't common in my family either, and seeing as I only have sons those traditions aren't likely to start.

Where am I going with all of this?   It gave me the idea for my first link up!

I realized that if I saw any of y'all in person I'd be able to scope out your bling on my own. You know you do it too...I love seeing seeing people's engagement/wedding rings, college rings and I especially love sitting next to the woman at church who has NICE rings on nearly every finger and wrists full of bracelets, at least a few covered in diamonds.

It may seem shallow to blog about your jewelry, but if I ask you to, then you shouldn't feel bad, right?  Let me be clear- it's not a competition about who has the best or the biggest, just a chance to share a piece that is special to you and has a fun story.  It may be a family item that was passed to you, a gift for your 16th birthday or graduation, or something you received after the birth of a child.

So, this FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd, show off your favorite piece(s) of bling!  I added a box in the right sidebar that you can grab the code for and I will post a linky-thing on my own post on Friday!  I'm excited and I hope you will join me!  I will be taking notes and making my wish list for Mr. Banker (he already knows I NEED a David Yurman bracelet!)

Today I'm going to show you my jewelry haul from the weekend!

Forever 21 is one of my favorite places to get jewelry!  Their post earrings are $1.50 and others are under $5!  I picked up the horseshoe earrings for my trip to KY, because I'm cheesy like that.


Target is my other absolute go-to place for jewelry!

 They had just put out the new Spring enamel earrings.  One rule of Target is that you need to grab something when you see it, because they do not often restock these items.

These bangles were a good knockoff of the Lilly Pulitzer ones, and at $16.99 for 2 bamboo & 2 twist bangles I had to have them!

Leave me some tips on places you like to get your cheapie jewels!  And I hope you will join me on Friday!

Unplugged

I'm BACK!  I survived my unplugged weekend.  And y'all, it was hard.

Over 48 hours off of Twitter & Facebook I'm avoiding them this morning until I finish the Oscars.  Because I'm apparently 79, not 29 and fell asleep at 9:45. (My first thoughts- Emma Stone is my ultimate girl crush.  I did not want to nearly see Angelina's girly parts...and how does she pick up her children with those stick arms?)


36 hours off of email...I checked it Sunday morning because I got paranoid.  I only found about 15 store sale emails.


No TV- This wasn't all that hard.  I don't really watch that much TV on the weekends.  We stick to movies, which I could have given up, but we needed to see a few more of the Oscar nominated films.


Internet- Yeah, this didn't happen.  I limited my use for sure and being mindful helped me realize how much I rely on it.  We still had a lot of vacation planning to do, so I had to give a few approvals on that front.


How did I do it?  I distracted myself with a marathon 6 hour shopping trip on Saturday.  I never tire of shopping....anyone else like that?  I swear nearly 2 hours of that was trying on way too many striped tops at Forever 21.  That was especially hard not to tweet; I would have loved some input!


Then back at home I cleaned out my closet for a combined 5 hours over Saturday & Sunday.  And didn't finish.  Vicious cycle, right? Clothes in, clothes out.

Was my weekend restful?  No.  Truthfully, I don't have time for a restful weekend right now.  Maybe by Summer I will, but for now it's birthday party planning, vacation planning, organizing, consignment sale preparation, and on and on and on.  I love keeping busy and this season of life is fulfilling that desire of mine well.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, doing what you love!

Glasses Chick

I've had glasses since I was 10 years old.  I ditched them for most of middle/high school except for driving at night.  By college I had to embrace them because there was no way I was ever going to read a chalkboard full of math equations without them.  Bestie and I both rocked the geeky girl glasses.

And most of the time I still do.

 I need a workshop on taking self pics.

I don't take a lot of pictures in them and I tried to vlog in them but I had trouble getting the angle right to not make my eyes look weird.  Vanity first here.

While watching Smash I noticed how Debra Messing is often wearing glasses!

 pic via Boston Herald

A quick search of celebs in glasses turned up this great album- Celebs Who Make Glasses Look Good
with none other than Mr. Timberlake on the cover.

Done and done. 

I wear contacts a lot more lately because I can't work out in glasses.  I've also thought about getting Lasik, but truthfully I kind of like being a glasses chick.  It's fun to pick out a new pair every year and thanks to my prescription not changing I currently have a few to choose from. 

This was probably the most boring blog post ever, with a very limited audience...but I thought maybe I would find a fellow secret glasses lover out there!

My Lips are Sealed

Source: matchbookmag.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

For the past several years I have given up something for Lent.  I don't remember what started it, but alas, there are always 500 some horrible habits or behaviors I could stand to cut out of my life for 40 days.

I have given up Facebook, clothes shopping, french fries and probably a few other things I can't remember.  When I was thinking about this year I thought about the stresses that have been in my life lately and I realized I needed to give up something I had given up before- GOSSIPING.

Source: artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Recently I have fallen into opening my mouth wayyyyy too much.  And truthfully, it's caused a lot of drama.  The moment I see or hear something that hits a nerve in me it's my first inclination to HAVE to tell someone about it.  Text, email, passive aggressive Twitter post...it's like I have to get my thoughts out of my head.  I don't like this about myself.

I gave this up once before when I was falling into office gossip.  It started as just general lunchtime conversations, but then it got to the point where it was all the time chatter.  Do you hear this? Do you see that?

This is not to say that I'll be able to just stop thinking all of these thoughts, but hopefully it will get me moving in the right direction.  Much of it is spurred by jealousy, grudges, self-righteousness and sometimes just my need for attention.  All ugly stuff.

So this will be my mantra for the next 40 days:

Source: ohhaymichelle.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

JUST KIDDING!  I'm going to research some Bible verses to help me with this (and also scribble down notes when I feel like my head is going to explode when I can't tell anyone "Can you believe what so-and-so just did?")  Pray for me, y'all.  My confidants will probably welcome this break from my incessant chatter!

Leave me a comment if you are giving something up for Lent.  I'm sure I could start working on a list of things to give up in future years.

Before 30 Update

Wow, y'all, time is speeding by!  Less than 3 months until my birthday!  My Before 30 list is coming along, but I'm pretty certain I'm not going to finish it.  Our weekends are so jammed.  I'm going to try, but we'll see!

1. Run a 5k
2. Tree Camping or ropes course/zip lining Swap for skeet shooting!
3. A trip by myself Mommy Getaway to Palm Beach & meeting Lilly!
4. 30th trip with Bestie (this will be after 30, but will be planned!)
5. Take a cooking class at Whole Foods
6. Sponsor a child Done through Compassion International, found David in Kenya whom I share a birthday with!
7. Visit Alabama
8. Go "offline" for a weekend (includes tv)
9. Host a blog giveaway KJP Bracelet
10. Buy something (besides jewelry) at Forever 21
11. Workout on vacation
12. Do a "day in the life" post
13. Go to a painting/wine class
14. Pay it forward and buy someone's meal/drink in line behind me
15. Have 3 days of no complaints
16. Get a physical and go to the dermatologist

This weekend I'm going to go ahead and tackle #8.  I need to get everything organized for a consignment sale coming up in a few weeks (which technically will require me being online, but whatevs) and I have to watch the Oscars....but other than that I'll be unplugged.  Lame that I can't fully commit, but that's just life right now.  **See how optimistic I am these days?  I swear this Winter has given me the serious SADs**

And Happy Mardi Gras! 

1982 babies!

I know I have quite a few friends from Twitter and blogging that will be turning 30 this year.  I will probably make y'all sick talking about my own birthday in a few months, so I wanted to take this opportunity to find out when YOUR birthdays are! 

If you would please leave me a comment or send me an email with your birthday...and then I will bug you for your address so I can send you a card and a little happy for your big day!  Also sorry to any of those I already missed...a belated card will make it to you!

Blog Rut

So yeah, my blog rut continues.  I got nothin.  At least nothin y'all want to hear about.

I have skipped my 5am wakeup calls this week for sleeping in.  BB hasn't napped in 8 days and I was up with him from 3-5am the other night.  For no other reason (that I could figure out) than the intense need to watch Dora.  LB is teething and I was up with him early, early on Sunday.

My Google Reader has nearly 400 unread posts.  I tried to scroll through my favorites, but truthfully I just wasn't in the mood for a lot of the lovey, dovey Valentine's posts.  This stresses me out beyond reason.  I really hate to feel like I'm being "left out" and that's what happens when I'm not up to date on reading posts.

Here's where I ask a favor.  Leave me a comment with a link to a favorite blog post that you have read in the last few weeks.  Maybe this will introduce me to a new blog and get me out of my rut.

Thank you, thank you!

Happy Galentine's Day!

ESPN, iPads, mud, football, steak, beer, mud, blood, sweat, basketball, MUD....that is what my house was filled with this weekend.  Our 3 best friends from high school came to participate in the Tough Mudder race with Mr. Banker.

In high school and throughout college these guys were my very best friends.  We reminisced about fun times and, as it usually is with men, we seem to just pick up where we left off.  But I am realizing that time and distance have somewhat halted these friendships at the surface level...and I'm curious if this is a commonality in friendships between men and women.

All that said, I am really ready for some girl time tonight!  It's Galentine's Day!
**video in this post that won't load to Google Reader.  It's Leslie Knope. You're welcome.**




Tonight just happened to be the night that all of my new favorite local ladies that I have connected with over Twitter & blogs could get together.  We have had a few fun nights out together talking about anything and everything.  It's sometimes hard to get a word in, but it's a welcome break from life at home where no one really wants to hear me going on about post-partum challenges, reality television, or family and friend gossip. 

And, I have to wish my Bestie a very happy Galentine's Day!  We have a belated date for this weekend!

Currently....

I currently, seriously have a case of bloggers block.  Ally wrote this Currently post and I decided I would do my own.  Because like Monday's vlog, this week is all about my lack of creativity and answering other people's questions.

Eating: I'm back on My Fitness Pal this week, so I'm thinking about what I'm eating.  We've had an odd week and have just been cleaning out our fridge and eating leftovers.  But I don't go a day without eating one of these

I can thank Southern Social for that!

Wearing: Nothing fun.  Gym clothes mostly.  My closet is a hot mess and I'm sure that 85% of it will be gone by Summer.

**I'm realizing that this post is a whole bunch of depressing-ness (yes, that's a word.)  Maybe I have bloggers block for good reason.


Running/Reading: These both seem to be all or nothing subjects for me, and right now it's nothing.  I'm liking kickboxing and weightlifting classes at the gym.  And reading blogs, that's about all I can get into these days.

Listening: I have the worst taste in music. Seriously.  I get stuck on the old popular stuff from the 90's.  And I was way too excited when the first song in kickboxing on Monday was Ke$ha's "Blow"  Did I really just tell y'all that?

Annoyed by: Back to this weekend on that one....lack of communication and uncomfortable situations. Yuck.

On My Nails: I've resisted going to get a manicure and thought maybe it was time to figure out how to paint my nails.

A friend suggested Sally Hansen Insta-Dry.  I picked this up yesterday at Target in Petal Pusher and currently have it on 2 nails.  Gotta get around to doing the rest.

Watching: Downton Abbey!  The hubs decided to give it a try and he likes it! So I am re-watching Season 1 with him.  I love The Voice, so that is a fun new addition.  Lots of Housewives, WWHL...you know, quality entertainment.

Most Looking Forward To: Ah, tons of stuff!  Visiting Bestie, BB's birthday party (how is my little guy going to be 3?), Date for Mr. Banker's birthday, some fun Junior League events, planning our KY trip, planning my birthday party....just a few things going on!

Thanks Ally for letting me piggyback on your post!

Q&A Monday Vlog with PIPM & Shasta Anne!

Why always an unfortunate screenshot?  Anyway....I'm linking up today with Shasta Anne & Pretty in Pink Megan for their Q&A Monday.  I get rambling, so bear with me.  Here are this week's questions-

1.  favorite place you've traveled

2. where would you want to go if you could have a paid ticket and hotel

3. if you have a trip planned, where are you going?

4.Were you an honor roll student in school?

5.  what was your major in college

6. Ever go to camp?

7. favorite tv show of all time

8. What was the last thing you ever got grounded for?

9.  What was your childhood nickname?

10. what would your dream job be?

Foodie Friday: My Super Bowl Appetizer

I haven't done a Foodie Friday in a bit, and what better occasion than the Super Bowl!  For me the Super Bowl is all about the food and the commercials!  I seriously don't even know who is playing.

A few years ago (I guess it was 4 since I was pregnant & working) a co-worker of mine hosted a Super Bowl party with pot luck appetizers.  I wasn't sure what to make, so I dug through my pile of ripped out recipes I wanted to try.

I stumbled upon these-

photo via Kraft

Kraft used to publish a great free magazine with recipes highlighting their products.  Now all of the recipes are available online.  Two of my favorites are Brown Sugar Cake and Banana Split Cake. (Yum, cake!)

Back to the crescents....I tried one and thought it was tasty.  At the party, people were going insane over them.  Most of all was my best co-worker pal's husband.  After this party anytime we were going to get together he would request "those Super Bowl things." Ha!  Those pals have since moved away (sadz) but every time the Super Bowl rolls around I think of them and my "famous" appetizer.

Bacon Appetizer Crescents

from KraftRecipes.com

1pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

8 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled

1/3 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup finely chopped onions

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

1 Tbsp. milk

2 cans (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

HEAT oven to 375°F.
MIX all ingredients except crescent dough.
SEPARATE each can of dough into 8 triangles; cut each triangle lengthwise in half. Spread each dough triangle with 1 generous tsp. cream cheese mixture; roll up, starting at short side of triangle. Place, point-sides down, on baking sheet.
BAKE 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Do you have a favorite Super Bowl dish?

Feb-r-uary

Remember how hard it was to remember how to spell February when you were growing up? No, just me? Ok.

Whew, today was a looonnnnggg day.  LB was crying out from teething from 1:30-2:30 AM when I finally gave in and rocked him. (And gave him a bottle...yes, he's still on the bottle.)  I didn't get back to sleep until 4:30. Fun times.

Both the boys have been sick since Sunday/Monday with colds.  Thankfully I was able to get out of the house today...I was going a little crazy!

Anyway, to my point today....I wanted to ask y'all a few questions.

1. Anyone new out there? Please, introduce yourself!  I REALLY love to build relationships through blogging and would love you learn more about you!


2. Layout/Design- I was looking at professional blog designs and they can get expensive!  I put this design together myself with the help of my awesome Java 101 skills and Picnik, which is soon to be shut down :(  So that has be wondering if I should enlist some help...

Do you find the layout easy to read and attractive?  Are there any elements you would like to see included?  Does anything seem crowded or annoying? Please, I want honest opinions here...my feelings won't be hurt.

3. I really want to ask about content...but after reading this awesome post at Monograms and Manicures, I won't.  I'm going to keep writing what I want :) With the occasional completely random and poorly edited post like this!

4.  And lastly, I'm asking for a little travel advice.  Mr. Banker and I are taking a trip to Louisville & Lexington, KY this Spring.  If you have any recommendations in these cities or any info about Keeneland it would be appreciated!