Friday Favs - Summer Essentials

Happy Friday! 

With Memorial Day this past Monday, I'm all about preparing for summer. Today on Friday Favs I'm sharing a few of my favorites for summer! 

1. Bug Soother 

     I love being outside this time of year, but I hate the gnats! It's really hard to read in the garden or master warrior one during yoga in the park when bugs won't leave you alone! I tried this product last year and it's awesome! It works, plus it is natural and local and actually smells good. 

2. Up & Up Skin Firming Bronzing Lotion

     This lotion is awesome! It helps build a tan and really does firm a bit! I especially notice the firming in my thighs. I've also used the Jergen's version - it is great too (and may work a little better), but usually I go for the cheaper option. 

Check out my other Friday Fav posts here! 

What are some of your favorite summer essentials?

     

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Friday Favs - Nails

It's Friday!

(well not anymore. I had this post all ready but forgot to actually post it yesterday...)

Today I'm going to share my favorite for nails...

 ...Essie Polish!

I don't always have my nails painted, but when I do it's with Essie! I believe I discovered Essie in college and it has become pretty much the only brand of polish I use. It comes in gorgeous colors, holds up well, and comes off easily with remover (no stains after wearing dark colors!).

The other night, I decided to try something new though! I have a friend who sells Jamberry and she sent me a sample so I tried it out. I struggled a bit while applying it and it isn't perfect (it's the striped one), but I'm excited to see how it holds up. And she was sweet enough to send more than one sample so maybe my second attempt will be better. 

All opinions shared are my own. I receive no compensation for these reviews. 

What are your favorites for nails? 

Friday Favs - Cookies

Confession: all cookies are my favorite. Seriously, I love them all.

So today's favorite isn't my only favorite cookie, but my new favorite cookie. 

I've officially found the grown-up version of Chewy Chips Ahoy (holy cow, what an exciting day when we had these as a kid!). Soft Baked Montauk from Pepperidge Farm are so delicious! Soft with huge chocolate chunks! Yum! 

Check out my other Friday Favs posts here! 

Friday Favs - Emojis

With the recent iPhone update, talk of new emojis is in the air. Honestly, my main disappointment is that there is still no taco emoji! Seriously, who wouldn't use a taco emoji?? I figured it to be an obvious addition, but apparently Apple did not. 

Anyway, here are my frequently used emojis and reasoning behind some of my choices. 

1. Thumbs up and down: applicable in so many situations! I use these all the time!

2. Straight Mouth Teeth Showing Face: Perfect for anything intense or awkward. Aka various moments on The Bachelor or the end of Scandal last night. 

3. Pizza, Spaghetti, Wine, and Beer: food staples. duh.

4. Octopus (and animals in general): I'm not sure why, but I send it them in many texts to my sister and dad.

5. Dancing Girls and Girls in Dresses: me and my friends.

Are you an emoji user? What are your favorites? 

Friday Favs - Cold Survival

I'm officially suffering from a spring cold. It is terrible. (hence this Friday Favs post on Saturday) Luckily, I think I'm finally over the worst (which was brainstorming ways to remove my ears to alleviate the pressure...). 

Anyway, here are my Friday Favs for Cold Survival:

1. Entertainment: Mine came in the form of Netflix (mostly Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 and Revenge) and Season 1 of Girls that I got from the library. Variety is key when your sickness lasts 3-4 days!

2. Tea: Nothing like some warm liquids to soothe an achy throat! I found this tea (that's suppose to help the immune system) at HyVee and love it.

3. Tissues with Lotion: An essential when you're going through them at a high rate! 

4. Popsicles: No explanation needed. 

Anyone else out there suffering from a spring cold? What do you do to get through it? 

Friday Favs - Books (Autobiography-ish Edition)

Time for Friday Favs! 

Today we're (well, I'm) talking books!

Specifically, non-fiction books written by awesome, inspiring, funny women.

• #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso
• I found this book while browsing the "New" section at the library. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but what about its title? This book had me at hash-tag. Anyway, #Girlboss is the story of Sophia Amoruso and the way she started the online vintage retailer, Nasty Gal. My favorite thing about Sophia's book is that she encourages the reader to follow their passion into a career. She shares her failures probably more than the details of her success which helps her feel more like a friend who is trying to motivate you into fulfilling your dream.
• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
• I've loved Mindy Kaling since the start of the office and her book is funny and empowering. Mindy's book is organized by topic and each topic has a few short stories. Her stories are relate-able and features the topics of body image, work, and relationships. She even has a chapter about her legacy which includes a plan for her funeral as well as a eulogy she writes for herself. Mindy's writing style is conversational which is probably why I have this idea that we are best friends. This book had me literally LOLing at times.

So, if you're looking for a book by a strong and funny female, give these two a try! 

I've heard good things about Amy Pohler's Yes Please and Tina Fey's Bossypants. So those are on my "To Read" list. 

To view other Friday Favs, visit my friday favs page.

(Opinions shared are my own. This is not a sponsored post.)

It's your turn: What great books by strong females have you read lately? Any book suggestions for me?

Spring Cleaning - The Products (aka Friday Favs!)

Great to see you again, Friday! 

Even though the weather here has sort of gone back to winter, it's time for... 

Friday Favs - Spring Cleaning Edition! 

Today, in my last spring-cleaning-themed post, I've decided to share some of the cleaning products that I use regularly. For me, cleaning is all about simple and easy! As products run out I'm trying to purchase things that are more natural and environmentally friendly. 

• Method: All-Purpose Cleaner
• I'm a fan of method products overall so it's no surprise that I like this all-purpose cleaner. I use it on basically everything: stove, surfaces, microwave, sinks, etc. Just spray and wipe with a paper towel or cloth. Bonus it smells so good (aka not like most cleaners).  Also, the on bottle instructions read, "to use: spray. wipe. admire." - so cute! 
• Swiffer: Sweeper and Cloths
• I still remember the lemony scent of the Pledge that my parents used for dusting while I was a kid, but nostalgia hasn't effected by dusting product choices. Swiffer Sweeper Cloths are great for quickly dusting. After sweeping, I use the Swiffer Wet Cloths on floors. 
• Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day: Room Freshener
• This isn't exactly a cleaning product, but you get the idea. When living in an apartment in can be hard to control smells in the building. Examples: someone cooks bacon, someone orders take-out, or someone smokes (even though it's against the rules). This spray helps for sure! Plus, a little goes a long way!
• Scotch Brite: Soap Scum Eraser
• I'm all about easy when it comes to cleaning and this product is perfect for the shower/tub and sink! One side is an eraser and the other is a foam sponge. It removes water spots and soap scum with just a bit of water. 

(This is not a sponsored post. Opinions are my own.)

Check out the other posts in my spring cleaning series: The Playlist, The Plan, The Purge. 

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What's your cleaning product MO? 

Friday Favs - Make-Up Edition

It's Friday the 13th! Do you know that means? Black Cats and Broken Mirrors? Just kidding! Friday Favs! 

Today I'm sharing items from my make-up bag! 

I'm a 5 (well maybe 7) minute face girl and keep my make-up routine pretty simple (see what I did there - makeup? pretty simple?), but I do have some serious favorites. Here they are! 

1. Pacifica - Enlighten Eye Brightening Shadow Palette

      Love this eye shadow palette! It's versatile and the shades brighten my eyes. The shadows wear well too. Bonus: Pacifica is 100% vegan and cruelty free and I got this palette at my friend's cute shop, Everfield, which features cruelty free, organic, vegan, and natural products. 

2. Youngblood - Brow Artiste

     My brows have a few bare spots, but eyebrow pencils freak me out so I was so glad when I found this product. Inside there are two shades of powder, a tinted wax, tweezers and a brush. I listened closely to the women at the salon, but this product pretty easy to use and long wearing. It is a splurge in terms of budget, but mine has lasted a long time! 

3. Mary Kay - Creme Lipstick in Whipped Berries

     Mary Kay lipstick is one of my can't live without items. It is creamy and long wearing. It doesn't get clumpy or bleed onto my face. Plus it doesn't try out my lips and it comes in all sorts of great shades. 

4. Mary Kay - Lash Love Mascara

     My most favorite mascara! It makes my lashes full and long and doesn't flake off during the day. It makes sense that it's one of Mary Kay's best sellers because this mascara is awesome! 

5. Youngblood - Lipgloss in Siren

    This is a fantastic lip gloss. It gives great color and is perfect alone or over a lipstick. This lipgloss is not sticky at all. 

So there you have it! My make-up bag favorites! 

(This is not a sponsored post.)

Are any of these items in your make-up bag? What are your favorite make-up items? 

Friday Favs - New Favorite Tech Thing

Serious Confession: Every single time I think of/hear the words "favorite thing" (who am I kidding? Just "favorite" does it too.), at least five words from The Sound of Music's Favorite Things pop into my head. 

Maria aka Julie Andrews doesn't mention my new favorite thing, but I'm sure if there was wi-fi and iPhone's in Maria's time, she'd agree with me. 

My new favorite thing is... Listening to Podcasts! 

Honestly, until last Sunday I didn't even know how to even go about listening to one. Now, they are my new favorite gym companion. And I've spent a ridiculous amount of time browsing titles to find things I might want to listen too...plus all that I've seen are free!

Confession # 2: So far, I've only listened to Serial, but it is so good and makes time on the treadmill move along pretty quickly. 

I created a page with all of my Friday Fav posts. Check it out!

Am I the last person to have heard of Podcasts? Which are your favorite to listen to? 

Friday Favs - Blogs

It's Friday! That means Friday Favs!

Today I've decided to share a few of my favorite blogs. I periodically read a bunch of blogs, but here are two that are never-miss-a-post worthy!

1. Iowa Girl Eats

     Kristin, a fellow Iowan, posts mostly recipes in her blog. She usually writes three times per week and features amazing pics of the dishes she creates! I've probably pinned half the recipes she's posted, but I've made a few of them too. Her directions are easy to follow and the dishes I've made turn out delicious. Kristin has a young son and has a page related to being a new parent. Recently, Kristin found out that she had celiac disease so her recipes since that discovery are gluten free. 

2. Living with a Boy

     This is the blog of one of my sorority sisters. I probably love it because it is her, but I think Gabby has a great blogging voice. Gabby's posts are about her life so the topics vary, but she frequently focuses on running, home projects, cooking, and travel. Gabby's posts are not always on the same days of the week, but I never miss one thanks to her Facebook page. I love it so check it out!

Bonus: This isn't really a blog but I recently signed up for theSkimm. It is a news site (I guess it does have a blog too) that sends an email each weekday morning with a quick summary of a few national news stories. It is a nice overview of what is going on in the world. I like to enjoy it with my coffee and breakfast.

Friday Favs - QC Philanthropy Events

This week of Friday Favs has some set up...

Part 1:
Confession: I have a bit of an obsession with The Bachelor. I know, I wish I wasn't wasting my life watching, but I just can't look away. If you haven't heard, the current Bachelor is a farmer from Iowa. I have a love/hate relationship with that fact. 
Hate: I think that they are portraying Iowa in an unfair way at times. FYI it isn't full of hot farmers leaning on fences looking at fields. 
Love: The show did feature real Iowa places when they had dates in Iowa!
Because of the misconceptions fostered by the show, I've made it a personal mission to celebrate my home state. 

Part 2:
One item on my 30 Before 30 List is to attend Philanthropic Events. 

So, that leads me to today's Friday Favs...Philanthropy Events in the QC! 

1. HAVlife Martini Shake-Off
     

Picture taking is not a priority for me at this event!

     The Shake-Off is one of my favorite days of the year! A ticket gets you into this martini tasting event! Different QC restaurants and bars come to the event with 3-4 innovative martinis. Guests get to walk around tasting and socializing. They serve food too! This year it was a pasta bar. Last year they had a pasta bar and a mashed potato bar. Proceeds go to HAVlife, a local nonprofit foundation that works to prevent lost potential of youth through support of participation in athletics, music, and the arts. 
If you go in 2016, get a DD. For the past two years, a friend's mom drove us to the event and my dad drove everyone home. Having fun is so much easier when you're being safe! (Also it's usually chilly outside so the door to door service is pretty great!)

2. Davenport Jaycee's Brew Ha Ha
   

     This event is set up just like the shake-off but with beers. It's held in a park in the fall so there are a few tents holding tables with various beers to sample. A ticket gets you a glass that is used for tasting plus its a great way to give new beers a try! Proceeds of this event support local charities and programs. 

(This is by no means a comprehensive list of philanthropic events in the QC. These are just two of my favs.)

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Friday Favs - Hair Care Edition

It's Friday the 13th! Yikes!

Another Friday, another set of favorites. This week it's all about hair care! 

My hair care routine is super simple. I have a bit of an addiction to hitting my snooze button so a quick and easy hair routine is vital to me looking my best, but getting on my way on time! I own maybe six hair care products (not including shampoo and conditioner), but these three are my must-haves! 

1. davines - This is a Medium Hairspray

     I LOVE this hairspray! It keeps my style ALL day (who am I kidding it holds over night too - I regularly wake up with curly hair from the day before), but stays flexible. Buying this for the first time was a huge deal for me because of the price, but I always loved when my stylist at Pure used it on my hair so eventually I caved and I'm so glad I did. 

2. Kenra - Thermal Styling Spray

      My hair is naturally very straight, but I love wearing it curly. The trick is to keeping it curled and this styling spray does just that! I just spritz, comb, and curl and my hair looks great all day! 

3. davines - Volu Mist

      I have fairly limp hair, but this volume boosting mist helps out a lot! About 10 sprays gives my hair volume without a heavy product. My hair is still touchable and flexible. You know how hair can get kind of crunchy with moose? Yeah, this doesn't do that. It's a bit of a splurge, but I use it almost every day and I've had this bottle for about 4 months and it's not even halfway gone. I'm guessing it will last almost a year. 

(When I want a lot of volume, I do use a bit of this davines moose)

All opinions shared are my own and I received no compensation for these reviews. 

Are any of these products on your favorites list? What are your favorite hair products? 

Friday Favs - Skin Care Edition

Hurrah! It's Friday! 

I'm going to celebrate the end of the week by sharing a few of my favorite things.

My favorite skin care things to be exact! My grandma has great skin and luckily my mom passed it along to me! My skin tends to be dry though too (thanks, dad!) so taking care of it is important to me. 

[Side Note: If you know/meet my grandma, you'll see what I talking about. If people don't know my mom, and see my grandma and I together, they often ask if I'm her daughter. I think it's because of her good skin. She loves it (so feel free to make that "mistake")!]

Anyway here are my skin care favs! 

1. Yes to Grapefruit - Exfoliating Body Wash
      I love this body wash! The size of the exfoliating substance (I have no idea what to call that, but I think you all understand what I'm talking about. Right?) is perfect. It definitely makes my skin feel fresher as it removes dead cells, but it doesn't strip my skin like some exfoliating products. I can notice the difference between days I use it and days I don't. Plus it smells AMAZING!

2. Neutrogena Naturals - Nourishing Night Creme
      My skin gets terribly dry - like flaky-red-itchy dry. Especially this time of year. I'm so glad I found this product! It's a night cream so I put it on after I wash my face before bed. It helps my skin stay hydrated, but it isn't greasy and doesn't cause any acne problems for me. It's also great for day use to help get rid of a patch of dry skin (think a nose during a cold). I use this one for day.  

3. Jergens - Ultra Healing
      I can't even count how many times I apply this to my hands in a day! As I just mentioned, I have super dry skin. So to help this I've tried countless hand lotions. Some don't really hydrate and others are so greasy that they don't really absorb into your skin and simply feel gross. This one is my absolute favorite. I've even recommended it to random people at Walmart (Well, that may have happened only once and she asked me why I liked the lotion I grabbed from the shelf). The Up and Up version is okay, but Jergens is best! I guess I'm a loyal Jergens user - I use Jergens Shea Butter for my legs and arms.  

4. Neutrogena Naturals - Purifying Pore Scrub
      This pore scrub is awesome! The exfoliating substance is very fine so this scrub feels gentle, but it still makes my skin feel renewed and clean. It keeps my complexion clear and is gentle enough for every day. 

*All views shared are my own. I received no compensation for these reviews. 

Are any of these products on your favorites list? What are your "can't live without" skin care products?