Happy Tuesday ❤︎ It’s been a really long time since I’ve written a “favorites” post and I’ve been collecting some awesome blog posts over the last month or so.
Before I get into blog posts, here are some recent tangible favorites!
I’ve never been through anything like this, but Chelsea does an amazing job talking about her breastfeeding experience and the struggles that come with nourishing a baby.
We should all aspire to encourage and build communities like Alexandra’s. There’s no room for hate or intolerance. Weed that crap out!
My sister-in-law Christina turned 26 in June and shared 26 life lessons!
Guys… Chelsea’s amazing reminder about being proud of yourself is something we all need to read!
What are some recent favorites- online and off- that you’ve discovered lately??
*Totally forgot about the link-up with Lauren & Bre! Counting this as an ‘Add It To My List’ post!!
I saw Tanya and Erin do this fun little questionnaire. So now I’m doing it, too!
Most Hated Movie of All-Time: Django Unchained, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Last Airbender Movie I Think is Overrated: Shawshank Redemption (it actually ties for “most hated”) Movie I Think is Underrated: Field of Dreams Movie I Love: Clue Movie I Secretly Love: Inglorious Basterds (even though I hate violent movies) Favorite Action Movie: The Mummy Favorite Drama: Ocean’s 11 Favorite Horror: The Grudge or Gothika (is that horror?) Favorite Comedy: Talladega Nights Favorite Disney Movie: The Lion King or Aladdin or Alice in Wonderland (1951) Favorite Sci-Fi Movie: Star Trek (2009) Favorite Animated Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox Favorite Superhero Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy or X-Men: First Class Favorite Musical: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) Favorite Western: Rio Bravo (1959) Favorite Martial Arts: Ummm… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a martial arts movie Favorite Indie: I guess Juno… independent films are always so dang depressing Favorite Bad Movie: Alice in Wonderland (1999)… it was made-for-TV, but I don’t think it’s bad Childhood Favorite: Billboard Dad Favorite Franchise: Harry Potter & X-Men Best Trilogy: LOTR (or the original X-Men) Guilty Pleasure: Napoleon Dynamite… so bad, yet so good Favorite Director: Wes Anderson and David Yates Favorite Actor: Chris Pratt or Jon Hamm Favorite Actress: Jennifer Lawrence or Olivia Munn Favorite Foreign Film: Water (2005) Favorite Movie this Year so Far: I’ve only seen Beauty & the Beast this year… Worst Movie so Far this Year: -nothing- Movie I Have Seen Recently: We’re the Millers What I Thought of It: I’ve seen it before but it was on TV recently. I actually think this is a hilarious movie. Stupid and cheesy, but comical. Most Anticipated Film of this Year: Guardians of the Galaxy 2!! Favorite Movie of All-Time: It’s a tie between HP, Alice in Wonderland, & X-Men
What movie do you hate? What’s your favorite Disney one?
I’m a music lover, but for some reason I never share playlists here. I was driving around a few weeks ago and a song came on the radio that prompted me to roll the windows down and smile up at the sunshine. I’m not the only one who gets the sudden urge to really take in the moment and enjoy the ride, right?
I’m a country music lover so I created a playlist of songs that make me smile and dream about a convertible ride along California’s coastal highway. Even if you hate country, give ’em a chance 😉 They’re pretty upbeat and pop-y.
We have a business road trip coming up so we’re crossing our fingers for warm, sunny weather. I have this happy little vision of cruising down the road with sunglasses on, windows down, and this playlist pumping through the car!
Are you a fan of country music? What songs would you add to my playlist?
I was going to write a serious post today. I started one about the controversy surrounding the Beauty and the Beast outrage. I thought about screaming ranting about the idiotic administration running our country. But I just can’t. If you’ve been around these parts long enough then you know that I have 0% issue with people’s sexual orientation or gender identity. You also know I loathe the people inhabiting the White House. So let’s talk about something that isn’t going to make me pull my hair out.
I’m going to link up with Kristen & Gretch for some “currently” updates and some favorite things that I want you to know about 🙂
Reading…The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. Atonement (Ian McEwan) is also on the docket. Last two books for Erin’s Challenge!
Watching… the series finale for Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. I tried to drag the series out as long as I could. I’m sad it’s over but pleased with how it ended. Now I’m trying to convince K to watch Firefly with me. (I’ve seen it, he hasn’t.)
Looking Forward To… my mom’s birthday celebration. Her b-day was Tuesday but I’m surprising her with an outing on Saturday. I can’t say much here because she reads this blog 😉
Planning… a fall vacation. We were going to go to Disney, but I couldn’t get K excited about it. He’s never been and wants to see it for the first time with a big family group or with a kid in the picture. Fine. Whatever. I was bitter about it at first, but now I’m looking forward to spending some time at Universal Studios (#DisneyForever) and on a cruise. We compromised.
Loving… my new job with K’s company. I feel so relaxed and fulfilled working for a company that I love and working alongside people that I really enjoy and working in an industry that’s had my heart for +8 years.
I’m going to recommend two authors instead of books.
I’ve gone on and on about The Lunar Chronicles, so it makes sense that I recommend Marissa Meyer to those who love a little fantasy and adventure and retelling. Her newest standalone novel, Heartless, quickly became a favorite for me, too. (I’ll talk about it on Tuesday!)
The second author that I’ve really enjoyed so far is Ashley Weaver. She writes a 1930s mystery series that centers around Amory Ames and her playboy husband Milo. They’re not thrillers, but they have an air of suspense and romance and betrayal. Plus they’re set in historical England- which is my fav.
Favorite Recent Purchases
Everyone has their favorite place to buy jeans. Mine is Old Navy. If you’re an ON gal check out these jeans! I have three of the same pair, all in different shades (medium wash, light wash and light pachuca). They are so comfy and flattering to my curvy hips!
Also on the recently purchased list: These pajamas from Marshalls (or TJ Maxx, I guess.) The same cross-cross shear pattern around the neck is also down the outside of each leg on the shorts. Perfect as the weather warms up!
…obviously this isn’t my body. Ha.
Favorite Lip Stuff
I’m not a beauty blogger, but I have three lipsticks/stains/things that I’ve been loving lately. Two are Burt’s Bees products (Pink Lagoon gloss lip crayon & Ruby Ripple moisturizing lipstick) and one’s from Wet N Wild (Lady and the Vamp balm stain). Last weekend I got three compliments on the balm stain!
Favorite Funnies
Have you tried any of this stuff? What’s something you’re loving lately?
I had no idea what to list off this month. Usually I have a draft with a running list of favorites that I add to throughout the month, but I didn’t do that this time. As time was running out I happened to stumble across three short (very different) online clips that captured my attention.
I assume that everyone needs a mental break throughout the workday, so hopefully one or two of these videos can provide that today.
James Corden’s Crosswalk the Musical: Beauty & the Beast
I don’t know why this made me laugh as hard as it did. I blame Dan Stevens (and the fact that I still have trouble see him as anyone but Matthew Crawley.)
Emma Watson’s kitten interview
If I ever have kids I hope they see Emma Watson as a role model. I certainly do. Everything about this video is great, especially her shout out to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah!
Elmo Gets Laid Off
To be 100% honest, Sesame Street moved to HBO so it’s probably safe if/when PBS gets the ax. That said, when I was a kid we didn’t have HBO- I still don’t have HBO. I watched Sesame Street on PBS like most kids in America do. So for those 2 to 7-years-olds with moms and dads who aren’t millionaires with a +40,000 channel cable package, they’re just S.O.L.
I’m going to stop because the budget cuts to the arts and education have me livid and terrified. If I keep typing this post will quadruple in length. So suffice it to say, we are so against budget cuts.
Maybe as a consolation prize Tr*mp can take us on one of his million dollar golf trips to Florida 😐
Also… Sesame Street: spoofing on Donald Tr*mp Grump before SNL made it cool.
In other news of things I want to list or bring to your attention, I joined a FB group for bloggers that has been very active and supportive. If you’re in the market for something like that you should check out The Peaceful Posse on FB 🙂
So tell me about something you’ve recently discovered or started that you love! Linking up with Lauren and Bre today!
By skipping Mondays I lose my opportunity to recap my weekend. If you were curious, I had a good one 🙂 Fun fact: I spent every weekend in February out of town. First Cleveland, then San Antonio, then Columbus, and then Cleveland again last weekend. Some trips for business, some for pleasure. This weekend Kayla and I visited Aubrey and her fiance Alyssa because Aubs is recovering from surgery and we went up to celebrate her transformation and keep her company. (You can follow her story/creep on her here. She’s #InstaFamous)
In an attempt to stay hip and trendy I’m trying to keep track of the fun link-ups that go on in the blog world. I managed to jot down the schedule for the Add It To My List link-up with Lauren and Bre, so here we are.
Firstly, these three products were recommended by other bloggers:
I’m easily influence by others… I went out and bought this stuff immediately because I was in the market for some quality polish and comfy shoes for work. (The polish remover is cruelty-free & I needed that toiletry in c.f. form.) All three have my seal of approval!
Bamboo bedding…
Two years ago my grandparents gifted K and I some bamboo bedding. GUYS- we fell in love with it immediately. They’d bought it from Marshalls, so obviously I’ve never come across it again. Then last week this idiot (me) remembered Amazon exists and I have a Prime account. So I ordered some sheets. (How many pairs of sheets do you have for your bed? We have two. I always have to be on my laundry A-game, especially when I peel the sheets right before vacation and make the bed for the dogsitter, then come home and remember that now both sheets are dirty and I’m too exhausted to do laundry.)
I digress. Bamboo sheets are the softest and most comfy sheets ever. Go get some.
I made this last week and it was a hit (with all two of us). It’s crazy simple- the “hardest” part was chopping all the veggies. We had rice with it. (I also made Brussels sprouts separately because they looked so good at the store and K doesn’t like them so I couldn’t mix them in. But then he ate some so…. that was a minor victory in my kitchen.)
This fall K and I are planning to visit Disney. I’ve been there a handful of time, but I’ve never planned the trip. (I was a child and/or a band student on prior trips.) Kyle has never been to the happiest place on Earth, so I’m hoping to show him a good time. I’m looking for tips, tricks, and advice right now. I know how to “do” Disney, but any reminders or travel tidbits would be helpful. 🙂
One of the worst parts of this Tu/Th schedule is the loss of Friday alliteration with “favorites” posts. *sigh* I’ll get over it.
Actually, I’m going to start tying this into the ‘Add It To My List’ link-up that happened on Tuesday. I’m late to the party this month, but that’s ok.
Before I move on to other bloggers’ posts, here are some things across the internet that struck my fancy.
K brought this to my attention and my mouth hasn’t stopped watering. I don’t typically crave whiskey in the morning, but sign me up for this! The description sounds so good! (*It’s non-alcoholic, Mom. Calm down. )
The National Parks Going Rogue
I made a Facebook status about not believe every headline you read, but I am consciously choosing to believe this. And I love it.
If you haven’t heard, our fearful leader put a temporary gag order on a few agencies. Maybe you hate his “reasoning” (*raises hand*), maybe you agree with it. Either way, this was the response.
And other departments/agencies have followed suit. 😏
Think Dirty – an app
All credit must be given to Stephanie for this one. She mentioned it in last week’s Three on Thursday. Guys… I’m obsessed with this (free) app. I have searched/scanned all my make-up products as well as my Ulta wishlist. I’ve made a new goal to own products that rank 5 and below on the “dangerous” list. If you’re concerned about what goes into your food and cleaning supplies and make-up then you need this app for make-up/face care.
. . .
Check out some posts from sweet friends (& a celebrity) across the internet who have spoken directly to my heart and soul these last few weeks.
I’m a fan of Fixer Upper, but I don’t frequent Joanna Gaines blog. Fortunately, this post by her husband Chip came across my radar and really warmed me up.
And there you have it. TBH, there were a ton of fantastic posts in January in Blogland. If you have any favorites (or maybe you wrote one that I missed!) feel free to leave the link in a comment!
Linking up with Lauren and Bre for Add It To My List.
