Five on Friday

Happy Friday! I'm going to jump right in to talk about some of the things I'm loving this week.

1. Wholly Guacamole 100 calorie packs/Vitamin Water Zero Lemondae. I'm always looking for some new afternoon snacks, and when I heard there were 100 calorie packs of wholly guacamole - I literally went to the store on my lunch hour.

I like that there is no junk - just a few simple ingredients. Nevermind that it's slightly disheartning how much 100 calories of guacamole really is - and how much I pile on at the local mexican joint.

I also think I'm the last one to the Vitamin Water Zero party, but the lemonade flavor floats my boat.

2. ELF Eyelid Primer and All Over Color Stick. I know I've blogged about these recently, but after weeks of wear, I figured they deserved their due praises. If I liked them at first, I love them now. The primer works awesome, and I've started to use the all over color stick in the afternoons to touch up the blush. I love the pink lemonade color - granted, it's the only one I've tried, but it's just right for this goldilocks. It's also worth mentioning again, they are dirt cheap.

3. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle. After battling some major summer hair issues, I remembered how much I used to love Aussie's 3 minute miracle and went and picked some up. Confession - I had MS pick it up on his lunch hour since he's closer to Target. So this is his "is this the right stuff?" picture message. The only thing I don't like is that you only use it once or twice a week. It works so well and smells so good, I want to use it every day. First. World. Problems.

4. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.  In appreciation for logging in all my Real Housewives and Golden Girls watching, Nielsen bestowed upon me quite a few Amazon gift cards. (If you get an opportunity to do Nielsen, the survey/app version is the way to go). I decided to use it to buy this Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer that I've seen in every beauty magazines top beauty products since I was old enough to read. Where has this stuff been all my life???

Between this and the ELF High Definition Loose Face Powder, I'm fighting the good fight against the southern summer humidity - and we all know every win in that war is worth celebrating.

5. Batiste Dry Shampoo - Light and Blonde. I've long been a fan of dry shampoo, since I got off the daily hair washing bandwagon. I think I saw this in the Ulta sale magazine and decided to pick some up there with the coupon. This is the first dry shampoo I've tried with a hint of color, and it's wonderful! Especially for those weeks when you are oh-so-close to getting your color done but have a few stray (brown) roots. Covers them right up. It got high marks among magazines and users alike - you know I read the reviews.

There is also a brown version, and several different regular with no color, just different scents. A little tip - I noticed last time I was in TJ Maxx, they also carried this line for a few bucks cheaper. Which is why it's one of my favorite stores!

There you have it - everything I'm using to stay primed, hydrated and root free this week. Hope you find something you like from these favorites! Cheers to the weekend!

Chicago - Day Three - Take Me Out to the Ballgame

One of the things MS was most excited about was going to the Cubs game/seeing Wrigley Field. Like a good wife, I went along, and like a smart wife, I bargained for some shopping time at H&M.

First, Wrigleyville.

We had to eat at the Houndstooth, being Alabama fans and all.

We won't talk about the fact that our waitress didn't know what a yellowhammer was. Sigh.

 Me and MS, and an action shot of a local runner. Just keeping it real. Yes, MS is wasting away.

 They did figure out what a yellowhammer was, luckily, since that was MS' drink of choice. I documented mid-sentence. I take those liberties as blog writer.

  A collage - aka I'm trying to figure out Picasa.

 I wore the closest I could to Cubs colors. I may should have accessorized with some red. Hindsight is 20/20. We sat in the outfield bleachers, because you are supposed to for the experience. It was a great view, but got a little warm.

View of the skyline from the bleachers.

Deep thoughts on beer number two, or three.

  A quick snapshot of our hotel between stores.

I promised I would be back to the Hershey store for this smore treat. It was worth every calorie.

We had a great time in the Windy City and would definitely go back - if for no other reason than the food. If you get a chance to visit, pack your stretchy pants and jump on a plane.

Wordless Wednesday

Winner, winner, fried fish dinner. And homemade cole slaw and cheese biscuits.

 With chocolate cream cheese pound cake and homemade ice cream on top.

Chicago - Day Two

On day two, the weather was forecasting CODE BLACK GRADE FIVE storms. I'm not kidding. There really was some kind of code black.  Which I only know from Grey's Anatomy, and I think it means bomb threat, but clearly not in this case.

All that to say, we were going to take the highly rated architectural tour, but didn't think CODE BLACK weather merited getting on a boat. So, we used our free time to try to squeeze in some of the sights before the storm came in.

Millennium Park, home of The Bean.

And some weird pig art that I made MS pose with.

There she is.

MS approached, camera in hand.

I was close behind so we could take some selfies. Because that's what you do at The Bean. I think.

We look really matchy matchy. I promise we are not that couple - despite evidence to the contrary.

After The Bean, we crossed the river and headed to the John Hancock building for the view and a cocktail.

The view.

 The cocktail.

 View from the women's bathroom. I talked the bathroom views up to MS, and turns out, the men's bathroom didn't even have windows.

 Notice the teeny tiny green spaces on top of the buildings. I bet those are bragged about in real estate listings. My zillow app came in handy  to do some price checking. Newsflash: we can't afford these condos.

 The great iPhone photographer at work.
 

 For dinner, it was time for Chicago's most famous dish - the deep dish pizza. It did not disappoint. We opted for pepperoni, sausage and peppers at Pizza Due.

We saved just enough room for after dinner cocktails. 

We toasted to the fact that the five alarm storm totally missed downtown.

 MS skipped out on the girly drinks and headed for bourbon on the rocks. Pizza and bourbon - I think it was his perfect night.

 I will leave you with some sage advice.

 Do with it what you will.

Chicago - Day One

Back in the day, pre-marriage, aka Spring 2010, I ventured to the Windy City to visit one of my dearest friends who was getting her masters at Northwestern. We ate our way through the city - cupcakes for breakfast and all - and had a blast. So, when the opportunity came about to take MS with me, I found my stretchy pants and signed us up. The following is a recap of eating my way through Chicago - the 2013 edition. Part One.
We took the early flight and were in Chicago by 8 a.m., but I couldn't pass up a pre-flight chicken biscuit and coffee.

Morning cocktails by the university.

 

Second breakfast at 10 at West Egg.  My omelette had guacamole on it. More things should have guacamole.

 We passed the famous Garrett popcorn. Full of guacamole, I had to pass. But fear not, we returned.

 We walked off some calories with a long stroll down Navy Pier. It was a gorgeous day, perfect for sitting outside and taking in the sights.

 Time to refuel. Came back here as well - they have a smores dessert that was to die for.

 Not a cloud in the sky.

Smiling through my POOR decision to wear wedges. I sort of wanted to throw myself in the river at this point.

For dinner, we headed to Hugo's Frog Bar and Fish House. The Fillet Medallions Oscar - topped with crab meat, asparagus and hollaindaise - was everything I hoped it would be.

After dinner, we checked out The Drake for cocktails. Aren't the flowers and all the details so pretty?

MS said it looked like a place Don Draper would hang out. He was happy to toast him with an old fashion.

Day one in the books....

How to Sell a House

I have several friends with houses on the market - and I've been there before - when it just won't seem to budge.

Cue St. Joseph. 

Joe for short.

Order your St. Joseph home selling kit from Amazon, or the like. Hey, it's 2013. He's pretty small, and looks nice against the Cajun Shrimp nail polish.

Dig a hole. With a screwdriver, if you gave away your shovel. Hypothetically.

St. Joe will wait patiently while you dig.

So will MS. With a refreshment.

While you're waiting, read over the prayer. Yes, there's a small ceremony invovled.

Conduct said ceremony. Full instructions included. Bring your own passion for the reading.

 Bury St. Joe head down, facing the front of the house. The instructions are detailed.

Take pictures before eating cookie cake to celebrate the surefire sale of your home.

Clearly this is all in fun, but it worked for me. Just saying....