Thursday, April 30, 2015

The music question tag

I've seen this tag floating around lately and thought it would be a fun one! If you do it leave the link in the comments so I can see all your answers.

1. Which bands/artist do you own the most albums by? Green Day, which I'm sure is totally making me seem so old...

2. What was the last song you listened to? Manifesto by Nahko, I have been obsessed with that particular song lately.

3. What's in your CD player right now? Passenger's All The Little Lights album.

4. What was the last show you attended? Less than Jake and Reel Big Fish, you know, some more old bands LOL.

5. What was the greatest show you've ever been to? FUN. That was one of the best nights of my life!

6. What's the worst show you've ever been to? Probably Asking Alexandria because we got kicked out, which was so embarrassing/awful haha.

7. What's the most musically involved you have ever been? I played the piano once upon a time.

8. What show are you looking forward to? The Sublime with Rome and Rebelution show.

9. First concert you ever attended? Boyz II Men and it was the bomb haha.

10. What is your favorite band shirt? Probably my Of Mice and Men shirt.

11. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day? Again, Nahko, he is so positive and intelligent, I would love to ask him so many questions.

12. Who is one musician or group you wish would make a comeback? This is a tough one, probably the Smiths just long enough for me to see them one time!

13. Who is the one band/artist you've never seen live but always wanted to? The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I think they would be so fun and the show would probably be a riot!

14. Name four or more flawless albums: FUN.'s Some Nights, Green Day's Dookie, Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous (but pretty much any of their albums) and Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends.

15. How many music related videos/DVDs do you own? I don't think I own any but I don't need to because my husband owns hundreds.

16. How man concerts/shows have you been to total? Oh man, way way way too many to remember or count.

17. Who have you seen the most live? Senses Fail, we even went to Vegas to see them because they're my hubby's fave band.

18. What is your favorite movie soundtrack? Juno

19. What was your last musical "phase" before you wisened up? I don't think I've ever had a "phase," I'll admit to liking all kinds of music.

20. What's your "guilty pleasure" that you hate to admit to liking? One Direction. I am way too old for that but damn it if their music isn't catchy.


There you have it. I love all kinds of music, this tag was really fun for me to do. Have a great Thursday everyone!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

What I'm Watching : Fed Up

My husband recently heard about a documentary that's getting a lot of buzz on Netflix. Since we've been into this low FODMAP eating, we are way more aware of the ingredients in our foods. I was really interested in this documentary because it's about food and it's link to the growing obesity issue in not only our society, but many others around the world.
The documentary is called Fed Up and it essentially follows a group of teenagers all struggling with weight issues. It's narrated by Katie Couric who investigates how the food industry has played a huge role in the health issues we face today. A large part of the documentary talks about added sugars and the fact that it's as addictive as a lot of hard core drugs. If you've read my previous blog post here you know that my sugar intake is something that I've been trying to control this last little while. Even while I was watching what "sweets" I ate, this documentary opened my eyes completely to how much sugar is added in "healthy" foods as well as foods we don't even realize, such as jarred sauces, etc. It's super informative and if you are interested in healthy eating, maintaining a healthy lifestyle or just your health in general, I highly recommend giving this documentary a watch!


What are you guys watching this week? Any good recommendations?

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Wet n Wild coloricon blush and glow trio : Solar Powered

I don't know if other women are like this, but whenever I'm perusing the makeup aisle in a store, my eye inevitable goes to anything shimmery. I mean anything. Now despite my age and despite the fact that I make it a goal to look more put together, I still like glitter and glitz. Always have, probably always will. This isn't to say shimmery can't be "grown up" or understated...it's just I have a flare for the over-dramatic...or something. Anyways, the point is that when I passed this palette I immediately made a beeline for it.
The first thing I noticed was there were 3 different palettes (Fair Trade Coffee, Sunset Junction and Solar Powered) and all of them had beautiful shimmery golden shades in them. The reason I actually reached for this palette is that it had two beautiful shimmery golden shades in it. And if there is one look I am always trying to reach for it's "golden goddess" status. Doesn't really happen, but there's always that image in my head when I reach for a gold palette.
I digress...the palette I ended up with is the Solar Powered palette which includes a beautiful gold shade, a rose gold-ish color and a very pretty neutral pink shade. All are shimmery, so if you prefer matte looks, this palette probably won't interest you. I'm using this palette currently as a shimmery flush for my cheeks and an all over bronzy glowy look for my face. Seriously, these pictures don't even do this product justice, it is SO beautiful.







The other palettes had a typical champagne/pink highlight in the upper left corner but I went with the one that was a pretty light gold. The bottom shade or "bronze shade" (center of hand) is a pretty rosy gold color that looks super pretty lightly swiped over a pink cheek. I am loving this trio right now; the quality is so good for only $4.99 a palette. In fact, I've been thinking I may go back and get the other two...

What colors have you been loving for cheeks this week?

Monday, April 27, 2015

Queen of the Mountain

If you use Strava, then you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, let me explain. Strava is a free app that allows you to track your workout, follow friends, and ranks your best time along side every other Strava user in your area. To obtain King or Queen of the mountain you have to have the best time in your sport in that area. For example, in our area we have a loop we like to call "Hobo Circle"; basically because it loops around a big lake and a lot of our transient friends like to hang out around there. Quite sketchy at night but during the day it's usually pretty safe. Today I totally got Queen of the Mountain in biking, which for me, is quite an achievement. It means that out of the 17 women that have ridden "Hobo Circle" this year, I've got the best time. WHAT?! Also, out of the 54 people who've ridden it all year, man or woman, I am 4th overall! If you would have asked me this time last year if I would have thought that to be possible I would have shouted a resounding NO! But after a lot of hard work and training, I'm super proud of my achievements.


Before I descended the hill to Hobo Circle


A picture of part of the loop. It goes around a lake and is super picturesque...when your not blurring by on a bike it's a really pretty scene


After I finished my sprint...


...before riding up this hill took the smile off my face

What are some achievements you're proud of?

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Stess Less Sunday : Meditation

Yep, you read that title right, meditation. Now before you go thinking I'm some new age hippie, hear me out. Often my mind is racing full of thoughts on over drive. When I'm reading a book, enjoying a bath, doing yoga, or taking a minute just to myself, my mind is still going a mile a minute. While I'm doing one thing in my day I'm constantly thinking about the next five. I think most of us feel this way between work, school, relationships, kids, etc. We live in a time where multitasking, to-do lists and late hours are the new norm.
I found that in order to really unwind, I needed more. I started reading about mindfulness which led me to meditation. This is a practice that teaches you how to live in the moment. That in order to function and do the things we need to do, we need honest time that our minds and bodies can recuperate. Even something as simple as a 5 minute practice in the morning can make a huge difference. I find that I like to meditate right before bed as that's when I have a tendency to think the most. It's a nice way for me to unwind and focus, allowing me to let go of all my thoughts so I can actually get a decent nights sleep. I found that by adding meditation to my nightly ritual, I was able to be much more productive because I had honest time to wind down. Also, mindfulness has transferred to other areas of my life so now I can focus on one task at a time and get it done quicker and with greater success.
Although it might not be for everyone I still suggest you give it try, you might find it actually really helps!

Here is a meditation practice I enjoy listening to before bed. If you try it, let me know what you think.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Dry Shampoo Review : Suave Keratin Infusion

I, like many women out there, am a dry shampoo lover. The longer I can go without washing my hair the better. Since I'm lazy my hair is so damaged, I try to wash it only twice a week. Obviously between working out, inclement weather, etc, etc, my hair can end up looking greasy way sooner than that. Enter dry shampoo and suddenly 3rd day hair looks freshly washed. My favorite dry shampoo ever is Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, but it's quite pricey and I have to order it online.

I used to use the Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo back in the day but I haven't used it for years. When I saw it again while I was perusing the drugstore I decided to give it another go as I had liked it so much before. I definitely wasn't disappointed! First of all, it's super affordable, I got mine for about $3 for a 4.3 oz can. Second, it smells AMAZING. I mean really really good; like halfway through the day I'd get a whiff of my hair and suddenly I had a makeshift mustache because I couldn't get enough. Lastly, and most important in my book, it didn't feel grainy or leave a white residue in my hair. It's definitely a dry shampoo I feel is worth to keep in my rotation.

What is your favorite affordable dry shampoo?


Friday, April 24, 2015

TMI Tag

I was all geared up to do a weekly roundup but by the time I had a chance to even think about that post, the lighting was terrible and no decent photos were to be had. So here's a tag for you instead...as always I would love to see everyone's responses so link your post in the comments below!

1. What are you wearing? Grey leggings and a white tank top
2. Ever been in love? Yes
3. Ever had a terrible breakup? Hasn't everyone?
4. How tall are you? 5'2"
5. How much do you weigh? A hundred something pounds...
6. Any tattoos? Yes, you can probably spot some of them in my outfit photos
7. Any piercings? Currently, just one hole in each of my ears
8. OTP? Um...I'm too old for this question
9. Favorite show? Bones...does anyone even watch that anymore?
10. Favorite bands? Too too many to name...lately it's been Passenger because I have that cd at work. Yes, the actual, real cd.
11. Something you miss? Spending time with my parents
12. Favorite Song? The Only Song by Sherwood
13. How old are you? 30 something....I feel like I did this tag already LOL
14. Zodiac sign? Aries
15. Quality you look for in a partner? Honesty and humbleness
16. Favorite quote? "Religions are different roads converging upon the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads so long as we reach the same goal?" -Gandhi
17. Favorite actor? Melissa McCarthy
18. Favorite color? Red and Purple
19. Loud music or soft? Soft...I like soft LOL
20. How long does it take you to shower? 10 minutes, I'm in and out
21. Where do you go when you're sad? Wherever there's food, I'm a terrible emotional eater
22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Half hour to an hour depending on if it's hair wash day
23. Ever been in a physical fight? Um, no
24. Turn on? My hubby
25. Turn off? Arrogance, rudeness
26. The reason I started a blog? I love to write and loved the idea of a writing community
27. Fears? Bugs and water
28. Last thing that made you cry? A movie
29. Last time you said you loved someone? Today
30. Meaning behind your blog name? I'm in my thirty somethings so I'm living the thirty something life
31. Last book you read? The Story of Awkward by R.K. Ryals
32. The book you're currently reading? The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell, it's good so far!
33. Last show you watched? The Cleveland Show
34. Last person you talked to? The hubs
35. The relationship between you and the person you last texted? My Dad
36. Favorite food? You know I can't answer this, I love ALL the food
37. Place you want to visit? Asia
38. Last place you were? Work 
39. Do you have a crush? Yes, a lifetime crush on my hubby
40. Last time you kissed someone? Today
41. Last time you were insulted? That's difficult, I don't get insulted very easily...probably today when someone cut me off and I recognized who it was haha.
42. Favorite flavor of sweet? Mint Chocolate
43. What instruments do you play? I used to play the piano so I'm pretty sure I still can a little but nothing else
44. Favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring
45. Last sport you played? I bike, does that count?
46. Last song you sang? "Jane Said" in the car. That's just terrible.
47. Favorite chat up line? Um...
48. Have you ever used it? No.
49. Last time you hung out with anyone? My best bud Liz for some pedicures and drinks WAY too long ago
50. Who should answer these questions next? YOU, you who are reading this!

Have a happy Friday everybody!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Current favorite lip combo

I've been loving nude lip liners lately, specifically the e.l.f.  lip definer and shaper pencil.



When I purchased this lip pencil I somehow accidentally bought 2, but now I am super happy I made that mistake. This is the perfect nude, a my lips but better color that will always be handy. The pencil comes with 2 sides; a natural side that defines lips and a nude side for highlighting the cupids bow. How ingenious is that? Such a great lip pencil and of course, super affordable.



On top of that I've been wearing either my nyx butter lipstick in Razzle or my e.l.f. lipstick in Captivating. The nyx is a bright pink that's pretty but oddly subtle on the lips and the e.l.f. lipstick is the perfect nude with just a hint of orange (my go to Spring shade). Both lipsticks are super affordable, super versatile and super season appropriate.


 What have you been loving on your lips lately?




Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Wednesday Wears : Coral Crush

When Spring hits, I am obsessed with coral. I mean, orange of any color, but most specifically coral. It's literally an all out love affair; I'm rocking it on my lips, cheeks, clothing, shoes, bags, etc, etc. You get the point.





 I love everything about this top; the cut, the color, the bow and lace detail on the back, it's just too cute and super comfy.


 I love raw stone jewelry and this amethyst necklace is one of my favorites. Find it on Etsy here.



These wedges are super fun and surprisingly versatile. 

What's your go to color for Spring?

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Nighttime Skincare Routine

After a lot of trial and error I've finally found skin products that really hydrate and protect my skin while leaving it looking super fresh the next morning.


For face wash, I use Michael Todd true organics Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Gel Cleanser. I love this cleanser; because I have pronounced pores and super oily skin this cleanser cleans my skin nicely without leaving it too dehydrated.






Next I use Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel pore perfecting toner. I'm just going to admit right now that this stuff smells awful. But it cleanses my skin of any leftover dirt or product and it does clean out my pores.





I follow up with Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting AHA Gel. I love this gel. According to the label, this gel reveals new, younger skin and stimulates collagen production. All I know is this gel makes my skin looks super smooth and plump!





For eye cream I use Lancome's Renergie Life Multi-action eye cream. This cream is super thick so I only use it at night, but it leaves the delicate skin under my eyes looking moisturized and smooth.





Lastly, I replaced my moisturizer with Physician's Formula Argan Oil and I haven't looked back. This stuff is so moisturizing without being oily. It seriously makes my skin look light years younger and smoother, I love this stuff!


What products have you been loving for your skin lately?

Monday, April 20, 2015

Movie Monday : St. Vincent

The hubby and I are trying to make more time in our lives to do something fun together, at least once a week. It feels like between work, the coffee shop, our duplex and tenants and trying to keep our lives semi organized, there isn't much time for dates anymore. For people who genuinely like spending time together this is difficult, so spending more time together is definitely top of the priority list.
While I was finishing up laundry my sweet hubby came home with dinner and a movie. He rented us St. Vincent because he knows I am a HUGE Melissa McCarthy fan. Now, that being said, I am not a Bill Murray fan in any sense of the word (sorry to those of you out there who are!) so I was not really expecting to like the movie.
OMG, if you have not seen this movie go out right away and rent it. Hell, buy it even. This was one of the funniest, sweetest movies I have seen in a long time. You will laugh, and if you are as sappy as I am, you will most definitely cry. Even for someone who does not like Bill Murray, really can't even stand to hear him talk, I have to admit he did a great job. Seriously, do yourself a favor, get together with some friends or your significant other, and make a fun night of it.

What was the last movie you saw that you loved?

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Stress Less Sunday : A cup of tea

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that make us the happiest. Usually all it takes is something small to relax me...a good book, a squeeze from the hubby or a nice hot cup of tea. This weeks Stress Less Sunday is all about that cup of tea. My favorite for relaxing is Peppermint tea, but I also love Sleepy Time tea and Chamomile tea to relax.


I love my teal kettle and my little flower tea cup makes having tea that much more fun. I like my tea just plain, there's honestly nothing that makes me feel better than having a cup of tea.

What kind of tea do you like for relaxing?

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Antelope Island

We went on a 20 mile bike ride around Antelope Island and although it kicked my butt it was so beautiful it was almost worth it. If you live in the Layton area I suggest checking it out, you can bike, drive, camp and hike there and it has some of the most stunning views and beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.


Me and the hubby in all our gear!






This was such a beautiful day to ride! This island has some crazy hills; it's pretty extreme but it is so so pretty!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Saturday! XO

Friday, April 17, 2015

Friday Favorites : Weekly Roundup

Here's a few bits I've been loving this week. I've been super lazy busy lately, so my go to's have been super simple, easy pieces that still look put together.


 I've been wearing these polka dot flats all week. They were super cheap from Forever 21 and so so comfy.


I seriously want this whole line of Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stains. I have the shades Miami Fever and India Intrigue and the formula on these is so beautiful. Since they are a stain they last forever but they aren't drying. So easy and so pigmented and pretty!


Whenever I want an easy no fuss makeup look I always use this Physicians Formula Super CC Cream in Light/Medium. It's SPF 30 and super easy to blend in.


I've been loving this Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. It's an exfoliating cleanser enriched with Papaya, Micro-crystals and Aloe. It's seriously made my skin look so fresh.


I'm super duper lazy when it comes to eye creams, so this e.l.f. Eye Refresh is perfect for me. The rollerball packaging makes it super easy to apply and it's infused with Pomegranate, Rosemary, Green Tea, Cucumber and Grape to help hydrate the under eye area. It's also only $3 so it's a great bargain.


Similarly, I've been super lazy when it comes to my eyebrows lately. This e.l.f. eyebrow treat and tame comes with a tinted brow gel with microfibers so it builds, tints and tames all at once. It is the perfect product when you want your brows to look nice but you don't want to spend a ton of time on them. Again, this is only $3 so a huge steal. 


Surprise, surprise, another e.l.f. product! This golden bronzer comes with 4 shades and when combined gives the skin a nice golden glow. When I don't have time or am too lazy to contour, this gives the face a nice natural glow.


I picked up this L'oreal Colour Fresco Refreshing Creme eye shadow at the dollar tree and wasn't really sure what I was going to do with it. Turns out, I love it for the inner corners. It goes on smooth, blends out nice and makes the eyes look super wide and awake. It would also look nice as a brow bone highlight. 

This week was all about keeping it simple for me. What were you guys loving this week?

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Let's Get Real : Talking Marriage

This is a post that I've wanted to write for quite some time, but I've had to sit and think long and hard about what I wanted to say because, quite frankly, marriage is the most important part of my life. This isn't to say I don't hold family or my own dreams in high regard, but marriage means that for the rest of my life, someone else will be affected by every decision I make. And that's a pretty big deal. Also, I don't claim to be an expert, I only know that I feel completely lucky and completely and wholeheartedly happy in my own marriage.

If you know anything about me, then you probably know that I wasn't expecting to get married. It wasn't something that truthfully I ever really thought about. Also, to be quite honest, I never thought I'd really meet anyone that could fit into my already enjoyable life and bring anymore happiness into it. I was completely fine dating people seriously, even sharing a life with them, but marriage was kind of an afterthought. And then I went and got married. And to be quite sappy, it was honestly the best decision of my life. If you think that your life won't change once you get married, because you've already been living with the person, etc, etc, you are so wrong. It becomes insanely, intensely better. The connection I feel to my husband is seriously ridiculously deep. Anyway, I digress. The point is, every day I learn more and more about what it takes to make my own marriage better and I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned.

1. Communication is key : This seems pretty straight forward, but seriously, communication about everything is key. There are thoughts that go through my husbands mind that I seriously could not dream up in my wildest dreams. Let me give you an example : A little while ago we had a discussion about chores in our house. Namely, I felt like I was doing ALL of them. My husband said that although it sounded stupid, he needed a chore chart. He needed to know what needed to be done and what his responsibilities would be every week. This sounded so strange to me, but we listed out all of our chores, whether or not they had to be done daily/weekly, and divided them equally. Since then, it's been great. Essentially what could have been a lot of resentment on my part and serious confusion on his part turned into something easily solved by having a simple discussion. COMMUNICATE ABOUT EVERYTHING. Along those same lines, be open to what your spouse is saying. When my husband tells me something I do that upsets him, my first reaction of course is to be defensive. However, when you can step back and look at it from another perspective, most of the time you didn't even realize you were doing something that bothered them.

2. Compromise : Another big one. This obviously doesn't mean compromising your core moral stances or values to be with someone, but it does mean that when you join two lives together, obviously compromise has to happen. If you stop to think about it, you are asking a lot out of marriage. You are taking two completely separate people with different thoughts and ideas, and expecting them to join their lives. Not really that simple. This is where compromise comes in. My husband likes everything streamlined and clean, while I love vintage and shabby chic. When we started decorating our place together, we both had to compromise. We kept the furniture classic and I bought little vintage touches to add in that still matched the general feel of what my husband liked. It is constant compromise but if you are both willing to give and take a little, then it becomes a life you create together and that is something amazing!

3. Know what's important before you take the plunge : I feel like this is a big one for people getting married young. I've known my entire life I didn't want kids. If my husband had wanted kids, that obviously wouldn't have worked out for us. You change so much in your 20's, my advice would just be to sit down and really think about what you want out of life, no matter what age, and talk about it with your partner to ensure you're on the same wavelength. Of course this isn't fail proof, we change throughout our entire lives and nothing guarantees you'll change in the same ways, but our core values usually remain the same. Talk about children, finances, religion, politics and other issues that are a huge part of your life. These are the things that can make or break a marriage. And these are the things you shouldn't compromise to be with someone!

4. Focus on the positive : I can't tell you how many friends I have that complain about their spouses. Seriously, it's endless. If you constantly focus on what your spouse doesn't do, you miss the things that they do for you. I'm not saying that I haven't done this, none of us are perfect, but if you do feel like venting, find a friend you have in common, that is there to support you and love you both no matter what. They can see things from a third party perspective, and often times they can help you see things from a different perspective that you didn't think about. We all have bad days, we all have quirks and we all have bad habits, but if you focused on the positive things your spouse brings to the relationship, you'll be more apt to notice and appreciate those things.

Obviously this is a subject I could go on and on and on about, but nobody likes a know-it-all haha. This post isn't to say that marriage is for everybody, or that every marriage is one that should/can last. These are just things I've found that have helped me in my own marriage, and allowed me to appreciate the life I've built with another person.

If you have any good tips you've learned from your marriage or relationship, comment them below! I love to hear what other people have to share about their own marriages.



Wednesday, April 15, 2015

7 Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

I am constantly puzzled by the weather in this state. It was literally 70 degrees a couple of days ago. Seriously, my hubby and I were rocking the air conditioning in the car. Currently, it looks like this:


I just don't even know. Anyways, I thought this tag looked fun and I want to see all your responses, so comment me below if you do it.

1. GREED: What is your most expensive beauty item? I don't really spend a lot on makeup so it's probably my The Balm's Lou Manizer powders, I have all 3 and they were about $20 each.

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? Matte lipsticks. I love the look but they always settle into the dry areas and by the end of the day my lips feel super parched.

3. GLUTTONY: What beauty product do you have too much of? Lipsticks. Even if I have a similar shade, I can't help but buy one I like. I'll get home and realize I have 5 of pretty much the same thing. Oops...

4. SLOTH: What beauty products do you neglect due to laziness? Eye brow products. I have some really nice eyebrow products but more often then not I swipe on a tinted gel and I'm done. On days I'm not lazy, I can make a pretty good eyebrow shape but most days I just make sure they're there. My eyebrow game is definitely NOT on point.

5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence? Foundation, I just love the look of nice smooth clear skin.

6. LUST: What product have you been coveting? Tarte's Amazonian clay products, they are sooo talked about, I'm very curious.

7. ENVY: Whose makeup look do you envy? Olivia Palermo, she always looks so flawless.