Favorite "Beauty" Products

Thought it'd be fun to share some of my favorite products these days!

Meet my new favorite shaving cream that works and smells like vanilla - eos.  It's really moisturizing and lathering on these old legs.  I usually am not a fan of shaving cream in general (usually I just use soap) but I saw this and had to try it.  Now, I'm sold!  I got mine at Target for less than $3. 

Favorite Face Moisturizer - Neutrogena.  Put this on every day ladies!!!

Favorite new Eye Shadow - Clinique Chubby Stick - slab some of this on your eyelid and run out the door!  It lasts all day long without having to put cream underneath!  Choose from lots of colors!  

Blair's Head Band - Favorite Things!

Hi, everyone! I blog over at Blair's Head Band and I'm excited to be here today to share some of my favorite things!

favorite dinner

steak, potatoes, asparagus or tortellini with pesto sauce

favorite book

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

favorite summer cocktail

vodka gimlet -- nothing says "summer" to me like fresh tart lime

favorite winter cocktail

Maker's Mark Manhattan -- with extra maraschinos for moi

favorite song

"Rosalita" by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

favorite trip ever taken

10 days in the American Southwest with mi madre -- Arizona to Utah with a stop at The Grand Canyon!

favorite job ever

waiting tables -- senior year of high school through college, it was an absolute blast

favorite indoor smell

fresh-from-the-dryer sheets & towels

favorite outdoor smell

grill smoke

favorite way to spend a rainy day

under a comfy blanket with a cup of milky black tea and a book or movie

favorite hangover food

bacon, egg, and cheese on a wrap -- forever

favorite state I've visited but never lived in

Utah -- see above re: my American Southwest trip; I would go back to Utah in a heartbeat

Favorite Things!

I'm SO excited to announce a fun, new series over the next couple of weeks!  Some of my favorite bloggers and I are going to tell you about our Favorite Things!  
Here's the schedule so you know what's happening:

Tomorrow, July 30th - Blair's Head Band Favorite Things

Wednesday, July 31st - Favorite Beauty Products

Thursday, August 1st - Dee's Adventures Favorite Western NC Destinations

Friday, August 2nd - Favorite Summer Beverage

Monday, August 5th -A.Liz Adventures Favorite "We're Old" Tradition 

Tuesday, August 6th - Champagne and Mason Jars Favorite Kitchen Items

Wednesday, August 7th -Fried Green Pickles Favorite Registry Items

Thursday, August 8th - Favorite Bath Towels

Friday, August 9th - Favorite Breakfast


Thanks to all of my girls for your guest posts!  I think it's the first time my ole blog has ever had anyone visit!  :)

Five On Friday

Last week was so fun, I just had to do it again!

1.  Cooking - y'all this is embarrassing.  I have not cooked one meal for Kevin since we got married on April 6th.  Yes today is July 26th.  He always just gets home and starts dinner and ends up finishing the cooking while I get unpacked from the day.  Between that and my travel, he's just home more to do that stuff.  It's nuts and I feel like a horrible WIFE for it!  I do grocery shop.  The king does not set foot in a Harris Teeter ladies...he hates it.

2.  Summer - I live for the summer.  End of summer sales that keep popping up are my favorite and I can't turn them down.  I'd be in a sundress year round if I could.  And there have been many times that I only have to wait for four months of winter (Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb) here in Charlotte.  Actually I've been at the pool in February in Charlotte so ya never know.

3.  Favorites series - I'm excited to kick off a two week series on favorites this Monday!  Stay tuned and you'll get to hear from some bloggers you most likely know well!

4.  My nieces in Pawleys - Anna Kate and I have been sending each other mail.  She sent me a sheet of heart stickers, a colorful butterfly she made and a letter.  Last week I sent her a note on pink paper and three sheets of fun stickers.  Love that lil girl!  In the picture below, my goddaughter Amelia is on the left and my two nieces on the right.  Crazy girlies!

5.  Do you all ever miss home-home?  I do and I try to go home as much as I can.  I think I like feeling like a kid again.  I was there from Saturday until Tuesday of this week and my parents let me pick every meal.  Crabs, scrapple and more crab, oh and some chicken salad - best EVER from their grocery store, Giant.

Cheers to the weekend!!!!!!!

Porch Furniture

Wouldn't two of these chairs with a fun pillow in each and coffee table be perfect for the other side of our porch from our dining table.  I imagine having a Friday afternoon cocktail in one of these with a cheese platter on the coffee table and Kevin and I catching up from the week.  

A girl can dream!

You can see the patio set that we ended up with here.  We were going to keep it outside but decided it was too nice so we put it on our glassed (and if we want it to be, screened in) porch.

Brand Loyalty

Are you all brand loyal?  Do you always go back to the same stores for clothes, auto repair or restaurants?

I do!  I'm a creature of habit.  For heaven's sake, I used to park in the same parking level of the same deck at the airport every time.  Now I'm lazy and valet but that's another story. 

I am not open to change.  I do not like change.  I know this is not a good thing and I need to be more open minded.  Kevin always tells me that "it's my way or the highway."  Well, I'm not arguing.  I AM my Mother's Child.  Love ya Mama!

But yes I'm brand loyal to:  J. Crew, my hair gal, the same Farmer's Market, the same mall, the same Harris Teeter, my cleaners, Lilly Pulitzer.  I just like who and what I use, so why change?!

So are you brand loyal?

Camp in Maryland

Mills and I drove up to Maryland on Saturday for Camp.  He's going to visit with my parents for a few weeks.  We'll miss him SO much.  The boy loves the sunroof open!

He made himself quite comfortable when we arrived.  Sure, Mills, go ahead and move the oriental.

It took him a few hours to figure out where he was again.  He came in December but he was only 4 months old then.  Now he's 11 months old today.  

And it didn't take him long to find all of the air conditioning vents in the house and lay right on top of them.

We went to Old Mill and picked crabs....I had been looking forward to this for a LONG time.  It's my favorite summer thing to do.  

Mills and Dad washed cars yesterday.  Mills was clearly a huge help cleaning up all of his fur on the inside of the car.  Look at that tongue hanging out.  Crazy dog.

Love his paws.  

Mom and Dad had made this delish fruit salad.  Grapes, cherries (pits out), watermelon, white peaches and kiwi.  Somewhat unexpected ingredients but SO tasty.  It was lunch yesterday with some chicken salad.

Mills is borrowing a condo from my parents friends sons dog.  It's a little too small for him but he'll make do.  He does like being in close spaces so he may even like it.  

Last thing - my parents got this canvas made of me.  It was the only way the picture would fit on it so they're going to have the sides cut off and have it framed or something.  I think it's odd to have a picture of just me on a wall but whatever floats their boat.  

It's been amazing getting 10 hours of sleep a night here.  Dad has been up to take care of Mills which has been so nice so I can sleep.  But don't ya just sleep better at home-home?!  I do!

Five on Friday

Today I'm linking up with these ladies for 5 on Friday for the first time!

1.  I'm working on a scrapbook page for an upcoming wedding.  The MOH is putting together a scrapbook and each friend is making a page to go in.  I think it's a fun idea!

2.  Mills and I are going to Maryland tomorrow and I cannot wait to go to Old Mill and pick crabs!  Kevin thought we were leaving today...cracked me up that he didn't know!  My parents are crazy in this picture...

3.  Today might be the day!  I've been dreaming about these suckers for way too long and I am going to take the plunge!

4.  I got the cutest mail last week from my niece, Anna Kate.  She sent me a colorful butterfly and a sweet note.  Stickers were also included!  I hope we can become pen pals ;).  I send her random pieces of paper every now and then too.  

5.  Yesterday I picked up every kind of toy at Petsmart that will keep Mills entertained on the 9 hour ride home home.  He also enjoys ice so I'll be stopping at lots of Hampton Inns to refill my cup for him (also the best bathroom stop!).  Have you all heard of elk antlers?  Mills' favorite toy EVER.  They're expensive but cheaper than new furniture!

Worry

I worry.  A lot.  And about everything.  

1.  I worry about what people think.  

2.  I worry about our house.

3.  I worry about how good of a job I'm doing at work.

4.  I worry about Mills.

5.  I worry about my family (including things like if they'll make it to and from a restaurant alright). 

6.  I worry about money.

7.  I worry about how I look.

8.  I worry about making others happy.

9.  I worry about my friends.

10.  I worry about EVERYTHING.

I mean I don't even know how I'll deal with having children eventually.  I just worry SO much.  

I need to learn to let it go y'all!  I just do.  I promise I'm not crazy, just being honest!

Blog Sale!

Shipping will be $6 per item, but will be discounted if multiple pieces are bought. All sales are final. Any questions, please ask me! anniesadventures16 at gmail.com! Paypal only. Items will be shipped out the next business day after payment.

If you'd like an item please email me at the above address, that way I can keep track of who asked for what first.  If payment is not made from the original buyer within 24 hours of me sending the Paypal request, you may just get lucky and snag the item!

I am on the road today so I'm going to try to keep up with the email as much as possible but you may not get the Paypal request until this evening.  :)

Happy Summer Shopping!

Item #1 - Lilly Pulitzer dress.  Size 10.  Older pattern but only worn once!  $35

 Item #2 - Lilly Pulitzer Dress.  Size 12.  Worn once.  I had cups put into the top FYI. $35

SOLD - Item #3 - The beloved Lilly Pulitzer Sabrina Dress with tie back.  Size 10.  $30

Item #4 - Lilly Pulitzer, Size 8.5 shoes.  Worn a couple of times but in great condition.  They'd be perfect for the Fall.  $25

Item #5 - Lilly Pulitzer, Size 8.5 pink shoes.  Would be super fun to pep up a work outfit or wear out with jeans!  These have been worn but are still in decent condition if they were cleaned up a little bit.  $20

Item #6 - J. Crew City Fit pink seersucker pants.  Size 12.  $20

 Item #7 - Vineyard Vines cropped starfish pants.  Size 12.  $25

 Item #8 - J. Crew Pink Chinos.  Size 12R.  $18

 Item #9 - Lacoste sleeveless polo.  Size 42 (like a 10/M/L).  $15

 Item #10 - J. Crew Salmon Cropped Pants.  City Fit.  Size 12.  $15

Item #11 - Lilly Pulitzer Cropped Pants.  Size 14 but obviously I wear more of a 12 and these are just a little loose.  I didn't want skin tight pants for Fridays at work.  $25

 Item #12 - Lilly Pulitzer striped seersucker pants.  Size 12.  $30

Item #13 - J. Crew City Fit Ivory Cropped Pants - Size 14.  I took the tags off these but never wore them.  They were too big and I didn't want to pay to have them altered.  $20

On Buying Gifts

Do you all buy gifts in advance of birthdays, anniversaries and weddings? 

Okay I'll admit, I'm OCD about it.  I try to look at my calendar at least a month ahead and start thinking about what to give.  I feel like I owe it to the recipient to really think about something they'd like.  Plus, I'm a planner.  I mean I do not operate spur of the moment for things like this.  Most weeks I'm on the road for work, therefore I must take advantage of the days I am in the office and get those things done.

I go to Hallmark or Dollar General once a month or once every two months and get about $40 worth of cards.  I try to prep all of those on a random Sunday afternoon so then I just slip it in the mail when it's time.

For weddings, when I get the invitation, I RSVP immediately, then I keep the invitation out and ship a gift to the bride's home (most of the time!) right away.  This is the easiest way to do it for the bride and for me.  That way, it's just done, she doesn't have to get someone to carry it out of her reception and I don't have to worry about it getting there safely!

How do you do your gift buying?!

Thai and Cookout

Friday night, Kevin and I went to Thai 1st in Blakeney for dinner.  That place is always good.  Later that night I talked to my friend from home Ashley for a long time over text, sending each other pictures of our homes and decorating.  Ha!

Saturday we got ready for the Blogger cookout!

Kevin and sweet Emmy!

Kevin and his buddy Benji.  He's an insurance agent with Kevin's same company too.  You'll see lots of pictures of he and his girl Sarah with us over the next couple of months.  They're going to Europe and won the Monte Carlo portion of the trip too.  We're excited to hang with them - they're a really sweet couple!

LM and I!!!  No longer LG - eek, exciting!  Thanks for your help friend!

All the bloggers in attendance!

Mills made an appearance every now and then.  When most people had left and a few couples stayed, Mills got to play with us and Keith was his new best friend.

It was a wonderful day/night full of good times with some old and some new friends!  This was definitely a 1st Annual!