Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Novels with Nell - Everyone Brave is Forgiven

While I'm excited for Spring Break for a number of reasons, one reason in particular is having more time to read. I've mentioned before that I've been doing a much better job about reading to wind down at night, but I've been saving some books specifically for spring break. Hopefully I'll have some great suggestions for y'all after next week. Quite honestly, I don't think I'm the harshest critic when it comes to books I've read so don't hold me to my suggestions too strictly. Fortunately, Nell seems to be better about judging whether or not books are worth the read and is back today for another Novels with Nell post. 


By: Chris Cleave

Today I bring you another selection from one of my favorite genres- historical fiction. This book was unique because I hadn’t read one with this setting before. It focuses a lot on the London Blitz, which I was aware of but didn’t feel like we really studied it heavily in school or that I knew a lot about it. I can’t say I’m an expert by any stretch of the imagination after reading one novel (not even totally factual) about it but it was interesting to imagine it through the characters’ perspectives. Can you imagine bombing being a daily occurence in your town? Air raid sirens, underground shelters, emerging after hours underground to see yet more collapsed buildings, and casualties rising daily? I’d never really gotten a glimpse of life on the British home front before, and it was fascinating.
For anyone else like me who enjoys WWII novels, add this one to your list.


“The instant New York Times bestseller from Chris Cleave—the unforgettable novel about three lives entangled during World War II, told “with dazzling prose, sharp English wit, and compassion…a powerful portrait of war’s effects on those who fight and those left behind” (People, Book of the Week).

London, 1939. The day war is declared, Mary North leaves finishing school unfinished, goes straight to the War Office, and signs up. Tom Shaw decides to ignore the war—until he learns his roommate Alistair Heath has unexpectedly enlisted. Then the conflict can no longer be avoided. Young, bright, and brave, Mary is certain she’d be a marvelous spy. When she is—bewilderingly—made a teacher, she finds herself defying prejudice to protect the children her country would rather forget. Tom, meanwhile, finds that he will do anything for Mary.

And when Mary and Alistair meet, it is love, as well as war, that will test them in ways they could not have imagined, entangling three lives in violence and passion, friendship and deception, inexorably shaping their hopes and dreams.

Set in London during the years of 1939–1942, when citizens had slim hope of survival, much less victory; and on the strategic island of Malta, which was daily devastated by the Axis barrage, Everyone Brave is Forgiven features little-known history and a perfect wartime love story inspired by the real-life love letters between Chris Cleave’s grandparents. This dazzling novel dares us to understand that, against the great theater of world events, it is the intimate losses, the small battles, the daily human triumphs that change us most.”

 I'd love to hear your recommendations as to what I should read next! 

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

My New Favorite White Jeans

I have a very important question for y'all. When is it acceptable to start wearing white jeans? 

I used to follow the rule not until after Memorial Day but that was only because in high school I had school uniforms so it wasn't too tricky to do that. Then I moved to wearing white jeans after Easter which may still be a bit traditional. At this point, I'm tired of dark colors and am so ready to start wearing brighter clothes including white jeans. 

Last summer I wore white jeans non-stop. I alternated between the two pairs I have and one of those pairs has seen better days. When I discovered this pair of  white jeans from Loft I was instantly sold. This year I've seen a number of great jeans with unique hems but this pair takes the cake. The double unfinished hem and cropped style make them way more fun than my other pair of regular white skinny jeans. The best part about white jeans is how easy it is to put together an outfit with them. This  Madewell top is also a recent favorite. Y'all know I love blue and white so being drawn to the color was no surprise. The flowy sleeves and button detail were too cute to pass up. The shirt is a little bit shorter than what I usually reach for but I discovered that I didn't really mind that. While I wait for the weather to warm up a bit, my tan tassel slides are easy to slip on, comfortable, and seasonally appropriate. 






top // jeans // shoes // watch // bracelets ( 1 & 2 ) // gold bracelet (similar) // hoops

I want to know when y'all think it is appropriate to break out the white jeans for good! 

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Monday, March 26, 2018

Step Into My Week

Happy Monday. I know I can't be the only one who is over waking up in the morning to chilly weather. I'm very impressed by those of you who have been tolerating snow for the last couple of weeks. I definitely couldn't do that. We've had some chilly mornings and that alone makes it hard enough to start my week or morning. My fingers are crossed that we are all moving past the cold weather and instead getting closer to more consistently warm temperatures. 


I feel like I don't have that much to update you on from this past week since it was relatively normal. Monday night I had class and was mentally preparing for the field trip that we took on Tuesday to a local science center. I was interested to see how that would go for my class, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much my students enjoyed the activities there. Field trips always wear me out. I know that many teachers can attest to that. I purposely left my bed unmade so that I could come back from school and take a nap. I never take naps on weekdays so that was the best treat. Thursday night my roommates and I went out to dinner at Grill Marks, a local burger place downtown, to celebrate Friday Eve. Friday was the end of our third quarter which meant that grades needed to be in to prepare for report cards. After a productive day at school, I decided to keep that up so that I could be finished with most of my work before heading out of town on Saturday. For the most part, my friends and I all do our own things on Friday nights since we are exhausted from the week. Most of the time, I treat Friday as if it is a school night. I was able to finish a number of things and even cleaned my apartment and did laundry before eventually going to bed. 

As I mentioned last week, I'll be continuing to post my outfits from the week on instagram stories and in Step Into My Week posts for y'all. I have found a way to make it a little bit easier for you to shop the pieces in each outfit either on instagram or here. Now, beneath the outfit you'll find a single link that will take you to pictures of any of the available products featured. Hopefully this will make it easy for you to purchase any of the pieces included that you are interested in. 





As I mentioned earlier, I went out of town on Saturday to see my big in Charlotte. I was invited to a blog event at GoodRoad Cider with Riders by Lee on Saturday as well which was super convenient timing. The event included the opportunity to try on some of Riders by Lee's pieces, listen to a panel of designers and industry experts, while also mingling with other attendees. I left that event around 2:30 and was off to Caroline's apartment to catch up with each other before our plans for the evening commenced.


I love an excuse to leave town for the weekend especially when it involves visiting friends. Caroline had asked me a while ago to go to another concert with her (see this Step Into My Week from our last concert together) and that was the easiest yes. Two other girls from our sorority at Furman also joined us to see Lanco. I hadn't heard much of their music but I was really impressed by the concert. Beforehand, we met with a group of Caroline's friends at a Mexican restaurant for dinner. We did a lot better on our arrival timing this concert and were there just in time for Lanco to start. We went back to Caroline's apartment after the concert and were all exhausted. It didn't take us long at all to fall asleep.

 

We slept in a bit yesterday before making a big breakfast and chatting before I went back to Greenville. The drive back was easy until I decided to go to Trader Joe's on a Sunday. Anyone else try to avoid grocery shopping with everyone else on Sundays? It is always a zoo. It was nice to come back to my apartment and not have to head out again since it was especially cold out. I spent the rest of my afternoon getting work done to prepare for the week ahead. 

You'll have to forgive me this week for skipping the currently section of my Step Into My Week post since I am trying to get to bed at a reasonable hour to power through this last week of school before Spring Break. I'll definitely try to be super thorough in my currently section for y'all next week to make up for not including it this week. 

I'd love to hear the highlight of your weekend in the comments. I hope that you all have a wonderful start to your week. 

Posts From The Past Week:

Friday, March 23, 2018

Beautycounter Favorites

Happy Friday! We've made it. I'm one Friday (once this one is over) away from Spring Break. I have to admit, that Friday blog posts have been challenging lately since come the end of the week I am usually exhausted. I do my best to get ahead on the weekends but that comes with its own challenges. I've been working hard to make blog posts extra informative as of late and hope y'all have noticed this and it has proved to be helpful.


Today's post is one that y'all have been requesting for a while now. I knew I wanted to take my time with it and make it thorough but that caused it to keep getting pushed off. Fortunately, after a couple of weeks sitting as a draft in my posts, it is finally complete. I shared with y'all a while ago why I chose to start making the switch to safer skincare products, specifically Beautycounter, and after that I've had tons of questions about which products are my favorite. If you haven't read that post I'd recommend starting there first (here's a link to it). 

For those of you that are up to speed on that, I did my best to only choose my favorite products that have become tried and true in my skincare routines. Since I have tried a number of their products, my favorites list is still pretty lengthy. All I can say is that once you try these products it's hard to go back. In an attempt to be more decisive with my favorites, I've put ** next to any favorites that I'm not sure I could do without. Many of the products fit into this category since I've already re-purchased a number of them but if you're new to Beautycounter then that is where I'd start. 

When sharing my favorites below, I've included the description of what the product does directly from Beautycounter's site as well as why I love it. I hope this helps you to see a little bit more about why I love these products and helps give you any suggestions if you're considering making a purchase. 

My Favorites: 

Cleansing Balm

What the site says - Cleansing Balm melts into your skin to hydrate while it cleanses, removing makeup and other impurities but never stripping away moisture. With vitamin C to brighten the appearance of skin and raspberry and cranberry seed oils to hydrate, the formula can also be used as an intensely nourishing face mask. Bonus? You also get our reusable 100% muslin cloth, softer and easier on skin than a traditional washcloth. 

Why I love it - Amazing for taking off makeup. I put a bit on my hands before rubbing it in on my face and hopping in the shower. Makes for an easy all in one. 

**Nourishing Cream Cleanser

What the site says - Soothe and nourish skin as you wash away makeup and other impurities with this ultra-gentle daily cleanser. Lightweight yet deeply moisturizing, the creamy formula contains witch hazel to tone skin, and coconut oil and aloe to help hydrate.

Why I love it - This is my favorite face wash. A little goes a long way and it goes on really smooth. Highly recommend this and one bottle lasts a long time.

Nourishing Exfoliator Cleanser

What the site says - This gentle yet super-effective exfoliating cleanser sweeps away impurities to uncover fresh, radiant skin. Non-abrasive jojoba beads help slough off dry skin, while organic coconut oil and aloe soothe and hydrate.

Why I love it - I alternate this with my nourishing cleanser when I feel the need to exfoliate. The beads in it are not abrasive but still help to feel like I am getting a deeper clean. 

Charcoal Bar

What the site says - Our Charcoal Cleansing Bar detoxifies and absorbs impurities in your skin without drying it out, resulting in a smoother, brighter complexion. Made with antioxidant-rich, organic green tea and hydrating organic coconut oil, the gentle formula can be used daily on your face and body.

Why I love it - After I use this, my face feels firm and smooth. Great to use after washing your face for an extra clean feeling. 

Face Oils ( specifically 1 and 3 )

What the site says - No. 1 Brightening - This citrus-scented facial oil quickly absorbs and penetrates skin to awaken and replenish. Lightweight and silky smooth, our proprietary blend of seven natural oils moisturizes and improves radiance. Omega-rich marula oil provides intense hydration while antioxidant vitamin C brightens and evens skin tone. Perfect for all skin types and those concerned with dull, uneven skin tone

What the site says - No. 3 Balancing - Lightweight and silky smooth, our proprietary blend of seven natural oils moisturizes, smooths, and helps even skin tone. Softening meadowfoam seed oil restores balance, while wild chamomile calms and soothes skin. Perfect for all skin types and those concerned with skin clarity, calming, and balancing.

Why I love it - I never knew how awesome face oils could be but they are really hydrating which I love. Beautycounter has them for different needs which is definitely worth reading into. 

**Countermatch Adaptive Lotion

What the site says - Skin at its peak performance. This lightweight lotion helps skin adapt to the ever-changing aggressors of modern life by adjusting hydration levels throughout the day for a smooth look and feel, and a radiant glow. Breakthrough Bio-Mimic Technology harnesses the unique life-giving properties of plants to exactly match the structure of skin, giving it precisely what it needs and nothing it doesn’t.

Why I love it - I'm on my second tube of this lotion and have no intention of ever going without it. It really does make your skin look smoother and more even.

**Countermatch Sleep Cream

What the site says - This advanced blend of hyaluronic acid, plum oil, and tara gum creates a protective layer to help shield skin from moisture loss, replenishing hydration and revitalizing skin while you sleep. Breakthrough Bio-Mimic Technology harnesses the unique life-giving properties of plants to match the composition of skin, giving it precisely what it needs and nothing it doesn't.

Why I love it - This is a thicker version of the previously mentioned Countermatch Sleep Cream and is perfect to put on before bed. With my skin especially dry in the winter, hydrating overnight has become essential. 

Nourishing Eye Cream

What the site says - Pamper the delicate skin around your eyes with our lightweight, soothing eye cream. Rich in aloe and organic coconut oil, the unscented formula is easily absorbed and offers an instant cooling moisture boost.

Peppermint Lip Balm 

What the site says - Soothes and softens lips with peppermint and rosemary oils.

**Charcoal Face Mask

What the site says - This nutrient-rich kaolin clay mask purifies and balances, absorbing excess oil and drawing out impurities. Activated charcoal minimizes the appearance of pores, giving skin a smooth, refined appearance while salicylic acid stimulates exfoliation. Perfect for all skin types and those concerned with congestion and oily skin.

Brightening Face Mask

What the site says - This nutrient-rich mask instantly gives skin a brighter look and more even-toned complexion. Polishing kaolin clay deeply cleanses, leaving skin revitalized and renewed, while vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of dark spots.

Body Oil

What the site says - Instantly absorbed and intensely moisturizing, this nourishing blend of 13 botanical oils leaves skin smooth, silky, and luminous, while hints of grapefruit, sweet orange, and rosemary create a beautifully complex yet subtle scent.

Powder Brush

What the site says - A luxurious all-purpose brush designed for dusting blush, bronzer, or finishing powder.

Foundation Brush

What the site says - Created for use with liquid foundation and tinted moisturizer, this luxurious, travel-friendly, and dome-shaped brush creates flawless, even coverage.

If you're thinking about making a number of purchases from Beautycounter, I'd highly recommend looking into becoming a Band of Beauty Member. By joining for $29 a year you get a free product, free shipping, 15% off all of your orders, and exclusive offers. This is perfect for anyone making the switch to safer skincare. 

I would love to hear what other types of posts you'd like to see or other questions you may have about Beautycounter or my skincare routine. I am thrilled for the spring since Beautycounter is releasing tons of new products that I am so eager to try out. 

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Easter Dress Inspiration

While it's not uncommon for me to be excited about Easter, this year I am especially excited. Easter weekend is the kickoff of my Spring Break and I've been counting down for longer than I should admit. I'm not even positive what our plan will be, I just know I am excited for some time off spent with my family. 

Another reason Easter weekend will be exciting is that heading home means I'll be enjoying warmer weather. My plan is to go ahead and take my winter clothes out of my closet next week (that may be overly wishful thinking since it is still a little chilly here) in order to bring back my spring and summer pieces when Spring Break comes to an end. I'm sure many of y'all would be in agreement that you may be over getting dressed for cooler temperature. I like my spring and summer clothes a lot more than my winter ones, so at least getting dressed in the morning for school will be a bit more exciting. 

I love dresses for Spring, and Easter seems like the perfect excuse to shop for a new one or dig an old favorite out of your closet. It is no secret that I adore blue and white, so this dress found a welcome home in my closet. It would be perfect for Easter, graduation or any sort of fun Spring gathering you may have coming up. And the best part? The price tag. I was delighted when I discovered how affordable this dress was. Paired with my favorite wedges from the end of last summer and the perfect gold earrings the dress is so easy to accessorize! 



 

 

dress // wedges (similar $30 pair) // earrings // bag / watch // silver bracelet ( 1 & 2 ) // gold bracelet (similar)

In case you're in the market for a new Spring dress, I've rounded up tons of my favorites below. Fortunately, many of them are under $100 and some are even under $50! Shop your favorites by clicking directly on the image in the graphic below. I'd love to know your top choice. 



Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Meal Prep In Your Step: Meatloaf Burgers

It has been a LONG time since my last update in the Meal Prep In Your Step series I started over the summer and I have a bit of a confession when it comes to that. I do cook most of my food, but as the year has progressed I haven't been the best at meal prepping. Part of the issue with that is that I would always make the same thing since that is what I felt comfortable cooking. After ordering Hello Fresh for two weeks in January, I discovered some new recipes that I discovered were going to be equally as easy to recreate even without a subscription to that meal delivery service.



Today's recipe is one that I originally tried because of Hello Fresh but have since modified. Since the ingredients are made to make either two or four servings, I was determined to get the same taste when buying the ingredients as they come packaged. Fortunately, for today's recipe, I think I have succeeded. I was inspired to bring back this series because of that and because I recently worked with Shipt (see previous post about my love of Shipt here) to try their delivery service from Target. If you check out my instagram stories (@prepinyourstep) this afternoon, you can get a behind the scenes look of me preparing to make these! 



One last thing before we get into the recipe and cooking is an apology in advance. I am becoming more and more convinced that there is no way to make raw red meat look appealing. I did want to include the pictures anyway since I am a very visual learner and know some of y'all might like to see the step by step as well.

Now onto the Meatloaf Burgers. Starting in high school, red meat started to be less and less of something that sounded tasty to me. When we would cook burgers at home my dad would always grill me chicken instead (thanks, Dad). If we were going out to eat at a burger restaurant, I'd more than likely choose a different dish. This trend continued into college and I'm even still that way now which is why it is shocking that I love this recipe so much. I think the seasonings in the burger make it different enough to not feel like a plain ole hamburger. My friends can also attest to how delicious these are since I made sliders of them for our Super Bowl party. 


Ingredients: 
1 Package of red meat (choose whatever lean/fat content you prefer, it doesn't make much of a difference for the recipe)
1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons of Meatloaf Seasoning (not pictured above)
6 Tablespoons of Ketchup
1 Package of Buns (onion or sesame are recommended)
Olive Oil (for the pan)

Optional Ingredients: 
Salt & Pepper (to season)
Butter (in you'd like to toast the buns)
Barbecue Sauce to put on the bun or your plate to dip

Directions: 

1. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Also, get out a large pan and put a bit of olive oil in the center. 



2. Combine the beef, panic, parmesan, meatloaf mix, and ketchup in a bowl. If you have a Kitchen Aide or other stand mixer I'd highly recommend putting the ingredients in there since it will mix it for you. The first time I made this recipe, I mixed those ingredients by hand. I have since however, discovered how convenient it is to have my Kitchen Aide do it for me. 


2. Shape the meet into patties of similar size. I've made this recipe into regular size burgers and sliders and both are delicious. Once my patties are shaped, I place them on a cookie sheet covered with tin foil and sprinkle some salt and pepper over them.


3. Heat up the olive oil in your large pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the burgers until they are slightly browned. I usually put three to four burgers in the pan at once and allow them to cook on each side for about two minutes. Once you have done that for each burger, place them back on the cookie sheet to rest until you have lightly browned all of your patties. 

4. Place your pan in the oven (hopefully it is preheated by now) for about 8 minutes. Since I'm kind of new at cooking red meat, I usually cut into a burger to check that it is done before turning the oven off and removing the burgers. 


5. If you'd like for your buns to have a bit of a crunch as well, either place them in the toaster or toast them in a pan with a bit of butter. I don't always do this, but when I do it is especially delicious. 

6. At this point, plate the burgers, choose your sauce (delicious with barbecue sauce), and enjoy! 

 

What I Like To Eat With These:
Even though these burgers are a bit fancy, they are easy to eat with a variety of sides. I've had them with a salad, sweet potatoes, and even green beans. If you're looking for something more causal, it's hard not to think of chips going well with burgers. 

I'd love to know if you decide to give these a try! Also, let me know some of your favorite easy recipes below. This recipe is especially handy since it makes a number of patties which means I can easily take them in my lunchbox or heat them up for dinner at night! 

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Spring Bucket List + 2 Pieces I Plan To Wear All Season

Happy first day of Spring! I'll be celebrating today with a field trip to a local science center with my class. I'm hoping that the weather holds out for us since it has been a bit rainy lately. Regardless, I am glad to officially be in a new season. I adore winter up until Christmas and a little bit into January but after that I am over it. Spring holds so much of what I love; fresh flowers, bright colors, and warmer weather. 

To make sure that I fully embrace this new season, I decided to make a bucket list. You can bet I'll be printing it out and hanging it on my bulletin board as a reminder to start checking some tasks off. I love sharing these on the blog and am already looking forward to making my next one for summer. I'd love to know what activities you think need to be added!

cute illustrations by Evelyn Henson 

And while this post is *mainly* about the bucket list, I couldn't help but want to include two of my favorite clothing pieces for spring. A crisp white blouse is hard to beat because of how easy it is to throw on and accessorize. This particular blouse falls into the category of loving it so much that I found it completely necessary to own it in more than one color. I've worn it to teach, to church, out to brunch, and even to run errands because of how effortlessly put together it looks. My newest favorite way to style it has been with this beautiful, under $50 scarf. When I saw this scarf back in February I was shocked by the price as it looks similar to some pricier options out there. I usually am not one to order something if it is backordered and I'm going to have to wait a while for it (big fan of instant gratification...) but this was an exception. Since purchasing it, I've seen a number of other bloggers who had the same mindset and even have friends that have decided they needed it in their closet too. The silky material makes it the perfect accessory since it is lightweight enough to not feel like too much of an extra layer. And when I need a jacket, this is the one I throw on. 


 


scarf // top // gold bracelet (similar) // watch // silver bracelets ( 1 & 2 ) // jeans 

What clothing pieces do you plan to live in this season?

Items Mentioned:

Monday, March 19, 2018

Step Into My Week

Doesn’t daylight savings feel like forever ago? This week didn’t necessarily feel super long while we were in it, but now it seems crazy that that was just a week ago. That could just be me though. I’m kind of looking forward to getting this week started since that means we are slowly inching closer to spring break! Can you tell I am ready?



If I am being honest, this past week was not the best. I can definitely tell that my students are as ready for a break as I am. It also didn’t help that we had graduate class on Monday and on Tuesday (when I had to present a project for 25 minutes). As I am writing this on Sunday night I am tired just thinking about this past week. Our quarter ends on Friday so this week will be spent making sure everything is in line for that as well as going on a field trip on Tuesday. Field trips are draining so I am definitely glad that we won’t have class for grad school that night since I would be a risk for falling asleep super early.

I have been attempting to use instagram stories more often (despite my phone battery dying so quickly and my phone freezing while trying to load some of the stories...womp) and I have really been loving sharing looks at my life on there. I asked on Monday or Tuesday if y'all would be interested in shopping my teaching outfits on there in addition to right here on the blog and the overwhelming response was YES! So, if you ever want to see what I'm wearing, you'll be able to see that on the weekdays there and then rounded up each Monday as I have been doing. 



cape // pants // shoes // watch


top // pants // shoes // hoops // watch

sweater (old) // jeans // shoes // watch

I know last Monday I had talked about how excited I was for my plans on Thursday but unfortunately they didn't happen. A group of us was planning to go to this cool bowling alley and bar that has specials on Thursday but since a number of our friends were having to work late we decided to postpone our outing. We are hoping to do it this week or some other time soon since it would be the perfect week night activity to look forward to. 



Friday morning started with a coffee treat from a friend which was the best pick me up. I was pretty thrilled when it was time to leave on Friday afternoon and decided to head back to my apartment and put on comfy clothes before doing anything else. I eventually made my way to Starbucks to get some work done. Not soon after, Nell called and we ended up catching up on the phone for a couple of hours. I didn't get a ton of work done during that time since time spent catching up was a much more fun option. I didn't end up eating dinner until around 8:00 and was surprisingly productive late into the evening which is rare for a Friday. 


 
 sunglasses // earrings // shirt (roommates)

Saturday morning I woke up around 8:00 and grabbed a cup of coffee before working for a while from bed. I eventually got up and got ready for the day before heading to Target to make a return. Around lunchtime, Ellison and I got some blog photos done before going to a St. Patrick's Day event at an area in Greenville called Hampton Station. There is a cool taco place, coffee shop, and brewery so we sat in the grass and enjoyed people and dog watching with a beer and some ice cream (the Jeni's truck was there giving out free scoops) before heading back to our apartment to make plans with our friends.



A group of us ended up going downtown to a Mexican restaurant to eat dinner on their balcony before wandering around downtown Greenville to celebrate the holiday. I've never been very big into St. Patrick's day but considering it is one of Ellison's favorite minor holidays I had a lot of fun. Since we started our night so early we also got to end it pretty early which I'm always in for. 


dress // watch 

Sunday morning I got up around 7:00 to do a bit of work before meeting up with an out of town friend for breakfast. On Saturday we ran into a girl from our pledge class who transferred to Vanderbilt after our freshman year and it was so fun to catch up. She and I had stayed in touch since we were both president of our chapter of KD at the same time so seeing her in town was the best surprise. We made plans to get breakfast at Biscuit Head since it was new since she had last been in Greenville. After that I spent most of the afternoon trying to get work accomplished before going on a nice walk through some cute neighborhoods with Porter and Chandler. I spent the rest of my weekend meal prepping, working on school assignments, and attempting to get everything in order. It is my hope that this week will go by relatively quickly! I have some fun plans for this coming weekend which unfortunately sometimes makes the week feel as though it is going by slower due to the anticipation. 

Currently...

I've made a bit more progress in this book and have really been enjoying it. I like how blunt it is with some of the information although if you are not into language here and there then this book may not be for you (which I bet you could figure out from the title alone). 

Watching: How To Get Away With Murder
Ellison and I finally got around to watching Thursday's episode of How To Get Away With Murder and it wasn't until it was halfway over that we realized that the episode was the season finale. It's going to stink to not have a show to catch up on so if you have other suggestions for us then definitely let us know! 



 A friend of mine from college recently started her own Etsy shop where she sells pet portraits. I honestly had no idea she had any sort of artistic ability (in my defense she hid it from us) and was so impressed when she sent me a painting of Scout. It looks so real and has been the perfect addition to my desk bulletin board! Definitely check out her work since the pieces would make the perfect present. 

Wearing: Lisi Lerch Earrings
I have loved Lisi Lerch earrings for a while now but have reaffirmed my love of the brand thanks to some new pairs I received. The Bobbi Earrings and the Izzy Tassel Earrings are both too cute and pretty lightweight!

This about sums up weeknights and weekend nights. I love the color of this although the price point is a little high. Maybe it'll go on super sale and will be worth getting eventually.

Posts From Last Week:

I'd love to hear what you've been up to this past week. Any highs or lows? 

Items Mentioned:

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