My Favorite Products!

Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Today's Wednesday, so only 2 more days until the weekend...YAY!

Lately I've found some great products, that I can't help but share with you all...so here they are!

1. Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil

I absolutely love this stuff! I've actually been using this for several years now, and it never fails to give me a great tan. And, actually, I just came in from using this for less than 30 minutes and already have great color. (NMC and I are headed to Florida in September, so I have to start now...right..?) It doesn't contain any sunscreen though, so if you use it, please be careful!  You can pick it up at Wal-Mart for around $8.

2. Kiss My Face Moisture Shave

Ok, so as you can see, this is actually marketed towards men for facial shaving. NMC picked some up at a local health food store to try when we found out that using canned shaving cream actually dries out your skin and can have harmful ingredients in it. Also, he "wet shaves" which means he uses a bowl, shaving cream or shaving soap, and a shaving brush to lather it up and a safety razor to shave with (I think it's very intriguing!). Anyways, he told me how well it worked, and I could tell by how smooth his face was, so I tried some and...WHOA! My legs have never been smoother. You just kind of smooth it over your legs and rub it around so it lathers a bit.  The best part about it, is that it is all natural, and the 11 oz. pump bottle lasts for a long time! You can pick it up at most health food stores for around $9. We have the unscented, but the Key Lime is AH-mazing!

3. L.A. Colors "Color Craze" Nail Polish in Electric Charge

By now I think y'all know I love pink nail polish in any shade imaginable, so when I saw this hot pink polish at the...Dollar Tree(!!!) I had to get it. I couldn't find my bottle, so this is a picture I found on the web of the packaging and everything. This stuff really is great, I can't believe it only cost a dollar. It takes 2 coats, but it lasts a long time, especially when you put a top coat over it. It's the polish I'm wearing in the tanning oil picture above, and it's a bit brighter in real life. So next time you're at the Dollar Tree, cruise down the beauty isle, and check out all the great colors they have!

4. Nail Magic Nail Hardener

For my birthday, which was in February, my SIL, Katy, took me to get my nails done. I had never gotten gel nails, or any type of fake nail for that matter, because my nails have always been really nice and strong. My mom always told me never to get them, and I should have listened! Long story short, here we are in May, and my nails are finally getting over having them on. Anyways, when Katy's fakes started coming off, we went over to Sally's and the sales lady recommended Nail Magic, and boy am I glad she did! It really works! I put it on before my polish every time I paint my nails and my nails are pretty much back to how they used to be. Phew! Like I said, we got it at Sally's and it was about $8.

5. Clean and Clear Oil Free Foaming Facial Cleanser

I have a hard time with my face sometimes. Sometimes it is perfectly clear, and then other times it has little bumps all over it. I have no idea why it does it, but it does, and I'm left to find a solution. I've tried lots of different things, but have found that a simple facial cleanser works well for me. I picked this up a few weeks ago, and so far, I'm happy with the results. I have oily skin, so it's a plus that the cleanser is oil free. IF you need a gentle cleanser, I recommend this! You can pick it up for about $5 just about anywhere.

P.S. Do any of y'all use Proactive or a kit like that? Does it work for you? What facial routine works best for you? I'd love to know, and get some advice!

Do any of you ladies share the same favorite products? What are some you can't live without?

xo Julia

Top 5 Tuesday: Guilty Pleasures

Hey everyone! I know I've been MIA for nearly a month now...I'm so sorry!  This is always an extremely busy time for our family business, but now that I have a few days off, I get to catch up on some blogs, and my own!

Today I'm linking up with Rachel for Top 5 Tuesday!

This weeks topic is guilty pleasures, and I have plenty of them!

(Forgive me if my list looks just like everyone elses, but I think alot of us have the same guilty pleasures!)

1. Sweets

Mainly cheesecake. I can't get enough of this stuff! Ever since I was little, cheesecake has always been my favorite dessert! It's what I have for every birthday and make for every family gathering. Anytime I can get my hands on this stuff, it's a good day, but I've really held back these past few months, which is why it's even more of a guilty pleasure!

2. Boy Bands

I'm not one to listen to the "Top 40" stations regularly, but on a trip to Birmingham back in March with NMC's sister and cousin, both of which are teenagers, I heard One Direction, and was kind of hooked! When I was younger, I was obsessed with bands like Hanson (Taylor was MINE!), N'Sync (Justin was my choice of course), and the Backstreet Boys (I was going to marry Brian), but I never thought that at 23, I would get excited when a new boy band popped up on the radio!

3. Talbots

I always knew about Talbots, but never had one close to anywhere I was. Well, NMC and I went to Nashville over the weekend and decided to visit one of favorite places to shop in the area, The Mall at Geenhills. I didn't know they had a Talbots, but when we walked past, I just had to go in. 3 hours later, having tried on everything in the store....I was hooked! Poor NMC, he had to wait that whole time and tell me what looked good and what didn't. He's a good man though, because he didn't complain once! Thanks NMC!

4. Dresses

Every time I go in a store, I sail right over to the dress section. I love dresses! Lately, I've been in love with dresses like the one above. Sometimes, I feel super self conscious about my arms, and would give anything to have a sleeve, and shirt dresses are perfect for me! You can dress them up or down really easily!

5. American Pickers

I don't know why...but I just love this show! I love to see what the guys can scrounge up and how much it ends up being worth. I've always been into to treasure hunting and exploring, so naturally, this would be the show for me! NMC and I watch it basically every night (He likes it too!).

Those are my guilty pleasures....what are yours?

xo Julia

Oh How Pinteresting!

Today I'm linking up once again with The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!

I'm so excited for Easter! If you follow me on Pinterest, I bet you could tell! Here are some of my Easter themed Pins that I absolutley LOVE!

What have you been "Pinning" this week?

P.S. Make sure to stop by Fais' blog for your chance to win a Clarisonic Mia! I want one of these so bad!!

xo Julia

Spring Gardening Tips!

Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! NMC and I spent ALOT of time outside enjoying this beautiful (almost?) Spring weather. And, not to mention, I was so glad to be able to breakout my shorts and sandals!

Since the weather is so pleasant this time of year, it's the perfect time to get out in the garden and start planting all kinds of flowers, trees and shrubs.  So, here are some tips from us gals at Third Day Seed to get you started!

1. Plan out your garden or flowerbeds. Make a drawing of the areas you wish to plant and start thinking about where to put what. To make the planning process more enjoiable, Better Homes & Gardens offers a free, online garden planning tool called Plan-a-Garden. It offers all kinds of options as far as plant types, and even lets you add garden sheds and ponds!

2. Make sure your flowerbeds or garden space are ready to plant. Remove grass and weeds, loosen the soil and add organic matter to the flower bed. If you plan on using a flower bed liner, now is the time to lay it out.

3. Make sure to choose plants that will withstand cooler weather, until the chance of frost is gone. Flowers like pansies, tulips, forget-me-nots, primroses and columbines are perfect for this time of year. Rhododendron and Forsythia are great shrubs to plant this time of year also.

4. Prune and clean flowerbeds regularly. Do a weekly check for weeds, grass or pests in your garden. If any problems do arise, take care of them quickly. Also, make sure to prune back your flowers on a regular basis. Doing so will allow your flowers to grow larger and fuller with each pruning.

I hope these tips and tricks will help some of you get your garden growing! Have you started working in your garden yet this year? What have you planted so far?

P.S. All these tips can be used for small planters all the way up you your entire yard! Even if you don't have a "yard" space, I encourage you to plant a planter or a small container garden. Just because you don't have a huge yard doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy the beauty of Spring flowers!

xo Julia

Top 5 Tuesday: Restaurants

Sorry I've been MIA for almost a month! Business always picks up around this time of year and I don't get much of a chance to sit and blog! But no worries, I've got several great posts coming up, so stay tuned!

Today I'm linking up with Rachel once again for Top 5 Tuesday!

Ricatoni's is a great Italian Grill in downtown Florence. Everything we've ever eaten there has been great! My all time favorite is the Margherita Pizza! NMC really likes the Chicken Alfredo. If you are ever in the Shoals area, Florence especially, make sure to stop by Ricatoni's!

Rancho Viejo is our favorite Mexican place! It's a fun atmosphere and great food! What more can you ask for? We start out with some Cheese Dip, which is amazing and I always go for the  Grilled Chicken Chimichanga for supper. Sometimes we get the fried ice cream for dessert, it's delish!

Legends Steakhouse in downtown Florence is one of our favorite places to go to get a steak or a burger! Since Florence is a college town, you know they have some of the best food! I definitely recommend the Cowboy Burger and their Caramel Pie is amazing!

Ok, I know Zaxby's is a fast food place, but come on...who can refuse their chicken!? I'm guilty of always getting the Chicken Finger plate. I've never gotten anything different. Can you tell I'm not extremely adventurous when it comes to food?



Subway is my go to place when we don't have time to make supper, or are in a hurry. It's fast, but not nearly as bad as other fast food places. My favorite sandwich is as follows: Italian BMT on the Italian Herb and Cheese bread with lettuce, pickles, onions, banana peppers and a little bit of mustard.

Do you like any of these places? What are your favorite Restaurants?

xo Julia





Oh How Pinteresting!

Today I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple for another installment of "Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday"! I know it's a bit late, but I still have 3 hours until it's Thursday, so why not!!

Lately I've gotten really bored with my hair (see above picture). It's layered, but the layers have grown out and my bangs are too long and they give my hair a flat look. So, needless to say, I've turned to good ole' Pinterest yet again for some ideas! I wont be coloring my hair, so the pictures below are for the actual style. Here's what I've found so far!

Please feel free to let me know what you think! I would love if y'all gave me your opinion and helped me choose a new style!

I think the Carrie Underwood style is my favorite with Kate Middleton at a close second. What do y'all think? Any suggestions?

P.S. Make sure to stop by dWa's blog and check out her first giveaway!  

xo Julia

Top 5 Tuesday: Most Worn Items

Today I'm linking up once again with miss Rachel for Top 5 Tuesday! This weeks topic is Most Worn, so these are some things I wear pretty much on a daily basis.

1. Cardigans- I tend to always grab for a cardigan for my everyday wear. They are so comfy, but paired with a nice pant, don't look sloppy at all.

2. Jeans- We all have a pair of jeans we just love! But sadly, all good things must come to an end, and my jeans are almost to that point. I hate when you've had the perfect pair of jeans for a few years and when it comes time for new ones, the store doesn't carry them anymore!

3. Pearl Studs- My pearls are my go to earring. They go with everything, and can dress up and add a touch of class to any outfit!

4. Tote- I'm more of a tote girl than purse girl. I like the versatility and size of a tote and as far as my VV tote (in blue burgee rope) is concerned, it's perfect! I've used it on the boat, at the beach, for traveling and everyday use.

5. Nail Polish- I try to always keep my nails polished, and can't leave the house with bare nails. My new favorite color is Sinful Colors in Folly. It's a pink-ish red color and perfect for any season!

What do you wear everyday?

xo Julia

Crafts I Can't Wait to Make!

Hey everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful week!

Lately I've been in a crafty mood and have been searching Pinterest for some easy and fun DIY craft ideas. Here are some things I hope to make in the near future!

1. Coasters using ceramic tiles and scrapbook paper

2. Wrapped Vases using a glass vase and rope

3. Vanity tray using an old picture frame and fabric

4. Burlap jewelry holder using a picture frame and some burlap

5. Seersucker Pouch

What are some crafts you're wanting to try out? Have you tried any of theses crafts?

xo Julia

Top 5 Tuesday: January Favorites

Hey y'all! Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

This week I'm linking up once again with Rachel for Top 5 Tuesday, and this past week I've tried a few new products that, so far, I'm loving! So I thought I would share!

1. Maybelline Baby Lips- I got Pink Punch and Quenched. I'm actually not a fan of the Pink Punch color (on my lips) it's a bright pink, but I love Quenched, which is clear. Although I'm not crazy about the pink, the product it's self works great! It's not too thick and not sticky. And it smells fabulous! After I wore it for a day, I actually noticed a difference. My lips were really soft!

2. Wet-n-Wild Mega Volume Mascara- I've been using CG Lash Blast Fusion, but when I ran out, I picked this guy up. I have to say, it's not as good as CG, but it's a close second in my book. It's a steal well worth $3.

3. Pantene 2 in 1 Dry to Moisturized Shampoo- I bought this when I ran out of my usual shampoo. My hair gets used to shampoos if I use them a long time, and this one smelled great, so I got it!  My hair is extremely thick and has a slight wave to it when I don't blow dry and always has a hint of frizz. This shampoo is Ahhh-mazing! My hair is so much softer and the frizz is virtually gone in 1 use!

4. Sinful Colors in Folly- I got this nail polish for Christmas and I love it. It has to be one of my favorite polish colors. I'm a big fan of Sinful Colors polishes because they are not terribly expensive and last a long time.

Do you use any of these products? Do you have any recommendations on what I should try next?

 

xo Julia

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Since it's Monday, that means it's time for my Monday Motivation!

We all have things that motivate us to loose weight and/or stay in shape and this is one of my biggest motivators! When I see people that I haven't seen in a while, I want them to talk about how good I look instead of how bad. (Don't we all!?)

NMC and I are going to a wedding in June where I'll meet some of his family that I've never met before. And, needless to say, I want to make a good impression! So, this quote really motivates me to keep working hard!

Oh, and by the way, in case you're wondering, I've been trying to stick really closely with eating fresh foods and drinking mostly water. That, combined with a walk everyday, really has me feeling great! If I keep this up (which I will!) I'll look amazing come June!

What motivates you?

xo Julia