WILW + OHP

Hey y'all,

It has been a long week and it is only Wednesday! So here are a few things I am loving this week:

....Monday=Memorial Day! It is the first day off I have had since Good Friday so I am looking forward to a day spent in my PJs/sleeping in.

Old Navy Summer PJs

....BLT Salads. Recently I have been making a lot of BLT salads for dinner as the meal or a side. All you need is lettuce, bacon (I use turkey bacon), some tomato and ranch. Yummy!


....Curly hair. If you didn't know I have naturally curly hair and for the past few months I have been letting it down more often now that I know how to tame the frizz a bit. I mean, everyone wanted straight hair in high school so I always wore my hair up as well as in college for tests and things so now going to work, curly hair is the easy thing in the morning. I was recently sent some products from Bed Head and Bzz Agent and while the shampoos didn't wow me, they were likes not loves, I am obsessed with the "One the Rebound" curl cream!

...my Kate Spade Pride & Prejudice Book Clutch (from the surprise sale) that arrived yesterday! I wore it out with friends to a 22nd Birthday/Graduation celebration dinner last night and had a ton of compliments on it.

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....in a few weeks I will be making a mini road-trip to the J.Crew Clearance Center in Lynchburg, VA! I am excited to go and it is helping all shopping impulses since I know I will need to save a up for a bit before I go.

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Now go link up with Jamie!

Now onto some Oh, How Pinteresting, I am loving the following Pins:

Weekend Shenanigans....

Hey y'all,

Sorry for the bit of a bloggy hiatus over the past few days but my weekend was pretty non-stop. I would love a few extra days to lounge around but in the professional world, summer is a season not a vacation. 

Onto the re-cap. So, Friday evening began with leaving work and heading to downtown Raleigh for yummy Italian food at Cafe Luna with EC, LW, and CW from work. 

Cafe Luna
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After dinner, we headed over to watch a performance of Giselle by the Carolina Ballet. It was a great show and none of us had seen a performance of Giselle so when we spotted the Groupon for $20 tickets we grabbed them. 

Giselle

Saturday began with a trip to the gym since I am still working on running my first 5k NEXT MONTH! I am still not where I should be but I started training a bit late and in the middle of the busiest season of work but am running about a mile and I still have four more weeks to go! After a trip to the gym it was time to get some reading done as I finished the book, Burning Blue. 

It was an interesting story described as "How far would you go for love, beauty, and jealousy?

When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that--he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He's a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he's in--and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself.

Award-winning author Paul Griffin has written a high-stakes, soulful mystery about the meaning--and dangers--of love and beauty."

After reading and some laundry it was time to head to church where I co-lead a class of 4&5 year olds while their parent's attend "big church." Typically I would go to the service following my class but my Mom and baby sis, kDi were in town to see Sister Act: The Musical  so I met up with them for dinner before the show at a German bakery/restaurant called the Guglhpf Cafe.It was great to eat German food together since it is so hard to find a good German restaurant.

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After a delicious dinner, it was an hour long chat with one of my best friends, some TV then off to a 21st birthday party for one of my sorority sisters. 

The Birthday Girl, JP, RM and I

Sunday morning began early with some babysitting at 6:30am-2:30pm. After that long morning with little sleep watching a four year old and an 18 month old (talking 5 hours of sleep) it was time for lunch and a nap. After that, it was finishing laundry, making some dinner and back on the road in the rain. I drove into Raleigh to visit with RM and her roomies to see Identity Thief. It was hysterical and I am glad I made the journey for the $2 ticket and fun times with friends.

Sunday night ended with watching some of the ACM's present Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night. I am a huge fan of Tim so it was great to relax for a bit and listen to some great music.

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And other news from the weekend, Caitlin and her sweet husband are expecting! There is so much joy and love going on with my friends it is such a fun time to log onto Facebook to see engagements, weddings, and little ones! God has blessed everyone so much and it is a constant reminder of the plan He has laid out for us.

What was your weekend like?

Navy+Interior Designs=Oh, How Pinteresting

Hey y'all, 

I think I have spilled the beans on all the things I am loving including my new blog design, K's engagement, and my splurge on my Kate Spade book clutch so I thought I would link up with Michelle for the first time with "Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday." It appears though that all my pins are saying I'm loving interior design and the color navy.

some midweek laughs

My next cooking adventure.

Top 5 Tuesday: Candles

Hey y'all,

One of my favorite bloggers is back! Rachel of Just Peachy is restarting her Top 5 Tuesday series and since she now has a new place the topic is CANDLES! While my mother hates candles I for one am all for it. My favorites tend to always be Slatkin & Co. by Bath and Body Works so I thought I would just do my Top 5 favorite scents. Luckily, all but one are still available for sale since the last time I had a big candle haul was in the summer!

top 5 tuesday candles by janeaustenprepster on Polyvore

So I am not the greatest at describing scents so I thought that Bath and Body Works did a great job on their site so here is what they say:
1/ "Salty and Sweet! Mandarin, juicy mango and ripe plum capture the aroma of this classic poolside cocktail with a freshly salted rim."
2/  "Dive into this blend of tropical melon, raspberry nectar and lemon mellowed by creamy coconut milk and raw sugarcane for a fragrant and exotic escape."

3/ "Indulge your sweet tooth! Notes of fresh vanilla bean, sugar, cake batter and rich buttercream frosting combine to create a sweet fragrant treat as mouth-watering as the real thing." *This is the best candle for when you first move into a place and want the smell of fresh buttercream frosting!
4/ "Cheers! Enjoy this pretty and intoxicating mix of zesty mandarin, crisp apple, watery pear and sugared berries."
5/"A mysterious blend of cranberry, rich blackcurrant and raspberry delicately layered with notes of cinnamon bark, cedarwood and warm amber." *The Wallflowers are still available but this scent was my go to during the fall and winter months since it is such a cozy scent.

Link up with Rachel to show off your favorite candles/scents.

And I was going to wait until WILW but y'all should hurry to Kate Spade's Surprise Sale!The Pride & Prejudice Book Clutch which I have been lusting over since it appeared on the site (I mean English major who loves Jane, it was meant for me) but $328 was out of my budget but $99 will do!

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A Fruit or a Vegetable?

Hey y'all,

I love the summer due to all the great fruits and veggies that are in season. One of my favorite memories of summertime is eating lots of recipes with tomatoes since my mother grows tomatoes and since she has a green thumb every year it seems we have to give bags away to the neighbors. So since I am feeling all nostalgic I went on Pinterest and found some great looking recipes for tomatoes and had to share:

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Marinate tomatoes in balsamic vinegar for 30 minutes. Lay on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper. Bake for 7 minutes at 350 degrees. Then top with sautéed spinach and mozzarella. Broil until cheese melts.

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Summer Garden Pasta

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Italian Grilled Cheese

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Grilled Tomato & Basil Pizzas

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Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy with Herbs, Cherry Tomatoes, & Lemon Marinated Chicken

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Chicken with Garlic Balsamic Tomatoes

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Bruschetta Chicken

What is your favorite recipe with tomatoes? What foods are you looking forward to this summer?

Congrats....

Hey y'all,

Lots of congratulations are in order this weekend so I thought I would share:

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Congrats to all the Carolina graduates today, especially my PBX sisters (and littles!)

Little #1 kBb

little #2 mGk

Some of the PBX Seniors

*photos via their facebooks so don't re-pin please!

And since that wasn't exciting of a weekend enough....

K&D are ENGAGED!

Photo Credit: Burleigh Bodart Photography

K was president of Phi Beta Chi when I was VP and that experience brought us closer together as friends it's crazy that last year we graduated together and now she is ENGAGED! I am so happy for her and D!

Last May!

What are you celebrating today?

Book Club Friday

Hey y'all,

So if you are new around here welcome, and if not you might notice that this little blog had a face-lift yesterday afternoon thanks to the wonderful, Shannon Page Designs. Shannon was so lovely to work with and I am obsessed with the result. What do you think?

Well, it has been forever since I posted a book club Friday but that is mainly because I have been crazy busy  so reading has not been my my go-to.I mean this week so far I have had something to do every night of the week so I have been getting home late. So this is going to be a hybrid review/to-read list. As always you can follow along on my Goodreads account as well. So let's get to it:

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Described as: "From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one."

I liked this ending of the sisterhood but be prepared with a box of tissues. It is not my favorite of the series but it was the end of the sisterhood.I would recommend it to anyone that loved the series but it is not a stand alone book in my opinion.

 

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Described as "The second in the incredible new Rules of Scoundrels series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean.
Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross.
 Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants."

I love this series and can't wait for the next book. They are really quick reads and are very humorous. I think I might like this book a smidge more than the first since I relate more to Philippa than Penelope. If you like historical romances about reformed rakes this series is for you.

Upcoming Reads

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What are you reading?

My Day....(Nine)

Hey y'all,

So today's topic of the "Blog Every Day in May" challenge is "A Moment in your Day" so I thought I could share what my day is going to consist of today(I might throw in some more photos tomorrow). My typical day is pretty similar but this week I have something everyday after work this week between dinners with friends, a musical, bible study, etc. So here we go:

6am. My first alarm goes off. Now I am a person who loves her sleep so unless I need to shower in the morning (I tend to at night) I hit the snooze button.

6:30am-6:45am. Actually vacate my comforter. Get up/stretch. Get dressed. Eat breakfast.

6:45am-7am. Wash my face. Apply make-up. Brush my teeth. Make my lunch. Get out the door.

7am-7:25am. Drive to work. Park. Walk from the parking deck to the office.

My view on my walk to work.

7:25am-7:30am Arrive at work. Open the offfice. Get settled. 

7:30-12pm. Work. I don't want to bore you with my job.

12pm-1pm. A reschedule of "Lunch Loser Tuesday" with the girls at work.

1pm-4:30pm Work.

4:30pm-6pm Dinner with the ladies of work (typically I just drive home, change into work out clothes, workout)

My typical "after work outfit"

6pm-8pm. The office ladies are going out to Wine & Design. (Typical day would be making dinner, watching The Big Bang Theory on the CW)

what we are painting tonight

8pm-10:30pm. Get home, PJ TIME!, watching some tv, reading/relaxing.

10:30pm. BED! I am a grandma now that I have to be up in the morning.

So that is my day today. What are you up to?

Summer Splurge Wishlist

Hey y'all,

So instead of doing a summer wish-list I thought I would share some of my upcoming splurges. I am already planning to purchase some of these things, like an iPhone so I can actually join this century as well as a couch for my new place but if I am a good saver this summer I might find some arm candy or a NC State Murfee in my possession.

summer splurges by janeaustenprepster featuring david yurman bangle

Do you have a summer wishlist? Any splurges in your future?

Tuesday Trend: Pullovers (and winner)

Hey y'all,

Last week I received my Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T pullover in the mail and I am in love. I have been wanting one for forever, and finally there was a sale on clearance plus coupon action. I am now obsessed and am already planning my next purchase! I think Pullovers are perfect in the spring and fall for those cool mornings and evenings (and the past week when it has been yucky, cold, and misting) so here are a few options I am loving right now to add some more pullovers to my closet.

pullovers by janeaustenprepster featuring applique shirts

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Are you a pullover fan?

Also, Congrats to Rebecca E. for winning my Blog-o-versary giveaway!