The Friday Five

It's been a very busy week, short holiday weeks always are. Looking forward to a fun weekend with friends here in Atlanta.

Now here's some randomness for your Friday!

1.) Old Navy has been my go to spot for warm weather essentials. It's right next door to the LA Fitness I go to on my lunch break so I'm constantly popping in there. They have great prices, lots of sales and I've been pleasantly surprised at how much cute, trendy stuff they have. I went awhile never finding anything there but have gotten very lucky lately. Here's some stuff I've gotten (and should still be there) that I'm sure most of you have seen me wear, haha -

These classic, brown and cream wedges. I'd been on the hunt for some basic everyday wedges and these fit the bill exactly. Comfy, too!

Mixed-Pleated Wedges

And these were on sale and great to throw on with skinnies and a solid basic top

Canvas-Strap Mid-Wedges

I've also gotten a few pairs of their skinny jeans - grey, white and black. Wear them all the time to work and out and about. I got a royal blue pair from the Gap and I really want a green pair, love the mint green color. They said when they get them in they sell out instantly.

The Rock Star Super Skinny Jeans

This black top, they have other colors, too -

Crepe Flutter-Sleeve Blouses

A basic pair of khaki shorts

Linen-Blend Tie-Belt Shorts

This top that is ideal to wear to my office, and I noticed it was on sale online just now so I may be taking my receipt back for a price reduction, haha.

Collarless Chiffon Camp Shirts

Ikat pattern maxi skirt -

Gauze Maxi Skirt

 I'm obsessed with my black jersey maxi skirt I got from Nordstrom last year so I got this one in grey, I love them oh so much. Since it's one of my goals in life to spend as much time as possible in my pj's, this is a much more suitable and acceptable option to throw on when I'm running out. 

Jersey Maxi Skirt

2.) Seeing Snow White & The Huntsman tonight with Allison, we are very excited! Right up our alley, ya know Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse, Harry Potter, etc. It's grey and rainy here so a good movie night.

3.) New flavor I'm obsessed with at Yoforia - almond butter! I love anything almond. Also loving new Luna bar flavor vanilla almond, I eat one just about everyday.

 

4.) While working at home late last night I had on Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding, have I mentioned I'm a fan of Bravo? Kim finally revealed her real hair. Here she is in one of her wigs that she's never seen without -

And her natural hair revealed last night. My thoughts: Burn all your wigs, they make you took old and trashy.

 

5.)  I've been practicing a lot of mindful meditation lately. (No smooth transition from yogurt and reality tv so just went right into it) I think I've mentioned it on here once or twice, and some of you I've been sharing how beneficial it's been.

Some key things about mindful mediation from Jon Kabat-Zinn:

"In order to fully live, you have to be present for it. 

To be present, it helps to purposefully bring awareness to your moments – otherwise you may miss many of them.

You do that by paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and

non-judgmentally to whatever is arising inwardly and outwardly.

This requires a great deal of kindness toward yourself, which you deserve.

 

I'm a beginner so certainly not going to spout off stuff like I know what I'm talking about, haha. But I have been setting aside time everyday in the morning or night to practice for the past of couple months. It's been amazing to see my perspective and views gradually shift towards becoming healthier and more positive. People have been meditating for centuries so it's certainly nothing new. I definitely recommend giving it a try, tons of resources out there like -

Mindful Meditation By Jon Kabat-Zinn

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Visit to Nashville

Had a fun 4 day holiday weekend where I got to spend time catching up with Rachel in Nashville. I hadn't seen her since her visit to Atl this past September but as always it felt like we'd just seen each other yesterday!

Friday night we went to a fun, new restaurant called Urban Grub that was the happening spot to be -

Our peach sangria's and Rachel's mimosa :)

  After a delish big meal (I had a side salad and pork tacos) we managed to split this banana cream pie that was life changing. Autumn declared it the best dessert she'd ever had.

The next morning we set our alarms and packed up and headed to the lake for the day!

We met this adorable chocolate lab puppy named Jake :) He is one of Rachel's good friend's boyfriend's dog, in case you're wondering how we met a random puppy, but if you know us then you know that wouldn't be out of the ordinary, we LOVE baby animals! On our way there Rach rolled down the window and yelled, "Jake! I'm coming!!!"

Gorg day, this is overlooking where we ate a healthy dinner of chicken fingers, burgers and fries.

The waitress told me they had strawberry daiquiri's and when I ordered one this is what it was, I do not recommend, too sugary and concentrate ick. 

 

 

Finished out our healthy day at Sweet CeCe's, a fro-yo spot right by Rachel's townhouse (how convenient!) And that's Rachel's to the right with the sprinkles.

 

The next morning I woke up earlier than Rachel which is typical. There's also a Starbucks right by her house so I was all set. Reading Bossypants for book club, loving it.

 While reading and getting my caffeine fix Boone and I had a photo shoot -

Here he is looking like a fake creepy kitty sculpture

 

And he has his own hammock, totally normal

Out and about

Mexican for dinner that night after a grueling day of shopping

After dinner we went over to Autumn's townhouse, she was super excited about her homemade key lime pie, sadly Rachel and I don't really like key lime pie. So we opted for Hostess packaged doughnuts and mini Oreos while flipping between Bravo, E! and Lifetime. Somethings never change :)

Weekend Updates

Don't feel like I've been a good blogger lately - Work and life have been very busy! I feel like all I blog about are my weekends, but I know all 5 of you who read this are so interested in how I spent my weekend, so here you go! :)

Friday after work I met Chrissy/Pony at one of regular spots, Phipps :) I got some new sunglasses from Nordstrom that I am very excited about - 

Thought this blue color was fun yet classic and basic

We ate sushi, got candy (or I got candy, Chrissy doesn't get the self-serve candy because of germs...) and then saw Mirror Mirror. It was cute and entertaining but it definitely didn't escape our notice that we were surrounded by little girls. The last movie we saw together was the Lorax, yet another movie where the target audience is at least 15 years our junior, not sure what that says about us, haha. As my mom always says about movies, "There's already so much sadness in the world why would you want to see a sad or scary movie?!" Although I like the occasional sad or scary movie I definitely prefer to leave a movie feeling happy. The last movie I saw before this one was The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep's portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, ugh.

 

Can't wait to see Snow White and the Huntsman, out June 1st.

When I woke up Saturday morning I had texts from Chrissy that her husband, Matt/baby bwown beayah saw True Blood filming in New Orleans!!! He was there for a bachelor weekend and got to see Eric up close - I would DIE!!! I told Chrissy to tell Matt to give him my phone number, looove him!

I'm super into making smoothies, make one almost everyday. This one has frozen mixed berries, Greek yogurt, apples, OJ and spinach in it. Yet another thing Pinterest provides me endless options and ideas for.

 

Rachel was in town - YAY! I hung out with her at the pool on Saturday. Looks like I was trying to take a pic of that guy, haha.

Albino legs :(

 That night at a housewarming party, that oh, was filmed for a Bravo reality show!!! Okay let me fill you in: So one of their good friend's brother is going to be on a show called Eligible in Atlanta, he came to the housewarming party along with two girls who are going to be on the show, too. There was one man filming and my exchange with him went something like this -

Me, "So do you just love working for Bravo?"

Him, "I don't work for Bravo, I own my own production company and Bravo hires me"

Me, "Oh! Cool! Do you like it?"

Him, "No."

Then he went on to tell me he works lots of long, random hours. Fun!

 

K so more on the filming, of the two girls on the show that were there one girl is a chef and lives in Marietta and Rachel and I loved her, so sweet and pretty. The other girl we were not so much a fan of, she showed up with girls who looked like they were straight out of a rap music video (Not that we were judging ;) and she took herself way too seriously. Apparently she owns a jeans store. Anyways she was kinda snotty and not nice. At one point the camera man told me to "Get everyone going" on the dance floor and when I attempted this she just gave me a "You're stupid and annoying" look. I just wanted to be like "Um you are no Bethany or NeNe so get over yourself, and your white cutoff jean shorts and purple bra hanging out looks trashy."

Lotus lives at the apartment where the party was, he had to be shut in a room during the party and cried the whole time :*(

Blurry Instagram pic of Rach and I later that night out in Buckhead

 

And confession: On my way home that night I stopped through the Wendy's drive-thru and got chicken nuggets and fries with ranch. My first fast food in forev, was delish. Oh and the lady at the drive-thru definitely pretended like my credit card had been declined, when I had a horrified reaction she just cackled and said, "Hey I gotta have fun somehow!" (And she had like 3 teeth) I mean if I was working the Wendy's drive-thru at 2am I would probably do the same thing. Speaking of funny/weird drive-thru experiences, this may be the best thing I have ever seen.

I slept suuuper late on Sunday and it was amazing.

Officially iced coffee weather. I made Starbucks VIA instant coffee a lot last year but don't like all the sugar it has in it, am on the lookout for a healthier option if anyone has any recommendations. As much as I'd love to go through the Sbux drive-thru every morning for a grande nonfat, 1 Splenda iced coffee...

Church and volunteered in the bookstore Sunday evening, they are doing a new series called Climate Change and it was the 2nd week, Jeff Henderson spoke and it was so good to have him there in person. His sermons always speak to me (His series @Work is one of my favs).  The main things I got out of last night were: 

If you want to change the "forecast" of a relationship than you have to change the climate.

Myth: Self-esteem is the cure to insecurities.

The world's perception of beauty and success is just ridic, and if you don't agree you can email Jeff and he will meet you at Chick-Fil-A and discuss with you :)

When God looks down on me He thinks, "That's my daughter, she is so beautiful, look at her go!"

You can listen to the series here

After church made a much needed Trader Joe's run and picked up a few items I'd never tried before -

In this morning's breakfast smoothie

A good dessert for those of us who must have something sweet after every meal

Finished my weekend with the new Mad Men episode, Chrissy and I were discussing how we want Joan to be in it more so glad she was in last night's. Wonder who she is going to be with next. And I officially don't like Megan. Only 3 episodes left this season :(