Friday Five

It's a rainy Friday night and I'm staying in, am getting up at 6am tomorrow to run a 5K with my colleagues to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I am not begging for donations like the 3-Day but you can make a donation on my behalf that will benefit the Strong4Life program. My company built strong4life.com, lots of man hours went into the creation of it, check it out!

2 weeks since my last update so here is another Friday Five post!

The usual excuse, work! I have not had much spare time during my workday, but lots of exciting things are happening!

{1}

I got some new plants for my little balcony -

3 new plants doesn't look like a lot but it was quite the process for me!

And a new hanging dragon fly stain glass I got at the Decatur Arts Festival -

{2}

I finally got a light blue Clarisonic Mia, obsessed -

How I ever thought I was cleaning my face by rubbing face wash on it with my hands.... It's like a Sonicare toothbrush I'll never be able to not use it now!

Here's some lovely examples:

And it just feels a gazillion times better. Like last Saturday night I had been out in the Virginia Highlands for the annual Summerfest. (one of my fav festivals in Atl) Humidy + crowds + alcohol + fatty food = Ick! When I went home at the end of the night and used my Mia and put on PJ's = Ahhhh :)

{3}

George got groomed last week so of course a photo shoot was in order -

And he had his first beer over Memorial Day weekend

My little cavy is growing up! Oh but a real George update: We've started going on long walks! I had held off because of his weight and being malnourished but I've started taking him on longer and longer walks. We've even walked the belt line trail by my condo a couple times and it's 3 miles!

{4}

I'm trying to eat more fruits and veggies and just more healthy overall. I have such a sweet tooth and crave candy like gummy bears, Twizzlers and Mike&Ike's. (random I know but I love 'em) Anywhere I can get the bag your own candy I'm in heaven because there's fruity gummy candy galore. (Chrissy tells me the serve yourself candy is germy) So I *try* to counteract this craving by drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of fruit. I've started putting frozen fruit in my water, keeps water cold and then I eat the fruit, surprisingly satisfying. The Very Cherry Blend from TJ's is delish -

I've made this fruit quinoa salad twice the past couple weeks, for a family cookout and for a small group dinner. It's super easy and you can add whatever fruit you want. The recipe calls for a honey, lime and mint dressing and the second time I made it with lemon instead of lime and it turned out great. Recipes you can't mess up are best for me :)

Recipe!

{5}

 I'm getting new kitchen appliances delivered tomorrow and on Monday! My yellowing white 70's appliances are getting replaced with new stainless steel, will post before and after pics!

Friday Five

1. Someone got neutered last week and was not pleased about it -

My boss gave me that soft cone for when her maltese was spayed and right when walking out of the vet he flicked it off, so I stopped by a pet supply store on the way home to get a new one but they didn't have any, so I cut that one and tied it to his collar with a bandana.

Not a fan of the cone, this is his "Seriously?" expression, he also gives it to me when I talk to him in a British accent -

The cone has held up relatively well until yesterday... When I got home last night his cone was still intact but missing were his sutures. The cone has gotten worn out and he managed to get to them. But it ended up being a good thing since I took him to the vet this morning and was told everything looks good since it's just a few days from when he originally was supposed to have his sutures removed. The vet tech said it looks exactly how it would look if they had taken them out. So no more cone or sutures for George! He's at the office with me today and a happy camper. He even jumped out of my cube area and sprinted to where another office cavalier, Oliver, was across the office -

He loves Oliver and this sweet 5 month old puppy Lula, who is the most calm and well behaved puppy I've ever seen -

I'm so glad he is sans cone now especially since he will be staying with one of my neighbors while I go to Tampa for a girl's beach weekend :)

2. So very excited to hop on a plane with Allison and Sheena tomorrow! Fingers crossed it doesn't rain the whole time and we can get lots of time beach time in. (under an umbrella for me and Allison of course)

Got a much needed pedi earlier this week, a new swimsuit and coverup from Target last night (yep another Target trip haha, see previous post ;) and getting a spray tan tonight :)

Xhilaration® Junior's 2-Piece Swimsuit -Peppermint

Xhilaration® Junior's Strapless Cover Up Dress

3. It's officially springtime, pretty flowers around my condo -

I wish I could get a pic of George smelling a flower :)

4. With warm weather I like making smoothies with fresh fruit and veggies to take to work, this one had frozen blueberries, spinach, kale, apple, blueberry Greek yogurt, a splash of orange juice and green tea and some Trader Joe's super green powder that is full of vitamins -

Here are lots of great recipes on my smoothie pin board :)

And the occasional milkshake splurge!

5. Springtime is my favorite time of year to do some serious cleaning and organizing, something therapeutic about it. Last weekend when George was recuperating I spent a good chunk of my Sunday organizing and cleaning out my closet. (It's the kind of chore that's painful to get started on but once you start you can't stop!) These pics aren't super impressive or blog worthy haha but I am very proud of my newly color coordinated hanging clothes and that I can now walk in my closet :)

The shoes still need some work. I got those clear plastic cases from The Container Store a couple years ago and need to add some more.

George was giving me a double "Seriously?" look as he was sitting on my bed sporting the cone and watching me wreak havoc in my bedroom by pulling everything out of my closet. I also wrestled with these wire stack-able shelves I got from Target when I first moved in and I am not being dramatic when I say this but they are possessed. They are impossible to stack. And I may have broken them in the process of trying.

Be back next week with pics from the beach :)

Target Love

It's no secret that Target is my happy place, where I go to escape in the midst of a hectic workday and since it's Target I'm being productive and getting things I need, a win win! ;-) Well since I've been bringing my new fur baby into work with me everyday for the last few weeks I haven't been making my usual weekly lunch trips, but I went yesterday because I was in dire need of a lot of essentials. I left George with some coworkers and off I went (George was not pleased with this arrangement, but for some of you who seem to have this crazy notion that I'm spoiling him let this be an example that he doesn't always get his way ;-)

Some of the essentials I picked up -

A Brita water pitcher

In small group a few weeks ago one of the girls was drinking a massive bottle of SmartWater and somehow we all started talking about drinking water. She was going on about how much she hates Atlanta tap water and most of the other girls chimed in agreeing with her. I got quiet and ducked my head and looked at my glass of tap water sitting on my coffee table then finally quietly admitted, "I drink tap water." To which they all pointed out that my glass looked cloudy. I've considered getting a Brita for years but for some reason always dismissed it that I didn't really need one, until now... I think 30 bucks is worth ensuring I'm drinking clean water. And I got the pretty green color. And I think George will appreciate the filtered water, too ;-)

Method cleaning products

My absolute fav cleaning products are Method. They are so fresh and nontoxic and not abrasive. I ran out of my cucumber scented surface cleaner and opted for clementine this time. Getting excited about cleaning products = I'm so mature and fun ;-)

A few healthy'ish snacks for those late afternoon cravings -

These are delish and just 70 calories a pack, a much better alternative to when I sometimes go to the cafe in my office complex and load up on self serve gummy candy which always results in a self loathing sugar coma.

I've yet to have anything Kashi I don't like, their dark mocha almond granola bars are pretty satisfying and a good go to when a chocolate craving hits. I also like the dark chocolate cherry kind.

I ran out of my Oscar Blandi dry shampoo (what I use on non hair wash days). Don't know when I'll make it over to Sephora and I'm not that crazy about it anyway so thought I'd try this more economical one by Garnier Frustis -

Also almost out of matte face powder. I apply it in the morning and afternoon to keep the shine away. I use Benefit and then for reapplication and touch ups I've opted for a cheaper brand, I like Sonia Kashuk sold only at Target, just $10 -

Love my Sonicare toothbrush, I highly recommend making the investment so worth it. I needed toothbrush head refills and was pleased to see that there were Target brand ones for a little bit cheaper -

Hey I'm trying to save where I can with all the new pet expenses and such. Sweet George is getting neutered today, I was so sad dropping him off this morning he was shaking like a leaf. I decided to pay to have it done at my vet as opposed to taking him back to the shelter and done for free there. I don't think my heart could have handled taking him back there, plus they will give him the extra meds and attention he needs at my vet.

Got a small rug for my kitchen for the steep price of $7.99, I've put George's food bowls on the one I already have and needed another one in front of my sink, plus George likes to get one piece of kibble in his mouth and run to the nearest rug to eat it, so this will save him a few steps, haha. Yes he gets kibble now not chicken and rice like a big boy.

Splurged on this little frame for $1 :) It's a pic of when I first met him, you know the day I raced over to the shelter in the middle of a volunteer shift at the Junior League Nearly New shop, haha. I know I admit I am cray but he is my one and only fur baby! Vet just called and said everything went well with his surgery :)

I'll spare you from the rest of my very exciting toiletry and product purchases. Target has so much cute new home stuff and I didn't buy any of it! I also didn't buy a new swimsuit for my beach trip to Tampa next weekend with Allison and Sheena or any spring clothes. I also perused the Easter candy aisle and walked away empty handed. So proud of myself I think I deserve another Target trip.

Recent Purchases

I went to Scott Antique Market with Allison last month, has been on my bucket list for a long time. It comes to the airport area one weekend a month and I have had something just about every weekend I would remember to go check and see what weekend it was, so glad we got to finally go check it out. Allison got a cute "C" to go on her wall to make a photo montage but I definitely got a lot more than that, thank goodness we had her SUV :)

First, this chair that was at an outdoor vendor. I don't think anyone even knew it was for sale, it had piles and piles of burlap fabric on it. The vendor upholstered it herself. I'd been wanting a neutral sitting chair for my den area and I loved this one immediately. I ended up bargaining down from $480 to $280!

Thankfully we got it home in A's Highlander, thanks again, A :) Here it is at home -

Love it! That pillow was purchased with A as well last year at the Canton Street Antique Market in Roswell. (We do love antique'ing!) Now I just want to get a small footstool or ottoman for it. Also got this rose figure for my coffee table for $10 -

And this fun side table -

I've since added a stack of books and other decor items on top of it. Can't remember how much I got it for but I know I got the seller down some ;) I would warn A before I would approach a seller and bargain but if she were easily embarressed she wouldn't be my friend :)

And my last purchase at Scott's was this owl, it was not on my list but it was too adorable and unique to pass up -

I wondered if it was going to scare George (I bought it before adopting him, George not the owl ;) but he hasn't even noticed it. Successful day at Scott's and I would definitely like to go again!

When I went to Paris on Ponce with my dad and Chris over Christmas I got these two decorative signs that I recently got around to hanging, the framed picture is from a flee market in Kentucky  -

I get GroopDealz emails everyday, think I've mentioned it on here before, it's like Groupon but for cute, boutique items. I got this ring for just $6 -

(in need of a mani)

And I got these red suede pumps for $20 and the sole is already coming apart after wearing them just twice, so will not be ordering shoes from them again...

For Christmas Chris gave me an Etsy gift certificate, I got this painted birch log with tealights in it for my mantle -

It looks great but needs maybe a few more logs or big candles around it to fill up the space.

And I got a personalized collar for George :)

I've started using Maybelline's BB cream, I have used Stila tinted moisturizer for a long time for everyday wear but the spf 30 on this one drew me to try it and turns out I really like it, plus you can't beat the price!

And a few more items for George :) Chelsea sent him this UK jersey!

He was not thrilled this had nothing to do with chicken and rice.

He'll be filling it out in no time! Chels also gave him an adorable squeaky owl toy that he loves and handmade the cutest collar, more pics to come :)

And Sarah sent him this rope that is perfect for him -

His first piece of mail :)

 

He says thank you and can't wait to meet his new aunts!

K off to yoga, hope everyone is having a great week!