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}

Saw Gatsby last night and loved it. Listening to the soundtrack right now, obsessive personality much? Saw it at the recently remodeled Phipp's Theater and was maybe the best movie going experience I've ever had, huge leather reclining seats and great concession and drink offerings. Safe to say it's my new fav place to watch a movie in Atl.

Aaannnd after watching Gatsby I want all of this.

{2}

A couple of my lunches this week (been a very eventful week ha)

A turkey lettuce wrap -

And catered lunch at work today, a veggie burger, pasta and salad, and I may have had a cookie too but it was so good totally worth the calories.

{3}

While talking food I have to admit my fitness has been a little lagging this past week due to having caught a stomach bug last weekend. Thankfully it was just a 24 hour bug but have wanted to play it safe and not push myself too hard when I'm feeling low energy. I've gone on a couple long walks with Georgie (he has boundless energy) and one 3 mile run this week. Nothing yesterday or today except the usual strolls with George. Tomorrow morning I'm planning on going to spin and then next week will hopefully be back to my routine of running with a couple of spin and yoga classes in the mix. 

This is what you have to go through to get into the good instructor's classes at LA Fitness spin, get in line at least 30 minutes prior to the start time and put your name on the list, how I'll be spending my Saturday morning tomorrow. I snapped this pic a couple weekends ago but never got around to doing a weekend recap post, haha.

{4}

The latest few things I've ordered from Very Jane and GroopDealz, boutique deals that are emailed daily-

I got the statement necklace to the left in white from Very Jane -

This chevron infinity scarf in blue from GroopDealz but haven't received it yet -

And these fun teardrop earrings from Very Jane that I haven't received yet either but have gotten an email saying that they're on their way!

Way too easy to shop and buy, just wish the shipping time was a little speedier.

{5}

I adopted George on February 15 so this past Wednesday I have had him 3 months :)

Pic to the left was taken by the adoption counselor at Fulton County Animal Services after I'd signed all the papers and everything was official, pic to the right was taken this past Sunday at my parent's house while celebrating Mother's Day (day after my stomach bug ick). 

Milestones in George's life over the past 3 months: Weight gain, got neutered, developed an affinity for sleeping atop plush pillows and eating chicken and rice, started going into the office to earn his keep ;), has made lots of new furry and non furry friends and of course a new home :)

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.

2013 Condo To Do's

I've been keeping a mental list of all the things I want to do to my condo, so I'm going to jot them all down here in hopes that I actually accomplish them!

1. Hang the brown panel curtains I bought from Ikea last year that are currently shoved under my bed. I bought them to help insulate and block out all the sunlight. When I realized I needed an electric drill to hang them they went in a shopping bag in a corner for about a month and to make myself feel better I put them out of site. 

2. Clean out everything - Closets, dressers, kitchen cabinets and drawers, bathroom stuff, personal papers and bills...just typing this out gives me anxiety. Because I know once I do it the sacks of stuff to give away will be sitting out for weeks, and y'all know my place isn't big. I like things put away (ok crammed in drawers) and out of site. My friend Lori recommended taking 15 minutes a day to do a drawer at a time rather than taking a whole day. We'll see, I may try to make some progress this Monday since I'm off work. I've recently joined the Junior League (really liking it and all the girls I've met so far!) and they require donations be made to the Nearly New shop, the JLA's biggest source of revenue that goes towards funding the work we do in the community. So hopefully that will help me get my butt in gear to generate some sacks of good stuff.

I've decided I hate my bedroom furniture. It's filled with furniture I had in college and what I've bought since living in Atl is from Ikea. As much as I'd love to upgrade with a whole new beautiful bedroom suit that isn't going to happen anytime soon, I'd buy new stainless steal appliances before I did that. Here are the upgrades I would like to do over this year -

3. Get rid of the TV and stand in my bedroom (watching TV in bed is BAD according to my doctor, plus having 2 TV's in a 2 bedroom condo feels kinda ridic). In place of it I would like to get a cute chair and a stand up lamp for reading, I really like this green chair from Target -

4. I also decided that I need a headboard STAT. I think this is a cool idea to buy a large frame and frame pretty fabric -

And this door mantle is to die for -

Love the decor on top, too. Another cute idea, fill a shutter with material -

Or just hang some shutters in pretty colors, looks like the easiest route -

5. I would also like to paint my dressers but don't know if it's possible, need to do some research. I have this MALM dresser from Ikea and a small brown lacquered chest of drawers that was in my 40 year-old brother's room when he was a baby, haha.

6. Get my closet whipped into shape. It is a large closet and I know I'm not utilizing it as well I could. The floor of it is covered in shoes even though I bought shoe cases from the Container Store and I got some stackable shelves from Target a few years back that I truly believe are possessed, they won't stay together or stand up straight, that's all I'm going to say about that because it upsets me too much. I was keeping Jake at the time I got them and while setting them up he was staring at me like this -

7. Replace my shower curtain, I regularly clean it with a sponge and Method shower cleaner as well as use a daily shower cleaner but I've used it for several years now and is due for a replacement.

8. Get some more potted plants for my balcony

9. New chair for living room to replace the massive hand me down from my parent's old living room I donated to the Harlem Boob Trotter yard sale last year. A couple I've pinned -

Oxford recliner from Bassett

Marjorie chair from Anthro

Neither of those are cheap :-/

10. Find some big candles and candle holders or logs to sit inside my mantle. During fall I had pumpkins and for Christmas it was filled with presents!

I am dying to go to Scott's Antique Market, it comes one weekend a month and is out by the airport, must go soon!

Oh and I want her, a mini golden doodle -

Weekend Updates and My Bedroom

It's Wednesday and I'm just getting around to blogging about my weekend, I know you all have been anxiously wanting to know how I spent my weekend! I had just the kind of weekend I was hoping to have, lots of R&R and got some things done, good thing because the last couple of days have been very busy at work.

My friend Louisa, who you may remember as Chipper Trotter of the Harlem Boob Trotters :), just moved one street over from me. She just moved in a couple weeks ago, hence the boxes in the background. 

Her sweet old dog Murphy, remember him from the Trotter yard sale last year?

We walked over to the Peachtree Hills Festival of the Arts on Saturday. I wasn't expecting a lot since it's the first time they've ever had it but it was great! Lots of booths and food and drink options. I bought some things for myself and a couple presents.

 I got this fun handmade ring I am wearing today -

I met Chloe the pomeranian there, isn't she so sweet! She is a therapy dog and she's even going to be in an upcoming movie! (can't remember what movie they said)

Ran into her again later in her stroller :)

 I went to Home Depot earlier that day and that was a big venture for me. The only times I've ever been there has been with my family growing up, have always found it intimidating and just so industrial. Whenever I've needed something I typically go to the Ace Hardware that's close to me (ok I've been like once or twice in the 3+ years I've lived here), but usually my dad gets me whatever I need because it's just easier for everyone, haha. (Turns out you can't nail screws in the wall to hang pictures) Well I had a few things I needed so thought I'd be a self-sufficient adult and just go. Upon entering I stopped the greeter and rattled off all the things I was looking for. He told me what aisles I needed to go to and I wrote them down in my phone. When I went to each aisle someone was there to help with each item I needed. I left feeling accomplished and with a bounce in my step. Hey anywhere should be a cinch after shopping at Forever 21 for years!

Here's some of the decorating updates in my bedroom -

 Got my condo painted a couple months ago and I promised to post pics, I will post some more around my condo but here is the color, a cream a few shades lighter from what it was. The inside of the stencil is the before color and around it is the shade that is everywhere in my condo.

 

And here is my bedroom -

Got the idea to place two full length mirrors on each side of my bed from where else, Pinterest, makes the room seem bigger -

I am dying for a vintage looking door for my bed's headboard like this one -

On my list of Home Depot items was new light switch covers, think it was time replace? ;)

Old

New!

 Obsessed with this window jewelry hanger I got from the festival! I ran out of pushpins when I was hanging my up necklaces last night, need to pick up some more from Target. Now if only I have found Target to be intimating all these years I would have a much bigger bank account...

 I love old windows, the one to the right I found in a neighborhood next to campus in Lexington.

 So this is kind of embarrassing, I definitely brought this giant Ikea mirror with me to HD so they could tell me the right hooks to hang it, baby steps people!

New curtains I am very excited about from Pier 1 Imports! Replaced my brown cotton ones from Target.

 

 They are lined and great at blocking out the light, I got some brown screens from Ikea for double shade but I definitely need help installing.

That's about it for my bedroom - Will post my living room area next!