My Weekend via Instagram

Like I tweeted this morning ....

I mean, is there anything worse than a Monday?  Yes, actually there are a lot of things that are much worse, but Mondays are certainly not on the top of my list of favorite things and if I could, I'd wear this shirt to work every Monday.  Unfortunately, I think I'd be sent home immediately. 

I stole this pic from my girl K_Stets from Only In Vegas 

If you follow me on Instagram (@TheBargainBlonde), then sorry for the replay because I pretty much post my every move on there.  I actually think I've developed a bit of an Instagram addiction and I am seriously considering starting a Insta-detox.  In fact, my friend Beth tweeted me this picture below last week and I could not stop laughing. This is so me. 

Except insert Bear in place of the cat.

Exhibit A: 

Bear and my Subway sandwich Friday night. 

Friday night I actually did nothing. Well, I fell asleep after work and slept until 10 p.m. if that counts as something. Those "you can sleep when your dead" folks have never had a good nap. I love me some naps.

Saturday I woke up refreshed and a Stella and Dot delivery was sitting on my porch. 

Left to right: Leona Pendant (on sale)  /  Signature Clover Necklace (as seen in Cosmopolitan)  /  Capri Chandelier Earrings (as seen on Emily Maynard)  /  Foundation Bracelet Red  /  Foundation Bracelet Turquoise  

Saturday morning I took Bear to the dog park and then cleaned my house.  Here he is passed out after running around in 100 degree temps / My Emi-Jay Hair tie, which def works and did not leave creases in my hair.

Saturday I went to dinner at an Italian restaurant called Patrizios with a few girls.  I wore my new clover necklace and definitely splurged and had Eggplant Parm, my fave. 

Sunday my friend Kathryn and her husband had a BBQ at their house, so I made cupcakes to bring.  Her favorite colors are orange and green, so orange and green cupcakes she received. 

Snaps from the BBQ:

They smoked ribs and brisket. Oh my word, the meat was sooo good.  They season their meat with a dry rub that they created and now sell.  It's called Chimy's Rub that they named after their pup.  All of our friends are addicted to it, and if you want to try it out, just use the "contact us" link on their Web site and e-mail Kathryn telling her The Bargain Blonde told you to try their rub. She can give you pricing. 

That about sums up my weekend.  How was yours?  

p.s. Tomorrow I'm posting the DIY video that you voted on a few weeks ago! Get excited.

p.p.s. Linking up with the ladies of Weekend Update!

My weekend and the curious case of the stanky dress

Before I get into my weekend happenings, I need to talk to you about what I'm deeming the "curious case of the stanky dress".  Y'all.  Please consider this a PSA.  I went to Target yesterday to pick up my Tone It Up groceries for the week and naturally, I also bought some shiz I didn't need.   One item I purchased was a dress on clearance.  This morning I was running late per usual so I threw my new dress on and ran out the door.

About 30 seconds into my drive to work I notice this horrendous B.O. smell and sniff the dress. Legit, I could have thrown up right then and there.  I'm almost positive green fumes were and still are permeating off this dress.  And as I type this post, I am engulfed in the stench of stale B.O. to the point of nausea.  Clearly some dirty beezie wore this dress sans deodorant in 100 degree Texas weather, returned it to Target and I was the lucky shopper who bought it.

I don't know if I'm more mad at Target for selling this, the girl for not wearing deodorant or myself for NOT WASHING IT before I wore it.  Let this be a lesson ladies: sniff your clothing before buying.

In happier news, I spent my weekend hawking jewels!  You know, those Stella and Dot ones I sell.

Friday the Fall Stella and Dot line debuted, which I'm sure you saw me tweeting and instagramming about to the point of annoyance.  Sorry friends, but I was excited. I LOVE the new line and will be blogging about what I ordered at some point this week.

My Stella and Dot party Saturday was at my best guy friend's sister's house (say that fast 3 times) who was also having a post-fourth of july BBQ. There was lots of good food and backyards fireworks!  Pics below.

My S&D arm candy at the party.  Belo bangle, devi bangles and renegade cluster + stackable gem ring

I guess since I'm a "city girl", I have never seen legit fireworks set off anywhere but at a city fireworks show.  Who knew you could make your own fireworks show in your backyard if you live in the country?

Kaboom!

Pinterest inspired patriotic strawberries

Roasted marshmallows in the fire pit to make s'mores. So yummy. #toneitupfail

In between the BBQ I consumed on the actual 4th of July and the food I put in my belly at the post-4th of July party, I fell off the Tone It Up wagon last week.  However, I am back on track today. I'm currently snacking on my Greek yogurt and blueberries.

Linking up with Leeann, Sami and Dana again for weekend update!  Click the button below to participate.

My Weekend via Instagram (Baked Veggie Egg White Recipe included)

I honestly don't ever use my real camera anymore. The only photos I take are on my iPhone and then 99% of the time, they get Instagramed. BTW - I have over 1,000 Instagram followers. How did this happen?  I have no Earthly idea, but it excites me.

Friday night I saw the magical Magic Mike movie.  It was everything I dreamed about and more.  Our theater was so crazy. We were slow clapping, cheering and screaming. I loved it and felt like I was back at Thunder From Down Under.  If you haven't seen it yet, grab your besties and go immed.

The theater now sells booze and I'm not complaining. 

My BFF Liz and my gubby came with!  And my bros gf but she missed the photo sesh before the movie started.

Saturday morning my college gf Amber hosted a Stella and Dot party for me.  She has the cutest studio apartment I've ever seen. I wish I could take y'all for a tour.

Saturday evening I went to HomeGoods (exciting life) and got a new centerpiece for my dining room table. It was a Cynthia Rowley vase I found on clearance for only $10. The arrangement I put in it was also on clearance for only $10.  All in all, I thought my $20 centerpiece looked pretty good.

Then Sunday morning, Bear did this:

Y'all. I was so mad I could have killed him. I took him by the collar and put him outside for punishment.  He knew he was in trouble!  I swear I am living the real life Marley and Me with this dog.  He is so wild.

After my anger subsided, I took him to the pool with me and let him swim while I drank my coffee and caught up on my mags.

Saturday before I went shopping, I stopped at Which Wich for dinner.  To my surprise, they now have bowls aka salads and I got the Mediterranean Turkey Bowl.  It was so good. Yes, the lady went overkill on my pepper.  I love pepper though so I didn't mind.  And can we talk about banana peppers?  They may be my new favorite thing.

I loved it so much, I made my own version of a Greek salad for lunch Sunday. Spring lettuce, cucumbers (how cute are my flower cucumbers?), grape tomatoes, turkey, Kalamata olives (I die), a little bit of crumbled Feta and Parmesan garlic dressing.

I also made this deelish egg white bake on Sunday for breakfast.  I loved it so much that I'm sharing the recipe. I paired it with a toasted piece of 45 cal Sara Lee 100% whole wheat bread and 1/2 C of watermelon. Now that's what I call brunch.

I adapted a recipe I found on SkinnyTaste and here is how I made it.  It's super easy.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Chop about 1/8 C of green and white onion. Spray a small skillet with non-fat cooking spray and heat the onions over med-low heat for a few minutes.

3. Add 1/2 C of baby spinach (large stems removed) to skillet and cook until the spinach wilts. 

4. Spray a small glass baking dish or a skillet with non-fat cooking spray (my preference is the olive oil version) and put the spinach/onion mixture on the bottom.  Next crack 3 eggs whites on top of the spinach and onion.  Add a few tomatoes to the top and salt and pepper.  


5. Bake for 17 minutes and you are done!  A  clean, all-natural and delicious breakfast. Vegetarian friendly, too!

P.S. I'm linking up with S, D and L!

TenList Giveaway Winner + Weekend Wrap-Up!

Last Wednesday, the $75 Visa Gift Card Giveaway that TenList hosted on The Bargain Blonde closed!  I went out of town Thursday, came back Friday and then went to Ft. Worth Sunday. Life has been so hectic lately, but today I'm finally able to blog again and announce the winner! Congratulations to #259, Katelyn ...

And TenList is so awesome that they upped the card to $100 just because.  Enjoy Katelyn!

Like I mentioned above, I went out of town twice this weekend and both times were for Stella and Dot parties!  

Thursday I went to visit my Aunt who lives about 2 hours west of Dallas in a small town and while there, I had a party with blogger Amy from Tales of Small Town Girl.  She was the tiniest, cutest, sweetest little thing ever! Here are a few pics from my time in the country.

Yummy! My Aunt made veggie omlette, turkey sausage and low carb toast for breakfast. Love me some home cookin!

Saw this sign while antiquing and I'm seriously regretting not buying it for my desk at work.

Downtown Decatur, Texas

The most delicious Club Cobb Salad ever!  Sorry, I'm not sorry but I did eat all that cheese.

I drove back to Dallas Friday evening and stayed in that night.  This Bargain Blonde was tired.  Saturday morning I took Reese to gymnastics, then Bear to the dog park, took a nap and then went over to my bestie Courtney's new house for grilling, pool time and a puppy play date.

Bear taking a dip in the pool

Red wine and fresh watermelon!  

Bear is OBSESSED with the water and he swims laps. It is the cutest thing ever. 

Sunday I headed out west to Ft. Worth for another Stella and Dot party blogger Mrs. Lia Joy from life is aMAYESing hosted for moi!  She had the cutest spread, baked a fabulous cake and even had homemade Sangria for us!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake (not on the nutrition plan, but so worth the cals)

The bevys!

The food!

If you follow me on Instagram/Twitter, then you've most likely seen me posting pictures about the Tone It Up nutrition plan.  I started the Tone It Up fitness/nutrition program last week and many of you have asked me to share it with you and post recipes to some of the healthy foods I've cooked.  I will be blogging all about it tomorrow, so stay tuned!!  If you have any fitness/nutrition related questions about Tone It Up or want to know what Tone It Up even is, leave me your question in the comments of this post!

Happy Monday!  Make it a good one! XOXO


p.s. Huge thank you to both Amy and Lia Joy for hosting Stella & Dot parties for me!  We have a fabulous hostess rewards program if any of you readers are from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I'd love to throw a show with y'all and get you hundreds in free Stella and Dot.  Just e-mail me!

Weekend Wrap-Up: Cinnamon Roll Waffles, Gymnastics and a Beauty Bar

You know all that Martha Stewart-esque stuff you pin on Pinterest and then forget about?  Well, I finally made something this weekend that I pinned ....

May I introduce you to Cinnamon Roll Waffles?

Easiest breakfast ever and my nephew loved them (as did Aunt Lindsey)!  You literally only need cooking spray, cinnamon rolls and a waffle maker.  Spray the iron, put one cinnamon roll in the middle, close the top and less than a minute later, it is done.  Ice while warm and serve!  Yum, yum in my tum!

I was a competitive gymnast for 14 years, so on Saturday mornings I drag Reese to gymnastics so he can follow in his Auntie's foot steps.  I'm kidding about the drag part because he absolutely loves it, which brings a smile to my heart. He is the only boy in the class.  Such a ladies man that Reese.

Saturday night was "ladies night" (although when you are single, every night is ladies night), and 8 of us girls went to dinner at The Porch, which is one of my favorite places to dine in the Big D.  They have the best artichoke spinach dip and pork chop.  The food is legit.

After dinner we trekked down the street to the self-proclaimed hipster bar called The Beauty Bar, a recommendation from our waiter.  How I had never heard of this bar, I do not know.  Clearly I don't get out much but I thought the concept was genius.  The decor theme is 1950s salon.  Think glitter walls, vintage furniture, and real, antique dome hair dryers as seating.

There is a DJ and a dance party, so we had some fun here and I definitely want to go back.  They even have a $10 Martini & Manicure Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Yes, please.

There are "sister" Beauty Bars in several other major U.S. cities, so see if there is one by you and have a ladies night out with your best betches!