Friday Favorites!

And the worst blogger award goes to ....


me.


Snooki waaaah!  I sucked this week at blogging.  I don't know what to tell ya, though.  Some weeks you're on your game, some weeks you're not.  This week was not my week.  However, I do think I have a pretty good Friday Faves coming atcha right now.  Maybe this will make-up for my sub-par blogging this week?  And that announcement?  It's coming THIS MONDAY.  I swear on all that is holy.  

Favorite Coffee Mug

Homegrown Monogram Mug - $8, Anthropologie

I did a little in-store Anthro browsing on Monday, and this mug caught my eye so I snapped a pic. I didn't buy it, but I've been dreaming about it ever since.  It's my mission to purchase it today and I've also decided I'm going to start collecting coffee mugs.  That is going to be "my thing".  I collect nothing and I'm obsessed with cute coffee mug, so coffee mug collection it is.  Anyone out there wanna support this new habit of mine and send me some to die for mugs??  I will not object.  

Favorite Beauty Buy

Sephora's Sun Safety Kit, $30 (out of stock online)

I'm a HUGE advocate for safe sun practices, so when a Sephora e-mail arrived in my inbox last weekend advertising this 17-piece collection of SPF essentials and safe self-tanners for only $30, I knew I had to have it.  And have it I do!  I called my local Sephora on Monday to see if they had any left, and to my delight they had 9!  I promptly asked them to put one on hold for me and I immediately took my badonk up to Sephora to purchase this sun safety goodness.  Review to follow.  

Favorite Wine(s)

Loredona Riesling [5 Stars in Restaurant Wine Magazine]
 and 
HandCraft Chardonnay [89 pts and Gold in Consumer Choice Awards]

One of my BFF's hubs works for the winery that distributes these wines, so he recently sent me home with two bottles to try.  BTW, distributing wine = dream job.  They have so much wine in their house, it is not fair.  

So last night I had a glass of the Handcraft Chardonnay (citrus, peach, honey, pear and creamy marshmallow flavors), and I had a glass of the Loredona Monterey Riesling (nectarine, lime, honeydew melon and candied orange peel flavors).  It's officia!  These are going to be my staple summer wines.  The fruity flavors are so smooth and the wines are not TOO sweet, which I hate.  One word: DEE-LISH.  And by the way, when I say glass I mean glasses.  Duh. 

Favorite Non-Reality TV Show

GCB on ABC Sunday's night @ 9 p.m. CST 

I've got to tell you ladies, I did not want to like this show because I was convinced it was going to make Dallas look absolutely ridiculous and po-dunk like 99.9% of the shows out there.  While this show is certainly over-the-top, I find it to be hysterical and can't get enough.  

GCB is based on the "semi-autobiographical" novel Good Christian Bitches by Kim Gatlin, and the series centers on Amanda Vaughn, a recently widowed woman, who moves her family back to the upscale Dallas neighborhood where she grew up.  Go here to read more about the premise of GCB.  

Oh and did I mention this fine specimen is on the show?  Easy on the eyes in an understatement.  Hello Eric Winter!  I am not happy you are married and with child.  Le sigh.

Favorite Reality TV Show

Yes, these two sisters voluntarily wore these elegant ensembles as bridesmaid dresses. 

Season 2 of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, TLC

I realize this is not normal, but I'm fascinated with gypsies.  I blogged about them last year when the series first came out and have been obsessed ever since.  Ask anyone who knows me IRL.  If you get me started on the topic of gypsies, I will spout out facts like I'm a walking wikipedia.  Like the fact that the second largest U.S. population of gypsies is in White Settlement, TX, which is relatively close to where I live. 


Mark my words: I will meet a gypsy and I will die a happy lady.  Oh um, and My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding (a spin off of the original series) started last week.  Jesus loves me.  

Favorite Necklace

J Crew Bubble Necklace dupe, ebay $14.50 (shipping included)

The iconic J Crew bubble necklace retails for $150 and I'm sure you have seen it ALL OVER the blog-o-sphere.  It seriously is a sensation.  Well, what's even more sensational is the fact that there is a ebay seller in Hong Kong who sells an identical dupe for only $14.50.  Yah, I said Hong Kong.  Stay with me now because this seller is legit.  I ordered one and it arrived this week and I got SO many compliments on it within the first 5 minutes after stepping into the office.  EVEN FROM MEN.  Like, what?  Anywho, I ordered another one in red so I can wear it with black for Texas Tech games.  

I was skeptical about a seller in Hong Kong sending me a "dupe" (aka knock-off) but the quality is amazing. I highly recommend you order one. I'm tempted to order even more. Tell me no! Click here for the seller, just be prepared to wait a few weeks (to a month) to get it.  Patience is a virtue ladies.  I promise, it is worth the wait.  

Favorite Movie Trailer 

Anddddd ... you. are. welcome. Is it hot in here or is just me? Raise your hand if you'll be there opening night.  *HAND RAISED*

I survived back to back wedding weekends

It's Monday!  Who is excited? Not me. Just being honest. Let me know when it's Friday at 5 p.m.

I had a semi-uneventful weekend in comparison to Vegas the weekend before.  Friday night I perused the Internets (aka did some light Facebook stalking) and gave myself my favorite mud mask.  I got a text from my friend telling me to remove this from Facebook.  Aint no shame in my game girl.

Saturday I sold a dress and a few necklaces to Platos Closet.  I made $11 bones and some change, which I immediately blew on Starbucks and Jamba Juice.  I felt a bit scummy doing this, but whatevs.  That's a free breakfast and lunch and I'll take it.

I gave all my make-up brushes a nice bath before I had to start getting ready for my friend Caroline's wedding that evening. Best way to clean brushes is baby shampoo. I've talked about that before here.

These are the 2 love birds who tied the knot.  Meet my college friend, Caroline and her boo, Taylor.

Here she is walking out with her Dad. I love how happy she looks!

And some pictures from the evening:

[FYI - My dress is from H&M and it is a very pale pink with a sheer overlay.]

That's Courtney and I covered in red wine.  I shouldn't be allowed around anyone in light colors when red wine is anywhere in my vicinity.   In my defense, this was all Courtney's fault.  I swear. 

After a late Saturday night, I spent almost my entire Sunday doing this:

Could my nephew be any cuter?  The answer is no. 

Last but certainly not least, I'm also over at This Won't Hurt a Bit today guest posting as part of Renee's new Monday series called The Music Files.  Go check it out to see what my favorite song is and why!

Bargain Blonde out.

e.l.f. mineral eye shadow review

If you're new around here, there are a few important things you should know about me:

1. My nephew Reese is the love of my life.  This is the handsome 4-year-old I'm referring to:

2. I am a lush and  love my wine.

white wine + frozen strawberries.  Try it and thank me later.

3. I have a reality TV addiction worse than any you've probably seen. You name it, I watch it.

4. e.l.f. make-up is the cheese to my wine

My love for e.l.f. cosmetics runs deep and if you need to catch up on my past e.l.f. reviews, then take yourself here, here, here, here and here.

Most recently I discovered e.l.f.'s mineral eye shadow after I took advantage of an online promotion. Ten mineral eye shadows for only $10?  I could not say no.  It would have been unconstitutional.

All e.l.f. mineral makeup is 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes. 

Above you can see the colors I chose and the swatch of each on my arm.  I absolutely love the pigment and how long lasting these shadows are.  This past Friday I wore innocent (all over) and  blended confident and caffeinated on my lids.

Here is how I looked.  Please excuse my depressed expression.  No, my dog did not just die.

Peace.

The bottom line here is that e.l.f. and I are still going strong and they put a spark back in our relationship with these mineral eye shadows.  I have not seen them in Target, so you may want to check out their online specials if you want to scoop some up.

p.s. I'm no expert, but IMHO, a lot of the e.l.f. mineral colors look like dupes for Urban Decay's Naked palette.  And obviously WAY cheaper. Just sayin.