Let’s talk about the sacrifice it takes, shall we?
Memorial Day Weekend is a lovely long weekend that allows us a taste of summertime fun with friends and family. From cookouts to lake days to road trips, there’s always something exciting to get into when life throws us a long summer weekend, and Memorial Day sort of unofficially marks the start of the summer season. But Memorial Day is – more importantly – a time for us to remember the sacrifices that have been made so we can spend our time exactly the way we want to.
If a picture is worth 1,000 words . . . this one is worth one million.
Originating after the Civil War, Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day, believe it or not. That’s because the Civil War claimed more lives than any battle in U.S. History, and we needed a way to honor the fallen by decorating their graves. Now a federal holiday since 1971, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May, and it serves to remind us that freedom isn’t free.
This weekend – and every weekend – I am thankful to those who have served our country and sacrificed their lives for my freedom and protection. Thank you to the men and women who are braver than I, stronger than I, and more worthy of tribute and honor than I. Thank you to our American Heroes.
I’m so darn proud to be an American! Happy Memorial Day Weekend, everyone!
Let’s dive on in to something quick, simple, delicious, and perfect for any Memorial Day event . . . my 10-Minute No-Bake Memorial Day Pie!
This 10-minute no-bake pie is the perfect dish for your Memorial Day weekend festivities! Nothing goes with Memorial Day like some Red, White, and Blue!
For the ingredients and steps it took to make this beauty in under 10 minutes, keep on reading!
Let’s talk about meeting at one of my all-time favorite places, shall we?
The Barre!
I recently had the opportunity to support cancer research by donating $20 to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (“LLS”) to attend an April barre class at a local studio here in Charlotte. My colleague, Lexi, has been working hard raising money this summer to support the LLS through her “Woman of the Year Campaign” efforts, which you can read more about by clicking HERE.
When Lexi spoke about her fundraising efforts during a morning legal department meeting, I was immediately interested in participating in her first fundraising event, primarily for 2 reasons:
1. I lost my daddy to pancreatic cancer a few years back and that experience will forever take up a huge part of my heart.
2. I danced ballet from age 3 until my college graduation, and ballet will forever have a huge part of my heart, too.
Just a few of the workout tools you may need for an Xtend Barre class!
We used the pink weights, the black strap, and the ball for the April class I attended for charity. It was SUCH a good workout!
I was of course intimidated to sign-up for what would be my FIRST workout class – wait, back up . . . my FIRST WORKOUT, PERIOD – since having spine surgery in February 2017. My incision was still healing, but my surgeon had just released me to a “slow resumption of all regular activity” at the beginning of April.
Beyond that, at each of our follow-up appointments, my surgeon had also repeatedly emphasized the importance of me getting involved in a strength-building workout upon my release, and Pilates was at the top of his approved activities list.
The #1 focus of any Xtend Barre class is safety, which is why every class always starts out with stretching.
Thank you to these strong, badass members of Xtend Barre Charlotte for letting me photograph them during their workout! You were all so beautiful and inspiring to watch!
Given my history with ballet, I knew I would be able to modify the movements if they were too much for me post-op, so I took the plunge and signed up for my first Xtend Barre class. After all, it was for charity . . .
Let’s talk about the best day of the week, shall we?
We made it to the weekend, ya’ll! It’s Finally Friday and the smile on my face couldn’t be any bigger! I live for the weekends because it means time with my little family – my hubby, Thomas, and our three big puppers – but I am especially excited for this weekend, because I’m sharing with you my FIVE FAVES to achieve the perfect wedding day glam!
Keep reading to find out the makeup products used to achieve this look!
Can you believe the lipstick and foundations used for this look are from the DRUGSTORE?
Two weeks ago today (has it already been that long?!) my best friend, Randi-Carole, married her soulmate, Josh Williams. I lost count of all the happy tears that fell on May 6th, but I will never forgot the feeling of love and happiness that surrounded them on that gorgeous May day.
RC + Josh tied the knot in Clarksville, Tennessee, where I met them in college! Thomas and I were so excited to be visiting our college town and we of course planned to wanderlust on over to nearby Nashville to be the foodies we are. My heart is still soaring over the fact that I got to road trip with my hubby, and I can’t wait to do it again next weekend as we head to Alex + Richard’s Memorial Day Weekend Wedding in Kentucky!
Bridesmaid glam for Randi-Carole’s wedding day! Take me back to this moment, PLEASE!
Beloved Besties of Mine: Please never stop getting married! It’s like a constant love fest + college reunion over here for me and Thomas, and we’re not trying to ever let that kind of party end.
In honor of the best day of the week and all of the amazingness that comes along with it . . .
Allow me to introduce a BRAND NEW Weddings & WanderlustBlog series:
“Five Faves on Friday!”
These Five Faves on Friday posts are all about me sharing my absolute favorites of the moment with you! I’m always obsessing over something new, whether it’s beauty products, recipes, clothing trends, books, hot spots, workouts, or anything else under the sun.
My goal for this new series will ALWAYS be making sure you’re 100% in-the-know about what’s new, trendy, and a total MUST-HAVE for any 20-something beauty like you!
It’s Friday, I’m excited, I feel relaxed, and I’m ready . . . ready to PARTAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
And also ready to dive right on in to my FIRST FIVE FAVES ON FRIDAY!
I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day! There’s nothing like holidays that call for spending time with the family – they’re just plain good for the soul. Thomas and I were lucky enough to be able to dash home through the beautiful mountains to East Tennessee where my mama lives on Saturday night for a fun-filled day spent celebrating her on Mother’s Day. Our pups got to run around on her land, swim in the pool, and just be mountain dogs, which I love to watch while sipping coffee (or white wine, depending on the time of day).
And we got to celebrate the one and only Linda – the funniest, kindest, strongest mama in the world – with a nice brunch at her favorite restaurant, The Peerless Steakhouse of Johnson City, TN.
All in all, it was too short, but very sweet.
Love you more than life, Mommy. I hope you had the BEST Mother’s Day yet.
We left with our hearts full of warmth and a U-Haul full of my dad’s beautiful desks – one from his dental office and the other from his home library – for us to keep and cherish now. Moms, I tell ya! They’re always giving, giving, giving, even on Mother’s Day, and that’s just one of the many reasons why they’re so amazing.
Now T and I have an excuse to redo our home office this coming weekend, and I can’t wait to share the transformation process with you guys!
But right now, let’s talk about the perfect wedding day jewelry for any bride-to-be, shall we?
Wedding Photography by Karen and Russ Fig of Photo Tech Photos in Kingsport, TN.
I first learned about Kendra Scott when I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina for law school a few years ago. My favorite shopping spot in the then-new city quickly became The SouthPark Mall, a beautiful Simon Group mall – AKA about as nice as you can get when it comes to malls!
One day while I was strolling through SouthPark, I noticed a giant bright yellow “Coming Soon” space that looked fun and feminine, so I walked over for a closer look. The space promised to be a jewelry collection by “Kendra Scott,” and the fine print directed passerby to check the company and collection out online.
Kendra Scott store in the SouthPark Mall.
A new Instagram account to check out? Potential eye candy obsessions if I check it out + actually fall in love with the feed? (You know the ones – the instant obsessions – @shopbando is a multi-color daydream with everything I need in life, from photos of fries to fun quotes about fries; @gypsylovinlight by Helene Janneson Bense is ultimate life goals that I’d just like to live inside forever; etc.) Well, don’t have to tell me twice.
@gypsylovinlight@shopbando
As soon as I found @KendraScott on Instagram, I knew it had the potential to be a lifelong love affair. The shapes – from the statement earrings to the statement necklaces – were not just lovely and eye-catching, they were timeless classics. They were both colorful and vibrant – true statement pieces that can go with so many ensembles – while also being romantic and flirty, something I can wear for brunch with the girls or a date night with my hubby.
I remember thinking after that first online stalk sesh that thiswas the jewelry line I had been waiting for: it was simple and chic – AKA all things prep – and it was timelessly styled, something that I’d never outgrow or get tired of.
Let’s all just take a moment for the fact that Mother’s Day is THIS SUNDAY, MAY 14th! *Nervous butterflies and warm, tingly panic.*
Springtime is flying quickly by and now Mother’s Day is upon us. AKA it’s now crunch time to plan the perfect gift for your mama, your wife, your bestie, your coworker, and all the other incredible mommies or mommies-to-be in your life!
Don’t stress for a single second, though, because I’ve got you. In fact, I’ve got you covered on literallyeverything you’ll need – from the personalized card, to the epic gift packaging, to the perfectly curated gifts inside, to the just-in-time delivery. That’s right – no need to factor in a last-minute shopping trip on top of work + everything else you’ve got going on this week!
Daughters, Sons, Husbands, Sisters, Brothers, Best Friends, Coworkers, and anyone else out there #blessed by an incredible mother in your life:
I am so excited and honored to partner with IncrediBundles for Mother’s Day!
Fun little fact about me: I am the ultimate shopper for pretty much any occasion and any person – engagements, weddings, bridal showers, birthdays, graduations, new jobs, you name it – except when it comes to baby gifts. Each mama or mama-to-be is different – no parenting style or nursey decor is quite the same.
I can’t tell you how many baby stores I’ve been in – with the baby registry in hand, mind you – and have just felt utterly lost. I can find the wine section in any grocery store, and I know the different areas/layout of Target like the back of my hand, but there’s nothing like the expansive, tall aisles of a baby store to make me feel like I have no idea where to begin, besides asking an employee for assistance (read: hand-holding).
Mother’s Day is another tough occasion to pick out a gift for, because let’s face it: no gift will ever be good enough for the mom in your life. My mom, for one, hung the moon, so you’re all welcome for that. (And I’m sure you feel the exact same way about yours!) My pregnant friends, well they’re absolutely glowing like the gorgeous goddess each of them is. My pregnant coworkers, well I just look at them and see Wonder Woman. Mommy bloggers and my mommy friends, well they’ve cracked the code to adulting and organization on a whole other level, and the honor has truly been mine to watch them flourish so wonderfully into biggest life calling.
No matter what role the mom(s) in your life play, we can all agree on one thing: they deserve the world, because they are the ones who keep ours spinning.
Enter IncrediBundles baby gifts, the perfect, adorably chic gift for moms and mommies-to-be this Mother’s Day! If you’re looking for something more than just the traditional baby gift basket – can we just all agree that wicker needed a drastic revision? – then keep on reading for more information about this incredible company, including the charitable donations made with each purchase and the very special GIVEAWAY going down right now on my Instagram!
Gorgeous silk ribbon, personalized card, description of the bundle you select, a chic reusable keepsake box, AND the goodies you choose inside. Oh, AND free shipping on orders more than $49. Talk about a gift that thinks of everything.
I recently had the (most fun day ever and the) privilege of shooting my good friend Sieana’s head shots. Let me tell you, there’s nothing like a sunny “Friyay” off from work spent sipping Ocean Waters and lounging in velvet chairs. Sieana is a total babe, but it also doesn’t hurt that she has some serious hair and makeup skills. I started coming to Sieana’s adorable in-home salon for my hair coloring needs about three years ago, and I love my sessions with her.
For starters, Sieana’s in-home salon has the most unique, Palm Springs back in the 60’s vibe that I totally love. Trust me, just walking into her home will give you all the heart eyes and a major sensory overload of the best kind. Her living room and salon are like being inside the most perfect Instagram feed.
Another perk of having a girl boss (AKA a small business owner) color + cut you hair instead of a major salon is the experience: talking about whatever you want while listening or watching whatever you want on TV (without competing with the all the blow dryers blasting in the salon); sipping on some wine (sometimes I even have my husband drop me off and pick me up so Sieana and I can really have some fun), and of course; avoiding super-high salon prices while getting individualized and complete attention.
I’ll never go back to where there’s random people’s hair all over the floor. You can’t make me.
I asked Sieana to give us all some major girl boss advice for the blog, and boy do her words inspire.
Let’s talk about one of my favorite things in the world, shall we? . . .
Popping champagne!
Cheers!
I recently had the honor of co-hostessing one of my best friend’s bridal showers at the end of March, and the day was truly such a dream. Randi-Carole, the bride-to-be, looked absolutely stunning – seriously, radiant – and the smiles and laughter of her friends and family that filled her gorgeous home that day are moments I’ll cherish forever.
Randi-Carole (left) was pure bridal goddess status at her shower – just glowing with love and happiness!
Fun fact: On my wedding day, while I was getting ready with my bridal party – sipping X-mosas (my version of a spiked mimosa – comment if you’re interested in a recipe tutorial!), Randi-Carole and I were talking about how much we both love champagne. We were “flirting” back and forth with each other like only best girl friends can do, telling each other how beautiful she looked.
I told Randi-Carole that if she loves champagne so much then she’s “my little Champagne Barbie.” She instantly loved the nickname and asked me to make it official in my phone. I changed her contact name right then and there, and she’s been Champagne Barbie to me ever since a few hours before I walked down the aisle that day.
When one of your bridal shower gifts from your mom is a bottle of champs with flakes of gold and a strobe light bottom. #ChampagneBarbie
I love that RC’s drink of choice is champs, because it’s mine, too. It’s such a perfectly light and bubbly addition to any celebratory occasion, and is one of the few types of alcohol that is easy on me when it comes to next-day pain. There is seriously nothing like that first sip of tiny bubbles somehow warming my throat and tummy despite the crisp coolness of the champs itself . . . especially after a long day.
Or in the morning.
Or at a bridal shower.
Or at literally any event where I can reasonably make any connection to drinking champagne. (This post is not sponsored by “champagne,” LOL!)
Adding a bubbly bar to a celebratory event like a bridal shower is the perfect way to create a fun and interactive beverage space for your guests to enjoy. Plus, by adding orange juice and fresh fruit garnishes to the champagne to create a mimosa, you will ensure your guests don’t unexpectedly over-drink, while still getting to enjoy spiked beverages throughout the event! I’m a worrier when it comes to my guests – I grew up with a mom who is seriously “The Hostess with the Mostest!” – and want them to have the best possible experience . . . especially including them getting home to their loved ones safely at the end of the day!
Rustic chic glittery gold bubbly bar beauty!
Today I’m talking beautiful bubbly bars for any event that won’t break the bank! Keep on reading for an easy how-to on how Keeley and I made this bubbly bar magic happen!
