The Tale of a Nail Polish Swap

A few weeks ago I signed up with Meghan at Shine On and Angela at Hairspray & High Heels for a nail swap they were sponsoring. 

My swap partner was Katherine at Bubbles, Babbles and a Baby, I think we were perfect matches! We both love Essie polishes and I am ABSOLUTELY in love with what she sent me. Katherine and I over the last couple weeks have emailed a few times and it was so fun getting to know her. In one of the emails I shared that I love all colors to neutrals, blues & greens and pinks and corals but had realized in the last few years that I don't really have any pinks or reds in my collection anymore {gasp!}. I definitely feel like that is a nail polish faux pas! 

Look at all of the amazing things that Katherine sent me! 

{goodies: China Glaze: Polarized, Essie: Secret Story, Confetti: Bayou Blue, Essie: Marathin, Nail Life Speed Demon Polish Dryer,  pedicure toe spacers}

It was just like Christmas in my little home after I opened all of my polishes and presents! I quickly un-shellaced my nails (the shellac mani had seen better days) and painted my fingers with Essie's Marathin.  I also used the Secret Story Essie polish Katherine sent on my toes! 

I still need to try the Bayou Blue and the Polarized but polishes but cannot wait! Ideas are swirling around in my head from pinterest boards + the polarized polish options. Perhaps this or this would be fun?

Can we talk about the the Nail Life Speed Demon Polish Dryer for a minute?! This polish is fantastic! Usually my mani's last 2-3 days and then begin chipping, but this is amazing, and my nails are seriously dry to the touch in a minute! This my friends is a MUST have in your arsenal of polishes!

Katherine, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of the pretty manicure/pedicure items you sent me! It was such fun getting to know you! I really need to learn some of your manicure tips! I will definitely think of you every time I use these fun products. 

I'm so thankful to Meghan and Angela for this fun link up party too! Head on over to Katherine's blog and show her some love and see what her polish package held! 

On Sights

A lot of my Friday - Sunday hours this weekend were spent at church since there was a wedding rehearsal+wedding+church+teaching sunday school during those three days, which also means I drove to church each day. Now church is located a bit in the 'burbs and is a bit farther of a drive since I have moved but despite that I love it's location.

 I love that I pass gorgeous scenery on my way, fields of corn, little ponds and fishing lakes, I love the extra time in the car to prepare my heart for worship and teaching & I love the barns I pass as I drive in and I love that it is a bit off the beaten path. I have driven that same path to and from church for three years now and in all reality the corn comes back every year, the trees along the highway are still the same trees as two years ago and the fields are still the same but I never get old of these sights. These sights inspire me and remind me of Gods' faithfulness and love, they remind me that He is everlasting and true. 

To me these sights are beautiful and hold a special place in my heart. 

gone to the lake

Happy Saturday 

I'm getting away for a little day trip and heading out of state for a family day at the lake. 

I can not tell you how much I have been looking forward to today, a little road trip, visiting one of my favorite places every and family. 

Whatever you find yourself doing today - I hope you have a great one!

This Week

Pop. Soda. Carbonated Beverages.
I have had only one carbonated beverage all week. It seems that I have unintentionally given up carbonated goodness for lent, and I like it! Maybe I am turning a new leaf, only time will tell, but I do like this new leaf.

Coats are sometimes fashion pieces.
A little fur is a beautiful fashion addition.

Other times they just ruin a good outfit and picture.

Thursday it hit 50 degrees in Minnesota.
I took a nap with the window open. Wonderful.

Sleeping in newly changed sheets - delicious.

Sharing a slab of chocolate cake is better with friends.

Wednesday.

It's Wednesday.

Wednesday means relax.
Wednesday means a apartment to myself to take a luxurious bubble bath.
Wednesday means the roommates are gone for the evening.
Wednesday means that we're halfway through the week.
Wednesday means that tomorrow is Thursday, more commonly known as "Friday Eve" in my book.
Wednesday means Friday is only 2 days away.
  Do you hear the heavenly hosts rejoicing? I do.
Wednesday means anything I want it to mean.


Tonight Wednesday means reflecting on the week, relaxing after a long day of work, curling up in a blanket and enjoying one of my favorite movies, The Italian Job. 


What does Wednesday mean to you?

2 Lil' Birds

Tell me these aren't the most darling thing ever. 

I just scored a pair of these at Pier 1 Imports for my kitchen table. 

Everyone needs cute salt & pepper shakers.

Spice & Everything Nice

Autumn Spice Latte

My new favorite drink of the season. Hands down beats a pumpkin latte. 

Friday Favorites: Written Words

For the Love of the Written Word

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{Magazines}

Those beautiful glossy pages make me swoon. They tempt me every time I am in a store, those beautiful pages, pretty things everywhere for the eyes to see, perfect pictures, tempting food. What is not to like?

I just noticed while browsing the magazines in Barnes & Nobel that they are not importing & selling magazines from the U.K. How awesome is that? The British version of Food Network, or of InStyle. I would love to see what people across the pond are cooking, loving and buying, talk about finding new things!

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{Books}
Books. I have a ton of you. I am always looking for something new to read, I constantly have a long list of books I want to look up, buy offline, and check out from the library.

I just went to the library... wanna peek and see what I picked up?

Magazines & Books

Friday Favorite

I get in the mood to have a glass of wine every now and then. Sometimes I give in to said mood, other times I do not.  

But in my fridge right now I have a bottle of Bayfield Wine

I also love love love spontaneity and friends

Put all three of those together and what do you get?

Wine with a friend spontaneously on your patio with the flicker of candles!

This is a beautiful life moment. 

A Favorite Thing

While in Seattle at Pikes Place Market I bought a print of the Seattle Skyline. Glancing at this whenever I walk through my bedroom door brings a smile to my face and brings me back to Seattle.

Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. 

Chobani

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Chobani Greek Yogurt

I am LOVING this greek yogurt at the moment.

The texture is what makes this amazing I think. So tasty and yummy. 

And better for you than most other yogurts. 

The downside?

 it is a bit more expensive but I am hoping to catch some great deals and clip some wonderful coupons. 

{This is one of my favorite things at the moment}

Black Decadance

I LOVE black? Sounds dreary right? But not so. I love black details, black frames, black touches off set by pops of color. 

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I have a box of black frames in my closet just waiting to bust out. I can't wait to go and play. 

Share with me one of your favorite home details that I could implement in my own home in transition. 

Hot & Steamy

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Most anytime I could do with something a bit hot & steamy... a nice piping hot cup of tea that is. But it's summer here in the midwest and it's another type of hot & steamy... more like sticky & humid if you will. I still want the yummy refreshing thirst quenching drink but sans hot & steam if you please. As I was telling curly locks all about my warming-water-to-seep-my-tea-bag-to-then-again-chill-it she blurted: "BECCA-THERE-IS-A-NEW-LIPTON-COLD-BREW-TEABAG-OUT-THERE-INDIVIDUAL-OR-PITCHER-OPTION!"

I WAS so excited. No more warming-water-to-seep-my-tea-bag-to-then-again-chill-it to enjoy REAL iced tea. How wonderful!

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So then I ran not walked to my local store and bought some up. How wonderful. Yes you can seep regular non-cold brew bags in cold water... but it doesn't work as well. And slip another tea bag flavor in with it for added thirst quenching abilities like orange mandarin tea, or blueberry tea, hmm the possibilities are endless.

Summer Bucket List

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SUMMER TIME IN MINNESOTA

this summer

I WANT TO go canoeing 

I WANT TO tube down a river

I WANT TO take a nap in the sunshine

I WANT TO have a picnic

I WANT TO feel the sand under my feet

I WANT TO lay in the grass

I WANT TO use the herbs I grow in food I cook

I WANT TO roadtrip to a MN destination for the day

I WANT TO wash my car outside in the sunshine

I WANT my hair to be bleached by the sun

What summer activity are you looking forward to?

These Boots Were Made for Walking

Goodbye Boots,

How I enjoyed our friendship. I remember wearing you through the mud, slush and snow you were good to me during the long MN winter months. But then I came across this hating article about The Dangers of Sheep Skin Boots so I guess you and I must part ways. The only consolation is that I will have several months to look for new feet loving foot wear for winter 2010.

Sincerely,

      your owner

At least I have several months to look as my feet will be living in these all summer long. I especially love the Old Navy brand that are slightly shiny/shimmery - so much softer.

On second thought I remember this photo from my Colorado trip 2009 of me wearing my beloved Old Navy flip flops on the Continental Divide as well as Pikes Peak. Maybe I don't need different winter foot wear :)

Picture Perfect

I love taking pictures, I always have. I also love to scrapbook, I'm not quite sure if I take pictures because I like to scrapbook, or if I scrapbook because I love pictures so. I went to Colorado for four & a half days last June and took 400-500 pictures by the end. Last month in Bayfield, WI I took over 250 pictures in 3 days! I.LOVE.PICTURES.

As much as I love pictures(my own pictures and others pictures) my FAVORITE pictures are the "smush-your-face-together-and-grin" pictures.They are honestly some of my favorite pictures I take. They are just so up close and personal and you can see how happy and almost unposed (except for the whole camera in your facething) and natural! I.LOVE.THEM.

For your viewing pleasure below are several "smush-your-face-together-and-grin" pictures.