Spring Giveaways!

OK I had to delete my earlier post on this because my blogger is being super wonky and not letting me format it the way that I want. So here we go, ladies...a run-down of all the fabu giveaways going on in Blogland right now. Please don't enter any of them :)

1) adorable and witty bride-to be elefantitas alegres is giving away a tres chic bikini bag.
2) Amanda is giving away a subscription to MS Living!
3) Southern Belle is giving away a Bliss travel kit. I want to go to there.
4) In honor of her 200th(!) post, Preppy 101 is giving away adorbs reuseable shopping bags AND a scalloped-edge memo board. Presh.
5) Last but certainly not least, Miss KAG is giving away a boatload of Gemvelopes.

ok ladies...i've done my part for multiple entries. now i'm begging the rest of you to scoot on over to these lovely blogs, read, and admire the giveaway from afar. i want all of this loot to myself!

Just saying...

is anyone else TERRIFIED of her eyebrows?  look at those suckers!  they clear her sunglasses by a good 3-4 inches.  that is just not natural.

Wednesday Confessional

I do not own a single, solitary pair of shorts.

I am normally a dress or skirt kind of girl. The only time this varies is for work, when in the winter it's wool pants and in the summer it's linen pants. I just think dresses are so much easier and they look so chic with so little effort.

However, with this recent bout of gorg weather, I have seen lots of gals looking oh so cute and comfy {and dare i say glamourous} in shorts. I don't really consider myself a casual person {unless you catch me at home about 10 minutes after work. then i'm in sweats and a big ole butterfly clip circa 95}. I'm pretty much always in a dress and heels.

But I'm so intrigued by how great everyone looks in their shorts that I'm revisiting the idea of them. I want to buy a few pairs, but don't even know where to start. That's where you come in: any particular brands, styles, materials, colors, etc. that you heart? Help a girl out!

It's a wonderful weekend...

...to be a Wahoo!!  Not only did we beat Maryland in our last home b-ball game of the season {and subsequently prevent them from going to the Big Dance...muahahahah}, but the men's and women's lax teams kicked some serious boo-tay this afternoon.  After indulging out inner fat kids at Chipotle {mmmm chips and guac}, friend A and I went to the men's lax game this afternoon. With the exception of sitting next to the WRONG girl {she spent a good 30 minutes yammering on and on and on about how she was "not not talking to Meghan because it's not like we talk every day anyways"....seriously, we knew every details of this gal's life by the end of the first quarter}, we had a total blast.  I even got a little shoulder tan!! My 'Hoos remain #1!!! 

 

How was your weekend? Mine was oh-so-fabu.  I painted my bedroom yesterday morning and it turned out beautifully.  Plus, I mean, this weather?!?!  Per-fec-tion.  Loves it.

Nummy in my Tummy

First, a little food-related story to make you chuckle. The ridiculousness of this is almost overwhelming. Preppy in the City, if you or the boy see Latressa while you're in Florida, please thank her for making my week that much more entertaining!

Second, a recipe! I love, love, love to cook and sadly rarely have the time {or kitchen real estate} to do much of it. But this is one of my favorites and takes zero time. It's less of a recipe than it is instructions on how to throw a bunch of stuff together.

Belle's Favorite Salad:
Measure 1 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil {i love to abbrev but i loathe rachael ray, so i'm spelling it out} and 1 1/2 tblsp. balsamic vinegar into bottom of a tupperware container. add salt and pepper and whisk all together. next add half a container of salad greens of choice {i alternate between spinach and arugula}. then add a handful of yummy cheese {i alternate between gorgonzola and goat cheese. mama belle prefers feta. whatever blows your dress up}. next add fruit of choice. it is best with strawberries, but i also do blueberries or raspberries in the summer. when berries aren't in season, i go back and forth between pears, dried cherries/craisins, or mandarin oranges. then add half of a sliced avocado sprinkled with lemon juice. add protein {i normally buy those pre-roasted chicken strips from the deli aisle, but if i have leftover salmon, that's also really good}. sprinkle with a teensy bit of nuts {sunflower seeds are my fave}. Put lid on container, take to work, stow in fridge. When ready to eat, take it out and give it a good shake to mix it all up. Voila!

I know with all of the variations this is like 10 recipes, but that's why I love it!! I could eat some version of this every day and not get tired of it. Plus it's super healthy and really fills you up. Also, eating half a container of spinach makes me feel better about the 4 spring oreos i'll be having for dessert. teehee.

Wednesday Confessional

I HATE Vera Bradley bags.

I know this will probs alienate a few of you and no offense, but they are terrible. Now not all of them are so bad. About 7 years ago I actually owned and carried a VB bag proudly through my high school halls. I would not be caught dead carrying it today, but I still think the old patterns are acceptable. The mark of a true VB fan is how old the pattern is.

What I LOATHE are these new, over-the-top, Rainbow Brite pieces of terrible. And these things aren't cheap! You could get a decent Coach or Banana Republic or J.Crew bag for the price tag of one of these, and you are paying to be the opposite of stylish. And I'm yet to see one person who only has one piece of their chosen pattern. I have to wear sunglasses when I go to my parents' church because every female, from age 12-70, has the tote bag...and the purse...and the eyeglass case...and the make-up bag...and heavens knows whatever little bits of ugly they paid way too much money for.

Ladies, I am begging you. Chill with this quilted fugliness. My retinas cannot deal with one more paisley assault on a Sunday morning. Take all those bags, put them on Ebay, and buy yourself something pretty.

Happy Hump Day :)

penny pinching

ok ladies, time to talk about something super unglamorous, non-chic, and downright soccer mom-ish. that's right....it's time to talk about coupons.so here's the thing...i'm a big believer in never paying retail. i'm normally a pro at this when it comes to my wardrobe. i am the queen of sales, e-bays, and using all of the discounts/free shipping offers for online shopping. occasionally i make an exception {see: tory flats from yesterday's post}, but i'm generally pretty hard and fast on this.

not so much when it comes to other purchases. i am TERRIBLE about hunting bargains and using coupons for groceries, etc. it's not that i don't want to. as far as i'm concerned, every penny saved on groceries is another penny towards a new pair of shoes. i just don't really have a strategy. i get coupons and shove them in my purse and forget about them. i forget to read the sunday paper ads for who has a deal on what. you get the picture.

so i need help! first of all, any suggestions on where a gal can get a cute coupon organizer? my mom has one and it seems very handy, but um....it's super fug, so that won't work. but i think if i had a pretty one i would be more likely to fill it/use it. any other suggestions? i know some of you ladies are pros at this, so ideas on how to be a bit more budget-conscious at the ole Wally*World or Kroger? much obliged.

{p.s. lean cuisines are $1.99 at Kroger. get 'em while they're hot....er, frozen.}

happy tuesday!