Top 2 Tuesday...Favorite Drinks!

If you aren't linking up to Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday posts, you're missing out. They are too fun!

My Top 2 Favorite Drinks Are (alcoholic or non):

1. Diet Coke

(picture from Google)

I've said it time and time again, I'm going to give up my Diet Coke addiction but I can't. Or I should say I have no self-will. I honestly drink one, sometimes two a day. I know it's not good for you and I know I absolutely should not be drinking this stuff but it's a habit I have yet to kick. I enjoy it with lemon or with rum (ha!), it's so refreshing to me.

2. Tickled Pink Lemonade

(for grown-ups only!)

This is so yummy, and its also my favorite color!

Here's the recipe:

2 oz pink lemonade

1 oz X-rated Fusion Liqueur

1 oz vodka (I like good ol' Smirnoff)

lemon wedge

Perfect for sitting on your deck on a sunny day!!!

What are your favorite drinks?? Share some recipes!

Top 2 Tuesday...Random Facts About Me!

Taylor has a really fun blog, make sure you check it out!

Top 2 Tuesday, Random Facts About Me!

1. I just got engaged this past weekend!!!

It is a new and exciting chapter in our lives, Nick and I are so very happy:o)

2. I am a readaholic.

I always have a book to read on my Kindle, or I'll read a magazine, or a blog, the newspaper, etc. but mostly books. I recently started a book club with my coworkers at work (I work at Starbucks) and we are currently reading one of Oprah's Book Club picks: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen.

So far its a very challenging but great book to read!

Hop on over to Taylor's blog and link up!

Holiday Plans???

Hi Friends! I'm back!

This weekend was another busy one. My little sister, Deanna, made her first holy communion on Saturday. She looked absolutely beautiful! I have to say, helping her get ready felt like a flashforward to her wedding day but it was so special! We had a party for her on Sunday, with a total of about 90 people or so. Thank goodness the rain held off and the beautiful sunshine came out to celebrate with us! Nick got to me my stepdad's big Italian side of the family and a bunch of people from my Mom's Polish side of the family (its a great mix, let me tell ya!). 

Can you believe that Memorial Day Weekend is THIS weekend!? Holy cow! As we all know, it basically symbolizes the start of summer (especially for us up here in the North as we had a LONGGGG snowy winter). What are your plans for the holiday weekend? I volunteered to work Friday and Saturday so I don't have to deal with the hassle of traffic to go anywhere. Sunday and Monday I will be laying out at the pool and going to a picnic that my friends are having at their new house! 

The countdown is on, Nick and I leave in ONE WEEK from this Sunday for our vacation to North Carolina. Of course talking to my grandparents this weekend made me oh-so-anxious to get down there as soon as I can!

I planned the whole week for us so I can show Nick just about everything that I love about Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. I think the best part of our schedule will be the beach days that we get to just lay on the beach, tan and be two beach bums:o)

We could not be any luckier, we were offered the beach house next to my grandparents for the week for us to use while we are visiting. It really doesn't get any better than that. We were also told that the family who owns it (also my grandmother's former boss when she worked in PA) are looking to rent it for about 4 years or so until they are really able to live in Wilmington and enjoy it...hmmmm, I will def keep that in the back of my mind as something to think about when I'm down there! I'm really hoping Nick loves Wilmington as much as I do, I could see us possibly living there someday!

Sex and the City 2 movie comes out on Thursday!!!!!!! I am DYING to see it! I was always a fan of Aiden I thought he was super sexy and just a down-to-earth "real" guy. Obviously, I have no idea what happens but according to the previews, Carrie DOES run into him while on vacation (odd? yeah I think so too).

Hope your week is going well so far, if you'd like to join in a fun post today, hop on over to Taylor's blog and tell us what your Top 2 Favorite Dates were/are!

Happy Tuesday Friends:o)

Top 2 Tuesday...Dream Houses!

Top 2 Tuesday: Dream Houses

1. Southern Plantation Style

I

 I have ALWAYS dreamed of living down South, and I'm pretty sure one day that dream will come true. This picture has been on my computer for years, it to me, is the definition of a true Southern home. I absolutely LOVE it.

Of course, I would need a big kitchen...

.

...and a beautiful bedroom

   2. Beach Cottage

...with a beachy feel to it

 ...and a beautiful bedroom

To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun, visit Taylor's blog!

...and don't forget to enter in her giveaways too:o)

Happy Tuesday friends! 

Top 2 Tuesday...Favs About Summer!

 Top 2 Favorite Things About Summer:1. Warm Sunny Sunshine at the Beach 

Through and through, I am a beach girl.

There is no where I'd rather be than a place where my feet are in the sand or walking on the coast in the saltwater, sun on my face (anyone ready to go!?) and great warm weather (actually, for me, the hotter the better)

Gosh, life is just plain GREAT at the beach!!

2. "Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand, life is good today,"-Zac Brown Band

You know, I could go on and on about my favorite things in the summer.

I think most people would agree with me that summer just slows everyone down a little bit.

Maybe that's why I love the South so much. No one is in a rush to go anywhere, and they're happy about it! (Oh lord my trip to NC can't come soon enough!)

Maybe its the hot weather, maybe its the fact that school is out, maybe you're sipping on a great drink and listening to some great music (Bob Marley, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett), maybe you're just enjoying the summertime! Either way, it puts a smile on your face and I know for me, there's no better time during the year than June, July and August (basically the top three reasons on my list of why I want to be a teacher).

Happy Tuesday everyone! To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun, check out Taylor's blog!

Top 2 Tuesday

 You gotta give her credit! Taylor has been doing some really fun Tuesday posts!This one really made me think...it was tough! Visit her blog to join in! Top 2 TuesdayFav Items under $15 1. Glow and Steady Gradual Self Tanner/Moisturizer 

I SWEAR by this stuff. It is a regular body moisturizer that has a bit of self tanner mixed in with it. PLUS it has SPF 15 (even though I wear sunscreen all day everyday-no wrinkles here!!).

It doesn't get that funky awful smell that most self tanners usually leave you with and you notice color within 2-3 days. For me, I tan pretty easily so I noticed some color the following morning.

Keys to perfection:

1) ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS exfoliate before you use this

2) Use right after you get out of the shower

3) Use liberally-don't skimp or you won't see much color

4) Wash your hands after use then go back and put some on the tops of your hands

5) Voila!! You will look great!

You can buy it here.

2. Cover Girl Waterproof Great Lash Mascara

I'd be lying if I said I never used anything besides this classic lifesaver. HOWEVER, everytime I tried something different (and usually more expensive), I would always go back and start using this stuff again.

I'm one of those girls who hates going out in public without makeup on but I never ever leave the house without lip gloss and mascara on.

Cover Girl has completely mastered this mascara and thankfully, made it waterproof.

The famous pink and green bottle (which are also my favorite colors!!) will never steer you wrong.

You can buy it at any drugstore or beauty supply store such as Ulta.

Happy Tuesday friends:o)

Top 2 Tuesday...Beauty Secrets:o)

 Top 2 Tuesday: Beauty Secrets!! 1. Makeup Optional Kit by Philosophy

Ladies, if the topic today wasn't beauty secrets, I would NOT be sharing this with you (sorry!)

I am not kidding in any way shape or form when I say that this kit is amazing, and yet somehow magical too.

All of my face products are from Philosophy, I swear by them.

When they came out with this kit, I gave it a shot and I will never use anything else.

Steps to looking beautiful:

1) Start by using Purity facial cleanser

2) Next use the Microdelivery Face Peel by smearing the Vitamin C/resurfacing Peptide crystals all over your face in a circular motion for 30 seconds then leave on your skin for 1-3 minutes. Finally, apply a thin layer of the salicylic acid activator gel. You will see the process working, the crystals will foam and your face will get warm (not hot but warm-this means it's working). Leave on for one minute then rinse (I use a washcloth to make sure I get all of it off). YOU WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT AWAY!

3) Apply When Hope is Not Enough facial serum to make your skin hydrated and smooth.

4) Use Hope in a Jar facial moisturizer (another thing I cannot live without), I use it everyday all year round.

5) Lastly, pat Hope in a Tube eye cream lightly around your eyes.

*You will see that your skin is glowing (nooooooo exaggeration, its really nice to see!) and you will NOT need to wear makeup when you're done!*

You can buy it at Sephora

2. Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup

If you do not use this makeup already, go to a Sephora or Ulta store and try it out!

The year I started working as a waitress is when I started using this makeup and thank goodness I did!

You buff it into your skin so its not just sitting on top, caked on.

It has crushed up minerals in it which makes your skin glow.

They have a HUGE selections of colors that are guaranteed to match your skin.

If you are outside a lot, it has SPF 15 (sometimes 30) in it.

It is all natural so you can literally sleep in it without damaging your skin, plus its oil free.

It will not run off your face like most foundations because it is not liquid, even when you sweat (so you can wear it to the gym or on the beach!!)

Best of all, my makeup routine in the morning is now 10 minutes (start to finish) instead of almost 25! YESSSSSSSSSS!

To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun and share your beauty secrets, visit Taylor's blog!

Happy Tuesday!

Top 2 Tuesday...Magazines!

As you all know, I LOVE Taylor's blog. Hop on over to join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun and follow her! Top 2 Favorite Magazines(hmm this was tough!!)1. VogueI've had a subscription to Vogue since I was 16 years old. It was sort of my "bridge into the adult fashion world" if you will. I love all the articles in it but my favorite part of the magazine? The incredible, artsy photographs that these talented photographers take. They make ANY woman look beautiful!
2. In Style

 

Apart from Glamour, this magazine is always on my nightstand. I always get excited when I see it in my mailbox!!

Top 2 Tuesday and Weekend Update:o)

It's Top 2 Tuesday over at Taylor's blog and today's topic is...

Top 2 Favorite Celebrity Styles

(0h boy am I in trouble, hahaha this could be hard...)

1. Rachel Bilson

she's fabulous. her style is simple yet amazing. enough said.

2. Sarah Jessica Parker

I would be lying if I said I didn't watch Sex and the City for the clothes.

SJP pulled off every single look. In the show, these were my favorite outfits:

(the ever so famous Carrie Bradshaw tutu)

and of course...

(because she just...could)

To give you all a little update on how my weekend went in DC...it couldn't have been better:o)

It rained, it poured but I had the most incredible time visiting Nick.

We've known each other for almost 10 years, staying in touch after high school, through college and now during our busy lives while working. He's amazing. Truly.

It's so nice knowing that DC is only 2/2.5 hours away and I really could jump in the car and go if I wanted to.

He means the world to me and I can't wait to tell you all about the many things we'll be doing together:o) This weekend we spent the day in the city, visiting the Smithsonian museums, the White House, the Holocaust Museum (not one of my favs-it was heart wrenching). Nick took me to dinner at one of the oldest places in DC, right around the corner from the White House and it. was. delicious. SOOO good.

Saturday we went with a bunch of friends to Shamrockfest which is an all-day event dedicated to celebrating St. Patty's Day:o) The Roots performed, they are one of my fav groups so it was really fun being able to see them.

Sunday I took Nick home for the first time, introducing him to my Dad's side of the family at Sunday dinner and everyone just loves him:o)

So ladies, tell me, WHAT all did I miss this weekend!? I promise I will sit my tush down tonight after work and read all of your blogs, I'm sorry I was away for so long, I feel out of the loop! lol! Hope you had a great weekend! The sun is shining here in PA today!!!

Top 2 Tuesday...Fav Stores

Just like any girl in the US of A, I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE to shop. As a matter of fact, if I could, I would make a career out of it (don't judge, lol!)...

My Top 2 Favorite Stores Are...

1. Target

Ladies, I think I should just cave and buy stock in Target. After all, I am basically one of their shareholders anyway with the amount of money that me and my Mom spend there! I do not go to grocery stores anymore, they have everything I need. Clothes, shoes (a go-to when I KNOW I'm looking for something cute and affordable!) and accessories. My favorite time of the year is when they have designers, such as Anna Sui, do low-end but high fashion clothing for them! It's so neat to see what they come up with!

2. Anthropologie

I could walk around this store for hours on end. I can't wait to have a house of my own because I know a lot of my decor will come from there. It's so eclectic but classy at the same time.

The clothes!? LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I got a gift card for Christmas from my friend Jeff (he heard me swoon over it one too many times I guess) and I snagged this dress that I was eyeing up for a longgg time! Can't wait for warm weather so I can wear it!

(Remembering Violets dress by Burlapp)

What are your favorite stores??

To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun, hop over to Taylor's blog at The Undomestic Momma

Top 2 Tuesday...TV Shows!

Taylor over at Jimmy Choos and a Baby Too! does a fun blog for everyone to join in on, Top Two Tuesdays! Hop on over and check it out!

Today topic is...

Top 2 Favorite TV Shows

hmm...that's a tough one!

1. Keeping up with the Kardashians

I can't get enough of this show. I think Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Kyle and even Kris are absolutely beautiful. I love to see what they're wearing, where they're going and yes...the drama (sigh).

2. Project Runway

I think it's due to my large affection for fashion but I have watched this show religiously since it first started a few years ago. Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, I would love to meet them all. I have always wanted to learn how to design clothes so I basically live vicariously through these wonderful designers who work so hard to be the best. I prefer the styling aspect of fashion so my runners up are...

The Rachel Zoe Project

Real Housewives of Orange County

The City

and because I love Jack Bauer so much...24:o)

Happy Tuesday friends!

Top 2 Tuesday...Dream Vacations!!

My Top 2 Dream Vacations Are...

1. Turtle Island, Fiji

Remember when Trista, the first Bachelorette, married Ryan on national tv?? I thought they were the ultimate couple so of course I googled their honeymoon destination...

This is where they went. Ever since then, I'm still fantasizing over it.

Turtle Island is a remote island in Fiji making it one of the most desired getaways for celebrities. It's absolutely breathtaking. My favorite thing about this place? The private bungalow villas that are literally on the beach (seen above).

2. Rome

I have ALWAYS wanted to go here. I've decided that when I get married, this is where we are going for our honeymoon. I would wager a smaller wedding for the ultimate Roman honeymoon anyday. Italy is just breathtaking. The people are warm and inviting. The food is incredible. The wine...well, nothing compares to that. The art, the architecture, the history, the scenery, THE CLOTHES...I'm just going to stop here:o)

To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun, check out Taylor's blog at Jimmy Choos and a Baby Too!

xo

Top 2 Tuesday...Dream Jobs!

My Top Two Dream Jobs Would Be...

This was actually pretty easy for me:o)

1. Teacher:o) I'm going to school to be a high school US History teacher so this is obviously my dream job. I was never one of those kids who had an ambition for a different profession for every day of the week (a doctor, a teacher, a pilot, a vet, etc.). I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and now that I'm almost done school, I can't wait to actually teach!

2. World Traveler (ie. Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel) One of my favorite shows is Samantha Brown's show. She gets to travel all around and stay in the nicest hotels in the world. She eats, drinks and has so much fun wherever she goes! Plus, the best part...she does this all as part of her job, so she doesn't pay a thing! When can I start!? :o)

Happy Tuesday everyone! The snow has just started to fall here...we are expecting another 2-3 feet!

To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun, visit my friend Taylor over at Jimmy Choos and a Baby Too!

Top 2 Tuesday...Movies!

My Top Two Favorite
Movies are.....
(something old, something new, both sappy love stories*)

1. Casablanca

IF you have seen this movie, more than likely you HAD to watch it for English class in high school. That is the first time I ever saw it, but ever since then I've watched it so many times I can't count them all. Maybe it's because I'm a history major and I love the plot of the movie, maybe it's just because I'm a sucker for true love stories. Let's face it, anything that was in black and white film was awesome and much more dramatic!

2. The Notebook

Ohhhhh The Notebook. The movie that makes every girl cry over and over again. This movie got me right from the start. I LOVED the time period, the setting (the South--love it!), and the cast. Ryan Gosling is incredibly sexy to me in this movie. I love his character, Noah's, perseverance for love. Rachel McAdams nailed the part of Allie. The chemistry and the emotion between the two of them made every American girl want that kind of relationship (and kisses in the rain just like the one pictured above!). What I love most about this movie is the idea of really fighting for what you love, what you believe to be true. Whether in Hollywood or in everyday life, people always go back to their first true love.

What are your top 2 favorite movies of all time?

To join in the Top 2 Tuesday fun, visit Taylor over at http://www.benandtay.blogspot.com/