I got home from work on Friday to a baffling piece of mail. A card addressed to me and the return address was also my home address. So I opened the card and it was signed with my husband's name so I laughed and said "why did you mail me this?" Not realizing that it wasn't even K's handwriting. Anyways let's just say his friends are joksters. And football season is important. Like rules their life important! I got the memo anonymous sender (Ahem... MJ!).
K and I then headed out to Ale House for some dinner and spent the rest of the night relaxing at home which was perfect after a crazy busy week.
Saturday was all about K's live fantasy football draft which the guys do every year. They come from near and far to set up their football teams for the season. It's a big deal for them and the ladies come to help out and hang out.
I'm not a football lover. Probably because I didn't grow up in the US
and wasn't raised with it all around so it's not something that's in my
blood but I'm married to an extreme football lover and appreciate it for what it is.
Plus beer and good food, right? I'll never be a party pooper and have
always enjoyed football parties even though I don't sit on the couch
watching it myself.
It was a fun day catching up with the girls and all the new babies while the guys focused on building their teams.
On Sunday we met up with some friends for lunch at Twin Peaks which is right across from the Orlando Eye on International Drive. It's a cool spot to watch sports and have a couple beers.
After lunch we stopped at World of Beer on the way home to take a friend visiting from San Francisco out for a drink. I tried a flight of wheat beers and waited for the rainstorm to pass.
The rest of Sunday was spent at home doing my usual blogging, laundry,
and food prep routine plus entertaining our visitor. We just grilled some steaks and corn on the cob for dinner and hung out.
How was your weekend?
Joining the lovely Biana for her Weekending linkup.
Friday is always a feel-good day that brings some light at end of the tunnel knowing that relaxing days are ahead. With it being the end of the month, I've been swamped at work so my energy has been low for everything else but hopefully the weekend will be a good recharge.
We've had our eye on tropical storm Erika which could be hitting Florida by Monday but I'm hoping it turns out to be nothing too serious. A work-from-home day would be nice though. Nobody wants to be driving in 75 mph winds/rain.
I've been on SnapChat for a couple months now but failed to actually use it. I'm terrible with keeping up with ALL the social media out there. I can't even keep up with Twitter which is terrible for a blogger, I know. Anyways I finally got around to doing my first SnapChat post this week. Let's just say it was a test run.
#WTFfortunecookie (and it was stale too so I'm calling this prediction null and void.) Feel free to follow me - emilyalisonb - and hopefully I'll get the hang of it in time for NOLA next weekend.
I also posted this photo of Lola on Instagram earlier this week not knowing it wasNational Dog Day on Wednesday. I didn't bother to post another photo on Wednesday cause this one was cute enough to last the week.
Favorite Recipe:
I shared this Shrimp Scampi Zoodle recipe on Tuesday. A light and healthy meal for summer.
Favorite Funny:
Favorite Giveaway:
Enter the Rafflecopter below to win a $25 Jamberry Gift Certificate so you can try out some fun and fabulous nail designs.
Out of the blue, I received a package from Influenster with a sample of Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs lotion (pictured on the right). I already had the Airbrush Legs Spray-On (on the left) so I'm familiar with the product. I was excited to test out the lotion because the spray-on stuff I bought was a little too dark for my complexion and it dries very quickly so it's not easy to rub in to tone down the color.
The light color that Influenster sent is much better suited for my skin complexion (how did they know?) and looks really natural on my legs. My goal for this summer was to work on my tan but the past few weeks of rain has seriously put a damper on any outdoor plans so my legs still fall in the fairly pale category. After applying the lotion though, they have a nice sun-kissed complexion which I really like.
I much prefer the lotion to the spray-on Airbrush Legs because it's easy to rub in and spreads evenly for a more natural look. I feel like the spray is a little messier to apply but it also doesn't help that I purchased the wrong color. What I like about both products is that they're water resistant so it doesn't run or make a mess if you happen to encounter humid weather or sweat in the summer heat.
I've worn the lotion out and about a few times and it lasted all day so I will purchase the lotion when the small tube runs out and probably give away the spray-on can to a friend with slightly darker skin (Kate, you want it?). Oh and yes that is an old faded tattoo on my ankle from college days, if you were wondering. It desperately needs to get a touch-up.
Have you used any of Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs products before? What did you think?
The
sample size Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs lotion was given to me
complimentary from Influenster to test and review. The review above is
my own honest opinion.
Amanda is an independent consultant from Jamberry who I've been working with to get fun nail wrap designs for different occasions. I recently posted my sparkly and festive nails for 4th of July weekend. I love that there are so many colors and designs to choose from and they aren't damaging to your nails. Plus they take only a few minutes to apply instead of going to a nail salon which can take 45 minutes or more. I wanted to introduce Amanda and Jamberry products on my blog for anyone unfamiliar with it or looking for new ways to spunk up their nails.
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Hi, my name is Amanda. I was born and raised in the Maryland area about a stones throw from Washington, DC. My husband, our three kids, and I have lived in the Orlando area for over five years. I do miss the cold sometimes, but don't miss snow storms! I love Jesus, spending time with my family, reading, watching TV and movies, Washington Redskins Football, and watching other sports as well.
What are Jamberry nails wraps?
Jamberry Nail Wraps are an alternative to polish and expensive salon visits! They are high quality, vinyl, heat and pressure sealed nail wrap that last for up to two weeks on your fingernails and up to four weeks on your toes! They are made in America, vegan friendly, gluten free, and non toxic with no dry time or chipping. They can be used on artificial nails and will not harm natural nails either. They're even safe for the little ones fingers and toes as well. They come in over 300 designs to fit the style and taste of everyone!
What made you decide to become a Jamberry Independent Consultant?
I was first introduced to Jamberry by a close friend from high school. I really loved how gorgeous all of the designs were, but I wasn't sure it would work for me because I had short brittle nails from years of nail biting. Plus, nothing ever lasted on my nails except acrylic or gel, so I didn't think these nail stickers would either. I was hooked when they stayed on for 8 days with no issues! Everyday I am constantly washing my hands, changing diapers, cleaning, doing laundry, and I am really rough on my nails. I was really impressed with them and decided to join for the 30% discount. A year later I have a wonderful team of 17 ladies I work beside and I love it.
What do you love the most about selling Jamberry nail wraps?
The thing I love the most about selling Jamberry, is that I don't sell it. I share it. I share the opportunity and a great product with people daily. I also love the opportunity Jamberry gives to help empower women to run their own businesses and dream big. I love showing people an affordable option that is stylish and practical. I also love that I don't have to have any inventory and that they can be ordered directly from the website and shipped right to your home from the warehouse in Utah.
Interested in learning more about the opportunity and joining my Jam Family? Click here.
How are Jamberry nail wraps applied?
The application method is pretty simple! That is one thing I am thankful for because I typically squeeze my application in once a week when I am catching up on TV shows I have recorded. You can watch our application video here or watch it and see the graphic below!
Also two IMPORTANT tips:
- Never touch the adhesive part of the wrap with your fingers or skin. You risk getting oils on the adhesive which can interfere with the ability of the wrap to bond with your nail.
- Always err on the side of using a smaller wrap. We like to say embrace the small gap. A good fit typically has a small gap and no one will notice anyway because it's on the side of your nails. This ensures it doesn't touch your skin or cuticles.
Are Jamberry nail wraps waterproof?
This is a definite yes! When they are applied correctly Jamberries are water proof. I have Jamsisters in Hawaii who live in the ocean and they get the same amount of wear as I do as a Mom who cleans and does dishes without gloves!
How long will the nail wrap application last?
An application should last up to two weeks on fingers and four weeks on toes when properly applied. I am not the best at waiting the full two weeks because I like change, so I normally change them out each week. The best part is even when you're ready to change them, they still look great!
What are some of your favorite nail wrap designs?
This is a hard question because I have so many! I love the Autism Awareness wraps because my son and daughter both have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Plus, Jamberry gives $2 of every Autism Awareness Wrap sold, back to the Autism Society of America. I am typically a big fan of mixing and and matching different designs and colors, but I still love classic and neutral looks as well!
I have two favorite removal methods! One is using our Lacquer Removerand there is a video here. It's so easy and normally go to method because it leaves my nails smooth and clean afterwards. My second favorite is the Gentle Removal Method pictured below. It's easy as well and healthy for your nails.
Are Jamberry nail wraps kid-friendly?
They are very kid-friendly. They have designs called Jamberry Juniors that are perfect for little fingers and toes. Because Jamberries are non toxic you don't have to worry about exposing your little one to any harmful chemicals.
Jamberry is only available through the Jamberry website itself, so you can order them here.
Thank you so much for having me, Emily! I really appreciate the love! You can enter the giveaway below! a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Thanks Amanda! I really enjoyed learning more about Jamberry nails and I LOVE the Mermaid Tails nail wrap design! Those are definitely going to be my next purchase!
I loved how this dish came out. It was light and flavorful although my initial recipe came out too watery so I'm leaving the chicken broth out of the ingredients because I don't think it's needed. Zucchini and squash produce quite a bit of water so that's good enough. I also left out the coconut oil. Clearly I was overzealous when I first started putting ingredients together. Butter is all that's needed in my opinion. You can substitute the butter with coconut oil or olive oil.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 lb. peeled and deveined uncooked shrimp
1/4 cup onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 tbsp Old Bay or seafood seasoning
1 lemon, juiced
2 large zucchinis, spiralized
2 large squash, spiralized
2 tbsp dried parsley
What To Do:
Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add shrimp to the pan and season with red pepper flakes and Old Bay seasoning. Cook for 3 minutes until the shrimp starts to turn pink. Add lemon juice, parsley, Parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes. Cook for an additional 2 minutes. Finally add the spiralized zucchini and squash and cook for 3-5 minutes until the squash and zucchini looks cooked.
Optional garnishes are grated Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Another relaxing, productive, and fun weekend for the books. We finally had a few breaks from the crazy rain that's been lingering the last few weeks so took advantage of some outdoor brunching and fun.
On Friday after work I met up with Kerri and some other peeps at The Porch for some happy hour and end of the week unwinding.
After happy hour, I picked up some takeout Vietnamese dinner and went home to hang out with K and Lola for the rest of the night. We watched the movie The Switch with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman (2010) and relaxed for the rest of the night.
Saturday was a great day to catch up on some sleep after the busy work week. It was also an exciting mail day. My first Amazon Prime Pantry shipment arrived plus all the fabulous goodies from Amanda's giveaway which were all gorgeous and I got to wear out to brunch the next day!
The rest of Saturday was spent being productive around the house - cleaning, laundry, exercising, food prep, etc. in preparation for our guests visiting next weekend.
On Sunday it was time to celebrate Kate's birthday with some brunch and mimosas downtown at 310 Lakeside. It was such a fun time catching up with friends despite it being a million degrees outside but we were just thankful the rain didn't interfere!
How was your weekend?
Joining the lovely Biana for her Weekending linkup.
