Friday Faves

I feel like I can finally exhale with it being Friday and the weekend in sight. I was saddened to hear about two celebrity deaths yesterday and I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened. I'm sure there will be some updates today but with that being said, I usually try to focus on some positive things on Friday.

Here's what caught my interest and/or made me smile this week:

Dreamy Destinations
 I stumbled on this article showcasing 30 amazing places to visit in the summer which gave me all kinds of Wanderlust. Most of these places, I had either never heard of before or had no clue they were that gorgeous of a destination. Needless to say, my wanderlust travel list has just expanded significantly.

Enticing Recipes
If you like shrimp and have ever eaten at Bonefish Grill you already know that their Bang Bang Shrimp is to die for! We go there for dinner just to get this appetizer so when I found this recipe for Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos I was already sold. The best part is that it's Paleo approved.

Sweet Aromas
When Bath & Body Works has their hand soaps on sale and 50% off on 3-wick candles there is no stopping me from stocking up for the next few months. Luckily I got to place this online order right before I cut myself from shopping for the next month.

Pet Parents Products
I mentioned recently that Lola got extremely sick which caused a huge mess on our carpet and sheets leaving me feeling pretty grossed out defeated but the Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover I got from Chewy.com came to the rescue. It cleans up both old and new stains and helps to get rid of those bad odors. You really can't "un-see" the mess made by a sick pet but this pet cleaner really helps to defuse the situation.

Good Reads

Since the weekend is here, I thought this article was a good motivator to be productive on Sundays. I have a basic Sunday routine for cooking/cleaning/getting organized but there's so much more tiny things you can throw into the mix.

I hope everyone gets some sunshine and has a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with Amanda.

Loving Lately: Fashion

 

Spring is a tricky season to dress for here in Florida because it can surprise you with 80-degree weather one day followed by a random cold front bringing in 50-degree temps. Typically the days are warm and the nights can be chilly so you need to have to be prepared with a good mix of Spring and Summer outfits.

Over the last couple of years, Express has been my go-to store for good quality work and weekend clothing (other than my occasional bargain shopping at Marshall's or T.J. Maxx). I was recently searching for some outfits with cute patterns and pops of color that are comfortable and versatile for this time of year.

Blue Halter Romper  *  Floral High-Waisted Skirt  *  Marled Cowl Back Tee

Handkerchief Sundress  *  White Distressed Jeans  *  Chevron Halter Top

Elastic Waist Caftan  *  Deep V-Neck Bikini Bodysuit  *  Floral Sundress

My motto when it comes to clothing and shoes has always been comfort is key so that's what I was going for here. I know that anyone residing up north will probably classify these outfits as summer wear so I'm not trying to skip the seasons with these fashion finds. You can definitely be thankful you don't have to deal with the sweltering heat of Summers in Florida.

There's always that silver lining, right?

Rocksbox Finale

I sadly just cancelled my Rocksbox subscription after receiving my final box of goodies. I absolutely loved all the sparkly statement jewelry I received during the holidays and since then I've toned it down to more delicate/subtle pieces (mainly from Kendra Scott).

The truth is summer is coming up, life is slowing down (in the fancy department), and I simply don't have enough events to wear a bunch of jewelry to. The cool thing is you can take "breaks" and restart your subscription at any point if you want/need more pretty jewelry in your life for weddings or any other events.
 

If you're not familiar with how Rocksbox works, you can get unlimited designer jewelry for $19/month. You can borrow 3 pieces at a time (approximate value $200) and return the set at any point for a new set. The subscription includes free, prepaid shipping both ways (which saves a ton) and you can also purchase any pieces you love for a discounted rate.

Rocksbox Set #9
 

Kendra Scott
Jamie Silver Bracelet in Platinum Drusy

This bracelet is gorgeous and went so well with my watch so of course I decided to purchase it. Kendra Scott's platinum drusy stone is so shimmery and one of my favorites since I prefer to wear silver toned jewelry.
 

Kendra Scott

Elisa Silver Necklace in Iridescent Drusy

This Kendra Scott iridescent drusy necklace was very pretty too because once again I love sparkly stones. I wore it quite often for a few weeks but decided not to purchase because I prefer the platinum drusy stone as mentioned above.

Gorjana
Candice Shimmer Ring in Silver

This ring was very pretty but not really my style so I think I wore it once for novelty. It was a definite return but at least they got the silver and dainty aspect covered.

What I loved the most about my Rocksbox subscription was all the beautiful Kendra Scott pieces I received over the past few months (of course, I ended up purchasing 90% of those pieces). Once you're a Rocksbox member you can create a wishlist of items which your stylist will make sure to include in your upcoming boxes. This is key to receiving pieces that fit your style and are from designers that you love the most.

Here are some my previous Rocksbox sets and purchases:

one  /  two  /  three  /  four  /  five  /  six

Weekend Whereabouts

Good morning lovelies!
I hope this Monday treats you well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the break over the weekend to mentally and physically rest from work. On Friday evening, K and I went to Nona Blue for dinner to get my favorite Ahi Tuna Salad and a Moscow Mule for "dessert". We cook healthy dinners during the week so Friday nights I prefer to go out for dinner so somebody else can cook and do the dishes.

On Saturday I had an appointment to get approved for TSA Pre-check so we don't have to wait in the horrific security lines at the airport. K recently got his mainly for work trips so I wanted to have it as well so we can bump ahead of the line for our personal trips. After that appointment we headed to Graffiti Junktion for some lunch and a couple cold beverages. Our server was a trip and had us cracking up the whole time.

On Sunday it was time to meet up with my bestie for some sunshine at the beach. The weather was perfect! Sunny and cool, not 100+ degrees like it gets in the summer. The ocean was very rough so we just basked in the sun for a few hours (of course with lots of SPF) chatting, laughing and catching up on our life's happenings. We ended the day with a nice seafood dinner at a restaurant on the water.

 How was your weekend?

Joining the lovely Biana for her Weekending linkup.

Friday Faves

Thank heavens! I know I say that every week but that's seriously how I feel by the time Friday rolls around! Anyone planning to do anything fun this weekend? I plan to get some rest and make it out to the beach if the weather plays nice which it's been doing for the most part this week. So, as usual, just a quick weekly recap and some of my favorite finds.

Freebies!
Anyone run over to ULTA this week to get the free Clinique Chubby Stick? No purchase necessary so it's completely free. Go get it while supplies last. I went yesterday and it looked like they had a good amount left but that could easily run out this weekend.

Beauty Department
Last week I spoke about winning a box of goodies from Amanda's giveaway and I was excited to try the Pixi Rose Oil Blend. I've applied it to my face every night this week after washing my face. It makes your skin soft as a baby's butt face the next morning. I will definitely purchase this again (sold at Target) and the good news is it costs half the price of other rose oils I've seen in stores.

Food Trucks
The food truck trend really hit it big in Orlando a few years ago and has died down since. They still have food truck events on the weekend but it's hard finding one for lunch. Unless they pull right up to your office! The Toasted Food Truck blessed us with their presence on Tuesday and came bearing fancy variations of grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Win!

Shopping

I should say TOO MUCH shopping. The past two weekends got a little out of control with shopping in Coral Gables and then last weekend with the bestie. In my defense, mostly everything is from Marshall's or Target so it was more like out of control bargain shopping.

One of my favorite finds is this cute graphic tank beach coverup from Target. Having said that my spending freeze has begun!

Health Eating
I've been sharing some delish salad recipes for the warmer months ahead. It's already quite warm here so I've started making different variations of salads which I shared here and here.

That's all for today. Have a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with fellow Floridian Amanda.

Healthy Spring Salads: Part 2

Last week I shared some delicious salad recipes of the sweet & savory variety and I've since stumbled on a few more to add to my weekly meal plan so I thought I'd share again in hopes that it may help with ideas for healthy & homemade meals. The salad titles are clickable if you want to view the recipe.

Grilled Chicken & Grape Spring Salad w/ Goat Cheese & Honey Balsamic Dressing




Ultimate Spring Salad with White Balsamic Maple Dressing




Pear, Raspberry & Pistachio Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Strawberry Caprese Chicken Salad

Asparagus, Tomato & Feta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Spring Salad w/ Mixed Berries, Candied Almonds & Honey Citrus Vinaigrette

Lemon Poppyseed Broccoli Salad

Quinoa Salad w/ Asparagus, Peas, Avocado & Lemon Basil Dressing

I hope these recipes can offer some inspiration for anyone wanting to eat clean and healthy. Let me know if you happen to try any of the recipes. I'd love to hear your feedback!