Meet Amanda from Jamberry Nails + Giveaway

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!

Mermaid Tales

Commitment to Charity

Boutique, Gelato, & Sorbet

 How do you remove Jamberry nail wraps?

I have two favorite removal methods! One is using our Lacquer Remover and 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.

French Tip Bows and Little Mo Mo

Natural Leopard

Rose Gold Sparkle

Rosy Leo

Where can you buy Jamberry nail wraps?

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!

You can also find Amanda on Facebook and Instagram.

Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles

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.

Enjoy!

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Weekends are best spent with Friends

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.

Get Happy, Be Happy

I'm always happy when Friday makes her appearance.

I don't mean to sound like a broken record but we had another extremely rainy week which seems to be continuing into the weekend to interrupt any fun outdoor plans. The lightning storm last night had me seriously scared our house was going to get torched. I'm an outdoor person and really in need of a beach break or something!

On Monday, some awesome news came my way when I found out I was the winner of Amanda's giveaway with some awesome goodies. The Gigi NY clutch is gorgeous (love the color) and I've been eying those Kate Spade glitter stud earrings since the Nordstrom sale was trending all over the blog world but I've had to limit my shopping since my goal at the moment is to save for two upcoming trips. I love that the earrings match the purse perfectly!

I hardly ever get to eat ceviche and never attempted to make it but this Ceviche recipe looks fantastic for a light and healthy summer treat.

I really like this quote for motivation considering the career I've fallen into. #alwaysneedmotivation



My only purchase for the month arrived in the mail last night - Mac's Flat Out Fabulous lipstick. The raspberry color is gorgeous! Of course I had to try it on right away and since I had no where to go, I walked around the house in my PJs with bright raspberry lips for the rest of the night like a crazy person. K even asked "why are your lips so pink?" haha

Since I've been full on planning our trip to New Orleans, I ran cross this article about Unbelievable Dishes Found Only In NOLA. I've spoken to a few other bloggers who are also going to New Orleans in the near future so thought it might be helpful for planning your trip.

And let's end the week with some funnies...

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Amanda for Friday Favorites.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

One of my favorite bloggers Pinky from Pink Persistence tagged me in her Sisterhood of the World Bloggers post and I wanted to share my answers to her questions. Some of this stuff I probably haven't talked about on my blog so it'll also help some of you get to know me better.

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging back in 2008 for work but didn't get into lifestyle blogging until Kate and I became friends. She pretty much convinced me to give it a try in 2012 when I started Martinis & Bikinis and here I am today still trucking blogging along! 

2. Who would you want to play in a movie?

I love anything with Drew Barrymore. I can't think of a particular role. Since I'm not a huge TV person, actors and actresses are something I'm not very in tune with.

3. If you could travel anywhere tomorrow where would you go?

My travel list is miles long but I would choose to fly over to Europe so I can hop around and visit as many countries as possible. The Greek Islands being the top of my list. I'd love to take a cruise that takes you to three or four of the islands.
 

4. What is your favorite/least favorite thing about blogging?

I love blogging mainly because of the friendships you make and the interesting people you get to connect with all around the world. As for my least favorite thing, I would say the time-consuming aspect to it especially when you work a full-time job. Sometimes it can be stressful keeping up with everything. I also struggle with how much personal information to share considering anyone can be reading your blog.

5. Where do you turn when you have writer's block?
I usually take a break for a day or two to regroup my thoughts. During that time, I find inspiration from Pinterest, things happening in my life and around me (Facebook sometimes), shopping deals, current events, and going through my photos, conversations with friends etc. 

6. What are your favorite kind of posts to read?

I like a variety of posts just like I write about a variety of things  ~ anything related to travel, fashion, recipes, personal life events, tutorials and funny stories are probably the top of my list. 

7. Is your hair your natural color?

Not any more. I was blonde all through childhood but my hair slowly starting getting darker during my teens to an ashy gross blonde/brown color so I've been getting highlights done for a while now. I've also used box dyes to lighten my hair in the past. I did try going brunette years ago but I don't think it suits me at all!

8. What is your favorite decade and why?

I've never really contemplated this but I'm digging this decade. I'm a lover of technology so it would only be appropriate. Although the bright colors, high-top shoes, big hairstyles, and puff paint in the 90s were fun too.

9. Have you dealt with blog drama (mean comments, dramatic people, fake friends)? If so, how did you deal?

Luckily I have not. I try to keep personal details about my life unspoken on my blog. I feel that's the stuff that leaves you most open to scrutiny but I could be wrong. I am an honest and transparent person in real life but I don't think the world needs to know the nitty-gritty of my life. Trolls will be trolls though.

10. If you could have any job in the world what would you do?

I would love to work with Children Social Services but I'm sure that would have it's challenges. A Crime Scene Investigator is also very intriguing to me but I'm not sure I could stomach it.

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I don't particularly like tagging others in posts so whoever wants to play along with Sisterhood of the World Bloggers, you can use the questions above and share your answers. I'd love to read about you so feel free to send me the link to your post!

Tomato Basil Soup

 Tomato basil soup is one of my favorite soups. I've experimented with a few different recipes but this recipe is probably my favorite and is very easy to make and doesn't require many ingredients or cooking time.

Ingredients:
4 cups canned whole tomatoes
4 cups tomato juice
1 cup heavy whipping cream
14 basil leaves, chopped
1/4 cup sweet unsalted butter
black pepper to taste

What To Do:

1. Combine whole tomatoes and tomato juice in pan. Simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.

2. Carefully pour tomato mixture into blender or food processors and add in basil leaves. Blend well for 2 minutes.

3. Return mixture to pan and add in heavy cream, butter, and cracked black pepper. Simmer over medium-low heat for an additional 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally.

You can garnished with shredded cheese which I didn't do this time around since it was just a quick lunch whip together for the two of us (with lots of leftovers).

Makes 8 servings

Enjoy! 

Weekend Happenings

Before I get into my weekend recap, I just want to shout out the birthday girl Kate...wishing you a HAPPY birthday today and wonderful week ahead! xo

About the weekend...
On Friday after work K and I went out to the new Duffy's Sport Bar & Grill in our area for some happy hour, casual dinner, and light sports watching to unwind after a long week. The firecracker boneless chicken wings were amazing plus you can't beat 2 for 1 drinks.

On Saturday morning I went to my hairdresser to get some highlights and cut a few inches off. Who doesn't love walking out of the salon with a fresh new cut? I took an obligatory selfie which I'm supposed to be trying to master per Kerri's selfie tips but still not quite there yet.

I was then off to Marshall's to pick up a few things and lunch was had at Pom Pom's Teahouse for an amazing turkey & cranberry chutney sandwich and lavender iced tea. Saturday afternoon was spent at home relaxing, blogging and attempting to take Lola for a walk.

It started raining and storming again on Saturday evening so it made for a quiet night at home. I used the time to start researching and planning our trip to NOLA. Thanks to all the ladies who gave me some awesome suggestions! I now have a game plan of places to see, restaurants to eat at, and we also have a historic ghost tour booked for K's birthday.

We did a ghost pub crawl in Savannah, GA for my 30th birthday a couple years ago which was a blast (Savannah trip recap) so I can't wait to learn more about the history and spookiness of New Orleans.

We also tried out Key West Southernmost Wheat beer on Saturday night which is delish!

Sunday was a great day for sleeping in and then being productive around the house. We had some eggs, bacon, and cantaloupe for breakfast, took Lola out for a walk, and then I finally made use of my Conair Foot Bath and did an at-home pedicure while watching Orange is the New Black.

It was the perfectly relaxing Sunday to recoup for this work week!

How was your weekend?

Joining the lovely Biana for her Weekending linkup.