My $4 Smooth Skin Trick

I've been trying to pare down my beauty products and clear out items that are taking up valuable space.

I'm a total sucker for face products, especially masks. I purchased this charcoal and black sugar mask not too long ago, but I didn't always have the time to use it as a mask.

The other evening, I was washing my face as I normally do, but I decided to add in a quarter-sized amount of this polishing mask to my Philosophy cleanser. I was amazed at how much smoother my skin was! Since then, I have also used this mixture of my creamy face wash with the polishing mask along with my Clarisonic. It definitely adds extra oomph. My skin really seems ready to soak up my nightly moisturizer.

You can't beat a $4 addition to your nightly routine that makes your skin so smooth and exfoliated. I just had to share this great and inexpensive find!

Freeman Charcoal + Black Sugar Mask

Philosophy Purity Cleanser

Clarisonic Mia 2

Book Club

Since finishing The Girl On The Train, I've been itching to start a new book. I enjoyed that one so much, and I love the feeling of being completely overtaken by the NEED to read on and see how the story ends. 

Here are some items currently on my nightstand (The Devil in the White City) or at the tip-top of my Amazon wishlist. I'd love to hear your recommendations as well!

The Devil in the White City (here)
From Amazon: Erik Larson—author of #1 bestseller In the Garden of Beasts—intertwines the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.

The Light Between Oceans (here)
From Amazon: The years-long New York Times bestseller soon to be a major motion picture from Spielberg’s Dreamworks that is “irresistible…seductive…with a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page” (O, The Oprah Magazine). After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

Crazy Rich Asians (here)
From Amazon: When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor. On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.

The Book Thief (here)
From Amazon: The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

If you have plans to read any of these books or have others to recommend, let's hear it!

Charlotte Ladies!

If you are in Charlotte, whether you are a current Fickle member or not, please join us tonight in Dilworth or Thursday night in South Charlotte for a Fickle Frenzy!

We will be helping you list 1-2 of your items (bring them or a few photographs of them with you!), and you will have the opportunity to meet other members and the local Market Leaders.

This is a drop-in event from 7:30-9:30 both nights ... come and stay for as long as you'd like. We will have wine and some nibbles!

I hope you see or meet you -- please email me (alizadventures@ymail.com) for the addresses of each party. 

Saturday Sip + Shop

Sip:

Cucumber Lemonade Spa Martinis
recipe found here
Described as "crisp + clean" ... I'm all over it.

Shop:

 
Argento Vivo Initial Stud earrings
found here ... free shipping & returns
Mothers Day = May 10th! These would be such a pretty gift!

Five on Friday ... TGIF!

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, Darci, Christina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
Just had to share this adorable photo we posted on my grandmother-in-law's Facebook page last week. Yes, she's 92, on Facebook, and more active and connected than I am ... crazy. She loved the photo! She is my pen-pal and I just adore her. Both of my grandmothers sadly have passed away and Grammie has really helped fill that void with a lot of love and support. She is an amazing lady.

T W O
I recently hosted the Emily McCarthy giveaway and had such a great response -- sweet Emily wanted to pass this along to each of you. She's giving you 15% off through May 8th ... now is a great time to order a Mothers Day gift!

Have a mother who oozes Southern hospitality (whether she is Southern or not)? I bet she would like a sweet card letting her know that everyone sees that wonderful trait in her along with this cute brass pineapple trinket dish that is only $10 ... pineapples are the symbol of hospitality. :)

T H R E E
I can't even think about how a certain baby living under my roof will be ONE in a few weeks ... whoa baby. She's growing and exploring and all over the place, and this is a great article I found about fun and creative ways to play with her! Definitely a worthwhile read.

F O U R

One more baby anecdote ... hang with me. Recently, I picked up this Fisher Price Laugh and Learn home from a local selling group I'm in.

Let me pause here while I remember the girl who haughtily said over a wine glass at some point: "Oh, I will NOT be that mom with toxic plastic all over her house. I think babies just need a few toys at a time, preferably all wood and sustainable materials."

Ahem.

So Camille loooooves this house with all of its wacky shapes, sounds, and capabilities. It's two-sided for double the fun. The one we have is an older version which is now being sold here on Amazon for way more than double the original price, crazy! Are people really purchasing at that price??

F I V E
Reunited and it feeeeeeeels so gooooood!

I traded in my Elf blush (which ended up breaking -- what I get for paying $3) for my beloved standard, the blush that can do no wrong. Bobbi Brown in Pale Pink. Warning, it looks very Barbie-ish and you may be thinking "there is no way I can pull that off, or even have the desire to" but it goes on looking like a very natural and healthy flush. I love it and am so happy to have it back in my makeup bag. It is highly pigmented and lasts forever -- literally, I had my last one for years!

What's your go-to blush color? Blush is probably my favorite makeup item ... throw on a little blush and some undereye concealer and I'm good to go these days!

TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!

Trip To Discovery Place

Recently, we were invited to join some of our best friends for an outing to Discovery Place in uptown Charlotte. Discovery Place is a family-friendly science center. I'd been a few times before, the last time being when I was in college. I had no idea they had such a cute area for little ones!

I love their mission statement: We inspire curious thinkers to discover the wonders of science, technology and nature.

Here are a few photos from our visit. If you live in or around the Charlotte area, I would definitely recommend this for a fun way to spend the day.

They have a huge water table with two baby seats built in that look down over the entire water table. Camille and Gigi had the best time splashing around and getting SOAKED!

I know I will probably get some questions about Camille's dress. My mom made it! I'm sort of sad that it's probably time to stop wearing it -- it's a very fine-wale corduroy, and the rising temperatures just don't make that too comfy nowadays. But I think it's one of my favorite outfits she has ever worn, and I just love that my mom enjoys sewing for her! 

Earth Day ::: Garden Inspiration

Today is Earth Day and I am sharing some of my favorite garden inspiration photos! I've included some notes about particular plants that are growing in our yard that I love.

via

I love this trio of planters! In that front urn is sweet potato vine ... one of my very favorite "spillers" to use in a planter! It spreads so well and quickly, and I love the lime green pop of color.

Here is sweet potato vine with vivid pinks and purples. Gorgeous.

via

The pretty flower in the middle of this natural area is foxglove. These plants are dramatic, tall, and one of my very favorite blooming flowers.

Lovely, right?

via

Check out this pretty urn containing rosemary and mint. These are two of my favorite herbs to grow. Mint spreads like wildfire, though, and is best planted in a container of some sort. I've made some fun simple syrups to add to cocktails using both of these herbs. 

via

I'm starting to layer my planters with more and more plants. Look at this lovely one above with five different plants in one planter. The pink and green elephant ear leaves are called caladium and they are some of my favorite to grow from bulbs.

Charlotte has lots of pretty wisteria in bloom right now. My mother begged me not to plant some at our home -- while it is gorgeous, she warned me that it will take over like kudzu. It does smell great, though, and I snipped some from the church parking lot the other day to put in a vase in our kitchen!

Happy Earth Day, and enjoy the outdoors this afternoon!

Tuesday Ramblings

I love blogging ramblings. A glimpse into true life. So without further rambling -- here we go.

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Are you glad I didn't say "without further ado"? That phrase is overused in the blogging world.

Are you even more glad I didn't say "without further adieu"? That phrase is wrong, and also overused in the blogging world.

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I got so tired of Camille's overflowing closet that I pulled everything out of it, threw it on the ground, and then hung back up only what actually fit her and was in-season. Yay for an awesome closet again!

But now I have a huge pile of clothes that I can't bear to pack away but I also am not ready to sell, give to a friend, or donate. What if we have another child at some point, and it's a girl, born in the same season?

So now her overflowing closet is a massively huge heap on the floor. I got overwhelmed so I just closed the door to her room. Like that will fix it.

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Where are all of the babysitters in Charlotte?!

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We need a date night. Bad.

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Every time Ian and I feel overwhelmed and disconnected, we say one word to each other: MEXICO.

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In Mexico I will be getting a massage. My last massage was a prenatal one. It's not that I don't have time to schedule one now (Ian would gladly stay home with the baby) but it's moreso that I don't want to take the time away from her on a weekend. Plus ... still nursing and I'm sure as hell not going down to Ballantyne Resort for a few hours with a pump in hand.

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That reminds me, I actually did have one massage in September for a bachelorette weekend. Oh man, take me back to that weekend! Good times. I miss my college girlfriends who I don't see or chat with enough.

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We need more food in this house.
Feeding a baby who could eat mushy peaches and Ritz crackers at every meal is challenging.
Must hit grocery store soon and buy organic vegetables.

Sum It Up

Your thoughts about the Lilly for Target launch?

Sum it up in one sentence for me!

Five On Friday + Emily McCarthy Winner!

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, Darci, Christina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
I hit up Old Navy on Monday over my lunch break and scored this ADORABLE ponte-knit striped dress for a steal. It looks so tailored and pretty. I went with the pink and white striped one but am seriously thinking about getting the blue and white version, too. It looks great alone but will also be a work-friendly dress along with a cardigan. I'm so excited about this purchase.

ponte-knit striped dress

T W O
I had another great lunch with girlfriends yesterday at Dogwood in South Park and would highly recommend it! My barbeque sandwich was stacked high, and the fries were thick and hand-cut. Definitely will be back!

T H R E E
Earlier this week I finished The Girl On The Train (on Amazon, here). I sped through this book, couldn't get enough. I read it on my Kindle app, and it's currently only $6.99 for that version. Treat yourself to a BOOK for the weekend, trust me -- it's a purchase that I promise won't give you buyer's remorse.

I was thrilled to read that it is going to be made into a movie!

F O U R
I saw this on another blog the other day and laughed out loud. I truly think I need this for the summer. Dead serious. With white jean shorts and some gold flops, I think it'd be adorable. Plus it's cheap-cheap.

sale here for $13.20, free shipping/returns

F I V E
The winner of the $75 Shoppe credit to Emily McCarthy is....

Sarah BrookeApril 14, 2015 at 4:19 PM

Perfect timing! I'm planning a trip to Savannah at the end of May and will definitely check out her shop!

I'm obsessed with the lucite bamboo flamingo serving tray!

Congratulations Sarah, email me so I can put you in touch with the fine folks at Emily McCarthy!
TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!