Wednesday Randomnity

Is "randomnity" a word?
Let's go with it.

First of all, I received the first sneak preview the other day from our recent family photo session. Thanks to all of you on Snapchat (@alizadventures) who helped me decide to wear my hair down! I think it looks more natural than it would have looked up. And I wouldn't have been able to pull off those fab earrings with my hair up, I don't think. They are actually a find from JCPenney a few years ago! They are nice and heavy and really well-made. Charlotte looks SO cute here. Pretty blue-eyed girl.

Next up, a new mascara. I recently purchased a Cover Girl two-step mascara, but it was waterproof and a royal pain to try to remove each night. I dreaded washing my face for that reason. Plus, after applying it, it always ended up on my eyelids and was a BEAST to try to get off. So I exchanged it the other day for L'Oreal Voluminous Super Star mascara. I'm going to link it to Target HERE because it's $9.99 there and I actually paid $11.99 for it at the drugstore, so there's a little cost savings. :) I'm liking it a lot so far and I believe that these two-step mascaras are the best way to achieve long lashes. 

Lastly, I was invited yesterday to a media preview (gah, I am embarrassed at how cool I feel saying that) of the new GW store. GW is a specialty shop associated with Goodwill. Goodwill Industries here in Charlotte is doing a fantastic job to attract shoppers and support local job-seekers! 

So, what's cool about GW?

Well, they funnel out all of the higher-end, name brand items that have been donated to Goodwill and they pull them all under one roof. AND - the items keep their low Goodwill pricing.

Yesterday at GW I scored this Tracy Negoshian dress for $8.99. I also bought a gorgeous geometric print J. McLaughlin wrap shirt for $12.99.

Having major regret over not scooping up this tassel wastebasket cover for $4.99.

The sunshiney yellow pouf was $49.99.

GW is a permanent store (not a pop-up like their installment last fall) and it is officially open TODAY! It's located at 5301 Wilkinson Boulevard. Definitely worth checking out if you love a deal like I do. Here's a recent article with more details. 

See you all tomorrow ... I have a great and easy recipe to share!

DIY: A Professional Looking Flower Arrangement

Our knockout roses in the backyard are looking amazing this season. Wish I could take credit, but it's all my hubby (not kidding). He's like the manliest man around, and this guy can grow some pretty roses. I mean, he's not reading rose cultivation books in his free time or harvesting his own hybrids, but he does a great job with keeping our plants fertilized and pruned.

I love clipping some flowers from the insides and bottoms of the bushes so that they stay lovely outdoors but we can enjoy some colorful blossoms indoors. I have such an easy trick for creating a professional looking arrangement in your home.

Gather your blooms along with a vase (here is the exact one I have) and some clear tape. You are going to use the clear tape to create a grid on the vase, like you can see in these photos.

Reasons for the tape grid? 

1) With a wide-mouthed vase like this, it keeps the stems standing upright and not flopping around.

2) It ensures that your arrangement will look stunning from ALL angles. And that's the key for a nicely done, quality arrangement. 

Start sticking the clippings into the grid. It may take a few times to see how you like the placement the best. I wanted a very organic, asymmetrical look for this arrangement. Make sure to take a few steps backward from time to time so that you can see how it looks from afar.

And I mean ... THAT'S IT. 

So easy, right?

I added in some Purple Wandering Jew clippings at the back to add a little contrast and some dimension. I really love the way it looks. Plus, I'm curious if it will root in the water, because Ian found some pieces that fell off in our yard and rooted!

I think this arrangement looks so pretty on our entryway table, and considering that it was free to put together and completely easy, it's a major win in my book!

+++++

Create your own version with these tools:

Square glass vase - On Amazon HERE in 3 sizes, and Prime eligible

I have the 5x5x5 size.

I am also crazy in love with this rectangular version.

It's on Amazon HERE and also Prime eligible.

And if you really want to be a bad-a$$, then here's a Kate Spade tape dispenser for $24.

I mean ... you.are.cool.

Roll Call!

For a little fun this Monday morning, let's do a roll call!

I was laying in bed this morning thinking how much I missed the days of commenting a lot on blogs. But with the ease of reading blogs on-the-go nowadays, I find myself engaging fellow bloggers a lot less. I used to read blogs strictly from my desktop computer, where commenting was easier. These days I'm reading them on my iPad while feeding the baby or scrolling through them on my iPhone in the checkout line of the grocery store. But, I still think the best part about blogging is engaging with others ... so let's do that.

Oh also? There will be little prizes involved. So ... play along!

(Hey you ... miss "I never comment on blogs, ever" - chime in today, mmmmkay?)

Please comment below with:

Your Name

Where You Live

What You Ate For Breakfast

That's it. Easy peasy!

Saturday Sip and Shop: French Edition

Sip:

Blackberry French 75
Recipe HERE from Heather Christo
I honestly don't know if I've seen a prettier cocktail.

Shop:




Corinne Chandelier (HERE) 
and 10% off currently with code SAVEBIG10
Absolutely in love with this French style chandelier.
We are looking at some new light fixtures, and this
one is at the tip-top of my list!

Five On Friday

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join along!

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 have to share a wardrobe item that has been a favorite recently. A few years back, my mom bought me a Papillon bamboo scarf. It is seriously the softest, coziest wrap and it can be worn tons of ways. (Hmm, maybe I can do a blog post about that...) The bamboo gives it great heft so it just feels great on. The pattern Mom chose for me is a yellow and white geometric print. I actually wore it home from the hospital! I recently purchased a second one in a red and white pattern. It's awesome for concealing a tummy and nursing, too!

I wore my red and white Papillon scarf yesterday with an aqua tee, a turquoise necklace I made years ago, and some ankle-length jeans with gold sandals.

My favorite places to find these scarves online are Amazon (here is the exact page) and Ebay (here).

T W O
I shared this photo on Snapchat. Here's $64 worth of groceries from Aldi! I just love shopping there each week. I also forgot to include a HUGE clamshell of organic mixed greens in this photo -- it was just $2.49. Yep, for organic greens!

T H R E E
Gratuitous baby photo. (I have to whisper this next part as not to jinx it...) She has slept through the night twice and most nights just wakes once around 4 or 5am to feed. WE ARE SO LUCKY.

F O U R
I've still been making lots of baby/child hairbows and just selling them locally instead of doing as many sales on Instagram. But I miss selling to my IG friends and interacting with them that way, so I am going to start posting bows more often on that platform. I'm especially excited about these larger boutique bows I've been making, shown with a standard bow below for size comparison!

F I V E

I picked up a great new lipstick the other day from my favorite line, the L'Oreal Infallible glosses. The color is 206 and it's from their plumping line. It was normally $9.99 but marked down to $4.99 at Rite Aid. BUT, BUT!!! I found this 4-pack on Amazon for $15 which is a HECK of a deal. If you love these glosses like I do, it may be worth checking out this deal! It includes the color I bought the other day (Plumped Rose) along with three other colors.

on Amazon here with free shipping

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

Meeting My Nephew

Yesterday was so full of good things -- one being that I met my new sweet nephew! 

My sister Laura gave birth to Thompson Tuesday night, and the cool thing about that is that he and his wonderful daddy share a birthday! That's right, he was born on my brother-in-law's 30th birthday, and they also share a name.

I already have one niece and nephew but I never knew them as babies. By the time that I met Ian, they were already well past that stage. I am so excited to watch Thompson grow up and be an aunt to him!

Memorial Day

On Monday, we attended a beautiful event to commemorate Memorial Day. My friend Sarah was one of the guest speakers at this gathering, and it was a special way for our family to pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy.  

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend and that you also had an opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we all are! Thanks, Sarah, for being a daily reminder that freedom isn't free.

Five On Friday

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join along!

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
First things first, pausing to remember the REAL reason that we all are "#blessed" with this beautiful long weekend before us. Memorial Day is a day to remember the fallen, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Think about it for a second ... isn't it the saddest thing if we just focus on SALES SALES SALES without taking a moment to remember those killed in action fighting for our freedom? What a disservice to those who lost loved ones. So I'm choosing to still enjoy this long weekend, dress my girls in red white and blue, maybe even make a little patriotic dessert with strawberries and blueberries and whipped cream -- but I will definitely choose to remember the reason that we are able to do so!

T W O
Starting Sunday night, Charlotte has been sleeping in her crib! I was a little nervous about that transition since she spent her first five weeks sleeping in a rock and play, but she has done beautifully! We're typically up around 3am and 6am so she can eat, but she's sleeping great on her back in the flat crib and that makes me SO happy.

T H R E E
Today is my sister's due date! Little Thompson has yet to make his debut, but I just can't wait to get that call! Hurry up, Tompie! You have an aunt that is ready to meet you!

F O U R
Any hot roller users out there? I have a VERY old set that I used the other day. It probably needs replacing though. I've looked at a few options on Amazon and am thinking about this one that has pretty good reviews! Does anyone use this one or a different one that you'd recommend?

F I V E
Tomorrow is our five year wedding anniversary! We are going out to dinner to celebrate at the same restaurant where we had our first date. I can't wait for some great husband and wife time.

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