Toes In The Water...

You know that song by Easton Corbin, "A Lot To Learn About Living"? Well, I think that this week represents what my life is about to become. I plan on checking the cell phone as I depart JFK and not turn it on until we land back on that stinky tarmac.

By the time this posts, I will (hopefully) be halfway through my flight to the wonderful tropical paradise known as Punta Cana.

I've packed my bags (including a heinous amount of bathing suits...)

And I'm ready for a week of relaxation, cute cabana boys, and lots of rum.

I have left this little piece of the world wide web in some great hands, and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite bloggers who wrote some wonderful guest posts for you while I'm gone!

Life By the Numbers

This summer seems to be flying by at a ridiculous rate, and I can't believe that our big family vacation is only 12 days away! 

Until then I will...

...finish one book on my kindle.

...watch two more episodes of The Bachelorette.

...have three pre-six am wakeup calls.

...schedule five posts from wonderful guest bloggers.

...work nine shifts at work totaling over seventy hours.

...pack twelve bathing suits for my trip, yes I know that means I can almost wear 2 per day.

...tweet at least nineteen times

...run over twenty miles in preparation of the Disney Princess Half.

...listen to over one hundred songs in the car commuting to and from work.

...put six hundred miles on my car.

...fly one thousand five hundred and sixty miles from JFK to Punta Cana.

...and then do nothing for an entire week!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

This week, I am loving...

...air conditioning. This heat wave has me exhausted, sweaty, and plain icky. Forget wanted to even look half decent for work, because just the 100ft walk from my front door to my car leaves me drippy. Ew.

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...this bathing suit that I ordered last week for my Punta Cana trip. I'm obsessed, and was floored that the bathing suits were not on sale in the store. I ended up ordering a bunch of colors and sizes since I couldn't even try them on in-store, but am hoping that this one works (it's my faveeeeee)

...that in a mere 13 days I will be sitting with my toes in the water, ass in the sand. It literally cannot come soon enough!

...snapchat. Who knew that it could be so addicting? I may or may not be obsessed with drawing beards and unibrows on myself. Who said I'm 25? Not I...

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...that yesterday one of our customers brought us a box of Godiva chocolates. We helped him shop for anniversary gifts for his wife and he was so thankful for making his celebration come together that he brought us a HUGE box of chocolate. Seriously, this man knows the way to women's hearts everywhere! Those are the customers that make me LOVE what I do!

...that on Monday, I did an entire load of laundry consisting solely of neon pink clothes.

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...that I WON Crystal Faye's giveaway of her favorite things this month! I never win anything and was SO excited when I got the e-mail saying that I won!! I love all of the adorable (monogrammed) things in her boutique, and can't wait to try out all the goodies she is sending!

What are YOU loving this week?
Be sure to head over to Jaime's blog to share!

Matched on Monday

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After flying through The Hunger Games series, followed by Divergent (and Insurgent.. impatiently waiting Allegiant), I was looking for another trilogy to get my fix of dystopian societies. It had taken me months (literally, since May) to get through Andy Cohen's book, and I started Matched based on some recommendations from friends. The book was awesome. I finished it in a mere 4 days, and am having a hard time not purchasing Crossed. I want to wait until my beach trip where I can read it uninterrupted.

Interested? Here's a synopsis from Good Reads.

"Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow."

Have you read Matched?

What do I need to read next!?

Five on Friday.

one
I have been calling next week the beginning of the end. With a huge store move looming over us, the preparations seem endless. I am taking this time to keep my hours in check and taking extra time to relax during my off time. I'm scheduled to work 50+ hours the week we move, and could not be more thankful that my family planned our vacation for the week after this takes place. You can bet that I'll be spending some time at the spa!

two
It took me over a month to get through Andy Cohen's Book, "Most Talkative," but three days ago I started "Matched" by Ally Condie and am obsessed. Like, Hunger Games obsessed. I'll finish the first one this weekend, and don't know if I'll be able to get through my other unread books before I have to buy "Crossed." If you need a great, quick summer read, I highly recommend this one!

three

My favorite 'ol man turned 90 on the 7th! I got to celebrate when I was visiting him in April, but I still wish I could have been there on the big day. He has been surrounded by family members for the last few weeks, and I am so thankful that he has been able to share some amazing experiences with us in the last few months!

four
Have I ever mentioned how obsessed I am with bathing suits? I mean, I hate shopping for them, but cannot stop looking at them online. Someone grant me some unlimited funds (and free shipping, and a body like those models please), and I'll be your best friend. I pinky promise.

five
The break in humidity that this weather has given us this week has been a lifesaver. I forgot how awesome it is to do my hair and actually have it stay put all day. It's the little things in life, right?

Be sure to link up and share your Friday Randoms here!

ETSY ate my bank account!

One of my favorite things that blogging has introduced me to is the wonderful world of Etsy.

I had always dabbled at a few shops here and there, but always seemed to get overwhelmed when searching for a specific item. Throughout the last few months, however, I have found some wonderful shops that I can't help but share with you.

TRN Designs came to the rescue when I was looking for something fun to give to everyone on our annual beach trip. I saw these adorable koozies and knew that I just had to have them. At $7 each, these are a bargain. I mean, you get a monogram AND a bow! I got these for all of the ladies, and basic navy with a red monogram (and no bow, duh) for the men. They were great for keeping track of drinks throughout the week!

Everyone I work with has an iPhone. Our chargers are constantly getting mixed up, and most of us have put stickers of some sort on them to distinguish one from another. I went a step further and went on the hunt for a monogram small enough to fit around the charging piece. Enter URSoCrafty. Now, everyone knows which charger is mine, and that little white box finally has some personality!

BaileyWicks

Alright, maybe I just realized that my monogram addiction is getting kind of bad. BUT, I have been on the hunt for this "frat tank" style on the cheap. I would love to create tons of cute pocket tanks from other retailers, but with a $30-$40 price tag, that is simply not practical. I found these awesome comfort colors tanks for $16 from BaileyWicks. I ordered my first one (turquoise and black) last Monday and it was in my mailbox by Friday. I was shocked, and even more excited. I may or may not have placed another order for 2 more. They will be ideal for my vacation to throw on over a bathing suit, or to wear while zip lining.

ChevronStripeShop

Please tell me I'm not the only one who doesn't want to pay $20 for a hair bow? I have been looking for some cute, cheap bows to wear throughout the summer, and just have not been able to bite the bullet at other highly priced monogram shops. I mean, I'm wearing it in my hair, and chances are, I'm going to lose it within a few weeks. ChevronStripeShop to the rescue! She carries adorable bows (even some printed Lilly Pulitzer ones) and they're only $5! FIVE DOLLARS. For that price, I bought two.

Where are your favorite places to shop on Etsy!?

What are some of your favorite finds!?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

On this totally bi-polar weather Wednesday, I am loving...

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...the manicure I gave myself today. With so much moving nonsense going on at work, it is pointless for me to shell out any money for a manicure. I picked up Mod Squad by Essie a few weeks ago and am totally in love! I wish that I had discovered it earlier in the summer. It will most certainly be my new go-to shade of pink!

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...that in twenty days I will have my toes in the water, and my butt right there in Punta Cana! These next few weeks are JAM PACKED, so I am definitely looking forward to some fun in the sun!

...that I have literally spent all day today (with the exception of a Target errand and a run) in bed watching reruns of Laguna Beach and now Friends. Days off make me so happy!

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...this FUN headwrap that I ordered from SassyBabyEssentials. They do both adult and kid's sizes, and I thought the black and white chevron wrap would be the perfect accessory for my beach trip! I can't wait to get it in the mail!!

...that I spent the day browsing Etsy and spending wayyyyy too much money!

...that while Momma is on vacation, I get to spend lots of time bonding with the men in my life. Family dinner every night (eaten AND cleaned up) by 8pm has been glorious. Definitely allows for me to go to bed at Grandma time.

What are YOU loving this week!?

Head on over to Jaime's blog to share!

Miscellany Monday

The last few days have felt like a complete blur. Having two days off in a row last week made Friday feel like Monday and I've been thrown off ever since.

Here are my weekend randoms.

Wednesday (aka Saturday) I did a little shopping and even picked up a new bra for $6! I love Marshall's! Then I picked up my friend at the train, stuffed our faces with froyo, and even had a great man-hating-bitch-sesh. It was 100% necessary.

Thursday we woke up early, and got started making some red, white, and blue food. We also inflated our pool, and picked up some patriotic donuts at DD

After sippin' and dippin' (and getting covered in bug bites), we headed to a family friends for some fireworks over the water!

Friday morning I woke up more confused than ever. I was convinced that it was Monday, and couldn't get it right all day. When I got home after work, I was even angry that The Bachelorette wasn't on. I'm still a little confused from that day!

The (real) weekend dragged by. I worked for most of it, but did get to sleep in a little yesterday! I even got to catch a few innings of my brother's baseball game where he pitched 8 innings and only walked ONE batter. I think we have the next Andy Pettite over here (oh, I wish)!

What did you do for 4th of July?

*linking up with Carissa and Sami this morning!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

On this dreary, humid, sticky morning, I am loving...

...that I've got two days off in a row! This rarely happens, and I've got a whole lot of nothing planned to celebrate!

...that I finally get to see one of my best friends this "weekend"! We are going to be spending the 4th sipping skinny margaritas by our blow up pool on my back deck. Oh, and eating tons of delicious red, white, and blue themed food.

...these recipes that we plan on making tomorrow;

4th of July Bark

Red, White and Blue Jello Shots

...that my nails are painted festively for this fun holiday;

"Butler Please" on the fingers

"Really Red" on the toes

What are YOU loving today?

Be sure to head over to Jaime's blog to link-up and share!

ps- Head over to Ryann's blog and check out my guest post while she is on her Honeymoon!

From My Kitchen...

After being on Weight Watchers all throughout last summer, I have learned to adapt some of my favorite recipes into healthy ones. Honestly, before I started the program, I was kind of terrified of Greek Yogurt. The consistency scared me, the taste was kind of bitter, and I just wasn't a fan. I had always tried recipes where the plain greek yogurt was used in a sweet recipe, but then I stumbled on this one that used it in a savory way.

Ingredients:
2 Chicken Breasts
1 Cup Plain Fat Free Greek Yogurt
2 Cloves Minced Garlic
1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375º
Mix together Greek Yogurt, Garlic, Parmesan Cheese, and salt & pepper in a bowl.
Line glass baking dish with aluminum foil, and coat with nonstick cooking spray.
Cover chicken with Greek Yogurt mixture, and then cover with Panko Bread Crumbs.
Place in baking dish and bake for 35 minutes, or until golden brown and the chicken juices run clear.

I love to serve it with green beans, broccoli, or peas and some brown rice.
My favorite part of this recipe is that it is the simpleness. It is easy to cook for two, or make it in larger batches for a group. Since it is baked, it is also super healthy.

I'm linking up with Charlotte and Whitney!
Be sure to do the same and share your favorite recipe!

(half) Marathon Monday!

So, on Friday night, I finally took the plunge and signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon with two of my best friends. I don't know what possessed me to finally pull the trigger. Maybe it was the promise that I wont be running alone. Maybe it was the concept of wearing a tutu and a tiara. Maybe it was because I haven't been to Disney World in a LONG time. I don't know, but it's done, and I need to get my booty in shape.

Luckily, RunDisney provides numerous training plans, tips, tricks, and secrets for the half-marathon novice. I'm hoping to squeeze in a mini vacation after this weekend as well, because I figure that I'll deserve it after running 13.1 miles (and finally getting one of those super awesome bumper stickers)!

This half-marathon seems to be one with a great environment, especially for a beginner.
From Disney;
Your Princess Half Marathon begins just outside Epcot and continues on to Cinderella Castle inside the Magic Kingdom® Park.  Be sure to wave to the Disney Princesses who will be lining the course and cheering you on your way.  After a run through Magic Kingdom Park, you’ll make your way back to Epcot along World Drive. After a trip past Spaceship Earth and out to World Showcase, you will complete your fairytale run with a finish line crowd cheering you down the home stretch! Exciting music and the presence of Disney princesses make for a storybook ending to an incredible half marathon."

I mean, Disney Princess cheering you on? Running through Cinderella Castle? Holy moly!
I am certainly excited (and thoroughly terrified) for this weekend in February!
Are any of YOU running in this half-marathon!?

*be sure to link up with Carissa to share your Miscellany Monday thoughts!