Favorite Trader Joe's Items

Recently, I've been on a Trader Joe's kick.  I love pretty much everything in that store. A good Saturday afternoon to me is spent walking around TJ's leisurely on the hunt for more new-to-me items.  They think of everything and make it easy for girls like me (who are horrible at meal planning, cooking, grocery shopping, etc.) to actually put meals together.

I love finding new things to try and reading other people's favorite items, so I thought I would share a few of my picks with you guys.

I've posted this before, but it is too good to not include in this post.  TJ's chicken salad is crazy good. I usually take it to work with me with pita chips or crackers and it makes a wonderful lunch.

Nothing too exciting here except for the miniature goat cheese rounds. YES PLEASE. These are a perfect snack. Oh and definitely do yourself a favor and try the spinach and kale greek yogurt dip. It is one of my favorites!

Sometimes the idea of a meat, cheese and bread meal is way more appealing than the traditional meat and veggies.  Trader Joes has a great selection of cheeses and cured meats that are super affordable. I'm always trying new flavors-this is what I bought today.

I am a SUCKER for all the sweets that are so conveniently placed above the frozen meals. Probably my most favorite TJ's item is the kettle corn. It's so good, it has to be taken away from me-I'll eat the whole bag otherwise.  Also, I love all the items they make in the cookie butter line. I haven't tried these peanut butter cups yet, but have a feeling they won't last long in this house! The Meyer lemon cookies are so yummy and pair so well with a frozen yogurt or ice cream. I love lemon anything and these are perfect!

I'll admit it, I love TJ's mostly for their frozen meals. Yep. I just said that. They're the perfect portion for 2 people and the choices are almost endless. Lately, I'm on an asian cuisine kick, so I've loved trying all their options.  Also, those sesame sticks are one of my favorite snacks. I keep those in my desk at work.

A few other random favorites. LOVE the Coconut Oil cooking spray. I always stock up on oils, vinegars and sauces at TJ's because they are so reasonably priced.  I use the cinnamon sugar grinder for toast-it reminds me of the toast my Grandmomma always made me when I was a little girl. My mom has been OBSESSED with the lavendar dyer bags for years. I stock up for her everytime I go. They make your clothes smell heavenly.

And MOST importantly, I love Trader Joes the most for their flower selection. I buy fresh flowers every week and their options and prices cannot be beat.

Drugstore Beauty Finds: Part Two

For Part Two of this week's Drug Store Finds, I'm sharing a few items that I am absolutely CRAZY about!  Yesterday we talked about makeup, but today is all about hair and skin.

Volumizing Mousse * Shampoo * Conditioner * Lotion * Face Wipes

MOUSSE

I cannot explain how much I love this mousse. It has the best scent and isn't sticky at all and gives my hair the best volume. 

SHAMPOO

My hair is dry and needs all the love and TLC it can get. I love that this shampoo is packed with all the vitamins and nutrients to keep it strong and healthy. The smell is yummy and it does a great job of making my hair squeaky clean without drying it out.

CONDITIONER

Stop what you are doing right now. Read this carefully. THIS is the holy grail of all perfect hair products. The bottle promises using this conditioner will give you that "good hair day" look. And yall-it aint lying. I  literally felt like a hair model on those commercials whose hair is constantly flipping around and looks super healthy and soft. It worked so well that Chris at dinner kept prompting me to flip the hair. When a man notices your hair...you hold onto the product that worked so well. Seriously, I am beyond in love with this conditioner. 

BODY LOTION

This is my favorite lotion from the drugstore. It is so moisturizing, smells so good and lasts all day!

FACE WIPES

I'm not always the best about washing my face before bed. I love these face wipes. They do a great job quickly removing makeup (even mascara) and leave my skin feeling fresh. 30 seconds max. These are amazing.

Drugstore Finds: Part One

Confession: I spent a crazy amount of time Friday night watching YouTube videos and reading blog posts about the latest and greatest beauty items. I kept finding items I'd never heard of and it really inspired me to take a trip to see what I could find.  I'm going to make this a two part series since I have quite a lot to share. Today we'll start with makeup and tomorrow I'll share my latest favorites for hair and body.

Let's get this party started.

Lipstick * Brow Pencil Set *Brow Gel * Mascara * Blush * Foundation * Eye Shadow-Dark * Eye Shadow-Light

EYESHADOW

I found two eye shadow shades in the Milani line that were too gorgeous to pass up.  The price was just as great. These both have quite a bit of shimmer to them, so I recommend layering these and definitely use an eyeshadow base to start. I'm especially obsessed with the darker color (Bella Bronze). 

BLUSH
Now for the show-stopper. This blush is my new obsession. It packs a ton of color so be sure to use it very lightly. I wore this to dinner Saturday and loved it. The peachy pink feels so springy and is just what my pale lifeless skin tone needs!

LIPSTICK
Another Milani item I have to share...this lipstick is SO FREAKING GOOD!! It is the ideal texture: matte but not drying. It stays put and the pigmentation is insanely good. I love this shade-it has a nice red berry stain look to it. I'll definitely be trying other colors in this line!

BROWS

I've recently focused more on eyebrow products and I LOVE the 2 products listed above! They make the best pair. I use the pencil in a dark blonde shade to define the shape and fill in the sparse areas and finish up with the Brow gel wand to help blend the color and tame any strays. I'm telling you right now, if you aren't using brow products, give these a try and watch your face instantly look more put together with such little effort.

MASCARA

I'm always on the hunt for the next best mascara. I love several of the Maybelline options, so when I saw this new mascara, I had to try it. I'll be honest and say that I do really like it, but not for everyday. The wand is rubbery and the mascara feels more like a gel so you have to apply quickly and carefully because it will go on thick. But for an evening out, one coat of this will be just what you need!

FOUNDATION

Last and certainly not least, I cannot live with this foundation from Maybelline. I don't know how much I believe it works with aging skin, but I can tell you that I use this every day for a quick and easy foundation. Also, I've bought this in a few shades darker to use for contouring. The foundation is lightweight and has the perfect amount of coverage that gives somewhat of an airbrushed look. You will love this, trust me!

Must Have Items For Your Spring Wardrobe

Every season, there are a few must have items that get snatched up so fast, you blink and they're gone. This ALWAYS happens with Old Navy. Mostly because the prices are hard to beat and for something trendy, that's just what I need. Now I'm no pyschic, but I have a pretty good feeling that the items listed above will fall into this category, so now's the time to buy if you like what you see.

Those booties are even more cute in person. I just tried those on this afternoon and if it weren't 20 degrees outside, I would have walked out with them on the spot (too bad I had to buy shoes that are meant for COLD weather because I was silly and wore wedges in this freezing cold and my feet needed something warm right then and there).  These will look amazing with jeans of any color and dresses too. They definitely don't look like a pair of shoes from Old Navy, lets just say that.

I should also mention that I have a new obsession with their boyfriend skinny jeans. I bought a pair a few weeks ago and it was like heaven slipping into those suckers. I guess it's my age showing but this girl doesnt want anything terribly tight and low waisted. Momma needs some room! I should also note that you'll want to go down a size because they can seem a bit baggy and droopy if you don't.

Curent Wishlist: Home Accessories

Happy Friday to each and every one of you!!! We had a fabulous time last night at The Fox Theater watching Wicked. This was my first time seeing it and I LOVED it. I don't know about you, but there's something about a Friday that makes my mind start running a million MPH with decorating ideas. When Chris first bought his house, he gave me complete decorating freedom if I agreed to let the guest room be his man room. That was the best compromise I ever made because I've had free reign to do whatever I want in the rest of the house.

 This is a cottage bungalow built in 1939 so to say its old with a little charm would be an understatement. I had to somewhat switch gears in decorating style because the "blogger chic" look doesn't feel right. We wanted it to feel like home and still have somewhat of a modern touch so we decided on a look that we call modern quirky traditional (quirky=the flamingo in the flower bed in the front yard). The first stop we made after the big furniture purchases was World Market. They always have great deals and give out coupons for future visits and we found SO many items there that fit perfectly with our aesthetic. Take a look at several of my current faves (photos link directly to that item online).

As seen through my phone

Happy Thursday, mingos! I've got quite a busy day today (ending with seeing Wicked at The Fox--eeek!!! so excited!!), so I'll keep today's post short and sweet. Take a peek into my boring world. As seen through my phone this week.

I don't go ANYWHERE without a nice selection of lip balms. These are my 2 favs!  The mint flavored Rosebud Salve in the tube is seriously my jam. Can't imagine one day without it. I recently bought this lip balm from Kiehls and I have to say it is pretty amazing. It has a consistency more similar to a mix of Vaseline and ointment. When my lips are chapped, this is exactly what they need!

Aren't these tulips the most gorgeous flowers you've seen? Want to know a little secret?? You can find these at a steal at Trader Joes for $4.99 for a bunch of 10. #PREACH

Confession: I pretty much wear the exact same outfit everyday. I'm sorry but why would I want to wear anything else when I can just live in these Lululemon leggings. I cannot recommend these enough. Worth every penny!

I'm planning on doing a post soon on my favorite items at Trader Joes, but to serve as a sneak peak, you have to try their chicken salad. It's sweet and has a nice crunch to it and is a total crowd pleaser.

And just to show the results I'm getting from my new Clarisonic, I took a selfie in the car a few days ago.  My skin looks like I just got a facial and this is wearing very light coverage makeup. Now if I could just get these forehead lines to disappear.

And last, but certainly not least, I love this card I got from Lara Casey's shop.  Such a good reminder to keep next to my computer. #PREACH

Winter Sales At Anthropologie

Ahhh mid February, the most depressing time of the year. Where its so consistently cold that I would like to be a bear and hibernate-wake me up in April, #kthanksbye. It's also that time of year when you're starting to get tired of your winter attire but the thought of spending money on a sweater makes you want just go back to sleep.  I feel ya!

This is also the time of year when the good deals start for winter clothes. I LOVE to keep an eye on the freshly cut items in Anthroplogie. Just a little FYI, you should pretty much never buy anything there full price (at least for clothes, accessories, etc).  They do such a good job marking the items down.

Take a peek at my current wishlist-all on sale for under $80!

ETERNA HOOPS * CROPPED WOOLLY JACKET * BOUCLE MOTO JACKET * RUFFLED OTTOMAN DRESS * AISLA PULLOVER * CABLED ELLA PULLOVER

Simple Skin Care Routine: Clarisonic

For Valentine's Day this year, I asked the Mr. to skip the candy and fancy dinner and instead, give me something I've had on my wish list for quite some time- The Clarisonic. I have good skin in the sense that I don't have breakouts too often and for the most part, it is even toned. But the truth is, time is starting to show on my face and one day I looked in the mirror and saw this dull skin in the mirror.  #thestruggleisreal

After reading a ridiculous amount of reviews on Nordstrom's site, I realized that now is the time to pull the trigger with the Clarisonic. I'm on day 4 and I have to say, I am very pleased. I over-used it the first time because I wasn't sure how long to use it. I woke up with some skin that was DESPERATE for hydration.  I'm still on the hunt for that intense moisturizer, so any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

In the meantime, I thought I would share my tried and true skincare picks that seem to pair well with the Clarisonic. I can't say enough about Cetaphil's Daily Facial Cleanser.  It is gentle yet effective and best of all, I don't shed any tears when I purchase that sucker. This works great with the Clarisonic since it doesn't have any exfoliator to it (trust me, those bristles work so hard!!). My tried and true classic, Oil of Olay Complete  is a product I've used since middle school. This is the best everyday moisturizer in my book. Before the Clarisonic, I only applied this once after washing. Now I like to add a second layer on a few minutes later, mostly because my skin acts so thirsty now. I swear to you, using this Clarisonic is just like the difference between a regular and electric toothbrush. The difference in how clean your skin is left is just remarkable.

As I search for a more intense moisturizer, I will sparingly use this Lancome moisturizer. Let me just say right now this shiz aint cheap, yall. But it is REALLY good! And if you're still not sure about jumping on the Clarisonic train but want to start exfoliating, I truly love Dermatologica's Daily Exfoliant Powder. Use this after cleansing the skin and you will notice a difference for sure!

The Easiest Blowout You'll Find

Well this is embarassing. I am definitely not one to post a lot of pictures of me nor am I a selfie fan (at least for myself) but I'm going to have to step out of my comfort zone today in the name of sharing one of my best kept secrets. The easiest "blowout" you'll ever learn. 

Normally my hair is a big ball of frizz, but after watching about 3034 youtubes on how to do the perfect blowout, I finally came up with the perfect solution - at least for my hair. I have thick coarse dry hair so it takes a lot of work to make it look tame. I only wash my hair a few times a week to help keep it from drying out.

So are you ready?

I snapped these photos on separate days just to show you the look I get with this technique.

Looks like I just forked over $40 at Drybar when in reality, I spent 30 minutes max (including drying time).

Ok, let's get started with the items that you'll need. You can click on the links or the photos if you want more details on each of these.

Before you touch your hair with any heat, be sure to spray a heat protectant on. I personally use this one. It's affordable and smells really fresh. Brush that through all of your hair with a paddle brush like this to make sure it is evenly distributed. I also work this volumizing mousse in my roots and Moroccan Oil from mid hair to the ends to tame any frizz. Be careful to not let this near your roots or you'll end up with a greasy look. I've used this product for years and can't stray from it.

I use a CHI hairdryer but I can't quite decide if it really is worth the extra money. I  hear nothing but great reviews on Babyliss products, so if you're in the market to make a purchase, you might want to consider buying this hairdryer. The key to this style is to get all the water out of your hair. Don't worry about sectioning off your hair or drying with a brush. Spend the majority of the time combing your hair with your fingers and let the dryer to do the rest of the work.

Once the hair is completely dry and somewhat smoothed out, curl the hair around your face and at the crown in these volume building curlers. There are only 6, but don't worry, they are only for the top half of your hair. Once those are set, take a curling iron or wand and curl the remaining hair in 1-2 inch sections. You've heard it 1000 times before, but I'll say it again...curl AWAY from the face.

Once you have curled all your hair, leave it alone. Go fix your makeup, get dressed, pack lunch, make the bed, etc. You want to give your hair time to cool down before you touch it. Once it is cool, you can spray hairspray on it if your hair doesn't hold curl well. I usually skip that step since my hair holds curl decently. The finishing touch is dry shampoo. YES you just read correctly. I spray it generously on my roots and a few minutes later come back and really rub in it/tousle the hair around. This will give that voluminous effortless look.

And there you have it. A bouncy blowout that looks like a million bucks and takes no time to do!

Cute Flats Under $100

Happy Friday, 'mingos....it's almost the weekend!!!

I've never had the shoe obsession a lot of my friends have, but instead, I'm the girl who finds that one pair I love and wear them until they are dingy and embarrassing.

I tend to lean towards flats for several reasons mostly because comfort is key to me. If the shoe hurts, I won't wear it. Just that simple.

But just because I like comfort, doesn't mean I have to sacrifice style.  I've pulled together a list of flats (all under $100 #PREACH!!! ) that I hope you love as much as I do.

Spring Sale at Old Navy

We now interrupt today's activity with an update you all must know about. OK maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but who cares. Old Navy is having a sale you cannot refuse. Most items are already marked down AND if you order online, you get 20% off. Start loading up that virtual shopping cart as you eat that mediocre sandwich from the cafeteria downstairs. Yeh you know that sandwich.

I've listed my picks below-just click on the picture and it will take you to that item.  You might recognize that paisley top. I'm told its sold out in stores so now is your chance to snatch it up. I also have that striped dress and I have to say it is a wardrobe staple (not like I have over 10 striped dresses or anything crazy like that).

Life through my phone

Happy Thursday!

I thought I would do a phone photo share today. Guys, I take a ridiculous amount of photos. So it was kinda fun narrowing down what to post today.

Shall we begin?

This top is seriously an obsession of mine. The fabric is crazy soft and cozy and it drapes just right. It's light enough to easily wear in spring in warmer temps, but I couldn't stand to let it sit unworn in my closet, so I wore this on a day I knew I would be inside all day. GO BUY THIS NOW!!!

Top * Wedges * Jeans

I work from home every now and then. I shot this picture while on a conference call. My living room is heaven in the morning. So much sunshine pouring in coupled with the yummy candle I always keep burning in my house...I swear it makes the coffee taste that much better.  And those flowers? Trader Joes, my friends. $6 well spent.

Candle

New breakfast obsession: grapefruit and avocado toast. I'll be honest, I'm still trying to learn to love grapefruit. It couples well with the avocado and I keep reading about how it boosts metabolism. I'm all about that!

Every time I walk into West Elm, I just get that feeling...MAN I wish I could buy everything in this store. Hits me like a ton of bricks every single time.  This visit, I fell in love with this lamp. I mean isn't amazing?

And I'm convinced I have to have this coffee table. CONVINCED.

I've been working on finishing this little corner for quite some time. All I need is the perfect mirror to hang on the wall. Easier said than done. Mirrors are expensive!!!! And finding the right one is quite the challenge!

And last but certainly not least, I love this little corner of my room.  I tried to not go over the top girly in this house but this is my one little space that I threw that rule out the window.

Let's Talk About Bags

Let's talk about bags.

If you're like me, you need at least 3 on any given day. Purse, work/laptop bag & gym bag.

I like to keep all my shiz organized and easy to transition from one activity to another, which is why I'm always on the hunt for a good multi-functional bag.

So today, I've found several cute options we can all get on board with because they are all under $100. #PREACH

Beauty Finds

Happy Friday! I have a few beauty products I need to share with you guys. Let me go ahead and say that these are not "budget friendly" but they are worth every penny in my book.

My sister gave me this tinted lip balm for Christmas and I use it all the time! It sits on my desk for work, which means it gets applied probably 10 times a day. I love that it is tinted just the right shade of what looks like I just worked out and it makes your lips feel buttery smooth. A little luxury every girl deserves.

Most likely, you've heard of this cult classic-Kiehl's Creme de Corps body cream. For years, I kept telling myself I need to try their products but never did until last week. Let me just say that this is bascially the La Mer of body cream. It is NOT cheap. But boy does it deliver.  I like to use this immediately after the shower to really seal in the moisture.  Since the price tag is painful, I alternate using this with Burt's Bees Baby Lotion.  Go ahead and #treatyoself.

My spin gym is the shiz. They thought of every detail from turkish towels and stocking the showers with only Malin+Goetz products. If you haven't heard of this line, do yourself a favor and buy this sample pack to see what you think. You will be a convert-instantly. Think Aveda goodness but upgraded. And if your man isn't into the strong earthy scents we all love from Aveda products (ahhhhummm I'm talking about mine-he says it smells like a perm), he will like these. Trust me, they are amazing!!!

Recent Obsessions

Happy Friday!! I've had this post on the backburner for a while and keep kicking myself for not actually posting it. Over the past few weeks, I have found some game changer items that I have to share with you guys. My days of shopping every weekend are long gone, so I have to make careful choices on purchases these days. Here are 4 items that didn't break the bank and I love way too much!

For over a year, I've been looking for a pair of wedges that are versatile enough to wear to work and on the weekends. I just never found any I love until I found these Franco Sarto wedges.  They fit perfectly and they were comfortable the moment I put them on (no breaking in blisters with these guys). I cannot say enough about how great these are. I get compliments on them every single time I wear them. 

I've seen all the bloggers raving about this Bobeau Wrap Cardigan, and when I saw it was marked down at Nordstrom, I ordered it to see what all the hype is about. I ordered a black one and have this striped number on its way.  It is amazing! Seriously this is one of those items you need one of every color. It is so flattering and you can wear this with leggings without worrying about your rear end showing. Best part: the inside is the softest fleece material (think your softest sweatshirt). GO BUY THIS NOW while it's on sale!

I recently started wearing lipstick again. Mostly because my mom showed up with a bag full of lipsticks she bought and wore once. She does that a lot and the 3 girls in my family really reap the benefits of that. I try most of my new makeup and skincare finds from her "hand me downs." Anyway, I started to look for a good pink lipstick and found the PERFECT one made by Revlon. The color is Kissable Pink and it will look good on anyone. Do yourself a favor and go get you some! You will not regret it!

Chris recently bought us fitbits and I have to say they definitely are worth every penny. The two of us are super competitive and I have gone out of my way to beat his daily step count at times. I always thought I would hate it because it's a bulky bracelet, but take a look around and you'll notice a majority of people you see will have one on.  I never knew how sedentary I can get (especially at work) until I started monitoring my activity. The fitbit has really helped me understand where to make adjustments in my schedule. If you're only focused on increasing your daily activity, the Flex will be great. In hindsight, I wish we had spent the extra money to buy the Flex HR so that I could have a more accurate reading of activity. My main workout is spin class and its hard to calculate steps on a stationary bike. The Flex HR will calculate your heart rate on top of steps, that way you'll get a much more accurate reading.

Fool Proof Pot Roast

Let's get straight to the point. A few months ago, I couldn't cook to save my life. If it involved a recipe, I couldn't make it. I lived off easy meals like cereal, frozen waffles and a whole lot of takeout. Let me just pause right here and be ashamed of myself.

And then I met a man from Texas who thinks a meal HAS to have meat. Insert panic here. I made up my mind that I would at least give the kitchen a good try. And with a lot of flops, I've found a few go to dishes that I know will be table pleasers.

I have to give full credit for today's recipe where it is due-my fab sister in law. I swear to you, she could take a bowl of dry cat food and make it taste amazing. She promised me this would be an EASY recipe that we would love. She wasn't lying. It takes all of 5 minutes to prep and we lick the plate each time we eat this.

I'm naming this Fool Proof Pot Roast because let's be honest...if I can make it taste good-ANYONE can!

Fool Proof Pot Roast

Ingredients:

-Chuck Roast

-1 package  Ranch powder mix

-1 package Au Jus Mix

-1 stick of butter

- around 5 pepperocini

-crock pot

-crock pot liner

I like to take a knife to the meat and poke a few holes just to let the juices really soak in. The original recipe doesn't call for this, but I think it helps make it that much more yummy in the end.

Literally cut open and dump the dry ingredients on top of your meat. Rub it all in so everything is mixed. Don't worry about the bottom side. Some of the powder will fall and it will all mix as it cooks.
**I cannot tell you how crucial a crock pot liner is. You will be so glad you used one. Spend the $3-worth every penny, I promise!

Add in the pepperocinis and a stick of butter and BOOM, you are done. Turn that sucker on low and let it cook for at least 6 hours. I do around 8 hours. You'll be able to tell when its done. It smells amazing, so don't be tempted to eat it before its done.

**Sorry about the horrible photos. I'm in a battle with Amazon right now to send me the correct battery charger for the nice camera.

Let's Do This, 2015!!

Hiatus

noun

synonyms:

pause, break, gap, lacuna, interval, intermission, interlude, interruption,suspension, lull, respite, time out, time off, recess

It’s definitely true-Pink Flamingo Style has pretty much dropped off the planet the past year. And for a really long time, I was okay with pushing it to the side.  Well, let me explain.

I’ve been a “blogger” since 2008 and by that I mean a consistent stalker and at times a writer, myself. Every morning, without fail, I start the day by checking my favorite blogs. I’m okay with admitting that they really are a big part of my life. For a long time, I had all these ideas in my head that I wanted to put out there for the world to see. And I did that for quite some time. It was my passion. I would spend hours upon hours on the weekends working on posts and to a certain degree, I started to feel a bit of momentum when it came to actually creating a following.

Then something wonderful came along, quite unexpectedly and my whole world turned upside down.  I met a guy that was everything I had been looking for and much much more.  And you know how the story goes, all of the sudden my spare time was spent with him. To be completely honest, I would do it again in a heartbeat-focusing my time on him and pushing aside the things I loved previously. Because he was and is the best thing that ever happened to me. He has pushed me to jump outside my comfort zone so many times that I don’t really have one anymore. I’ve grown exponentially over the past year and have him to thank for that.

As with all relationships, you hit a level of comfort with that person after a while, where you feel the urge to bring back those passions you pushed aside.  I miss PFS. Like a lot. And with a lot of encouragement to get back to it, I want to let everyone know that I’m back and ready to kick this party off again.

So in honor of starting over, I thought I would share a list of goals I want to set for myself. 

Be sure to tune in because I have some fun stuff headed your way!

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