FRIDAY FAVORITES

This week sure flew by! Well, kind of. It started out a little rough since I wasn't feeling so great on Tuesday, but by Wednesday morning I was back in commission. We've got some fun things planned for the weekend that I am really looking forward to! But first, I've got a list of some of my favorite things lately! 

So I have been making an effort to wear lipstick more often. I am pretty pale during the winter and I am trying hard to add a little color to my face! However, I don't know what is going on but my lips are constantly super chapped and I have a bad habit of licking my lips, which doesn't necessarily help when the weather is cold. I forgot I had this lip shimmer and found it in one of my jacket's recently, and it has been doing double duty. It's keeping my lips moisturized while adding some color. I love it!

When we found out how cold it gets up here in the north east, I started the hunt for a puffer jacket but was having trouble finding one that didn't make me look bulky or make my legs look extra short. Well a friend of mine came over recently and she was wearing this jacket in the fuchsia plum color. I immediately asked if I could try it on and then ordered it in black a few days later! I just got it in the mail yesterday and it's def one of my favorites!

While perusing the aisles at Marshall's this past weekend, I came across this brand of shoes. They are the Me Too Audra loafers. It is hard for me to find shoes that are comfortable because I have wide feet. I tried these on and they were pretty comfy so I bought the pair for $29.99. They also had a blush color except they didn't have it in my size and imagine my surprise when I looked online and saw these retail between $45 and $89! I guess I got a great deal!

I found these at Marshall's too! They are delicious! And healthy :)

My mother in law will be glad that I finally got around to posting some pictures of our rental house! You can read more about that here. 

This picture made my heart happy! 

Have a great weekend!

TOUR OF OUR BUNGALOW

I am posting a tour of our rental here on the blog for family and friends, and really whoever else enjoys looking into other people's homes. I know I do! 

This home was built in the 1930's and has a pretty red door.

I love the original floors!

I think this was meant to be wine storage, but I am using it for coffee mugs!

There is also an additional bedroom (not picture ready) and a large partially finished basement which has served great for storage. We are really enjoying our cozy little home. It's in a quaint neighborhood and close to shopping and restaurants. I am looking forward to spending time in our backyard once the weather warms up! 

SO YOU MOVED....NOW WHAT

We have been living on the east coast for a little over a month now and I have to admit, it's been an adjustment. Although we like all there is to do here, my husband is doing a job completely different  than what he is used to, and I am still trying to figure out a routine for myself. I consider myself a person who likes change (7 moves in the last 12 years), but it usually takes me a couple of months to get into a groove. 

In an effort to set a routine for myself, I have been going back to my tried and true "Relocation Survival Guide", and wanted to share what has helped me adapt over the years.

1. Seek employment- I always like to look at the job prospects prior to a move. I like to network and find that utilizing social media to do so has been beneficial. There are many resources available for job seekers and sometimes looking for a full-time job is a full-time job!

2. Volunteer- Find a cause that is important to you and give back! You can add that experience to your resume and it's a great way to gain experience in a new field if that's something you are looking for. 

3. Find a church- This has always been a big priority for us. We attend church regularly and try to get involved in small groups wherever we live. It's a great way to meet new people! 

4. Join a social group- Find a group with common interests such as a book club, running group, or MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). If you are a military family, there is always the FRG (Family Readiness Group or your unit's spouse's group. You can check out this link to find social groups available in your area https://www.meetup.com/ or search social media. 

5. Find a hobby or learn a new skill- If you have always wanted to learn more about photography or knitting, this may be the perfect time. Maybe you want to learn web design or improve your cooking skills! The sky is the limit!

6. Make your house a home- I know that some people don't really want to take the time to get completely settled into a place they are only going to be living in temporarily. To each his own! While our time on the east coast is short, I have already made our house feel cozy and inviting! 

7. Explore your new city- Look up local events and happenings. Check out the food scene or nightlife. Visit surrounding cities or attractions. Even if you live in a small town, get to know your surroundings and you might be surprised by what you find. I plan on making a bucket list for us to try to complete while we are here!

Road trip heading east!

As much as I like change, I know that it is hard to move and leave your home, your family, and your friends behind. Just remember that whether this change is permanent, or for a season, try to make the most of it. Embrace the adventure! 

RECIPE ROUNDUP

Today I've got a post all about food! I wouldn't say that I particularly love cooking but overall, I do enjoy it. It also helps that I get a sense of satisfaction when my husband enjoys a meal that I have made 😍! Over the years, I have found those meals that are on rotation every other week such as spaghetti or tacos. I tend to gravitate towards simple recipes that don't include ingredients that I normally wouldn't have in my pantry. I have tried a few new ones recently, and they have either been a hit or miss. I thought I would share the ones we liked in case you want to try something new or are finding yourself stuck in a food rut!

Vegetable chicken curry- This curry was delicious! It was my first time making curry and I think I did alright! I did omit the mushrooms because I didn't have any on hand. I served it over rice and made a side of roasted cauliflower.

http://www.marshallsabroad.com/vegetable-chicken-curry-sweet-potatoes/

I know this isn't the prettiest picture but it was yummy!

Baked chicken parmesan- We are huge fans of Skinnytaste recipes. She takes popular dishes and lightens them up! I like to serve this chicken either over zucchini or pasta.

https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-chicken-parmesan/

Pork chops with dijon herb sauce- Another one from Skinnytaste! These pork chops were really good! I think I added a little too much salt for my taste, but I will definitely make again. Sorry but I forgot to take a photo :(

https://www.skinnytaste.com/pork-chops-with-dijon-herb-sauce-525-ww/

Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup- I have made this soup several times. I use chicken sausage instead of the crumbled sausage and from the ones I have tried, I find that I like the apple chicken flavor the best. If you're a soup lover like me, put this on your list! And again, no picture.

https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=394002

Annie's vanilla sugar cookies- Now these are not homemade but because we like our sweets around here,  I like to have a package of these on hand. They are good with or without frosting!

I hope this gives you some ideas when it comes to your meal plan! 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Happy Friday! Although this week has certainly flown by, I am more than ready for the weekend! We've got a few fun things to look forward to as well as some things I need to get done around the house.

It's Restaurant Week in our new city which means you can try any of the participating restaurants and enjoy a 3 course lunch or dinner for a fraction of the price. I have enjoyed going through the prix fixe
menus to see which one we want to try (which are several!). Note to self, I better make reservations today! But first, I've got a fun list of all the things I have been loving lately!

My favorite thing this week was definitely going out for a girls night with my friend Emily. We are fortunate that her and her family also live in the same city and it was so nice to catch up with her! We ate at Mamma Luisa, a local Italian favorite,  and it was very good, and we had excellent service! For dessert we picked up some treats at a candy shop and then headed back to her place. We decided we need to have girls night a few times a month!

Our rental has a small office space and I was thrilled when my hubby said I could have the space and decorate however I want. I love all of the natural light and the french doors!! It also has a built in desk with lots of storage! I am almost done with the decor but I want to add a small rug and I am looking to replace the pillows with some smaller ones. I will post all the details once its complete!

During our move, I lost my beloved dry shampoo. I was looking for a more affordable replacement recently and the lady at Ulta suggested this one for my darker hair. I didn't want to commit to a full size bottle so I picked up a smaller one to try out. So far so good! I do want to add that I saw some full size bottles at our local TJ Maxx store for $7.99!

I had only heard good things about a local donut place (Ma's Donuts) and when my husband surprised me with a box this week, I decided I am a fan! It might have to be a regular thing for us. I especially loved their coconut cake donut! 

Well, that's all I've got! Have a great weekend!

A BEAUTY SURVEY

Well we didn't have a super eventful weekend, so instead of a recap today, I am linking up with The Blended Blog for a little beauty survey :). I love reading these type of surveys because I always get great suggestions for products I otherwise may not consider purchasing!

1. Eyelash Curler Yes or No? Nope. I have been blessed with semi long lashes and all I need is a little mascara to add length and curl. I am a loyal user of this Loreal mascara!
2. Favorite Nail Shade? This usually depends on the season but I tend to be drawn to deep reds. 
3. Favorite Lipstick Shade? Right now I am loving the Tarte "FOMO" shade. 
4. Blow Dry or Air Dry your hair? I usually let my hair air dry unless I have to wash it last minute and have somewhere to be.
5. Artificial Nails Yes or No? No, last time I had fake nails was for my wedding almost 14 years ago. 
6. Foundation Yes or No? Oh yeah! 
7. Hair Up or Down? Down
8. Bar Soap of Body Wash? I have used Aveeno body wash for the longest time but I recently switched to a bar of soap made with turmeric and orange.
9. Bath or Shower? Shower
10. Favorite Body Lotion? I am terrible about being consistent with lotion but if I do, its usually Cera Ve moisturizing lotion or something from Bath & Body Works. 
11. Do you wear perfume? If so, what scent? Yes and I alternate between Curve and Chanel "Chance". However, I find that the Chanel makes me a bit nauseous because it's a bit strong, which pains me because it was pricey!
12. Do you shave your legs every day? Every other day works for me although it wouldn't hurt to do it every day because I have very coarse hair and feel like a walking cactus sometimes!
13. Favorite Lip Balm? I have yet to find one I love that will keep my lips moisturized :(. 
14. How old were you when you first started wearing make-up? In my early teens. 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Hi all! Long time no see! The past couple of months have been a whirlwind! We packed up our home, rented it out, drove cross country (visited family along the way), moved into a rental house (tour coming soon), and have been getting settled here in the Northeast. I have never been to this part of the country but I am enjoying it so far. There is so much to do and I am really looking forward to writing all about our time here. I have several ideas for posts in the coming weeks but today I want to write about things I am loving lately.

I stopped in a $5 and below store recently and came upon this workout dice. I'm currently trying to come up with a workout routine and I think this will come in handy. 

I am loving my new wallet! I got this as a super early birthday gift (that's a thing right?) 

We've found and a church and I joined a women's bible study this week and it's a favorite this week. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a new study!

Hubby and I started watching this show and we are hooked! Really makes you think about healthcare these days!

Absolutely loving this song! It's Hillsong's "So Will I". I can't help but get emotional when I hear it!

Hope ya'll have a great weekend!