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July Sweet Picks

Posted on July 27, 2016

Starbucks Peach Green Tea Lemonade: Every time I go to Starbucks I order the same boring thing, a vanilla late or Chai Latte. It wasn’t until my BFF Chad introduced me to the most delicious drink on the menu…Peach Green Tea Lemonade. I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing this is on a hot summer day. Needless to say, this has become my go-to drink for the summer. What are you waiting for? Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Cooling Sport Towel: The first time I ever saw a version of one of these cooling towels was at a fair and I thought they seemed a little weird to have a wet towel around your neck. I’ve always hated when my clothes get wet so I never even gave it a try or a chance and the ones they were selling were expensive. It wasn’t until last year that I was perusing the Target Dollar Spot section that I saw a cooling towel for $1 and decided to grab one since there had been so much hype around them. I thought why not for $1 I was willing to give it a try and if I ended up not liking it, I was only out $1! And until now, it has been sitting in my drawer unused until recently when I packed it along with me on my vacation to Vegas where I knew it was going to be more than 100 degrees there (it’s July after all). I figured it was the perfect time to bring it along and test it out. After getting there and enduring the 108 degree weather I broke it open! All you do is soak it with cold water, ring it out, and then snap it in the air to activate the cooling properties of the towel. I never knew how nice a cooling towel would feel around my neck. It’s so simple! Greatest little invention! It instantly cools you down and your clothes stay dry because the towel somehow keeps the water in! And this one that I have is a smaller version and has a convenient case to put it in and it’s small enough to throw in your bag. This cooling towel has definitely become one of my favorite summertime essentials!

Swan Float: Who knew a large, ridiculous, inflatable long-necked waterbird would become the trendiest accessory of the summer. My friend bought one as a joke for a friend-cation to Mexico and it turned out to be a crowd favorite. I’ve since seen it all over Instagram and even on The Bachelorette. The swan is in, boring pool floaties are out. There’s something so perfect about nestling up on this large and in charge bird. AND I feel like I my tans are better when I layout on the swan.
Image Source: Target

Sunbum Cool Down: This stuff is a sunburn miracle worker! We all have good intentions when it comes to sun protection–SPF all the way! But sometimes our best intentions are toasted (literally, ha) and despite our best attempts we still get burned. I’ve had a couple unlucky encounters with spray-on sunscreen this summer and as a result have had a few days where my skin seemed to be a dull candy apple red color and sizzled to the touch. That’s when my, wise and beautiful roommate, Emily, introduced me to “Cool Down.” This magical lotion is meant to be used as an after sun moisturizer on skin that is burnt, chaffed (inner thigh rub anyone?), or dry, and is infused with aloe, vitamin E, and cocoa butter. This triple threat combo takes the sting out (like gone) and moisturizes so well it prevents peeling. It’s awesome!! I now pack it with me on every vacation that involves the beach, a pool, or more than 10 minutes in the sun. It has saved me! I tell everyone about it and have many a friend who’s sunburn was nursed back to health with this lotion. So naturally I wanted to share it with you guys! I found mine at Target (surprising, I know), but you can also get it at Ulta or Amazon as well. Happy sunbum-ing!
Image Source: Sun Bum

Celebrate

Sweet Summer Sounds

Posted on July 13, 2016

For this week’s edition of “What We Love Wednesday” we pulled together some of our favorite sweet summer jams to pump up your pool party or make folding laundry a little more exciting. If your iTunes is need of a refresher check our “Sweet Summer Sounds” Spotify playlist and our personal “top 5” picks below. Guaranteed to make you shake your booty. I mean, it is summer after all, let’s party!

EM:
• Do the Best We Can—Fialta
• Great Night—NEEDTOBREATHE
• Without You—Parachute
• Cheap Thrills—Sia
• Me Too—Meghan Trainor

ASHLEY:
• Ride—Twenty One Pilots
• Cake By The Ocean—DNCE
• My House–Flo Rida
• Just Like Fire–P!nk
• Shut Up and Dance—Walk the Moon

DANELLE:
• Can’t Stop The Feeling!—Justin Timberlake
• FourFiveSeconds—Rihanna, Kanye, Paul McCarney
• Wherever I Go—One Republic
• Never Forget You—Zara Larsson
• Wild Things—Alessia Cara

MEGAN:
• Dog Days Are Over—Florence and the Machine
• Fancy—Iggy Azalea
• Summer of 69—Bryan Adams
• That Was a Crazy Game of Poker—OAR
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun—Cyndi Lauper

Sweet Picks

June Sweet PIcks

Posted on June 30, 2016

Mom Shirt: I think this shirt speaks for itself! If you are a Diet Coke aficionado (read: addict) like me, you need this in your life. It is the perfect tee to throw on with your fave pair of jeans, a cute summer skirt or under a great light jacket. Anyone who has seen me lately, has most likely seen the shirt as well. It is just as comfy as it is cute. And even better, the cutest husband and wife duo design the shirts and run this great shop. Go check it out and grab a shirt… or two!
Image Source: momshirt.com

Batiste Hair: I’m no stranger to dry shampoo. In fact, if you look in my bathroom cabinet at any one time you’re bound to find at least 4 different brands of dry shampoo. I use dry shampoo every day whether I shower or not. I have fine hair so I use it to give my hair some weight and texture and then of course on days I don’t wash my hair I use it help eliminate oils and bedhead. I was on a work trip one time and had forgotten to bring dry shampoo and stumbled across this blonde version of Batiste at a ransom Urban Outfitters. I was intrigued by the “blondeness” it offered. My hair has blonde highlights (from a bottle) and this magic little can not only adds volume, texture, and depth, but it covers up any highlight regrowth! WIN!! It seriously is like magic. Just don’t go hog-wild and spray it all over like crazy. If you do, your scalp will glow yellow. So just spray a little on the top of you’re looking for a miracle between highlights!
Image Source: Ulta

Amope Pedi Perfect: Summer is officially here and that means…you probably need to show your feet some love to get them into tip top shape to wear your flip flops and those cute strappy sandals you’ve been itching to wear! Because let’s be honest, we are not all blessed with feet and heels that are as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Haha! I sure wasn’t! So, if you are like me and have been cursed with dry rough heels that have to be attended to all summer long you know a professional pedicure each week is just not doable for us busy working gals that don’t have the time. But don’t fret because there is a way to get smooth heels at home on your own with the Amope Pedi Perfect! This little machine will file your rough heels and smooth them out and it’s easy to use. All you have to do is turn it on and move it all around the rough areas. This little tool is great for at home pedicures and perfect for touch ups in between those professional pedicures.
Image Source: Amazon

Younique Touch Liquid Foundation: I have gone most of my life without wearing any type of foundation. Every kind I’ve tried feels heavy and sticky. Now that I’m turning 29 (+4 ), my skin is changing and is not like it used to be. I decided to try the Younique Touch Liquid Foundation since I kept hearing such great things about it. (No, I don’t sell it, but if you are interested I can put you in touch with about 20 consultants!) This stuff is absolutely amazing. It has great coverage and the best part is, I can’t even tell I’m wearing it. Once the liquid touches your skin, it feels like powder. If you’re in the market for a new foundation or are curious because of my awesome review, I highly suggest you check it out!

Eats

Watermelon Salad with Basil and Fig Balsamic

Posted on May 23, 2016

Bring on the flip flops, BBQs, sunscreen and pool time. Memorial Day is on it’s way and in my book that means summer is practically here. Everyone loves summer, duh, but one of the reasons I love it is for the food. Summer is full of simple, fresh, healthy food. And ice cream. Those sunny days make me crave salads, fruit and grilled anything. And let’s be honest, you know you’ll be going to a few BBQs this summer and sometimes the old pasta-salad-with-Italian-dressing-cucumbers-tomatoes-olives gets a little humdrum. This fresh watermelon salad will liven up any potluck spread and it is guaranteed to elicit some recipe requests. Oh, and did I mention that it’s easy?? Like, really easy. Fresh watermelon + basil + pine nuts + olive oil + balsamic vinegar + salt + pepper, that’s it.

Perhaps for some of you, adding savory ingredients like olive oil, salt, pepper, and basil to a sweet, summery fruit feels weird. I hear you. But trust me, it works. The vanilla fig balsamic keeps the sweetness of the dish in-check and adds an exciting depth of flavor, while the olive oil brings a richness that seems to smooth the flavors together, the salt enhances the natural watermelon flavor, the pepper gives it a gentle kick, and the basil adds freshness. If basil and watermelon were on a color-wheel of flavor they would definitely be complimentary colors. They are the “Ken and Barbie” power-couple of the kitchen if you ask me. And a flavor duo that should be the anthem to your summer.

Let me pause for a minute to talk about the balsamic we used from “Our Best Bites”. It’s no ordinary balsamic (if you’re in a pinch you can definitely use regular balsamic, but it won’t be quite the same). Have you guys heard of these ladies? I’m sure you have. They have some go-to, no-fail great recipes on their blog and have expanded their brand with their own product line of oil and vinegar and other kitchen awesomeness. But guys, seriously. Their vinegar and oil line is so good and a perfect way to enhance simple flavors. The rosemary olive oil is one of my favorites (hmm, perhaps I’ll make it a sweet pick…). I put it on any vegetable I roast and it’s downright delightful. They also have a blood orange olive oil that will turn a boring leafy salad upside down and jalapeño olive oil to spice up any dish in a flash. Go check them out. They aren’t even paying me to say that, promise.

Okay, now let’s make this salad!

Fresh Watermelon Salad with Basil and Fig Balsamic

2016-05-23 13:01:01

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Ingredients

4 cups watermelon, cubed
1/3 cup basil, cut in long, thin strips (chiffonade)
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Our Best Bites Vanilla Fig Balsamic
kosher salt, a few dashes to taste
fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Instructions

To start off you’re going to have to tame the watermelon beast and chop it up. I dread this process because it’s a juicy mess and my knife never seems sharp enough to battle the thick watermelon and rind. But alas, it must be done. So roll up your sleeves and let’s get to it. It will be worth it. A great tip I learned somewhere along the way (probably some Food Network show) is to cut your watermelon on a rimmed cookie sheet. It keeps the juice from flowing all over your countertop and onto the floor. It’s been a game-changer for me in the watermelon department.
Next, chiffanode the basil. Chiffa-what? Chiffanode. It is a fancy word for cutting into long, thin strips and is actually quite easy. Stack all the basil leaves on top of each other and then roll up your leafy pile into a basil-like cigar. Take a sharp knife and start cutting the “cigar” into thin strips. When you’re done you’ll have long, thin pieces that unroll and are ready for the salad.
Lastly, toast pine nuts on medium heat in a frying pan for a couple of minutes until light brown. Warning don’t try to multi-task at this point. It won’t work. They burn quickly! Keep your eyes on the prize here, people.
To assemble place the watermelon into a large serving bowl and add basil, olive oil, vanilla fig balsamic, a good pinch of salt and a bit of fresh cracked pepper to taste. Mix all ingredients together. If you want it to look extra-awesome garnish the salad with a few additional pine nuts, a bit more basil, and a little more salt and pepper on top. Take a bite. Then take a picture. Duh. Doesn’t everyone take a picture after they make a culinary masterpiece?

Sweet Lemon Made http://sweetlemonmade.com/

Recipe adapted from A House in The Hills

Sweet Picks

May Sweet Picks

Posted on May 19, 2016

A Thousand Wishes Fine Fragrance Mist: While shopping for Mother’s Day gifts, I couldn’t help but stop by Bath & Body Works. Unbeknownst to me, they were having a special deal, spend $30 and you’re qualified to pay $30 for a gift bag worth $120. Of course I had $30 in my basket and you bet I paid for the gift bag of goodies! I was so excited to check out my loot when I got home. As I pulled out body spray, shower gel and lotion, I noticed the scent was something new. I’m very particular with my perfume and lotion scents, so I was leery when I saw it was called “A Thousand Wishes”. What is that?! To my surprise, I love the way this scent smells. I think it’s safe to say it’s my new favorite! The scent doesn’t last too long with the body spray, but it smells more like a perfume than a light scent. This is how Bath & Body Works describes the smell: Warm your heart a thousand times over with a festive blend of sparkling champagne, crystal peonies & almond crème. Yum!
Image Source: Bath & Body Works

Trader Joe’s Chicago Style Popcorn: My sweetpick favorite for the month has got to be the Trader Joe’s Chicago Mix Popcorn! I could eat a whole bag–it’s so good! The Chicago mix has caramel corn mixed with cheddar cheese popcorn in one bag. And as the bag says–it’s the perfect combo of sweet and salty. Some people find the mix weird but I love it! Just a warning to all you that like your flavors and foods separated–this popcorn will probably make you cringe with its flavors all mixed together in ONE bag. I know some of you are already saying “ewww” too but, if you have never tried it you have to give it a chance at least once. You never know, you might discover that you like it. And the rest of you who don’t think this combo sounds gross is salivating and wishing you had some right now. Am I right?!? This mix definitely falls into the category of sweet and salty– love or hate. I personally have enjoyed this combo even before I knew there was such a thing called a Chicago mix. Remember those giant tins of buttered popcorn, cheese popcorn, and caramel corn that you’d get from your grandparents around Christmas time? They had those paper dividers to separate the flavors. Some(for those people who hate when their flavors mix) would say they were there for a reason. Haha! You were either that kid that was careful not to knock your tin over or else you might get that cheese popcorn in your caramel corn section and you would have to spend the time separating them apart into their rightful sections or you just didn’t care if some of that cheddar happened to get into the caramel corn. You just dove into it and ate both of them together and didn’t worry about separating them.
Image Source: Trader Joe’s Reviews

BAN.DO: On a recent business trip I found myself in with some time to kill one evening. My hotel was situated just a few blocks down from a large shopping district in Atlanta and the weather was inviting. So naturally, with money burning a hole in my pocket, I ditched the hotel and went to peruse the shops. Time got away from me (perhaps it was the 11 things I tried on in the dressing room or the clearance section bursting at the seems) and I soon found myself wandering Macy’s with arms full of stuff when I realized the store was closing. Somehow I missed the four announcements over the loud speaker notifying me of this and I was in a panic to make some decisions and purchases. It was difficult to part with some items, but feeling resolute, I took my newly thinned pile to the register. And on my way I saw this BAN.DO Travel Tumbler and had to have it. I don’t know what it was about it, but the whimsical floral pattern and fun colors hooked me. I pictured it sitting on my desk making me happy everyday. So I bought it, duh, because who doesn’t want to be happy everyday? And it worked, every time I look at it I feel a little happy. Totally worth the $14. #itsthelittlethings
Image Source: Nordstrom

BabyLit Books: These books were love at first sight! A compact, cardboard version of your favorite classic books… what’s not to love?! The cover alone is enough to make you fall head over heels for them and lure you into thinking you need every book they ever put out, whether you’ve got kids of your own or not. (I may or may not be guilty of just that.) They are perfect for story time of any age while incorporating the classic book characters we all love. They are my go-to baby gift and love to pair them with my favorite Little Unicorn swaddle. Go grab yourself one or two or all of them.
Image Source: BabyLit

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