I know it’s not Thursday, but better late than never!
1. First and foremost, it’s Foodie Penpal reveal day!
If you’re not familiar with FPP, it’s a fun little program set up by Lindsay over at The Lean Green Bean that’s basically a perfect opportunity to be introduced to new foodie products. After signing up, you get paired with a penpal (blogger or reader) that you get to put together a box of goodies for ($15 limit). And the best part? Someone else is putting together a box of goodies for you too! This was my first time participating, and I have to say that I’m a big fan. Not only is it a great way to connect with others, but it’s also a great way to try some new products that you might have not otherwise picked up. Interested in signing up? You can do that here.
This month, I was paired with a reader named Ali, and I have to say… she did a pretty stellar job putting my box together.
Coffee, chocolate, cookie mix, and a seasoning rub? Girl knows the way to my heart for sure. I’ve already broken in to the coffee and chocolate (which are both amazing), and I plan on doing some cooking and baking soon as well. Thanks Ali!!
2. Another thing that makes my heart do a little happy dance? Rain…
And that little happy dance turns into a full blown fiesta if that rain turns into a thunderstorm. It’s been stormy here for the past couple of days, and it’s supposed to stay this way pretty much all week. Does it make me a horrible person to say that… I kind of love it? Don’t get me wrong – warm sunny days are wonderful and all, but I adore storms. Blinding flashes of lightning. Thunder that you can feel in your bones. Rain that comes down in sheets. Love.
3. They’re not without their casualties, though. Poor little gaffer…
4. I’m not a big fan of whole wheat flour in cookies… In a continuing effort to empty my pantry, I’ve been attacking some lingering bags of flour with a vengeance, and while the finished product may look pretty…
… and not taste too bad, you can definitely taste the whole wheatiness. I’m all for healthy eating, but when I want a treat, I want a treat, not something that makes me think back to the days where I’d try to healthify everything I baked and end up with something that was barely palatable. Good grief…
5. And if you’ll indulge me for just one more rant, I have to bring up what happened when I was at Starbucks yesterday… So there I was, sitting at my little table, enjoying my daily coffee, when the woman sitting at the table next to me pulls out a bottle of nail polish and starts doing her nails. Excuse me but… what? Now, you guys know I love my nail polish, but I’d rather it not assault my olfactory senses when I’m trying to enjoy my drink. That’s just one of those things you do in the privacy of your own home… or in a designated facility… it’s not something you whip out in a coffee shop. Have some decency, people!
6. Speaking of nails, I did mine [at home]…
I love baby pink nails, and I think I’ve just found my new favorite color – OPI’s I Theodora You. Before this, I’d always turn to Essie’s Fiji whenever I needed a hit of baby pink on my digits, but my relationship with Essie is… not ideal. I love the colors, but I hate the fact that they never.freaking.last. One day and it’s chips galore. At least OPI lasts for two 😆
7. A word of caution. Do not try to take your vitamins while chewing gum. You will end up swallowing not only the vitamins, but the gum as well. Let’s just hope that all those stories about it sitting in your stomach undigested for 7 years are nothing more than an urban myth…
8. The day I don’t feel awkward taking selfies will be a good day indeed… And let’s not even talk about how many tries it took me to actually get myself in the frame without cutting off pieces of my head…
9. iPod. Shuffle. Go.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrOeGCJdZe4&w=560&h=315″]
10. Remember…
Happy Thursday Friday, friends!
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Do you feel awkward taking selfies too?
<3 your hair! I love thunderstorms…I find them ironically peaceful. I was cracking up when you said when I want a treat, I want a treat…completely agree. Too bad I can't have any real flour, but if I could, I would!
Love rain storms, especially falling asleep during them. So calming!
And I try not to take selfies because I look so weird in them! And if I do take them, only I see them!
Do have lots of thunderstorms where I live. Like you, as long as it’s once in awhile I love it. But if it goes on forever I get annoyed because a) I can’t do my outside walks and b) we might lose power if it’s THAT bad.
Random…you should try Sally Hansen Hard As Nails line. I could not believe it lasted a week on my nails. I cook, wash dishes, I mean my nails go through a lot and usually chip within the day I paint them. This line rocked it. Specifically, I did a bottom clear coat and two coats of color with NO top coat.
Thanks girl! I’ll definitely look into that line the next time I’m in the store!
random- today May 31 is National Macaroon Day! coconut & chocolate anyone 🙂 yum! I am drooling now….. and selfies are fun to take but they never look as good as I think they should when they are of me LOL, now yours are always adorable! have a fabulous weekend trying out new foodie goodies
I didn’t know blog readers did the exchange too…neat.
That chocolate bar? One night for me. ..yeah….
Your picture? Kinda sorta looks like Jennifer Lawrence….pretty gal 🙂 I’m kinda sorta jealous (insanely 🙂
And lastly…if you want to give the raw oats again sometime… http://www.healthytippingpoint.com posted a neat-o combo! And even Brittany at http://www.beautyinstrength.com posted an “un overnight oats version”…neat.
oops…wrong link: http://beautyinstrengthxox.com/
I have the biggest girl crush on Jennifer Lawrence <3
Me too!! 🙂
And yet I haven’t seen any of her movies…I really want to see The Hunger Games & Silver Linings Playbook though…just no moula for the dvds …(yet)…
(that’s why I’m jealous u kinda look like her 🙂
she’s so down to earth, gorgeous, cool, and I like her style (hair/clothes)
im not a big fan of selfies myself- its always awkwarddd. that nail color looks so pretttty 🙂 I think I need to try the foodie pen pal it looks fun
Such a pretty lady! Happy Friday 🙂 We’ve been having severe storms in the Midwest all week & I too love it. They make being inside super-cozy. As for whole wheat flour in cookies, totally takes something away. And that quote is always a winner in my book. Enjoy your weekend!
thats my favorite nail color. And you are pretty in pink. hehe. The selfie, well you mastered it. I can’t even bring myself to say the word selfie. Or bestie, or any other cutzie word like that.
😉
I wouldn’t even know what else to call it! Self-portrait? 😆
Rain makes my heart smile! love it! People have always thought that I was weird for loving it! Oh well 🙂
Random thought I’m having a hard time deciding what color I want to paint my nails…decisions decision…..
I absolutely love thunderstorms. I wish we had an enclosed patio so I could sit outside during them. The best part? When you fall asleep to them. UGH, I pray for it. I really love the baby pink nails on your skin tone! Very cute!
And I just wish I could take a GOOD selfie. I am jealous of people’s angles/way with the camera. Although I’m good at photography, taking pictures of myself is an entirely different story.
Love the last quote and I definitely almost swallowed my gum this morning while taking my vitamins. Too funny <3
The hardest part of selfies for me is that I have no idea what kind of expression to make… It makes me feel like a goofball, and it’s hard not to let that come across in the picture 😕
Your selfie photo is awesome!!
Storms scare me – they sound like I’m right next to Niagara Falls.
LOVE the nail color!
I <3 thunderstorms. I may have mentioned this before, but I used to have a sound soother alarm clock that had an option for crickets, ocean, waterfall.. and thunderstorms! I personally can't go to sleep with the sound of crickets- reminds me too much of hot and sticky summer camp 🙁 But thunderstorms are so great! They just drown out my thoughts. Peaceful 🙂
I love pink but I've never been a fan of pink nails because they are usually so bright and obnoxious. I tried baby pink once for a birthday manicure (but had to take it off two days later for a surgery. Woe is life!!). May need to try that again!
You are so pretty! 🙂
I also love thunderstorms, except if I’m driving in them. That’s no fun. But when I am at home, with nowhere to be? Definitely!
Oh man you got an awesome basket of goodies! I love a good thunderstorm every now and then, as long as it doesn’t bring any damage to it.
This is a GORGEOUS picture of you! You are beautiful! Love it! 🙂
Hope you are having a great day!
So you have officially convinced me to sign up for Foodie Penpals for June. Think I can bribe Lindsay into pairing us up? 😉
That’s SO WEIRD about the lady in Starbucks. I realize a lot of people generally use coffee shops as a place to chill, and they look all comfy and homey and such, but wow…boundaries, people.
I’m still waiting for this storm to hit that they started predicting yesterday. Except now they’re saying it’ll happen tomorrow, and I’m driving back to London then…I like looking at storms, but driving in them, not so much. Or getting caught biking or walking in them…or trying to sleep in them…so basically I like them, as long as I can choose their time and duration of occurrence :-p
Bahhhh whole wheat cookies. Reminds me of back in the day when everything I baked was whole-wheat, fat-free (unsweetened applesauce and 0% plain yogurt in everything), and splenda-sweetened. AKA: disgusting. I don’t mind whole wheat, obviously…but not in my treats. If I’m going to have a treat, I want to enjoy every element of it, which you sometimes need white flour for that.
Awkward selfies: all the time. I never know where to look or what expression to make. I always end up taking like a million until I get one I’m happy with.
And to finish off an epically long comment: Pretty lady! <3
I’m thinking we can try and slip Lindsay a 20 or something 😉 And very much YES to not knowing what kind of expression to make. Like… am I supposed to look serious or as goofy as I feel? This is why I need to be captured candidly… less chance for me to look like a goober.
I’m usually a sunny weather girl all the way, but the prospective 100* temps this weekend have me craving a nice thunderstorm! And yeah, selfies are super super awkward. I always feel like such a took for making faces into my phone. Lame! But, as always, you look gorgeous!
Love your hair style!! It’s super cute 🙂 Something random… I am starting the process to get certified as a nutrition consultant! It’s a passion of mine and I hope to one day do online nutrition counseling and open a yoga studio.
That’s so exciting! Congrats girlie!! 😀 Mind me asking what’s involved in the process? It’s something I’m super interested in as well…
I love storms!! We get hurricanes and tropical storms here in FL. I just don’t like driving in it or anything of that sort, especially at night, because then I can’t see anything.
Something random: I wore a sea star necklace last night, and everyone kept saying “I like your starfish.” Well, starfish technically do not exist! How’s that for random? I used it as an educational opportunity 😉
This is entirely unrelated but can I thank you for giving me a giggle this morning?
“After signing up, you get paired with a penal (blogger or reader) ….”
Why am I so 12?
I love storms as long as I don’t have to go anywhere.. in the hot Florida summer we get them like clockwork everyday at around 4:00… you can literally tell time by the skies. Unlike you, It makes me want a siesta, not a fiesta. *wink*
PS- OPI >Essie. Yes.
Haha! Omigosh I didn’t even notice that. FIXED! 😉
Glad I’m not the only one who has a love/hate relationship with Essie! And I love the last quote, so true so true.
I wish I could say I liked thunderstorms, but truth is, I HATE them. They scare me so so much. I have no idea why either. I think it’s just because whenever I think of a big thunderstorm I associate that with a tornado and those just freak me out. I can handle some rainy days every now and then though. But sunny days will always have a place in my heart 😉
I guess maybe I don’t mind them because we never really have to worry about severe weather here. We had one tornado about 26 years ago, and I was way too young to remember it.
Talking selfies is so awkward! I don’t know how people do it especially at the gym. If I was taking pics of myself I would probably fall off the machine haha.
Doing her nails in Starbucks?! Waaaay too far. I’d really love to know if that whole 7 years thing is true. I swore by it for years, but now I swallow gum all the time (sometimes accidentally). OneRepublic is one of my favorite artists!
I hate storms! I live alone and don’t have a car, so I rely on walking/public transit. Walking is obviously unpleasant when it’s stormy out, and the buses are slippery and crowded, as well as backed up, when it rains! No fun! Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is wearing jeans in the rains. I cannot stand wet jeans haha
Btw your hair looks so fabulous. Do you mind me asking what shampoo and conditioner you use? Do you blowdry?
I rotate my shampoos and conditioners quite a bit, but some of my regulars are: Lush’s Godiva solid shampoo and their American Cream conditioner, the coconut milk shampoo/conditioner by Organix, and pretty much anything from Bumble and Bumble. I also use a deep treatment conditioning cream from MoroccanOil once a week, and their treatment oil after every wash. As for blowdrying, I do on occasion, but not very often.
oh one republic, I always love when you include some music. I hate when people paint their nails in closed off places. or worse this lady was taking off her nail polish with that horrendous smelling stuff on the metro. UCKKK
some girls do their nails in the middle of class here ..
Pretty girl I love your hair! It looks so soft 🙂 and I think we would get along so well in person btw… we have like the same taste in music haha and I’m also not a fan of whole wheat cookies.. they always come out so dense, but yours do look quite tasty :p
I’m not the biggest fan of thunderstorms and we get bad ones sometimes. The lightening definitely freaks me out!
I’m totally with you about doing your nails in public like that! I mean…how rude! BTW…love that nail polish! I’m going to have to pick some up. I definitely prefer a neutral color on my nails as well, and the only brand of nailpolish I buy is OPI…I think they’re the best!
FYI…I picked up the Orly brand rubberized basecoat (it’s totally a miracle worker!). The nail polish adheres to your nails some much better if you use it. My manicures ending up lasting about 5 days without chipping!
I’ve never tried a basecoat before, but I’m seriously going to consider picking one up. Oh who am I kidding… I’ll be picking one up the next time I’m in the store 😉 Does it make the whole painting process much longer?
Not really. It goes on pretty quickly and dries within a minute or 2. Once it’s dry, then you’re ready for the color. I painted my nails on Tuesday with this basecoat and it hasn’t chipped at all. I’m just seeing some white now on the tips of my nails from some nail growth. It’s pretty amazing! Oh yeah…I also use a top coat too to protect the color.
THANK YOU!! I am so glad I am not the only crazy person loving the rain and gloomy weather lately..I was beginning to think I had a cold soul. I don’t know why, but I really am loving the snuggle with a blanket and a cat type weather. HA. I was just talking about selfies with another blogger yesterday, and by talking I mean replying to her similar question about taking them hahaha. As long as I am alone, I can take them, but I DO still feel awkward. I try to take them when I am all sweaty nasty because everyone wants to see that right?? HA. Taking serious selfies is harder though, I usually save those for the men in my life…merroww.
My coffee is hella strong right now..random thought.
What an awesome package! Looks like you got some great stuff.
I actually don’t like whole wheat flour in cookies either, well to be honest, and don’t shoot me;) I don’t like cookies much…unless they’re those big cookies that are basically half cookie half muffin.
Haha, I like your selfies. So pretty! That happened to me lots of times too…practice, right. They definitely are super duper awkward at first. In fact, I hated them.
I love storms, they are so fun and comfy…in my opinion and when you aren’t home alone.
Happy Friday loove!
I like storms, but don’t like that it stays gloomy out for so long! I can really appreciate a passing thunderstorm on a warm summer day. The only bad storms we get here are snow storms, which I would take any day over hurricanes, or tornadoes. I feel so awkward taking selfies that I blush and then rarely post them!
Random: I think I’m going to get my bike out today and go for a ride! I’m really excited about it!
I think I’m going to have to follow your lead and do the same! I still haven’t gotten my bike out of storage after the winter, but this weekend sounds like a perfect time to do that.
I’m SO desperate to do the foodie pen pals! Shame I’m the only Aussie out there ): I have that OPI nail polish on my birthday list (I’m 18 on Tuesday!) I love it so much!
I remember once when I was younger I started eating a sandwich knowing full well I had gum in my mouth, but for some reason I just thought It would ‘work’. I then spent about a week panicking about a piece of chewing gum in my insides! (Fun fact – in Australia we call gum ‘chewies’)
Have a good weekend! x
Awwr yeah it’s rough feeling like the odd one out. I know it’s not the same thing, but being Canadian, I know how you feel to a certain extent. Most of the good stuff happens in the States. Lucky buggers…
I LOVE that nail color!! Fiji and pop art pink (when my hands are tan) are my go-to pinks. i just got ‘gucci, muchi, pucci’ or whatever its called put on yesterday and its a little tooo pinky in my opinion. gah im having total nail envy right now. and you look FAB in that selfie. i am the worst at selfies. looks like your foodie penpal did good 🙂 have a wonderful weekend lovely!
I loove the nail color! And funny – it’s exactly the other way round for me. OPI does not last at all, while Essie lasts over 3 days!! Must be the nails, I guess…. Love tho quote too and your selfie, beautiful girl!! I was laughing at the story when taking it. I totally see myself in it 🙂 Happy Weekend gorgeous!!
love storms! i actually have an app on my phone that plays all these different sounds to help you fall asleep– and i listen to “rain on the roof” 98% of time, other 2% time its “medieval flute” haha. and I LOVE that quote! happy friday pretty lady.
I listen to those kind of things occasionally as well, and it’s pretty much always something related to either rain or nature. Happy Friday, Caitlyn!
Love storms! I don’t like rain to come around very often, but when it does, it refreshes the soul I tell ya!
BTW – totally agree about the nails. What was that lady thinking? That’s for nail salons and the privacy of your own home ONLY.
I want your hair. I agree that whole wheat flour doesn’t work well in cookies. We tried it with popovers over thanksgiving one year and we will never make that mistake again. A mix of white and wheat works sometimes. I agree that foodie pen pals is a great way to introduce you to people and bond over the shared love of food. It’s a genius idea.
Love your haircut! It’s really cute! And that’s a great quote, thanks for the reminder 🙂 Happy FRIDAY!
Thanks Jenny! Happy Friday to you as well 😀
That nail color is seriously THEE best! I love the simple pink/nude colors. They are so pretty and classy :).