Friday Favorites

I scored this cute valentine at the Louisville Papersource.

Check out this week’s roundup of things that we thought were a llama fun!

Inner WKU Spirit Growing up in Bowling Green, we both have a special place in our hearts for WKU.  After taking this silly quiz, we have determined that Laura is a White Squirrel, and Sarah is Big Red. So typical.

Athleisure With several trips coming up this spring, I’ve been on the hunt for a pair of cute sneaks. I loved the slip-on trend that popped up last year, but never really found a pair that I liked enough to buy. This year, it seems like they are everywhere. I’m especially loving these in rose gold with a lasercut pattern.

Getting Married Is Not An Accomplishment I have to admit that when I first saw this title, I thought to myself, “oh just another one of those articles telling me why/why not getting married is the right thing to do” *insert eye roll*. However, after reading it, Natalie Brooke presents a very valid point. So whether you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day weekend with a significant other or not, remember that love is just one of many parts of a girl’s life to celebrate (and not always the most important).

I Just Want To Hang With My Dog  I love a good graphic tee for hanging out at home or running errands around town. Recently I stumbled across this one on Etsy. Not only does it speak the truth, but 20% of all profits are donated to animal shelters!

Decadent Valentine’s Day Treat I first tasted this brownie tart at a birthday celebration for a friend. His girlfriend (now wife) had made it for us all to share, and I immediately asked for the recipe and went out to buy a springform pan. Believe me when I say that this tart is decadent and that a little sliver will go a long way. I will definitely be sharing this treat with my Valentine this weekend.

Cheers!

Laura & Sarah

Friday Favorites

 

After a mini-snowcation last weekend, I had a major case of the Mondays that I never really recovered from. Since it looks like the weather is going to be really nice for this time of year, I’m hoping to hop on my bike for a long ride on Saturday.

Shine Theory Ok, so shine theory is not necessarily a new idea, and honestly, it shouldn’t even be that radical of an idea for us women. However, it’s been on my mind a lot lately! It’s so common that whenever one woman experiences success, we use it as an excuse to compare ourselves to her in a negative light. Shine theory says that instead of giving in to this destructive knee-jerk reaction, befriend that woman because learning about all of those things that make her shine can help encourage you to shine too. It’s the associative property of awesomeness. – Sarah

Valentine’s Day Movie List I’m always up for a good rom-com, so I really don’t need an upcoming holiday as an excuse to watch one of these movies. Nevertheless, I’m hoping to watch one of these flicks this weekend. – Laura

Hound Runs Half Marathon When everyone in our family saw this news story, we immediately thought that this would be something Sarah’s dog, Lou, would do! This Alabama hound came in 6th place despite stopping to smell a bunny,visit another dog, and hang out with some cows and mules. Hilarious! – Laura

Spring Dress We still have a couple more months of winter in Kentucky, but I’m already ready to pack away my tights, boots, and heavy coats. I love this casual dress with the longer sleeves, which is perfect for 60 degree spring days. With a boat neck and navy and white stripes, what more could you want? – Laura

These look seriously tasty!

Cheers to a fabulous weekend!

Laura

Friday Favorites

Yay, it’s Friday! And, if you’re in the Bluegrass, happy snow day, too! Cozy up on this wintery day with some of our favorite things from throughout the week.

Oscar Nominations I’ve never been big on award shows, but last year I got seriously into the Oscars, particularly the nominations for best picture. I made sure to watch all of the nominees after the Oscars were over and by doing so, discovered some great flicks I may not have watched otherwise (excluding Birdman…bleh). As for the nominations for best picture this year, I’ve only seen Bridge of Spies and Mad Max, so I’ve got some work to do before February 28th! The only one I may skip out on is The Revenant because it looks a little intense for my taste, but I’m totally #TeamLeo to finally land an Oscar. – Sarah

Goodreads Sometime in college, I started making 3 New Years resolutions annually–one each for mind, body, and spirit. My resolution for my mind this year is to begin reading more! I’ve had a lifelong love of reading, but being a full time graduate student last year put a major halt on my leisure reading. To help with my resolution, I joined Goodreads. Goodreads let me pick my favorite genres, rate some of my favorite books within those genres, and then generated a reading list for me. You can even use it to track reading goals (mine is 24 books in 2016) and join book clubs! – Sarah

26 Things to Do for Yourself  I totally get suckered into reading these lists when scrolling through social media feeds. Normally I’m outraged because they’ll say completely unrealistic things like, “meditate for two hours each morning” or “spend three months traveling to exotic countries.” What normal human being has time for that?! However, this list was refreshing because I could realistically accomplish everything in a year, and I think most of them would brighten up my life in some way. – Laura

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal I eat oatmeal almost every morning for breakfast. This slow cooker recipe is perfect for getting snowed in this weekend! – Laura

Chip and Joanna’s House Tour I’ve been on a HGTV kick the past couple of weeks, and my latest obsession is Fixer Upper. Anytime I catch a glimpse of Chip and Joanna’s farm house on the show, I practically squeal at how perfect it is. Luckily, a friend shared their house tour with me. There’s some major design inspiration in these photos! – Sarah

Cheers!

Laura & Sarah

Friday Favorites

Did anyone else FINALLY feel back in the swing of things this week? It’s not a bad feeling, and coupled with a three-day weekend ahead, it’s a really awesome feeling! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week!

• Almond Crusted Chicken Nuggets – Since this week has been fairly quiet most evenings, I’ve been a bit more adventurous in the kitchen. I’ve enjoyed trying some new dishes and flavors, but I’m also craving some comfort food. I saw this recipe on one of my favorite food blogs and am planning to make these next week.
• Bikini Body – I’m really proud that this awesome lady is a fellow Kentuckian. As women, I think it is important to take care of our bodies and appreciate them for everything they allow us to do. Whenever I look in the mirror and think my butt is too big or my calves are too muscular, I try to turn my thoughts to gratitude for my ability to walk and run and do all of the other things I love doing.
• These Booties – I’ve been eyeing these booties since September and tried to hold out until they went on sale – but that never happened! I broke down and ordered them earlier this week and have been wearing them nonstop since they arrived. I ordered them in the “putty” color, but if you like them in navy, I found them on sale on Abercrombie’s website of all places. *Disclaimer: They’d probably smell like the cologne your high school boyfriend doused himself in everyday. Anyways, I’m officially on the booties bandwagon (3 years after everyone else…)!
• Oh You Steppin’ – The health and wellness program where I work offered super discounted Fitbits for employees who sign up for a step-counting challenge, so as someone on the fence about the Fitbit craze, this was enough to push me over the edge. I’m one of the worst users ever because I don’t really like wearing the thing (honestly, it makes for a less cute arm party), so I usually take it off after I reach my 10,000 steps. While it’s amusing to see people marching around and swinging their arms for the sake of a few steps and free swag, if it makes people more conscientious about staying healthy, then I’m a supporter!

3,097 steps and a shameless arm party pic at work

Whether you’re staying in for the weekend or taking advantage of an extra day to squeeze in a quick trip, some of our posts earlier this week have you covered. Check out Sarah’s favorite new releases and my favorite podcasts.

Cheers and Happy Friday!

Laura

Friday Favorites

After the unseasonably warm temperatures earlier this week, I’m excited to really begin celebrating Christmas this weekend with several holiday gatherings with friends and family! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week.

1. HGTV Dream Home 2016 I may be getting ahead of myself, but one of my favorite thing on New Year’s Day is watching the HGTV Dream Home Special. I enter the drawing daily in hopes that someday I will win the spectacular house. I couldn’t help myself from looking at the pictures that are already posted on the HGTV website. – Laura
2. Get ready for Fuller House! Growing up, Laura and I were major Full House fans. A show packed with corny jokes, hot Uncle Jesse, and just the right amount of drama (who remembers when Michelle fell of her horse?)–what more could you ask for? Apparently, another season. Netflix has just announced that the Tanners are back on February 26 with Fuller House. The countdown is on! – Sarah
3. Gift for Your Burrito-Loving Techie Friend To be completely honest, I wanted to write an entire post about this gem of a gift idea. However, Sarah nixed that, so you can thank her. However, if you have a moment and want a laugh, please read the customer ratings and reviews on this digital burrito pouch. I got too much of a kick out of this not to share. – Laura
4.  I have an obsessive love for two things in my life: my college alma mater and dogs. This week, an administrator of WKU shared this photo of the university president sharing a treat with a service dog at graduation for a job well done. This was enough to make me tear up a bit and try to force my own dog to let me hug her. Even though she hated it, I think she knew the sentiment was there. – Sarah
5. Be Curious. Be Brave. And Don’t Get Bangs. I don’t know about you, but when the year is ending and another one is approaching, I spend some time thinking about how to become my better self. I loved this commencement speech Reese Witherspoon gave at her high school alma mater in Nashville. Even as a member of the working world, it is nice to remember to keep growing and stay true to yourself. – Laura

Cheers to a fabulous weekend!

Laura & Sarah

Friday Favorites

We made it folks! It’s Friday! Time to give your friends a high five, do a cartwheel, and hit that dougie. But before you do, check out our favorites nuggets of fun from this week.

1. Christmas Card Displays December is my favorite month for mail because I love receiving Christmas cards. I’ve never had a great system for displaying them, so I’m going to DIY one of these ideas this weekend. Now if I could just decide which display I’d like to try… – Laura
2. Serial Season 2 The Serial podcast is a mutual obsession shared by Laura and I. We developed an intense curiosity about the story of Adnan Syed and his accused murder during season one. Season two is taking a different spin on things by looking into the story of Bowe Berghdal, an American soldier previously held prisoner by the Taliban and also charged with two crimes related to his supposed desertion from the Army. I listened to the first episode last night while cooking dinner, and I can already feel a new weekly ritual coming on. – Sarah
3. Dogs Starring in Nativity Scenes Because is there anything cuter than dogs in costumes? – Laura
4. Pickin’ On Coldplay If you’re a fan of bluegrass music, like all true Kentuckians are, then you have to check out the Pickin’ On series. Pickin’ On pays tribute to a variety of popular bands, but my favorite at the moment is their tribute to Coldplay. The bluegrass cover of Shiver will be your perfect soundtrack to a quiet Friday morning. – Sarah
5. Ornament Exchange Even though most of my close girlfriends live all over the Bluegrass, we still like to get together for special occasions, holidays included. Next week we are meeting up in a central location (for us, that means Elizabethtown) for a holiday dinner and ornament exchange. Since many of us are just getting started in our careers, an ornament exchange is a fun way for us to treat each other to a gift, but also stay on budget! – Sarah

Cheers!

Laura & Sarah

Friday Favorites

Hey Lou gurl … hey!

I feel like Matt Bellassai when I say this, but does anyone else think the weeks after holidays are the worst?  In reality, we had a pretty good week, but Monday morning was rough. Here’s some fun tidbits we stumbled upon this week.

1. Elf is the best Christmas movie ever! Elf is definitely at the top of my list of favorite Christmas movies. My mom, sister, and I went to see it in theaters when it came out in 2003, and the three of us  laughed more than anyone else in the theater. I’m sure I’ll watch the film a couple times this month, but this list already had me in stitches. – Laura
2. Weekender Bags One item that was top of my to-do list this year was to replace my luggage. I was gifted my first luggage set in high school, but add on lots of travel during my college years plus a strange hook and pulley system used to raise my luggage to the top of a 4-story canal house in Amsterdam, and my bags were basically being held together with duct tape. Part of my luggage replacement included a new weekender bag, which is definitely one of my most used pieces. I love this list put together by The Everygirl of weekenders that are as affordable as they are attractive. My weekender, the Mason Satchel from Sole Society, even makes a guest appearance in the number 1 spot. It will be your perfect accessory for holiday travel! – Sarah
3. Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Mat I’ve been consistent in my yoga practice recently, which has helped me become more mindful of its spiritual aspects. While this is a short read on yoga, it brings up two points that are applicable to life: keep your eyes on your own mat and let go of things you cannot control. As everything seems to be heightened during the holiday season-emotions, materialism, activities,etc.-this is a mantra I’m trying to keep in mind. – Laura
4. Christmas Decorating for Small Spaces As much as I love my industrial-style loft, it can sometimes present itself as a design challenge. Although I sprung for a tiny alpine tree this year (50% off at Hobby Lobby for the win), I would definitely consider some of these decorating tips as Christmas tree alternatives. My personal favorite is the vignette of candles and greenery. I think it would look as pretty on a coffee table as it would as a centerpiece for my teeny tiny kitchen table. – Sarah
5. Holiday Photo Features Grumpy 3-Year-Old Our family definitely has more than one of these types of photos. Sometimes you just don’t want to stand still and smile at the camera while wearing a stuffy outfit. I love that the family saw the humor in this photo and slapped it on a Christmas card. This year, we had our own struggles getting the perfect picture… – Laura

Cheers!

Laura & Sarah

Friday Favorites

Can you believe that we are already 2/3 of the way through November? Fall is flying by, but here are a few things that we’ve made time for over the past week.

1. Brie Recipe

It was my turn to host Bible study this week, and this recipe looked like the perfect appetizer I could quickly put together after a long day at work. I mean, what group of women doesn’t love brie? I thought the fresh thyme, roasted almonds, and balsamic vinegar might kick it up a notch from just a regular warmed brie offering. I was right about those things, but as I was rushing around the sweep the floor and set up other food and drink items, the brie melted a little too much in the oven. If you make this recipe, I advise lowering the temperature (I already lowered my oven to about 325) and only leaving it in the oven for 10ish minutes. Also, check it regularly, which is what I should have done. Instead of serving a pretty brie wheel, I served a delicious brie dip. And guess what…it was the first thing to go! -Laura

2.  Tumbles Gets a Wheelchair

I am a major sucker for cute puppy videos, and this might just be the best one in a while. I have to admit, I found this video while scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed. It seems like Facebook has been extra negative lately, but finding this video about Tumbles and his new wheelchair made this particular social media binge worth it. If you ever feel like you need a simultaneous laugh and good cry, check this video out. -Sarah

3.  #OptOutside

It’s one week away from Black Friday. Such a divisive day! I have some friends who are first to bust through the doors of the mall as it is scheduled to open and others who absolutely refuse to take part in the consumer culture. My mom, sister, and I trypically go shopping on Black Friday, but we wait until mid-morning to hit the stores and find that most of the crazed shoppers who started running through the mall at midnight have gone home or are slumped on a bench drinking an Orange Julius. It’s actually a really pleasant experience. Since we live a couple of hours apart from each other, it is a great excuse to go shopping together and get started on our Christmas shopping.

REI is closing its doors to customers and paying its employees to #OptOutside, which I think is a really refreshing idea. What do you think? Will you be at the mall? -Laura

4.  Monogrammed Scarf

It seems like I’ve been seeing this scarf everywhere lately, and in my opinion, it would make a perfect Christmas gift. With the recent trend of plaid blanket scarves, this is a more classic option that is available for both males and females and that would definitely please multiple people on your Christmas list–I’m thinking moms, in-laws, co-workers, anyone really! My personal pick is the blackwatch option, and I think it would look great under a winter coat or even paired with a black turtleneck for a classic winter look. Throw a monogram on this puppy, and you’ve got yourself the perfect personalized Christmas gift for under $30, whether for yourself or for someone else! -Sarah

5.  Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. With the exception of the Black Friday craziness that seems to be cutting more and more into Thursday night, Thanksgiving remains one of the least commercialized holidays that I think still focuses on all good things–friends, family, and lots of great food. In college, I was in an organization that always had an annual Thanksgiving dinner potluck. A Friendsgiving, if you will. This past weekend, several of my co-workers and past classmates also hosted a Friendsgiving. Although I was unable to attend because of some last minute obligations, I still love the idea and think it’s an extra fun way to celebrate the holiday before everyone travels to be with family. There’s still a week left before Thanksgiving, so if you haven’t already, grab a group of your friends and help show them how thankful you are for their presence in your life! -Sarah

Cheers!

Laura & Sarah

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! This week was a doozey, and we’re really glad it’s the weekend! Here are a few tidbits that helped to pull us through the week.

1. Share a Drink at Starbucks

My coffee is usually homebrewed, so Starbucks is a rare treat for me. Although I don’t hop on the PSL bandwagon, I’m definitely looking forward to the first peppermint mocha latte of the season. Say what you will about the red cups, I’m planning to have a coffee date with my mom tomorrow. There is a buy one holiday drink get one free deal from 2-5 PM each day this weekend. It would be a great time to catch up with a friend or family member! – Laura

2. Ted Talk: The Career Advice You Probably Didn’t Get

Ted Talks are one of my favorite things to watch whenever I have some time to kill. Recently I’ve been on a kick of reading/watching anything career related, especially when it applies to females in the workplace. This particular Ted Talk was shared with me by my mentor. As a female in a corporate environment, some of the career advice I receive can be menial—avoid upspeak, wear your hair pulled back, don’t say “like,” be more confident…While some of those things are important (maybe not the hair one, in my opinion), I love this Ted Talk because it brings it back to the basics. Our greatest assets in the workplace, man or woman, are our minds. – Sarah

3. Whine About It

Anytime I need a quick laugh, Matt Bellassai from Buzzfeed is my go-to guy. Matt’s best known for his weekly video series, Whine About It, where he basically drinks wine at his desk and says every inappropriate complaint that has ever gone through my head. He just started season two of Whine About It, so now is the perfect time to start watching if you’ve never seen his videos before. My favorite quote from his latest video, Types of Food that are the Worst, is that “ramen is just a spaghetti noodle that went for a perm.” – Sarah

4. Ankle Bootie Tips

I’m slowly embracing the bootie trend. For the first couple of years, I thought they were too trendy for me to try to pull off, and then when I realized that they might fit into my wardrobe, I didn’t really know how to wear them with different outfits. This style guide has been my go-to! With the exception of the bare legs and socks look, I feel like I could wear each of these styles. I’m currently on the prowl for some neutral flat booties that I could wear with jeans on the weekends, and I’d love to see your favorites! – Laura

5. Yoga on the Go

Creative Yoga is a new hot yoga studio opening a mere block away from my house next week. I’m so excited! While perusing their website in anticipation of their opening, I found this nifty guide to yoga on the go. I’m no stranger to the quad stretch, and my colleagues frequently walk by my office and find me doing eagle arms while reading an email. You bet I’ll be trying out some of these other poses for a little refresher during the workday! – Laura

What’s been on your radar this week?

Cheers!

Laura & Sarah