Spring has Sprung

Yesterday I did a little shopping with my mom. It was finally feeling like spring here in North Florida so I had to break out the skirt and flip flops. What no rain? What no crazy wind that makes it feel like its 30 degrees outside? Nope, just a blue sky and a high of 65 degrees. Lovely, simply lovely!

I had a handy dandy gift card from a return so I decided to stop by American Eagle to see what was new on clearance. Now, usually I never buy anything at AE unless it is on clearance. But, I just couldn't resist this cutie of a sun dress!

It looks so cute on! I pair it with a cute cropped denim jacket and some sandals and I am a walking celebration of spring! 

I also picked up this cute little t-shirt. I love wearing t-shirts that have a little interest, you look more put together that way I think.

What spring looks have caught your eye?

books and what not

I have recently been devouring books. This isn't really out of the ordinary. I read about 6 books last summer. What can I say, I've always loved reading. Hence, my career choice of an elementary school teacher.

I finished two books last week.

One: The Elegance of the Hedgehog.  It was a good book, although I'm still unsure as to whether I liked it or not. I spent the first few chapters very confused and feeling like I had no idea what was going on. The story is actually two stories that intertwine. One is of a twelve-year-old, upper class, Parisian girl living in a very nice apartment building. She is searching for beauty and purpose in her life and has set her mind on committing suicide. The other story is of the concierge of the apartment building. She is secretly a very worldly person. She hides her intelligence and worldly hobbies from the tenants because she thinks she needs to keep with the idea that concierges are simply there to serve the tenants and should not be knowledgeable about upper class topics. These two characters eventually meet and become fast friends. They each find what they are looking for in life, but in a most peculiar way.  

Two: Wench. I was so into this book I finished it in two days! I found out about it from O Magazine. Wench is the story of four woman slaves who only see each other during the summer when their masters take them on vacation in the North, free country. The book delves into the relationships the women have with their masters, most are forced to have their master's children. It also explores the relationship the slaves have with each other and what they are willing to do for each other and their children. The book provides great insight into why a slave would not run while in the free territory of the northern United States. The most interesting part is the way the masters interact with and think of the children they have with their slave mistresses. A great, and interesting read, I highly recommend it.  

Check out the sidebar to see what I am currently reading: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. 

In other exciting news.....I GOT A JOB!!!! I am the administrative assistant at a local home health agency. It's not a teaching position which would be ideal considering I do have a degree in elementary education. But, it's a job and it will get me out of my house and stop me from going absolutely bonkers! I start tomorrow and am very excited for someone who will be leaving behind her life of leisure and the ability to sleep until noon. 

what I'm listening to

I recently discovered some wonderful music while perusing on British iTunes. I find the best music on the UK iTunes. BTW, you can get to it by scrolling down to the bottom of iTunes and clicking on the little American flag. You can go to any country you want right there on iTunes. What a cheap trip, huh?

A wonderful singer from South London, Ms. Florence Welch combines her amazing voice with some great lyrics and adds them to some wonderfully created melodies and beats to create music that will get stuck in your head. But, you won't care! I have been listening to her album Lungs all weekend and I am smitten!  Without further ado I give you Florence + The Machine!

You've Got The Love



Dog Days Are Over

I have fallen in love

The last time I went to CVS I was looking for replacements for some of my toiletries. I visited my grandmother over Christmas and left all of my shower things at her house. So I was without shampoo, face wash, and body wash! ahhhhh! But, an upside is I do enjoy shopping for these particular items. I especially love smelling all the different things I could buy.  I'm sure the people at CVS think I'm crazy!

I was already a fan of Burt's Bees but I had only ever used their chapstick and lipgloss. I had a coupon so I decided to take advantage and replace my things with Burt's Bees product. I am oh-so-happy that I did. I have absolutely fallen in love with everything Burt's Bees.

I bought the Very Volumizing Pomegranate Shampoo:

It leaves my hair smelling wonderful and my hair is not the slightest bit oily. I have rather oily skin and my hair has been known to be oily by the end of the day depending on the weather conditions and the shampoo I used. This shampoo keeps my hair soft and shiny!

I also picked up the Extra Energizing Citrus & Ginger Root Body Wash:

This smells amazing and doesn't dry out my skin in the slightest. And, mixed with the heat of the water it leaves my bathroom smelling great too!

Last but not least, I decided to try the Natural Acne Solutions Pore Refining Scrub:

Like I said, my skin can be rather oily and I've always had to fight to have clear skin. I usually use a Neutrogena scrub but I like the thought that the Burt's Bees one is 100% all natural. It has a gentle scrub in it as well as 1% Salicylic Acid, which as we all know is the best thing to fight acne with. I have been using it for about two weeks now and it has succeeded in keeping my face clear and it keeps the oil down all the way into the next morning. 

If you're looking for any all natural additions to your toiletry arsenal, Burt's Bees is the way to go!

What is your must have beauty product?

saving some mula

I've been hearing about this whole couponing thing for a while now and I decided to try my hand at it. It seemed like a lot of work. To be honest I thought I was going to spend hours hunched over with my fingers stuffed into a pair of scissors cutting out every coupon I could find. The truth is it wasn't like that at all. I decided to take a trial run and it worked out fabulously! I got $70 worth of groceries for $38.70! Nice!

The Loot:

2x NY Texas Toast
2x Ruffles Chips
2x Oral B Toothbrush
2x Dove Deodorant
1 Colgate Toothpaste
1 Publix Whipped Butter
1 Lays Dip
2x Kraft Dressing
2x Orville Popcorn
2x Johnsanville Brats
2x Redbaron Singles Pizza
2x Barilla Pasta

Vendor Coupon Savings: $5.60
Advertised Special Savings: $24.23
Advantage Buy Savings: $1.98

I saved $31.81!!!!!

Total price paid: $38.70 (including tax)

I shop at Publix...I heart Publix! Basically the rule is: take advantage of Buy One Get One and then use two coupons, technically you are buying two. For example, the NY Texas Toast. They were buy one get one (BOGO) plus I had two .50 cents off coupons. So, they started at $3.29 a piece. I got two at buy one get one so two were $3.29. Minus my two coupons ($1.00), that means that two boxes of NY Texas Toast was $2.29!! How exciting!!

I got my training at Frugal Fun and Fortune.

It sounds daunting when you first read her instructions but it's not. The main idea is you take advantage of the sales and stack coupons on top of them. You then stock up your pantry and fridge so you don't have to buy any more for a while. Each week you buy less and less groceries because you stockpiled when things were on sale. The moral of the story is this: buy it now when it's on sale rather than having to buy it later when it's not.

Happy couponing!

Spoke too soon

I heard back from the insurance office assistant job. It's a no go. He hired someone that had more experience in the insurance industry. But, not to worry faithful readers, I have some other plans moving along. Substitute teaching, more office assistant interviews, etc. If all else fails I can always fall back on a life of crime.

Now for something completely different.

The Golden Globes were on last night. Can I just say that Ricky Gervais is my favorite! He is hilarious! But let's talk about what really matters, the fashion! Almost everybody looked great. I didn't see any dress that screamed, "I'm firing my stylist when this is over!".

Here are some of my favorites.

Cameron Diaz, red is definitely her color!

I love Tina Fey. Her style definitely matches her personality. This dress is so fun, especially with the red peeking out from underneath!

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are such a cute couple. I'm loving the pink and blue combo!

Of course, Lauren Graham is one of my favorite actresses and she didn't disappoint!

Did you have a favorite?

Happy Monday!

the hunt

I am on the hunt. A hunt for a job! I graduated almost exactly a month ago and I've sent out over 50 resumes. I'm mostly using Craigslist, hidden gem on the job search front by the way. I think it's finally coming to a close. Hopefully!

I got an interview earlier in the week and today was the day. I think it went pretty well. Me and the owner ended up talking about his industry, insurance, for about 45 minutes. Pretty good I would say. I think he was impressed that I had some sort of idea about the business and business practices in general. [Thanks mom for owning your own business.] I should know something by Monday. Fingers crossed! I know you'll all be waiting with baited breath.

I would have told you all earlier but I was too busy last night to blog. By busy I mean I was too busy flipping back and forth between American Idol and Dirty Jobs. But you're saying to yourself, those shows end at 10p. Yes, but after that was Paranormal State and Celebrity Rehab. I know I know, reality television rules my life. And to prove it I'm blogging right now during American Idol. I just can't look away!

In more fun and amazing news...I might be working in London come August! For those of you who are not my family or Sarah, I studied abroad in the fall of 2007 in London, England through my university. I would say ya'll could all read my blog posts from the amazing 3 months I spent there but I accidentally deleted my blog a while ago. We don't talk about that.

Well....they posted on their website that they are going to have three positions opening up at the study center in London for August. Of course I am applying! I love London and it truly feels like a home away from home. I am super excited and I wish it was closer. So keep some happy thoughts in your head for me. I would appreciate it lovelies!

Happy Thursday!