It's a PARTY!!!

A FAVORITE THINGS PARTY!!!

Linking up with Erika and Andrea to let you know about my favorite thing lately!  Actually, I've been using it for years...

THIS is an absolute staple for me in the summer!!! 

I'm a total summer girl, so when I can be I'm out in the sun! With protection of course!  (These days more than ever thanks to the R+F Reverse regimen I just started...SPF 50 for your face!). But it's also important to hydrate after the sun as well.  This lotion smells great and really helps to extend my tan, as it says.  I use almost a bottle or so a week!  (Which I now know sounds a little excessive!)  My bestie looked at me like I had ten heads this weekend when I told her she could keep a bottle of this because I had three others at home!!  I stock up!  And use it all over!!  I love all the Australian Gold products actually!  Just the smell IS summer to me!  I'm pretty sad summer is so close to coming to end...but this helps my tan linger into FALL!!

Can't wait to see what everybody else has linked up!  Have a great day!!

Katie

Friday, Friday!!

Some weeks are just pretty uneventful in this solitary life!  This week was one of them.  With the exception of partying it up at a luau on Tuesday, I've done pretty much nothing!  But even an uneventful week brings about a Friday five! 

ONE:
The luau deserves a spot on the list for sure!  It's a favorite of my family's summer!  It's an event that my mom's work puts on each year at the beach and it always ends up being a great time..and every year they have lucked out with the weather!  Another beautiful night!  It's a lot of fun and laughs!  This year my sister ended up winning one of the raffle prizes, too, so more country concerts are in our future!!  WOO HOO!!

TWO:
Not having much to do this week, I've spent lots of time in the sun.  Last Friday was my first trip to the beach this summer!  More fun!!  We stayed the entire day and it was fabulous.  I posted on my Facebook page on Monday that I probably don't need anymore sun, but I find there's nothing more relaxing than sitting in the sun, with my headphones on!  It's the BEST!!

THREE:
A bright spot in my week has been the daily visits from my UPS man bringing me my Nordstrom Sale items!!  WOO HOO!!  I haven't really placed that many orders, but things seem to be coming one at a time and still others are back ordered!  BOO!!  Some things I've loved, others I've had to send back (Thank you free shipping and free returns!)  Check out Wednesday's post for some of my sale finds so far!  I scored this bag too!  I wasn't sure I was gonna keep it, but it's growing on me...and every girl needs a good nude bag!! And ya can't beat it at less than $40 bucks (these are things I say to rationalize my purchases!!)

FOUR:
Doing much of nothing means I can catch up on my TV shows!  And I am totally loving summer TV!!  Love Suits!  And Thursdays on ABC is the best!  I've never missed an episode of Rookie Blue since it's started 5 summers ago and NY Med is really awesome too!!  The Bachelorette ends Monday...THANK GOODNESS!!  At this point, I don't really care who she picks. What are you watching this summer?

FIVE:
An easy week is ok with me, because I have a super fun weekend on tap!!  A weekend full of country concerts.  Can't wait to see two of my faves this weekend...Darius on Saturday and Lady A on Sunday!  




Hope everyone has a fun weekend too!!
Katie
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Linking up today:
Lauren Elizabeth for High 5 for Friday
 
September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday!


A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, and Grace and Love Blog for Friday Favorites...So Fun!!

What I Wore

A short and sweet post today!  This one highlights some of my Nordstrom sale finds...the ones I have received and aren't on backorder (so not much! LOL) and my new pair of JCrew jeans I scored at the outlets!

I've said before that I never buy anything unless I have an idea where I am going to wear it!  If you read my post Monday, you know these jeans spoke to me!!!  Not only did I LOVE the price but I knew right away what I would pair them with!

 The detail on this shirt is not white...but it's a perfect match to the jeans!!  YAY!!  There are lots of things I can mix and match but white and off white is not one of them!  

I really like this shirt.  I think I can wear it with a lot of things.  These midi shorts from Piper Street fit the bill for the shirt's first outing!  I am going to Girls Night on Friday and think I may wear it with a pair of JCrew Factory shorts.  (They're great...I keep scooping up a different color when I see them on sale!)

Another sale item I got was this tank!  Now I'll be honest, I haven't worn it yet.  I tried it on and decided this is something that even though it's a tank, it will have to stay in my closet until Fall.  So then I decided to style it for Fall to see if I liked it enough to keep!  IT IS perfect for leggings but I think I'm going to exchange it for a smaller size!!  But the more I look at this pic, the more I like it!  And I can throw on any color cardi and a variety of necklaces to jazz it up!

Have you shopped the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? Let me know what you bought and love!!

And just for fun, I'm throwing in this dress I wore to a Luau last night!  The luau is an event that my mom's work puts on every year and it is so much FUN!  And also the reason why I'm posting so late today!!  HA!  I have had this dress for probably about three years!  And yesterday was the first time I took the tags off!  EEEKKKK!!  But I got it on super duper sale at White House Black Market!  Which is really the only way I can ever buy anything from there.  (I'm a poor catholic school teacher, ya know!)  But I loved it.  It is swimsuit material...which was perfect for a hot, humid night on the beach!  Didn't have to worry about the heat though because there were gale force winds to keep us cool!

That's all for now!  Have a great week!  Whatever you do, have FUN and look fabulous!!!

Don't forget, you can now find The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life on Facebook!  If you have an account, like me here!

Katie

Linking up today with:
The Pleated Poppy, Get Your Pretty On, Because Shanna Said So, and Tucker Up

The Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life is now on Facebook....

Join me there!!  Feel free to LIKE and SHARE with friends, too!!  And as always, thanks for reading...I appreciate it!!

Like and follow me here!

Manic Monday

Today I'm joining the Manic Monday Link-up with More Pieces of Me and On the Daily Express for the first time!  And this is quite the manic post if there ever was one...a hodge podge of randomness if you will!

I am jumping on this bandwagon a little late today!  As I type this, my house is overcome by the smell of garlic and the birthday cake candle I lit to get the smell to subside.  I actually cooked dinner tonight...something other than quesadillas! (You can pick your mouth up off the floor now!) I made salmon.  And I may have over garlicked it!  I actually remembered to defrost it and I had the time today!  In typical summer sunny day fashion, I laid out for a bit, but didn't get to stay out too long because the landscapers arrived to spruce up the common areas and our little patches outside the place.  Side note...I hate the blower!!  That thing is so loud and annoying!  And today I was so sad to see when they were done that all the stuff blew on to the brand new cushion I got for my rocking chair!  Boooo!  I should have brought it in! 

Cute right!?!?

 Another side note: the UPS man loves my new cushion!  He put my Nordy's package on it!!  HA!!  But anyway... 

Speaking of Nordstrom, my anniversary sale finds have begun to arrive!  Some I am loving, others not so much!!  Thank Goodness for FREE RETURNS!!  So far I scored this awesome nude bag.  It's huge!  I'm going to be using it as a work bag!  A fossil watch, which I have to take to the jewelers to get the links out of, so I can't wear it yet!  Ugh! And this PTMT must have patterned shirt!  Come back to the blog Wednesday to see me wearing it!!  Other items are still on their way to me  AND backordered.

But I'm patient!

While we are still on the subject of shopping, I should mention that I went to the outlets this weekend!  And I scored some AWESOME DEALS there too!!  I really think outlet shopping on and online shopping is the only way to go!  I went to the JCrew Outlet to try and find a sweater that I lost this past week (I will not retell the story, as it it just to painful!  LOL), which of course they didn't have!!  But I got the ultimate in deals!  I pair of toothpick skinnies originally $79.50 marked down to $39.97 and an additional 60% off that!  I was so shocked I had to double check with the associate!  He told me yes...and he knew it sounded to good to be true, but it was.. HA!!  When I see deals such as these, and the pants are my size, I feel like I HAVE to get them!!  And I knew just what to wear them with!!!  So it was a win! WIN!!  The jeans will be on the blog Wednesday too!!  I also picked up my first Vera Bradley in over three years!!  It's a new style travel bag and I love, love love it!!

I MAY have also got a matching wristlet!!!  

Another thing I did this weekend, which was 6 years in the making, was watch The Blind Side for the FIRST TIME EVER!!  Crazy, I know!!  I babysat my nephews, and we always play games, watch movies and bake dessert to eat!  Which by the way this time was Crumb Cake...clearly my sister is cray!!  Usually it's just the break and bake cookies!  So much easier!!  But my oldest nephew made the crumb cake while I sat on the couch, crying through pretty much the ENTIRE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What an awesome movie!!  I wanna watch it again!  I saw an article floating around Facebook yesterday about 12 actors and actresses that turned down roles and one was Julia Roberts for the lead in The Blind Side.  But I'm so glad she did, because I really feel like no one but Sandra Bullock could have played that part!!  And that little SJ...too cute!! Great story!!  I just LOVED it!!

Also today, I decided that I am not spending any money on clothes in the month of August!!  I need to start saving money.  It's a goal and I plan on sticking to it!  I really don't need anymore clothes.  When a girl starts contemplating another dresser and closet redesign to fit everything, a limit has been reached!! I think what I have bought will carry me well into the Fall...and if all else fails, I'll just throw a cardi over it!!  =)

I know this post is so totally random today but thanks for reading!  I'm off to go do some laundry and figure out what I'm going to wear to a luau I am going to tomorrow!!  FUN! FUN!!  Fingers crossed for great weather and an even better sunset!!

Until next time...

Katie

Friday Favorites!

ONE: 
Last Friday I mentioned that I was going to The Band Perry concert.  One of the openers for them was a new country artist, Austin Webb.  My dad was actually the one who told me about him and this song...which is now THE song of the summer for me!!  Love it!!  Can't get it outta my head!



TWO:
On Sunday I went to Williams-Sonoma for a cooking demo.  I originally thought I was going to a cooking class, but luckily for me, we were only taste testers...is there anything better?!? The leader of the class made two dishes with my absolute favorite: Sweet Potatoes!  They were so yummy!!  If you read my What's On post last week, you know I have a hard time getting motivated to cook.  But these dishes looked really easy and were just the right amount of servings: just two, for me...and one night of leftovers!  

THREE:
Derek Jeter played his last All-Star game on Tuesday night!  And I'm not going to pretend that I'm his biggest fan, but I know and respect his impact on the game. And I believed he's a good role model to the kids I teach. But I got a little misty eyed watching this commercial dedicated to him!  Really cool, too, that he played in the game with so many "kids" who once looked up to him!



FOUR:
The weather here this week was pretty terrible.  Like scary thunder and lightning style!! And apparently the polar vortex is coming! Luckily today is supposed to be super sunny and I'm heading to the beach for the first time this summer! WOOHOO!!  But can I just say my new favorite app got me through it!!  The Accuweather app rocks!!  It has the minute cast and tells you when the rain will start and end!  And it is pretty damn accurate!  I'm obsessed!  Get it here!  

FIVE: 
Because the weather was so bad this week, I was kinda lazy!!  One day I stayed in my pj's and watched the Oscar nominated movie, The Butler.  I really liked it!!   And I just love Forest Whittaker...great performance!  Interesting look at the White House and decades in our country.  I tried watching Gravity too, but couldn't get through it!

Have a great weekend everyone!  Hope the weather near you is just perfect!
Katie 

Linking up today:
Lauren Elizabeth for High 5 for Friday
 
September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday!

and for the first time today with: 
A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, and Grace and Love Blog for Friday Favorites...So Fun!!

What I Wore...this weekend!

Crazy, busy weekend around here!  Pulled together some cute outfits for it all...if I do say so myself! =)

Friday night I went to The Band Perry concert with some family and friends.  It was at an outdoor amphitheater and the weather could not have been better! It was a beautiful night!  It was really hot when we first got there, but we didn't have to worry about that...since ya know...we were VIPs and all!  HA! So we hung out in the air-conditioned VIP lounge before the show, sipping on VIP drinks, and using the VIP bathroom!  NO PORTA-POTTIES FOR US!!  Which, let's face it...was really the BEST thing about our VIP status!  But anyway....back to what I wore!  This is not what I had planned on wearing but when my sister texted me to ask what I was wearing and I texted her back a pic (because doesn't everybody??)  She wrote back and said, "you do realize it's 90 degrees, right?"  I told her I was worried about the mosquitoes!  But I figured she was right, so I changed out of the jeans I was wearing and put on shorts.  Which I have to say, was the right move.  I only got one mosquito bite...and it wasn't even on my leg!

top/ Piper Street

shorts/ JCrew Factory

sandals/ Target

Saturday my bestie and I went to see a fireworks show at a local park in her town!  It was was so much fun!  The show wasn't until 9:15 but I went out to her early, we headed to the store to pick up some sandwiches, snacks and beer and got to the park by 7 so we could secure a good spot!  Lots of people had the same idea.  But it wasn't too, too crowded and we got a great spot with lots of space.  Here's wear I should've worn the jeans!!  It got really chilly!!  But I had a sweater so I was ok!  I love navy and kelly green together!

top/LOFT

shorts/JCrew Factory

necklace/Piper Street

sandals/Target

I took a pic in my sandals, but actually ended up wearing these cons!

Sunday was a full day!  I went to a cooking demo at Williams-Sonoma with my aunt and sister in the morning, then we had a really yummy brunch at a place called Brio.  It was my first time eating  there and it was delicious.  And I might have had the BEST Bloody Mary EVER!!  I also went out to dinner with my mom and aunt at my favorite local spot for Reggae Sunday!!  WOO HOO!!  So fun!!  I love me some steel drums!  This is what I wore all day.....

top/ LOFT

jeans/ Piper Street

sandals/Target (in cognac!)

Clearly when I like something I get it in multiple colors!  HA!!

I hope you all had a great weekend too!!  Can't wait to see what you wore!!

Happy Hump Day!!  Have fun and look fabulous!!
Katie

Linking up today with The Pleated Poppy, Get Your Pretty On, Because Shanna Said So and Tucker Up!