Surprise! It's Christmas in July

It's always so much fun when the ladies of The Blended Blog do gift exchanges!!  This summer Whitney spearheaded our Christmas in July exchange.  We always use Elfster for our picks and it's a lot of fun anticipating who I'll get each time.  Today we're sharing the gifts we received from our Secret Santa!  I was super excited when I received my gift from Sheila who blogs over at Making the Most of Everyday!  She's one of the few TBB ladies I have yet to meet in person, but with her gift, it's clear she knows me regardless!!

Sheila sent my a fun summer cover-up, fabulous sun hat and some sunscreen so I stay safe.  I laughed when I opened the package because just a few days before I commented on how much I always loved seeing Sheila in her sun hat, and wished I had one too!! Now I do!  Sheila said she was waiting on pins and needles for me to get my package because she had already sent me the hat before I commented in her blog!

There's even a hood and POCKETS!!  Love it!!  

I've worn this cover up at least a half dozen times already!  

Thanks so much Sheila for helping me do this summer thing...and doing it fashionably at that!!  

Head on over to Shaunacey's blog now to see what I sent her!  Fingers Crossed she liked it!!

New summer favorite!

This top's from Canada, Eh!

Love, love, love this white top!  It's on heavy repeat!  I bought it back in May on my trip to Toronto with the ladies of The Blended Blog.  When we shopped, I picked things up from stores we don't have here in the States.  This one's from R.W. and Co.  It's so super cute, and I get so many compliments every single  time I wear it!!

 Love the lace sleeves and even the back detailing is cute...wish I had a pic!

I paired it here with my orange go-to's from JCrew Factory {similar here}, but it looks great with any color really, prints, etc...I'd even do white on white!

Now that I'm looking at it, I realized why I paired it with orange...maybe to match the glasses?!?  I've have been reaching for the color orange so much this summer...now I think I know why!!  LOL

What are you wearing that you just love this week?  Let me know in the comments below!  And link up your style posts with us over at The Blended Blog!

Show and Tell Tuesday: What's on My Phone!

It's been forever since I've hopped on board with Andrea at Momfessionals for her Show and Tell Tuesday Link-ups!  But I thought today was a fun one so I'm back.  Today we're sharing what's' on our phones!

Some of my most used apps are the social media ones.  I am totally that person that checks Facebook and Instagram a thousand times a day.  Instagram is hands down my favorite.  And I am a pinner...but I can go for weeks without pinning anything on Pinterest, then spend an hour early on a Saturday morning pinning a hundred random things!

And since I've just (re)discovered SnapChat for serious this summer...

I've been using SnapChat more than Bitmoji lately, but that still a favorite!














I really like using the Rhonna Apps...Rhonna Designs and
Rhonna Magic, especially for blogging.  I can text over pics and photos, add to photos and create banners...right from my phone.

Here's an example:

Some apps make my life easier when going from my phone and computer and vice versa, between home and school.  My school and I are big fans of google, so I have google apps downloaded.  Dropbox also makes file sharing super easy as well.  I don't have a printer at home, so I can drop files in there at home at night or on the fly and print them at school.

Another app I am always using that many people probably don't, is the Follett Destiny App.  It makes my life as a teacher-librarian so easy.  I can quickly check in and check out books for the students, and they love it as well.


I like to consider myself a reader.  During the summer I can read more for pleasure.  Most of the time I like reading books...real books but sometimes I'll download a free or cheap e-book to the kindle app or an audiobook to my library's overdrive app.  I have been reading audiobooks like a madwoman this summer!

My phone's home screen...because I don't like scrolling/swiping, I group the apps!  I can easily find everything in one place!  

Probably my most used app is the calculator!

  #isuckatmath

Other Apps I Love:
Shutterfly for all my photos
Hello Fresh makes ordering my meals (or skipping weeks) a breeze
I order my groceries online through Stop and Shop's Peapod.  This app is a life saver.  If I think of something I need, right at that moment I can drop it in my cart.
Ebates: If you're not using Ebates...it'd be a great idea. It gives you cash back on purchases.  And  because I shop a lot...it's a total win for me.  My cash back total is over a thousand dollars!

What are some apps on your phone that you just love?  I'd love to hear about them in the comments below!  Have a great Tuesday!  And if you're looking for something yummy, don't forget to head over to The Blended Blog to see what's cooking on Tasty Tuesday!

Summer's for Showing Off My Shoulders

Happy Wednesday Friends

The SUMMER is FLYING by!!  Boo!  

Some days I've done nothing, and other days I've gotten dressed up and gone out with friends!  Today's tops are perfect for these increasingly hot days and give me a chance to show off my shoulders...with some fun details, too!

I got this top at a local shop, Say More Boutique,  that is quickly becoming a fave!  I like the blushy/peachy color, cold shoulder style, and ruffle deets!!  I've worn this with white jeans and jean shorts too!

Necklace

This next top I found on a whim (and on sale) at Macy's.  I like the gingham for summer and cute bow detail...that needs to be tied.

Last but not least, an off the shoulder....I thought I'd try the trend!

This is a Gray Monroe top.  It's no longer available but there are so many more cute things!  And so much is on sale!  Shop now here!

Are you showing off your shoulders this summer??  I'd love to hear about it in the comments!  Have a wonderful day!  Stay cool and look fashionable!  And link up with me and the rest of The Blended Blog to show us what you're wearing BELOW!  No blog?  No Problem!  Show us your looks on social Media!  #TheBlendedBlogStyle #tbbstyle

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday Favorites

Some weeks I don't share my favorites because not every week is the best!!  That was the case last week!  I did however, pop up to share my favorite things among the interwebs last week, which you can find here!  It's always fun to spend a Friday over at TBB!  After reading this post head to The Blended Blog to find out what Sarah loved this week and link up with us!!

This week was a pretty typical summer week but I still managed to find a few favorites along the way!

With the exception of today, the week turned out pretty beautiful.  So me being me, that means I spent lots of time out in the sun and with my books!  I have been reading like a madwoman!  And I am so excited about it!  Books in print, Ebooks, audiobooks, you name it, I've read it.  I'm am currently reading my 6th book of the month!  I've visited my library three times already too....

These are some of the books I've read, and some I still have to read.  Hello, Sunshine just came out on Tuesday, and I'm the first one to get it out of the library!  WOO HOO!!

Another favorite of the week was my blog photoshoot with my bestie.  On Saturday, she came over and we had a fun time.  Check out the first pictures and my post here!

I tried something new on the blog this week!  I saw three things on Andrea's blog on Monday so I tried it on Thursday.  Which is kinda funny because I myself did three things on Thursday.  My busiest day of the week!  Check out my Three Things here.


Happy Mail.  I was excited to receive these prints that I ordered on Jane this week. I got two. I  have one framed so far and I really like the way it came out...even if it took me 20 minutes to get it right in the damn frame!  Another frame is on it's way to me for the other one.

How could I let the week pass without mentioning the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?  It started yesterday and since I was up at 4a.m., I figured why not shop?

 I  placed three orders! I read many of the blogs with bloggers' favorites, only using that as a guide...some picks are too steep for my wallet. I think I did a good job on my own.  I am shopping on a budget, so I try to scope out deals that are under $50.  I'll splurge on shoes and blardigans!  HA!   Check out Lisa's blog for some great affordable picks!! I'll be sharing what I bought and keep on the blog later this month.  Stay tuned!


What did you love this week??  Let me know in the comments below!  Have a great weekend!!

Linking up today with The Blended Blog for Friday Loves, Erika for Friday Favorites, Tif for H54F

Three things...Thursday!!

I saw Andrea do this in her post on Monday and thought it'd be fun and so I'm trying it today!!  It's called three things and a bunch of bloggers to it too...I've adapted it to...ME!!

Three things I'd never give up

coffee

wine

books

Three favorite vegetables
Avocado 

Sweet Potatoes

peppers (any color!)

Three shows I watched faithfully from beginning to end
Parenthood

One Tree Hill

Alias

Sex and the City

Blue Bloods 

(I know that's more than three!)  

Three places I want to visit inside the US
Seattle 

Indiana/Notre Dame
The Fly Over States 

Three places I want to visit outside the USIreland

Bora Bora

Cabo

Three things I always have with me
Phone

Hair Tie

Lipstick/gloss

Three most recent calls were from / to
My Mom

My Mom

My Mom

(She's the ONLY ONE who calls me...I'm a total texter...I hate my phone voice!)

Three most often used makeup products
Foundation

Bronzer

Mascara

Three things that make me laugh Friends

Jimmy Fallon

TV comedies

Three things that make me cry

movies

Zillow Commercials

Books

Three of my greatest blessings

Family

Friends 

A home of my own

That was so much fun...and really hard!  Join in on the fun, just copy and paste and add your own answers!!

Have a great Thursday!

Summer in Full Bloom!

You Guys!!!  I am so excited about today's post!!  Because my blog pics are so good!!  They're like finally like REAL blog pics!!  It's all thanks to my photographer bestie, Mel!  Mel's big hobby is photography and she is GREAT at it!  So I was really excited, when, on a whim, I asked her to take some blog photos for me, and she agreed.  And did she ever...I think she was more excited about it than I was at the time!! She was super prepared, had great ideas and, obsessed over flatlays!! THANKS MEL!!

Today I'm sharing two looks that I keep grabbing out of my closet this summer. (It's about who you see, right?!?) I'm on a floral kick right now...