Oh Hey Friday: Road Trip Essentials

This weekend I'm embarking on a little getaway with my girlfriend Hannah (who is getting married soon!) to her friend's beach house on Tybee Island Georgia!  I'm pretty excited because I've never been to this particular island, and I haven't been to the beach all summer!  However, I was thinking about the long drive (5 hours is LONG to me) and wanted to share some of my road trippin' essentials this Friday!

{ONE} Fun TUNES!
I don't know if it's just me, but music seriously helps the time go by in the car!  Especially old school music.  Often when Michael and I are traveling we like to throw it back to our high school days and jam out to classic gems from ludacris and some other fabulous artists from that time.  If you know Michael now, you can appreciate how hilarious it is that he knows all the words to songs like "Blueberry Yum Yum".  He is full of surprises, that one.

{TWO} Booze (if you're not the driver)
Now this works best if you are definitely not driving, and if the trip is under four hours (due to poddy breaks).  There is something exhilerating about drinking a little vino out of a cup on the road.  I feel like such a bamf.  It will certainly set the tone for the weekend...

{THREE} Surprise Snacks!
My husband recently drove to Canada and back (talk about a drive I would never do) and practically cried when he realized that our friend's mom had packed homemade rice crispy treats.  It's the little things right?  I personally know I will be quite thankful for my luna bar if we get stuck in traffic or refuse to stop and drive straight through.  Avoiding hunger meltdowns is key with me.

{FOUR} Easy Access to Essentials
I like to make sure when I'm traveling that I've got all the things I need to be comfortable:
IB Profin
Lip Balm
Hand Lotion
Sunglasses
Hand Sanitizer (gas stations, yuck)
Water Bottle

{FIVE} A Sense of Humor!
Personally, I love to laugh.  It's basically one of my absolute favorite things!  I particularly like people who make me life as life is just to short.  A friend of mine frequently sends me amazing topical hashtags.  People might think we are crazy but I love it!  So if I'm traveling I'm going to try and keep it light hearted.  Sometimes I even look up jokes to share!  Nothing makes time fly like laughter.

Any tips you've learned on road trips you've taken?  I'm just hoping that we don't get stuck in the labor day traffic... But look forward to sharing a weekend recap when I get back!

Thoughts For Thursday: Organic On A Budget

One thing that Michael and I have become increasingly passionate about in the past few years is eating and living as organically as possible.  It's something that we both have done a lot of research on, and have concluded matters a lot for our own health, for the health of our future family, and even the health of our pets.  Are you a bit skeptical about this?  I highly suggest popping on over to The Food Babe.  Vani is a Charlottean turned MAJOR activist and consistantly ruins things for us informs us of the unhealthy content of many restaurants and food companies.  Her blog posts are the sole reason we don't hop over to fast food anymore (or even Starbucks now...).   Anyway, it's definitely worth it but, the biggest struggle is the financial implications.  Organic food is going to cost more, so are organic and natural products!  However, we have found a few affordable ways to make it work for us that I wanted to share!

(the filets and lobstertail are amazing!)

(These bargains are worth stocking up on)

First off, if you have an earthfare nearby, pop on over to their website and sign up for Tomato Bank and they will send you their awesome deal emails!  Michael and I will basically plan our meals based on some of their awesome specials.  Their meats in particular can be a REAL bargain and honestly taste soooo much better than their hormone laden counterparts :).  Whole foods also has some awesome deals on their storebrands, and Trader Joes can be extremely affordable (note that it's not all organic and some non-organic items may contain antibiotics etc.)

The Second thing to focus on is organic household products.  For cosmetics I've already waxed poetic about LUSH (there are many others however!) but for the house, I have fallen in love with The Honest Company!  Jessica Alba created this company after she had her first child and was shocked by all the toxic chemicals in household items!  I just love that a celebrity would care about that!  The products individually can be a little bit pricey, however if you bundle five items it's only 35 (that's a great deal considering laundry detergent is 12).  We've loved all we have tried especially the hand sanitizer (it doesn't dry your hands at all!)
Do you eat or use anything organic?  Let me know if you try either of these ideas I would love to hear your thoughts!

Midweek Muse: On Being a Nanny

One thing I really aim to do in my venture into the world of blogging is to be real.  Truly, I want to be my real self and talk about real things, not just fluff.  I also aim to bring some substance and perhaps share good/interesting information.  With this thought in mind, I want to began to share things I have learned as a nanny.  I know I've mentioned it before without going into much detail.  However, a lot of what I have learned in the last six months especially has been essential in preparing me to be (hopefully) a mother, and I felt like sharing!

Let me start by saying that being a nanny has been one of the great joys of my life.  While certainly not for everyone, I have loved the children I've been with, with my whole heart.  Sometimes so much that I feel my heart might burst.  It makes me wonder how intensely I will feel for my own child someday.  I started out as a nanny right after graduating and loved those two kiddos like nobody's business!  We had some of the BEST times together and it was a joy.  I missed them terribly during my years at Bank of America, and eventually realized that I would never be happy in the corporate world.  I'm glad however that I had the opportunity to experience banking.  It gave me an understanding for the hubs and friends jobs that I otherwise would not of had.

However, a little over a year ago Michael reminded me once again how happy I had been before corporate america and asked me to consider going back to the world of nannying.  I hesitated for a while, but eventually reached out to Courtney, the mother I had nannied for (who is one of my best friends still) who sent out my contact information and that very day I got a call from the family I am currently with!  We met for lunch the next day and the deal was sealed.  She hadn't even had her munchkin so I knew I'd have some time to wait and was willing.  We had the two of them (Jill and Chris) over for dinner before the munchkin arrived and realized quickly that these guys would be some great friends for us.  Truly, I don't know what I'd do without them, they've been so kind and helpful and inspiring to us!

Anyway, long story short.  I feel blessed beyond measure to get to spend my day with a super cute munchkin who smiles, laughs, babbles, and makes your day when she claps!  She has taught me a lot about what really matters in life, as well as useful information about kiddos!

I mean just look at that happy girl?  She is truly the happiest little girl I've ever met!  I'll be posting soon on a few munchkin topics (such as homemade baby food!) so stay tuned!

Mingle Monday + Lush Loves

Linking up with Life of Meg for Mingle Monday!

Happy Monday Friends!  I hope you had a lovely and relaxing weekend.  We definitely did, I got my hairs did on saturday, ran errands, had a boozy lunch at Dean and Deluca with the hubs and a lovely dinner at our friends saturday night (my first ever low country boil!)  Yesterday was even more low key--perfect.  I did of course make it  to LUSH again and figured I'd share some of my favorite items for any lush newbies.  Charlotteans you need to go check it out ASAP!  You'll be addicted.

Lush Loves by brooke-jeter-mazhari featuring matte makeup

{ONE} Emotional Brilliance Transulant Powder is a new find for me.  I picked up a sample of this powder over the weekend to go with my Light Pink colour supplement (the lush version of foundation).  I was extremely surprised at how well this set my foundation and how natural my skin looked with it on.  Better yet, I couldn't feel that I had make up which to me is essential.

{TWO} A Personal LUSH fave is the solid shampoo bars.  This may sound like a very strange concept to you but I assure you, they work super well and are GREAT for traveling.  You simply rub the shampoo bar on wet hair and it lathers up nicely!  My two faves are seahnik and Godiva.  Seahnik is what I prefer in the summer when my hair is a little more oily.  It's got sea salt and sea weed in it!  Moisturizing while getting my hair good and clean.  Godiva is a two in one shampoo/conditioner and is great when you need extra moisture in the winter.  The bars last me about a month and I have a LOT of hair.

{THREE} For when my skin feels like acting like a teenager, Grease Lightening is great at clearing up a blemish in a few days.  It also doesn't dry out my skin like some acne medications tend to do.

{FOUR} Imperialis is an awesome moisturizer that makes your skin feel lovely.  The scent is light and pleasant.  It pairs really well with a few of their toners.

{FIVE} 9 to 5 is the only liquid cleanser LUSH makes.  It's very light and can be used as a makeup remover or an all over cleanser.   It doesn't suds up, which is beneficial as sometimes the frothy facewashes can be drying.

{SIX} Whip Stick another discovery since the store opened is this amazing lip balm.  Previously I had ordered the honey trap balm which is nice but nothing compared to this guy!  It smells deliciously of chocolate and orange and makes my lips feel incredibly soft and smooth but not at all sticky.  I am absolutely in love with it!

{SEVEN} Vanillary is a LUSH perfume that I cannot get enough of!  The solid perfume is great for on the go to freshen up!

{EIGHT} Aqua Mirabillis is another LUSH invention.  A solid body butter.  You use this last in the shower and it exfoliates and moisturizers your skin.  If possible let yourself airdry after a quick rinse and you won't even need to moisturize!

{NINE} LUSH facemasks are so fresh you can only buy them in the stores.  They need to be refrigerated and only last two weeks!!  I tried this one, called catastrophe cosmetic that is a blend of blueberry and calomine and my skin is loving it.  The pot has already given me four masks!

{TEN} No Drought is by far the best dry shampoo I have tried (and I have tried MANY!)  It's a bit messy since it's a powder but it really works well and is very reasonably priced in my opinion!

{ELEVEN} Another fun product are the LUSH massage bars.  Use them for a massage or, as a moisturizer.  They melt due to body heat!  I love the scent of Tender Is The Night.

Hope you enjoyed my list!  Any LUSH products you're in love with?

Oh Hey Friday!

Boy am I ready for the weekend!  Mostly just because I'm excited to get the chance to spend some major quality time with the hubs before his life is over  he starts his new job!  But for reals, I am getting nervous about the addition of a work phone and lap top into the house... I'm excited for him and am so proud of him for breaking into this industry.  But say hello soon to the lonely wife of an investment banker!  Anywho...

{ONE} My First EVER Panthers Game

Holy SMOKES.  What a fun time this game was!  Randomly, Michael's friend had front row seats for a STEAL listed on facebook.  We thought why not and grabbed them!  We ended up sitting with his old highschool buddy and girlfriend and had a great time with them.  We even splurged on a pedi-cab for the long walk to our car--so worth it and amazingly hilarious!

{TWO} LUSH OPENED!!!

(Michael snapped a photo of my enthusiasm in the lush store!)

Okay, so I posted about this before.  But seriously, I've been waiting since May for this cosmetic store to open.  I know you may be thinking "What is Brooke's deal with this store?!  Who gets so pumped for SOAP??"  (Okay and Michael probably said this to me at some point...).  In short, I just love it.  But, the biggest reason why is because I found them two years ago when I pledged to be a cruelty free consumer.  Do you have a fur baby?  Then go watch some of the videos PETA makes and you too will want to scrutinize your purchases from mascara to granite cleaner.  The thought of a precious pup, or any animal being tested on for things that WE use makes my blood boil.  So a company like LUSH that  is actively fighting testing just speaks to my heart!  Plus, their products are all made by hand with a cute little sticker of the person who made it and when.  How cool is that?  I'm going to post about all my favorite products soon and why I love them.  If you live in Charlotte, go check them out and try out a bath bomb and a fresh face mask for a lovely pampering evening.  (Don't forget the glass of wine!)

{THREE} My UP by Jawbone fitness band

I've had this little guy for a few weeks now and am absolutely loving it.  I love to see how much I am walking in a day, and especially love the sleep tracker.  The band is able to measure how long I sleep, as well as if I wake up (I almost always do) and if the sleep is deep or light.  I feel like I'm really able to keep good track of my body's movement and schedule this way!

{FOUR} Fun with Friends!  

(Our cat is torturing this allergic guy.  Cats are amazing at doing this!)

Our friend from college is currently staying with us this week to participate in the Charlotte City Amateur tournament here in town and it's been a blast hanging out with him in the evenings!  This weekend we are seeing a few of our favorite couples and staying really busy and I just cannot wait!

{FIVE} My Cutie Pies.

She Loooooves Grocery shopping.

Oh I love them so, I just have to share their cuteness as much as possible.

Hannah's Bridal Shower

This past weekend I had the pleasure of throwing a bridal shower for my dear friend Hannah who is getting married in September!

I think she had a good time and enjoyed games and presents!!

The Future Mrs. McEntire!

All in all, the shower was a success!  It was a bit exhausting for me, but it was a fun experience, and I enjoyed hosting!  It's always fun to celebrate a friend's upcoming marriage, and all the events make you think nostalgically back on your own experience!  

Weekend Recap: Celebrations and Baptisms!

This past weekend was a pretty eventful one...the hubs found out that he got the job of his dreams!  He has worked his tail off to get it and I couldn't be more proud.  He is officially an investment banker and though he will be working crazy hours for the next few years, his dream has come true!!

So, he and I had a lovely weekend together celebrating.  Friday night we headed out to a resteraunt we had been waiting to try for the occasion: Barringtons.  For locals, this spot is located off fairview road tucked away in a small shopping center.  It has maybe 20 tables and is incredibly cozy.

 Her is the happy hubbers!  He enjoyed the cornbread stuffed quail--yummy!

The mussles were absolutely incredible as an app.  I could've eaten them all by myself!  We also enjoyed the corn soup which our friends told us we had to have!!  My halibut was also delicious.  It was a great evening spent basking in the glow of his major accomplishment!!

Sunday, we had the honor of attending the baptism of the sweet girl I nanny.  Such a precious moment and she was a riot during the ceremony!  That little girl looooves attention!  Afterwards there was a super fun party that somehow ended in arm wrestling matches--ha!

I'm kicking myself for the lack of photos but just check out what we got her.  

   {Baby pearls.  I die.}

Thoughts for Thursday

Today I will just share a few thoughts on my mind.  I apologize if it's a bit stream of consciousness!  Linking up with East Coast Chic & Home of Malones!

-this past weekend we went to the Liverpool vs AC Milan game here in town.  What a truly awesome experience it was. My father in law got us all some truly awesome seats.  We really had an amazing time!

-Pumpkin beer is finally out.  I have been savoring a yummy pumpkin beer nightly this week.  There's something so delightfully comforting about the flavor.  I suppose it makes me think warm cozy fall thoughts.  I'm ready for cooler weather, leaves changing, and panthers games.

   (I highly recommend this beer!  Yum!)

-I've been fighting off a cold all week.  What is with summer colds?!  I hate it!  I feel so tired all the time and haven't been able to work out.  It better go away soon!!

-My second stitch fix is scheduled to arrive tomorrow!  I've been counting down the days and will be sure to post a review.  I loved and kept everything in my first fix--fingers crossed that this one is the same way!

-Things are really moving with my husbands job hunt.  I'm so excited for him and can't wait to see what the future brings.  We've had a stressful year and are ready to relax and move forward!  Hopefully I have exciting news to share soon!

-The little girl I nanny is getting baptized on Sunday and I can't wait!  There is something so beautiful about a baptism.  It really reminds me of what a beautiful thing our faith is, what a wonderful community it is.  What a blessing to be part of this family and this experience.

-my hubs recently got me this candle:

 I don't know if there is a better scent on this planet!  I just love it so much and could smell it all day!