Music Mondays: Love Songs

Do you have a song with your significant other/spouse/bf/gf? I almost always have had at least one song that reminds me of a special someone. Sometimes this is terrible, because once the relationship is over, and you hear the song on the radio, or in a store, or on an episode of Sex and the City (when it was on), it's super depressing or makes you really angry. But sometimes, it makes you smile at once was- like a sweet memory. That's how I feel about these songs, with the exception of the last one, because 1) it's funny and 2) it's my song with my current beau! So here's a little trip down my musical memory lane...

This was the song with my first real boyfriend. It can be best described as puppy love, and it was back in high school. We are still friends- I actually went to his wedding 2 years ago, and now he has a one year old son! 

This one is in Spanish, but also features my favorite artist at the time, Nelly Furtado. I made a boy who liked me sing this with me for a Multicultural Breakfast my freshman year of college. Luckily, he already knew Spanish, and was able to say the words correctly. We dated for the next three years :)

This was also with him. I guess in three years, you accumulate more than one song. This was our song before it was on Sex and the City, and we were over before that too. I was actually kinda pissed when it was on the finale.

What can I say about this song?! It's hot, and it makes me wanna dance. 

But like all fires, it burned out pretty quick.

This is me and C's song. One night we were at a friend's house, and everyone had gone to bed, and we were still up in the living room watching MTV Jams, and this came on... and I started singing all the words! I'm pretty sure he realized then that I was a complete nut, but he decided to keep me anyway :P

I'm still waiting for us to find a real love song!! 

So... do you have a song? What is it?

The Happiness Report #19

-early dismissals from work

-snow!

-This article: 14 Ways To Be Happier in 2013

-This is just ridiculous: Face Tattoo

-This video (which I forgot about until Krysten mentioned it): The Voice- Bright Eyes

- good morning texts

-This quote: "As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life. ~Budda"

- developing old cameras

- pancakes on National Pancake Day

-This moment: 

What's making you smile this week?

What I Wore: Skirts n Stuff

If there is one thing I hate, it's being cold. We had a few warmer days last week, so I was able to bust out some skirts without freezing my buns off! However, I'm still in gray and black mode... ugh. I'll try to work in some color next week!

Black Turtleneck and tights- Kohls
Skirt- Charlotte Russe
black pumps- Nine West

sweater- Old Navy
skirt- permanently borrowed from mom
heels- Steve Madden via A

gray sweater- Michael Kors via TJ Maxx
black skinnies- Old Navy
socks and boots- Hunter
belt- came with a skirt
necklace- gifted

floral top- thrifted
wool blazer- United Colors of Benneton {gifted}
brown pants- ?
nude heels- Nine West
belt- Charlotte Russe
neck warmer- Kohl's
earrings and necklace- gifted

How do you beat the January/February blues?

I'm linking up with...

The Pleated Poppy- What I Wore Wednesdays

Transatlantic Blonde- What I Wore Wedesdays

Abbeyleigh- Dress For The Day

Miriam- Wardrobe Wednesdays

Friends, Food, and Football

I had such a great weekend with wonderful people. Weekends like this remind me how grateful I am for some of the people in my life!

Friday, my old coworkers friends and I checked out a new-to-us restaurant in Jersey City called Kraverie. This place is AWESOME. First of all, they are BYOB. I'm a sucker for any place that doesn't charge me to get my drink on! Secondly, they are a French- Korean fusion restaurant. Yes, you read that correctly. Basically, their menu was divided- one sied French entrees, one side Korean BBQ style entrees, or you could get a Korean crepe- their truest fusion. I had never heard of such a thing, so I was a little nervous.

Luckily, I had no reason to be nervous. The food was delicious! We started off with some wings that were in a semi spicy, sweet sauce with some sesame seeds on top. For dinner, I got a "Korean Burrito"- it had spicy pork, sticky rice, and kimchi. It was so different, and so tasty! It was so good, in fact, that I forgot to take a pic until I was halfway finished with it!

Of course, I could only eat half because I wanted to leave room for dessert. I never have room for dessert, but I saw that they had crepes! I don't even remember the last time I had a crepe, but I love them. Mine had Nutella, fresh bananas and strawberry, but they had a big selection to choose from! It was seriously heaven in my mouth. My friend has a dulce de leche one...wow! So, so good.

Saturday was low key. Cleaning and errands. Womp.

On Sunday, we hosted a Superbowl "party"- it was very chill, just one other couple, B&A. (The same two that saved our asses just two weeks ago!) Before the game started, A and I took a little trip to Ulta. I had a gift card burning a hole in my wallet (spending freeze still in effect- using gift cards doesn't count!), and she is my go-to make-up person. She is the best when it comes to knowing tools, techniques, and products, and she's great and knowing what colors look best on me. I was planning on getting some brushes, a Clinique lipstick (I just wanted an "everyday" type lipstick, and I heard this one was a good one), and a highlighter. They didn't have any of the things I wanted... Boo! (Plus, the salesperson was completely clueless about their products and availability, and almost rude. How about getting off your phone for two secs when a customer actually has some questions and needs some assistance? But that's a whole other topic.)

Anyway- so yeah, they didn't have what I wanted. So I got some stuff I didn't even know I wanted!

Maybelline Super Stay 14-Hour lipstick in Please Stay Plum

Ulta nail polish- Into Astrono-me?

Benefit "Ulta"-mate Sexy Six- their 6 best sellers

Revlon nail polish- Iconic

Lorac Breakthrough Performace Lipstick (SPF15) in Ingenue

So, I found two "everyday" lipsticks, and I wanted a bluish gray polish, so I got that. I'm having a bit of Buyer's Remorse about the six-pack... we'll see if I keep it.

Afterwards, it was time for the Superbowl! Unfortunately, I totally forgot to take pics of our feast! But this was our menu (Blue was B&A, Purple was me and C, black was all):

Dips as Apps:

• 7 layer bean dip 
• Guac and Salsa on the side for C
• Spinach dip
• Chips

Sides:

• Cheesy buns, with pesto and/or artichoke
• Orzo Tri-Color Salad

Dinner:

• Hoagies and Wings

Dessert:

• Oreo truffles
• Snickerdoodles

Drinks:

• Beer.

We actually didn't get to pizzas, because um... we had waaaay too much food! And yes, all this was for 4 people!! As for the actual game- I was rooting for the Ravens because they were the underdogs- and I'm so happy they won! That 4th quarter was a bit close though!! And I thought Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce were fabulous. I was so happy to see the rest of Destiny's Child too! Though I thought it was a bit weird they did "Single Ladies, but whatevs- they looked and sounded great!

How was your weekend? 

Did you watch the Superbowl? Who were you rooting for?

Goals Update

In the beginning of the year, I wrote down some things I hoped to accomplish this year. (For full recap, see here.) Now that we are through the first month, I wanted to do a check-in and see how I'm doing!

Get A New Job/ Career- I found a few that looked interesting. but I didn't actually apply :(

Read 20 Books- two down!

Go On Vacation- looking into flights for a trip in April! 

Print Pictures and Make a Scrapbook- got 2 disposable cameras that were sitting around developed!

Save Save Save!

I plan to do this by:

     - saving 10% of each paycheck

     - participating in the 52 Week Money Challenge

     - doing a Money Minute everyday: I didn't do this everyday, but at least 3x a week! 

DeClutter/ Simplify- started off strong with the tupperware. We also got rid of a tv, and soon some clothes! 

Pay Off (at least) One Student Loan
I plan to do this by:
     - revisiting my budget
     - tracking expenses
     - going on a 3 month Spending Freeze (eek!)
     - Side Hustles; hopefully $100/month

Work on Company- no excuses, I just sucked at this one.

Learn to Say No- yeah... I can't think of many outings I said no to. But I only bought one Groupon/deal this whole month, so that's some progress right?!

Line-A-Day- I only missed 2 days, and one of those I wasn't home! 

how are you doing with your goals?

The Happiness Report #18

Source: pandastuff.tumblr.com via Susan on Pinterest

naps

Menu planning for Superbowl

Ulta shopping spree

fleece socks

Hunter boots

Source: nestprettythings.tumblr.com via Fran on Pinterest

Neck warmers

pre-planned outfits

pizza day at work

Strong coffee

Trying a new restaurant with friends

What's making you smile this week?

And who are you rooting for today? 

Book Club Friday: The Red Leather Diary

This week I'm sharing...

From GoodReads:

Rescued from a Dumpster on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a discarded diary brings to life the glamorous, forgotten world of an extraordinary young woman.

For more than half a century, the red leather diary lay silent, languishing inside a steamer trunk, its worn cover crumbling into little flakes. When a cleaning sweep of a New York City apartment building brings this lost treasure to light, both the diary and its owner are given a second life...

My Thoughts:

I wanted to like this book, I really did. It had a great premise: 1930's diary found in dumpster! How interesting! But sadly it was a let down. I would have preferred if it was just Florence's own words; like her actual diary. Another suggestion? Add Florence's own voice, looking back on specific entries to give background on what else was going on during that time. I did not need Lily's "input" or her perception of the times. She wasn't even alive yet. And, I found her writing boring and disconnected. Couldn't they (editors?)  put the journal entries in order? That would have made it easier to follow Florence's relationships with different people. This whole book flipped through time so much, it was hard to keep track what was happening when. Also, Lily met  Florence, and still didn't delve deeper into or ask about any of the issues raised in the book. 

However, I didn't like Florence either. She is an uppity, prissy.... floozy! All she does is go to shows, go shopping, and talk about her expensive school and how much money she has. Bor-ing! I guess it gave some insight as to how the better half lived in that era, but I didn't find it very interesting. There was a major stock market crash, and besides announcing to her class that "we're broke!" it didn't seem to have any impact on her life. And she was so mean to her "friends" and "lovers,"  and even her parents! I gave this book 2 stars.

Florence and Lily

What are you reading lately?