Our Love Flies

Friday Faves!

I’d like to come to you on this Friday to show you some of my favorite things! I love making lists, its a love of mine, so here’s a list I made of things I have been loving this week.

Fashion

– Dr. Scholl’s Slip-on Sneakers

These are my FAVORITE shoe right now. I’ve bought so many tennis shoes that are advertised to be comfortable and none of them measure up to this shoe. I wear them casually but also when I work and they have passed the nurse test. Hands down the most comfortable shoe that I’ve owned. You can check them out here!

Really love these shoes, I wear them with just about everything!

– American Eagle Mom Jeans

I just picked some of these up for the first time last week and they have become an instant favorite. The style I got was on sale for 19.99$ at the time and I just couldn’t pass it up. I actually wore them for the cover picture of one of my recent post “Quarantine & Chill” (which you can check out here). I searched for the particular one I got online and couldn’t find them, however these do remind me of them.

-Wicker Purse

It’s finally that time of year again, we can all pull out our summer accessories! My wicker purse was my most used accessory of last summer and I was giddy to pull it out again! You can pick up one like mine here!

Me, my bestie, my favorite movie, and my favorite purse of the week.

Beauty

-Madison Braid

Okay so for those of you who don’t know, a Madison braid is a headband that looks like real hair braided. I just got mine about a week ago and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m not someone who is good at hair so this has been a simple thing to add to a look. This is mine, I ordered it in the color brunette and I think it matches perfectly!

I decided to wear it for work and it really stayed put and looked cute all night.

-Witch Hazel

At a time when every time I go to work I have to wear a face mask for 12 hours, Witch hazel is my best friend. It’s gentle enough that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin and it has kept me from getting any breakouts. I just picked mine up from Walmart.

Somewhat Random Buys

-64oz TAL Water Bottle

I decided I wanted to try to start drinking more water because of it’s many benefits. This water bottle (I call it a jug) has made it so much simpler to get the right amount of water. It definitely keeps water cool for a long time. I got mine here, and I can’t believe how cheap it is!

-Love Letter

So I did mention Love Letter in one of my previous posts, however, My family and I have been playing it so much this week. We are big board game/ cards people so this game is right in our ballpark. You can pick it up here, thank me later!

What I’ve Been Watching

-Fixer Upper

Honestly, I pretty much watch an episode (or more) of Fixer Upper a day. It’s on Hulu for streaming. I do quite enjoy watching JoJo work her magic.

Songs I’ve Been Listening To

– “X” by the Jonas Brothers feat. KAROL G

-“Seeing Blind” by Niall Horan and Maren Morris

-“My Oh My” by Camilla Cabello feat. DaBaby

Podcast

-Office Ladies

If I’m not watching Fixer Upper I’m likely rewatching The Office. This podcast is hosted by Angela Kinsey (played Angela) and Jenna Fischer (played Pam). They recount every episode and give stories about filming. A new episode comes out every Wednesday, and I always listen right away!

Recipe

-Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

I made this recipe last week and I swear it was all eaten in a day. It was a task trying to get my family to wait for it to cool. It’s so easy to make but taste amazing! Here is the recipe. Enjoy!

That concludes this list of favorites. If you decide to check any of these things out, please let me know! Until next time.

5 of My Everyday Beauty Essentials

We are creatures of habit, when you find a beauty product that works, you will usually buy it in surplus and use it forever. I’ve made a little list of my everyday beauty products, and I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration in it!

TooFaced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

This primer is perfect for sensitive skin! It hydrates and brightens the skin in a way I have never seen another primer do! It can be used with or without makeup. You can snag this product for 34$. Shop here.

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish

This is probably my favorite lip gloss I have ever owned. Nothing stays on longer or gives a more natural looking color than this. I have the colors “Samantha” and “Hailey”. It’s a little pricey but I use it everyday so it’s totally worth it for me. Best 21$ I ever spent. Shop here.

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer

Okay, that was a mouth full! This concealer is best for dark under-eyes, which is my biggest problem. It goes on really smoothly and brightens the area you use it on. You can purchase this for 9.99$, Shop here.

Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

No other setting spray compares. Period. You can pick it up for 33$ right here.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer

The shape of this brow pencil makes it really easy to carve out the brows in a natural way. It comes in plenty of colors, I get soft brown. You can purchase it here for 23$.

These are just a few of the products I use everyday! If you enjoyed this post feel free to give it a like and subscribe for more!

Quarantine & Chill

In the U.S., many states are starting to loosen restrictions on businesses in an effort to return to a sense of normalcy. However, experts are saying we could see a rise in Corona cases with this change. Whatever your political stance on this is, I think we can all agree that staying home has never felt safer. As a nurse my life hasn’t changed very much, I go to work and then I come home. Being the homebody I am, I’d like to extend some of my favorite things to do while in the house.

-Things to Enjoy Alone-

Taking a hot bath. I know this has been said many times, but there is something so therapeutic about a hot bath. I like to add some fragrance to mine by using bath bombs from Lush (the only brand that is sensitive enough for my skin).
Learning to cook or bake. Personally I love to bake, I try to bake something at least every other week. Recently I got the two Magnolia cookbooks by Joanna Gaines and its been so inspiring! Im determined to try my hand at bread one of these days!

This recipe is from the first Magnolia cookbook.

3. Binge a new show. There are plenty of shows out there to binge these days. Some funny favorites of mine include: The Office (U.S.), Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. If you care for reality TV, try Say Yes to the Dress, The Great British Baking Show, Fixer Upper, The Masked Singer, or Too Hot to Handle. If drama is what you’re looking for try: Criminal Minds or Ozark. Every show I mentioned is available for streaming on Netflix or Hulu

4. Animal Crossing. This game can be found for the Nintendo Switch/ Nintendo Switch Lite. I can’t say enough about this game. Its soothing to the soul in a way that transports you away from your worries. Its a vacation you can take without leaving your living room.

-Things to Enjoy with Family-

Love Letter. This fun card game is best played with adults or teens because it can be a little complicated at first. Once my family and I learned how to play we could not stop!
Multiplayer games for the Nintendo Switch. My switch is a great source of entertainment for my family. We have games like Just Dance, Mario Party, Jackbox Party Packs (we have them all and love them), and Monopoly! I love each one of these games and how they bring the family together, even just for a few moments.
Watch a movie together. Watching a movie together is something so simple but it gets a conversation started. A great movie to stream is Disney’s Onward (found on Disney Plus). The movie is heartwarming and something the whole family can enjoy.
Spend some time outside. My family and I have spent 30 minutes to an hour almost everyday sitting on our porch. We have watched birds, talked about life, listened to music, and played with our pets. It’s refreshing.

I do hope that some of these ideas can be incorporated into your everyday life. No matter where you are in the world I pray you stay safe.

A Spring/Summer Look Book

The spring and summer months are my favorite months for fashion. I’m obsessed with color, vibrance, and the freshness of it all. The earth is in bloom and so is the fashion world. Please enjoy some of my favorite warm weather looks from the past.

Just a girl and her overalls. These overalls are from Pink Lily Boutique. The shirt is actually from Bealls Outlet. The Sandals are from Avon.

This jumpsuit is so comfortable and flowy, love it. The jumpsuit and bag is from StitchFix. The sandals (although you can’t see them) are from American Eagle. The earrings (which I think MAKE this outfit) are from Charming Charlie.

This look I just love, casual with some flare. The kimono and necklace are from Charming Charlie. The shorts are from Copper Closet. The T-shirt is from H&M.

This outfit I wore when we were out in Savannah, I felt cute without being uncomfortable. This dress, purse, necklace, and earrings are from Charming Charlie.

These are my FAVORITE jeans. They are Hollister’s mom jeans and they are so flattering. The T-shirt is from Aeropostale. The shoes are Dr. Scholls from DSW and they are the best walking shoes I own.

This was my 4th of July look last year and I believe it’s still relevant this year. The romper is from Francesca’s. The necklace is from Charming Charlie. The sandals are from DSW.

I picked this picture because I just love how casual it is. This T-shirt is from Maurices. The wicker bag is from Amazon. The necklace, as I previously mentioned, is from Charming Charlie. This skirt is just a simple black midi skirt from H&M.

This concludes my first look book, I do hope you got some inspiration.

Tips for Women who Struggle with Atopic Dermatitis

I’ve had atopic dermatitis for as long as I can remember. I primarily have it on the tops of my cheek bones but I also tend to see it on my shins, shoulders, and even my under eye area. I’ve tried a lot of different things and I’ve found a few that work for me. I hope these tips help you. However, the best tip I can give you is to learn to love yourself and find beauty in the way you already look. With that being said, here’s my tips.

Tip #1: Expensive is not always best. I’ve tried so many expensive products that are marketed for sensitive skin and the most effective facial cleanser I’ve found, for my skin, is 8$. I tried it on a whim and have not stopped buying it since, it is the Burt’s Bees facial cleanser for sensitive skin. It has worked for me when other products that I paid much more for didn’t work or agitated the skin even more.

Tip #2: Go all natural when you can. Eventually after spending hundreds of dollars on expensive moisturizers I decided to try using organic coconut oil on my face at night and it was the best decision I ever made for my skin.

Tip #3: Forget about trends when it comes to skin care or even some makeup. When I was in middle school it was a big trend to wear your makeup matte, I did this because at the time I was young and impressionable. However, now that I can think for myself I always buy a foundation that does not emphasize the dry patches on my cheeks. The foundation I’ve been using these days is Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation, and I think it works beautifully on dry skin.

Tip #4: Skip the scents. Body wash that has scents often irritate the skin. I opt for Aveeno unscented body wash and usually try my best not to do harsh scrubbing.

Tip #5: Be very cautious when it comes to facials and body treatments. I’ve paid a lot of money for facials that burnt and irritated my skin, I’ve also found facials that make me feel radiant without causing any damage. Be cautious and don’t do anything new before a big event.

These have been some of my most used tips. I hope they have helped or inspired you in some way. Please feel free to reach out and let me know your tips! I learn more and more every day!

A Weekend in Savannah, GA

Savannah is a city in Georgia that is rich in history and in beauty. People flock to Savannah for it’s art and food. It’s also one of the most popular bachelorette party destinations in the south. Tybee Island is another perk of visiting Savannah, it’s a little beach town about 20 minutes out of the city. Nathan and I spent a relaxing weekend in Savannah last summer and I’d like to share some of the things we did!

I’ll start with talking about food because it was one of my favorite parts of our trip. The first place we wondered into was a dessert shop called Below Zero. At this point I had only seen rolled ice cream in videos on the internet so I was really interested in watching these artist at work. I ordered a s’mores flavored rolled ice cream that was just as gorgeous as it was tasty.

Next is Jazz’d Tapas Bar, they play live jazz music at night and serve delicious tapas starting at 4pm. Walking into this restaurant, I had no idea what a tapa was. The waitress explained to us that it was a small dish, like an appetizer, and we should get a few different ones to share. So that’s what we did, Nathan ordered the chicken and waffles and I ordered crawfish mac and cheese. And yes, they are as good as they look!

Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons restaurant was another that we really enjoyed. Nathan ordered and ate off the buffet, I sampled everything and was not disappointed. I ordered a parmesan crusted catfish with cheese grits and it was great! The fish was crunchy with lots of flavor and the cheese grits were smooth and decadent.

The last food I’ll touch on is Chicken Salad Chick, which is a chain restaurant, but we had never had it before. I had always heard so many good things about it so we decided to have it for lunch and I must say we fell in love. Anytime we are near a Chicken Salad Chick we have to get some! They are known for flavorful chicken salads that you can choose depending on your preference. My personal favorite is the Sassy Scottie, which features bacon, cheddar cheese, and ranch.

Moving on from food, my next recommendation is to book a ghost tour. We did a walking tour that started pretty late at night and it was so much fun. They range from kid friendly to super scary, so we picked one that seemed to be a little of both. The ghost tour did give some history and was a cool way to see the city.

I urge you to spend some time walking around looking in the art galleries, we seen so many beautiful pieces of art while we were in Savannah!

The city of Savannah is just so photogenic, so I really suggest getting some pictures in the city. Every where you look there is a photo op!

The last place I want to touch on is Tybee Island, I don’t have any good pictures of it but we had a lovely time there. It was a nice contrast to being in the city. It’s no huge beach or anything but we did enjoy it!

I hope you had as much fun reading this post as I did writing it!

Our Time in Winter Park, Colorado

We spent a few days in Winter Park a couple years ago at the begining of April, end of May. We were actually accompanying Nathan’s cousin on a school band trip (Winter Park does hold a band competition every few years) and even though we were with her school, we had an amazing time and enjoyed the many things Winter Park had to offer.

We were able to get skiing lessons from a competent professional. I didn’t end up being any good at it but Nathan did pretty well! Being from Florida this was something we had never tried before and really enjoyed the chance to learn.

Another thing we really had fun with was the gondola. The gondola would take you to the top of a mountain that had breath-taking views, a nice restaurant, and a few skiing trails for people who had more experience. I remember we just sat up there for the longest time just talking and taking in all of the beauty. This is also where we took the majority of our pictures.

As I mentioned before, we are from Florida, so when it began to snow on our first day there we were so excited. That was the first time either of us had seen snow. Sitting around one of their fire pits while watching the snow fall was one of my favorite moments from our trip.

This trip was the trip that made me fall in love with travel. The exhilaration of being somewhere that is nothing like where you live is such an addiction!

5 Star Carrot Cake

Travel is always a passion of mine. However, sweets have had my heart since I was a little girl. Growing up with a sweet tooth has fueled one of my favorite hobbies, baking! So I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I did!

Ingredients:

(for the cake)

2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups of unsweetened applesauce
2 cups of granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
2 cups of grated carrots
1 cup of sweetened coconut flakes
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 cup of canned crushed pineapple
Handful of chopped pecans
Handful of golden raisins

(for the icing)

1/2 stick of softened butter
2 bars cream cheese
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar to taste, I used about 1 1/2 cups.

(for the pecan topping)

1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon of butter melted
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup of granulated sugar

Directions:

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl mix together your applesauce, flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
Then fold in the carrots, coconut flakes, vanilla, crushed pineapple, pecans, and golden raisins.
Spray two 9in cake pans with the baking spray that has flour in it and separate the mix into two pans.
Bake for around 25-30 minutes, mine was done right at 25 minutes.
Get the cakes out and let them cool for about 30 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl cream together butter and cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium speed.
Mix in vanilla extract and powdered sugar.
Chop pecans and toss them with sugar and cinnamon in the melted butter.
Spread the pecans on a baking sheet (I covered it with tinfoil) and bake for about 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees.

How to Decorate:

Ice the cakes with the cream cheese icing.
Separate one spoon-full of icing into different small bowls, add green food coloring in one, and 2 drops of yellow and red to make orange.
Pipe a little carrot right in the middle of the top of the cake.
Surround your carrot with the toasted pecans.
Enjoy!

5 Things Not to Miss when visiting Magic Kingdom

From a young age, I have been obsessed with Disney in every form. Magic Kingdom is one of my favorite parks because there is no way to see it all in one day. With that in mind, here are 5 essential activities for a day in Magic Kingdom!

Upon arrival I head over to “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin”. This ride is a family favorite, so much fun, and even a tad competitive.

2. Another ride that is an absolute MUST when in Magic Kingdom is “Peter Pan’s Flight”. This ride is one I seriously reccomend getting a fast pass for, or riding it when the fireworks start!

3. “Haunted Mansion” is another favorite of mine. This ride even has an interactive waiting line in most parts, which is practical because of the notorious long lines.

4. Now I’m not one for thrill rides, so the most ‘thrilling’ ride I will get on is “Pirates of the Caribbean”. My boyfriend is always happy to see me get on this one because I am a bit of a scaredy cat!

5. My last must-see is not really a ride, but more of a show. “Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor” is so underrated! This show is AIR CONDITIONED and indoors, which is important when you’ve been walking around the beautiful sunny Orlando! Also, it’s a really funny and interactive show.

Honorable Mentions: Some of my honorable mentions include Main Street USA, with its many shops (my favorite of those shops being the Pandora, where you can find exclusive Disney charms). “Tomorrowland Speedway”, an eternally classic ride, and my boyfriend’s favorite.

To wrap this up, you can’t go wrong spending a day in the enchanting Magic Kingdom. You will instantly feel childish excitement even if you are well into your adult years. This park truly has something for everyone of all ages.

When in Waco

Waco, Texas is the hometown of the popular show Fixer Upper which draws in most of their tourism. My boyfriend, Nathan, and I were visiting family in Waco but we still made time to see some sights.

Check out the Silos. The Silos are an area in downtown Waco made by Chip and Joanna Gains, hosts of the popular HGTV show “Fixer Upper”. There’s an area with different food trucks, picnic tables, plenty of photo ops, a bakery, and their home decor store. I recommend checking out their store if you want a special something to spice up your home. They have a separate smaller store for garden supplies as well. The bakery has tasty pastries that are sure to make your trip sweeter and the food trucks have a variety of foods that are sure to satisfy any craving.

Antique Shops. If you like to shop or like antiques you should take a walk in the downtown area because there are an abundance of little shops to look at. The few I went into said they would ship to your home if you bought something bigger, such as furniture.

Hop on Hop off Trolly. While there are multiple different tours you can take, we enjoyed the Hop on Hop off Trolly. The trolly is free and takes you around the downtown area where you can enter and exit as you please.

Dr. Pepper Museum. We thought the Dr. Pepper museum was really fun. With the price of admission you also get a free Dr.Pepper from their cafe at the end of the tour. You might be surprised to know that Dr. Pepper used to be called “a Waco”.

In-N-Out Burger or Whataburger. If you don’t have one or both of these where you are from I highly recommend checking them out. We are from Florida and don’t have either near us, so I was able to try both while in Waco. In-N-Out was probably the best fast food burger I’ve ever had. I loved the cheese and sauce that they put on their burgers. Whataburger had the best fries and a condiment called “fancy ketchup” that I quickly became obsessed with.