Link Love

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Currently obsessed with trying different recipes for cauliflower buffalo bites-this one is happening tonight.

Fellow Virgo's, how Virgo are you? At least Queen B is one of us.

On the verge of doing a makeup overhaul, do I go Naked or Chocolate?

Hallie compiled another outfit I'd like to wear all day, every day.  AMEN to being surrounded by boxes.

My love for BlackJaguarWhiteTiger's IG account is  unparalleled. I'm in love with what this foundation does, and these big cats. Why not support the cause?

Tequila in my chicken? Yes please.

Finished Ronda Rousey's book.  It's refreshing to read an autobiography by someone as famous as she is who write with honesty.  There are moments she sucked, and didn't do the right thing, but it's about the journey, and it's a good read.

Need a laugh? Cut to 5:15 in Sprinkle of Glitter's vlog. After a sobfest of a day Saturday, I discovered this gem in "My Suggestions" on  Youtube, and thank god for Louise.

I have a 3000 page paper to write tonight by midnight, so prayers would be accepted.

xoxo,
Erin

If It Makes You Happy

Just because it's #TBT and no one does it better than Kelly Clarkson.

Enjoy the moment.

xoxo,
Erin

Summerkissed

Eye palette/Blush/Eye primer/Tinted moisturizer/Lipstick

If you love makeup or follow any fashion/beauty girl on IG you know the moment has come.  

It's a serious moment in out lives, the Urban Decay Smokey Eye Naked palette is OUT.

Yep, I can hear everyone still busting out of Sephora.  I personally love these palettes so I cannot wait to get my hands on one.

If you're sporting a summer tan, I hate you, and this is the best time of the year for makeup.  Everything looks better on tanned skin, fake if you care about your future Botox bill.

Grab a tinted moisturizer, a cream blush and a pretty lip and get out there. You don't need the crazy bronzers since you're already a bronzed baby.

If you're me, looking like an Edward Cullen relative you're faking it until you make it.

Anyone have the new Naked palette and have any reviews?

xoxo,

Erin

Stitches

Hopefully everyone had a good weekend.

Mine involved a road trip per usual and some good live music/people watching.

More on that later this week.

Music on a Monday is a necessity, and this kid Shawn Mendes stole my heart when he stood on stage at the TSwifty concert with nothing but a guitar and KILLED it.

Of course I'm tuning in to a superstar already in progress as my bestie CBK already had this on lock.

Either that or the Ed Sheeran cover he did just got straight to me.

Happy Monday.

xoxo,
Erin

Have another beer

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I feel like this summer it's officially summer.  I'm going to a concert, it's July, and it's hot as hell.

So what do you do when it's hot as hell?  Find new cocktails of course.

I've never been crazy about coconut, but tequila I love.  So mix it all together.

Heading to the tail end of shark week. Get it? Tail end? OK, well there's a blue cocktail for that.

Spicy and tequila. Where do I sign up?

Porch Crawlers.  It's a cocktail and a challenge. And there's beer.

Oh, I'll try all of them and report back.  If I can still read and/or type.

xoxo,
Erin

Country girl shake it for me

Cash/Wine/Rebel/Alright/Hellbound

Country concerts are what summer is about. 

The beer, the music, the fashion.

Now I've been to my fair share of country concerts, and I've rocked a lot of different looks.  None of them involved cowboy boots.

Never say never, but there's a 98% chance you'll never catch me in a pair.  It's just not me.

Flannel,  yes.  Whiskey, yes. Hats or boots, nope.

Since my sister is out of commission she has been sweet enough to bestow me with tickets for Kenny Chesney this weekend.  Now it won't be the same without her, seeing as it's our family tradition.

My first thought went to outfits.  Now above are some of the bad boys I want to get my hands on as part of my summer style, but are also country music approved.

Spoiler alert: I'm actually wearing one this weekend.

xoxo,

Erin

Young

This weekend was a combination of all my favorite things: friends, family, beer, and holiday.

Not a lot of sleeping, a lot of long talks, and enough giggling to last me a lifetime.

Thursday was life changing seeing Magic Mike with my 2 besties.  GO, GO NOW!

Friday was one of the good old days, at my BFF's mom's house for a cookout and some good old college drinking games. Catching up on life, love, and everything in between.

Doing this whole family thing is new to me, and spending Saturday night with my new extended family was what I needed.  We sang to a couple of birthday kids, drank a lot, lit some stuff up, and had a deep 1AM convo.

Sunday I barely moved from bed. Not even sorry about it.

The only thing missing from this weekend was my sister, who is still on the road to recovery.  She is my family, my friend, and my bestie all rolled into one.  Soon she'll be back to being my partner in crime.

Follow the disaster on Snapchat @ejohns20.

xoxo,
Erin

Make My Heart Work

Every once and a while there's a song you can't stop listening to.  You can't get it out of your head.  There is a definite summer jam.

This is mine.  We all know I love Brit pop music, and Tinie Tempah is no exception.  Last summer it was him and Cheryl on Crazy Stupid Love.

This summer, it's this song.  Try to get the beat out of your head, try to not dance whenever you hear it.  I dare you.

Hopefully everyone has a lovely long holiday weekend if you're in the USA.

Happy 4th of July!  I know so many people love this holiday, it's not in my top 3, but any time off of work I'll take.

As always, I planned to have an extra long, relaxing holiday weekend, which is quickly turning into something on every day.

OK that sounds obnoxious, I promise I'm not that exciting.

Please download this song.  Please don't blow your hands off lighting fireworks off. Please wear an embarrassingly patriotic shirt and say ""Merica" too many times. Please play a lot of Toby Keith.

Please report back.

xoxo,
Erin

Shady Shadester

Straw boater/Yellow floppy/Striped/Baseball/Straw Trilby

Full confession: I used to be a sun baby.  I was at the pool every day in the summer, and though mom did lather me with sunscreen, I don't think the amount of time I was in the water could withstand the SPF.

Then there was the high school/college years when my theory in life was "if you can't tone it, tan it".

Coming from German descent I get an unbelievable amount of sun.  Now that I'm older-ish and wiser-ish I know that sun isn't my best friend.  

I struggle with hats.  I have a phobia of my own ears, they stick out like no other, so hats are my worst nightmare.  Being someone who loves summer and accessories you would think I have a hat rack like no other.

Well, I'm going to try.  For the millionth time I am not going to the beach this summer because everyone in my family has to get married, so I don't feel the absolute need to grab the first hat I see.  I am perusing, I am being picky, and I am trying to get over myself.

I'm looking for the patio drinking hat.  There must be one out there for me. 

Anyone who knows a successful sunless tanner please help, my skin misses the tan I feel it.

xoxo,

Erin

Old Blue Chair

This is the time of year I'm usually lying on the beach or by a pool with my family pretending the rest of the world doesn't exist.  I usually do this in Charleston, South Carolina.

I have been going to Charleston for almost 20 years in the summertime, and I can tell you right now I'm missing it something fierce.  There is nothing like the pastel architecture, the southern hospitality, the food, and the people.

This year with the weddings, yep plural, the family isn't taking a vacation.  With so much happening I understand, but it doesn't make me miss the Low Country any less.

So much of my childhood is down there, exploring the beaches, stores, and areas. It's an absolutely beautiful city, with so much to offer anyone who stops in.  The people could not be lovelier, and the atmosphere looks like something out of a novel.

One tragedy doesn't change my opinion, it strengthens it.  I love that city, I love what it's given me and what it will continue to give anyone who wanders through.

So Charleston, I'll see you next year.

xoxo,

Erin

Link Love

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I'm not afraid to admit I have a full on girl crush on Gigi Hadid.  I mean how can you not?  Her style is ridiculous and she's that perfect California girl who is killing it in high fashion.  She's the basis of my summer style inspiration.

If you are lacking a summer vacation, like me, hop on over to The Londoner and live through Rosie's Australian adventure.  Her last few posts have me wanderlust.

Feeling like Morticia Adams lately with my color choices, so I'm turning to a classic favorite to throw some paint on the canvas.  Picked up this guy from Talbots yesterday, among other things.  

I don't know what is more fab about this, the brow game Caitlyn Jenner is rocking or Kanye looking happy.

Charleston has been a place I've called home almost every summer since I can remember.  The recent tragedy is devastating and my heart goes out to the Holy City.  Annie did a fantastic post on the strength this southern landmark has. #CharlestonStrong

This Baublebar necklace just does things to me.

Happy Tori Kelly album release day! Just do it, buy the damn album, she's ridiculous.

xoxo,

Erin

Back Again

OK, school break is on, and that means I'm getting my blog game back.

Stronger, faster, more interesting.

OK, probably just stronger and faster.

No surprise I'm starting the week with a song, music gives me inspiration like no other. Kelsey Ballerini's album fills that country girl void that TSwifty left when she jumped into the pop world.

Trust me, download Sirens.

xoxo,
Erin

#GirlBoss

It's much harder to find someone that you like, want to talk to than it is to find a man you want to sleep with.

Sometimes you're just looking to be pushed, for motivation and a spark to get you back on your game.  Mindy Kaling always does it to me.  She's a BOSS in every sense of the word, and so smart that it moves you to be better.

She gives such a voice to women, and single women.  She has an unapologetic, straight forward approach to life, but is sweet and funny at the same time.

She expresses the difficulty of being a woman who is single in her early 30's, which is something that is nice to hear, since most of the people our age are married and having kids.

I just needed to hear this, this level of power in a woman that you feel, but sometimes feel like you shouldn't.

It's strange to be so OK with being alone and being me, I feel like I should be lonely and online dating.  I'd rather drink my beer and go out with my friends, and there is nothing wrong with that.

There will always be boys, but the experiences you have with yourself are sometimes the ones that you will never forget.

xoxo,
Erin

Link Love

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Hopefully everyone had a more productive weekend than me.  I spent it staring at a computer screen wishing and praying that my paper for school would abracadabra it's ass onto the screen.  

Spoiler alert: that didn't happen.

Full on obsessed with making breakfast a real thing with these guys.

One of my favorite bloggers Hallie is getting ready for a new adventure.  I can't wait to follow!

This Sheryl Sandberg piece on grief illustrated so many feelings, and she's 30 days into it.  

Yep, going to need to it now.

It's no secret I bow down to Mary's style, this white ensemble as me running to the closet to see if I can recreate.

This cover is EVERYTHING. Trust and believe, he makes everything better.

xoxo,
Erin

If I Knew What I Was Doing

10 years ago I graduated high school. 

I'm sorry I just had a mild panic attack typing that, I'm OK now.

There are so many things I wish I knew and so many things I wish I would have appreciated.  

1. Stop worrying, stop wondering if you'll ever find that happiness you had before Dad died. You do

and you will. 

2.  You won't lose touch with Catie, she's a constant and always will be.

3. Go to your 8am class, the freedom isn't as cool when your professor forgets your name and you

barely pass the exams because you're too hungover.

4. None of the friends you made in college will be your friends in 2 years. Stop trying to dedicate your time to pleasing them, shit hits the fan.

5. Wine in a box is an investment in your future.

6. Your mom won't marry anyone until it's the right one. Don't worry she knows how to pick them.

7. Your sister will be fine, she will figure out what she is perfect at in life and stick with it. 

8. Go to the gym more, stop eating McDonald's at 2am.

9. Don't play quarters with Rikaoff, it doesn't turn out well.  Ever.

10. Let your mom give you the first aid kit when you move into college. Trust me you will take too many shots of Bacardi one night and appreciate it.

xoxo,
Erin

Ready, Steady

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It's here!  After the snow and the polar freeze it's finally here!

SUMMER Y'ALL!

Break out the shorts, flip flops, cold beer (well more of it) and sundresses!

Spend the time outside of the office laying by a pool or taking a trip to the beach.

Go day drinking and watch a baseball game. 

Grab a friend with a Jeep, take the roof off and drive with your hair whipping around.

Call out of work to lay out on the deck so you don't look like a vampire. Oh, that's just my summer plan.

Enjoy the long weekend you all are hopefully getting while celebrating Memorial Day.  

And all the beer.

xoxo,

Erin