I am really looking forward to this weekend after a productive and busy week. We have plans to spend as much time outside and enjoy this nice fall weather we have been having lately. There is a fall harvest festival in the city and I think it’s the closest thing I’ll get to a pumpkin patch this year so we are going to take advantage of it. I’ve been going on a walk every day around the city to get my steps in and I keep going another block just to enjoy the sunshine! It’s been a great way to get some exercise in, I’ll put on a podcast and walk for an hour. It’s also been amazing for my mental health!
I’m one of those people who binge watched Emily in Paris on Netflix in 24 hours. Sure it wasn’t completely accurate but I loved that it was a fun show to watch full of beautiful scenes of Paris and the outfits left me inspired and were so fun! We are in a Pandemic right now and I prefer fantasy over reality any day.
I’ve been sticking to my routines and doing my nighttime skincare routine every night as soon as I get out of the shower. To make my life easy, I put all of my skincare products into this makeup bag so everything is in one place; serums, creams and face mask ready to go. I’ve been loving this serum at night before bed. The next morning I wake up to soft glowing skin in the morning.
For my daily walk, I like to treat myself and put on some makeup and do my hair. I’m having fun with the new makeup I got in the mail last week and even though I may not see anyone all day it’s still nice to get ready for myself. It takes a few minutes to make an effort and improves my mood for the day.
This week we did a Trader Joe’s run and got some of the fall items that we love and a few new ones to try. Wish we had a car because I would have stocked up on pumpkins and mums for the house but that will probably happen later this week. One thing I love to buy there are the fall flowers that I can dry and dried wheat that can be used throughout the year in vases around the house.
I am loving my daily walks and exploring the city on foot.
Moved some furniture around the house and loving this new setup.
Sitting on the couch right now watching Get Organized with The Home Edit on Netflix. I’ve been a big fan of Clean and Joanna for a few years now and the show is the right combination of motivation to get organizing and humor. This was our last week of staying quarantined so I’m excited to start going on daily walks and running errands again. Happy October! Feels like fall is here and September feels like it flew by taking away those last few warm days. Another month is passing and we are still living in a pandemic. I have always loved the traditions of fall but this year it’s going to be a little different… I’m waking up early and getting dressed every day to keep up my spirits. Our home is decorated for fall and we have plans to get some pumpkins and mums. Will you be decorating for fall or getting pumpkins this year?
Schitt’s Creek – finally making time to watch this show and I regret I didn’t watch it sooner!
Hart of Dixie – Jake and I like a good show to watch together so I rewatched while Jake saw it for the first time. It’s so good no matter how many times I watch!
The Spanish Princess – It’s part of a series on Starz about King Henry VIII that is educational and entertaining.
Veronica Mars – I spent last night crying a bit after binge watching the show because I wanted more episodes!
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I’ve been using my Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning sprays to clean up the house every day and I love how they smell!
When we were at Costco I picked up Dawn Powerwash because I wanted to see how well it worked for cleaning. After cooking dinner one night I had to clean the stovetop and using the Dawn Powerwash is a game changer! On Tuesdays I like to tidy up so I sprayed some on the windowsills to clean up the dirt that accumulates and it was a game changer!
Ordered these shoes in brown because I love the ones I have in black from last year.
After missing the chance to get the striped Madewell cardigan that everyone had last year, I acted fast and got a great cardigan that looks just like it for a very affordable price!
I’ve been really into baking recently so I made chocolate chip muffin mix into a loaf so we could have an easy breakfast or treat at night. It’s delicious and so easy to make! A few days later we had some bananas going bad so Jake made banana bread with M&M’s and walnuts.
Fridays are our date night so we recently watched a movie and ordered M2O burger. Now that our two week quarantine is over, we went out to do a small grocery run on Thursday night and it was so nice to get a walk in.
Last week, I was wearing shorts and a tank top or a bathing suit and this week I am wearing long sleeves and leggings! The weather has definitely shifted; it’s cold, overcast and the sun is going down a lot earlier. It’s making me think of Jake’s family who was directly impacted by the hurricane this week in Pensacola and my friends out west in the path of the fires. I’m excited to be back home in Philly with Jake and Ed but I really am going to miss my time in the South with my parents.
One of the best things about fall is all of the new things to watch! I even made a list of things to watch because I didn’t watch much tv the last few months. Fall television is going to be different this year so I plan on watching shows live to support. One show that will be interesting because of the cast is Dancing with the Stars.
This week I made time to watch the This Is Paris documentary on YouTube. It’s free to watch and heartbreaking to see what happens in Paris Hilton’s life behind the cameras and her brand.
I was excited to be home because I can finally catch up on the current season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I’ve been trying to keep up with the drama on Twitter so now I’m binging season 10 this week.
I’m still sharing my reading list on Goodreads to keep me committed to my reading goal. I did a lot of reading over the summer and I need to get into a routine of reading everyday this fall.
I stocked up on a ton of products before we came home so I got this new bag to keep it all organized. It’s so cute and holds so much that I plan on getting some more bags in this print.
There is currently a ton of new products on my vanity that I am excited to share on the blog in the next few weeks. Over the summer I’ve been going makeup free most days and really focusing on skincare. After seeing an amazing deal on 3 full size eyeshadow palettes from Tarte, I had to order it ASAP!
Recently bought these sandals because they were on clearance and I’ve been wearing them nonstop since. Very comfortable and do not look or feel cheap even though they were only $12.
WOW, I have missed my kitchen so much the last few months! I am back to making dinner every night and trying new and old recipes. We did a big grocery trip when we got back to Philly so I was able to make our favorite penne vodka which was delicious! I’ve been sharing our dinners on Instagram stories and it’s been a great motivator to cook and interact with you all.
Speaking of amazing food, I just discovered the Starkist tuna creations and they are a game changer for lunches!
Holy moly where did July go!? Wrapping up July with really hot days and lots of pool time to cool off. This week was definitely busy and I was excited for the routine. We are expecting family to stay at my moms house for a few months to get a change of scenery while we quarantine. So we have been busy getting the house cleaned and decorated for their visit. This weeks Friday Favorites post is being posted late because I just found out it is Friday. I’m on summer time and days don’t count! Luckily, I keep a post it in my planner to write down a favorite thing every day and start a draft of this post on Mondays.
I woke up this morning terrified that I forgot to pay rent this month because I forgot it was August. Don’t worry, rent was paid back in late July but now that seems so long ago. Jake and I were talking today about how the days seem to be getting longer. I woke up early this morning and had breakfast with my family which was a nice way to start the day. I checked my emails and did some browsing because J Crew is having their big summer sale. While I saw a lot of cute things I would love to have, my bank account reminded me that I don’t currently have a job or any plans to leave the house in the next year. I worked outside, finished my book and did a few laps in the pool. I came inside thinking it was past dinnertime and it was only 4pm! These days are long! I’m in bed before 10pm most nights because the days feel so long that I’m ready for bed earlier and earlier!
For now, I spend my days outside as much as I can. I like to work on projects in the backyard like tending the garden or working on some landscaping project. Honestly pulling weeds takes up most of my day! Hurricane Isaias went through North Carolina so I’ve been sweeping up debris all week. Luckily, our home did not have any damage but we did lose electric for the night and most of the morning. Not fun with no AC and the Southern heat. With all of that time outside and quick dips in the pool to cool off, I haven’t had to use any of the fake tanner that I brought with me. I can’t remember the last time I was this tan! Waking up early has helped my mental health which I thought I would never say. I start to get “bored” around 4 or 5 o’clock so I’ve been going to my parents library or laying in a pool float while I read. My goal is to read a book a month and I’ve been keeping up. I recently created a Goodreads account which has been fun to keep track of what I’ve read and what I want to read.
At night I’ve been cleaning the kitchen before bed which is my little alone time where I load the dishwasher and wipe down the counters. Most importantly, I watch an episode of TV while I do it. I’ve been really good at not watching TV when I’m bored or for something to do. For months when we all were first stuck at home, my day revolved around the TV and now I limit myself to the news in the morning and then an episode at night while I clean. Last month I finished The Real Housewives of Dallas and have moved onto The Real Housewives of Potomac. I’m currently on the second season and it’s getting good!
I mentioned earlier that I created a Goodreads account so you can keep up with what I’m reading for suggestions. I finished reading Tidelands by Philippa Gregory today actually. I’ve been reading a lot of chick lit this summer which has been nice but wanted to switch it up with some historical fiction. I’ve been a long time fan of Philippa Gregory and was excited to see this book on sale when I ran errands a few weeks ago.
It was a good mail week so I’m excited to bring a lot of product reviews to the blog in the next few weeks! I’m keeping my routine simple since I am in the pool almost every day so it doesn’t make sense to wear makeup or much product. I’ve been using Ouai Leave In Conditioner a lot to protect my hair with all of the hair washing which my hair isn’t a big fan of. My mom and I are both using my Loreal Scalp Care shampoo and conditioner and are big fans!
If you have been following my blog you will know that one of my goals this year was to use up every single product that I already own. My linen closet back in Philly is filled with products that I’ve purchased and received for free because of the blog. Quarantine has helped me slow down and really create some time for self care. When I packed for a summer at my parents, I brought a giant bag with a ton of products and I’m on my 3rd bottle of lotion so far! The sales at Bath and Body Works are great but I end up with so much stuff I never use. Seems silly to be excited about that but I really want less clutter in my life in every single way. I’ve also been leaving my nighttime moisturizer on my night stand to help remind me to put it on at night.
I haven’t left the house this week so I didn’t do any in store shopping but I do have some Amazon purchases on their way! After telling myself that I didn’t need them for months, I finally ordered the plastic heart sunglasses from Amazon that are like $10. Jake also told me to keep an eye on the door because he has shipped some items to me. Can’t wait to see what is on it’s way! Not beauty related but I am currently obsessed with Oui yogurt. Yes, I bought it because the jar was cute but now I’ve been buying them because it’s delicious and way more filling than my usual morning yogurt.
Starbucks bottled iced coffee. Going to the garden in the evening to pick tomatoes off the vine. Cooking dinners. Snapple iced tea. Oui yogurt. My new seashell bath mat. My mom got me new girly bedding for my room here. Tan lines. Noticing my body getting toned and getting fit. Box hair color. Facetime movie date night with Jake. Cookout drive thru for lunch last week. Gorgeous sunsets this week. Minion shaped chicken nuggets. The Calm App.
Hi friends! I am definitely ready for the weekend how about you!? This past week was pretty average with the same routine. Hopefully when the weather starts to warm up, I’ll have the motivation (and daylight) to do things after work again. This week I am proud of myself because I started to wake up earlier in the morning before work. It was one of my goals for 2019 and after a few months I am getting better at actually getting out of bed when my alarm goes off! Something that has been really helpful for this new routine is by creating a bedtime on my phone with the alarm app. My phone will go to “sleep” with a reminder to go to bed and the do not disturb setting turns on. I use it as a alarm to apply my evening skincare and get into bed no matter what else is on my to do list. Then my alarm goes off the next morning and my phone starts pinging with all of the notifications that I missed at night. Now I am able to take some time to get ready in the morning and actually eat breakfast before leaving the apartment. Having this extra time in the day totally changes my mood and energy levels during the day.
This weekend, I am hoping to catch up on some sleep, get some errands done and spend some time with friends. Every weekend I feel like there is never enough time to get everything done. The weather is slowly starting to warm up and I am hoping that it will feel like Spring soon. I’m still bundled up in my winter coat and big scarf because anything below 70 degrees is too cold for me! I love talking to my parents who just moved to the South because they eat breakfast outside every day and enjoy walks around their garden. I think my mom has worn a real winter coat only like five times this entire winter. Jealous doesn’t even begin to describe it! For years I knew I would move to the South when I was married and ready to start a family, but now a move down South right now is realllly tempting! This girl needs some warm weather STAT!
What I’m Watching
Last weekend, I finished binge watching Rizzoli and Isles on Hulu and I forgot how much of a void in your life there is when you finish a show like that. I spent the rest of my weekend catching up on my usual shows like Grey’s, The Resident, This Is Us and New Amsterdam. Saturday afternoon, Jake came over and decided to cancel our plans to stay in to finish watching Stranger Things. Jake had never seen it so we have been watching it together and now I am really excited for season 3. After work on Monday, I needed a new show to watch so I started watching Madam Secretary from the beginning. I forgot how amazing this show was! I’m embarrassed to admit how many episodes I have watched this week so far. Jake and I needed a new show to watch together so after work on Wednesday, we started to binge watch Fixer Upper. Jake says he saw the show before but now I need him to get obsessed with the Gaines like my family and I are. Maybe if I watch enough episodes with him, he will build me a house hehe!.
What I’m Listening To
I’m still listening to the Goop podcast on my commute to work. This week’s episodes have covered addiction, family and how to become your future self. Did you know that Dax Shepard has a podcast? I didn’t either until he was on the Goop podcast talking about it. I may have to subscribe because he is so funny and down to earth.
What I’m Loving
Emily Ley revealed new planners and they look beautiful! Yes, this planner is a bit pricey but I love mine and would be truly lost without it.
I’m excited for the Chrisley Know’ Best spin-off, Growing Up Chrisley, premiering on April 2nd. It’s one of my favorite shows to watch over and over whenever I need a funny show to watch.
Love these shoes for spring and they are perfect for the office. I am also sharing these loafer slides because I have three of them from last year and they are my most worn style shoe!
I neeeeed these earrings because I somehow lost all of my other pearl studs.
Tell me I don’t need this pillow! I really hope I can find time this weekend to do some decorating around my apartment for Spring.
Everyone’s favorite cami is now in chambray for spring! Buy it ASAP because it will sell out again.
Happy Friday and most importantly Happy Spring! One of my goals for 2019 is to explore more of Philly and I think I definitely did that this week. I’m slowly working on making Blonde Rosie a source for affordable styles, beauty and a guide to Philly. There is so much to do in this city so I am constantly doing my research to find out where to go and what to see. Hopefully with this warmer weather I will have the opportunity to see it all and share on the blog. I would also like to know what you would like to see more of on Blonde Rosie. Send me a message or leave a comment on some topics you would like to see on my blog. Hope you all have something fun and exciting planned this weekend!
What I’m Watching
One of my favorite things to do is to go to the movies. It’s something I grew up doing a lot with my parents and my dad would spoil me with my own Coke and popcorn. Luckily, it’s something Jake and I both enjoy doing together. Do you know how nice it is to find someone who enjoys going to the movies? Over the weekend, Jake and I saw Captain Marvel. I am so behind on this superhero series but it is something that Jake follows so we saw it and I promised to catch up on the other movies asap. It was actually really good and since it was an origin story, you don’t need to watch the other movies to understand what is happening. Good mix of humor and story.
Since Jake and I had a very busy Saturday, we decided to finally watch the 2 Fyre Festival Documentaries that night. Not sure what took me so long to watch them because they are really good at explaining how this con snowballed into this failed festival. It also was a great reminder to not hire your friend instead of an event planner.
What I’m Listening To
I have an easy commute to work, about 30 minutes each way and I use this time to catch up on my Podcasts. Right now, I am really into the Goop podcasts because they have a mix of science, health and some upbeat knowledge. My usual go to podcasts are The New York Times The Daily and Pod Save America, but lately I have been wanting something to motivate me and the news does no good for my mood. Also the Captain Marvel soundtrack was amazing. It is full of hits that you completely forgot about it and makes you feel realllyyy old. You can find it on Spotify.
What I’m Loving
About once a month I use my car to do a big grocery run and this trunk organizer would be super helpful!
I really want to get a wagon for groceries to make it easier to transport items especially living in the city where I rarely use my car.
I just ordered these fridge bins after getting fridge envy on Instagram.
I did some spending this week. Oops! Loft is having a sale so I made a few purchases for my work wardrobe : a pink blazer, pants with a tie waist, and a top that went to clearance!
It was a very fun filled weekend and I am still trying to recover from it! On Friday, I was up late cleaning my apartment because I knew I wouldn’t have any free time on Saturday or Sunday. Fridays have turned into my new favorite day to be productive around the apartment because I never have the motivation to go out and I can still get into bed late because I don’t have to set an alarm the next day. One of my favorite things to do is to not have to set an alarm on a Saturday morning. My friend Lola and I had brunch plans but were both flexible on what time we would meet up. Then I started to feel something and it was my cat standing over me hitting me and meowing. I didn’t have a digital alarm go off that morning but my own personal alarm clock was not okay with me sleeping past 9am! We ended up going to Sabrina’s and even with checking in line on Yelp before we left my apartment, we still had an hour wait! It was actually good though because we had plenty of time to catch up and talk.
After brunch, I got a few of Jake’s friends to go to Philly Barcade for his birthday. I had never been but it looked really cool on Google! Our plan was to spend a little time there and then head on over to Frankford Hall for a drink. We ended up staying at the barcade for 3+ hours and it was the perfect environment for us. The games were like 25 cents to play and we had fun trying the different beers on tap. Highly recommend if you are looking for something to do with a group of friends!
One of the perks of waking up early on a Saturday is that there are so many hours in the day! We got back to my place around 7 and were shocked on how it was still light outside. I needed a minute to sober up and then we were on our way to dinner. We keep a list of restaurants that we want to try and we have been rescheduling a taco date night for forever! We went to Rosy’s Taco Barand ate so much food! It was comical walking home because everyone was out for St. Patrick’s Day. We saw people throwing up in bushes, running out into the street and girls in short dresses wearing uncomfortable heels. Jake and I laughed and got so excited to put on our pajamas when we got home. There was a time in my life that I would have been that girl, but a night on the couch with Jake sounds a lot better these days! We watched bothFyre documentariesthat night and we made a list of vacations we could go on with the amount of money they spend on the festival!
We had a slow Sunday and enjoyed breakfast on the couch while watching The Office. Then we took a train to Jake’s apartment in the suburbs to pick up his roommate so we could all see a movie. It wasn’t my first choice, but I really did enjoy Captain Marvel. I’m so behind on this movie series and I was afraid I would have no clue what was going on , but luckily it was an origin story so you don’t need to watch the other ones first. After the movie, I took a train back to my apartment so I could shower and meal prep for the upcoming week. I was so behind on personal to do list that I stayed up until 3am just so I could wash my sheets and get everything prepped for the upcoming week.
On Monday, I was really proud of myself for waking up earlier than I normally do on a weekday. My goal is to give myself two hours in the morning before work so I am not rushing out the door first thing in my day. Last summer, I used to be so good at this early morning thing! I would eat breakfast, watch an episode of something, take my time getting ready and feel energized going to work. I blame the cold and lack of sun during the winter for turning into a horrible morning person!
Luckily this week flew by really quickly. Work has been busy and I am speaking up to take on more work. Nothing all that exciting happened this week but I needed an easy week after a fun filled weekend. I got a haircut after work on Wednesday and got a few things done around the apartment after work during the week. After seeing everyone rave about this cleaner from Target on Instagram, I finally picked it up while I was running errands. Guys, it is soooo good! It smells like the Anthropologie Capri Blue candle so I couldn’t stop myself from cleaning every surface in my apartment with it! This gloomy weather hasn’t been that good for my energy levels lately so I am hoping we get some sunshine soon!
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