I’m that weird person who loves to spend time in the kitchen making food and trying new recipes. Life has been so busy the last few weeks that cooking dinner has turned into whatever I can cook quickly and get ready the fastest, instead of my usual hour-long recipes. Cooking dinner at night has turned into my quiet time, and it’s usually my favorite part of the day.
Over the weekend, I wanted to find time to cook something and have a little “me time”. I stumbled upon the episode of Meghan Markle’s show on Netflix which she makes potato chips from scratch. It’s been years since I made them myself, and I forgot how easy they are to make. Before I knew it, I was in my kitchen going through the cabinets, and I had everything I needed to make some. Making chips at home might feel over‑the‑top but it’s exactly the kind of thing that takes a regular evening and turns it into something just a little bit special. And if you’re anything like me? You want that snack moment to feel elevated, but still totally doable. After I made a batch for us to enjoy, I made some more to give away to some friends as a special little treat. This is a great idea for get-togethers when you aren’t the best cook but don’t want to show up empty handed.
Here is the recipe I used
russet potatoes (skin‑on)
salt
vinegar powder (I didn’t have any and went without)
oil
pot
Slice the potatoes thin (You can use a fancy gadget but I just used a knife)
Soak the slices in cold/ice water for ~30 minutes
Rinse, pat dry, allow a bit of air‑drying on paper towels for ~5 minutes
Heat oil in a heavy‑bottomed pot (Dutch oven works well) to ~325 °F. Fry the potato slices in a single layer (about 12‑16 slices at a time) for ~2‑3 minutes per batch until golden and crisp. Don’t overcrowd.
Use a spider or slotted spoon to remove the chips, drain on paper towels.
While still warm, toss quickly in a large bowl with the salt + vinegar powder + herbs (if using) so the seasoning clings.
I am in shock that we are in July! Does anyone else feel like summer is almost over when 4th of July comes around?? I had a slower week this week since school wrapped up and preparing for summer camp to start next week. I’m enjoying my “summer break” as much as I can after a busy school year. I’m making a list of things I want to do and see this summer so I don’t miss out! Today, I’m working from Panera since I dropped off my car to be serviced at 7 am. Not how I wanted to end my week but at least it’s been a productive morning. Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!
Jake and I are always looking for a show to watch together and right now we are watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine. While I’m enjoying being able to work from home this week, I’ve been watching Ladies of London during my work breaks. I’m begging that Bravo brings back this show because it’s such a gem in the world of reality tv. This week a lot of new episodes dropped from our go-to shows from The Boys and Westworld.
I’ve talked about this shampoo and conditioner on Instagram before but as I’m finally finishing up the bottles, I need to talk about it again because it’s so good for blondes. I’ve always wanted light blonde hair but my natural hair color makes my blonde a brassy color. Our city water does not help at all but since I’ve been using this shampoo and conditioner, my blonde has been perfect without my weekly purple shampoo 45 minute application. Keep an eye on the blog for a full product review because it’s that good!
It’s summer (and hot) which means I’ve tossed my foundation in the trash. Just kidding but I’m giving my skin a break and I’ve been using this budget friendly moisturizer daily. It gives a nice rose glow with just a little bit of product and does better during the hot days.
I sat down on a chair in the backyard and it literally collapsed seconds later. Our outside furniture was given to us by a neighbor and we wanted to fix up the backyard before we purchased any furniture so I wasn’t that sad. That day we ordered this budget friendly outdoor furniture set since this isn’t our forever house and didn’t want to worry about the weather to ruin nice furniture.
It’s summer so that means that Ed the cat is shedding. A lot. I’ve had this pet hair roller in my cart for almost a year and finally pushed the checkout button. Excited to use it and get our couch back!
Treated myself to a face ice roller after purchasing one for everyone I know except me. My mom loves hers so I’m excited to add this step in my morning routine.
Saw this window privacy film on Instagram and immediately added it to my cart. Our second floor bathroom needed a new one and this design makes it look like an intentional design feature instead of being up for privacy reasons.
Saw this chair at Target and it’s made of sherpa and it swivels. Fell in love immediately!
A lot of the Studio McGee items at Target are on sale! I’ve picked up pillows, artwork and small pieces for the house the last few weeks.
Fresh flowers in the living room.
On Wednesday, we had a work lunch at Not Your Average Joe’s at Suburban Square. It was a nice treat in the middle of the week.
Our backyard is very green and the grass is coming in so nicely! It’s a project we put off for so long because it was a lot of work but I’m so happy that the grass seed we planted came in perfectly.
Our new outdoor furniture is being delivered today. YAY!
Summer is around the corner and I’m looking forward to warmer days and spending my time outdoors as much as I can. However, my body is not ready for those little shorts and cute tops so I’m committing to getting a bit more toned to feel more confident. After wearing leggings or pajama pants all day this past winter, I didn’t realize that I was slacking on my personal fitness goals until it was too late. While my body is not ready for a high intensity work out class, I am giving my body some grace and going to take things slow to get back into the routine.
First, get those workout clothes out of storage and put them in one place that you can easily get to. I try to always change into workout clothes before working out because it’s a way to tell my body that it is time to MOVE. If I can, I will put on leggings and a workout tank first thing in the morning so it’s a reminder to get my body moving throughout the day. If you need some new workout clothes to get you inspired to sweat, buying new leggings or shorts has been shown to help motivate working out!
Right now, we have a routine where Jake and I both do a quick workout as soon as he gets done with work so we can get it out of the way and enjoy our evening. Some people prefer working out before work but we prefer to do it at night because we are not morning people! Whatever works for you, try to do it the same time every day so your body gets used to it and starts to expect some sweat instead of dreading it. Also helps prevent life from getting in the way and forgetting a workout when you plan ahead.
Plan for a 20 minute workout so it doesn’t seem like a bigger task than it is. I’ll put on a playlist I created on Spotify and just start. 20 minutes a day doesn’t take too much time out of your day and I have less reasons for excuses when I remind myself it’s like listening to 5 songs.
Now that you are dressed and ready, the next hurdle is usually, “now what?” I created a board on Pinterest where I save workouts that I can actually do, nothing too high level or intense to look at for inspiration. While scrolling on Instagram, if I find a workout that looks fun, I also save it to a folder on Instagram. To keep the workout moving, I like to stick to the same workout routine everyday so I don’t have to think too much about what’s next so I can keep moving. When I have a workout routine, I can usually keep going for a lot longer than the “20 minute workout” I planned on doing.
Water. Lots of water. I fill up a cute Starbucks tumbler first thing in the morning every day and keep refilling it throughout the day. When I have water nearby I’m less likely to grab a sugary drink when I’m thirsty.
Try for daily walks when the weather is nice. It’s something I love to do when it’s warm outside so I try to get dressed first thing in the morning and plan my day around going on a walk when the sunshine is shining. Those days that are cold and rainy are my rest days ha!
If you have been a reader for a while, you know how much I love a long walk. The last few months have kept me indoors because of the cold weather but once we got that 40 degree weather, I was eager to get back outside. I’ll admit that my jeans were a little snug but I was excited to get out of pajama pants and into real clothes. My route doesn’t change much and with my daily walks in the fall I have explored most of our neighborhood. Overtime I watched my neighborhood go from blooming trees, lush green sidewalk landscaping and warm sunshine rays to crunchy leaves and a cool breeze. Nowadays on my walks, I see dead tree limbs, bare bushes and dirty streets caused from the never ending cycle of melting snow with a new layer of snow before the rain can clean the streets. I’m hoping that the warm weather stays and brings life back into the many gardens and trees in our neighborhood.
For a neighborhood we recently moved into, I could walk these streets with my eyes closed. One thing I got out of this lockdown was being able to get familiar with each street and block. I was spoiled living in a beach town my whole life where everyone knew everyone. In a city, it’s a big world and I can feel small living in it. Neighbors rarely talk to each other with the hustle that comes with the city life. With everyone at home the last year, I’ve noticed railings have been painted, sidewalks repaired and other home projects keeping neighbors busy. When I walk past fellow walkers, we give each other an awkward wave as we step aside to let the other person pass or a head nod as we acknowledge our fellow walker. Cities are not meant to be this empty so when I see people, we are eager to make eye contact and smile even though it’s hidden under a mask. There is this sense of grace we are giving one another; a lighthearted joke and smile as a way to communicate, “I feel the same way.” I’ve had more conversations with our mailman and our Amazon drivers before 2020. I hope when this lockdown ends and things start opening up again, we continue to give one another grace and know how far a smile goes to brighten someones day. The once invisible workers are some of our most valuable workers keeping us safe and comfortable at home. I can only hope they get the praise they very much deserve.
Walking past businesses and restaurants in Rittenhouse makes me smile to see the busy foot traffic and creative efforts to make outdoor dining safe and fun. Philadelphia is not a quiet city and it’s working hard to stay relevant and busy. This time last year I was itching to get out of our house and missing our “old normal”. I found walks to be therapeutic and a great way to get some exercise in. It doesn’t matter where you live or how much money you have in your wallet, anyone can go on a walk and get inspired.
When I sat down to start this post a few days ago, I was so excited about what 2021 had to offer. I woke up with this new energy and motivation to have a good year. Recent events have put me glued to the tv and scrolling Twitter looking for updates and answers to this unfortunate historic moment. It would be wrong of me not to mention this week’s events before I start talking about my favorite things. What we can do today is get informed and hold the people responsible for the riots accountable. Unfollow, use your vote, and send emails.
We started off our 2021 watching Black Mirror and WOW. It’s a show I’ve been putting off and I’m happy we spent the long weekend binging it. It’s definitely different and made me put my phone down for a bit. Crazy to think how much we rely on technology and how much social media controls our lives. I also got sucked into the world of Bridgerton and it’s the perfect show to start 2021 with! Excited for another season to see what Lady Whistedown will write next. The costumes and sets are amazing and as a nerd who usually criticizes period dramas because they are inaccurate on certain details, Bridgerton tells the story beautifully and accurately displays the social scene in London so well. And the soundtrack is on repeat in our house all day every day! Some exciting news is that the Magnolia Network premiered this week and there was a sneakpeak on HGTV this week. So far, I am obsessed with Joanna’s cooking show. She isn’t a professional cook at all and she wanted to make mistakes on camera so it wouldn’t be an over-produced show. The Magnolia Network is available on the new Discovery+ streaming service which is free for some Verizon Wireless members for a year! YAY! Makes me want to plan a trip back to Waco, TX asap!
Earlier this week I shared on my stories the Beekman 1802 X Schitt’s Creek setand it’s almost too pretty to use. Their current collection is sold out but they will be releasing a Valentines Day on January 21st! I worked with Beekman 1802 over the summer and can say that their products are a one of a kind.
Jake gave me this NYX lippie set that is on sale now for Christmas and it makes me look forward to being able to go places without a mask again.
This year my big goal is to use all of my products so I have more shelf space. I’ve been so overwhelmed with clutter lately in our only spare closet so I need to use it or toss it. I’ve been “shopping” in my closet and making things easier to find so I use them more.
Making it a goal not to buy anything this month but that doesn’t mean that Jake can’t order anything ha! But seriously, I’m excited to save as much money as I can this year for big purchases (car) and a much needed vacation. My last big purchase recently was a big grocery run before we returned our rental car coming back from North Carolina. I can’t begin to explain how excited I was to do a big grocery run and how cheap it was since we weren’t shopping at the small grocery store down the street. It’s the little things we sometimes take for granted that make me smile most!
Finished Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden over the Christmas Holiday and wow, it’s a book everyone should read as we go into a new presidency. It made me cry, bring me comfort reading Biden’s foreign affairs experience and excitement for this new chapter. Currently on my nightstand table is Little Womento start off the new year with a classic.
At the top of my list is my new Macbook that Jake got me for my birthday. I’ve been without a laptop for years and was using a work laptop for a while and then a free Chromebook we got when we signed up for our Cable package with Verizon. I was able to check email and write up blog posts but found it difficult to do much else. I’ve been an Apple product girl for forever and missed the feel of this keyboard! Jake says he got me this laptop so I can apply to jobs but he’s been really supportive of me investing time and energy into Blonde Rosie.
I’ve been wearing my new Kendra Scott necklace every day that Jake got me for my birthday. He knows I love anything that sparkles and it was such a great surprise to open. Also got the earrings to match 🙂
I gave Jake an amazing Ew, David Christmas ornament for Christmas and I think I’m keeping up our tree a bit longer just because I love seeing it on there so much.
Starting off the new year committed to working out and I’ve been doing a really good job of doing a 30 minute intense work out every day. Don’t see results yet but it’s definitely become a part of my day that I look forward to.
I’ve also been really committed to healthier habits like eating healthy, taking vitamins and having a scoop of Vital Proteins collagen in my coffee each morning. I have the collagen on the counter next to the Keurig as a reminder to use it each morning and my vitamins are next to my coffee mugs so they are easy to take and not forget about them.
I’m slowly starting to take down Christmas and just leaving the garland up so it’s more of a winter themed at least until the end of January. I’ve been using some new storage container that I talk about in a recent blog post HERE.
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