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Blake and I have been wanting to add another pug to our family for a long time. But, I must say this happened way more quickly than I thought it would! We got a message last Sunday saying that someone was looking for a home for their pug, and before we knew it we were making arrangements to meet on Wednesday! Originally we had planned on finding another pug puppy, so this wasn't in the plan but we decided it might be better to adopt an older pug. Puppies are a lot of work, and we weren't sure how Delly would react to a pup. 


Bailey is 6 years old, and she was loved by her first family-but things got complicated for them a few months ago and she needed a new home. We knew she would need to get up to date on her current vaccines and that she wasn't spayed. When I went to pick her up, I got the surprise of a lifetime. Not only was she pretty underweight, but she was also pregnant!!! 

After a quick conversation on the phone with my husband, we decided we would take her home anyway. I have never been so exhilarated and scared at the same time! Pug puppies, people!! I don't even know how I am going to be able to give up any puppies. There are a few more pressing matters to attend to first though. She has fleas and really needs to put on some weight. Her ears don't look that great either. But, she is SO cute and has the sweetest personality. We have a lot of getting to know one another to do, and Delly hasn't quite warmed up to her yet! 


We have so much going on at the moment, I had no idea we would be adding another dog into the mix (or maybe 3 or 4 dogs!!). I have a lot of research to do, and would appreciate any pregnant dog advice anybody has! Many more pictures coming your way! 

We got another Pug!!

Thursday, June 30, 2016


Summary: 
From Amazon: Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes.  
Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.
As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.
Where is Ben? The clock is ticking...

What I Didn't Like:
I feel like this book took forever! I wanted desperately to know what happened and who took Ben! I found myself growing impatient to get to the end. So, that could be a positive actually. You will be on the edge until the very end. 

What I Liked: 
What an interesting story! You swap between the perspectives of the mother and the detective. Both points of view are so interesting and I really enjoyed seeing all sides of the story. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a missing child, but this is written so well you really feel for Rachel and sympathize with her plight. I love the commentary on how social media plays a part in such a big case and how brutal the internet can be. It's such a good reminder that you don't know everything and that the media is so biased and usually uninformed.  

Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5 Stars (1: hated it, 2: didn't like it, 3: liked it, 4:liked it, 5: loved it)
I thought I was tired of multiple perspective books, but this one does it really right. I loved both points of view and truly enjoyed this roller coaster of a book. Not knowing if Ben would be alive at the end was definitely a source of anxiety, but I couldn't stop until I knew for sure. 

Leave me a comment: What's next on your to-read list??


Book Club: What She Knew

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

I have fully enjoyed watching Vogue's 73 question series on Youtube! Reese Witherspoon and Taylor Swift's interviews were probably my favorites. Getting a little sneak peak into their houses was really cool too.  I borrowed a set of 73 questions I thought I'd answer for you today! The youtube videos go pretty quickly, so I'm adopting that same speed and trying to answer these questions with the first thing that comes to mind. 



1.What’s the best thing that happened to you this month? I won another Instagram giveaway! This time it was the entire Summer 2016 nail polish collection from Essie! 
2. What is something you’re tired of? Not having enough hours in the day.
3. What is something that recently moved you? "When we wait on God, we may find that his solutions to our problems far exceed anything that we might have devised ourselves."
4. If you could teach one subject in school what would it be? History!
5. What’s your favorite beverage? Iced Tea with Lemon
6. What’s your favorite cocktail? Jack & Coke
7. What is your favorite cake? Chocolate Ice Cream Cake!
8.What is one thing you still have from your childhood? I actually have an entire rubbermaid under the bed full of treasures from when I was a kid. There was a stuffed tiger in there I just recently took out and I stuck it in the bin my niece and nephew's toys are in.
9. What is your favorite movie? Father of the Pride or The Parent Trap 
10. What is something you can’t do? Be a hot mess.(in front of other people)
11. What is one habit you wish you could break? Biting my nails...talking to much...
12. What makes you laugh no matter what? I have a few inside jokes with my husband that never fail to make us both crack up. 
13. What does creativity mean to you? Being able to express what's on your mind.
14. What are your favorite lyrics of all time? Love is our shelter, Love is our cause, Love goes on forever, Yeah love will lead us all, Love, it is our honor, Love, it is our all, Love goes on forever, Yeah love it is our home.  -That's What's Up
15. What is something you’ve always wanted to try but you’ve been too scared to do? Move somewhere new and start over. 
16. Best advice for your 19 year old self? Exercise! You'll like it.
17. If you could raid one woman’s closet who would it be? Kate Middleton
18. Must have purse item? Money!
19. What did you want to do with your life at age 12? I think at 12 I wanted to be an opera singer actually. 
20. What is something you will not be doing in ten years? I really hope I will be better at saving money instead of spending it. 
21. What is an important life lesson for someone to learn? There are always many sides to the story and yours won't always be the right one. 
22. What is one goal you are determined to achieve in your lifetime? Make it out alive. 
23. Would you ever live anywhere besides where you live now? Uh, yeah! 
24. What is your favorite dessert? Moose Tracks Ice Cream or warm chocolate chip cookies
25. Is there a dessert you don’t like? Rice pudding is weird. 
26. It’s brunch! What do you eat? Chicken and Waffles
27. Who is your favorite painter? This may be the hardest question yet! I always liked David Hockney. Salvador Dali has always been fascinating too...and I guess it depends on my mood because I really like the Thomas Kinkade Disney paintings also! 
28. Favorite Disney animal? Percy from Pocahontas obvi. 
29. What is a book you are planning on reading? Next up is "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
30. What did you read most recently? “What She Knew" by Gillian Macmillan 
31. Favorite solo artist? I couldn't possibly pick one. 
32. What’s your Favorite board game? Clue!
33. What’s a city you wish to visit? Sydney!
34. Heels or flats? Flats
35.  Where does one go on a perfect road trip? California
36. What do you do on a rainy day? If I don't have to go about my day to day life? Stay inside and cuddle on the couch. 
37. What’s your favorite exercise? Turbofire! 
38. What was your worst subject in school? Math. All of the kinds of math. 
39. What is your spirit animal? Probably a puppy. They just want to love you and look cute. 
40. What do you usually eat for breakfast? It's different everyday, but probably peanut butter toast. 
41. What do you usually eat for dinner? That's different every day too, but usually some kind of chicken. 
42. Cooking or Baking? Cooking
43. Favorite baked good? Chocolate Chip Cookies!
44. What is something you wish you could be good at? Hair and Make Up...Dancing...Ninja Warrior Obsctacle courses. 
45. Skiing or Surfing? Surfing, because the beach will always win. 
46. First celebrity crush? JTT haha
47. Most recent celebrity crush? Henry Cavill is basically perfect looking. 
48. What color was your prom dress? Didn't go to prom! 
49. How do you manage stress? Hah! I don't! But, exercise always helps. 
50. What do you do to relax? I love baths and I love to watch movies and fall asleep on the couch. 
51. Age when you were first kissed? 16 I'm pretty sure, but I kind of blocked it out. 
52. Place you were first kissed? The dining room in the house I group up in. *burning cheeks*
53. Favorite fashion trend of all time? Midi skirts!
54. Best fashion advice you’ve ever received? "A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to prove you're a lady.”― Edith Head
55. Trend you would like to see disappear forever? I don't really care for rompers or crop tops...but! I think you can pull off anything as long as it fits you properly and isn't 2 sizes too small. 
56. Shoes or Bags? hmmm..bags. 
57. How do you know if you’re in love? You just know! I think it's easy to tell when someone else is in love because they will bring that person up in conversation at every opportunity. 

58. Television show you’ve binged on recently? I (almost) got away with it. *shame!* Those reenactments though! 
59. Who do you turn to when you’re sad? Blake first. 
60. Name one thing you’ve learned the hard way? You don't have to be best friends with everyone and not everyone will like you. But that's totally fine! 
61. If you could make a documentary about anything what would it be? Pugs. 
62. What is your Kryptonite? The TJ Maxx home section. 
63. What are you most enchanted by? sunsets over the water. 
64. What is your biggest strength? Wow, uh, probably having vision. I can see tons of outcomes at once in lots of different arenas. From consequences of good or bad actions to where furniture should go in a room.
65. What is your biggest weakness? Over thinking/analyzing. I can't just go with it. 
66. What are 3 words to describe living in Florida? Hot, Tourists, and Awesome
67. Cutest thing on planet earth? baby anything
68. Most important advice you’d give your future children? Always be considerate of others. Think of their feelings and how what you do will affect them. Give people the benefit of the doubt. See their side and know that they also have a lot going on in their lives. 
69. Best first date idea? A big group outing with lots of activities to take the pressure off. 
70. Favorite type of flower? Hydrangeas and Peonies
71. What do you first notice about someone when you meet them? Their overall appearance. That sounds really shallow, but I just mean you can tell a lot about a person by how they take care of themselves and if they are trying to put themselves together. I don't mean what brands they are wearing, but if they have put some effort into being their best selves. 
72. What’s your guilty pleasure? The Bachelor and Keeping Up with the Kardashians
73. Plans for the weekend? This weekend we start on our bathroom reno! It's DEMO DAY! 

That probably wasn't near as interesting as a celebrity's interview would be, but I had fun! Some of those questions were really hard, and I had to think about it for much longer than I thought I would. I'd love to read your interviews, so leave a link in the comments below! 

Vogue 73 Questions

Wednesday, June 22, 2016


I've been subscribed to Ipsy since last fall and I usually throw a picture in my Friday Five when I get a new bag. Not only have I been totally failing lately with posting a Friday Five, but I also appreciate a more in depth review of products and thought I'd share my thoughts on my June bag in a more expanded way today. 

The June bag is super ugly to be honest, but I love what was inside! Here's what I got:

First of all, this lip gloss smells so good! It's got a summery-coconut scent. I really like the shade too. It's called Secret and it's a pinky nude. I love nude lip glosses and this one is also really hydrating. Definitely a new favorite. 

This is the most unique item I've gotten in any of my glam bags so far. It's a moisturizer for literally everywhere. You can use it on your lips, cuticles and even your split ends. This also smells really good! Vaseline could probably do the same thing, but hey I will absolutely use this up!

My nailpolish collection is sort of getting out of hand. Adding another color almost makes me feel guilty! I have used other Formula X polishes before, but I'm still an Essie girl. This shade is a gorgeous bright red and I actually don't have anything quite like it already, so that made me feel better. 

four// Royal & Langnickel Crease/Smudge Brush  (Use code IPSY4016 for 40% off)
I am always SO excited to get a brush in my Ipsy bag. They send the best ones and my collection has really grown. Plus, brushes can be so pricey! This is a great smudge brush and I really like that it's blue-so I can always tell when I need to clean it. 

The packaging on this eyeshadow is so cute! Matte color is great, and I really like using it in my crease. Matt Kumar is kind of a cranberry shade which I'm nervous about. Pinks/oranges/reds usually make my eyes look bruised. I typically stick with plums and browns. The other shade Ipsy sent out was a plum color so I'm not sure why I didn't get that one. This is a how to video that I'm going to try to copy.

Ipsy is a monthly subscription box that sends you 5 customized beauty samples (and sometimes full sized products!) for $10 a month. Sign up here! I also signed up for the Walmart beauty box, which ships seasonally for only $5! I just got my Summer box this week and it's totally worth it. 

Leave me a comment: What did you get in your Ipsy bag? What other subscription services are you signed up for?

*This post contains affiliate links!*

June Ipsy Bag

Thursday, June 16, 2016

White Shorts: Old Navy
Gold Sandals: Rack Room Shoes
Bracelet: Kate Spade
Gold Watch: Kate Spade
Necklace: Target (similar link)

Blake and I like to have 'date days' where we spend quality time with each other, outside our normal schedule. Our most recent date day was quite expensive. We went to the mall with literally no restraint and both indulged in a few things! One of the those things was my new Kate Spade watch! I've had my eye on it for a long time.

While meandering through the mall we randomly went into Belk. I rarely shop in department stores, but I'm so glad we went in that day! Blake found a killer deal on a suit jacket and I fell in love with a new to me brand. Crown and Ivy! Their line is so colorful and summery. It's reminiscent of Lilly, but definitely not as expensive. I picked up 3 tops and I am still planning on going back for more. These tops are perfect for our upcoming summer vacations, as well as everyday life in Florida. Heads up, their sizes run fairly big as the style of the tops are rather flowy. Just be aware that the arm holes are size appropriate. I also picked up this top, and it fits great but the arm holes are a tad snug. 

I'm also LOVING our back porch! It's so relaxing out there. Check out our Back Porch Makeover Here!

Leave me a comment: How do you feel about department stores? Have you found any buried treasure brands in one? & Do you ever do 'Date Days'??

This post contains affiliate links. 

New Favorite Brand

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Summary: 
From Amazon: Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

What I Didn't Like:
I found this story slightly on the predictable side. You knew what was coming, but yet the build up to it was so enthralling. It was also very hard to sympathize with someone who thinks they are better off dead than have a disability. 

My only other complaint is about the lame Jehovah's Witness joke thrown in there. It's in a short paragraph in the middle of the book. I know it only bothered me because I am one. While I did take it a bit personal-it's also bothering me because it was inaccurate. A pair of JW's are depicted as saying something we would literally never say and are actually trained to behave oppositely. If you are going to write about it, fact check, ya know? Someone is going to pick up the inaccuracy

What I Liked: 
I adored how this book was written. I was completely wrapped up in the story and the feelings of this book. The descriptions are done so well I was smelling what she was smelling. I found myself grinning and crying and hanging on every word. I wanted to read this before the movie came out, but I didn't know how captivating it was going to be. In fact I read the whole thing in two days after staying up until 1 am to finish it. 

Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5 Stars (1: hated it, 2: didn't like it, 3: liked it, 4:liked it, 5: loved it)
I struggle with the ending on this one. I think it makes the most literary sense, but it was really hard to reconcile my personal opinion with the character's choices. 

Leave me a comment: What's next on your to-read list? Are you going to go see Me Before You the movie?


Book Club: Me Before You

Thursday, June 2, 2016


Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

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