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While our neighbors are sprucing up their flower beds and their lawns are starting to green up, we are the last ones the block to make an effort. We have 2 massive oak trees that shed their leaves at the first sign of spring, and then a few weeks later they shed these horrible pollen pods. So it's actually pointless to do anything until that's over. I've wasted a good amount of money re-mulching the beds just to have them ruined by 4 gazillion brown leaves. 

I'm being patient this year! The spring cleaning bug still bit me, so I'm trying to do the few things I can do while I wait. I've done some hedge trimming, minor pressure washing and the quick DIY I'm sharing today! 

My parents always had a killer backyard when I was growing up. My dad slaved over it and we had some really fun BBQ's back there. They sold my childhood home about 2 years ago and moved into a condo. They didn't need outdoor furniture anymore, and while some of it stayed with the house, I inherited these 2 adirondack chairs. 

They were kinda weathered when I got them, but after another year out in the sun they were looking pretty bad. I knew I needed to paint them a long time ago, but finally got around to it this week. 

Picking a color was so challenging! I had a look in mind, but when you get to that wall of paint samples at Lowes...it's mind boggling. I actually ran into a friend at the paint counter and she was really helpful. I went with Sherwin Williams HGTV Home 'Seafarer'

Before
After


These chairs were in our backyard, but I decided to replace the wicker set that was on our front porch. The wicker set has been fine, but they actually required quite a bit of upkeep for something we rarely sit on. This works so much better!

I'm obviously going for the beach vibe, even though we live a solid hour and a half from the coast. Actually I have a whole front porch makeover planned for the future. We've got to replace the wrought iron railings and columns. But for now I'm happy with the refresh!
I've got these two pieces from Amazon picked out to complete the look. I may even add some outdoor curtains to the side of the porch? (Like this?) Ever since a Realtor described our house as a bungalow, I'm kind of obsessed with the idea. Curtains would add such a beachy look, but it would also give us privacy from our extremely nosey neighbors! Seriously the one across the street literally looks out her window all day and comments on the most specific things we've been up to. Ah, small town probs.

Leave a comment below if you started your spring cleaning! Or if you're the last one on the block to do anything like us. Do you have a hard time picking out paint colors too? Tell me I'm not alone!

A Quick Little DIY

Friday, March 31, 2017

My favorite type of blog posts to read are the ones where people get real. The behind-the-scenes photos or the embarrassing stories...I love that! We live in an Instagram world where we only get to see the highlight reel. That's why I love those glimpses into people's real lives! We are all seeking to connect with others and not feel super different or weird. 

I thought I'd share a few things with you today that make me weird! I'm putting myself out there, so ya'll have to return the favor and comment below with what makes you a little odd too. 


I gag when I brush my teeth.
I've been brushing my teeth for almost 27 years and I still gag every time. Sometimes it's just a little and other times my husband can't stop laughing at me because he can hear it in the other room. This is totally genetic because my sister has always been a gagger too. (Is gagger a word?) For me it's usually textures and smells that make me gag, but when I'm brushing my teeth it's because of the toothpaste and brushing my tongue at the same time that causes it.

I love riding with my feet on the dash, but absolutely hate it when other people do. 
There is nothing like kicking off your shoes, propping your feet up on the dashboard and leaning the seat back when you are going to be in the car for awhile...except when you do it. I absolutely hate seeing people's feet on their dashboards when driving around. But, I can do it and it doesn't bother me. I realize this doesn't make any sense.

I have an actual phobia of cotton balls.
I honestly feel sick just writing about this. The texture of cotton balls makes my skin crawl and my stomach flip. I actually tear up when I open a pill bottle and see that it has a cotton ball in it. I can't touch it or I will throw up. It's kinda like nails on a chalkboard, or a fork scratching a plate. The thought of them is so cringey. It's probably mostly a texture thing, but even the thought of them alone makes me shiver. Cotton rounds are a bit different for me, and that's what a use to take off my nail polish. They just have to be soaking wet with acetone for me to feel okay. It's so weird and I totally regret writing this post now.

Dolphins give me anxiety.
Okay, so this one stems from an experience. I was kayaking with my friend and we came upon some dolphins. It's a movie moment, but instead of feeling amazed by nature I was so overcome with worry about being surrounded by them in a little kayak that I still have dread when I see a dolphin. I just have this feeling that they'd turn on you. It's like clowns for some people. They are supposed to be all happy and cheery, but a lot of people feel like they are secretly evil. That's me with dolphins! Even when I see them in an aquarium I feel a bit anxious. 

I imagine my furniture in every home I go into. 
I guess this is just a testament to how my brain works. Every time I go into a new house, (which is often since I work in Real Estate and clean houses for extra money.) I imagine all of my belongings and furniture in there as if I was going to move in. It may have started as an mental exercise when I started my job, but now I just do it every time I'm in a new house. I think about where our couch would fit, where the tv would go and if I'd have to get rid of something or buy new stuff. If I'm not imagining my own furniture, I'm mentally moving the existing furniture and redecorating. To all my real-life friends reading this, yes, I've done it at your house! 

It's my hope that reading this made you feel a little less weird yourself, or maybe you feel connected to me now! Please leave a comment below letting me know I'm not alone and that you love reading about other people's real lives. 

If you're a new reader, welcome! Start Here.

5 Things That Make Me Kind of A Weirdo

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

I don't think we could have picked a better weekend to visit Disney! We love the parks, but have learned to avoid them from May to September or October. (Unless it's a water park!) My favorite times to visit are in March and October. Although summer lasts a lifetime in Florida, the nights in the parks can get pretty cold in January or February. By March it's starting to warm up but not brutal yet. This past weekend had high temperatures in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Perfect Disney weather!




 (Pants are brand new, top was last season, and the rest of the items are much older)

This is what I wore on our little date night on The Boardwalk. We ate at Trattoria al Forno, which is a delicious Italian place - this was our first time there. We had a great waiter and we ate off his recommendations. I didn't really love that they sat us so close to the next table over. I know they are trying to pack as many as possible in there. I can't help but eavesdrop anyway, so that made it really hard not to! The couple to the right of us had us cracking up. The guy did not believe his girlfriend that Jim is short for James...he was flabbergasted. It was hysterical! But we couldn't really laugh, or we'd look like creeps.

Before heading to dinner we explored our hotel a bit, and I fell in love with all of the fountains! We stayed at The Swan, which was great. The Dolphin never disappoints either, and I like that you are free to roam around both hotels. 

After dinner we walked The Boardwalk, which is such a pleasure. I love staying on The Boardwalk because it's so convenient to get into Epcot through the back entrance, and there is always fun stuff to look at along The Boardwalk. One day I'm going to rent one of those 4 seater bikes!

Disney Date Night

Friday, March 24, 2017

I was reflecting today on just how much your spouse can influence you over the years. My husband loves all things nerdy and Sci-fi. My interest in that sort of thing was never very high! I saw a handful of superhero movies before we met, but it was mostly because my guy-friends wanted to go see it. After marrying Blake, we only go to the movies if it's a new Marvel movie, Sci-Fi film, or the latest Star Wars movie! I will admit, I've totally jumped on board and love those types of movies too. (Minus James Bond, I can't stand those movies...but we can talk about that in the comments!) 

While Back to the Futureand Indiana Jones totally top my favorites list, I still have love for the chick-flick! I wanted to share a list of my all time favorite girly movies, the ones I can't get my husband to watch with me! 




Father Of The Bride
This movie goes down as my all-time-favorite. We had the VHS growing up, and I watched it about a thousand times. It's such a cute movie, and totally inspired my love of weddings to this day. It's pretty 90's, but that makes it even more fun to watch now! I also loved Father of the Bride 2!

I'm talking about the 1998 version with Lindsay Lohan. I can literally quote this entire movie. My sister and I watched it SO many times. I can remember reading my teen-magazine and finding out that there was only one actress playing the part of the twins-and I still think that CGI holds up. It's a classic that I can picture watching with my niece in a few years. She will have to deal with me quoting the whole thing, because I can't help it. (I have class, and you don't

This is turning into my favorite childhood movies...but! I still love them all! The Princess Diaries stands out because my dad actually took me to the theater to see it. I had read the book and talked him into taking me. It's such a cute movie, although I remember thinking it was different than the book. I love Julie Andrews, and Anne Hathaway was perfect in the role too. Still one I can watch over and over!

Another VHS I wore out! Ever After is such a sweet movie, and I think it's still timeless. Anjelica Huston is an excellent Evil Stepmother, and I think Drew Barrymore is so cool as a 90's feminist Cinderella. 

I can't even explain why I love this movie so much. It's a cute story, and a fascinating idea. Blake Lively does a great job, especially in the scene where she is playing the mother of an elderly daughter. It's kind of mind boggling, but believable. Her outfits are SO great too. and her hair...Also the actor who plays a young Harrison Ford is a dead ringer! In fact I heard it was this video that got him the part

So this movie isn't exactly girly, in fact Blake loves it too. But it's on this list because I love it so much. Owen Wilson is not my favorite actor, but he does so well with this character. It's set in Paris, and the story is just so cute. I love the history included and we laugh so hard at Paul. 

Leave a comment below if your husband makes you watch nerd movies too! I want to hear about your favorite girl movies or if one of the more nerdy/sci-fi movies are at the top of your list!

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My All Time Favorite Girl Movies

Wednesday, March 22, 2017


On Saturday, my husband and I participated in the Stride Against Silence 5K in Gainesville with some of our family! Nicole found it and had everyone sign up for it, so I had no idea it would be such a tiny race. I'm used to doing larger, more popular races, so I was really surprised how intimate the group was. I ended up really enjoying it though! Sometimes, with bigger races, you end up at the back of the corral and it takes a few minutes to even cross the start line as people are heading towards it. 

This was so relaxed and we were almost at the front of the pack. It was a perfect morning for running too because it was pretty brisk. I got made fun of for my shorts, but I know how I am and I knew I'd hate having extra layers on after a mile. 

Every single time I'm running in a 5K, I think "I'm going to train better for the next race!" Blake and I started off so strong with our Couch to 5K program 2 months ago, but we got derailed just as we saw progress. He ended up walking most of the race and I'd say I ran 2/3rds. During mile 2 I ran/walked since it was pretty hilly near Lake Alice and the area where the fraternities are.

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That last picture of Blake was a joke, he was barely even winded. He's so stubborn he has to make me feel bad for making him sign up. We all felt really proud afterward and celebrated with brunch at The Flying Biscuit. Best grits ever!!

Stride Against Silence 5k - Gainesville

Monday, March 20, 2017

PopSockets
I haven't been this excited for something in a long time! In January I got a Pixel XL, to replace my Samsung Note 4. (The Note was an awesome phone! and so is the Pixel!) The Note was a huge phone, but I noticed the Pixel being really heavy on my pinky finger. Everyone is getting a dent in their pinky from phones, but mine was actually getting worse. So, I found this amazing little device! It's a PopSocket, and it's basically a sticker that you can use to hold your phone. It also makes a convenient stand when you are watching a video. It pops in and out as you need it. It definitely doesn't pop in flush, but that isn't a big deal to me. They come in all kinds of colors and designs. The advertisement says they can be repositioned but I'm too nervous to try. In hindsight I wish I would have placed mine just about 1 mm lower for texting. 

This is palette is a blogger favorite, and I'm totally on the train too. The Carli Bybel Palette from BH Cosmetics is a winner. It's got gorgeous eyeshadow colors, and 4 excellent highlighters in one palette. There are actually dozens of combos you can do with this, and I keep going back to YouTube looking for new ideas. The color payoff is great and even better is the price! Both Amazon and Ulta have it listed for $14.50. 

I actually loved our last bedding set, and still do. The colors were perfect and it was exactly the look I was going for. The problem was it was a comforter, and it was very difficult to wash. In fact it usually took 2 rounds in the dryer and it wasn't even fully dry after that. It was pretty, but not practical and practicality is what I'm going for. 

We haven't had much success with duvets either, and with summer coming up I decided to hunt for a quilt set. TJ Maxx is usually where I find bedding, but I couldn't seem to find a quilt that I liked there. Target had their on sale the other day and I narrowed it down to a couple. 

I really love navy and orange together so this one stood out. It ended up being quite a bit more gray than I was anticipating. The picture online seemed much more beige, and I was sort of counting on that to match our toss pillows and curtains. Ideally though it will be much easier to wash, and making the bed will be simpler. Plus dog hair doesn't show up as much as it did on the previous set! I may change up the pillows in time, but for now I like it! 

Plus, we are planning on painting our bedroom and bathroom in the near future, so this new set might inspire a more cohesive color scheme. 

Kate Spade Whale Wallet
This was one of my anniversary gifts from Blake! I may have steered him toward the Kate Spade Surprise Sale last month...but he picked the most perfect wallet for me! I was sporting an $8 one from Target before. I can't describe this shade of blue, but I think it's my new favorite color! And good for me, because I've seen it all over the place lately, so it must be in fashion. It's kinda periwinkle, but more blue than purple. The whales are the cutest touch and are SO me. Thanks babe! (Ha, like he's actually reading this.)

Jamberry
I reconnected with our family friend Denise at my grandparent's 50th party this year. We had so much fun catching up and talking about our shared obsession with Disney! She showed me her nails which were a Minnie Mouse Jamberry wrap. She is a sales person for Jamberry and she gave me her card. I was hesitant to try them out. I thought her wrap was really cute, but I have SO many nail polishes and I'm trying to use them up. I ended up browsing the selection on her Jamberry profile and was super intrigued! 

I bought the basic bundle, which includes a heater and a few tools. It also comes with 4 wraps. You can also just buy 3 wraps and get the 4th free. They run about $15 per sheet, but I didn't realize until I applied my first set that you can get at least 2 manicures and 1 pedicure out of one sheet. 

Of course I bought a few Disney themed sheets, which I'm really excited to use with our next trip to the parks! Unexpectedly, I also won additional sheets through Denise's instagram! I haven't gotten them in the mail yet, but I'm looking forward to it! 

They aren't too hard to apply, but I do think I will get better with practice. These wraps can last up to 2 weeks, but I haven't made it that far yet. I'm really tough on my hands, and I'm not a pro at applying them, so that may change. 

Oh! And, I also found it a little difficult to shop for these wraps, based on the stock images in their various listings. Denise told me that each nail has it's own hashtag, and you can search for real people who have that wrap on their fingers. It was so helpful to see them like that! And there are some crazy talented people out there who are mixing and matching these wraps in such beautiful ways. 

Okay, that's it for now! I love sharing what I'm currently loving, and I would love to hear what you guys are into right now! Do we share any favorites, or do you have some Jamberry tips for me? 
Leave a comment below!

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Currently Loving - Spring 2017

Friday, March 17, 2017


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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