SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, March 30, 2020

Spring Questionnaire

Last week, Dara posted a fun Spring questionnaire and I thought I would participate. We could all use a light-hearted post. Let me know if you answer the questions too.

1. Do you decorate for Easter or Spring?
I do decorate each year for Easter/Spring. I haven't yet, and I am not sure why.

2. What Spring holidays do you celebrate?
We celebrate Easter.

3. Do you have any fun Spring traditions?
We don't have any fun traditions other than the usual Easter traditions like Easter egg hunts and Easter dinner.

4. Do you have any recipes you make every Spring?
I make this Spring pasta with pancetta, peas and asparagus. I actually made it this last weekend.

5. Do you switch out any of your decor for Spring?
I add Spring like decor along with my Easter decor. I don't really change out anything. I just add to our normal decor.

6. Do you add in any outdoor Spring decorating touches?
I usually have a wreath, and some items that you stake in the ground saying the Easter bunny is coming.

7. Do you have favorite Spring cocktail or drink?
I feel like this drink is a Spring cocktail. We called it a money penny, but after looking it up, ours was completely different than what was mentioned. My best friend, Nathalie, introduced it to me.

Here is the recipe for our favorite Spring/anytime cocktail.
1 shot Peach Schnapps
1 shot Ketel One
Champagne

Combine the Schnapps and Ketel One in a shaker. Shake and put into a martini glass that has been rimmed with sugar. Top with Champagne and add a lemon twist,

8. Pink? Love or hate?
I love pink. I wear it all the time.

9. Favorite Spring flower?
Peonies!

10. Are things blooming where you live yet?
They are and it is a little worrisome when we keep getting rain and snow mixed into 50 degree weather. I hope it doesn't kill the blossoms off.
Friday, March 27, 2020

Friday Favorites

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Well, we survived our second week in quarantine. How did you all do? Times are tough for sure, but we are choosing to look on the bright side and see the positives each day. That is what keeps us going.

Here are some positives we list each day:
- We get to sleep in an extra hour and a half on weekdays.
- We get to spend more time with our girls.
- We get to experience the girls personalities more.
- We are spending less money by eating at home pretty much every single meal. We have only gotten take out once on Rory's birthday (per his request).
- We have jobs that allow us to work from home and still earn an income.
- We have a warm house, with stocked food and lots of love.
- We are going on daily (sometimes twice) daily walks/bike rides for the girls.
- We are alive and healthy.

What are some of your positives?

Onto Friday favorites and happenings.

ONE. Since we have been home all the time, we are trying to figure out ways to amp up breakfast time. This doesn't mean that we have a full on breakfast each day, but I am trying to make breakfast every other day or so. On the off days, the girls have cereal and I have a protein bar and coffee.

But last week, we made green pancakes and sausage and this week, I made pink pancakes and bacon.
green pancakes for St. Patrick's Day

I also made Skinnytaste's Easy Bagel Recipe for breakfast sandwiches and the bagels turned out amazingly. My first batch the hole disappeared, but we made another batch since the first one. 
Easy Bagel Recipe

TWO. Since I have been stuck at home and dreaming of Mexico and nicer weather, I bought a few things online. Not much, but a few. I got this super cute kimono from American Eagle for 60% off making it $11.98. 
AE Printed Kimono

I also got another bralette from Aerie in black since I love the nude color one so much. I got this for about $5 since I had rewards with AE, but it is on sale right now for $20.97 with free shipping.
AE Eyelash Plunge Lace Bra

THREE. I also got this tank top to wear with my black Spanx and red velvet blazer I had in my closet. I had bought this to wear out for Rory's birthday, but sadly, we didn't get to go to dinner. I love this tank top because the color holds, it is soft, fits very well and perfect for under cardigans or blazers or just to wear alone.
Chelsea28 Jersey Tank Top

FOUR. Weekly funnies.
 This is for my husband.




I am in district 7. You can read about your districts here.

I am linking up with A Little Bit of Everything and Becky.


Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

What's Up Wednesday

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

This year has been a year, am I right? I feel like February and March went by pretty quickly, but with all this pandemic stuff, it feels like things are just crazy. I have never experienced anything like this and I am sure most of you haven't either. Let's just hope things start to level out and we get back to our normal daily lives. I feel like we all need it.

Onto this month's What's Up Wednesday...What's Up Wednesday

WHAT WE ARE EATING THIS WEEK...
Sunday: We had leftover spaghetti from two nights before.
Monday: It is Rory's birthday, so we had take-out and supported our local businesses.
Tuesday: Pork meatball subs with salad.
Wednesday: Tri-tip with roasted artichokes.
Thursday: Roasted Veggies with Avocado Dip
Friday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Saturday: Spring pasta with asparagus, peas and pancetta

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT... Mexico last year. We were supposed to be on our trip right now, but with the coronavirus stuff going on, it just wasn't right to travel. We are hoping that postponing our trip a few weeks to a month or so will help. Fingers crossed.  Update: we now have to change it to October when the girls are on Fall break.


Here are some of my favorite moments from Mexico last year.
places.
Zona Romantica Puerto Vallarta

Zona Romantica Puerto Vallarta

Sunsets in Puerto Vallarta


spicy shrimp inside of a pineapple

Bar La Playa


Pancho's Takos 

Cochinita Pibil



Venus Moon Southside Spa


gelato in Puerto Vallarta Mexico

La Traviata

La Traviata sunset


WHAT I'M LOVING... Being able to binge watch a bunch of shows and not feel shameful over it. Ha. I am also loving all the fun Spring clothes that are coming out. I can't wait for warm weather and sunshine.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO...Pretty much what the rest of America is up to...we have been hanging out at home, spending time with family and cooking a lot more.

We did go to a princess tea party before everything went crazy and I also got to go on a work trip to Florida and North Carolina.



My trip:
 It was bike week in Daytona Beach and I swear about 80% of people did not wear helmets while riding. Blows my mind that people are not safe.

 Daytona Beach, FL

 I had a lot of amazing food on my trip, but this burrata with hazelnuts and honey stands out as a favorite along with the spicy vodka rigatoni with ricotta and basil.


Passenger Shaming on my flight from Dallas. He put on a face mask and after he was done, he walked to the bathroom without shoes or socks and then came back to lay out over his seats and show us all his nasty feet.

Birthday brunch with some of my friends.

WHAT I'M DREADING... That this pandemic only gets worse.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON... Taking photos of our house after the renovation for renovation updates, trying to get ahead and write more posts for Spring time, finding and trying new recipes and organizing our house.

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT... The hope of going to Mexico again.


WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING... I recently read Lock Every Door and An Unwanted Guest which I reviewed last week.

I am watching all of my usual favorites like: This is Us, Grey's Anatomy, Riverdale, The Bold Type and Good Girls. And I binged Spinning Out while I was on my work trip. We also got back in Sneaky Pete and we are anxiously awaiting Ozark season 3 to come out this week! We may have watched Frozen 2 a ton this week as well.


WHAT I'M LISTENING TO... The TV in the background.

WHAT I'M WEARING... These leggings while I am home (90 Degrees leggings) and sweaters. I also wear jeans when I can. But seriously, clothes have been odd since it is cold, but we are all stuck in side.   


WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND... I am not sure since we were supposed to be in Mexico.


WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH... Hopefully going to Mexico at the end of April or beginning of May. We are looking forward to Easter, which I still need to shop for and April brings my mom's birthday. Let's hope we can get together and celebrate her.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW...Not much.
Monday, March 23, 2020

Happy Birthday Rory!

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

Today is my husband's birthday. His 42nd birthday. I had all these plans for him. We were going to go to dinner on Friday night, and I was going to give him his presents on Sunday since we were supposed to be in Mexico today, but with all this chaos going on, we had to cancel a lot of them. How do you celebrate a birthday when a pandemic is going on?

I am still able to give my husband part of his birthday gift. The other part won't be here in time since all the mail deliveries are messed up. But we are trying to make the best of it. We can go to dinner to celebrate him at another time and we will go to Mexico again. We just had to postpone it a few weeks or so.

But I did get him these amazing sandals. We love the brand OluKai. Rory already has a pair in a brown leather, but I got him these black ones when I was in Florida. They are the most comfy sandals. And they come in size 14 which rarely happens.
OluKai Hokua Mens Sandals

Happy Birthday to my amazing husband! We love you Rory!

Friday, March 20, 2020

Friday Favorites

*This post contains affiliate links. When you click a link, it is no cost to you and I make a small commission (pennies) from it. Thank you for supporting Sparkles and Lattes.

So I am posting again, even though I wasn't sure who was reading or wanted some normalcy in their lives. I am writing about some of my favorites lately, and it feels like I haven't written about things that I am liking or loving in quite some time. I took most of last week off of blogging as I had a cold the week before and I didn't get many posts done. But hopefully this post brings you a little joy, a laugh or a break from all the craziness going on.

Onto Friday Favorites and Happenings.

ONE. Last week I was traveling for work and I bought myself a few things. I also got the girls some items for Mexico and a birthday gift for Rory whose birthday is this weekend!!! But while I was at the Kendra Scott store, I bought myself a new necklace. I don't have a store here, so when I see one, I usually stop in. I sooo wanted to make myself a piece of jewelry, but then I saw this necklace and I just bought it. I love simple necklaces. I also noticed how many pieces of Kendra Scott jewelry I really do have. A ton. And some of the same ones just in different colors.
Kendra Scott Zorte Long Pendant Necklace in Rose Gold

TWO. I also shopped at a store called South Moon Under. I had never heard of it before, but it was very cute. I wanted about five shirts, but settled on one. I also wanted a bathing suit, but I HATE trying on bathing suits in stores, so I just didn't even go for it. This shirt will be on repeat this Spring and Summer.
Juniper Blu Stripped Tie Front Top

THREE. I am sure you have seen the tie dye trend everything and I am all for it. I wanted a tie dye sweatshirt from the South Moon store, but I didn't want to pay $68 for it when winter is almost over (fingers crossed). So I found one at Target and it lives up to the one I saw in the South Moon store. 
Universal Thread Tie Dye Sweatshirt

FOUR. Even though we are supposed to be social distancing, I still went out to brunch last weekend with my girlfriend to celebrate her birthday. We were one of two tables at the whole restaurant, so we definitely were not in any crowds. It was a great time celebrating one of my best friends who I haven't seen in months. It was so nice to catch up with her and other friends of ours.

FIVE. Weekly funnies. Some of you may have seen some of these since I posted them on my IG stories earlier this week.



I am linking up with A Little Bit of Everything and Becky.

Have a great weekend!