I've Been Tagged!

 I found Allyson's blog a few days ago after she commented on my blog and I am so glad I did!! I have seen this tag floating around and was so excited when she tagged me. 

Here we go!

1.  You must post the rules.        
2.  Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post. 
3.  Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.         
4.  Tag 12 people and link them on your post.        
5.  Let them know you’ve tagged them!

12 Fun Facts About Moi!

1. I ALWAYS have nail polish on my nails. Even if it is a nude color, my nails are never bare.

2. I watch all of the franchises of The Real Housewives.. it's my guilty pleasure.

3. One of my dreams is to be on the show The Amazing Race.

4. I cannot jump rope. I have tried to learn bunches of times but I still can't.

5. I love to organize things. It is one of my favorite things to do.

6. I love the beach. Nautical things make me happy.

7. If I had to pick one season for it to be all the time it would be Summer. I love being tan.

8. I am currently addicted to the Temple Run app on Iphone. Nerd. I know.

9. I like to put the cookie dough bites candy in my popcorn at the movies. 

10. Chickfila Diet Lemonade is the bomb.com drink in my book

11. I have met all of the cast members of One Tree Hill. It is my favorite tv show.

12. I lead a small group of kindergarten and first graders at my church. It's the best part of my week.

Allyson's Questions

1.  What is your favorite blog…or blogs? Possessionista, Hungry Meets Healthy, Skinny Taste and Courtney Kerr's
2.  What do you really look for in a friend? common interest, trust and honesty. Jesus.

3.  What is your word of the year? oh gosh, I say rude a lot. and geez.
4.  What is your favorite part of blogging? creativity and interacting with people from all over
5.  What do you look for in a great blog? I like blogs that are about things I like, put simply. I like ones that give great ideas and tips.
6.  Do you have a favorite quote or a life verse? Philippians 1:6, Colossians 2:10, Always be yourself: those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind
7.  What is your favorite movie and why? I love When Harry Met Sally, it makes me laugh and cry. The Notebook, The Wedding Date and Wedding Crashers are all favs too.
8.  Do you have a favorite or go-to outfit (casual, dressy, or otherwise)? My go-to lounge around the house outfit is: yoga pants, target boyfriend T and a VS Pink hoodie.
9.  Who is your celebrity crush? Ryan Gosling
10.  Who in your family inspires you and why? My dad. He is awesome.
11.  What is your preferred pet? Dog. Specifically my maltese Molly.
12.  Are you a late-sleeper or an early-riser? I am an early riser during the work week. Late sleeper on the weekend.

My questions

1. What is your favorite book?

2. If you could be on a Reality Show would you? Which one?

3. What color best fits your personality?

4. What piece of jewelry do you wear every day?

5. What is your favorite shade of nail polish?

6. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life it would be?

7. What is your perfect Saturday like?

8. What do you eat for breakfast?

9. Who inspires you?

10. Favorite piece of clothing/accessory you own?

11. Favorite smell?

12. What are 3 things you look for in a man?

I tag:

Katie at Lets Be Preppy

Fried Green Pickles

Royar

Miss Southern Prep

Fashion Meets Food

Palm Trees, Pearls and a Classy SC Girl

I tag everyone else that wants to do this post!

(I know I cheated on this rule.)

NPOTD

I found this color last Thursday in Ulta and fell in love. I always get excited when I come across a shade I haven't seen before! It is coming across in the picture a lot more red than it is, it has a lot more pink tones than the picture picked up. It has been the perfect pop of color on my nails this weekend!

Swept Off My Feet by Essie

Foodie Friday: Pawleys Front Porch

Back in November I made the trek to Columbia, SC to watch my beloved Tigers play. While the results for that game were shall we say, less than stellar, the lunch was fabulous.  My bff Kerry had seen an episode of Dinners, Drive Ins and Dives on Food Network featuring Pawleys Front Porch in Columbia. The atmosphere was definitely the quality of a dive but the food was amazing. We ordered the Fried Green Tomato Napolean for an appetizer and all I can say is OMG. Hands down the best appetizer I have ever had. Ever. We ordered burgers for our entree and they were delicious as well! All of the burgers have names of places in SC. They all sounded delish! You can even create your own burger, which is what I did.  If you are ever in Colulmbia I highly recommend giving Pawleys a try! Here is a pic we snapped with our phone:

Fried Green Tomato Napoleon

 Layered with homemade boursin cheese, cajun crab dip, topped with sweet chipotle mayonnaise.

Has anyone ever been to Pawleys?

Happy Friday! Weekend time!

xoxo

Things I'm loving: J.Crew

currently dying over this bracelet...

 

 

this scarf...

 

 

 

this dress...

 

 

 

and these shoes...

 

 

 

and wishing spring would hurry the heck up.

 

xoxo

FAV Winter Nail Polishes

I love love love nail polish!! Some might would even refer to my love as an obsession. I typically change the color on my nails about every 3-4 days. I know a lot of people think of painting their nails as a hassle, but I have it down to a science after lots of practice. To me having manicured nails with pretty polish just completes a look. Here are my favorite/most used polishes for Fall/Winter.

Nudes:

 (L to R) Yummy Mummy, Sweet Heart, and Mimosas for Mr. and Mrs.

These are great colors if you are not comfortable with color on your nails. They are really great nudes that look great on every skin tone. OPI's Sweet Heart is my go-to nude year round.

Pinks/Reds:

(L to R) Queen Vic, Angora Cardi, Over the Knee, Limited Addiction

If you only try one of these out, Angora Cardi is the one I would pick. I love this color, it is the perfect pop of color for your nails in the winter time. Limited Addiction is my favorite red, it is a true red, no shimmer and looks so pretty for a night out.

Browns/Neutrals:

(L to R) Little Brown Dress, Mink Muffs, Glamour Purse, Hot Coco, Chinchilly

Mink Muffs has been one of my most used polishes this season and I highly recommend it. Anytime I pull out my nail polish container and don't know what to use I grab Mink Muffs. 

Darks:

(L to R) Carry On, We'll Always Have Paris, Mrs. O'leary's BBQ, William Tell Me About OPI

There is something really chic about dark nails to me, but I cannot put black polish on my nails it just looks bad. So I opt for darker maroon colors that achieve the same look without making my hands look pasty goth. We'll Always Have Paris has been my favorite this year. So pretty.

Brands: Butter London, OPI and Essie

What nail polish colors are your must-haves? 

quote love

I heart quotes.  Thank you Pinterest for making them so easy to find. And for making them cuter to look at.

Oh. My. Yum.

I found this recipe on Gina's blog which I found via Megan's blog. Chicken lettuce wraps are my favorite thing to order at PF Changs and I have always wanted to be able to make them myself. Well, thanks to Gina now I can. You should check out her site ASAP. I found about 50 things I want to make and eat tonight.


How yummy do these look?




and don't even get me started on this baby.. hello Super bowl pre-game snack.

This Weekend in Collage

I got this idea from Bethany Joy's blog which I love. She has great style and always has really cool tips and travels on her blog. I think this is a great way to recap the weekend.

weekend in collage by jennblack8 featuring leopard print shoes

Friday OOTD

OOTD by jennblack8 featuring chronograph watches

3 things I am excited about today

1. a new episode of Vampire Diaries is on TONIGHT!!! There are many many reasons why you should be excited about this too, and here is one of them...

Yep. This guy is on there.

Need another one?

Hello Damon.

Tune in. 8 o'clock. CW.

2. Chick-fil-A now has GRILLED nuggets!!

score!!

3. Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!!



8 things I'm loving right now

1. Hot Chocolate from Panera.

Oh my yum. This is my favorite cold weather treat right now.

2. The Vampire Diaries

I got hooked on this show after I bought the Season 1 and Season 2 DVDs on sale at Target on Black Friday. It is highly addictive and these boys are a lot of fun to look at.

3. Benefit They're Real Mascara

I have tried almost every mascara on the market. This is my current favorite. It gives my lashes lots of volume and does not look clumpy. I'm not saying I won't ever try another mascara, but it would have to be darn good to replace this one.

 

4. Trop 50 Juice

I love the apple and orange flavors, I am dying to try the pomegranate kind but I have not been able to find it yet. 1/2 the calories and sugar and all the flavor I love - yes please!

5. To do list app for IPhone

I love my IPhone, I love making lists and I love checking things off so this app is perfect for me. It's amazing and it's free. #winning

6. MAC lipstick in Cherish


Probably my favorite lipstick ever. The absolute perfect nude shade for me in the winter.


7. Reading


I have been reading the Hunger Games series. It. Is. Amazing. I am on the last few chapters of the last book in the series, Mockingjay. I love these books. Next on my reading list is Nicholas Sparks' The Best of Me, I have had it since August but have not read it yet. Any other book recommendations??

8. Blogging!!
I took a very long break from blogging but now I am back! I have really enjoyed blogging lately and thinking of posts I can do. Let me know what kind of stuff you'd like to see on here!

Thoughts of the day

I am a woman that struggles with jealousy. I am a woman that struggles with insecurity. I am a woman that struggles with bitterness. I am a woman that struggles. Are you? I am a woman that sometimes does not feel like she is enough. Enough pretty. Enough smart. Enough wealthy. Enough popular. Are you?

I decided to write this post after really thinking about this topic in my quiet time last night. I feel like so many women struggle with this and we don't want to talk about it because it is just a reminder of another area where we are lacking. I've said this before on this blog, but we really do live in a society of mean girls. The world is mean to women and women are mean to women. We really can't win for losing. I feel like this is a huge reason why we often beat ourselves up over not being good enough. We have very unrealistic expectations of how we are supposed to look, act, feel and live. I don't know about you but the thought has literally crossed my mind that if I just get that handbag I will feel so much cuter. I would dare to say that it may not be a handbag for you but maybe a guy, or a job or maybe something else. But we have this idea that if we just get that we won't have this insecure feeling anymore. I know so many times I have thought well, once I get married I won't feel jealous of my friends anymore etc. But that concept and idea are so false. There is no man on this planet, not even Ryan Gosling, that can take away that dark seed in us.

I have such a blessed life. I truly do. Jesus spoils me so much everyday with amazing family, friends and the greatest church on the planet. But, there are days and moments when I forget all that blessing and I think of the things I don't have. In those days and moments I cling to these verses. And I mean literally cling as in they are ready to go at any moment when I feel like I am anything less than..

I hope these encourage your heart like they do mine.

I am complete in Christ. - Colossians 2:10

I am my beloveds and His desire is for me. - Song of Songs 7:10

May the beauty of the Lord be upon my face. - Psalm 90:17

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6



Sidenote: One of my pet peeves is women that absolutely refuse to compliment or give credit to another woman. So I challenge you that the next time you think your bff looks pretty (even if YOU don't feel pretty yourself that day) you tell her. Or the next time you like a coworker or classmate's idea you tell them.


I am praying for each one of you that reads this today. Let's love with the grace of Christ. Let's be Proverbs 31 women that speak with "the law of kindness on our tongues." An'd look cute while we are doing it!



Love you girls!

 ~ Jennifer

OOTD Rainy Day Off

OOTD rainy day off by jennblack8 featuring a ribbed tank

January Birchbox

I heard about Birchbox about a year ago but recently took the plunge and decided to try it for myself. I received my first box this week and could not have been more pleased! For those of you that have not heard about Birchbox I urge you to try it! You can subscribe for a year or opt to subscribe monthly to receive your very own box of beauty goodies. You get 4-5 deluxe sample items and sometimes they put a full size item in as well. I love that they sent me products from two brands I was not familiar with. This is a great way to try new products at a very reasonable $10 per month (and you can cancel at anytime, no shipping or tax charge). Plus it's like receiving a present at the beginning of the month, the packaging is so cute! Love that! 

When you open your box there is a card that tells you about all of the products you got inside. When I saw I had a nail polish in mine I couldn't wait to open it!

I love how they wrapped some of the items with hot pink tissue. The packaging is so cute it really does feel like a present. 

I was very happy with what was in my first box. I loved the Zoya nail polish and I can't wait to try the concealer out. Totally worth 10 bucks.

Have you heard of Birchbox? 

check them out. www.birchbox.com