Happy Wednesday! It’s time for everybody to join up today with Shay and me and let us know WHAT’S UP with you this fine Wednesday!
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WHAT WE ARE EATING
Are y’all like me? Do you eat lots of meals over and over again? I definitely have a handful of meals on serious rotation.
Here’s a lunch I eat once every couple of weeks for sure. It’s just a Lean Cuisine pepperoni pizza, but I fancy it up a bit with some sliced purple onion, a little extra low fat mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper sprinkled on top. Ready in under 5 min and pretty tasty. Put this in your back pocket for a quick lunch idea.
I will never stop talking about my love of the Trader Joe’s Organic Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup. It’s DELICIOUS.
Here I have it paired with the turkey/swiss panini of my dreams. I stacked honey maple turkey, Swiss cheese, mayo, purple onion, and arugula inside the bread. And then listen to this, I buttered the outside of the bread and sprinkled Everything But The Bagel seasoning on it before crisping it up in the pan. Y’ALLLLLLLLLLLLL.
The other half is just a regular ol’ grilled cheese, totally simple and insanely delicious. I used Swiss cheese, thick grated sharp cheddar, and a tiny bit of thick grated mozzarella. DANG it was good.
I eat the soup probably once a week. And although I wish I could eat the sandwiches every week, they are more of an every couple of months treat.
This little salmon bowl is a favorite repeat offender.
It’s air fryer salmon (with EBTB seasoning and fresh lemon), roasted Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives, sliced avocado, and a couple of generous dollops of Boar’s Head Tzatziki dip.
The Everything But The Bagel Seasoning and olives both came from Trader Joe’s. I grabbed the Tzatziki dip at Market Street (the brand is Boar’s Head and I found it by the hummus).
I’ve told y’all about my very favorite way to make tacos, but it’s worth repeating!
Brown 2 pounds of ground beef, add 1 packet of dry ranch dressing and 1 packet of your favorite taco seasoning. After the meat is done, I add 1 can of Ranch Style Beans (drained) and 1 can of Rotel (drained). It’s more flavorful, and it enables me to eat less meat (and more beans and tomatoes).
As you can see below, I also sprinkle a chunky “salsa” on top. It’s just a mix of cherry tomato halves, avocados, and purple onion with salt, pepper, a little olive oil, and red wine vinegar. It’s so bright and fresh, and I love it on top of my tacos!
With only 3 people in our family, this provides us with TONS of leftovers. Good for tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and my favorite way to eat it is in a taco salad!
Another favorite lunch for me is this Bird’s Eye Zucchini Lentil Pasta (found in the frozen food aisle). I add roasted veggies to it (whatever I have on hand), a little fresh parmesan, and Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Seasoning.
One of my favorite lunches at home continues to be roasted veggies with the cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe’s (I cook mine in the air fryer for crispy edges!). I add some marinara from Trader Joe’s as well. Light, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
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Also, I haven’t talked about Hello Fresh in a bit, BUT WE STILL LOVE IT, and I still highly recommend it!
I don’t get it every week. In fact, I probably only get a couple of boxes once every month. But when I do get them, I LOVE THEM. They are such a treat!
I make things I wouldn’t make on my own (mainly because I wouldn’t want to buy all the ingredients), and I love trying new things and adding variety to our dinners at home. One of my very favorite Hello Fresh meals (that I get every single time it’s an option) is the Sweet Chili Beef and Green Bean Bowls.
It might not look like much, but it’s insanely good.
Click HERE if you want to try out the service for yourself FOR FREE! You’ll have to pay the $4.99 shipping costs on your first box delivery, but that’s it!
If you decide to try out the free boxes, you can get up to 4 recipes for 2 people (and save $84) or you can get 3 recipes for 4 people (and save $119). AND THE ONLY THING YOU WILL PAY IS THE $4.99 SHIPPING COST! How can they afford to do this? Well, they know that all they have to do is get people to try the service, and they will fall in love. Many times they will end up being customers for life. That’s how it happened for me, anyway!
You’ll sign up with your e-mail address, and that will unlock your free boxes. Choose how many boxes you want and how many you need to feed, and then you’ll chose the actual meals you want from a number of options. Once you sign up, it does default to weekly delivery. However, like I said, I never do that. The Hello Fresh app is sooooo easy to use, and you can cancel a week’s meal plan in about 10 seconds. I go into my app once every several weeks, look through the meals, and decide what week I want to order and what meals I want for that week. Default meals will be chosen for you, but you just go in, edit your delivery, and choose from like 30 options each week! The variety is awesome, so there will always be something you are interested in.
I choose to have my deliveries arrive on Sundays, but you can choose whatever day you want.
The service really is incredibly EASY to use, and the food is really incredible.
Again, click HERE If you want to try out the service yourself for only $4.95!
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WHAT I’M LOVING
I feel like every retailer goes through cycles. Like sometimes even your favorite retailer won’t have anything you’re interested in.
BUT RIGHT NOW? Walmart is hitting it out of the freaking park with both fashion and home.
I saw this Glow candle on Instagram, I threw it in my cart immediately, and it was on my porch te same afternoon. It smells absolutely amazing. It’s a light scent (vanilla, pear, and coconut), and it smells lovely while not being overwhelming.
And although I rarely go in store, I ran in a couple of weeks ago to grab a couple of more things for my pantry refresh, and I took a second to smell some more of the fragrance options for this brand of candle. And I think I like the Calm candle even more than I like the Glow candle. This particular scent has over 1,000 5 STAR reviews. It combines coconut, citrus, and amber. It’s so so lovely.
The jars are gorgeous, and the price point is awesome.
And look at some of their home offerings!!! Everything is so pretty and so affordable!
I’ve seen the #14 runner in person, and it is absolutely beautiful. I own both candles, the #5 basket, and the #6 picture frame.
1) olive tree / 2) Calm candle / 3) Glow candle / 4) rug / 5) basket / 6) picture frame / 7) bar stool / 8) mirror / 9) lamp / 10) pillow / 11) pillow / 12) pillow / 13) dish / 14) runner
BONUS! I overlooked numbering the chest, but you can find it HERE.
Maybe y’all remember this pouf from one of my posts last year. It’s BACK IN STOCK! The pouf is such a nice touch in the family room (that totally looks designer). I will say, when my pouf arrived, it was darker than I thought it was going to be, but it totally worked! Also, my pouf has “leather” piping on the corners, and the online pouf didn’t show this. Still, I really liked the product I received.
And as I mentioned it, they’re killing it with fashion too! Check out the Farm Rio vibes with these belted shorts! I’m DYING!
white tee / denim jacket / belted shorts / teardrop earrings / disc necklace / both bracelets / raffia bucket bag / wedge sandals
And talk about a vibe… check out the shorts styled with the matching tie front top! The sandals and bracelet are from Walmart too.
tie front top / belted shorts / disc necklace / bracelet / pearl and rattan bag / raffia sandals
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WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT
Summer isn’t that far away, and it has me reminiscing about all of the weekends we spent at the ranch with friends and family last summer! We had the best time, and I can’t wait to get back there and soak it all up again.
Because there’s nothing better than hanging out at the lake all day…
And then playing cornhole under the twinkle lights and stars that night.
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WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT
My pantry.
I’m stupid excited about my pantry. #goshisoundold
Did you see my post yesterday? Click HERE to see all sorts of pics of the new space and read about everything I used.
dress / denim jacket option / white sneakers
I put together a collage last night to highlight everything!
1) large baskets / 2) chip clips / 3) hanging shelves / 4) flip-tite canisters of all sizes / 5) turntable / 6) bamboo risers / 7) long drawer organizers / 8) plastic storage bins (8 x M packs) / 9) spice rack risers / 10) Ziplock bag organizer / 11) large canvas baskets / 12) tall and narrow bins / 13) acacia wood oval bowls
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WHAT I’M WATCHING
I started watching Grey’s Anatomy again from the very beginning. I’m not digging the new season (and the new cast) at all, and I haven’t for a bit…. so I decided to start at the beginning.
Just yesterday I watched the episode where Denny died. My goodness it ripped my heart out again.
The current Grey’s cast has nothing on the first cast.
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WHAT I’M WEARING
One of my favorite Amazon lounge sets is something I find myself reaching for again and again.
It’s obviously incredibly comfortable, but it’s also incredibly chic! It’s like a lightweight sweater that’s super soft and has a bit of stretch in it. The sleeves, the hem of the top, and the bottom of the pants all have little splits that are a wonderful little detail. For size reference, I’m wearing a medium. The fit was generous, so I think a small would have been fine. Still, I ordered the second one in a medium as well because I happen to like this set super roomy.
WHAT I WILL BE WEARING SOON
I had a Nordstrom package delivered just yesterday that was filled with lots of items I will be featuring in outfits next week.
You’ll have to stay tuned for the outfits, but I couldn’t wait to share 2 pairs of wedges and a bag that was in the order. BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GOOD.
Both pairs of wedges are both DARLING as well as incredibly comfortable! And listen, I don’t care how darling they are, if they aren’t comfy – I’m not wearing them.
These are the more casual of the two, and I think the light pink is so pretty.
That’s a cute sandal.
These are quite a bit dressier because of the heel height. And I love the classic cognac color.
These babies are tall, but I promise you that they are comfy!
And check out this $80 bag!
It’s classic, totally chic, and looks much more expensive than it is.
cognac wedge sandals / raffia shoulder bag
Click HERE for all of the current options from this designer. So many really great bags that I would love to have! I’m blown away at the options and the price points.
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WHAT ARE MY RECENT AMAZON PURCHASES
I talked about these first two things on my Mother’s Day collage post, but I’m talking about them again because they are 100% worth another mention.
This candle warmer is absolutely phenomenal. I kept seeing these candle lamps on Instagram, I finally got one for myself, and I’M AMAZED AT HOW IT WELL IT WORKS. Not only does the room fill up with the candle scent (I 100% think the candle is more fragrant under the lamp than it is if it’s being burned), and it also appears that the candle is going to last forever!!! It burns evenly, consistently, and barely any wax seems to disappear even after the candle warmer is on for hours and hours at a time.
This particular warmer has low, medium, and high settings AND you can set a timer for it to turn off after 2, 4, or 8 hours.
I’m not big on fake florals, but these hydrangeas are incredibly lifelike. I have some in a vase on a bedside table (similar vase HERE)…
and look how pretty they are arranged in this white pitcher. You can find a similar white pitcher HERE.
Do you have any places in your home where you could use this? I bought 2 for our master bedroom for our bedside tables. These allow us to place the tables right against the wall, and we can plug in lamps, phones, whatever without any trouble.
This is the very best razor for all of your sensitive areas. It was recommended to me by a friend last year some time, and it’s truly the best razor I’ve ever used. No nicks, no razor burn, and a super clean shave. #highyrecommend
These are the types of bags we use when we carry food to the ranch. They are sturdy, they hold a ton, and they fold up easily for storage. I grabbed new ones just because our old ones were several years old, and I simply wanted a newer and cleaner version. And they’re not just for food, they’re great for transporting anything.
I’ve admired this bowl and server set for a while now, so I finally got it. I can’t wait to use it when we have guests over.
I’m about to run out of sunscreen, so I made sure to go ahead and order yet another bottle of my very favorite sunscreen.
I’ve become obsessive about putting this on my face every single day. I used to apply sunscreen only when I knew I was going to be in the sun for a prolonged period of time. Other times, I would just trust the little SPF that was in my moisturizer to do its job. But after having IPL and getting rid of a lot of the hyperpigmentation on my face, I’m doing everything in my power to not be adding any additional brown spots.
I now apply this sunscreen when I brush my teeth every morning, and so far, no new brown spots have appeared!!!
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SALE ALERTS
Victoria Emerson is having an INSANE sale, y’all.
The SALE ENDS SATURDAY AT 12:30 p.m…..
But until then. EVERYTHING ON THIS LINK IS ONLY $12.
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I’m not sure how long it’s going on for, but there’s an OUR PLACE SALE happening right now!
Click HERE to shop the entire sale. Our Place pots and pans make wonderful Mother’s Day gifts, and it would be a great time to grab a gift or two on sale!
I cannot say enough about these two pieces of cookware. I’ve given them as gifts to my mom, my MIL, and my sister. And now they are ON SALE! If you don’t have them for yourself, fix that now.
I’ve had this pan for probably 5-6 years now and look how it looks brand new! I took this pic just a couple of weeks ago!!! How many other pans that are years old could you say this about?
(Sidenote: I saw on Instagram the other day that the perfect way to reheat pizza is to put it in a skillet, so I had to give it a try. And I have to say, these were the best pieces of reheated pizza I have EVER had. And not only does it taste good, but it looks fresh out of the box when you do it this way! The bottom gets a little bit crispy and everything is melty and bubbly on top. I used medium heat, and after a minute or two, I put the top on for another minute or so. Perfection!)
I’M ALSO IN LOVE WITH THIS PAN. It’s another ride or die thing for me.
The Oven Pan has quickly become my ride or die for me as well.
The Oven Pan can be used for baking, roasting, crisping & cooking. Additionally, the Oven Pan can be used as a griddle on gas & electric stoves. It’s also deep enough to capture lots of juices.
The Oven Mat is a nonstick surface on the Oven Pan when baking & a surface to roll out dough. The print doubles as a 1” measurement. It replaces single-use parchment paper and tinfoil – sustainable and beautiful! Only to be used in the oven.
Heats up quickly in the oven, great for browning cookies.
The Oven Pan has PTFE- and PFOA-free ceramic nonstick interior in their exclusive formulation. Bakers have a naturally non-stick glaze, which means easy clean up!
Oven-safe to 450 degrees F.
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Now make sure you link up and let us know what you’re up to this fine Wednesday!
Erika Slaughter says
Your lunches have been looking tasty!
Shay Shull says
The description of that “calm” candle could not sound more like me if it tried…AND give me alllll the raffia!
Robin says
I love the tomato and red pepper soup from Trader Joe’s as well. I live over an hour away from the nearest store so I stock up when I go. I like to make a grilled cheese with ciabatta bread. I use the pepper jelly from TJ’s and spread it on the inside of the bread, some smoked cheddar and a bit of velveeta (so the gooeyness melts into the holes of the bread). I mix some garlic powder in with the butter I spread on the outside before grilling it. Sometimes I will also saute’ some sliced onion to put on the inside as well. Add in a sliced Granny Smith apple and I am in heaven!
Sheaffer says
ROBIN!!!!!!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!