Monthly Mix-Ins

1.  We went to our friend Bob's lake house a few weekends ago and we were bummed because it poured all night and we couldn't have a bonfire. All was redeemed the next morning when we woke up and it was gloriously sun-shiny and beautiful! Check out that InstaNature.

2.  I went back to one of my old high school's football games for the first time in a few years and was immediately depressed at how much younger everyone looked than me.  It wasn't that long ago.... right?  It totally was.

3.  These Caramel Apple Bars from Inside BruCrew Life look amazing, and much easier to eat than  actual caramel apples.  Win.

4.  Anybody catch the Blacklist premiere on NBC?  James Spader is born to play super creepy bad guys and I love it.  I think we'll be hooked in a few episodes as it gets going.

5.  I try not to overdo it for the people that get pumpkin'd out (although I never could) but if you are ready to dive right into the pumpkin baking season, then go check out Brown Eyed Baker's 20 Pumpkin Recipe list.  They all look amazing.

6.  Gahhhh.... these cookies.  Rainbow sprinkles + glaze + sugar cookies = sugar overload AND I LOVE IT.  Try being sad when holding something covered in sprinkles... try.

7. Annnnd in honor of my beloved Eagles losing yet another game this past Sunday, I bring you 13 Pointless Observations Every Football Fan Makes About Their Team When It's Losing.  Except the Eagles should be listed under more than just #12.

Monthly Mix-Ins

August's Monthly Mix-Ins are a few days late.  No excuses, it was just a holiday weekend and I was feeling a bit lazy.  Do I get points for honesty?

1.  Since Greg and I are in our mid/late twenties and everyone around us is having babies, we will be surrounded by great advice when the time comes for us.  However, this article tops any advice we've heard so far: 24 People Who Are Really Nailing This Parenting Thing.  Number 7 and number 24 just about made me pee my pants.  Does BuzzFeed ever get tiring? No. No, it doesn't.

2.  This Strawberry and Whipped Cream Cake.  I made it for my Mom's birthday earlier this month and YUM.  Plus, it's purrrrty.

3.  Not even going to touch Miley's VMA performance because 1) too easy and 2) I don't like to acknowledge it was actually a thing.  What happened to Hannah Montana?

4.  How amazing do these Milky Way Double Fudge Brownies from Aimee at Shugary Sweets look?  Somebody make these for me soon so that I can die happy.

5.  Hubs and my Dad installed my new farmhouse sink in our kitchen last month.  I had a super shallow sink that would allow me to wash, oh I don't know, exactly one cereal bowl at a time and now I have this glorious masterpiece.  Heaven!  You know you're getting old when you're this excited about a sink.  Sorry I'm not sorry.

6.  Football is here!! Which makes me happy for two reasons:  1) I genuinely love watching football and 2) FOOD. Hello!? Food! Game day food is the best. And Jessica put some of the best football recipes ever all in one place for you. She's the bestest.

7.  It's supposed to drop to 49 degrees overnight this week.  I need a smoother transition from summer, please.

8.  I know I'm about 2 years late to this party, but how amazing is the beauty blog MaskCara?! I need her to come renovate my beauty "routine", considering I am a total hair and make-up tragedy. Unless boring straight hair and chapstick are involved.  Cara: fix me, pleaseeee.

9.  Last food item I've been craving lately:  Pizza Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken.  Not even fair.

Monthly Mix-Ins

1.  This was my breakfast last Sunday at the Tomcat Café.  I present to you the Fluff -N-Stuff.  As you can see, I went the healthy route.   How this place is not world famous I have no idea, but it definitely deserves the local notoriety, wait time and long lines every weekend.  I'd wait forever to eat here.

2.  It's no secret I love red velvet.  I've been drooling over this ice cream all week.

3.  I was dying last night over this:  23 Dogs Who Are Too Adorably Stupid For Their Own Good.  Espeically numbers 2, 7, and 22.  Cuteness overload.

4.  How gorgeous is this cake?  I did not even know chocolate pearls were a thing.  I'm so behind.

5.  Does anybody else watch Suits?  I'm glad Harvey and Mike are back together with their whole Batman and Robin gig, but how bad did you feel for Louis?!  More importantly, who throws away a cake??  And somebody please make Rachel Zane's wardrobe appear in my closet, stat.

6.  23 People Who Are Permanently Remembering The ’90s.  That is a male with the Hanson tattoo, correct?  Umm.  I'm not going to lie, though.... the Fresh Prince and George Costanza ones are legit.

7.  Tomorrow is August and that's weird.  However, there are some super fun events coming up for me in August including:  two weddings, a concert with my best, going to see a comedian, making cupcakes for a bridal shower, judging cheerleading tryouts for a university, and soaking up all the sun that is physically possible before my summer disappears.  How about you??

Monthly Mix-Ins

1.  Soooo these S'mores cupcakes happened this weekend.  They were pretty much devoured in one day.  Stay tuned for this one, folks.

2.  I want to meet whoever wrote 22 Excellent Reasons to Drink More Whiskey.  I feel like we would be the very best of friends.

3.  I have been dying over these super festive July 4th Layered Drinks ever since I saw them on In Katrina's Kitchen a few days ago.  Somebody come over so I can make these for us. 

4.  Sometimes... I think I'm pretty tough.  Then I see new stories like this and think nope.  Not tough at all.

5.   Jessica from How Sweet Eats shared this in her latest edition of Tuesday Things and I've been mass e-mailing the link ever since:  If Kids Tweeted About TV Shows Like Adults Do.

6.   Dairy Queen had a S'mores Blizzard for June and I'm just now realizing it's gone.  I had one last week and it was really good!  The fact I may never eat one is making me horrifically sad.  Someone tell me they're not gone forever?

7.  I'm not going to touch the whole Kim/Kanye baby name thing because... no.  It's just too easy.

8.  So sooo happy that my summer shows are back on, but Michael and Fi really need to just get back together on Burn Notice already.  Stop messing with their relationship, because it is really damaging my overall real life well-being. 

9.   How cute are these mini mason jar lanterns for a 4th of July party or any other summer barbeque?!  Dying of cute DIY-ness.  They make me feel like I need to seriously step up my craft game.

Monthly Mix-Ins

I'm starting a new monthly segment on the site where I list some of my favorite things from around the web, products I've been loving, and basically any other random thoughts that have popped into my head that I feel the need blab incessantly on about to you.  Enjoy the first-ever Monthly Mix-Ins!

1.  This might be insanely cliche, but seriously HOW is it almost June?!  I mean I love June (annual vacation and my birthday) but I feel like it was just Easter.  Time: slow down.  I'm not ready for football and falling leaves just yet, and I feel like you're too close.

2.  This recipe is all I can think about since I found it on Pinterest.  Just stop it.  Chocolate, peanut butter, pretzels and how freakin' cute?

2.  These shoes make me insanely happy.  And I had to legitimately force myself not to buy this shirt at Target the other day.  My husband looked at me like I was a lunatic teenage girl for even considering it.  But I basically am a lunatic teenage girl locked in a grown-up body, so I've decided I'm going back to buy it.  Bright colors + leopard = two of my favorite things on the planet.

3.  This.  Number 2 made my whole entire day.

4.  I normally think GEICO commercials are pretty lame, but this one makes me laugh so incredibly hard.  Mike-mike-mike-mike-mike.

5.  If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably noticed I love green juices.  It's all about balance... so if you splurge on a cupcake but are really good about drinking your veggies, you are okay in my book and we would get along just fine.  I really want a good juicer to make my own - especially since it's summer and sometimes I just want a light meal replacement smoothie with lots of nutrients.  Anyone have any good recipes for homemade juices/smoothies?

6.  One of the things I look forward to the most about my upcoming vacation is the food (obviously).  Cape May has some of the most drool-inducing restaurants around.  I'm sure you'll be assaulted with numerous images via every method of social media the entire time I'm there.

7.  Somebody please make me these for my birthday.  With extra sprinkles.

8.  I would love everything from the C. Wonder summer collection and the winning lottery ticket to make that possible.  Please and thank you.

That's it for May! Helloooo, birth-month...