Five on Friday v.9

Another week has come and gone!  Phew.  After taking off and heading South last weekend, I'm looking forward to getting a few things done around the house that I've been putting off.  That list includes, but sadly isn't limited to, cutting all of the fountain grasses in my landscaping back, continuing to plug away at the Spring Cleaning check list that I found via Pinterest, and pilfer clothes and such that I don't LOVE anymore!  It's a daunting task, but I know I'll feel better after getting it all done.

Today's 5 on Friday is a mish-mash of thoughts, purchases and questions I have for you!  Check it out and let me know what you have to say!

ONE:

I put this out there earlier this week, but there isn't be any harm asking today either...

Does anyone have any thoughts or glowing reviews on either of these products?  I struggle with getting curls to really 'stay' and I'm rather uncoordinated with a traditional curling iron, so I thought this new iron may be what I'm looking for?  If any of you glamorous gals out there have experience with either of these new fangled contraptions please, please let me know!! 

Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret

Rusk Curl Freak

TWO:

Having recently purchased Naked2, my Pinterest board is filled with tutorials on creating beautiful looks using the palette.  I haven't used it much, mostly because I feel like my day should be worthy of the pretty colors!  Please share with me any tutorials or suggestions you have for utilizing Naked2!!

Source

THREE:

How freaking amazing did Christina's Mini Egg Nest Brownies look?!?!  I'm sucha sucker for the Cadbury Mini Eggs!  When I mention them around Matt I have to clarify that I'm talking about the mini ones, not the creme filled.  It's probably a good thing for my waistline that they only come out once a year!  Not gonna lie, I bought a big bag and have them stored in the freezer in the garage out of eyesight for safe keeping!

FOUR:
You may remember that I went to Disneyland a few weeks ago, well my flight kept getting delay leaving Indy.  And not just by a few minutes either!  Hours.  So I decided to treat myself to a gel manicure to help pass the time and I loved them!  Living where I do, going to a salon and having them done regularly is really not a reality so I've been looking for an at home kit.  This week on my lunch hour I found the SensatioNail french manicure starter kit marked down 25%!  Winning!

Source

FIVE: 

I have a confession to make... I started the book 12 Years a Slave at the end of February and have read the first few chapters, but I just can't seem to get into it!  I quit reading it to focus on my March book club book and haven't went back since.  Honestly, I  couldn't tell you much about those first three chapters either.  I need to go back and start from the beginning!  Has anyone else read it?  Did you have this issue too?

I'm happy to be linking up today with Natasha, Christina, April and Darci for another exciting round of 5 on Friday!

Oh Boy

This graphic cracks me up!  I know that when I'm speaking to other women I can describe the color yellow by saying 'butter' or 'lemon', but to Matt that's just yellow.  I've learned the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) method is by far the best way to go about talking about colors to most men!  This morning at home was no different, but it still didn't go my way.  Let me set the scene...

I was in the kitchen eating my breakfast and Matt was getting ready to leave for work.  He went to grab his coat out of the closet so he could head out.

Myla: "Would you grab my blue jacket while you're in there?"



Matt: "Sure."
Myla: "Thank you."  Hears the closet door open.
Matt: "You mean the purple one?"
Myla: "Um, no.  The blue one."
Matt: "I don't see a blue one.  There's a purple one."
Myla: Heavy sigh.  "Okay, it could be hanging on the back of my door at work?  Wait, does this purple coat have a stand-up collar and a flower pin?"
Matt: "Yes."
Myla:  Rolls eyes and shakes head.  "That's the one I want..." 

On the upside he did come out with a coat for me to wear because there's been instances when he forgets the one thing I ask for.  So I should chalk up it as a win.

Surely this has happened to other women, right?!?  I can't be the only one.

Escape To So ILL

Last week, I hot footed it down to southern Illinois to spend some time with my friend Susan.  I had some time off of work that I had to use and decided heading even just a few hours South might be good for my soul!

I got into town late Thursday night, but after spending 3.5 hours in the car I was totally cool with just vegging out on the couch.  Susan, her hubby TJ and I spent the rest of the evening chatting. catching up and figuring out our plans for the weekend.

Friday morning, Susan and I headed to town to do some shopping at a local boutique, Eccentrics.  Susan's photography business partners and outfits the models in cute clothes from Eccentrics throughout the year.  The boutique owner, Lauren, is a local gal who in the last few years has opened this great clothing store.  Susan had nothing but wonderful things to say about Lauren, the store and the clothes!!  Naturally, I was really excited to go and check it out!  When we walked in I was so distracted by all colors, patterns and prints that I bee-lined it to the racks to see what I could find that I couldn't live without!  A few minutes later, Lauren came around the corner to greet us and my mouth literally fell open in surprise... Back in college, Lauren and I worked together at Applebee's!  What a small freakin' world, huh?!?  Thinking back, it all makes sense though.  All those years ago, and now too, Lauren was always so stinking trendy and her owning a boutique really shouldn't come as a surprise!

Source

After purchasing some new Spring and Summer staples, Susan and I headed to one of our favorite restaurants, Harbaugh's Cafe, for a late lunch.  Harbaugh's has been open since 2000 and serves some of the best breakfast and lunch in Carbondale.  The restaurant itself was furnished piece by piece as owner Laura Harbaugh, hit up garage sales to outfit her new place.  The walls are covered with art and knick knacks that only add to the atmosphere!  If by chance you're ever in Carbondale, Harbaugh's is located just across from campus and is most recognizable by the polka dotted awnings and the line of hungry patrons lined up out the door and down the street.  Trust me, waiting in line is worth it!

Once our bellies were full, we decided it was high time to hit up some of the local wineries that southern Illinois is becoming famous for!  Blue Sky Vineyard was our first stop, naturally.  In my opinion, Blue Sky never disappoints.  The wine is good, the scenery is gorgeous and you can literally lose track of time while you're there!  I speak from experience.  Susan and I enjoyed a carafe of our favorite red wine while we soaked up the sun on the patio. 

After Blue Sky we navigated the winding roads of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and ended up at Alto Vineyards.  Alto recently built a brand new building that offers a large tasting room and second story patio that overlooks a small pond and the vineyard. 

Our favorite wine at Alto is their Dawg House Red which features SIUC's mascot, the saluki!!  We drank a bottle and took some home too!

After closing down leaving Alto, we headed back to Susan's.  Our original plan was to make supper, but when we realized the chicken was still frozen solid we had to resort to Plan B.  Plan B was 17th Street Bar & Grill.  17th Street is another local favorite that is always top notch! 

On Saturday, Susan and I spent running errands at places like Home Depot, Hobby Lobby and Party City.  We grabbed lunch out at the Longbranch Cafe and Bakery and then rented some movies.  Because we are mature adults we ended up with Saving Mr. Banks and Frozen!  After just getting back from Disneyland, I loved 'revisiting' it in Saving Mr. Banks.  I also really enjoyed the sisterhood aspect of Frozen and how Princess Anna was relate-able and modern compared to other princesses.  We ate and drank at home Saturday night and crashed somewhere around midnight.  Disney movies will wear a girl out!

Sunday morning I helped Susan get squared away for a photo shoot she had later in the day and then I hopped in the Jetta and drove home. It doesn't look like we did more than eat and drink the weekend away, but I swear we did!  And to be honest, isn't that paired with good company what great weekends are made from?!?

Not So Talented

I feel comfortable saying that I have many talents from riding, to crafting and cooking, but one thing that ranks really high up there that I'm flat bad at is curling my hair!

For most of my life I've had long hair that blow drys straight without much effort, I don't even use a straightener.  And depending on the length, I can do a fair job of scrunching it to bring out some waves.  But I've never been very handy with a curling iron.  It's not that I'm not coordinated in other aspects, but to watch me try and curl my hair you'd think I was all thumbs!

To achieve curls, I typically resort to using hot rollers or curling sticks.  Even then, my curls aren't the glossy, magazine worthy ones I'd like them to be!  Frankly, they tend to fall flat pretty quickly and leave me very irritated!  So what's a girl to do?  Spend too much time curling my hair with nothing to show for it or skip the curling iron completely?  I have a LOT of hair and spending hours in the bathroom with nothing to show after all that work is a big let down, so I choose the do nothing route.

The last time I was in Ulta, I was wondering around the store and noticed several new fangled contraptions set up with all the curling irons.

Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret

Rusk Curl Freak

They kinda look like a straightener in that they're hinged at the end, but at the other end they have a large barrel.  Upon further inspection, I find out that you section out some hair and this curling iron actually sucks it up in the barrel, spins it around and spits out your curled hair.  I've also went online and read some reviews for both products.  People seem to have nicer things to say about the Curl Freak versus the Infiniti, but there's also a hefty price difference between the two.  The purple Infiniti iron sells for $99 and the Curl Freak for $199.

I haven't pulled the trigger and bought anything yet because I wanted to see if any of you gals out there have tried this style of curling iron or not?  Is this the answer to my prayers?  Does it actually work?  I won't end up crying in the bathroom because my hair is a tangled mess inside this contraption, right?!?

Linking up with Jenni, Khala, Samantha and Renee for Tuesday Tea.