Long Weekend!

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Well, let's just say that this week was a tough one for me. I got my first ticket {rolling through a stop sign ugh}, David was out of town for work and I generally wasn't feeling like myself. But the good news: the weekend is finally here. Woo hoo! There is so much to look forward to - but I'll leave that for some fun posts next week.

Long weekends are the best, don't you think?!

Here are some links before I go:

WEEKEND SALES: Nordstrom, J Crew, Furbish, Crate & Barrel, Shopbop among others...go now!

Houston wins Super Bowl 2017!

Hunter rain boots have been on my wish list forever

Craving

Travel dream : Thailand

Want this cookbook by Gwyneth

Have you read this Angelina Jolie's op-ed?

Inspiring

And...Happy Memorial Day and Happy early birthday to my little brother!

P.S. To our armed forces, we are forever grateful for your dedication and sacrifice. Our country would not be what it is today without your service. You are in our prayers today and every day. Thank you for all you do. And God Bless America!

6 or 26?

This is a typical dinner for me when the husband is traveling. Cheese quesadilla and an orange. Basically I'm 26 going on 6...

except for that glass of red wine that also accompanied this meal....

weekend recap: greenville, sc

We had an amazing weekend in Greenville, South Carolina celebrating the marriage of our college friends, Josh and Charlotte. David was honored to be included in the wedding party which meant we got to take Friday off to attend the lovely rehearsal dinner too!

It was my first time visiting Greenville {David visited in college} and I was amazed at it how quaint and green it is. The downtown is loaded with little shops and delicious restaurants. We spent Saturday afternoon touring around courtesy of our local tour guide, Ward.

My favorite part of the entire weekend was, of course, the wedding reception. It was located in a gorgeous club right on the outskirts of town. The food selection included a grilled cheese station. The mo-town band was out of this world. The dance moves coming out of that tall husband of mine were truly impressive. And any night that ends with late-night room service is a good one in my books...;)

Congratulations to Josh and Charlotte! Wishing you a life full of health, happiness and love.

my favorite etsy shops

I've been scouring Etsy the past few weeks for cute gallery wall prints. There are so many amazing artists out there that it was hard to choose. Here are my top 10 favorites! Enjoy browsing...

1:: sarahandbendrix

2:: unraveleddesign

3:: SouthernFriedPaper

4:: luluanddrew

5:: MichelleArmas

6:: anek

7:: MaiAutumn

8:: YaoChengDesign

9:: ByLucianaM

10:: BreeMadden

packing for wedding season

It is the beginning of wedding season here which means lots of friends, love, dancing, champagne...and quick weekend getaways. Over the past few years I have mastered the art of fitting all my wedding weekend essentials into 1 carry-on and 1 personal item {no checking for me, thank goodness}. It's tough but with a little planning ahead also entirely doable. And the trick of it all is the Packing List!

I typically begin packing 2-3 days prior to lift-off. I check the wedding itinerary to see what types of events we will attend and the suggested attire; I watch the weather forecast to see if an umbrella and jacket will be necessary; and I begin the packing list. This process helps me hone in on exactly what I'll need and ensures that I don't over-pack {a trait many of us ladies seem to struggle with}. And most importantly, I never have to check my bag which saves me time, money and frustration.

Below is a sample list for what I took to our Greenville get-away this past weekend:

Friday
Weather: Isolated T-storms; High 85 / Low 64
AM: white jeans; pink blouse; white tanks; leopard belt; t-strap sandals
PM: peach Tibi dress; slip; Steven sling backs; white pashmina; Tory Burch clutch; jewelry
PJs

Saturday
Weather: Scattered T-storms; High 83 / Low 66
GYM: sneakers; socks; sports bra; t-shirt and shorts
AM: cotton wrap dress, sunglasses, t-strap sandals
PM: black & pink MK dress; gold strap heels; pink pashmina; Tory Burch clutch; jewelry

Sunday
Weather: Scattered T-storms; High 80 / Low 65
GYM: sneakers; socks; sports bra; t-shirt and shorts
AM: white jeans; navy J. Crew top; navy tank; leopard belt; polka dot flats

Extras / Carry-on

• Umbrella
• Electronics: cell-phone charger; iPad; camera
• Downey Wrinkle Release spray {for those inevitable wrinkles}
• Toiletries & Make-up
• Hair appliances: curlers

And a few more tips!

• ROLL! Whenever possible you should roll your clothes instead of folding them. It helps to save space and decreases wrinkles.
• Use your personal item to your advantage. I just got the Lo & Sons bag for Christmas and can't rave about it enough. It has so many wonderful pockets and compartments so I don't have to waste suitcase space for things like chargers, my camera, jewelry, etc.
• I usually plan to re-wear most of my plane outfit {I'll switch out the shirt} because I don't get much wear out of it and that means more space to look cute where it counts :)
• Because security is so strict these days, don't forget to pick shoes that are easy to slip on and off at the airport. I also like to wear my bulkiest pair so they don't take up room in my suitcase {this pertains mainly to boot season}
• If there is extra room, I always like to throw in 1 extra outfit just in case

Enjoy! And safe travels. xo

P.S. I'll be back tomorrow with a re-cap of our amazing weekend in Greenville celebrating two of our favorite people

Pinterest Inspiration

Here are a few things inspiring me lately...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

happy weekend. xo

fun spring sips

The weather has been so gorgeous around here the past few days! I love going up to our front porch to sip on a beverage. This weekend we put together a fun cocktail for friends that involves wine, oranges, lemons and limes...it was so delicious that it needs to be shared so you can bar tend it up too!

Sangria
{makes about 6 cups}

1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup frozen lemonade
1/3 cup orange juice
1 {750 ml} bottle of red wine
1/2 cup triple sec
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
2 cups carbonated water {optional*}

In a large pitcher, mix together brandy, lemon juice, frozen lemonade, orange juice, red wine and triple sec. Float the lemon, orange and lime in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor {at least 2 hours}.

*For fizzy sangria, add club soda just before serving....

Some other fun cocktails I'd also enjoy sipping...

Jalapeno Vodka Lemonade

Palomas on the Patio

Happy {belated} Mother's Day!

Mother's Day has taken on a whole different meaning as I've started to see my friends take on the role of a mother. The joy, the waddles and the happiness -- it is lovely. My mom has been such a driving force in my life. And I know that they will be to their children or future children too. It's been really fun to watch and fingers crossed I can join that club one day too! For now though I'd like to say thank you to all the wonderful mothers out there. Thank you for all that you do! You are so very loved and appreciated.

And before I go...a special thank you to the fabulous women in my life. Whether you are a mother or not, I want you to know that you mean the world to me. And I wouldn't be where I am today without your love and support. xo

Happy {belated} Mother's Day!

Important Announcement!

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This shouldn't be a news flash considering I post pictures of my bare legs on this blog once in a while - but us McFarlands happen to be a fair-skinned family. So fair that David has the nickname "lobster legs" after Spring Break in Cabo. So fair that it is possible for me to get burned standing outside for 15 minutes. So fair that our first child will have to be lathered in SPF 70 immediately after exiting the womb...

Sooo, given that May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and that we happen to know a little bit too much about skin safety, here are some of our tips and tricks to stay safe in the sun.

• Skin checks: Make an appointment with your dermatologists at least once a year for a head-to-toe skin check. In Houston, they offer free screenings at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital so that is where we have been frequenting. Once a month & in between checks, don't forget to watch spots that change shape and color or become asymmetrical. Always make an appointment if something looks fishy.
• Sunscreen: Use UVA/UVB {broad spectrum} sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. SPF 30 if you are outside for extended periods of time. I like all the Neutrogena products. And I've been using this one that my mom sent me every day under my make-up and lotion.
• Reapply: Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating. Even when it's cloudy and you are floating on the lake and can't feel yourself getting burned because you've had too many cocktails...who me?
• Spray it: Avoid tanning booths and opt instead for the spray tan. Trust me, I've tried them all and tanning products really have come a long way. No more streaks or orange glow. My favorite is these wipes.

To all my other pale/skin aware friends, what am I missing? Any other sunscreen recommendations I need to try out? 

Enjoy your weekend! xo

little blessings

I got my inspiration for today's post from one of my favorite bloggers, Amanda Marshall. She is always incredibly positive and I've especially loved her posts about what she is thankful for. From time to time I think it's important to celebrate the little things our lives that make us happy. Like a bowl of ice cream on Sunday or a beautiful flower that just bloomed in your front yard. So here is my list {in no particular order}...

{pink bubbles and going out to celebrate one more year}

{a gorgeous puppy. love love love her}

{driving our bikes around the neighborhood}

{a fun Cinco de Mayo celebration with friends}

{fresh flowers that smell so delicious}

{reading this mag during my lunch break}

I hope you all have a fabulous Thursday!