high five for friday

Even if I'm working this weekend, it's finally Friday and time to celebrate the weekend.

My Friday five are...

1. Opi Bubble Bath plus one glitter nail makes me a happy girl. I've never done the one nail trend before, but I love it.

2. Lots of hours spent making decisions and planning for Europe.

3. Juicing: the easy way (from Earth Fare). This was loaded with veggie goodness of carrots, beets, spinach, apples, and a few others. I love the juicing craze and really want to purchase a juicer. Any suggestions?

4. My first stitch fix came this week. I'll be sharing everything that came in my package next week for Wearable Wednesday.

5. After seeing so many people use and recommend Urban Decay's Naked Palette. I decided to take the plunge and splurge on this baby. I'm excited to try different shades and combinations than I usually do.

Linking up with Lauren

Planning for Europe

There is so much to think about when traveling to a new place, especially when it's European cities that are full of history, culture, and unbelievable eats. I thought it would be fun to share with you my research for our European vacation.

I'm a big planner and want to have an itinerary for every day that we're there, so I've been scouring blogs and TripAdvisor as I plan for each city. I love traveling and it's been fun to share the excitement with Brooke and Ashley who are also taking European vacations this spring and summer. I'd love to know more people who have traveled or lived abroad and their advice in this planning process.

I want to see and do as much as we can in the few short days we have in each city. And I've also been thinking of ways to not overpack, which I always do.

So I'll be starting a planning and prepping for Europe mini series here. Hope you enjoy reading it during the next few weeks, and I can't wait to learn from you as well. 

Warby Parker

I love the idea TOMs has about buying a pair and giving a pair of shoes.

Warby Parker has the same idea except with glasses. I love this concept because I'm super blind without my glasses, so I'd love to give a pair to someone else with my purchase.

I love Warby Parker for a few reasons...

1. They are very affordable at $95 per pair with the possible $35 extra if you have terrible eyes like me and need the recommended slimmer glass.

Mallory

2. Warby Parker offers a wide, stylish variety of glasses.

Ballard

3. You can order five In-Home try on pairs for five days. Here are the five that I chose...

Benson

Downing

I currently wear a black pair of glasses that are smaller and more rectangular, so I was looking for something a little more hipster. My friends help push me outside my style box, so I went for it.

Ainsworth

Which one do you like best?

I placed my Warby Parker order and hopefully will be getting my new frames soon!

This is my own opinion and I wasn't sponsored to write this post.

Tasty Tuesday: Thai Chicken Satay

One of the dishes I missed most while I was a veggie was chicken satay, so I was excited when EMeals  sent us an easy chicken satay and peanut sauce recipe. 

This one is slightly spicy but not overpowering with the sweetness of the peanut sauce. 

Recipe from EMeals: serves 2 
Marinade:
1/2 stalk lemongrass, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 t cayenne pepper, 1 1/2t curry powder
1/2 t agave or honey
1/4 t fish sauce or soy sauce, 2T olive oil
12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2'' strips

Dipping Sauce:
2T chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 stalk lemongrass, peeled and chopped
1 small red Thai chili pepper, seeded and minced
1T peanut oil
2T natural chunky peanut butter
1/4c water
1 1/2t agave or honey
Wooden skewers soaked in water

3/4c brown rice

Marinade: combine 1/2 stalk lemongrass, 1 clove garlic, cayenne pepper, curry powder, 1/2t agave, fish sauce, and olive oil. Add chicken and marinade at least 2 hours

Dipping Sauce: saute onion, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 stalk lemongrass, and chili pepper in peanut oil. Add peanut butter, water, and 1 1/2t agave. Stir and simmer until sauce begins to separate.

Cook rice according to package directions.

Preheat broiler for high. Thread chicken onto skewers and broil for 3mins per side. Serve chicken over rice with dipping sauce on side.

And I promise, next week's dinner won't be on a skewer.

Linking up with Jessica and Ashley

Guest Bedroom Re-Design

I'm thinking about and planning doing a guest bedroom make-over. Last summer, we moved from a one bedroom apartment to two and since then we have worked on finishing the master bedroom before starting the guest.

We've picked out quality pieces of furniture for both; however, our guest bedroom is a little bare and needs some love.

So far with our apartments picks, I've been pretty conservative and classic with the choices for furniture and decor. But for the guest room, I want something that is bright, bold, and a little different than what I normally choose.

I love the color combo of navy and coral shown in this photo.

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And recently, I've been dying for a little spot to make my own for blogging and projects. I love the white desk and the frames above it with the organization of the bookshelf.

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While I'm not sure that white is going to be the exact match for our current bedroom furniture, I'm willing to try it since the desk won't be in the guest bedroom for ever. Just until we buy a house, then it'll find it's own space.

Thoughts or suggestions that I can add to my bedroom project board for this make over?

Linking up with Molly and Carly

high five for friday

1. My mom and sister were in town, so the chef and I made these strawberry shortcakes for breakfast, and they were quickly added to my Yummy Keeper Recipes on Pinterest. They were so tasty. 

2. I was ecstatic when I received this hand painted card from my sweet friend Emily asking me to be a bridesmaid in her August wedding. Now I want to find the perfect frame to keep this card. 

3. I love spring (even though it's been cold lately) and having fresh flowers in the house for when my in-laws arrive today.

4. My bridesmaid's dress finally came! One of my college friends, Brooke is getting married in three weeks and will be featured on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta" so be sure to watch for her wedding. I can't wait to see her get married! 

5. I wish I had known about Blissdom earlier this year because I'm wishing I was there. It is now on my list of to-dos for 2014.

Linking up with Lauren

It's happening...European Vacation!

I have some very exciting news to share with you...

Our tickets are booked!

We are heading to Europe for our vacation this spring. I could not be more excited for this trip that has been in the making for over a year. 

Our first stop is London. I have flown through London numerous times but have never actually seen the city. Sad, I know. We want to tour the city and see our friend, Peter who lives there. 

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Vienna is next and this is the spot I'm most anxious to see. I am beyond excited to be back home and see all of the old places I knew growing up. I can't wait to share with the chef my favorite spots, take a carriage ride around the Ring, and share a piece of Sachertorte (famous Austrian chocolate cake) at the Sacher Hotel. There couldn't be a more perfect way to start 26 than by sharing it with my love in the city I love most. 

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Germany and good friends will be the third stop. My friend, Jenna and her husband Craig have been stationed in Germany for the past two years. And for two years, I've been dying to visit them. I cannot wait to see the village they live in and travel with such fun friends.

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And lastly, I have been dreaming about visiting Paris with my husband; I can't wait to see the Eiffel Tower with him. Isn't it amazing that I grew up in Europe and never had the chance to see it?

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And if we can pack anything else into the two weeks, we would love to go wine tasting in France and possibly catch a flight to Rome.

If you have any suggestions, places to see, or budgeting tips, please tell me in a comment! I'd love to hear your advice.