Hello and happy Friday, I hope you had a wonderful week! It’s time for another round of “Currently“!
Time and place: 5pm in my gorgeous hotel room at The Little America (I never want to leave!) in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’m here for Snap Conference with my fabulous partners at The Laughing Cow. We’re helping attending bloggers create snack pairings with a fully stocked snack bar complete with lots of cheese (I think I’ve had 28 wedges in the past 24 hours – you do the math.) If you’re attending, come see me sometime through Saturday!
Experiencing: Beach waves (pardon the serial killer expression in my eyes – a beauty blogger, I am not!) I have really fine hair, but lots of it, so it keeps a curl for 15 seconds before going flat and stringy. BUT, I finally found a curling combo that actually WORKS!
I ordered this curling wand on Amazon and paired it with this spray and I’m telling you – waves/curls (depending on how much you comb it out) for 12+ hours!! I’d been trying to achieve the look with my flat iron and it just wasn’t working – a curling wand is where it’s at. It doesn’t even take that long to do my whole head – 15 minutes or so? And it lasts all day with hairspray? Total game changer.
Craving: Greek Marinated Flank Steak + My Favorite Party Hummus Plate. My jaw hit the floor when I saw this spread from Jessica from How Sweet It Is. This would be a great to set out at happy hour on the porch with some cold white wine.
Awaiting: Spring blooms. I can’t believe how colorful Salt Lake is right now – tulips everywhere you turn! We’ve got a lot of green in central Iowa, but I’m really looking forward to our tulips and flowering trees to burst open, like the picture at the top of this post which I took a couple years ago. Hopefully by Mother’s Day.
Reading: The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey. I needed a good book to read on the plane and thought this one would satisfy my pioneer-loving soul. Holy cow, most boring book I have ever read, and I LOVE 1,000+ page snoozeville historical fiction novels (Pillars of the Earth, I’m looking at you!) I like non-fiction history too, but after reading 20+ pages on mule breeding in the 1800s in this one, I had to wave the white flag. What are you reading right now?
Hating: Spring colds. Lincoln is finally feeling better (no more night terrors – hooray! I think they were tied to his fever, poor thing.) Despite all our best efforts though, I caught his bug then Ben did too. I feel like everyone I know is sick – so ready for summer.
Loving: Manicures. Growing up with two brothers I never got into anything more girly than Barbies (hence the reason why it’s taken me three decades to learn how to properly curly my hair!) like makeup or keeping my nails painted, but every time I DO treat myself to a manicure, I’m reminded how good they are for the soul. Especially as a Mom, it’s nice to do something to pump yourself up every now and then!
Cooking: Shrimp (or chicken) Wild Rice Skillet. I’ve been finding myself turning to this easy dish for dinner several times a month – really anytime I have a couple extra tomatoes on hand, as I’ve usually got the rest of the ingredients in the fridge and pantry. Lately I’ve been using chicken instead of shrimp because we always have a pack in the fridge, plus Lincoln will eat it too. Full of fresh vegetables and whole grains, and SO delicious, it’s definitely one of our favorites!
Seeking: Swimsuit. Ready or not, swim suit season is coming – eek! I saw an ad for Mod Cloth’s swimsuits on Instagram the other day it totally worked…I immediately hopped over to the site and found some really adorable options. I especially like this one. Lots of patterns to hide, well, everything. ?
Eating: La Victoria Salsa Verde. I was craving salsa verde something fierce last week so I picked up a bottle of La Victoria Salsa Verde, which is gluten-free. Holy cow, sooooo good – I ate an entire bottle in three…ok two days. I could only find the chunky kind so I pulsed it out in my food processor then poured it back into the jar, because chunks.
Crushing (on): Let’s Stay Home Print. I think I told you about the Linen & Lace Etsy shop in my last Friday Favorites? I followed them on Instagram, where they were having a flash sale on some of their pieces, and swooped up this “Let’s Stay Home” sign. As an introvert, it describes me well. ? I love it!
Pick one “Currently…” category and fill us in!
Tammy Hershberger 04.15.2016
Guess I have to go with eating, because the only other thing I’m doing right now is waiting desperately for the end of the work day! And what I’m unfortunately eating is Laffy Taffy, which was a freebie in an office supply order that came today! I need someone to take it away from me before I need an intervention!
I’m TRYING to read a new book I just got last week called Room for Hope! Maybe the nice sunny weekend is just the thing I need to curl up on the swing and read!
Jamie 04.15.2016
Currently Awaiting a meditation retreat in Costa Rica, which is a month away but I’m ready NOW. Happy Weekend!! = )
Sara 04.15.2016
I cannot recommend OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon enough!!!!! It is now a Starz! show and just began its second season. It is AH-MAY-ZING!!!!!!! It is historical fiction and love story and action and I can’t even say enough about how brilliant these are (the eye candy on screen pairs nicely with a dark red wine)!
Hayley 04.15.2016
Your hair and nails look so gorgeous! Will have to try your hair recommendations as my hair is the same way.
Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! 04.15.2016
I love the “Let’s Stay Home” print–and it’s perfect among the family pictures!
Nancy 04.15.2016
I’m reading The Goldfinch and I can’t decide if I like it or not yet. It is incredibly LONG which I normally don’t mind but I hope it will get to the point already! (I’m about 2/3 through it). I also recently read What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and loved it. I enjoy her style of writing and have read three of hers so far.
Debtgirl 04.15.2016
I read that on my iPhone, it was really long. I have mixed feelings about it!
Tracy 04.15.2016
Here’s a great historical fiction book for you… The Kitchen House
http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-House-Novel-Kathleen-Grissom-ebook/dp/B0034DGPEU/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1460741775&sr=8-1
Maira 04.15.2016
Currently craving your company chicken recipe!
Erin @ Sometimes Homemade 04.15.2016
I’ve just recently discovered a curling wand too and love the long lasting waves. I love the speed too, except that I accidentally burned my neck the other day… not a good look!
Taylor 04.15.2016
Love salt lake!! Your hair looks so pretty, I love my curling wand!! Have a great weekend!!
Julie 04.15.2016
Love the beach waves! Love your hair straight, too, but the curls are a fun way to change it up. Looks great both ways! Have fun in SLC!
Megan 04.15.2016
Your hair looks adorable with the wand. I love to see a tutorial of how you use yours. I have thin hair as well and I just can’t seem to get mine to curl that way with my wand.
Kristin 04.15.2016
This tutorial was the most helpful for me!
Lindsey 04.15.2016
Don’t worry, I was too busy envying your flawless skin to notice your serial killer look. & yes, girl, I need that Let’s Stay Home print!!! :)
Lacey Jones 04.15.2016
LOVING the beach waves! I am in the hair challenged category. I am always looking for easy hairstyles, so I am thinking I will try this! Also, I am putting Chicken and Wild Rice Skillet on the menu for Monday. The hubby will be out of town, so it will be the perfect night to try something new! Enjoy the Snap Conference! Your Laughing Cow ideas are fantastic!
danielle 04.15.2016
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll and Pretty Baby or The Good Girl by Mary Kubica are total page turners (similar to Girl on the Train or Gone Girl) – so so good! Come Away With Me by Karma Brown is AMAZING – grab some tissues though as it’s a tear jerker!
Amanda 04.17.2016
agreed – luckiest girl alive is SO good!!
Amy S 04.15.2016
I read and loved Man’s Search For Meaning (written by a holocaust survivor). What color is your nail polish? LOVE it!!
Kristin 04.18.2016
Thank you!! I’m not sure what it’s called, but it’s a fuchsia/coral combo!
Maureen 04.15.2016
Currently reading The Boys in the Boat. I only just started so I can’t say if it is any good, but I have heard from others that it is a great read.
Debtgirl 04.15.2016
I am reading Kristin Hanna, The Nightengale, a must read! Def not a snoozefest and anything has to be more interesting than Mules! ? Enjoy your trip, your hair is so cute!!!! Xoxo
Ashley @ DownHomeDuo 04.15.2016
Currently hating spring colds, too! I thought we were done, but my twins and I are just getting over another nasty bug. Glad your little guy is on the mend.
Loving that “let’s stay home” sign SO much! I’m an introvert too, it’s perfect :-)
Emily @ Life on Food 04.15.2016
I just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and loved it. I was recommended The Dirty Life and so far its good.