Favorite Things - My Havi's

Since we live in the "Sunshine State" you will seldom find me in any shoes other than flops. I love that there's a pair of shoes that require no effort whatsoever! Slip on - slip off! Even in the winter you can find all of the Live Oak girls around a fire warming our toes because we wanted to wear our flip flops just one more time....Over the years I've owned a millions pairs of flops. I've always been a pretty big fan of American Eagle flops, but then my mother went to Cozumel. When she came home she'd purchased a pair of "Haviana" flip flops for me. I thought "Yay!! I love new flops!!"...at that point I had no idea i'd want to sleep in the dadgum things. I wear them anytime i'm not at work! Brad gets so irritated because I have 15 pairs of flip flops and still run around the house yelling

"Brad, have you seen my Havi's?"

....to which he responds "No, wear one of the other 15 pairs!"

....to which I respond "Do you get embarrased by bare feet?"

Then he proceeds to help me find them. They are soooo comfy! My other flops miss me, but I just can't help it! I heart them!

Policemen's Ball

Saturday night Brad & I attended the Policeman's Ball :) It's always so much fun! The band was amazing, and it's always good to catch up with friends we don't see a lot. Here are some pictures January took of us all dressed up. She did such a good job!

My Momma is soooo HOT

Momma's birthday was August 23rd. I'm not gonna give away an age, but i'll just tell you that her oldest child is 30....and she didn't have children in her "teens"! Here are a couple pictures! She's lookin' good as always! I'm so glad I have her genes!! Love you Momma! Happy Birthday!

We had an amazing salad that January made with scallops and crab dip! So good!

For dessert is was ice cream cake from Dairy Queen!

Favorite Things - Spring Water is for Swimming!

Over the next several weeks i'll be posting about "my favorite things". If you are like me you are always interested in anything new & different. It keeps life interesting. I love to soak in other people's opinions on products, and then try it out to see what I think. So check back because you never know....some of these things might become your new favorites!!

First up is Smartwater.

I don't like drinking water. I hate it actually. Why would you drink water when there's sweet tea? It just seems ridiculous! However, there comes a time where your midsection doesn't take too kindly to all the sugar in the tea you're addicted to! :( The one thing I hate worse than water is UN-sweet tea....so water would have to be my replacement.

I live in the city limits, and our tap water is just awful so we always get bottled water. I would run into Publix, grab the cheapest case of water, and didn't think twice about it. Then one afternoon I was talking to my Mom, and she started telling me how they had been drinking Smartwater. I'm sure she listed several reasons why (like it's vapor distilled), but what really grabbed my attention was that Smartwater had electrolytes in it. This was important to me! I can't tell you how many times i've been at the gym working out and my fingertips would tingle and go numb. Another afternoon I almost passed out. Each time someone always said...."you need something with electrolytes in it"...then they would grab a Gatorade and bring it to me. That was fine. I like Gatorade, but once again...my midsection had a discussion with my taste buds & and they didn't agree on the sugar. It just seemed crazy to work out to lose weight, and consume a sugary drink at the same time. Smartwater was my answer.

I started drinking it when I worked out. Then I started grabbing a bottle while getting ready in the mornings. Since then it's become a habit. I have a bottle with me most of the time!

Another thing I love about Smartwater is the label! Inside every bottle there's a picture of an animal with a "tip" next to it.

Today my bottle has a picture of a frog. It says "going green is toadally sexy"...Another had a picture of an otter and said "let's drink responsibly and recylce...you know you really otter". How can you not love that? I get all excited to see what my next bottle will say. LOL!

If that wasn't convincing enough....this should help.....

10 Beauty Products I Die For...

Because it's the weekend, and mainly because i'm bored out of my mind, i've decided to share my top 10 beauty favorites with you. Not that i'm really in any position to be giving beauty advice, but i've already clarified the fact that i'm insanely bored.....So sit back and enjoy ;)

1. Arbonne RE9 Advanced - Unbelievable skin care line. It's pricey, but totally worth it. I mean, you're gonna have your skin with you forever!! Make a good investment, and Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

2. Big Sexy Hair products - BIG. SEXY. HAIR. Enough said ;)

3. Lollia Hand Cream - I crave Lollia products in general, but I constantly use the hand cream. I keep a tube of it everywhere...purse, desk, makeup table, etc...

4. Lancome Foundation Brush = Secret weapon. I use it to apply my liquid foundation. Flawless finish every time.

5. Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 - We don't run out of this at home..EVER! Works on blemishes overnight. Miracle worker!

6. C.O. Bigelow Mentha Organics Sheer Lip Tint in "Barely There" (Bath & Body Works)

Love this stuff. I'm not a big lipstick wearer. I loathe lipstick. I have tried the cheap stuff in Walmart, and the $16 Juicy Tubes from Lancome. Nothing satisfied. Then I came across the C.O. Bigelow brand and loved it. It's glossy without being sticky, and in the "Barely There" shade it's the perfect nude shimmer.

7. Arbonne Makeup Primer - It seriously gives your face a silky canvas to apply your makeup. Get it.

8. OPI Nail Lacquer - Favorite Shades - "Bubble Bath" (thanks Katie!) & "The Color to Watch".

9. Venus Embrace Disposable Razors - I hate razor burn, and I despise trying to remember which razor I have so I can buy refill cartridges. These razors eliminate both problems.

10. Old Spice Deodorant - I know it sounds odd, but seriously..I will never use anything else. I have tried the baby powder stuff, the clear gel kind, and everything in between. I'm all girl, but admit it...We sweat too! I have to have something that is still working after my job, zumba fitness classes, and standing over a hot stove cooking dinner. Old Spice works. I know it smells kind of manly, but just spritz some girly body spray over it. Works like a charm.

28

August 3rd was my 28th Birthday! I can't really identify with those people that hate birthdays, and hate turning another year older. I am the exact opposite. I love my birthday, and to me...age is just a number. My day went like this...

~ Woke up at 4;15am to make dear husband's lunch. Dear husband wishes me a Happy Birthday, and calls me a cougar (i'm 2 years older than him). I say thanks & smile because on the inside I know that everyone thinks i'm younger than he is ;)

~ Woke up again at 7:00am to get ready for work. Hair actually cooperated! I'm loving 28 year old hair!!

~ Get to work and recieve Birthday wishes from co-workers! Jill brought me breakfast from Java Jax!!

~ Around 9am dear sisters (J & Bex) surprise me with red velvet chocolate chip cupcakes, and wish me a fat birthday ;)

~ Check email. Dear parents sent me a gift card to Cloud 9 Spa!!!!!!!

~ Thanked Dear parents & scheduled spa day.

~ 10:30-ish a local florist shows up with 4 deliveries! Pictures contain details :)

From Bradley

From Momma & Daddy

From Mr. Bo & Mrs. Alicia

From Skip (Jenn Johnson)

~ Had lunch with the family at Sub Shop.



~ At 3:00pm, dear co-workers throw a birthday party for me! Chips & dip, chocolate cake (by Linda mmm mmm), drinks, and gifts :)



~ Linda gave me "Twilight Woods" products which are on my top 15 list of faves. Cathy gave me my tag renewal LOL! She doesn't want me to get arrested...otherwise I still wouldn't have it, and she knows it. Sheila surprised me with Arbonne Bath salts which I adore, and Mrs. Frances gave me the cutest notepad and pen. Love you girls!

~ More gifts :) ....Brad's parents gave me a digital photo frame. LOVE! Johnny & Chels gave me a Brown Lantern gift card....which i've already used!

~ After work Brad & I went to the Texas Roadhouse with Johnny & Chelsea. I heart Texas Roadhouse. It has such sentimental meaning....first date with Bradley, dinner there after we got engaged. and it's where I fell in love with.....rolls & cinnamon butter ;)

~ I Loved this Birthday!!! 28 has been good to me so far.

The next night we had a birthday party for Daddy (his b-day was Aug 5th) & I at Patrick and January's house. We ate shrimp & grits, and had a chocolate masterpiece that Beka made for dessert. J & P gave me a bracelet from Hawaii that I love. Thanks guys!

Wearing my Hawaii Bracelet :)