Cinco I Don't Like Mayo

Mayonnaise. Yuck. Everytime I go to a cookout or some sort of get-together, I am reminded how "weird" I am that I detest mayonnaise. Eggs, oil, and whatever other oddities they cram in that stuff really doesn't sound all that appealing to me.

So that was a random tangent, I know...but the holiday name Cinco de Mayo just flashes an image of a jar of mayo in my head. Every. Single. Time. Bleh!

Anyway! So this Cinco was a little bit (a lot) more low-key than last year's. Last year, my former roommate and I threw a fab little fiesta at our apartment with friends to celebrate the end of spring semester. It was great! It is absolutely crazy to think how much has changed in a year. We have all really gone in seperate directions and I don't get to see a lot of the people I used to, with the exception of my very close friends. That's life, I guess! In terms of this year's Cinco, I would hardly even call it festive. Oopsie. :)

Except, I did have a chance to once again improve my cooking (not baking) skills and I made a recipe out of my Trim & Terrific cookbook which I hold so dear. I had never made a mexican tamale casserole before, and I gotta say...it was pretty delish. The original recipe called for ground sirloin, but I don't eat red meat a lot, so I subbed in ground turkey - no one knew the diff ;)

Round it out with a salad, and you've got a great, healthy meal! Since when do cheesy, low-fat, high-protein, mexican and healthy go together? Now, duh! So I guess you can say that is me being cool & festive for a holiday that I'm not really even qualified to celebrate. :) Ole!

That following Sunday, me, my mom, & grandmother had a quaint little girls day in Lebanon at the Prime Outlets. Love that place! Although I didn't find exactly what I had my sights set on, I did score some major bargains at Banana Republic. I got a pair of green cargo capris that were originally $49.50 for $10.79!

Imagine these...but green. Comfy spring attire!

AND (not stopping there) - a gorgeous luncheon dress for Miss TN week for $20! Hello, someone tell me that is not amazing!? (Couldn't find a pic of that steal!)

Sad thing is, now another shopping trip has to be made so I can finish up checking off my list of "things to buy" before I head to Jackson! Oh wait, that's not a sad thing. Anywho, time is ticking! :)

Can y'all believe it's the middle of May!? Only gonna get hotter here in Tennessee!

God bless! xoxo- C

I'm BAA-AACK!

Here I am, here I am, here I am! I'm back from my 2-ish week vacay hiatus to Daytona Beach & Cinncinati (that is, two seperate trips). So here I sit at my computer, just having taken my online Math 1130 midterm review quiz (we won't talk about that), and I'm thinking...wow, what do you blog about when you've been gone for 2 whole weeks? Highlights, that's what. Highlights of my trips. Here we goooooo!

-Getting a TAN (thank you sweet Jesus for some much needed vitamin D) Of course, I used my Australian Gold SPF 8 :) p.s. sorry for blurry picture there!

-Boating/tubing on Caesar Creek Lake in OH on the 4th! I am so blessed to have met some of Ty's family in Ohio this past week. Such sweet (& hilarious!) people.

-Fabulous shopping in Cinncinati, St. Augustine, & Daytona Beach! I was able to get my pageant interview dress at a to-die-for BCBG outlet in St. Augustine on the way down to DB. It's like heaven on earth going in there! A-maz-ing.

-BEACH. Sun + ocean + family + chick lit = happy Caroline. 'Nough said.

-Going to King's Island amusement & water park in OH! I am a sucker for roller coasters and thrill rides, so this was right up my alley. Plus, we got to go with a couple of Ty's awesome cousins and spend time with them! This is a pic of my personal fave rollercoaster, the Diamondback. Rode it twice, thank you :)

There you have it, ladies and gents, highlights of my 2 trips in the last 2 weeks. Back-to-back. Haven't stopped for a second.

On another note, I have my actual midterm exam tomorrow morning, so any prayers would be awesome. Goodnight summerbugs! xoxox

Summer Essentials

So it may not be "officially" summer YET... but it sure does feel like it! So here are my top 7 SUMMER ESSENTIALS:

1. Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion - I use this stuff for my sensitive face. I'm just going to have to accept the fact that my face will never actually tan. It is either pale or burnt, no in-betweeny. But Aveeno does a good job of giving a good feel of facial sunblock and not being greasy. Plus, it comes in lots of different SPF's. I usually use 30 or 45 for my face.

2. Hats - Any time I go to the beach, I usually throw on a cute hat/ballcap just because I am definitely not one of those girls that can style their hair in a cute way before they head out to the beach and have it stay that way. Mine just looks ridiculous. So...ponytail+hat=good beach hair day. Plus it looks fun & sporty if done the right way!

3. OPI Nail Laquer - I love most any OPI nail polish, but I am OB-SESSED with this new shade I picked up at Merle Norman last week. It is called "Let Me Entertain You." It's a really kind of weird-ish color because it changes colors/tones depending on the way you look at it. I love the glitter/shimmer in it! I have it on my tootsies right now :) Looks yummy in the sun!

4. Luxiva Lasting Foundation by Merle Norman - This was actually a product my mom had bought but didn't like, but I absolutely LOVE it. It does what the name says: LASTS. Ty and I workout together 5x/week and I use this most days we work out. Let me tell you, I am a VERY heavy sweater, and this stuff stays put! Plus it has SPF 12!

5. Wedges - I have been wearing some fabulous nude wedges to work the past couple days & it just makes me feel fresh & summery. These aren't exactly like mine, but Tommy Hilfiger's version is cute! I like having the nude color because it goes with most everything. Although I do have some delicious black ones as well :)

6. Popsicles - Yum-o! I love these sugar-free tropical ones...15 calories per popsicle! Perfect for summer.

7. Books!!!! - What's summer without a reading list?! I just finished this great chick lit novel by Sophie Kinsella and it is just a fun, light summer read! Loved it

It's June...

...which can only mean:
1) It is HOT. And by hot I mean not "enjoyable" hot...I mean "making-me-miserable/almost-hating-to-be-outside-hot." But this also means it is pool time...thumbs-up!
2) It is MISS TENNESSEE month! Yayayay!
3) It is also vacation month. 23 days til I will be sitting in a chaise lounge reading chick lit novels sipping on a cold drink... Ahhh..
4) I start my new job at Bath & Body works!
5) Pageant mama Emily is tying the knot!
6) Time to buy more cute bikinis. And also one for Miss TN prelim in August. Eek! :)
7) Which also means...time to get my tan on! Big. Time.
8) 3-ish months til someone's birrrrrttthhhdaaaayyy! :)

I could go longer, but a sweet little cocker spaniel just popped up on my bed & he tells me it is now time for bed! Good night all!