Ok, so we should probably lead with this - sometimes, other random items can be found floating around in our bags, like old receipts, loose pieces of gum, and maybe even a crumb or two (you know how we love snacks). But, typically we are both good at keeping our purses clutter-free, so we decided to leave those details out. We know a lot of people see their purses as intimate places where people shouldn't just wander into and poke around. But, that's going out the window for us today! We are super happy and excited to open up our bags and share with our pals just what we keep in our purses!

Lo:

What's in the bag?!

It is my sincerest hope you read that like Brad Pitt's character Mills in Se7en. If not, go ahead and treat yourself to that delicacy! But I digress, here's what you'll find if you give my bag a rummage!

The Bag
My Mossimo black fringe backpack handbag is from Target, for me, it's the perfect combination of bohemian, yet structured, minimalist, and sensible. Yes, sensible, not only does it have enough extra space to hold my iPad if needed (I don't usually carry it, however, it's nice to have the option) but it also has two pockets on the inside (which I love for lipstick, pens, you name it) and makes carrying around a bag so simple! You can toss it back on one shoulder (or both, if you prefer) and it's hardly noticeable! And I stinking love that!

So what's inside? I used to be the Mary Poppins of handbags, I love to have everything on me I might possibly need but most likely will not need but only like once a year. Over time, I realized this wasn't efficient, practical, or good on the bags or my shoulder for that matter! I have slowly been working on minimalizing what I carry, for many reasons but specifically because my husband and I do a lot of spontaneous adventures and it's great to be able to grab a light bag of exactly what I need and go. With that being said, here's what I consider my necessities:

Wallet
This one is from the Mossimo collection as well, at Target. It's the right amount of edgy and chic. I absolutely love the chain strap which transforms this guy into the perfect little wristlet for a night out, when I want to leave my purse at home. It even has a space for your phone in there as well, I use that for my lipstick choice of the night, but to each her own. ;)

Planner
My black matte Cambridge planner is also from Target, I'm sensing a few themes here, I have a strong affinity for the color black and Target apparently, maybe this is a secret Target haule after all!  But black. I can't deny my love for black, as they say "black is a happy colour, darling" or my personal favorite "I'll stop wearing black when they invent a darker color". Back to this planner business, it looks like they don't have them in stock at Target currently but you can check out more of their planners here.

Ray Ban Aviators
Thanks to my hubby for these, keep these bad boys on me all the time. They're polarized too! Being totally honest, I had no clue how much of difference the polarization makes with reducing glare but after having it these last few years, I don't think I'd be able to go back.

Tiny Spiral Seashell
My husband found this in the hatch of the submarine he works on, who knows how long it had been there but it was the first thing her ever gave me and it's terribly special to me, so I keep it in any bag I carry.

Work ID
Gotta earn the cash money!

Tide To Go Pen
 Let's not beat around the bush, I'm a messy eater, so this guy saves me time and time again!

Sharpies and Pens
I keep one sharpie, sharpie pens, and one standard pen on me, for writing in my planner and other necessary moments throughout the day. Truth is, I adore office supplies, so this was an area I had to work to cut down on in my purse.

Conair Mini Bobby Pins
I usually keep a few of these tucked away in one of the side pockets in case of rainy day, you can do so many cute and quick updo's with these guys! I love the mini size for my hair, as they seem to have a tighter grip, which tends to hold my hair much better!

Gucci Guilty Perfume
I almost always have at least one of my favorite perfumes in my purse for touch up's after my midday gym session.

Lip supplies and Mirror
Last but certainly not least, I keep two liquid matte lipsticks that I use daily in my bag, Colourpop's Beeper (if you missed our review last week) and Kat Von D's Lolita. Also Bite's Line & Define Lip Primer and Honest Company's Lip Balm. If you haven't checked out the Honest Company yet, Jessica Alba (one of the founders of this company) has done some truly amazing work creating a line that is "unquestionably safe, eco-friendly, beautiful, convenient, and affordable" and the organic Lip Balm is no exception, hands down the best lip moisturizer I have ever used! Even my husband, who works on the coast and fights dry lips (especially during the winter), started using this and has had no sign of cracked lips all winter! And finally, for proper application and general touch up's, I keep my Sephora compact mirror on hand. I received mine as apart of one of the Beauty Insider gifts but you can check out more of their compacts out here.

Mal:

The Bag
Okay, so full disclosure, I love to float between bags. It may be a slight problem, but hey, at least I don't have exclusively designer bag taste! I love a good Target or Forever 21 bag just as much as a Michael Kors (and I have been known to find some pretty good ones at Plato's Closet a time or two!) This bag is from Forever 21, and I am currently LOVING. It has just the right amount of "slouch" for my taste, while still maintaining some structure. It is big enough to hold everything I need, but not so big that I have to go fishing to find something. I honestly can't remember what I paid for it, but if I had to take a stab at guessing, I would say between $25.00 and $30.00.

Erin Condren Life Planner
Anyone that knows me knows how much I live for my planner. I literally haul it everywhere I go. I am what you would call a planner addict. I have sticker sets and washi tape and stamps and fun clips and accessories. No shame. And my husband gets super excited on Sundays when I do my planning because he gets to *remember* what all he has going on for the week too! (But this will be another post for another day).

Kate Spade Wallet

I am SUPER picky about wallets, people. I like to have an organized wallet, but I don't like clutter, and I hate when wallets get too stuffed to even close. I have found through a lot of trial and error that Kate Spade feels me when it comes to organizing. I have 2 Kate Spade wallets, both of which I got on super sale, and I have used them for YEARS. My first one I got at the outlet in Myrtle Beach, SC and I literally had it for years. But it was oversized and I was ready for a smaller but equally functional wallet. So I found this one. I bought it online, in the Sale section of Kate Spade's website, and saved $75 dollars on it! Plus, mint is perrrrrfect for spring!

Mini Lint Roller
We have 3 furry children - a black and white cat, a black dog, and a brown, black, and white dog. So literally anything I wear is going to show animal hair - no question. And quite frankly, I don't even really notice it anymore. But, there are some times when I really do need to rid my clothes of fur, like work or a meeting. So I keep a little roller in case I miss a spot or forget altogether before I leave the house. 

Check Books (Case by Lucse on Etsy)
Yes, we are slightly archaic and still like to pay bills by check. So I carry them around with me. (We also have a functional home phone. Don't judge)

Honest Company Lip Balm
Thanks, Lo, for telling us about this stuff. Man, this is the most magical Chapstick. Not super waxy, and it actually moisturizers my lips, which I have not really found with chapsticks before. So, naturally, I keep one handy at all times.

Mini Dry Shampoo (currently Amika)
I'm sure you guys can tell by our previous posts that we are true dry shampoo advocates. Sometimes, after a long and stressful day of work and touching my hair non-stop, I get the "really should grab a shower" look going on up top. But , lots of times I have plans that won't allow a shower, or even a trip home to touch up, so I keep an emergency bottle in my bag so I never look too greasy!

Office Badge
I need to be able to get into my office every day, right?!

Orbit Gum
Honestly, I like gum, but I don't actually indulge often. I usually carry it for emergency coffee breath situations, or more often just for when my husband asks me for a piece - he is a gum addict!

Ray Ban Round Metal Sunglasses
These are my FAVORITE sunglasses. I have had them for about 6 months now and I don't go anywhere without them. Luckily, I was able to hit up Sunglass Hut during a sale they were having, so I didn't pay full! Score!

I am very much like my mom in that I love to have my little things compartmentalized into easy-to-find baggies. Again with the "I hate fishing for things in my purse", but I really, really do. Currently, I have 4 different small bags in my purse:

Pink stripes
This bag contains all of my feminine products. Hooray for being a woman #amiright?!

Black
This is what I keep all of my "beauty" items in. I have a few clear plastic hair ties, a few regular hair ties, bobby pins, a nail file, Neutrogena Shine Control Powder, and my Si Rollerball.

Woven
This bag just keeps my headphones and adapter for certain phone cases. With how much we travel, and some days just needing to escape from the chatter of the office, I always have headphones on me.

Pink Geometric
This is my medicine bag. I keep any prescriptions I am taking, and any over-the-counters that I may need regularly, like Ibuprofen and Non-Drowsy Dramamine. I am infamous for getting easily carsick, so (thanks to the tip from my Aunt Phyllis) I always carry Dramamine. Always.



What do you guys carry in your purses? Do you keep yours clean or do you just throw stuff in there and clean it out periodically? Let us know in the comments below!

Later, pals!

Colourpop. It's a name that has been buzzing lately in the beauty community. But what is all the hype? Is it really as great as everyone is saying? Answer - yes (at least, in our opinions). There are SO many things we love about this company, and yes, we had our reservations at first. Their price points are so insane that they make you say "Is this real? Can it even be good for this price?!" So never fear, we are here to share our honest and real experiences with you pals, so you can rest easy about making the decision to give these guys a go, if you have yet to! They have anything a makeup lover could need - from brow gels and pencils, eyeshadows and pigments, eyeliners and blushes to lipsticks, ultra matte liquid lipsticks, and their newest wonder, ultra satin liquid lipsticks, with corresponding lip liners; what's a girl not to love?!

We do think it is important for you all to know that this is not a sponsored post - all of these things we have paid for with our own money and personally endorse!

First off, the shipment presentation is adorable. The individual product boxes are chic and simple, but fun - kind of a "60's pop vibe"! And with whatever you ordered, you get a personalized note, with some witty, funny saying, just to show you they care. We LOVE this little touch. It really makes it feel like you are valued as a customer, and who doesn't love that?! 

We have had the chance to play with some of their fun products, from the Ultra Matte Liquid Lips to their Lippie Stix, Lippie Pencils, and their shadows. The Lippie Stix are great, definitely your traditional lipstick. They do transfer, as almost all traditional lipsticks do, but the color saturation is great, and they reapply magically. They have a huge selection of colors (*cough cough* Grunge is Mal's go-to color for any occasion right now), and for the price, you get a good amount of product! The eyeshadows are so beautiful and pigmented. For those of you accustomed to loose/pressed pigments or traditional pan shadows, prepare to be amazed. The formula is really quite surprising, in a fantastic way; it is basically a hybrid between a cream and powder shadow. It is almost a mousse, and it bounces when you put your finger into the pan! One thing we noted though, as lovers of a good shadow brush - these shadows seem to be applied best with a finger or a sponge; brushes don't really to do the formula much justice.

But if you guys know us, you know how much we love a good lipstick, so that is what we will spend the most time talking about. One thing we love most about these guys is - when you go to add one of their flawless colors to your basket, it suggests a *corresponding* lip liner to go with your lip color purchase. I added the * to highlight that these aren't always "matching", per say, which is actually really cool. Colourpop will pair two complementary colors that work really well together as a liner and a lip color, even if they aren't exact. This is a huge selling point for us, because we are TRUE advocates for a liner. You don't get the feathering off of your lips throughout the day, and it really does help with application, especially in the liquid lipstick department. Plus, with a color that isn't exactly matching, it creates a good dimension for your lip color!

Ok people. Ultra. Matte. Liquid. Lips. Where shall we start? The buttery silk formula that glides on smoother than cake frosting or the lasting, non-transferable perfection that is their wearability. While many brands have genuinely perfected the art of a good liquid matte lipstick and we adore quite a few of them, Colourpop is one that we've reached for time and time again. The formula in combination with its lasting wear, non-transferability, pigment, and price point is #flawless. 

A big plus for saps and lovers of meal-time alike, is the non-transferability of their ultra matte liquid lips. If you are looking for a formula that will stay on after a little smooch or with a glass of wine (or pizza, for that matter--fatty tested, Mala approved) then look no further; matte liquid lips are right where you want to be. Now, if you go full force on a cheeseburger (or let's be real, a taco), you may find it has diminished a little around the inside of your lips but nothing a good touch up can't handle. On that note, Colourpop's ultra matte lips are designed well, so that they layer quite nicely. We will point out that like with any liquid matte lip, it's a good idea to exfoliate before wearing. You can do this either by creating your own sugar scrub with a little coconut oil, honey, and brown sugar (thank you, Pinterest) or using e.l.f.’s lip exfoliator. Not only does this stuff taste surprisingly delicious, which yes, we know that that isn't the point, but it works fantastically and at a great price point too! We have also found that using a primer is always very helpful with the liquid matte lips, as it helps to hydrate but also line the lips and better retain the color. For primers, we both love Bite's Line & Define Lip Primer. It even comes with a built in sharpener on the end, so that you can keep it nice and angled for that perfect lip line. We would also like to mention that because this product has a long-lasting wear, be prepared to have to do a little work to get it off. There's no need for intense scrubbing, a little make up wipe or sudsy rag, will do you just fine.

One of the biggest factors that continually impresses us is the pigment and quality of the formula, paired with the fact that these guys are ONLY $6.00! Only! From our experience, using colors like Tulle, Midi, Donut, LAX, Beeper, Chilly Chili, just to name a few (can you tell we love these?!), for the most part, they all go on with an opaque and even finish. They are full and rich with color and generally, there is no need to layer very much because the color is consistent and even, although, again as with many other liquid lipsticks, they can be drying after long wear. With that being said, we have found an exception, which also might be an anomaly but to be tried-and-true, we have both purchased two different shades of red, First Class and Succulent and both have found these to be a bit lackluster. Both colors seemed to go on almost translucent, uneven, and it seemed that the color almost gravitated towards the lines and cracks in the lips, rather than a smooth and full layer on top (even when the lips were exfoliated and primed). As we both have only tried two of the red shades out the collection, we can’t say if it’s a concern with the red formula or just happenstance but we felt it important enough to mention. One other thing to note is, after a little bit on your counter, or in a makeup drawer, the color appears to separate some. No worries, although it did startle us the first time it happened to us - all you have to do is give the bottle a quick shake and boom, you're all set to apply and slay the day!

In truth, the only concerns we do have with the liquid matte lips are more centered around the packaging and far less with the formula. And that’s just something we can live with, especially considering the amazing price point! Firstly, you should be careful not to tilt these tubes, as the liquid is very aqueous and can by quite runny. It will come right out of the tube and onto you and whatever else comes in its path and given that it is very pigmented, this can be troublesome, if you’re not careful (lesson learned: Lo’s white trench coat which had to be taken to a professional cleaner, whoops!). Also, concerning the aesthetics of the tube, the silver writing on the tube tends to wear very easily, especially if you keep your liquid matte lips in your purse and they rub against other items. Likely this minor aesthetic set back won't burden many but for consistency’s sake!

We are super excited to try their new ultra satin liquid lipsticks - packages en route, people! And we are anxious to continue to play with more of Colourpop's majestic products, and likely fall in love with many many more. All-in-all, Colourpop has created a magical formula, so here’s thanks to the elusive wizardry and alchemy going on over there in California, these guys are the raddest! We love that they do not test on animals, and most of their products are even vegan (and gluten free, but try to refrain from eating them, guys). Also, Made In America is a pretty rad deal, and not as frequent these days.

But arguably the biggest selling point of all of their products - the price. These guys have mastered providing quality products for not a luxury brand price! For a mere $5.00, you can get a Lippie Stix, Lippie Pencil, Brow Pencil, Shadow, or a Gel Eyeliner Pencil. Or, for a mere $6.00, you can get a Brow Gel, Cream Gel Liner, Ultra Matte Lipstick, or Ultra Satin Lipstick. Crazy, right?! Bonus, you get five dollars off by subscribing to their newsletter, which is essentially a product! Can you even deny the goodness?! 

Let us know what you think about Colourpop - what have you tried? What do you love? What do you wish would change?

Talk soon, pals!

xoxo, Lo and Mal 

And just like that, I'm blonde! My adventures as a blonde, started not that long ago in a far away land known by the Natives as Not So Plain Janes. It's a quaint yet trendy little shop tucked away in the foothills, just south of the great White Mountains. Okay, okay, you probably didn't come here for some lengthy geographical story of my hair salon and while that place is the bees knees, I'd much rather tell you about my thoughts on dramatic change, hair color, and all of that fun stuff!

I'll start off by saying that being in the business of living as a blonde has been very exciting and fun! I am not sure about them "having more fun" (I'll report back on this later, once I gather more data) but the actual change, in and of itself, has been very fun! 

This story begins with a little brunette dreamer, who within the last year, had been thinking she was ready to go lighter all over. With the support and encouragement of several dear friends and her husband, she decided to embark on her mission. Mind you, I've never even dyed the root of my hair, so a change like this was going to be pretty monumental for me. While I loved my brown hair, I was inspired by the ombré I had done last fall and how much I really liked the blonde throughout my hair. Now, I'll be straight with you, I have always really liked my dark brown hair. You know, we all have qualities about ourselves that we like more than others and that was one of them for me. So, with that being said, one day, as I was scouring the web, I came across just the right color and style, that was exactly for me. I wanted to make a grand-all-over-blonde change but still maintain my dark roots, which is precisely what my magician of a hairstylist, Amy did. She's a true alchemist, I tell you, going from dark brown to light blonde in ONE session and getting that kind of lift without a hint of damage, genius! I love how she recreated this look for me because it enables me to keep my dark roots (the essence of me--in my mind any way), while still getting that all over bright blonde change!

As excited and happy as I am now with my blonde hair, I will be honest, the first evening, right after I had had it done, I went through a roller coaster, doozy of emotions. This in no way had anything to do with how my hair turned out but more to do with such a drastic change. A head that I wasn't quite used to looking at. And as I mentioned, this was the first time I had ever colored my whole head, up until now it's been ombré and turquoise dye on the ends of my hair. Much to my surprise, get your laughs ready, that roller coaster crap after a big change, apparently, is a pretty normal thing. I won't pretend to be in "the know" here, as much as I loved how my new hair looked, I didn't expect to wrestle with my decision with it. But then again, I had never made such a big change and as it turns out that's completely normal. Good news, it was short lived! But back to the story, when I first finished getting my hair done that afternoon, I was ecstatic, thrilled, over-the-freaking-moon. And then as the next few hours rolled by, the reality set in that the majority of my hair was no longer brunette (which you're probably thinking "duh Lauren, that's what you asked for" and you're right, it was exactly what I wanted) but somehow, in some ridiculous way, I was mourning the loss of my mostly brunette head. Which in and of itself made me feel T-totally ridiculous! The exchange of emotions went pretty much like this "oh my god, this is great, it's look exactly how I imagined, wow!" to "holy holy holy crap! what have I even DONE?!". And here's where you can really just laugh and maybe even roll your eyes a little at my silliness but I even went through my old pictures of my dark brown hair. Y'all. It was pathetic and while I am a little bit of an over-exaggerator, this part only actually lasted a few minutes but I feel that it is a necessary part to the story, as it might give relief/assurance to any gals or guys who want to make a big change but are stupid nervous, like me. Luckily, within a few hours, I came to wonderful terms with my new found hair, and just like I said before, my brunette hair was still right there in the roots and hadn't gone anywhere! 

Needless to say, I am really loving my blonde hair and it's been such an awesome change. Who know's how long it'll stick but I will certainly enjoy it while it lasts! Side note, Cody has really enjoyed the change as well! After jokingly not letting me in our house because he "didn't recognize me" and being all "stranger danger", he said "darling, you look great with both...but you make blonde hot!". 

And this little newfound blonde dreamer lived happily ever after. But seriously, now that we can all agree that I'm behind the times on what to expect when dying your hair, I hope more than anything this gives any of you pals who are looking to make a bold and big change, a little more confidence to do so. And at the very least, a chuckle at my goofiness. Until next time folks, adiós! 

xoxo, the little blonde mermaid 

First off, I have to just go ahead and let you guys know I am not a nutritionist. Please do not take any nutritional advice from this post - this is simply to let you guys know why I made this decision (I certainly have gotten this question a lot so far). If you are interested in making a life change like I did, definitely talk to your nutritionist or doctor so you can make the best choice possible! Healthy doesn't always have to be black-and-white; there are plenty of people out there with healthy diets that include meat. All the meat. This post is solely discussing my personal health and moral decision to give it up!

Secondly, technically, I am pescatarian (I still eat some fish/shrimp), but not many people know that term off-hand, so I just lead with the vegetarian bit to make life more simple.


Ok, phew, enough with the technicalities. Let me just begin with the question I have been asked the most - don't you miss bacon?! Answer: YES. Ok, now to start from the beginning. My entire 27 years of my life, up to about a month ago, I had no dietary restrictions (medical or choice) - excluding that 2 months I went cold-turkey vegan; man that was rough, but that's a-whole-nother story. I grew up on North Carolina BBQ, fried chicken, TACOS, steaks - the works, and I never thought twice about it until my college years. I have always been a total mush when it comes to animals (remember, I am devastated when even bugs are killed), but when it came to eating them, I was dismissive of the thought of where the meat actually came from; it made me too sad. I think it was easy to ignore because I had been eating it my whole life, and frankly, have never had to kill anything to eat myself.

Right after college, I started paying attention to my body, how I treated it, and what I put into it. I started making healthy and responsible decisions for my life - regular gym visits, yoga, taking better care of myself, the works (don't get me wrong, I still had my love affair with Taco Bell, and have been known to pass on the gym and yoga a time or two). Around that time, I heard about these books - Skinny Bitch - and so I gave them a try. Immediately after finishing the book, I became cold-turkey vegan (not realistic for a cheese-lover, like me, people). It. Was. Hard. I missed cheese so much, and milk, surprisingly. Needless to say, after 2 months of it (and honestly feeling the best I've ever felt), I caved. I gave up the vegan lifestyle - it was too "inconvenient" for 21-year-old Mallory - and expensive.

Since then, I thought I could never give up animal products again. Bacon, man! It was too hard. And its expensive to eat right, right? (Side note - why is it that a 2L soda is 99 cents, but a gallon of milk is $2.50-$4.00?!) Eating healthy is a drag on my wallet.

Then, our trip to Colorado happened ...

My cousin, Beth, has been vegetarian for a long time now. Because of the dietary restrictions she has, we ate so much healthier out there than Travis and I are used to - and it was awesome! We were sitting at the island one morning and I asked her - "What made you become a vegetarian?" (Aside from the fact that she is just as much of an animal lover as me). She simply said she watched a film on Netflix called Forks Over Knives. So, naturally, when we got home, we watched. it. It was seriously eye-opening, and not in the gruesome, bloody way that the Skinny Bitch books portray, but in a simple, medical and scientific way.

After that, I knew I was ready to make the life change. not only did the movie open my eyes to a whole world of health without meats, but it made me completely aware of my feelings about eating animals. I no longer wanted to be a hypocrite. If I were to continue to eat meat, I would make myself go to a local farm and watch the animals get killed. And I was NOT about to do that. So why, then, could I so easily go to the grocery store and buy that same meat, wrapped in plastic? I was not going to do it anymore. Not once. So I shared my feelings with my husband (who also watched Forks Over Knives), and much to my surprise, he said he wanted to give it a shot too! What?! I explained, "Trav, this means no wings, no burgers, no steaks, no sausage biscuits, no meat ... " and he still wanted to, which made me extra happy, because that obviously could pose an issue with meals cooked at home!

Now, to make life easier, and not feel so "cold turkey" as I did with the vegan experiment, we became pescatarian. I love shrimp, people. And salmon. And I am not quite ready to give that up. Maybe one day we will taper down our fish consumption, but for now, we are loving this diet. LOVING.

And I finally have faced my "fear" of healthy eating being expensive head-on. Much to my surprise, I was wrong! We are actually saving money. Not necessarily just because of our decision to give up meat, but because we are buying smarter, planning out our meals, and shopping at the right places! Don't get me wrong, I love a good Whole Foods or Fresh Market run, but those places are not cheap. I have been able to find local markets that sell fresh, mostly local, organic produce for insanely cheap! Which makes me so happy!

"But how do you get protein?!" - this is another question we find ourselves answering a lot! Aside from the ample protein in fish, we can get lots of protein in unexpected places, although it does take more thought than just throwing a meat into the meal, which we could so easily do not long ago. Eggs, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, nuts, beans, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower just to name a few! Those are some of the top meatless proteins for us non meat-eaters, and I can't say I'm disappointed. I will happily eat all of those things any day of the week! (Well, maybe not cauliflower, but it's growing on me.) But it does prompt a whole new train of thought while at the supermarket. Call it a challenge!

And my husband swears that he feels better already (whether it is mental or not) - he said he feels less groggy in the morning, he feels more full after meals, but less tired and "heavy". Boom! Revelations!

I will say I haven't ventured out and tried tofu yet ... I don't know, I just don't think I'm ready for that endeavor; chalk it up to being skeptical at this point. 

Luckily, my amazing and dear friends Sarah (vegetarian her whole life) & Brianne (pescatarian for 2 years) are also #veglife with me and Trav, and that has been such a blessing; they are (obviously) so supportive of our life change, and have been amazing at sharing tips, tricks, and recipes! And as Sarah said to me when I broke the news to her, "You are going to be so proud of being a vegetarian; I know I am."

And to be honest, I already am! I feel better, I am eating better, and I am enjoying food on a level I never thought possible (and I LOVE food, people).


xoxo, your newfound veggie-lovin pal

Everyone needs simple things to make them happy, right? And this blog is a major happiness outlet for us both - so what better than to share with you 30 things that keep us both smiling every day!

Lauren's Things:

1. My husband, hands down. Cliché happy response número uno but I think that’s okay because that is the very nature of these things, right? One of Cody’s many talents, that he has so eloquently perfected, is putting a smile on my face. Every. Single. Time. Even in those moments when I’m being stubborn and am trying to resist it, he manages somehow. The master of loving me and Dad jokes, alike. Truthfully and while being excessively sentimental (because what else would you expect from me), his very presence is enough to make me happy and for that I’m grateful forevermore.
2. Those two big-eared, fluffy turkeys of mine, Grendel and Naga (even when they rip up a patch of carpet**cough Naga* or pee in the kitchen *ahem, Grendel*). Both full of endless energy and most importantly, immeasurable affection, which also always finds a way to etch a smile on my face.
3. Family, both my own and my in-laws, thank goodness for unlimited phone minutes! I know it’s not always this way, which makes me all the more thankful, but I fully enjoy my family. Big part of my heart, all of them.
4. Friends, the family you choose. Happiness doesn’t even begin to describe how great they make me feel. They certainly make this little life of mine, all the better!
5. My job and furthermore my wonderful coworkers, again, a rarity but those guys are all gems and we laugh just as much as we work (usually)! I won’t pretend that every day is happy-go-lucky, especially when doing public service work, but having such an awesome team to make most days fun and better is quite a workable (see what I did there, puns!) recipe for happy.
6. Adventure. Off-roading. Road trips.
7. To go along with that, new places, exploring. My husband and I are planning to camp our way across the nation and I’m so ridiculously happy about it. I think about it multiple times a day, since we came up with the plan. There’ll be more on this later.
8. Being outdoors and spending time in nature, that’s soul food right there!
9. Cooking. As 1950’s as this is going to sound, I love making meals for my family. I get so much satisfaction and joy from it. There something so innate and fulfilling about it, it reminds me of the same enjoyment you get when you’re a child and you build forts/homes and make mud pies!
10. Snuggling, good grief, they’re something entirely magical about it.
11. Make up and beauty products, guilty as charged. It’s silly how much time I can spend talking about and looking at beauty products and it’s just pure and genuine happiness. But as Sophia Coppola once said, "…I think you can be substantial and still be interested in frivolity."
12. On that note, clothes. I think a dang whole lot about clothing, my wardrobe and my own personal uniform and what that says about a person, how it gives you a sense of confidence and identity. It’s all so great and I can go on and on but I’m sure there’s a post in there somewhere.
13. Keeping a healthy diet and exercise routine, there will be more on this to come as well.
14. Scented-freaking-candles.
15. Reading a really, really good book. Something I have admittedly, not done lately but I just really need Winds of Winter to come out soon (any Game of Thrones fans?)!
16. Blogging! Naturally! More importantly, blogging with my dearest, Mal pal! I’ve expressed it a million and one ways but this lady knows how to conjure up some happy feelings, if I ever saw. Always has the right words and the kindest heart to make me feel loved and happy, no matter the situation! Hash tag next level bestie skills.
17. Christmas. Every minute of it, which starts the day after Thanksgiving, thank you.
18. Making memories. Taking pictures and videos of adventures and what not, brings contentment right up in that soul place!
19. TV Marathon-ing. My husband and I are professionals at this, Olympic style. We just finished the X-files, well Cody had seen it all and I hadn’t, so obviously. Just commit to it, y’all. You can thank me later.
20. Autumn. Because I am your most basic bitch with this one but Fall has always been my favorite and makes me happy for so many reasons.
21. Music. I need this, daily. Special appreciation for the talent itself of writing and playing.
22. The ocean, especially North Carolina beaches. A few years ago, my husband surprised me with a special trip to the Outer Banks and I can depend on that thought alone for a smile.
23. Dessert, specifically chocolate and ice cream (when combined or not, really). Paired with number 21 and you have yourself a winning combination.
24. Tattoos. I currently have 5, itching for more!
25. A proper belly-laugh. Also my husband’s laugh, I’m biased but several agree with me that he has an insanely good one.
26. Cold, crisp sunny mornings, specifically of the Saturday variety.
27. Getting my hair done and having it played with. I look forward to a scheduled appointment for weeks, it’s like the ABC Family countdown to Christmas but hair-style (thought you’d seen the last of my puns? get out of town!).
28. My iPhone and iPad, as much as I’d like to say I don’t care about their existence, I do enjoy using them for all there general purposes.
29. Collecting Disney Movies, our futures babes will be all set.
30. Car rides with Cody, in what he has properly deemed our FunRunner (4Runner, she’s a beaut).




Mallory's Things:

1. My wonderful, incredible, amazing, perfect-for-me husband
2. Our four-legged fur babes
3. Tacos. Avocados. And Guacamole.
4. My Erin Condren Life Planner. I literally don't know how lost I would be without it, and it makes me so happy to plan out my week and meal (I know, I am SO lame)
5. My mom - the pictures I have, my memories, the little habits I have that I picked up from her - anything remotely having to do with my mom makes me happy.
6. Traveling
7. Fall. I love the crisp air after a hot and muggy summer; the changing of the leaves; the state fair
8. COFFEE
9. My family, and by "family", I mean not only certain people who are blood related to me, but I also mean my dearest friends who are my made-family
10. Cold weather. Yep, that's me, the crazy girl who lived at the beach for 8 years and dreamt of snow all year round. And people, its the perfect weather for my favorite clothing item - sweaters!
11. Flowers and plants of all shapes and sizes.
12. Lo - because she is always so positive and supportive of everything in my world, and she helps me strive to be a better person every single day. I love you, Lo!
13. Getting my monthly Birchbox and Ipsy boxes! It's like Christmas every month!
14. Mountains. I am a mountain girl through and through. I love the backroads, the adventure, the nature
15. Mornings. I love being awake before the sun comes up, sipping a cup of coffee, and basking in the silence before the world wakes up.
16. This blog - I mean, the whole reason we started this babe was to give us a fantastic happiness outlet! Goal: accomplished.
17. Airplanes. I don't know why, but I have always been fascinated with planes. I used to go to the airport with my grandpa and watch them take off and land, and to this day I love to watch them.
18. My septum ring. I have had this guy for about 5 years now, and I adore it, although I don't wear it down as much as I would like to (Corporate America may not love that decision just yet - but you just wait, by the time I am coming up on retirement, I bet you body modifications will be workplace norm!)
19. Movies. In fact, my father-in-law always picks on us for how many freaking movies we own. Ok, I admit, it may be a bit absurd, but man you can't just go to Blockbuster and rent anything you want anymore. So why not just have your own in-home Blockbuster?!
20. Horses - they're my spirit animal. Well, horses and moose.
21. Random acts of kindness. This one is huge for me. I try to do something nice for someone every single day. Whether it be to pay it forward in a drive-thru line, to giving food to someone in need. It really grounds me to take a step back and do for someone else.
22. Stationary. Guys, I have a problem. I love cards. I love sending them, buying them. I don't know, call me old fashioned, but it feels so good to get a snail mail letter every once and a while #amiright
23. Tattoos. I think they are such a beautiful form of self expression. I have 3, and I love them all; although one is the most monumental for me. Working on one for my mom currently, so I hope to be adding to my collection soon!
24. Cooking for people (because its a total drag to cook a meal for just yourself). I love cook for my husband, for my family, and to have friends over and cook for all of them. Nothing brings people together like food (or maybe we and our friends just love food more than usual)
25. Lipstick and a good pair of booties, because they, alone or together, can transform my entire day. Slap on a good shade and a fierce pair of boots and boom - instant confidence boost!
26. Quotes. I know, I know, we wore this one out on a previous post, but I just have to reiterate the importance of these guys to making me happy! 
27. Naps. As a kindergartener, you really underestimate the value of a good daytime nap.
28. Ice cream in a waffle cone - this detail is very important
29. Music. It speaks to my soul. I am a lyrics person (not to say I don't appreciate the music), but words really resonate with me. So a good song for a particular moment or feeling can do wonders
30. Love - I know this one is SO cliché, but I love love. I love the love I have for my husband. I love the love I see in others. I love the love that this world is so capable of, but so often forgets. I always have told Travis that if everyone in the world found their own Travis, and could just feel the love I have for him, there would be no war.



Stay happy, pals! See you next week! xoxo