Friday Five {Blogs I Love}

Via

The blogging world is huge, inspiring and overwhelming.  There are so many unique, creative and informative spaces on the world wide web.  While my Blogloving account is overflowing, I would love to share some of my favorites!

How do you keep up with all of your blogs?  Do you have favorites?  What do you look for?

Aspiring Kennedy//Based in the UK, Lauren, her husband and their adorable baby are living the ex-pat life!  Her writing is beautiful, advice is spot on and it is so incredibly genuine.

Love and Lemons//Lemons are my favorite ingredient, so it made sense that I started following this a few years back.  The recipes are healthy, easy and tasty!

The Beauty Department//The Lauren Conrad collaboration is by far my favorite beauty blog.  The tutorials are easy to follow and the content is so diverse.  It never bores me!

Torie + Tristan//Torie and I are actually good friends from college!  She and her husband are living the newlywed life up in Seattle.  Her taste is impeccable and she is always ahead of the curve!

Dinner a Love Story//I always salivate when reading this blog.  I have tried many of the recipes and have never been let down.  Jenny's voice is so beautiful and humorous.

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Friday Five {Go for the Gold}

With the Olympics right around the corner, I've been drawn to all things gold.  Something about the yellow metal seems to feel decadent and celebratory.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Image via Nordstrom

This Essie "Good as Gold" nail polish seems like the perfect way to cheer your team on!  

Image via Guest of a Guest

Did you see that Michelle Kwan's husband is running for Governor of Rhode Island?  Of course, this made wonder what she has been up to since her days on the ice.  My goodness, that girl is accomplished!!

Image via Kalb

For the first time ever I am actually excited about the Superbowl!  The Broncos and Seahawks were both the "regional" teams growing up.  It also seems like the players for both teams have a lot of character on and off the field.

Image via Camille Styles

This Bees Knees cocktail looks refreshing and easy to make during the winter months.

Image via Read Between The Lines

I received so many nice comments about the "I Love Your Hair Will You Marry Me" print from this post.  It was actually a house warming gift from a very kind friend who happens to know that complementing my locks guarantees eternal love.  It is one of the most complimented pieces I own!!!

The ladies at Read Between The Lines were really amazing and made sure every detail was special and unique. 

Friday Five {Fresh}

Perhaps it is the fact that I am experiencing my first winter outside of a tundra, or, that Portland is having its driest winter on record, but, I am already anticipating spring.  Queue: blizzards, rains, sleet, and the groundhogs shadow. Or, it might be something else that I can't jinx. Remember the NutriBullet I mentioned?  Well, Nellie is now part of my family. She is sleek, beautiful, and such a gem.   Every day is filled with fruity smoothies, sunshine, and, eternal happiness.  Well, not quite, but it is pretty amazing.  And makes life feel very fresh.

What are you loving this week?

Cheers,

Mere

Image via bestmakeupproducts.com

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to have my make-up done for free at Nordstrom with the ladies at Laura Mercier!!  I have been incorporating her products into my routine for over 7 years.  While I loved everything they used on me, two products really stood out. The Creme Smooth Lipstick, in Haute Red may be the perfect red for someone with my coloring.  It isn't too matte, but doesn't have a sticky lip gloss consistency.  It wasn't stuffy, but wasn't channeling a harlot.  I also really, really loved the Secret Brightening Powder they used under my eyes.  It did just that.  I had very tired, puffy eyes that day.  Not only did it waken them right up, but kept me looking fresh for a night of partying, dancing and shenanigans.

Image via People.com

You may have heard, but Frankie and Barry are getting together this Spring!  That is on a Thursday.  Spoiler Alert: March  28ths Friday 5 already has a theme!

Image via TodaysMama.com

Last night's Parenthood was painful.  We are talking gut wrenching sobs.  It wasn't pretty.  And since #Joelia won't be back until the end of February {Thanks Olympics!} I am going to sedate myself with a non-stop Friday Night Lights marathon.  Only Coach and Tami Taylor can get me through this one.

Image via SpoonForkBacon.com

Teri and Jenny just put up this mouthwatering Smoked Salmon Pizza recipe.  I may have to wait until the Farmer's Market opens back up in March to get my favorite smoked salmon for this recipe.   Until then, I will implement this fool-proof method of making the tastiest salmon in all of the land.

Image via Piperlime.com

While I rarely wear necklaces, and usually just stick to over sized studs, I am loving this necklace from Piperlime.  The lilac color is very "Spring" and the design is a nice nod to the 20's without being too costume like.

Friday Five {Birthday Edition}

Image Courtesy of {une-deuxsenses.blogspot.com}

This weekend, I will be celebrating 27 trips around the sun.  I am having a cake, ice cream and cocktail party.  Since moving to Portland, I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some old pals and make some amazing new friends.   I am really looking forward to seeing how the night plays out, especially since there are so many entertaining characters in the bunch.  

Image via {TheBeautyDepartment.com}

When I moved to Portland it was a big adjustment.  Most of the changes were very fun or a good kind of hard.  Finding a person to do my hair has NOT been easy.  You see, the same woman has been doing my hair for almost 15 years.  It is the longest, healthiest and must aesthetically pleasing relationship I have ever been in.  Well, this Fall, after 6 months without a trim or glaze, I knew it was time to try someone new.  Well, that was a fail.  Instead of schwoopy bangs, I have been growing out a mullet on the right side of my head for months.  So you better believe when I was in Montana over the holidays one of my first stops involved seeing my hair therapist!  While she did an amazing job, I still have a few months of growing my hair out.  Luckily, The Beauty Department, just put up this amazing post to help style hair when growing out bangs.  Or, in my case, growing out a temple-to-ear-mullet. 

Image via EOnline.com

I am not the only girl who will be celebrating her birthday this weekend!!!  Michelle Obama turned 50 today!  My goodness, she makes 50 look GOOD!!!  Our First Lady is a pretty amazing person.  She is committed to a healthy and active lifestyle, supporting military families, and, has amazing dance moves.  It is hard to imagine why anyone would feel so down about this milestone birthday, when, MO clearly embraces it. 

Image via {teenmusic.com}

One of my all time favorite shows is Gilmore Girls.  While it is an amazing show for so many reasons, one thing I really love about those quirky girls is their love of birthday celebrations.  Though a giant pizza would not be my birthday request, it is still pretty epic.  If only were streaming on Netflix, I could transport to Stars Hollow on a regular basis. 

Image via {PortlandMercury.com}

If I were in Montana, I would most likely be having my birthday dinner at Barclay's Supper Club for the world's greatest steak.  And, since I really only eat steak in Montana, that is a tremendously biased opinion.  This year I am hoping to have some really amazing Pho at Luc Lac. The restaurant has been undergoing construction and renovation since mid-December.  It is slated to open on Monday {my actual birthday} and you better believe I will be singing this tune if that doesn't happen.  And then go to Boxer Ramen.

Image via Pinterest

It was over 50 degrees and clear blue skies more than once this week.  Not only is that unheard of for Portland, it is also in huge contrast to the rest of the country.  Due to this unexpected "dry spell" I am already starting to think about summer sandals.  I saw these Toms in the store yesterday and they are even better in person. These Kork-Ease wedges also caught my eye.  While they are different from anything I own or gravitate towards, they have quite the reputation for being incredibly comfortable.  Maybe 27 is the year to broaden my horizons.  At least in the shoe department.