Life By Nadine Lynn - Page 176 of 339

Story Behind the Picture – That Time at Idlewild Park

So as you know, I am from Pennsylvania. My parents used to take me to Idlewild Park in Ligonier growing up. Well, there were these VW Buses that you could drive around a track. I watched with anticipation as these other kids drove the cars around and couldn’t wait for my turn!

my you’ve got to be shittin’ me face

Well this little shit decided that he wanted to drive and took my driving spot and made me ride passenger. I was pissed!!! I wanted to drive!!! I threw a tantrum and started crying and refusing to get out of the car. My dad and his adult body self had to climb in to the tiny car and pull me out. My mom stood on the sidelines both mortified and amused by the whole situation. She couldn’t stop laughing.

Fast forward to 2016. I am riding with the Enterprise guy to pick up my rental car last week after my car went to the shop for repairs from the accident. (Which is still a nightmare by the way.) Anyways, the guy is talking about my car acting like it is the best thing ever. “Oh man, we got the perfect car for you. It drives around like a sports car. You are going to love it!” I was like, “Oh?” As we pull up, they are pulling around a bright red VW Beetle. I look at the dude and say, “No really….” Here is a little tip funny black dude from Enterprise, not all white girls dream of driving around a Beetle.

I promptly text my mom, dad and sister pictures of the bug when I get back to my office. Their responses are the exact same…

If you know me even a little bit, you will find this next picture hilarious.

There is nothing wrong with the VW Beetle, it just isn’t me at all. Not even a little. I am not really a fan of the way they look and they are so small. I am an SUV type of girl, always have been. Now, I will be honest and say that I am surprised by how fun this little thing is to drive around town. It really does drive a little bit like a sports car. It picks up really fast, don’t underestimate it. But with that being said, I can’t wait to get my car back!!! If you are thinking about getting a Beetle, it rides nice and gets decent gas mileage. The trunk was large enough to hold our huge grocery haul this weekend. It has a horrible blind spot in the back though when you are trying to pull out of parking places.

A bonus picture from Idlewild that day! This was taken in Story Book Forrest. My favorite area of the park, naturally! I wonder if it is still a part of it?!

Then and now

Linking up with Elle for Story Behind the Picture.

January 19, 2016 by Nadine

book review, books, foodie, recipe

Happy Cooking

I just love Giada De Laurentiis so when I saw her cookbook, I knew I would have to have it. What I really think stands out about this cookbook compared to others out there is that it is more than recipes. You actually get to know Giada a little bit. There are pictures of her throughout the book and she is giving tips for different social situations and actual glimpses into her life. There are even pictures with her daughter.

The recipes are focused around clean, healthy eating which is perfect for me! Some are simple and anyone can make them, but there are a few more complex ones as well to practice your skills with. I like the balance that is offered.

One of my favorite tips is buying a really good whole grain loaf of bread and keeping it in the freezer and just pulling out a slice or two as needed versus a new loaf that you throw out every week because you only needed a few pieces.

Some of the recipes that I have my eye on are:

“Nutella” Milk
Mediterranean Chile Chicken Wings
Buffalo Grilled Shrimp with Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce
Brown Butter Tortellini
Cupcake Shake
Citrus Chile Acorn Squash

Tis the season for soups, so I wanted to share the Italian White Bean, Pancetta, and Tortellini Soup recipe from the book!

3 tbsp olive oil

4 ounces pancetta, chopped

3 large shallots, chopped

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

4 cups of Swiss chard (1 bunch trimmed)

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 (9 ounce) package fresh cheese tortellini

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

In a large heave soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the pancetta, shallots, carrot, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until the pancetta is crisp, about 5 minutes.

Add the beans, Swiss chard, and broth. Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the tortellini and cook for 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Serves 4-6 – Packed with protein and filling enough to make a meal.

There is a great mix of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, cleansing drinks, fun shakes/smoothies and plenty of party hosting ideas too. Plus if you like photography, there are some great pictures of the food.

If you are in the market for a new cookbook, I would certainly give this one a look!

View more information about the book here.

Learn more about the author here.

**I received this book from Blogging for Books but all opinions are honest and of my own. **

January 18, 2016 by Nadine

weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans

Can you believe the middle of January is upon us?? Not sure how that happened. I am officially half way through my Whole 30 journey!!! Today is day 15. I feel pretty fantastic right now and I am so, so proud of myself!!! If you only knew the temptations I had this weekend that I held strong through.

I guess some of you are off today. Lucky ducks! The real estate market cares nothing about MLK, Presidents Day or any of those other “bank holidays.” So rude, right?!

Friday evening we had turkey burgers and caught up on PLL and New Girl.I also went through our closet and pulled out a bunch of clothes that I haven’t seen Chris wear in a really long time. I am still trying to organize and purge around the house, little areas at a time. I fell asleep on the couch shortly there after, so you know it was a long week!

Saturday I cleaned the house and then we headed to a new restaurant in the Crestwood area called The Filling Station. It is a pizza place and let me tell you….the smells were off the charts amazing and I was sad that I couldn’t have any of the delicious looking apps or pizza that Chris ordered. I stuck to my plan and ordered a salad, with no cheese of course.

I was amazed by my will power. Cheating didn’t even cross my mind. After I was through with my salad, I felt satisfied and it held me through the rest of the day so I can’t be mad about not having that nasty, heavy feeling to lug around after a greasy pizza meal.

It was 55 out but it felt like spring with the sun, so we enjoyed that patio!

We hit up a few thrift stores, check out this book haul!

And I also grabbed Mac a few jackets on clearance at Petsmart because the little dude is cold when he goes out with his short hair. Their coats are 75% off!

He is man enough to pull off fur detailing. Obviously.

Sunday was a day of meal planning and grocery shopping. I got done a few blog posts and things around the house as well. Yay for productivity!

Linking up with Biana. I hope you all have a fabulous week, and enjoy the last of your long weekend if you got one!

January 18, 2016 by Nadine

favorites

Friday Favorites

Hello there Friday! I woke up this morning to a gloomy, cold rain and I can’t help but think the day would be better served netflixing on the couch than toughing it out at work. Sigh. Why didn’t I win that billion dollars??? How about a little Friday Favorites to brighten the day!

Favorite Song: History by Lauren Alaina – I totally shazammed this one while watching the championship game. They kept playing little pieces of it and I was like damn that is a good song!

Favorite Recipe: How amazing do these sweet potato, whole 30 nachos look?? Totally making them this weekend!

via

Favorite Work Out:I shared a 30 Day Fat Burn workout last week too but you have to check this out as well! This is a Dynamic Strength one and it is so good!

Favorite Purchase: I scooped up these Valentines Day pretties in the dollar bins at Target! Hearts, sequins and glitter? Be still my heart.

Favorite Lust: I saw this anchor at Target last week and I neeeeeed.

Favorite Links:

–Tax season is around the corner. *we all groan* Here are some deductions that you don’t want to forget!

–Looking to spruce up that coffee table or bookshelf? Check out LC’s Top 10 Coffee Table Books.

–I could have written Steph’s post on Instgram myself. For 2016, let’s start being a little more real again. Please? Do you not realize that your staged photo with the vase of flowers, the cup of coffee, gloss and the gold sea urchin is the same as literally everyone else?

Favorite Funnies:

This video the Buzzfeed posted after the game Monday night…

Sorry Clemson, but it had to be done. pic.twitter.com/z0SRILPWOn

— BuzzFeed Sports (@BuzzFeedSports) January 12, 2016

My face Thursday morning at work when I didn’t become a billionaire…

Faking a smile is hard work some days…

How I feel between all the annoying talkers in our building and the loud metal on metal banging from construction outside my office…

When I heard the Auburn fans in our office chit chatting Monday before the game…

Basically Monday through Thursday…

After the several phone calls I had to make with the insurance company about my car…

Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

January 15, 2016 by Nadine

Allure Beauty Box, beauty

December 2015 Allure Beauty Box

I didn’t have a chance to review my December Allure Beauty Box last month, so I wanted to take time to do that today because there were a few great products in there that you may have never heard of! I missed the January box because I forgot to call and change my card on file after the whole credit card skim debacle of 2015 and I am so pissed because there were so many things in it I was wanting to try. I cant believe I am still being burned by those assholes who took my card.

I also wanted to make a note that I am hella behind on email this week, I have been having Dreamhost problems. So sorry if you haven’t heard from me yet on your comments, I promise I haven’t ignored them!

Let’s get to the box, shall we?

What’s the Deal: For $15 a month, Allure sends you 5 deluxe size beauty samples and a mini magazine about the samples. I pay for this on my own, and all opinions are my own. This is not a sponsored post.You can see last month’s box here.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (full price $20)

What it is: Dry shampoo, plain and simple

My thoughts: I really like this option. You spray it in your hair, wait two minutes and brush it through. The white overcast isn’t as bad as some of the other dry shampoos I have tried. The scent is a floral-y type scent but it is much softer than anything else I have tried. I will be repurchasing this, as I have used the entire bottle over the last month and a half!

Pop Beauty Kajal Pen in Inky Purple (full price $10)

What it is: A dark gray/purple eyeliner

My thoughts: This has a very fine pencil with a rubbery smudger. The smudger is a bit thick for me, I feel like it would smudge half my lid if I used it! I did like the formula of the eye liner though and I don’t feel that $10 is too much for a fun colored liner! It stayed in place and looked great.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Oil Free (full price $36)

What it is: An oil free primer that is a great base for foundations without clogging your pores.

My thoughts: I have used this before and liked it. Smashbox makes a great primer and I like that this one is oil free. I have purchased this before and would purchase it again.

SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense (full price $88)

What it is: A serum that offers an exfoliate as well as tackles acne and aging. The active ingredients include Dioic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid and Citric Acid. This claims to help with blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles, excessive oiliness, enlarged pores and discolorations. Results in their studies were over 8 weeks. I have only used this product for five weeks.

My thoughts: I have to admit that my breakouts have started to settle down. There haven’t been as many new ones and the older ones are starting to clear up. I am going to continue to use my sample and report back in the end if I think this is going to be something that actually works for me long term! It has a little burn to it when I put it on my skin, but it hasn’t been over drying like every other spot treatment I have tried.

Eau Thermale Avene Body Oil (full price $26)

What it is: A body oil for sensitive, extra dry skin with mineral oil and avacado oil.

My thoughts: Upon first putting the oil on, I thought wow this is thick!!! After a little rubbing in to the skin, I immediately felt a softness. This has sort of an earthy scent. It isn’t too strong and I don’t mind it. But it doesn’t smell like fruit or flowers or anything that you would expect from a normal lotion. I really loved how soft my skin felt after using this. I would consider purchasing this again for use at night.

Illume Blackberry Absinthe Candle(full price $23.50)

What it is: A paraffin and soy wax candle that is blackberry scented with orange, patchouli and sandalwood.

My thoughts: This little sample candle managed to smell up our open living room with vaulted ceilings, so I would call that a win. The scent is as described and I loved it. This is a great candle option if you don’t mind spending the $$.

Chapstick Total Hydration in Soothing Vanilla (full price $3.99)

What it is: Chapstick with a nice vanilla flavor.

My thoughts: This is what you would expect from Chapstick. A great option that lasts for a little while and then needs reapplied. It is inexpensive and easy to find.

Have you tried any of these products? What has been your favorite new find?

January 14, 2016 by Nadine

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