I went into Target for like, one thing.

February 27, 2014February 26, 2014 | cheriarmour

I hear this happens to other people. But last Friday, I went into Target for one thing, and walked out with $100 worth of things.

How did this happen? What did I buy? What did I even go for in the first place?

I’m lead to believe the reason that I was in there in the first place was to grab a cheap pair of earrings for the photoshoot last Saturday. Okay, that’s innocent enough, right?

Wrong.

Here are all the things I purchased, and an explanation of what the hell I must have been thinking as I walked through the store.

Backs for earrings.
Cheap earrings for photoshoot. Okay I got what I needed. We can leave, right?

Well, while I’m here, I might as well go down the cosmetics aisle.

Neutrogena transparent beauty bars. Cause they’re the tits. It’s not fancy at all, but it will get the job done on your face.
Neutrogena makeup remover wipes. Cause I’m trying to make a better effort to not sleep in my makeup and have pretty skin for our wedding 🙂
Dove Deodorant. Cause I’m getting like dangerously close to the end of my deodorant and I hate when it falls on the ground and you’re like 😦
Colgate Whitening Mouthwash. It tastes like literally cat poop, and I’m not sure I can tolerate the 60 seconds they tell you to swish it around in your trap.
Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. My secret weapon for a white smile despite the red wine and coffee I consume.
Crest 3D Whitestrips <—this item gets most improved. They fixed the strips so they stick to your teeth and don’t slide around all over like they used too. My only caveat? Don’t overdo it, these things will make your teeth really sensitive.
Those flosser stick thingies. I was running out when I thought about it!
Goody Hair Bands. Mama was running low. There was nothing I could do.
Rubbing alcohol. Makes your nail polish stick better to your nails cause it removes all the lotions and gunk that would cause it to chip.

And THAT is how I managed to spend $100.65 at the Target.

What’s the worst damage you’ve done at the Target?

Songs to love by.

February 26, 2014February 25, 2014 | cheriarmour

I posted this last week. A breakup playlist of sorts, after I saw a guest post on Helene’s blog.

I hope none of you thought that my breakup playlist was any indication of the status of my relationships with my man-hunk, Austin, or Austie-Bostie, as my mom calls him, but rest assured, I’m still in love with my groom-to-be, and despite the fact I sometimes neglect him to do work on this blog, I’m sure he still loves me too 🙂

That said, in case you were worried, here are some songs to love by to balance out the breakup playlist I posted last week.

So I love love. I love the way love makes me feel. And each one of these songs reminds me of a wonderful time in my relationship, and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy to share it with you.

Love on Top – Queen Bey

Duh. I have no explanation except that this song is really incredible.

Easy 2 Luv You – Stacie Orrico

I first heard this song with another boyfriend, but it took on new meaning when I met Austin. It really is so easy to love that man. Similarly, I also feel like it’s easy to want to yell at him sometimes, but goodness, he makes me feel like a natural women, and this song says it. Plus Stacie is amazing.

Lightweight – Demi Lovato

You guys knew that she would make an appearance sometime, right? I heard this song at first last spring, when I was running the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, and as soon as I heard it, I felt like it was written for us. Austin has my heart, and that’s all I can think of when I hear this song.

You Give Me Something – James Morrison

I have been obsessed with this song/with this artist for years, and again, this song took on new meaning when I met the nearly-husband. It didn’t mean nearly as much as when I had a schmoopy to share it with.

Sugar – Stevie Wonder

This song remind me of when me and Austin were first dating, and when he gave me his FM transmitter for my car for a long drive I had to New Jersey. I played the song the whole drive up and sang it to him.

One Night Stand – Jazmine Sullivan

This song is a good one cause it’s fun, and it describes perfectly who I was before Austin. I was a fun lady, and I had no idea that I would find someone that I’d want to marry as much as I want to do him. And then he got me heart. 🙂 Also, Jazmine, where the hell ya been girl? I’m ready for new music!

Never Knew I Needed – Ne Yo

“You’re the best thing I never knew I needed.”

Soldier – Gavin DeGraw

I’m not yet married (did I mention I’m getting married!) but this song is what I envision the union to be like.

“I’ll get it, if you need it. I’ll search, if you don’t see it. You’re thirsty I’ll be rain, you get hurt I’ll take your pain. I know, you don’t believe it, but I said it, and I still mean it. When you heard what I told you, when you get worried, I’ll be your soldier.”

I want to be his soldier.

I had literally 10,000 more songs on this list, and let me be 100 with you guys, this list was way, way more fun than the breakup playlist to compile, and it makes me just want to love on everyone. Now your turn. What’s your favorite song to love by?

Headbands of Hope Photoshoot – official photos!

February 26, 2014February 25, 2014 | cheriarmour

So I told you all about Jess, the CEO of Headbands of Hope on Saturday.

But if you forgot, here is the lowdown. I’ve know Jess since we were like kids in college. Insert throwback Thursday (Wednesday, sorry!) photo here:

This was when we worked at NC State Department of Campus Recreation (now URec), back in like 2010. How cute were we, right? Anyhoo, while the rest of us were being young and wild and not knowing what we were doing in life, Jess started HOH, an organization that, for every headband purchased, donates $1 to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and donates a headband to a little girl with cancer. Cool, right?

So with the help of Peachy Keen to style and outfit us, and Amanda English, our wonderful photographer, we embarked on a fantastic photoshoot to showcase the headbands in gorgeous, 75-degree weather in Raleigh. Here are the actual photos (not just the bootlegs I took of us 🙂 ).

So if you’re interested in HOH, click here to find out more, and purchase some headbands!

Love any of our clothes? (My personal fave is that pantsuit that the model to my right is wearing!), hit Peachy Keen of Cary up here – not only do they have super unique pieces, but they also have some gorgeous jewelry, including some vintage pieces I got to see on Saturday.

If you’re interested in Amanda English photography in the Raleigh/Apex/Cary area, hit up her website/blog here, or her Facebook here – she specializes in a bunch of stuff, but if you check out her site, she’s done some really, really awesome stuff with babies, kids, and families.

If you think I’m pretty, sorry I am off the market! Tough luck.

Just kidding! Which one is your favorite photo?

Weekend recap! (Best weekend evahhh)

February 25, 2014February 24, 2014 | cheriarmour

So, after the photoshoot on Saturday, I ran, and hopped in the car to head to Charlotte because I got me and Deb some tickets to see Demi Lovato. So first things first, after a 10-miler at my parents’ I met up with Deb and some of her work friends at a place called Georges Brasserie in the Southpark neighborhood of Charlotte.

The place was super nice, and turned out to be a French place, which means the menu was baller.

Bottomless Mimosas were $12. Yes please!

Cheers!

We started off with an order of beignets for the table….

And literally, almost every single girl at the table ordered the French Toast which was AH-maze. Go to Georges, and tell them I said hey!

So next up, the Demi Lovato concert!

If you guys know anything about you, you need to understand that I am ride or die for Demi.

Me and Deb found giant Demi before the show, where the median age was like 15. Seriously, besides moms, we were like the oldest people there. But I knew every word so suck on that tweens!
Deb and I found the Tampax (weird) photobooth and took some really really cute pics. I’m gonna hang onto these for a while.

The hot one from One Direction? Zayn? His lady-friend is in this group. They were really cute, and played a bunch of adorable covers from the 90s, including a TLC cover of ‘No Scrubs’. No one but us and the moms knew this one.

And finally!!!!

Demi! And the seats were really good!

She was amazing. Seriously amazing. She seemed really happy, and sang strong for the entire time. It wasn’t super overproduced, and the show really boiled down to her and the music. Demi played the new stuff, the old stuff, and played the drums, the piano, and the guitar.

The coolest thing? The Neon Lights app that you could download before the show. During Neon Lights, the app created this really cool effect on everyone’s smartphone blinked to the beat of the song. Such good energy!

So overall, that concert was amazing, and I actually found myself boo-hooing during her incredible rendition of ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen and ‘Nightingale,’ where she threw in this amazing key change at the last chorus.

So a photoshoot, a long run in beautiful weather, time with my sister, time with my parents, mimosas, and a Demi Lovato concert? I’m now exhausted, but what a fantastic weekend.

What was the coolest thing you did this weekend?

New Product Review!

February 24, 2014February 24, 2014 | cheriarmour

Full disclosure. Not only is Vaseline not paying me for this review, but these opinions are also my own. Do what you will with my advice, but I’m telling you, as a general rule of thumb, I don’t lead people astray so…

Anyhoo, so I’ve been seeing this really interesting commercial for this Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer all over TV.

I thought the commercial was really cool, and why not spray and go when you moisturize, right? Put ya clothes right on – like maybe it will save me a few seconds in the morning or after a shower so I can stop running late to everything.

So last night, I bit it, and dropped the $7.99 (?!) on a bottle off the stuff, and after this morning’s shower, got to spraying instead of my usual pump the Goldbond routine.

I dried off, and tried to do like the cute girl in the commercial. Spray a lineeee down my legs, spray a linnnne down my arms, slip riiiight into your clothes so fast, and run out the door with your cute little hat.

Okay, so, none of that stuff happened, and the $7.99 bottle literally saved me no time, cause you still have to rub it in, and it’s kinda like…not as cool as the commercial whatsoever.

I’m really sorry, Vaseline, usually I totally love your products and have the stuff all over. And Lord knows I love a good fresh new cosmetic. But save yourself the trouble, and stick to a regular pump-bottle of lotion for après-shower action.

The Breakup Playlist

February 24, 2014 | cheriarmour

So super fun blogger Helene had a guest blogger post on this topic, and I couldn’t resist snatching this post up.

So I have had two, grown up, adult heartbreaks in my life. Both times, I thought I was in love, and both times, when it ended, I honestly felt crushed, and felt like I would not be involved in a relationship again. But with some time, some self-love, and a few dates with this guy…

I am better than new (if you’re new, we’re getting married in August.)

But breakups are so shitty (sorry Mom), I’d like to help anyone who is going through one to not suffer the way I did. So if any of you out there are going through a breakup, allow me to advise: it is GOING to suck, and probably for a while. It’s imperative to do healthy things for you. So more yoga, more salads, and less drinking.

And these songs.

Best Thing I Never Had – Beyoncé

She’s gorgeous in this video, and singing along to this will at least make you feel like the other person is losing out 🙂 Doesn’t have to be true, but it’s allowed to feel like it.

Fearless – Colbie Caillat

“Go on, go on and break my heart, I’ll be okay, I’m fearless, you better believe I’m fearless, fearless.” She’s getting broken up with. Inviting it even. And knows she’s gonna be okay. Damn girl!

I’m Not Missing You – Stacie Orrico

She used to be a Christian singer. She has a really cute mole. And I listened to this song no less than 10,000 times after I broke up with this guy like my junior year in college. I didn’t even realize how much I’d listened to it til iTunes calculated my Top 25 Most Played, and I saw that Stacie was number one, until this lady came along…

Every Time You Lie – Demi Lovato

My first year in grad school. I moved to Raleigh for a boyfriend, and poof, as soon as I got here the relationship had dissolved. But my relationship with Demi flourished!

Irreplaceable – Beyoncé

“So since I’m not your everything, how about I be nothing, nothing at all to you.” I actually tear up during the live version of this song.

Realize – Colbie Caillat

This song actually brought me to tears once after my first real breakup. I was up really really late one night, and watching music videos on MTV, and this came on. She’s begging for it, and he doesn’t get it. Colbie, guy’s a douche.

The One That Got Away – Katy Perry

This video. You will cry. And that is all.

So what have been your go-to breakup songs? And don’t worry, we’re not all doom and gloom here, I will be posting later this week on my favorite luv songs ❤

It’s a beautiful day for a photoshoot!

February 23, 2014February 23, 2014 | cheriarmour

So I had an amazing Saturday. The weather was amazingly beautiful, and I was amazingly busy. But one thing in particular, totally rocked my world. The founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, Jessica Ekstrom, invited me and a few other wonderful girls to participate in a photoshoot for Headbands of Hope.

So a little bit on HOH. Jessica started HOH when she was 19 years old. Yes, you read that correctly, Jess was 19 when she started HOH, and the premise is incredible, yet simple at the same time. For every headband purchased through HOH, which you can view here, $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund research, and one headband is given to a girl with cancer. The headbands are really, really, really cute, so it was a no-brainer when Jess reached out to invite us to participate in her photoshoot.

So, heads up, these photos are a sneak peek at the real deal, and the real post on our shoot will come in about a week-and-a-half or so, so I will totally fill you guys in on our awesome photographer and our awesome stylists who outfitted us for the shoot. These are just a few shot from my vantage point!

So we actually hiked out to the location – and if you thought I was exaggerating about how beautiful the weather was, I totally wasn’t. It was like 75 degrees, and we did the shoot in Historic Yates Mill Park in Raleigh, a few minutes away from NC State.

After we made it out to the location, we gathered around, finally all dressed and styled, while folks started arriving.

A few gorgeous shots in a field…

And even CEO Jess jumped in to take a few shots of her own with her camera. I was able to sneak a peek at Jess’ camera to figure out what she shoots with because I’m really wanting to get a new camera for the blog soon. Everyone is saying that this investment is definitely a good one for the blog, in order to get good, attractive shots.

My turn in the field!

The shoot wouldn’t be any fun without laughter!

My mom loved this one when I showed it to her. I’m excited to see how it came out in the shoot!

And finally, the shoot ended up with us getting to try on a ton of Jess’ cool designs. This one is one of my favorites because it’s super duper bridal!

It was such a fun day, and I can’t wait to show you guys the photos from the shoot, and introduce you to our photog and stylist, both incredibly talented ladies!

I hope your Saturday was as busy and awesome as mine was.

What is your feeling on a nicer camera? Worth the investment to grow your blog?

Happy Saturday Folks!

February 22, 2014 | cheriarmour

I’m sitting in the office, writing, and looking out the window at how gorgeous it is outside.

My plans for today?

Teaching a Zumba class at the Y, a photo-shoot that I think is gonna turn out really cool, a run, and then I’ll hop in my car so I can head to my parents’ house, where I’ll be staying with the dog so I can see my lady-friend, Demi Lovato tomorrow night!

So a busy Saturday on deck.

What are your plans for this beautiful weekend?

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Author: cheriarmour