pinspiration: floral manicures

Floral manicures are nothing new, but they've definitely been prominent on my Pinterest feed lately! I've noticed that a lot of the beautiful images are from LA Studio Olive + June, but there are plenty of DIY versions as well. I have nothing but admiration for ladies who have the patience and talent to paint these designs freehand on their own nails - for the rest of us, there are manicurists and nail wraps to get our nails perfectly ready for spring.

Would you try floral nails? Do you prefer one accent nail, or ten floral tips?

My First Trimester Essentials

This week, I'm officially in my third trimester of pregnancy. Today I'm headed to my OB/GYN office for a sonogram (hope baby will show his face this time!) and blood glucose test (wish me luck!). The last six months have flown by, so I wanted to take the time today to share some of the items that were lifesavers for me when I was a newly expectant mother!

In my medicine cabinet:

• Prenatal vitamin + DHA - I started taking prenatal vitamins as soon as we decided to have a baby. Depending on the type you buy, you might have to take DHA separately. A lot of women have trouble swallowing their vitamins in the first trimester due to morning sickness - I found that taking mine at night helped.

• Vitamin B6 - My OB/GYN recommends this vitamin along with half a Unisom for nausea in the first trimester. I stuck with only the vitamin because I was worried about what a sleeping pill might do to me at work!

• Tums - A first through third trimester essential for me! Heartburn has been a constant for me during pregnancy - it's caused by higher levels of estrogen and other hormones which relax the esophagus. Later in pregnancy, it can indicate that baby will have a lot of hair, which makes sense since he has my genetics!

• Preggie Pop Drops - These sour candies are great for nausea, and since they look like lozenges they were something I could use at work before I'd announced my pregnancy.

Keeping track of baby:

• What to Expect When You're Expecting - The most classic pregnancy book there is, and the first one I read. Some women don't like it because they think the tone is patronizing or it gives them anxiety about what could go wrong, but I treated it more as a general guide than a Bible and liked knowing the medical reasons why I was experiencing certain symptoms.

• Ovia app - There are a lot of pregnancy apps out there, and I chose Ovia because it had a lot of positive reviews. If you know a pregnant woman who tells you what size fruit or vegetable her little one compares to each week, chances are she uses Ovia. One of my favorite features are the weekly videos featuring a pregnant Ovia staffer.

In my closet:

• Pull-on jeans - One of my first maternity clothes purchases, I found these Jessica Simpson jeans on sale at Motherhood Maternity and liked the under-belly style for early pregnancy - they look just like my favorite skinny jeans.

• Waterfall cardigans - First trimester camouflage! I lived in flowy cardigans before letting people know I was pregnant. I get most of mine from discount sites like GroopDealz and Pick Your Plum.

• Ingrid + Isabel Bellaband - There's a certain phase of pregnancy where the hair tie trick no longer works and maternity trousers are still a little too roomy, and that's where a belly band comes to the rescue - I used it to wear my pre-pregnancy pants unbuttoned and unzipped, then to keep the maternity pants my friend handed down to me feeling snug until my bump had grown to fill them.

On my vanity:

• Burt's Bees blemish stick - During my first trimester, I still had some cystic acne from time to time, and not being able to use topical acne treatments because of the chemicals had me really bummed - I usually swear by benzoyl peroxide. I was skeptical of an herbal acne medication, but this stuff dries up pimples fast, and I probably won't go back to chemical formulas!

• Attitude Blooming Belly foaming cleanser - Knowing that whatever went on my skin could also go through my skin and into baby's body made me very conscious about my daily beauty regimen. I still use Fresh's soy face cleanser in the morning shower with my Clarisonic, and replaced my nighttime cleaner with this formula specifically for expectant mamas.

currently [february 2018]

finishing: the recruitment process for my school's 2018-2019 class! For those of you who may not be regular readers, I'm an instructional coach and the director of a public school-within-a-school for eighth grade students that focuses on Project Based Learning. This is our first year and it was awesome to see that the word has gotten out about our program and we will need to do a lottery for admissions since we have more applications than spots. I've had about 20 current students helping with sharing information about our program at meetings with parents, students, and seventh grade teachers, and I've also been fielding a lot of parent phone calls.

wishlisting: felt letter boards! I'd been seeing them on Instagram for a while, of course, and thought they were cute, but never felt like I needed one until I started thinking about how useful they could be in photos of Baby Quinn when he starts reaching milestones. Emily from Jones Design Company did a letterboard round-up on her blog recently, and I'm leaning toward this one from Target - I like the square shape and the price is right.

subscribing: in the process of creating our baby registry, we realized how many baby things we just knew nothing about, and left the stores with several items on the helpful checklists they provided still unchecked. I put Mr. Q in charge of research monitors since he is our household technology enthusiast, but for everything else I have really appreciated the product reviews on Lucie's List and subscribed to the newsletter for helpful advice delivered weekly. 

watching: the Winter Olympics! I was a little underwhelmed by Pyongchang's Opening Ceremonies, but I'm enjoying watching some of the events this weekend. Growing up in the 90's I pretty much became a lifelong fan of figure skating, and I've fallen in love with married pairs skating couple Chris Knierim and Alexa Scimeca Knierim while watching them compete in the team event. Also, Leslie Jones from Saturday Night Liveis live-tweeting while watching the Games and it's hilarious.

hearting: I've been Pinning a bunch of floral manicures lately and considering trying nail wraps again (I didn't have the patience for the application process the first time around, but I love the idea of perfect nails for 2 weeks). So perfect for Valentine's Day!

Linking up with Anne from In Residence

my march favorites.

Here's what I've been loving this month...

1. American Shakespeare Center - Did you know that the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre, the Blackfriars' Playhouse, is in Staunton, Virginia? I went with friends to see a production of the parody The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in college, but hadn't been since. My co-teacher's parents got tickets for our whole English team for Christmas, and we had a wonderful day driving up to see The Merchant of Venice and eat dinner at the Mill Street Grill.

2. The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima - Several of my male students had recommended this fantasy series to me, so I was surprised when I finally got around to checking out The Demon King from the library, with its super-masculine cover art, and finding out that one of the main characters is a feisty princess! The other MC is a streetlord who's basically a combination of Aladdin and Han Solo. These are definitely time-consuming books to read (each one weighs in at over 500 pages), but I really enjoyed getting lost in the unique fantasy world Chima has built, which includes a matrilineal society that feels medieval, an indigenous culture based on eastern Native American societies, and a magical college.

3. Old Navy Clover Necklace - I picked this dainty necklace up around St. Patrick's Day, but it's also perfect as a 4-H necklace for me :)

4. REN Evercalm Rescue Mask from Sephora - When I got back from my business trip to Indiana last month, my skin was a mess from staying in a hotel and air travel - I had acne on my cheeks, which is really unusual for me. I had a little sample bottle of this mask from Sephora, which is a little thicker than a normal day moisturizer. I used it morning (under makeup) and night (after washing my face) for about a week and it made a huge difference. The full-size version is a pricey product but I feel like it'll be worth it if used sparingly for skin emergencies!

5. Indoor Rock Climbing - The Bible study I've joined tries to have a fun activity in the community each month, and this month we visited a rock climbing gym in Roanoke. I hadn't done any climbing since I worked as a 4-H camp counselor in college and was surprised by how easy it was to pick back up. I didn't realize how much my upper body strength had improved since I've become a yoga junkie! It doesn't hurt the fun factor that the River Rock gym shares a building with Wasena Tap Room!

My September Favorites

Happy Friday, everyone! I know posting has been light this month (mentoring new teachers is taking more of my time this school year), but I wanted to pop in and share a few things I'm loving right now.

1. It's football season - I'm not a huge sports fan by any means, but there's something special about football season. I'm happy to cheer on my favorite teams, UVa (despite the terrible season we're having so far) and Green Bay. I love tailgating and have found myself tuning into Game Day on ESPN even when Mr. Q's not home.

2. Sephora mud mask - My skin went through a crazy phase toward the end of this summer, and this mask helped my face get back on track. I use it every week to help clarify my skin and dry up breakouts. It's affordable and effective.

3. Starbucks PSL VIA - Since I live pretty far from an actual Starbucks, this is the next best thing.

4. Target candleholders - Have y'all noticed that the Dollar Spot is now called Bullseye's Playground? Those shelves now include items at a range of prices up to $5. The autumn items are adorable, and I picked up several mercury glass votive candles in shades of gold and copper - my favorite scents are Fall Day and Harvest Sangria.

5. OPI's Washington, DC collection - I haven't picked up any of these colors yet, but I love the unique fall shades with clever names like "Never a Dulles Moment," inspired by my nearest major metropolitan area!

January Fab Favorites

Rather than make New Year's Resolutions, for the past few years I've adopted the practice of choosing one word for the New Year. For 2016, my word is going to be horizon - I feel like it kept presenting myself to me, so I accepted it! I'm not sure what's on the horizon for me - the future is a blank slate for me to fill with my hopes and dreams for the future. Will I buy a house, write a novel, get a pet, travel the world, or make a new friend this year? I'm making positive changes in my life and habits and hoping that positivity will come back to me. Here are a few favorites making those changes a little easier to adopt.

1. Creative women building each other up - I've kicked off the year with two memoirs by funny women in creative fields (who are not too much older than me), Everyone's Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day (read my review from yesterday here) and Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling. Both share a common theme: boss ladies shouldn't be competing with one another, we should be building each other up - Felicia addresses #Gamergate and Mindy tackles topics from "Who Wore it Best?" magazine columns to Instagram friendships. Two of my favorite essays in Mindy's book are "(Minor) Fame Has Changed Me" and "Things to Bring to My Dinner Party." My favorite passage in Mindy's book comes from the essay "Some Thoughts on Weddings" (she kind of hates them due to the sense that the bride is leaving her behind):

With my friends, the sad truth is that our best "best friend" days are behind us. In college, we used to be able to meet each other in the common area of our off-campus housing, excited about our evening ahead, which consisted of someone making an enormous tureen of pasta and drinking wine from a box while we took turns regaling each other with details of our terrible love lives. Playful arguments would become fits of uncontrollable laughter, and like magic, that experience would get crystallized into a private joke, and the private joke would get boiled down to a simple phrase, which would become a souvenir of the entire experience. For years to come, the phrase alone could uncork hours of renewed laughter. And as everyone knows, the best kind of laughter is laughter born of a shared memory.

2. A routine that helps me glow - When I finally got my long-awaited Clarisonic Mia2, it came with a bottle of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser which I've been using religiously. Not only has my cystic acne improved, but I think my face looks glowy and my skin looks plumper in the mornings when I wake up. In addition to the obvious soy proteins, this cleanser is full of healthy ingredients like cucumber extract and borage seed oil.

3. Fashionable accountability - I've wanted a fitness tracker for a while now, and Mr. Q got me the Jawbone Up2 for Christmas. I liked the Up2 a little better than some other trackers because it includes a smart alarm feature than I can set to wake me up during the lightest part of my sleep cycle! So far, I'm using the Up2 to track my sleep, daily step count and workout lengths, and food (the Up app has a barcode reader feature or the option to type in what I've eaten and search through a database). I also have an idle alert set so that the wristband vibrates when I am still for a set length of time - currently, I've got it set for 45 minutes. I like that the app gives suggestions to help me reach my goals - for example, on Saturday night, we went out to eat, and when I opened the app to log my meal there was a suggestion from Smart Coach to take a 17 minute walk in order to maintain my average step count for the week - a short stroll was easily accomplished by doing some window shopping after dinner, but probably wouldn't have happened without the gentle nudge. I've lost two pounds since Christmas and I think the Up2 has definitely helped!

4. A cozy glow for cold winter nights - Mr. Q's aunt got us the Bath and Body Works Winter 3-wick candle for Christmas and it's my new favorite smell! The main notes are pine, mandarin orange, and "winter woods," and it's perfect for creating a cozy atmosphere in the evenings when we get home from work.

5. An inspiring calendar - If I have to look at something for 12 months, it had better be cute! I chose the Illustrated Bible Verses calendar from Workman Publishing, which I found at Barnes & Noble. If you still need a calendar to get your 2016 organized, Style Me Pretty has a roundup, and Lauren's featuring the best planners for boss babes at Style Elixir.

Linking Up:

Friday's Fab Favorites at Style Elixir

My September [Fab] Favorites

My September [Fab] Favorites

1. The Mindy Project - I got Hulu. For Mindy Kaling. And I have no regrets. So far there are only two episodes in the new season, but they've been amazing - the first episode flipped between Danny's trip to meet Mindy's parents in India and Mindy's It's a Wonderful Life style vision of her life without Danny as her boyfriend. In the second episode, Leo Castellano had the most New York City birth of any TV baby ever. 

2. Salted Caramel Frappucino - It's not quite cold enough for the PSL around these parts, so this has been my go-to fancy drink. I'm also just going through a general salted caramel craving phase - gelato, candy, what have you, it's probably actually a sodium deficiency or something but I can't get enough.

3. Fall sweaters - Sweaters are my favorite - I'm so ready for cool temperatures just so I can wear my new ones! I ordered this striped Flamingo Urban cardigan from Groopdealz - I've seen it on some other daily deal sites, too, and decided I needed to snap it up. My other favorite is this Old Navy marled dolman - hallelujah for being able to order petite sizes online.

4. Wine Country collection at Bath and Body Works - I like subtle scents and most of the ones in this collection fit the bill. Black Cherry Merlot and Champagne Vineyard Kiss are my favorite soaps, and the Sundrenched Vineyard candle smells amazing.

5. Gold foil tech wallpapers - Y'all, it's the little things in life that truly bring us joy, and one of my favorite little things is changing the wallpaper on my computers and phone every month. I finally had the genius revelation that I can have different patterns on my phone's lock screen and wallpaper - so of course I went with gold foil designs for both.

6. All things Star Wars, including my new earrings from Zulily - I'm not sure how I feel about Star Wars being a cool thing to like now (my 11-year-old self who was scared to read Young Jedi Knights on the school bus is definitely jealous of the girls who get to wear whole Star Wars outfits in public now), but I'm definitely reaping the benefits. And yes, I bought two pairs of earrings for the sole purpose of wearing one of each so that C3-PO and R2-D2 can be together forever.

Style: 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards

It's become something of a tradition for me to completely geek out about award show fashion here on the blog, so I couldn't let this past Sunday's Emmys go unnoticed, despite the fact that I found this year's red carpet looks a bit strange and lackluster. Despite kooky chain mail, appliques, add-ons, and ruffles, unflattering bodices, a few dresses that were just boringly predictable on the stars who wore them, and way too many tummy cutouts, a few ladies stood out to me as being perfectly on point.

Please note: If you are planning on adding any of these images to your Pinterest boards, please click on the link below the picture and pin from the source. Thank you!

Hollywood Life | Daily Mail

First of all, can we just talk about how Ariel Winter plays the nerdy daughter on Modern Family yet consistently slays on the red carpet. If you're one of the stars of one of television's most successful shows, you have every right to dress like a straight-up classic Hollywood star for the Emmy's, and I absolutely loved Winter's bright red Romona Keveza gown with its asymmetrical neckline and train, especially paired with vintage-style waves. Then she changed into another perfect dress for an afterparty. Ariel wins the Emmys in my book.

Hollywood Reporter | Hollywood Life

Two blonde actresses, two vintage-inspired looks. Zoe Kazan's peppermint-striped halter gown might have seemed a little strange to some, but the Emmys are a place to have fun with fashion and I loved the red clutch and lipstick she paired with the dress. Emma Roberts looked absolutely gorgeous in a vintage-inspired champagne gown with a plunging neckline and hair styled in sideswept waves.

Pret-a-Reporter | Hollywood Life

Maggie Gyllenhaal's dress probably would have been my favorite of the night if the wrinkles hadn't been so visible on the television screen and in photos. I love the colorblock, but never wear that fabric again - what is that, taffeta? Meanwhile, The Daily Show's Kristin Schaal looked adorable in her shimmery navy blue dress and hair styled in a long bob.

Hollywood Life | Glamour

Finally, the ladies of Orange is the New Black totally brought it on the red carpet. Laverne Cox's dress is one of Pantone's color picks for fall, Biscay Blue, and the cutouts weren't overpowering on her athletic frame - the shape reminded me of the Calvin Klein dress Jennifer Lawrence wore to the 2011 Oscars. While I didn't love the neckline of Taylor Schilling's dress, I thought the color was fun and her hair and makeup was probably my favorite beauty of the night - the wavy bob is really flattering on her, her makeup looks fresh but not overdone, and that lipstick is amazing (Glamour has tracked it down - it's from Charlotte Tilbury).

Who had your favorite style at this year's Emmy Awards?

What's in Your Bridal Beauty Emergency Kit?

The one thing I absolutely have to have ready for each wedding I help with is my emergency kit - the same trusty purple Caboodle that got me through high school dance competitions, homecomings and prom, several turns as a bridesmaid, and my own wedding.  As each event has passed I've added to my mental list of must-have items for special occasion beauty. 

• The beauty essentials: primer (MAC is my favorite) BB Cream and/or powder foundation, blush, lipstick and lipgloss (I still use the same Mary Kay shade from my wedding), eye shadow, makeup brushes, eyelash curler, mascara, the bride's favorite perfume

• The hair essentials: Mini hairbrush, travel size hairspray (I swear by Freeze It! spray), bobby pins

• The lifesavers:  Tide to-go pen, nail clippers, nail polish (to touch up chips), oil absorbing sheets, tweezers, Wisp toothbrushes, Listerine strips or Altoids, Hollywood Fashion Tape, safety pins, clinical-strength deodorant, bottled water, Band-Aids

What are your must-haves for special occasions?

style: blush and lucite for spring

One of the must-have items on my spring wish list is this floral scarf from Target - it's very similar to the Kate Spade scarf I spent last spring drooling over (note to self: stop waiting for Kate Spade pieces to "go on sale"... they will go out of stock instead!).  Target's version includes two of this spring's most popular colors, blush pink and lucite green, is 1/8th the cost of a Kate Spade scarf, and makes me look forward to the days when my lunch buddies and I will be able to eat outside!

Disclaimer: Modcloth links contain affiliate codes. Thank you for supporting Beyond the Aisle!

1. Target  floral  infinity  scarf     2. Kate  Spade  studs   from Piperlime  

3. Analog clock from Modcloth  4. Modcloth dress  5. Old Navy reversible tote  6. Target faux succulents (I'm loving this idea for planting succulents in mugs)  7. Modcloth ballet flats  8. Essie Resort 2015   nail   polishes   in  "Stones  N  Roses"  and  "Time  for  Me  Time"

Linking Up:
Color Me Tuesday at Undergraduate Style

I Feel Pretty at Get Your Pretty On

Style Sessions at Style Elixir

Style to Inspire with Rhea Et Cetera
Style Me Wednesday at Shopping My Closet

Manic Monday at More Pieces of Me and The Daily Express

Oh Hey Girl at Pumps and Push-Ups

My February {Fab} Favorites

I usually try to have my favorites up at the beginning of the month, but this month I'm going to go with better late than never. Blame work, blame the snowstorm, blame my laziness... anyway, here are the new things that I'm loving this month.  Disclaimer: Amazon product links include an affiliate code. Thank you for supporting Beyond the Aisle!

1. C9 Champion scoop tee from Target - Last time Target had a cute workout top with a cutout detail in the back, I missed out on my size, so this time I didn't wait around. I've been looking for exercise clothes with what Athleta catalogue calls a "CYA" fit (aka long in the back) for yoga and the moisture wicking material is great for the gym.

2. Pave circle earrings - Mr. Q really surprised me with some beautiful diamond pave circle earrings for Valentine's Day - honestly, I think the man is a mind reader. Or he looks at my Pinterest. Amazon has a Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia version that won't break the bank, and LOFT's gold toned version is currently on sale for less than $5!

3. Burt's Bees Milk and Honey Body Lotion - My winter addiction. This stuff smells amazing and works great. I even use it as a facial moisturizer on extra cold, dry mornings.

4. Spin Class - I have a love/hate relationship with spin class. Mr. Q is a cyclist and decided to start going to spin class at the Y to stay in shape during the winter months. I decided to check it out and go at least once a week even though sometimes I feel like the instructor is trying to kill us. On the upside, the music she plays is always on point (Pitch Perfect soundtrack! Katy Perry!) Mrs. Q's best friend, his sister, and her husband have all started coming, too - I guess the tribe that sticks together works out together, too. 

5. Love Lust or Run (TLC, Fridays 9/8c) - At the end of a long, hard work week I love some mindless television, and that's where this new Friday night fave comes in. Remember Stacy London from What Not to Wear? Now, instead of just schlumpy, her fashion victims are truly... um... unique (goth chick, "Jerseylicious," aging punk rocker), so she goes out to the streets to ask people what they think - would you love this person, lust after them, or run away? Stacy strips the wackadoodles down to real people, takes them shopping to find ways to incorporate their uniqueness into styles that are appropriate for the real world, and then takes it to the street again.

6. Stitch Fix - I got my second fix this month and I am officially in love with this service. You can sign up to have a personal stylist select five items just for you for a $20 fee that can be used toward any items you purchase (here's my affiliate link). No more fighting crowds at the mall or finding something you love that's not in your size. Since I live in a rural area and can't always find trendy pieces, it's fun to see what my stylists choose for me based on my requests and interests.

Linking Up:

year in review: most popular posts of 2014

We've come to the last few days of 2014, and it's time to reflect.  Google Analytics, Blogger, and Pinterest are handy tools to use to see what posts were popular this year and where visitors to Beyond the Aisle were coming from.

Here's a peek at my stats from 2014:
Visitors - 16,991 (up over 1,000 from last year!)
Unique Visitors - 15,351 (up over 3,000 from last year!)
Pageviews - 23,260 (up over 2,000 from last year!)

Visitors from these countries visited Beyond the Aisle in 2014:
1. United States
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. Australia
5. Germany
6. France
7. South Africa 
8. Philippines
9. Brazil
10. Mexico

These cities are home to Beyond the Aisle readers:
1. Charlottesville
2. New York
3. Chicago (up from #7 last year!)
4. London
5. Washington
6. Baltimore
7. Hialeah
8. Toronto
9. Los Angeles
10. Houston

Most popular posts:

10. Sunday Social: Beauty Edition - I really miss the Sunday Social link-ups - the questions often got me thinking.  While beauty doesn't seem like a really in-depth topic, I think we all know that women are actually very interested in each other's routines.

9. Patriotic Washi Tape Decor for Independence Day - let's be honest, this was the easiest DIY ever!  I still wanted to share my little burst of creativity with the blog world for one of my favorite holidays, and I'm glad people liked it!  My candleholders and vases made a few appearances on Pinterest as well - easy crafts for the win.

8. My May Favorites - Another now-defunct link-up, but I'm still posting my favorites each month - and I still love everything I've posted in these!  A bit of sad news for 2015, though, is that my favorite jewelry company, Lia Sophia, is going out of business.

7. Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness - We did a big Light It Up Blue week at school and I enjoyed bringing that over to the blog.

6. eShakti Dress Review - One of my favorite posts of the year because Mr. Q helped me with all of the photos and we had fun.  It also brought one of my real-life friends to the blog through eShakti!

5. Winter Style: Classy in Cranberry - You're going to be seeing a lot of burgundy and maroon shades this year since Marsala was chosen as Pantone's Color of the Year for 2015.

4. Inspiration for a Dreamy Mint and Baby's Breath Spring Wedding - Dream wedding round-ups are still one of my favorite things to do here on the blog.

3. Series: My Favorite 2014 Golden Globes Looks, My Favorite 2014 Golden Globes Hair and Makeup, Oscars Style: My Favorite Hair, Makeup, and Accessories - Clearly, you all are award show junkies just like I am!

2. The Boy Behind the Blog: Mr. Q's Turn to Post! - His answers were short, sweet, and to the point.  AND YOU OBVIOUSLY LOVED IT.

1. Rock and Roll 50th Birthday Party Ideas - My best work friend worked so hard on her husband's birthday party and Mr. Q and I were happy to help out by lending our photography and DIY skills.  I'm still really proud of my chalkboard project and it has become popular on Pinterest as well!

My December Favorites

Here's what I'm loving this month... 

Disclaimer:  Amazon links contain an affiliate code.

1. Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus volumizing mousse 2. St Ives Even and Bright Scrub 3. 4-Way Nail Buffer from Amazon 4. December desktop calendar from Oana Befort 5. Christmas Welcome Yankee Candle 6. A Thousand Wishes Signature Collection from Bath and Body Works  7. Glee Cast Holiday station on Pandora

Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus volumizing mousse - I purchased this mousse to style my hair in curls for Breeze's wedding last year - I had seen a hairstyling tutorial by Kate from The Small Things and couldn't find Aquage lifting foam, but I used her technique and it worked great! I have been using it for special occasions and all-around good hair days ever since.

St. Ives Even and Bright Scrub - This is what I got when I put "St. Ives Scrub" on the grocery list and Mr. Quinn did the shopping - I meant the traditional apricot scrub and wasn't specific enough.  Well, I'm probably not going back to apricot now that I've discovered this pink lemon and mandarin orange goodness.  I love the smell (it helps me wake up in the morning) and the fact that St. Ives uses all-natural exfoliants rather than pollution-causing plastic microbeads.  This one is gentle enough for everyday use and helps keep my skin clear.

4-Way Nail Buffer - I got one of these babies from a mall kiosk years ago and it's an essential part of my weekly routine.  Each side is covered with a different grain of buffer, perfect for smoothing out ridges, shaping nails, and buffing them to a pretty shine just like the technicians at the salon.

Oana Befort desktop calendar - I'm addicted to desktop calendars and this one is so merry and bright for the holidays!  Oana Befort is such a talented artist; I love her slightly bohemian style.

Christmas Welcome Yankee Candle - My favorite Yankee Candle scent, Sugared Apple, gets an upgrade for Christmas by being swirled together with Red Apple Wreath.  My house will smell festive every evening!

A Thousand Wishes - This Bath and Body Works scent is perfect for the holidays.  The top note is champagne, complemented by some of my favorite scents including peonies, freesia, amber, and almond. 

Glee Cast Holiday station on Pandora - It starts with music from the Glee Christmas Album (I love Lea Michele's version of "Oh Holy Night") and builds from there, so you get some Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Bublé thrown in too.  I also like the U2 and She + Him holiday stations, depending on the mood I'm in.

Linking Up:

sunday social: all about the 5's

1. 5 things you want us to know about you:

• I am an only child.  My parents were 40 when they had me and had raised my cousin from the time she was a teenager until she was emancipated from her parents.  I have several "spoiled only child" qualities but my parents were also fairly strict because they'd learned a lot from raising a teenager. 
• I'm just starting to really think about how growing up in Appalachia shaped my identity; in college, I tried to escape that culture, but now I'm trying to embrace it.
• I am an evangelical Christian and also a liberal, progressive, pro marriage equality, pro-choice, pro stronger gun control Democrat.  That makes me a real weirdo in Southwest Virginia and a lot of people don't understand how my faith and political viewpoints can co-exist. 
• I'm a workaholic.  Being a teacher is a dream come true for me and I take it very seriously.  No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I'm probably thinking about lesson plans or how to reach a difficult student.
• Mr. Q and I have been married for three years now and I think our relationship is stronger than it has ever been.  I truly consider him my best friend and would rather spend time with him than anyone else.

2. 5 favorite things about blogging:

• Getting to know people I would never know otherwise because there are so many miles between us or because our lives are so different.
• Having a hobby that allows me to practice my writing and develop my voice while reaching an authentic audience of my peers.
• I've learned about so many cool things that I love from reading blogs, from TV shows to watch and new bands to listen to, to housecleaning hacks and DIY ideas.
• Learning that I really do enjoy photography and photo editing as a hobby - I need more practice but so far I know that my "style" = lots of brightness.
• I can't remember when I first started adding fashion posts to the blog, but participating in fashion-themed link-ups and researching trends has really helped me develop a more streamlined personal style.  I'm not buying many items that just sit in the closet because I have a lot more styling ideas thanks to my fashion blogger friends.

3. 5 things you are doing before the year is over:

• Welcoming my BFF Breeze's new neice, Kinslei, into the world in a few weeks!
• Seeing To Kill a Mockingbird at our local theater.
• Going to the wine festival with Mr. Q and some of our lake friends.
• Participating in the Color Me Rad 5K to raise money for Special Olympics.
• Hopefully visiting either an apple orchard or pumpkin patch - I am determined to get outside and get my fall on.

4. 5 favorite fall fashion staples:

• Scarves

• Riding boots

• Skinny jeans

• Pencil skirts

• Sheer sweaters for layering

5. 5 favorite beauty products:

• L'Oreal True Match Naturale mineral foundation - it contains SPF 19, covers blemishes, and gives my skin an airbrushed look.  I get compliments on my "perfect skin" even though I actually have a ton of pockmarks and acne scars.
• Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer - extended time in the sun just isn't part of my lifestyle and I'm very serious about using SPF and wearing hats when I am outside.  As a result, I'm naturally very pale and need help keeping a healthy glow.
• Physicians Formula HappyBooster bronzer and blush - the second part of my fake-glow regimen.  This blush and bronzer combo looks so natural and blends really well.
• Almay Smoky Eye Shadow Trio - the perfect combination of colors for brown eyed girls.
• Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Stick - it smells good and feels really soft, not dry and lipstick-y.

I look forward to reading all of your Sunday Social posts this week and to chatting with you in the comments!