It's been way too long since I have vlogged but alas, I'm so excited to catch up with everyone this week. Mark and I have been in a whirlwind this past month and we are so happy living in Charlotte again. There really is no place like home. Being close to our families and friends is something we are so thankful for. It still feels kind of surreal and almost like a really long vacation, but once we move into our house I'm sure things will change. My Pinterest boards are overflowing with ideas for our new home and I cannot wait until we have the keys.
I can't wait to see what everyone else has been up to. I hope you all are having a fantastic week! Don't forget to check House of Rose for the new Stop and Smell the Roses schedule.
P.S. Jen, do you like my MAGENTA dress!? I wore it just for you.
Oh how I have missed Mandy's link up! This moving this is no simple task. Make that a move from basically one end of the country to the other and it's a little bit like a jigsaw puzzle that has to be carefully put together. When we were not packing, we were house hunting and when weren't house hunting, we would hop in the car, drive 13 hours back to Charlotte, and house hunt some more. Because? Well...HGTV's House Hunters is a far cry from the truth. I'm still in the middle of a boycott.
BUT thanks to our fantastic realtor we BOUGHT A HOUSE and we close on our little Charlotte gem in August. In the meantime, we are thankful for family (ahem...Hi, Mom & Dad!) and a place to rest our heads in the transition period because as soon as we clean up our house this morning and tie up loose ends here in Bloomington, we are headed to Charlotte today! Meep!
I was in need of a break from packing last week and a fun lunch date was to my rescue! I actually still can't believe it really happened. On Friday, I met Jen (A Daily Dose of Davis) in a "small random town between our two house" for a delightful lunch! Jen and I met through Mandy's link up and have been friends ever since. I was practically in tears as we finally met in person and we had the best afternoon together. I think we laughed the entire time- long lost friends for sure! We only wish we would have gotten together sooner while we live in the same state. I know the perfect cure to that though- Girls Weekend!
Of course we had to film a vlog for all of our Stop and Smell the Roses girls...ENJOY!
I'm so thankful for blogland and all of the friends that I have made through it. Don't forget to take a moment and find a reason to smile this wek, too. Better yet, film a vlog about it LINK UP WITH MY FRIEND MANDY! Next week, I'll be vlogging from Charlotte! Love to you all!
HUGE news in the Moore house this week!!! We are beyond excited. As in pee your pants, scream at the top of your lungs dance around because you don't know what else to do kind of excited.
And NO. Not the kind of news that will involve me becoming huge, living in maxi dresses and having weird random cravings.
I'm thrilled that this news can finally be out in the open! It's been so hard to keep it in for the past several weeks as all of the logistics with Mark's company (Johnson & Johnson) have been worked out. I cannot tell y'all how happy we are.
Mark, I do not have enough words to say how proud I am of you and how much I love you. We make the best team and doing this thing called life together makes my heart full.
It's officially mid-week and what has become one of my favorite days thanks to everyone's cheerful smiles I watch on the Stop and Smell the Roses vlogs every week! I've noticed some new readers stopping in to say hello so if you're new here, WELCOME! I'm so glad that you stopped by.
This week, I'm thankful for some extra Vitamin D in my life and taking some time to unplug and be "present". I work in Communications and Social Media, and have every type of technology at my fingertips literally all day long. I have found that some quiet time without all of that extra noise is truly a good re-charge for the soul. Sometimes it's nice to just sit and be.
A few other things I'm loving this week.
THIS SONG. On repeat. It's closely rivaling my 1998 anthem. Really, how great was this dance (which I proudly learned). Britney Spears, I will never quit on you.
Afternoon snack of berries drizzled with sweet Mission Fig Balsamic and raw coconut.
The return of Monday night dates with Chris Harrison. I'm loving this season of the Bachelorette, especially since it was filmed in the Queen City!
P90X ab-ripper (I hate it, but I love it and how strong I feel) Hello bikini season!
Lots and lots and lots of neon. In moderation of course. I'm re-living life as 5 year old Nina.
See here:
I hope you all are finding something to smile about this week! Check out all of the smiling faces over at Mandy's blog, House of Rose. Have a fantastic Wednesday!
I heart Wednesdays! It's fun to really check in with everyone and makes me smile knowing that we have a wonderful group of bloggers stopping to take in the little things, too. Thank you, Mandy, for starting something fantastic!
My morning started out with a great workout and a ton of productivity. Thank goodness because I quickly got sidetracked when my little sister texted me letting me know that Chris Harrison was co-hosting with Kelly Ripa this morning. Chris Harrison on my television set on a non-Monday!? Yes, please! Natalie also told me to listen to this (yes, that link is me telling you to listen to it, too!), and I've been dancing in my living room for a bit. Really. It's an instant mood boost. I suggest you do the same.
I hope all of you are taking time out of your day to smile about the little things. Are you inspired to link up with us yet? Check out Mandy's blog, House of Rose, for all of the details and join the fun.
Also? Please find some time today to turn up some music and go dance in your living room. Do it.
Olive oil is a kitchen staple. I often say that my kitchen should be stocked with plenty of red wine, dark chocolate and olive oil. I almost never run out of these three things. If we run out of olive oil...well...I don't know because that's never happened. Ever. It's like the starting point of every meal. And it kind of makes the world go round.
Well, my love for oil has grown exponentially over the past few months as my blonde sister and brother in law (Sophie & Doug) opened up an artisanal olive oil shop of their own last week in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood. Pour Olive is sleek, chic and a perfect addition to East Boulevard. Among a list of nearly forty oils & vinegars sold at Pour Olive, you can also find various gift items fit for a foodie or to bring along with you as a hostess gift to your next dinner party. I have my eyes on some oil dipping dishes and metal martini glasses. And those oils & vinegars that they sell? Well, they're good enough to drink straight from the bottle.
Persian Lime. Black Truffle. Dark Chocolate Balsamic. Wild Mushroom Sage. Tuscan Herb. Mission Fig. Cinnamon Pear.
Has your jaw hit the keyboard yet? It's okay, drooling is only human.
Charlotte friends & readers, head into Pour Olive the next time you are in Dilworth. Make sure you tell Sophie and Doug that I sent you, and they'll send you home with a mini bottle of oil to try! Along with a Bottle Rewards Program, Pour Olive also has a great "green" initiative. If you bring back an empty bottle, you get $1 off your next bottle.
I've been working on marketing and social media for Pour Olive, so you will be hearing more about this "family business" in the coming weeks. This has been such a blessing to be a part of thus far. I have so many new recipes in the works. To top it off, not only is it out of this world delicious, but olive oil has known health benefits that probably deserve a blog post of their own. You all know I'm a fan of healthy living! Have you had your two tablespoons today?
Please let me know if you check out the shop! And, if you are not local to Charlotte don't forget that you can call the store- they will ship!
Skipping to the mailbox is one of my favorite moments of the day. A good mail day usually consists of a new J.Crew Catalog or Anthropologie, an Ulta flyer with a coupon to further fuel my lipstick hoarding, and the newest issue of Southern Living or Cooking Light. Throw in a save the date and I'm all smiles. That's a good mail day. But a GREAT mailday? Those days could be nothing but junk mail and amidst the junk is a single envelope with a handwritten note inside. Those mail gems simply are the best!
Supplies mentioned in this video that I keep on hand for homemade stationery:
blank notecards (found at Hobby Lobby, Michael's)
scrapbook paper in fun patterns and colors
acid-free gluestick
stamps
stamp pads and markers
envelope liner stencil (made with a manilla envelope)
I'm a total pen snob. Here are my favorites for both note writing and everyday:
Send someone snail mail love this week and let them know that you are thinking about them! When it comes to random acts of love and kindness, it really doesn't get a whole lot better than that.
If there is something you're smiling about this week, film a vlog and link up with us! You can find all of the details on Mandy's blog, House of Rose, HERE.
Remember to take in the little things and find an extra reason to smile each and every day. Be positive, spread the love and always CHOOSE JOY.
P.S. "Nothing says I love you like lined envelopes". xoxo
It's time to Stop and Smell the Roses again. Now, a show of hands...how many of you spent at least 30 minutes last week with avocado and olive oil lathered all up on your lovely locks!? As Mark and I enjoyed our homemade pizza on Friday night, my Twitter was lighting up like a Christmas tree from all you girls and your avocado + olive oil dates. I hope that as a result, you all have soft, silky, smooth Princess hair that you just can't keep your hands off of this week!
I am happy to say that I did my video this week in ONE TAKE. I gathered some patience and even played around with more edits in iMovie. Mandy filmed a great tutorial that I found very helpful. I'm a visual learner and it was much better than sitting here with my head in a tizzy trying to figure it out for myself.
This week is about a LOT of hot pink, years of searching for the perfect chapstick finally coming to an end, and conquering a new skill...all while not being able to put a book down.
a book that I cannot put down... Bloom, by Kelle Hampton
If you're having a chevron moment like me, and if you're inspired to sew something, too, I found some similar fabric and it can be purchased HERE.
As I said in my vlog, I am completely moved by Kelle's story. The words are perfectly woven together, the emotions are raw and I'm finding myself limiting my time reading each day because I'm just not ready for it to be over yet. I'm not going to say anything else other than PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. If you are not familiar with Kelle's blog, Enjoying the Small Things, I urge you to check it out! (thank you Danica for yet another GEM!)
Link up with Mandy at House of Rose and share your weekly happies!
Find the little things in your days and then take time to smile about them. Wishing you all a happy day!
I cannot even take myself seriously in my video this week but hey, this is ME. I get excited about the the little things and according to Mark, that's a good thing.
I'm the oldest of three girls and my dad is most definitely a "minority in the sorority". I cannot even begin to count the times our dinner conversations revolve around one thing: HAIR. "It's all about the hair" my dad always says and well, sometimes that's true. He likes to harass us about the hours we collectively spend, each week, just on our hair. I wish I had some of these conversations recorded.
I'm a hair product hoarder and will try any new product that I see or hear about. I'm so non committal when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. I barely get through half of a bottle before I'm itching to try something new. Read: this drives Mark CRAZY. On a positive note, our house guests always have a huge variety of shampoos and conditioners to choose from since the guest bathroom seems to be the lucky spot to hide all of my unwanteds.
Last week, AP let me in on a little hair secret. We share a mutual love for avocado and, well, I'm singing the praises of the avocado even louder than before. Thank you, AP for changing my (hair) life.
Speaking of my sisters, they tell me when I wear this ruffled shirt that I look like I have an animal around my neck. I now see what they are talking about.
Are you smiling about something this week? Stop and Smell the Roses, film a 2-3 minute video, and link up with us! Check out House of Rose for more details.
*I forgot to mention this in the video but after rinsing out the avocado + olive oil mask, shampoo and condition then style as you normally would. Also, if you don't have a shower cap, you can use tin foil to wrap your hair up while you wait.
Wednesdays have become less about what color lipstick J. Lo is sporting for the week on American Idol and more about the Fabulous Stop and Smell the Roses link up! I love that this has brought me out from behind my MacBook so that you all can get to know a little bit more about me. Plus, I've met some wonderful new bloggers while stopping to notice the rosy little things along the way!
Today, I'm sharing an organization that has brought extra joy and sunshine into my life. I have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for about a year and a half and I have enjoyed every moment since! Growing up, my parents always taught us to give back to those around us and make a difference in our communities. Each of us has it in us to bring joy to others and no effort is ever too small. Being a "big sister" has truly taught me that love equals time. Watch my video below to learn more about my experience with BBBS, why I love having a "little sister", and that as much as I am having a positive impact on her life, she is doing the same thing to mine.
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit their website. They have tons of information available and various ways to get involved. There are so many children in our very own communities who just need to be reminded and shown that they are loved. If you're interested in volunteering with a child of your own, click on the "Volunteer" tab at the top. The site will prompt you to plug in your zipcode and you will be taken to your nearest local chapter. There is also a link at the very top of the site that is titled "find your local agency".
Additionally, if you have any questions about my experience personally, send me an e-mail {ninalovesfood@gmail.com). I'm happy to share more details!
Well, this vlogging thing is kind of fun and I'm back again this week for Stop and Smell the Roses, hosted by Mandy over at House of Rose! I decided to film on my couch, just so that I could be more comfy, and realized midway through that my shirt matches my yellow medallion gallery! Totally unplanned, but I would also be lying if I didn't like the matchy matchy-ness going on in this video. At least yellow is a happy, sunshiney color!
Last week was such a wonderful week! I celebrated my 27th birthday on Friday and Mark totally blew me away with a surprise weekend getaway. He sure does know how to make my heart all swoopy swirly inside.
Our whirlwind weekend was a self guided food tour and we savored every bite. We enjoyed a delicious Spanish/Caribbean dinner on Friday night at Carnivale and found our way to a tiny Italian bistro near our hotel for Caramel Ricotta Cheesecake and Amaretto coffee to end. Saturday, we enjoyed our time in the city and spent much of our Saturday afternoon sipping Italian beers and tasting small plates at one of our very favorite spots, The Purple Pig. We fell in love with this place during our anniversary weekend in September and as fate would have it, we parked our little behinds at the same spot at the bar right in front of the open kitchen! We love watching the chefs work their magic and we even got a few extra treats sent our way. I didn't want my birthday weekend to come to an end. Thank you, Mark, for making me the happiest girl in the world!
I hope you all are having a wonderful week. Don't forget to stop, smell the roses, and find something to be thankful for each and every day!
Welp, I finally worked up the courage to film my very first vlog! Mandy, from House of Rose, has been hosting this vlog link up for about a month now and I keep promising her that I will join the fun. So Mandy, my entrance into the vlog world is dedicated to you. Thank you for encouraging me get some guts and branch out of my comfort zone! The purpose of this vlogging link up is to share something we are thankful for each wek. Since this is the first time I'm participating, I decided to thank all of YOU! I blog for myself, and I blog to remember but I'm so thankful to have made new friends along the way.
A few things I would like to note...
1. After watching this I realized how excited I seem! I would apologize but I really am this energetic in real life. Most days, I don't stop. Ask Mark. He'll tell you!
2. Do I sound like I'm yelling? I really think it sounds like I'm yelling. But I wasn't! I promise.
3. Whoahhhh I seriously talk with my hands. This is nothing new but it's funny to watch in person. I've tried sitting on them, but it's unnatural. I'm Italian. This is me
4. I kind of, sort of, LOVED filming this! I had no idea how I would feel after filming myself but it was really, really liberating. And not as weird as I thought it would be! Virtual cooking classes, anyone!? (I did promise Mandy I would post an egg poaching tutorial!)
Thank you to sweet Mandy for hosting the link up. I love watching everyone's videos and I'm excited to add mine to the list!
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