Pit & Peak Link-Up

Happy Wednesday all! I am so screwed up on my days because of Labor Day- is anyone else? Or it just could be me which wouldn't be so abnormal.

So as I mentioned last week I decided to host a weekly link-up called The Pit & Peak of the your week. I am a little nervous because I don't know how many people will link up but I'm going to stay committed to it and try and get the word out there.

Here are the Rules:

1. Say what was the Pit of your week

2. What was the Peak of your week

3. Any other things you want to share about your week 

Grab a button -- follow your host -- stop by other people who have linked up and post a comment! 

The Pit of my week would defiantly be when I was mad at my husband although he didn't know I was mad at him. I know that sounds odd but I was just feeling so disconnected from him for a few days so I thought avoiding him would be the best solution (I know very mature on my part) but when I realized that avoiding him wasn't going to get me very far we had some serious long over due pillow talk. I'm happy to report that I got everything off my chest and I feel 100% connected to him again!

The Peak of my week has been my new fondness of cooking! So I'm on the Paleo diet again (if you don't know what it is check out my post here) and while I have resorted to the recipes that I knew I liked and could cook from my last time going on Paleo I decided that those 4 recipes weren't going to last me for the long run. Yes I'm going for the LONG run here (thanks for the constant check up from my trainer where I have to text him a picture of everything -- yes everything -- I ate) so off to google I went for some Paleo recipes and I found quite a few that I was feeling ambitious in making. I spent my entire afternoon in the kitchen making 3 new recipes. Don't worry a post is defiantly coming out of this afternoon. Best part is everything I made was edible!

50 Shades & all the Craze

I hope that everyone had a fabulous Labor Day weekend! I worked for most of it but was able to snag Monday and today off! I didn't do anything exciting over the holiday weekend so like many bloggers I don't have any fun pictures or funny stories to share. But who needs that when everyone is still in the 50 Shades of Grey Craze. I am officially on the 3rd book and can't wait to finish- one reason is I have been reading the series over the whole summer so I feel like Christian Grey and Anna are house guests I would like to leave and quite frankly I'm ready to read another book. However let's rewind a moment and let ourselves get lost in this craze for a few more moments.

I feel like I officially knew us American lost our minds and our sex drive/fantasy when I was standing in line at Walgreens and saw this. . .

Yes do a double take but you saw that correctly that's a 50 Shades Magazine. I was half tempted to pick it up and flip through it but to be completely honest I had two cartons of eggs in my hands and there was no way a juggling act was going to happen.

So I've enjoyed the books up until this point (as I'm in the middle of the 3rd book) but I'm still fairly young so I'd to say I haven't lost my sex drive or fantasy but I know a lot of people have and these books have kick started that back up. I would like give a amen to that!

As many people I'm sure I can't wait for the movies to come out but like many movies from books I get worried who is going to play what characters and if they are going to stick to the book- none the less I will defiantly go out and see this movies with my girls. I have come across two movie trailers that I thought were intriguing so I would share.




And this one. . . .




I mean are you dying right now?? Because I was when I watched these. And for the record I would like to say that when I was talking to the girls at work about who we thought should play who I totally called Blake Lively for Anna's BFF and it looks like I was right! 

So while I didn't buy the 50 Shades magazine I was intrigued enough that when I got home I googled it and low and behold someone from the Huffington Post wrote an article (and a quite funny one) about it here but the author points out some findings from the magazine so I thought I would share with all of you her findings. . . 

1. 93% of people surveyed said they wanted a spanking now.
2. I am embarrassed for America.
3. E L James is working on a fourth book in the series.
4. Bret Easton Ellis has tweeted about Fifty Shades of Grey over 50 times, as he vies for the honor of writing the screenplay version of the books.
5. I am embarrassed for Bret Easton Ellis.
6. Women in a Mormon feminist book club read it and discussed it. That was actually interesting.
7. 82% of fireman interviewed (yes, you read that right, fireman) said they would have a drink with Christian Grey. I have no idea what that means.
8. I can have an ass like Anastasia's if I do squats with 16-pound kettle bells. 
9. A first edition of Tess of the D'Urbervilles costs $14,000. 
10. E L James can now buy all of the remaining copies of that book without putting a dent in her bank account.
11. You can have "vanilla sex" by applying Kiehl's vanilla-scented lip balm before kissing your mate. Only $9!
12. On a quiz entitled "Which Shade of Grey are You?" I scored a solid 40 points, putting me in the "Steel" category. This means I'll occasionally flirt with the dark side but I would only tell my closest friends. Shhh.
13. Lastly, I learned that 73% of those same firemen said that reading Fifty Shades of Grey had not "spiced up" their sex lives. Poor guys. You would think, with all that access to hoses and poles, they'd be on to something good.

Some good and funny takeaways and I can't wait to finish the 3rd book and wait for the movie! 

Sunday Social

Happy Sunday! I know most of you are enjoying this lovely 3 day weekend however I am working but I am at least off Monday & Tuesday so I'll take it! In my book Labor Day weekend officially marks the end of summer!!! Noo!!! I already miss it even though we are rocking out to this 80-90 degree weather. So this week's Sunday Social is a wrap up of my summer. Let's get started!

What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?
I would have to say my favorite trip this summer was going up to our lake house at the start of summer on Memorial Day weekend. Sadly I haven't been up since. Here are a few photos from the weekend. 

Favorite outfit look of the summer/clothing item?

I LIVE in my Tory sandals. For me once I pull them out that means my summer has started! 

What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?
I would say spend more time in the city and go to the beach, it's sad to say but I've never been to the Chicago beach. By no means am I missing much I'm sure because it's a lake not the ocean but still it's all we got. 

Favorite Song of the Summer?

For sure have been ROCKING out to this song!! 

Favorite movie/tv show of the summer?
Hmm... this is a hard one. I would say Keeping up with the Kardashian's or the orginal cast of Teen Mom. 

Thanks for stopping by!! Hope you had a good summer! 

New Idea & Post Card Swap!

Hi Everyone! So I totally planned on doing this post Wednesday however after I had lunch I did not feel good so I had a date with my bed and bathroom. I still felt not a 100% on Thursday but I am finally on the mend so I thought I need to get my butt in front of the computer and get my post ready. 

Where to begin?? First off last week I announced a giveaway here and the giveaway ended yesterday and I have a winner to announce! The winner is Deanne at Crafter Meets Craftsman. So excited (and a little jealous) but I can't wait to see what buttons she selects. Congrats again Deanne! 

In other news I have another what I think is exciting news to share and also a risk that I am taking. I still consider myself pretty new to the blogging world and it amazes me everyday the number of followers I reach and the comments I receive. In the past few months I have joined in many link ups and some I do every week and have become a fixture on my blog. One day I got the idea that 'why don't I host my own link-up?' This was a very scary idea because what if no one linked up? How embarrassing! But I thought who cares I decided to blog not for a popularity contest but for me so I went ahead and ran with the idea. I got a fabulous button made and so now drum roll please I am officially announcing my weekly Wednesday link-up called 'The Pit & Peak of your week'

Like I said it will be every Wednesday and you will just say what the Pit & Peak of your week. You can include pictures, obsessions, confessions, anything you want. I ask that you please grab a button that is now on the side of my blog (check it out) when you link up so we can get the word out there. 

What are your guys thoughts or feedback?? Would love to hear! 

I also had signed up for a Post Card Swap a few weeks ago and I was so excited to have received it. 

I found out my lovely Post Card Pen Pal was Brittany and after we sent a few e-mails back and forth we got a little more familiar with each other and then off we went to get our post cards. I have to admit writing a postcard to someone that you don't know was a lot harder than I would have every imagined. So I got her a fun postcard with the Chicago skyline on it and I wrote about the things you must do if you visit the windy city. Then a few days ago her postcard came in the mail! Check it out:

I had so much fun doing this linkup! 

Thursday Crush

Hello Thursday! Wow time is still flying by! I know for most of you Friday can't come soon enough because I'm sure you have a 3 day weekend! I work all weekend but I did get lucky and snag Monday & Tuesday off! Woo-hoo! I'll take it. However because it's Thursday it means I am linking up with none other than Ms. Danielle for

I need to face the facts and get with it that summer is over- well almost because here in Chicago we are still rocking out the 90+ degree weather (I'm hanging on to every last day!) however Fall is just around the corner. And besides Summer Fall is my next favorite season because it allows me to rock out in my leggings, motocycle boots, and of course a favorite sweater. So I am currently crushing on all things Cashmere Sweaters!

Fall for Cashmere by jessie-ingoglia featuring embellished tops

Who doesn't love a great sweater?? I know I do! What are you must have's for this Fall season??

I double dipping again this week and also linking up with Carolyn for


This week I'm lusting over this beauty

It's the Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. Clutch and I think I'm seriously in love. It may end up in my handbag collection sooner than later. haha. 

If you really knew me . . .

I noticed quite a few bloggers have done a post like this over the last few weeks and I really liked the idea so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and give it a go. So let's get started! 

If you really knew me . . . .

You would know that I'm the pickiest order at a restaurant. Like no joke people at work make fun of me. I will tell the person that is taking my order that they need to chop my chicken vs. cutting it in strips. 

I was obsessed with playing the game MASH when I was in JR. High. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. Remember you pick 4 guys, 4 kinds of cars, and 4 different numbers of children you want to have. Then MASH stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shack, and House. 

I have an obsession with office supplies- I could spend hours in a Office Max

Babies freak me out- they make a sound and I jump

I'm a liberal thinker on many issues 

I love a good challenge 

Have always been an avid reader

Love going to open houses- even though I'm not in the market to buy house, love being noisy 

Horror movies are my favorite! Even though I get scared easy 

I'm a collector of Essie nail polish 

I have to handle the finances, I'm OCD on where every penny is going 

Love a good reality show- which basically means I'm all things obsessed with Bravo

Can identify with Real Housewives of New Jersey- my husband's family resembles so many people on that show and sadly very much like Teresa 

I can pull off almost any hair color- been rocking the black for almost 2 years but I think I'm getting ready to make a big change. . dun dun dun

I would much rather text than talk on the phone- I also think that is because I talk to people all day at work

I hate winter 

Well I hope that you learned a little bit more about me. Thanks for stopping by!! 

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!! 

Manni Monday

Oh it's Monday . . . I def have a case of the Monday's today because I had the weekend off and I am dragging my feet to get back to work. Anyways on a happier note because it's Monday that means I'm once again linking up with Glitter & Gloss for



So this week I was so excited to go to the nail salon and get my no chip back on. As I mentioned last week I was taking a couple of weeks off the no chip to let my nails breathe and I have to be honest I don't know how we've all dealt with no chip for so long. I have to be honest my nail salon needs to get on the band wagon and get more colors for no chip. Since in my new 'dress code' our nails can only be natural (ugh) I decided to do OPI Bubble Bath and I am so glad I did. The only thing I changed was I did three coats so it wouldn't be so transparent. Check it out how it looks.

Don't forget to check out my giveaway!!