The Ulta Coupon

If you haven't been before, Ulta is a great place to shop for all things beauty. They've got plenty to go around for men and women. At all price ranges, you can find whatever you need. I'd call it Sally Beauty Supply on steroids. They even have a full service salon. If you decide to venture to one of these for the first time or on a regular basis, never go without this COUPON. It is located on their main website page, $3.50 off $10.00. Enjoy!

BLT Chop Chop Salad

De-LISH!

Diagonal Chop

I didn't want this little baby to go to waste!

It's the PERFECT time of year to make a chopped salad. Vegetables are everywhere and I'm buying them like they're going out of style. What makes a GREAT chopped salad you ask? Anything chopped, indeed! This self-made recipe is a great lunch or side to dinner. It's not complicated and it fills you right up. It has all the components of a great BLT, Bacon, Lettuce (Romaine), Tomato or Turkey, croutons for the bread and cheese to get your daily dairy! The best thing about using romaine as your lettuce of choice is that it absorbs dressing really well. This is an extremely easy calorie cut! For this recipe, I stick to the same brands of things every single time. Of course, you don't have to measure things exactly, just add or take away as you wish. I'm currently eating this salad three times a week. YUM!

Ingredients:

Hearts of Romaine Chopped Fine (1 Large Heart makes a side salad for two, for a meal, I use one large heart per person)

Texas Toast Seasoned Croutons

One Carton Plum Tomatoes

Kosher Salt-TINY pinch

Peppercorn Medley Grinder

Hillshire Farm Turkey (optional-my lunch go-to)

Sharp Cheddar

Johnny Fleeman's Honey Mustard (I've only seen this at Wal-Mart, a good substitute could be O'Charley's Honey Mustard, really any dressing, too!)

Two Slices of Center-Cut Bacon

Directions:

1.) Wash and chop romaine very finely. The best way to do this is chop off the white end first(about 1" up because it is sometimes bitter). With leaves gathered together, slice about every 1/4" until entire heart is chopped. Then, diagonally move the knife over the slices to get a fine and even texture. Cut all plum tomatoes in half.

2.) Cook and crumble bacon. I microwave mine for exactly three minutes. If using turkey, slice it, too.

3.) Leave romaine slightly damp. In a large bowl, mix romaine, tomatoes, cheese, turkey, bacon, and croutons with salad tongs. Add desired amount of dressing, a tiny pinch of salt, pepper grinds, and toss again with tongs. Final product should look light with dressing, if you wish, of course!

4.) Serve!

The White Couch

I. Had. To. Have. This. Sofa.

I bought this sofa during a President's Day sample sale at Pottery Barn. Man, oh, man, it is everything I ever dreamed it would be. I've looked far and wide for a slip-covered sofa. I thought about buying an old one and fixing it up. I shopped thrift stores and antique stores until my legs broke off. When this holiday rolled around however, the timing and price were right. Looking at how absolutely huge it is, I can't believe how inexpensive it was. Yes, really, really, literally, inexpensive. This sweet baby is 100% white cotton canvas, Made in America, and fabulously two couches in one. It can be an L shaped sectional or a standard straight length. Since I didn't buy furniture to "fit" the apartment, the L shaped is too large for my den. So, the standard straight it is. The knife edge is functioning as a corner chair. If you saw my last apartment, you've probably guessed that I'm already busy making a huge wall collage above this very couch. A blog on it is coming soon.
While people have been asking me what type of furniture I'm getting/have, the white couch love spills out of my mouth faster than I can take my next breath. I've heard, "no pets or kids" spoken many a time. It doesn't bother me that it's white. If a stain gets on it, all I have to do is unzip that section and throw it in the washer. This is a HUGE perk to me. I can "clean" the couch anytime I want. Sleek, refreshing, and shabby chic, this was the perfect couch choice for me!

Solid Design: Miranda Alexander Interiors

Just the other day, I stumbled upon a dear southern belle at Miranda Alexander Interiors. On a quaint little Decatur street sits one of the most beautiful interior design firms I have ever laid eyes upon. Calming neutrals are everywhere. From curtains to couches to candles, beauty is all you see.

The precious belle that owns this store is Miranda Alexander, of course. She's an Alabama alum just like me! Roll Tide! I found the two of us talking continuously about all sorts of fun things. We both work very hard for ourselves, trying to get the word out there and be our own brand. We want more small businesses in America, especially in sweet home Alabama. Her firm has been open since December, and is gaining clients quickly. If you want some true design eye candy in historic downtown Decatur, PLEASE check her out! You will not be disappointed in all that she has to take in. She does private consultations in homes and businesses. So, if you're in the market for that, she's your girl. I love love love people like this! Following their dreams, achieving their goals, it is truly a sight to see. Find her on Facebook or visit her on Bank Street in Decatur, Alabama.

Spring Sheen

Tights are for spring and summer, too! Look at all these great sheer patterns! Target has tons for $5.00 and $10.00. Polka-dots, florals, stripes and more, these add an extra something special to your look. Sometimes, its hard to know if bare legs are appropriate depending on your situation. If so, go with a pair of these. You'll look super classy no matter what. They are also extremely handy for super hot days. If you're like me and extremely hot-natured, you know how miserable it is to keep yourself looking polished in the heat. Stop the swooning before it even starts. These look great with summer boots, flats, or pumps. I don't recommend them with open-toed shoes, however. That's as bad as wearing socks with sandals. As my mama always said, "Some things are just not done."