Sites You Need to Know

Just a short post this morning. I've been wanting to share the following two websites. I read both of these every day and truly think that my life is better because of it. 

Do you follow either of these? What are your daily reads?

I can't remember who introduced me to The Everygirl, but whoever you are - thank you! The Everygirl does a variety of posts and features on topics related to career advancement, home decor, fashion, political and economic news, etc. My favorite are the home features, the stories of women between the age of 20 and 50 and their career stories, and their fun giveaways. Another favorite is their Everygirl feature where readers write in about their experiences. It's a great site for learning and talking about other women like me! The site is also fun to follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Definitely check them out.

Unlike the Everygirl, I do remember who introduced me to the Skimm. Hitha did a blog post on the Skimm a few weeks ago and I've been hooked ever since. The Skimm sends you an email every (weekday) morning with a recap of the major and less-than-major events in the news. In a very easy to understand style, the Skimm brings you an overview of what you need to know to stay...in the know. It's a quick way to catchup on the news every morning. Now I follow them on Facebook and Twitter too.

HIgh-Low | Nail Lacquer

Over the last few years, I've come to appreciate always having my nails painted. The maintenance can be a bit of work, but I find that my happiness is worth it. Someday, it would be nice to be able to get manicures every week or at least a professional polish change, but until then, I'll keep doing mine at home with an occasional manicure every 3-4 months.

My go-to nail laquers are from Essie and O.P.I. They are a few dollars more than the drugstore brands that I've been purchasing for years, but the color selection and quality of paint is great. I prefer the brush and 'handle' of the Essie polishes the most* - they fit my hand perfectly. The O.P.I. 'handles' are a bit larger than I like, but the colors and quality get me over that holdup quickly. Also, if you know exactly what shade you want in either of these brands, Amazon tends to have deals on many shades.

I'm also a big fan of Sonia Kashuk's collection for Target. I like this line for all the same reasons that I love Essie and O.P.I. except that there isn't a wide selection of colors. The less expensive price tag is great if you can find the color you want, however.

No matter what nail lacquers you use, you should invest in a good top coat to help from chipping. Essie (No Chips Ahead) and Orly (Won't Chip Topcoat) make great top coats.

* In talking with my niece and sister (nail polish aficionados), we prefer different brands of polishes because of the handle size and brush shape. Our hands are different sizes and shapes, so what's comfortable is different.

Shrimp & Peach Skewers

Ever since we did our first dinner on the BBQ for the season (here), we have been doing at least one grilled dinner per week. My boyfriend loves being out on the BBQ and we love the great flavors and the (usually) lighter fare. With peaches from our Fresno fruit run last weekend (post soon), I decided to get a bit experimental and try shrimp and peach skewers. Paired with veggie skewers, they did not disappoint. I'm excited for lots of experimental grilling and seasoning this summer!

You can really put any meat or veggies on your skewers. Here are some basic guidelines.

• Brush olive oil on every item on your skewer. This helps with easy grilling, flavor, and cuts back on charring.
• Season everything with salt and pepper, and/or appropriate seasonings (useful guide to basic spices here)
• Seafood takes very little time (a few minutes on each side) so cook these skewers last
• Raw vegetables take longer to grill (at least 10 minutes per side on medium-high heat)
• Pair foods together on a skewer that take a similar amount of time to cook so you don't burn or undercook anything
• Fruit gets sweeter as it heats up, so this creates a nice alternative to otherwise salty options
• When adding meat, vegetables, and fruit to skewers, poke skewer through thickest part of each piece to ensure it stays on the skewer as it cooks
• Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 10 minutes before adding meat and vegetables to prevent burning and splintering
• The skewers get very hot quickly, so handle with care when removing them or flipping them over

Celebrity Incognito

Tarnish hat, Coach sunglasses, Alternative sweatshirt (other colors here), Trouve tank, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Me Too x Adam Tucker shoes (loving them in red), Coach bag

Yesterday turned into one of those days. It started out with a massage (the boyfriend's idea). It felt great. The masseuse really worked on the tightness in my shoulders. Probably not too surprisingly, however, I had no motivation to do anything once I got home. I was ready to lay like a blob for the rest of the day. That wasn't an option though. I have a lot to do this week, getting my dissertation ready to submit, and I'm working a few jobs. When it was time to get dressed to go out for a much needed frozen yogurt (here), all I could think of was how celebrities go out in public, seemingly incognito. They hide under hats and over sized sunglasses. That's about what I was ready for.

I'm excited for everything to happen this week and in the next few weeks, but I can't wait until this weekend when my dissertation is out of my hair and I get to celebrate with my family.