Taylor Swift Reputation Tour

About 9 months ago we learned that Taylor Swift would be coming to Atlanta as part of our Reputation Tour and we knew we had to go!  There was a pre-sale process where fans could gain early access for doing things like watching her videos, buying merchandise, sharing via social media and a ton of other things.  I spent what felt like weeks doing everything we could to get us early access and when the day finally came to purchase tickets my hands were literally shaking.  I was on the phone with Jen the entire time and as soon as I had confirmation of the tickets I was SO excited and relieved. I gave the tickets and shirts to my girls as Christmas gifts and they were beyond thrilled!

Their first concert was the Taylor Swift concert a few years ago and we had so much fun so they couldn't wait to go back.  Because the concert wasn't until August it felt like forever to wait, but it was the perfect thing to look forward to right after school starting.

Jen booked us a room at the Omni Hotel downtown so we could walk over to the stadium before and after the show and not have to deal with all of the traffic since we knew it would be a late night.

Our room had an amazing view of Mercedes-Benz stadium and it was fun to watch all the people walking around downtown all dressed up. 

We all got ready while sipping on Champagne for the over 21 crowd and sparkling juice for the younger ones.  Nothing like a little multi-tasking. 

Part of getting ready included our RED lips!!!  Because it was a special occasion we went all out! 

I had an extra ticket so my mom was able to come with us for the night!

Red Lipstick

We walked over to the stadium and the excitement all around us was contagious.

CB's black scalloped shorts//Jen's black halter top

After getting into the stadium and grabbing tour t-shirts, Little Cute needed to reapply!  She was all about the red lips and so pumped for her first concert! 

We entertained ourselves by taking pictures while we waited for the show to start. 

The opening acts were Charlie XCX and Camilla Cabello. Both were so fun and got the crowd up, dancing and excited. 

When Taylor came on stage the place went wild! People screaming, singing, dancing, and having so much fun. 

One thing we all loved were the light-up bracelets.  They are synchronized to the music and light up all different colors at all different times. It makes the stadium look so cool!

We sang and danced our little hearts out all night long. Taylor sang a ton of her new songs from the Reputation album, but also mixed in some of her older songs, too. 

The lights, the dancing, the costumes, the production...all of it was AMAZING!  She is such a performer and put on such a great show. 

She also moves around a bunch. We had thought about getting seats on the floor, but decided against it because we weren't sure the girls would be able to see as well. We ended up in the lower level which was great. We had a good view of the main stage and also we were right in front of one of the side stages that she performs a few songs on. Plus, with the huge screens that are all around the top of the stadium you could see everything perfectly no matter where you were sitting. 

Thank you Taylor Swift for such a fun night. We had a blast and can't wait for you to come back to Atlanta!!!!  

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Mommy Maintenance: 8 Tips for Painting Your Nails at Home

It's been a while since we've had a post in our Mommy Maintenance series, but this is one I've been thinking about a lot recently.  For those of you who might want to check out the other topics we've covered, here you go:

Exercise 

Skincare 

LipSense 

Teeth Whitening 

Ever Make-Up and Skincare 

The Mommy Maintenance department was put on a big hold over the summer because I just didn't have time, but now that they are back in school I'm committing some time to focusing on myself. One thing I just love is to have my nails painted. It makes me feel so much more put together when I have a fun color on my nails.

This has been a hot topic of conversation around my house lately because my girls are obsessed with SNS nails.  They think all of their friends have them (not true) and they are begging me to take them to get there's done (not happening). Now, we do go occasionally to a nail salon and they LOVE getting pedicures and getting their nails done, but it is not something I'm going to pay for them to do regularly.  I told them if they want to pay for it with all of their babysitting money I'm happy to take them, but that was of no interest to my little savers so alas, no SNS nails for them.

When Jen and her family were over for dinner last weekend this got us talking and thinking about tips and tricks she and I have learned along the way to keep our at-home painted nails lasting longer so I thought I'd share my tips for anyone else who doesn't have the time or money to get their nails done at a salon every other week.

8 Tips for Painting Your Nails at Home 

1. Start with clean nails.  This sounds so simple, but it is true. I once read that if you have anything on your nails, especially something like lotion, then the polish won't adhere as well.  So, after you put on your lotion or creams, make sure you wash your hands before painting your nails.

2. Keep them short. The shorter you keep your nails the longer your paint job will last because the tips of your nails are less likely to bump against things like your keyboard, counters, or anything you touch!

3. Paint them in the car. This might be just me, but I can never find time to paint my nails at home. There are always dishes to do, laundry to fold, or someone who needs help with something. But, you know when I have at least 15 minutes of uninterrupted time?  When I'm driving somewhere!  Often I will get in the car a few minutes early and paint my nails there. Then all I have to do is drive with my hands on the steering wheel and they dry while I'm heading to my destination.  The air vents also help!

4. Start with a base coat.  I just recently started doing this and have noticed a big difference in how long my nail polish stays on. I really think it helps. This is the one I use.

5. Paint two coats of color. I also read that painting your nails with two (or even three) really thin coats is better than one thick coat. After the first coat, let it dry completely before painting the next. The waiting is the hardest part, but with very thin coats of polish they actually dry faster!

6. Top it off. I always use this top coat and feel like it is the best. I've tried others and those claiming to give it a gel top coat finish, but this one is my favorite.

7. Wear rubber gloves.  It seems so old fashioned, but if you wear rubber gloves when doing dishes or cleaning it limits the exposure your nails have to water and chemicals that could take the polish off. One day I had recently painted my nails and then I used a bunch of those cleaning wipes to wipe down my kitchen.  Next thing I knew almost half the polish on the hand I was holding them with had rubbed off. Now I wear gloves!

8. Top it off...again. My daughter when to a nail salon with my mother-in-law and the ladies their shared a little tip that I have been using to make my polish job last a bit longer than usual.  If your polish is still on after about 2 days add another layer of top coat to seal the color a bit longer. The top coat is obviously the last thing on and the first to rub off as you go about your everyday business. Adding another layer only helps preserve your color a bit longer.  Also, as the tips of my  nails begin to chip I will trim them just a tad and add another layer of top coat and that will get me at least 2 more days.

Favorite Spring/Summer Colors

In order left to right.

1. Between the Seats 

2. Romper Room 

3. Splash of Grenadine 

4. Peach Daiquiri 

5. Mod Square 

6. Alpine Snow

7. Getting Nadi On My Honeymoon 

Favorite Fall/Winter Colors

In order left to right.
1. For the Twill of It 
2. Wicked 
3. Penny Talk 
4. Chinchilly 
5. Tribal Text-styles 
6. Petal Pushers 
7. Bobbing for Baubles 
8. Mauving to Manitoba

Would love to know if y'all have any other tips to share?!  

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Share a Snack, Share a Smile!

This post was sponsored by NABISCO as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

ALWAYS ON SNACK MODE

Summer break might be officially over, but summer itself is still in full swing! We aren't completely on our full Fall schedule yet, and aside from school we are still able to enjoy our favorite summertime activities during our free time. We still get to play with friends, splash in the pool, ride around on the boat, and soak in all the laid back feels summer has to offer before the real chaos begins. 

Regardless of the season, one thing continuously remains a constant - my kids are snacking machines! I learned long ago not to ever leave the house with out a diaper bag full of options for that inevitable moment when one of those adorably tiny voices would state they needed a snack. Which also inevitably turns into an epidemic. Because once one tiny voice utters the word "snack", any human under the age of 18 with in a 15 mile radius will also instantly become hungry too.  You best be prepared. 

As The Cutes have gotten older, not much has changed. Their appetites are larger, and the amount of snacks those tiny little bodies can consume only to hear 30 minutes later they are "starving and need another snack" is shocking. Where does it all go?!

In Summer I notice my tiny little humans seem to crank it up a notch. All those cannon ball contests, lightening bug finding sessions, and countless backyard soccer games all seem to make their appetites insatiable. I had to up my game in the snack department and start bringing larger portioned options everywhere I went. At some point I was nervous a rolling suitcase might seriously have to become my new accessory. 

Each of my children have different snacking preferences. Some prefer saltier snacks and some prefer sweeter options. Personally, I am an equal opportunity snacker, and take full advantage of sampling their snacking choices. 

When we are grocery shopping at Walmart I let the kids go through and pick out what snacks they want each week. 

They rotate what they love the most but our staples seem to be Honeymaid Grahams, Ritz Crackers, Swedish Fish, and - my personal favorite - OREOs. Walmart has such a great selection of NABISCO snacks, and are always well stocked in the Family Sized packs. It makes shopping so easy! 

The Family Sized packs are perfect for sharing and are also typically packaged in easy to travel with resealable containers. So in the off chance The Cutes and their friends don't consume every single last crumb, we can reseal them and bring them again on our next pool or playground adventure.

SHARE A SNACK, SHARE A SMILE!

Now even as our lives transition over to back-to-school mode, not much in the snacking department changes. The Cutes lunch boxes get filled with their favorites and they can often be seen on the sidelines of practice munching and laughing along with their teammates. NABISCO has so many fun ideas and recipes you can make with their snacks too. I love perusing their Snack 'N Share Board on Pinterest for inspiration!

With summer still on our minds, and snacks always on our brains, we decided to take our snack sharing to the next level. The first week of school for us really does fall smack in the middle of summer. So we thought why not try keep that summer vibe alive as long as possible? 

The Cutes wanted to bring one of their favorite summer snacks to share with their new friends. So we grabbed several of the family sized packs of Swedish Fish, and created these fun fish inspired printables. 

We packaged up a large scoop of those yummy gummy fish into a treat bag, and tied one of the fish themed tags to it with curling ribbon. 

The kids were so excited headed to school to share a little taste of summer with all of their friends new and old. 

They said it brought a HUGE smile to their new friends faces! 

ENTER TO WIN THE SNACK 'N SHARE SWEEPSTAKES

Now outside of our own little extra fun with our snacks, NABISCO is having a little fun on their own. They are hosting the Snack 'N Share Sweepstakes where you can win $10,000 and the chance for lots of other great prizes too! All you have to do is share a picture of your family and/or friends enjoying their favorite NABISCO snacks throughout the summer. How awesome is that?! I mean that's at least a month or two of snacks covered right? 

Shop Walmart this summer for your go to NABISCO snacks, snap a few pictures, and you could be a winner! Just share your picture on social media with the hashtags #snacknshare and #sweepstakes.

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and Puerto Rico, 18 and older. Sponsor, related entities, their families and those living in the same household are ineligible. Ends 11:59 pm ET on 9/5/18. Void where prohibited.
• Visit the Snack 'N Share Sweepstakes page to play and for details including free method of entry.

What are some of your kids favorite summertime snacks? Do they prefer a salty or sweet snack? 

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Book Club: August

Happy August y'all! Okay it's a good thing we have books and wine because otherwise today we would be crying tears of sorrow. Today is the official first day of school! While are kids are super excited to head back, and we do value the structure the school year holds, we were having a come to Jesus moment this morning with our alarm clock. 

It wasn't pretty. 

So today there is wine. And books. We're totally here for the books.

So here we go - let's chat books we read last month! We have some good ones! 

WHAT WE READ...

CARRIE BETH

I had a big month.  Going on vacation gave me a little more time to relax and read, so it was nice to be able to get through not one, but two books! 

First up was When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger.  

I remember reading The Devil Wears Prada years ago, but didn't remember a thing about it.  I don't think you really need to have read it to make this book make sense though and it all sort of came back to me as I was reading along.  It was a quick read and a fun story about three women's lives that don't always go as planned, but how their friendship helps them get through it.  There were a lot of references of being a 30 something compared to the 20 somethings and just the way life changes as you get a little older. It was a quick read easy read that kept my attention the whole time! 

Next up was Educated which is a memoir by Tara Westover.  I would never have picked to read something like this, but my mom recommended it to me and told me she couldn't put it down. She as so right! 

This book tells the story of a girl born into a family who does not believe in schools, doctors, government, etc. She never went to school, never saw a doctor, and didn't even have a birth certificate until much later on in life.  As she got older she had a desire to leave this type of life and despite not having any formal education she went to college and ended up getting a PhD. 

I found this story SO fascinating and could not put it down.  I was cheering for the little girl that turned into a smart young woman the whole time wanting her to make a better life for herself.  It was eye opening to see how this family grew up, their view on things, and how it affected their children.  I would highly recommend it! 

JEN

Okay, while I might have been a slacker in June, I way made up for that in July. Part of that is we had an adult only trip planned so my beach time actually involved lounging in a chair and reading. It was glorious. And so were the books I read this month! 

First up was Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel The Perfect Couple. I feel like it isn't officially Summer unless I've read one of Hilderbrand's novels. I'm going out to venture and say this book might be one of my favorites by her! It was slightly different than some of her previous novels, and has more of a who done it twist to it. The novel opens with the Made of Honor found floating in the ocean. One of Nantucket's most prominent weddings is now completely in chaos, and at each page there is a new twist and turn. I loved it and would definitely add this to your summer reading list! 

Next up I read Ain't She a Peach by Molly Harper. This is the second book in a series and it popped up on my Amazon recommended feed. The moment I started reading it I remembered how hilarious the first novel was. The story follows Frankie and her life in small town Lake Sackett, Georgia. Frankie is the coroner in her family's funeral home, and keeps having run-ins with the new town sheriff. Someone keeps vandalizing the funeral home and Frankie sets out to catch them. The novel goes through some pretty funny scenes, and the story itself is super cute. It is a light and quick read that will make you laugh out loud at times. 

Next up I sunk myself into Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman. Psychological thrillers typically aren't my thing, but lately I seem to throw one in the mix on occasion. Something in the Water follows Erin and Mark. They embark on their magical honeymoon to Bora Bora where the days are filled with the things you can imagine you might do in Bora Bora. Mark coerces Erin to go scuba diving. At first she loves it, but then she and Mark see something in the water that sparks a chain of events where things go terribly wrong. As far as psychological thrillers go I loved this one. It's been one of my favorite yet, and I read somewhere that Reese Witherspoon loved it so much she's turning it into a movie! 

Coming in fourth for the month was the book I thought I would read first. By Invitation Only had been sitting on my nightstand since May, but it wasn't until the end of the month that I decided to finally dig in. Shelby and Fred and getting married and they couldn't come from more different backgrounds. Shelby grew up in Chicago with uber rich parents, and Fred grew up on a peach farm in the low country of South Carolina. They are madly in love and while the families might have drastically different views on the wedding festivities, Shelby and Fred just want to be married. The novel is ultimately a sweet story and I always love how Dorthea Benton Frank mixes humor, gorgeous southern backdrops, and little life lessons. This would also make for a great beach read if you're still looking for one! 

WHAT'S UP NEXT...

CARRIE BETH

I'm looking forward to reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis.  

I follow her on Instagram and have had so many friends tell me how great the book is. Tonight I got invited to go with some friends to see the movie about her journey, her book and her conference and I jumped at the chance!  I only wish I'd had time to read the book before tonight, but still know I will enjoy it.

JEN

I saw My Oxford Year recommended a few months ago on another blogger's blog. We share similar reading tastes, and she gave it nothing but high praises. So I am going to give it a whirl. 

What else do you recommend? Because back-to-school also means back to carpool and back to sitting outside of closed practices and activities. I need some new books in my queue to keep me entertained! 

What have you read lately? Anything we should add to our lists next month? 

BOOK CLUB 2018

| January | February | March | April | May | June | July |

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HAPPY READING! 

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