Not Just Hand Soap

I know, I know, this is not a very exciting post (especially for a Friday).  But I just can't help it; I have found an amazing new soap and I have to share!  My general stance with hand soap is that I buy whatever is on sale and never buy those refillable soap holders.  I love how pretty the glass and ceramic holders are but I feel like they always break or stop pumping, and seem to gather water at the bottom...and we all know what that leads to, ew.  In the past Bath & Body Works was my favorite hand soap, especially the holiday editions!  But hold the phone, and good bye Bath & Body Works.  Sweet Nina introduced me to Motif, the most delectable soap to have  ever graced the sink counter top.  Their motto says it best so I am just going to quote.  "Motif is dedicated to making the small, unexpected things in your life just as precious as the big ones." I am 100% serious - this soap puts a smile on my face. They have the best scents and the cutest pattern labels (the bottles are also biodegradable and recyclable).  Right now my favorite is blackberry basil, but I have cypress & pear waiting in the queue and I can't wait!  It is like a heavenly pause every time I wash my hands!  So where do you find this magical soap (besides the website)? Target, and it is  priced at $3.99, less than the B&BW soap , bonus!  I know you think I'm crazy, but try it for yourself and get back to me :).  Happy Weekend!

image via here.

Liquid Gold for the Hair

While in Charlotte this past weekend I snuck over to my old hair salon for a little trim.  I know this is pathetic, but I haven't been able to find a stylist that I like and can afford in the DC area (yes, I have lived here for three years).  I have a strict rule not to pay over $50 for my hair as I usually just get a couple inches taken off and some layers...easy peezy.  I can't justify giving a stylist $80 for such a basic cut, especially when they only blow dry it half way...grrr.  Needless to say my stylist did her magic and my split ends disappeared and all my fly-aways were tamed in less than 40 minutes!  

The greatest part of the experience was the new product she introduced me to.  Usually I steer clear of asking for products because they are so pricey but my hair was so smooth that I had to ask.  She said she now swears by Earthly Body's Marrakesh Hair Serum.  This stuff is awesome.  It tames your hair and helps it dry faster!  You can also use it on damp or dry hair.  She gave me a few samples and it actually worked when I styled my hair at home, a true miracle!  I've been searching online for the best price and the range is between $15-$23.  Not too bad since a little goes a long way.  I am still in the honeymoon phase since it has been about 5 days but I feel like this may be a new chapter in my hair life!

image via here.

Summer Reading

During my summer trip to the Outerbanks with S2H and his family I became totally gripped by Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I think I finished the book in about 3 days.  I stayed up til 3am one night! I am a nerd in the way I become so engrossed in a book, I just can't help it!  One night I was reading, and the book was so intense/violent that I had to wake S2H up and make him sleep on the floor (we were in separate rooms to set a good example for the kiddos!)!  I have now moved on to The Girl Who Played with Fire.  So far this book is just as good as the first.  At this point I'm not sure how much of the book I am even absorbing because I want to figure out what happens so bad!  It will definitely be a book I have to read again.  But for now I need to hurry up and finish and move on to the book club book.  To follow up August's book, To Kill a Mockingbird, we are reading Truman Capote's In Cold Blood.  Did you know Capote and Harper were childhood friends?  Harper actually helped Capote with the research for In Cold Blood.  We figured this would be a neat connection to explore.  The next meeting is at the end of September, I'll let you know how it goes!

Moore to Love

The weekend has finally come and it is time to celebrate my amazing friend Nina and her groom! I am so excited to be in Charlotte, showering these two wonderful people with love and witnessing the beginning of their new life. Congratulations Nina & Mark!