Coffee, books and Comfort Shows

Gotta love a great Etsy find.  I found this Iced Coffee glass with a bamboo lid on the Etsy shop Lil Ladybug Sticker Shop.

 

Top 5 Favorite Podcasts

 My Top 5 Favorite Podcasts

Lately, I have been listening to podcasts more than music when driving. I tend to listen to podcasts covering true crime and reality tv.  I know a crazy combination but it's a good mix of both light and dark. Here are my five favorites right now.

Reality Life with Kate Casey is probably the podcast that got me hooked on podcasts.  She specializes in true crime and reality tv but does venture into other topics.  I have gotten some great book recommendations from listening to Kate. She is the best when it comes to interviewing her guests.  She is the best at getting the behind scenes information that nobody else has.  She also interviews the makers of great reality tv and documentaries in an effort to get the story from an angle that nobody else has.  The Barabra Walters of Podcasting. With over 700 episodes there are plenty to listen to.  

Oh, the boys!  Nobody will have you laughing and crying like Mattie and Poodle. As only two guys who have been friends for 150 years can.  If you love reality tv shows like 90-day Fiance, etc then they are the podcast you can't miss.  They are hysterical but can be serious too.  Sometimes their conversions turn into life-changing episodes.  They are great at giving you perspectives that you hadn't thought of before.  Absolutely love these guys.  

Jodene Weber, a former FBI Agent, was a discovery of Kate Casey.  Kate has her as a frequent guest on her podcast to discuss the latest in true crime.  Kate convinced her she needed her own podcast and she took that advice and "Caught in my Web with Jodene Weber" was born.  She can be found on Patreon and is worth every penny.  She deep dives into the true crime cases that are filling the headlines and brings us cases that mainstream media has missed.  She brings an interesting and unique perspective tp covering cases that no other podcaster I listen to has.  

Phew Selle reads my mind when it comes to the tea and drama of reality tv. She holds nothing back when giving her perspective while recapping the episodes.  Her episodes covering Summer House Martha's Vineyard are my favorite. 

Kara covers everything from reality tv, pop culture, and internet drama.  She has the tea and the opinion and I'm here for it. I love when she has guest co-hosts such as Selle Brooks from "who asked me". She has great banter and the conversations come off as friends sitting around having a conversation over coffee.  

What are some of your favorite podcasts?  

This Week I Am...

 This Week I Am….

Looking forward to…   Cooking some salmon before work Friday.  I already meal-prepped some ravioli.  I work all weekend and with this heat, it should be wild.  

Listening to... One of my favorite podcasts on Patreon "Caught in my Web with Jodene Weber" She's a former FBI agent who covers true crime. If you're following the Idaho murders she is a must listen. 

Reading…  I'm just starting Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks. 

Watching…  Catching up on Law & Order SVU, 911 and impatiently waiting for the next episodes of "The Summer I turned pretty" on Amazon Prime and "The Lincoln Lawyer" on Netflix 

Wearing…  Will be trying out the new blush pallet from Wet and Wild I just bought and the liner 90's nude from Rimmel in an attempt to create the perfect nude lip. 

Makeup Haul from Ulta

I'm pretty sure I keep Ulta in business. lol, I have bought several of these nail files with plastic covers. They are great to through in a bag or suitcase.  

How cute is the Lip Gloss from Essence Cosmetics in the shade of Pink Lemonade? 

Wet and Wild has some of the best collaborations lately and the Alice in Wonderland collection does not disappoint.  This blush palette is gorgeous.  Will be perfect for every day, a night out, or travel.  Add a lip product and mascara and you can do a whole face with this pallet. 

Sarai Beauty on Instagram recommended the LA Girl lipgloss in Pillow Talk.  What a great nude. Also picked up two lipliners.  Eastend snob 90's nude by Rimmel Cosmetics and. 

I have never tried any eyeliners from Essence so picked up Deep Sea Baby and I Have A Green.

 

Summer I Turned Pretty Book Haul

Am absolutely obsessed with the show on Amazon Prime.  It's nothing like I thought it would be.  I honestly expected something more like outer banks but am loving the emotion and drama.  I live in the Wilmington NC area where the show is filmed and constantly have to pause to check out the scenery.  I have been to every spot so far.  I need to go and take some pictures for a blog post about the area. Let me know what you think of the books and show. 

I am an avid podcast listener and my favorite is "Reality Life with Kate Casey".  She recently interviewed the author and said it was her best interview ever.  Well with that recommendation and being a history buff curious about reincarnation, I couldn't resist. 

We all have family issues and I am no different.  My cousin Cassandra highly recommended this one. 

 

Iced Coffee at Home

Sometimes it's too hot to make a run to the coffee shop (sorry Mo'joes in Wallace NC) and you need to be creative. I picked up this cute Pioneer Woman mason jar glass from Walmart. At 32oz it's just the perfect size to get you through the day. 

Add ice, cold brew, and your creamer of choice. I love the butter pecan creamer from International coffee this summer. Stir it all together and enjoy. 

 

Ulta Haul: Too Faced Pop Tarts Pallet

 

When I saw the Too Faced Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts Pallet, I knew it was going in my cart.  

There isn't a bad shade in the bunch. Bite me and in my fillings have me excited. What beautiful shades. Dust the crust and get toasted looks like they can be fun on a night out. I haven't bought a Too Faced pallet that I haven't loved, and I have no doubt this won't disappoint me either. 

 

I also picked up two more crease brushes from wet and wild.  They are the best at blending and finishing off that great eye look.  And you can't beat the price.  Wet and wild brushes are a great buy and not to be slept on. They are great quality and have a brush for every need. 

 

Another product I love from wet and wild is their lipsticks. I have so many and have repurchased many shades including two I got this time.

 

Think Pink is about the most perfect shade of pink out there.  Absolutely love it. This is about the third tube I have bought, and I have no doubt there will be more.  

 

A new shade I got is Cinnamon Spice.  A nice red shade with some brown tones.  Will be perfect for some fall looks.

 

Another repurchase is Skinny Dipping.  Who doesn’t love a good nude shade with a little bit of brown and pink undertones.  I have no idea how many of these I have bought but I know I currently have three.  It might be an obsession. Do they have rehab for that? 

Brazil Nut Body Butter

 

Finally got my hands on the Brazil Nut Butter from Trader Joes it smells so good and the silky texture is heavenly. I also love that it’s not heavy or greasy.

Cookbook Haul

I've recently bought my first house and making it my own.  One thing I love to do is cook so of course I had to buy some new cookbooks from some of my favorite chefs to go with the dozens I already own. I love how they provide little pops of color to my kitchen.  

One of my favorite places for new recipes and cooking trends is TikTok.  Mississippi Kween (@mississippikween) is definitely a personal favorite content creator and works hard at providing great recipes that are creative, fancy, and flavorful while still being budget-friendly. 

 I also love how she includes her kids in the process. She also has excellent product suggestions that make life in the kitchen much easier.  I laugh every time she has to taste the cheese for poison.  That's something my family has done since I was a kid. lol 

 

@Yourbarefootneighbor is another favorite. He makes easy recipes look more complicated and sophisticated than they are.  I can't wait to try his casserole with no name. Let me know if you have any of these cookbooks and what have you made.  Also, let me know who your favorite food content creators are.  

 

Project Pan: Bath and Body Works Merry Cookie

With all the options Bath and Body Works have in the Christmas collection Merry Cookie is by far my favorite.  I use it year-round.  With the ideal balance of fresh baked cookies, rich vanilla, and sparkling sugar crystals it's just about the perfect scent. It's going to be a long few months until the next Christmas collection comes out and I can repurchase.