theinbetweenismine

just a girl living the expat life

Archives for May 2014

May Favorites

filed under: love, monthly favorites

MayFavorites

 

1.) I had Caribou Coffee for the first time at our layover at MSP last winter and I really liked the taste. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized that Caribou is available at Target and our local supermarket. They even sell the single k-cups!

2.) I bought some Saltwater Sandals a few weeks ago and only after the purchase realized (a.k.a. was told) that every other blogger owns a pair. Oops! Well, I can see why: they’re comfortable, pretty and come in a range of different colors. Also, they’re quite affordable. I think I might need a second pair!

3.) I found those cute “Love your face” and “heart” stamps at Michaels in the $1 bin the other week and thought they were just perfect! I mean, so Internet appropriate, right?

4.) I bought myself these 5 sterling silver stacking rings (with some leftover birthday money!) and I am so in love! Lena from RockElegance is an absolute gem. Her products are beautiful and when I first ordered the rings, I ordered a size too big and she was super-sweet and immediately agreed to exchange them for the right size. Shipping was fast and I can highly recommend her shop and customer service!

5.) It’s been hot here in the Central Valley and that’s when I turn to watermelon (and other fruits) to snack on during the day.

6.) I got this jersey maxi skirt at Target the other week and I just love how soft and versatile it is. You can dress it up, you can dress it down and it always looks good!

May Birchbox

filed under: beauty

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My Birchbox arrived a little later than usual this month (and I’ve heard it wasn’t just me!), but it did finally arrive and I was very excited to check it out.
This time I received Birchbox #6.

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Here’s what I received in this box (*calculated value of the samples in parenthesis):

Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow ($4.73): For the summer, I usually go a little lighter on my makeup (not that I wear a ton of makeup in the winter, ha!) and I switch from liquid makeup to BB cream (or CC cream!) when I can. It’s just that it is so hot here in the summer months, that any heavier makeup practically slides down your face over the course of the day. This BB cream evens out the skin tone and leaves a bit of shimmer (hence the name “golden glow”). I wish it would feel like a bit more like a moisturizer. Some BB creams feel like they’re drying out your skin and this one falls somewhere in the middle for me. It’s still a nice size to throw into your purse to use ‘on the go’.

Nexxus Color Assure Pre-Wash Primer, Shampoo & Conditioner ($0.93,  $0.27, $0.33 = $1.53): How did Birchbox know that I just recently colored my hair a bit? This comes at the right time to see if it can preserve the color a little longer. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but I am intrigued by the “pre-wash primer”. I hadn’t heard of primers for haircare before.

PIXI Beauty Shea Butter Lip Balm in Pixi Pink ($8): This is a full-size product! I am a big fan of lip balm, lip stick not so much. That’s why I usually love lip balms that come with a little bit of color (as a change to my usual sheer lip balm routine).  The Pixi Pink color looked a bit obnoxious in the package, but when applied just gave a hint of pink color. I like!

Supergoop!® Everyday SPF 30 with Cellular Response Technology ($0.91): Gimme all the SPF! I am a fair-skinned girl and need protection. The smell is pleasant and it’s relatively light-weight.

Lifestyle Extra SmartyPants All-in-One Adult Complete Gummy Vitamins + Fiber($0.53): Mmh. Multivitamins with fiber that help you manage your weight? Is this a weight-loss pill in disguise? I find it kind of funny how they’re trying to combine all kinds of purposes in one single gummy. This not something that I’d buy and regularly use, but maybe I see at least if they taste any good!

The total of this month’s box came to $15.70. Since I love all three products and will be using them, I am not too mad about the relative ‘low’ value of the items this month. Keep it up, Birchbox!

What we’ve learned in 8 years of marriage

filed under: marriage

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Today is J’s and my anniversary. We’ve been married for 8 years now.

Well, technically, we’ve been married for a little longer than that (our court wedding was on New Year’s Eve), but since there is so much celebration going on for New Year’s Eve anyway, we decided to celebrate our anniversary on the day we had our big wedding in Germany: May 27, 2006.

Here’s what we’ve learned:

  • Time flies. No, really. Time flies. How has it been 13 years since our paths first crossed on a College Campus in California? It’s seems incredible to me.
  • Marriage is hard. Let nobody tell you otherwise.
  • But it can also be the easiest thing in the world!
  • Have fun! Find something to be happy about every day!
  • Cocktails > wine.
  • Always love the one you’re with, no matter how hard and difficult it may seem at times.
  • You can’t let any outsider judge your relationship. Never ever. Only you know what it really is about. Your marriage doesn’t have to conform to anyone else’s standards or expectations.
  • It’s ok to disagree sometimes.
  • Red Sox > Giants.
  • Planning is good, set-in-stone plans are bad.
  • Sometimes you have to compromise and just suck it up.
  • Sharing a meal is one of the best moments of our days.
  • If you want something, speak up. Nobody can always read the other person’s mind. Not even after 8 years.
  • It’s really not about the big gestures (although those are nice, too!), it’s about the little things in everyday life that count.
  • Laugh together. Have your own inside jokes.
  • Respect your differences. A person can only change so much. Even for love!

2014 in photos: week 21

filed under: a year in pictures

2014 in pictures: week 21

 favorites • breakfast • the city •
Häagen-Dazs • friends • perfect Saturday •
Farmers Market • iced coffee • dinner •

Photo of the week: Favorites

filed under: my so-called life

Foto der Woche

Hi friends. It’s time for the ‘Foto der Woche‘  again and I was almost a little late with this. Here’s my Glücklichmacher #20:

Photo is the week: favorites

Favorites (taken May 21, 2014)

Just something I looked at this week and remembered how much I love those rings! I don’t have much jewelry for a girl at all (I think?), but I have a few treasured pieces that I love a lot. The turquoise ring is a gift from my Mom and the five stacking rings were a gift from me to myself :)

Friday Facts

filed under: Friday Facts

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We spent the weekend in SoCal – again! – for Mother’s Day, because why the hell not. It’s nice to get out of town. I found this cute idea for a Mother’s Day gift online and I totally went with it. It was just a nice, sweet little surprise for my mother-in-law.

There is not much to say about the weekend as it was lazy and relaxing with lots of down time and plenty of iced coffee. Just how I like it. But,… but, we went to Santa Monica on Saturday!!! We just started driving down the coast and somehow ended up in our old ‘hood. It was nice to be back. I miss living in Westwood/Santa Monica.

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I am feeling all the BiSC-nostalgia today. I was hanging out with a bunch of (awesome!) Internet people in Vegas last year around this time and I truly wish that this was happening again this year. I miss you all.

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It’s been super hot here the last week (scratching the triple digits) and I keep thinking “this is too early, it’s not summer yet!”.  Also, did you know that 100% of California are now in a severe drought — or worse? It’s not good, guys.

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I planted some herbs and tomatoes on our patio and can’t wait to harvest my own stuff again. I actually got some basil and parsley from my “garden”  already, but I hope the rest won’t wilt away in this heat.

TGIF!

Photo of the week: Hi little guy!

filed under: my so-called life

Foto der Woche

Hello my dear ‘Foto der Woche‘-friends! How has your week been so far? Did you snap some great pictures?

Here’s my Glücklichmacher #19:

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Hi, little guy (taken May 13, 2014)

This little guy visited  me during my lunch break, which I spent outside on a bench on Campus, yesterday. He was quite fearless and came right up to me to beg for scraps.
I know, I know, you’re not supposed to feed squirrels (and I didn’t!), but he was so cute and polite and I wish I could have given him something.

Photo of the week: Palm tree duo

filed under: my so-called life

Foto der Woche

Hi friends. It’s time for the ‘Foto der Woche‘  again and I struggled a little bit this week! I didn’t really take that many photos in the last 7 days, but I was able to find one that I randomly snapped, but kinda liked. Here’s my Glücklichmacher #18:

Photo of the week: Palm tree duo

 Palm tree duo (taken May 3, 2014)

I loved how those two palm trees at the park tower above all the other trees… as if they were craning their necks to get a better view of what’s beyond the horizon.