A Few of My Favorite Things....

Is that song running through your head right now like it is in mine? Every time I read the name of this post, I can't get it out of my head. Anyway, I've been racking my brain as to how to stay active in the bloggy world without an oven and I decided to tell you about some of my favorite things so that you can get to know me a little better....

#1 The beach. I don't really care for swimming in the ocean but I could just sit on the beach (properly sun-blocked, of course) all day with a book and the sound of the waves in the background. It's just so beautiful, peaceful, and oh so soothing!

I wanna be here right now!

#2 Bare Minerals make up. I will never go back to regular foundation again! Never! This stuff is amazing. If you've never tried it and think, "It's just a bunch of hype for a more expensive product." Wrong-o! This stuff works miracles. Flawless, radiant skin every time! It also helps clear up skin problems when used regularly. (No, I wasn't paid or asked to say these things.) This is 100% my opinion!

Foundation & brush, concealer & brush, and blush

#3 Vera Bradley bags. I love all things Vera Bradley! I don't have a favorite print, I have lots of prints that I love. I can't choose just one. I think I've mentioned before that I have a bag addiction. Well, I'd say that 85% of the blame goes to Vera Bradley. I'm obsessed. My family and I went on a weekend beach trip one time and I used my large duffel bag. Dad was getting everything out of the back of the Yukon and I yelled, "Stop! Vera does NOT go on the ground!" To which, he responded, "Who's Vera?" When I pointed to my bag, he rolled his eyes and held my bag hovering over the asphault, waiting for me to take her off his hands. :)

That's 2 duffel bags, 3 purses, a lunch bag, a lunch cooler, 3 wallets, 1 wristlet, 1 lrg cosmetic bag, 1 small cosmetic case, a lrg tote, medium tote, apron, and tin and the prints are Java Blue, Buttercup, Baroque, Hello Dahlia, Twirly Birds Navy, Pirouette, Raspberry Fizz, Peacock, and Classic Black

#4 My Pandora bracelet. I just love it! If you don't have one, get one. Get a friend or family member to start one for you. Whatever it takes to own one, do it. Well, within reason, of course! If you don't know what I'm talking about, Pandora bracelets are unique, fully cuztomizable charm bracelets that reflect you, the wearer. I remember when I bought/who gave me each one of my charms and what they represent. Essentially, it's a piece of jewelry that tells a story about you.

I have two bracelets. This is my black, white, and silver one. All of the Murano glass beads are black & white. As for the sterling silver beads, from left to right, I have a chef's hat, field of daisies (my favorite flower), cupcake, Bible, 4 flowers (representing my 3 sisters and me), music staff (I'm also a singer), wedding cake, more daisies, four daisies, paw prints (in honor of my beloved and much missed dog, Buddy), "Best Friends", and a turtle (represents one of my best friends who bought it for me). The daisy chain is from a sweet lady at church who was my secret mentor and is my mom's bestie. Don't you want one of your own now??

This is my second  bracelet. It's a double strand (you wrap it twice around your wrist) brown leather bracelet. The charms on it are not all worn together; they're just on it together to display. There's a  large purple Murano glass bead that was a gift from my friend, Michal, for my birthday, a turquoise Murano glass bead, a black & white Murano glass bead, and a sterling silver gingerbread man (how cute is he?)

#5 My Nook Color. I don't know what I did with my free time before I got one. Seriously, if it's not on the Nook, I'm probably not reading it. Just ask my sister who's been hounding me to finish The Hunger Games. She should've gotten me a digital copy. :) Don't get me wrong. I like what I've read so far. I just find it easier at night (when I do most of my reading) to read from my Nook - no lamp needed. I was skeptical when the whole e-reader craze started. I'm a lover of books and didn't think I'd have use for one. Man, was I wrong! I take it with me wherever I go and it's so much easier to carry around than a bag of hardback classics. Don't worry, fellow book lovers. I'm still on your team. My bookshelves are still full and you will still catch me taking a whiff of a good ol' classic from time to time. (Who doesn't love the smell of old books?)

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me! Hopefully my next post will have to do with the reason you all are here....cupcakes! I'm heading to Michaels tonight to pick up some of those silicone stand alone cupcake cups and am gonna try using those in my countertop convection oven. We'll see how it goes! Speaking of Michaels, don't forget to check out my previous post "A Baker, A Blog, and No Oven? It's time for a giveaway!" and enter to win a $10 gift card! Also, you'll probably notice that a few of my links around the blog aren't working quite right. No worries...I'm aware and working on the problem! Until next time, happy reading and, more importantly, happy cupcake-ing!