Sweet potato and kale pizza

Oh my god, you guys. I'm not even joking around when I say this but I think I've found my new healthy guilty pleasure. It's not a sweet--which I crave constantly--but it's a fill 'er up kind of meal and that can be just as pleasurable on those diet days when you feel like all you've eaten is grass.

I've been on the Advocare 24 Day Challenge for 17 days now and I feel a little sad. A) Because I hate diets. B) because I thought I'd be pumped to be changing my eating habits when I'm not. And C) Because I'm afraid I'm just going to go back to my meals of all cheese and laffy taffy.

I know I'm just in a funk since I'm so near the end, though. The thing with Advocare is that I have to really watch what I eat. Der--like all diet plans. We've been trying to find new recipes online and I think Pinterest has come to my rescue! I actually want to find more tasty meals like the one we just ate for dinner because it was THAT good. And if I can find similar meals like these, I can use them as a "cheat" meal and not feel as guilty. #winning

So as I mentioned, I found a recipe on Pinterest for sweet potato and kale pizza. And it goes something like this. 

Unapologetic says it all.

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I've done it again. I can't say that I'm ashamed; my purse just gets heavier by the week. If you follow me on Instagram (@lipstickskulls, formerly @mrsmeghanlee) then you'd know I have an obsession with Revlon's Colorburst Lip Balms. The first two I bought were the matte shades--Sultry and Shameless--and I was immediately amazed at how creamy and full my lips looked with that matte formula. And over time I've picked up some of the Just Bitten Lip Balms that have a little more shine to them--Sweetheart Valentine, Rendezvous, and Darling Cherie.

Last night as I was picking up some things at the grocery store, I walked past the makeup aisle and it didn't take me one second to grab a new shade off the shelf. It might not be the best place for the best deal but I didn't care one bit.

I don't ever remember seeing this color in the past so it could be new. Well it's new to me now! Revlon Colorburst Matte Lip Balm in  Unapologetic has got to be one of the prettiest "coral" colors to wear this spring and summer. I bet it will complement any shade of skin with its' tone. It's not so neon as some other lipstick brands have come out with as their "summer collection" but still brings a pop of color that will brighten any day.

And surely I'm not a pristine eater and drinker but this stuff stays on for a long time. The only time I noticed it starting to wear thin was in my very inner lips and it was right after I was practically sucking the last bits of birthday cake icing from a fork at 3:30 in the afternoon.

The one thing I will mention is that although I'm in LOVE with this new lip crayon, you might shy away from it if you don't wear it that often. It's a bold statement and if you're not ready to own it, then it will own you.

So go out and own the world! Act like you know what you're doing, bright lipstick and all, and the world will treat you nicely. Okay, so maybe not the wisest of words, but I'm trying to get your confidence in the right place, dammit...Janet!

I wore Unapologetic with my scrubs to work today. BAM! (I just realized it looks more red here but I promise it's an amazing coral color! Just trust me!!)

I'm linking up with Random Wednesday, The Hump Day Blog Hop, and I Feel Pretty.

Liebster Award, say what?!

Hello, stranger. My, how I've missed you! I've been doing my own thing for several weeks now and I haven't entirely hated it. Maybe I should be a little more caring with le blog but I think she can survive on her own two feet every now and then.

Rather than giving even more excuses of my absence because you don't really want to hear it I have some exciting news! I've been nominated for a Liebster Award!! Don't know what that is? Yeah, I didn't either at first. They are awards given out to "newbie" blogs by fellow bloggers. In a nutshell, it's a chance for someone like me to have a teeny tiny moment of glory and for me to explore new bloggers and what they're all about. I'm giving a HUGE shoutout to Shauna over at Freckles and Curse Words for nominating me. It makes me feel good when other cyber-friends recognize me :-)

So here are the official rules:

one | Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their page and/or blog.
two | Display the award on your blog by including it on the post or adding the widget/gadget to your page.
three | Answer eleven questions about yourself which will be provided below from the nominator.
four | Provide eleven random facts about your cool self.
five | Nominate five to eleven blogs that you feel deserve this blog award.
six | Create a new list of questions for that blogger to answer.
seven | List these rules in your post.
eight | Finally, inform the people you've nominated them for the award by providing a link to your page about how this thing works.

**Eleven questions Shauna wants to know about ME:**

1) What made you decide to start a blog?

At first I wanted to chronicle my adventures as a newlywed. Being as I'm usually only funny when I'm a bitch, I decided to switch it up a little and do something more of the everyday me, more girly. It's now more beauty related and I wouldn't have it any other way.

2) Your dream vacation would be...

This is hard to answer. I've lived through several of my dream vacations, but in the future I'd love to go to Asia. Anywhere in that continent, really. Russia, China, India, and everywhere in between.

3) Your go-to comfort food?

I'm letting my inner five-year-old answer this one and say good ole mac and cheese.

4) Your favorite style era?

I don't really think I have a favorite. Dressing up is always fun no matter the era.

5) Song you could listen to 500,354,245 times in a row?

I'm a little obsessed with anything Lorde and Miley right now. Opposites attract, right?

6) Wine, beer, or liquor?

I'm a liquor girl. Wine and beer are both nasty.

7) What is the one book you could read over again?

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. Pass? I've never re-read a book before besides the Bible so I can't really answer this question.

8) Is there a goal you're working on right now? What is it?

Right now I'm just trying to get healthy. That includes cutting back on sweets and bread as well as regularly going to the gym. And if I lose a few pounds along the way, I'm cool with that ;)

9) If someone gave you a butt-load of cash to go back to school, would you go? What for?

I don't think I would EVER EVER go back to school. If you were to give me one quadrillion dollars in the next five minutes, I still wouldn't do it. If it were possible to have a witch wiggle her nose and tell me that schooling was done in one day, then I might reconsider. And if that were true, I'd think about learning more about astronomy.

10) Are you for or against plastic surgery?

I'm all for it as long as you don't go overboard. Nobody needs to see your triple Z boobs.

11) What TV show are you into right now?

I'm totally loving American Horror Story at the moment. Mmm, Evan Peters.

**Eleven Random Facts About ME:**

1) I sing when I'm hyper. They aren't songs, my words just turn into melodies.
2) I love interior design.
3) I've never had a dog.
4) I have eight tattoos.
5) My YOLO tattoo was done before Drake's song was written. True story.
6) I had a root canal years before I even turned 25. Hello, sweet tooth!
7) We can't have kids. Moving along....
8) I'm afraid of death, well, of being alone.
9) I'm a very affectionate drunk.
10) I try to be open-minded about everything.
11) My most favorite foods (in order of importance) are breakfast, sushi, and mexican.

Here are the Nominees......
If you've already been nominated, no worries, just let me know in the comments below.

The Ginger Next Door

Stilettoed to Steeltoed

Wilde in the City

On the Road Again

The Thrifty Firecracker

And here are YOUR eleven questions:

1) How did you name your blog?

2) What is your worst habit? Be honest.

3) What is your guilty pleasure?

4) Are a lot of friends or just a few besties more important?

5) If you won the lottery tonight, what would be the first three things you'd spend it on?

6) What food could you eat your weight in if you never gained a pound?

7) Lake or beach?

8) City life or country life?

9) Are there any battles you've had to overcome?

10) Any hobbies?

11) Would you rather have the most beautiful hair and the worst looking face or the most beautiful face and the worst looking hair?


Thank you so much, Shauna, for the nomination!!! It really meant a lot! xoxo

ABCs of Spring

I'm beyond stoked, as I'm sure you are too, that Spring is upon us! I really hope that Old Man Winter doesn't want to make one last appearance anytime soon either. From what I hear, there's a chance of snow this week. Noooo!! I'm already hooked on the sunny days, blooming flowers, and brighter clothes to wear to turn back now. Is there some sort of Indian rain dance we can do for sunshine??

So for today, I'm going to do something a little fun. There's no rhyme or reason... it's just 'cause.

A is for Activities. I plan on doing lots of things outside this spring. Staying active is the key.

B is for Bikes. I'm really excited to ride the trails in our city. 10.2 miles, here we come!

C is for Cleaning. I don't love the cleaning aspect but I love the decluttering and organization.

D is for Daffodils. We don't have many of these around, but I love seeing blooming flowers.

E is for Energy. Something about the sun and longer days gives me the umph to do more!

F is for Friends. Warmer weather brings more friends out to hang with. Come chill with us.

G is for The Gatherings concert. If you don't know about this, look it up. They plan lots of "space" music, which we love. We'll see you there.

H is for Hair. I'm pumped for the thought of how long it will be in the coming months. Grow!

I is for Ixthus. I plan on doing more studying of the Bible in these next few months. It's interesting learning things I didn't know anything about as a kid. Keep your minds curious and you'll never stop learning.

J is for Job. I start a new job next week so this season is a season of change. Yay!

K is for Katy Perry. She's coming back to Nashville in a few months and it'll be a blast.

L is for Learning. I'd love to make the time to learn more about Gimp, sewing, makeup application, etc.

M is for May. It's my birthday month (the 7th) and I'm ready to plan another Cinco de Mego party!

N is for Nails. Time to break out all of the pastel, neon, and white nail polishes. Gahh, I'm such a girl.

O is for Outdoors. My non-green thumb has lots of landscaping ideas for the house.

P is for Parrrrties. Bring on the multi-colored patio lights, bud light, and slip-n-slides!!

Q is for Quote. I'm itching for some ink and I'm think about getting another quote. But maybe not. We'll see.

R is for Railway. We might be up for a trip with Amtrak. Trains always fascinate me.

S is for Swimwear. I've got tons of swimsuits but it's always fun to buy new ones with the pretty floral prints.

T is for Travel. We've got another overseas trip planned this season. Can I just be a professional traveler?

U is for Uno. I LOVE playing cards during the warmer months. I don't know what it is about it, just do.

V is for Visits. I really want to get away from my normal routine and start visiting more people.

W is for Water. It will soon be time to get out on the lake and/or beach and relax away all of the stress.

X is for eXcitement. I'll be like 2 minutes from my favorite Japanese place with this new job. Yum yum.

Y is for YOLO. Boy, I wish this restaurant was still open in Nashville. I need to find a replacement. And soon!

Z is for Zion. I'm looking forward to lots and lots of nephew time.

What things are you looking forward to most about Spring??

Kendra's Fashion Challenge: Epcot Style

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I don't know if Mickey's on the brain or if everyone is itching to get away from one of our worst winters and actually enjoy some sunshine, but I have seen many people vacationing to Disney this year.  I mean, what's not to love? You've got choices of going on safari, visiting space, and even experiencing the cultures of different countries.

While visiting this magical place can be stress-free and exhilarating, bringing along the whole family can be the complete opposite especially when you're the person planning and packing. I was contacted by Kendra Thornton to participate in "Kendra's Fashion Challenge" to put together one day and one evening outfit as if I were the one visiting Epcot, one of Disney's four theme parks. At first, I was a little hesitant because it can be hard to envision things when you're not the person going. But to be able to play stylist for the day?! Challenge accepted!!

Kendra is known well for her travel tips and deals and she shares it all to millions of us viewers across several TV stations and networks. She has made regular appearances on ABC, NBC, and CW in cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles. She reached out to me because she wanted to find some ideas on how to fuse together home life with three kids and a vacation to this tropical paradise.

With all of this in mind, I thought the best way to pick a day and night outfit was to find pieces that were versatile. It will free up some space in the suitcase as well as free up time for the next destination in the park so that you're not stuck changing every single thing you had on during the day. And I think I've got some ideas on how to do this.

Kendra told me that one of the attractions they'd be visiting within the park was the Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium. With it being an indoor attraction, I began planning an outfit that would suit AC temps but would still allow it to be removed once they walked outside.

One of the AWESOME things about this, one of the world's largest aquariums, is that aside from watching the fishies swim in their tanks, you can actually go SCUBA diving with all of the sea creatures! But like most of us, you probably aren't SCUBA certified.... Not to worry, though, because in The Seas with Nemo & Friends section of the aquarium, you can ride a shuttle underwater to one of their sea bases to explore it all. What kiddo wouldn't love that?!?

First things first. Rather than giving Kendra some sort of themed look, I wanted to find some pieces that were simple yet still chic. One of the must-have items of Spring is a floral kimono. It will give her a little warmth while inside the aquarium but as soon as she moves to the next attraction, it can be removed and stuffed in a bag. Kimonos are light-weight so it won't weigh her down. Sweet!

And with the kimono, she can pair a tank, some comfy boyfriend shorts, and some leopard print sneakers. Floral and leopard print? Yep. They look so good together! Something else that she might not think to pack is a watch. With the kids being so close to water, checking the time on the phone might not be the best idea. And plenty of other accessories can be added at her discretion.

And, of course, all of these items can be tweaked to Kendra's liking.

Kimono // Long Tank // Boyfriend Jean Shorts // Sneakers // Bag // Watch // Sunnies // Chapstick

After an exhausting day, I'm sure Kendra is ready to relax in the warm beach air. That's right! You can find a beach within driving range of Epcot. I wanted to find an evening look that would work whether she was visiting the sandy shores or whether she stayed to view one of the park's live shows. While I'm sure Kendra would like a date night with the hubs, she might not be able to bring someone along to babysit. So we've got to be a little practical. I've still got something up my sleeve, though.

I had thought about pairing something with white jeans because they are very chic, but they can still be heavy and hot. That kimono I was talking about earlier, find one that works both open and closed. Wear a tank that doubles as a dress and you won't have to do anything with your evening outfit except for taking off the shorts. If Kendra is comfortable with her body, keeping the kimono open with the tank as a body-con dress works as well! If not, bring a scarf and tie it at the waist closing the kimono. Adding some peep-toe booties, something with a platform, even if it's tiny, will keep them comfy.

If they decide on going the beach route, switch the shoes for some sandals and wear the bathing suit underneath, tied closed or not. There's nothing more romantic than a picnic dinner on the beach, sipping on cocktails, while the kids are playing in the water.

To top it all off, the right shade of lipstick will pull any outfit together. If red is too bold, a gorgeous coral should do the trick. I'm not too shy to try any bright color, so I picked out something she should try and I beg her to message me and tell me how much the hubs loved it, loved the whole thing for that matter!

Kimono // Long Tank // Scarf // Booties // Sandals // Swimsuit-Green // Swimsuit-White // Picnic basket // Blanket // Necklace // Lipstick-Pink // Lipstick-Coral

To read more about Kendra and her PR company, visit this site and keep reading!

And a handy little site that I learned through her, Gogobot, is a tool you can use to find different attractions based on listed information and reviews. How cool is that?! I've got my own trip plan at the end of May and I'm excited to see if this will help us.

I'm linking up with Monday Morning Gossip, Mix it Monday, Manic Monday, and Funday Monday.