Samara's Five on Friday -- 3 O'Clock Coffee Break Edition

Now that I'm officially back to hanging out in Blogosphere, I'm going to try and tackle something I never got around to last year--participating in the "Five on Friday" blog link-up.

"Five on Friday" is a sharing of five things I'm liking, loving or just doing and is hosted by some fabulous pro bloggers. Anything goes as far as what you share! Personally, I think it's a grand idea. So lovelies, here is my Top Five on Friday!

1. Pictures on canvas

Just before Christmas, Jackson's arrival, and before things got crazy, my husband and I had some of our photos transferred to canvas to create wall art that had meaning for us. We went through Collage.com and thanks to having a friend who works for the company, we were able to get a 70% discount!

Our son's nursery theme is "World Traveler". We wanted a wall of photos from pictures that my husband and I took during some of our international travels.

This is a canvas print of a picture we took of the colosseum in Rome during our honeymoon.

2. Gevalia Caramel Macchiato

My mom brought a box of these over recently to try out in our Keurig. Now you know I all love my Verismo and didn't think these little lattes could compare. Oh boy, was I wrong. 

These little 2-step lattes are scrumptious. Drizzle a little caramel on top for an unofficial Step 3 that is sure to please your java taste buds. 

3. Shopping. And Calvin Klein. And the color greeeeeen!

Having felt a little of the baby blues (and let's not mention the handful of hours of daylight we get in Michigan in early January along with several snow and ice dumpings), my husband encouraged me to get out of the house and "buy myself something pretty". Well, I did that. Times three. Oops. Calvin Klein had too many cute tops right next to eachother. The nerve of those marketeers! 

The tops were on sale (slightly), totally delicious in texture, quality and feel. And, one of the tops was green--my favorite color. Be still my everlovin' green fashionista heart. 

4. Honey Sunshine 

Now that I need to start watching the calories again (forget New Year Resolutions, these are Post Pregnancy Resolutions), I decided to step out and try some healthy cereals I've never tried before. 

So far, this is my fav. My husband described the taste as a "heartier Captain Crunch". 

Don't you just love the name? I'm such a sucker for good marketing. 

5. First Family Photo

Me and ma' little family hopped in our little family car and headed to get pictures taken a couple days after Christmas and just nine days after our son's birth. Man oh man was I EXHAUSTED. I was so deliriously tired that I seriously considered cancelling the shoot altogether. (Especially since it required driving out of town.) I'm so glad I didn't! 

Here we are all decked out in our Arsenal gear. (My husband's favorite soccer team.) 

Cheers, 

Samara

Perfume Pickle

Happy Monday, lovelies. I hope you were able to get out this weekend and enjoy the warmer weather and bit of sunshine as Mother Nature released us a bit from her cold snap! I used this weekend as a chance to get out to the mall and do a little perusing. 

Fifteen years ago, my father gifted me with a bottle of Esteé Lauder "Pleasures" for Christmas. Over the years, I've received so many compliments on the perfume that I never deviated from it, with the exception of its sister scent--Esteé Lauder "Pleasures Delight". 

When I headed to the Esteé Lauder counter this weekend, I was disappointed to learn from the saleswoman that they no longer carried the "Delight" version of my perfume. She also noted that it looked like EL may be looking to discontinue the perfume shortly down the road. Drat.

I thanked her and started looking at other perfume counters. I automatically steered myself to the Chanel counter. Chanel is such a classic brand and I love the story behind the brand. Chanel No 5 was out as an option as one of my aunts wears this scent. (In a family full of women, you know to not copy someone's scent!

Luckily, no salesperson was around at the moment at the Chanel counter, so I was able to pick up a few bottles to smell without the pressure of a sale. I spritzed on Chanel's "Mademoiselle" and must admit, I did not hate it. 

I decided to hold off on any purchase for the time being and look (or smell) around before a purchase. I texted my husband and said they weren't carrying my perfume anymore. And true to his problem-solving-husband-of-all-husbands nature, he texted me back within minutes saying the Lansing Mall had  EL "Pleasures Delight". 

More than likely, I will end up with a bottle of my old friend Delight, but the near-debacle made me think I need to step out and try something new anyway. Just wondering what you ladies wear? Any delicious perfume recommendations? 

Cheers,

Samara