Frugal Friday: Small things

It was a good week for picking up some freebies!

I'm excited for a lot of these, because I'm getting ready to make a huge housewarming basket for a sweet friend buying her first home. I can't wait to spoil her!

This was my Target and Wal-Mart run one day. Everything here was free (plus tax):

I had another fun Target day when I got to use a coupon for free apple juice, and a $5 off clothing coupon, so I paid $1 for apple juice, two packs of Neutrogena face wipes and a blue tank! Love adding little things like this into my wardrobe.

I know it's not much for the week, but a ton of my shopping was non-couponing and grocery related... I did find a fabulous coupon for some Organic Girl lettuce. I've been eating salads and cooking with spinach all week!

That's all for today!
XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Sephora love...

A week or two ago, my much-anticipated Sephora order arrived! I used some birthday money to purchase the two new Bobbi Brown items I needed after my skin care regimen changed. So, my new foundation stick and blush arrived!

 

The cool thing was since it was my birthday month, I also got my Philosophy gift from Sephora. I had a code for Bobbi Brown eye cream too. And then there were the three normal samples included in your order. Yay for fragrance fun.

We all know I love freebies, so this was cool! I'm certainly loving my new makeup. What do you wear? What's your favorite beauty purchase lately? I'm all ears! (Well, eyes... but that's another story.)

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Thoughts and contemplations...

My brain is running every which way as I prepare to wrap up the work week and head out of town for a lovely girls' weekend. I can't wait to share the fun I'm going to have with Katie and Mrs. Smith - and the Nashville girls I'm going to meet!

So, on to the things I've been thinking about.

I saw Les Mis through a traveling Broadway production last week. It was amazing. The soundtrack is due to arrive today. I hope it does. I want it to play and sing along during my drive!

I think I want to try this oil-free moisturizer. Does anyone use it or have recommendations? It has to be oil-free....

It's almost October. Hard to believe. This month has truly flown by, and I'm not sure why. It's been busy and fun and productive too!

So, I'm planning at least one breast cancer awareness giveaway for the month. If anyone knows sponsors or friends who would like to contribute, have them shoot me an email at aRealLifeWife [at] gmail [dot] com. I'd love to give some people or shops some publicity while raising awareness here on the ol' blog!

That's all for now.
XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Menu Monday: Lunchtime on the go

So, I haven't cooked many new things lately. So, I'm going to cheat and share my favorite meal I've gotten at a restaurant, because I think you'll love it too!

I've completely fallen in love with the Nutty Mixed-Up Salad from Jason's Deli. It's heavenly. Grilled chicken, spinach, apples, grapes, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, feta, dried cranberries and raisins.... with a yummy balsamic vinaigrette. Holy heavens, it's good.

So, not quite a menu this week, but if you have a Jason's Deli, check this out. I've been recreating it as closely as I can for lunches. I've done spinach with apples, walnuts, dried cranberries and feta - with Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette. It's delicious that way too!

XOXO and happy Monday,
Mrs. Jones

It's that time...

So, it's that time of year that all of us love - TV premier week, part 2!!!

I'm rejoicing for sure. Mr. Jones and I have a lot of fun curling up and relaxing - and with a DVR that can record up to two shows at once, we can record a lot and catch up later. :-) Like, on weekends and slow nights.

Here's what our DVR schedule looks like for this season:

Sunday
7 p.m. - The Amazing Race (CBS)
8 p.m. - The Good Wife (CBS)
8 p.m. - Desperate Housewives (ABC)
9 p.m. - Pan Am (ABC)

Monday
7 p.m. - The Sing-Off (NBC)
7 p.m. - Gossip Girl (CW)
8 p.m. - Hart of Dixie (CW) ???
9 p.m. - The Playboy Club (NBC) ???

Tuesday
7 p.m. - NCIS (CBS)
7 p.m. - Glee (Fox)
8 p.m. - NCIS: LA (CBS)

Wednesday
7 p.m. - Survivor: South Pacific (CBS)
9 p.m. - Law and Order: SVU (NBC)

Thursday
8 p.m. - Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
9 p.m. - Private Practice (ABC)

I'm excited! I'm debating on the Hart of Dixie and Playboy Club shows. Maybe I'll watch the pilots and see what I think. What am I missing? What do you love?

XOXO and happy viewing!
Mrs. Jones

Yea Alabama...

Our Saturday was a wonderful one, spent watching the Tide roll over Arkansas! After a couple of low-key home games, it was so much fun to hear Bryant-Denny Stadium rocking for a big SEC game! Alabama did not disappoint! Trick plays, domination, fun - it was all there! Mr. Jones and I even matched (look in the bottom of the pic at his pants!)

I even dressed sweet little EB up for a bit while we were at home. She was not a fan, but Mr. Jones snagged a picture of us!

Next week, I'll be cheering on Alabama (@ Florida) on from afar without Mr. Jones, because I'm heading to NASHVILLE for a blogging meet-up with some of my favorite girls! It's going to be a great week!

XOXO - and ROLL TIDE!

Mrs. Jones

Wishful Wednesday: Big Wishes

If we're wishing big for Wishful Wednesday this week, here's what I'm loving....

Ralph Lauren 

Crepe Flyaway Suit Jacket

White House Black Market

Colorblock Ponte Dress

Tory Burch

Robinson Satchel

I think the Tory Burch bag is my favorite. But the White House Black Market dress is amazing too. What do you think?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Hello pretty skin!

So, I keep forgetting to share my dermatology journey. I finally went to see a dermatologist about a month ago. I know it may be TMI, but I had been getting large, painful cyst-like zits around my chin. The second one would go away, another came back. Praise the Lord my mama sent me to the doctor. Amazing how quickly they can take care of things - and it was a simple fix, so I thought I'd share.

Step 1 was simple - switch to Cetaphil Antibacterial Bar for my cleanser. It's cheap. $4. And it's worked! I love it. Odd using a bar again, after so many years of pump cleansers, but I'm getting used to it!

I got a few topical treatments to spot treat, but the other big thing was oil-free makeup. I had to TOSS so many things I had - Physician's Formula, Revlon, you name it. 

But out with the old, and in with the new - Bobbi Brown!

The difference is amazing - things aren't perfect, but the doctor told me it would take three months to see major changes, and it's been one and I'm already seeing a big difference. Yay!

Just thought I'd share - I'm loving my new makeup, and my clearer skin! I highly recommend Cetaphil's Antibacterial Bar! 

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Taking the Cake...

Let's just say that my 26th birthday? The cake stole it. It upstaged me. Completely and unequivocally. It was hilarious, it was the highlight. You get the picture. On Friday, my birthday, Mr. Jones picked up a sweet little cake for me and Eve Belle to share, since her birthday followed mine on Tuesday.

We had a little bit of fun with it you see....

We even had a Skype date with Mr. Jones' parents, and EB got in on that action too.... She wasn't too sure what to think.

I thought the cake looked delicious. :-) But I did have a little bit of anxiety about biting into my puppy's look-a-like.

EB had no such qualms. She was ready for her first-ever taste of people food!

All in all, the cake was my favorite part of this birthday. The day before, we also enjoyed a nice dinner with my family. Did I mention there was delicious sushi involved? No? Well, there was. Yum.

I have more to share about sweet gifts and fun, but that's all for now!
XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Simply delicious snacking...

You all know I love chocolate. And wine. Etc. But I found a fabulous snack and I had to share. Have any of you tried these?

To say I'm in love would be an understatement. And there is a great coupon for $1.75 off on Target.com/coupons. That's a big discount!

Go try, enjoy and let me know what you think!

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Oh, bunko!

Tonight I will be playing bunko for the second time ever, with a fabulous group of women. I'm excited. I snapped this pic a month ago at our very first gathering - it was my first bunko EVER! 

This is a new adventure for me, but a very welcome one. It's been fun to try new wine, meet new friends, and play games! 

Do you have any fun groups like this?

Happy Wednesday lovelies!

Mrs. Jones

Happy birthday, Eve Belle!

Today is sweet Eve Belle's second birthday. We shared this cake for our birthdays all weekend, and she got a little extra tonight. Sweet girl, she loves her sugar high! She'd never had people food before.

My birthday was wonderful, and we pretty much celebrated all weekend. I've got tons of pictures to share, but for tonight, I just wanted to share our favorite of us and the cake Mr. Jones so sweetly got for us!

XOXO and HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUPPY GIRL!

Your mama loves you very, very much!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Ultimate glam...

Am I the only person who tears out magazine ads to blog about or look up or add to my wish list? Because that's totally what I do. Haha.

I was reading a magazine last week, when I came across an ad for these new OPI shades...

Aren't they pretty? I'm a fan of the two pinky ones, not so much the blue and silver. Kind of a cool cross promotion. But then again, I love anything OPI. Maybe I should go paint my nails.

Happy Sunday! I'm curled up trying to blog my thoughts on 9/11, my birthday and more. You'll hear a lot from me this week I think!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Frugal Friday: Birthday style!

One of my FAVORITE things about my birthdays is when all of these things come in the mail! $15 off at LOFT, $10 off at Victoria's Secret, free food from tons of places.... totally cool! Check it out...

On the non-birthday, regular couponing and deal-hunting front, I've snagged some other fabulous things...

When I scored that one, I was SO excited. Can't wait for a cheap date night!

I got some great coupons in the mail too....

And I scored some more freebies at Target and Wal-Mart! Yay for free necessities like Advil, toothpaste and deodorant! Right?

That's all for now! Thanks for the birthday wishes!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Twenty-six candles...

I'm 26 today!!!

Yikes. I'm getting close to those "late twenties" I believe. Not sure how I feel about that, but at least Mr. Jones is always older than me! 

I had a great family birthday dinner last night, and Mr. Jones and I are having a date night tonight to celebrate. I'm so excited!

I'll share the birthday fun later...

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

The Wine Chronicles: Secco Italian Bubbles

I have gotten to try so many sparkling wines lately that it is kind of funny... A friend brought me a bottle of Secco Italian Bubbles after a rough day last week. That's the best kind of friend, you know?

Anyways, we curled up on the couch, chatted, and split this lovely treat. I liked it more than Cupcake Prosecco. It was smoother to me, which was nice. I enjoyed it so much I searched around for it online to learn a little more about it... You can read more here.

I learned that there is also a Rose blend, and that "Dessert Bubbles" is coming out this year. I'll be looking for them for sure. This is one of the first wines I've tasted and written about that led me to learn more, which I'm enjoying!

Have you tried this? What's your favorite bubbly?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Birchbox in August...

I'm not sure I enjoyed this Birchbox month as much as I did last month, but it was cool nonetheless! I think my favorite item was the Kate Spade Twirl sample!

I've tried the Befine exfoliating wash (the two packets at the bottom of the picture!) The third thing I've tried so far is the blinc mascara. I need to not use my eye makeup remover the next time I take it off, because it's supposed to come off with just soap and water. I think I'll like that better. We'll see!

Sadly, the Twirl sample is almost gone, but it satisfied my need for some perfume RIGHT THEN. Which has been nice. 

I can't wait to try the night cream and the serum, but I'll get there eventually... That's all for this month's Birchbox. I'll blog about September's box when it arrives (possibly next week!) and maybe I'll be a little better about not waiting so long.

Have you joined Birchbox yet? Let me know if you want an invite!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

My puppy love, EB

It's been too long since I've shared a post full of gratuitous puppy pictures... So, I thought I should make up for that. Sweet EB had a busy weekend with her cousin and she is now EXHAUSTED! But she's still stinking cute.

We're on her last stock-piled Disney toy, but I've got a few remedies for that that I'm working on. She loves it so very very much.

My birthday is on Friday, but I'm not the only one with a birthday coming up! Sweet EB will turn TWO on Sept. 13. I think I might even be more excited about her birthday than I am about mine. Is that sad? Love my baby girl too much!

I'm taking suggestions for the perfect puppy present!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones