5 on Friday (FRIDAY)

Happy Friday! Here's what is on my radar going into the long holiday weekend.

1. My super thoughtful sister sent me this perfect card in the mail this week congratulating me on getting my butt back to work. I can't even explain how much I loved opening it after a long day at the office.

2. I've only been to New Orleans once, and was a senior in high school when Katrina happened, but the devastation resonated with me. I have several friends I met through ASP who left "ASP-land" and went down to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding efforts. This amazing article shows some incredibly moving before and after photos from then and now.

3. L's Birthday Weekend is coming up and we're going to Nashville for the night. Hotel is booked, Uber account has been created, but our schedule remains wide open... any suggestions as to where we should eat? (We did Whiskey Kitchen last year and have tried a few other Nashville favorites over the year but we need help narrowing down our options this year!)

4. The In-Laws are coming into town this weekend which means we NEED to get that guest bed all set up! So, we'll be heading out tonight for some last minute shopping - and probably spending all those BB&B 20% off coupons I've been hoarding...

5. Lauren Conrad teamed up with Paper Crown to make bridesmaid dresses and it makes me so excited for K's wedding next summer! I hope we get to wear dresses as beautiful as these!

Red and Black

Pants (Not sure of exact style - Similar) - Top (Old - Similar) - Necklace - Earrings

I found these red pants at J Crew on SUPER sale last year in Louisville and am obsessed with them. I had been on the search for red pants and was so amped when I found them. Since they're pretty loud compared to my other black and blue dress pants, I usually keep the top and jewelry more tame. Today, I'll wear it with one of my favorite lace tops from Loft and my black Rory necklace.

Sorry I seem to only suggest similar items - I told you I'm in desperate need of an update to my wardrobe! Soon... soon... :)

Man Crate Essentials (WEDNESDAY)

Essential Items by catherine-gumpman featuring tech accessories
Recently, I was contact by Man Crates about a blog post. As a company that sends items to men each month (think, Birch Box for guys) they were curious about what my essential items would be. I was encouraged to imagine I would be stuck on a desert island all alone, and to document what I'd need to get by. (Excluding the essentials, obviously. This was fun, not practical!)

So, I know it's pretty boring, but I'd bring a journal, coffee, my Bible, a camera, and my iPhone. I feel like I'd have lots of thoughts and feelings all alone on that island and being able to document it all in a journal would be therapeutic. I am very much dependent on coffee, so of course I'd need a nice supply of that. (But it doesn't have to be Starbucks! I don't discriminate when it comes to coffee.) My Bible would provide lots of time to meditate but there is also so much to read there - so many stories, lessons, and history to learn. I'd bring my phone, as a life-line to my loved ones back home (and I do have a 5S, but wish so badly I would've gotten a more affordable, and more fun, 5C when we switched over...). And of course my camera - I'm sure there will be many beautiful sights to capture and share with the world.

What would you bring in your crate of essentials?

But Pink is my signature color...

Cardigan (Old - Similar) - Dress (Old - Similar) - Necklace - Earrings

I wasn't kidding when I said I wear a lot of dark colors to work. Plus, the only thing more figure flattering for me than black is a wrap dress. Banana Republic to the rescue! I love this dress (mine is sleeveless but the one I linked to is long sleeves) and cardigan combo. (Please ignore how pilled my cardigan is! I told you I needed updated staples!) Pair this v-neck with the Somervell necklace and you have instant pop. I am mixing metals with the earrings (they're technically faceted in silver settings), but they're so far apart I'm banking on no one noticing.

What do you think? Would this style work for you?

Monday Meal Plan

I like to spend my weekends meal planning for the week, then grocery shopping on Sunday afternoons so we have everything we need. (Sometimes I'll leave out produce we'll need for meals later in the week to make sure they don't spoil before I use them.) Here is my meal plan for this coming week -- keeping in mind that Saturday may change because of Labor Day.

All recipes with "*" after the description came from this month's Real Simple magazine, featuring 20 recipes that can be prepared and cooked in only 20 minutes. I haven't quite gotten into a work routine yet, so being able to whip up a quick dinner is going to be ideal until I find what works for our schedule. 

You can find Monday, Wednesday, and Friday's recipes here. Tuesday, L is on his own since I have a few meetings that evening on post. Thursday we're going to try this veggie pasta, and Saturday try this chicken tender recipe. 

By my estimates, here is what these dinners cost us:

Monday: $2.97/serving (2 servings - I already had salmon and olive oil on hand, got red potatoes instead of fingerling, and eliminated the olives from the recipe.)

Tuesday: $2.18/serving (1 serving)

Wednesday: $5.32/serving (2 servings - We still need to get goat cheese, so this is preliminary. We already had red wine vinegar, unsalted butter, honey, and olive oil on hand.)

Thursday: $1.98/serving (2 servings - We're eliminating the pine nuts from this recipe, already had olive oil on hand.)

Friday: $8.21/serving (2 servings - we already had onion and rice vinegar on hand. We still need oyster sauce so this is preliminary.)

Saturday: $1.11/serving (5 servings - We still need to get cheese crackers, and already had olive oil, eggs, dijon mustard, flour and paprika on hand.)

What do you think? Do any of these sound good to you? Do you have any other recommendations for quick and easy suppers?

Cool Blue

Shirt - Pants - Statement Necklace - Delicate Necklace - Earrings

When the temperatures are still high, cropped pants are a great way to rock pants without being too hot. These skinny pants are more form fitting, so I tend to pick a looser fitting top to balance out my torso. This shirt from Loft is comfy but still nicer looking than a standard white tshirt. My statement necklace is on sale now, and I've barely stopped wearing my engravable since I got it in the mail. The Demi earrings add a touch of gold without over powering the necklace layers.

What are you waiting for? Pick up my beautiful Stella & Dot accessories today! 

Back in Black

 Dress (Old - Similar) - Necklace - Earrings - Bracelet

I tend to wear a lot of dark colors at work - black, navy, hunter, dark purple. The slimming effects don't hurt, but it also allows me to wear pops of color without being too over the top. This black dress has three quarter sleeves, so no need for a cardigan at work to cover up. I like the high neckline, which allows my necklace to really pop against the fabric. The earrings can add a touch of color while the bracelet's leather strap won't clang against my desk while I'm tap-tap-tapping away on the computer.

What do you think? Do you think black is too drab or are the pops of color enough?

Back to Work

Back to Work by catherine-gumpman featuring Kate Spade

Tomorrow I am back to the grind, and although I have plenty of office accessories to tide me over until those paychecks start rolling in, here is my wishlist of "back to the grind" items!

Le Pen 12 Color Set (for color coding my notes, obviously.) A Kate Spade frame to show off my wonderful 1 Year Anniversary photos. (Shop Ebates and get 3.5% back) The new Stella & Dot Bond Street Tote - big enough for binders and folders, but stylish enough to use every day. Tieks, for the days when heels just aren't going to cut it. A monogrammed mug from Moon and Lola - no one is going to borrow this baby! A Jonathan Adler sticky note set - various sizes and shapes for every job. And of course, a new pair of J Crew pumps! If these don't make you feel professional, I don't know what will. (Take a extra 25% off today with the code "EXTRA25") (Shop Ebates and get 1.5% back)

Wish me luck!

August Favorites

Here are a few things that I have kept in circulation so far this August! Yes - I know the month is only half over - but these were too good to not share!

My sister picked up this book before her visit and left it for me to read when she went home. I haven't been able to put it down! It's an easy and entertaining read about a young guy in California working in a peculiar bookstore. Definitely worth checking out if you like books with an air of mystery. 

I bought my Essential Oils starter kit a few weeks ago and love to diffuse them all over the house (and use the oils for everything from better sleep to healing cuts and bruises). Joy has been my favorite so far - it has a floral scent and it relaxes me while I'm running around getting chores done around the house.

Now, my grandmother had more cast iron skillets than one could ever need, but none managed to make the trip to Tennessee with me. So, when in Pigeon Forge last month I picked up one of my own. Working hard to season it, I've been using it constantly. How did I ever cook delicious food without one?!

What's been on your radar recently? Any things I should work into my life?

No longer Fun-Employed!

That's right, folks - I am no longer fun-employed! As of this morning I am a worker bee again - and so relieved! The job search was a little hectic at times, discouraging at others, and long, but this week I'll begin a new adventure.

Although I am no expert, I think I'm going to transition this blog into more of a "professional" advice blog. Although I am no expert, my first job held me to the highest of expectations, and taught me a lot of things that I believe will help everyone with their jobs, whether that be student, professional, entrepreneur, or home maker. (And trust me, folks. Even though we are baby-less - with the exception of my fur baby - being a home maker is a full time gig.) 

So, for my inaugural professional post, I'd like to share some of my job hunt tips and strategies.

1. Put in the Time - As tedious as it may be, write a cover letter for each business you plan to apply to. This is for two majors reasons: 1. If your cover letter is well researched, it will speak volumes to the business you're interested in, 2. It gives you a chance to see what the business is all about and if their values/goals are in line with yours. Plus, a cover letter along with a resume tailored to that particular business will stick out among the mass printed resumes others are dropping off alone.

2. Visit in Person - I dropped off all my cover letters and resumes (with my hand written signature on the cover letter and the two paper clipped together) in person. I'd ask if they were hiring, and even if the answer was no, I'd ask to leave my information behind. This strategy got me 2 interviews, once of which landed me my job offer. Never under-estimate your presence in person. (This one does get tricky if you're applying to nation-wide chain businesses, but works wonders on locally owned operations.)

3. Always look the Part - Not only does this mean dress in your Sunday best to canvas your local employers, but also clean up your digital presence. De-clutter social media (maybe even alter your privacy settings), make sure your email signature is professional, and be ready at any time for a last minute interview.

4. Network - Research local young professional organizations, ask your friends if they know of openings, ask around your church - anything that will help you get your foot in the door. I'm also involved with a Military Spouse professional development organization that is motivating and helpful. These groups are resources waiting to be used!

5. Dream Big - When I left my last job I thought long and hard about what my next dream job would be. Real Estate is intriguing to me, but I wanted to get my feet wet with it, so I focused a lot on real estate and property management companies around town. But, I also applied to big chain retail stores, school system jobs - anything I could find that was open. Beggars can't be choosers and you never know who you'll meet through job opportunities or what skills you'll learn.

I hope this helps! Any job search tips you'd want to share? Let me know if you use any of these and they work well for you!

Romans 8:38-39

5 on Friday

Another weekend! Boy oh boy - this week flew for me - I hope it went as fast for y'all. Here's what's on my radar this weekend:

1. Kate Spade Purse - My friend TC picked up this beauty on her vacation in Orlando at the Kate Spade outlet for a steal and I've been lusting after it ever since. (I've even warned her that if it mysteriously goes missing that I definitely did not take it.) But S&D has its Madison Tech bag that's very similar in size and silhouette that I will probably invest in soon. 

2. Mr. WB - Y'all, how cute is Mr. WB? My friends M and S have the worlds cutest little boy and I've gotten to hang out with him TWICE this week! (See Mr. WB and I in action on Tuesday on my Instagram...)

3. Design Inspiration - I love the way MB has her home decorate (she has the best taste) and I've been so inspired by this particular wall in her home. I love how the matching floating shelves allow for her to use a variety of frames and still all be tied in. I have the perfect wall in our living room to attempt something similar to this, we just need to invest in the shelves.

4. New Hair - If you follow me on IG, you'll already know that I got a new 'do this week! Although I wanted to go back to my natural color incrementally, we decided to just rip off the band aid and do it now! So, here we are. I know the blond will pull through and I'll probably have one more session with the stylist, but I'm so excited about cutting the maintenance (and cost!) out of my life.

5. New Job - I had an interview this week for a potential job and was told I could expect an offer next week on a salary and benefits package! I am so excited to get back out there and try something different and will be sure to fill you in more as things become more certain.

Have a great weekend!