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?