Gift Idea Friday - Mother's Day Ideas

I'm bringing back Gift Idea Friday. It's been a while but Mother's Day is around the corner so I thought I would share some of my favorite gift ideas from Stella & Dot.

Signature Clover Bangle - love how this is so delicate. It's going to be my next purchase.

Mira Bangles (gold or silver) - love these! I have them in gold and wear all the time. Definitely going to purchasing them in silver too. Stella & Dot's bracelets fit so well. I have small wrists and its hard to find bangles that fit but these fit amazing!

Essential Ball Studs - perfect for any occasion

Soiree Studs - Love these!

Charms - Necklace or Bracelet - this is one of my favorite products because you can make a fabulous necklace or bracelet (gold or silver) with initials, birth stones, etc.


Ever After Necklace - So simple and delicate

Signature Dot Disc Necklace - goes with almost any outfit

I'm excited to be hosting a trunk show for my friends next weekend. I wish you all could come to my trunk show to see the fabulous jewelry in person but you can buy it online. Here's how -

Click here and go to the top right corner and then click on can't make it to the trunk show.
Type my name Christina Scripps and then start shopping :)

Favorite Thing #215 - Yes to Cucumbers Body Butter

My friend Tiffany introduced me to the Yes To brand and I've become obsessed with the Yes to Cucumbers cooling body butter. I finally found a fabulous moisturizer that quenches my dry skin without an over powering scent or greasiness. The cucumber cools and calms the skin with the perfect amount of moisture. The best part is this product is petroleum, SLS and paraben free! I purchase this at drugstore.com so that I can get my drugstore.com dollars and Ebates cash back!

Anthropologie Review

Since Hubby is in CT, I don't have anyone to snap photos of my recent purchases so blackberry photos will just have to do for now. Here's a recent top I purchased at Anthropologie. I love this Go For Baroque Peasant top. It's flows nicely and has gathered three quarter length sleeves. I don't own a lot of "prints" and I really love this one. It's flowers with beautiful greens, corals, oranges and whites. I think I will get a lot of wear out of this top because it can be worn almost year round. I paired it with a cropped skinny jean and gold ballet flats. I had it on with white jeans this morning but then it looked like rain so I changed up the outfit.

Saks Friends and Family

I took advantage of Saks Friends and Family with these two purchases. Can't wait for them to get here. Love the simplicity and neutral colors of my picks. Hope I like them as much in person.

Great New Recipe - Slowcooker Risotto

This weekend Hubby was home so I decided to make a home cooked meal for him. I decided to try a new recipe and needed something easy so I went with Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto from A Year of Slow Cooking. It was SUPER easy and sooo delicious. Here's the recipe -

Ingredients
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil
1 1/2 cup Arborio rice
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese (I used Parmesan instead)

Directions
Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Put the sun-dried tomatoes into the bottom. Add rice and swirl it around in the oil until it is well-coated. Add the chicken broth. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 4 hours. I found that mine cooked in 2 to 3 hours so just keep checking on it until the rice is tender. Remove the lid of the cook and stir in cheese. Turn off cook and let the risotto sit for 10 with the lid off before serving. Enjoy!

We also had our friends over and their adorable 3 week old baby. He fell asleep on me...isn't he adorable?

Decorating Help!

I want to do a mini-redo of our master bathroom with new bath rugs and towels. Right now the color scheme is red walls, light wood cabinets, white everywhere else. We have khaki towels and bath rugs...boring I know. I need your help...how can I spruce it up with color. It has been difficult to find things that are affordable and go well with the red walls. Let me know your thoughts!

$20 from Rue La La

New members to Rue La La get a $20 credit! For those of you new to the blog, Rue La La is a By-Invitation-Only Sample Sale site. Click Here to sign up using my personal invitation link. This link will grant you immediate access to the site after you sign up plus the $20 credit. (FYI - If you just sign up the regular way you will just be put on the waiting list and you don't get the credit.)

Four years ago today...

...I married the man of dreams. He is the most amazing husband...so thoughtful, caring, attentive, smart, funny...the list goes on and on. And normally we aren't mushy on Twitter, Facebook and my blog but since he and I can't spend this day together, I thought I would share with you all!

Hubby - I am so lucky to have you in my life. You make me a better person everyday. I love you!

Lauren Conrad for Kohl's

Just ordered this adorable blouse from Lauren Conrad's collection at Kohl's. I really hope it look as adorable on me as it does on her.

Favorite Thing #214 - DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew

I started using DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew based on a recommendation from my friend Arielle. She raved and raved about this product and she was right! I ordered a bottle from Apothica (7% cash back from Ebates) and have been using it for the past few week and love it! I've had minimal break outs (barely any), my skin looks great and it doesn't feel like I have a thick moisturizer on my face. After I finish this bottle, I'm going to try the DDF Weightless Defense Moisturizer with SPF 45. Need the SPF in the summer time! If you are in need of a new moisturizer, I definitely recommend this one!

New Spring Scent

I found my new spring scent. I had brought a few perfume samples with me to NY last week hoping I would find a new scent and I did. I am absolutely in love with Dolce & Gabbana's Rose the One. It's a floral scent which I usually don't like but I love this one. My second choice (and it was a close second) was Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. You can't go wrong with either of these for spring/summer. And don't forget, Sephora is offering 15% off this week! Take advantage. And if you order online via Ebates you get 6% cash back. For those of you not familiar with Ebates check out my Thrifty Thursday post here.

Apothica Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Erin at Everything According to Erin for winning my Apothica giveaway! Send me an email at christinasfavoritethings@gmail.com with your email address so I can let the folks at Apothica know you won and they can send you the gift card! Congrats!!!!

Lusting after lace...

I've been lusting after this Banana Republic dress since I saw it IRL over the weekend. I really want to buy it but not sure when I would wear it.

One Piece Bathing Suit

I don't own a one piece bathing suit and I feel like it would be a good idea to have one since I've got niece and nephews that I love running around with at the pool. What do you all think of this one from Anthropologie?

F21 Love!

I am absolutely loving this ruffle maxi dress from Forever 21. I can't decide if I want it in this color or navy. What do you think?

"Bachelorette" for the next three months...

Hubby has taken a 3 month corporate assignment in CT so that means I'm on my "own" during the week and some weekends. He's been a week already and so far so good. We both travel for our jobs so I'm used to him being gone here and there or me being away from him on a business trip. It's funny to me that when people find out that we are going to be living a part they ask me if I'm going to be ok. I guess people forget that I did live on my own before we met. I'll be heading to NY tomorrow for the week and then Hubby is going to take the train down on Friday to spend the weekend with me in the city. Can't wait for our mini getaway.

Need a new spring scent...

Any recommendations on a nice spring scent? I need a new, lightweight perfume for the spring/summer and would love your suggestions.

Also don't forget to enter my Apothica giveaway! If you win you can buy yourself a new, spring scent. :)

Outfit of the Day

Now that its spring I want to get back into doing outfit of the day. I hit up LOFT yesterday to take advantage of 30% entire store. I'm wearing one of my latest purchases. My pants are a lighter gray...sorry for the picture quality.

Blouse - LOFT
Cardigan - J.Crew
Pants - Banana Republic
Watch - Fossil

Favorite Thing #213 - Make Up For Ever HD Primer

A couple weeks ago when I was on travel I used a sample of Make Up For Ever HD Primer in neutral and I fell in love with it! It's super light weight and really evens out my skin tone. A little goes a long way with this primer! I didn't think I could find another one that I liked more than Favorite Thing #204 but I did. I give Make Up Forever's a slight advantage because it's lighter feeling on my skin but I would honestly recommend either one. I have a feeling Smashbox is going to be my winter primer and Make Up Forever is going to be my summer one. :)