Sami's Shenanigans: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday Favorites

Hello Lovers!

Guess what?! It's FRIDAY! I am so ready for a 3 day weekend!
Oh, and I only have to work until 11:30.

Hollaaaa!

Now let's get to the good stuff!

Linking up with Lindsey for..

Favorite Nail Polish

Essie- "Skirting the Issue" and "Penny Talk"

I'm going to get my nails done this afternoon and I'm thinking about doing this look below. It may be a little soon for this very Fall inspired idea but I just can't help myself!

Favorite DIY

Let me start off by saying that my blog bff Dana kicks butt!
Not only did she create the worlds cutest baby, but she can make awesome things too.
She wanted to start doing jewelry DIY's so she marched her booty over to Michaels, and a few hours later she had created this gorgeous necklace!
It's gorg huh?

Learn how to make it here.

Favorite Song

OneRepublic "Feel Again"

This is the first single off of their new album and I love it. They haven't released anything new since 2009 so this is a long time coming! It's been on repeat this whole week.

Also, Ryan Tedder and Gavin DeGraw are besties so even Gavin says you should listen to it!

Favorite New Blog

A Blog About Love

I randomly stumbled across this blog about the sweetest husband and wife. My favorite part is learning that they met and fell in love via email before they ever met. It is the absolute sweetest story and they shared the whole story including the emails from the very beginning. You can read it here, but make sure you start from the first one and move forward. It brought tears to my eyes!

Favorite Weekend Plans

OSU vs. Savannah State

The first game of the season and I can't wait!
I'll be heading to the OSU Alumni watch party with my parents and I'm sure it will be a great time! I can't wait to sip on a Lunchbox while watching the Cowboys kick some Savannah State butt.
Today is what we like to call Orange Friday so you know I'm decked out.
Even my coffee is dressed up thanks to Kelly!
Go check out her Etsy store!

What were your faves this week?

Ps. Don't forget Weekend Update is being pushed back till Tuesday!
Link-up with us at 5am CST.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Gameday Outfits

Hey Ya'll!

It's Thursday, do you know what that means?
Only 2 more days until GAMEDAY!

While unfortunately I can't be in Stillwater for every home game, I do enjoy going to the OSU bar in Colorado, and I still have to look cute! I've put together some fun outfits incorporating my two favorite colors.. Orange and Black. Go Pokes!

Source: samimorrissey.polyvore.com via on

I started with the most casual outfit, perfect for the first few games when it will still be very warm outside! I love these scalloped black shorts with a simple striped tank. I added two pops of orange with some Kendra Scott earrings and a Proenza Schouler bag. I kept the rest of the jewelry simple with an adorable Tiffany & Co. bow ring and a Kate Spade watch. Throw on some metallic silver Tory Burch flats and paint your nails a shiny Chanel black and you are ready to cheer on the Cowboys!

Source: samimorrissey.polyvore.com via on

Next is a slightly dressier option, and my favorite of the three. I started with the perfect, simple LBD. I adore this cut and the short sleeve! I added orange details with the cutest Kate Spade studs, a cheetah print Tory Burch scarf, and a Gorjana wrap bracelet. How fun are these Cole Haan sandals? Black and sparkles.. you can't go wrong! Finished the look off with a crossbody Marc Jacobs bag and the gorg Target watch that is on my birthday list. I wish this outfit would magically find it's way into my closet for Saturday!

Source: samimorrissey.polyvore.com via on

Last but certainly not least, a dressier option that is perfect for Fall! I of course started with the coveted Hudson coated black skinnies and paired them with an adorable Tory Burch peplum sweater. I love the balance of rough and pretty with these two pieces. Next I had throw in some leopard print! I die for these YSL gold capped loafers and this Christian Louboutin crossbody. It might be too much leopard for some, but I just love it! For accessories I chose a classic Michael Kors watch, a delicate Alexander McQueen wrap bracelet, and a fun Kate Spade bib necklace. To finish off the look, the perfect orange nail polish by Essie and my favorite Bare Minerals Buxom lip gloss in a sassy red!

These outfits have me even more excited for Saturday and I cannot wait to pick out my outfit for the watch party! Are you excited for college football? What team do you cheer for?

Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Confess Sesh

Good Morning Dolls!

Oh Wednesday, so close to the 3 day weekend.. but so far away.
I don't know what it is but by Wednesday I am cursing over the fact that it isn't Friday yet and that I still have to go to work for 3 days. Fun fact.. I get up at either 5:45 or 6:15 everyday. It's rough and even after doing it for 6+ months I still hate getting out of bed everyday. How did we do this in high school? I liked it better in college when my day started at 8am tops. Le, sigh..

Anyways, time for some confessions!

I confess.. I am itching to move.

Don't be surprised, this happens often.

I just want to explore new places and when I see other people doing it (cough*Lindsey*cough), I want to do it also. I mean really, Dana is willing to hire me to be her unpaid Au Pair so that's a pretty sweet gig. She does have an incredibly cute baby! My old roommate keeps sending me jobs in Dallas, and even though I already tried that once, I'd be willing to try again with a different job. Ultimately, it's not the right time and I'll be in Colorado for a few more years, but eventually I will get out and see the rest of the country!

I confess.. The dermatologist scared the living day lights out of me yesterday.

I went in to discuss my skin and how it's gotten out of control oily, and decided to show him 2 small moles that were on my neck. I mentioned having them checked out and within seconds he had poked me with a numbing shot and cut them off without even asking me. It didn't hurt but it totally freaked me out. Yes I'm a baby, but have some bedside manners for crying out loud!

I confess.. I kind of thought I would be secretly judged for eating Cake Batter Pancakes.

But then ya'll were all about them and were asking for the recipe. That's what I get for being ridiculous over nothing. I used the recipe found here. Which is crazy easy, btw. I cut it in half and it still made 8 pancakes so make sure you have a crowd!

I confess.. that I am falling head over heels for faux leather.

I need coated skinny jeans and leggings in my possession as soon as possible, even though the 100 degree weather in Colorado doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. That doesn't mean I can't play dress up in my closet and plan fabulous outfits for Fall. What you don't do this?

I confess.. that I am way more excited about the new Real World Challenge than I should be.

Battle of the Seasons? Oh yes please. I'm most excited about Jemmye and Knight from New Orleans and Danny and Melinda from Austin, who just got divorced. Oh and Zack and Frank from San Diego! It's gonna be sooo much drama and I can't wait. It starts September 19th!

Last but not least..
I confess.. that the Pretty Little Liars Season Finale was INTENSE.
I have my thoughts on the finale but I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't watched. Were you shocked at the second "A" reveal? Leave your thoughts in the comments so we can discuss! Also, not that I'm complaining but the show comes back on in October! Does anyone else feel like it's on all year long with just two small breaks? It's just unusual for most shows right?

What do you need to confess?

Share it in the comments!

Ps. Thanks for Carissa for the inspiration for this post :)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The September Issue

Hello Lovies!

I kind of got away from my fashion posts on Tuesdays so we are jumping back in starting..

right meow.

September is an important month, and no it's not just because it's my birth month.

September is the month that all of the fashion magazines release their most important issue of the year. It's filled to the brim with Fall fashion and believe me I spend more hours than I can keep track of flipping through the pages and soaking it all in.

While the ads might annoy some people, they are actually my favorite part. You get to see what all of the big designers have up their sleeves for their Fall Ready-To-Wear and get an idea of what trends that will be the big ones in the coming months. It's also when they bring out the big guns. You will see almost every famous model gracing the pages in the ads because the bigger the better right? Ps. Did you know that this year's VOGUE is the biggest ever? It has 658 ad pages! I'd say that says something for our improving economy yes?

I got to thinking while I was flipping through this year's mags, about something my Dad always says to me. "Sami, you have a closet full of clothes. Why are you buying more?" Well Dad, I finally have an answer! You can have all of the clothes in the world, but part of loving fashion and diving in to what a new season brings, is embracing trends. That doesn't mean you should go out and spend $1000's every season, it just means that allow your personal style to evolve and allow new things to mix with your old.

With that being said, let's take a look at some of my favorite ads from this year's September issues.

Karlie Kloss for Juicy Couture

Source: via on

Alexander McQueen

Source: via on

Kate Moss for Salvatore Ferragamo

Source: twenty2.onsugar.com via on

Mulberry

Source: via on

Ashley Green for DKNY

Source: via on

Louis Vuitton

Source: via on

Have you checked out this year's September issues?

What were your favorite ads?

Have a great day!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Weekend Update Blog Hop

Hello Lovers!

It's that time again..

Weekend Update Blog Hop!

Here's the deal:

Write a post about your weekend

Grab our button

Link-up

Meet new friends!

Sounds like fun right?

*All we ask is that you add our button or include a link-back to us.*

We do go through and read/comment on all of the posts so unfortunately,

if you don't give us any credit we will have to delete your submission!

We don't want to do that though, so please play by the rules :)

*Some important news for next week!* We will be switching Weekend Update from Monday to Tuesday because of Labor Day! We hope you will link-up on Tuesday and share what you did over the holiday weekend :)

a. My wild Friday night! Ps. Obsessed with my new Tervis tumbler b. Saturday night Hunger Games date with my Aunt c. Throwback Thursday love. Missing my besties and can't wait to see them in October! d. Sunday morning Cake Batter Pancakes. Yum. As you can see, I had a pretty low key weekend which is a-okay in my book. I ended my weekend with a walk, dinner, and True Blood with my girl Grace. A perfect ending to the weekend. Do you watch True Blood? What an insane finale! Oh and I can't forget my Thursday lunch with Miss Janna! Love spending time with that girl.

What did you do this weekend? Link-up and share!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday Social + Blog Friends

Hello Lovies!

I hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday!

1. What is the first website you log in to everyday? Twitter! I've got to catch up on whatever I missed while I was sleeping ;) 2. Funny Websites that you need to know about? I'm kind of obsessed with GIF's so I love and

3. Facebook or Pinterest? Pinterest duh! I don't have a personal FB and my blog page only has like 8 likes. I have just grown out of Facebook and don't find it interesting anymore. Occasionally I will get on my Mom's to see what my family members are up to, but that's about it! 4. Twitter or Instagram? This is a hard one but I'll have to go with Twitter. I usually have it up in the background at home and at work. As much as I love Instagram, the fact that it only loads about 75% of the time drives me insane! 5. Favorite YouTube Video?

Glozell talking about Rihanna's song Rude Boy.

Makes me laugh.. everytime!

6. Biggest Online Pet Peeve? Girl fights on Twitter! Keep the drama to yourself.. or your closest girlfriends ;) but NOT on the internet for all of the world to see! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Say hi to some of my favorite bloggers!

Social Sara

Favorite Blog Post- Beauty Ritual

My Life Laughs and Love

Favorite Blog Post- 20 Things About this 20-Something

This Hive

Favorite Blog Post- I haven't had Internet for a week

| Instagram- @ellenpocari

Running in Stilettos

Favorite Blog Post- 5 Things You Can Change

Cookies for Breakfast

Favorite Blog Post- VLOG!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Friday Favorites

Hello my loves!

So serious question..

Has my blog been boring lately?

Mindy (aka my Mom) informed me that it was and I haven't been getting as many comments lately so this would leave me to believe that it was true.

I can't promise you that I'll change things up, because well this is my blog, and as my Mom knows I like to do what I want..

BUT I'm interested.

What would you like to see more of/less of over here at Sami's Shenanigans?
Lemme know!

Now it's time to link-up with Lindsey for..

She's announcing where her big move will be today and I of course am hoping for Colorado so we can be real friends instead of just blog friends! Something tells me it's California though. We shall see.. Either way I'm super excited for her. Change is always fun!

Now for my faves..

Favorite Purchase

I've was really trying to be good this week with money and I feel like I was until.. I wasn't.

I saw this dress over on PIPM and I loved it. When I went to search it, I found it was "Online Only" so I bit the bullet and purchased. I'm hoping it's just as cute on when it arrives because I think it will be a great winter piece with a scarf and booties! Plus I can wear it to work.. perfect!

Favorite Sweet

I blame Katie for this one but these cookies are ahhh-mazing! So easy to make but also insanely addictive. Based off my Instagram comments I figured you'd all want to know the recipe so go visit Katie here and then run home and make them. You won't be sorry, but your booty will be!

Favorite Couple

Swoon. I can't get enough of them really! Instagram and Twitter.. I sort of stalk them everywhere.
Jef pretty much seems like the cutest thing EVER.
I mean tweet below? I die.

Update: There are cheating rumors that Emily was "sexting" NFL QB Matt Leinart.
Emily and Jef are sticking to their story of it not being true and are still together.. for now.

Favorite Mail Arrival

Aren't these awesome? I got them from a Klout perk which means.. they were FREE. I sort of winged it when I designed them on the website so I'm pleasantly surprised at how well they turned out. The back of the card is entirely leopard print, which is awesome! It makes me so official to have a business card with my blog header/URL on it haha. I'm hoping I can do some networking with these and possibly do more reviews. You hear that HANA?! I want a new blow dryer! ;)

Favorite Song

I am not an American Idol fan whatsoever, so I was really surprised when I heard this song and loved it. Apparently it was used a lot in the Olympics but I didn't really watch much so I didn't notice. It's weird to me when I hear his voice and then see him because they don't really match ya know? Either way this song is awesome and has been on repeat as of late.

That's all I got loves!

Ps. I still have a few spots open for swapping in September! Check out my sponsor tab and if you're interested you can email me for the promo code.

Have a great weekend!

Almost time to blow out the candles..

Hello Lovies!

It's about one week until September which means only one thing..

My Birthday Month!

If we are being honest, I used to make sure my birthday was the most imporant day of the year. Now? I just want to spend it with the people that I love and that's good enough for me. With that being said, Birthday's and Christmas are the two times a year that involve presents so I of course had to make a wish list. It was actually kind of hard because most of the time if I want something I go and buy it, but I managed to come up with a few fun items.

one. HD TV and Blu Ray DVD Player

While this isn't something that I am dying to have, it's practical and as a grown up I need to start having nice things right? Ideally I'd like to have On-Demand on my DirecTV and you can't have that without HD so that's that. There's also a Blu Ray DVD player. My parents have one and it let's you use Netflix and rent Blockbuster from the player, which is awesome! My Dad loves to buy electronics so I have a feeling he will hook me up. Ya hear that Dad?

two. Deux Lux Empire Strikes Back Duffle

I love my current purse (which is also a Deux Lux) but it's time for a change! I usually go for black but I'm drawn to this cream with gold accents. I know this brand and I'm confident in the quality which is very important to me. This seems like a perfect winter purse and I've decided that I need it. Done and done. Come to mama!

three.

This perfume has been a favorite scent of mine for awhile now but I've never actually owned it. This needs to change. I like to think this is a more grown-up scent because it's a strong and sexy scent. It doesn't hurt that the bottle is gorg! Yes, please!

four. Target Merona Boyfriend Watch

My current Michael Kors watch is my love. It's silver with rose gold accent and it goes with almost everything, which is awesome. I have been toying with the idea of buying a gold watch because I think it's very classic looking but I haven't purchased yet. Then I saw this beauty at Target of all places. It's pretty and best of all.. it doesn't cost $200. Holla!

five. ASOS Curve Sequin Cuff Dress

Oh hello the most perfect dress I've ever seen. I only recently discovered ASOS and I have am crushing.. hard. I love that I can shop and buy things and the shipping is FREE both ways. Customer service genius I tell you. This dress is calling my name. It's simple with just the perfect amount of sparkle.

So what do you think?
Are you dying for any of the items on my wishlist too?

My actual birthday is September 11th for those of you who were wondering ;)

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

A Musician Swap with Join the Gossip

Hello Lovies!
I'm not here today, but I've got my last name twin here to take over the reins..

Hi you Shenanigan-loving readers! My name is Leeann and I blog over at Join the Gossip. You may recognize that blog name - that's because I'm one of Sami's Weekend Update co-hosts :) Today her and I are swapping blogs and talking about two of our favorite things: music and hot dudes. We randomly share the same last name, Morrissey (maybe we're related and don't know?!) and with a name linked to a famous musician, it's no wonder we enjoy live music.

So today it's all about our top five music-related crushes. Let me warn you, my taste is all over the place but you can appreciate their hotness, hopefully.

1. The Perfect One - Nick Hexum of 311

I fell in love with him when I was 12 and he's still my fav!

Source: via on

2. The Young One - Kris Allen of American Idol

I know, he's like 12 but he's so adorable. And that voice!

Source: theprophetblog.net via on

3 The British One - Chris Martin of Coldplay

C'mon if he's good enough for Gweneth, he's good enough for me!

Source: weheartit.com via on

4. The Strange One - Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars
I like his look more as an actor. He's a little out there when in the rocker zone, but still gorgeous.

Source: i2.listal.com via on

5. The Questionable One - Brandon Boyd of Incubus

I've heard he likes dudes (not sure if that's true) and he's very feminine on stage. But still hot!

Source: via on

See anything you like? ;) No, but really, are any of these guys on your list? Thanks for reading along! And for all of you who want to see Sami's list head on over to my blog to check it out.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

August Birchbox Review

Hey lovies!

It's BIRCHBOX time!

What's Birchbox? It's a monthly subscription that costs $10. They send you a box every month with samples of new beauty products to try out and if you like anything, you can order them on the website. Click here for more information.

This month's theme was Beauty School.

I loved this idea and thought it was so cute because along with the products they gave a little booklet with tips and tricks for makeup and beauty products! Very cute considering August is "Back to School" month for students and teachers. Loved it.

What's in the box?

one. Schick | Hydro Silk Razor

I can't believe I've never talked about this razor before because I've been using it for about 6 months but now I have the perfect opportunity to express my love for it. This razor is amazing. It leaves your skin soft but I've never once knicked myself. So glad to now have a second one to put in my travel stuff.

two. GLOSS moderne | High Gloss Masque

I'm actually really excited about this product! I haven't had a chance to use it yet but its supposed to restore shine and bounce to your hair and I like the sound of that. I'm thinking I will use this on a weekend when I have time to put it on and leave it for 30 minutes to an hour.

three. Juicy Couture | Viva la Juicy Fleur

This perfume smells amazing! I have been using Viva la Juicy for several years and I like this new version. I will definitely be adding this scent to my list of perfumes to buy. It smells girly but not overpowering even though it has both floral and fruity tones.

four. Beauty Fixation | Lipstick Touch-up

These remind me of the Almay makeup remover sticks and I will probably use them in a similar way. I don't wear a lot of lipstick so I don't see myself needing to touch-up very often. These would be great for fixing up eyeliner mistakes without smearing it all over like I normally do. Can't wait to try it out!

five. Sumita | Brow Base

Another great product! This is perfect for putting on before you fill in eyebrows with a powder. It's pretty thick so you have to be careful not to use too much, but I am a huge fan of standout eyebrows and this is great for keeping product on throughout the day.

Well well well.. looks like Birchbox heard my complaints and stepped their game up! I'm glad I didn't cancel when I did, and if they continue to impress me like they have the last two months, they will keep me as a customer. Can't wait to see what's in store for September, my BIRTHDAY month :)

Do you subscribe to Birchbox?

What did you get this month?

Linking up with Tara here.

Have a great day!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Weekend Update Blog Hop

Hello Lovers!

It's that time again..

Weekend Update Blog Hop!

Here's the deal:

Write a post about your weekend

Grab our button

Link-up

Meet new friends!

Sounds like fun right?

*All we ask is that you add our button or include a link-back to us.*

We do go through and read/comment on all of the posts so unfortunately,

if you don't give us any credit we will have to delete your submission!

We don't want to do that though, so please play by the rules :)

one. My ELF makeup haul from their 50% off sale! Can't wait to review these products soon.

two. My $184 grocery shopping trip nearly killed me! I was out of everything and hopefully won't be grocery shopping again for a month.

three. My first trip to Menchies froyo. They didn't have any fruit which was a huge bummer.

four. Got suckered into signing up for the Target debit card! Hey, I don't mind the 5% off.

one. Sending off some packages to three lovely ladies all over the US!

two. Throwback jam! Love me some old school X-tina.

three. Delicious dinner on Saturday night. Quinoa Fried Rice topped with a Teriyaki Salmon burger! Yum yum.

four. My sweet girl loves to snuggle and I don't mind it one bit.

This weekend was pretty low key with lots of family time. It's been about a month since my Uncle's accident so I thought I would do a little update. He is still in the hospital but has made some great strides in his recovery. We hope to have him at a rehab center later this week and hopefully at home in a few more weeks. We are all cheering him on and he has been a trooper! Thanks for all of your sweet messages and thoughts, it means a lot!

What did you do this weekend?

Link-up and share!

Happy Monday!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday Favorites

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Gameday Outfits

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Confess Sesh

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The September Issue

Monday, August 27, 2012

Weekend Update Blog Hop

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday Social + Blog Friends

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Friday Favorites

Almost time to blow out the candles..

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

A Musician Swap with Join the Gossip

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

August Birchbox Review

Monday, August 20, 2012

Weekend Update Blog Hop

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