Another Thursday Randoms

• Some days you just need to write a blog post in bullet form. So here you go. 
• I stayed at work yesterday until 10 pm. I am DRAGGING today, let me tell you. 13 hour days are for real, no fun. EVEN when drinking is involved.
• I am also suffering from a minor mid week hangover. what the heck? "I don't got time for that"
• I finally broke out the sear sucker for Sear Sucker Thursday! But now I remember why I so rarely participate (this skirt is too short for work. oh well)
• I went to a CRAZY huge UGA reception at Union Station last night. It was awesome.

• Outgoing President Michael Adams (President of UGA) really needs to get his teeth whitened. Come on dude, you make a lot of money, you are making us look bad. 
• I really miss college. 
• I REALLY don't know what to do about Grad School.
• I am beyond over this hot weather that has suddenly invaded DC. I get that it's officially summer now, but seriously? I am not ready for heat indexes 100+, for reals, not okay.
• I wore a dark suit yesterday--> worst decision of my life
• Have you ever swam in a public pool? Something about it just kind of irks me. I feel like they are full of diseases and urine. BUT there is a pool like 3 blocks from my house, and I'd really like to start swimming laps after work. But... eww, I don't know if I can do it. 
• I love jambalaya. (and plan to have some for lunch today, just thought you should know)
• I forgot to put on foundation today. I just forgot. My make up routine is slightly extensive but I have the exact same routine for my face. just about every day. primer. concealer. foundation. powder. blush. more powder. Today I did primer (stila bronze). then cheek stain. then powder.WTH?  I don't even know. I'm tired.
• I might go get gelato for a post lunch snack. I've been thinking about my Sunday trip to Pitango all week. 
• ALL week I've been thinking that the fourth of July is on Wednesday (meaning next week is a very odd 4 day week). NO wrong. We have a whole other week in between. NOT FAIR.
• I really want to take a "mental health day" soon... but I want to plan it to be AWESOME. DC peeps, any suggestions on random day time activities?
• OH. So I had a huge tech victory yesterday! I figured out how to make a blog button! OMG I know right? I'm so impressed with myself y'all have no idea, well... actually most of y'all probably do. If you want my button you can get it here...

&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;center>&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">href</span>=”http://<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">bluedogbelle</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">blogspot</span>.com/“>&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">img</span> border=”0″ <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">src</span>="http://3.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">bp</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">blogspot</span>.com/-I6gvhPIq3Ts/T-IPA4SmDZI/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">AAAAAAAADKE</span>/7jbp_sqtl0A/s1600/button.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">jpg</span>" />&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;/a>&<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">lt</span>;/center>

• Does anyone want to do a button swap? leave a comment or email me at thebluedogbelle@gmail.com 
• I. AM. SO. EXCITED. FOR. FRIDAY. these weeks just keep getting more and more painful
• Pretty sure that's all I've got for you today. Maybe I'll double up tomorrow since I feel like my posts have been lacking the last few days. Summer cocktail and a Friday Fancy? I think yes.

Have a great day lovelies.

Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz

If you got the reference you are my bff. If not... it's a kind of ice cream, don't judge me.

Today I want to talk to you about coffee. A very serious subject. I am a coffee addict. I blame my father, who has an obsession with good coffee like no one I've ever seen. He has an espresso machine, some fancy drip maker (that I can't figure out how to use for the life of me), french presses galore, etc. Several Starbucks in the Little Rock area know him by name, or more specifically by order "doppio espresso per favore." He has been a proud owner of a gold card for several years (I'm still loving mine) And whenever I go home I realize what a coffee novice I really am. I started drinking coffee for real in college, but I dabbled during high school. Super sweet Starbucks drinks... does anyone remember the chocolate brownie frappaccino? I sure do. Then I moved to Spain for a study abroad in 2008 and I was introduced to cafe con leche, espressos y cortadas. The cortada was my drink of choice. Delivered in a shot glass was straight espresso with a some steamed milk. You can sip it or shoot it, but whew, is it a caffeine rush. yum.

Needless to say all of this coffee training has failed me of late. I bought one of these a few years ago

and while it's awesome on the go, it doesn't exactly brew a great cup of coffee for my discerning pallet. Since I get free coffee at work I have somehow trained myself to wait until 9 for my first cup of the day... but it's not cutting it anymore. I've recently fallen in love with the idea of french press coffee.

Look at that rich coffee goodness. If you don't know how a french press works, you basically fill up the bottom with your grinds then add boiling water, stir and steep. Then you "press" the coffee with a nifty plunger, pour and enjoy. Pretty easy right?

Some of the reasons I'm thinking about switching to the french press:

It's a relatively cheap investment (compared to a more expensive drip machine)

You can easily control the number of cups you make (most make 2-3)

You get everything out of the coffee-- with drip coffee the water spends very little time with the grinds, and just strains through. With a french press you make more of a coffee soup then you strain it, leaving you with a stronger and fuller flavor.

I can have "fresher" coffee. Coffee goes stale once it's been ground, and how long have k cups just sat around after they've been assembled? Weeks? Months? Years? who know... and should I waste my time with stale coffee? no gracias.

I'll no longer be a slave to the k cup- don't you just hate it when you run out of k cups and your left up the creek without a paddle? *yes I have one of those reusable k cup things, but they are such a mess I rarely use it. 

Okay, I think I've just convinced myself. French press here I come... Do any of y'all have recommendations for a good one? I'm officially on the hunt. 

Quotable Motivation

Trying to remember to do all of this today.

Birchbox Brag

Holy Heck. Two blog posts in one day? What is the world coming to? Well. I forgot that today was the wonder Tara's monthly Birchbox Brag. woops. I've had this post ready to go for a few days now, but didn't know when to pull the trigger. Hope y'all enjoy a double dose of Blue Dog Belle today :)

stila one step bronze

Birchbox Breakdown: The formula uses a trio of complementary pigments: coppery bronze adds warmth, pink-toned bronze evens out skin tone, and Kitten (one of stila’s best-loved shades) brightens and conceals with its soft shimmery champagne hues. When you push down on the applicator, these pigments swirl together to create a lightweight serum. In addition to sheer coverage, it delivers an anti-aging mineral complex that helps regulate oil production while shrinking the look of enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Blue Dog Belle Breakdown: Okay. SERIOUSLY. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS PRODUCT. It's an all in one primer, bronzer, oil control, pore minimizer, life changer. I cannot express to you how much I am LOVING this product. AND. Birchbox gave me a full size sample. y'all are the best. seriously. 

tili bags

Birchbox Breakdown: Made of durable plastic, each quart-size zip and seal bag can hold a variety of belongings—from paper clips and sandwiches to makeup and toothpaste. Especially great for those on the go, they make life easier by keeping things organized.

Blue Dog Belle Breakdown: they're cute, but aren't you supposed to use clear bags for the airport? so they can see whats in them? I guess I'm just not that much of a diva. I'm not concerned about cute zip lock bags for my exotic travels. 

comodynes self tanning towelette

Birchbox Breakdown:  Made of natural viscose fibers, these napkin-sized towelettes come pre-soaked with a paraben-free, moisturizing formula that works with the natural proteins in your skin to give you a convincing tan. Dehydroxiacetone—a naturally occurring sugar with a fancy name—acts as a pigment-depositing agent, while transcutol helps with penetration. The individually wrapped wipes offer a safe alternative to sun bathing or (worse yet) lying under a tanning bed, and they’re also way easier to use than messy bottles of lotion. 

Blue Dog Belle Breakdown: other than a minor mishap during application I'm in love with these. I guess I had gotten used to a self tanner that you could see as it goes on. I don't know. but I missed major swatches on both arms, and one of my legs. I was a tad pre-occupied when I was applying it, so I'm sure it was my fault, but the product itself is great. It dries quickly, which is wonderful, but that means you have to move quickly too so the towelette doesn't dry out. While the price tag is a little too high for me ($15 for 8 applications) I do think this is a great product. 

John Varvatos USA colgne for men

Blue Dog Belle Breakdown: I don't really need a Cologne for men, birchbox. I get that you're trying to plug your other product, but this box is for me. okay?

masqueology pore minimizing masque

Birchbox Breakdown: Each single-use mask may look like, well, wet paper, but it's actually dripping with complexion-saving ingredients. For starters, sodium hyaluronate prevents water loss and enhances your skin’s ability to soak up moisture. Next, panthenol calms red, irritated skin, while mushroom extract is a natural brightener that fades the look of acne scars and brown spots alike. Finally, ceramide 3 hydrates and helps skin look smoother, with less visible pores.

Blue Dog Belle Breakdown: Ehh. It feels really strange on. I felt compelled to lie down so it wouldn't slide off. With that said it was super moisturizing (but I don't really need a ton of moisture). My skin was noticeably glowing the next morning, but I'm not loving it so much that I'm jumping to order it again. cool idea, but not the right product for me. thanks. 

Stainiac by the Balm

Birchbox Breakdown: The tinted gel leaves a lasting stain on lips and cheeks. Since it’s water-based, it has a longer setting time than most quick-dry stains, which means it won’t leave any unsightly streaks behind as long as you take care to blend well. Use a single coat for a subtle look or layer it on for a more visible (yet still discreet) hue.

Blue Dog Belle Breakdown: LOVE IT. I've been wanting a cheek stain for a hot minute, but just haven't been able to justify shelling out $30 for a tarte one when blush could kinda do the same thing. Well let me tell you, this is not blush. The color blends into your skin so well and it stays on for a LONG time. I'm seriously going to cash in some bb points to get the full size of this puppy.