number 140

this weekend, andrew had a few friends in town for a bachelor party, and i took it upon myself to head out of town. it was so nice to spend a low-key relaxing weekend with my family, and i even squeezed in a little pool/party time with some much-missed friends! here's a few snaps from around my parents' house:hope everyone had a great weekend! here's hoping that this monday flies by!

number 139

it’s no secret that i like digital design: sometimes i take my little inspiration/friday fives/what im loving wednesday boards to an extreme. my job has taught me so many tips, techniques, and new programs, and i'm really fortunate to have picked up on them fairly quickly. i'm really lucky to have a job that i love and that challenges me every day (and not in the "my jobs really sucks and is really hard" way, but in the "think of something NEW, FRESH, and CREATIVE" way). so today, for my friday five, i'm sharing some design tidbits that i use every day and can't live without:

1  |  i realize that i'm very fortunate to have access to the adobe suite every day at my work. this is my second job that has provided these programs to me, and just having access to them every day, along with some trial and error, has taught me just as much as any class could. *mental note: take a class on adobe suite. i use fireworks, dreamweaver, photoshop, and illustrator every.single.day. whether i’m blogging or not.

2  |  i've always had a fondness for fonts. my work computer and home laptop are stocked full of fun fonts (a lot of which i've never ever used, but still love). i've listed some current favorites - which will change next week, i'm sure. i think for most of these if you google the name, you can download them for free. confession: i've never paid for a font.

3  |  never underestimate the power of inspiration. i'm a big fan of looking to those who are bigger/better than me to learn and grow. everyone i work with is really good at what they do, so i'm constantly learning new things. for blog and design inspiration, i love looking through kelly/fabulous k's awesome designs. she's definitely one of my designer role-models, AND she's really sweet - she always tweets me back!

4  |  quickly followed by #4, knowing that i'm still a beginner. i do tend to get "down" sometimes when i see awesome designs and think "man...i wish i could do that". us beginners need to stand back, relax, and realize that we're learning all the time. i can't expect to be an expert right off the bat. design success, blogging success, career success: these all take lots of time and energy -- just gotta put in the work!

5  |  sweet friends who are my guinea pigs. i've done a handful of designs for friends, and i'm really thankful that they give me a shot every now and then to practice on them! save the dates, wedding invitations, blog designs, even christmas gift tags - i really do enjoy putting these things together and working with my girlfriends to design something that's "just perfect" for them. ps. head over to alex’s blog and tell her how much you love her new design!

ok ok! i'm hopping off my soapbox! if you have some tips for design or a cute blog/website that you draw inspiration from, i'd love to hear about it!

like every other friday, i'm linking up with my favorite, alex and sweet lauren today for their own “friday five” and “high five for friday”.

happy weekend!

number 138

finding the perfect dress is hard. especially when everyone and their mother wants the same one. i saw a dress on a blog post about 2 months ago and HUNTED IT DOWN directly after - only to get the runaround and 3 weeks after paying, told that it's going to be another month. "please cancel my order." bad customer service just doesn't fly with me. i digress. pinterest has created a monster when it comes to shopping for cute clothes. one adorable outfit gets pinned, and 2 weeks later, every sorority girl this side of memphis wants it. i've got a little strategy i want to share, and although it may not be the most efficient process, it ended up working for me...

1 | 2 | 3

above is the dress for the search. aside from hunting down every pin of the dress on pinterest - which inevitably will bring you to the same [sold out] boutique, i turn to google.

option 1: i come up with as many descriptives as possible and google image search them one after another - in this case: coral and teal maxi dress // chevron maxi dress // mint and orange maxi dress // robins egg maxi dress // turquoise and coral maxi dress // chevron mint maxi dress // colorblock mint and apricot maxi dress // colorblock chevron // mint and coral // ...the list goes on and on. if the image is the dress in question --> click it! if you're lucky, it's IN STOCK at a cute boutique that offers free shipping! double score!

option 2: another successful, little known fact, is the drag and drop option for google images. copy a photo of an item and save it to your desktop. open google and click on the image search tab.

click and drag the saved image from your desktop to the search bar. google will then upload your image and search based on a number of factors: the image itself, the filename, and other awesome stuff that google can do…. with any luck, your search results will look like this:

and go on and on with places you can buy/find the dress! THIS IS HOW I GOT LUCKY! i was able to find it in multiple places and get the best deal without breaking the bank. and because i'm so nice, i'm sharing a few places that (as of 10:30 am on wednesday, july, 12) still have the dress IN STOCK:

1  |  2  |  3  |  4

p.s. it's also no secret amongst my friends that i love to shop on eBay as well. some boutiques sell on eBay, and it's NEW clothing, so don't be afraid to try the keyword search route there!

do you have a method to finding those hard-to-find in-high-demand items? let me know your secret!

happy hunting!

number 137

it’s COMING! my favorite time of year! even rivaling any major holiday, because it actually happens twice a year: RESTAURANT WEEK! andrew and i took advantage of this back in the winter and it was WONDERFUL! if you know me in real life, you know i love to eat! in fact, when people ask me what we love about living in charlotte, i usually say "the food"! and even though there are and endless amount of restaurants popping up all over the qc, we find ourselves eating at the SAME ONES over and over again. (if it ain't broke...) this is a great opportunity to find a new favorite, or indulge in a higher tier restaurant with $30 price tag! i like that! the dates are

 friday, july 20 - sunday, july 29

click the link above to view all of the awesome restaurants in the area AND the menu they’ll be offering for restaurant week! one WONDERFUL tip: a lot of these places have online ordering: soooo if you're snooping around today while you’re at work, you can make your reservation, look like you're still doing work, and get away with slackin' on the job!

are there any places that you’ve been that i can’t miss? i GOTTA know!

number 136

oh hey! i've been a off the radar for a little while, so i apologize. i've been taking some time to unplug and get my mind right over that past week or so. we've been having a blast on the weekends with lots of visitors – too bad summer is FLYING by! this weekend is no exception, andrew and i are hitting the road up to richmond, virginia for the weekend to spend some much-needed quality time with some of our best buds. we'll be splitting up for the weekend - andrew with his college roomie and bf, andy, and me with my favorite gal pals from college as well. if it were up to me, i'd be there now!

richmond, virginia

as much as i love charlotte, this move hasn't been all roses for me. i've found it hard to settle into a good group of gals like i did in college, and i miss my girlfriends SO SO much.

i've very much looking forward to lots of of girl talk, gossip mags, wine, bachelorette talk, boy band playlists, hair and makeup, false eyelashes, panera brunch… the list goes on and on!

i hope everyone has a safe and very happy 4th of july holiday! we'll be watching the fireworks somewhere around uptown! if you know the perfect spot, let me know!

where’s this tuesday taking you?

number 135

i'm taking a break from my hectic week to send out an SOS...

my perfect shoes are on their last leg (no pun intended), and i'm in dire need of some new brown wedges. not just any shoe, but the perfect brown wedge:

pictured above is the steve madden quinne wedge in brown. i've had these wedges for about 2 or 3 years now, and i WILL cry when the strap finally gives. i can wear these gals days without getting a blister or sore soles. to say that i love them is an understatement. unfortunately SM doesn't make them anymore [[insert frantic sobs]]. since i've been lazy for the past 2+ years and not unbuckling them each time - just slipping them on, along with many late-night outings at my favorite watering hole(s), their condition just isn't appropriate for everyday wear anymore.

so...it's up to y'all to help! PLEASE! if you've seen these shoes, or if you do in the future, size 8 please!

am i the only one who gets THIS
attached to a pair of shoes?

number 134

i've got a semi-hectic couple of days coming up, so i'll be abandoning the blog for a bit. sorry y'all, life's gotta take priority sometimes! hope everyone's having a great week!

number 133

if you're like me, you probably tossed your little keurig instruction manual the day you got it and haven't thought about it since! untilll...you noticed that your coffee cup just isn't as full as it was that first day. hmph. i've been procrastinating cleaning my keurig for the past 2 weeks, just opting to refill with the large mug icon 2 (sometimes 3) times a morning. yeah, i'm that lazy. last night, i did it. i cleaned the keurig, and it's SO easy.
lemme break it down for you in a few easy steps:

1. make sure the water reserve is empty
2. pop out the k-cup holder - YES! you can! poke it from the bottom, and then rinse it off in the sink
3. fill the reserve up with distilled vinegar ALL THE WAY!
4. run the large cup brew (no KCUP!) 3 times
5. let the vinegar sit in the reserve at least 4 hours (i did mine overnight)
6. empty the vinegar, and refill completely with water
7. run it til it's empty

VOILA! a full cup of coffee *finally!*

number 132

happy friday! this week has blown by – don’t you love that?! although, with friends coming in today, our weekend is sure to do the same thing. oh well! let’s celebrate! it’s friday!

alex hosts her friday five every week, and this week her theme is sunless tanning. would you believe that i’ve NEVER gotten a spray tan? i'm not a big tanner anyway because my skin doesn't get pasty white if i don't lay out, but i do enjoy the occasional trip to the tanning bed. *gasp* i know. so really, i wouldn't have too much input to give you for friday five: sunless tanning. BUT what i will give you are a few things i'm excited about this weekend:1  |  our good good friends marc and lori beth are coming to play this weekend! we're planning on eating at the cowfish tonight (lb's fave), and i'm realllly looking forward to it! this has been one of mine and andrews favorite restaurants since we moved to charlotte. their menu has a great selection of burgers and sushi and the decor has a fun modern pop-art twist to it. a must try - if you haven't already.

2  |  saturday, while the boys are playing golf, the girls plan on doing a little shopping. i believe some new wedges are in order. shoes, not golf clubs. via piperlime

3  |  weekend breakfast! i stocked up on pancake mix, turkey sausage, fruit, eggs, and juice. i'm definitely a breakfast gal, and on the weekends andrew usually takes it upon himself to go all out - i don't hate it! maybe we’ll try this recipe.

4  |  i get off at 2:30 today; what's not exciting about that?

5  |  and finally, this dress that's en route to me right now. i can't wait to get it on my body! i think i’ll belt it, and then pair it with some of my new wedges, yes?

so that’s it for this week! as always, i'm linking up with my favorite, alex and sweet lauren today for their own “friday five” and “high five for friday”.

happy weekend!

number 131

could your fashion addiction be toxic? a recent study that hit the news stands yesterday says, "YES!" a few well known designer brands were found to have large (and illegal!) amounts of lead in their purses. one shocking fact for you: my favorite of them all, tory burch, is majorly in the spotlight today. according to this article from ABC news, at the top of the list "the lab results showed the tory burch purse contained nearly 200 times more lead than the limit permitted..." see tory's statement here. other brands whose products were found to contain high levels of lead include nine west, house of harlowe, guess, and charlotte russe. 


yikes! maybe tory will give me a brand new, lead-free bag as a consolation prize before this is all said and done! for now, i'll be toting one that's a little less hazardous.

number 130

today is the first day of summer and i'm SO excited! the weather has been gorgeous this week and it's totally inspired me! i've been really proud of myself for sticking with the blog for the past few months. there's a great community out there, and i'm happy to be a part of it! in celebration of summer, and just because i'm feeling thankful, i'd love to offer everyone FREE advertising for the summer! there are a limited number of spots available, so head on over to the sponsor page and reserve your spot (1 month at a time!). be sure to use my promo code (QUEENCITY) at the checkout in order to get it FO FREE! not even a dime!

FREE advertising! promo code: QUEEN CITY

number 129

happy tuesday! we're almost at the halfway point! i'm still recovering from my long weekend, luckily monday didn't give me too much trouble. i'm already looking forward to this weekend - we've got some friends coming into town, and i can't wait to try out some new spots while they're here!

<a href="http://andrewandlauraleigh.blogspot.com/"><imgborder="0" src="http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu98/lauraleigh925/take-me-there-tuesday.jpg" /></a>

i've been hearing a lot of buzz about a new restaurant in the cotswold area, called leroy fox. its home-cooked soul food options like chicken fried chicken and one of my all-time faves, shrimp and grits, definitely look promising. i especially love that a few of their signature drinks have charlotte street names [selwyn ave, sharon road, providence road]. i can definitely see andrew channeling his inner don draper, sippin' on a "king of foxes" - their own version of an old fashioned. leroy fox has live music on the weekends, so i've put it on the agenda friday night. it's been open for a little while now, so hopefully all the long waiting hype has passed.

have you been there? loved it? hated it? tell me about it... or just link up!

where’s this tuesday taking you? 

number 128

after a fantastic weekend, mondays just creep by. am i right? we spent a boatload of time with both andrew’s and my family this weekend, and it was p.e.r.f.e.c.t. – 2 nights included a deckside fire in the chiminea and every day, awesome food – both of which i love and adore. we have definitely decided that a nice sized patio or deck will be included or added on to our new dream house. mom whipped up and quick and delicious pie saturday night that i'm sharing with you today. we’ve been having this pie for as long as i've been alive, and would never believe how simple it is:

i give you: easy lemonade pie

you’ll need:
1 graham cracker pie crust
1 can lemonade concentrate
1 large sized container cool whip (thawed) or free if you’re trying to be healthy
1 can eagle brand condensed milk (again, you can use lowfat or fat free)

combine the condensed milk with the lemonade concentrate with a spoon or ladle is fine. then, fold in the cool whip. you do not want to mix it in – my guess is that your pie would be runny if you mix it too much. pour your ingredients into your pie crust and pop it in the freezer for 3 or 4 hours. DONE! deelish! eat it up! you’ll want to store your pie in the freezer if you don’t eat it all in the first sitting!

p.s. we had a lot of filling left over so you may can stretch it into 2 crusts? orrrr just enjoy the leftover filling until the real thing is ready!

made it? tell me about it!

number 127

i've had a little bit of a rough go this week, so i'm happy to say that andrew and i are heading out of charlotte tonight until sunday. sunday is father's day, so we'll be driving up to virginia to spend some much needed quality time with our dads and families. it's so nice to get back to your roots and a slower pace.

i may be back tomorrow for friday five, i may not. my weekend starts at 5 today, and it couldn't be more welcome!

image via

happy [almost] friday!

number 126

since we’re on the subject of hair...

i've been really curious lately about salt water sprays for beachy hair. have you tried it? what's your favorite brand? a few reviews that i've seen mention that it gives you hair a dirty, caked-on product feeling. which, i guess when you're at the beach and your hair dries with ocean water, it sorta feels that way as well. i want to know - is it worth it to spend $20 on a fancy spray, or give it a go with the DIY first?

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

how do you get beach waves?

number 125

hi y’all! i hope everyone had a great weekend! i used my monday to recover -- had a little too much fun. although, i did make it to the gym saturday AND sunday!! *round of applause* go me! saturday night, we went with my brother and his girlfriend to see lady antebellum! let me tell you - they were a-w-e-s-o-m-e! i knew every song and had a blast dancing to all of them! darius rucker (who i will forever fondly refer to as hootie) opened for lady a and i would definitely pay to see him as a headliner! he even made andrew happy by singing a few hootie and the blowfish songs -- a real crowd pleaser! overall, it was a great weekend, one that i'd love to do over again! buuut we're back on the grind of the day to day routine, and i'm going to take a little break today and pretend it's friday:

<a href="http://andrewandlauraleigh.blogspot.com/"><imgborder="0" src="http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu98/lauraleigh925/take-me-there-tuesday.jpg" /></a>

ya’ll are going to laugh, but the reason i'm picking friday for my "take me there tuesday" is because i'm getting my hair done on fridayyy! i know i'm not the only person in the world who loves a good cut and color. i always feel SO much better! my goal is the long kardashian-esque locks, so i won't be doing any drastic cutting, just a routine trim along with some summer highlights. even though i've been going to the same stylist for yearrrs [still in danville! hah!] and she already know's what i want, i still like to be prepared with a few pictures.

without fail, i always bring in a pic of jen when i get my hair colored.

pinned here

or two...

pinned here  pinned here  pinned here

and just because she's so stinkin cute...

pinned here

so...that's where my mind is today. tell me...

where’s this tuesday taking you?

number 124

happy friday! thanks for taking a sec to stop by! it's friday which means i'm doing a quick round-up of some of my favorite things, and today, it's office supplies! i'll get right to it:

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

1  |  i love these funny post its from knock knock. we have a very laid-back office, and i know these would get a laugh or seven. buy them online or at paper twist in charlotte!

2  |  i have to have a good pen! i have one on my desk right now that always sits out, kinda like it’s tempting you and saying, “take this pen, and laura will beat you down”. the felt tip le pens have always been a favorite of mine. they come in a large selection of colors [more than what’s pictured above] to keep things bright and non-work-ish.

3  |  are you a coffee drinker? i definitely am! having this cute jonathan adler mug would reduce my trips to dunkin' donuts significantly! AND it's microwave safe!

4  |  my little planner from post by graphic image keeps me in check. it's the perfect size, not bulky at all, to keep in my purse all the time. i even got mine monogrammed with my initials on the front! there's still 6 months left in the year, so grab one from that link above for ONLY $4! [that's nuts!]

5  |  lastly, today i'm enjoying the sweet sweet fragrance of the pink citron candle from voluspa. y'know when you walk in anthro and it smells amazing? it's this candle! i realize how lucky i am that my bosses don't mind me playing with fire in the office.

now that i've gotten you all pumped about awesome office supplies, we'll all have a productive friday, right? eh.

as always, i'm linking up with my favorite, alex and sweet lauren today for their own “friday five” and “high five for friday”.

happy weekend!

number 123

sore to the core. oh my, i might not make it through the day. after a super-tough weight training class on tuesday, followed by the "i'm not gonna give up just because i'm sore" workout last night, my arms, legs, and entire backside region hate my guts right now.

the main reason (along with it's friends) i haven't stuck with working out in the past is because i have a huge issue with working my butt off for days on end and not seeing results. i'm an instant gratification kind of person. i know these things take time and perseverance, but i'm struggling...already. and i have a really low pain tolerance; no joke, i'm a weenie. i know this sorenes is my workout's way of saying, "look, laura, i'm working!" anyway, this is me, in a nutshell, this morning.

and another thing...what's the deal with girls dressing UP to go to the gym? i see it every day. in all honesty, is it for themselves or to impress others? andrew and i went to the gym at 8:30 last night, after rush hour. mostly everyone there was the average not too fit, not too fat: really no one overly impressive. there was a girl who sauntered in after us with her hair down [and fixed] and perfume/body spray that i could smell 2 bikes over. that's just a little much, in my opinion. and the way she sashayed on the elliptical was just the cherry on top. but alas, i guess when i get my hot bod, i'll dress up to go to the gym too. if, for nothing else, than to say "hey, look at my hot bod, and my awesome gym clothes". bitter? maybe a little.

even though it’s not true, this is how i feel today:

what is your gym pet peeve?

number 122

whoops! the day’s halfway gone, and i'm just getting a chance to fulfill my promise from yesterday! hope you’ll link up with me:

<a href="http://andrewandlauraleigh.blogspot.com/><imgborder="0" src="http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu98/lauraleigh925/take-me-there-tuesday.jpg" /></a> >

i have to admit, i've been feeling a little homesick lately. not for virginia, or even for my parents, but for arkansas.

i mentioned here that i was born and raised in helena, arkansas right on the mississippi river. i love being from the south. something about the slow pace and spending precious time with far-away family just warms my heart. i had a long conversation with my nana on sunday, who still lives there, which just made me miss it [and her] that much more.

image via

andrew and i are throwing around the idea of a fall trip just in time for the 27th annual king biscuit blues festival. i went to the very first one when i was just under a month old! i guess mom really wanted to party. haha, i kid! this year is sure to be unforgettable: headlining this year is the blues beauty herself, bonnie raitt! summer vacation is obviously #1 on my “trips i'm looking forward to” but this comes in a close 2nd. maybe it's just knowing that i'll get to stop by the bar-b-q shop in memphis on the way in!

so tell me,

where’s this tuesday taking you?

number 121

i hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing weekend! i definitely did! i wanted to fill y’all in on a little recipe i tried for a jewelry cleaner. it’s really quick and i had all of the ingredients in my pantry already!

at home jewelry cleaning solution

1 cup of hot water
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon gentle dishwashing detergent
aluminum foil

simply warm your cup of water in the microwave for 1-2 minutes -- i just got some piping hot water from the keurig. line the bottom of a glass cereal bowl with aluminum foil, add your water, salt, baking soda, and detergent. mix around until the ingredients are combined. now’s the time to let your jewelry soak for 10 minutes and let the magic work. rinse in cold water and i even brushed mine with an old toothbrush for extra shine! voila! like new!

fyi. once the ingredients start reacting it puts off an old-egg sulfur smell, so don’t do this if you’re having company over soon! hah! it’s not too potent, though!

don’t have time to do this? i love the sparkle that toothpaste and a quick scrub gives my rings!

disclaimer: I am NOT responsible if you mix these wrong or if your jewelry, for whatever reason, tarnishes. it worked perfectly for my white gold and diamond engagement ring, pearl earrings, and david yurman silver jewelry. hope it does for you too!

don’t forget to stop back by tomorrow, ‘cause i'm bringing back take me there tuesday!

number 120

hey y’all! my apologies for slacking this week. this whole “going to the gym every day to get a hot body” is taking it’s toll on me. i seriously feel like a zombie right now, slow monstrous walk, talk, and all. but still going strong! i'm on day 6 out of 8 (the holiday weekend / redneck festivities knocked me out on sun/mon), and i'm pretty sure that’s the longest streak i've had in my life. sooo in celebration of my new hobby, i've decided to spotlight my workout wishlist for my friday five:

wait, my friends are laughing at me right now, i can feel it. i'm probably the least athletic/most uncoordinated person there ever was. i am not, by any stretch of the imagination, an athlete. my “working out” is the elliptical and, a few times a week, a group power class (bascially, cardio and weights). i'm not a runner, nor do i play any sport. ok, just had to clear the air so i don’t come off as a phony. now…

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

1  |  so since this is a wish list, i'll start off with some lululemon. full disclosure, i picked the free to be bra because it was cute. i don’t need a lot of support up top, so fashion wins this battle over function. although based on the reviews. it looks like a winner in all departments.

2  |  i really love the nike tempo track running shorts. again, i am not a runner, but when i am “workin’ it” i'm more of a shorts and loose t-shirt kinda gal. usually an old sorority or tech t-shirt, nothing fancy. i digress, these shorts come in a TON of patterns and colors – i’ve even seen them monogrammed on pinterest.

3  |  although i definitely don’t need it now, a comfy sweatshirt that’s still running-errands-appropriate would be nice to add to my list as well. i really like this alo cowl neck one. except for the fact that it’s product picture looks like the model has monkey arms.

4  |  i just got new shoes (liiiike 2 years ago) but due to my lack of physical activity, after a trip around the washing machine they look and function like brand new! BUT since this is a wish list, i'd like these lightweight running shoes from nike, please.

5  |  lastly, it’s the end of my workout and i'm a little parched. i grab my hokie colored camelbak and it gives me that extra push to finish. no? that’s not how it really works? ok. but i do like it a lot! my gal, alex, turned me on to the camelback and it really is a great water bottle - and bpa free which means you won’t ingest that nasty chemical from some plastics!

that sums it up! i'm all ready to get my gym on, now! join me? i need some workout buddies!

i'm linking up with alex and lauren today for their own “friday five” and “high five for friday”.

happy weekend!

number 119

with summer just around the corner… wait, it’s the end of MAY! as far as i can tell, with a high of 88* today, it’s here! i've got the beach on the brain. andrew and i joined a gym last week, and have been filling our evenings with lots of cardio and sweat. i honestly already feel like it’s making a difference! i'm looking forward to that point where i just jump out of bed in the morning, bursting with energy…that happens, right? i'm really trying to hold myself accountable – even registering with a free online calorie counting / exercise diary program. anyway, if you’ve got some extra motivation hanging around, send it my way! in the meantime, these cute summer pieces are serving as my motivation:

from vs

from j.crew

from pacsun

from pacsun

and for a little extra coverage…

from vs

from vs

from urban outfitters

what’s keeping you motivated for a summer bod?