Lynn’s Lovely Life: Keurig Love

            If you are a reader of my blog posts, you know I love interior design. Throughout my college years, I loved reading Domino magazine. Sadly, it went under in college. One of my favorite things to look at was the Tassimo ads that were in each magazine. It just seemed so “cool” to be able to brew one cup of coffee whenever you wanted. I desperately wanted one, but I am glad I waited it out. My mom was the first in our family to get a Keurig. Nowadays Keurigs are everywhere. They are in offices, schools, and in so many homes.

The functionality of the Keurig has made it perfect for everyone. I got my first Keurig when I lived in my small studio apartment. While I was one who did not like clutter, I forced myself to leave out my Keurig on the counter because I used it so frequently.  I had a Keurig that was much smaller than most. It only brewed 8 ounces and took 2 minutes to brew. However, I still had the functionality of brewing one cup of tea. My mom got me a K-cup filter that I used to brew teabags in. I liked this feature because I could brew my PG tips tea in it easily. However, I go back and forth between using it. The only con with this is you have to remember to take out the bag or it can get moldy if you are not careful. I never let that happen but it was always a worry.

 

You can partially see my first Keurig!

 

 

Our New Keurig! Love at First Sight!

Later, when I moved in with my boyfriend, we decided to invest in a new Keurig that has three different choices for sizes of beverages. I absolutely love it. It takes a few minutes to heat up but then you’re good to go. When I brew a big cup for work, I use a K-cup twice. We have the spinning carousel full of English Breakfast tea. I don’t really like the carousel because it annoys me when a K-cup is missing. This is the obsessive compulsive tendency in me. I would love to get the drawer that goes under the Keurig, but I must resist as I have a perfectly usable storage container.

                I am a very big stickler in using only tea in my Keurig. Luckily, my boyfriend and I drink tea or we would have WWIII in our home. I have had tea from Keurigs that are used for coffee and I hate it! I can taste the coffee in it and it makes me sick. I know you can run a Keurig through with just water, but still, I feel like I can taste the coffee. I would like to branch out to do apple cider or hot chocolate (they have better brands nowadays), but my fear of it messing up our precious Keurig stops me.  For now I will happily use my Keurig as I brew my next cup of tea. The sound of my Keurig energizes me and makes me feel happy to be in my routine each day.

                Do you have Keurig? What do you brew in it?

Lynn’s Lovely Life: A Cup of Tea Solves Everything

                When I think of tea today, I think of comfort, relaxation and safety. My tea addiction started during my teen years. I stayed with my grandparents a lot and my grandfather would brew a pot of tea every morning. Ironically, my grandmother was from England and would have a cup of coffee in the morning. No matter what, my grandfather would have tea with honey and creamer in it.  As the years went on, they would make me a cup of tea in the morning. It was heaven. It was PG Tips tea and I loved it. It was the perfect drink for me.

 I fondly remember my college years when I would spend time watching Friends sitting on my floor in front of my makeshift table drinking a cup of tea. It was perfect. No matter what I went through in my life, from eating ramen noodles to having a full cabinet of food, I always had tea readily available.

                They say that a cup of tea solves everything; this cannot be truer. It wakes me up in the morning, energizes me and makes me feel comfortable and safe. At night, a cup of Sleepytime relaxes me and gets me ready for bed after a long day at work. I love reading a nice book and drinking a cup of tea.

I would not consider myself a tea aficionado at all. I love tea, but I am very picky about my favorites.  I drink Celestial Seasonings English Breakfast in my Keurig (stay tuned for a later post ).I drink sweet tea and have been slowly finding a love for unsweetened tea (or slightly sweet tea). I love Sleepytime tea (the extra version and the vanilla are my favorites).  I do not drink chai tea, green tea (maybe once or twice cold) or many herbal teas. However, when it comes to the teas I like, I drink them frequently.

I have often been to places like Teavana where you can sniff the tea and those places make me happy. Like a library, you are open to a world of options. I love smelling all the varieties of tea. Sadly, I do not like to drink them. I know that someday my tea loves may branch out. Right now, I am content with writing this blog post as I happily sip my Sleepytime tea.  What are your favorite types of tea? Whatever it may be… ENJOY!

 

Lynn's Lovely Life: Cell Phone Collection

                I love my cell phone.  As a child I used to go around and talk on my toy phone so the day that I got my own cell phone I celebrated. However, I firmly believe in manners with using technology. For example, it truly pains me to see people using cell phones at dinner! Dinner is a time to talk about the day, so it makes me sad when I see them being used. I also think that when people join social gatherings they should put their phones away. I almost think people should have a collection basket for phones at parties and gatherings, but sadly that will not happen. It just takes some time for people to follow  cell phone netiquette.

                I was not a big fan of the iPhone, but I love it now thanks to my boyfriend. He had the iPhone first; I decided to go for it after I got rid of my Blackberry, which turned up being a big bust. I am glad I changed over to my iPhone. It still takes some time to text, but I’m getting better. Plus, Siri is my best friend. Stayed tuned for a post on what’s on my iPhone.

                My cell phone collection started off with a few covers, but has grown over the course of the year. I just got two cell phone covers for $1.50  recently at Michael's so I thought it was a perfect time to post.

                My cell phone collection includes:

• A cell phone cover that looks like a credit card (see the pink one).
• A cover that looks like a mini tape.
• Two polka dot cases (one in purple, one in blue (perfect for Spring)).
• A penguin cover (perfect for winter).
• One zigzag case  (I got it for $1.50)
• One pattern case. (I got it for $1.50)
• One damask case (for $3.99 at Michael's!!!). I have wanted a Damask case for quite a while, so I’m happy I found one at such a good price.
• A "Keep Calm and Go Shopping" case.
• A Blue Speck Case from AT&T

 I think I’m about covered on cell phone cases for a while.

My favorite would have to be the penguin cover in the winter. What cell phone cases do you have? Which is your favorite? 

Lynn’s Lovely Life: What’s in My Walking Pharmacy?

                One of my top 5 favorite YouTubers is OrganizedLikeJen. One of the terms that I credit her with creating is “walking pharmacy.” I consider a walking pharmacy to be defined as a series of necessary objects in a small pouch. I carry a lot of items in my walking pharmacy. The majority of my items are lip products because I’m a lip product junkie.

Here is what I carry in my walking pharmacy:

• Stamps: I keep these in my purse because I use them frequently. They are the best place for me to hold them without losing them.
• Lip Balm: I have always been a fan of the Blistex Fruit Smoothies and I also enjoy the plum baby lips.
• Pens: I carry several pens around with me.
• Lotion: I enjoy carrying around the Nivea lotion because of its gender neutral smell and its size.
• Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Sticks in Fresh Papaya and Plum Perfect:  I love these products. As Emilynoel83 calls them, “they are the sweatpants of lip products.”
• Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Brazen Berry: This is one of favorite lip products. The purple is not too obvious and makes me happy when I wear it.
• USB Drives: I carry two USB drives, a penguin one from my mother and another from my best friend’s work.  These are a necessity in my profession.
• Medicine: I carry Tylenol in case of a headache.
• Rollerball Taylor Swift Wonderstuck: I love Taylor Swift’s fragrance and enjoy using this when I am on the go.

 What do you carry in your Walking Pharmacy?

Lynn’s Lovely Life: What’s In my Purse

                As I have stated, I am an avid YT watcher. One of my favorite videos to watch is the "What’s in my Purse" videos. I have a lot of purses. I enjoy purchasing purses because they add a pop of color and complete an outfit. Also, I suffer from social anxiety and I feel safe and comfortable with my purse in hand. I feel more comfortable being out and about with all of my necessities and things that make me feel safe. I switch out my purses constantly. I am currently using a beautiful Coach purse my parents got me for graduating from grad school last year.  

Items in my Purse:

• Wallet: This is something I always keep in my purse. My current wallet is a beautiful polka dot wallet. I love the mint green color and polka dots.
• Cell Phone: iPhone 4s , This is always in my purse or in my hands (stay tuned for an iPhone cover collection post!)
• Keys: Another necessity in my purse at all times.
• Planner: I am an avid planner and prefer to use this over my iPhone any day.  
• Mints: To keep my breath nice and fresh!
• Sunglasses: A necessity when I wear my contacts.
• Lotion: For my dry hands!
• Checkbook: For appointments as needed.
• Cover Girl Powder: I use to constantly wear Cover Girl as a teen and recently purchased this product. I use this as my go to “foundation” when I am on the run and don’t have time to do my makeup in the morning.
• Coupon Organizer: This is used to hold my cash. I am in the process of using cash to effectively budget.
• Walking Pharmacy: I credit OrganizedLikeJen as the inventor of the term “walking pharmacy.” This holds a variety of little products that I use frequently. Stay tuned for an additional post about what is in my walking pharmacy.
• I carry several lipsticks and hand sanitizer in the front outside pocket of my purse.
• In the inside pocket I carry headphones and other essentials that I prefer to keep discreet.  

 What is inside your purse? What is your biggest necessity?  

Lynn’s Lovely Life: Top 5 YouTubers!

                I am a fan of TV and YouTube. I love to watch YouTube after a long day. There are so many videos out that can show you how to do your hair, makeup, etc. I really have learned a lot from different videos online. There are specific “Beauty Gurus” that I really enjoy watching on YouTube. One thing they all have in common is they all love beauty products and all have animals!

• Allthatglitters21 I really enjoy watching her videos. She relates a lot to me. She is an avid reader and likes to make her home comfortable with candles and other home decor. She is the one who introduced me to Lush. Her cat, Pinecone, is also adorable!
• Alovetart: Mary is absolutely wonderful at describing a product in the most efficient and effective manner. I really enjoy her face of the day videos. They seem so simple and easy to follow. I like how she shows a variety of high end and drugstore products.
• Organizedlikejen: Jen reminds me so much of myself! She mentions that she suffers from social anxiety disorder like me. She does a lot of videos on organization and on topics relating to the home. Also, she likes to do daily blogs that I find interesting. She loves tea and has a furry little pet named Winnie.  BTW: Jen would not consider herself a Beauty Guru.
•   Emilynoel83: Emily is absolutely wonderful at describing products. She used to work at a news station. I really appreciate the fact that she has the background knowledge to deliver the news but also can share beauty videos. I also like her little cat Cupcake and her husband is very sweet as well as funny. He often will make some hilarious appearances in her videos.
• Missglamorazzi: Ingrid is very sweet girl who you would love to have as a best friend. She is very kind and caring. She offers a lot of information on beauty products. I also like how she has a personality that is not so traditional. She loves video games and I love how she once had a game boy cell phone cover. She also has a little cat named Nugget who is adorable!

 Do you watch YouTube? What channels are you subscribed to?