Favorite things: Arm candy, photo apps, freebies and more
When your short work-week feels extra long, you know a weekend is needed. I’m stepping into this weekend with plans to relax, head to a picnic tomorrow and hit up the Golden State Warriors Finals game on Sunday night. What’s up for your weekend, friends? We’re keeping it short and sweet today with my latest favorite things from life lately …
This week’s “Favorite things”
Fashion and gifts
Leave it to Dave to get me the perfect gift on his own accord. He gave me this beautiful double-leather strapped Shinola watch for our four-year wedding anniversary last week, and it has hardly left my wrist. Apparently you can buy different colors of straps to coordinate with the face, so I’ll be able to mix it up if I ever do get sick of it (highly unlikely). The brand has both men’s and women’s, and the designs are simple and classic. Love!
Technology and events
This week, I had the awesome opportunity to attend an event hosted by Adobe and Steamy Kitchen in San Francisco at Cookhouse, to learn all about using Adobe Lightroom for photo editing and composition. There was a group of bloggers in attendance, and we made a spread of food together, ate and then went through a tutorial by the awesome Jaden of Steamy Kitchen on much of the Adobe suite for our blogging purposes. Seriously, I learned some cool stuff — for instance, how to use Photoshop Fix on the iPhone to airbrush faces and bodies. I mean, that could be totally addicting (but don’t worry, I’ll only post the real stuff on the blog). I can’t wait to improve my editing skills in Lightroom, on both mobile and desktop, because it’s super useful. Another thing I learned about at this event is an awesome app by Adobe called Spark, which anyone can download for free and use to make cool visual and word mash-ups. Put it on your phone, and give it a try. It was so good to see some of fellow blogging ladies I haven’t seen in forever, like Sarah and Alanna.
Beauty freebies
There are many good things about staying at a hotel, like not having to make your bed, etc., but perhaps one of the top things for me is the free toiletries. I don’t think I’ve ever left a hotel room without taking the entire load. And my recent stay at the W was extra great because, the W has high-quality products from the Bliss line. I was so excited to use the face wash, which was so foamy. I wish Dave and I had stayed more than one night last weekend for our anniversary so I could have had the travel-size toiletries refreshed. I need more! (These little guys come in clutch in the gym bag, just sayin’.)
Sports teams
Oh, so I couldn’t leave off the Warriors on this week’s favorites. They are back in the NBA Finals again right now, which makes this Warriors family very happy. The Warriors clinched their Finals spot on Monday night, and I was at that game with some girlfriends. We got to celebrate with all of the employees (Dave too) after the game, and it felt great!
A picture
Because you know you need a dog picture to make your day a little brighter. I give you, my little Rudy Pitt, looking out of the window at the W San Francisco last weekend. Too much.
My favorite links of the week
Did you miss the latest on A Lady Goes West this week?
- Memorial Day weekend, anniversary celebration and my weekly workouts
- The all-purpose product you should have in your beauty regimen
And more from around the web worth checking out …
- This video is absolutely so entertaining. If you are having a bad day, get up and follow along. I dare you not to smile! I did the entire thing all the way through only once, and I had to take option 1. Rudy was totally scared of my moves.
That’s it, friends. Have a great day!
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To see more favorites, visit Heather‘s blog or my older “Favorite things.”
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Questions of the day
What are you currently loving?
What are your plans for the weekend?
I grew up in Cleveland so I am totally rooting for the Cavs to win this series after being disappointed so many times in college when they made it to the finals. And I can’t wait to try that Adobe app, I love finding new photo editing apps, because I really have no idea what i’m doing when editing a picture, hehe.
BOOO!! Go Dubs! hahahha! There are some helpful tutorials on the Adobe site as well if you need more help. 🙂
I havent seen that Adobe app….I’ll have to try that. I’m trying to get better at taking pictures…definitely still learning though!
That watch is beautiful–what a thoughtful gift! Hope you have a great weekend!
You will ALWAYS be improving — that’s the beauty of it. Keep learning and enjoying the process, Heather!
Ha- whenever I go to a hotel, I always grab the shampoo and stuff as well! The Bliss line is so nice though- I’ll have to remember that about the W!
Sure is nice!! Hope you’re doing well, lady!! Have a fab Friday!
I love going to hotels too, because it’s fun to just step back from the normal tasks and rest. 🙂 And they provide the best toiletries. We have so many hotel toiletries. It looks like you learned a lot from the food workshop, and I think your photos are just going to look so good.
Hi Emily! I have an extra drawer devoted to all of the hotel toiletries I collect! 🙂 Glad you like them too. And I’m ALWAYS trying to get better at photography, so the tips were much appreciated. Happy Friday, gal!
Love the watch! What a great gift!!!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I felt like the week was long too so I’m looking forward to the weekend as well 🙂
It must be SOO hot near you, because it’s SO hot here!! UGH! Stay cool, Giselle!
Ahhhh! I bet it’s so exciting to be in the NBA Finals. Some of my favorite memories dancing (ever) was when the Magic played the Lakers in 2009. There’s nothing like the energy of that crowd! Also, that watch is perfection. Great job, Dave! Enjoy your weekend lady!
YES! Finals are awesome! We are soooooo hoping for another big win this year. And that’s RIGHT, you did take part in Finals before! I went to one of the Finals games for the Magic in 2009 with Dave before he worked there and we were dating hehe!
I LOVE Shinola watches. I think they are so cool! I heard about them a few years ago and have had them on my radar ever since (one day). Who doesn’t love a Bliss product? I used to be obsessed with their lemon verbena shea butter lotion. Thanks for the heads up about Spark! I am going to have to check that out!
Have a great weekend, Ashley!
Hi Susie! YES! You should check out Spark, I think you’ll have fun with it. And maybe a Shinola will be wrapped up for you soon. What’s Alex’s number?? 🙂
I just discovered Spark this week and it’s soooooooo neat! I’m already addicted 🙂
Yay! I can’t wait to start making little creations with it. Have a great weekend, Ange! 🙂
Happy belated anniversary to you and Dave! I just read the post from last weekend and it looks like you guys had an amazing time. The Slanted Door is on my list to-visit very soon!
I’m sad I missed that workshop. It looked like a good one!
I hope you have a great weekend! Go Dubs!! 😉
Oh thank you!! We need to get together soon!! Coffee or lunch in San Ramon soon??? When??
I love the arm candy!!!! I think it adds that special touch to any outfit!
Thanks, Rachel! I hope you sport your arm candy too! 🙂