Lavender Bliss

If you have not discovered Trader Joe's Lavender Dryer Bags then you are in for a treat! This product not only leaves your clothes smelling extra yummy and fresh but the bags are reusable to up to five times! The bags, which are filled with lavender seeds, can also be used for a variety of purposes. I like to put mine in my closet and inside my pillows to create a relaxing scent.

How do you like to use your TJ Lavender Dryer Bags? Tell me on Twitter @CortneyBailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Royal Fashion Makes a Splash Across the Pond!

The Royals may have been splashed all over the news as they toured North America last week but to no surprise it was Kate Middleton that stole the show ... the fashion show that is! Dressed in high fashion as expected The Duchess looked classy yet stylish in all of her several wardrobe changes. Above are my top five favorite fashions worn by Catherine during the Royal tour.

What was your favorite? Tell me on Twitter @CortneyBailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Don't Turn Your Pup Into A "Hot Dog"!

You love your dog, right? Then there is no need to turn him into an unnecessary "hot dog"! Pets can overheat just like us humans. Its been said hundreds of times before but if your pup cannot go inside a store with you then leave him at home! Rolling your windows down is not an option either because your car's temperature can rise over 120 degrees easily. Also, if your pet spends a lot of time outside below are a few signs and precautions to look out for before a heatstroke takes place. Last, don't forget to love, love, love you best friend - they love you more than you will ever know!!!

Signs of Heatstroke

• Panting
• Staring
• Anxious expression
• Refusal to obey commands
• Warm, dry skin
• High fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Collapse

Precautions to take if your pet lives outdoors

• Ensure adequate shelter from sun/midday heat
• Outdoor kennels should be well-ventilated and in the shade
• Provide plenty of fresh water in a bowl that cannot be tipped over
• Avoid excessive exercise on hot days
• Talk with your local veterinarian to determine if your long-haired Fido needs a summer haircut

Tell me about your pet on Twitter: @CortneyBailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Tumi-licious

During a recent trip I arrived at my hotel to unpack my Tumi suitcase only to discover that the zipper had basically unraveled. Yes, I know, how does a zipper unravel? I have no clue but that is exactly what it looked like. Not only was I upset that my extra expensive luggage was ruined but I was only staying at my current hotel one night before I moved on to the next location. For a moment I felt like a damsel in distress, ha! Should I ask the hotel for a large bag? Should I try and find an outlet store and buy a new suitcase? Or maybe I should see if there was a Tumi store in the city! Yes, that is exactly what I did. To my surprise buying an expensive piece of luggage paid off, literally. The sales person told me to bring in my luggage, they would ship if off for repair and give me a loaner! I went to the store and few moments after filling out a few forms I was off with a brand new loaner! Thanks to Tumi I was free to travel carefree. Thank you Tumi!!!

Let me know your travel experiences on Twitter: @CortneyBailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Rihanna LIVE & Loud

While in Vegas last weekend I attended Rihanna's "Loud Tour" concert. I was excited to have tickets, especially since they were up-close and personal floor seats, but I held no expectations for the Barbados beauty. Yes her radio hits are catchy but would she really be able to entertain live? The answer is yes! Rihanna sounded just like her album. She hit the high and low notes perfectly and she and her dancers shown. The audience was able so dance and sing along with most of her two hour show as her chart topping tunes were all played. Another great feature of the show was Rihanna joined her fans twice by looping around the floor seats giving all her fans a chance to see her no matter where they sat - as you can see from the photo above! Last, there was definitely a high level of sexuality preformed on stage therefore I personally would not recommend this tour for under aged fans - adults only!

What summer concerts do you recommend? Let me know on Twitter: @cortneybailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Almost a Golden Goddess

For the Fourth-of-July weekend I thought I would treat myself to a little golden splurge, a spray tan! I was planning a trip to Los Vegas for the holiday weekend and after a quick glance in the mirror I realized I was paler than Snow White herself. So on the way to the airport I quickly popped into a tanning salon, received spray tanning instructions from the sales lady and began the process to becoming a "golden goddess". As pre-spray PH balance began, the sales lady promised me for five extra dollars I would be more golden brown than orange, I realized I forgot to apply the special cream to my fingers and toes so they would not show the signs of my fake tan. I hopped out of the machine applied the special cream as fast as I could and got back into the spray machine for my road to golden glory! After the application was finished I dressed and headed for the airport, excited that by the time I landed in Sin City I would be a few shades closer to looking as if I did not live in a cave. It was not until I was preparing for bed that I realized I completely forgot to apply the magical cream to the bottom of my feet! No scrubbing or soap would wash away this mistake. I guess the "cat is out of the bag" - I would be an almost "golden goddess" for the weekend ... just don't peek at the bottom of my feet!

Tell me about your funny tanning stories on Twitter: @cortneybailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Up, Up & Away!

Purple and pink lights, pretty girls in uniforms, dance music, pop-up TVs and white leather chairs - this all sounds like the make-up of a trendy club right? Well, kind of but the so-called "club" is in the sky! That's right Virgin America is my favorite way to fly. The fleets are clean, the staff has been friendly on every leg I've flown and if you forget your ipod or other source of entertainment fear not the touch-screen TVs offer a large range of music artists to choose from, the latest movies and On Demand TV, etc. If you are seated far from your friends or if you spot that attractive person a few rows back introduce yourself by setting up a chat session. Next time you fly buckle up with Virgin America.

Let me know your favorite way to travel on Twitter: @cortneybailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a.

Yoga Gone Wild!

I'm no yogi. In fact I have probably only practiced yoga about a dozen times but I would like to continue. Do I feel as if my mind is clear after? Not really. Does my body feel better? Absolutely! During my class last night the teacher gave her class various levels of poses encouraging beginners, that would be me, to ease into poses and for "Level 2" or "Level 3" students to try variations on the poses. Easy enough right? She proceeded to demonstrate a fancy headstand then thrust her body gracefully into the air landing into a plank position - wow she looked amazing! Well sure enough a few brave souls tried this move and somewhat managed to accomplish the move; except the guy next to me. His headstand never took and he went flying and then bouncing on top of a petite female who was positioned in front of him. She assured him she was fine but I don't know how she could be! So I have to ask, when do yoga poses become too extreme for the everyday gym goer? When I was a teenager learning gymnastics I always had a coach beside me guiding me as I learned my round-off, then flip-flop, then back flip. Why are advanced yoga poses not the same? Has yoga gone wild for the average yogi who thinks they are advanced?

Let me know what you think on Twitter: @cortneybailey

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Double or Nothing

I have to admit I was surprised to learn that Nick Lachey agreed to televise his upcoming wedding vows with Vanessa Minnillo on TLC. Did Lachey not learn a hard lesson after he and his ex-wife Jessica Simpson documented their "Newlyweds" life on MTV only to have their marriage fail? Maybe love does conquer all or is Lachey going back for another taste of bad medicine?

Lachey and Minnillo said in a joint statement, "We're lucky to have such passionate and loving fans, and we thought partnering with TLC on this special would be the best way to share the exciting journey we're on with all the people that support us and our relationship."

Good luck and best wishes to your new life together!

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort

Cheers!

I recently took a trip to "Napa Valley" for a close friend's birthday celebration! Our group had a wonderful time touring the beautiful country side, eating at amazing restaurants and of course wine tasting. This is not my first trip to this Northern California destination however it was my first time to tour Jordan Vineyard and Winery, located in Healdsburg, CA. My family is a huge fan of Jordan so you can imagine my eagerness to take the tour. The experience at the estate was heavenly. The staff treated each guest as if they were entering their own personal home, in fact CEO John Jordan was on-site as well to personally say hello. The wine tastings presentation was carefully paired with a beautiful selection of cheeses and each guest was seated at an elegant dining table so that each could linger and savor the time. All - in -all I highly recommend to add Jordan Vineyard and Winery to your next excursion to Northern California but make sure you make your reservation in advance!

Cheers!

Cortney a.k.a. Cort