Let’s make this short and sweet. Here is everything I have bought on Amazon over the last 6 months and then below that is everything I have on my wishlist for this year’s Prime Day. Happy shopping y’all!!
HAVE:
WANT:
It’s moving time! I have tried (and tried and tried) to be a vlogger. Like multiple times. I can’t stand the editing process. And making sure I get enough clips. And making my friends and family be a part of it. Maybe I will change my mind, who knows. But for now, I am making moving blogs a thing as opposed to moving vlogs.
I am obsessed with moving vlogs, but it is hard to find everything they talk about, definitely not as shop-able! If that is the goal, of course. So, let’s make moving blogs a thing. Starting with the first in this series titled Everything But the Furniture. The reason for this is that I want to do an entire post on the items I get to furnish my apartment and how I chose them. But this post is going to be more of the essentials and random things I have gotten thus-far in the process. As I continue, and actually move in, there will be photos and live styling of how I put everything together. Exciting stuff, amiright?
I made this post super easily shoppable, the picture at the top of this post is completely clickable! Simply click on the product you’re interested in and shop away!
Most of the items are pretty self-explanatory, but here are a few honorable mentions that deserve a little more detail:
+ Malin+Goetz candle: I mean, that pricepoint is hefty, I am not even gonna lie. But for your home to smell like an expensive luxury interior design store? I am all for it. My favorite thing is to elevate your space in small ways that can make a huge difference. I am not going to buy a $2,000 bed but I will buy one that looks expensive. There are some things that are meant to be splurged on, candles are one of them.
+ COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE soap: Again, another thing to splurge on. I am going to do a whole post on simple ways to elevate your bathroom (and make it feel like a fancy hotel bathroom) and this is one of those steps! This soap smells like heaven, lasts forever, and looks perfect on your bathroom counter.
+ AllClad pans: These are the best pans I have ever used. Take 1 second to wipe clean and never have anything stuck to them. My parents have had them for over 2 years and they are like brand new. They are absolutely worth the price point and the only pans I will ever buy!
I have a LOT more on my to-buy list as I am taking as little as possible from my current place and have been saving for a while in order to purchase all new things. The space that you live in daily should be your favorite space. The things that you use daily should make you feel at ease and bring you some form of joy, not to be too Marie Kondo over here. For me, living in a dark space with items that aren’t easy to use or are old or don’t work well doesn’t make sense to me. I would rather save in other areas and splurge on items that are going to elevate my every day. Kind of like how changing your phone case seems like a huge life change. Or changing your hair brush, mousepad, etc. Things that are essential that you use every day all day deserve upgrading! This is a hill I will die on.
Items I am still going to buy (that aren’t furniture)
+ Dyson Vacuum
+ Roku TV
+ Throw pillows
+ Plates & utensils
+ Single-cup Keurig
+ Hangers
+ Curtains
+ Vase
I will be doing a bunch of hauls on my IG as that is the easiest form of videoing for me so hop on over to @MadisonCrowley to see me unbox everything mentioned in this post (I shipped it all to Georgia) and the future stuff I buy to add to the apartment! I will document the move-in process as well as decorating! I am going minimal but classic and am excited about some of the art pieces I am going to be hanging on the walls!
I am so stoked for this. It has really given me something to look forward to during this quarantine. I would have liked to be able to shop for some of this stuff at the store but that’s just what happens when a deadly virus takes over the world!
Thanks for stopping by and reading the first part of this exciting series for me. Let me know if there are things I need to add to my list or if you have any of these items and love them too!
Don’t forget to head to my Instagram where more of the daily fun happens:
@MadisonCrowley
‘Til next time!
xx, Madison
Hi! What’s up! Welcome back to Vogue and a Latte.
Today I am sharing my simple, weekly Trader Joe’s grocery list with you guys! Being gluten and dairy-free has its struggles, that’s for dang sure. But I have found some incredible replacements for items that I wouldn’t want to live without and have also created new meals and recipes while expanding my palette. I have gotten a little bit healthier since cutting out gluten and dairy, I wish I could say that was my choosing LOL. So my meals are healthy-ish, some by choice and some not. I always like to add in those comfort food cravings ( like my faaaave GF/DF ranch and fries ) when I can. At the bottom, I will outline a couple of meals that I throw together with these items! Honestly, it changes weekly depending on my mood and what I want to eat, but a lot of these items are staples and things that I eat each and every day.
Some meals I throw together:
☆ Hot dogs + carrots + sauerkraut + arugula
☆ Eggs + bagels + arugula + bacon + tomato
☆ Sliced bread + avocado + EVOO + pepper flakes + eggs
☆ Waffles + peanut butte + agave + chia seeds
☆ Sliced bread + turkey + mayo + tomato
☆ Chicken nuggets + ranch + lettuce combo
☆ Canned chicken + mayo + hot sauce + tortilla chips
☆ Lettuce combo + shrimp + spices + EVOO + peppers + tomato
☆ Rice + grilled chicken + spices + beans + avocado
☆ Roasted arugula/kale + grilled chicken + bacon + veggies + ranch
You can see that I am horrible at adding fruits and veggies, I am a work in process. Each time I go to the grocery store I try to add one new veggie and one new fruit to see how much I actually eat them. I HATE wasting produce but I also need to be eating so many more greens and fruits. For example, I got some bananas last night at Target to try and see if I will eat them with some peanut butter or grab out the door. If I don’t, I will grab some grapes next time or an orange and see if I reach for those more than others. I just wanna be healthy but I wanna enjoy it, ya know?
If y’all are into this, I think I am going to do a GF/DF charcuterie board post next! I am so into finding ways to enjoy the things that I love while also not killing my stomach. This digestion journey has been a TREK but it’s all about the mental game in my opinion.
Do you have any items you can’t leave Trader Joe’s without? Try any of these items on the list and love them? Leave a comment or shoot me a DM!
You can always follow along with my daily life on Instagram at @MadisonCrowley. It’s pretty real over there, not super glam at all times, but I am always sharing tips, tricks, and what’s really happening in my life.
Hope you loved this post! Have a fantastic and blessed day! xx
I am back again with another traffic light story. God speaks to me when I am driving, when I am the most un-Godly version of myself. Our God has a sense of humor, FYI. If you haven’t read my other post where I talk about my love/hate relationship with patience and red lights, read it here.
Last Saturday, I was driving to a photoshoot at the beach. It was early, I was tired, feeling uncreative, and somewhat dreading the small talk I was about to partake in. It’s SO cool that I get to meet new people each and every week and be a shining light for Jesus. At least it’s cool until I haven’t had my coffee or am not in my shining light of Jesus mood.
Besides the early morning and lack of motivation, I was ignoring God. I was ignoring the gut feeling that God has given me (and you). I was ignoring facts, ignoring myself, and ignoring sound counsel from friends. I was ignoring God’s word and I was ignoring the shallow emptiness that was slowly beginning to creep back into my life. The familiar tendency to search, to please, and to gain satisfaction from life instead of God. From people, instead of God.
I was driving along, actually, the same place I was driving in my previous post, just the opposite direction, and suddenly, out of nowhere, the light turned yellow. I was annoyed and verbally said, “What the heck, there is NO ONE HERE” as I slammed on my brakes. I probably slammed my steering wheel too, dramatic. (I wonder how Jesus would have spoken as he drove????) There was no one on the road. Not a soul. And yet still the light turned from green to yellow to a halting red. At that exact moment, I recognized my annoyance and remembered Jesus. I remembered the patience that he had been teaching me (until I decided to ignore him) and thought okay God, I get it. I hear you. You’re trying to tell me something. And immediately, I kid you not, immediately, the light turned green. I was stunned because lights normally last like 5 whole minutes and I was suddenly no longer forced to be stopped and sit in my guilt, but I was allowed to go. I thought I was going to have to sit in patience, in self-control and learn some long lesson, but the light turned. Maybe that’s what growing in our relationship with Christ looks like. Understanding his character and needing less long life lessons and more quick snaps to turn your attention back on his face?? Idk, I’m still learning.
I was driving along, depending on myself (and coffee) and God L I T E R A L L Y stopped me in my tracks to say, “Ummm hey, hi. Remember me? I’m God. I have your best interest in mind and I have something really neat coming soon for you. Quit what you’re doing right now that you know isn’t from me. Cool, now that we’ve got that cleared up, continue on.” I was ignoring him, I wasn’t listening, and he got my attention. God doesn’t always work like this, and sometimes we pretend not to see it, but I couldn’t ignore this.
Read More
Last week, I was on my way back from spin class, in a major hurry to get home to my dog, eat some good food, and just relax after a long work day. Doesn’t sound like something you would need to hurry for, but that’s just me sometimes. My gas light blinked on and I read the words, “Warning: Low Fuel”. I was pissed at myself for not getting gas sooner but also kind of pissed at myself for even being mad that I had to stop and get gas. I didn’t REALLY have anywhere to be, I was just impatient pretty much for no reason. I have been noticing myself doing that a lot more lately and this time seemed extra prevalent. I was cruising down the street and hit a red light right next to a Shell station. I’m not sure if Shell stations are ridiculously expensive where you live, but here they are one of the most expensive gas stations around. $0.50 – $0.60 more PER GALLON, which makes a huge difference when gas is already $3.50 a gallon. Crazy, I know.
Read More
Happy Friday and welcome back to Vogue and a Latte! I am so happy you are here and I hope you have had a wonderful week. I am here to bring you another morning routine from one of my absolute FAVORITE babes to follow on Instagram and on her blog. Meet Sorelle from Autumn Sorelle!!
Okay, so I absolutely love Sorelle because her Instagram posts and stores are always super real ( seeing a pattern here people?? ). She is so focused on being mindful and in charge of your emotions/feelings/day/etc. But I also love that she is so open about the fact that not every day is going to be a good day. There are days that aren’t going to be perfect. There are days that you are going to not feel your best, and that is okay. She is also stunnnnning and has the best style tips and photos.
You can read all about her on her about me page and throughout her blog, Autumn Sorelle. This morning routine has to be one of my favorites so far – it’s SO detailed and specific and really gives us a glimpse at what an ideal morning looks like for Sorelle!
Let’s get to it.
______________________________________________
Y’all, shoutout to Sorelle for being so open about her morning routine and each step of the way! I love how she starts her mornings with some quiet time or a workout – working on your mind and body first thing, no matter what that looks like for you, is super important.
Go follow Sorelle on Instagram and check out her blog here. Your feed will be just a little bit brighter with her gorgeous pics and uplifting words.
I have a packed weekend full of blogging fun ( heading to the SIMPLY conference with Caitlyn which should be a blast!!! ) and lots of yummy food with good friends. Follow along on Instagram ( @MadisonCrowley ) if you don’t already!
‘Til next time,
Welcome to Vogue and a Latte! Thanks for stopping by my piece of the internet. Today I am bringing another boss babe to your screen and I am SO excited for you all to learn about one of my major blogger inspirations, Peyton Baxter.
Peyton is the creator of love ‘n’ labels, a lifestyle blog filled with bright colors, happiness, ideas, and transparency.
Peyton is SO inspiring and her words bring such truth. She recently wrote this post that brought me to tears! I am so grateful for bloggers who share the deep stuff, the real stuff that grabs you and makes you think. She also talks about her faith on her blog and that brings me so much joy! Jesus is light and he definitely shines through Peyton.
On top of being so real, she has the BEST outfits and photos. She mixes high-end and low-end, which is my kinda vibe. She has such a girly and fun style while still being on top of all of the latest trends. She is super active and engaging on Instagram, which is key. She also has lots of blog posts on how to become a successful blogger and what her personal journey has looked like so far. Basically, Peyton does it all and she is must-follow and must-read babe!!
Enough chit-chat, let’s dive into Peyton’s morning routine:
___________________________________________________
I’ve never been a huge morning person … Actually, when I was a little girl, I was a bear to try and wake up for school (LOL!). I’m a complete night owl, and my most productive hours are typically later in the day. That being said, I LOVE my mornings when I can just ease into the day with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and my devotion in the other, not having to be anywhere at the crack of dawn. My ideal morning consists of waking up around 8:15-8: 30 am and easing into the morning for about an hour before I get my work day started. Ideally, I’m in my favorite pajama set from Nordstrom. I’ve gotten out of bed to brush my teeth and wash my face with my favorite Tula products. I’ve made coffee for my husband, TJ, and kissed him goodbye as he’s out the door on his way to work. Then, I make myself a massive cup of coffee from our Keurig (I drink it black). While my coffee is brewing, I go around my house and open up ALL the blinds because I love nothing more than the natural morning light shining through. (I don’t even turn on any lights in my house because I love the natural daylight so much better. It’s so energizing!) During this time, I also light candles around my house and in my office (#candleobsessed). I, then, go back upstairs and cover up with my favorite blanket (#ALWAYScold!), turn on some light music (usually my favorite worship songs or instrumental playlist) and dive headfirst into my devotion for the day. I try to start every morning off with some quiet time and meditation, just to clear my head and get started in the right direction. It’s so easy to want to jump straight into my emails first thing, but I’ve found that on the days when I skip my morning quiet time and get straight to work, it’s like I can’t get ANYTHING done, and I just feel so anxious all day long. It’s sooo important for me to spend time in the Word before I start my workday. Since I became my own boss, I’ve learned just how important it is for me to allow myself a slow, easy hour of my morning to focus on ME and get my day started off of the right foot. Here’s a closer look into my step-by-step morning routine:
8:15-30 am: Wake up the same time that TJ gets up
8:30 am: Brush my teeth & wash my face (or shower)
8:45 am: Make TJ’s coffee
9:00 am: Send Teej off to work, start my coffee & open all blinds / light candles
9:15 am: Turn on light music, dive into my quiet time & sip on my coffee
9:45 am: Make a schedule for the rest of my day in my planner & schedule out each task’s time slot (I just recently started doing this & it really helps me to stay on track with the day’s most important ‘to-dos’ which leads me to getting all my work done in a timely manner. As my own boss and someone who works from home, it’s SO challenging to make myself stop working at the end of the day. There’s always more that could be done, and since my home is my office, there’s no “leaving the office at 5:00”. This is why it’s so important for me to take 15 minutes of my morning and schedule out exactly what I need to do for that day and exactly what time I need to be working on those particular tasks.)
10:00 am: Start with emails & begin my work day (which is pretty much different each day ha!)
___________________________________________________
Let’s all give a big shout out to Peyton for chatting with me about her morning routine so that I can share with all of you! Check her out on Instagram or on her blog. If you loved this post, let her know on her Instagram! She is seriously the sweetest human.
Let me know your thoughts on this post! Share it with friends, send it your bestie who loves morning routines, or post it on social media!
Follow along my jam-packed weekend on Instagram ( @MadisonCrowley ) – it’s going to be a fun one!
‘Til next time,
Happy Friday babes! Thanks for stopping by V&L! <3
This Friday’s Morning Routine Series is brought to you by Allie from Allie Wears! I have been following Allie for a while and I loooove her Instagram content. She is so transparent and open with all of her followers. Her blog is also TOO cute and she masters finding styles on a budget and is always chatting about other lifestyle topics like working from home! She created an awesome FAQ page on her blog that answers tons of questions from her followers so that you can learn more about her! You can also find her on Instagram at @AllieWears. Now, let’s get this morning started.
______________________________________________
My ideal morning would be waking up bright and early to get a head start on the day. I am a total morning person and prefer waking up super early (which means going to bed super early, too). I do work from home so I have the flexibility to sleep in if I want to, but my boyfriend gets up around 5:30 so I try my best to follow his lead. Not to mention, our mini pig, Willy, can be heard oinking around that time, ready for breakfast.
5:30 AM: I wake up and check my phone while Ry feeds Will and starts his shower.
6:00 AM: Once Ry heads downstairs, I head to the bathroom to start my morning routine. That includes scraping my tongue, brushing my teeth, washing my face (with Trader Joe’s Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil) and swapping out my Warby Parker glasses for contacts. My vision is so bad! I need Lasik stat.
6:15 AM: I head downstairs and kiss Ry goodbye. I then sip on warm water with ACV while ice rolling my face using this $11 gadget from Amazon.
6:30 AM: I head back upstairs to change into work-out clothes. I’m quick.. in and out!
6:40 AM: I leave for my sweat session. It depends on the day but I am either headed to the gym or a class via ClassPass. I like to lift weights in the gym and save ClassPass for cardio sessions, like cycling or hot yoga. If I sign up for a class, I always get there 10 minutes early to settle in.
7:00 AM: I workout for 45 minutes to an hour and always aim to break a sweat. Always.
8 AM: My work-out is done and I swing by a coffee shop for a large black coffee. I add a splash of almond milk once I’m home!
8:30 AM: Time to shower! I use a shampoo and conditioner from Kerastase’s Resistance collection (it works wonders), Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap as body wash, and alternate between Aveda’s Radiant Skin Refiner or Trader Joe’s Spa Face Wash (again).
9 AM: Post shower, I slip into my robe, throw my hair into a microfiber hair towel, and lotion my limbs. I clean my ears (is this TMI?) and then use Pixi’s Glow Toner on a cotton round to remove any excess dirt from my face and neck. I then pat TruSkin’s Vitamin C serum on my face, dab Clinique’s All About Eyes under my eyes, and let those sit for a few minutes before moisturizing my face with Raw Organics Oil Control Moisturizer.
9:15 AM: Time for breakfast, which lately has included NF Greek Yogurt, almond butter granola, banana slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
9:30 AM: I open my computer and check my email (work, blog, and personal) while eating breakfast. If I need to, I’ll draft an IG post for the day – I prefer to post after 5 PM.
10:00 AM: I usually head back upstairs to put on some make-up and get dressed. I keep it super casual and simple during the week. I don’t wear much make-up – a little Smashbox CC cream, NYX eyebrows, and Lancome Hypnose mascara. I also like my hair to air dry for those messy beach waves and wear cute, comfortable clothes (like this) if I’m working solo for the rest of the day.
10:30 AM: My work day starts! I either hide out in my office, get comfortable on the couch, or head to a local coffee shop.
& that’s that! If you’re not a morning person, I highly recommend you become one. I notice when I work-out in the morning, I set myself up for success for the rest of the day when it comes to making healthy food choices. I also love having the rest of the day to focus on what’s important, like work, quality time with bae, and/or blogging.
______________________________________________
Thanks for checking out Allie’s morning routine! I am LOVING this series. I love incorporating my favorites on V&L.
Well I have a jam packed weekend full of pizza and brunching, so follow along on Instagram ( @MadisonCrowley )
‘Til next time,