Life Lately: Floods, Fishing, Finally Some Sunshine, & Fabulous Deals from Albertsons Anniversary Sale

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AHugeSale #CollectiveBias #Albertsons

In case you haven't heard, it's been raining nearly non-stop in Tampa lately. Neighborhoods have flooded and people have been photographed floating along main streets in rafts and kayaks and I think I even saw a video of a man catching a catfish on a sidewalk. Life has been full of lots of rain... So as you can imagine, living in a city right outside of Tampa means that I've been subjected to weather that you would expect from Oregon or Washington, not the "Sunshine State". After almost two weeks FULL of rain, the sun finally decided to show up on my husband's day off! We couldn't even believe it and immediately decided to head to head to the beach and soak up some rays!

As always, we decided to stop off and grab some of our essentials to make sure we stay hydrated. We stopped at Albertsons when we noticed they are having an epic anniversary sale and saved big money! Can you believe that Albertsons has been around for 76 years?! Whether you are restocking your pantry or filling your fridge with party essentials, all of the awesome deals going on at my store had me overfilling our cart with goodness!

With all of my favorite sodas, teas, and even water on sale, I couldn't pass up any of it! We were able to buy Diet Mountain Dew for me and Pepsi made with real sugar and two packs of Mountain Dew Throwback for my hubby for $10. Let me say this a little clearer, we bought 4 - 12 packs of our absolute favorite types of soda for only $10! I felt like I won the lottery while I loaded the soda into the cart.

After we stocked up on all of our carbonated essentials, I noticed that my favorite tea was on sale as well! SCORE!

Then hubby pointed out that the Gatorade was on sale as well, so of course we grabbed a few packages of his favorite flavor. So as you can imagine, we nearly squealed with delight when we noticed that Aquafina was on sale too! We love finding a good bargain, especially on our way to the beach!

After completely making sure that our hydration needs were met, it was time to head to the beach and boy was it a glorious time!

We fished for hours, we chit-chatted about our future, we played games, we read books, we giggled, we instagrammed, and we snapchatted. I had a delicious Diet Mixed Berry Green Tea, he had a Gatorade, and we soaked up the sun with huge smiles on our faces.

He even got a little creative with his Pepsi, unintentionally, while we were reeling in a big ol' fish (side note: we thought we had a big fish until we realized our line was just stuck). Since he reel our "big fish"in while I went to grab the camera to document our capture, he quickly placed his Pepsi on the closest thing next to him. Since the fish didn't actually exist and I had the camera in hand ready to shoot, I started snapping shots of the Pepsi instead and thought they turned out pretty nifty! Who would've thought? He's a master with photo props!

All in all, from getting great deals on all of our favorite beverages to having a good laugh about our "big fish", it was the best day we've had in a long time. It's the little things, and on the beach, with your love, the little things are always the best!

I'm so happy to share that it's sunny in Tampa again today and we are packing up our cooler to head back out to the beach shortly! Although we've heard rumors that the rain may return later this week, we are overjoyed to finally have the chance to run around and catch some rays with our favorite drinks in hand! Maybe we'll even be able to squeeze in a few more beach days before school starts!

What's your favorite thing to do when it's raining outside? Do you love to throw a party, build a blanket fort, or maybe spend the entire day watching movies? Are you a beach go-er when the sun is shining or are you more likely to spend time under a tree reading a book? I'd love to hear how you spent your week, rain or shine in the comments below!

Don't forget that you'll want to stock up on your favorite drinks before it's too late! Head on over to Albertsons before 8/11 and check out all the amazing deals you can find during their HUGE Anniversary sale! Even if you don't have an Albertsons location nearby you, you may be lucky enough to have one of their banner stores like Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Shaws! Keep you eye out for their anniversary sale as well.

Some Days Just Call For a Tutu & Heels...

Thanks to Shabby Apple for providing me with an adorable tulle skirt.

Some days just call for a tutu and a pair of heels, today is one of those days. It's not a special occasion, I have no where to be, but today definitely felt like a tutu-wearing type of day. Running around my office, working on upcoming projects, and wearing this skirt has made for a pretty sweet day - it's nice to feel pretty and a bit snazzy while going about an ordinary work day.

As you can tell, I'm in love with my new tulle skirt; paired with all different types of shirts and a wide variety of shoes, I can wear this little number all different kinds of ways! This time around I opted to wear my beautiful violet purple tutu with a frilly black shirt I purchased at a thrift store and a pair of Nina heels that I've had for many, many moons.

Next time I can picture myself rocking it with my kitten eye sunglasses and a cropped leather jacket and boots of some sort or maybe something simple like a cardigan and ballet flats... either way, I can't wait to rock this tulle skirt over and over again. If you're wondering where I snagged this beautiful skirt, you'll need to check out Shabby Apple! I love everything they carry, a little bit of everything from beautiful accessories to perfectly pretty tutus, they've got it all. Plus, these gorgeous skirts come in a huge variety of colors and lengths, so I'm sure you'll be able to find the perfect tulle skirt (and more) to add to your wardrobe!

Do you ever have days that just call for something ridiculously girly for no particular reason? Where would you wear a tutu?

Sharing GOOD News & My Love for HP Instant Ink!

Today's discussion is brought to you by HP Instant Ink and Collectively.

It's really happening...

Today, I'm so excited!

...Wait, you are probably wondering what's happening?

I've got some good news!

You know how I occasionally create a printable here and there and I'll share them for free from time to time? Well, I'm excited to announce I'm going to be doing that a lot more often, as well as selling some of my printables over on etsy (plus I'll be selling some of my paintings again).

I've been trying to launch my printable business since earlier this year but life gets busy and I wanted to make sure I had the perfect equipment to make beautiful prints! I'm so excited about my new printer, it makes my art work look even more amazing! While I love my printer, I'm even more excited about the fact that I signed up for HP Instant Ink so that I can print my work over and over again and never worry about running out of ink!

You've never heard of HP Instant Ink? I've got to share my secret so that you can print and never run out of ink! HP Instant Ink is an innovative ink replacement service designed to save consumers up to 50 percent on ink! Ink is delivered to your door before you need it, and HP Instant Ink Plans start at $2.99, with recycling included as well. Signing up online and installing the ink cartridge is all you have to do to make sure you'll never run out!

Worried about which printer to invest in so that you can be sure you can print all you want with HP Instant Ink? Be sure to invest in a HP OfficeJet Pro, HP Envy, or check out the list here for more eligible printers!

I've been designing, printing, and buying frames like crazy this week, which means I'm going through a pretty nice amount of ink. I noticed after a TON of printing yesterday that my ink was running low! I'm so happy I had the extra ink thanks to Instant Ink, I was able to simply install my HP Instant Ink cartridges and my prints are beautiful and bright again! Now I don't even need to pay attention to how much ink I have because when I start running low again, I'll receive another cartridge in the mail; with no action of my own required after set up!

Now that I've shared how I make sure that I never run out of ink, I'd love to hear what your favorite quote is for a printable in your home? I'm going to be sharing a bunch of freebies all through out the summer, so give me a fun, thoughtful, or silly quote and you may be able to snag a pretty piece of art for free! Before you share your favorite quote, be sure to download one of my favorite quote FREE printables from the list below (and sign up for HP Instant Ink):

Want more freebies other than the printables I've shared today? Click here to claim 3 months of FREE ink, when you purchase an eligible printer and sign up online for HP Instant Ink! What are you waiting for? Save big and print as much as you want and #NeverRunOut!

Lyst: My FAVORITE Way To Shop + The Perfect Beachy "Grunge" Look

Do you remember in the movie Clueless when Cher is getting ready for the day and she is browsing through her digital closet for the perfect outfit? I remember watching this happen and thinking I needed this in my life back in the 90s... Luckily, Lyst came into the picture and while they don't show me what's in my closet right now, they help me find items I love to buy and add to my closet!

It's a fashion lover's dream come true, with the ability to shop hundreds of stores all at once while creating boards for every upcoming event on your calendar! Plus, several of the shops offer an integrated check out, meaning you can pay for purchases from several stores all at once without having to directly visit the site. Lyst really is like the mall and Cher from Clueless' closet combined, it's the only way I'll shop from now on!

Not only can you shop for items you love and buy them easily on the spot, you can save them to boards or "lyst(s)" and receive alerts when they go on sale.

I'm so obsessed with a pair of knee high gladiator sandals and a matching romper that I found on Lyst, I can't wait until I receive a sale alert on both of these adorable pieces.

Another great thing about Lyst is the range of brands offered, some that make me dream of what could be and others that I can find at the mall... It's a nice variety and they offer items that are adorable in everyone's price range!

After spending hours adding adorable items to my lyst (you can find here), I finally decided to treat myself to a new dress and a new pair of super funky sunglasses for the beach. Both items happened to be from the same adorable boutique, Pixie Market.

This super fun, beachy, Pixie Market pineapple dress fits like a glove with my favorite bikini underneath, paired with my super awesome shoes I scored at a local discount store, my favorite GiGi Couture necklace, and the most adorable pair of kitten eye sunglasses. I styled my hair in a loose braid and I was ready to go catch some rays in my 90's grunge inspired look.

So what are you waiting for? What's your style? Make a Lyst and check it twice, it's time to treat yourself, whether you've been naughty or nice!

Today's discussion is sponsored by my favorite shopping destination, Lyst!

Buying a New Car Without The Drama: Show Cars.com Your #NewCarFace and Win Up to $25,000!

Today's discussion about shopping for a new car
& the possibility of winning up to $25,000 to pay off the car loan is sponsored by Cars.com.

Buying a new car is a little bit like getting engaged, having a baby, adopting a dog, or any other huge commitment that requires some maturity and responsibility. Car shopping is a super exciting time in anyone's life, you are making a serious commitment to a loan and your car, you are required to provide maintenance and upkeep, drive responsibly, etc.  You are embarking on a relationship of sorts when you buy a car. Your car relies on you and you on it, so choosing the right car is important.

While buying a new car tends to be a well-thought out process for most, our recent vehicle purchase included my husband signing the papers and driving it off the lot before I even saw the car. I guess you could say we like to do things on a whim, but buying our Kia Soul was the best thing we have ever done and it was completely drama free... Well, hubby dealt with the drama while I was working, so it was drama-free for me at least (next time we'll use Cars.com to avoid the drama entirely)!

It may sound silly but since this was our first "big purchase" as adults, we both were feeling a bit giddy. He practically jumped out of the car as he pulled up, stumbled over his words as he showed me all the awesome new features, and after I looked the new little cutie over for a while we hopped in and took our first short little trip to the beach. Our car blends into our lives perfectly.

Well, any car would suffice I suppose... but I love our car! Our Kia Soul is cute and it fits who we are and what we like to do. It's a car that we can take with us from beach to beach without worrying about gas mileage, it holds our 13 foot kayak on the rooftop with ease, and this little baby can even go off-roading when we want to spend time doing yoga at our favorite secluded beach spot. What more could this beach bunny ask for?

Whether you are playing "soccer mom" to a house full of kids or roadtripping around the country and exploring what this great nation has to offer, your car is what you rely on to get you where you need to be. When choosing a new car you want something reliable, that's a great deal, that also fits your lifestyle, and Cars.com can help you find that!

Cars.com takes the drama out of the new car shopping experience, helping you breathe a little easier... But I bet you didn't know they are taking the drama out of your car loan as well, by giving away up to $25,000 towards your new car in the #NewCarFace Contest!

You can enter to win The NewCarFace Contest via twitter, instagram, or facebook. You'll simply need to upload a photo of you, your totally awesome new car face, and your new car! I've shared a few examples today and here's one of the hubby practicing yoga with his Soul... haha. Get it?

Be sure to use the hashtag #newcarface and don't forget to tag Cars.com (@CarsDotCom) directly in your post as well! If you are entering via facebook, make a post directly on their facebook wall with the hashtag for your entry to be valid!

What's your New Car Face look like
and will it win you $25,000 to help pay off your new car loan?

And here's some legal stuff: You can only submit one entry during the promotional period. Need to know more about the rules? You can click here to find some inspiration and check out all the details. Open to legal US residents (excluding MD, NJ, & TN), must be 18+ and hold a qualifying vehicle loan or lease. Contest ends 4/17/2015 at 12pm CST. Prize will be valued up to $25k. Subject to the Official Rules, including eligibility criteria, and qualifiying vehicle restrictions. Sponsored by Cars.com, a division of Classified Venture, LLC. Just FYI, a new car is considered a new (or used) car bought or leased on or after 1/1/2012.

Holiday Gift Guide: Spread Joy & Delicious Smells with Old Factory Candles {and a Giveaway}

Can you even believe Christmas is almost here? I'm finishing up my holiday gift guide with some of my absolute favorite products and these candles are on that list!

These candle sets come in packs of 3 and each candle burns cleanly for around 20 hours. The little beauties are hand-poured in the US with natural soy wax and scented with premium fragrance oils... which means they are basically like little pots of gold.


Each gift set is themed around a group of related fragrances - my Fall Harvest bundle contained a pumpkin spice candle, a cranberry candle, and an autumn leaves candle and each one smells delicious! The scents are strong without being overpowering, providing the perfect balance for any occasion.

Old Factory offers a variety of sets ranging from a "50 shades" themed set to a "Winter Wonderland" themed set... There's an option for everyone on your shopping list this year and for every room in the house.

Now I understand if you want to go ahead and buy a set for yourself, but I'm excited to announce one lucky reader will win a scrumptious set of Old Factory candles! Use the giveaway tools form below to enter to win:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or any other entity, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.