Movie Review: Mantervention

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mantervention . All opinions are 100% mine.

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted about reviewing the movie, Mantervention. At first I was a bit confused because, after watching the trailer, it was pretty obvious that it was definitely geared towards guys. The plot centers on Spencer getting over a breakup with the help of his 'professional ladies man' best friend, Coke. Coke decides that the best way for Spencer to get over his heartbreak is to sleep with a string of women and forget his ex. The two of them move into Coke's dad's beach house for a couple of weeks, get jobs at a bar owned by a drag queen, and, well, sleep with a bunch of women.

Okay, so you are probably wondering why I decided to watch this movie? Well, I decided that I would invite some girlfriends over for wine and this movie on a Thursday night and then collectively we could review this movie. You know you are watching the movie with girls when the first thing one of them says is "He was in Lemonade Mouth" referring to the film's star, Nick Roux. I think the best way to describe the movie was put by one of my friends when she said that it "pairs well with wine." We were cracking up at Spencer's ridiculous first hook up scene where he brings home a girl who really likes to "meow"...a lot. There are definitely some raunchy and mildly offensive scenes, but all in all we had fun drinking our wine and judging the actions of all the characters throughout the movie. We also enjoyed Travis Van Winkle's abs...they may have stolen the show, though his spandex swim trunks and norts were highly questionable. Believe it or not, there was an educational aspect to this film as one of my friends learned how to remove the burn from a jellyfish sting in one of the scenes.

If you are a fan of the American Pie franchise or just want a good laugh with your friends, check out this movie available on TV VOD, iTunes, Vimeo, Vudu and will be in limited theaters throughout the month of September (VOD and release details). Total Frat Move even said "Mantervention is the greatest raunchy sex comedy since Wedding Crashers.” I would say we had a pretty entertaining wine night watching this movie, but I will let y'all be the judge of that for yourselves. Fair warning though, TFM also enjoyed the movie because there were hot girls and boobs, so this is definitely not the ideal family movie night. 

For more about Mantervention, check out their Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Don't forget to watch the trailer, get the movie for your next movie night, and if you leave a comment with your favorite quote from the trailer, you will be entered to win free Mantervention swag!

Also, big thanks to Dawson, Lizzie, Logan, and Meghan for coming over to review the movie with me!

Friday Five: Inspired

I kept telling myself I wasn't going to dedicate an entire post to Derek Jeter. It isn't exactly what my readers come here to read and I am definitely more invested in this man's retirement than most of y'all. So instead I went with a variety of links that are more generally appealing. All of these are inspirational in some way. You may not find Derek Jeter inspiring, but there are so many other ways to be inspired and so many people in this world who make you think.
I hope everyone has a great weekend, and if you're in the Charlottesville area, come out to Hops for Hope at Star Hill Brewery tomorrow. They're going to donate $1 from every pint to UVA Relay For Life and they'll broadcast the game too!

One: Derek Jeter's Walkoff Single Ends His Shortstop Career

He is going to play at Fenway this weekend, but not at shortstop. I can't begin to describe the emotions that go into this one for me. There are few professional athletes in history who have achieved his level of fame and respect both on and off the field. He was never ejected from a game, umps, players, and fans love him, and he loved baseball. I honestly get emotional writing about this because it really is the end of an era, but it couldn't have ended in a better way than it did. The heavens stopped pouring for his final game in the Bronx and he finished the game as a hero. He may retire, but his legacy and what he has done for this ball club is present now and will be for years to come. Farewell, Captain. I know there's no crying in baseball, but I think we can make an exception for this moment.

Two: Emma Watson Speaks to the UN

This is one of those videos that I am sure many of you have seen, but I think it is worth watching a couple of times. I think I've watched it 3 times now and it hasn't gotten old. I love seeing women stand up for each other and putting the campaign for gender equality in such a great light. This is especially great because it addresses the issue on an international level, not just as a problem in corporate offices or schools in developed countries.

Three: Life Isn't Perfect

This is a cute picture and such a great quote. I pretty regularly think about how many things in my life aren't perfectly in place or how I originally pictured them. Perfection is overrated so why not be happy with the awesome things that happen in life. Without the hard moments, the good ones would be less enjoyable!

Four: Stella Young's Ted Talk

This has to be one of my favorite Ted Talks ever. I love her frankness and the perspective she approaches life with. She is inspiring because she is confident and well-spoken, not because she has overcome a physical handicap. "What if you are that person?" You think telling them they're an inspiration is a compliment, but how would you feel if living was considered inspirational. Personally, I would be offended if someone came into this coffee shop and told me that they were impressed that I got out of bed and went to get coffee and work. 

Five: The History of the Power Suit

This is really interesting. I love seeing power suits pop up on Pinterest and around in the working world. I love that they ask if it can really provide power. It doesn't, but there is something about knowing you look good and the term gives a sense of empowerment. Make whatever you wear a power outfit, but 

6 Things to Love About Fall

Happy second day of fall! I got to wear my favorite vest today so you know it's going to be a good day...hopefully. Honestly though, Wednesdays are long for me, but there are so many positive happy things to think about right now, like early fall weather! This is my favorite time of year because I get less allergies than the seasonal transition to spring and I love layering sweaters, plus it is only for a few months so I can binge on these things and then wait 9 months for it to roll around again. Please note, my birthday didn't even make the cut...that's how much I love everything else about this season! It's hard to pick a few of my favorite things, but if I had to choose, these would be them.

1) Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Realistically, this is pumpkin flavored anything, but I do love this drink. There are a few recipes for homemade ones that I have yet to try, but I will let you know when I do. I love the smell and taste of pumpkin and I think it's because it is seasonal, but regardless...this is definitely a fall favorite.

2) Layering Vests

I love any look that is practical, comfortable, and cute. Believe it or not, I actually like wearing turtlenecks, and if I didn't, you'd never catch me in one. Layering is perfect for those cold, frosty fall mornings that warm up to be 70 degrees by the time you walk home from class. 

3) Bonfires

Okay, so you can do these any time of year. But wrapping up in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate sounds pretty great if you ask me.

4) Fall Colors

...and fabrics. One of my favorite parts about going to Gold Cup with my family is seeing everyone in warm fall colors and suede, furs and tweed. Normally, I am not one to stray from my classic navy, but I love dark plums and burgundy this time of year.

5) Football

Does this even need explaining? It's time to tailgate and watch your favorite college, professional, or even High School team play. Also, this is a good time of year to re-watch Friday Night Lights...you know you want to.

6) Apple Pie

Really any pie or hearty fall dish actually, but fresh apple pie is always good. What's more fun than going to an orchard and picking a bunch of apples to make a pie with when you get home? Well, I think it's fun...

What are your favorite parts of fall?

xx,
Erin

Favorite Fall and Winter Booties

It's beginning to feel a lot like Fall! Ahh, I am desperate for a little fall weather in my life. Today I am breaking out my new booties to wear to work and I couldn't be more excited. The great thing about booties is that they are just as easy to style as riding boots, but the short length makes them perfect for transition weather. I actually wore mine with a skirt to chapter last week and today I am wearing them with my favorite pair of jeans and a button down.

You may recognize these booties from my fall staple outfit post, which is definitely a sign of how much wear these are going to get in the coming weeks. I love mine from Sole Society, and though I was a little nervous about ordering from a site for the first time, the product is great and I definitely recommend it! If you're looking for a pair of simple statement booties, check mine out! There are also so many other great options out there that fits anyone's budget or style.  Here are a few of my favorites from around the web. Although, in the interest of being honest, I am not a big fan of combat boots, but I included them here because some people can totally rock them...just not me.

Sole Society // Steve Madden // TOMS
Diba // C. Wonder // Sole Society
Rag & Bone // Madden Girl // Lucky Brand

What are your go-to fall booties?

xx,

Erin

Friday Five: I Can't Come up with a Clever Title

Every week I find myself desperately awaiting the weekend. I just want it to come so that I can do nothing for some time before frantically throwing myself back into school work on Sunday. That being said, today I realized that every week that passes is one step closer to the real world. It's sad and scary all in one, I just can't believe it is actually happening!

One: Project Social T

I got a little package from my momma the other day that included this shirt and I absolutely love it. She gets me, what can I say. I guess it's my inner Carrie Bradshaw coming through. I hadn't heard of this brand before, but I absolutely love the material they use and they have some cool graphic tees. Their products are carried at Urban, Nordstrom, Topshop, and other stores. My momma saw this shirt for me at Nordstrom Rack, so if you want to check there, I'm sure they have some too!

Two: Former NFL Player Retired so He Could Donate Kidney to His Brother

With all the bad press that the NFL and its players have been getting in recent weeks, this is a nice change of pace. There is no way that I am condoning anything that has happened or that the players are doing, but please understand that it is not fair to characterize all players this way. This story was incredibly touching and I really hope that they both live happy and fulfilled lives after this. 

Three: 13 Haikus to Cheese

Shoutout to my fellow cheese-lover grandlittle for this one. She and I love cheese and regularly talk about and share links involving cheese. Turns out, we both love goat cheese a lot. So here are 13 haiku to the reason that the paleo diet is a pipe dream for a girl like me.

Four: Danny Castellano is the Perfect New Yorker

First of all, it is missing the time that he says Fenway is the worst place on earth, but I'll let that slide. Danny is totally my dream man, all of my friends who watch the show can see it and this list totally proves it. Except he is from New York, as I said to Meghan, "I guess I like New Yorkers?" This is breaking news for me... *Disclaimer: I would not move to NYC...even for Danny...sorry. Oh, and here is Danny stripping, you're welcome.

Five: Bring Hannah Home

This admittedly takes the Friday Five on a somber turn, but I cannot sit here with a social media platform and not do everything I can to spread the word about Hannah. I am sure most of you have heard about her by now and know that the search is underway, but please keep sharing police updates and praying for her safety and for her family.

Okay, on that note, have a great weekend! Please, seriously, it is going to be hot in Virginia again...mother nature, what's your problem, girl?

xx,

Erin

What Would Mindy Do?

In case you missed it, The Mindy Project had its season 3 premiere last night. Meghan and I celebrated the return of Mindy (and my dream man, Danny) with junk food purchased at the store on the corner. When I say junk food, I don't just mean a bag of chocolate covered pretzels, oh no. See, I thought, how would Mindy want me to watch her show? First I thought that I should save my cheeseburger from national cheeseburger day, but I was really hungry for dinner at like 5:30, so...

Instead I bought quite the assortment of Little Debbie products for incredibly low prices. On that note, I should invest in some of these for a potential zombie apocalypse because they never go bad (do they ever leave your system when you ingest it? Don't answer that...) Just to give you an idea of the assortment, the cashier actually asked "You got the munchies?" to which I said, "No, it's an inside joke..." while laughing and turning bright red with embarrassment because that was definitely the first time someone has thought I was high...

Anyways, Mindy gets it. Sure, her character can be annoying and I sometimes question her outfits on the show (except for her love of Kendra Scott), but I think most people can relate to her in some way. So, here is a compilation of Mindy moments that I can relate to or at least wish I could, and I hope you can to...mostly because if I am the only one who relates to a fictional character and thinks the guy on the show is a dream guy, then I am probably looking at a house full of cats in a few years.

In light of the Little Debbie binge last night...yes.

Her logic is flawless...

and priorities are totally in line.

She has lame nights that turn great too!

this is me to Meghan on a fairly regular basis

Duh.

She has realistic expectations for guys, too.

But, romantic struggles are real.

And are they really worth the effort?

 I mean, who needs men in a world where you can have all this?

Trick question, this is why we need them. How awesome would his Instagram be?

Ultimately, confidence is key.

oh, and thanks to the various Buzzfeed articles that I used to find these GIFs

Does anyone else love The Mindy Project? Also, definitely read her book if you haven't already. It's great! She really is an incredibly talented comedy writer and actress (she also used to write for The Office). Ummm and yes, I realize that this in no way related to Starbucks, which brings me to the important question of whether or not Mindy Kaling/Lahiri has a coffee addiction like I do?

xx,

Erin

Fall Favorites at J.Crew Factory

Fall weather is just around the corner! Well, actually in Virginia, you never know what the weather is going to be because it can yo-yo like nobody's business. Regardless, it is starting to feel more like fall and I am all in favor of that. I am ready to break out some of my favorite pieces and maybe add to my collection (when I actually have money for shopping, of course). Today, J.Crew Factory has an additional 30% off for Factory First members and there are some great pieces that everyone else should take a look at. 

top: Tweed Sleeve Top // Jewel Neck Tee // Chambray Shirt Dress
Camel Sweater // Puffer Vest // Flared Leather Skirt
Cap Toe Pumps // Suede Envelope Purse // Drop Earrings // Houndstooth Pants

Also, if you are not a Factory First member, it is super easy to sign up! I had someone ask me about it the other day what they had to do, not knowing it's as simple as writing down your email address!

Seriously, just click on the Factory First tab, write in your email address, and you're good to go!

xx,

Erin

Friday Five: Fashion Week

Going to New York Fashion Week is a bucket list item for me. The only "runway" show I've been to was the American Girl Fashion Show when I was in elementary school...yeah, that probably doesn't count. I would love to go to fashion week if for nothing other than the people watching outside shows. Sure, the catwalk is inside, but the people attending these shows know how to dress and are often as influential in deciding what is fashionable as those who are putting the collections out.

One: Ralph Lauren 4D Water Fashion Show

I am sure many of you have heard about this by now, but if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. This is such a cool concept and I love how they were able to change the scenery and broadcast this to so many people that otherwise wouldn't get to see the show!

Two: Alexander Nash NYC Instagram

People tend to associate fashion with what women wear, but menswear can be just as interesting. Alexander Nash is all about "undressing the art of dressing up" and their suits are absolutely amazing. I follow a couple of male fashion bloggers on Instagram and added this to my follow list yesterday because I will never complain about seeing well-dressed men on my feed ;)

Three: Jimmy Kimmel Proves That People at Fashion Week are Full of Sh*t

This. Is. Hilarious. Oh my gosh, thank you for this one, Jimmy. Please watch this.

Okay, so that's only 3, but I have to go to brunch!

xx,

Erin

Hot Nail Polish for Fall

Working in a retail store in September almost conditions you to want to break out the traditional fall essentials and cozy up by a fire. Then, of course, you take one step into the muggy end-of summer weather outside and are immediately given a reality check. Instead of sitting around and moping about having to continue to recycle summer fashions, try adding some fall elements into your every day style. Shorts and light sweaters are a personal favorite of mine, but just throwing on any article of clothing in a darker fall color will do the trick. Also, it is September, and in my mind, that makes breaking out those fall polishes totally acceptable. I love a good dark polish, but I really don't like to wear them when the weather is warm. Call me crazy, but my polishes have seasons...actually, based on the size of my collection, this is not crazy. Seriously though, the two dozen in my blog post yesterday is not exactly the extent of my collection...oops.

top: Skirting the Issue / Sand Tropez / Fall in Line
middle: Stylenomics / Cashmere Bathrobe / Bahama Mama
bottom: Chinchilly / Head Mistress / After School Boy Blazer

Also, a couple of quick tips for using these darker colors:

1) use a base coat! seriously, they will stain the heck out of your nails...especially reds

2) use thin coats of polish. the darker the color, the longer it takes to dry

3) try a matte finish to change it up. I got the OPI Matte finish recently and I love it!

4) go back to a pale neutral. Give your nails a break from all that color with your favorite neutral.

Any colors I should add to this list?

xx,

Erin

Beauty Bar Cart

Last year I had my eye on this bar cart at a consignment/candy store in Culpeper for two months before finally biting the bullet and getting it. I mean, it was $40 and I knew that I would use it in my current apartment and wherever I move to next. The only thing that had been holding me back was my hesitancy about having a full-fledged bar in my bedroom. Ultimately, I decided that wasn't the only thing the cart could be used for, and the "Beauty Bar Cart" was born.

For the first several months, I just left the natural wood stain finish because I didn't have time to paint it during the school year. Luckily, I had a week back in Charlottesville before classes started and I used my time to paint the cart. It was incredibly simple and took two days to finish thanks to fast-drying with primer spray paint.

I am so happy with how it came out. I went with gold because my room is off-white and I wanted it to pop off the wall a bit. Plus, one of the first bar carts that I saw and absolutely loved was gold. It's the perfect color because it is fun and sophisticated, just like a bar cart! One last note on painting with gold: the dust tends to get everywhere but it will come up with a Clorox wipe or Swiffer so don't freak out if it looks like your entire room was covered in pixie dust!

So what do I have on this bar cart?

Nail Polish: I got these nail polish holders from The Container Store over the summer and they are absolutely perfect. Now I can see all my polishes and they add some color to my cart!

Makeup: I keep my makeup necessities in a Lilly cosmetic bag which allows me to just grab it and go if I am getting ready somewhere else and it keeps my supplies organized and out of sight when I'm not.

Tools: I really wanted to be able to somehow incorporate the wine bottle holders into this cart and using it for my hot hair tools is perfect. It keeps them out of the way and they fit nicely in the divots!

Hair Box: I didn't really know what else to call this, but basically it has hairspray, headbands, bobby pins, etc. I like sitting on my floor to do my hair and this keeps everything within reach.

Bottles: Since I tend to paint my nails and do my makeup in my room, it makes sense to keep some of this stuff in here. I also keep makeup-removing facial cleanser wipes on the cart to use when I get back late at night. 

Books: These don't really have a purpose on here, but they are some of my favorites and they don't really belong on a coffee table, so instead they've found a (temporary) home on my bar cart.

Sewing Kit: If you don't have a needle and thread, I would recommend going out and getting one ASAP. You never know when you're gonna need it!

What would you keep on a Beauty Bar Cart?

xx,

Erin

5-Minute Microwave Peach Crisp

In typical Virginia fashion, the weather has changed overnight. No, it isn't cold, but walking to class in 65 degree weather this morning was a drastic shift from last week...not that I'm complaining! Regardless, between the weather and my sore throat from allergies, I am craving something warm to eat or drink. 

On Saturday, I went to the Farmers' Market with some friends and picked up a couple of end-of-season peaches and blackberries. I don't know what prompted it, but a peach cobbler/crisp was exactly what I wanted, so I sort of threw together a 5 minute Peach Crisp recipe that is delicious and I can't wait to make it more this year (with canned peaches...bye, Summer). To be totally honest though, I just used some rough estimates when making this, but I tried to guestimate how much I used so that you can make it too!

5-Minute Peach Crisp

Ingredients:

1 Peach/Canned Peaches

3/4 Cup Quick Oats

1/3 cup Brown Sugar

2 Tbs Butter

1 Tbs Flour*

Pinch of Cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut up the peaches, or drain, depending on what type you're using. Place off to the side in a microwave safe bowl.

2. Melt Butter.

3. Combine butter, oats, sugar, flour and cinnamon in bowl.

4. Pour mixture over peaches.

5. Microwave for 90 seconds.

6. ENJOY!!!

If I had some Vanilla Ice cream I would have definitely added it to the top of this, but it was delicious regardless.

xx,

Erin

*I didn't actually use this, but I just saw another recipe on Pinterest did and it would definitely help with making the topping thicker!

Victoria's Secret Sport

There is an unwritten code in college fashion that allows us to wear oversized shirts and norts/leggings without question. I like this dress code, especially for early morning classes and on the weekends when I am feeling lazy. It's actually kind of funny to realize that we are all dressed to work out, yet there is about a 90% chance that hitting the gym is not in fact on the schedule for the day. 

That being said, working out is such a great stress reliever and I am so excited to start Pure Barre this week! I have workout clothes from several different stores, but this week Influenster and Victoria's Secret Sport sent me a sports bra and leggings that I am absolutely loving!

Before I got this one, I had never worn a structured sports bra and I had no idea what I was missing out on. The bra doesn't just come in small, medium, or large, but instead is sold by standard bra sizing. It is incredibly comfortable and they sell so many different colors and patterns. I have the standard Incredible Sports Bra in black and it fits nicely and is decently breathable.

They also sent me a pair of the Knockout leggings which will be added into my wardrobe when the weather cools down a bit (gosh, it is so hot out!). They are the perfect thickness for winter and they are not see through at all. They sent me the pair with pink mesh detail which is a nice subtle detail on a black legging, I tend to shy away from loud, patterned ones because they make my big butt look huge.

I can't wait to keep working out in this new gear, and I will definitely be adding some more of their sports bras to my collection. Also, there is currently a promotion for $15 off a purchase of $100 or more! How much more incentive do you need? 

xx,
Erin

disclaimer: this is a sponsored post, but these opinions are 100% mine!

Friday Five: Change It Up

Last night some of my friends and I went to a jazz bar on the downtown mall and it was such a nice change of pace from the normal bar scene...especially since my favorite outdoor one was closed for a date function! Structure is great, but sometimes slowing down or a bit of a switch up is not only necessary, but fun.

One: Sam Smith Covers "Fast Car"

I love this song. I think Tracy Chapman has such an awesome voice, plus I just like the rhythm of this song. Sam Smith does an amazing job covering this song. My friend, Lizzie, mentioned it last night and I am so glad she did. Side note, if you haven't listened to Sam Smith's album, do it now!

Two: Essie's Sand Tropez

You might be a bit confused by this, but I honestly don't know the last time I wore this color before putting it on this morning. Normally my neutral polish is Essie "Sugar Daddy" because I love the light pink tint to it, but I am so glad I put this color on. Different skin tones call for different neutrals, but this really is the perfect tan polish for my pale skin!

Three: Brunch in NYC 

Brunch is a mandatory change of pace. You are almost required to be lazy while enjoying this meal. I am a huge breakfast food fan and a good Sunday brunch is always a win in my book prior to a crazy week. I just love looking at all these NYC places to brunch and wishing that I could have brunch there tomorrow! I guess I'll just have to plan a trip...

Four: 10 Best Joan Rivers Quotes of All Time

The world lost one of the most brutally honest, lovable comedians yesterday. Joan Rivers is the reason we know what designers grace the red carpet and entertained us to no end on Fashion Police and in her stand-up career before that. Nothing was off limits and she went through life without caring about how she was perceived.

Five: 10 Books From High School to Read Again

So I actually haven't read all of these, what?!?! You'd think the book worm would've accomplished that. The idea of going back and rereading those books you were forced to analyze until you were blue in the face is not the most appealing, but I bet we'd get something out of them if we just read them on our own time now. They are mandatory reading for a reason, right?

xx,

Erin

Leather Details

Do you ever wish that you could totally just rock a different fashion style for a day? Like, sometimes I see people walking around looking bohemian chic and I wish that I could pull it off. I say I can't because I think I would be super uncomfortable going that far out of my comfort zone, plus most of my friends would think I was dealing with some sort of identity crisis.

One way to achieve that alternate identity is to add characteristic accents to any outfit that change it up a bit. A detail that has been gaining some serious attention the last couple of years is the leather accent. I love the slightly edgy vibe that is achieved through such a basic detail, especially when it doesn't require me to leave my comfort zone too much. I feel like it has been popping up in every fall outfit I am seeing and even J. Crew is embracing it!

xx,

Erin

P.S. Happy Hump Day. I accidentally just skipped class...seriously, I am sitting 2 levels above the lecture hall. That's embarrassing...

Trader Joe's Iced Coffee

By now, it is pretty safe to say that I am addicted to coffee/caffeine. One of the problems with this addiction is that it is about a billion degrees outside and hot coffee is not an option. This has resulted in the expensive habit of ordering iced coffee at Starbucks, until today.

Yesterday I was on a Trader Joe's run and came across a cold coffee concentrate that they sell. I wasn't going to buy it until I saw the woman next to me buy four of them, at which point I just figured they couldn't suck that much. Turns out, grabbing that coffee concentrate was one of my better decisions. For $7.99 I got enough concentrate for 96 ounces of iced coffee! 

The coffee is delicious mixed with just water, but I also love adding a bit of Almond milk in there too. Personally, I like my coffee stronger so I decided to go with a bit more coffee than the 1/3 ratio suggested. That being said, if you are trying to beat this early September heat, head to your local Trader Joe's and pick some of this coffee up, you won't regret it! If you don't have a store near you, it's on Amazon for a lot more than I paid, but it is available.

Oh, and maybe some of that Cookie Butter ice cream too...I haven't tried it, but it looks so good!

xx,
Erin