dawggone delicious

Chili dogs have always had a special place in my heart (and arteries, no doubt).

To me, they're the best parts of my childhood: picnics, 4th of July celebrations, and those special nights when my parents weren't up to cooking "real" food. Basically, they're summer, family and happiness covered in pickle relish and cheese.

But, admittedly, the idea of getting a hot dog at a restaurant or fast food joint is just ... wrong. The coneys at Sonic give me unlady-like trouble, and Wienerschnitzel is just disgusting.

Frankie's Dawg House, though, doesn't fall into that category. I mean, these aren't just chili dogs. These are dawgs. Franks. Genuine all-beef missiles loaded with deliciousness of Hiroshima proportions.

The menu boasts 14 gourmet "dawgs," each customizable to your liking with any of their intriguing toppings, and the best smoked boudin I've ever tasted. Hands down.

This is The "Situation." And isn't it just exactly that? I mean look at it! This frank, loaded with mac-n-cheese and bacon, was my first experience, and it set a pretty high standard.

That standard has been easily met with each of my subsequent culinary expeditions there. The Chuck Norris, naturally, packs a punch, with the frank wrapped in bacon and topped with chili, cheese, grilled onions and jalapenos.

Most recently, I tried one week's special: The Seattle Dawg. It was simply a hot dog with cream cheese and pico de gallo. Weird, right? Yeah, it was weird. But it was jaw-droppingly delicious (made apparent by the fact that I gobbled it up before I could even retrieve my camera).

Thankfully, the eatery has recently come under new ownership (the previous giving it a pretty bad rap), and that new owner just so happens to be the husband of my favorite sadist.

Stuart Ourso (at right, with employee Stefan) does it right. He believes in investing in people, and with that simple guideline, has completely transformed Frankie's Dawg House.

He trains his employees well and treats them incomparably well. They, in turn, deliver the best service I've ever experienced. And they genuinely seem happy to be where they are.

And why not? They're basically in hot dawg heaven.

Currently located off of Perkins near the overpass (with plans to open more locations soon), Frankie's caters parties with hot dogs and snoballs, plays host to your (small) event in their outdoor patio, and jumps at the chance to partner with philanthropies. Like I said, he invests in people.

What dawg would you most like to try?

unmentionable product reviews

After having seen the Dove Dry Spray commercials, I have to admit that I was pretty excited about the aerosol deodorant.

I know. I'm easily excited.

The team at Influenster sent me the dry spray to try out. (Technically, I tried out the Degree Dry Spray. But, since both brands live under the Unilever house ... tomato tomatoe.)

The shower curtain is from Pottery Barn three years ago. But, Target has a similar option for less than half of what I paid.

I decided to try it out for two weeks to really give it a fair chance at shaping my opinions. I only needed one day.

*Disclaimer: The rest of this blog post is pretty TMI. So ... you know ... come back later if you don't like hearing about armpits.

Now, I've never been a heavy underarm sweater, so I really didn't consider myself to be a good test audience for this. But, when my underarms felt damp by noon every day, I realized that the normal activity of my glands didn't matter too much.

Let's completely ignore the fact that you're spraying heavily scented chemicals near your face/in your breathing supply with every application, and focus solely on the fact that wearing this was honestly worse than the days I forget to apply deodorant at all. (Don't judge me. It happens to you, too.) I hate to think of the people working out within three feet of me on CrossFit days. Those poor noses will never be the same.

So, packaging, you claim it's a 48 hour antiperspirant? I call BS. All-in-all, I'll be "sticking" with my normal solid. (Geddit? Because solid deo is a stick?)

Now, one product that is quickly becoming a permanent fixture on my bathroom shelf is the Serious Serum.

My girl Erica at Zanella's (I've mentioned them before.) asked me to try out this "Ingrown Hair Eliminator" because I always always always have redness. Not just right after a wax. Always.

I've been using the serum religiously for about two months (applying a pea-sized amount to the "areas" after my daily shower), and my redness/bumps have definitely become less frequent and much less noticeable, annoying, and, well, itchy.

Honest point-of-interest: Though the overwhelming redness and bumps have decreased significantly, I have had a few large-ish ingrown hair problem spots, which I haven't really seen since high school. But, I'm holding out hope that continuing to use this regularly will help with those, as well.

About the serum:

The best AHA Ingrown Hair eliminator and Skin Exfoliant you’ll ever use. Seriously. Serious Serum is the perfect blend of 6% lactic acid, 3% glycolic acid, and 1% salicylic acid, which will leave your skin silky smooth and fabulous anywhere you apply it.

Serious Serum was developed for post waxing use to alleviate ingrown hairs, blast breakouts, and minimize redness. However, we happily discovered that the combination of facial grade AHAs and green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile work perfectly to smooth bumpy, rough skin everywhere!

Bonus points that it's even good for sensitive skin! If you have issues with ingrown hairs and bumps/redness, ensuring your skin never looks as good as those damn bikini models', give the serum a go. You can pick it up at Zanella's after your next torture session ... I mean wax.

Have you tried out any new products that you love or hate? Do us a favor and let us know in the comments!

kendra gives back to neda

The best Mondays are the ones that end with sparkles. Especially if those sparkles are accompanied by cupcakes, champagne, and a great cause.

My friend Mandie (you've seen her here) has been working tirelessly the past few months to help coordinate a charity walk for the National Eating Disorders Association. NEDA is close to Mandie's heart, as it promotes positive body image and self-esteem, and discourages dieting behaviors, drive for thinness, and body dissatisfaction.

Tonight these ladies (Taylor, Mandie, Dani and Sara) hosted a Kendra Gives Back Party at Kendra Scott in Perkins Rowe to finish off their successful NEDA fundraising just before the walk on Saturday.

I won't be able to make the walk, but I'm always down for supporting body-positive promoters, especially if it means leaving with something fabulous.

As with all new jewelry pieces, my Daisy ring from the Color Bar is now my favorite piece of jewelry. The Color Bar allows you to choose a base ring, bracelet, earring or necklace setting, and choose the stones to color and fill the piece to your heart's desire.

It's customizable fabulousness.

I'm pretty sure the Rayne pendant will be my next gift to me!

Mandie, fabulous as always.

The Kaki Baguette earrings are astoundingly beautiful ... but a little above my price range ... by a few hundred.

Their charms have a much more affordable price point, with $25 chains, and $15 - $35 letters, numbers, symbols and (my favorite) stones - both sparkly and non.

Obviously, the Kendra Scott party is over. But, you can still donate to the NEDA walk here, or read Mandie's story to learn why she's so passionate about this cause.

the shoes that got away

It first happened in the spring.

It was one of those long, dreary days, when nothing goes to plan and you just pray for it all to end. Then, they came to me.

They graced my computer screen like a gift hand-delivered by God himself. I was filled with euphoria, and an overall giddyness at the realization that they could make every bad day turn to gold. I vowed that they would be mine.

Life came, and my ever-present dream quickly faded into an almost-forgotten memory. Until this month. I came across them again and the undeniable love welled up inside of me again. This time. This time for sure.

But, they had moved on without me. Every single one of them found a new home with someone who acted on their instincts. Someone who could give them the love they deserve.

They're the shoes that got away.

I first saw these adorable smoking slippers in my Keep profile. But, honestly, at the time I wasn't prepared to drop $150 on another pair of shoes. (I know, I know. Blasphemy. But, every now and then, I have bursts of financial practicality.)

I saw them again recently, while flipping through an old issue of Southern Living. This time, I was in a burst of complete financial impracticality and, so, was completely prepared to drop the money.

Alas, they're out of stock. C Wonder still has a "Bee happy" sweater, but it's just not the same.

But, if you haven't recently had your heart broken by a pair of smoking slippers, C Wonder also has some cute heart, kitten and evil eye pairs.

Or, if you'd like loafers that are still adorable but more affordable, ASOS has a fantastically preppy red plaid pair (which also come in a perfect gray and a versatile black velvet).

Or, if you prefer to play a more subtle game with your footwear, you could try a good pair of slippers in faux crocodile or basic black.

(These are not slippers, but they're so adorable I couldn't resist including them. Glitter + D'Orsay = funzies)

But, please, for my sake, follow your heart. Don't let the shoes you love get away. You may never get them back.

Especially if they're last season.

solemates fundraising party

In July, two gym friends and I signed up for a mini-triathlon in New Orleans. It seemed like a good way to push our perceived limits, change up the workout routine, and really see what we could do.

When another friend told me I could use the triathlon as a fundraiser, it seemed like a great way to help build a girl's confidence.

So I signed up for SoleMates, the individual scholarship fundraising arm of Girls on the Run.

Last week, I held a small party to really help me reach the major goal. One hour before people began arriving to sip wines, nibble cheeses and humor me while I played hostess, I looked at the fundraising page and saw.

We did it. They did it. You did it.

Because of the generosity of so many people, one Baton Rouge girl now has the opportunity for a Girls on the Run scholarship. She can learn healthy lifestyle habits, develop positive body image, and discover the importance of joy and kindness, all while training for a special 5k.

When I arrived home today, this treat was waiting on my doorstep. In this sweet surprise from Girls on the Run was a thank-you note, a race day kit (including transition bag, Body Glide, ponytail holders and buttons), and a beautiful essay written by a girl whose life was changed by this program.

I am beyond joyful, thankful and proud that my friends and acquaintances came together to change another girl's life. But, it is my personal goal to raise enough for two scholarships, so the opportunity to give is wide open! (But only until September 28, the day of my triathlon.)

Now onto the party.

I was a terrible blogger, as I took a few photos of the spread before too many people got there, but completely neglected my camera in favor of the wonderful company. So, we got to laugh, tell stories, make friends and play with a baby ... but you don't get to see any of it. Sorry. :(

I shopped at Whole Foods for all of the party fares, as I am completely ignorant about wines and cheeses. I chose five wines, both white and red, that I knew would be the most well-received (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc). Then, I pranced over to the cheese counter, where one of the cheese-istas (I obviously don't know what they're actually called, but that's my vote.) directed me to five delicious, eaily-paired cheeses.

He obviously knew exactly what he was talking about, because everyone was impressed by my selections. I may have even seemed knowledgeable until the Pinot Noir set in and spilled my secrets. C'est la vie.

(If you're curious, I got two kinds of white cheddar, parrano, fontina and mitica. But, both of the cheddars were the most popular.)

Cutting Board

Plates

Do you have a favorite organization to support? Who and why?

bistro set mini makeover

Saturday was one I'd been dreading for months.

Finished with the Louisiana bar exam, and having just finished a beautiful beach vacation with me, Stephen packed up his car and headed west to Houston to begin the long and arduous process of becoming a Texas-barred attorney. (I imagine it was a tearful drive, because it would make me feel better.)

You'll have to bear with me through these few couple shots. But, he's adorable and I miss him so you can humor me.

Over the past three days, I've done what any recently "single" girl would do: retail therapy and projects.

The first project I tackled (mere hours after he drove away), which I'm sure will be the first of several now-that-I'm-geographically-single posts, was refinishing Stephen's old bistro set.

This poor IKEA find sat on his patio for two years, bearing the brunt of hurricanes and cosplay projects, which caused it to look like this:

Stephen no longer had the room for it, so I happily took it off his hands to create my own weekend morning happy place.

Obviously, saying I refinished it was an exaggeration, as all I actually did was sloppily paint it with an exterior paint. (Valspar Cincinnatian Hotel Abbey from Lowe's, if you're interested.)

Once I was about halfway finished, I realized that I could remove the wood from the frames to avoid painting the metal. But, at that point, it seemed like too much work (regretting it now, since I have to scrape off all of my mess).

It was ready to use Sunday morning, providing a perfect mini-oasis to begin my day. Complete with an adorable coffee press, mug and Harry Potter, of course.

Bistro Set     French Press     Coffee Mug (it's been discontinued)    Kindle     Pride & Prejudice Kindle Case (custom-made)     Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone (available for free through Kindle Unlimited)

So, tell me, what kind of project should I tackle next to stay distracted?

july stole my money

Let's be real. I have a problem.

I'm 25, swim in student loans and no one is financially dependent on me (seriously, not even a fish). I'm not the best at budgeting my monthly paycheck.

In my defense, I rarely pay full-price for anything. Not-so in my defense, I will straight up lose my stuff in a sale.

I'm supposed to be in saving mode at the moment, but each of these buys was so inexpensive, I couldn't pass them up. (Of course, all of the little buys add up to a big buy. But, I may not learn that lesson until my closet is bursting.) By about the middle of July, I realized that the interwebs stole my money.

Lucky you, I can share the sales. I apologize in advance for making you a victim, as well.

Boxy crop top - $16 - Forever 21

So, this wasn't on sale, but I'd been wanting a loose white crop top. And it was cheap. A few notes if you're thinking about it, though: the picture shows ivory being white. Totally not. It's definitely cream. And it's definitely shorter than it appears on the model, but still not in a 19-year-old-at-Coachella way.

Fitted lace crop top - $8 - Forever 21

Definitely short in a 19-year-old-at-Coachella way.

Similar knee-length black A-line skirt - $28 - Nordstrom

Really, I bought this beauty through Keaton Row, and I couldn't find a link for what I actually bought.

Emerald bangle  - $30 - Banana Republic

Black moto booties - $40 - JustFab

If you're not a member, you get a BOGO deal for signing up. Otherwise, these go on and off sale pretty frequently.

Black bondiband - $9 - Bondiband 

Not on sale, but I needed one for workouts.

Blush tote - $40 - JustFab

White ankle pants - $28 - Target

Also not on sale. And also didn't fit (my bad). 'Twas not a great steal for me.

Life is a beautiful ride print - $10 -Etsy

These three prints are Buy 2 Get 1 free!

Baby Elephant print - $10 - Etsy

Hemingway quote print - $10 - Etsy

 French Lavender candle - $11.25 - Bath & Body Works

 Lilac Blossom candle - $11.25 - Bath & Body Works

If I'm being totally honest, there may have been one ... or two other purchases that happened. They weren't necessarily on sale, but I did have coupons, which made them each less than $5. And, I mean, everybody needs the Back to the Future trilogy on BluRay, right? And you can never have too many jammies, obvi.

Your turn. How are you treating yourself this paycheck? (Or, more importantly, are there any spectacular sales I should know about?)