Christine Festger's Favorite Five

 These are my Favorite Five songs of the moment, hope you like them!

"Erase me"-Kid Cudi

 "I keep on running,keep on running and nothing works.I can't get away from you."

This song is catchy and relatable, Kid Cudi and Kanye West make a good duo.

“High And Dry”-Radiohead

“The best thing that you’ve ever, ever had”

This song may or may not be intended for certain activities, but nonetheless, it’s one of my favorites. 

“I Like It Rough” -Lady Gaga

“I’m shiny and I know it, don’t know why you wanna blow it”

As a huge Gaga fan, I had to include one of her songs. Whether you like it rough or not,  you’ll probably like this song!

“Island” - The Starting Line

“Just keep a hold on me, don’t let go”

One of those songs I just can’t pass up when it comes on shuffle. A romantic song that describes the perfect getaway with someone you care about.

“Electric Feel” - MGMT

“Turn me on with your electric feel”

A roll-the-window-down on a beautiful day kind of song, MGMT never disappoints. Sadly, I heard this song for the first time while shopping at Hollister & Shazam’d it. Glad I did though!


Want to share your favorite five songs of the week?
Send me your name and songs to my email : brittney_coffey@yahoo.com

FRISKY FRIDAYS

I know what you're all thinking, "Did she really just go there?" and yes, I'm about to go there. Frisky Fridays are going to be similar to what you might read in Cosmo, I will post different kinds of frisky things, from fashion to passion, to start your weekend off right. This will be classy, not trashy, so no worries. Now lets get frisky!

10 Frisky things to do alone on a Friday night!

1. Workout.

Who says staying home on a Friday night has to be a total drag. It is good to give your body a break from the party scene for a night, (at least) and prepare yourself for the real fun that typically comes on a Saturday afternoon. Spend the time alone by taking a walk in the park, pop in a pilates video, do some crunches, or dance around in your nudey pants to your favorite c.d. There are so many perks to getting your heart rate going, besides just losing weight.

Raising your physical activity level, such as working out, has been proven to increase  your performance under the sheets and make the experience overall more enjoyable, while looking fabulous.

2. Take a relaxing bath.

I'm convinced a great bath could solve world peace, there is nothing more relaxing in the world to me than soaking off some stress.

Light some candles, get some great bubble bath or bath salts (LUSH), grab a glass of wine, put on some slow jams, and let the fun begin. To really boost the mood, avoid all contact with the outside world, leave your phone out of reach, it's only 30 minutes, you"ll live.

3. Indulge in a glass of good wine.

Wine can get a little pricey if you know what you're doing, but there are always cheaper, equally tasty, alternatives. Three of my favorite reasonably priced wines are Menage A Trois, [Yellowtail], and Big House Red. I'm not recommending that you indulge in the whole bottle alone, especially if you have to work the next day, but I'm also not shunning the idea. It has been proven that a glass of red wine can help maintain a healthy heart, as well as help your teeth in avoiding periodontitis, aka Perio disease, which rots the gum lining and produces wicked, nasty breath.

4. Read a good romance novel.

Escape reality by living vicariously through someone else story. Whether it's an easy read like Twilight, or a cheesy romance novel, enlighten your brain and lift your spirit with hope that there are good dudes out there. My recent, and most motivating read, has been Sherry Argons "Why Men Love Bitches." This book is not only insanely funny, but it contains a lot of helpful information for women who are just TOO NICE in a relationship.

5. Put a record on.

Music speaks when words fail. Pop your favorite C.D. or record into the player and instantly feel excited to be alone, enjoying such bliss. It's a fact that music stimulates the brain and creates for a better, more relaxing, mood. Pandora is wonderful for listening to your favorite bands and discovering new ones just as good.

6. Walk around the house in your favorite set.

It's Friday night and you're already home alone, might as well go all out! Put on your best frisky pair of upper and lower goods and strut your stuff around your apartment/house. You'll instantly feel breezy and beautiful in no time.

7. Eat Dessert first.

Forget dinner, sometimes cooking for one is just no fun! Grab a skinny cow out of your freezer or some chocolate covered strawberries, to keep it happy AND healthy.

8. Watch a romantic comedy.

I love movies, especially romantic comedies, they give me hope for happiness and hilarity in relationships. Movies are a great way to chill out, kill some time, and make you laugh. My all time favorite romantic comedy is Because I said so, with Mandy Moore. It's a relatable chick flick about a good girl who's been caught up in bad relationships, in high hope of finding a decent guy. Her overprotective, overbearing mother decides to create an online dating account to choose "the perfect" guy for her, without her consent. Needless to say, there are many laughs to be had as things toss and turn into a wildly funny love triangle It's a cute movie, if you haven't seen it, save it for a rainy day, or a friday night in. 

9. Get crafty.

I adore creativity, and it lies in all of us. Whether it is scrap booking, painting, making a collage from old magazine clippings, editing your Facebook photos,sewing,or creating a new piece of furniture, crafts are fun to do and not outrageously harsh on the pocketbook. Also, when your're getting in touch with your crafty self, time flies and it keeps you out of the kitchen.

10. Pamper yourself.

A night alone? Oh yeah! This is the perfect time to fix that chipped nail polish, bust out the avocado mask, slap a hair mask on those flyaways, and slip some cucumber slices over those tired eyes. No matter your gender, you only have one body, take care of it. Act beautiful, feel beautiful. 

THINGS THURSDAYS

Things Thursdays is going to consist of a collection of things I've found useful or exciting during my week and want to expose you to. I always hear about at least one cool thing a day, so why not throw them together and present them on Thursdays for all to see? The new thing, the old thing, the good thing, the bad thing, the in thing, the out thing...i'm going to show you my things ;)




First things first,

I absolutely adore OPI nail polish. If you're a nail polish fiend female or a groovy guy, I'm sure you are either just as head over heals, or have at least heard of the thing. Although a little pricier than your average nail polish, OPI polish is used in just about every professional nail salon, holds a dangerously flawless coat, and the names are extraordinarily witty. In hopes of finding a new delicious color, I was browsing around on OPI's website, and saw that they are launching a new set of colors, this month, for the ever so funky, fabulous, Katy perry. The entire set of colors just so happened to be right up my ally,and I thought it was cute that the names came from song titles from her newest CD,Teenage Dream. Coming to a store near you!

Watch out for these things!

I can't tell you the last time, if there ever was a time, I owned a watch. It was to my surprise then that I received a maroon gel watch,from my older sister,for Christmas. I thanked her kindly for the gesture and thought, "I'll never be wearing that.",and set it aside in my room. I rediscovered the watch a few weeks after Christmas and thought,"heck, why not?" and I decided to wear the gel watch out to lunch with a friend. I can't tell you how many compliments I received from wearing that thing, and how many times I have seen them since. I'm seeing gel watches on wrist left and right! Apparently they are the new "in" and can either be slightly expensive, or fairly cheap, depending on where you get it. Needless to say, I look very fashionable, and on time, wherever I go.

The techie thing.

My very dear friend Kayle turned me on to the wonderful patterns and colors of Vera Bradley. I had never taken a particular interest in the bags and such until our recent road trip, in which we trekked across the U.S. on a rambuctious road trip to Harry Potter World. The only thing that saved our tails was Kayles nifty techie backpack, and I made the executive decision to get one for myself. This is the backpack of all backpacks. The VB backpack is spacious,comfortable,and fashionable. The inside has more than enough space, the front contains pockets that hold pencils,calculators, your divers license, and more. The best part about it is that there is a built in laptop case in the back, very protective. Instead of carrying around my usual 3 bags, I now use just one. I use my bag for school every day, it's such a great help. On top of all of that, the price isn't too mind blowing, tax and title I got mine for $105, worth every penny.

Cozy things!

I didn't forget about you, boys. If you're already a fan, congrats, if not, welcome to the wonderful world. Alternative Apparel hoodies are the bees knees of all hoodies. They come in a variety of colors, are super light weight, comfortable, and warm. I love the way they look on guys, very hipster. Don't be sad ladies, they also carry a line for girls. You can purchase AA hoodies online at their website or your nearest Urban Outfitters.I'm sure they are sold elsewhere but I've only really noticed them in those two places. No matter the season, Alternative Apparel hoodies are fashionable, affordable (around $40-$60), and most of all, comfortable.

WORK IT OUT WEDNESDAY

We've finally reached the mid point of the week, and for some of us, it's a reminder that we have either been crackin' or slackin' on our overall health. At midnight on New Years Eve, some of you might have promised yourself that you were going to make the absolute best out of this upcoming year, maybe take a healthier approach on life. The most common New years resolution is to either lose weight, or to be overall healthier.Whether it's kicking that cigarette addiction to the curb, or less of the sweet stuff, you've already made the commitment to want to change. Why do you think it's so hard to find an elliptical at the gym the first Monday after new years? The new year brings out a burst of motivation for us all to change. You may be the lucky one reading this thinking, "I've never had a problem with my weight,and I eat everything I want, all the time." You are genetically blessed, but for the rest of us, we have to monitor exactly what it is we put in to ourselves, to see the results we'll want to get out of it. Work it out Wednesday isn't just tips for weight loss and exercise, it's going to contain all kinds of tips i've found useful, and researched, to concur a  healthier mind, body, and attitude. I'm not a health guru, but I've been round and round in the health scene and I've found a ton of tips that produce reasonable results. I'm always looking for ideas and suggestions myself, so I would love for you to get involved and tell me what has worked for you.

10 Tips I live by:

1. Wake up earlier than usual and stretch. The worst way to start your day is to realize you're late for work or school, jumping out of your bed like a ninja with stiff limbs. Wake your body up slowly, get your blood flowing, have a cup of hot tea or coffee, workout, and just try and enjoy your mornings. (I'm NOT a morning person, but if I can do it, I know you can too)

2. Eat Breakfast. My lifelong philosophy has been to sleep through breakfast, more sleep and less calories seemed more appealing to me. Wrong-o. Breakfast is the most important meal of your day, once you start to eat your body kicks on your metabolism and lets the good times roll. I'm never hungry in the mornings, but I try to manage a piece of whole grain peanut butter toast or some fruit.

3. Do something you love at least ONCE a day. For example, I love to read, workout, listen to music, and journal. I know it's hard with crazy schedules, but it really does keep you sane when you make the time, even if its only 30 min.

4. Do something you DONT love at least once a day. As the queen of procrastination, I will avoid things I don't want to do like the plague. Dishes, homework, body pump class, you name it. In forcing myself to do these things, I learn to appreciate them. My apartment looks cleaner, my grades get better, and my body is producing results.

5. Smile. You have no idea how good of an idea this is. Not only does smiling make you feel better, but everyone around you has a really hard time being angry. Don't get me wrong, we all have those mega moments, when you're about to bust out the "bitch face" and claws .Instead of giving someone the pride of seeing you suffer, sarcastically smile and say HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! You feel good about yourself and inside you're thinking, "you didn't get to me like you thought you would."

6. SLEEP! (One of my favorite things in the world) should probably be number one on this list. I can't stress how important it is to feel rested. Whether it takes you 6 or 8 hours to function correctly, you gotta have it!

7. Go green. Don't freak out, I'm not recommending you go outside and hug some trees, turn vegetarian, or join PETA. Those things are good, but to each his own. I'm talking about reusable bags, turning off your lights to save energy (and money), and picking up a random piece of trash here and there. We only have one planet, you do what you feel is best.

8. Try something new. I'm the queen of comfort, I've never been fond of change. It throws me a fast ball and I miss it every time. Lately though, perhaps with the new year, I'm all about it! Step out of your box a little bit, it's a beautiful world out there. Somethings I'm going to try this year are Bikram yoga, Skydiving, French lessons, and guitar lessons...in no particular order.

9. Stay positive. There is nothing uglier than negativity, it makes you feel ugly and it makes you act ugly. My favorite quote to live by is "Every possible thing that happens to me is the best possible thing that can happen to me." Accept it and move on, take whatever it is as a learning lesson, don't waste your time and tears on things you can not change. Up and onward!

10. Surround yourself with things, and people, that make you happy. So many times I hear of people stressing about things they don't like in their life. Ditch the job that's bringing you down, distance yourself from negative friends, and put places and people that make you happy close to you. Be wise in who you let steal your time and energy, life is too short to be anything less than happy. Be passionate about your job, your education, and your hobbies.If you love something, do it, and do it often. People, including myself,  complain about wanting to do something but miss the needed steps that have to be taken to get there. Love your life, love your relationships, love your body, LOVE YOURSELF!

TASTY TUESDAYS

Tuesdays have always been such an awkward day for me, it's not as depressing as a Monday, but not as hopeful as "hump of the week" Wednesday, or as exciting as "hurry the frick up" Friday. What are you worth to me Tuesday? I found myself stuck in a rut when I came home from a long day of work,on top of school, and had nothing exciting to eat. What a horrendous tragedy right? ;)
We are all very busy people, and responsibilities tend to stack up like hot cakes. It's nice to have some sort of a meal plan, or any plan at that, so you don't end up wasting your money (and midriff) on another fast food meal. Point is, we're all looking for something fast, cheap, and easy, but more appetizing than that month old, freezer burnt, frozen dinner, or soupy can of preservatives. (ewe) Tasty Tuesdays will be my little treat to you. I will post all kinds of tasty, inexpensive recipes (and instructions) to make your Tuesdays a little less awkward. I will unleash some of my favorite recipes for you to indulge in and would love to hear yours. If all else fails, you've still got the frozen dinner.

Today on the Menu:

Brittney's Bangin Salsa =)

What you'll need:

1 can of Rotel (I prefer Mild for the kick)

1 bundle of cilantro

3 Serrano peppers

Instructions:

Open and drain the can of Rotel.

Grab a handful of cilantro leaves. (I avoid the stems, they weird me out)

Chop up  desired amount of serrano peppers.

1 Serrano= Slightly spicy, 2= Bringing in the heat, 3= Feeling hot hot hot

Toss all three into a blender,chill, and enjoy with chips

MUSIC MONDAYS

Mondays are my least favorite day of the week, and I feel as if a few of you can relate. If you've ever heard the expression "someone's got a case of the mondays",then you know where I'm coming from. In order to jazz up your Mondays I will be posting a list of songs, and artist, that help me through my day, and will hopefully spice up yours.
Todays Tunes:





Avril Lavigne- "What the Hell"
"If you love me, if you hate me, you can't save me, baby. 
All my life I've been good but now, whoa, what the hell." 

Catchy,girlie, sing it in your hair brush style.

Matt&Kim-Block after Block
"Eat when you're hungry and sleep when you're slipping
Like tired dogs, rested paws, today we show our flaws
Block after block, block after block."
This is my morning song!
Spunky, electronic, motivational.

Katy Perry-E.T.
"Your touch magnetizing,feels like I am floating,leaves my body glowing"
This is not a song dedicated to the alien in the little basket attached to that boys bike. E.T. is upbeat, futuristic, and  perfect to jam out to when you're working on your fitness!

Sara Bareilles-King of anything

"Who cares if you disagree, you are not me, who made you king of anything?"

I love this song. We all have that one person who genuinely believes they know what's best for you and tries to tell you how you should do things. This is the best song to jam out to when you're trying to block them out.

Stoked!

I'm ecstatic to announce that this blog, Coffey Shack, is my very first blog experience! The name of this blog was inspired by my best friend since kindergarden, Kayle Shackelford, and my own, Brittney Coffey, last name combined. I decided to create a blog, or more so "space" to share all of my experiences, ideas, hobbies, and passions.I hope to share healthy love, life, and living tips. In doing this, whether it's helpful or not, I hope to gain a great deal of knowledge in myself, and others. 
*Beware: I never claimed to be the Queen of Grammar so I must say this will be somewhat of a re training of English 101. Feel free to correct, debate, and share any positive or negative feelings. I can't say I will take all of them into consideration but I'll do my best.
Much love, (and)
Coffey