The Weekend

Sorry I've been MIA friends.  My Mom came down last Wednesday to help with things and give me some TLC.  I don't care how old I get, a Mom-made home cooked meal will always make me feel better!  My Dad drove in on Friday so Bugs and I had a good, parental filled weekend.
My Mom got to meet my physical therapist Friday morning and get her insight, which is good, because Saturday I was down and out for the count.  Back spasms all over the place.  I'm kinda glad my parents got to see how much pain I'm in sometimes but I'm sad I slept most of the one afternoon they both were here!  Back pain knows no boundaries...
On the bright side, I did wake up to a newly painted downstairs wall (thank you Daddy!!), fully stocked fridge and dinner in the oven (thank you Momma!!)  Love. My. Parents.
It was a good weekend and I'm so grateful for my family.  I think I've talked to at least one family member since my "accident," whether it be my parents, my sisters, my Granny or my Aunts and Uncles.  We may be all over the country but I know if I called and asked any of them to come help me, they'd be there.  There are no words to describe how comforting that is. 
Now, of course, with a new post, comes a new dilemma. 
This is serious. 
My shoes are mocking me. 
99% of the pairs I own are heels.  (Nevermind the fact I'm 5' 8 1/2" and self conscious about my height. Details people.) Obviously, I can't wear these said shoes.  Lucky for me, it's 2012 and I can shop for flats from the comforts of my own couch, on ice and with wine.  Done, done and DONE.
I bought these gems yesterday:    

Sam Edelman Beatrix Flats

Today I decided I needed "Yay, my back is cured and I can wear heels again!!" shoes so I got these:

Studded Peep Toe Heels

I love them! (And to be fair, I've had my eye on them for a while.  I just needed a good reason to buy them.)

If ya'll know of any good place to buy flats, please share!  I am quite desperate and don't want to spend a ton of money.  Plus, I just don't have the same love for flats as I do heels. (Now boots...boots is a different story.)  But all the same, please let me know of any favorites you may have that will help me through the next 5-6 weeks! 

I hope ya'll are having a fabulous week. Happy Wine Wednesday :o) 

These are my Confessions....

I'm linking up with Leslie today so let's get confessin' ya'll...

*Every time I link up with Leslie, I sing the Usher song in my head.  All day.  I can't help it but it's enough to drive me crazy!  How do you stop doing something you can't stop doing?  I'm sure ya'll can see the issue...

*I have a love/hate relatationship with Spring.  I love the warmer temps but I hate the constant need to spend money.  See, warmer temps= open toe shoes, a complete wardrobe change and tan skin.  So I've been doing what any girl would do...I got a pedicure, spent money on spring appropriate clothing, and have been putting on my self tanner religiously. Oh, the time/money it takes to look "spring-ready"...

*Wednesday night I got 1 hour of sleep due to a very loud/anxious foster pup.  Still not sure why.  I'm ashamed to admit it, but I seriously thought about calling the puppy coordinator Thursday morning to say I can't keep watching her.  Unfortunately, fostering doesn't pay my bills and my office doesn't offer sick days for lack of sleep.  Good news though, I never made the call and she slept last night! 

*I signed up for Pure Barre again and I am SO excited!! Seriously. I start classes again Monday night and I've already picked out my outfit.  #completeobsession

*I am beyond relieved/thrilled Jessica Simpson finally had her baby.  Call me crazy, but my back was literally starting to hurt every time I saw a picture of the poor girl.  Can you feel pain for someone you don't know?  (It doesn't matter that I have a bad back anyway...)

*I've been painfully aware of my bank account lately but that didn't stop me from spending money at the mall (what was I doing at the mall??) on Tuesday.  I was extremely proud of myself for buying everything on sale...a girl needs cute shorts in Texas, there is NO arguing that!   

*I have an eye infection and hate wearing my glasses at night.  Not sure why.  I'm going to the eye doctor in the morning but am strangely happy to spend my evening with the dogs at home.  Maybe Prince Charming will knock on my door?  #idontthinkso

I hope ya'll have a fabulous weekend!!  Happy Cinco de Mayo :o)

Oscars Review

Hey ya'll!  Sorry this post is a bit late...I came down with my quarterly sinus infection on Saturday and finally got to the doctor today.  Yay for antibiotics and heavily medicated cortisone injections!  Anyway,  I did watch the Oscars and while I was overall underwhelmed, (I'm sure the designers are losing sleep over this) I did have a few favorites that struck my fancy.  In no particular order....

Kristen Wiig. 

I am 1000% girl.  And this particular girly girl loves anything with tiers and ruffles.   I think my favorite part is the color of the dress against the dark nails and dark hair.  It seems so glam to me.  And I am SO glad she didn't overdo the bling!! 

Milla Jovovich. 

Another thing this girlie girl loves?  Shine.  (Glam shine, not gaudy shine just to be clear.)  This is exactly how a movie star should look at the Oscars.  Glamorous and gorgeous.

Rose Byrne.

I don't know if this was completely Oscars appropriate, but I still really love the look.  The hair, jewelry and makeup worked so well with the dress.  It was fun and polished without being over the top.

Octavia Spencer.

 Fabulous.  Her whole ensemble was perfection.  And the bonus? She WON.  (Of course, most would probably say winning was her highlight but this is a fashion post so I'm going with the dress as the highlight.)

 Jessica Chastain.

The Oscars is no time to be boring.  I love the originality of this dress; it was absolutely stunning.  And I love that she wore her hair loose and wavy.  I think an updo wouldn't have worked as well.  Overall amazing.

Stacy Keibler

Gorgeous.  This may be my favorite look of the night. I realize this is not everyone's cup of tea but this, for me, is pure glam.  Where else could you possibly wear this?!  Love, love, love.

Beauty Trend: Ombre Highlights

Ombre coloring can be seen just about anywhere these days...on clothes, bags, scarves, even shoes.
Celebs, of couse, took the look a bit futher and started using a technique called ombre highlights on their hair. That's right people. There's a word for the crazy major root-age you see a few select celebs sporting these days.
When done right (and subtely) I think it's actually a unique and fun look.
I love the color of Drew Barrymore's hair. It's a bit dramatic but still so fitting for her fun and funky personality.

For those weary of the trend, but still wanting to try it, this look would be perfect for you. Subtle highlights on the ends of your hair will give you the brightness you're craving without the harshness of too much color.

Hilary Duff looks gorgeous. I love the subtle contrast and the colors in her hair will easily take you into fall. If you want something that will last through a few seasons, go with her look!

Summer Style: Rompers

There a reason why moms put their babies and kids in these things ya'll. They're easy to wear. It's a simple, fabulous outfit in one piece. In these sweltering months, what more could a girl want??

I love the print on this number. A great summer piece to wear alone or pair it with a cardigan in the fall! Find it here.


I may have to get this one myself, I love the print. Perfect for a girl's night out! Find this one here.


I'm a sucker for anything BCBG and this is no exception. :o) I love the casual military inspired look of this piece. Find it here.

Beauty Trend: Coral

This color is everywhere. And I know why. :o) For starters, it makes anyone and everyone look tan! And in the middle of summer, who doesn't want that? Secondly, it's unexpected. People expect to see pops of red, pink, yellow, even green in summer. But coral? So pretty and so surprising.
Essie in California Coral...my new pedicure staple

OPI Congo Line Coral...a quick second favorite (only b/c I found the Essie color first, ha!)

New. Favorite. Lipstick. Maybelline Coral Pop. Flattering on everyone. It looks orange here but I promise, I get so many compliments on it!

Beauty Trend: Braids, Braids, Braids

Easy. Fun. Chic. I love that braids are making a comeback. The best part? The messier it is, the better it looks. Now what girl isn't gonna love that??
The side braid: effortlessy chic, sexy and messy. Perfect for day or night.
The ponytail braid: a grownup version of a childhood favorite.

The French Braided Bangs: a perfect solution for unruly locks in the summer humidity.

I might need to practice first but I can't wait to wear these styles all summer long. :o) I hope ya'll are having a fabulous week.

SAG Fashion

I LOVE awards season! Mostly for the fashion of course. :o)
I don't really believe in criticizing people's choices just to be mean. Granted, some celebrities need a little "coaching" in order to make better decisions in the future. That being said, I try not to say anything bad unless it is completely necessary. I mean, I'm sure celebrities will consider my opinion as much as the next blogger's. Which means they'll be making bad choices...well, forever. :o)
Before I choose my favorites, let me preface by saying I don't care for "basic" or "simple" award season dresses. I mean this is HOLLYWOOD. Live a little!!
Please don't get me wrong...the perfect little black dress is my best friend. But I don't have Georgina Chapman knocking on my door begging me to wear her one of a kind Marchesa dress!
So without further adieu...
Let's talk about making a statement. This girl knows what she's doing! I love Mila Kunis' choice of a bold print, the long and simple (but gorgeous) hair and dark eye with a neutral lip. Everything just works. LOVE!

I love this look! Dianna Agron chose a fabulous navy, ankle length dress and wore it like she was born in it. I LOVE the color, the dramatic makeup and the simpe shoes. She let the dress speak for itself and she looked fabulous.

I know this may not be other people's favorite. But there are maybe a handful of women in the world who can wear this color and Jayma Mays is obviously one of them! Everything about this look says "fun glamour." I love the cut of the dress, the shoes, and her glamorous hair and makeup. Perfection.

Just another night in Hollywood...

So I have to say, I wasn't super impressed with the Golden Globe fashion last night (I'm sure the stars are losing as much sleep over it as I am, ha!) Every awards show I usually have at least one celebrity I would love to be just so I could leave the house looking like them. This time I didn't...of course, everyone was still gorgeous (it is still Hollywood!) and I still enjoyed the E! Arrivals Show. :o) Here are a few of the gowns I did like:

I love it when people try something new. Anne Hathaway looked gorgeous and confident in this trend inspired gown. I feel like she usually wears pretty and traditional pieces so I'm loving this change!

Catherine Zeta Jones. This woman is the epitome of class. The color is fabulous and I absolutely love the body of the dress. Seriously, she couldn't look bad even if she tried.

Eva Longoria. I adore her. There were mixed reviews on her dress, with some saying it was too much drama. My response: Ya'll, it's the Red Carpet. Where else can you do drama (and get away with it)??

Sigh. The perfect Princess dress. I thought Olivia Wilde looked gorgeous and this may be my favorite of the night. I love the sparkle and shine and the chocolate hue makes this dress completely fabulous.

Fashion Holiday in New York

Costume Insitute Gala 2010. Ya'll have to know I was on pins and needles patiently waiting for pictures of the fabulousness that is the Costume Institute Gala to go public this morning. If only the stupid thing was televised...I'm gonna have to talk to someone about that.
Anyway, it was. Pure fabulousness. Now I know my taste in fashion may not be everyone's cup of tea. (There are no hard feelings, I promise.) Fashion, like beauty, is an opinion. If everyone agreed with everyone else about what looked good, then well, we'd all look alike and that's just boring...not to mention creepy.
I believe in having fun with fashion choices because what's the point of fashion if you can't have fun with it?? What's the point of dressing up if you're always going to wear a black dress?!
Anyway, I'll get off my soap box now. Without further adeiu, here are my most favorite gowns of the night.


Brooke Shields. This woman just gets more and more beautiful! I LOVE this dress. The metallic color is absolutely gorgeous, the shimmer is glamorous and the modest neckline combined with the slinky cut is pure fabulousness. Absolute Perfection!




Blake Lively. If I could wear this dress, I would. The color is amazing, the ruffle floral detail is exquisite and seriously, how much more gorgeous can this girl look?? I love that she picked something so daring and bold. You can't wear dresses like this forever and I love that she's doing it while she can. Glamorously Bold.



Giuliana Rancic. We know how I feel about ruffles and floral details. I love that this dress is quiet sassiness. The color is stunning, the hemline floral detail is gorgeous and the bustline is the difference between unique and basic. If I ever get married, I want my dress to look something like this! Fabulously Chic.



Jennifer Lopez, oh how I love thee. The look of this dress was so soft but oh so stunning. I love the details on the sweetheart neckline, the silver color of the bodice and can we please mention how gorgeous the leaves were on the skirt of the dress?? So unexpected. LOVE this dress!! One of my new favorite color combos. Absolutely Glamorous.



Jessica Szohr. I gasped when I saw this dress. The color combo is absolutely fabulous, the floral detail on the bodice traveling to the skirt is perfection and this is the most perfect dramatically glamorous dress I have ever seen. The slim bodice and full skirt are a perfect balance of gorgeous, sexy glamour and who doesn't want that?? Dramatic Fabulousness.

New Hobby

When I was little, I used to collect keychains and postcards whenever my family and I traveled. I loved going to a new place and getting my keepsakes...it made me feel like I was collecting a memory.
Now that I'm older (and forbidden to add any more keychains to my already huge collection), I've decided to start a new hobby.
I've gonna start collecting jewelry!! I'm always on the hunt for accessories anyway, so why not start collecting pieces from places I get to go??
One of my favorite pieces is from New York that I got last Labor Day Weekend when visiting my sisters. I couldn't get a good picture of it but I promise I'll post a picture when I finally get one!
I got the newest pieces for my collection in New Orleans during Lesli's Bachelorette Party. I was literally talking to my friend Tessa about this fabulous idea and we just happenend to stumble (literally stumble, we were exhausted) upon the cutest boutique near Bourbon Street. If that's not meant to be then I don't know what is!
Again, I don't have the greatest pictures of these pieces so I'll work on that today and try to get some uploaded. I never knew how hard it was to take good pictures of jewelry...who ever would've thought??
Do ya'll collect anything?

To market, to market

There is nothing like spending a rainy evening in bed, listening to the thunder and absolutely loving it. Is it weird that that makes me happy??
I should point out that I'm not usually in bed by 8:00...ever. But after a sleepless night last night and a very productive day with a bestie today, I've decided to crash early. The world can wait until tomorrow.
I spent the day at market playing assistant merchandiser to a very productive and fashionable bestie Jana. She and her bf, Scott, own a company called Gameday Cloth (ya'll should check it out...absolutely fabulous, upscale collegiate wear.) They asked me to help at an event tomorrow and since one must have a complete selection of merchandise, Jana and I spent a couple hours at market today to pick out the accessories.
I might have found two pieces for myself that of course, are absolutely fabulous...well at least I think so! But ya'll be the judge.













I am obsessed with statement necklaces...seriously! Definitely a habit worth mentioning and should there come a day I need to go to meetings for it, then so be it. :o) I've been wanting a bib style for a long time and I love silver. Done and done!!















I also love layering super simple necklaces. This one says "Dream." I think we all need to dream a little now and then, right? Defenitely more of an optimistic saying and perfect for the days when I'm...not. (Which lets face it, these days I should just wear it permanently.)
I heart shopping with Jana b/c she's so confident in her fashion choices. And while I might see something and think it's fabulous, I don't always have the confidence to pick it out...meanwhile, she's already planned an entire outfit around it, ha!
Anyway, after a quick lunch, an attempted creative trip to Michael's and the quickest trip to the mall ever, I found myself going to the AT&T store to fix my thankfully-still-under-warranty blackberry.
And now here I am...happily drugged up (legally, thankyouverymuch) and ready for bed...all before 9:00.
I hope ya'll have a fabulous night! I'm gonna go fall asleep to the thunder. :o)

My Favorite (Fashion) Time of Year!!

Sigh, the Oscars. My favorite fashion holiday. And yes people, it is a holiday. There is nothing I love more than over-the-top-glamour with couture gowns (in some cases, straight off the runway) and gorgeous men in well fitting tuxedos. Seriously...can we all please just have a moment of silence for the gorgeousness that was last night?




Elizabeth Banks in Versace. How beautiful was she?? I absolutely love love LOVE this color!! And of course, we all know how I feel about ruffles. Absolutely Fabulous.






Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel Haute Couture, need I say more? I don't care what anyone says, there are no words to describe how much I love this look. Absolute Perfection.





Sandra Bullock in Marchesa. Absolutely Flawless. Gold is not an easy color to wear but she has never been more beautiful! I love the hair, the lipstick, the whole look. And I have never been so happy to see someone win!!!





Sigh, my idol. I absolutely heart Jennifer Lopez and her fashion sense. She knows how to make the most of her figure and this dress is no exception. Absolutely Stunning.









And of course, because it is the the most glamourous night in Hollywood, costume changes are necessary. Here are some of my Favorite After Party Looks.




Jennifer Lopez's Vanity Fair After Party Look. In my eyes, this woman can do no wrong. Sleek and Fahionable without being over the top. Fabulous!!





Kate Beckinsale at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. I love the slinkyness and shine of this dress. It's sexy without being too much.






Victoria Beckham, reigning Queen of all things Fashion, at Elton John's Oscar Viewing Party. Enough said.














I absolutely love my choices but I was sad there wasn't more color on the Red Carpet! It was quite subdued for what is known as Hollywood's most fashionable night. The pale tones and metallics we saw were absolutely gorgeous but let's work on color for next year people, shall we? Bring on the blues, purples, yellows and greens!

Fashion Week, Family and NYC

This has been a fabulous week, minus a few traveling mishaps. A couple weeks ago, my friend Andrea invited me to go to Vegas for a spontaneous weekend adventure. Well since I don't have a job at the moment, I had to decline and was really disappointed. I mentioned the trip to my mom and told her that getting out of town for Valentine's Day weekend would have been amazing. So she called me the next morning and said "I can't rationalize Vegas for you, but what if we flew you to New York? We can get a great rate and since Dad and I are going to see your sisters anyway, we can have a mini- family reunion...how does that sound?" Ummmmm OKAY!!!!
After a minor mishap at the airport which made me miss my flight, I finally landed at Laguardia. Thank goodness for flights every hour to New York! We have family that lives in Connecticut so we stayed there Saturday night and I think it was just what we all needed! Way too much yummy food, loud and adorable little cousins and the great kind of random sillyness where you laugh so hard that your abs hurt the next day. (I'll post pictures when I get them from my Dad.) This one picture is the car ride to the Mignano's house in Ct:



















My little cousin/niece Gabby came with my sister and Dad to pick me up and took great pleasure in scaring the living daylights outta me in the car. Thank you Lord for letting me not yell any obsenities!!
Here are some other pics from Saturday night:












Lauren and Luke were playing on the floor and after I asked Gabby to jump on them, I decided I wanted in on the fun too! What can I say?? I take my role as the oldest cousin very seriously, ha! :o)













This is what we would call a Family Pile Up. Katie and Aidan couldn't help themselves! :o)





Testing the wine...someone had to make sure it was okay for everyone to drink, right??
After our fun filled family night on Saturday, Gabby-Girl was super sweet and left homemade Valentine's Day cards by our beds on Sunday morning. Lauren, Katie and I were all feeling very loved and flattered until we figured out she told each of us that we were her favorite cousin!! We're gonna have to work on that. :o)
Sunday afternoon we left Connecticut and planned to eat at an Italian restaurant in the city. Wellll...let's just say that didn't work out because it was $85 per person for the special Valentine's Day menu!!! In the words of my little cousin/nephew Luke, "I do not think so!" I am very happy to say this was hardly tragic b/c that lead us to CITY CRAB!!!!! This restaurant is amazing. Phenomenal. One of my absolute favorites and the type of place where I don't talk at dinner b/c I'm too busy getting every little morsel of crab meat out of my king crab legs that I can. Seriously.
Anyway, since this post is getting long, let me sum up the rest of my trip.











New York Fashion Week. I am sure my family thought I was kidding when I said I would camp out in front of Bryant Park the entire time I was in New York. (Don't worry...they didn't let me. They know me well enough to know I would stay outside those tents as long as possible!) I was very sad I didn't see anyone famous but just being there was almost enough for me. I plan to go back for the Spring Shows. :o)
I have to say (and don't get any ideas!!) but the more I go to New York, the more I like it. And the more I can see myself living there. At least, that's what I was thinking until we saw a huge rat walking around at the subway station like he owned the place...NIX that idea!!
Coming back on Wednesday was an adventure (can you tell that airports/planes and I didn't get along on this trip??) Our plane was diverted to Little Rock, Arkansas b/c of an engine problem. I'll have to fill ya'll in on that little mishap later. This post is long enough and there is just too much to tell about my flight home!

Show Us Your Life: Fashion Tips

Kelly's Korner is hosting "Fashion Tips" today so I thought I'd chime in since I've dedicated the past however many years of my life to the fashion world. Now please note-I do not consider myself a die hard fashionista. I like to look good and feel cute but comfort always wins with me. That being said, these are my tried and true fashion tips, learned best by none other than yours truly.
**ALWAYS and I do mean ALWAYS buy the size that fits you. No one knows what size you wear unless you tell them. Size does not matter. I can't stress it enough. Do not try to squeeze into a smaller size just because you like that number better!! People will notice the muffin top hanging over your pants. They will notice if your shirt pulls because your chest is too big for the size you are wearing. Wear what fits you. Rip out the size tag if it bugs you.
**Shop your closet. Throw a cardigan over a summer dress, add tights and boots and you have a new winter outfit!
**Accessories go a long way. They can change your entire outfit and you don't even have to spend much money! I love Forever 21, Sam Moon, Aldo, Target, and Stein Mart for accessories like scarves, jewelry, headbands, etc. Etsy is also a great place to find unique pieces.
**Use resources. If you see a picture of an outfit you like in a magazine, rip it out and bring it with you when you go shopping. Celebrities have stylists who are paid big bucks to make them look good, so use their outfits as inspiration!!
**When picking a celebrity style, use a celebrity who has a similar body type to you. If you're tall, don't pick a petite celebrity. Look at people who look similar to you.
**Plan, plan, plan. I've started to plan my outfits because I got tired of wearing the same type of thing all the time. It's easy to go for the same thing in your closet when you know it works. I know we're all short on time but just giving yourself 10 minutes will make a difference. Do a test run if you can. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but there is nothing worse than going out when you don't feel good about yourself. We all deserve to feel good about ourselves!! Make the effort to take care of you. It'll go a long way.
**If you're completely lost on your style and what works for you, then utilize the services that department stores offer!! Nordstrom's personal shopping service is free. And I know this b/c I used to be a Nordstrom Personal Shopper. The stylists there will work with you, help you find a style and work pieces into your existing wardrobe...and the only thing you pay for is the merchandise you buy!!

I hope this gives some of ya'll ideas! Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend. :o)