January Favorite Things

I thought it would be fun to make a little "favorite things" post for every month this year. It's fun to think about what things I'm loving at the moment.. everything from food to makeup, nothing is off limits. I'm feeling a little bit like Oprah, thinking about my favorite things -- I just wish I could give each of you all of these products! So here we go...!

click image to enlarge

1. Skinnytees Tank. I am OBSESSED with these layering tank tops. I wear one almost every single day. They are one size fits all and super long (to the point you could almost pull them down long enough to be a dress but you can also have them at a good shirt layering length and they aren't bunchy) and just kind of hold your *cough* post baby belly in.. and they don't roll up when you sit down. And no embarrassing back or bottom showing when you bend over to get the kids out of their car seat. Winning! They are my new BFF. I discovered them right after I had Emory and I own six now. I don't want to remember my life without them.

2. Tarte Lights Camera Flashes! Mascara. I had been going steady with Covergirl Lash Blast for years. I was committed and hadn't even really tried anything else for a while. Then I got a few monthly makeup gift subscription boxes for Christmas/Birthday and this was inside. Holy lashes batman. This mascara has the perfect formula - not too wet that all your lashes stick together and I love that my lashes aren't brittle after three (five) coats.

3. Sabra Hummus. I'm not sure why but I have re-visited hummus this month and it's been awesome. It's like I'm singing "Reunited and It Feels So Good"!!! I have taken up a new hobby that involves thinking of as many different food items I can now dip in hummus while holding a newborn. Pita chips and pretzels are still my fav. Love!

4. Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. I have been reading this since December but it's definitely a January favorite because my new favorite thing to do is put Landon down for a nap and sit with Emory in my lap nursing while I read this on my iPad with one hand. It sounds horrifying but it's just the best little mid-day mental break I need! In all seriousness, I urge you to read this book. It was recommended to me by someone who used the word "life changing" and I totally get it.

5. Clean Well Foaming Soap. I can't even enumerate how much of this we've used this month. New baby and flu season don't mesh. I love that this doesn't have any nasty chemicals, it's not drying and the scents are nice and refreshing.

6. H&M Jersey Top. If I told you I owned eight of them would you judge me? Ok then. I bought one of these in early January and had to go back for every color when they marked them down to $4.95 with free shipping. They are the perfect t-shirt top with a long swooping hem and super soft jersey. They remind me a lot of my Piko tops but they are so much cheaper! I of course wear one of my skinnytees under them and bam! ready for the day.

7. Benefit Posietint. There's not much time for makeup these days but this little gem has been the holy grail in terms of looking awake-alert-alive-rested this month! I am none of those things however! It's totally foolproof too - I just glob a little product straight onto the apples of my cheeks, blend outward with my fingers. The result is an angelic dewy cheek! Yes!

8. Ugg Ansley Slippers. These were a Christmas gift from Joe and I daresay I have logged more hours with them on my feet than off this month. Which also probably gives you a sense of how much I am not sleeping. But we will move on. We are talking warm, soft and cozy but they also have a durable sole so I can wear them outside and down to the mailbox! I just love them more than any footwear I own right now.

9. Sweet Potato Stuffed BBQ. Now this is kind of random, I know. But it's my new favorite super-super easy meal. I bake a few sweet potatoes until they're soft, then I stuff them with bbq pork (pre-packaged) and drizzle Oklahoma Joe's sauce over the top. You must have the Oklahoma Joe's sauce or it doesn't work. Because it's the best. But so easy, hearty and gooooood!

Whew! There we have it! This month is wrapping up and I definitely look at this list and think it pretty much sums me up right now!

Happy January!

Hair-umentary

I've been wanting to do a "Hair-umentary" for a while now and I finally decided to go through all my old pictures and put them up!

My hair has always been just about BLACK - I've had it highlighted a couple of times but almost every single time it turns out orange because it's so difficult to lift the color. I would love to be a blonde or redhead but I guess I'll have to wait until I have white hair so I can dye it then! Ha!

I was born with a full head of black hair (and also looking a little Asian, no?)

As a toddler, my mom kept my hair in the Dorothy Hammil, even though it was about ten years after it became popular.

As I got a little older my mom let me grow it out with some bangs and we discovered the love of pigtails!

Sometime around the age of ten my mom decided to give my sister and I both a poodle perm and I'm sad to say I don't know where those pictures are. We would get gum and combs stuck in it. This was long before dreadlocks were in fashion, so basically I had a year-round rat's nest on top of my head.

In Junior High I finally decided to start growing my hair out, and honestly, I haven't had it short since.

By the time I was in High School, I had long hair that I would wake up early and curl with my hot rollers.

In college, I lived with a frizzy ponytail.

Or I just left it down and frizzy.

But then I discovered the Chi flat iron. It was a hair revolution!!

I had a short stint as a redhead (wig!).

Then, Reese Witherspoon showed up at the Oscars with bangs and my world was changed. I immediately cut some bangs into my hair!

I went back and forth between having short, blunt bangs and then hating them and growing them out. That's been the story of my life for about the last five years!

Currently, my hair is about the longest it's ever been. I'm sure it won't be long before I go back to some bangs and I'd like to chop some of the length off again. Stay tuned! Ha!

Fall Wish List

My first day of graduate school is one week from today and I'm in full SCHOOL mode. Which to me, really only means school shopping! Ha! Here are some things I'm hoping to get to touch up my Fall wardrobe...

1. A boyfriend blazer a la the Kardashian sisters. I love the 80s vibe and the rolled sleeves.

2. Some ankle booties that are pretty simple and easy to walk in!

3. A chunky new scarf. There's no better Fall/Winter accessory!

4. A new tote bag that I can double as a backpack and purse.

5. Black chunky cage or gladiator heels. To wear with skinny jeans and that boyfriend blazer!

6. A leopard coat. Oh yes.

7. A new watch. Last year I wore my white ceramic one through Winter but this year I want to switch to something more Fall-ish.

What are you wishing for this Fall?

The Taming of the Hair + Giveaway!

Last night Joe and I had our ballroom dancing lesson and I was sick at the thought of having my hair down, stuck to my neck when it was approximately 100 million degrees outside. In the summer I live in a ponytail or braid because the thought of my frizzy hair touching my neck makes me want to take a cold shower. But last night I decided to try something different: the BUN!

No... not like that! Buns can be chic! And I especially like it when it's a little off to the side - very retro!

I bought these "Spin Pins" from Goody and let's just say I didn't have high hopes! My hair is long and super layered and usually has a mind of it's own! And I decided to road test these babies last night.

So, here we are, getting ready to walk into class...

And here we are, after class and dinner outside on a windy patio of Old Chicago Pizza... (no touch ups!)...

Amazing, no?

Want to try one for yourself? Be sure you're a follower and leave a comment below this post and I'll draw a name to win a set!!

Happy Tuesday!

FYI: Goody/Spin Pin didn't pay me to say nice things about them! Ha!

Scarlet Threads

Honey, check me out! Ha! I got my new apron from Scarlet Threads and LOVE IT!!


I don't usually cook in a dress and all fixed up but we had just gotten home from church and I was making lunch! Trust me, usually I'm in sweat pants! Ha!

I love this company. They sell products made by women overseas under strict fair trading guidelines. This helps the women maintain a safe and reliable place to work.

Plus, their stuff is darn cute.

Last night Joe and I discovered our entire basement was flooded. We had a water evacuation team come out (they didn't leave until 3:30 this morning) and we've got ripped up carpet and walls at this point. It's been a rough day already. I'm hoping for the strength to laugh (because that's better than crying!) through all this. Hope your Monday is better than mine!!

How to Get Flawless Skin

I've been wanting to do a post on this for a while and someone asked me a while back what my tips were for keeping skin clear. These are some things that work for me!

1. Wash your pillowcase often. I try to change my pillowcases a couple times a week and after I started doing this I noticed a HUGE change in my skin. It makes sense when you think about all the oils in your hands and hair that get into your pillowcase!
2. Make a routine and stick to it. My face always does best when I make a routine of washing, exfoliating, moisturizing, etc. and stay consistent.
3. Wash your makeup brushes regularly. Same thing as the pillowcase. If you don't wash your brushes you end up re-infesting your skin with the same old oils and bacteria. I wash mine with baby shampoo! Ha!
4. Get some sun. I don't know why, but my skin is always more clear after being outside in the sun.
5. Always wash your face before bed. Trust me, I know when you're so tired and the last thing you want to do is wash your face. It's so worth it though to have clear skin!
6. Try not to touch your face. This is hard for me - I always sit at my desk with my head rested on my hand.
7. Drink lots of water. It truly does make your skin clear and helps it maintain moisture.

Happy CLEAR skin day!! :)

Traveling

On Tuesday I headed to the airport in Louisiana for my flight home.

Outfit:
Pants: Gap
Belt: Wal-Mart
Camisole: Old Navy
Shirt: Gap

I've had a lot of people ask me where I got my watch, It's the brand Toy Watch and you can get one here. (And they don't even pay me to say that.)


This is my favorite bag to travel with. It's HUGE. I have to travel with two laptops and I can easily get them both in here with a book, my wallet, a bottle of water, a snack and I even had two big bottles of spices I brought home from Louisiana! It's like the Mary Poppins bag!! It's also mainly nylon so I'm not worried about sitting it on the ground or shoving it under an airplane seat. I think they're sold out but they're from here.

Well. My connecting flight ended up getting canceled in Memphis. Have you ever wondered what they give you if have to stay overnight without your luggage?

This.
Which reminds me of a travel tip I wanted to share with you. I always put a post it note over the peep hole in the hotel room. :)

I finally made it home yesterday afternoon!!

*Edit to add*
Yep, you can see through a peep hole! And I know that because I've tried! Ha! Remember that news story not too long ago about a guy who video taped Erin Andrews through her peep hole in her hotel room?? Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

Swimsuits

I went back to the mall today to continue the Quest for the Perfect Swimsuit 2010 Edition. It's no easy task.

I have polled all my closest friends

and in a few cases, strangers on the street

"How many swimsuits does a person need for a week long vacation?"

The resounding response: THREE!!!

I stopped into JCPenny and let me take this time for a personal note to self.

Swimsuit shopping after a weekend of eating (and drinking) everything in sight? Just. Say. No.

But I did find one!

I also found Joe some new sunglasses.

I'm going to need a vacation from all the stress from the vacation shopping. Ha!

On a more serious note

Yesterday I met with the University here in town about starting graduate school.

I'm thinking about quitting my job and going back for my Masters.

What do you think? Is there an "ideal" time to go back to school??

Vacation Wear

The countdown is on! Very soon we are leaving for a cruise

with the in-laws!! ha!

Let's just say I will NOT be strutting my stuff in a revealing bikini..

ever...

but ESPECIALLY on this cruise!!

(how embarrassing)

But I have found some cute things to pack.

Tell me what you think!

swimsuit here; wedges here; dress here; hat here; shorts here


Have a fantastic Friday!!!!!

Movie Fashion

I found this movie from 1961 and I wanted to watch it SO badly because it has Vivien Leigh in it. You know - Scarlett from Gone with the Wind!!


And I loved the fashion in the movie. Look how pretty!


And you could totally re-create this last look (don't you probably have this stuff already in your closet??)

Pants here. Scarf here. Top here.

Don't forget today is the last day to enter the Beauty Giveaway! Skidaddle on over (--->) to enter!!

Happy Tuesday!!!