Fashion Steal: Sunnies

Chambray top, colored jeans (these fit amazing and are on sale for only $24!!!), classic sunnies, Revas (classic + color compatible with everything = successful splurge item)

Like Mother like daughter, both my mom and I LOVE fashion. I'm constantly shopping websites, scouring the popular high fashion blogs, and searching through style magazines for the latest trends and inspiration. I find fashion so intriguing and take pleasure in seeing different peoples sense of style and their unique character portrayed through their clothing. Though my mom and I tend to have expensive taste, we also enjoy finding an item that looks pricey, but is a bit more reasonable. For example, we adore the JCrew Edie purse that I blogged about in this post, but were not too keen on spending over $200 on a small, neon colored bag, so when we laid eyes on Targets version at $26.99, we swept those babies up (in 3 different colors...ooooops). 

Another example for you are the sunglasses I'm wearing in these pictures. A few weeks back when I went shopping in Jacksonville, I was on the hunt for a new pair of sunnies, preferably a pair of Wayfarers by Ray Ban. I tried on a whole slew of styles, including some Aviators, and only found one pair that looked decent; I wrote down the information and continued my search. I later stumbled upon not one but two sunnies, one being aviators and the others (shown below), a similar style to the Ray Bans I almost purchased. The whole reason I was on the hunt for a new pair of sunglasses was due to me breaking my Lilly ones , so I was hesitant to spend $155 on a new pair when I found 2 for $34 (that looked so similar to the pricier pairs) at Loft. Obviously I chose the Loft sunnies with the mentality that if I break them, I would only lose about $17! This all being said, I definitely believe there are some items worth splurging on or "investing" in (my dad and husband are going to cringe over my use of this word) and you have to decide what's worth it to you. Some trends, like the colored denim I'm wearing above, are not what I'm willing to spend hundreds of dollars on; a nice leather bag that you'll use for years, that's worth the big bucks in my book! 

What do you splurge or save on??

Happy Thursday and stay tuned tomorrow for a peak at more steals I scored from my shopping trip!

~ Don't I have the cutest Mom ever??~

Bookworm Wednesday

As I was waiting for a book I ordered off Amazon (which, BTW, is the best place to buy a book...I'm always snatching up new and gently used hardbacks for under $5), I decided to start this book, The Shadow of the Wind, that someone gave me. Never hearing of it nor knowing anything about it, aside from the high praise printed on the back, I jumped right in and was immediately engrossed in the most unusual, quirky, somewhat dark mystery I've read in a while. It is written exquisitely and reels you in to its strange tale right from the beginning. I should finish it soon and will enlighten you with my opinion of how marvelous (or not) the book is, dependent on its ending!

Has anyone else heard of The Shadow of the Wind? Any other captivating reads y'all are going through at the moment that you just can't put down??

BBQ Meatballs

~Borrowed this pic from Paula Deen because my pictures turned out dark and unclear~

As I mentioned yesterday, this past Saturday we hosted a game night with some friends and decided it would be fun to whip up a variety of appetizers for easy "munching" as opposed to making a full on meal. One of the sides I stumbled upon as I scoured the appetizer scene on Pinterest was a scrumptious looking recipe for meatballs; this was something I hadn't had in a while and a side that seemed fitting for a cold, rainy night. Y'all, this was so delicious that I literally couldn't stop eating them and MAC was thoroughly impressed with how many I scarfed down! Though we ate them by themselves, you could totally turn this into a meal by tossing it with some pasta or adding a few sides.  It's very simple to make, will surely satiate your meat loving taste buds, and also makes enough to where you can freeze the leftovers and have them at the ready for when you host a game night or when you just don't feel like cooking!

You MUST try these and I promise you will love them...if for some odd reason you don't, drop them off to me and I'll gladly take them off your hands (and in all honesty, it's a Paula Deen recipe, you can't go wrong there).

Recipe found here. Bon Appetit!

Weekend "Goings On"

~The new bow I made to give our wreath a pop of Spring~

Due to the non stop rain and utterly dreary weather we've been experiencing here in North Florida the past few days, Friday night was spent indoors dining at a divine, local restaurant that my parents treated the Mr and I to, while Saturday night we stayed at home playing board games with some friends (never ask me to be on your team for Pictionary) and eating an array of appetizers; rather than do a typical dinner, we opted for a change and each contributed a few side dishes (I'm sharing the recipe of one I made this week and you don't want to miss it, seriously so darn good and so simple). On Sunday, the sun finalllyyyyyy decided to grace us with it's presence and make a brief appearance, so MAC and I took full advantage of it and decided to run on a local trail near our home; it was so refreshing to be outdoors and run in such beautiful surroundings with nature, rather than cars, as our background noise. 

Unfortunately, rain free time was very short lived as I'm about to pull on a pair of rain boots and zip up my rain jacket so as to slightly shield myself from the monsoon that seems permanently stuck here! Drive safe today and hope these pictures give you a pick me up on this gloomy day!

~MAC took me to get this gorgeous bouquet of roses yesterday; fresh flowers make me so happy and this is definitely going to become a weekly tradition~

~Perfect shade of bubblegum pink, OPI "Got a Date to Knight"

~Running trail at Forest Meadows~

Floral Daze

~2 of my favorite magazines displaying cover images of gorgeous arrangements that are exuding fresh pops of color~

I gathered together a few images that were inspiring me and making me happy, and unbeknownst to me, they all consisted of flowers (well, except for Luke, but I guess it still counts because like a flower, he sure is something "pretty" to look at). If these photos are anything to go by, apparently I'm completely drawn to anything offering me a hint of Spring and at this precise moment, it's in the form of flowers and their super cheeky colors!

I am an avid Southern Living fan and so enjoyed a nice bubble bath last night as I soaked in this lovely March issue that is chock full of interesting articles, inspiring projects, and handsome pictures (ahemmmmm...Luke Bryan). My absolute favorite article was titled "35 Secrets to Southern Charm" and it gave a variety of tips on hospitality, poise, and charisma; there's nothing like a well bred southern belle! Check out some of the featured articles here.

Happy weekend and here's to hoping I can find some flowers like these to brighten up my home and remind me Spring is just around the corner!

~This pattern is too darn cute...Lilly Pulitzer IPhone 5 case in Lucky Charms~

~Bouquet of blooming hydrangeas my dad gave my mom for Valentines Day~

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potato Fries are a reoccurring side dish in our home, causing my mom and I to constantly be on the search for a tasty new recipe that gives the fries subtle flavor and a slight crisp. Rather than scouring the Internet or a cookbook, I decided to hit up the number one spot for finding ideas/recipes/inspiration for just about anything your heart could desire, Pinterest (I took a slight hiatus from here after the wedding, but it now has me hooked yet again). As I correctly assumed, there was a plethora of recipes to choose from, and as any smart person would do, I based my choice on how delicious the corresponding picture looked and also how many times it had been "liked and re-pinned". The chosen one included a pinch of sweet mixed with a bit of salt and spice, which, combined together, gave the fries a flavorful kick. Typically struggling to get the fries slightly crunchy without deep frying them, I was pleasantly surprised to find the oven temperature and length of time aided the crisp of them!

Happy eating! Recipe can be found here.

Bookworm Wednesday

~How stinkin' cute are these classics in their bold, playful colors...they need to find a home on my bookshelf pronto~

My idea of a perfect outing is perusing a bookstore, preferably a local one, for an endless amount of time as I search for a new read and skim the array of books with a coffee in hand. I could literally spend all day in a bookstore, which is why I typically go on these said "outings" solo due to the Mr. losing interest after about 20 minutes. Yesterday I had the day to myself and the perfect opportunity to kill time in between an eye and hair appointment, allowing me to stop by a local bookstore in Midtown called The Bookshelf. I pass by this quaint shop, situated in an adorable pink house, every Sunday on the way to church and have always wanted to stop in; my inner nerd was thrilled to have the chance arise being that it was right across the street from my hair appointment. The store was absolutely adorable, cozy and so fun to explore, but the next best thing to a cute lil bookshop, is the fact that it shares its space with a local cupcakery called Lucy and Leo's; their treats are divine! That is the ultimate combination for a sweet lovin', bookworm gal like me!

Happy Wednesday y'all and if you're a local "Tallahassee Lassie" you should go check this place out!

~Fun stationary is always an eye catcher for me, and these were seriously cute...my favorite is the one with the book on it that has a library stamp and says "I've been checking you out."~

Encouragement

"You are feeling weighed down by a plethora of problems, both big and small. They seem to require more and more of your attention, but you must not give in to those demands. When the difficulties in your life feel as if they're closing in on you, break free by spending quality time with Me. You need to remember who I am in all My Power and Glory. Then, humbly bring Me your prayers and petitions. Your problems will pale when you view them in the Light of My Presence. You can learn to be joyful in Me, your Savior, even in the midst of adverse circumstances. Rely on Me, your Strength!"

Jesus Calling

Have a great day! I'm off work and about to head to a few appointments, one of which is my favorite thing in the world to do, get my hair cut and highlighted; wish I could do it every week!

Weekend "Goings On"

~We've become quite the movie critics due to hitting up Red Box a lot recently and I finally was able to see The Lucky One; such a sweet, cute movie! 

This weekend absolutely zoomed right on by to me, but I so enjoyed being able to relax and hang out with friends! Hope your weekend was just lovely and that you have a great Monday (if your weather is anything like ours here in North Florida, you better put some extra layers on this morning and bundle up)!

~I instantaneously fell in love with the interior decorating from this house in the March issue of Coastal Living; come to find out, the curtain and pillow fabric are none other than Lilly Pulitzer (sorry the picture is on its side, no clue how this happened)!~

~I channeled my inner 5 year old this weekend and spent some time coloring this printable I found here to frame and hang up in our bathroom~

Fashion Finds

~Bleeker Colorblock Aviators by Ann Taylor Loft~

Last weekend while shopping in Jacksonville, I snagged a few great deals at Ann Taylor Loft and Jcrew! I also ran into Target recently and found a crossbody purse that looks so similar to the gorgeous Edie purse by JCrew (that has been the hot ticket item all over blogs and magazines) for only about $25; they even had similar bold colors! Lastly, I saw a whole slew of great colorful belts in JCrew over the weekend, but if you're like me and don't care to spend $50 on one belt that has a trendy neon color, Target also has about every color you could imagine for only around $14! So basically I'm telling you to go to your local Target this weekend and check out their on trend, price conscious selection! And don't forget about the awesome sales at JCrew and Ann Taylor Loft (the top I bought, shown below, along with a lot of other great items are 50% off).

Happy Friday and Happy shopping Y'all!!

~Loved these classics and their sweetly patterned dust jackets at Anthropologie~

~Stripe 3/4 Sleeve Boatneck Blouse by Ann Taylor Loft~

~Bright, fun notebooks at JCrew~

~Colorblock Strip Boatneck Tee~

~JCrew Edie Purse~

~Target's version of the Edie~

~This color is so big for Spring~

~Every color under the sun~

True Love

Give yourself fully to the adventure of today. Walk boldly along the path of life, relying on your ever present Companion. You have every reason to be confident, because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life and onward into eternity. DO NOT GIVE IN TO FEAR OR WORRY, THOSE ROBBERS OF ABUNDANT LIVING. Trust Me enough to face the problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfector of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence. 

Jesus Calling

"So no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always me first,

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of these three is love."

"Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it, because it does."

1 Corinthians 13: 3-7, 13 and 1Corinthians 14:1

"So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush." 

Philippians 1:9-10

These are just a few scripture verses and one devotion that I found to encourage you on this day of "love". First off, know that you are loved each and every day, not just on Valentines Day, by a wonderful, caring God who is the creator of pure, true love. Second, I challenge you to think about this well known verse from 1 Corinthians and apply it to your daily life. What would this world look like if we each embraced and practiced a life of love, not just for our families and friends, but for those strangers we encounter at work, the grocery store, the bank, etc. on a daily basis?? I can attest from personal experience that this is no easy feat, but I pray that we can be mindful and diligent of the impact we could have on others just by displaying a random act of kindness and love.

On a day that is equally loathed as it is "loved", know that you're worth and value doesn't come enclosed in a box of chocolates or a strand of jewels (though those things are quite nice), but rather in the form of a never ending, un-conditional, merciful love of Jesus. 

Sending much love from me to you, and hope that you share it with someone else!

Happy Valentines y'all! 

Bookworm Wednesday: Fashion and Fiction

When we met up with my in-laws last weekend, they surprised me with a prettily wrapped goody for Valentines day that just so happened to be encasing the new Kate Spade coffee table book! I was so thrilled because the next best thing to a book is a coffee table book, and we all know about my inner nerd that has an obsession with collecting any and all books! Sunday afternoon was literally spent propped up on the sofa, ever so slowly flipping through this cheeky gem so as not to miss the slightest detail. Y'all must own a copy if you don't already; it's overflowing with vibrant colors, classic style, and pure feminine loveliness! 

On another note, I am currently reading The Street Lawyer by John Grisham (strangely enough, I've never read one of his novels). Though not near as exciting as Ms.Spades' gorgeous number, I have been quite intrigued with the storyline! 

Happy Reading!

P.S. Hair Update: That dry shampoo is a life saver! My hair was looking like an oily rats nest yesterday morning (lovely image for you), but when I spritzed the shampoo in my roots and worked it in with my fingers, it seriously looked like I had washed, blow dried and teased my hair; no oil and extra volume! 

Beauty Products

~Moroccan Oil, TRESemme' Dry Shampoo, and Maybelline "Big, Great Lash" Mascara~

A recommendation/piece of advice I repeatedly hear about from the fashion and beauty industry is to not wash your hair on a daily basis. Supposedly, it causes your hair to produce more oil than if you just left it alone for a few days; it apparently takes a little time for your hair to cooperate (it will probably be worse before it gets better). Coming from someone who has fine hair with a natural tendency to be oily (typically by the end of the work day, ugh), this concept freaks me out and I have steered clear of heeding the advice from the beauty culture. When I was reading the newest issue of Lucky Magazine over the weekend, I came across an article about the whole "to wash or not wash" hair dilemma and decided to give it a shot (at least for a week or so). I picked up the TRESemme' dry shampoo at the grocery store the other day, and this product, accompanied with some good ol fashioned baby powder, will be my new best friends as I navigate a new beauty regime this week!

I want my hair to radiate health and shine so nothing like a little science experiment to test the claims of the hair "experts". Maybe (just maybe) I'll take some before and after pictures to document the progress, that is, if it's not too embarrassing (I am in major need of some highlights).

 Moroccan oil is another go to hair product for me that I always put on the bottom half of my hair just before I blow dry to provide some shine and smoothness;it really works! Lastly, I picked up some Maybelline mascara when I got the dry shampoo and I am loving the larger brush! I used to wear this, but haven't in a while, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it (plus, how can you not love the pink and green tube, which was actually created from inspiration of Lilly Pulitzer). 

Here's to hoping my hair doesn't scare any customers away as I try out day 2 of no washing!

P.S. Bachelor talk warning in case you didn't see last nights episode: I was thrilled Sean finallllllllllllyyyyyyyy saw the light and got rid of the "Tierrorist"! 

Weekend Jaunts

~On a new health kick...the freshest, most nutritious our fridge has ever looked~

How is it Monday morning already?? The weekend just flew right on by to me, but we had a great time Saturday visiting with my in-laws and brother while we shopped around the town center in Jacksonville; I can't even explain how many cute things I saw...every store was chalk full of delightful items that I could have spent a chunk of moolah on (unfortunately I exercised extreme self control and bought just a few things). We soaked in an awesome sermon at City Church yesterday, followed with a lazy afternoon of errands, reading, running, dinner and The Walking Dead. 

Back to work! Hope you have a fantastic Monday (I am eagerly anticipating 8 o'clock so I can tune into The Bachelor!!!!).

~As the Mr. chauffeured my mom and I around, we caught up on Spring fashions and home decor~

~Forced my bobbsey twin, aka Tyler, to take a quick pic in our matching tops~

~MAC so generously bought us both new workout apparel, the brighter the better, and I do believe the electric neon colors inspired us and made us run faster (at least we like to imagine so)~

Strikin' My Fancy

~My extremely talented brother recently painted this beautiful marsh scene of my parents lot at Hampton Island, Georgia. The picture quality isn't the best (quick iphone snap), but y'all, how gorgeous is this?? Tyler is incredible and has a definite God given talent. If you're in need of any type of painting, check out Ty's website where you can view some of his work or send him a message!~

It's finally Friday and MAC comes back today; I'm one happy girl to have him home again! I'm looking forward to heading over to Jacksonville tomorrow for a nice rendezvous with my in laws and doing a little shopping! Hopefully this rain clears away and we can have some enjoyable weather this weekend!

Enjoy the pictures and I hope you have a fast workday, followed by a longggggg, relaxing weekend!

~How adorable is this umbrella I made at the store yesterday; I'm loving this sea foam green color~

~I recently learned how to work the dreaded monogram machine at our store and it feels so good to learn something new and be able to conquer my uncertainty of ever figuring the scary thing out; it's so huge and intricate and if you mess up, the product is donezo! I have an idea for a monogram I'll hopefully show y'all next week!~

Birthday and Encouragement

We had a great time yesterday celebrating Caleb's birthday and it reminded me how thankful I am for my family and how blessed I am to have 2 brothers that I'm close to and who I enjoy every moment spent with. I love those boys and would do anything in the world for them!

I read this in my daily devotion this morning and thought it was refreshing and comforting.

" Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.

This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My presence goes against the grain of "the world, the flesh, and the devil." Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of my choosing, so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My presence."

Hope you have a wonderful day; I have another great, easy recipe coming so stay tuned!

Bookworm Wednesday

I know they (who is "they" and what do "they" really know anyways) say "don't judge a book by its cover", but I must be truthful and admit that sometimes I do just that. I am only human (in case you were wondering) and I tend to be consistently drawn to those books that portray a fun, lively color or a neat picture or even an interesting name; who cares what's on the inside right? Kidding, slightly, but in all honesty, how could you not j'adore this book cover featured above with it's cool, mint green color, the simplistic drawing of a chic woman with oversize sunnies and a pop of red lips, and then her name, Bernadette, is just so mysterious and unusual that I immediately want to read this book and find out where the heck she is...don't you??

Just to clear the air and assuage the thoughts that may be running through your head right now as you think how shallow I am, this book is apparently just as beautiful on the inside as it is the out (just ask the New York Times or my mom, who finished it recently). This just may be my next jaunt in the book realm!

Do y'all judge a book by it's cover, literally? Or am I the only one who is like a child and sometimes (not always) succumbs to outrageous color or an eye catching picture?

Happy Hump Day! I'm off to work and then celebrating the birth of my youngest brother who was born 16 years ago today! Also counting down to Friday when my Mr. returns from his vacation work trip (he's living the dream right now, apparently fishing on a 61 foot sport fisher that belongs to Jack Nicklaus...lucky duck, but he does work very hard so I'm happy that he enjoys his job and is able to take part in some nice perks).

P.S. Promise this is the last thing...if you like my mom's nail polish that matches oh so perfectly to Bernadette's book cover, it's called Mint Candy Apple by Essie!