Christmas Par-tay

Merry Christmas everyone.  Hope you had a day full of love :)

Thought I'd share a few quick outfit pics for 2 very different holiday parties I attended last Saturday.

The bf took me to his office Christmas dinner...and then straight to his college friend's tacky sweater party. You can see the outfit dilemma this presents right?

Right.

Fortunately we ended up passing on the tacky sweater situation and went in our normal clothes.

BUT...here's what I originally planned.

For the office dinner:

 - striped blouse from The Limited

- black skirt from H&M

- black Steve Madden pumps

- green necklace from Forever 21

And for the tacky sweater party make 1 switch:

- men's red and green plaid shirt from...Goodwill (that's right, I said it)

I think it would have been a perfect and super easy transformation had I needed to do it :)

And by the way...

I've since become a bit crazed about this shirt.  I've worn it with my faux fur vest and jeans. I've worn it with black leggings and boots. I've worn it as a nightgown.  The possibilities are endless. 

Or maybe I've just convinced myself that wearing a man's shirt is appropriate because it is so.damn.comfortable.

Either way - I highly recommend browsing the racks of your local Goodwill and snagging one up.

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.

Merry Christmas again!

I'll post more holiday pictures soon.

The Present Project

Is anyone else struggling with gift ideas this year?

What is it about 2012 that is stumping me?

Damn Mayans got me all flustered, yall!

I have the boyfriend's gift done & done.

And that. is. it.

Mom

Dad

Sister

Brother

Sister in law

Brother in law

3 nephews

1 niece

Yikes!

I have ideas for the kiddos.

But everyone else is giving me a migraine. I just cant get excited about anything I see!

I'm usually a fairly creative gift giver and I really dont want to think I hit my gift giving peak at 23 ya feel me?

So now it's a challenge and I'm more determined than ever.

My family will love their gifts. It's a must.

SUGGESTIONS WELCOME bloggie friends ;)

Because seriously...

every gift suggestion list, slideshow, magazine page, etc. is absolutely horrid.

Has anyone ever read through those "What to get the guy that has everything" or 

"One of a kind gift" lists and said "Why, yes, my brother would LOVE a wireless computer mouse with tiger ears and a tail...in 2012" or "Of course - my Mom has been dying for a $79 tray with a picture of a gypsy on it because she's so unique" ?

I haven't.

Boo.

What are you guys getting for family and friends this year? 

Any fantastic finds that I must check out?

Bragging rights

We are 5 hours away from December.

Is anyone else in complete shock?

No?

So you must own a calendar huh?

You must have a job that reminds you of the date?

Well.........that makes sense.

I, however, have allowed December to sneak up on me.

25 days, y'all.

So many movies to watch, sweets to bake, gifts to buy, parties to attend (I wish), & glasses of wine to drink!

I hope everyone has lots of fun plans for the Christmas season :)

I'll try to share some of my best Christmasy moments over the next few weeks.

BUT FIRST - I just have to share a mini victory in my life.

While I was home for Thanksgiving I went to the Gap clearance store.

It's always been a sweet little hidden gem near my parents' house but now that Piperlime is a part of the Gap/Banana/Old Navy family...this place is like heaven.

If you're willing to dig and pick through racks and piles (my favorite hobby but not for the faint of heart), you can really find some steals.

For instance I bought:

These 3 sweaters from Gap (that are currently in stores) all for $9.99 each.

This sweater from Banana for $12.99 and Joes jeans for $29:

Selfie shot. Haven't done one of these in a while!
(excuse the bra in the background - that "decorative" ladder becomes my drying rack)

And this vest from Banana (also currently in stores) for $29:

Come. On.

It was a religious experience you guys.

Which is why I had to brag!

I knew you fashionistas would appreciate it ;)

So, did yall do any Black Friday shopping or outlet shopping the last few weeks?

Get any to-die-for deals?

You know I want to hear about it.

la biblioteca

Hey fancy faces.

It's Friday again.

And I can't decide if this week went by fast or slow.

So I guess that means it went by...normalish?

Anyway, I have good news and things to share!

First, I have an interview at a fantastic organization.

For the sake of not jinxing it or revealing too much about whether it's a full time job, part time job, volunteer opportunity, internship, etc...that's all I'm going to say.

But - YAY!

Say your prayers and cross your fingers.

I'll share more when I can :)

Second, I'm on a big library kick lately.

Borrowing books is free.

Borrowing books is fun.

Borrowing books makes you smart.

Borrowing books causes nostalgia.

I can't make a better case than that.  If you're not convinced by that argument then you might just have a stone cold heart...or an iPad.  Or maybe I'm not that good at arguments.

Guess that's why I'm the only one of my friends not  in law school ;)

So here's what I'm reading now:

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  

It's set in the 1800s.  

Tragedy.  Love.  Strength.  Transformation.

I'm about 60 pages in.  Because I'm a bit of a wuss, it was hard to get through the beginning of the story as it's quite heartbreaking but now I'm hooked and thankful my boyfriend went out with his friends tonight because I curled up in bed with tea and got to read this totally girly book. Who knew?

Anyway, I totally recommend looking into it.

Next up:

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling.

This is kind of a no-brainer right?  This woman can do no wrong in my opinion.

Has anyone read this yet?  What do you think?

Harry Potter fans unite! 

And after that:

Matched by Ally Condle.

I've been told it's similar to Hunger Games with a bigger focus on romance.

Sounds right up this girl's alley!

(by the way, I've always found that to be a very dirty phrase. just me?)

The best part about this book is that it's a series.

Needless to say, me and LexPubLib are becoming quite cozy with one another.

Anyone else reading something fantastic?

Thankfulness

In case you didn't know...it's almost Friday. 

Happy Dance.

I have no plans this weekend and in true old lady fashion...I'm very happy about it.

I will be watching UK pound Maryland on Friday of course. GO CATS!

The rest of the weekend will look like this:

clean, laundry, read, watch a movie, eat yummy food, drink wine, 

laugh with friends, and enjoy the 60 degree weather in November.

Party on Wayne.

But first, I have to get serious for just a moment. Uh oh!

I voted on Tuesday.

My family voted Tuesday.

My friends voted Tuesday.

Kentucky voted Tuesday.

I am so proud!

But we lost.

And in all honesty, I'm still pretty bummed and scared for the next 4 years and my job situation.

BUT...

Despite my sadness and disappointment (and a bit of venting on Twitter), I've been trying to stay positive and remember that at the end of the day, my life is not my own. 

My life is God's.  

He is the King of the universe.  

He wants the best for me and my family.  

He promises to prosper me and give me hope and a future. 

He never fails.

We all need to be reminded of that, especially me.

It got me thinking about the direction of our country though.

We are losing our traditional values.

We are losing our moral compass.

We are losing our faith in and reliance on God.

And it breaks my heart.

No wonder our country has become spoiled, lazy, entitled, promiscuous, critical, angry, self-absorbed, cut-throat, and confused...just to name a few.

Humans are not meant to live without a relationship with God.

We are not meant to make things up as we go along.

We have a purpose.

We've been given a guide.

And very few are using it and living it.

And it is a tragedy.

And a crisis.

And I hate, truly hate, that everyone doesn't know the freedom and satisfaction and love that comes from following our Creator.

So I find myself turning from angry and disappointed over an election (how trivial) to thankful for Christ and humbled by His decision to give up His life for me.  

Just the fact that I was chosen to know Him and worship Him is incredible.  

There are so many people that don't know His love.  

How blessed am I to have a personal relationship with him that anchors my life and directs my path?

So although I know the next 4 years will have their ups and downs, I also know that God will provide.

I can wake up every day with that peace.

What an amazing gift.

Since this is the month to be thankful...I have to say...I know exactly what I'm the most thankful for.

It's FALL Y'all!

Were you hoping for another post about pumpkins? Perfect...

Chris invited me to go with him to Boyd Orchard Monday afternoon because he had the day off work.  Love when he thinks of fun daytime dates!  

We browsed through the store buying things like local honey (me), onion ring batter (him), carmel apples (me), potato soup mix (me), fried chicken something-or-other (him), chili (him), etc.  

Then we walked through the pumpkin patch comparing sizes and shapes of pumpkins like the experts we aren't.  

Both of us realized we hadn't been to a pumpkin patch in at least 10 years.  I was quickly reminded of that when we were the only adults there without children. YOLO people.  

Finally, we each found a pumpkin worth taking home.

Mine was perfectly round and symmetrical with a good stem for carrying.  His was 1 pound bigger than mine (because he's the most competitive boy on the planet) and oblong.

Opposites attract!?

We grabbed a yummy burger at Hugh Jass and headed to his house to carve away.  

We both got really excited when we found our carving patterns online.

Here is the before and after:

This is my version of making a political statement.  Chris chose to show off his misguided fanhood by carving the script Louisville "L".  Bless his heart - he wasn't born with Kentucky blue blood running through his veins.  (can you say house divided??)

Regardless, it was a really fun day with my favorite boy and there was only 1 casualty...

JUST KIDDING! We also bought vampire blood for absolutely no reason at all.

OOoohhhhhhh. So scary.

This weekend were going to a costume party at a friend's house.

I was just made aware of this plan today (WEDNESDAY!) so I don't have a costume together yet.

I'm thinking I either want to be Katniss from the Hunger Games

OR

Tanning Mom.

I'm obsessed with HG and I already own combat boots so Katniss would be easy and I'd feel like a badass.

However I also own a jankity old blonde wig and lots of tanning lotion and bronzer...so Tanning Mom would be easy, culturally relevant, and funny.

What to do? What to do? Help!

Pretty pumpkins

It's Monday.  I'm catching up on work that I needed to do Friday but Lexington was under an internet outtage. An outtage. Like...did we run out of internet as a city?  Mercy!  So as with most Mondays...I'm just trying to get through.  Instead of yammering on about that I'll share a little project I completed on Friday afternoon :)

I bought a few baby pumpkins the other day and since I can't leave anything in it's original condition...I painted them.  I've been seeing these adorable painted pumps all over Pinterest so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I decided to do a polka dot design first using my Martha Stewart Gold Glitter paint and paint sponge.

Pretty self explanatory.  I evenly distributed the dots around the pumpkin and then cleaned up any drips as it was drying.  So easy!

Next I thought I'd do a chevron-ish zig zag pattern in white so I grabbed a bottle of basic white acrylic paint and a medium width brush (about 1 inch) and went for it!  Now, if I had more time I would have used painter's tape to create the pattern - but this was a quick project so I decided to free-hand the design.  I did the thick zig zag first and the smaller one second.  I used the smaller brush to clean up the edges :)

Ta-da!

Would you be surprised to know that I want to buy about 10 more and decorate them all?  No, you wouldnt?  Okay then!

I'm supposed to carve pumpkins with the boyfriend this week.  What should I carve?  UK themed?  Scary?  My initials?  What do you think?

30 before 30

Hello my darlings. Welp...as per usual...I'm only posting a few times a month. At least I'm consistent in my inconsistency!?

So I was looking for inspiration and I thought I'd take some ideas from my fellow bloggers. Allow me to introduce you to my 30 Things To Do Before I'm 30.  I'll be honest with you...I'm 24 and I don't really think about the big 3-0 very much.  But as I was writing this I thought, "I need to get on it!" And that sent me into a mini freak out...until I was thoroughly distracted by the Dr. Drew update with Amber from Teen Mom from prison.  Thanks, MTV.  Back to the list:

30 before 30 (in no particular order)

1. Visit Europe
2. Take a beach vacation with my best girls
3. Get engaged (I hope!)
4. Land a career that I am passionate about (non-profit pretty please)
5. Buy my own car
6. Do the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
7. Visit Las Vegas
8. Visit Washington, DC
9. Run a 5K
10. Read the whole Bible
11. Become a member of a church
12. Spend New Years Eve in NYC
13. Learn more about horse racing
14. Learn how to research/write/apply for grants (get certified)
15. Visit Harry Potter World
16. Raise $500 for a non-profit organization
17. Master the smoky eye
18. Meet a famous person
19. Go to a live taping of a talk show
20. Buy myself a designer handbag (as a reward for reaching a major goal)
21. Get a facial
22. Go to a farmers market
23. Plan/execute a major event
24. Do something special for Dad and Mom’s 60^th birthdays
25. Live in the same house for more than 1 year
26. Stop being late all the time. Oops!
27. Give something up for Lent
28. Learn to like sushi
29. Read 5-10 books a year
30. Get to know myself better!

 I should probably add #31. Stop watching shows completely centered around teenagers (a la....Teen Mom, Gossip Girl, Laguna Beach)

So what about y'all?  Do you have a list like this?  Any major things I missed?  Am I totally shallow for the handbag goal?  

Freakin' Friday

Heyo.  It's Friday. I don't have anything witty to say because this was the dumbest week in existence.  I'm just glad its the weekend and there are cocktails waiting for me.

What am I doing on this Friday, September the 14th (Happy Birthday Dad!) at 1:20 pm you may ask? Well, I'm staring out my window into this 80 degree day, wondering why it isn't Fall. I'm simultaneously getting mad at myself for wishing away summer.  Someone slap me in January when it's -10 degrees and I have to put on a parka and snow boots to walk outside.

However, because I can't dress for the season in my mind...I'll share my fashion wish list for this Fall...whenever she comes.

Ostlie black flats from Aldo.  They're a moderate smoking slipper and moderately priced...and black. Get in my closet please.

Aldo

Tahari Clementine Suede Flats in Burgundy from DSW.  Oxblood/burgundy/maroon is one of the "it" colors for this Fall.  I don't necessarily care about that but I've always loved jewel tones and I'm definitely a sucker for this style shoe right now, so here she is.

DSW

Sole Society Camila Flat in Leopard from Nordstrom. Last one I promise.  But it's leopard. Come onnnnn.

Nordstrom

Mossimo burgundy jeans from Target. Right color. Right style. Right price.

Target

Milk Stud shirt in white from Tobi.

I love a good button down. They are one of my favorite pieces for Fall year in and year out.

And let's face it...menswear-inspired pieces are making a huge comeback.

There's a gorgeous studded collar.

Note the cutout (that doesnt involve the midriff - thank you!)

LOVE.

Tobi

Tobi

Leopard print blouse (button down preferably...hello predictable girl).

I swear I've never been into animal print before. But apparently I'm having a moment.

So, if someone could track down this pretty gal's blouse that would be fab. It's all over Pinterest with no source. Uh. #firstworldproblems

Everly Sea Island Shimmer dress in taupe from Red Dress Boutique.

Chevron...imagine that.

Also - shimmer, sleeves, shift style.

That'll do ;)

Red Dress Boutique

Cowboygirl boots. If I found a way to put these Ariats on my feet, Lord knows I would. I like their simplicity more than anything. But frankly I'm just hoping to find a sale on a decent leather pair that hits my calf at a flattering height. Is that too much to ask? Probably...

Ariat

Dot Cross Gold bracelet from Derng. 

Because I'm attempting to have a wrist stack up to my elbow. 

Because I love crosses.

And because sometimes sideways is better!

Derng

Here's hoping that at least a few of these items make their way to my closet! What's on your wish list this Fall? Is anyone else silly enough to wish away the 80 degree temps in exchange for fashion?

Playing Catch Up

So guys...I was working (aka slangin' boots & champs) on the Dubarry booth at the Hampton Classic in NY from Aug 23rd to Sept 3rd so I left the blogosphere for a minuto.  Here's what we were up to....

It was busy.  It was fun.  It was tiring.  But all in all it was a great 2 weeks for Dubarry and our team.  And BONUS - we had some great celeb spotting including Bradley Cooper, Julianne Moore, Kelly Ripa, Kelly Reilly, Ramona Singer from Real Housewives of NY, and Jill Zarin also from RHONY :)

Now its back to life, back to reality (remember that song?) And that means getting my Brand Ambassadors excited for this semester AND more personally...obsessing over Fall fashion, football, and the last few days in the sunshine (and the pool).

So...you guys...what is the 411?  What has everybody been up to? What is the hottest gossip?

What I'm Loving

Hope everyone made it through another Monday and for those starting back to school (as teachers, students, grad students, etc.) good luck and...may the odds be ever in your favor ;)

Sometimes on Mondays you just need to think about who/what you love.  So I'm going to share the current "loves" of my life here!

I LOVE my new iphone case from the Etsy store Frog Eyes and Corn Teeth and I cannot wait to get it in the mail and pop it onto my little apple machine.

I LOVE the color grey (and spelling it with an 'e').  I'm obsessed y'all.  I encouraged my boyfriend to get not 1 but 2 pairs of grey pants.  I decorated my living room with grey accents. I want a grey handbag for the fall.  I want to dye my hair grey.  Just kidding.  But I think it's awesome, baby, and I plan on surrounding myself with it for the next few months. 

I LOVE my pretty necklace from one of my favorite new blogs Lex What Wear.  The site just launched this month and it is adorable!  I was lucky enough to win a fantastic bauble necklace in their first giveaway.  So excited to wear it this week.

I LOVE that I won an 8X10 canvas print from Easy Canvas Prints from another fabulous Kentucky blog, Our Fifth House.  I think I've had a little string of good luck...and I'm not mad about it!  Now I just have to decide what I should get printed. Hmm...suggestions?

I LOVE the bouqet of lilies my boyfriend got me for no reason on Thursday.  They are my favorite flower :)  He also made us dinner that night.  I think he's a keeper!  They've bloomed a bit more since I took this on Friday but I'm too lazy and worn out from Pure Barre to walk the 7.5 feet to my kitchen and retake this picture. lazybloggerprobz 

I LOVE MTV for their Laguna Beach Marathons.  Bringing me back to the days of Ste-Ven, Kristen the maneater, LC and her bad luck in love, Talon in his high socks and pierced ears, Morgan the Mormon, Jessica's cleavage and palpable desperation, and the many many other hilarious California high schoolers that entertained me through my teens. I have no shame spending my mornings as a 24 year old watching episodes about prom, love triangles, spring break, and bonfires on the beach.

What are you loving lately?  Do you have an odd obsession with a bleak color, a tv show about teeny boppers, or your own good karma/luck?  Hope so!  Enjoy the rest of your weeks!

Donuts

Okay guys, I just had to share this before I jet off to Chicago.

My sister and I went to the mall this past week and the only purchase I made came from...wait for it...Claire's.  Don't get judgy wudgy on me.  I am now the proud owner of 2 hair donuts from the mecca of plastic accessories.

All hail the hair donut.  If you're like me and you've tried and tried (and failed and failed) to be like the Kardashians rock the big bun, then you can scurry on down to your local mall and pick up this little miracle product and stop crying yourselves to sleep.  AND STOP CUTTING UP YOUR SOCKS.  Buy a few hair donuts (they have blonde and brunette) in varying sizes...and ta-da...you too can have a giant ballerina bun on your skull.

Look.  If I can do it. So can you. See?

My mom says everyone used these "back in her day".  I said "secrets don't make friends and friends don't make secrets" and pouted.  Just kidding.  But come on baby boomers...share your tricks!  Welcome to 2012 hair donut...happy to have you here.

Okay, have a great weekend my little bunheads. XOXO

That toddlin' town

Lauren, Samantha, Jen, Me, Kreps, and Patrick in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day!

Well I'm off to Chicago tomorrow morning!  Will and Samantha are picking me up bright and early to head North to visit Renny.  Chris is moving his best friend Jake up there as well so there's going to be quite the Kentucky crew taking over the windy city this weekend. I'm looking forward to drinking too many adult beverages (on the beach and late into the night), eating yummy dinners, shopping (of the bargain persuasion), taking pictures, laughing, and of course catching up with Lauren :)

I'm laughing that Chris and I are going to be in Chicago together for the 3rd time this year.  Especially since the last 2 times we were there...we barely knew each other and were definitely not dating.  He was my New Year's Eve kiss (feel free to roll your eyes) and we happened to be in Chicago at the same time again over St. Patrick's Day weekend but I was being bratty and put him majorly at arm's length until April.  Things have changed just a bit since then. Too too funny how things work out.

It should be a great 4 days and I'm like a little kid before the first day of school...I'm so excited I just know I won't sleep!

 Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and I'll be back to share the highlights next week. Cheers!

All dressed up and no where to go...'til now

If you live in the south you know that the season soon upon us is not Fall, Autumn, or Back-to-school season...it's FOOTBALL season.  And yes, students and alumni from Kentucky get excited for it too.  We may not have the legendary history of an Alabama or Georgia...but we are fiercely loyal fans and we proudly march to Commonwealth stadium every Saturday to support our Wildcats.  Part of the draw of course is tailgating.  And this year my friends and I have decided to host our own tailgate.  We no longer have fraternity spots/lawns/houses to descend upon (and honestly...thank God that's over) so it's high time we setup shop on our own grassy corner and pregame like the adults we are ;)  Lucky for you, my sweet readers, I'm going to plan out loud and share my list of must-needed tailgate items.  Let us begin...

First, a tailgating tent.  A place to congregate and get out of the hot sun, cold breeze, or rain (depending on what type of crazy weather Kentucky throws at us).  Found this one at Sears for cheap!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00622710000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=27-137398179-2

Second, we need seating.  Fortunately I already have 3 of these babies and I think we'll be able to round up several more.  If you're looking for some of these...I hate to say it but...Walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Premium-Mesh-Chair/16386299

Third, a cooler.  For our super expensive beer Bud Light and mimosas! (and probably the fixings for screwdrivers, bourbon cocktails, and the like)  Found this 70 quart "xtreme" cooler from Amazon.  Yall know I would DIY this sucker.  Picture wildcat paws, blue, white, and the lyrics to our fight song...obviously.

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-70-Quart-Xtreme-Cooler-Blue/dp/B000G64I1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344353234&sr=8-1&keywords=large+cooler

Next up...accessories.  Well, kind of.  We consider ourselves the experts of Sips N Dips so of course the food and drinks need to look good going down.  Again I found these adorable little plates from Amazon. Perfect right?

http://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-Wildcats-8-Pack-Paper-Plates/dp/B003LKTGGK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1344353295&sr=8-6&keywords=kentucky+wildcats+paper+plates

Speaking of dips.  You honestly haven't lived until you've tried Buffalo Chicken Dip.  It is the most heavenly little dish ever to grace a tailgate.  I plan on making a lot of this over the next few months!  I imagine we'll also include mini pigs in a blanket (Julie's specialty), sausage/rotel dip and pasta salad (Samantha's specialties), fudge brownies (Grace's specialty), layered taco dip, eggbake breakfast casserole (for early games), and the list of finger food goes on and on.  Maybe we can even convince the boys to bring a portable charcoal grill for a few games!  Is it obvious that I'm excited for the food?

http://www.thiswifebakes.com/2011/04/crockpot-buffalo-chicken-dip.html

Now for the fashion. Obviously.  I picked up this adorable striped dress from Gap in June.  I can't wait to throw it on for a chilly noon game with brown boots. Comfortable and chic.  Doesn't get much better.

I just found this bauble necklace today from a site called Sideline Sweetie for $30.  It is exactly what I pictured for the upcoming season.  I have a similar ivory version from Francescas that I also plan on wearing a lot!

http://www.sidelinesweetie.com/jewelry-4450ryl.html

Lastly, I had to include another dress that I fell in love with from Red Dress Boutique.  Hel-lo. Get in my closet.

http://www.reddressboutique.com/index.php/dresses/everly-zig-zag-parade-tunic-cobalt.html


What else could I possibly need?

Just kidding.  Obviously this is only the beginning of what will soon become quite the list.  tables, cups, cornhole boards, music, blankets, clean up supplies, etc. etc. Event planning...even on the smallest end of the spectrum needs to be well thought out or it takes the fun out of it (if you ask me)!

Are there any tailgating items that you can't live without?  What does your setup look like?  I'd love to see what you do and hear your thoughts!