no self respecting southerner uses instant grits

i ate a ton this weekend. and had coordinating outfits.

~thomas's birthday dinner. perfect for sitting in the drive-thru window while picking up some delish barbeque. kids=cramp in style.

fave item-i just can't get over this belt i picked up at gap a few months ago. i love it. it was $3.

~on saturday in tuscaloosa, alabama. very late breakie at the waysider. breakfast of champions. the waysider is the place that introduced me to grits. love at first bite.

fave item- scoop neck puffed eyelet sleeve blouse, with side zip and princess seams. summertime personified in a shirt. i find that i often prefer to wear a woven shirt, rather than a knit tee in especially stifling heat. i find it clings to the body less.


~happy sabbath. i ate a lot of leftover birthday cake. it wasn't even that good. anything passes for a meal when you are about to move and you are trying to clean out your pantry. handful of grapes and a bowl of grits. it was a big grits weekend. my blood pressure is sky high from the salt. i can hardly type from fat finger syndrome. am i alone in this?


i was so excited about wearing this outfit this morning. "i just love it when a plan comes together."(name the totally awesome 80s tv show. no googling. NAT.) i normally shy away from cardigans in summer, but the church was perfectly chilled and a cardi was quite apropriate and comfortable. and my kids were so great during sacrament meeting that thomas and i sat by each other. and i totally learned something in sunday school! i sat down determined to glean as much from the old testament as possible today(normally OT+me=nap) hurray for a good attitude. and lifesavers candy.

fave item- my new necklace i picked up from charming charlie. i can't believe it was in the clearance section for only $6.

i thought it would go great with my new neck scar i got yesterday!

i dropped my curling iron on my neck and my first reaction was to cradle the burning metal in my neck so that it wouldn't hit the floor. obviously i wasn't thinking clearly. then while i was picking it up off my smoldering skin, i immediately dropped it again. back in the same spot. it smelled like a bad dinner. i would have cried, but i had already done my make-up.

casual thursday

i'm not happy with this picture. i am struggling with the day to day dilemma of how to dress modestly when you live on the face of the sun. plus 12540% humidity. it's like walking around in a sopping sponge that you just popped in the microwave. i don't know how you floridians do it. i love alabama. but i would like a heat reprieve. so that i can wear my white skinny jeans at least one more time outside of my house before labor day. and yes, i mostly do believe that summer whites should only be worn in summer. winter whites are a whole different story.

a photo breakdown:

a. photo taken at 930 at night before we watched a dvred episode of psych.

b. i had just eaten a gob of pizza and chocolate chip cookies with my young women girls. i guess it was my going away party. then we played a game that could only be considered enjoyable by 13 year olds. but my 13 year olds loved it. and i'm a good host.

c. my hair was actually dried and straightened. i burned the side of my head from the steam coming off the sweat of my hair while being straightened. it hurt. a lot. i would have cried, but i was at the gym.

d. i couldn't ever decided what shoes to wear and ended up in flip flops. which i have issues with. so i went barefoot for the picture. who cares? it was my house. i can look like a stereotype if i want to. all my teeth are my own though.

e. i almost changed my pants. i should have. iwore shorts all day, why put pants on in the evening when it has only cooled off a mere 7 degrees. pants are hot. who was i kidding?

f. i bought that watch yesterday for $7. it's my ultra-cheapo-no-diamonds-digital(because telling time is that hard)-knock-off version-of-the-leanne-tuohy-toy-watch-that-sandra-bullock-wore-in-the-blind-side. did you follow that? pretty much, it's a cheap white watch. and, as the ultimate copycatter, i completely copied this watch because of my dear friend caroline has a looks-practically-authentic-knock-off-one and it looks great on her. and i really like white.

unrelated: i bought these at tjmaxx today for $15.

slacker

the month has been busy. here are my weak efforts and taking a picture of my meager outfit offering. i actually put together more outfits than this. by the time i took a picture, i was a wrinkly, sloppy mess. and no one wants to see that.

traveling to south carolina

at the hotel in south carolina

meeting thomas's boss in south carolina. at the most fun little outdoors non-kid-friendly-eatery that everyone had in our party had their kids at. smoke on the water. start planning your visit.

and today. i am so tan. and i am so anti-tanning. i look practically latin, which is actually a secret dream. i am off to start planning my quinceanera. you're invited.

flirting with disaster

white pants+offspring=flirting with disaster

i wasn't feeling this combo that i pulled together for young women's last night. but the girls loved it so i guess that's points for me. but i felt the look was too young and too fussy and too much effort. i was determined when i woke up this morning to pull something together that was more me. you know, effortless? hahahaha all the way to the bank.

anywhoo, i was much more pleased with this compilation, though it's a more than a tad on the boring side. because i am boring. and i'm fine with that.

i love how my eyes are half closed in this picture because i am still recovering from the midnight showing of eclipse. lamesauce. i have never recovered from early morning seminary in high school. anything past 930 is gravy.

fru-GAL

i'm cheap. frugal. not interested in spending too much money on a too few items. and i have been on a shopping hiatus since february. not too hardcore of a hiatus, but i have been using INCREDIBLE restraint. but on friday we officially sold our house after a solid month of delays and so i headed straight to the mall and to make a few purchases of items i have been dreaming about for months and months and months.

one item in particular that i have been dying over was the watercolor floral pastiche pencil skirt from jcrew. like a little bit of heaven. it's like we were meant to be because there it was on the CLEARANCE rack in my size smiling up at me on the day that i deemed appropriate to make a few purchases. 75% off $110. you do the math. holla!

and then i picked up this little V neck for $6 at la gap.

and i love mixing prints so i was happy as a clam at church today.

and yes, i do need a tank under this v neck. this surprised me too.

southern fried style

each time we have moved i am always fascinated with regional style. my first thoughts upon arriving in provo in 1998 was that girls loved stripey blonde hair and t shirts with a logos. jackson hole, wyoming was full of strappy tank tops and north face jackets worn at the same time. it was fun to hear my friend natalie's opinion of kansas city style when she visited me back in november. "lots of stylized hoodies." i don't own a single one, interestingly enough. when thomas and i moved to tuscaloosa, alabama back in 2003, i was overwhelmed with two major trends.

1. short booty running shorts and big billowy t-shirts just around campus.
2. almost cocktail dresses and sometimes even high high heels at football games. even in the cold.

today at the mcwane science center, i asked these girls to pose for a picture and they all clamoured at the chance. prime suspects in the southern girl uniform:

sorority girls and frat boys at a virginia football game:

from cnn.com

two georgia girls pre georgia game:

from redandblack.com

so, my question for you is, what is the regional style where you live? i'd love to hear it. truly, i find it so interesting. do tell.

and on a completely unrelated note-
tonight, i had a relief society meeting and pulled this outfit together. mostly because i knew that the only time i wouldn't be in air conditioning was the walk from the car to the chapel. i thought i could brave the heat and i wore a layered top and real live jeans tonight. i am a brave woman.

below the knee

i tried to do this whole "beachy" hair look and it more came out like "messygross". kind of like the oil spill in the gulf so i guess it could be loosely termed "beachy". i doubt i will be starting any new trendz with this hairstyle. i was running late to go see a movie with the fam and i decided to just blow dry big and spray and mousse everywhere and see if those fashion magazines that tell you how to do your hair on the fly know what they are talking about. they don't. while i do like big hair, i also like brushed hair. call me crazy. (CRAZY!)

doesn't my leg look like a barbie doll leg when you bend it the wrong direction in this one? creepy.

i have owned this linen dress since christmas and this is my first time busting it out. i despise linen but i just love yellow and i love the mod look of it and the price was soooo right. under $10 at tulle during one of their crazy sales.

fun pockets. almost like i'm pregnant. i didn't stick my hands in them at all just to avoid those prying looks. girl can't even throw up without somebody thinking you're prego.
i did spend a solid 30 minutes ironing it and i refused to let anyone sit near me during church in order to avoid wrinkles. that's why i call linen the devil's fabric. ironing it makes you curse. it's like the 9th circle of hell. so bad dante couldn't even write about it.

sweat suit

i confess, i haven't really been getting dressed for a week or so.
gym clothes, swim suit, hanes t shirt, night shirt, rinse then repeat.
the heat makes it difficult for me to plan an outfit that will last all day. after only a few minutes outside, i am a steamy hot mess.
i try and keep it all together by wearing as few layers and as lightweight clothing as possible. one of these days i am going to completely eschew wearing a bra. like all the old ladies in the locker room at the gym.

for fakes:

for realz or how i really felt after carrying a sleeping almost 3 year old more than a mile to a practice baseball field in 95 degree weather in 95% humidity:

zit happens!

i have found a product that i love. better yet, i love it and it works on both of it's advertised claims. fighting acne and fading acne scars. i'm pretty self-concious about my skin and i have quite a few factors contributing to my facial frustrations:
1. alabama's highly humid environment.
2. the fact that i get less and less sleep.
3. running. i was born to sweat.
4. my affinity to each milk chocolate chips by the handful(or bag).

neutrogena 2 in 1 fight and fade gel

i have been using it for 6 weeks now and i am a believer. after only a few days i noticed my skin was healing more quickly and i experienced a marked improvement of the appearance of my acne scars and the overall look of my skin. i don't think this gel possesses skin brightening qualities, but i do feel like my skin glows more. either that or the shadows on my face are lessened. it's not a miracle worker; i still have an ongoing battle with less than perfect skin, but i definitely would recommend this product to others searching for a solution. it costs about $8 for .05 ounces at wal*mart. well worth to me for the results i received.

some other reviews i read online stated that some noticed an increased drying of their skin. i didn't encounter that problem whatsoever but the main ingredient in this gel is salicylic acid so buyer beware.

black sabbath

today was my first day in my new calling at church serving as 2nd counselor in the young women's organization. i must admit i was a tad nervous and i wanted to present myself as a responsible adult(which is a struggle) and also someone who is approachable and unstuffy(but not in cough and cold season). so i went with my old reliable uniform: all black pleated hem shift dress, black knit 3/4 length cardi and skinny belt. and nude pumps because it is spring.

back in the good old days, my 3 dear roomates and i would dress in head to toe black each and every sunday. it was deemed, black sabbath. it was our classy rebellion and silent protestation against being ignored in our crazy student ward. it may have not had an impact on our student ward, but it certainly did on me. it solidified my love of my roomates and closet sharing and especially my affection for all black outfits. all black clothing ensembles are like second skin to me. i feel at ease and completely comfortable in them. and slighty macabre. if i ever launch a perfume, it would most definitely be called macabre. macabre by heidi. with a giant black atomizer and perhaps a black widow spider design.
which also brings me to one of my most favorite pieces of music, danse macabre by camille saint-saens. i've loved this song since elementary school when we had to listen to it in mrs. abernathy's music class and watch a film strip with dancing skeletons each halloween. i think it creeped all the other kids out but for me it was a love match. and who knew it would influence my sense of fashion?

30 because i am 30 challenge

i love to read and i especially love to do so in the summertime. some of my best memories are of sitting on a couch reading book after book, enjoying the air conditioning while other kids played outside in the blistering heat. nerd heaven. or in college when my friends and i would sneak into the DT pool with out arms loaded with books we had just picked up from the juvenile fiction section of the library. good times, skin cancer and literacy.
for this summer i have issued myself a challenge. i am going to read 30 books before september 15th. there are several reasons behind this.
1. parents who love reading have children who love reading.
2. i have been stressed to the maxx yo for the past several months. i think reading is most my healthy creative release.
3. i actually get more done when i am consistently reading. when i read only occasionally, my already chaos-laden house becomes a more unbelievable pit of doom. when i am reading on a schedule and with a plan, i actually clean and organize and do things with the kids more. when i allow reading to become a part of my life, rather than an escape, it's better for everyone.
happy mom=happy everyone else

so dear readers, this is where i need you. i need some suggestions for good books to read this summer. i don't have much criteria, just something that's not too hard of a read. nothing too philosophical or intense. i don't mind sad or thought provoking, i just don't want anything like "phenomology of spirit" by georg wilhelm freidrich hegel or "finnegan's wake" by james joyce. (sidenote- if you google the phrase, the most difficult books ever written, these two books top a list someone created on amazon.)
i have already read three books this week,
a-hush hush by becca fitzpatrick
b-fallen by lauren kate
c-the dark divine by bree despain
and i am well into my 4th,
d-the lightning thief by rick riordan(really, really good bytheway)

i especially love YA books because i think you have more leeway to be creative because you are avoiding unacceptable youth subjects(usually) like gratuitous sex and drug use. and the author often has to think of real plots twists instead of just swearing and nudity. i believe that some "adult" authors become mired in lasciviousness because they think that is what real authorship is about, debauchery instead of imagination. smut instead of ingenuity.

ps-carie, the painted veil is already on my list. think of something else.
pps- i issue a challenge to everyone else. read gone with the wind this summer. perfect summer read. change your life, eat grits, love scarlett.

jo! how could you? your one beauty!

name the movie quoted in the post title and win 5304 points!

i got my hair cut last weekend.
BEFORE:

i asked for a small trim and some texturizing on top. simple enough. what i ended up with was the "rachel" haircut pre-nose job, minus 4 whole inches of length. communication is key in any relationship, especially haircutting. either i can't communicate or my stylist can't listen.



AFTER:

i am obviously very distraught about this. poor thomas. he had to listen to me cry for an entire weekend. he was probably thrilled to go to work on monday morning. my hair is the one thing i can count on when i am having a zitty or blubby day. goodbye my securty pony tail. hello emotional downward spiral. let's go down a plate of brownies and gallon of ice cream and relive my junior high perm. heck, we could even relive my junior year of college perm. what was up with that? we don't even need the good stuff this time. even soft serve ice cream will do.

anywhooo, some recent outfits since i have sort of given up on being creative on a daily basis.

mother's day-
i spoke in our sacrament meeting so i tried to go for something maternal and mature but fresh in order to lend some credibility to my words. this was the result:

last sunday-

chambray skirt from belk

and reagan's graduation:

the chambray skirt comes in two other colors, khaki and black. i think i need both. i prefer skirts over shorts or capris any day.

no bret

no bret. we're the lucky ones.
ps- thanks to bret for inspiring this summer's hairstyle. he's not trendy. he's timeless!

pps- how bald do you think he is under there? peach fuzzy? huge forehead? skirted eggshell? onion slick and the hair is attached to his scarf? not that i have anything against the folliculary challenged. just an enquiring mind.

ppps- i love that even from his deathbed he is wearing a headscarf. i plan on wearing false eyelashes and high heels on mine.

nicole richie, not bret michaels. but it's a closey.

do you think she is bald under there? is bald the new black?

skirts and belts, it's a way of life

new game at our house. both my kids try and get into all of my pictures, sometimes at the last minute. it's cute and annoying. and that's also my opinion on parenting in general. hahahaha. i kill myself.
the unintentional theme of the week was skirts and belts. i love heat and this month of may has already proved nice and warm. high 80s and even 90s today. so high buns(in my hair and elsewhere) and skirts are a must.
sunday:
cute
cuter
cutest, she kills me!

monday
this outfit didn't really work for me. i love all the pieces, but the waistband on the skirt was too loose to look good with the belt and high waist. it was a bunchy mess with the shirt tucked in. but scarlett just looks beyond perfectly adorable. no pants and everything. she prefers to be au naturale. staying dressed is a struggle. and that hoot owl shirt is her favorite shirt, and probably the 5th shirt she wore that day.

tuesday
i can't even remember what i did on tuesday, let alone what i wore. it's been that kind of week. i think it was pants. or sweats. i know i slept in my muumuu nightgown that night. i love it. now THAT is postworthy.

wednesday
the camera timer was a little too quick for me on this one. it caught me fluffing. but it was the best out of all of the rest.
a belt closey. totally worked. except for at the dmv and the doctor's office when scarlett treated like a whip. but both of those places only require about 14 hours each. always a quick visit.

hombre ombre

i love ombre. every few years it comes back in style. things that are slightly boho appeal to me. tie dye is fun, but if you want something a bit more polished, i think this would be a great wardrobe update.

just some ideas:

prada handbag(i know i know. could i find anything else more high end?)


forever 21 tshirt

badgely mischka(for real. instead of groceries for the next 3 months.)

victoria's secret pleated skirt

keds from zazzle

calvin klein shirtdress, this is probably my favorite item

jcrew lorelei dress

2 shots of gwen stefani's wedding dress circa 2002. love it. and i'm not a pink girl.



and finally, fashion noted ombre necklace giveaway
i hesitated in posting this because i wanted to win it for myself, but go for it. i won't begrudge anyone else winning. very modern, but so classic.