Thursday, 10 November 2011

How to wear jewel tones

Fall is upon us and so are new fashions. If you haven't already figured it out, two big colors for the fall are red and jade, which are both jewel tones. There are very good ways, and very bad ways to wear jewel tones. I have figured this out after years of trying to figure out what to wear and how to make things look good together. Here's my conclusion: do not wear black with jewel tones. I know what you are thinking. "If I can't wear black with jewel tones, what do I wear?" The answer is gray. Black with jewel tones can look harsh, and often just a little cheap. Wearing them with gray softens the look. I know this sounds crazy, but look at the example below.



Anthony Kim in Red and Gray
Tiger Woods in Red and Black

Say what you will about my examples being golfers, but this is my life. I watch golf with my hubby and analyze the outfits. Tiger Woods always wears red on the Sunday of the tournaments, and I've been saying for years that he would look so much better if he would wear gray pants with the red shirt instead of black. Do ya'll think he would hire me if I sent him the post?

Anyway, there is a way to make jewel tones look better with black....add another psuedo-neutral (white, black, gray, khaki, navy, olive, cream). Example. You have a red shirt and black pants. Make the outfit come together with a white cami and pearls. You can also help the outfit by wearing a shoe with some detail (animal or floral print).

Hope this helps. Questions, comments, arguments?




Friday, 4 November 2011

Cornbread and Biscuits

If you don't listen to country music, you won't get this, but I've got the song playing if you choose to listen. Last night while we were eating dinner, Hadley said, "If we had Jason Aldean over for dinner, we'd have cornbread and biscuits."

Are You Ready?

I'm so excited. It feels like I'm 7 years old and it's Christmas Eve, or we are leaving for a Disney World Vacation! I literally couldn't go to sleep last night, I'm so excited. Roll Tide Ya'll!!


Thursday, 27 October 2011

Ponder this

Which is worse?

1) Having dark tile and countertops and living in filth without knowing it?
or
2) Having white tiles and countertops and constantly cleaning?

Sunday, 4 September 2011

Granola or Oatmeal?

*Note: The below pics are old...like from homecoming last year. But in my defense, I just found my camera charger and am just now getting these off my camera. I figured my fellow Gamma Sigmas would wanna see these pics. AND because of the story below, I needed to show you the girls that are the unique joy of my heart!!*

Not long ago my homegirls from college came to Birmingham for the weekend. As always, we picked up where we left off. We talked, laughed, wined, dined, and of course...shopped. Some of these girls live right up the street and some I haven't talked to or seen in several years. But we always have so much fun and it feels like we've never left each others sides. We feel free to tell each other what to wear, how to drive, and to avoid diet sodas...but always skip the part about how to raise our kids!

In my case, the girls have coined me the "granola" of the group. I do realize I do some "crunchy" things (i.e. no vaccinations, paperless in the kitchen, I recycle, would love my own chickens, but settle for local farm eggs, I'd give birth with a midwife on a farm somewhere if that didn't freak my husband out, and I avoid traditional medicine as much as possible...and ok, I want my nose pierced...sometimes...nothing big...just a tiny dot). Anyway, the girls think I'm crazy....and they told me so.

Now they say they are afraid I'm going to start wearing patchouli!!! I mean give me a break. I do not smoke anything, and don't need to wear patchouli to cover it up! Anyway, my "friends" have resorted to shamelessly making fun of me on Facebook!!! And I'm not on FB. I mean, whatever they need to do to feel good about themselves. So here I am, trying to defend myself, and I don't think I'm doing a very good job. But I have friends who eat all organic, others who are vegan, others who drive "green" cars (mine's a gas-guzzling SUV). Point being, I think I'm the watered version of granola (made with organic milk of course)...making me oatmeal.


Me, Ellen, Jenn, Michelle, Nikki and Stacy
How cute are these letters? Everyone decorates them so cute now. Precious.
The four of us made the trip together and shared a hotel room. Lots of laughs!

Me and Elle Belle...at Half Shell like the good ole' days!
Jenn and Stacy
Ellen, Christina (who is prettier than the day I met her 15 years ago!) and me

It was so awesome seeing all of these girls who I haven't seen in years and years. Good times!

Sunday, 28 August 2011

Out of the mouths of babes

I had to put this down somewhere so I'll never forget this conversation I had with Hadley on the way home from mass tonight. I stopped in the gift store after mass, and she saw some prayer cards. She wanted one with St. Michael on it, and after her behavior in church, I figured we needed all the help we could get. Calling all saints and angels!!!! We got in the car and she was carefully examining the picture on the front. Here's how it went from there.


H- Mom, can we talk about St. Michael?
M- Sure, what do you want to talk about.
H- What does he protect us from?
M- Well, the devil and other evil things that we may encounter...just like the prayer says.
H- Mom?
M- Yes?
H- I think St. Michael is handsome and I would like to marry him. You know, I say that about all the handsome men I see.
M- Well, you shouldn't just want to marry someone because they are handsome. Remember how we have talked about how God looks at our inside beauty, and not our outside beauty? It is much more important to have a husband that is handsome on the inside. One who is caring, loving, takes care of you, and loves Jesus. You wouldn't want a handsome husband who was mean to you all of the time would you?
H- No. But St. Michael protects us from the devil. That's nice, isn't it? He must love Jesus if he does that.
M- Yes, it's very nice, and he does love Jesus very much.
H- Ok, so can I marry him now?
M- No baby, you can't marry an angel.
H- Ok. Does St. Michael smoke cigars?
M- {laughing hysterically}
H- Mom, why are you laughing.
M- Because Hadley, you are very funny, and I don't know where you come from sometimes.
H- Oh. Mom, is the devil a bat?
M- No.
H- Well, he has wings like a bat in this picture, he can probably fly. Do you think he can fly? Mom, what are we having for dinner?


Not kidding...just a snapshot of a day in the life with Hadley. Wouldn't trade her for the world...most of the time :)

Sunday, 14 August 2011

Sweet Home Alabama

I'm here. Settled in B'ham. H0me of men wearing Columbia shorts that are tight and too short, and deck shoes. And home of women in capris and Yellow Box flip flops. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with either of these looks. I'm just saying, I see it lots here...like everywhere. On a different note, mama loves seeing classy folks decked out in Bama gear (not the rednecks with mullets...I've spotted those too). While I miss Tennessee so much I could cry (and have) I am OVER being in UT orange country. Oh, and mama loves having her husband home every night for dinner.


On to my next adventure...homeschooling! Thanks be to Jesus for Donna who has helped me out and introduced me to her sweet friends (and told me they would be mine too!!). She has been a God-send. I have books ordered, and we are starting literature and Religion tomorrow. CRAZZEEE!!! Pray for me.