Fashion & Foundation

I don't remember when, but I think at one point, I said I would post some pics of outfits I've come up with lately. So, that's what this post is about! Yay for Fashion, Fall, Boots, Sweaters, Leggings, and Scarves!!!! (sorry for the pillows in the background - I took these on my *unmade* bed with a semi-neutral blanket thrown on top)


I actually have this on today. Blue/White striped dress, peach cardi,
camel belt, camel boots, bronze dangle earrings.



Black/White sweater w/ heather gray long-sleeve shirt underneath, jeans,
black heeled boots, silver bangles, red hoop earrings.




Purple Kurta (from India!!), gray sweater, red scarf, black leggings, gray boots, gray stud earrings.

 

Black/White Sweater, Jeans, Turquoise/gold necklace, gold stud earrings,
gold bangles, Turquiose/Coral cowboy boots (I talked about this outfit in this post)

Also, I promised a hair pic. I'm going to be true to my word and post one but it's just from my webcam so it's kind of awk-take it with a grain of salt. And, wait patiently for a pic that I'll probably take tonight at the Ben Rector concert. (That's right....I'm attending 2 Ben Rector concerts in 1 month - what's wrong with that?!)

See? Bangs and Layers and Collarbone length.

Also, I got new foundation & concealer and I lurve it....

Doesn't it make my skin smooth all over?! :)

I just wasn't loving how my skin was looking. It was kind of blotchity (yep, made that one up!) and uneven in tone. So, I bought what my friend uses and it's silky smooth and I'm a fan. And, better yet, it matches my skin!!!! I have never found a foundation that matched me....but now I have. I'm in love.


What fall outfits are you loving lately?!

Life Motto

Thanks to my friend eating a Dove Dark Chocolate and sharing the quote with me, I've found my new life motto :)

"It's OK to be fabulous and flawed."

Amen to that.

Have a happy weekend!!! Go HOGS - beat Ole Miss!

PS- tomorrow is the day of the haircut! I'll post pics on here or fbook next week!

Days Like These

Cold & Rainy weather makes me want to curl up under a blanket on my couch with a hot cup of coffee and a good book. I just might spend my evening that way :)


New Fall Wreath (I made it!) on my door :) - It's so fun to come home to!



Friends, Fires, & Food

Lately, my life has been crazy, fun, refreshing, & exhausting. Here's a recap in photos.

501 friends came up to see Ben Rector in concert at UCA.



Kikuyu climbed Pinnacle.

After we climbed Pinnacle, Arkansas beat Auburn!!

 

Jack Oliver was born! Presh 10.2 lb baby

I baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. YUM!

 

I went to dinner with friends for Christy's bday. Loved catching up with Maeghan!!

Events I don't have pics for: I've laughed until I'm crying, made plans to go camping, stayed up until the wee hours catching up with friends, laughed some more, sat by the firepit, made new friends, skyped with old friends, and not gotten enough sleep.  

God has blessed me beyond measure. I'm in awe of His love, faithfulness, greatness, and grace.

Cowboy Boots & Gold Bangles

That's what I'm wearing today. I'm wearing an oversized sweater, jeans, a turquoise&gold necklace, gold bangles, and my FAVE cowboy boots. Oxymoron? Clashing styles? I think not. My beloved coral&turquoise cowboy boots could go with [almost] anything. I <3 them. I even wore them with my graduation robe to receive my diploma. I want to wear them with my wedding dress one day. There is just something about a girl's first pair of cowboy boots...it makes me smile :)

That randomness leads me to share these random tids about myself:
-I love reading the Sunday Comics. I've read them every Sunday for as long as I can remember. I've always come home from church/lunch, opened the paper, removed the High Profile, Target Ad, and Comics. I would sit and look at Weddings/Engagements in the High Profile, look through the Target Ad, then go take a nap, but not without reading the Comics first. Man, what great Sunday memories! Now, my mom saves the Comics for me every week and gives them to me when I come home. She's great!
-I've finally admitted to myself that I'm naturally ghostly white. I've tried to deny this for a long time! "No, you've got some color." "You tan easily! You can't be that pale." But, yes, it's true. I am naturally super duper pale. Not only have I admitted it, I've come to terms with it. I'm pale and it's okay!!! I want my skin to be pretty and cancer free in 20,30,40 years so I'm not going to tan. I'm going to be pasty porcelain pale and proud of it!
-I love driving other people's cars. I don't know why, but it's just fun to be in something different. Yesterday, I drove my bro's big Chevy truck=in love. It was just so big and loud and fun.
-I love my car. It's acting up right now and it makes me so sad to think of possibly needing a new car. My red durango [complete with MOMO license plate, big tires, a small lift, great bass, and tinted windows] is cherished. It's traveled many miles, carried such fun people, and toted necessities to staff events. I really don't want to lose her.
-My favorite season has always been summer (I think it's changing...more on that in a minute). I love walking out of a cold building into the heat. I love being engulfed by heat. I love shorts, tees, flip flops, and messy buns. I love the lake and the beach. However, the weeks and weeks we had of 110* heat combined with my current obsession of Pumpkin Spice Lattes are quickly causing my fave season to be Fall. I love boots, scarves, sweaters and jackets. I like football season. I love being able to wear my hair down everyday. Hot coffee tastes even better. I believe after this Fall season, I will be able to confidently and officially say my fave season is Fall.

Enough of my quirks for the day. Happy Thursday!

And, the Clumsy Award goes to.....

ME!

Pretty sure I'm THE clumsiest person on planet earth. My body is rarely bruise free. It's super common for me to run into a wall or a piece of furniture or a doorframe on a daily basis. I often fall and/or trip and if there's a hole in the ground, I will find it (just ask me for the story about the yellow dress....I'll tell you and you'll laugh).

I don't know why I'm so clumsy. I promise it's not an act...it's completely natural. I joke that if I get married, I'll have bruises and scrapes everywhere on my wedding day because I'll be so careful leading up to the wedding that I'll be even more clumsy. It's just a part of me. There's nothing I can do to change it.

Story Time: Yesterday, after church, my fam went out to lunch and then we all went back to the house before separating for the day. I was walking down the hall and stairs to the kitchen (remember, we've lived in this house 18 years...I've walked this route millions of times) to put something up. Well, my foot didn't hit the stair correctly and I ended up on both knees on the hardwood floor. I had stuff in my hands so I couldn't catch myself or do anything about it. Cam, Andi, and ma were in the kitchen and I heard them pause. I said "ow" and they BUSTED out laughing. So, then I laughed. I mean, it's just part of my life. It happens a lot. I laugh. Other people laugh. It's good times.

Obsession

I might be slightly obsessed with 501 and my new friends. And by slightly, I mean very much so. Every week I walk away saying, "Guys, I know I say this every week, but I just love coming to 501!" (Seriously, ask Allie) God has blessed us with immediate connections with people in our small group and with a circle of friends we can already call friends! Friends as in...we text, hang out on the weekends, fb chat, have jokes, make plans together, etc. Such a blessing!!!!

In case you haven't figured it out, GOD IS SO GOOD!! He knows our needs before we know them! He provides for those needs in ways more incredible than I could have imagined. He just plops them in our lap and says, "Here ya go. Have friends and glorify me together." Guys, I don't deserve this! God, in His amazing grace, desires me to have these friends, this community, this fellowship with young adults and I'm so grateful!

501. Friends. Plans. God. Grateful.

the little things

I found this blog of the little things that we should be thankful for. I love it! I check it about once a week and it always makes me smile because I always find a couple that are so true. Here are some of my recent faves:

check it out and enjoy a smile :)

This Week...

...I finished Reshaping It All. Great book! It definitely motivated me to change my lifestyle to a healthier one.
...I finished Week 1 of my running plan and started Week 2. I even got up at 6:20 today to run! WOW!
...I got mad at the Hogs (what else is new?) for losing to Bama.
...I watched the OSU/aTm game instead of the Hogs/Bama game.
...I watched both of these games at a watch party with great friends from 501!!
...I made 2 recipes for said watch party: Birthday Cake Fudge & Cream Cheese, Bacon, Jalapeno bites.



Bday Cake Fudge - super rich, super yum

...I'm going back to India!!!!
...I went shopping with a friend and got 3 new shirts, a jacket, and a pair of cute black boots for under $100 (bargain success) (ps-I'll probably start posting pics of presh outfits soon...remember my goals for 24?)
...I had lunch with the fam after church for the first time in a LONG time. It was funny.
...I laughed A LOT.
...I only ate sweets twice.
...My bro turned 21 and got a twitter (this is big).
...I led week 2 of bstud. It went well. God taught me lots. I pray He taught the girls lots too.
...I got to skype with great friends.
...I'm treating myself to some shopping (a reward for running).

Promised Pinterest Recipes

As mentioned in this post, I had a menu full of Pinterest Recipes. I've made them and I'm here to report.

Tomato-Basil Alfredo Pasta:
This recipe was great! It can be found on my pinterest "entrees" board. I used the 'lighter' version that's listed in the comments  under the recipe, so there would be fewer calories. I also used 3-cheese tortellini instead of ravioli, but that was just a personal preference. This recipe was easy and quick! I will definitely make it again.

In the Pan

Serve with Parm Cheese

  Orange Chicken:
SO GOOD! I made this last night with a revised recipe. I'm trying to stay away from fried foods, so I baked the chicken. I put the chicken in a bowl with some olive oil, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. I mixed it together with my hands, until the chicken was coated with bread crumbs. I spread it out on a cookie sheet and baked at 375* for 12-15 minutes. While that was baking, I cooked some rice and made the orange sauce. This made a good amount - I have plenty of lefovers for lunch and dinner again (I love leftovers!).


I definitely recommend! (sorry my pics aren't great...)

Nutella Cupcakes:
These had mixed reviews. We would definitely revamp them for next time.
Changes: layer nutella on the bottom of the cupcake liner, put batter on top, then more nutella to stir in.
How to eat it: don't pick at it...just bite down top to bottom.
I would try these again with the changes. If the reviews don't change, I probably wouldn't make them again.

In the process of stirring in the nutella

 

Finished product (don't know why the pic is cut off...)

I probably won't cook anymore recipes until next week. The next few days and weekend plans are crazy so there won't be much cooking. But, I will report back soon with more reviews! The Bible Study I'm leading is starting up soon so I'll have definitely have dessert recipes to report weekly :)

Happy Pinterest Cooking!