Tuesday Randoms

Greetings, friends of the interwebs. Hope everyone enjoyed a fun and relaxing weekend!

-Sorry I was MIA on Friday. We traveled to Central AR to visit my parents on Thursday night for the weekend. I had (I thought) arranged for the link-up post to publish on Friday morning, but it looks like that didn't happen - so sorry! Not going anywhere this Friday though, so Confessional Friday will definitely happen : )

-Stephen is in New York all week for work, so blogging may be a little sparse while I corral two little girls. Luckily, my mom came back with us yesterday to help out for a couple of days, so that will be a huge help. Honestly, I've never liked staying alone while he's gone. (I watch way too much Dateline.) Now that we have two littles, I really, really don't like it. Thankfully, we have a top-of-the-line security system and a 100 pound German Shepherd to put my mind at ease when the mister is traveling. However, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't nice to have some company (i.e. Nana).

-I'm trying my hardest to get caught up on email and am slowly making some headway. If you've sent me an email, please know I'll write you back, it just may be a bit. (Read: hopefully within the year.) Thank you so much for your patience!

-The Game of Thrones: Season Five trailer is out. If you have HBO and aren't watching this show, start NOW. If you're a fan of the show and this doesn't make you as giddy as it makes me, then you need to have your head examined. April 12, y'all.

Thursday Randoms

Lots of nonsense today, friends. My morning started at 5:30 and has been going 90-to-nothing since. Don't you just love those days when organization and planning take a flying leap into a black hole? That would be my day. So, randomness shall prevail.

Her profile is identical to Caroline's at the 20 week mark. Exact same bone structure, shape of nose, etc. So cool!

1) I was SO excited for little Ainsley Catherine's anatomy scan ultrasound yesterday! We headed to our high-risk OB yesterday morning to see our girl up close and personal. (High risk doc is a precaution due to medical history. Baby and I are great!) She is most definitely a SHE, as she showed us all of her, um, parts, (or lack-thereof, ha!) Most importantly, her heart, brain, spine, organs, all of it, looked perfect. She's 1,000% healthy and thriving away. Yay for being at the halfway point in this pregnancy!

2) It's strange having such a seamless pregnancy after the one I experienced with Caroline. (Don't get me wrong, we were very fortunate to have gotten such a healthy baby out of the whole thing, but girlfriend made me sicker than a dog.) Other than the 4 p.m. daily puke-fests, I feel peachy-keen. Large, but peachy-keen ; )

3) I swear this wasn't supposed to be a baby post. See? Here I go. Steering this train toward BuyBuyBaby, yet again. Sorry, y'all.

4) On to greener, less impregnated pastures...

5) I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of the palazzo pant trend. They actually do look really cute on a few gals with some major height, but at 5'4",  I'm not one of them. Sorry, palazzo pants. I'll be sticking to trouser cuts and skinnies.

6) Has anyone out there watched Hemlock Grove? Caroline went to bed a little earlier one night, so Stephen and I got sucked into the first episode on Netflix. It's kinda hokey, but who doesn't love hokey? We've also just started watching HBO's new show called The Leftovers. Really, really depressing, but such an interesting concept to me.

Yup, that's all I've got. I'm off to finish packing up the last of our house. We will be moving our stuff over to it this weekend, then we officially move in and close on August 7th. I cannot believe the time has finally come - woohoo for more space!

Go with the Flowbee

I wish I had some grandiose blog post to send you all off for the weekend, but alas, I do not.

Instead, (and in honor of me FINALLY getting my hair done tomorrow after 8 long weeks away from the salon), I thought we'd watch this compelling infomercial for the Flowbee. Somehow, my dear husband and I got on the topic of bad infomercials last night and this one came to mind.

"It's a vacuum! No, it's a pair of hair clippers! NO! It's the FLOWBEE!"

Children of the 80s and early 90s probably remember this hair-raising (literally) gem. Funny story, my mom was a hairdresser for many, many years and had to correct approximately eleventy million haircuts marred by this handy dandy tool.

Here are my thoughts on styling or cutting hair with a high-powered suction device:

1. The words "vacuum" and "hair" should never occur in a sentence.
2. God gave us professional hairstylists for a reason. Amen.

See yous Monday.

Confessional Friday: {Link Up}

Inlinkz and I have gone around and around lately, SO if the link-up tool isn't working, please just leave your link in the comments!

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Today’s topic is one of my favorites because, as a soon-to-be mama in her third trimester, I have been doing lots of sitting on the couch lately. Enter: reality TV, bad TV, cheesy murder mystery TV (i.e. Lifetime), and just about any other genre of TV you can think of.

Here are a few of my very favorite silly, low-on-substance TV shows:

Real Housewives of Orange County or Real Housewives of New Jersey

Both are equally obnoxious in their own special ways, but I can’t seem to tear myself away.

True Blood

The acting leaves much to be desired. The plot? Well, it’s ridiculous. But this vampire/werewolf/shifter-filled HBO production is one of my very favorite ways to spend Sunday nights with my beau. Bring on the Hep-V!

Ghost Adventures

This show is pure comedy. From host Zack’s overly gelled hair, to the bevy of horrendous Ed Hardy t-shirts worn by his camera crew posse, it’s a hot, spooky mess. And, I love it.

Pretty Little Liars

Love, love, love this show! My SIL Stephanie turned me on to it and I can’t watch the episodes fast enough. If it’s a crime to love cotton-candy drama, then lock me up for life.

Banshee

Stephen and I were so happy that this Cinemax show was renewed for another season next year. This one probably has a bit more grit than the others on this list, but the plot is laughably over the top.

Now it’s your turn. What are your favorite “zero-calorie” shows?

And On Monday, They Wept

And by they, I mean Razorback fans. 

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Happy Monday! (Is there such a thing?)

Let’s try this:

“Not-so-terrible Monday!”

More fitting?

I wish I had a thrilling weekend tale to recount to you all this morning, but I do not. Instead, you’re stuck with this:

• We watched Anonymous on Saturday night on Dish On-Demand and loved it. To all the former English majors and literature buffs out there – get thee to a dvd player and watch it. 

• I took Ruby to the vet on Saturday morning for her 3^rd boosters. A brief 13 minutes (kidd you not) and a mere $89 later, we were on our merry way. Pets eat money. Swear. 

• Yes, I watched the bloody Hogs game. Yeah, we were brutalized yet again. We are AWFUL. AWFUL, I tell you. It ain’t our year and that’s all there is to it. Thank again, Bobby P. 

• On the upside, I hear our basketball team is slated to be quite good. I’ve never been a major b-ball fan, but with football going the way it is, there’s probably no better time to become one. 

• Win or lose, head coach or no head coach – I still love the Hogs. #WPS 

• Did anyone tune into Real Housewives of New Jersey last night? Some of my favorite gems:

On the subject of copycatting:

“You’re wearing my glitter eyeshadow. I wore glitter eyeshadow on last season’s reunion.”  - Teresa to Melissa

On style and appearance:

 “I can’t see your face for all your extensions.” – Melissa to Teresa.

“You, in your Christmas pageant dress. Just sit there and shut the (insert curse word) up.” – Caroline ‘Butt-inski’ Manzo

On strange personal endeavors:

“My cannoli kit will be on shelves really soon. Everyone can be a goddess in her kitchen!” – Kathy Wakile

• Is it just me, or is hocking strange products and concepts the right of passage for all Real Housewives? Remember that “wine of the month” club that Vicki and Tamara from the O.C. started? You know, before they hated each other?? And Alexis Bellino’s “couture” dress line? (P.S. – I wondered if she realized that the very word couture implies “one of a kind”?) 

Just some low-carb, trans-fat-free food for thought.

Be blessed, lovelies- 

Dance Moms

Y'all.

I just had to interrupt Fashion Week to ask if you had seen the hot mess known as Dance Moms? It comes on Lifetime at 9:00 CST on Wednesdays and has quickly become my new reality TV drug of choice.

If not, you are really missing out. I mean REALLY missing out. The show is all about the fate of one Abby Lee Miller Dance Company - a competitive dance school in Pittsburgh, PA. The mastermind behind the whole operation is Abby Lee Miller herself; a 40 year old bully of a dance teacher who literally carries around a wiffle ball bat to 'whip her girls into shape' while they pratice their pirouettes and Pas de bourrée, (a little dance lingo, for those who care.)

Dance Moms also chronicles the absolute obsessiveness of these crazy mommas that live vicariously through their daughters' every move. It's kind of like Toddlers and Tiaras, except with more glitter and kiddos that are legitimately talented : )

Stephen and I got sucked into watching a whole marathon of it this past weekend and were immediately addicted. Some of my favorite quotes from the show:

“Girls what are you doing? Those legs are about as straight as Elton John.” - Miss Abby

"“That Minister Dawn needs a Bible refresher course. Thou shall not lie. Thou shall not steal. Thou shall not disrespect Abby.” – Abby Lee Miller"

“Your eyelashes are drooping. Do I need to staple your eyebrows up?” – Cathy Jean Nesbitt-Stein, mom of one of the little girls who dances in Abby's company.

Surriously, y'all need to tune into this show.

Ok, that is all. You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming...

Be blessed, lovelies-

My New Cut-Out Dress + Randoms

It’s Friday…let’s get our random on!


1) I’m positively over the moon, in love with this dress I got Wednesday from Maude Boutique! This is the first cut-out dress I've bought this summer and I LOVE it! The length is short (about 3 inches above my knee) so it's definitely a going-out-on-a-date-with-the-boy dress : )

In case y’all aren’t familiar with their fabulousness, they are a local Fayetteville, AR boutique that specializes in trendy clothing for us girls in our twenties and thirties! They carry the latest styles and brands and have the BEST staff ever. Even if you don’t live in AR, you can still shop via their FB page. Just leave them a comment on items you like and they’ll reserve and ship it to you!

Capicé?

They’ve been such a phenomenal supporter of the blog and I’m more than game to spread the word about this Arkansas gem…check out Maude now!

2) Can I vent for a sec? I’m sick and tired of hearing about how as soon as Stephen and I get married that we’re going to “let ourselves go”. Example, a lady in the break room at work yesterday,

Random lady: “How’s the wedding planning going?”

Me: “It’s great! We’re almost ready! Just finalizing details.”

(Out of left field, as she’s looking me up and down…)

Random lady: “You two better take a good, long look at each other now because you’ll never see each other look this way again. It’s all downhill after marriage in terms of looks.”

Me: “We’ll see.”

Let me go on the record saying, I fully intend to wear make-up, shower, fix my hair, wear cute clothes and brush my teeth after we are wed. Heck, I may even rock some sexy lingerie from time to time. (Woah Leslie, slow down there…)

I don’t anticipate gaining 1,000 pounds or becoming unrecognizable to my husband. I realize that things change, gravity takes a toll and babies do their wear and tear on your body, but I intend to make every effort to ensure that I look my best for my husband in each season of life.

I realize that I won’t always wear a size 2 or that my boobs won’t always, ahem, “stand at attention.” I realize that if we have kiddos, my rear may temporarily become the size of a washing machine.

We are realistic. We realize things change physically. It’s our spiritual and emotional connection that will take us to a 50th anniversary; not the size of our waistlines.

But MY WORD, is it a crime to at least TRY to look nice for your spouse? I don’t think so.

It’s funny, when I’ve asked southern elderly women what their best marital advice is, many tell me, “Always try to look nice for your husband” or “Even if you don’t have on a full face of make-up, swipe some lipstick on before he gets home.”

Truer words have never been spoken, in my opinion. As anti-feminist as it may seem, I think that’s great and REAL advice.

My fiancé is attracted to me now and I’d like to keep him being attracted to me for the rest of our lives. I intend to work hard at it.

If that’s a sin, you better call this girl a preacher.

Rant over.


3) Any predictions for who will win The Bachelorette? I’m putting all my chips on J.P. I think Constantine is going home Monday. I think she’ll waver back and forth about Ben, but ultimately she go with J.P. from New Yawk City.


4) I have eaten enough Mexican food during the past two weeks that I may turn into a walking chimichanga very soon. I’m retaining enough fluid from all the salt I’ve consumed that I feel like I may burst at any given moment. Tell me, what is it about queso, chips, salsa and fried tortillas that are so yummy and addictive?

In fact, we’ve eaten so much Mexican food lately, that our waiter Chris (yes, we have our own regular waiter) at Abuelo’s (our fav local place) brought us a gigantic complimentary dessert the other night for being “such loyal patrons.”

This was both embarrassing and awesome.


Y’all have a great weekend. Be happy, be safe and most importantly…

Be blessed, lovelies-

Stop....It's Tunic Time!

My tunic is from Francesca's, found in stores only.

Get it? Like, "Stop! It's Hammer Time!"??

Yeah, ok. Bad post title. I'm really reaching here today, folks.

But seriously, today I want to talk about a shirt that all of us should be wearing this summer. And that very shirt is called 'le tunic.

Please ignore the scuzz bucket on the left...

My love for tunics was reinvigorated by watching The Bachelorette this season. Though I'm not a fan of letting your bra show through your sheer tunic (ahem, paging Ashley Hebert last night on her date with J.P.), I'm still loving her style, for the most part. My favorite look of hers is the tucked in tunic with skinny jeans that she's always rocking. So sleek and chic, y'all!

I thought I'd sport a similar look today....what'cha think?

If you're in the market for a good tunic, you've come to the right place. A few of my recent favs online:

White + Warren Cowl Neck Tunic from Piperlime; Jason Long Sleeve Blouse from Planet Blue

Cream Gypsy Embroidered Tunic from Topshop; Metal Applique Blouse Tunic from Planet Blue

So yeah. The tunic. Simple, sweet and purty.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Weekend Afterthoughts

Hello, girls! Hope your Monday morning is off to a great start! We had a fun weekend on the lake with some out of town friends to celebrate one of Stephen's groomsman's birthday.

What else did we do this weekend? Welp, here goes:

1. Friday night, Stephen's mom was babysitting her new little grandbaby Lucas (mine and Stephen's new nephew). He was such a cutie and we had a great time holding him, cuddling and giving him his bottle : ) We both decided that maybe we don't want to wait as long as we thought we did to have kiddos, haha. Lucas was so tiny and SO precious....I think it's safe to say I have a bad case of baby fever now and we haven't even gotten married yet, ha!

One of the cutest little bambinos I've seen in a LONG time...he will be one cute toddler, too!

2. We went to the gym both Saturday and Sunday in keeping with our pledge to work out 5 days per week until the wedding. I'm sore and tired, but proud of us for sticking to it on a weekend where it would have been easy to throw in the towel.

3. We watched the Real Housewives of Orange County Reunion last night and it solidified our feelings of disdain for Alexis even more. For someone that claims to be such a staunch Christian, she sure can be judgemental! We felt so bad for Vicki and Don and the horrible situation that they are dealing with right now. I thought Vicki handled the tough questions so gracefully though and I admire how she "owned" her shortcomings in the marriage. A very good reunion special, in my opinion!

4. We also watched the Real Housewives of New Jersey, which followed the RHOC special. Jersey might be our favorite of the housewife series because it's so crazy and outrageous! I have to say though, I do miss Danielle : ( Sure, she was ten kinds of cray-cray, but girlfriend kept the show interesting! I still heart the Jersey women though!

5. Do any of you out there have granite countertops in your homes or apartments? Stephen has granite countertops in his house and we are constantly struggling to find good cleaners to clean it with. Everything we've tried makes it so streaky and leaves a film : ( Soap and water works pretty well, but we need something with good antibacterial properties, since we are both clean freaks and hate germs. Let me know if you've found a good granite cleaning agent!

Are you asleep yet? Sorry, ya'll. I know this riveting post was probably not what you needed to read first thing on a Monday morning to get 'ya going : )

What did you do this past weekend? Do share!

Be blessed, lovelies-

The Bachelorette...Let's Dish, Ladies.

So.

I have NEVER watched The Bachelorette before, mostly because I thought it was a ridiculous concept, finding one's soulmate on TV and whatnot. Almost as bad as finding one's soulmate through a blog, huh? ; )

I mean, I deemed myself as someone who was above a pseudo-reality show based on the premise of some random chick finding her Mr. Right within a neat 6 week timeline in ridiculously romantic locales like Bali and Belize. But I gotta say, after one episode of watching our latest femme fatale, Miss Ashley Hebert, I was hooked.

Even Stephen has gotten in on The Bachelorette action. Oh sure, he loves to watch right alongside me and provide witty commentary on all the dim-witted lotharios vying for Ashley's attention.

So to honor this little gem of a show, I thought we'd all share our predictions on who Ashley will pick and just dish on the happenings of the show so far. Y'all ready? Let's go!

My Front Runners

William

Despite the fact that he made quite possibly the worst joke in history at the roast  this week, I still think our favorite midwestern cell phone salesman has a chance with Ashley. He's cute, funny and completely head over heels for her.

J.P.

This adorable construction manager from New York is just perfect for Ash! He's genuine and sweet and was a great remedy for her broken heart after Bentley left on Monday. I know J.P. will be sticking around for a while!

Ben

This dude is the epitome of hopeless romantic. Though he comes across as a bit over the top sometimes, I do think he genuinely cares about Ashley and is totally the guy to sweep her off her feet this season!

Ryan P.

This guy got the first rose of the season and with good reason; he likes him some Ashley Hebert and makes no bones about it! Not sure he is final episode material, but I do think he'll be on the show for a while to come.


The Guys That Should Have Been Eliminated Already

Constantine

Stephen and I always look at each other and say, "Who?" whenever Chris Harrison calls his name for a rose. He's not the best looking of the bunch and really should consider trimming his hair. And changing his name. Just sayin...

Nick

This personal trainer dude is just not cutting it on the show this season, in my opinion. His personality is kind of blah and his hair needs an update. My bet is that he goes home next week!

Blake

Though they'd probably have fun checking out each other's molars, I don't see our fellow dentist wooing Ashley enough to make her want to keep him around. Plus, he dresses like a broke-down Ryan Secrest.


Best Date So Far

Hands down Ashley's date with Ben, the romantic lawyer. They took part in a flash mob (one of my life's dreams) and followed it up with an uber-romantic dinner. Nicely done, Benny boy!


Most Awkward Moment So Far

Ladies, who in their right mind thought it would be a good idea to do a roast of Ashley this week? Talk about setting yourself up for failure! Poor William took things a little too far during his set in the roast by saying that he thought "he was getting Chantal or Emily" instead of Ashley! Bad move, William!


Guy She Should Probably Rethink Keeping on the Show

West. Y'all heard about his former wife drama? Apparently our boy was up to some shady stuff in the past. Read here.


So tell me ladies, what do y'all think of the show so far this season? Any predictions of who will make it to the end??

Be blessed, lovelies-

Interview with Miss Walsh: Highlights

Hi, lovelies! So I bounded out of bed this morning about to explode in anticipation of sharing the awesome interview I got to do with Kate Walsh yesterday! Kate graciously took some time out from shooting on the Private Practice set yesterday to talk to some bloggers yesterday (including moi!!) about her new fragrance, Boyfriend!

And yes, she was ON the PP set when we spoke. How cool, right?!

Kate's team will be sending me a full transcript of the interview in a couple of days, but I wanted to first share a few highlights with you girls and boys:

-First off, she was so nice! I've never really gotten to talk to a celebrity before, especially for AN HOUR, but she was incredibly down-to-earth, funny and genuine. You could tell right off the bat just how much she cared about her new fragrance endeavor. I can say without a doubt now that Kate Walsh has to be one of the busiest women in Hollywood.

-One of my favorite questions that I got to ask Kate:

Me: "So it seems that a lot of what Boyfriend is about is feeling sexy. What is the go-to item in your closet when you want to feel dead sexy?"

Kate: "I love skirts and dresses and heels! So many times when we are in that Alpha Female position, a career woman so to speak, we don't get a chance to dress super feminine. I love to dress up in skirts and a killer pair of heels!"

-Kate mentioned that her fragrance was inspired by the scent of an ex-boyfriend. Following a break-up with a former bf, Kate ran out to the department store in search of a men's fragrance because she missed having his scent around. The idea hit her that, in essence, just because you don't have an actual, physical boyfriend, doesn't mean you can't have a delicious, masculine scent around. A masculine scent made specifically for a woman. You.

And the genius idea for Boyfriend was born.

-The perfume is multi-layered with floral topnotes and musky, darker undertones. It is also made specifically to blend and layer well with any other fragrances. It is a subtle, sexy scent that doesn't really "announce its presence", but rather slowly introduces itself in a room. Nice!

-The idea for the vintage train case in which the product comes was inspired by her favorite old movies that inspired her to become an actress. Cool, huh?

It was a surreal, exciting experience to talk to Kate and I'm so grateful to her and the amazing team at Digital Media Management that made this possible.

I'll have the full interview/transcript very soon (hopefully tomorrow or Monday), so be SURE to stay tuned!

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot, Kate is launching a brand new series of viral videos today called "Dont Let This Happen to You", in conjunction with the other videos for the Boyfriend brand. Just in time for Valentine's Day. Check 'em out!

Be blessed, lovelies-

EXCITING News!

Hey guys and girls! I'm snowed in today since we have about 15 inches of snow on the ground, with an estimated 2 feet by day's end!

This doesn't mean the blogging stops though...because...

I was recently contacted by the wonderful folks that work with Kate Walsh, star of Private Practice and  Grey's Anatomy, to do an interview with the gorgeous star about her upcoming fragrance, Boyfriend.

I'm getting to talk to Kate herself this afternoon at 5:00  via phone and I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not really sure what to ask an award winning, A-list star, but I can't wait! I'll be sharing the interview with all of you tomorrow on here!

Wish me luck!!!!!!!!

Be blessed, lovelies-

If You Really Knew Me

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."- Coco Chanel

Have any of y'all watched that show called If You Really Knew Me on MTV yet? Oh my gosh, total tearjerker! I was on the treadmill at the gym last night and it happened to be on the screen in front of me. Even the macho meathead guy on the tready next to me was like, "Man, that's some pretty heavy stuff!"

 I usually don't watch TV while I work out, (that just seems a little sacrilegious to me), but I had no headphones. Short story long, I blew out my iPod earbuds earlier in the day at work, I guess. I put them on last night, cranked up some Ke$ha to get my endorphins flowing and....silence. Earbuds out.

But yeah, back to the point of this post, If You Really Knew Me. The premise of the show is pretty unique; like a reality TV version of The Breakfast Club, each episode takes place at a different high school and chronicles five students from different "groups" (jocks, nerds, outcasts, etc.) as they go through a series of team-building exercises to learn more about each other and break down the barriers of the different cliques. It's definitely a unique concept for a show and I could totally see programs like this working in public schools to help thwart school bullying.

Anywho, watching this show gave me a really fun idea for a blog post, (well, in my opinion polishing silver is fun, so we'll see, I guess ; )

I thought we'd put our own little light-hearted spin on this concept and learn some fun facts about each other. Nothing too deep or life-changing, just some rando information that will help us "get to know" each other better.

Since I'm the host, I'll start things off.

If you really knew me, you'd know that...

-I'm surprisingly domesticated. I love cooking and baking and get the biggest high out of seasonal decorating. Especially Christmas decorating, don't even get me started, y'all. Additionally,  I can hem a pair of pants and I have been known to bust out my glue gun now and then. True story.

-I'm a clean freak. In fact, I'd say I teeter on the edge of the OCD cliff. I never let dishes pile up and rarely does a day go by that my bed goes unmade.

-...and speaking of cleanliness and organization...You know that show Hoarders? Oh my, I can't watch it. Gives me the willies to even think about being buried up to my elbows in old food/pizza boxes/newspapers from 1980/kitty litter, etc. I shudder to think...

-I'm a huge dork. I love Star Wars, own real Lisa Loeb-style nerd glasses and laugh hysterically at all my own jokes. I'm a very funny person, in my opinion.

-I'm terrified of clowns, needles and Chyna the wrestler.

-When I was little, I wanted a monkey for a pet. I wanted to dress him up in little monkey pants and make him wear little monkey shoes. I planned on carrying him around in a mini backpack or Baby Bjorn type thing and letting him ride around in my pink bicycle basket. I was crushed when mom and dad said, "No". To this day, everytime I look at a spider monkey, I'm taken back to that dark place in my childhood.

-Things I'm good at:
    Tap dancing, playing the piano, poofing hair, Jenga, Scrabble, Operation (the board game),
    making sweet tea, talking to old elderly people and quoting movies from the 1980s. All things
    that will surely serve me well in life.

-Things I can't do to save my life:
   Bowling, playing pool, algebra, Sudoku, open a bottle of wine without mutilating the cork, hacky sack 
   (yes, I have tried), parallel park.

-Although I loved the movie, I didn't shed a tear watching The Notebook, but I bawled like a baby after Marley and Me. I obviously have a soft spot for animals.

-I once volunteered to judge a chess tournament in middle school to get out of fifth period class. They gave me a pad of paper and pencil and put me in charge of the 2nd and 3rd grade games. I should have probably mentioned to the teachers and chess contestants that I did not, nor had I ever known how to play chess ; )

Ok, so if we really knew YOU, what are some things we would know?

*Please note, deeply personal and/or gross medical conditions, financial problems, religious issues and politics should probably be omitted here. Not that I'm not interested, but let's just keep this light and upbeat. This is a HAPPY blog, after all, haha : )

Be blessed, lovelies-

Special Guest: {Dee's Day}

My lovely and stinkin' adorable friend Dee (yep, Dee from High Heel Mafia) graciously offered to guest post for me today. Two reasons for this: 1) Work has been kuh-razy this week and is requiring the majority of my attention and critical thinking skills at the moment and; 2) We all need a fresh face, (or voice), from time to time.

In case you haven't caught any of the High Heel Mafia posts before, let me give you a little background info on Dee:

-She is a natural blonde (gasp! They really do exist.)

-She is an Arkansas native; born and raised below the Mason-Dixon and currently living in Northwest Arkansas.

-She is my co-worker, most trusted confidant and partner in crime. Together, we do serious retail damage and have been known to haunt a well-known martini bar on Dickson Street.

-She loves Bradley Cooper, miniature dachsunds and long walks on the beach.

Without further adieu, take it away girlie-poo.

................................................................................................................................................................

Thank you, thank you Leslie for that wonderful introduction! How is everybody out there in blogland today?

Yes Leslie, it has most def been a loco week at work. Am I the only one that’s super excited that it’s Friday? I don’t have one specific topic today so excuse me while I ramble for a bit.

This summer, I've taken a few road trips and have more planned, heard some great live music, visited some old friends and made some new ones. And, of course, eaten some good ol’ Southern cookin’. Ahhh, summertime...

I’ve consumed at least 1,000 gallons of sweet tea. Yes, I’ve once again become addicted to the stuff. I officially fell off the wagon during a weekend in Memphis. Since then, I’ve had to go to Sonic during happy hour for my sweet tea fix at least three times a week. I’m actually enjoying a glass as I write this. Any other sweet tea addicts out there?

This week I found out my cousin, (who is just like a younger brother to me), is coming to visit at the end of August. I haven’t seen him in a while, but it won’t take long for us to start picking on each other like we did when were kids. Yeah, that’s how we show love in my family – making fun of each other and telling embarrassing stories.

“Mad Men” has started a new season! That Don Draper is such a bad boy but he’s oh so dreamy…

“Project Runway” kicked off a new season last night! I love some PR on Thursday nights. The most recent winner, Seth Aaron, will always hold a special place in my heart, but I think it will be a great season, once again. Who are your early favorites?

Looking forward to the premiere of “Top Chef: Just Desserts” sometime this Fall. I’ve been a “Top Chef” fan for a while now but personally, I’m more of a baker than a chef so I’m pumped about this show. Has anyone heard the official kick-off date?

Very excited about the “Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta” premiere. Cannot wait to see this! The only thing crazier than a bride is a crazy SOUTHERN bride. Miss Scarlett, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Just from the previews, I can tell there will be lots of awesome drama with a Southern accent, to boot!

In October, I’ll be headed to my little hometown for my high school reunion. It should be good times. We had a 10 year reunion so that makes this is our…. 20 year reunion. What? 20 years? No way. That means I’m…. When did that happen?

Well, I have rambled enough for this day. Signing off for Leslie...ciao, Blonde Ambitioners!

Be blessed, lovelies-

Photo credits: Style Me Pretty

Vamp It Up

One of my favorite Sunday night guilty pleasures is HBO's True Blood. Not only is this show filled with some of the best looking vampires, werewolves and shape-shifters to ever grace my flat-screen, (hello Alcide!), it's also heavy on style. Gone are the days of kitschy capes, white gloves, obscenely popped collars and everything else stereotypically vampiric; these blood-suckers prefer to breeze around in Ferragamo, Pucci and Agent Provocateur.

Want to channel your inner Tara, Pam or Sookie? Take a peek at these pieces, inspired by the ladies of True Blood:

Sookie Stackhouse prefers to keep her look simple and sweet. This season, Sookie can be seen in soft, pastel colors, snap-front camis and shirts and lots of lace. And since every down-home gal needs her denim, Sookie often sports her favorite denim shorts and jacket.

1. Dainty woven top, Forever 21, $28

2. Denim shorts, American Eagle Outfitters, $25

Jessica, the churchgoing good-girl-turned-vampire, loves her pink and plaid. And since it can be quite chilly, (even for a vampire), in the big Compton house, she can also loves her soft-knit sweaters and comfy denim.

3. Plaid top, Old Navy, $15

4. Boyfriend destroyed jeans, Current/Elliot, $180

Pam is one of the most brazen characters on this show and her signature style is no different. Stylists describe her look as "Victorian dominatrix"; a perfect blend of vintage and modern sexiness. To look like Pam, you needs lots of black, lots of leather and a good dose of confidence.

5. Thigh high leather boots, Report Signature, $499

6. Pleather mini skirt, David Lerner, $100

When stylists were preparing for Sophie-Anne's entrance into the season, they needed her look to be completely, well, royal. This Queen of the Vampires can often be seen in lots of plush textiles, power suits and luxe furs in various shades of cream, white, crimson and slate gray. Sophie-Anne's look gives a bit of a nod to the 30's and 40's, as it has a very distinctive vintage feel.

7. Pearl smoking jacket, Rika, $460
8. Draped trouser, Reiss, $177

Lorena is known for being the most vicious and beautiful woman on the show, so it's understandable why True Blood stylists wanted her look to be the most high-fashion. She can often be seen seducing her prey in layers of lace or velvet and dark colors. Apparently, she also has a fondness for gloves.

9. Python dress by Balmain

10. Velvet mini dress, Dress Up, $268

Tara's look is all about comfort and durability. This hard-working girl doesn't have time to fret over hemlines and heels; in her closet, you're more likely to find cargo pants, versatile tanks and T-shirts.

11. Pearl tank top, Ulla Johnson, $225

12. Vintage sahara cargo pants, J. Brand, $295

Which True Blood character's closet would you most like to raid?

Be blessed, lovelies-

Photo credits: HBO, Elle.com