A little bit of this...and that

So I'm still on my budget (even though it's killing me) I am making it work.  :) The other day I got my J.Crew catalog and spotted the cutest polka dot dress but was super shocked by the $198 price tag....um I don't think so, a la Cher from Clueless, was what first popped into my head. I decided to do some shopping around and found the most adorable polka dot dress from Forever21 for $22.80.....um yes please!  It is so cute and I can't wait to wear it with some red pumps. I of course didn't stop there as I wanted to get free shipping, if you spend more than $50 you get free shipping, how amazing is that!  So I headed on over to tops and blouses and found this adorable sailor top that will be perfect for work and play. I was still just shy of my $50 free shipping so I picked up some adorable earrings at $3.80 a pop!  What a fab deal. And finally on my way to check out I noticed this adorable sweater but I resisted given I was at my max...

I have to tell you that I learned a lot about jobs, work and the type of employee I wanted to be from my dad.  For the better part of my life my dad worked from our house and his office/the guest room was right next to mine.  So on any given day I would wake up to his cheery, loud voice saying "Good morning dear."  or "Hey buddy, how are you?" Let's just say that this wasn't exactly ideal during the summer months but I truly think he helped me learn by osmosis.  He taught me to always be upbeat and happy to the customer even if everything behind the scenes was falling apart.  He taught me that people want to deal with someone who is friendly, social and funny.  He taught me to work hard and then work a little bit harder.  He taught me one of my most important lesson a few years ago when I was dealing with a very difficult issue at work.  I will spare you the details but I was having to perform a task and execute on a strategy that at the time ...

I am beyond excited today is Thursday and looking forward to a restful and relaxing weekend :)  I hope I can get some sunshine as well!  I hope you're week hasn't been too crazy and you enjoy this edition of what's what!  xoxo 1.  Annie Griffin Sale I love me some annie griffin!  I just feel like her clothes fit so well and are so timeless.  I have this one amazing purple dress that I wear all the time and I just ordered the red one during the sale.  Check out her fabulous sale and you won't be sorry! http://www.anniegriffincollection.com/collections 2.  Tim Gunn:  A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style Like most gals I have loved, loved Tim Gunn since the first season of project runway!  So imagine my delight to know he has published an amazing new book on all things fashion and style.  I love that this book is not only beautiful but gives you a real history about fashion and how certain items came to be in your close...

How are all my pretties today?? I am feeling great today!  This whole running at 6 a.m. thing makes my whole day so much better because I have tons of energy :) Along with running like a fool I have also been reading like a maniac!  Enjoy what's on my nightstand!  xoxo 1.  Maine Ok I love, love this author!  She also wrote a hilarious book called Commencement that you have to read as well.  Maine is a great female story about 4 women in a family.  The author takes turns giving you each of their perspectives and you will crack up at their inner thoughts.  I read this book in one day (that's what happens when you get stuck at the NOLA airport) and you will too!  2.  America, America Is such a great book and I have read it many times!  It is the charming story of a young boy who works for a family with wealth and power and is quickly sucked into their world.  He begins working on the family's political campaig...

How are my lovely readers on today?!  I am fabulous because I am heading to NOLA for what is sure to be a super fun wedding and right now I am all about FUN! Please enjoy What's What and your weekend!  xoxoxo 1.  Banana Republic Cardigan One of my friends who will remain nameless always makes fun of me and my love of cardigans.  I can't help it call me a librarian, a granny but I freaking love a good cardigan.  I was in banana republic the other day and came across this beautiful, stylish cardigan.  Isn't it pretty?! ;) 2.  Gin Drink So I don't normally drink liquor and when I do it isn't normally gin but the other day one of my neighbors made the most amazing drink.  He told me it was called a southside and I googled and sure enough there it was.  It is a super easy, delicious drink that I will be sipping on this summer! 2 ounces gin 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 2 tsp granulated sugar 4 or 5 fresh mint leaves Combine a...

I am so excited it is Wednesday because that means Dallas comes on tonight!!  :)  I cannot wait to catch up with Ewings and relax.  Until then please enjoy the second half of my top ten. xoxo 5.  Bling I love, love jewelry always have, always will.  When I was growing up my mom would take me to garage sales and I would find the biggest, gaudiest diamond clip on earrings and come to her with my ears already red from wearing them begging to have them.  She relented more times than not but would always ask me "honey don't your ears hurt?" on the way home.  I think at a young age I realized beauty is pain.  Real or fake I love, love jewelry and truly it is the only thing I collect! 4.  Vaca One of my all time favorite things to do is travel.  I read a great quote once that said "The World is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page."  I truly believe that.  I love to get away and explore new places....

I had some free time on my hands this weekend and it was fabulous! :)  I watched an amazing movie marathon on TNT that included Mystic River, A Perfect Murder, and Double Jeopardy.  As I was watching I started thinking about my favorite things because a movie marathon is one of my favorite things!  And then I took it a step further and started thinking about my top ten favorite things. So for your reading pleasure here is my top ten (part one)! 10.  Diet Coke I love, love diet coke so much.  I know that anything I can put on my car battery that eats of corrosion should probably not go in my body but whatevs!  It's my thing and I love it.  Everyone tells me to stop drinking it but I can't!  By the way I'm sipping on a diet coke as a write this, ha! 9.  Mani/Pedi One thing I cannot live without is a mani/pedi.  The hubs always laughs because he says the world could be coming to an end and I would be running out the door to get a...

I have to tell you that these past few months and perhaps this year have been hard and yes sad.  My mother told me when we were talking about it that I was experiencing "a sad season" and I have to agree. Now this doesn't mean that everything has been awful, sad and terrible.  I haven't been in bed for weeks at a time with the covers over my head watching trash tv.  Instead I feel like it has been one of those times were the hits just keep on coming.  The bad news just keeps rolling in like ocean waves.  It has been a time of tremendous loss and sadness.  The events that have occurred aren't the same but it felt like every time I would get my ahead above water something else would happen.   It has been difficult because there are happy times mixed in to all of the sad.  In those times of happiness I have genuinely tried to be in the moment but my heart wasn't in the right place.  My heart has not felt happy and there has been an undercurr...

How are my fabulous readers?? I must apologize for my absence but I took a short beach vacation (yes another one) and had no cell phone service (thank goodness)!  But don't you worry my little hiatus has given me lots and lots to think about and write about you. Please enjoy this week's what's what! xoxo 1.  Political Animals Is a new show starting on USA tomorrow night and this political junkie can't wait to watch it.  I'm trying to add new shows to my repertoire that don't include the word "wives" in them.  This show has a great cast and seems like it will be fast passed maybe I can even convince the hubs to watch :) 2.  Nike Running Shorts So the hubs signed us up for a 4 mile race this weekend and as I was training this week my chubby little thighs kept rubbing together.  I had to solve this problem immediately and wouldn't you know it that Nike had the answer.  I love, love this shorts with the bike shorts already built in a...

Anybody sportin a big hangover today?!  That's the thing about the 4th being in the middle of the week it makes Thursday and Friday seem like eternity.  I don't know about you but this gal is back at work and getting lots done.  I am also blogging my little heart out so I hope you enjoy!  xoxo 1.  Andy Griffith Dies It brings tears to my eyes to even write that sentence fragment.  I have to admit that growing up Mr. Rogers and Andy Griffith seemed like the best men in the world.   They were always polite and did the right thing.  I loved how each episode you learned a very valuable lesson.  I have to tell you that a small part of my childhood died away when Mr. Rogers died and now another has with Andy Griffith dying.  I will tell you that I learned Mr. Griffith was a whole lot more than Sherrif Taylor he was also a grammy award-winning southern gospel singer....who knew!  I think that makes him even more lovable a...

Sorry for the cursy title but it just fit :) I'm gonna tell you that I hope I'm not alone here but there is some shit I should have learned by now that I haven't.  I started making a list of these items the other day and it was pretty astounding.  The list isn't rocket science but more common sense, every day things people have told me for years.  I am trying to be better and actually do these things but they aren't easy...for me anyway.  1.  Always Carry Cash This is something that my dad has told me for years and I have to confess he is right!  The minute I don't have cash I need to pay for parking, tip someone or pay for food and guess what I don't have it.  It is very annoying.  I am trying to follow this rule and have been going to the ATM every Sunday to start off the week on the right foot.  I will let you know how long it lasts..... 2.  Leave 15 Minutes Early Living in the ATL this is the most important rule to live b...

How are the fashionistas today?   As I've previously said I'm on a pinterest only budget but a gal can still browse can't she?!   I was up early the other Sunday and caught this fab hubs/wife team on Sunday Morning and had to check them out.  They really are too cute and met each other when they were working at Hermes and then decided to start their own company. They make fabulous, high quality polos shirts in the USA.  While it costs them a little bit more $$ to do it they felt it was important to support the good ole US of A and so I think it is important for us to support them!   I wanted to give them a shout out for their patriotism on this 4th of July for having fantastic taste and supporting our country.  Check them out at www.kpmaclane.com and let me know what you think! And Happy (almost) 4th of July!  xoxo

This is a question the hubs and I ask each other all the time :) It's because when you live with someone you can't hide....ANYTHING!  And I think that's a good thing.  The hubs knows tons of things about me that I wish no one knew.   He knows the crazy things I do when I think I'm alone and he knows me the real me, the me I wish sometimes was better or stronger.  The hubs knows it all and I thank God everyday he doesn't blog :) The other day he was laughing about the silly, quirky, sometimes downright odd things I do and I have to admit they were pretty good.  In short I have shared my SSB with him.  Remember that Sex and the City episode where Carrie talks about SSB....your single secret behavior?  Well my friends when you've lived with someone for a while you can take the two S's off!  It's just your behavior that happens when you feel at your most comfortable.    So for your reading pleasure here is my not so secret married be...