Weekend Beautification

Admittedly, I don't take really great care of my skin.  I'm not dirty or anything, but it's just never been a priority for me.  Examples: I generally work out in the morning and then don't shower until the afternoon (unless we're going somewhere in between, but usually it's just errands or play time...why shower for that, right?).  Also, I frequently...as in always...go to sleep without first removing my makeup/washing my face (in fairness, I only wear makeup a couple or few times a week, but still...).  I think that adequately states my point.
Even with my lack of effort, I am pretty fortunate to not have crazy breakouts or anything.  Instead, I just have pores...noticeable, large pores!  When I asked my hair/makeup girl about this, she basically said I needed to take better care of my skin.  Point taken.  And I tried.  But it lasted about a day before I tired of the extra effort (pathetic I know!).
I like quick fixes...and guess what?!?  Pinterest, of course, delivered!  A friend pinned this little recipe and when it promised to totally diminish pores, I knew I had to give it a try.  And it totally worked!!!  My pores weren't totally gone after one use, but they were much, much smaller!  And I'm thinking if I can repeat it with any consistency, I could get them to nearly nonexistent!
When I find something good, I like to share the goods, so here it is the amazingly easy pore-refinining/minimizing/disappearing mask!!!

1.  Mix 1 tbsp. orange juice with 1 tbsp. baking soda.  If you need to add more baking soda to thicken it, do so!

2.  Apply a thin layer all over your face and/or neck.  You'll probably have enough for 2 masks if you just do your face!

3.  Leave on for 20 minutes.  Be sure to keep your fingers busy during this time because the mask can itch a bit and you don't want to touch it!

4.  Wet fingers and massage mask off.

5.  Rinse.

I promise you won't believe how clear and pretty your skin looks.  Such an easy treatment just in time for some weekend fun!  You're welcome!

What I Wore: Hoping for Spring

Yesterday I shared with you just how ridiculous our weather has been this year, and also how determined I am to make it seem like Spring in some sort of way.  I've decorated, I've taken the boys outside in less than ideal weather, and we've even begun to check some items off our spring bucket list!  And when it comes to getting dressed, I've tried to add a little bit of Spring fun in.
So, here's the thing though.  Josh caught me taking a picture of myself/outfit one evening and literally laughed out loud at me.  And I must admit, I felt kind of ridiculous because let's face it, I'm certainly no fashion/style expert.  But I know I enjoy seeing other people's outfits on their blogs because it gives me some fresh ideas, so I'm thinking there may be some of you out there who enjoy seeing it on mine too.  Yes?  No?  Let me know!  Either way, today you're stuck with it.  I present to you some of my recent looks.  I call this series "dressing for Spring despite the fact that it's freaking freezing."  And like last time, clearly my self portrait skills suck!

Top: modernego.com

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Toms

Earrings: Stella and Dot

Top: Target

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: Payless

Scarf: veryjane.com (my new obsession!)

Top: H and M

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Toms

Necklace: Stella and Dot

Top: Bevello

Jeans: Gap

Earrings: Target

Bracelets: Express

Clutch: Target

Top: Express

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Toms

Earrings: Stella and Dot

So there we have it!  Hopefully the next time I show you some outfits they can actually feature some short sleeve stuff...or better yet, some sundresses.  Hurry up Spring; I, for one, am ready for you!

Shall We Call Vogue?

I'm on a mission this year...a mission to be present myself better to the outside world.  Don't get me wrong-I don't think I scream bag lady or anything.  But as a SAHM, a lot of days I don't manage to make it out of my yoga pants/workout top because it would just be a waste!  And while I kind of relished that fact for awhile, I also started to get a little fed up with the fact that I no longer got "dressed."  So I made a little compromise with myself.  If our day's agenda involves more than errand running, I would get dressed.  Add that to our typical Friday and Saturday nights out, and there's probably 3-4 times a week that I now get dressed.
But here's where I decided I needed to up my game.  If I'm only getting dressed 3-4 times a week, I reasoned I should be able to take the time to do more than just put on a top and jeans.  Instead, I've decided to try to put together "outfits"...you know, with accessories and such involved.
Before I show you some of last week's looks, I should warn you that I'm not very good at taking these pictures!So here we go...

Outfit 1: Dentist appointment (confession: and dinner out with a friend and my sister the night before!)

                               

Dress: Old Navy

Leggings: Lauren Conrad for Kohl's 

Boots: Payless

Scarf: Target

Outfit 1: Friday night out to dinner

Top: Loft

Pants: Old Navy

Boots: Payless

Earrings: Stella and Dot

Outfit 3: Sunday dinner out

Top: Old Navy

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

Scarf: Loft

Earrings: Target

I used to think my goal was to be secretly thought of as a MILF, but recently I've realized I'm not nearly sexy enough to pull that off!  I go for things that are comfortable and practical for days spent at the bounce house/park/whatever, but hopefully with a bit of a style to it!  So how did I do?

Birthday Wish List

As Colton is now apt to remind you (yep, I've trained him well), my birthday (and his) are both quickly approaching.  In fact, my big day is less than a month away!
I'm not one of those people who fret about birthdays and getting another year older.  Actually, I welcome them.  After all, I'm here, I'm healthy, I'm happy...what more could I ask for?!?  Plus, it's a whole day that's devoted just to me and people going out of their way to make it special!
As much as I love my birthday, I don't like actually asking for anything.  I like for Josh and the boys, and anyone else who may wish, to surprise me.  But I've found that sometimes people need a bit of help (at least if I want to get stuff I actually want!).  SO...to remedy the situation, I've decided to post a little wish list here and then anyone who really cares to can consult it.  How convenient, right?
Got your credit cards ready?  Here we go...
1.  West Elm capiz chandelier...been begging for it about 3 years!
                                                     
2.  Stackable birthstone rings...one with Josh and mine and another with the boys
                                                         

via oliveandbungalow.com

3.  Landscape design consult.  That sound so lame, but our front is in serious need of some landscaping help.  I tried to do it myself a couple of years ago, but it hasn't exactly thrived.  I don't mind doing the work myself (in fact, I kind of enjoy that sort of thing!), BUT I need someone to tell me exactly what to do!

4.  A new wallet...mine has taken quite the beating with the boys cups and stuff spilling on it!  Plus, how pretty is this?!?

                                                

5.  Clothes, clothes, and more clothes!  But I'm picky...and I like to try on...so gift cards are probably best (bevello, Franscescas, Loft, Nordstrom, even Anthropologie)!

Pam to the Rescue

For the past few months, I have been busy pinning images like these to my boards:

OPI's An Affair in Times Square

Essie's Demure Vixen

                                                         

I love those fall neutrals, but there's one major problem...I have no pretty nails!
I don't really consider myself a "nail biter"...more of a nail picker-I see a chip, I pick at it, or nibble on it, and before you know it, my nails are nothing more than nubs.
As much as I love the look of painted nails, I also think they would serve a purpose in helping to conquer the problem I should have long outgrown.  Ready to follow this logic?  If my nails are painted, I can't see the imperfections.  Plus, if the nails are painted, then I catch myself from nibbling on them because I don't want to mess up the polish.  BUT it takes too long to paint the nails and let them dry, especially considering the polish only lasts a few days, so why waste the time doing it?
And then I read a tip that may save my nails.  I saw it on Pinterest (of course), but I think it was originally from "Real Simple" magazine.  If you paint your nails, and then immediately spray Pam cooking spray on the wet polish, it will immediately be dry.  Say what?!?
                                      
Guess what y'all?  It totally worked too!  Instead of painting my nails being a 20+ minute ordeal (most of which was me sitting with my hands completely still waiting for them to dry), it now takes less than five minutes!  So, now I plan/hope to keep my nails painted.  And if my logic from above is correct, hopefully my painted nails will not only look prettier, but they will also help keep me from picking/nibbling long enough to actually grow some longer nails!
 I'll keep you posted...I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat!

                                                       

Leggings, Tunics,and Boots...Oh My!

As I've started visualizing my fall wardrobe, I have visions of this...

Or this:

Or maybe even this:

Notice a common trend?  I am totally obsessed with this look and have compiled the following shopping list.

1.  Flats---preferably leopard-print

2.  Boots---these are Frye, which I am totally loving, but I doubt my husband would love the $300+ price tag (!)...anybody have a recommendation for a good knock off?

3.  Some cute scarves

And then lots and lots of tunics/oversized shirts and leggings.  But here's where I get a little confused...are those leggings?  Or are they skinny jeans?  Either way, does anyone have a good pair to recommend because whenever I try these things on, it doesn't seem to accurately get the look.  

Anybody else digging this look too?  Or any other Fall necessities I should add to my list?

If I Could Do it Again...

This Saturday marks five years of marriage for Josh and I (C.R.A.Z.Y, huh?).  I'm sure it comes as no surprise considering what I am now attempting to do for a living, but I loved every single second of wedding planning.  In fact, I loved it so much that I often joked with Josh that we would have to get remarried every five years just so I could plan a new wedding each time.
And then Pinterest came along and I was even more tempted by the notion of planning another wedding.
But, alas, here we are five years later and there are no plans for a remarriage/vow renewal/etc.  But Pinterest is just a click away, and I thought it may be fun to quickly look through it and find some things that I would use...IF I got to plan another wedding...

We did the whole formal, big, country club wedding the first time around.  It was really nice, but if I got a second wedding I would probably keep it more intimate.  And we would all rent a ginormous beach house like the one below (in Nags Head nonetheless) to hang out in before the wedding...this way it's like a whole week party.  

It doesn't necessarily go with the whole beach wedding vibe (but this is all pretend anyway, right), but I am loving the lace look.  And I'm especially loving the cut-out back!  So pretty.

And maybe Josh and his guys would oblige me and wear something bright and happy like this.

My bridesmaids wore long brown dresses (that sounds so awful, but it was actually pretty).  This time around, though, I love the idea of picking a color...probably something bright like coral or turquoise...and allowing each girl to pick out something that they liked in that color.  Kind of like below, but in a different color.

We didn't have a ring bearer (or flower girl for that matter) at our wedding, but now we would obviously have the two boys.  And they would HAVE to carry a sign like this.  Love. Love. Love.

Oh, and I would totally make sure we got some pictures like this beforehand.

As for the reception, I was totally happy with ours the first time around.  In fact to this day, Josh and I often have people tell us it was the most fun wedding they have ever had at a wedding.  And in researching this fake wedding, I learned that I may have just been a trendsetter because I came across Colin Cowie's (ya know...the mega wedding planner) recommendation of doing a station-style buffet...which is exactly what we did complete with mini grilled cheeses/shots of tomato soup, sliders, and pigs in a blanket at one station, crabcake sandwiches, hush puppies, and shrimp at another, a mashed potato bar at one more, and then I don't remember the last one.  My dad HATED my food selections, but I loved them and was very insistent on them at the time...and would probably repeat the same exact things this time around!

But this time I would also add a dessert bar...

And on that dessert bar, I would have smaller wedding cake, either ombre style

Or even this sprinkles cake that's ombre once cut in to:

The more I think about it it's probably a good thing I didn't get married in the age of Pinterest because I just spent wwwaaayyy too much time on there planning this fake wedding.  I can only imagine how addicted I would become if I had an actual wedding to plan!  So, I guess I'll just stick to living vicariously through others and helping them plan theirs (hint hint sister hint hint)

Rent Me a Dress

Have you ever heard of Rent the Runway?  Ever used it?
The idea behind the site has intrigued me for awhile.  Basically, you pay a rental fee to get a designer dress for a few days.  I've always thought it was a really good idea, especially because I tend to buy dresses, wear them once, and then feel compelled to buy another one when I have the next special occasion.  But I have never bitten the bullet and tried out the site, opting for dresses from non-designer labels that are available locally.
Well, my cousin is getting married next month, and I need a dress.  And this time Rent the Runway is even more tempting because I really don't want to buy a dress in the size I am now because (fingers crossed) I will not be this size for very much longer.  I have looked at the site over and over, and am really excited by some of the options, but I still am a bit wary.

Choice 1

Choice 2

Choice 3

Choice 4

Choice 5

Choice 6

I should probably mention that the wedding is an early evening, outdoor affair.  It's on a plantation with a relatively casual feel if that makes a difference.  

Also, Rent the Runway has a pretty awesome policy in which you can rent additional dresses for just $25 each, so I'm kind of thinking I might just rent two.  This way if one doesn't fit I have a backup, and if they both do fit, I'll have one for the rehearsal dinner as well.  

The only risk, then, is if neither of them fit, I am pretty much screwed just days before the wedding, since they won't arrive until the day we have to leave to get there!
So, I need you all's help.  Tell me what you think...do it or not?  And then which of these fine choices do you like the most?  Please, please, please comment and tell me what you think....even if you don't usually comment...I really need all the help I can get on this one!

Some New Bling

I'm not a big jewelry/accessory wearer...I honestly wish I was, but quite frankly, I'm just not cool enough to pull it off.  In general, I wear my wedding band, engagement ring, a simple Tiffany's chain necklace, a Pandora charm bracelent and some diamond studs daily and that's about it...pathetic, I know.
Considering clothes are not currently fitting me as I would like, I have found myself turning to accessories, though, in my own attempt to become a little more fashionable.  And in what I have discovered to be a crazy twist in my own little world, I find myself seriously loving some gold.  Huh?  I used to hate gold, but now look at these pretties:

Kate Spade

J. Crew

Etsy

Anthropologie

But everything I currently wear, or even own, is silver/platinum.  Can I even pull these things off?  But I want. I want. I want.  

Anybody else loving some gold these days?  Is this new for you too?  And most importantly, who wants to get me what...my birthday is only about a month away?!?

What I Do Best

While my family is the gift-giving type, Josh's is more of the money/gift card-giving variety.  I don't necessarily believe one school of thought is better than the other, but the advantage to me is that after Christmas I usually end up with some loot to spend (and usually a pretty significant amount at that!!!).  Each year, I take my after-Christmas purchases very seriously, as in I am careful to buy things that I really have wanted and am going to enjoy...no necessities or anything else boring.
This year, I think I did particularly well, so I figured I'd share with you my purchases...

1.  Chevron Rug from Urban Outfitters: I had spotted this beauty, and it's even prettier price tag, a few months ago in blue and really wanted it, but didn't really have a place for it in our abode.  Truthfully, I wanted to completely redo our dining room to revolve around the blue version of the rug, but that just didn't seem very responsible/realistic.  So, when I spotted an orange version of the same rug, (and still at only $74!), I knew I just had to have it.  It arrived, and is in place, and the look is exactly what I was after!  In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that the rug is definitely uber-thin (I mean, there's a reason it was so cheap, right?), but I've placed some non-slip rug tape around the edges (after this picture was taken if you notice the bubbles below) and this baby is snugly in place and looking pretty:)

2.  Continuing on with my slight ridiculous chevron-obsession, I found these new dish towels at Target.  I know I said my money was supposed to be reserved for "fun" purchases, but these guys were only $2.99 each and seeing their happy pattern in my kitchen definitely is fun to me (I'm getting so old, huh?!?)

3.  And finally, my new purse, purchased from a local boutique (bevello if you're in/near the area).  I had wanted a new purse for a long time, but couldn't quite decide what I was after (big/small, color choice, etc), but when I spotted this one, it was love at first sight.  The after-Christmas sales price made it a total steal, and now I am proudly sporting a new bag (well, two actually, if you count my new diaper bag that was a gift from my mom for Levi's arrival!)

Yay for scoring myself some fun treasures.  Josh is always amazed at how well I manage to stretch my Christmas money.  Actually, I don't think he believes me that I have actually stayed within its limits, but I promise I have.  In fact, I still have a little bit left over that I have to decide how to spend!  

How about you all?  Do you score some post-holiday deals as well?  Or is your family/friends the gift-giving type like mine?

Bump Friendly Formal Attire?

I don't know about you all, but I can't believe it's October!!!  I mean, seriously, where did September even go?  Believe it or not, though, it is here and I guess it is time to start prepping for all the October fun.  At the end of the month, Josh and I will be leaving Colton behind (I'm sure there will be much more on that later!) to travel to Orlando for a work thing for him, a pool thing for me.  One of the events on the agenda is the franchise-wide formal affair that is held on the last night we are there.
Ironically, I have an old prom dress of my sister's that I have been holding on to for the last several years to wear if I ever had the need, but both times I have attended this function, I have been knocked up and the aforementioned dress is just not flattering.  I tried it on this weekend just to make sure (it is really stretchy after all, so I thought it might by some miracle of miracle work out), but no bueno.
So, now what?  There's a couple problems with trying to find a formal maternity dress.  For one, there is absolutely nowhere to shop here in Va. Beach for such a thing...we don't have cute maternity boutiques or anything outside of Motherhood Maternity.  And mainly, a formal gown of any type is beaucoup bucks, and considering I will only wear this thing one time (not even a chance for a repeat performance because we fully intend for this to be my last pregnancy), it just does not seem reasonable to spend over $100 on something.
I had heard of people using the site Rent the Runway with a lot of success to rent formal gowns, but they have no maternity wear.  I did manage to find a couple other sites, including the cleverly named Rent Maternity Wear, that seem to offer a similar service.  It was there that I tracked down a few possibilities:

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

But now I really can't decide.  I am a little wary of using this kind of service, especially without being able to try on the dress beforehand.  Plus, I'm not really ecstatic about any of the above pictures.  Like most things maternity, I feel like I'm settling and just buying something to literally have something to wear, not because it will actually look nice.

So what do you all think?  Anyone ever used a rental wear site?  Have a dress preference from the above?  Or a genius way to somehow otherwise dress a 7-month moderate sized pregnant bump?  I would love any and all help you all can give!!!

If you can't get enough of me, I'm also guest posting today over at RoCa and Company!  Go visit:)