number 172

if you know me IRL, you know that although i do like nice things, if it's inexpensive AND nice, then i LOVE it! i'm all about a good deal! i'm not afraid of eBay or craigslist, and find myself on both sites at least once a day, just perusing and making a mental wish list. am i the only one?

this birthday, i opted for a recent craigslist find as a birthday gift and was more than pleased with my decision.

forgive the cell-phone picture and shag carpet. this is my new china cabinet – purchased from a lovely lady in kannapolis for $100. it’s in perfect condition, and i can't wait to fill it with my pretty pretty fine china that's been packed away since we moved to charlotte last year! i already have its perfect place picked out in the new house!

on several occasions when friends/family say "i'm looking for *this piece of furniture*" my immediate response is "check craigslist!". i've had some really good luck on craigslist since moving to charlotte - both buying and selling! bigger market – better stuff? anyway, i have yet to have a bad experience, so i wanted to share a few tips which, i think, have contributed to my success.

now, in a year, i might have a garage full of diy’s that never were, but don’t shy away from a great buy just because it’s not the right color, doesn’t have good knobs, or has broken glass. there are a TON of furniture painting tutorials out there for us beginners. buy some new knobs at anthro and replace that old broken glass, and you’ve got a piece that not only looks as good as new: it looks custom and expensive!

never will i ever buy from the “dealer” on craigslist. i feel like even searching that section is a huge waste of time. even when i'm searching the "by owner" section, i look for listings that are low on the symbols – NOT like: ***********NEW GREAT OFFER ~~~~ GET IT WHILE IT LASTS**********. yeah…not gonna happen, buddy.

i think i overlooked this little option for years before discovering it last week:
i’m not going to consider a listing unless it has a picture. maybe i'm missing out on something awesome by doing that, but cmon...can you really expect to sell your "beautiful one-of-a-kind camo gun cabinet" without a picture? believe me, "show images" and it'll save you a boatload of time.

the worse they can say is “no thanks”. say you’re in love with a kitchen table, but it’s listed for $50 more than you’d rather spend. email the seller and ask if they’ll take your price! if they say no, check back a little later. chances are, if that table hasn’t sold yet, they’ll take your offer just to get it out of the house!

you’re looking for a gorgeous campaign dresser for under $300? story of my life! an rss feed will show your listings in google reader or your rss feed of choice. so you can check the listings as frequently as you want, with these exact search parameters. just perform your search:

then click the orange RSS button at the VERY bottom right corner of the page to set up your feed. ()

 

and lastly, be safe. although i've had several good experiences with craigslist, there are some creepers out there. be sure to take your husband/boyfriend/really strong gal-pal with you on your trip to pick up your new-to-you awesome find!

 

did i completely miss your awesome craigslist tip?
fill a gal in!

number 171

today, andrew and i are celebrating our 3rd anniversary. and by celebrating i mean, having 2 of his best friends come stay with us for a couple of nights for a golf tournament tomorrow and another just passing through. i'm ok with that because i'm an awesome wife (that, and he's taking me out of town for a romantic date saturday night!)

i've known my husband for 11 years, and we've been “together” over 5 out of those eleven. you see, when i was 15, i had an embarrassing huge crush on an older 18 year old guy at our church. obsessive high school dream crush. 6 years later, during my senior year in college, we went on our first date.

our first year together was filled with lots of "this-is-SO-crazy-that-we’re-dating"s quickly followed by lots of "i've-never-felt-like-this-before"s. and telling my mom "i think i might marry him" just in casual conversation. i can honestly say, from day 1, i knew something was different. it's always just felt "right"… and it still does. i can't imagine anyone more perfectly made for me. we complement each other seamlessly, and i'm just so thankful that he's such a huge part of my life.

happy anniversary, andrew. i love you a massive amount, and i'm SO excited for what is yet to come.

number 170

image via

so today i'm twenty-seven years old. sometimes throughout the year i have days where the smallest problems seem so huge… i forget to look around and see all the good that’s in my life, reflect, and be thankful. today’s a good day for that: i have 27 years behind me - filled with great memories from great people. i have a happy and healthy husband who tells me he loves me and kisses me every day, two parents who are wonderful role models and who still love each other so much, a wonderful family (immediate, extended, and in-law) that i wouldn't trade for anything in the world, a boatload of amazing girlfriends who make me so so happy (even though we're hours apart), and even the simple things that i take for granted all too often: a steady paycheck, an un-leaky roof over my head, 3 meals a day, my health, a beautiful, safe city to live in, two healthy and affectionate kitties, and a ton more.

my goal for year 27 is to remember these things every day. in reality, not every day can be champagne and confetti, but keeping this little list of thankfuls in mind can really put those “huge” problems into perspective.

number 169

in the spirit of the first day of fall! i’ve put together a little bucket list. let’s see how i do!

what’s on your fall bucket list?

number 168

image via

welp! it looks like we're well on our way to being homeowners! as of last friday morning, andrew and i are officially under contract on the cutest house ever! (it's a proven fact! - you’ll just have to trust me – no, that’s not it in the picture above) we're overjoyed and have spent the last week crunching numbers, waiting on inspections, and in the spirit of full disclosure: picking out paint colors. we’ve been doing the whole house hunting thing since february and this is as far as we’ve gotten and really feel like this is the one. i cried during the tour. yep, full disclosure.

the excitement is still in full force, but with that comes the anxiety of the biggest. purchase. ever. or at least… since we’ve been on this earth. our realtor is amazing, as is the seller of our cute cute home-to-be, and the process has been really easy and seamless thus far. still, there are some days when i feel like a nervous wreck and want to obsessively drive by the house to make sure no one else has staked their claim on our adorable abode. (yeah, i know i'm nuts) so… anyone out there want to give a little advice on getting through this anxious time for first-time-homebuyers? other than xanax.

number 167

since i got a pretty good response from y'all for last week's tip, here's another one that's quick and to the point, and will be beneficial to YOU and your readers:

this is something that's so simple! for the longest time, i overlooked this tiny task that could have really helped me out. let's say i'm posting about a really cute dress over at queen of the tailgate. be sure to check the tiny box at the bottom of the hyperlink window to "open this link in a new window". (see below!)

this little task will enable your viewers to simply "x" out of the site you've linked out to, and return back to your blog to read for another 3 hours. otherwise, if they're like me, they're getting lost for days browsing the virtual aisles of pottery barn or, worst case, the black hole that is pinterest. 

so maybe you already knew today's trick, maybe you didn't. is there a web trick you'd like to know how to do? ask me! if i don't know, i'll try my best to find out and we'll learn together!

number 166

so i had a little craft time going on at my house sunday afternoon. the sound of football on the tv and the cool crisp air really got me in the mood for a little fall wreath action. here are a few snaps of my little project:

my supplies (cost ~$20, i already had my burlap). i bought a grapevine wreath because they were on sale, and it ended up being better than a foam form one.



i hot-glued the moss directly onto the grapevine wreath, and used a dowel to press it down in between the vines. above, you can see the back of my wreath, which i decided looked fine enough to leave bare. there’s no reason why you couldn’t glue moss on the back as well. below, i laid out my “adornments” the way i liked, then glued them into place. tip: a candle ring works just as well as the loose sprigs of berries, etc!

above, i made my bow, and hot-glued it separately to the hanging burlap piece. for me, i was able to make a prettier bow using this method. if you’re a super craft queen, i'm sure you could make it all one piece! lastly, i covered my letter W in burlap. this step took longer than the whole wreath! i used my wooden dowel to keep the burlap down while the hot-glue dried. tip: this works much better than using fingers!

here’s the finished product!

i hope y’all enjoyed craft time! i really enjoyed this project and hope to continue posting more crafts in the future!

how are you welcoming fall?

number 165

hey y’all! as a quick follow-up to yesterday’s post: queen of the tailgate is giving all OLQC readers 10% off!!

10% OFF
at
promo code:
QUEENCITY

so head on over and stock up on your football frocks!! thanks, QT!

number 164

the weather turned a little cool this weekend, and it has me SO excited for football season (let's be honest, tailgating season)! the south takes their tailgating very seriously, and i thank my stars that i went to a school that's so passionate about their team. reflecting on my SEC roots, i've always loved how the girls really get dressed up for the games! they put in a lot more effort than your typical hokie-tee-and-jeans combo. so here ya go - in case you're looking for a few options to spice up your gameday garb.

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6

if you're not a hokie, but are still looking for some awesome attire, check out these sites that cater to us gameday gals: twelve saturdays, the red dress boutique, vestique, dress u, sideline sweetie, queen of the tailgate, versei, and adabelles.

number 163

i've mentioned before how much i really enjoy web/graphic design, and i really do enjoy sharing these talents/fun facts/boring stats with others. (sometimes without their consent!) i've learned so much in the past few years, and would love to start sharing some tidbits that have helped me along the way. i give you – for lack of a better title – mousy monday! like a computer mouse? sure!

…so you’ve been asked to do a guest post!
congrats! you must be pretty interesting! i didn’t have the slightest idea how to coordinate a guest post with someone until recently. so let’s get started…

1. upload any images you’ll use in your post onto photobucket or another free photo sharing program. this will ensure that your photos are viewable - even from another blogger’s account
2. log into blogger using YOUR account information and compose your post as you normally would using direct links, provided by photobucket, for inserting your photos
3. once you’re finished, click the “HTML” tab in the top left corner of your post editor – your post WILL turn to a ton of jumbled code, but don’t fret! (see below!) now, copy all of that code.
4. open a text editor on your computer (Word, Notepad, etc.), and paste the copied code into the editor
5. save the text file, and email it to your bloggy friend!

the blogger hosting the guest posts should know what to do, but if not: it’s a simple case of working the above steps backwards. they would…

1. create a new post in their blogger account
2. copy the html code sent from the guest blogger
3. click over to the “HTML” tab in the post editor, and paste the code
4. flip back to adjust any necessary formatting
5. publish!

see? sooooo much easier than having to exchange passwords (eeek!) or add contributors (eeeeeek!). i hope this tutorial answers some lingering questions, or maybe makes you have that “OHHHHH, so that’s how you do it!” moment! if so, let me know!
ok, so now that you’ve listened to me drone on about html codes and the like, is this something that you’re interested in hearing more about? would you like me to continue on my path to more mousy mondays? if so, please leave a comment below, and i'll keep ‘em comin!

number 162

never have i ever…. owned ANYTHING leopard print.

…is something i would have said 2 days ago. yeah y’all! seriously! anything. last night i took a fashion risk (coming from the gal who would much rather be in jeans and a t-shirt every day). i bought a leopard print tunic. this is a big deal for me… and i need a little input! since “animal print” is in its trial run for me, i splurged on this $25 beauty from old navy. now, i know there are some fashion savvy gals out there! how do i wear this without it screaming “meeeeow! i love leopard print!!” ?!

here are a couple combos i put together on my own. which of these would you choose?

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7

p.s. special thanks to christina and april for letting me take a peek into the "cool blogger gal" club. i met them both for the first time last night, and y'all, these ladies are just too awesome for words! i honestly felt like we'd been friends all along! if you have a blogger community in your area, i highly encourage a meet-up or get together over a glass (or 3 of wine). you can learn so so much and make some great friends in the process! 

number 161

ok. so i was welcoming fall last night with a new mani using essie’s styenomics, and was SO proud of my glossy, un-smudged work! that was…until i woke up this morning and saw at least 10 tiny bubbles on EACH nail. this has happened to me after the last few manicures i've done at home. what the heck?

what the heck? after a little googling, i have found this answer. i hope this saves ya’ll from a ruined manicure in the future as well (click the link below)! btw, stylenomics looks like a dark green in the bottle, but don’t let it fool you – it’s closer to black… i have to say, i'm a teensy bit disappointed!

how to prevent bubbles in manicures

number 160

“thank God for fridays” – andrew in the car this morning. true story, boo. here are a few things i'm loving/excited about:

1 | fall neutrals are comin’ in with full force! the neons and bright hues of summer aren’t completely gone yet, but i've seen a ton of comfy sweaters, riding boots, and neutral hues in my pinterest feed lately. i'm not gonna complain one bit. fall is my favorite time of year: vt tailgating, my birthday, comfy clothes, and gorgeous colors provided by mother nature. fall, i welcome you with open arms. i'm needing a manicure in the worst way, and i think chinchilly is going to suit my mood just fine.

2 | this is an every-night scene in our house around 11pm. we have trained one of our cats to be a real live baby. i'll spare you the 5 minute snuggle-fest video. it’s actually really heartwarming - when we got “bangs” he was very abused and very distrusting of anyone, so it’s nice to see him in a place where he can feel safe around humans again.

3 | andrew and i are heading home this weekend to celebrate a couple of family birthdays, and this little sweet peach will be there as well. (our niece who resides in indiana) i cant wait to kiss those cheeks!

4 | again with the fall comfort – i just can’t wait to get into a flannel shirt and some leggings. pinned here.

5 | pinterest is wonderful for drawing inspiration (or flat out copying, we’re all guilty!) for all things fashion, food, and décor. this awesome print (pinned here) would be a great diy! i might give it a go!

i'm linking up with lauren over at from my grey desk for her weekly “high five for friday!’

happy weekend!

number 159

this weekend i stopped by buffalo exchange in plaza midwood and sold some clothes that weren’t loved anymore. y’know, that cutthroat process of going through your closet saying “didn’t wear this at all last season, see ya later!!” i've gotten much better at donating/selling items than i used to be. i'd hang on to stuff forever – y’know…just in case? i've parted ways with that mentality since the discovery of b.e., and why wouldn’t i? you get cash – on the spot! instant gratification! this time, i opted to spend some of said cash on an in-store purchase (that you get for 50% off!):

via j.crew

yeah, notice that $98 price tag on the j.crew jeans. i got these EXACT pants for $10, and i'm really excited to work them into my fall wardrobe. here are some of my favorite styles i've found for boyfriend jeans:

pinned here

thanks for stopping by today! i'm hoping to be hiding out/become a hermit this weekend/next week before the craziness of the democratic national convention hits town. yikes! oh yeah, and i'm linking up today with jamie for what i'm loving wednesdsay!

what’s your favorite fall fashion?

number 158

image via

just in case it’s not written down in your calendar/planner or etched in your memory forever: my birthday is exactly 1 month from tomorrow. september 25th. i'll wait while you record that... andrew asked me last night what i'd like for my birthday, and i'm at a loss? i haven’t reached the point in adulthood where you just say “oh i don’t really want anything, just a card”. (honestly, does anyone really ever want just a card?) so i need help! what’s on your wish list this year?

number 157

y’all, get ready for a real game-changer. yesterday, i downloaded a new app, and i just can’t hold my excitement in. i have to share the love! after reading this post from witty & pretty, i downloaded songza. yes, i realize i already have 4 apps for music on my phone, but thought i'd give it a go. songza is a “music concierge” which is a fancy way of saying it blows the pants off of pandora.

you simply choose your activity (everything from “working out” and “drinking at a dive bar” to “getting lucky”…yeah), and select from a few playlists that have that “vibe”. since downloading it for my phone yesterday afternoon, i now have it on my kindle fire and laptop as well. i tried out a few playlists and was really pleased with what i got. oh and i haven’t even gotten to the best part: it streams for FREE and has NO COMMERCIALS! see ya never, spotify and pandora! i'm a little hesitant to share my love with the world because i'm afraid once the wonderful word gets out, they’ll throw in some “catch”. we shall see?

in the meantime, i'll share a few of my favorite stations: buns of steel: ‘90s workout, headbands & legwarmers: ‘80s workout, cowgirl kiss-offs, and feelin’ good in the ‘90s…ok, so i love ‘90s music – we can’t be friends if you don’t too! sorry, i'm not sorry!

so yeah! there ya go! give it a download – it’s free, nothing to lose! and when you decide that you love it too, come back and let me know!

number 156

seriously, y’all! this whole “getting my ish back together after vacation” is no joke! i've been crazy busy at work this week and completely wiped out when i get home. needless to say, the blog has taken a lower number on the list of priorities! i DID put together some photos (2 days ago!) of an unforgettable experience on vacation, and i'd love to share!

my nana decided that she wanted to ride in a helicopter (to check it off her bucket list!!), and my mom and i were the lucky ones who got to ride with her! i got a front seat view of the beautiful emerald coast…and some underwater friends! note: don’t go swimming on that romantic secluded beach!

oh what? you don’t believe those are all really sharks? here’s a close-up for you skeptics:

oh hey, friends! like i said before, we flew down past all of the condos (after sandestin but before you get to santa rosa for those familiar with the area) and saw a TON of sea-life: mostly sharks, some stingrays, and a huuuge sea turtle (sorry, no pic. it really just looked like a huge black blob!).

we couldn’t stop talking about our wild ride all night. so the next morning, my brother, his gf, and my mom (round 2) went back up! i can’t say i'm not a tad jealous because apparently they saw a dolphin and her baby.

so, to sum it up: if you have the opportunity, i'd highly suggest the helicopter tour in destin. the water is SO clear, and it’s just a really fun experience! pandhandle helicopter was the company we used – kim and mike are wonderful and so hospitable!

i plan on sharing some more pics and experiences if time permits later in the week! come back and check ‘em out!

number 155

guess who’s back!? thank you so much, april and alex for holding down the fort while i was gone! you gals are the best! i'm busy playing catch-up today, but i'll be back on the blog tomorrow with a little vacay recap! in the meantime, here's a little preview:

number 154 : guest post!

Hey y'all! My name is Alex from Pink & Prosperous and I am filling in for my dear LauraLeigh while she is basking in the Florida sun :)  Let's take a look into my beach bag essentials( that I will be packing up next week--eeeeek!) 

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY TOES IN THE SAND!

  

First things first: Gotta have a stylish, durable, BIG bag. These three requirements are NOT optional ;) 

Now...what the heck goes inside?

 iPod: Gotta have good beach tunes. Extra points for sand-proof portable speakers :) 

Reading Materials: Emily Giffin books always make great beach reads. I also would recommend Andy Cohen's Most Talkative and/or any of the 50 Shades books along with a stack of fashion mags. My beach read rule is it has to be light and fun--who wants to think that much on the beach? 

Hair Ties/Bobby Pins: Just because it's the beach does not mean you can let your hair go wild. Plus....the beach is full of tons of shirtless hotties ;) 

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray: Helps with the beachy-wavy look...both on the beach and on the boardwalk;) Trust me when I say this little bottle is well worth the price tag. 

Jumbo Beach Towel: Go big or go home. Both Costco and Target have amazing (and cute!) 7 ft. long beach towels. The extra 2 feet are essential when laying out. 

Sun Protection: DO NOT FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN! I have porcelain skin so lathering up often is necessary. I like Neutrogena's Fresh Cooling Spray in SPF 45 for the body, Coppertone Oil Free SPF 30 for the face, and Burt's Bees Lifeguard Formula for the lips. Also...if you hair is up don't forget to put some sunscreen in your part-trust me when I say it is painful! 

Ample supply of diet cokes & koozies: Do I really need to elaborate? I didn't think so. (extra points for cute koozies-I love the Lilly ones!) 

Sunglasses: Again....this one doesn't need elaboration. Plus....it's always safer to check out the hotties behind a pair of shades ;) 

Well there you have it.....everything I pack in my beach bag. I know it seems like a lot, but my girlfriends can attest to the face that whenever they think they have to go back inside to get something...I usually have it....which makes me feel half as crazy ;)

 Hope y'all are having a WONDERFUL week and please stop by and say hi! 

 xoxo Alex

number 153 : guest post!

Hi all!  I am April and I blog at A. Liz Adventures.  I'm so happy to be guest blogging here for my fellow neighbor in our beautiful Queen City, Laura!

The great thing about Charlotte is that we are a very close road trip to the beach.  Throw a bag in the back of the car and you'll be at your destination in about three or four hours.  Not too shabby.

For the most part, I pack simply when I'm at the beach -- evenings consist of a breezy sundress, an easy updo, and minimal makeup.  Shoes are, for the most part, optional.  That all makes for light luggage.  My beach bag, on the other hand, is stocked!

  My essentials in my beach bag are:

{1} A good lip balm with SPF.  Right now I'm on the eos train.  Honeysuckle honeydew is my jam.

{2} Aviator sunglasses are my go-to shape.  These Banana Republic shades look like the pair that I love.

{3} I am a Kindle lover.  Right now I'm reading this great book.

{4} A cute coozie is absolutely necessary!  I'm also a Woozie fan.  :)

{5} Beach snack of choice = Swedish fish!

{6} I never go anywhere without my Canon camera.

{7} Sunscreen is a must when you want to be able to stay on the beach for hours.

{8} My favorite magazine is Real Simple -- I'm always excited when my subscription comes in before a beach trip.  I put it into my beach bag straight out of the mailbox and don't let myself open it until I'm beachside!

 

One other item that has recently been making its way down to the beach with us is our Bocce Ball set (like this one).  I picked up a brand new set earlier this Spring at an estate sale.  It's the perfect game to play on the beach, especially with a glass of white wine in hand!

 

I'd love to hear what some of your "must haves" are for your beach bag.  What's your #1 essential?

number 152

“the sun and the sand and a drink in my hand…with no bottom”

image via

yep! y’all, we’re heading to the beach! today at 2, family vacation officially begins! we’ll be getting on the road with my parents, bro, and his gf, and traveling just outside of atlanta (just for a pit stop) tonight. back on the road in the morning to head down to the emerald coast. we’ll swing through and pick up nana at the airport, and then hit the beach! we’ve been going to destin, florida since i was little. growing up in arkansas, florida was the default vacation spot, and upon moving to virginia, we just can’t seem to shake our love for the gulf! i love that soft, white sand!

so, i'll be signing off for the week, but i've got some great gals who are going to hold down the fort while i'm gone! y’all have a lovely week, and try not to get too jealous of my tan when i return!

number 151

if you know me in real life, chances are you’ve heard me brag about my family. i do it often. now, obviously my opinion is biased, but i really do believe i have the best of the best! not only was i born into an amazing family, but i married into one as well! i could go on and on…but this post is for one family member in particular: my mom. she deserves a post every day of the year for being so awesome, but today especially! why? it’s her birthdayyy!

her nickname around our house is “happy girl”. she always has a smile on her face – and not in the stepford kind of way. she genuinely is happy the majority of the time! she’s not high maintenance or hard to please – just what you want in a best gal pal. my mom and i are extremely close. a day that i don’t talk to her at least twice is a rare occurrence. i'm sure my phone calls will double when the day comes that we have kids (still far away). she’s definitely in the top 5 list of my favorite people  - i'm sure most who meet her would say the same! she’s a great friend, mother, wife, sister, advisor, and margarita buddy! i love my mom. today, on her birthday, and every day.

 

number 150

maybe i'm late to the party on this one, but recently (?) lilly pulitzer announced that they would be releasing custom prints for every state! although i'm not a huge lilly girl, this is SUCH an adorable idea! i'll definitely be including something featuring my favorite states on my birthday list.

today they released the full preview of the north carolina print on facebook, but you have to solve the little puzzle to view it in its entirety. lucky for you, i've done all the hard work already:

i spy…the beach, the mountains, tar heels (boo! go duke!), dogwood blooms (our state flower), a cardinal (nc state bird), the wright brothers’ first flight, crowns (QUEEN CITY, represent!!), grapes for our many vineyards, and something that looks like donuts (anyone know what this is about?)

fun fact: virginia and north carolina share the same state flower and bird. crazy coincidence!

anyway! if you’re on the lookout for your state, be sure to follow lilly on facebook to get all the updates on the newest releases, or view the small state swatches here.

apparently lilly is a little biased towards georgia. at this point, they’re the only state being sold online, but i'm sure local lilly stores will have the murfee state scarves in shortly after they’re released.

nc girls, what you think? does it sum up our great state enough for you? and what about those donuts?

number 149

hi friends! i'm still around -- just taking a bit of a break. it's been a busy week, and i haven't felt that anything has been blog-worthy. same ole routine! be back soon!

number 148

hey y’all! i was sick yesterday and took the day off work. so needless to say, i'm busy playing catch up today in the office and can't squeeze in a sec for a real post. BUT, i do want to invite you to join me in fatmumslim’s photo challenge for august! i've never done one before and had already vowed to take more pictures, so here's my chance! follow along and see how long i stick with it: @lauraleighwyatt on instagram!

number 147

it’s no secret that alex loves the olympics, so it shouldn’t be too hard to guess today’s friday five theme. the OLYMPICS! today, we’re spotlighting 5 things i'm digging from around the globe to celebrate this huge worldwide event!

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

1  |  i've seen so many vintage-inspired prints around the interwebs, and i'm especially loving this one!

2  |  butter london has gorgeous metallic polishes in all shades, so get your olympics on with the full monty, diamond geezer, and the old bill – lbh, the USA only knows how to go for the gold!

3  |  i've always loved her state necklaces, but would you sport the USA around your neck? maya brenner has definitely found her niche with these adorable pendants. you can even have the diamond placed on your hometown! …wonder if i could get away with layering 3 states?

4  |  i'm really loving this american flag scarf. wouldn’t you pay $200+ for it? pshhh. it’s too hot for that mess anyway! at least it’s cute!

5  |  how adorable are these ballet flats from j.crew? the elastic is similar to the carolines by tory burch, which are super comfortable. and i would assume these are as well!

so that’s it for me, ladies and gents! i hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoys the opening ceremonies tonight! i'm linking up with my favorite, alex and sweet lauren today for “friday five” and “high five for friday”.

 

USA!! USA!! USA!!

number 146

i wouldn't call myself a "fashionista" by any stretch of the imagination, but i do like fashion, clothes, and the latest trends. and i find that what i like, almost as much, is seeing what other people wear. not the ultra-fashionable, but just everyday outfits that anyone can pull off! - without being a fashionista.

i want to try something today that i may stick with, i may not. for now, i'm calling it "what i'm wearing" or as you can see below, "WIW". since i don't have the patience for a tripod, and i'm not going to make my husband take a posed picture of me this morning, i'll just put together a little board so you can see what i'm wearing and, even better, where i got it! ready? go!


1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5 this is one of my favorite outfits to wear. it's easy, low maintenance, and my shirt is linen (from the j.crew outlet), so it's very lightweight. the shoes were a little splurge for me after a bonus at work *yay*, but i've gotten a TON of wear out of them. once they're broken in (about a week), they really are comfortable! if you're on the fence, let me sway you -- GET EM! sadly, they don’t make the dark brown anymore like you see above, but i’ve linked to the black ones which i'm sure are equally as awesome.
so tell me, do you like it? want me to keep it up?
and i mean this is the least-provocative way possible...

what are you wearing?

number 145

sooo my family vacation is less than 2 weeks and 4 days away (not that i'm counting…) and over the past few years, our group has grown from just a small family of 4 (just dad+mom+john+me) to include a husband, a girlfriend, and my nana. nana’s been taking family vacation as an opportunity to check items off her bucket list. she’s 84 - sorry for spilling your age on the internet, nana! last year, it was parasailing. this year, the rumor is: skydiving. my brother has already decided that he’s up for this – an opportunity of a lifetime – to go skydiving with your grandmother. me? i'm still on the fence. i've heard of so many experiences that have gone right and have been an incredible and unforgettable. so, to get myself pumped up, and maybe, to sway me in the right direction; that's where i'm going today. not literally, just on the blog. <a href="http://andrewandlauraleigh.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu98/lauraleigh925/take-me-there-tuesday.jpg" /></a>

let’s focus on the positives…

a smooth 'chute opening (image via)

a gorgeous view (image via)

an unforgettable experience (image via)

these people aren’t scared! (image via)

ok, so my palms got sweaty just looking for pictures. have any blog friends been skydiving? was it an amazing experience?? i need to know! i need a few reasons why i shouldn’t chicken out! if you're like me, and are curious about the statistics, this article put me at ease somewhat.

now tell me…

where's this tuesday taking you?

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