Taylor and other things...

I'm currently sitting in a Starbucks in Houston, and getting more and more giddy by the minute.

Because tonight I'm doing something I've wanted to do for about ten years now.

I'M GOING TO SEE TAYLOR SWIFT IN CONCERT!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haters gonna hate (hate, hate, hate, hate...), but I've loved her music since she released her very first album. And tonight I finally get to see her perform in person. So if you follow me on Instagram, be prepared for an annoying amount of pictures and videos of me and my friend having the time of our lives singing ALL THE WORDS.

And then Micah and Grace and I leave on Friday for Destin. We'll be gone a full, glorious week, and I can't even handle myself right now. I haven't taken more than a four-day vacation since we went to Paris in 2012 when I was pregnant with Grace. And I haven't been to a beach that wasn't Galveston (I have a hard time counting Galveston -- sorry, South Texas friends) in four or five years. So we're due for a good, long beach trip. We rented a house right on the beach, and Micah's family and my mom and stepdad are joining us, which will be a blast.

What probably won't be a blast is the 10.5-hour drive to Florida from Texas with a toddler. I spent an embarrassing amount of money at the Target dollar section and Amazon buying things to keep her busy, so I feel as prepared as I can be. Any good apps you guys can suggest for a toddler? We just bought an iPad mini, so I plan on spending some time on Thursday night loading up on Barney episodes and other obnoxious things. Hit me with your ideas, friends.

Alrighty, I think that's about it for now.

I'll check in and tell you all about Taylor soon!

This is thirty...

I wanted to come say hi and just quickly check in, but this feels like more of a sit-down kind of visit.

Don't freak out... I'm not, like, moving to China or anything. 

But I did turn 30 this past Saturday, which you're well aware of if we're Instagram friends because I blasted you all with many, many pictures. (Sorry about that.)

I'm not really sure why, but I just wasn't up for celebrating with a big party or a trip to Vegas. That's just not really my style anyway, and I've been so busy at work these past couple of months that I didn't have time to plan something even if I had wanted to. So I had dinner with each of my parents and then a fun dinner with my best friend and her husband.

If you're local to the Dallas area and haven't eaten at Stampede 66, definitely try it soon. It's upscale but not fancy, which I appreciate. The food is phenomenal (I'd call it contemporary Texan), and the vibe is fun. I drink next to nothing, but they had this delicious-sounding margarita on their drink menu that just looked super fun, so I went for it, and it was an event. They mix and freeze it table-side with liquid nitrogen (!), which means that, as it melts, the flavor isn't diluted with water. Best drink I've ever had in my life (not that I'm any sort of connoisseur).

On my actual birthday, my mom and I headed to Waco for a Fixer Upper fan day. Have we talked about how obsessed I am with that show? If you're unfamiliar, it's a home renovation show on the HGTV channel (stay with me, I swear it's amazing). It's hosted by a married couple, Chip and Joanna, and I want to put them both in my pocket they're so adorable. She does the design and staging, and he does the contracting. They show each couple three older houses and give them a rough idea how they could be renovated within the couple's budget. The couple picks one, and then the show goes through the renovation and reveal. I mostly love watching because Chip and Joanna are just so stinking adorable together, but Joanna's style is pretty flawless if you're into farmhouse chic. (Not shabby chic, though, as it's mostly clean-ish lines and contemporary design. Seriously, if you're into Pottery Barn, it's your thing, I swear. I'm not sure why I'm trying to make you Fixer Upper fangirls. Anyway. Moving on...)

They have a shop in Waco called Magnolia, which probably isn't worth a trip on its own (SUPER small and pricey), but we made a day of it, driving around Waco and shopping/eating. It was really a blast and the perfect way to spend my birthday... and that's how I know I'm no longer in my twenties.

And I didn't forget about my 30 Before 30 list. Unfortunately, I did not complete everything on the list, but I made it a little over one-third of the way through. So my plan is to convert it into a 35 Before 35 list. Ha. I feel like I can TOTALLY accomplish the rest of the list by the time I'm 35. Famous last words, right?

As I consider my life at thirty, it's basically everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. And that's such an incredible blessing. I know bloggers throw that word around a lot, but I'm not talking about #blessings. I'm talking about blessings: God's mercies and graces which have been more extravagant and undeserved than I can even say. These faces, alone, friends.

They are enough goodness to fill my heart up for a lifetime. 

That Time They Stuck Needles In My Face: My SkinPen Experience

This post isn't at all sponsored. Just wanted to share this crazy thing I did with you guys because I figured you'd find it entertaining at worst and informative at best.

About six months ago, the signs that I am approaching 30 (two days, y'all!!!) became extra apparent. I mean, obviously the gray hair. My complete disdain for the majority of Top 40 music and new country artists (ahem, Florida Georgia Line). And the crow's feet.

Boo.

I already have a fairly consistent skincare regime, but I asked the girl who does my facials one day what I could do to get the most bang for my buck for my skin that wasn't super invasive and wouldn't require upkeep (i.e., no Botox). She suggested I get a SkinPen treatment, which is more generally referred to as microneedling. The awesome thing about microneedling is that you're not introducing any harmful or foreign chemicals into your body like you do with Botox and fillers. Instead, microneedling is basically a souped-up version of microdermabrasion. It's generally performed at med spas, and they run a pen-like tool (hence the name), which has a bunch of tiny needles on its tip, across your skin repeatedly. It simulates injury, so your immune system responds by pumping growth factors, collagen, and elastin to your skin to "heal" it. It was developed to help heal burn victims' scars, and some genius figured out that it could help all of us really vain selfie-takers stay younger a bit longer with no real downside (apart from cost).

The result is overall improved skin, but specifically:

• Minimized appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scarring
• Reduced pore size
• More even skin tone

My skin has definitely come a long way and was much clearer than it used to be, but I still had some acne scarring, an uneven, ruddy skin tone, and I really just wanted my skin to feel smoother to the touch. 

So my friend from work and I made appointments for a SkinPen treatment at a place here in Dallas for the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and went for it.

I'm the world's worst blogger, so I only remembered to take a "before" picture as we were in the parking lot of the spa. 

(Geez. I'm so sorry, y'all. But you can see that, while I didn't have many breakouts, my skin was very reddish and uneven looking, and my pores basically needed their own zip codes.)

When we walked into the spa, they ushered us in and applied a topical numbing cream to our faces. As you can imagine, needles freaking hurt, so they apply the cream about 15-30 minutes before your treatment to help ease the discomfort of the procedure. And it really does help, but the numbness of my face felt so strange.

After we were completely numb, they took us into what looked like little massage rooms, had us disrobe and slide into a comfy bed, and cover up with blankets and sheets. I honestly could have fallen asleep. This particular place applies a peel along with the SkinPen to help amplify results, so I think my esthetician did that first. Then she started the procedure.

She began systematically running the SkinPen across my entire face in lines. To be fair, it really doesn't hurt much at all on most parts of your face; it feels a lot like a Clarisonic or some other exfoliator. When she got to my nose, I got a very strange urge to sneeze, which is fairly common. And then she hit my forehead, and it began to get a little painful. Apparently, the forehead is usually painful for most people because there's less skin and more bone there. I think the numbing cream was wearing off by that point, too, and it really wasn't pleasant. But the whole process only took about 20 minutes, and my esthetician told me I must have a very high pain tolerance (I've never been told that before in my life, so do with that information what you will). One thing to note is that the procedure is customizable in that they can adjust the depth of the needle penetration depending on what kind of results you're looking for. I told my esthetician to be as aggressive as she wanted, and I'd just deal with the pain. (Again, though, it wasn't bad, I promise.)

After she finished, I got dressed and followed her to pick up some products. They recommended a growth factor serum, hyaluronic acid (which is a GREAT GREAT GREAT moisturizer to use after procedures like this or sunburns), plus a Vitamin C and E cream.

And let me tell you, this stuff wasn't at all cheap.  The procedure was $250 (plus tip), and the products were about $125 total. So you're looking at over $400 after tip if you buy all the products. I just figured that if I was going for it, I might as well do it right. And this was my Mother's Day gift from Micah.

I was told the down time was "minimal" -- I'd be red and swollen for a day or two but that by day three, I'd be back to normal. And that was mostly true.

This was me right after the procedure.

Very red, very swollen, tight, and my skin felt hot to the touch.

You're instructed to ABSOLUTELY stay out of the sun, Micah wanted to take Grace "fishing" that night, so this was my solution.

Ha. I'm sure the people driving by thought I was out of my mind.

The next morning (Saturday), we had to go to my niece's recital. I was still very red and swollen, but I slathered on some foundation and went anyway.

Not awesome, but workable.

The next day (Sunday), I started peeling like nobody's business. So, so gross.

This picture's a little blurry, thank goodness, but it was bad. I stayed home from church and basically avoided leaving the house for the entire day.

The next day (Monday), I was still a bit red, but most of the peeling was gone, and my skin began to feel really smooth.

If I had had to go to work, I could have. Thankfully, my firm was closed that day, so I had an extra day to heal.

By the next morning (Tuesday), I was good to go. No more redness, no peeling, and a definite improvement in skin texture. But the thing about the SkinPen is that, because it requires your body's own inflammatory cascade, the results can take up to six weeks to see. I remember thinking at four weeks that the procedure wasn't really worth it because I noticed some improvement to fine lines, but no significant change. And the texture of my skin, while vastly different in the first two weeks, seemed to get subsequently less smooth.

BUT.

At the six-week mark, I could see major change. My pores were smaller, the fine lines definitely reduced, and the surface of my skin was truly transformed. One of the things about the SkinPen is that it's said to help the products you're already using work better. I'm definitely going to preach the wonders of glycolic acid to you guys at some point, but I began using these Bliss That's Incredi-Peel Daily Glycolic Resurfacing Peel Pads a few months back at the recommendation of a friend, and they are the HOLY GRAIL. Hands down my favorite product right now. And I KNOW they're working better because of the SkinPen.

So I know you've been waiting patiently for the "after" picture. I will now oblige.

So much better, right?! I haven't edited any of these pictures -- they came straight from my crappy iPhone (as did the before and progress pictures, which were also (clearly) not edited).

Definitely less red, smaller pores (though they could still be smaller), and a DEFINITE reduction in my wrinkles. The acne scarring was also reduced.

Let's do a side-by-side, shall we?

I'll take it.

And the SkinPen isn't something you have to keep doing on a regular basis. It has now been almost three months, and my skin still looks great. The girl who does my facials told me about a week ago that my skin is the best she has ever seen it. I'll probably go in for treatments twice a year or so, just to see how much more improvement I can see. The way I see it, if I take small measures to take care of my skin now, maybe I'll avoid the need for anything more drastic later. I mean, a girl can dream, right? :)

In sum, I would ABSOLUTELY recommend the SkinPen treatment to anyone looking for an improvement in their skin.

Pros
-  Minimally invasive and uses your OWN immune system
-  Improves skin texture
-  Reduces pore size
-  Minimizes appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
-  Lessens acne scarring
-  Quick procedure
-  Minimal down time
-  Minimal pain

Cons
-  Expensive (but not compared to other comparable procedures, including Botox)

Have you ever done anything crazy to your skin? Would you consider a SkinPen or other treatment to combat aging?

Stuff I'm loving lately...

I told you guys that I've been shopping my little heart out. I feel like I've finally managed to rein myself in a bit, but the damage was already done. And here are the fruits of my labor. You're welcome.

These Hunter rain boots.

boots / piko dress / kimono (sold out, similar here, here, and here) / necklace

If we're Instagram friends, you probably witnessed my inner turmoil as I grappled with whether or not I should keep the boots. To be honest, if I had bought them in a crazy color, I probably would have sent them back. But since they're a classic black, I justified my keeping them (with overwhelming encouragement from you enablers) by reasoning that I didn't have a pair of black boots that I loved. And that I can get away with wearing rubber boots all year long.

And given that I've already worn them three times since they arrived last week, I feel like my choice was solid.

This IT Cosmetics CC Cream.

Y'all, I've been on a serious hunt for a cc or bb cream that matches my skin tone and also provides enough coverage. When I subscribed to Birchbox, I got several, but they either (1) were way too orange on my fair skin or (2) provided zero coverage. If I'm going to sub something in for the world's best foundation, it dang well better do the job of covering up my uneven skin tone.

I recently subscribed to Ipsy because I wanted to see what the hype was all about, and I have to say that they killed it with my first box. There were several things I loved, but this It Cosmetics CC Cream is my favorite. It's full coverage (!!) and comes in several color choices. The Light shade happens to match my skin perfectly. And it stays. I haven't worn foundation in, like, a week, and I'm perfectly okay with that.

(no foundation, just the cc cream)

This color-depositing conditioner.

This red hair, you guys. It's wearing me out. I really, really love the way it looks, but it fades faster than the novelty of a new Katy Perry song (you know you feel me... I was sick of "Firework" after the first three days). Back in the day, Biolage used to make a great red color-depositing conditioner, but they discontinued it. This version by ClayPac isn't great in terms of the quality of the conditioner, but it does freshen up my color. So I just mix it with some Pureology in between my Wen washes (yep, I still love Wen and use it every other shampoo) and get the benefit of both products. They make versions for red, brown, blonde, and even purple hair.

Keep.com.

Have we talked about Keep yet? I don't feel like we have. It's a lot like Pinterest, but better. Here's why. You know how half the time you click on a link in Pinterest, and it directs you to a super shady website that has nothing to do with what you were searching for? When all you really wanted to know was where to find the super gorgeous shoes the model was wearing in the picture you clicked on? Keep solves this problem in that it is only for shopping.

So while the concept is similar to Pinterest (in that you "keep" things in "collections" much the same way you would "pin" things to your "boards"), and the interface is even similar to Pinterest's, there's no confusion in what you're "keeping." If you hover over your "keep," you'll see the name of the product and the price. You can shop directly through Keep (you still get the benefit of whatever shipping policy of the store you're shopping from), and the very cool thing is that I've gotten several emails from offering me a certain amount off my purchase. This is a really easy way to save money on something that isn't on sale. In fact, I bought my Hunter boots directly from Keep and saved $15 on them. If you want to see if they'll do the same for you, put a few things in your cart and then leave them there for a day or two... :)

There's a social networking aspect, as well, so you can follow friends or people whose style you like (not that you'd want to emulate my style, but feel free to come follow me here anyway).

So there you have it. What have you guys been loving lately?

This post contains some referral links, but rest assured that I will only ever share things that I love with you guys and would never steer you wrong.

Happy feet...

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened the package I received in the mail from Lipton Publicity. They had contacted me about doing a review of some Kushyfoot products, and while I don't often do product reviews or sponsored content, I had heard of Kushyfoot and thought it'd be worth giving the products a try in the hopes that they'd send me some of their Flats to Go. (I had seen them somewhere and really wanted to try out a pair.) 

Turns out, they actually have a lot of cool stuff, and they were kind enough to send me several things to try.

I was pleasantly surprised by the peep toe foot covers, which fit really well under my favorite pee-toe booties. I had expected them to be really uncomfortable, but I hardly felt them.

The extreme low cut foot covers held up to the name. I put on my skimpiest flats and they barely poked out of the sides.

I will definitely be wearing these this things often, as I adore wearing low-cut flats, but I do not adore the way they start to smell by the middle of summer.

And, to my delight, they did, in fact, send some of the Flats to Go I had my eye on.




Am I the only mom who leaves work, runs to the grocery store for a few things and wishes every time that she had stored a pair of flats in her car so she didn't have to run around the store in heels? This is precisely why I'm thrilled about these flats. They're even small enough to fold up in your purse. We often walk to a nearby food truck park for lunch at work, and you'd better believe I'll be taking these with me on days when the weather is pretty so I don't have to make the trek in four-inch stilettos. Also, they feel like legitimate ballet flats, which makes me feel dainty.

I've also got my eye on these athletic socks for the gym. So fun, right?

So if you're in the market for any kind of sock, they have anything you could possibly want at really great prices. And everything they sent was really comfortable. Go check them out, friends.

* Lipton Publicity/Kushyfoot provided all products. All opinions are my own.

Crap I bought. And loved.

I buy a lot of crap. Like, I don't even mean to do it, but stuff just finds me, you guys. And when it's meant to be, well... you shouldn't mess with fate. Ha.

If my bank account's going to suffer anyway, I thought you guys could at least gain some benefit from my consumerism. So today I'm sharing some things I've purchased and loved lately.

On your mark, get set, go! (Let me go, let me shoop, to the next man in the three-piece suit. Nineties girls, holla if you hear me.)

Jo Malone.

Am I the last person on the planet to have fallen in love with Jo Malone fragrances?

When we were strolling around Neiman Marcus a few months ago, feeling super fly and fancy, I saw the Jo Malone counter, and the concept piqued my interest. The idea is that you can either find a fragrance that you like on its own, or you can layer them. And then I started sniffing them all and died of happy. I took a few samples home and tried them for a couple of months.  My three favorites are Wild Bluebell, Peony & Blush Suede, and English Pear & Freesia, and I ended up buying the small bottles of Wild Bluebell and Peony & Blush Suede so I could layer them together. The combination is just... unbelievable. And the scent stays on my skin all day long, which is super important to me. Worth the sort of ridiculous price tag, in my opinion.

Chatbooks.

I love photo books, but I don't like what a pain in the rear they are to create. I also don't love the price tag. I randomly stumbled upon Chatbooks and downloaded the app to see what it was about. Basically, you just create a photo book directly from your Instagram account. You get 60 pages for $6 with free shipping. (Yep. For real.)

Because you're pulling from Instagram, the quality isn't SUPER, and the books are smaller and paper-bound. BUT, my kid is obsessed with them, and given that they cost less than my weekly Starbucks fix, I feel zero guilt letting her play with them and bend the pages everywhere.

Smile Candle from Bath and Body Works.

Technically, I didn't actually buy this candle myself. My mother-in-law got it for me for Valentine's Day. (I find it so adorable that we are almost thirty years old, and my in-laws still get both Micah and me Valentine's Day presents.) Probably not something I would have picked up to smell for myself, but seriously you guys... this candle is incredible. The scent fills up our two-story living room, and it basically smells like summer. The fruit, non-beachy version of summer, anyway.

Farmgirl Paints Cuffs.

You guys are probably going to be mad at me for this one because her etsy shop doesn't open back up until May, but it's worth the wait. Becky sells handmade leather cuffs made from belts. And then she customizes them with whatever words you want by stamping metal plates and attaching them to the cuffs.

This one is gold glitter, and it says "lovely." I have another one (I've probably shared it here before) that is distressed brown, and it says "amazing grace." Follow Becky on Instagram to see some of her beautiful cuffs and stay updated on when her shop is reopening. Here is a "box shot" of several cuffs that were made and shipped a couple of months ago to give you an idea of the kinds of leather and words you can use.

That's probably enough for one day, don't you think? Go forth and shop, my friends.

Mama's Christmas wish list...

I know I said that Micah and I weren't all the great at giving gifts. And we aren't. Nor do we care too much about receiving them. But the poor guy gets slapped with Christmas and our anniversary being two days apart, so I figured I'd throw him a bone and make a wish list of sorts. 

vest / blanket scarf / laptop bag / monogrammed bracelet / wedge booties / lip gloss (in Life of the Party)

The only thing I actually need on this list is the laptop bag, given that my cheap as dirt bag has a huge hole in the bottom of it and isn't the most professional thing I could carry into a courtroom.

And while I don't technically need the scarf, I really, really want it.

What are you guys hoping to see under the tree this year?

Shop my closet: bottoms and dresses

In case you missed it, I've been clearing out my closet to get rid of some things I can't wear anymore. You can see the tops and sweaters here. There are still some really adorable things available (how have #4, #12, and #22 not been snatched up yet?!).

Today, I'm sharing bottoms and dresses. But first, I wanted to share where I've traditionally shopped for cute plus-size clothing. If you're a curvy girl, you know how impossible it is to find plus-size stuff that doesn't look like it belongs in your grandmother's closet. I generally only shop online, and these are my go-to sites:

Lane Bryant. Yes, their stuff is pricey. But their jeans are second to none in terms of color, fit, and comfort. (These, in particular, are my favorite jeans ever.  EVER.) And you can find awesome deals there. A couple of months ago, I scored two pair of gray slacks, a woven belt, a sleeveless dress shirt, a pair of wedges, a cocktail dress, and a sweater tank for less than $100 shipped because they were giving an extra 75% off clearance prices. Boom.

Forever 21 Plus. You probably know by now that I'm a HUGE fan of Forever 21's plus size selection. You seriously cannot beat their prices and, although their stuff isn't super high quality, I generally only buy super trendy stuff from there such that it only really needs to last a season. I own and adore this dress and this dress. And I'll likely be ordering this top, this dress, and several of these necklaces soon. (Particularly given that they are doing a 20% Friends and Family event right now - use F21FRIEND for 20% off your order through November 2nd!)

Kiki La Rue. I've bought lots from Kiki La Rue over the last couple of years because I think they have REALLY cute stuff. They sell standard and plus sizes, and their prices are slightly higher than they probably should be. But, again, I always wait for a sale or for something to go on clearance. Right now I'm eyeing this cardigan.

ThredUp. You're probably sick of hearing about this website, but I'm not sick yet of telling you about it. It can be overwhelming at first because there's so much stuff on the site. But just block off 10 minutes of time to peruse your size, and I bet you'll find something you can't live without. And if you're a designer girl, check out the "X Collection" tab.

Alright, so that's where I shop. Now why don't YOU do a little shopping? :)

Just like last time, shout out a number and your paypal email, and I'll send you an invoice. (Or email me at lovedandlovelyblog@gmail.com if you'd rather.) Jeans are $10 plus $2 shipping. Dresses are $12 plus $2 shipping. 

JEANS 

 
Left: (30) Lane Bryant 18 black stretchy skinny pants. These pants are sort of impossible to describe, but they're amazing. They're stretchy cotton-ish, but they're thicker and have more structure than leggings. I wore them to work with heels, and I wore them on the weekends with flats. They're super versatile and ridiculously comfy. Like REALLy comfy. SOLD.
Right: (31) Forever 21 size 20 acid wash joggers. These are really, really fun and so in right now. They'd be great on someone with thinner calves because they're fairly narrow on the bottom.

Left: (32) Lane Bryant 18 skinny jeans. These jeans are super slimming because the waistband is thick and stretchy. No muffin top! SOLD.

Right: (33) Lane Bryant 22 gray stretchy skinny pants. These are very similar to the black pants listed above except the waistband is thicker, and there's no zipper.


Left: (34) D. Jeans 22 skinny jeans. I can't remember where I got these, but I liked them. They're true denim, so not much stretch, but still comfy.
Right: (35) Lane Bryant 20 tan straight leg slacks. These are great for triangle-shaped body types (i.e., smaller waist, larger hips, butt, and thighs).


Left: (36) Lane Bryant 16 black straight leg slacks. Y'all, these pants are my favorite dress slacks I've ever owned. The material is a combination of rayon, nylon, and spandex, and they dress up really well. The fit of the leg is perfect and flattering, and the bottom is ever so slightly tapered. So somewhere in between straight leg and skinny. I wore these until up until really recently, despite the fact that they were too baggy, because I loved them so much. I'd say they're pretty true to size, but that if you're closer to an 18, they would very likely work because they're very stretchy.
Right: (37) Lane Bryant 18 gray straight leg slacks. I'm not sure how to describe the print on this fabric. It's like teeny, tiny herringbone, and it's great. The zippers on the front pockets are really fun, too. These aren't stretchy.

DRESSES


Left: (38) Lane Bryant 18 raspberry/purple dress. This was my go-to dress for weddings, and every time I wore it, I got compliments. When I was super self-conscious of my arms, I'd wear a black short cardigan over it, and it looked great. The sash helps define your waist, and the length is great - goes barely past your knees. It's very flowy and flattering. PENDING.
Right: (39) Calvin Klein 16-18 charcoal dress. I tore the tag out of this dress for some reason, but I know it's Calvin Klein and that it was a size 16 or 18. It fits more like a 16 in my opinion. I also always got compliments on this dress because it's SUPER flattering. It's sturdy and form fitting but not tight, and the buttons are really close together and secure, so no worrying about gaps. I actually tried it on to wear it to a convention last week and was super bummed that it doesn't fit anymore. PENDING.


Left: (40) Lane Bryant 18/20 navy shirtdress. I'm obsessed with this dress, and the picture doesn't do it justice. The collar is great, and so are the gold buttons. I wore this with gold gladiator sandals to work once a week when it fit. PENDING.
Right: (41) Lane Bryant 18 black and champagne lace cocktail dress. If you have anywhere fancy-ish to go in the next couple of months and you're anywhere in the vicinity of a size 18, please buy this. I paid over $100 for it, and it was perfect for my office Christmas party (so it's only been worn once - $12 is a STEAL!). The champagne satin peeking through the black lace is just gorgeous, and again, the ribbon sash is flattering. (Can y'all tell I like dresses with sashes?)


Left: (42) Lane Bryant 18/20 black and white cowl necked dress. This dress is dressy but ridiculously comfy, and I wore it even when I was pregnant. It looks best with a black belt or sash but could be worn without. It was a staple in my wardrobe for a couple of years and has held up wonderfully.
Right: (43) Xhilaration 2 plus navy and gray striped dress. This dress looks so great in person. The top is stretchy cotton-ish, and the bottom is a opaque slip that goes to your knees with an ever-so-slightly sheer overlay. You can really tell that the overlay is sheer in the sun, and then it looks really neat. This is more casual, but I dressed it up with jewelry and shoes for work.

Have fun shopping, friends!

Stuff and things...

I took a day trip to Austin on Tuesday for work. It's a pretty easy trip (the flight from Dallas to Austin takes less than an hour), but I always convince myself that it's not so that I can justify treating myself with something at the airport. Sometimes it's a chair massage. Sometimes is a package of no sugar added dried mango. But since I didn't have time for a massage, and I couldn't find any mango (despite having scoured the whole freaking airport), I settled for a new book and a pumpkin spice latte.

(I'm obsessed with this book already, and I'm not even a third of the way in.)

As I got settled into my window seat and bucked myself in, I noticed something.

No longer do I have to extend the seat belt to capacity and then hold my breath to get it to fasten. Instead, I actually had to TIGHTEN the thing! These tiny victories keep me going on the days when I want to eat everything in sight. And hopefully, there will be a few more inches hanging from that seat belt in the months to come.

Also?

This happened this week.

I've never ever worn red lipstick in my life, but every time I see a fellow pale face rocking red lipstick, I think, "that looks so amazing on her!" So I ordered this Kat Von D lipstick (in Hellbent - it's a matte crimson) from Sephora and wore it to work on Monday. I'll maybe never wear it again (I really am such a pale pink gloss girl), but it was fun for a day.

When I ordered the lipstick, I also got some Kat Von D tattoo liner, and I'm in love. I've always been a pencil girl and have typically avoided liquid liner, but this stuff STAYS PUT, and it glides on so effortlessly. It gives my tried and true Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on pencil a run for its money. Though with liquid liner, you obviously can't smudge at all, so you end up with a different, more classic look.

Alright, gals. What stuff and things do you have going on this week? Link up with two of my very favorite bloggers, Kristin and Joey for an easy-breezy, fun link-up.

Fall and other things...

It's fall, friends. I mean, yesterday, it was still in the mid-90s here in north Texas, but I'm declaring it fall anyway. Bring on the sweaters and pumpkin everything, even if I'm still sweating every time I walk outside.

And although this season change has brought with it a bout of wicked allergies and near-loss of my voice (I seriously sound like a man), I'm excited. And when I'm excited, I like to talk about the things I'm excited about. Here are other, non-fall things I'm excited about.

{Hue leggings}

I had been hearing fabulous things about these Hue wide waistband leggings from Nordstrom, so I bought a pair during the anniversary sale a couple of months back. 

Y'all, I am obsessed. They're slightly pricier than an average pair of leggings, but the wide waistband makes them SO comfy and eliminates the dreaded muffin top. I loved them so much that I bought these Ponte knit leggings which I actually love even more. These are thicker and have pockets on the back, so they could be worn even with tops that don't totally cover your derriere. (I realize some of you could never and will never be on board with leggings as pants, but these leggings really are like pants. Trust me. Come over to the dark side. We're pretty comfy over here.)

{Winning my diet bet}

I just realized that I never even posted about joining Mama Laughlin's diet bet a month ago. #bloggerfail 

Essentially, a group of people each paid $35 to buy into the bet, and we all had 30 days to lose 4% of our body weight. Everyone who meets their goal gets to split the pot.

I joined on a whim and didn't really expect it to be a motivating thing for me, but it really was. It was in the back of my mind, and when I wanted to grab a cookie or donut at work, I'd remind myself that I had to weigh in soon. And I made myself share it on Instagram so that I'd have some accountability, as well. 

Anyway, I lost a few pounds more than was actually required and ended up dropping 11 pounds in 30 days. Insane.

{This mustard cardigan}

I've been dying for a mustard cardigan for, like, a year now. So when I found this one at Target, I snatched it up faster than I'd like to admit. (I'm fairly certain I actually squealed in delight.)

(It's funny, I remember finding these boots two years ago at Lane Bryant and being so excited that I could zip them up. Now they're so big around my calves, they border on ridiculous. I had to buy new boots.)

What are you guys excited about this week?

All the stuff...

Most of the time, I buy a bunch of stuff that I love and then forget to share it with you guys.  But sometimes, I remember that I'm a blogger and that I should share the love.

These are some of the things I'm loving recently.

Coola Organic Classic Sunscreen / Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer / Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream / Dolce by Dolce & Gabana / Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo / Vinylux Weekly Top Coat / Julep Lip Gloss / Laugh with Me LeeLee

Coola Organic Classic Sunscreen. Maybe you guys aren't getting old yet, but I am.  I've got fine lines creeping up on me, and I'm more aware than ever that I'm not 18 anymore (hallelujah! but also boo!).  So I'm all about the sun protection, and this stuff is amazing.  It doesn't break me out or make my makeup look ridiculous, and it smells delicious.

Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer.  I've shared before about how I highlight and contour my makeup, and I had been using a cheap Maybelline concealer to highlight that provided nice illumination but zero coverage (still a great option if you don't want to break the bank).  The lady at the makeup counter at Ulta talked me into this concealer from IT Cosmetics, and I adore it.  It's got quite a bit of coverage, which is good for highlighting, and it stays put.  It's pretty pricey, but you don't need much at all (I use, like, half a pea size amount to highlight my whole face), so it lasts forever.

Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream.  I've probably already told you guys about this stuff.  It's stupidly expensive and has a distinctly marine smell, but I use it as my nighttime moisturizer every other day, and it does wonders for my skin.  It's a great splurge.

Dolce by Dolce & Gabana.  Delectable.  That is all.

Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo.  Y'all.  Dry shampoo is the bomb diggity.  If you're not using it to either (1) extend days between shampoos or (2) pump up the volume, you're really missing out.  I used the Ojon Full Detox forever, but the smell is lame, and it's expensive.  Cara recommended the Suave version, and I can't get enough.  It's the cheapest stuff I can find, and it works just as well as anything else I've tried.  Plus, it smells amazing.

Vinylux Weekly Top Coat.  I'm really hard on nail polish, but this stuff keeps my at-home manis lasting longer than most other top coats I've tried.  Also, it gives a nice sheen.

Julep Lip Gloss.  I got, like, four tubes of this stuff when I was a Julep Maven for a split second.  (I cancelled because I'm pretty picky about beauty products, and I like to switch up brands quite a bit.)  I really like it because it's pretty glossy, lasts awhile, and doesn't taste offensive.  To the extent you come across this stuff somewhere, give it a shot.

Laugh with Me LeeLee.  A sweet friend at work keeps a bottle of this on her desk, and I've been in love with the smell for a couple of years now.  I finally broke down and bought a bottle to keep at mine.  Ain't no shame in it.

So that's what I'm digging on lately.  What are you guys loving?

*None of the links in this post are sponsored or are affiliate links.  I am completely and totally unimportant to these companies.  Just wanted to share about some products that I really like.  Over and out.

... a hot mess

First, I just want to say how much I appreciate all of your kind words and sweet thoughts about my Mimi.  Even after several years of being a part of this incredible blogging community, you all still manage to blow me away with your outpouring of love and support when I need it most.  It really is incredible.

I'm doing as well as can be expected. We knew it was coming, and I am really thankful that I got the chance to say goodbye, with no regrets.  She will be very missed, but I carry her with me in so many ways.  She was the kind of woman who made an impact and an impression. :)

Understandably, we mostly stuck around the house this weekend.  I did go see Divergent (for the second time... I'm so cool, y'all) with my sister-in-law.  It was as good as the first time, and we had fun spending some much-needed quality time together.  Plus, we had popcorn.  And mozzarella sticks.  And Junior Mints.  In my opinion, it's not a movie theater experience unless I have Junior Mints. (For the record, it was a cheat meal... I'm not regularly inhaling Junior Mints, I promise.)

Gracie has cut three teeth in the last week and a half, and she is not happy about it.

She has basically whined and screamed for four days straight, and I'm definitely ready to put this teething business behind us.

And in case you were wondering about the adorable leggings Grace is wearing...



I got them from here.  I've bought quite a bit from Chelsea (she also has an Instagram resale shop @kickinlegscloset), and I'm always pleased with what I purchase.  She makes these hand-painted leggings, and I just think they're adorable.  The little kitties... I die.

I'm contemplating doing a link-up post for everyone to share their favorite Etsy shops.  We could do baby/toddler themed, or just leave it wide open.  Would anyone be interested in that?  I just always LOVE ordering handmade/small business when I can, but I do appreciate referrals from people who can vouch for quality.

Last, but not least... if you've been around these parts for awhile, you may remember the time where I basically made Pioneer Woman's food for each and every meal (i.e. all of law school).  One of my all-time favorites is a recipe she featured (but didn't create) called Butter Chicken.  It's not as unhealthy as it sounds (only half a stick of butter - ha!), and it's apparently a well-known Indian dish.  Anyway, it's delectable, and we had it for dinner last night.

(It probably doesn't look very appetizing, but I'm telling you... it's money.)

So that's life for us right now.  I'm currently working from home today (or apparently blogging from home) because I've worked nearly every day for MONTHS, and I needed a mental break.  And some time to do some life stuff (like cleaning out Gracie's closet... I finally packed up all of her swaddling blankets and 6-9 month clothes and was on the verge of bawling) plus pick up some stuff for her birthday party.

Mostly, I'm a hot mess right now, you guys.  Bear with me...