Thanksgiving is my number two favorite holiday. (Christmas is number one.)

In the true spirit of Thanksgiving I got to thinking about some of the things that I am thankful for:

-My husband. He is so wonderful. He always puts up with me and my neurotic ways and, most importantly, continues to love me through it all.

-My family. There is always a good time to be had when we all get together. They’re so kind and loving and always accepting of everyone.

-My job. I’m not always happy to be at work (who is?), but I love the people I work with and actually enjoy what I do.

On a less serious note:

-This glorious fall weather. I love the color of the leaves and the cooler temperatures. I mostly love wearing sweaters and jeans with boots.

-Shoes. I love them all!

-Makeup. It makes me pretty.

Those are just a few things that I love and am thankful for. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been satisfying a serious shoe craving lately.  When colder weather rolls in I crave boots.  Knee boots, mid-calf boots, ankle boots, and… any boot really.  I’ve bought three pairs recently to add to and fill out my collection.

The first pair I bought was a pair of knee high cognac colored riding boots.  My favorite thing about these boots is the braided detail down the side.  They are also super comfy and a perfect everyday boot.

Pair number two was a pair of black suede ankle boots.  These are super cute with their pleating detail on the upper.  They were also very wallet friendly since I found them at Payless.  Score one for team frugal!  Even though these shoes aren’t the highest quality, they are actually very comfy.

The third pair is my favorite pair.  They are a gorgeous pair of chestnut colored ankle boots with a studded detail and a pretty tall heel.  G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!  Unlike the previous pair, they were not as wallet friendly.  I couldn’t help it though.  Sometimes it is necessary to splurge!  And since I bought them with birthday money they weren’t really that bad. They are actually pretty comfy, despite the really tall heel.

Boots are definitely my go-to shoe for fall and winter.  Fancy and warm.  Double the awesome!  Hopefully, I can continue to find places to keep them all.

Once the cold weather hits and the heaters come on the air dries up very quickly. With that comes dry skin, chapped lips, and cracked heels and cuticles. I have a few favorite remedies I want to share.

For dry skin there is nothing better than a super thick body butter.  It’s best to put on straight out of the shower.  That way you lock in all the moisture that you can.  If you get those skin bumpies on your upper arms use a moisturizer with Glycolic Acid.

For chapped lips you just have to treat them like the rest of your face. Exfoliate and then moisturize. You can make an at home sugar scrub with a little bit of olive oil and brown sugar.   Then moisturize with chapstick, vasseline, or a thick moisturizing lip balm.

For your face just moisturize!  Do not wash your face a lot.  If you break out chances are it’s dry skin, not excessive oil.  Exfoliate, gently, and moisturize.  I like to use anti-aging moisturizers.  Their thick non greasy formula is great for combination skin and they’re not too heavy.

Painful cracked heels are number one on my list of most despised ailments. Easy fix though. Slather your feet in good ole vasseline and shove ‘em into a pair of thick socks. Come morning your tootsies will be as soft as a babies backside. This works on your hands too. Vasseline works just as well as the creams and special gloves and socks you can buy at a bath and body store. Much more wallet friendly too.

Just a few helpful tips to keep from flaking to pieces during this fall and winter season.

One of the hot trends this fall is a jade green mani.  It’s all over the place.  Chanel built their entire jade collection around it.  Seeing the color all over the place, I started to wonder how wearable it really was for an average Jane.  While I was eager to give it a try, I was not eager to pay nearly $30 for a bottle of it.

Thank goodness for a cheapie drug store version.

So I snagged me a bottle of $2 shiny jade green nail polish and went to work.  I believe the key to pulling this off is keeping your nails short and filed to a naturally round shape.

At first I was afraid that it might come off looking like moss colored fungus was taking over my nails and that I wouldn’t dare wear it out of the house.  But surprisingly, the color looks pretty good.  The real test was wearing to work and hanging out.  I kept my outfit pretty simple.  Wide leg jeans and a gray cardigan.  It worked, sort of.

While it was certainly a fun color to wear for a day, I felt like I was 13 again and painting my nails a different wild color every few days.  Maybe I’m just not adventurous enough to pull off a green manicure.  I would wear it again though, I think.

I am not ashamed to admit that I do infact own a snuggie.  It’s royal blue.    

It was a gift from my parents last Christmas and I have certainly put it to good use.  Not only can you wear it when you’re cold and you need your hands, but also as a robe, and I even used it for a black-out curtain when I started working nights.  It works quite well.  Not to mention, it builds static like crazy!  I have lots of fun shocking the hubs.  He hates the thing. 

However,  I find it absolutely hilarious that they are hosting a fashion show of their newest styles and patterns during Fashion Week.  Um… doesn’t it just come in one style and one-size-fits-all proportion.  It’s a blanket with sleves.  How much more can you really do with it?  You can read all about it over at The Cut.

Well, not just yet, but I love fall for many many reasons.  The color of the leaves, all things pumpkin and spice, football, my anniversary, my birthday, Halloween and Thanksgiving.  And with all of these exciting things right around the corner I am jonesin’ to do some serious shoping.  I have quite a few things on my list of needs wants for this fall.

Theses boots are super cute and I think would look great with skinny jeans or tights and a dress.

All I want to buy lately are long cardigans especially in rich colors.  They go with everything.

A cute plaid top would be an updated version of what I wore back in the day.  Dad’s plaid shirts and purple lipstick will no longer do.

Real or faux, a leather jacket is at the top of my list.  I love the assymetrical zipper on the front of this animal friendly one.

I like colored tights for fall, in theory.  And I might even try to go there this fall, might.  We’ll just have to see how I feel about my legs that could rival a redwood when there’s actually a chill in the air.

I’ve compiled this list a little early, because it is going to be way too hot for any of these things in Alabama for a couple more months.  But, fall is by far my favorite season, and I just can’t wait.  (I’ve had pumpkin spice candles in my house for the past month.)

… I redecorated his office!  Well I guess it’s more just decorated since we never really did anything to it to begin with.  As is made very apparent by this first picture.

(And yes, there are three computers sitting in this one tiny room.)

Last week J went out of town on business and in an attempt to ward off boredom I decorated his office.

I painted the walls a nice medium toned gray, with the help of my sister.  And just doing that made the space look infinitely better, but why stop there?

I decided that the curtains I originally made for our master bedroom looked better in the office.  So I hung them in there and the gray/blue/green of the silk looks much nicer with the gray than it did with the brown in the master.

I then organized and replaced all the office furniture and the elliptical machine.  I actually got rid of some books and other miscellaneous items that had no home and I no longer had a use for.  I get sentimentally attached to things, so this was a tremendous effort on my part.

The office also turned out to be the perfect place to hang my International Star Registry certificate and map.  Yes, I have a star!  My star’s name is Jessica Nicole and it is located next to Andromeda.  Thanks to my bestie I will live forever!  Well, until I burn out anyway.

The office is not entirely finished.  I need to find a way to wrangle all the computer cords.  Also, I want to frame all of my University of Alabama Million Dollar Band posters and pictures from when I was on colorguard.  This is very nerdy, I know, but I can’t help it.

I saw this, and I have to say that CG Lashblast is NOTHING like Dior Show.  I have no problem paying $26 for mascara when it actually delivers.  Sorry CG, no.

Shouldn’t have left you, without a dope beat to step to!

I have been in somewhat of a posting lull lately.  I haven’t felt as though I’ve had much to say.  Add that to life’s stresses, and whatnot, and you get nadda.

Sorry.

I’m in the process of re-doing our master bedroom.  I know that we’ve only had it for four months and only fully decorated for one, but I just didn’t like it.  So there!  Ha!  I can say that hubster wasn’t too terribly excited, but I twisted his arm.  He is quite a miser and takes some encouraging when I want to spend gobs of money.  It’s not done yet, but I’m getting close.

Anyway, I have quite a few things coming up and will hopefully have new things to report soon.

Until then…

peace out cub scouts!

I always love to play in makeup and hair products and really anything pampering. I’ve been forming a Sephora wish list as of late and I wanted to share some of the cool stuff I found.

I have had to heat style my hair A LOT lately and I think that this hair treatment is really cool. I really want to give it a try.

I also think that my pasty butt could use a glistening summer glow all year round. 

I love these Kat Von D makeup brushes. The tattoo stenciling on the handle is so pretty.

These Cargo Plant Love lipsticks are so light and sheer, and 100% natural!

I bought this the other day to try and give my hair some texture.

My new philosophy body wash makes me want to chew my own arms off.  Delicious!  I love all of their products.

And this is quite possibly the best mascara I have laid my tiny short lashes on EVER!

I love the citrusy floral scent of this fragrance.  I always get compliments when I wear it.  ”You sure do smell purdy!”