Fall Fashion: Mom, Please Read.

Aren't you glad that I am saving you all that time of checking reviews of the Fall Runway? The bonus? You also get my opinion =)

Here is what I found while putting together my fall wardrobe:

• Support PITA, and still wear fur-- Faux fur is what its all about this fall.
• Now is the time to embrace the runway with mixing prints--painterly water colors, flowers, diagrams. Just make sure they have some commonality like color, theme or mood.
• Love that animal prints are so hip and wearable for the chilly months!
• Use Military green as a punch of color in your accents, cardigans or as a bigger statement: structured military style jackets.
• Take your pick-- Minimalism or Volume.
• Two words: Orange Leather. Don't use this as an everyday thing, pair with a Minimalistic look.
• I love GOLD! But not in the Austin Power's Goldmemeber way.. don't go crazy, here.
• Nail art is not for the faint of heart... Dark colors next to the tips and lighter metallic at the cuticle.
• Red or Purple lips are a fun statement with minimal make-up.
• Grey is the new understated neutral... Although its been a personal favorite for a long time!
• Reinvent your Chic look with Black-on-Black!
• Want to stand out in a crowd? Replace one piece of your B-O-B with a Gem-tone top or skirt.
• To get another great jewel-tone look, (Colors like Garnet, Emerald, Malachite, Amethyst, Sapphire, etc.) use them monochromatically
• Lace-Like earrings are a new favorite accessory.
• Framed satchels are the new sophisticated bag along with the ever-favorite envelope clutch!
• Check out the Christian Siriano or Lela Rose lines at Payless--Adorable shoes for cheap!
• Boots and Booties everywhere! But don't forget to carry over your peep-toes and high-heeled penny loafers with your new favorite Tailored Coat.
• Another fave summer carry over: Pair your flowery summer dress with a leather jacket. Look for a leather jacket with a slight sheen.
• Still in love with those skinny belts.. Take your favorite cozy sweater and pair with a skinny belt to give yourself a waist.
• Hate walking blocks in your adorable, yet painful heels? Check out Cole Haan's new line with Nike's comfort technology.
• Now, don't forget your top-handle bags =)

Some trends I was not-so-taken-with...

• Men's trousers
• NOT so into the cargo's...
• Longer, full skirts
• Chunky Sweaters, if you DON'T accentuate the waist
• Fur boots... ick.

A Wise Person Once Said....

I was given some great marriage advice that until now, never realized how much it should be applied to all relationships--friends, family, or marriage. 
"When you love someone, especially over a lifetime, its important to remember the person you fell in love with, and that they wont always be the same--change is inevitable. That's why you need to remember the person that they were, but also to love the person that they are now."  To me, it makes perfect sense. How can the organism as a whole, the two people and the relationship, grow if the whole thing isn't in sync?

Often times I feel the definition of family should read: "A group of people that love each other, but outside of the group would not often 'like' each other". People change incredibly over a lifetime. To continue in a loving relationship with such important people like family and friends, you have to accept the relationship for what it is for any progress to be made. We can't pretend we are the same kids that we were growing up together, or expect someone to be the same friend that they used to be back in grade school.

Finally figuring out how important marriage advice is OUTSIDE of a marriage has been one of the most helpful things for all of my relationships, across the board. I guess if anyone stumbled across this, and it helped I would be happy. I just wish I had realized it sooner =)

Continued Home Renovation

It has been a year since we became First-Time Home Owners, and there are still very easy projects left to do, as well as more complex ones. Here are my thoughts:

1.We moved into our house on my 21st birthday, which was followed by bachelor/ette parties, bridal showers and all the stress and back-and-forth travel of the wedding. Needless to say, we did not feel like painting! Even now, the thought of having to get things  covered in plastic and moved around makes me "iffy". I am just now hanging up out wedding photos which has inspired a few colors. I want to paint the Master Grey with a dark, sexy Purple. Not a "this-is-a-girls-room- Purple", but a royal deep color. Since the Guest room is still in between an Office and Bedroom, Teal would be nice--its fresh, unisex and can go with many other colors. However, our walls have been given to us stark white and when I think of an all-over color for the house it stresses me out. What color do I pick that considers my "unique" tastes and that I would love for the next 5 years? (Cuz in my book, that's a LONG time.) As for the Living room, I am still in love with the idea of a reddish brown, blue and cream. I love it, but not sure how it will flow, or turn out once we've done it....  
Does anyone have any fun ideas for my Kitchen? Its where I love to spend most of my time and I want to make it up beat, but I feel like everyone has a yellow kitchen. Idk why.

2. I am really proud that we carpeted the Garage, and has turned it into such a fun, usable space. But in order to add the track lighting, we have to paint, and in order to paint we have to sand the sheet rock. Ugh. I wish it was a piece of cake, but when you don't have all the tools at the ready it takes SO much longer! I also want to add more storage.

3. I would like to give our home more depth by adding drapes or a lightweight curtain to the Master, and a different type of blinds somewhere in the house to switch up the vibe/change the lighting.

4. Still waiting to find that perfect couch... but I we have out sight set on a beautiful leather sectional at Costco that would fit the space perfectly!

5. I feel like I have been picking out cabinets FOREVER! We need additional storage in our kitchen and I feel like base cabinets are a must and have them picked out and ready to go. What to do above the base cabinets is whats stalling me. I thought I wanted glass-door cabinets, until I looked at the space (the right side is against a window) and felt it needed to seem "open". That has lead me to Open Cabinets.....Right? I was so surprised I liked these! I already have traditional ones so these might just be the right fit--and inexpensive, too! The only thing I am not sure about is: When you are in a kitchen with traditional cabinets, is it weird to have one wall have open, upper shelves? Hmm.... I still really like the idea. I will post pics soon to illustrate the idea.

6. We have all the materials to turn my side of the Office/ Guest room from closet to hidden-desk-type-area and just need to find a few hours/half day of quiet time! (With the Mr. kite surfing right now, that won't be easy to come by.) I also am still looking for the perfect piece to turn the Office into a Guest Room for we have guests. I loved the idea of a Murphy bed, but now am thinking pull out couch... or even just get something quick, a futon.

Well, that's the end of the list as it goes for projects around the house... and that doesn't count keeping up with the home brewing! If anyone reads this and has suggestions, or just wants to come over and do it for me, feel free! Ha ha =) 

Uh, oh... its quiet, wheres Tucker?

Saw a few inspirational ideas here.

24-hour Review

The perfect example of my crazy life...

Tucker:

While I love having our 6 month old Puppy, Tucker (Mr. T, T-Bell, etc) sometimes he has more energy that he or I know what to do with. All yesterday he just barked and looked at me like he expected me to spend the day waiting on him instead of organizing my To-do's, running errands, cleaning and book-keeping. Basically, he just drove me nuts. Everything for the last week has taken me twice as long to do since he likes to be a distraction--currently trying to sit in my lap(he is 50lbs).  So today we were on our morning walk when I bent down to clean up after him and the sprinklers turned on IN MY FACE. Someone just happened to be testing them. Well, not only did I pull my hip-flexor standing back up, but I got poo ON my HAND....Ya, I cried. Hes great, but that's def the downside to owning a town home instead of a normal place with a yard. I seriously hope theres not more where that came from....

The Hubby:

After a long day, Mike brings home my FAV bottle of wine.=)  Sadly, I was too stressed out after a long day to really appreciate the sweet act of kindness he made. I was so frustrated with all the timers(for dinner) going off when he came home that his treat for me went somewhat unnoticed. :-/ I wish I could always be that smiling wife when he comes home but I just don't have the balance for it! I guess its mostly selfish; I'm in a mood so when he comes home its not the warm "homey" feeling, its whatever mood I'm in. I really would like to work on that. He works so hard, some days I want to applaud him just for going in and not taking a sick day. Do you know the man has NEVER played hook-ie? Not even when I have done my best to coerce him to stay home :)

The Meal:

With everything else going on, I still wanted to make this fun recipe I saw so that we could have a special dinner together. The recipe was great--it was called Warm Provencal Chicken Salad and it was a Rachel Ray recipe. I was really pleased with how it turned out, its not a lot of work and the dressing was so GOOD! It really surprised me how much I liked Tarragon. I think I will incorporate it into other meals as a dip. This meal is not "leftover-friendly"; since it is mostly wilted greens and roasted veggies it makes a rather mushy second-chance. Also, you could make this with almost any veggies you have around the house at the time and its super healthy! Since I am doing the LBN (Look Better Naked Diet) I think this goes well with the other meals they suggest in the book.

Catch-Up:

Well, I am living in a mountain of laundry but every evening I feel like something is going on, or T. needs to go to the dog park for some extra exercise. How do people do it? Theres something that gets me about hanging clothes on a hanger that I just can't stand. Must be that retail experience... 
I am also trying to catch up with a marriage book that we had started but got too busy to finish("Simple Secrets of a Great Marriage") as well as finish Eat Pray Love before I see the movie =) Hopefully the laundry can do itself and I will just go to a movie Lol.

I couldn't really care if anyone actually reads this, as its just nice to get out...but if anyone does I would be glad to hear advice on puppy-training, recipes and how to stay on top of the laundry, ha ha!

Mission Statement

Strange that writing as a career seemed too stressful, but a personal blog sounded like the perfect solution for  stress-relief! I am hoping to use this as an Update for Family&Friends, advice on Puppy-training, decor ideas for the new home, even recipe reviews and the occasional plug for Mark or Avon--anything and everything that comes up in my crazy, married life. Ha ha =)  Marriage advice will always be welcome as well as book recommendations, and any good recipes for a Food-ie like myself.