HAIR

I LOVE THIS BRAID and i wanna attempt to do it one day

Raisin Face

Ok I get it, tanning is popular. I hate it, whether it's for 10 minutes in a coffin tanning bed or sweating outside on the beach. There are a few reasons, one being the aforementioned sweating, the others being cancer, wrinkles, and peeling. It is inevitable, especially living in the south, that I will get some sun exposure, however, I try to be as preventative as possible.

I don't really know much about skin care for men, because I'm not one, BUT I know that everyone should be good with some sort of moisturizer with an spf in it. I feel like nowadays this should be a "duh" but we all know that guys are idiots.

For girls, it is always important to have a skin care regimen that includes the following: daily cleanser, weekly exfoliant, DAILY MOISTURIZER with spf, and daily eye serum or eye cream. If you want to throw in a once-a-month mask (<-- click for great at-home facial recipes featuring things from your kitchen) of some sort that is good too.

I myself and some of my friends have to deal with acne and people ask me with my oily skin that is prone to breakouts, why I use moisturizer. Well according to my own personal experience research, my face tended to breakout more when I didn't wear moisturizer as opposed to when I did wear it. My theory is that as my skin needs moisture, it will over-compensate for a lack of moisture by producing excess oil on my face and as a result, causing more breakouts for my skin. Add on top of that make-up and dirt and you have a recipe for disaster.

It is important to start this routine now (in 20's) not when you already have wrinkles and are trying to turn back the hands of time. You can make a preemptive strike against wrinkles now. The difference could be EXTREMELY drastic as pictured below.

I am also including a picture of my mom when she was 17 and now at 46. She is out in the sun alot but has been using skin care regimens for many many years. I learned about basic skin care from her years of using Clinique products as I was growing up!

Whether you use ProActive, St. Ives, Clinique, or you went to the dermatologist (like me!), find something that works for your schedule and ALWAYS ALWAYS wear moisturizer.

These statements are from my personal experience and readings and have not been reviewed by a doctor or a dermatologist.

Did someone say PIE?

Since summer is almost over, you may want to do this pie before it's too late. Though it may already be... oops. This is my favorite summer pie I call "Plum Peachy"

You can guess from the name of the pie that I used peaches and plums but I also used blackberries. Here is what you will need:

3 Georgia peaches

2 Plums (any kind will do though the plums with a dark red flesh inside look the prettiest)

2 cups of blackberries

2 Pilsbury Pie Crusts (i cheat) [or one box with two crusts in them]

2 cups of flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 and put a cookie sheet on the rack below where the pie will sit. These fruits are very juicy and there is LOTS of spillage.

Go ahead and grease and flour your pie pan and put the bottom crust in. Then cut your fruit into wedges you can leave the skin on or off.

Mix the fruit and the sugars together in a bowl and put into a skillet. Set the skillet on a medium/high heat. Let the fruits come to a simmer for about 20 minutes. This will help draw out much of the juice of the fruits. Drain the juice from the fruit and put the fruit back in the bowl. [TIP: Put juice in a container to use for syrups on pancakes, waffles, or ice cream] If you skip this step, you will end up with a soggy pie.

Put the fruit back into the bowl and add the 2cups of flour. Please be cautious as the fruit will be very hot. Once you mix the flour and fruit dump the mixture into your pie pan with the bottom crust already in it. Now for an added hint, sprinkle a thin layer of flour over the top of the pie filling before putting the crust on top. Go ahead and cut 3 or so slits into your pie crust (or whatever fancy thing you would like to do) and lay it on top of the filling.

Now almost every single pie recipe will tell you to press the edges down and join the top and bottom pie crust edges. I do want you to do this, HOWEVER, the juices will have no where to go. If you think I'm exaggerating about the juice, you are SORELY mistaken. LOL Please remember that the main ingredient is peaches, one of the juiciest fruits on the planet. Please leave one to two small gaps on opposite sides of the pie, but make sure that the cookie sheet from earlier is wide enough to catch the dripping. The gaps should be only big enough for you to put the tip of your finger in and will also provide a drain if needed. haha!

Take your egg and mix it up in a small bowl or cup with a fork. Now using either pastry brush or your fingers rub the egg all over the top crust. This will create a nice shiny brown crust on top! Bake for 1 hour at 350. Check to see that the juices are bubbling and the crust is golden brown and you're done! Let the pie cool for another 30 minutes if you want it juicy and let it sit over night if you want it more congealed.

Here Comes the Bridal Party

Let's start with the guys because they are the least important right? Lol no but seriously.

I love this little outfit for a ring bearer. The vest and the untucked shirt is just adorable.

For the groom and possibly the entire grooms party, I love the idea of a non-black suit. I HATE tuxedos and think they are ridiculous. I also wouldn't mind a no-tie look because the thought of having something wrapped that tightly around my throat makes me gag and I hate to think of anyone else in that position.

The blue suit worn by Paul Rudd in I Love You Man [which is a gr8 bromance movie]

Don't you just love Bradley Cooper in a suit! I could only dream of having a guy who looked this good in anything! haha

Let's be honest, I will probably end up somewhere closer to the Zach Galifianakis range. Who is a hilarious actor by the way and a terrible stand up comedian. Although he is a beautiful piano player.

Now for the good stuff:

I love a little ballerina fairy type look for a flower girl. Not with wings or anything cheesy just sweet and whimsical looking. I know tutus are all the rage but I'm not looking for a tutu outfit that swallows the poor little girl or makes her look like shes in a pageant for Little Miss Tulle.

For the bridesmaids I like a simple LBD [little black dress] that does not go below the knee, but nothing slutty.

And now the moment you've all been waiting for:

THE DRESS

I LOVE THIS FREAKIN VERA WANG DRESS!

Ain't it purty?

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

What every girl needs in her refrigerator.

Have you seen my balls?

I hate it when a guy gets a new lady and the girl doesnt like anything about his life and makes him change it. For example, I have had several guy friends, who shall remain nameless, that went to my church. First of all they drop off the face of the planet because their psycho girlfriend will get mad if they have female friends. But these particular guys in which I am referring to somehow think that their girlfriend controls the entire relationship. Instead of the girl saying "Hey hon i know ive never been to your church before and i dont know anyone, but i will try my hardest to make friends here and plant some roots" they say "WAH WAH i dont know anyone here, i wanna go back to MY church with MY friends! And if you dont do what I say and go to MY church, you wont be my boyfriend anymore". And you know what the guys say? Instead of saying "get over yourself, youre a whiner and you will make friends here if you give it a chance" they say "ok whatever you say sweetie, let me go ahead and wrap my balls up in a nice box with a ribbon for you to store away with the rest of my life". Guys: GROW A FREAKIN PAIR!!! Stop letting your girlfriends dictate who your friends are, where you hang out, where you go to church! If they dont like it they can move on and guess what, youre younger than 25 so im sure you will find some other girl who is cool and doesnt want to change you. when will girls learn to stop trying to change a guy and when will a guy learn to stand up to a girl and say hes not going to change???

These are a few of my favorite BLOGS!

One of the most beautiful and talented women I know!

Some beautiful and creative sisters with awesome ideas and great sense of style!

Clever crafts on a budget!

One of the cutest moms with one of the most adorable little girls!

And those are my favorites! All crafty and such but I'm totally into that. All of you who read my blog (i think the number is 0) should check these blogs out! They are MUCH more interesting than mine. I spend most of my time reading them rather than writing on my own blog!

Let Them Eat Cupcakes

The theme for my wedding

reception will be Marie Antoinette. I'm not particularly fond of the movie itself but the imagery and indulgence featured are just what I would want.

My reception will be a dessert only reception. Cupcakes,petit fours, champagne fountains, and an ice cream sundae bar!

Sadie Sadie Married Lady

Many of my friends are getting married this year or next and its got me thinking about my own wedding (future wedding). Not that I'm engaged mind you, but every girl thinks of these things even from when they are little watching Beauty and the Beast. The next few blogs will be about different things I want for a wedding. This post, FLOWERS

Flowers: Peonies!

Love this organza wrapped bouquet of pink peonies from Gossip Girl.

mad woman

Recently I have been watching AMC's Mad Men and am in love with the early 60's. The fashion and decor are a perfect mix of modern and classic. I have really been inspired by the show and find myself looking for more vintage things on ebay and the like and even trying to copy their style with makeup and hair. Here are some photos of things from the 60's that inspire me!

Coke Zero is My Hero

It is another one of "those days". Blah not enough sleep and a headache all day. After glee I will crash fo sho. Been thinking about all the crazy stuff going on with people around me and feeling bad for them but also feeling blessed for my circumstances. Please pray for my mom who had surgery a few weeks ago and the wound is not healing. In fact it's infected. This weekend I get to go see my family and go to the beach!!! Hazzah! Hm I may have go buy a couple of new books to read while I'm there. Anyway nothing else to report. Soon I will write another long winded blog about self reflection.

Four Stages of Beard Commentary

"Your attempt at a beard is pathetic"
"Your attempt at a beard is noble"
"You have succeeded in your attempt at a beard"
"You are a beard-overachiever, please trim that down"

Favorite powder!

New Fave

This is my new favorite foundation. I usually NEVER wear liquid foundation because of my HUGE pores and oily skin HOWEVER I decided to try tinted moisturizer and I am converted! Drink the koolaid and get some for yourself. Especially great during summer!

Is it Friday yet?

It's been one of those weeks and it's only Tuesday. I want it to be Friday.

I wore shorts today and forgot to shave my legs. Hopefully it isn't noticeable.

I am re-reading The Hunger Games. Highly recommend it if you've never read it (1 of 3 books in a series)

Some days I wish I was less superficial. Some days I wish I cared more what I looked like. I usually only take 30 minutes to get ready in the morning and I look like it all day! lol

That is all for now. BUH BYE