Thursday, October 29, 2015

Thursday Thoughts: Halloween Edition

Yay! Happy pre-Halloween!

Question - do you pronounce Halloween like the hall in "hallway" or like the word "howl"? Just curious. For the record, I say it like the later.


Duh.


My work doesn't dress up for Halloween. Actually, I've never worked at a job where people in the office dress up for Halloween. Is that weird or is it just not that common? 


But it's probably good that my office doesn't dress up...because there's always that person that wears the inappropriate costume... 


I have to finish up my Halloween costume tonight for a Halloween party tomorrow. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I still have quite a bit left to do. Sigh.

27 Appetizers For Your Halloween Party That Are Hilariously On Theme:

I have to make an appetizer for the party I'm going to and this was very helpful for me. Also, look at those cute little batty cheese balls! 



Your turn to talk! Link up your blog post below. (remember, it can be about anything!)


Tuesday, October 27, 2015

My Halloween Costumes: A Brief History

I'm fairly known for my...weird funny eccentric Halloween costumes.

Growing up in the South, we didn't really do a whole lot for Halloween. Sure, my sister and I dressed up and went trick-or-treating, but we had rules...no scary costumes and to let my parents inspect our candy before we ate it. (this was post poison Tylenol scare).

So over the years, I kept one of my Halloween "rules" and added my own: No skanky costumes and at least 80% homemade. Because anyone can go out and buy a slutty ghost costume. Making your unique costume is way better!

When I started getting old enough to make my own costumes, I went as a variety of things like an Arabian woman/Gypsy, a Native American, Helen Keller, Jane Goodall and Charlie Chaplin. Then there was Marilyn Monroe, Baby Spice, Catwoman and that one time I broke my parents rule and went with the absolute scariest costume ever...


Yep. Scariest crap ever. 

Moving on. 

My last few years of costumes included people, animals and inanimate objects, with the latter two being my personal favorites to dress up as. 


Clockwise from top left: A loofah, Paula Deen (prior to her media scandal), a doe and Grumpy Cat.

This year's costume is another inanimate object. I'm not quite as jazzed about it...simply because I love doing animal-related makeup, but I hope it will be a hit! Stay tuned for pics next week or follow me on instagram to see. 

Come back on Thursday for a Halloween-themed Thursday Thoughts! 

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Thursday Thoughts

Happy Thursday!

Here's your weekly dose of randomness. And GIFs...of course.

1// I bought another Kate Spade bag during their secret sale. This one is dual-purpose because it will work as a purse but also hold my laptop. Plus I got 20% off clearance price for it. WIN-WIN-WIN. Also, I'm obsessed.

2// Speaking of travel, I'm headed to Charleston, WV, Pittsburgh and Chicago in November...all for work. If any of you have suggestions for cool places to eat or things to do, let me know!

3// My Halloween costume is almost complete. I have a few more things to do to it this weekend and then I'll be done! Pics to come soon!

4// I purchased another plaid flannel shirt this week from Old Navy. (they were having a great sale!) WHO AM I? This brings my grand total to 3 plaid shirts in my closet. And I want more!!


When the person that's been swerving in and out of traffic has to merge in BEHIND me. 


When I'm trying to make my Christmas wish list for family. 


When I ask for feedback via email and get nothing. Then decide to bring it up in a meeting and all of a sudden everyone has an opinion. 

me
me

Sigh. Me too. 


Join in on the fun below! Link up your blog post about ANYTHING! Happy Thursday! 



Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Engagement Picture Session & Shots I Love

This weekend, I'm venturing down to the SC coast (again) to do some engagement pictures for a really good friend of mine. I've dabbled in photography for most of my adult life...even making a little money at it, but never making it a career. It's a saturated industry these days. But, when a friend asks, I will dust off the old camera and get to snapping. :)

Since this is a fall engagement session outdoors, I'm gleaning some inspo from my own engagement photo session (done by my awesome cousin!) and some from Pinterest. Here are a few of my faves...

camping engagement photos blanket


I love how this plaid blanket/wrap makes it look a little more casual and relaxed. Plus it's cozy!

#photography #couples #love #shoes #fashion #style:


I'm obsessed with shoe shots. I don't know why. I just love them. 

have wedding pictures taken the same place the engagement pictures were taken! love the idea!:


Who doesn't love a porch pic? And when it involves a swing? DOUBLE YES.


Full body, tall "framed" shot. I love how this looks and how the trees frame the photo.

engagement pictures:


I'm definitely going to go for a dreamy, landscape-y photo like this. I hope there are some beautiful meadows/fields I can photograph! 

tessa marie


The leaf shot. A little difficult to pull off but definitely a favorite. I love these full body ones and the face-front ones like we had for our session. 


arlene chambers photography


The framed-photo-fall-foliage-colorful shot is a winner too! 


Pretty much any time I can incorporate fall color into a photograph, I'm going to do it. It's so beautiful and when nature provides the backdrop, you use it! I'm hoping that once I get the photos edited, I'll be able to post some on here. I can't wait! 
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Don't forget to join me on Thursday for Thursday Thoughts and link up your post about ANYTHING! Hope to see you back here then! 

Friday, October 16, 2015

Down Alternative (Feather Free) Coats for the Winter

If you know me IRL you would know that I have horrible allergies. One of the worst offenders to my system, surprisingly, is feathers. When I was tested for allergies and the doctor told me feathers got a huge reaction, so I decided it was time to get rid of all of my favorite feather-filled things like my down comforter, feather pillows and throw pillows and my puffy winter coats and vests. 

Moment of silence for all of my cute feathered things. 

Moving on.

So now, I'm on the hunt for a feather-free winter coat. Why? Because I'm traveling to Chicago and Pittsburgh mid-November for work and need a warm one. I have a wool peacoat and a fleece peacoat but neither of these are warm enough. Also, I'm beginning to be anti-wool. It makes me skin itch like crazy and makes my hair static-y. Plus, it's kind of good just to have a very warm coat that isn't a fashion coat. You know what I mean? 

As I perused The Internets I was surprised at the number of down-free coats I found! I was thinking I may have a total of 2 options but I found quite a few! Below are some of my favorite down alternative, non-wool winter coats. 


3. The Northface (on sale!)
4. Lands End (on sale!)

I ended up going with #4 the Lands End Primaloft quilted parka. I like the shape of it and it's not too puffy. The final verdict will be when I actually receive it, so stay tuned!  

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Thursday Thoughts: Things I'm Not Doing

And without fail, I'm inspired again by Steph's awesome blog content. She seriously has the best blog topics! Yesterday, she posted "Things I'm Not Doing" and I was inspired to do my own version for today's Thursday Thoughts post.


Things I'm Not Doing

  • Decorating for fall. (echoing Steph) I tried. And I just can't do it. I'm about to tear my house apart in a month for Christmas so decorating for fall is just too much. Plus my interior is all cool colors...I.E. not orange. I ventured into a burlap wreath and spray painted a chicken wire pumpkin which I now think just looks weird.
  • Drinking coffee. This is where I stop being basic. I don't drink coffee...at all. No PSLs, no cappuccinos, no frappes...if it contains coffee I will not be drinking it. 
  • Able to find time between now and mid-November for M and I paint our kitchen cabinets. Seriously, between work travel and other trips/things we have planned, we're booked solid! 
  • Buying Hewitt another Halloween costume. We've tried before with the clothes and he just won't have it. He shuts down. He won't even stand up or, worse, he pees on them. I briefly entertained the idea of getting him some dog grip socks since he slides on our hardwood floors but I think he'd hate me forever.
  • Toting around old, raggedy, or free-gift-with-purchase luggage. I've started traveling more with work so I bit the bullet and invested in some grown-up matching luggage. It's a three-piece set and I got a great deal on it from E-Bags.
Now you're turn! Tell me what's going on with you and link up below! 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Show Us Your Books: What I Read

It's been a hot minute since I've linked up with this post...and well...I can directly attribute that to a crazy last few months and a lack of downtime. Well, more specifically, a lack of downtime dedicated to reading. But I've not been completely without my number 1 favorite pastime the last month. Here's what I read...

Life According to Steph 
Happy anniversary to Steph and Jana for this linkup! 


The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
I think this is actually YA fiction, but I still loved it. It's a great book for book lovers as it's about an author and an owner of an antique book shop. Both have secrets in their past that they work together to uncover and both are completely changed by the unveiling. This book has mystery, history, family "issues", and surprise me in a lot of places. I couldn't put this one down! Five out of five salted caramels.

Possible Side Effects - Augusten Burroughs
I felt a little obligated to read this one since a friend loaned me all of her Augusten Burroughs books and this is the only one I hadn't read yet. With that being said, I didn't hate this book. In typical author fashion, his book is a series of true (?) and funny essays about his life and childhood. Again, this guy really has had a zinger of a childhood, for sure. Some parts made me laugh out loud and others made me cringe. Overall, I thought it was good but it blended in to some of his other works to make this one long indistinguishable bio epic. Three out of five salted caramels.

Soldiers of Fortune - Jana Deleon
This is book 6 in the Miss Fortune mystery series. It's about a CIA assassin who is sent into hiding in a tiny Louisiana bayou town full of nosy old ladies and ex-cons. I enjoy reading about small-town Southern life since...well...I'm Southern. These books continue to keep my attention with just enough mystery/crime to offset the kooky cast...and a little love interest as well. Four out of five salted caramels.

Well, that's it for me. Just the three last month. Hoping that the cooler weather will force me to get outside and tackle a few more this month!

Join me on Thursday for the Thursday Thoughts linkup! Pretty please?

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Thursday Thoughts {Work GIF Edition}

Happy Thursday!

Today I'm sharing some work thoughts accompanied with GIFs. Because GIFs are the best. And we all have to work...so why not make light of it?


When a simple "How's it going?" or "How are you?" turns into a diatribe about politics or...worse...verbal diarrhea about family drama. 


When the end of the month, end of the quarter, payroll, inventory and all other work deadlines fall ON THE SAME DAY.

me after monday

When a coworker starts in with work crap literally at 8:01 am. Give me a few minutes, please.


To the coworker that is "busy all the time" and doesn't have time to do anything else for anyone because they are "overloaded". 


When the fruits of your coworkers efforts are less than satisfactory. You'd have been better off doing it yourself. 

All new episode of L.A. Hair TONIGHT at 10/9c on WE tv!

When someone bring up things during staff meetings just to get their coworkers in trouble. 

Scream Queens

When someone hands you work at 4:45 pm. On Friday. Before a long weekend.


Now you link up below with your Thursday Thoughts post. :)





Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Home (and a plea)

For the last 4 days my hometown...my birthplace...has been ravaged by flooding. The images are absolutely devastating. Take a look at these before and after GIFs if you need more convincing.

People have lost everything. Charleston, Columbia and countless other small towns across the Midlands of SC have seen more than 5 feet of water destroy homes, business, churches, roads, schools, hospitals and take lives. It's especially devastating in Columbia, which sits about 200 miles inland from the coast. Most people in Columbia do not carry flood insurance because it's inland and very dry normally. Even though Columbia sits amongst a number a rivers, they've never experienced this level of flooding. And even when the rain stops, the threat of flooding is still imminent as a lot of dams are breaking and wiping out neighborhoods.

Thankfully, my family in Columbia, Lexington, Elgin, Mt. Pleasant and Greenville are all safe. My husband and I (and our immediate families) who live in the Upstate/Northern SC are also all safe. I am so grateful we were all spared. But others were not so lucky. Today, I plead with you to do something to help. 1) pray for the people affected (if you're the praying type or send good vibes/juju/etc.) and 2) donate to the Red Cross for SC flood relief

Donating to the Red Cross is the fastest and best way to get aid directly to those affected. They are already on the ground in SC distributing drinking water and supplies. 



Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. 

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Thursday Thoughts Vacation Edition

It's been...well, it's been a week since I've blogged. So why not bless this week with some vacay pics? As I mentioned last week, I took a short vacation to the Isle of Palms with some of my family. Here are a few of the pics I took.



The house was on the back side of the island overlooking the Intracoastal waterway and Hamlin Creek. It's brackish water that makes for some great fishing!


This little guy tagged along. He is a bonafide dock dog now...assisting with the fish watching.


The weather was a little weird the first couple of days, but the humidity was low and there was a glorious breeze. Then the sun came out the last few days and the humidity soared back in!


My sister and I hanging out on the dock. :) 


Growing up visiting Charleston, you kind of get used to the scenery...but sometimes it catches me off guard. These beautiful lowcountry oaks were in the front yard of the house we stayed in. 


Foggy, rainy weather does make for some awesome photos. 


Another upshot of the live oaks. BEAUTIFUL! 



Now that you've seen a few of my vacay photos, tell me what's been going on in your world.




SEARCH THIS BLOG