Sneaker Fix: Unbothered.

I'm not usually a sneaker girl but I do love a great, comfortable wedge, especially one that has some glitz.  Problem is, in a sneaker, if it is overdone, it will definitely look like it.  But there is hope . . .

I got these new Nike Forces and they are the ticket!  You may not be able to tell from the photo but the "check" is in a black, patent-looking material that actually has glitter reflects.  Not like disco ball glitter but an ever-so-slight shimmering of flecks of metallic. 

The shoe, itself, is white, black, and trimmed in a metallic silver leather.  And, as a huge fan of the black and white color combination in fashion, I absolutely love it.  The hidden wedge just makes it all the better.

I got this shoe (and a few others that I will mention, later) from Kohls.com.  I also got the tights I'm wearing in the photo (black with a faux leather silver stripe down the side) from Kohls.com. 

The shirt (which I ADORE) is from a company called Fratt Nation.  The shirt, itself, has an iconic picture of Marilyn Monroe with a "I can't be moved" look in her eyes, blowing a big pink bubble.  The caption at the bottom of the shirt is "UNBOTHERED."  That is my new theme-slogan.  I loved it so much, I also got the sweatshirt (which is thick, soft, and gray- LOVE)! 

Neck. Laced.

Recently, a friend pointed out that I have managed to hoard quite a collection of jeweled necklaces for spring and summer.  I hadn't really thought much of it but tonight, I pulled out just a few of my pieces and realized that I did, in fact, have quite a stash. 

I've photographed a handful of the ones that I will be wearing over the next couple of months.  Because I have so many, none of these are ones that I have worn before.  That's why I'm determined to get some wear out of them.  When I do wear them, I will post a photo in a threat that I intend to call, "Neck. Laced." 

I will post the ones I have actually worn and a picture of my entire collection at a time in the near future.    But for now, these are the ones I will try to get wear out of before fall.  (Just ignore the earrings.) 

 

I just love bling!!!

Wedding Inspirations for The Honeymoon Suite

The time is drawing near for my husband and I to move into our new love nest.  Although I hate moving, I love that we will finally be under one roof.  And I also love the idea of decorating our home and finding styles and furnishings that are functional, comfortable, and incorporates both our style aesthetics. 

One piece of the puzzle has already come together.  A major piece considering it's the Honeymoon Suite (which is what I have resigned to calling our bedroom).  I have managed to find bedding that we both like and that incorporates the colors from our wedding in a "livable" way. 

Our wedding colors were regency purple and antique gold (see inserted pictures).  The basic colors (purple and gold) are the colors that represent my husband's fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.  I thought they were the perfect colors because they represented something dear to him and because I believe all women look regal in purple and gold. 

As luck would have it, I have managed to find an amethyst and gold bedding set (see, below) that is the perfect way for me to bring the wedding inspiration (and hopefully the passion, love, and joy we experienced on that day) into our Honeymoon Suite so that we go to bed every night and wake up every day with, at least, a subconscious reference to our special day. 

  
The comforter set is an amethyst and gold set, not a regency/royal purple set.  But I actually think that the lighter color is what makes it work for every day.  I also loved that it was a 20 piece set and included 4 window drapes in the gold and 2 valances in the amethyst and gold scroll pattern. 

I got the set from Home Shopping Network (HSN) and the only thing I regret is that I didn't purchase it during the 24 hour premier sale.  Then it was only $159.99.  After that 24 hour period, it went to the regular price of $249.95.  I can't believe I missed a sale that good.  But still, for the look I wanted and 20 pieces, I decided it was worth the extra money.

Now for the master bath!

Bright Like a [Pink] Diamond

I haven't quite figured out what the root of my obsession with neon colors (especially pink) is.  Nonetheless, I have one.  And at my age (the big three-eight), I'm not all that certain it's appropriate.  Still, I seem to yield to it whenever I think the occasion is appropriate (assuming there is ever an appropriate occasion for a woman my age). 

This weekend, my excuse was two beautiful occasions:  First and foremost, my husband returned from a short work assignment to Kuwait!!!  Since we are both military and living in separate states, any time we get to spend a day together feels like a special occasion.  That is the one beautiful thing about living apart from someone you really love spending time with-  it keeps the honeymoon fires a-burnin'.  And the hubby and I have vowed to remain newlyweds our entire marriage so we are on track! 

Secondly, this week was the annual Cherry Blossom festival in D.C.  Admittedly, I didn't attend any of the festivities BUT I am familiar with the magical feeling of waves of pink because my mom lives in Macon, GA (I'm a Georgia native, myself), and Macon also has a cherry blossom festival.  And I think it's such a beautiful festival. 

These two things inspired me to sport some neon pink. 

In the first photo, I'm wearing a black and white chevron shirt with neon chevrons (from my own boutique), neon pink pants (VIP jeans, purchased from Beyond the Rack), and nude pumps with a black and white sort-of western scroll that I think looked good with the chevron pattern (shoes by Anne Michele, purchased from Zulily).

 

In the second photo, I'm wearing neon pink Reeboks (purchased from TJ Maxx), Cut from the Cloth boyfriend jeans (purchased from Nordstrom), a white tshirt (actually a tshirt to sleep in I got for Christmas; I repurposed it because it had the relaxed look that was perfect for the jeans), neon pink and green necklace (from my own boutique) with clear rhinestones, and earrings with neon green center and clear rhinestones (from Nordstrom). 

 

 

Sometimes, I guess I am just in a neon state-of-mind.  And who doesn't love pink?!

Sunshine and Blue Skies

Just posting pics from a good day in Georgia with family.  Photos taken by my brother in my mom's back yard.

Good times!  And this yellow and blue reminds me of sunshine and blue skies!

bright mustard yellow jean - Beyond the Rack
navy blue satin tie bow blouse - Beyond the Rack
navy blue and luggage brown oxford wedge - Tommy Hilfiger
luggage brown Chloe Paddington handbag
Ruby Woo red lipstick - MAC

II'm an AWESOME Wife, Not a Perfect One

No matter how flawed I am or how many mistakes I make, my husband believes I am the best wife in the world.  So today, I decided to post this to give myself some positive reinforcement.

Some of you probably feel this way all the time.  But I'm new at being a wife.  And truthfully, even when I was single, I often didn't feel awesome.  In fact, I have a tendency to be very hard on myself.  Very, very hard on myself.  But I've been blessed with a family (mother, brother, nephew, etc.) that has always thought I was amazing, no matter what.  And now, I have a husband that thinks the same.

My husband is awesome.  And he deserves an awesome wife.  So I wake up every day and try to be one.  Just like I wake up every day and try to be an awesome daughter, sister, and aunt. 

This post is to remind me that I don't have to be perfect.  I am STILL an AWESOME WIFE!!

I Am a Middle Age Newlywed!

I've never been one to worry about growing older.  In fact, I've always embraced it.  But right around the time I turned 35, I began to realize (mainly because my family and friends were always reminding me) that my biological clock was not just ticking but the alarm must have gone off a few times and, apparently, I rolled over in my sleep and hit the snooze button.  Once I began to really take stock of this inevitable fact, I started to change what I was looking for in a relationship.

I realized that I had always been afraid of true, long-term commitment (which I believe stems from childhood issues).  But having my own family has always been something I knew I really wanted.  So it was time to open up and receive whatever God sent my way.  [Did I mention that I'm what the kids call a "Jesus freak"?]  And, boy, did I hit the jackpot!

I became acquainted with (and he put a ring on it) the most amazing man (AKA My Hubby) and we decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives as a team.  We had a beautiful wedding with a very select group of close family and friends. 

I feel like a young, happy, blushing bride who, 5 months after her wedding, does not ever want the honeymoon to end.  But . . . truth is . . . I'm not really a young bride.  I'm middle aged.  I mean, I think I'm middle aged?  As I write this, I've been 38 for more than 2 months. 

Since this is not something I've ever really thought about and there's not like a Social Security Administration chart that sets an official age for when middle age starts, I decided to do a little research.  I found this article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/28/middle-age_n_3830194.html) that suggests that I still have more than a dozen years left before I am "in the zone" but I don't think this article is right.

Let me explain.  I think that they got the checklist mostly right.  But what I mean is, they state that a recent survey set "middle age" starting at about 53.  In my mind, middle age is the age that is the mid-point for your life expectancy and continues until you hit the senior citizen range.  I estimate that, for most of us, middle age is about 40 (presuming that you have a life expectancy of about 80 or so).  Don't get me wrong, I want and plan to live long past that age.  My grandmother turned 92 just two days, ago, and I think she has more energy and spunk that I do.  But I also acknowledge that all of my great aunts and uncles and my grandfather all died between the ages of 76 and 82.  Some of their spouses and many of my other family members didn't even make it to 65 (which is really a shame since they worked all their lives, couldn't afford to retire on their own, and never even lived to draw a social security check).

 I was fortunate enough to have a career, be financially independent and enjoy my 20s and early 30s. In an effort to consciously enjoy every phase of my life, I've decided to embrace middle age at 38.  I pray I have a long, long, long journey into senior citizenship with my new husband in our new life.

For now, I'm a middle aged new wife-  And I LOVE it!!!

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