My Best Investment

Want to know what I think every girl should invest in?  Nope, it's not a white dress because you can find one anywhere.  It's not a statement necklace because you can grab a cute one at Forever 21 for under $15.00.  Well, what's left in this outfit?  You guessed it...my boots!  Some of you might be rolling your eyes right about now or clicking your way onto another blog. I am okay with that, but I am sticking to my guns on this one.  

Ladies, you do not have to be from the South, live on a farm or know how to two-step to rock a pair of cowgirl boots.  My only suggestion is to invest in a quality pair that will last you for years to come.  I promise, whether you believe it or not, you will wear them more than you think.  Something about slipping on a pair of boots makes me feel a little sexy and sassy...and that doesn't happen very often {the sexy part}.

You can wear them a million different ways {here} and {here} and add your own twist to finish off the look.  Out of everything I own in my closet, my Lucchese boots are by far my best investment and if that makes me a Country Bumpkin, so be it.

Dress:T.J. Maxx (old)  | Boots:Lucchese | Necklace and Ring:Forever 21| Earrings:My wedding gift from Ross               

Doesn't this picture make you want to buy a pair just so you can kick up your boots?  

I also wanted to share some quick pics from my date night with Ross. We went to see Alan Jackson Friday night.  I have been a huge fan for years. So, I was pretty pumped to finally get to see him "live" and he didn't disappoint. If I haven't mentioned this before, I love country music {really, most any kind of music} and love it even more when it's live. Needless to say, we weren't feeling too hot on Saturday morning.  Let's just say the $4.00 pints got the best of us.

 

What has been your best investment related to clothing?
I know we all play favorites to something in our closet.

Cheers a little "Boot Scootin' Boogie"!

Today I am linking up with these fine ladies!

Bold Blazer and Best Friends

About four months ago some of my best friends from high school and I planned a weekend at the coast.  It seemed like our much needed reunion would never get here.  Finally, last weekend all our plans and countless back-and-forth emails became reality.   I haven't seen some of these pretty ladies in years, so of course we were acting like giddy school girls heading to the prom.   We had enough not-so-healthy food and cocktails to last us a month...perfect way start to kick off the weekend...not to mention we could see the ocean from our seaside cottage.

Sounds like the perfect weekend, right?  Well, coincidentally the company I work for had a state wide convention in the same city, on the same weekend.  How does that happen?  So, guess what?  Yes, you are correct, I had to make an appearance for a few hours while my lady friends sipped on mimosas and munched on {fattening} breakfast casseroles.  Not fair!!  Actually, it wasn't too bad, I got to hear some amazing speakers and actually learned a thing or too.  A few hours later I was back in the saddle with my girls.  Surf's up!

Before I changed into my beach bum clothes, I had my sweet friend Jenny snap a few pictures of me in my company convention attire. 

I paired my dark skinny jeans with a bold blazer and mint colored accessories. This look is timeless and classic.  Every girl needs a solid color blazer in their wardrobe.

Orange and mint seem to be filling up my closet lately.

It was so perfect outside that I decided to stop and smell the flowers!  
{I know, these flowers don't have a scent, just thought it sounded good}

Bird's Eye View - Actually, there were seagulls flying around!

Standing in front of our quaint little sea side getaway

Blazer:Forever 21 (similar) | Jeans:Express | Creme Top: Thrifted | Boots:MIA (similar) | Necklace:Francescas | 

Earrings and Ring:Charlotte Russe | Sunglasses:Target

I felt obliged to post a "then and now" picture of us girls.  I think we look better now than we did back then {I won't mention the year of 'then'}!  I love those girls more now than I did before!

Don't forget to get your entries in for my Stila Cosmetics Giveaway.  The winner will be announced February 5th. 

Cheers to life long friends and a bold blazer!

Is It Time To Accessorize Your Accessories?

Are you always digging through a box, a drawer, closet or other random places looking for that bracelet, ring, other earring, scarf or your left shoe? That was me about a month ago. I was having my kids look under the bed for my other black boot while I was rummaging through a mess of stuff looking for my special necklace that I had to wear with my new stripe dress. By the time I found what I was looking for; my closet, bathroom and bedroom were destroyed. No more last minute scavenger hunts. I decided that it was time to get organized...I needed to accessorize my accessories! I thought I would share some easy, quick and inexpensive (or no cost) ways to get organized and to make your mornings much easier. Take a look! 

 

I found this bracelet tower at Sam Moon for $12.00!  They have stores in Austin, Dallas and Houston.  I was so excited!  They had several to choose from in different finishes and designs.  You can also use a paper towel holder for your bracelets, but this was a much easier way for me to arrange my bracelets.  Here is the finished product...Wa-la!

I found this idea on Pinterest.  I always threw my knee boots in the corner of my closet and was always searching for the match.  Then I ran across this idea and was like GENIUS!  Why didn't I think of this before?  DUH!  This has been so helpful keeping my winter boots organized and easy to find...no more looking in the black holes...A.K.A. - underneath the bed or in my closet.  They are all neatly placed on my closet rod with their own little special pant hangers.  LOVE IT!

 

Most of my lady friends know that I am an accessory freak!  I have more Forever 21 necklaces than the store!  It's a little out of control, I must finally admit.  ;)  So, I needed a way to organize them so I could stop the untangling madness!  I got square cork boards at Target for $5.00. My sweet husband Ross, used liquid nails and glued them to the inside door of our linen closet in our bathroom.  Tip: Double the cork boards up....two boards laid on top of each other. Like the song..."Stuck Like Glue" these cork boards are not going anywhere. Then I got fun colorful thumb tacks and hung my necklaces on them.  Masterpiece...no more cuss words are being said trying to untangle the necklace madness.  Oh, the little things in life.  

 

Here is a FREE and quick way to organize another winter accessory...scarves! Take a pant hanger and loop them over the long part of the hanger.  I can fit like 6-7 scarves on the hanger.  So much better than balling them up and throwing them in a drawer... you should have seen how I had them organized before...complete chaos!  I am definitely getting organized now...yay me!!

Have you ever thrown your favorite earring in the trash because you couldn't find the matching pair?  Well, I have...numerous times...then I am cursing myself 2 months later when I finally found the match under my cabinet sink...seriously...how did that get there?  So, I found this great little jewelry organizer at Stein Mart. I put all my rings and earrings in this nifty little hanger-upper. It fits nicely in my closet and is a girl's dream for earrings.  They sell these everywhere now.  Sam Moon has fun patterns with initials on them,  Super affordable and a GREAT gift! I must say...mine isn't all the cute...but hey...it does the job!  

 

Last but not least, what the heck do you do with all your belts?  Well, I got my hotty, jack of all trades husband to make a piece of wood with hooks attached to hang all my 50+ belts.  Women say diamonds are a girl's best friend...well I really love my belts...best fashion accessory in my opinion...they make us all look slimmer!  ;)  Anyway, you don't have to have a man make this for you....go to Target, Wal-Mart or Bed Bath & Beyond and get yourself on of these. It's typically called a hat rack..hang it in your closets or the back of a door and I promise, you can fit a bunch of belts on these hooks.  Why?  Because Shanna Said So!  Can you tell I LOVE my accessories and take good care of them?  :)  Cheers and Merry Christmas!!