[31 for 31 - Day 13]

Today I wore:

Elle white button up

braided belt

Charlotte Russe trouser jeans

Ann Taylor oxfords

Bangles from foreign countries

[31 for 31 - Day 12]

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 I wore:

Forever 21 black hat

American Eagle grey/green off-shoulder tee

American Eagle skinny jeans

American Eagle leopard flats

Sensing a theme, anyone?

[31 for 31 - Day11]

Monday, July 11, 2011 I wore:

Ruffled Charlotte Russe top

J.Crew cargo pants

Charming Charlie gladiator sandals and watch

[31 for 31 - Day 10]

Today I'm wearing...

A sheer Charlotte Russe tank, New York & Company skirt, and Charming Charlie gladiator sandals. The only accessory is a handmade necklace from the Tolupan Indians of Honduras.

Cross your fingers that Tuesday will be back to normal posting. Just photos of me is bound to make you excommunicate me. :) Forgiveness?

[31 for 31 - Day 9]

Gosh guys, I'm super plain Jane today. I've got the Target tank, Charlotte Russe jeans and Charming Charlie gladiator sandals going on. As well as my Croft&Barrow straw fedora and Old Navy flowery scarf. It's no excuse, but it was due to being a travel day today and leaving at 7am for a 4 hour drive to Charlotte, NC. I know, no excuse but you'll just have to bear with me. I'll try better tomorrow!!

Have a super Saturday, folks!

[31 for 31 - Day 8]

Hey my lovelies! It is day 8 of 31 and I'm feeling more empowered than ever! This is my favorite outfit, thus far. I have been a fan of each of these pieces individually and I am really loving them put together. The top comes from American Eagle, it's one of their "boyfriend, off the shoulder tees;" the bottoms are ponte pants via Simply Vera by Vera Wang, and on my feet are Ann Taylor oxfords. My accessories are low key (that's how I like it, yo) with some handmade wooden bracelets (I would take credit for making them, but let's be real, I'd be taking credit from 3rd world markets, and that is just kicking a horse when he's down). Finally, the belt is straight from "Closet de mi Padre." Don't hate, he's got some rad stuff. 

So I'm leaving...never lookin' back again (Jesse McCartney reference, anyone?) Really, though, I'm headed to South Carolina tomorrow-Monday with my lovely mom to visit some of her old friends and reminisce. Do you love that? I do. I'll still be posting pictures but my posts will be sporadic (yeah, I know, what else is new?) Know that I will be thinking of you, my lovelies!

"Happy freakin' weekend!"

Ps did anyone dress up as a cow for free Chick-fil-A today? I remembered it all week...until today...and I went there for a sweet tea and BAM! 47 mini cows...I thought I had stumbled upon Mayfield dairy or something. Oh well, there are always coupons...

[31 for 31 - Day 7]

It's the last day of the first week! It has already been fun and challenging! I am currently headed out to our nearest Plato's Closet to donate 3 garbage bags full of my sister's clothes that once upon a time I had handed down to her. I figure it's only fair that I get whatever possible off of these clothes since I originally put all of the money into them. Whatever is left over will definitely get donated though, so don't think I'm super selfish. I'm a philanthropist, people, I promise! ;)

My items used today are: striped American Eagle v-neck, Elle shorts, and American Eagle leopard print flats. Accessories are numerous today, a fabric flower that I made in my hair, suspenders, and 2 wooden bangles from Honduras and the gold bangle you saw on Day 4. Well that's all for today, folks!

[31 for 31 - Day 6]

Guys, I know I've been super slacking on my posts and you guys are probably already sick of just seeing what I'm wearing. I have had a crraazy busy week and just can't seem to get anything done on the homefront: cleaning, blogging, etc. I'm lucky that I manage to shower everyday. So until I can get my shiz together here is what you'll have to content yourselves with: what I'm wearing.

Clearly I woke up on the 70s boho side of the bed this morning. I'm wearing a Forever21 grey maxi dress and Forever21 brown leather boots. Uhh I didn't realise that they were both from the same store until just now. Fate. I accessorized with only an American Eagle vest and a cotton belt from Kohl's c/o Simply Vera collection.

Well I'm off to be the speaker at a youth event! Ta-ta for today!

[31 for 31 - Day 5]

First things first, Day 5 of 31 for 31!

Accessories include a leopard print scarf that my bestie brought back from China for me and a wooden bangle that I brought back from Honduras for myself. Additionally, the future Mr. really liked this outfit, so that's always a plus. 

___________________________________________________

It's Tuesday! It's summer! It's 81 days until I adopt a 23 year old man for the rest of my life. So I'm just appreciating the small things!

When I was living in Mississippi, going to college, I heard one particular phrase used quite a bit. To me it seems that it is only a Mississippi thing, but maybe you have heard it in other parts of the world... The thing is: they call little gifts, given for no reason, "happies."

For instance, if I just came up to you and gave you a precious little headband I would say "This is for you. It's just a little happy." It was for no reason and they don't expect anything back, they just knew you would like it. That's good old southern hospitality, for "y'all." Don't be fooled, just because I'm from Atlanta, and Atlanta is in Georgia, and Georgia is in the South, does not mean that I am southern. Atlanta pretty much dissociates itself from the South. But I digress...

Today I felt like I had just received a bunch of "happies" from God. You know, those days where you just all of a sudden count your blessings and realize how good you have it? So I think I'll just detail some of the little things that I'm loving today.

• Chick-fil-A sweet tea. If you don't expect this from me by now then you should just walk away.
• Spending a Tuesday evening just listening to future husband play and sing as he prepares to audition for American Idol. Will we see you at the audition in Charleston?
• My handy Droid that tells me when I need to not wear heels because it will rain and pulls up handy coupons when I'm at Gap buying a wedding shirt for the Mr.
• Time spent with my mother-in-law as she reminisces about years past, old loves, her kids, and stories about Elvis and JFK.
• Planning a trip to get a piano from Mr. C's dad so that we can have a large musical instrument in our September house.
• All of the blogs that I'm currently following that inspire me, humor me and challenge me; you all are a little "happy" every day.

Well those are just a few of my little happies today, folks! What are yours?

[31 for 31 - Day 4 and 4th of July]

Photo

Happy Independence Day from Atlanta, folks!!

I hope you are all having a lovely fourth of July!! Mr. C and I celebrated with his whole family last night at his brother's house. I took quite a few pictures but there are none of me & him or me and any of my friends who were there. Oh well we'll probably get some tonight :) I'm headed off to an annual pool party/BBQ with church friends and then our annual tradition of watching the fireworks at the mall (see above). Here are a few of my favorite photos from yesterday.

Mr. C going for the football

This was how they kept the keg cool outside: trashcan of ice with duct tape insulation. Apparently it was the engineer of the group who came up with this nifty invention...the keg coozie.

Mr. C's niece & nephew

She's about to be my niece! How cute is she?

Corn hole - one of the many games played.

Brothers

Brother G, nephew CR, Mr. C., nephew JR (I know that his nephew is the same age, long story) and brother BR. Big old family!

Backyard golf - another serious family game.

Nephew JR tossing another niece in the air! Good thing his mom didn't see this!

I didn't get any firework pictures because I was sans tripod but I will definitely be on that bandwagon tonight when there are huge ones! And before I forget, here is my Day 4 of 31 for 31. I know that I do not look very patriotic, I'm sorry. I didn't really factor that into my 31 items...

Accessories include a bangle from Morocco (the country, not a shop), a ring from New York & Company and earrings from Simply Vera by Vera Wang.

Once again, Happy Independence Day! I hope that is lovely for you!!

[31 for 31 - Day 3]

Today I'm Wearing...

Accessories include a Croft & Barrow straw fedora, American Eagle vest, and Charlotte Russe long necklace.

Also, you may have noticed that my hair is darker. This is actually my natural hair color but back in April I had put an auburn tint on top of it and it was subsequently lightened to a lighter reddish brown by extensive time in the sun when I was in Honduras and Florida. I'm much more comfortable with my natural dark brown, though.

Well this was me at 7am before heading out with Mr. C to his church where he leads worship. I look a lot more awake now but I figure that since you only need to see my outfit anyway, this photo will do. ;)

Happy Sunday, pals! Do you get the day off tomorrow? Mr. C does & I don't have any weddings to photograph tomorrow so we are gonna kick it chilling style! :)

[31 for 31 - Day 2]

Today I'm wearing...

Accessories: Old Navy scarf, Kohl's cotton belt and Charlotte Russe peacock feather bangle.

I won't lie, it has been cool to talk to people about my decision to do this challenge. I saw a lot of my friends today at a pool party and they had all read about the challenge on my Facebook. I feel like it really opens people's eyes to the fact that we can get creative with stuff we already own!

So many people have told me "There is no way I could do that!" Um why not? I can understand not wanting to try it out, of course. After all, if you are content with what you have and do not have urges to buy every cute new thing you see then heck you have more willpower than I do; but that you can't? Preposterous! I'd definitely urge everyone to try it, even for a week and just see how creative you can get.

Plus, it's funny how many compliments you will get just by straying from the same old thing you always wear. I have worn each of these pieces before but never together in this particular combination. I have worn the yellow shirt with a cardigan, a scarf, skinny jeans and flats; the skirt I have worn with more dressy tops, cardigans, etc. Pairing the two was fun and new and people noticed!

So my challenge to you is that even if you don't decide to do the whole challenge, at least try to see how creative you can be with your closet tomorrow!

[31 for 31 - an introduction & a day late]

Good morning, Saturday! You are looking lovely, as always. I'm so happy for all of the loveliness that you... bring me today: pool party, cook out, time with Mr. C, giggles with girlfriends...I'm pretty pumped, that's for dang sure.

So I remixed Kendi's remix of 30 for 30; and made it 31 for 31, because well duh July has 31 days! I chose 31 items total and will have to wear a combination of only these items for the month of July. It is all about learning to work with what I have. I will also not be buying any new clothing items during this time period. 


I believe that this will truly open up a whole new viewpoint of being a good steward of what I have as well as being content with what I have. Obviously I have much more than 31 items in my closet, but this is a challenge of being humble and realizing that we, especially Americans, have more than we need or deserve.

So I took these items:

7 bottoms: a mix of jeans, shorts, & trousers+3 dresses: two maxis and one cocktail length (not shown)+3 tanks (not shown)+1 skirt+1 blazer+6 pairs of shoes: wedges, two flats, boots, oxfords and sandals+10 tops: sheer tanks, vneck tees, a sweater, a button up, solid/striped tees=31 items for 31 days.

That was yesterday, July 1=Day 1. I'll have photos of today's outfit up in a bit when I get out of gym clothes - hallelujah that those don't have to take up some of my items!

I'd like for you all to join me, and join Kendi and all of the others who are being brave and shopping their own closets. You might learn a lot about yourself over this next month!