Muddy Buddies

Crocheted Cape: Free People
Tshirt: H&M
Leggings: Sparkle and Fade
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

This outfit really has nothing to do with this post except for the fact that it is what I was wearing when I made the recipe that is to follow. But ... I wanted to share because I liked it a lot (ha!). These JC Litas are really incredible shoes. They are crazy cute, they make me insanely tall, and they are comfortable and easy to be up and about in. I literally walked around in them all day and never thought about my feet. And how about these printed leggings and the crocheted cape?! These are the kind of pieces that are neutral enough to go with many different things but they pack enough punch that they add a ton of interest to an outfit.

Now ... moving on to "muddy buddies." I don't normally blog about recipes and, considering that I am really a good cook, it is funny that this perfectly simple 15 minute recipe is where I am going to begin. But y'all!!!! ... muddy buddies are delicious. I don't care who you are. If you like chocolate. If you like peanut butter. If you like sugar. Then you will like this yumminess. And you could throw it together with your eyes closed it is so easy (don't really try that. you would probably succeed but you would also make a ginormous mess).

I got the recipe here. All you do is ... 

Put 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/4 cup butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for one minute. Take it out and stir it together really well. Put it back in the microwave on high for thirty more seconds and then stir it some more until it is smooth and looks like this ...

then ...

Measure 9 cups of Chex cereal into another bowl. This time I used honey nut flavor but you can use plain or chocolate or whatever makes you happy.

Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal ...

... and mix it all up until the cereal pieces are good and coated in the chocolate

Next, measure 1.5 cups powered sugar into a large ziploc baggie

Add the cereal mixture on top of the powdered sugar... close the bag up tight ... and shake shake shake until ...

... it looks something like this. 

All you have to do once the shaking is over is try to keep yourself your husband from eating it all in one sitting ... store it in the refrigerator ... and Enjoy!

Happy Tuesday!

Happy New Year!

My Dress: Free People
My Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

I got this dress and these shoes for Christmas. Amazing right?! Love. Love. Love ... and they were really perfect for NYE. 

To celebrate the end of 2011/beginning of 2012 ... RT and I stayed at a hotel with some of our friends. We all went to a nice dinner together and then hung out and had the best time ringing in the new year. 

RT and I were going to get some lunch today and he was being silly asking "are you excited for (fill in the blank)?" After about the 10th thing I asked "are you excited that we have so many things to be excited for?" And of course he answered YES! 

I am so excited for the year 2012. I am prone to wishing time away. Not intentionally but I get busy being excited for what is to come and often I let what is happening right now fly under my radar. This year I am going to be more in the moment. 

I hope you all enjoyed your New Year's Eve as much as I did. Bring on 2012. It's going to be a great year people!

Happy Monday!

Weird Fact

Tennies: Asics Gel Nimbus 13

Weird fact #1: I wore tennis shoes and work out clothes to work today! We packed up everything at the store this morning and the movers are coming tomorrow. I can't believe the move is finally here. We have been talking about/anticipating this for a while now. I am so excited for the new space! I am so so excited about 2012 in general. This is going to be a good year people. I am telling you.

 Weird fact #2: I am already home from work and it is 3 o'clock. It is Wednesday. I don't know what to do with myself at 3 o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon if I am not at work. I already ran all my errands for the week. Hmmmmm

 Weird fact #3: It is December 28th and it is 60° outside. I am literally sitting on my back porch right now and it feels like spring. The sun is out. It is warm. The dogs are playing in the yard. It must be spring .... Except it isn't ... It is winter ...

 Happy Wednesday!

Nail Biter

Shirt: BDG
Sweater: Lucca Couture
Jeans: Genetic Denim
Shoes: Yosi Samra
Purse: Hobo

Comfortable and casual was my goal on this drizzly day spent with RT. I got this sweater and shirt for Christmas from my parents. The shirt is flannel and it is warm and cozy and wonderful. I love the oversized leopard with a touch of pink print of the sweater. Christmas morning brought me lots of fun goodies to feature on this little fashion blog of mine! We sell these shoes at the store and they are like walking on clouds. I don't wear flats all that often because my arch is too high and starts to ache after a while but these little ballet flats rule! 

RT and I have been switching Zoey to hypoallergenic food. She has been itching like crazy and chewing on her nails. She is seriously chewing up her nails to the point that they are getting really damaged. It sounds disgusting and it can't be good for her. I asked our vet and had the groomers check her and they all just say "keep watching her". Well, I have a friend, Hannah, who knows a lot about dogs (she is opening a pet boutique where I live and I am so excited!!!) and I mentioned it to her one day and she said it was probably a food allergy. I have read the same diagnosis online so RT and I decided to switch her food to see if it helps. Hannah told me that dogs are most commonly allergic to chicken and grains. We found a food that is made without any chicken or grains and we have been mixing it with her old food to gradually switch her over because I know that changing her food could make her feel sick. So, RT and I went to Petsmart to get another bag of the new food and he snapped a few pictures while we were there.

Happy Tuesday!

And So It Begins

A few weeks ago, my girlfriends and I had our Christmas get together. Katie hosted and we all brought a small gift to do an exchange, had appetizers and cocktails and then we all went out together. I went by Anthropologie to get a couple of candles (they have the best candles) for the gift exchange and I walked out with the candles AND this dress. I realized while I was in the store and staring at this fabulous dress that most of my clothes are for daytime. I absolutely NEEDED a new dress because otherwise I would obviously have NOTHING to wear. Ok not really but it is cute right?!

These boots are also pretty phenomenal. I bought them several years ago to wear with a New Year's Eve outfit but they have continued to be a regular staple in my cold weather wardrobe. They just seem to work with so many things. I cannot part with them. They have had to see the shoe repair man a couple of times already to help with general wear and tear and I bet they will see him a few more times before I finally give up on them ... like that will ever happen!

Check out my new "Nancy" necklace. I am so in love! My boss gave it to me for Christmas. It is by the same designer as the long initial necklace that I have. I am a big fan of everyday, no fuss, don't have to think about it jewelry and this fits the criteria perfectly. Thank you Emily!

Dress: Bailey 44
Turtleneck: Mossimo
Boots: Sam Edelman
"name" Necklace: Jane Basch

Tonight, after work, RT and I have a party to go to for my cousin. Tomorrow he has to work and I will head out to my parent's house for Christmas Eve church and dinner with my family. Then Sunday is, of course, Christmas so there will be plenty of celebrations going on. And so it begins...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy weekend!

Old St. Nick

I can't help myself. I have to show off all of our Christmas decorations. But only the inside ... even though RT really out does himself with the outside lights. They are AMAZING! 

 This cluster of trees is on our dining room table

... and santa stands up cattycorner behind

 This snowman cookie jar was a new addition this year and RT said we could only have it if we kept cookies in it. Which I did ... for the first week ... because I am the only one who eats them. He has one cookie in a week and he is good. I could have one cookie an hour and still want another

 Our tree has a huge variety of ornaments

It is so fun to have a tree that really portrays both of us

 Stockings for everyone ... including the dogs of course

Although they are really just for decoration. We have hand beaded stockings at my parent's house (that is where we all are on Christmas morning) that would knock you socks off. My great grandmother started making them and my mom, my sister and I have kept the tradition going

I saw this Christmas quiz here and thought it was a fun idea ...

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?

• hot chocolate

2. Doe Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

• he wraps what is under the tree but not what is in our stockings

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

• colored all the way!!!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

• no I do not

5. When do you put your decorations up?

• thanksgiving night

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

• way too many to list. i just love food (ha!)

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

• my brother, sister and I used to all sleep in the same bed on Christmas Eve night. I am the youngest and so my siblings got too cool to sleep together way before I did and I was really sad when we quit doing this

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa Clause?

• honestly I have no idea but I think I believed in Santa for a really long time

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

• no I do not

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

• with tons of mismatched ornaments

11. Snow ... love it or dread it?

• LOVE LOVE LOVE it! but ... I live in TX

12. Can you ice skate?

• I have no clue

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

• no I do not

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you?

• the birth of Jesus. I was in the car with my niece and nephew this morning and Janey said "Christmas is not about presents and Santa Clause. Christmas is about the birth of baby Jesus so we can go to heaven." My heart melted. Way to go Jason!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

• mmmmmmm dessert 

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

• we all still spend the night with my parents on Christmas Eve. It is the best! I hope we always do. I love waking up on Christmas morning to my entire immediate family. And it is so fun to be there with all of the kids

17. What tops your tree?

• a bunch of decorative glittery sticks ... random

18. Which do you prefer ... giving or receiving?

• giving all the way. I love to feel like I have gotten something for someone that they are really going to love

19. Candy canes ... yuck or yummy?

• yummy!

20. Favorite Christmas show?

• Elf is the best newer one. I still laugh all the way through it every time. But I love the classic claymation Christmas movies too.

21. Saddest Christmas song?

• there are sad Christmas songs? Why?

22. What is your favorite Christmas song?

• I don't have a favorite. I like them all

Berry Kiss

Dress: Vintage
Tights: Anthropologie
Shoes: Steve Madden

I can't believe Christmas is only a week away. This year has gone by so fast. It freaks me out. I can remember when I was a kid and it felt like a week was a lifetime and now I know it will blow by almost without me even noticing. 

This weekend RT and I packed up the dogs and went to Oklahoma to have Christmas with his family. He has to work Christmas Eve this year so we won't be able to be there at all on Christmas day. My mother-in-law, Sandy, has a birthday November 30, RT's sister, Raegan, has a birthday on Christmas Eve, our niece, Bailey, has a birthday the day after Christmas, and my birthday is on January 6 so we combined Christmas and Birthdays. RT and I even got to go to Bailey's birthday party at a bounce house place. I absolutely cannot believe that girl is going to be 6 in a week! She was 2 when I met her for the first time. Craziness!

It is so fun to go and visit his side of the family. We got there on Friday night and had a big bonfire out on his parent's property with his family and a couple of his friends from high school. On Saturday we went to Bailey's party and then made homemade pizzas at RT's grandparent's house for dinner. Yesterday we got up and had french toast breakfast. My mother-in-law makes the best french toast. It seriously is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. YUM! Then we opened Christmas gifts and hung out until it was time to go. I wish we had more time to spend with his family and with Bailey and baby Avery. Hopefully we will get to go back soon.

We had to get back though because it was back to work for me and studying for RT today. It is not too cold today and I thought this dress was a perfect choice for a cheery Monday. I paired it with colored tights (I know I know I wore them last week. So sue me) and some super tall brown heels. So now I am here at work thinking about how weird it is that in a little more than a week we will close the doors to this location and never look back. Ha! 

We are moving the store and will be open in our new location at the first of the year. I am so excited about it. I have been driving by the new store on my way to work in the mornings just because I like to look at it. It isn't even really on the way but I don't care.

Happy Monday!