Favorite Christmas Song – For those of you who are short on Christmas cheer, Faith Hill’s Where Are You Christmas should be just right! Plus, it is from one of my must watch Christmas movies, The Grinch!!!
Favorite Pictures -You guys, I am not going to lie when I say I have had so much fun with the Instagram challenge that Jana and I have going on. I will share my pictures here on the blog each Friday through the 25th!
Several people have asked me if they could use a doll or something other than a Barbie, and I say of course…the more the merrier! We would love for you to join in on the fun.
#inthedrawer
Theme – Beer/wine
Theme – Money – “They told her not to blow all of her money. They said nothing about blowing on her money.”
Theme – PJ’s – Barbie taking PJ selfies for Ken!
Theme – Party – Like OMG, is that Donnie from NKOTB at our party?!?!?!
Favorite Mail – I received some Arbonne samples in the mail this week all the way from Melissa in Canada! I was so excited to try these out. She posted about their products here. So far, I have used the Calm set for a few days and have really liked it. I would like to note that Melissa did not ask me to plug any of this, I just thought it was sweet that she sent me some after reading about some of the problems I had with my skin and I want to spread the word!
Favorite Funnies
How I look when I wake up and realize it is Friday
So the theme for November was organize. And did I ever!!
My goals to focus on were:
1. Dogs room/storage/guest room – I made really good head way on this room! I got rid of a huge trash bag full of things and got a lot of it straightened up. I did a deep cleaning of the dog crates and threw out their old smelly blankets and got fresh ones. Gracie got a new dog bed too. There is still more to do, but I accomplished what I set out to do, get it started!
2. Two shelves in the kitchen pantry – I organized the entire kitchen pantry. It looks awesome!
3. Random cabinet next to stove – I organized the random cabinet which is no longer random, the spice cabinet, the pots and pans and well…basically every cabinet was conquered.
I was on such a kick, that I didn’t stop with my list! I also organized one of the guest bedroom closets, a few boxes in the garage, the holiday decor, re-purposed some decor and a few drawers in our bedroom. I couldn’t be stopped!
Proof:
The adventure for December is simplify. I find this fitting seeing as how December is the month of excess with Christmas, wanting things, buying things, food, events, decor. All of it!
To simplify this month, I plan on living in the moment more often. These days we are so quick to have our cell phones in hand at all times. Constantly checking social media, emails, etc. When I am in company with others, I plan to keep the phone put away and just enjoy the moment.
I also plan to discard things that are no longer of use. Unfollow blogs that I mark as read every day without even opening the link. Delete pins that I see on my boards that I never plan to use. Donate the remaining clothes that I have sitting around that I will never wear again. Clean out folders on my computer. Delete apps that I have never opened on my phone. You get the idea!
What are your goals for this month?
Also, don’t forget about the Instagram challenge that Jana and I are doing this month! Use #inthedrawer and join in on the fun! There have been lots of laughs so far.
I am aware of the things that I am good at, and the things that I am not. One of those things is posing for pictures. I don’t know how you fashion bloggers do it day in and day out! You always look so perfect and natural. I look like an awkward mess.
To give you an idea of what my blog would look like if all I posted was fashion, I thought it would be fun to take a look this Wednesday!
All photos were taken of the highest quality iPhone 5 has to offer. These are real clothes, bought at stores that you most likely shop at, probably on sale and worn by a no where near a size 2 person.
Like my $12.48 clearance dress from Target? Me too! It goes lovely with my $39.99 booties from Nine West. Pair it with a 3 year old $20 cardigan from the Gap and we have an outfit!
Hands on hip – check! Head tilt – check check! Here I am in a sweater from Nordstrom Rack (probably in the $30 range, because I am so edgy with the zippers on the sleeves, duh!). Ann Taylor Loft Skinnies and necklace (both from the outlet of course) annnnnd the most expensive pair of flats I would ever buy. Because I can walk in them all day and they don’t hurt my feet. (Cole Han at Nordstrom Rack for $89.)
Statement necklace from the Loft outlet $8, trouser leg black dress pants from JCPenney from about 4 years ago $36, sweater from Loft clearance rack $20, tank top by LC (Lauren Conrad) at Kohls clearance $12. Squatting to fit into the picture – priceless!
Here we have the Gap sweater and black pants from above pictures with two pieces off the clearance racks at Loft. This is my attempt at layering because every lace top needs glitter under it! Also, this is my best attempt at curling my hair. Notice it is half back, attempt unsuccessful.
Trying on a Michael Kors vest at Nordstrom Rack with THREE shirts underneath. Fun times. I went back for it, but it was gone 🙁
Here I am casually snapping a picture of my outfit in a fitting room trying to make sure my mom doesn’t see me do it. Then I laughed at how awkward I looked and showed her the picture anyways. The outfit totally came home, my attempt at dressing like Sex in the City.
Another fitting room picture. If it doesn’t pass the picture test it doesn’t make it home. This shirt was left behind.
And here I am looking all edgy. Or something like that. Top was a birthday present from Laura 🙂 The sweater is another Loft clearance pick. Seeing a pattern? Jeans from the Gap.
These next few pictures were for a post I was working on for Kristen but never finished. The infamous jean jacket styling!
Saturdays at World of Beer – Jean Jacket from Old Navy (I think $30) dress from JCPenney $14.99.
Gameday- Roll Tide! This dress is from Loft outlet for $20 and the necklace and bracelet were presents from my mom. She found them at Private Gallery.
Work appropriate – Just kidding I wore all three of these to work. Dress from Loft for $30, necklace from Loft $25 (both on sale.)
And there you have it folks. Why I could never be a fashion blogger!
Every year I love looking at all the wish list and gift idea lists that everyone posts. Though, I spend most of my time just adding the items to my own wish list!
*The pictures take you to the links*
1. Sweater with crotchet trim – I have been on the search for one for quite awhile now. I found one at the Loft Outlet but they didn’t have my size. I love this delicate pink one!
2.Kate Spade Glitter Watch – Because….glitter!
3. Make Up – I have never owned the Nars Oragasm blush. I have had the same one from Lancome for several years now and it is finally running out. I also really liked the Tarte CC Under Eye Corrector that I tried when I bought my foundation. I have high hopes.
4.Perfume – I am about out of all my perfumes all at the same time. How does that even happen? There are a few I have had my eye on lately…not sure which one I like best. Dolce & Gabana The One or Light Blue, Marc Jacob Daisy, Tory Burch, Lancome La Vie Est Belle, Michael Kors…they all smell so wonderful!
5. Cedar Street Maise purse by Kate Spade (in Rosy Dawn if we are getting specific) I like that this purse allows you to carry it on your wrist or on your shoulder. I have a lot of neutral color purses – Your blacks, browns, metallic, I think I want a color next!
6. Taylor Swift 1989 CD – I don’t remember the last time I actually asked for a CD for Christmas. Maybe college? Or even bought one for that matter. But the songs I have heard so far are super catchy and she pulled it from Spotify so what is a girl to do?
7. Just Dance for Xbox One – I really love the Just Dance games because they are like a fun work out. We don’t have any games like this for the new systems that we have in the living room and this one just came out!
8. Crate and Barrel Glass Snowflake Mugs – I really like glass mugs. I think coffee tastes better out of them or something? I don’t know. But glass mugs WITH snowflakes? Um, yes please!!!!
9. Coach Scout Hobo in nude – I love how slouchy this purse looks! This nude color would go with anything. It can be worn over the shoulder or as a cross body bag. Would you believe I have zero cross body bags?
10. Blanket Scarf – I have seen several that I like, then Amanda posted her new one and I saw that it was only $10? Who needs a fancy one when the $10 one looks just as great?!
Monday’s are always hard, but especially after having an extended weekend!!! I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know I did! I recapped some of my holiday in my Friday Favorites posts for those of you that took a bloggy break. Pictures of some of our Christmas decor and cute doggies are not to be missed!
Also, today Jana and I are announcing our secret collaboration! If you don’t want to read about my awesome weekend, at least scroll to the bottom of the page to check it out!
Thanksgiving was spent between Chris’s parents house for lunch and my mom’s house for dinner. It was great getting to spend the day with family!
Some pictures that were snapped at my mom’s house:
This was lunch at Chris’s parents house. I’m pretty sure it is obligatory to snap at least one picture of all the yummy that you ate. Sweet potato casserole, pineapple casserole, corn souffle, green beans, mac and cheese, ham and turkey. There were even more things to choose from but ummm….no room! I even let me food touch, which never happens!
My mom had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, spanish rice, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pepperoni rolls, lasagna and pumpkin pie and cherry pie for dessert.
After dinner, Chris and I went back to our house for a little while, then I met up with my mom at Walmart around 9pm to start our shopping adventures. We had the best time!
There was, what we will now call the boot incident of 2014. My sister had gone to Belk and bought herself about five pairs of the $20 boots. She was completely prepared, and had even gone to the store earlier that week to try them all on so she knew the exact sizes and colors she wanted. She secured all five pairs immediately Thursday evening and went home. Then Friday afternoon we received a frantic phone call.
Tracy – “Where are you guys?”
Me – “Shopping at The Summit”
Tracy – “Can you guys go by Belk and see if they have the Icon Boots in a size 9 pretty please? Color taupe. I went to try all my boots on when I got home, and there is one 9 and one 8 in the box”
Me – “Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha amateur!!!!! YOU ALWAYS CHECK THE BOXES!!!!!!!”
Tracy – “Nadine this isn’t funny, this is a matter of life or death”
Me- “Dramatic much? Mom and I will work our way over there in a few.”
We were literally four stores away and Tracy continued to text me things like “I neeeeeeed those boooooots.” My mom and I were like OMG FINE!!! So we went to Belk and found them in under a minute. We texted her this picture and told her not to be such an amateur next year:
And so was the boot incident of 2014.
My mom and I broke our previous record of 18 hours straight of shopping. This year we shopped for 20 hours. We didn’t even hit all of the malls in the area. I am not quite sure how we did it. No sleep, getting older, lots of walking. The only thing that is bothering my this weekend is my swollen feet and that is just because 20 hours of walking will do that to anyone!
The damage:
My finds
I seriously love these ones!!!!
Lots of stores had 50% off or buy one get one and what have you. I scored some movies and CDs from Target for my nieces and nephews, and a $12 clearance dress for myself. The boots pictured above were $29/$39/$19. The outlet sales were great but I was trying to refrain from buying too much for me….you know…because Christmas. We had so much fun!
Saturday was spent watching all of the football! The Iron Bowl was one hell of a game. We started out real strong, then I started to stress eat as Auburn did their Auburn thing. We came out raising all kinds of hell in the second half, Blake Sims got his shit together and we pulled out a big W. Big thanks to this guy:
Amari Cooper deserves the Heisman after that performance!
Now we can sit pretty with our Iron Bowl win and head to the SEC championship! Oh hey, we didn’t need a second this year Auburn.
Sunday – The day was spent meal planning, grocery shopping, and catching up on TV shows on the couch. I did manage to get a little more organizing done since it was the last day of the organizing month challenge.
Speaking of challenges, Jana and I have an Instagram challenge for the month of December! Remember this meme?
Well we decided to make it a challenge!!!! Use #inthedrawer and share your pictures throughout the month! Participate and enjoy all the awesomeness. I am whipping out my Barbies from when I was a child, so be prepared for epic 80’s and 90’s outfits!
Luckily, Jana made a good point that we didn’t want to put whore in the hashtag, you know…to keep the creepers at bay, so remember #inthedrawer and have some fun!
