festival fashion.

Fun Fun Fun Fest 6 in Austin, Texas was, well serious fun fun fun. A perfect combo of great music and people watching. And the ladies in Austin know how to rock fall fashion. I got into stealth mode all for the sake of bringing my blog readers some pics of great outfits. 

Current trends that I saw and am loving:

1. shorts with boots

2. fringe everything

3. over sized tops

4. leg warmers under boots

5. tights under shorts

homemade costumes from Black Swan.

You may recall this post from last year.

Seriously, Black Swan is my all time favorite movie.

It’s just perfection in my mind

(disturbing & beautiful)

Since I work with feathers (check em ouuuut here, great Christmas gifts), and I literally have a TON of feathers and hot glue laying around, I really wanted to make a swan costume.

As did my lovely friend Erin who completely agrees with me about the greatness of Black Swan.

The result: I was the White Swan and she was the Black Swan. I made the feather bodices and feather head pieces for both costumes. We bought tutus and leotards from a local dance store.

Here is a step by step photo guide of the creation experience:

 I used Velcro to attach the feather bodice to the leotard.

We used my old Pointe shoes from WAY back in the day. 

  I did our makeup to mimic Natalie Portman's in the movie. With a lot more glitter involved.

 I made two of these for the White Swan headpiece and I used a featherband for the Black Swan.

Take a tour of my dream home.

You may find this odd (unless you’ve known me for years) but this is my dream home; an elaborate tree house. Swiss Family Robinson style. I’m not really sure what all you could do with the interior of a little place like this but here are some to DIE for rooms I’d like inside my ideal tree house- or any house really. I’ve been apartment living for 6 years now and have 3 more to go (or whenever my hubby’s got his doctorate). So I’m allowed to fantasize…















































































I have been surrounded by such talented women in my family whom have actually made a career of interior decorating (check out www.razzberryfizz.com their online shop). I grew visiting their homes which were always designed to be classic, cozy, and clean; so I am naturally drawn to this style. I have also developed a taste for throwing in some modern pieces with antique finds. I love the way the straight angles of modern furniture and the rusticness of antiques juxstapose (favorite word ever) eachother. Everytime Nicholas and I drive by a beautiful old home I feel this yearning to have my own. I’ve managed to make my 2 bedroom apartment feel as much like a house as possible. But when I get my real one- I may die of happiness.

Yay for Thursday lovelies!

Location:Fantasy land

in the red.

I love to browse through celeb magazines and admire the gorgeous Gwyn Stefani always looking chic and ALWAYs rocking RED lipstick.
It makes her “look” complete and unique.

Gwyn inspired me; it occurred to me one day- I don’t have to want it, I can just do it. So I did. Around the apartment at first. Then out on special occasions. Then out to the bars. Then I just started putting in on with daytime outfits to run errands around town. Now I find myself wearing it all the time. I don’t know why I find it so fun and invigorating.
It’s weird that something so superficial can do that- but sometimes a little confidence is all we need as women.

Red lips are bold enough to be your outfit’s accessory. Lipstick is one of the most highly advertised products in magazines and television. Almost every back cover is an advertisement for a lip stain or lipstick. Yet- I NEVER  see ladies wearing any in my day to day life OR even going out on the town. So I challenge you to go buy a tube and see what it does for you.

Current favorites lipcolors from Revlon:    

Siren (BRIGHT and BOLD coral)

Nude Attitude (many of yall have purchased this already and told me you love it)

Boots No. 7: cherry; recommended my some lady promoting products in Target, she said Anne Hatheway wore this one in Devil Wears Prada, I just bought it to get her off my back but it really is $30 lipstick for a third of the price just like she said.

My little sis is graduating.

I’ve always looked up to my little sister. She may be 3 years younger, but she’s always been more mentally mature than myself. I seem to regress to age 12 whenever she’s around. But in a really good, playful way. I don’t feel the pressures of adulthood burdening on my soul when I’m with her. That’s probably why I’ve gotten in the habit of calling her every day. We don’t even discuss pertinent topics. We kind of just listen to each other be there on the other side of the line and go about our daily duties.

However, I do feel a strong urge to protect her as she graduates from college and enters the REAL world. I have been scaring the crap out of her about this transition for a good while now and I’ve made sure she soaks in every moment of her senior year. The thing is- becoming a grown up isn’t nearly as bad as I’ve made it out to be. It’s just that your college years can never be replicated and you don’t understand that until it’s all over.

So I want to reassure her of the positive things she can look forward to after she shakes President Barker’s hand and has that well-earned diploma in her hands:

1. Having a seemingly monotonous daily routine is actually quite liberating. When you leave your job, you don’t have tests and homework that take over your afternoons. You have YOU time.
2. Choosing what you do with your free time; this is when you kind of start to discover who you are. You are what you do after all. Whether that be spending the evenings on the couch watching reality TV, sitting outside communing with nature, exercising, or reading a book; the fact is that it is your choice. If you don’t like it, be the change you wish to see.
3. Financial independence. Paying for everything feels gooooood. Financial stress teaches you a lot about yourself. Your possessions take on meaning.
4. All of these factors create one thing: Freedom. It was just a word to me before. Now it’s a state of mind.

Victoria- you are gorgeous. It’s undeniable. But you don’t rely on your beauty to bring you bliss. You radiate happiness from the inside. I cannot wait to see how you develop as you discover who’s inside you when you have freedom to do so. You are going to spread a lot of positive energy in your life.

“Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

I heart denton

Nicholas & I have been living in Denton for over 2 years now and I am FINALLY starting to feel like a part of this (very) little city. I mean- I spend most of my time working in Dallas so it’s rather rare to get to experience as much of Denton as I’d like. But I’ve discovered some little places on the Square that make me love love love this town.

The Chestnut Tree
My friend Emily(a fellow NCer) manages at this perfectly quant restaurant and gift shop. I walked in to the smell of fresh baked cookies and the sight of fabulous little sundresses. The shop is open for breakfast and lunch and they have the most refreshing menu around.  Chandeliers and greenery hanging above with dim lighting creates a majestically relaxing atmosphere.

Vigne Wine Shop and deli
Have I mentioned how much I adore red wine? I mean- I survive off of the $3 bottles at Wal Mart on most days of the week just to get my “fix” but I am learning to truly appreciate savoring a glass of wine at Vigne’s weekend tastings. I took my mom when she was in town and we got a great deal of $5 for 4 samples of red wine with the most passionate pourer EVER! He is a TRUE wine coinsurer. I love listening to his explanations of the flavors you’ll find in the wine and where they grapes were grown. I went back a couple of weeks later and we got to sample 9 glasses for $15! The last sample was from a $60 bottle and was seriously to die for. Apparently you get more wine for your dollar on Saturdays because they don’t have to preserve the bottles as they do on Fridays. I haven’t even gotten to the food yet. They have some great classic sandwiches all with a little twist.  The cheese sampler platter with our wine was DIVINE as well as the bruschetta ( and I don’t even eat tomatoes).  If you go- you must try the peanut butter chocolate desert. It’s pretty much a gourmet Reese’s cup and then some.

Ladida.
Really cute boutique. Sells a lot of Judith March. They have some really unique accessories (locally made stuff too) as well as a huge collection of Toms (they even have wedges woo woo). Kinda pricey for my taste, but they always have a stunning selection of sundresses.

Yogurt Fusion.
An entire wall of so many yogurt flavors- cake batter, peaches, red velvet, the list goes on.  Oh- and the toppings bar- to die for. TONs of fresh fruit, chocolate bars cut into pieces, and CEREAL (seriously- try captain crunch). You pay what it weighs. Absolutely my favorite treat and a great location (sorry Yogurt story, a bench on the square is a much better view than the busy highway).

35 conferette (formerly North X 35)
My first  music festival experience. Nice way to get broken in- just a couple of miles from our apartment so we got to go back and forth as we pleased.   Three days of average 72 degree weather- beat that! It’s impossible. Saw some really talented bands. Dr. Dog was my favorite new discovery.  !!!’s (pronounced chic chic chic) lead singer was Freddy Mercury’s child, I swear. His dance moves were beyond entertaining. Big Boi rocked my socks off. I kept thinking “is this really happening” to myself.  I got to hear rosa parks, so fresh & so clean, bombs over Bagdad, kryptonite, I like the way you move, and MRS JACKSON. Dream come true. Honestly if Andre 3000 would have been in attendance- I might have died, so probably a good thing he wasn’t.  It was a pricey pricey weekend but well worth it for the music and the people watching. Denton is such a stylish little city;  thigh high socks, MAJOR pattern tights with shorts, totally vintage dresses, wide rimmed glasses, and the man BEARDS- I knew we had hipsters here but there’s almost entire scenster society right in this little Texas town.

Guest post: Kinsey Gray. Inner beauty

When thinking about what to write as a guest blogger, I thought about what I knew and what I loved.  While thinking I should stick with the theme of beauty- I decided to talk more about inner beauty rather than outer beauty.  It is inner beauty that makes a person so unique and beautiful.  With that said, here are my thoughts. 

Inner beauty can often be hard to find in a person.  It's easy for a person to say someone is pretty, but how often can you say they are beautiful on the inside and out.  I can truly say I have met some of the most beautiful people in my life.  They are the ones that deserve to be in "People's Magazines: 50 Most Beautiful People." They are truly beautiful inside and out, and I admire all the special qualities that make them who are they.  These qualities also help shape me into the person I am.  The inner beauty these friends possess come in the craziest, silliest, sweetest, most personal ways that one may not truly understand until they have been given the chance to have such wonderful, endearing friends.  These friends have made such an impact on my life, and I could not imagine who I would be without them.  These people are world changers; they are MY world changers.  They pick me up, bring me back down, drive me crazy, make me happy, make me ME.  These people have qualities and personalities that make them so truly wonderful.  Here's my Top Ten list of what makes someone truly beautiful from the inside out:

1. A friend that knows you so well that they notice from the footprints on the rainbows you are wearing that they are not yours.
2.  A person who you can call in the afternoon and they already know you are upset and frustrated after just hearing you say hello.
3. A friend who warns you about that certain guy and doesn't feel bad after saying I told you so when you pour your heart out about what didn't work out because they know what is best for you.
4. A person who builds your confidence and tells you you look hot even when you are wearing jorts and an airbrush tee.  The one person who appreciates your outgoing sense of style, however ridiculous you may look.
5. A friend that you can call when you need a quick fix- you're upset you dye your hair- you're bored you go get ice cream- you're annoyed you shop online- that person that is always there to rescue you when you need to run away from reality for a bit.
6.  A person that you can be absolutely ridiculous with.  You sing in the car, and share many of your most embarrassing moments because you secretly know they've done the same if not worse.
7. A person you can go without seeing for a while then see them and have one of the funniest, most memorable nights of your life.
8. A friend that never judges, but will question relentlessly because they want the best for you.
9. A person you can share a bottle of "Alice" with and know it's going be an "I don't want to talk about my life right now" kind of night.
10. A friend that makes you a better person, that makes your life complete, that makes you complete.

These things are what make someone beautiful.  Knowing that someone- scratch that- multiple people have impacted your life so much is truly remarkable.  These people, my best friends, show compassion and love each and every day.  They are the most amazing, giving, BEAUTIFUL people I have ever met.  Knowing them has shaped me and I am forever grateful.

meet Kinsey Ann Gray.

time square.

Miami with 3/4 of the Gray girls!

guest post: casey cline. top 10 pretty little products.

When I first started wearing makeup and learning how to do my hair, I was a little tornado of disaster.  First of all, I have crazy wavy baby hairs that never grow out.  I didn’t understand back then that I should first apply some sort of healthy product to my hair, then blow dry, and then, if I have to, use a flat iron.  Instead, I was flawed in thinking that I could straighten my hair while it was still wet.  That meant a lot of sizzling, smoke, and bad terrible hair days. 

My makeup and skin routine wasn’t much better.  I remember buying those Noxzema cleansing pads and using those to remove my makeup.  Now, I don’t know if you recall this or not, but those pads were strong and sometimes burned (and I have ultra sensitive skin).  Imagine using at least 5 every day to take off caked-on makeup.  Yikes.  No wonder my skin was dried out and blotchy red.

Fast forward a few years and I’m thankful to admit that I’ve learned how to take care of my hair and skin properly.  It doesn’t hurt that I’ve also learned about other great products along the way.   

So now let me present to you a few of my favorite pretty little products (and a few other extras I enjoy).

1. Pond’s Cold Cream:  A far cry from the Noxzema pads, this cream is timeless.  A makeup remover that simultaneously moisturizes?  Yes, please.  Plus, it has bonus sentimental value for me: my mom has always used Pond’s, so I can’t help but think of her every time I use it.

2. Essie Mint Candy Apple: This nail color is part of the Winter 2009 Essie collection and I’m still obsessed.

3. Walgreens Twisted Peppermint body lotion: I found a bottle of this in my Mom’s bathroom when I was home over Christmas, and I had to steal it (Sorry Momma!).  The smell is sweet, but not overwhelming.  But the real kicker here is how amazing it feels on your skin!  The hint of peppermint makes it go on smooth and minty fresh.  I’m not sure if this is still even available, but I know Bath & Body Works has a version that I’ve yet to try.  Hopefully it holds up to the Walgreens.

4. Moroccan Oil: This is on the pricier side, but worth the splurge.  Not only does it protect your hair from heat damage, it keeps fly-a-ways smoothed down (without weighing down the rest of your hair) and smells incredible.

5. Rosebud’s Salve (in a tube): I was first introduced to Rosebud’s Salve by a friend back in high school, and have been a fan ever since.  Imagine my delight when I realized they’d started selling it in tube form (so no more messy lip gloss fingers)!

6. EBoost: A yummy alternative to Emergen-C, my boss discovered EBoost and I have to admit I prefer it.  My favorite flavor is acai pomegranate.

7. Grapefruit:  I’ve recently fallen in love with this fruit, even going so far as to buy a special sectioning knife and grapefruit spoon.  Grapefruits are relatively low in sugar (compared to other fruits) while simultaneously low in fat and high in fiber.  Oh, and they’re delicious.  Win win win win.

8. Black coffee: I know there is a lot of back-and-forth regarding whether or not coffee is good for you, but as an avid drinker, I’m surprised to admit that after years and years of adding milk and/or cream and sugar, I’ve converted to black.  It’s been a very recent change, but somehow my taste buds have adapted and I’m now a big fan!  Whether or not you think coffee is healthy, at least the lack of sugar and milk is.

9. Body Pump: Straight from the website: “BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. Great music, awesome instructors and your choice of weight inspire you to get the results you came for – and fast!

I’m starting to realize how important and effective strength training is, especially as we ladies start to get older.  Adding light weight-training to your regular workout produces faster and more beneficial results.  If your local gym doesn’t offer Body Pump, I suggest any similar class or even buying a few light dumbbells and looking to the latest issue of Women’s Health magazine for workout ideas you can incorporate on your own or even at home.

10. The Steam Room: I fell in love with the steam room at my hometown’s YMCA and was thrilled to find that my new local gym has one as well.  Going into the steam room for 10-15 minutes after my workouts is like the icing on a good exercise cake.  It opens my pores and relaxes me to the max.  I always leave feeling refreshed and at ease.

meet casey samantha cline. she is 25 today by the way!

and she lives in NYC> super jealous.

love her genuine laugh here.

breaking it dowwwwwn.

my high school ladies.

what happens in vegas...