WIWW + Link Par-tay

This could be one of my favorite outfits, for real this time. I know I say it on just about every outfit, but who doesn't love flannel and plaid? Seriously peeps, flannel is like having a soft blanket encompass your upper half all day long. Or multiple days long, depending on if you wear the shirt two days in a row like me. Don't judge, only God can judge me :)

This particular shirt is coral and navy, just like the colors of my wedding! I reallyyy want a Christmas-y colored flannel. Maybe I can get one on the super-sale rack after Christmas... (Side note: thanks SO much for all the sweet comments about our wedding video, and how it made you cry. Sorry for ruining your mascara. Mine gets ruined every time :))

Of course these are my go-to boots for the winter-ish time here in Tejas. They are still as comfy as the day they came home with me.

I first told y'all about this shirt back in this post, so I am happy to finally be able to show it off. When this picture was taken it was actually cool enough to wear flannel. If I wore flannel today you might find me topless {just like our Christmas tree} because of the non-winterlike temps here in D-town, and I don't think anyone wants to see that!

An of course my other models, Wrigley and my Bazil (Bailey) girl had to make an appearance. They are much more adorable then I am, so I am proud to share the shot with them! Look at Wrigley, he is ready to sign with Ford Pups Modeling any day now! And Bailey is ready to walk the cat - ummm rock-wall walk?

Budget Breaky:

- Flannel from Forever 21: $19.80

- Jeans from Banana Republic: $89.50, but I got them for 50% off. Score!

- Steve Madden Boots: $165

Link up your outfits with Alisa, Alison, and me!

Here are the rules - don't break 'em:

Follow Me and Alisa Via GFC
Like Alison from Get Your Pretty On via Facebook
Link Up ANY Outfit post {please link directly to your post, not homepage}
Link back to our blogs or use the button below
Last, but not least, have fun and make new friends!

**If the rules are broken, we will kindly remove your link from our linky par-tay. Every party has a pooper...you know the song!**

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Pinterest and I are Going Shopping

This weekend I am loading up me and my Pinterest app and we are headed to the mall. I am shopping based on outfits that I adore on that addicting site. I am mainly in search of items I have pinned several times without know it. Do you do that? Hey, it is better to pin it 20 times then miss out on the opportunity to clothe yourself in the perfect outfit :)

So far this fall I have pinned tons of jean shirts, black boots, and aztec sweaters. Those are top three on my list.

 

THIS Aztec sweater is something that could find a home in my closet and I wouldn't mind.

 

 These Steve Madden are a possible black boot option...

What are you doing this weekend? 

This is the first weekend in over a month that Chris and I don't have much planned/we are not going out of town. We are excited to veg-out and Chris is going to clean and do laundry...he just doesn't know it yet! Hopefully I will come home from the mall with some items to show y'all next week!

Have a great weekend!

What I Wore Wednesday - Michael Kors and Stripes

I have expressed my love for Michael Kors here talking about items that I want, but now I am going to talk about MK shoes that I have. Obviously champagne taste is genetic. Or at least I am blaming it on Meme :) Now if only she left that Gucci purse lying around somewhere...

This outfit is composed of items that range in single digit prices, to triple digit prices (Gasp! I splurged, but don't worry, I justify everything!).

I am dying to wear more fall-ish clothes, but with temperatures in the upper 80's, Texas forces me to keep the sundresses close. I just. want. to. put. them. away! "Supposedly" we are getting cold weather this weekend. I am not holding my breath.

Last weekend we headed to the Hill Country to celebrate Meme's life and I chose this navy and white striped dress, my bubble necklace found in Canton, and my MK nudies (Yes, I just made that word up. Inappropriate? Nah!).

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, needs/deserves/isn't living unless they have a pair of nude pumps. Or wedges. Basically I love nude shoes and I love Michael. He makes my speakers go boom boom. As does Chris, but Chris doesn't design shoes...am I justifying this purchase well enough yet? No? Okay, I'll go on.

Ya see, I bought these pumps last spring when I needed a neutral pair of shoes to wear to all my bridal showers, yet I wanted them to be comfortable fashionable enough to wear to work. These peep toe cuties did just the trick, and with a little no convincing from my buddy at MK, I was sold. I must say, they are getting their monies worth!

We took these pictures in the dining room at my Granddad's retirement home, so we didn't get to have the normal let's-take-a-million-pictures-and-choose-a-couple of them photoshoot.

Nude color + MK = LOVE

Isn't my cousin Erin GORG???!!!



This dress is so light and comfy. Comfort is keyyyy. It came with a bright pink skinny belt that I am not a fan of (and the belt was too small, but we are not going to mention that because it is not Sarah's fault she has no defined waist or torso and she can't pull off belts. blah.). I usually opt for no belt because it cuts me in half and instead just let the elastic do its thing.

I paired the dress with my yellow bubble necklace because, ummm, I love it. And the outfit screams for a pop of color. Maybe that is how the "designer" was justifying the awful pink belt.

Now for got budget breakdown:

- Dress from Ross: drum roll please...$9.99! Yup, worth all .999 cents.
- Necklace from Canton: $42
- Shoes from Michael Kors: $120, but totally justified remember.
- Grand Total: $171.99

Here is how I normally wear this dress. No, I don't have pictures of it and I am already in my PJ's, so I am just going to describe it to you.

I have these white, $5 imitation Tory Burch sandals. 99% of the time I have worn this dress I throw those babies on, with the dress, and head out the door. Grand total for that outfit is just shy of 15 bucks.

Another way I wear this dress is with brown wedges and a long brown beaded necklace I have. Since I got the brown wedges almost 8 years ago for $5.98 at Target and the necklace just jumped out of my Mom's jewelry box into mine (isn't it funny how that happens?!?!), I'd calculate this outfit to be right around 15 bucks as well.

As you can see this outfit doesn't have to be expensive, it just depends on what you pair it with!

And can I just add that Ross has never in my life come up more clutch than this year. I mean this outfit, this outfit, this outfit, and now this outfit all have pieces from Ross. Who-da thunk it?!

Do you have any great buys from Ross?!

Happy Wednesday!

A Weekend in the Hill Country...And a Few of My Favorite Things

This weekend we are headed to the Hill Country for one special little lady's 1st birthday, appropriately Abby Cadabby themed. We are also headed down that way to celebrate the life of the most wonderful woman I have ever known, Meme.

This weekend is bound to be full of emotion. From a birthday celebration on Saturday, to a celebration of a loving woman dearly missed on Sunday, tears will be shed.

Please pray that I am able to cope with my emotions on Sunday. My family has yet to meet together for a 'memorial' type service because my Granddad got sick the weekend Meme's memorial was previously scheduled for. I feel as though we have all not yet faced the reality because there has been no formal celebration, so this weekend is a little nerve wracking.

On a lighter note, this hunk will be attempting to get another "trophy" when he goes bow hunting this weekend. My Dad has a game camera set up, so Chris has been eyeing his prize.

This city boy sure loves the country. This picture was taken a couple weeks back when we went down to my parent's to go dove hunting. That post will come at a different time when I am not busy with tax deadlines and grad school mid-terms (that is not me complaining).

In  honor those who are shopping this weekend, here are a few of my favorite things:

I am dying for this boot. Dying because it is way out of my price range. Dang you, Tory Burch.

Mk always does it right...I need this purse (husband, if you are reading, I need this purse).

Lastly, this book from one of my favorite authors. I have all her other books. They are perfect for a weekend read when it gets cold. Santa will be bringing this to me, even if I have to order it for him :)

Have a great weekend!



I've Been Featured and Nominated, Woo Hoo!

And now imagine me doing a happy dance...

I got news on Wednesday that sweet, sweet Sheaffer decided to recognize Tucker Up with a Liebster Award. You can check out her blog to see me featured and nominated!

I ran across Sheaffer's blog, Pinterest Told Me To, about six weeks ago and instantly became a follower. I mean she is adorable, and sweet, and loves Pinterest. How could I not want to follow her blog?!

Sheaffer takes outfit inspiration from Pinterest and creates outfits for everyday life out of items she already owns. Genius. Now go pin something and replicate it!

I am SO honored that Sheaffer thought to nominate me and blog. Thanks, Sheaffer! Now let's go shopping...after I finish this post...

This nomination involves me telling 11 things about myself, answering Sheaffer's 11 questions, and then nominating another blogger.

So here it goes!

Eleven things about me:

1. I started this blog in order to keep my family up to date on my (not really too exciting) life. Mainly to keep my Mom informed of my life.
2. I lived on a dirt road until I was 18 and went to college. I secretly am dying to live in NYC...
3. I showed pigs at stock shows and got 90% of my college paid for by FFA (Future Farmer's of America). Who said I wasn't a country girl?!
4. I let a friend borrow my car the second month of being at college and they totaled it. Oops! Yay for having to get a new one...?
5. I won Little Miss California when I was six months old. (I was born in Los Angeles. Lived there until I was five. Then moved to the. middle. of. nowhere. in the Texas Hill Country.) My Dad strapped all my trophies down in the back of his truck as the people in their fancy-schmancy cars glared at us...so says my Mom. No one said you had to be rich to win!
6. I have had the same best friend since the third grade. She was my Maid of Honor. Love ya, Alisa!
7. I majored in accounting without knowing anything about it. Sometimes I regret that decision...I wanted to go to cosmetology school, but my Dad said I had to get a degree first. Well, now I almost have my master's degree in business and cut my husband's hair in order to get my cosmetology fix.
8. I want four kids. Chris wants what I want :)
9. I went to Camp Longhorn (aka Heaven on Earth!) for 9 years as a camper and 5 years as a counselor. I can't wait to send my little Tucks to camp! I met some of my best friend's in the world at camp.
10. I love the snow more than the beach.
11. Chris and I want to visit all 30 Major League Baseball fields before having kids. That's our goal!

Sheaffer's questions for me:

1.  What's your favorite reality t.v. show?
- Bachelor, Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, and HGTV...oh and most shows on Bravo and E! I will say I do not watch Jersey Shore and I only like the Real Housewives of Orange County and Beverly Hills. Sorry, I couldn't pick just one :) And right now I am addicted to Married to Jonas. Is that bad??!

2.  What's your favorite non-reality t.v. show?
- I would have to say Good Morning America, does that count? E! News, maybe? This is tough because I honestly don't watch much T.V. On Sundays I usually watch my recorded shows which, sadly, are all reality T.V. Yikes, don't judge. I tell Chris (and my Dad) that since I literally 'think' all. day. long. at my job, when I come home to watch T.V. I don't want to have to 'think' about what I am watching. That translates into watching a lot of "mindless entertainment", as my Dad calls it. When I do have free time, I'd rather spend it outside or going on a date with main squeeze. 

3.  What's your favorite thing to do on a date night?

- Chris and I are pretty low key. Our favorite thing to do is go to a Rangers game (if it is baseball season) or go to a local restaurant that is not too crowded. A casual burger joint or pizza place is perfect for us. After dinner we might go to Barnes and Noble, or do a little shopping for the house. The night ALWAYS ends good...if ya know what I mean...we always end our date nights with a trip to Braum's Ice Cream (get your mind out of the gutter!). We have had 'sweet' date nights to Braum's since college and we don't plan on stopping now! If we can't find a Braum's, we still get ice cream. Some way, some how.

4.  What's your favorite place to get fast food?

-Either Taco Bell or In and Out. The 1/2 pound combo burrito is my favoriteeee. I don't know what is in it, but it is good! Gotta love that mystery meat! Is that gross? Actually, don't answer that.

5  Please share one of your fondest childhood memories.

- I always remember the moment when my parents came to pick me up from camp. I went to Camp Longhorn where I was away from my parents, with the only communication being via mail, for two weeks. V-day (the day you got picked up from camp) was like Christmas morning. I always remember seeing my parents from afar and running, sprinting, towards them. I would always hug my little brother first (don't want to choose between Mom or Dad). I'm a crier, so by the time I hugged my parents I was bawling. I just missed them so darn much! Then, after spending about an hour with them, I was ready to go back to camp. Ha...it was always a long year waiting for camp to come back around.

I also cherish the memories of my Dad taking me to every softball practice and game ever since I was 8. I would say I cherished him being my coach as well, but I sometimes had an attitude...so I try not to remember those moments :)

6.  Please share something about yourself that not many people know.

- To be completely honest, I skipped this question, answered all the rest, then came back to this one. I might be an over-sharer (ouch, admitting that stung a little), so it is hard for me to think of something that not many people know. I feel like my life is an open book and that is how I want it to be. WAYYY less pressure that way. If people ask me a question, I usually tell them. That's just how I am. If I don't answer their question completely I feel like I am lying, then I have this weird guilt thing, so I end up spilling the truth anyways.  

I suppose since many of my readers are not familiar with my life before marriage they would not know that my top braces got ripped of by a blanket a month before they were supposed to be professionally taken off. Long story short, the blanket that was covering me got ripped away from me by a friend. the dentist said the pressure on my moving teeth caused the brackets to just 'pop' off with the blanket. Honestly, it didn't hurt one bit. But it was pretty darn funny!

7.  If you were suddenly given $1,000 and you had to spend it on something for you or your home, what would you get?

- I would probably spend it on a T.V. entertainment center. Our T.V. is on a huge wall in our living room and an entertainment center would be just perfect on that wall. Chris and I are hoping that will be our gift to ourselves for Christmas. That is, unless we are suddenly given $1,000 ;)

8.  If you were given $1,000 and had to give it away, who would you give it to?

- Ahhh I would want to give it to so many people! Since I have to choose one, I would say a family in need of money for Christmas gifts for their kiddos. Last year, with my Soul Sisters, we delivered a Christmas basket to a family in need and I have never been more humbled in my life. They were so appreciative and the kids we darling. I love making others happy and what better way to do that then giving. 

9.   Do you have a favorite piece of clothing?  If so, what is it?

- This is tough...I wouldn't say I have one favorite piece. I love my hounds tooth jacket from Banana Republic and Steve Madden riding boots for winter. For summer I adore any shirt without sleeves. I hate sleeves in the summer. I also love this one purple dress Chris picked out for me from Nordstrom. I just realized I love a lot of my clothes, so I will end the list there :) 

10. How many of your high school friends do you still consider your best friends?

- Two, Alisa and Kirstin. Both of them were in my wedding and I love them to pieces! I have known Kirstin since Kindergarten and Alisa has been my bestie since third grade. Kirstin and her husband actually have been staying with us allll this week because they are moving to Denton! Ahhh, I am SO excited! Do you know what it feels like to have a bestie move 15 minutes away?!?

11.  What are your hopes for your blog?

- I hope people will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Even if no one read it, I'd still write it. It is therapeutic and allows me to be me. I hope that I can inspire people and be open and transparent with them. I want my readers to feel as though they can ask me anything. I am blessed by the friendships I have gained through blogging (yay, Sheaffer! Thanks again for the nomination!) and I can't wait to meet more people and hear more stories. Reading comments people leave and emails people send me is one of the best parts of my day. I definitely think I was called to share my life and its adventures through this blog. I can't wait to see where the blog takes me and the stories that develop along the way. Oh, and I can't wait to share them all with you!

I hope this filled everyone in on my life. I feel like I just barfed up graciously told my life story, but if I missed anything just ask!

Thanks for nominating me, Sheaffer!

I will be back later in the week with my nomination!

Happy Monday :)

DIY Necklace Organizer - For $1

No, I did not forget another number after the $1. Seriously, one dollar. Remember when Chris and I went to a garage sale? Well I cam across this interesting piece (I think it is for men's ties...) and instantly thought: necklaces! Is that what you thought when you saw it at first? No? I'm weird for instantly, literally instantly, thinking that? That is okay :) Because now I have an awesome necklace organizer for one buck. One dolla make ya holla!

I don't think a budget breakdown is necessary for this, but I night as well keep it consistent:
- Tie organizer converted into necklace organizer: ONE BUCK!

There are tons of ways to organize your necklaces, but this one only required about two minutes of my Chris's time, so I was pleased. No longer will there be necklaces strung throughout the home. I called it decoration, Chris called it clutter. We agree to disagree :)

What I Wore Wednesday - Nude, Purple, and a Flowy Top

Nude wedges. Purple jeans. And a flowy Top. Just to clarify. I love, love, loved this outfit. Maybe because the top allows me to not have to suck in my tummy, or maybe because my jeans were under ten dollars. I haven't decided why yet, but probably one of those reasons.

Some days my outfits are bland and boring, even staring at my closet for ten minutes just to come up with a less than fashionable outfit (maybe I am just not awake in the mornings?). Other days I feel like the stars line up and a cute outfit just hops off the hanger and onto my bod (yes bod, not body). This was one of those days.

I bought the purple jeans without trying them on. You know that moment when you reallllyyy don't want to try clothes on, but you find something that you love and is super cheap? I know, gasp, right?! You read that correctly; I did not try the jeans on before I bought them. For the price I got them I did not feel the need to go try them on. After spotting them, I checked the size then held them up and had that moment of "is my butt really that big?" Well, after squeezing into them at home, I got the answer to my question; yup! After a bit of pulling and tugging - and maybe the lay-on-the-bed-to-button-your-pants trick - the pants were on! Luckily they are a bit stretchy, so they weren't uncomfortable at all!

I found the pants and the nude wedges at Ross the day I swooped in looking for throw pillows. Must have been my lucky day!
 

The pants are a dark grey/purple...but more purple...

My photographer never waits until I am ready...but he is cute, so I forgive him.

Wrigley is looking into becoming a model. He is mastering the "look away from the camera" pose.

Chris insisted the shoes looked great in the grass...hmmm.

My photographer quickly got distracted by the pups. He loves playing with those two.

• Top: $22 from Vintage Cottage in Blanco
• Jeans: $8.99!!! from Ross
• BCBG Shoes: $32.99 from Ross
• Earrings: Free...I'm sure my Mom gave them to me!
• TOTAL: $63.98

You can also view my other WIWW posts here, here, and here. And you can read what WIWW is about right here.

Happy Wednesday!

What I Wore Wednesday - Taupe Skirt and Statement Necklace



Awkward neck photo...

Francesca's has my heart. If you are female and have never been, you must go. I was on the hunt for a fun necklace and came across this coral and turquoise one. I'll admit, I was a bit hesitant. I am usually a no necklace type girl (I have weird claustrophobia issues...), but statement necklaces are the hot item right now, so I figured I'd give it a go! I was more comfortable wearing this necklace because it was not so close to my neck (yes, I am seriously a claustrophobia weirdo), but I fought the phobia and ended up loving this necklace just as much...although I did take it off the minute I got in my car after work! Can you say suffocation?!?! Weird, I know.

Here is the whole outfit:

Not my favorite picture, but it'll do.

• Necklace: $28 from Francesca's
• White Shirt: $3.99 from TJ Maxx
• Taupe Skirt: $9.99 TJ Maxx
• White Flats: $5 from 8th Street Boutique in Tyler
• TOTAL: $46.98

The taupe skirt is one that has a short skirt underneath, then has a gauze over it....so it looks long, but is short underneath...confusing, I know. But it was under ten bucks, so what's not to love!

Summer Nails

I love playing with nail color in the summer. Pinterest makes me want to change my nail color everyday! Plus, Chris lovesss when I have "pretty nails" so I try to keep them looking totally different from my softball playing days. Here are some colors I've played with this summer:

Have you had any crazy nail colors this summer?! I once tried yellow and it was an epic failure...something about my skin and yellow nails made it look so unpleasant!