Parent approval

The Parents approved of the outfit for the Mini-Fashionista. Yeah!!! Now let's hope the Mini-Fashionista approves. The Dad says that she definitely has a style that is all her own. (Hmmmmmmm . . . sounds like someone else doesn't always like to follow the rules!) But to me, that's what makes us individuals.

The mini-fashionista

For my niece's upcoming birthday, I wanted to send her an actual gift that required some thought. So, I consulted her parents and was extremely excited to find out that she is VERY into fashion. A mini-fashionista, if you will. I was totally psyched to have the opportunity (or shoportunity) to shop for a mini-fashionista. Here is what I ended up with:


I HOPE SHE LIKES IT!!!

The outfit consists of an uber-cool tie-dyish/ombre t-shirt with a tattoo-style butterfly print, light wash demin capri pants, white studded gladiator-ish flip-flops and a sparkly turquoise purse stuffed with all kinds of goodies that a mini-fashionista will love.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY TO THE MINI-FASHIONISTA!!!

My improvisation

When we went on our minivacation a few weeks ago, we were not prepared for the cold weather they were having. I attended an event to which I wore flip-flops. As we arrived at the event, it began to rain. After standing in a vendor tent for about an hour and a half, we left to go get something to eat. While we were out and about, I stopped at the dollar store and purchased socks. I don't even want to confess this . . . but here goes . . . I wore black argyle socks with a pair of silver flip-flops. I know, I know . . . Stacy and Clinton would not approve!

The next day we were going to be attending a different event so I dug into my husband's suitcase to improvise a suitable outfit. I already had a purple polo shirt, skinny jeans, black ballet flats and a mauve canvas conductors hat. I knew that wouldn't be warm enough so I borrowed his black hooded sweatshirt and his black leather belt. I don't think it turned out too bad. I stayed warm and I think it looked pretty good considering it was an improvised outfit.

Welcome to the dollhouse!

I have stumbled across a fun website. It is www.polyvore.com. It is basically like an online dollhouse. You can register for a free account and create your own "sets". The site has various clothing and accessory options (that most of us could never afford) that you can use to create a look, including makeup and perfume. My favorite "sets" are (of course) the Audrey Hepburn looks that have been created.

I will eventually join the site and start creating my own "sets". Right now, I'm just a lurker.

My new perfume

I have started wearing a new perfume. It's called "Halle by Halle Berry". It smells wonderful! It's warm and soft, maybe even a little woodsy with a dash of spice. I don't know how else to describe it.



Now if using the perfume would just make me look like this . . .



Or perhaps this . . .

It REALLY doesn't hurt . . .

I went to acupuncture yesterday. It really doesn't hurt as much as one might think. It just kind of feels like you took a pair of tweezers and very quickly pulled out a single strand of hair. Seriously. I think the needles themselves are only about as big as a strand of hair. Alot of the time, you can't even feel the needles at all. It is soooo relaxing and has so many health benefits. You should try it at least once!

Random ramblings

I exfoliate my skin several times a week. It makes my skin sooooo soft! I use a loofah, a bath brush or exfoliating gloves and sometimes, I even use a body scrub. I have found that it helps my skin retain the moisture better. I have horribly dry skin so every little bit helps.

I have a wierd obsession with dollar stores. My two favorites are Family Dollar and Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree is my favorite because everything actually is a dollar.



Have I mentioned that I love Audrey Hepburn?! She was just such an amazing human being. Anyhow, I have this exact picture hanging right here in my "office". It's poster size in a black frame.




My favorite flowers are lilies. I really like the purple calla lilies that come out around Easter as well as the stargazer lily.







And, in case you couldn't tell, my favorite color is purple. I actually wear alot of purple. Alot of people make comments about how much purple I wear. I guess it's a little bit like Elle Woods and her obsession with pink in the "Legally Blonde" movies.

In closing, I just want to point out that I LOVE Holly Golightly's pink dress from "Breakfast at Tiffany's".



P.S. Her hair is absolutely amazing in this movie as well!

The Tub

The Hot Tamale and I headed out of town on Thursday to visit his brother for his birthday. He lives in another part of the state. Crappy birthday present . . . I know. We had lots of fun. I was able to do a little bit of shopping at Target. But the best part of the trip was "The Tub".



This 8-jet jacuzzi tub resides in one of the most amazing bathrooms on the planet, perhaps in the universe. It was amazing! Just added a couple drops of Bath & Body Works pink grapefruit bubble bath along with some oil and a couple of candles. (There was also a trio of rubber duckies involved!) I got to spend a very relaxing and totally uninterrupted 2 hours in this amazing tub! BEST VACATION EVER!!!

A portrait of class and elegance

I think that I may have previously mentioned that I love all things Audrey. She was such an amazing woman. She wasn't perfect but she still had the ability to inspire.



I received this book as a Christmas gift one year. It is written by one of Audrey's sons, Sean Ferrer. It includes so many poignant pictures. It tells her life story from the very beginning to the very end - from a bad case of whooping cough at 6 weeks old that caused her to stop breathing, to her work with the resistance during World War II, through her extensive film career, to her work with UNICEF, on through her death and everything in between. She was such a remarkable woman. She truly was "An Elegant Spirit".

Thermal therapy

My husband says that I need to seek therapy for my addiction to thermal tops. What can I say?! I love thermal tops. They are so versatile. I've purchased 4 in the last couple of months and I intend to purchase more. They go with just about anything from jeans to dresses. They can be dressed up or down.



(upper left) I've paired this thermal with a multi-colored stone statement necklace from Avon (received as a Christmas gift). Lavender scoopneck thermal top, Highland Outfitters, purchased at Family Dollar for $3.

(lower left) I've paired this thermal with gunmetal chain earrings and a gunmetal multi-strand chain necklace that I've double-looped (both purchased at Target). Gray scoopneck thermal top with ruffled front, Bugle Boy, purchased at Family Dollar for $5.

(upper right) I've paired this thermal with a 5-strand multi-colored freshwater pearl necklace (purchased at Blossom for $20). Cream scoopneck thermal top with ruffled front, Bugle Boy, purchased at Family Dollar for $5.

(lower right) I've paired this thermal with a simple silvertone disc necklace (it actually came with the top!) and a chunky pink mother of pearl and sterling silver ring (purchased at K-Mart). Coral v-neck thermal top, Op, purchased at Wal-Mart for $8.

Just throw on any of the above with a pair of skinny jeans (or regular jeans) and a pair of ballet flats and you are ready to go. I also wear any of the tops without the accessories with skinny jeans and black ballet flats and get out the door. So simple yet casual chic!

They just don't make hats like they used to!

I love all things Audrey! I'm especially envious of all of the GORGEOUS hats that she got to wear.





The three hats below are by far my favorite.



The hat on the left is from "My Fair Lady". This hat is breathtaking. If I ever attend the Kentucky Derby, I will wear a hat just like this one.

The hat in the middle is from "How to Steal a Million". This hat is the essence of cool when paired with the oversized white sunglasses and white convertible.

The hat on the right is from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". This hat is so sophisticated.

I wish that ladies still wore hats. Why don't they?!

Dinner and a show

The Hot Tamale took me to a dinner theatre last night for Valentine's Day. I figured that the least I could do is take my Valentine's flowers along.



This outfit is made up of the following: 1. Black fly-away blazer, purchased at the Windsor Outlet several years ago for about $30; 2. Navy blue tie neck blouse, purchased at Forever 21 several years ago for about $25; 3. Gray, purple, black and blue striped skirt, purchased at Target about 2 years ago for about $30 (designed by Richard Chai); 4. Black leggings, purchased at Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago for $5; 5. Gray suede ankle boots, received as a gift.

I try to purchase clothing items that are somewhat classic so that I can get more wear out of them. It's easy to just add some trendy leggings and boots to update the outfit.

Just a little aside: I wish that I had worn a different blouse, perhaps a black velvet mock turtleneck would have looked better.

I soooooo wanted to be Andie Walsh!

When I was younger (and even periodically now) I sooooooo wanted to be Andie Walsh from "Pretty in Pink". How could you not?! She had the most amazing red hair and wardrobe. She had individual style and the confidence to pull it off. She was so talented. She had such style, such flair. I wanted to be her. I wanted the hair, the wardrobe but most especially, her little pink car with the dent in the side.


She had very stylish classic sweaters . . .










She knew how to work an ensemble . . .




















Even her bath robe was stylish . . .



But, of course, most amazing was that she designed and produced her own incredible Prom dress . . .



And her hair . . . !



I just wanted to be her . . . I just wanted to be Andie.

Valentine flowers

When we got home from the store last night, a box with a big red "O" was waiting on the front doorstep. Inside were my Valentine flowers from my husband, The Hot Tamale. But they are not any ordinary Valentine flowers. They are gray suede flowers designed by Steve Madden. I can wear them with pants, skirts, even leggings. Aren't they amazing?!

I have an addiction . . .

I have a secret . . . I have an addiction. I'm addicted to bubble baths. That's right. Bubble baths. I take bubble baths probably twice a week. And not just any bubble baths. Marathon bubble baths. I light a scented candle. I set up my portable DVD player with a chick flik. I add epsom or dead sea salts (or both), essential oil (sometimes more than one) and LOTS of bubble bath. And then I sink myself into an utter state of bliss where I remain for at least 2 hours. Ahhhhh . . .

I have discovered bath bubbles that are positively sinful. It's sold by Avon. It is . . . wait for it . . . CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY TRUFFLE!!! It really smells like chocolate strawberry truffles. Heaven!