Raindrops on Roses

If Julie Andrews can sing about her favorite things, I think I should be able to as well.

Tory Burch everything,
really high heels,
elephants, jewelry, beamers on wheels.
Soft leather jackets and two finger rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

I'm pretty funny. But really, these are in fact a few of my favorite things. That was just a shortened (and musically inclined) list. I have noticed, however, that I tend to be brand loyal to a few more than a few brands.. The following are those sweet somethings.

1. I am in love with Laura Mercier makeup. I use the tinted moisturizer (you can use either oil free or original.. I don't think the original is very oily at all), thickening and building mascara that works better than every "hype" mascara I've tried, eye liner in black and brown (I lucked out and got an amazing limited time collection at Sephora), and last but not least the eye colour (they have great colors to accentuate blue eyes like mine). Even after trying more expensive makeup brands such as Dior, Mac, and Chanel, I've stayed true to mon amour Laura Mercier.

2. Ok, so it's not such a surprise, but I can easily say my favorite handbag brand is Tory Burch. (Read another one of my Tory rants here.) I've become addicted to the soft leather, vibrant colors, and gorgeous accessories. I continue to carry bags I bought over a year ago and still receive compliments on them.. My favorites are a bright red hobo with a HUGE tassel, an off-white tote with gold hardware (it can also comes with a shoulder strap--love), and my gorgeous tan shoulder bag with a gold link strap.

3. Who doesn't enjoy super-soft Michael Stars tops? My go-to for any basic tank or tee is always Michael Stars. Not only do I enjoy not having to search for my size (every item is one size fits most) but I also can't get enough of the uber comfy, perfectly clingy fits each style seems to have on me. Years ago I began wearing the shiney fabrics (mostly camisoles, I was skinny back then), but since I have began wearing more of the jersey knits. I'm not going to lie, though, I still own multiple camis and they still fit.. no shrinkage. Another plus? I literally have never owned a Michael Stars that has faded (knock on wood).

4. I have a slight obsession with Jeans.. Whether I was crazy for flare in middle school, a little more mellow in high school with bootcut, or nowadays with jeans as skinny I can find, Seven For All Mankind is my #1 brand. Sure, maybe they're not as trendy as jeans with excessive shredding or too much acid wash, but they do their job well, and I can't seem to stray far from them. Even though I've taken a liking to J Brand and Rich and Skinny in the past few years, I will still vouch that Seven are the most comfortable, complimenting, and trusty jeans on the market.

There they are.. They might not be brown paper packages tied up with string (that seems so not fun to me..), but these are a few of my favorite things! :)

Metal Detecting

Things I like that are shiny:

buried treasure

safety pins

sparkles

jet planes

quarters

necklaces

mirrors

fashion trends

Wait, trend? Yep. My shiny fetish is about to get way more interesting according to multiple designers' Fall 2010 ready to wear collections. Some include Marc Jacobs, Balmain, Alexander Wang (although he goes about it in a very funhouse/emo sort of way), Malandrino, and Alice and Olivia (duh). Although you probably won't catch me in a floor length shimmery silver Marc Jacobs gown, you just may find me baring more subtle hints of glimmer.

My favorite runway look was from Alice and Olivia. Where in the past they have focused on full coverage sequin frocks, Fall shows more subtle peeps of sequin. Love it mean it.

Zac Posen does partial shimmer equally as well layering a metallic silver long sleeve under a classic (and really cute) camel dress.

So I may have seemed a little harsh on A and O's use of solid sequin fabric.. I don't dislike it, but I love the extra touches (it must come with the extra zeros on the price tag) Balmain makes on this sexy mini..

I wasn't being too harsh, however, when I called Alexander Wang's Fall line a funhouse. Seriously. So many textures, bold fabrics (a lot of velvet), and shine. The title that comes to mind would be Beetlejuice Couture.. but it perfectly encompasses the metallic theme that is oh so amazing with fun twists!

Enough rambling. I'm just excited that sequins are here to stay (for now) and I will be able to wear metallics without looking like an astronaut! Can't wait for Fall!!

The Next Chapter..

Things to do before I start the real world (t-minus 260 days until graduation AND my 22nd birthday, yikes!!!):

1. Master tamale making

2. Travel to Canada

3. Do something scary that involves heights

4. Read a book at a bar

5. Get my boating license

6. Learn how to knit (well)

7. Watch every episode of Sex and the City in a row

8. Have one playlist on my ipod of just country music

9. Go to the beach by myself (not just once)

10. Create something wearable out of a dusty item in my closet

11. Actually find a good lipgloss shade

12. Ride on a ferris wheel

13. Be able to take Vinyasa Flow level 3

14. Save money (for good, not just until my credit card bill needs to be paid)

15. Make a vodka watermelon

16. Find something absolutely amazing at an antique store

17. Figure out what my favorite flower is

18. Purchase a fur

19. Try a snow sport (shopping and drinking don't count)

20. Visit St. Jude

"Many people worry so much about managing their careers, but rarely spend half that much energy managing their lives. I want to make my life, not just my job, the best it can be. The rest will work itself out." - Reese Witherspoon

Tiny Pies!

Fishing is not my sport. In fact, I'm not really sure I have a sport, but whatever. When my family decided night fishing was a pleasant way to spend the evening, I sat and watched from the air conditioned house. I wasn't about to get on a very rocky boat with a brother who acts like a toddler/class clown/pest only to catch slimy animals with weird buggy eyes. Sick, sick, sick.

As I sat on our extremely comfortable couch, I wondered what I could do to pass the time. Maybe a good show was on TV.. Or I could color code my closet.. I really should organize my jewelry that got tangled from the flight. Hmmm.. So many options...

And then it hit me. Here I was, staring out at the most nature I'd ever witnessed in one place in my life, watching my family putt around on a fishin' boat, catchin' some dinner. I should make dessert!


I am so domestic :)

Anyways, deciding what to make wasn't difficult at all. My step mom has made the yummiest treats lately, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Her cool trick? Using muffin tins. From frozen fruit salad (cute and pink and individual portions!) to gluten free blueberry muffins, I can't get the idea of miniature deliciousness out of my head. So of course I decided to make something along the lines of itty bitty treats, and pie was the winner.

My fruits of choice included blueberries, peaches, and apples. Instead of following a recipe (because I'm that cool and Sandra Lee could do it without a recipe) I decided to throw in a little sugar, some cinnamon, flour, and a few special touches here and there. I greased my muffin tins and spread out crust dough in a few of the cups. By the time I started spooning pie fillings into the crust, Kelly had come home and wanted to help! Don't worry, though, I made her wash her slimy creature hands first. We practiced some lattice tops and some cutout crusts that all turned out very cute. We put our tops on with a little egg wash and in the oven our mini pies went!

Apparently my trophy wife skills (or at least my ability to wing it on a recipe) failed because the blueberry pies bubbled over and ruined my heart and my spade cutouts.. Sad day. But the lattices turned out so pretty and Kelly and I found a use for a seemingly pointless tool we found in the kitchen!


Maybe.. just maybe.. baking is my sport :)

Walking in Memphis

Have you ever noticed the city of Memphis, Tennessee is mentioned in SO many songs? 899 to be exact (you learn something new every day). But what's so special about the "Volunteer State"? Could it be the many selfless people who give up their time to volunteer? From an hour and twelve minutes of people watching at the Memphis airport, I can confirm it is NOT famous for being a fashion capital.. Nor is it a beauty hot spot. And can I just mention I smell grease and BBQ that only makes me think of one thing: cellulite. Every woman I can see at gate C5 has hair shorter than mine, and approximately 6 inches more volume than me; I'm hoping these ladies are using new Aveda Control Force so we don't send the world into early global warming with excessive use of Aquanet for our hair styling techniques..

Believe it or not, though, I know a secret about Memphis that is much more important than beauty, fashion, or even food. It's called St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. While not necessarily a topic one would usually find on Love It Mean It, I believe St. Jude represents something that is ultimately a million times more special than all the selfish, materialistic things I usually discuss. It is a safe haven for children who are extremely sick to the point where any ordinary doctor would not know what to do next. Here, the world's best researchers work hard to develop new treatments for these extraordinary children who might not think they have a chance at life. NO child is left untreated due to a family's inability to pay. These children are stronger than I have ever been, or ever will be, and I admire them for their fight.

I'm a Tri Delt, if you didn't know.. My sorority is affiliated with St. Jude as our national philanthropy. Our chapter along with hundreds of other chapters throughout the United States constantly work toward the common goal of support the Children's Research Hospital, giving them funds so they may continue breaking through barriers to help cure their patients. In the past, we have done charity events at Pepperdine such as Fashion For Life (a fashion show involving student organizations on campus to raise money for St. Jude) and Charity Denim (designer denim sales in which we send all profits to St. Jude). It has been amazing to watch our small chapter make such an impact the national proceeds that are sent to the Research Hospital each year. In fact, our latest goal, Ten in Ten (Tri Delta pledged to raise ten million dollars in ten years) was recently completed in ONLY FOUR YEARS! It makes me so proud to be a Delta :)

Me in Fashion For Life 2007!

Even though we're doing everything we can to kick cancer, a donation is always appreciated. Visit the St. Jude website for more info.

Now that Lonestar's "Walking in Memphis" is stuck in my head indefinitely, I finally hear our final boarding call. Praise the Lord... Missouri here I come!!!!



**LOL! An airport employee just commented on my Rock Star Pedicure.. and I quote.. "Girlll, das niceeee.. Where you get dat nail polish?"

Sorry girl, only in California :)