Blazin' Win!

I'm just quickly sharing a sweet n' chic deal at your local Target!

I have been searching for a blazer for a while, as it's a wardrobe essential that I have been seriously lacking for probably a year at least.  J. Crew has gorgeous blazers, but $$$ keeps me from taking the plunge.

My sweet darlin's Target strikes again!

BEHOLD!!!

Merona Women's Oxford Blazer

I couldn't decide between the two, so I got both, and at $34.99 a pop I don't feel guilty.  Even the hubs said I could keep them both!  Thanks Babe!

Can't wait to put polish to my wardrobe with these babies!  I love a good cardigan, but blazers add the extra polish.  Lots more outfit options now!

Also, if you like music, theater, musical theater, or the arts at all, then traipse on over to my OTHER blog (that I hardly touch) where I dish about our theater date this past weekend to see Idina Menzel in the new musical, If/Then.

BUTTER

My friend Meaghan just began her venture as a Mary Kay consultant.  She has really taken off with this and I'm so excited for her.  Recently, she called me asking if she could send me a DVD to watch, and then I'd have to call some number and talk to someone about the DVD, but that it could just change my life.  Obviously, I knew this would be a 'become a MK consultant,' sales pitch.  However, I love my friend enough to do this for her (even though I give her a hard time about it).  Today I finally watched said DVD, and it was indeed exactly what I thought it would be.  While I learned some new and interesting things about the company, I just have to say that it's not something I'm ready for or interested in right now.

Afterwards, I texted Meaghan to let her know I had in fact held true to my word, and shared my thoughts.  Then the conversation went something like this, and THIS is what I'm all about today…

Me: Time for me to change your life now.  Ready for it?
Meaghan: Yes.  What does that mean?
Me: Get Butter London Nail Foundation and Top Coat!  It has changed my nail-doing life!  Seriously!! That is all.
Meaghan: Hahaha!  You had me conjuring up all sorts of scenarios in my head…nail polish wasn't one of them.

Alright ladies, I am SERIOUSLY in LOVE with this product!  Had that DVD been about becoming a Butter London consultant, I probably would have jumped on it!  I've known about the brand for a while now, but never touched the stuff because of the price tag.  Recently though, since we've been harboring my little sis here while she completes her internship in DC, she brought up a bottle of Butter London's Nail Foundation (my mom got it as a gift for spending lots of money at ULTA apparently, and gave it to my sis).  The two of us used it the first night she pulled it out, and were amazed at the immediate difference we saw with this nail foundation (base coat).  It's different from ALL other base coats.  It dries quickly with a smooth matte finish, creating an INCREDIBLE surface for the color to adhere to.  After that I knew I had to have a bottle of my own, so the following weekend I made my own trip to ULTA to snag some.  I ended up grabbing a two-pack that had the foundation and the quick dry top coat.  I ALMOST grabbed a color too, but decided I'd wait and just try these two products with my own nail polish at home.

 

This is what came in the set.

Here are some of their colors I want (but haven't bought at $15.00 a bottle…eek)

Rosie Lee

The Full Monty

The Old Bill

Chancer

(I picked up a China Glaze color I thought was similar, but less expensive because I LOVE this look so much especially with the holidays coming up!)

Knees Up

Let me tell you a little something about my manicure track record.  I get manicures at the salon intermittently (no more than once a month or not at all, sometimes a little more in the summer only because I actually have time).  No matter what, my nail polish always begins to peel and chip within 1-2 days.  I even splurged once and got a gel manicure, and ok, maybe it took 3-4 days that time, but my nail polish actually peeled off in the shower STILL!  Seriously, I could peel the entire coat off my nail with one pull, and the gels were supposed to be top-notch stuff!  Well, I never again paid for gels, and just submitted to the fact that my manicures would never last more than a day or two.  Oh and by the way, and this REALLY grinds my gears, the last few times I've had my nails done at the salon, they've sent me off saying I'm good to go, and by the time I get to my car and get my keys out I've screwed up a nail or two.  Just UGH!  Thus I decided that I was just never going to have pretty nails for long and such was my life.

Last weekend I went to ULTA again and bought some new nail polish colors (lots of pretty sparkly ones just in time for the holidays).

 

 

Here are the colors I got.  Clockwise from top left: Haven't the Foggiest (OPI), My Favorite Ornament (OPI), All Sparkly and Gold (OPI), and Ruby Pumps (China Glaze).

Anyway, I sat down to paint my nails Sunday evening (Haven't the Foggiest if you must know).  Using the Butter London products and an OPI nail color, I had never pulled off such a smooth and shiny, gorgeous looking DIY manicure in my life!  And it lasted without chipping all the way to Saturday (today)! It beat the gel manicure! Today I decided it was time for a change in color anyway, so I pulled out a good 'ol Essie color and used that with the Butter by London products again and AGAIN, I'm amazed at how smooth and pretty my DIY manicure turned out, and expect another week (not 1-2 days) of pretty nails!  I'm telling you ladies, this little pack of Butter London Nail Foundation and Top Coat was well worth every penny!

Yup, those are MY nails!  So smooth and shiny!

Buy Me a Cameo by Essie

Comparison…thoughts? (Hard to tell b/c of different lighting)

There you have it folks, I HAD to tell everyone that buying these BUTTER products will change your DIY manicure world forever!  No, I was not asked to write this, and I'm in no way being compensated for this (I wish I were haha, but I love it that much to tell you about it regardless).

Sick Days

I don't know about you folks, but I have been downright exhausted lately.  There's just a lot going on in my professional life right now, and I could just feel my body giving out. I was crying over stupid stuff, getting irritated way too easily and just tired all the time.  So I decided to take Friday off to give myself some rest so that I WOULDN'T get sick...and wouldn't you know I woke up Friday morning congested and feeling gross.

I've always said that getting sick is your body's natural way of slowing you down and telling you to ease up. I suppose my body picked an OK time to put on the brakes.

This weekend we've taken it easy at the Veit house, and it's been good.  Besides not being able to breathe through my nose.  We found a few sweet flea market and thrift store treasures yesterday that I can't wait to put to use.

Can't wait to give new life to this vintage bar stool.  Perfect for our kitchen!

Found this nifty tray at the thrift store for $2.

I bought all these darling linens from the flea market (can't wait to pull out the Christmas ones!) and the planters were $3 all together at the thrift store.

I was drawn to the unique picture frame looking planter.  I guess that's what it is...I think it will be neat with something growing up from that hole.  Now if only I could keep a plant alive...

This sweet table clothe reminded me of our wedding for some reason, just the lacey bunting I suppose, but I couldn't pass it up!

Christmas, I'm ready!

OH, and I completed my first sewing project in a LONG time, and finally used my sweet little sewing station Corey set up for me.

Tutorial for Easy Envelope Pillow Case here!

This morning we had good intentions of going to church, but when the alarm went off my body felt paralyzed and I still felt miserable; after a few snooze sessions we decided staying home and in my PJs was what I really needed.  When we finally arose I attempted some banana chocolate whole wheat waffles...they were OK...couldn't really taste the banana (or maybe my tastebuds are just off since I'm sick).  Anyway it's a hot tea and PJ day around here but I wanted to share some of our projects and treasure finds from the weekend.  Stay well my friends.

Fall Bucket List

This was shared by Buddy the Elf on Facebook the other day and I stole it because I loved it!

I'm pretty sure I did a majority of these items this weekend.  OK, wait, I lied...we did two of these things, but there's still plenty of time to do the rest!

We started our Saturday morning with some yummy Pumpkin Spiced Chocolate Chip Pancakes, and homemade copycat Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice!

Find the recipe for Pumpkin Spiced Pancakes here! Adding the chocolate chips was our touch, but feel free to steel the thought and taste the goodness.  These babies were the PERFECT start to our first October Saturday!

My sweet hubby and I met three years ago (almost to the day) at a pumpkin patch for our very first date.  So now we visit the same pumpkin patch every year to relive those special moments.  I cannot even believe when we made the same trip last year we weren't even engaged yet, and NOW, we're married!  I'm amazed at how mere months can change our lives.  Last year we went on our annual pumpkin patch date, and two days later he popped the question.  This year we went as husband and wife talking about someday bringing a lil punkin of our own to the pumpkin patch.  Don't get excited folks, that day is still a couple years away!  I REPEAT...COOL YOUR JETS!

It was an unusual weekend though because it was insanely hot for October.  It was over 80 degrees at the pumpkin patch and we were sweatin', but we got a couple cute shots for your viewing pleasure.

ENJOY!

On the hayride to the pumpkin patch.  Corey swiped his first kiss from me on this sweet ride three years ago.

Lugging our haul!

Trunk full o' pumpkins!

Our pumpkin loot!  Can't wait to carve and decorate these babies!

Hopefully we'll make it to an apple orchard soon!  And now that we have our chiminea there are plenty of bonfires and s'more nights to be had.  

What's on your Fall Bucket List?  What things have you checked off so far?

I Question your Taste Project Runway

Folks...I don't even know if I can talk about Project Runway right now, but I'm going to try.

I ALWAYS look forward to the textile design challenge.  I LOVE seeing what patterns the designers come up with.  I thought this particular textile design challenge was especially interesting because they were to be inspired by a young innovator as their muse.

First, let's look at my favorite textile designs.

These three were my absolute favorite textiles.  

Now let's look at the evening's designs.

 

 

 

Here's my final thoughts on the episode....I absolutely agree with who won the challenge, no questions asked, but I am FUMING over who got sent home.  Really PR? REALLY?!!??!?!?!  You really allowed Ken to stay on as long as he did in the bottom every week, and the first time this designer gets in the bottom boom that's it?!  I agree, the designer missed the mark on the challenge, but COME ON!!!!!  This designer was ON IT the entire time.  And there's a certain other designer who keeps winning and it absolutely baffles me every time, because they always skate by on a random last minute decision.  OH, and another designer who every week sends ripped up crap and/or poopy pants down the runway, and how is she still SAFE?! I mean seriously!  I may actually stop watching in protest now.  EVERY TIME, in EVERY competition show I watch, the REAL talent always gets sent home.  I quit watching American Idol years ago for the exact same reason.  I know I sound like a real basher right now, but last night's decision has me outraged still.  I'm not sure folks...we'll see if I watch next week.

Confessions of a Sweet n' Chic Style Chick

I realize the style posts have faded out once again.  I wondered how good I would be at keeping up with that once work got into full swing again.  You see here's the thing...I could probably be better at it if I wanted to, you know, do like all other fashion bloggers do and just pick all my outfits out on Sunday and take all the pictures then so I can get all my posts up.  But you know what...that's just not how I roll with my sweet n' chic style.  

You see, I spend all my time planning things.  Planning lessons, schedules, assessments, assignments, projects, and planning how the heck I'm going to get it all done and then how the heck I'm going to get it all graded.  Plan, plan, plan.  Think ahead...blah, blah, blah. I'm actually not a real planner by nature...I never was, and I have to try really, REALLY hard to be a planner for my job.  (In my now 4th year, I'd say I've made GREAT strides.) But when it comes to style, that's an area of my life where I can be more organic.

I came across this gem the other day on Pinterest. 

That pretty much sums up how I pick out my clothes.  I wake up in the morning, evaluate what I feel like and go with something that reflects that.  Yes, I have to consider the day's events, and of course weather, but I pick my outfits in the moment once I get moving and figure out who I want to be and how I want to present myself to others for the day.  The only time I plan outfits is when there's a trip or some sort of major event. That my dears is why I have no desire to become a Sunday outfit planner.  And that is why I don't always get pictures of outfits, and days will go by without a post.  

What about you?  Are you a Sunday planner or do you let the day take you in a style direction?

PR Superfan Make-Over

Happy Saturday folks!  I hope yours is turning out to be as delightful and relaxing as ours.  It's been a LOOOOONG week, with way too many 12hr + work days, so needless to say I was counting down to the weekend.

Last night we invited some folks from our Sunday school class over for dessert and just hang-out time.  It was totally low-key with the right combination of good company and relaxation.  I sat around with the gals chit chatting while the men played cornhole and talked about whatever guys talk about, and before we knew it, it was 11 o'clock!  Our day didn't even get started till 11 this morning...and then I spent the next two hours reading my book while Corey played video games.  It was glorious!  But enough of reveling in this downtime, let's talk about some Project Runway shall we?

This week's challenge was exciting and new (at least I don't recall them doing this ever before) it was the Project Runway Superfan Make-Over challenge!  The designers were teamed up with one Project Runway superfan who had been selected for a make-over and the designers were to create custom looks for their metamorphosis.  So cool!  AND crazy story...my aunt texted me last night to tell me that the gal who was paired up with Ken was her friend from high school.  So it's almost like I'm connected to Project Runway now!  JK...but really, how cool?!

 

Now this gal all would agree was in no way in need of a physical make-over.  She was already adorable!  But, she wanted to be taken from the quiet soft-spoken mother to a New York powerhouse woman. If only these photos showed the shoulder details on the vest, this was a sassy and powerful look!

 

This girl had the biggest transformation by far, and she looks gorgeous!  However, I wasn't a fan of the hem in the back of the dress.  I would have much preferred to see the length come to the floor and perhaps even a little bit of a sleek train.  I think where it stops at her ankles looks weird.  Everything else I love though!

 

 

Justin did a phenomenal job with his super fan!  I'm so glad he's still in this!  He has such a soft spoken but unique voice!  His sweet gal had undergone an incredible weight loss journey and had lost over 100 lbs!  She was also mormon and so wanted to keep things conservative.  He created a custom undergarment for her b/c her weight loss has left her with extra skin around the tummy, and then designed this adorable LBD to show of her fantastic new figure!  The best feature about the dress though is that he embroidered her signature into the design giving her a one-of-a-kind look that says she's a STAR!

 

Kate gave this momma exactly what she wanted.  She asked to be turned into a hot momma and Kate delivered!

 

And here's the adorable Sue (my aunt's friend from HS) who got paired up with Ken. (Unfortunately).  And the judges put it very well when they told her, "Honey, you're better than the dress."  Now, Sue actually chose the color, and while it compliments her hair...it really didn't do anything for her, and then the way Ken put the leather in just accentuates all the things she wants to hide, and I don't know what's going on with that zipper in the back!  Sue, you're gorgeous with an infectious personality, but this dress did not live up to your super status.

I can't WAIT for next week's episode.  Always one of my favorites, it's the textile design challenge!  Until then it's on with the weekend for me, and we have a Nationals game to get ready for!  I love me some Washington Nationals, and Jayson Werth!  GO NATS!!!

(Money!)