the best is yet to come...

I've always heard time flies as you get older... guess what its SO right! As I think back on this year... there's been ups and downs, huge question marks that hung over my head, a thousand different curvy and the hilly roads where one could only see 20 feet in front of them... But through all the confusion, uncertainty... one thing remained constant... God saying "Trust in Me". It was only a year ago I was in the classroom saying "This just doesn't fit... This just doesn't satisfy me..." Now I find myself in the prefect job for me, but not a settling job either. But not just a JOB either...but a career! As I look back and reflect all those doors and windows, they opened and closed just in prefect timing. As many times as I doubted my purpose, God's plan and will for my life over the past year... I now hear God saying... "See I told you, sister sue.. I've got this under control." And as we begin another year my mind begins to race and "plan" and schedule (big breath in) but a little tap on my shoulder... I sit still and close my eyes... and I hear it again... "I've got it under control" (long steady breath out)


Happy 2012 Ya'll... remember He's got it under control!


live life fabulously


xoxo

Searching for a cure for the winter blues...

It's a terrible case of the winter blues... that only spring air, sunshine, and fabulous spring clothes can cure! 

With the on set of spring, I have the strong urge to stir things up alittle.... Take on a new project, add on another job, choose a new hobby, change up the workout routine... any suggestions??

New Year, New You

Wear more colors (prints too)

Over-indulge in candy (preferably chocolate)

Drink more cocktails (after 5’oclock…swear)

Take a long lunch break (meet your friends and order carbs)

Spend time with the family 

Smile more often (ear to ear, all day, everyday)

Listen to music (and sing along out loud)

Be messy (creativity is seldom tidy)

Take a vacation (to somewhere fabulous & be sure to pack your Lilly)

Throw a party (complete with pink champagne & cupcakes)

Read a good book (may I suggest “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett)

Shop often (even if it’s just window shopping)

Take a spin class (but remember shopping counts as cardio too)

Most importantly resolve to BE HAPPY

New Year's Resolutions & Can we REALLY keep them?!?!?!?

   So the months worth of wrapping has been unwrapped, the returns have been returned, the re-gifting presents have been placed in the EMERGENCY gift closet, the tree is beginning to lose its needles, the sugar high from Christmas Sweets is on the decline.... and the liquor cabinet is stocked and ready for New Year's Eve! YEP, we have yet survived another Christmas. I hope everyone has had the most wonderful Christmas ever... But if you know me at all you know I do not dwell on the past or even turn my head to get a glimpse back... SO on to the 5 days of nothingness until New Year's Eve Celebrations begin!
    Well it isn't really nothingness... you now is the time to ponder "What will my New Year's Resolution be??" In my opinion here are the "Top 3" infamous resolutions one may hear repeatedly over the next week... #1 Get Healthy/Loss Weight #2 Quit "insert something here" i.e. smoking (YES most DEF!! it's yuckie if you ask me), drinking (I'm not so sure why anyone would ever want to do that!), using Credit Cards (that's quite ambitious of you.. glad its you and not me!) #3 Get organized/de-clutter my life...
   So I'm sure you are asking....What am I making as MY New Year's Resolution? WELL... I have given much thought to this... I am going to Quit Shopping.... at Full Price.. You thought I was going to say Quit Shopping... Do you seriously think I could quit shopping cold turkey?? HIGHLY doubtful! But with fabulous websites such as beso.com , designerapparel.com , gilt.com, rulala.com there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to ever buy anything not on sale! So here is a list of the things I can ONLY purchase full price... groceries, beauty products (Aveda NEVER goes on sale), iTunes, Lancome Makeup, beauty services (hair, facials, nails)... So this week is going to be a trail run.. I will post under comments Daily Purchases every other day (to keep me accountable) then there after I will post once a week... Do you think I can handle it??


live life fabulously

xoxo

Holiday Parties in FULL SWING!

There is not a time throughout the year that I love MORE than the 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas! In college it was Christmas Parties (KA Christmas party 2005, we will try to forget but never will) and Semi Formals (KD and Sigma Nu... need I say more??) and of course our College Life tacky Christmas party by the pool at Ms Susie with the gingerbread icing fight :) SO needless to say there were many memories made in a very short time period. But one thing I ALWAYS dread about this time of year is what to wear to each and every party.It is really sad, but I spend so much time stressing over what in the heck I'm going to wear. Honestly I consider this ludicrous, absurd! But I continually repeat the same acts every Holiday season... So here's where I pose the question/s ? Is it ok to wear the same dress to multiple events if you make each outfit look different (ie - fur coat, pashmina, different fun jewelry)?? And for those annual parties that you have each and every year is it ok to pull something out of the closet from summer and winterize it or switch up the outfits that you wore to each party last year??


I think completely and totally YES! It is fine!! With the economy looking the way it does (which it is picking up... a tad) ((knock on wood) why would you spend anywhere from 400 to 1200 dollars on "party" outfits every year?? SO lets get resourceful! I am NOT going to buy one new party dress this year... Lets see if I can make it! I'll keep you posted. AND yes Momma, I returning my New Lilly party dress.. :( I'm sad to see it go... but do I REALLY need another party dress???

live life fabulously

xoxo

The Confessions of an Over Packer... Can I break the cycle??

So it’s just a week and half before I leave for Charleston for a weekend with the Vincent’s for a family wedding, AND I’m already stressing. Why you ask??

A: I have this terrible anxiety about checking my bags, getting through security, finding my gate.. etc…..

B: the packing issue and the 50lb issue (I’ve got to change planes in Houston…I don’t have enough energy to stress about lost baggage)

C: the flight back and all that entails

SO I’ve decided to reduce some of my stress by…are you ready for this….. I’m just going to carry the airline limited ONE carry-on (The maximum combined linear measurement (L + W + H) of the carry-on bag is 45 inches up to 14 in x 9 in x 22 in. The maximum weight of the carry-on bag is 40 pounds.)… It’s a challenge and I’ve decided to take it on! If you know me and/or travelled with me, know that I’m a TAD bit of an over packer. OK, if I were completely honest with myself I’m a little bit more than a TAD of an over packer! So the way I’m going to break down it down by outfit and by day and how I can mix match and pack ONLY one pair of shoes…

So I fly out on Thursday: I’ll come back to this outfit later… leggings and a tunic (maybe?)

Thursday Night Dinner: JCrew Pixie Pant, White Tux Tunic, gold coat with bell sleeves and Gold Lilly Pulitzer flats.

Friday Daytime: Jeans, Ralph Lauren Oxford, Blazer, and gold Lilly flats

Friday Evening/Rehearsal Dinner: JCrew Pixie Pant, JCrew glitzy boat neck, Fur coat (if needed) and gold Lilly flats OR gold pumps..

Saturday Daytime: Lilly Stephanie Shift, Michael Stars turtleneck and gold Lilly flats

Saturday Evening: Lilly Sophia Dress, Fur Coat, and gold pumps

Sunday Daytime until 5 /Fly Home with a 2 hour layover in Houston: JCrew Pixie Pant and a-line tunic, gold Lilly flats

SO can all this fit in one rolling carry on?? Plus running shoes, two workout outfits….and the HMHS (the high maintenance hair stuff) WE shall see…

NOW here’s the REAL challenge…. No shopping while I’m there because there will be no room to bring home…

live life fabulously

xoxo

What's IN, What's NOT, What's HOT, and NOT so hot! BUT who really cares anyway?!?!?

(I'm going to get on my soapbox for a minute, please forgive me)

   Who really honestly cares what the "IT" bag is for fall or  the "Everyone in Hollywood is wearing..." jewelry.... I know I could care less... I realize and agree to that the majority of the purchases I make are based on something I've seen in a magazine ad or on some random person (usually in there late 20's -early 30's....) or something on reality TV  (Real Housewives) or Gossip Girl.
   But does anyone else realize that the $60 - $150 "IT" look-a-like bag you can find at Nordstroms will be SO out of style or falling apart by next season much less NEXT year... then you'll have to purchase the NEXT "IT" bag.. there goes ANOTHER $60- $150..So lets do the math... for arguement sake we'll use $120.  SO $120 (per bag) X 4 (spring, summer, fall, winter) = $480 a year , this is not to mention the other little bags you HAVE to have here and there because "This would be SO cute with that outfit" or my favorite "OH I've been visiting this bag FOREVER (maybe 4 weeks) and NOW its ON SALE!!! 20% off! " (I'm EXTREMELY guilty on the 2nd one) . So we will tack on another at least $130 on to the orginal $120 making our grand total to $250 per season = $1,000 a year..

So what's the point???? I'm getting there... don't get your panties in a bunch.... You know those finer things of life I like to talk about.... well if one was to stop throwing money at the "IT" bags and make an investment in a piece that will last a lifetime and age gracefully.. one could save a WHOLE HECK of a lot of money over a 3 year time period. Let's take a Louis Vuitton for example...The Fall 2010 Artsy MM  $1,400 (don't forget I like BIG... I do live in Texas after all ) The Artsy is a bag one could carry for YEARS.. Heck it could even be a baby bag one day or an additional carry on for those business trips to New York (just where ever you may see yourself in 8- 10years). But in REAL life to carry this bag AS a everyday in and out handbag one would PROBABLY carry it for 3 maybe 4 years before getting bored... and wanting the next investment. SO for 4 years you could save $2,600 . Hum.... So to go with the "IT's" bags or make an investment that will last??

No matter what... be yourself... be your style... If its Nike tempos, XL t-shirts, and Chacos or Oxford polos and driving mocs.. be who you are.. be comfortable in every situation you may find yourself in.


live life fabulously

xoxo