Friday Favorites

 I love mugs.  Not just any mug, but pretty, functional mugs.  My mother-in-law gave me a pair of these a few years ago and I use them every week.  Big enough to hold a "large" Keurig cup, pretty enough to make me smile.  Plus, they say Starbucks on the bottom, so some mornings I imagine I am in a little bistro in Germany sipping java.

Do you belong to Costco?  If so, these trash bags are da bomb.  Is that phrase out?  I'm sure it's not cool anymore.  But anyways, they are rad.  Ok maybe they're not ALL THAT, but I like them.  They don't break.  They fit my tall trash can and they are a GREAT price.  Plus, there are 200 in a box so I'm not constantly buying more bags.

 My husband surprised me at Christmas with an iPad.  Totally surprised.  He said, "I didn't get you a cover for it because I knew you'd want a cute one."  That man knows me so well.  All of the iPad covers in the local stores were $39+.  Seriously.  I just want a cute one that is functional.  Kinda like my mugs.  I found this one online for $16.  I love it a hundred different ways.

Speaking of love.  My sweet man noticed my excitement over these paper goods from Target.  I found this gift bag on my front seat, filled with happiness (and the sweetest love note) a few days later.  I am truly blessed to be his wife.

 When the sonic facial cleaners first came out, I might have scoffed, mostly because of the price.  But I have a dear friend that got one for Christmas (albeit hers was much better quality than the store brand knock off I got) and she sung its praises over a cup of coffee one evening.  So I put it on my "I'd like to try it" list.  Do you have one of those?   I came across this one, it was a good price, plus I had a crazy coupon, so I gave it a try.
I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!
I could tell a huge difference in the feel of my skin after the first use!

For my birthday, my parents gave me some cash for a new pair of cowgirl boots.  After trying on a bazillion pairs, I couldn't find the perfect ones.  So, with their blessing, I split the money between a fun pair of winter boots and these:

I needed something to wear with my skinny jeans that would be more casual than ballet flats.  Bringing back the Chucks! ;)

 I used the last of my birthday money to get a new purse and wallet.  I really NEEDED a wallet but I didn't want to get a new one, because my old one was like a second skin to me.  Everything fit so well, but it was beginning to look like my grandmother's wallet: cracked and 100 years old.  She loved hers for so long, she held it together by a rubber band. Isn't that adorable? Target has a special right now, on purses and wallets: by one get one 1/2 off.  I have admired this hobo bag for awhile, but there were so many great colors to choose from.  I had my girls make the final decision for me.  They chose well!

 Last but not least, this little rug makes me smile.  I found it at the most unexpected place: Dollar General.  Can you believe that?  My girls discovered it when we were buying paper towels.  It's a great little pop of color below my kitchen sink... and machine washable!
Happy Friday!

Black, White, and Every Color in Between

Meet Pickles.

She's the newest (permanent) addition to our farm.

My husband decided it's not a real farm until you have a goat.

So a friend gave us a goat.  Thanks.  I guess.

10 hours later, I was Googling "backyard goat care."  Oh the things I thought I'd never Google.  She's very gentle and easy going.  Good thing, because those horns kinda scared me.

Meet our other new  (temporary) additions.  We are fostering 5 puppies for a few weeks until the agency we work with finds forever homes for them.  We named the large black and white pup Chic-fil-a because he reminds us of the cows.  The little ball of energy bounding in front is Nugget.  

He's somebody's favorite...

Two black and whites (but no way they're the same age), two blacks, and one brown.  5 pups from 3 different litters.  

They keep us laughing and busy.
And melt our hearts.

 My animal-lover girl is in 7th heaven.  Poor thing is allergic to them, so she has to take Benadryl after play snuggle time.


 Doncha just love his little curly tail?

 ********************************************************************

 In totally unrelated news, except for the color theme, this is what my girls did for me last night:

Do you ever take a deep sigh on Saturday night and wonder what you are going to wear to church the next morning?  I don't like making early morning decisions.  My girls asked if they could create some outfits for me and I could choose which one to wear.  So while I took a bubble bath, they played fashion plates with my wardrobe.  I was so impressed with their choices, accessories and all!

Just Say NO.

We'll start with the face since it's the window to your soul, or something like that. :)

1. Bronzer.  If it is more than one shade darker than your natural skin color, please say no.  

I walked into the dentist office the other day and was blinded by the orange woman behind the desk.  I truly almost laughed out loud.  I was just waiting for one of my children to ask the million dollar question.  

2. Eyeliner on the bottom lid only.  Girls, this only gives you that droopy eye look.  No, not bedroom eyes... rather, the I-grew-up-in-the-80's look, or possibly the I'm-just-too-tired-to do-the-upper-lid.  If you have to choose one lid, make it the top one.  

Speaking of eyes...

3. There are a very select few (in the world) who should be allowed to wear Aviator sunglasses.  If your name ends in Cruise, as in Tom or Penelope, then you may wear them without shame.  Otherwise, just say no.  Seriously.  

See?  Even in the 70's people thought they looked good in them.  But they didn't, did they?

Let's just camp out here for a minute, shall we?  There's so much worth mentioning:

high waisted pants, PLAID jacket with a MATCHING vest, the collar, the glasses, the hair.  Oh my.

4. Matchy-match.  Unless you are a 4 year old twin or on stage in Branson, Mo, it's usually not a good idea to try this look: 

5. With spring just around the corner, I thought this might be helpful:

No matter how much of a studmuffin you may be, mint green suits are a no-no.

6. Speaking of mint green...

Can someone please explain this concept to me?  Why does a toilet need a parka?  Why does a toilet lid need a knitted hat?  What is the purpose of this?  Anyone?

Please undress your toilet.  It's okay for it to go au-natural.

7. I have no good segue to this one.  Because really, nothing goes with MOLESKIN fabric.  Nothing.  It should be outlawed.  Only a woman over the age of 90 can get away with it; because if she has lived to that age, she has earned the right to wear whatever she doggone pleases.  No one else.  Period.

8. No words are needed for this one:

What's a fashion NO-NO that you wish everyone knew about?  

More Things I Ponder...

Today's hot topic of pondering is FASHION. If you are looking for hot-off-the-runway fashion, you are in the wrong place. I'm talking about Joe-the-plumber's wife, average Americana kind of fashion.

I've chewed on this for a while and now it is time for me to spit it out and see what you think.

Have you ever taken the time to notice some of the name brands? Obviously, the makers of these clothing lines have a hidden agenda.

Let's begin with a clothing line typically found in major department stores, nestled within the misses and petite departments. While I usually think of cute little old ladies in this department, I ask myself: who really feels good about wrapping their bodies in a clothing line called SAG HARBOUR. As if!

Sag?? Really? You thought we wouldn't catch on to that little subliminal message?

Why not Perky Harbour? Or Buoyant Harbor?

Another brand found in department stores that may or may not give you a slight complex is "To the Max." What does that mean exactly? Max, as in that's my size (maximum)? It's just too close to the word Maxi(pad) for my comfort.

Let's move on to a store that is available to almost every female in America: Walmart. I browsed through their options recently and stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed their main line for women: FADED GLORY.

Now that's a brand that just makes me feel vibrant from head to toe!

Faded glory. So were the makers of this line envisioning former highschool cheerleaders turned couch potatoes when they decided on that name? Hello! Why not "In All Her Glory" or "Glory Girl"? Is it really that difficult to acquire a fun, encouraging registered trademark?

I decided to look into this a little further. Is the message just for the 30+ age demographic, or does it span the generational gap?

Apparently not. In fact, I was very disturbed to learn of the subliminal messages within the clothing lines designed for teen/pre-teens. Let's return to Walmart. So while mom is feeling faded and tired, her teenage daughter can wear the leading line "No Boundaries." Are you kidding me?! So even in their clothing line, we are giving girls the message that life doesn't need to have boundaries?!

Walmart isn't the only one giving those subliminal messages. In the juniors dept. of other major department stores you can also find brands such as Rampage, Fergalicious, and Flirtitude. That last one really shouts honor... you can flirt and sport a 'tude.

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking it's time for us to let the fashion peeps know we mean business. No more sagging, no more fading.

I'm going to shine.

I'm going to stand tall.

I'm going to ...

Target, where women of all ages and sizes can wear the same brand. Please don't tell me there is a hidden meaning to Mossimo.