I am fortunate enough to have been asked to be on board committees for a few galas this spring, one of which is a “Friday Night Fever” theme, benefitting one of our local hospitals here in East Tennessee. Due to this, I’ve been in a real tizzy trying to get some disco inspiration and figure out what look I’m going to go for, that won’t be too costume-y but still convey that Studio 54 vibe. Well, I can stop the search at Bianca Jagger, former wife of Mick Jagger and OG of Studio 54 in it’s hay day. This woman is impeccable. From turban to platform, every picture is complete, stunning, iconic and exotic beauty. Give me LIFE Miss Bianca!
The other day at Sephora I cashed in my points for a mini-lipstick from Bite Beauty (shade is “Radish.”). It was the most fierce shade of fuchsia and, while I was drawn to it, I couldn’t help but think “I am never going to be able to wear this.” Well, like a sign from the gay makeup gods above, I was watching “Watch What Happens Live” Tuesday night and my new favorite Housewife/spirit animal Erika Jayne was a guest and just what did she have dancing across her lips?? A gorgeous fuchsia of course! So taking my inspiration from her head to toe (minus the bubbies) I totally killed this glam look for work the next day.
My not-so-professional opinion for making this look trendy and not tacky, is pairing it with a played-down ensemble. I went with a basic black, office-appropriate Ralph Lauren dress, Coach pointy toes, and kept my jewelry at a minimum with some black diamond studs and a watch. I also went lighter on my eyes because the lip is so bold, but I think for night time, a smoky eye might work. Maybe.
Twinning obviously.
Ok, face breakdown:
Mac studio sculpt concealer, Mac blush (sorry, can’t remember which one), Mac blush “Blunt” for contour AND as my shadow for my crease (I use my makeup all over. Just because it says blush doesn’t mean it’s for your cheeks alone.), eyelids, inner corner and highlight from “naked 2” palette, brows are a rimmel pencil that I swear by in “hazel,” eyeliner is stila stay all day in black, mascara is too faced “better than sex” plus a pair of drugstore falsies (Demiwispies) oh and a little black shadow from the same pallette in my bottom lash line .
And of course, Radish from Bite Beauty on my lips. I will say, I prepped my lips like I always do, with a base of concealer, followed by a nude liner to define the edges and fill in, then a dusting of translucent to set. Topped with the lipstick, I only reapplied one time after lunch and it didn’t budge. Not even during a rigorous sweat sesh at the gym. As a matter of fact, I had to scrub that ish off at the end of the night. So I give this stick an A+++!!
Y’all try this and let me see your inner “Jayne” alter ego!
As much as I love snow and winter and warm nights bundled up in front of the fireplace, I’m more than ready for some fresh air and sunshine and, more importantly, some fresh new looks in the wardrobe and makeup department. Starting with the tips of my fingers, I’ve brightened up my nail game with the new OPI New Orleans collection. Currently I’m rocking “She’s a Bad Muffeletta,” and last time I got “Got Myself in a Jam-balaya.” Both are perfect pinks on different ends of the spectrum.
I’ve also lightened up my makeup, going lighter under my eyes and brighter on my lips.
“Amplified” by MAC is the perfect almost matte lip. It stays all day without being too dry.
I’m a coral girl through and through. I LOVE this shade, from the more orange version (above) to the more pink end of the spectrum, it’s such a complimentary color on everyone. And looks even better with a tan, which I desperately need. (Lips above are a blend of MAC’s ” Morange” and “Saigon Summer.”).
I found these amazing Ann Taylor pants at a consignment store brand new, with the tags still attached for $10. Yet again, with a tan, they would look infinitely better. (Have I mentioned this is the palest I’ve ever been?)
MAC “Viva Glam Nicki” matches this blouse perrrrrfectly. Highliter on the cheeks for some glow and you’ve got a look that’s totally fresh.
Finally, we celebrated Easter this past weekend at the river. Or as I like to call it, “Annual Big Hat Day.” You’ll never catch me without MY Easter bonnet on Sunday!
This dress looks silver or white but it was in fact pale pink and black. (Judging by this pic, the love of coral is hereditary).
I felt like Julia Roberts in “pretty woman” in this get-up. It seems wrong to feel like a whore on Easter.
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and lightening up your own lives. Summer is right around the corner! What are your favorite looks for spring?
Hey y’all! It’s been a hot summer day here in East Tennessee, and we’re finally getting some relief around these parts with one of my favorite acts of nature–the afternoon summer thunderstorm. To me, there is nothing more beautiful, calming and refreshing than a sudden downpour after the oppressive, sticky heat has built and built all day. Especially if you’re fortunate enough to experience from a porch. I also really love these so-called “frog floaters” because it means I don’t have to spend 45 mintues watering my plants and consequently raising my water bill.
I am so pleased with how everything I’ve planted this year has taken off. From my windowboxes and landscaping, to my vegetable and herb gardens, everything that has touched the dirt has flourished. I’d like to think it’s because the land here is still blessed from all the years of love and labor put forth by my grandparents.
In the front yard, we finally got around to doing a little landscaping. Thankfully Lowe’s had their spring black friday sale and I was able to get some incredible deals, doing my entire front yard with brick pavers, black mulch and garden soil for less than $100. I wanted something low maintenance, so we decided to thin out some of Momma’s hostas and transplant them here. I am shocked to see people pay $4 a pop for these things at Lowes and Home Depot, when all you have to do is find someone who has them and dig up a small root! They take off like crazy too. Each bush in front of the house originally was one small leaf. And just since April they have grown into full size bushes. Momma also brought over some of her day lillies and we planted those off to the right of the front porch for some color. Ferns dangle from the front porch in the shade and we filled the planters and some hanging baskets with brightly colored petunias. (Side note: I scaled WAY back on the petunias this year. I absolutely loathe dead-heading these things. Maybe if I were a stay at home lady it wouldn’t be such a task, but right now it seems like such a waste of time.)
Photo of front porch at the beginning of landscaping. Notice the pavers, lillies and hostas! Since this photo we have added more ferns and porch furniture though.ALL this for less than $100?? Yes please!
I also wanted low maintenance on my window boxes this year. So I did some research on shade loving window plants and went to town. I really wanted to achieve that “Charleston-style” window box, where things are just spilling over the sides. While I didn’t quite achieve that this year, I am tickled with the results I got for my first attempt. They’re full and lush with pops of color, which is just what I wanted in the end.
Obsessed with my window boxes and how little effort I’ve had to put into them.
I also planted a small herb garden for the first time and, as much as I love my vegetable garden, this little plot of heaven might be my favorite space in the yard. I put it right off the kitchen for convenience when cooking, dressed it up with some cute fencing that also keeps away pesky rabbits, and decorated with a beautiful bird feeder/bath and some decorative stones. So far I’ve only put out sweet basil, curly parsley, mint and rosemary, but it has all taken off. We’re using my mint at the pub for our classic cocktails and it’s really neat to be able to see something I’ve put so much love into being incorporated into tasty treats for customers.
A classic whiskey smash using mint from my garden
And now for the main event–the vegetable garden. Last year I only put out a 6ft raised bed with a few tomatoes and peppers and I was overrun. So this past autumn, someone told me if I threw out my decorative pumpkins and gourds into my garden soil and let them rot, then when I tilled it come spring, the soil would be extra rich and fertile.
They failed to mention that I should remove the seeds.
Within a week of Daddy tilling the bed, THIS was my 6ft garden.
I had a monster pumpkin patch on my hands. I threw more than 10 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds into that space and now they’re all blended together. So god only knows what is going to come out of it. Needless to say, we had to till a bit more soil. So Mitch’s uncle Joel came over and ended up expanding my garden more than 4x the original size, and gave me some corn and pole bean seeds he had saved from his crop last year. I’ve never tried my hand at either but thought, “what the heck.” It has exploded. in the weeks since May 5 my garden has went from this:
To this:
Cucumbers and squash halfCorn and beans half
It was too much to fit into one pic. Note the giant pumpkin patch in the middle of the garden. (it’s on the left side of the first pic and the right side of the bottom pic) I just started getting my first fruit too. All my little babies are so cute I can’t wait to harvest them!
Heirloom stripey tomatoes, cucumbers, jalepenos and yellow squash to name a few.
I’m fairly certain within the next month I will be making more salsa and marinara. and I’m so excited. I urge anyone to try their hand at gardening. It just tastes so much better, and it’s a really neat feeling to know exactly where your food is coming from and to be able to eat something you have put a lot of love and effort into is quite rewarding. Gardens used to be the only way a family could eat and unfortunately with my generation that has all but died out. I would love to see a revolution of young growers! Share your pics from your garden and let me know what you have growing! Til then I’ll just be here being fabulous in my field of dreams!
So here in the south, September can be a tough time for fashion. For everyone else it seems September is the kickoff to fall–Things start to cool down and the switch to jeans and boots is eminent. For us, it’s the hottest part of the year. And humid. And sticky. But no one wants to miss out on the cute fall fashions. Rejoice, I have found the perfect weekend outfit to take you out of Labor Day and into autumn, even on those 90 degree days.
The perfect mix of boho and country, a 3/4 sleeve billowy top balances out a classic blue jean short on the bottom for just the right amount of skin for September. Pair it with your favorite broken-in boots and a fringey leather bag in a warm color scheme and you’ll be ready for wherever the weekend takes you.
I personally took this look to the county fair with my hunky honey and it couldn’t have worked out better. The boots were perfect for stomping around the barnyards and I didn’t have to worry about losing my shoes on the rides!
Side note, is there anything more small town and nostalgic than a county fair? The smell of deep fried goodies mingles with hay from the stables, the music and screams from the rides fills your ears, and don’t forget getting stopped at the top of the ferris wheel is the perfect place to smooch with your honey. It’s also the perfect goodbye to summer.
So from fairs to football games, this outfit has you covered. Don’t forget to top your look off with some boho braids and fun accessories!
Hey y’all! I hope you’re all winding down your weekend in the most comfortable of ways and preparing yourselves for a fresh new week ahead. I’m personally folded up Indian style under a blanket in my most comfy VS sweats on the couch with my 2 sweet fur babies snoozing in my lap and I could only be happier if my honey wasn’t working. Time is flying by so fast, we’re already almost 2 weeks into May and I’ve hardly had time to look around and savor the final fleeting moments of spring before the summer’s heat steals it’s innocence. One thing that was consuming a lot of my time was the “Mr.Tipton Street Pageant,” a charity event I organized at work for our local animal shelter. A former employee and myself came up with the idea of a “man pageant” for average Joes last year as a way to get people into the bar and to raise money for a good cause. It turned out to be a smashing success so I decided to make it an annual event, this year with a Kentucky Derby theme. I started work on this thing the first of February and am very proud to say my solo efforts were able to raise almost $550 in cash and tons of donated items for the Washington County Animal Shelter.
Flier for the event I organizedMy managers at the pub with some of the donated itemsMe gifting a shelter employee with a check for the money we raised
As stressful as it was putting on this whole to-do, I really learned a lot and actually used that Bachelor’s in PR and Advertising that I earned way back in college. And most importantly, it felt really good to be able to give back to an organization that is so close to my heart.
I also achieved another milestone in my fitness journey recently, finally breaking the 150lb curse and dipping to 149lb. Only 9 more pounds to go and I will have reached my goal weight! I am finally seeing progress and other people are starting to notice as well. I read somewhere once that it takes 4 weeks for YOU to notice a change, 8 weeks for the people around you to notice, and 12 for everyone else, and it is so true! I really got serious about my health for Lent, so it’s been exactly 2 months and my whole outlook has changed. Going to the gym used to be as dreaded as my yearly checkup with my gyno. Now, I almost look forward to it. Well, let’s not get carried away. I don’t look forward to it so much as I just don’t want to miss. And I love seeing the changes in my body! I’ve never had arm muscles, so it’s kinda cool to be able to flex like a douche. I’m going to stay with Christian at the beach in one month and I would love to be at my goal weight by then but I’m not gonna kill myself. All good things in all good time!
This was such a big deal…Please ignore my ratchet toenails.Lunch is served! Delicious spinach and cucumber salad with cherry tomatoes and blackberries, drizzled with a citrus poppyseed vinaigrette.Healthy dinner: 4oz ribeye on the grill with a big salad and my own yummy apple, pear, plum puree!
One of the best things about getting fit is how much better I look in clothes. I’ve really enjoyed getting cute new outfits and accessories for the gym, and even splurged on a few everyday things as well.
Booty and triceps!!New Betsy Johnson backpack….perfect gym bagSeriously in love with this maxi dressDoes it get any easier than throwing on a simple breezy dress for a summer night out? The unique detail on this halter neckline really gives this dress some character!It was a basic black tank and edgy accessories for date night with my babe this weekMy biggest (and most needed) splurge–some wireless headphones. Who cares if they make me look like zoolander?!
Finally today was Mother’s Day, and I couldn’t end this post without talking about what a wonderful day we had. Mitch and I were able to take the mom’s plus my dad out for brunch this morning at the Bonnie Kate Cafe. It was beautiful as usual. The food was delicious and the presentation was on point. When it comes to a great dining experience, it really is all about the tiny little details. Like the fresh mint leaf garnish in your water or tea. Small and inexpensive, but it makes basic tapwater seem so much more elegant. This cafe is such a hidden gem in my little hometown.
My beautiful mother and me on Mother’s Day.Mitch and his mother outside the Bonnie Kate
So far this summer is off to an awesome and exciting start! I hope you all have as many exciting things to keep you busy this summer as I do–and if you don’t, then just kick back and enjoy it next to some water!
Last week I finally worked up the courage to have some boudoir photos taken by some photographer friends of mine. I’ve been working hard to get my body right and finally felt good enough to have them done. I received a sneak peak and I LOVE THEM! Unfortunately, some troll on the internet decided to rain on my parade by throwing in their two cents. It will always baffle me why someone whom I’ve never met in person would feel the need to criticize or make assumptions about the type of person I am. This mid-40s woman from Texas, who might I add, was wearing a Brett Michaels style cowboy hat in her profile pic, suggested that I shouldn’t have worn so much makeup FOR MY PHOTOSHOOT and that I was probably trying to cover up insecurity with it. Who the heck would book a photoshoot and not wear makeup?! This woman’s attempt at EMPOWERING me by, in her own way, suggesting I had natural beauty, served no other purpose than to make me self conscious about my photo. My suggestion to her would be not to criticize and make judgements about people they’ve never met. Anyway, I think this picture is beautiful and can barely wait to see more. The whole experience was a delight and I would recommend ANYONE going to Brandon and John at Breathe Life Photography if they ever want to be captured as the best them they can be.
The photo of much debateGoofing off, behind the scenes.
As promised I wanted to update about our vacation to Myrtle Beach/Georgetown, SC. We had an amazing time catching up with friends and enjoying the sites. I wish I had more time to go into detail, but as I’m pressed for time, I’ll just hit the highlights.
Monday- arrived at 1pm. 75 degrees and sunny. Laid out by pool. Mitch fell asleep on his stomach and burned his back. After naps and showers, we enjoyed a late dinner at a new gastro pub called “Fire and Smoke.” amazing food and drink selection and beautiful art on the walls. Visited one of my favorite old haunts, Bumstead’s. Then back to crash.
Laura was there waiting to greet us!My honey, pre-sunburn.Finally! Rest and relaxation! Ahhhh…..Gas station munchies.Selfie shot at Bumsteads.My best friend Christian and I…reunited and it feels so good!
Tuesday- Woke up to another beautiful day. More pool time, as the wind off the ocean was too cold for laying out on the beach. We also spent the afternoon playing puttputt at Mitch’s request, something I haven’t done in years. Strange considering what a Myrtle Beach staple it is. We actually had a blast and Mitch even hit the hole in one on the 18th hole and won a wooden nickel good for a free game! That night both Christian and Laura had to work, so Mitch and I hit the boulevard looking for touristy trinkets, playing skee ball and getting in a little bit of Myrtle Beach nostalgia. Afterward we called it an early night, had a few glasses of wine and went to bed.
I love him so much! Puttputt at the jungle safari!Christian and I and our new friend on the course.Hello Sunshine!MB nostalgiaRelaxing in our matching Spring Break 2014 tshirts because we’re old and we can.
Wednesday- this was my favorite day. We drove down to Hopsewee Plantation in Georgetown. It was amazing. Beautiful, serene, and chock full of history. We toured the home first, then enjoyed one of the best lunches I’ve ever eaten in the tea room afterward. On the way back to Myrtle Beach, we stopped at Brookgreen Gardens and took a quick tour of the zoo. That night we enjoyed a relaxing game night at home with some friends. This day was perfect.
Pulling up to the back of the beautiful Hopsewee Plantation.Slave quarters. I’m going to assume the satellite was added later.Front of the house, facing the river.Honey, I’m home!!My love and I amongst the Spanish Moss.One of the previous Ladies of the plantation on her wedding day at the plantation.The wedding party in front of the house. The children are sitting on the very carriage stoop I was standing on in one of the above photos. So neat!Us on the front porch.Can I please just live here permanently?! ugh!Lunch at the Tea RoomDon Quixote statue at Brookegreen GardensChilly stroll on the beach!
Thursday- we woke up to some crummy weather, in comparison to the past three 75 degree days we had. Never fear, shopping was near. We hit up the outlets and I got a great deal on the perfect spring Coach wallet. (originally $115, I got it on mega sale for $33.) I also found a steal on an easy Leopard print Guess dress ($15) and some MAC essentials (a paint pot and the Viva Glam Nicki, which just so happens to be a perfect coral match to my new wallet.) We also had THE BEST DINNER EVER at a Brazilian Steakhouse called Rioz. Phew. Amazing.
New wallet and lipstick. Have I mentioned my obsession with coral?Chomping at the bit before dinner at Rioz. I love this lightweight spring trench.
LOVED my outfit that night!
The next morning we left. And honestly, it felt good to be home with my little dogs and my love. Hopefully I will make my triumphant return to the beach sooner rather than later. Til then, I can only enjoy this springtime in the mountains.
Good morning! I’m sitting here drinking my morning tea with the sunshine streaming through my windows and listening to the birds chirp. Even though it’s still pretty chilly outside, just like the birds, I can feel spring moving in. And time is FLYING by. I can”t believe it’s already been 2 months since I started this little online journal. Pretty soon it’ll be 90 degrees outside and everyone will be bitching and whining for cooler weather on Facebook (why can’t people just be happy )
This week I got around to bringing a little spring into the house. I changed my Bath & Body Works Wallflowers from “Leaves” to “Coconut Leaves!” I mopped my floors, opened my windows and let in some fresh air. And I changed out my dining room roses for a beautiful arrangement of astro’s and tulips. Nothing says spring time like tulips, and in white, they are so chic.
A spring bouquet for the dining room
Also, yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which means Lent is upon us. I’m not Catholic, but I’ll take any excuse to better my diet, so for the next 39 days, I’m cutting the carbs! This really isn’t a major change for me, I’m just enforcing my existing diet beliefs. I guess the best way to describe my diet would be Paleo, but I hate to associate myself with the Crossfit cult, no offense to any crossfitters, I just don’t do it, but more power to ya. I guess I’m a Naturalist. I feel that the best way to eat is the way my ancestors did–by eating things that can be consumed in their rawest form from nature. Lots of chicken and fish, with red meat maybe once a week and pork every other week, (I don’t have any kind of moral issues with red meat and pork, I’ve just found that when I’m eating really clean, my body has a hard time breaking those things down, and since I want to listen to my body, I probably should limit my intake of them.) I compliment my protein with plenty of fruits and veggies. Leafy greens, broccoli/cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, asparagus, all the squashes, peppers and onions, garlic, avocado and cabbage are some of my favorite veggies. On the fruit side I love any kind of berries, kiwi, melons, pineapple, grapefruit, grapes, and tangerines. I try to stay away from carrots, corn, potatoes and bananas, as these contain a lot of sugar and honestly, I just hate the texture of bananas. For snacking, I try to stick to nuts, raw walnuts and almonds preferably, nut butters, hummus and occasionally 1/4 cup servings of cottage cheese or Greek yogurt. I’ve tried to quit dairy all the way around, but I’m a sucker for good cheese and can’t pass up my smattering of feta on my eggs in the mornings. Hey, YOLO. I have not drank milk in over a year now and am now apparently lactose intolerant. However, I absolutely LOVE almond milk. There is a reason why the Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla almond milk is always sold out at my grocery store. It’s delicious AND it only has 30 calories in an 8oz serving!
Typical breakfast
With all that being said about my diet BELIEFS, just like any believer, in my day-to-day life I falter. My diet REALITY is a lot more lax than just that nice little list up there. It’s hard to work in a pub where you’re frying delicious hand-cut french fries and not snag one or two. Off every order. And pretty soon those add up to an order within themselves. Or to tell the sweet old war vet who brings me cookies n’ cream ice cream that I can’t eat it because I’m dieting. Or cheesecake. For God’s sake. I’ll never be able to pass on cheesecake. As I’ve become more in tune with my body over the past few months, I’ve really learned a lot about myself. For example, as the day goes on I lose motivation. I’m a morning person. I wake up with all the ambition in the world. I don’t have food cravings and I get. stuff. done. However, the later in the day it gets, the worse my sweet tooth is, and the less likely I am to stick to goals and you can forget about the gym. Seriously, if I’m not at the gym before 1pm, it’s not gonna happen. And I normally don’t go in to work until 9pm! So imagine how hard it is to not hit the late night diner that serves homemade gourmet cheesecakes until 5am with all my co-workers after a long night of slinging drinks! But I am a firm believer in the 90/10 rule of eating well and exercising 90% of the time so the other 10% can be spent being a disgusting fat slob.
I really need to get it together though since Mitch and I are going on our spring vacation next week to the beach. I absolutely can’t wait. One of my best friends moved to Myrtle Beach right after we graduated high school and even after almost 10 years, is still nice enough to put me up when I get a little spare cash and can manage to get away from work for a few days. With that being said, I’ve spent a lot of time in the ol’ Dirty Myrtle, but since Mitch is going with me this time and he’s not a big drinker or partyer, I wanted to plan some really fun stuff that even I’ve never done before. For instance, one day we are driving down to Georgetown and touring Hopsewee Plantation. I’m obsessed with Southern history and am sure the tour of the house and the following afternoon tea will not disappoint. I’m also excited to get down to the Inlet and enjoy some fresh seafood. JUST NO HUSH PUFFIES!
Mitch and I on our last beach trip
I hope everyone is as excited as myself for the upcoming season. As much as I try to be thankful and enjoy every day, there’s just something so fresh and new and exciting about spring. With everything in nature stirring and coming to life, I can’t help but feel the same on the inside. Hopefully I’ll have some time to update from the beach. Until then, everyone carpe diem!
I have admittedly been slacking on my blogging lately and there’s no excuse. Although I will say I have been working my sweet southern butt off since my little Valentine’s getaway. Guess that’s the price you pay for time off. I had the busiest weekend of my life at work last Thursday through Sunday. Thursday we had a DJ come in for a “dance night” promotion, which isn’t my thing, but if it brings in the kids and they want to give me their money, I’ll play along. Ashton and I went all out in J. Valentine inspired go-go gear and it worked to our advantage. I made more money that night than I’ve ever made in one night in my entire work history. The next night, Friday, was another huge night at work. We pulled epic numbers yet again. Then I worked a 13 hour double on Saturday, followed by a 2 hour intensive cleaning party on Sunday, an alleged day off. Work, work, on Monday and Tuesday, and that brings us up to speed with my “weekend” Wednesday and today. On top of this crazy work schedule, I have taken on the added responsibility of working on our annual fundraiser for the Humane Society, The Mr.Tipton Street Pageant. Phew!
Ashton and I in our party gear for work
I managed to squeeze in a few fashion and makeup hits over the past few weeks however. One of my favorite looks was surprisingly on Valentine’s Day when I actually rocked a red lip in public. I’ve only worn red lips in public on 3 occasions as I am of the opinion that red lips are a privilege, not a right, but perhaps, I’m wrong. Perhaps everyone can wear a red lip. If I can do it with my giant mouth and manage not to look like The Joker anyone can! I opted for M.A.C.’s “Brave Red” lipstick, over their “Brick” lipliner, with a blob of sheer red gloss right in the center of my lips that I honestly do not remember the name of, only that it is M.A.C. Paired with romantic Veronica Lake waves and a lace neck, peplum blouse, I felt like a real Cupid.
Red hot romance
I also pulled out some shorts last week, as temperatures shot up to almost 70 following our 2-day blizzard. These silky khaki Express shorts were just perfect with a billowy CK blouse in rose. Add gold accessories and gold Guess ballet flats and I’m ready for spring.
I treated myself to a mani/pedi today and finally got my mitts on some matte black gel polish. I’ve been wanting this manicure for quite some time. It will probably be my last black manicure until fall, as I’m ready for some fun spring colors. I saw at the salon today that OPI has a really fun Brazil inspired line out for spring that with a coral that I’m dying to try. Unfortunately, I didn’t take into consideration that I will be at the beach in less than two weeks for Mitch’s spring break and black isn’t very beachy, but c’est la vie.
Matte black gel with glossy black tips
I would say that the highlight of my week was paying a visit to Clover Creek Farms to pick up eggs. This place, also known as Green Eggs and Lamb, was amazing. I didn’t want to leave! Clover Creek Farms plays home to a flock of over 200 lambs, dogs, several horses, guineas and of course, chickens. The chickens are Animal Welfare Approved, which means they have free range of the farm, foraging for bugs and other food in nature, just as they were intended. Their diet determines the appearance of the eggs, thus giving them their wide array of shapes, sizes and gorgeous colors. They’re almost too beautiful to eat! The yolks are enormous and a beautiful deep orange. The lady of the farm was also kind enough to throw in a pound of long horn beef , which I made into hamburger steaks. It was delicious. I added a little olive oil at her suggestion, as that type of beef is so lean it can tend to dry up. I’m so excited to be eating things that come from just down the street as opposed to a grocery store. The difference in taste and how I feel is more than evident.
My haul from the farm. 3 dozen eggs and a pound of beef for $12They don’t even look real!Longhorn beef steaks–it’s what’s for dinner
I hope to have more time to blog this week, especially while we’re away on spring break. We’re headed back to Myrtle Beach to stay with one of my best friends Christian. I spend a lot of time in MB during the summer months, but this will only be Mitch’s 2nd trip there with me. Pray for him 🙂 On that note, I would also like to say that I have been watching “Myrtle Manor” and “Party Down South” which are both filmed in Myrtle Beach, and it truly is a shame that these shows are representing that area. If you get off the strip you can experience a whole new Horry County and it is not the trash box those shows make it out to be. In parting, I leave you with this adorable picture I snapped of Mitch and one of my sweet babies Mr.Mouse. I’m one lucky gal. Til next time!
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Appalachian Barbie 