Happy (flashback) Friday/Valentine's Day!

Today has already brought on so many happy emotions and it's not even noon. I'm a huge fan of holidays in general, but this one is exceptionally lovely. 

{Meemaw and me in my favorite spot}

For starters, I went to the gym with my dad and used my early Valentine's present from JT again, and yep, I still love it. So the endorphins weren't a bad way to get things going. I got the sweetest card from my mama along with some valentines happys, and watched my dad sneak to the garage and get mama's present out of his toolbox (how stinking cute?!). 

While I was getting ready, I thought about my sister, and how very different this Valentine's is from last year. Then, she had just gone through her second miscarriage and was feeling particularly blue, as anyone would imagine. I purchased this happy (she's the one with the ring and pale nail polish, I'm the one with the lipstick-stained mug and dark nails--it really couldn't be more fitting for us) for her as a reminder that we'd always have each other and that I was (and am) so thankful for our bond as sisters. This year, she's mere weeks away from giving birth to her first bebe. God is good, and I can't help but smile when I think of how far we've all come since last year.

{at Mary Jane's wedding in what she called her "wedding dress" 

since she wore it to all her kid's weddings}

Next came the group text from my mama to my aunt, cousin, emily and me saying how this day is always kind of bittersweet because it's filled with so much love, but is a vivid reminder of my wonderful Meemaw who would've been 88-years-old tomorrow. It's beyond crazy that she's been gone over a decade. In some ways it's easier, but in other ways the void is still very apparent. We've chosen to dwell on the positive: her life, her love, and her powerful legacy of strong women in our family. Today, I'm wearing two rings that were passed down to me; subtle things like that always make me feel closer to her. 

{Left: JT's tiger ring, and my Meemaw's band-Ashleigh has the other :) // Right: Purple was her favorite color as amethyst was her birthstone, and she collected tons of amethyst jewelry.}

To top it off, JT sweetly agreed to go visit my Papaw with me tonight for Valentine's. I've got a good one, and today I'm especially thankful for his kindness and strong family values. 

So however you spend your day, I hope it's filled with crazy, stupid amounts of love. God is great, God is good, and God is full of love for you and me. 

Starburst

{photo via T and J Designs}

I love all jewelry, and never turn down a fun new piece (as proof see yesterday's post for how I store just my "everyday" jewelry), but by admission, I'm a ring gal. Some people only wear earrings and some are bracelet bangle babes, but I never leave the house without at least 2 rings on.

{photo via T and J Designs}

I came across this ring a few days ago, and have been eyeing it for my collection ever since. It's the perfect amount of fun and girly while still being practical enough for everyday or as a statement piece with a neutral outfit. 

{photo via Sequins & Stripes}

Special thanks to Liz of Sequins & Stripes for showcasing the find so beautifully (here and here) that I couldn't take my eyes off of it. 

Oh, Deer

This post has been a long time coming, but I held off until I could give you the most bang for your buck (pun intended), so to speak. I noticed that Taylor Sterling was styling her home office/nursery with one of these precious ceramic deers (seen here and here), and didn't think much else of it. Until Christmas. 

My wonderful aunt, Mary Jane, had been paying attention to how much I loved Glitter Guide and Taylor, and she did her homework for a perfect Christmas gift: the coveted deer head. 

Now, the story goes that she "accidentally clicked the 'order' button twice" but either way, we all got deer heads for the holidays -- guys included. This seemed like it might be tricky, since not everyone was quite sure how to use theirs, but it turned out to be a lesson in creativity. A "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" type thing. 

If you follow me on instagram, you might have noticed that my Aunt used hers as part of her Christmas decor, complete with Peabody the Elf perched atop its antlers for optimal "watching" capabilities.

I use mine to hold and display my jewelry, instead of leaving it in a giant mess on my counter. It's proven to be very handy and quite cute, in my opinion. 

JT has his standing guard atop his china cabinet to add a bit of modern/fun manliness to an otherwise semi-girly piece of furniture (in that it holds fine china, but one look at the bar cart full of whiskey and you know, without a doubt, it's a man's dining room). And Emily plans to use hers in a book shelf for Bebe T's nursery incorporating hues of blue, cream and white. Adorable!

I love these little things so much, I'm contemplating reasons/places I could put these fun friends (click here, here, here, here or here for the fun friends I'm talking about). And bonus, these cuties are on sale currently. So pick up one (or three) of these stellar stags and unleash your creativity of where and how you can use yours.

Famous Friends (part 3)

The time has come to re-up a favorite series of mine: famous peeps I'm almost certain I'd be friends with. Part 1 is here and part 2 is here. For this installment (in all fairness I warned you) is the one and only bitchy-yet-lovable sister of Edward Cullen, the sweet songbird wife of Paul McDonald, and the all around style icon, Nikki Reed. 

Meredith and I both agree she's the perfect combo of "All American" meets "exotic looking" and she manages to always look edgy yet classic. A hard thing to pull off I'd imagine. She has a millions things going at once, yet always has a fun bubbly outlook, per her instagram which I follow daily. So why do I think we'd be great friends?

First, I love her style, and think we'd share clothes swimingly.

Second, her goofiness. Few can make such weirdness adorable.

Third, she has the rare ability to make her warp-speed relationship with Paul McDonald (met in March 2010 and were married by October of that same year) look cute instead of creepy (which, let's face it, it had potential to be). 

She has amazing taste in jewelry (including this Lola James necklace).

She can act and mysteriously sing well? Yet another reason she's amazeballs.

Finally, I feel as though I'd be friends with Rosalie and since they're one in the same, naturally I'd befriend Nikki.

Express Yourself

It's all in the details, y'all.  

After living with merebear for 3 years (aka the majority of my college experience) she finally rubbed off on me... well a little. I'm still not fond of chai tea and I'll never be okay using hairspray, but I like to think we picked up each other's good habits and made each other better. Case and point: I am now a clothes and accessories freak, and I place sole blame on her.

If I had a dollar for every time she'd lay out my outfit selections and as I groveled pleading for more comfortable options she'd say very matter-of-factly, "Beauty is pain, Anna. Put on one of these choices," I'd be a wealthy woman. 


Alas... I'm far from the monetary wealth I aspire to, but that doesn't mean my closet has to suffer, does it?

Today's fall-y chic outfit was inspired by the chilly weather as I walked outside for my run this morning.  Mind you, it was 6:30 a.m., and it's since warmed up quite a bit, but I refuse to let that deter me. Autumn is a mere 5 days away, and I'm beyond ready.

Bring on the colored denim, woven scarves, and pumpikn spice candles, this November baby is ready for the best season of the year.

what i'm wearing: 
-black cotton top from h&m (similar here, here, and here)
-hunter green skinny jeans (mine are tractr)
-black ugg clogs (my investment shoe for the season as seen here)
-statement necklace borrowed from Lulu purchased from Chico's (similar here and here)
- Personal mani/pedi with OPI's Lost on Lombard
 

Eye of the Tiger

Coming off of a roaring weekend, it seemed only fitting to share my new obsession: tiger clothing. 

Entering the second year of season tickets to Memphis Tiger basketball with JT (and attempting to make it to some tiger football games, too), I decided it was high time I update my blue apparel and mix in some tiger stripes. To my delight, it seems that tiger/animal prints are here to stay and now I have not only options, but choices when it comes to which tiger shirt I want to don come game day. 

 

[instead of purchasing 15 tiger head T-shirts, I decided these stripes make a good alternative]

 

[I know, this is technically men's, but it look so comfy for winter games]

 

[this is so presh; and a steal for $13.50]

 

[this is perfect for work or a more sophisticated tiger tailgate]

 

[ loving this for football games in the Mid-South heat]

 

[perfect accessory for winter games]

 

[blue + tigers = perfection]

 

[ click here for dueling tigers-- p.s. this one's organic]

 

[the eye of the tiger, need I say more?]

 

[the shirt that began my search]

 

[tribal tiger sweater]

 

[FY Tunic]

 

[rawr]

 

[Kenzo gold tiger jewelry? Where do I sign?]

So, If you see me near the FedExForum from November to March (pending Grizz games and the Justin Timberlake concert), ideally I'll be in one of these with a gold tiger around my neck.

Make a Statement

In my quest for the perfect cocktail ring (a la The Family Stone and my 101 things in 1001 days list [see #6]), I have rekindled my love of jewelry. I've always been obsessed with rings, but these days just about any bauble, be it necklace, cuff or earring, catches my eye.

I've loved cocktail/statement rings for a long while now, but haven't been able to find the ideal one for my style and price range (aka won't turn my finger green nor break the bank). 

But, alas, I have found a few that I'm currently lusting over, and saving pennies for.

{Coach ring}

 

{Margaret Elizabeth Black Onyx} 

{also in emerald}

 

{above: Margaret Elizabeth Ophelia Ring in Onyx}

 {Ophelia ring also available in aqua, mint, and moonstone}

Clearly, I have an obsession with Margaret Elizabeth jewelry... Which do you like best? 

Have you found others?