Promises I Can Keep

At the threshold of each New Year, I vow to become a thinner, thriftier woman who smokes less. And at the end of every year, I am still have a few extra pounds, credit cards that beg for mercy and a pack a day habit. My blogmate posted some very realistic resolutions that actually sound as fun as they are attainable. I like her style. I even stole one of hers!

1. Spend more time outdoors: As much as I feel I deserve to vegetate on my couch while indulging in a Real Housewives marathon and eating chips, I always feel so much better when I hit the road, beach, trail or tennis court. Inspired by my continued reading of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (seriously... I have read it three times in the last month. I am a little obsessed), I am even kicking around the idea of hiking part of the Appalachian Trail one day. Not that I am quite ready for it now but let me go all Chinese proverbial and point out that every journey begins with a single step. My stepdaughter wants to learn how to place tennis so I need to drag myself out of the house and in to the sunlight on weekends. We are moving to South Carolina in the summer, thus giving me an excuse to get out and explore a new area. There are so many reasons to DVR those Housewives marathons. After all, I can always watch them at night!

2. Start pairing all the wine I drink with actual homemade culinary masterpieces (made by me, of course!): My Pinterest boards dedicated to food are insane. You would think I was Julia Child. And while I do get the occasional wild hair and prepare a gourmet five course meal, most nights (especially weeknights) find me going for the conventional grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Which is fine but would be so much better if I made a grilled Swiss and apple sandwich and a tomato basil soup from scratch. In 2013, I would like to stretch my culinary prowess and challenge my palate more often. My stomach will thank me.

3. Drink more wine: Duh!

4. Continue to tinker with this blog and still have fun doing so: Our blog started out as a way for two friends to keep in touch and inspire each other from across the miles. I have a blast doing and I feel like we have already come a long way (just take a peek at our earliest posts... and realize they are only four months old). But I can still step up my game artistically and style-wise. I have a notebook full of outfit ideas that need to become a reality. I have a tripod and a slightly better camera than when I started. The tools are in place, now it is time to use them.

Descent In To Plaid-ness

I continue to go plaid!

Today was the eve of Christmas Eve and 85% of it was me sitting in traffic and standing in line while I got the last of the grocery shopping done. It was painful. I decided to reward myself at dinner by cracking open a bottle of Blue Christmas Pinot Noir I found at World Market. Anything Elvis is legit in my book and this wine's cork made my day!

Plaid shirt: Modcloth
Tank: Old Navy
Pants: New York & Company
Boots: Lane Bryant
Necklace: Etsy shop I Adorn U
Bracelets: Claire's Boutique
Sunglasses: Old Navy
Beanie: Target

 

I Make Credit Cards Cry And Scarecrows Smile

Yes, the main objectives of this year's girls' weekend were to unplug, relax and recharge but Leather Peacock and I simply can't go anywhere without a huge shopping trip. After spending most of the day getting pampered at Lakeview at Fontana's spa, we headed to downtown Bryson City. The staff at the hotel had arranged an after hours shopping trip for us at a local boutique. And there was wine. They knew how to hook us.

Prior to our private shopping trip, we perused a few other stores, picked up some cute jewelry and even got a jump start on some Christmas shopping. Most of the stores were amping up for Halloween and had their take on scarecrows out front. I am one of those people who can't resist posing (usually in a ridiculous manner) with statues. Turns out scarecrows are no different for me. The more wine I consumed, the worse it got.

Around 7 p.m., we met the lovely and stylish Erin Smith at her store, Humanité. This woman has fabulous taste, as reflected by her store's selection. Fueled by a great selection of wine and Erin's keen eye for styling, we ran through her store like a pack of hyenas, snatching up all kinds of goodies.

Style is a enviable thing to have, but without substance, it really is just smoke and mirrors. This is where Erin and Humanité will always hold a special place in my heart. Inspired by a mission trip to Africa a few years ago, Erin hand-picks Fair Trade, organic and reclaimed items for her store AND commits 10% of her store's profit to charitable organizations. Check out her story here on the store's website. We enjoyed her hospitality and making our credit cards beg for mercy but knowing that we could help contribute, even in the smallest way, will last much longer than any trend.

Cardigan: Modcloth
T-shirt: Forever 21
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Target
Oxfords: Ruche
Purse: Modcloth

Still early but you can tell by my hand placement that I am already starting to get fresh with Mr. Scarecrow

My favorite: Scarlett O'Scara!!!

I am sure lap dancing a scarecrow was a good idea at the time

I couldn't even manage to put my wine glass down long enough to model my new ring and bracelets picked up at some random shop in Bryson City.

Erin Smith, owner of Humanité, fashionista and humanitarian. She also has great taste in wine!

Humanité is located at 130 Everett Street, Bryson City, NC

Move Over, Lucy and Ethel

Their outfits were pretty cute.

Muscadine wine should replace sweet tea as THE drink of the South. Even people who don't like wine usually take well to it. The best muscadine I have found so far is made by Duplin Winery in my neighboring county. In order to kick off their harvest, Duplin Winery always holds a festival with live bands, a tasting and an old fashioned grape stomp. Leather Peacock was finally able to make it this year and even ended up stomping by butt during the Grape Stomp Off.

T-shirt: American Eagle

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: American Eagle at Payless

Bag: thrifted

Necklace: Forever 21
Bracelet (Hard to see from pics which is a shame. It has Scrabble tiles on it that spell out CHEERS! ): LC Lauren Conrad at Kohl's



Notice the Wine Slings around our necks holding the glasses. Whoever thought of that should win the Nobel Prize or something! Of course, we coordinated ours with our outfits.

My best accessory. And I do actually mean Mr. Southern Helle, not my thrifted handbag.

My love of the Rocky movie franchise finally paid off when I could correctly answer who played Rocky's opponent in Rocky IV. A bottle of their latest wine is way better than a medal. Suck it, Men's Olympic Swim Team!

The Stomp! I would like to think we were moving so fast that the camera couldn't keep up... but I suspect Mr. Southern Helle had sampled too much wine to take the picture well.