Game Day Brunching

We may tailgate with a bunch of men,
but my gal pals like Elizabeth are just next door!

Part of the grand football tailgating experience, in addition to the drinks and corn hole and sunshine, is making food for a crowd. And not just any crowd. We are talking men who get up at 6AM just because they want to be the first ones out there with their tents. Women who are part of their own competition to wow the crowd with their game-day outfits. Random friends and family who always "stop by" ready for a bite to eat. This is a challenging crowd to feed, especially if you factor in the tastes and preferences of them all. Some are picky eaters, while others want to out-do each other with the grandest dish.

After a number of years of attending "grown-up" tailgates with my parents, I thought I had a starter list of tailgate-ready recipes that would be sure to please a crowd, no matter who was in it. Sure enough, though, it's easier said than done. Some things have gone over better than others. Pimiento cheese sandwiches? Only about half usually get eaten. But pimiento cheese by itself to top burgers is always cleaned out. Chips with homemade dips are ok, but only if the dip can sit outside in the heat for a few hours. Sweets, especially those that can be eaten in one or two bites like cookies, are always a winner. I don't think I had any pumpkin cookies left last year by the kickoff!

Brunch games especially are a tough sell. Breakfast casseroles are hit-or-miss, and it all depends on how willing people are to stand around with a fork and plate to eat them. Fruit is nice, and there are always a handful of healthy people that appreciate when someone brings that. Cinnamon rolls, doughnuts and pastries are great, but they lead to a super sugar crash. How to feed the masses without killing their buzz? :)

This past weekend, I decided to keep things simple and go for broke - Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuits, all handmade. Or should I say, semi-homemade Sandra Lee style! I do have to make these dishes in the wee early morning hours, after all. A girl's gotta pace herself with game day food.

The evidence showed - this one was a winner. The biscuits were cleaned out in no more than EIGHT MINUTES. And we even got there late, so the crowd had already been eating other things.

Image Source

Ready to please the guys at your next tailgate? Follow these easy "steps," because this is no "recipe." This is classic Betty-style tailgating, y'all!

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Tailgate Biscuits
Serves 12

Night before or first thing, morning of game: 
1. Cook the bacon. Lay out a package of bacon in individual strips on a baking sheet, and cook at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until crisp. Lay out on paper towels to dry. Cooking the bacon like this will result in perfectly flat pieces rather than wavy ones.

Morning of game:
1. Preheat oven for biscuits. Bake 12 Grands! Southern Style biscuits according to directions.
2. Crack one dozen eggs into a large bowl, add salt and pepper, and whisk well to combine.
3. Preheat greased large non-stick pan on stove. Cook eggs, stirring occasionally to keep curds large. Aka make them big, lumpy eggs, because they will assemble better on the biscuits later!
4. Remove individual Kraft Singles (I use the 2% milk kind) from packages. For extra cheesy eggs (yum), use one slice of cheese per biscuit. For regular eggs, use a 1/2 slice per biscuit.
5. Assemble! Cut open all biscuits on a cutting board. Top one half with eggs, cheese, and one slice of bacon, broken in half. Top with other half of the biscuit, pressing down to keep the heat in.
6. Wrap! Use sheets of aluminum foil to wrap each biscuit individually. Doing this right away ensures that your biscuits will stay warm for at least an hour, and it will get that cheese all melted and gooey! It also makes them easy to devour later :)

Enjoy! And Go Jackets!

Sweater Sweetness

I am so beyond ready for the colder weather to arrive. These early-AM chilly temps are right up my alley. And then, like clockwork, it's still heating up to a ridiculous level for what is now "Fall." At least, I guess, I do not live in SoCal, Florida or South Texas where they don't even get to experience those slight hints of the season change!

Here's hoping it snows again either in GA or
in NYC during our annual holiday visit :)

I'm not letting the warm weather distract me from preparing for the colder stuff to come, though. Before we know it, Fall and then Winter will be here to stay. Today, despite this 85 degree day we have going on, I picked up my new snow boots that arrived off of back order sale at REI! 

They are Sorels and they are amazing. I want to wear them with leggings and a snow jacket ASAP. The best thing about these boots are that they are timeless. Even if we don't get another ice storm for a few years, these will still be in style and will look great no many how many wears later. I can't really say the same thing for those boots that are all white and puffy with fur :)

The "mantle" is ready for Fall with the lantern display, and I have my Pumpkin Pie Yankee candle burning a few times a week. The crock-pot is back in consistent rotation for our dinners, and all that is left is to do a final wardrobe-swap for the long-sleeves, tights and sweaters.

At the end of each season, I make it a point to purge items from my drawers and closet as I swap out the seasonal boxes of clothes. Ready to go to Goodwill this time are a few over-worn summer work blouses and a skirt that just does not do it for me anymore. My rule of thumb is that if I haven't worn it all that season, and don't see myself wearing it again next season, in the donation bag it goes! That gives me that much more room for new clothes, I figure :) More to come on that soon - I have a closet clothes makeover coming later this week!

There are a few sweaters that I just can not bring myself to donate each year as I trade out clothes, though. This one was a favorite buy from GAP circa 2005, but the boxy shape and heavy weight make it pretty impractical for Atlanta weather. I haven't worn it in a few years, but I absolutely love the colors and softness of the cotton.

This one was a gift many, many years ago - it's a high-quality Charter Club sweater and used to look adorable over a collared button-up. Over 10 years later, though, the shape does not really flatter my body anymore.

I have kept these two sweaters, along with a few others, each season, and they take up precious room in my out-of-season clothes bins. I know that I could donate them, but I still have an emotional connection to them both, and want to figure out a way to keep them around without having to wear them. Perhaps as a sweater pillow?

Source and Tutorial

Love the toggles on this one, how fabulous.

Or maybe a coffee cozy that you can re-use over and over again!

Seen on Elements of Style. Purchase via Etsy.

How about some cozy cable mittens? These would be cute using that striped sweater ...

Source and Tutorial

The latest option I stumbled past were these adorable sweater vase covers!

My crafting side is itching to make one or two of these out of my much-loved knits. What would you do with your extra woolen wear?

Betties and Horses

It's been way, way too long since Mad Men was on TV. I can hardly wait until 2012 when it will finally premiere with a new season. You better believe I will be hosting some sort of viewing party for it, too. January is such a blah-party month otherwise - why not have a mid-1960's (or late? No one is quite sure what year this season will take place in...) themed party on a Sunday night!

For the frequent followers of this blog, you already know my addiction to the styles of that era. That newest Banana Republic line had me instantly re-envisioning my wardrobe, determining which staple pieces I already owned (black pencil skirt, hot pink puffy skirts, fitted sweaters) and which items I might need to scope out to make a few "new" outfits (fitted blouses, trench coats, more dresses).

One of the easiest updates I discovered I could make was with a simple accessory - the scarf.

Betty Draper, the dangerously-beautiful now-Betty Francis, is always dressed to the nines, and riding horses is no exception. I absolutely love her outfits from the riding episodes, and the one above is a classic. That coat, her hair (whose hair does that after being under a helmet?!) and that little dainty scarf peaking up. Ah ha! That scarf! That is what "made" that outfit for me.

A Tar-jay search turned up an inexpensive "equestrian" scarf, a look-alike (minus that it's cheap polyester) of the $300+ (yikes) Hermes silk versions. Even better, it was made perfectly for an outfit like Betty's. With the Fall weather playing hard-to-get, it wasn't long before I got to try out the scarf with a fallish-outfit for work.  First, I looked up how to tie the darn thing. It's not as intuitive as Betty would make it seem, but it turned out to be not hard at all. Brooks Brothers, of course, had some excellent examples to follow.

I chose the French Twist. I added the equestrian scarf to an outfit of dark skinny jeans, black riding boots and a dark brown turtleneck (way for me to get all these new pieces into one outfit, right? Ha). Voila!

What do you think? Am I living true to the Betty nature? Now only if I had ridden a horse less than 15 years ago ..... ;)

Movie and Mangia

There are few things I find more enjoyable than delivery pizza on my couch on a rainy Friday night, a fresh Netflix (or whatever they are now going to call it...) DVD all ready to go in the player. Movies and dinner are great separately, but dinner AND a movie? You betcha, especially when they are at the same time for good prices.

Much of the time, though, I want to go OUT for a movie, especially to see the ones not yet available online (don't even get me started on this new streaming vs. DVD controversy that punk company created!). Here in Atlanta, like in most cities, though, making a night out of dinner and a movie can be a tough thing to plan out logistically, especially knowing the traffic that builds up on weekend nights around the hot spots!

Have you ever been to one of those dinner-and-a-movie theaters? They are quite popular, especially since you can do everything in one place! I have only been to one of these types of theaters once in my life, and had a mixed opinion. The drink menu was definitely tempting, but we got there too late into the previews (read: Katherine's typical arrival time, haha) to place any orders. Sad days. But while I wasn't eating that night, I almost felt as if I was, because all I could smell were the "gourmet nachos" they were trying to pass off as "dinner." Nachos for $12? Come on. That is not gourmet. That is bar food. They might have been awesome, true, but something about the whole scene made me expect a slightly higher caliber menu.

Such will not be the case, however, at the forthcoming CineBistro opening just up the road in the new Town Brookhaven complex. It is going to feature seven screening rooms, a big old-Hollywood glamour theme (shown above) and both first-run and independent films. All of that plus what sounds like is going to be top-notch food along with a bar and lounge where you can gather before and after the show. Katherine is becoming very interested...

According to the fine folks behind this big opening, the CinéBistro experience will include:

• The ultimate dinner-and-a-movie night out for those guests 21 and older with proper ID
• First-run, art and independent films with first shows beginning daily at 12 p.m. 
• All digital projection on 40- to 50-feet wide wall-to-wall screens 
• State-of-the-art surround sound audio 
• Stadium-style seating featuring ultra-luxurious, high-back leather rocking chairs and love seats with attached swivel tables, accommodating approximately 100 guests per theater 
• Reserved seat selection and advanced ticket purchase (highly recommended due to demand) at www.cobbcinebistro.com or in person at the CinéBistro concierge desk 
• $10 ticket pricing before 4 p.m. and $12 after 4 p.m. available seven days a week 
• Full-service, in-theatre dining available to those arriving 30 minutes prior to scheduled show time 
• Full bar and lounge open to guests not seeing a movie 
• Four 3-D screens, closed caption and assisted audio 
• An outdoor patio overlooking Town Brookhaven 

But what about that food? I admit, I was a bit skeptical, but then was extremely pleased to see that it is going to be an American bistro-inspired menu emphasizing high-quality, freshly prepared dishes made in-house daily. “Preview” appetizers include oven baked goat cheese (yum!), “The Bay” crab dip with aged cheddar pull-apart rolls, bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola and lamb lollies with potato sauce, fresh thyme and pomegranate glaze.

All of that alone got my attention, but then hearing that main entrees range from pan-seared Atlantic salmon and habanero glazed pork tenderloin to blackened ribeye and lump blue crab cakes, and I thought, DONE! I am going to have to try this place out. It sounds a lot like what Fox Sports Grill, STATS and STRIP have done for the Atlanta "sports bar" scene, so why not try this place out, too?

Here are the details: CinéBistro at Town Brookhaven opens September 23 and is located at 1004 Town Blvd., Suite 1070, Atlanta, Ga. 30319. It will be open seven days a week. Parking is available throughout the property as well as at an adjacent lot specific for CinéBistro guests.

For more information, visit www.cobbcinebistro.com or call 404.333.0740.

So, friends, will you be checking this out for your next date night or girls night on the town?

Disclosure: I received info about this theater from the CineBistro team, but did not receive compensation in exchange for this post. 

Recipe Binder Challenge: Tuscan Bean Soup

It's Fall, so that means it's soup time again! Hooray! 

Soup has always been one of my favorite things to make - they are easy, multi-faceted and are great at helping me control my diet. It's hard to pass up homemade soup for lunches at work, and they are perfect when you roll in late at night and are craving dinner fast.

This one, straight from my always-overflowing Recipe Binder, was a great one reminiscent of something you'd have over at some Italian Grandma's home. It originally called for baby carrots, but since I had some extra time and despise those odd-shaped little things, I used regular carrots and amended the recipe as needed.

Mangia!

Tuscan Bean Soup
Amended from Better Homes & Gardens
Serves 5-6

4 medium-sized carrots, peeled and chopped
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 15-oz. cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 32-oz. box reduced-sodium chicken broth
2-3 Tbsp. fresh Italian herbs, chopped, or 1-2 tsp. dried
2-3 cups fresh spinach
Freshly cracked black pepper

 1. In a Dutch oven, cook and stir carrots and onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes or until cooked.

2. Smash about half of beans with a fork. Add all beans, broth, herbs and pepper to carrots and onions. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add spinach just before serving, stirring gently to wilt it. Serve in bowls with crescent rolls or bread of choice on side.

Note from KJM: Since our patio herb planters are still overflowing, I used fresh herbs instead of dried. I used basil, Italian oregano and thyme, chopping them until they were finely minced.

Books for the Betties

Are you a reader? Do you love to pick up new books, and turn each page, getting wrapped into the story?

I am an avid reader, and over the past few years, have been trying to return to my reading roots by dedicating a few minutes at bedtime to my latest novel pick. True, it's ridiculously hard to want to read once your head hits that pillow at the end of another long day, but I have found that it's both peaceful and stimulating, but ultimately it helps me sleep all that much better, even with just 15-minutes spent on that next chapter. Plus, if you join your local library, reading is a FREE option for how to spend a lazy rainy day.

Somewhere along the way, I joined Good Reads, an online community/social network dedicated to reading. At first, all I was able to add to my queue were the chick-lit pink-covered books, because they were just so gosh-darn easy to get through. More and more, though, I saw that friends and family were venturing on to bigger and bigger novels, so I upped my game, too. I added Edgar Sawtelle to the list, and absolutely loved the quietness of the tale of a mute-boy growing up in the extreme Northern US on a dog-breeding farm. The Memory Keeper's Daughter depressed me but made me think hard about how people interact with each other and how the choices they make can change lives. I devoured The Help and Water for Elephants before they were even being made into movies. And sure, I added a few more of those pink-covered books to the list; they were too much fun to ignore :)

My Good Reads queue. I slowed down a bit earlier this year, as you can see :)

My grandmother has belonged to a book club for many, many years. Only recently due to her health has she not been able to physically attend the meetings, but that doesn't mean she has stopped reading. Grandma goes through books at warp-speed, and I am often finding out about the latest bestsellers from her when we chat on the phone. I am inspired to think that even when I am her age, I will still be keeping my mind fresh and active through reading!

Our hostess put together an
amazing spread!

But I had never really considered joining a club until recently, when an extended group of PR girlfriends suggested that we formalize one. I immediately said yes. I knew that I already loved time with the gals (and wine...) and so why not try and combine that with my own goal of reading more (and reading more new things!) ?

This past week we had our first book club meeting to discuss The Red Tent, which was ironically the last book I had actively updated in my Good Reads queue. I finished it in early Spring and loved it, and loved even more discussing it with the ladies, each of whom brought her own unique perspective to the table. The book is largely looped into the stories of the Bible, and each of us talked about how we saw the fiction-based-on-fact book playing out in real life in today's society. All of that plus some lovely food and company, and it was a great first meeting!

The next book for our club is TBD, but I am reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in the meantime, and am loving it. I can't wait to hear which book is next for the club!


What are you reading right now? Do you belong to a book club?

Fall Bookshelf Take Two

Remember those awesome lanterns I picked up from IKEA and Lowe's at a fraction of the price of the costlier home decor stores? I had about half a display, not totally ready for the Fall season ahead.

A few inexpensive additions later and I think my display is "finished" now! What do you think?

I picked up a long piece of fall leaf garland from Michael's along with some miniature pumpkins. The mini pumpkins I knew just what to do with after seeing this in the most recent Pottery Barn catalog ... 

The garland and sack of pumpkins were on sale for 50% and I tagged on a coupon to make them both just a few dollars in the end. The pumpkin on the end was a Target buy a few years back for also just a few dollars at season-end, and the gourd on the right is a hand-me-down from my mom.

All in all, this Fall bookshelf display cost me about $30, and the lanterns can be year-round with just a swap of the candles and items inside.

What do you think? Pottery Barn-feel at a Buckhead Betty price?  

And I Even Forgot to Title This ...

I have gotten a bit absent minded in my older 20's. What is wrong with me, I'm not sure, but I am sure that with the multitasking and Blackberrying and blogging, the other thoughts in my head get a bit mish-mashed from time to time. It's no wonder, then, that I have had to release my key at the condo to the concierge staff to check that I had unplugged my hair straightener (I had) at least once. Other times, I attempted to ration with myself that I likely did unplug it from force of habit, and thankfully, I was right :)

Earlier this week, we got home from busy days at work, ordered pizza on the cold and dreary night, and sat back to enjoy some TiVo-ed Star Wars (I am a closet geek) and quiet time.

And then I remembered I had left my gosh darn lava lamp on at work. Gah. 

I am so incredibly OCD about burning some place down due to my own absent-mindessness that I HAD to drive back down to the office, unplug the lava lamp (yep, it was still on) and then drive all the way back home. On the way home, I realized though, hey, aren't there timer-thingys that could help with this? That could shut off the lamp if I for some reason forget to?

So off to Tar-gay I went. 

Every dangerous female shopping story begins with that line, I think :P

One hour later, as the store was approaching close, I walked out the doors with a bag in hand that didn't include any timer things (I looked, I swear) and instead was full of random, but useful, items. A box of nails (we were out). An under-the-counter light (the kitchen corner is really dark). And two, count-em', two pairs of jeggings.

A few weeks ago I got a tip from my bloggy and in-real-life-from-high-school friend Lauren's roommate (still following me?) Brittney that she had stumbled upon Target's newest jeans and jeggings, and how perfect they were for gals of all shapes and sizes. Being a typical girl that struggles to find well-fitting and high-quality, budget-friendly options in that department, I was sure to check them out while I was there. And sure enough, there are new displays of jeans featuring options for each body shape!

Pick out your shape size, find the style of jean you want, whether bootcut or straight leg, and voila! Perfect-fitting jeans for way less hassle than you usually might have to deal with as a girl. I can testify - it was a pretty seamless process. With my athletic curves and a desire to keep pants a bit higher-rise for work, I fit best into the Fit 4. The two pairs of jeggings (at Target that phrase means super skinny jeans that are perfect for under boots, but otherwise appear to be regular jeans with pockets and everything!) I picked up are both Fit 4, and I love them. The best part was that I only spent $20 a pop on them. Score!

So maybe I didn't end up with the one item that I stopped into Target for (I hear Home Depot might be a better spot to check for those timers?), but I did find a worthy investment at a great price on some new pants for the upcoming season change. And in my mind, that further supports that any trip to Target is a worthwhile trip. At least until my bank account tells me no, that is.

Where do you find your go-to jeans? What styles fit you best? 

Mirror, Mirror on My Wall

Are you a skittish person? Do you jump when someone or something startles you? Goodness gracious, I get nervous even thinking about those things! I am one of the jumpiest people you could meet. At work, I have always had trouble sitting with my side or back towards any open spaces, and still almost jump out of my seat when someone comes up just to say "hey." Loud noises? Yikes. Mini-heart attacks right there. 

You'd think that in a condo, I wouldn't have this trouble. I can hear people coming up behind me, right? Wrong! I am still jumping all over the place. The biggest culprit area is the kitchen. There are two ways into the space, and all of the workstations have me facing away from both of them. That plus the noise of the stove, washer/dryer, dishwasher, sink ... oh my. Try not to come up behind me or I am likely to drop and break something :P

A recent sale at IKEA may have saved me a bit, though, at least for that area of my home. $9 for a pretty circular mirror for smack over the sink. How convenient! And it makes the whole place seem even bigger, I think.

Now just for a coat of paint behind it to beatify the white space. Perhaps dark plum?

Or a mossy green to coordinate with the counters? 

I used a Sherwin Williams tool to play around with a few options. How fun is that? You just upload your photo, draw some rough lines around the space that you want to paint, and then fill in colors from their palette.

Whichever color you think looks best, stay tuned. Like all of the condo painting projects, I have to think on this one first for a while, especially since this is an area very close to the dark red dining room wall ...

What do you think about the mirror? A good add? Even if just for my own sanity? :)

Nice and High Neckline

In prep for last year's Fall season, my Mom suggested that I look into Lands' End and L.L. Bean for some new long sleeve and turtleneck staples. I am a huge fan of layering in the cooler months of the year, but hate how worn out those basics can get in those (few - it's a short winter here!) months. I don't want to drop $60 on one from JCrew, for example, only to have it die by season's end. And since I wear them all the time, I need a variety of colors to go with different outfits. Those two mail-order companies, however, are known for their long-lasting and durable basics, so this year, I was sure to check into them first.

Lands' End was the winner in the end for their fitted turtlenecks. I had forgotten until I shopped around how common the looser, less shapely turtlenecks are - think your 5th grade first day of school outfits. I didn't want to look like a shapeless blob, so ones with a bit of stretch and a fitted shape were a must. I landed on these:

I ordered an XS in both sizes, realizing that I wanted them to be a bit more fitted than the models were wearing. I like for them to be wearable alone or under something, and fitted is a must for both. Plus, with the type of fabric Lands' End was using for them, I knew they'd look professional by themselves, too. I searched around for a promo code to use on shipping, and voila, four shirts for only about $70! I got the two colors/styles above and then a plain black and a plain brown.

They came in, and I LOVE THEM. They fit like a glove, and look and feel just like I want them to for the workplace. With the cold temps today, I of course had to break out the black one and wear it with slacks. It kept me warm in the office and on my way to and from, and I think it looked trendy to boot.

Where do you find your winter basics? What are your favorite go-to stores?

Fall Festiveness

It's Fall!

Despite the "official" start to Fall still being a few weeks away (Sept. 23), this morning we Atlantans woke up to a cool, rainy morning with highs only expected to reach around 70. What a treat! While I know that we will in all likelihood have another Indian summer like we usually do, I am mentally switching over to Fall-dom today. The clothes will soon get swapped out for the darker, heavier fabrics, and at least I can pretend that they are functional to wear while I am still indoors with the A/C.

Forever and ever, I have wanted to celebrate Fall in Atlanta with more seasonal activities. Sure, college football game days are a serious piece, but I have always wanted to head up north and check out the fall fairs and festivals, go apple picking and take a hayride out to a pumpkin patch. This year is THE YEAR. I am not letting any busy Fall social calendar mess with these priorities this time :)

Cumming County Fair lights up the sky

We did some research, and here are some of the top results that I think we may check out. What are your favorite go-to Fall events around town?

Cumming County Fair
Just a bit north of downtown, this is one of the best local county fairs I found that has it all - the rides, the food and the music. The Charlie Daniels Band will be highlighting on Thursday, Oct. 13, but other smaller bands are featured throughout the festival. Me? Stick me on that tilt-a-whirl and hand me a fried pie, and I just might be in Southern Fair Heaven :)
Open Oct. 6-16, 2011. Monday - Thursday 4-10PM, Friday 4PM - Midnight, Saturday 10 AM - Midnight, Sunday 12:30- 9PM

Apple Pickin' Jubilee
My family spent many Falls outside of Richmond in the Blue Ridge Mountains picking apples. I have such great memories of those trips, and can't wait to recreate them here in the North GA mountains. This festival up near Ellijay costs only $6 a person and features wagon rides, fried pies and BBQ.
Open September 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 and each weekend of October, 9-6PM

GA Apple Festival

Berry Patch Farms is kid- and
adult-friendly winner

I think I actually attended this many years ago while in high school - and I remember it being really fun! This festival has food, crafts and music and is right in the heart of Ellijay, an area known for the apples. I think it could be fun to combine this $5 festival with the Apple Pickin' event to make a day of it all up there in the mountains.
Open October 8-9, 15-16, Saturdays 9-6PM, Sundays 9-5PM

Pumpkin Patches
Even after digging around a bit on this, it's hard to tell which nearby patches are pick-your-own or just a huge supply of preharvested pumpkins. Either way, I think that if I can go on a hayride with hot cider and walk around tons of pumpkins to find my perfect one, it would be a great outing.
Berry Patch Farms, Arnold Mill Rd. in Woodstock. Open weekends, October 2-30 from 10-7PM, weekdays October 1-27 9:30-3:30PM
Burt's Farm, North GA by Dahlonega. Open daily 9-6PM through October.

Housework and Heels

I am currently enjoying an extra-long 4.5 day weekend ... and of course what else do I have to get done amidst all this relaxing is housework! Nothing like having put that kind of stuff off all week only to get stuck with it on the weekend.

I am prepping to be in a wedding, though, so I am doing all my vacuuming, dusting and cooking while standing around in a tall pair of fancy stilettos. Trust me, I am not looking for any fashion awards while I am in my Soffe shorts! A girl's just gotta break in heels when and how she can :)

I put together a quick vlog (these are fun to make!) talking about the shoe hunt I just completed for this pair. Gals, this one's for you!



Have a great holiday weekend, everyone!