What to Wear for HuckMom

So Huckmom from http://huckabyfam.blogspot.com has taken up the challenge...Thanks Kel! Kelly is going to the Ritz at Lake Oconee for her Mom's 50th birthday. They are also taking the kids. She asks "what the heck do I wear to dinner in the "fancy" dining room with my 3-yr old and nursing baby?" And she would like it to be on the Target and Old Navy budget.

Well Kel, I will do you one better. I am betting that I can get a good outfit with stuff you probably have in your closet with a few accent pieces from our fav. Target. For the ever changing Georgia weather, ever changing lifestyle of a mother of two I would recommend layering (lovely to hide spit up, slobber, and food of all kinds). I saw this great coat at Target for less than $60 and thought it would be a great focus piece. With a coat like this, you can build around what you have.

I thought the simple black skirt/black shirt combo would be best (thinking that this is the make-shift Little Black Dress for the nursing). A flowy chiffon draped skirt is a little dressier than the typical skirt. You could pair this with either a sleeveless shirt if you or the climate is feeling hot...but I think the 3/4 length shirt is a great line on everyone.



The best part of this outfit is that you can pair it with things that you have. If you have black shoes, like these from Payless, then rock em. .

But if you want to glam it up then go for metallics. Gold is big right now and can be used as a neutral (like black). Silver is also good for women fortunate enough to have Kelly's warm coloring and dark hair. Here are some accessories that I loved from Target and Payless. (I am really into one stop shopping...and Target just did it for me with this assignment).





I hoped this gave you some fun ideas, Kel. My disclaimer with this assignment is that I fell in love with this jacket a few weeks ago, so it came into my mind immediately. If you have other ideas let me know!

Personal Shopping

Okay, so I am obsessed with the blog: http://preppychicblog.blogspot.com. She takes requests for new-outfit-crisises...and does the hunting for you. Since I have some time on my hands and preppy chic is loaded with requests, I thought I would try my hand at this. If you want to send me an occassion that you need to look fierce for, your budget, and other details, I will be happy to throw my two cents your way. I also will try to be more budget friendy than Preppychic is....because well, I can't afford much now, so I am always shopping on a budget. I am working on a good example now, so let's see how this goes. If you want to have fun, just send me a hypothetical dressing situation and I will try my best.

New Puppy for Bo

My little brother, Bo, is getting a puppy this week. He has asked my opinion (mainly because I was going to anyways) on what he should call the dog. He is a 3 year old beagle. He is not a puppy but we call all dogs that are cute, puppies. Sorry, Pitbulls, even at 3 months old you will never be a puppy...just scary. Here is a pic. What do you think he should be called. Here is his top ten names...I have added a few cause I can.



1) Duke
2) Winston
3) Bruno
4) Frank
5) Huck
6) Walter
7) Jack
8) Dusty
9) Otis

I think Cooper or Winslow would be good as well

What else can I find in my photolog

Stephanie lost on the desert island that is her bed!

Patty and Mike looking cute on her birthday!

Patty Pat stealing the camera for a self portrait (in case you were wondering, I have 18 of this shot obviously this was after a few drinks)

Steph and me doing our thing after a lot of dancing and a few good drinks. Watch out Nacho bar at the 7-11, here we come.

Me and Patterson. Me looking huge and goofy and Patty looking tiny and goofy. She claims she is sitting down, but we all know the truth: I am a Giganitor. Watch out small tiny Japenese villagers...

Some more New Year's Pics

Cindy conquering the bottle...just before it conquered her. Poor Birthday girl!

Well instead of the dark man of mystery...you could have this! Takers, anyone?

Just a fun picture with us lookin' goofy

S-U-C-C-E-S-S--thats they way we spell Success

Wouldn't you want this to be your Mystery New Years date? You know you do.

So tardiness becomes me

Well I did it again folks. I left you for awhile but this time I totally blame the world of electronics. KW's miracle Mac won't upload pictures and I find myself very uninspired to blog without pictures. You know how it is you get blogger to upload the pictures you refresh and they are gone. Do that about 20 times and you have the frustrating breakdown that sends me running to the couch with a diet coke to pout. But I have come to terms with my hatred of the Mac, and I am giving it the old post-college, out-of-work try.

The other thing I have going against me is that my wireless is out (has been since Christmas)...which is why blogging is sparce [is sparce a word: I think i combined scarce and spare? who knows, its not like I am s-m-r-t] I hate sitting in KW's dark cave of an office (which he says is good to study in, but it sucks all the creative-witty juices out of you that make me the blogger and friend that you have come to know and love.

So no promises of regular blogging, but I will try.

I also am going to try and post the 100s of pictures that I have tried to post before. Gasp of breath...Leg in run position ala Looney Tunes character...AND HERE WE GO!

Staying busy and infomercials

For those of you who know me or read the blog regularly know that I am obsessed with infomercials. I prefer kitchen gadgets but I am very suseptible to the fitness fads. I can't help it...the outlandish results, the way it seems crazy fun, and how it only takes up 4 cubic inches of storage space...how can you beat it! Now I know that the infomercials are meant to make you feel bad...and convince you that the only way to build yourself back up is with the AMAZING results of the AbLounger, Yoga Booty Ballet set, with the free nutritional guide and WATER BOTTLE all for 3 easy payments of $19.95.

Every once in awhile, I take a step back and look at what these infomercials say about our society...I'm upset by it, but I still get roped in..WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT ME!

Since I am no longer employed during the day (yes, I have the ultra glamorous night job as research telemarketer!), I have been trying to keep a high productivity level throughout the day. In my quest to stay busy and productive, I have been trying to come up with schedules of Todos: Tax stuff, laundry, work out, write the book, fix Ken's phone, find that shoe that has been missing for a month. You know all those little things that you put aside when you are merely trying to survive work. While it sounds bad, I am really loving how nice it is to take care of the things that need to be done. I also have been having a great time with Ken...I forgot how nice and fun he is when I was too stressed out by everything (he's a pretty great guy--who knew!!!).

A new hair cut

Well I got this haircut awhile ago, but I thought that I would show it off for those who haven't seen it....
By the way...when the bangs get long...do I cut them or go back and get her to do it?

Lots to Say Lots to Explain

For those of you who have been checking the blog for the past few months in frustration for my lack of blogging (yes, I mean you Jay!), I am back and fully commited to blogging again. I know that last post promised it, but I am commited this time because (DRUMROLL!......)

I left my job at the Alzheimer's Association!!

The reason I haven't blogged in the past few months was because I was so miserable at my job that if I posted regularly...all you would have heard was whining and complaining!

I publicly apologize to those who had to listen to this daily: KW, my parents, Patty, Stephanie...etc.

Thankfully, I am starting my new life without the stabbing and aching pain in my neck that was the Association. *** To clarify: this does not mean the Alzheimer's Association the organization but the Association of my boss and her demented flying-monkey lackies.

I am happy to not go to work dreading the site of people, not to be having nightmares of pounding fists, and to not go home to become a drained and dehydrated couch vegetable.

The bright side of this is that I have lovely fodder for some great posts. Look foward to the character descriptions and amusing antecdotes....For example: a physical description of my boss would read: 5'4'' 280 short brown/grey hair black elastic waist pants and athletic socks---to meet with donors! I know this is superficial but it is just a tidbit of information that will make sense later.

Its Been A Long Time...Shouldn't Have Left You

Without a dope beat to step to...(for those of you who know what this is quoting, Congrats...you are cool. For the others who don't know this rap song, we need to work on your cool factor).

Anyways. Its been a LONG time. My only excuse is bronchitis. Yes, thats right. I got the big B. It was awesome!

Some big news...I got highlighted on my favorite website POPSUGAR! Here is the link...Please check me out! WOOT!

CLICK HERE!

Inside the Pensieve

I found it on....

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

If you want to laugh, head on over: http://openconversation.blogspot.com/

Blogspot Elves

For all those who blog:
Do you ever checkout your blog even though you have not posted anything in days? Some how I always think that some magical blogspot-elves will have posted something hilarious that I was going to post about but never got around to it...they would include great graphics and pictures from my digital camera that I never take anywhere. Wouldn't that be lovely? Someone writing about your life in your percpective but without the agonizing torture of having to actually do the work yourself?!?!

I think this is the surest sign that I might be laziest person in the world.

Notorious D-A-D

Okay, so I picked this up at Gigglesugar.com and I thought, "oh this is going to be stupid." But let me tell you I was wrong! He reminds me of my dad and my brother-in-law and every middle class-suburban man everywhere. The women in his videos are by far the best.

5 People for Dinner

Y'all know how much I love Popsugar.com. It has great celebrity gossip, fashion stuff, and fitness ideas. Well, they also have a giggle section where they post funny things found on the web. We the GiggleSugar has asked "who are the 5 people you would love to observe having dinner?" She said:
1.) jerry lewis
2.) burt bacharach
3.) bill o'reily
4.) rickey henderson
5.) little richard

But I have to say mine is a bit more devious:
1.) Rachel Ray
2.) Martha Stewart
3.) Colin Cowie
4.) Isaac Mizrahi
5.) My mom

I'd love to see the five of them duke it out over a fancy holiday dinner...See who could out diva who..."Let's use the silver napkin rings," my mom. "How about fashioning a rafia-holly deco for the napkin, it would be nice," Martha. "NO! lets go glitz, lets go GLAM! with Gold lame," Colin. Then a slap fight would ensue with Rachel screaming "yummo" and Isaac squealing under the table.

I want to preface this as showing that my mom could hold her own on the greats of party-throwing...and fist throwing...yeah, she's that cool.

So it has officially started to snow

Now, I know that most people in the midwest were pounded by snow last week so this seems like old news.

But Ann Arbor was spared that big snow storm, and we had one of the prettiest snows I have ever seen. IT was white, IT was fluffy, IT floated softly to the ground just covering the grass completely.

While it is cold out (and I have no objections to cold weather since I love the gloves, hat, scarves of it all), I think I may actually like this snow stuff...

Check back with me in a few months.

Long Days and Short Nights

So, I have been busy and not busy all day long. How is that possible you say? I have been having 13 hour work days because we are doing a board member-phone-a-thon. This means I stay 5-6 hours later than usual to listen to board members call our donors and ask for more money. You would think that I would use this time to be productive, but after working 8-9 hours already, my productivity is low. The real kicker is that I have to come into the office extra early because Ken (who needs the car since I'm staying at the office late) has to take me in with plenty of time to get into class...

okay I just reread what I wrote and it sounds whiney but I'm not meaning to be...I just have had no caffiene...hopefully this will get me to blog more. In any case, this is my desperate plea to the world to entertain me.

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas

So we set up the apartment for Christmas. We couldn't find our christmas oranment box when we home for Thanksgiving, so we just have the six ornaments we got from Bronner's (which I thought that I had already blogged about, but I will definately do that soon) on my 3 foot pre-lit tree from Wal-mart. I also made the wreath! Pretty cool, huh? It was the charlie brown wreath at the store, and it was super-cheap! So I added the cheap ribbon (that just so happens to match my wrapping paper scheme-yeah thats right I have a paper color scheme!) I am getting excited about Christmas (which in case you don't know hasn't really happened before).

Seinfeld Characters

Again, I have been checking up on a new blog-friend, Robin and she found out what Seinfeld character she was (a little controversial right now-thanks Michael Richards)....now I know I am doing two of these today, but mine is pretty accurate (i think) eventhough Robin's is not. Sorry, Robin!
Tell me if you think its accurate!

Which Seinfeld character are you?

You're Elaine!
Take this quiz!








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What time of day am I?

I found this over at Shalee's Diner...during my blog travels this morning. She is pretty darn funny.

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Considering I do not like getting up early, this seemed contradictory to me, but the description seems accurate...cause I love making people happy....am I making you happy....oh no! I'm not? Well, maybe this will make you happy






It sure makes me laugh :-)

Lark News

So I was cruising around a great site of my friends, and I stumbled over this website called LarkNews.com. Now she claims it is a site that would be the daily show for chrisitian churches. Skeptically, I clicked the link.



And Boy howdy was I in for a laugh. There are funny articles and whatnot similar to the Daily Show, but my favorite is the t-shirts. Here are some of the best:

It says: You Suck, which is why you need Jesus

Jesus Loves You, Then Again he loves everybody.

Cartoon Time

As you know, I am a collector of all cartoons political and funny. So here are some in my inbox, I thought I'd share:

False Products

If you ever want to know what annoys me, on the list with badly smelling people, people who suck air/spit through their teeth, and shrinking my clothes in the wash is products that lie about what they are. Some of you know that I am an infomerical FREAK! You know that these products are not built to last or going to solve the worlds problems but they WILL do as advertised (help you grab food while whisking, fold your laundry evenly, or chop up food without messing up your hands). Now I'm not saying that they work out 100%, but you take what you can for the low low price of $19.99.
I have recently fallen in love with dried fruit (i don't know why), so on my recent and many grocery trips I thought I'd try this:

The package says "MANGO FLAVORED PINAPPLE." Now to me that suggests that their are dried chucks of pinapple that are flavored to tast like mango....but I look at the fruit...and its not chucks, its weird oblong slices (AH! like a mango would be sliced)...and it tastes like pinapple but my tastebuds maybe tricked out by the MANGO FLAVORED PINAPPLE lable. do you think they actually meant to say Mango: flavored pinapple?

Now I know you are asking, "Alex, why are you freaking out about whether the shrivled up piece of fruit leather is pinapple flavored like mango or mango flavored to be pinapple?" The answer is that I like it but I AM COMPLETELY WEIRDED OUT that I CAN'T TELL!

so this annoys me, can you tell?

My Husband is the Best!

My superhero husband: Why is he so great?
because he wears a silly mustache in the middle of the airport
And dances like this for my entertainment
He also cleaned the entire apartment to suprise me...Man, He is way to good to me!

I almost Peed my pants!

OH My goodness! The folks over at PopSugar have delivered me a gem. This is the scariest and funniest thing I have seen in a long time. If you have ability to laugh out loud (which I really didn't when I saw this), then by all means watch it. If not, be forewarned that you will make some awful noises trying to keep the laughter contained.

Here is the link: http://gigglesugar.com/68442
(I can't remember to hyperlink with no Mac, this switching back from Mac to PC is killin' me, y'all!)

If you like celebrity gossip, fashions that you can't afford, and fitness tips, you should really keep up with this webiste.

Transfering Inspiration from Myspace

Because I have been lacking some inspiration about what to post about recently (and the time)...I am taking a questionarre from Mysapce and using it here. So if you have seen this before, I am sorry....share your quirks with me!
70 QUIRKS ABOUT ME -

1. Initials:
AEW (it used to be ALE I wanted to marry a guy with the last name X so my initials would spell my name...I was sure Mr. Xylophone was out there!)

2. Name someone with the same birthday as you:
Hulk Hogan (OOOH Yeah!)

3. Last thing you ate?
Organic Reduced Fat Ruffles (better than baked and uber tasty!)

4. For or against same sex marriage?
as a policy, I'm not really for it, but as a matter of public interest I do want people to be happy....and denying people that happiness is not for me to decide.

6. Last person you hugged?
well, I am going to just guess it was Ken :-)

7. Are you single.
not for awhile now

8. How many U.S states have you been to?
Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, NC, SC, Virginia, DC, Lousiana, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Jersey, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho,

9. How many of the U.S states have you lived in:
Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Michigan

10. Ever lived outside of the US:
Nope, just roaming around the US

11. Name something you like physically about yourself:
My eyes and on good days my hair

13. Who is your best friend?
Ken is the ultimate best friend, but EB, Steph, and Pearce are the best friends with no Y chromosome. Crouton is definatey the oldest bestest friend.

14. Why are you still up?
Helping Ken study

15. Who made you angry today?
Well, there is some people at the crowded grocery store that aren't on my most loved day. But there is a girl at work that is on my hit list

16. Favorite type of Food?
French Fried

17. Favorite holiday:
Christmas: and its getting close!!!!

18. Do you download music:
Just a little, but I really love downloading audiobooks

19. Do you think Elvis is still alive?:
No, but it would be funny if he was still around like Kenneth Lay

20. Have you ever lied about being in love with someone?
No, but I've only been in love once.

21. First Song on your iPod?
Brother John by Blues Traveler

22. Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally?
Ugh, some cheesy guys or people looking for tips.

23. Do you love anyone?
Of course

24. Do you like Bush?
There are things I like very much about him.

25. Have you ever bungee jumped?
No way, I do not want to support my local chiropractor

26. Have you ever gone white-water rafting:?
YES! The Snake and the French Broad (about 13 times: every summer at camp)

27. Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you?
Some years ago, in a land far far away called Greenville, SC there is a local dive karaoke bar where a 60 year old man uttered the phrase while I was eating a tootsie roll pop, "can I have lick of your lollipop, don't worry I didn't brush my teeth but I don't have them in." NICE!

28. How much money ya got?
I have got a few crinkled dollars from my laundry

29. Have you met a real redneck?
um, I'm from Georgia!

30. How is the weather right now?
Getting ready to snow!!! I'm not sure if I"m excited or nervous

31. What are you listening to right now:
Shallow Hal on FX

32. What is your current favorite song?
Too many songs to love....but I have been getting into Country and Christmas music recently

33. What is the last movie you watched:
uh, Shallow Hal...but I just finished Something's Gotta Give...its such a great movie!

34. Do you wear contacts:
No, but I always wanted glasses

35. Where was the last place you went besides your house?
Krogers...on a Saturday....craziness

36. What are you afraid of?:
PIGEONS, birds in general, and bad people out to get me!

37. How many piercings and tattoo's do you have?:
One in each ear that I barely use

38. How many pets do you have:
none, but I want a puppy so bad I can't see straight

39. What's one thing you've learned?
Don't let people bring you down, stand up for yourself

41. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
a plain coffee, or a non-fat Vanilla latte

42. Have you ever fired a gun?
Yeah, but not in awhile. My mom is going to take me to the shooting range when i go home.

43. Are you missing someone?
my friends, definately

44. Fav. TV show?
Gilmore Girls, Heroes, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

45. Do you have an iPod?
Yeah, I never thought that would happen.

46. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb?
Drew Barrymore (when I was little)...other than that Ken has some crazy ideas, but I won't share them

47. Do you like ponytails on men?
ew no...its just a glorified mullet

48. Who would you like to see right now?
My brother, Bo, Steph, EB

49. Favorite movie of all time?
Best in Show, Bride and Prejudice

50. Do you find yourself loved?
(this is kinda a stupid question) Very much

51. Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't supposed to?
ummm yeah...there is a story about a car, a boyfriend, and a cop...but its really silly

52. Favorite flower:
daisies and peach roses

53. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn?
Salted...mmmm..salt

54. What Magazines are you reading:
I read alot of online magazines but nothing on paper anymore.

55. Have you ever ridden in a limo:
sure, a few times

56. Has anyone you were really close to passed away?
yes, my grandfather when i was 11

57. Do you love David Hasselhoff?:
I love to laugh at him

58. What's something that really bugs you?:
snotty people and people driving while talking on cell phones

59. Favorite 80s song?
The Next to Be With You, Mister Big

60. Do you like Michael Jackson?
Never really got into MJ

61. Whats your favorite smell?
Dryer Sheets

62. Favorite basketball team:
I guess Pistons, but Ken is the big NBA fan

63. Favorite cereal:
I hate cereal other than Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Rice Krispies (in treat form), and Life (with no milk)

64. Do you drive:
Yes...alot more than I did in DC

65. What's the longest time you've gone without sleep?
I always fall asleep, but I have gone with only an hour or so when I was writing papers.

66. Last time you went bowling?:
Its been awhile, but I am ready to go soon!!

67. Where is the weirdest place you have slept?
In front of the Bi-Lo center waiting for tickets for Dave Matthews Band (that I didn't even want to see! Thanks Steph!)

68. Who was your last phone call?
my mother in law

69. Last time you were at work?
Left yesterday at 1pm...I had a 12 hour work day the day before

70. Whats your favorite state to be in?
The republic-of-next-to-Ken....or georgia!

Disappointing Halloween

After being in a high-rise apartment building full of singles, couples with no kids, and old people, I was looking foward to having trick-or-treaters this year. I was going to wear something silly and throw candy at children...really is there a better way to spend the evening?

I rushed home after work (this was the night before my first event for A2-Alz. Assoc, so I was freaking), picked up Ken from school, forgot I had no candy, rushed to the store, grabbed the only candy that wasn't that gross black-and-orange silly-putty-taffy candy, and turned my porch light on and waited. And waited...and waited. Nothing happened...no kids prancing around as a Telletubie or punk rocker. I am very dissapointed and very sick of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups--Ken likes them so I got alot to give him the extra, but not we are way too chockful of peanuty "goodness."