Oscar Fashion 2011

So, did y'all watch the Oscars?  I thought Anne Hathaway and James Franco did a fabulous job.  I just love her.  I thought the opening skit was so good.  They inserted themselves into all of the nominated films for Best Motion Picture.  It was really cute.  It's about 5 minutes long, but worth it.  Find the video here.

Now, let's talk gowns.  There were many beautiful gowns.  Most of my favorites were brights, red and tangerine.  My very favorite was the dress below on Anne Hathaway, who by the way, changed outfits eight times!! 

Anne Hathaway in "archival" Valentino

Jennifer Hudson in Versace (show off that new body girl!)

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang

I also love black and white.  It's very classic. 

Reese Witherspoon in Armani (Love her!)

Maria Menounos in Johanna Johnson

Nudes with sparkles and metallics seemed to be another big theme.

Halle Berry in Marchesa

Michelle Williams in Chanel

I think all the good stylists must have been running all over Hollywood tending to everyone who attended because there were no complete disasters like the Bjork Swan Dress mishap of 2001.

Bjork - YIKES!

BUT, there were a couple of dresses that were not my favorite.  Again, they aren't horrible, but just not my favorites.

The beautiful Cate Blanchett (love her) in Givenchy.  I hate the structured shoulders.  It reminds me of those big 80's shoulder pads and while the lavendar color looks pretty with her skin tone, but I hate the yellow and lavendar beading.  ICK!  But, her hair looks pretty. 

This is Jennifer Redfern.  She was nominated for her documentary called Sun Come Up.  It is about a group of islands in the South Pacific where it's speculated that rising water will swallow the island within two years and the Cartaret Islanders will be displaced.  She went to the island with her crew, including Cinematographer, Tim Metzger.  They were there filming for several months where they fell in love.  Isn't that sweet?  Just thought I'd share that little tidbit of wonderfulness.  While I'm happy about her little love story, I'm NOT crazy about her dress.  It's kind of like she just wrapped silk sheets around her.  It does nothing for her figure, but I'm sure she's a very nice lady. 

Have I mentioned how much I love Hellen Mirren?  I think it's because she reminds me of my mom.

Helen Mirren in Vivienne Westwood. 

So, did you watch?  Whose gown did you love?

Upholstered Headboards

So, a few weeks ago, I did a little post about my Girls' Room Design Dilemma.  I KNEW my bloggy friends would step up with some great ideas.  Richella reminded me of her guest room with twin beds and upholstered heaboards, which she did herself.  Seriously, Richella ROCKS!  She did a beautiful job on her guest room. 

So, yesterday, my friend Christy called to see if I had decided what to do.  It seems she had two bed frames and a twin box spring she was about to donate and she said I could have them!  YAY!  Christy, you ROCK!  I am hoping my in-laws still have the matresses from the daybed they offered us a few months ago, which would leave only one-box spring and the heaboards.  WOO HOO!  So, I've been looking at some inspiration photos that I thought I would share with y'all.  Check these out!

Pottery Barn Teen

Apartment Therapy - a little dark for my girls, but pretty.

Hooked on Houses - My oldest would kill me if I made her room pink, but it's pretty.

Apartment Therapy

Sorry to say I can't remember where I found this picture.  I LOOOOVE it, but I know better than to go with white bedding.  Love the big "S" though.  So cute! 
Are you ready for this?  It's my absolute FAVORITE! 

cococozy.com

OH MY GRACIOUS!  Do you hear the angels singing when you look at that picture?  No?  It's just me?  Oh well!  Is that gorgeous, or what?  Okay, so you can tell by looking at my blog header that I love turquoise and red together, but seriously, how gorgeous is that?  LOVE!  Of course, my daughter would hate it, but a mom can dream, right! 

So, I am armed with some wonderful inspiration thanks to my wonderful friends.  Thanks y'all!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!  The Oscars are Sunday night so be sure to stop by Monday so we can talk about the gorgeous dresses! 

Be sure to stop by and enter my CSN Giveaway!  Click HERE for details. 

CSN GIVEAWAY

Hello bloggy friends. I apologize for my absence the last few days. The flu has invaded my household. But, I am back and I have wonderful news. Let’s talk GIVEAWAY! WOO HOO! I have been authorized to give away a $25 CSN gift card to one of my lucky readers. Are you as excited as I am?

So, what does CSN carry? Well, just about anything you can imagine. They have tons of gorgeous furniture, including flat panel tv stands, kitchen supplies, art and wall décor, and bedding. They seriously have everything but the kitchen sink. Oh wait, they have those too! Yep, CSN has something for everybody.

So, you wanna know how to win?

1. You must be a follower of this blog, via Google Friend Connect.

2. Go to CSN and tell me your favorite thing.

3. Facebook about this giveaway and link back to my post.

Leave me a comment for each thing you do. Be sure to leave me contact information. This giveaway is open until Friday, March 4th. Good luck bloggy friends!  I can't wait to see who wins. 

Playin' Doctor

Well, it's Saturday and I've been playing doctor since last night.  No, not the "Show me yours and I'll show you mine" kind of playing doctor, the high fever (104), throwing up, changing people's bedding and clothes, dispensing meds kind of playing doctor.  Let me just tell you, the other kind of playing doctor sounds like a lot more fun just about now. 

So, L started running fever last night, we went to the doctor this morning and found out he has Type A flu.  This was especially wonderful news considering we all shared a big ole Dr. Pepper last night at Sam's just an hour before the fever started.  Fabulous!  So, I dropped him off to Daddy at home while I went to fill his Tamiflu prescription.  By the time I got home, E had started throwing up and running fever too.  GREAT!  Back to the pharmacy I went to fill her "just in case she comes down with it" prescription.  So, as of now we have two sick with flu, one sick with a cold and three hoping and praying to stay well! 

Hope y'all are having a better weekend than we are in the FFB household.  Stay well bloggy peeps! 

SPAGHETTI WITH FRIED EGGS, Sounds Gross, Right?

A few weeks ago, Hubby and I were watching the Today Show, when a new recipe caught Hubby's eye.  Today contributor, Mark Bittman, was showcasing his three favorite simple recipes.  Hubby was fixated on the Spaghetti with Fried Eggs.  I love fried eggs, but fried eggs and spaghetti sounded a little revolting to me.  When the show came back from commercial, Matt, Ann and Natalie were sitting on the couch with this big bowl of pasta and raving about how good it was.  That was all Hubby needed to hear.  Later than night, Hubby watched the clip again (YAY for my DVR) and  followed along in our kitchen.  I must admit that I was apprehensive, but considering I didn't have to cook that night, I figured it was worth a try.  I was very pleasantly surprised. 

Here's the clip of Mark Bittman

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And here's the recipe:

 

Spaghetti with Fried Eggs


Ingredients:

Salt

1/2 pound thin spaghetti

6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or lard  (Lard?  EWW!  We used olive oil)

2 large cloves garlic, lightly smashed and peeled

4 eggs

Freshly ground black pepper

Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese, optional (is cheese ever really optional?)

Preparation:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Start the sauce in the next step, and start cooking the pasta when the water boils.



2. Combine garlic and 4 tablespoons of the oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic, pressing it into the oil occasionally to release its flavor; it should barely color on both sides. Remove the garlic, and add the remaining oil.



3. Fry the eggs gently in the oil, until the whites are just about set and the yolks still quite runny. Drain the pasta, and toss with the eggs and oil, breaking up the whites as you do. (The eggs will finish cooking in the heat of the pasta.) Season to taste, and serve immediately, with cheese if you like.



Serving Size

Time: 20 minutes. Yield: 2 or 3 servings.

This is a picture of how ours turned out the other night.  We added shrimp this time, which was very good.

As usual, please pretend that this is a really good picture.  I envy those of you with good cameras and lighting.  It actually tastes a lot better than it looks.  Really, it does.  Cross my heart. 

** I forgot to mention that we used whole wheat pasta.  I'm pretending that using whole wheat pasta will take away from the fact that I probably used more cheese than the chef intended.  After all, like the finger sucking guy on the Super Bowl Dorito commercial says, "MMMMM Cheese!"

Have a great Friday!

Seven Random Things

As you know, it is award season in the USA. The Emmys, the Oscars, the People's Choice Awards, the Grammys and now I've been selected for a blog award. The lovely Jennifer @ Home Matters and the hysterical Debbie @ Words on Wheels have given me these wonderful awards.


 

So, imagine I have walked the red carpet in my most stunning gown (also imagine I have Halle Berry's body - I know it's a stretch, but you can do it), I've been interviewed by Mario Lopez and now it's time to give my speech. 

So, the deal is, I'm supposed to tell y'all seven random things about myself. Hmmmm. Let's see.


1. I have major texture issues with food. I don't like things that have that weird crunch when you bite into them - like carrots coconut, or onions. I hate foods that get into your teeth when you eat them, like pineapple, oranges and corn. ICK!

2. I cannot drive under the speed limit. CANNOT! I hate it when people get in front of me and drive five miles an hour below the speed limit. It drives me CRAZY!

3.   Sarcasm is my first language. English is my second language.

4. I am obsessed with my hair dryer. I rarely dry my hair, but I use it more like my own personal heater. If I'm cold and I'm near the bathroom, I'll just walk in, turn it on and stick it up my shirt for a few seconds. Weird? Yes! But effective.  At least I don't sleep with it.  I've heard of people who do that. 

5.  I like red meat and I could never be a vegetarian. I don't care what you do to tofu, it'll never taste like a big ole cheeseburger.

6.  I am a HOPELESS romantic.

7.  I once owned a motorcyle. Ya see, my dad used to race dirt bikes and we always had motorcycles around. I love to ride motorcycles. So, when I was about 14, I asked for one for my birthday. My parent's bought me my very own motorcycle. I remember my dad holding on to the back, and running behind me like when a kid learns to ride a bicycle. We lived down a dirt road. My dad ran behind me holding on MANY times, but if he let go, I fell. I couldn't balance the durn thing. I gave up. I still love to ride motorcycles, but I don't drive motorcycles. Although, I can drive a 4-wheeler.


8.  When I get laundry out of my dryer, I lay it out on my loveseat and leave it there, sometimes for several days before it makes it to the closet and/or drawers. AND, I've been known to strip off my bra in the middle of TV viewing and throw it over on to the couch or chair. So, if you're ever on my couch and you reach in between the cushions and find my bra, it's not because I got lucky on said couch. It's because I was too lazy to get up and put it elsewhere.

Nice, huh?  Just keepin' it real folks.

9.  I write like I think - in fragments.  Have you noticed?

10.  Apparently, I can't count.


So, now I'm supposed to pass this award on to seven of my very favorite bloggers.  So, in no particular order, here are my picks:

Rachel at Chasing the Crown To Chasing Chickens - I mean seriously, could there be a cuter blog name?  She is hysterical!  Love her!


Holly at Homebody Holly -  We're both homebodies, only she homeschools her babies.  I don't need that much togetherness.  Check out her Mondays Tips and Tricks party and her Pottery Barn Knock-off Parties. 

Danya at mommy911 -  A personal friend of mine who happens to have very good mommy advice and product reviews.  Check her out!

Suzanne at Southern Inspiration - One of the sweetest bloggy friends I have made.  She's encouraging and sweet and I just love her!

Paula at Sweet Pea - Crafty, sweet, athletic (she has the best legs) and thrifty.   

Xazmin  (Hauzmeen) at This is the Year - Funny, crafty and family proud.  Check out her Modpe Podge Parties.

Lisa at The Pursuit of Happiness - she's crafty, shares amazing recipes and just announced some very happy news on her blog.  Congrats Lisa! 

Gracious, it's so hard to pick seven and not twenty-seven.  So, there you go girls.  Go forth and pass on the bloggy award.  I know some of you have a really hard time fitting this into your posts, but I do love to read the random things people share.  Share with 7 of your favorite bloggers and share 7 random things about yourself.  Have fun with it!  Thanks to Jenn and Debbie.  Too bad I couldn't just pick y'all again.

Happy Thursday friends!

Welcome to My Mid-Life Crisis

So, you know that dream where you are walking around half naked?  And you look good?  Please tell me I'm not the only one that has that dream!  Anyway, the other night I dreamed Hubby and I were in high school and dating and I was so excited about wearing my new denim mini to school the next day.  It looked something like this:

Photo/Dress from Victoria's Secret

It was short, simple, cute and effortless.  I was rockin' that skirt with just a simple tee and flip flops.  Naked?  No, but close enough.  Funny how young people can look so cute in just simple stuff. 

This dream got me thinking about my love of clothing.  I love cute, effortless clothes.  I've recently been drawn to stuff like this:

Dress by La La Love

and this

Photo/Dress from Victoria's Secret

All cute stuff, right?  See how cute and simple these designs are?  One of my big things about losing weight is that I'm dying to buy some cute clothes.  What I'm realizing is, that even if I lose enough weight to fit into these clothes, I am probably to old to be wearing them.  I fear I'd look like that "older lady" we would see when we went clubbing in college.  You know the type - she obviously tans WAAAAY too much, she's wears way too much makeup, wears tight tops and mini skirts and high heels and you are left wondering if she owns a mirror.  You look at her and are just embarassed for her.  I don't want to be that lady.  I don't want my daughter to get teased at school because her mom is trying to look like a teenager.  UGH! 

So, I am left trying to find my place in the fashion world - somewhere between this:

and this:



So, do you think I could pull off black leather pants?  Just kidding!

Pretending to be a Tourist

As we say here in Arkansas, if you don't like the weather, just give it a day or two and it'll change.  This is so true!  We had 6 inches of snow on the ground Thursday and Saturday it was near 60, which means the snow if melted and the kids are back to school today.  WOO HOO! 

The weekend was gorgeous here in Arkansas so Hubby and I took the opportunity to get out with the two oldest kids on Saturday.  The Arkansas RV Show was this weekend in Little Rock.  I grew up traveling with my grandparents in the motorhome.  We went everywhere in that thing.  I remember winding around the curvy mountain roads in the HUGE motorhome when we went to the Grand Canyon.  We went on several trips to Florida and Texas and also enjoyed camping at the lake.  My parents also had several bumper pull campers.  We took trips to Florida and practically lived at the lake on the weekends.  Needless to say, Hubby and I dream of having an RV.  While we don't have a lot of extra money right now, we are hoping someday we can actually afford to BUY one instead of just window shopping.  But, it's always good to be prepared, just in case several million dollars just drop out of the sky and into our laps. 

Now I know some of you may be thinking about the way RV's are portrayed on TV.  I can't count how many time I've been watching a crime show, only to find that the killer is living in something like this:

Nope, I'm talking about the kind that look like this:

Wanna see the inside? 

Nice, right?  And the fancy ones come equipped with bunk beds for the kids and washers and dryers.  Traveling in this would be so much better than crammed into Hubby's SUV!  Anyway, I don't have $200,000 just sitting in my bank account waiting to be spent on something like this, but it's nice to dream.  Truth be told, if I DID have that much extra money to spend, I'd buy a begger house first and a smaller RV. 

Anway, while we were in downtown Little Rock, we hit the River Market, which is full of little shops, restaurants, parks, museums, and these:

We had never been on the trolley before.  We loved it! 

Excuse the pictures.  The kids took this one with Hubby's iphone.  But isn't the woodwork pretty?

So, that was our weekend?  Did y'all do anything fun?

Happy Valentine's Day friends! 

Teacher's Valentine's Project

We are on Snow Day #2 around here, which means I haven't had much time to myself the last few days.  Finally this morning, while the kids were watching a DVD, I had a few minutes to try out my Cricut.  I bought all my stuff for my teacher's Valentine's Day gifts the other day, but hadn't had a time to get to it with the kids around.  Valentine's Day is Monday and we're still not sure if the kids have school Friday so I knew I better take this few minutes of opportunity and attempt to get it done. 

I wanted to do just a simple little jar, filled with chocolate, with my kids' teacher's initials on the jars.  Wal-Mart was out of red vinyl so I had to settle for black.  I bought "cracker jars" from Wal-Mart, my Hershey's Hugs and Kisses and cut out my vinyl initials.  Have I mentioned how excited I am about my Cricut?  L.O.V.E.  Anyway, I just used the font that came with the Cricut.  I can't even remember what it's called.  Then I designed a little tag for it.  Let me just tell ya, I probably won't be doing that again.  SO NOT FUN!  From now on, I'm totally taking people up on their cute little printables!  Anyway, I printed it out, cut it (not a very good circle, by the way) and attached it with ribbon.  Does that make sense?  Wanna see?

So, what do ya think?  Pretty cute for the first attempt if I do say so myself.  Only thing is, I had to spend $6 on enough candy to fill the durn thing.  Next time I'll buy the smaller jars.  I sure wish I had found the Kisses and Hugs wrapped in red foil.  Maybe they only make those at Christmas? 

I'm linking up to Amanda's party.  Y'all come on over and join the fun!

 

I'm also linking up with Hooking up with HOH @ House of Hepworths and Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous. 

Girls' Room Dilemma

Many of my blogger friends have been talking about having "house love" or being content in the house you have.  I could be seriously depressed if I compared my house to some of the magnificent homes I've seen online.  SERIOUSLY DEPRESSED.  But, the truth is, I do love my house, despite the fact that it is waaaaay to small for my family.  You see, when we bought this house, we only had two kids.  My house has 1500 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths, which means everyone shares a bedroom at my house.  This works fine for the boys because they are close in age.  The girls, however, are 8 1/2 years apart.  This, and the fact that their room is so small, poses a few problems for us. 

This is my oldest daughter's bed.  You can see E's bed over in the corner.  She is four and still sleeping in her toddler bed.  It's time for a change.  This is where my problems start.  The girls' room is 10 x 12.  We thought about bunk beds, but have decided this is not a good idea for their room.  You see, my oldest daughter is not one of those spindley legs, size 0 teenagers.  She's built like me, only a few inches shorter.  I'm thinking she's a little too big for the top bunk.  E is not allowed on her brother's top bunk anymore after falling and breaking her arm last summer.  So, bunk beds won't work for us.  Where does that leave us?  I've been researching some options.

Photo courtesy of Oohdeedoh

My oldest thought these beds were really cool, but it looks like an emergency room visit waiting to happen to me. 

Photo courtesy of Better Homes & Garden

My oldest loved these beds and the additional storage they provide.  We might could fit their desk in between to be used as a nightstand.  Hmmmm.  The problem is, we would have to buy two beds and two twin mattresses, which could get very expensive, very quickly. 

Photo courtesy of Oohdeedoh

I love these beds too.  This reminds me of what my MIL used to tell me, "Have lots of kids and just line the room with beds or stack them up".  That's easier said than done in a 10x12 space. 

Another option is to use to use the plans for the Farmhouse Bed and Trundle Option from Ana-White.  You've seen her plans around blogland, right?  Lots of gorgeous Pottery Barn knockoff plans. 

Photo courtesy of Ana-White. 

The good thing about this is that according to her website, this could be made for around $350-$400 and we could make it in full size and eliminate the cost of two mattresses.  Problem is, Hubby doesn't have a lot of woodworking experience.  I'm just not sure how it would work out.  Sounds a little scary to me.  And me using a circular saw, NOT a good idea.  Nope.  A trip to the E/R would eliminate any $$ we saved by making the bed ourselves. 

This is the layout of their room.  One wall is all window.  Another wall is all closet doors which have to have clearance to open the doors.  It's a 10 x 12 room.  We also have to fit in an armoire and a desk.  So, my brilliant bloggy friends, any suggestions?