My Dog Ate All My Homework Last Night

Zack Morris style, y'all.

I'm back from my trip, but I'm having a pretty awful week already(and it's only Tuesday), so I'm taking the rest of the week off. I think. You know how that goes! I'll still be lurking around these parts and reading your blogs, I'll just be keeping my yapper shut for a bit.

Hope your week is better than mine!

XOXO,

Lace

Oh hey! Do y'all like the new look? Better than the old one? I tried to keep it kind of similar, so people would recognize me! I'm gonna blog about the designer of my header soon! She's fab!

Boozin' at the Beach

I'm off for the weekend my lovelies!

Should you need me, you can find me here:

It's Courtney's Bachelorette Weekend :) Pictures will be shared when I return!

(I actually left yesterday morning. God bless scheduled posting :)

I just recieved an email with a picture of my new blog header and I'm swooning over it :) Can't wait to put it all up for you guys to see! It won't be until next week though, because Shhhh, I'm leavin' town!

I love you little sweetie cakes so! :) Have a great weekend!

You didn't think I'd leave you without a little sneaky peak, eh? This isn't the actual header... it's the journal sketch I sent the designer! She did it SO much justice!

Just call me "Boss Lady"

Wanted: Someone who is handy in all walks of life. Must enjoy sewing, cutting patterns, painting, taking pictures, taking trips to the post office, cooking and cleaning!
(Did I mention that this a low to no paying job? I just want you to be happy... and c'mon, money won't make you happy! It will make me happy though! You're better than me, I'm not denying that!)
I need a Wonder Woman or Man who can take my creative genius(if I do say so, myself) ideas and bring them to life FOR ME. It's hard work laying here thinking up all this grandness, and I need someone to catch the slack while I'm sleeping off the exhaustion of all that thinkin'. And of course, once I wake up from my slumber... I will be too groggy to cook myself a healthy meal. Do you want to see me eating fatty processed chicken nuggets everyday? Nah, I don't think so. That aint pretty.

You're pretty though. You're really, really pretty. & I don't mind telling you how pretty you are while you're doing all of my work. Not one bit. See? Working for me is going to be awesome.

This post brought to you by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

Aw, sugar sugar

Ick, my blog looks neked as a hoe on spring break. I think I've worked out the kinks for the most part. I'm in the works of getting a new design going on to make the poor thing look pretty again.

A while back before going to get a spray tan, I hopped in the shower to do a full exfoliation. Of course I was sopping wet when I realized I didn't have any body scrub. PERFECTION. I hopped back out and rummaged through my bathroom cabinets. NOTHIN'. So, out of desperation, I went to the kitchen and grabbed the sugar. I've seen plenty of sugar scrub recipes online, but I didn't have time to concoct anything special. I got in the shower and literally

POUR(ed) SOME SUGAR ON ME... in the name of love spray tans.

Let me just tell ya', it worked like a charm! So super smooth & WAY cheaper than the body scrub they sell in stores!

$20 buck-a-roos

orrr $2.50?

I think you know the answer, my friend!

To make a real scrub, add 1/2 cup of olive oil(per cup of sugar), lemon juice(optional)for skin brightening & essential oils if you want to make it smell pretty! (It will smell like lemonade if not, which is fine and dandy for me! You could also add salt for more scrubby goodness!)

Intensive Care

My Blog is in the ICU right now.

It's been acting kind of crazy and not letting me view it, so I assume some of you have been having problems viewing it too- NO GOOD!

It's going in for surgery today. I'll have to see what I can do. It'll be back on it's feet in no time... don't you worry your pretty little heads! :)

Smooches,

The Return of The De-Funk!

De-Funk Your Fashion Friday is back! Today is the first installment in a while & it's also the first post that I'm using my new and improved interview method instead of the all consuming write-ups I used to do!

I know, I know, you're excited! Be cool my babies! You want me to keep talkin' or just get right into it? WHAT? You want me to get right into it? Well, that was kinda rude. I'll remember that. Fine, here we go!

Up today is Vivienne from The V Spot!

She's funny & pretty & has a lovely little life and family. She rekindled a romance with her high school sweetheart, and that's what has inspired this outfit. I wanted it to feel vintage and romantic :)

All I'm gonna say is Va-Va-Voom! I love it!

(as always, click the pic to find out where the items are from and prices!)

L: You made a love connection with your high school sweetheart at your 15 year reunion… SO SWEET! Tell me your favorite memory of him in high school!

V: I don't have a specific memory. Many of them are specific snippets in time - they way he looked when he took notes in History class. The way his car door squeaked and how he would come around and open mine... things like that. They all enhanced that time period. But what I remember most is that we laughed a lot.
One of the cornerstones of our relationship is completely screwing with the other person. Not practical jokes, but more verbal banter. We have always had good natured teasing and smart-assery going on. (Still do to this day.)

L: I love that! Tell me more!

V: We take turns "one-upping" the other. A perfect example of our relationship: One night we went out to dinner at an upscale seafood restaurant. There was a basket on the table with fresh baked, crusty bread. My husband, on the other side of the table, mowed through it, crumbs flying everywhere. I went to the restroom. When I came back and was sitting back down, I noticed there were piles and piles of bread crumbs on the table in front of me. At that moment, the waiter came with the little crumb scraper for the table and cleaned up the mess in front of me, sort of rolling his eyes a bit. Hubby had pushed all the crumbs to my side of the table and let me take the fall for making such a huge mess.

I got him back several months later when we were in an ice cream shop, getting milkshakes (served in tall glasses). Our son dropped his spoon, and as I was desperately trying to save the spoon, I knocked over the milkshake in the process. Milkshake everywhere, a total mess. I went up to "get help" and told the waiter that my husband knocked it over. I just waited outside until they were done. :)

L: 4 boys! Do you enjoy being the only girl around or do you wish you had someone’s nails to paint?

V: Sure sometimes, when I've heard one fart joke too many, or when I find that the source of an odor is that someone shoved a stinky sock underneath a couch cushion, rather than put it in a hamper... sure, a girl would be nice. However, I see the drama that my friends who have daughters are going through, and I think "Thanks, I'm good."

L: I feel you. We girls are a lot of work! Speaking of your friends...

A while back you wrote a post about having drinks with friends at HOB. You included a cute pic of you and your girls. Seriously, the really tan one looks freakishly familiar. Why? (this is an honest to God question! Haha! Has she been on TV or something?)

V: She's my best friend and yes, she is an actress! We grew up together in a little town called Norco and have been friends since Jr. High School. She is completely normal and down to earth (she has to be or we wouldn't stand for it...lol!)

I tease her that she has never had a "real" job, in 20 + years because she has always been able to make a living with acting and modeling. Her name is Eva and she is probably best known for playing "Maria" on All My Children for several years, but she is currently on CSI Miami.

L: Ha! I knew it! Very cool that you have an actress friend & also that she is down to earth!

Okay, last question! Favorite color? Favorite thing that happens to be your favorite color?

V: I will say that I like pink waaaay more than I ever did growing up. I now buy pink everything. iPod, hairbrush, scissors, pens... if it's pink, my boys treat it like it's radioactive and leave it alone. I never have to search for things that are pink, they're always right where I left them.

My favorite color to wear is usually black. I don't know why, but I gravitate towards it. I think because it is slimming, it's versatile and it usually will go with anything. I try to add more color to my wardrobe, but I have to make a conscious effort to do so, otherwise I get to the checkout counter and realize almost everything I'm buying is black. Don't even get me started on black shoes. I have actually found shoes in the back of my closet and exclaimed, "How cah-ute are these??!!"

L: That's funny! I love black too! However, I only have 2 pairs of black heels... weird! I think it's because I found the perfect pair & can't bring myself to buy any others!

I loved getting to know you a little better, Viv! I hope my peeps did as well! Go visit Vivienne and give her a little lovin'!

WRITER'S WORKSHOP:

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page and share two “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

"I used to be like that. I was never the kind of girl who said, "One day, I am going to be a beautiful bride, and I am going to have a family."
That's right people, my current read is a Glamour magazine! Don't laugh at me! I love to read, but I can really only manage to read a book when I'm traveling somewhere! I think the last time I made it through a "fun" read was when we had to evacuate last year. The reason? The prime time for me to read is before bed, and between me having problems sleeping at nighttime like the rest of the natural world & being on Boy's work schedule with him... it's just impossible. If I start reading a book when I lay down, I will stay up all night reading it. & Well, laying there reading isn't exactly spending quality time with my man. Sooo, yeah. I stick to short reads these days... Lucky, Glamour & Cosmo!

Writer's Workshop is brought to you by the letter A... Oh, & Kat too! :)

AHEM, while I have your attention...
I bought some KettleBells today! Does anybody out there work out with these or have you taken a class or anything? Please tell me about your experience with them!

Smooches,

Tip Junkie

Just a reminder that Tip Junkie is still doing giveaways! 2 days left, 10 prizes each day! I hope you win something... alright, really, I hope I WIN something! But I swear, you're right after me in my hopes!

Summa, Summa, Summa-Time

Sweet Summertime

My Nephew and Nieces are getting so big and smart... oh, and did I mention BEAUTIFUL?! Because they are indeed that! Check out my gorgeous babes enjoying their Summer days!

...Playing in the sprinkler...

...Playing at the park...

...Playing at the zoo...

I know... I told you, BEAUTIFUL!

Wordful Wednesday is brought to you by Seven Clown Circus

Wrapped Around My Finger

...is a bandage.

Let's jump right into this story, shall we?

Today, I totally sewed right through my finger while embroidering(with a heavy duty professional machine). The needle went through the top of my fingernail & came out the other side. It was a little less than awesome. It actually wasn't that painful when it happened. I felt a sharp pain and some pressure, I looked down at my hand and saw that my fingernail was punctured. Then, as I turned my finger to the side to get a better look, I saw the tip of the needle sticking out the other side. I stayed freakishly calm, pulled out the needle & then did what any self respecting adult does... I called my Mommy. Oh yes... I could have called my brother who is a firefighter and emt, but in moments like these, a girl just needs her Mom. She went to the doctor with me, where I was told to keep it clean and covered in anti-bacterial ointment. If when I wake up tomorrow it is swollen or I have fever or anything abnormal, then I'll need to go have x-rays to make sure that there isn't needle still in there. I doubt it, because I've broken plenty of sewing machine needles, and never have I seen one break in more than two pieces. Anyway, let's all hope it's fine and dandy, because I really don't want to know what would have to be done to fix that little boo-boo! My finger throbbed for a while after, and is now just really sensitive to the touch. I joked to my Dad earlier that I look like a walking "pull my finger" joke... he agreed, haha!

Life- 1 Lacey- 0

P.S. Tip Junkie is celebrating 2 years of bloggy goodness with a week of giveaways! Go check it out! :)

Fashion Friday

It's Friday, already?! It snuck up on me this week!

First of all, today is my Step-Dad's Birthday! He's the greatest man in the world & I feel so blessed that he is a part of my family. Happy Birthday :) I love you!

& Now, my friends, it's time for a little of Summer's Fashion Friday! I forgot to play last week, & then didn't wear anything cute this week. I FAIL. FAIL! Seriously though... have you ever been to Louisiana in the Summertime? You understand where I'm coming from if so! If not, ever been in a steam room? That's it! That's exactly what stepping outside feels like here! It's hard to dress cute in these conditions!

HOWEVER, tonight I think I'm going to head into the city and meet with Boy after work. So, I will do my best to look cute! That's not to say my hair won't end up in a high pony at some point with my bangs curling awkwardly in my face. I know, HOTT.

So here's what I'll be wearing :)

Except my thighs won't be that skinny and adorable! Haha, I'm honest people! Oh & that belt is black... it just looks brown for some reason. Whatever.

Have a lovely weekend, y'all!

Smooches,

Lace

OH & P.S. My De-Funk Your Fashion posts will reappear next week!

I'll tell you what I want... what I really, really want.

Where would you like to be?

Here:

\

On one of these:

With this in my hand:

Ahhhh, I'm not sure if thinking about all this loveliness is good for me or not! It's like waking up from a ridiculously good dream to the sound of your alarm clock blaring.

You can play along over at Mama's Losin' It!

Topic Hopping

I've got some random things to ramble about today. Grab your helmet and ride with me, won't you?

• I'm at work right now. Where I sit inside the shop is about 100 feet from the busy highway. I hear cars roaring past all day. My favorite is when someone driving by has their music up really loud. They're going too fast for me to actually hear what song they're playing... so it just sounds like the spirits from that movie White Noise. ALL. DAY. LONG. I swear I turn and look at the electronics like something is about to come out of them at least twice a day. I know... awesome.

• Why is it that all of the blogs I read that were written by men have closed themselves down? I have thought alot about this, actually. See the dumb things I spend my time thinking about? Do they just run out of steam quicker than us girls?(Maybe they run out because they don't post about fashion and goofy things?) Is it our fault(as in women, in general)? Surely the women they date have to find out about their blogs eventually, and I'm sure there comes a time when a line has to drawn about what they can talk about. I get really sad when these men disappear from my blog life. I rely on them for a male perspective. As Boy once told me, "They are telling you all of our secrets!"... I appreciated that. And, what I'm about to say may sound negative, but I mean it in the nicest way possible. These men have taught me that guys can just be jerks. IT'S NOT JUST MINE! Amen. (Don't get me wrong boys, I know women can be kind of crazy, and maybe we cancel each other out. But at least we can blame hormones!) Anyway, I miss them. Do you have any guy blogger friends you can refer to me? Haha! I feel like I'm putting a wanted add in the paper!

• I don't feel like working. I feel like sitting here on my rump all day and reading blogs. THAT'S IT. Oh, and eating Cheetos. Barefoot. Holy crap, I'm turning into Britney Spears.

• Shut up... Cheetos are delicious.

• I thought about taking a blog vacation this week. Maybe next week? I need to re-charge.

• I still don't understand why the Europeans are taking naps in the middle of the day and we're not. C'mon Obama... GIVE me this one. Sleep is good. Raise your hand if you LOVE sleep. SEE? More people raising their hands than not! WE WIN.

I guess I should go do some of this work now. ::Sighs:: I hate being a grown up.

Just A Wish Away

Writer's Workshop

with Mama Kat

Describe a memorable gift. Why was it important to you?

I've talked before about my anxiety disorder. It's rough and I've dealt with it my entire life. As far back as I can remember, I've felt anxious for reasons I didn't understand. My panic attacks were usually in the morning & I felt most anxious about school. I did well in school. I had lots of friends. I joined groups and clubs and teams. There was no reason for me to be anxious... but I was. My Mom would bring me to school every day. Some days I would manage to get out of the car and walk in by myself and have a perfectly fine day. Some days my Mom would walk me in and leave once I was in my classroom. Some days my Mom would stay at school with me all day(She would sit in my classroom and help the teacher just to make sure I was okay. She would stay until I said I was alright. SHE IS AMAZING.) Some days I just couldn't make it to school. One morning while sitting in the car with my Mom in front of my school... (waiting to see what kind of day it was going to be) a song we'd never heard came on. It was Faith Hill-You Can't Lose Me. After the first chorus we were both in tears and holding hands. That day I got out of the car and walked in alone. It was a good day. From that day forward, that was OUR SONG. Everytime we would sign a note or card, we would use the lyrics of the song as the closing. It never failed... each birthday, christmas, congrats, i love you card I would recieve from her, would be signed(and still is)"Just A Wish Away, Mama".

Last year for my Birthday, my Mom handed me a card and a little box wrapped in sparkly pink paper. I opened the card and scanned it for those familiar words. Instead, she signed it with different words from the song..."I am here and I will always be..., Mama". "Hrmm?", I thought. "Did she forget which words she normally puts?" I smiled anyway & opened the pink box. Inside was a beautiful necklace with my initials on it. Under it was a note that said, "Turn it over." There, engraved on the back of the pendant, were the words I was looking for...

"Just A Wish Away, Mama"

"You can't lose me

Bet your life

I am here and I will always be

Just a wish away

Wherever you go

No matter how far

My love is where you are

You won't be lost if you believe

You can't lose me"

The rest of the lyrics are worth listening to! I have the song on my player at the bottom of the page if you want to restart it :)

Shower Prep

Nah, I'm not talkin' bubble bath and loofahs. I'm talkin' Bridal Shower. That's right, that stinkin' shower I've been planning is this Saturday and OH MY, I couldn't be more ready(for it to be over)! Don't get me wrong... it's going to be a good time, I'm just happy for the planning and lead up to be over with! This week I'm putting the finishing touches on all of the decorations. I make just about everything, because generic decorations just aren't my style. I don't want to attach my name to some Party City decorations, you know? I like to keep it original and whatnot, because I can. Believe me, if I weren't lucky enough to have the time... I'd be all over that party city stuff!

I made this cute little tag HERE(free!)! Actually... that's a lie. I found the template for this tag over there and then I uploaded the tag to picnik and added the name and heart there. I saved it and then printed about 20 of them out and made dessert picks with them. Caaauuuuttte! I used cardstock, toothpicks and hot glue... all of which I already had.

This is a return address label(free from vistaprint) that I'm using as stickers for the favors. I wrapped specialty tea bags in cute scrapbook paper, threaded a piece of thick thread through the top and glued a cute flower punch at the end of the thread. And VOILA... a tea bag holder that looks like a really stinkin cute tea bag. :) I spent about 23 cents per favor. I'm proud, can you tell? Tell me you're proud too. I'll feel like it was all worth it then! haha
Alright, there's more, but I'll save all that for the post I do after the shower letting y'all know how it went! Let's talk about what I'm going to wear, shall we?

I wanted something super girly since we're holding the shower at a tea room. I needed something tea party-esque! In come the florals. My sister and I spotted this flowery dress tube at Forever21 a few weeks ago, and I snatched it up once I tried it on and saw that it went well with jeans. I live in jeans, so knowing I could wear this again and again put it in the winner's circle. I tried it on with a black pencil skirt, but the shapes weren't just right. I decided on simple white capris and to sass it up with these cute retro looking heels from Cutesygirl. I think gold jewelry is the way to go... do you? I felt like it needed the warmth. I haven't bought or chosen any jewelry from my closet yet... but do like the stuff I put with it up there. Thoughts? Seriously. Tell me what you think. What should I change? I'm open, people!