What I'm loving Wednesday

{Linked up at This Kind of Love}

Is it already Wednesday? Let's hope the rest of this week goes by as quickly as the first half did.

Obviously I'm loving that the first Razorback game of the season is Saturday! I've been making mental lists of things I've missed about Fayetteville so we can be sure to hit them up. I'm dreaming of Doe's drop biscuits, that's for sure!

{via}

I'm loving these boots I got for my birthday. I was always under the impression that, as a short person, boots would just make my already short legs look shorter. But then I got these lovelies from my mom and dad for my birthday and was proven wrong. I feel like Monica when I say that they look cute with skirts, dresses and pants, but they do! I even bought a pair of skinny jeans to wear with them. Who am I?

{via}

And of course I'm loving my sweet husband. He's had a rough couple of weeks at work, and I'm looking forward to cheering him up with a long weekend that includes Arkansas football!

Bits & pieces: Vanna's Choice yarn (I'm a crochet nerd and proud!); new clothes bought with birthday money; time spent with family; and baby tomatoes. 

Being 26 doesn't stink

I'll be honest. I haven't been looking forward to the big 2-6. I'm no longer in my "early 20s" (although I can say "mid-20s" still). But after a weekend away in Nashville celebrating with my family, I think 26 is going to be — dare I say it? — the best year ever if all the fun we had is any indication.

Saturday we went to Local Taco for lunch. The restaurant uses only local ingredients (hence the name) and makes a variety of tacos from classic Mexican to barbecue and fried chicken versions. I got the southern fried chicken and grilled steak, and they were delicious. I took our lunch out as an opportunity to up my blogger cred and take pictures of my food. Oh, and my family, too. You can't miss out on them.

After lunch we went to Las Paletas, a local popsicle place, for dessert. They make all their own popsicles in a variety of flavor combinations. I got pistachio, and Scott got pineapple chili. And then he got raspberry lime. They were good enough to get several of.

We then moved on to Courtney's new condo. She and Dad spent most of the summer working out there putting down floors, fixing the kitchen, painting furniture. They literally put their blood, sweat and tears into it, and it looks great! And while all their hard work paid off, the only picture of Courtney's place that I walked away with is this one of her and her and her roommates' resident straw giraffe, Norman.

Then, we capped off the afternoon like any weekend in Nashville should be, and went shopping. I was probably too happy to be back in my favorite JCrew, but there's no proper online substitution for being in the actual store. It was perfect. The whole family left with something — even Dad, who had actually been in the mall three times that week! Mark that day on your calendars as it will be celebrated for generations to come.

Sunday was church followed by more dining out (this time I had cinnamon French toast at Southside Grill but had my blogger badge revoked since I didn't take a picture of it). We then began the long drive back, stopping to see my grandmother, uncle, aunt and cousins along the way.

It was a wonderful weekend, and, just like all wonderful weekends, was much too short. Since today is my actual birthday and not the grand celebration leading up to it, Scott said he'd take me to dinner, and I've requested Which Wich because although I may be 26 now, I still have the tastes of a six year old.

Scott also excelled in buying my birthday present (since I pulled it up on the computer for him to order. I'm subtle). I got this necklace I'd pinned on Pinterest from Etsy with a J, a heart and an S on it, for reasons that should be obvious. I love it and have worn it every day since I opened it early last week. I have no self-control.

Yes, I think I can say that 26 definitely doesn't stink as much as I thought it would. Let's not even talk about 27, though.

Roses are red, my hair is gray...

I just can't rock the gray streak like Stacey does.

My 26th birthday is Monday, and I can already feel Father Time tick-tick-ticking away at me. And he's attacking my hair.

I have a pretty set after-work routine. I always brush my hair when I get home because, somewhere between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., birds nest in my hair. It's like I work in a wind tunnel. I don't know how it gets so tangled just sitting at a desk. As I was untying my hair knots, I noticed a glint. Not a "Oh, my hair's so shiny like a Pantene commercial" glint, but a silver glint. A gray glint.

I've seen this guy before. The first time I plucked him from my head and had Scott convince me that he was actually blonde. The second time he hid beneath his dark brown brothers, escaping my clutches and living to go on being gray another day. But last night, he was unabashedly gray — slapping me in the face, taunting me with early bird specials and orthopedic shoes. And this time, he brought friends — well, a friend and a half. There was one who was semi-converted and had only partially gone over to the dark side — make that the gray side.

I searched and separated and singled out the offenders, read them their last rites, and yanked them from my head, sending them to spend the remainder of their days in the sink drain.

But then, this morning, I was shaken to my core when I saw a snowy white hair waving at me — from my eyebrow. Really? What cruel twist of fate is this? Not only will I be forced to dip my head in the dark, muddy waters of permanent hair dye to control the mutiny there, but I'll also be forced to dye my eyebrows?

I give up. Start sending me my membership card, AARP. I'll be at Western Sizzlin' at 3 p.m. if you need me.

What I'm loving Wednesday

{Linked up at This Kind of Love}

It's been forever since I've done a "What I'm Loving Wednesday," and I figured a rainy, dreary Wednesday on the first week of school needed as big of a boost as it could get!

I'm loving that Scott and I are going to Nashville this weekend to see my family and celebrate my birthday (which is Monday, so you still have time to shop). We haven't been to Nashville in forever (I think this was the last time), and I'm so excited to get to see Courtney's new condo and spend time with everyone.

I'm loving that there's only nine days until the start of college football! We have quite the line up of games planned along with a few away game ventures. I'm just giddy with excitement!

I'm loving that our school year home Bible study starts tonight. Scott and I met at this Bible study in school, and I love getting to be a part of it now as one of its leaders. It's a big part of us. I wonder who the next Scott and Jennifer will be in that group.

Playing after Bible study Catchphrase, spring 2006. It looks like popsicles and triumphant hand gestures were on the menu that night.

One thing I'm not loving, though, is that today is my coworker Heather's last day in the office. She's off to be a stay-at-home momma to her sweet baby girl (who'd better hang on a few more days and get a sapphire birthstone). I'm going to miss having her in the office because she's become a great friend to me. The good part is she's not leaving town, so we can still have our Cookie Basket lunches, just adding a little one to the mix!

Bits & pieces: Dried mango; the mini Warbler (a little guy who really loves his "Glee"); shopping for fall clothes; amigurumi crochet (making crocheted stuffed animals); and Keebler fudge stick cookies.

Dream coats

I hate winter. I hate being cold. So it comes as no surprise that I absolutely love coats, scarves, hats, mittens and all that other puffed up warmness. While flipping through my September issue of InStyle, I came across this ad for the prettiest camel coat from LOFT. All last winter I searched high and low for the perfect camel coat, and here she was. I swooned. In fact, I'm still swooning. Excuse me a minute...

OK, where was I? Oh yeah, the coat. 

While I was composing a sonnet for this beauty, Scott firmly told me no more coats and that I had plenty. Running through the list in my head, it doesn't seem like that many — a black one, a green one, a navy one, a trench, plus a few jackets, blazers and pull-overs — but compared to Scott's one, I guess it can seem a little excessive. 

Surely by the time I wear him down on his no-coats stance, this one will be on sale. But until that day comes, here are a few other swoon-worthy coats I've got my eyes on, if price wasn't an issue.

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

What clothing item are you addicted to?

The Pinterest Challenge: Summer edition, part two

{Click here for part one!}

In addition to my long list of crochet-ables I have on Pinterest, I also have a lot of potential crafts in mind — specifically in the DIY jewelry department. And while all of these projects looked like such fun to tackle, my small town didn't have a suitable craft store. That was until the local Hancock's got a crafty face lift! When I went in for my monthly yarn shopping, I was surprised to see row after row of jewelry-making, crafty goodness! I was more excited than a normal person should be and immediately new which project I would tackle first: these colorful wrap bracelets!

{via}

I love the layered look and how I could choose whatever colors I wanted (or felt my wardrobe needed). I gathered up the necessary materials at Hancock's — leather cord, embroidery thread, ball chain and diamond chain — and went to work. I think my leather cord is thicker than theirs because while they suggest using a hex nut for the closure, I just tied a knot at the end and slip it through the loop on the other side. (Click the "via" link above for the "how to.")

Here's my final result:

I really love the final outcome! Scott says the red one looks like a dog collar. I tell him to hush his mouth (in a loving, respectful way, of course). I was thinking it would be the perfect addition to my game day apparel in a few weeks. The turquoise and yellow were two of my favorite colors for the summer, and they add the perfect pop of color to just about anything.

So, thus ends my summer Pinterest challenge. I'm sure you'll be seeing lots more of these projects posted here in the future. I can't help but show off the good ones.

P.S. Like the new look? I thought it was time for a little sprucing up around here. Let me know what you think!

Linked up at the Crafty Nest!

Keep on truckin'

Disclaimer: This isn't my truck. Unfortunately.

There are several things I've said I'd never do that I've ended up actually doing; living in Arkansas, going to grad school, and cutting my hair short are three examples. Now I can add a fourth one to the list: driving a truck. Since Scott is the new branch manager at Bald Knob, he needed a more fuel-effiecient ride for his longer commute. So I sacrificed, giving him the Camry and getting his Chevy in return.

It must be a visual oxymoron to most, I in my work clothes and heels hoisting myself into the big white truck — not unlike my brief high school stint as a shot-put thrower (another story for another day). In my two months of truck driving, I have improved my ability to actually handle the six-cilandered beast. My parking still has a lot to be desired, though. But I've never excelled at that anyway.

During the first week I was driving it, I was getting ready to leave when it started to rain. I was wearing satin-covered shoes and, not wanting to ruin them, took them off, put them in my purse, and jogged across the street barefoot. (Feet dry, but satin shoes are ruined forever.) When I got in my truck, I realized I was now the embodiment of a stereotype: a barefoot, Arkansan truck driver. Luckily, I have all my teeth.

My coworker Heather has joked that she'll get me a pink John Deere hat to complete my new identity. I'll add some Yosemite Sam mud flaps, and we'll be set. (If you ever get the chance, ask my dad to do his Yosemite Sam impression. It's spot on.)

Hopefully I'll master truck driving soon enough and those around me will no longer have to live in fear.

The Pinterest Challenge: Summer edition

My friend Alex posted this to my Facebook last week and told me I needed to do this. But then, like most things I do, I ended up doing it late. I was supposed to have this post up last Tuesday, but instead I'm going to make it two posts and a week late. I like to make things my own, after all.

I'm always nervous about doing something I've seen online because I'm afraid I won't do it as well as the original, like this pin I found:

Note: I didn't make these cupcakes. I found this picture on Pinterest.

But I put on my big girl craft pants and went to work. My Pinterest is heavy with items on my "to crochet" list. Sometimes I feel like I should apologize to my followers for my yarn-centric pins, but there are so many awesome things to make out there! I'd been looking for the perfect baby gift to make for my coworker Heather's baby shower when I found this adorable teddy bear hat.

[via]

The pin didn't lead to a pattern, so I was left to my own devices as far as making it. I have a generic baby hat, but it was the alternating patterns that had me scared. Was I woman enough to tackle these various stitches? After some time searching YouTube (where I've learned most of my stitches), I went to work on this baby shower gift. Here's the final result.

I think it's pretty spot on! I really love the criss-cross stitch and think the various stitches give the hat lots of texture and character. I can't wait to see it modeled in a few more weeks! To go along with the hat, I crocheted my first stuffed animal — appropriately enough, a teddy bear.

I think they make a cute pair, don't you? And while the bear didn't come from Pinterest inspiration, I couldn't help but show her off anyway. I'm a crafter and a bragger.

Later this week I'll show you the bracelets I made from another Pinterest inspiration. Try not to soil yourself with excitement, OK?

What Pinterest-inpired crafts have you undertaken?

P.S. Want to see more of my Pinterest crafts? Click here.

Linked up at The Crafty Nest

Duty calls

Some call it your civic duty, others call it torture, but whatever you call jury duty, it's seldom looked at as an exciting event. Scott got his notice in the mail last week and, compounded with the ongoing car saga, exclaimed, "Why do bad things keep happening to us?"

So he's off to the courthouse this morning, trying his best to look like an unfriendly potential juror. I suggested he pull a Liz Lemon.



Do you have any jury duty horror stories? How do you attempt to get out of it?

Thoughts from the mister: Some like it hot

Scott enjoyed blogging so much last time that he thought he'd do it again. This time it's all about his latest love affair with TABASCO. Enjoy!

Would you believe me if I told you that I devour a bottle of TABASCO brand pepper sauce every month? Well, it’s true. As of late, it seems that no food is complete with a dash or two or three of TABASCO. The spicy and vinegary sauce delights my taste buds and awakens my mouth, providing a much loved Southern Creole comfort. Whether you are sitting down to a platter of a dozen oysters or a warm bowl of pinto beans and cornbread, TABASCO must somehow find its way on to your plate. It always finds its way onto mine.

Some Like Its History
According to family tradition, Original TABASCO brand pepper sauce was created in the mid-to-late 1860s by Edmund McIlhenny. A food lover and avid gardener, McIlhenny was given seeds of Capsicum frutescens peppers that had come from Mexico or Central America. On Avery Island in south Louisiana, he sowed the seeds, nurtured the plants, and delighted in the spicy flavor of the peppers they bore.

The diet of the Reconstruction South was bland and monotonous, especially by Louisiana standards. So Edmund McIlhenny decided to create a pepper sauce to give the food some spice and flavor — some excitement. Selecting and crushing the reddest peppers from his plants, he mixed them with Avery Island salt and aged this “mash” for 30 days in crockery jars and barrels. McIlhenny then blended the mash with French white wine vinegar and aged the mixture for at least another 30 days. After straining it, he transferred the sauce to small cologne-type bottles with sprinkler fitments, which he then corked and sealed in green wax.

More than 140 years later, TABASCO Sauce is made much the same way except now the aging process for the mash is longer — up to three years in white oak barrels and the vinegar is high quality distilled vinegar (www.tabasco.com).