Friday, July 27, 2012

High Five for Friday

Basically my San Diego work trip edition of H54F. Linked up with FMGD.


-one- I made some of the cutest mustache shirts before leaving for a work trip to San Diego. This isn't mine, but I made myself one seen here!

-two- I had a couple of the BEST fruity alcoholic drinks on this trip. This was a raspberry strawberry vodka. It wasn't too strong and was simply delicious. Plus drinking it with an ocean view wasn't so bad!

-three- Fish tacos. Enough said.

-four- An awesome find at the Ocean Beach farmers market. I wish I had bargained with the guy and got rings in more colors. It is made of leather and won't turn finger green like the cheap silver rings that I could afford.


-five- Biggest kite I have ever seen at Seaside Market. This guy was here everyday and would stake kites into the ground and everyone would watch in awe.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Belts

I love belts!
They can spice up an outfit with absolutely no effort. They can also give a potato sack shaped dress a waist.
What I don't like about belts is the price tag.  
The belt seen in this post is from Target and was around $15. Not too bad considering I just found one on zappos for $40. Are you kidding me? It's a belt.
Because I'm cheap I hadn't expanded my belt collection beyond solid black and solid brown.
Then I walked into Pink Zone while I was in San Diego.

I am now the proud owner of three new belts ranging in price from $3.95-$4.95. Can't be that!

Oh and if you think I went into a store and only bought belts you are mistaken. I also bought 3 dresses. Here is a sneak peak. 
Another post will follow (I'm not traveling with a strapless bra or you would have picture dresses too) TMI? tough.

Are you going on a vacation or out of town for work? Don't forget to shop!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Traveling Considerations



  •  Consider what you choose to wear when you are flying.  I got stuck between two people with flowy sleeves.  Help you fellow travelers out and wear tight sleeves so they don’t tickle the person next to you. Here is my stylish outfit. Ha! It has tight sleeves that will not touch who ever gets stuck sitting next to me. :)



  • If you are considering volunteering to change your flight due to overbooking be the first to volunteer. If you hesitate you may end up with the option to split up your flight with your travel partner (one goes to Denver the other to Seattle) and then get told you both can go via Chicago. Okay Chicago isn’t that big of a deal. Then after everyone has boarded the plane you are told only one person is needed to volunteer to take a later flight. Umm, no that means the travel partner and I are separated again. Resulting in foregoing getting the flight reimbursed + $300 voucher and you are the LAST person on the plane and dealing with the tickling sleeve issue.
  • If you are the last person on the FULL flight don’t ask the flight attendant if you can sit together (that was the travel partner). The flight attendant looked at her like she was an idiot and informed us that we were the last ones on the plane.  No shit Sherlock!
  • Stating the obvious…Go to the bathroom before getting on the plane so you aren’t one of the 80 people getting up to pee. (almost guilty, but for once in my life I held it)
  •  Bring multiple reading options. Bossypants can easily be replaced with the book that is currently in your checked luggage.
  • Choose who you sit by wisely. Even though I was the last person on the plane I sat my two anti-social travelers. We didn’t speak I word to one another. Awesomeness! (For real, no sarcasm there)
  • Southwest Airlines please carry Pepsi products. Coke products just don’t cut it. But, kudos on the 100 calorie cheese nips snacks.
  • If you are not a morning person always travel west. Especially if attending a conference requiring you to wake up early. Thank you 2 hour time change, I appreciate you allowing me to feel like I got to sleep in.
  •  (Next time) pack cookies in a Tupperware container so they are not in a million pieces.
  • Bring a pillow for your back. Holy shit! I forgot how uncomfortable airplane seats are.
  •  Be grateful when you are traveling for work…covered parking so my leather seats don’t fry in the Kansas heat for the next few weeks. Bonus!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday's Letters

Photobucket

Dear Ensure PC I will never take my computer to you ever again. How many other suckers have you screwed out of $225 by telling them their PERFECTLY FINE hard drive needs replaced? Nice try, jerks. Dear San Diego I am ready to experience what 80 degrees feels like again. Thank you for not being as hot as Kansas. Dear cake I am delivering today. Please, please do not melt in my car. Dear A-hole who shot the the people in the Colorado Theater. What that really necessary? I think not, go to hell.  Dear Target please have some clearance items left. I plan to visit you over my lunch hour.



Thursday, July 19, 2012

Father's Day Recap

I just realized that I never shared pictures from this year's Father's Day. There really aren't a ton of pictures from that day, but here is a few to prove that the day was celebrated.

My sister Hayden made a "cake" for my Dad. Usually cakes are more up my alley, but this one is a little different. The cake is made from his favorite "red & white" cans.



We BBQ'd pot-luck style at my house so I could show off the patio (that Dad poured) and we could go swimming. 

Our Menu:
Daddy Hinkle's marinated steak & chicken kabobs (w/ green, red, yellow & orange peppers, onions, mushrooms & squash)
Shrimp & pineapple kabobs
Taco salad
Pasta salad
Fruit salad 
Watermelon
Corn on the Cob
Dessert: Cheesecake and Apple Cobbler


After we ate we cooled off in the pool. I will spare my family and will only post a picture of the man of the day. That's my Dad and Aubrey.


Birkley and Rowan (niece and nephew) were so tired they both fell asleep in the pool and the took nice poolside naps.



Wednesday, July 18, 2012

July Birchbox


Blinc - Mascara
Jouer - Moisturizing Lip Gloss
Tea Forte - minteas
Earbuds
Oscar de la Renta - live in love
Manna Kadar - sheer glo shimmer lotion


I LOVE the blinc mascara. It coats your lashes and can be removed with warm water. Yay no need for makeup remover! I am also a fan of the earbuds. They are the only buds I've gotten to stay in my ears with out falling out. I don't know why that is maybe I have weird ears, but whatever they work!

Birchbox is amazing! For only $10 you get a box of great products to try.
Join Birchbox




Friday, July 13, 2012

High Five for Friday



-one-
Finally changed out by gray purse for a bright yellow one. Went ahead and painted my nails to match while I was feelin' the yellow.

-two-
A lot of swimming this past week while celebrating 4th of July with the family. That's my nephew Rowan riding the whale.He is the only one who didn't get bucked off.

-three-
Rain! We just got more than 60 seconds of rain. Everyone has been doing the rain dance for the past few months and it's finally working!

-fur, I mean four-
One of my girlfriends is getting married in a few weeks and we are going out for her bachelorette party. Bring it on! It won't be too crazy, but it will be a nice girls night.

-five-
I have fixed my hair 3 out of the 5 work days this week. Sounds pathetic, but that's a big deal. I'm not a morning person and daily messy knots have been my friend for the few months.

Linking up with From My Grey Desk for H54F. 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

No More

No more broken zoom, fuzzy pictures, battery that almost falls out, basic point & shoot, or limited options.  I bought a new camera!  So excited about this. I wanted a camera that is more equipped than a basic point and shoot and less equipped than a DSLR. I went with a Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Digital Camera. It had great reviews and seemed like the perfect in-between camera. I went and checked it out at the local Best Buy and then bit the bullet and purchased an awesome packaged deal on Amazon for about the same price as if I bought just the camera locally. Now the waiting game is on until Mr. UPS man delivers.






No more waiting for a new season of Big Brother because it starts tonight! Which four HouseGuests return this season? Who is going to be the biggest biotch? Who is the next Jeff eye candy? Who will hook up? Who will have the biggest pity party? Who will tell the biggest lie? Who will be the most entertaining? Who will be the first H.O.H.? What new spin will be introduced this year?



Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Cake Recap: June


 June was a pretty slow cake month....by choice.  It felt like I had cakes every weekend in April and May so a summer break was much needed for my sanity (and my kitchen's sanity). 
Here is a quick recap of the cakes I created in June.

1. Camo antler birthday cake - vanilla and cookies and cream cake
2. Birkley's smash cake - chocolate cake
3. Pool side bridal shower cupcakes - margarita cake
4. Preston Wedding Cake - chocolate and vanilla cake


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Tank Dress Tutorial

A few years ago I bought just about every color of Old Navy tanks like they were near extinction. Well, guess what? They still make them and this tank isn't going out of style.  But there is a problem because after wearing them like there is no tomorrow they begin to get shorter and shorter.  So I have about 10 tank tops that are too short, but otherwise they fit. 

What is a girl to do?

If you are in the same boat as me go buy a 1.5-2.5 yards of coordinating fabric and make a dress. Maxi dresses are trending this summer, but I'm pretty short (5'2 if you really want to know) and have a hard time finding long dresses that fit right. Making my own was just the right answer. It allowed me to use a tank that was not being worn, pick a fabric of my choice & be creative!

Wanna know how to make a dress that fits you? Follow these steps. Well attempt to follow my steps. I usually just wing it and don't necessarily do the same thing twice even though I'm making the same type of dress making writing directions a little difficult. If you are familiar with a sewing machine you will get the gist.

Step 1: Find a tank and buy 1.5-2.5 yards of fabric. Make sure you have enough fabric to go around you! :) (I used 1.5 yards for this dress)
Step 2: Measure and cut the tank. My cut was about 6.5 inches down from the scoop neck. (This will vary based on body type.) Discard bottom portion of tank.

Step 3: With right sides of skirt fabric together fold and serge (or zig-zag sew) raw edges on long side. This will create a tube. (To make a long dress unfold the fabric. For a short dress keep folded like it came off the bolt sewing 4 layers in this step.)


Step 4: Layout skirt and line seam up with shirt center. Place pins at the centers and outer points. (Doesn't have to be perfect)


Step 5: Between each of the 4 pins sew using the longest stitch on your machine ruffling as you go. I just eyeballed this step. You don't want the skirt to have too much ruffling and be smaller than the shirt. (I tried using elastic thread and preferred ruffling by hand) 



Step 6: Pin the edge of the skirt you just ruffled to the right side of the tank in the same 4 spots (centers and side seams). Your skirt is going to be inside of your tank.


Step 7: Start sewing at one of the pins and pull the shirt and skirt tight at the next pin. This will make it so the dress fits over your bust/hips and will prevent puckering. If you do not pull the shirt it may be too tight.


Step 8: Try on the dress with belt or sash accessory. Make adjustments if necessary. This may require seam ripping (Boo!) or sewing around again so the shirt is shorter. I found that many times my tank in the back was too long and needed shortened.

Step 9: Once the dress fits the way you want serge off the edges where the tank and skirt meet. This will give it a finished edge to prevent fraying and will eliminate some bulk around the middle.


Step 10: On the long dress add a hem to fit your desired length. (On the short dress you shouldn't need a hem because the fabric is folded and has a clean edge)


Now that you are done you will probably put on the dress and think "Awesome, I just made a tent". Just add a belt or sash and you have a waist again!


Hopefully that wasn't too confusing! Now go make a dress and share pictures!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Frumpy to Cute

Every girl loves a great clearance find.  I found a super cute dress on the Target clearance rack for $7.48. Oh ya score! Then a put it on and yuck! It was unflattering and not doing anything for me. This girl has curves and needs to show them off, not hide them. Yep, now I know why it was $7.48. 
But wait...what if I add a belt?

 Can you say Perfection?!?
Dress, Belt & Heels - Target


Sunday, July 8, 2012

You wanna pink dinosaur?

A recent conversation between Dominic and his niece Ivy went a little something like this:
"Ivy, what do you want for your birthday?"
"I wanna pink dinosaur and a purple dinosaur."
"You wanna pink dinosaur?"
"Yes, and a purple one."
"Okay?!?!"

We have been on the hunt for pink and purple dinosaurs since then. I thought purple would be easy.There has to be a Barney stuffed animal out there, but that would make it too easy. She wants a really dinosaur not that goofy Barney character. I went to Toys R Us and I found Cera and Chomper from The Land Before Time neither of which are purple or pink.  So I found a way to add pink and purple to the dinosaurs and that was by making little capes.