Resolutions?

Everyone makes them, few stick with them.

I never really make resolutions, per se. I like to just have some goals to start off the New Year right.

My number one goal is to not be so anxious all of the time. I suffer from panic attacks and these have been debilitating for me at times. I am very much a "doom and gloom" type of thinker and often always think the worst instead of being optimistic. I worry about things and events that haven't even happened, and in turn, the worry makes me extremely anxious all of the time. I am really working on being more of a "calm" and collected person and not being so anxious.

I would also love to be a more tidy and clean person. I absolutely love when my house is clean, but I hate cleaning with a passion. If I could just work on picking up clutter and things that I just throw down, I bet it would be much easier to keep my house clean!

For someone that has anxiety it's pretty stupid of me not to work out, but I don't work out AT ALL. Nada. I walk my dogs when the weather is nice, but that is a rarity this time of year. I want to get back into some sort of yoga or aerobic activity.

On that same note, I have to start eating better. I recently had a physical and I complained of being fatigued a lot of the time. The doctor asked me what I ate during a typical day. My answer was, "coffee for breakfast, maybe some cookies or cake around 2 pm, then pasta or something for dinner". She looked at me and said, "well, you wonder why you're tired a lot?". Duh. You are what you eat! I haven't had any caffeine since last Saturday and I'm hoping to be able to give it up all-together. I am trying to drink only water. Hopefully I can be a heathy eater in 2011!

I would also like to find a church and start attending regularly.

What are some of your goals for 2011?

Let it Burn!

Last night I released my inner hip-hop/R&B lover and went to the Usher/Trey Songz concert with some friends. Talk about bringing back some memories! "They call me u-s-h-e-r-ra-ym-onddd".

I wore a Joie Sweater, leggings, and Frye cowboy boots (kind of inappropriate for a hip-hop concert), and my real hair (baha!). I also wore my Tibi fur as well since it was a little chilly.

On another note, I swear I think that I missed my calling as a back-up dancer!!!!

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Well, I can tell you what I am doing- a whole lot of nothing!

About three years ago we did the whole "Peabody NYE Spectacular" and it was a mess! The appeal was enticing- pay one price for access to the Peabody hotel NYE Bash. It was so crowded that we could barely move around. Also, it was absolutely freezing that year and I remember walking the streets of downtown thinking to myself, "never again".

It looked a lot like this that NYE:

Ever since that NYE, we've kept it pretty low key bringing in the New Year. Last year we went to a nice dinner. While that was fun, it was very pricey as most restaurants do the "fixed menu" thing and charge double for something that they'd normally serve all-year-long.

So alas, I am being a grinch this year and saying "no thanks" to NYE festivities. While I think it would be nice to get all dressed up and trot around town, it's just not worth it to me! Everything is over-priced and the weather is already calling for rain showers. I think I will be just fine curled up with my pups watching the NYE specials on television and slow-cooking my roast with black eyed peas. I guess this is a sign that I am truly getting old.

What are you doing on NYE?

Back in the Grind

I am finally getting back in the swing of things after returning from Kentucky. The week after Christmas is always kind of drab- time to take down all of the decorations and before you know it, it will be spring again. Where does the time go?

While I was in Kentucky, I met up with some friends and wore my extensions again. I have an exciting how-to vlog coming up this week so get excited!

I wore a purple Tracy Reese sweater dress over a black t-shirt and OTK boots. I also wore my Christmas gift to myself, the Louis Vuitton Odeon PM cross-body bag.

I got some great goodies from my sweet parents! I have wanted the LV Totally GM for a while, and let me tell you, it is HUGE! I really have to have a huge bag though- I pack a lot of stuff around, plus you never know when you might need to use your purse as a weapon to knock someone out.

I also got some new earrings, the DY Hematite Moonlight Ice. I am in love with them!

{Not really sure why this picture is sideways}

While in Lexington, one of my friends Audrey had Lolita Lempicka and I spritzed a little on my wrist. I seriously sniffed my wrist in a non-weird way all night and the next day as it still lingered! I came home and ordered a bottle! Talk about a blast from the past! I forgot how good that stuff smells!

What did you all get for Christmas?

Sale Alert!

Saks is having a great after Christmas sale!

You all know my drama with the Hunter boots, well, one pair finally came in from Nordstrom and they were TWO DIFFERENT COLORS! I said to heck with it and sent them back. After all of that trouble ordering and them only to find out that 2 of my orders were canceled, and now they have the nerve to send me one black boot and one navy boot? Don't they know I will cut them?

I was feeling a little discouraged until I saw this morning that they were on Saks (in the Anthracite color, which looks a lot like black if you ask me) for nearly 75% OFF!!!!

Yeowwwwww! They are mine!

I couldn't resist passing on the deal to you guys, so check it out and get them while they last! Click HERE to view.

Have A Very Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! I am feeling incredibly blessed and thankful this Holiday season! I hope you are enjoying it with friends and family :)

I'll leave you with a photo of me when I was little that we have nicknamed "no neck".

Winner of Bitty Bows Giveaway

I used the random number generator to choose the winners of the Bitty Bows Giveaway, and the winners areeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:

If the winners could email me their addresses at PIPMegan@gmail.com

Congrats girls! And thanks to everyone for entering :)

New Hair

I went in today for a trim and a partial highlight. I just felt that my hair was getting too dull and I needed to spice it up a bit. I had my stylist, April at PageBoy Salon, add in a few partial highlights on top.

Hair before:

Hair After:

Some Glamour Shots (you get the idea):

You all cracked me up last week with the long hair comments. I've been wearing clip-in extensions lately (aka MAH WEAVE). They aren't much longer than my real hair, but they add a lot of volume and some length. I will do a vlog on them next week.

She also taught me how to get the "hollywood loose curls" by using a clipless curling iron.

I promptly came home and ordered the Enzo Milano 25mm clipless iron from Amazon.

I stumbled upon this YouTube video of how I want to start styling my hair (with my weave, of course).

Do any of you all use a clipless curling iron?

Last Minute Gift Ideas

I know if you're like me, you've been scrambling to get little last minute gifts or stocking stuffers.

Here are some items that are perfect for last minute gift giving!

Target Gift Card- you can never go wrong with a Target Gift Card- who doesn't love Target?

Starbucks Gift Card- again, who doesn't love Starbucks? And if they don't like coffee, Starbucks has great iced teas and smoothies!

Membership to a "Beverage of the Month" club- this is something that can be gifted through email. You can get anything from Wine of the Month to Microbrewed Beer of the Month.

A bottle of Wine or Specialty Coffee- pretty self explanatory.

What are some of your last minute gift ideas?

Psychotic Shopper

Whenever I want something, I become very obsessive and competitive about it. You know, like the clip in Confessions of a Shopaholic where Rebecca fights with a woman over a pair of sale gloves? Yeah, I would totally do that.

I have really wanted a pair of Hunter Wellies lately. I go back and forth about whether or not I will wear them, but when the Jimmy Choo/Hunter Croc wellies went on mega 40% off sale on Nordstrom.com, I decided it was time!

I placed the size 7 in my cart and checked out. Then I read everywhere that they run very large, and for this 6.5 gal, that means I would probably need a 6. I noticed there was also a 5 available, so I put that in my cart. Two seconds later it was gone and said "out of stock". I got really angry and immediately got on Nordstrom Live Chat help and asked if they could locate them at a store.

No such luck. Well, I obsessively pressed the refresh button on my browser and about 20 minutes later, they were back in stock! I quickly clicked purchase. This way, I could try on the 7 and 5 to see which would fit. Unfortunately, the 6 was sold out at that time, or I would have just ordered that one to begin with.

Fast forward to this morning. I get an email from Nordstrom saying that even after money was taken from my debit account and order confirmation, my size 7 order had been cancelled due to no availability. I was fuming, so I got on the chat again and ripped someone a new one.

Just out of curiosity, I get back on Nordstrom.com only to see now the size 6 is showing availability. What the hell?!?! I have never seen a more janked up online stock system. Now I ordered those as well. Who knows which will be cancelled and which will actually ship, but seriously.

Do you all get obsessive about sale items too? I can never pass up a sale!

Bitty Bows Giveaway!!!

I am pleased to offer a fabulous giveaway for Bitty Bows Boutique. While I don't have any children yet, I hope to one day have a little girl that I can dress up in bows and festive flowers!

Kelly is going to give away three of her signature specialty "baby clips", which will attach to tiny, tiny fine hairs. She offers larger non-slip clips, in a fun variety of styles. It isn't just another place to buy hairbows. : )

Simply leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is on her website (clickHERE to view) and 3 winners will be chosen at random on December 22nd!

Also, Kelly has extended a special offer to PIPM readers- if you spend 30 dollars on her website, she will throw in an item for free!

About Bitsy Bows Boutique ...

ABOUT US

Thank you for taking some of your precious time to learn more about us. My name is Kelly, and I am the creator of Bitty Bows Boutique. I am a mommy to three beautiful children, ages 4 and under! I began selling my bows in early 2005 and expanded my business simply as a way to pass pregnancy bedrest. I had no idea how it would take off, but couldn't be more thrilled! Over the past 4 years business has grown tremendously. Despite our growth, we make every attempt to maintain the high standards and customer service of a small family owned business. Afterall, that is how we started.

I say "we", because I cannot take full credit. My wonderful husband used to jokingly make fun of my bow habit. I occasionally tried to convince him to make bows with me, but he instead opted to take care of the financial end of business. His computer knowledge, financial and marketing sense, and encouragement has made him an irreplaceable part of the Bitty Bows team!

When I am not making bows, I enjoy photography, spending time as a family, and digital scrapbooking. Our church and faith is very important to our family, and you can be assured that we run our business with integrity and honesty. I hope that you enjoy shopping our website, and thank you for taking the time to learn a little about us.

Regards,
Kelly

MIA

I have been MIA lately. Between driving through a blizzard in Nashville on Sunday and having a lot of work to do this week, I haven't had much time to visit the blog!

This past weekend we visited my parents in KY for one of our family Christmas dinners:

On the way back to Memphis, we got stuck in Nashville creeping at about 10 mph in a blizzard- fun times!

Here are some OOTDs from this week:

{Theory oversized sweater, pixies, purple revas}

{Black T-neck dress, Trina Turk fur caplet, BR boots}

{Design History sweater, leggings, BR boots}