30 Day Blog Challenge

I'm going to do a 30 day beauty/fashion blog challenge... starting tomorrow...  :-) 

Day 01 — You with makeup on

Day 02 — Your favorite bag that you own

Day 03 — Your hairstyle

Day 04 — Your favorite foundation

Day 05 — An outfit that is totally you

Day 06 — Your favourite Makeup brand

Day 07 — Your Favorite item of clothing

Day 08 — A photo of you getting fashion wrong

Day 09 — Your favorite pair of shoes

Day 10 — Current fashion/style you like

Day 11 — Bag you want to have

Day 12 — Your Favorite colour of clothing

Day 13 — Photo of your fashion/style icon

Day 14 — Photo of a hairstyle/haircut you'd like to have

Day 15 — Your favourite piece of jewellery

Day 16 — A celebrity whose fashion you don't like

Day 17 — Fashion Pieces on your to-buy list

Day 18 — Your favorite beauty expert

Day 19 — Your favorite look from a beauty expert

Day 20 — Your favorite mascara

Day 21 — Your favorite lipstick

Day 22 — Your beauty tips for a big night out

Day 23 — Your best bargain makeup item

Day 24 — Your favourite new beauty product

Day 25 — Your beauty regime

Day 26 — An Item from your wishlist

Day 27 — Your favorite skincare product

Day 28 — Top beauty item you can't live without

Day 29 — Photo of a makeup look you would love to try out

Day 30 — Your favorite nail polish

Red Carpet Review

The Screen Actors Guild Awards were on last night.  I didn't watch them nor do I know who won but I kept up on the red carpet.   *Photos courtesy of people.com*

My girl crush Emma Stone.  Love love love love this.  You can't tell here but the clutch mimics the bodice.  Love the shoes.  Love it.  This is what I have in mind for my birthday party dress.   If you'd like to dial up the designers at Alexander McQueen and get me one, that'd be great.  K'Thanks.

I love this color (saw it a few times last night).  Good cut on her athletic build.  The hair is eh.

Bravo for wearing something different.

Love Ashlee's dress - its very 20's/30's which is totally suitable since she was there supporting her boyfriend who is in Boardwalk Empire.

Kelly!  You got it right this time!  Even if your hair is still gray.  I'm looking at the dress.  Loved it.

I'm on the fence about this one - I think its the hem...  I don't love the hem...

Now who I didn't love....

Too 90's - hate the shoes.

Pretty but too bridal.   Love the earrings.

Too much like a garbage bag...

Does nothing for her figure.. makes her look wider than she is even.  Most of the SNL alum girls (Maya, Kristen Wiig and Tina Fey) need a stylist.... 

Who was your best and worst dressed?

Art Shanty Project

Lucas and I have spent alot of time outside this weekend.  Yesterday it was Art Sleds and today it was Art Shanties.  After having lunch with mom, dad and aunt Sandy we stopped at Medicine Lake (across the street from the house - score!) to see what the artists came up with this year.

Art Sled Rally

We went to the Art Sled Rally www.artsledrally.com in Powderhorn Park today.  Some of the sleds were pretty creative! There were angry birds, a birthday cake and a circular saw sled.

Julie's picture of me and Lucas in front of the Scrabble Board sled.  Look who's on his iPhone...

Angry Birds! 

This was a great sled - before it went to pieces it was blue saran wrap looking stuff and poles shaped in a square - the people inside were dressed as sea life and the song "Under the Sea" played as they came down the hill.

View from the top.

After sledding we went to the Blackbird Cafe (http://www.blackbirdmpls.com/) in south Minneapolis to warm up.  We shared a flight of beer and I had tomato basil soup and a salad.  It was delish.

Mmmm, beer flights:

LEFTHAND = MILK STOUT (on the nitro)

BELL'S = HOPSLAM ALE (a limited edition treat!)

O'DELLS = 90 SCHILLING SCOTTISH AMBER ALE

CENTRAL WATERS = MUD PUPPY PORTER

FOUNDERS = CENTENNIAL IPA

SURLY = CYNIC

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

5 Question Friday

TGIF!  


Five Question Friday is here...

1. Do you swim in the winter?

I don't swim ever.  Lakes/Oceans/anything with animals in it freak me out and Chlorine makes me itchy.

2. Do you love or hate winter?

Eh.  I accept it.  I truly don't mind winter - I just wish it was shorter.  We've been fairly lucky this year, but last year was almost unbearable.  We had a huge storm in November, followed by more snow and more snow and... you get the idea.  

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family?

Nope!

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage?

I can't remember - I wasn't super young.  I never went to crazy parties to drink.  My first alcoholic beverage was probably a wine cooler at a family picnic - classy, I know.

5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable?

It depends - maybe 3-6 times.  We have rules at work and I think our max is 6 times in a year.  I've never come close.  I think the most I've called in was 3 times or so in a year?  I had the flu (like fever, truck hit me, kill me now flu - I was out 3 days in a row).  This year I've only called in sick so far because my dogs were sick!  Damn kids. 

Recipe Review

The good:  Its almost Friday!

And The Stuffed Pepper Soup.  YUM!  Lucas loved it!  And its good for you.

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/12/stuffed-pepper-soup.html#more 

Ok the bad - http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/12/baked-apple-pie-french-toast-recipe.html The French Toast - it was just too soggy.   I couldn't do it!

It's a National Holiday

Happy Tuesday!  I'm ready for the weekend already.  How about you guys?

Recipes I'm trying this week:

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/12/stuffed-pepper-soup.html#more  - healthy

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/12/baked-apple-pie-french-toast-recipe.html - not so healthy (hello elliptical)

Things I'm doing this weekend:

http://www.artsledrally.com/ 

http://www.artshantyprojects.org/

http://www.blackbirdmpls.com/search0/label/happyhour

PS:  Happy National Peanut Butter Day!!  Did you have your PB today?   Are you a Jif or Skippy person?  Chunky or Creamy?  Jif Creamy all the way in this house!

The MIA and a Bad Waitress

We took Lucas' niece Brianna to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts today.  Here she is by her favorite piece of art:

This piece was super cool.  Its a painting.  A PAINTING.

African tribal masks/costumes.

We followed the MIA up with lunch at The Bad Waitress.   Our superhero was "Hawkeye". :)

I had a really good Basil Tomato wrap with avocado, veggies, and red pepper aioli sauce.  Yummo!

Lucas' giant pancake.  Brianna couldn't decide if she wanted a pancake or French Toast.  She went with the French Toast but shared some of the pancake.   She said its certainly not your usual restaurant pancake.  :-)  Nope!  If you haven't been to the Bad Waitress, go for breakfast (which they serve all day).

And finally my outfit of the day - Lucas said I looked hipster so I guess that's fitting for Uptown.

Five Question Friday

TGIF!

1. Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks?

Ha, I don't "hide" snacks.  Lucas has his own cupboard where he keeps his snacks, etc.  So if there's something I want to "forget" I may put it there.

2. Do you keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van?

Its pretty clean.  It could use more of a vacuum and dusting than anything.  The only thing on my floor is an ice scraper. 

3. Have you ever been to Vegas?

Yep!  I've gone for work and once with Lucas.  Its fun for a few days but then I'm over it.  I don't deal well with drunk people constantly running into me.  Not to mention its ridiculously expensive to eat/drink there.  But I think everyone needs to see it once.

4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket?

Cold room, warm blankets.  Or 3 warm dogs.  

5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you've ever had?

Well we had some wicked turbulence flying out of Reno.  We had bad winds/turbulence flying into Maui - there's nothing worse than 1. being able to see the ground/ocean AND your wings going sideways and 2. the dude next to you say "I fly to Maui all the time and this is the worst ever."  Great, thanks dude.  The people in the plane applauded the captain when we landed.  When we went to New Orleans we had a layover in Charlotte.  We got on the plane and the pilot came on and said "Um, we need to get off - flight is delayed 5 hours" - say what?  You just let us on! (thankfully they didn't make us stay on!).  Then after sitting about 3 hours they cancelled our flight because (in the beginning of October) there was only 1 runway open in Minneapolis.  WHAT?  Oy.  So we ended up staying at a hotel next the old Cracker Barrel.  So we go back to the airport at the ass crack of dawn, get on a new place (first class - nice!) and the pilot comes on and says "Yeah, so we need to "reboot" the plane." - you need to what??  We looked at the other peeps in first class who were on the ill fated flight the day before thinking we all have bad juju or something.  Anyway, after rebooting we made it back to Minneapolis.  

Things I Love Thursday

*Mad Men Starts in 2 months.   TWO MONTHS!!  If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and get caught up.

*This commercial (wait til the end! and yes I know its a whippet):
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ntDYjS0Y3w

*Hot chocolate - its how I keep somewhat warm in the arctic tundra known as "work".

*Truth

* And my fleece blankets and heated car seats!

What are you loving today?

Blog Lovin'

My fave new blogs I've found recently:

http://health-heaven.tumblr.com - great articles pulled from various health magazines.  Love, love.

http://www.thedaybookblog.com/ - fun new fashion blog and Sydney cracks me up with her writing!

http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/ - this lady can decorate a house.

http://www.thesmallthingsblog.com/ - and this lady can do some hair.

What are your favorite blogs lately?

Golden Globes!

Its award season!!  Here are my thoughts on the fashion at the Golden Globes tonight....

My faves include Evan Rachel Wood - she always has a vintage vibe about her that I appreciate.

I always love Kate Winslet - this isn't my fave look she's ever done, but again I like the vintage vibe.

Loved Laura Dern's green dress - wish I could find a full length pic of it!  

Love Emma Stone!

Tilda Swinton is always the wild card.... sometimes she looks like a hot mess, sometimes she looks like a dude, sometimes she looks fierce.  Tonight she's looking fierce.

I didn't love Angelina's dress but I did love that for once she didn't wear black, gray or tan!  Yay Angie! Now gain a couple pounds - you look like a skeleton my dear.

One thing I saw wayyy too much of this year at the Globes - the mermaid silhouette - ok, yeah, it gives you an hourglass shape, but sweet Jesus they were everywhere!  Here are just a few:

I still haven't figured out why Elle McPherson was there...

I want to look like Dame Helen Mirren when I'm 70 something.  She is faboosh.

Oh Tina Fey - not your dress, but kudos for not wearing black for once.

Kate Beckinsale in a mermaid train - shocking.

Kelly, you've been doing so well at the award shows.. why?? (and I don't even care that your hair is gray - what is up with the dress?)

And finally - Madonna - wtf?  The glove was Michael's - leave it alone.

*Photos courtesy of people.com.

The Affordable LBD

I got this LBD (Little Black Dress) at Old Navy during the after Christmas sale for a steal (here it is online http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=73355&vid=1&pid=885866&scid=885866002).  Here are four versatile ways to style it for work, casual and going out:

Work Look 1

Work look 2

Casual

Going out

* I have tights with all of the looks because this dress is more of a "winter" dress than summer AND because its kinda short.  :-)  I also put belts with some of them because without a belt it can look a bit shapeless and tent like.  Want to look thinner - give yourself a waist.  Want the illusion of a small waist - put your belt higher (aka at your natural waist above your belly button, not your hips).