Zoe-Spired and feeling BoHo

Yeah y'all. I am not feeling inspired. I am feeling Zoe-Spired from today's yesterday's the other day's Zoe Report (sorry this post was intended for Wednesday but I could not finish it due to worrying over weather headed our way and the weather we had already experience that am). I may or may not have shared my undying love and obsession for my favorite fashionista Rachel Zoe on here before but yeah, here goes. 

Today's  "The Big Bangle Theory" = gloriousness. I, of course, love a good statement piece just as much as my sista-in-fashion RZ. Big and chunky bangles are in, accord to the fashion goddess, only wish I could afford the Hermes ones she was referring to. Good thing I love big baubley bracelets. Then she called the bangles as "bangle-icious." I just love her and her rachcabulary.

However this is the part of the report that was the most inspiring to me  "P.S. Want to update your wardrobe with some bohemian flare? Check out these 20 seventies-inspired picks!"

Love the Boho look to the ENTH degree... and all 20 of her 70's style picks!

Gorg like whoa.

Speaking of 70's inspired, Hippie, Boho look... I want feather hair extensions. No, really.

I have been putting them off due to these job interviews... I mean I already work for the company and they are not permanent and IMO no different than hair color, I would never want to step on someone's toes and cost myself a job. Buuuut, this weekend I am going to be at my mom's and the place my sister works at does them and I could get a discount. I won't be back down there until  mid June at the earliest. My sister Hannah has two. They are cute and I think I could hide them for the interview? Ya think?

Hannah has a pink and a blue one.... No not getting bright colors over here. She thinks I should get these peacock ones but I think I just want the plain black and white {striped, I think?} ones. I think having several looks good but I would not take it over the top... 3... 4 max! 

via google images

These are the ones I am considering getting!

I have seen them on several Hollywood starlets as well including Miley Cyrus, Lucy Hale (in PLL), Jennifer Love Hewitt... but my favorite include the one who made them "famous" the hot glittery mess turned my soul-sista, Ke$ha. 

 via google images

 Ke-Dollar Sign- Ha

She and her songs are ridick.  Did you know that she was on Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton's "The Simple Life"? Her family hosted them once. True. When I heard this, I had to verify. Confession: I was obsessed with The Simple Life and have the seasons on DVD {dear goodness, did I just say that aloud?!} . I have "Blow on EVERYone of my running play lists  "Go insane, go insane, throw some glitter make it rain!"

via google images

and of course the precious Selena Gomez, aka my fav disney star. Not just because she dates the Biebs but because she is beyond adorbs. I love her feathers cause its like 3-5 all together and very tasteful.

Speaking of 70's flair... wide leg jeans are so in. I have been waiting for this moment since middle school. to clarify, I have never been a fan of this skinny jean era. I remember I multiple pairs of "bell bottom" jeans circa 4-6th grade and then they kind of just went out of style. I had one with patches, and one with applique ribbons all around the bell and they were the shizzle. I remember, I got them at Sears {shuddddder}. Then I realized the only people in Sears were geriatric and I told my mom we had to start shopping at Limited Too... and stat! So we did and I never looked back at the children's dept of Sears again. That is until a couple years later when Mom finagled her way back into Sears to clothe my younger and much dumber sister Hannah. That's another story... my sister did not care one bit about appearances growing up. Tomboy isn't even the word... more like filth mongrel. She was utterly disgusting as a child. She would have worn a potato sack in public or even worse, worn her school jumper on a weekend. 

This all brings me to saying... how awesome are these?

via google images

The Rachel Zoe 7 for all mankind bell bottoms are fabulous. 

That's saying a lot coming from me cause I don't even care for 7 jeans.

So if you are thinking about channeling your inner Olsen twin... Boho is in! Just keep the bag lady look to the minimal.

roll tide and god bless alabama.

I would love to blog about Kate Middleton's fabulous Sarah Burton for McQueen dress and all the Royal Wedding non-sense. Or even about the NFL Draft and how 4 of my Bama boys got picked first draft and almost set a record. I could ramble on and on about how happy I am Ingram went to the Saints (Who Dat!) and how it put a smile on the face of Tuscaloosa, for just a brief moment amidst all the destruction. But I am not going to blog about those things... but I will... just at a later date. All I want to do is give everyone some information on how to help storm victims. 

As I mentioned yesterday, one of the girls in my sorority was missing. She was found and unfortunately she did not make it through the storm. Her body was found amidst a destroyed apartment. She was in her apartment alone when the storm took her life. I kept thinking to myself... How scared did she feel? What were her last moments like? I could never imagine the terror. The saddest part to me was she was alone. Then I realized, she was not alone. HE was with her the entire time. Comforting her and holding her in his arms! She is one of the 8 confirmed students dead at the U of A.  Another girl confirmed dead was a Phi Mu. Please keep the sisters of Phi Mu in your prayers, too. The injured is still in the hospital and underwent surgery yesterday.

An alumnae of the sorority, who is also a sorority adviser and UA professor. Her family is okay but they lost everything. She has an 8 year old little girl. If you have any little girls clothing size 8, shoes size 12.5 or age appropriate toys/books you would like to send to her let me know. I will get you an address to send the stuff. They are thankful to be here but still in need of assistance. We still have a missing staff member, Ms.Essie. I am praying to hear good news about her today.

The university is encouraging all students to please leave campus and go home. Those in dorms have the option of checking out now and leaving, or returning May 7th to check out and gather belongings. Most of my friends have abandoned their Tuscaloosa homes and sought out comfort at home with family or friends if their family is too far away to drive home.

Due to the tragedies,  my sorority has set up a disaster relief fun to aide members, alums and staff who have suffered losses. You can send monetary donations safely and securely to :

 Gamma Phi Relief Fund

C/o GreekResources Services

PO Box 1880 

Tuscaloosa, AL 35403

Keep praying... Death toll here in Alabama is over 200. 

A lot of scary things are happening. People are starting to loot heavily and break in unoccupied places. How can someone bring more evil into this world when we are surrounded by devastation? The Women's Resource Center in Tuscaloosa is warning all women... if a child comes to you crying and gives you an address to take them home to, DO NOT DO IT. Take the child to the police immediately! A gang is using innocent children to lure women to rape and assault them. 

I am ashamed.

"When you are part of a team, you are not just part of that team on  Saturday afternoons."

- Nick Saban

the aftermath.

Sorry my friends, so many things I could write about. But today I can't bring myself to blog about anything but my aching heart. Y'all know I love Alabama. My home. Alabama The Beautiful. Sweet Home Alabama. They say the stars fell on Alabama. Where the skies are so blue. The namesake of my blog. There is nothing more heart breaking that to see the state you love so much torn to pieces at the mercy of mother nature.

If you watch the national news or television in general, I am sure by now you have seen or at least heard of the the devastating tornadoes that crossed the state of Alabama yesterday, April 26, 2011.

We have had some severe weather the past 2-3 weeks here in central Alabama but nothing can triumph yesterday's storms... a day that will surely go down in history. I have a feeling everyone will remember the April 26, 2011 storms and refer to them for many years just as well all of us remember and refer to the tragic storms of April 8, 1998. 

I live about 30 minutes North of Tuscaloosa. Right between T-town and B'ham. I grew up here, going to Tuscaloosa all the time. I am not talking about going to Tuscaloosa for a football game every now and then {we went and still go to every home game pretty much my whole life} I am talking about ... we regularly go there. 

I went to school there for a while.
Lived there.
Walked the streets.

Breathed the air.
Shopped local businesses.

The storms originated South of Tuscaloosa and gradually made it's way through downtown and to the U of A campus. After it's rampant journey through Tuscaloosa it tore through Birmingham as well. We thought they were headed right to my community, but they went northeast and we suffered minimal damage.

Photo Courtesy of Fox 6

To those of you who may not understand Alabama football or Alabama fans. Tuscaloosa is sacred. A beautiful, historical town dripping with southern charm and full of pride. My dad says there is something in the air down that he can't get enough of.

Before I go further,  please be prepared to pray for Tuscaloosa and the rest of the severely damaged state of Alabama.


From what I have heard and seen, 15th street which is parallel to campus and many student apartment complexes, is completely destroyed. 15th is the location of lots of restaurants students and citizens frequent, I ate at a restaurant on 15th just a couple weeks ago. The corner of 15th and McFarland Boulevard is unrecognizable. The University Mall which is on McFarland suffered damage and supposedly you can stand in the mall parking lot and see Coleman Coliseum. This is a big deal. There were hundreds of houses and businesses obstructing this view before hand. 

 Photo Courtesy of Fox 6

This tornado was strong. Definitely F4 and potentially F5. Winds over 200mph. Diameter 1/2 mile wide.  They are saying Tuscaloosa has not seen a tornado like this one since the 1970's. 

images found via google images

The 2nd picture was taken from a twitvid that went VIRAL last night. You can see the bowl of Bryant Denny Stadium with the tornado lurching in the background. There are so many videos I have seen and posted on my facebook but cannot access them from work.



Dozens of people and students are still missing and unaccounted for including a sorority sister of mine. Another sorority sister was injured during the storm and is in critical condition. Our sorority house staff, Ms.Peggy has damage to her home. Peggy's son, Kel who also worked in our kitchen is missing as well as our house keeper Ms.Essie. My heart is breaking with every word I type. My mom's boyfriend has an elderly mother living in a devastated area and he cannot get in touch with her. 

My dad called to check on his house last night and told me Crystal found a "work order" from a business on 15th street in Tuscaloosa dated yesterday in her yard in Trussville which is an hour and a half from Tuscaloosa.


Since the storm I have gotten constant calls. texts, messages on facebook and twitter from my pledge sisters who are now scattered all across the country and can't fathom the wreck of what use to be Tuscaloosa. So many communities have suffered, not just mine. Pray for Tuscaloosa, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Fultondale, Huntsville and Cullman just to name a few of the Alabama cities currently in a state of disaster. 


Death tolls are rising every minute. 


Amidst all the disaster. There is Bryant Denny, Denny Chimes, Sorority Row, Campus in general... all unscathed. While less than 1/2 mile away, nothing still stands. 


Roll Tide. Those two words are going to be the glue keeping the U of A/Ttown family together. Those two words don't just represent a slogan or chant but a bond the students share, a way of life for the residents and a common ground for the fans.

Yesterday was a long day. I was so tired but last night I couldn't sleep, Tuscaloosa was too heavy on my heart. Pray for my sweet state, the road to recovery is a long one. 


ps. I feel like this post was so scatter brained, sorry.

Old Navy Haul + Target Tuesday

Today has been an interesting day. For the first two HOURS I was at work we had no internet, email, phone, NADDA ZIP NOTHING! Painstakingly grueling and boring. I cleaned my desk, the empty desk next to me, cleaned out some file cabinets with a co-worker, okay you get the point. 

So once the internet got up and running I scurried to my gmail and opened a lovely email from Old Navy claiming to "redeem my last chance offer" here I was thinking I was going to strike jackpot and get like a $100 off coupon. Well, 20% will do. 


So of course I start perusing the site. I have seen a few things I wanted, most of which are now out of stock {the words I truly despise seeing, the bane of my existence}. I then check my bank account {cause I need to see if I can actually afford this stuff} and see I have a new "cashback offer" from oldnavy.com, SCORE! 10% cash back on purchase made through Regions... now before I took this offer I checked how much cash back I would get through eBates (only 2%) so I took full advantage of the Regions one. 

Now this is stuff I needed. My closet is stuffed to the brim yet sooo barren. What in the world did I wear last summer???? So my cart comes to about $50 pre-discount which qualified me for free shipping. Then post discount it was a little over $40 and then I will also get about $4 back in my bank account. 

Here is my small haul which should arrive in 7-9 days {the free shipping takes longer}

Dark Wash Chambray shorts with braided belt purchased for about $13

Dark Wash Chambray skirt with braided belt purchased for about $19

Smocked poplin chemise rang in at a whopping $8

So you can see I have this utter fascination with chambray. I know it's "in" right now... but I am taking this to the extremes. The material is just sooo airy, light and breathable. I for sure have to have a chambray dress for the summer. It would be like a staple and you can dress it so many ways; up, down, casual, etc. My aunt has graciously agreed to let me have a pair of chambray pants of hers and can't wait to wear them to work! Almost wore them today but wanted to take more time to actually plan out the outfit because they are super cute.

 

Then the chemise... NEED x 10. I only wear night gowns/sleep shirts/t-shirts to bed. No bottoms.... can't stand them. They get all wrapped around me and I get hot. So last weekend I realized all I have are long sleeve night shirts and gowns {now I am not talking granny gowns like moo moo's, the cotton ones from VS}. So I decided for the summer, I needed to start collecting some sleeveless light weight ones. I will probably regret only buying one of these at $8. You can't even buy one that cheap at Target theirs are like $15-$20! 

In addition to my Old Navy spend... I am going to link up for Target Tuesday at Fabulous but evil . This is my first time linking up for this but it will be fun. I love me some Target or I mean Tarjhay {makes it sound more upper class}. I got some things in there LAST WEEK and left without all the purchases that I wanted. Well I think in honor of Target Tuesday I am going to go back and get these this afternoon {maybe if I don't get buyer's remorse beforehand}

 

[Please note: I am trying to save money but by not buying frivolous unneeded things which is why I refrained from the HOBO boutique on Rue La La today when they have the mustard yellow Lauren wallet for $49.90. I had this exact wallet and no less than a month after one of my besties mom's gave it to me for Christmas, I had it stolen in NOLA. Breaks. My. Heart. Anywho, these clothes are perfectly acceptable to this spending ban cause I need clothes to wear. Can't be walking down the LV strip next month in my birthday suit]

 

Mossimo Supply Co. Moonshine Shirt

I want this shirt in a bad kind of way. I have actually been having an affair with it for the past month or so. Every time I go by it's rack at Target, I touch it.  It's adorable and although it's not chambray, it's actually denim... it has the chambray look, in my opinion. I think it would look fantastic with a pair of khaki or maybe brown shorts. I tried it on the other day and it was just too cute. They only had 1 in my size left the other day at my local Target. Hopefully it will still be there and maybe be on a sale rack? 

Merona Shirt Waist Dress 

This one is not for funsies. It is for work. My work wardrobe dwindles more and more every week. My clothes are either too big, worn out, winter or I have worn it 1 million times and people are tired of seeing it. I tried this on the other day and it was really cute. 

There you go, my first TT. I could keep mentioning stuff I want cause there is a plenty in the shoe department at Target right now {btw, can't get enough of the Miss Trish for Target. I wear a pair of mine from last summer to work and people go cray cray for them}. I am going to refrain to help me spend less.

 

Weekend Re-Cap.

When I say that I don't do a lot on the weekends. I am being dead serious. I use to always want to go go go and do do do just cause it was the weekend. Now, I cherish the down time. 

Friday, after work and then much dilemma, I went to dinner with my dad. He had been stressing all day over my sisters car being in the shop and them needing some $500 part that they did not have in stock. Thankfully my dad is a man of many connections and his old friend Richard went above and beyond. Their last resort was the Volvo dealership and if they did not have the part it would be Wednesday before the part got it. Thankfully they had it.

When I got home from dinner it was a little after 7 and I went for a run. Let's see... I had not run in two days. So I ran my 1.6 and felt fine, not out of breath or tired just fine. Go home, knock around, watch tv, then go to bed. This is where the problem steps up. Restless Leg. I get in bed and my legs are super sore, wiggly, feel like I am still walking... So I get up and take 3 aspirin. Get back in bed. It continues. I fall asleep then my legs wake me up. Frustrating! Finally my aunt hears me moaning and rustling around and heats up this long bean bag type thing and puts it on my legs. Ahhhh..... Zzzzzz's.

Saturday consisted of cleaning house and Lexie barking at the vacuum cleaner and mop all day. When she was not barking at the cleaning tools she was at the front door barking at the people walking by. During Easter weekend a local church has people walk miles "in Christ' shoes" carrying a wooden cross on wheels upon their shoulders. So of course her ferociousness barked at them. My aunt said "Lexie, hush! Those are church people" and she stopped, returned to the living room and resumed doing this:
 

She really lays like that. Rolls over on her back all on her own and stares at your with those puppy dog eyes. "Peez Scwatch and Wub Mah Belly, Mommee"

I ended up going to Target and the grocery store later on saturday and barely made it out of there cause my lower back was hurting so bad. So I canceled the run.

Easter was great. I went with my family to church and the service was great. Church was super crowded. We came back and had lunch at our house. Of course I got some Easter goodies.... money and clothes and Reese's eggs and York Peppermint Patties. But one little girl had a very good Easter :)

"Did tha Bunny bring dis?"

Two Reese's eggs and a cupcake later I was feeling gluttonous. I gave up sweets for lent and really did not miss them that much but still could not resist a few treats. My aunt was like "Be careful, you haven't had anything like this in 40 days... your body could have a reaction to it." I did... my stomach swelled and I felt like poo. So 2 hours later I got my @$$ off the couch and went for a run. It was painful, not gonna lie. I felt so lethargic but just kept pushing on. I felt this unbearable heaviness at times and even prayed "Dear God, Please let me finish this run without passing out or puking... just let me finish it. I am not a quitter." So then I did and of course felt fabulous. Turns out it was my best time yet! 

The Reese's eggs are going to be out of sight and out of mind for awhile. 2 was enough! Hope everyone had a great Easter

 

Tame my mane

Aside from having decided that I can not afford {literally} to get sick 1 more time in 2011 {I am up to my ears in co-pays and prescriptions. I mean I have health insurance but all those $10 copays and $15 scrips add up! plus all the otc stuff I've been taking} I have spent some decent amounts of time in CVS lately {prefer Walgreen's but there is not one near my house... which is why I go there often on my lunch hour}. Whilst pondering the aisles last week  waiting on my scripts to be finished I found something. 

You see I was needing some shampoo & conditioner badly.  I was planning on trying Fekkai cause I have heard so many wonderful things about it. I have immensely unmanageable {at times} curly and frizzy hair that of course I can't stand {but everyone else looooves. why can't we ever be thankful for what the good Lord gave us?}

Anywho, I was going to get the Fekkai starter kit that has miniatures of the shampoo, condish and hair mask that I saw the other day at Walgreen's. CVS did not have this even amongst the designer shampoos they do carry. So I browsed the ones they did have but was still planning on going to Target to see what they had. Then something caught my eye... it was an interesting shaped bottle... kind of ovalish... bronze colored... I had seen these bottles before... oh what the heck.... just read the label... then I stumbled upon a shampoo made by Organix . 

So I started reading the bottle; "Sulfate and Sodium Free". Score! This was something I had been reading about {sodium and sulfate are harmful to colored hair and strip the color and leave behind residue, also good to keep hair straight}. So then I read further... formaldehyde free. WHAT! They put that stuff that preserves dead animals in shampoo? Kept reading... Keratin proteins {this I knew was great for your hair's health. basically a hair vitamin}. So I grabbed a bottle of  each, the shampoo and condish; Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy.

So I have seen/heard of the Brazilian Keratin therapy before. There are other {more expensive} versions of the product. Also heard of the Brazilian Blowouts and Keratin treatments for relaxation. So I gave it a try. Here is a 4 day observation.

Day 1. Noticeable difference in my post-blow drying hair. I blow it out like with the brush and brush it the whole time but normally it's everywhere. This day it was a lot more smooth and took less time to straighten. Immediate results.  Smells good, too!
Day 2. Again, nice results from blow drying. Straightened suuuper well and then due to the days forecast covered {more that the usual} head with frizz ease hair spray. It was POURING rain in Birmin'ham this day so it was obvi I would have a bad hair day, right? WRONG! Maybe it's because I did not venture out into this stormy weather but my hair stayed smooth all day. On the norm, the humidity at least gets to it on my walks to/from car.
Day 3. Rained a bit throughout the day. Humidity attacked my hair... but it looked ok. I was still satisfied with the prehumidy results
Day 4. Yeah, I think I will keep it :)


Basically... It's AMAZEBALLS. 

A few little notes... It's not a big lathering shampoo. So if you try it don't expect tons of suds. They conditioner is a little different too. It's not like super slimy [only word I could think of]. Much more creamy. Does that even make sense?

Super amped for this new product! 

Look for less: Cara Accessories

How fabulouso are these Cara Accessories bangles?

 I am not gonna lie. I want all the colors. They are all beautiful.
and they are all also $40 a piece {for the large} medium ones are $36 and equally gorg.
Still highly unaffordable for what they are -- painted wooden bangles.  So I moved on...

Until I was in a bored stupor browsing the Forever 21 website and saw the Painted Flowers Bracelet and a buzzer went off.... *ding* ding* ding*! I hit the jackpot and knew I had to blog about this IMMEDIATELY. I did the "Look for less" before about Chaan Lu bracelets here

Ringing in at only $5.80 that is $34.20 cheaper. Go to Hobby Lobby or whatever your local craft or fabric store is called and get some stones and E600 to glue them on with. You can get cheap stones for a couple bucks a bag or at fabric places you can get real ones {which I am almost pos the ones on the Cara bracelets are real}  for a little bit more but it would be worth it to add that extra sparkle. Add a little bit of Do It Yourself to this look for less.