Guest Blogging!

Hey girls - I almost forgot!  Megan @ A Suitcase and Stilettos started a new series called "Get Out of Town Thursday" and I wrote all about Dallas. 

She has a great blog, and she travels to some awesome places I've only dreamt of going.  What 'cha waiting for?  Go check her out!

Thankful it's Thursday

No this is not a Thankful Thursday post, I'm just literally thankful it's Thursday. Because guess what? Today is technically my Friday!  Sorry I was MIA yesterday, I have been ridiculously busy at work and then I came down with some serious allergies that made me feel like I was on my death bed.  Not cool.

I have tomorrow off work because I'm going to Rangers Opening Day - that means I will be absent on the blog front! For those of you that don't know, Opening Day is the first game of the season for the Rangers and it's a big par-tay out at the Ballpark. This is my third year in a row to go and it's probably one of my favorite things to do in Dallas. SO. MUCH. FUN. We'll be tailgating from 10:30 a.m. until we drop. Oh boy. That's right, watch out! I have my outfit all picked out. Wanna see? OK:

Dress / Hat / Boots
(Boots currently out of stock - I bought them last summer)

One more important thing I needed to remind you ladies about before I sign off for the week.  My giveaway closes tomorrow at midnight.  So, if you are interested in winning a FREE fabulous vintage cuff, then click here and enter!  Hurry, hurry, hurry.  Time is a tickin'

My Pheonix attire is almost complete

Remember this post?  The one where I posted about my perfect bridal brunch outfit.  Well that dress has been shipped and is on it's way to me.  The dress is from Delia's, which I'm pretty is a store for little tweens.  I don't know if these 36D's and badonkadonk are going to fit in that dress.  I'm just going to cross my fingers and pray to the clothing Gods to give a girl a break.  PLEASE LOOK CUTE! 

I still was on the hunt for an outfit for the rehearsal dinner and a little get together for the Saturday after the wedding.  Both are casual events the bride tells me.  Speaking of the bride, I can't believe I haven't introduced the happy couple to you.  So without further adeiu, please meet my dear friend Christina and her future hubby Emmet:

Christina and I have been friends since 10th grade and have remained close throughout the years.  I cannot wait for all the festivities to begin in a few weeks and to see how beautiful she looks on her wedding day!

Sunday I had to return a dress to a little boutique at the mall, but the store only gives store credit on returns.  Annoying, but worked out in my favor this time.  I started browsing their sale racks and I came across some great stuff for even greater prices.  This maxi dress was half off, so I scooped it up for only $13.99.  I plan to wear this Thursday night for the rehearsal dinner:

I have it pictured here with white sandles, but I tried it on again and I think the dress is too long for flats.  I'm going to have to wear some wedges instead.  The earrings are from Forever 21 and were only $2.80.  Oh how Iove you Forever!

And I have been obsessing over florals this Spring.  How cute is this top for the Saturday brunch after the wedding?  I think it will look perfecto with dark denim and wedges.  It's hard to tell, but the straps are braided.  Love.

Want to know what's even cuter?  That top was on clearance for only $4.99!  Say what???  I think I just found my new favorite store.  For you Dallas ladies, this store is called La Mariposa and is in Willow Bend mall:

I'm making some shopping progress, which never happens.  Typically I'm scouring the malls pathetically in full panic mode the night before a trip because I always seem to wait until the last minute.  Hopefully this time I'm actually going to stay on top of my game.  I would love it if I even packed prior to midnight the night before.  We'll see about that one. 

Me on th Map: The Big D

I'm linking up with my bloggy buddy Michelle @ a little bit of this and that to tell you ladies all about where I live. 

Welcome to "Me on the Map: The Big D" aka Dallas, Texas ... yee haw!  I bet if you are not from the South and/or have never been here, you think we ride horses, wear cowboy hats and have thick Southern accents.  Negative.  

If you heard me talk, the only thing you would pick up on is that I say "y'all".  Other than that, I probably talk just like you!  If you go to smaller cities in Texas, you will definitely notice accents, but most people from large cities do not have Southern accents at all. 

Dallas is the 9th largest city in all of the U.S. and 3rd largest in Texas.  Our beautiful skyline:

Along with being the winning title holder to the most shopping centers per capita than any other city in the United States, Dallas is also the winner of the title "City With The Most Restaurants per Capita".  So yes, we can shop and eat with the best of 'em.  Hence, why my jeans don't fit.  Guess I better head over to Galleria Mall: 

Dallas is known for its barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine.  We also have several nationally ranked steakhouses including Bob's Steak & Chop House, currently ranked #1 according to the USDA Prime Steakhouses chart.  Holla.  I still have yet to go here and have always wanted to.  Still waiting for that hot date.

We are home to the Dallas Stars, the Dallas Mavericks, the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys.  The Stars and the Mavs both play at the American Airlines Center (below).  I lived across the street from here for 2 years, it was so convienent to walk to games. 

The Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers play in Arlington, Texas, which is about a 30 minute drive Southwest of Dallas. 

Cowboys Stadium is the largest domed stadium in the world with the largest HD video screen measuring 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall. It cost $1.15 billion dollars to build Cowboys Stadium. Unreal. 

The Ballpark in Arlington (original name, huh?), is where the Texas Ranger's play and where you can find me THIS FRIDAY for Opening Day!

I currently live very close to the suburb of Plano, which is where I grew up.  Uptown Dallas is the area I lived for 2 years before moving to my current apartment.  Uptown is known for it's dense retail, restaurants and nightlife all within walking distance from where you live.  A pic of some retail in Uptown:

And Plano, the Dallas Suburb I call "home" is where I grew up.  Plano is the 9th largest city in Texas and was ranked as the safest place to live in America by Forbes in 2010. The Shops at Legacy in Plano:

So we've covered shopping, food and sports.  All the important things in life. 

Hopefully I've dispelled the myth that we're a bunch of hicks and stuck in the olden age.  We're actually quite a trendy city with lots to do.  Hopefully you'll agree.  And that's me on the map!

100th Follower Giveaway!

Happy Friday my ladies! As previously mentioned, in honor of reaching 100 followers I am hosting a giveaway to thank each and every one of you little bargainistas!

My good friend Erin has graciously agreed to let the winner of my giveaway choose a jewelry piece of YOUR choice* from her amazing Etsy shop, GUSSIED.

“I've turned my love of fabric, fashion and jewelry into design by using repurposed, vintage and designer fabrics to decoupage wide metal cuffs and rings.” -Erin

May I suggest my namesake, the LINDSEY LEE?

orrrr ... maybe one of these lovelies tickles your fancy: 

But wait ... It gets better! *cue infomercial*  Throughout the month of April she is giving my readers 50 percent off any item you purchase from her Etsy shop. That’s very generous. Just enter the code “bbhalf” at check out.  Erin says you can request a custom design, she has a ton of fabric to choose from.  Just convo her and y'all can figure it out if you're purchasing.

You'd be crazy to not enter this giveaway, so here's how: 

1. Follow my blog and leave me a comment letting me know you’d like to be entered in the giveaway. (*mandatory; 1 entry)

2. Grab my button and post a comment letting me know it’s on your page. (1 entry)

3. Mention this giveaway on your blog and post a comment with the link. (2 entries)

4. Follow Erin and post a comment letting me know you are a follower of hers. (1 entry)

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each FOR A TOTAL OF 5 possible ENTRIES! Please leave your e-mail address in your comment if it is not linked on your user profile. I'm sorry this giveaway is only open to United States residents.

The giveaway is open now and will end on Friday, April 1, 2011 at midnight CST. I will announce the winner the following day after the winner is chosen using random.org. Best of luck to everyone! Thank you again for following me, I love my readers!

*Giveaway does not apply to one of a kind cuffs.

Oh mah word!

Today calls for a "Thankful Thursday" post for a multitude of reasons.

Reason #1 - I'm thankful I hit my goal of 100 followers on the same day I published my 100th post yesterday! I'm loving that I currently have 112 followers. 112? You have to be kidding me.  Andddddd, the number "12" just so happens to be my favorite and lucky number.  Coincidence? I think not.  Here is a big, official WELCOME to all you new ladies, I can't wait to "meet" you all! 

Reason #2 - I am thankful for all the amazeball people I've "met" through blogging.  Exhibit A: My homie Beth over @ SweetBef's Blog.  First of all, today she published a hilarious post all about the "Grind Behind", which is a must read.  I present to you step one:

Imma need you to go check her out.  She's hilarious and her blog is the bomb dot com.   And secondly, she devoted an entire post to yours truly yesterday, which you can see here.  Without her assistance, I'm not sure I would have met my goal.  So thank you my little ginge, I've got a pair of Bugle Boy boxers in the mail with your name on it to say "thanks".  (Don't ask)

Reason #3 - I'm thankful I got hooked up and I have a giveaway all lined up to celebrate reaching 100 followers.  So hold onto your panties because tomorrow I'm doing the big reveal!  Make sure you are a follower so you can enter, you're going to want to.  Trust.

Reason #4 - I'm thankful my Grandma's surgery went well.  This morning my Grandma had a procedure to check her ♥ and they found no heart damage.  I'm so glad it's over with and her ticker is just fine.

Reason #5 - Lastly I'm thankful that today is pay day.  I don't know what the hell my problem is, and even though I'm a biatch on a budget, I keep spending all my money.  It's getting out of hand, and I know I've complained about it before but clearly nothing has changed.  I may be a bargain shopper, but my little bargain finds all add up. 

I'm going to have to force myself to create a budget in order to cut back on unnecessary spending.  Anyone else have this issue or is it just me?  There is a line in the Martina McBride song "This Ones For the Girls" that goes:

"This one's for all those girls about 25 ...
Just living in an apartment just trying to get by. 
Livin' all, all on dreams and spaghetti o' ... 
Wondering where your life is gonna go." 

That line is me.  Except I live on Lean Cuisines and Progresso Soup. 

What really needs to happen is I need to find a billionaire, hot (not Anna Nicole Smith style) man so I don't have to work and can spend whatever the hell I want.  Anyone else agree? That sounds better than a budget to me.  I'm in.  This is how I would roll as a Kept Woman:

I'd obviously be super hot because I would be able to afford trainers and personal chefs.   Definitely.

What I'm Loving Wednesday + My 100th POST!

Link up here if you want to share what you are loving too!

1. Grab your party hats and crack open a brewski because we are having a PAR-TAY!!! This is my 100th post! That. Is. Crazy. I feel like I just started blogging yesterday. Also, I’ve got one more milestone around the corner; I’m less than 15 peeps away from hitting 100 followers.  If you happen to be a reader, and not a follower … I'd love you forever if you wanna MAKE MY DAY and help me hit 100 followers on the same day that I publish my 100th post. *wink, wink*  And I have a giveaway all lined up to celebrate my 100th follower.  Just saaaayin! 

[via]

2. Remember my college buddy Kristen who was in the horrible car wreck and I asked for your prayers? Well, Kristen moved from the hospital to home!  She is proof that there is power in prayer! She is an elementary school teacher and is hoping to be back in her classroom by May. Please keep praying for her continued speedy recovery!

3. In less serious news, my latest electric bill is only $38. Don’t mind if I do. Lucifer (the ex) used to call me “The Light Nazi”. True, I can be a bit of a stickler, but there is no sense in having lights on in rooms you aren’t using. Ha, tell my Mom that. Pretty sure she wishes I had the same courtesy when she was paying the bill for my first 18 years of life. 

[via]

4. I love surprise fresh flowers that appeared on my door Sunday night!  I wish I could tell y'all they're from some hot new man, but sigh … they were from my brother to say “thank you” for everything I do for Reesey. I mean, don’t get me wrong, these flowers seriously made my week and it was so out of character sweet of him. I was just hoping for a secret admirer when I first saw them. I should’ve known better.  Regardless, aren't they gorge?

5. Prior to coming home to the flowers Sunday, I was at dinner with some of my college girlies because our friend Megan wanted to get us all together to announce she was PREGGERS!  I can’t believe we’re at the point in life where friends are getting knocked up on purpose! I love babies so much and I can’t wait to met their little guy or gal. They are waiting to find out the sex, which I think is such a fun idea if you can contain your curiosity. Congrats Megs, you’ll be my chugging buddy again in only 31 weeks! BTW – her husband keeps suggesting the name “Axel” if it’s a boy. Bless his heart.

6. Fun food storage containers. I seriously almost peed my pants in excitement and amazement when I saw these. I use them to bring my breakfast, lunch and snacks to work. So much more economical and “green” to buy something reusable than waste plastic baggies.

Cereal On-the-Go - $4.99 /  Klip-It Lunch Cube - $4.99 / StayFit Snack N Dip - $4.99

7. Not sure if you are aware, but that little baseball team we have in the Dallas area went to that little sporting event called the World Series last year. Sure, they lost, but it’s still an accomplishment to go to the WORLD SERIES. I about fell over when I saw all the ADORABLE Texas Ranger’s apparel Victoria’s Secret is selling. With Opening Day right around the corner, I cannot resist scooping up a new tee or tank for the occasion. 

[via]

8. I’ve mentioned before I wear my hair wavy to work and I have used Suave Mousse for the longest. I decided to try something new and bought TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Activated Spray during my last Wal-Mart adventure. So far, so good. It does a great job of holding my waves and taming the frizz. Not to mention it costs less than $4.

[via]

9. During this same Wal-Mart adventure (Happy to report I did NOT get hit on by any Old Man Rivers types this time. Read #3 here for that nonsense.), these O-Celo-O Dish wand Refill Sponges caught my eye because of their cute design. Then I read that they are non-stick and supposedly "even eggs and cheese won’t stick" to them. Magical! I never knew such a thing existed.

[via]

10. And last, but certainly not least, I’m loving that my friend Erin is moving down the street from me! We get to be neighbs again! We used to live in the same apt complex about a 1.5 yr ago and would do dinner and wine nights once a week, switching back in forth. It gave us time to catch up on life. So glad we get to start this again my little wizard friend!

Be a doll and help me pick my new work shoes!

Before you start to judge and side-eye me too bad, let me just say that I do in fact have a lot of cute heels.  Don't let this post fool you.  However, out of comfort and convenience, I pretty much wear the same black pumps to work every day 9 times out of 10. 

[via] Ha! NeNe from Real Housewives ATL gives the best side-eye.

I wear them until they start to smell so funky I gag when I take them off or they start to fall apart so bad that it's too embarrassing to be in public with them on.  Whichever comes first.  My "every day black pumps" typically have a life span of about 6 months.  We're talking screws exposed on the heel, scuffed toes and once, I even wore a straight up hole in the sole.  I kid you not, I still wore them like that. 

I normally hit up DSW when the time comes to retire a pair.  I've bought Charles David (the culprit of the hole sole), BCBG, Nine West, Bandolino (my current pair), etc.  However, a pair that held up the best and lasted me the longest was a pair I picked up at PAYLESS of all places.  I was in a bind, on my way to the airport for a work conference in Chicago and that was my only option. I settled on a patent leather pair of pumps and those babies lasted me forever. 

So the time has come to retire my Bandalinos and it got me to thinking, I should probably give Payless another try.  Maybe I'll have just as good of luck this time, right? 

This is where you come in.  I present you with my 2 options.  Which one should I order?  I'm leaning toward Option 2.  Let me know in the comments what you think and I'll do a follow-up post with my final decision. 

Option 1 - Karma Pump by Dexter - $22.99

Option 2 - Loveit Overlasted Platform Pump by Fioni - $26.99 

Coral blush for a tropical flush

Disclaimer: Let me preface this post by saying this is NOT a bargain beauty purchase, but I can justify it.  Swear. 

OK ...  My first justification is I literally have never in my life bought blush.  Maybe once, but I honestly cannot think back to a time that I have.  Any blush I've ever worn or owned was from a gift set.  So there.  Think about the 26 years I haven't bought blush, I can totally splurge on my first blush purchase.  I know you're in agreement.

So I did it.  I bought a $28 blush from Sephora during my lunch break, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it.  If you saw my checking account right now you would see that I should feel guilty about it, but I'm not going to because this blush is exactly what I was looking for. 

Introducing the newest addition to my embroidered make-up bag: CORALista by Benefit

[via]

So, can we all just agree that Emily Maynard from The Bachelor is perfection? 

What I would give for her hair, face, body, fiancé and wardrobe!  I told the Sephora lady I wanted cheeks like hers and after spending some time looking at google images of her on my phone (totally normal), we decided on CORALista.  We tested some other colors on my cheeks, but I fell in love CORALista.  Here is a swatch of it:

[via]

I think this is the perfect shade for summer.  It's a warm coral-pink powder with a soft, shimmery finish.  It's very similar to NARS' Orgasm, but without the large flakes of glitter in it, so it's more subtle.

If you’re a bit hesitant because of the price tag, I give you my second justification for this purchase.  NARS’ blushes are $25 for only 0.16 oz. and MAC’s blushes are $18.00 for 0.21 oz., which makes Benefit cheaper by the ounce.  This Benefit blush is .42 oz for $28.  

Clearly I'm not a blush expert, but I do love make-up and always have.  What do you think of this shade and more importantly, what blush do you recommend for summer?

Lazy Sunday: My favorite things

Happy Sunday y'all, I hope you ladies are enjoying what's left of your weekend! The weather has been amazing in Dallas, I wish it would stay this way forever!  Unfortunately, I know 100+ summer temps are right around the corner, which I'm definitely not looking forward to. 

Yesterday my nephew and I took advantage of the weather by playing what he called "big man" baseball at the park. 

I have a list of things I need to get done today, but I'm here laying in my bed playing on my blog.  The usual.  Before I start being productive, I decided to do the "favorite things" post that Sarah Elizabeth @ We're Just Like You Only Prettier tagged me in this past week.  Enjoy!


{1} food. Why Tex-Mex of course. Do you know even where I live?  I'd like to meet a true Texan who wouldn't pick Mexican as their favorite food.  Last night I actually ate with 2 of my girlfriends at my favorite Dallas Mexican restaurant, Manny's Tex Mex Uptown. The food is what I like to call "bomb dot com"!

{2} color. Number one = pink.  Number two = green.  If you saw my desk at work, you'd think the color pink exploded all over it and I wouldn't have it any other way.

{3} animal. Kitty cat. meow, meow.  I'm not a dog person, sorry peeps.  You can blame my ex-bf from high school's dog, Tiger, who attacked me and left the back of my right knee scarred with 2 puncture wounds from the dog's teeth aka fangs.  Yep, that happened, but I'll spare you the gory details and disgust pictures.  This is my cat Nicky on his leash. BTW, cats don't appreciate leashes.

{4} sports team. {college + pro} College = The Texas Tech Red Raiders, diz-uh!  College football in the South is a way of life, and I'm already itching for it to return.  Pro = Texas Rangers. I love going to the games mainly because of the hot dogs, nachos and beer.  Sad, but true.  

{5} dessert. My Grandma's brownies.  Yum in my tum.

{6} artist/singer/band. Pink, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band.  A few years ago we got VIP @ Pink because my friend Richard is besties with one of her back-up dancers.  We also sat second row, it was amazing!  Best concert I've ever been to, love her!

{7} pair of shoes.  My red, scalloped "Wizard of Oz" heels.  Don't you just die?  My faves hands down.

{8} outfit. In the summer, sundresses or maxis.  I wear nothing else (unless I'm at work).  Winter = leggings, long sweater, boots and a scarf.  We only have 2 seasons in Texas ... hot and cold.

{9} store. I don't think I can pick just one, but probably HomeGoods.

{10} brand.  Sorry, but I don't have one.  I wear a lot of all kinds of stuff. 

{11} perfume. Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture and Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior.

{12} accessory.  My custom made garnet and diamond college ring.  I cannot leave the house without it on my finger or I feel naked. 

{13} city. Las Vegas, NV!  Hello, the place dreams are made of!

{15} beauty product.  Ulta Black Automatic Eyeliner.  I think y'all already know this since I devoted an entire post to it.

{16} snack. Cheese and crackers or Natural White Cheddar Cheetos. So deelish and only 150 calories for like 34 of them.  Addicting.

{17} holiday. Christmas hands down, my most favorite time of year.

{18} movie. My all-time fave since I was little has been Father of the Bride.  Steve Martin is hysterical and I ALWAYS wanted to be "Annie".

{19} song. [right now] Jerrod Niemann "What Do You Want"

{20} guilty pleasure. I watch A LOT of trash TV and I'm not guilty about any of it.  I love it, and take it for what it is.  My favorite reality show is BIG BROTHER and when summer rolls around I'm sure you will be hearing all about it all the time.  It is my biggest obsession.