lovely lists

TEN* LITTLE THINGS I COULD LIVE VERY UNHAPPILY WITHOUT:

1. Nachos, pepsi, tea, chips. All of these equally excite me.
2. Parchment Paper.
3. My little pad of paper that sits next to my oven. I have the memory of an 80 year old woman with Alzheimer's.
4. Automatic windows and locks in vehicles. I don't know about you, but I hated rolling up and down windows.
5. Dishwasher, Washing Machine, Dryer. Enough said.
6. Office/Craft supplies. I am addicted to organizing. The act of. Staying organized is what I am bad at.
7. The super soft cuddly warm blanket that is always next to the couch.
8. Ugly pajamas.
9. My sense of hearing.


ONE THING I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT: I couldn't live without my family.

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE ME LOVE AUTUMN:

1. My non-fat no-whip pumpkin spice latte... nothing beats it.
2. The colors.
3. Going for a walk on a brisk windy day and watching as the leaves fall off the trees.
4. Fall accessories. Scarves and tights and mittens and hats and BOOTS!
5. The pumpkin patch pictures. Every mother knows.



ONE THING THAT MAKES ME HATE AUTUMN: Bittersweet memories.

YOUR TURN:  
Tell me one little thing that you couldn't live without!














Okay... REALLY RANDOM, BUT I have to include this video.
This is Derek and Ricki Lake on Dancing With The Stars. Please don't laugh or stop reading. I don't usually post about this sort of thing (and I don't normally post lists of stuff, who am I kidding) but this video is so touching. And she looks breathtaking.

Skip to 1:55 to see her gorgeous outfit & the heartfelt dance about falling in love with the person she seeing now.

The song is Gravity by Sarah Barielles--one that really means a lot to me and holds a lot of personal weight. I may record this, actually...
xo,
Courtney



P.S. Today I took outfit posts that I hope will empower you to feel beautiful. They really mean a lot to me: I hope you'll check back. For now, in case you missed it, you can click over to Pop! of Style to see my blogger of the week post.

*About this... well, Jeff knows.

Blogger of the week

I have exciting news: I've been featured on Pop! Of Style's Blogger Of The Week. Please support my first guest post!

I have to cut this short! I'm off to play Dora and color with the munchkin!

xo,
Courtney

the fourth misfit

I can't call this one a closet monster... but it fits the challenge. It's definitely a misfit.

My most loved subtle feather earring...

One trend I love: the arm party (perfect one)
I've said before, I'm so scared of "doing it wrong" so this is my ongoing attempt at stacking more bracelets!

Recently people have been surprised to learn my hair isn't naturally like this.
My hair is naturally straight with annoying kinks...
I've been thinking about doing a hair tutorial on super easy waves--or whatever you'd call this mess.
It takes me 5 minutes to do my hair, no joke. This is my lazy do.

So here's to showing you what makes these beautiful scalloped shorts such a misfit...

The first and only time I wore them my dear friend said "uh... Courtney..." whispering to me so no one else could hear "...when you bend over, you can pretty well see your butt." And that was the nice way of putting it. I don't mind short shorts. I wore lots of short shorts this summer. I do have a problem with short shorts that flare out and expose you. As Katya would say, don't show-cha your chocha! Um, go read the post if you haven't. I promise you will laugh.

Apparently I need to publicly remind myself to take the stickers off my shoes! Oops!

VERDICT: They're pretty short... Maegan thinks I should try them with tights. What do you think? Too short even with a pair of thick cream tights?

Ah well. At least I was happy with how I styled them. Really, even if I wouldn't leave the house with them on and my sole purpose was to take some pictures and take them off. I just love the army green and the scalloped hem--a feminine cut with a tough color. So pretty. I'm having a hard time letting these go!

Outfit details: LUSH blouse; Spotted Moth scalloped shorts; Garage military jacket; F21 heels
Jewelry: Sparkles of Hope bracelet, F21 Everything else...

I LOVE this blouse. I bought it (here) immediately after I saw this post. I love how the blouse, while it should be completely drab and unflattering, actually really accentuates the waist. It falls beautifully. Perfect boho look, and though in some pictures it looks to be a burnt orange, it's actually a bold camel color. Perfect for warmer fall days.

I normally don't post so many pictures including the same outfit but I just can't help myself. I love the detail in this shirt: frayed chiffon, the pleats, the cut, the fall... <3 so gorgeous...

Opinions: Keep or toss the shorts? Or restyle them if we can't decide!

Hurricane today! Hello rainy day activities :)

xo,
Courtney

polka dots

Outfit details: Armani watch, Sparkles of Hope bracelet, Spring heels, F21 everything else

I don't have a misfit for you today (but I have one for you next post--so check back because I will need your help). I've worn both this shirt and skirt before, but if it makes a difference, only probably once each. This, I think, has to change. This skirt is hiked all the way up to my boobs--it's fantastically long, meaning, versatile, and can be worn any which way. This shirt however is weird. It can't be belted, so you have to be able to rock the paper bag princess look. When it's belted it bunches in all the most unflattering places. That's one of the reasons I never wear this tank top but to my surprise, I got complimented on it like three times. Yay!

These shoes are the most worn in my closet at the moment--but they've got a brown mark on them! oh no! I don't know how to mend them either. They've also accumulated some scratches, but I've heard I can heat them and massage the softened plastic and reshape. Um, cool? Anyone does this before?

 It was freakishly warm today. My hair turned frizzy, my face melted and I was sweating all day long. Grossest feeling ever.

I'm having a good-yet-horrible day. 'Care to hear me elaborate? Yes, why, yes, I'd love to...

I'm going to share the bad news first: I'm spending the night baby-free! This is going to take some getting used to. She is spending the night with her father. I called her to say goodnight and managed to get a "Hi Mommy" and a "Goodnight" and then I sort-of cried after I got off the phone with her. Maybe like three sparkling tears. It wasn't a big deal. But I react oddly to pain in any form. It usually explodes in a firework of emotion when I least want it to surface... but hey. That's just how I roll. The good news is she seemed to have a really good day and apparently went to sleep fine. That's what they tell me. It's my job to trust and believe it. (Sometimes I am not good at said job. Maybe it's my horrible case of Mommy worry)

The good news today...
Yesterday, the guy at Staples gave me a free USB cord. He tried to help me find ink (failed) then he told me (to my horror) that the kind of USB cord I needed was ridiculously hard to find--but he managed to have one... and then he gave it to me. And told me it helped to carry around a cute youngster. Hurrah!
The guy at Starbucks gave me a free Non-fat No whip pumpkin spice latte with no sprinkles for free... and it was a venti! Hello! How amazing! And he was from New York! I asked him what the hell he was doing in Newfoundland if he was from New York and he said since he came here, that has been his #1 most asked question! Haha. Apparently he is doing his PHD in Folklore and this is one of the only two places that offer it? Awesome. I wasn't carrying a cute baby this time. Uh oh. Don't worry, Jeff. You're still my one and only and he didn't ask me out on a date or anything :) On a different note, I find being in Starbucks the most relaxed I've been in so long... I love crowded white noise. It helps me concentrate. Go figure.

Now... Criminal Minds? Ped notes? Writing my next post? Here I come...

xo,
Courtney

PS. Look at this scarf belt! Made to look like an obi belt. Check out Kileen's (from cute and little) styling of it, and the tutorial on Clothed Much here. Um, have fun! I know I will when I try this!

PPS. Go over to this time is a charm and see the best engagement video ever... Seriously... hint Jeff... haha!

PPPS. Look at the comment my mother left me on the previous post. Enough to make me cry? Yes!
Sometimes I think we have our roles reversed. I often wonder if I have done enough in my role as a parent, and if there were things I could have done better. Those negative thoughts that you just mentioned and always questioning yourself as a parent wanting to get it right the first time because we can only deal the cards once. Once they are played we can't go back. Reading this you inspire me. I look at you and I see such a beautiful person, inside and out. You not only can be many things, you are many things, an amazing mother, sister, friend, and daughter. And then I think, I must have done something right.
Your # 1 fan
Of course you did, Mom--you're amazing. Love you so much!