Christmas Wishes!

Yay for the week being almost over! Last night was my work Christmas party and I always look forward to that. Sadly I did not get any pictures. There was not a big turn out at all and I'm not really sure what that was all about. If you skip your own work Christmas party isn't that just sort of "bah humbug"?

The first item on my Christmas wish list is this Mad Men inspired cook book. I want it so bad! I LOVE that show. When I was Black Friday shopping I was able to get season 4 on DVD to give as gifts to two people on my list at a fantastic price. I love old fashioned cook books anyway and have a small collection of them, so this would be perfect.

Trinket needs some new clothes and she is really digging the preppy look lately. I think this Ralph Lauren polo for dogs is adorable. I need to get on her Christmas shopping in a bad way.

The big item on my wish list this year is a Michael Kors watch. I've wanted one for years and have never been able to work up the nerve to buy it for myself.

I'm finished with my Christmas shopping except for a few last minute items (and Trinket). I still have to order the gift for my grandparents in South Texas, and I'm going to post on that because I think it's a good gift idea. It took me a while to come up with it (although it should have been obvious because this vendor is right by my house). I think Boyfriend is going to have a really good Christmas! At least I hope so! He has five gifts to open from me :).

How Nice of Victoria to Give Jobs to These Starving Girls...

I know I'm an entire week late on this, but I just have to write about the VS Fashion Show. Is this just me, or did the models look thinner than ever this year? I mean, they were seriously tiny. I think most of those girls are around my height and they must weigh 30 to 40 pounds less than I do. Of course, I'm pretty "fluffy" right now (collar bones, I miss you!), but still.

Me and my girls before watching the show. I had just come from the gym (because who wants to skip the gym and then see those models?), but I still dressed in black and pink as we decided beforehand.

Since my long time girl crush Gisele no longer works for Vickie, my new favorite VS girl is Alessandra. I want to get some highlights in my hair like hers.

Source: elle.com via Danielle on Pinterest

This time of year is just not conducive to being on a diet, but I'm trying and I'm going to zumba class tonight.

And while we are on the topic of Vickie's, might I add I was very disappointed when I redeemed my two Secret Rewards Cards I got in November and BOTH were only worth $10 :(. I got one of their Miracle Bra swim suits, which I've had before and like, off clearance on the website and only paid about $16 for it so that was still nice since everything from VS is so expensive.

Happy Tuesday!

Back in Black

First off, this weekend was AWESOME because my very beloved Gamecocks beat our rival school, Clemson! This makes the third year in a row we've beat them. That hasn't happened since 1968, 1969 and 1970. To say I'm happy would be a huge understatement. I don't know if any of the rest of you feel this way, but my college's rival just bugs me. Probably more than it should. I think it stems from growing up deep in the middle of Tiger Country and now having people that knew me growing up leave rude comments on my facebook and so forth.

My weekend was good in other ways too. I spent five straight days with my bf which rarely happens and I loved every second. His family is super nice and Thanksgiving was great. His mom is the nicest lady. People from the midwest are all so friendly! I was surprised by how much I liked Iowa.

I did a TON of Black Friday shopping and got some steals. This is me and Herky (Iowa mascot) and the shopping mall.

Yay for Hump Day!!

O-U-T

I am less than an hour away from shutting down this office and starting the Thanksgiving holiday! I'm heading to Iowa today with my bf!

Except for a layover in the Chicago O'Hare airport on a trip to Las Vegas, I've never been to the midwest. I can't wait to see Iowa!

I'm also shopping for the first time ever on Black Friday. When I was in college I worked at the mall and I've worked on Black Friday, but never been a consumer. I'm looking forward to it immensely!

I really want a vest like this.

Happy Thanksgiving!! Oh, and GO GAMECOCKS!! After growing up in Tiger Country, nothing makes me happier than when my beloved Gamecocks kick some kitty bootay.

I Love Marley Lilly

As if I needed another reason to love Marley Lilly, I just received a package from them today and it's perfect! Last week my bf asked me to get his sister a birthday gift. He travels for work and is currently in a podunk little town with very few shopping options. He made the joke that he could get her a souvenir spoon from a truck stop.

I thought about what to get for my bf to give his sister and it wasn't the easiest, since I've never met her, and don't know what she likes. All I know about her is that she's my age and is a hairstylist. I figured that means that she's probably a girlie girl. I decided to go with the Monogrammed Champion Wristlet Purse from Marley Lilly.

I went with black since it's basic and I don't know what colors she likes. I got the monogram in magenta (it looked like the best pink option to me...I thought their hot pink wasn't bright enough and their pepto pink looked too light, but that's just me).

I don't really care for wristlets or small purses in general, usually because I carry around a lot of stuff, but I think anyone can use another makeup bag or bag to use when traveling. I put swimsuits, dirty items, etc in their own bags in my suitcase when I travel.

I was also excited because he give me short notice and the order reached me really quickly. I specified "rush" on the order and it reached me in about 3 days. They are located in South Carolina so that makes them super convenient for me to receive orders on the fly.

As a side note, I just got the December InStyle in the mail and while I haven't read it all yet, it seems to have some great gift ideas. InStyle is my favorite mag.

Yay for Monday being almost over! I had a late flight back from TX last night and I am dragging today. I'm not letting that excuse me from the gym tonight though!

Countdown to TX!

I'm super excited (and a bit apprehensive if I'm totally honest, more about that later) because in two more days I'm headed to Texas. Texas is one of my most favorite places. I LOVE it, seriously. I think a lot of cities in TX (Dallas, Austin, Houston, etc.) seem like a fun place for someone my age to live. I was born in Denton, right outside of Dallas, although I grew up in South Carolina and have lived in SC pretty much all my life.

My grandparents live in San Angelo, in southwest TX, and I'm spending a three day weekend with them starting Friday.

Trinket will be vacationing at my Mom's house during this time.

I'm a teeny tiny bit nervous about the trip. (Not the flying since I have a prescrip to take for that now :]. ) I haven't seen these grandparents since right before I graduated college in 2007. That's just a long time to go and not see someone! They are very very nice and will be wonderful hosts, I know. I don't know them all that well so I think that makes me a tad nervous. Does this make sense? Maybe it's just me.

I know a lot of people that never met their grandparents and I know I'm very fortunate for the opportunity to know all four of mine. My family situation is unique because I'm not in touch with my biological father (their son) and don't know that side of the family very well at all (although everyone I've met or communicated with for various reasons over the years have been super nice).

I'm close with my Mom's side of my family and I've always been super close with my Mom's parents since they live just down the street from her.

I know once I get there I will start having fun and I won't be nervous at all, I'm just a tiny bit nervous right now getting prepared for the trip. Mostly I'm excited and that's better than being nervous!

And you better believe I'll be changing my nails and toenails to the Texas Collection from OPI before I go! I got the set for my birthday this year from my Mom.

The green (Don't Mess with OPI) looks really good on. (Not my nails though-from google.)

Hope everyone is having a good Tuesday and I'll be back with another post before I take off!

Happy 11.11.11 and Veteran's Day!

I remember being in 8th grade and looking for 11:11 on the radio with my friends...do you? Hopefully today will bring some good luck!

One of my blog friends turned real life friend had her baby today. I think 11.11.11 makes a great birthday. She had a BOY :-). I think little boys are just the cutest.

In honor of Veteran's Day here is a picture of my Grandparents. This is 1970s, I think. They are in the back yard of their old house in San Diego. I posted it to my fb today b/c this was when my Granddaddy was in the Navy and stationed in San Diego. Thank you to all those who serve and their families!

Their little dog, Rusty, looks exactly like their current dog, Amos. Exactly. I found this picture and thought to myself, "Who's the Amos impostor?" I guess you would say my Gma is brand loyal when it comes to her dogs.

I still need to do some updating on my newly made over blog, but I will be back with those updates soon!!

I was supposed to be going to my college homecoming party (my major throws an awesome party for alumni) tonight, but I'm sick (flu or something horrible) so I will be staying home. My bf didn't seem to be too sad that we're skipping my alumni function b/c he's been working hard and I don't think he was looking forward to getting dressed up all that much! LOL

Have a great weekend!!

The NEW look!!

Kelly from Kelly's Avenue Designs made over my blog this week! I'm SUPER excited. It was a gift to myself. Aren't presents just great? (Which reminds me about my Henckel knives, which is it's own post. Coming soon.)

Anyways, I will be back soon with more to post! I have several things I've been meaning to blog about (such as my terrible nail salon visit Tuesday night-yuck). I've been a busy bee at work :-(, but when things slow down I'll return.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Herbal Essences Set Me Up Hairspray. I buy this at Dollar General. I don't use this for everyday, only when I hot roll or curl my hair with a curling iron. It's holds pretty well for the price. Nothing works as well as Sebastian, which is what I used when I did pageants. I just don't want to spend $20 for a bottle of hairspray anymore.



Fructis Leave in Conditioner. I also get this at Dollar General. I use this when I wear my hair straight and it really helps it stay smooth.



I LOVE that Vickie's is now making pajamas and yoga pants you can order in LONG. I have some new yoga pants on their way to me. I'm not sure how long they've done this but it's news to me. Maybe Santa will bring me some new Vickie's pjs :).



Here's a sneak peek at Halloween!



I was less than happy to discover that what has always been a very small mole (or maybe a skin tag) on the back of my neck at the hairline has made some majorly drastic changes this morning. I'm going to the dermatologist in the morning. Yikes!

XOXO
Fran

Hip Hop Hump Day!

I always call Wednesday Hip Hop Hump Day because that was what my university called it. So, moving right along, here is Trinket in her Halloween costume. She's a Candy Corn Witch. When the costume arrived I thought it looked a little bit like a pilgrim. Who knows, maybe she'll bust it out on Thanksgiving this year too.

Please excuse the hot mess that is my bedroom right now. I travel (usually to my Mom's or to be with my bf who travels for work) almost every weekend so it seems I'm always packing or unpacking. I've started keeping my suitcase out all the time since I'm always coming or going. As I do laundry and decide what I want to wear for the weekend I just put it in my suitcase, totally skipping putting stuff away. I've let my level of neatness in my bedroom slip :/.



That is my boyfriend's Big Bad Wolf costume you see in the background. I made it from felt and my glue gun!

Begging for food. I was eating dinner at my makeup table because I didn't want to watch what Pogo was watching in the living room. {She was watching a history show (yawn), I wanted to watch the Halloween marathon on AMC.}



Look at this sweet little face!



And lastly Kimmy K in a Little Red Riding Hood costume. I will post pics of mine after the weekend. Also coming soon a post about the ghost tour I took in Savannah two weeks ago.




XOXO
Fran

TGIF and fitness

Thank Goodness it's Friday!! Last night I went to Body Pump at my gym for the first time in two months. I'm not sure how two months passed without me going, but somehow it did. I've done other classes and have been going to the gym about 3 times a week every week, just not Body Pump. I'm pretty sore today! Not like need to take an Aleve sore, but still, noticeably sore. I think that's good, right? It means that last night's workout had to be effective. I'm SERIOUS about being on the health train right now. This may sound super silly, but I want to be sexy for my man!!

These are some great bodies I've put on my Pinterest as inspiration, or should we say THINspiration.

This was me about two years ago...I did not realize at the time what great shape I was really in.

Source: Uploaded by user via Frances on Pinterest

Note I am not usually one to take photos of myself with a phone in the mirror, but I think this was for my boyfriend at the time, who was into body building. Although if-no make that WHEN I look like this again you better believe I'll be taking pics!

This body is to die for. Gorg.

Source: flickr.com via Frances on Pinterest

I look forward to the VS Fashion Show every year.

Source: google.com via Frances on Pinterest

I'm a little addicted to Pinterest right now.

Source: imgfave.com via Frances on Pinterest

And lastly, I think I'm going to treat myself to some new sneaks. I registered for a 5K in December (I think it's good to have a goal to work towards, even if you have to "invent" it for yourself) and I need to replace my shoes before I start seriously running again.

Source: google.com via Frances on Pinterest

I love the PINK of them :-)

It's almost 5!! Sweet freedom. Enjoy your weekend readers!!

XOXO
Fran

Fall Decorations

I thought I would show you all my office with all the fall decorations I've put up. After all, I feel like I spend ALL my time here. Ha! Probably true. I think everyone spends more time at work than at home, sad to say. So, here you go!

Welcome to my office! Here's my door. {Scarecrow was $1 at the Dollar Tree}



View looking in, minus my (usually) smiling face behind the desk.



My view looking out.



A few close ups of my Halloween decorations.







Hope you all enjoyed my office!!

More later...

XOXO
Fran

Life Lately...

Here's a brain dump post...

1. This is me and my friend on the way to see Justin Moore in concert in Mershon, GA. South Georgia is COUN-TRY. Let me tell you, it's something when I think someone has a Southern accent!



2. For years I've worn bright colors, religiously. See examples below.

Fran and Jenna, Christmas 2009



Me and, well, I cropped him out because he's my ex-bf. Haha. This morning on the way to work I was listening to the radio and the topic was about blanket statements. People were calling in with all sorts of ideas. One caller said all boys that wear Tap-Out shirts are jerks. I LOL'ed! SO true. And if you are wondering what that has to do with this pic, look closely at his shirt.



But, lately I've really been feeling neutrals. I've been wearing a grey cardi like it's going out of style. I saw this on InStyle's website and I love it. I have boots very similar, so I think I'll try to find a cream colored sweater dress.



I love Jessica Simpson. Always have (since the days of Newlyweds), always will. In fact, my friend in the fist pic above reminds me of her a little.

3. I want to wear my hair like this on Halloween. Does anyone recommend a good curling iron? When I've been doing my hair lately, trying to make it wavy, the curls/waves just fall out!



XOXO
Fran