Remixing Outfits Days 1-6 Revealed...

Week one of remixing is complete! The first week of remixing is always the easiest because you really don't have to re-wear anything, but I did challenge myself to try to make my outfits more fun this week and wear things in ways I never have before. I actually had a lot of fun playing with accessories and switching things up.

What I've learned from week 1: Belts are my friend, I need to learn how to pose, I can wear sweaters over dresses to make them completely new outfits and I am most definitely not a model. Those may be obvious to you all, but I'm learning! Here is my first week in remixing...

Maxi Dress: Xhileration, Sweater: Express, Belt: Gap

Skirt and Boots: H&M, Polka dot t-shirt: JCrew, Knit Top: Loft, Necklace: My artsy sister in law

Top: Banana Republic, Shorts: White House, Black Market, Shoes: TJ Maxx, Necklace: Fossil

Dress: Whole Foods, Belt: Limited, Blazer: Lauren Conrad from Kohls, Shoes: Target

Sweater: Loft, Striped Tank top: Gap, Skirt: Target, Necklace: Fossil, Bag: Fossil, Belt: Michael Kors, Shoes: Gap

Shirt: H&M, Belt: Limited, Skirt: Target, Shoes: Sperry's

Fingers crossed I can make it through week 2...

Day 2 and 4 are my favorites so far. What do you think??

Linking up with Kelly, Shanna, Lauren and Lindsey today.

To read or not to read...{A Book Review}

Kate Morton is one of my very favorite authors. Her newest book, The Secret Keeper did not disappoint. It was the perfect blend of history, romance and mystery. Here is what Good Reads says about it...

During a party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the road and sees her mother speak to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy.

Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to the family farm for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by questions she has not thought about for decades. From pre-WWII England through the Blitz, to the fifties and beyond, discover the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined.

One of the reasons I love Kate Morton's novels is because of the different settings she creates in each of her novels. She takes an element of history and then creates a fictional story surrounding it that always sucks you in. She also often includes a type of personal connection from her family history, which adds interest. My favorite of her 4 books is The Forgotten Garden, but The Secret Keeper is an amazing read too! Have you read any of Kate Morton's books? Do you have a favorite??

Celebrating birthdays, horses and Mexico

This weekend was all about celebrating. Celebrating the birthdays of two of my friends, celebrating horses and all things Southern and then celebrating Cinco de Mayo. I think I need a day off just to recover and come down off my sugar high.

Friday was National Founder's day at Frisch's so if you dressed up like the Frisch's Big Boy you got free food. Drew was all over that one since he was Big Boy last year for Halloween. Then my friend Betsy got into town and we went out and celebrated our friend Nate's birthday at Washington Platform downtown.

Saturday was our 2nd annual Derby party. We had such an amazing evening...hats, mint juleps and all, but I'll save the details for another post!

Sunday we went to church and then out to one of my favorite Mexican spots to partake in the Cinco de Mayo fun. Then my friend Betsy headed back to Indiana, which meant sweat pants, grading papers and leftover Derby pie for dinner.

What did you celebrate this weekend??

My Mimi's Derby Pie recipe!!

Derby day has always been a fun one in our family particularly because I usually get to dig into my grandma's amazing Derby Pie. Whether you watch the Derby or not you need to make this pie. Trust me...it's amazing!

Here's what you need for one pie (but I recommend making more pies because one is just not enough)
-1/4 cup butter
-1 cup sugar
-3 eggs beaten
-3/4 cup Karo Corn Syrup
-1/4 tsp. salt
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1/2 cup chocolate chips
-1/2 cup chopped pecans
-9 inch pie crust
-2 Tablespoons Bourbon

Cream butter, gradually adding sugar, add beaten eggs, Karo syrup, salt and vanilla. Add chocolate chips, nuts and bourbon. Stir well then pour into unbaked pie crust.  Bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes.

So in honor of the Kentucky Derby I will be eating lots of Derby Pie, sipping on Mint Juleps and sporting a big floppy hat. Will you be watching???

Here are a few pictures from our Derby part last year! Happy Derby Day!

I'm doing it!

Since I'm trying to be more fashionable and am really into re-purposing this year, I decided to give Kendi's 30x30 remix another go. I will admit that I tried it last year and failed miserably because I got too busy and let it get away from me. This time Kelly from Mrs. in Training (along with my budget) has me motivated to give it another try. Below are my 30 items (actually only 29 because I couldn't find my denim jacket for the picture). I am going to try to have fun layering and adding accessories to make my spring outfits more versatile and fun. I will be posting a few of the outfits I remix the next few Wednesdays. Fingers crossed I actually go through with it this time!!!!

If you're interested in linking up. Kelly has posted the following dates to link up:

• Wednesday, May 1st:  My 30 selected items 
• Wednesday, May 8th:  Days 1-6
• Tuesday, May 14th:  Days 7-12
• Monday, May 20th:  Days 13-18
• Monday, May 27th:  Days 19-24
• Monday, June 3rd:  Days 25-30

Have any of you done the 30x30 remix challenge? How did you do?

*Linking up with Shanna

Favorite Things!

I'm linking up with Ashley to share my favorite things from April. I did a little crafting, a little cooking, took a trip and planned a trip. I think I'd call that a pretty good month!

#1. Completed the ladder project with the help of my sweet husband!

#2. Mother Daughter weekend in Indiana
#3 Counted the change we had been collecting and bought our plane tickets to Colorado for my friend Ashley's wedding! Aren't the save the dates adorable???

#4. Found this cookbook and loved it!
#5. Discovered the show Call the Midwife
#6. Got free tickets to Kings Island and enjoyed a day of fun with my brother, cousin and husband!

#7. Learned that I love quinoa!

I seriously can't believe May is almost here! 23 days until my summer break! May is already full of exciting things...bring them on!

The weekend where my cousin won free tickets to Kings Island...

This weekend was full of sweet surprises. My friend Courtney came in town on Friday and we had a date night at one of my favorite local restaurants called Grand Finale. We sipped on raspberry martinis and went all out with salads, amazing meals and desert! I loved every second of our date.

The game plan for Saturday was to weed the front yard and paint the ceiling, but then enters my cousin who won free tickets to Kings Island opening day. The weeds and the ceiling had to wait because we spent all day Saturday at the park riding rides, chowing down on Cincinnati foods, and eating Smurf ice cream. It was amazing. 

Sunday I had Mexican food for lunch (good thing I didn't count calories this weekend or I'd be depressed) and graded another round of my student's stories. It was such an unexpectedly fun weekend.  The weeds and the ceiling weren't happy to be neglected, but I was glad to put them off for another few days. Did you do anything unexpected this weekend?