by Joey | Apr 3, 2015 | Throwback
Sinful Colors: Lavender
Nicole by OPI: Count on Me
A few weeks ago, I was in Target and spotted the Essie Cashmere line. Specifically, Coat Couture. But I knew the whole point of that line was that the finish on the polish was a satin/suede finish. I’m just…not into it. Almost as much as I’m not in to spending $8.50 on an Essie polish that will chip in about an hour. I love Essie’s color selection, but their formula is still the top of my “not the best” list. Throw in the fact that the polish was a demi-matte, and I knew I’d be cursing chips no less than an hour into wear.
But y’all. That color haunted my dreams. Yes, I’m that dramatic. Nail polish colors stay. with. me. Nothing haunts me more than the bottles I don’t purchase. Especially when they are limited edition and I don’t just snatch them up when I see them (looking at you, Cashmere Bathrobe circa Essie Winter Collection 2013). I couldn’t find Coat Couture anywhere. And I wasn’t completely convinced that if I did find it that I’d actually purchase it. But the blue sparkle of that suede polish just spoke to me.
The sunlight was playing a funny little game with the base color (sinful colors: lavender). It’s actually a much deeper taupe-y purple (much like the base color in Coat Couture). I snatched that baby up Target just because I really liked the color. I needed to run over to Marshall’s for some Batiste, and while I was there I found a duo set of Nicole by OPI including Count On Me. It’s a sheer lavender tinted top coat with blue and pink micro-glitters. When I spotted it I thought…OMG! Put that over top the polish I just bought at Target and BOOM!
And so that’s what I did.
I’m totally loving the combo. And I have a serious obsession with cream polishes, so I’m excited to bust out the Nicole polish over top some other colors for some fun new combos!
by Joey | Apr 2, 2015 | Throwback
++ Bailey always loves the goodies we get c/o Chewy.com…but this last month she was particularly loving the Orijen Black Angus Beef Dog Treats. I’d never seen her go crazy for a treat the way she did for those suckers. Well. I made a mistake. I have a bin that I keep on a bookshelf in our living room with her coat, sweater, and other dog accessories in it. When we were packing up to move, I stuck some of her treats in there. Well…on Sunday when we got home from church? Yeah. I found a big mess. Apparently these treats are DEFINITELY Bailey approved. She ate the whole freaking bag in one sitting. Sigh.
++ I’m a fan of apartment living. I forgot to grab coffee creamer on my way home on Tuesday night. In Buies Creek, that would mean I’d wake up to no coffee on Wednesday morning unless I felt like paying for a Starbucks latte. Instead, I just walked over to the clubhouse and made myself a “we proudly brew starbucks coffee” drink (complete with creamer, thank you very much) and I walked on home. Done and done.
++ A blogger date is always fun, right? Sushi and cocktails with these lovely ladies (Kristina, Chesson & Amanda) was a fun way to break up this week!
++Wednesday night, I went and snagged my neighbor’s dog from the boarder since she was on her way home from Raleigh and was going to miss the cut off by a half hour. Bailey loved having her friend over! We went out for a quick playdate at the dog park and then when they were tired out we went back up to our apartment. Sweet Savanna (Labradoodle) climbed right up in my lap! Isn’t she just the sweetest?
Okay friends! Your turn!
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by Joey | Apr 1, 2015 | Throwback
Sweet Julia from
Grace Makes New tagged me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. The rules are that you have to answer some questions then tag some people with your own questions. Julia asked some good questions, so where we go!
This photo has nothing to do with this post.
I just love that it actually happened.
So there.
1. What is your all-time favorite vacation spot? Why?
Charleston. J and I have been going there together since we were in college. We’ve probably exhausted all there is to do there, but something about it feels like home away from home. We have so many wonderful and hilarious memories linked to that historic little city.
2. Who do you most admire?
Jonathan. That might seem like a cop-out, but it’s true. He’s the hardest worker I know. He’s also the smartest person I know. He’s always even tempered. He will always find a way whether it’s how to build something from scratch or how to handle a certain situation.
3. If you had to choose somewhere else other than the U.S. to live, where would it be?
Since I’ve only been to Mexico, I’m going to choose not to answer this one. I’m not a very worldly person, unfortunately.
4. Who is your favorite author and why?
Can’t be answered. I admire many authors for many different reasons. I read the good, the bad, the silly, and the ugly. If you’re looking for “whose books do you enjoy the vast majority of” the answer would be Diane Chamberlain. Start with The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes. You probably can’t go wrong with her though.
5. What is your dream job?
You already know the answer to this one.
6. Favorite flavor of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream?
Phish Food & Jimmy Kimmel’s Late Night Snack. In fact, a friend and I recreated the “late night snack” flavors with a cupcake when we were bored at work at Gigi’s back when I lived in Athens. You can find that post
here.
7. Describe your perfect day off.
Sleep in until about 8. Coffee and youtube. Walk the pup to get brunch with the hubs. Drinks on a patio. Walk home. Order pizza and binge watch Netflix. I’m pretty easy to please.
8. What is your favorite season?
Don’t throw rocks at me. Winter. But I have a love for all the seasons for different reasons. Winter is just my favorite.
9. Do you watch sports? If so, which ones?
As long as there is booze and food, I’ll watch any sport.
10. If you had to listen to one genre of music forevermore, which would it be?
I have terrible taste in music, so this is probably a bad question for me to answer. I’d be fine with pop or country.
Tagging:
Anyone else!
Questions:
1. What’s the one food you could eat forever and never get tired of?
2. Best book you’ve read in the last 5 years?
3. Haircut, manicure or pedicure? Which is your favorite to go have done?
4. Clothes and shoes or make up and nail polish? Which are you more likely to spend all your money on?
5. Biggest pet peeve?
6. A bad habit you have but wish you didn’t?
7. Would you rather be hot or cold?
8. Favorite date you’ve ever been on?
9. Phone calendar or paper planner? If paper, which one do you use?
10. How often do you “go home” to see your folks?
Have fun, ladies!
by Joey | Mar 31, 2015 | Throwback
jeans: American Eagle
shoes: Target several seasons ago
blazer: JC Penny
lips: Revlon Moisture Stain Barcelona Nights
Y’all. I am so not a fashion blogger. This is my great attempt. Photos taken by a surprisingly willing husband on my iPhone. It is what it is. Anyway, on to the point of this post.
My sweet friend
Claire is taking a leap of faith and diving into a dream she’s had for a long, long time. And if the blog world is
one thing, it’s supportive, y’all. It often times feels like one giant hug (at least the blog world I hang out in does). So I’m here today, asking you to give this girl and her adorable shop a chance.
Claire is one of the first people I spoke to about self-publishing my book. She was hugely supportive and completely believed in me. And I can say the same for her. She is just the kind of person you know will do great things. I know I’m supposed to be talking about her shop, which is great–but more so, Claire is great.
But anyway, on to the shop.
The Studio by Fashion & Feathers is her Etsy shop. It currently houses this absolutely charming Lucky Girl shirt (which I wore, incidentally, to an Irish Pub over the weekend), iPhone cases, and some inspiring prints! I strongly urge you to go snag this top, which is the softest t-shirt I own, but to also support a fellow blogger. Who doesn’t love seeing people chase their dreams, huh?
Claire has been generous enough to offer y’all a discount code for the next week good on anything in her shop!! Use the code HODGESPODGES10 and get yourself something super cute!
by Joey | Mar 30, 2015 | Throwback
On Sunday morning, I woke up to the dog crying to be let out. With sleep in my eyes, I stumbled down two flights of stairs and froze in the unseasonably chilly weather while she did her business.
I sat quietly with my coffee when I got back upstairs. When it approached ten, I started getting ready.
All of this is mundane, typical stuff. The dog needs to be let out. I sit quietly with my coffee. I ease in to my morning. Going through the motions. Just another day.
Our new neighbor happens to attend the church that was on our list to try. After an exchange of texts, we decided we’d ride into the city with her then ride the light rail home. She works on Sundays.
The church was beautiful and welcoming. The music was phenomenal. And then somewhere in the middle of the service, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I bowed my head and tried to force back tears.
You see, it was only eight weeks ago that I stood in a different church in Buies Creek with my head bowed, fighting back tears. Everything was such a mess. We were so unsure of our next steps. I’ve never leaned on God more than I did in the months between December and now. We couldn’t do it alone. We weren’t sure what our next day looked like never mind where the next month and beyond would take us.
I’ve never been more scared for our future.
And yesterday, on that particularly chilly but beautifully sunny March day, I stood in a new church between my husband and a new friend. It was undeniable what God had done for us in the last four months. Our lives are His. And I could hear Him over the last several months telling me not to be afraid. I felt an odd peace amidst the fear. I told J back in December that there would come a time in the near future that we’d look at each other and say “well, that worked out quite nicely don’t you think?”
Well.
That worked out quite nicely, don’t you think?
If you’re going through something. If you’re scared. If you’re unsure. If your world has been turned upside down, I know the feeling. Please don’t hesitate to share your story. Besides leaning on God, there is no way I could have made it through the last several months without those of you who reached out and begged me to lean on you.
Thank you.
