Bulimic Shopper

I want this purse. and i want it now. i want him in my collection. so why, oh why, am i scared to "add to cart" because of the "non returnable" staring back at me... I shouldn't let that stupid disclaimer scare me, but i do. why?

 I'm a bulimic shopper. (first step to recovery is admitting you have an addiction, right?) 

30% of everything i buy goes back within the 30 days. yep, it does. I have Ordy Boy shopping with me in line and I go between justifying my purchase to talking myself out of it before my turn comes up at the register. If he hears me talking myself out of it more than I justify it he tells me to save gas money and just leave it in the store because he knows I'll return it. It's bad. I've been blacklisted from returning from my favorite stores. I can't help being indecisive. You really expect me to keep a pair of boots I tried on hastily in victoria secret sweatpants after sweating from the tanning bed? Well, news flash- I need time. I need to buy them, go home, shower, fix my hair, try the boots on with an actual outfit I would wear them with, walk around, sit down, etc... If the jeans don't tuck in the boot right, or don't go over the boots well, THEY'RE GOING BACK! I don't want a new pair of boots that don't look good with the jeans I already own! If all my jeans are high-water with the new shoes- they are not staying in my closet to gather dust! I don't get why the mean old cashiers don't understand this concept. They just look at me like a leper, thinking, 'back again?'

Thanks google for this image to help demonstrate. Exhibit A: Weird Knee Syndrome. If my jeans do this in my boot- I'm not keeping them!

Ok, sorry for the venting. you think I'm officially cookoo for cocoa puffs now, don't you? Just trying to explain how my little brain works...

I have never been a fan of Forever 21. The only thing that I justify is that I will probably keep the item for being "so cheap"... but when I see those $28 numbers I start to panic thinking, ok, this $30 is OFFICIALLY out of my bank account FOR GOOD. and that freaks me out. 

So now this purse. I want it, I think I'll love it, but I can't hold it/feel it/try it on to know for sure. I think it's amazingly versatile. Sophisticated and yet casual at the same time. I can totally see me toting it around once I have a job {haha}... *some day* 

I won't say how much, because it's a pretty penny BUT justifiable considering it's 60% off!!!  but that DARN NO-RETURN POLICY!! Can I do this?


Bulimic Shoppers Anonymous: Click to Vote for a Cure... jk

Meet Stella...

Stella, {the newest member of our family} used to be ugly, tacky, gaudy, and just plain awful. She is now refreshing, bright, cheery, and delightful. {and fantastic, and beautiful, and awesome, etc}. She got her name because she is quite simply stellar. And I couldn't name her stellar, so i named her stella. she. is. incredible.

When I adopted her, she was a sad thing but had tons of potential. TONS.

I couldn't sleep for days {if i'm lyin', i'm dyin'!) because I was SO excited to see Stella's transformation. It was too late the first day I bought her, then the next 2 days it rained, then the 4th day I had to go to class all day {bummer}, so it was a lot of waiting. I hate waiting for projects!

Ordy Boy, being the sweetheart that he is, totally knowing his Joon Bug and her antsy-ness, started the project without even being asked. We discussed color options and of COURSE I wanted white, but he made encouraged me to go a little crazy. I was hesitant but i'm so happy with the color now!!

I had a choice of three different Krylon yellows, but ultimately went with the "Bright Idea" and I am super happy I did!  It. is. perfect.

he sent me these pictures while i was in class, and my responses to his texts where less than enthusiastic. I was notttt feeling the color. I regretted my decision and felt too bad to tell him to go white. plus i didn't know if it was even possible after his 5 coats of yellow and shine... ugh. regret.

BUT THEN I SAW HER IN PERSON. she was the most BEAUTIFUL shade of sunshine yellow! I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to take her home and hang her up! Alright, here she is in her new home!

she is so me!!

Portrait Season

Happy Thanksgiving! As you gather around your family and decide to take family portraits, please learn from these mistakes... I obviously have my dog in MY portrait, so MOST of these are pet related :)

As I prepare to create and send out my christmas cards, i struggle with the fine line of "cheesy" and "creepy" with Bandit. The thing is... I WANT to be cheesy, who SERIOUSLY wants to send out a pic of themselves with their pooch?? I'll end up looking like the loonies above! BUT, WHAT IF theyyyy MEANT to be cheesy and funny {doubt it}... is it really funny? haha who knows, i know that bandit and i will be funny because that's just who we are, but I can only imagine the people getting our cards and will be thinking "whatttttt?"

Ok, now that i'm thoroughly reconsidering my pooch portraits, i'm off to stuff my face with a thanksgiving feast!!! I'm so thankful for my friends and family!

I'll leave you with this last HILARIOUS picture. 10 points for whoever guess WHO it is of...

What I Wore Wednesday!

First off all, let me apologize for the AWFUL camera phone pics. the iphone has really been letting me down lately, and i am so sorry you have to suffer. I will have my GOOD camera this week so next weeks WIWW will be a lot more easier on the eyes... but considering this week wasn't even worthy of documenting, i'm sure you'll let it slide!

Thursday:
Lazy Day, Class all day... you get the point. Not worth documenting. 10 hours of class just to head over to my bff's house to stay in pajamas for the next 24 hours...


Friday:

Jacket: Gap
Jeans: Seven
Wedges: H&M


Saturday: (putting on makeup...ha)

Cardigan: NY&Co
Shirt: Nordstrom
Jeans: Macy's
Shoes: Coach


Sunday:

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack
Shirt: (Same as Saturday, whoops)
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: True Religion
Boots: Souvenir from Italy {techinically, BOOT, but you didn't notice, did you?}
Turban Towel... let's not judge.


Monday: hope you get a laugh that I forgot to document the picture, then when i saw the huge mirror at the tanning salon felt the urge to document away!

Cardigan: Target
Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Rich & Skinny, Nord
Shoes: Target


Tuesday:

Cardigan: Forever 21

Shirt: Forever 21

Jeans: Rich & Skinny, Nord {washed this time, promise- it was losing the stretch from the day before ha}

Shoes: Target

Linking up to the Pleated Poppy {and if you wandered from there, feel free to stay and browse! I love new followers and I promise to keep you entertained!}

Also, don't forget to click if you love me: (it's seriously just a click nothing else!)

http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/1397

Paula Continued

The blog was too long and running over into the other posts, so i had to break it up. So, finishing up the last post, here is Recipe #2

Ok, are y'all ready for the next recipe? Here is the EASIEST PIE EVER! I actually have this recipe memorized it's that easy.

Apple Butta' Pun'kin Pie

(I made that name up too, say it- it's pretty fun)

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Apple Butter
• 1 Cup Fresh or Canned Pumpkin
• 1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 3/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 3/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 3 Eggs, Slightly Beaten in Separate Bowl
• 3/4 Cup Evaporated Milk
• 1 Unbaked 9 Inch Pie Shell
• Sweetened Whipped Cream, for Garnish

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 425. Mix Apple butter, pumpkin, and brown sugar, salt and spices in bowl
• Stir in eggs and gradually add milk. Mix well
• Pour into pie shell
• Bake for 40 minutes or until set (in other words, not too jiggly) 

That's IT!!! How easy was that?? YOU WILL LOVE these recipes, try them both or just one! 

pun'kin

Using the apple butter from the Jaemor trip

the basics in a bowl

the cake pops

red velvet :)

Well, that's all for now! this baker is finally sitting down to go through some school outlines for my finals before I call it a night! let me know if you try any of these!

Please vote 

Channeling My Inner Paula (Deen)

Tis the season to... BAKE!

Baking makes me jolly, so tis the season to be jolly and bake. I was a baking mad woman queen tonight- finishing a total of 4 pies, a casserole, and 3 dozen cake pops (I had an order, otherwise I would not be insane enough to make them on such a busy night!)

I cannnnnnottt waiitttt to share these easy and amazing recipes! They're my "staple contributions" for every Thanksgiving dinner. It's a given that I'll bring these, no questions asked! They are so easy I bet for under $10 you can make 2 pies to take to your dinner! Consider yourself warned though, because once your family tastes these versions, you might be obligated to bring them every year!!

The OCD's Sweet Potato Casserole 
(I obviously made that name up, but being OCD it makes for a beautiful casserole with the order and the lines in it!) 


Ingredients

• 4 1/2 lbs. sweet potato (around 5 medium sized)
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1/2 Cup Butter, Softened
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 1/4 Cups Cornflakes, Crushed
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Pecans
• 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Melted Butter
• 1 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Preparation

• Peel your sweet potatoes (some people peel it after baking, since I boil, I do it before)
• You can choose to bake or boil your sweet potatoes, I personally like the control boiling gives me (checking every now and then to poke and make sure it's as soft as I need). if you're baking, bake at 400 degrees for about an hour. If you are boiling, boil in a large pot for about 45-50 minutes until tender. 
• Mash the sweet potatoes after they have cooled and add sugar, milk, butter, eggs, vanilla, and salt and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Spoon sweet potato mixture into a greased 11x7 inch baking dish (or any "pretty/festive" casserole dish you think is big enough, this recipe is easy to just take what you need to fill a dish)
• Combine cornflakes cereal, pecans, and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle diagonally over casserole in rows 2 inches apart {see OCD...}
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle alternate rows with marshmallows; bake additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

As time consuming as this recipe is (most of the time going into softening the potatoes) it is fairly simple! ok, it's extremely simple, who am i kidding. I just want to act like I am capable of bringing a difficult recipe to the table haha. Here's how it looked tonight:

boiling the taters

adding the ingredients (i switched to a bigger bowl, don't worry)

adding the cornflake mix

OCD kicking in...

yum!

baking frenzy

what's he doing here?! (don't worry, this was after baking, i'm sanitary!)

What it should look like when you're done!

Please vote