Hitting the Books

Posts may be light this week as I am studying for my OK Real Estate license class exam. I am hoping to cram more studying in the next few days and take the test Wednesday before heading on vacation. Wish me luck and patience.

Sun Safety

Now that I am on the downhill side of my 30's I have become more interested in sun protection. The other day I came across a site hosted by the Environmental Working Group where they have rated sun protection products. According to the Group's latest report, a whopping 92% of sunscreens either don't adequately protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals--and sometimes both. Follow these tips and never get burned again.

Do pick lotions or creams. "When you use a spray or powder sunscreen, you're more likely to inhale chemicals," says Leeann Brown from the EWG. "It's great on your skin, but not in your lungs." Plus, it's easy to miss spots with sprays and powders.

Do look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with zinc oxide, titanium oxide or avobenzone to help ward off damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Don't use a sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or vitamin A (sometimes listed as retinyl palmitate). Oxybenzone is a hormone disrupter that can penetrate skin easily; it's also a common allergen. Research suggests that vitamin A or retinyl palmitate might make skin more sun-sensitive and speed tumor growth. The girls at Natures Knockout also suggest the product should have at least 7% zinc/titanium dioxide.

Do slather--and repeat. Use about an ounce of sunscreen (enough to fill a shot glass) all over your body and reapply every two hours. Slap it on more often if you're swimming or sweating.

As far as products go I am reluctant to categorize them all as sunscreen because I believe we need different products for different reasons - one for face, one for body and one for hands.

When it comes to the cost of sun care products I believe that price should not be an obstacle. I would rather spend $75 on a bottle of lotion now than $500 on botox later. For example, if I had a cool bill laying around right now I would buy this Zo Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen Primer SPF 30, a sunscreen and makeup primer in one, discovered via Liz and Jane .

In the mean time I just ordered some new products from the Skin Store and will let you know how I like them.

Sale Alert!

If you need a pick me up or two for your wardrobe you should head to your nearest LOFT, they are having a huge sale right now. If my closest store was not 45 minutes away I might be tempted to pick up some of these looks.

Fashion Do or Don't

This issue may have been covered in other fashion centric blogs, but I need to know what my own friends’ take is on this issue: denim “boyfriend”/cut off/distressed shorts. It would be a no brainer if I were back in my 20’s, but I am wondering if this look is still appropriate or acceptable for those of us over 30. Just the other day I got an email from my BFF Tory Burch which featured this picture, I love everything about it.

Then the wheels started spinning. On one hand I figure if Tory and J. Crew are selling these they must be acceptable.

But then you go to Abercrombie or American Eagle and they too sell them.

With that said, what do you think, would you or could you pull these off? And if I do wear them, do I wear them with flats or heels?

BTW, my friends Liz and Jane at Shopafrolic gave a resounding YES to the shorts.

"We understand but we are here to tell you to forget your age when it comes to fashion (with some exceptions). Wear your jean shorts proudly!"

Jeremiah WAS a Bullfrog

Last week there was a rather large bullfrog that decided to make home in our pool. Several times Kevin caught him and threw him out in the yard only to find him back in the pool the next day. Saturday Kevin decided he had spent enough time chasing the darn frog out of the pool and carried him across the street to the pond. Well later that day I spotted a large smooshed-to-death frog right in front of our house, I can only imagine it was Jeremiah hopping his way back into our pool.

And to totally change the subject to something much less gross, here are some pictures I have saved in my “New Home Inspiration” folder. Mind you I have been collecting these pictures for a long time, you know, just in case we ever build a new house.

Chock Full of Style

I received my July issue of InStyle earlier this week and have not put it down since. I must say this is one of their best issues, their features on styling outfits is spot on and their summer makeup and skincare articles arrived in perfect time. And let’s not forget to mention their cover girl is Cameron Diaz. Her feature in this issue is stunning, I love the styling and makeup – I will be on the hunt for details of her makeup. This is my favorite picture from the article.

If you don’t already subscribe to this magazine you have to pick it up, I believe it hits newsstands today. I will disclose that this is one magazine that I pay full subscription price for – most others I get for less than $10, but it is worth every penny in my opinion.

Here are just a few tears to give you a teaser until you are able to pick up a copy for yourself. Click on the images to enlarge.

Some tips on finding perfect flats.

Love these easy going outfits and accessories.

I have seen California Baby products mentioned in several places, I might have to check them out myself.

What girl doesn't love sequins? I would love it if that tank magically appeared in my wardrobe.

I absolutely LOVE white jeans/pants in the summer, shows off your tan.

Also be sure to check out Shelley’s blog for her post on Wrigley’s birthday yesterday.

A Puppy No More

Today’s post is dedicated to Owen, aka Dink, one of the reasons I started this blog. Ownsy (what I have been calling him as of late) turns 1 year old today and is no longer considered a puppy. We are so happy to have Owen in our life, he makes us all laugh no matter what else may be going on. We love him despite the nights spent crying in his crate, the early morning wake up calls on the weekends, the fact he chewed the corner off our coffee table, the fact he chewed the corner off my NEW Pottery Barn rug or that he picks on his little sister constantly.

The first day we got Owen, how cute!

We could not have asked for a better dog from our breeder, they make perfect dogs in my humble opinion. Whenever we go on walks people are always asking what kind of dog Owen is and where we got him from. He has yet to meet a person he doesn’t like (the total opposite of Lexie, takes her a year to warm up to people). He loves to go on walks and cuddle in bed or on the couch with you. He loves his brother Wrigley who lives just around the corner from us.

Kevin and I joke about how boring our life was before Owen, true fact.

I took this picture this morning after our 6am walk, isn’t he pretty? Kevin likes his “bangs” over his eyes but I don’t because I can’t see what he is looking at!

Travel in Style

Perhaps I will look this stylish when I travel to Ohio next month - dressing in layers is key when traveling. I love this look from J Crew, the striped shirt, the scarf, the oversized bag, the belted dress. Perfection.

Bowling Anyone?

An email featuring some hot Prada items popped in my inbox this morning, so naturally I clicked to see more. If I were in the market for a new purse and had $1000+ laying around I might just splurge on this red beauty. There is not one detail that I would change.

I am not sure if camo is still in style but I like this bag too.

Bite Me

Ashley Greene, Twilight saga star, is on the cover of the July/August Women's Health magazine. Can't wait for my copy to arrive in my mailbox!

Gettin' There

Yesterday I had a most fun experience of going to our county sheriff's office, which also happens to be the detention center. Fun place. I went there to get my fingerprints so I can send them in along with a butt load of other paper work to get the ball rolling on obtaining my real estate license. Will keep you posted!

In the mean time you should head on over to my friend's blog and see a beautiful recap of our Memorial Day weekend. She is poetic and very talented at photography. My blog is all fluff in comparison to hers.

She's Got Legs

After catching clips of What Happens in Vegas over the past few weekends I have developed a little celeb crush on Cameron Diaz. The girl has got it going on if you ask me.
















And speaking of legs, I tried searching the net to see who her trainer is and what kind of workouts she does. I didn’t find anything earth shattering or such but this article says she does a combination of cardio, weights and Pilates.


Her trainer Teddy Bass on her leg workouts:

Cameron works out her legs in at least 4 out of 5 hour long weekly sessions.
Day 1 – squats with dumbbells and leg presses
Day 2 – lunges, reverse lunges, and step ups holding a 20-lb medicine ball
Day 3 and 4 – leg extensions and curls for quads and hamstrings

As long as you're doing cardiovascular work three to five times a week, leg exercises that build your glutes and working on your elongation with yoga and Pilates, you'll change your appearance.

Under a Rock

Yes, sometimes I feel like I live under a rock.

Case in point, who is this Brooklyn Decker chic? I know she was on the cover of the SI Swimsuit issue this past year but that is about all I knew about her. Enter the ever illustrious Elle magazine to educate me, they recently did a Beauty Insider feature on her. For only 23 years old she has got it going on. Good for her. Be sure to check out her beauty faves too.

Beauty and the Beach

An email from Dr. Perricone just popped in my inbox with some great summer-skin advice, just in time!

Sticky and Sweet

It is definitely summer here in Oklahoma. My run this morning at 6:00 was definitely HOT, already in the mid 70's. That may not seem hot to most people but considering I grew up in the arctic tundra of Ohio, that is hot for that early in the morning. Don't get me wrong, I will take hot weather over cold any day. It is rumored to get to 100 this weekend which will make sitting at the boy's baseball tournament fun. Bring on the sunscreen and wide brimmed hat.

Before I sign off for the weekend I thought I would share this picture of the new A-Team movie crew. I used to watch the tv show all the time when I was little, loved their adventures. I might just have to venture to the theaters to see this. Rampage is freaking hilarious, will make a great Mr. T. Jessica Biel, hot girl. Bradley Cooper, yes please.

Sappy

Happy Anniversary to my husband

Love this picture btw

Megan Young Designs

While reading my latest copy of Southern Living I came across a lovely young designer, Megan Young. The magazine did a very nice spread on her North Carolina home, pictures below. I like how she really doesn't have a defined style and believes in using what you love to decorate. Also be sure to check out her website for more pictures of her work. Enjoy.