inspiration workshop! - red

I'm a day late getting this out, but I guess it's better late than never, right?

This week's prompt for the Inspiration Workshop! put on by Gussy Sews is RED!

While thinking about this prompt the thing that kept popping in my head was, hair.

I distinctly remember when my fascination with red hair began.

The year was 1997. The movie was 'Titanic'.

Yes. I fell in love with red hair after seeing Kate Winslet with it in 'Titanic'.

After seeing the  movie in the theater multiple times, I tried (successfully) to emulate the color on my own head.

Over the years I've gotten red put in my hair multiple times.

So far, my favorite was a couple of years ago when my sister, who is a hairdresser, did my hair really dark all over and put streaks of bright red in on top.

I loved it!!

The picture doesn't really do it justice.

Trust me when I say that it was BRIGHT red and AWESOME!!

One day I WILL get the nerve to do an all over BOLD red.

{via}

SO pretty!!!

If you could do any color in your hair, what would you do???

dreaming of :: fall :: weather & leaves

Being that it is currently 109 degrees outside and this being our 73rd or 74th day of 100+ degrees weather this year, I am totally starting to dream of Fall coming.

Fall (Autumn) is my absolute favorite season.
From the weather to the colors to the food to the smells to the fact that my favorite month is October (birthday; anniversary; Halloween), this is the best time of year in my opinion.

At the top of the list (being a Texan) is the weather changes.
I don't know a single person who doesn't welcome the nice, cool, sunny days and brisk evenings that come with Fall.
After a summer of sweltering heat and scorching sun rays, it's nice to be able to get in your car and not burn your hands on your steering wheel.
Or how about not being a sweaty mess just from a quick trip out?
Wonderful!

In Texas, our Fall season is pretty mild.
It's perfect for taking the little ones to the park.
Or even better, the pumpkin patch.

One of my favorite things to do when the Fall weather starts kicking in and it starts cooling down, is to open my windows (be it car or home).
Being able to FINALLY turn off the a/c in the car and rolling the windows while playing some super happy music is the best!
Also, spending an afternoon or evening at home with the windows open and the gentle breeze and crisp scents of Fall wafting through, just makes life that much more enjoyable.

Being able to comfortably make wardrobe changes is lovely as well.
Moving from shorts to long pants or from tanks to layered clothing is just wonderful.
Although in Texas there are still plenty of days when you get away with wearing either Summer-ish or Fall-ish clothing.

Evenings out on the balcony or porch with a good book, music, and beverage of your choice is another one of my favorite things to do in Fall.

I also love to watch the leaves starting to change.
It isn't as amazing of a site here as it is in say, Oregon (which is STUNNING!), but there is still enough red, yellow, and orange leaves to bring a smile to this girl's face.

What are some of your favorite things to do once the weather starts to change?
What are you dreaming of doing this Fall?

All photos via Pinterest.

inspiration workshop! - favorite color

My favorite color is, and has always been, TURQUOISE!!
It's such a happy color. From classic brown to retro red to beachy coral, you can pair turquoise with a TON of other colors in your wardrobe or living space.
It really is very versatile.
Here's some inspiration for you!!

And, look at this gem of a nail polish that I am now the proud owner of.
Turquoise and Caicos by Essie.
Be jealous.

bewitched by - rachael ray cookware

Grown up post alert.

First of all, I love Rachael Ray. I could watch 30 Minute Meals all day long. I also love the cooking segment of her daily network show. I find that I cook a lot like she does. No preceise measurements. A pinch of this, a sprinkle of that. And something that you see whenever you watch her cook, is she uses all of her own cookware.
Let me tell you, her cookware makes my little heart go pitter-patter.

It all comes in bright, cheery colors. Such as, lime green, orange, yellow, red, blue and eggplant. So much more fun to cook with!

A few years back, we were in desperate need of new cookware and we ended up taking this joyful little set home:




And here are a few of her other pieces that I would love to own.


Bubble and Brown Baker Set. How cute are these casserole dishes?!




Lazy Spoon and Ladle Set. I love, love, love that these spoons have little notches that hold right onto the side of your pot. No more trying to find a place to put a spoon that is covered in sauce.




Bench Scrape. This handy little tool helps you scrape up all of your bits and pieces of cut up vegetables with ease.




Moppine. This kitchen towel/potholder is a great two-in-one combo.

me, a-z

(a)ge - 27 years young (but that will change in less than 2 months).

(b)ed size - Queen. It's from Ikea and it's SUPER comfy!

(c)hore you dislike - Dishes!! YUCK!!

(d)ogs - None right now. But ever since I was a kid I've wanted a female Golden Retriever named Sadie.

(e)ssential start to your day - Iced tea or Dr. Pepper. Give me caffeine!!

(f)avorite color - Turquoise.

(g)old or silver - Generally silver, but gold is starting to grow on me.

(h)eight - 5'3 3/4". Yes, I claim that 3/4 of an inch.

(i)nstruments you play(ed) - Used to play piano. I WILL pick it up again one day.

(j)ob title - Currently, Mommy.

(k)ids - 2 cuties. Audrey is 5 year old (going on 15) and Lawson is 10 weeks old.

(l)ive - Central Texas. IT IS HOT!!!

(m)om's name - Charlotte.

(n)icknames - Jen, Jenny, J, JJ, etc.

(o)vernight hospital stays - Twice. When each of my kiddos were born.

(p)et peeves - My main one is when people use the word, irregardless. Also, text speak.

(q)uote from a movie - "I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly. Mm, mm, mm."

(r)ighty or lefty - Mainly right, but I'm pretty ambidextrous.

(s)iblings - 2 older brothers, 1 younger sister, 1 younger brother.

(t)ime you wake up - Which time? Normally between 6 and 8, although that will change in the coming weeks, when A starts Kindergarten.

(u)nderwear - Ummm, yes please?

(v)egetables you don't like - Beets and spinach from a can. BLECH!!

(w)hat makes you run late - My kids and the hubs. Plain and simple.

(x)rays you've had - Dental, arm and foot.

(y)ummy food you make - I'm a pretty decent cook, but a few family favorites are spaghetti, chicken fried steak, arroz con pollo and cupcakes.

(z)oo animal favorites - Hmmmm....giraffes and hippos.