A Sleeveless Kind of Summer Girl

It's a hot one today folks! I don't think I've worn sleeves all week. I'm not complaining! It's not 3 feet of snow so I sure ain't complaining. 

I picked this dress up at the free yard sale I go on and on about every year. I just wore it this one time. I ended up taking it over to my favorite consignment shop. I just kind of fell out of love with it. I mean, let's face it. It's suppose to be a dress and I had to wear it as a tunic. So I faced reality and sold it! But it was still too cute to not wear once.

Why Books Win @Asheville Grit

Check out my new article that just went up over at AshevilleGrit.com!

Father's Day @ Biltmore Estate

The hubby and I went to the Biltmore House on Sunday because they were running a buy one get one free ticket situation for Father's Day. Biltmore may not be my husband's ideal place to spend Father's Day but we were going with some other family members (my cousin and her husband, my aunt and uncle) and it was just too good of a deal to pass up. Plus I love spending time with my family and time I can. I feel like we all get so disconnected with life and daily routines. It's good to get together! My dad was going to come along too but decided against it because he has a terribly bad back and walking, stairs and huge crowds don't really mesh well with his pain level. We met him and my other cousin and her husband for dinner after our tour.

I finally got to take the Rooftop Tour that I have been dying to take. I want to take the Upstairs Downstairs tour even more because you get to peek into the lives of the butlers, maids, etc. Just like Downton Abbey! But we couldn't work that into the schedule on Sunday. Just means we need to go back again! 

The views were just gorgeous! And we could not have asked for a clearer day. It was hot but the breeze was kickin!

This was the view out of a tiny little window above the Winter Garden. The screen kind of makes it look a little funky - sorry about that.

I've never seen the angles of the house. It was awesome. The balconies were pretty tiny.

The tour guide told us that when George and Edith Vanderbilt got home after their 4 month honeymoon in Italy they stood on this balcony and took in the welcome home extravaganza full of fireworks, bonfires and bands. It was the first time Edith had ever been to Biltmore! 

Vanderbilt owned land as far as he could see.

I never knew the letters "G" and "V" were on every other tile on the roof line.

We had an awesome time!

Simple Basics Girl

There's nothing fancy about this outfit. Just some great basics. An awesome cropped grey tee that I got for FREE, dark gray pants and classic black pointy heels. Having great basic pieces are the easiest way to start a wardrobe you can keep for years. I really want to work towards having a closet that is full of basics with a few special pieces. I'm making good progress!

Outfit details:

Top: free yard sale

Pants: h&m

Shoes: DSW

Sporty Spice Girl

I wore faux leather pants on the hottest day of the week. Go figure. That's the way my outfits seem to go most of the time. It felt fine inside in the air conditioning!

 I wanted to wear my super comfy tennis shoes and these pants just worked with the top so perfectly! I loved this outfit. I felt pulled together, urban and comfy all at the same time.

Outfit details:

Top & Leggings: Kohl's

Tennies: Nike

Life Lately {Punk Hair}

I know I am so far behind the times it's ridiculous but sometimes things that have been around for a while that I didn't really pay any attention to in the beginning suddenly and quickly strike me as freaking awesome.

 This time it's the side shaved hairstyle or an "Undercut".

I caught a glimpse of Demi Lovato lately and I've been obsessed with her look. "Where have you been?!" you are screaming to me right now.

I know, I know. I'm not saying I haven't SEEN an undercut on many a fine lady but I've just never looked twice at it ya know? Maybe it's because I loved Mad Max Fury Road so much...Charlize shaved her head for that one. 

But really it was Demi that caught my eye. Beautiful yet edgy, right?

Here's her long hair version

Now I know she has been sporting this look forever and recently it looks like she is growing out her side shave. Oh well! I TOLD you I am 5 years behind the mark on everything!

Since the only thing I know to do with an obsession is to spend insurmountable time on the internet digging up more eye candy to ogle at, I thought what the heck. I'm so deep at this point. I should do a round up of some other women - some famous, some not - that have been rocking this style. Just to soothe the ole' nerves.

Here's what I can do NOW to curb the desire to take my husband's trimmers to my noggin.

 Since I don't drink and can't do three shots of tequila to get up the nerve to shave my head, a faux shave by using braids or some other little tricky trick can work.

Ok...

A) When does Kristen NOT win at everything?

B) I loved her in Still Alice. See it. Now.

Tutorial on how to get this shiz done!

I'm the first to admit I'm not the best at braids. Here are a few "tuck it" methods. I've had moderate success with the tuck it method if I do say so myself.

Alright! I need to get started on this! I'll be sure to take pics of whatever I come up with. Hopefully a winner.

Have you tried any of these faux undercut tricks? Do you have a side shave?

Weekend Instagram Recap Girl

Hi! Happy Monday. I'm choosing to relive the weekend via my instagram instead! We ate lots of good food and soaked in some sunshine at the Beer City Festival. Here's what I wore, what I ate and what I drank! 

Thursday night we attended the Asheville Grit 1st Anniversary party. We had a blast and ended up getting to spend some more time with a fellow blogger that we had met only a few brief times before. Selfie sticks were laying on the tables so we could take lots of selfies! I got to talk to everyone that I wanted to connect with. I am NOT a social butterfly and it takes every ounce of courage I have to start a conversation. I had a huge headache by the end of the night because my stress level was through the roof. I know, I know, NERD alert! But the more I put myself in these situations the better. Maybe someday I'll quit acting like such a dork. Probably not.

 We decided to make dinner plans with our new found blogging friend Joseph for Friday night so we could continue the fun. We went to The Junction, a restaurant in the River Arts District. I got the Shrimps N' Grits which was actually prawns. We also had a delicious meat and cheese tray and skillet cornbread. YUMS.

I've been on a new kick lately of ordering "mock"tails at dinner so I can still enjoy a delicious drink just without the alcohol. The bartender made me a delightful rose water, lemon, fizzy concoction. It was the prettiest little shade of pink!

We went over to Buffalo Nickel in West Asheville and had a few more drinks. Unfortunately the bartender did not produce a good mocktail there so no photos, sorry. It was probably my fault because I didn't ask for "bartender's choice" and tried to wing it myself by just choosing one of the house cocktails - just leave out the booze. Wrong idea. Just let them make something. They're the pro. I did have a delicious creme brulee that I should've taken a picture of but stuffed it in my face too fast! Dessert freak!

On Saturday mom and I drove out to Rosman for a birthday part for my cousin's little boy. I always LOVE spending time with my family that I don't get to see enough! I wish I lived closer to my cousins and my aunt! After the party I came back to Asheville to meet up with the hubs at the Beer City Festival. The little beer cup was so tiny compared to my man's huge beard. Lol. I didn't drink but I did enjoy some pizza and live music. The people watching was spectacular! 

Speaking of people watching...it was prom night too! I went to the fence of the festival to take this photo. I loved seeing the gals dressed to the nines. Look at that hot pink poofy dress! 

What I was wearing was far from a hot pink poofy dress! I dressed for comfort and coolness from the heat.

I picked up this tee shirt and cutoffs at a college yard sale that was....FREE! Yes. Free. That's my kind of shopping. The tee shirt was fairly plain so I chopped it up and slashed the back. I took a few inches off of the shorts too. Here's the back of the shirt!

I am in LOVE with my "new-to-me" tee shirt. I couldn't have asked for a more worn in, soft, old tee. 

Later that night we grabbed dinner at Thai Orchid - our favorite Thai place. Have you ever had Thai Iced Tea? It's SO good. Yuuummmm

Of course I can never pass up a dumpling! Are you kidding me man?! For my entree I had Pad Thai and tore into it before I got a photo! I really should branch out and try something different but why mess with perfection! 

No photos from Sunday because all my lazy butt did was binge watch season 1 &2 of Entourage!

It's Monday now so whether you had a good weekend or a crappy one it's a new week! 

 

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