[Tuesday Top 10: Spring Fashion Trends Under $100]

There are so many fun Spring fashion trends going on this season that I just had to share a few of them. And the best part about these trends? It's all about comfort!! Finally, I can keep up with the trends without feeling out of place and uncomfortable!

Shoes:

[Soludos; $28]

[Toms; $54]

[Piperlime; $99.50]

Espadrilles and wedges are very much in style this season. And for once, style does not compromise with comfort.While walking around the mall the other day, I couldn't help but notice how many people were wearing espadrilles/Tom shoes. P.S. I am loving the silver Toms shoes! So fun!

Maxis:

[Piperlime; $69]

[Gap; $89.95]

Maxi dresses were super hot last year and are making an encore appearance this season. I think what people like most about them is that they are super comfy and hide all of the things you would rather not show off (i.e. belly, butt, etc.). Plus, they are easy to put on and would work for both wearing day & night.

Jewelry:

[Charlotte Russe; $4]

[Charlotte Russe; $4]

[White House Black House; $64]

[JCPenney; $10]

In the fall/winter months, we are layering up on coats and jackets that we never really get to show off our jewelry. So this season, jewelry has become more of a conversation piece. Coil bracelets and necklaces with a mixture of layers & texture can help make any outfit interesting. I have those 2 rings pictured above from Charlotte Russe and have been complimented multiple times on both of them (especially the double snake ring!).

Scarves:

[Target; $20, but currently out of stock]

Scarves in the spring? Well, it's not just for the colder months. Lightweight scarves are very trendy this season. They're the perfect way to dress up a white t-shirt and jeans! :0)

[Jen]

[Tuesday Top 10: Valentine/Romantic Movies]

What better time to bust out all the "chick flicks" than on Valentine's Day! There's just something about a romantic movie that spark that "lovin' feeling". So here's a list of my top 10 romantic movies that I enjoy watching around Valentine's Day: (in descending order)

10. Valentine's Day - The name says it all. While this really isn't my favorite romantic comedy, I felt it was appropriate to add to the list. It also is great eye "candy" for big-name celebs!

9. Love Potion #9 - How appropriate that it is actually #9 on my list! This early 90's romantic comedy film is about a nerdy scientist guy who drinks some love potion which makes every woman fall madly in love with him for a short time. Of course, he ends up falling in love himself.

8. Down With Love - Contrary to its title, this movie is all about love...and chocolate. It never fails. I always crave boxes of chocolate while watching this movie. How convenient for Valentine's Day!

7. Notting Hill - Another great romantic comedy with Hugh Grant & Julia Roberts. Of course it follows suit with any chick flick -  boy gets girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl again in the end.

6. Somewhere In Time - Ah, now this is a wonderful romantic movie. This 1980 film with Christopher Reeve & Jane Seymour is about a guy who travels back in time to find this actress and ends up falling in love with her. Such an elegant yet passionate movie.

5. When Harry Met Sally - Aww I love this movie! Of course with Billy Crystal you know it's going to be funny. But I always tear up when Harry tells Sally all the quirky things he loves about her.

4. The Notebook - Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, you are taken on an emotional roller coaster from watching the characters fall from a innocent summer love to a lifelong commitment. I cannot watch this movie without a box of tissues, and I've seen it a dozen times!

3. Sleepless in Seattle - A perfect movie to watch with your special someone on Valentine's Day. Now I know I mentioned this a couple of months ago for my Top 10 Christmas Movies, but since this movie technically ends on Valentine's Day I had to add to this list as well.

2. An Affair To Remember - A classic Valentine/romantic chick flick. A 1957 film with the famous actors Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr depict a passionate love affair that will leave you in tears at the end. "Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. We've already missed the spring." Love this movie!

And my #1 Valentine/Romantic movie pick is...

1. P.S. I Love You - Major tearjerker! I saw this when it was out in theaters and both my husband and I were sobbing. Such a heart-griping movie about a man who leaves his widowed wife little love notes & takes her on an amazing journey. All the while she still misses him.

Okay, I know I left a TON of other really good Valentine/romantic films (like Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ghost, etc.), but these were all just off the top of my head. So, do you have any special movies you like to bust out around Valentine's Day?

[Jen]

[Tuesday Top 10: My Favorite Blog Posts]

Since I've seen so many of you post about your "Top 10 of 2010", I figured I'd hop on the bandwagon and post about my favorite posts this past year.

1. Numbered Jars - I still use these daily to hold all of my laundry needs: detergent, stain remover, and fabric softener. Of course everyone always asks me if I bought them at Pottery Barn. Umm...nope!
2. Elizabeth's Sweet Shoppe Party - This was so much fun to plan & create! People are still buzzing about it! And I am so glad it was fun 2nd birthday for my little girl. I can't wait to plan her 3rd birthday party! :0)
3. Master Bathroom Renovation - I am so pleased with how our master bathroom turned out. And it still looks exactly the same today. I would love to rip up the linoleum & put tile on the floor, but it's not exactly high up on my to-do list.
4. Frames, Frames, Frames - Where would this little blog be without this work of art? Every time I look at it hanging on my wall, it always makes me smile. :0)
5. My Little Creation - This is actually my very first craft I ever posted about. And it's still hanging up in our master bedroom. Who knew what an old frame and a chipboard letter could do?
6. Chalkboard Table - This was the perfect solution for covering up a hideous stain on my dining table. And my daughter (and myself as well) love to draw all over it with chalk. It's become a fun daily activity.
7. Windowsill to Cozy Reading Nook - My most recent project. But it's still unfinished. After taking down the wreath and the "naughty/nice" pillow, it looks very bare. I'm working on crafting up some pillows and window treatments to cozy it up a bit. So stay tuned!
8. The EAT Sign - Yes, it's still hanging in the dining room. Really adds a splash of color to the place. :0)
9. Card-making - I really couldn't decide on a favorite card to put in my Top 10. I made so many cards this past year and enjoyed making every single one of them!

And my all-time FAVORITE blog post is....

10. My Laundry/Craft Room - a.k.a. my second home. This is where I spend all of my time blogging, doing crafts, and of course, laundry. But I still love being in this room! It's so inviting and organized (yes, it really looks like this all the time, I promise!), and I am so happy that I finally have a "mom-cave"! :0)

[Jen]

[Tuesday Top 10: Guest Post: Christmas Movies from a Man's Perspective]

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you my top 10 favorite Christmas movies (click HERE to view). But this week I thought you might enjoy hearing a man's perspective on his choice of top 10 Christmas movies.

I'd like to introduce today's guest post. He is a kind, thoughtful, funny, and gracious father. He is, of course, my amazing husband!

Disclaimer: The views , opinions (and language- ahem!) expressed by this man do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and/or opinions of his beautiful wife.

1. Die Hard

~ Okay.. a Great Christmas movie (not a Christmas movie you say? Oh yes it is..) It has Christmas music, trees, presents.. and the wee-bit of violence needed for holiday cheer... Yippee Ky-yea Mother Mary.

2. Die Hard 2

~ Yeah.. take Die Hard 1.. add snow.. airline travel.. and throw in terrorists carrying Christmas presents.. that may or may not have some weapons of mass destruction in them =-) add an awkward scene of a naked dude doing kung fu in front of a TV and POW.. you gotta a great Christmas movie (but minus the naked dude in front of the TV doing kung fu)..

3. White Christmas

~ Alright.. to really call it Christmas.. you gotta have Bing sing'n White Christmas and Danny Kay dancing around like a fool.. throw-in some cheesy songs about Snow.. while clitter-clattering away in a railroad dining car.. and you're in business..

4. Home Alone

~ Nothing says parental neglect like leaving a kid at home... at Christmas time... to fend away burglars.. top it off with the fact the house gets DESTROYED after all the antics of the kid.. =-)

5. Home Alone 2

~ Seriously, where's CPS? These parents need to watch their kid.. alright.. it's cold.. you have another completely unrealistic situation where he's not only alone.. but in New York.. staying at the Plaza.. AND top it off with running into the same dudes last Christmas!.. oh.. and he meets a homeless lady that doesn't try to beat him up or take his money.. but becomes his friend.. =-)

6. Christmas Vacation

~ "Holy Sh**.. Where's the Tylenol?"... nuff said =-)

7. Lethal Weapon

~ Another Great Christmas movie.. once again.. it has Christmas music, presents, trees (including a scene where they have a shoot-out IN the Christmas tree lot.. sweet) and of course the occasional suicide attempt, car cash and drug trafficking action you like to see in most Christmas movies =-)..

8. A Christmas Story

~ BB-Gun.. broken glasses.. representation of increased pre-pubescent vocabulary (indubitably.. really? not sure if I ever used that word outside of this).. cuss-words replaced with gibberish.. and the lesson learned to never stick your tongue to a frozen flag poll..

9. Serendipity

~ Yes, a chick-a-flicka... but a good one.. teaches the ever-so-moral lesson of.. while in a relationship.. go to buy some gloves.. meet a girly.. hang-out with her all evening.. flirt.. banter.. don't get her full name.. then fret over her for years until you make a decision to seek her out again.. whilst you prepare for marriage.. nice. =-)

10. Elf

~ 30 year-old guy in an elf get-up with awkwardly snug green tights.. has the ability to down a 2-liter of coke in a few seconds.. as well as throw 3 dozen snowballs at an incredible rate.. and has the brilliant idea of leaping into a Christmas tree to put the star on top =-).. can't beat it..

There you have it.. Top 10 Best Christmas Movies of all time time time time.. (okay not really.. but they're all really good =-)..

------------------

If you made it to the end, congratulations. You deserve an award!

Don't forget to leave a comment! I am sure my husband would love to hear what you think. :0)

[Jen]

[Tuesday Top 10: Christmas Movies]

Since I have been lacking in the whole craft-making department recently, I figured I would put "How-to Tuesday" on hold for a while and start up a "Tuesday Top 10" post. This is where I will talk about whatever is in my top 10 category (similar to the one on Letterman but not near as raunchy!).

Today, in lieu of the holidays, I am listing my Top 10 Christmas Movies. (drum roll please)

10. Sleepless in Seattle - Okay, I know many of you many not even consider this as a Christmas movie, but for some reason I always enjoy watching it around the holidays. And I still to this day cannot listen to "Jingle Bells" without singing "harses harses harses harses...". :0)

9. A Christmas Story - Definitely had to include this 80's Christmas Classic. "You'll shoot your eye out!" And I kid you not, back in college my roommate actually had the leg lamp in our room! It was definitely a conversational piece!

8. It's a Wonderful Life - As far back as I can remember, I can still see me, my brother, and my parents sitting at the television watching this Christmas classic. "Buffalo gal won't you come out tonight..."

7. The Grinch - Although I would definitely prefer the original 1966 "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", Jim Carey is absolutely hilarious in this movie!

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Watching this movie is a family tradition in our house. It's entertaining for the whole family, and it is just long enough to keep even the little one's attention.

5. Elf - Another hilarious Christmas comedy! I laugh every time when Will Ferrell jumps up on the tree and then falls over! "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

4. Home Alone 2 - Personally, I think this one is better than the first one. So hilarious and totally makes me want to go to New York during Christmastime.

 3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - The day after Thanksgiving this movie is being heard throughout the household. And I think we watch it at least a dozen times (if not more!) before Christmas Day. Another family movie tradition. "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

2. Serendipity - Another movie that some of you may not consider a Christmas movie. But I am such a sucker for holiday romances, so this had to make the list. I could watch this movie all year long.

And the #1 Christmas movie is...

 1. The Holiday - It doesn't get much more Christmasy than this! I love everything about this movie: the music, the set design, the actors, the story, everything! It makes me want to cook me up Christmas fettuccine and cuddle up in a warm blanket next to a blazing fire. Ahh...pure bliss.

So, now it's your turn. What's on your Top 10 Christmas Movie list??

[Jen]