I am obsessed with Stella & Dot jewelry. This is a new obsession and apparently I'm pretty late to jump on the train. But better late than never? I need these on my neck right now...
Gimme gimme.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Running to Remember
Do you like to wake up early? Me either. I am not a morning person. I don't drink coffee, but you better not get near me until I've been up for at least an hour and a half and I've had breakfast. Otherwise, your head just might get chewed off. I'm not a night person either...I get tired early. So really i'm just an old person. That's not depressing at all.
But I get to drag my old grouchy, sleepy butt out of bed early this coming Sunday to run in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon (well, the half-marathon, but here's hoping for the full in 2013....but I said that last year too - oops). And I can't freaking wait. I had an absolutely incredible experience last year, despite the very un-May-like weather. Here's hoping the weather is a little more cooperative this year. Although it really wouldn't matter, the race is just awesome no matter what. I love my city, I love my state, and I love this opportunity to remember what happened to OKC 17 years ago.
And my fantastic co-workers are participating this year too! Last year it was me and Natalie, but this year we've got NINE people participating! Natalie's being the monster runner she is and doing the full, while me and 2 other girls run the half, and we have a team of 5 doing the marathon relay. We even have official jerseys. The U-Dub Run Club is a reality. So proud.
Good luck to all the runners and hopefully I'll see you out there, bright & early! and I will have had my breakfast, so feel free to talk to me :)
We run to remember and we will never forget.
"We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope, and serenity."
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Hippie at Heart
Hey y'all (....oh hey paula deen)! I decided that my 2-month hiatus was enough. It's April, almost May, which means one thing and one thing only....it's almost summer!!! Do a little dance now; I certainly am. April means....
cornhole
sweet tea vodka gets the front of the shelf
sangria with fresh fruit
ALMOST peach & nectarine season
the cottonwood trees are blooming...all over the place
abundant sunshine
freckled faces
less makeup
natural hair
Essie turks & caicos
cutoff shorts
sandals sandals sandals
shaved legs - kidding, my legs are always shaved, obviously.... :/
lake-pool-beach-river
fried chicken tastes even better
As much as I love classic styles (jcrew, i'm lookin at you), summer brings out the hippie in me. And by hippie i mean someone who drinks a lot and doesn't mind walking around barefoot (though I wouldn't suggest combining the two). Hippie = cutoff levi jean shorts, wavy hair, billowy blouses, maxi dresses, tan sandals, rockin sunnies and peach colored lipstain.
While you won't find me sporting a middle part (I have a cowlick that naturally parts my hair way on the side and as anyone who has seen any of my high school yearbook photos can attest to, you shouldn't fight for a middle part if you hair doesn't want to. your hair will always win.), you will find me daydreaming about these.....
Via Anthropologie
via Pinterest
And because we all know I can't resist seersucker, much less seersucker AND bows...
peace out y'all.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tastes Like Chicken
One of my favorite Oklahoma things: Eischen's fried chicken. It's like heaven in your mouth. And the atmosphere is part of the experience. You want simple, down-home cooking - Eischen's is about as simple as it gets. Their menu basically consists of fried chicken (ordered by the chicken of course), fried okra, frito chili pie, an assortment of cokes, and beer. Here's how it goes:
(1) Seat yourself wherever you can find room (and on a Friday or Saturday evening, you can be guaranteed at least an hour wait because this is not an eat-n-go kind of place; this is an eat-sit-drink-socialize for the night kind of place). You might be sitting at picnic-style tables with other people, but that's okay because here, no one's a stranger!
(2) Sit and enjoy the sounds of honky-tonk blasting throughout the place. And yes, this is a bar, but there's kids running all over the place.
(3) Waiter will come take your drink order, you'll tell her how many chickens you'd like and any "extras" (okra, etc.). Don't you worry yourself about getting any sides, because your chicken comes with a basket of sliced Wonder bread and a basket of pickles & onions, free of charge.
(4) Drink arrives in styrofoam cup.
(5) Chickens arrive later (or much later, depending on season, day of the week, and time of day). With them come a stack of wax paper. Utensils? What are those? No, you chow down with your hands. I'm not kidding when I say it's heaven in your mouth. Piping hot, it's the most frustrating thing to wait for it to cool down a little. Perfectly crispy on the outside, just the right amount of grease on the inside. And that is some tender chicken. I love my boyfriend, but I may or may not be serious when I say that I would marry into the Eischen family to get ahold of this recipe. Although I doubt they even give it to family members not related by blood.
(6) Play some pool, kick up your feet, relax, eat, drink, and be merry.
(7) Repeat this process as often as possible.
(left) the beautiful window decor
(right) okarche, oklahoma's finest
(left) heaven, absolute heaven
(right) typical eischen's photo op
(left) we always visit the gift shop to pic up a ring pop for the ride home
(right) i love oklahoma's wide open spaces
for some reason, fried chicken always tastes even better when it's warm outside. so thank goodness it's beginning to feel a lot like SPRING!
(1) Seat yourself wherever you can find room (and on a Friday or Saturday evening, you can be guaranteed at least an hour wait because this is not an eat-n-go kind of place; this is an eat-sit-drink-socialize for the night kind of place). You might be sitting at picnic-style tables with other people, but that's okay because here, no one's a stranger!
(2) Sit and enjoy the sounds of honky-tonk blasting throughout the place. And yes, this is a bar, but there's kids running all over the place.
(3) Waiter will come take your drink order, you'll tell her how many chickens you'd like and any "extras" (okra, etc.). Don't you worry yourself about getting any sides, because your chicken comes with a basket of sliced Wonder bread and a basket of pickles & onions, free of charge.
(4) Drink arrives in styrofoam cup.
(5) Chickens arrive later (or much later, depending on season, day of the week, and time of day). With them come a stack of wax paper. Utensils? What are those? No, you chow down with your hands. I'm not kidding when I say it's heaven in your mouth. Piping hot, it's the most frustrating thing to wait for it to cool down a little. Perfectly crispy on the outside, just the right amount of grease on the inside. And that is some tender chicken. I love my boyfriend, but I may or may not be serious when I say that I would marry into the Eischen family to get ahold of this recipe. Although I doubt they even give it to family members not related by blood.
(6) Play some pool, kick up your feet, relax, eat, drink, and be merry.
(7) Repeat this process as often as possible.
(left) the beautiful window decor(right) okarche, oklahoma's finest
(left) heaven, absolute heaven(right) typical eischen's photo op
(left) we always visit the gift shop to pic up a ring pop for the ride home(right) i love oklahoma's wide open spaces
for some reason, fried chicken always tastes even better when it's warm outside. so thank goodness it's beginning to feel a lot like SPRING!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Get Your Spots
Loving leopard, even as I dream about the bright colors & textures that the spring holds...leopard never goes out of style. And depending on your boldness, you can incorporate it in your wardrobe in small ways, like a scarf or shoes, or use the 'go big or go home' standard and be spotted all over!
Just scored these loafers at Dillards. Thank you, Christmas gift card.
Just scored these loafers at Dillards. Thank you, Christmas gift card.Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sweet Home Alabama
Birmingham was wonderful...both the city and the boy whose company I was enjoying :) It was so much fun to go to a place I'd never been or really even heard much about. It's kind of a hidden gem like Oklahoma City: a town that's passed through and passed over but that has a whole lot to offer for those who are willing to give it a chance. Here are the spots I can personally vouch for as places to go and see:
(1)
Mountain Brook: a really really really pretty neighborhood/town on the outskirts of the city. I would say it's kind of like Nichols Hills in OKC, but more spread out and bigger. We walked along the brook that runs through the town on Saturday morning and I "oooohhhed" and "ahhhhed" over the beautiful plantation-style mansions, most still decorated for Christmas. I will live there someday.
Vulcan Tower: I don't really remember the significance of it, but all you need to know is that it is a tower on a hill that overlooks downtown Birmingham and it has amazing views. Perfect at sunset.
(5) Any road along the hills. We drove around for a while as he showed me around and it's just a cool city with awesome scenery and a lot to look at (especially if you've never been and you're from a place known for the wind sweeping down the plains).
Mountain Brook: a really really really pretty neighborhood/town on the outskirts of the city. I would say it's kind of like Nichols Hills in OKC, but more spread out and bigger. We walked along the brook that runs through the town on Saturday morning and I "oooohhhed" and "ahhhhed" over the beautiful plantation-style mansions, most still decorated for Christmas. I will live there someday.(2)
Vulcan Tower: I don't really remember the significance of it, but all you need to know is that it is a tower on a hill that overlooks downtown Birmingham and it has amazing views. Perfect at sunset.(3)
Tip Top Cafe: A little hole in the wall place on top of one of the 'mountains' around town. Seriously awesome view and the best BLT I've ever had in my entire life. And I've had A LOT of BLTs. I'm sure it's even prettier in the spring and fall.
(4) Cocina Superior: a Tex Mex style restaurant kind of like Mi Cocina in Dallas, except instead of the mambo taxis, they have the El Chango: just like a swirl, except bigger and with a shot of some delicious liquor. I thought mambo taxis were dangerous....this is worse. But sooooo dang good.
Tip Top Cafe: A little hole in the wall place on top of one of the 'mountains' around town. Seriously awesome view and the best BLT I've ever had in my entire life. And I've had A LOT of BLTs. I'm sure it's even prettier in the spring and fall.(4) Cocina Superior: a Tex Mex style restaurant kind of like Mi Cocina in Dallas, except instead of the mambo taxis, they have the El Chango: just like a swirl, except bigger and with a shot of some delicious liquor. I thought mambo taxis were dangerous....this is worse. But sooooo dang good.
(5) Any road along the hills. We drove around for a while as he showed me around and it's just a cool city with awesome scenery and a lot to look at (especially if you've never been and you're from a place known for the wind sweeping down the plains).
Such a fun trip - I can't wait to go back and see more!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Holiday Cheer
Griffing family Christmas 2011 recap:
1. built a gingerbread house complete with inappropriate but humorous gingerbread residents
2. successfully navigated a Christmas Eve trip to the mall (NEVER AGAIN)
3. had a Modern Family marathon (mom's new favorite show)
4. watched Monte Carlo (thought it would 2 hours of my life i'd never get back but actually ended up liking it - i have a girl crush on leighton meester.)
5. listened to plenty of old and new Christmas music
6. stuffed our faces full of steak, potato fries, buttery rolls and cranberries
7. gained 10 lbs indulging in a 4-layer Christmas birthday cake
8. had a sister sleepover on the floor of Olivia's room on Christmas Eve
9. attended midnight mass
10. had the traditional Christmas Eve screening of Miracle on 34th Street
11. cheered on the Thunder as they defeated the Magic
12. indulged in Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, bacon & OJ
13. laughed our butts off as Charley adjusted to his new "big boy" bed
14. had an at home manicure session (i should start doing that for a living)
15. relaxed and basked in the glory of a 5 day break and enjoyed my time with my beautiful family
It was a wonderful Christmas and I can't believe it's over! Where has December gone? Where has 2011 gone?? It is December 29th and I am confused as to how that is the date. This year flew by so fast. Tomorrow I'll be headed to Birmingham for New Year's Eve and I'll be back Monday!
See you in 2012!
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