High Five For For Friday

Longest. week. ever.

1. I think I wore a scarf every day this week. #don'thate
2. Yes, you do see my brother drinking out of a Yoda goblet
3. Five graduated from intermediate training class!
4. My oldest niece was in basketball homecoming & I missed it :(
5. This is our attempt at a Thanksgiving picture. Losers.

50 classics for your closet

I saw this the other day and had to share with you guys.

I lack:
Navy Wool Blazer
Black Cigarette Pants
Khaki Trousers

I guess it's time to do some shopping. How sad for me!

Style Statement Tuesday

Wait a second, it's Wednesday, not Tuesday! Well hold your little horses and I'll tell you what's going on.

Next week's Style Statement Tuesday, December 4, will be a little different. Each person who links up will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $10 Target gift card. The winner will be announced on Wednesday December 5.

Winterize Your Skin

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. I have super oily skin. However, even my skin gets a little dry in the winter. Especially my hands. I think it's the dry air from the heater. Whatever the cause, I've figured out some ways to beat the dry skin blues. Here are some of my fave products to use in the winter...

skin by t-jessicamanning featuring neutrogena

Carmex - I use this on my lips, fingernails, and eyebrows. It keeps my lips soft, my skin around my nails moisturized, and it keeps my eyebrows soft. I use it before bed so my skin can kind of rejuvenate while I sleep. Carmex is a must have for me in the winter.

Hand Relief - I use on my hands throughout the day. I helps keep my hands from becoming too dry. At work, I wash/sanitize my hands multiple times a day which can be drying. I call Hand Relief my damage control.

Nourishing Night Cream - I use this around my eyes at night before bed. Dry under eye skin is so not cute and can make you look older. This helps to keep me from looking like leather lady.

Baby Oil Gel - This is like miracle gel. I slather this all over my body after I shower and put on sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt to lock in the moisture. This stuff makes my skin so soft, plus it has a soothing scent, which I also love.

Purifying Scrub - This helps scrub away the dry skin to reveal smoother and healthier skin. I use this nightly. (I don't wash my face in the morning.Click here and read #6 to find out why)

Avoplex - I rub this on my nails and cuticles about once a week to keep them looking healthy. I think the skin around my nails is probably the area that gets the driest, so I try to do everything possible to fight that.

Mineral Tint Moisturizer - I use this instead of foundation on top of my daily moisturizer. In the summer I would just use it alone, but in the winter I double moisturize and skip the foundation. I've found using a heavy powder foundation in the winter just makes your skin look drier. It's great for summer, but in winter I skip my normal foundation and use this instead. (You can read more about my makeup by clicking here)

So there you have it, my winter army that helps me fight dry skin. What do you use that works for you?

Style Statement Tuesday

I wore this outfit a couple of Saturdays ago when I spent the day running errands. There is nothing fashion forward about what I'm wearing, but it is oh so me. Classic, simple, etc.

I love the classic look of a button up shirt and a sweater. It's not fashion genius, but it never gets old, in my opinion. Let's face it, Elle Models isn't exactly beating down my door asking me to strut my stuff on the catwalk. So, I think I'm safe to run around in this.

Shirt: Gap, Sweater: Bitten by SJP, Jeans: Michael Kors, Shoes: Clarks Wallabees

Now, before you go making fun of my shoes let me say that I do not care one bit what you think about my shoes. They are so comfortable, and I love them. I got them in fall 2006 when I was a senior in college. Everyone who was anyone was wearing Wallabees. Once upon a time, they were cool. So take that you naysayers!

If I had wanted to, I could've worn skinny jeans and loafers or riding boots to trend it up a bit. But, no one was going to appreciate that at Home Depot or Hobby Lobby, so I opted for comfort. Ssshhh, don't tell, OK?

 

Link up and share your style! I'm also linking up for Loving Lately!

Sparkle Savvy - Winter Accessories

I guest blogged for Angela at Living Pretty last week, and I thought I would share that post with you guys because I think this stuff is too great not to share!

I recently posted about fall accessories you can buy at great values. I picked my favorite J.Crew jewelry pieces and found similar pieces at lower prices. I got such a great response that I knew I wanted to do something similar for winter accessories.

This winter, it's all about having a luxe look. Anything textured, with fur (faux, of course!), sequins, or sheen is where it's at. I don't know about you, but there's something about being a sparkly snow bunny that appeals to me.

Here are a few of favorite winter luxe items. The best part...you won't have to break the bank to get them. All these items are under $50!  So, you'll be able to buy gifts for your loved ones and have a little left over for yourself! My personal fave is the colorblocked heel or maybe the fur scarf! Who am I kidding? I love them all! Which ones do you love?

Faux Fur Keyhole Scarf

Chevron Sequin Tank

Frost Embellished Top

Wild Sparkle A-Line Skirt

Posh Life Sequined Cardigan

Evening Wishes Sequin Detail Skirt

Catching Snowflakes Faux Fur Mittens

Mint Perfection Textured Dress

Holiday Kisses Colorblocked Heels

 

Oops!

I deleted a lot of photos from my photbucket account and by doing that it removed pics from a lot of blog posts. Sorry guys, I won't do it again!

High Five For Friday!

Well, Thanksgiving is over, and I'm back at work today. I'm also linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for High Five for Friday. Cheers to the weekend!

1. I love this quote from C.S. Lewis
2. One day this week my car got hella good MPGs. Hybrids are the only way to go
3. This my dog lying in the shower. I don't understand her.
4. This is the same dog being a sweet normal girl
5. My husband was trying to ruin our picture by acting goofy

 

A J.Crew Thanksgiving

This is what I wish I was wearing to celebrate Thanksgiving, but alas I am not. I'm probably in jeans and a sweater. A girl can dream, can't she?

What are you wearing?

I call a redo

You may remember me telling you my half marathon training had begun in this post. Well, I was just kidding. Let me explain...

I had every intention of beginning my half marathon training that week. I really did. I even joined the YWCA so I could treadmill it on cold days. But, when I went for my first run at the YWCA there were no treadmills. I kid you not. Not a treadmill one.

I called before I joined and asked how many treadmills they had. "A few, but we're raising money for more" was the response I got. I asked if they had a walking track. "No, just the treadmills for walking" they replied. I'm not sure where this miscommunication happened, but from my perspective they flat out lied.

So, I moped around for 2 weeks feeling sorry for myself. However, I've decided to suck it up and call a redo.

Weeks until half marathon: 19
Run Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays
Cross Train Days: Wednesdays, Fridays
Long Run Day: Sunday
Off Days: Mondays, Saturdays

To make myself feel better, I've created a few cute running outfits to share with you.

Run3 by t-jessicamanning featuring a yoga activewear

Run2 by t-jessicamanning featuring sweatshirts and hoodies

Run by t-jessicamanning featuring a yoga activewear

Style Statement Tuesday

Today's Style Statement Tuesday look is sort of a go-to for me in the fall/winter months. I think I love this outfit because I can do my hair/makeup and get dressed in like 20 minutes. Which is record time for me. I'm usually an hour (or more) kind of girl.

Although I wear this outfit a lot this time of year, when I thought about whether it matched my "Classic Pretty" style statement I wasn't sure it did. I really had to reach to come with how this outfit fit into what I normally like to wear. Ready? Here goes...

A denim jacket is classic. A bun is classic. Brown riding boots are classic. Hence, the classic half of my style statement.

A bun is pretty. A cashmere scarf is pretty. A Michael Kors watch is pretty. Hence, the pretty half of my style statement. 

Wow, folks, are you blown away by that intellect or what? I mean, I should totally be a fashion columnist with that scintillating rhetoric. 

Scarf: Banana Republic, Dress & Jacket: Old Navy, Boots: Target, Watch: Michael Kors

So, what are you wearing for fall? I'm also linking up for Loving Lately.

 

Guest bloggers?

I'll be out of town for a few days at the end of December for Christmas. I've never done this officially before, but I'm considering having guest bloggers. I'd need about 3 posts. Is anyone interested? Email me t.jessicamanning[at]gmail[dot]com

DIY Anthropologie Letters

This weekend I experimented with a little DIYing. I've been wanting one if these zinc letters from Anthropologie, but I thought think they are a little pricey. I'd seen several DIY versions, so I gave it a try. If I can do it, you can do it. It was so easy!

Here's what you'll need...

1. Cardboard letters of your choice. I chose "E" "A" "T" from Hobby Lobby at $2.47 each
2. Folk Art in "pure black" and "pearl white" $1.50ish each
3. 2 sponge brushes (I had extra lying around, but probably $1 each)
4. 1-2 paper towels

Paint one coat of the pure black on the front and back of the letters.

After the black coat dries (just a few minutes) paint the pearl white on each letter section by section.

After you paint the pearl white on a section, take your paper towel and press it into the wet paint and twist. This will allow some of black paint to show through and generates the zinc look.

Continue to work section by section in each letter painting the pearl white and twisting the paper towel into the paint.

After you complete each letter, let them dry for 30 minutes or so. Then, put them wherever you like.

I got this "EAT" zinc letter look for around $10. It would have cost $54 from Anthropologie. Plus, I proved to myself I can craft something. More to come on my other weekend projects.

High Five For Friday!

I'm back, and I'm linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for High Five For Friday. This week has been quick, and I was out of the office for a few days, which is always hectic. Here are my top 5 for the week...

1. Love hanging out with Kris

2. Got to wear my Cartier Love Ring this week to out-of-office seminars!

3. Haircuts on weeknights = no styling required the next day

4. Aveda tea is my all time favorite

 

5. Left on my desk by a co-worker

High Five For Friday

Hey guys! H54F post to come later this afternoon!

I need to get a few things off my chest

Sometimes a girl just needs to lie on the couch and watch a Teen Mom marathon. So that's exactly what I did Monday night. I also drank diet cranberry ginger ale and picked the nail polish off my finger nails. Few things in life are more satisfying than picking the polish off your nails. Am I right or am I right? So, I'm all relaxed and enjoying my trash TV when...

I caught my little Yorkie humping my baby goldendoodle. I can't believe I just said that to you guys; it was so traumatizing. I mean this dude, our Yorkie, is neutered, 8 years old and a diabetic. Not exactly a love machine. Our doodle is 5 months old and probably 3-4 times his size. Anyway, it was so horrifying. I can't even explain. I really need to stop talking about it before I go all Teresa Guidice and start flipping tables. It made me that mentally unstable.

Back to Teen Mom. Am I the only person who will admit to watching it on the reg? I just love coming home from a long day at work and shutting my brain off. If you're a highly educated woman who enjoys a little trash down time, I ain't mad at ya.

OK, now that I've gotten all that off my chest I feel a little better. Happy Wednesday! Oh crap, it's just Wednesday. There goes my mood again! JK, but not really.

This my sweet doodle, Five.

Source: thegirlwhomcriedwolf.tumblr.com via Tina on Pinterest

Style Statement Tuesday

It's Style Statement Tuesday: Football Edition! Before you start doing the wave, let me explain...

I'm a huge football fan, but wear a jersey, I will not. I want to be true to my style even when I'm cheering on the Vols. A white collared shirt, a cashmere tee, and tall boots are super cute and super comfy. Here is a recent football Saturday outfit.

Top: H&M, Sweater: J.Crew, Jean: Target, Boots: Target, Sunnies: Dollar Tree

I love this look because I wear outfits like this all the time. Put any other color sweater over the button up and you'd still look fab. It fits my "Classic Pretty" style statement to a tee.

 

 What do you wear when you're cheering on your team? Link up and share! I'm also linking up for Loving Lately today!