Tie a Tie.

How to tie a tie

Tristan once taught me when I asked in a worship service I attended. The meeting was running a little long and it was over crowded. I simply asked how do you tie a tie. Of course this was pre-Pinterest. (Where I currently see random things I hope to one day do.)  He took off his tie and explained. I remember I tied it once and I was like: check. Done. He was like do it again so you remember. I did but I didn’t remember. One time at work, I told a girl I liked her scarf and how she tied it. She said she had just tied it like a tie. Perfect, if you remember, I had forgotten how to tie a tie.  I stumbled on this tonight on Pinterest and pulled out a tie. (Yep, had like 6 of them in our gift closet.) And I re-taught myself. Perhaps, I’ll wear them with my kaki pants.

It is just good to know.

Packing Fashion Tips

Fashion tips for packing:

1. Know before you go, research a bit into what is going to be like. You don’t want to pack only shorts and sandals even if you are headed to hot AZ. (Sometimes life throws you a storm.) Learn about cultural expectations. You don’t want to be the offensive stranger.  Perhaps it will just be your lack of manicure, that sets you apart as a visitor. (With my experience it is usually just mannerisms that offend; showing off the bottom of your shoes, being excessively loud, your smile, etc.)

2.  Pack your staples, keep it classy. Your go to jeans, you know the ones that make you feel great. A dress that you can dress up or dress down. A few classy shirts, the type you can throw on accessorizes. Neutral swim suits and outerwear depending on the area of travel. Dark jeans or dress pants are also something that you can build on. When packing your staples, pack in neutral tones, this is where I usually fail.

I pack several colored/ flowery/plaid (You are getting the picture…) blouses and a few jeans. Dear me, There has to be more to your wardrobe than just claiming my jeans to be my staples. Staples should be classy.

3.  Add your pop of color! I love this phrase. Choose a flattering color palette that can be easily combined with your classic/staples.  Add in pieces that will spice up you vacation with that pop of color. Don’t be afraid of what you’ll add in this section, this is where you’ll gain your fashion variety. (Currently, mine would surely include some Kelly Green.)

4. Shoes. Plan them well. Shoes take up the most space and add the most weight.  So,  find ways to get multiple uses. At times that will mean being creative and stepping out of your fashion comfort zone.(Aka tennies with summer dress?) Think of the activities you’ll be participating in, make sure that you have appropriate footwear. (Avoid wearing tennis shoes with your little black dress to the black tie event.)

*Packing tip: Shower caps to keep your soles from soling your clothes.

5. Last the best of all the game: Accessories! Accessories are the icing on the cake.  Bring those cute earnings you get complements on. The little things will complete the outfit and the look.  Be cautious on your expensive things or the sentimental pieces you don’t want to loose. Take things you normally wear and are comfortable with. That is something to remember, and works in general with everything you are packing;  if you wear it here, you’ll wear it there.

Where ever you go:

 Bon Voyage!

Cover Up?

Rusty romper as a bathing suit cover up

Pastel dress as a bathing suit cover up

Tank and board shorts

I wish I were headed off to enjoy the sun with these babes.

I just made this for lunch and it turned out perfect for my sister who had some emergency dental work done. Awesome recipe,I need to save this one.

“People say in Boston even beans do it…”

Black Bean Brownie Bites

• Prep time: 10 mins
• Cook time: 17 mins
• Total time:  57 mins (of which most is just waiting for them to cool)
• Serves: 6

These brownies are gluten free which is great for those who have “gone Celiac”. (Sorta inside joke, I feel for those who have celiac.)

Ingredients

• 1/3 of a 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed (about 1/2 cup)
• 1  egg
• 1 T olive oil (or other oil)
• scant 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• dash salt
• 1/2 t vanilla
• 1/4 c granulated sugar
• 1/2 t baking powder
• heaping 1/2 t finely ground roasted barley instant drink
• 1/4 c semisweet chocolate chips (Sugar free to keep it on the healthy side)
• dash of coconut sprinkles

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 6 muffin tins. (Add a bit of water to the empty side, unless you have a muffin tin that holds 6.)  Combine black beans and dried instant barley in a food processor (sift in sugar if clumpy) and puree. Then stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into muffin tins and smooth the tops with a spoon. Bake for 17 minutes or until tops are dry and starting to pull away from the sides. Let cool for 30 minutes before removing from pan.Recipe adapted from My Little Celebration
2. I wish I had a two.
3. There is no two or three, but why have a one, if you aren’t going to list other numbers.

“People say in Boston even beans do it…” (Please click here in order to understand the quote.)

Say Something….Nice!

Say Something….Nice!

I love this!!! And

Improv Everywhere made a video about this and I love Imporov Everywhere. (Side note: add on to my bucket list participate in an Improv Everywhere activity.)

Adventures with my Dad!

I just got off the phone with my pops. We had a great conversation. Earlier today I sent him this text message:

” Happy Fathers day to the best dad I’ve ever had. I’ll call you when I am out of church.”

I am not sure how he felt about that text. He is the only dad I have ever had but he s the best I could have ever had. I think if I could have picked out all of the dad’s in the world I would never picked a better one than the one I ended up with.

In our short 24 minute conversation, (24 minutes is short for us, we clocked a good 3 hour call a few weeks ago, just for record)  we talked about :

• Scout camp
• My best friend’s boyfriend
• Civic duties
• My lack of love life
• Hoarders
• His day
• Vietnam
• My siblings
• President Kimball
• How he misses his kids being little and how it is hard to have adult children sometimes, but other times it is so nice.

He gets me.  My dad is the greatest dad and my dad is the strongest dad.

I hope he has a Happy Father’s Day!

 Along with all those other fathers out there. (Like: my big brother he is an awesome dad, my grandpa Rod who taught me math when I stayed over at his house, Grandpa Mar #98it’llbegreat!, my uncles blood and adopted, and last and greatest of all my Heavenly Father.)

Here is a short clip of me and my dad chasing after a hot air balloon. We have so much fun together.

Two girls, two chairs, and a parking lot.

Two girls, two chairs, and a parking lot of Target.

The nicest words…

My sister blogged on that birthday of mine. Now I’ll blog about her blog due to the kindness of her words. Check it out. 

Muffinhead- You make me suenan mucho mejor than I really am. How lo hiciste? (I am talking about the itunes an hacerme ver tan nice?) You are tan grande. Thank you for writing algunas de the best words about me that se han escrito. Darling, I adore you. (Don’t mind the Spanish. It just happens around these parts.)