Buford Betty Fashion Week: Style on a Budget

How could I not touch on this topic, girls? Especially given that (a) I'm on a self-imposed shopping hiatus, (b) our economy's in the crapper, and (c) I refuse to pay retail! It's a perfect way to end Buford Betty Fashion week, I say!

You guys know I am ALL about going chic on the cheap. I love nice things, but I don't like paying a lot for them. I have a devilish addiction to designer shoes and bags, and there is no *high* quite like finding that killer bargain. And with the internet, we don't even have to hunt for them like we used to - they often just fall into your lap! But the hunt can be fun, too. And whether I'm shopping on a tight budget, or - like now - not even shopping at all, I've always found ways to stay current each season. So if you're pinching those pennies like me, here are a few tips to help you rock out your style while keeping some cash in your wallet...

• You don't need the entire new fall line - just pick a few key pieces. It happens every time... our inboxes get overloaded with all the new fabulous pieces and "must-have's" for the new season. I have several catalogs at home with drool marks all over dog-eared pages. What's a fashionable girl on a budget to do? First, get a grip. Take a second look at these new trends and you'll find out that a lot of them aren't that difficult to pull off with the stuff already hanging in your closet. I mean, how many truly *new* items are introduced in any given season? Trends aren't always about new styles - more often than not, a trend relates to how something is worn. Chances are you have half of these "new trends" already in your closet. I often go shopping in my own closet to discover new possibilities. I haven't bought anything new in months, but I'm always coming up with new combinations and ideas from my own wardrobe. So if you're wanting to get some new things, just pick a few key pieces that you can work with... For me, the first must-have's are usually shoes. Those can definitely change dramatically from season to season, so I do love picking out some new shoes. And there's often another accessory or two that catches my eye, but for the most part - I can work out the rest with what I already own. Y'all know I'm an accessories girl anyhow, but I'm a big believer in having a wardrobe of good basics to carry from season to season... and then you fill in the gaps with a few new trendy accessories.


• Retail's for the birds... Find a bargain. Oh, I could devote an entire ginormous post to bargain shopping, as it's my favorite pastime. Designer-duds-at-Target-prices is the name of the game, and I play to win. Now if you're savvy enough to find your way to fun blogs, I'm going to assume you can handle online shopping. I personally do most of my clothing and accessories shopping online. I buy gifts almost exclusively online. But I do have some crazy friends that never buy online, so I know you people exist. Well I have to say my first advice would be to start online shopping. There are some serious deals to be had in cyberworld. You're able to shop around and compare prices from the comfort of your own home. Even if you end up purchasing something in-store, at least do a little research online beforehand. But really, most bargains I've found are online. And with great resources like Shop It To Me, they aren't that hard to find. With access to so many stores online, these shops know they're competing for your business. There are a lot of great bargain and overstock sites out there where you can score some serious deals. Smart Bargains is one of my all-time favorites. And as a lot of y'all know, earlier this year Smart Bargains popped out a baby named Rue La La. And ooh la la... we are loving this members-only sample sale concept. And what a brilliant move on their part - the perceived exclusivity of it makes us girls go ga-ga. And let's not forget our brick and mortar stores... there are some serious bargains to be uncovered there too. Whether online or in-store, it's just a matter of knowing what's out there and what you want. I rarely pay retail for anything. If I do, it is a true "must-have" that I know won't be marked down. Even still, I'll hop on ebay first to see if I can snag a deal. I consider 75% off to be a killer bargain. If it's something I want, that's nearly a no-brainer if I've got the cash. And 85% off... that's a stupid bargain. As in I'd be stupid not to get it. 50% off or so... that's good, but I dont' know - maybe. 40% off or less? Puhleeeeez. Get back on the shelf! Bargains are to be had everywhere if you're willing to look. A lot of really seasonal items will be marked down if you can wait just a little bit. And oh, it is SO rewarding when you get that incredible deal. You just wanna tell the world, don't you?!


• Host a clothing swap. I'm actually hosting my second swap next weekend and I cannot wait! I snagged some real gems at my last one, so I am super excited to see what I walk away with this time. You can hop here for a more detailed how-to, but basically you and your girlfriends gather together with everyone's old clothes and accessories... you set up shop and go wild! It's a great way to pass on some beloved pieces that you're ready to part with... the hub and I still give lots to Goodwill every year, but I rather see one of my girlfriends enjoy one of my old Kate Spade bags, you know? And you also come home with some fun new things! One of my favorite pairs of jeans came from the spring swap I hosted. It's a ton of fun, super easy to do - and you get to go shopping for free! We loves free.

So in the spirit of great style on a dime, tell me about one of your recent bargains. I think my most recent one (which of course is not all that recent) was a belt I bought at Neiman Marcus Last Call. I tried to dig up my post on it, because I'm 95% sure I bragged about it... but anyway, I fell madly in love with the studded belt Carrie donned in several scenes in the Sex and the City movie...

So I stumbled upon the belt rack at Last Call where the sign atop read "75% off lowest ticketed price." Killer, right? Oh but that's not all... above that sign was another: "Additional 25% off." This was completely stupid. So I got a fabulously fabulous $400 studded belt for $27. Yep, that's a hall-of-famer.

Goodies from Shecky's

Firstly, BOO! Happy Halloweeeeeeeen! I hope you all have a fabulous pumpkin day. I don't have any super exciting plans - I'm mostly concerned about the traffic getting home tonight. Halloween afternoon traffic is always horrible, but combine it with a Friday - Yikes with a capital UGH.

Well last night was a great time at Shecky's Girls Night Out! I stuck to my guns - I was a good girl and didn't spend a dime, other than to park. Stupid me forgot to budget for that - duh. So that was annoying, but oh well. The Biltmore was packed. We arrived around 6 o'clock and it was already hopping. The two ballrooms were filled wall-to-wall with retailers, exhibitors, and crazy girls. The goodie bags were fabulous, but we thought it would've made more sense to hand them out as people left. They were rather large and cumbersome in such a big crowd. Not to mention heavy! But it was a fun atmosphere, despite the crowds. The drinks were flowing and all kinds of drawings and giveaways were going on. It was like sensory overload. Among the goodies for sale was a ton of jewelry and other accessories - a lot more than I expected. There were a number of boutique-like setups with racks of clothing, but geez... who can really shop in that kind of environment? You can barely move. I don't shop in crowds normally - just can't handle it. So, at least for me personally, it's not an event that I can do any "real" shopping at... It's more like, if you stumble upon something cute and you can pull out the cash while balancing a drink in the other hand, constantly being bumped by other girls' big ass goodie bags, go for it. Otherwise, just stick to oohing, ahhing, and sipping. That's what I did.

There was a lot of cute jewelry, but other than that, nothing major really stuck out to me besides other girls' bags jabbing me in the side as I tried to pass by. One trendy find there that I've started seeing around is these feathered headbands and hair clips. Have y'all seen these?




I tried a couple of them on and they were super cute. I noticed a girl at the wedding we went to last weekend wearing a black one and it looked so great on her. She had a whole Chanel thing going on and it was so chic. I love headbands anyway, so these are super fun.

But of course, the best part is the free goodies! Here's a look at our deluxe Shecky's bag and the fun samples and such that were packed inside...




And my favorite - an Atlanta fashion map!


It was definitely a fun evening with the girls. Did any of you other peaches make it out?

Speaking of Fashion Week...

Atlanta gals, be sure to get down to the Biltmore tonight for Shecky's Girls Night Out! Tonight is the final night of this "shopping party." I would've been there last night, but we had a date with NKOTB. Tickets are still available online or you can purchase at the door while they last. In fact, you can get in free tonight with proof that you're a registered voter. I may do a little Christmas shopping if something catches my eye, but I'm gonna be a good girl. I'm in it for the cocktails and goodie bag! And to see what these "emerging designers" have up their sleeves... I'll have a full report tomorrow!

Buford Betty Fashion Week: Dress your age.

We just can't talk about fashion this week without hitting this topic... age appropriate dress. Oh, it's one of the most fun things to dish about, don't you think?! I see offenders everyday! They often prompt long discussions on the topic between me and bestest. Sometimes I wonder if we shouldn't have age ranges on clothing tags... I mean toys have them, right? Why not clothes? You have to be over 21 to purchase alcohol, so maybe you needto be under 35 to purchase a mini skirt. Can you picture it? I'm seeing a "we card" sign at the J. Crew register. I love it.

Well, obviously that'll never fly, but it's fun to think about. Age appropriate dress is a big deal though... and I'm not just talking about dressing in your 30's versus your 50's. I even see pre-teen offenders. And I know you have too! You can express great style at any age, but don't forget to dress your age. And um, that doesn't mean the age you WISH you were. You may say age is just a number, but really... should a 25 year-old and a 55 year-old share the same wardrobe? I think not. And, while I could write pages and pages on the topic, I will just touch on a few offenses that leave me completely puzzled.

1. Older moms wearing their daughter's clothes. Well, at least that looks like what they're doing. Months ago, I was sitting in a deli waiting on my order when this really attractive older woman walked inside. I'm guessing she was in her 50's. She had a great figure and carried herself well - but all I could think was, did you rummage through your 22-year-old daughter's closet this morning? First, she had on a really trendy pair of designer jeans. Now, I'm not AT ALL saying that once you're over 40 you need to start wearing mom jeans...


Heavens, no. But's let's leave the overly trendy and embellished denim to the younger generation. Rock on with the designer jeans if you want - I don't care who makes them, but keep it simple and polished. You're 50. The jeans were a fairly minor offense though. It was really the spaghetti-strapped babydoll top that had me perplexed. I mean, really? This is a perfectly cute outfit for a 25-year old, but not you. Aside from "appropriateness," it's also a matter of taste. And though we all have different personal styles, taste is not so subjective. Neither is it solely a matter of showing too much skin... there are just certain fits and styles that are created for younger women. Flirty, flowy little numbers look ridiculous on older women. It can come off almost costume-like. I think a lot of women believe they have to wear younger looking garments to appear youthful and sexy, but sadly - they come off looking quite the opposite. An older woman that I think has absolutely killer style and understands the concept of age appropriate fashion is Helen Mirren. Or perhaps she's the puppet of a great stylist, but she dresses her age and she always looks incredible.


2. Letting it all hang out (when you should've tucked it in like 10 years ago). If you ask me (thanks for asking), it's much more tasteful to cover up as you age. When done right, a little skin can be striking (see Helen's little taste of cleavage above). But there is definitely a sliding scale correlating skin exposure and age. It may not be an exact formula, but it exists in theory. I'm generally on the more conservative side when it comes to "covering up." So perhaps I'm a little biased, but I often find too much skin so tasteless - no matter your age. My personal style is anything but conservative - I dress to get noticed, that's for sure. But you won't see my ass hanging out. Not at 31, and not at 21 either. Sex appeal has little to do with the amount of skin exposed. So many women miss that, sadly. A little skin goes a long way and it's all about balance. If you're young and you've got great limbs - go rock that mini. But balance it out with a loose-fitting top that provides a lot of coverage. If you're wearing a low-cut blouse, go with a more conservative bottom. The most frustrating thing though, is seeing older women showing entirely too much skin. And not just women in their 50's and 60's per se, I'm talking about 32 year-old's prancing around a bar with their midriffs showing. I've never been a fan of the bare midriff (unless on a beach), but if there is an appropriate age for this, there's got to be a very, very small window of opportunity, don't you think? Like maybe 18 to 21. Maybe. Still - not a fan. And I know there are a lot of older women out there with incredible bodies that think the rules don't apply to them. A repeat offender that immediately comes to mind is Nicolette Sheridan. At 45, she has got a killer figure. Kudos for that. But hey, guess what - you're 45! Stop dressing like an 18 year old and cover that shit up.

3. Turning in your style card once you have kids. Now I'm sure I'll get called out for being an ignorant non-mom here (sure, go ahead), but really - this one kills me. The first two offenses focused a lot on older women trying to dress younger, but let's discuss younger women dressing too old. Like nursing home old. I see this all the time. Young moms getting so wrapped up in their kids' lives that they forget they have lives too. Now I do understand that your life changes once you have kids - your focus shifts entirely and you have a new set of priorities. I get that. But I also know it's possible to still take care of yourself. I know this because I have many friends that are successful at doing so. Yeah, they're now more concerned about preschools than designer handbags, but they still care about how they look. Others, however, are just aging themselves unnecessarily. I was talking to a neighbor not too long ago - you know, normal superficial neighbor talk. She's in sweats. Her hair's a total mess. Not a lick of makeup. And this is at a party, mind you - not at the mailbox. Her kids were young, but I figured she was like pushing 40. Turns out she's YOUNGER than me! Dear God! Is this what happens? I was absolutely stunned. I suppose it all comes back to the fact that you make time for what's important to you. I'm sure it's a big struggle to find some "me" time as a mom - especially a new mom- but if it's important to you, you'll make the time.

Gosh, we could go on forever on this topic, couldn't we?! I know y'all have witnessed people not dressing their age... offenders are everywhere. Spill, why don't ya? But let's not forget to honor those who get it right... any great style icons of yours that always hit the mark?

Buford Betty Fashion Week: A very stylish interview.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the fabulous Courtney, a high schooler in our neighborhood who has caught my eye on several occasions. I always noticed her at various neighborhood gatherings... the way she carried herself, her contagious smile, and most of all - her amazing style. At only 15, she seems light-years ahead of other girls her age. When I decided to do a week of posts on fashion, I knew I wanted to get the scoop from her. It's SO refreshing to see a young girl, at such an impressionable age, laying her own tracks instead of stepping in line with the rest of the crowd. To see such individual style coming out so early on in her life tells me this girl is going to do incredible things.

As I sat down with Courtney in her parent's living room, she was grinning, perfectly poised, and ready to fire away. I knew from the start that she'd have a lot to say on the topic...

Buford Betty: Tell me a little about yourself... what you're involved in at school, your favorite classes, what you're into...

Courtney: My favorite class is language arts. And this year social studies and lanugage arts are combined... I love history as well. It's like a big storybook everyday. I play guitar... I'm not into sports at all, but I'm like in love with music. So that's my thing. I'm starting to get really involved with my church. Have you ever heard of Interact? I'm involved in that. It's volunteer community service and things like that.

BB: Very cool! Now let's get down to it and talk about style. I wanted to talk with you specifically because I've seen you around the neighborhood and you've obviously got great style. I recently polled my readers about how they put together an outfit on any given day. The results were pretty even across the board... some pieced the next day's outfit together from head-to-toe the night before, while others admitted grabbing whatever they could find that's clean as they ran out the door. I'm curious how you, as someone with such great personal style, puts together an outfit. First, do you put a lot of thought into it, and secondly, when do you actually pull it all together?

C: I do put a lot of thought into it. Normally at about 10:30 at night I'll be starting to get things together. And when I get things together, I'll go to my mom's room and they're like trying to go to bed. But I'll wake them up and say, "Mom, does this look good?!"

BB: So you actually like try stuff on the night before?

C: Oh yeah, I'll go through four things, plus the jewelry, get everything worked out, and then I always ask my mom. She's always my fashion consultant.

BB: That's really great. I remember my mom always tried to get me to pick out my clothes the night before but I rarely did! And the fact that you're a teenager is one of the main reasons I wanted to speak with you. A lot of girls your age are easily influenced about what other people are wearing. What do you see other girls wearing that drives you nuts?

C: If I see one more of the same Hollister shirt, I'm gonna scream! I can't stand it. The thing I don't understand, is Hollister, Abercrombie, American Eagle - all those - they all have the same thing. It's all from the same company. Actually my grandmother worked in a mill in Opp, Alabama and they had some kind of big line - a Kohls line and something else. It all came from the same thing, it was all the same shirt, except at the end of the line, they stuck another tag and price tag on it. To me, I think brands are overrated and it's what you do with them. Like, this (pointing to her blouse) is from Hollister, but I didn't buy it. I don't shop there because I don't agree with what they believe in with nude advertising. Why would you advertise nudity if you're selling clothes? Whatever.

BB: So do consider yourself "trendy?"

C: I do, but I don't run out and buy something if I see everybody wearing it. Of course I try to keep up with the colors that are in and whatnot, but I just like my wardrobe. I like what's practical for what I wear.

BB: Are there any celebrities or designers that you look to as style icons?

C: Audrey Hepburn!

BB: Yes, she's definitely an icon. What about other media - do you keep up with fashion magazines and the like for inspiration?

C: Um, I'm a What Not to Wear fanatic! Every Friday night that's what we do as a family. We all sit down, including my dad, and watch What Not to Wear. It's almost a religion.

BB: That's a great show! And I'm a Project Runway person. I love that show.

C: I LOVE Project Runway! That too!

BB: Very cool. Now, I find that people with great style aim to be different. They tend to think outside the box. While they keep up with current trends, they always seem to be ahead of the pace. What do you find yourself doing to stand out from the crowd?

C: A lot of things. I think everybody has those pieces that everybody has. And I have a couple of those too. But what I like to do is take something that everybody wears and make it a little bit different. Like, on spirit day, for instance... everybody was wearing a red shirt or blue or whatever and their jeans. I wore a red v-neck instead of a T-shirt, with a white lace cami and then instead of doing like a (high school) headband like everyone does, I found an old white scarf that was very 60's, that came around and tied under and I boofed up my hair up in the back and wore that instead. And a pair of Keds.

BB: Very cute! Kinda retro!

C: I love retro.

BB: I've also mentioned that stylish people create "looks" when they put together an outfit. You love retro... are there any other looks you like to go for?

C: I go with everything. Yesterday I went to school and I was more punky. It's funny because each day people will be like, what are you today, Courtney?! I get that a lot. I like to mix different genres, too. But not to where it clashes and it's obnoxious!

BB: So do you have a certain go-to store for clothing? Like if you needed a dress, where's the first place you'd go?

C: To get a dress? Not really 'cause that's spotty. But, like everyday kind of stuff? I love Forever 21.

BB: What about accessories? I love accessories... I'd rather spend my money on shoes, jewelry, and bags than on actual clothes. That's where I have the most fun. What about you?

C: Actually for a while there, the only way my parents could get me to pratice my guitar is if at the end of the month, if I practiced everyday, I got a pair of shoes. I'm not kidding.

BB: That is motivation!

C: But a lot of my jewelry is my mom's. Like this (pointing to her necklace) I found in the bottom of the basement. Or just random things... like I like to find random things and turn them into jewelry. I took a bunch of my guitar pics and heated safety pins over a candle and made it into a necklace. But yeah, I'll raid my grandmother's drawers. Or a lot of it's given to me.

BB: So it sounds like you like a lot of vintage looking things.

C: Yeah, yeah.

BB: You know, people with style tend to see potential in things that others don't often notice (hello, guitar pics!). Whether it's people, or a room, or anything really. I remember in high school I would see people and I'd be like, man... if I could just have 30 minutes with her, I could totally make her look good! Do you ever find yourself doing that? Not necessarily just with people, but with anything. It could be as simple as a sweater... and you start dreaming up all sorts of things to do with it.

C: Yes. Well, I want to be an interior designer. Actually upstairs - my playroom, I'm redecorating it right now, which is really cool. Um, yeah - if someone is walking by... I used to sit last year with two guys at lunch. It would drive them crazy because people would walk by and I'd just be like... (shakes her head). And they'd be like, oh there she goes again. There are a couple of girls and I actually said, you know - if you'd part your hair on the side it'd look really pretty. You know, the ones who part it straight down the middle and smash it down? I actually got a couple of them to do that and they ended up looking really pretty.

BB: That's awesome. And one last thing I have to ask... it's one of my favorite questions. What's the one item in your closet that you simply couldn't live without?

C: Hmm... Probably my Keds. My white classic Keds. They go with everything!

After we finished chatting, I had Courtney show me some of her favorite outfits. Here's her adorable outfit for the first day back to school this year...

And a couple of other favorites...

Courtney was so fun to talk to - so impressive and inspiring! She's gorgeous, her style rocks, and she's got a big heart. And wow - only 15! That's not something you see everyday. If that's not inherent style, I don't know what is.

Buford Betty Fashion Week: Fashion vs. Style

As promised, dear readers, a week devoted to one of my favorite topics... FASHION! I dabble in a little bit of everything on this here blog, but you know I love me some wicked style. Grab a coffee and let's discuss! So what gives? "Fashion" and "style" are words that get thrown around a lot, but what do they really mean?

One of my favorite quotes of all time came from Edna Woolman Chase... "Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." It just can't be said any better. Fashions are created everyday, bought everyday, discarded everyday. Fashions come and go. What is hot today will be unthinkable 5 years from now. I know this because I'll dig up something in my closet from a few years ago and shout, "dear God, what was I thinking?!" But, no worries... another 5 years and it'll be back in and we can call it "retro!"

"Style," however, doesn't come and go. As Yves Saint Laurent said, "Fashions fade. Style is eternal." Style is absolutely, undoubtedly something with which you're born. It's a gift and it's rare. It's a talent of sorts. I compare it to the likes of a dancer... anyone can take dance class after dance class and learn the steps, but true dancers are born - they're not taught. In the same sense, anyone (well, almost anyone) can put together a "cute" outfit, but someone with style defines "cute" on his or her own. Anyone can go out and buy the latest fashions, throw them on, and even be considered "in style." But someone with true style makes his or her own rules. You've heard people say, "she's got an eye" for this or that. It's true. There's an eye. I suppose it's in the middle of said stylish person's head, but we just can't see it. But there is definitely an "eye."

People with inherent style can see things others can't. They see potential in people, places, and things that others don't notice. When they put together an outfit, they're creating a look. And even if they spent two hours piecing an outfit together, they somehow make it look completely effortless. Bill Blass once said, "style is primarily a matter of instinct." That's not to say that the most stylish person on the planet never misses a step... but the difference is, they know they have killer style and they make it work. They have impeccable taste and it shows in all areas of their lives. So not only do they have that "eye," but they've got the confidence to pull it all together. Those with style, more often than not, are thinking outside the box and stepping outside of their own comfort zone. Their comfort zone is redefined daily. They're constantly trying new things and experimenting. Blending in just isn't an option... sure, they keep up with the latest trends and fashions - but they take it to the next level and make it their own. And they never really can be defined by just one look, because they're always coming up with new ones.

As Edna Woolman Chase implies, money won't buy you style. Labels may impress people, but I rather see someone with style rocking out a Target wardrobe. That's way more impressive - and I guarantee they'll get noticed more. I'm sure you can think of someone you know that just bleeds uber-style... whenever they walk in the room you just think, wow. What is it about them? They've got it goin' on from head to toe, and it just looks so easy.

I can probably count on one hand the number of people I've come across in my life that I think are truly gifted when it comes to style. I honestly believe it's a God-given talent, or whatever you want to call it. And yes, it reveals itself in how that person dresses and carries himself - but it's so much more than that. That "eye," that amazing taste, that crazy confidence - it can be used to do great things. A couple of weeks ago I sat down with a 15-year old girl in my neighborhood who, to me, is proof-positive that style is something you're blessed with at birth. At such a young age, she already exudes such tremendous individual style and confidence. She's truly amazing and I can't wait to share a little taste of her style with you tomorrow! Stay tuned...

So now that we've created some distance and distinction between fashion and style, I encourage you to seek out that friend, family member, or co-worker with killer style and pick their brain. What inspires them? How do they put together an outfit? What looks are they trying to create? I think you'll be amazed at how differently they see things. And shoot... if you're the stylish one - you already know it. Rock on.

Bleh.

OMG. I ate so much food last night I think I may never eat again. OK that's a lie. I just ate 3 strips of bacon like 5 minutes ago. But for real, I inhaled so many calories at the rehearsal dinner that I should probably not eat for 3 or 4 days. Hehehe... it was good. The rehearsal dinner was at one of the Sugo locations. Sugo is delish - I've always liked it. But you know how it's hard to get a true feel for a restaurant's food and service when it's a private party like that? I mean there were so many little goodies being passed around beforehand - and I was STARVING - so I of course loaded up on those. Then we had a salad... fresh mozzarella, tomato, and kalamata olives (three of my favorite things). So by the time my entree came, I was kinda over it. It was great, but I was like 80% full and a tummy ache was coming on strong. OMG and then dessert... tiramisu - like my favorite, hello! And it was fabulous tiramisu. So of course I ate like all of it. And I'm not a big sweets person generally. Yeah, so after that I was like dying to get in the car so I could unbutton my pants. The food was great, but there's just so much going on that it's hard to appreciate it like you would at a normal dinner out. Does that make sense?

Rambling. Anyway... the wedding's at 5 o'clock tonight. Now that I'm Budget Betty, I was a good girl and didn't buy anything new to wear. So here's what I'm wearing tonight...




I've been REALLY good about not shopping. Well, with our hardcore zero-based budget and envelope system alla Dave Ramsey, there's not a budget for shopping right now. But girls, it's getting hard with all these killer sales going on! I just caught wind of a huge sale on KORS shoes over at 6pm.com and I'm like sweating. But I'm holding on! For dear life! Not. Gonna. Budge.

Alright... off to go find some nail polish... My peeping toes need a touch up.

Buford Betty Fashion Week.

Happy Friday, lovelies! It's a rainy one here, but oh, it's still a Friday. The hub's in a wedding this weekend, so we've got the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner tonight and then the wedding day festivities tomorrow. It's hard to work around football schedules, but I do love a good fall wedding. In the South, the first thing you do when planning a fall wedding (and already people here cringe at the idea) is to pull out the football schedule. Now I personally can't say anything, because the hub and I did in fact get married on the day of the GA/FL game six years ago. I know, I KNOW! But we had a reason. I wanted a fall wedding, but I obviously would've picked a better Saturday than that one if it hadn't been... my parents' wedding anniversary. Their 34th wedding anniversary happened to fall on a Saturday in the year we wanted to get married - it was just meant to be. And the funny thing is... six years later... we STILL get crap for getting married on a major game day. So yes, it's a very big deal. And I imagine this couple will get the same grief for the rest of their natural lives. The groom, afterall, is a huge Bama fan. But he learned quickly to shut up and say, "yes dear."

Anyway... I hope you all have fabulous weekends. And be sure to stop by next week because I'm doing a week long series of posts on one of my favorite topics.... fashion! I had initially intended to have this coincide with NY fashion week, but well.... life. So Buford Betty's just gonna have a fashion week of her own, OK? Stay tuned for some super fun posts next week and I can't wait to get your opinions as well. In the mean time, I'll see if I can round up a few more pics from the taping last week.

Pictures from the Taping!

OK we didn't get a ton of pics (I really thought we took more!), but here are some to start... I really wanted to get some good shots of all the lighting setup in our kitchen. It was crazy bright in there. Here are a few shots around the kitchen with the lighting. There were also lights placed outside the house that came into the kitchen that you can't see...






The spot involved a food challenge, like I mentioned, and here we started piling our $400 worth of groceries on the island. They were amazed at how much we got for $400. Momma didn't raise no fool! Here's one of the crew members covering up all the brand names and labels. A shot of a brand name could blow the whole deal, so they tell us. It was a ton of food and it took them forever to do all this!





The spot is sponsored by Hasbro, so we had friends at the kitchen table playing the game in the background.




And here's a shot of the "camp" the crew set up in our den...



It was madness, but SO much fun. I think we have some more pics - the hub is still uploading. The 60-second spot will start airing around mid-November. So I better soak up these last few weeks of normal life... I mean, once this airs I won't be able to walk out of my house without cameras in my face. I'm sure of it. Hehehehe....

They did get a REALLY cool shot of our house on Thursday night and they said they'd send us a still pic of it... I hope so because it was SO cool. If we get that I'll post that one also... More to come!

Stay tuned...

...I know I'm taking two forevers to get pics up from this weekend, but they're coming! Trying to get the hub to upload them. Back soon!

Pooped.

I cannot begin to explain how exhausted I am. I seriously have an entirely new respect for actors and especially crew members... omg. We had a total blast though! The hub took tons of pics, so I'll get some up soon. Today is definitely going to require a nap though. Thank goodness I don't have ANY plans. I am worn OUT!

The life of a star.

It's rough, y'all. I'm so exhausted and I haven't even set foot in front of the camera yet! Three crew members came to our house last night to get shots outside the house. Our house looks so cool in the shots! We had a full moon - or mostly full moon last night and the sky looked pretty eery. Very Halloweenie. They took a shot of the house, shots of the moon, and a shot of one of the guys driving a car up and down the road. And they got a good feel for the lighting in the kitchen and marked where lights would need to go and used all kinds of fancy words that the hub is determined to add to his everyday vocabulary. And of course he's best friends with them all at this point, naturally. He could have an indepth convo with a doorknob - so, yeah... BFF.

We did our Whole Foods run yesterday and my mom came with. It was fun - but weird. Just getting random stuff with someone else's money. I'm heading out the door now to spend the rest of our $400 at Kroger. We spent just under $300 at Whole Foods. And I still don't know what I'm gonna wear for this thing... lots to do! Gotta run!

A great shopportunity...

Well, in the midst of all this crazy Food Network jazz, I must take a minute to get the word out on a great opportunity to shop AND benefit a great organization at the same time. It's a win-win, girls!

The Partners Card, benefitting Camp Twin Lakes, is available now for $60. With this card, you will save 20% at all participating stores and restaurants between November 1st and 9th! There are over 500 local restaurants and retailers participating this year, but there are also some online retailers participating -- so you can take advantage of this even if you're not a sweet peach. Just in time for holiday shopping! Camp Twin Lakes is a great organization, based in Georgia, that offers wonderful programs for children with serious illnesses and other special needs. They also do a bike ride in late October to raise money and one of our friends is participating. (Woo hoo! Go Erik!) So if you're planning to get your shop on in the next few weeks anyway, this could really get you some serious savings. Cards can be purchased here or they're also available at many of the participating retailers.

In other news... totally didn't make it out to do our grocery shopping last night. I was so pooped from a long day at work and had NO energy left. So I'm leaving work early today and we're going to hit up Whole Foods. The film crew is coming out tonight to get shots outside our house and around the neighborhood. And they're having dinner catered in - suweet. You know I like a free meal.

Shopping on Food Network's dime...

OK, I need ideas. I love to cook when the mood strikes, but I'm by no means an expert in the kitchen. Here's the deal... A check is arriving today for us to go buy the ingredients for this food challenge thingee. So we will be shopping tonight. With $400!

There are only two couples/teams in this challenge and we have no real guidelines on what to get. I do think this has some sort of holiday theme, as it will air sometime this year - but seriously - no real guidelines. I think the challenge is Iron Chef-ish, but I don't think there has to be one special "secret" ingredient. All the ingredients are a mystery to the two teams... but OMG - $400? And they want us to spend it all. I think we're going to go to a nicer grocery or farmer's market. I think I could probably buy all of Wally World for $400... hahaha.... That may be a normal grocery bill to some, but for us two -that's insane. So what the heck do I get?? I have no clue!!! I need rules! Guidelines! Ideas! Something! Like right now!!!


Update: So the only "guidelines" of any kind we've received so far... party food. Yep, that's it.

Almost Famous!

OMG! Do you know what is happening Friday at Buford Betty's house? Do you know, do you know? Should I tell you? Yes? OK I give... OMG! The Food Network is coming to my house Friday afternoon to film in my kitchen! OMG! And the hub and I, and some of our friends are gonna be IN it! Like on TV! Like sorta kinda almost famous!

OK not really, but I'm sure they'll be so overwhelmed with my beauty and talent in front of the camera and insist that I host some new concept show they're dreaming up. Should I start packing now? Well I really don't have a ton of details - it all happened really fast and I honestly didn't have much of anything to do with it. It all started with my friend responding to a Craigslist ad. They always have ads on there for casting calls and random stuff like this - pretty cool if you've never checked it out. She's always on there looking for little odd jobs and fun stuff like this. She once got paid $500 to open and close cabinet doors at some home show in town.

Anyway, so - last week she tells me about answering this ad and then over the weekend she got a call... they (the producers) wanted kitchen pics and she talked us into sending pics of OUR kitchen, along with hers... and we ended up getting chosen! They're sending us a check this week to buy ingredients for whatever it is we're doing... I think it's like a long commercial or something, but again - I know very little. Once I get some more info, I may have to get some ideas from the creative cooks out there on what to buy. All I know is that we're supposed to buy some ingredients for a challenge (two other couples - including my friend and her hubby - being the challenged). And yeah - no idea what to get. AND it has to be a surprise to the other couples, so it's not like we can discuss it with them! Ahhh!!!!

OK so I'll come back when I have a little more insight - and I'm hoping y'all can help! And just think... whenever this airs and you see it, you can be like, "OMG that's Buford Betty and you see that [insert ingredient here] she's working with? Yeah that was my idea." And then you'll be sorta kinda almost famous, too! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!

PB Teen opening at Lenox Square

Get excited, peaches! Atlanta will soon play host to the very first Pottery Barn Teen store at Lenox. The store is set to open early next month - just in time for some holiday shopping, no doubt. And hey - don't immediately poo-poo on the idea of a "teen" store. It may not be on your initial must-see list, but I'd give it a look. Remember I posted a while back about some super fun accessories I found in the catalog? It's not just personalized bean bags and rad locker accessories - they really do have some gems if you're willing to look. They have some great stuff that would easily work in a nursery or young child's room. And shoot - even my room maybe! So I look forward to checking this out soon. And I also haven't been to Lenox since they expanded the main PB store... which is (for) now the largest Pottery Barn ever opened. I may not have any money to spend, but I sure can sip a Starbucks and drool. Let's go!

OMG!

Look what my Uggs have been bid up to!!! And there is still almost a whole day left. And you know what's so funny? I totally had these in a shoe bin at my last clothing swap and no one took them. SUCKERS!!!

Update 10/08/08: Shazam!!! SOLD to the highest bidder for a whopping $153.50! I cannot believe it! I paid only $110 for those pups like 3 or 4 years ago. I also remembered I had some pink infant Uggs tucked away in my someday closet... but you can bet your britches I listed those today! Woo hoo!

Up for grabs: FURNITURE!

OK, peaches... or even almost sorta-kinda peaches if you think it's worth the drive... here are the pieces of furniture we have up on Craigslist right now. I'm just going to give links to our listings - so click on the photos to get all the deets on each piece. If interested, feel free to email the hub via the address given on the ads, or you can email me for more info too. Thanks, all!


Pottery Barn Modular Wine Bar - Mahagony Stain - $750


PB still sells this set via the catalog/site ONLY (translation: big ass shipping charges tacked on), so this is a killer deal. Excellent condition! We're also willing to sell this one piece-meal (i.e. one base and one hutch).



Rooms-to-Go Entertainment Center - $600


My parents got this for my late gpa last Christmas, so it was only in use for 3 months. Practically brand new!!! I have no idea why the hub didn't remove that vase on there, but hey... if you ask nice we might throw that in too. ;-)



Restoration Hardware Blaine Collection Black Chest - $900


This one is honestly the hardest to see go... I LOVE this piece. It is so freaking gorgeous, but hey - it's just *stuff*, right?! We paid $2800 for this pup from the main store - not the outlet. And it is one HEAVY-arse piece of furniture. Even our big mamma-jamma movers who looked like they could crack my neck with their pinkies complained. So if you come for this one, bring reinforcements.


Again - my 2005 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition is also up for grabs! We are reposting that tonight... so I'll add that link in a bit. Love it, love it... but that's the easiest debt to get rid of fast - so buh bye. No more car payments ever ever!!! EVER!

3 Things.

1. First, many thanks to all of you who left me such sweet birthday wishes! I had a great day yesterday and *31* feels pretty darn good. The hub made me dinner last night and we just chilled and drank wine and watched Chuck together. He made me the cutest gift - he had to get super creative because I insisted on a -zero- budget for my birthday. He took an old full-length mirror we had and printed all these photos of us together and framed the mirror with them. So super cute! He wasn't so sure about it, but I LOVED it. He is good at a lot of things, but I would not label him "artsy." So this project was a challenge for him and that made me love it even more. Thanks again for all the wishes, girls!

2. Mayjah props to my fabulous city for being named the best (as in #1) city for singles by Forbes magazine. Woot woot! So, ladies, if you're single... apparently you should be down here in Atlanta. Just sayin'. (Hint, hint, bestest!)

3. As of TODAY, the hub and I have officially completed Baby Step #1 in Dave's plan!!! That calls for a major WOOT WOOT! We are so excited and ready to move on to Baby Step #2, but we're kind of in a holding pattern till the hub finds a new job. I don't think I even mentioned it before - but yes, he is looking for a new job right now, so the budget is pinched and squeezed and mooshed extra tightly. But we are making it! We've still managed to put money away somehow and also give. So prayers please for a fabulous new job for the hub so we can attack our debt snowball with some real muscle! Woo hoo! We've actually got a lot of furniture up for sale right now on Craigslist and we're also selling my Toyota 4Runner since it has a note on it. I will post pics of all that fun stuff in case any of you peaches are interested. Some REALLY great deals on furniture... so stay tuned. I've also had some really good luck with smaller items on ebay. I have a pair of old Uggs on there that have already been bid up to $75!!! I was so totally stoked... I mean they're like 3+ years old! Turns out it's the color... who knew? Makes me wonder what other gems I have around the house...

31 Flavors!!!

They say it's your birthday... na na na na nah! It's MY birthday, too! Na na na na nah!

That's right! Today, it's official... I'm *IN* my 30's. I mean yesteryear I just hit 30, but now I'm like in them. I guess I am pretty old. I get excited about things like BOGO deals at Publix and giftcards to Kroger. Yep - that's what I asked for. Give me groceries!!!! How lame is that? But can I tell you how super excited I am about it? We've been so hardcore with our Dave plan that the idea of "stuff" just doesn't interest me right now. I mean it's totally appreciated, but you know what I'm saying. Grocery giftcards translate to less money I have to budget for groceries which translates to more money I get to stash away. We loves it! And we are SO old!!!! ;-)

We all need a little more pink in our lives.

So true, right? I must admit that if I meet you and learn that you *hate* the color pink, we're just not gonna hit it off. Bestest knows... we've had these conversations. I'll say "yeah, there's this girl in my group [or class or office or whatever] and she's nice and all... but she told me she detests pink. I'm just not sure if I can be friends with her." Shallow, much? Perhaps. But girls, it's true. As my friend, Pammy, says... pink is a lifestyle. It's OK if pink is not your favorite. You don't even have to love it. Just don't *hate* it. Alright? As for me, I live in a world of pink with pink sparkles on a bed of freshly cut metallic pink blades of grass. So in celebration of all things PINK...

Welcome, October! National Breast Cancer Awareness month! The month of pink! The month of my birthday! The month where my favorite season begins! My favorite month of the year!!! And did I mention it's pink?!?!

October is special to me for the reasons I mentioned, but it's also a very important month because of the awareness it brings to breast cancer every year. Ten years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She discovered the lump herself while taking her morning shower. The first doctor she saw didn't think much of it, but he had it screened anyway. She had told me what was going on as they were waiting for results. I was up at UGA... it was my junior year. At first I remember thinking, surely this is nothing. The doctor's going to say it's all good and she'll be totally fine. But I distinctly remember sitting alone on one of the UGA buses inbetween classes one afternoon - and I just knew. I don't know why - I hadn't heard back yet from my parents... but I just knew it was cancer. Sure enough my dad called me later that afternoon and told me the news. My mom was too upset to talk. I can't even imagine the feelings she and my dad must've felt when they heard the news first hand. I think I appreciate that fear so much more today, being 10 years older myself.

We were SO blessed that the cancer was discovered early. After surgery, several rounds of chemo and radiation, my mom made a full recovery and is still cancer-free today. How amazing. And I'm constantly reminded of how blessed we are when I look around and see other loved ones lost to the disease. My mother's best friend lost her sister to breast cancer recently. It was so heartbreaking for all of us. It was most gut-wrenching to see an elderly mother having to bury her daughter. No parent should have to do that. It's just not supposed to work that way, right? But it's all around us - it affects us all. And so I'm especially thankful for campaigns like this that shove it in our faces and make us think and make us act. I'm sure we'll all have heard more than we care to hear about breast cancer and get over-dosed on pink ribbons this month, but do take the time to get educated and spread the word to your loved ones. Even take a few extra dollars this month to give towards finding a cure. And of course... go out and sport that PINK!!! :-)