go dawgs?

What is black, white, and red all over? 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. That's what. Y'all, it is literally EVERYWHERE on the runway for Fall 2013. Black and white is where it's at (apparently). Exhibit A: Proenza Schouler. I am 100000% obsessed with Fashion Week and vow to sneak in one day and maybe stalk Anna Wintour while I'm at it...... shameless. Anyway, here are some of my favorite red, black, and white looks from the runway. With a few extras thrown in for good measure. ENJOY. I know I do.

 (left to right) Tracy Reese // Oscar de la Renta // Naeem Khan // By Malene Birger // Jill Stuart

Monique Lhuillier // Erin Featherston // Red Valentino // Nanette Lepore // Naeem Khan

Monique Lhuillier // Diane von Furstenberg // Theyskens' Theory // Carolina Herrera // Trina Turk

Mara Hoffman // Diane von Furstenberg // Christian Siriano // Jill Stuart // By Malene Birger

J. Mendel // Sally LaPointe // J. Mendel // Tadashi Shoji // Tadashi Shoji

J. Crew // Kate Spade // Jenny Packham // Marchesa // Norma Kamali

Calla // By Malene Birger // By Malene Birger // Kate Spade // Monique Lhuillier 

Tibi // Zac Posen // Oscar de la Renta // Red Valentino // Mara Hoffman

Also: Here are probably my favorite shows, in no particular order: Mara Hoffman, Honor, Red Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta ... Tell me yours!

to love and be loved

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved bring a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.

-Oscar Wilde

Happy Valentine's Day!! I just love this holiday. It is pink and red and white and full of happiness. I am not big on celebrating with roses and such, but I just love the idea of celebrating love. Hug someone! Here are some things that have inspired me this holiday season, along with a few love-themed gifts to treat yourself or someone you love to a Valentine's Day surprise!

Macarons // Valentino Heels // Sarcasm //  Andy Warhol Lips Art // Mantle Decorations via The Glitter Guide // Issa Spring 2013 Maxi Dress // DVF Clutch // Valentine Card // All Red via Atlantic-Pacific

Marc by Marc Jacobs Studs // Deborah Lippmann 'The Groove is in the Heart' // Coco Mademoiselle

Kate Spade Watch // Hunter Wellies // NARS 'Schiap' // Target Dessert Plates // Christie Martin Jewelry Heart Ring Diptyque // Miss Dior Cherie // Catbird NYC // Diane von Furstenberg iPhone Case // Kate Spade Tumblers

I made a few of the gift choices above through personal experience. I received the Marc by Marc Jacobs studs from my little sister for Christmas. I love, love, love them! I got my older sister the Catbird heart ring for Christmas as well, and it is so dainty and cute. But most importantly, each and every Valentine's Day, my daddy buys each of his girls a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle. It is such a special tradition for me, since my daddy will ALWAYS be my first true love! 

With the being said, HAPPY Valentine's Day to my second true love, John Payton Joyner! 8 years and counting. He has been my rock through just about everything and loves me just the way I am... ornery, sappy, silly, crying, laughing, yelling, setting pans on fire, overflowing the bathtub, falling asleep in the movies, texting while driving... It doesn't matter. And that is so important and means so much more than a silly card or roses. I know that I can count on him to understand me and sometimes pretend to understand me when he really doesn't. He keeps me calm and relaxed in a way that only he can, and it is so special. So if you're reading this P-Jamz, I love you big as the sky! 

emerald city

Happy Friday! Can I PLEASE just explain how excited I am that emerald is the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year?! Green is my absolute favorite color! It is also the name of one of my favorite adult beverages (ingredients to follow). I cannot wait to see green everywhere this year!! I would have an entirely green wardrobe and look like a leprechaun every day if it was socially acceptable.... Loving these right now; take a look, some are on sale!! Snag 'em up cuz you know they're gonna be in this year!

Emerald City Champagne Martini

(from The Capital Room in Athens, Georgia)

Pineapple Juice

Blue Curacao 

Malibu Rum

Champagne

Combine Pineapple Juice, Blue Curacao, and Malibu to taste in shaker. 

Add ice and shake. Strain and top with champagne. 

Drink entirely too many and enjoy. 

 Tory Burch //  Topshop // Michael Kors // Steven by Steve Madden // Stella & Dot

 Blair Ritchey // Reiss // Michael Kors // Juicy Couture // Topshop

loving: lucite

I know lucite has been pretty big for a while now, but it has only been recently with the discovery of this absolutely amazing clutch that I have decided to delve deeper into the use of lucite in all aspects of life --- fashion, home decor, entertaining, jewelry, etc. It is SO incredibly versatile and can serve as a neutral and sleek palate for decorating or styling in numerous ways; by simply changing the colors or decor, lucite can transform to fit all sorts of design or style aesthetics. Here is an array of some of my favorite lucite pieces. While lucite can often become an investment piece, especially in home furnishings, most of these pieces are affordable and an easy way to bring some flair to your home or wardrobe without breaking your bank.

1 Collective Habit // 2 Jeffrey Campbell // 3 Design Darling // 4 Kartell

5 Tory Burch // 6 Chanel // 7 Guzzini // 8 The Container Store // 9 Alexis Bittar

Also, check out some of my favorite stylings of lucite for some inspiration on how to 

incorporate this trend into your home or wardrobe:

 

Garb: The Golden Globes

AWARDS SEASON. Like Christmas all over. Let the daydreaming, self-loathing, and critiquing of those much cooler and better than us COMMENCE. Here are my favorite and least favorite looks from the Golden Globes last night. Let me know what you think!

YES

Kerry Washington in Miu Miu // Nicole Richie in Naeem Khan // Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Couture //

Kelly Osbourne in Zac Posen // Salma Hayek in Gucci Premiére // Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad // Shaun Robinson in Pamella Roland // Naomi Watts in Zac Posen // Jennifer Garner in Vivienne Westwood // Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen // Emily Blunt in Michael Kors // Jessica Alba in Oscar de la Renta

NO

1: Lucy Liu in Carolina Herrera --- Do I need to even comment on this catastrophe? She looks like she's wearing my Grandmother's sofa...

2: Halle Berry in Atelier Versace --- NOOOO Halle what were you thinking? I've seen 500 versions of this at my redneck high school prom. I just don't understand. 

3: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Saint Laurent --- Rosie looks like she should also be carrying a whip and walking into Christian Grey's freaky bondage room

4: Taylor Swift in Donna Karan --- Where 90s Prom meets Mother of the Bride. The combination of the fabric, the color, and the weird straps looks so old to me. I googled "90s prom dress" to provide an example and, not kidding, this dress actually showed up... 

5: Marion Cotillard in Dior Couture --- The main issue I have with this look is those SHOES. Y'all they are just completely the wrong color. And even if they were the right color, who needs shoes that exactly match their dress anyway? This dress presented an opportunity to show off some awesome shoes and that was not accomplished!

6: Jessica Chastain in Calvin Klein --- WHAT is going on with the fit of this dress?! That is all. Her boobs look like they're ready to touch her kneecaps!! 

7: NeNe Leakes in Carolina Herrera --- For a woman who claims to be the fiercest diva to walk the Earth, this dress is anything but fierce. Come on, NeNe, you can do so much better. But I do appreciate your efforts to look classy and put together. Let's find a happy medium between ghetto fabulous and frumpy...

8: Sienna Miller in Erdem --- This dress could be great, but between the silhouette and the floral appliques, it really just looks kind of childish to me. It isn't THAT terrible, though. 

9: Debra Messing in Donna Karan --- This dress just has too much going on but is boring at the same time... I'm confused, really.

10: Rachel Weisz in Louis Vuitton --- This dress just looks cheap to me. I think I saw one similar in the junior's section of TJ Maxx... 

11: Emma Roberts in Maria Lucia --- I think Emma forgot to put her actual dress on and went to the Golden Globes in her slip...

12: Alyssa Milano in Ports 1961 --- Once again, what is going on with the fit of this dress? It is entirely too big? She is SO unflattered. I know there is a skinny person under that dress.

Black, White & Red All Over

Apparently only a choice few missed the "Wear red, black, or white to the Golden Globes" memo.... the entire event was COVERED in the colors of my alma mater (go dawgs). But obviously these colors are working for all parties involved because most of these dresses were the best of the night. 

RED: Jennifer Lawrence // Zooey Deschanel // Marion Cotillard // Naomi Watts 

BLACK: Eva Longoria // Rosie Huntington-Whiteley // Debra Messing // Katherine McPhee // Emily Deschanel // Salma Hayek // Nicole Kidman // Rachel Weisz // Kate Hudson // Adele // Kristen Wiig // Tina Fey 

WHITE: Isla Fisher // Julianne Hough // Amanda Seyfried // Kerry Washington // Jennifer Lopez // Anne Hathaway // Amy Adams // Lea Michele // Hayden Panettiere // Megan Fox // Heidi Klum // Michelle Dockery // Connie Britton

CANNOT WAIT to continue this exciting game of "decide which celebrity had great/terrible taste" again at the next awards show!! 

penn & stuffed peppers

Made one of my all-time favorite dinners tonight, stuffed peppers! Got the recipe from one of the best cooks I know, Payton's mom (hi, momma bettie!). Payton was a little baby for the longest time, claiming he didn't "like" peppers, and then after I forced him to taste them, he was hooked! Thought I'd share the recipe here, since its a) SO good b) SO easy 3) SO pretty healthy. Enjoy! I know I do...

6 large green, red, or yellow peppers (I usually just use 4)

1 pound ground beef

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 cup cooked rice

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 15 ounce can of tomato sauce

3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

*Cut the top off of each pepper and remove seeds and membranes, rinse peppers. In a large pot, completely cover peppers with water. Bring to a boil and leave in for 5 minutes. Drain.

*Cook onions and ground beef in large skillet until brown. Add garlic salt, 1 cup of tomato sauce, rice.

*Stuff each pepper with mixture and stand upright in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over peppers and top with cheese.

*Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 15 minutes.

Each serving (1 pepper) is approximately 290 calories. I substitute ground turkey and brown rice usually to make it a little healthier.

wine and dine

My 21st birthday was this past Thursday, January 3rd! It was really laid back... My family isn't big into birthdays, and I was home for the holidays, so there wasn't much to do. I just went to a birthday lunch with my family, and Payton had planned for the two of us to go to dinner out of town later that night. We got there early and wandered around shopping for a bit, and I wanted to keep shopping and be late for our reservation (who's surprised?), but Payton insisted we be on time. When I got there, he had some of my best friends there waiting to surprise me!! It was so nice! It was the closest thing to a surprise birthday party I've ever had! However, we are having an Athens-style throwdown this weekend, so that should be more than fun. Not sure if I'll be able to share pictures from that one on here but maybe :) Here are some of the highlights from my birthday.

Turkey and Pear sandwich (aka "The Nimmer") and eggplant fries from KDs Cafe --- my hometown favorite! 

Calories don't count on your birthday!! 

OPI 'Crown Me Already' from my sister Suzie

Rings: Jimmy Smith Jewelers (my FAVORITE jewelry store, similar piece here) //

Stella and Dot (old, love these though)

Enjoyed part of a caramel/chocolate apple from Apple Lane Farms

SAKE.... my first time. not that good? 

The Japanese restaurant we went to surprised me with this! 

And even brought out extras for everyone else! Did I mention calories DO NOT count?

Dress: Vila via ASOS (on sale!!) // Vest: via Steinmart (similar here and here) // Shoes: Sam Edelman

Purse: Michael Kors 'Sloan' (no longer available, but I love this similar one) // Tights: Hue // Watch: Michael Kors// Bracelets: Lily and Laura, Purple Paparazzi // Necklaces: via Encore (a WAY more awesome version here), Max and Chloe

My best friends made an hour long drive to surprise me at dinner! And Payton planned it all! 

How lucky am I?!

Buying alcohol in WalMart--- how incredibly South Georgia of me

Wallet: Michael Kors

Ended the night with Cupcake's Sauvignon Blanc 

... Didn't even open it before I was in my pajamas. That's how seriously I take birthdays, everyone.

Also, I may need to invest in some wine glasses..... 

I used some of my birthday/Christmas money to buy this Marc by Marc Jacobs beauty from Heery's! I got the last one, hehehe :) 

The booties came from Payton as a birthday present and I haven't taken them off since! 

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs // Jeans: 7 for All Mankind // Shirt: Vintage via My Dad

Booties: Dolce Vita // Watch: Michael Kors

My birthday haul:

Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc // Bath fizzies posing as candy // Marc by Marc Jacobs // 

Dolce Vita Booties // Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum 

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!! I know I sure did!