time to buy...

a hat! all of the above are from urban outfitters and cost 28$ or less! i've found that many people don't think they are "hat" people, but i think everyone can rock hats, it's all based on your state of mind. i love wearing hats, i started wearing them to keep my head warm in dc, then to shield my face from uv rays, bam! i'm a hat person. it doesn't hurt that the hubby looooooves hats on me. it also doesn't hurt i have a super cool sister-in-law who knows how to rock a hat, but like most scary fashion things, it's all about confidence, even if it is pretend to start with. go out and purchase, then send me pictures to post if you buy one!!! 

rachel bilson, a celeb who knows how to rock it.

i have had to save this up for a dry spell, but rachel bilson is the queen of all things fashion. i love everything about her style. she never does the same thing twice and tries everything once, yet manages to look easy and never over the top. she is my personal style icon and i so wish dkny hadn't sold out of all of the clothing she designed for them. 

advice to take from rachel. never overdress a petite frame. always over-accessorize. use minimal makeup even when dressing formally. find interesting pieces to add to a simple outfit. buy a yellow scarf, cardigan, or purse, then wear the hell out of them, pops of color are always encouraged. invest in interesting jackets to wear with casual and dressy clothing. matchy-matchy is so 1993, mix things up.

destin with the girls.

i just returned from a weekend with the ladies for my sister's 21st birthday. we had a killer good time and we looked super cute doing it. i wish i had better photos, but this is it. so enjoy.the most scandalous outfit ever...this look garnered many ugly glances from the ladies, but a security guard assured me they were just haters and that my outfit was the fiercest of the evening. i've never heard the word "ass" more in my life...what? i loved it.
i loved heather' s outfit. complete from lizard thicket, a cute and affordable shop in atl, you can purchase online.
The sassy ladies ready for a night of drinking, dancing, and dirty looks...well, just at me...
shan's outfit from lizard thicket, mine from forever21 and i couldn't breathe all night, but i looked hot and isn't that the point.

moving sucks.

so i am moving most likely into the house pictured above, which is okay, if you over look the slightly 80's flare, small closets, and linoleum flooring, but i have decided to do before and afters with it, posting the before and then the after when it's done up lauren style. so there you go. yuck.

the best tacos ever.

i can't take credit for these tacos, it's all rachel ray and her magazine, thanks mom. but i have found that some times her instructions are super confusing and not always correct, so i am giving you my take on her recipe. and it sounds weird, but trust me it is amazing. 

4 chicken breasts cut into large cubes

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons veggie oil

juice of 3 oranges (we used 2.5 cups of oj, no sugar added)

1 sweet onion, thinly sliced

one 28 once can crushed tomatoes

1 small can chipotle peppers in adobo...this is up to you...use the whole can like we did for SUPER spicy or just half a pepper and a teaspoon of the sauce for very little heat...you do need some even if you use very little, it has great flavor

corn or flour tortillas

possible toppings. chopped avocado, lettuce, shredded cheese, etc.

* preheat the oven to 350º. in an oven-safe dutch oven add half of the veggie oil and all of the chicken, brown the outside about 7-8 minutes. add the oj and cover, transfer to oven and cook for 45 minutes.

*meanwhile, in a large skillet heat the rest of the veggie oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add all of the canned tomatoes and your desired amount of chipotle peppers in adobo. cook until the mixture has created a thick paste, about ten minutes.

*soften tortillas however you prefer, or make them crispy in the oven for open faced tacos. 

*take chicken out of oven, remove from liquid and shred with fork. careful, it is f-ing hot. return to liquid and stir in tomato mixture. 

*you are ready to garnish and eat

it seriously is the yummiest thing ever. it makes a ton, so bo and i are eating it for three nights this week. tacos tonight, adding black beans and making nachos tomorrows, and burritos on tuesday. and gina you never taste the oranges...i swear, it's just an interesting sweetness. well, let me know how it turns out if you try it. 

my last purchase for six months.

so, remember that fabulous bag bella stuffs with shenanigans before she says mean things to charlie and runs away to arizona to hide from evil james? that's twilight speak for the losers who don't know...well, guess what? i just bought it. i am so excited. i was surfing etsy.com for good easy purses/travel bags and i came across the seller, stitches & swash, who makes the bag and was so stoked that the bag was within my means, at 175 it's cheap enough for me, but too expensive for the little girls who love twilight, i hope. if need be i will lie and say i owned the bag before the movie. it's even more exciting that she makes each bag by hand, i feel so fancy. bo made me promise not to make a clothing/accessory based purchase for six months. so i am going to be good. i have dresses, bathing suits, sandals, bags. besides, being good will help save dough for greece. this is gonna suck. i am going to need a shopaholic support group when the withdrawals hit. help!

that's a great outfit.

rachelle lefevre is hot and unfortunately canadian. yeah, yeah laugh it up gina, but this twilight baddie has crazy awesome fashion sense and unbelievable hair. i thought it would be fun to find her super chic outfit for those on a budget and those who want to spend big. do you dig her threads? or not so much?
1. Victoria's Secret Blazer, on sale, $98.

2. American Apparel rib boy tank, $17.

3. Nine West vintage clutch, on sale, $99.

4. Luichiny Diedre pump, $40.48.

5. Guess Daredevil skinny jean, $89.  
1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Gatsby stripe blazer, $388.

2. Citizens of Humanity Ava jean, $188.

3. Michael Stars modal tank, $39.

4. Elie Tahari Vivianna pump, $298.

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs Palais Royal clutch, $260.

so awesome.

bo and i want to get married again so this can be our song. click and enjoy. ted(sam lloyd) sang it on scrubs, and i prefer his version, but can't find it anywhere to download, but this guy mat weddle of obadiah parker has an awesome version. i love it. whatdya think?

i'm so good.

remember, when i said these were some of my favorites from fashion week...

whatdya know? that pretty much seals the deal, i'm freaking awesome. there are more, but i am tired. i should be a stylist. too bad that they don't hand those jobs out because acting is a pain. it's literally painful. i'm amazed how much i still want to do it, i'm insane, but i would sure as hell be a stylist in the meantime.

more new moon.

yay!!!! they have cast the rest of the volturi!!!! so exciting. summit has confirmed the cast list, go to his golden eyes to see photos of them, amazing casting. they found some creepy ass actors. 

outdoor oasis.

i just wanted to share my cute little front porch on a budget. the chairs are from big lots, 19 dollars a chair. bo found the rug at target for 40 dollars and i found the tables at home goods from 40 dollars for the pair. my mom bought me the silk flowers and vases. 

bo and i decided that we are moving in the fall, so i stopped my project, but i thought i would tell you my intensions. i planned on purchasing black and white graphic pillows for the chairs. i was going to buy some wire stars, everyone has them. i was going to spray paint them navy. finally, i was going to purchase bamboo rolling shades to put all along the porch to shield from the crazy florida sun...i still might do that, just because they are so cheap. okay, i gotta go call my agent, sigh. acting sucks. 

just in case anybody cares...

jane

casius

aro

as we all know, i love twilight so very much and new moon is shaping up to be a billion times better. with the new director, chris wietz, has come more money, better wigs, better make-up and a much more active story. i think it is going to kick ass and with a release date of november 20th they best get cracking. 

i did want to share some killer casting news. if you didn't know, dakota fanning was recently cast as crazy evil jane. baddie casius will be played by british actor jamie campbell-bower who is super freaking creepy, but the biggest excitement has been the casting of michael sheen as aro. sheen is an unbelievable actor and his casting is just perfect. i think that all of these choices really validate the film, no silly disney actors here. 

the werewolf pack, as well as emily has also been cast, but there are just too damn many of them and they are all smoking hot. Heidi and Gianna are also rummored to be cast, but check out imdb for photos. overall, what do you think? good casting? perfect casting?

my love affair with target.

i am so excited because i just got home from target. is there anything more fun than spending time in target? answer, hell no! clothes, makeup, groceries, cds, books, magazines, sunglasses!!! the possibilities are endless and you never really need a reason to go there, but you will leave with at least 50 dollars worth of merchandise that you do in fact need. it really is a miraculous place. my purchases today included skinny cow fudge bars, people style watch, eucerin lotion with spf 15, no-slip headbands, and an on-the-go nail polish stick, all cleverly stowed in my reusable target bag. now, i went to target to buy a silk head scarf and sunless tanner, but really i needed these things much more once i got into the store. i spent 29.67 then with a 5 dollar coupon 24.67 which is a miracle by the way. and it feels almost as good as when i purchased my multiple hundreds of dollars marc by marc jacobs handbag, explain that! target is simply the best ever. so excuse me, but i have to go eat a skinny cow while painting my nails reading a magazine all wearing a cardigan from target...love it. 

decisions, decisions.

what do you think friends, orange or brown? i am leaning toward the orange, bo is also prefers the orange, but the brown are soooo cute. help me please. i hate decisions. 

goodness gracious.

i love robert pattinson. he truly is yummy even with a cigarette in his beautiful hand. the wife beater and wolverine hair are totally working in his favor. holy dear he is fine. 

diane kruger, a celeb who knows how to rock it.

this girl, rocks my socks...hard. that sounded dirty. it wasn't intended, but what the hell i wouldn't kick diane out of bed, she's freaking helen of troy! and she and joshua jackson aka pacey witter aka love of my life are so adorable and fashionable together that it sends that chill down my spine i am supposed to get when looking at babies. ms. kruger dresses with such fearlessness and such ease that you can't help but love her. she is tremendous and not many in hollywood can boast the same fashion prowess. she is a goddess and i seriously had to rein myself in or there could have been 80 pictures.  

advice to take from diane.  embrace your waist with belts, sashes, and ruched fabric. rock a menswear trend, like bow ties, but do it with super girly fabrics. own a killer pair of boots, pumps, and day sandals, then wear them 'till they've had it. wear light airy scarves to add breezy complexity to any outfit. be comfortable. try everything once, remember fashion can't hurt you.