Just Call Me Katherine Heigl

I'm heading to Chattanooga today to help Olivia address all of her save the dates! I'm so excited!

It is so weird being back in Nashville and not being with my sorority sisters! They have had such an impact on my life. I have a lot of friends here as well, but for my girlies in sororities you understand what I mean. It's just different.

Olivia texted me this morning and asked what kind of wine I wanted. Funny thing is I'm one step ahead of her and have a bottle in my fridge right now haha. She also has her cousin coming over to give us facials (wine? facials? This is my kind of girls night!)

I'm not new to addressing envelopes for weddings. In fact, one of my best friends, Lizzy, asked me to address her wedding invitations because she liked how my cursive writing looked.

Lizzy and me at her Bridesmaid Tea :)

Yes. There was a ton of them, but we've known each other since kindergarten, so of course, I didn't charge her! 

This is just bad, but funny. I think we were in second grade and at a water park. Liz jokes about how it looks like she's balding...at the age of 8 haha

I've helped so many friends with theirs and loved every second of it! Maybe I should go into the wedding planning business haha before you know it I'll be a pro at this stuff.  Just call me Katherine Heigl from "27 Dresses."

But hey, I know they'll all be there for me on my big day :)

Hope you have a great Tuesday!

xo,
eMr

Stampin' Out My Letters

It's no secret. I love stationary.

I really don't know why. Is it the colorful prints and patterns that draw me in?  and it might just be a weird quirk of mine, but I love to write in a new notebook and always loved getting new school supplies (I know, I'm a dork. I collected milky and gel pens in fifth grade, but don't lie, you did too haha).

Well, as every lady should, I've been writing my Thank You notes to my friends and family for graduation gifts and to my delight horror I realized I was running low and needed to buy some more. No surprise. I write Thank You notes all the time.

 *** Here's an Emily tip for all you going into business, marketing, PR, etc. if you have a speaker from a company or business come speak to your class and you want to make an impression (you know, for internships and possible future jobs!) 1) go up to them after class and introduce yourself, and 2) write them a thank you note for coming to your class and send it to there company. You can always send an email, but nothing sticks out quite as much as a written note! ***

I've been looking at new stationary and these stuck out to me:

 I really love these! Simple. Monogrammed. Pink. 

The cheapest I found them was at Paperstyle, but if you know of any other great places that sell cute monogrammed stationary let me know!

I also really want some return address labels. I started looking at the cute sticker ones, but then found some of the cutest stamps! You get a whole lot more out of them and they are adorable!!! More for your buck which is always a plus!

I found all of these on an etsy store and they are so cute! Alli's Creations has a stamp for any home!

These come from Palm Gifts. I love the monogram and preppy images in the middle! 

I probably won't purchase one until I have a permanent home, but what a great housewarming gift for a newlywed's first home paired with some adorable stationary?! (or a Home Depot/ Lowe's gift card if we want to be practical haha) 

Hope you have a fabulous Friday!

xo,

eMr

Is Chivalry Really Dead?

I'm back! I was in Pennsylvania where my grandparents own a cabin, visited DC for the day, and visited my great aunt in New Jersey at her beach house (which I have always been in LOVE with!)

Pictures soon to come, but first I have a bone to pick with some men....

I hate to say it, but for most men chivalry is DEAD. Not even a flutter of a heart beat. It's dead and buried deep in the ground. Now, I've heard the expression many times, but I usually at least have the doors opened for me or have a seat given up, and the rule ladies first has usually been enforced.

This is NOT the case on the metro in DC, which is basically a subway.

I was honestly appalled. I had the door close on me and then ended up standing with my mom and little sister holding a pole, as business men sat comfortably in their seats. I get it, they've had long days, but when my 50 year old mother who has MS is standing up, someone could give it up for her. No excuses.

Then I became extremely upset when I saw a mom and her three year old daughter not get a seat. Can a three year old reach the pole? Nope. She was clutching to her mom as a 30 year old man just watched sitting right next to her! No sir. I saw this repeatedly when little children and the elderly entered the metro. Now I'm sure not all men are like this in DC, and maybe I just hit an off day to not run into one of these such gentlemen, but to be honest they're probably one in a hundred.

Then when going back to the cabin, my cousins and uncles where the first to rush to go through the food line, even before their wives and girlfriends, my grandma, me, my mom, and little sister. What ever happened to ladies first? I had to bite my tongue before giving them a little southern sass (my little sister and I are the only ones from the south). I would say that the South is more polite, but that would be a lie. I've met rude and polite people above and below the Mason Dixon line, so when did chivalry cease to exist?!

Maybe women are a little to blame.
Maybe if some of us acted more like ladies we'd all be treated as such.
Maybe if women didn't make such a fuss over having the doors opened for them as being demeaning, but instead taken as a sign of respect.
But maybe, and most importantly, for a little boy to see how his dad treats his mom and for both of them to teach him how to be a little gentleman.

Don't worry, when driving through Virginia I had a five year old little boy hold the door open for me.
So maybe chivalry might have a chance after all.

How do you feel about chivalry? And who is responsible for killing it if it is dead?

xo,
eMr

A Little Sunshine with Miss Madilene

Hi everyone! I’m Madilene from Classy Collegiate. I’m so excited to be guest posting for Emily – she and her blog are so precious!

           For all of you ladies that don't know me,  Let me introduce myself a little bit! I’m an (almost) 20 something who has a love for decorating, weddings, monograms, and everything southern.  I am also a fervent optimist.  I believe each day has something wonderful in it - you just have to find it!

I stumbled upon this quote earlier this week and couldn't help but agree! It never occurred to me how much influence one's attitude has on those around them. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how true it is. It seems that as soon as one person is cranky the entire room is cranky. When is that ever a good thing? Never. 

A lady should always strive to have a positive attitude. Besides simply improving your own day, looking for just one small good thing can make even the dullest days brighter.  One never knows just how much good a little sunshine can do!

Have a wonderful day everyone! 

Madilene 

Beach Essentials with Mrs. Emily

Hey Ladies! EmCain here filling in for Miss Emily while she's out of town! Were you aware that I was actually girlfriend's roommate whilst soaking up my college days? She was even a bridesmaid in my wedding! Here, I'll give you some proof..

Yep! We go back :) 

Anyway, when Emily emailed me and told me about guest posting, she had said the topic was free game!  So naturally, I thought of the one thing that's been on my mind since I pulled out my white shoes from hibernation..

The Beach?! Duh?

..I know I'm not alone in this!

So today I'm here to share with all of you some key essentials that I feel you'll be needing to have packed in your beach bag (*ahem* I will be packing mine in less than a month.. It's okay to be a little jealous ;) this glorious season!

Let's get to it, shall we?

1. Atleast two beach towels.. Mine shall be monogrammed (because I am from the south, and I monogram everything.. as should you!) but it's quite alright if you've got a towel equally as cute ;) (because when it comes to beach attire-- a towel counts as an accessory, keep it cute ladies!). I always have one for laying on and one for a pillow/ drying off purposes.. Ya know, just in case you need to take a little dip! More towels are never frowned upon ;)

2. A nice sized hat to protect your face from the sun.  Let's face it.  We are not as young as we use to be ladies, which means it is now crucial to protect our faces from the risk of... well, the 'W' word.  Oh, you say you recently went to the Derby and/or Steeplechase? Well sister, just throw that fabulous derby hat in that bag and off you go, or you could always head out and get a few color coordinated ones to match your swim suits (remember.. accessories!).

3. Sunglasses.  Squinting? Not cute. These also make for excellent stalking material. What if you see an absolutely gorgeous beach babe? Throw these puppies on and stare away!  I currently possess those cute little Ray Bans shown above.. they're great for keeping my face from having "racoon eye" tan lines.

4. Reading Material. I prefer anything home related, or filled with juicy gossip.  

5.  Hair brush, Bobbies, and Hair Tie. In case you need to do a quick fix for said beach babe above...

6. Ipod. Duh?

7. Cell Phone (that's my phone case.. Love it!).. again. Duh?

8. Beverages.  Diet Coke, Water, a refreshing glass of chilled Moscato... I don't know what you drink? ;) All I know is that you is gon' die of the dehydration if you don't keep some fluids in ya ;) 

9. Tumbler glass with straw and/or plastic wine glass. Girlfriends, you can find these anywhere.  They're reusable, plastic, and they don't make your drinks taste all cardboard-like like the to go cups at various fast food restaurants.  Plus, you'll need something cute to put in said Bevie above ;) 

10. Cooler.  You'll most likely want to coordinate this with your beach bag as well ;) Gotta keep those drinks nice and cool ;) 

...these would be the other neccessary items to take along with me to the beach.

Sorry girls, but you're on your own finding you some super fine men to accompany you ;) 

So who's ready to get to packing? I know I am!

Thanks so much, Mak (or Emily, as you all would call her!) for having me over, and thanks for reading, ladies!

Come see me sometime, I'd love to meet you!

Until Next Time, girlfriends!

xoxo, EmCain

Makeup with Mrs. Chelsea

Hi, I'm Chelsea of The Life and Whereabouts of Chelsea. I want to give a big thank you to Emily for letting me guest blog! I love to blog about my life, my current weight loss journey, and makeup, makeup, makeup! Hope you enjoy!

I love makeup and anything beauty related. Do I need anymore makeup? Nope. Do I have enough makeup to make over all the Miss Universe contestants? Probably. I could browse around the Chanel, Bobbi Brown, MAC, Lancome, and Laura Mercier counters all day long. Don't even get my started on Sephora or Ulta. My husband knows to go check out other stores while I'm in there because it will be a while.

One thing I make sure to do before I buy a product is research, research, research. I want to know how much it costs, how it performs, and most importantly, are there any possible dupes. "Dupes" in the beauty world mean products that look/feel/perform almost 100% like another product. Think of a dupe as an alternative. My favorite dupes are drugstore dupes. I love the high-end stuff, but my bank account sure doesn't. Here are some possible drugstore dupes to add to your collection:

High-end: Armani Eyes to Kill Intense shadows ($32)

Drugstore: L'Oreal Infalliable 24 Hour Eye Shadow ($7-$10)

Both brands' shadows are a mix between a pressed pigment and cream shadow. These shadows are very easy to use; swipe some product on with your finger, pat on lid, and you are good to go!

High-end: YSL Touche Eclet ($40)

Drugstore: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer ($7-$10)

& L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Highlighter ($7-$10)

Combining your highlighting and concealing routine not only gives you a bright-eye effect, but it also helps you save time during your morning routine! Choose a product that will conceal blemishes and spots while highlighting the higher planes of your face (cheek bones and brow bones) and brightening any undereye circles.

High-end: Urban Decay eyeshadows ($18)/ MAC eyeshadows ($14)

Drugstore: Wet n Wild eyeshadows ($1.99 single, $2.99 trio, $4.99 palette of 8 shadows)

Eyeshadows are my addiction. I have some for almost every brand, high end and drugstore. I love my Urban Decay palettes and MAC veluxe pearl shadows the most because they are very pigmented and go on my lids like butter. Want the same thing without shelling out that much cash? Try Wet n Wild shadows! My favorites are the single shadow in Nutty and the trio in Silent Treatment. They are just as pigmented, go on like butter, and cost less than $5. Try them and be prepared to be amazed.

High-end: MAC pigments ($20)

Drugstore: L'Oreal HIP pigments ($8-$10)

Pigments are highly concentrated loose powder product that can be used in a variety of ways: eyeshadows, eye liners, blush, mixed in clear nail polish, mixed in lotion, mixed with clear lip gloss, etc.

MAC has a large range of pigment colors, but at $20 a bottle it can be expensive to own a lot, especially since you use such a little amount of product. L'Oreal has a line called HIP (do you see the similarity to MAC?) which offers high pigmented products including loose pigments.

High-end: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish in Peridot ($26)

Drugstore: OPI Just Spotted the Lizard ($8.50)

Last year, Chanel's Peridot polish was all the rage. The duo-chrome polish changes colors depending on the light. It goes from gold to green to blue to bronze. OPI recently released a Spiderman collection with a polish called Just Spotted the Lizard which is a dead on dupe for Peridot at $17.50 less!

Simply going to Google and typing in "*product name* dupe" will give you information and photos about possible dupes. A few minutes of research could save you some major money!

I'm Over Here Today!

Hey girls! There is a break in my guest posting series today because I'm actually guest posting over at Miss Emily Anne's blog, Preppy Kentucky Belle, while she's away!

Here's a hint to what I'm posting about...

So go ahead over there and read her blog!

I miss y'all and will tell you where in the world I've been, followed by pictures, of course, once I get back!

Hope y'all are having a great Thursday!

xo,
eMr

Run Like A Girl: The Running Skirt with Miss Ali

Hello beauties! My name is Ali and I normally blog over at {monogrammed scrubs} But today I have the pleasure of guest blogging for sweet Emily!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never would have thought that I would be the girl who went running in a skirt.

 I am not sure what I am more surprised by - the electrifying skirt and nike frees pairing, or that fact that I actually enjoy running. But I still hate it all the same. I shouldn't admit to things like that, its all too confusing! But I reassure you, I enjoy my lounging time, sitting around watching movies and doing nothing all day wins over running the majority of the time. So when my mom dragged me to target one afternoon insisting we look at their running skirts I was a grumpy pants. The little display was laid out in a perfect color arrangement and this little thing jumped out at me. It wasn't pink, but it was as close as I was going to get. I ran to the tiny dressing rooms to try it on and knew it was all good then. The skirt slipped right on and the little built in spandex bloomers hugged perfectly. There was no pinching around my waist nor was it inching off my hips. I promptly exited the dressing room, in a much better mood, and purchased the C9 by Champion running skirt for around $15.

+

=

The running skirt concept is great because it is comfortable and cute. My mom sale point was that it was just perfect for me to after a run. She has this picture of me going on a run and then casually browsing around in the mall. I don't think she understands how pale and exercise do not mix, not to mention a little thing called sweat. 

What this skirt is perfect for is an easy, practical outfit choice. It almost could pass for a tennis skirt, and I don't think you'll have anyone exclaiming "oh look at her running skirt!" I would just assume someone was going to play tennis judging from the skirt alone.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this concept to runners and lounge potatoes alike. Right now on {target.com} there is a $2 off coupon for any C9 Champion apparel. You could get this skirt for a steal!

xo,

AWA

p.s. I still haven't forgotten about my baby norts, they will always be a tried and true essential. The skirt is working its way into my heart though...

DIY T-Shirt Tank with Miss Lindsey

Hi everyone! To quickly introduce myself, my name is Lindsey and I blog over at Turtles & Pearls. I am a Kentucky girl, and I love all things girly and preppy. Feel free to stop by and say hello!

I definitely want to say a huge thank you to Emily Ruth for letting me take over her blog for the day. Emily, I hope you are having an absolutely wonderful time while you’re out of town! I know Emily loves making things, so I thought I would share one of my favorite DIYs with you today – the t-shirt tank.

When summer hits, I spend a lot of time in the gym working on my beach body. While working out, I just want to be comfortable. I do not feel comfortable in a tight little tank, and I would sweat to death if I wore a t-shirt! When I spotted a pin on Pinterest for a t-shirt tank, I was sold. A few weeks later, this tank has become my favorite thing to wear to the gym. I got the idea for this tank here, but changed it around quite a bit to make it the perfect tank for me.

To make a t-shirt tank, all you need is an old t-shirt, a ruler or measuring tape, and a pair of scissors (I found that fabric shears work best, but any scissors will do).

Making the Tank

[one] Cut the neck off of the t-shirt right below the seam. This part will not show in the end, so don’t stress about making it perfect.

[two] Cut each of the sleeves off right inside the seam. Same as in step one, you don’t need to worry about making it perfect. Make sure to save one of the sleeves because you’ll need it later!

[three] In this step, we will be making the neck hole larger. Measure about 6” down from the top of the shoulder. This is how deep the neck should go. Cut about 5” down in a straight line, and then curve in toward the center. Stop when you are in the center of the shirt.

Fold the first half over onto the second half, and use this as a guide to cut the next part. This will make sure that the neck hole is symmetrical.

[four] Using the front as a guide, cut the back to match.

[five] In this step, we will be making the straps for the tank. First, decide how wide you want the straps to be. I used about 1.5” for mine, but wider or smaller would work just as well. Moving from the shoulder to the armpit, measure this width from the neck hole, and cut the excess.

[six] Take the scrap from step 5, lay it on the opposite sleeve, and use it as a template to cut the other strap. Same as with the neck, this will make sure the two sides are even.

At this point in time, your tank should look like this.

Making the Back

[seven] Cut the cuff off of one of the sleeves so that you have one long, skinny piece of t-shirt. Pull both ends of this piece until it starts to curl.

[eight] Gather the two straps of the back of the tank and wrap this piece of fabric around them 4-5 times. Tie it in a knot, and then twist it so the knot is on the inside of the tank.

And there you have it! The perfect workout tank.

I hope you love the t-shirt tank as much as I do. Thanks again, Emily, for letting me post on your blog today!

Relationships with Miss Maggie

Hiiiyaa Ladies! In case you don’t already know, I am Maggie over at

A penny for your thoughts..

I am so excited to get this opportunity to guest post for Miss Emily.  I wasn’t sure exactly how this works, so I hope I do okay for you. Today I wanted to talk to you all about relationships. Those who are in one, or who have ever been in one know how much work is required to make it last. Whether you’re dating, engaged, or even married, here are some tips to keep your relationship fresh and strong.

·      Communicate. No ladies, I don’t mean the occasional what’s up texts during the day. I am talking about turning off Greys Anatomy for 10 minutes and having an actual conversation with your significant other. (We’ll just call that person Bob) Also, let Bobby talk too. I know you just bought these really cute shoes that he is dying to see, but ask him about his day.

·      Plan a date night that is centered around what Bob likes to do, besides holding your shopping bags and admiring your beauty as you try to decide which shade of red gloss looks good on your lips. Order him tickets to a local baseball game, have dinner at his favorite bar and grill (even if it does smell like cheap beer and cigarettes) or go see that “action packed” Megan Fox movie with him. He will appreciate that you’re thinking about his interests, and then ask him to plan a date for you too.

·      Let Bobby hang out with his buds. You don’t always want to watch the Lakers every time they play, now do you? Let him go out with his guys, and take time for yourself and your gals. The girls will appreciate that 20 dollar steal far more than he will anyways.

·      Include his family as often as you can. He will love you forever if you take an afternoon to have a coffee with his mother or to chit chat with his sis. The two most important things to Bob are you, and his family. Put in the effort to make them as important to you as well. 

·      Love good ol’ Bobby for what he is. If there are not any major issues that cause friction in the relationship, leave him be. Plug your nose and pick up the dirty socks that he left in the floor for the 100^th time. I am sure he enjoys the feminine products all over the back of the toilet just as much as you enjoy his dirty baseball cap. It is all about give and take. He’ll see that you help him, and he will want to help you in return.

That is all I have for you today!

xoxo-

Mags

Tennessee Flair with Miss Emily Anne

Hey y'all! My name is Emily Anne and I'm from Kentucky Belle.  This is my first ever guest post and I am super excited. My blog is all about the southern lifestyle that I live in Kentucky and my picks for that lifestyle. So for today's guest post seeing as Emily Ruth is from Tennessee, I decided to pick some items with some Tennessee flair.

First is the I heart Tennesee necklace from truche on etsy. What better way to show pride for one's state? If y'all aren't from Tennessee, the etsy shop also carries other states.

Second is Tennessee's Women's Sandals from Volunteer Traditions. Volunteer Traditions women’s sandals are sized much more like a tailored shoe than the typical “loose” flip flop, which means they won't fly off. Volunteer Traditions also makes croakies, tumblers, key fobs, and t-shirts, along with other Tennessee apparel/accessories. Like the necklace, they also carry other states.

Lastly, to support two of the major colleges in Tennessee, we have Tervis Tumblers for Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Perfect for Tailgating this fall!

Hope you enjoyed this Tennessee-themed post! Please check out my blog, Kentucky Belle!

-Emily Anne