Semi-Wordless Wednesday...Naughty and Nice Nieces

If only I knew what scheming is going on in that pretty little curly head...

Cook-Off Recap...

HH and I had a wonderful time on our annual date night to the HLSR World's Championship Bar-B-Que Cook-off on Friday... I know, I am clearly NOT wearing the planned outfit.  Again with the $#%& Texas weather, that awesome Lunar Cycles top would have had me freezing my lunar cycles off.  

Plan B, same jeans, boots and jewelry (sheesh, what's up with me and the BIG earrings lately), old brown cardi (from Kohl's, and I do really have a hand under those bell sleeves), paired with funky little embroidered tank found on clearance at my local Ya Ya Clothing Company boutique, belted with wide belt with turquoise buckle, also from Ya Ya.  Lunar Cycles top will now be attending the ZZ Top rodeo concert in a couple of weeks... $%&# weather better cooperate.  

Now, on to the FUN stuff... COOK-OFF!  For those of you non-Texans, or Texans who have never attended this Cowboy Mardi Gras, I snapped a few pics...

These are from the Holy Cow Cookers booth... one of a 100's of teams that compete, and then put on a huge party with free food., drinks, bands... 

and yes, this is all set up in a giant TENT.

 

Did I mention free mini CRAVE cupcakes?  Nothing like a Bud Light and a cupcake... 

Ran into some of our best friends and neighbors...

And then we discovered the free photo booths.

Uh, yeah... we went a little bonkers overboard.

More Cook-off action...

And just in case you're unsure which Porta-potty to use...

What's Up Wednesday... and a WINNER!

What's up?  Valentine's Day is what's up here... turned out to be a lovely day.  Started my day volunteering at the junior high getting 2400 (no joke) carnations labelled and ready for delivery to a bunch of eager middle schoolers... funny, funny to read what they write to each other.  My fave? A shy looking little 6th grade boy who was filling his order out for me last week and quietly asked

"how do you spell anonymous?"

After Carnationpaloooza, had lunch with some of my favorite friends and then came home to find this surprise sitting on my kitchen counter...

Ahhhhhhh... tulips, my fave!  My mama knows me so well.  

A dozen roses and tickets to see Million Dollar Quartet from Handsome Hubby. 

Date night on the horizon!  Woo hoo!

This yumminess from my babies...

And finally, from all of my loves... 

WOO HOO!  Not a bad day for an old mom...

And here's what I wore for a long day of hearts and flowers...

Cardi - White House/Black Market (2 seasons ago on sale)

Tank - Target Micro Rib Tank (best tanks EVER!)

Jeans - Anthropologie Holding Horses Cropped Jeans 

(I'm short enough that when I roll down the cuffs, they are the perfect length NON-cropped jeans...

and FYI, got these WAY on sale, because I will NEVER pay $200 for a pair of jeans!)

Red Patent Flats - Payless American Eagle (old, old, old but great shoes and I think they still sell this style)

Sliver Heart Earrings - Target

Bracelets - clearance at Target and American Eagle

Black Bling Belt - Target clearance ($5.98!)

So, how was your favorite Hallmark holiday?

Lest you think I forgot, fear not... we have a WINNER!  OLGA you are the winner of the Blog Birthday Giveaway!  Congrats and I will be contacting you soon...

Friday Finds...

So, I've been on a thrifting kick lately.  Perhaps it has something to do with those two words that are looming larger and larger in my future... COLLEGE TUITION.   Or maybe I'm just cheap.  Whatever the reason, I'm having some fun finding things both for myself and the booth.  Check out my latest treasures...

Just adore this cute little rattan and bamboo side table... it was marked "not for sale" but was sitting in an area of FOR SALE stuff, so I took it up front and asked and YIPPEE, it was in fact mismarked and mine to take home for a whopping $4.00!  Yes, please!  This little sweetie is booth bound.

I can't get enough of shabby old artwork... this one is very old and very sweet.  The bird?  Just loved his colors and doesn't he look so regal?  Also booth bound!

These chickens make me happy... two of them are salt and pepper shakers and two of them are just plain cute.  Off to the booth they go...

Now, a few things for ME!  What I'm finding about thrifting for clothes/accessories?  There are things I would probably never pay full price for, but would love to have if the CPW (cost per wear) were low.  BINGO!  

What's in my cart?

The corduroy leopard print jacket was in new condition, and only $9.00.  Animal prints are the new neutral and I'm a little obsessed.  SCORE. 

The giraffe bag... so cute!  I love to change up bags every now and then, but this is not versatile enough for me to justify a big purchase.  But at $5.00?  

Yep, I can justify.

The NEW red Coldwater Creek peplum jacket/blouse.  Not something I would wear too often, but perfect for substitute teaching or those times when I need to look a bit dressier/more professional... and at $6.00 it's a steal.

Check out those rockin' red Laredo Ropers!  These are actually for Dear Daughter, as it's coming up on Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo time... her feet are still growing and I am not spending $100 on boots she will wear for a week and then outgrow.  These?  Leather, name brand, excellent condition, and only $20. 

YEE-HAW!

That's all I got for now... 

don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY, last chance this morning!

TGIF!!!

Wordless (at least as close as I will ever be) Wednesday...

Fatbooth Fun

Super Bowl Jello Jigglers

High School Swimming DISTRICTS

Happy girl got the part! "High School Musical" Wildcat Cheerleader...

Happy 1st Blogday and a Giveaway!

So, I totally would have missed the fact that TODAY is my little blog's big first birthday were it not for my number one cheerleader (mom) who sent me a lovely little congratulatory note yesterday... thanks Mimi!  I'm a little bumfuzzled as to how the last year has just evaporated, but I'm quite proud of myself that I'm still keeping up with this little adventure, even if not quite as often as I would like.  

Funny reading my very first post (no pictures, DUH, what was I thinking?)... we were having a snow day the next day.  A SNOW DAY.  Exactly one year later, and it was 88 degrees yesterday.  Remember what I said about our weather being ON CRACK?  Welcome to Texas... don't like the weather?  Just wait a minute.

Interesting to realize how my style has changed as much as it has stayed the same over the last year, and how my interests are evolving.  I've found that I really enjoy writing... I guess I have always been the one who preferred writing a paper over taking a test.  But now I find myself forming blog posts in my head and then frantically looking for something to write it down, or jumping out of bed to type something up because I know in the morning I will get so busy with the business of the day that it will have completely escaped me.

A girl knows her limits, but a wise girl knows she has none... Marilyn  Monroe

And how on earth did I go from ZERO followers (well, besides Handsome Hubby and Mimi) to 765 in one short year?  Insane!  I hope I don't bore you too often, and I hope you all stick with me for another year.  I have "met" some wonderful folks in this virtual world!  As a THANK YOU to ALL of my virtual friends, those that have been with me from the beginning and those of you who are new,
I'm feeling the need to celebrate with... what else?

A GIVEAWAY!

So, what am I giving away you ask?  I had to think awhile, and I decided to share with you one of my all-time favorite products (and no, I'm not getting a kick-back, this is not a sponsored post, and I am buying this with my very own cashola just because I LOVE you all...).  

What is it, you ask?

Benefit High Beam Complexion Enhancer

One swipe of this magic potion on your cheekbones gives you that lovely pregnancy glow (ok, I was more green than glowing, but I know you're SUPPOSED to glow) without having to change diapers or pay college tuition.  You will have the perfect amount of sparkle, without looking like an 8 year old that got crazy with the body glitter.  

And all you have to do to enter to win this little bottle of magic?

HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Orangie's Attic Blog Birthday Giveaway, you can either:

1) Become a FOLLOWER of the Orangie's Attic Blog via Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, Blog Lovin' or Email Subscription and leave a comment letting me know which you choose.

BUT I AM ALREADY A FAITHFUL (BELOVED) FOLLOWER, YOU SAY?

In that case you can...

2) "Like" Orangies Attic on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you're a fan.

OR

3) "Follow" Orangies Attic on Twitter then come back here and leave a comment to let me know you are a follower.

And for those you sweet friends who have already done ALL of the above (LOVE you), just leave me a comment to say HELLO, please enter me!

Only ONE entry per person, so please note that you only have to do one of the above to enter.  I'm all about easy...

And one more thing, make sure I have a way to contact you if you win - an email address or a username to message you via Facebook, Twitter, Etsy convo, Blogger, etc.

Giveaway is open to US residents & International residents with restrictions - see official rules for details

Giveaway ends Friday, February 10th, 2012 at noon PST. Winner will be announced shortly after.

THANKS friends and followers...
looking forward to another year of rollicking randomness with YOU!