The Boho House

The Boho House has been a popular rental here lately. It's easy for ME to see why...after all, it is my Happy Place! Fun, flirty, and all things girly, this one-story log cabin welcomes, inspires, and encourages one to kick off their shoes and stay a while.

Formerly known as The Bunkhouse before its "makeover," this gem served as both my office and our brick and mortar boutique last summer before I ultimately decided to close out the retail and concentrate on what we do best...the B&B.

At the time, Ali and Peyton were both still working for me and - together - we were all "feeling" the Boho vibe. It's more than just a look; it's a message. Everyone woman and girl is beautiful. Be yourself. BeYOUtiful! We had such fun finding great deals at dollar stores on inspirational signs, pillows, and wall decor that so perfectly conveyed our message. Ali spent hours painting  - a bookshelf, a dresser, and wooden crates. Together, these sisters brought my vision to life.

In the Boho house, I can do all kinds of things that I can't in my own home. Or - I won't anyway! We mixed color in the most fun ways - bright yellows, corals, blues and greens. I spent hours deciding on bedding and even now - a year later - I am literally OBSESSED with my decision. The truth is this adorable cabin is STILL my hideaway when it is not rented. Sometimes I stop in just to sink into a comfy chair, kick off my shoes, and enjoy the quiet and the beauty of the space.

It's a joyful place. There is simply no way one can spend time here and leave feeling anything other than happy and at peace!

We're so happy to have recently updated our B&B website to take online reservations and payments! If you are interested in The Boho - whether it be for a personal retreat just for yourself, a girls night in, a full-blown girls' weekend, or a slumber party for your daughter, please give us a call or check out wildernestbedandbreakfast.com.

I can't wait to share this special space with you!

photo creds: Nichelle Martin

Life hacks for REAL women!

Sister, you are not alone!

Life is crazy, frantic at times, and always, always changing. Morphing into something that we've either worked ever so hard for, or something completely unexpected - that we are not prepared for.

Either way, the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (aka women as a whole) need to be supportive of one another. BE that woman that is willing to fix another's crown without broadcasting to the world that it was crooked in the first place! Part of that is to encourage one another's feats in this life. A way to make way enough for all of our anticipated feats is to have a few "hacks" under our belts so that we don't get tripped up over day-to-day stuff.

Real life hacks for real life women.

I am in no way whatsoever an expert on this subject. Or maybe I am. Because I am just a real life woman. Not a celebrity. Not a celebrity wannabe. Not young and hip. Not yet old and wise. I'm just a woman somewhere in the middle who is embracing the realization of long worked-for dreams and - at the same time - still scrambling to leave my imprint on the hearts and lives around me.

So the following list will not be your usual beauty hack list. It will not be your normal "guide for the busy career mom" list. Instead, I'm merely a fellow sister who is interested in ways to simplify my life and still take care of my body, my health, my family, and my home. If you are in the same boat as me, then I hope the following list is helpful!

Time Saving Life Hacks

Learn to say no. Far too many of us struggle with saying "no" to people. As a result, we're too often saddled with time and energy-draining tasks and responsibilities we really didn't need to add to our already stretched schedules. Learning how to say "no" - politely, but firmly - is the single most important life skill to help preserve precious time and be able to prioritize what's truly important.

Flip your mattress every three months. Unless you're currently sleeping on a one-sided mattress, such as ours. A delicious, luxurious pillow-top that is exquisite and - very definitely the most impressive mattress we've ever indulged in. Yet, because of the amazing pillow-top, there is now a distinctive sag along the middle of the bed. BUT...if this isn't YOU...flipping your mattress every few months will even it out and prevent that sagging, which in turn, will save you a WORLD of pain in the form of poor posture and lousy, lousy backaches. Flipping a mattress really isn't a one-woman job, particularly a queen or king, but it's definitely worth doing; a hurting back will take a whole lot longer to deal with than finding someone to help flip that mattress!

Keep snacking. One of the first things we women tend to cut out during a busy, hectic day is our food intake. Believe me, preaching to the choir here. But don't wait until you're practically starving to put food in your body. Taking long breaks between meals tends to make your body tire more quickly due to lack of glucose. This leads to a dip in our productivity level. Snacking every couple of hours on something nutritious and delicious is not only good for our metabolism, but also helps to keep our energy levels higher, enabling us to work at our optimum. PLUS...it prevents us from binging on unhealthy choices due to extreme hunger.

Keep salt, pepper, etc in your drawer at work. Speaking of eating...despite our best intentions, many of us end up eating a lot of our meals at the desk. I'm not the only one who does this, am I??? Because of this, I've learned it's so helpful to keep a few essentials like plastic ware, little packets of salt, pepper, ketchup, herbs, etc. in my drawer at work. (I also stash a few packets of low-salt peanuts and single serving JIF peanut butter.) You never know when you might need them and nothing is worse in the middle of a stressful, hectic day than to open your lunch only to discover it is going to be bland just because you didn't have time to run to the cafeteria or on-site cafe for some basic things that add life to our food.

Do not incessantly check emails. This one is tough for many of us. I get my email via my computer, but also by way of my phone AND my fitbit. It's really touch to ignore emails and - I'm not necessarily saying to do that. But I AM promoting the thought that email should be checked two - maybe - three times a day at max. Stopping what we're doing every time we receive a new, incoming email distracts us and leads to loss of focus on the current task, which - in turn - means less productivity.

Unsubscribe from useless lists. I finally took time a couple of weeks ago to go through my "spam" mail and unsubscribe from the countless email traps I had fallen into over the past several years. No, they don't "share" your information; they merely email you 7,246 times a week. Am I right, or am I right? I also went into my Facebook settings and withdrew from "groups" that no longer had meaning to me.

Fashion/Beauty Hacks

Utilize shower time. In a perfect world...wait...actually this really DID use to be my life...I would spend much-needed time pampering my skin and my body. After all, we DO only get one in this lifetime. But when life is busy - which is pretty often for a lot of us - every single second counts, which is why it is important that we make sure to utilize our shower time! :) Keep a body scrubbie in the shower and regularly exfoliate from tip to toe, clean AND cleanse your face, don't be afraid to use shampoo or conditioner in exchange for shave gel. It really does work Just. As. Well. It's also okay to apply moisturizer that you would normally do later in front of the sink - while IN the shower. Maybe most importantly, before you emerge from the shower, stand for a few seconds, if not a few minutes, and let the water flow over your body. Close your eyes, and relish the hot water, the feeling of having cared for your body.

Use two-in-one UV products.  When it comes to making your beauty regime easier, using two-in-one products is a must. Pick a cream that moisturizes AND offers UV protection, or opt for a tinted moisturizer that, both, cares for your skin while covering minor blemishes and redness. When life is at its busiest, it's the little things like these that can make all the difference.

Your hairdryer. I've learned a trick or two in my 50 years on this earth and one of those is that your hairdryer is for waaayyyy more than merely drying your hair. Hmmmm....For one, it can be used to help break in new shoes. Especially heels, y'all!!! Just pull on a thick pair of socks, slip into the shoes, and apply the heat from the hair dryer to the tightest corners or spots in your shoes. Keep repeating until the shoes fit comfortably.

Ice Cube Organizer. Okay, admittedly the Container Store, Target, and - of course - Amazon, sells all manner of things organizational-wise. But if you're interested in saving pennies (like I am!) and it's NOT all about "looks", then consider an inexpensive ice cube tray. You can buy two for .99 cents at Dollar General, ladies! These hold rings, trinkets, hair ties, etc... They fit nicely into ANY drawer and can help make reaching for what you need SO much easier!

Coconut Oil is life! Coconut oil can be used for a myriad of things, from health, food, all the way to beauty, and the healing of the body. WHERE has it been all of our lives, ladies??? I have personally used coconut oil to cook with, bathe my feet in, DRINK, AND use it for cuticle softener for both my fingers and my toes. Gargling with coconut oil every night does WONDERS for the body; just trust me on this and give it a try! It also is so much superior to manicure and pedicure lotions. It is absorbed by the body quickly and gently, and does not leave an oily residue. When applying at bedtime, it provides the perfect overnight moisturizer for the cuticles, the heels of your feet, and your lips. KEEP coconut oil on hand! (I buy the solid.)

I hope this list of life hacks helps in some way. If you have another, PLEASE comment below! We ae in this together, and ALL suggestions are welcome!

Be THAT woman!

A few weeks ago I got into a Facebook conversation about feminism and modern-day feminism. Someone mentioned that I was the latter and - I have to admit - I was taken aback and kind of ashamed that someone thought of me in that way. But we continued to talk (these are gals that I highly respect) and I soon realized that my idea of feminism dated back to the days of bra-burning and "we can do everything a man can do, but in high heels," but they were referring to the way I seek to empower other ladies, the way I absolutely adore promoting other women's businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Last summer, when I opened The Bohotique and Ali and Peyton (who worked for me) started up our Instagram page, the number one thing I wanted to do through that avenue was to bring women together. For us all to realize that the pettiness and drama that so often go along with female relationships was totally unnecessary. We are more powerful and have a much stronger voice when we uplift and support one another instead of letting jealousy and insecurity stunt our friendship growth. Don't you agree?

Personally, I love seeing a fellow female flourish and excel at what she does. It inspires me, motivates me, and sometimes just gives me that swift kick in the butt that I need to get my own shizzle together and start making things happen!

If you can relate, comment below and tag a friend in business so we can ALL benefit!!

XXOO, Staci

The Boho House.

When I proposed turning "The Bunkhouse" into "The Boho House" last summer, I know a few people were dubious. Namely, the males in my family! :)

"Bunkhouse" ran true with our other cabin names, and "Boho" was a bit of a departure from our norm. Both Ali and Peyton were working for me (WITH me:) then and they were my main inspiration for the whole boho/girly/she-shed vibe that we ultimately created.

Turns out that my instinct was right on; SO many groups of ladies and girls have enjoyed birthdays, parties, and girls' weekends in the past year!

With a totally feminine decor that shies away from cutsie pastels and - instead - embraces the bolder jewel tones that, at once, feel empowering and soothing. If that makes any sense at all!

I absolutely love for The Boho to stay booked, but I definitely take advantage of the space when it's not and when I'm at home. I share an amazing home office with Mike, but occasionally I like to pack my book bag, computer, planner, a few snacks and hide away for a few hours of work in The Boho. I instantly relax and go into a major chill mode, but I get So. Much. Done.

So, if you're looking for a great spot for a girls' getaway, a Bunco party, a shower...The Boho is for YOU! Check out the pictures below! There is a propane grill available for your use, as well as a fire pit that is for The Boho only. Bring all of your S'mores fixings, your favorite drinks, and have fun with your girlies!

Visit wildernestbedandbreakfast.com for even more pictures and to make reservations! Or, you can like us on Facebook and message for reservations.

              

       

All things BRIDAL, y'all!

I'm so uber EXCITED about this upcoming Saturday that I'm up preparing and blogging at 3 in the MORNING when I should be sleeping and resting up for it!

However...!

This Saturday, from 1-5pm, we here at the B&B are hosting our 2nd Annual Bridal Expo! It will be held at our venue, The Hitchin' Post, one of the best kept secrets in Northeast Texas (but hopefully not secret for much longer!)

We have SO much planned for soon-to-be brides with a set wedding date, for the upcoming brides that still have no clue as to a date OR a venue, and even for those "hopefuls" that a ring is in your near future! You do NOT have to be a Hitchin' Post bride to attend (although we hope you love us so much that you'll become one!:)

This is a totally free event, with 16 vendors who will be on hand for meet & greets, yummy catering and bakery samples, a DELUXE coffee bar, photo ops for you and your bride tribe, hair and makeup mini idea sessions, and amazing door prize giveaways!

And don't even get me started on the Swag Bags for each of the brides and/or potential brides!

For our Hitchin' Post brides that are already on our calendar, this is also the day you get to Shop Our Shelves!! As you already know, our decor (and we have LOTS of it!) is yours to "check out" and use the weekend of your wedding, free of charge. When you arrive, I'll arm you with your own clipboard and a listing of all of our wares. Take your time looking around, and make notes of each item you'd like to be on hand for YOUR "best day ever!"

We are all about taking the stress out of your big day! When you arrive to begin setting up, only the items you've checked out will be in the main room of the venue, making it simple and easy for you and your "team" to decorate and have fun while doing it!

So...we look forward to seeing you all here at the B&B in just a few short days!! Feel free to bring moms, your guys, and your bride tribe!

2019 Bridal Expo

The Hitchin' Post @Wildernest Bed & Breakfast

325 County Road 2512

Naples, TX 75568

Vendors:

Truly Heavenly Events - AMAZING catering

Mary Cyrus Photography - engagement, bridal, & wedding photography

Sassy Sisters - bridal cakes, groom cakes, decorated cookies and cake pops

Sweet Cheeks Makeup - bridal makeup, for bridal portraits AND the big day

Danny Rateliff - wedding event hair, bridal hair, and more

Color Street Nails - beautiful nails for the BIG day

Life is Sweet Confections by Ashlee - wedding cakes and more

Mary Kay - facial, hand & feet care, plus cosmetics

C & C's Creations - all things SIGNAGE

CC's Rustic Paparazzi Jewelry - jewelry for all of your wedding events AND the big day!

LimeLife - skin care and cosmetics

Pure Romance - perfumes, lotions, and LOTS of honeymoon ideas:)

Tommy Toys - wedding carriages

The Bohotique @Wildernest - bride and maids' robes, "BRIDE" beach hats, and more

Kellie Davis - Xyngular with ways to look and feel your best for your BIG DAY!

The Hitchin' Post - venue tours & Shop our Shelves

Wildernest Bed & Breakfast - cabin tours!

Newest love of mine!

If you've been following the blog for the past few weeks, you'll already know that I've been looking at what is best for the future of The Bohotique @Wildernest. My year of keeping clothing, household goods, caps, bridal accessories, tshirts, etc., in inventory turned out to be a bit much for us.

YET:) I feel pretty strongly about keeping it going at some level because of all of the positive love we've received from our customers and guests here at The B&B. The challenge has been to look honestly at what does well in our little niche boutique and then concentrate just on that.

We've decided to streamline in 3 areas: Bridal accessories, which will be available both on site and online, NDULGE - which I am merely an influencer for - and THIS...Cleerely Stated inspirational card sets. Truly, if I were to create a line myself, this would SO. BE. IT.  Instead, I give all kudos and all the hearts to Cleere Cherry (is that not the coolest name EVER?!?) who has created an entire inspirational line that is so utterly phenomenal.

I am pretty much obsessed by it.

I began as a customer, but now I am a wholesale distributor of her products.

These inspirational card packets come packaged in ways that make my heart so happy and - when you untie the ribbons and open the package themselves, the cards are just...beyond lovely. I started with the "Make His Day" set - a whole package of uplifting and encouraging notes, scriptures, and quotes that you can tuck into your hubby's lunch, his travel bag, or just leave for him to find next to his sink in the mornings.

I moved on to "Compliment Cards" - colorful little cards that you can slip into a gift, on a co-worker's desk, or hand out to students. Sometimes it's the smallest tokens that carry the most influence. What more could we want than to make those in our world and under our care feel special and loved, even when we are not with them?

Cleere's line is a lot more extensive than this and - if you want to check it out for yourself, start here. The Bohotique @Wildernest will begin carrying her line with the following products (more to come in the next couple of months):

• Compliment Cards
• Make Her Day
• Make His Day
• Bright Notes for Bright Minds

You may begin ordering these four products as of 8pm tonight. You will find them in the SHOP portion of our B&B website. I challenge you to order a pack and start handing out bits of happy on the regular! 

PLEASE, let me know what you think about this line! I am uber excited about it and I am greatly anticipating carrying the entire line by the end of May. But I value YOUR thoughts so very much. Drop a comment and tell me what you think and how you'd use them! 

To kick things off, I'm doing a giveaway - a set of Compliment Cards! Watch the IG story later tonight, like it, tag a friend, and then leave a comment HERE, at the end of this blog post. We'll have a computer generated random drawing tomorrow at 5, and I will announce who can excitedly stalk their mail box for this little packet of all things happy! 

Happy MLK Day! {Praise hands allllll the way up for a much-needed day off after the week the teachers in my district had last week, and have to look forward to this week.) Blessed beyond measure to work with a great group of educators who love kids passionately. 

The Giving Box

 "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

---Winston Churchill

Every Christmas since they were old enough to understand, Amy & Paul have taken our grands - Carter & Kendall - to serve Meals on Wheels on Christmas Day. Of all the many, many things I love, appreciate, and admire about our grown children, perhaps the biggest of these is that they live life on purpose.

Somehow they have realized (at a much younger age than we did) that a life well lived is a life where you are aware; aware of your blessings, but also aware of the lack of food, lack of health, lack of money, and lack of family that so many around us experience.

Living a life OF purpose is wonderful and great, and I think it's something that most "thinking" people do. We want to know that we are making a difference in this world, and not just existing. We want our lives to impact someone and - when all is said and done - we want to know that our life meant something. That we are leaving an imprint of our heart and efforts behind. 

But living life ON purpose, I believe, takes it a step further. I don't know that we "think" about this nearly as much as it is just a part of who some people are. They have a way of keeping "the main thing" THE main thing. They are present in their life and show up for all the right moments. Busyness, obligations, and appointments still dot their daily lives, but never seem to outshine or overpower what they believe to be the most important: taking care of those who aren't necessarily able to care for themselves. 

Over the past few weeks of partnering with ndulge, I've seen firsthand how easy they make it for most any of us to begin to change our perspective from JUST living a life of purpose to living life ON purpose. A company founded by a group of sisters, ndulge seeks to not only provide quality athleisure wear, beauty and wellness products, and accessories (that we are all going to buy anyway), but they stand behind their words and give back 33% to a variety of causes that each involve helping people not as fortunate as they are.

If you want to hear an inspirational story, then you need to read Kennedy's story. Just as Paul and Amy started our grands out early, so did the parents of these girls. So much so, that as they grew and again and again witnessed first hand the power of giving, they sought out ways to make it a permanent part of their daily lives. 

They decided to live life ON purpose. 

One of the products I am most excited about is The Giving Box. Much like the now-popular "box of the month" clubs (except this is a one-time purchase that you can repeat as often as you'd like), you receive a box of ndulge products (worth well over $100) that you will not only LOVE and wear all the time, but the money from the box will go directly to impact and affect the lives of at least two people. 

You may be thinking, two people, well, that doesn't sound very impactful. But it's a movement, a deliberate step after step after step approach to changing lives in very specific ways. I'm excited - and honored - to be a part of this company and to be able to share some good in a world so desperately in need of true folks to be the "hands & feet" of Jesus during a time when it is all too easy to get caught up - and remain caught up - in the hecticness, the hurry, the frenzy that is LIFE. 

As I announced on IG and Facebook this morning, I have a few giveaways that I want to send out this week! Leave a comment here on the blog, sharing a favorite quote, or maybe an inspirational GIF or meme...something that is in keeping with Winston Churchill's words: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give," and you will be entered into a random drawing for the AMAZING Hearts for Giving bracelets, made with love and very little money by the women who give of their time, energy, and resources to aid the Prerana Orphanage of Love in Nepal.

Tonight - at 8:00pm Central time - I will draw names for these giveaways, and then send some of this happiness that I have discovered your way! Comment away on social media, but - remember - the names for the drawing will come from the comments left here on this post!

Until this evening...

Blessings, 

Staci

REVIEW: Whiskey in a Teacup :)

"Dorothea always said that it was a combination of beauty and strength that made Southern women "whiskey in a teacup." We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside we're strong and fiery." 

- Reese Witherspoon

To borrow a line from Jerry McGuire,  Reese had me at HELLO, or - as is the case here - at the front cover! From that point until I slowly turned the last, beautiful page late last night, I was held willing captive, charmed by the casual elegance that embodies each and every carefully selected photo, gorgeous layout, and the "voice" of Reese herself. Almost as though she sat right next to me, having a conversation, one where you meet a soul sister face-to-face for the first time and you know - instantly - that you would be "sisters" for life. 

Whiskey in a Teacup is a book that you want to make your way through slowly because it is just. that. beautiful. And just that well-written. And the attention to detail, y'all...if ever there was a perfect "lifestyle" book for a Southern woman (or a Southern wannabe), this is it. It draws you in and, most nights, my 30 minute reading time would turn into an hour or more because - as much as I wanted to go slowly to savor it - I was equally as excited to get to the next chapter, the next story, the next recipe.

With chapter titles like Hot Rollers, Red Lipstick, and Steel Magnolias, If It's Not Moving, Monogram It, and My Did-Do Language & Notes on Southern Conversation, this gem of a book is all things girly and heart-warming, but also thought-provoking and inspiring. Sandwiched in between these delightful chapters, are also titles like The Family Table, The Beauty of Female Friendships, and Do Gooding - all things I believe in, strive for, root for. 

And bless the person (in this case a girl, but bless anyone) that credits their high school English teacher for her love of books and storytelling enough to give said teacher their VERY OWN SIDEBAR as a tribute! "Her name was Margaret Renkl, and in my junior year of high school she made me love literature." Reese goes on to say how reading Shakespeare and To Kill a Mockingbird, taught her about character analysis, conflicts between characters, narrative structure and "how to compare characters to real people in history." (For you non-teachers who may be reading this, THAT, folks, pretty much sums up the TEKS for a high school English teacher. Kudos to Ms. Renkl!) 

As you can see below, I went through quite a little stack of dainty little tabs, some inserted to remind me of a thought, others to mark a recipe I can't wait to try out. From her heartwarming stories of summers with her grandparents and traditional Christmas photos with her husband and children all the way to her words on manners and common courtesy and giving back when you've been blessed...I loved every single word of every single chapter. 

This is one book that won't be put on a shelf and forgotten. I know I'll return again and again. 

Now for a giveaway!! In honor of all things ladylike and Southern, as well as strong and "fiery," I have this beautiful teacup and saucer, very similar to the one on the book cover, that I want to send out to one of YOU! Every time you take a sip from it, or maybe just glance at it on a shelf somewhere in your home, I hope you'll remember that you, too are whiskey in a teacup - beautiful yet strong, delicate yet fiery.

***Click on the Amazon link in the sidebar to order your own copy!!!***

The first lady to comment on this post, this teacup is headed in your direction! 

 

Ndulge and make a difference!

 When I closed Bohotique @Wildernest, I knew it was absolutely the right decision, but I also knew that it left a void - a purpose, if you will of something I needed to be a part of.

The Bohotique was about so much more than cute beach hats, trendy cosmetic bags, and girly coffee cups. It was about celebrating sisterhood, and the joys that come along with embracing the women in your community, in your life, by rejoicing with them over their victories, and taking time to mourn with them over their sadness.

It was about hope.

Hope is something needed by everyone. No one is excluded from this need. Even though I had to let the Bohotique go in order to more fully take care of the B&B and the venue's needs, as well as my day-to-day classroom duties, I knew I still wanted to find a way to make even the smallest of differences in ways that are really important to me.

That is when I found ndulge. A company that is owned and run by a couple of sisters whose values and desires so closely parallel my own. They give back 33% of their profits in several arenas, all which help women who are less fortunate than the majority of us.

My first order arrived just a few days ago, and it feels so amazing to say that their products are of just a high quality as their mission statement! A super soft, buttery pair of paisley leggings and a couple of the cutest, softest athleisure tops now grace my {newly purged and cleaned out, by the way!} closet! THE perfect lounge wear for home!

Check out ndulge and all they have to offer, but also that these women do to give back to causes that are important to them: breast cancer awareness, human trafficking, foster care in Nepal, domestic violence, and others!

When you make your first purchase at ndulge, be sure to use the promo code SWilder10 to get 10% off of your entire first purchase!!! 

I promise, it's one purchase you will feel great about AND you'll love the product. Win, win!!!

Blessings on this Taco Tuesday, y'all!!

XXOO Staci

Capsule Wardrobes.

Raise your hand if you have a constant struggle with your closet/closet space?

I do, I do! {both hands raised high!}

Truth be told, we have a rather large, walk-in closet, with more than enough room for Mike and I both to have hang-ups, shelf space, room for shoes/boots/flip flops, and accessories such as caps, scarves, and bags/purses. That's the reality, and the dream.

The day-to-day reality is that, even though I can probably be labeled a "neat freak" when it comes to the visible portions of my home, if you open a closet door uninvited, you better jump back, Jack! There is just no telling what may fall out or down and conk you right on the noggin! 

I have truly great intentions about keeping an organized closet each and every time I clean it out. I have a friend who has a stool that sits in the middle of her closet; a place where she can sit as she leisurely picks out her day's attire. Doesn't that sound dreamy, and so Lisa Vanderpump?

Um, no...just no. First, there is no room for said stool in my closet. Second, there is nothing "leisurely" most days about picking out my clothes. It's more of a hunt and scramble type thing. Let's call it "search and rescue." I summon a deep breath, recall what that item of clothing looks like, and then I go in head-first, throwing, tossing, and moving things about until I manage to locate the precious piece. Usually to find it needs ironing.

Which is another um....no. 

So, in an effort to simplify my clothing life to match the simplification we've made in virtually every other area of our lives, I began to research wardrobe capsules about a year ago. The premise is that you pare down your wardrobe to just a collection of a few essential items that never really go out of style, and that you can mix & match to create a nice ensemble of outfits. 

Depending on your lifestyle, what type of geography in your live in, and your budget, this collection can range in number from 9 items up to 25 or so. The idea is that you spend a bit more on these essentials since they are "classics" and will last you season after season, and then each year (or season, for those who have a capsule for each quarter) you can add 2 or 3 items that are trendy or popular. This is also often where you add your pops of color.

I decided that our trip to NYC during this Christmas break was the perfect opportunity to try this out. Kind of like an experiment; a smaller capsule to practice with and see if I think it's something I could do on the daily. The plot twist was that I not only wanted a capsule, but I wanted it aaaalllll to fit into my carry on bag, because I detest checking bags at the airport just. that. much. 

To prepare, I did cheat a bit (okay, maybe more than just a bit) and consulted a stylist at Front Door Fashion, a group of in-house stylists based in Dallas, who get "to know you" via your online portfolio, phone calls, texts, emails (really, whatever works for you - they are super flexible). They ask about what you are needing, wanting, etc. and then they hand select a group of clothing and accessory items that they hope are just what you are looking for, pack them into a box, and ship them (usually next day) to your front door. You have several days to try on the clothing in the privacy of your own home, decide what (if any) that you want to keep, and then you ship what you don't want back (free of charge) to your stylist. You pay for just what you keep.

***Brief caveat*** This is not a cheap service and the items they send tend to be really quality items and at a price point that you (me, anyway) would not normally pay. Keep an open mind and remember that these are pieces that are here to stay.***

However, since I had a plan, and I knew I needed some really good "essentials" I decided to give it a go. I got lucky with my stylist, Rachel, and we hit it off right away. You do have the option of choosing your own stylist and you can read their profiles here, but since I didn't know any of them and - really - didn't have a clue as to what my style could be categorized as, I took a chance on whoever picked me up:) Thankfully, it was Rachel!

Rachel listened to what I wanted to do with a capsule wardrobe and I tried to convey my style preferences, but I didn't do a very good job. The first box that I immediately received from Rachel was one where I returned every single piece. Every. Single. Piece. 

I almost gave up at that point. But Rachel reached out and asked more questions and - this time - I just let it flow about what I wanted. It wasn't in "fashion terms" or probably even anything that made sense...except she got me that time. Knowing that we were about to travel to New York City for the holiday, the next box was filled with 9 things that I wanted to keep forever and ever and ever. 

But I'm a teacher and a thriving entrepreneur; I can't afford that:)

Instead, I picked out five items that I knew I could wear again and again, through the next several years, and I splurged. Yes, splurged, a word that isn't usually in my vocabulary. (I'm tagging Rachel in this post, so I hope she either plugs her ears here or gives me a "thumbs up" sign of approval:) But y'all remember that old show that used to come on called "The Look for Less"? 

I performed my own version of that, taking what I had learned from Rachel, and then shopping at Old Navy. It was that easy. I didn't even go into the store; merely ordered online and got REALLY lucky that everything fit! Score. 

Below, you'll see the items that made the cut for the trip. 19 total items for me (minus undies and TSA-approved toiletries), including outerwear and my duffel and cross-body purse! Mike and I DID, very successfully, pack compactly and precisely, and each boarded the plane with 1 personal item and 1 carry on! Y'all, I lived out of that one weekender bag for an entire week. It. Can. Be. Done!!!!

1)Navy TART wrap dress (Front Door Fashion)

2)Floral/geo print thin Debbie Martin Designs scarf (Front Door Fashion)

3)Black Stevie Ponte pants (Old Navy - also great for under the gray dress; thicker than leggings)

4)LINDA black/cognac suede bootie (JustFab - 2nd winter to wear these)

5)Black & Gray long sleeve T (Old Navy)

6)Boyfriend Jean (Old Navy)

7)Blue/cognac print poncho (Chico - gift from Amy last year)

8)Heather Gray Jersey Crew Neck Tee Dress (Old Navy)

9)Taupe long car coat (Old Navy - carried this on the plane so I didn't have to pack)

10)Packable cold weather coat (Old Navy)

11) Cognac cross-body purse (Old Navy)

12) Rust beanie & gloves (Jane.com)

13)Navy/Cognac monogrammed rain/weather boots 

14)Black buffalo plaid duffel with cognac straps (Jane.com)

15)Cognac earrings (Front Door Fashion)

16)Gold cuff (Target)

17)Multi-colored infinity plaid scarf (Jane.com)

Each item was easily mix and matched and paired with at least one, if not two, other outfits. My go-to colors (obviously) were the neutrals (black, gray, navy, cognac) with pops of color (rust, gold, and various shades of blue) thrown in. I never repeated an outfit for the entire 7 days! 

Mike and I each purchased a set of "packing cubes." Mine are shown here (red) and his are blue. This set (from Amazon) came with 4 cubes plus a handy matching "dirty clothes" bag. If you match your cubes to the bag you wish to carry on, fill only those bags, then you are good to go! This experiment was not only useful and beneficial, but also super fun!!!

Tomorrow morning is "clean out closet while binge-watching something interesting" in order to scale down my closet, make it more manageable, give really great clothing that I know I'll never wear again to folks who will, and come up with the perfect Winter into Spring Teacher Capsule Wardrobe.  (Photos on that after it actually happens:)

***If you decide to give FDF a try, please use my referral code!*** ALSO, they accept appointments at their Dallas location. So if you're looking for a fun and different "girl's day," this just might be it! I plan to make an appointment myself in the near future!

The KREW :)

Y'all.

Today is January 1, 2019! There is something so exciting about the very first day of every brand new year! It's a time of new beginnings, yes, but it's even more than that for me. It means that I can look back on what went well the year before and continue to build on those things.

It also means I can accept what didn't work out so well and - either - change them, tweak them, or let them go altogether.

Either way, it's a time of re-evaluating where I am in this life - the good, the less-than-perfect, and the "needs improving." (I refuse to say there is anything "ugly" or "bad" about my life. I lead wayyyyy too blessed an existence to give in to that kind of thinking.)

So that is what I am doing today. At least until 1:30, when I will go next door to my mom's and eat black-eyed peas, cabbage, and cornbread with my family! Totally digressing here, but...will those three things bring us good luck and wealth in this coming year? Not a chance! But I am all. about. those. traditions!!! Keep 'em coming my way as long as possible!

It's quiet around here right now, and perfect for reflecting. A rapid fire of fun and uplifting group texts amongst our six grown kids made the rounds this morning and now the men folk are out shooting and doing boy stuff while Bronte and I are nesting and cleaning and reflecting and blogging - totally girlie stuff. (Sure, she's doing most of the nesting and resting, but she is very faithfully following me from room to room and - right now - she is snoring softly at my feet as I type.) There is something calm, peaceful, and "all is as it should be" in my world.

There are several new things that will be rolling out business-wise in the next few weeks and months, but today I am thinking back to my KREW - my group of ladies who worked tirelessly with me this last year in the Bohotique, on the blog, and in the business. Though vastly different in ages, we bonded so seamlessly and so ENTIRELY over a deeply common thread - that of sisterhood and of empowering one another and inspiring other women to do the same. In a world where it is all too easy for women to be one another's chief obstacle to success, our aim was to shine a light (and to shine HIS light) on what truly matters: the individual contributions we all bring to the table that, together, create something so beautiful and so whole that it leaves no question that it could not have happened on its own.

Although I have made the decision to let the Bohotique go in order to focus more fully on what we do best - the B&B and venue - and while I am returning to my personal blog over Sunshine and Sweet Tea - I am forever indebted to the women who worked alongside me in 2018. This post is dedicated to them.

It has been my experience that God blesses those who bless others.

Today, let me update you on the lives of my KREW...:) THEY have blessed my socks off in 2018!

In no particular order...

______________________________________

Jennifer Gross was one of my dearest friends, and a talented writer and business woman, who also just happened to be mom to my two eldest nieces, Madison and Makenzie:) When Jen agreed to join my team, she was running 3130 Home, an online and onsite home decor boutique, as well as penning her own blog. Nearing a cross-roads herself, Jen was trying to make some career decisions of her own, but yet she willingly took on my vision and volunteered her time and talents, giving us several blog articles (including the one that I still LOL over - aka "The Swimsuit Edition") and relentlessly praying over our mission.

Flash forward to Jen today...Even though it wasn't even in her sights a year ago, today Jen is an Ebby Halliday realtor, a talented home stager, and still partners with her husband, Todd, in their construction business.

That cross-roads Jen was at...? Yeah, God directed her footsteps in a LARGE way!

___________________________________

Peyton Hawkins was a former student of mine who, along with her sister, Ali, joined me on the team - first as my "models" for our Bohotique clothing - but then as my Social Media gurus, namely Insta! :) The first few weeks we worked together, I would sit in the Boho House (before it WAS the Boho House:) with these girls and we'd talk while we worked. I'd hear their hearts as they shared with me the desires of their hearts, as wells as....yes, the heartbreaks...the disappointments...the fears...As the year moved along, Peyton reconnected with a "friend," who helped to heal that broken heart of hers. As she continued to complete her senior year of high school, work tirelessly at her PAYING job,  spend her off-time working on our social media and house-sitting for Mike and I, she fell deeper and deeper in love with this...friend. Travis Swistok.

Flash forward to Peyton today...Peyton was one of The Hitchin' Post's July brides. She married her Marine and she and Travis are stationed in North Carolina. Peyton may not run my social media anymore, but nothing brings tears to my eyes any quicker than reading P's inspirational posts about all that God and Life have taught her in the months since her marriage. She is TRULY a model - not of clothing, but of true beauty and holiness and everything a young wife should be.

_________________________________

Ali Hawkins is the whole package. Right brain AND left brain. Engineer major AND hobbyist decorator extraordinaire. I remember having her as a sophomore in my English II Honors class and her face literally lighting up when I would announce a new project. "I LOVE PROJECTS!" Some things just don't change; Ali still loves a good project, especially if it involves a challenge of some kind that requires a bit of engineering to figure out. I never had to worry once I turned something over to Ali. I didn't question timelines or deadlines or doability. I just knew it would get done.

Flash forward to Ali today...Although I miss her more than words can convey and although I have yet to find a house sitter that Thoreau and Bronte love as much, Ali now has the pleasure of decorating her own apartment while she finishes up her junior year of college. In a little over a year, she'll be doing amazing things, things I can hardly wait to tell you about, things like creating prosthesis for animals...she's simply amazing...that's Ali. And that's only the beginning. I started off by saying that she's left AND right brained. There is no limit to what we will see out of Ali - God has amazing things in store for this one!

_________________________________

Alex Freeman was a first year teacher my first year at Pewitt. Partly because of our age difference and partly because of how much we instantly adored one another, I became somewhat of a mentor to her. She came to me for advice and I loved hanging around her because she is just so dang funny! No one has a bigger smile or a bigger laugh - no one! More often than not, we'd talk about relationship issues and about why God hadn't sent Mr. Right her way yet. YET. (Remember that word - YET...) At 26 years old (then) Alex was ready for Life to start already! By the end of the year, we had developed a bond that we both knew would be life long. Even though she moved on to another district after that year, and then on to another city after that, we stayed close.

When I reached out to her to join this project, she didn't hesitate. Another talented writer and a - BEYOND - gifted musician, Alex has a heart for God and a heart for people. She immediately began contributing to the blog via her own blog. One of the posts that I will never, ever forget is the one she penned (aka typed) on the Power of YET.  I've often thought back to her words in that post as I've contemplated the waiting process that generally accompanies anything worth gaining, owning, or having. More often than not, there is a lesson to be learned in the waiting and it's in the YET portion where we can best listen, best learn, best receive.

Flash forward to Alex today...Alex is a teacher, a musician, a writer, a marketer, a designer...and y'all...Alex is in love!!!! It's her story to tell, and I certainly don't know all the details; but I am one happy surrogate mother/mentor who is absorbing all the Insta posts, feeds, and stories about her Mr. Right:) It didn't happen eight years ago when we both wanted it to; but - like everything else in this life - when God does a thing, He does it well.

_______________________________________

Chelsy Edwards was first my student two years ago as a sophomore in Honors English II, and again this year as a senior in Principles of Hospitality. She, too, joined our team last year as a model for the Bohotique clothing, but then stayed on to help work the birthday party business at the venue. Chelsy embodies what I hope and wish for every young girl - strong family values, high standards for herself and others, generosity for those less fortunate than herself, and a smile that knows no boundaries. She truly is a ray of sunshine. She has not had the easiest year this year and, since she's a senior, that has made me sad. In true Chelsy fashion, though, she chooses to not dwell on the negative and focuses instead on what lies ahead. Chelsy is one of the ones from the class of 2019 that I will miss the very most.

Chelsy today...Already accepted at University of Texas at Tyler, Chelsy has already applied for and received her apartment housing, as well as several scholarships that will go toward her education. She plans to major in English (proud moment for this teacher right here!) and go into teaching and/or professorship. Chelsy is faithful, loyal, and loving and I cannot wait to see what all lies ahead in her future! I'm so thankful I am blessed enough to have a front row seat!

___________________________________________
Rachel Clayton, best friend to Chelsy and "mascot" to my old debate team, is another of my student recruits to our KREW. Rachel was also one of my sophomore English students. While we came to know each other well back then, it wasn't until she began to "attend" debate the following year, that I came to REALLY know THE Rachel Clayton, and to fall in love with the delightful and hilarious person that she is. Ridiculously talented and endlessly funny, Rachel was dubbed our mascot for debate, and it was during those afternoons that I learned more about what she hoped for, dreamed about, and was working toward in regards to her future. When I approached her about helping out with venue events, she so willingly gave of her last summer before college and worked for me whenever possible. She was another one that you could give a job to and then forget about it - you could rest assured it would get done - and the right way.

Rachel today...Nearing the end of her first year at Tarleton University, Rachel is majoring in business with a minor in fashion studies! Still loving on dogs, cows, and Airstreams!!!

______________________________________________

Here you have it...my KREW! You can see why they are each so very near and dear to my heart. They are friends. They are sisters. They are prayer partners. They are like-minded women.

They are loved and cherished by me, today and always.

Even though we are each going our own way and accomplishing the things we are meant to do in this life, there is a cheering section in each of our lives reserved for our group, I can assure you! With each goal reached...
               each graduation, each marriage, each child born, each promotion...

Or with each loss..
              each disappointment, each death, each heartache...

This is a sisterhood that was formed on something far bigger than any ONE of us, and it is one that will live long after some of us are gone.

Hopefully daughters will tell their daughters and so on and so on and so forth...

And that is how the world gets changed...one girl at a time.

Do two negatives REALLY make a positive?

I saw today where someone posted "If two wrongs don't make a right, then how come two negatives make a positive?" In math and science, this may be true, but - when it comes to people - I can promise you only one thing:

If you put two negative people together for any length of time, I am POSITIVE the outcome will be negative!

We know that snap judgments are bad for the world at large, but people rarely discuss how destructive being judgmental is for the person who is doing it. Women are the WORST at this! No joke, being judgmental of other women causes us to live in hateful chaos, and we have to consciously rise above it if we ever hope to live peacefully in our bodies.

Just to be clear: I don’t think you should judge anyone. But women tend to judge other women the harshest, and our bodies, outfits, and appearances get hit the most consistently and aggressively, because they’re easily accessible. I know some people call this on-going judgment of other women a “guilty pleasure,” because it gives you a private little hit of satisfaction. When you sum up another woman in a split second, and find something wrong with her, you get to enjoy a momentary jolt of superiority.

The problem is that every time you look at another woman and find something wrong with her based on her body, looks, or anything else, you reinforce for yourself the idea that there is a universal “right” and “wrong” way for a woman to have a body, look, live, act, dress, or otherwise. You solidify imaginary rules in your mind for what is “acceptable” and and what is “unacceptable.” You may momentarily feel superior, but when repeated over and over again in countless scenarios for a lifetime, you will also eventually feel very alone, isolated, and anxious. Being hyper-aware of the countless (self-imposed) ways in which you could fail at being a woman encourages you to take fewer risks, keep your true self better hidden, trust fewer people, and constantly guard yourself against the endless imminent threats of how you could be “doing it wrong.”

Not only does your habit of judging other women shrink your life down into an ongoing list of do’s and don’ts, but keeping company with that nasty little voice in your head 24/7 makes you, understandably, kind of paranoid and defensive.

It’s like how you always end up feeling really crappy about yourself after you spend time with that one friend who gossips about all your other friends. She might claim you’re exempt from her mean gossip, but you can’t help but wonder what she says about you when you’re not there. This endless, cluttered, negative ocean of fear and judgment clouds your mind and poisons your heart. It make you feel insecure, stressed, unhappy, anxious, paranoid, obsessive, and completely unable to let go and be present. With that as your baseline, it becomes near impossible to look at yourself, or your body, and say “Yup, this is perfect.”

The remedy?

Walk (no, RUN!) away from the negative influences in your life. It's easy to say that we may be able to "help them be more positive" if we keep hold of our own positive outlook and views on things. And it probably is possible, in small doses. The reality though is that most chronically negative people pretty much enjoy right where they are. Walk away from these and surround yourself with folks who "get" you. It doesn't mean they agree with your every thought. They may not get behind all of your big ideas, and they may even find it necessary to tell you why at times. The difference is they do it all in love. There is no question that they have YOU and YOUR best interests at heart with every word, every action.

Those people are harder to find than the negative ones, but they're out there. Find them, surround yourself with them, and love them right back. 

Two positives ALWAYS create a positive! 

God, help me to be a Truvy-kind of friend.

When thinking how to begin this first blog for Sunshine & Sweet Tea, I knew I wanted it to encompass the theme of friendship, and of girls empowering one another, but everything I wrote came out sounding too much like a canned magazine article. And that is not what I wanted.

Not. at. all.

I want conversation.

Real. Raw. Gritty. Right where we live. Words that reveal how we really feel so that we can bypass all the drama that we are all so very weary of dealing with.

I mean, riiiight? Can I get an amen?

Drama free friendships sound like #goals, huh?

I began to think of all of the "friendship" movies my bestie and I watched together years and years ago. Beaches. Thelma & Louise. Fried Green Tomatoes. Anything by Nicholas Sparks. We'd stay up late into the night, with a box of Kleenex tucked into the sofa between us. You could pretty much judge the power of the movie by how many boxes of Kleenex we powered through.

But one movie stands out more prominently than all the rest. Steel Magnolias.

A truly Southern story…a little bit of love, a little bit of sweet, and a whole lot of sassy.

The story of six women - M'Lynn, her daughter Shelby, Truvy, Arnelle, Clairee, and Ouiser - and the strong bonds of friendship they forged. A friendship that transcended age and class and stood strong through thick and thin, good times and bad times, Arnelle's changing hairstyles and hair color, Shelby's failing health, and Ouiser's wicked one-liners.

The movie revolves around Truvy's Beauty Shop - amid nail polish and hair dye - in a small rural Louisiana town as the women work through the joys and sorrows of their lives. The real theme, however, is friendship and how the relationships we build - in our neighborhoods, at work, at church, school, or even at beauty salons - are what sustain us through life's highs and lows.

Here are five things I took away from the friendships in Steel Magnolias:

1. Friendships are best maintained when you have regularly scheduled meetings at a regularly appointed place. In Steel Magnolias, Truvy’s Beauty Shop fits the bill for this. The six friends continually meet there to not only beautify themselves but to talk about what’s going on in their lives and ’round town. Now, I don't have friendships quite like this. If you do, I'd called you blessed, my friend. My life, and the lives of those I call my tribe, are busy. There is not set time, or schedule, when we see each other. But...when we DO...it's like no time has passed at all. We pick up right where we left off. 

2. Friends show up. Whether for celebrations or funerals, good friends show up to double your joy and halve your sorrow. And in the transition from one part of life to the next, they wait with you. The key term here is "show up." This means you are there, and they can be here...as quick as a phone call, as simple as a text message. Friends don't let friends hurt alone. 

3. Friends will tell you the truth–even if it’s harsh. And they will save you from making a fool of yourself even if it embarrasses you. When Clairee starts a gig as the radio color announcer for the local football team, she takes the job title literally by chattering on about the color of the team’s new uniforms rather than simply filling in information about team analysis. Ouiser sets her straight by telling her–in the middle of the locker room full of football players–she’s making a big fool of herself because all anyone wants to hear about are touchdowns and injuries. Ouiser’s delivery method was characteristically harsh, but at the heart was Clairee’s best interest. Dear goodness. While my friends may not be this brash, sometimes it's just a look on their face, or a hesitance in their answer, and you just know.....

4. Friends give you a safe place to fall apart (but they also know how to use humor to help put you back together). When M’Lynn breaks down after Shelby’s funeral, nobody tries to talk her into feeling better. They just stand with her and listen. As in all the hard times of life they share, the friends don’t overlook the hard but patiently do what they can to help each other laugh through it. 

 5. There’s no such thing as over-sharing. These women don’t waste time wondering if they should risk vulnerability or avoid “airing their dirty laundry.” They share the good, bad, and ugly because they know their friends are a safe place where they’re understood. They risk because they know the benefits of friendship far outweigh the worry that they are “bothering” someone.

She gather me, man.

“She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.”

• Toni Morrison, Beloved

For months and months I had no good answer when folks would ask why I had changed districts. It wasn’t the past admin. Not at all. It certainly wasn’t my coworkers. In fact, I worried that I might be losing some people that I had come to care for very, very much. In time, what I would come to realize is that my Amy, my Neesa, my Donna, and my Kathy, and all the many more would continue to be a part of my life. I had not left them.

I had simply been moved.

For a while, I was shallow enough to think I had been moved because my teaching talents were needed in this new place. I fell instantly in love with my new environment, with my students, my admin, my team. As always, I had a blast preparing for the new school year, drawing up lesson plans, decorating my room, meeting everyone and putting names to faces.

And then - during the second nine weeks I hit a wall and I had a total epiphany.

I wasn’t there for anyone else.

I was there because there were people there FOR ME. I would go through something deeply personal, deeply profound, something that rocked me like I had never been rocked before. It would have nothing to do with my marriage, with my teaching career, or with our kids or business. But it put me in a place of vulnerability that I had never felt before. Things from my past pelted me right and left. “Lost” moments that I had evidently blocked out suddenly became vivid memories. I was used to being able to “cover my emotions,” or hide my feelings, wearing a mask to cover any imperfections. This time I would not be able to do that.

I cracked and my new team drew me in. They quite literally encircled me, prayed for me, and allowed me to ugly cry in front of them. Betsy, Telly, and Haylie are my angels. They are three of the most encouraging, godly, FUNNY women I have ever known and I cannot imagine having the breakdown I did at work with anyone but them.

With their encouragement, and after hearing my story, I felt empowered to reach out to three more women. Women who should have been on my go-to list decades ago. This whole lesson has taught me that I am not invincible; I cannot do all things on my own. I don’t have to appear perfect. In fact, there’s a HUGE degree of relief in admitting, “Hey I do not have my shizzle together.  This happened to me and - quite frankly - it messed me up.” Never having had a sister myself, I turned to the next best thing, my sisters-in law - Kay, Melinda, and Robyn. Once again, that sisterhood of rallying - almost like circling the wagons to protect the settlers…

By the way, it’s now almost the end of the calendar year, and your husband is immensely grateful that you’ve finally turned to female confidantes. The business, by the way, has more than doubled during the course of the year. You’re not quite going to make your end of the year  deadline, but you’re going to be very close. Already you have four weddings on the 2018 B&B calendar, and the cabins have about an 85% consistent booking rate. Sharing this passion for this hospitality business has brought you even closer as a couple.

You wouldn’t have thought so a month ago, but you’re leaving 2017 healthier than you entered it. Spiritually, emotionally, with your marriage, your family, your job, and your business…

Girl, you are going to go into this 50th year of your life dancing because you know what is important in this life...