I read a lot of books and magazines, no surprise as I've talked about it before.  I have a lot of magazine subscriptions...don't ask but in my husband's words "its ridiculous" LOL. BUT I read them all and I love Us Weekly, People, Glamour, InStyle and Marie Claire for my fashion fun reads.  I've always been interested in fashion, I like to dress nice but I don't want to spend a ton of money either. So sometimes you have to be creative and shop around.  I have two teens who eat a lot, stick their hands out for money a lot and college tuition coming soon so I try to save wherever I can.  Doesn't mean I don't like quality pieces and if I know I will wear it a lot I will invest more money in it....ex. jeans, boots, dresses.

So when I saw Reese Witherspoon's outfit in a magazine recently it spoke to me....totally my style and I had most of the pieces (jeans, shirt and necklace).  But I need a belt and shoes that color...I love it and red IS my fave color.  I also want a camel/brown purse this fall, its on my want list as I know it will go with everything and is always a classic.

Hope your August is going well!  Our August so far has been pretty cool which is abnormal...hope this doesn't mean hurricanes will be crazy and a bad winter...fingers crossed for none anywho.  Usually its 98 degs with 110% humidity which will suck the life right outta ya...ick!  I don't mind the heat but the humidity is NO fun.  Trying to slowly get myself back into the "school is coming" routine of things.  Riley's HS football has started so he's gone M-F from 7:30 am til 3 pm and then on Saturdays he has scrimmages so its busy.  We've done some school shopping (which is always a bowl full of fun...not) and we won't get any supplies because the high school doesn't release supply lists until student orientation day and EVERY teacher wants different stuff.  My favorite one year was "notebooks with rip out paper that measures 8x10 only, no holes on side"...really? OMG!  And of course by the time we get lists every store is depleted of supplies...last year we stood in a mile long line at Staples UGH!  So I have already bought stuff I know they will need, its all the nit-picky items I gotta wait on till I know what they want.  I so preferred when they were in elementary school...we paid $40 and a box of supplies were waiting on their desks the first day...ahhhhhhmen, LOVED that!

And I've been preparing that in a few weeks Alexa will start her senior year...sigh..I know its coming but can't say I'm ready for it.  She's already had her senior pics taken and we've ordered her cap/gown...ugh..I'm struggling with all this I must say.  She's almost done with her early acceptance application to U of SC...if she gets the letter that she's in by Oct we can SIGHHHH with relief...then we are done.  If not, she will apply again along with 4 other colleges and pray because U of SC is her FIRST choice...so stressful I tell ya!  My stress may have reached an all time high this summer me thinks..I'm gonna have to try yoga and meditating (well maybe not, I'm too ADD to get thru those lol).

So I'm working on acceptance, low-stress, happiness and joy right now...heehee :) May the universe help me get thru it all.

Happy TGIFriday friends!  I am off to Richmond, VA today with my family (and teen's friends) to attend Redskins Training Camp.  I got myself a VIP pass so you know Suzanne will be ALL OVERRRR that park and trying to meet my fave players..I have NO shame ;)  If you follow me on Facebook you know I'll have a few pics up there if you want to have some laughs at my expense.  If there is ONE thing I'm good at...its getting up close & personal to those I want to meet hee hee.  And I plan on meeting RGIII yes'm!  We want to see Alfred Morris again as well....we met him last year before he was a for-sure thing on the Redskins and he was so humble, nice and kind...even when I was poking his muscles to see if they were real :)  So we have printed out our pics of Riley with him and hope to get him to sign them...who knew he'd be such a breakout-star-rookie...MEEEEE helllooooo!  So that's pretty much our weeekend and then back home on Sunday for some rest.  This week has been nutters with Alexa's Senior pictures (sob) and doctors appts and getting Riley geared up for next week's start of football practice.  He will going Mon thru Sat from 8:30 til 3 everyday which means mom will be running lots with sweaty boys in her car ugh!  So hope you all have a fabulous weekend as well!

PS---see my last post below to see what I've been up to this summer and vacation pics!!

So I used these sweet papers from Simple Stories because I loved the Shabby Chic feel and the fun colors together.  I distressed and inked all the papers which always brings another element of texture to projects...I'm big on layering and lots of texture...adds that extra ZING to everything :)  The die I used is by Memory Box and some buttons and flowers from my stash.  I trimmed the plaid paper into a fun arrow accent with my scissors and a right-angel ruler.



Catch 22 was colored with Copics:  RV000,R20,R21,R22 / BG18,BG13,BG11,BG10 / Y11,Y15.  And accented with a few Stickles here and there for sparkle.  I used a swirl stamp to add some interest around the edges too.  The sentiment says "Does this bow make my butt look big?" LOL!!