All Strung Out and Loving the Designs

As some of you may know I work in a boutique in Atlanta called Poppy’s. Poppy’s is an Atlanta staple and has been in business for 30 years. The current owners are Lindsay Wegener, Alice Daniel and Katie Edwards. It is a wonderful store and they carry designers such as Rebecca Taylor (definitely one of my favorites), Alice + Olivia, Beth Bowley etc….

If you haven’t checked it out-well you should! Come see us!

I’m in love with a jewelry line that we carry called

All Strung Out Designs

by designer Carol Phillips Fails
Check her out on the web
www.allstrungoutdesigns.com

She lives in Nashville, TN and has come to Poppy’s for a couple of trunk shows. We not only love her jewelry but we love her too!

Below are some of her pieces. She uses vintage pins and mounts them onto bone cuffs and necklaces.

They are truly one of a kind and exquisite.

Each piece is signed and dated by Carol, I can definitely see handing these down to my daughter one day. They are so timeless. And for all my Girls On A Budget,  consider this an investment for your wardrobe. Or even better ask Santa for it!!!

 

The best part of all is when you get it in the mail it comes in this most wonderful packaging! It is almost too pretty to open. I always love when the UPS truck pulls up to my house as it is but to open up the box and see this! That makes me a happy girl!!!

XO, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! Im absolutely addicted!

blissfully neutral

Couple of things that Im loving right now… First is the Michael Kors 2011 Ad campaign and second is every shade of neutral! Look at these beautiful images and how clean the clothes are. I feel you can look beautiful and stylish by adding just a couple of great pieces and keeping the rest neutral. A great pair of shoes with a simple tank and shorts, a little pop of color or a great bag!I just came back from a quick trip to the beach with some friends and I came back to cold and rainy, yuck! These images make me want to jet off to Greece and ride scooters thru Santorini! I got lots of blogging ideas from my friends and one was style and fashion on a budget. Well everything in this image is under $100 so shop away GUILT FREE!! XO, Leslie

Night on the Town

This Thursday I have a big event at work so I’m going to need an outfit that could take me from day to night-which gave me a great blog idea!  Here is what I have in mind!

If you add a little more sparkle at night with your jewelry and accessories and spruce up your hair and makeup these two outfits should do the trick!

 

I absolutely love a cute pair of shorts for night time, paired with a wedge and it’s hot! I suggest if you are showing a lot of leg try covering up a little more up top. We don’t want to look too hoochie ( I think that’s how you spell it??) Especially this early in the season. I guess if I’m wearing shorts I better head for a spray tan, these legs are WHITE!!!


As far as maxi dresses go, they are definitely an easy day to night choice. Just change your shoes a bit. For day time a cute flip flop will do the trick. Except if you know me, I have to have on a heel!! A very large heel to be exact! I tried this dress on today and absolutely fell in love!!! If you decide to head to Poppy’s of Atlanta on Thursday night for our big Saddle Up Soiree Event* you may see me in this dress! 


Happy Shopping!
XO, Leslie


*Steeplechase Atlanta, Poppy’s and East Andrews are teaming up to support the UGA Vet School and Camp Southern Ground for a night of shopping, music and cocktails. Come join us from  6pm-10pm Thursday March 24th.

What’s in the bag?

Last night I was out with some of my favorite girls, they asked about my makeup and told me I should add it to my blog….here it is! It’s nothing fancy, some of my favorite things come from the drugstore. I can’t go into a CVS without buying a new lipgloss! 

NARS Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo Orgasm/ Laguna, $40
Amazon.com: CoverGirl Lashblast Waterproof Mascara, 0.44-Ounce…, $20
Dior ‘Diorshow – Black Out’ Mascara, $25
Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials, $25
Aqua Smoothers Tint – Fair to Light- CoverGirl-Beauty-Face-Foundation…, $8
Physicians Formula: Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum, $11
L’Oreal – RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Cream Night 50ml, $25
Amazon.com: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser For Normal to Oily Skin,…, $19
Anastasia Eye Lights Matte Highlighter, $21
Shimmer Bloc, $38
Buy Neutrogena Sunblock, Age Shield Face SPF 70 Online at…, $11
Buy Maybelline Superstay 24Hr Makeup, Porcelain Ivory Online at…, $9.79
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant touch Yves Saint Laurent, 25 GBP
Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector 30ml Clinique, 38 GBP
Anastasia Beverly Hills :: Brows :: Brow Powder Duo, $22
Buy CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eyeliner, Brown Blaze 420 Online at…, $7.99

My #1 is YSL’s Touche Eclat, its the bomb!!! It covers the tiredness perfectly (and the wrinkles I don’t like to admit I have!!)

My #2 is Dior Show Blackout Mascara, I don’t leave home without it! If I’m out I use Covergirl Lashblast, it’s really good for the price.

I have been using Cetaphil to wash my face for years, now I combine that with my Clairsonic (if you don’t have one purchase one!!!) Then I apply moisturizer and sunscreen.

As far as foundation goes, I usually just use a tinted moisturizer then I go back with a heavier foundation such as Maybelline Superstay 24hour makeup just where I need more coverage. I always use a bronzer, right now I really like Nars Duo in Orgasm/Laguna.  

Another great thing to have in your BAG is the Anastasia Eye Lights Matte Highlighter, its great for highlighting right under your brows-it gives you an instant EYE LIFT!!! I also tab a little on the inside corners of my eyes. Makes you look bright eyed and ready for the day.

All secrets of a tired working momma!!!

I have really dry skin so Im always wanting to add more moisture, one of my other tricks is Aquaphor. I’ll dab a little under my eyes after I applied my makeup and on my cheeks. I forgot to add Trish McEvoys-Line Refiner, this is absolutely the best for touchups under your eyes through out the day!! It keeps my makeup from settling in the fine lines around my eyes, we don’t want to draw attention to those!!!!

I hope this helps girls!  My makeup bag is always changing, Ill keep you informed if I find any more goodies!!! (And I love to get suggestions) 

XO, Leslie

All things Kate Middleton….

So yes, I admit. Im obsessesed! Im counting down the days until the Royal Wedding. I may have to take off from work that day and throw a party. Hats, scones and all!! Ya think Im kidding??

I still remember watching Charles and Diana’s wedding as a little girl. I couldn’t wait to see her dress, her jewels, her attendants. The year was 1981, I was 8 years old. I grew up watching Princess Diana. I remember her death, I’ll never forget getting phone call from a girlfriend with the news.  This picture is a set of playing cards that were my grandmothers, yup they have never been opened! I love these!

So fast forward ummmmm 30 years, holy cow!  I’m so excited for the upcoming nuptials between Kate and William. My daughter is 9 and when they got engaged I jumped up and down about the ROYAL WEDDING, she thought I had lost my mind! “Just you wait!” were my exact words!

And since I think Kate has great style, I know her dress will be FAB! She is always rockin’ my favorite things. She knows how to wear a pair of jeans, boots, and a classic blazer. My uniform of choice! And she doesn’t hesitate to wear trendy styles like a cool hat or a graphic print dress. My most favorite thing about Kate and why I think she is absolutely stunning- she is always smiling!!  I guess I would smile too if I was about to marry the future King of England??? YOU?

“The expression a woman wears on her face is more important than the clothes on her back.”

-Dale Carnegie

I love this hat-although this may be one for the MAN REPELLER!!!

She is a great at accessorizing too, cool earrings and a great bag always do the trick.

Take Note…

dailymail.com

Ok, This picture absolutely cracked me up, the article where I found it mentioned NOTHING about the naked guy in the background! Hilarious! 

Between the Arse in the background and Cutie William, I didn’t really notice Kate in this one!!!

And last but not least…..you’ve got to love her COUNTRY GIRL side!

This one might be my favorite

XO,

ALL THINGS TOWN AND A LITTLE COUNTRY

PS-My chickens escaped to my neighbors front yard today! Im sure they loved that!

Can you tell Im ready for summer? I’m dreaming of a caribbean vacation, with my toes in the sand. All I want to pack is a mask and snorkel and a suit (ok and maybe a cute sundress or two or three…)!
I grew up going to the Abacos in the Bahamas and truly those are some of my fondest memories. My family and I would snorkel all day long going from reef to reef. My father and brother would spear fish so it was the girls job to spot the grouper and lobsters. My sister and I would swim around and we had a secret language talking thru our masks and snorkels. Either it would be happy jumble like ooh ahhh theres a sea turtle or OMG theres a huge shark!!!! In which I would quickly but quietly head back to the boat as fast as my flippers would flip!!! We would eat picnics on the boat for lunch along with a Goombay Punch (which was a huge treat!) then after lunch we would go back for more snorkeling, swimming, looking for starfish and sand dollars. We would usually head to town at the end of the day to get homemade Bahamian bread in Hope Town then head home.
After a long sun-drenched day we would come back to the house where my grandmother would cook homemade conch fritters while my father prepared the grilled lobster tails or grouper we had caught that day. We would end the night usually looking at the stars, putting together a puzzle or playing cards. No TV, Video games, or cell phones. It was perfect. Can I go right now???
XO, All Things Town and a Little Country

 

 

 

 

I promised a little COUNTRY didn’t I???

So yes, we have quite a flock of pets at our house! When I was growing up my parents were so open to us having ALLLLL kind of pets. Mallard Ducks, Horses, Guniea Pigs, Cockatiels, chickens etc. I guess I have passed that on to my children. We started out with a couple of dogs, thats normal right? Then my children wanted a bird, hey-whats the big deal I had a couple of birds growing up. Lets get a bird! We get a bird and the children name him WAFFLES, naming them, honestly, is the pinnacle- it only goes DOWNHILL from there. The first week or two they pay attention to the bird then guess whose responsibility it becomes?? Im the first to admit, this is a really cool bird. He loves humans, he talks, gives kisses etc but he also makes a huge mess and more work for momma!

Have I learned my lesson? Ummm, no. (lets say it all together now….”SUCKA!”)
Ann Radford, my daughter, decides that Santa is going to bring her an incubator and an egg. Lord!
We decide that is not a good idea because we have no place to put this chick once it hatches. Fast forward nine months, we build a coop and end up with 4 baby chicks. Fast forward 8 months and we have had our share of catastrophes, we’ve had to learn the hard way whats it is like to have farm animals. The number one lesson I have learned is EVERYTHING likes to eat chicken. Including OUR OWN dogs and HAWKS, OWLS etc……

The good news in all of this is I love my Hens, they are very social creatures, very easy to take care of and they give us the most beautiful eggs everyday.

So yes, I love clothes, design, all things beautiful and girly but I love my country girl side too. I’ve posted some really cool coops, I love the really modern egg coop-it’s a work of art. How happy would you be if you could look in your backyard to that? The car coop makes me laugh, how creative!
XO, ALL things town and a little country!

 

WHAT in the WORLD do you WEAR in this WEATHER?

I don’t know about you but when we get a stretch of warm weather, followed by all the trees blooming and the tulips and daffodils popping up all over town -Im ready to put the boots and sweaters away for good. Unfortunately it’s usually a trick, the cold always comes creeping back in!! Ugh, I dont want to put on my jeans and boots ONE MORE TIME!!! Im done.

So what to do?? Here are a couple of my solutions….

Must haves for March

-A lightweight blazer, jacket or cardigan that is not BLACK.
-Cropped skinny jeans that have a cuff in white or denim (I can hear you now with your Suthern’ drawls “I can’t wear white before Easter!” -and the answer is YES you can, that rule has been long gone in the fashion world for a while now as far as jeans go. That doesn’t mean go out and buy white patent leather shoes!!)
-Suede neutral sandal
-Bright colored accessories such as a cuff, scarf, jewelry or bag
-AND if you know me my #1 staple for alllll seasons is a sexy white tank-wife beater style. I must own two dozen and I honestly can’t live without them winter, spring, summer or fall!

Happy Shopping!
XO Les

Im definitely a newbie so be patient!

Hi Friends, Family and Fellow bloggers,
I’ve been wanting to do this for along time but had some fear about getting started. A) Im a terrible writer so DONT try to correct my grammar, spelling etc.!!!!! B) Will people find what I have to say interesting? C) Will I have time to write between family, work and the hectic schedule most moms have?

But I decided what the heck, Im always following my favorite bloggers mostly having to do with fashion, makeup, interior design and allll things girly but also CHICKENS. Yes, Im crazy but my family and I decided about a year ago we wanted to have pet chickens. Which is nuts because we live in an urban community and we already have two dogs (which are trained to eat birds….a retriever and a spaniel) need I say more?? (I’ll go into some of the catastrophes we have encountered later.)

So, I feel like I have a lot to say! If I can do anything well its talking for sure!!! My friends and family are always asking for fashion advice, I help a few of them with personal shopping and I LOVE to shop and I love clothes! I plan to post some of my favorite things, whether it be fashion or family, funny or frustrating!

Thank you all for your support!
Leslie