Happy Thanksgiving! (With a dose of family fashion)

Happy Thanksgiving from my clan!!

This post is for those of you who are like me. You're finally sitting down after a busy day and you're relaxing a bit, browsing the internets while your kids build a fire outside. Wait, my kids aren't building the fire. The husband is while the kids play. Then we're all going to make s'mores. No better day to wrap up this thankful day, right?

It's fuh-reezing in Florida. Literally. It was 25 degrees this morning when I went running. So, the only thing we know to do is put on the layers. Which is why each and every family member is wearing a sweater and a shirt. But that seems like a reasonable thing to do when you're attempting to bundle up and still maintain a bit of style.

Shirt: American Eagle (Husband's)

Sweater & Leggings: Target

Boots: Shoedazzle

Belt: Aldo

Necklace: Rue 21

My key to a successful Thanksgiving? Leggings.  Yep, that band that just keeps on stretching as I eat is the way to go. Oh, and my husband's giant shirt. Trust me, this little belt you see here? It lasted about 30 minutes. Then I took it off and let the food fill my belly. I think baby was pretty happy with that.

Speaking of baby… there she is. Or he. I haven't a clue what this one is.  You know how some moms have an idea? I never do. I just feel pregnant.

I'm linking up today with Perfectly Coutured and Everyday Fashion and Finance for Three-fer Thursday and with The Pleated Poppy, and I Feel Pretty.

Favorite Things

We're talking today about wrestling.  

No, wrestling isn't necessarily one of my favorite things! It is however, important to my husband.  See, my husband's dad and uncle wrestled in the Olympics 40 years ago; the Hubs wrestled all throughout high school and college; and his cousin is wrestling Friday in the Olympics!

Team Haze Shirt:

Jean Shorts: American Eagle

So, since the Hubs is one of my favorite things and wrestling is one of his favorite things, I'm adopting it this week. ;)

So, check out this shirt! It was originally a regular t-shirt, but I couldn't imagine wearing anything with sleeves right now since it's so bloody hot out.  So, I took a pair of scissors to it and made it more my style. =)

I paired it with my plaid Ralph Lauren tennies from TJMaxx and my bright blue sports bra to infuse even more "Tiffany" into this t-shirt. I felt pretty cool in this and it was the perfect outfit for cleaning, organizing and decorating my classroom!

If you've been watching the Olympics, tune in Friday morning at 7:00 am central time to cheer for Sam! You can watch him online at www.nbcolympics.com.

I'm linking up today with My Favorite Things!

Beat the Heat!

Well, hello summer! Although yesterday was officially the first day of summer, in Florida it's been feeling like summer since March.  One thing Florida girls know how to do, it's work with the heat, not against it.  A few Florida bloggers have gotten together and are sharing with you their favorite "go-to outfits" to beat the heat. 

I love a little sundress and sandals. I really do, but their necklines are usually so low on me that I have to wear a cardigan over it.  Layering on sweaters does not beat the heat!  This spring and summer, I've been gravitating towards the same thing on the weekends, either a swishy little skirt and a t-shirt, or my favorite jorts. =)

Neon Tank & Teal Tank: NY&Co

Jean shorts: American Eagle

Belt, Sandals, Neon Bangle & Earrings: Target

Sunglasses: Kohls

These denim shorts are actually very thin, so thin in fact that they're getting kind of bare on my bum. lol I don't know what I'll do when I wear them out! I guess, since they've served their purpose for the last four years, I'll just head back to American Eagle and get me another pair!

When it's boiling hot outside, you really can't go wrong with a breezy tank, a pair of shorts and some sandals! Wearing something bright like this neon shirt, just helps me to embrace the season, instead of hiding from it. =)

What do you like to wear to beat the heat?

I'm linking up today with Real Girl Glam, J9Style and Iris Focused on Fashion for their Florida Girls Beat the Heat.  Check out how other Florida girls beat the heat here!  I'm also linking up with Two Thirty Five Designs for her Casual Friday linkup and All Things Chic for Fashion Friday!

While you're here, would you please swing by Monroe & Main's facebook page and vote for my shoe haiku? It's #44 on Page 3! =)

A Weekend on a Wednesday

Wouldn't it be nice if we got a weekend right smack in the middle of the week?  I guess then it wouldn't be a weekend, but just a day off...  Whatever it would be called, it sure would be lovely to kick back and relax with my family in the middle of the work week!

T-Shirt, Belt, Sandals, Necklace: Target

Jorts: American Eagle Boyfriend Jeans Turned Jorts

Bracelets: Bealls

How do you like my fancy hair do? ;)  I turned my favorite pair of boyfriend jeans into shorts. The hole in the knee was simply getting too big, so I chopped them off at the knees and voila! Jean shorts!

My Little Guy wanted in on the action. =)

This is the comfy and casual outfit that I wore on Memorial Day for a park date with my family.  We had absolutely nothing planned this past weekend and I just love impromptu park dates followed by cooling off in our kiddie pool!

I don't often put up pictures of my kids, but here is proof that I really am a mom. And that this outfit is mom proof. Here I am being chased by a "pirate" through the park . . .

And doing other fun mom stuff with my kidlets. =)

What did you do with your long weekend?

I'm linking up today with The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde and Simply Sarah. 

Tasty Tuesday - Southern Food & Cuffed Jeans

Cuffed Jeans

Last spring, I discovered cuffing my boyfriend jeans and I wore them this way well into summer until it was simply insane to wear jeans at all, whether they were cuffed or not!

T-shirt: Target ($10, here)

Jeans: American Eagle ($30, here)

Wedges: Cato (Gift, similar here and here )

Belt: Target ($4)

Well, I am happy to say that I'm at it again. I know, it's one of those things you either love or you hate... there's really no middle ground.

Bracelets: Kohls & Bealls

Necklace: Target

Turquoise & Silver Ring: c/o Blue Vanilla

And I've got to say, I love it!

So, how about you?  Are you a cuffer?

Tasty Tuesday - Some good old fashioned southern Red Beans & Rice

When I was browsing parents.com a while back, I stumbled across a feature of Slow Cooker Meals. Well, when I see something that can be cooked in a slow cooker, I perk up. I mean, anything that will make it easier for me to get dinner on the table after I get home from work, is a winner to me! So, I pinned a recipe for red beans and rice. And because you can't get to the recipe unless you have a parents.com account, I'll share it with you. =)
 

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 small green pepper, finely chopped

1 rib celery, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (I used Tony Chachere's)

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed and picked over

1 large chicken bouillon cube (I used 1 teaspoon of granules)

3 cups water

1/2 pound smoked sausage, sliced

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 cups cooked brown rice

1. Heat oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper and celery to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.

2. Scrape contents of skilllet into slow cooker and add Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, beans, bouillon cube and water. Cook for 3-1/2 hours on HIGH or 5 hours on LOW or until beans are soft and liquid has thickened.
3. Stir in sausage and black pepper. Cook an additional 15 minutes or until heated through. Discard bay leaves and serve over rice.

After making this dish, I learned a few secrets from some experienced chefs in my family.  You can pull out about a cup of the beans before you serve it and blend them. Then mix them back in to give the red beans a more creamy texture.  You can also substitute a ham bone for the sausage to cut back on the fat.

I hope you'll try this Southern dish and let me know how you like it!

I'm linking up today with Monday Mingle!