Speakeasy Weekend

Last weekend we were lucky enough to get invited to a Speakeasy event - any excuse to dress up is good enough for me!

We had a blast hanging out with friends and sipping drinks on the balcony. Tip for people going to a speakeasy/Gatsby event - gloves are hard to manage! Between trying to eat appetizers and texting (spoiler alert: you can't text with gloves on), they really weren't my best friends.

Happy together, regardless of the gloves.

We also enjoyed the weekend BBQing with friends, and even helping put out a fire at a nearby apartment complex. Mother's Day is always a tough weekend for me, although I definitely don't have a lack of mothers to celebrate in my life. We also got some rough news on the kids front, so being out and about was a good distraction.

You know what else is a great distraction? Polygamy USA on NatGeo. I'm obsessed. If you're a fan of polgyamist shows, this won't disappoint. Especially because the women in this sect actually are the ones to have visions about who they marry and do the choosing. 

What Are You Reading?

I'm finally back on a reading kick, and I've love to know what everyone else is reading (and loving!)

Here's what I've read lately:

Dead Ever After - Charlaine Harris. If you've read all of the other Sookie Stackhouse books, you need to read how it ends.

Then Came You - Jennifer Weiner. A dear friend let me borrow this since it was related to surrogacy.

Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire. I know a lot of people who loved YA books enjoyed it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness - Susannah Cahalan. This was an interesting read that was on sale and about how a journalist was hospitalized and told she was crazy, when she was really suffering from  an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder.

Next up for me to read:

The Paris Wife
My Beloved World - Sonia Sotomayor (for my book club)
The God of Small Things

If you have any suggestions I'd love if you'd comment below and let me know what I'm missing out on!

Derby Day Highlights

Derby Day isn't a holiday, but Mr. Bee thinks it is. I'm lucky to have a husband who looks forward to dressing dapper to all the parties I drag him to!

This year I had to find the perfect hat for our Junior League Derby Day party. Fortunately, Mr. Bee went with me to Dillard's to pick one out.

We so fancy!

I was asked to help market the event on the morning news, and boy was it chilly! We were there from 4:45 to 7am and it was no more than 38 degrees outside. We were running back and forth from our cars and holding up blankets until they said we were on air.

Junior League ladies promote rain or shine or freezing weather!

The highlight of Derby Day for us has been getting to pet and take pictures with the horse outside. Here we are anxiously waiting for our turn with the pony. 

After a long day of Mint Juleps and ponies, we headed to my work to judge a hat contest. Mr. Bee really wanted to change his outfit, and I actually won 2 hats (!!!!!) in the hat raffle! Had to show off the goods for the nighttime. Now I just need to find a few more opportunities to wear hats - it's addicting!

Hat judges!

Hope everyone else had a great Derby Day and celebrated with some fabulous hat fashion!

Discount Dresses for a Good Cause

$20 dress for a good cause!

I've been involved in Junior League for 3 years. Sometimes I get super amped about our philanthropies and volunteer projects. Sometimes not.

Right now, I'm amped. I was able to volunteer for a local organization that helps underprivileged teens get free prom dresses and accessories, and it was an amazing experience. When you meet these girls who are so grateful for anything you can give them, it literally melts your heart.

I thought about all of the dances I went to in high school and how my parents paid for my dresses, shoes, hair, and dinners. Wow, does that add up! And honestly, I felt like a jerk for just expecting that it was the norm. It was such a wake-up call to meet people who thought that these donated dresses were the most beautiful things that they'd seen, and were so happy to get makeup samples.

Aly's Prom Closet takes dress donations during the year, and I was happy to give some of my old prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses a good, new home. Since prom season is over, they are having their annual dress sale to raise money for next year, and selling the remainder of their dresses for only $20.

I actually picked up a dress for a gala that I attended last weekend and got tons of compliments on it. I know that most of you aren't out in Reno, but if you have a similar charity near you, I highly suggest you part with some of your old dresses, or take the time to volunteer!

How Well Does Your Spouse Know You?

Vintage Us!

I saw this post the other day on a blog I read (and total brain fog, I can't remember the blog, but I know she got it from Carolina Charm). Props to Mr. Bee for getting most of these correct!

How long have you been married? 
Steve: Since November 1, 2008 
Katie: 4 years, 7 months

Where was your first date?

Steve: At your house with piñata, or at the sushi place on Washington depends on how you count.

Katie: Drinking tequila and hitting pinatas at my house. First official date was at a sushi place in Hillcrest.

Where was your first kiss? 
Steve: The kitchen counter at 5333 Catoctin.

Me: Sometime after beating the pinata on our first date. Victory kiss!

Who first said, "I love you"? 
Steve: You did.
Katie: I had taken Ritalin after we'd gotten back from a trip and I needed to study. Steve was tired and said, "That's nice."

What were your wedding colors? 

Steve: Pink and Black
Katie: Pink and Black.

What is her most commonly used phrase? 
Steve: Katie talks to much to have one commonly used phase. 

Me: Some type of Valley Girl lingo.

Who is her celebrity crush? 
Steve: Johnny Depp
Katie: Joe Manganiello from True Blood or Johnny Depp

If she was ordering drinks for both of you what would you each get?  

Steve: She'd get something super fruity and light for herself, like a Bees Knees, and she'd get me a beer or something with scotch.

Katie: For Steve: Bartender's choice. For me, Diet Coke + Vodka.

What is the best meal she has ever cooked you? 
Me: Pad Thai
Steve: Pad Thai a la Katie

What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you? 
Steve: Nothing.

Me: The time I tried to cook a chicken dish with turkey.

What is the most-played song on her iPod? 

Steve: Katie plays too much music to have one top played song.

Katie: Right now, "Thrift Shop"

What would she say is your most annoying habit? 
Steve: My cleaning schedule.

Katie: Being messy.

What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed? 
Steve: Watches TV or plays on her iPad

Katie: Brush my teeth

If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be? 
Steve: Nothing, she's got good style.

Katie: Black Romper

What would you say is your favorite thing about her? 
Steve: dat ass! Or her sense of humor, either way.

Katie: Sense of humor

What's her go-to drink at Starbucks?  

Steve: Green tea chai latte; salted caramel latte
Katie: Soy Chai Latte

What's her blog's name?

Steve: Bees and Bows

Katie: Bees and Bows


 

Things You'll Never, Ever, Ever Hear Me Say

Thanks to Neely from A Complete Waste of Makeup for this blog idea!

Things you will never, ever, ever hear me say:

1. I absolutely love kitten heels. And Crocs.
2. Spiders would be a fun family pet.
3. Let's make dinner from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".
4. Want to go skydiving?
5. I'm great at math, especially without a calculator.
6. I'm down for a shot of whiskey.
7. The Oxford comma is a dumb idea.
8. I'm thinking about going to the tanning salon.
9. That new action/gangster/100th Fast and Furious looks amazing.
10. "Nucular"

Party Dresses

I've been fortunate to snag invites to some fun events through work lately. I've been trying my hardest to "shop my closet," but I think I've finally hit rock bottom. Any suggestions on where to find some good, inexpensive semi-formal or formal dresses for upcoming events?

Here's what I've worn so far (and yes, I love black).

Dress from Barristers Ball (2008) and Honeymoon

Dress from NYE

Places I've been looking is the BCBG outlet, TJ Maxx, and Dillards. Thanks for any help!