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The Big Boo Cast, Episode 74

We didn’t mean to let so much time go by between podcasts, but life happens and you look up and it’s been a month. But this one is a little longer than usual so hopefully that should help. We talk about Sophie’s upcoming trip to Kenya with Compassion, my first trip to a yoga class, things we are watching and reading and, of course, beauty tips I learned from my makeup artist while I was filming in Round Top.

You can click here to listen. Or here. You can even listen right here on the blog.

You can also listen on Stitcher.

Or, as always, you can subscribe on iTunes. We’d be honored if you’d leave us a review.

And if you’re on the Facebook, well, we are, too.

Here’s where you can get more info on the stuff / products / places we mention:

– Compassion International

– Universal Studios Orlando

– Universal Vacations

– Costco

– Levi’s 501 Long Denim Shorts

– GAP Railroad stripe girlfriend shorts

– GAP archive reissue pleated denim shorts

– GAP girlfriend rolled utility shorts

– LuLaRoe Carly dress

– Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing by Jennifer Weiner

– Fraxel laser treatment

– Good Genes lactic acid treatment

– Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

– The shot heard ’round the world (and one of the best moments of Sophie’s life)
Fashion Friday: Edition it’s like we’re back in 1990

1. lace sheath dress

I’ve seen a few dresses lately that I think are really pretty. I love this one in this blue color. It also comes in lemon zest and white if that’s more your style.

2. j.crew gingham blazer

Every time I walk in our J.Crew Mercantile, I stare at this gingham blazer. It’s not really something I’d normally wear but I’m a little in love with it. It also comes in pink and I think it could be so cute over a white sheath dress or paired with a pair of white jeans for Easter.

3. one shoulder dress

This is the perfect dress for a summer vacation. Love the color and the print and even the one shoulder.

4. frayed tunic dress

It’s on sale for $99 and appears to be sold out in white, but I love this blue and the gray. Anthropologie is also giving you $20 off every $100 you spend with the code SURPRISE at checkout.

5. loft henley tunic

This also comes in black and is now 60% off with code FLASH at checkout along with a whole lot of other cute things at Loft. I love tops like this because they are so easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion.

6. tretorn NY Lite Plus sneaker

I posted these on Instagram yesterday and so many of you commented about the days of Tretorns gone by. Several of you even had the much coveted (by me at least) madras version. I happen to love the green and think these are a great sneaker to wear all summer long with everything from dresses to shorts to jeans.

7. loft ruffle pin tucked blouse

I know this can be a hard color for some people to wear but I adore it. This blouse would look great at the office or with a pair of jeans.

8. levi’s 501 long denim shorts

Hold on. Tretorns and now Levi’s 501 denim shorts. All I need is a Bartles and Jaymes berry wine cooler and it’ll be just like 1990 all over again. But, seriously, I ordered these as soon as I saw them. I plan to wear them while listening to Wilson Phillips.

And, if this isn’t enough, Gap has resurrected the gap original 1969 denim rolled hem bermuda shorts for those of you who want something just a little bit longer. I felt a little hesitant about these but I’m seeing them everywhere right now.

9. toms lexie sandal

Caroline had these sandals last summer which means she has outgrown them. However, they were super comfortable and so cute and they come in several color options.

I also love these toms harper wedges if you want something with just a little bit of a heel.

10. vince camuto elegant blossom shift dress

Here’s a sad story. I finished Fashion Friday earlier this afternoon and then the whole thing got deleted and in the mean time this dress sold out in the pink and black version that I show above. But it still comes in black and white which is also very cute.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.
Odds and ends and this and that

Here are a few or eight things I’ve been meaning to share with you just in case you’re interested.

1. America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

I’ve been an abysmal reader so far this year. I just haven’t had much time to really dive into a bunch of books the way I want to and there hasn’t been anything that’s felt like a must read. But I’m hoping to turn that around this summer once I finally finish the last of the projects I have on my plate.

However, I read this over Spring Break and it totally sucked me in. It’s historical fiction and all about Thomas Jefferson’s daughter. I thought it was interesting and found a lot of parallels between what’s going on in the U.S. right now. (I realize it’s fiction, it just felt like timely fiction.)

2. Little Ree by Ree Drummond

Ree has the cutest new book for kids that just released this week. It would be a perfect addition to an Easter basket.

3. Cracker Barrel and Brad’s wife

Just when I want to give up on the internet, this happens. Have you seen this? A guy named Brad posted on Facebook about his wife getting fired after eleven years of service at Cracker Barrel and the internet has redeemed itself with the comments on the Cracker Barrel Facebook page.

4. brixton joanna straw hat

In case you need a good straw hat for the summer, this one is at the top of my list. And it comes in several color options.

5. Responses to Kristi Yamaguchi on Twitter

This is the other thing on the internet that brought me deep joy and the goal of upping my gif game.

Kristi Yamaguchi tweeted to Nancy Kerrigan “break a leg” regarding being on Dancing With The Stars and the responses are gold.

6. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad for face

These are the best if you need a little color on your face but are wise enough to know you need to avoid the sun. They are super easy to use and give great color that lasts for about 4-5 days.

7. Somersaults sunflower seed bites in salt & pepper

I bought these on a whim at Central Market because I was trying to find a chip-like snack that wasn’t terrible for me. This is kind of ironic considering that I drove home from a speaking event in Houston today and stopped at a gas station to buy a bag of beef jerky and some Cheez-its. But I feel like these sunflower seed bites surely offset those bad choices somewhere and they are delicious.

8. neutrogena moisture smooth color stick

This is my favorite lip product right now. It’s just $8.99 and comes in a bunch of color options and you can buy it at the grocery store. It’s very moisturizing and it’s so much easier for me to apply something that comes in stick form instead of a traditional lipstick.

Also, when I was in Round Top and had someone doing my makeup, she used this clarins instant light natural lip perfector on my lips and it was amazing. It’s not cheap but made my lips look and feel so good and they never dried out no matter how long I talked. So if you’re looking for a splurge, this might be it.

Have a great Thursday.
The road to Round Top

I don’t even know where to start. Which is why I retroactively hate myself when I go too long without writing because there is so much to tell and I can’t even remember where I left off and what has transpired since then and have we talked about how they announced the wrong movie for Best Picture at the Academy Awards?

Also, have you heard the rumors that Duchess Kate is pregnant with her third baby? And that Harry and Megan Markle seem to be getting increasingly serious? And that Brad’s wife got fired from Cracker Barrel?

So I went to Round Top,Texas last Sunday to film six sessions for a Bible study. That’s right. A Bible study. I’ll fill you in on the details soon, but my new book will be a book like my past books. However, there will be a separate curriculum workbook and video lessons available for purchase for anyone who is interested in that sort of thing. And you might be wondering how you turn a book that includes stories about how my dogs write haiku into a Bible study and that’s a valid question. I guess we’ll see what happens.

And that’s how I found myself in Round Top with a film crew from Michigan. The Junk Gypsies, Jolie and Amie Sikes, were gracious enough to allow us to film at their place, along with the Royer family who let us film at Royer’s Round Top Cafe. The whole thing was essentially an elaborate excuse to get to spend time in one of my favorite places with some of my favorite people. And to eat a lot of pie. It’s all part of my life strategy to work smarter, not harder.

Here are a few behind the scenes pictures of all the fun. This is the front of the Junk Gypsy World Headquarters. Beware that once you walk inside there will be 7400 things you want to buy.

And Royer’s set up a pop up coffee and sandwich shop right in front for Antique Week.

This is me inside of the store being filmed on day one. It was about this time that I learned it is significantly harder to speak on camera than it is to a live audience. Questions that still haunt me include: Is it awkward to laugh at my own jokes? Are my teeth enormous when I smile? Is it possible to wear false eyelashes all the time because they are miraculous?

I actually got to drive this truck. And by drive, I mean wrestle it to the ground in a death match because a stick shift that has been around since the 1950s requires you to push in the clutch with enough force to kill a grown man. My leg is still sore.

There was also a moment when I was driving it down some back country roads in what was supposed to be a moment of serenity and deep thoughts. The video producer was in the cab of the truck with me and all of a sudden we realized a hornet as big as my hand had joined us. I seriously contemplated just opening the door and rolling out of a moving truck like I was Daisy Duke on the Dukes of Hazard, but TJ – brave producer extraordinaire, had the presence of mind to grab a roll of paper towels and smash the hornet up against the windshield. I feel certain he saved us both from death by hornet and/or being run over by a vintage truck after you jumped out of it while it was still moving.

And you might be looking at that truck thinking it’s super cute but lacks the modern technology of more current vehicles. To that I say, YOU ARE WRONG. Check this out.

It had what the kids these days call a cellular phone in it. With a rotary dial.

In all fairness I’m not sure it actually works. It may just be there to look cool. Although I will tell you that when you get the truck going over 15 miles per hour that the rotary dial phone begins to bang against the dashboard causing sparks to fly everywhere. It makes for an exciting drive. Especially when you factor in dodging a hornet at the same time.

Gulley came with me because it’s times like these when you need your best friend to tell you if your hair looks weird or if you’re doing something funny with your shoulders when you talk or that you don’t seem awkward when you’re trying to figure out if you should laugh at your own self. And, she also got to fulfill one of her own personal life goals which was to click the slate and yell “ACTION”!

It’s like she was born to do it.

Here’s a shot of me inside Royer’s Cafe, home of seriously some of the best food and best people you’ll ever meet. (Here’s a free tip: They ship their pies all over the United States just in case you need a great pie. And who doesn’t?)

And here are a couple more behind the scenes photos.

The whole thing was seriously a lot of fun and so much more work than I anticipated. Which is why I have spent the last six days trying to rest and get caught up on laundry and grocery shopping and not having someone do my hair and makeup for me, which is really the life I prefer.

Although I do miss the eyelashes.

And the pie.
Fashion Friday: Edition it’s been a looooooong week

I didn’t mean to go all week without writing anything here, but I spent the first part of the week in Round Top and had zero internet. Then I got home and fell into a dazed stupor and am still recovering a little bit. I was in Round Top filming sessions for a Bible study and I’ll tell you more about it next week when I can form actual coherent thoughts.

In the meantime, here are a few cute things I found this week:

1. j.crew western chambray shirt

It’s hard to beat the versatility of a good denim shirt. It goes with everything from jeans to shorts to a skirt. This one is just about perfect and it’s 30% off with code HAPPYSPRING at checkout.

2. eyelet ruffle off the shoulder top

I like this top because it appears to be a little longer than some of the other off the shoulder tops I’ve seen, plus the eyelet detail is perfect for summer. It also comes in a faded coral color.

3. stripe bell sleeve blouse

This would look great with everything from white jeans to black pants at the office. I adore these sleeves.

4. j.crew ruffle top in clip dot

I love the ruffle detail on this top. It’s also comes in black and bright yellow. It’s 30% off with code HAPPYSPRING.

5. leopard print genuine calf hair pouch

This is a great clutch if you’re in the market for a fun addition to any outfit. There’s a much pricier version of this that you see all over Pinterest.

tonal stripe foldover clutch

This is also really pretty for spring and summer. It comes in several color options, but I adore this soft pink.

6. birkenstock mayari

I pulled the trigger on a pair of Birkenstocks today. And by the pull the trigger, I mean I bought some just like this…not that I shot a pair of innocent sandals. I just decided I needed them in my life and am tired of wearing my flip-flops all summer long.

Last summer I bought these birkenstock arizona slide sandals and they are the perfect thing for the pool, beach or lake. They are made out of the same hard plastic as Crocs. Which is why we call the Birkencrocks in our family. You’re welcome for that.

They come in lots of colors and are just $34.95.

7. steve madden kasen sandal

I searched for a good pair of lace up sandals all last year and never found any I loved, but these have potential to be the ones. They come in several colors including a soft pink.

And if you’re looking for a comfortable pair of flip-flops that are a little versatile, then these
rainbow flirty braided leather flip flop are a great option.

8. dipped chroma swing dress

I saw this in Anthropologie and the colors are much more vibrant in person and it’s really pretty. It would make a great Easter dress if you’re looking for one.

It’s on sale for $89.95 plus there’s an additional 25% off sale items with discount automatically applied at checkout.

9. arboretum dress

This is a pre-order item at Bungalow 123 but you might want to jump on it if you like it. The sleeves are so pretty.

10. audrina flatform espadrille

I bought these last summer and wore them all the time. I love that they’re a wedge but the platform makes them comfortable to walk in all day long. And they even look good with shorts.

11. old navy cutwork swing top

This is a great top with really pretty detail. It also comes in coral, navy and white.

12. statement collar necklace

A statement necklace is a great piece for summer because you can put it on with just a tank or a -shirt and it elevates your whole outfit.

And I also love this open circle long pendant if you’re looking for something a little more simple. It also comes in silver.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.
Fashion Friday: Edition Happy St. Patrick’s Day

I’m sad to say that we have reached the end of our Spring Break and it didn’t feel nearly long enough. I was a little worried that we might get bored since we ended up just staying in town since P’s mobility is still pretty limited and he’s still recovering, but the time flew by anyway.

But I am heading to Round Top for a couple of days next week (more on that later) so that should be fun and, like I told Caroline, the sooner we go back to school just means the sooner it’ll be summer.

Here are a few cute things I found this week:

1. free people rising sun tee

Free People tees are really hard to beat. They are super soft and the colors are always so rich. This one is on sale for $40.60 right now and comes in a bunch of color options. I think a good tee with shorts or a skirt in the summer is about the best way to go.

And if you’re looking for a less expensive option, I saw these soft v-neck tees while I was shopping with Caroline earlier this week at American Eagle Outfitters and they are just $19.95 and are buy one, get one half off.

2. melange t-shirt dress

I tried this on in the fall and loved it but was waiting for it to go on sale. And then it never di and so I gave up on it. Then, lo and behold, here it is on sale for $69.95. It is super soft and flattering on and I love that you can wear it year round.

3. you’re mine peasant tunic

I first saw this tunic in gray on Zappos, but then I noticed it’s on sale for $117.60 in white at Nordstrom. I adore it in either color, but the sale price makes the white more appealing. I think it’s just left in small and extra small but Free People stuff always runs on the big side.

4. madelyn rae asymmetrical crepe fit and flare dress

While Caroline and I were dress shopping this week, I saw these Adelyn Rae dresses at Nordstrom and they are so cute. This is a great basic black dress if you are in the market for something like that, but there are a lot of cute options in this brand.

5. azriel corded mini dress

I saw this on the sale rack at Anthropologie and decided to try it on, mainly because it’s just $39.95 and the color is really pretty in person. It is actually cute on and would be great with some wedge sandals.

6. ruffled poplin blouse

I love the style of this top and this yellow color. It also comes in royal blue and white. All of them would look great with white jeans.

7. seasons of the moon embroidered raglan blouse

I tried this on in white at Free People and was so tempted to buy it until I remembered I don’t need another white shirt. But it’s super cute and lightweight and perfect with just a pair of jeans.

8. all american girl top

A cute sleeveless white top is always a good thing to have for summer and I really like this one.

9. sanctuary lace trim shift dress

This Sanctuary dress is really pretty and on sale for $83.30. It also comes in white, but I kind of like the black. You know I’d wear it with turquoise jewelry because that’s what I do.

10. panacea stacked bracelets

Or maybe I’d wear it with these darling bracelets. I love this bright pop of color as a spring and summer accessory. It’s the perfect way to dress up a simple t-shirt and jeans outfit.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.