Pretty is

...My Life and Style

You are here: Home / Home

“Women who wear black lead colorful lives”

– Neiman Marcus

When I realized that I have been wearing outfits that are predominately black this week, it started me to thinking… maybe my favorite color truly is black. 

It seems like I’ve had this discussion with my sister before.

Recently I saw this on Pinterest “If your favorite color is black, you value your inner world and enjoy keeping your private life private. Only close relatives and friends are privy to your thoughts and feelings.

Articulate and at times dramatic you know how to share your point of view with conviction and authority. Drama does not mean unrestrained. You maintain self-control with ease, which enables you to control most situations as well.

Others perceive you as serious maybe to the extent of intimidating. Focusing on the details and getting things right is important to you. You are comfortable projecting an air of mysterious and guarded which can help mask moments of insecurity. People find your juxtaposition of the conventional and unconventional intriguing.”

(Source)

 Follow the I ♥ COLOR Series on Pinterest.

While some of those characteristics are true of me, my “personality color” told a different story.

An online quiz to determine the color that best matches your personality did not match me with black.

Interestingly enough the Color Personality Quiz revealed:

You are red!

“You’re passionate and full of energy, making you popular among friends. You have the ability to love deeply, and you sometimes don’t think before you put your heart and soul into your relationships. Your strong sense of ambition means you will do well in your career. This, however, is offset by a fiery temper and a lack of patience. Work hard at keeping a balance in your life and you’ll go far.”

When Wendy pointed out that I misunderstood one of the questions, I took the test again and changed that one answer.

Still Red.

I’ve been guilty in the past of click bait type tests, but I  do think its fun.

Take the Quiz.

As for my results, (HA!)  I don’t completely agree with the part about a fiery temper.  Maybe LB would have a different opinion.

As for my passion for black fashion, I have a few posts that specifically reference black including this post about little black blouses.

 

“Women who wear black lead colorful lives”

It’s true.

Guess What Day It Is

Bah-da bah-da-da-da

Every other day, every other day
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
A-you can find me cryin´ all of the time

(Thank you to The Mamas & the Papas)

It’s hard to explain why I have such a hard time appreciating Monday.

I’m not even going there.

Take 2

It’s a new week and I am blessed!

I woke up this morning.

I am healthy.

And loved.

I have a job.

Which brings me to what I like to talk about…

What I Wore

to work today.

This is pretty cut and dry, but if you are like me and always searching for outfit ideas, here is another one to add to the list.  Today I am wearing a red sleeveless blouse.  I simply cannot remember where I found this blouse.  It may have been Forever21, but I’m not sure.

Dementia.

It has been a bit chilly in the office, so I took along a black cardigan along to keep me warm.

I’ve mentioned this scuba skirt before… or maybe the white one that is just like it.  Actually I have a fuchsia scuba skirt, too.  They all came from Forever21 and are no longer available, which is too bad.  I love them all and pair them with different blouses all the time.

My Brighton tote is a favorite

If you’re shopping for similar items, you can find these basics anywhere clothing is sold as you can see in the following examples…

Looking for a Red Blouse?  Check out these suggestions here, here, and here//similar black skirt //similar Brighton tote or maybe this Brighton tote // black sandals (similar, similar).

Shopping is a great pleasure and also therapy…

and so is a good song!

Friday Favorites

Kim says:

IT’S FRIDAY Y’ALL!

Shalita says:Apparently we have SOMETHING in common ’cause I’m dancin’ too!

And it is time to post my Friday Favorites!

Favorite # ONE

This has been a stressful week with all the drama caused by Hurricane Irma on Sunday and Monday. Luckily the generator kept the news up and running during the entire event. The channels were limited, but my favorite weatherman made it bearable.
Thank you Richard Nunn!In case you don’t know him, Richard is the one on the left.

Favorite # TWO

Hurricane Irma Cookies

On the subject of Hurricane Irma… this week’s meteorological conditions brought about some irrational behavior [as it is unlike me to binge on carbs]. However, unlike me as it was, for our mini-evacuation, I packed mostly malevolent processed products.

Reason being?  Mostly due to the ease with which these items travel and stay edible over several hours/days. Although I’m now paying the price for it, we enjoyed little sandwiches, pretzels, kettle chips, turkey jerky, and my very own homemade Hurricane Irma Chocolate Chip Cookies.

This is how I made those cookies…

Cream together:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
Add into mix, one at a time:
2 large eggs
Add:
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Combine together:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Then add to wet ingredients.
Stir in:
1/2 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 (12-ounce) bag milk chocolate chips
Bake at 375°F on a parchment lined pan for 12 minutes

And voilà… a new addition to my menu’s “Recipe” page

Favorite # THREE

Smock off the Shoulder Top

It was ordered last month, and just received a few days ago…
My new Smock off the Shoulder top from Venus comes in sizes XS – XL and is adorable!
This bohemian style blouse has alternating floral and animal prints and includes a faux tassel drawstring at the waist.
The top is smocked at the bust and shoulders and finished with trendy bell sleeves.
Just in time for fall… which is happening next week!

Favorite # FOUR

My sense of humor is more bizarre than any other I know… with the exception of my sister. Looking through some of the memes in Pinterest,  l came across a new one that I had to add to my “Very Funny” boardMaybe it was because I was so tired I couldn’t think straight, but this one made me LoL!

Favorite # FIVE

I Want My 80s

on MTV

Since LB had to work late, Elvis and I sat down in front of the tv and ended up watching classic music videos from the 80s.  When LB came home, he was happy to join in.

I remember the first time I experienced MTV.  It was 1983 and we had one of those cable TV controllers that slide from channel to channel.  The first music video I ever saw was Michael Jackson’s Thriller.  What an inauguration, right?

Tonight we have watched performances by Billy Joel, ACDC, Madonna, Debarge, Cheap Trick, Huey Lewis and the News, Aerosmith, Will Smith, Bad English and Guns & Roses.

Take me Back!

…or Down

to Paradise City!

Happy Birthday Elvis!

He is eight years old today…and has been with me since he was three months old.

Elvis is a rescue kitty.

It was December 12, 2009 and my plan was to give my oldest daughter Stephanie a kitten for Christmas.  LB and I went to the Humane Society and looked at all the adorable kitties that were living there.  Some of them were in crates; some of them were playing together in the Kitty Cabana.  As we walked into the Kitty Cabana I noticed one little black fur ball scurry behind a kitty play set. Of course I went after him.  Given the fact that he was so skittish, I was surprised that he let me pick him up.  Not only did he let me pick him up, he let me hold him close and snuggle.

I had found a winner!

We took him home.My plan was to keep him for about a week before Christmas and then take him to Stephanie on Christmas morning.

It was only a few days that he was with us and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to part with him.Exactly one week later, we went back and adopted Aymie.  She and Stephanie are inseparable.  Aymie is obviously a good sport.

She will also be 8 years old in October.

If you have a kitty in your life, you know just how special one can be.

Elvis has been on numerous trips and through several moves with me.  He tolerates no visitors and hides under the bed as soon as he is aware that company has arrived.  To most people, he seems very unsociable.
However, when he detects that his mama has arrived home, he comes running.  He then leads me to the living room for some hello-let’s-have-a-brush time.

Elvis sleeps on my bed at my feet. He is anxious for me to get up in the morning and has been known to sit by my head and pat my nose. His favorite time is when I’m sitting in my living room chair letting him sleep on my lap.  He is sleeping on my lap as I type this post.  He is just a precious little fur ball, and I’m so happy to have him in my life.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

Unexpected Discoveries

Although Irma trampled the town last night, my family members were safe in their homes;  I’ve received no reports of serious damage from them.

As I mentioned in my last post, LB had to work hurricane duty on Sunday and Monday, so I stayed with him in his office through the entire event.  It would not have been wise for him to drive home on Sunday evening and back to the office early Monday morning.

It wasn’t an easy night.

LB had purchased a very impressive High-Rise Premium Comfort Airbed by Intex.  I woke up at least three times with my head on the floor.  The other multiple times I was awakened were almost as unpleasant.

So glad last night is over!

At this time, the most we have been able to do is make a quick property check to our home and head right back to this office.  As I walked through the house earlier, checking for damage, I found a leak in the kitchen ceiling.  I found it the hard way as I hit the floor full force when I stepped into the water that was all over the kitchen floor.

Talk about unexpected!

On a happier note, during our random-family-hurricaneIrma texts, my younger daughter introduced me to a new website.  At first I was skeptical since it was presented as a picture of shirts displaying quotes from the movie Christmas Vacation:

While I’m not likely to wear a Vacation Holiday Tee, the boots in the bottom left corner caught my eye.

Amanda encouraged me to visit the site, saying “it’s a cute website mom, you would like it”.

So I Checked It Out

She was right.  I like it.  That was an unexpected discovery on a tempestuous night!

Some of the tops/tees on jane.com are displayed as outfits:

There are many other items of interest on jane.com.  At this time FALL is being promoted on the site (imagine that), there is an app to download and currently a giveaway to enter.

Some other on trend items areSo Many Tassels!  $6.99 each

and

Fall Jewelry Must Haves $9.99 each

Back Zipper Booties $29.99

and

Transitional Sling-Back Booties $21.99

And for someone at my office looking for a winter coat (you know who you are)this one is only $24.99!

 

Thank you for the recommendation Amanda!

Hurricane Hysteria

As I began this post

Hurricane Irma

was a Category 5 storm.  As info, a hurricane with winds of 157 mph or greater is a Category 5.  Hurricane Irma is currently ravaging the Caribbean Islands; LB and I are watching the Weather Channel for an update on the turn that she will take.  She is expected to turn toward Florida.

More storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state, and since 1851 only eighteen hurricane seasons passed without a hurricane impacting the state.  Approximately 488  hurricanes have affected the state of Florida.  This damage report includes a death toll of 10,272 people in Florida and $115 billion in other damage (primarily from Hurricane Andrew and thereafter (source)).

With the exception of the slight impact we felt from hurricane Matthew last year, I can’t remember having experienced a hurricane in Jacksonville.  Needless to say, everyone is a bit antsy about the uncertainty of what is to come.

Even Elvis is looking to me for answers.It is apparent to him that something isn’t quite right.

Since LB has to work on Monday, we are taking our necessities and heading to his office early on Sunday.  We will be spending the night and “hunkering down” here while Irma passes by.

This office has all the comforts of an office.

 

But we bring the party with us

 

During this time, my daughters are with their dad, my son and his little family are riding it out in their home, my Mama is at her house with my sister and her family.

We are in Jacksonville

keeping in touch via text:

 

 

Those are random, I know.

Welcome to My World.

My Mama is terrified (to say the least) of hurricanes, since her experience with Dora in 1964.  Thankfully, Jacksonville has not experienced such a storm in my lifetime.

Since we have no control over the weather, there is no reason for hysteria.  Several hours after beginning, as I continue this post, Hurricane Irma is headed our way, and expected to arrive in about nine hours.  That said, I know my Mama has been praying, because the storm has since downgraded to a Category 2 and the path has shifted away from the east coast of Florida.

God is in control, and in Him I place my trust.

Friday Favorites

Guess What Day It Is

Andrea cat friday weekend viernes GIF

Hee Hee!

I thought that was cute!  And funny!

Speaking of funny…

Favorite # ONE

recently my daughter tweeted:

I literally laughed out loud!  This is SO Stephanie!

 

Favorite # TWO

I like BIG BOOTS and I cannot lie…It is too hot in Florida to wear boots in the fall.  But when I found these boots on Amazon for under $30, I had to have them.  Although I love living in Florida (except when a hurricane is heading my way), I complain about not being able to wear my boots.  Regardless, complaining will not change the fact that I won’t be wearing them until December or January.

 

Favorite # THREE

I am obsessed with chicken wings!

Am I the only person who could eat chicken wings every day?  Last Friday LB and I had buffalo chicken wings ONCE AGAIN at Racing’s North Turn for dinner.  They were great.  Every last one of them.

 

Favorite # FOUR

The Bee Gees special that aired last spring has been waiting to be watched in my recorded programs until recently.  Last Sunday LB and I played this while we were cleaning up around the house and realized it was a pretty dang good show.

I’ve always loved the Bee Gees!Stayin’ Alive: A GRAMMY Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees aired on  April 16 and featured the talents of John Legend, Celine Dion, Demi Lovato, Pentatonix, Nick Jonas plus many others.  They each paid tribute to the Bee Gees’ pop legacy by performing songs made popular by the Bee Gees.  We watched it TWICE!

 

Favorite # FIVE

The Ethnicity Estimate.

Where in the world did I come from???

When I came across this CLICK BAIT on FaceBook last week, I nearly drove my Mama crazy… although I was just teasing her.  How I could be Brazilian is beyond me.  The three times I was estimated to be 53% Puerto Rican was also puzzling.  Later, I took a FB quiz “How Puerto Rican are You?” and scored 100%.  Since I am thoroughly Scots-Irish & English (as far as I know), I thought it was pretty funny, but I should probably stop clicking on those things!

That picture is horrible!  Apparently I have no pride.

 

As I always mention, I LOVE Fridays and I thoroughly enjoy posting my Friday Favorites!  I hope someone out there enjoys reading about them.

TGIF!

 

 

Connect