Ticket To Ride

When I have some time off, whether it is on the weekends, or a little mini vacation, I try and take that opportunity to delve in my closet for a pretty treasure or two. Dresses that only see the light of day a few times a season are always special to me. I find comfort in knowing that I will look good in it even before I put it on. I look forward to it, planning ahead of time, and I look forward to the process. Dressing up to me is my way of pampering myself. It's my way of putting my needs first.  Every day life can feel like a wild ride, the perfect dress is just the ticket.

Dress and hat OT. Clutch is F21. Shoes Madewell.  Ray Bans  Overstock. Watch is Arvo.

Two Words

Growing up I had a very independent step mother. She taught me the value of being alone and learning how to tackle that time of your life with grace and strength. She taught me to relish it and cherish it. I remember her taking entire days off for her birthday and going to the movies by herself. She enjoyed going and doing things without anyone else, and she showed me that that was a good thing to be able to do. She taught me about independent films and about finding those smaller theaters to see them in. Driving an extra few minutes was worth it to her. Now it is worth it to me. The weekend this movie came out I couldn't wait to see it. I knew finding someone to go with would be difficult, so I didn't even try, I swiped on a pretty red lip, and some cute shoes, and took myself to see one of my all time favorite actors perform in a movie that was more about the content then the promotion. A gripping story of a man who's job it was to seek out the meaning of life for others, but loses sight of the importance of it. Who in a moment of utter delusion makes decisions that impact his most immediate future. Woody Allen movies have not grabbed my attention like this one did in a long time, Well written and not overdone it sends the message without the need for verbosity. A great date night movie even if your date is you.

How Summer Feels

Summer is a feeling and a state of mind, not just a season. The smell of the warm rain and the fragrant flowers inundates our senses. The sun warms our skin and brightens our days. Our bodies want to rest less and play more.. Our appetites are left ravenous for a simpler, lighter menu. It's like in some way we are new again, For those of us who spend at least half of the year in the cold this is the time we get to breathe again and feel alive like the Earth itself. Summer for all of us is the opportune time to truly appreciate the world we are apart of before it falls asleep once more and lies dormant in the wait for Spring.

Romper and flower crown are F21. Shoes are Jessica Simpson. 

Clutch is NeNe.

What I've Been Crushing On

{Birthdays}

{Morning mist on my run}

{Bathed in sunlight}

{Fellow yogi}

{Best way to begin and end the summer}

Give A Little Love

{Teaching my son to ride a bike}

There is nothing that prepares you for the life of a single parent. No one can tell you how it will feel to face all the decisions alone. There are no guidelines or books for every possible scenario that you will ever have to face. It can be, and is lonely, to stand and face your children who expect and deserve you to have all the answers they need. You're body and mind will be put to the test every day of every week of every year. Even on the weekends you aren't with them you will be in mind and spirit always worrying and wondering. Waiting by the phone in case they need you. Staying close to home in case you're called upon to support them in some way. When they're sick you will be too because missing work won't be easy. Wiping the tears they shed and the ones you will too when someone breaks their heart. You'll struggle to find enough of yourself to go around to each of them hoping that in the end nobody feels they've been forgotten. You'll savor every moment of every day you do have them. You will get to see all their firsts, and be a part of every accomplishment. When the good things happen you will be the first to know. When they give thanks you will be the first to hear it. 

My father took calls from me almost every week in the beginning where I cried that I was afraid to raise them alone. I was afraid I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't sure I would be able to give them what they deserved and needed on my own. He was always so supportive. In his words

 "Nothing has changed. You've been doing it all along". 

I think the harshest words I ever had to face were the ones from my own son. Crying one day he asked that if his father was getting married, did that mean that I wasn't his mom anymore. He was five years old, and I think that was one of the hardest conversations I ever had to have. Trying to help him understand the dynamic of his new life was more than he could handle .He needed me to help him. One Sunday evening fairly recently he and I were going over his weekend, and he became emotional. He wanted to know what it would feel like to have a mom AND a dad. Not having a father of my own, or close relationship with my brother, makes it hard to have that person in his life. I feel like maybe in that I have failed him. I will never know for sure, but what I do know is I believe that I have loved them all enough for us both. That much I am certain of.  

Shimmer And Shine

{The finished look on Instagram}

We all love to shine, but a  little goes a long way when it comes to shimmer. Just that touch of it in the corners of the eyes can make a huge difference. Even with the amount of makeup you see here, the overall look is still very subtle. What I love best is that you don't have to have perfect lines for this look to come together. It's warm and sultry without being overdone. Summer without all the fireworks. Shine on.

After I draw in my brows and apply the foundation to even out my skin tone, I add a small amount of very pale pink powder blush to the apple of my cheeks. Maybelline "Medium Mauve"

Here I use a muted purple liner on the upper lash line and lower waterline.

This one is Almay in Raisin. 

After I cover each lid in a soft off white shadow, I add the shimmer stick by NYX in "yogurt" to the entire lid and inner corner of each eye.

To enhance that color I used a black cherry mascara on the upper lashes only. This one is by Flower Beauty.

Finish with a mat peachy-pink lip by NYX in "hippie chic".

What you need to achieve this look.

Roped In

Someone very famous was being judged for wearing a harness. I see this going through my social media accounts and I am instantly intrigued. Then I am completely smitten. Who better than me to wear a little rope wrapped up with a skirt on your very average Saturday? The little girl with the long legs and the short torso likes being able to show off her curves. Hard for me to believe that people see this as anything but a great accessory. Hug me with a little leather, covered with cotton, touched by tulle and made for fun. Bring on the weekend.

Harness is UO.. Skirt is old Lauren Conrad. Clutch is Nene California. Shoes are JCrew.

What I've Been Crushing On

{Friendships that transcend time}

{Baby rainbows}

{Oatmeal pancakes when everybody is home}

{Taking a minute to stop and smell the roses}

{Snuggle time with my boy}

{The promise of a new day}

Jam On It

{Blueberries picked for me by a boy in my class}

Every once in a while a gift just truly touches your heart. It makes you remember why things matter and why they are important. It makes you revamp your outlook and refresh your perspective. The right gift can make you feel like anything is possible. Even homemade jam.

I ordered this book ahead of time and was super excited to see it come in the mail. My routine with any cook book is to open it immediately, and begin pinching the pages of all the recipes I plan on trying on my free weekends. I love getting up early to get the ingredients, turn up a little classic music, and make something new and delicious. I'm that girl.

2 1/4 pound berries (your choice)

1 lemon peeled and juiced

2 1/2 cups sugar

Place berries in a bowl with the sugar, 2 tbsp lemon juice and the peel 

stir and refrigerate overnight

The next day remove the peel and place the berries in a large pot and cook over low heat for about an hour. It took mine a bit longer to get the right consistency but it turned out perfect.

Just place a drop on a cold plate and if it holds there you're good to go!!

My entire family loves it and it's all natural <3

Now You See Me

{My Instagram post @misstiffany_ann}

Dramatic eyes can be sort of scary if you've never tried that look. Buying those eye color palettes are great if you already have an idea of what you're trying to accomplish. I like the simplicity that keeping an eye look to only 3 or 4 colors gives you. Besides that, I pride myself on being able to do any of the looks I love in less than 10 minutes. Makeup should be low maintenance. I love the way brown eyes can play off most any color. The neutral canvass makes colors pop and stand on their own. Keep your eye on me.

I cover my t-zone, eye area, and nose in foundation. No concealer.

Eye lids are covered in a light champagne matte shadow as a primer.

I've drawn in my brows already here and use a navy blue eye liner on the water line and along the upper lashes. Do not smudge.

I covered the upper lid in Almay's "midnight sky" into the inner corner of each eye.

Added a nude lip. Mac's "Hue"

This is actually before the lip color, but you can see the intensity of the blue best in this shot.

Add a shimmery pink cream blush by NYX called "boho chic"

Black mascara on the upper lashes and slightly on the lower.

Here is all you need