There is a baby in the sink and paint on my hands.



You never really know where I am going to end up on a given weekend. One weekend I could be in Chicago, the next I could be cheering on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater or taking in a concert at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa.

You just never know where I might end up.

This weekend I spent the weekend at my aunt and uncle's lake house on Tenkiller Lake in northeast Oklahoma near Tahlequah. It is a little gem. Many members of my family enjoyed the weekend. The cooler weather and much needed rain didn't damper our moods.

Here are a few pictures of the weekend.

<<<<<<<< What is a weekend without a drive with the windows down

and craft paint on your hands?

>>>>>>>>>>

 Driving with the windows down on a cool evening, Red Dirt on the radio and hair flying all around is possibly one of my favorite things in this world. Driving down Indian Road this weekend was just what I needed to escape from the clutter of the week.

 <<<<<<< This is Miss Teagan Tate Jaymes Adams. I just so happened to snap this while she was given a bath by her grandmother "Silly." (my Aunt Shelley)

Teagan is one of the sweetest babies I have ever been around. She is a snuggle bug and makes my heart melt. She will be turning one-year-old in September.

 I still wonder how that is even possible?

 Her older sister, Lakyn, is the biggest priss on the planet and I LOVE IT! Their mother, Jade, swears she is having my children. I would happily take either on or both of them:)

    

<<<<< This is my uniform on the weekends. Nike shorts, pocket tee, Polo hat and sandles. I try to not have to wear make-up on the weekends. Give the ol'face a breather. This is at a resort not far from the lake house called Fin & Feather. The resturant there is called Soda Steve's.

Monday, August 20>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Back in the office. Wonderful weekend and the few coming weekends will be just as fabulous. Cooler weather is in the air, pistols will soon be firing in Stillwater and weekends at the lake house will consist of camp fires, family and smores.

Blow. Shit. Up. and men's cut polos

August 17, 2012

Let me catch you up on a few little details regarding my life and where I grew up.

I am the younger of my parent's two children and they had me in case my older brother, Brian, needed a kidney. True story. My brother is brilliant, my dad is an asshole and my mother worries enough for the whole family. I went to school in a town called Talihina, OK. It is famous for.... I will get back to you on that, but the band, Kings of Leon, frequent this little gem and have a song and documentary titled "Talihina Sky." Yes, that is where I live.

Now, I may have gone to school and lived in Talihina, but my home is Red Oak. Red Oak is 16 miles north of Talihina. I can't begin to express my love for this town. The cell service is terrible. There isn't a store with the exception of the EZ-Mart and the Rock Store (has the coldest pop in town) and the town police officer is referred to as "Bob Law." You can park in the middle of the road and drive 4-wheelers, Rangers, and golf carts down Main Street without fear of a ticket. The graduating class is never more than 20 students and everyone goes to the home basketball games.
To me, it is a mix of Mayberry and Stars Hallow.
I love it.

You may be asking, "Why in the hell is she telling me this?" I am telling you this because of what I did last night in Red Oak.

After I got off of work I went to work out and tan. I picked up the AWESOME metal letters (yesterday's blog) and headed to RO to deliver one of the Ks to my cousin Dru. She lives on our family farm in the community of Boggy and was in town with her children for a "play date." I pick up my Aunt Jodie (future blog subject) and we go to see Dru. Upon our arrival, we see a pack of children running around the yard. Some without shoes, others without shirts and my dear, sweet little girly girl cousin, Quincee, wearing her brother's pajamas because they have sharks (it is shark week you know).

My aunt and I get out of my car and Dru says, "Watch this!" and we turn around to see a pop bottle fly through the air and explode. At this point I think, "They are high on bath salts." Dru proceeds to tell me her friend and her friend's ex-husband (small town, right) are putting the cleaning solution "The Works" and tin foil in a plastic bottle and shaking it until a reaction starts to happen and then BOOM! Shit goes flying everywhere and the kids running around cheering. What else are we supposed to do on a Thursday night? Blow. Shit. Up.

Bob Law attempts to come check on what all the ruckus is, but realizes Jodie is standing in the road with all the commotion (she is the self-appointed mayor of Red Oak) and proceeds to turn around. A few more bottles are blown up and then a paintball gun is brought into the picture and I decide it is time to leave.

The joys of living in a small town.

Note on my outfit for the day. I work at a small two-year community college and on Friday of each week the employees can either wear regular office attire or jeans and a polo (It is a fucking men's cut polo. Not happy.). Today, I decided to go this route with wearing jeans and Sperrys. I had to do a lot of running around and organizing.



I will be blogging throughout the weekend at our families lake house.
I will try to introduce my family through the rediculous events and comments.

Trendy Tools and Metal Letters

August 16, 2012

Gets retweeted and favorited by @trendyproblems. Makes life complete.

"I just turned a bobbypin into a flathead screwdriver. #trendytools @trendyproblems"

Today, has been a good day.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Earlier this week I stopped in a store to tan and noticed they turned half of it into a consignment shop

(We are talking small town 'Merica) and I found these

AWESOME metal letters!

Remember my rule in life,

 "When in doubt....BUY IT!"

So today, I bought the two "K"s and

1 "S" for members of my family.

My morning cluster.

I am not a morning person. Actually, I will go as far to say that I am a fucking bear in the morning. You don’t want to be the person that has to wake me up… ever. This morning was not like any other.  This is how it played out.

Wake up at 4am to what might be someone pounding of the window.

Think about it for 6.3 seconds and think, “maybe it was dad falling down the stairs.”

Tries to go back to sleep. Blanket has fallen off bed and I rummage through the dark trying to feel for it. It is too cold to abandon ship.

 Finds blanket.

5am. Hears dad’s alarm go off. He doesn’t turn it off. Thinks about causing harm to him but that just gets messy.

Pulls blanket over head for last few moments of sleep.

Mom’s alarm goes off at 5:45am. Fuck. I have to get up in 20 minutes.

6:05am. Throws phone across room because I hate it.

6:15am. Gets into shower. I hate washing my hair.

6:30am. So fresh and clean but eyes are still shut from sleep deprivation.

6:35am. Starts the process of blow drying hair. I hate this more than washing my hair.

6:50am. Makeup. Hair.

7:10am. Finding something to wear. GD. Need to leave at 7:15am to be at work on time.

7:28am. Leaves house 35 miles from work.

Since I am posting this I made it to work and even ironed my clothes. SUCCESS!

As you can read, I really need to move out of my parent’s house. Nothing more needs to be said about that.

So the outfit today was thrown together and yes, I do mix black and brown as well as metallics.

August 15, 2012

Question: Why in the hell did I wash and blow dry my hair if it just went in a messy bun?
Answer: Bangs.

Revamp thanks to @cool_sharry

Well, my darlings, I am back.

This blog, “When in doubt, buy it” isn’t going to be about my former shenanigans. Trust me, I had a great time living out the Samantha Jones life, but even Samantha Jones settled down for a little while with Smith. Do not fear. There will be plenty of shenanigans and vulgar language. A woman in her mid-20s always has room for a few drunken nights on the town. Oh, fuck. I just re-read that I am in my mid-20s. (The only good thing about being in your mid-20s is being able to rent a convertible.)

 The sad fact is that being a 26-year-old woman, not married, and not having any children makes me a supernatural creature in this area of the world… or maybe it is because I only drink filtered water? Either way, I am a 100% OK with not being a mother or ex-wife. I am able to save money or spend it on ridiculous shoes or go at my leisure of the weekends. It is a glorious life and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon.

Now, the blog I have ignored for far too long. My dear friend and BIG sister, Sharry Mouss @cool_sharry tweeted me yesterday about starting a daily outfit blog. After thinking about it for 2.9 seconds, I agreed. So, I bought a full length mirror for my office and will take a daily picture of what I throw on my body daily. I am a very emotional dresser. This will become obvious quickly. I dress depending on my mood. “Fashion Over Function” molds my every day.

I will also admit I am a very savvy shopper. Ross Dress for Less, Marshall’s, and T.J. Maxx are my go to stores for fashionable and affordable items (as well as any sale rack). The only exceptions are ToyWatch, Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade bags, and Tiffany’s.

I am excited to share my world through what I wear.

 I will also post pictures of fun fashion finds or what inspires an outfit or style. I do a lot of traveling and can come across the sweetest items.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

"Did you just get off a boat?" No, but I do enjoy wearing seersucker during the last few weeks of summer. I have had more complements on the blouse today. I think I bought it 5 years ago.

A Letter to Lola...

Ahem (as she clears her throat)

My Dearest Lola,
In a few short days I will be packing my bags with my sexiest high heels and my iPhone charger for a little adventure. I will be driven (I don't drive) to the airport and go through security (thanks a lot Bin Laden). The plane will most likely have a screaming child sitti...ng behind me kicking my seat for the 70-minute flight (thank god for Bloody Mary's). During these 70 minutes of hell, I will read, "If the Buddha Dated" trying to figure out my romance less life. After Buddha gives up on me, I will then turn my attention to Jane Austin. That girl got it right. By the time I crack the spine I will be descending into the St. Louis area. It is at this point I will start wondering if my luggage with the jewelry you will try to steal made it on the plane...
After removing those tragic thoughts of lost luggage and stolen jewelry I will prepare myself for what could be (and will be) an epic weekend visit with you. Karaoke is a must. I will land the plane (this is only if the pilot is a complete dumbass) and taxi to the terminal. Without a rush to get off the oxygen recircul...ated cabin (these people tend to piss me off), I will make my way to the baggage claim. This is where you come into play. You might be late (you will buy drinks if this happens) to greet me at the airport (gosh damn jobs). When we see each other there will be a scene. There is no way of getting around this and if Ryan is with you, he will most likely ask to wait in the car. From this moment on, it is Lola and Chanel. Interpretive dancing and spontaneous singing will be unavoidable. Please prepare for this visit accordingly and I will look for a corn sack.

All my love,
Chanel

Catch Up, Not Ketchup

I hate ketchup and playing catch up. Ugh... Ketchup is made from rotten tomatoes and catch up is because I procrastinate more than anyone I know. Tragic flaw 89. However, it is during these times of procrastination I have the experiences that make up this beautiful mess of a life. For example, sitting in class on Monday evenings I Facebook, Google, shop, IMDB, and read news while I should be listening to lecture. I do pay attention to some things the professor is lecturing over, but there is only so much I can learn about Tulsa Community College (TCC). Let me rant for a moment about this class.
I am a working on a master's in Higher Education Administration. I would like to learn and discuss different types of institutions of higher education while I continue the program; however, my professor does not see it that way. We only talk about TCC... I can tell you about the school's security, organizational structure, building plans, and so on... It is horrible. My classmates and I keep a running tally of how many times Tulsa Community College or TCC is mentioned in lecture. Ugh... I hate it.
Back to catch up...
During my procrastination and Web surfing I do Google articles and news related to higher education that has nothing to do with TCC. Tragic flaw 371, I only like to learn about things that can hold my interest more that 15 minutes.
This question is played out in my head everyday, "Why am I getting this degree?" Yes, having a master's will most likely advance myself in any career, but I don't even think I want to use this degree. A florist with a master's in Higher Education Administration... magical.
Procrastinating is just more fun and interesting than studying. I would rather be outside, reading, painting, riding my bicycle, going to movies, watching baseball games, going on little road trips, and this list can go on and on. School just seems to get in the way of me having the life I truly want...
Well, I better get back to work. I am in the middle of an interesting chat with my friend on Facebook...