Ebie's Wedding Weekend!

Y'all, my little sis gets married TOMORROW! We could not be more excited for Ebie and Patrick! We kicked things off yesterday with spray tans, a celebratory dinner, and bushwhackers at the Florabama. Manicures and pedicures are on the schedule today before brunch, beach time, the rehearsal, and a shrimp and crawfish boil!

Outfit Details: My Mom: Top | White Jeans Ebie: Top | Shorts Me: Dress

I will be taking next week off from writing blog posts, so that I can enjoy every minute this weekend. You know I will be taking pictures galore! #MOHduties

My one year blogging anniversary is April 17, so I have lots of fun blogging content to share with you the week after next! Make sure you stay tuned because there will be an exciting giveaway coming your way!

I am a creature of habit and love consistency, so I wanted to update you on the changes happening over the next couple of weeks. I'll be sharing some shots from Ebie's special weekend on Instagram if you want to see what's going on! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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Gift Ideas for a 29 Year Old AKA My Birthday Wish List

My birthday is coming up next week, so I thought this would be a great time to share some things that this soon-to-be 29 year old thinks would make great gifts. I don't understand how I could possibly be turning 29, but it's happening. Parker has asked me 4 million times what I want, so I'm making it easy for him. And any of you that are trying to buy logical or frivolous gifts for 29(ish) year olds!

Believe it or not, I seriously struggled when trying to come up with ideas for this post. Parker said if I don't give him any ideas, he will just give me a gift card for a shopping trip at the Shops of Saddle Creek in Memphis. And I think that must have thrown off my brainstorming process because I am 100% ok with that idea! However, I enlisted the help of some of my best friends who are 28 and 29, and they suggested some fabulous ideas that I have included in the list below!

I'm going to break it down into 3 parts. In the first part, I'm sharing an outfit that would be perfect for a birthday girl. In part 2, I'm sharing 10 specific products 29 year old girls would love to receive. In part 3, I'm sharing 10 general ideas that would have to be narrowed down based on the girl receiving the gift. Also, NEVER FORGET the birthday dessert. Parker learned this lesson the hard way. There must be some sort of sweet treat- cupcake, cookie, cake, pie, something!

Part 1: The Outfit

Outfit Details: Top | White Jeans | Wedges | Clutch

Part 2: 10 Shoppable Gift Ideas

Glamour Wash Diva- the BEST smelling laundry detergent

Neulash- lash enhancing serum (haven't tried this product but have heard amazing reviews)

Tarte Concealer- to brighten up our under eye area

Lisi Lerch Earrings- the most adorable statement earrings

Nude Block Heels- a comfy shoe to wear to all the weddings and showers (my mom actually got these for me, and I'll be wearing them this weekend!)

Ugg Slippers- because the pair we've had for years is getting reallllly worn out

Pajamas- my favorites are by PJ Harlow, but I had a friend say she adores her Lake Pajamas 

Zella Leggings- because we need more than one pair of the most comfortable leggings :)

Anything from the Anthropologie Home Collection at Nordstrom

New Comforter- it's about time to replace the one we've had for years

Part 3: 10 General Ideas

A Nice Camera

Experiential Gifts- like tickets to a fun show, event, or concert

Art- I know a great place where you can find this :)

A Trip- tropical for me please

A Nice Piece of Jewelry

Furniture- I'm on the lookout for new bedside tables

Home Decor- a new mirror is on my list

A Piece of Silver or Fine China- to finish off any incomplete sets

Skin Care Gift Certificates- for things like facials, dermaplaning, serums, and lotions

Basically Any Gift Card- my picks would be Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Target, Chickfila

I feel like I need to add so many more ideas to this list! If you have any gift ideas, please let me know! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

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Side Hustle Feature

One of my best friends in elementary school created a positive online platform recently that I am so excited to share with you today! The title of my post is ambiguous because Virginia was thoughtful enough to feature me, and I am more than happy to feature her new site right back!

Virginia created Side Hustle (https://keepyosidehustle.com) to celebrate and encourage women and all of our passions that we devote our time and creative energy towards. How amazing is this? Some of the women featured on her site are photographers, jewelry designers, bloggers, artists, mamas, writers, nutrition specialists, etc. If you have a side hustle and want to be featured, click here to share your passion.

The questions she asked really made me think. A few of them include: What is your dream for your side hustle? Do you have any advice for others working on a side hustle? Have you received recognition for your work? What are the rewards and challenges of your side hustle? You can click here to see my answers. 

 Virginia's hope is that "Side Hustle will continually be the embodiment of the foundation on which it was built: women pursuing their passions and lifting each other up in the process." I could not be more thrilled to be a part of Virginia's new site. Be sure to check it out if you want to be inspired or share your side hustle! There are several familiar faces over there that I surely enjoyed reading about!

Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day! And thanks again to Virginia for thinking to feature Art Fashion Fun on such an amazing platform!

Easter Essentials

Can you believe Easter is this coming weekend?! Lots of people say Christmas is their favorite holiday, but Easter is my favorite. In addition to it being the holiest day of the year in the Christian faith, it involves precious time with family, beautiful pastel colors, Reese’s eggs, pretty dresses, spring weather, Lilly Pulitzer, and Easter basket fun! 

I have been traveling so much lately that I am very excited about spending Easter weekend in Southaven with Parker, Bailey, and Rosie. Parker and I love planning out our holidays, so today I’m sharing some Easter essentials with you that will be included in our Easter celebration! 

-A delicious Easter breakfast and coffee

-A dress for church

Option 1- Colorful Dress

Option 2- Blue & White Striped Dress

-A comfy dress to change into after church 

Embroidered Shift Dress

-Mimosas in Lilly Pulitzer glasses

-Reese’s eggs and Easter candy (kept to a minimum- Ebie’s wedding is the weekend after Easter!)

-Family walk

-Put away your cell phone time (Parker's favorite)

-Easter basket fun (my favorite!)! 

I saved the best for last! Yes, I’m 28 and still do Easter baskets. Why quit such a cute and fun tradition?! Blue Door NoCo, the adorable gift shop I worked with for Valentine’s Day (see blog post here), sent me the cutest and most unique Easter goodies. AND they gave me another discount code and free shipping code to give you! Use code HALEY10 for 10% off and code FREE for free shipping! Their shipping is amazing. I got my package in less than 48 hours!

The items linked below will be an adorable addition to any Easter basket! Click the words in Italics to be taken directly to the site. And don't forget to type in the discount codes at checkout!

-Card Holder (only $10 and looks so similar to a designer one I have, comes in 7 colors)

-Lilly Pulitzer Glass Set (so perfect for spring!)

-Hand Painted Bath Bomb (made with coconut oil and essential oils- this made my entire package smell AMAZING!)

-Sugarfina Candy, Pink Bunny Tails- (wins the award for cutest packaging- there are pom pom tails on the back of the boxes!)

-Easter Cookies (the perfect $2 Easter basket stuffer)

Do you still do Easter baskets? I don't think I will ever outgrow them! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

All You Need to Know About a Honeymoon Shower

A few years ago, my friend Caroline introduced me to the idea of a Honeymoon Shower. She was the first person I've ever known to have one of these parties, and I LOVED the idea! I copied Caroline and also had a Honeymoon Shower before Parker and I got married. We had Ebie's Bachelorette Party last weekend in Nashville, and we decided to do the same thing for her!

If you're curious about what a honeymoon shower is, I'll fill you in! It is a party where a bride-to-be is showered with gifts that she can use on her honeymoon (and well after)! This party can be given in place of a lingerie shower during the bachelorette party.

The fun part was that Ebie had no idea what any of our plans were for the weekend. Her flight got in Saturday morning, so we kicked off her festivities with a Brunch & Honeymoon Shower at her friend Natalie's house!

Before Ebie got there, we set up the decorations and got the food and drinks ready. We had a mimosa and bloody mary bar, but I only have pictures from before it was actually set up (whoops). 

Natalie also added some nice touches, like place cards, her fine china, flowers, and cute napkins!

Another friend thought to decorate Ebie's chair. So cute and fun!

Another friend brought a veil and sash to make the bride feel extra special!

Of course the fun part was showering Ebie with gifts that she can use on her honeymoon!

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of all of Ebie's gifts after she opened them. However, I have some of them at my house right now, so keep scrolling to see a picture!

Ebie's friends also made it more fun by adding in a couple of games after she opened her gifts!

Maid of Honor duties include taking lots of pictures for the scrapbook! But getting one with the bride was also a requirement!

Outfit Details- Our White Jeans // My Top

One of Ebie's friends texted me asking about gift ideas for the honeymoon shower. I clearly forgot to explain that when planning this party, so today I'm making sure to include this info for you! Check out the picture below to see some of her gifts, and the links will be underneath the picture!

Ebie's going to Antigua for her honeymoon, so we wanted to shower her with gifts she could use while there. However, the best part about the gifts given at a honeymoon shower is that they can be used for years and years to come! Some things Ebie received include:

• Monogrammed Beach Towel
• Oversized Tote Bag
• Pompom Hat
• Marley Lilly Monogrammed Poncho
• J.Crew Factory Coverup
• Pool Float
• Tassel Clutch/ Makeup Bag
• Bright Earrings
• Turkish Towel
• Not pictured:
• Beaded Drop Earrings
• PJ Harlow Robe
• Romper

I had to include this little blooper. :) Flat lays aren't the easiest shots to take in this house. Bailey and Rosie love Ebie's gifts!

If you have any questions, let me know! We had the best time celebrating Ebie, and I think any bride would love a shower like this! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

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How to Throw a Sweet Shower

Several of my aunts threw Ebie the nicest bridal shower last week. So today, I'm excited to share some pictures, as well as what I learned about planning a shower. My aunt Peggy does not take party planning lightly. She paid attention to every last detail and worked with my other aunts and mom to create such a special event for Ebie!

How to Throw a Sweet Shower

1. Find a pretty invitation that goes with the color scheme of the bride's wedding.

2. Order cute cups and napkins that continue the theme.

3. Prepare decorations by cutting cute flowers and greenery from your generous friends’ houses (saves money!).

4. Order a pretty cake. Ebie’s was the Tie the Knot cake from Publix and SO delicious!

5. Select your caterer. Ebie loves Mexican, so Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was what we had! 

6. Now the important part- drinks. :) Ebie's shower had margaritas and Coronas to continue the Mexican aspect, but wine was also offered. As well as water and tea.

7. Designate a person who will be the photographer for the night. That was me! 

8. Decide a way that the gifts will be opened. Ebie doesn’t like to be the center of attention, so she chose for everybody to open a gift and share what it was with the group. This is a time saver too. 

9. Don’t forget your music!

10. Clean up is an important step. Ebie had the best hostesses who all pitched in to make sure our house was all cleaned up before they left!

More Photos from Ebie's Bridal Shower + Outfit Details

Outfit Details

My mom got her dress during the Lilly Pulitzer sale in January. You can click here to be taken to the color that is available now. I also purchased it during the Lilly sale, so you will see it on me soon! :) 

Ebie's wearing a dress by Camilyn Beth. I bought it when I was working at a boutique when Parker and I were living in Arkansas. This exact style is no longer available. However, Camilyn Beth makes beautiful dresses. You can click here to check them out. 

Like my mom, I also got my dress during the Lilly Pulitzer sale in January. It is no longer available either. However, you can click here to check out other special occasion dresses by Lilly!

If you have any other tips, please let me know! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

My First Experience with Self Tanner

I honestly cannot believe that I am writing a blog post about this. I was always the girl in the Tridelt house saying ew gross, I will never use that. The smell of the Jergens tanning lotion has been what I've associated sunless tanner with for years. If you've ever gotten a whiff of it, then you know it is NOT a pleasant smell.

However, after learning how much damage the sun does to our skin and doing a good bit of research on self tanners, I have found one that I can stand behind. And if you follow many fashion bloggers, you will not be surprised by what I am sharing today. A great majority of bloggers who use sunless tanner use St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse. 

I actually purchased this product in October, but I was too nervous to try it until I bought a skirt and an off the shoulder top in December. My skin is naturally very fair, so goodness knows that I get extremely pale in the winter. I feel better in my clothes when my skin has some color, so this new outfit motivated me to try self tanner for the first time ever!

Before I Applied Sunless Tanner:

• I read every word on the bottle and spent hours reading reviews online. I also stumbled upon this video and watched it several times to make sure I knew the right way to apply it.
• I learned that I needed to shave my legs and exfoliate the day before applying.
• I also put on lotion after shaving and exfoliating.
• I'm using the pictures below as my before pictures because it was the metallic skirt and off the shoulder top that inspired me to try self tanner!

Turtleneck // Metallic Skirt (currently $27.49!)

Ruffle Top (currently $13.99!) // Peplum Velvet Skirt (currently $18.99!)

While Applying Sunless Tanner:

• I used this mitt, so that I wouldn't get streaky orange hands AKA one of my biggest fears (because I could hide a lot of my body since it's winter, but hands aren't as easy to hide).
• I pumped the self tanner onto the mitt and applied it using upward circular motions.
• I read that you don't need a new pump of self tanner when applying to hands and feet, so I just used the excess tanner on the mitt for those two areas (after I had used the majority of it on my legs and arms).
• I struggled to reach my back and prepared myself to have a super splotchy back.

After Applying Sunless Tanner

• The directions said to wait until touch dry before getting dressed. This stuff dries immediately, so I did not have to wait long at all.
• I put on loose fitting clothing.
• The bottle says that there is no self tan smell, but I have a strong sense of smell and was able to smell it.
• I was supposed to wait 4-8 hours before getting wet. I took the picture below after having the tanner on for 4 hours and thought I was looking pretty dark, so I decided to hop in the shower right after snapping this pic.

• Once I got out of the shower, my tan (thankfully) did not look as dark.
• Lots of things I read stressed the importance of moisturizing every day to prolong the tan.
• I moisturized every day, and I'd say my tan lasted about a week. It never got streaky or weird looking. It just disappeared naturally. I'd call that a win!
• The picture below shows what my tan looked like after 2 days (when I could get Parker to take a picture for me :) ).

My Final Thoughts

I really like this stuff! I would never use it without a mitt because I think it would leave my hands streaky. However, the mitt kept my hands protected and allowed me to apply the tanner very evenly!

I don't know how it's even possible because I know I was unable to reach all of my back, but my back was not splotchy. Everything looked evenly applied! Also, I did not use it on my face. I would use this tanning product that is actually made for the face, if I were to put self tanner on my face.

The only negative I can think of is the smell. It was nowhere near as bad as the Jergens smell, but I could still smell a slight self tan smell (even after my shower).

Oh wait, one more negative is the price. It is not cheap, but it is a lot cheaper than going to get spray tans. After 2 uses, I still have about 80% of my bottle left. So I believe it will last a while.

I actually used it again yesterday (for the second time) to make sure none of my thoughts changed before publishing this post this morning. :) None of my opinions changed. I do think it gets easier with time though. The first time I used it, I was so nervous that it took me 25-30 minutes to apply. It took me less than 10 minutes yesterday. 

My skirt and ruffle top are SO affordable right now! They are on sale plus an additional 50% off with code SAVENOW. I've never seen an article of clothing for under $15 at J.Crew! Amazing!

Anyway, I can officially say I am a fan of St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse! Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

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Snow Day Essentials

Having lived in the south my whole life, I am clearly no expert on hardcore snow gear. What I'm sharing today is just a fun list of things we have used during the past few snow days we've had this week. And for the record, multiple snow days in one week is way more snow days than we are supposed to get in Mississippi (in my opinion). Our pups would agree with me. They are very confused by the snow and are not fans of it touching their paws.

Snow Day Essentials

*Hunter Boots

or...

*Duck Boots

*Uggs 

*Go Pup Socks (Parker ordered these for me for Christmas- they have Rosie's head on them!)

*A Warm Winter Coat- Splurge, also here

*A Warm Winter Coat- Save (mine is from Old Navy, but no longer available, so I linked a similar one at Forever 21 and Kohl's)

*The North Face Gloves

*This Thermal with Thumbholes

*Zella Live In High Waist Leggings (worn in all of these pics because I am obsessed)

*All the Cozy Blankets and Pillows

*Your To Do List (so you can knock out tasks you've been putting off forever)

*Fingernail Polish (to redo your mani while you have time to let them dry)

*Lots of Coffee

*A Curling Iron (so you can try to teach yourself how to curl your hair, if you haven't already mastered this skill)

*Cozy Pjs

*Snacks

*Wine

*A Book and/or Magazines

*Your Favorite TV Shows Recorded 

*Puzzles/ Board Games

*Two Cuddly Snow Bunnies

What am I missing?! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

SHOP SNOW DAY ESSENTIALS:

A Few of My Favorite Things

I updated a tab on my blog last weekend that is all about my favorite things. The pages with my favorite places to shop, favorite dresses, favorite pants, and favorites shoes are all up to date! The pages for my favorite sweaters and tops will be updated today! So, in the spirit of sharing my favorite things, I decided to create a whole blog post with 50 of my favorite things (fashion and nonfashion related)!

Plus, I find it entertaining to read other people's favorite things when they participate in this kind of activity on Facebook. :) Feel free to comment some of your favorite things! When you see words in Italics below, you can click on them to be taken straight to the website.

My Favorite Things

Color- Turquoise

Season- Spring

Blanket- Bliss Plush Throw (on sale!)

Pajamas- PJ Harlow

Food- Seafood

Restaurant- Tazikis

Fast Food- Chick-Fil-A

Fruit- Pineapple

Vegetable- Green beans

Drink- Peach Propel and Chick-Fil-A Diet Lemonade

Cup- Yeti Tumbler

Black Leggings- Zella

Faux Leather Leggings- Spanx

Jeans- Old Navy Rockstar Jeggings and Jeans

Coat- J.Crew Factory City Coat

Clothing Detail- Ruffles

Bathing Suit- Tankini (just ordered this one)

Brand of Sweaters- Free People

Place to Shop- Nordstrom & Anthropologie 

Place to Visit- The Beach

Necklace- Roberto Coin Baby Cross Necklace

Earrings- Hoops

Bracelet- David Yurman Cable Classic

Handbags- GiGi New York and Tory Burch

Fingernail Polish- Essie Gel Nail Polish with Essie Gel Top Coat

Hair Brush- Wet Brush

Dry Shampoo- Batiste

Lotion- Nivea

Face Wash- Garnier Fructis

Chapstick- Blistex Lip Medex

Lipstick- Chanel Ultra Wear Lip Color

Eye Shadow- Urban Decay Naked 2

Foundation- Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup

Laundry Detergent- Glamorous Wash in Diva

Sunless Tanner- St. Tropez (blog post coming soon!)

Job- Reading Interventionist at St. Joseph Catholic School and Blogger at Art Fashion Fun :)

Devotional- Jesus Calling

Holiday- Easter

Leather Boots- Sam Edelman (I have black and brown!)

Suede Boots- Jack Rogers (on sale!)

Uggs- Classic II Tall Boot

Social Media Platform- Instagram

Day of the Week- Saturday

Month- April

Movie- tie between The Holiday, Legally Blonde, and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days

Celebrity- Reese Witherspoon

Female Singer- Carrie Underwood

Male Singer- Blake Shelton

Sport- Tennis

Dog- Mini Australian Shepherd and Cockerspaniel mix :)

I'd love to hear some of your favorite things! Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!

SHOP MY FAVORITES:

Life Lately

Life has been so go-go-go lately that I felt the need to slow down this week. I mean, I just got around to taking our Christmas decorations down on Sunday (insert embarrassed emoji). I planned on taking the first week of January off from the blog, but then the Lilly sale happened and I obviously couldn't miss out on that fun. I'm sorry for the lack of posts! I'm hoping to return to a more consistent schedule next week.

 Today, I'm sharing a post about all of the things that have been happening lately! Parker and I had the best week and a half at home with our families for Christmas, and I like to have these pictures all in one place for the memories. :) Warning- this post is long and photo heavy.

Mobile for Christmas

Parker and I got to Mobile on December 20th. The day after we got home, we went to get my Christmas present from my parents and Parker- my new phone! I have had so much fun taking pictures with it. Portrait mode is the coolest!

One day, we met my dad downtown and went on a duck boat tour! I honestly did not know what to expect. The duck boat pictured below took us around downtown Mobile by road and water, and we had the best time! Our tour guide was fabulous. He was super entertaining and taught all of us things about Mobile that we did not already know.

Another night, we met up with a couple of my besties at Moe's. It had been way too long since I'd seen these girls. I cannot even wait much longer for all of Kelly's wedding festivities to begin next month... so much BFF time coming soon!

Rosie turned 4 on Christmas Eve! I truly cannot believe it. Her personality brings us so much joy and keeps us laughing. The vet told us she'll grow out of the puppy phase around age 7, so we still get to enjoy puppy Rose for a few more years. :)

She loved her birthday bone from Dog Days Barkery in Mobile. We also grabbed some stocking stuffers for both girls while we were there. This place is highly recommended by Bailey and Rosie! And Parker and I liked it too. The people were so friendly and helpful.

Parker and I try to get a Christmas picture each year of the 4 of us. We took the picture below before Christmas Eve church.

I never shared these ribbon wrapped hoop earrings before Christmas because they sold out so fast. They are now back in stock in pink and red, and they would be the cutest addition to any Valentine's Day outfit! It's kinda hard to see, but I wore the red pair with my Christmas Eve outfit!

My Aunt Robin outdoes herself for Christmas every single year! This year she had a gingerbread theme, and as you will see below- a real life gingerbread man came over to visit!

We had the most delicious breakfast on Christmas morning. The cinnamon roll casserole was my favorite, and the mimosas were fun too!

I did not take nearly enough pictures on Christmas day. We got to see my dad’s family, but I don’t have any pictures to document it. The photo below is the only one I have that we are actually in on Christmas day. We love our J.Crew Factory city coats!

Dothan: December 26- December 31

We left my family the day after Christmas and went to Dothan to visit Parker's family! We trade every year. Next year we will be with Parker's family in Dothan on Christmas day.

The day we got to Dothan, Parker's sister had us all over to her house for a delicious dinner. And then we opened our gifts. Fun fact- The first year I went to visit Parker's family right after Christmas, they made me sit in the middle of the room and wear reindeer antlers while I opened my stack of presents and everyone watched. Unfortunately, they couldn't find those antlers this year. :) Like I said, we'll be in Dothan for Christmas next year, so we will all open our gifts together then! 

Going to Hunts is something we look forward to every Christmas! We love their oysters.

We also loved getting to catch up with Parker's friends! We had so much fun getting dinner and drinks with Tiffany and Floyd!

On our second to last day in town, I had a fun day with my nieces. We went to lunch, took blog photos, and went shopping. It was actually the most fun I have ever had taking blog photos. They helped me try out some new poses, and then I got some pictures with each of them. We should have brought Parker along... they could have taught him how much fun taking pictures actually can be!

Parker's sweet sister Allyson gave me this Lilly Pulitzer poncho because it was a little long on her. Such a sweet gift right before the huge Lilly sale!

We got back to Southaven on New Year's Eve! We had the best time with our families, but it's always nice to get back into a routine. However, blog duties hit fast! With the Lilly sale and my Neutrogena collaboration, I felt like I was constantly playing a game of catch up.

So, I gave myself some days off of blog posts this week. We finally took the Christmas decorations down, cleaned the house, transferred our calendars, and I am just now starting to feel caught up. Whew! Busy start to the New Year, and I'm excited for all of the fun things in store for 2018!

Thanks so much for reading! Have a great day!