Friday, August 31, 2012

College Colors Day

It's College Colors Day. Go Vols!

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Ashley! She is the winner of the earring giveaway!

Thanks to everyone for following via GFC or liking my Facebook page. I appreciate all of you. If you didn't win, don't fret I'll be hosting another giveaway soon. What would guys like to see me giveaway next time? I love your feedback!

Congrats again, Ashley!

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

When jobs get in the way

Tomorrow doing my job is totally going to get in the way of blogging. I'm attending a Continuing Legal Education presentation at 7am! (No one should even be awake at 7am let alone trying to continue their legal education.) Then, I have another training meeting. After that, I have to get some major work done. Being an adult is so lame.

I'll miss you blog loves! Send some happy thoughts my way. And coffee. Coffee would be greatly appreciated!

PS - don't forget to enter my giveaway. The winner will be announced Friday morning.

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

Or we eat pink lemonade cookies. It just depends on our mood.

 Thanks to Lisa (I told you about her here) for bringing these in today! I'll try to get the recipe and post it later.

UPDATE: Lisa said she used the Pillsbury Pink Lemonade Cookie mix (directions on the box). She also added 2 packets of Crystal Light Lemonade (just the powder) to make them more lemony. Before putting the cookies in the oven to bake, she rolled them in granular sugar then powdered sugar. Enjoy!


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Let's have a giveaway

I saw these earrings and fell in love with them. So, I'm giving them to one of you! Winner will be announced Friday morning. All you have to do is follow me via GFC or like my Facebook page (extra entry if you do both!) and leave me a comment with your email so I can contact you if you win. Happy Tuesday!






Trends

How many trends can I wear at one time? Let's count:

1. Polka dots
2. Mixed prints
3. Colored denim
4. Booties

Who said less is more?

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Monday, August 27, 2012

What did you do this weekend?

I did a little reading this weekend. I mean, I've got to keep my mind sharp.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Do You Barre?

I had a great workout last night. So great it reminded me why I love to workout and inspired this post.

I attend barre classes at Neighborhood Barre here in Knoxville. NB is a boutique barre studio, and it's the best EVER. There is another barre studio in Knoxville, but it doesn't hold a candle to NB. Let me tell you how I met NB.

Last fall, Knoxville was buzzing about the fact that we were getting a barre studio. It was a franchise studio to open in Spring of 2012. Let's call this studio FB. I was fed up with my workout routine and was happy about trying something new. I fully intended on buying a membership to FB when it opened. A couple months later, I saw a Groupon for NB. I immediately purchased it. I guess I thought I wanted to try barre before buying a membership. It didn't matter to me that it was at a different studio.

When I showed up at NB I had no idea my life was about to change. I LOVED IT. I felt like barre was the way my body was meant to be exercised. The instructor was wonderful. She gave excellent cues and encouragement, but what was so great about her was that she didn't accept excuses. She would say things like "your legs are supposed to shake" and "if you're not hurting you're not doing it right." The workouts are high energy and intense. At the same time, you never feel like an idiot if you needed to take a quick break. Trust me, during thighs, you need to take a break. NB combines elements of dance conditioning, pilates, and yoga using small isometric movements to carve the muscles.

This class at NB made me even more excited to join FB when it opened. When it opened, I attended a free class. Well, FB was nothing like NB. NOTHING LIKE IT. It was much slower paced and more yoga based. It was geared more toward finding balance. The instructor kept saying "honor your truth." What does that even mean? It wasn't for me.

I went back to NB and purchased a membership, and I haven't looked back. It just works for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure FB works great for some people. It just wasn't what was best for who I am and what I want. I have no doubt that there are people feel the same way about FB as I do about NB.

So, if you haven't had the opportunity to try a barre based fitness class you should try it. You might even get your own personal love story like NB and me.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

I'm no grammar expert, but...

I've never claimed to be an English teacher. I never will. However, I do try to be as grammatically correct as possible. Apparently, I am part of a select group that feels that way. Facebook has made it abundantly clear that the majority of people either do not care if they use improper grammar or do not know they're using improper grammar. I'm not sure which is worse. I'll admit it; southerners are the worst offenders.

Incorrect use of words bothers me more than anything. I mean, really bothers me. Like, it's a good thing I don't believe in violence bothers me. Below are some of my biggest grammar pet peeves.

"want" being used when "won't" is appropriate or vice versa
Ex) I want be going to the basketball game.
Ex) I won't that new video game. 

"your" being used when "you're" is appropriate or vice versa
Ex) Your the nicest person I know.
Ex) You're new car looks great!

"to" being used when "too" is appropriate or vice versa
Ex) I like that song to.
Ex) I'm going too the park today. 


Dear Facebook (and southern) friends, I implore you, try to remember what you learned in elementary school! You're making the rest of us southerners look like idiots!

Funny Story

While visiting my family a few weeks ago, my 12 year old nephew, Matthew, made a joke at my expense. It's a funny story so I'm sharing with you all. Here goes...

I'm with my family at a restaurant about to eat breakfast. My brother, Joey, tells me Matthew learned I had a blog that week. (I know, I'm shocked he didn't know before. I mean, don't all 12 year old boys read lifestyle blogs?) Matthew starts laughing and proceeds to tell me how he discovered my blog. He says his brother, my 16 year old nephew Gabe, told him. Here's how Matthew and Gabe's conversation went:

Gabe: "Did you know Jessica had a blog?"
Matthew: "No, I didn't know that."
Gabe: "Yeah, it's called The Only Ten I See."
Matthew: "Why? She's not a ten!"

Ouch, that hurts. He certainly did not learn his manners from his Aunt Jessica, but it's still pretty clever for a 12 year old. Feel free to laugh; I did.

Point of clarification about this blog's name: I do not, under any circumstance, think that I am a ten. This blog's name is a cute play on words, and a way for me to share what it's like to be a sweet southern girl from Tennessee. That's it, in case you were confused.

Now, I wonder who won't be getting a Christmas present this year?!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Motivational Monday

Yes friends and neighbors, it is Monday. I'm making a list of 5 things I'm motivated to do this week.

1. Exercise 4x this week. After last week's viral plague, I feel the need to get moving.
2. Spend some QT with my husband. I feel like I haven't seen him in ages.
3. Enjoy a glass of wine. It's been too long.
4. Start doing daily couple's devotional again. We always seem to be too busy, but it's so important to our marriage to seek God together.
5. Be content. I read the below statement last week, and it really got me thinking about how important it is to know we are purposeful beings. God didn't create us by accident; we should learn to be content with who he made us to be.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Liebster Award

The girls at Vanilla and Lime, Sam and Sarah, nominated me for the Liebster Award. I'm so flattered. Here are the rules:

List 11 random facts about yourself
Answer 11 questions from your nominator
Nominate 11 other bloggers for the award
Create 11 questions you want your nominees to answer


11 Random Facts:

1. I have a huge family - 4 parents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 4 neices, and 4 nephews.

2. I love to sleep, which probably explains why my husband and I don't have kids.

3. I'm so excited for fall. Fall clothes are so much cuter than summer clothes.

4. I'm a homebody.

5. I'm recently obsessed with barre method. It's the way I was meant to exercise.

6. I'll eat anything with chocolate or peanut butter.

7. I don't believe people who say they don't like dessert. Everyone likes dessert, no exceptions.
8. I feel closest to God when I'm at the beach.

9. I like for my house to look like no one lives in it. It drives my husband crazy.

10. I can seem unfriendly when you first meet me. It's because I'm shy; it takes me some time to come out of my shell.

11. I have a closet full clothes and never have anything to wear.

11 Questions Sam and Sarah asked:

1. What is clumsiest/silliest thing you've ever done?

I don' t think I can pick just one thing. I'm very clumsy and always running into things. I'm constantly covered in bruises.

2. What's your favorite smell?

My husband's soap. Sometimes I use it just so I can smell like him all day.

3. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla. Everything goes with vanilla.

4. Can you tell us a funny joke?

Two muffins were in an oven. One looks over at the other and says, "Dang, it's hot in here!" The other says, "Oh my god a talking muffin!"

Sorry, it's the best I can do.

5. What's your favorite candle?

Yankee Candle Vanilla and Pumpkin.

6. Chevron or Polka Dot?

This is though. I like chevron better, but I think polka dots have more staying pwer.

7. If you could have a super power what would it be?

The ability to control traffic/drivers.

8. Tea or Coffee?

Tea.

9. What's your guilty pleasure?

Watching trash reality TV. Don't judge me.

10. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

Being a food and wine critic. I love to eat and drink.

11. Where would be your dream vacation destination?

I'd love to go to Bora Bora, but I also really love Aruba. It's my favorite island so far.

11 Nominees for the Leibster Award

Breanna at Blog by Bre
Jessica at A Set of Shafers
Jessica at Jess Cause
Jenn at Party of One
Hope at Confessions of A Southern Belle
Jamie at On The Road Again
Mollie at Faux Fur and Sequins
Jen at WhyyyJen
Ashley at Of Thoughts and Things
Kati at Incorporating Color
Natalie at A Moment of Wonderful

11 Questions for my Nominees:

1. What's your favorite TV show?
2. Do you wear a watch?
3. Whose is your celebrity style icon?
4. What do you think of the colored skinny jeans trend?
5. What's your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night?
6. Where do you love to vacation?
7. White wine or red wine?
8. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
9. Do you have a favorite beauty product? What is it?
10. What's your favorite season, winter, spring, summer, or fall?
11. Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Sick and Tired

Today is day 2 of viral bliss. I'm so over it. I'm ready to join the land of the living. I'm ready to wear real clothes. I'm ready for my face to not feel like it weighs 200 pounds. I want to be able to hear without feeling like I'm under water. By now, you must be ready for me to stop complaining . I'm done; I promise.

Now for your viewing pleasure, this is me laying on the couch feeling sorry for myself. You're probably wondering how I make an upper respiratory virus look so good. What can I say, when you got it, you got it.


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Instagram Blog Hop

I'm stuck at home today with a virus. You know what's fun about that? Nothing. I'm so sick I didn't wear any makeup to the doctor. That's how sick I am. Ok, so not any makeup; I did wear mascara. I don't think I've ever been sick enough to not wear mascara.

To make myself feel a little better, I'm joining the Instagram Blog Hop. Follow me on Instagram @jessicamanninggarner Happy hopping!




Monday, August 13, 2012

Meet Five

So, the question burning on everyone's mind, what is Jessica's 5th highlight of last week. You probably didn't get s wink of sleep this weekend, did you? Are you ready...

It's our new puppy, Five. Yes, that is correct; our new puppy's name is Five. She's a standard goldendoodle. We picked her up Friday evening and are already in love with her. Bourke is still adjusting and prefers for me not to speak about how he feels until he sorts it all out. I've decided to respect his wishes.

Here are a few pictures of Five. I'm sure many more will come.







On a different note, another piece of wall art was hung this weekend. This one is in the half bath downstairs.


Sunday, August 12, 2012

Today's Shoe

Do you have Bergdorf Goodman's Today's Shoe iPhone app? If not, you should. If so, then you know how awesome it is. Here is today's featured shoe. Ain't she a beaut? (Excuse my improper grammar, but I feel it's appropriate here.)

Friday, August 10, 2012

Hair Dos & Husbands

You know what's really funny? Some days, I spend an obscene amount of time trying to make my hair look perfect. I blow dry, curl, tease, and hairspray until my arms are tired. Recently, after spending half an hour to achieve the perfect loose curls, I asked my husband if he liked my hair best that way, because I that's how I prefer my hair. He assured me he liked it, but then said, "I really like it best when you wear it in a ponytail to the side." Uh, WHAT?! I said, "That hairstyle takes about 30 seconds. You're telling me 30 second hair looks better than 30 minute hair?" He shrugged. Men. I've spent the 27 years looking for hair perfection, and it was a side ponytail all along. I laugh to keep from crying.

Yesterday was a don't wash your hair day for me. But really, aren't most days? I gave my hair all of 5 minutes and this is what happened. I'm sure my husband loved it.

After a long day, the hair still looks the same

Loose french braid from right to left
Side bangs
Pulled to the left in a low ponytail
a few hairpins to tame fly aways

High Five for Friday

Hey guys and dolls, it's Friday and I am linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for High Five for Friday. Here's what happened that made me smile. 


1. This is how he sleeps in the car
2. This is what the same sleeping angel did to my parents' kitchen
3. Found this behind the scenes wedding shot on my husband's phone
4. Sonoma Coast - I miss it
5. ??? Come back Monday for details!

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Current Crush Thursday

I'm trying something new and linking up for Current Crush Thursday. Today, I'm crushing on: Polka Dots. Here are my faves...







 Clockwise from top left, click here, here, here, here, here, & here to purchase

 
Current Crush Thursdays


 
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