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Fab Five

Fashion Featured Mama Style

classic & plain style

My husband is very attentive and will blurt out random facts at his discretion. As I was heading to Target one day he asked if I owned clothes that weren’t denim, white, black, gray, striped or plaid.

I hadn’t really ever noticed that I am drawn to said clothing descriptors but I like what I like and while it is very plain in the eyes of some I just like my look to be classic and simple in shape and color.

Ventured out to brunch with my Fab Five blog buddies and got Lashawn to snag a few photos of my outfit of the day in all of its plain glory. Can I mention how much I am loving boyfriend jeans right now. These are in heavy rotation, and I plan to snag a few more pair to distress using this tutorial.

distressed boyfriend jeans

distressed boyfriend jeans

Flats are my shoe of choice these days and most likely will be until I depart this Earth. Heels and I see each other very rarely these days. I remember a day when I would not be seen in flats. Didn’t own a pair or tennis shoes.

distressed boyfriend jeans

In the past I’ve worn accessories sparingly but now I’m dialing it up on the bling factor. Loving on my costume jewelry.

distressed boyfriend jeans

distressed boyfriend jeans

                  Trench: Thrifted | Blouse: Thrifted | Jeans: Thrifted | Shoes: Old Navy | Necklace: Macys | Name Necklace: Pynkluxe | Bracelet: Thrifted | Bag: Wilson’s Leather (on super sale, I’m salty)

What is your signature style?

Featured Food

herb roasted sweet potatoes

I used to reserve sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving only. Yams please. Then I discovered all of the wonderful and tasty things you can do with them other than piling them with butter and sugar. One of my favorite go to side dishes is herb roasted sweet potatoes. The crunchiness and saltiness of the outer skin with the sweetness of the inside is just dam* good.

Cut up sweet potatoes + olive oil + herbs + a good toss + hot oven = good eating

IMG_8510

 

Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Ingredients
  • 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Toss to coat everything evenly. Spread in a single layer on prepared cookie sheet. Place in oven.
  3. Bake at 450 for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.

This is the first Friday of the month so the Fab Five and I are sharing our favorite sweet potato recipes. Be sure to stop by and see what the other ladies have cooking.

MJ | Sweet Potato Grits: Love grits? Love sweet potato? Combine them for this delicious taste of fall and Southern eats. Enjoy with country ham, green onions and a splash of hot sauce.

LaShawn | Baked Sweet Potatoes with Feta and Sundried Tomatoes: For those of us looking for alternatives to the traditional sweet potato this holiday season. This is not your mama’s sweet potato.

Bernetta | Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries: Who said you couldn’t have fries because you are eating healthy now? This version allows you to eat good, get a french fry fix and enjoy all the health benefits that a Sweet Potato brings. You can make these fries sweet or spicy and it will still taste great.

Kita| Sweet Potato Souffle for one: a sweet potato casserole for one.  It is for those who want to hide in their closets and indulge in their very own sweet potato casserole without making any for the rest of the family. It’s the holidays so you can be a little bah humbug and treat yourself.

 

Living

blogging every day in november

November 2010, just three months into building and making this virtual space a home I decided to crack my knuckles, wriggle my typing fingers and stand proudly at the starting line of NaBloPoMo also known as National Blog Posting Month.  For those not familiar, the month of November is a time for bloggers to join in the challenge, make new friends and blog about whatever they want  EVERY.DAY, as in weekends included throughout the month of November. Succeed and you win prizes.

Writing challenges exist throughout the year but only in November are there no prompts to follow. Prompts are there in the event someone wants to use them but generally it is a free for all when it comes to generating content. The goal of this challenge is to really stretch bloggers and writers to make time to put out great content, and push through.  In an effort to be successful at this I have planned nothing but I think I got it this year.

I go through a revolving door of emotions when it comes to blogging. There are times when I miss the uncrowded space that was full of genuine blogging and intent. I also stand behind my bloggers that only put out sponsored content because you know families and homes need money to thrive. Then I feel the need to continue to just be me in this space with minimal sponsored content and fill this space with more of what interests me and stay away from what has become mainstream blogging.

Hopefully over the next month, I’ll find a way to really continue to let this space be what it was intended to be while generating a few coins, making new friends, and forcing myself to pick up my camera and write from the heart about my life over the next month.

Sound easy enough? Is not. I have put my best intentions forward with this every year since 2010 and I think I have completed it just one time or never.

Blogging if done right will build communities. One of my communities, the Fab Top Five has decided we are going to keep each other encouraged, so I will be encouraging you to go take a peek at what they are posting for the month as well!

Kita – Kokoa Mag | Bernetta – Bernetta Style | MJ – Fab Haute Mama | Lashawn – Everyday Eyecandy

Here’s to 2015 and success?I can’t remember which year I finished, or if I ever did but if you want to go take a peek here is Novermber: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

See you tomorrow!

 

 

Featured Living

F I V E Blogging Years + All Good Things Come to an End

On August 10, 2010 I hit publish on my first blog post ever. Never in a million, kabillion and trillion years did I think I would still be here. These five years have passed swiftly and have allowed me to connect with awesome women all over the globe, hone in on skills and passions I didn’t know I had and most importantly document my life in written and visual prose that will always be here when I am old and gray and my children are grown and gone. While there is the caveat of not living in the moment and trying to document everything for blog content there is the upside that you get to live those moments AND capture them for memories.

It is for these memories that I will continue to blog until I no longer have the desire, but Lipgloss and Binky as we know it is coming to an end. I started this blog when I was 31 Adrian was 4 and Addison was 3 months. We are now 36,  9 and 5 respectively. Just as they have grown, I have as well. When I started this blog I was not concerned with anything at all home, organization or cooking related. Five years later I am in a new place and keeping my home is just as high on the priority list as keeping myself fashionable and in the know. I’ve come full circle and I see myself growing into a woman who is more concerned with making sure her husband, children and home are all healthy and happy which in turn results in a happy Mimi.

I’ve said all of that to say, the name of this blog is changing. Addison is no longer needing a binky, after all she did just go to Kindergarten! The new name will encompass home, organization, DIY, fashion, beauty, life….I mean really the content won’t be changing much but it will be better branded and formatted. As I speak with women I realize that we all want organization and peace in our homes so I am looking to not only share my experiences but tips on how to keep things in order while looking fab. From a non cooking, disorganized woman to one who now yearns for order and good cooked meals this change is indicative of where I am in my life.

The blog name will be changing  on Sept. 1.  These next few weeks I will continue to post here with new and improved content. This URL will be redirected, not sure yet if the feed will be seamless so I will be reminding you over the next few weeks to sign up for the newsletter and follow on my SM sites because I would hate to lose some of you in the transition.

I understand everyone won’t make the move with me, but with those that I lose I will gain more. I’m looking forward to what is to come with my new brand and changes. I’ll still be the same Mimi, just a whole lot more focused on  encouraging women to build a well rounded existence that includes taking care of home and themselves.

Some of you have been here since the very beginning, and we’ve grown into friends. I’m looking forward to building more meaningful relationships with some of you through my little home and social media accounts on the web in the years to come. Cheers to F I V E more years…..maybe!