Daylights Savings Rewind: Top 10 Clothing Items Every Woman Should Have

SO, I woke up this morning and remembered it was Daylight Savings today. While in the Fall I quite like the change, however losing an hour in the Spring always makes me sad. So for my post today I found the post I did exactly one year ago today and decided to revisit it! Now when I posted this list a year ago I did not own a single item on this list, I'm happy to say that today I own 5!
That's progress people :)

I was recently inspired by a post of A Few of My Favorite Things called Frugal & Fabulous. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my sad wardrobe and I wanted to add some class to it. So I thought to myself, 'Self, who will have the answer?' And the answer was quite simple. Oprah.

I grew up in northern Texas, and I'll tell you one thing about Texas people. They love their Oprah. So naturally I gained a great appreciation for the woman, and I loved what she came up with. So here it is:

10 Items Every Woman Should Have

1. Crisp White ShirtThe perfect white shirt can take you anywhere. Try Brooks Brothers no-iron cotton shirt (BrooksBrothers.com ).

2. Black Pencil Skirt
2.This figure-flattering skirt can be paired with countless items in your closet to create an instantly polished look.

You know I love me a pencil skirt!

3. Lightweight Cashmere CardiganGet them in both long and short cuts, and they'll carry you through the seasons. Kelly is a fan of the cardigans by Vince (Vince.com), J.Crew (JCrew.com) and Club Monaco (ClubMonaco.com ).

I LOVE throwing on a cardigan, I always feel classier with one on.

4. Dark Wash Jeans

Find a pair that fits you great, and you'll be able to dress them up or down. Just avoid distressed washes with whiskers!

5. Slim Black Pants
Like the pencil skirt, a pair of well-fitting black pants instantly creates a polished look.

6. Little Black Dress

Change up your go-to black dress with fun accessories, and you'll never be bored.

7. Comfortable, Stylish Flats

Step away from the clunky gym sneakers! Stylish flats are worth the splurge if you wear them every day..

I had to stop wearing heels all the time now that I've got a kid on each hip!

8. Cute PajamasIt's easy to get into the habit of wearing old, oversize T-shirts to bed, but this is one of the simplest changes you can make. She loves the pajama sets at Target (Target.com ).

Yeah......I usually wear old sweats.

9. The Right UndergarmentsWell-fitting, figure-flattering undergarments are the foundation of every outfit. What did we do before Spanx?

Anything to help hide my love handles is ok by me!

10. Khaki PantsKhakis are great multiseason staples that are affordable and easy to update. If you don't have a great pair in your closet yet, Kelly suggests Gap (Gap.com ).

11. Khaki Trench Coat

Ok, so I know Oprah on had 10 items on her list, but through my research this kept popping up and I loved it so much I had to throw it in!Now let me let you in on my shameful secret. I don't own a single one of these items. Pathetic, I know, but hopefully now that I have a list that will change. Although my wallet is a tiny bit smaller than Oprah's, so I will have to keep my eye's open at my regular shopping spots. i.e. Ross, Target, D.I., and outlet stores. But I'm determined to add some class to my rhinestone & polyester wardrobe! (ok, maybe that's not ALL that's in there)

So how many of these items do you own?

To Vote, Or Not To Vote? 10 Reasons Why You Should

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So I don't think that there is any denying that it's an election year, and this presents us with the chance to something special. We get to vote. We get the chance to take a hand in choosing our nations leaders. One of my favorite teachers from high school, Ms. Barton, told me once that if you choose not to vote then you have no business complaining. I've never forgotten that.

Did you know that only 57% of voting aged people voted in the 2008 elections? That's almost half of our population that lett their chance to speak up pass them by! Can you imagine the difference that could be made if the people who are too busy or too lazy or too uninformed made it a point to use their power to vote?

So here is a list of ten reasons why you should vote (brought to you by Savings.com) , I think any one of them is worth getting yourself to the polls. Especially reason #10 :)

1. Not voting is a vote for the other guy. You might not love your guy, but how much do you dislike the other guy or gal? Yes, "lesser of two evils" isn't so inspiring, but it still has some merit.


2. It gives you the right to complain. Say the winning candidate supports an issue that you're vehemently against. You have no right to complain if you didn't participate in the election.


3. People have died to secure the right to vote. Literally died. Voting is extraordinarily important right--not just a chore.


4. You can change the world. Given that America's a huge player on the world stage, any vote can have wide repercussions.


5. Because every vote matters. Elections have been changed based on just a few votes. Let's not have a repeat of the Florida vote in the Bush/Gore election.


6. "You're mad as hell and you're not going to take it anymore!" (Not really party specific.)


7. The midterms are as important as a presidential election. After all, the election will determine how much of his agenda President Obama can or cannot get through Congress.


8. It's your civic duty. Regardless if you do or don't like the way the country is heading, voting is like paying taxes: it's your rent for living here. Sure, taxes are mandatory and voting isn't--but when voting actually determines how much you are or aren't taxed (among other things), it really shouldn't be something you consider optional.


9. It's easy. If you can take a trip to the supermarket to buy food, you can take a short trip to a polling station.


10. You get an "I Voted" sticker. This one may trump all the rest.

Spring Cleaning Done in 8 Hours!

Spring is in the air, or at least it is in St. George, and with that comes 2 words that I have feared most of my life: Spring Cleaning. Well thanks to Oprah.com and Lynn Andriani we have been given a way to get it all done in 8 hours! So suck it up, block out a Saturday and JUST DO IT!

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9 A.M.–10 A.M.: Bathroom

Vacuum and wipe the walls and ceilings. If you clear them annually of the almost imperceptible grime that builds up, then you won't have to deal with the impossible-to-remove kind that can accumulate if they're left untouched for a few years. Vacuum first, using the brush attachment. Then, wipe them with all-purpose cleaner, which is fine for painted walls. Don't forget the wall that's behind you every morning when you do your hair and makeup; it could be coated in hairspray, perfume or other beauty products.

Toss any throw rugs into the washing machine.

Wash mirrors and the insides of windows. Use microfiber cloths (they won't leave lint).

Spray and soak. Steve Mulloy, director of housekeeping at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, recommends rubbing strong cleaning agents into shower walls, tubs, floors and sinks and then leaving to handle a task in another room. Fifteen or 20 minutes later (you can go move the rugs from the washer to the dryer), come back and rinse everything from the top down, starting with the showerhead. Take the same tack with the toilet, moving from the top of the tank to the rim, bowl and base. And don't use the cloths you used in the bathroom anywhere else before laundering them in very hot water.

Rinse the floor. After you've let the cleanser soak, as mentioned above, wipe the floor with a water-soaked mop on your way out.

10 A.M.–12:30 P.M.: Bedrooms

Vacuum and wipe walls and ceilings, and dust all surfaces. Pay special attention to switch plates and the outside edges of doors, where people tend to grab.

Let it breathe. A good airing will reduce the allergens and germs in mattresses, even if you can't lug them outside. Follow the advice of the Victorian era's go-to guide, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management: "Throw the bed open, by taking off the clothes; open the windows (except in rainy weather), and leave the room to air." In Mrs. Beeton's day, housemaids left the windows open for a half hour, but if it isn't too cold, a few hours is even better.

Head to the washing machine. Once all the linens—sheets, pillowcases, quilts, duvet covers, mattress pads, dust ruffles, shams—are off the beds, wash them in order of what goes on the bed first (i.e., start with dust ruffles and mattress pads; end with shams) so you can put them back on the beds as they come out of the dryer and not have to worry about them sitting in a heap and getting wrinkled. If you're switching over to lighter quilts, wash the winter bedding before putting it away, because moths and other insects are attracted to body oil, perspiration and perfume.

Clean window treatments. For heavy drapes, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, or have them dry-cleaned; light drapes can go in the dryer on the fluff cycle with a dryer sheet.

Wash mirrors and the insides of windows.

Shampoo or steam-clean wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs. Some manufacturers will void the warranty if you can't prove that you've had your carpets professionally cleaned every year. Either buy a professional-grade carpet cleaner (which costs around $400) or rent one (many supermarkets now offer this service).

12:30 P.M.–2 P.M.: Kitchen

Clean the refrigerator and freezer. Empty the contents, store them in a cooler, turn off the fridge, and let the shelves and drawers come to room temperature before you wash them, since glass and ceramic parts could crack if they come into contact with hot water when they are cold. (You can move to the next task while you're waiting.) Once they've warmed up, wipe with a mixture of 2 tablespoons baking soda and a quart of hot water. Rinse and dry. Go over the door seals with hot water and mild dishwashing liquid, and pluck out crumbs and other debris. Dry them well.

Degrease cooking appliances. Take off stove grates and other removable parts, and scrub them with soapy steel wool pads (if the grease just won't come off, try letting them sit overnight in an airtight bag with a quarter cup of ammonia; the next day, wipe them with a clean cloth). Clean the oven. To get stuck-on food particles off the inside of the microwave, put a microwave-safe bowl of water with some lemon juice inside and heat it to boiling for 2 or 3 minutes. The steam will loosen gunk, and the lemon's acid will help lift grease.

Clean window treatments and wash the insides of windows.

Wash surfaces and cabinets. The tops of cabinets and the fridge may be sticky from grease, so a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid will work best. You can also use the mixture in drawers and on shelves (and spray antibacterial cleanser inside the cabinet where you store trash). Pay attention to the utensils drawer and the pantry, since they collect the most crumbs.

Sweep, vacuum and mop floors.

2 P.M.–5 P.M.: Living Room, Family Room and Dining Room

Dust ceiling fans. Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner, prefers an extendable duster with a microfiber head that bends to a 90-degree angle so she doesn't have to get on a ladder. It's also useful for the tops of bookcases and shelves.

Vacuum and wipe walls and ceilings.

Care for your couch. Sofas and upholstered chairs get tons of use. Yet, says Sim Fern, co-founder of Mod Restoration, a furniture-repair shop in Brooklyn, some people never clean them. Just because you don't see stains doesn't mean there aren't dust mites present (they feed on skin flakes shed by humans and animal dander). Many Lowe's and Home Depot stores rent upholstery-cleaning machines or carpet-cleaning machines with upholstery wands, which will give your sofa and chairs a deep clean.

Wash your lightbulbs. Give them a wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, since a dirty bulb emits 20 percent less light.

Clean window treatments and wash the insides of windows.

Clean and dust electronics. Spray compressed air into crevices. Then, moving from top to bottom, use microfiber or electrostatic cloths. Clean underneath speakers, stereos, computers, DVD players and TVs too. Wipe away from ventilation areas so you don't push dust back in.

Sweep out your fireplace, storing unused logs.

Clean the carpets.

Order pizza for dinner.

Good luck!

Tell Me, Which TV Hottie Would You Choose?

I know you've thought about it. Don't deny it. We're all friends here, let's just be honest. Who would YOU choose? Let's go over some options shall we?

Wade Kinsella from Hart of Dixie
If you prefer country boys Wade may be the guy for you.
Job: Bartender
While Wade secretly crushes on you he will try very hard not to let you know that. Instead he'll spend his time teasing and playing practical jokes on you. Despite his elementary school flirting tactics you can always count on Wade to do what you need him to. Even if you don't know you need him to help you, and even if that means he has to swallow his pride.


Neal Caffrey from White Collar
If you like sophistication sprinkled with excitement then I would suggest Neal.
Job: Criminal Consultant for the FBI (heavy on the CRIMINAL)
Neal has a charm, and lets face it, FACE that makes women take notice. If he's interested in you he lets you know and puts his 'silver tongue' to work getting you interested in him as well (not that it's a hard sale). Even though he's had some trust issues in the past once you've won his heart he'll risk prison and death to keep you safe and get you what you want.


Daniel Grayson from Revenge
If cultured, rich, and beautiful are your cup of tea take a look at Daniel.
Job: Heir to Grayson family empire
Daniel has your typical rich-boy-gone-bad background; drugs, alcohol, and scandal. After he hit rock bottom he made up his mind to clean up his life. Now he is trying his best to be the perfect son, all he needs is a special girl who will give him someone to live up to. That girl could be you!


Shawn Spencer from Psych
Are you a fan of delicious flavor? 80's cinema references? Awkward public displays of strangeness? Well it's your lucky day! Meet Shawn:
Job: Psychic Detective
Shawn is cute, intelligent, and more than a little quirky. His attention to detail makes it easy for him to see the truth about people. You wont be able to hide much from this one! He'll flirt and flirt until he finally realizes that he can't live without you and finally makes a move. From there your life would be filled with silliness, craziness, and lots of cuddles.


Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries
If you like a little danger in your men then you'll be in love with Damon.
Job: He's a 162 year old vampire, he only takes a job if he feels like it
Damon is your typical sarcastic, brooding bad boy. He's ridiculously hot, and has a way of looking at the world that makes me laugh. He seems to be prone to being the unfortunate short side of love triangles, but he can't seem to help himself. It's hard to worm your way into his heart, but once you've done it he's nothing but loyal (sometimes in his own twisted way). But who wouldn't want a love that would last, literally, forever?!

My, my. Writing bio's on all of these hot men is making it hard to choose! But I think if I had to choose I'd have to go with Wade. There's something about a good old fashioned country boy that softens my heart. I'd take Wade to the annual Sweethearts dance and tell everyone in Bluebell that he's mine!