Twenties Tuesday: Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

Check it out.

Hey y'all! It's the first edition of Twenties Tuesday and first up is Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan. This novel follows a matriarch grandmother, a daughter, a granddaughter and daughter-in-law throughout one summer in Maine that they will all never forget. They deal with the twists specific to each generation, the past each is trying to forget and trying to force personalities to fit into a family that would not normally choose to be together.

Honestly the book kind of freaked me out. I got about half way through it and realized that the story the author was telling was about my extended family. Now, my family is not dealing with addiction or multiple marriages, but we are dealing with anger and unresolved issues. What family isn’t? On the back of the book cover there are four book reviews of the novel and two out of the four reviews refer to the family as ‘dysfunctional.’  I realized that was the picture the author was trying to paint. A dysfunctional family.

The family in the book did not have a picture perfect family, but they made it work. When tragedy hit they came together and figured it out. I would like to think my family is still that way. Don’t get me wrong…snide remarks, eye rolling and whispers will ensue and a headache will almost always be guaranteed, but that does not get to determine dysfunction. It’s not easy. People in families have different personalities, but are expected to love unconditionally through hatred, back-stabbing and mostly…change. It is not realistic. The best we can ask for is to function in our own way. The perfect family, thankfully does not exist. That would put waaaay too much pressure on the rest of us.

I love my extended family. Individually (in their own different ways) and collectively even though I wish some things could be different.

Overall I thought the book was pretty good. I am impressed with the author because she kept the theme of the four main characters being strong women, but created a complete different dynamic between the new set of women. I am looking forward to reading her new book that comes out later this month: The Engagements.

1. Girls In White Dresses by Jennifer Close
2. On the Outside Looking Indian by Rupinder Gill
3. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche
4. How to Raise a Boyfriend by Rebecca Eckler
5. 50 Shades of Grey by E L James
6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
8. It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken by Greg Behrendt & Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
9. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
10.The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
11. Magnified World by Grace O'Connell
12. Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
13. Have Him at Hello by Rachel Greenwald
14. One Day by David Nicholls
15. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
16. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
17. The Girls by Lori Lansens
18. The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
19. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
20. The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne

One down, 19 to go. Next up is MWF Seeking BFF.

Be back soon.
B

Jewelry Organization



Hey y'all! I hope everyone had a great weekend! J and I had to get new tires for my car. I do not like spending large amounts of money on one thing. I know technically it is four things, but you know what I mean. Do you know what I could get with $400!? Other than that we had a nice weekend together.

 

Last weekend we started the project below and finished it this weekend. Check it out.

  

 

I used this as my inspiration. Found on Pinterest.

 

 

The frame has a story. After J and I got engaged, we were in need of furniture for our future home together. We were headed back to my parents house after a date and we drove past a house with a kitchen table and four chairs out in the yard. The woman wanted $25. As we were leaving she asked us if we needed anything else. She handed me this frame and told me to take it for free. Yes!

 

So it has been in my house waiting to be turned into something great...for over two and a half years. Shameful. I picked up some $2.99 lace from Hobby lobby and used a combination of super glue and Loctite Flexible Adhesive (used for vinyl, fabric and plastic) to make the lace stick to the plastic of the frame. It's not going anywhere. 

 

 

 So this is my finished version. I think it turned out really well and it's functional!

 

 

I also picked up this little number from Hobby Lobby on clearance ($8.00)! Now I know what I have and what I need want.

 

 

 

Be back soon.
B

 

 

Favorite YouTuber Friday: LeighAnnSays

Hey y'all! I can't believe it is Friday once again and I am ready for the weekend (as always). It is time for another 'Favorite YouTuber Friday' moment. I always get excited when my twitter feed tells me that LeighAnnSays has a new video posted on her YouTube channel. She is seriously hilarious and is from Houston, which automatically makes me love her even more. Her channel has makeup tutorials, reviews, outfit of the day and anything else a girl might want (like hauls). She is absolutely stunning and her makeup tutorials are always realistic looks for a married, working woman like myself. I think I like watching her videos so much because she reminds me of one of my best friends due to her goofiness (as seen in her actual videos and bloopers) and she reminds me of home in Texas. Seriously, go check her out and tell her I sent you! Show her some love!  

 

Have a great weekend.

Be back soon.

B

Thankful Thursday

Hey y'all! Thursdays are the days I usually begin to lose sight of what is important throughout the week. I'm tired. I want to lie on the couch and watch crappy television. I begin to think about my lack of finances or the job I want, but do not have. I lose sight of God’s grace and all that he has given to me. To try and combat my human instinct to pity myself, I thought I could list some things I am thankful for this week.

I am thankful for J. I love him so much. Isn't he cute?!

 

Sweet flowers J brought home last Friday that brings a smile to my face every time I walk into the kitchen.

 

 

The cutest dog ever. Ellie. Ellie Mae. Eleanor.

 

 

I am also so thankful for my family. I love them so so much. Their support throughout my life has always made me feel secure enough to follow my dreams. I love you guys.

 

I have so much more to be thankful for...air conditioning, a job, a car and so so much more.

 

Make sure and count your blessings.

 

Be back soon.

B

About Me

Hey y'all! So I'm talking to my sister the other day about my new adventure: Tasteful Texan. She brought up some pretty great points like "um, hey do you have a 'about me' section? Because you need to explain where you are coming from and stuff." Well she is completely right. I just kinda dove into this blogging thing because I had so many ideas building up for months before I actually created the website. So thanks, sis. Here it goes.

My name is Brittani.
I was born and raised in Texas with one younger sister, my mom and dad.
I'm in my early twenties.
I have been married for about two and a half years.
J got a promotion through his job which required us to move to Chicago in December 2012. (That's right, us southerners moved to the north IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. Welcome to Chicago.)

So basically we are missing our families, hanging out with each other and figuring it out as we go along.

I chose to start a blog because:
1. I love reading them!
2. I wanted a place to document our adventure of living 14 hours away from everyone we know and love.
3. It sounded like fun. J used to be a webmaster for a small company so with his computer 'expertise' and my ability to talk about...well anything...I thought it would be a fun thing to do together.

The name 'Tasteful Texan' was created because my first choice (Misplaced Texans) was taken. The word tasteful means "having good taste" and some synonyms are classy, graceful and elegant. I wouldn't say those words describe me, but that is the vision I have for the blog and how I ultimately would like to be described.

There you have it. Hope this provides a little insight. I'm sure I will digress much more information the longer my blog stays alive.

Be back soon.
B

20 Books to Read in Your Twenties

Hey y'all! Recently I found a list on this website via Pinterest that had me very intrigued. The list was titled "20 Books to Read in Your Twenties." As I scrolled through the list I realized many of the books were novels I wanted to read, but never got around to doing. Welp, I am done procrastinating. No time like the present. Blah blah blah. You are only in your twenties for 10 years...so I better get on it, I guess. So throughout the next several weeks I will be making my way through the list and on Tuesdays for "Twenties Tuesday" I will provide a book review on a book I have finished OR I will update y'all on a book I am currently working on.

The list includes:
1. Girls In White Dresses by Jennifer Close
2. On the Outside Looking Indian by Rupinder Gill
3. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche
4. How to Raise a Boyfriend by Rebecca Eckler
5. 50 Shades of Grey by E L James
6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
8. It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken by Greg Behrendt & Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
9. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
10.The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
11. Magnified World by Grace O'Connell
12. Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
13. Have Him at Hello by Rachel Greenwald
14. One Day by David Nicholls
15. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
16. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
17. The Girls by Lori Lansens
18. The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
19. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
20. The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne

While some might not apply to me (since I am a very young, married twenty), I know I will enjoy others. I am most looking forward to:

 

Let me know if you have read any of the books on the "20 Books to Read in Your Twenties" list.

Be back soon.

B

 

Ombre Nail Tutorial

Hey y'all! Aren't three day weekends glorious!? Saturday night after a great day of shopping, eating Lou Malnati's and going to see Epic in theaters J and I settled in to watch the Spurs game. While he intensely watched (I'm a Mavericks fan), I decided to try out Allison's nail tutorial from her YouTube channel: Amarixe. The ombre trend is hanging on for dear life and I love it! She used pinks and yellows for her ombre effect, but I decided to fade from dark blue to purple to white. I really love how the look turned out.

 

This set was made exclusively for Merle Norman back in 2011. It includes Hussy, Alpine Snow, Yoga-ta Get This Blue and a top coat. 

I used Alpine Snow and Yoga-ta Get This Blue for this look.

 

 

Final look.

 

Go check out her channel for a complete tutorial. Maybe try out a red, white and blue ombre in spirit of Memorial Day?

 

I would like to thank all those (past and present) who have served our country in order protect our freedoms. I am eternally grateful.

 

Be back soon.

B