4 things

1. I am on the hunt for a solid color blush knee length dress that is wedding appropriate. My sweet, sweet college sorority sister Savannah is getting married and has asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. Savannah is the "I'll just make something myself kind of girl" so she is MAKING her own wedding dress. I can't even imagine such a daunting task, but if anyone can do it and make it fabulous it is Savannah. She also didn't want us to all have the same uniformed dress. She just told us she wants our dresses to be BLUSH and to find the dress that fits our personality. She also started a secret Pinterest board where she's pinned some ideas for us. So all this being said....if you come across a BLUSH pretty dress online, in a store, in a magazine or wherever shoot me an email or a text.

2. We have been working on the window displays where I work. Today to add a little Valentine's touch I made these heart paper chains to hang among our bigger displays. They are so EASY!

via just bella

We also added smaller gold, glittery hearts to the inside of these by hot gluing them to the center. They turned out really cute. In addition to these paper chain hearts, we cut out circles and hearts from silver glitter paper and alternated each on going down a line of fishing wire to hang in the window. It was quite the arts and crafts day. I didn't take any pictures, but I'll try to remember to get some of the windows to share here.

3. Oscar nominations: I can't believe America's treasure Tom Hanks was snubbed, and --from her Golden Globes appearance would have been a hilarious addition to the Oscars-- Emma Thompson. The Academy missed out on that one. Here's the thing, I love Judi Dench, but she's not going to show up to the ceremony. She never does. You should have gone with Emma because she would have at least showed up to the party. I mean we all know Cate Blanchett or Amy Adams is going to win anyway...should have gone with Emma people. {but now I really hope Judi shows up to prove me wrong}

4. Did anyone watch American Idol Wednesday night or Tonight? I didn't aim to but I just couldn't take my eyes off of Jenny from the Block. Like J. Lo {to this rocking this business}, GIRL why are you so beautiful? I'm not fooled by the rocks that you got, but girl you don't like like no Jenny from the Block, you look like PERFECTION. ---I'll stop now with the songs. The last time she was a judge I felt the same way. She knows how to present herself to the American Idol audience. She is perfection, while wearing almost normal, but a glam version of normal clothes. She knows how to draw us in....oh that Jenny. I WANT YOUR HAIR. AND MAKEUP TEAM. I really want to know her whole makeup regime. I would buy it all. I want that JLO GLOW---and I'm not talking about the perfume.

Happy Thursday.

Golden Globes 2014: Fashion

Last nights biggest trends on the red carpet seemed to be: Color Block, Black and White, Geometric, Red, Metallic, and Pregnancy.

A dress in the Geometric category that really stuck out to me was Elisabeth Moss. I don't know if I love the bottom half of the dress but this top half is fantastic. And those earrings are perfect. 

COLOR BLOCK

1. Taylor Swift 2. Sandra Bullock 3. Julie Bowen 4. Amy Adams 5. Aubrey Plaza

Julie Bowen and Taylor Swift are the best of these 5 dresses. I like Amy Adams dress just not the hair and makeup. Aubrey Plaza looks a little early 2000 prom, but I do like the colors. 

BLACK AND WHITE

 1. Julia Roberts 2. Jennifer Lawrence 3. Hayden Panettiere 4. Laura Carmichael 5. Jenna Dewan-Tatum

The only one I really LOVE is Laura Carmichael {Lady Edith has the best clothes this season....so only fitting} I think the Julia Roberts dress would be great...if she didn't have the button up shirt under it. I just don't get that. Jennifer Lawrence is too like her last year award season dresses. I need her in something besides the strapless, low boob belted long dress. Hayden--I hate the hair and I don't love the dress. Jenna- she looks fantastic in that dress and her hair looks great. I just don't LOVE the dress. But I think she looks fabulous in it. 

LADIES IN RED: two of my top 5 looks of the night. Emma Watson's dress/pant ensemble. I love, love, loved it. It was elegant and still young and fun! Lupita Nyong' o was the most stunning on the red carpet last night. Absolutely beautiful. 

BATTLE OF THE EXPECTANT MOTHERS

1. Olivia Wilde 2. Drew Berrymore 3. Kerry Washington

Olivia Wilde---is she really pregnant or is that just a pillow?? She could have worn that dress pregnant or not. Drew Berrymore looks like a Valentine. I don't love the dress, but I think it's fun. Kerry Washington's look is a little boring for me, but it looks great with her pregnancy glow. It's very elegant.

METALLIC

1. Lizzy Caplan 2. Kate Beckinsale 3. Naomi Watts 4. Mila Kunis

Kate Beckinsale's dress is another of my BEST DRESSED. So so pretty. I love the sleeves/top of Lizzy Caplan's dress so much. 

CATE BLANCHETT. SO PRETTY. SO ELEGANT. 

Zooey Deschanel: Just so dainty and so pretty.  

This is just a few of the fashion statements made at the Globes last night. It was hard to pick which ones to include and which ones to leave off. I didn't include the ones that I absolutely HATED: I'm looking at you Lena Dunham, Zoe Saldana, Rashida Jones, and Paula Patton. 

Who were you lovin' and hatin'????

Linking up for Monday Morning Gossip.

Golden Globes 2014: Winners

You know if anything was going to bring me back to my blog it would AWARD SHOW SEASON {In my head I am hearing "It's the most wonderful time of the yearrrrr!"}

I just wrapped up watching the Golden Globes. I love it so much. I can't help it. I just do.

I haven't been as diligent with my movie going this year. I'm so ashamed. At this point I have only seen {of the nominated films tonight}: Dallas Buyers Club, Saving Mr. Banks, Gravity, and Frozen. I know, I know. NOT MANY AT ALL. I plan to rectify this as much as possible before the Academy Awards. {I just don't know if I can sit through another 3 hour Scorsese/Leo man fest known THIS year as The Wolf of Wall Street. And I don't knock Scorsese or Leo or man fest films because I think The Departed is a great movie. I think Gangs of New York is a great movie. I think All of the Leo/Scorsese movies are great----but THREE HOURS IS LONG!!!} I digress... Of the television shows nominated, I currently watch Downton Abbey, Scandal, Parks and Rec, Modern Family and House of Cards. 

The Host: Tina and Amy were great as last year. I just wish, like last year that we got to see more of them.
My favorite joke:

"Gravity is nominated for best film: It’s the story about how George Clooney would rather float away into space and die than spend one more minute with a woman his own age.”

Movie Winners:

Supporting Actress
I was super excited about Jennifer Lawrence winning again. I haven't seen the movie, American Hustle but like the rest of the world I hang on every awkward anecdote/ slip of the tongue JLaw throws out there.

Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club. His acceptance speech was kind of weird. I don't know why he had to discuss waxing and shaving of his body. But whatevs. He had a stellar performance in this movie.

Best Actress-Comedy:
Amy Adams. She's the kind of actress who's a real actress and not the star of the year. She's consistently nominated and she's consistently in all the BEST movies of the year.This may finally be her year. Or she just might be another DiCaprio come Oscar Sunday...I don't know yet.... I just wish she had some lipstick on at the ceremony or something. Her face was so washed out.

Best Actress-Drama
Cate Blanchett is an actress too. I don't know anything about her personal life and I don't care to either. I just know she's a great actress and I'm going to be satisfied whenever I pay money to see one of her films. She's going to be the character. I like that there are still actress who are great and still have a mystery about them. I think that's the key to the longevity. Just be consistently brilliant...not consistently in a magazine or on twitter or in the news. {ummm MEYRL STREEP anyone}

Best Actor-Comedy:
Y'all Leonardo DiCaprio won him an award. He's been going after it for so long and he finally got him one. That baby face might finally be an adult in the eyes of Hollywood. I'm so proud of him. I bet the millions of Tumblr posts dedicated to "Losing Leo" images doesn't know what to do with themselves now.

Best Actor-Drama:
"Alright, Alright, Alright" Classic McConaughey. I have seen Dallas Buyers Club and IT. IS. INTENSE. There is no trace of FULL ON McConaughey like we got in his acceptance speech. He transformed not only his body but everything to become this character. It's an uncomfortable movie because it is so raw and so real. He's definitely deserving.

Diane Keaton accepted the Cecil B DeMille Award on behalf of Woody Allen. She was her usual quirky, Annie Hall self. Complete with a moving, A Capella singing of "Make New Friends, But Keep The Old"

Television:
Best Actress-Comedy and Best Actress-Drama are two of my favorite characters Leslie Knope and Claire Underwood. Thank you Amy Poehler and Robin Wright for these women.
Also..Amy celebrated her win with a make out with Bono.

via

Best Actor- two shows I've never watched
Best Supporting Actor- Jon Vought, he creeps me out and we all know you were trying to insinuate Angelina into that ending of that acceptance speech. We know she's your daughter. You don't have to try to inconspicuously name drop your own kid mister.

Best Supporting Actress- Ummmm... was Jacqueline Bissett aware she was nominated. Like get up and walk to the stage women. Don't take 40 minutes. I feel like we missed a few good Amy/Tina jokes and moments do that death, deer in the headlights slow walk to the stage. And then when she got there she just stared. I mean did she know where she was? It was awkward.

Random Notes and Opinions:

• I think Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks had a couples Spray Tan prior to the night. They had an unusual glow.
• To have been allowed the chance to pull up a chair in between Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep....the things one might have heard. That my friends was the POWER TABLE. 
• Taylor Swift shouldn't be allowed at anymore Hollywood gatherings. She seems so awkward around them. 
• I think that the whole Matt Damon bit would have had a major payoff if Michael Douglas hadn't been too cool for school to be in on the joke. Dude, you should have directed her praise of Matt Damon to Melissa McCarthy's face. It would have been gold. Instead, you were an old man about it. 
• That joke Tina made about Leo DiCaprio, Super Models and Vjayjays was HILARIOUS. 
• Was anyone else surprised about Andy Samburg winning AND his show?! I've never watched it but the previews look so dumb. I guess I'm missing the next great thing....
• Emma Thompson, please present at every award show...carrying your shoes and casually sipping from a martini
• Can Matt Damon be my garbage man?

Fashion Review coming soon....

images via

loves of the week

Loves of the Week:

1. Lydia McLaughlin: The newest housewife on Real Housewives of Orange County. She's a Jesus loving, pre-teen looking, living out her fairy tale OC life with her husband she met at church camp. When she entered the picture I didn't think I was going to be a fan, seeing that she was friends with Alexis, but as soon as she got into that limo and said, "I kind of agree with them" after Tamra's disaster gym party, I knew I was going to like her. The best moment was "I can see why they don't like her!" hahaha oh Lydia, you're my new favorite, Even if you have a abnormally small head that is disproportionate to your big eyes, mouth, and amount of hair.

2. Vine: I didn't see the point of ANOTHER app to document things, but I fell in with the crowd. I've had Vine on my phone for a while, mainly just to watch Al Roker's videos from bts at the Today Show, but I started posting a few this week. It's actually pretty fun, although I don't think anyone actually watches them. If you have Vine, come follow me @jessicaclayton! The best Viner out there is Eric Stonestreet {Cam, Modern Family} I mean he's a Vine genius. I would get Vine just to watch his stuff, hilarious, and the right amount of inappropriate at times!

3. OLITZ: Lets face it I love Scandal every day and every week, but last nights episode was one of the best EVER. So many jaw dropping, can't breathe moments.

via 

I don't count on this lasting too long, but man was it exhilarating to watch. Also, I LOVE Mellie in that way that you LOVE LOVE to hate something. I think she is fantastic, so I look forward to more First Lady in your face, not backing down moments.

4. Diane Keaton has twitter and she just obsesses over things she finds on Pinterest. I love it. Follow her here. I love her bio.

 5. Reese Witherspoon arrest video: I don't think it's funny, and it doesn't make me love her more like the rest of America, I just think it's interesting, and REALLLLY embarrassing for her. TMZ has it, watch here. What would have made it GOLD: If Reese would have turned and said "...And you can't walk NO LINE!"

Happy Friday!

the weekend.

My weekend.

photo via

Friday was a day of friend catch up.  My bestie Brooke and I had been missing each others calls for about two weeks and we finally connected Friday morning while she was driving back to Starkville from a work presentation. We chatted for a good hour and a half. During that call Bayley beeped in so I promptly called her back when I got off with Brooke. Before all the phone calls started I had been in the middle of cleaning...I thought I was finally going to get back to it when I got a lovely surprise call from Anna Claire. She was driving to Tupelo for the weekend from Nashville. We chatted for 2 hours. I seriously haven't been on the phone this much in AGES. But its fun to catch up with good friends. I guess I'm the go-to-girl to call when you've got two hours of driving to kill.

My brother Josh came for a visit this weekend. He arrived Friday evening and then along with my parents we all went to eat some Japanese at the local Kyoto restaurant. So yummy. Saturday started with a lazy morning. My mom made us ham and biscuits and we ate them right up then all set out on the back patio and drank coffee and chatted for a few hours. Josh and I then went through my parents old record collection from college and such and went on the search for a turntable. We didn't have any luck, but he took some records back home with him and he was going to look online for one. I would have loved to have known the Karen that owned that record collection. It was fun hearing her talk about listening to them in her room as a teenager.

Saturday afternoon I went to Sam's and Kroger with my mom. Always an interesting experience. We did enjoy some good samples as always at Sams. Mom and I piled up on the magazines. I realize I get my love for the glossy pages from her. I don't why she ever admonishes me for the habit because she is just as bad or maybe even worse. We spent the afternoon on the patio reading through these:

Saturday night my Grandmother came over to have a spaghetti dinner with us. We all hung out on the patio and chatted while we waited for supper to be ready. We ate and then had some wonderful fresh cut strawberries, angel food cake and homemade whip cream for dessert. 

After Grandmother left, I indulged in my favorite Washington event of the year via CSPAN and my DVR: The Annual White House Correspondent's Dinner. It's held every year at the Washington Hilton. The press comes, the President comes, celebrities come and everyone makes fun of the President and/or the Press. This years spotlight comedian was Conan O'Brien. It was quite fun to watch. Here's a look at President Obama's speech. Funny stuff.

And here's Conan:

I really think the person in charge of the invitations just decided to put all my FAVORITE people in one room that happens to be my favorite event and torture me. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE THERE:

1. Josh Lyman & Joe Quincy, West Wing {Bradley Whitford & Matthew Perry}

2. Olivia Pope & President Fitzgerald Grant, Scandal {Kerry Washington & Tony Goldwyn

3. Congressman Francis and Claire Underwood, House of Cards {Kevin Spacey & Robin Wright}

4. President Andrew Shepard, The American President {Michael Douglas}

5. Lady Mary Crawley, Downton Abbey {Michelle Dockery}

6. Elaine Benes, Seinfeld--She was there because of her show VEEP but she's always Elaine to me {Julia Louis-Dryfus}

7. Jamie Lanister, Game of Thrones {Nikolaj Coster-Waldau}

I MEAN SERIOUSLY. 

Sunday consisted of church services, amazing roasted chicken with potatoes & carrots, asparagus & apple turnovers, a great nap, wonderful ladies Bible study on Grandmothers, and some leftovers for dinner. 

I'd say it's been a pretty good weekend. How was yours?

Linking up with 

Why I'm Obsessing over RHOBH

The theme parties
No one loves a theme party more than Taylor Armstrong, even if it's planning a $50,000 Mad Hatter tea party for her daughters 4th birthday party. {yep, you read that correctly}She also loves a Roaring Twenties party, a dude ranch 5th birthday party {complete with Ace Young----I couldn't contain my laughter on that one} The only theme Kyle can stick with is her annual White Party that always includes Fatburger. Lisa doesn't like theme parties or as she calls them "fancy dress" due to a mishap with her and Ken believing a party to be one and turned out...NOT one ala Legally Blonde. The notorious party planner Dana hosted her own themed Game Night party with real fun random desserts in the shape of dominoes  but that's as far as her theme went---not too good for business.

The Giggy
I want Giggy's day to day. {even if he has Alopecia and constant itching} I mean really he has the life. He doesn't even have to walk anywhere {except for the occasional "four walks and a wee wee" --read in Kyle's faux British accent} He has custom made clothes to coordinate with Ken&Lisa and he eats in the best restaurants in Beverly Hills and travels the world. Everyone loves that little sex monster.

The trips
Whether they are sprinting to Vegas for a quick weekend trip, overnighting to Hawaii for some sun or jet-setting to Paris for a romantic couples get-a-way these ladies no how to travel and see the best the destination has to offer.

The husbands
Meet Mauricio, Paul, & Ken. These three are the constants in Seasons 1-3. They often bring the voice of reason or at least colorful commentary to the happenings of a dinner party mishap....and occasionally they do cause the issue themselves {Ken, looking at you and your therapy comments to Taylor or Mauricio's comments to Brandi at the Morocco restaurant} but no matter what they move on from any disagreement, unlike their wives.

The houses

The quotes
There are so many amazing lines spoken in every single episode. These are some of my many favorites:

The fashion

These ladies never back just one bag, even if it is for an overnight. Expect two suitcases just devoted to shoes and/or makeup. Just one peak into their store like closets and one knows that clothes are more than just a "something to wear everyday" it's more like collecting art for these woman. It's fun to see them just pull out a custom dress for a last minute dinner party and wear Louboutin's for the casual lunch. 

The Vanderpump
The housewife of all housewives. I mean seriously, she's the best of all the Real Housewife shows. She's the richest, she's got a British accent, she's a great cook, she's cheeky,  the most honest & truthful, has the longest marriage, and always has the right amount of pink, bling and sass for every occasion. Read her best lines here. I give you Mrs. Vanderpump-Todd.

Demonstrating what one needs when walking around a stripper pole:

The Taylor Armstrong method for eating cotton candy:

 Probably why she was picked for DWTS:

 How she gets through most RHOBH situations:

 When she gets bored with the group activities:

 When Kim Richards gives another excuse for not showing up:

 When Camille tries to attack her and fails miserably:

 Reaction to the rest of her casts net worth: {not really, I just imagine that it would be this}

And I'm out

Also I did a guest post over at Christa's blog Significance or Nothing today. Be sure to check it out!