High Five For Friday #H54F

Aloha friends!

Let's break down what's been the last week of August 2013 ...

Link up at thelaurenelizabeth.com

1) I'm in Hawaii for a work trip ... Honolulu, to be precise. It doesn't suck.

2) One of my best friends, Thomas (lettingthedogsout.blogspot.com), is an avid postcard sender. Since he moved from Austin last summer, he's been very diligent about sending me postcards from wherever he's visited. I try to send him postcards in return from my trips, but I've forgotten more than once. I've tried to make up for it this week, and I even sent him a very delayed postcard from my trip to Philadelphia in June from Honolulu. Who doesn't love receiving postcards???

3) Inferno, the latest book from Dan Brown (yes, author of The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons), is on my iPad and it's a real page turner! SIDENOTE: Isn't it weird reading a book when you know which actor will play the main character? My mind visualizes everything in Tom Hanks' voice and demeanor. 

4) Hand Food lotion. Airplanes majorly dry out my hands, and this stuff is the perfect remedy. I always have a tube of it in my backpack (my 'boring bag') and another in my cosmetics bag. This lotion is great - easily absorbs, makes my hands feel silky smooth and my cuticles have NEVER looked better!!! It really makes my nails look like they've just had a manicure. You can pick a sample-size tube up at Sephora for $5 and it will last FOREVER. Do it.

5) Macadamia nuts. I love nuts. Macadamia nuts are my favorite. I really need to make sure the USADA doesn't have a limit on how many I can bring back to the mainland. Honestly, I might even apply for a job at Roseanne Barr's 50-acre macadamia nut farm and never return home ... praying I have the proper skill set to be a potential employee ...

Riley's Magic Door

More than a few of you sent me notes Monday asking how Riley managed to take not one, but TWO single-serving instant mashed potato containers outside without my knowledge.

This is how ...

Your eyes are not deceiving you. Yes, Riley has an automatic door at Casa de Cushman. She's THAT spoiled.

So while I was upstairs, she managed to cruise the kitchen counter not once, but TWICE, and take her new-found treats outside to enjoy. 

This is what happens when you marry a lovable nerd. He finds ways to improve life for not just you, but also your four-legged best friend. 

Mr. Cush installed this several months ago, and at first I thought it was a bust. Our 'fraidy-cat canine thought there was some evil witchcraft going on, and she wouldn't approach the door for about three days without us manually opening it for her. After Mr. Cush worked with her and repeatedly bribed her with several treats, she got the hang of the door.

With the help of a toggle on her collar, all she has to do is get within a few inches of the sensor at the base of the door frame and the patio door opens for her on either side.

Now if we could only find a way to keep the cats from always making a break from the safe confines of home, life would be ideal ...

What's in My Carry-on Bag?

Traveling is a big part of my gig. More often than not, they're quick, one-night trips. However, there are multiple weeks each year where I find myself in airports quite a bit and preparing myself for 5-7 night trips.

I HATE carrying a ton of stuff through an airport and then hauling it around for the duration of my travel day. This hatred for schlepping things around is probably some of my Ol' Rodney (<- my daddy-o) DNA. As a husband and father of three daughters, Ol' Rodney figured out years ago that the only way he was going to enjoy his family vacations as much as the rest of us was if he enacted a 'you pack it, you haul it' credo. So, that's all I've ever known. (True story - Mommabear once insisted on purchasing and packing home a pair of table lamps from Mexico and Ol' Rodney wouldn't budge on his policy. I'll be darned if she didn't haul those lamps all over just to get them back to southern Illinois.  If ever there was a will, there was indeed a way!) (He might have helped her a little. It was so long ago I honestly can't remember all of the details.)

Even Mr. Cush will admit that I'm pretty good about lugging around my own belongings when we travel together. Sure, he helps me with my suitcase because he's a proper gentleman and whatnot, but I've never asked him to haul my purse or carry-on because I was raised to understand that those are MY things … and I should be responsible for them if I want to bring them along on any trip.

So, let's have a quick rundown of my must-haves for a carry-on bag. Everything else gets tucked away in the checked luggage …

(FULL DISCLOSURE: I also carry a backpack on my work trips, mostly to protect my laptop and keep my work items in a singular location. The graphic below obviously doesn't represent that bag, because it's what I call the 'boring' bag.)

1) This Michael Kors tote does double duty … it's large enough to carry everything I need, and once I've arrived at my destination it makes a great purse with lots of room for souvenirs!

2) Ol' Rodney might have reiterated the 'you pack it, you haul it' motto during my childhood, but Mommabear taught me a valuable lesson in always carrying on my chargers. I keep an old Clinique bonus bag with me that has my iPhone and laptop chargers, as well as my earbuds. I'd have a melt down if I ever encountered a lengthy layover with drained batteries in my devices. It'd be equally nightmarish if my luggage failed to arrive and my chargers were lost or delayed with my checked bag.

3) Travel Pillow … not necessarily a must-have for EVERY flight, but certainly for anything over two hours or anything at an unmentionable time of the day (early morning or red eyes).

4) My iPad mini is the perfect size for travel and stores my books/music/entertainment. Instead of draining my iPhone battery, everything can be used on this device for in-flight entertainment.

5) Yes, I still carry the occasional print version of a magazine. The stewards and stewardesses are real sticklers for that whole 'no using an electronic device until we've reached 10,000 feet' rule, and I have a hard time sitting still. This gives my something to thumb through during takeoffs and landings.

6) When I'm not traveling, I use a small wallet that contains my driver's license and debit card. When I'm on the road, I often have cash and hotel keys and receipts that I'm trying to keep track of, and this Kate Spade wallet becomes my go-to travel accessory. (I think I purchased this on Gilt a few years ago … there was a flash sale or something that discounted it to $39 and I hit 'purchase' before you can finish reading this sentence.)

And that's my carry-on bag! I might add a pullover or cardigan because I find flights chilly, but that's the only thing I haven't shown you.

What can you not live without when traveling? Let me know in the comments below!

Grati-TWOS-day!

No lie, I was going to use today's post to recap and make sense of Sunday's VMA's (Video Music Awards on MTV, for everyone scratching their heads), but I'm still trying to bleach my eyeballs from Miley Cyrus defiling a giant foam finger and can't put the event into words just yet.

So instead, I'm going to focus on TWO things that make today Grati-TWOS-day for this girl. (<- get it, because today is TUESday?)

1) From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone that has visited my little corner of the Internet since I began blogging in July. What started off as an outlet for me to share my life with family and friends all over the world has turned into something I look forward to every single day. I've had a lot of fun with this, and it means a lot to me that you take time out of your day to visit Pink, Blonde, Texas and share along in a few laughs with Mr. Cush, Riley and me. To date, the site has been visited more than 4,000 times and that absolutely blows my mind. In the words of Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche and Rose, 'thank you for being a friend.'

I'd be friends with these women ... they always had cheesecake.

2) Today I'm boarding a flight to Honolulu for a business trip. For the last seven years, I've visited some amazing places due to my career and I'm grateful for these opportunities. I'm working on becoming a better business traveler - too often, I simply work throughout the entirety of these trips and don't fully take in the local hot spots and tourist attractions. I'm not 100% certain I'll have much time to, say, visit Pearl Harbor or Diamond Head this week, but if I do, you can rest assured I'll supply photographic evidence on Instagram.

Aloha! Don't worry, I'll still have posts for you everyday while in paradise!

Pinterest and Crockpots and Dog Shaming, Oh My!!!

I don't know about your weekend, but mine was an absolute whirlwind. Work took up quite a chunk of Saturday and I spent most of the evening working on a personal project. Thankfully, it was the perfect time for me to concentrate on the task at hand because Mr. Cush was visiting his father in Dallas and didn't arrive home until late in the evening.

So Sunday became my lone day to "catch up on life." I finished my project by late morning (nothing like shopping for a three-hole puncher while everyone else was presumably brunching), and then spent a few hours running various errands around Austin.

In the midst of my errand running, I phoned Mr. Cush while he was at work to see what he suggested for dinner. He mentioned a few frozen entrees in the freezer, but I could sense some hesitation in his voice ... I knew he probably wanted a home-cooked meal after a night spent in a hotel and working through his 'Monday.' So while I was out-and-about, I browsed the Pinterest app from the grocery section of Target and literally searched "easy dinners." I found the pin below and was instantly sold when I counted just THREE ingredients. (I live and die by my strict five-ingredient rule mentioned here.)

I love a meal that cooks itself, and this one more than fit that bill. While I took care of a few household chores and prepped for an upcoming work trip, these Crockpot Ranch Porkchops simmered and marinated to perfection. Fifteen minutes before Mr. Cush was due to arrive home, I returned to the kitchen to whip up the instant mashed potatoes I'd bought (Hey - don't roll your eyes like I know you just did. You're still supposed to be impressed that I passed on simply making a frozen entree!) and to boil some frozen green beans in a can of Campbell's French Onion Soup. (<- Try this someday! It's amazingly delish!!!)

I looked all over for the two single-serving instant mashed potatoes containers. They weren't on the kitchen counter where I was pretty certain I had left them, and they weren't on the pantry shelf where they would normally be if I wasn't planning on making them that evening. After convincing myself that I'd accidentally thrown them away, I started rifling through the trash can when it dawned on me that Riley was becoming more and more of a "counter cruiser" lately. Thinking just maybe she had taken my potatoes, I went to the patio door and saw the two containers in the middle of our yard.

Momma. was. not. happy. Below is a picture of the only suitable punishment I could come up with.

She was so ashamed of herself that she couldn't even look at me.

How was everyone else's weekend? Anything you're looking forward to in the coming week? Let me know in the comments below.

High Five For Friday #H54F

TGIF … or is it?

This has been a crazy week for me. Each day has presented me with a different task that has made the week altogether fly by. However, the thing I love the most about these particular posts every Friday is that I force myself to pick out the five-best things that make each week different from the last.

Without further adieu …

Link up at thelaurenelizabeth.com.

1) Orange is the New Black. Once again, I'm a few weeks late to a party, but it's better to be tardy than altogether absent, right? This is a new original series on Netflix and it. is. hysterical. Netflix has been knocking its original series programming out of the park (House of Cards, anyone?) and my monthly subscription is routinely the best $8 I spend. If you've got time to kill this weekend, check out this series. I personally guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

2) Mr. Cush and I decided that despite a full refrigerator, nothing in it sounded tasty Tuesday evening ... so we ventured off to our favorite Greek restaurant. Once again, Zorba hit the spot and we left with full bellies.

3) Since Zorba's was next to our local PetSmart, we stopped by and picked up a new toy for Riley before heading home. Seriously … our dog is spoiled rotten. That picture above is her going to town on her new Everlasting Treat: Fire Plug. It's basically a jawbreaker for dogs stuck in a chew toy, and girlfriend's been working on it since Tuesday night (and she's less than halfway done with it). If you're looking for a pacifier for your pooch, check this out.

4) Temperatures in Austin have been in the high 90s this week, and it's been a welcome break from the 100s! It's amazing the difference a few degrees can make, and I'm looking forward to the temperatures continuing to drop as we approach fall. (But I won't be one of those annoying 'I love fall so much' people … here's some tips on how to avoid being that person.)

5) Mmmmmm. Loving this coffee creamer lately. One item on my Bucket List is to start drinking my coffee plain (no Splenda or creamer), but until that day comes, there will always be a bottle of International Delight in my fridge. If you're like me, give this one a try the next time you're in the grocery store.

Ode to Taco Pizza

Somewhere in the state song of Texas, there is probably an ode to tacos. Breakfast tacos. Torchy's Tacos. Taco Cabana. Tacodeli. All of the aforementioned taco concoctions and establishments are staples when Mr. Cush and I house visitors and are worthy of reference in "Texas Our Texas."

Unfortunately, the only song I can presently recall about Texas after a few glasses of wine is "Deep in the Heart of Texas," and I'm pretty certain there are no taco-laden lyrics. However, there would be if I could rewrite it.

When Mr. Cush and I are in a pinch for dinner, we have an ol' standby waiting for us in the freezer that is our personal ode to the taco portion of the food pyramid ... 

Pick off the olives for ultimate tastebud satisfaction!

Seriously, Mr. Cush buys these in bulk at H-E-B during his weekly trips to the grocery store. (I'd do the grocery shopping, but I get angst-y and his level of tolerance is much more adaptable to the frantic crowds of the fast-paced aisles.) Mr. Cush and I average about one per week as a couple, and he eats another one or two on his own in my absence. (Someday I'll blog about my angst towards his exceptional metabolism and my altogether lack of one ... can't waste all of my good topics in a post titled 'Ode to Taco Pizza.')

And to convince ourselves that our frozen taco pizza dinner isn't as pathetic as it might sound, we usually slice up a ripe avocado and divvy it up over the eight slices. We put avocado on everything in our home.

What's your go-to dinner when you're in a pinch?

A Few Good Dry Shampoos

I love drugstores as much as I love the movie A Few Good Men. I'm pretty sure I could stop at one drugstore every day and always find something I need. My love of the drugstore probably originated during my formidable years back home in the Midwest. When the Target closed in my small hometown, CVS became the only comparable store in town. It was either CVS, or drive across the river to the border state for the closest Walmart.

Anyway ... I love drugstores, and my recent drugstore obsession has been dry shampoos. I'll buy one, use it a few times and then decide there's something just not quite perfect enough about it and go spend $4-5 on another one.

So I feel like I'm a pretty decent judge when it comes to determining the best dry shampoo on the market, and as surprising as this might seem, Suave wins.

That's not to say that the others I've tried aren't swell ... It's just that I prefer Suave's, which is ironic because I never favor the least expensive anything. (Ask Mr. Cush and he'll confirm before you can finish the question.)

Here are my quick assessments of the dry shampoos I've tried out for you, in order of least favorite to the gold standard by which I'll forever compare any other ...

Garnier - One of these days, I swear I'm going to stop buying Garnier hair products because of the scent. The scent sticks around all day, just like the Subway smell sticks to your clothes once you've walked in for a sandwich. Unlike Subway, though, this smell gags me. I can't handle it. It smells like melons and apples mated and they shouldn't have, and the melon-apple-hybrid-spawn-demon baby clings to my head all day and never relents.

Tresemme - This one seemed to receive the best reviews from my favorite beauty bloggers, but I found it to just be "ehhhhhhhhh." It made my hair feel a little like putty - it felt strange to touch and its difficult to express how it changed the texture of my hair at the roots. Honestly, I probably expected too much after the reviews I saw, and like most New Year's Eves, it simply didn't meet expectations.

Dove - Pretty darn good. I won't lie, I was drawn to the packaging of this one. It'd be my favorite dry shampoo if I had never tried the Suave or Batiste alternatives. (DISCLAIMER: It's entirely possible that the packaging persuaded me to say that, because, well, it's partly pink.)

Batiste - This is the first dry shampoo I ever tried, and I'd consider it my second-most favorite. I found this one worked best when it was vigorously shaken before applying, otherwise I looked like I dumped a bottle of baby powder on my head. I need to try the Batiste Dry Shampoo for Blondes someday, but I'll wait until the next ULTA coupon hits my mailbox before making that purchase.

Suave - Perfection. When Mommabear raised my sisters and I on Suave brand products, I always thought she was trying to skimp out and save a few pennies. It's taken me a few years to come back around to this brand, mostly because I think society teaches us to believe generic is less quality. In the case of the dry shampoo battle, generic wins in a first-round KO. You need this in your life if you're hoping to skip a day or two between shampoos.

So You're Going Off to College ...

I remember leaving home for college like it was just yesterday. It actually physically hurts me to remember that moment was 13 years ago instead of yesterday, though. How is it possible that I was starting classes at my beloved Western Illinois University more than a decade ago? Have I somehow time warped into the future and never realized it? Sure. Let's say that's what happened rather than accept that 13 years of my life have vanished in a blink.

One of the greatest things about working on a college campus is experiencing the freshman year vicariously through the thousands of newcomers each fall. There's something about that experience that makes me feel young, even though the freshmen consistently remain at age 18 each year while I keep ticking away into my 30s.

As the class of 2017 arrives at college for their first year of studies, let's reflect on five things I'd do all over again and five things I would've wanted someone to tell me before I embarked on my great college adventure.

If I could do it all over …

1) I'd still keep my dorm door open whenever I was awake. When you're an 18-year-old female, it's much easier to walk by someone's open door, make awkward eye contact, share shy smiles and eventually introduce yourself. An open door is like a beacon that you're open to meeting new folks and looking for a few good friends. Keep your doors open, folks, otherwise you're going to come off as standoffish.

2) I'd still go to class. I maintain that if you maintain perfect attendance, you'll at least pass all of your classes. Skipping a few is a slippery slope that leads to skipping a lot. Once you've actually made it to all of your classes, a bit of effort outside of the classroom will enhance that passing grade to an A or B. However, I think in 93.6% of the cases, perfect attendance is going to get you at least a C.

3) I'd still join my sorority all over again. Being five hours away from home, Greek life helped me find what felt like a home-away-from-home. Sure, tons of people will argue that you're paying for your friends, but I'd do it all over again in a New York minute. Besides the sense of belonging, it was a great way to learn time management and enhance my leadership qualities. If you're not playing a sport or seeking to become active in a large organization on campus, I'd recommend checking out your Greek community.

4) I'd still build relationships with my professors. As cheesy, nerdy and kiss-butty as it sounds, I loved my relationships with my professors. They became my role models, and it was actually fun to learn from my new mentors. The beauty of today's world is that those relationships don't end when you matriculate … instead, you can be lifelong Facebook friends. And you never know when an academic conference might entice your favoritest professor of all time to show up in your future city of residence for a fun night out on the town for a friend-to-friend chat fest. Growing up does have a few perks!

5) I'd still leave my dorm room as much as possible. Yes, this is still the same gal that started off with No. 1 above, but getting out-and-about is an important part of the college experience. I was pretty straight-laced my freshman year (well, compared to the subsequent years), but once I started to loosen up and conform a bit to the college lifestyle is when all of my best memories were made. So, take it from me and lighten up a bit before the best four years of your life pass you by.

And if I could do it all over again while taking back a few mistakes …

1) I would have called my family more often. I was so excited to meet new people and stay up late and nap in the afternoons - all of the rights of a college freshman - that I mistakenly neglected keeping my family abreast of my life. In hindsight, there might have been a few times that Mommabear and Ol' Rodney wondered if I was still even alive (this was in the era before 24/7 email access and cell phones), and I'm genuinely sorry for that. Mommabear was so excited that I was living the college life she dreamt of, and I should have called home more often to share those experiences with her.

2) I would have refrained from the $5 one-topping Papa John's special on a routine basis and visited the dining hall more often. The 'Freshman 40' isn't attractive on anyone … 'nuf said.

3) I would have walked to class more often. Sure, taking the bus was remarkably convenient, especially in the winter months when the Midwest wind was whipping through my coat and straight to my bones, but I should have taken in the scenery a bit more while I was at Western. Plus, it would've counteracted some of those calories mentioned above in No. 2.

4) I would have learned to do my own laundry before I moved away from home. Sad, but true. I probably did about seven or eight loads of laundry before I learned the difference between fabric detergent and softener. Besides calling home and asking Mommabear what to do - and I've already established that I didn't do that nearly enough - I had very little options aside from asking others how to properly wash a load of laundry. (Again, this was pre-Google.) 

5) I would have left more of my belongings at home. It's college for a reason, and yeah, you're supposed to rough it a little. Mommabear and I both probably went a little bit overboard in making my dorm room feel like a small house, and it was all well-and-good until I had to move out without her assistance. You ever tried to fit a four-foot ficus in an already-packed Hyundai Tiburon? 

What sage advice would you pass along to the class of 2017?

A Fall Public Service Announcement

Fall is coming, and it's coming fast. Everyone's excited, not just you and me.

So lets talk about how not be that annoying "I love fall" person, which has become a widespread epidemic the last few years.

1a) Everyone loves high school/college football, not just you and me.

There's a reason Varsity Blues is one of the greatest movies of all time and a reason that college football stadiums seat tens of thousands - if not 100,000+ - fans. If you live within 100 miles of a major university, you've probably even declared once or twice that you're "the biggest" fan. You're not. Trust me, I've seen some diehard fans in my day, and you probably wouldn't be reading my blog if you were one of them. Instead, you'd be on some fan message board right now reading the latest "insider information" on the third-string nose tackle.

1b) Everyone loves the NFL, not just you and me.

There's a reason the NFL is the most popular of all the professional leagues, but that does not mean everyone loves hearing about your Fantasy Football Team. Please, keep that to yourself. Despite what you might think, Fantasy Football is not Dungeons and Dragons for the more athletic and/or popular types ... it's equally embarrassing regardless of your social status.

We're all excited that football is back.

2) Everyone loves pumpkin-flavored anything, not just you and me.

A few years ago in a Target aisle, one of my sisters began raving about the amazingness that is the Philadelphia Cream Cheese limited edition pumpkin flavor only available during the fall season. It's like she was trying to give me a step stool to reach my really high soap box. Philadelphia cream cheese would not make a limited edition fall flavor if only one person - in this case my sister - purchased it. Instead, it's mass-produced for profit because EVERYONE LOVES PUMPKIN. Just ask Starbucks ... they sell a bazillion Pumpkin Spice Lattes each fall because EVERYONE LOVES PUMPKIN. So please don't ooh-and-ahh and squeal in delight when you see seasonal pumpkin beer or pumpkin cream cheese or pumpkin ice cream in the store next month. You'll embarrass yourself.

We're all excited that pumpkin flavors are back.

3) Everyone loves scarves, not just you and me.

After three or more months of skin-revealing clothing during the summer, it's awesome to start layering looser-fitting attire and throwing a scarf around your neck for a fabulous accessory. However, scarves are no longer relegated to only fall. Judging from my closet, I have several options for any season of the year, and I'm willing to bet you do, too. So if I catch you wearing a scarf in April (which we all have done), I'll be the first person to remind you of that fact when you're raving about how awesome scarves are in October.

We're all excited for fall attire, but we could also make that scarf work in April.

So, can we please all make a pact right now to silently revel in the marvelousness that is the fall season together and try not to one-up each other in daily contests to declare who loves fall the most? Because I already know the answer to that question ...

Everyone loves the fall season the most, not just you and me.

High Five For Friday #H54F

Happy Friday, everyone!

It's been a busy week, so let's cut straight to the chase and breakdown this week's #H54F.

Link up at thelaurenelizabeth.com

1) This is the current lock screen on my iPhone and it has made me smile every time I've looked at it this week. The fabulous Aubrey Kinch of thekinchlifeblog.com has a Friday Freebie each week, and I snagged this last month and finally put it on my phone. It's perfect for me during this time of the year.

2) How good was the Breaking Bad premiere Sunday night? If you don't watch the show, I need you to immediately sign up for Netflix and commit 50 hours to catching up. Do it. Now. Or we can't be friends.

3) Does anything taste better than Nutella when you're craving a 3 p.m. snack? I didn't think so. These were readily available in Europe when I visited a few years ago, and Target has finally added them to their shelves here in the U.S. I picked up a couple, threw them in a drawer at work and now have the just-what-I-need chocolate pick me up.

4) My baby girl turns two Saturday! Riley becomes more amazing every single day, and it's hard to believe that she joined the Cushman family nearly a year and a half ago. If children grow up faster than puppies, then I'm not sure I'd ever be able to cope with a rapidly growing baby.

5) Remember how I included the L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powdwer foundation in a recent #H54F? Well, I also picked up the accompanying Magic Lumi primer recently and am loving it just as much. It definitely makes the Liquid Powder foundation last longer, but it works with other foundations, too. I can't get over how awesome this feels when I put it on over my moisturizer. I'd recommend this over most high-end primers I've purchased the last few years.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! I'll be back next week (every Monday-Friday at 6 a.m. Central) with more.

Sometimes My Screws are a Little Loose

If this blog title isn't the understatement of the year, then I don't know what is!

Over the last few weeks, I've had to ask several people what they think is the greatest recent invention of the last few years for job purposes. The overwhelming response has been the iPhone. I'll be the first to admit that the iPhone has indeed changed my life and is never far from my reach, but I'd hardly qualify it as the recent 'greatest invention.'

Instead, my vote goes to the Goody Spin Pins.

Goody claims that each Spin Pin is equivalent to 20 bobby pins. Frankly, I've never given this a thorough Myth Busters test or anything, but I find these babies pretty dang helpful when trying to create the ever-popular 'messy bun' while simultaneously trying to keep my hair off my neck in the teeth of this Texas summer.

I start with a ponytail that I haphazardly throw into a basic black elastic band, usually with half of my hair 'stuck' halfway through (this can be on the crown of your head for a top knot, at your occipital bone for a messy bun on the back of your head, or at the nape of your neck for a low bun). Then, I grab the whole thing and pull a second elastic band over the wad of hair. (Yes, it literally feels like a wad of hair in my hands, but this keeps all of the ends wrapped up instead of sticking out of my head Phoebe Buffay style.) 

At this point, feel free to lightly tug some pieces of your hair to create volume after both elastic bands have captured all of that hair. When you're pulling at your ponytail/messy bun hybrid, be sure to also pull some hair away from your scalp to make the style less severe looking. If your fingers don't get the job done, use the 'stick end' of a comb to lift some hair away from your scalp with more precision.

Gwyneth's style looks pretty tight and she appears bald from the front, but Kristen's style on the right flatters her face and looks a little more haphazard … which is what we're striving for in a messy bun style. 

At this point, it seems like the messy bun starts to droop a little from the weight of all that hair. This is when the greatest invention of recent time comes into play.

I 'screw' the top half of the messy bun towards the top of my head, and then do the same with the bottom half and the remaining spin pin. This also hides the black elastic bands and it becomes hard to tell that everything began with a pretty half-hearted ponytail! 

The Spin Pins never slip and are excellent for all-day wear.  I truly cannot express enough how much I love my Spin Pins.

You should really pick some of these up the next time you're out and about. Goody makes Spin Pins in a few different colors, so blending them into your 'do is never a problem. And if you only pull up half of your hair, you can purchase the Mini Spin Pins for a miniature style!

For even more styles and suggestions, be sure to check out Goody's website. 

Keep calm and Spin Pin, friends!!!

That's a Big Fork'n Spoon!!!

Special thanks to my friend Matt for today's witty title!

Not long ago when Mr. Cush and I were embarking on our entry way redo, I noticed some wall art at Pier 1 that caught my attention. There were these vertical, three-feet silver forks and spoons that I knew I needed in our kitchen. However, we were focused on finding items for the entry way and I was getting hungry and we were racing through the store before I threw a tantrum about being hungry. (Yeah, that's actually happened before. I blame it on my self-diagnosed low blood sugar - I looked it up on WebMD.com, so it has to be true.) Plus, if you love something you're supposed to set it free. If its meant to be, you'll go back to the store, it will still be there and you'll purchase it.

It was meant to be. I went back to the store(s). I (eventually) purchased the giant fork'n spoon. (<- get it? Play on words there.)

Unfortunately, it took me a few stores to find the fork'n spoon set. The first Pier 1 I visited had five spoons and zero forks. The second Pier 1 was out of both. Finally, I called ahead and the second store I contacted had ONE FORK LEFT. I asked them to hold it for me and I buzzed off to Bee Cave to make it mine.

SIDENOTE: I could probably write an entire blog post on how ridiculous it is that these weren't sold in a set, and about what a raging lunatic someone must be if they bought one without the other. For the sake of brevity, I won't.

I replaced the "Washington Apples" and "Classic Oranges" frames that I bought when we first moved in (about $10 each at Marshall's, if I recall correctly) with the new fork'n spoon, as you'll see below ...

The craziest thing about this purchase, though, is that immediately after I Instagram'd the new home decor, my brother-in-law, Daniel, sent me the text on the right ...

Pretty fork'n funny how that worked out, isn't it? Proof that my sister and I truly are related and that we must share some of the same fork'n DNA!!!

Who Hacked Into My Blog and Uploaded a Recipe???

The tectonic plates of Casa de Cushman shifted a bit last week. (Using the word 'tectonic' is proof I've watched too many syndicated episodes of The Big Bang Theory.) Mr. Cush's work scheduled changed from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. We are both loving this for multiple reasons: 1) it keeps me from sleeping in, 2) he likes coming home and having time for yard work, 3) Mr. Cush can once again play head chef in the kitchen.

It's no secret that I'm so unfortunate in the kitchen that I'm not even a decent sous chef. However, we had a mutual agreement that the spouse first arriving home each evening would be in charge of dinner. Since Mr. Cush wasn't ever in the door until 7:30ish, our dinners had consisted of a lot of frozen pizzas and Birdseye frozen dinners under my direction. (I've already told you about my awesome skills of dumping things into pans and calling it dinner.)

So on Mr. Cush's first day of heading home at 4 p.m., the first thing I requested was Hot Taco Salad. (This might seem like a random choice, but let me state now that TACO-FLAVORED DORITOS are involved.)

This recipe is honestly so simple that even I could create it … it's just so much better when Mr. Cush makes it, though.

Hot Taco Salad 
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 10 oz. can tomato paste
1 14 oz. can black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
1/2 full-size bag of any Doritos
Extras: Lettuce, tomato, avocado, sour cream, salsa

SIDENOTE: Usually I have a strict five ingredient limit … if any recipe has more than five ingredients, I probably won't consider it. (So that's why this recipe is saved for nights when Mr. Cush prepares dinner.) If I can't pronounce anything in the recipe, I immediately discard it, and if I have to go a specialty store? Oh, hell no. 

Directions:
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and drain excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning, black beans and tomato paste. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

2. Sprinkle the Mexican cheese over the skillet and let it melt. Crush half the bag of chips and spread the broken chips atop the skillet. The whole dish will 'firm up' a bit.

Completion of Step 2

Once you've served the dish, personalization begins. It's fun to have a little 'topping' bar set up for this where you can customize your Hot Taco Salad with some shredded lettuce, tomato, avocado (we add avocado to everything in our home), sour cream and salsa.

Customize it to your liking!

We're not picky eaters, so we pile everything
onto the dish before serving it.

Better than Birdseye on any day that ends in 'y'!

Bon appétit!

I Never Thought I'd be Sentimental About Our Walmart Furniture ...

There are plenty of old adages about how we change with time. To me, though, a more obvious confirmation of those adages is a simple glimpse inside Casa de Cushman.

Mr. Cush and I have made five residences our 'homes' over the last nine years together. We purchased our Austin home in May 2009, and we've been steadily working on it ever since. When we first moved into our home, it was a giant cluster of furniture and knick-knacks and bedding that we had combined over time. Both of us are the oldest children in our respective families, and I think our parents both relished in 'helping us out' - i.e., handing off items they no longer wanted when we moved in together. (And I hope that doesn't sound like we weren't appreciative - without the support of our parents, we very well might have wound up sleeping on an air mattress for three or four years!)

Over time, Mr. Cush and I have used our increased salaries to buy 'nicer' items and furniture. We moved my old, high school bedroom furniture into our guest bedroom when we bought our first master bedroom furniture in 2010. Now that I think about it, only two rooms of our home are filled with 'inherited' furniture - our guest bedroom and our office/small guest bedroom that houses my Baby Brother's old bedroom furniture.

So as much fun as it's been growing into our home and making it truly ours, it's been a little bit sad, too, to discard some of our first shared items together. Sentimental Ashley kicked in Friday evening when I came home from work to see this on the corner of our front yard …

Thankfully someone hauled these away before I could convince Mr. Cush to stash them in our garage ... I sometimes become too attached to things, obviously.

You see, those two end tables are probably the first items of furniture Mr. Cush and I bought together. Our first shared home was a little condo in Macomb, Ill. At the time, I was in graduate school and Mr. Cush was in the frozen food delivery business to support us with health benefits and a small salary. Between the paltry rent we paid my parents (they bought the condo to help us out), a car payment and other monthly bills, cash was always tight. However, I vividly remember Mr. Cush finding those end tables at Walmart for $25 apiece … we both thought they looked more expensive than they really were, and we bought two to add to our living room.

Those little end tables made the trek with us from Illinois to Florida to Texas. And until this past weekend, they were a part of our living room. But as we've made changes around our home, we've found 'our style.' We've simplified and are big on 'bright and open,' and we like 'pops of color.' The end tables simply hadn't grown up with us anymore.

But here's a look at our living room without the end tables. One was located to the right of the sofa, and another was to the right of the love seat. It's amazing how the absence of those two end tables make the room a bit brighter and more open … which was partly why we made the decision to get rid of them.

View of the living room from the kitchen lookout over the sink. One end table used to be to the right of the sofa, and the other was to the right of the love seat on the left. I love how much more the windows stand out now.

View of our living room as it leads into the entry way and where one of the end tables was located. 
Read about that 'redo' here and prepare to be shocked Mr. Cush didn't end up in a neck brace.

Riley's headquarters in the living room. 
She's such a ham when she sees me taking pictures and has to get in on the action. 

I'd like to add something to the wall behind our television, but I'm holding out for just the right something. 
I have a strong "I'll know it when I see it" belief for home decorating.

I'm trying to talk Mr. Cush into a new, larger area rug, and maybe eventually a new piece of wall art that's a bit more modern for behind the sofa … but that can all happen in due time, just like everything else. For now, it's nice to have a few reminders of how far we've come from the days of Walmart furniture breaking our bank account.

High Five For Friday #H54F

The first full week of August is now in the books! Maybe it's just me, but this week has flown by. Work picked up quite a bit here in Austin, and it's going to be this way for the next few months … summer is officially (and very sadly) in my rearview mirror.

Anyway, time for a look back at my week and five things that I've filed under 'highlights' …

#H54F - August 9, 2013

1. Thursday was International Cat Day! I had no idea until I saw a few posts on various social media sites. That sweet fur baby in the upper lefthand corner is my girl Lily. Mr. Cush and I adopted her in the winter of 2004 … hard to believe she is going to be 9-years-old soon! 

2. If I have an addiction, it's Coke Zero. Hands down it's the best diet soft drink on the market. I'm elated that the caffeine free version has hit shelves … no more risking precious sleep if I take a sip of one of these after 6 p.m.!

3. The PGA Championship is underway and lasts until Sunday … it's the last major golf tournament of the year, and The Masters in April seems SO FAR away (golf major championship are my favorite of all professional sporting events). *sigh*

4. Vanity Fair is the one magazine I have steadily subscribed to for the last four or five years. It's the perfect blend of entertainment, current events, politics and fashion, and  never fails to leave me feeling more enlightened. The added highlight in this month's edition that makes it #H54F worthy is the cover story detailing Princess Diana's two-year relationship just prior to her death. The soon-to-be-released movie, Diana, focuses on those last two years, and I can't wait to make time for a brunch date with myself at Alamo Drafthouse when it debuts. (Naomi Watts plays the title role and is supposedly already an Academy Award frontrunner for her performance ... just a little tidbit for your future office Oscar pool. You can thank me on March 2.)

5. Pretty sure this is the most Mariah Carey-picture ever taken of Mariah Carey. She suffered a right shoulder injury not too long ago, and USA Today has a photo gallery of her wearing custom-made slings … MULTIPLE custom-made slings to match every single Bedazzled article of clothing she wears. How can anyone NOT laugh at this over-the-top ridiculousness?

That's all for this week. Thanks again for taking the time to visit my blog. It's closing in on 3,000 hits, and that absolutely blows my mind!

PS - one of my bestest friends in the world, Thomas Dick, has started a more manly version of #H54F that's he's dubbed #QQ ... you can find out what it means on his hysterical blog Letting the Dogs Out.