the couture cowgirl

Wow Wednesday ~ Retro Wrangers

2012-02-22T08:58:00.001-08:00

my new favorite ~ retro vintage wranglers
just had to share !

The “Rag” ~ a fashionable accessory on and off the Farm

2012-02-17T06:25:00.000-08:00

I have worn a “rag” for quite some time . What is a “rag” you ask? Rag= a large square of material that can be wrapped around the neck numerous times and then tied in the front with a classy knot. Rags have been used for years worn by cowboys in the winter pulled up over their face to protect from the elements or in the summers dipped in water to keep cool. Rags come in all colors, patterns, textures and designs. Traditional cowboys tend to have their rags handmade or purchased through western magazines or retail outlets.

Me? My rags for day to day use on the ranch are usually the traditional red or blue bandana that can be bought anywhere for under a $1.00. I do use these to keep the hay dust out of my nose or I have dipped it in the water trough a time or two to keep me cool and yes just sometimes I have used it to blow my nose – I know gross it may seem but when you are out and about and you don’t have a Kleenex the rag comes in handy and don’t worry I don’t tie it back around my neck – ewwww! However when I dress up a bit and want to wear a rag I tend to go towards fashionable retail stores. I love silk rags or ones that are bright and cheery. I pair it with my carhart coat and voila – instant barn chic! I use my rags as a fashion accessory! Here is an example of me and my rag along with some good friends ~

One good thing about wearing a rag, if your hair gets a bit out of control like mine tends to do a time or two I can use it as a hair tie or head band !

Until next time ~

A Peek into Fall ~

2012-02-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy checking out the new colors each season! Yesterday the Panatone Color Report came out ~ What does that mean for you and me? A peek into the colors of Fall - Yes Fall already - Can you believe it ? Fun to take a look at what is in store for us and our wardrobes!

And dont forget to tune into Fashion Friday with Trent Loos at http://www.facesofag.com/~ Today we talk college fashion with Oklahoma State Animal Science Professor, Jerry Fitch! Its a good one ~

Pantone Names Top 10 Colors for Fall 2012

By Erin Donnelly 02/09/12 at 03:20 PM

Photo courtesy of Pantone

Pantone's Pink Flambé

Tangerine Tango has found a few friends to play with for Fall 2012.

Named 2012's Color of the Year, the "spirited reddish orange" has been listed as one of the top 10 most popular shades for next season, according to the just-released Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2012.

Inspired by the Fall 2012 collections hitting New York Fashion Week, the report gives the nod to intense brights like Pink Flambé, Olympian Blue, Bright Chartreuse, and Ultramarine Green alongside more muted tones like Honey Gold, Rose Smoke, the pale purple Rhapsody, Titanium gray, and French Roast.

"By playing to consumers’ practical side with versatile neutrals, and boosting their confidence with bold, spirited hues, this skillfully balanced palette has something for everyone,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says in a press statement.

Look for Rhapsody and Olympian Blue to surface inTommy Hilfiger's prep-meets-military offerings, while Nanette Lepore, Peter Som, and Rachel Royare all drawn to Pink Flambé.

And what will constitute as a "must-have" for Fall 2012? For Betsey Johnson, it's "hot pink hot pants" (big surprise), while NAHM is all about the shirtdress and Tracy Reese is big on printed pencil skirts.

We'll take 'em all!

Wow Wednesday~ Fabulous Find!

2012-02-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Each day is a brand new canvas, a new start, a chance to start again.

I like to start each day with my favorite saying ~ Its that simple!

Shameless plug for the Pink Armadillo – find them on Facebook!

Amazing leather cuffs with personalized messaging !

I love mine!

Do yourself a favor and get one – a great piece to add to your arm party!

Saddle Me Up ~

2012-01-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia Definition of the Saddle Shoe~

“The saddle shoe is a low-heeled, oxford, casual shoe characterized by a plain toe and distinctive, saddle-shaped decorative panel placed mid foot. Saddle shoes are typically constructed of leather and are most frequently white with a black saddle, although any color combination is possible.

Saddle shoes are worn by both men and women in a variety of styles ranging from ultra high platforms to golf cleats.

According to the New York Times, in the United States, saddle shoes have enjoyed a recent comeback among males in their teens, twenties, and thirties.”
And I have personally seen older gentlemen sporting their saddles.

To fresh up the old version of the saddle shoe color blocking is all the rage. I recently saw these in a recent shopping trip.
Not sure how long this will stay in vogue but if you have a pair pull them outta the closet and how about trying some new colored laces to freshen them up? Thinking a cheap alternative to a new look.
Another find – colored soles on casual shoes ~ Everywhere!

Faux Pas ~ Never!

2012-01-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

Faux fur vests are all the rage ~ its simple ~ you need one !

Whether it is short fur or shaggy fur the vest should be a staple in your closet. They look so great over a crisp white shirt and a pile of chunky pearls paired with jeans or a fun skirt , tights and boots !

Not so adventurous how about just a simple short hair version paired with a classic long sleeve tshirt and some slacks or jeans?

Not sure where to look for one check out this out- there are all sorts of lengths, patterns and price ranges! I can bet you will find something you like!

http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=fur+vest+for+women&qpvt=fur+vest+for+women&FORM=HURE#x0y116

Wordless Wednesday ~ Rain Boots !

2012-01-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hopefully by pulling out my new MONET rainboots ~ rain will come to California

California Agriculture is is much need of rain from our crops to our cattle and everything in between!

Some Tips,Staples and the Ever Classics

2012-01-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

“Innovation! One cannot be forever innovating. I want to create classics” Coco Chanel

Fashion Shopping Tips

1. Spend money on great shoes because they can make or break an outfit. You can even wear them with jeans and look fabulous!

2. Buy items that fit your lifestyle. If you know you are going to live in your jeans then it is ok to spend $150 a pair especially if you had to try on dozens to find the right fit. Buy clothes to suit your lifestyle.

3. Spend money on staples on shoes, bags, a cashmere sweater, a black pair of pants and skimp on belts, socks, trendy tops, scarves, hats and sunglasses. .

4. Before you shop know what you own. Make a point to go through your closet at the beginning of every season. Organize your closet by colors and season – sounds crazy but really worth it!

5. Invest in undergarments because the right foundation garments can make everything you own look better – I learned this from my mom – wearing good underware is a must!!!

6. Tear out magazine photos of neat outfits you wish to emulate- or take photos of store front mannequins.

Celeste’s Closet Staples

· Jeans

· White shirts – long sleeve,short sleeve and tank

· Loafers

· Nice large bag

· Clutch

· Camel trousers

· Blazer

· Strand of pearls with earrings

· Simple wrap dress

· Timeless watch

· Sunglasses to suit your face J

· A great pair of cowboy boots

Strut Your Stuff~

2012-01-06T07:40:00.000-08:00

You know my motto is “we can’t talk cows all the time”, but we can when we can incorporate it with a livestock magazine that mixes livestock and fashion, right?

I enjoy reading livestock magazines and I even love it more when they include a fashion section! Each month DRIVE magazine features a fabulous spot filled with great tips on trendy fashion ~ it is so much fun! What? You have not heard of DRIVE? Well let me tell you I am often a cheerleader of all good things in agriculture and this publication is certainly one to cheer about. DRIVE is a youth livestock publication created by Encore Vision. Their team is forward thinking and their publication is one packed with all sorts of good stuff for young show enthusiasts and then those of us that are still young at heart.

In their January/February online issue (check out page 24) they are having a “Show us Your Style” fashion contest. They will have three separate categories including best showring look, best casual look and best special occasion business look! How fun is this? Voting will take place via the DRIVE face book page and winners will be announced in March. The tough competition starts now and runs through January 30.

Click on this link and get all the information you need!

http://drivelivestock.com/magazine/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86%3Ajanuary-february-2012-online-issue&catid=37&Itemid=59

Do you know a young person that is a Queen or a King of the showring?

Enter now to win all kinds of super cool prizes. Show off your personality in the showring , the barn or around town! Toddlers and Tiaras have nothing on our Ag kids! Good Luck!!!

A Sense of Family ~

2011-12-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a guest on Rural Route Radio broadcasted on the Plains of America and through the Midwest. I love when I am asked to be on radio, it is really a lot of fun. ( in my other life I will be a radio host) Anyway, yesterday we talked about family and it got me thinking about what makes a family so I thought I would blog about it.

For many if you ask them what is a family they would more than likely say mom, dad and kids. Thinking I am probably right in thinking that way but many of us might not have kids or only have one mom or a dad but not both due to divorce or death or some other circumstance. And what about grandma and grandpa? Some have gone before us , some of us are lucky to still have them. And then there are aunts and uncles and cousins. I believe that there are no rules to family it is what you make it , it is who you connect with and who you love.

Do you have to be blood related to be family? No way! I believe some of us have friends that are like family and I believe agriculture is the cornerstone for many of these “family” relationships. Within the last year or so I have met numerous people I know and consider them part of my bigger “agriculture family.” Many of these folks have the same beliefs and appreciations as me . Do other industrys have this same family type connect? What about the automobile industry, the health field, insurance and banking industry? I am thinking probably not. Why? I believe that we in agriculture are tied to the land, the fabric of America in all the farmlands across the USA and I am so lucky to be a part of a bigger picture. I believe we can count on each other to lift us up when we are having a bad day or offer advice on issues happening in one community in middle America might be happening in the south – we have similar problems and similar successes. We are knitted together with the bond of agriculture and the love of the land and the animals and all the other things that go along with it .

So I ask you – what is your family? It doesn’t have to be the traditional mom and dad and kids, it is the ones you surround yourself who support you , love you and wish for you to succeed. May all of you enjoy a blessed 2012 with your “family.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And for those of you that follow me just for fashion fun – here is todays Fashion Friday segment on Rural Route Radio – Take a listen and always eager for feedback!

http://www.rodeoattitude.com/facesofag/2011/12/30/the-power-of-orange-on-the-last-segment-of-2011/

See Y’all Next Year (hee hee I love saying that)

Better Because of YOU ~

2011-12-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

Its Christmas time and that means Christmas Eve mass with my family. During that time I always light a candle in honor of all of those who have gone before me, I reflect upon holidays past with them and the joy that they brought me while they were here on earth. I also light another candle for all of those who have made me better. This year its quite simple who I will think about ~ it is my fellow champions for agriculture, my fellow ag advocates. Those who have taught me how to better get the conversations started, to share my own stories, to recreate my experiences for those that might not understand what we all do.

I have had an amazing year travelling far from my family farm this year. From each and every corner of California to the Plains of Nebraska, to the Big City of Chicago, the farmlands of Kansas, the biggest little city of Reno, and windy New Mexico is just some of the spots I got the opportunity to meet fellow ag enthusiasts who were like me! I learned from you and from that I have become a better self.

“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It was there all the time.”

I will be honest in saying I have searched high and low to be the best advocate I can be, I have looked up to so many of you to try to pattern myself after who you are but what I have come to learn is that I have had it within me all along I just need the push from all of you to create me and get to a place that I needed to be – for all of you I am truly grateful.

May all of you have a blessed Christmas! Thank you for being an extension of me! My hope for me is that I can be the kind of Ag Champion that you can look up to , the one that can give you strength and make you realize that you have had it inside all along , you just need to let it go !

Until next time~

~How Not To Look Like a Christmas Elf~

2011-12-16T07:32:00.001-08:00

Ok Girls so I think it is about time we sit down and have a chat about …………………………the Christmas Sweater and other holiday accessories!

Now before we start please know that this is only an opinion of mine and not the thoughts of all so don’t be upset with me, its all in fun!

I have had a couple calls and emails as of late about what to wear for the holidays. (YES, can you believe people I do not even know call and email me and ask what to wear- I simply LOVE it!!!!) As my dear new friend from Montana told me – “Celeste you need to be a personal stylist for people” Hmmm might be a great new adventure in 2012 – Dressing FarmGirls to Fabulousness??? Or something like that? Ok lets continue~

What do I wear to my holiday party? Personally think a red dress is WOW! When you enter a room everyone will notice you. I think a plain red dress is stunning and use minimal accessories, maybe some sparkly fun shoes to compliment the outfit. As some fashion designers say and I have to agree, “Make one sparkle statement- either jewelry or shoes- don’t look like a Christmas ornament. I think shades of red, burgundy and deep pink are all lovely options.

Not into red how about something timeless. Many of you might not want to make such a statement as with a red dress so how about some nice black slacks, a sparkly tank and a black cardigan pair it all with some sparkly shoes – this is not only classy and timeless it can be used all year long . Almost everyone owns black pants and sweater and sparkle tops and shoes are everywhere now during the holidays!!! And if you really want to incorporate some red how about some short shiny red nails! That will just complete it!

Ok , back to the Christmas sweater ~ A word of advice, the Christmas sweater or giant tree bulb lighted earrings? Or giant jingle bell necklace? Or the reindeer flashing antlers? Hmmmm not so much! And again just my opinion!

Enjoy those Christmas parties, and remember when it boils down to it, it is not what you wear but the smile on your face that makes you a hit at any party! And if you need to talk over an outfit or have a question I truly LOVE helping my FarmGirls get to Fabulous!!! Email me at csettrini@freshnetwork.com or listen weekly on Fridays ~ Rural Route Radio with Trent Loos ~ we talk 5 minutes of fashion – you can find all the shows on http://www.facesofag.com/, click on Rural Route Friday ! (or listen above) Its too much fun!!

Until next time – Enjoy the Season!

A Coin Is A Charm Is A Necklace

2011-12-09T07:14:00.001-08:00

During the past couple months of travel I have stumbled upon some amazing women creating some pretty amazing, unique treats! By now y’all know I love jewelry and really tend to fancy different things. While I was in Wichita Kansas this past month I found the girls of Razzle Tagz! It was a great little find during the American Agriwomen Trade Show. I find special things that then become my favorite things which mean I then must share them with all of you because it’s too good to keep to myself.

I picked up this great holiday necklace! Isn’t it cute? These are actual coins made into charms. This was made out of a quarter and a fifty cent piece. Yes real money!!! Charms included themes of holiday, monograms, and sports teams just to name a few. I loved them because they were really well made, simply unique and very competitively priced! What a great little treat to pickup for a gift exchange, birthday or special something. The girls can help you create your own special thought and make it come to life through your special requests.

If you are interested in a Razzle Tagz creation please give the girls a jingle by dropping them an email – they then can help you create your own special piece.

razzletagz@gmail.com

Simply amazing and so much fun!!!

Different Yet The Same

2011-12-06T06:39:00.001-08:00

I recently returned from a phenomenal trip to the windy city – Chicago! I was asked to be a part of Top Producer Magazines Executive Women in Agriculture Conference. Women from over 25 states convened in downtown Chicago to discuss advocacy, market strategies, financial planning, human resources on the farm, crop insurance updates, social media, leadership, and plain ole networking. As I packed for my trip to Chicago I wondered who would be there. What would they be like? I could not wait to get on the plane and start my adventure.

Women from all walks of life came together. There were owners of really large farms, heads of boards , smaller farmers, financial planners and consultants, radio hosts, editors of magazines, legislators, professional speakers, feed yard operators and the list continues…………………….. And then there was me! Who was I? I think of myself as a farmer’s daughter eager to share the story of agriculture to all who might wish to listen. I am not an owner of a large farm or a legislator or anyone close to those who I met while there, or was I?

EWA was a turning point for me ~ I think by attending I walked away with a more confident self, a keener sense of purpose to my industry and a whole new network of extraordinary friends. I realized that all of us came from so many different backgrounds we all shared in one common trait and that was the passion we shared for American Agriculture and especially the bond as women!

I am going to say that this was probably the most empowering women’s event I have yet attended and I have attended my share. There was no extra fluff but just enough, there were no cliques of women but everyone sharing ideas and introducing one another to each other, there was zero competition between us just a common theme for all of us to win and thrive and be the best we could possibly be in our pockets of agriculture, together making a huge difference. Together being one voice for American Agriculture.

Thank you Top Producer Magazine for listening to the voices of so many women and putting together a weekend I soon will not forget. Thrilled to be an actual part of the inaugural event and already penciling in next year! Can’t Wait !

OH MY ~ my aunt gave to the hsus

2011-11-28T10:18:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is a time for family to come together and eat, drink and be merry! Our Thanksgiving this year was no different. We ate yummy food, drank some really good wine and had wonderful conversations on all sorts of topics. One topic much to my surprise that came up at the Thanksgiving table – The Humane Society of the

United States

. How you might ask did this come up? My aunt donates to them religiously each month – because you know they are helping with the placement and care of all those little dogs and cats. (Oh no!!)

Let me give you a brief family history~ my aunt is a lovely lady. She grew up on the family farm where I reside. She was active in the day to day activities, showed steers, her infamous Angus calf, “Tar Baby” was a county fair champion, she loved farm life. Upon graduation from Notre Dame College she married the love of her life and moved to the Bay area. She lived her life now in the City and to this day still is a “city girl.” My aunt is now 80 years old – she has been away from the farm for 60 some years.

As we visited at Thanksgiving my mom started bragging about me – she is good for that- saying that I have been going around speaking to different groups about getting the conversation going in agriculture. My auntie was quite proud when she told me she donates money each month to the HSUS to help with the puppies and kittens. I about choked on my bite of turkey! What? Was my initial reaction. You do what? I instantly felt my tummy feeling jumbled and anxious. She explained to me that she got something in the mail and that she really felt it would not be much of a sacrifice to donate monthly. I proceeded to tell her about the HSUS and why it was better for her to funnel her monthly funds to our local pet shelter. I also told her that the goal of the HSUS was to end animal agriculture and farms such as ours. She was horrified, she had no idea. I felt good that I educated my auntie on the tactics of HSUS. We talked about it at some length. She now feels good that she will be sending her money to the local shelter and that this money will be put to good use.

The moral of the story is that even though you grow up on a farm doesn’t mean you are immune to the message of the HSUS. Big cities and older folks seem to be a good place for HSUS to market their agenda. My aunt is a prime example of a smart woman who was duped by the story that they told. My aunt supports farms and ranches but she truly thought she was doing a good thing by also supporting the HSUS.

It is not only a good idea to share your story it is a good idea to engage in conversations, listen, share and educate when needed. You never know who you will need to chat with! It might be your dear aunt across the Thanksgiving table J

Are you interested in finding out more about getting the correct information out about the HSUS - check out http://www.humanewatch.org/ - a great place that uncovers mistruths and promotes good dialogue.

The PUFFY jacket - a must for wintertime!

2011-11-25T10:43:00.001-08:00

Today is Black Friday and you cannot turn on the television or open up the newspaper or check out your email or facebook or twitter without countless ads about "lots of stuff" on sale for the holidays. I am here to say I am not a Black Friday shopper but figured since it is Friday why not a Black Friday Fashion Friday post.

My favorite thing that I have seen as an item for Black Friday Sales across America ~ the Puffy Jacket!!

I have seen these advertised in large retail outlets as well as higher end department stores. They are in a rainbow of bright colors and are tremendously fun ! Turquoise, hot pink, sunnyyellow, lime green, outrageous orange, electric blue and then of course all the "normal" colors. I have seen these very cute jackets really reasonably priced so be sure to investigate before you waste all your pennies. You can get a jacket and have some left over for a new scarf, mittens and a hat !

my very own travel show ~

2011-11-15T08:50:00.001-08:00

Seems as if life has been awhirlwind lately, my most recent adventure took me to the American AgriwomenConvention in Wichita, Kansas. While there I got to meet facebookfriend now real friend Lori Bammerlin. Lori is probably one of the most creative people I have yet to meet inmy adventures so thought I would shareher with all of you !

Lori made all of thesefabulous necklaces with an assortment of wonderful beads, she also has handpainted shoes, tshirts and really cool, fun hats! Old feed sacks turned tote bags and wranglersmade into fun skirts. Whats old is newagain with many of Lori's fun pieces.

My adventures take me tolots of places~ I feel as if I am on my own travel show , you know the ones you see on TV. My travels hook me up with interesting peopleengaged in agriculture and sharing a common passion and just sometimes they aredoing extra fun things that spark my interest, like Lori and her cool treatswith a western style flair. I couldn’tkeep her to myself so I figured I would share her with all of you –

If you are interested inLori and her creations you can email her at ag06grad@yahoo.com - or check out her blog at http://homeontherangeexhange.blogspot.com- she can take it from there!

“Never give up on something you dream about every day”

2011-11-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Not sure where I saw this but it was awhile ago, I taped it to my computer so that I could reflect on it daily. (yes I am weird like that)

I have wanted to perfect my image, put everything under one umbrella, make it nice and neat. Blog, stationary, business cards- you name it I like a nice concise look. With the help of my dear friend I am well on my way. She is one of those techy, super smart computer geeks, (in a good way) . I have now created a nice bio sheet so when someone says “Celeste can I get your bio?” I can say “Sure, let me send that to you right away.” I feel like I am complete!

Excited for the opportunities ahead of me ~ for now I can venture out looking good ! Whether it be writing for a magazine, blogging on my own thoughts, speaking to the world on why I love farming and ranching or presenting a business card to someone I meet face to face – I can do it feeling good about the initial presentation.

What y’all think ?

What do you think about every day? Don’t give up on it ! Keep at it until you make it a reality however small or large it might be !!!

Until next time when I find something fun to write about ~

Old McDonald Had A Farm.........................and then he went to the CITY

2011-10-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Bright and early Thursday morning I made the grand trek to San Francisco to be a part of a memorable experience. Sharing my love of agriculture with young people in the San Francisco School District, over 10,000 of them! And so the story begins~~~~

I made my way to

251 Sixth Street

. Being a veteran of shopping in downtown SF I knew exactly where

Sixth Street

was so I was excited I did not have to wiggle my way trying to figure out where my assigned school would be. For I have visited Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdales numerous times and goodness my school was only a few blocks away – how convenient for after wards. Or was it? As I made my way I searched for 251 sixth and could not find it, I decided to pay $ 10 to park and walk and explore, it couldn’t be too far. Ummmmm , first lesson of the day!!! There is a difference between

251 Sixth ST

and

251 Sixth AVE

- Nooooooooooooo – did I write down the wrong address? How could I? I was early, prepared, ready to conquer my class with all things agriculture. Yep after a call to my partner Chris I found out I was at the wrong SIXTH and the one I needed to be at in less than 5 minutes was completely on the other side of SF. Oh my- jumped in my car and headed west and within a short time of wiggling through the SF streets I found my school. A sweet small school of children from K to 5^th grade. Whew, only about a half hour late but thanks to my partner for the day he started without me and was already rockin it.

Ok, now I was ready to tell my story and I did. I proceeded to talk about my family cattle ranch and why I was there, to talk about farms, ranches, answer questions and focus on my presentation of the day – Beef Byproducts! Children were amazed when they learned that chewing gum, baseball gloves, fine china and medicines were all a part of the beloved cow. Ewwwwww, Yuk and really? Were some of the comments I heard but then described the by product as an ingredient of the big picture comparing to a cookie. Mixing flour, sugar, eggs, butter etc to create the perfect cookie it is no different than cow horn being finally ground up and added to other ingredients to make the fine china your mom uses at Christmas dinner. They seemed to make the connection! Success!

I did find it interesting that one teacher told me she promoted organic, vegan practices with her class and said that many of the young people’s families ate organic, hormone free, or vegan options. My response, really why is that? Because that is the best. My response was that this was one choice of so many, all of which are produced by American Farmers and Ranchers. She then told me that the by product lesson my partner and I gave that day would probably have some pushback from parents and she made a grimace. Really? I said, well here is my card and I encourage any parent that wishes to call or email me – I would be happy to discuss by products further. I was always asked if my family operation was grass fed – she certainly hoped so! I told her well for the first part of their life the calves are on grass until we sell them and then they do go into a feedlot before they are harvested. She looked at me as if I was an alien. Concluding that once again the beauty of our farmers and ranchers and of consumers is that we have options! Options on methods to produce, options on what to buy and consume. Bottom line it is important to be educated on ALL options so that you then can make responsible choices for your family.

The children were eager to learn about the farm and where food came from and how it was produced, I was happy to share it all with them. I wanted to scoop them all up take them home with me and share the life I led with each and every one of them so they too could experience the life I love.

Our children in public schools should have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of farms not just grass fed farms or just organic farms, only hormone free farms or only conventional farms. They should be able to have it all. I do not believe that they should be influenced by one teacher because she has chosen a vegan way of life. I believe it is our job as farmers and ranchers to tell the story, to share the options, to be a resource, to share the facts, to educate, to build the bridge. I encourage everyone to check their schools, what are your kids learning? Is all information being given? Lets be sure! Farmers are Farmers – I don’t believe we need to have our kids starting to pit one type against another.

After visiting my school I realized that children love famers! They did not care if we were organic or conventional, whether we were grass fed or hormone free, they accepted me for who I was and that is what is most important. We can learn a lot from kids!!

Special thanks to California Foundation for Ag in the Classroom on celebrating 25 years of bringing agriculture education to our young people and thank you for letting me be a part of a very special day and sharing my ag story. I know I can speak for the over 250 volunteers that merged into San Francisco Schools , the experience for us was just as rewarding as those of the children. Lets keep doing good things for California Agriculture~ Why? Because it is our obligation to fellow farmers and ranchers , that’s why !!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side~

2011-10-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

So I have missed a week with my usual blog – time keeps clipping along and it seems I am pedaling as fast as I can to keep up ! The good news is I have been out and about promoting YOU and I and all the other farmers and ranchers across America. However as I always say, we cant talk cows all the time so lets take a quick break and talk clothes.

So what shall we visit about today? How about Leopard! Another fashion tip from Couture Cowgirl ~ own at least one item that is leopard! Make the print a staple in your accessory wardrobe. Its timeless, a bit edgy and always fabulous.

Thinking big and bold how about a twinset or maybe even a coat. Or what about these great shoe booties? Adorable!! However some of you might be a bit afraid to jump into animal print so go small like maybe a thin small belt, ballet flats, a headband or a scarf. Pair it with all black or camel or even red !

Take a walk on the wild side and try it , just a little goes a long way ! Fun Stuff !

(ps I promise to be better with the weekly posts - until next time )

A "Bombtastic" Evening

2011-10-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

This past week I had the opportunity to do the invocation at the California Farm Bureau California Bountiful Gala. It was a wonderful night honoring long time friend of agriculture, Cotton Rosser. The evening was filled with unforgettable moments and people who inspire me. I was like a little girl in a candy shop visiting all the wonderful people, some that were longtime friends, others I had just met. I scurried from group to group to make sure I did not leave anyone out ! While there I met one of my all time favorites Baxter Black. I remember seeing him many years ago at the American Junior Hereford Association Convention in Kansas City- he made an impression on me then and still does today.

He took time to visit with me and to me that meant so much since there were so many folks clamoring around wanting a photo op or to bend his ear. Words of encouragement in those couple minutes will last forever.

What a gem of a young man. Baxter – you are the real deal. Thank you for carving out time in your busy evening to spend with me! You are bombtastic!

~Sometimes you meet someone that touches you and leaves an impression. And for that you are so ever grateful ~

Make Drab Fab!

2011-09-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Fashion Friday already~ Wow! Time sure has a way of zipping on by doesnt it?
Today we will continue our discussion on the 50 most Fabulous things FarmGirls should know about fashion and accessories.

Accessorize With Brights!!
Many of us have a closet filled with camel, black , gray and navy. What might be considered a bit drab by itself turns fab when you add a pop of color. These pieces are the staples or canvas for us to create an exciting outfit. By gathering up accessories, meaning jewelry, shoes, scarves , handbags or even head bands in fun textures, colors, metals and fabrics means we can create all sorts of wonderful new looks. How about a black pair of slacks, black turtleneck and then red shoes and a fun floral headband with hints of red ? Or maybe go with a camel color scheme and add a pair of leopard or animal print ballet flats. And if you are more into just jeans how about adding a fun printed scarf or some big chunky bracelets. Lots of fun and so many ideas.

What is your idea of dressing up some of your fun staples?

Need other ideas, my friend at Crystal Cattle does such a fun job of pairing wonderful things together , her sense of style is like no other , have fun checking out her blog at http://www.crystalcattle.blogspot.com/ or just check her out by looking at the left side of my page , she is one that I follow regularly ! That might be easier for you. She too talks everything from clothes to cows and all in between, she is our kinda gal.

Do you want to hear more on Fridays about Fashion, do you live in the midwest - tune in to KFRM Radio out of Clay Center, Kansas at noon for Rural Route Radio with Trent Loos,Kyle Bauer and Duane Toews - and yes ME doing Fashion Friday tips for all of my fun farmgirls out on the Plains and on the Prairie. Lots of fun for sure !! Or listen online at http://www.kfrm.com/ or http://www.ruralrouteradio.com/

Until next time~

50 Fashion Tips, Let the Fun begin~

2011-09-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

I recently ran across a great article talking about the 50 Best Fashion Tips of All Times. I thought so much of it that I thought to myself – Wow! This would be great for Fashion Friday to share with my Fun Fashion Forward FarmGirls. What to buy, what to pass on, what to look for and what can we pull together to create something that says Ultra- Fab!!

Let’s get started……………….

The White T-shirt, Tank and Blouse

They dress up jeans, look great with skirts and are timeless with a pair of slacks. I like to keep a few on hand because I absolutely cannot stand when they lose their bright white color. My suggestion is Hanes Tanks and T’s for wearing under sweaters or with jeans, Then invest in a nicer button down to wear when you get dressed up. I buy the mens t-shirt packs of three – Yep I do and I make them my own. Why is it that they are so much cheaper than the same brand women’s tanks and t’s??? Hmmmmm. They are cheap and when they get a bit ratty-looking or lose their fresh pop of color I can go back and replace them at a minimal cost. Keeping a good inventory of white tanks, t’s and a button down or two is a wardrobe staple.

Check back next week for our next wardrobe must have !

Nail It !

2011-09-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of nail polish. With my old ranch hands I need something to perk them up and make them look a bit girly from time to time so I like to paint my nails. Fall is in the air and just like a change of wardrobe for fall , the tips of your fingers need to follow suit.

Gone is the fluorescent shades of summer, green, yellow , pink and blue. Personally I never got into this trend it was just a bit too much for me but I do love however the new colors for fall. Shades of brown, neutrals, dark reds and dark greens and grays are taking front and center stage on our short filed down tips.

Nail color should complement your outifits. Never have nails that scream – “ look at me” – I think it is best to choose a shade that works with all of your fall tweeds, plaids and rich deep gem colors.

My favorite polish is Essie and you can now purchase Essie polishes at mainstream drug and discount stores. It was once an exclusive salon polish but like many things it has made its way into CVS pharmacy stores and Targets across the country. Typical price is right around $7-8 per bottle ! A cheap investment to add a little punch to your outfit and they make those old ranch hands look a little prettier .

A Little Bit of Magic Found in Middle America

2011-09-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Many of you know from following me on Facebook that I took some time to visit Nebraska this past week. Some might also remember me sharing that I did a report on Nebraska in 4th Grade. I did a booklet with the state flower, bird, state seal , etc etc. The typical grade school project. During my oral report to the class I said someday I would visit. Time passed and at 43 years young I finally took my trip to Nebraska! Thanks to some amazing friends offering a visit!

What a wonderful little part of rural America! My adventure brought me to the Nebraska State Fair where I spent a few days helping friends with 4-H animal projects. I was simply amazed by the amount of people participating in the Fair and the Fairgrounds itself - Wow! I fell in love with the washracks and the electrical outlets - I know sounds a bit strange but when you have shown at numerous cattle shows you can appreciate good facilities! They were top of the line ! Big screen televisions in all the barns showcasing the classes in the ring and alerting young people of their next class - quite cool.

I met alot of wonderful people, some that were facebook friends that now are real friends. Some found out I was at the fair so they swung by to meet me and visit , bringing me a tshirt from their local 4-H club or breed association - fun stuff! I will be sure to wear them with pride throughout California !!

On the final day I had the opportunity to watch the market steer grand champion drive- I have never witnessed such an outpouring of support for young people! Literally hundreds of people gathered to watch the champion selection and hear the words of the cattle judge share his thoughts not only on the calves before him but the importance of young people. I have heard numerous speeches given by folks from throughout California discussing the importance of young people and commitment to agriculture but I have yet to hear it with the meaning and the heartfelt truth that I did during this show. Nebraskas commitment to young people and agriculture is something they can be extremely proud of , many of us talk the talk but in Nebraska it was evident they walk the walk as well !

After my Fair Adventure I got to spend some time with a real Nebraska Farm Family. There home is a small slice of magic in the heart of America. Their commitment to family, to their livestock and to their friends is next to none. It was humbling for this California Girl to spend some time in a place where makeup did not matter, where what I wore did not matter, where who I was or where I came from did not matter - the only thing that seemed to matter was those moments that I spent feeding pigs, chasing little donkeys, playing with doggies and spending time talking about REAL things that truly mattered.

I want to thank all of you that made my Nebraska experience one I will certainly never forget. Thank you for introducing me to Mountain Dew made with real sugar, Runzas, skrew top cheap wine $2.77 per bottle to be exact and dill pickle sunflower seeds :) :)

You guys are the REAL DEAL - everyone should have the opportunity to take a trip to the heart of America and to give you the feeling that you matter and find your newfound love of all things agriculture- give you a shot in the arm that agriculture is alive and well. Look out California, I have a new excitement for our industry - who knows whats in store next !!!

Spring Forward!

2011-09-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

A peek into the year ahead~

Fall is in the air but Spring is on the minds of fashion designers everywhere. It is said that one sign of a retreating storm is a rainbow. A rainbow is what you will find when you checkout the 2012 spring line of clothing.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle Personal Journal , colors will be vibrant and saturated! Look ahead to below the knee skirts, high necklines and overall less skin showing. Many seem to be thinking retro and 1960 style thoughts.

This is not the last you will hear of this , eager to share lots more in the months ahead but thinking y'all might want a glimpse into what the Fashion World will be showcasing in 2012!

Until next time ~

A little bit of QUEEN in all of us!

2011-08-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

As time marches on I get more and more excited about my fashion blog! It has really found its way to fun rural areas of America! Not only are we blogging about my two loves agriculture and fashion we now have a spot on Rural Route Radio with Trent Loos each Friday ~ Really? Pinch me ! How fun ! Excited for the opportunities that seem to keep popping up , but enough of that lets talk clothes.

A couple weeks ago after the radio show aired I had one young woman facebook me and ask about Rodeo Queen Fashion. Now, I was never a rodeo queen but I just love them all , they are all so beautiful and always look so lovely. The question she posed to me was this, What does a young girl wear to run for rodeo queen in small town rural

America

?’ So I did some investigating to find out and talked about it today on my radio segment and figured I would visit about it here too!

First of all being a rodeo queen is 90 % self confidence so if you look good in what you are wearing it will shine through! The most important tips are color and fit of clothes, in style hair, hat shape and makeup. Monochromatic outfits are good to compete in but if it is not in your budget then it is best to have clothes that fit and compliment you rather than a full matching outfit.

Check out http://www.rodeoroyalty.com/ to check out what other queens are wearing. Get a feeling for what is in right now. Big chunky jewelry can really dress up any outfit. Blue jeans will work , so if you find a cut of jean that fits you well pair with a nice collared shirt and hat and splash that fun jewelry you will be all set.

One tip is that you can find used clothing that might be able to fit what you are looking for. By doing a search on your computer you might be able to come up with some lovely outfits for minimal cost. And another thing, there may be a seamstress in your rural community that has a knack for creating some fabulous pieces; it is worth a shot to check it out.

Bottom line you don’t need to spend lots and lots of money~ with a bit of investigative work on the computer and within your own community you will be able to create something fun and suitable to fit your own unique style !

Cows and Clothes ~ The Making of a Fabulous Weekend !

2011-08-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Its Wednesday and why not talk fashion today? I wont be near a computer on Friday for my normal Fashion Friday segment because I will be traveling to the beautiful Sonoma Valley to visit with Hereford Friends from around the country. We will be raising our glasses of vino while raising money for young people within the Hereford breed. Being a past national officer I am honored and excited to be a part of this epic event!! I am excited to visit with old friends and make some new ones. You can guarantee there will be lots of exciting fashions spotted at the Gala on Saturday night and you can guarantee I will have lots of new things to post following my return. But in the meantime lets talk Fall Fashion!

Every girl can use a Fall Fashion Cheat Sheet – Thank you San Francisco Chronicle Style Sheet~

The Palette~ Saturated colors and jewel tones. Cobalt blue, plum, purple, magenta, emerald and jade green. The new neutral is winter white.

The Coat~ Outerwear in bright colors, parkas, ponchos and fur vests.

The Pants~ Wide legs, high waisted trousers (not sure about this one yet) and skinny cigarette pants.

The Jeans~ Colored !

The Blouse~ Bow front (personally not a real fan of this trend either but who knows I might give it a try for that sexy secretary look – hee hee)

The Bag ~ Structured top handle bags in leather with croc or snake print.

The Shoe~ A pump and coordinating back to the bag.

The Details~ Lace and leather

Hopefully you can take some time to rummage through your closet and see just what you might have in there from seasons past, what is old is new again !

If not , maybe treat yourself to something fun for Fall

Happy Shopping !

Until next time ~

Cheers to you - MOM!!

2011-08-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Mothers are the world to us when we were small...our lives revolved around her. For everything that we need we call mother. To protect us from all perceivable dangers we want her around us. To kiss away our wounds we run to her. And for a warm hug and love we look for her. She is the focal point of our lives, the greatest human being in the world or should we say divinity on earth. Mothers are the greatest blessing God can give us

Cheers to you for the countless hours spent on 4-H projects, making food for the brandings, driving bean truck to the hopper or driving the truck as we stacked hay out of the field, being presidents club president, room mother, 4-H leader, mentor, spiritual advisor, dedicated wife, ranch hand, best cook in the world, housecleaner, 3 meals a day kinda lady, gardener, kid taxi, fair mom, junior cattle advisor, travel partner, tail fluffer (yes years ago when we had to spray and twist tails into a ball my mother was the absolute best !!- kids from far and wide would ask if MOM could help rat a tail – it was quite a talent – really ) teacher, best daughter in law ever, confidant, go the extra mile kinda gal …………………………above and beyond my very best friend.

Happy Happy Birthday Mom – Thank You, it’s that simple- I never could have found a better one! So very blessed that Baby Paige has a NONI that will show her all the good in life that you showed John and I

I love you MOM!!!

Mom and I in Italy ~ a trip of a lifetime!!

HEY ! We’ve Got An App for That

2011-08-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Seems like everywhere you turn there is a new phone application popping up for your Smart Phone~ The Fashion World is no different. You can now download applications that can create personal look books, an option for maps depending on shopping destination, catalog browsing and options to go directly to the designer’s shops.

Shopping has always been a very social experience, its fun, it’s relaxing and now you can shop by phone.

Some suggestions of fun new applications to check out~

Lookaroo
Fashion Nomad
VIZL
GreenGlamGo
Catalog Spree

And for those of you that have inquired already ~ NO the couture cowgirl has no intentions of creating her own app – at least not for now ;)

Grab that phone and get after it – there is a whole new world of shopping experience out there!!

Until next week~

Fashion Fades~Style Remains the Same

2011-07-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

As we continue to venture down our Fashion for Farm Girls path I think we probably need to back up a bit and maybe start with some basics. I was so very excited to start this blog about fashion that I jumped right in and started sharing ideas about what was the “in “ item for the season, things I could not live without or the perfect shade of nail polish.

Since I started my blog I now have new followers who actually email me questions! Can you believe it? So much fun!! Welcome Aboard fellow fashionistas, we are happy to have you.

So, getting back to my thought for this blog, thinking we need to get back to the basics of style. What is your fashion style? Yes, everyone has one and if you don’t think you do then do some homework and get one!

I believe the goal of personal style is to change your look each and every day if you wish but always continue to look like yourself.

I find myself doing fashion homework all the time. I love to look in magazines and read books on what is the latest and greatest. I recently came across the

Six Ways

to Find Your Style and thought I would share with all of you. This will help you on your journey to becoming a Fun Fashionable Farm Girl. Many of you are already fun and farm girls we are just gonna help with the fashion piece of it.

Make Tear Sheets – read lots of books and magazines and tear out photos that interest you. Over time you will find there is a pattern to what you like, what is timeless and what is trendy.
Write Your Own Style History – where does your style come from, I believe mine came from my grandma. She was eclectic and pure fabulousness all in one. We will blog about her later – stay tuned.
Try Lots of Looks – Experiment! Try on lots of things to know what works and what doesn’t.
Ask Yourself Questions – What flatters you? What fabrics do you love? What in your closet do you come back to again and again?
Find Your Style Icon – This is simple, find someone who you emulate and talk to them!
Make An Effort – Style does not appear on its own, you must make some sort of effort to try.

As said by the famous Italian designer Miuccia Prada~

“People ask me how I can be stylish and elegant, what can I wear? My only answer is to study, you have to learn! “

I love to study fashion , my fashion bible – I love your style by Amanda Brooks and I can thank her for many of the thoughts that I include on my blogs – Thanks Amanda – you are the best!!

So what is your personal style? What defines you? Excited to be a part of your style journey- it is a constant evolving process, we switch and change but eventually you come to a balance and find the style within you!

(thank you Coco Chanel for inspiring a great title for todays blog)

From Farm to Fabulous in one Afternoon ~

2011-07-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

From The Farm to a romantic afternoon or evening wedding , chic and cheap outfit ideas are a must! If you are lucky enough to be on the guest list why not get something fun where you can look chic in the heat yet polished.

I am a personal fan of the “shift” dress. Shifts are all the rage right now. One like this (above) looks simple, classic yet special for a wedding or some other event where you have to add a little “oomph” – oh you know what I mean. Add a fun headband, some strappy sandals and gold bangle bracelets and you are ready to go! For those located out on the coast (like me) a wrap of a complimentary color would complete the look too !

Need some ideas for a shift dress - shop Nordstrom.com for some great ideas!

Until next week~

Clutch Play

2011-07-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

What is classic, timeless and less likely to go out of style than any other handbag?

The Clutch!

Some of you might wonder what a clutch is. A clutch looks like a giant wallet, sometimes with a handle sometimes not but easily able to tuck under your arm. They are great to stash credit cards, lip-gloss, your phone and keys – all the necessities in one spot for a quick trip shopping or a night on the town when you don’t want to carry a bulky big bag.

I use a clutch everyday and keep it tucked inside my big tote bag that holds my ipad, journal book for writing down fabu things I see during my day; you never know when a story or blog idea might be right in front of you, and all my other “stuff.” It makes it so easy to just grab your clutch and your off in case you need to do a quick errand during the day.

Clutches come in all sorts of sizes from flat envelope looking ones to boxy little ones. Leather, fur, faux animal skins, shiny, matte, you name it seems like they have one to fit every personality.

The clutch, a delicious way to complement your wardrobe!

Until next time~

The Real Dirt

2011-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am lucky enough to be associated with some amazing young women through my work with California Women for Agriculture. We are gonna vere off the weekly fashion thoughts to get serious for a minute or two - On June 13, 2011 the Washington DC Enviromental Working Group released 12 fruits and vegetables that called "dirty" meaning they felt there were pesticide residues on these items that were real great for ya.

As a proud California Rancher and Clothes Hound, myself along with some of my CWA Teammates created the following thoughts in response to the comments from the Enviromental Working Group - Here ya go~

http://www.knowacaliforniafarmer.com/blog/the-real-dirt

I have submitted our thoughts to a terrific website "Know a California Farmer" , I ask all of you to not only check out what we had to say but to make this website a place to come to familiarize yourself with farming and ranching in California .

Dont worry - we will be back next week with some fun fashion tips and ideas but sometimes we need to get a bit serious , like today ! Thoughts are always encouraged!

The Ever So Popular ~ Collectible T

2011-06-24T08:02:00.000-07:00

You can never have enough plain white tshirts – they go with absolutely everything. From v neck to cap sleeve, scoop neck to long sleeve or crew neck and ¾ length sleeve, the white tshirt is a wardrobe staple. It is timeless! Dress them up or down, every girl should have a few of them to complete her wardrobe.

But sometimes you need to branch out to the “collectible tshirt.” All of us have them. You know concert tshirts, old logo school team tshirts or your favorite eatery or hang out. Colorful collectible tees are fun and make a statement. I like to wear my short sleeve tees with a long sleeve tee underneath or maybe even a thin long sleeve hooded tee to give it an extra bit of character. Collectible tees are a way of expressing ourselves.

What? You don’t have a collectible tee – well why not support the industry we love and purchase an “I love Farmer” tee from http://www.ilovefarmers.org/. Order your graphic collectible tee today. I promise this will never go out of style. They are made from American cotton,hold a tremendous shape, wash up really well and you cant beat the saying across the front. (I know I have one in every color )

Collectible tshirts – a fun way to express yourself ! And……………. They look great with a pair of jeans, cool belt, tennis shoes and you know me – a scarf wrapped a million times around my neck! Fun Stuff!

The Jean Jacket ~ Always a Fashion YES !

2011-06-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a book I have had for awhile and thought ……… “ hmmmmm, this is a perfect tool for my Fun Fashion for FarmGirls blog.” It is a book I picked up years ago on how to define and refine your personal style. So exciting!

As I flipped through the pages I came across a section on the JEAN JACKET. Whether you are a FarmGirl or not I will bet you own this wardrobe staple. Some people have said that the jean jacket goes out of style, however I believe it is as timeless as the “LBD – little black dress.”

There are all sorts of jean jackets but I think the best is the worn, soft, faded light blue denim. I wear my denim jacket all year long- at cattle shows with a fun paisley rag tied around my neck or over my maxi dress with flip flops. I also think they look great with a crisp white shirt, slacks and flats with some pearls. You can dress it up or dress it down. I think your best bet is to not keep it too structured. And yes I tend to think they are even a bit better with a hole or two.

This is a photo of me with one of my favorite jean jackets ( I have a few of them) – this is my friend Matt J I have known him forever!

So go into your closet or maybe even into your back porch on the rack that holds all of your work coats – wash up that jean jacket, put a bit of fabric softener in your washing machine and start using it as a fashion staple! You will look great – I promise!

Friday Fun FarmGirl Fashion Thought ~

“I am different, I like it and I thrive on my sense of individuality” (not sure who said it but I liked it)

What To Do With An Extra Benny ~

2011-06-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Lets play pretend~

Lets pretend you had an extra $100 to spend on summer clothes – what would you buy?

And thanks to the glut of cheap fashion nowdays you can find fashion everywhere. Many malls and websites are filled with markdowns but I tend to enjoy fast fashion chains like Target and H and M Stores that carry designer labels but at extremely low prices- seems to be the new trend. Top designers like Vera Wang have now made their way into vast retailers such as this with the same edgy, fun style but literally hundreds of dollars cheaper. Of course the fabrics are not as fancy but to get you through the summer - well its not even a question. Lets get started~

Here Celeste's top three picks for summer fun.

the maxi dress – we have blogged about this before, I am in love with the maxi dress. I think they are so fun and can be dressed up or down, paired with a denim jacket or a wrap – they are simply the perfect dress for summer – guaranteed. They can be dressed up or down and that is why I love them.
the sheer wrap – gauzy material is really in right now and a great light weight scarf is perfect for summer. Wear it as a full body wrap, tie it around your neck as a scarf or if you have a smaller version you can wrap or tie it around your head as a headband.The wrap is my staple item all year long - they are easy enough to throw in your bag and have to add a little extra "punch" to an outfit or take off a chill on those cooler summer nights.
costume jewelry – stacks of bracelets are a must . pile them on ! You can buy bracelets now sold in stacks. I love bracelets and my motto is the more the merrier!!! Faux cocktail rings, faux diamond hoops and other fun pieces help you express who you are. I tend to opt for one main fun piece - too much costume jewelry is overkill - just my thoughts on this !

I promise you if you have $100 and go to a broad retailer like the ones mentioned earlier I will guarantee you can get all of these items and then maybe even have a few dollars left for some cute flip flops and a latte.

I am curious – what fun outfits would you create with your $100 ?

Beauty Must Haves for Summer~

2011-06-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

I am drugstore junkie! I admit it ! I try every new face cream, shampoo, hairspray, nail polish, lip gloss, bronzer and bubble bath that makes it to the store shelf. Sooooooooooooooo, when I saw this I had to take a closer look and share with all of my FarmGirls interested in Fun Fashion!!!

As summer begins to roll around (we certainly would not know it with this crazy weather) it is time to think about the absolute musts to complete our summer beauty bag- maybe if we pick up a few of these essentials summer will get the hint it needs to get started~

Today MSN Lifestyle takes a look at products ranging from high end to items you can find in your local retailer.

Check them out here~

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/makeup-skin-care-hair/staticslideshowrealbeauty.aspx?cp-documentid=28895262&gt1=32002

Use these products and you might just enjoy summer a wee bit more ! And................. you will look great!

~ everything coming up flowers~

2011-05-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

I love headbands – I wear something on my head almost every day. My newest favorite is the crochet-type headband with a flower- Like this one ! I have turquoise, hot pink, yellow, orange, gray, black – need I keep going ? I have flowered, crystals, jeweled, glitter, crochet, thin, thick, sometimes I wear two or three thin ones at a time!! I love them-

Headbands with flowers are all the rage right now. You can find them everywhere but ……………… Why not make your own? How? Its simple! Go to any store that carries hair barrettes, headbands, hair supplies. Nothing fancy- pick up a head band or barrette that suits your fancy – some of us will go bigger and bolder than others. Choose your headpiece and then head to your favorite craft store for some hot glue, artificial flowers and maybe some crystals. Hot glue the flower to the headband or barrett and then adorn with some crystals – Voila!!!!! Instant fun headband !!!!

Ya didn’t know I was so creative did you ?

Wordless Wednesday - Ever So Grateful !

2011-05-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for my brother, John

It's that simple ~ I dont say it enough!

Its a Wrap! ~ Bracelet that is !

2011-05-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

The wrap bracelet. A must to complete your summer outfits. How cute are these?

I found them on the Modern Cowgirl website- What? You have not heard of Modern Cowgirl? Then you must check her out! Lots of fun jewelry, clothing and inspiring words to help create the inner cowgirl in all of us !!!

Personally I would wear these with some fun silver or gold bangles to create a stacked look. You can use them to add a western flair to any outfit or if you like a bohemian inspired look - which is really all the rage right now that will work too. Wear them alone or stacked - whatever fits your fancy on any certain day but I can definitely see these fun little leather wraps as a summer staple.

stop by http://www.moderncowgirl.com/ to find these and more fun treats!

Lets Share! If you have a fun website that offers great Fun Fashion for us FarmGirls be sure to let us all know - because we cant talk cows all the time , sometimes a girl has got to be ..............well a girl !

Enjoy the Start of Summer -

Wordless Wednesday~ Family Makes The Farm

2011-05-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Farm has been in our family since the early 1900's

We continue to work hard so that it is around for her future , so she will experience the wonders of farmlife !

Family is the cornerstone of our farm ~ for without them I would be nothing~

I am blessed

Fun Fashion for FarmGirls is Born~

2011-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I was asked by my fellow agriculture enthusiast Amanda Radke my advice on what she should wear for an upcoming television appearance. I was so excited, as I love to help people pick out clothes, shoes and jewels for different special events !! As we chatted back and forth on facebook sharing thoughts and ideas other facebook friends chimed in and it got me thinking!!! Why not focus my Couture Cowgirl blog on Fun Fashion for Farm Girls? This would be a place to share ideas via social media and my blog- what fun? Right? So I figured I would give it a try and see how it goes. I am passionate about agriculture issues and enjoy sharing my thoughts however I figured this might be a good place where we don’t have to think much and we can have lots of fun playing dress-up. Do you have a special event you need to dress for? Or are you curious on the “now” trends? Or maybe you just need a break from all the craziness we deal with within our industry on a day to day basis and need to chill for a moment or two- well then this will be your spot to come and enjoy !

Let the fun begin ~ Today lets talk hats!

(and just a note - I am certainly not a fashion expert- I just love decorating myself and expressing myself through clothing and accessories)

I Tip My Hat

I adore hats! I have lots of them! Ball caps, visors, cowboy hats, beanie hats, big straw hats, little cute summer hats, Frank Sinatra type hats, and headbands – I have trillions of them ! Do I look funny in some of them ? Maybe ~ but I really enjoy wearing them so that is all that really matters , right?

As we finish up the extravagant wedding of new Royal couple we saw many hats. Hats adorned with feathers, swirls, big hats, hats that looked like a flying saucer, flowered hats, little hats and things that really didn’t even look like a hat. Women adorned themselves with elaborate creations from traditional to fanciful known as fascinators says TIME magazine. Fashion watchers had a hey day checking out the most exquisite hats and then those deemed definite faux pas. However I admire these lovely ladies for having the guts to put on a hat and have a good time.

~Friends wearing their personalities on their heads~

This weekend we get ready for the Kentucky Derby and that is another time where a fabulous hat is a must. I have always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby and wear a fancy hat- that is on my bucket list- I have yet to check that one off my list. Kentucky Derby hats always seem giant to me and have so much personality. I love them. They remind me of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman- remember the fabulous brown polka dot dress and the creamy white straw hat? Simply adorable!!

I believe hats are an extension of your personality and how you are feeling that day. Do you wear a hat? I would be curious. I don’t believe hats ever go out of style so what are you waiting for. I tip my hat to each of you for wearing your personality on your head.

Why not? Its fun!!

Cheers to Moms!

2011-04-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

Unlike many of you I was not blessed in life with children, but don’t get me wrong I am the best Zia around (that’s aunt in Italian). My brother and his wife brought Paige into our world just about three years ago. Paige lives on the Ranch with all of us and loves being engaged in many of our day to day activities. She always manages to scoot outside and help either Papa or Daddy or Z (as I am referred to) with some sort of ranch task. Seems as of late, she thinks all water troughs need to be fixed just so she can roll up her sleeves and put her hands in the cool water! I have come to love Paige like my own and I think I might have just a glimpse of what mommy hood is all about. What a tremendous joy!

The more I am involved in Paige’s everyday life the more I find myself interested in the Mommy Blogs and what Mommies have to say. I want the best for my niece and through their stories of raising their children, foods they enjoy or experiences they have had I find myself really learning from them. Craziness I know, who would have ever thought. I have come to realize the importance of the Mommies out there telling our ag stories. There is a connection between them, camaraderie of sorts, a friendship, a common bond. I find myself wanting to learn from them and hear what they have to say. They are important, they have a voice, and they are the influencers of our ag future. These little people someday will be doing what we do, they will be telling the ag story.

I can only hope that I can instill good things into my niece Paige so that she will be a responsible young advocate, not afraid to share her thoughts as she goes to school or on the playground. To know wrong from right and to know how her food is produced and that farmers and ranchers are the core of that.

I want to thank all the mommies out there for being my inspiration. For taking the time out of your crazy, busy days to share your stories with the rest of us . As a dear friend told me, you don’t need to give birth to be a mommy; it’s the love in your heart that makes you one. This made my heart smile! Hopefully I can be a good influence on many of my little friends :)

Best Wishes Baby Paige on a life filled with agriculture and appreciation for your roots!

Z loves you very much and is already so proud of the little lady you are becoming!!

Until my next thought~

"MAXium Style" ~ Fashion Friday

2011-04-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Its a Fashion Friday and today I want to share one of my favorite things ~ The Maxi Dress!
I absolutely Love Love Love this look! You might have a few questions so here we go~

What is Maxi Dress?

Maxi Dress is a dress with formfitting at the top and loose flowing at the bottom, cut to flow over the body. Maxi Dress usually made out of cotton or polyester. They come in a variety of necklines, colors and patterns. The word "Maxi" come from "Maximum" since this dress is long or maximum length, and it's bring a maximum comfortable to wear. Usually maxi dresses are comfortable and stylish, so it's best for any occasion.

( for the record- I am not endorsing these stars just thought the dresses were cute :)

love the first one !!!)

What shoes do you wear with a Maxi?

Personally I like to wear strappy sandals or flip flops for a laid back look. Some say you can wear high heels but I think they look better as a casual look - just me. Dont forget to paint your toes in a fun color, remember we need to go for the complete look!

Why would you wear a Maxi Dress?

I think they are fun and easy! I tend to like them because I think they look good on everyone. Some of us girls are a bit more generous than others and with a Maxi Dress you can go fitted, loose, short or long. They have straps, no straps or a halter version. I tend to like the fitted top half and a more flowing bottom. My bum is a bit big so it is a nice cover - you girls know what I mean :)

How do you wear a Maxi Dress?

I think a Maxi Dress looks great with strappy sandals and big chunky bracelets or maybe a long pile of necklaces. A vintage denim jacket looks great or of course I always throw on a wrap with mine in a fun complimentary color. Remember , my wrap is a Celeste Staple !! I also think Maxis look great with a bit of a tan - if you are not one to worship the golden sun I love the wide variety of tanning sprays and cremes out there, they do work really well and give you a hint of the sun !

Until next time~ Have a fashionable day!

Side Note for my Cow Peeps~
how about those cattle prices? Wow - we are having a rockin good spring!!!! We will talk cows next time!!

Wordless Wednesday~ AGvocates in the Making

2011-04-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

I am never at a loss for words, however, today I thought I would join my fellow bloggers for a Wordless Wednesday~ This one titled "AGvocates in the Making"- We have come a long way Jeff Fowle!
(photo from the National Junior Hereford Association Annual Convention - a long time ago )

Nail Polish Ponderings~

2011-04-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I am pretty classic when it comes to my nail polish colors, I am a red girl and when I venture out I will go shades of brown, gray or taupe but this season nail polish colors are tropical retro! Lagoon blue, Coral, Pineapple Yellow, Palm Fond Green and Sunburnt Orange are the new colors of the season. So how do we dip our toes in some of the newest colors without feeling uncomfortable for those of us used the classics? I say just that! Paint your toes! Go blue, green or yes Sara Landis even yellow. (inside story, My friend Sara told me about yellow being the all out rage, I personally thought she was a bit nutty until……………………. I know see yellow everywhere, she is cutting edge in Arkansas!! )

Polishes come in a wide range of price ranges and quality. I find that by shopping at my local Target store I can find great brands at pretty good prices though many times they might not have the “ in” color. Suggestion~ go to big name department stores or check out the end caps at retail chains and you are bound to find the “in” colors for the season. I believe that a fun new polish can liven up any old outfit so check it out and see what you can find. I have seen polish as cheap as 99 cents and as much as $10 plus – personally I wouldn’t spend a lot on a trendy color but that is just me , I never quite know if I am gonna love it. (why does it always look so pretty in the bottle ? )

I also suggest rounded short nails look best with these new bright hues but that is just me , what do I know I am just a cowgirl who likes to be a girly girl sometimes! Enjoy spring , enjoy the new fun colors that are at our fingertips and guess what if you do it and ya don’t like it , just get some remover and take it off and start all over !!!!

P.S. today I am wearing geranium from essie – a mix of orange and red and I am loving it !!! Fun Stuff!!!

AgVocates are Everywhere!

2011-03-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

I recently had the tremendous opportunity to address the California Young Farmers and Ranchers at their Annual Convention in Ventura, California. First of all I would like to commend the fantastic group of young people on their energy and enthusiasum for our industry. Makes me want to be young enough to be a member ! No such luck unfortunately !

As I spoke to the group I put emphasis on the given topic , “Strength in Numbers” and the power of joining forces with all agriculture organizations to better tell our ag story. Because that is what we do , right? Tell our ag story! And the more we do it the better we get the more educated those are that are listening.

However during the question and answer session I had one young lady ask ~ “what if you did not grow up on a farm or ranch or are not affiliated with an agriculture occupation, then how do you share the real life experiences of telling the ag story.” I was glad the young lady asked this question and for me the answer was quite simple. She is probably one of the best people to be telling the story to the general public because she supports agriculture! She might not have grown up on a farm or ranch but she believed in what we were doing and she was attending the YFR Conference. She is a voice for so many consumers out there who appreciate what we do , consume the safe and affordable products we provide and are willing to share that story to the masses.

Bottom line – you don’t have to be a part of production agriculture to be the best ag advocate. Sometimes being a consumer and supporting the ag way of life is the best spokesperson we can have for our industry. The “average joe” consumer can relate ! Never second guess the power of those who support us, we need them, they are an intricate piece of the big picture! For me its just that simple!

My First NY Times Experience~ real life opinions from down on the farm

2011-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with the Opinionator, a column in the New York Times. The column was written by Mark Bittman and titled-

Some Animals are Created More Equal Than Others - http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/some-animals-are-more-equal-than-others/

As I read the column I became anxious, I immediately wanted to respond. What would I say? So many people had already chimed in , in favor of the article and Bittmans thoughts. I then took a deep breath and decided that I have preached to the choir continuously about telling their stories and sharing their experiences so I decided that is exactly what I needed to do in this case. And so I did and this is what I wrote.

First of all I would like to start off by saying that I appreciate this is called the Opinionator – meaning it is the opinion or thoughts of someone contributing. All of us have thoughts or opinions on different topics; the way we farm in America or produce a wholesome, safe and affordable food supply is yet another and that is the opinion platform from which I would like to share.

My opinion is this – I have lived life on a cattle ranch going on 43 years. I was raised to respect the land and care for our livestock before really even caring for myself. At a young age I was taught that we would wake early and by 630 am all of our livestock would be fed and watered before we came in for breakfast and in the evenings that no matter what was on the agenda that day whether a trip to the park or a school function that we would be home by 4 pm because the livestock needed to be fed. Once nightly chores were complete we could finish up our day by having supper as a family. Years later that has still not changed, there is a family member on our ranch 365 days a year and that routine still holds true.

However often times than not you don’t get to hear real life stories from the farm so I felt the need to share some. You never know what might happen at night especially during calving season. Many nights I would climb into my truck to travel to our calving pasture to check first calf heifers that were about to calf, making sure all was well - many times it was a- ok but sometimes it wasn’t and a baby calf might need extra colostrum milk or some extra care so they would be put on the floor of my warm truck and taken to the barn and sometimes even to the back porch of my own home where I would then wake every three hours to give them a bottle of milk. Yes we have big baby bottle for calves too and a freezer full of colostrum that can be defrosted and used within minutes. Or what about the heifer that prolapses in the pouring rain and not only is a calf born and needing attention but now the mama does too as her uterus and everything but the kitchen sink is lying on the wet hillside. That cow is now a huge priority, taken to the corral, the vet called and hours later as I sit in the mud and with the assistance of my father and our handy veterinarian push her uterus back in along with everything else – sew her up and hope that what we have just done will now save her life – in many instances it has. Or what about finding a cow with her head stuck in a pipe fence looking for a bit of greener grass on the other side. (with cows the grass always seems to be greener ! ) No matter what we do we cant get her head out so we call friends up the road with a torch, my father takes off his shirt and sweat shirt and soaks them in a water trough nearby and places it over the cows head so that the sparks don’t get in her eyes and hurt her as the neighbor quickly cuts the metal piping to free the cow so that she can be on her merry way. Or the baby calf born with a broken leg because somehow when the mama gave birth something in the process went wrong and so we go to the hobby shop and get some flat wood and gauze and all the supplies needed to set the little leg, in time they are running around with the rest of the herd.

I can write story after story of my life on a farm and the compassion that I and fellow cattlemen have for our cattle operations. I guess I do take offense to some questioning my compassion for our livestock because they have not experienced my experiences and my life on a family farm. Folks can continue to post their opinions on the way we raise our animals, they can continue to say we pump them full of unnecessary antibiotics and that we don’t care. But on my family ranch we care and we do everything in our power to make sure our cattle are cared for 24 /7, 365 days a year. It is my life, it is what I do and I am proud to say that I love it and would have it no other way as well as the majority of farmers and ranchers in America. Do we get a lot of bad press? Sure seems so as of late but I am encouraging my fellow farmers and ranchers to share our stories to give all of you who read this as a glimpse into the world we live in each day, a world filled with compassion and commitment to our industry. I don’t like to think of it as bad press but an opportunity for us to share our stories to the rest of America that has not had the tremendous opportunities such as myself to live the life we do and experience it first hand.

I appreciate those reading for taking the time to do so and share their thoughts – I felt like I needed to do the same and just share my thoughts too !

I reviewed it a time or two and posted it . The next morning I read it again and I started to second guess what I had written. Was it too long? Did I use words the average American would not understand? Could I have worded it differently so it sounded a bit better and maybe more appealing? Thoughts raced through my head and then I took another deep breath and said to myself “ Celeste you have lived this experience and this is what it is like for you , stop second guessing yourself’ and I moved on.

Many times I find myself doing this and I will be the first to admit it , I wonder if what I am responding is good enough or wondering if the average American will relate but what I and many of you need to realize is our stories are just that – OUR stories and no one can tell us that our experiences are wrong or right, we just need to share them. When you speak from the heart and share your thoughts how can we go wrong? Really we cant.

My point with all of this – as many Americans have their opinions on the way we raise and care for our livestock we too have not only opinions but real life experiences!! No one can take that away from us, so share them, you will be surprised how many actually embrace the thoughts you share and that is only the beginning in getting the conversation going.

Why Do I Do It?

2011-03-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

Recently I read a great article in Farm and Dairy – “Emotion Trumps Science Everytime~ Farmers need to start with Why” by Susan Crowell

I applaud Susan for such a tremendous message! I too have always been one to think this. I believe science is a great resource at our fingertips and we need science for facts and figures to support the things we believe in. However I also think that when we are out AGvocating that the why we do it seems to always hit it out of the ball park.

Why do I do what I do ? Why do I ranch? Why do I AGvocate?

For me it is really quite simple~

I am steeped in the heritage of my family roots
I love waking up on the weekend and going with my dad to check cows about to calve
I love taking my niece- Baby Paige- with me on my four wheeler to feed at night
I love fixing fence and water troughs – well maybe not love but it gives me the opportunity to be out with the cows and that is what I love.
I love my ag family
I love the smell of sweet hay
I love the smell of cows – really I do !
I love watching my dad each spring prepare to plant his vegetable garden, order his seeds, start them in little trays and then take them out to grow his own little personal crop
I love seeing my mom prepare her menus each year as she takes food to us during branding time!
I love the industry I have grown up in and feel it is my obligation as a fellow farmer/rancher to share my story with all who I can engage in conversation.
I love caring for the animals, taking care of the little ones when maybe they cant get it done on their own
I love warm baby calves on the floor of my truck on cold nights
I love baby sheep bleating in a big box on the floor of my living room by the pot belly stove waiting for me to feed them
I love all the cows lined up on the “cow trail” walking to the water trough in a perfect line like they are on a mission
I love feeding hay on the back of the flatbed as my brother drives and taking time between fields to sit on the hay and admire the beauty of it all
I love to eat – too much at times – and because of farmers I am able too!
I love cowboy boots – I have all sorts!
I love carhart jackets and gloves and ball cap kinda days
I love YOU, my dear farming friends for helping me become my best self.

I love it because I do not know anything else this is who I am , who I have become and who I will continue to be. I am dedicated to the industry I love and to each of my fellow farmers and ranchers. For I owe it to them to share my story , I owe it to them to show them it can be done , hopefully empowering them to tell theirs and do the same.

Its all quite simple – when someone asks me why do you farm/ranch? Why do you do what you do ?

My answer – because I LOVE it and I cant imagine doing anything else.

That’s Why !

Fashion Friday on a Tuesday !

2011-02-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

So I couldnt wait until Friday to post my new favorite thing - the Canvas Tote that looks like a real Birken bag! Its the All Together Bag ! It comes in red, blue and camel and the greatest news ----------------- it is only $35.00

It is lined and has lots of room to use as a reusable shopping tote, a gym bag or just as a carry all for everything you need!

Just too cute not to post asap! I couldn't wait until Fashion Friday.

They are unfortunately on back order but place your order ad they ship sometime in March. Check them out here.

http://www.thufri.com/

Does it Hurt?........................ Sure for a Bit

2011-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

I recently had a conversation with someone in my office just this week asking if I felt bad doing all those unnecessary things to my calves. Wouldn’t you rather market them as humane he said? I saw that at Whole Foods,he said and thought of you. Funny how I looked at him and did not feel the hairs stand up on the back of my neck or felt anger swell in my tummy- for me it was a valid question from someone not familiar with cattle ranching asking a question and I had an answer – the best answer I knew. For me it was quite simple.

He asked why I branded, castrated and vaccinated my cattle- he inquired why I did these things and he was sure it hurt them. My answer was simple – sure it hurts …………………. For a bit, no different than when we ride a bike as a child barreling down a hill and then face plant ourselves on the blacktop – haven’t we all done this ? Sure, did it hurt? Sure but it went away!

At our branding this year I took the time to see how long we actually had the calves on the table. For you see my family processes all of our calves on a branding table. The calves are put through a chute and then once secured the chute is tipped on its side, I like to think of it as an operating table, once on its side the calves are branded, vaccinated and castrated if necessary. The table is then flipped back upright and the calves released. Many times running to their mommas and grabbing a quick drink of milk. They are on the table for approximately 6-7 minutes. Within an hour of my observation, calves were laying down chewing their cuds. For those that don’t know cattle chewing their cuds are a sign they are content. I am sure at the time it hurt them but by the time we were done with the group of calves they were ready to head back out into the foothills and resume their life.

Why do we brand our calves? This is a clear identification system. If our cattle ever got out onto a public road or misplaced by walking through a fence and onto another’s property or even my goodness stolen from our property, authorities would know where they came from and work would be done to get them back home. Why do we vaccinate? To prevent- plain and simple. No different than a childs booster shots or flu shots we as adults receive. Our vaccinations prevent our calves from all sorts of disease and shield them from future harm. Do we add hormones? Not on our operation, our calves are considered natural; we do not inject them with any growth stimulants. And finally why castrate? We do not raise our male calves for bulls. We are not in the business of marketing bull calves, we market steers. Steers are easier to handle, docile and finish out sooner due to fat deposition than bulls. We also do not want our bulls mating with our heifers; they roam on our range together until the time they are weaned from their mamas. Our calves are marketed as steers; they will grow and finish out and then harvested and sold in grocery stores or end up in restaurants.

After processing is done calves are watched daily to make sure all goes well – I am not going to say that problems don’t arise for I would be fibbing to you however in all the years I have been on our family ranch it is rare for us to lose a calf or have a problem occur after processing them, I feel confident in saying very rare does a problem occur.

My cattle are cared for 365 days a year, always are fed before my family is fed and always tended to when they do become sick. I have had baby calves in my back porch and on the floor of my truck more times than I can count to warm them up and get them back on their feet. Baby calf bottles seem to be on the counter of my kitchen more than not during calving time and colostrums milk seems to always take up space in the fridge. We now use paddles when moving calves around rather than whips that used to be the tool of choice. I have a plastic paddle with beads in on the end that make a noise, similar to a childs rattle, by rattling the paddle on the side or in front or back of a calf will push him along where he needs to go whether thru a chute or down an alley. My paddle is of course Pink! Would you think anything other for a couture cowgirl? Think not.

So when people ask me – doesn’t it hurt the calves? I am not going to lie and say nah it doesn’t hurt I am going to say sure it does for a short period of time , no different than giving our own children their yearly shots or circumcision a young boy or perhaps touching an open flame on the stove before our moms smacked our hands.

We are doing nothing wrong , we are providing a healthy, safe product, a product that when is born on our ranch we care for it just like one of our own kids and I have no problems telling anyone what we do . For me it is simple, ask me a question about what we do and hopefully I can engage with you in a conversation or dialogue to explain it all – will you change your mind? Hmmmmmmm not sure but you can bet that I will provide you with a truthful, honest answer.

Family First

2011-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

This past week was one I had been looking forward to for a long time- I had the opportunity to attend the World Ag Expo in Tulare – I would have the chance to hook up with old friends and meet friends I had only conversed with on facebook. I had the opportunity to speak to the local junior college about my journeys and experiences in agriculture . I awaited this week with anticipation and made a game plan of who I needed to connect with, what booths I would stop by, and check out who had the best free pen giveaways ! ( I love pens) hahaahahah – I was so eager to be an agvocate for the week , collecting all sorts of wonderful information and experiencing new things for future blogs and talks and creating a new friend network.

However all my plans suddenly changed when I needed to stay home due to family obligations. My mom had back surgery and needed me – because without her I would not be here, would not have grown up to appreciate agriculture, our family farm and all the wonderful things associated with it . My mom is the cornerstone of who I am – she has helped create the person I have become, she is my number one supporter and biggest fan ! My mom needed me and so we stayed home to go through the surgery and get her on the road to recovery

My mom and Niece Paige after baking cut out cookies - stopping for a brief photo op before frosting began

Was I sad I missed my agvocating opportunities ? You bet I was but I came to realize that I don’t have to be at a big event to tell my ag story. I don’t have to be a speaker for the day in front of young people I found myself telling my story to hospital staff, doctors, and those sitting in the waiting room. You see I love to talk and I love to talk about agriculture and so I enjoy spreading the word to all who listen! There is never a right or wrong place to tell your story- just do it . Many asked my mother- what do you do? They were trying to figure out her abilities before the surgery and that is where I began in assisting mom with sharing all we do on the farm. This intrigued our new circle of friends and they asked lots of questions about farming, pesticides on produce, cows, you name it !! They now had a face to the farmer!

When family falls ill it makes you take a step back and realize life and why you are here , what is my purpose? I believe I am meant to share the word of agriculture but without the backbone of my family and the experiences I have had with them then really I have no story to tell at all . For it is the experiences that I have created over the years that help me form my thoughts and share my agriculture journey.

I am blessed by a wonderful family and friends who are like family- for that I am ever grateful. Because of them I am the person I have become. A person who loves this industry and the people in it . I am eager to share my thoughts, but sometimes we need to tweak and twist and maybe share them in a different way.

Oh and by the way ……………………… Don’t forget your loved ones on Monday- I love you Mom and wish you a quick recovery!!!! Thank You for making Me :)

Happy Valentines Day !!!!

What Do Your Legs Say About Your Personality~

2011-02-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

Has a week already gone by? Sheeeeeesh I really wanted to get a agriculture adventure blog out this past week, or share my thoughts on cows or the Oprah staff going vegan but time got away from me and that means we are back to ………………………………………..Fashion Friday!

So what shall we visit about today? How about TIGHTS? Ok tights it is.

I love tights maybe as much as I love wraps and I have them in about as many colors. I believe tights have really made a comeback. Many, many years ago while attending catholic school tights were part of my daily uniform- I hated them. They were gray and thick and ugly. But many, many years later I have come to embrace “whats old is new again.” So what are your legs saying about you? I tend to like tights because they are thicker than some other nylon type leg coverings. When you are a bit more generous in the leg area like I am tights provide extra coverage while giving better support.

Tights can be party like, sensible, business or sexy. Recently in the Wall Street Journal Style section it does a smashing job of listing all the different kinds some of which I will list here:

Fishnet (guys tend to love this – I don’t) – go figure
Distressed
Lace
Leopard or animal print
Back seam
Jewel solid tone (my absolute favorite- I have red, turquoise, orange, yellow, gold, hot pink and purple )
Florals and stripes
Sweater knit
Neon
Nude (personally think a bit boring)
Black opaque (a true staple)- and you can get them with a hint of a pattern in them that make them look oh so classy!

Get out there and buy yourself a pair – prices range from very inexpensive to pretty pricey – ( thinking $5 to as much as $50 ) but you want to get a nice quality so they don’t rip and you can wash them in a gentle detergent in the sink and hang to dry- they are a must! A pop of fun color or print is all you need to make an outfit something special. So wear your personality on your legs ~ I guarantee fun !

Wrap Me Up! ~ Its Fashion Friday

2011-01-28T06:38:00.000-08:00

Well here we are again and thinking what to write about today - thinking , thinking , thinking

Not much in my brain today on the agriculture front so what about.......................................

Hey what about Fashion Friday ! Yeah , that is a great idea - Ok lets do it !

So today lets chat about my staple and what I feel should be the staple in any wardrobe - THE WRAP!

I have them in primary colors, sherbert colors, animal print, geometrical shape print, floral, peace sign print, ummm what else?? lets just say I have over 25 wraps in two drawers and I wear one every day!
They are a piece of me and my personality - I love them! Just ask anyone who knows me and they know that I always have one of these wrapped around my neck and if it is not around my neck then it is in my bag in case I get cold for instance in a plane or a waiting room of a doctors office or at work- they are very versatile and worth the small investment. You can purchase them almost anywhere anymore from high end department stores to street corners in big cities. I would say a good price range might be a cashmere one for approximately $100 to a similiar faux cashmere as low as $ 15. They are fun, colorful and I believe complete any ensemble.

And dont be afraid of them either - you can double wrap them, triple wrap them, tie knots in them, throw them over your shoulder, criss cross them- the possibilities are really endless and ever so fun.

Here I am with my favorite - a heather gray one that goes with so much!! I believe it just adds some punch !

So this is my Fashion Friday Tip for the Day - if you dont have one , invest in one - they are a tremendous accessory. And for my guy friends reading this - this is a "cant go wrong gift" for the special ladies in your life. Believe me ! I know my wraps!!

The Couture Cowgirl is Born

2011-01-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

So today is the maiden voyage of my first real life "Celeste" blog! It is exciting and a bit scary at the same time. I decided to start today because I read a post on facebook that said ~ " Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about." Well there ya have it . I have thought about writing a blog for quite some time but never really knew what I would say, would anyone read it? Who knows!

I have lots of friends that blog and do a tremendous job and I really enjoy reading them so I figured what the heck- I too can jump in and do this- Why? because I think about it every day! Thats why.
You will find that I write much like I talk so at times the grammar might not be perfect or I might use " Celestial" words that no one else rarely uses but that is me and that is how I am so be it.

Perhaps I can start my first blog with how it got its name ~ The Couture Cowgirl. For those of you that know me you know that I am as boy as they come when I am out on my family ranch with the cows but when it is time to dress up I am as girly girl as they come - I have a dear friend that wished me a birthday greeting and said - Happy Birthday to the Queen of all that is agriculture and fashion- no better compliment to me . I am the girl that has a stack of magazines on my coffee table including , California Cattlemen, Western Livestock Journal, Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Ranch Hand, The American Cowboy, and In Style - well you can see what I mean.

I love all things agriculture and I am passionate about the industry that I have grown up in - It is a part of who I am , it is ME , it stretches me and molds me into the best person I can be. It excites me, challenges me and has made me humble. It is the core of my beliefs. It is the center of all that I do - for all of this I am eternally blessed.

I also love fashion - enough said. I will wear mostly anything- just ask my friends. I beat to my own drum.

So let the adventure begin~