F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S

What a fabulous day! I just got home from work and need to get to bed as I have another big day tomorrow, but wanted to quickly say hello to all. We had a huge luncheon for work today and all the hours of planning really paid off. E and I are were beyond impressed with the new caterer and his staff. They were all so professional and did not need as much direction as most servers which was very comforting. Plus the food was divine. I am very picky when it comes to chicken salad since I was so spoiled growing up and his was up to par. The miniature/bit size cheesecakes wear also amazing, the crust was the best part. Uh, my mouth is watering they were just too good! Tonight, M and I went to Mi Cocina for dinner while SC watched American Dreams. I know I say this way too much, but it really is one of the best TV shows ever made. The characters are all so real, the music is fabulous, it takes place in my favorite decade, the 1960's and Brittany Snow and Will Estes are adorable to look at. I have gotten many people hooked on this show so you should take my word for it and rent/buy the Season One DVDs .

Tomorrow I will be a busy bee at work and then on Sunday I am planning on going to SATC. My college roomie and Kappa sister, L, said it was amazing and already wants to go again. Has anyone else been? If so is it good? I cannot wait! I also need to find a pair of nice, white pants so I will be hitting up NorthPark before or after the movie. I have white jeans, but am looking for something a little nicer and more classy. Any suggestions? I am planning on looking at J Crew, Banana and maybe even Ann Taylor even though I rarely have luck here. OK, I am falling asleep so more tomorrow. I promise a fun post is in store for some point this weekend...get excited!!

Short and Sweet

Tonight I have to be very quick as I am already falling asleep and have a HUGE day tomorrow. Today I wore my adorable, new Tory Burch tunic dress and matching brown, moc croc Revas and will admit this is one of my new favorite outfits. It was beyond comfortable and looked adorable if I can say so myself. I had an early morning at work and was busy prepping for a big event all day. This evening I had my nails done and then attended a Young Alumni SMU event with C at the Meadows Museum. We had such a fun time and met many cute people. I was going to try and make it to my Cotillion Club social hour at the Stoneleigh Penthouse, however there was just not enough time in the day. I will be sure to clear my calendar for our July event! When we returned from the SMU event C and I walked to Shell and I got a delicious ice cream dessert. I have been dying to have a Dove ice cream bar, but since Shell does not sell those I opted for the next closet treat. We returned home and watched two episodes of House Hunters and now here I am. Oh, today I received two books I ordered from Amazon which added some spice to my day. I am so thrilled to have gotten my hands on the new Sloane Ranger handbook (someone needs to rewrite the Preppy Handbook and catch up with the Brits) as well as a book that was recommended to me on Amazon: My Heart Remembers. For those of you looking for summer reads you must consider Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen. I know I have said it before, but it was one of the best books I have ever, ever read. It has numerous Christian undertones and is set in 19th century England. Here is Amazon's synopsis:

In this inspirational historical romance debut novel set in 19th-century England, a young pregnant woman is forced to make difficult choices. Twenty-year-old Charlotte Lamb is the daughter of a heartless English vicar, as we discover when she becomes pregnant and he throws her out of her childhood home. Vulnerable and unprotected, she is forced to a lodging place for unwed mothers. Soon, Lamb must make decisions involving true love and sacrifice, providing many powerful turning points throughout the story. Although Klassen occasionally lapses into back-to-back dialogue, her prose is generally smooth, and Charlotte has the reader's sympathy from the earliest pages. The amount of information about wet nurses, lactation and breastfeeding can become weighty, although often intriguing (such as the practice of using goats to directly feed foundling infants to avoid the spread of syphilis). Faith themes are subtly woven throughout. The reader will need to suspend disbelief to enjoy some of the plot twists, especially the happily-ever-after ending, which provides the redemptive conclusion common to Christian fiction. A bonus is the milkweed poetry, lore and symbolism knitted into the narrative. Both readers of faith fiction and general readers of historical romance should enjoy this lovely first offering from Klassen.

OK I am off to bed. Hooray for tomorrow being Friday and SATC officially being released. I am dying to go watch Charlotte (she was a Kappa on the show!) and all her fabulous outfits!

Blue and white and all things nice!

I am a firm believer that every home needs a little blue and white. I grew up in a home with where there were enough blue and white plates and platters on the wall that we could have had the entire neighborhood over for dinner, but for this I am thankful. I adore all blue and white home decor (Tickled Pink and Green, I cannot wait to go check out the Pier 1 garden seat you introduced us too) and become overly excited if I ever see a piece my mother or I does not own. It goes with just about everything, yet is still elegant. Plus, the best part is you can adorn your humble abode in blue and white no matter what your budget! One of my all time favorite designers, Carolyne Roehm, will be sharing her love for the second best color combination (I will always be partial to pink and green) in her soon to be released book: A Passion for Blue and White. Put November 4th, 2008 on your calendars ladies because this one is bound to be amazing!

Also, if you have not paid a visit to Carolyn's website you must visit asap! You will find darling gifts, beautiful wrapping accessories and great ideas. At Christmas time she had pink and green holiday wrap. It is sadly no longer available, but if you check of the holiday issue of CRStyle on her site you can see some photos. Also available is a wonderful selection of Blue Canton trinkets. Whether you consider yourself traditional or modern you are bound to find something you cannot live without here, it is just a divine, online shopping experience. Now we just need Charlotte Moss to make her site as marvelous as her NYC townhouse (I am DYING to go, has anyone been lucky enough to go??) and we will be all set. Have a fabulous evening!

Bye bye bye!

Well the Preppy Summer Package is all boxed up and ready to be sent out tomorrow, hooray! Doesn't it look adorable? I found the pink and green stickers while home and happened to still have my partner's initials. I think I originally bought them at Michael's for a Kappa scrapbook page we had to make. I also put my pink and green Sharpie to good use (if you saw how many I had you would be thrilled I was finally retiring from simply looking at them).

On a bit of a different note a new book release! Today while at Barnes and Noble I spotted this gem:

I read the cover while there and also on Amazon and am for sure ordering myself a copy. It looks like a fun summer read and even if it ends up being horrible the cover is at least delightful to look at! Here is a short summary from Amazon:

Emmy is newly single, and not by choice. She was this close to the ring and the baby she's wanted her whole life when her boyfriend left her for his twenty-three-year-old personal trainer -- whose fees are paid by Emmy. With her plans for the perfect white wedding in the trash, Emmy is now ordering takeout for one. Her friends insist an around-the-world sex-fueled adventure will solve all her problems -- could they be right?
Leigh, a young star in the publishing business, is within striking distance of landing her dream job as senior editor and marrying her dream guy. And to top it all off, she has just purchased her dream apartment. Only when Leigh begins to edit the enfant terrible of the literary world, the brilliant and brooding Jesse Chapman, does she start to notice some cracks in her perfect life...
Adriana is the drop-dead-gorgeous daughter of a famous supermodel. She possesses the kind of feminine wiles made only in Brazil, and she never hesitates to use them. But she's about to turn thirty and -- as her mother keeps reminding her -- she won't have her pick of the men forever. Everyone knows beauty is ephemeral and there's always someone younger and prettier right around the corner. Suddenly she's wondering...does Mother know best?
These three very different girls have been best friends for a decade in the greatest city on earth. As they near thirty, they're looking toward their future...but despite all they've earned -- first-class travel, career promotions, invites to all the right parties, and luxuries small and large -- they're not quite sure they like what they see...
One Saturday night at the Waverly Inn, Adriana and Emmy make a pact: within a single year, each will drastically change her life. Leigh watches from the sidelines, not making any promises, but she'll soon discover she has the most to lose. Their friendship is forever, but everything else is on the table. Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off.

So much to do and so little time. I am off to get back to it.

Countdown until I Bon Voyage: 12 days!

What a weekend!

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful day celebrating all the sacrifices men and women have made for us.

I had a wonderful time at home in Minnesota even if it was a tad bit chilly. I got in on Saturday morning and surprised my dad's parents. Afterwards my mother, father and I met my aunt and uncle and cousins for a delightful lunch. I then had a 1pm hair appointment after which I hit up Melly. I got the shell and white JRs, a beautiful ivory, silk, pleated Lilly skirt (for $40) and the Claudia tunic. My mother picked up an adorable, novelty cardigan. Once we finished at Melly we picked up my other grandparents and stopped by Galleria on our way home. I adore Arafina and loved them even more on Saturday since they were having a sale. I got a brown and white Tory Burch, tunic dress which I cannot wait to wear! It is so perfect for summer and can be worn to many different occasions. My mother was so kind and purchased the new Tory Burch, brown, moc croc Revas which has just arrived. They are part of their pre-fall collection and are too cute!

Saturday evening we had a casual dinner, played with the pups and went to bed early. Sunday was a busy day of work. I helped my mother outside and now the garden looks beautiful! We had an all-American meal on Sunday evening and spent the evening reminiscing. All in all I had a marvelous weekend and am so glad I choose to go home. I am now back in Dallas and ready for a busy week! I am currently having issues typing as I sliced my left, index nail last Thursday and it is all bandaged up. I am hoping to get a manicure appointment tomorrow evening so that Taffi can try and mend it.

OK I am off to finishing packing my Preppy Summer Swap package and then rest up for the week!

Memorial Day weekend is finally here!

After having spoken to my parents this evening I would like to apologize to all my readers. I am very, very sorry for all my typos and horrid punctuation. I usually update my blog late at night and after work so the last thing I want to do is re-read the post. However, this is no excuse at all. I have begun editing my most recent posts and will continue to fix all my errors. I am very sorry!

Tomorrow morning I am off to Minnesota for the weekend so I will not be updating until Memorial Day. I am surprising my grandparents in the morning, getting my hair cut and of course hitting up Melly. I am planning on scooping up the white Jack Rogers as well as the gold and silver pair. I cannot wait to see my family! I hope everyone has an enjoyable, relaxing weekend and thank you to all our service men and women who put their lives on the line daily.

Monograms, oh my!

I do not know if you all have this issue, but I have a hard time finding cute t-shirts to wear to work out in and run around in. I got rid of all my Kappa shirts when I graduated, well I willed them away so others could enjoy them. I mean you have to move on at some point, right? I have been a big fan of Monogram Momma's blog and have looked at her tees, but it was not until today that I noticed she has an Etsy store! Seeing as summer is soon approaching I got right on my order, here is what I purchased:

Are they not the most adorable shirts you have ever seen? I think they might actually beat the pink and green, Jackie O, Breakfast at Kappa tees I designed and had made!

Also, on a bit of a side note I forgot to mention on Monday that Target has numerous pink and green dog toys in their $1 section. I went again tonight and realized I needed to spread the love for it is not often that a prep stumbles upon such steals for their furry friends. Have a wonderful evening!!

Ohhh la la!!

I wanted to spread the LP love and let you all know the Lilly store I worked at in Minnesota, Melly, is having a big sale next weekend! Spring merchandise will be 30%-50% off! A lot of the resort Lilly is currently 50% off and they offer free shipping if you purchase any full price item! Also, if you want to stock up for next year they have some AMAZING deals on Fall 2007 pieces. Mary and Caryn and super helpful and will make sure you have the best pink and green experience possible. Happy shopping to all!!

PS Melly has a great selection of Molly B, Vineyard Vines and J Mclaughlin too!

In it to win it!

Thank you all so much for all your thoughts and prayers! My meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon; I am very confident it will go well!! Today was super, super busy. Tonight I ran and got my nails done and then Iwatched American Idol. I think I might fly home to Minnesota this weekend and have spent all evening trying to figure out my ticket. I thought I had struck gold earlier today, but tonight when I went to purchase the ticket I realized the dates were wrong. Good thing I checked! I have a new ticket on hold that I am planning to buy in the morning after I go over the times with my mother. I have not been home since Easter and after looking at the calender will likely not be able to go until August. My fingers are crossed that it all works out!

Onto the fun stuff: I go through eBay crazes every now and again and thought I would post my most recent wins as well as several items I am eyeing.

I won ($16) this darling J Crew, flamingo pink pleated skirt on Sunday. I cannot wait to put it to good use!

I live in Nancy sweaters and have been trying to track down this pink for the past year. It was only sold in a few stores and sold out immediately. When I found it yesterday afternoon I had to 'Buy it Now" and still only paid $32! It is new without tags (I do not really understand this eBay term, I mean do people really cut tags off before wearing an item???).

I am eyeing this Lilly, cashmere halter. I thought it might be cute for summer, but am a bit worried it could be a bit short on my long torso. However, it is hard to go wrong at $8.99!Yes, I am utterly obsessed with tunics and cannot get enough. They are just so practical and cute when it is hot outside. I already have one white one, but this style is a little different. It is a size 6 though, so I might have to have it taken in if I end up buying it.

OK, sorry for such a short post, but I am beyond tired and need to get to bed. I cannot wait for the American Idol finale tomorrow!

Paper, paper and more paper!

How some people cannot love pretty, paper plates and napkins I will never understand. I am obsessed, literally obsessed. I get SO excited when I am out and about and they have Caspari prints I have never seen or ones that have been discontinued. About a month ago I really hit the jackpot when I stopped by Swoozies after church and all their 2007 plates and napkins were on sale for $1!! I always stock up on all my favorite napkins and plates, but I still somehow run out. Thank goodness for Google and the Internet because I have stumbled upon a Caspari lover's dream come true: http://casparinapkins.com/ and Plum Party Supplies. I do not know how I just found this site because I have been looking for a good site for ages, but had yet to come across something that had it all. I mean it has been years since I have seen the 'blue willow' napkins! I am sure you thinking that this is a very odd obsession, but I inherited it from my mother. Plus, you can never have too many napkins and if I am ever in need of a quick gift all I have to do in through some grosgrain around a package. Enjoy, enjoy and I could not resist showcasing a few more of my favorites below.

PS please say a big prayer for me; I have a big meeting at work on Tuesday!

Summer is here!

To my Kappa pledge class, Congratulations on graduating!!!

I am happy to report I am all done shopping for my Preppy, Summer Swap partner. I was getting everything together this evening and it all looks adorable; I hope you like it Angel!

Today has been a very productive, yet relaxing day. I got up and went to church this morning and really enjoyed the sermon. It was about how we need to stop worrying about our future's and trust in God. Afterwards, I stopped by Starbucks and picked up and iced tea and headed home to sit by the pool. It was super crowded when I got down there around 12:45pm, but luckily I managed to get a good chair. It was SO hot so I only lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes before returning upstairs. However some sun and is better then no sun!

This afternoon I was busy doing 'house work:' ironing sheets and clothing, changing sheets and making sure my closet was in perfect order. My afternoon sounds beyond thrilling, I know. Tonight, I made myself dinner and tried the Creamy Fusilli recipe I posted last week. It was delicious and I would highly recommend it! It took longer then the other recipe listed, but the end result was well worth it.

Tonight while cleaning I found a list that reminded me of the LL bean tote I purchased in November, but have still not received! I called them up and LL Bean officially has the BEST customer service. They looked up my account and told me the delivery date. I told them I had checked with my apartment office and had no packages there nor was it delivered to my door or put in my PO box. They were SO helpful and said they could either send me a gift card or my bag so of course I choose my bag. I mean I had ordered it in the first place. I bet some people call and say they did not receive an item when they really have and then cheat the system by taking the gift card. My bag should be here in the next week and I just found another LL Bean gift card so I might order one in pink too. I am currently watching the ACM awards and enjoying all the live entertainment. It is so nice how none of the country music award shows ever skimp on the performances and fill in just about every minute with top entertainers.

Today while going through my closet I starting making a mental list of all the items I plan to pack for Europe; I leave three weeks from today!! I was only going to bring one suitcase like last year, however I am ALWAYS over the weight limit so AA has stopped being nice to me. Plus, with all the new regulations I think it might be a safer idea to bring two. Even if I only filled my suitcase up halfway on the way over, I will buy so much that I will be lugging filled Longchamps through the airport on the way home. I would rather be safe then sorry so I am on the hunt for a duffel. I currently sport Hartmann luggage, but am thinking of purchasing a collapsible, basic duffel to use as my second bag. Does anyone have any cute suggestions?

OK, off to make my to-do list for tomorrow; have a marvelous week!!

PS I realized I forgot to mention in yesterday's post that the TJ Maxx/Homegoods store I went to yesterday had Pucci, yes Emilio Pucci items! I they had some sarongs, a mini skirt and the most adorable dress. I saw the size was my size, however a Pucci 6 is really a 0/2 so I had to pass. It worked out for the best, because even at $599 I do not think I would have purchased it. Maybe next time I go it will be on clearance and I will have widdeled away.

Look what I found!

Hello all! I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! I have had a fantastic Saturday and just returned from a delightful dinner at Rise, the new souffle restaurant. E and I had talked about going yesterday and had such a fun time this evening. The restaurant is fabulous and everything is so authentic; even the bathrooms make you feel as if you are in Paris. I had the goat cheese souffle for my entree followed by a chocolate souffle for dessert. Yum, yum and what fun!

OK, on to the weekend update. Yesterday after work I made my weekly trip to TJ Maxx (I go quite often at this time of year because of all the Lilly) and found that they had just received a shipment of Lilly pajamas! How cute are my two items?

They also had nightgowns and camisole/short sets in the Gossip print as well as a camisole and 3/4 pajama set in the white dot. I choose to stick with the baby doll nightie and picked up the pajama pants for bff N! After the Maxx I came home and baked oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies and then watched an amazing Lifetime movie, In God's Country, which I had Tivoed. The movie was very interesting and one of the best Lifetime movies I have seen in a long time.

This morning I got up and decided to hit up the outlets in Grapevine. I have heard time and time again how amazing the Neiman's Last Call is there and how it does not even begin to compare to the one out in Allen and now I totally agree. It was amazing! They had racks of Milly, Tibi and DVF dresses. Loads of Kate Spade shoes and I even came across some Tory Burch Revas! I almost bought a silver quilted pair (they were on $135), but seeing as I already have a silver pair I decided to pass. Perhaps when I return in a few weeks they will be on sale. I tried on four Milly dresses and one Tory Burch dress, but passed them up as well. They were all adorable, but I would be unable to wear any of them until fall so even at $150 (such a steal seeing as all but one were originally $455 and up) I resisted. I did however hit up the J Crew outlet. I got two adorable pairs of cafe capris, which I had been eyeing on eBay, for $35 each as well as white chino skirt and basic, black, v-neck tee. I plan to take all this items with me to Europe. The capris (both the paisley and anchors) will be perfect with any weather; I can wear a polo or a sweater and still look adorable!

I thought I had pretty good luck! Overall, I had a great time. I was not a huge fan of the layout of the outlets. They were in a mall setting and the mall was sort of dark, but when you are almost getting things for free you cannot complain! The only thing I wished they had was a Brooks Brothers; looks like I will be making a trip to Allen soon! After Grapevine I stopped by Homegoods and picked up an adorable green and white stripe beach towel with pink flamingos. I saw they had several Lilly and VV items in the connecting TJ Maxx, but I did not need to add anything else to my closet...

Now I am off to make an item for my spring swap partner. I am all done with my shopping and as soon as I finish getting the items together I will be putting my box in the mail. I cannot wait to see everyone's photos of their items! Have a fabulous evening and wonderful day of rest!!

The French can do some things better.

The French make the best handbags, they really do. All my favorite bags have been purchased in France and I am continuously complimented on several. My obsession with bags began at a young age when my mother gave me a little Pierre Deux and my aunt bought my the mini LV Speedy. At the end of eighth grade I became obsessed with the then, up-and-coming designer Kate Spade and in my first month in boarding school discovered yet another bag phenomenon: Herve Chapelier. I loaded up on these during the next four years; backpacks were never in. Besides, who needs something hanging of their back when they can have a stylish, colorful accessory on their arms? Long story short, I went absolutely crazy when I studied abroad in France for a month freshman year of college and bought enough Longchamps and Herves to outfit a Mother's Morning Out class. I bought the bag trend to Minnesota and even in the snow the waterproof, zipper delights kept all my books and papers safe! Over the past year I have come across numerous Herves on eBay that are basically free:I am going to try and add this to my collection shortly!

This is one of my personal favorites. I got it four years ago and it is still immaculate (they hold up too well). I put a matching, baby pink monogram on the front to add some jazz!

This is part of my collection too!

Someone needs to get bidding on this one... at $.99 you should not pass it up!

Log into your eBay accounts ladies; every single one of these finds is currently under $20!

Where have all the years gone?

In honor of my five year high school reunion this weekend and some of the best years of my life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkSpHxFPZZY

If you are a fan of Tea Partay this video is for you!!

Oh, the beautiful CT!

Supporting the Big Red way back when!

Yum, yum!

Tonight I thought I would share two easy and yummy looking recipes I came across on Martha's website. I tried the second one last night and it was amazing! Not to mention it was beyond easy and is something you can definitely come home after work and have on the table in minutes. The first recipe is one I plan to try this weekend. I adore squash and bacon so I am sure I will love it. I will post an update and let you know though! I hope everyone had a wonderful Wednesday. I have been busy getting items together for the Preppy Summer Swap (get excited Angel). I have come across so many good items that it is hard to decide what I should include. I looked at some of the Spring Swap photos and feel like we all have alot to live up too; they were just beyond adorable! OK, off to watch an episode of American Dreams before bed, I told you all the obsession would never cease!

Creamy Fusilli with Yellow Squash and Bacon

Gemelli with Tomatoes, Olives and Ricotta

PS, how does everyone get/find/create their adorable blog art?! It took me ages to edit mine in Paint and it still has major flaws. Does anyone have any ideas or insight?!

American Dreams DVD update!

OK, for all of you avid American Dreams fans I want to let you know I received the DVDs of Seasons 2 and 3 and they are amazing! The quality is a million times better then what I expected and though I have only watched two episodes there have been no interruptions on the disks or issues at all. I purchased the DVDs through ioffer.com (I found then through a random Google search) for a mere $47. I would HIGHLY recommend these to any fan and could not be any happier or more excited about m purchase. Let the love and obsession for all things 60's and AD continue!

Planning my British Invasion!

Seeing as I leave for England in just over three weeks I am starting to try and plan my time off adventures! I will be just West of London so I am just a stones throw from so many wonderful cities and homes. I have looked into booking rail tickets, but have yet to really figure it out. When I was in France it was so easy to just go to the station in Tours a few days in advance and purchase my ticket, but I have actually never taken the train in the UK so am at a bit of a loss. Does anyone have any good tips? I know it is worth it to book far in advance and the trains run so frequently that it luckily makes planning a bit easier. I just adore England and all things British so I am beyond exciting to be planning my mini-voyages (I apologize in advance for boring all you history buffs)!

So far I have definitely decided I will be visiting Blenheim Palace, the home to the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The acres and gardens surrounding the palace were landscaped by Capability Brown so I will not be missing it! I plan to take an early train to Oxford and then head to the palace. I am going to keep checking the website to try and find out what day the Duke's apartment might be open for tours and plan accordingly. Afterwards, I plan to enjoy the gardens and then head back into Oxford. I visited Oxford sophomore year in high school, but barely remember it so I plan to change that this trip!

Another English home I am thinking about visiting is Chatsworth House, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire (and where Pride and Prejudice was filmed). It is a bit of a trek to get there so if I go I might spend the night. However, seeing as I would be in the heart of Jane Austen country (Derbyshire) I would not be short on things to do or see!

Finally, I am hoping to visit Bath yet again. I have already been to Bath twice, but I utterly adore the city and all it has to offer so another visit is not out of the question. The UK Center for Jane Austen as are the Roman Baths and Fashion Museum. The Pump Room, part of the Roman Baths, has a wonderful menu and a delightful afternoon tea. The city is so full of history and art so I am going to try and add it to my calendar.
As you can see I have a busy few weeks of decision making and planning ahead of me. So, so, so many choices to make so if anyone has any recommendations or insight send them my way! Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

PS, can you all believe that a week from tomorrow we will now who won American Idol?! This year is just flying by! It is hard to believe we are half way through May and summer is right around the corner. What a fantastic year it has been though. I have so much to be thankful for and could not be any happier. Goodnight!

Monday, Monday!

Hello, hello!
I must mention that I am BEYOND thrilled people are commenting on my blog. It is so nice to know people actual read it and take time to share their thoughts, so thank you!

This weekend was quite fun. On Thursday evening I got together with all the other Kappa girls that will be serving as officers for the Dallas Young Alumni group. We figured out our calendar for the entire year which was a big feat and are ready to recruit some new members! After dinner at Manny's I went home and planned to watch Grey's Anatomy, however the TiVo choose not to record it so I settled for 27 Dresses instead. I had a busy day at work on Friday and afterwards I went to What Happens in Vegas. It was SO cute and I want to go again. I think Cameron Diaz is adorable; she is very cute with an awesome figure, but her personality really sets her apart. On my way home from the movie I stooped by Target and got all the ingredients to make puppy chow which was beyond delish. Saturday was a busy day of shopping (see the post below) and then I spent the evening tidied up and watching Juno (not one of my favorites...). I heard so many great reviews for the movie and several friends love it, but I was not the biggest fan and have no intentions of watching it again anytime soon. Sunday morning I got up and got ready for work and have been here since yesterday afternoon. M and I hit up Celebrity for an afternoon snack yesterday and then for dinner we order Yumi to Go. For those of you that live in the Park Cities/Uptown area you must try Yumi. It is much better then your average Chinese food and far less greasy and disgusting. OK, time to run and watch GG and make hot fudge sundaes! Much love!!

xoxo

American Dreams!

For those of you who know me you know I am a HUGE American Dreams fan. Sophomore year of college (and before the days of TiVo) I had night class on Wednesday nights from 5pm until 9pm when American Dreams was on. So, since I was the perfect art history student I never dared to miss class, but would set my VCR to record NBC for all four hours so I did not have to miss an episode. The day the show was canceled I shed a tear, not even all my petition signing could save one of the best shows on TV. I adored the show as the 60's has always been one of my favorite decades. From the music to the fashions to guest stars and characters I still believe AD was amazing watch all the season one episodes at least once a year. I have been waiting for the past three years for seasons two and three to come on DVD and last week all my wishes were granted and I finally ordered my copies! I CANNOT wait for them to arrive, what a happy day!

Stick them pink and green!

Aren't these sticker too cute for words??? I adore them and will for sure be placing an order with the Little Beane Boutique soon, she is the best!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's day to all readers and my mother!!

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."-- Oscar Wilde

Saturdays are for shopping!

This morning when I got up I just could not resist hitting the stores. With everyone's economic stimulus packages arriving it seems as if the sales are EVERYWHERE! I started off at TJ Maxx and got an adorable, four pack of preppy pink and green tumblers ($10) and pink leather jot pad and paisley pencil ($4). I then stopped by the Clothes Circuit as they were having a 20% off sale and hit the jackpot. I got a brand new pair of pink croc Jack Rogers for a mere $25! I was shocked to see them and find out they were my size and for the price could not resist. I mean even if I were buying a pair of JRs wholesale they would not be $25. I also picked up a fun lime green, Lilly, sleeveless turtleneck that is new with tags. I know it is a bit mommysish, but for $11 you would have taken it too! I know wish I had not sold the matching capris I had, but some eBayer is loving them I am sure. My final destination was SteinMart and to my surprise they were having a 12 hour sale. I looked around, but did not see anything I could not live without. I did stumble upon a darling madras bag however. It was only $30 and was 30% off today only, however another bag is really the last thing I need so I stood strong. The picture is not amazing , but it looks just like the J Crew bags yet a fraction of the price. Anyway, what a day full of fabulous finds! It is now 90 degrees so I debating going to the pool, but am afraid it might be a tad bit too crowded. Have a happy Saturday and enjoy the photos!!

The bag at SM; it also comes in a red and blue madras.

Top 5...

Since this seems to be the popular thing to do, I could not resist!

5 things I can't live without under $10:
1. bottled water
2. Starbucks lattes
3. Sharpies
4. Post-it notes
5. my cuticle cutters (it is just over $10, but I literally do not know what I would do with out it)

5 Favorite Movies:
1. Father of the Bride 1 and 2
2. Love Actually
3. Pride and Prejudice

4. The Devil Wears Prada
5. Hairspray

5 girls' names I love but won't use:
1. Lilly
2. Mimi
3. Tessa
4. CeCe
5. Coco

5 boys' names I love but won't use:
1. Carter
2. Samuel
3. Harrison
4. Grant
5. Spencer

5 songs you could listen to over and over again:
1. Anything Michael Buble
2. Bless the Broken Road
3. Everlasting Love
4. The Way You Look Tonight
5. Bad Day (this is for you Nan!)

5 things that stay in my handbag at all times:
1. wallet
2. Blackberry
3. Chanel glossimer
4. business and calling cards
5. sunglasses

5 obsessions I have right now:
1. eBay
2. organic food
3. truffles
4. facebook bumper stickers
5. dresses

5 places I'd love to go:
1. Dubai
2. Rio de Janeiro
3. Hawaii
4. Florence
5. Luxembourg

All that glitters

Happy Wednesday, I cannot believe the week is half way over already! I also cannot believe I leave for England in a month!! I had a great day at work even though the weather was a bit on the dreary side. However, the weekend will make up for it as it is due to be 95 on Saturday. I will definitely be laying by the pool and enhancing my pre-Europe tan.

Tonight, while getting my daily dose of eBay I came across these earring:

I have been utterly obsessed with these adorable, glamorous earrings since I bought my first pair at Melly in the fall. I get compliments on them each and every time I wear them and they can add some spice to any outfit. However, even though they are as cute as can be I have NEVER once seen them anywhere but Minnesota of all places. I even kept the sticker that came on the bag of my second pair (I got the clear in my stocking) and still had no luck. What a surprise when I stumbled upon them tonight and what a deal they are too! Depending on the color you want and the seller you can expect to pay anywhere from $.99 to $24.00 plus shipping. I paid around $20, but that included my 30% discount (I used to work at Melly and they are so kind to still allow me to be part of their Lilly family). I think I am going to buy myself the clear with gold accents (I tend to wear a lot of gold jewelry so I cannot always wear my other plain pair) and the green. I might also need to invest in a new pair of pink. These are the earrings you can have in ever color and wear daily, plus they will make all look like a star!

Traveling in style

As summer is just days away and everyone is getting ready to hop on the plane I thought I would share some amazing travel essentials. I have decided I am a very savvy traveler and never leave home without the basics. I mean I am sorry, but people that portray themselves as tourists when traveling are not people I care to associate myself with. I feel as if you need to try and blend in when on trips so I always do my fair amount of research before leaving home. I have found that the best travel books are the Access collection. They are more upscale then your basic travel book and highlight in detail all the most exquisite areas of cities. The books are well organized, have a map at the front and color code restaurants, shops, hotels and cultural stops. The next essential one cannot leave home without is a map! Even when I have booked a car for the day I think a map is a must and just makes life that much easier at the end of the day (contrary to popular belief, drivers do not know where everything is). My favorite maps are the Streetwise Maps. So many cities are available and for cities such as Paris and London the Metro is clearly displayed so even the most naive traveler can figure out how and where to transfer lines.

Finally on to the fun essentials, your travel accessories! When in London last summer I discovered Aspinal of London. It is much like Smythson of Bond street, but you can get their fabulous leather goods for a fraction of what SoB sells them for. I have included everything in the pink leather, but for those of you who prefer to tone it down everything shown is available in black and brown too! Aspinal also has a darling London Ladies Journal they publish every year. It has all the key social events listed and makes note of anything and everything happening in and around London. The 2008 is no longer available so keep checking the website for the 2009!

The basic travel necessities: a travel wallet to hold your ticket, travel information and your passport! The set comes includes the wallet, a passport cover and a luggage tag for $160!Travel in style and make someone in customs smile with this passport cover. $60 and can be personalized with your initials!

If you are traveling to London, this is another great (and stylish) guide to the lovely city!

If you are like me and constantly worrying about your nails this manicure kit is something you should never again leave home without ($155). Don't you love how even the British adore pink and green?

Happy travels to you all! Keep checking back for my London and Paris must-hit shops, restaurants and hot spots!

Spice up your life!

I have not shared a fun website that everyone can enjoy in quite sometime, so here goes. I am sure a number of you receive Daily Candy (if you do not you should sign up!). I discovered the MacBeth Collection through them as it was on their Weekly Deals email last week. Their accessories are to die for and you customize anything. There are SO many prints you can choose from and then loads of font colors. I adore all the office/desk accessories as well as the trays and bins. Weather you love animal print, pink and green everything or simple polka dots you are bound to find an accessory you cannot live without at the Macbeth Collection. Add some color and some fun to your home; shop away!!