December Kick Off GIVEAWAY!!!

December is here...well just about at least; two more hours for us Dallasites, one more for you New Yorkers, and well, it is already Wednesday for those of you in London, Paris, Dubai, New Delhi and Hong Kong. The new month brings lots to look forward to for many of us. Lights are being strung, trees are being decorated, cookies are being baked and shoppers are rushing around buying and wrapping gifts for all the special people in their lives. So I could not think of a better time to thank all my readers and host several giveaways for you!

We are kicking things off in style...up for grabs is a Lilly Pulitzer Under the Stars clutch!

These clutches are so fun and festive, yet extra practical too! They are a great size and unlike many clutches you can actually fit you keys, phone, lipstick and more into the bag. It has a fabulous little pocket of your credit cards and cash. I personally LOVE the parrot adornment, but for the reader that it not as loud with their accessories I have good news for you...it can be removed! Yes, the parrot is actually a pin that can be removed which means it could also be worn on a dress or jacket. Finally, there is also a detachable strap if you are not keen on carrying this doll under your arm. The Under the Stars clutch is glam yet ever-so-versatile!

The winner of this giveaway will be able to pick one whichever of the four clutches they love most...such a tough call! Now on to the small print...

To enter this giveaway you MUST leave a comment on THIS post. Now, the fun does not stop there because you have MORE chances to win!!

*Leave a single comment for ONE entry.

*Follow Monograms and Manicures on Facebook for a SECOND entry.

*Follow Kappaprep on Twitter for a THIRD entry!

Three times is a charm!!!

For each entry please leave a separate comment. All comments must be left by 1pm EST on Friday, December 3rd, 2010.

Thank you all for reading day in and day out- you all are the simply the BEST! Enter away and best of luck!!!

All That Glitters

Tis the Season for parties! The festivities begin this week here in Dallas. This weekend I am going to a white tie affair and am planning to wear this:

I love anything that sparkles and I think glittery are even more perfect for the holidays! My current biggest concern is the fit of the dress; it still has yet to arrive to here is to hoping I will not need to find a back up (because I have not even looked)! I am also still debating what necklace (if any) and earrings I should wear and than of course how to do my hair. I am thinking an updo, but clearly I am being incredibly indecisive. Thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated!

Happy Monday!!!

Gobble, Gobble

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving with their family. I headed up to Minnesota on Thursday morning to celebrate with mine. Thanksgiving was also my aunt's birthday (Henry's mother) so it was extra special. It was also special in that my grandmother was able to come home and enjoy the day with us. Fun times were had by all!

I got into the frozen tundra around 9:30am and as soon as I hopped off the plane I was greeted by the bitter weather. I was immediately thankful that I lived in Texas- ha! I had been instructed that I wad to be in charge of setting the table. I got all all my Shindig Parties To-Go printables ready on Wednesday night and they looked perfect on the table! The menus were as helpful as ever, but we had the most fun with the "I am thankful for..." cards. Everyone filled one out and then the birthday girl read them aloud and we had to guess whose was whose.

We had an early dinner at my grandparents condo in Edina. My mother and aunt did most of the cooking, but we cheated with the turkey and ordered it this year. Everything was just delicious and for the first time in ages I did not stuff myself to the point of feeling ill. Self control, self control. I am so thankful for so much each and every day, but the holiday season always serves as a wonderful reminder to how blessed and lucky I truly am. I hope you all had a wonderful time with your loved ones...now it is time to deck the halls!!

Luxury Wish List

Well, now that Thanksgiving has come and gone I think Christmas and the holidays are suddenly on the minds of many. Perhaps even more so today since it is the biggest shopping day of the year (all of you that have been out and about are BRAVE!). When I was little I always had my heart set on things that I hoped Santa would bring (usually something American Girl or Madame Alexander), but as the years have passed my list has become shorter and shorter, yet a bit more luxurious. This year there are a few luxury items I have my eye on....

An iPad is the number one item on my list this year! Since I have a Blackberry I have yet to experience the app store, but an iPad would fill that void and also be perfect for travel!
I think a stylish case is a must for the iPad. While I love the Smythson options I have to admit I really love the LV option too. However, the Graphic Image case is a close second as it can also be embossed and it comes in a great pink!

I love the Tiffany key collection. I would love a big silver key to wear as a necklace, but a small gold key for my charm bracelet would also be divine! While on the topic of charms, I would love to add a Taj Mahal charm to my bracelet to commemorate my time spent in India. I love 3D charms, but the above flat charm is fun too.

Bobbi Brown has the most festive holiday collection. The colors are always fun and the packing is always extra special. In the past I have gotten shimmer bricks from Santa and this year I would be thrilled to again get anything from this collection.

I still have yet to buy the orange Tory Burch Revas even though I have SO much that I could wear them with. They have a special spot again on my 2010 list!

I have built up quiet a collection of Blue Canton over the past few years. I have place settings for four, the tea set and several of the baking dishes. My top selection for my next piece is the quiche dish.

I would also love a purple Hopsy bag to match all my Indian jewels and hey, a hot pink Chanel would be wonderful too. Judging from my list, I certainly hope I am on Santa's "NICE" list...!

Happy Thanksgiving!

No matter where you might be or who you might be with I hope each and every one of you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

In Feast

Well, I am a bit behind in posting this as many of you are certain to have already seen it, but the new Tommy Hilfiger ad is hands down the best on TV right now. I love the setting, the clothes, the car...everything about this ad is fun, fun, fun!

Monday Funday

1. I LOVE McDonald's breakfast. I usually only go once every few months, but I can down a sausage biscuit and a hash brown or two!

2. I get my hair cut at Super Cuts. I LOVE it! You are in and out in 15 minutes (I do a dry cut so it is very speedy) and the price is right.

3. I LOVE to bake and cooking is fun. It is, however, hard to cook for one person and in reality some people are just better at ordering take out and I am starting to think I might be one of those people.

4. I was a very wild child; very, very, very wild. At least I was well dressed?

5. I am very proactive about what getting what I want. I do not believe in sitting around and complaining, but rather in putting myself out there.

6. I LOVE Starbucks, but sadly (or I guess it can be a good thing too) caffeine has no effect on me.

7. I hate running. I have so much respect to all of you that run marathons and other races, but I will stick to my treadmill.

8. I subscribe to about 8 magazines, but with life being so busy I am currently five months behind. I think 2011 calls for fewer subscriptions.

9. I have eight Hopsy bags. Obsessive personality perhaps?

10. I have over 350 unread emails in my blog inbox. I apologize if you are still waiting for a reply, but I promise I am slowly working my way through.

HAPPY MONDAY!

Rise

When it comes to food I love Mexican and enjoy Italian every now and again, but I have a weak spot for French food. Steak and pomme frites, warm pain au chocolate, extra salty beurre and souffles will always top my list. Dallas is home to a DIVINE souffle restaurant: Rise. I often meet friends here (Eloise and I had a lovely lunch last winter and Jenny Hayden and I also enjoyed dinner earlier this year). The atmosphere is so unique, but the food is really out of this world!

My dear friend Jennifer knows I LOVE anything and everything pumpkin so after her most recent visit she was sure to pass on that Rise had a pumpkin dessert souffle this month. Of course I immediately knew where I needed to be dining this weekend!
I called Emily and Jennifer this morning and we decided to meet for a mid-day lunch at a Dallas staple. We were seated at a table right by the chef's kitchen. It was neat to see all the souffles being prepared. Each time one is ready a bell is rung and the waiters all run over- you do not want the souffles to fall!
After reviewing the menu I decided to go all out and enjoy a three course meal. I started with Rise's signature Marshmallow Soup. The soup is not at all as it sounds, but rather the name is based on how it looks. A tomato bisque is top with three miniature cheese souffles that look just like marshmallows. The soup is then topped with a pesto oil. It is heaven in a bowl!

For my entree I ordered the Rise salad. I typically order a souffle, but since I had the soup and we ordered a dessert souffle I decided to mix things up a bit. The salad did not disappoint either. It included my favorite salad staple, blue cheese, as well as pecans and a delicious, light and sweet dressing.

Emily opted for the special souffle of the day, an artichoke delight. It looked wonderful!

The show stopper of our meal was of course the dessert souffle. The pumpkin souffle was DIVINE and every single bite was heaven. It was served with a heavy whipped cream...pure bliss! I will most definitely be returning to Rise this week and ordering a pumpkin souffle for my entree! Sadly, I did not get a group photo, but Jennifer and Emily were kind enough to take a photo of me in new boots. These are the boots I found in India in August. Since it has finally cooled off in Dallas I have begun to wear them. Minus getting them on and off (that is a feat at times) I admit I am obsessed!

Thanksgiving Printables!

I am all about holiday printables these days. As you know, I found the most darling Halloween printables on esty that I used in the home and for treats. Well, the wonderful creator, Amanda of Shindig Parties To-Go, has done it again for Thanksgiving!

The darling Thanksgiving suite includes everything you need to host a wonderful meal for family and friends.
From"Give Thanks" cards to candle and bottle wraps to PERSONALIZED menu cards, place cards and wine bottle wraps Shindig meets your every Thanksgiving needs (and wants!) with their fabulous printables!

I love the personalizing option Shindig offers- it makes everything a little bit more special. As soon as I get the Thanksgiving guest list and menu from MN I will be sending it off to Amanda and then on to Kinkos for high quality printing!

Shindig's Thanksgiving Suite only gets better...it is currently on SALE for 50% off. You get an entire quite (personalized too!) for just $9.50!

Oh, and one more bonus: Amanda also has some FREE printables she is offering. Head over to her blog and her Facebook page for more information. You do not want to miss the fabulous gift tags or the FUN and FESTIVE items for your Children's table (as seen below- isn't this too fun?!)!!

Sloane Ranger Wednesday

Well, in honor of yesterday's BIG news I think it is only proper that WASP Wednesday be Sloane Ranger Wednesday today. I cannot wait to watch the royal wedding planning unfold and have been busy at work planning my watch party already. For those of you that missed the first official Wills and Kate post engagement interview, here it is! Her dress perfectly matches Diana's STUNNING ring!

How Easy Is That?!

As mentioned last week, as soon as I got my copy of the Barefoot Contessa's "How Easy Is That" I went through and marked all the recipes I wanted to make. To be honest, I usually tend to do this with loads of magazines and cookbooks and never get around to them, but this time around I had a drive. A drive to cook! So, I went to town (well, not really as it was rather easy) and made one of the chosen recipes: Herbed Ricotta Bruschetta. This was not only fabulous, but super easy too. I altered things a bit since I do not have a charcoal grill; I toasted the bread instead, gasp, I know. However, it turned out to be just as fabulous and delicious in my opinion! This would be a wonderful last minute dinner for your neighbors or an easily party canape if you did on a smaller scale. It has become a new staple for me!

Herbed Ricotta Bruschetta

2 cups ricotta
3 tbsp minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
2 tbsp minced fresh dill
1 tbsp minced fresh chives
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 round sourdough bread
Good olive oil
1 whole garlic clove, cut in half

Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals or turn a gas grill to medium-high heat.

Combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside. Cut the bread in half and cut each half into 6 thick slices to make 12 slices total.

When the grill is hot, brush the bread with olive oil and grill on each side for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the grill and rub each slice of bread with the cut side of the garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread the herbed ricotta. Serve 2 warm slices per person with a green salad on the side.

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

I have always wanted to see Elton John in concert. I have felt like I missed out by not seeing him with Billy Joel back in high school, but thankfully I found out Elton was coming to Fort Worth (sans Billy Joel sadly) so I quickly jumped on board with friends and bought tickets. We ended up making a weekend out of the concert and headed to Cowtown for some pre-concert adventures in my new, favorite city. We hit up the Kimbell museum, Curly's for frozen pumpkin custard and of course the famed Joe T's for dinner. Then, it was off to the show! Elton was fabulous and he sang just about every song we loved. It was an event and I am so glad I was finally able to see the one and only EJ live surrounded by wonderful friends!

Thank You!!!

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain;
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful
for HEROS proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self
their country loved
and mercy
more than life

America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control,
Thy liberty in law.

Thank you to all those who have served our country! You make America the greatest country in the world. You are normal men and women who are willing to sacrifice your life for your neighbor. You are selfless, you are strong, you are patriotic, you are honorable, you are dedicated, you are our HEROS!

Also, thank you to the families who have stood behind and supported all the men and women in uniform. We will never be able to properly thank all those who have gone before us and served or those who continue to give to this country, but we can say thank you to them as well as those who stand behind them!

Today, remember to thank a hero and remember that this country will always be worth fighting for!

A Pink and Green Birthday!

Put your feet up, order a cupcake with PINK frosting and make everyone green with envy as you wear your latest shift... today calls for a celebration!!!

Happy Birthday to the one and only Lilly Pulitzer!!

You have made each and everyday a brighter and more fun!
"Wear pink and make the boys wink."

What's the Story Morning Glory?

What's the tale nightingale?

The tale is that you all MUST go see Morning Glory! I went to see the movie last night and have not laughed so hard during a movie in a long time. I LOVED the cast- Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams were all amazing. They all are so good at so many different types of roles, aren't they? Well, again, they did not disappoint last night and worked so well with one another! The movie is fun, but it also sucks you in and can be quite emotional too. A must see this weekend or over Thanksgiving with the family for sure!!!

Ina Garten

It is no secret that I love to eat and a fan of delicious food. I have written about my love for the Barefoot Contessa in the past so of course I was thrilled to find out she would be in Dallas today to sign copies of her new book.

I started to get worried when I heard people began lining up at 8am for a 12pm signing, but I guess I should not have been surprised so many adore Ina- she is creme de la creme! I arrived at 11:30am and thankfully Jennifer and Emily were able to get their earlier. The line was already 1000+ people long, but we were in the first 300 or so. Oh, and they had alreays sold out of all the Barefoot's books by the time I arrived too. Thankfully, I had bought mine ahead of time so no need to fret!

We lucked out with a BEAUTIFUL day in Dallas, and minus the wind (hence my extremely messy hair!) it was a perfect day to get to stand outside. The wait actually went by rather quickly and the line moved very fast- leave it to Williams Sonoma to be efficient. As we waited we enjoyed samples from Ina Garten's new book: How Easy Is That, which was, of course, the purpose for the signing.

I was so excited to briefly meet Ina when we made it inside at 1pm! She was so delightful and pleasant to talk to. I had gone through and marked all the recipes I want to make from her new book which she made note of...little does she know what I am like in the kitchen though! I was so impressed that Ina made a point to look up at every single person that came through when we were inside and genuinely say that it was lovely to see them and thanked everyone for coming. I also loved that Williams Sonoma had a team on hand to whom you could hand your camera or phone to and they would then snap numerous photos of you chatting with Ina Garten. Brilliant idea! I am so thrilled I was able to get my Barefoot Contessa cookbooks signed and meet Ina. We all had such a wonderful time and the wait was most definitely worth while. Up next (when I have some free time!) I will cook through some of the fabulous recipes in the new book and will of course be posting reviews!

Fashion Love: Jules Reid

I have to admit I have a jam packed closet and I have always loved clothes. I think my mother may have helped feed this love by always making sure I was well put together as a child, but regardless, I swoon for beautiful things and well dressed women (and men too!).

So, when I was contacted by the beloved designer Jules Reid a few months ago (yes, that is how far behind I am so please be patient with emails!) I was simply elated! She was kind enough to send me an invite to her amazing Spring 2011 fashion show sponsored by the Wall Street Journal in September which I was so sad to miss, but then she topped it off with another treat. Jules then sent me a signature JR box filled with treats (seen above, Eloise, and below, Teddy) which I am simply adore and cannot get enough of! The quality of her products is lovely and the type that exceptional quality which now hard to find. However, my favorite aspect of her clothing are the wonderful patterns. Everything is bold, yet very feminine. I love the weight of her fabrics and the dainty cuts seem to flatter every figure!

I am especially fond of all the elephants Jules incorporates into many of her clothing (the black and white are Fall, but I got my Teddy in the pink and orange elephant print from her Spring collection). Jules actually spent some of her childhood in India hence us sharing a love for elephants and vibrant colors! Be sure to check out her darling baby photo at the Taj Mahal on her website!

The Fall 2010 collection can be found online and in stores and the Spring/Summer 2010 collection is online (and on sale- for 50% off!)!

The Jules Reid Spring 2011 collection will be available in stores in February and is it is at all similar to her past collection it is sure to be a winner in my book!

For more information on the fabulous Jule Reid be sure to visit her site! Also, do be warned you will find is very hard to leave without filling up your cart!