Amanda Catherine Designs Giveaway

I love fun sayings and I love etsy. So, when Amanda of Amanda Catherine Designs contacted me about doing a giveaway for one of her "preppy" new prints I was thrilled to oblige! I had seen Amanda on Carly's blog a while back and fell in love with her darling prints. They are fun and whimsical. Unlike many etsy printables Amanda's darling prints are sent to you on high quality stock when you order. I like to say that ACD is a shop with a mission.

 While the prints are just darling as can be, I love that Amanda also donates proceeds for her etsy shop to Love146. 

Love 146 is an organization that is working to end child sex trafficking around the world. This is a horrific and growing problem around the world and also in our own back yards. You can read about this partnership on Amanda's etsy page.

 Next time you are considering spicing up your dorm, home or office walls think about supporting Love146 too.

 My eye was of course attracted to all the bright things in ABD store. However, many of the items I have featured also come in other color waves. So, if neon mix tapes are not your thing (you mean, you are not wanting to match your Lilly cassette print?!) take a peek because there is a more muted version as well.

 Now, all the above prints are SO darling (I especially love this Paris print), but there was one that stuck out as a very favorite....

 "Pearls always match the monogram!"

Like many of Amanda's other prints, this too is also available in your choice of colors. Obviously, I would choose the pink and green, but those that are more into neutrals can choose navy or black and those of you who like to go green have an option too....there is a rainbow of color options for you! 

One reader will win this very print in their choice of a color wave! To enter simply use the Rafflecopter below. You have a couple ways to enter (however, I never dreamt I would have to say this, but please be honest, ladies) so get going and enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was not compensated  in any form for hosting this giveaway. All the thoughts expressed in this post are my own.

TV Time

Though I sometimes do not like to admit it, my DVR works overtime each week. I have seen a number of other bloggers talk TV since the Fall line-up has started to premier and thought I would jump on board. Below is a list of the shows I record each week. I do not watch all these shows the night they air (I would never go to bed on Sunday!), but watch some from earlier in the week later on. Of course, I also watch the news, usually both local and national, each night as well.

*These shows are not currently on. Their seasons just ended.

Sunday

Meet the Press - I know you are all thinking I am not intellectual enough or a huge nerd for watching this, but it is one of my favorites and always informative.

Revenge- Cannot wait for Revenge to start back up. From the set to the clothing to the plot this is one of my favorite shows on TV.

Park 666- I am excited about watching the premier this week. It seems up my alley!

*Downton Abbey- Yes, I have paid to watch Season 3 online because I just could not wait until January. My, has it been worth every single penny. I laughed hysterically and cried in the first episode. Best show on TV!!

*Keeping up with the Kardashians- My mother is probably reading this and picking up the phone to call me, but this will remain a guilty pleasure.
*Mad Men- I followed Don and Peggy for several years and was excited they were back this year. Love the clothes and the twisted plot.

Monday

Gallery Girls- Since I majored in Art History I love this show. It is much more of an authentic reality show in my opinion. Not so scripted like The Hills. 

*Pretty Little Liars- Every time I watch I am shocked this show in on ABC Family. It is SO scary, but SO good!

*United Bates of America- I have been following the Bates since they first appeared on 16 Kids and Counting. Maybe it is an only child syndrome, but large families fascinate me.

Tuesday

Dancing with the Stars Elimination- I will only watch the elimination until the top five. Honestly, I am only watching this season because I saw Emmitt and Pat Smith at Women of Faith last week and felt compelled.

19 Kids and Counting- I LOVE the Duggar family! I know many of you do not, but they love all their children and I respect a family that has no debt and puts God first. They take me back to my AR roots too!

Abby and Brittany- I have been recording this show since the premier and usually watch it on Saturday as a background filler. These sisters amaze me and they are from MN.

*Teen Mom- I watched every season. Again, another guilty pleasure.

Wednesday

*American Idol- For the very first time ever my contestant finally won! I cannot wait to cheer on a new crowd and watch the new judges come January. 

Thursday

Glee- While I feel like the show has gone down hill I still record it and watch for the music.

Living Abroad- Unlike House Hunters, this show offers a much more in depth look at living overseas. Dubai, Singapore and Geneva have all been featured.

Friday

Georgetown Cupcake- As a lover of all sugar concoctions did you expect anything less? I love watching the sister duo create cupcake sculptures.

*The Monarchy- This was a fascinating show on the British Monarchy. Each week a different aspect was highlighted. From Royal visits abroad, to running the palace to the famous garden party we got a glimpse into a life only a few will ever live. I am leaving this on the list since some other shows that fall into this same category pop up now and then and of course I record them all.

**I tried Breaking Amish but could not get into it. If you want an interesting documentary on Amish teens watch the Devil's Playground. It is fascinating!

**I also tried to get into X Factor and just could not. I will remain an Idol fan.

**I also record certain Masterpiece Theaters. I look at the description each week and then vote yes or no.

Do we share any TV interests or do you feel like I am missing out on anything?

Good Food Gone Bad

Last night I read Posh Mom's Gilt City Gone Bad experience. It sort of lit a fire in me even though this post has nothing do to with "coupons" but instead we see eye to eye on customer service.

Let me take you back to April 2012. A new hot spot in Dallas opened. Sissy's Southern Kitchen was the "it" restaurant in Dallas. Of course, being a lover of Southern food I had to go as soon as a reservation was available. Katie, Emily and I headed over on a Saturday night, at 5pm. Yes, if you want to eat at the "in crowd" restaurant you sometimes have to be willing to eat at the same time as toddlers. We arrive and are only one of two tables in the restaurant. Our server just so happened to be serving both tables. After taking the other table's order and getting them settled she comes over to us. Problem numero uno- she starts to be incredibly snarky when asking questions (all one work answers with a side of eye rolling) about the menu and then acts incredibly annoyed that we are unsure what we want to order after her briefly going over the menu. Please note, the restaurant was NEW at this point and none of us had ever been so there was NO reason to roll your eyes when I asked if you had specials. Anyhow, we are gracious and quickly order so we do not cause her any hassle. In the mean time another table is seated in our servers' section. I will get to the point and just say that that table was served DESSERT before we even got our main course. I am not sure where our server had some sort of issue with us or what was up but her attitude and service was unacceptable. So unacceptable that Katie, Emily and I all made a point of contacting Sissy's about her and our experience. I rarely do this, but *Anna (name changed for privacy reasons) was just so rude that I felt compelled. One would think a new restaurant would maybe get back to you or even just say they were sorry for this rare occurance. Instead, NOTHING. No word from Sissy's. No acknowledgement. Nada. Zero Zilch.

Fast forward to a Saturday night earlier this month when Cassie invites me and Emily to Sissy's with her college BFF who is in town. We oblige as we are willing to give them another chance. While the service was wonderful inside the restaurant the food and valet were horrendous. All three of our desserts were inedible (think BURNT cookies) and the sides left something to be desired (creamed corn is not corn chowder....). While that was certainly a disappointment the real issue was with the valet. Not only did they accuse Cassie for trying to STEAL a car (no, I am not kidding, they confronted her and actually said this), but they also called her a b**ch to our other friend (yes, to Emily's face). Totally unacceptable. No excuse for that. At.all! Cassie, being a lawyer immediately got on the phone (as soon as she got in her stolen vehicle...) and contacted the manager of Sissy's. Sadly, the manager choose to just come up with excuse after excuse before finally deciding it might be a good idea to acknowledge there was maybe an issue and take down all Cassie's info. Emily and I were in Cassie's back seat and decided to tweet to Sissy's. Fast forward to Monday...Sissy's starts replying to positive weekend tweets but neglects to reply to either of us. I understand not replying to every single tweet, but I looked up Sissy's and they are not some Kim Kardashian getting a 100 tweets a minute. It seems like they feel they are above acknowledging negativity or admitting to their faults. Almost as if they are wrongly being accused. Only after we tweeted about being ignored did we get a tweet back asking to give them another chance (you know, because both times we dined were not enough I guess?).

 Dallas is an eating out city. We have more restaurants per capita than NYC. If you have bad food, rude staff and refuse to try and turn a problem around you do not deserve to stay afloat.  If you live in Dallas or plan to visit or even know people here I would tell them NEVER to eat at Sissy's Southern Kitchen. The atmosphere might be pleasant and the decor is appealing but all good things stop there. This restaurant does not warrant spending your hard earned cash. If you want good fried chicken go to Babe's or Bubba's. Not only is the price more wallet friendly, but the food is some of the best in town and their staff is far superior to the more "upscale" Sissy's. Moral of this post: good food can go bad in a second and customer service is key to keeping clients. It seems like Sissy's might have to learn the hard way!

Epic Blog Sale

 I feel like this is the blog sale of all blog sales! I have gotten serious about cleaning out my closet and parting with things I have not been wearing or that are a little too short for these long legs. All these items are listed below and prices include shipping. If you would like to purchase an item you need to email me at kappaprep@gmail.com with the item you would like in the subject line. Paypal is the only payment accepted and payment must be made within 24 hours of your first email. All items will be shipped out the morning after payment is received. I hope some of these items can find a new, happy home. Shop away!
UPDATED 9/25/2012

Blue Burberry Quilted Jacket, Size Small- SOLD

This jacket just has not seen the light of day as it should. I have only worn it three or four times and it is in excellent used condition. It was purchased from the store Epitome in Edina, MN and is 100% authentic. I am happy to send a closeup of the tag or pictures of the back.

 NWT Lilly Pulitzer Eryn Dress, Size 4- SOLD
This style dress is a favorite of mine. It is extra flattering and a great year round dress. I have paired my pink with tights in the winter and still gotten great use out of it. A timeless dress indeed!

 NWT Gretchen Scott Ruffle Dress, Size Small- SOLD
I have this style dress in a summer print which I love. It is a little short for my long legs to sport though and this color wave is not suited for a cover-up. Pair this with leggings or wear it solo to get year round wear!

Coach Macintosh COat, Size Small- SOLD
This light tan coat has been a staple in my closet for a few years. It is a classic jacket that looks great with dresses or slacks. It fits TTS, is very high quality and lush and has a fun Coach lining inside. Perfect for transitional weather as travel.

 Lilly Pulitzer Reversible Skirt, Size 4- $25

Get two skirts in one! This skirt has SO many of my favorite Lilly prints. Sadly, it just has not gotten worn as it should. 

 Tibi Sweater Dress, Size Small- SOLD

This dress is perfect for cooler weather. It look darling alone, but I think it is cutest paired with black tights and silver flats or heels. Very warm and substantial. 

 There is one snag under left arm. Sold as is.

 RARE Lilly Pulitzer Turtle Applique Dress, Size 6- $40

I bought this dress from another seller and am selling it for less than what I paid. I had NEVER seen this dress and just had to have it and was heart broken it was too short on my long legs. One of the turtles is  pocket...how cute is that?! 

 Lilly Pulitzer Pink and Green Floral Top, Size 6- $15

Nothing makes your yearn for warmer weather than a summer Lilly top. This classic pink and green print is fun and preppy.

 Indian Tory Burch Inspired Top, Size XS- $15

Darling top from a very well known store in India. This top looks great with white pants or shorts when the weather is warm or pair it with a navy cardigan when the weather changes. In perfect condition and only worn once.

Elizabeth Mckay Martin Dress in Aqua, Size 6- $70

Please email blbrodger@hotmail.com if you would like to purchase this dress.

Two Elegant Elephants

It is so secret that I LOVE to shop. Finding a good deal at the mall is fun, but finding a vintage treasure when out and about is what I really love! Take silver for instance....I just LOVE find a super tarnished piece and than taking it right home and making it shine. There is a thrill in making the old new again and giving it a new home.

Thankfully, I have friends like Melissa that are the same way. We send each other pictures of goods or post them on social media and we all fall in love. Trouble is, neither of us really has anymore room at our inns... What are two girls that love to hunt to do? Well spread the love of course! So, we are happy to introduce you to Two Elegant Elephants:

 Two Elegant Elephants, or TEE as I refer to it, is an etsy shop with our vintage finds from around town. In the coming weeks we will also add several items we are making (the last of the Chixie aprons may or may not make a reappearance) as well as more finds we have come across. Keep in mind this is a fun hobby for us so updates will be made as we find items... surprise updates with new goodies are half the fun, right?

 Blue and white delights are plenty at TEE!

Greek key...need we say more? 

 Every home needs a welcoming doorstop. Embrace hospitality with this pina!

 This set of blue and yellow chinoiserie vases would look perfect on a mantle.

 Bow and swag sconces would be perfect in just about any room of your home!

Pink + Bamboo = Swoon worthy!

 Add some elegance to your dresser or your next soiree with a silver plate tray!

 There is also a small selection of low priced custom monograms. Friends were often asking me to make these for them so I decided to add a few to Two Elegant Elephants in the event that anyone else is looking for a $2 monogram for a party or printing purposes (think stickers, notepads, mouse pads, etc). Custom colors can be requested and monograms are emailed to you within 24 to 48 hours. 

Our eyes often are taken by the chinoiserie meets Palm Beach with a touch of elegance so that is what TEE is full of. Feel free to hop on over to Two Elegant Elephants today! We hope some of you enjoy these hobby finds as much as we do and until we move into bigger spaces they are yours to grab!

A Little More UK Eye Candy

I was looking through my photos last night and it dawned upon me that I did not document my entire UK trip. So, even though I have been home for two solid months I wanted to share a few more snapshots so that I can document my trip (mostly for myself). The following collection has me yearning to hop across the pond sooner rather than later!

Beantown and I were Laduree-aholics when I was in town. We went every single time we were in town. I cannot remember if that was three or four times now. However many it was, I could have benefited from one more trip. One can never enjoy too many caramel macarons! 

 I may or may not have forced Melissa to try the caramel tea. I like to think this little treat changed her life and tea drinking for the better.

 We lucked out with a beautiful day in Londontown!

 Harrod's now has a cupcake shop inside. For any American that has spent time abroad you know that cupcakes, cakes and pastries are not exactly what we are accustomed to here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. If I lived in London I think I would make my way here (okay, or to McDonald's for fries) every time I yearned for a little slice of home.

I spotted this couple pushing their SilverCross pram while walking their two sweet pups on our way to the Tube. That is certainly the life! 

Beautifully packaged teas were everywhere I looked! 

 Now, why can't the eggs I buy be packaged like this?

 I loved the "H" Hunter boots, but the Union Jacks won out and came home with me. These might be a must for my next trip...

 Burlington Arcade never gets old. I could spend all day walking up and down and browsing the windows of its' darling shops.

 Laduree hot chocolate is like drinking liquid gold. It is one of the most well deserved treats after a day of walking and exploring.

God save the Queen!

Monogrammed Loafer Giveaway

It has been quite sometime since I have done a giveaway. While I know some are not fans of giveaways I do like to offer them as it is a chance for someone to win a great item for free! So, if you are not a giveaway fan feel free to return on Monday morning for a new post and if you love all things monogrammed, read on!

Back when I was blogging full-time (phew, I am not sure how I kept up the daily posts!!) I met a wonderful lady who happened to be a store owner as well. 

Eliza is the owner of The Pink Giraffe which some of you might remember I partnered with last Spring. She is a one-stop when it comes to mongrammed items and gifts. From Lilly to jewelry to stationery to shoes to wedding gifts, The Pink Giraffe has got you covered! Speaking of shoes, Eliza recently contacted me to let me know that a new color monogrammed loafer is now available. What color you might ask? One that is perfect for Fall....NAVY!!!

Eliza and The Pink Giraffe have graciously offered to giveaway a pair of these darling driving shoes to one lucky reader. All you are REQUIRED to do for an entry is leave a comment with your initials on this post. Be sure to leave your comment here and ALSO register your entry through the Rafflecopter. Only entries registered through the Rafflecopter will be in the running to win. You can check out the below Rafflecopter for additional entry options. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck to all and a huge thank you to The Pink Giraffe for making this giveaway possible!

*I was not compensated for this giveaway. All the opinions regarding The Pink Giraffe are based on past, personal experiences. 

From Drab to Fab in 30 Minutes

Ever since I purchased my black chest of drawers last Summer I have been wanting to paint the hardware gold. I thought this would be a very simple task so I kept putting it off. I assumed I could just remove the hardware, spray paint it and put it back on. Not so much the case. The hardware is attached to the chest (not sure where all the screws on the inside of the drawers go...) so my original plan was a no go.

Since I was already in the mood to get this project going I decided to try the Rub 'n Buff I had in my craft drawer. The color was "antique gold" which is exactly the look I envisioned for my hardware. 

I taped around the hardware to ensure my unsteady hand did not mess with the chest. Then I started to go to town with the rub.

I used a cheap foam brush from Michael's and then my fingers to fill in all the crevices of the hardware. If you are interested in revamping hardware consider this a warning that a little Rub 'n Buff goes a LONG way! 

I think a major perk of Rub 'n Buff is that it dries almost instantly. You do not have to really wait to touch it...it is sort of an instant gratification (as long as you do not get it on your chest...then instant dry is not your friend).

 I took things from drab to fab in just 30 minutes and am thrilled with the end result. The newly gold hardware makes this simple chest of drawers a little more elegant I think.