Monograms and Manicures

Friday Five

2012-01-27T00:34:00.000-06:00

1. Target going Chinoiserie/Hollywood Regency

I have spotted quatrefoil trays and candles and now foo dogs. What could be next....bamboo tables and chairs?!

2. Chocolate Cappuccino topped with Whipped Cream

I ordered this deliciousness when I went to breakfast with Mandi at Bistro 31 this week. Even if our meal had not been good we would be back to enjoy this goodie. The Lombardi Group never lets me down!

3. Resolution List
I picked up this fun list of resolutions at a She Reigns/Daley Ann trunk show this week. How fun it is? Words to live by friends!

4. My Fascinator
I popped into SteinMart last weekend and came out with my arms full. One of the gems I found was this FABULOUS fascinator. It will be PERFECT for my Royal Wedding Anniversary soiree!

5. Couponing

While I am still not yet a hard core couponer I was SO proud to finally save OVER 50% of my bill. The best part about this was this trip had NO planning involved as I simply popped into Tom Thumb, scanned the add as I grabbed what I needed and ran out. This just proves to me that you do not need to be all extreme as those seen on TV. I spent NO time planning and saved this much; no need to spend 60 hours a week!

Chargers

2012-01-26T11:27:00.001-06:00

The other day when I was searching for hot pink food coloring I came across the most amazing chargers (do not ask me how Google put these two things together....I shall never understand). I LOVE putting details into my place settings and chargers are really the next best thing after flowers in making a table come alive. I am always on the lookout for pretty chargers that will compliment my china and I found just that through Google:

PINK CHARGERS!
Not only one shade of pink, but a hot pink and a light pink!
Michael's and Hobby Lobby often have similar chargers, but I have never spotted the beaded chargers nor have I come across such a wide array of color options.

You know how I love, love, love some blue and white with pink so in my opinion the hot pink are just what I need for my table settings.

Now, since not all of your love pink as much as I do (you poor souls) there are loads of other color chargers to choose from. The rainbow of blues also caught my eye.
This navy would also work well with my china I think. It is number two on my list since I am all about the pink right now.
Preppy Pink Lilly Lover: the purple and green are calling your name for your Mardi Gras soiree!
These chargers are such a great way to not only bring pops of color to your table design but are perfect for carrying out a theme as well. They can also be used for larger gatherings when you do not have guests seated at a table. Guests can get a plate, fill it up with their food and then grab a charger to better balance the plate on their lap. The lightweight charger and large size have made numerous events much easier for my mother, myself and our guests.

The chargers can be purchased individually, but are also come in sets of 24. The price is certainly right and you cannot beat the rainbow of colors! Happy entertaining!!

The Vow

2012-01-25T17:16:00.002-06:00

I am off to a screening of The Vow tonight and can hardly wait. I am a sucker for a good love story, even if it is sad (I mean, look at The Notebook) so I will be sure to report back my thoughts on Facebook and Twitter later tonight. In case you have not seen the preview, here it is:

Have a delightful evening!

Pretty in Pink!

2012-01-24T17:32:00.000-06:00

I am dreaming of all things PINK! Here are a few pretties on my current lust list:

Bubble Gum Hartley Skirt
Pink Heart Bed Linens
Pink Trench

City Bike
Spade Earrings
Grosgrain Polka Dot Ribbon

Hot Pink Straws and Gift Bags
Leather Coffee Cozie
Celebration Tapers

Naptime Diaries Quote
File Folders
Pink Extension Cord
Pink on Pink Macaroons

Resolutions

2012-01-23T18:32:00.000-06:00

I am a bit behind on sharing my 2012 resolutions, but better late than never, right? Anyway, I am a very goal oriented person. When I want to do something I make it a goal. I set out to achieve my goal and do not stop until I get there. Obviously, I try to be realistic in my goals. While I am constantly updating my goals the new year is a great time to update and expand my list. I stayed very on top of my goals last year and am proud to report that I kept up with reading the paper and the Bible in a year (though I am a month behind I WILL finish). I did not however, run a 5k :( or continue with squash (my club is still looking for a new pro and as soon as they find one this will be back on my list).

Anyhow, I wanted to share my 2012 resolutions with you all. Judging by my the list below it appears I have my work cut out for me...

I am one of those people that just LOVES to shop (shocking, I know). I can find cute things no matter how terrible the store is and cannot pass up a good deal (you know, for my gift closet). However, as much as I love deals and shopping my space is limited and my budget is shrinking. I am going to start saying NO to purchases and YES to saving!
I LOVE to host parties! Putting together an event is a real thrill for me. I love themes and carrying out said theme in every way possible. This year I want to have one party every three months. I already have two parties in the works (not even including my birthday fete) and plan to have another Halloween bash as well.
Scripture plays such an important role in my daily life. I truly admire those of you that can refer back to verses in any and every situation. In 2012 I plan to memorize more scripture. I am starting with just one verse a month (join me; see my sidebar), but am going to try to up it to two a month once I get a handful down.
I am a slow reader and can tend to spend too much time on the internet or "catching up" on things around the house. This year I WILL read at least one book a month! Things are off to a great start seeing as I just started book number three for the year.

In keeping with the theme of spending too much time online and with electronics in general I am implementing a turn off time. At 10pm on weeknights there will be no more internet time, no more texts, no more phone calls, no more TV etc. In just the few weeks since I have started this I have noticed SUCH a difference and would highly encourage you all to try this as well!! Since running a 5k never happened in 2011 I have carried it over to 2012. I am not a runner as I mentioned last year. In fact, I really hate running, but this is something I have always wanted to do. I am signed up to run a 5k in February and can hardly wait as I get to enjoy it with friends!
It is no secret that I have gotten WAY behind on blog emails over the past two years. Time and time again I have tired to catch up, but I have failed. I am going to just have to delete emails sent before July 2011 and start anew in order to catch up and stay on top of it. I think I can, I think I can...!

I have had the same goal weight for years and years. I am SO close but have never really taken action. So this is the year I WILL hit my goal weight (and stay there)!! While I do love to cook planning meals for myself can be more of a chore. Thus, I end up eating out more often than I should. I want to start planning ahead then cooking on the weekend and partially freezing some of what I make. I know this will not only be easier and healthier but more cost effective as well (save more).
While I never text while driving I do always take my phone out at lights. Though it is easy to multitask, driving is just really not the time to do that in my opinion. The phone is staying put when driving from now on!

Well, that is my packed list friends! I certainly have my work cut out for me, but thankfully I now have all of you to hold me accountable. It is sure to be a great year if the last few weeks are just a preview!!

DIY Feather Wreath

2012-01-22T15:17:00.000-06:00

When I worked at Serefina in Edina many moons ago we sold these amazing feather wreaths. Ever since then I have been in love with them. Since I was in need of a new wreath for my door (sadly it was time to take my ornament wreath down) I decided I would take my stab at one.

What you will need:

Feather boas (I used three boas plus two feather craft accessories.)

Wreath Form (I opted for an 18 inch)
Hot Glue Gun

Ribbon

Seasonal Decor (only if you want to spice it up)

Every craft store I went to was out of the foam wreath forms so I opted to use a wooden one. I was a bit worried my wreath would not look very full since the form is flat, but boy was I wrong. The form is much less cumbersome, incredibly light and under $5 making it perfect for this project. I do think you would need another boa for this project if your choose a foam form over the wooden.

This project is SO easy and take under 15 minutes. To begin find the rope end of your feather boa. Simply hot glue the rope to the wreath form and begin to wrap the boa around the wreath. Make sure none of your wreath form is showing as you continue to wrap the boa around it. If you opt to use the additional feather craft accessories like I did you can fill in with this to make your wreath a bit more full.

Unlike with the ornament wreath you do not need to tie your ribbon on before you glue on the boas. I picked the least full spot and tied the ribbon around it and voila!

Since Valentine's day is just around the corner I also picked up a felt "XOXO" pretty at Michael's and added this to my wreath. I simply affixed it so that I can remove it once February 14th has passed and replace it will glitter eggs for Easter.

I am extremely pleased with my feather wreath and cannot wait to make another for the Fall. I am thinking a black one with glitter skeletons would be perfect for Halloween! This would also be darling for a baby shower or bridal shower (in white).

NOTE: Make this project even more wallet friendly by checking your local Dollar Tree for $1 feather boas!

Friday Five

2012-01-20T00:07:00.000-06:00

It's Friday, Friday, Friday! I can hardly believe we are in the middle of January and the projected high is 75 today! Crazy times indeed. I have a busy weekend ahead, but there is lots to look forward to in the mix...including picking my dress for Saturday (I am taking all your opinions/votes seriously)! So, without further ado here is this week's top five:

1. New Earrings

I loved the pink flower, enamel earrings I scored at Stein Mart last week. If you are in the market for costume jewelry head on over. They are my go-to for occasions when I want to spice up an outfit but not spend a fortune. I think I might wear these this weekend.

2. Matt Maher's "Turn Around"
I love, love, love this song! The beat and the message are just wonderful and great lift me up.

3. My Desk
A desk no longer means of study, study, study (all you young ones get excited for that day). This little space collects all my pretty things. What's not to love?

4. Materne Applesauce Packets

These have been my go-to breakfast and snack item for a long time. I have tried just about every applesauce packet and Materne is by far the best tasting. At 60 calories a pop and 3/4 serving of fruit they are great for those with busy schedules (or little ones).

5. The Lucky One

I am a sucker for every Nicholas Sparks story, but when Melissa and I saw this preview at a screening the other night (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was just horrible by the way) we immediately knew we might have a new favorite. It looks SO good!!

Have delightful weekend!

Oh How Sweet It Is!

2012-01-18T17:24:00.000-06:00

The other day I got an email about Valentines from Minted. I am pretty into Valentine's Day as I love all things pink and froufrou and was so excited to find the PERFECT Valentine to hand out to coworkers and friends with special treats. As soon as I spotted the sugary sensation Valentine I knew I had found my match:

These cards are small and meant to be handed out, not mailed. They are sweet is looks and size! Even better yet you are also able to personalize the array of classroom valentines with you own colors and fonts on Minted (though the brown is lovely the pink and red were best suited for me)!

It is looking like I might have to experiment with making macarons for the very first time as I cannot imagine a better treat to go with this sweet card!

VOTE!

2012-01-17T17:33:00.000-06:00

You have seen the shoes for Saturday evening, but not the dress. Well, the only reason I cannot show you a complete ensemble is because it is still up in the air. I tried on a bunch of dresses last night and thought it might be fun to have you all vote on your favorite. I am leaning towards two of the following five (can you guess which two after reading my write-ups?), but would love your vote (there is a poll on the side bar where you can vote) to help me narrow it down to just ONE!!

The photo does not do this dress justice. It is an elegant raspberry and gold jacquard one shoulder, ruffe. This dress has a bit of shimmer which pair perfectly with the DIY glitter heels.
B

I have worn this dress once before, but you cannot go wrong with this silhouette in black. Note that it is the exact same dress as A and I think the picture is a tad more flattering than I found it to be last night...

I simply adore this dress! The back dips into a deepish (not too deep though) v. I think it is very slimming and classic and I just love the knots each shoulder ties in. I think it makes a perfect pair with my shoes, earrings and gold wrap.

I love my Jillie dresses since they can be worn year round. I am a bit hesitate to wear this as I feel like I just wore the dress in another color to a recent engagement. The gold on the dress does pull the gold from the shoes though so it has been left in the final five.

I have pretty much narrowed this dress out as it IS January after all, however a projected high of 76 on Saturday is throwing me for a loop. I love the style and cut of this dress, but think it is best suited for a warmer month's event.

So, there you have it, a selection of five dainty dress. Now, the big question is: which dress is your favorite??

DIY Glitter Shoes

2012-01-16T17:45:00.001-06:00

Per my Friday Five post this weekend I took a stab at making my very own pair of glitter heels. I found several DIY links through Pinterest, but followed We Are Not Martha's tutorial for the most part.

I gathered all my supplies from the craft store and was ready to go...

If you are interested in making a pair of glitter shoes you will need:

1 container of regular Modge Podge

Craft Glitter in the color of your choice.

Fine glitter (I used Martha Stewart brand glitter.)

Foam brush (the smaller the better in my opinion.)
Clear Spray Paint

Masking Tape

**I did NOT end up using the spray adhesive shown in the photo.**

Last but not least; you will need your shoes of choice! I really wanted to add a bow to my shoes and lucked out finding this darling pair, already complete with a bow, at Stein Mart.

First, use the masking tape to cover the inner heels of your shoes to avoid getting glitter in the wrong places (this would be increbibly painful later so be sure not to skimp!). You might also want to tape the bottom if you are worried about anything getting stuck to it (I skipped covering the bottom and was fine).

Pour about 1/3 of your Modge Podge into a bowl and pour in a generous amount of glitter.

I say the more, the better!

I continued to add more glitter after I started to paint the mixture onto the shoe. The more glitter you add, the few coats you will have to paint on as it will ensure maximum coverage.

Simply begin to "paint" the mixture on to your shoe of choice.

I let my shoes dry for about 10 to 15 minutes after each coat.

By the time I finished with the third coat things were really starting to sparkle!

When I painted my final coat of glitter on I pours the finer Martha Stewart glitter into my mixture. I wanted to ensure every last spot of the shoe that should be covered would be covered. The finer glitter fit right into the tiniest crevices allowing for maximum sparkle in the long run. Since my shoes had a bow I use q-tips to fill the inside of the bow as I wanted no area to be without glitter. It is all about the shimmer, right?!

After a 4th and final coat I let the shoes dry overnight.

Then I got to feed my love for spray paint. I sprayed a coat of clear spray paint all over the shoes. Though the Modge Podge prevents any flaking, this step ensures your glitter will not ever leave a trail no matter where your shoes may take you.

I let this dry then pulled the masking tape off and VOILA!

I now have my very own pair of glitter heels!

The total cost of my project was just $15 (I used a gift card for the shoes otherwise it would have been $46). It took about 2.5 hours from start to finish, minus the overnight drying time, but including small breaks between coats. I am simply in love and might take my stab at a pair of flats. I cannot wait to wear these beauties on Saturday evening, I am certain I will sparkle and glimmer!

JLD Video

2012-01-15T20:00:00.000-06:00

The Junior League of Dallas is celebrating 90 years this year. Within JLD there are six issue areas with which members can volunteer in the community. In honor of the 90th anniversary of working with the Dallas community a video is being made for each issue area highlighting several of the organizations with which we work. I was thrilled that my current placement at Methodist Hospital was selected as one of the organizations to be featured in the "Health Issue Area" video and even more thrilled that I was able to play a key roll in the video. Even more exciting was that bff Cassie was asked to represent her placement of the Senior Source which falls into the same issue area so we got to be in the same video! Here is a glimpse into our placements and the Junior League of Dallas:

Junior League of Dallas - Health from Elixir Entertainment on Vimeo.

2012 Pink Swap Partners!

2012-01-15T16:20:00.003-06:00

Below are the 2012 Pink Swap Partners!!

Please go through the list to find your partner. You will then need to go through the comments on this post and this post to locate your partner and email them. Please be sure to double check the comment sections even if your partners email is listed. There were so many participants that their are likely a few typos. Remember, you MUST email your partner by Monday January 23rd, 2012 otherwise they can be paired with someone else. Remember, your package MUST include at least FOUR pink items (items that your yourself would like to receive) and your budget is $30.

Enjoy and happy swapping!

Mrs. Kindergarten- lambrn84@gmail.com

ncerulli@gmail.com - mbonvino16

combatcarol@gmail.com - emilyanderson86@gmail.com

P.C.C. - Guardian of Gimcracks

bmwalsh - NOVAGIRL

Andi, That Girl - Coffee @ Nordstorm

Adrienne (La Bella Vita) - Everyday AEM (Ashley)

Palm Trees, Pearls and Everything Southern - Luff the Lake (KK)

Summer is a Verb - One Fabulous Mom (The Mrs.)

Preppy Girl Meets World - Nautical by Nature

Crispin - Lilly Forever

jenni20designs - Erin-elizabeth.blogspot.com (Erin)

Girl in Pearls - The Lawyer's Wife

Grove Gals - Twist of Lime

Chic Flamingo (Tine) - Miss Andrea Lee

Fashionista Bargain (Jessica) - Kentucky Blonde

Preppy Pink Crocodile - MMS (Southern Vogue)

Second Half Win (Amy) - helizabethpowell.blogspot.com

Ashlee (Champagne Life on a Teacher's Budget) - cashcowan (Jen)

BeckyJo606 - monkeyfish (Leslie)

Preppy Politician (BLT) - Michelle Murphy

Melissa Caligiuri - Hopsy

KKH - thanksforthisbeautifullife@gmail.com

Fashion Meets Food - mFw

FRUGAL DIVA - Life of a Resident Wife (Brittany)

Kristyn Grace - HRObud@me.com

Your Sorority Sister - EMT

JGIWC - Royar

xx BHB - Glitterista

Erin's Favorites - Elyse

Mrs. Jolie - East Coast Style (Diane)

The Sweet Life - Ruby's Fairy Godmother

MMapron (Dawn) - A Texas Gal

KTB - eas (whoisexcited.blogspot.com)

Mary Britni - Mary Kate (mkdub91@gmail.com)

mrs. loves life (Andrea) - sweetvirginia01@gmail.com

Eat, Drink and Be Girly (ELH) - xoxomuffy.blogspot.com

Between the Sheets - Beaufort Belle

The Southern Fried Bride - One Preppy Cookie

KatieB (Tale of a GRITS) - Pink Maple

Southern Living: Preppy Style - What Kate Wore (The Preppy Princess)

Preppy Pitbull - Magnolias and Margaritas

Laura M (laurapinkintheafternoon.blogspot.com)- Stephanie Heintz

Elena (pinkzin.com) - The Tiemann Girls

Valerie (cos4.blogspot.com) - dominicankristin.blogspot.com

hollyusiak.com (Holly) - missmallory.johnson.gmail.com

Lindsay (ourlovelylifeblog@gmail.com) - Meaningfulgrrrl

Sarah @ Simply Sarah Style - socialsara.net

pessimista - VRB

staceyhome.blogspot.com - KellyHandly

lawtonlane@ymail.com - Bless You Heart

medical prepster (Ally) - Prep International

Pink&Fabulous anneetter@hotmail.com

Life in it's Ordinary Form - sGs

Wine & Summer - Carol Fleisher

Serendipity - Jaimous

sdjhae - AllisonH

betweenthemagnolias - Heather M (markusonh@gmail.com)

emmyb84.blogspot.com - lovealamode

MAS - ouashlee@gmail.com

how i met your father - cspod21@gmail.com

Adventures in Adulthood - Preppy Southern Belle

sesark03@yahoo.com - dWa

shoe obsessed (Andy) - mollydoroban@yahoo.com

La Bonbonniere - Lindsey Leigh

Riss - kate leahy

Simply Southern - living well

CC2 - katiebaer@ymail.com

Miss Lindsay _ UGA Bama Belle

UK Partners:

beantownprepster@gmail.com - andnowwearesix

*If there is another international reader willing to participate, I have a partner in New Zealand nwho wants to swap!

** If you did not see your name it means you either did not leave your email per the instructions or missed the sign up deadline.

The Dahl House Winner

2012-01-13T14:09:00.003-06:00

It is time to announce yet another giveaway winner! Thank you to all who entered The Dahl House giveaway, it seems like you all love the monogrammed frames just as much as I do. They are the perfect, custom addition to any home and make a wonderful gift as well. Ok, I still have not figured out how to upload the random.org widget to my posts, but promise to get it down someday. Anyway, congratulations to comment 14, Sarah of Shorelines and Sunshine; you are the lucky winner of your very own Dahl House Frame!
The rest of you still have time to take advantage of The Dahl House special promotion. If you order a frame by tomorrow you can add a date to your frame for FREE! You cannot ever beat free now, can you?

A huge thank you to The Dahl House for sponsoring such a wonderful giveaway on Monograms and Manicures. I hope you all love their frames as much as I do!

Friday Five

2012-01-13T00:27:00.000-06:00

Another Friday has arrived which means it is time for another Friday Five. Here is what I have been loving this week:

1. Karen Adams Easel Calendar

My mother gave me this calendar set last year and I simply LOVED it. I was so excited that she gave me the refills again this year as I had looked for them everywhere in Dallas in October and they were already sold out. The photo does not do this lovely justice. Each month has a different icon and a little bit of sparkle to brighten even the dreariest of days.

2. NEW Elizabeth McKay Scotland Dress

The Scotland became a staple in my closet long before I met its' wonderful creator. I bought the Red Dancing Elephants dress when in NYC and LOVE it. I am a real sucker for anything with elephants. I have never thought I was a red girl, but this dress is slowly making me change my ways.

3. Valentine's Candy

Though my Target still has yet to put all their Valentine's treats out I have spotted some pink sweets when out and about. I can hardy wait to stock pile these goodies and fill my apothecary jars with new items in preparation for February 14th.
4. Glitter Shoes

With a fun soiree on the calendar next Saturday night I am all about the glitter shoes right now. In fact, I am so in love with the look but not so much the price tag that I plan to make my own pair this weekend. Stay tuned for a DIY yourself recap next week!

5. The Hunger Games

I saved the best for last. If you have not read this series quit telling everyone that recommends it to you that you are not into SciFi. That was me for two years, but I finally gave in and am HOOKED. These books will suck you in at any age and keep you up all night. I am still Team Prim and Peeta! If you have an electronic reader, you can download these this weekend through Barnes and Noble (kobo) and save 30%. Use code jan12us30 to save (one code per customer).

Free 2012 Calendars

2012-01-11T17:05:00.000-06:00

Last year I was introduced to Red Stamp by several fellow bloggers. My friend Muffy highlighted their 2011 printable calendars on her blog and I was immediately hooked. When I got my iPhone this past summer I was thrilled to find out they had an app and have been hooked on that ever since. If you do not have the Red Stamp app and you have an iPhone or an iPad you are seriously missing out. Anyway, a few weeks before Christmas I was gearing up for 2012 and decided to check and see if Red Stamp created another set of 2012 printable calendars. Thankfully, they did and they are just as cute as ever! After debating over which to print out I finally went with the confetti. It suits me perfectly and it is fun to look at; I am all about visual eye candy! I printed mine out on a medium weight card stock and then laminated it so that I can circle and erase important dates. Since mine turned out so well I went ahead and printed then laminated a handful to use as stocking stuffers. They were certainly a hit with my family so I thought you all might enjoy this tidbit as well. There are so many fun options and these make great little friend gifts too. Print some out and bring them to your girlfriends at lunch. Pop one in the mail to your bff in another city. Tie a ribbon around a calendar and drop it off to a neighbor or at a coworkers desk. Red Stamp makes it easy and inexpensive to bright anyone's day!
All 2012 (and even some 2013) calendars can be found on the RedStamp Facebook page.

Get your year in gear and print a fun calendar today!

Sweet Retreat

2012-01-10T17:26:00.001-06:00

As you know I have a HUGE sweet tooth. I am a sucker for a good (and cute) bakery and never can walk past one without popping in and trying a sugary sensation. We have loads of good bakeries in Dallas, but I have yet to find a handful of equivalents in MN. Of course Wuollet's has always been at the top of my list, but after my most recent visit I have added another to that list.

Sweet Retreat is located in Minneapolis (I would say Edina, but it is actually on the Minneapolis side of the street) at 50th and France.
As if the outside was not enough to entice me in, the delectable treats inside certainly had my stomach growling upon entry.
The pink everywhere made me feel right at home!
Even the menu is just as darling as can be!
Mother visits often (after we once drove by it together I convinced her to return, without me I might add) and recommended just about every flavor in the case to me. We finally went home with just four cupcakes and every single one was fabulous!
I love that Sweet Retreat offers their customers a glimpse into their baking area. The above is a glassed in so you can watch the bakers work their magic with flour, sugar and decorating tubes.
Of course the pink theme was carried over to the mixer. I was really feeling at home once I spotted this!
The main reason we stopped into Sweet Retreat was to order a buche de Noel for our New Year's Day brunch. After a small debate we decided to order a chocolate mint buche and it was simply DIVINE....both inside and out!
When mother picked up the buche she spotted some amazing frosted sugar cookies that she could not pass up. The snowflakes tasted just as good as they looked!
Sweet Retreat certainly lives up to their name with their sweet treats! It is a new stop on all my trips up North now!

*I was not compensated in any way for this post. All the opinions and statements are mine.

The Dahl House Giveaway!

2012-01-09T16:47:00.007-06:00

I absolutely LOVE having photos out and around in frames (so much so that mother actually told me I need to cool it). They always remind me of wonderful events and times and brighten my days. You can imagine how excited I was when The Dahl House contacted me about pairing with them for a frame giveaway and graciously offered to send me a frame as well. There were SO many cute, unique options that picking a favorite was hard! Since my Living Room colors are blue and pink I finally decided to carry that out in my frame selection. Of course I thought a monogram would be the perfect compliment to my frame and I could not love the final result any more. The hot pink with navy accents works just perfectly in my home.
Doesn't it look right at home...in my home?
No detail was overlooked by Whitney at The Dahl House. She hand paints each and every frame herself (even while pregnant!) and then finishes off the frame edges with coordinating ribbon...you know I go weak in the knees for ribbon! Now I just need to have our Christmas Eve family photo printed in black and white and voila, my new frame will be complete!

I would love to make a tradition of taking a Christmas, Easter or 4th of July photo each year and ordering a custom frame with that year painted on it. It would be so fun to see people change through the years as well as watch your family grow.

Okay, after all that eye candy I bet you are ready for your own frame, huh? Well, today is your LUCKY day! The Dahl House has offered one reader their very own custom, hand painted frame! The options are certainly endless:

To enter this giveaway you must like The Dahl House on Facebook. Then, leave a comment on this post stating your favorite frame (warning...it is HARD to choose just one!) from The Dahl House. All comments must be left by Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 9pm CST.

Best of luck to all and happy framing!

4th Annual Pink Swap UPDATE

2012-01-09T10:22:00.003-06:00

Again, after much thought and debate and feedback, I have decided to change the non-blogger exception to the swap. You no longer have to have participated in two swaps, but rather just ONE. All those non-bloggers who were new to swapping last year and followed through in their commitment in the 3rd Annual Pink swap are welcome to sign up for this year's pink swap in the official post below.

I hope this makes everyone happy. I really am trying to accommodate as many as possible while also protecting those that signed up for the swap. This year's new rules did not come as an easy decision nor did I choose to want to be mean and exclude people. This is a free event to sign up for and takes quite a bit of time and effort on my part. I have had to lay down the law after numerous issues in the past and I hope that those that choose to participate can respect my decision. I look forward to this being another successful year in PINK swapping and look forward to working with all participants!

Again, you still must have participated in at least one swap or have a blog to participate in this year's swap. Your comment MUST include your email in order for it for be published. All eligibility will be verified.

4th Annual PINK Swap

2012-01-08T17:44:00.003-06:00

I am thrilled to announce that even after much debate I have decided to host the 4th annual PINK SWAP! However, this year's swap does have some new rules. Please take note of these before commenting as eligibility WILL be verified.

4th Annual Pink Swap ELIGIBILITY (UPDATED 1.9.2012)

1. After much debate and numerous issues I have had to make a very tough decision; this year's Pink Swap is ONLY open to those who have a blog. Your blog MUST be viewable by all (ie. no private blogs) and it must be somewhat current (ie. no blogs that have not been updated since 2008, etc). Every year numerous ladies have been burned which is just not fair. I hope that by being able to put a face with a name this will eliminate incompetent swappers.

2. I am making one exception to those without blogs. If you do NOT have a blog, but you have participated in at least ONE of the past three Pink Swaps you are welcome to sign up for the 4th Annual Pink Swap. I am sorry, but no other exceptions will be made to these rules. This has been a very tough decision to make, but I, along with the majority of swappers, put a lot of time and effort into the swap and this seems the most fair solution.

4th Annual Pink Swap RULES

1. You must sign up for the 4th Annual Pink Swap by commenting on this post by Saturday, January 14th, 2012. You need to leave your blog address AND email. If you do not leave your email your comment will be deleted. Partners will be selected and posted that weekend, but you can of course start shopping today!

2. Your package must include AT LEAST FOUR items, however four is NOT the limit. Your items must follow the theme of the swap, think ANYTHING PINK!

3.The budget for the PINK SWAP is $30, but this does not include shipping costs.

4. Packages must be shipped by Wednesday, February 1st, 2012. Please follow through with your commitment and of course only send items you would also like to receive. The items can range from paper products to small trinkets to kitchen supplies to homemade items (if you have a talent in this area!). Stock up on cute, pink things (and if you feel so inclined even throw a little green in there)!!

5. You need to email your partner by Monday, January 23rd, 2012. If you do not follow through by this date your partner can be paired with someone new.

Now let's get ready to SWAP! As a courtesy to others please do not sign up for this SWAP if you might not be able to follow through or your do not meet the eligibility criteria.

Again, I apologize for having to change the 4th Annual Pink Swap rules. I hope you all can understand where I am coming from. This was a VERY thought out decision and came after much debate. I am never going to be able to please everyone, but this is the path I have chosen that best works for me and my blog. I put a great deal of time and effort into the pink swap and regret having to make new rules, but after three years of hosting this is simply what it has come down to. Here is to hoping this will be the best swap yet! Happy swapping!

*If you have been burned by a swap partner in the past please email me privately so that I can take precautions.*

Mini Lilly Blog Sale

2012-01-08T13:05:00.011-06:00

One of my 2012 resolutions is to pass on items I have not worn in a year. I really have far too many things and if I do not hop to it I might be seen on an upcoming episode of Hoarders! This weekend I started on my resolution and have a handful of Lilly items that are in need of a new home. All the prices below include shipping. If you would like an item please email me at kappaprep@gmail.com and I will send you a Paypal invoice. All invoices must be paid within 24 hours or the item will be given to someone else. Happy shopping!

Lilly Pulitzer Navy and Pink Houndstooth Jonah Dress, Size Small-SOLD

This was only worn a handful of times and is in great condition. It is a a heavy knit material that is extremely comfortable to wear (great for travel) and easy to clean. This can be paired with navy or pink tights when cooler or worn alone during transitional months.

Lilly Pulitzer Key Jonah Dress, Size Small- SOLD

This is a DARLING dress and was hard to find when it was in stores last Winter. It has only been worn one time and is in perfect condition. Like the houndstooth Jonah it can be paired with navy tights when there is a chill in the air or worn alone when the sun is shining down.

Lilly Pulitzer Jillie Dress in Blue, Size 2- SOLD
This dress has only been worn once and just came home from the dry cleaner. The color is STUNNING on any skin tone and the fit is extremely flattering (even to those with bigger hips like me)! The only reason I am passing this on is because I have the exact same dress in the floor length version. This is great for cocktails or parties and can be worn year round. Lilly Pulitzer Rose Sunglasses, One Size Fits All- SOLD

These sunglasses are new with tags and have never been worn. The style is a classic that I think is similar to many RayBans. The inside of these glasses is a perfect shade of pink and the sides have a fun rose pattern. These would also make a great gift!
Lilly Pulitzer Silk Skirt, Size Small- SOLD

This skirt has an elastic waist making it extra comfy. It has only be worn a handful of times and is in great condition. The skirt also has a fun sash which you can tie in any way your heart desires!

Lilly Pulitzer Coral Cashmere Poncho, Size Small/Medium- SOLD
I am all about capes and ponchos as you know. They are so practical during the winter and super comfortable too. This poncho is a fun color and adds a punch of color to any outfit (including the outfit I wore on my 2009 Headquarters visit!). It shows minimal wear and is therefor priced to sell (great deal on cashmere)!

Kate Spade Tote- SOLD
This darling tote is perfect for work and play! The pink and red stripe on the front are so Kate (this does not carry over to the back). It is 13.75 inches tall and 13 inches wide and can easily fit a laptop, iPad and books.

There are three pockets on the inside- one specifically for a cell phone and another with a zipper- making this a great around town tote. This tote shows minimal wear. Please feel free to request additional photos.

Lilly Townhouse

2012-01-05T17:23:00.006-06:00

Of course the December trip to NYC included a stop at the Lilly Townhouse!

As you all know it is just FULL of all things pink and green and whimsical. Your eyes never get tired of exploring even the smallest of spaces and your camera is on overload taking photos.
The townhouse has the best dressing rooms of ANY Lilly store, hands down.
The pink murals are full of life and fun. The details of these works bring their rooms to life.
I think fun dressing rooms make me worry less about the fact that a dress in "my size" maybe being a tad tight... Thankfully, I did not have this problem this time around; I have the cold weather and all our walking to thank for that. They whipped me back in to shape!
The print wall is one of my favorite aspects of the townhouse. Prints cover the stairs and capture your eye as soon as you walk through the front door. When I visited headquarters I LOVED their print wall as it reminds me of different years and old dresses; it is a trip down memory lane. The townhouse wall has more current prints, but does the very same thing.
Do you spy your favorite print? I see not one, but TWO of mine!
Of course no visit to such a store would be complete without a group photo (thank you Melissa):
We had such a grand time at the townhouse and do not fret, we did NOT leave empty handed. I got my hands on a pair of coveted earmuffs as well as a darling pair of leopard cocktail wedges (on super sale). The Lilly townhouse certainly sucks you in in more ways than one. Have you visited?

One of the best parts of the visit was running into a Taft classmate. New York is such a small world, I have run into an old acquaintance on my last few trips!!

The Towers

2012-01-04T18:10:00.000-06:00

If you have read my blog for a few years you are sure to have seen the below photo of madre and I taken in the lobby of the Waldorf Towers. Whenever I travel to NYC with my parentals we have always stayed the Waldorf Towers. So, in planning my December trip with friends I figured our trip should be no different, not to mention any less luxurious. Luxury is key when traveling for me, not just any hotel will do.

However, when calling the Waldorf to make our reservation in September I ran into a small issue...I was told the Towers was sold out the weekend we were to be in NYC. Oh the horror! Regardless, I still made a reservation at the regular Waldorf and through the grace of social media a room at the Towers became available and all was well again :)

We arrived at Towers after a busy day of shopping and eating and could hardly wait to put our feet up. Little did we know how spoiled we would be... We got off the elevator on the 32nd floor and opened the door to our room, or rather SUITE!

With a sitting room, bedroom, dressing room, kitchenette and grand bath it was much more than any of us had ever hoped for (much bigger than my condo in Dallas too!). Not only was the room simply luxurious, but a treat awaited us as well. A lovely note, chocolate covered strawberries and a a bottle of bubbly were also patiently awaiting out arrival.

Of course we made our way into the bedroom to rest before dinner...

and enjoy some of our treats from the Towers; thank you Meg!

Weren't we lucky to get a room with a view? Word on the street is that they are hard to come by in NYC so it was a real treat!

Before dinner I made my way into the dressing room to get ready for dinner at 21 and Rock of Ages (and a Hugh Jackman spotting).

It was hard to resist not taking a bubble bath and enjoying the Ferragamo products!

Another perk of staying at the Towers in the lounge they have for guests. The lounge is open for breakfast and tea every day. They have they most amazing pastries (think right up there with Paris) and endless hot beverages. Their spreads are really something else, specifically that at tea time. I have many memories of this little lounge...including being stuck in NYC sophomore year at Taft with five friends; we were forced to call about the Waldorf who put us up in the lounge until we secured a car back to CT....tough life!
No stay at the Towers would be complete without a photo in the lobby; always a must for me!

As you can see, we simply had the BEST time when in NYC! We were spoiled rotten at the Towers while also being being reminded that luxury always makes ALL the difference when traveling. Thank you to Meg for working tirelessly to find us a magnificent room and going above and beyond. You and the Towers staff made our trip so enjoyable and we can hardly wait to return!

If you are ever looking to plan a trip to NYC and need somewhere to rest you head, I would recommend the Waldorf Towers a million times over. You cannot beat the location or accommodations and their staff will make your trip unforgettable!

*Thank you to Melissa to taking such magnificent photos.*

*I was not paid to write this review. These are my personal thoughts and opinions.*

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T03:49:00.001-06:00

Dads are such good sports!

New Year's Day Fete

2012-01-02T20:19:00.004-06:00

I have never been one that is big on NYE parties, unless the Millennium and all-night parties in Honduras as a child count, and nor is my family. We had a very relaxing NYE and rung in 2012 at 11pm with Dick Clark. My parents, cousins and I were all in bed before midnight...a wild crowd I tell ya! Anyhow, we still do love to celebrate the new year so this year we hosted a fabulous brunch for our extended family on New Year's Day.
Since December comes but once a year and it is cold in Minnesota, madre and made the executive decision to use the Christmas china and festive placemats again on NYD. The table looked lovely even though many might say it was too "Christmasy."
I made prinatbles to use for our fete too. Everything was blue and green. The colors coordinated with the placemats and china, but also stood out on their own.
What kind of party is it without a favor?

The men received a bag of sweet treats.
While the women received a darling porcelain dish filled with M&Ms (upper right).
The festive confetti was a fun addition to the table. Every event needs a little sparkle!
The food was simply delicious!
Mmm, mmm GOOD!
Such a delightful time was had by all! I hope you rung your 2012 in in style and that your year is off to a FANTASTIC start already!

2012 Is Here!

2012-01-01T19:22:00.001-06:00

I am trying something new this evening and this year, blogging from my iPhone! I think it will not only make blogging easier, but it will help me get back into my consistent posting since I can blog on the go. I am unsure if it will last, but cheers to trying!
I hope everyone had a safe and fun filled NYE! I will be back tomorrow with more updates on mine and the New Year's day party we hosted here in Minnesota. Until then, HAPPY 2012!!

Cheers to the Coming Year!

2011-12-31T10:43:00.004-06:00

What a year 2011 has been, and a QUICK one at that! I feel like I was just sharing my New Year's resolutions with you all (which I am happy to report I kept up/completed just about all of them!) and here we are ready to usher in a new year. While 2011 was a a wonderful year filled with lots of firsts and fun I have high hopes for 2012! Thank you all for your continued support this year. Your comments and emails make me smile and I cherish all the friendships I have made through blogging. I wish you and yours a VERY HAPPY and SAFE New Year's Eve and look forward to sharing 2012 with you!

Friday Five

2011-12-29T21:20:00.000-06:00

The end of the year may be near, but I am still a busy bee here. However, that has not stopped me from loving a handful of items these past two weeks. Here is what is currently on my lust list:

1. Kraft Jet Puffed PEPPERMINT Marshmallows

Madre searched and searched for these as soon as we heard about them and victory was finally ours just before Christmas. These were well worth the hunt as they can turn any drink into a minty wonderland! Mmm, mmm good!

2. Downton Abbey

I am counting down until January 8th when season two of Downton Abbey returns. I am currently re-watching season one (thank you for the DVDs Santa) and reading up on the characters and set in anticipation. Are you a fan of the manor?

3. Talbot's Nelli Flats

These my favorite shoes of the year. Not only are hey are timeless and comfortable, but FUN too! I have two basic, patent pairs (black and tan) as well as some bright suedes (orange and turquoise) to brighten my winter months. Currently on sale for $50 a pair, these are a steal!

4. Bath and Body Works Charmed Life Collection

I fell in love with the "Charmed Life" collection at Bath&Body Works this Fall. How could I resist such a fun name and cute design? Lucky for me the entire collection is now 75% off in all stores and outlets so I have been loading up. I am still on the hunt for some of the polka dot perfume (it comes in a gold polka dot bottle...need I say more?!) and will not stop until I find it :)

5. Fruit Ninja App/Game

I realize many of you are likely judging my intelligence now, but trust me when I say this game is SO fun. It puts Angry Birds to shame and requires some skill and concentration. If you have an iPhone or iPad consider downloading it today.

Christmas Fun Continued

2011-12-29T10:56:00.004-06:00

This year is the first year we have hosted Christmas Eve in our home. When my parents first moved in we had a huge Christmas Day brunch, but typically it is just my parents and I on Christmas Eve. However, this year my aunt and uncle, cousins and grandfather came down to celebrate with us. We had SO much fun and I hope we can continue the tradition in the years to come.
We enjoyed beef tenderloin, grilled vegetables and my aunt's famous cheesy potatoes for dinner. Delicious!
We had a special treat for our first dessert (yes we had two desserts), Christmas cookies my dad brought home from Jordan!
Then it was time to open gifts...these two lover's were all in on the fun!
The boys racked up on fun things. It was the year of electronics I think as they got loads of tech goodies!
Doesn't Henry look great?!
The boys picked out this lovely sweater for me! Tee heh, it was really a joke and gave us all a good laugh!
We rounded out the night with French silk pie and hit the hay so that Santa could make his way to us. A splendid time was had by all!

Now, after yesterday's photo I figured I better share a sweet photo of our little bully. He is such a lover and today just so happens to be Winston's 6th birthday. Happy birthday to the sweetest bully our family has ever met!! We love you Bubby!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T00:18:00.000-06:00

For the non-Facebook, non-Twitter crowd:

Caught in the act of...decapitation!

Christmas Eve Decor and More

2011-12-26T17:22:00.006-06:00

I flew into the frozen tundra, also known as Minnesota, bright and early Saturday morning. I was rather shocked we did not have any snow cover this year, but my parent's Christmas decor and lots of fun with the family made up for not having a white Christmas.

This is the first time in years that we have had a real Christmas tree. We have had a fake one since living in Honduras, but since my parents are moving to the Middle East in 2012 they figured they needed to revert back to a live tree one last time.
I think I featured our Santas last year in my Christmas post, but I have gotten a few tweets about them so I figured I would share them again. These are all from Panama. They are gourds which were hand painted by a good family friend. So festive and clever!
We LOVE paper whites in our home. You can smell them as soon as you walk in the door.
Sorry for the horrid lighting in this photo, I did not go back through my photos until after we had eaten and could not get another of the set table. Regardless, my mother did a beautiful table scape! Isn't it just stunning?

Everyone had a gift card as a place card this....added perk!

The Nativity my parents purchased in Honduras is a favorite of our family. It looked so perfect on the windowsill. Baby Jesus was still covered up until right before dinner. This is a Honduran (possibly Latin?) tradition which we follow in our home; baby Jesus is either covered or hidden until Christmas Eve when he is placbed in the manger.
All our churches picked up when living in Central America were out on the buffet from India. So many countries are represented in our home!
Merry Christmas from our house to yours! I hope you have had a fantastic weekend spent with those you love and that the reason for the joy this season has filled your hearts and homes!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T04:25:00.000-06:00

Elizabeth McKay Tour and Winner

2011-12-22T17:04:00.008-06:00

I cannot believe it has been a week since I was putting everything into my back and jetsetting to NYC for the weekend. Time flies when you are having fun!

As mentioned, last Friday, Melissa (who also supplied the above photo!), Miranda, Katie and I had the pleasure of meeting THE Elizabeth behind Elizabeth McKay. Katie and I had met her darling husband, Edward, this Fall and could hardly wait to meet the face behind the brand while also visiting their new store.
Judging from these photos you can see our meeting and tour of the store did NOT disappoint! We had the most splendid time seeing everything and chatting the afternoon away.

The Elizabeth McKay store opened about a month ago and is on Lex between 72nd and 73rd. The monogram plaque greeted us and we were buzzed right on upstairs and were taken into a wonderful world of whimsy, color and style

The store is full of all of Elizabeth's designs as well as some fabulous accessories. The jewelry was right up my alley as it perfectly pairs with all the classic Elizabeth McKay styles.

I LOVED the Elizabeth McKay candles and they just so happened to be the first thing we spotted when we arrived. They smell DIVINE and Elizabeth really spoiled us by giving us each one to take home!

Purple (and orange) have been my go-to colors this Fall/Winter so I LOVED the amethyst wall. I spy my "Feather" Scotland too :)

What a site to be scene from the street...so many darling dresses staring out at the world.

It was truly an honor and a treat to not only see the store, but meet Elizabeth herself. I often fall in love with brands, but rarely have the opportunity to meet the designers or understand how they create their product. However, both Edward and Elizabeth have given me a new perspective by inviting me in and have a customer for life in me!

As if the photos are not a treat in and of themselves I have one more goody up my sleeve tonight...the Elizabeth McKay Christmas Outfit WINNER.

Congratulations to:

comment 172...Katie B (picked my Random.org)!! You will look STUNNING in your new Lindsey dress this weekend! Please email me tonight or tomorrow morning and I will put you in touch with Edward and Elizabeth!

Thank you to all who entered. I can tell you first hand that you are supporting a WONDERFUL company when you shop Elizabeth McKay!

Bloggers Unite

2011-12-22T00:16:00.001-06:00

Of course when one visits any city it is a must to get together with various blog friends and acquaintances (remember by trip to Charlotte last winter?), but when in NYC one must go all out and do tea with said bloggers of course! I knew when we started to plan our NYC trip that I wanted to get together with girls I had "met" on Twitter and via the web (that sounds so sketchy, doesn't it....do not fear, no Craigslist killers were in our group). I sent out an email a few weeks back and we got the ball rolling and got a group of eleven ladies together. Sadly, the first two places I booked fell through due to the holiday rush, but Katie was able to book a "party" at Alice's Tea Cup for us and saved the day! On Saturday afternoon, our Dallas group united with a posh city group of bloggers at Alice's Tea Cup, Chapter II. We enjoyed an assortment of tea sandwiches, lots of sweets (including the best pumpkin scone ever) and of course we sipped our tea in between all the great conversations.

From left to right: Particularity, Summer is a Verb, Miranda, Katie, Pantry Prep, Melissa, Christine, Melissa, Blair's Headband and me (reader, Linda, was also present, but she took this photo).

I simply had the BEST time meeting everyone and cannot wait to return so we can gather again! It never ceases to amaze me how many wonderful, new friends I have made through blogging and how small it makes the world!

Thank you to Melissa for being our resident photographer of the trip.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T06:17:00.001-06:00

Rumor has it that pink doors always lead to someplace magical :)

NYC iPhone Snapshots

2011-12-20T09:03:00.000-06:00

We simply had the BEST time in New York this past weekend. It could not have been anymore perfect. I will post full recaps of some of the highlights over the next week or two, but wanted to share a few of my favorite snapshots with you now.

There is nothing quite like Rockefeller Center at Christmas time. The tree gets prettier and prettier each year I think.
We stayed at my FAVORITE hotel. It is the only place I can stay in NYC (I tried to branch out, but it just was not for me). It is the PERFECT location and has amazing service and BEAUTIFUL rooms. Expect another post on The Waldorf Towers soon!
I loved this fun food truck in front of the MET!
Of course no trip to any city is complete without a little dose of Lilly!
Visiting id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Laduree was a highlight of the trip. J'adore!>
Even though La Goulue closed a few years ago I was able to get my brunch fix at their sister restaurant, Orsay. Delicious!
We were so lucky to get to visit The World Trade Center Memorial on Sunday. It was an incredibly moving experience.

After reading article after article on C Wonder I was thrilled to pop in myself. The store is very fun and whimsical.

Elizabeth McKay Giveaway!

2011-12-19T10:30:00.004-06:00

Today, I have a real TREAT in store for you! Several years ago I was contacted by a man who wanted to introduce me to the clothing company he and his wife had started. It was Edward of Elizabeth McKay that sent the email and I have never once looked back. In fact, I was lucky enough to visit the new Elizabeth McKay showroom on Friday afternoon in NYC and meet the DARLING Elizabeth herself (more photos to come, but below are a few sneak peaks).

Elizabeth McKay not only has DARLING and whimsical items, but they have top notch customer service and their clothing quality is not comparable to most other brands I have come across. They really are just far superior across the board!

Anyway, let's cut to the chase...I was simply ELATED when Edward contacted me a few weeks back asking if I wanted to host a giveaway in time for Christmas. Every girl should be well dressed during the holidays and you all deserve a new outfit too!
One VERY LUCKY winner will win a new outfit just in time for the holidays! Whether it be a Scotland Wrap Dress (my personal favorite and staple...I may have purchased another on Friday...), an Elizabeth blouse or the Ireland Cape (my winter obsession) you are sure to be the BEST DRESSED lady at your Christmas table!
To enter this giveaway you MUST visit the Elizabeth McKay website and pick you most cherished item. Remember to include the style, print/color too! All comments that do not include their favorite item will not be published.

Earn an additional entry by "liking" Elizabeth McKay on Facebook.

Earn another entry by "liking" Monograms and Manicures on Facebook.

Earn one more entry by following Elizabeth McKay on Twitter.
Leave all entries in a SINGLE comment.

All entries must be left by 4PM EST on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 (so there is time to spare for shipping and Christmas arrival!).

Best of luck to all and thank you to Elizabeth McKay for spreading holiday cheer and keeping us all looking stylish this season!

Friday Five

2011-12-16T04:15:00.001-06:00

I am on my way to NYC!! I have actually scheduled my post for the time I had to wake up...EARLY, EARLY! My week has been a whirlwind, hence the later posts, but I am certainly going out with a bang. My week began with a FABULOUS night at Cowboys Stadium. It was my first ever NFL game and it was certainly a nail biter. It was a sad loss, but fun none-the-less. The rest of the week has been full of events and gatherings and wrapping of gifts. It really is the BUSIEST time of year! Anyway, even in the midst of the rush I am loving a few things this week:

My Fur Cape

I got this five years ago as a gift (it was purchased at Neiman Marcus for those on the hunt for one of their own) and love it. It is SO soft and warm and always looks cute too making it a perfect staple in my wardrobe!

Highland Park Village

While I LOVE HPV at any time of the year, it is especially beautiful at Christmas. It is just stunning really. The trees are so well lit, Christmas music plays as you stroll about and if you are lucky you might even spy a horse drawn carriage.

My New New Year's Pajamas

These are another great find at my beloved JCP! I spotted them in an ad and they were too fun to not get my hands on and at $16 they were a steal. They are my new winter pajamas and I plan to break them in in NYC this weekend.

My Gift Stickers

I love the personal touch my monogram stickers add to gifts. The pink and green stickers have been working for everything and a great year round solution (I made these myself and they were printed at Uprinting.com after I won A. Liz's giveaway) and the red and green stickers were ordered from my friend.

Packing for NYC!

All my bags are packed and I am ready to go! I have my cold weather clothes in my suitcase and my blog gathering favors in my carry on. I have a feeling this is going to be a weekend that will go down in the books! I am beyond excited and cannot wait to share all our fun adventures upon our return. If you follow me on Twitter, expect lots of fun photos and updates throughout the weekend!

Have a BLESSED weekend! I hope yours will not be too crazy with last minute shopping and errands. No matter what you have in store, be sure to take a breather and give thanks for all you have been given this year.

Graphic Image Winner

2011-12-15T23:21:00.000-06:00

A huge thank you to all that entered the Graphic Image Gigi collection tote, journal and pen giveaway! They items are just so fun and practical. I love the vibrant colors and am still trying to pick a favorite; I think I am leaning toward orange though. Go Texas!

Congratulations to EMILY ROSE, Random.org selected comment 82 as the winner and that is YOU!

Please email me and I will put you in touch with the wonderful Rosella!

Thank you to all who entered and be sure to keep yours eyes peeled for the rest of the Gigi line which will debut this Spring!

He's Coming to Town!

2011-12-15T10:30:00.000-06:00

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T06:05:00.000-06:00

This is my cousin's baby (the one we threw the Spring 2011 shower for!), so technically she is my second cousin. My dad, mom and I have gotten such a kick out of this video...ENJOY!

PINK Christmas Decor

2011-12-13T15:33:00.000-06:00

I have been meaning to take Christmas decor photos for weeks now and just happened to have a few extra minutes this morning to snap a few iPhone shots to share with you all. We are dreaming of a pink Christmas in Dallas!! I have had the same little trees for a few years, but have added other items to my Christmas collection over the last few years to complete the look. The Lilly garland found beneath my tinsel tree and on my "big" tree was a gift and the pink boxes in the birdcages are actually Lilly ornament storage boxes.
Some ornaments were so festive that they needed a prominent place in my home....they were put right next to the candy cane Kisses of course.

Here is my DIY yourself candle next to a White Holiday holiday print and surprise, more sweets!

Can you tell I LOVE themed holiday candy yet?

I switch out the candy in my apocrathy jars by season. I love the way M&M's fill them; both festive and fun at the perfect size.

I am slowly getting around to wrapping my gifts. I am actually a bit weary of wrapping anymore as I heard a rumor that TSA was opening wrapped gifts this year...no bueno!

My stockings are hung by the chimney with care!

Filling a bowl or bowls with pretty ornaments is always a must. The festive grosgrain I tied on years ago still looks perfectly preppy!

One can never have too many pink trees! I just might have three out and about in my home :)
Merry Christmas from my home to yours!

Graphic Image Gigi Giveaway

2011-12-12T00:08:00.005-06:00

I first hear about the new Graphic Image line, Gigi, I was thrilled. If the name does not already say enough (how cute is it?!) the feminine styles and vibrant colors certainly do. All the Gigi products are made in the USA (HUGE BONUS) and they combine practical with fun in my opinion. The full leather embossed python collection will fully debut in the Spring of 2012, but several bags and a journal are also available now. Speaking of bags, Graphic Image has kindly offered to give one lucky reader a BAG and JOURNAL and PEN from the Gigi collection!!

The winner will win the popular "Teddi Tote." The popular, take-everywhere tote in Full-Grain Embossed Python, features full interior pocket and detachable coin case. Its lightweight feel, generous interior and luxuriously soft handle make it chic yet practical. " You will also win the Refillable Journal. "Python-embossed leather-bound notebook with snap-tab closure is perfect for everyday note taking or journal writing." In addition, the winner will also receive a lovely Graphic Image pen to tote in their new Teddi and use with their journal.

It comes is an array of colors (I am LOVING the pink, orange and taupe), some vibrant, some neutral, but ALL practical! What color would you choose?

To enter this giveaway you must leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite color in the Gigi collection. The color you share will be the color you win in your TEDDI BAG and JOURNAL. The journal is not yet shown in all colors online so you can choose different colors for your items....choose wisely!

All comments must be left by 11pm CST on Thursday, December 15th, 2011.

You can earn an additional comment by "liking" Graphic Image on Facebook. Please leave all your entries in ONE comment. The more comments the better for this grand giveaway!! :)

Best of luck to all and a special thanks to the lovely Rosella at Graphic Image for offering to host such a MARVELOUS giveaway in time for the holidays!

Friday Five

2011-12-08T21:35:00.007-06:00

I cannot believe another week has come and gone. Time just FLIES by at this time of year, doesn't it? It is time for another Friday Five; here is what I am loving this week: Target Dollar Section

I always find the best things in the $1 Spot at Target. You do have to be careful though since it can suck you in and before you know it you can have a cart full of 20 different $1 items. I usually do not do cards that say "Thanks" or "Thank You" on them, but I found the above to be rather cute and preppy. I was also able to score new tinsel headbands in the $1 section at Target. These are my signature thing when it comes to the holidays and last year, my tinsel headband of five years bit the dust. Sadly, I found out Claire's no longer carries tinsel headbands so Target came to to my rescue this year, and for only a $1. You had better believe I stocked up!

NYC

One week from today I will be landing in LGA with three friends! I can hardly contain my excitement and have been looking forward to this trip for months. We have a packed agenda and are planning to soak up ever minute. All the NYC to-do's are on the list and have been booked and a NYC Blogger get together will also take place on Saturday. SO, SO, SO excited about all next weekend has in store!

Christmas Candy

When I ran to Target to grab candy canes on Wednesday I loaded up on other sweets too. Who knew they have Christmas Skittles, Sour Patch Kids (ALL red and green) and TWO types on Sweetarts. I may or may not have gone home with at least one bag of each.

H&M Scarf

Emily gave this to Andrea at last Saturday's gift exchange and I just had to get my hands one. The image above is from Google Images and my actual scarf is a hot pink background, but I might have to get the ivory as well. This scarf is girly and chic and looks much expensive than it is. This is a darling year round accessory!

Macarons

I am a lucky girl to have been given this entire container FULL of delicious macarons. I lemon, coconut and raspberry sweets and may or may not have even eaten one for breakfast (any guesses on what flavor?). Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Have a blessed weekend all!

Simple Candy Cane Christmas Bible Verse Gifts

2011-12-08T11:57:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, I decided to make some Christmas story bible verse cards to use as gift tags. I thought they would be the perfect addition to small treats and gifts and serve as a great reminder to us all during the Christmas season. Though I was planning on tying them on cheese straws and cake balls for the most part, I had another idea at Target last night...candy canes!

These are SO easy, not to mention inexpensive, to carry around with you and hand to the friends you see during the day as well as the people you come in to contact with. Think about giving one to the person that takes your coffee order, your dry cleaner, manicurist, hair stylist, carpool friend, etc. The possibilities are really endless and this is a great way to remind everyone of the real reason so the season! It is often the little gestures that make the day of those around you!
While I tied most of my tags on traditionally, I did flip some of my candy canes around. When I was teaching Sunday School last week I learned that a candy cane turned over is a "J" which can remind as all of Jesus. I love all the little things I learn in teaching the littles.
Below are the simple (read not perfectly spaced...not a professional here, but I sure did try)printable tags for you to download. I also uploaded a smaller version on Scribd for those that might be interested!

Candy Cane Tags

NYE, Winner and Discount!

2011-12-06T18:00:00.001-06:00

Thank you to all who entered the Paper Cottage phone cover giveaway and welcomed them as a new blog sponsor! Michelle and Beth wrote all the entries down and then pulled one lucky winner...

Congratulations to HILLCREST ACRES!! You (or your daughter I think) are the lucky winner of this giveaway!! Please email me ASAP so that Michelle and Beth can get your order in before the Lipstick Shades holiday deadline.

For those that did not win, but would still like to order a phone cover for themselves, a Christmas gift to yourself perhaps, I have a DISCOUNT for you!! From this evening through the end of the year you can save 15% on your entire Paper Cottage order if you use the code HOPSYHOLIDAY!! Add that 2012 monogram calendar, some gift stickers and a personalized candle to your tote and stock up while you save!

Paper Cottage has great service as I mentioned last week and will try their hardest to do everything they can to get your order to you in time for Christmas. In the event this is not possible due to deadlines Beth and Michelle will supply with you a darling gift card (like that shown above) to give your recipient. These are customizable and perfect if you might be a bit behind on your shopping.

Again, use code HOPSYHOLIDAY at checkout to save on all your personal needs as well as gift items today!

In other news I was lucky enough to score screening passes to New Year's Eve last night. I was a fan of Valentine's Day so I just knew I would love the "sequel" and boy was I right. Minus Lea Michele (I really am not a fan in general), I LOVED everything about this flick. The cast was of course spectacular and the movie was just well done in general. Michelle Pfeiffer totally stepped out of her zone and played a very different character and of course Mr. Efron was great eye candy. This is a must see movie this holiday season if you love a fun flick!

Secret Santas and Neiman Marcus

2011-12-05T18:02:00.000-06:00

I had been looking forward to this past Saturday for WEEKS. It was again time for the annual Secret Santa gift exchange at the flagship Neiman Marcus.

For the past two years we enjoy the Christmas buffet that Neimans has madfamous. It is just DIVINE. Just think of all the BEST food and all the NM staples all together in one place. I enjoyed fruit salad with poppyseed dressing, orange souffle, chicken salad, mac and cheese, pumpkin ravioli, macarons and much, much more.

I found the CUTEST pink and green ornaments at Hobby Lobby when shopping for my ornament wreath and could not resist getting one for each friend. We all have the same favorite colors for the most part so these were just perfect!

Now, I have a rather hard time keeping a secret so I think everyone but my gift recipient, Cassie, knew who I had. I was also able to narrow down that Andrea had me and even got her to tell me on Friday night...I am that good :) She certainly spoiled me with gifts; we were actually all spoiled and on a budget of just $40.
I got the DARLING Vera Bradley Elephant Eco bag which I had been eyeing and a FABULOUS blue and white chinoiserie tray with a pink monogram! I am in love with both my gifts. Thank you Andrea!

We simply had the BEST time on Saturday (a huge thank you to Emily for bringing a camera for the group photo!) and I think everyone is already excited about next year...there are even talks about upping the budget. I am SO blessed to have such a fun, caring and pretty group of bffs, we ALWAYS have the BEST time together!

Home Tour: Guest Room

2011-12-04T18:03:00.002-06:00

The second room on the home tour is my newly revamped guest bedroom. I shared photos of the bedding earlier in the Fall, but the room organization has changed and more items have since arrived so it is time for another tour...

The view from the door.

I LOATHE the carpet in my guest room and master bedroom, but am not planning to change it until I am gone for a few days and all the furniture can be moved out. However, my parents brought a darling carpet down with them that works perfectly with the colors in all the fabrics in the guest room and covers up some of the ugly carpet for the most part. Winner!
I moved the twin beds to the opposite wall of the room and think it definitely has opened up the space. Many people asked why I choose twin beds for my guest room in my original post. I love when guest rooms have twin beds because not all your visitors will be couples/family. You might have two friends stay with you at once or a father and mother with their children and the two separate beds are perfect. Plus, all the bedding I had was for twin beds. These two things made my bed selection extra easy.

My parents also brought the two twin headboards down with them. The fabric matches the bed skirts and is trimmed in the coordinating floral. I love the combinations!

I am a pillow girl and have lots of pillows everywhere. My mother needlepointed the two pillows on each bed. They are somewhat whimsical and the canvas were created to be like Mary Engelbreit...my 7th grade obsession.

As you can see, we were very busy hanging things on the wall all weekend...

Speaking of Mary Engelbreit, here are some more prints from my obsession phase. I picked these out in middle school and had them in my room (with all the bedding) for several years and then they went into storage. Rather than pass them on my mother said she would bring them to Dallas and we could see if I wanted them in the guest room...I think they look splendid on my walls!

The blue, bamboo dresser used to be in my bedroom, but works best in the guest room. This is the $100 Craigslist find....such a steal!

My favorite ME print was "Queen of Everything" and it is perfectly positioned over the dresser. I love all the fun things that have found a home on top of the dresser...pretty prints, preppy books, a whimsical lamp, friend photos and tiny trinkets.

The pink and green floral pillow on the guest room chair is the first ever item I needlepointed and the "Queen of Everything" pillow was a custom canvas my mother did...it is supossed to look like me with the glasses and of course the crown ;)

The guest room is all done and ready (minus the balloon shades that needs to be moved up to cover the funny little windows) for you all to come visit now, those of you that like florals at least. :) I am thrilled with how it all come together and love the reorganization and new items!

Up next on the home tour...the mast bedroom!

Gift Swap: The College Prep

2011-12-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! It's The College Prepster from College Prep. I'm really excited to be doing this blog swap with Hopsy. Shopping is one of my favorite stress relievers (retail therapy!), but shopping for presents always seems to be a source of major holiday stress. But it doesn't have to be! We're pulling our favorite gifts and sharing the ideas with you. (Being able to order from the comfort of your bed is an added bonus!)
For the girls:

Lilly Pulitzer Makeup Bag
Bloggers I've Met & Liked Notebook
Kate Spade Bangle
Tassel Loafers
Boatman Geller Sheets
Skinny Leopard Belt

For the boys:

Fossil Printed Wallet
Winter Sperry Topsiders
Jan Leslie Knot Cuff Links
J. Crew Fleet Tee
Vineyard Vines Flannel Shirt
Kiel James Patrick Bow Tie

xoxo
Carly

Friday Five

2011-12-02T10:32:00.001-06:00

What a week this has been! It was SO slow early on and now it is already Friday. I guess the saying "Time flies when you're having fun" really is true, huh? Anyway, to round out the week here are five things on my mind right now (please note that I was NOT compensated for this post):

I have finally found the PERFECT cord! The St. John's Bay Straigh Leg Cords at my beloved JCP are the BEST I have EVER found. They have just a hint of stretch and are not that low cut pant you have to pull up every time you sit down. They are sheer perfection and I just might own four pairs...

When I wrote about the Starbucks Caramel Hot Cocoa several weeks ago on the "Friday Five" no one had tried it so I decided to give it a go. Well, I am SO glad I did as it is heaven in a mug and you never even have to leave the comfort of your own home. I made mine with skim milk and enjoyed every sip just as much as the regular version I order at Starbucks. The hot cocoa is available at Target as well as all large grocery chains, I got mine at my local Tom Thumb.

The Stila Smudge Pot is the perfect eyeliner for the holidays. While it may look like your typical black eyeliner, once you dip your brush in the first time specs of GOLD, yes gold, will appear! My holiday party season is in full swing starting tonight so I will most definitely me putting my Smudge Pot to good use :)

While I cannot believe the year is almost over (I still have SO much left to do), I am so excited December has arrived because it means I can use my new Graphic Image Desk Diary. I LOVE the gold as it matches everything and the larger size I picked has lots of room for notes as well as all my dates...all my dates for my upcoming trip to NYC in just two short weeks!

You still have time to enter the Paper Cottage Phone Cover Giveaway! All the details can be found HERE.

That's all from Dallas for today; enjoy your weekend and keep warm friends!

Home Tour: Living Room/Den

2011-12-01T10:39:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned earlier in the week, my parents brought loads of items down from MN for my home. While we worked HARD in every room the room that was vastly made better was the Living Room. Since I only have one main living space the Living Room functions as a Den too (hence the TV), are you ready for a tour of the Living Room/Den?

I recently purchased a new bamboo coffee table from Gypsy Soul Interiors. I originally planned to paint it gold, but the black really anchors the room so I am leaving it as is for now. I LOVE my new table and think the skinnier piece really works well with my space and setup.

Another addition to the room is the painting above the fireplace. It was actually a Christmas gift from my parents when we lived in Honduras. However, I have never had a place to put it until now so they kindly took it off the wall in MN and brought it down so that I can finally enjoy it, after all these years, in my own home.

My Lilly stockings are hung by the chimney with care and there is even a present to be found.

Here is a better view of the new table.

Do you spy my miniature TV in the background? I am getting a bigger TV for Christmas so I have been holding out... Once I get this I will also get a new cable for the TV so the console will be centered under the painting (if you look closely I am sure you can tell it is a tad off...I have a SHORT cable to thank for that).

Speaking of paintings the one above the TV console is also a new addition from MN. It is another Honduran painting. I love the vibrant colors in this piece. They really pull the blue from the wall as well as all my pops of pink through the room.

If you follow me on Twitter you know I was on the hunt for the perfect pink lamp. I originally had my heart set on a pair of pink,triple, gourd lamps, but I was sadly informed that the size just would not work with my space. Lucky for me mother and I happened to pop into Madison, our favorite store in Highland Park Village, last week and spotted the perfect pink lamp. Even luckier was that they had a SECOND lamp in their warehouse. So, voila, my pink lamp hunt came to an end then and there!

The last addition to the Living Room/Den are the two new skirted, side shelves. Yes, they do look like tables, but my mother had the brilliant idea to use shelves instead. Not only was the width perfect next to the fireplace, but these could also serve as additional storage:

I can have all my goods hidden away under the beautiful covers she had made. A wonderful idea and solution for any small space.

That concludes le tour de la Living Room/Den de Hopsy! Stayed tuned for the guest room, master bed, bath and a Christmas decor tour in the weeks to come!

Introducing Paper Cottage and a Giveaway!

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

I am SO excited to announce another blog sponsor just in time for the holidays! I would like to welcome Paper Cottage to the "team!"

Started in 2006 Paper Cottage is your go-to for pretty, preppy and personalized treats and gifts. "There's nothing as special as a personalized gift or note. In this age of technology, it's more important than ever to embrace the art of personalization. That's what The Paper Cottage is all about."

They carry everything from personalized cupcake wrappers (these are a MUST for my next fete!)

to monogrammed totes and bags (you can never have too many totes...these are GREAT graduation and bridal gifts!)

to personalized calendars (these make the PERFECT Christmas gift at just $24!!!)

to preppy gifts tags (every gift should be made personal)

to monogrammed phone covers (a personal favorite of mine)

I have gotten SO many compliments on my monogram phone cover and LOVE it so that I could not resist taking Michelle and Beth up on their offer to give one, LUCKY winner a personalized phone cover of their own!! The majority of phone covers can be customized to your color and monogram preferences. If pink and green are not your thing (GASP!) you can make any case purple and orange or black and yellow. There are also various monogram fonts you can choose from or you can opt to spell out your name. The personalization options are really just endless with these covers and all the items available through Paper Cottage!

To enter this giveaway leave a comment on this post letting me know which phone cover is your favorite (this is the phone cover you will win so be sure to choose wisely).

All comments MUST be left by Sunday, December 4th at 8pm CST.

You can earn an additional giveaway entry by liking "Paper Cottage" on Facebook. Please leave all your entries in ONE comment.

This is the perfect giveaway for those looking to preppify their cell or those looking for the perfect gift for your techy in their life. Every girl, no matter your favorite colors, deserves a personalized phone! Best of luck to all!

Also, for those still needing gifts for the holidays, be sure to poke around Paper Cottage (if you have not already) and get your order in by Friday, December 2nd, 2011 to ensure it arrives in time!!!

DIY Holiday Gift Idea Link Up!

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the DIY Holiday Idea Gift Link Up! Today allows each of you with the opportunity to share your favorite DIY gifts with other bloggers and readers!

Anything you bake or make and then gift can be shared simply link to your gift instruction post using the McLinky below. Be sure to include photos with your how-to and even consider listing occasions in which you have gifted your item in the past or ideas on how you plan to gift your item this year. The ideas can be endless...(no)sewing creations, paper goods, sweet and salty treats, bath products, children's items, you name it.... I am excited to see what everyone comes up with!

Below are two of my holiday gift ideas this year. Both are semi-homemade (read EASY and foolproof) as I use pre-bought items, but the end result is fun, festive an useful...a win-win in my book. ENJOY!

Project One: Napkin Rings

These are a great gift for the hostess in your life! Napkin rings are something we all need, but seldom buy ourselves. This project can be done fairly inexpensively (I spent $27 total) and the end result is sure to wow the recipient!

Needed:

Hot Glue Gun or Instant Dry Glue

Plain Napkin Rings (I used a gold metal, but rattan would also work.)

Adornments...this is the KEY to these napkin rings. You can search high and low for fun items to spice yours up. I headed straight to Forever 21 and opted for necklace "charms." However, you could use earrings (you would need to remove the back), pins, ornaments or even small trinkets and toys for these. Keep your eyes peeled for fun items that represent the recipient, make them personal.

This is really as simple as projects get if you opt for a necklace charm. Simply remove the charm from the chain. If the necklace was hanging from a catch be sure to remove that as well (incredibly simple and easy if you purchase your necklaces at a less expensive retailer).

Now, position the charm on your napkin ring. Be sure the charm and napkin ring "meet" in at least two places to ensure security. Now, simply dab hot glue on the spots where the charm meets the napkin ring. Quickly place the charm onto the napkin ring and hold firmly in place until dry.

Voila! It is as simple as that and look at the lovely result!

Project Two: Glitter Candle Containers

This second project involves two of my favorite things: fragrant candles and glitter! I am a fragrant candle LOVER. I think they are the perfect hostess gift, especially during the winter months when everyone wants to feel a bit more cozy.

Needed:

Hot Glue Gun

Candle in Glass Container (I opted for a fragrant Bath and Body Works Slatkin Candle as they are my FAVORITE!)

Circle Punch (Any size will work, but I would suggest a one inch or smaller.)

Glitter Scrapbook Paper

First, remove the candle label from the container. BBW Slatin Candle labels are super easy to remove which is an added benefit if you opt to use them.

Second, punch out glitter circles. I used 12 white and gold circles and 6 solid gold circles on my candles.

Arrange your circles in the pattern you would like them to appear on the candle and begin to glue them on using the hot glue gun. I found it was easier to glue the circles on firmly if I bent them ever-so-slightly so that they were rounded, like the container.

The trickiest part of this project is spacing your circles since they are not going anywhere once you glue them on. If you want to ensure perfect spacing you might want to measure the container, do a little math and then mark the spots with a marker. I choose to eye it and had no issue.

The end result is simple yet festive and fun! Tie a ribbon around your candle (use a color that coordinates with your glitter) and off you go with a semi-personalized gift!

NOW IT IS TIME TO SHARE YOUR DIY GIFT IDEA:

My Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T01:00:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and that you enjoyed good food and fun with loved ones. I most certainly did!

My parents drove to Dallas on Tuesday with lots and lots of things for my home. We were busy getting everything placed and on the wall all week, but we did manage to pop into our favorite stores and restaurants.

Since there are only three of us it seemed silly to cook an entire meal so we opted to dine at The Mansion- which just so happened to be where my parents stayed- for Thanksgiving. The Mansion is always amazing and Thanksgiving was no different. You could either go the traditional route for your meal or mix things up, which is what I did.

I started with a butternut squash bisque then deviated from tradition with my main course as I opted for a filet, but I got back on track with pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. Our meal was just delicious and just the right amount of food too.

After our meal we relaxed in the room and watched "Catch Me If You Can" before the Cowboys game started. We took a break from the game and grabbed some cider and cookies in the lobby before heading back to my home to get to work.

We got all the Christmas decor out and decorated the place. It looks perfect and I can hardly wait to show you photos this week. I also plan to do a new "home tour" for you all later this week as just about everything has been rearranged and revamped...it looks MUCH better!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving as you can see. Of course no holiday would be complete without a few only child shots (as seen above) :)

Blog Sale

2011-11-27T17:00:00.000-06:00

When my parents were in town I came to the realization I have WAY too much stuff so the time has come for another blog sale (so soon!). I have quite a few items in my closet that have not been worn in over a year or that no longer fit as they should, some still new with tags, that I am hoping to give a happy new home before the holidays. The drill is the same as always, minus the fact that the prices below all include Priority shipping. If you would like to purchase an item please email me (kappaprep@gmail.com) and you will immediately be sent an invoice. All invoices must be paid within 24 hours and items will be shipped on Tuesday. Happy shopping!

Lilly Pulitzer Fish Shift, Size 2- SOLD

This is a darling shift that can be worn alone or paired with a turtleneck or sweater and navy tights. The fit is VERY flattering which is an added bonus!

NWT Lilly Pulitzer Navy Finn Dress, Size XS- SOLD

The Finn dress is a true Lilly Pulitzer classic. It is easy to wear and a great travel piece. I wear my Finns year round and for both work and play.

Lilly Pulitzer Main Line Jeans, Size 6- SOLD

A classic pair of bootcut jeans with a hint of stretch. These jeans are just as wonderful as their sister, the white Main Line, and incredibly flattering and super soft too.

Lilly Pulitzer Paisley Silk Skirt, Size 4- SOLD

This skirt is sadly a tad big for my waist so I regretfully have to part with it :( I have paired with with a silk, sleeveless blouse as well as a chocolate turtleneck and tights. It was a closet staple and needs a loving new home.

Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Oxford Shirts- SOLD
Green- Size 2

Pink- Size 4

I cannot tell you how many oxfords I own, they are a staple in my life and my closet. Oxfords are easy to wear (and wash!) and go with anything. They are most definitely a staple for any prep!

Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top, Size Small- SOLD

This top has only been worn time and in fantastic condition! The Elsa top is one of my VERY favorite Lilly pieces and I likely own far too many ;) I wear them with shorts in the summer and with jeans in the winter. They are just dressy enough for just about any occasion.

NWT Lilly Pulitzer Under the Stars Clutch- $45 ($98 retail)

This darling clutch is SO fun! You can carry it as an actual clutch or use the gold strap to put it on your wrist. The rhinestone, parrot pin can be removed if you prefer something more streamline. This would be a perfect Christmas gift!

NWT Lilly Pulitzer KKG Shirts, Size XS and S- $40 each

This darling tops were GWPs and VERY hard to find. They are made by Lilly and more of a fitted top and not a typical "workout" shirt (a tad dressier in my opinion). These would make a PERFECT stocking stuffer for the Kappa in your life!

Lilly Pulitzer Stockings- The perfect holiday addition for any Lilly lover!

2010 Seersucker- SOLD

This stocking is new, but was taken out of the bag for the photo and is therefor tag less. It has never been used and in perfect condition!

2009 Love Print- SOLD

NWT and ready to be hung on a preppy fireplace. This stocking is so fun and hard to find too!

DIY Holiday Gift Link Up

2011-11-25T18:47:00.001-06:00

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 is FAST approaching so I wanted to post a reminder about the DIY Holiday Gift Link Up which I will be hosting that day:

This will be the perfect opportunity to share your favorite DIY holiday gifts with other bloggers and readers! Anything you bake or make and then gift can be shared on the link-up. Simply write a post instructing us all how to do (or bake) it ourselves and pop over on Tuesday, November 29th to link your post! Be sure to include photos with your how-to and even consider listing occasions in which you have gifted you item in the past or ideas on how you plan to gift your item this year. The ideas can be endless...(no)sewing creations, paper goods, sweet and salty treats, bath products, children's items, you name it.... I am excited to see what everyone comes up with!

Be sure to pop back on Tuesday to include you link for your DIY Holiday Gift as well as check out everyone else's ideas!!

Black Friday Sales

2011-11-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

I LOVE a good sale and am all about finding a deal so I could not resist passing on a few of my very favorite brands Black Friday deals. Many of these you are likely to have seen, but a reminder never hurt, right?

ANNECHOVIE

25% off EVERYTHING in Anne's etsy store.

Use code: BLACK25

PINEAPPLE GROVE GIFTS

At PGG they "believe that gift giving should be fun and never stressful. Life is busy, and time is short, so we have compiled a collection of items we love to give and receive. If you don't see what you are looking for, just send us an email. We love helping our clients create the perfect present!"

November 24th through November 26th: ALL holiday photo cards are 20% off.

NO code needed

This is a GREAT opportunity to order your cards at a discount; a rare opportunity with just one month until Christmas!

Cyber Monday Sale:

ALL smartphone and iPad monogrammed/custom cases will be 20% in Pineapple Grove etsy store.

Use code: CYBER

J. MCLAUGHLIN

$25 gift card to the first 15 customers to arrive at each store!

GRAPHIC IMAGE

FREE personalization site wide AND FREE shipping

Set of 4 holiday coasters with $75 purchase.

*I was not compensated for this post. I simply want to promote brands and products I love as well as get the word out on a good sale.*

Thankful

2011-11-24T00:03:00.000-06:00

My heart is SO full right now as I have SO much to be thankful for!

I am so thankful for a God that sent His son to die for me and that He loves me day after day no matter how many mistakes I continue make.

I am thankful for parents who have sacrificed so much for me and I am thankful for my entire extended family that loves me so.

I am thankful for a day off from work....because it means I have a job to return to come Monday, and one that I love at that.

I thankful for all my amazing friends that add so much to my life and support me day in and day out.

I am thankful to be an American. I live in a country where I am free thanks to all those that serve and have served.

I am thankful for the food on my table, the roof over my head and the clothes on my back.

I am thankful for this little blog that could as it brought each of you into my life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours! I pray that your day is filled with peace, love and joy and that you are surrounded by those that matter. Remember to count your blessings today!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T01:00:00.000-06:00

Ornament Wreath How To

2011-11-20T13:54:00.001-06:00

Per Friday's post I decided I wanted to make an ornament wreath for my front door this weekend. I (thankfully) was free of plans on Saturday so I decided to get to work after dinner. I had picked up all my ornaments and other supplies when at Michael's and Hobby Lobby (all for 40% and 50% off) and got a general idea and some inspiration from Good Housekeeping. I deviated from their instructions a bit, but used them as a guide.

Originally, I had planned to do hot pink, lime green and pearl colored ornaments, but the selection was pretty lacking. In the end I found a lovely selection of pale pink, green and gold ornaments, many with glitter (added bonus and necessity for this project in my opinion), so I opted to go use those for a more vintage feel.

All the ornament wreath how-to's I read said you had to use a straw wreath for this project. However, this really just did not appeal to me for some reason so I decided I would try this with a floral foam wreath as it was not only more wallet friendly, but less messy too. With that being said, here is what you need to make your very own ornament wreath:

Scissors

Pins

Ribbon (for hanging)

Floral Foam Wreath Form (I used a 12 inch)

LOTS of ornaments (I used 90 on a 12 inch wreath); both big and small, all sizes are needed!

3 Sheets of Felt (you will need more for a larger wreath form)

Hot Glue Gun with EXTRA sticks (you go through these like water)

First, I cut each piece of felt into three strips. I choose pale pink felt as that was part of my color scheme. The felt might should through the ornaments upon close inspection so use a color that goes with your ornament selections.

Wrap the pieces of felt all the way around the wreath, securing them into place with pins. The pins stay in the foam and are very secure. This is a very important step as you will glue the ornaments to the felt and do not want anything falling off later.

Once your entire wreath is wrapped in felt attach the ribbon you will use to hang your wreath. This should be done prior to gluing on your ornaments as there will be no where for it to go later.

Now comes the fun, and most rewarding part, start hot gluing on your ornaments! Use the larger ornaments first. Glue then to the felt and also to one another. You want everything to be very secure so nothing should be wiggling or lose; the more glue the better (I went a tad crazy and did gave my glue gun a workout).

Fill in smaller spaces with your smaller ornaments. If you look very closely at the above photo you can see some spots where the pink felt shines through, hence why you want to pick a felt that matches your ornament color scheme. You would not want the felt to detract from the final product. I filled all the "holes" that I could, but did not want to continue to stack too many ornaments in certain place so this just sort of happened, but is not at all noticeable in my opinion.You can judge for yourself, here is my end product"

I am obsessed with it and just LOVE how it turned out! I was also surprised by how quickly I was able to complete the wreath. Many online how-to's said to allow 4 to 8 hours...I did the entire wreath in just under two hours. The hardest part was deciding which ornament should go where and create a balance amongst the ornaments and make sure all the glitter ornaments had prime spots on the wreath :)

This is the perfect project for those wanting to create something festive for the holidays. Most ornaments are on sale at craft stores right now so it can be done on a budget as well.

I am now patiently waiting for Friday to arrive so that I can put my "vintage" inspired ornament wreath on my door! That really is the hardest part.

Happy crafting to all!

Friday Five

2011-11-18T14:40:00.000-06:00

Five things I am currently loving today (be sure to read to the end as I am hosting a special link up that you will all enjoy I think!):

1. My new cape

The color is perfect and the dark brown trim makes it pretty snazzy too!

2. Coupons

I have been bit my the coupon bug. Now, before you think I have gone crazy please note that I am NOT going to hoard items and stockpile product. I am simply buying what I already have on my list, but when it is on sale and with a coupon.

3. Wreaths

I am specifically all about ornament and boxwood wreaths right now. I have all my supplies ready to go and plan to make a pink and green version of the ornament wreath this weekend. Stayed tuned for a recap in the coming weeks!

4. Pumpkin

I am so excited that my next week will be filled with all things PUMPKIN! From the Pumpkin Spice lattes to Pumpkin Cookies to Pumpkin Ice Cream to Pumpkin Souffle to Pumpkin Pie I am going to taste and enjoy it all!

5. DIY Gift Idea Link Up

After my dear friend Muffy Martini hosted a cookbook link up a few weeks back I got to thinking that I wanted to do a holiday link up. Since Christmas is just over a month away it is time to start thinking about gifts. Of course we all know that gift giving can add up rather quickly, but thanks to Pinterest and blogs there are SO many great ideas out there for us. On Tuesday, November 29th I am hosting a DIY Gift Idea link up. What is that you ask? Well, it is the opportunity to share your DIY ideas for the upcoming holiday season with others! You can feature anything from baked treats to paper goods to arrangements to ornaments to intricate projects in a post on your blog. All the ideas shared must be items you make that others can hopefully make so you will need to include a how-to as well as a photo of the finished product. Share your ideas with others and gather new ideas just in time for the holidays! This should be lots of fun for all those involved as well as readers everywhere!

Blog Sale!

2011-11-17T19:20:00.001-06:00

The time has come for another blog sale. I have quite a few items in my closet that have not been worn in over a year, many still new with tags. I am hoping to give them a happy new home before the holidays. The drill is the same as always, minus the fact that the prices below all include Priority shipping. If you would like to purchase an item please email be (kappaprep@gmail.com) and you will immediately be sent an invoice., All invoices must be paid within 24 hours and items will be shipped as soon as Friday. Happy shopping!

NWT Shere Sweater in Hotty Pink, Size XS ($348) - SOLD

Shere cardigans are what I live in during the colder months. I throw mine over dresses for work but can also wear it with jeans on the weekend and leggings on when I need a couch day. These are so soft, but also warm. The Hotty Pink is a vibrant color that is sure to make your winter a tad happier!

Fundamental Things Khaki, Sparkle Jacket, Size 4- $20 (retails for $90)

This darling jacket was purchased at Stein Mart. It is perfect for both work and play and fits very true to size.

NWT Lilly Pulitzer Saemus Dress in Land Escape, Size 4-SOLD

This is one of my very style dresses Lilly has ever made. It is so flattering, but also fun and festive. Sadly, I have yet to wear the dress in this print...maybe it is because I have three others :) It is the perfect party dress and can be worn year round. This would be a lovely New Year's Eve dress, but it also works for weddings and warm weather soirees.

NWT Lilly Pulitzer White Chic Polo, Size Small- SOLD

A classic and staple for any closet. This white polo can e worn year round and paired with just about anything!

Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2009 Paisley Skirt, Size 6- SOLD

This is a darling skirt that is higher waisted than most Lilly skirts. I think it looks darling with a silk top or thin turtleneck tucked in. Pair it with tights and vibrant flats and you will be a walking model!

Lilly Pulitzer Cord Skirt in Corkscrew red on red, Size 6- SOLD

This print was very hard to photograph, but it was originally used for men's pants (see a photo here). This was made exclusively for the 2010 Fall warehouse sale and is hard to find. It is perfect for the holidays, but can be worn all winter!

NWT Elizabeth McKay Ruffle Coat in Magenta, Size 6- SOLD

I wish this coat was two sizes smaller, because I am in love with it! Sadly, it cannot be properly altered to fit me so my loss is your gain. The color is a rich magenta that can be worn year round and the lining is a classic Elizabeth McKay giraffe print. This is a high quality piece by one of my VERY favorite brands!

Are You Ready?

2011-11-17T04:50:00.001-06:00

I have a ticket for opening night (Friday night...not hardcore enough to go at midnight) and admit that I am actually VERY excited! The girl who claims she would NEVER do sci fi has been converted...

So now, my question for you is:

Team Edward or Team Jacob??

Happy Cactus Designs Winner

2011-11-16T16:21:00.002-06:00

I apologize for the delay in announcing the winner for the Happy Cactus Designs giveaway, but I am sure the wait made you all as ready as you will ever be :)

So, drum roll please....

Random.org (I still have NO idea how you get the counter with the winner to post on your blog..help!) choose comment 42...

CONGRATULATIONS to Dee's Adventures!

Please touch base with me and I will get you in contact with Brannon, the wonderful designer and creator of Happy Cactus Designs!

Be sure to pop over to Happy Cactus Designs to check everything out; everything is so unique and pretty and SO well priced too! The elephant cards are my new staple for friends having babies and the gift tags are too cute (and reasonable!) toopass up! Many thanks for such a wonderful giveaway Brannon!

Wordless Wednesday: Colors by Gender

2011-11-16T04:28:00.000-06:00

I saw this on Facebook last weekend and it made me laugh. I am pretty sure I DO say things like "coral," "lime," "sky blue," "baby pink," "fire engine red" and "evergreen" on a daily basis....is it just me, or do you too?

Herend

2011-11-15T10:16:00.006-06:00

I have written about my Herend collection in the past on my blog. The dainty figurines found their way into my home many moons ago and I have been hooked ever since. So, naturally I was quite excited to receive an email from both Herend and my salesperson at Neimans letting me know about a fabulous event they were hosting.

The Herend event that I attended at Neimans on Saturday was truly phenomenal. As a china lover this was right up my alley and I loved taking everything in. In addition to having quite the collection of Herend pieces, the Herend rep was present to answer all questions and food and beverages were served (popovers filled with chicken salad were on the menu).
The table scape that greeted attendees was a sight to be seen. It was just stunning.

I simply adore "Queen Victoria" by Herend and it was such a treat to see so many pieces from the collection that you often just hear about. One of my very favorite items was the miniature asparagus tureen. Of course the regular tureen was a real show stopper too!
While dinnerware ranks high on my list, the Herend figurines are what I really love and also what I collect. Each of the figurines in my collection has some sort of special meaning. It always amazes me how many figurines Herend makes and how unique each one is. Below are some of my very favorites that I spotted on Saturday.
This lobster had Cassie's name written all over it. Isn't it fun?

There were elephants everywhere!
Someday I must own this large Herend elephant in blue!
Per my post on Sunday, there was a place setting of William and Catherine's
"Royal Garden" Herend china on display. This is available for purchase to anyone that might be interested :)
I loved the details on their pieces; how perfect is the crown??
Several very rare pieces were flown in for the show making it especially unique.
This tea set was stunning in person. I loved the color scheme and the dainty bow.
One of the highlights of the Herend event was learning about the new color scheme the company has introduced. It just so happens to be a favorite of mine (and many of you too)...it is pink and green! The above parrot was a very special piece as it was painted by the artist that attended the event.
A Herend artist was on hand for a demonstration and she could also customize any item purchased at the show. It was amazing to see her tiny brush and steady hand at work and gave me a great appreciation for all of my Herend pieces.
Of course this unique opportunity meant I had to purchase a little something. I took home a blue flower to add to my collection. I choose it as it is the perfect shade of blue and matches my walls and will compliment all my other pieces. Photos to come!

This was such a fun event and I am so thrilled I was able to attend. Be sure to check and see if Herend will be hosting an event in your neck of the woods this Fall; it is not something you want to miss!

Weekend In Photos

2011-11-13T14:51:00.002-06:00

Every time Sunday afternoon rolls around I wonder where the weekend has gone, especially this time of year. I feel liked there is SO much to be done in a short amount of time that we are always on our toes. This weekend was no exception...

Friday evening I kick started things by FINALLY getting around to changing out my door decor. Halloween was two weeks ago so it was about time! I ordered a daring boxwood wreath on Joss and Main (it was MUCH smaller than I thought, but still very cute) which I wanted to dress up. I tied some orange and gold ribbon I purchased in India on the wreath to hang it and then attached a gold pumpkin I picked up at Michael's. The final result is simple, but I love it and think it is perfect for Fall. I plan to switch out the "motif" on the wreath for various seasons and upcoming holidays.

After I finished my wreath it was off to Rise No. 1 to meet Southern Vogue for souffles...YUM! It is pumpkin souffle season and I just cannot get enough!

Saturday morning I was up early and on a mission to find items for my Operation Christmas Child boxes which were due today. I loaded up on boy and girl goodies and assembled my boxes before heading to The Mermaid Bar for lunch. The above cake was how we ended our meal and I think that strawberry goodness is my new favorite flavor of theirs (red velvet and lemon are a close second and third). The pink sprinkles were certainly an added bonus! After lunch we headed upstairs to Home for the Herend show. I had been looking to the show for almost two months and it did NOT let me down. I am planning an entire post on this magnificent event, but could not resist sharing William and Catherine's Herend china. I am sort of a china fanatic I suppose and so my day was made when the Neiman's salespeople told me I was quite the expert when it came to various brands and patterns...it is the small things in life, right?

After a few loads of laundry and lots of cleaning, I ended my Saturday with a lovely birthday party for a dear friend (who I just so happened to meet through blogging). We had a grand time and practically shut down our beloved Mattito's, thankfully, the Bob Armstrong dip kept us in good company :)

I am off to get couponing and might possibly even run into the new Kendra Scott store which opened just across the way from me. I will be sure to snap lots of photos for you all. Have a lovely rest of your Sunday!

An 11.11.11 THANK YOU!

2011-11-11T03:29:00.006-06:00

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!!! Today I want to thank:

Preppy Girl Meets World and her husband, TLS

Lisa Musgrove, a dear reader and friend whose children all serve.

Kat of Legging's Are Not Pants boy friend, Travis Smith, serves.

The Shepard Family
Carolyn Johnson, a reader whose brother is a Marine.
Amy, reader and wife to a USAF Officer.

Courtney Grill, reader and daughter of USAF dentist

Simply Sarah, her brother is currently serving.

Preppy Poppy, her husband is a navy pilot.

The Galvins- Shelby's husband, Justin, is leaving for his first deployment to Afghanistan TODAY!

Life.Love.Lilly, her brother just returned from Afghanistan.

If you or a family member serves this great country please leave a comment so we can all thank you. I will then add you to the list!

Happy Cactus Designs Giveaway

2011-11-09T15:10:00.005-06:00

I always love supporting friends companies and blogging has opened so many new windows for that. I feel like so many people I have met through blogging have wonderful companies for us to support and many of my favorite gifts come from these friends. With that being said, a in real life friend recently started the most darling paper company which I wanted to introduce you all to. Happy Cactus Designs is a studio based in New York City owned and operated by Brannon Cullum (my friend, yay!). Drawing inspiration from flora and fauna, traditional Indian textiles, and Batik block prints, Happy Cactus Designs’ collection features greeting cards, stationery, invitations, announcements, and notes. Custom design services are also available. These sophisticated, delicate, and colorful designs are all drawn by hand. Happy Cactus Designs aims to create exquisite social stationery and sophisticated greeting cards that are an extension of your personal style.

If you LOVE what you see (why you would not I am unsure, tee hee) then today is your LUCKY day! Brannon is SO kind and has offered to host a giveaway for Monograms and Manicures readers!! One lucky winner will receive one package of Holiday Gift Tags (my favorite is the holly design- LOVE it!) AND a box of non custom Note Cards!
To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment with your favorite gift tag and note card by 1pm CST on Monday, November 14th, 2011.
For an additional entry "like" Happy Cactus Designs on Facebook.

Please leave all entries in ONE comment!
I just LOVE all the Indian motifs and of course I made the elephant baby cards mine at Brannon's last show. I just could not get enough! Happy Cactus Designs are traditional with a touch of whimsy. It is hard to pick on favorite so GOOD LUCK to all!

The Look for Less: Croc Rainboots

2011-11-08T17:24:00.000-06:00

In today's Look for Less we are talking about wellies, a staple in each of our closet's.

I fell in love with the Jimmy Choo for Hunter Crocodile Wellies when it first debuted several years back. However, it was a bit harder to justify the $425 price tag since these are wellies after all... Even though you can find pairs on sale for $213, I have quickly fallen for something else:

A very similar looking boot can be found for a fraction of the price at the store that is quickly ranking higher and higher on my list. The Call It Spring Begley Rain Boot is available at JCPenney and these are only $39.99!

While I admit I do love my designer items and fall easily for some name brand items this deal is almost too good to pass up. For just $40 (or $30 if you use the $10 JCP coupon code ITSASALE) I think I just might be able to justify adding another pair of rain boots to my wardrobe in time for the slush season!

Headband Storage

2011-11-07T16:52:00.002-06:00

I wear a headband almost daily and have built up quite the collection over the years. I am pretty careful with my headbands and have little breakage and therefore have lots, maybe even too many...

Anyway, over the years I have looked for different ways to store my growing collection of headbands. I have used headband "pillows" where you line all your headbands up next to one another on said pillow, but I now have too many for this. Then, I tried keeping the collection in a drawer, but I found I only wore the headbands which were always at the top and at the front as I could not see the rest. When I moved I decided I would search for a container to keep my headband collection in. I needed something bigger so as not to bend my lovelies too much and finally came across the perfect flour container at Target:

I was able to fit my entire collection, minus one (the paisley you see sitting next to the container), into the container and I can still see everything too.
This has proved to be the perfect solution for my headband storage problem and provides quite the eye candy in my bathroom as well. All around this is a winner that is fairly inexpensive (around $12 I believe) I would highly recommend to all those in search of the perfect headband storage solution.

Talbot's Bling

2011-11-06T18:55:00.003-06:00

I have had a Talbot's gift card, one I received when I had to return an item, in my wallet for over a year now. I popped in as soon as I got the credit and again this Spring to hunt for something, but left empty handed each time. Well, yesterday I was cleaning out my wallet (and organizing all my beloved coupons) and found the gift card so I decided to hit up the Talbot's website and see what was new. While I have always loved Talbot's, this season has knocked it out of the park. There are SO many items I have my eyes on, but here is the short list:

Lyla Suede Tuxedo Flat ($119)

My love for pink and orange needs no explanation. Pair the color combo with a big bow and we have got a WINNER!

Nelli Haircalf Pointy-Toe Flat ($41 to $119)

Animal prints never went out of style in my book nor did pointy flats. Though I already have one pair of leopard flats and another pair of cheetah ones I am having a hard time resisting these. They do come in zebra too...

Elizabeth Teardrop Earrings ($34)

These earrings on on my Christmas wish list...in both colors!

Bow Touch Gloves ($39)

In the age of touchscreen phones, regular gloves are a thing of the past. Every tech savvy girl needs a pair of touch gloves!

Grace Fit Houndstooth Jacket ($189)

This jacket is so chic and classic. The houndstooth is a staple old school pattern while the big collar makes it a tad more trendy and fun.

Talbot's has certainly outdone themselves this quarter, don't you agree?

Unbearably Good!

2011-11-04T12:10:00.000-05:00

Today I am linking up to Muffy of Muffy Martini. She is hosting a Favorite Cookbook blog hop...just in time for new holiday recipes and gifts!

I lived in Americus, Georgia for several years as a young child. My mother will be the first to tell you that this was one of her favorite places to live. When we first arrived mother, being her social self, met a new best friends who quickly introduced her to the rest of the town as "a Yankee." Well, that Yankee quickly assimilated to life in a small Southern town as did her husband and her daughter. In fact, we assimilated so well that the first color picture in the Americus paper was of one of my birthday parties with my dear friend Mary Anne! We still keep in close contact with all our Americus friends and are excited to hopefully visit this Spring.

Americus is not your typical small town in my opinion, in fact I am always telling all my friends here in Dallas that Americus is where I hope to end up one day. While the town stands out to me it is similar to many small towns in that it is full of life, history, beautiful homes, wise people and LOTS of GOOD Southern food.

For as long as I can remember my mother has had a copy of the Junior League of Americus cookbook, Unbearably Good!, out when getting ready for a party or holiday. It has been her go-to cookbook for years and now I am following in those same footsteps.

This cookbook is FULL of the best of the best. The chicken salad recipe is to.die.for (I cannot give that away though...you need to buy a copy for that piece of gold) and the cheese straws and desserts are so good you can hardly stop eating them. While every recipe is better than the last today I wanted to share a recipe that is great for brunches and ladies luncheons. You can make these in a normal cupcake tins, but I think mini is really best and more dainty too. Enjoy!

Broccoli Cheese Muffins
Margarine or oil for greasing muffin tins
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli, cooked
1 (7 1/2-ounce) box corn muffin mix
4 eggs, beaten
1 stick ( 1/2 cup) margarine, melted
3/4 cup cottage cheese
1 large onion, chopped
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease miniature muffin tins. Drain broccoli well. Mix broccoli, corn muffin mix, eggs, margarine, cottage cheese and onion until blended.
Divide among muffin tins and bake 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 5 to 6 dozen muffins in mini tins.
Variation: If desired, dollop muffins with sour cream and a broccoli floret.

Unbearably Good seems as if it is pretty hard to come by these days. When searching for one online for you all I was only able to find them on eBay and then a few used copies on Amazon as well. Snatch one up today before it is too late, I promise you that you will NEVER look back!

Friday Randoms

2011-11-04T04:33:00.001-05:00

*My great Christmas tree debate has begun. I am up on the air about what to choose. I know I do not want a real tree, but rather a 4 foot fake, but color is the issue. Pink or silver is the big question??

*Can you believe it is already November and Christmas is NEXT month?! I have my Christmas music ready to go; Michael Buble's new CD is my number one right now, the Biebs is a close second.

*I am SO excited that red cups are back at Starbucks! Speaking of Starbucks, has anyone tried their Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate packets? I saw them at Target last weekend and am wondering if they are worth investing in...

*Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting the minds behind Elizabeth McKay. It was a HUGE honor and I LOVED getting a sneak peak of their upcoming lines while also spending time with such brilliant and fun people. The new shipments are to.die.for; check out a sneak peak of one print on their Facebook page. SO amazing!! Also speaking of Elizabeth McKay, I wore my new Scotland dress yesterday:J'adore!

*While talking about sponsors, here is a reminder to stay on top of your holiday shopping. Both Melly M and Swell Caroline have so many FABULOUS items to choose from when it comes to gifts. Their customer service is also Hopsy approved and they will work with you to find the PERFECT items for everyone on your list.

*Are you watching Revenge this Fall? It is my favorite new show next to PanAm! If mystery and a good cast was not enough, the set and scenery are pretty amazing in and of themselves.

*That is all for now; have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Pei Wei Diner Selects

2011-11-02T17:05:00.001-05:00

Several weeks ago I was contacted by Pei Wei about a new dinner option they are now offering. I was thrilled to be able to do a review on them as I LOVE Chinese food and am all about combo meals...more bang for your buck.

Diner Selects is basically a combo dinner option of Pei Wei's popular menu items:

First, you pick a side (spring roll, won ton soup or Asian slaw). Once you make this selection (I had a hard time here because I wanted them all...) you move on to you main course: teriyaki, kung pao, honey seared, Pei Wei spicy or Mongolian. Finally, you can choose from between white rice or brown rice or you can add fried rice for an extra $1.

Shockingly, this was the very first time I had ever been to Pei Wei. I am probably the last person in Dallas to try it (I do eat at PF Chang's frequently) and I have to admit I might be an new addict. Not only was the to-go service fast and efficient, but the price was amazing too. My entire Dinner Selects meal, with the fried rice and a drink, was under $10 and ready in just ten minutes. Now, if the service and price were not reasonenough to make me want tocome back the food was simply delicious:

Mmm, mmm, mmm!

As you can see I thoroughly enjoyed my ENTIRE meal!

Of course Chinese food is not complete without a fortune:

and I got a good (and true) one!

Pei Wei is my new go-to for Chinese! The Diner Selects menu allows me to customize my meal without overpaying while they are super quickkeeps things in check. Fast, delicious, well priced and easy...you cannot beat that!

Halloween Party- Food

2011-11-01T16:14:00.003-05:00

I LOVE food at parties. Treats and sweets and comfort food are all up my alley. If someone serves something I am pretty much almost always willing to eat it so of course I want my guests to always eat my food too.

Sunday evening we all enjoyed black and orange tortilla chips and pita chips with a fail safe dip recipe to start. All you need it for this dip:

1/2 packet Fiesta Ranch

1 tub Sour Cream

Blue Cheese Crumbles

Mix everything together for the most incredible dip ever. This is always a crowd pleaser and my go-to dip!

I must have had my camera on some weird setting as the above photo is so blurry, but I wanted you to see the entire table laid with food galore. I was very happy with how everything turned out and complimented everything else on the table.
I served Pioneer Woman mac and cheese (I did add in some cayenne pepper as well to mix things up a bit), a "Toxic Mushroom Salad" and biscuits for dinner. This was not the party to come to if you wanted a healthy meal, but boy was it good.

While there was plenty of candy corn around of course we still needed a table full of sweets on Halloween. I made Funfetti cake balls and chocolate covered Oreos. The Oreos in this photo look HORRIBLE and I am so embarrassed I do not have a better photo. The good ones all went in the goody bags so only the ugly remained. At least they were tasty, right?

In the corner you might also be able to spy some pumpkin and ghost shaped Rice Crispy treats. I am a sucker for these as they are so easy and a crowd pleaser. You can make this treat seasonal by using cookie cutters to cut out treats and then adding the appropriate color sugar sprinkle....easy as pie!

White and chocolate "Cauldron Cupcakes" were dressed up with the printables I made and added some height to the table (always a must in my opinion...levels change a tablescape).

Of course no event would be complete without Puppy Chow. It is a favorite of mine as well as many of my guests...mmm!

We all filled our tummies on Sunday evening while chatting away. It was such a fun night that I think I might just have to make my Halloween soiree an annual affair!

(f)All That Glitters

2011-10-31T21:32:00.003-05:00

Several of you have a very good eye for detail and spotted the glitter pumpkins on my table yesterday:

While glitter pumpkins seem to be everywhere now I did actually make mine three years ago. This was such an easy and fun project and as you know, something that keeps. Below is the post from October 2008; enjoy!

This past week I found this fabulous fall decorating idea (Glitter + Pumpkins + Joy) on the Dirty Martini Diaries. Since I love gold accessories and anything that sparkles this was the perfect project for me!

So on Friday evening I headed to Michael's to stock up on glitter, glue, Rub n' Buff and of course pumpkins. I think the actual creator of the project used real pumpkins, but I opted to go with the fake since they will last forever. I picked out three small pumpkins and one larger and grabbed coordinating gold Rub n' Buff and Martha Stewart glitter. I then headed home to get to work. I choose to actually cover all the pumpkins, even that I planned to glitter, with the gold Rub n' Buff. Though I was initially worried one tub would not be enough I did not even end up using a third of the product; a little goes a long way. I let the gold pumpkins sit overnight and then last night I got out the Martha glitter glue and really got to work. It definitely was more time consuming to glitter the pumpkin, but that was expected. I did the the upper 3/4's of the large pumpkin last night and finished the remaining area this morning. I am now thinking I might add a little glitter to the top of the smaller pumpkins, on their 'stems' perhaps? Maybe even some glitter polka dots too.

I think everything turned out darling. I could not be any happier and this was such an easy and inexpensive project that will hopefully last years. In fact I am so happy with how everything turned out that I am thinking of returning to Michael's and buying a bag of squash and pumpkins to make up as gifts- all fall, decorative pumpkins are 50% off this week! If you are yearning for a way to spice up your home with some festive fall decor I highly suggest looking into this!

Winner!

2011-10-31T17:12:00.003-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I am so excited to announce the winner of the FABULOUS High Cotton Ties giveaway. I loved reading what each of you loved...the winner loved the tartan...could that be you?

Congratulations to entry 152, Summer Wind!

Please email me and I will put you in touch with High Cotton Ties!

Thank you to all who entered. Be sure to check back for several other holiday appropriate giveaways over the next few weeks.

*Does anyone know how to post the Random.org counter on your giveaway post? I could not figure it out for the life of me today!

Halloween Fete- Decor and a Tad More

2011-10-30T20:59:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to throw a Halloween soiree. I LOVE a good themed party and I already had some fun items I needed to put to good use so it seemed like a given that I do something so I sent out and invite and got to work.

As you know, I was on the hunt for orange jeans last weekend, but finally settled on purple and boy am I glad I did. I found an amazing purple and green witch mask at Michael's (on sale too) to wear today so the purple jeans matched perfectly. The polka dot top is from Old Navy (on sale for less than $10!) and has been featured on numerous blogs this October, including the wonderful Nina.

I found LOTS of wonderful items at Michael's on sale for tonight's party including the fun Halloween garland that I used around my fireplace. Eventually, I want to get a mantle built and then I can display things above or hang signs, but the garland ended up working out perfectly for this party. It added a very festive element to something that is rather simple and blah at times.

I found Halloween tortilla chips at Walmart earlier this month and had those out with the EASIEST dip that is always a hit (recipe to come) and of course there was candy corn EVERYWHERE!

I will do another post about food, but wanted to share the cards I made for each item I served. I printed the chevron tags out on card stock and then attached each to polka dot glitter paper. They were very festive and also informative.

I hung glitter skeletons in my gold birdcages/plant holders...SPOOKY elements everywhere!

This darling sign was too fun to pass up. I found it on sale at Michael's as well as the sign on my front door. I forgot to get a photo of the door, but the sign reads "You say witch like it's a bad thing." Ha!

Here is the printable sign I posted last week. The size was perfect and it compliment my "Happy Halloween" sign which hung above the kitchen entry.

The treat bags turned out wonderfully I think. I found the polka dot sacks at Hobby Lobby and used a 40% off so as with the rest of my decor, they were also a steal. I included chocolate covered Oreos, Funfetti cakeballs, candy corn bark, Halloween hand sanitizer and a box of Emergen-C (I have an endless supply that I won and want all my friends to stay healthy) in these bags.

I will leave you with a sneak peak of the food (if you follow me on Twitter you have already seen this I bet). This was the Spooky Sparkling punch I made. The eyeballs were the PERFECT addition and really made this in my opinion!

All in all, tonight was SUCH fun and I think everyone had a fabulous time, or at least I hope they all did. Tomorrow I will share all the sweets and treats we enjoyed until then, eat, drink and be scary...HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

My Skin Routine

2011-10-27T16:52:00.004-05:00

I want to preface this post by saying that I was not, nor have I ever been compensated by Murad for this post. I am simply sharing what skin products I use and what works for me.

From time to time I get emails from readers asking about my skin care routine. I am always a bit surprised by these as my skin is nowhere near perfect, I guess it photographs well sometimes? Anyway, I have gone back and forth on skin care and pretty much tried it all over the years, in the ways of acne fighting that is. Back in high school I had a facial at Sea Island and was introduced to Murad products. Like many skin care products, Murad also has a step-by-step regimen. While there are numerous "systems" I would say their main two are the Acne and Resurgence routines, of which I use a combination.

I actually have two face washes, both part of the acne line. I use the Time Release Cleanser at home in the mornings and at night.
Then, per the recommendation of my facialist, I use the Clarifying Cleanser at the gym. I use this strictly after workouts and not ever at home, it stays in the gym bag.

After I wash my face every night I use the Hydrating Toner from the Resurgence line (you can easily mix and match items from the various lines, but the steps are always the same and are conveniently numbered too). Some people use this twice a day, but I only put it on in the evenings after I wash my face.

Once the toner dries I use one pump of the Acne Treatment Gel and make sure to cover my face with it. This, along with the next time, are the real miracle workers in my opinion. Again, I let the gel dry and set in and then top things off with the Skin Perfecting Lotion. Once this is on, my nighttime routine is finished...minus the Vaseline I put on my lips to keep them soft of course :)

In the morning I wash my face and then use an the Anti Aging Acne Moisturizer with SPF. I put all my make-up on over this and am good to go. As you can see, my routine is very simple compared to those of many; sorry if you were hoping for more or a super special, miracle product!

I highly recommend Murad products to anyone that might be looking to try something new. The two years I decided I would try something else were not pretty. Murad has worked wonders for me and I stand behind their lines. This month also happens to be customer appreciation month so there are lots of great (read FREE) offers if you place an order by November.

Melly M

2011-10-26T16:57:00.011-05:00

I love when a friend from years ago sends me an email or someone with whom I share so much in common with writes me via this blog. It really is amazing how small your world can become sometimes. With that being said I was SO excited when I opened my email this summer and saw a subject line "Taft Connection."

Melissa Madden and I both attended the same high school a few year apart and I have loved getting to know her via email. One of the very best parts of making this connection was enlisting a new blog sponsor; Melissa is the owner of the darling, very preppy and feminine clothing line Melly M. Melly M is a clasic, ladies' clothing company. In 2002, Melissa turned her love of sewing and design into a business on the streets of New York City, literally. All Melly M prints are designed by Melissa and the fabric is then sewn into fabulous frocks. The items are classic, but chic. Think feminine prints and ruffles mixed in with a simple sheath. "My prints vary from sophisticated elegance to simple, snappy casual. The silhouettes will always remain timeless, wearable and feminine."

Now that Fall is in the air Melly M is hosting a blowout sale on all their summer items. EVERYTHING is 50% off! (sale price is reflected once you add your items to your cart)! Of course, as with anything in my life, I could not pick one or two Melly M favorites, but have a mile long wish list to share with you:

I am all about classic, sheath dresses, they just work well with my figure. I love when designers make something basic a bit more trendy and that is exactly what Melissa has done with the Carmel Sheath. The neckline with the button and keyhole are not what you typically find, but the fit is. I would gladly take one every print in this shift. The classic lines have been made modern and I give it two thumbs up!

I am not one that can ever really pull off strapless, but I love a great halter top or dress. The Sconset Halter has great lines and comes in fun prints (808 is my favorite!). They top is not too revealing, but flirty. This would pair perfectly with shorts or white jeans and even a pashmina if there is a chill in the air.

Pink and orange is a great combination (remember it was my 25th birthday color scheme?!) and this Mini with a Button is just as cute as can be! The print is not over-the-top and the colors just work with one another to create something that is really eye-catching and fun! Of course, if pink and orange are not for you (GASP!), it comes in lots of other great prints including a brown which could be worn now (but it on SALE!).

I am all about the ruffles these days. They are fun and feminine and can be worn casually or you can dress them up. The Riverside Ruffle is a darling frock. I love it in the blue print as you could easily wear that into the Fall.

I LOVE this Greek Key Back Bay Sheath! It comes in several color waves, but I think the pink and green or navy and white are my favorites.

Be Simple - Be Sophisticated - Be Sassy - Be Melly M

Halloween Printables

2011-10-26T00:15:00.002-05:00

BOO TO YOU!

In preparation for my spooky soiree on Sunday I made a couple printables that I wanted to share. The first is a set of tags. I plan to cute the tags out with my punch and use some as cupcake toppers (I will attach them to lollipop sticks) and others will be tied to the treats I am sending guests home with. The text on the purple is a bit low so it will be cut down so it is perfectly centered; I am still learning...

Here is a link to the Halloween tags.

Having too many Scribd items on the page slowed things down. You can see and download the tags here!

The second item is a printable sign. I made the letters larger than most signs since the word is short and plan to hang this on the table/buffet for the party. I think it is the perfect size for this.

Boo Sign

From the looks of these printables it is going to be a chevron Halloween. Not too spooky, but most certainly FUN!

High Cotton Ties Cummerbund Giveaway

2011-10-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

I know most of my giveaway center around products for each of your readers, but today we are going to mix things up a little bit. All the men out there (hi Daddy!), it is your turn! Today I am thrilled to announce a giveaway with High Cotton Ties! High Cotton has a magnificent collection of bowties and cummerbunds all made right here in the United States of America (North Carolina to be exact).

"All of the 100% cotton bow ties are hand-cut and hand-made by a professional sewing company in North Carolina. By committing themselves to classic southern mainstays such as tattersalls, ginghams, and madras plaids, High Cotton Ties supports the revival of southern textile history.

The folks at High Cotton Ties “are firm believers that bow ties should be a regular part of a gentleman’s wardrobe, not simply reserved for formal events. By avoiding novelties and embracing traditional patterns, we create our bow ties with the expectation that they will be worn often and be admired just as frequently.” High Cotton Ties works with a motto of C’s – ‘cotton, comfortable, clean, classic, and custom- made’. The ties are easy-to-wear and easy-to-wash, as tested many times through home-based stain washing and customers have raved about the wearability of the products, as they maintain professionalism without pretentiousness.

The company has also developed a line of cummerbunds to meet the large market which had yet to find a solid, diverse provider. Products are always available for custom order, including the option to monogram the material for an even more personal touch."

Monograms are music to my ears as you know and one LUCKY reader will win a monogrammed cummerbund from High Cotton Ties! With the holidays just around the corner and football season still in full swing there is not a better time for this giveaway.

1. To enter leave a comment with you email address (all comments without emails will be deleted) by Sunday, October 30th at 7pm CST. You comment must also INCLUDE your favorite cummerbund!

2. To earn an additional entry, follow High Cotton Ties on Twitter.

3. To earn one more entry, "Like" High Cotton Ties on Facebook.

Please leave ONE comment listing all your entries!

Enter for yourself, you husband, your dad, your brother or your best friend...there is no doubt that the man in your life will be well dressed in their monogrammed cumber band from High Cotton Ties!

Winner and Jeans

2011-10-24T12:30:00.000-05:00

From the emails and tweets I have gotten about colored jeans in the past 24 hours it seems like we are all on the same page on not wanting to pay more than they are worth when it comes to this trend. As mentioned, I was on the hunt for the perfect pair of orange jeans for Halloween. Ideally, I wanted to spend under $50 and came up empty handed. After my hunt, I happened to be reading the paper and came across an add for JC Penney. I have been into a store maybe two times (once to buy a pair of American Living riding boots a reader told me about), but one just opened in my area and the add was quite appealing. City Streets colored jeans are on sale through tonight for just $17 at JC Penney. Though they did not have an orange pair, they did have a great purple which I snagged instead. The jeans are junior's sizing (something I was unfamiliar with until yesterday...I sized up to the odd number closet to my regular size) and they come in array of colors.

I am thinking I might go back for the jewel green and maybe even the blue. They would all look great with a black turtleneck or white long sleeve tee I think.

The jeans fit wonderfully, my only complaint is that they are low cut, but a skinny belt should solve that issue...hopefully! The price cannot be beat and the color selection is hard to match too. My JCP experience was wonderful. The store is full of so many great items and the place to go for stocking stuffers...think Dylan's Candy Bar, Glamour goodies and a mini Sephora! Head in and pick up your jeans today!
I have finally picked the two winners for the Blockbuster giveaway; my apologies that it took me so long. I am thrilled to announce that the Chick Flick DVD Pack goes to comment 15...CONGRATULATIONS to kp of Summer in Newport!
Additionally, the lucky winner of the 90 day Total Access subscription is comment 21 (I was surprised it picked two comments so close together!), sSe of the Seersuckered Sailor.
Congrats to BOTH winners, please email me and I will get you hooked up. A huge thank you to Blockbuster for sponsoring such a FUN giveaway for the movie lovers!!

BEST Weekend

2011-10-23T21:04:00.002-05:00

This weekend was hands down the best I have had in some time. It was not jam packed with event after event, but it was spent with good friends and good food was involved which is usually all I need.

Friday started off with a dinner up North (North as in Plano...which is North for me since I rarely go above 635) at a great restaurant discovered at a "celebrity" chef event this summer. Chiloso it was for grilled avocados smoothered in queso and then a stop into Homegoods before seeing Southern Vogue's fabulous home.

On Saturday morning I was up and at it as I had to get ready to attend the air show in Fort Worth. This was the second year I attended the air show and I was so excited to go again. Jennifer, Katie, Melissa and I all went and enjoyed a very American day from start to finish. We started off with some Coke Colas and BBQ sandwiches when we arrived in Fort Worth. Once it started to heat up under the sun (it may be October but it was almost 90 degrees in Fort Worth yesterday) we enjoyed some Blue Bell treats as we watched the Thunderbirds fly. They are just amazing. If you ever get the chance to see them fly, or the Blue Angels, do not pass it up. Per the announcer at yesterday's air show, they can go up to 1000 miles per hour and do the neatest formations that just leave you breathless.

After the air show we headed to Roanoke, Texas to dine at my beloved Babe's. It does not get any more American than Babe's fried chicken and biscuits with a side of creamed corn and mashed potatoes. We practically had to roll ourselves out, but somehow did manage to pop into the Southlake Lilly store on the way home (where I was thrilled to be able to snag these in PINK).

This sign above the door at Babe's made us all laugh. Kate and Wills are great, but after our red, white and blue day it put smiles on our face.

Today, it was off to church where I taught Sunday School then to the NICU to rock the babies. I did manage to hunt for some orange jeans in between, but came up empty handed. It is HARD to find well priced, good fitting colored jeans. After an online search and popping into every other store at NorthPark I finally decided purple would work for my Halloween party (outfit photo to come). Thankfully, the purple jeans were well priced and cost under $20 actually! Tonight, I topped the day off with Ides of March which was FANTASTIC!

What a WONDERFUL weekend which will only get better if the Rangers win!