Favorite Summer Treat

Since I am currently back on not eating carbs, I find myself thinking about bread and crackers all the time..so sad.  On my recent trip to Nantucket, I decided to eat like a normal person for the weekend so as soon as we got off the ferry, we headed out to Bartlett Farms to stock up on some yummy food.  It was so fun.

As soon as we walked in, we got hit up by this sweet lady with an apron on, sampling the most delicious treat.  Marscapone cheese and Beach Plum jelly on a cracker.  Sounds simple, but it is amazing.  We bought all the parts right away and spent the whole weekend snacking on these three ingredients until the crackers were gone.

Fast forward to this week and I purchased some Marscapone cheese (basically Italian sweet cream cheese).  There isn't much I can put it on that is on my diet except celery.  So, I decided to really do some research, and after spending 30 minutes in the cracker aisle comparing data, found that Carr's Water Crackers had the least amount of carbs of all the selection there.  Match that with no-carb Marscapone cheese and no-sugar red raspberry preserves and I have almost recreated my Nantucket treat...kind of missing the Beach Plum jelly though.

Try this and I promise you will love...

xoxo, kp

Muche et Muchette Tote..favorite summer find so far

On my recent trip, I found this amazing straw tote with sparkly straps from Muche et Muchette.  It was $45 and I thought, what a bargain.  After my purchase, I emailed the info to my online investigator Brooke, and she emailed me right back with an ebay link to the same tote for $33.15 with free shipping.  I had walked too far at that point to return my pricey tote but thought it was worth a share.  Super cute for the summer.  

Also comes in turquoise, natural and dark brown.

Click here for the eBay link.

On other fronts, the Nantucket store that purchased all my crystal bracelets reordered 52 of them, so that is what I did all weekend long!  I am almost done..very exciting stuff.

xoxo, kp

Pink Perfection in Traditional Home

I am loving this month's Traditional Home.  When it hit my mailbox, I couldn't believe the pillows on the front cover because they are almost identical to the ones that are in my living room, recently purchased to freshen things up.  This Palm Beach home is so beautiful and packed with lots of pink, green and orange.  The owner is a designer and created a stunning comfortable home with lots of personality.  I love that the house is painted a color called "Ballet Slippers".

I die over this white sofa with hot pink piping.  The Brunschwig and Fils toile is also a favorite.

Every detail is keeping with the color palette she chose.

Amazing upholstered headboards...

I love this scalloped side table...

Love the Mackenzie Childs chandelier...

The Manuel Canovas print is to die for...

Homeowner and designer Robin Weiss.  

She has amazing taste!

xoxo, kp

Catching up...

During my unintentional break from blogging, I had a lot going on.  Some things too fun not to share...first up- a special 4 year old birthday party that was so fun and over the top.  When we walked into the backyard under a beautiful balloon arch, the first thing you saw was the elephant giving rides to a bunch of smiling children.  It was so amazing.  I watched the elephant and all my friends riding it during the whole party and right at the end, my two BFFs got on, so I joined in.  We were all wearing dresses, so not so ladylike, but it made for a good pic. I loved this party!

The Year-End party for Beaux Arts.  I was in charge of this cute invitation..from Etsy.  We had so much fun and celebrated all the hard work we did this past year.  Very excited to be the 2013-2014 New Member Liaison, a job I have been lobbying to have for quite some time.  Meetings have already begun for next years Beaux Arts Ball, our first big fundraiser.

A month ago, I got the news that I had won a pretty big award at work.  This blogger is the Captain of the Year for 2012.  I had no idea I was even nominated, but I was chosen and the prizes were unbelievable.  Not only did I get a very nice plaque, but also a 7-day cruise for two on any of our brands, a week's vacation for the cruise and a very generous gift card.  I was overwhelmed and very happy.  Still trying to figure out which cruise to take and who to take with me.  Very excited about the whole thing.  They just posted this at work last week on all the info screens, so I have been reliving the excitement all over again. 

As mentioned in a previous post, I have become addicted to Instagram...

I like changing the shades on the pictures...partial to Mayfair and Hefe.

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My next focus is the Atlanta Gift Show! 

Booth #2716 in Boutique.

July 11 - July 16

Me and Queen Bea Studio.

Scary!!!

xoxo, kp

Jonathan Adler on Paperless Post

Even though I am admittedly obsessed with fine paper and invitations, I occasionally use Paperless Post for online invites since they have an amazing selection.  Jonathan Adler just debuted his collection of invitations and they are just adorable.  His designs are whimsical and fun, combined with the great selection of fonts and the ease of Paperless Post, it is a win-win for me, and everyone else who uses this website.  Check out some of his designs...

This summer collection is so cute..a holiday one is in the works!

Check out Jonathan Adler on Paperless Post here...

xoxo, kp

Chanel Bonfire and Beautiful Day

Since my best friend Amazon knows all the books I have read, they keep sending me suggestions.  Thankfully, they have given up trying to get me to download 50 Shades-type books and are back to my normal fiction.  Since I bought and read The Chocolate Money, they suggested Chanel Bonfire.  It looks like a perfect beach read for summer....

From Amazon:

By the time Wendy Lawless turned seventeen, she'd known for quite some time that she didn't have a normal mother.  But that didn't stop her from wanting one...

GEORGANN REA didn't bake cookies or go to PTA meetings, she wore a mink coat and always had a lit Dunhill plugged into her cigarette holder.  She went through men like Kleenex, and didn't like dogs and children.  Georgann had the ice queen beauty of a Hitchcock heroine and the cold heart to match.

In "a searing memoir that reads like a novel" (Anne Korkeakivi, An Unexpected Guest).  Wendy Lawless deftly charts the highs and lows of growing up with her younger sister in the shadow of an unstable, fabulously neglectful mother.  Georgann, a real-life Holly Golightly who constantly reinvents herself as she trades up from trailer park to penthouse, suffers multiple nervous breakdowns and suicide attempts, while Wendy tries to hide the cracks in their fractured family from the rest of the world.

Chanel Bonfire depicts a childhood blazed through the refind aeries of the Dakota and the swinging town houses of London, while the girls' beautiful but damned mother desperately searchers for glamour and fulfillment.  Ultimately, Wendy and her sister must choose between living their own lives and being their mother's warden--the hardest, most painful, yet most important decision each of them will ever make.

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The author has a blog where she chronicles this book's evolution and resulting success.  I am starting to read this one this week and will let you know what I think soon.

I am reading these days on my Kindle Paperwhite, which I bought about a month ago.  My pretty iPad has a thick black stripe across the screen and it will be $249 to fix at the Apple store.  I can't make up my mind what to do about it, so I bought the Kindle so I could keep reading.  I love it...it is so portable and this one has a built-in light, so night reading is a breeze.  I know so many people have Kindles, so again, I am late to the party.

I just read Silver Girl by Elin Hildebrand while I was on Nantucket.  I think it is fun to read her books while you are there, it just feels authentic.  That was one of my favorite books of hers.  Her new one, Beautiful Day, is available on June 25th and I have it ready to download

as soon as it is ready.

Happy Reading!

xoxo, kp

Nantucket Shopping, Part 2

Part 2 of my Nantucket Shopping post.  I wish I had more time to have checked out more stores, but here is the rest of my list.  It is an unbelievable place to shop!

On the way to lunch, this cute little store had a crown outside and it looked like a little cocktail party.  The same party gathered outside the next day, so I think this might just be what Jack Wills is all about, making shopping fun and social.  This store is like a British mixture of J. Crew and the old Abercrombie and Fitch circa 1992.  Filled with bright colored staple clothing, swimwear and accessories for men and women.  Stores have opened in the United States in the Northeast and Virginia.

Jack Wills

11 South Water Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

508.332.1601

www.jackwills.com

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Last summer, C. Wonder opened a pop-up shop on the island.  This store has everything.  Cute accessories, stylish clothes and perfect home accessories.  Everything is colorful, bright and fresh looking.  Favorite part of this store is the monogram section where you can order almost anything with a custom monogram.  They are opening stores all over the place these days..and this Nantucket pop-up shop is worth a stop.  I love everything about this store..even though I love Tory Burch and feel kind of bad lol.

C. Wonder

16 Federal Street

Nantucket, MA  02554

508.228.0803

www.cwonder.com

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Nantucket Looms

One of the many wonderful home stores on Main Street and the surrounding area, this one has tons of cool nautical-themed gifts for the home.  They also have a collection of hand woven blankets, throws and rugs.  Special orders are welcome.

Nantucket Looms

51 Main Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

508.228.1908

www.nantucketlooms.com

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Erica Wilson

This amazing store is half needlepoint/half clothing and accessories.  Filled with really cute stuff and very friendly staff, there is a lot to look at here.  While I popped in, there was a needlepoint trunk show with tons of canvases.  Since I am on a needlepoint purchasing break, I didn't add any to my collection.  I loved the navy dress below with the white rope belt...so cute. 

 

Erica Wilson

25-27 Main Street

Nantucket, MA  02554

508.228.9881

www.ericawilson.com

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In the Pink

Not a Nantucket trip without stopping into In the Pink.  This huge Lilly Pulitzer is always buzzing with cute, preppy girls shopping.  The sales team is very helpful and willing to bring you loads of clothes to the dressing room.  

Dying for this Sail to Sable tunic..

Or this Lilly one..

and the sales girl made me try this on and I ended up loving it..but need to be super tan to pull it off.  That is my next plan..

In the Pink

5 South Water Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

508.228.0569

www.inthepinkonline.com

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Other favorites that I didn't take pics in either because I didn't have time or was scared to ask...

Vis-A-Vis

Amazing collection of every price point jewelry.  So much to look at and check out. Also has an amazing selection of tunics, sandals, wraps and accessories.

Vis-A-Vis

34 Main Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

888.228.5527

www.visavisnantucket.com

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Stephanie's

Another cute gift store..this one has a mix of clothing, shoes, jewelry, home accessories, bar essentials, dish towels..you name it.  Very perky sales girls who are very helpful and friendly.  If you need a quick gift, this is a great stop.

Stephanie's

46 Main Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

508.228.0264

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The Hub

I could spend hours in the Hub.  It is like a fancy news stand with amazing gifts all tucked into this little corner shop.  Since I was there last, they added a coffee bar with snacks.  This is where you get the perfect Nantucket postcard or Nantucket Tervis Tumbler.

The Hub

31 Main Street

Nantucket, MA

508.325.0200

www.facebook.com/thehubofnantucket

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Anderson's Nantucket

Right next door to the Hub and owned by the same people, is Anderson's.  Very sophisticated and filled with beautiful things including Limoge, crystal, Wedgewood China, tons of Nantucket themed items and art.  I loved so many things in here!

Anderson's Nantucket

29 Main Street

Nantucket, MA  02554

508.228.4187

www.andersonsnantucket.myshopify.com

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Skirtin' Around

Wow..this store has the cutest things.  Lots of bright, clean designs on very stylish clothing.  There is always lots of pink, navy and green there.  A preppy haven for girls.

Skirtin' Around

2 Straight Wharf

Nantucket, MA  02554

508.525.0022

www.skirtinaround.com

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Style Paris

This beautiful showroom is filled with samples to choose your made to order custom  clothing from. Very feminine and so pretty, everything was amazing.

Photo via Queen of Cashmere-Style Paris Trunk Show in Nashville

Style Paris

44 Main Street

Nantucket, MA  02554

508.325.6600

www.styleparis.com

Loved my trip up North and reuniting with my Newport roommates.  It is such a fun place to visit..am dying to go with my friend Cece who has a home there so she can give me the insider tour.

xoxo, kp