Summer In Newport

RHOBH and GG

2012-01-31T18:10:00.000-05:00

I have loved every minute of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills this season. It is chock full of drama, fashion, glamour and mean girls. The reunion part 1 was last night with 2 more to go. They really attacked Lisa (my favorite) and it was so awkward to watch. She wasn't having any of it and kind of brushed the whole thing off...

My favorite part of the season was the game night when the mean girls kicked into gear. They were freaking out on Brandi Glanville for suggesting that Kim had a substance abuse problem...

Obviously Brandi was stating the obvious..as time went on, it was clear she had major problems. Now she is out of rehab and will be interviewed on one of the other reunion episodes coming up. In doing a little research for this post, I found this "before they were stars" picture. So funny.

And earlier in the evening on Gossip Girl, "The Princess Bride" episode, the story was amazing, the clothes were to die for..and to celebrate their 100th episode, they finally revealed who Gossip Girl is!!! I don't want to ruin any one's chance to see it live on tv, so you will have to do some homework if you want to know and missed last night's episode.

Happily Ever After???
We will have to see about that!

The Frustration of Facebook Pages

2012-01-30T17:02:00.001-05:00

When Facebook decided to get rid of the Groups and switch over to Pages, they made everyone start from scratch! It has become quite a struggle to get my old group friends to "Like" my new Kristin Pearce Designs page! I have put many status updates very nicely asking people to Like my new page, even using "pretty please" and promising not to over post. I still have over 125 people left in my old group. Then to make it more frustrating, when I have used a status update on my personal Facebook page with the link to my new KPD page, many people quickly scan the update and Like my status update. That doesn't really help, but thank you!

Facebook is the best way to get the word out to customers about sales, specials or just general news. My friend Mason send me a little article the other day basically saying that if you are begging for likes, they don't really mean anything. Obviously if you Like a page on FB, you are usually interesting in the subject matter, not having your arm twisted so someones number is high. Hilarious. I would just like to consolidate please....

So, I added this new widget on the sidebar of my blog which makes it easier to click the Like button. If you are so inclined, I would be so happy to have you Like my Kristin Pearce Designs page. I promise fun new merchandise in the next few weeks, giveaways and discounts.

Thank you so very much! xo

Denie's Karoke Graphic Tee Flash Mob Birthday Party

2012-01-26T11:53:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, one of my best friends had a big birthday party. The invite instructed everyone to wear a graphic tee (most people didn't know what that was) and there would be singing..I mean karaoke involved.

A week before the party, her husband sent out an email letting everyone know there would be a flash mob in the middle of the party, and if you wanted to to join in, come to a rehearsal at Boo's during the week. I couldn't make the rehearsal but lucky enough, there is an instruction video on how to participate in a flash mob on You Tube. The song was Dynamite and the plan was to have a signal and then when the song came on, the flash mob would commence..hilarious.

So many old friends came to the party, it was so much fun. Denie's Mom's house is our go-to party house..we have had so many parties there over the years, we have lost count. That night, everyone was so busy singing and catching up..and then around 9pm, we heard the signal and everyone went out to the middle of the patio and it started! I practiced outside the front of the house with friends 20 minutes before to make sure I knew what to do.

This is the video of the Flash Mob..it makes me laugh so hard to watch it. What a blast!

Loved this party!
Happy Birthday Denie!
xoxoxo

Getting back to business

2012-01-25T00:48:00.001-05:00

There is a horrible feeling as a blogger when you know you have not posted in a while and need to come up with something worthwhile. This past holiday season, I was totally overwhelmed and could not seem to get to my blog as often as I wish. Thankfully, I have very good friends who don't hesitate to let me know I am falling down on the job....

I spent so much time searching for good pictures of nautical stripes last week, I was so excited about that post. And then I took too long in between posts and got this message...

Feeling the love for Valentine's Day-which is just around the corner- I did a cute post on hearts...I got this...

I almost lost a faithful follower...so I am promising now to step it up a notch.

Peyton Place??? He is really dating himself with that comment!!!

I have so many posts in the works..my trip to the Atlanta Gift Show, to North Carolina, Denie's birthday party, etc... By Friday, I will be all caught up!!!

Beaux Arts Festival Weekend

2012-01-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

The beginning of January is always full of activities. The Beaux Arts Festival of Art is one of them, so fun and always a wild time. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday and is on the grounds of the University of Miami campus. There is always has a great range of artists and reasonable priced art, a bonus. The entire festival is run by our volunteer group and everyone is required to work several shifts. The night before it opens, there is a costume party called the Bare Bones Ball. The theme is announced in the Fall and people take it super seriously. It is such a fun way to kick off the festival weekend. This year's theme was a Royal Celebration..or not. When I arrived, I saw a ton of fascinators!
The Queen welcomed everyone to the party..

This cute car was on the check-in table.

Our Treasurer and President-Elect
Heather and Nikki
Me and Corey

There were festive British decorations everywhere

Corey, Ceci and Melissa
Lots of soccer outfits...

Me and Ceci (decked out in kp jewels)

Our party co-chairs Ashley and Michelle

There were British guests strategically placed..here are Kate and Wills

Holly and Amy

British napkin holder

The party went late and some of the girls had shifts at the crack of dawn..not sure how they got up in time...

The weather was beautiful for the entire weekend.
I was at a coke booth all day on Sunday. (this was my view) The early shift was me and Denie. After we got set up, we had some visitors...

Reese and Penny

They put on gloves and helped us out...

Little Brooke came in the afternoon.

Map of the festival

Plenty of art projects for kids at the City National Bank Art Park...

There were tons of amazing food vendors..it was so dangerous. My coke booth was near grilled corn, pizza, kettle corn, arepas and every other fattening carnival type food. For full disclosure..we served coke products in the plastic bottles, so I was seen several times picking though the recycle bins for the caps to log into My Coke Rewards. I just ordered People Magazine with those points! I am obsessed.

Photos by Kristin Pearce, Sheri Mazariegos and Cecilia Slesnick

Obsessed with Hearts

2012-01-19T23:28:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is upon us and that means all the cute heart items start popping up. I love hearts and am always drawn to them for EVERYTHING!

I want these Gucci shoes so badly, it hurts me. I had several chances last year to pick them up and didn't take advantage..and now they are the ones that got away. There are some on Bluefly but for size 6 ad 8..not my size.

This Gucci belt has also been on my list for a while. How cute is it??? This amazing treat is still available at Neiman Marcus.

Pink Diamond Heart Pendant at Cartier.

Loving these gold and diamond heart earrings from Tiffany & Co.

Louis Vuitton Coeur Bracelet in Pink Gold

If my choices above are a little out of your price range, consider some wood beads...this is one of my necklaces with silver hearts..it is super cute and only $35! Check it out here.

Nautical Stripes

2012-01-17T13:28:00.002-05:00

These days, I am so in love withNautical Stripes (also known as Breton stripes). They have been popping up on runways for years and never seem to go out of style. The nautical stripes came into fashion after the Prince of Wales (Albert Edwards) wore the stripes along with a sailor collar in Franz Xaver Winterhalter’s1847 oil painting. The look, which was inspired by the uniform of the sailors on the Royal yacht, made its way to the Royal Navy in 1857. It didn't take long for parents to outfit their children in these fun stripes and then in the 30's Men's fashion took notice. Women’s fashion however, wasn’t introduced to the stripes until French Fashion pioneer, Coco Chanel.

Chanel was motivated by the stripes “graphic sensibility” and their minimal take. It only took a photo of Chanel at a French resort wearing a striped sailor top and khakis to start the Nautical fashion craze. Since then, stripes have never really gone out of style.

Reese Witherspoon

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
Vanessa Minello
Alexa Chung

Seraphina Affleck

Kim Kardashian

Olivia Palermo
James Dean
Natalie Wood

Princess Caroline of Monaco
Sofia Coppola
Brooklyn Decker
Audrey Hepburn

Taylor Swift

Eva Longoria

Audrey Tatou as Coco Chanel

Yarbie Bangles

Some good nautical stripes on sale now...

Laverne Top at Tory Burch

Striped dress at the Gap

Tori Striped Jersey Tee from Ralph Lauren Black Label

Splendid Drop Sleeve Striped Top at Nordstrom
Pink and White Stripes at the Gap
Colorful selections at Peter Beaton on Nantucket

Best Dressed at Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-15T23:47:00.000-05:00

So love the Golden Globe Awards...kicking off awards season very nicely. This year, these are my fashion pics...still trying to pin down a picture of Michelle Pfeiffer, who looked stunning! This year's red carpet was filled with fish tail gowns..not a fan..they look so bizarre to me. I loved Moneyball, The Descendants, The Help and need to see a bunch more, clearly The Artist.

and best couple award...George and Stacy..so good looking!

Bring on the Academy Award nominations!!!

After Christmas Cocktails

2012-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

The week after Christmas, I decided to have a few friends over for after Christmas cocktails. I should have been relaxing after my crazy Holiday season, but I always try to keep things interesting around here. In the past, I used to entertain all the time living in my parents guest house, but living in an apartment is a little trickier. The parking is valet only and it fills up and my actual apartment is not that big. I started off with a few besties and then decided to invite a few other girls. Next year, I am going to have more people, now that I know they will fit and that I can reserve valet space. I think it will stay all girls..it was so much fun.

I got out my cookbooks and decided to make most of the food myself. My table was packed with goodies...

I did buy Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets to round out all the Barefoot Contessa dips and guacamole I prepared.
Caprese on sticks
Hopsys Hello Dolly Bars and my favorite coffee cake

My apartment was very festive...

Holly, Catherine and Anne Beaumont

Denie, Lori, Me and Amy

Sandy, Stephanie and Cynthia

Ashley and Corey

My command center..almost all cleaned up!

It was so much fun to have friends over...now that I am almost done buying my new dining room chairs, I can have some dinner parties. I need to brush up on my culinary skills..although one of my friends compared my guacamole to Rosa Mexicano!

2012 Calendar

2012-01-10T20:12:00.000-05:00

Yikes, I haven't picked a calendar for this year!!! I just perused through Etsy and found so many great options. Now, I can't decide which one to get. Maybe I will get one for home and one for work. I use calendars like this after the month has passed in my scrapbook, so it has to be super cute. Each of these Etsy stores have plenty of cute things if you have already bought your 2012 calendar..check them out.

River Street Designs $5 for PDF to print yourself

KTF Design $12

Em Papers $5 for PDF to print yourself

Design de Story $12

Lisa Samartino Designs $10 for PDF to print yourself

Monkey Min Designs $12

Paisley Tree Papers $24

Valentina Design PDF to print yourself $7

Sweet Bella Cards $18.50

Here's to a more organized 2012..and finding a husband. Those are my goals.

Already Distracted

2012-01-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

It is on January 6th and I have already veered off my carefully planned path to organization. When I was moving some bags around filled with goodies, I stumbled across my needlepoint bag. It is one of my resolutions to finish all my ongoing projects but first I have to finish a stocking and it might take me all Spring and Summer. But there are a couple of tiny ornaments that wouldn't take long to finish..and then they can add to my pile of done stitching but not finished ornaments.

As I was looking through my canvases, this one kept popping out at me, I quickly stitched the crab sparkly pink and then couldn't help myself and started on the stripes. They were painted aqua but I switched them to lime green.

After finishing the stripes, I couldn't decide what to do next..keep it pink and green or try to fancy it up a little...

I decided to add red and pink stripes to make it more Christmasy.

In the midst of working on the crab, I pulled out the gators and finished that one too.

I was loving the Christmas colors on this little ornament..

Last night, I almost finished it..just need to add a pink sparkly border. If I make them simple like this, my Mom can make them into ornaments like tiny pillows with a ribbon on top to hang it on the tree.

There is a blue Tiffany box in my apartment filled with all of my needlepoint finished ornaments that I keep separate from the others "just in cast" there is a fire, God forbid, and I can grab it. Now, I have hidden it from myself and I am about to take my tree down. This has kicked up the organizing a notch and tomorrow, I am determined to find it. I mean, when does it end???

Snowing in Miami??

2012-01-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

When the weather in Miami dips below 75 degrees, everyone panics. When it goes below 50 degrees, you could see some mink coats spring into action and a ton of pashminas wrapped around everyone. This morning, it is supposed to be in the 30s!!! It is hard to wrap my brain around that. Luckily, I invested in an adorable black puffy coat last year and that is what I will be wearing tomorrow. Thank goodness for seat heaters!

This picture is from the 70s in Miami, taken at my Grandparents house on Biscayne Bay. My Grandfather had some "snow" delivered for us to play in. I am actually shocked that I had a coat!

New Year's Focus: Get Organized

2012-01-03T15:38:00.001-05:00

It is so beyond time to get myself organized. There are pockets of my apartment that are crazy organized and then others that are seemingly hopeless. This is the view these days...

After the big clean up for my tiny little party last week (will post about soon), I decided to keep all the tote bags filled with the clutter in my bedroom and not bring them out in the living room until I go through them and hopefully organize them.

Wednesday, I started with the first bag, a container store shopping bag (I am obsessed with these for some reason)..filled with papers and invitations, blank stock of stationery, pictures and on and on. I tried to separate all items into categories and then overwhelmed myself. On to bag #2, a red and white toile huge tote filled with more of the same but with the added bonus of some beads. I must have taken a whole tray of random beads and put in there for safe keeping. Also for safe keeping, I tossed a most treasured heirloom diamond ring in there and did not remember doing this. I have been looking for this ring for over 2 years and really thought it was going to show up during my move. There were limited conversations about it with my parents, who don't really trust me with it to begin with. I reached into the bag and felt something weird, when I picked it up and saw it was the ring, I almost cried. I was so excited to find it, I wanted to post a pic on Facebook. So, the quick photo shoot started with these shots...

I thought..people don't read and I don't want anyone to think I am engaged!

So this one and then thought my hands looked so weird...

So, onto my crystal ring holder for the photo op...so excited! this ring is headed back to the safe for safe keeping!!!

This is the view from my perch on the couch..or as I call it- my command center. I would show you a picture of my bead trays but that is a whole other post.

To get some of my stuff organized, I found these amazing Semikolon boxes at the Container Store. The colors are so great..imagine a bookshelf filled with pink and orange, navy and green, etc... They are made so well and are not too expensive.

For my magazine tear-outs, I found these Stockholm Classic binders there as well. I bought pink, but my head was spinning at the color combinations. Then, I think how cute to have all pink and maybe some white thrown in...I have only purchased one so far-they are $9.99 and are sturdy.

How are you getting organized this year????

Year in Review

2011-12-31T17:55:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe that this is the last day of 2011. It has been a crazy year for me, full of big events and lots of action. Here are some of my highlights:

Bought my first condo

Traveled to NYC with 15 friends for a big birthday celebration

Became a Godmother for the first time

Lots of travel..New York, Amelia Island, Newport, Nantucket, Boston, North Carolina, Baltimore, Atlanta and Palm Beach

Grew my business

Cut 8 very luxurious inches off my hair

Bought a MacBook Pro with cash

Became full-time at my job

Sailed to Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico on the biggest ship in the world

Used 200 white jewelry boxes for sales Nov-Dec

Spent time with friends and family

and blogged all about it!!!

Here's to a wonderful New Year!!

xoxo

Art Basel..Several Weeks Later

2011-12-30T14:55:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, I had the fortunate pleasure to attend the Vernissage party for the opening of Art Basel. It is the most fun people watching I have ever seen. The crowds were huge this year and for the first time, we had to wait in an enormous line to enter the convention center. My press pass didn't make me any type of VIP unfortunately!

There was so much art, tons of spaces all decked out to look like real miniature galleries. Some are very sparse and some are packed with all different kinds of mediums. You have to walk around for about 3 hours to really see everything...and this was only the first night!

When walking around, it is sometimes hard to figure out what is the art and what is part of the convention center...this wall had me stumped. Is it a cement wall with plants or is it an exhibition called "Cement and South Beach Corn Stalks"

This VW bus had a huge audience staring at it...very interesting...

After a couple of hours walking around, the people watching took over and I became fascinated by the pants. So many men had on fabulous pants..here are a few:

my favorite the pink pants with the green loafers..

And the most popular piece of art???? This very real looking replica of Prince William. Everyone was standing in line to pose with him..so funny.

Amy looks pretty good with the Prince!

There really is nothing like Art Basel..well worth the trip to Miami Beach. Each year it gets better and better!

The Aftermath...

2011-12-26T08:30:00.001-05:00

Are you racing out the door for after Christmas sales? I am finally catching my breath from my craziest holiday season to date. I had been sitting on my couch for days making jewelry, selling it and then replenishing for the next day. So fun, so exciting but so exhausting. I am taking a small break to re-group and get organized, and just for fun, decided to have a small cocktail party tomorrow night in my apartment. I must be crazy.

Yesterday and today, I finally finished decorating my tree..I am not kidding..and I had my Mom to help me. Here is what it looks like...

In the midst of all the hub bub, I found it necessary to scour eBay for more needlepoint ornaments even though I own over 30 brand new canvases ready to stitch. I think I have a problem...but aren't they cute? They are so inexpensive. This prompted me to put several of my canvases on eBay to sell. 2012 is going to be my year to sell things on eBay.

Will be back to blogging full steam ahead this week, trying to catch up and redeem some of my followers! xo

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T16:33:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends.

I can't believe it is finally here!

Images via Etsy

Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-22T00:50:00.000-05:00

This year, I wanted to do something a little different with my holiday card. Having seen Paige Smith's amazing work on The Company She Keeps blog, I contacted her and asked her to draw me up. After a few emails with details, this was the end result. It is so cute and she even incorporated my packaging on the tree. Millie even made it on there. After I got the illustration, I contacted my design BFF Tracy from Paper and Ink Design to help me whip it up into a card.

This is the inside...

and Tracy fancied up the back...

I am loving my card this year!
♥

Holiday Craziness

2011-12-16T19:42:00.001-05:00

What a whirlwind this week has been!!! I have been completely overwhelmed with keeping up with jewelry sales and production as well as my real job on overdrive for year-end craziness. This weekend, I am going to catch up..I hope but these are some things that I am loving...

This new stone popped up recently..a dark silver colored, mirrored bead. I made this necklace and matching double strand bracelet. It is one of my favorite new treats.

I have been busy replenishing my jewels..these have been popular

The most popular...this amazing gold leaf long necklace. $50

And I love when customer's orders come in..I get to see all the cute combinations created from Dabney Lee's style swatches and monograms.

loving this crab...

and new Dabney Lee notes for me!

My Christmas tree is still completely bare. I can't even get the lights on-they are tangled and then I bought new ones and they weren't the right kind. I am needing some elves right about now. And..I had the great idea of having a holiday cocktail party at my apartment the week between Christmas and New Year's. Not sure how I am going to pull that one off. I have piles of magazines surrounding me, beads and crystals everywhere and the feeling that I have forgotten something really important but can't figure out what! I did get my holiday cards out..that was an accomplishment-and I am LOVING my card this year..will post a copy this week.

More soon....

Am I fired?

2011-12-11T10:34:00.000-05:00

Wow...a week can fly by super fast!!! I have had so many shows and made so many necklaces and only have a few appointments left..and my blog has been neglected. Promise to catch up this week. My biggest news is that I am typing this on my new MacBook Pro. It is so fun but I definitely need a tutor because I can't figure some things out. Walking out of the Apple store yesterday was so fun having just paid cash for my new computer with all my hard earned profits from this holiday season. I can finally bury my Dell laptop.

The other big item on my wish list-the gold huggie earrings that I have been coveting are on the way to being under my tree. One of my sweetest friends made them my Christmas present and I couldn't be happier. Of course my list has grown as the days have gone by. I swung into J. Crew and my goodness, there is so much cute stuff in there.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I will be catching up soon! xo

Tick Tock...

2011-12-04T23:51:00.000-05:00

Oh my...I am racing against the clock, trying to catch all my clients before the holiday deadlines pass!! Today was the cut off for Clairebella, tomorrow for Preppy Cards and that leaves me with a few days left of Paper and Ink Designs, Queen Bea and Alphabet Plates!

I have two big shows this week and all the year-end work for my real job. Yikes! Of course there is also Christmas shopping for myself. It always happens to me when I have a little extra cash from my holiday sales to shop for myself..that's right I am selfish. I don't think it is too out of the box..you are in the malls and online, of course you are going to see good stuff for yourself while you are shopping for others.

One of my friend Cece's aadorable pink trees

My Christmas list seems to dwindle each year, making it easier to get through it. Coming up with creative and recipient appropriate gifts is a little bit of a challenge. I know what I am getting for most of my list, so I hopefully won't be hitting the malls December 24th!

When my Mom and I were shopping in Jacksonville, I found this adorable display of striped long-sleeve t-shirts at Banana Republic. I fell in love with the navy/grey one and bought it this weekend. This is it and it comes in so many cute colors!

Me and my cutie pie Goddaughter Elizabeth..in my new shirt!

Wish List...

2011-11-29T20:50:00.001-05:00

All this shopping talk has my head spinning. My little list is always handy in my blackberry, ready to edit at any moment.

First on the list because they are almost sold out is this adorable J. Crew Sweater. It is so cute and comes in a few different color combinations. The J. Crew in Jacksonville had a bunch of them..so don't go by the mean website message that they are sold out!

A few weeks ago, I saw these adorable gold huggies in my friend's ears and fell in love with them. When she told me they were from Ross-Simons, I almost died. They are waiting to be purchased by moi any day...

A new computer...I must be the last one not on the Mac bandwagon. I am in desperate need..my laptop is half in the grave! I can't wait to get my hands on this one.

I still don't have a headboard...this is the one I want, from Ballard Design. It will be in my bedroom before Spring if it kills me.

I will keep this updated...I am still thinking...

Cyber Monday Deals

2011-11-28T09:37:00.001-05:00

Happy Cyber Monday!!!!

Have you checked out my website??? There are over 700 cute items in there! The 20% coupon is TURKEY and is good through the end of today.

My good friends own the delightful company South Beach Ties. They have such great things on this website and everything is 50% off today!!!!! Check it out. Code Cyber50

Another local friend's business..Soy Delicious Moisturizing Candles. These amazing candles double as a moisturizer and are amazing. There are plenty of scents to choose from. They are offering 20% off today on their website. Code CYBER2011

Hurry up before 11:30 am to get 35% off everything at Robert Redd! After 11:30, the discount is 15%. Check out the website here. (no code needed)

And Pineapple Grove Gifts is having 25% off their super cute monogrammed iPad and Smartphone covers in their Etsy store. check it out..code CYBER

My cute friend Kate is offering 25% off her entire site-today only. Check out www katydiddesign.com! Email kate@katydiddesign.com with your order. Also offered is an extra pair of flowers on her new ballet flats!

Happy Shopping!!!

Small Business Saturday

2011-11-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Shop small today and all weekend long!!!

Use code TURKEY on www.kristinpearce.com

and cross some gifts off your Christmas list!

code good through Monday 11/28

Black Friday Resort Style

2011-11-25T18:21:00.002-05:00

Being on Amelia Island for Thanksgiving is so much fun...but doesn't leave too many options for Black Friday shopping. My blackberry was about to blow up with emails from Old Navy and the Gap. The closest Old Navy is 20 miles away. I begged my Mom to take me there, knowing that it could be a complete zoo. We got there and unbelievably, it was one of those times where I didn't see anything I had to have. Feeling horrible for wasting gas, I picked out some $5 leggings and a $7 long sleeve t-shirt. We also popped into Michael's. I haven't been there in a long time and could not get over how much jewelry making materials they have there! No wonder everyone in the world makes jewelry these days!

The only other place I wanted to hit was my beloved Plantation Shop. I get the pictures on Facebook with all of their furniture shipments and one piece is prettier than the next. This trip did not disappoint.

I am in LOVE with this piece...there were tons of amazing pine pieces.

Cute pillows on this nice bench

It is so pretty there..with tons of different types of displays...

This gorgeous piece had a SOLD sign on it

These lamps are on my official wish list!

Lots of books..

Tons of candles...

and holiday displays all around..

All the ornaments are 50% off

Check out The Plantation Shop on Facebook

4828 First Coast Highway

Palmetto Walk Shopping Village

Amelia Island, Florida 32034

904.261.2030

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T16:22:00.000-05:00

Up the Coast...

2011-11-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

Today, I am driving from Dade to Nassau..straight up the coast of Florida..with a little stop in Palm Beach. My car is full of laundry and beads, a dangerous combination. Can't wait to see the fam and my little Millie. I haven't seen her since Christmas-the longest stretch without her yet. I stopped by Fresh Market on my way to work to get some nuts and it was nuts in there! The lines were crazy. I am happy to get out of Miami for a few days and enjoy some cooler weather. Stay tuned for great deals this weekend!

Carnival Birthday for Elizabeth

2011-11-22T15:48:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I attended little Elizabeth's first birthday. Her Mom created a county fair of sorts in her parent's back yard. The weather was amazing and all her cousins were on hand to celebrate the big day.

There was a big slide...

Lots of face painting...

A cotton candy machine...

A visit from Yo Gabba Gabba's Foofa...

An adorable cake...

Trail rides...

Cute cousins...

Elizabeth tasting her cake...

Ashley on her pony...

With Foofa...

Devon, David and I

Meg with my two favorite NC blog followers, Heather and Ashley

The birthday girl just was starting to walk..so she was on the move the whole time...
The party was so much fun..I had a blast.
****************************************

Ashley and her sister came to eat lunch with me today at work..how cute are her Jack Rogers???

He'll Always Be Will Tippin To Me...

2011-11-18T18:03:00.001-05:00

My goodness..the uproar over this year's People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive is a little crazy. Sure Ryan Goesling is super cute, but it's not like they picked Kermit the Frog..they picked Bradley Cooper-or as I call him, Will Tippin. He has been on my radar since my Alias obsessed days. Playing Jennifer Garner's BFF in that show, he was the classic overlooked friend character who was madly in love with the leading lady. They eventually hooked up, but not until at least Season 3!

Just FYI, I hated him with Renee Zellweger and even though I love some J Lo, they were not a great match. I think Scarlett Johannson..they had great chemistry in "He's Just Not Into You".

I say People did a great job. What a cutie!

St. Philips Holiday Bazaar

2011-11-15T07:30:00.001-05:00

Today is one of my favorite days of the year, the St. Philip's Holiday Bazaar. So many of my friends are Moms at this school, so I get to see fun people and hopefully, sell lots of stuff. I have made as much jewelry as I can this week and now my cold has caught up with me.

In one of my recent Fornash packages, I ordered the long gold horse bit necklace. I keep finding myself wearing it! It is so cute long and also doubled up. It is such a steal at $45.

It went perfect with my new Gap equestrian pants I snagged this weekend in black with my 40% off coupon.

Also in my recent Fornash package was these new leather bracelets. I am LOVING them and can't wait to show people this week.

Tomorrow is the St. Thomas Holiday Bazaar, my other favorite day...busy week!

One of KP's Favorite Things...

2011-11-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

The last three weeks, I have become obsessed with the Gap's Supersoft Crewneck T. I am always looking for the next great long sleeve shirt to mix with my wardrobe and this one is a perfect combination of soft cotton, a little stretch, great colors and excellent price tag. The way the Gap keeps having crazy sales, you can get this little treasure for around $12. I have stocked up on the black..

the white...

and a few other colors..

They tell me these shirts will be around for a little bit, but I never believe them. This is truly one of my new favorite things. That and the ridiculous new Keebler Fudge stick bars. I swear the Keebler people kill me..first the Coconut Dreams and now these.

Veterans Day Discount

2011-11-10T13:10:00.001-05:00

I am bracing myself for the craziness next week. My two biggest shows are one day apart. On Tuesday, I will be at St. Philips Episcopal and on Wednesday, St. Thomas Episcopal. So scary..I will be making stuff all weekend. Anyone who wants to come sit and talk to me while I work could get some fun treats.

In honor of Veterans Day and my very exciting day off tomorrow, I am offering a 20% Veterans Day discount on my website. The code is BigDaddy and named for my Grandfather who was a Colonel in the Marine Corps. This code is good today through Monday the 14th. Happy Shopping!

Lilly Turns 80...

2011-11-08T00:58:00.003-05:00

This Sunday, The Preppy American Brunch will be held in Boynton Beach at the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion. The tickets are $75 and are still available. Click here for more information

I have a work event that day that I am trying to get out of so I can go!!!!

Birthday Girl

2011-11-04T22:05:00.001-04:00

My trip to North Carolina is in honor of my Goddaughter Elizabeth's first birthday. We spent the day getting ready for her party tomorrow and I am obsessed with getting cute pictures of her and her sister..but they move so darn fast. My normal camera just doesn't have the speed to catch them so my Blackberry, which is usually in my hand anyways, has been filling in.

Elizabeth...about to start walking..she is really on the move..

I have paparazzi tendencies when I am around these girls...

Big sister Ashley posing for me..I love this picture..she is getting so grown up!

Ashley tried to help me get a sister shot...it didn't really work out...

Elizabeth's big party is tomorrow, but we had a little cake for her tonight..

After the cake, she was covered with hot pink icing...so sweet.

More pics to come..I am loving the Fall leaves and chilly weather here!

Tower Heist

2011-11-03T08:30:00.002-04:00

It would be hard to have missed all the hoopla about this movie, which opens this Friday. The director is a friend of mine and even though I have been lucky enough to attend several of his movie premieres, my invitation didn't arrive for this one.

This is a picture my friend Joey took on the red carpet. How fun..Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Brian Grazer, Ben Stiller and more all within a few feet of each other.

The movie looks hilarious. Check out the trailer here. I would have the You Tube video on here but after 21 times trying and crashing my Internet Explorer, I gave up.

Craziness..

2011-11-02T15:24:00.000-04:00

So, I lost my blackberry last night and could not find it anywhere. I tried to trace my steps, but I feel like my life is Groundhogs Day, so it is hard to remember which day is which. I am leaving for North Carolina on Thursday and started thinking..how could I travel without a phone? I rely so much on this phone, all I could think of was..how many text messages am I missing??? When I went to bed, I had to fix my old clock radio since I use my BB for an alarm clock. I woke up twice this morning to check..paranoid that it wouldn't work. On the way to an early meeting, I heard my muffled ringer calling out to me from the back seat. I pulled over and dug around to find it sitting right there. And the funny thing..I hadn't missed very much. Not text messages and a phone call. So, problem solved and I am very relieved.

The luggage that I have collected over the years all have broken or scary zippers. I had to borrow a bag for my trip tomorrow. That is something I need to investigate when I get back. In Nantucket, my zipper almost disintegrated, but Tara's steady hand rescued my clothes. I was so scared to move it for the rest of the trip.

I have been making new jewels like crazy. All my big shows are this month. These new wood necklaces have been selling so fast, I can hardly keep up with making them. That is always a good problem to have. They can be doubled up and are $40 each! Also, I am looking for some ideas on little girl necklaces. I still have quite a Hello Kitty crowd, but besides the peace sign, need some other ideas. Any suggestions??

Look for my North Carolina posts...I will be wearing lots of layers when I write them!

Happy Halloween!!!

2011-10-31T14:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween to all! I am trying to stay away from all the candy today, but it is everywhere! The above picture I am finding hilarious since I am practically back to that haircut right now. Can you tell I have an older brother? Clearly I had a hand-me down Halloween that year.

This one was hand-me down as well. It looks like I came out ahead of my brother though...he had a paper bag on and I was the Frito Bandito, with a sombrero and everything. Ole!

Chopped Off

2011-10-31T00:04:00.000-04:00

This Saturday, I had a hair appointment that has changed things up a little. After my doctor told me I needed to walk twice a day to help alleviate back pain, all I could think about was my hair. How could I wash my hair every day, sometimes twice? My hair had gotten extremely long and I had thought of donating my ponytail. I used my tape measure and figured out that cutting a ponytail would still leave me shoulder-length hair, a nice change.

I made the appointment on Saturday, knowing I would want to coincide any type of blow-out with the Beaux Arts Ball. I told Duane, my fabulous hair guru, about my plan and there was a pause on the other line. I have only let him cut 1/2 inch at a time, so this was big news to him. I also made a deal with my little friend Nicole at work to cut her extremely long hair. Her appointment is next week.

When I showed up at the d.r. bonlie salon at 4:30, Duane was waiting for me with the funniest look on his face, he didn't think I would go through with it. I got my measuring tape out and we went to work. He broke my hair into four parts and put little elastics in but his version of 8 inches had the little rubber bands barely below my ears! I started to panic but kind of couldn't turn back. We were cracking each other up...

He asked me a few times if I was sure and then took his very sharp scissors and started cutting through each ponytail. My hair is chemically straightened, so it is very dense and it took a little while to get through each one. After the first, the hair left was so unbelievably short, I really couldn't process what just happened. After he was finished cutting, we put them together and I tied them with a ribbon.

After a little color, shampoo and head massage, he was ready to get to work styling my new 'do. Duane is an artist and he cut my hair for almost 20 minutes straight, layer after layer, convincing me that I would love it. Too late to turn back, I just sat there and watched him create crazy layers so my hair wouldn't look boxy. Then we decided to add bangs, which I do every few years and promptly grow out. The end result...very cute. He made the layers flip out on the sides and although it was short, it did look good, but so much shorter than I ever imagined. I took this in the car before I drove home...

My beautiful ponytail is going to an organization called Children With Hair Loss. After doing a little research, I found out that Locks of Love needs 10 inches and could not guarantee my straightened hair would be used for a wig. They also charge for their wigs, which I thought was horrible. I found another this other organization which was started by a hair stylist in Michigan. They collect donated ponytails and sort them by color and send them off to the wig maker. When they are finished, they are donated at no cost to children battling Cancer, Alopecia and other ailments which cause hair to fall out. Although they prefer virgin hair, they take all sorts and only need 8 inches. Believe me, I am no martyr, but it feels good doing something selfless that will make someone else very happy. Yikes...I am so scared to blow dry it myself tomorrow!!!

Ghouls and Glam

2011-10-29T15:54:00.001-04:00

Tonight is the Beaux Arts Ball and the theme this year is Ghouls and Glam. When we were setting up the silent auction today, I happened to look up and see this lovely corpse all decked out with flower right above some of the silent auction tiems! The decor is unbelievable and I can't wait to share pictures tomorrow. Lots of Halloween parties this weekend!!!

Fall Preview Trunk Show

2011-10-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

So excited for my Fall Preview Trunk Show today...my fingers are so sore from making jewelry. Will post pictures from the show later today. For my Miami friends, come by and take a peek!!!

Update...my show was super fun and saw lots of old customers. Everyone is loving my new wood necklaces, so I am glad I am on the right track!

Tonight is Cynthia's fundraiser Karaoke for a Cause at the Rik Rak Salon. I am hoping to stay out the way of the karaoke line..it is my biggest fear!!!!

Beyond Inflation

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

This little picture almost made me fall out of my seat. I am seriously in disbelief that this Tiffany & Co. silver heart tag bracelet is now $245!!!!! When I was in college, this bracelet retailed for $90. I bought it for myself and wore it for years. In 1998 when I started working at Tiffany, the price was $110. A few months in, the price increased to $125.

This bracelet was so popular during the 4 years I worked there, we spent most of our down time pre-wrapping them so we always had them on hand. We sold anywhere from 20-75 a day. It got to a point where I was wondering who was left in Miami that didn't already own one. At some point, the price went up to $135 and I was horrified but it didn't stop the sales. I left the store in 2002 and even though the price of silver has certainly gone up, I am feeling sorry for the teenagers who will have to save so much longer to afford this little bracelet!!!

These days, mine is gold and in my usual fashion, I cannot decide on a monogram to get it engraved, so the heart dangles free and clear of a fancy kPa. Maybe I was thinking if I waited long enough, I could put my married initials on it..that must be it.!

Photo via Matchbook Magazine

Lovely in Atlanta

2011-10-25T16:47:00.000-04:00

The latest issue of Traditional Home has a spread about this amazing Atlanta house designed by Lori Tippins and Holly Johnson. The house is Lori's and the article describes the way the decor all came together with some massive antique hunting around the Atlanta area. The result is a stunning mix of old and new and a home filled with beautiful things.

I am ready to move in...

Fall TV Updates

2011-10-24T13:39:00.000-04:00

Not to turn this blog into Entertainment Weekly, but since I watch more television than most people, I feel compelled to share my latest updates on Fall Television:

2 Broke Girls is the funniest new show. I love both the actresses and think the writing is hilarious. Mondays 9:30 on CBS

Prime Suspect is one of my new favorites. It takes a little while to get into this show, but it is funny and interesting if you stick with it. They have this show on a wait-and-see list and I am hoping it survives! They are re-playing it during the week at 10pm to get more people to watch (and fill in the cancelled show's spots) Thursdays 10pm on NBC

Hart of Dixie with Rachel Bilson is adorable. It is hard not to keep thinking she is Summer Roberts from the OC since she talks just like her, but I LOVE this show. Jaime King is hilarious and it is a great mix of comedy and a little drama with great backdrops of Alabama. Mondays at 9pm on the CW

and...Revenge. Well, I do love this show but have to admit after watching several episodes, the acting is horrible. I never let that stop me from enjoying a good show, but still... They keep teasing that something HUGE happening on episode 7, so stay tuned. Also a quick disclaimer, they shoot this show entirely in Wilmington, NC (just like Dawson's Creek), and the actress who plays Emily has never set foot in the Hamptons. So funny. Wednesdays, 10pm on ABC

and New Girl..my favorite. I waited to watch and then watched three in a row and laughed so hard. Zooey Deschanel is so funny and irresistible..you can't help but love her. This show is doing so well, they were confident enough to pull it off the air for 2 weeks for baseball. The fans went crazy, so I am pretty confident this one will be around for a while. If you haven't watched yet, set your DVR and check it out. Tuesdays 9pm on Fox

Homeland with Claire Danes is fabulous. The story is so good and you get sucked in. She is amazing on television and Mandy Patinkin is great as her mentor. I love shows set in DC, so this is a treat and makes me feel like I am watching a sister show of 24! Sundays on Showtime

On my "thanks but no thanks list"...

Whitney

Up All Night

On my newish tv show list of favorites

The Good Wife

Rizzoli and Isles

Covert Affairs

In Plain Sight

and on my still good after all these years list....

Grey's Anatomy

Desperate Housewives

Law & Order SVU but missing Det. Stabler

For the travelers in Coach...

2011-10-21T14:35:00.000-04:00

Nothing annoys me more than as soon as the wheels are up on a flight, the person in front of you slams their seat back into your knees. I am totally against reclining seatbacks and usually am clasping my hands in prayer that the seat remains upright. MSNBC has a poll on their website right now to get feedback on how people feel about this...

These are the results as of 2:30 on 10/21/11. I have to say, the last few times I have flown, I have tried to get the row behind the exit row since their seats do not recline, but those seats are hard to get. I can't seem to win. I need to fly First Class obviously.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I have a table at the Westminister Carnival on Saturday and thankfully, the weather should be beautiful. I have been busy making jewels, organizing all my bead boxes and running my newly fixed dishwasher! xo

Stories I Only Tell My Friends

2011-10-20T22:35:00.002-04:00

After hearing how fabulous Rob Lowe's autobiography was for weeks by BFF Amy, I ordered it from Amazon and it arrived a few days ago. She and Oprah both said it was a great read, but I have to say, it is better than I expected. I haven't read such an interesting non-fiction book in a really long time. His story has so many twists and turns but what is so captivating is that even in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio as a child, he had encounters with famous actors and entertainers and it never stops. This is a must read for any Us Magazine junkie. After moving from Ohio to Malibu, he did some commercials here and there and then got a series called "A New Kind of Family". But, his career really took off with "The Outsiders" and his recollection of meeting and working with all the actors involved was a highlight for me. I have seen that movie so many times and spent several years madly in love with C. Thomas Howell as a teenager.

The fun doesn't stop until the very end. All the behind the scenes stories are so great, especially if you are a fan of the Brat Pack movies and The West Wing. His writing style is so easy to read, I flew through the pages..dying to know what happened next (the story ends with The West Wing). Check out Rob Lowe's memoir "Stories I Only Tell My Friends", you won't be disappointed. There is so much more of his story to tell, I hope he writes another book in the future.

Autumn??

2011-10-19T23:48:00.000-04:00

Autumn in New York by Caitlin McGauley

Not sure Miami has an Autumn these days. When everyone else keeps mentioning Indian Summer, we are dealing with low 90 degree weather. For the past four days, we have had torrential downpours and flooding..last night even some tornadoes. They keep talking about a cold front coming but I think I will believe that when I see it.

Last night, I was able to secure an amazing friend's house for my next trunk show. I am so excited for all the shows to start. I am ready!

And.. the best news this week:

A real electrician came to my apartment this morning and not only fixed my broken overhead light but my dishwasher, which has not been turned on since I have became the owner in January. I hate doing the dishes and have been buying paper plates for months. So..now it works and I could not be happier!!!!

Off to watch my DVR taped episode of Revenge!!

O C C U P I E D

2011-10-17T00:24:00.000-04:00

These days it's hard not to see all the news about the "Occupy Wall Street" movement and how it is spreading to other cities and countries. I am actually surprised it has taken this long for people to rally together to take a stand against our largest financial institutions who are responsible for the collapse of our economy.

Protesters on Wall Street

Some star power added to the mix...

Occupy Movements in Tokyo and Europe

Last week, they movement marched up Fifth Avenue, home to many Wall Street executives.

Coincidentally, while I started reading more about this topic a few days ago, I stumbled upon a documentary called Inside Job, narrated by Matt Damon, that methodically chronicles the collapse of our financial institutions and, unbelievably, how the people that were in charge of these banks that made disastrous decisions in 2006-2008 are still in charge today while many of them should be behind bars.

This little movie, which won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary, is packed with information and is a clear and concise timetable of events. Click here to see the trailer. I highly recommend watching. It is on-demand on the Starz Channel right now.

Back to the Occupy Movement...
This weekend alone:

•President Obama referred to the protests at Sunday's dedication of a monument for Martin Luther King Jr., saying the civil rights leader "would want us to challenge the excesses of Wall Street without demonizing those who work there."

•In Chicago, 2,000 attended a protest, and then 500 set up camp at an entrance to Grant Park before police began the arrests.

•In New York City, thousands of protesters in Times Square chanted, "Banks got bailed out! We got sold out!" and 42 were arrested for taking down police barriers. Two-dozen were arrested after entering a Citibank branch and refusing to leave.

•In Arizona, about 100 people were arrested — 53 in Tucson and 46 in Phoenix — after protesters refused police orders to disperse. In Phoenix, 1,000 people packed César Chávez Park to protest abuses by banks and corporations. Several hundred rallied in Tucson's Military Plaza Park.

Elsewhere Saturday: About 1,500 demonstrators marched for several blocks in Pittsburgh; an estimated 1,500 marched past banks in Orlando; about 1,000 rallied in downtown Denver and nearly 200 spent the night in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.

Similar demonstrations took place in London, Toronto and Mexico City. In Rome, protesters broke away from the main demonstration, smashing shop and bank windows, and burning cars. Mayor Gianni Alemanno estimated the damage to city property at $1.4million.

Stay tuned...this is such an amazing story

Oh Elizabeth!

2011-10-14T08:00:00.003-04:00

Christies is auctioning off hundreds of items from the estate of the fabulous Elizabeth Taylor. The collection does not disappoint, tons of jewels, clothes and very personal effects are traveling on display before the big auction in December in New York. Each item is more outrageous than the next..no one had jewels like Liz...

An ivory opera pass charm necklace circa 18th and 19th centuries, a gift from the estate of legendary costumer Edith Head.

This charm bracelet makes me drool. The hand engraving on the charms is so beautiful, very hard to come by these days...

The Duchess of Windsor brooch, purchased at auction by Taylor herself for $620,000

Elizabeth Taylor's "The Taj Mahal Diamond," circa 1627-1628, on a gold and ruby chain by Cartier, was a gift from Richard Burton for her 40th birthday in 1972.

Richard Burton bought her a 16th century pear-shaped pearl, known as "La Peregrina," which was once part of the crown jewels of Spain

The famous Krupp diamond-33.19 carats, also purchased by Burton..there are diamonds from all of her husbands in the sale.

Also for auction are some of her more fabulous personal effects..like this script...

Christian Dior ensemble circa 1968

A Versace beaded jacket named "The Face"

A Kiss from Andy Warhol...

All three of her Academy Awards...

and even a Renoir...

The collection is on display in Los Angeles until this weekend and then off to Europe before returning to New York City in December for a two day sale. It is expected to fetch around $30 million, some of which will be donated to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Decorator Needed...

2011-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

My parents came into town today for a short visit. My especially handy Dad can be coaxed into bringing his tool belt on these trips, but I have to have everything ready for him when he arrives. The building that I live in is old and made of the thickest concrete, so hanging things requires a drill, a strong drill bit and patience. My art collection is a little out of control and I needed a little guidance on where to hang things up. My regular decorator Meg is still out of town, so I emailed my friend Megan and tempted her with some jewels to come over and give me some advice. She said yes and I was so relieved.

After telling me I wasn't allowed to buy anymore art, there simply is not enough wall space to fit everything...she started playing around with different pieces and we came up with some solutions.

Instead of hanging this bird print up, she perched it (no pun intended) up on top of my bookshelf. It looked instantly at home there. Next up, a funny tiny part of my living room wall that sticks out a little. She pulled my portrait out of my bedroom and mixed it up with one of my colorful oil paintings. I would have never put them together, but loved the idea of mixing and matching.

This little painting is from an artist who was the art director of the Anthropologie in Richmond, Virginia. There were paintings all over the store but they were not for sale. I begged them for her name and contacted her to paint me one. She sent this to me and I finally had it framed recently.

We agreed to meet up soon after I get some things framed (remember my Jacqueline Duheme book with the Jackie Kennedy paintings??) and Megan told me show owns her own drill and loves to use it..a great thing to hear!!!

She also suggested I have these needlepoint canvases made into pillows to match my living room. If I buy the fabric and all the necessities and maybe bring some yummy chocolate, I could probably get my Mom to make them over Thanksgiving. It's being added to this list.

When my parents arrived today, I was still at the office, but they went to work fixing my overhead light, attempted to fix a few other things, but waited for me to hang the pictures. It took almost 15 minutes for the actual drilling since the wall I picked out was a dense structural concrete load bearing wall..of course. The end result? So cute. I can't wait to keep going!!! Thank you Megan!!! xo

Waiting for Tom...

2011-10-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

Even at the chance of "one too many" Suri posts, I am entertained at the thought that one day, Suri's Burn Book is going to get taken down. I know, I know...we all have freedom of speech, but we also don't have the money to battle Tom's lawyers. I am actually surprised it has lasted this long. No doubt the Cruise machine has found out about this sweet little tumblr and has investigated having it taken down. Tom could buy Tumblr and get rid of it that way! Tonight, when I went online to see a new post, whcn I clicked the link, I got an error message...I thought "this is it", it was fun while it lasted. Then, I refreshed my browser and there it was. So, Suri is still dishing on all her badly dressed friends...thank goodness!!!

Where else would you learn such interesting things...

Like the proper way to wear Burberry without overdoing it...

Or the real way to experience Disney World...

Visit SurisBurnBook

Katie's new movie with Adam Sandler Jack and Jill comes out in November. Long time blog followers will remember my stalking, I mean working on Allure of the Seas while they were filming. I was on board all of 30 minutes before I saw Suri in the elevators, nosed pressed up against the glass. I physically could not get my blackberry out fast enough and almost missed her. The people in the elevator with me were horrified...

And then, the close-up. This was Katie about a foot away from me, walking down to the Sailaway Party as we sailed out of Port Everglades. She was usually flanked by security guards because the crazy stalker fans like to reach out and touch her. Not me, of course. I just stalk from a distance with my camera. It doesn't take a lot to make me happy, as you can see.

I know I will meet Katie, Tom and Suri some day. And when I know that day is going to happen, I will have to delete all my Katie/Suri posts before I am found out!!!!

Rosemary Nuts

2011-10-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, I went to the Biltmore Hotel for Zaria's birthday celebration. While we were sipping cocktails in the bar, we were all nibbling on THE most delicious nuts flavored with Rosemary. We tortured the server into refilling the small bowl a few times. A few days later, Zaria told me she found a recipe online and made the nuts..and they were almost as good as the Biltmore Hotel treats.

Here is Ina's recipe, taken from the Union Square Cafe in New York City, made with cashews:

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds cashew nuts
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until they are warmed through. Meanwhile, combine the rosemary, pepper, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. Toss the warm nuts with the rosemary mixture until the nuts are completely coated. Serve warm.

Scrapbooking These Days...

2011-10-10T13:40:00.000-04:00

In the past, I have written about my scrapbooking habit and how I strive to keep on top of my pictures..somewhat unsuccessfully. It is something that think about all the time because where I sit on my couch "my command center", I am in full view of all the finished photo albums on my bookshelves. I am so determined to catch up, since I have had some amazing trips lately and would hate to not document them properly for all my grandchildren to look at down the road...

I am still looking for and picking up cute cards along the way to supplement the pictures in the albums...

I love this cute ship card by Crafted By Lindy on Etsy. This would work great with all of my pictures from my Allure of the Seas cruise this summer. Sometimes I write the event on the card..just to give more details.

This art from Nantucket Mermaid was on a greeting card and I bought it to go with pictures from my recent trip over Labor Day.

I got this charming card in Newport by artist Eveline Roberge, the same artist who painted the header I use on Summer in Newport. This piece is such a cute depiction of Bannister's Wharf, right outside the Cooke House, one of my favorite places!

And just for fun... I am ordering this amazing letterpress Royal Wedding commemorative card by Sara Ridgely on Etsy. I think the event was important enough to warrant a page in my permanent scrapbook!!!

Obssessed...

2011-10-06T17:54:00.002-04:00

I am obsessed right now with my new gold coin pearl bracelet. A few years ago, I had similar coin pearls but they have been very difficult to track down. This bracelet fits right in with my gold bangles. LOVE

My show yesterday in West Palm Beach at Kings Academy was great. They did such a nice job planning the event. The bonus was lunch catered by Chick-Fil-A. I am also obsessed with Chick-Fil-A and most especially their diet doctor pepper in large Styrofoam cups. I sweet talked the lady to bring me one when she made a trip back to the store. I almost started a riot when people saw me walking around with my cup.

This little necklace caused quite a stir. The school I was at was pre-school through 12th grade. All the tweeners were loving this necklace and all their Mothers were not. So, it got picked a ton but put back each time. It made me laugh because of all the things I have ever made and sold, this is THE most unlikely item to mix with my other designs. You never know...

I almost sold out of Fornash Bangles...

And the worst/best part of the entire day. All the Moms baked and donated literally hundreds of wrapped items for their Sweet Shoppe. Cupcakes, cakeballs, brownies, cookies, whole cakes and so on... They had a professional sign up and everything. All money raised going towards the school. The smell of chocolate and sugar was intoxicating and it was about 5 1/2 feet away from me. I ate way too many goodies. Don't tell my Orthopedic doctor please...

New Jewels

2011-10-05T09:29:00.001-04:00

There has been lots of wire wrapping going on in my apartment these days. I finally got inspired and have been making new jewels like crazy. This weekend, there was a bead show in town and I was able to stock up on some hard-to-find essentials. My first show is today in West Palm Beach at kings academy , so wish me luck! Here are some of my new things..

ii am all set up at the show and having technical difficulties. my ipad and blackberry won't let me capitalize! sorry about that!

Wishing for Fall...

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe we are already 3 days into October. In Miami, it still feels like July. There was a sorts of talk about a "cold front" today, but it didn't really happen. In between the marathon jewelry sessions I had this weekend, I popped into Country French to visit my sweet pal Olga. There were lots of Fall accents all around the store. If you missed my previous post on Country French, you can read it here.

The Fall table, lots of orange and pumplin spiced items...

The pumpkin that I love but unfortunately, do not have room to store from December to September!

I might have to go back for this turkey...

Amazing orange lamps add a little pop of color to this blue and tan room...

Every corner of this store has something fabulous...

A table filled with beautiful new Vietri

The birds are to die for...

There is always a fully stocked Oprah-approved Lafco candle supply.

If you are in the Miami area, this store is a must-visit. It always has the most beautiful things and you can never wonder what season we are in from the decor inside. The girls there are all expert gift consultants and Martha Stewart-worthy gift wrappers.

Country French
7259 Red Road
South Miami, Florida
305.661.0159

Please Watch This Show...

2011-09-30T15:54:00.001-04:00

So, now that all the new shows have started...this is the one that I like the best. Revenge on ABC Wednesday nights at 10pm. Please watch this show and check it out. It has all you could want from a good drama...

Beautiful beach houses...

Beautiful scenes...all over the Hamptons...

Mean Girls...

Cute boys on boats...

Dramatic confrontations...
Reconnecting of old friends and loves...
Bad guys in fast cars...

and.. adorable Emily Van Camp from Brothers and Sisters...

About the Show

"REVENGE is universal. As primal as the need for love, sex, or the feeding of a searing hunger. Revenge crosses time and culture. It starts unwinnable wars and visits generations of blood feuds on families with unsettled scores. Revenge is as old as humanity. Dark and dramatic and endless." -- Mike Kelley, Creator of REVENGE

Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge.

Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp) is new to the Hamptons. She's met some of her wealthy neighbors, has made a few new friends and seemingly blends into the town. But something is a little odd about a young girl living in a wealthy town all on her own, and the truth is that Emily isn't exactly new to the neighborhood. In fact, this was once her old neighborhood, until something bad happened that ruined her family and their reputation. Now Emily is back, and she's returned to right some of those wrongs in the best way she knows how – with a vengeance.

If this show gets cancelled like Lonestar did last year, I might stop watching TV altogether. Well, that is not possible, but I will be very upset.

Suri Will Not Approve....

2011-09-28T16:13:00.002-04:00

On http://www.people.com/ today, they have this picture of Gwyneth and Apple strolling through New York City and all I could think is..oh no, this is going to be on Suri's Burn Book and it won't be nice. I am predicting a comment about the Helly Kitty purse, the jean shorts and the knee socks. Let's see if I am right...stay tuned.

UPDATE-this is what was on Suri's Burn Book today.....

I can’t even believe that a wealthy person paid money for those shorts. Or those knee socks. (Knee socks? Seriously?) And while I can appreciate the occasional use of licensed merchandise, I think Apple Martin’s Hello Kitty bag is rather childish. The whole ensemble is just a little too pedestrian for someone of her financial standing. Ah, well. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Everyone knows I only carry my Little Mermaid bag ironically:

I know Suri pretty well at this point.

Happy Birthday GP and Updates...

2011-09-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my fav Gwyneth Paltrow! I swiped this pic from Pinterest and think it is one of the prettiest ones of her I have seen in a long time. Her recent Goop newsletter post detailing her trip to Los Angeles to attend the Emmys was fascinating. I love reading about the behind-the-scenes details.

On other fronts..I am dealing with the BAD news from my orthopedic doctor this morning..no meds for my aching back. He prescribed losing a lot of weight and walking twice a day for 30 minutes. Twice a day! I can't even wrap my head around the logistics of walking twice a day. I will be spending all my paychecks on Moroccan Oil products from washing my hair so much, not to mention the laundry. I have laundry in the hallway of my apartment building, which I loathe. All in all, I am sad that getting older is painful, time consuming and expensive. There..I have complained enough for one post. You can probably now catch me at Lululemon getting cute walking gear and at the Beaucage salon in Boston getting the Yuko I thought I could wait until next Spring to get on my unpredictable hair!!!!!

In Love With Elin...

2011-09-23T14:14:00.000-04:00

These past few months, I have been going through a reading spell. I am always reading at least two books at a time, especially when I am traveling. I brought a few on my recent trip to Nantucket, but my friend Cece, whose house we stayed in, had a library and the shelves were packed full of good books. I immediately zoned in on an Elin Hildebrand book, The Love Season. I was hooked after the first page. Her books are so good, you can get fully immersed in them and then lose track of time!

The Love Season is about a chef named Marguerite Beale, who lives on the island and used to run a very successful restaurant. The character lived on Quince Street, which was a couple of blocks away from where we were staying. Every time I passed the street, I couldn't help looking down..what a geek-I know. Marguerite was described in such great detail, that I kept feeling like I saw her when I was walking around Nantucket. I am laughing at myself writing this, but I am so serious. When I was near the end, I kept it with me in my purse. I ended up finding a chair in a store and read while my pals were shopping away. The last time I did this was in Memphis. I was reading a book in line at Graceland and my friends were extremely annoyed with me. Anyway...the book was great.

On Monday, after I finished reading The Love Season, I bought Summer Affair. Another great read, I finished it on the plane before we reached Miami.

A few months ago, I read this one. A little more drama, but this was the first book of hers that I read. I loved reading about Nantucket in the background of the story.

The Castaways was amazing. I could not put this one down. The four couples in the story are so likable, so real and she describes their friendships in a way you can totally relate. I felt like I knew them all after I finished this one.

Next up...Silver Girl!!

Loving Lonny

2011-09-22T13:46:00.000-04:00

This month's Lonny Magazine is full of beautiful things. There is something for everyone, modern decor, traditional homes, children's spaces and eclectic mixes. Here are some of the pics that caught my eye. Even the ads are beautiful...

Go to Lonny Magazine Here...

DWTS-Review

2011-09-20T17:24:00.000-04:00

Dancing with the Stars is not on my usual list for the DVR. I never really got into it and only saw it a couple times when someone good was a "star". After all the crazy summer promotions, I tuned in last night, ready to cheer on Chaz Bono and Rob Kardashian.

Chaz, because I feel like you have to cheer him on after seeing him on Oprah and then on the OWN channel with his show. He is so interesting and his story..well-unbelievable. Rob, because I am a huge Kardashian fan, and want him to shine like all his sisters. Plus, it is fun to see them in the audience.

I thought it was ok..I am not a huge fan of the show. I think the outfits are a little over the top and all I could think of was how much spray tanning was going on before the show. I will watch tonight to see who gets kicked off...but counting the days for American Idol to start..my favorite competition show!

Emmy Recap

2011-09-19T13:00:00.001-04:00

I love the Emmy Awards because they are in September and the only awards show for a while..plus I watch an extraordinary amount of television. The Red Carpet was very red last night but there were other dresses that had people talking...

I will never understand why so many people hate GP. There were tons of not-so-nice comments on her belly baring Pucci dress last night. I say the haters are jealous..there are not many people who could pull this dress off and I, for one, thinks she looks amazing!

Hot tamale in Vera Wang

Beautiful..and the back was to-die-for..and she kept her tattoos all covered up!

This one..all I can say is wow.

Minka Kelly looked very pretty in Dior...

The Good Wife would not be so good without Christine Baranski. She looks fabulous here...

And for the show itself...

Best moment...Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor) finally winning an Emmy for his amazing portrayal of everyone's favorite football coach. It was unexpected but so, so deserved.

Second Best Moment..all the Best Actress, Comedy nominees following Amy Pohler up on stage, lining up like a pageant..and then the winner Melissa McCarthy being crowned with a tiara and bouquet of roses..so cute and so sweet. Loved her since she was Suki on Gilmore Girls.

Lastly..the cute boys from Entourage came on stage and ended up accepting Maggie Smith's award for her..kind of funny. She probably hasn't even heard of their show!

All in all, I thought it was a good show. Jane Lynch did a good job and seeing Friday Night Lights earn two Emmys was worth watching the whole thing!

Fall Television

2011-09-17T17:20:00.000-04:00

I already missed two of the new Fall shows! I am so mad but it is my own fault for delaying this post. This is a list of the new shows that I am going to be looking at. My cautionary tale is that you cannot get yourself sucked in too deep with one of these shows since it could be cancelled in a split second....remember last year's Lone Star??? I am still sad about that one...

Two Broke Girls Mondays at 8:30 pm on CBS (starts on 9/19)

Hart of Dixie-Mondays at 9pm on the CW (starts 9/26)

The Playboy Club-Mondays at 10pm on NBC (starts 9/19)

Ringer with Sarah Michelle Geller Tuesdays on CW 8pm (started 9/13)

Up All Night Wednesdays at 8pm NBC (started on 9/14)

Revenge- Wednesdays at 10pm on ABC (starts 9/21)

Charlie's Angels- Thursdays at 8pm on ABC (starts 9/22)

Person of Interest- Thursdays at 9pm on CBS (starts 9/22)

Prime Suspect- Thursdays at 10pm on NBC (starts 9/22)

A Gifted Man- Fridays at 8 on CBS (starts 9/23)

Pan Am -Sundays at 10 pm(9/25)

Bent-Midseason replacement NBC

Scandal-Midseason replacement ABC

I Hate My Teenage Daughter (11/23)
Even though the name is bizarre, this show looks so funny. My elementary school friend Katie Finneran is in this show, so it will definitely be on my DVR list!

The Firm-midseason replacement
I just read that a series based on the book "The Firm" is in the works..catching up with Mitch McDeere after he and Abby emerge from witness protection. Supposedly starring Josh Lucas.

Fashion Week Craziness

2011-09-16T15:12:00.000-04:00

Is it me, or did it seem like this Fashion Week was EVERYWHERE??? So many tweets, blogs, online magazines and websites all talking about the shows, the fasion and the madness of it all. The pictures are so fun to see, you can bet many of the designs will turn up next season on RHONY.

A few bloggers that I follow had been tweeting from the shows and I was exhausted for them.

The timing of Fashion Week was perfect for this week's roll out of Missoni for Target's highly hyped debut on Tuesday. When my alarm went off in the am, I convinced myself that there would still be stuff left when I got there and online. Then..the tweets let me know how wrong I was. The website crashed, this is particularly intersting since for years their site was run by Amazon and they just revamped it in time for the Missoni launch. Maybe if they had kept things as they were, no one would have had to see the little dog on the site telling them they were quite popular! A few of my friends scored big and were thrilled with the pieces. This was a conversation on Facebook about it. I just about died laughing...

They were fighting at my target! I was with Max and it was not safe! I got my boots though! I was there when the doors opened at 8am yesterday.....there was a mad dash.....like lions going in for the kill!

This lady ran up, hugged the rack of clothes, lifted them and ran for the register....well attempted to run, when another lady slapped her upside the head and grabbed a hanger from her arms....it went down like Warriors! It was CRAZY!!!!!

Go back and check the returns. I didn't even know about Missoni but heard this morning and I was there for a different return and there was a pile of Missoni returns.

No kidding!!!! I saw 3 separate women with CARTS FULL of stuff....clothes, boxes, pillows, hair accessories...you name it! I couldn't believe! this one woman was obsessed!!!!!!!!

There was literally not ONE thing left in the store. They put it out this morning and it was gone w/in 3 hrs.! And the site crashed like 5 x's throughout the day. Insane! They may, or may not, be getting a new shipment in. It's like the Calypso line during the summer. Once it's gone, it's gone!

So, hopefully you were successful in getting some Missoni goods this week. There is TONS of it on eBay..when the fever dies down, so will the prices. By then, you might be sick of seeing everyone wear the same pieces around town!

Photos courtesy of New York Times

Buh Bye Ladies

2011-09-15T15:11:00.001-04:00

Huffington Post, Us Weekly and Gawker are reporting that four ladies from the Real Housewives of New York have been let go. Alex McCord, Jill Zarin, Cindy Barshop and Kelly Bensimon are all out for this next season. I was starting to like Kelly again, can't stand Jill and Alex was just annoying. Cindy, I didn't really care one way or another. There are reportedly three new ladies joining the show. What will Jill do now?????

FNO 2011

2011-09-12T12:39:00.002-04:00

Hilarious..this overhead shot of the party we were at. I can see myself-back to the camera with my tan purse strap on and my puffy dark hair one inch up from the bottom towards the right hand side.

I saw some must-haves that night while browsing around...

I have to have these shoes..and there is a belt as well...
The middle ones in navy..love
Some girl at Neiman's gave me permission to snap this shot..it was a rainy day.

If I weren't at Bal Harbour Shops, I would have loved to be at some of the other FNO parties...

Hanging with Gwyneth at the Coach party in London...

Or with Kim and DJ Pauly at Dash

or with Rachel and Rodger at Intermix in New York

Love Fashion's Night Out!!!!

September 11th Anniversary

2011-09-11T11:54:00.000-04:00

Such a sad day for our country. I watched it all unfold watching the Today Show getting ready for work. Like most people, our day was cut short and we were sent home early. My parents were out of town and I sat on our couch watching the coverage and cried for days.

These pictures were so gut wrenching..hand made posters of missing loved ones. Unfortunately, there were hundreds of these walls all over lower Manhattan.

An aerial view of the September 11th Memorial

God Bless America!

Chace N' Lulu

2011-09-10T11:36:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite stops in Newport has always been Chace N' Lulu, the cutest clothing and accessory store. They moved recently to a new location and I checked it out on my last trip and it was chock full of fun things...

New storefront..dangerously close to the Cooke House and the Black Pearl

Tons of cute clothes, Queen Bea bags, jewelry and much more.

The best find...a personalized beaded clutch bag. Can be ordered in any color combination. I was dying over this...

Chace N' Lulu at their new location.

17 Bowen's Wharf
Newport, Rhode Island
401.847.9151

Check them out on Twitter here.
Check them out on Facebook here.

LIKE them on Facebook to hear about all the sales and specials..they post them often!

Never too young...

2011-09-08T16:46:00.001-04:00

My little BFF Ashley is taking FNO very seriously. She has heard the equestrian look is going to be very in this Fall, so she made sure she and her cutie pie cousin Oliver have new fancy equestrian helmets for their horseback riding lessions today. Thank goodness they come in pink!

Is there a gap in your wardrobe?

2011-09-07T21:03:00.001-04:00

If you are needing some pants, I would suggest you get yourself to the Gap asap. They are running a premium pants sale...most pants are $35! They have tons that are perfect for work pants or just to boost your Fall wardrobe. My shopping cart was ready to explode before I contained myself and put everything back except two pairs of said pants. Today was one of those days that I could have spent $1,000 there in about 20 minutes.

For my "to buy soon" list...

I am loving this wrap dress..made with the softest fabric..

These riding pants..so cute.

Camel skirt..perfect for Fall...

Go to the Gap! Tell them I sent you!
Sale ends tomorrow!!!!!

Back to Reality...

2011-09-06T17:55:00.001-04:00

So bizarre to be back in the real world and it is already September 6th!! I left Miami in August! Getting of the plane last week in Boston, I could feel the cool air immediately seeping through the gangway canopy and it was a nice welcome back up North. After spending the night with my friend Denise, we were up at the crack of dawn to make it our ferry out of Hyannis. After a couple of hours on the ferry, we were greeted with this beautiful sight...

We spent 5 days at the beach, walking around town, hanging out at the house we were staying at and eating delicious food. It was so much fun. Here are some of my Nantucket pictures..more to come with shopping posts this week.

This house was so amazing. The one on the left had a sign that said "For William" and the one on the right "For Caroline". I was dying. My other visits to Nantucket were all over Memorial Day weekend and this was a nice switch, not so crowded and a little bit more calm.

Nantucket Arrival

2011-09-01T18:18:00.000-04:00

So..thanks for all the cold remedies..it was Zicam by many votes. I am several meltaway tabs into my treatment and feeling better already. We are on Nantucket..arriving around 11am on the slow ferry since we brought a car. First stop, Bartlett's Farm. We got yummy lunch treats and ate at the picnic tables outside. The weather is so beautiful and in the 70s. Coming from the hot 90s in Miami, I am in heaven. We got unpacked and settled in my sweet friend Cece's house right in town. We are feeling so lucky to be staying here and plan on enjoying every minute of our long weekend. I am sad to say goodbye to summer, but ready to bring on the Fall clothes, weather and trunk shows!!!

Not again...

2011-08-31T14:11:00.001-04:00

Monday morning..I woke up with a sore throat. Nothing could be worse this week as I am leaving today for my Labor Day trip to Nantucket. Every time I am about to travel, I get sick!!! I have been trying everything to ward this thing off. First, I started spraying Colloidal Silver up my nose. Remember the blue man on Oprah? He took this stuff everyday and it turned him silver-blue.

But, taken in tiny doses, can be super effective in drying out your congestion.

I got my Netti Pot out and have tried to use it several times...but I have the hardest time getting it to work properly and I end up making a mess and choke on the salt water.

My friend had an extra Z-pack that I started taking Monday night for my sore throat..still hoping that will kick in soon...

And on my way to work, stopped by CVS and got the good cold medicine from the pharmacy..the kind you have to give your Drivers License to scan and sign your life away so you wont melt the stuff and make crystal meth. I can't make this stuff up.
Any other suggestions??? I am desperate. Flying tonight to Boston and will be on the ferry tomorrow morning!!!

Not All About the Number

2011-08-29T12:55:00.000-04:00

What a crazy weekend for the East coast!!! Down in Miami, we certainly dodged a huge bullet and watched Hurricane Irene barrel up the Eastern Seaboard. Hopefully, everyone survived safely and didn't lose power. These images from Time.com are evidence that even a category 1 storm can do serious damage. I am appalled by the news people asking citizens if they thought everyone over-did the coverage and the warnings? I am sure there are some people in North Carolina, New York, New Jersey and Vermont that would have a few things to say about that.

In Philadelphia...

North Carolina...

New Jersey

Downed trees in NYC..this picture is unbelievable.

Virginia Beach

From the space center, the view of Irene from above!

And now the remnants of Irene are causing horrible flooding in Vermont.

Hopefully, all these beach towns can still get some last minute summer business over Labor Day!

Ixnay the Elatingay

2011-08-25T21:21:00.001-04:00

Two years ago, in passing, someone informed me on the not-so-savory details of gelatin and how it is made. I am not going to go into the details on this blog...you can Google it for yourself, but let's just say once you know..you might not be reaching for Jell-o anytime soon.

I decided to cut out gelatin thinking it was just Jello..but I was so wrong.

Over Memorial Day, I sat in Hoby's Mom's kitchen chatting with his brother who happens to own a candy factory. I told him about my non-gelatin ways and he told me I was only scratching the surface with the Jello ban..gelatin is in tons of popular candy...including Swedish Fish!!!!

I almost fell off the stool. I flew to Baltimore with a small bag of Swedish Fish from Fresh Market!!! He started listing all the candies...jelly beans, gummy worms (any gummy candies) and even marshmellows!! There goes Rice Krispy treats. I said it right then out loud-with witnesses..no more Swedish Fish for me. If you know me, that might be hard to believe, but I have not had one or even thought about it since that fateful night.

After I did a little more research.. I found one really sad addition to the gelatin list...candy corn. I really love candy corn but will be skipping it from now on. Gelatin can also be found in many non-fat foods..it adds flavor among other things. Gelatin is also used for gel caps that many medicines are as. It seems like it is everywhere.......

Me and Violet

2011-08-24T17:16:00.000-04:00

This picture kills me..I do the same thing!!!! I have been reading and keep closing one eye without even thinking about it. My eye doctor says it is normal reaction when one eye is stronger than another. He finally prescribed me glasses and with my new super duper insurance, was able to pick out a pair of glasses in his office that only cost $60 with everything including scratch resistant coating! I was so relieved and then realized that glasses are such a statement and then I started doubting my choice. So...I told her I would come back and that was 3 months ago. So..thank you Violet for reminding me that I need to get on the glasses search and get them in hand asap!

Picture courtesy of Suri's Burn Book

Bridal Consultant

2011-08-23T17:06:00.000-04:00

One of my nine lives was as a bridal consultant....at Tiffany & Co from 1998 - 2002. The only reason I even secured an interview for the job was through a very VIP customer of theirs who I babysat for. My hourly salary was a little higher than the normal salesperson there, but I only earned 1% commission instead of the 2% or 3% the others got..so I had to hustle!

There were serious perks to this job. When I was first told about the discount, I almost fainted. They wanted their staff to wear their goods, so they made it very easy to stock up. You were required to open a Tiffany & Co. credit card for purchases..very dangerous and several times a year you were invited to a chip and dent sale..you can only imagine.

My small desk was in the back of the store right next to all the china and flatware. I took my job so seriously and was always looking for good brides to come register with me. Luckily, my timing there was perfect, three good friends got married during my tenure bringing tons of business and securing my status as the bridal consultant with the most sales per registry in the company for 3 years in a row. I let everyone I worked with know this accomplishment and believe me, they were happy to let me deal with brides and all their returns and high maintenance behavior.

There are so many decisions to make when you are a bride and lucky for me, most of the time, when they were coming to register, they really hadn't gotten started yet. Armed with every issue of Martha Stewart Weddings behind me in my cabinet, I could spend hours chatting about every wedding detail and took copious notes for the book I was going to write. Obviously, that hasn't happened yet, but I will share some of my favorite tidbits here...

1. Favors-so important because this is what your guests will leave your wedding holding..a reminder of the big event. I have always thought that unless you can afford a really nice favor, skip it and spend the money on a nice program. I used to keep some pretty samples in my drawer. This was almost 10 years ago before so many paper options were available, but you would be surprised what you could get printed at Kinkos and then add a little grosgrain ribbon. Now, I would stalk Etsy until I found something great.

2. Weather- I happen to live in Miami and it is hot during wedding season. One of the prettiest weddings I ever attended was ruined because the doors of the church were left open from the wedding before and the church heated up. By the time they realized the problem, it was too late to do anything about it and everyone was fanning themselves with their programs. This is the perfect job for the Uncle or cousin you have that needs something to do so they don't get in the way. Send them over to the church a little early just to check things out. I promise the bride I am talking about never thought in a million years that this would have happened to her.

3. Thank you notes- Every bride stresses about writing timely thank you notes. Don't think you can get away from not writing them..people will talk and they won't ever forget it. If you are having a large wedding, or you just know that it is going to take you a long time to get your thank you's done, I always recommended brides to have simple cards printed up that state Your generous gift has been received. A formal note of thanks will follow. This puts everyone at ease, letting people know that you did, in fact, receive your gift and it buys you some time to get the thank you notes done. Also, make many copies of your gift list so there is no chance of losing it. You will never remember all the info.

There are so many more wedding tips in my arsenal. After 4 years of debriefing brides after their weddings, I collected some pretty good intel. Someday I will use it for my own wedding..not sure where my groom is hiding! This is my ongoing project besides writing in Summer in Newport..finding a husband

Elle's September Cover Girl

2011-08-22T22:46:00.000-04:00

The only thing that annoys me about being glued to my computer is that I get tidbits of information way too easily and then when it comes through the normal channels, I have already heard/seen it. I was very excited to see Gwyneth's awesome Elle September issue cover in my mailbox today, but the article inside was full of quotes I have been reading for weeks! But..she looks amazing..as usual.

I always enjoy reading about Gwyneth and in this particular magazine, am thankful that I could actually read the copy..everything is such small print!

Photos courtesy of Elle Magazine

Kind of Shocked...

2011-08-20T17:18:00.001-04:00

Not quite sure how I missed the above picture a little while ago, but today these pics hit the web and I really am speechless. I just didn't peg Reese Witherspoon as the tattoo type. And..if she did get one, maybe a little heart or flower on her hip? Yikes, this one on her stomach is huge. I just don't know what to say...

Photos courtesy of Us Magazine

Technology Decisions...

2011-08-18T17:22:00.001-04:00

Lately, I have been tortured on which phone to get next. My T-Mobile contract is up September 2nd and I have been ithcing to get an iPhone and join the rest of the world. I could produce a list a mile long of the cool things I "need" on the iPhone that are not possible on the Blackberry, most especially being able to see my website and any new orders received..kind of crucial.

When I did my due diligence, I realized that the service for iPhones is much more expensive than the $49.99 T-Mobile just started offering for their unlimited Blackberry service. I have been paying $120/month for a long time, so the reduction sounded so great. In the end...my current Curve started acting up and after talking to some nice T-Mobile folks, I have a brand new Bold being overnighting to me tomorrow to replace my old Curve for free! That $4.99 insurance my Dad made me get years ago does come in handy for sure.

So, my BBM list is dwindling day-by-day with the defectors to iPhones...but we will always have email/twitter/facebook/text messages!!! xo
+++++++++++++++++++++++

Speaking of technology..what happened to the right hand of my blog? It is now at the bottom. Help!!!!!!!

Pretty Please...

2011-08-16T23:14:00.000-04:00

My little blog is entered in a Most Valuable Blog Contest at CBS 4 in Miami.

Would you do me a huge favor and vote for moi?

Thank you thank you thank you thank you!

Click here or on the badge below...

Not in my vocabulary...

2011-08-15T17:21:00.000-04:00

ex·er·cise /ˈɛksərˌsaɪz/ Show Spelled
[ek-ser-sahyz] noun, verb, -cised, -cis·ing.

1. bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health: Walking is good exercise.
2. something done or performed as a means of practice or training: exercises for the piano.
3. a putting into action, use, operation, or effect: the exercise of caution.
4. a written composition, musical piece, or artistic work executed for practice or to illustrate a particular aspect of technique.
5. Often, exercises. a traditional ceremony: graduation exercises.

Today at work, we kicked of an exercise campaign. We are broken out in teams of 3 and had a weigh-in this afternoon. That was super fun. We get points for each 15 minutes of exercise we do and will be weighed in each Monday. We got a head start last week and it was great..except I hate having to wash my hair every day and my laundry has tripled!!!! Our office is on an island so walking on the bridge and back is an amazing workout. My team is Team C..so cross your fingers for me!
Note to my exercise focused Dad: This post is dedicated to you!!!!!