Friday, January 28, 2011

Blog Love Friday-MoS Girls!

I started reading MOS over a year ago and ADORED the blog. These two ladies loved antique stores such as the Sleepy Poet, they knew all about Dixie Highway and they also knew a thing or two about fashion. What I love about this blog as while both of their homes are stunning they also admit that there is nothing wrong with a little Home Goods action or a can of spray paint.

So imagine my surprise when I go to our first book club meeting and 1/2 of the MOS blogger team is there! I probably dorked out a little and she might have put up stalker shields but Sarah has become one of my closest friends in town.

Besides teasing you with eye candy of beautiful fashions and interiors, Sarah and Allison provide you with step by step directions on some of their best DIY projects as well as have an amazing Marketplace. I sold some leftover fabric I had around the house and trust me when I say I could have spent it on some of the lamps they are selling.

Another shocker? I subscribed to Charlotte Magazine through Groupon and while I was flipping through one day there they were! Great article ladies!!

Here are a few of my favorite DIY projects they have done.

Who knew paint and some molding could transform an entire living room!

I bet they could come up with 100 lamps after visiting Tobacco Barn in Asheville! Love this horse lamp for the bar.

How many Floor lamps do you see and wish you could have one from Wisteria instead? Ta-da!

Love her chandelier in the foyer. And the stripes? Yes please! It was on my project list until I became the size of Humpty Dumpty...maybe 2012.

Please go over and peruse Matters of Style! Allison you need to come visit soon!

Images via MOS

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Matchbook Magazine=Sprees

Matchbook's January Cover

Matchbook magazine is the newest in "online lifestyle publications" (I guess that is the formal terminology-I jacked it from their site) and I just finished taking my first sneak peak. I'm starting to get all these lovely world wide web eye candy clickers confused so I made a little chart:

Lonny = X Domino
Rue = Almost my favorite
Matchbook = A little sugary...I'm going to give them a second shot
Who else am I missing?


Haley Boyd standing in front of my 2 dreams.

But what am I dying over?? I NEED THESE SHELVES!!!! Does anyone know where i can find knock-offs? Or does anyone want to sell me some that I have to paint? These would be PERFECT in the Nursery. Yes, I know that is all I talk about. But I want it done by my birthday b/c I'm afraid this sucker is going to come early. (And my OCD is in hyperdrive)

But back to Matchbook.....Here is what they say a Matchbook girl is:

views the world through rose colored glasses • loves to throw dinner parties, but has been known to burn the roast • values eccentricity over convention • is the first to laugh at her own bad jokes • knows the cha-cha, the charleston, and the tango • paints her nails bright coral when she's feeling blue • is infinitely curious • could happily live off of red velvet cake • pens hand written notes to her grandmother • has a signature shade of lipstick • secretly thinks she may be babe paley reincarnated • received an iPAD for her birthday, but will never give up her library card • has a bucket list a mile long and dreams a dime a dozen • is smart, but never a show-off • listens to the day's forecast, but trusts her own intuition • never says no to a Sunday matinee at the theater • is quick to blush, but never short of a witty reply • has a skip in her step and a twinkle in her eye • always shares her last piece of gum

Here is a little about me:
1. I don't burn the roast, my husband is an amazing cook so I just make the house beautiful and fix cocktails.
2. My jokes are never bad.
3. I would love to pen cards to my grandmother but she is up in Heaven drinking bourbon toddys.
4. I love technology but I'm not buying an Ipad.
5. Twinkle in my eye? Only after 4 cocktails.
6. I never share my last piece of gum.

So a cute idea from Matchbook..but a little Mary Poppins for me, anyone else agree? Almost like they took a Kate Spade ad, set it on fire, and snorted the ashes right off an antiqued mirror. But please don't take this as criticism....I love my online mags and they are ALL a treat no matter what. Plus I'm moody and pregnant so I might become more chipper once baby boy has arrived.

Case in point? I want everything from the following 2 pages:

I need all of these items for the beach. Seriously doubt I will have all baby fat gone but I could wear the LL Bean bag as a cover up.

I'm DYING over those boots. I have searched high and low for awesome flat boots and I want these..of course I do..they cost as much as a breast pump.

xoxoxox

Images here


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Red and Carolina Blue


No I'm not talking UNC vs NC State...

After seeing this image on The Designer's Attic I knew I had made a great choice with Babyfu's colors! So far the baby room is pale blue with red and white on the curtains, white furniture + bedding, and then I plan on placing red accents around the room.

But I LOVE the red and blue fabric on the inside of the bed. And what do you think of the carolina blue with red grosgrain looking accent pillows? I think I have seen that bedding before at Restoration or Pottery Barn but I can't seem to find it now.

Yes I have the nesting crazies. xoxoxoxo

Image here

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Who is the King of Cakes?


Since I was old enough to remember my Dad would order me a Haydel's King Cake so I could bring it to school and throw a Mardi Gras party for my class. I carried this straight into College but I wasn't into sharing then so I would hide it in my room at the Pi Phi house and eat the entire thing myself. Package below.


And to continue with tradition I now order one to wherever I am working and throw a mini Mardi Gras Party complete with beads and cups. It has always been a Haydel's and I love routine so I have never broken from this tradition.

But my Uncle sent us a Randazzo's Christmas Candy Cane Cake and it was quite spectacular. Thank you Uncle Barlow! I ate 80% of that sucker on Christmas Day!


What is your vote? Haydel's vs Randazzo's? Are there others I don't know about yet? Yes..I know all about Gambinos....best Doberge on the planet. Too bad you have to make the cake your birthday present at $69.00!
I'm not totally biased, I would completely inhale a King Cake sold at a Grocery Store down in Nola...sh*t who am I kidding. I would eat one sold to me by a homeless man. But NO CREAM CHEESE OR FILLING. I like mine just good ole' cinnamon.


Here is a quick history of the King Cakes from Randazzo's site:

History of KingCakes

The Mardi Gras or Carnival season officially begins on January 6th or the "Twelfth Night," also known to Christians as the "Epiphany." Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means "to show." Jesus first showed himself to the three wisemen and to the world on this day. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside each King Cake.

The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870. A King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy, crossed between a coffee cake and a French pastry that is as rich in history as it is in flavor. It's decorated in royal colors of PURPLE which signifies "Justice," GREEN for "Faith," and GOLD for "Power." These colors were chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. In the past such things as coins, beans, pecans, or peas were also hidden in each King Cake.

Today, a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby." If so, then that person is named "King" for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake.

Mardi Gras Day has a moveable date and may occur on any Tuesday from February 3rd to March 9th. It is always the day before Ash Wednesday, and always falls 46 days before Easter.


So who do I order??

OR
 

If you would like my address to ship me one I will gladly provide!

Images here, here, and here

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Worried

I should order a truck of Guatemalan Worry Dolls


Do you wish you could make yourself stop worrying? I worry all the time. About really stupid stuff. And I know that worrying is "like a rocking chair", it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere. And I'm very aware that worrying about something doesn't make it better or go away..but I still do it. My usual remedy? Bourbon.....I worry much less when I have a bourbon.

So just to get it out on paper to make myself feel better here are a few of my current worries:

1. That work will not want me back after Maternity leave. (AKA Short Term Disability for 6 weeks)
2. That I won't be able to Breastfeed
3. That this adorable little Baby is going to outwit me
4. That this baby is going to have a birth defect
5. That we won't get the creaky floors upstairs fixed in time
6. That I have gained too much weight
7. About finding babysitters for the 6 weddings this year. (I'm soo excited for Weddings. Our 2010 = 0 Weddings) Oh yes..I timed being preggo right! Payback is hell honey!!!!
8. That M will be driving back from a visitation weekend and I will go into labor and have the baby before he gets home.
9. Worried if I picked the right child care.
10. Worried you all will find this post lame

Is this all ridiculous?? Yes! But just to put it in writing and vent about it is like a free shrink visit. Thanks Dr. Followers! And yes, I'm aware it only gets worse as a parent. But for right now tell me something else, like stop worrying and eat a cupcake. (Except I'll do it tomorrow after the glucose test)

PS-I did spell check and one of my "worrying" wanted to be "whoring". LOVE IT.

xoxoxox

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Boden Virgin

Show me the I'm-wearing-a-cardigan-but-still-a-slutmuffin look

I have never ordered anything from Boden but always love 99% of their catalog. (Some of the florals can read a little Grandma) Their style isn't super trendy or hot..but so put together and beautiful. Maybe this is the 30 year old in me talking. Has anyone out there ordered Boden?? All of these dresses look super comfy and give the illusion I could pull them off without losing all the baby weight.

I think the bottom line is they are what J.Crew was before it got all weird and funky. Yes...I love J.Crew but come on....aren't you over tissue tees with satin cargos and 3" heels. Who wears that? Here are just a few favorites...the commentary is not mocking the clothes, just merely mocking my strange obsession with them.

I would attend Church more with dresses like this in my closet. I LOVE shift dresses. I think living in South Florida did that to me, you just toss them on with a pair of sandals and you are done. Again..not sexy or something you will see at Luna, but I still love it.

Me shouting at the Garden Center...."Yes, I'll take three more blue Hydrangeas. No, not the damn lacecap you f*cking fool...the mophead. Jesus, must I do everything?"

How cheery and fun is this skirt? This could be Worth Avenue.

 You see frumpy. I see a post-baby body needing to make a run to Harris Teeter & Target. But I would just throw on Rainbows and not gladiators.

Erin and I at Pawleys "Penis Coladas!" (that is what my mother calls them) I do have a friend that has a beach tunic like this and it fits her like a glove..I prefer the blue though.

Very DVF-ish, and again..easy to toss on and hide fat post baby arms.

Silly M, he thinks I'm the designated driver after Brunch.

1 Shift + Big Sunglasses = Complete Outfit. So easy!

All Images via Boden

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Hunting for a Tiny Accent/Side Table

I stayed in my pajamas all day Monday...BUT I did accomplish cleaning out the guest room closet, boxing up all our books (until we can get built-ins), and finally getting the Nursery laid out in its final floor plan. Of course this has made me realize I need ANOTHER piece of furniture!

My Glider is between a wall and the crib. There is not much room at all for a side table..I mean MINIMAL space here. But I really want a tiny side table for a bottle, book, pacifier, my glasses, a glass of wine...etc.

What do you think of these choices?

Pottery Barn-I could spray one red? The additional tiers are handy

Home Decorators-I'm afraid this is too short

Home Decorators-Not too bad

Home Decorators-too trendy? Would have to spray red or white
Wisteria-Too fancy for Nursery..but the size is perfect
Ikea-This is perfect but UGLY.

Pottery Barn-Probably too big

And on another note, looks like I should put a bookshelf in the corner.

Wisteria-I really really really want this. I could spray red or keep white and it would fill the space magically! Anybody see something similar but cheaper???

Can't beat the price at IKEA. But this poses the problem of what wall do I put it on. The space is a pain so the Etagere is a better option, this will cause me to have to pick which wall. Decisions Decisions!!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Martin Luther King Jr. and Chris Colfer


“No person has the right to rain on your dreams.” - MLK Jr.


"But mostly importantly [a thank you] to all the amazing kids that watch our show and that our show celebrates and are constantly told 'no' [by] people and environments and bullies at school, that they can't be who they are or can't have what they want because of who they are," - Chris Colfer


What do these two quotes have in common? They both believe in a higher purpose. I do not watch Glee but Colfer's speech at the Golden Globes seemed similar to what Martin Luther King Jr. fought for. He didn't let bullies get in the way of his dreams. He didn't do what was popular or cool. He fought for what he believed in and sang it from the rooftops.

On this day we remember you Martin Luther King Jr. May you continue to inspire us to ignore the naysayers and bullies and fight for what we believe in.

Images here and here

Bourbon Globes Awards + Deep thoughts by Myself

1. We listened to horrible commentary from Kelly Osbourne and whoever that guy was standing with her for an hour. You think that when someone finally gets their 5 seconds at the microphone you could HOLD OFF ON THE FREAKING MUSIC. If you are really that short of time cut the beginning segment or put the girls on one of those Airport Walkway systems.  I love to hear what these people say. Maybe not so much at the Oscars but they are tipsy at this party and if I had to listen to "who is your dress" for an hour couldn't you at least have the decency to let those guys who made the documentary "Carlos" have their say? RUDE RUDE RUDE. I mean you cut off Steve Buscemi? Notice they did NOT cut off Annette Bening. Beatty would have gone all Bonnie & Clyde on them if they had.

2. Elisabeth Moss looks like Jodi Foster.



3. Halle Berry. Wow. Didn't love the dress but who cares about the f*cking dress when you are Halle Berry right?


4. Best line of the Evening "If I could, I'd give it to all five of you" - Robert Downey Jr. RDJ is a good time. I've emailed his publicist to try to get him over for one of our dinner parties.



5. Jane Krakowski is tan. And adorably pregnant. But tan. Is that okay? Because if so I'm going to get sprayed or lay in a bed. You think that makes me vain but I'm broken out, huge, and almost purple. A little sun would make me feel light years better!



6. Favorite Couple Award - Hamn & Westfeldt



7. Least favorite couple Award - J.Lo and Skeletor. I try, but I just don't like J.Lo.



8. Best Dressed and Hottest Award- Mila Kunis



9. Cannot believe it was not nominated - 24

10. Aaron Sorkin nailed it in his speech to his daughter "Smart Girls have all the fun". Stay in school! Don't get pregnant before marriage (Unless you are RII$$CH like Natalie Portman) And Natalie. The dress. I love you, love the dress...LOSE THE FLOWER! With the flower it looks like a Disney Princess Dress. But you are still cute and pregnant so I love you. Call me if you need Zebra Cakes, I have a stash.



Images here, here, and here.