Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Old Time Christmas

I cannot believe that I am going out of town again today!! I still have not finished unpacking from Thanksgiving. After school I am taking my kids and going with my mom to Silver Dollar City for their Christmas festival...I have done this the past 5 years and both my kids and my mom would be so disappointed if I did not go this year. I must admit the thought of driving for 4 hours sounds awful, but once I am there I catch the Christmas bug. Between the lights, the singing, and Santa how could you not be jolly!!
Ho Ho Ho

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving Past

We had a great Thanksgiving, so much to celebrate...
If I look back on my weekend and had to choose what I enjoyed the most, I would have to say I am so thankful for my last night in Detroit. I stayed up with both of my sisters until 1 am talking, laughing, and drinking wine. Even though I felt miserable on my flight home I don't care. It is so rare that I find myself with both sisters, under the same roof, kids and husbands sound asleep, and no distractions so we can just enjoy our precious time together.

There is no friend like a sister!


Monday, November 28, 2011

Tis the season

It's officially the holiday season...time to decorate and shop, and we only have 27 days to do it!!
HO HO HO

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Motor City

We are off to Detroit for the holiday weekend. The last time I was in Michigan for Thanksgiving was 3 years ago and I was 7 months pregnant with Scarlett. I look at this picture with my sisters/sister in law/mom from Thanksgiving of 07, and it feels like yesterday...
I have been put in charge of appetizers for the entire weekend, I have yummy ones lined up...
but of course the reason we are all together is Thanksgiving dinner.
In addition to non stop eating, we will see a live performance of "A Christmas Carol"....
an entire family picture...


My nephew, who was just adopted from Korea, will be baptized...
and of course a little shopping...
There is a fabulous mall in Detroit that has just about every store imaginable. I have to spend black Friday shopping, otherwise it just doesn't feel right. My hubs thinks I am insane!!

I hope you all have a fun filled, family filled, happy and beautiful Thanksgiving!!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Ramblings

Happy Monday!! The start of Thanksgiving week has officially begun. I managed to squeeze in a little shopping time on Saturday, I have all my gifts for my nieces and nephews bought and paid for...plus, I picked up a little something for myself. Between a bonus sale on Saturday and some reward cards, I got this jacket $168.00 for $40.00. Thank you Gap..
On another shopping note, but this one involves a grocery not a clothing store, has anyone bought bacon recently?It is $7.00 for one package!! Maybe I have not bought bacon in a long time, or maybe I have not been paying attention, but that seems ridiculously high to me. Between the damage to my wallet and my waist I think I should just avoid this all together. But is sure does make everything taste better!!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Girl Friday

We have a very low key weekend that I am really looking forward to. The last couple of weekends we have been on the go go go, time to slow it down!!

If you live in a city with a Four Seasons Hotel, I highly recommend joining their website. Once you belong they will send you emails about specials, and invites to parties. Today, my friend and I have a spa day. For $99/person we will get facials, massages, and a body scrub. We also have time to squeeze in a champagne lunch...
Saturday morning we have a 2 mile Turkey Trot at my children's school. Admittance to the race is a 20 pound turkey. The morning starts at 8am with the kids loading all the turkeys onto a truck, the race starts at 9am, and after the race the 8th graders get to deliver the turkeys to St. Patrick's Center downtown, a soup kitchen, that will feed hundreds of needy families on Thanksgiving day...
Saturday night, after the kiddos are settled down, hubs and I are going out for a nice dinner...

Sunday time to start packing, Thanksgiving is in Detroit this year...
Have a beautiful weekend!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

I Want Candy

I usually go to the Gap just for the basics, but the other day I got an email from them showcasing their new line "I want candy." I saw some items that I am definitely adding to my wish list.

I am all about a little sequins, and a lot of fur...
How cute are these dresses for your minnie...I seriously wish they made these in adult sizes...
there is even something for the little men in our lives....
Gap can definitely be hit or miss, it seems like this week it is a hit!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Time's Up!

I knew this day would come eventually, yesterday, my almost 3 year tried to climb out of her crib. I really did not want to start thinking about moving her to a big girl bed until after the holidays. Well, I started thinking about what to do with my girls room and I found exactly what I want done....Oh and I found this on the website of the fabulous decorator I met a few weeks ago. I hope Santa brings me a big ol bag of cash!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Label Love

The last couple of weeks, while searching for a dress to wear to our auction, I came across a new label, Aidan Mattox. I went to Nordstroms, Saks, and Neimans and every dress I loved was an Aidan Mattox...I love a dress with a lot of sparkle and glitz, plenty of that from Aidan..
you can never go wrong with the one shoulder, satin, greek goddess dress...
This was one of my final options, a flapper dress with amazing pearl beading, it just didn't seem to fit me properly on the top. I must of tried it on 10 times and I just didn't love it on me. I hate when you fall in love with a dress on a hanger, then you try it on and it is just not right!!
There are also plenty of full length dresses to choose from as well...


just ask bachlorette Ali, she loves Aidan Mattox too!!
This is my new "go to" label next time I have a fancy event!!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Scenes From the Weekend

Happy Monday!! I cannot believe it is our last full week before the holiday season begins. Hope everyone had a great weekend. We started off our weekend by breaking in my favorite "win" from our auction. A patio table with a built in fire pit, this was the perfect spot for wine, cheese, and a little dinner Friday night...Saturday was a truly beautiful fall day and we spent it at a beautiful winery about an hour outside of STL...

After 9 hours at a winery, lets just say I did not get many pictures that my friends would want on the internet. I did get one of me and the hubs, very happy from our wine tastings...
Sunday, I rallied and made a new chicken dish for our family dinner, it was delish!!
I will post the recipe soon, this one is a keeper!!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Girl Friday

We have a quiet night tonight, hubs is making his unbelievably delicious boeuf bourguignon for us...
Saturday we are taking advantage of our beautiful Fall. There are some great wineries just outside of St. Louis, this time of year we have our own mini Napa Valley, so we are taking a bus with 20 other couples to Cedar Lake Cellars...
for a day of eating, listening to music, and of course wine tasting...
Sunday I am having all the grandparents and cousins over for a belated birthday celebration for my son. I found a new recipe that sounds delish and I will have 14 guinea pigs for testing....
Have a beautiful weekend!! And happy 11/11/11

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Free Time

Now that our auction has come and gone, I suddenly have much more free time. I had been so busy working on the baskets, I barely acknowledged the change in season. I love Fall and everything about it...roasting marshmallows...
pumpkin pie...
the beautiful leaves...
a glass of red wine in front of the fire...boots and leggings....
and scarves...
Time to enjoy Fall, before I know it, I will be 2 feet deep in snow!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

House Beautiful

Last week I met a friend for lunch, then we headed over to a designers showhouse. This is a home where the city's best designers come together in one home, take a room, and decorate to their own personal style. For 2 weeks this home is open for the public to tour and admire. Typically they choose a home that is registered with the historical society of St. Louis and always the home is fabulous...I absolutely loved the formal living room. The built ins, the french doors that opened to the patio, and the crown molding were amazing. I loved the wall color and the placement of the furniture. I always love to see a room with a grand piano and how the furniture is placed around the piano. We have a baby grand and I am still not sure if I love how my furniture is set up in my living room. This room was truly grand but still had that comfy lived in feeling...
As much as I loved the living room, I was blown away when I saw the master suite which consisted of the bedroom, the sitting room, the dressing room, and the bathroom. The second I stepped foot in the bedroom I was in love. The color scheme, the fabrics, the vintage bar cart in the corner, and the stenciling on the wall were so rich and so elegant...
Next we wandered to the attached sitting room, which was surrounded with windows on all 3 sides so the light was spectacular. I would love to have this room off my bedroom. I would just sink into my comfy couch with my latte and read a magazine...
Next was the stunning dressing room that led into the bathroom. How pretty is this dressing room. The silk taffeta panels instead of closet doors was just pure genius. It gave the room a feeling that you were in the most exquisite boutique in Paris.
As my friend and I were heading out, the designer of the master suite was walking in. I recognized him from his photo. I started chatting with him telling him how amazing his work was and how I thought he had the best room in the house. He gave me his card and told me to call him. He also mentioned he was very busy decorating a house in Dallas and a penthouse in NYC. My bubble slowly burst when I heard this, a penthouse in NYC can mean only one thing for me, this is going to be very expensive. I took his card and went on my way, his card is now in my file folder of beautiful pictures that I have torn out of magazines for inspiration, and business cards from people and places that I have admired. Most likely this is where his card will stay.

My dad always says "if you have to ask how much something costs, you probably can't afford it"