My Weekend

Wine flight with some friends.
A trip to the zoo to see our favorite animals.

Date night dinner with the hubby.

Tackling my stack of books from Amazon

Making rosaries with a group of friends who all have children making their First Communion in a couple of weeks.A birthday dinner at my sister's house to celebrate my nephew's second birthday.
Bon Weekend my friends!!

Italian Honeymoon

One of my oldest and dearest friends, younger brother, is getting married in June. Seeing that I introduced the bride and groom to each other (my one and only successful set up) I thought it would only be fitting if I threw a couples shower for them.

Nick and Molly are going to Italy for their honeymoon, so the theme of the night is "Italian Honeymoon" My sisters are helping with the shower, so we divvied up the responsibilities. I am hosting at my house, and I will be in charge of food. We will be serving heavy appetizers all with an Italian feel.

Italian Meatballs
Toasted Ravioli (which I just learned is a STL thing)
Italian Wedding Soup (Dan thinks this is a bad idea for a cocktail party, but I just love the play on words)
Mini Pizzas
Caprese Salad Skewers
Bruschetta
and last but not least, Gelato.
I still have over a week to tweak the menu, I am open to any ideas or suggestions!

Grazie Mille!

Finally!

It has finally warmed up here in STL. Time for my afternoon, warm weather, Starbucks treat....Shaken Passion Tea Lemonade!

I always ask for "unsweetened shaken passion tea with 1 shot of lemonade" it's ALMOST calorie free!

Get Your Fringe On!

These are the boots that started it all...my love for fringe. About a year and a half ago, I was in Paris, saw these boots and fell immediately in love. I love walking in these boots, there is something about the tassels swishing that just make me smile. So, I had the shoes....
now I needed a purse with fringe,
and another,
and of course another

which then led to a dress with fringe.lately I have noticed a few new pieces with fringe that have caught my eye.

Big Buddha Bag, a big Yes!
The Michael Kors fringe sandal. These shoes could make your plainest of plain outfits pop.This skirt rocks! If I was to wear this I think I would just twirl all the live long day!
For all my Chicago friends, today is your lucky day. Shernett Swaby, Project Runway finalist, and designer of this handbag, also happens to have a shop on N. Damen Avenue. This beautiful handbag, that I would sell a kidney for, can also be found here.
Sequin "Marrakech" feather and fringe necklace. This necklace would definitely be that "je ne sais quoi" that you were looking for to finish off an outfit.
Get your fringe on girls!!

Weekend Ramblings

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I kicked off my weekend with a cocktail party Friday night, the perfect start to a weekend!!A good time was had by all......
maybe too much of a good time!

Saturday, after I had recovered from the night before, I was all about getting things done! Dan was working, and I don't know about you, but when my hubby is gone I think I turn into some crazy work lady. I get more things done the weekends he works then I would typically get done in an entire month.

I finally hung some curtains in my bathroom

I hung my beautiful Lilly letters in the girls room from my blogger friend Miss Southern Prep, she made these adorable letters! (check her out)
I hung pictures that have been propped up against the walls for about 7 months
and I did about 10 loads of laundry, cleaned the garage, and packed away all our winter clothes.

Sunday we headed downtown to watch a baseball game, it was a record breaking 91 degrees in STL. Exactly one week ago we had 6 inches of snow.
I think mother nature is on drugs!!!

Happy Birthday Blog

One year ago today, "A Beautiful Life" was bornBefore I started my blog, I would read other blogs and then think, "well if I had a blog this is what I would post today." I would search blogs for decorating ideas, recipes, shopping tips, paint colors, you name it, I searched for it. One day I decided why not, just go ahead and start a blog. I now post almost every weekday, my blog is the closest thing I have to a diary.
So here I am, one year later, one year older, one year wiser and 88 more friends because of my blog.

xoxo

love you all!!!

It's Official!!

This little cutie pie will one day soon call me "Aunt Jill"My sister and brother in law just found out that they were placed with this little Korean boy for adoption. I am so happy for them, after years of trying, years of disappointments, and years of heartache, they are finally getting their baby!! Within the next couple of months they will get the phone call to hop on a plane to Seoul Korea and bring their new son home!!

Isn't life beautiful!!!