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"

Roll out the Red Carpet

Saturday night we had the much anticipated auction. I love this event because it is a chance to glam it up for the night. My hair inspiration was none other than Mrs. Seal, Heidi Klum...

Saturday afternoon, once the kiddos were gone, I went next door to my friends house. We had a girl come and do our hair and makeup, while we were sipping wine and having muchies. I felt like Rachel Zoe, and that is not a bed feeling. Here is my finished look...Then it was off to the hotel for dinner, drinks, dancing and of course bidding. I only got 1 shot of me and the hubs, I really need to start focusing on taking more pictures. Sometimes I am just having too much fun to whip out my camera, but then I always regret it the next day
My big plastic ring was part of a game of chance at the auction. For $30 you could purchase a light up ring, at the end of the night one lucky girl got to turn in her plastic ring for a diamond and sapphire ring.... sadly that was not me. That's OK, I made sure I did not come home empty-handed!!

Bling Bling

If I had to pick my favorite jewelry designer, hands down it would be Erica Courtney...

she has the most beautiful engagement rings..... of course I'll marry you!!
she has the most exquisite earrings....

and rings...
and bracelets...

she has a huge celebrity following which can only mean one thing...get out your platinum card cause this is gonna hurt!!

A few years ago she had a trunk show at a jewelers here in STL. I knew this was a once in a lifetime chance to meet this amazing woman so I had to go. Her jewels were blinding they were so brilliant. I knew that everything was out of our price range but it was still fun to try on her pieces. I instantly fell in love with this ring, and as luck would have it, it is probably one of her more affordable pieces. This is a platinum band with the raised words "I Love You So" and it looks so cute on a finger...
I always thought this would be the perfect push present but since I am done having kids I know I can find another opportunity for this gift, um like Christmas

Girl Friday

Tonight we are meeting my friend, whom I have known since I was 6 years old, and her hubby at a restaurant that has a 5 month wait list. This restaurant has about 10 tables, everyone is seated at 8pm and it is a tasting menu only. Hubs is a little skeptical about the whole night but I did remind him that this restaurant has won many awards...
Saturday night, auction time!! I love auctions, they are so much fun, you never know what you are going to come home with...

I changed my mind again on what I was going to wear. Everyone I talked to was wearing some sort of sequins dress, I decided to go a different, non-sparkly route. I returned the 2 dresses I already bought and went with this...I got it in plum and I love it. All of the dresses that I was considering were the label "Aidan Mattox" until last week I had never heard of him, but now I am obsessed!!

My kids are having a sleepover with the grandparents, so Sunday I plan on lots of this....
Have a beautiful weekend

My Addiction

A brand new Nordstrom just opened last month, less than a mile from my house, and I just can't seem to stay away. Yesterday kicked off the half yearly sale, I swear I went in for just a new tube of lipstick, but as alway, left with lots goodies.

My new favorite dress, I can wear this with black or chocolate brown boots...

these pumps that I have been eyeing for quite some time...and my wild card purchase, changing my whole plan, but a dress that I might wear to the auction Saturday night...

with a little bling...

A Tisket A Tasket...

I've been so busy with "baskets" for my children's auction this coming Saturday night. For the past 6 weeks me and my friend have put together 10 baskets. Each basket was given a movie as the theme. I won't bore you with all 10 baskets, but here is an example of what we did. One of our baskets is "Money Never Sleeps" so we filled the basket with an alarm clock, a kindle, cuff links, money clip with a $100 visa card, starbucks gift card, subscription to the Wall Street Journal, and a tie and pocket square for some dapper man. Sunday I had some girls over to wrap up these baskets and get them ready for bidding...this picture looks like a mess but I really think the baskets turned out great, and I am not just saying that because I was in charge. To make the wrapping more enjoyable I had some prosecco and this tasty appetizer
Chicken Cordon Bleu appetizer. This was so easy to make and so delicious. You can get the recipe here.

Enjoy and let the bidding begin

Splitsville

And another one bites the dust...but hey, they tried, I mean they really really tried. They were married for 72 days, that's like 8 years for celebrities, wait they're not celebrities so I guess it was just 72 days . Hmmm wonder if they will split the 17 million they made off their nuptials?