The Big Day

Today is the big day for me! I'll take some cake....
balloons...and a champagne dinner with Dr. Beautiful.
(and of course any gifts too;)

Five

My sweet blogger friend Natalie tagged me last week. I have to list 5 things that I cannot live without. I am going to skip the deep and sentimental things like my family and friends and just go with my shallow and superficial list.

But first, you must check out Natalie's blog. She is super stylish, a fabulous cook, has an amazing house, and has the cutest hubby and son ever. She is a Southern girl from South Carolina, there must be something in the water down there, every fabulous blog I read I swear the girl is from South Carolina.

Here we go....

1. luxurious skin cream.

I have always heard that Creme De La Mer is the best of the best when it comes to moisturizers. Nothing comes close to hydrating your skin like La Mer, it is a "legendary cream with a cult following", of course you do have to pay a high price for all this fabulousness. Well, I have officially joined the cult. I was out with a friend last week and noticed that she had the most flawless, young looking skin I have ever seen, no fine line, no redness, just smooth perfection. She had 2 words for me.....La Mer. Of course, given my obsessive personality, as soon as I got home I was on Nordstrom's website with the moisturizing cream in my basket.

I don't know what took me so long to jump on the band wagon, but I am hooked!!
2. An official start and finish to my day.

I like to start each day with a cup of this....
and end with a glass of this!

3. Good Eats.

I love going out to dinner. My hubby and I go out to eat almost every weekend. Sometimes just the two of us, sometimes with other couples, and sometimes with the kids. There are many great restaurants in STL, some have been around for years and some have just opened. I love sitting down at a restaurant with a good bottle of wine just knowing that I am going to have an incredible dinner.I have been obsessing about one of my favorites lately because they make the most amazing Oven Roasted Artichoke with Brie and Mustard Sauce. I have dreams about this artichoke.

4. Beautiful Spaces.

Now that we are in our "forever" home I feel I can decorate how I want, when I want, without the looming question in the back of my mind, "should I really do this to my house if we are moving soon?" Knowing that I am not moving again, I can justify spending more on things I want for our home. I am here to stay and I want to be surrounded by beautiful things, it makes me happy!


5. Beautiful Clothes.

I can honestly say that I take pride in what I wear. I have always loved clothes, shoes and accessories but now that I am older and wiser I really think about what I like, what looks good on me, what I can pull off, and what is stylish....

These are the 5 things that I cannot live without or I am obsessing about this week!

Now I tag

My new friend Mrs Fabulous from Fabulous in the STL

The always beautiful and incredibly fabulous Brunch at Saks. I can't wait to hear what these girls choose.

Happy Monday

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!!!

Award Season!

First the Grammys, next the Oscars and me. I have been given an award by the beautiful, charming and oh so stylish Mimi at aesthetic lounge. She is a New Yorker, jewelry designer, and fabulous blogger. I especially love her Friday posts, fun finds friday. You must check her out and add her to your daily reads.
So I am supposed to tell some thing new about myself , here we go.....

My husband is surprising me with a trip in May. I won't know where I am going until I get to the airport. He is even packing for me (yikes) I think we might be going to some tropical island....or Paris!!

My sister has been trying, unsuccessfully, to have a baby for years. This summer she will finally go to Korea and adopt her sweet baby boy. I am more excited for her than words can describe!!
I was on a date with another guy when I met my hubby.... everything worked out they way it should!!About 8 years ago I had an online business with a friend. When she moved overseas to teach she had great access to children's smocked dresses. We launched a website (ouithree.com) and supplied dresses to boutiques in STL. It was a great side business and I am sad we let it go. If we would of stuck it out, it could of been a great business. The one good thing, I have all the inventory in my house!!

Well, there you have it...

Now I tag the following lovely ladies..

Erin at Huddy p

Cool Gal at It's the World I Know

Heather at New Mom in the City

Telia at Newly Wed Wife Life

Alicia at Shaken not Blurred

Natalie at Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers

Five

So my friend at Prissy and Preppy Flamingo tagged me. I have to list the top 5 things I can't live without. I am kicking off the weekend with my top 5.

1. My cell phone. It amazes me that just 10 years ago no one had cell phones, and now, I would never leave the house without mine. Dan and I always joke about how different high school would have been if we had cell phones. I remember having to leave a phone number of the house I was going to for a party. (right, like I actually left the real number) It was so embarrassing. Of course the down side to that when you have kids of your own, you really don't know where they are or what they are up to.
2. My computer. How would I have met all you lovely people, and don't even get me started on the beauty of online shopping
3. Running Shoes. I am at a point in my life where I want to run or exercise everyday. It is so good for the body, mind, and soul.
4. Beautiful clothes. Kind of shallow, but if I am going to do all that running.....
5. Last, but most importantly my friends...

and my family..
This is what is most important to me, I wouldn't want to spend a day without these people!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

One Question

Is anyone else addicted...or is it just me?

Did you see my new beautiful header? It's from my beautiful friend Heather. She is so awesome!!

Whirlwind Weekend

We had a busy, fun weekend. Friday afternoon we arrived in Chicago, checked into our hotel, then met up with my brother and sister in law for dinner. Saturday morning Dan and Matthew headed over to South Bend with his brothers and sister for the ND-Tulsa game, while Libby and I stayed in the city. Saturday I finally met my sweet blogger friend, Heather, IRL. We hit it off instantly and chatted like we had been friends our entire life. Heather is very tall and very stunning, people notice her when she walks into a room. She was so kind and funny. I was sad our time flew by, but I know that we will definitely get together again soon. We were laughing because my husband was teasing me about meeting an "internet" friend. I agree it does sound crazy to meet someone that way, but I knew that I had to meet her, since I was in Chicago, and I am so glad I did!After brunch, Libby and I headed back down to Michigan Ave. where our first stop was The American Girl Doll Store. Julie (the doll) got a new hairstyle.
and then they got some matching outfits. The boys made it back to the city about 8:30 then we headed out for some pizza. Sunday we were on the road early so we would be home in time for the Halloween festivities.

Our night started out at our neighbors for some pizza
and funny thing, my night ended at my neighbors with some chardonnay!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween

BOO!!

And the answers are...

I was tagged by Miss Southern Prep, one of my daily reads. My blogger friend just started her senior year of college (oh to be in college again!!) This is a fun tag.

What is your favorite song?
I don't think I will ever get sick of Bad Romance. If you call my cell, you won't hear a ring, you'll hear Lady Gaga singing this song!!

If you could go on an all expense paid vacation, where would it be?Maybe if I blog about this enough it will come true. My ultimate vacation....an African safari!!

Last book I read?I had given up the Jodi Picoult books for awhile, they were all the same, very predictable. My mother in law is a big reader and gave me this book last month while I was visiting her in Michigan. I am almost through with this book and I must admit it is very good!! It is about a little girl whose imaginary friend happens to be God. This is not a "religious" book per say, it is what happens to this girl when word gets out that she is talking to God.

Best childhood memory?Christmas eve at my grandma and grandpa's house. Me and my 1 brother and 3 sisters would spend Christmas eve at my grandparents making cookies and wrapping presents for my parents. We would then go back to our house where my mom had a delicious Christmas dinner waiting for us. My cousins from Chicago would come down and we would have so much fun!! I really hope that when my children grow up, one of their fondest memories will be Christmas.

Soda, water, tea or juice?
About 2 years I quit drinking soda cold turkey. I was drinking a case of Diet Pepsi a week. I have replaced that addiction with club soda. Lucky for me there is no sugar or calories in this drink.

Favorite flower?I am in love with hydrangeas. They don't really smell, but I think they are so beautiful. Our new house is surrounded with hydrangea shrubs. I always have hydrangeas somewhere in a vase in my house. Just a little something to make me smile.

If you could live abroad where would it be?This is an easy one, I did live abroad and it was in Paris. I have no regrets. It made me into the person I am today. Because of my time abroad I went on to get a minor in French, then taught French for 6 years. Oh la la

Favorite time of year?Fall. I just love this time of year. I love the chill in the air after a long, hot, humid summer. I love how beautiful everything looks. I love the big chunky sweaters, long fringe scarves and over the knee boots. I love how my kids are so excited from September through December with birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all to look forward to. I love that everyone seems happy in the Fall

Ok now I come up with 8 new questions and tag 8 new people. Then these 8 people come up with 8 new questions for the 8 people they tag.

1. If your house was to catch on fire what is the one thing you would take? (non living)

2. What is your all time favorite piece of clothing?

3. If you had to live in one place the rest of your life would it be on a beach or a mountain top?

4. What is your favorite TV show?

5. If there ever was a movie about your life, which actress would you want to play you?

6. Are you an animal lover? Do you have any pets?

7. Are you a righty or a lefty?

8. What is the last book you read? OK I stole this question, but I need some suggestions for some good books!

Ok now I tag... ( I know it is supposed to be 8 but I feel like I keep tagging the same girls, I have very few blogger friends!)

Heather at New Mom in the City

Cool Gal at It's the world I know

Natalie at Designer bags and dirty diapers (one of my newest finds, check out her blog!!!)

Fashion meets food (again, another one of my latest discoveries, check out her blog too!)

Ladies I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. I have some last minutes things to take care today, before our end of summer party Saturday night. It looks like it is going to be beautiful in STL, yeah!