pretty pieces

someday i will be as cool as jordon & have sky lanterns lit for my birthday too

i officially hate the wagon. i hate getting back on it. i hate chasing it. i hate falling off it. this holiday, we fell about 25 feet off the wagon & i’ve stayed there ever since. it’s easy to do really. you start a few weeks before thanksgiving with a cocktail pre dinner as you imagine & plan the perfect christmas. by thanksgiving, an early cocktail means 4:30. on thanksgiving day, its food & drink almost all day long. in the weeks leading up to christmas, there are loads of parties with loads of fattening food & very good wine which you must taste & try. then you’re having a pre drink for the pre party drink just to get in the mood for a merry good time at the boozy party starting an hour later. even if you don’t drink, you indulge in beautiful food- holiday desserts, lovely trays of bacon wrapped brie & crackers & bowls of nuts, and dinner plates piled high at family gatherings because you just couldn’t miss a second helping of moms cornbread dressing. do we eat to survive it all? maybe we’re seeking comfort in carbs? but we had the best holiday ever. it was full of love & happy & fun. it was also full of glasses of wine (both red & white), honey glazed ham with mashed potatoes, martinis & cosmopolitans, succulent turkey, rich pheasant, wine, and more wine. we were indulgent to say the least. & now here i am. trying to pretend that i am ready to back in the routine of sensible dinners & carb-free snacks when all i really want to do is have a mid day beer & a lunch with biscuits & gravy. i don’t like being so far from my regular self. i like eating light. eating green. drinking only on the weekends & enjoying it in moderation. i like fitting into my skinny jeans & wanting to meet my trainer instead of making up excuses not to. so i’m slowly, walking at a snails pace, back to the light. back to my size 6. back to my skinny jeans.

and in the meantime, i’m laughing my tail off at this

this is way cool. i’m cleaning house today (not literally) so postings will be light
thanks to troy for sending this

i found this while looking here for this & fell for his work shortly after

“over the years i have learned what is importat in a dress is the woman who is wearing it”

- yves saint laurent

my friend, shelley, has inspired me. she’s a woman on a mission. she’s up grading herself. the funny thing is that she’s already adorable (barely a size 2), wears cutie pie short shorts with heels, and has long flowing red hair. little needs upgrading…

but i understand her point: we all get into personal style ruts. personally, i spend way too much time obsessing over my childrens clothes and stick to way too many basics for my own wardrobe. shelley and i are both j crew addicts & we find mixed with navy, gap, and a few designer pieces- they are good upgrading components. these are my latest favorites that i so desire for fall … i mean, who doesn’t want a beaded leopard print dress? a tunic sweater with piping? or a yellow patent leather bag or fabulous zip at the bottom black pants a la breakfast at tiffanys…

{due note the praha video in the beginning of the site- it so reminds me of my old home- central europe}

two years ago in downtown dc, a boy from philadelphia rented an entire floor of his picky wifes favorite restaurant & treated his baby daughters & growing toddler & picky wife to a fantastic dinner & then took them on a champagne tailgate overlooking the lincoln monument. it was fun & fabulous & i’ll never forget it

merci, mon chere, for good celebrations
it’s what i live for

i conducted an impromptu photo shoot this weekend & am so pleased with how it turned out. the frameless frame connects it all, even if it is blurry- i like it

with stephen commuting from moscow - we get a lot of questions about the russian capitol. what’s it like? how many people live there? how are the people? the best way for me to describe moscow is that it’s new york on steroids. there’s a lot of new money & no middle class. the clash of cultures is curious. its hyper & wild & scary & big & loud. but in many ways, i miss moscow. i miss the excitement the city offers with great business oppurnities around every corner & the glam side: fabulous out-of-this-world restaurants & shops, incredibly expensive cars zooming by at every traffic light, beautiful women draped in jewels & furs - so gorgeous that they make me rethink my sexuality. i don’t miss the chaos, the smells, the feeling that everything at all times is uncertain. s sent me a link today of scenes from the metro. he usually hails a cab or walks to work but often he takes the metro. what i love about these pictures is that they are every day shots. nothing is out of the ordinary in moscow and on the metro with the masses, its often like the extras from a bad horror movie are on their way home still in full costume

what a big week. i’m celebrating my arrival into my 30s & mourning my daughters entrance into first grade. her kindergarten year now seems like a blur of reading, writing, counting, and lots of recess. our summer was long & lovely. with two teeth lost, five inches of hair cut, one pair of penny loafers, & a new (monogrammed) backpack- we’re ready for first grade. rather she’s ready- i’m not. i was ready for her to go into kindergarten because it’s still sounds like little school but first grade is SO different. it’s real school with real grades, real expectations, and real issues. plus it is accompanied by more sass, more homework, and its a leap from little girl to young girl. next monday, the first day of school, i’m hosting a ‘mimosas for moms’ after drop off & i’m sure some moms will be cheerful- ready for a regular routine but i’ll be curled up in a ball crying my eyes out in the corner (with tall glass of champagne in my tear streaked hand)

how can i let this darling baby grow up? it’s all happening in a blink of an eye

this my little baby. then barely two. sweet as a cupcake. now she’s 46″ tall, wears a size 7, and weighs over 40 pounds. the once chubby cheeks are slim & her once full day spent only with me is shared with others. she’s on her way out the door & knowing her, she won’t look back once. she’s fearless & ready to take the world by storm. hell, if she can handle me as a mother, she can handle just about anything right? oh, sigh. i miss her already

this toy reminds me of my childhood. i snapped it up for the girls right away & they love it. i was happy to see them put down their play cell phones and dial on this old fav. found at target

oh no! PBS has decided to cut mr. rogers from their daily programming! i, like most of my friends, grew up in make believe land & i’m heart broken. go to www.savemrrogers.com to help keep this sweet show on for our children

now that is some serious dedication

i was searching my beloved etsy for peacocks because i’m obsessed with the bird & found this wild shop. i’ve never worn anything like this but find it so interesting. i think to really pull off the look you’ve got to (at most) a B cup. i am (sigh) not. if i ever did wear something like this for sure twirl factor would play in the decision making process. and i love these feathery ones. so fun for someone a lot braver than moi

what’s great about domino (besides their cutting edge design) is that you always discover new sources. i stayed up waaaaay past my bedtime last night scanning through all the glorious linen and cotton fabric choices at purl. i found fabric to cover bar stools in & to make dresses for the girls for fall. fabulous

seven days living on the beach is not enough. i want more. i love the outter banks & i love the sun & i love the surf & i loved our week away. the house we rented in rodanthe was worn out & in dire need of a face lift but had great decks facing the ocean (which was about 20 steps away) and a fabulous roof deck. we loved our time with family & especially enjoyed our darling nephew, jack, who is a stud muffin. we loved watching the girls explore the wonders of the ocean, squealing at the sight of fish, competing to find the best shell, taking long walks each with a girl on our shoulders while holding the big ones hand, swimming together & jumping the big waves, building castles in the sand, bonfires by moon light, and drinking lemonade margaritas all afternoon (us, not them). these are the times of our lives & we are so living it up. the moon was high in the shot above & the night was clear. we were all sipping wine on the open deck & watching reagan play with the kids next door by the bonfire. to me, this shot represents happiness at its best

super super cute & found here on etsy

wa hoo! let the heavens rejoice! i am feeling better & showering again & eating again & ready to take on (or is it over?) the world! i’ve got so much to share! share! share! so hold tight, fellow blog readers, i’m postin’ some GOOOOOOOOD stuff

had to share this pic because it is just after my MAC make over that i swear was the best make over i’ve ever had. i wish i could have someone do my make up EVERY DAY. i feel so different when i’m all done up… i really should have been born into money… sigh… maybe in my next life…

found via swiss miss & loved by me

the girls and i went with my mom blueberry picking on tuesday. i forget what southern roots my mom has and how she likes to shell peas, shuck corn, and eat straight off the vine. going outside to gather your food is second nature to her. in the early morning before the sun was high, in between the rows of blueberries, ryan complained, reagan made a competition out of it, and grace ate as many as she picked. we went to a little farm off of hog mountain road. they only have blueberries. we missed strawberry season. but we’re surely not going to miss the blackberries. we picked over 5 pounds & can’t wait for hunny to make us a blueberry pie. yum

these have got to be the best ever for ending a summer party

“You are beautiful…when you let friends have their space, when you believe, when you laugh, or are moved to tears, when you let it just roll right off your back, when you talk about your dreams, when you help a turtle across the road, when you try to do the right thing even when it comes out wrong, when you love.” Anonymous

i love, love, love these child friendly with foam blades fans for the playroom & nursery. i so want one in yellow

stealing this idea tomorrow