Taking a little trip and a happy July 4th to you!

Hi all! Hard to believe July 4th is just about here...where oh where is this summer going? Yowza....its going by awfully fast. We are taking a little trip this week so by the time you read this I will be happily on my way,  and will be back on Saturday. A little quality family time...we all need it and believe me, I am not complaining one bit! I love any excuse to have no schedule, eat whatever I want, and kind of just "wing it"....no real agenda sounds great to me:) What are you up to for July 4th?

 

Hope whatever you have in store for the holiday week is fun, relaxing and mostly exactly what you want to do. Hopefully not too much work involved! So I will be back on Saturday but in the meantime, am leaving you with plenty of "reading material", with a little bit of eye candy, a healthy dose of something to learn, a smidgeon of fashion, a slice of practicality, a wedge of fantasy,  a wee bit of something inspirational, of course plenty of things to make you hungry, and a nice big healthy heap of beauty! Hope you enjoy some of the links that I have enjoyed (one or two of them my own lol). Be back later in the week. Happy July 4th!

This darling little boy's story will make you cry happy tears.....just too cute!

If I was in the market for a swanky Hamptons abode..this would do just fine!

I have to make these.....when I want to be a bad girl.

I really really want to go to this next year. Really!

Do you know where the happiest people in the world live? Fascinating!

We all get complacent in our relationships/marriages, found this wonderful post on 7 ways to be your spouse's/partner's best friend...a great little reminder!

I am seriously in love with this monogrammed clutch with just the right dose of bling!

These food pictures make me want to get into the food biz!

LOVE this list.......50 things every woman must own. (right on the money too)

A friend who is a skincare junkie just told me about this new product, anyone know of it?

This is aptly named the "perfect tote"....love it, just can't decide on which color!

10 fascinating "secrets" about Machu Picchu ( I was lucky enough to have visited as a young teen)

This picture might be the cutest one I have ever seen of a little tot!

Here are Tory Burch's must haves...any on your list?
 
Just ordered this book and love the idea, the whole "slow" movement from travel to food!

Sandy's beautiful post on the lavender fields in Provence has me craving a trip there....stunning!

This beautiful post has me wishing I was in the French countryside buying fresh veges just off the vine!

How much fun would it be to attend this film festival? (click English on top right)

If money was no object, I think I could rough the high seas in this chartered yacht decked out in blue and white....I think its a match made in heaven:)

Ever wanted to own the ultimate winery/horse farm....check this one out!

Did you see this enormous but beautiful home Taylor Swift bought?

I would soooo love to be a judge (or taste tester) for this contest.....

These high heel cupcakes are seriously sooo cute and perfect for a girl who loves her shoes!

I had lent this out to someone and couldn't  track it down so bought another and forgot just how beautiful it is, one of my all time favorite design books front to back!


Some of Americas most generous (and wealthiest) philanthropists...see whats near and dear to their heart

Want to see Aerin Lauders  Southampton home up close and personal and how she prepared a poolside luncheon?

Have you seen this polyglot? Amazing...speaks 23 languages, and he seems like such a nice guy! Next time your kids say they don't have anything else to study, show them this and tell them to get busy...lol.

This party is one I feel really proud of and it was worth the throbbing pain my feet felt for days!

I looooove this salad and cannot wait to make this version. Yum...and guilt free!!

Do you follow Martha Stewart on Pinterest? I just started.....

This girls talent is seriously mind blowing.......just over the top!

Enjoy a great foreign film? This lighthearted and super entertaining film is one I have seen a few times......never gets old!

I loooover her jewelry, what a selection!

I am dying to go to this uber luxurious dude ranch.....sooo beautiful!

Not only is this hot tamale gorgeous, sweet and can sing her buns off but she can paint...love her serene calming ocean oils that have all kinds of beautiful homes.....

Next dinner party...these are so on the menu, so beautiful,  I must give them a try!

For my next "real vacation" this is where I want to go, and not move a muscle for an entire week!

Handbag aficionado? Then by all means click here......

How amazingly good does this tabbouleh look? Yum!

I want to take a few weeks next summer and go to her cooking school...care to join me?

When I go to London not if, I sure would love to rent this magnificent apartment!

Really looking forward to this movie....looks like its going to be a good one!

I seriously need to do this....there's a lot of chatter about it and I can spare 7 minutes!

If I had a lake house, this is exactly what I would want it to look like!

Love this post on 51 incredible ways to eat vegetables!

Love topiaries like I do? Then you will loooove this post!

Took this book with me to read while away....so appropriate for a summer read. 

This recap of a mother/daugher roadtrip had me roaring with laughter......trust me you will too!

Well these should keep you busy for a while, if you have the spare time (and interest) to pursue what's excting me! Let me know if you really enjoyed one or two or three or four...... You will be missed, and I will be thinking of you and  look forward to reporting back when I am back by the weekend. Wishing you a happy and safe July 4th holiday. Until then.....

This dude is ready to get his party started!

(Don't worry Teddy, he doesn't hold a candle to you rockin your patriotic bandana) or your Christmas fedora for that matter...

Happy 4th everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Hi there, hard to believe Christmas is just a few days away. Boy, this month really flew! This mama elf is ready to call it a holiday wrap. As the saying goes...."it is what it is". As of today, what is done is done and what's not done well.....shall remain:) It's kind of a relief to know this, no more pressure, no more 14 hour days running around, sleepless nights tossing and turning over what hasn't gotten done, no more fighting crowds, strategizing for choice parking spaces, no more brainstorming about what to buy so and so etc...... It is all done. Woo hoo!

 I am going to be taking a few days off to enjoy my family and savor this magical season of togetherness, family and friends, great food, downtime and doing a whole lot of nothing!

I will be back later in the week but do want to send a heartfelt greeting to each and every one of you, may your season be bright, full of hope and happiness, laughter and smiles. I thank you for following along with me this year, 2012 and look forward to what lies ahead!  The best is yet to come......

Merry merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Finally he decides to cooperate :) 

Teddy the "homeboy" says Merry Cbristmas too (these were a few shots from a mini photo shoot)!

Mid week musings and a giveaway!!

Hi looks like this mid week musings thing is now a regular gig, so why not...a great way for me to talk about a whole bunch of randomness. Hope you are having a great week...mine is good, busy and productive. I cannot say summer has been super relaxing so far but I have managed to squeeze in some down time and the little I have had has been wonderful! I am also offering a wonderful giveaway....all details on bottom of this post.

I am actually headed to New Orleans on Friday morning and cannot wait. Its been a few years since I have been there  and I cannot wait to hit the antique shops on Royal st., indulge in french pressed coffee and a piping hot sugar laced Beignet and go to some of the wonderful restaurants we had the pleasure of visiting last time. This is absolutely NO time for a diet.....the food in New Orleans is off the hook amazing! Any suggestions are more than welcome!

For anyone else who has "a thing" for New Orleans....this book is one of my favorites. Got it about a year ago and it just captures that New Orleans essence to a tee, a really wonderful book!

Many of you are so kind to ask about sweet Teddy, he is doing well.....hair 90% grown back so its good to see him whole again. Heres a few pics of him doing what he does best......yep, relaxing!

Does he think he is CZ Guest here or what? 

I like to share the results of my weekly Which would you choose and thought it would be fun to see which girls bedrooms took the top prize from last week, so here they are in order of their votes!

1st place (and my personal favorite)!

A close 2nd place 

Tied for 3rd place

Several of the others vied for 4th place...what can I say, my readers, you have excellent taste!

Finally ordered the wallpaper for the back powder room (this is off the kitchen and the bathroom we use on a daily basis). I decided it was one of the first I loved and often times we go back to the original choices.....this was the perfect blend of something elegant but not too formal, fresh and crisp. I really like it and it gives off the exact vibe I am looking for......will finalize the check I will do the window treatments in and likely have some cute little fabric shades made for the sconces too.......

I also like covering shades with fabric for a custom touch...experimented here, me likey!

I really like Anthropologie and think they are one of the stores that are getting better and better. I recently ordered a bunch of these exquisite glasses...love love them! I am a sucker for anything etched and these look really old and are just beautiful! I cannot wait to use them....what do you think? I have found so many unique and beautiful things there.......

Can you believe I am STILL waiting (only six months and counting) on the Thomas O Brien rock crystal sconces? Crazy! But I have looked and looked for a suitable replacement to no avail....so wait I will. Every time I look at them, I realize they are perfect and I can envision them in my room so hopefully the newest delivery date of August is finally the date that I can see these babies and get them up and get this bathroom done!!!! Once they are up above the tub and at my vanity...I just need my chandelier, a chair and I am set...woo hoo!!!!

Here they are.....by Thomas O Brien

They will go above the tub and on either side of the mirror (single ones) on the vanity....

And on either side of the mirror

And very excited finally got these gorgeous Ralph Lauren sconces ordered for the living room....cannot wait to get them! They are really beautiful, leave it up to Ralph!

They will go on this wall (one either side of botanicals) as well as between all the French doors in the living room.

Moving on.....I love costume jewelry, well I love all kinds of jewelry but being paranoid about losing (lets just say I have done my share) I don't  wear "the good stuff' unless I am going to a wedding or special event and it is all locked up in a safe spot. But I love fun costume and have quite a bit, just ordered some jewelry drawer boxers/liners and cannot wait to start organizing, but in the meantime how cute is this? Its a dress form with hooks for jewelry its finished in a muslin fabric and has French writing. Believe it or not found it at Michaels for $14.99!! I love it and think it adds such a sweet whimsical touch to my closet.

Store biz......I am not going to be adding anything over the summer. While business is going wonderfully I am hoping to take a little time to enjoy summer as it goes by so fast. I have a few brackets left and this is it as well as a few other items I am just about sold out of. I am planning to revamp things come fall, phasing a few things out and adding some exciting new things, so stay tuned and thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm!

I have one of the black and gold brackets on the right and one pair of the antique white painted brackets. I am selling the one black and gold for $45.00 and the pair of large ant.white for $100. This is the very last of my brackets and these prices are far far below retail. Email me if you wan them.

Also......

Last antler pillow.......

Last gray chinoiserie pillow..........

Last small dough bowl, since I have one left I am selling this for $100 even. A great deal if you know the price of dough bowls...contact me if interested!

Last small olive tray (they will be in again sometime later August).....

Last black chinoiserie tray......$90.00

And last have two of these beautiful blue and white scalloped dishes left and that is it! These are soo pretty, I kept one for myself! If you are intersted in this item, you can purchase online (have only two left)!

If there is something in the marketplace you feel there is a lack of, or you would like to see me carry, shoot me an email. I love hearing your feedback!!

Now onto my giveaway, giving a stunning silver cake spade and a darling set of crown bookends to two lucky winners!

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog after visiting my online store and tell me an item or two that you would love to receive. That's it! I will announce a winner on Tuesday morning. Click here to visit my store.

 First the beautiful crown bookends...........

And the beautiful silver highly decorative cake spade.....

Thank you Kristy and Beth from one of my favorite blogs Design Chic for featuring my butlers pantry in your gorgeous post today about pantries!! Great post, click here to visit!

So that's my randomness for a few days. I am leaving early Friday for New Orleans and will return early next week. I will miss visiting all of my favorite blogs but it will give me something to look forward to when I get back. I do have access to my emails while gone so feel free to contact me if you need to. And if you have any must see or do suggestions for the Big Easy, please by all means pass them along! Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week and a fabulous weekend ahead! Until next week........