Thirty-One Online Party

Good morning y’all!  I am hosting an online Thirty-One party!  I was introduced to Thirty-One by my lovely friend Auntsleigh a/k/a Lallie’s Godmother a while back.  Then, I contacted my local consultant to be at our JL LUNAFEST fundraiser.  I loved her stuff, I said, let’s host an online party!! 

If you’d like an invite, please comment below with your email address or email me directly at slpreppy@gmail.com.  I will then email you the link and catalog so you can browse everything online including the pattern choice, monogram choices and all the bright and super preppy colors they have to offer!

I LOVE the Little Carry-All totes.  Look how cute these would be for little Easter baskets….aren’t they darling?

My favorite is the beach tote and scarf (my most recent purchase….I love the tote and it’s bright colors.  Of course, you can get any of the hundreds of products in so many different designs and combinations!  I also love the multiple types of insulated totes, and they are all very, very reasonably priced.

Monogramming….no problem.  It’s $6.00 flat (no paying by the letter, so if your name is fourteen letters long…you’re not paying $14.00, just $6.00!)

And, during the month of March, spend $31.00 and get a purse (on page 42 of the catalog) for 1/2 price.

For the kid’s Thirty-One items, including the boys and girls burp cloths and bibs, hooded towels and gift sets.  Perfect for the newly arrived bundle of joy.   OR, think about that end of the year teacher’s gift.  Yep, you can get this same pattern in the totes and purses too!

   

My current favorites are all the different organization sets you can get (in any of their pattern choices).  The door organizer, the file organizer, the bins, baskets and customized stationary items.

Hey, it never hurts to browse!  Again, my email is slpreppy@gmail.com.

Happy Wednesday Y’all!

Junior League & Lilly Pulitzer Team-Up

I am LOVING this Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf designed for us Junior Leaguers!  I am the host of a Junior League luncheon at our local Dillard’s that sells Lilly this coming Sunday.  I was already excited about hosting for my friends without hearing about this fab news!  Now I’m even more excited as the new scarf will be there for our viewing.  Yay!

I couldn’t be happier with the gorgeous pink and green print!

Added to my wish list – double check!

What do y’all think?

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

Spring Cleaning / Going Green

Yep, you heard right, it’s that time of the year again.  But I don’t know about you, I’m constantly cleaning year-round.  Yes, there are the once every few months things, the curtains and the carpet cleaning etc., but I’m talking about good ole de-germination of the things we use every single day.

As you know, over the past several months, I have gotten to know quite a bit about the Breast Cancer Fund.  It was one of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser I recently chaired.  As a result, I’ve started looking a little closer at the everyday chemicals and products we use in our homes and in and on our bodies.  I encourage you to view the site and educate yourselves as well.

Oh my stars…..did you know about all the harmful chemicals in these products?  Breast cancer isn’t the only disease that has a link to cleaning chemicals I won’t even go into the details, but this website HERE has a wonderful article. 

After doing even more research, I discovered that safe cleaning is not hard at all….even for this busy working and volunteering mommy and wife!

So, I am starting a trial of using “greener” cleaning products by making my own homemade cleansers for three reasons:

1)  This is WAY healthier for me and my family.

2) It’s WAY less expensive then purchasing ready-made harmful chemical products

3) It’s green and better for the environment, always a plus.

So, where to begin.  From a combination of websites like Earth Justice, Organized Home and Eartheasy, I have discovered these recipes.

First you need to gather these supplies (let me guess, you already have most of these products right?):

• Spray bottles
• Glass jars (mason jars work great)
• White Distilled vinegar
• Borax (instead of bleach)
• Castile soap like Dr. Bonner’s (can be bought at Target)
• Baking soda
• Vegetable glycerin
• Lemon juice
• Essential oils (like lavender or mint)
• Olive oil

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General All Purpose Cleaners

Recipe 1:  1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water and 20 drops of essential oil (for smell good).

Recipe 2:  1/2 cup vingear, 1/2 gallon water, oil drops, 1/4 cup baking soda (OR 1 tsps Borax)

The vinegar smell is a little strong at first, but dissipates very quickly and takes all the other smells with it.  Add a little baking soda for tougher jobs.

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Fabric Softener

I’ve been using this for quite some time now as a “de-smeller,” had no idea it was a fabric softener too!  Just add 1 cup to the rinse cycle (less for smaller loads).

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Toilet Cleanser

1 cup vinegar with 1/4 baking soda.  Pour into toilet and let sit until done foaming and then clean as usual.  For ring around the toilet (or bathtub), remove some of the water, make a past of vinegar and baking soda and rub along the rings and let sit for a few minutes.

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Soft Scrub

I am always using this on my Corian sink, my hands smell so chemically afterwards….not anymore!

2 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup castile soap, 4 tsps vegetable glycerin, few drops of oil for smell….keep in a glass jar for up to 2 years!

__________________________________________________________________Furniture Polish

1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup vinegar with a few drops of oil for smell.  Slightly dampen cloth and use.

No worries, it is essentially the same thing as Pledge, just without the butane, silicones and propane.  (I thought that stuff was only for your car?)

__________________________________________________________________Window Cleaner

This one I actually got from Crazy Domestic today, she just posted it actually.  While Windex is not the most dangerous chemical on the market (at least as much as has been disclosed), if you want, you can always make homemade glass cleaner.  Me – this is one I’m not running out to get as it’s still alcohol and ammonia (which remember…..ammonia and bleach DO NOT MIX!  Danger Will Robinson, Danger!)

1 tbsp ammonia, 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/2 tsp dawn and 1 cup water

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Grout Cleaner

I tried this one last night and it actually works!! (even better than Tilex…I can hardly breath with that stuff around!)  Though I would not suggest using this on sand grout, just bathroom grout that is less porous.

mix equal parts kosher salt and baking soda with some lemon juice.

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And of course, never underestimate the power of good oil soap and water.

My mom, the microbiologist, has said for years that anti-bacterial soap is not a great invention as everyone has made it out to be.  Yes, I do carry the little bottle of gel with me for those times I can’t get to a restroom, but plain ole soap and water is the best for killing off those bad germs and keeping those good ones that help kill off the bad ones.

Happy Spring Cleaning Y’all!

Blogoversary, Books & Giveaway

It’s my birthday!  My blogoversary that is!  (Well, technically it’s on Sunday, March 6th, but I don’t blog on the weekends so we’re going to celebrate today!) 

Two years ago I started this little blog under a different name and totally different premise and here we are, 404 posts later, a completely different blog!

I actually signed up for blogger in early 2008, but didn’t post a single word until 2009 when I gussied up the confidence to write something.  I wrote a little ditty about the now nicknamed “Lallie” and titled the blog after our family (which has now changed for obvious “creepy trolling basement living internet people” reasons!).  The blog was intended for far-away family and friends, to keep up with the SLPS family happenings and most importantly, Lallie’s growing years.

Two years later, I am a committed Lilly Pulitzer, pink and green, shoe-aholic South Florida girl with a love of skin care, clothes, Florida living and of course, raising my southern family and dog.  Of course, I’ve always been this person, but I guess you could say I was “in the closet.”  In between the important posts about family happenings and Lallie’s latest adventures, I’ve posted about recipes (though I despise cooking), decorating, moving homes, fashion, skin and hair care, God, books, Junior League and so much more!  It’s become a hodge-podge diary of whatever is floating on my mind that particular day.

Along this journey, I’ve made some amazing blog friends and have had the opportunity to meet some of them.  Those of us who haven’t met fantasize of Pink & Green Girl’s trips over email and exchange letters and cards in “snail mail.”  One day, I tell you, one day we shall meet! 

I’ve also become aware of things I might never have encountered should I have not started blogging (most of this being to my Husband’s wallet’s dismay!)  You all know what I mean, and I’ll leave this subject there!

But most importantly,  I’ve been able to keep our far away family connected to us with pictures and stories of our daily lives.  Never in my life would I have imagined the friends and nearly 500 followers that have found this little blog interesting.  And of course, for those of you that comment…most of you being dear blog friends, our conversations have been fabulous and I look forward to many more.

Okay….now that the sentimental part is out of the way…..

Y’all know how much I love to read!  My reading list is huge and is ever growing.  How do I keep track?  With a lovely little page on my blog called Books and Reviews.  If you check in every once in a while, you’ll see my list of books to read, that are being read and those that I have read along with a little review.  I have a long list, but tend to read about three books per month among everything else I do.  People ask me how I do it and I honestly don’t know….I just find time, “me time” if you will.

A book on my list is Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown.  I came across this book recently through a good Junior League friend and while I haven’t read the book yet, it has received impeccable reviews and is on my May reading list for May book club.  As part of my blogoversary….I am giving away a copy of this book to a loyal SLPS reader!

Here’s how to enter:

1)  Be a follower of this blog

2)  What is your favorite read, possibly one that 'I will add to my list.

That’s it….no facebook, no twitter, no re-tweeting here or liking me there.  Just follow and list a book.  Of course, I’d be much obliged if you linked up on your blog, but that is not required

This will end on Friday March 11th at midnight….so post away!  I can’t wait to see what you comment!

Happy Friday Y’all!

Pink & Green Thursday

I saved this one tidbit about the fundraiser to save for today….Pink & Green Thursday.

You may remember my post here on fabulous new bags I’ve recently discovered.

Well, on Friday night, I purchased one from Susan Tancer of Unframed Studios.  I picked….surprise…..the pink and green floral (I’m thinking hibiscus?) hand painted bag. 

Isn’t it gorgeous?!?!?  Here’s a picture of me with the bag (I cropped out my head due to my eyes being closed, but if gives you an idea of the size of the bag.)  It’s SO me, isn’t it!

 

It opens full length and folds down.  The flower is clip on so you can use with or without.  The inside is lined with a matching green satin.  The bag just makes me feel so girly and I know it will be one I’ll enjoy for a long time to come. 

Here, you can see my bag on the Spring Gift Guide of Vive Magazine April/May 2010 issue with a different flower.

(Photo courtesy of Unframed Studios)

I adore this bag and can’t WAIT to use it on my next night out on the town.  What do y’all think?

Happy Thursday Y’all!

Pool, Tomatoes, Fundraising & Dr. Seuss!

I am FREE!  The fundraiser is over!  It was a fantastic event with lots of wonderful ladies and we raised a great deal of money for the Junior League and the Breast Cancer Fund.  And now…..I can officially breathe!  Here’s a picture of me with some of my fellow league members (everyone pictured here from the financial side of operations.)

Saturday, I was the walking dead.  I didn’t get myself (or Lallie) out of pajamas until 4 pm.  I didn’t make any phone calls, I didn’t clean, I didn’t do a thing except relax and play with Lallie.  Lallie got up from her nap around 4 pm and I then decided to put “real” clothes on her….a mere 4 hours before bedtime. 

Sunday, we swam in the pool.  Our first swim of the season.  It was about 85 degrees but windy, so we were cold if we didn’t stay underneath the water.  The pool was heated to about 83 degrees so it was a like a sauna.  Lallie has apparently forgotten how to swim since October.  We’ll keep working on it though.

Isn’t her little Janie and Jack bathing suit adorable?  She got it for her 3rd birthday back in July, a size 2, and it’s still al little big, but too, too cute! (Don’t mind our solar blanket in the background….it’s the reason we' re even able to get into the pool this early in the season, holds in the heat!)

Our FIRST FLORIDA TOMATO EVER!! 

This is big news y’all.  Florida soil is awful and unless you have just the right amount of sun and plant in the right time of the year, tomatoes are impossible to grow.  And after 10 years….we have successfully grown tomatoes (well, Husband has successfully grown tomatoes ….giving credit where credit is due).  Look at all those green ones getting ready to ripen!  Even Lallie took a bite and loved it!  We are having loads of soil delivered tomorrow to fill the three planter boxes Husband built and perfect timing for planting fresh veggies!

Smells yummy!  (Notice Lallie’s ability to accessorize early on).

Last but not least and speaking of growing things in a garden….Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!  Yesterday, for our local library’s Seussabration, I was able to choose a Dr. Seuss book, read it to a class of Pre-Voluntary Kindergarten students at a local elementary school and then donate the book to the school. 

The Pre-K class is getting ready to learn about plants and how they grow.  So I chose the book Oh Say Can You Seed starring the Cat in the Hat.  The kids loved the book (and they insisted I wear my hat) .  I had a wonderful time reading to the kids, telling them about my own daughter and listening to their adorably cute questions.

Ta-Ta For Now!

Happy Wednesday Y’all! 

 

Pink and Green Thursday: Gretchen Scott

I don’t have much time, but I will divulge the dress I am wearing for the Junior League fundraiser tomorrow night. 

Gretchen Scott (gasp….I know, it’s not LILLY, oh my stars!)

Unfortunately, I just didn’t have time to get to C. Orrico (who does carry Gretchen Scott) to pick up something, so I went to a downtown shop that sells Gretchen Scott and got this Cotton You Dress in pink garden.  The picture really doesn’t do it justice as the colors are really bright.  It is quite low-cut, so I am wearing a white tank underneath. 

It is so comfy for the long night, yet stylish and dressy enough for the event.  I am wearing it with my linaria and white Emma classic monogram Stephen Bonanno Sandals.  

Part of the reason I like Gretchen Scott’s designs is because the Lilly Pulitzer tunics are just too big for me in the waist area.  I have an hourglass figure and unfortunately, this is one bodytype in which Lilly’s tunics just don’t work!  Gretchen Scott’s tunics however, do fit my body type well.  So it’s a win-win for me!

So, wish me luck tomorrow!  I’m signing off until next week!

Happy Thursday Y’all!