April's Coastal Living Magazine

Hello y'all!  I am back among the land of the living....sort of anyways.  I only went into work for a few hours this morning, but am back at my home taking it easy on the couch.  Thankfully MIL is in town for the week due to spring break, so Lallie and Granny are currently swimming in the pool.  I'm on the couch because Husband (now sick) is now cornered in the bedroom, leaving moi with a new home!  He took my humble abode away!  Oh well...at least I get to watch Tangled with Lallie!  She thinks she's Rapunzel because she has long hair and green eyes. 

Moving on, have you picked up the April 2011 issue of Coastal Living?  I hope so!  

The home of one of my favorite South Florida interior designers and shop owners, Dana Small, is featured in this month's issue!  Her shop, Matilda's (named after he daughter), located in Stuart is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in town.  Though she is not yet selling online, her website will have you drooling over the home decorating eye candy her shop sells.  I have been known to buy way too much a few things from there myself.  It is the perfect spot for purchasing hostess, birthday, teacher's and Christmas gifts, while picking up a little item for your home and ordering your own personalized stationary and Christmas cards.  

Remember my pink and green plates I received as a gift a while back (click HERE).  Those came from Matilda's.  If you've ever received a card from me or participated in a swap with me....likely the gifts and the card enclosure came from her shop.  All of this past Christmas' teacher's gifts came from Matilda's. 

Most recently, Dana opened an adjoining shop called Tilly's Too that sells clothing including Gretchen Scott.  The dress I wore for LUNAFEST (click HERE)....purchased at Tilly's Too.  

Moving on....I know these pictures are via my camera, but you must run out immediately and get the magazine.  Her home is magnificent with so much color and imagination.  And let me tell you, my mind is certainly clicking with ideas for my own home!

Enjoy!  (PS- for better and more pictures, you can visit www.shopmatildas.com! 

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Kate Spade & Tory Burch support the Japan Effort

I am sitting at home in bed, suffering from the flu.  Yuck....but that doesn't keep me from shopping.  Oh no-sir-ee! 

In case you didn't know, Kate Spade has created a tote bag with proceeds going to the Japan Crisis.  You can pre-order now HERE on Kate Spade's site for $18.00!  A great designer, a great price and a great cause!

 And Tory Burch created this t-shirt for the same effort for $29.00.  Another great designer, great price for a great cause!  You can find it on RueLaLa.  Don't have a subscription to RueLaLa?  I can help...email me at slpreppy@gmail.com or comment below with your email address and I'll send you one!

So, while you beaus and belles are out doing your other daily activities, I am going to resume laying in bed, sipping on TheraFlu and watching of Anne of Green Gables (my comfiness when I am sick).

Happy Thursday Y'all!

Latest Obsessions…in yellow!

I haven’t done a latest obsessions post in a while, so here it goes!  And….shockingly, nothing will be from the pink or green category!  Gasp!

This patent treesh bag by Kate Spade in the yellow seersucker.  The wallet to go with it wouldn’t be half bad either!

This adorable little warmer from Scentsy in yellow and white polka dot with tropical scents.  How springy?

The Lela Shift Lace in Starfruit Yellow from Lilly Pulitzer.

Adorable and classis monogram stationary from Silhouette Blue on Etsy.

Tiffany Bezet Yellow Diamond Ring from Tiffany & Co.  GORGEOUS!

Juicy Couture floppy hat seen at Bloomingdales.

Gorgeous yellow furniture coming this summer to Lilly Pulitzer from HFI Brands.

Kate Spade Tipsy flat.

This adorable outfit for Lallie from Blessed Be the Name.

 

Can’t forget Husband…..loving this beachy tie from Vineyard Vines.

And speaking of Vineyard Vines….have you had a chance to check out the new spread of clothing coming out in April.  Vineyard Vines is the official clothing line of this year’s Kentucky Derby and everything is so classic and adorable.  Very appropriate for the Derby.  I think I like that dress the best! 

Happy Wednesday Y’all!

Mary, Mary….How Does Your Garden Grow?

Quite well, actually.  Thanks for asking! 

As you know, Husband built these lovely and large raised garden boxes so we could plant and grow fresh vegetables above the sandy soil of Florida.

Here’s Lallie helping to plant some strawberries a few weeks ago.

And here we are planting the seeds for lettuce, cucumbers, peas, beans, zucchini, onions, radishes and green peppers and plants for more tomatoes and jalapenos.  

Here our our beautiful vegetables so far, about 3 or 4 weeks after planting (please excuse our ficus hedge, it did not fair well in the winter freeze of 2010.

Strawberries are in the pots.

OH how I cannot WAIT to pluck these off the vine!!!  Tomatoes at the grocers here leave much to be desired.  But these tomatoes are tasty, tasty, tasty and we can hardly STAND leaving them there to finish ripening.  After all, we’re southern…..we do love a good fried green tomato! 

And this is our rabbit, our pet if you will.  He’s come back year after year to visit us and we’ve always had fun watching him hop around the yard.  Until now.  This little fur-ball is nibbling our plants!  Ack!  Husband wants to give it lead poisoning, which would destroy Lallie’s little heart (of course, not in front of her).  I suggest we just put up some wire fencing.  We haven’t decided yet.

Oh,how I can’t wait for everything to be ready to eat and fill our tummy’s!  Lallie is even excited about eating vegetables.  She’ll eat a tomato off the vine, but she won’t eat one from the store!  Frankly and based on what I said above, I don’t blame her!

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

Snarky!

Lately, I've been a little snarky and un-southern.  Really, even Miss SLPS has a “not so Lilly-esque” side.  I've been running around my Florida neighborhood with my University of Kentucky flag in tow, just to rub in the fact we're SEC Champions 2011 over the Florida Gators.

I've been posting to facebook snarky statements like, "Yes, Mockingjay is finally mine at the library.  If you're looking for it, you can't have it for two weeks, bwahahaha!" 

Okay - I deleted that last one because it was too snarky, even for me.

By definition, snarky means unpleasant and scornful.  So I wouldn't exactly say I was being unpleasant or scornful (well, unless you're a Gators fan).

For some reason, I was thinking (which can be disastrous): what other words, made up or real, do I use in my everyday vernacular, most people having no idea what they mean?  Other than “snarky".

Well, look....I found one of those nifty word putter-together-picture-making-thingys.  I used a shamrock for obvious reasons and of course, my signature color, and filled it with words that mean some sort of something in my life.

Most of these have come into use over the years through Auntshleigh (my BFF, sister, Lallie’s Godmother and oldest friend), all having some sort of inner meeting.

I feel I must explain "Snoofballs."  For some odd reason, Lallie calls the movie Night at the Children's Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian "snoofballs."  I have no clue why, some crazy night with Lallie and Husband while I was off Junior Leaguing.  So picture this:  Lallie wants to watch Snoofballs.  Mommy has no idea what Snoofballs is or where she heard that word (also getting concerned).  Lallie proceeds to throw a super tantrum which lasts about 30 minutes until Husband walks in the door and says "Oh Snoofballs....that’s the movie."  End tantrum.

Really?  Note to Husband.  When making up new words with Lallie, please inform Mommy of said word.  Thank you.

I'm curious to know what words you use daily that mean something only to you.  I might steal them and start using them myself.  I love talking in code. 

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That being said, I'm out for the rest of the week.  You know my dear soon-to-be sister-in-law Jess (Husband's brother's fiancée)?  Well, her wedding shower is this weekend, so I'm taking a trip to Kentucky to be with her (less Lallie and Husband who will be staying here).  After all, I am one of her bridesmaids so I'd like to be there for her big day!  Speaking of that....note to self, call bridal store to find out when dress will be arriving.

Happy Weekend Y'all!

Lilly Luncheon, Basketball, Sewing and a Winner!

You’ll have to forgive my blog titles….I never know what to say.  I’m just not witty enough to come up with something cute, so an outline will have to do! 

Sunday, our local Dillard’s hosted my Junior League for a Lilly Luncheon to debut the spring line of Lilly Pulitzer!  Yours truly hosted the fun event, sending out the invites and gathering up the models, thereby providing Dillard’s with many willing and ready buyers!  Dillard’s and their management did a fantastic job, serving us with a wonderful brunch with everything decorated in our favorite pink and green designer! 

I walked away with the Cissy skirt in Peel and Eat, a jean skirt and the Lana top in hotty pink.  Love the Lana top, I think I need it in every color.  Tee hee hee.

Sunday afternoon, I worked on one of the dresses for Lallie I posted about on Friday.  Other than needing a little shortening, I think it turned out adorable and Lallie couldn’t wait to try it on and model!  The white fabric has little yellow polka dots on it, very spring and summer.

Boy, Sunday  was a packed day.  That afternoon we watched the SEC Championship against the Florida Gators.  So, of course, when Kentucky won, I had to show my Kentucky pride…..in a very LOUD and obnoxious statement such as…..oh, running up and down the street with our HUGE Kentucky flag.  I know, I know….very un-southern, but when you live in Gator country, listening to them gloast all year long, one has to make a statement when we fight back.  Mmmmm….mmmm, fried gator was awfully tasty that night!

(I know….it’s awful, but I’m not going to apologize!)

And oh…okay, I guess I should announce the winner of the blogoversary giveaway….the book Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown was up for grabs.

And to prove, Ashleigh, that you were in the running, I took a picture proving you were in the pot.

However, I am sad to say that you weren’t the winner (cue, email from Ashleigh asking when she’s going to win something).

The winner was (drum roll please):

Please email me at slpreppy@gmail.com with your address so I can mail your copy of the book.  Congratulations!!

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

 

Back in the Saddle Again…

My sewing saddle anyways.  Now that life has slowed down a bit, I’m super excited to get back to my favorite hobby of sewing.  I have several fabrics in my sewing room waiting to be cut and pieced, all super colorful and perfect for the coming spring and fall.  Here are a few things I have in store.

Is this not the CUTEST dress ever?  And it’s actually quite easy to make, don’t let the banded fabric fool you.  It’s a lot easier then most imagine.  I found this pattern at Tiny Tot Patterns on Etsy. 

Also at Tiny Tot Patterns is this dress.  I actually think I’m going to make this a tunic rather than a dress and make some adorable white capris with matching pink frill around the bottoms.

Last in the docket is this Any Day Dress from Cuddles N Chaos on Etsy. 

Though I’m not making a straight dress.  Rather, I’m going to use the pattern for the top of the dress (with the buttons) and attempt to make this dress.  It is a layered dress with the back open.  I’ve been looking at this dress for a few days and I think I’ve got the pattern down in my head of what attaches where and what needs to be sewn first. 

My plan is to have these three outfits completed by May, which gives me plenty of time with my work schedule.  I would love Lallie to wear these dresses when we head up north for my brother-in-law’s wedding!  There will be lots of festivities, so it would be fun to dress Lallie up in adorable, frilly outfits. Lallie, Husband and I are all in the wedding, so these dresses would be for pre and post wedding activities.  All three outfits could either be worn with a cardi or shirt underneath should it still be cooler weather while up north.

I’m really not too worried about the first two dresses, I’m really pretty good at following patterns.  I’m only worried about the bottom one, making sure that I measure the correct amount of fabric for the attachment to the top of the dress.  Of course, Lallie will also have to do a little cooperating as I measure her for the dress too! 

Last but not least, I’m going to make Lallie a crayon roll.  She LOVES to color and we color wherever we go whether it be church, travel or a restaurant.  I think I’ll make a few extras for gifts as well as birthdays etc., come about.

Wish my luck!!

Happy Friday Y’all!