Where Were You?

Hubs and I were floating around in our pool on Saturday during Lallie's nap, having one of our weekend shoot-the-breeze conversations, and we started talking about "where were you" situations.

I can remember where I was when Jerry Garcia died.  It was 1995 and I had just graduated from high school and my friend, Laura and I, were out driving around P-Town looking for our friends.  We found them, hanging out in our friend, Chris' house with all the candles lit and Jerry music blaring from the house.  We didn't interupt them.

I can remember the day I found out I was pregnant with Lallie.  It was the same day as our friends, Mike and Rachel, gave birth to their baby boy, Aidan.  We were at home and told them "we look forward to hearing that in 9 months," to which they replied with screams and yells.  We had suffered several miscarriages but this one was a sign from God, as we had just decided two weeks earlier, with great heartache, not move to Atlanta, despite job offers. 

I can remember where I was the day my baby brother was born.  It was 1985 and I was staying with The Hadley's that lived behind us on our first street.  My dad drove up, asked me if I wanted to go visit him and then took me to see mom and Chris.  After that, I remember nothing about his birth.

I can remember where I was for the Challenger.  It was 1986 and I was in 3rd grade.  The whole class, along with the rest of America, watched it all happen on TV.  I can still remember the classroom and the teacher's shock.  I don't remember how the situation was handled.

I can remember where I was when I was told Ashleigh was going to be my sorority little sister.  I had never met her and was asked at lunch, in the Raf, at Transy to pick her up.  I was a junior and she was a sophomore and she just happened to be sitting at a table across the restaurant from me.  Being the personable person I am, I wanted to immediately know more about her.  So I went over to her lunch table where she and the two other girls looked at me like, why are you so interested all of the sudden (because I couldn't yet reveal my intentions)?  No worries though, we are still best friends to this day, she was my Maid of Honor and she is now Lallie's Godmother.

I can remember the day I found out a high school classmate had died of Lupus.  We had gone to college together as well and unfortunately, were not close at all, though we had been quite close all through middle and high school.  It was a year or two after college and I was still in Lexington, Kentucky.  I had just left the mall and was sitting at the stop light to get onto Nicholasville Road.  My mom called and told me.  I cried.

I remember where I was when Kurt Cobain died.  It was 1994 and I was in Gulf Shores, Alabama on spring break with Laura and it was (I think) the day before we took her big brother, Brad, to the airport to serve in the Army in Germany for two years.  It was a rough couple of days for her (us).  We sat in front of the TV all day watching the news and then the next day, Laura had to send her brother off.  It was quite a humbling experience, sending someone off to serve, and I gained a newfound respect for all those who serve and their families that support them.  He later served in the war on terror and lost his leg to a suicide bomber.

I can remember the day George Bush left office.  We had watched the inauguration of the new President all day, as regardless of your party, it was quite exciting.  At the end of the evening, as Bush was getting on the plane to leave the White House, I began to tear up and then Lallie, who was about 16 or 17 months old, but barely speaking (she was a late talker), waved at the TV and said "Bye Bye Bush."

My dad served in the Army and one of my fondest memories is him coming home from a two-week training session.  He brought me Michael Jackson's Thriller album.  The one with the white tiger on the center spread.  He gave it to me in our front foyer.  One other time, he brought me home a Strawberry Shortcake doll.

I can remember where I was the first time Husband said he loved me.  We were at a restaurant called Shamrock's in Lexington eating our favorite thing ever, Irish Nachos, when he said he loved me.  He later left to go the restroom and I sat there and cried.  It was February 19th, 2001.

What are some of your fondest and most impressionable memories?

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra

Name me someone who doesn't lust over Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra.  I bet you can't.  It is just so pretty and dainty and unbelievably expensive.

So pretty.

(forum.purseblog.com)

(www.jewelrypublisher.com)

(www.diamondring.com)

Unfortunately, the thought of ever owning a genuine Van Cleef in my lifetime, is pretty close to zip.

But, I found this great Etsy website, NY Metals, that seems to have pretty decent "knock-offs" (for lack of a better word).

They seem pretty, dainty and very similar without being exactly like a Van Cleef (as I don't think you in copies).  Really, I just like the style, whether it's Van Cleef, Etsy or in between.  I just like the clovers.

These are some pictures from the Etsy site.

$65.00 for this chain.

 

$34.00 for these Mother of Pearl earrings.

She has lots of other great jewelry as well.

By the way, don't forget to visit my latest blog sale!  The link is at the top of the blog to the right.

Happy Tuesday y'all.

Our Weekend

We had a great weekend.  A busy one, but a great one!

Friday, Husband went fishing and came home with Tilefish and Red Snapper. Yummy!  We ate fried fish all weekend. Even Lallie enjoyed it!

On Friday, Lallie also graduated from her first round of swim school with a medal. She was SO proud of her medal and happily posed for pictures. I guess it’s time to start a knick-knack scrap book!

On Saturday, we went to buy Lallie some swim toys as congratulations on her recent accomplishment. Later that day, I completed my Pottery Barn knock-off paintings for Lallie’s big girl room (I’ll reveal them soon, but here’s PB Kids paintings). 

(courtesey of Pottery Barn Kids.com)

Lallie and Daddy then trimmed the robellini palm tree and Lallie discovered sead pods.  They peel open like a bananna and she just thought it was the neatest thing in the world. 

These would actually make a pretty cool decoration.

Later, our friends, Mike, Aidan and Lauren came over to play in the pool and sprinkler and to eat dinner.

Sunday, we went to the beach with our friends Niki, Turner and Merritt. We had so much fun. I forgot that we have a screened in pool at the house and therefore, have automatic UV protection. Well, this is not the case at the beach, so my back is burnt to a crisp! Ouch!  No worries, Lallie had plenty of strong sunscreen on herself.

Also on Sunday, I made Lallie a whale pillow for decoration in her big girl room (I figured if I get started a few months before her birthday, I might have everything finished!).  I won’t be revealing Lallie’s new room and décor until closer to her birthday, so you’ll just have to wait!

Sunday night, Daddy cooked us steaks and potatoes (Lallie go Mommy’s special chicken nuggets) and then, for a great ending to a great weekend, Daddy surprised us with Rocky Road ice cream! Lallie ate it so fast, she got her first head freeze. Can you believe that she actually laughed when it happened?

 

Summer Wish List

I have been looking at getting a Louis Vuitton for a while now: putting Coach aside and moving on after many years of loyalty.  Thanks to Blue Eyed Bride, I have found the one I would love.  The Galleria PM. I love it and it's perfect for my particular purse needs.

I recently went to Macy's to pick up a wedding gift and fell in love with Martha Stewart's cast iron casseroles and a particular place setting.  You can still get the pale blue casseroles on sale (not on the website) and the green place setting is perfect for my dining room decor.  It's still in the planning stages, but I plan on using this green color.  It's just happy!

 

Of course, I can't go through a wish list without some clothing and accessories!

J. Crew ankle stretch toothpick jeans.  Yes ladies, I am breaking out of my shell and wishing for white jeans.  Who would have ever thought?  I love them!

For the pool, I nearly purchased this hat from The Limited on my recent trip to Kentucky.  It is kind of a shimmery gold, floppy without covering your eyes so you can't see and is really quite adorable.

Of course, what good is a hat without a bathing suit or sunglasses?  Lilly Pulitzer (surprise, surprise) is my go-to for summer outerwear.  Pink and green, can't go wrong!

I was introduced to these sunglasses in Kentucky.  I was wearing my Tory Burch flats and the Sunglass Hut sales person noticed and showed me her sunglasses.  I love them and they fit me perfectly!  Not the black ones, but the brown leather ear parts with gold clasp and tortoise shell eye bands, the lenses a little gold (I don't know sunglass terminology, forgive me).  Tres chic.

Last but not least, Stella and Dot.  I really would like this necklace and am hoping to get it for free at my upcoming Stella and Dot trunk show at the end of the month.

Anyone want to buy something and credit it to my show so I can get this for free?  Anyone?  You know where to find me! :-)

What is on your summer wish list?

Pepsi Equals Weight Gain. How Did This Happen?

(Update - I should prefaced this by saying no comments from the peanut gallery before posting this - Hubs has already called me with a lecture).

I have gained three pounds over the last 6 weeks.  My clothes are slowly but surely being weened out of my summer closet because they are too small.  

Why?

Because of the move to our new office.

You see, our new office is REALLY nice  Travertine floors, marble countertops in the file area, wainscotting, custom framed pictures and huge offices.

We also have a state-of-the-art kitchen in which Mr. Bossman decided to start stocking the fridge for his employees with this:

In the five years I've worked for Mr. Bossman, this has never been in option.  I've always had my own water and that's what I drank all day long.  Now with the option to have Pepsi fourteen times a day, I'm taking it (plus the coffee).

Now, this is not a good thing. 

Caffeine + sugar = weight gain + heart palpitations

Some of you know I have a mild heart condition.  Nothing serious but I've had two procedures to "cure" it (for lack of better words) and they have both been unsuccessful.  No worries, I'm heavily medicated, but the caffeine and sugar is making my heart jump and palpitate.  Not a good feeling if you have those.

Not to mention my teeth.  This soda is NOT good for them either.

So, how am I going to combat my addition to Pepsi?  Because right now, I'm reading this post and thinking, "eh, heart jumping, bad teeth, weight gain?  Whatever! I'm having a Pepsi!"

Oh, this is going to be difficult!

(And in all fairness to Pepsi Co., I can't completely blame them.  There are Coke products as well - I can't think of all the different companies, but you get my drift.  We are well stocked).

Happy Friday y'all!

The Almost 3 year old

What is my little Lallie up to these days?

 

(I think that's a sticker on her head).

1.  She's taking swim lessons all this week.  So far, she can swim 5- 6 feet by herself, knows to go to the wall and can take a breath while swimming.

2. Daddys said to her the other "Is that neat or what?"  Lallie responded "what," as if neat and what were options.

3.  At a friends house for dinner, a 2.5 year old boy through his cup and was taken to his room for time out.  Lallie said under her breath "uh oh, he's gonna get it."

4.  Lallie is learning how to cut paper with scissors and doing very well (even though she's right-handed and cuts with her left).

5.  Lallie's current favorite color is yellow and her current favorite book is "Princess Bess Gets Dressed."

6.  She yells at the dog telling him to quit drinking out of the toilet "No dog, out, toilet not for dogs!"  Then she flushes the toilet and puts the seat down while giving him the steely eye.  It's hilarious.  She still hasn't figured out his name, and when is asked, she says Duke, which is actully our neighbor's dog.

7.  We are practicing chewing with our mouth closed.  It is the funniest looking thing I've ever seen (well, not ever, but it's pretty cute).  I'll have to get a video.

8.  She loves to go fwimming and usually insists on wearing her green babysuit.

9.  Favorite song is "Old MacDonald" and some song about a rubber duck that she sings at school.  She gets very frustrated when I don't sing it right (note to self, learn rubber duck song).

10.  She has become a cheerleader.  She has pom-poms and recently took interest in them. She loves to spell her name out loud.

What special things are your little ones doing right now?

Happy Thursday y'all? (It is Thursday, right?  Note to self, check what day it is).

Do you LUSH? LUSH cosmetics that is!

I do.  But only recently.

Ashleigh introduced me to it and I am in LUSH love!

It's actually a funny story.  LUSH cosmetics has had a store inside the Louisville Macy's for some time now.  Ashleigh has always talked about it and she was going to buy Lallie some bubble bath a while back, but I told her no because Lallie has "issues" with bubble baths, though she loves them.

Well, Ashleigh took me to LUSH this weekend and I bought a couple of bath bombs for Lallie.  You know, the fizzy bombs.  Asheigh had mentioned that she LOVES the bombs and they smell so good and make her skin so soft.

I bought nothing else.

While driving to the store Why Louisville?, Ashleigh gave me the LUSH speil, the "core values" as LUSH calls them.

LUSH products are all organic made from fresh veggies and fruits.

Each product is made by hand, they use little to no presevatives and each product has a date made stamp and sticker showing who made the product.

They do not test on animals.

They have a recycling program.  Something like, bring five tubs of used product back, get one free.

Their bubble baths are very gentle and were made because of people like Lallie, who can't tolerate bubble baths.

So, after hearing all of this, I made Ashleigh drive back to the mall so I could buy more (and then found out that they just opened a store in Palm Beach!  Yippee!)

Between Ashleigh and I, we bought:

Bath melts (me) - haven't tried yet but I'm told that I will be in love because they smell so good (really) and make your skin so soft!

Bubble bars (me) - lasts about three baths and whoa nelly, big time bubbles!  I mixed the bubbles with the bath bomb (shaped like a robot) and Lallie REFUSED to get out of her bath last night until the bubbles were gone.  Let me tell you, this took quite.a.while!

Massage bar (Ashleigh) - for cuticles, skin etc. (not a bath bar, people keep these at their office to use when on the phone etc.)

Lemony Flutter cuticle butter (me)- Because all my cuticles and rough areas (heels) desperately need this!  This tub will last forever and it's fantastic stuff.

Fair Trades foot lotion (Ashleigh) - she said her feet were still tingling (in a good way) the morning after using this stuff!

Tea Tree Water Facial Toner (Ashleigh) - she swears by this toner and refuses to use anything but.

Ashleigh also bought a Lettuce mask, but it has to be kept cold and therefore, is not on the website.  You can only buy in the stores.  She loves it and we were supposed to use it while we were up there (maybe 4-5 masks per tub), but we forgot.  I will be trying it out though.

So, if you don't LUSH, will you be LUSH-ing soon?

Happy Tuesday y'all!