James is 28!

 Happy Birthday to my sweet husband!!!!!

1)  I woke up EARLY y'all to make James breakfast!  If you've ever lived with me you know what an enormous present that was! :)   German chocolate waffles & bacon!

2)  The fire department will come change the smoke detector batteries for you.  James was so excited!  Oh, and this was scheduled... not a result of my breakfast :)

3)  We are going out for Sushi tonight!  So excited to celebrate with my best friend :)

P.S.  Thank you Amanda for the sweet birthday present! I love the earrings!!!! 

P.P.S.  Wait, this post is about James?  Oh well :) 

Celebratory Coupons

One of my favorite Birthday traditions is spending the coupon that Anthropologie sends :)  Although their clothes are rarely my style I love a lot of their house & home items.  The books this year are fabulous!!!  Here are some of my top choices...

1. Foiled Dot Napkins
2. Eiffel Tower Ring Dish
3. Parisian Chic: A Style Guide
4. Fleur De Lys Teapot
5. 100 Years of Fashion
6. Tall Mercury Glass Jar
7. Monogram Keychain
8. French Flair: Modern Vintage Interiors
9. Hobnob Parlor Smoke Hurricane & Parlor Smoke Hurricane

So many fun options!!!  What to choose??? 

Time Well Spent

With all my free time not wedding planning I am wholeheartedly enjoying getting back to my favorite hobbies (notably reading, cooking, shopping & entertaining).

Reading ~ 

These two books I've read recently I would say are a must read!

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain:  written as mostly historical/biographical with fiction filling in the cracks.  It is about Ernest Hemmingway's first wife Hadley & their years in Paris.  Beautiful & tragic at the same time.

My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme:  Autobiography based on letters written by Julia & her husband during their time in Paris.  The book focuses on her love of all things French & her journey of being an acclaimed chef who pioneered the revolution of cooking in the US (away from TV dinners).

Both of the books were wonderfully inspirational.  Especially since both ladies found the adventures of the lives in their late 20's/ early 30's.   And I am now obsessed with Paris.  Trip anyone?? :)

I would not say it is a must read because everyone does not appreciate Russian novels (the Russians don't like them either), but I am re-reading Anna Karenina after seeing the movie.  I would not say the movie is a literal adaptation, it was beautiful and fascinating in its own way.   If you do decide to read it, do get the P&V translation!

Cooking ~

Thanks to Julia Child for the inspiration & for my sweet friend Erika for getting me a new cookbook (a good friend finds a classy way of finding a birthday present for you that says "I know you like to eat, enjoy!" haha).   I made a recipe from Sunday Brunch by Betty Rosbottom.

Berries with Lemon Creme Fraiche!  (it's French & fabulous)
The bacon is there because I live with a man now.  Apparently fruit & creme isn't "breakfast".

We tried to make our own copy-cat recipe for the BLT & Peppercorn salad at Pi Pizzeria!  It turned out really good despite James' heavy hand with the red onions ;)  

Entertaining ~ 

On Friday evening some lovely ladies came over to eat desserts, drink champagne & watch Liz & Dick.  Yes I DVR'd a Lifetime movie... but I really love Elizabeth Taylor!!!   The company, cookies & champagne were fabulous... the movie was lacking (probably acting ability).  But I did love all the fur coats :)  And I do feel inspired to use a red lip / heavy eyeliner look soon!   I used my new Neimans + Target dessert plates!!!  And made Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies.  Always delicious!

Shopping ~ 

... more to come soon!! :) 

Birthday Love

Monday I turned 28!  I always have loved my Birthday!  Yes, with a capital "B" it is a holiday after all.  I think having a December birthday made me cling with extra devotion to my day of birth.  No, it is not fair to send a kid a Christmas present with a card that says "Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas" nor is it ok to wrap a birthday present in Christmas paper.  Wrapping paper is cheaper than toilet paper.  Seriously?

Luckily I have a wonderful husband & very sweet friends who never make me feel slighted on my Birthday :)

The highlight of my day was being able to take off work & do whatever I wanted!  Translation ~ spend all day in my new lulu wunder unders taking it easy :)  I caught up on a few episodes of Fashion Police!  I ate a meatball sandwich from Subway for lunch!  I organized two bookshelves in the 'hoarder room'! I read a book on my Nook! I perused the many Christmas catalogs I've got in the mail! I took a nap!  Just some of my fun birthday activities :)  For an introvert ~ it was the best self present!

In the evening my dear friends & I went out to eat at Pi Pizzeria.  It is a favorite of James & I ~ very delicious pizza!  And James surprised me with a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake, a childhood fav!

Hello Lover!

Today was a day I've been waiting for.  Waiting is not the right word.  Yearning maybe more accurate :)  The second I found out about the Target + Neiman Marcus collaboration I was thrilled!!!  Little girl on Christmas morning thrilled!!  I kept following, checking & re-checking both of their websites, Facebook, social media, etc.  This was the perfect opportunity for me to buy some fun designer items without killing the budget.  After my recent marriage to a man who is great at sticking to a budget, gone are my days of falling in love with something at Neiman's and eating oatmeal until the next paycheck :) AND... the debut is Dec 1st, two days before my Birthday!  Clearly this is fate! :)

I was so excited that I woke up at 2:45 am and -yes again- stalked the social media sites.  Neiman's was selling out of items fast... and I was getting worried.  I am not the type to wake up early on a Saturday or talk much the first hour I'm awake, so James had no idea what to make of my early arise at 7 am (on my own, no alarm!) and uber excitement.  I strategically drove to the Target further out in the 'burbs (hoping that less soccer moms would be beating down the doors) and it proved to be an excellent strategy!  There was no line out the door, no drama... except me & the security guard there to watch shoppers of the collection.  I had a few quick minutes to walk around & look at everything in person before a group of about 20 ladies came.  I grabbed the three items I most wanted and left at 8:08 am before it got too busy.  I picked up some Starbucks for James & I (today also happens to be our 3-monthaversary) to celebrate.  All the while chatting with my bestie in Texas as she was in her Target.   :)   I wish we lived closer so we could lunch with our matching Tory lunch box & thermos!!!

Here are the pieces I adopted into my family:

Tory Burch Beverage Container & Lunch Box
The beverage container packaging calls it a "flask" I told James I'm going to use it to carry wine wherever I go! hehe  Found at Neiman Marcus or at Target.

Tracy Reese Set of 4 Dessert Plates
These are even more gorgeous in person & the box comes with proper foam & padding for great storage.  It has already found it's home on my new buffet table.  Now time to get desserting!  Who wants to come over? Found at Neiman Marcus or at Target.


Shop the entire collection at Target or at Neiman Marcus !  What are your favs?