How cute is this shirt

So as we all know I love Ralph Lauren and just think his stuff is soooo classic.  So I bought this shirt and wanted to share bc now it's on SALE!  Wish I had know that earlier, but oh well.  Seriously I love it and would totally recommend it!

It's perfect for spring or summer and would look great with white or khaki pants or a skirt.  It's waiting for you!

Oh no looks like the shirts left now are only X's.  Oh well

Cocktails and Friends

So last night I did not have time to blog bc I was having some girls over for cocktails.  Vitamin Sea posted about it so I'll just share her link!  She captured the night perfectly!  Since I've moved I never ever get to see my old neighbors who I just adore.  We had such a fun group of cute girls at 4505.  Even though I only moved 5 blocks away on the same street (how absurd) life just gets busy.  So this is a way for us to all get together every month and hang with some new friends as well!  One night at Mekong our idea of gathering monthly to catch up morphed into cocktail club.  So here's the post to that.

http://vitaminseava.blogspot.com/2011/02/cocktails-anyone.html

This is a perfect way for me to socialize because I am such a cocktail girl!  I probably have cocktails more than most and by more than most I mean-Nightly.  Now this could pose a major problem when pregnant, but for now I can't remember the last time I went to bed without a teeny tiny night cap.  So I decided to share my favorites.  By far number one on the list which is really hard to find in Richmond is...........

Fernet Branca an Italian Liquor that the Wilson's introduced me to.  My father in-law lived in Italy for some years growing up and his father KK religiously drank Fernet.  The best part is..... It's healthy!  No really I promise! Even Dr. Oz says to have one a day.  It's literally fermented herbs, but happens to be 80 proof.  Most people do not enjoy the taste.  It's kind of bitter, but for me I can't get enough!

NUMBER 2 FAV actually has a tie!  I know everyone who knows me well would say Black Russians hands down no questions asked and those have always been my ABSOLUTE FAV, but I have to say I've been on a huge bourbon kick lately and am actually drinking a makers on the rocks as I type.  So Makers is def my drink of choice if I'm taking that route and is actually gluten free!  Thank goodness.  But my black russians will always be in signature drink.

Number 3 is of course red wine.  I prefer Cab.  Honestly what could be better than this......

Ahhhhh how relaxing after a long day!

So what's better for socializing than Cocktail Club for a girl like me!  I'm so excited to be down on my old block next month for the St. Patty's Theme gathering.  Now I need a green dress!

Bizarre Moments

This can only be titled........ A Bizarre Moment!

I'm not quite sure where I am, what I am doing, or how I found this pig, but this is certainly a very ME Moment.  AND for the life of me.......I can not figure out why I have these moments more than any other person I know.  Thoughts?

Lily's First Birthday

The Birthday Girl was in High Spirits and was soooo cute with her matching pink monogram, pink shoes and pink bow!

The Fam was also darling!

The Girls helped decorate all morning and were ready for some fun!  E, J, and O traveled all the way from Charlotte N.C. and were a crucial ingredient for fun!

 Now I have to take a minute to post about the decor which was a bit over the top for a one year old's B-day!  Usually a first birthday includes a cookout of some sort.  No No, not for Lily.  Lily had a steel drum band, Marcel from Friends-the real Marcel who ended up pooping on me (Side note apparently Marcel attends tons of celeb parties being from LA and all and his most fav celeb is Eddie Murphy-least fav is Oprah-I have to say I'm still partial!  She will always be a fav of mine), multiple monkeys and wildlife-all of who traveled from LA and some of who bar tend, bar tenders, and servers.  I am totally staging an intervention  before the sweet 16!

 Here's the Candy Bar station for all her guests and every detail was matching to the tee.

Every single last dish, champagne bottle, wine bottle, plate, napkin, candy jar, BBQ sauce, mustard dish, water bottle, straw, and even the burgers had this logo on them some where. Nico and Lala were responsible for all of the matching decor and did an AMAZING job!  I'm pretty matchy matchy but this made me look like a slob.

If I tired to display every matching detail of this party we would be here all day!  Bless her heart, Lily is totally destine to be OCD like her mother and God Girlie!

The adults had their area to dine and had some matching themes as well.

I think you get my point on the matching and theme, which is why I'm sooo glad I got her the pink elephant bowl over the plate with the pink bear.  Was def the way to go for the theme!

 Lily just loved her "SMASH CAKE!"

And Marcel was a huge fan of the cup cakes :)

I made friends with some of the guests and even shared a smooch.

 It was WONDERFUL to be in Houston and Celebrate with Mini Girlie!  I already miss her soooo much!

Ready for a Good Night Sleep

I had a wonderful weekend which I will blog about later, but for now I am soooo glad to be home!  The older I get the more of a homebody I become!  I just love coming home to my house, my dogs, my hubby, and curling up in my bed!  Now I am even more excited to curl up in my bed because all the Lilly Bedding that I have ordered has just come in! I am soooo excited!

The Navy is for the Master Bedroom, the yellow for the guest bedroom, and the aqua for the basement.  The only room that a pair was not ordered for is the small room which will eventually be a nursery! When?????- Is a whole other topic!!!! For now it's the dog room so no beds are in there.  Although we are thinking of buying them a small day bed.  They are sooo spoiled!  I just love all the fun patterns and truly think that the bedroom needs to be a beautiful yet relaxing place for a good night sleep.  Each one of these sets fits the room it was purchased for PERFECTLY.  I get so happy when I look around a room and love what I see right before I turn out the lights! Thanks Garnet Hill and Lilly.  I always love y'alls bedding products.

LOVE

So I have to blog tonight for tomorrow if that makes sense.  I fly out to Houston tomorrow and am DEATHLY afraid of planes.  So tomorrow I will be in a heightened state of anxiety that most have never felt before OR comatose!  I prefer the comatose part before I board. But here is my blog for Friday.....

Nothing in the world is more important that your actions every single day.  Wed night I went to dinner with a friend and we began discussing grief and how in awe we are of people's resiliency.  Honestly when I worked as a hospice grief and bereavement counselor I learned sooooo much more from my patients than I could ever give them.  I am constantly inspired by people who overcome tremendous tragedy.  I def tend to think that I would crumble in their circumstances.  Today I was talking with a girl at work who is finishing her internship at the middle school I work in.  We started talking about counseling and grief and she shared with me that her mother committed suicide when she was in high school.  She told me that the reason she's going to be a counselor is to help others who have suffered.  Is there anything more beautiful than this? No matter how much I love fashion, pretty fabrics, designing, and dressing up, social work will always be my first love!  It's only by meeting people like my intern that I become grounded and find my sense of peace.  I am sooooooo amazed by the people that I meet on a daily basis and how much they give to the world.  After good conversations like I had at dinner and meeting amazing people like our intern, I feel sooooo blessed.

People who know me well know that I have a personal goal to do one nice thing for somebody else every single day.  Something beyond the requirements of my job.  Try it, it's hard!!!!! I get so fixated on the meetings that I have all day only to find myself exhausted at the end of a long work day.  I then rush home to walk my dogs, feed them, cook dinner, do chores, and wake up and do it all over again.  So I have to consciously look for opportunities throughout the day and this can be a hard task, but I would challenge everyone to take the time to look for those moments.  I believe in Karma and Fate and that nothing is more important that the Love we give!

I took this picture in Martha's Vineyard 4 years ago and have always loved it's theme!

I love Themes

So I just adore Themes and love to make sure every detail is matching and perfect!  Since Lily's invite theme was that of Pink Elephants I figured I had to go with that theme for her pres!  Since I love all things Herend I wanted to start a tradition of giving her a piece each birthday so that she will have a little collection one day.  I was dying to get her the plate from the baby collection, but what's more perfect that this........

Ahhhhhhhh Don't you just adore it!  I hope Lily isn't reading my blog today so that she is surprised on Sat!  Love you and can't wait to celebrate!  Yes, Yes, I will stop blogging about Lily after her B-day, but for now I am just soooo excited to see her and celebrate the big 1!