My Needs & Wants by #1

For years, the Mister and I have tried to teach our girls the difference between needs and wants.  One of our children caught onto this concept; the other one -  she who shall not be named - not so much.  I'll let you figure out which is which.

In any case, I bribed asked my #1 if she would do a guest post for me.  She agreed but nothing comes without a price.

Without further adieu, my #1's favorite haves, needs, and wants.  

As with all my guest posts, I reserve the right for commentary.

1. HAVE: Ray-Ban Aviators

I know I have mentioned these before, but they are THAT great. I swear they are almost indestructible and (I'm on pair number 4 but only because Ray-Ban hasn't developed a tracking system on lost pairs...) they look great with any outfit.

The Mister has considered buying stock in Ray-Ban because of all the replacement pairs that we have bought #1 in the past 5 years. Now, don't think she's spoiled, she always promises to pay us back.  We're still waiting.

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2. WANT: Jack Rogers Lauren Sandals in Cognac

My mom, sister, and I have a bit of an addiction to Jack Rogers.  I love this pair because they are so different than the others.  Thankfully, I have been blessed with thin, beautiful feet (unlike my mom's and sister's chubby feet) so obviously they would look faaaabulous on me. ;)

Note to self:  she needs no help in the self-esteem department, especially where her feet are concerned.

 

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3. WANT: JCrew Tortoise and Turquoise Circle Link Bracelet

My weakness in life is JCrew jewelry.  Always unique, beautiful, and well made, they are impossible for me to stay away from.  I love their bracelets and this one would look great with my JCrew Pave Link Bracelet from my best friend Coco (Hollaaaa gurllllll) and my beautiful JCrew gold and cheetah print bangles from my favorite aunt (Sista)!

My girl likes to wear every piece of jewelry she owns all at once.  She can set off an airport security scanner from 30 miles away.

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4. WANT: Furbish Studio Leather Tassel Keychain

Furbish Studio is an amazing website filled with home decor and great gifts that are all whimsical and fun (for example, this Sriracha lover needs a pair of the Sriracha studs).  I really need some kind of large keychain because my purse is literally the darkest, deepest (and messiest) purse ever. Adorable Jonathon thinks I spend half of my life digging through my purse repeating, "where are my keys?" If you look through this website and love it like I do check out Biscuit Home another great site.

I tend to agree with adorable Jonathon.  My opinion is that the key chain is not big enough.  You need something more along the lines of this.  It is and 18 inch blue foxtail. At least you wouldn't have to worry about anyone stealing it. 

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5. HAVE: GAP Scarf

I just bought this scarf (on sale!) in the light blue and it's the ultimate summer scarf.  It gets horribly hot in Texas sometimes and this can usually interfere with my love of scarves, but this one is so cool and fresh. GAP is having some incredible sales lately and definitely worth checking out.

So is that why you asked me for grocery money this week?  You spent your $$ on a scarf?  Do you need a refresher course on wants and needs?  Maybe Dad and I will make a YouTube video for you so you can watch it at any time that there is a question.  

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6. HAVE: EOS Shave Cream

EOS (evolution of smooth) has always carried me and my sister's favorite lip balm and they have just come out with shave cream. The scents are amazing and I swear I don't have to shave as frequently.  Also I am a sucker for their really cute packaging.

You're also a sucker for spending $$.

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7. HAVE/WANT: Tory Burch Robinson Envelope Wallet

I have a really great Tory Burch camel-colored zip-around wallet right now that I have had for a few years that has been great, however, it has seen its better days.  I have loved how well my wallet has held up, but I really want a fun pop color this time so I can find it a little easier in my black hole of a purse.

At least you're learning... the wallet is a want and the $$ that goes into it is a need.  You will have a very big need on your hands if you spend all your $$ on a fancy wallet.

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8. WANT: Fort Worth Handmade Embroidered Pillow

With graduation approaching, I have been thinking nonstop about possible graduation gifts for my best friends. Unfortunately, some of my best friends have big dreams of LA and NYC and will be leaving "The Fort"/"Funky Town" (Fort Worth, Texas) in May.  I have been thinking of ways for them to always remember the memories that we had in Fort Worth and this pillow is great because I am in love with needlepoint, the pillow is handmade which makes it unique, and the pillow really does have so many of our stomping grounds. They make this style of pillow for other cities too and would be a great keepsake.

If it includes all your stomping grounds, I assume it has pictures of the library and the chapel.  

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9. WANT: Caitlin Wilson Berry Fleur Chinoise Pillow 

If you haven't heard of Caitlin Wilson Textiles, look her up now. I am in love with her fresh fabrics and gorgeous throw pillows, and, she designs all of the patterns herself. I have been dying for one of her pillows since I found out about her. Plus, she is the cutest mom with a great blog!

Wait a minute... I thought I was the cutest mom with a great blog?!? Didn't you tell me that last week when I gave you grocery scarf $$$?

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10. HAVE/WANT: Justin's Almond Butter

If you want to taste the most magical and delicious taste in the entire world then buy Justin's Almond Butter in my favorite flavor, Honey.  If you would like to stay the same size as you are now, don't buy it.  I blame Justin's for my delayed "Freshman 15" as a Senior.

Don't bring that stuff home.  I'm still trying to get rid of my baby bump pregnancy weight.  Who knew it would take more than 20 years to lose it?!?

May all your "wants" come your way today!

New scarf.... new shades... life is good.

Wedding Wednesday

Now that Princess Kate has finally given birth, I can get back to work!  Her pregnancy seemed to go on as long as mine.  I always tell people that my #1 was a year late.  She was expected on December 22nd but she arrived after lots of help from a magic potion called "petocin" on January 3rd.

Which helps me to segue into my next topic:  the circle of life.  I am beginning another stage of life.  It began a few weeks ago, when my nearest and dearest, KTG, called to tell me that her #1 daughter got engaged.  Wait... whaaat??  Aren't we too young to have kids getting married?  I know I am - but KTG is much older than me - by 10 days.

When I became engaged to the Mister a mere 23 years ago, I was holding 6 bridal magazines in my sweaty little palms within ten minutes of saying "yes."  Brides today are so fortunate. Along with being young, possessing supersonic metabolisms, fantasizing about the beautiful, bright, promising future ahead of them, they have Pinterest.  I think the Pinterest part bothers me more than the other stuff!

So anyway, in honor of KTG's adorable #1 and her upcoming nuptials,  I am beginning a weekly series.  Wedding Wednesdays.

Pinterest

Beautiful dress but it would be a lot prettier if she had a smile on her face!

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Wow!  Love her hair too.

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Details in the dress - very pretty.  She should eat a sandwich at the reception, though.

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Love the neckline.

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Is this the same girl in the picture before?  She's a little young for a second marriage....

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Fairy tale pretty!

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Reminds me of something Sarah Jessica Parker would wear.

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Of all the wedding dresses I found on Pinterest, this one is by far, my favorite.  So elegant in a Grace Kelly way.


More dresses next Wednesday.  


May your Wednesday be full of l-o-v-e!

A Dinner Party at Sista's

Sista hosted a dinner party this weekend.  I begged asked her to send me some photos so I could share them with you.  She has a beautiful home in Connecticut which I have written about here, here and here.  Sista loves to entertain and does so beautifully with the help of her mister and their two handsome sons. 

*****

When my Mister and I decided that we wanted to live in a 200 year-old house, we knew that one of the many concessions we would make is living close to the road.  For this reason, for the last ten years we have oriented our living to the back of the house.  When we entertain we are either on the uncovered back porch, or in the back field – which of course is problematic when it rains.

This weekend we invited my NY-based sister-in-law, her family and their good friends to dinner. The weatherman guaranteed severe thunderstorms followed by cooler air finally giving us a break from the heat wave that was so well publicized this past week (you’re probably rolling your eyes if you live in Texas).

So…. the question on my mind was… where to dine?  The dining room felt too formal and too hot, the kitchen felt too informal and too hot, and anywhere outside potentially too wet and too hot.  Then I had an idea.  We could eat on the front covered porch (located at the front of the house, close to the road).  When I told the sista my idea…. she immediately summoned  asked me to do a blog – so here it is!

One of the things I learned early on in my entertaining days was to keep several large boards of various sizes in our basement that I can use as a tabletop to enlarge an existing table to the size that I need.  We were ten for dinner, so I selected one that was 4x6.  (I once used two boards together on our dining room table to sit a whopping 20 for Thanksgiving.)

I pulled out a bedspread that I had bought from a hippie at the Goshen Fair a few years ago thinking I would use someday as a tablecloth – and it seemed that the day had finally arrived!   With a busy tablecloth, I needed some solid plates, and was happy to rediscover on the very highest shelf in the pantry cobalt blue chargers that I bought about 20 years ago from Pottery Barn. I’m embarrassed to tell you the kind of scrubbing that was required to make them presentable, let alone sanitary. 

I had fun roaming around the house picking out some knickknacks to which I haven’t paid much attention since I placed them on bookshelves or tables years ago.  Featuring them on the table gave them new life.

Most everything in my house is either from TJ Maxx, or yard and estate sales.  The water pitcher however is from Pottery Barn.

The color scheme screamed for sunflowers so I was excited to find some nice ones at Stop & Shop.  For the table, I cut the stems short and placed them in small silver cream and sugar holders.  For the buffet I kept the stems long and placed them in an old enamel pitcher that I found at a flea market a few years back.  As it has a leak, I placed a vase inside. 

I was happy to finally use these folding rattan chairs. I picked them up at an estate sale for $10 each and have enthusiastically defended my purchase to my Mister ever since.

I’d love to tell you that I folded these paper napkins origami style, but the truth is I bought them already folded at TJ Maxx – who knew?  I used the silverware as weights in case the thunderstorms brought wind.

The table seemed complete with the chandelier that my neighbor had bought with me at a flea market and later gifted to me - never used.  To supplement the candlelight I nagged   asked  my mister to throw up a few Christmas lights.

Like the sista’s mister, my mister is the chef in the family.  Apparently his genes were passed down to my #2 who pretty much has been cooking all our meals this summer. He took the helm as the Chef for the party.  I love that boy.

We served butter-flied leg of lamb, grilled vegetable skewers and Christopher’s famous, roasted potatoes avec lardon (bacon always seems to be included with Chef Chris).

When children ten and under are included in the party, we can pretty much always count on a “show”.  Annabel (8) and Manon (5) transformed the landing into a stage.  What we were not expecting is that my college bound son would jump into the act for a well-rehearsed modern day Patty Cake with Annabel.

For dessert, we served “red, white and blueberry shortcake” in mason jars – who doesn’t love anything in a Mason jar?  After buying baking the biscuits, I used the jar to cut the tops and bottoms of the biscuits, leaving the bottom in the mason jar, and reserving the tops and the discarded pieces to layer.  I also prepared the strawberries and blueberries in advance so that all I had to do was whip the cream and layer the strawberries, cream and biscuit pieces and top.  It only took about 5 minutes to prepare the ten.  With a few more minutes and a few less glasses of wine they probably would have looked a little better.

Manon did not seem to care.

So that is my dinner party on the front porch.  The ironic thing is we did not get a single drop of rain!  I might do this again some day.

*****

Thank you, dear Sista for a peak into your beautiful dinner party!
Hopefully I'll be at the next one!

George Clooney making the rounds.

Crazy Wiley enjoying happy hour.

Mr. Max in his favorite place... his mommy's lap.