Month: April 2010

Vintage Baubles & A Vehement Book Reco

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Hello! I’ve been away at the beach as I mentioned here. It was lovely and I got a bit of a tan. But, it’s Monday and that means…back to work!

I discovered two noteworthy things while away.

1. I started and finished the most lovely novel: Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. We are reading it for my book club and once I realized the context in which it was written, I was blown away and couldn’t get enough. Nemirovsky writes of the mass exodus from Paris when the Nazis invaded with clarity and poise which is particularly intoxicating because she was writing it as it happened. She was murdered at Auschwitz in 1942 and the novel remained unknown until 2006, when it was published. Go here for the NYT review.

2. Some gorgeous vintage jewelry via Charleston Magazine.

I’m dying over this ring with the yellow topaz but can’t find it anywhere on the website of the jeweler, Joint Venture Jewelry. I did, however, find all of these gorgeous (and affordable) rings!

The magazine also featured Kwait Vintage Collection and I’m not sure what to do with myself!

I also found Croghan’s Jewel Box, Buckar and Skatell’s.

Hope you had a lovely weekend!

Mamas

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Mom & me back in the day

Mother’s day is nearing and we all love our mamas. I thought about my relationship with my mom the other day when she was upset with me about something (doesn’t actually happen often now that we don’t live together) and realized for the millionth time how special it is. Like most girls, my mother was my main female role-model as well as who I aspired to be as a child… and like many girls (unfortunately) my parents were divorced. So that was definitely the catalyst for my mom to become my predominant parent. We’ve always been close, but it’s so interesting how that relationship changes as the child -me- becomes an adult. Since I’m completely supporting myself and have been for almost three years, she’s taken on the role of mentor/friend, but that doesn’t stop her from resorting to mom-mode every once and a while.

My 10th birthday

My mom has had such an interesting life and the most exciting part about it is that she’s entering a really exciting phase now. She’s got great things happening in her work, she looks amazing and she’s even dating again – for the first time in about seven years. When I think about it, there’s no other woman in my life that I know as well or that I’ve truly been through everything with, she almost provides a blueprint for me to use in my life.  Here were the right decisions, here were the wrong ones. They’re there in my memory for me to personally to decipher and almost to judge – what to learn from or do differently as well as what to use as “gospel” for my own life. My mother is the only woman I feel I can truly know what she’s gone through. But, as I write this and think about my mom’s life, it almost reinforces how much I have yet to learn about her.

She’s the most amazing woman I know, so I feel pretty lucky to have her. Plus, I’m counting on her genes to look  as good as she does at almost 57!!!

Mom & me - Recently

Love you mom!

Beach Packing List

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First of all, I can’t stop listening to this:

As I mentioned, Mom and I are going to visit little brother in Charleston, SC. I’ve just checked the forecast and it looks like we’re in store for sunny days and balmy nights (yes!).

Here is what I believe to be essential for a 5 day/4 night trip to the beach!

Inspiration:

Improving my space

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I’m fixing to move. My gal-pal Lo, our combined three dogs and I are surfing craig’s list and stalking downtown Fayetteville for a new pad. Fenced backyard = must-have. I’ve got a lot of stuff in storage and so does she, my current living situation was basically furnished (all but bedroom) when I moved in. So, I’m DYING to make a space my own and make it stylish. Pooring over Lonny and Elle Decor and my favorite blogs has got me even more excited.

Do you know about West Elm? Do you wonder why I don’t know about West Elm? Thanks to Lonny, I’ve noticed they have some really awesome things and amaze prices. I’ve also been perusing Z Gallerie, IKEA, crate&barrel and would love to share some of the things I’d like to include in our new place.

I’m going to aim for a courtyard like this…

I’ll need a room to house all my books, quite like this one.

Picture 37

Our living room will need to look something like this

Picture 11

Def going to copy the dark blue walls idea for the dining room.

Picture 5

The kitchen will look something like this.

193692-5-02 copy

The backyard and sunroom will probably be like this

great barringtonPicture 18

And my bathroom will have to look like this.

BH4

From West Elm I definitely need this bar cart, diagonal rug, mirrored coffee table and leather tufted headboard.

Barrow Bar CartZigzag Rug

Mirror Block Coffee TableLeather Grid-Tufted Headboard

From Z Gallerie I need this dresser, this chandelier, this floor mirror, the elephant painting and some new champagne flutes with which to toast!

Click here to view larger image

A round French oven from Le Creuset

Round French Oven, 9 qt.

We’ll probably need this Spartan Daybed from Restoration Hardware for our relaxation out of doors, and I’ll need the soaking tub because – just because.

Spartan Daybed

Palais Pedestal Soaking Tub and tubfill with handheld Shower

Swimsuits/Anthropologie/Going to the beach!

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Friends, I’m going to Charleston, SC for a mini-vacay with my mama in one week. We’re going to visit my delicious little brother Hampton, who is a sophomore in college. We’ll be doing a lot of things with him but we are staying ON-THE-BEACH! Dream come true for this sun-starved ice storm survivor. As I told you here, I found the ultimate suction one-piece. But, I do need more in the swimsuit department…and finding a flattering suit is just so hard! I am slightly down in the weight area after my puppy/close-call/survival situation. So, I must take advantage and purchase swimsuits now, right?

Why, oh why, doesn’t Anthropologie have a store in Fayetteville, AR; Tulsa, OK or Charleston, SC? I’ll be in all three of those places in the next week?? The answer: they hate me. But they do have priority shipping. I’m finding it very difficult to choose a favorite.

Two-Piece?

Golden Days Bikini

Rosy Bikini

Between-The-Lines Bikini

Faint Breeze Bikini

Wild Watermelon Two-Piece

Or one-piece?

Gleaming Pewter Maillot

Ebbing Tide Maillot

Night & Day Maillot

I’m sortof loving this one. Check out the back…I’m all about ties.

You know from this post that I’m all about “showing back”. This one might be the winner!

Although…I’m not sure I look like this from the back, we’ll see ;)

Lonny Mag/I want this. I am obsessed with Lucite lately!

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The new issue of Lonny Magazine came out. I die. I’ve been stalking to see if there was an April/May issue out, only to find it via Elements of Style.  Not only do I love every little piece of each issue, there is even more Lucite in this one! A while back I posted about the computer table come Lucite vanity here.

Here is a gorgeous Lucite trunk?!?!?

Love this.

Picture 37

Want to recreate this room soooo badly.

Picture 11

Mental note: want dark blue walls in my (one day) dining room.

Picture 5

Maybe my fave bedroom ever. Especially enjoy the wallpaper and use of framery.

193692-9-07 copy

By looking everywhere for Lucite anything. I found some amazing sites for tables. Check out Hive and Elizabeth Bauer.

Vintage Bridal Loveliness

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OMG. Leave it to DailyCandy to introduce the most wonderful things. As I’ve told you before, I’m fascinated (and always have been) by all things bridal. This site feeds right into that. The vintage bride has affordable and beautiful dresses from 1960 and before. It’s worth a check out and here’s a peek!

Pre WWII

Vintage Monique Lhullier 1930s $650

Vintage Wedding Beauty - Monique Lhuillier

1930s Chiffon gown $495

Vintage Wedding Beauty - Sweet Pea

1940s

Santa Rosa Lace and Satin Gown $1250

Vintage Wedding Beauty - Santa Rosa

1950s

Mary- Anne Vintage Wedding 1950's Dresses Mary Anne

Bella Vintage Wedding 1950's Dresses Bella

Meringue Vintage Wedding 1950's Dresses Meringue

1960s

Miss Betsy $595

Vintage Wedding Beauty - Miss Betsy

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DailyCandy also featured a website called St. Kilda that has interesting and alternative engagement rings, plus all sorts of other cool stuff.

Some Faves:

Temptation Ring 18KW/Dia

Pink Temptation Ring 18KR/Pink Tourmaline

KLM Ring 18KW/Dia

Eternity Band 18KYG/Diamonds

Valya Ring 14K/Dia

Sima Ring 18K/Dia

Urte Ring 18k/dia

Arcadia Ring SS/Grn Amethyst

Happy Monday!

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BIRDIE!

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My baby is home! Hallelujah! I feel like I’ve been through a war in the past week but just look at this face!

Thank you to everyone who was praying for her, for us. Birdie is home and we are nursing her back to health!

I have the sweetest story to share. Last weekend, Robert and I visited with his Aunt & her family for Easter in Memphis. She has two young sons that had a ball playing with Birdie. When they heard she was sick they were so sad. On Friday morning, the vet gave her a last-ditch-effort blood transfusion. By 2pm, Robert had gotten word that the transfusion hadn’t worked and we needed to prepare to put her down. He let his mom know, who called her sister. The boys held hands and prayed out loud for Birdie. By 4:30, everything had changed, the transfusion had worked! Saturday morning she was eating and holding it down, wagging her tail and barking. Sunday we took her home.

Today I’m thankful that God answers prayers.

My heartstrings

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While it feels fresh and raw, I must say that this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with a pet’s health problems. I am so thankful my dachshund Wiggles endured and is now thriving after his health problems. But, this illness that has stricken my baby Birdie is my worst enemy right now. I don’t know why I’m constantly hysterical/ravenous for her survival after only knowing her a short time. I think it’s because her life has just begun, she’s just a baby after all.

A week ago she was a bright, affectionate puppy easily combining herself with our little family. Now she’s hanging on by a thread to her brief existence. She’s changed so much throughout the week. She’s lost so much weight. It’s very difficult to see her in an isolated room, huddled in a metal cage, right beside her litter-mate who is vastly improving. The thing is, she hasn’t really gotten worse. How can I give up on her when she hasn’t given up? But is it selfish to continue her pain without much hope of recovery? I guess that’s the question every loving pet owner has to ask themselves.

I’m still hoping I won’t have to ask myself that question today. I’ve been doing a lot of praying and I know my friends and family have too. It’s situations like this that make us realize the very preciousness and fragility of life.

To Birdie:

“Who knows how long I’ve loved you? You know I love you still. Will I wait a lonely lifetime? If you want me to, I will. Love you forever and forever. Love you with all my heart. Love you whenever we’re together. Love you when we’re apart. And if I ever saw you, I didn’t catch your name, say it loud so I can hear you, make it easy to be near you. Cause the things you do endear you to me, oh you know I will”

“I love all the many charms about you. Above all, I want my arms about you. Don’t be a naughty baby, come to mama, come to mama do. My sweet embraceable you.”

These are two songs Birdie likes me to sing to her, it also makes the other dog in the isolation room fall asleep.