The One on the Right

Is my Niece- and this could be the funniest Santa photo out there! Let's just say between her and my nephew I think the jig is up Santa...

It may be Years...

before my nephew recovers from his encounter with Santa....

I'm Back!

{A sneak preview to a new invite from Bella Ink for Spring 2011 release}

Wow, what a busy last 3 weeks! I love the Holidays because they are so busy but I would lie if I said that it wasn't a little stressful... Last week I spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta at the daniel*richards showroom for 3 days of meeting with Manufacturers. All-in-All it was an awesome time- I love these meetings because it is your time see new releases (my favorite part!), give feedback, and make requests for new product. I have to say I can't wait to get my hands on these new releases- especially the paper imprintable lines! Bella Ink, San Lori, and Paper Belle ALL knocked it out of the park! We have 2 new jewelry lines coming to DR as well- HeartGems which is sweet and sentimental and Reverly Jewelry which is a fashion jewelry line from the girls at a little company called Inviting Company (you may have heard of them :) ) I also was a huge fan of the new Sport Collection from Cinda B- if you play tennis or do yoga you will want one of these bags!

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can give everyone a sneak peak of new product before you see them at market! Get ready for 2011- it is going to be a great year!!!

I'll be back...

Next week blogging! Sorry for the unannounced sabbatical. The last two weeks have been crazy busy but I have lots to share from our daniel*richards sales meeting this week! I hope everyone has a festive weekend!

Thankful

Today I am thankful for all the love I have in my life. I am thankful that I have people who I can lean on and who support me. I am thankful that I started this blog last year that has given me a creative outlet to voice my opinion. I am thankful that you are reading this! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Favorite Things

I can only imagine how it must feel being in the Oprah audience when you realize that you are on her favorite things episode. "Oh. My. God." Must be the first thought followed by sheer happiness for yourself and the loot you are about to get. I love Oprah's favorite things because watching everyone freak on the show makes me feel happy for them. Here are my top 10 picks (in order) of my favorite Oprah gifts!

1. The 2012 VW Bug (duh.)

2. The Cruise

3. The Nikon Camera

4. The Ipad

5.The Diamond Earrings

6. The Nordstrom Lingerie $500 Gift Card for you and a friend

7. The Ralph Lauren Cashmere Blanket and Sweater

8. The Le Creuset Set

9. The Lafco candle set

10. Elfa Closet System

The Life of Mabry, Part I

Don't feel bad for this dog. The day in 2003 that I picked him up, out of the back of an early 1980s pick-up truck, he hit the doggy jackpot. You see he was the only puppy not being held so me, being the responsible 20 year old that I was, thought it was only right that I hold him... 3 minutes later I told the nice farmer that I would take him (I'm really not sure if the guy was a farmer but it makes the story nicer since we were at a Walmart) and off we were... yes it only took me 3 minutes to make a decision that would change my life, and pocket book, significantly in the years to come (some of you may see that as a weakness but trust me it is my greatest strength). For those of you out there saying, "Something is terribly wrong with the proportion of body to leg height on that animal" stop judging my animal- he is loving and kind and everything a girl could hope for in a mutt... Mabry is a Lab Bassethound Mix (a Bassador if you will) and he got his height from his Dad- the Basset. This could be the best accidentally bred dog of all time. He is incredibly good looking (i may be a little biased) and tempered like a lab but has the energy of a Basset (read: incredibly lazy and sleeps all the time) When we are out with Mabry we always get stopped and asked the same two questions: "Is that a European bread?" "Is your dog a puppy?" When we explain he is a Basset mixed we always get a puzzled look like "how the heck did the manage that?!" I'm not really sure myself.

Mabry has been treated like a king, now I am not saying that was the right way to raise a dog, but none the less he has never had a tough day in his life...except yesterday when I thought it would be fun to try to get a picture of him covered in Christmas lights. To say he was not amused would be an understatement. Like any good owner, I only humiliated him until I took 130 pictures to try to get a good one. Note to self: Photographing a lazy dog is not easy. They don't like to stand for long. All-in-all Mabry was a good sport. I told him 100,000 times that he was the best looking dog on the planet...shocking that didn't help his spirits!

Confession

{Photo courtesy of Amazon.com}

As Thanksgiving approaches, and Dallas starts to decorate for the Holidays, I have a confession:

I love colored Christmas lights

There- I said it. Man do I feel better. This came up last weekend during a family dinner at Matt's parents house and everyone seemed shocked that I love colored Christmas lights. Don't get me wrong, white lights are beautiful but there is something about a house covered in colored lights that makes me feel excited. I also am a huge fan of the red and white "peppermint" lights- which will be going up on our little balcony this weekend as our only outside decor since we live in an apartment. If you are so bold to use the big fat old timey colored lights you earn even more points in my book! I think that those are by far the best lights out there! I hope that everyone has a great weekend decorating!

Best Dessert I've ever made

{I didn't snap a photo before we dug into the one I made but we will pretend it looked like this one from afarmgirldabbles on Tasty Kitchen}

I will say that it doesn't take much to qualify for this- I love to cook but baking isn't my strong point. I found this pumpkin chessecake recipe on Tasty Kitchen and gave it a test run yesterday just to double check that I could manage it for Thanksgiving. It is. by far. the best. cheesecake ever. Enjoy!

Sur la Table vs. Williams-Sonoma

{All from Sur La Table and under $50}

If you read this blog then you have probably caught on that I enjoy cooking. I look forward to getting the Williams-Sonoma catalog every month so I can look at all the things that I don't have and need. Over the past year or so I have noticed that there is just less and less from WS that I need or want. I have also noticed that there is no longer "affordable" luxuries. Somewhere along the way I feel like WS has become too much about "the best" and less about what the customer is looking to spend. About 2 miles from my house there is a Sur La Table. At first, I felt over whelmed because they carry about 4 times as much than Williams Sonoma. Last week during partners card I stumbled in there because they were listed and took my time to just walk through. I am now a fan. Sur La Table basically has everything WS has it just has so much more and the prices are way better. For instance the cow creamer, adorable- yes?! WS- $28 SLT- $3.50 Now I'm sure the WS cow is french but really how often are you going to use that cow? Exactly. If you have a Sur La Table in your area and you need to kill some time- give them a chance! I think you'll see what I'm talking about!

It's Christmas Time

On One Kings Lane today. I just ordered this Mr. Boddington Studio Christmas card and I have to tell you... I would have paid full price for this. Happy Shopping!

ATX

We are headed to Austin for the weekend! Thought I would leave you with this- next week I'll jot about some of my favorite stores in this great town and what I have been doing this week with my Partners Card! Hope you have a great weekend!

Restoration Redo

If you live in Dallas you know that starting on Friday it is Partners Card Week! (woohoo!!!) This morning I was researching some stores that I know we will want to go into to do our Christmas Shopping with a discount. I am very impressed with the new direction that Restoration Hardware has taken- the silver sage look was VERY played out and their new look has brought them into 2010. I especially loved these leather accessories that they are offering for Christmas- hello man gift! I love the ipad case- for the most part I have only seen the generic black ones offered for men. I also love the kindle case for the same reason! Even better, these gifts are all reasonably priced! I'll let you know what else I find with my Partner's Card this weekend!

Patch NYC

{Patch NYC from Design*Sponge}

{Photos from the Patch NYC for West Elm}

If you aren't familiar with Patch NYC, become familiar. I first saw this line in January with Dan at NYIGF and it was love at first sight. To say it stands out would be the understatement of the century. The ornigal art work by co-founder, Don Carney, is bold without being obnoxious. I love the creativity and whimsey of the use of bugs, animals, skulls and pipes. The fact that it is also on candles, plates, and that they did a line in the spring for West Elm makes it that much better! Check this line out!

A rant: Queen Elizabeth Cancels her Christmas Party

Ok, I am reading the headline this morning from CNN.com and I see this headline "Queen Elizabeth cancels palace Christmas Party" The articles says that due to tough economic times they are canceling the party at the palace... news flash: THAT IS NOT HELPING THINGS. First off the Queen has more money than she knows what to do with and she spent her own money on that party- not the tax payers. The article says that the party costs approximately $80,000 and 600 people attend. That party creates jobs for florists, caterers, stationers, maids, valet, etc... Does she think that she is going to offend people by spending her money? I get it- it is a sensitive issue- but not spending money does not help our economy it hurts it. A lot of people out there depend on Holiday Business and having Holiday gatherings are important because it brings people together- in good times and in bad! Ok, that is my ONLY Christmas rant you will hear from me. I have plead my case.

Boo'd

I first heard about the neighborhood practice of "Booing" a couple of years ago when I worked at Paper Affair and apparently this fun neighborhood activity is catching on! This morning when I was drinking my coffee and reading my blog circuit I came across these tasty treats on Baked Perfection and I thoughts what a wonderful thing to make for someone's basket if you are a part of a neighborhood boo group. Chocolate covers pretzels are pretty easy for any level of baker and they are an inexpensive treat if you need to make lots! Risa, of Baked Perfection, did them in the cute candy corn colors, put them in a cello bag, and tied it off with festive ribbon! I think if you put these in a Halloween Macbeth Bucket with a Razzle Dazzle chocolate bar with some Vampire Wine you will be set and get the best boo'd bucket on the street! Happy Booing!

The Ghost Chair

{Philippe Starck Ghost Chair; Image from www.roomandboard.com}

Since we are in October, and Halloween is getting closer (and I'm cheesy), I want to talk about the mild obsession that I currently have with the Louis XV Style Ghost Chair designed By Philippe Starck. I think that this chair could be one of my favorite chairs of all times. I like The Ghost Chair because it takes a very traditional style of chair but brings it the modern and edgy side by being acrylic. The Ghost chair could pretty much work in any room for anything- great for your dining chairs or perfect in a corner with a throw pillow but could work just as well in a living room to replace your club chairs. If you live in Dallas, The Nest has a great selection of Ghost Chairs- The owner of The Nest, Heather Wiese-Alexander, had her home featured in the September Issue of D Magazine Home and she had an incredible outdoor table setting under a green house using Ghost Chairs- Everything about the look is perfect to me! I have also noticed that The Ghost Chair has become popular for use in weddings to replace the traditional Chiavari chair. It is an easy transition from a very traditional look to an edgy look with a traditional design structure. I can't wait to see where The Ghost Chair pops up next (hopefully in my house!)

Trick-Or-Treat

For many of you out there this Halloween will consist of you (and your kids) out and about trick-or-treating. The costume is probably where the most thought goes into for the night but no costume is complete without a great trick-or-treat bucket! I love love love The Macbeth Collection Trick-Or-Treat buckets- they are incredibly cute and hold plenty of candy! The come in great stripes, candy corn swirl, or with cobwebs (fake of course!) Keep it simple with "treats" or personalize it with your trick-or-treaters name- perfect either way! Find these buckets on RSHcatalog.com or order through your local Monoglam program!

Snickerdoodle doo

Happy October 1st everyone! Is everyone ins Dallas ready for the insane traffic that the TX vs. OU weekend is going to bring?! I thought I would wrap up this week with sharing a great recipe that I love to make and bring for people, it is a Snickerdoodle Cake. I found the recipe on My Baking Addiction blog and it has been a hit every time I make it. Sometimes food really is the best thing that you can bring someone and is such a well received gift. I think it goes along way with people to know that you took enough time to bake something instead of just going to pick up a candle or what not. What I love about this Snickerdoodle cake is that is great a dessert after a heavy dinner, but it is equally as good the next morning with a cup of coffee! Enjoy!

Snickerdoodle Cake

Ingredients 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 cup white sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup white sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 3 eggs, at room temperature 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup full-fat sour cream, at room temperature

Method In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Mix together really well and Preheat oven to 325F. Here’s the exact way Julie made the crust: Using a spray product like Pam with Flour, generously spray a 9 inch Bundt pan, being careful to cover all the nooks and crannies, as well as the center tube. (Note: If you don’t want to use Pam with Flour, you can just grease the pan with shortening.) Gently dust the entire inside of the pan with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. You should only need about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar, but you want to try and evenly coat the inside surface of the pan, including the tube. Save the remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture and set everything aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Beat just the butter on medium speed for one full minute. Add the white sugar and mix for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and blade and add the brown sugar.

Mix for 2 minutes until the mixture looks light brown and uniform in color. Add the eggs one at a time, beating each for 1 full minute. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the sour cream; beat well.

Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture over top the cake. Spread the rest of the batter into the pan and sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over the top. (If you run out of cinnamon sugar, you can mix just 1/4 cup of sugar + 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon together for the top of the cake. It should be more than enough.)

Bake in the preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. aside.

Notes: This recipe is from http://dozenflours.com/2009/03/snickerdoodle-bundt-cake.html

Cristina Perry Events

{A photo from the 100 Layer Cake shoot by photographer Kate Belle;

Invite by Folgio Press;Flowers by Amy Osaba;

Stylist Cristina Perry Events}

Goooood Morning! Yesterday I received an email from my dear friend Cristina Perry, of Cristina Perry Events, that a wedding shoot she styled was being featured on the 100 layer cake blog so I clicked over and WOW!!!- what a stunningly beautiful wedding shoot! I must say I was so proud of my friend because I know that the passion she has for wedding design is all coming together for her! Cristina has impeccable taste and great style- if you are getting married and need someone who knows what they are doing talk to Cristina! Check out her wedding featured on 100 Layer Cake here

For Rent

We have all been there, another event to attend and the same LBD that you have already worn 5 times and are sick of... Well not any longer my friends. I came across this link this week when I was blog hopping- www.renttherunway.com It is basically the Neiman Marcus contemporary department but for rent. Most cocktail dresses rent between $50-$75 for 4 days. They have lots of my favorite goto designers such as Milly, Nicole Miller, Tracy Reese, and so many more. I love this concept because I usually wear a cocktail dress twice and I'm over it because I don't go to a ton of cocktail things and styles are always changing. We have a couple of things in October and November and I am think renttherunway is the way to go!

Wall of Thanks

This morning as I was working from home and watching the news I caught a little bit of the new Nate Burkus show and he was featuring great gifts for under $10. It was a pretty cute little segement that featured mismatched flea market plates, books plates, local food, but the best idea he had was framing thank you notes. How cool would it be to have a wall of frames that includes old pictures of friends and then a thank you note from them? We are moving early next year into a new place and I am thinking this is going to have to be done in my office. I may also include some of the great wedding invites and then maybe a fun picture from that wedding. I have so many notes, invites, and stationery that I have saved over the years that this could be just the way to display them all. What a perfect for idea/gift for any other stationery junkies out there!

{This look is from Pottery Barn and I love all the different sizes and types in Black and White}

Fall Football

Fall is in the air, well not really in Dallas, but it will be this weekend because I am attending my first University of Texas football game in Austin. I went to The University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) and football was a big deal but since I graduated I seem to care a little less about it every year. Even when I was in Athens I only went to 3 home games ever (don't worry I always made it to tailgate :) )I know that many people out there are die hard fans for their alma mater but honestly I am a fair weather fan... Now lets talk about my boyfriend Matt- he lives and breathes Texas football. Before I moved to Texas I really had no clue how big a deal not only College football is but High school football too! This weekend is super exciting for him so I am going to put on something orange (who knew that burnt orange was so hard to find!) and route for Matt's favorite team! I don't think I have ever featured anything collegiate because I think most of it is pretty cheesy but here are a couple of things Longhorns that make great gifts and are super cute for tailgate!

{All items can be found on www.collegefootballart.com}

Jeggings

The word is horrible but Jeggings are everywhere this season. I have been on the lookout for them and I am thinking I am going to pull the trigger tonight. What I love about Jeggings is that they have the comfort and stretch of leggings but thicker and with pockets... no pockets on Jeggings is a bad bad thing. Banana Republic has my favorite Jeggings this season! Get your 40% off coupon an go get yourself some!

Gypsy Style

This afternoon I had a little retail relaxation and after our 3 day mini market this weekend I felt that it was very deserved! I needed my favorite, Niven Morgan Gold Candle, and so I made a stop at The Gypsy Wagon. This is one of my favorite stores in Dallas because everything they have is so so unique but still very reasonably priced. TGW is a one stop shop- they have great gifts, home decor, baby, bedding, clothes, boots, belts, and incredible accessories! Carley, the owner of The Gypsy Wagon, has awesome taste and is always looking for great unique items! My fall wardrobe is in dire need of a boost and I knew TGW was the place for just that. Carley was in the shop and stopped everything she was doing to pull things and give me her opinion! Everything I bought are items that I am going to love wearing all fall. If you live in Dallas check out The Gypsy Wagon in their new hip location on Henderson, East of I-75. If you don't live in Dallas you are in luck because their website just launched! www.the-gypsy-wagon.com

4Q MUST HAVE

Today is my first 4Q "Must Haves" for this year. I am starting off with the new iphone covers from Mixed Bags. These things are hot!! They are in some of the best selling patterns from Mixed Bags and they fit the 3G AND 4G phones (there aren't a ton out there for the 4G right now!) These bad boys will retail around $16 and they are a must have for everyones stocking this year!

Thank You Hermine

Tropical Storm Hermine has been dumping rain on Dallas for the last 24 hours. Honestly, Dallas needs the rain right now so I am not going to complain about how rain makes my job a little miserable. Luckily my morning appointment rescheduled for tomorrow since she doesn't like rain either! This afternoon I am headed down to the showroom to work a little bit before the mini show this weekend. Before I do I thought that I would share what I love for rainy days!

I love the new Jonathan Adler Umbrellas

Hunter Rain boots in any color are a must for a day like today!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett was the best book I read all summer! Nothing like reading a great book while drinking you coffee on a horribly rainy day like today!

September

{Vogue September Issue; Leopard Shoe, Banana Republic; Satin & Velvet Dress,Ralph Lauren Black Label}

Can you believe it is already September?! On cue mother nature brought cooler temps to Dallas and lots of rain which makes it way easier to put away my white jeans, skirt, and shoes. In a strange way it feels like after Labor Day everything is back to normal and life settles down- it is a comforting feeling that I truly look forward to every year. College football started this weekend which I am made painfully aware of by my boyfriend since he has been counting down for weeks. September is also a huge month in fashion. Most publications have their biggest issues this month including the coveted September Issue of Vogue. I love the September Issue of Vogue. Yes, there are 400 pages of advertisements but I feel like through the articles and ads you can see what is going to be trendy for the fall. Leopard and the Military look seem to still be strong. According to Vogue, curvy girls are very in (FINALLY) and lots of Velvet for evening wear. Above are my favorite things for September- what are your favorite things about September?