Halston Heritage...I die...

After seeing some Halston Heritage designs in the glossy mags, I decided to check out what was available on the Web for non-celebs like myself!

What I found was absolutely TDF...the dresses have a vintage vibe and are draped to perfection, I'm in love.  

The last gown is a fav, I can see myself wearing it with the following:

Love the snake bangle and think the oversize ring will be the perfect statement piece for the minimal dress!

Also, just found this article on Sarah Jessica Parker and her involvement with Halston Heritage, click here to read!

Totally Bummed Out

Okay, I'm going to paint you a visual right here: 
I just spent my very first Christmas away from my family at my in-laws, which was hard since I'm so close to my family, but I get through it knowing that two days after Christmas the hubby and I are going down to FLA to have Christmas with MY family.

We get home yesterday and proceed to check the weather forecast, which looks bleaker than bleak...a huge blizzard is sweeping New England.  Nonetheless we (I say we, but really mean hubby) spend no less than 3 hours on hold multiple times for JetBlue to find out what we should do.  Our 8:30am flight on Monday is still showing up as available...should we stick with that or try and haul-ass to Boston for the Sunday evening flight?!  After NO help from the JetBlue staff (who, I'm sure are completely over-worked at this point) and some continuous weather watching, we see that ALL flights out of New England are delayed...then cancelled all-together. 

We hold out hope that the weather will clear and we can get out Monday morning.  Picture me holding out hope in a total death-grip.  I am fighting back tears as I watch the weather channel, thinking "How can this be happening to me" (dramatic, I know).  Nonetheless, hubby and I cheerfully (thanks to some wino) start packing our bags with some warm-weather goodies.  Hubby occasionally asks me how I'm doing (trying to brace himself for a breakdown) to which I reply, "Oh I'm good, this storm will totally blow over by tomorrow, I just know it".

We continue this routine until around 11pm, when, after watching countless hours of the Weather Channel and more hours on hold with the airline, we see IT.  OUR FLIGHT IS CANCELLED...along with every other flight for the next 2 days flying into or out of NE.

I try my hardest to keep my chin up...I don't cry (even though I want to) and settle down in bed with the Lu and hubby and fall asleep (still holding out a little hope that we will make it down there).  I don't sleep that well because of all the plow trucks going down our street (it really was a blizzard!)...when I finally roll out of bed, after repeatedly trying to sleep all day, I get up and see approximately 2 ft. of snow has fallen overnight.

At this point, I wander downstairs to see hubby...bless his heart, he feels terrible.  He keeps apologizing like it is his fault...he must think I'm crazy and would blame this on him! (no comment here) :)

It's final.  No chance of flying out until Thursday at the latest.  So much for finally taking some time off of work for an actual vacation. To warm weather. To be with my favorite people in the world.

I am trying to hold back tears but I am at a loss. This totally stinks.

I went from going here:

to here:

Awesome.

The bright side...which I'm trying really hard to see, is that I can have hubby spend some more time teaching me to ski, which also means that I can wear my new helmet and goggles I got for Christmas!

Happy Monday

What I'm reading...

In case you're looking for a book to read, here's a recommendation:

I am loving this book...I don't want to put it down!  I read "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" also but this second book in the series is better (in my opinion).

Hope you all had a great Christmas! I'll be back to a more regular blogging schedule after this week.

Stocking Stuffers...

Here are some goodies that would be fun to find in your stocking come Saturday morning!

adorable stockings from: monkeyseeboutique.com

 

My fav: Swedish Fish

 TDF Scarf from www.iomoi.com (and it's under $50!)

Another fun gift from iomoi.com...leopard memo pad!

Awesome hair texturizer...www.bumbleandbumble.com

another great hair product...and it comes in mini!

Maybe some new nail polish...

New TDF bronzer and eyeshadow from Stila.  I need some bronzer ASAP I'm getting too pale!

Happy Stocking Stuffing...more ideas tomorrow :)

too funny not to share

 To get your own (and to see all the other fun posters) click here:

I'm not sure hubby would approve this saying...but it brought a smile to my face!

Another good one was:

Again, to order your own poster visit the KeepCalmShop on Etsy!

Happy Saturday xo

I LOVE LONNY

Have any of you checked out the new issue of Lonny?!  If not, go immediately to www.lonnymag.com to look it over.  It's fab.

I personally am currently infatuated with work-spaces.  Kirtie and I may have a little something up our sleeves and I am desperate to create a chic workspace for the two of us to enjoy.  Below are some pictures from Lonny that I adore and will try my hardest to emulate (in my own style of course!)

Here's what I love about the photos below:
1. The creativity...seen in the inspiration boards, the use of color and photos
2. The color!  Kirtie and I both love color and the use of the bright colors in both walls and fabrics are right up our alley...I'm thinking of framing fabric swatches and arranging them in a "collage" of sorts on an accent wall
3. Photos...the just make a work space seem more personal and intimate.

.

a girl can dream...

Cool closet right?!  Love the rug...

***image courtesy of decorpad***

Ta-Da!

Yep, I have brown hair...and I'm loving it!  Please disregard the dorky outfit and glasses...

thoughts?

Tis the Season to give...

One of my favorite things about the Holidays is gift giving...Here are a few of my favorite things to give:

Candles. One of my favorites

Cute dishtowel. Anthropologie has great ones.

A good wine...maybe if you're lucky they'll open it up and share some!

Spatula's in a fun color

Love these travel mugs!

You'll need something to drink the wine out of

For the pets, fun collars!  www.upcountryinc.com

It's time to break up...

The time has come...to bring me back to my roots.  I never thought I'd see the day, but I'm going dark.  (Not TOO dark, I could never do that)...but there is a change coming.

My days as a Florida girl are "technically" over...I'm not at UF anymore and I'm only there for vacation every so often (much to my dismay).  Therefore I really can't pull the

"oh it's the sun that gives me these highlights"

Especially because I now live in a place where the sun only shines for 2 hours a day (feels like that anyway)!

Which means...

I'm going to go from bright, happy, vibrant (and maybe a tad bit unrealistic) BLONDE...

To a slightly lower maintenance darker (I can't quite say it)...br...brow....brown.

Now don't go thinking that I'm going to go Tina Fey brown...oh now now, this is me we are talking about.  No, I am thinking more along these lines:

Okay, maybe not as light as LC, but I'm definitely thinking along these "transitional" (read: blonde to not as blonde) lines.  I mean, it may even make me look more tan right?! RIGHT!!!

Now, this whole affair is going down on Monday at 9am...which means I have the whole weekend to stew about it.

BUT

You know what...I'm actually kind of psyched for a change.  I have a visual in my head of what it will look like and if I say so myself...it could look pretty good.  So, I'm officially ready to go dark.  Yes, I said it...I'm excited to have darker hair, bring it on.

xo 

Rest In Peace: Elizabeth Edwards

"In her life, Elizabeth Edwards knew tragedy and pain.  Many others would have turned inward; many others in the face of such adversity would have given up," Obama and First Lady Michelle say in a statement. "But through all that she endured, Elizabeth revealed a kind of fortitude and grace that will long remain a source of inspiration. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends."

Former President Bill Clinton also sent his condolences saying, "With the passing of Elizabeth Edwards, America has lost a symbol of strength, hope, and humanity. Her children have lost a loving mother, her friends a wise counselor. My prayers are with them."

*Photos and text from People.com

Mud Ball 2011

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday!  I'm not sure if I've posted about this before (if I have I'm sorry) but I'm on a committee right now that raises money for the Upper Valley Haven (http://uppervalleyhaven.org/).  It's a really fun event that takes place in March.  The theme is dressy but with a fun twist...everyone wears mud boots!!!  (Fun and also appropriate because up here it is officially "mud season").

This is my first year on the committee and I totally lucked out and got to design our Save-the-Date, something that I LOVE doing.  I know I'm a total dork but creating/designing is my fav!

I finished the template a week ago and it just went to print...but I figured I'd give you all a sneak peek...

FRONT

BACK

Thoughts?!  I think it's super fun and can't wait to do the invite soon!

Boulder, CO Wedding

So one of my BF's is going to a late December wedding in Boulder, CO.  We've been trying to decide what she should wear and both have about the same idea in mind...black, semi-trendy, not too dressy (it is Boulder).

Here's my interpretation: Cashmere sweater dress (j. crew), fun fur vest, chunky gold jewelry, some sassy black booties...low key makeup and a killer bag!

Boulder, CO wedding by Lteevens featuring platform bootie

The Season is over

Football season is over and I have to say that I'm a tad bit relieved.  It's been a season of highs and lows, much like any other season, but for some reason I feel particularly glad to have the off-season upon us.

Football Chick from an early age

Having grown up in this wild, crazy profession they call coaching, I should be used to these ups and downs...but you know what: it never gets any easier.  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my life and childhood for anything, but having your dad as a coach can be a trying thing.

A few of the ups and downs of the season:
-Starting off the season 2-0...such a fantastic way to start the season off. People come up and congratulate you, wish you luck etc.
-An overtime loss to eventual Ivy League Champion Penn...suddenly everyone seems to have an opinion on what plays should be called and when.  It takes all of my self-restraint not to come up with a smart-ass comment as to why they feel that sitting in the stands qualifies them to second-guess every play call.
-Big win against non-conference rival Holy Cross...exciting but also emotionally exhausting.  Game came down to final 10 seconds on the clock...Dartmouth blocks a field goal and we win! Exciting right?!   More like exciting/sickening/exhausting all at once.
-Homecoming against Harvard.  Hubby and I host a kickin' tailgate...only downside is that we lose the game and those same people who were congratulating you earlier are now first in line to tell you "what went wrong" and "what the coach should have done differently" as if they've been spending hours upon hours away from their families and going over tape like the coaches they're criticizing!
-End of season comes on a high note as we win our final two games, including posting a shut-out in the final game against Princeton!

Major High Note: The Season is OVER...and we have a winning record, first time in 13 years!!!!!

I actually feel a little bit relieved after writing this post...the season is just such an emotional time and there are times where the only person I want to talk to about it is my mom.  We have been through so much in this sick profession together and she seems to be the only person who understands how I'm feeling...including now, when I should be feeling ecstatic and instead I feel relief.

Mom and I at a Dartmouth game...early 1990s

 We are lucky this year, BT has a new contract and lots of momentum going into recruiting.  Other coaches, not so much.  I always cringe as the season winds down because I know what comes next, firing.  This year was no exception, literally the day after the season 4 head coaches found themselves unemployed and broadcast across the nation.  Can you even imagine finding yourself out of work and having it as a topic of conversation on ESPN.  This is the hardest on the families...and having been through it myself, I don't wish this on anyone.  Having people weighing in on your dad's shortcomings is completely disheartening.  They build you up but tear you down twice as fast.

Brother and I...!

 I know that this is quite a change of post from my typical,  but it's something I wanted to get off my chest.  I'll be back to normal tomorrow I promise!

xo

BT's number 1 fan

Congratulations

To Stacey and Jenna!!!!!

So proud of the two of you for your 1/2 Marathon Today!!!!!!!

xo

Warm and Cozy

The Girls (Kitty and Lucy) and I are warm and cozy at Boys Camp Road tonight...

I wish I could say I had a fire going, but I'm too much of a klutz to get one started...propane stove it is!

Nailhead Trim...Yes Please

After browsing one of my fav design sites (DecorPad) I found myself drawn to all the chairs with nailhead trim. Love it!

Wrapping Paper

Since it is December 1...it's definitely time to think about one of my favorite things about the holidays...Wrapping and wrapping paper!  I happened to stumble along a cute web site that has TO DIE FOR paper.

follow this link to check out all the other paper choices!