Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and many of us will be gathering with family and friends to give thanks for our good fortune and enjoy delicious meals. As I look back on this last year, I have much for which to be grateful: a loving husband; beautiful, smart and healthy children; a nice home; a good job – the list goes on and on.

All of us know people, though, who have struggled this past year and they’ll be in our thoughts and prayers tomorrow. I think of our dear friend who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year at this time – he recently had a setback when he suffered a seizure. I often think of him, his wife and sons. I just hope that life will improve for them and this coming year will bring better health and a return to normalcy, as best as can be expected. I give thanks that he’s out of the hospital and will be spending Thanksgiving at home with his family.

Enjoy this special time with your loved ones, eat some turkey and pumpkin pie and get some rest. The Christmas season will hit us like a brick on Friday and we’ll need all of the strength we have to survive!

Cheers!
Image courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Pretty Baubles

So, what do you think about the costume jewelry craze featuring large beads, faux pearls and such, tied with grosgrain ribbon? I’ve seen it everywhere, from J. Crew to Stella & Dot. In fact, when searching for a pair of jeans at Ann Taylor Loft (BTW, I FINALLY found a pair – for a petite girl who is fighting the pear shape, jean shopping is a miserable experience. But, that’s an entire blog entry unto itself.), I couldn’t resist buying a necklace that featured large green, glass baubles with a black ribbon. It’s pretty bold for me, so we’ll see if I chicken out and take it back. But, I tend to be a sucker for pretty, shiny things, hence the spontaneous purchase. Of course, once I buy into a fad, it's a guarantee that it has reached its peak and will soon die out.

But, that aside, I think it's fun during the holidays to break out jewelry and accessories that makes a statement. We decorate trees, why not decorate ourselves a little bit with the sparkles and the trinkles? (Yes, I'm channeling Eloise at the Plaza - been reading that to my daughter lately.) So, for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday celebrations, will you be donning any bold baubles? If so, what are you wearing and how are you styling it?

Only one more day of work, kids. Can't wait for the long weekend.
Images courtesy of Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew and Stella & Dot

Fitz & Frannie Giveaway

Looking for the perfect gift for the preppy gal in your life? How about a pair of earrings from Fitz & Frannie? How about two? Fitz & Frannie is running a special where you can buy two pair of earrings for $30 and receive free shipping. The code at check-out is PREPPY.

Then, beginning Nov. 27 – Black Friday – for every order of silk knot earrings placed through their Web site, http://www.fitzandfrannie.com/, a free pair of earrings will be given away to a lucky winner each week. That gets me in the holiday spirit!

These earrings add a fun touch to any outfit, whether you’re donning the pink and green to top off your preppiest of outfits or sporting your school colors at the big game (Honey, I’ll take the blue & white in time for the next UK game, please!), the knots are a traditional “twist” on everyday jewelry.

A Little Twinkle for the Holidays

With the holidays come parties, get-togethers and plenty of social occasions. It’s always fun to wear a festive outfit during these times to get in the spirit of the season and sparkle a bit. I want to find a new sweater that I can wear with slacks or a skirt during the holidays, but something that’s unique and not your run-of-the-mill holiday wear (nothing adorned with Santas, wreathes, bells, etc.).

Anthropologie has some great sweaters. And, of course, J. Crew is featuring a number of sequined cardigans, often paired with jeans or khakis to demonstrate how versatile you can be with the ‘bling.’ Sometimes I like their accessories even more than their actual clothes; just pair a fabulous beaded necklace with a solid color sweater, or a brooch that really pops, and that could make an outfit.

So, dear readers, what do you recommend for holiday attire this year? Any special retailers, outfits or other frocks/accessories you would recommend? Would love to hear about it!

It’s finally Friday, kids! Have fun this weekend. My big plans? I just hope to get a nap at some point.
Images courtesy of J.Crew, Anthropologie

Divine Design

I’ve always been an Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and Food Network junkie. Some of the shows on those networks entrance me and I can’t break away. One of my favorite designers on HGTV is Candice Olsen from “Divine Design.” I’ve always said that if I ever win the lottery, I’m flying Candice, Chico and the entire crew down from Canada to decorate my house.

Anyhoo, we’re in the process of lining up some painting projects for our house, including our dining room. The dining room features wallpaper from when we purchased the house and while I’ve been able to live with it, it’s time to update. So, I started thinking about potential colors and I kept returning to robin’s egg blue. I love that color and I think combined with a crisp white trim, it could make for a gorgeous room. Then, in looking for inspiration online, I thought, “What would Candice do?” I came across a photo of a dining room make-over she performed and fell in love with it (see image above). The color scheme, the fabrics, the lighting – classic Candice.

So, any other HGTV junkies out there? What’s your favorite program?

Happy Blog-i-versary

Today marks one year since I started my blog. I can still remember the great joy I felt when a reader left her first comment and said such kind words about my writing and subject matter. There were times I wondered if anyone was reading, if they liked what I was saying, if I was making any kind of impact in the world of blogging, knowing there are millions of blogs out there. But slowly, over time, more and more people left comments and became followers. I, too, discovered a number of wonderful blogs and bloggers out there, with great stories to share, beautiful imagery to project and humorous stories to brighten my day. I have found I have so much in common with people from all over the world, making the world seem a bit smaller, which is nice.

So, a huge thanks to all of you who return to read my little blog each day. Your kind words, encouragement, advice and general happy thoughts have made this blog what it is today. I hope you’ll continue to visit, as I will always check in on your blogs, and I will strive to make this a nice place to dwell for a few moments when you stop by.
Image courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

What's for Thanksgiving Dinner?

Hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is next Thursday. How did that happen? And, as usual, the Christmas holidays are sneaking up far too quickly. I've already seen two houses with Christmas trees displayed in their front windows, and as I was driving into work this morning, the downtown tree lot was setting up shop. Holy cow.

So, before we jump straight into the Christmas frenzy, let's savor next week's holiday and all it has to offer. It's a time to reflect on the year and give thanks for our many blessings. And, it's a time to eat ourselves into a food coma. Woo hoo!

So, dear friends in blog land, what are you doing this Thanksgiving? And, what is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? My favorite dish is my husband's oyster stuffing - delicious! But, this year we won't be cooking. Instead, we're dining at Churchill Downs and watching the races with members of our family. Churchill does an amazing Thanksgiving feast so we're going to dine on good food and then enjoy betting on the ponies. Hey, it's Kentucky. That's what many of us do. ;)
Image courtesy of Marth Stewart Living