Happy Easter to My Peeps

Happy Easter to all of my wonderful "peeps" in Bloggerville! For those of your who celebrate Easter, I hope you and your families have a blessed holiday and enjoy your time together.

While Good Friday is solemn and reflective, I do look forward to Sunday and all the joy it brings. Enjoy the egg hunts, Sunday services and Easter brunches. He is risen! Rejoice!

Image courtesy of The Washington Post

Time for a Pedicure - Stat!

The weather has been gorgeous lately and I am so thankful! Yesterday we enjoyed temperatures in the mid-70s, which was perfect for Miss E.'s soccer practice. Everyone was at the park in shorts and T-shirts, running, playing or just basking in the sun. Ah, it was so good for the soul!

Today and tomorrow, the temps are supposed to reach the mid-80s. Woo hoo! I fortunately have the day off tomorrow, so I plan to enjoy this weather to the fullest. The kids have their Easter Egg hunt at school, so here's hoping the chocolate doesn't melt!

And, because the weather is warming up, I plan to treat myself to a pedicure, so I can sport my flip flops and other open-toed shoes (and also because my feet sorely need it - not pretty). In fact, my new espadrilles from Talbot's arrived yesterday - what do you think? They are super cute, aren't they? I plan to wear them on Easter. Ah, spring fashion. How fun!
Image courtesy of Talbots.com

In Your Easter Bonnet

Moms and toddlers in their Easter finery

Easter Egg hunt event in Manhatten

A dapper bow tie for Easter Sunday

The annual White House Easter Egg Roll (He's a determined little guy, isn't he?)

Easter, the highest of holy days, is this Sunday. My family and I are planning to arrive extra early to 10 a.m. Mass, as the C&E Christians will be making their bi-annual appearance, therefore seating will be at a premium.

As a child, Easter was always a time to get a new dress in pretty pastel colors. And while you dressed for spring, the weather wouldn’t always cooperate. It could be cold with snow flurries, downright balmy or quite pleasant. Even if it was cold, you were determined to brave the brutal weather, because nothing would stop you from wearing that lovely new dress, even if it was covered by your winter coat.

So, this begs the question, what should you or shouldn’t you wear on Easter? It’s technically spring, but not Memorial Day, so therefore are white shoes out of the question? Is it okay for little girls to wear white patent leather shoes, black patent leather or either one? Do guys break out the seersucker yet? Purists would say that seersucker shouldn’t see the light of day until late May, but where I live, Derby Day tends to be the exception for seersucker, as well as certain white attire.

I’m planning to wear a skirt and sweater set on Easter. I need to get a pedicure this week as well, in case I’m daring enough to wear open-toed shoes. I just hate the thought of my bare legs peeking out from under a skirt. Ugh, I need a tan, pronto!

While I won’t be wearing a hat, I do like seeing the ladies in church donning their wide-brimmed chapaeux. You have to admit that Easter Sunday is a fabulous people-watching day!

So, any Easter attire dos or don’ts that you recommend?
Images courtesy of The Official White House website, New York Social Diary, Southern Proper

TOMS Shoes

Have you heard of TOMS Shoes? The casual canvas shoes for men, women and children have really hit it big and not so much for their look or fit, but because of the company’s mission. Here's their story:

In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.

Since our beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over 400,000* pairs of shoes to children in need, through the purchases of caring customers.
*As of December 2009

You may have seen Mykoskie in an AT&T commercial featuring him interacting with children who have received the shoes. It seems to be a great company and great concept. TOMS One-for-One Campus Clubs are popping up at colleges across the country. In fact, Mykoskie is speaking at my alma mater, the University of Kentucky, tomorrow. It’s good to see such altruism taking place among today’s youth (do I sound like an old lady or what?). I hope it continues to blossom.

I guess I’m a little slow to join the TOMS movement, since I’m not a 20-something, the main TOMS demographic to date. But, now that I’ve arrived, I plan to order some shoes and I’m thrilled to know that a child will benefit from this purchase. Be sure to check out the TOMs website. Cool stuff available for purchase and a great blog, too.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. My Wildcats lost in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. It kills me that Bob Huggins and his oh-so-classy track suit are going to the Final Four. And, so is that evil team from North Carolina. I can’t even say their name. Sorry, still sore over an incident in March of 1992 involving a final shot at the buzzer. A tragic moment that CBS Sports insists on replaying every time they lead into the next game. Make it stop!
Images and content courtesy of http://www.toms.com/

Paula, Ina and Their Homes

Paula Deen in her Savannah kitchen

Garden party at Ina Garten's East Hampton home

If ever there was a dream kitchen, it would be that of The Lady herself, Paula Deen. How I love the space she has created in her Savannah home! And, not just the kitchen, but the entire home. While it's a newer house, it oozes traditional low-country style. Simply lovely.

While on maternity leave with each of my children, I became a Food Network junkie, never missing Paula's show, as well as the Barefoot Contessa - talk about a gorgeous house! And have you seen her garden? Divine. I loved seeing their homes as much as the delicious, and highly caloric, dishes they concocted each episode. Yeah, I think my kids' first word may have been "mayonnaise," thanks to Paula and Ina.

Our own kitchen renovation is winding down. The painting is complete and all we have left are the new countertops and back splash. I know, I've been neglectful in posting photos of the progress. I'll try to get it on this weekend. But, with two soccer games and a Junior League volunteer event tomorrow, no guarantee that will happen. Plus, my Cats made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, so there will be a huge focus on basketball this weekend. I'll try, though, I promise. :)

Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend!
Images courtesy of Food Network and Hamptons.com

Chocolate Eggs

Have you seen these delightful "robin's eggs" from Williams-Sonoma? They're filled with chocolate truffles and come in a gorgeous floral nest.

About 10 days until Easter, which means my chocolate fast is coming to an end. Not that I'm counting the days, or anything.
Image courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Best Episode Ever!

Do you watch "Lost?" Last night's episode was fantastic! Some questions answered, many more raised. Hard to believe the season is almost over.

One of my coworkers is not convinced that Jacob is good and thinks that the Man in Black, now known as Fake Locke or "Flock," may actually be a good guy. I'm not convinced.

So, if you watch the show, what are your theories? Is the island pergatory? Discuss!
Image courtesy of abc.com

P.S. - My apologies to readers who are not followers of the TV show "Lost." I'm sure this post seems rather cryptic, much like the program itself. I promise we will return to regularly scheduled blogging tomorrow. :)