Black Tie Charity Event – The Look is Found

While I didn’t get around to sharing more of my outfit inspiration as I determined what to wear for this weekend’s black tie charity event, I thought I’d at least share the final look. I scored the dress, an empire-waisted Maggy London, from Nordstrom on clearance for about $80 with tax and shipping. It’s the softest shade of pale gray with just a hint of a purple hue, a really lovely silk chiffon. The satin and crystal headband is from Jennifer Behr, a sparkly little treasure I returned home with following my visit to see my Chicago BFF, Ami, at the end of last month. (Thanks, Ami! xoxo) The shoes, which you can’t see here, are my wedding shoes from JCrew, which I featured in my original inspiration look. I ended up going long and not black, which is basically completely different than I had planned. However, I love the beading and the fabric and the price was definitely right. If you’re lucky and I have the time, I’ll show you some non self-portrait photos from the weekend next week. Sadly, it has come to that – time is really that limited. At any rate, here’s how it shaped up…

Magic and Fairy Dust

Something about this quote from last week’s epsiode of Grey’s Anatomy just really hit home for me so I felt compelled to share.

“Okay. I know this is the first time on a Peeds rotation for some of you, not for others. But I wanted you to understand that I run my Peeds unit a little differently. This is not general surgery in miniature. These are tiny humans. These are children. They believe in magic, they play pretend, there is fairy dust in their IV bags and they cross their fingers and they make wishes and that makes them more resilient than adults. They recover faster, survive worse. they believe. In Peeds, we have miracles and magic and in Peeds, anything is possible.”

I believe in magic and fairy dust, too. Or at least I want to believe. I like to think we aren’t all world-hardened and embittered. I like to cross my fingers, make wishes and believe in miracles. Even if you can’t see it, I do believe that anything is possible and dreams do come true.

Holiday Decor from Anthropologie

Ok, friends, I promise my next post won’t be about the holidays. (No, really, I swear.) But, honestly, Anthropologie’s holiday decor is too good not to share. I love these pretty little ornaments and this very cool tree topper. I’d like one of each. Please and thank you.

{Photos from Anthropologie.}

Love = Pottery Barn Quilted Velvet Stockings

A couple of months ago, we returned a wedding gift we received to Pottery Barn and in exchange got a nice little merchandise credit with which I had no clue what I wanted to buy. None of the remaining unpurchased items on our registry were inexpensive enough to pay for in full with the credit and I didn’t want to spend it just to spend it so I decided to hold onto it until something good popped up and bit me. Today, I was bitten.

I warned you the other day that I was approaching full-on holiday mode. And I may or may not have mentioned in the past that aside from summer, the holidays are my favorite season. (Yes, the holidays are officially a season in and of themselves in my world.) So today I went hog wild and ordered monogrammed stockings for Mike, the dog and I. Mine is the ivory quilted velvet stocking with dark green embroidery. Mike’s is the matching ruby quilted velvet stocking with white embroidery and Nina is getting the green velvet stocking with red cuff embroidered in white. We are all very excited. (Or maybe I’m the only one who is excited, but I’m excited enough for all of us so that counts!)

Through tomorrow, Pottery Barn is offering free shipping and free monogramming on most of their beautiful stockings bringing my total cost, after using the merchandise credit, to $2.34 for three monogrammed velvet stockings. I’m seriously giddy enough about this one to spend the rest of the day singing holiday jingles to myself. Don’t believe me? Just ask Mike. He can testify to my complete and total obsession with the holidays.

{Photos from Pottery Barn.}

Smock Goes Holiday

Is it sad that one of the highlights of my week was working with one of our designers in the office to bring a little holiday cheer to our Smock website? It’s official. I’m approaching full-on holiday mode. I’m dreaming about all of the holiday crafts, holiday cards and holiday treats I can’t wait to tackle. Yes, it’s barely November, but the snow is already flying here in Upstate NY and I say – if it looks like Christmas and it smells like Christmas, it must be Christmas! (Or Hanukkah or whatever your holiday season flavor of choice may be, for that matter.) I swear, I’m hearing jingle bells in my dreams. Is anyone else ready to jump into holiday mode already?