Spindle savior!

Thanks to Preppy Cricket and her recent post about her love for ribbon, my crafts will be much more organized!

As I've mentioned before, we are most likely moving to the BVI within the next 60 days. That means I've been decluttering the house and organizing as if it were my job! While I am fully capable of neatly packaging paint brushes, card stock, and glue, the yards and yards of ribbon leave me baffled! That is, until now....

Check out this post by Preppy Cricket and the amazing "fix" she found for storing spools of ribbon! (The image is courtesy of Country Living.)

She also was so kind to introduce me to a new blog - don't you just love finding new and inspiring reads? Check out A Gift Wrapped Life.

Home Sweet Home: Part 4

It looks like a decision regarding our move to the British Virgin Islands is drawing near...we may be leaving "the South" and heading south toward the equator. {Technically, we'd stop just south of the Tropic of Cancer, but who here is a geographer? Not I!}

Our minds will be made up by week's end.

It's very surreal. If we choose to go, we would be selling our house and cars...changing careers...leaving family and friends behind...all before Christmas! It's equal parts sad and exciting, maybe with a dash of stressful!

The search for the perfect place to live in the BVI is underway. {Who knew they had Coldwell Banker?!?} We will need an extra bedroom for all of the company we expect we'll be having, plus I would really like to have a home office. I am going to try and work something out with my firm, at the very least as a freelancer. Mr. SDP will have his hands full with his new position...I just hope we have time to see each other and explore the islands together!

While tears well up in my eyes at the thought of missing my niece's birthday party or abandoning our Christmas traditions, the only thing that makes me okay with this move is the fact that we would likely be returning to the states in 12 months. I can do anything for 12 months right?

What an adventure this will be!

Off to declutter the house...the realtor is coming in the morning.

You know when you learn a new word...

...and then you hear it later that same day? Or when you get a new car and then you spot 3 or 4 of the same model on your drive home? Well, something very similar happened to me today!


A friend of mine, who has a lovely home furnishings store, made this her status update on Facebook today: "Today - I will be happier than a bird with a french fry." I thought it was cute; it made me smile. {I also thought it might be nice to have french fries for lunch, but alas, I went with a bowl of soup instead. Sigh.}


Anyway, I was just over at Peonies and Polaroids a few moments ago and saw this:

Some might call this ironic - and if they did, I would correct them. It is coincidental! And I love it.

I don't believe I had ever heard/read/seen the quote before, and here it is a second time. Oh, and if you're wondering where to find the print. According to P&P, it's from DazeyChic. Enjoy!

The Look for Less

Have you seen this dress? I absolutely love it.

Would you believe it's from Tar-jay? That's right. This frock is a mere $39.99 at your local Target! I spotted it on Sunday while running a quick errand. I slipped it on and it was love at first zip.

I rocked it at the office with my new black tights, {also from Tar-jay.} I'm a big fan of the ASSETS by Sara Blakely brand. They're $14.00 which is almost half of the cost of the dress, but they're worth it. They hold up well wash after wash.

Because there's a chill in the air, I wore a black cardigan and to emphasize my waist and break up the pattern, I wore a black patent leather belt. Both of those items are NY&Co which means they're very reasonably priced.

And for full disclosure, I wore Via Spiga black patent leather pumps. While they were from last season, they were my splurge item in the whole "look for less" operation.

I know it's a stretch, but if I had to say what the whole ensemble reminded me of, I would say this outfit from Sex and the City, the movie. Ah, Big. Can't wait to see you on the big screen again...Only a few more months...Sex and the City 2 will hit theatres May 2010, on the 28th to be exact. Can hardly wait!

Fornash-ulous!

Okay, so I've completely made up that word, but it might catch on as more and more people know about Fornash - the lovely boutique in Georgetown and now in McLean, VA. I haven't been to either physical location personally, but I've enjoyed perusing their website! Definitely check it out! From accessories to gifts, it looks like a great place to shop!

Thanks to Coterie for the introduction. She featured this amazing necklace today which caught my eye:

Happy shopping!

Etsy Discovery

I recently discovered another Etsy shop with some beautiful, delicate necklaces made of lace. The company's name is White Owl and it was founded by two sisters who have a love for all things vintage...particularly lace. {I have a soft spot in my heart for lace, as my wedding dress was made of lace.}

I think their pieces are rather stunning, don't you?What I found even more surprising was the price listed on White Owl's Etsy shop - the necklaces are only $28 or $29! Check out this one - can't you just see it worn with a strapless black dress?

White Owl also makes earrings...check out these eggplant-colored ones:

Not that you need another reason to buy from White Owl, but they also include poetry just below the beautiful photographs of their creations. For these earrings, a few lines by William Shakespeare:

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows
Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with elgantine.

~William Shakespeare

This simple little touch adds so much to the overall experience and enhances the romantic feeling that their jewelry evokes...now, which piece to choose???

Knock Knock. Who's there?

A brilliant novelty gift company! That's who!

Its name is Knock Knock; isn't that cute and memorable? If you're not familiar with the company, maybe you've seen one of their witty products, like these funny folders for the office: Or the bingo cards to use when flying:
These and other novelty gift items can be found in boutiques all over the country. I recently purchased this book for a friend at a local boutique, to accompany a gift card from the same store. She loved it! {At a reasonable $7.95, I loved it too!!!}There's a whole series of these little books...
Cliches and Platitudes, Pep Talks and Picker-Uppers, Insults and Comebacks, and Pickups and Come-Ons! Too funny!

One of my favorite insults comes from the chapter titled "Looks, when it's only skin deep".

"Guess what - I've nominated you for Extreme Makeover and What Not To Wear and they're fighting over you!"

Maybe I could hurl it at one certain person in my office...

The Red Baton

That's where Mr. SDP and I will be spending our Saturday night, watching the LSWho Tigers play the Florida Gators. It's a reunion of sorts...

Usually, my girlfriends from college (most of whom where Alpha Delta Pis at Florida) gather at a home game in Gainesville, but not this year. We are taking this party to New Orleans, and then Baton Rouge!

We fly out first thing Friday morning. I've got my outfits planned. My Luccheses will be making the trip. I realize packing cowboy boots in carry-on luggage may seem excessive to some, but I think they're worth it.

Now, you may remember, we were just in Louisiana a few months ago for our game night: NOLA edition. There was one place I didn't get to while on that trip: Leontine Linens. It will be a must-visit on Friday morning before we meet up with friends in the French Quarter.

I was just perusing the new line of linens over at Leontine, and was pleasantly surprised by the Jolly Roger bedding. Would it not be adorable for a little boy's room?
Isn't it great? I just love all of their bedding. Take these elegant shams for example. These would actually work on our bed right now...
Laissez les bons temps roulez!

Mad for Plaid

I've made no apologies for my new obsession with Isaac Mizrahi for Liz Claiborne. If you've yet to fall in love with him, like me, check this out:This just arrived in my inbox...and I think I gave a silent "Hooray!" {Don't want to disturb my co-workers!} I'm so glad plaid is back. I'm not sure how I'm going to work it in to my wardrobe this fall, but when I do, it needs to be really trendy.


Remember, I just turned 30 this year, so I need to make sure I'm using classic pieces in the right way. Dressing appropriately at 30 can be very tricky. A hem line that's too long or a shirt too boxy and I might look 40. (Gasp!) On the other hand, I can't skew too young and rock a plaid mini...or atleast not without leggings.

A few years ago, I remember I would wear traditional Jackie-O inspired dresses to formal events. Think elegant labels like Oscar de la Renta and Kay Unger. It was a great way to dress - I was a sharp, mature 20-something that could pull it off. This dress is a perfect representation of what I'm talking about in style, not price! {It's available at SAKS for a cool $2,500 right now.}

Now that I'm getting older, I feel like I have to follow the trends more closely and choose classic pieces carefully, or I'll look too old. If I were to rock the Oscar dress to a cocktail party, I'm afraid I would look older than I am.

Instead, I would go with something more like this, from Marc Jacobs: Maybe I am over-analyzing this whole age thing, but I just don't want to be called "Ma'am" by the bartender...that's what it's about these days!