Practical? Not so much...

I found these boots so irrestible - I just couldn't help myself.  They were walking out of the store with me.  No doubt about it!

Even though my flight to the British Virgin Islands is booked.  And there's no turning back; we are officially moving there in less than a month, I just had to have these!!! 

It's cold here in Tennessee and I'm loving the dress with tights and ankle boots look.  These are Gianni Bini and I got them at Dillard's for $89.00.  Not bad! 

To even things out, and buy something "practical" {I'm sure Mr. SDP is getting a kick out of that word choice right now} I just had to get this handbag in preparation for our new warmer climate. Mine is in white, though I couldn't seem to find a photo of it.

 

I don't know that I've ever carried a Lilly Pulitzer, other than the fabric bermuda bags.  And I must say, this tote is in a whole new league.  The inside lining is of course in a fun Lilly print. 

Oh, and am I the last one to know that Lilly sells wrapping paper?  How cute is that?  The pink Fa La Lilly is my favorite!

 

Happy Shopping!  Now, off to locate my Stephen Bonanno's...that is the shoe I will be wearing every day for the next year!

Talking Turkey

While we will be enjoying the traditional bird this Thanksgiving, I must share a recipe for a chicken dish that I discovered yesterday. 

Our dear friends Erin and Lee had us over for dinner last night.  {Mr. SDP and Lee were SigEps together in college.  And while Erin and I went to different universities, we were both Alpha Delta Pis.} 

Erin made the most delicious dish.  The recipe is from a Nashville Junior League cookbook that was published in the 1950s.  It's called "Chicken in the Skillet."

Here is the recipe for "Chicken in a Skillet"
{serves 8}

ingredients:
4 chicken breasts, cut into halves (or quarters)
1/2 cup flour
1 cup butter
1 can of mushroom soup
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1 cup sherry

instructions:
dredge chicken in flour as for frying
place butter in skillet
heat
place chicken breasts in skillet and slightly brown
add remaining ingredients
simmer for 45 minutes to hour

Don't you just love the word "dredge"?  I do and I know exactly what it means...love that!

Breaking News over at Brunch at Saks

Have you heard?  Carrie Bradshaw's life before Sex and the City will be revealed in the written word...

A new book, called "The Carrie Diaries" {courtesy of Candace Bushnell of course!} will take us back in time before Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha, before cosmos, and that's right, before Big.

Thanks to Brunch at Saks for alerting me to this exciting SATC news! Sex and the City fans rejoice is right!!!

Of course the movie will follow behind the April 2010 release of the book...so exciting!!!

BVI Guest Bedroom, perhaps?

After having the first ever SDP Liquidation Sale {a.k.a. garage sale}, I decided to make the best of the items that didn't sell on Saturday.  With a few cans of paint in "real orange", "seaside" blue, and "muslin" white, I transformed these items destined for Good Will into cool trendy pieces. What do you think?

I already had a duvet cover in the orange and white fabric from Pottery Barn.  I actually used the shams that came with it to make 4 large pillows like the one you see in the photograph.  A few months ago, I bought a quilt and matching shams in the blue ikat fabric for a steal at HomeGoods.  Oh, and the blue pillow on the right is made from a set of napkins my mom gave me a few summers ago.  Onto the painted items...

These little orange mirrors were previously greyish in color.  Very drab!  With one can of "real orange" high gloss paint, they are transformed!

Can you believe I had three others just like them that I let Mr. SDP take to Good Will?  I had no idea they would turn out so adorable!  Maybe I need to run over there on my lunch break on buy them back...The oval mirror had a nickel finish in its former life.  I just love the Tiffany blue color.
  

As for the empty picture frame...I have big plans for it.  I want to get some chicken wire or a old radiator grill to attach to the back, so I can use it for displaying jewelry.  Can't you see some large chunky coral necklaces and earrings hanging from it?

I have three of those large blue and white vases.  The tray used to be stained with a mahogony finish.  I much prefer it in the "muslin" white, don't you? 

Now if only we knew where we were going to be living on Tortola...for certain, there will be a guest bedroom!

Southern Living, while I still can...

With the countdown to the move to the BVI right at 4 weeks, I am getting nostalgic about Christmas and our family traditions here in the South.  In addition to the holiday meal and trimming of the tree, I always pick a color scheme for my wrapping and all gifts are adorned in the same papers, bows, tags etc...  For several years the Martha Stewart Wrapping Paper was my first choice.  I haven't really been pleased with her selection these last two years, but I digress.

This year, we will be having a Caribbean Christmas, and I think I just found the perfect wrapping inspiration in Southern Living.  I just received my December issue this weekend and on page 215 there they were!  Zig zag tags in all their glory!  {And we know how obsessed I am with anything and everything chevron! }

Aren't they just adorable?!?  They can be yours for $6.00 over at Linda and Harriet.  {There are three in a pack.}  I am going to make my Christmas list and order accordingly.  Rather than the crimson ribbon, I'm thinking of doing a pink one.  I haven't really done the whole pink and green Christmas before...it can get a little Dr. Suess-like.

I have to say this Southern Living issue is full of surprises.  There is a lovely little spread on pages 20 - 25 of 24 Christmas gifts made by southern hands.

I'm thinking a Christmas music channel on Pandora is a must at work tomorrow... 

Game Night: NOLA Edition

Well, sort of.

You may remember some crazy stories about our game night group.  We gather on the first Friday of the month.  And back in August, we had a wild hair and headed to New Orleans for game night.  {Living in Tennessee and all, you understand why it was such an ordeal, with flights and hotels and all...}

For November's game night, we're bringing New Orleans to us...in the way of the menu.  I have made 24 mini muffelattas, prepped my beignets (Cafe Du Monde's mix of course!), and cooked the chicken for the jambalaya.  That leaves the cajun crab dip, crawfish boulettes, and final prep of the jambalaya for tomorrow.  I can manage that, surely.

Now, if only I knew what game we were going to play...any suggestions?

Echo...echo...echo...

So, with the impending move to the British Virgin Islands, I'm going to have to get back into warm weather clothes. Just when I pulled out all of my winter clothes!  I'm not asking for sympathy - believe me!

Look what I stumbled on over at Echo Design! 

This adorable coverup tunic is only $68.  Not bad!  Kind of wish it was lined, so I could wear it as a dress.  They do have it in black...hmmmm...

And look at this hot little number!  Only $88.

I'm loving this website!  Check out this jacket that I imagine, could be worn several seasons.  It's $68.

They have winter items, outerwear and items for the home even!  Happy shopping! 

Seriously Isaac?

I know I've posted about how happy I was to see Isaac Mizrahi designing for the masses again, with his new gig at Liz Claiborne, but Isaac, we need to talk.  Is this really what you think women need to be wearing this holiday season or ever for that matter?  This size 0 model looks like she's about to give birth to a forest of Christmas trees. 

I get it - you sketched it. Some suits in a boardroom probably thought it would sell, blah blah blah. 

Seriously?  I thought you were going to offer up affordable runway fashion for the every day woman not this crap!  I realize this may sound harsh, but I'm disappointed.  After that beautiful summer line, I was just hoping for more...

Even the "make the season bright" campaign features oatmeal sweaters.  Apparently, the design department wasn't talking to the marketing department.  

Hello Henri

Christmas is just around the corner...you know how I know?  The Henri Bendel catalogue is here! 

Check it out.  In the words of Rachel Zoe, "I die."