My favorite from the SAG Awards

 

Absolutely gorgeous.  Who was your fave?

What better way to welcome a Friday?

Than with new Lilly arrivals online?!

I think I may need this season's Roe.

 

 What're your favorites?

Kennedy Family

Yesterday morning I heard a fascinating story on the Kennedy family's support of the arts on NPR.  The story states, "Perhaps no president in American history celebrated the arts more visibly than John F. Kennedy. So it seems only natural that the performing-arts center that bears his name is staging a star-studded arts festival to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his inauguration."

Poet Laureate Robert Frost reading a poem at John F. Kennedy's inauguration. 

"I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business and statecraft." -JFK

Cellist Pablo Casals at the White House in 1961.

Last Night Yo-Yo Ma played each of the pieces that legendary cellist Pablo Casals played at the White House in 1961 as part of the Kennedy Center celebration.  The full story about the 1961 performance can be read here.

Did you know about the Kennedy family's contributions to the arts?  Are you a patron of the arts yourself?

Help Needed! Bachelorette Party Dresses

One of my sorority sisters is getting married this May.  This means the bachelorette party is coming up soon.  Soon soon soon, as in the first weekend of February in Miami.  So here's where the help comes in.  We have planned different things to do over the long weekend--and every night ends with us at a different nightclub.  I am absolutely clueless when it comes to what to wear to a Miami nightclub.   

A pretty legendary college story is the first fraternity party I attended.  It was a chilly night in September and I put on my cutest cashmere sweater, a pair of Abercrombie jeans (yes, this was awhile ago), a pair of embarrassing shoes probably clogs or something equally cringe-worthy, and maybe a pair of drop earrings for the fun occasion.  Of course this is absolutely, positively, not what one normally wears to a fraternity party.  I was so hot the entire night and kept being terrified someone would spill their solo cup of beer down my favorite sweater.

I am sure that whatever I find, I will probably still be on the more conservative side of nightclub dress, and that's just fine with me.  My main goal is to look like I was planning on going to a club that night and wasn't kidnapped on my way to a PTA meeting.

So what are some ideas of stores I should try?  Do you have any dresses/skirts that always work in situations like these? 

Happy Monday!

This semester I get to work from home a few days a week on my thesis.  Friday afternoon I made a humongous vat of veggie soup!  I often make soups on Sundays and bring it for lunches for the week.  My veggie soup is pretty much whatever veggies I have.  This time I used kale, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, and my secret ingredient--chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.  Here's the artsy pic:

And a normal one:

Taking all of these photos may have led to a very very very bad thing happening--I dropped my iPhone in the soup!  I was absolutely freaking out and quickly googled what I should do.  After using a hairdryer on low (this part was controversial and the bf said I should never do that part again), I put the phone in rice for the night and turned it off.  Luckily I caught the phone and it wasn't totally submerged, so it survived.  It rang Saturday morning while in the rice.  I guess I hadn't turned it off after all.

Friday night was the debut of my Jewel Green Swingers Jaiden Lilly top, and it was quite a hit!  I've been so excited to wear it and the winter party that I helped put on for my graduate program was the perfect occasion.

Champagne Party by glitterista featuring printed tops

Saturday was pretty low key with errands and a movie.  I finally saw The Fighter and now I'm not sure what film I'd like to win the Oscar!  (And I may now have a huge born-again crush on Mark Wahlberg.)

Sunday was full of football, guacamole, stuffed mushrooms, and laundry.

What did you do this weekend?

Friday Faves

TGIF!  This Friday there are oh-so-many things I am loving, so here are my current Friday Faves:

The Vineyard Vines sale. . . (I may have bought more than a few things for Valentine's Day, and a couple for me too!)

Children singing Journey.  Gets you every time. ;)

Yoga pants.  Working from home a few days a week does have it's perks!

weheartit.com

My Junior League girlies!  This week a few of us went to a wine bar before our meeting and had the absolute best time.  I am so very grateful for meeting so many accomplished women, and am excited to continue to get to know them and many more.

Applying to graduate!  Today I submitted my application to graduate in May!!!!!!  (Yes, this is a lot of exclamation points, but very well worth it.)

Happy Friday!  What are your Friday Faves?

Kennedy's Home Movies

I will definitely be watching!  Will you?

Target Love

Sometimes I can almost hear Target calling my name.  It is a place that I can go to whenever I want to get out of the house and just wander for awhile.  My bestie and I go together every time we see each other and it is always phenomenal.  Last night I was yearning to do something after working on school stuff and cleaning all day and Target did not disappoint. 

Of course I had to buy one of these after I missed a similar style last year.

And I am always a sucker for Valentine's Day decorations.

Target also had some (new?) gorgeous blue and white home decor items that made me think of so many of you and your loves of the classic combo!

Neon workout clothes, yes please! :)

Do you have any places you love to go to when you want to get out of the house?

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

-Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Friday Fave

I just adore every detail of this apartment from Lonny.

Love this Paris map and the chandelier over the table.

I can never get enough closet pictures!  

I'd love to hang out in the sitting area in the bedroom.

Mirrored furniture and pink roses?  Yes, please!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend full of as much romance as this gorgeous apartment!

HGTV Dream Home

As most of us have probably had some snow over the past few days, it's a great time to imagine  cozying up and watching the snow fall!  The HGTV Dream Home was just unveiled, and it would be the perfect locale to be right now.

 

Enter the giveaway here to win the house!  My fingers will be crossed for one of us. ;)

Wednesday Winter Wonderland

Hope everyone is staying warm and cozy today! I snapped this picture of an adorable boutique in a neighboring town yesterday before the snow really started. (And yes, that is sign is for Hermes--it is a very chic shop.) The bf and I may go back to the town on the weekend before Valentine's Day. I am usually only driving through on my way to meetings, but it's a picturesque town with quaint shops and great restaurants surrounded by woods--absolutely gorgeous!

I'm off to meetings this morning with high hopes for a shortened work day due to the weather--fingers crossed!

Time for a New Issue of Lonny!

Another issue came out over the weekend, and of course doesn't disappoint!

I'm hoping to re-do my bedroom, so the bedding choices grabbed my attention right away.  I love the preview of Kate Spade Bedding, and the Serena and Lily  is adorable as well.

I dream of having gorgeous Leontine Linens once I get married and share a monogram with my hubby!

It's amazing how much a towel ring can add to a powder room--this lion is perfect!

 I will take this armoire pretty please. 

But of course the article that I was the most excited to share was the one on Lilly!

They did a great job with a brief bio of Lilly and the company.

The yellow dress above was on Lilly's facebook page, and I adore it!

Can you imagine working in such a fabulous studio?  Swoon! ;)

Please, pop on over and read this lovely article right away.  (And I may have to follow-up with a Parisian inspired apartment later this week!)

ABCs

Happy Monday!  I love getting-to-know-you blog posts and thought I'd join in the fun with the ABCs that I've seen on other blogs lately to start the week.

A. Are you a PC or a Mac: Mac for everything but work.  I'm learning more about PCs lately, but am sometimes so lost!  Guess that goes with growing up with an iMac! ;)

B. Best current show on TV: Gossip Girl

  

C. Chore you hate: Dishes

D. Dessert?: Absolutely! ;)

E. Essential "start the day" item: Coffee with a splash of milk in my Lilly travel mug

F. Favorite color, month and beverage: Glitter, December, Champagne 

G. Go-to gift for others: Restaurant gift certificate

H. Height: 5'7.5" (I often say 5'8" which is a bit of a stretch.)

I. Interesting Fact About You:  My parents were very into lessons--I took everything from sewing lessons, hostess lessons, and violin lessons to Australian dance as a child.

J. Job: Almost done with grad school--working in research as well at the moment.

K. Kids:  Not for at least a few years.

L. Last Trip You Took:  New York for New Year's!

M. Musician: Jay-Z

N. Nickname: Lots of shortened versions of my name
O. Oprah or Ellen?: Lifelong Opie addict.

P. Pets: Sadly, being allergic to the world doesn't make this one easy.

Q. Quote: There are so many, so here are my top Audrey Hepburn ones:
 

 

R. Righty or Lefty?: Righty

S. Siblings: Two younger brothers.  Opposite as can be, but we all look identical.
T. TV Shows:  Glee, Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, and the Real Housewives with a touch of Say Yes to the Dress

  
U. Underwear: Always

V. Veggie: Asparagus
W. Wallet:  Lately I've been carrying my iPhone callet and I love it.
X. X-rays you've had: Waaaaay too many to count--I'm a bit clumsy. 
Y. Yahoo or Google?: Google for everything but yahoo movies

Z. Zipper or Button fly?: Neither--dresses all the way!

All pictures from here or here.

Feel free to post yours! :)