Kokoon: Fall 2011 Collection

Holy smokin' hot look at my sponsor Kokoon's new fall line that just launched yesterday!



So gorgeous, right?  I told Laine that I think this is the most gorgeous collection she's designed yet!



And guess what! Kokoon is having a pre-fall sale!

Now through September 6th receive 15% off new fall items.  Go check them out!

Loungewear

I've really been into comfort lately (I wonder why?).  I think cute and casual knitted pants are a great way to get comfort while still looking polished enough to leave the house.  That is, of course, if you pair them appropriately.  Here are some of my favorites.

 {Clockwise: Saturday pant, Loveworn sweatpants, Heathered longjanes,

and Heathered slouch sweatpants}

And on a completely unrelated and heartbreaking note (sorry to bring it down on a Monday), The Taylor family lost their baby girl Ruby Jane (pictured below) on Thursday night after months of fighting with liver failure.  My heart goes out to the family.  Due to numerous hospital visits the Taylors are facing many medical bills.  Bows for Ruby Jane was started as a way to help fundraise.  Please consider buying one of these adorable hairbows.  I just made my purchase for Lilly.



Pregnancy: Halfway Point!

Today marks the 20th week of our pregnancy, woohoo!  Feels good to be halfway there.  Overall, I'm feeling well and shouldn't complain about a thing considering how some pregnancies are hit with 40 weeks of nausea. But I did think it would be fun to do a little post commemorating the day.  So here are some things that popped to mind when I thought of my pregnancy this go around.

*Me at 20 weeks, in a blue APL dress for my little boy! (I don't think my belly looks very big here. Some days it looks bigger, funny how that is.)

*Callies Biscuits - Major weakness for what I call the most amazing little biscuits you'll ever have. So many flavors. Made here in Charleston, & they ship! 

*Tane Organics - Loving this line of luxurious children's clothes.

*Tucker dress - Bump friendly, I have my eye on you!

*The Help - I just finished this fabulous book. 

It's been great for all the laying around I've been doing.

*Brigatta nightstand - I think this could be perfect tucked in the nursery.

Society Social

Holy Moley.  Did you all get a peek at Society Social's long awaited Manifesto Magalog yesterday?  I was gobsmacked right in the face wanting and needing everything in Roxy's oh so covetable line.  And as she put it, "At the Social, we believe that it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring, which means we also believe that regular ol' catalogs are so LY".  And set up like our favorite online mags, it is pretty much brilliant.

{The Society Social cocktail table}

Now, take a look at these bar carts....  I can hear the gasps already. 

The finishes and color choices are plentiful- yay!  And if you're like me you may have been thinking that you didn't really need a barcart.  Well we do now, ladies.  Every last one of us.

{Yes, that is snakeskin! I know I know, gorgeous.}

And the magalog is full of fun things like recipes and party item roundups...  I was even invited to join in on the fun as well.

{We all agree that I must have that pink and red chair right? 

I mean, it does match my blog and all...}

And take a gander at these gorgeous chairs...

I hate to break it, but we'll all have to wait to place our orders until next week for the full site to launch. 

So for now, get your butts over to Society Social to (a.) check it out and (b.) sign up for the mailing list.



Mad Men For Banana Republic

Today Banana Republic's Mad Men Collection hits stores.  The capsule collection was co-designed by Mad Men's award winning costume designer Janie Bryant and was inspired by the 60's costumes the cast wears on the show.  There are definitely some pieces here that I like.  What do you think?

Not surprising, I love the men's collection too.



I had the pleasure of meeting Janie Bryant in March when she was a guest judge for Charleston Fashion Week.  Lovely woman on the inside and out.  Congrats on a beautiful collection, Janie.  I'd love to see what you might have up your sleeve for that clothing line you've been considering...

Images via NYMag.com.

Image

I bring up the topic of image and happiness today after recently receiving a message from one of my readers who asked for my help.

My reader Kelly (name has been changed) is battling depression and is entering an eating disorder program.  I won't share the reasons that Kelly feels contributed to her depression, but I will say that they are the type of issues that many women struggle with.  What makes me share this with you all here today is because Kelly said that she reached out to me because my life looks so perfect and I always seem upbeat and happy. 

So today I want to keep it real with all of you who visit my blog regularly and who I let into my "life".  I use quotations around life because this little blog isn't a true representation of what my life is like.  I suspect many of you realize this.  But let's be honest, it can still be easy to compare situations with someone else (celebrity? blogger? friend on facebook?...).  "She has the best clothes."  "Her home is so beautiful."  "She's like Martha Stewart."  I think we've all been guilty of this at some time or another. 

The truth is, I get to share what I want to share here on this blog.  Yes, I could tell you about some of the shitastic stuff that happens.  But is that why you come here?  Probably not.  And it's certainly not why I write.  Now, in all honesty and fairness, yes, I am extremely happy.  Sometimes I even feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world.  But not in a way that is unlike many other people.  I love my family, my friends.  I love staying home with Lilly.  I have a lot of things in my life to feel lucky about, so I don't want this post to be misinterpreted.  But I also change a lot of diapers during the day, and there is always a lot of laundry to do, and my husband leaves his shoes laying around the house (sorry to call you out Josh) and, well, you get the idea.  And I, too, have my moments when I wish I could change something about myself.

Remember my Glitter Guide "Shop The Street" photoshoot?  What if I told you that I asked my photographer to edit the photos so that my arms would look skinnier.  Are you shocked?  Maybe, maybe not.  But if you go look and compare the first two images in the feature you'll see what I'm talking about.  At the time it seemed harmless and fun. I was feeling pudgy and pregnant and yadayadayada.  But what makes me absolutely sick is to think that someone, anyone, might be looking at those photos thinking, "why don't I look like that?"  Hell, I don't even look like that ;)  And to be honest, I don't even care that I don't.  I've never bought into the idea that you have to be a perfect tiny size to be happy.  So I'm a little disapointed in myself that I felt the need to portray a skinnier version of myself.  I hope ya'll aren't too let down.  I never really considered that by doing that I was feeding into a social standard that I despise.  And let me also be very clear about one thing, neither Glitter Guide or my photographer Gray ever gave me any reason to think that the photos needed edited.

So back to Kelly's question.  What is the key to happiness?  Beats me.  I just try to surround myself with people who bring me up.  You know, the type of friends that actually want to see you succeed.  And encourage you.  I make a lot of time for myself too.  I'm as much a selfish person as I am a loving person to those close to me.  Because I love myself too.  And I've never settled.  Life is too short to be living unhappily and longing to step in someone else's shoes.

{John Dolan photography}

 

So I've opened up.  Now I want to know what you think the key to happiness is.  And what's your opinion on "image" and all that it entails? 

Sponsor Love- Pretty Smitten

Just popping in to share some new things that Elizabeth has added to her shop, Pretty Smitten.  How about this new cheetah print?? So cute on this lucite tray!



Pretty iphone case designs...

And new bag tags for you or your kid!  Would be great for back to school (put name and contact info on the back).



Elizabeth is celebrating her 900th sale (congrats E!!) over on her blog with a giveaway.  The winner will get to choose an iphone case or a tray.  So if you're feeling lucky...

A Weekend Trip

I had a nice extended weekend in Kentucky and Indiana.  We visited family, ate a lot of fabulous food, and got to go to my hometown's annual german festival, Strassenfest.  Lilly had an absolute ball the entire time.  I thought I'd share just a snippet of the weekend.

{Outside of the Beer Garden at Strassenfest. Yes, that's just a bottled water thanks to my baby bump

(19 weeks prego now!).}

While at my Dad's house Lilly made sure to check on her Papa's corn.  It looked up to snuff.

{Her adorable romper is from Little Bean Shop}

"Cruising" with her cousins.

And there was a lot of this.

Charleston Blogger Meet-up

This Thursday I'm attending a meet-up for Charleston bloggers.   If you're a local blogger (or if you're a reader and would like to join us) we'll be at Social dowtown at 6 pm. 

Thanks to Kim at Keller Creative for putting this together!  Hope to see some of you there.

Crewcuts Coats

I know it's a little ridiculous to buy a child 4 coats when you live in the south, but isn't Crewcut's outerwear collection absolutely precious??!  I've decided that Lilly will definintely need the vest and that I really should narrow down the others.  But they're all so different, I really could make a case for all 4...

We just got home last night from a wonderful trip to IN and KY to visit my family.  Sorry for the short post this morning while I get caught up.