Rue the Day?

Rue LaLa Today.

Nothing like red to brighten a gray, frigid, wintry day!

The $39 price tag made them even better!

I'm gonna enjoy wearing these.

Are we coming out of our post-Holiday Blues?

Hope so!!

xoxo

Kate - Not This Year

So I ordered my 2010 Kate Spade Planner as I shared in this post!

What I didn't realize . . .

the 2010 planner does not have the individual pages for each day.

Those pages have been relegated to a section called "Notes and Doodles".

There is still the section for each month - 2 pages with a 1"x 2" square for each day.

Not enough room for me.

I use those daily pages for detailed notes, lists, etc.

Does this bother anyone else, or is it just moi?

But I'm keeping the planner.

I love her planners.

Always a theme.

This year - "mischievous, puzzling words" - a.k.a. homophones ;-)

And the illustrations + the colors used = True Love.

So . . . I have returned to where my planner days began.

Franklin Day Planner

{named for Benjamin Franklin}

Now called Franklin-Covey.

I found a cute little pink one on eBay!

Yes, sir, only $30 incl. shipping.

Here is the newest member of my obsession with being organized and writing down every single move I make ;-)

I think I'm gonna love her!

xoxo

Smart - as in Boards

Random Post Here:

I really love learning.

Especially now that I am older.

I don't ever want to be that "old" person who is clueless about the latest and greatest ;-)

Anyway -

I have been substituting at our local elementary school a bit this year.

Hence, I have used a "Smart Board".

Wow! I would absol have loved having this in my room when I taught.

Amazing piece of technology!

Have y'all used one? Seen one?

Addendum: Nothing like having a kindergartner showing you how to use it, too. ;-)

Love it.

xoxo

2010

xoxo

2009

As 2009 comes to an end,

does anyone besides me find it very

sobering, sad, and thought-provoking

to watch the tributes

to all the great people

that we lost in 2009?

And to think of those that we lost personally - can't even go there.

It's a real "mortality check" for sure, isn't it?

It reminds me to enjoy every single second!!

Have a great evening, BF's.

xoxo

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

to the

Best Blog Friends in the World.

God Bless You Each and Every One!

xoxo

Christmas List {con't}

Dear Santa,

Thankyouverymuch,

xoxo

Mother Nature

UPDATE:

AS & BDiL are in the South!

Their flight left NYC this afternoon ON TIME to Nashville.

They will be here in a couple of days!

Yay for American Airlines.

FYI: Delta cancelled their Saturday flight on Friday after the weather reports.

It wasn't even snowing yet on Saturday when that flight should have taken off.

Boo Delta.

Yay American!

WTH!

Why Now?

Why this close to Christmas?

When everyone is trying to get home.

Hurry up and get this over with and gone, please.

I need my family home for Christmas.

Thankyouverymuch!!

xoxo

Tour of Homes 2009

Here is the official Christmas Tour 2009 of my home!

My decorations are the traditional red and green.

My tree is filled with ornaments that the children made in elementary school, VBS, along with ornaments that I have purchased, received over the years.

Also, some of the children's ornaments - gifts and collections - adorn the tree!

One thing that I have done for years - thank you Martha Stewart - is to tie double-faced satin ribbon on anything that doesn't move. ;-) i.e. lamps, ends of my curtain rods, nobs, etc.

Easy and so festive.

I recommend this if you are just starting out in your own home and don't have a lot of decorations yet!

Enjoy!

Mini "Bow" Tree

Treats Anyone?

{please excuse the lovely cheap-o Mimosa-ready Vodka in the background}

Santa Claus collection

{One of Susie's signs in the background - Perfect!}

Mistletoe hangs from the chandelier

{this is an example of the "bow effect"}

The Reason for the Season

Miniature Christmas Tree Display

Another one of Susie's signs!

Love it!

Christmas Crackers Ready in Monogrammed Bucket!

Smaller Tree with Brass Ornaments

Close-up of Tree

Baby's First Christmas ornament, Bell Ornament by PD made in Sunday school, Hallmark Car ornament belonging to AS, ornament from trip to NYC, Snowman ornament handmade by AS,

Ice Cream Cone ornament made by PD -

You can see the theme here!

Another Mini-Tree on the dining room table.

This one has glass ornaments that belonged to my mother.

Love it.

Candy anyone?

Yes, the bubble light.

It looks pink and green which I love, but it is really red and green.

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

Yes, they will be home for Christmas and that is the best gift ever!

xoxo

Christmas List

Dear Santa,

Thankyouverymuch,

xoxo

I'm Only Going to Say This Once!

NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, ESPN, ESPN2, FSSO, GOLF, E!, HLN, FNC

. . . and anyone else I have not mentioned.

You know who you are!

Listen up darnit!

1.

Stop talking about Tiger.

Stop joking about Tiger.

He royally messed up.

Get over it.

You've reported it.

You've done your job.

He may not have thought about his family, but you should.

2.

Stop making his mistresses famous.

Good grief.

It's disgusting.

I am not interested in ANYTHING any of those women have to say.

Stop.It.Right.Now.

and

I mean it!

I'm not watching you anymore until you do.

xoxo and Merry Christmas!

AL, GA, MS, TN, TX!!

Remember my post about how awesome these products are?

They are really that awesome.

Now through the holidays you can receive 25% off your purchases!!

Yes, 25% off.

Visit TraditionalState.com

Make your selections

Use the PromoCode: christmas09

It's that easy to get preppalicious, preptastic gifts!

If you have any problems, just email Mason at

Christmas@VolunteerTraditions.com

xoxo

Kate Spade

I am "planning" ahead for 2010.

I have purchased this:

This will be the 5th year that Kate's planner has been a Must Have for me.

I've used Frankie {Franklin Covey} planners. No more.

My Katie fits in my purse + her planner is a delight to the eye!

Colorful, with clever illustrations throughout.

Appealing Price Point.

Ever informative!

You should try a Kate Spade organizer.

I couldn't live without mine!

xoxo

Restoration Hardware

For clever, interesting, out-of- the-ordinary gifts,

you can't beat Restoration Hardware!

Look at this:

These darling Snow Globes that have a place for your personal photo or message

can be used for so many different people on your list!

Grandparents

Newlyweds

Baby's First Christmas

And they are on sale!

I'm placing my order tonight!

xoxo

Rockettes 2009

My favorite from the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular was The Nativity.

The narrator quoted "and there were the wise men from the East who when they saw the Star rejoiced with exceeding great joy . . ."

I need these moments during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.

xoxo

Busy, Busy, Busy

. . . and I'm not even talking about Christmas.

In between helping my daughter get ready for her move and celebrating Thanksgiving,

my life has been busy.

I do not have one Christmas decoration up yet.

Tomorrow I will start.

I am definitely in the spirit.

My Thanksgiving trip to NYC energized my Christmas spirit.

PD and fiance and I stayed with AS and BDiL.

We had the MOST fun.

Look at all we did:

Tuesday:

Arrival

Dinner

PDT Bar {Please Don't Tell}

Home

Wednesday:

Central Park

Lunch at the Boathouse

Watch Balloons being blown up for Macy's Parade

Pic made with a NYC policeman ;-)

Rockettes

Thursday:

Taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon {free t-shirt}

Thanksgiving Dinner - Yummy

Friday:

Lunch at Bergdorf Goodman Restaurant

Window Shopping on 5th Avenue

Rockefeller Center shopping

Home for me - Kids went out for dinner and drinks ;-)

Saturday:

Top of the Rock - a real accomplishment for me. I'm afraid of heights! Yikes

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Departure with a few tears from me

There is just nothing better than spending time with my children!

Nothing.

xoxo

"Holiday Road" with Jimmy and the Family

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.

Guess Who Attended the taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon?

Yes, that's right!

Preppy 101

Jimmy Fallon is just too cute for words! He enjoys doing his show as much as his fans enjoy watching him. He gets starstruck just like all of us!

Guests were

Robin Williams - hilarious, thankful to be alive, mellowing in his older years ;-)

Rashida Jones - beautiful, clever, talented!

Music featuring The Roots - as seen below!!

xoxo

Volunteer Traditions

Surprise, surprise. This is not a football post.

Volunteer Traditions

is

a Company.

Now we Tennesseans have classy, preptastic accessories that

- in the words of the founder Mason Jones -

"celebrate the pride and traditions of the state of Tennessee."

{He hasn't forgotten about Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, or Texas either}

Ties + Caps

Men's + Women's belts

Women's Sandals + Accessories

You will find some of these under my tree this year.

Don't you think every out-of-town guest at PD's wedding

needs an orange koozie from her and the fiancé?

Yes, I agree.

Please check this out!

We so need to support our entrepreneurs!

Plus . . .

Volunteer Traditions has expanded to

Traditional State

Georgia + Alabama

Texas + Mississippi

{all images from Volunteer Traditions and Traditional State websites}

Quality - A+

Customer Service - A+

Price Point - A+

Just a little help with Christmas shopping!!

Have a great day!!

xoxo

Tuesday - Friday

I've been in Atlanta with PD.

She is getting ready to move.

We have

packed,

organized,

tossed,

donated,

painted,

crossed off the list{s},

shopped,

repaired,

cleaned.

She is ready to start her new job!

My cup runneth over with love for her.

And pride that she is mine.

And pride in her new job.

She is ready to move.

I feel like crying and smiling at the same time.

For those of you with little ones, enjoy every second.

You understand.

xoxo

June Bride

Going to the Chapel

I love, love, love this picture.

I was the flower girl in my aunt's wedding.

THE aunt that I speak of with such love and admiration.

You can see it in my face in this picture!

I also love how our moms are looking at us. ;-)

left to right:

My grandmother {a.k.a. MOB}, my aunt {a.k.a. the Bride},

me {a.k.a. Flower Girl}, my mother {a.k.a. mother of Flower Girl}

Now, that's the way people used to dress for special occasions!

Have a great Monday!

xoxo