the pretty sweet life

Pretty Sweet Pick of the Week - Damita Wedges

2012-02-15T22:21:00.000-06:00

I'm a little late this week, but I'm kicking off a new series called "Pretty Sweet Pick of the Week" highlighting one of my favorite "it" items from around the fashion world. This will give you a little more fashion inspiration and help me keep track of all the things on my wish list. Hint, hint. :)

Mint Maxi Dress / Rachel Leigh necklace / Fuchsia lips / Michael Kors Wedges / Tory Burch clutch

VS Caftan / Skinny Girl Margarita / Oliver Peoples Sunglasses / Michael Kors Wedges

So, what do you think? Do you like? How would you wear this Pretty Sweet Pick?

P.S. I'll be announcing the J. Crew iPhone case giveaway winner tomorrow. Stay tuned!

goodies for your valentine (and you!)

2012-02-08T16:32:00.002-06:00

For Her: Essie nail colors for a sweet mani like Celia at Willow I Love You art card / Nikon J1 / Michael Kors gold buckle ring / Dotted Forever top from Deja Vu / J. Crew pearl and crystal pinwheel necklace / Bond No. 9 at Patchouli's

For Him: Of-the-Month Clubs: Beer of the Month and Dive Bar Shirt Club / Fresh Baked Bacon Brownies / Edisto Oyster Knife from Williams Knife Co. / Book Book for iPhone / Costa del Mar polarized sunglasses / Southern Marsh redfish tshirt / Peter Nappi Deco Watch /

If you shop now, you still have time to get these goodies in time for lovey dovey day. Ladies, feel free to pass along this round up for your man (hint, hint). For any of you guys realizing the current month is February and that Valentine's Day is next week, consider this your wake up call. Get moving!

There's an App For That + a Giveaway!

2012-02-07T16:18:00.002-06:00

My hubby gives me such a hard time about having my phone glued to my hand around the clock. I may not always know the contents of our pantry, but I have an uncanny ability to participate in almost any activity with phone in hand or a short arm's reach away. Sure I may be browsing Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram, but I'm also organizing my life and trying to make it more efficient with some seriously awesome apps. Thoughtful discussions about said apps, new discoveries and fresh ways to put that smartphone to use seem requisite, especially among iPhone devotees. If your phone is only as good as the apps you've chosen, it begs the question, "What apps can't you live without?"

I've rounded up a few of my favorites and even thrown in a snazzy J. Crew iPhone 4/4s cover to give away! Read through and follow the instructions on the bottom to enter before Sunday, February 12 at 5 PM.

Food on the Table
This app makes meal planning and grocery shopping easy for people like me. It takes a lot of the daydreaming about what I'm in the mood for or wondering what might be on sale off my plate, so that I can make a grocery run smartly and efficiently. With only a few taps on my iPhone, I can see what the meat specials are for my favorite grocery store, choose one of the app's pre-loaded recipes or add one of my own (totally not there yet!), make a grocery list of the items in the recipe, check off what I already have, then stroll through the store with an organized list in hand, crossing off as I go. I love that it takes care of researching the weekly sales and lists the items in order of department / location within the store. I've been known to do Google searches like "what aisle are taco shells on" once or twice while I'm in the store. This app is free, which gives you one less excuse to try it out. Even if you're already super organized when it comes to grocery shopping, I'm sure you can save at least a few minutes using Food on the Table. Download it here or learn more here.

C25K
Let me start by saying that I've only been using this for a week. On the other hand, the fact that I've been able to use this for a week speaks volumes. I'm not a runner. I have less than zero extra time to exercise. Despite those things, somehow this Couch to 5k app (remember my new year's resolutions included running a 5k in 2012?) has me actually looking forward to wogging as I call it (walking/jogging) as soon as I get home. The first week was hard, but I'm getting into the routine of it now and I hope I can keep it up. Even with a stop watch, I'm sure I would get lost in my thoughts and forget when to walk or jog. With C25k, I have a pleasant English woman politely commanding: "Begin running" or "Start walking" and I really want to obey. By the end of the eight weeks, I'm supposed to be 5k material. We'll see, but for now I'm loving it.

Download here.

Instagram
My obsession with photos plus cool vintage filters, frames and an element of social media sharing? What's not to love?

Download here.

Splice
Great for home videos like my sweet Emery's (almost) first steps or Youtube videos on a more professional level, this app is easy to use allowing trimming, cropping, titles, plus video and audio editing. The design works with the small size of the iPhone screen and I can even add some of the stock effects or music from my iTunes library. Of course, uploading to Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or an email is fast and easy when my videos are done.
Download here.

Flash Cards
My little munchkin is just getting to the age where she is fascinated with electronics, sounds that are almost words and anything bright, colorful or noisy. The flash cards in this app range from ABCs to numbers to body parts to food and animals, all with accompanying photos and sounds. I know this is only going to come in more handy as she gets older, but for now she is content to hold the phone and touch the screen a few times to hear the "A is for Apple" sound over and over again.

Mint
My husband has already proclaimed this the secret to our long, happy marriage. We've loaded all of our accounts to bank, credit card and more to keep track of our entire financial picture instead of just one account. I like the bill pay reminders and the way it automatically categorizes spending so we can see just where our money is going. Come on, you know you've wondered at least once how it's possible to have spent your entire paycheck in a mere two days. Not only will Mint tell you, but it will also suggest budgets based on historical spending and send SMS or email reminders when accounts get below a certain point. They say PR people go into the PR field because we can't do math, which makes this whiz app my new best friend.

Download it here.

Red Laser

I'm often torn between the instant gratification of shopping in a store versus the selection and price checking benefits of online shopping. With this, all I have to do is scan the barcode to get a quick list of where else a product is available and at what price. So, if you're wondering if those fabulous heels you just tried on are on sale elsewhere or if you might find a better deal on those new Ray Bans, scan before you buy and forget about any buyer's remorse! Learn more and download here.

My Fitness Pal
Hmm... Is that grilled chicken sandwich really worse than fish tacos? This app helps me keep track of what I'm eating each day plus how many calories certain foods contain to help me make better decisions. I can also log my exercise (when I have time to actually do some) to keep track of calories I've burned, miles ran, etc. I love that I can login on the computer if I'm near one or only using the app if I'm not. Download it here.

Snapp!
This is THE app for networkers. Quite literally in a snap, this app lets you type in the details of business cards you've received and send an automatic follow-up email to your new acquaintance with a personal message. It has fields for social networks, too, so you can store Facebook, Twitter, and other social handles. How many times have you met a great contact at a networking event or cocktail party and never followed up? This takes the work away and helps you establish email or social communication to stay in touch. It's wonderful. Download it here.

Evernote
For the girl (or guy) who loves a good list like me and is constantly managing snippets of info. I like to keep track of restaurants or dishes to try on vacation, items I need to research later or a great idea for a blog post, and with Evernote I can attach images or voice recordings to the notes to help me remember. It really keeps track of EVERYTHING! If you can do this as you go, you'll be so much more organized when it's time to plan, book or write. Download it here.

Are these your favorites? Do you have any apps you can't live without?
For you iPhone 4/4s users, I have a very snazzy giveaway just for you! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with the name of your favorite app and why you can't live without it before Sunday, February 12 at 5 PM CST. One commenter will be chosen at random by random.org and will win this green printed J. Crew iPhone case. See a similar version here.

Good luck, happy apping and thanks for reading!

how to throw an arm party in four easy steps

2012-02-06T06:34:00.000-06:00

Google image search

Arm parties are everywhere these days and you don't have to be "on the list" to participate. It's super easy to throw together your own and really, you can do no wrong. It's all about your personal style and using whatever you have hiding in your jewelry box.

1. Survey the space. Lay out all the bracelets you have on your dresser.
2. Send invites. Grab at least five bracelets to hang out on your wrist, throwing them on in no particular order.
3. Mix it up and make it interesting. Don't worry about who sits where or which ones match.
4. Put yourself out there. Rock the arm party with confidence.

In case you need a little inspiration, here are some arm parties thrown by the fabulous people that invented them, the Man Repeller and Dannijo plus a few places to shop snazzy wrist wear on the cheap. Enjoy!

Instagram images via @manrepeller @dannijo, arm party originators

via H&M

via J.Crew

Giambattista Valli Spring 2012, via Glamour Tumblr

Here's a lovely round-up of happening arm parties around the blogosphere, courtesy Pretty Shiny Sparkly.

via prettyshinysparkly.com

And finally, a few arm party shopping spots for the budget minded gal (Wanderlust, Forever 21) or not (ShopBop).

Go ahead. Go a little crazy. :)

how to vacation like a super-bowl-winning qb hero

2012-02-05T22:50:00.000-06:00

So you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, the every day drama, the mundane and trade it in for a perfectly relaxing, salt-in-the-air, breeze-on-your-face, sun-on-your-skin, feet-in-the-sand kind of place? Just take a signal from tonight's Super Bowl MVP and head on down to our neck of the world. That's right. Our quiet little beach town has been frequented by one or two rock stars, country singers, politicians, world-renowned chefs and super star athletes.

Why? Because of this.

And the fact that most people don't do more than a double take when they realize they're standing in line at Publix next to someone they just read about in a magazine or watched in Sunday's big game. Don't get me wrong, there's a little excitement, but this place is full of people with amazing stories of success, fortune and achievement. The one thing almost everyone here has in common is that they've traded in a more fast-paced, corporate-type lifestyles (no more black suits, board meetings and HOV lanes) for a moment or longer to get back to the basics.

So what does someone who could go anywhere or do anything do here?

Workout at Watercolor - Eli Manning, Laurie Hickson-Smith
Watch the sun go down at Bud & Alley's - Sean Payton, Jessica Simpson, Tony Romo, Kenny Chesney, James Carville
Shop at Publix - Miley Cyrus, Emeril Lagasse
Eat at Cafe Thirty-A - Eli Manning, Lance Armstrong
Eat at George's - Charles & Cassie Kelley, Emily Robison & Martie Maguire, Michele Kwan
Soak up the sun at Caliza - Katherine Heigl, Stephen Baldwin
Shop in Seaside - Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, Jane Seymour
YOLO board in the Gulf or coastal dune lake - Kellie Pickler, Ingo Rademacher
Indulge in perfected sweets at La Crema - Charles Kelley
Fill up at the Tom Thumb - All American Rejects
Sample Stinky's delicious seafood - Bart Starr, Sam Bush
Stroll around Rosemary Beach - Karl Rove, Kellie Pickler, Miley Cyrus, Tom Glavine
Dine at Fish Out of Water - Greg Kinnear
Eat at the Taco Bar - Eli Manning, Jessica Simpson, Tony Romo
Lay on the beach - Candace Crawford Romo and pretty much everyone else
Play on the beach - Tony Romo, Troy Aikman (The best beach football game ever!)
Drink on the beach - Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney
Eat, drink, sing and kick up your heels at the Red Bar - Sara Evans, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Julia Roberts, Sheryl Crow and many, many more

White sand, beautiful Gulf water, friendly people and living life pure and simple. That's what it's about in South Walton and on 30A, whether you're here for a weekend or a lifetime, whether you're famous or not. The lesson here: You don't have to be a Super-Bowl-winning quarterback (or a rock star, movie star, etc) to enjoy a taste of sweet southern Gulf paradise. You just have to be in South Walton, living like the locals.

paper cuts and more at studio b.

2012-02-02T20:00:00.000-06:00

Last week I ventured over to studio b. with one of my co-workers to take in the "Paper Cuts" exhibit by Panama City Beach paper artist Heather Clements. If you've never visited "the b" as its called, there is always an inspiring, creative something happening from art displays to culinary classes to fashion design and bike building. In contrast to the brilliant white of the surrounding courtyard homes of Alys Beach, the hanging photos, vivid canvases, intricate paper cutouts, eye-catching jewelry, even animated iPads are full of color, pattern and plenty of vibrance. Here's a mini tour of the studio from pictures I snapped on my iPhone.

Bird cutouts from the outside. What a fun way to jazz up a window!

Submissions from the annual New Year's Day studio b. camera phone event

Hi! Even the stair tiles look like paper cut-outs!

Cutouts from the inside.

Paper Dolls by Amy Werntz were also on display. These might have been my favorite.

I love these detail shots, especially the use of color around the eyes and lips.

Gorgeous!

art reflection

studio b. light impressions = 40 iPads featuring iPhoneography

Paper Cuts! Sorry about the light reflection.

Paper jewelry

a bamboo bike from a recent studio b. bike-building event

If you want to check out more of the fun stuff going on at studio b., hop on over to their website here.

how to rock chambray

2012-01-30T23:43:00.000-06:00

Denim shirts are THE piece to hang in your closet for spring 2012. This magical wardrobe staple can transform any article of clothing to be "so now" and goes with practically everything, not to mention a well-worn chambray shirt is super comfortable to wear. So, how do you take a denim button-up from a little bit country to uber-cool?

1. Roll up the sleeves and wear untucked with a pair of darker skinny jeans and heels or ballet flats. Let your accessories provide a contrasting color.

via fashionbananas.com here

2. Gently tuck the front into your favorite pants. Add a rich camel belt, thin or thick, or leave your loops free and clear.

Madewell shrunken chambray shirt - J.Crew tunic - H&M shirt

3. Make your denim work appropriate with a lady-like pleated skirt, a chic pencil or a trench and booties for casual Friday.

Urban Outfitters shirt featured here on Chictopia - H&M shirt featured here and here on 9to5chic

4. Jazz up the ultimate basic with sequins in the form of short skirts, maxi skirts and shiny shirts over chambray for a perfect mix of casual meets elegant. Trust me, sequins and denim love each other.

Jayma Mays via Fabsugar - Balmain skirt on style.com - J. Crew 2011 - Sequins + Chambray on A Lovely Escape -

Go ahead. Invest in a chambray shirt and you'll see how easy it pairs with the rest of your wardrobe. Who knew a denim button-up could be this chic?

Even more inspiration:

Chambray Street Style via Lipstick & Bowties

first birthday party inspiration

2012-01-28T23:21:00.000-06:00

It's nearly the end of January which means the last day of March will arrive and greet us in the blink of an eye. What's the last day of March, you ask? Why, it's my sweet Emery Lynn's birthday and 2012 marks her FIRST. My once tiny little baby is practically a toddler and is turning one in a mere two months. I realize I've got to get my act together and plan a birthday celebration fit for ~~a princess~~ a cool kid.

I'm not really one for smocked dresses, enormous bows, cartoon characters or monograms on every possible surface, so I'd like to keep this party relaxed, laid-back, coordinated (read: not matchy-matchy) and certainly not cheesy. Sorry Dora and Disney, you're simply not invited this year. As much as I was against pink in the beginning of this "We're having a girl!" journey, I've come to accept it and even appreciate the ultimate girly color when it's accompanied by pops of turquoise, bold graphics and even vibrant floral patterns. With this in mind, along with my beloved gray and white chevron pattern, I've pinned several bits of inspiration for the party-to-be.

from here

via Google

from here

nerd alert - instagram, word clouds & more

2012-01-27T07:01:00.000-06:00

Hi, my name is Jami and I'm a nerd. It's okay. I've come to terms with it. I have occasional socially awkward moments, scattered clumsiness and almost always crack up at my own cheesy jokes. I have semi-obsessions with things like social media, typography, gadgets, color formulas, grammar, fashion trends and iPhone apps. Does this sound like you? Yes? No? Either way, I'm going to share.

Here are a few nerdy goodies I currently can't get enough of:

Instagram Actions

Even if you don't have an iPhone, you've probably heard of Instagram or at least seen your cool Apple friends sharing their photos on Facebook and Twitter. If you do have an iPhone, you're probably already thoroughly obsessed and know exactly which filters are your go-tos for various photos. Mine are usually Amaro, Rise, X-pro II, Inkwell or Nashville. (I've never once used Kelvin.) I love the thoughtful vintage look an otherwise boring snapshot can take on. I love following people I know and people I only wish I knew. I love seeing the day to day crumbs shared here that might not make it to other outlets. I found myself wishing though, that I could easily recreate these looks for other photos not snapped on my phone camera. If you happen to have a copy of Photoshop, you're in luck! Of course, you can go through and try to recreate the effects with layers upon layers of design and edits OR you can download these pre-recorded actions for each of the Instagram filters from PetaPixel. Voila! Vintage photos on your computer!

Wordle Word Clouds

As I mentioned above, I'm slightly obsessed with typography, fonts, words and graphic goodness. Word clouds have been a big trend and you've no doubt seen these used all over the place, from blogs to advertising to presentations to inspirational messages. Wordle is a super-easy website that allows you to add your own series of words or type in the address of your blog or other website with a feed. It automatically generates a snazzy word cloud, which you can then edit to adjust the font, layout and colors as your heart desires. It's not difficult, takes about 12 seconds and presents you with a pretty cool graphic.

Tagxedo Word Clouds

To take the word cloud concept one step further (and my favorite part!) to completely customize a word cloud, Tagxedo generates clouds in different shapes. You can choose from their library of shape templates like hearts, stars, clouds or animals or upload your own. The Tagxedo creator lets you fine tune the shape to keep as many of the border details as you like before moving on.

So, what did we learn? It's okay to embrace your inner nerd. It's okay to be a little geeky. Why? Because knowing apps and tools like these makes you even cooler.

Owner, Pretty Sweet Tranquility

2012-01-24T11:38:00.000-06:00

Now THIS is a cool fundraiser! The children's charity UNICEF has partnered with Glidden to sell colors to raise money for their efforts around the world. If you're like me and into design even a smidge, you're probably familiar with the hexadecimal codes used to define colors onscreen by their mix of red, green and blue. I'm not usually one to give to global efforts like these (don't judge, I'm just not as familiar with these so I've never donated), but I thought the idea of owning and naming my own color for just $2 was kind of cool and super easy. Did you know there are over 16.7 million possible color combinations? That's a lot of choices (and fund-raising!). I had a hard time picking my shade but I finally chose it, named it and donated. What a fun way to get involved and contribute to saving a child's life.

Choose a color family

Keep reading to see what color I'm the proud new owner of. :)

Thanks to my friends at VIE for the inspiration! :)

Choose your very own color. Mine is #75dde3

Share!

Why turquoise? The lovely shade reminds me of the beautiful vibrant water of the Gulf of Mexico, fun, peace, relaxation and tranquility. All things that make me happy when I see it. This whole turquoise thing is definitely not new for me. I even seem to pin lots of bright blues to my boards these days.

The Gulf - my favorite!

a fun bauble from J. Crew, my go-to necklace to brighten up an outfit

A punch of color mixed with a more traditional entryway.

A relaxing and vibrant sheet set your guests will love.

Beach signs.

St. Lucia, where we spent our honeymoon

Hunter and me in St Lucia on our honeymoon.

Six Going on Sixteen. No Really.

2012-01-23T21:36:00.000-06:00

Call it the Hollywood way. Call it the cool mom approach. Call it whatever you want.

The new(ish) trend going around is letting little kids play the part of teenager. Not just for play time or dress up, but all the time. Between wearing clothes way beyond their years, sporting dark lipstick and (gasp) even dying their hair, these hip Hollywood kids barely look their age.

I don't mind a little makeup here or there for fun after a certain age, but I'm not so sure about letting a 5, 6 or 7 year old color their hair or get highlights. What do you think? Would you let your kids do this?

Suri Cruise (daughter of Katie Holmes)
infphoto.com

Kingston Rossdale (son of Gwen Stefani)
nationalphotogroup

Coco Arquette (daughter of Courteney Cox)
via hollybaby.com

green acres

2012-01-22T20:05:00.000-06:00

Have I mentioned we live in the country? Some weekends are decidedly more "Green Acres"-esque than others. Even though we've been here for a few months, adjusting to the ways of country life is still, well, an adjustment. Our house is surrounded by grass, trees, rolling hills, doves, robins and deer. We have hunting dogs with names like Bo, Luke, Daisy, Tacoma and Crockett.

These guys live down the road.

The nearest store stocks everything from milk, bread, butter and Frappuccinos to corn feed, diesel and cattle guards . Instead of white sand and turquoise water, the vibrant hues in our lives come from green grass, golden fields, blue skies and blue jeans. (Though we still get plenty of the aforementioned color fix from the south end of the county.)

Family time is important as ever. The laid-back, feet outstretched, head in the grass moments, are full of pure relaxation and happiness. My girl is happy. My husband is happy. Life is good.

Sometimes it's not about where you are or what you're doing, but more about being with the people who mean the most to you and making every moment one that you can sit back, relax in, and drink in, donkeys and all.

P.S. Is it me or does Zsa Zsa's shirt look a bit like this season's J. Crew button-up? :)

via TVland

get fresh with cobalt blue

2012-01-09T19:01:00.000-06:00

I love seeing the first pops of bright color appear after the new year, signaling the impending freshness and energy of spring. From pastels over here and here, to this exciting, rich hue of cobalt blue. This bold shade looks best with super-basic neutrals like crisp white, jet black and maybe a shade of camel worked in. Even stripes in these shades can do the trick. If you're not ready for a full blue top or even trendy blue jeans, try some fun blue heels or a bold belt for a pop of color. This little shot of blue will wake up your outfit and give you just the boost an early spring look needs. You might even skip that second cup of coffee. Go ahead. Go crazy for cobalt.

1. via Who What Wear 2. via catscupcakesandcouture.tumblr.com 3. via Shop Akira 4. via My Style Pill 5. via seejaneworkplaylive.blogspot.com 6. via marleyandme.tumblr.com 7. target.com

woods and water

2012-01-08T21:06:00.000-06:00

Some weekends start with a bang and are so action-packed you can hardly catch a breath cramming in one thing and another before you realize it's 10 pm Sunday night and you have accomplished exactly NOTHING. (Maybe that's just me?) Luckily, this weekend wasn't like that at all. It was laid-back, relaxing, and full of adventure, yet still, those two wonderful days rolled by at a pace just lazy enough to enjoy before it was all over and Monday starts calling.

It was a mix of white sand, sunshine and salt air Saturday as I was hubby-free and baby-free at the beach, followed by dirt, trees and hunting dogs on Sunday as Emery and I accompanied Hunter on a day of deer tracking. The weekend was the epitome of life lately. Mixing in my beloved beach days and South Walton fun with Hunter's country days and good ol' boy ways. As different as they are, they seem to work. They offer a welcome variety and one side totally helps me appreciate the other, so that I'm able to get caught up in the scenes, the sounds, and really living in that moment. Let me tell you, it's a wonderful thing.

Emery and I woke up with the sun (she is her father's child, after all) and rode down the driveway to get the newspaper. Yes, people still get newspapers delivered in the country and Emery absolutely loves to take an early ride to pick up the paper (even if I'm more likely to read it on my iPhone).

After a morning of a bit of housework and playing with Em's new Christmas toys, Hunter's mom picked up my sweet girl and left me to relax with peace, quiet and no diaper changing for the day. It was just perfect. Even in January, it was 70 degrees, sunny and breezy. I couldn't have designed a better day myself.

Where was I off to? I headed straight to Seaside and stopped to shop at the Farmer's Market. It is one of my 2012 resolutions to eat more veggies, after all.

I grabbed lunch from my friend Abby at Barefoot BBQ. I'd recommend any of the Airstream trailers in Seaside for a bite to eat, but the BBQ truck is definitely my favorite.

Hey, Abbs!

After lunch, I went straight to ... where else ... the beach! It was only the first Saturday of the year, but it seemed like the first day of spring break. I sat back, closed my eyes, and enjoyed every single moment of the warm, sunny day and the water twinkling in the background.

There's something about digging your feet in the sand that instantly degrades your stress level. It didn't hurt that the beach was all dolled up with its finest on display. The sun, the water, the sand, the clouds - everything - was just perfect.

Instead of camping in the woods like he usually does, Hunter surprised me by coming home last night, just as I was making my way in from the beach so we could have a little date night while we had a babysitter. He actually said he missed my cooking (can you believe that?!), so we decided to stay in, cook at home and watch a movie from the couch. It was completely relaxing and just what I needed.
The downside to agreeing to ride along and hunt with him is the 4:30 am wake up call. We woke up earlier than any normal person ever should and hit the road to the hunting camp. We picked up Emery from Hunter's mom when we got there, got situated in the truck and watched all the excitement, listening to the guys talk at light speed on the radio and racing down dirt roads. Most of the day involved driving around, watching for tracks, releasing dogs, listening for dogs, picking up dogs, and doing this over and over and over. It's a lot of hurry up and wait, but still fun to see my hubby in action.

Emery loves the doggies!

This little girl thinks she can drive. Sorry honey, not until you're 15 and even then I'll probably have a heart attack.

Please excuse my appearance below. Did I mention I woke up at 4:30 am? Ponytail - check. Sweats - check. I can handle my normal morning routine anytime after 5:30, but an hour earlier means all that goes out the window.

My Hunter man didn't score a big buck this day, but lucky for us, we have PLENTY of quality organic venison in our fridge and freezer.
Now, here we are, Sunday night, back at home, baths complete, PJs on, stories read and ready for bed. After a fun, leisurely weekend, it's safe to say, we're relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to face another week. Monday, here we come!

a popular palette

2012-01-05T20:56:00.003-06:00

It seems I wasn't the only one feeling the winter blues (and blacks and browns and greys) of this season and desperately looking forward to warmer weather and fresher fashions. After I posted "pastels with a punch" yesterday, I noticed a few others featuring light, but peppy color palettes in these freezing January days.

Exhibit A: the January J. Crew catalog, full of soft colors and happy hues mixed in with various neutrals, like these fun flats

Exhibit B: Style.com proclaiming they're feeling candy colors coming on

Exhibit C: The Man Repeller, today featuring a new vocabulary word (I have to say, pastello is growing on me) and a round-up of spring runway looks and "Easter wear at Acne, Louis Vuitton, Christopher Kane and (her) personal favorite Mulberry."

So you see, it's not just me. (And by the way, I'm beyond flattered!) There are other cool people counting down to warm Easter-like weather and hatching their spring wardrobe. I say, throw on some sunnies and let's get our pastel on.

pastels with a punch

2012-01-03T20:54:00.000-06:00

Friends, I'm here today to confess the cold, hard truth. 1. Today was literally freezing. 2. I may be slightly obsess with the Easter Bunny's fashion sense. But back to the first truth. This is not the balmy Florida weather I know and love. I was all bundled up like the kid in The Christmas Story in my new J. Crew coat, running hurriedly into the office or my car, escaping the cold to spend as few moments as possible in the chilly air. All I could think about was spring. Now that we've made the leap into the new year, the warm weather of late February and early March seems so close! It's only a few short weeks away instead of what feels like a calendar year away, which means (drumroll please) sunshine and beach days and fresh salt air and joy! The first warm days of the year make everyone happy.
There's something about that ray of Vitamin A that brings smiles to faces, pep in steps and instantly lightens moods. I love it! Just as fun as warm, sunny days are the cheery pastels of spring fashion. They're so refreshing and a welcome change from the typically dark fall/winter palette. Here are a few I'm already daydreaming about that just might brighten a cold January day.

1 Trinity blouse.here 2. Dannijo necklace here (Man Repeller's favorite!) 3. Tucker blouse here 4. Rupert Sanderson wedges here 5. Joie top here 6. F21 dress here 7. Tibi belts here 8.Moulinette Soeurs dress here

pretty sweet resolutions

2011-12-31T15:20:00.000-06:00

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Have you written down your new year's resolutions? Do people still do this? I figure the more I write down, the more I feel compelled to actually do what I say I plan to. It seems like most attempts don't make it far past January, so I'm hoping I can make these stick, make lots of progress and check as many of these off my list in December as I can. Wish me luck!

Happy New Year!

sharp-looking shutters

2011-12-29T19:57:00.000-06:00

While combing through a few yet-to-be-unpacked tote boxes in the shed today, I came across one lonely shutter. (Yes, I still have some unpacking to do, nearly five months later, but who's counting?) It's not hard for something to stand out in a small storage room full of junk, but this piece has potential. It's a single, tall greenish shutter with an obvious layer of dust and perhaps a spiderweb or two. The old thing looked great! I'll have to ask Hunter where it came from or what house it belonged to, but I'm sure that I can find a lovely home for it in one of our nooks or on one of our walls. Since it's not a set of shutters, just one, it might be a bit more challenging, but here are a few ideas I've come across. If you have a better one, do share! I'd love to hear. I'm hoping to find a brilliant idea and knock this project out this weekend.

Images clockwise from top left: aglimpseinsideblog.com via goodbyehousehellohome.blogspot.com; via vintagemellie.blogspot.com; via bhg.com; via lifeasathrifter.blogspot.com

lounging on the lawn

2011-12-27T19:40:00.000-06:00

I love the holidays. I love days off work. I love leisurely afternoons involving sunshine, picture perfect beachside towns and my sweet little girl. Most of all I love that I was able to combine all these with the treat of having my sister in town, even if it's only for a few days for Christmas. We're so much alike, we're practically twins. We finish each other's sentences, make the exact same sounds at the same moment, laugh alike, talk non-stop and can just as easily sit in silence knowing precisely the thought the other has. It's glorious. I recommend everyone have a sister.
This Tuesday was unlike most. Instead of emails, meetings, conference calls and deadlines, the day included sleeping in, a much-needed pedicure, a tasty lunch in Grayton with Jennifer and Mike and rolling around Seaside's lawn watching clouds and people, without a care in the world. Actually, our only worry was deciding who had enough room for dessert and who would walk across the lawn for Dawson's yogurt. In the end, we all did and we all went. Ahhh. What a life. I wish all my Tuesdays were this fancy-free.

Emery slept through most of our pedicures

...decided she likes limes

Jennifer and Mike

busy as bees

2011-12-21T06:35:00.000-06:00

It seems we've been going a million miles an hour, with holiday parties, festivities and the accompanying hoopla on top of business as usual. (Yes, I said hoopla.) It's been exhausting. Fun, but exhausting. I've been relying heavily on Coffee Frappuccinos, which I'm sure I'll have to give up in January. For now, those and home-brewed cappuccinos are keeping me awake and mostly sane.

Did you just realize there are only four days til Christmas or is that just me? Eek! Here's a run-down of a few pretty sweet things currently on my radar and/or to-do list:

1. Make more of this. Did I mention it was a hit at the holiday office party last week? Not only were people impressed that it wasn't store-bought, but it was tasty, too. It's a great thing to pile in a jar, tie a ribbon on and give as a gift, which is exactly what I plan to do.

2. Finish my holiday shopping. I've been web window shopping at Taigan. They have an impressive collection of chic goodies including this for me, this for Emery, and this for Hunter. Yes, please!

3. Try this hairstyle... and get it right. I'm so boring when it comes to styling my hair and this is already on my pre-New Year's list of improvements.

4. Follow cool people on Instagram like @manrepeller, @dannijo, @alice_olivia, and @zooeydeschanel. It's pretty cool to see the personal and quirkly photos people share. Kind of like a more streamlined version of Twitter.

What about you? What's on your list?http://web.stagram.com/n/dannijo/

so easy to eat & relish

2011-12-14T16:56:00.000-06:00

If you've been hanging around here for any time at all, you know I'm much more inclined to know which shoes are the best selection for a certain ensemble over which ingredients work together to make an edible meal. (1. Always opt for the higher heels 2. When do you use regular vs self-rising flour? I still don't know.)
With our office holiday lunch fast approaching, I was desperate for a fun and different and EASY recipe. I had to bring a dessert and I was not about to walk in with another straight-from-the-box boring cake.

Through the magic of Facebook, I stumbled upon this super simple recipe over at Eat and Relish. I say it was social media magic because it really is remarkable how in touch you can feel with people after only a few clicks.

The most amazing thing - homemade caramel! Who knew?

I knew Cory, the fabulous girl in the kitchen, when we were Rho Gammas (or sorority recruitment guides, in plain English) at Florida State. She was a KD, I was a Gamma Phi and along with about 50 other Panhellenic veterans, we were shuffling the new recruits-to-be from house to house, passing out coffee filters (for blotting, naturally) and tic tacs like they were going out of style.

I can't tell you how many times we reminded every girl to smile and relax, relax and SMILE. It seems like eons ago.

After FSU, I moved to the beach and Cory to New York. I've been able to follow along her culinary adventures as she started posting links to her blog. One day, I clicked and got sucked in. I read every post to the very first one.

I was so impressed and inspired with her culinary skills and creativity. She writes beautifully, takes lovely photographs and could make a PB&J seem like a gourmet feast. Thanks to Facebook, I've even followed along as she got married and moved to Colorado. I love reading her posts and getting inspired by her recipes.

Let's face it, though. I'm pretty hopeless. I need simple, easy-to-make recipes that satisfy both my hubby's basic taste and my slightly more adventurous and more healthy preferences. (Sometimes healthy, anyway). In this case, we were bringing food for beach maintenance guys to visitor center staff to the marketing and pr teams. Enter the totally easy, totally addictive Chocolate Caramel Crack(ers). These little goodies are amazing and the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Yum YUM!

They were so easy to make, even I could do it AND at the same time watch this little nugget crawl around my parents' kitchen saying "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma."

The recipe was enough for multiple batches (and a little snacking along the way). I left some at my parent's, took some to work and took some home for later. Everyone at work was very impressed 1. that I didn't bring something pre-made and 2. that they were so good. There was not even a scrap leftover.

You must must MUST make these. They are easy peasy and yes, pretty much like crack.

Here's the recipe from Cory. You'll thank me later.

Chocolate Caramel Crack(ers)

From Smitten Kitchen by way of David Lebovitz by way of Marcy Goldman by way of Eat and Relish

Approx 1 sleeve of Saltine crackers
1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into Tbsp sized pieces
1 cup packed light brown sugar
A pinch of sea salt (
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups semi- or bittersweet chocolate chips (or chopped bitter- or semisweet chocolate)
Extra sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet completely with foil, and then line the base of the foil with parchment paper, cut to fit in the bottom of the pan. The parchment is key, as it will prevent sticking.

Line the bottom of the baking sheet with the crackers, covering all parts. (If using matzo, you’ll need to break pieces to fit any extra spaces.)

In a medium heavy-duty saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together, and stir it over medium heat until it begins to boil. Once it has begun boiling, let it bubble for three more minutes, stirring it well the entire time to prevent burning. It will thicken a bit as it cooks. Remove it from the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla, and then quickly pour the mixture over the crackers or matzo. Spread the mixture quickly over the crackers to cover the entire surface area of crackers. Do this quickly, as it will begin to set and harden quickly.

Bake the caramel-covered crackers for 15 minutes, watching carefully as it will bubble and the corners might darken too quickly and/or burn — reduce the heat if you see this happening.

Remove from oven and immediately cover the baked caramel crackers with chocolate chips. Let it stand five minutes, and then spread the chips evenly across the caramel – they will be melted and it will be surprisingly easy to do so. Sprinkle the surface with a bit of sea salt.

Proceed to enjoy and reach for another until you realize you have devoured the entire jar. It's okay. You're not alone.

sam bush jam sesh

2011-12-12T06:48:00.000-06:00

Took a little time out yesterday to enjoy a fabulous evening in Grayton Beach. All I can say is Sam Bush + Red Bar = WOW what a night! You may recall that the Red Bar is no stranger to musical super talent with Sara Evans popping in to sing some Patsy Cline and Jason Aldean showing some love on CMT. Word got out that he was going to pop in and jam out Sunday night and that he did.
My friend Jess with Proffitt PR has been working with Sam this weekend for an event and even got to witness some musical synergy as he and local musician Donnie Sundal recorded some tracks yesterday. What a talent Sam is. He'll be back at the beach in January for the 30A Songwriters Festival (along with 100+ other artists), so this was like a festival preview (without all you visiting fans). There's something about live music that always gets me. It adds a little buzz to the air and a feeling of excitement, like anything can happen. Add fun players like Boukou Groove, amazing guitar talent, sweet lyrics and an awesome intimate setting like the Red Bar, and it feels like magic. It was truly enchanting and soulful and magnetic all at once. It's safe to say this Sunday Fun Day hit the perfect note.

Don't miss the video at the end!

Jami and Jamie!

Ainsley's new toy

seaside saturday

2011-12-10T16:51:00.000-06:00

It was one of those mornings when extra coffee is not an option, but a requirement. I desperately needed the caffeine boost and every time I saw this little Christmas tree pop up at the bottom of my mug, I went straight for a refill. It's only Saturday, but I knew I would need to keep my energy up and let's face it, it's been a long week.

This festive mug helps perk up my morning.

You've heard the saying "Work to live; don't live to work." As much as I love what I do, I wouldn't trade mommy time with Emery for anything. The two full days of chasing after her, changing diapers, tickle time, giving bottles and talking in every silly voice I can muster are priceless. She's so inquisitive and wants to explore everything. She crookedly crawls all over the place (one leg bent, one leg straight) and grabs my leg to stand up and look around every moment she gets. She likes to be part of the action. Emery is a big fan of anything shiny or sparkly (naturally) and carefully inspects all my jewelry choices on a daily basis.

She also likes to eat the shiny, sparkly things I wear. No big deal.

This morning, we made our way to the Farmer's Market in Seaside and I'm fairly sure that it was the coldest day of the year we've had thus far. Even so, I decided to park and walk for a bit. I love walking around and seeing the sights. Lovely homes, cute signs and the beauty of scenic highway 30A.

It was f-f-f-freezing outside at the Farmer's Market, but we made the rounds and picked up the essentials we needed.

Had to pick these up for my hot chocolate-loving husband.

A sweet little owl girl all bundled up.

While I was in the neighborhood, I took a peek into Pizitz Interiors. The color palette inside was decidedly white and neutral and the shop even included some nice budget-friendly items along with their high-end selections. I love these Seaside matches!

I want these stools!!

If you're looking for a fun place to try in South Walton, check out Raw & Juicy for healthy goodies. It's really the originator of the Farmers Market and helped it grow to the level it is now, impressive for our small beach town.

Raw & Juicy

Decked for the holidays!

I wanted to get a picture of Emery in front of the Seaside post office, but she was out and this was all I could steal.

Despite the unpleasantly chilly temps. the beach looked so nice and inviting. I, for one, am already counting down and looking forward to a warm early spring. For now, I'll just settle for the pure views.

Perfection!

By this time, my sweet Emery was fast asleep and looking like an angel.

I packed her up, squeezed our FSU Fight Song- playing horse Renegade (or Ren Ren as we now refer to him) into Emery's lap and headed home with our purchases in tow. I have to say I'm most excited about the Ocheessee Milk and the goat cheese made from their cream. Yum, yum, and double yum! I may or may not have popped open the cheese and sampled a healthy portion on the way home.

And before I go, I had to share this. Emery is now holding her bottle up by herself, not just with two hands, but with a little added support - her feet! That's my girl! Growing up so fast, one Saturday at a time.

santa + baby

2011-12-08T06:18:00.000-06:00

After a less than stellar home-cooked meal by yours truly Tuesday night (sorry, babe!), we decided to go out for a nice family dinner last night. While we were out and about, hustling and bustling along, we took Emery to see Santa. We weren't sure what she would think about her first encounter with the jolly old fellow. We plopped her down and, let me tell you, she gave that man a serious up and down.

And you are?

No initial crying, which was wonderful. Is skepticism possible at 8 months? She seemed to settle in quickly with ol' Santa. I'm sure it will be no time before she's rattling off a list of items to the man in the red suit for ponies, iPads, castles and who knows what.

Hi, guys!

She was happy as a clam (though I never really understood that saying). Probably confident that she had expressly followed the guidelines of being good all year long (or 8 months) and had no worries about whether she would make the "Nice List." Sounds like anyone you know?

Giving my good girl a kiss!

So glad she wasn't traumatized for life or anything too dramatic. I think I was expecting the worst. It may have had something to do with the fact that one of the few Santas around is at our local Bass Pro Shop, which also meant "North Pole" additions like a giant taxidermized moose. (that vocab addition thanks to this video, if you haven't seen it.) She may be an outdoors lover like her dad after all, although hopefully, she will have better taste in prints than camouflage.

currently obsessing over...

2011-12-07T11:43:00.000-06:00

Holiday sparkle.

There's something about the holiday season that helps you lose your inhibitions when it comes to wearing sparkles, glitter, sequins and all things shiny. You might opt for a hint of shimmer in March or touch of shine in July, but December? Bring it on! Here are a few lovely items with enough sparkle to rival the final round bling for any beauty queen:

blog.birchbox.com

via Nordstrom

Matthew Williamson sequin ombre skirt

images: photography by greer g photography via style me pretty; alice and olivia ritchie embellished blouson dress

Oliver sequin jacket at Nordstrom

via Net-a-porter.com

sequin pumps via Victoria's Secret

via rtroncampus.com

One more little gem I'm going to leave you with from the talented Shawn Mullins (who, by the way, will be performing here in our little beach town in January for the 30A Songwriters Festival). From his song "Shimmer":

I think I love this woman's way
I think I love this woman's
way she shimmers, the way she shines
the way she radiates
the way she lives, the way she loves
and I feel fineI feel fine

Hope you're having a fabulous week, lovelies!

lining up shoes and such

2011-12-03T09:42:00.000-06:00

There's always list of things I plan to accomplish each weekend and most of the time, I'm lucky to get one item checked off. Today, along with about 50 leftover to-dos, I have added "CLEAN & ORGANIZE CLOSET!" I'm sure it would be a much nicer process if I were lining up rows of red-bottomed shoes in a china cabinet, placing stacks of tees and cashmere sweaters carefully on a well-lit shelf or sipping champagne from the lounge chair in my closet, but unfortunately, my closet doesn't look anything like these:

houzz.com

bhg.com

diariodofigurino.blogspot.com

Mariah Carey's closet via Google

mimosasnthemorning.com

mylifecoachsparkles.blogspot.com

oprah.com

Carrie Bradshaw's closet via zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

Tory Burch store closet

A girl can dream, right? Off to organize a not-so-exciting closet. Hope your weekend is fabulous!

ombre - hair do?

2011-12-01T16:32:00.000-06:00

I'm considering something a little different with my hair and keep coming back to ombre. What do you think? Still a thing or totally over? Is it a hair do or a hair don't?

Ashley Tisdale

Drew Barrymore

Whitney Port

Rachel Bilson

Jessica Biel

Images via google and pinterest

holiday reflections

2011-11-30T21:24:00.000-06:00

You might recall from this post the blocks of historic homes and antebellum mansions that surround Lake Defuniak in Defuniak Springs. They're enough to look at on their own, but during the Christmas season, the entire Lake District is lit up with a plethora of twinkling lights. It's a mix of old-fashioned displays, old school kitsch (lots of color bulbs!) and down-home spirit.

I thought all the brightness, holiday music and activity would be entertaining for Emery, so I took a detour tonight after work to show her the sights. She slept through the whole thing. Everyone drives through at about 5 miles per hour, so I was safely able to snap these pictures on my iPhone. If you haven't been and you're nearby, it's worth a little trip around the lake.

reflections from lights across the lake

currently obsessing over...

2011-11-30T16:45:00.000-06:00

One:
The awesomely preppy trays, plates notepads and such by the fabulous Dabney Lee. I will take one of each of these.

lucite tray

notepad

ice bucket

I didn't realize I was so preppy at heart until browsing some of the goodies on the site. Perhaps my inner nerd should have been an indication. I even got excited about seeing all the different swatches and color options. A plethora of preppy prints!

Now I need to cleverly place a hint where Hunter will see it or leave the webpage open next time he gets on the computer. Christmas will be here before we know it! (wink, wink)

Two:
Currently devouring the latest issue of VIE Magazine, which also happens to be the fashion issue. A more perfect combination could not be created. This winter issue is fabulous!! It is my absolute dream to attend a fashion show during New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and I'm wondering how I can pay the lovely ladies and gents at VIE to take me along next time. I would die. For now, I can dream and let my heart skip a beat at these chic, glossy pages.

Three:
This mouth-watering, amazingly delicious, full of goodness tomato mozzarella and avocado salad from ValSoCal. Seriously, what's not to love? You should know by now that I am always obsessed with avocados and a caprese salad is anyone's friend, right? The best part is this looks easy enough for even me to handle.

image: ValSoCal

Val's Recipe:

   Mozzarella, Tomato and Avocado Salad

   1 container cherry tomatoes, cut in half
   1 carton fresh mozzarella cheese pearls, drained
   1 avocado, peeled and diced
   1/3 cup basil, julienned
   2 tablespoons fresh parsley
   1/4 cup lemon juice
   1/4 cup olive oil
   salt and pepper
   baguette-optional

   1) In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and parsley, Set aside.
   2) In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Pour over tomato
   mixture. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
   3) Just before serving the salad, stir in the chopped avocados. Serve salad with
   slotted spoon and toasty bread.
   4) Goes perfect with a glass of Pinot Grigio ; )

Can't wait to whip this up again and again!

casual chic: boots + leggings

2011-11-16T12:24:00.000-06:00

I’ve only been in Chicago for a few short days and already I’ve noticed a few things.

1. It gets really cold here. Shocker, I know!

2. The wind blows a lot. Hello, Windy CIty!

3. Black leggings and boots are the most spotted fashion combo (usually topped with a sleek jacket or layers of warm knits).

It’s not only a practical look, but it can also be chic. I LOVE this style. This is great for running errands, weekend shopping, traveling and more. Comfortable leggings, stylish cognac boots and practically any long top works from a button-up to a cardigan to a jacket to a sweater or a long tee. Just add a scarf and sunnies and you're ready to go! Here are a few ideas on how to put it together.

Images from here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

keep it classy

2011-11-11T17:02:00.000-06:00

know first who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly -epictetus

I love discovering inspiring and appropriate quotes. It seems there are words to fit any occasion. It's always important to remember the value of being a lady and keeping it classy. While the fashion scene changes on a daily basis, sophistication and looking smart NEVER go out of style. Once you have a sense of who you are, you can better define your fashion sense and stay true to yourself.

If you're creative and edgy, show it. If you're a laid-back free spirit, go with the flow. If you're classic and conservative, that's cool, too. I think I'm some combination of these, perhaps a laid-back conservative? This book has been out for awhile, but I'm only now discovering it. (Sorry I'm late to the party, friends). The description says "How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World" will show you how to impress people with your articulate manner, dress tastefully without sacrificing your personal style, polish your professional image to move up the workplace ladder and, of course, have a fun night out without the risk of embarrassing photos on Facebook. Think I'll have to stop by the bookstore and pick it up soon!

southern snow

2011-11-08T06:30:00.000-06:00

Living The Pioneer Woman-esque life in the country has its perks. One major plus: pretty pastoral views from dawn til dusk of rolling green hills, tree tops, winding roads, brilliant sunshine and open fields of grass and cotton. I drive past this particular patch of Southern snow every day, but today the early morning sun was hitting the fluffy blooms in such a beautiful way that I found myself pulling the car over, plopping Emery on the grass and snapping away on my iPhone. Just another day in the country…

taste of south walton, part 2

2011-11-07T06:26:00.000-06:00

taste of south walton, part 1

2011-11-06T10:25:00.000-06:00

I love my job. I love my job. I love my job.

Weekends like these make it so easy to repeat this and who wouldn't be proclaiming their affinity for work when it means spending three days wining and dining throughout South Walton, galavanting from one beach neighborhood to the next sipping fine wines and tasting creatively concocted dishes that are just as delicious as they are presented. Life. Is. Good.
Enough chatting and mouth-watering. Let's get to the food!

First stop: Seagar's at Hilton Sandestin

Started with a brief tour of the Hilton Sandestin before arriving at the elegant Seagar's Restaurant

First Course: Caesar Salad prepare table-side

Sizzling steaks at the end of our table. Smelled delicious!

The flaming table-side prep of my favorite Bananas Foster.

Oh. My. Word. Now this is heaven in a bowl.

Seagar's was amazing. The tasting was a sort of tour of the menu, so the portions were perfect to ensure we made it all the way to the dessert. I should note: Not one person had an ounce of leftovers when the plates were collected.

After a full night of sleep to recover and make room for more goodness, we met at Watercolor's Fish Out of Water for breakfast the next day. Have you ever been? They have two fun swings in the lobby wait area that are hard to resist. Rachelle Lucas of The Travel Bite was one of our visiting journalists and she and I hit it off. I loved hearing her travel stories and discussing our ~~addiction~~ passion for social media. I have so much Twitter love for you, Rachelle! :) One thing we did not have in common: she is a fabulous cook and as you know, I'm.... culinarily challenged.

Rachelle & me at Fish Out of Water

A beautiful breakfast view from Fish!

I think everyone was inspired!

Crispy Rice-Crusted Bourbon Vanilla French Toast

Baked Eggs Florentine

Love this glass decor/art in the lounge

From Fish Out of Water, we went on to Mac Farms, a local grower that supplies some of the fresh produce used by many of South Walton's restaurants. Check out this setup!

microgreens!

Loving Rachelle's shoes!

We even took a little souvenir on to our next stop: lunch at Viking Cooking School. This place was wonderful and fascinating and confusing all at the same time. I didn't know what most of the kitchen gadgets were or how in the world to use them, but it made me want to learn! The instructors were so personable and informative that I actually felt like I could cook a gourmet meal when I left. Yes, they were that good.

I'll take this Viking kitchen.

Delicious red snapper for lunch.

Our Mac Farms greens!

Fresh and tasty

Definitely felt the need for a quick walk on the beach after that one. Wow, was it good!

Next on the agenda was a trip to the top of the Luau condo at Sandestin for a small taste of this picture perfect view. We sipped champagne, snapped pics and felt like we were on top of the world

Beautiful!

From there we went on to the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Had to put on flats for this segment.

Farmer D produce

Needless to say, I went home full and happy!

daydream believer

2011-10-25T23:28:00.001-05:00

I've been accused more than once of being a daydreamer. I think it's perfectly fine. Sure, it takes hard work, knowledge and a consistent effort to make things happen, but there's no harm in imagining the possibilities. That's half the fun. To encourage a little healthy daydreaming, here are a few inspiring words to fuel your thoughts.

via femchic.blogspot.com

via amonthofsundays.co.uk

via http://www.etsy.com/listing/62639171/letterpress-print-wasted-time-2nd

via http://www.etsy.com/listing/81143302/dream-big-wall-print

via knackstudios.blogspot.com

Hello, Nashvegas!

2011-10-25T16:26:00.000-05:00

And… I'm off! I'm en route to Music City for less than a handful of days to meet with a few journalists and bloggers on behalf of South Walton. Sure it's work, but it's also a mini-escape. These days I don't have much time for moments on my own outside of the midnight to five AM window. I'm not Superwoman or Supermom or any other person with extraordinary powers. I'm just trying to figure it all out and get as much done before I crash face-first into my comfy bed each night.

via Twitter, @NashvilleGulch

Here are a few things I'm looking forward to when I'm not working:

1. Trying as many of Gwyneth Paltrow's recommendations from here and here as I can. She lived in the Gulch area (pictured above) while she was filming Country Strong and lists places like Whiskey Kitchen, City House, Frothy Monkey, and Imogene + Willie as must-visit Nashville stops.

2. Enjoying real fall weather that involves a jacket, boots and piles of multicolor orange and yellow leaves.

3. Squeezing in as much shopping as I can, naturally! I have Emmaline, H. Audrey, Haven and almost anything in the Green Hills shopping area on my list of places to browse. There is even a newly opened Tory Burch store!

4. Last but not least, catching up with friends. I have plans to meet up with my friends Michelle and Logan while I'm in town and I can't wait!

Not sure how much time I'll have to see these sights, but I"m going to try my hardest. Let me know if I've missed anything major. Hope all of you lovelies have a wonderful week. Adios for now!

tweet-worthy fall fashion

2011-10-24T21:52:00.000-05:00

It's taken me a little while to get into the swing of fall, mostly because the temperatures have remained in the 80s here at the beach. I've still been letting the sun kiss my feet in trusty J. Crew flip flops and holding on to the last sliver of summer in weekend sundresses, short sleeves and skirts for work. Only a few days ago, did the first hint of post-summer weather begin to show its snuggly fall face.

I was unprepared. I left the house in a chiffon blouse and pencil skirt. What's a girl to do? Take to Twitter and ask the experts! (And put on a sweater!) I've been inquiring with a few of my fashion faves about what their recommended must-have clothing or shoe is for fall. Guess what? I got answers! Don't you love the beauty of Twitter? How else can you interact directly with major players on the fashion scene than the lovely chirping of a Twitter mention? (P.S. I love @dknyprgirl! So honest and funny!)

Thanks to my diligent tweeting, you can now enjoy a hand-picked collection of fall fashion straight from the designers, the likes of which only Anna Wintour may have accessed in a pre-Twitter world.

I've also thrown in a few picks of my own:

DKNY Cape with Leather Trim
Tory Burch Evelina Chalk Stripe Blazer + Pant
Willow: Frye Celia boot - Call 850.231.0433. Celia says, "They are to die for and will go very fast!"
I heart heels = Wanted Regal Boots
MICHAEL Michael Kors Long Faux Fur Vest
J. Crew Trouser Jean in classic wash
Sam Edelman Yasmine Leopard Heels
Anthropologie Cartonnier Trenchcoat Skirt

Photos: DKNY, Tory Burch, Frye, Wanted, MICHAEL Michael Kors, J. Crew, Zappos, Anthropologie

brews and i do's

2011-10-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

What a busy weekend this was! I love action-packed days full of friends and fun, but man, does it wear me out! Sometimes it's hard to remember that we used to spend every non-work day out and about, from one event to the next, flying by the seat of our pants, heading in any direction we wanted, meeting friends at all hours of the day or night, fast forwarding through work, not to make it to Friday, but only to 5 since we could just as easily do on a Tuesday what some reserve for Friday and Saturday. Apparently, I'm not as much a night owl as my former self, though I'm pretty sure a husband, a baby and longer work weeks factor in somewhere. We've gone from late nights involving bars and beer bottles to late nights involving lullabies and milk bottles. Such is life.

This weekend was a return to the old days. Fun with friends, drinks in hand, hopping from one activity to the next. The good times kicked off with a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon at Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest in Sandestin, one of our sponsored events at work. It's always such a fun event and I was a little sad I couldn't attend last year (hello, baby on board!), so I was excited to make up for lost time this year. We met up with Cassi and Travis and made the rounds from tent to tent, checking out the selections, sipping, sipping and sipping more. It was wonderful.

Before we knew it, though, it was time for a quick change and a short drive into Destin for Ash & Claudia's wedding. We swore we would be back after the wedding to dance the night away and keep the night going as long as we could.

Have I mentioned that I love when Hunter wears suits? I think they're growing on my country boy, but I'm not sure he would admit it. He definitely wouldn't let me sneak a picture of more than our shoes.

The wedding ceremony was lovely; Ash was handsome and Claudia was stunning. She made such a beautiful bride!

Don't you love her veil?

They are so in love! I always love watching the first dance and remembering ours.

She looked so pretty! I blame Hunter for the poor photo quality here.

We sat next to Amanda and her husband Chris, who I found out were expecting. So excited for them! A baby has the power to change your life completely. For good. I mean, in a good way. :)

A few hours and a few drinks later, we decided to hit the road. We didn't stay out as long as we planned and we never made it back to Baytowne to meet up with Cassi and Travis (sorry guys!). We sneaked out a tad early to have our own little date night, just the two of us, reminiscing on those days before promotions and more responsibility, before diapers and a baby, and before we had a clue that those fun Fridays (and Tuesdays) would take us as far down this lovely road as they did. So happy they did. I love you, babe!

atlanta and company

2011-10-20T22:44:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a busy month and it's only half way over! Work has been crazy, trying to settle in to our new house has been time-consuming and on top of that, I've even been traveling for work. Though I wouldn't normally be the one to go out and about in our major markets chatting with media, I've pitched in lately and handled several appointments in Atlanta over the last few days. It was so fun, but so exhausting. Leaving Sunday and coming home late Tuesday night has been a little rough -- it's the longest I've been away from Emery. Ever. I missed my sweet girl so much, but it was also relaxing to get away, even if it was for work. You know me, so you know I squeezed in a little shopping time whenever I could. I was in the South's largest city, after all.

After a fun afternoon of splishing and splashing with these sweet cheeks on display, my little Emery was down for the count and I was kissing her nose and hitting the road. I spent the last few days in Atlanta for a South Walton media mission, to catch up and chat with journalists about what's new at the beach. Let me tell you, there is a wagon full of fresh happenings, including a fun photo contest and exciting giveaway on Facebook for those of you who want to Find Your Perfect Beach.

Go ahead and enter. If I could name you all winners I would, but I have nothing to do with the selection and can only cheer and wish good luck from the side lines.

Meanwhile, enjoy a melange of photos from my trip.

Alabama country roads. I saw way too much of this view.

Pit stop in Auburn, AL. Home of the Auburn Tigers and two of my high school years. Ahh, memories!

The famous tree at Toomer's Corner, recovering from a nasty poisoning by an Alabama fan. Doesn't it seem sad?

Finally arrived in Atlanta after what seemed like hours of Alabama countryside. My friends Mara and Elizabeth at 92.9 Dave FM recommended I go straight to the new Anthropologie in the Howell Mill Road area. Guess what? I did. It was cool and awesome and did not disappoint.

Bought a few of these for a future project.

Love this Anthro stool!

Such a cute area that seemed to be recently revitalized. I loved the leftover industrial elements juxtaposed with shiny new shops and lovely signs.

Stopped at this cool Yeah! Burger after a Foursquare search with tons of great reviews. I loved the wallpaper detail.

I went for the grass-fed beef with extra avocado and gluten-free fries. Yum yum yum!

Hello from the hotel elevator!

Desperately needed this after a day of traveling and speed-shopping!

ATL

Loving this little jute media swag bag we're using these days, complete with flip flops, of course.

Did I mention I love the Dave FM peeps? Stopped by to visit Mara and Elizabeth and talk hummus.

Lunch at Highland Bakery. I wanted it all.

Can you tell it's already been a long day, even before noon?

So far, it probably doesn't look like I did much work, but trust me, there were lots of media appointments crammed in along with navigating the Atlanta traffic and gabbing about South Walton. By 5 o'clock, I had just enough time to run in Lenox Square before dinner.

I would love to one day commit to a red sofa. That day is just not today.

Love this J. Crew ensemble.

I was so excited to meet my best friend Shannon at Eclipse di Luna and it was icing on the cake that we were dining on a special ladies night - $15 for all-you-can-eat small plates. It was appetizer heaven.

Here is proof that we stuffed ourselves with fourteen, yes FOURTEEN different small plates.

We sipped wine and sampled dishes for hours. The great thing about best friends is that no matter how long it's been since you last saw each other or what has happened in your life, you can pick up right where you left off, just like you never left. It was glorious. Love you, Shan!

We had to snap a pic of the crescent as a throwback to our old Gamma Phi days at FSU.

One of our final meetings was with Atlanta & Company for an on-air interview about South Walton and the contest.

It was such a cool experience and our sweet host was so lovely. She was fabulous and professional and had perfect eye makeup.

bright & skinny

2011-10-16T20:40:00.000-05:00

Crayon-like stems are definitely a "thing" right now. What do you think? Would you wear colorful pants?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

neon + neutrals

2011-10-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed all the highlighter-hued clothes popping up lately? It's not an over-the-top 80s revival with head to toe neon and spandex, but this time around, the look is more sophisticated and grown up. The most important part: neon is balanced by tame neutrals. Sunny yellow paired with deep camel, soft blush, clean nude, crisp white or even classic navy.

asos.com

via tumblr

fashionchalet.net

Neon skirts in mini, pencil and even maxi length make a statement.

christian siriano via style.com

If you're not sold on wearing so much notice-me material, neon accessories paired with neutral dresses or separates work just as lovely.

christian siriano via style.com

Here's a great example of making neon 9 to 5 appropriate.

christian siriano via style.com

Bright shorts are fun and can be accented by a wild scarf and noticeable shoes.

lissak06.tumblr.com

Blake Lively pairs a bright blazer with a neutral tank and skirt on the set of Gossip Girl.

via justjared.buzznet.com

If you're a pants girl, give fuchsia a go.

via whowhatwear.com

Glowing watermelon might be more manageable as a bold stripe down a classic leather tote.

anthropologie

Kim Kardashian isn't just carrying the iconic Birkin bag, she's carrying it in screaming yellow. Now THAT'S how you get noticed!

via urhermes.com

A hint of neon in your step? No big deal.

Ruthie Davis heels

Even a classic shape can keep up with today's trend with neon pink by your side.

via elle.com

So what do you think? Are you ready to wear this bright idea?

lace, pearls & angel wings

2011-10-03T23:04:00.000-05:00

I recently read this article over on coolmomtech that names babies as the next great American consumer. I believe it. Who knew I would ever spend so much time browsing any Etsy page, baby boutique or store aisle that remotely appeared to have baby clothes, toys or accessories? Not me. But I have. And I've found some fun stuff. With treasures like a lacy bubble, ruffle butt bloomers, homemade flower headbands form here to eternity, a garland crown and gorgeous angel wings, I've been dying to do a backyard photo shoot with Emery. This weekend, I finally found enough time to get all the cool stuff together and hit the grass at sunset with my sweet girl in tow. Our country setup just happens to bring the perfect backdrop at the end of the day. The recent chill meant we couldn't be outside long, since I had my 6 month old outside without a "wrap," as my grandmother would say, so this took two sunsets. I couldn't get her to smile, but she sure enjoyed nibbling on the J.Crew necklaces Hunter had given me awhile back. I think she has a future in baby food commercials!

One of my favorites!

half a year

2011-09-30T15:43:00.001-05:00

How is it possible that six entire months have already flown by since March 31st? Emery is already at the half year mark and I still sometimes have to remind myself that Hunter and I have a baby! She is such a cool. laid-back girl and has fit right into our lives like a perfect fit. She goes with the flow, doesn't mind new people or new places, and rarely even frowns, let alone cry for hours. Emery is always so happy and smiley and seems like such a little lady. She loves to hold her hands together and touch my face or Hunter's face. She puts her hands in her mouth all the time and will settle for her feet sometimes, too. She sits up all by herself now and likes to lean over to see things closer. She reaches for everything she can and opens her mouth to make singing noises and grunting sounds. She blows raspberries all day long and is just learning to pull herself up from a sitting position. Every now and then, we even hear a shriek, as if she's just testing it out in case she needs it. Since we started on baby food this month (organic of course!), she's learned to swallow and not spit it all out. She loves dinner time, fiddles with her bib and likes to lean over and open her mouth in my direction, so I know she's ready for another bite. She's a bit of a princess in that regard. She likes her toys and cuddles at bed time. Cat naps are plentiful and bath time is a favorite. Just laying down in the water puts her at ease. She likes a lot of sleep and is so happy when she wakes up in the morning. In short, she's growing up fast. We even refer to a few months ago as "when Emery was a baby" because she seems so much more mature. I love this sweet girl with all my heart and can't wait to see her smiling face every day. She's my pride and joy and she's six months old today!