Need a pair?

Fabulous pair of shoes here for a steal!!! I was looking for a nude pair of close toed shoes for work and found these instead. These would be great for so many fall/winter occasions and perfect for a summer wedding with a fun colored dress!

Amazing sale on classic kids clothes

Bella Bliss, a Lexington, KY company, is hosting a huge sale right now on their fall/winter items. Head over there quickly to stock up for next year. I'm thrilled with the items I was able to pick up for the boys today (and I even threw in a skirt for myself!!).

A few of the darling offerings......

(for $12 and made of pima cotton- you better believe I bought both for Peter for next Christmas!!)

 

(in numerous colors with contrasting ric rac on the back)

 

(tons of intarsia sweaters- I already own two and LOVE them. Amazing quality)

 

(Darling bow skirt that also comes in an adult woman's size)

 

(sweet as pie boy bubble)

 

(and matching sister dress!!! I DIE!!!)

 

 

They also have tons of pima cotton basics like peter pan collar shirts, turtlenecks, long sleeved polo shirts and rugbys and adorable cordoroy pants, ruffle overalls and regular overalls. There is cute stuff even for 8-14 year olds. Plus, almost everything is monogrammable!!! I can also attest that the quality is amazing! Also, there is free shipping during the sale on orders over $100. Hope you all find as much as I did!!

 

 

 

 

Fall Wishlist

Since I still haven't packed away my summer clothes, I don't really know what I "need" for the fall, but here are a few things I've tried on or lusted after online lately

Milano Rib Blazer- I tried this blazer on in the store and it is just perfect. It would look great with jeans for a dressed up weekend look yet it's still totally work appropriate. Even better, it would totally work with a nursing tank underneath. I love my navy wool blazer from LE, and I know I would love this one too. It comes in a few other colors (all with the contrast edging) if you are looking for an updated blazer this fall. This striped blazer looks fabulous too.

I tried on the downtown field jacket in the store after I had seen a few bloggers blog about it. I love, love, love it!! It looks better IRL than it does on this dual denim model. I like the olive and the navy and would totally buy both except for B would not appreciate the addition of two more jackets to our front closet. I'm going to be lucky to pull off one! I'm going to ask my mom for this for my birthday as she is just as jacket obsessed as I am :)

MCW- I immediately thought of you when I saw this striped cowlneck dress. I love, love, love it. I doubt I will buy it as I'd be terrified of how my backside would look with the stripes going across, but someone should definitely buy this. I'd have a hard time deciding between the ivory/navy and the kelly green/navy.

 The Hopsy Studs from Bridier Baubles are just my cup of tea. Glamorous yet always appropriate and a perfect shade of pink. My mother-in-law would look great in these and will probably be receiving a pair for her next birthday. We don't see each other very often as they live in FL, so I don't think it would be too weird to own the same earrings. Right??

The other thing I'd love to find are a pair of well fitting colored cords. A deep burgandy, plum, green or red is what I am thinking about. I just need to try on a few pairs as I know there out there this season.

So what's on your fall wishlist? Any fabulous finds I should look at too?

My favorite purchase over the last 8 months (ie- perfect pregnancy gift!)

I bought this necklace when I was 11 weeks pregnant.  I found it at a small store in Petoskey and just couldn't resist.  I am so glad I bought it as I wear it at least 5 days a week and have throughout my entire pregnancy.  As SYT says, it's my "baby neckneck".  I  get compliments on it all the time.  It's funny because I haven't worn pearls in ages and the only other necklace I'll wear right now is my gold locket when my outfit demands gold accessories. 

I found the same necklace (or at least very similar) on Etsy right here.  At this price, it's a perfect present for a new mom to be!  Mine has tarnished just a bit over the past 8 months (I got mine for around $20, so that's not too surprising), but I actually like the way it looks with the little bit of tarnishing on it.  It makes it look antiquey and goes well with the typescript.

I love my necklace and hope that you, or a friend of yours, will too!!

Baby blankets

When I was pregnant, I won a giveaway on Project Nursery for a Little Giraffe blanket.  I was able to pick any color and since we didn't know what we were having, I got it in white.

I have loved this blanket for the last two years.  It has held up through thousands of washings (that's what happens when you get white!!), is soooo soft and cuddly, and I love that the satin side stays cool even in the summer heat.  If you are looking for a baby gift for a shower, I would always recommend this blanket.  It's just fabulous.

However, with the new baby, I have decided to go in another direction.  I don't have any rationale for it except that I would prefer that Spencer's blankie and the baby's blankie look and feel different so that Spencer doesn't get confused between the two.  I've looked at a few options and I've decided to go with this blanket from PBK.  Our nephew received this as a gift and it's soooo soft, it's a great size (bigger than my Little Giraffe one), and I love that it still has the satin trim.

I'm going to do it in blue (I don't want another white blanket to get confused with Spencer's and am not really sold on the green) with a white monogram. I may call to see if I could get the name done in navy instead but am unsure if that is even an option.  I'm excited that he'll have his own fabulous blanket- I hope he likes it as much as Spencer likes his.

Does anyone else have a favorite baby blanket they want to share?  I'd love to know if I'm missing out on something that I need to consider instead in the next few weeks!!

Recent maternity purchases

Maternity and nursing sleep shirt

Matching pants (both are on sale!!)

Fabulously comfy set of pjs that I can fit into now and will be able to wear later for nursing!

Hoodie cardigan

Matching pants

I'm going to wear this outfit home from the hospital with a nursing tank.  It's so cute on and will be so comfy to come home in (especially if I have to have another c-section).

Adorable shirt WITH pockets!!

This shirt is so comfortable, it has pockets, it looks great over leggings with a cardigan now and will look adorable this spring too! 

I scored all this on sale and am really happy with these purchases.  I haven't bought much at all this pregnancy, so I didn't mind buying a few extra things now.  I do need to get a few more nursing tanks for this time around as mine are SO worn from wearing them constantly for a year after Spence was born.  If I can find a few cute nursing tops (besides just tanks), I'm in for those as well.  I keep checking Zulily as they've had good deals in the past on nursing clothes.  Anyone else out there love the nursing tops they have or other cute new maternity clothes?

Holiday dressing

Absolutely gorgeous black dress perfect for pretty much any occasion.  Very Jackie-ish AND under $100!!  If only my every expanding waistline would fit into this number, I would buy it in a heartbeat.  Anyone else need a classic black dress?

Kate Spade Sample Sale!!

If you are looking for a new purse, a new baby bag, a new wallet, a simply gorgeous dress, or new baubles, you simply MUST check out the KS sample sale right now!!

There are some amazing deals to be had but the sale ends tomorrow, so hurry on over.  Plus, with shipping at only $5, this sale cannot be beat! A few of my favorite are below.

Gramercy Park Stevie

Small Nylon Mae

Beachcomber Stevie

Maryanne Baby Bag (this does NOT look like a baby bag, does it?  I just love this and the price is amazing!)

(Can you tell I'm in the market for a new black purse??)

Darling iphone 4 cover

Fabulous yellow jacket (very Betty Draper)

Darling night on the town top

If I didn't have a very similar pair, I would scoop these up in a heartbeat!!

Fabulous with a LBD or a great black cashmere turtleneck and jeans!  This would be a stunner at holiday parties!

Really, really cute stuff over here, but remember, there's only one day to shop, so head on over!!

Lust List: Kitchen Edition

Below are a few items I've been thinking about, longing for, wanting for my kitchen. 

A pasta maker attachment for my kitchen aid.  Good friends have one and they love making homemade pasta.  B and I love to experiment in the kitchen, and with fall coming, I can totally see us using this on the weekends to make our own lasagna noodles, linguine noodles, and ravioli. 

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An ice cream maker.  I'm blaming this one sorely on Annie.  Her homemade ice cream recipes always look amazing, and how good would peach blueberry ice cream or peanut butter ice cream be when it is fresh, fresh, fresh.  I've had a few people tell me that they own ice cream makers that they've never used and that I shouldn't get one, but that's why it's a lust list, right?  And if any of you have one you never use and want to send me, you just let me know!!  I'm an ice cream-aholic and dang proud!!

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New bread pans.  I've been needing new ones for awhile, and these from Williams-Sonoma always get rave reviews.  I only have two big loaf pans and need at least four for my bread baking days.  I have a gift card to WS, so the next time I'm at the mall, I just have to remember to pop in there!!

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Ooooohhhhh, how pretty is this trivet??  Certainly pretty enough for a dining room table on a holiday or for a dinner party.  It's certainly better than the current trivets I have (yep, that would be an old potholder!!).  I get such a heady, lovely feeling when I peruse Le Crueset stuff.  I want it all!!

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New kitchen towels and oven mitts.  Ours have just gotten so ratty and I'd love to send them to the rag pile and get pretty new ones so that I'm not embarrassed when people come over.  I'll have to head to TJs sometime and see what I can come up with. 

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A new toaster oven.  Our moms both went on and on about how awful our last one was, so we got a new one.  The one we have now may look better, but it sucks (excuse my language).  It's tiny, it doesn't toast well, and the tray it came with is warped beyond belief.  I hate it.  I really want a new one, and the one below gets good reviews without being over $200. 

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So, those are my current "wants" for our kitchen.  What are yours?  Do you have a great toaster and want to divulge why it's so great?  Do have/love any of the kitchen aid mixer attachments?  Do you have a favorite dish towel?  Let's "dish" :) 

Help a girl out, will you?

So, Team, UNP.  It seems that I have 226 followers (though I am questioning the validity of this as I only get comments from about 20 of you!!).  If you could be so kind as to do me a teensy, tinsy favor, I would really appreciate it.

So, you know that I have this son I talk about regularly.  And you also know that I love to shop for said son.  Well, one of my favorite online stores, Bella Bliss, is having a facebook contest and the person with the most "likes" on their picture will win $150 to spend at their store.  I uploaded a pretty darn cute pic of the buddy from 9.5 months in one of their outfits (I have it in 3 different sizes, friends, that's how much I like it!!), and if I could get your help in voting for my picture, I could potentially get a gift certificate for new fall and winter clothing for Spencer.  Sooooooo.....head over to FB (or if you are at work, mark this as unread so you read it again once you get home and then do it when you aren't blocked by your work computer), go to Bella Bliss's facebook page, and "like" Spencer's picture.  You should definitely like the site once you are there too, as they often will post advance notice about sales on their page.  I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to do this today!! 

Thanks, friends!!

Oh, and another thought........there are a LOT of you that I have tried and tried to email over the past two or three weeks (Emily, Sarah, and quite few others) and I can't because I get the noreply@blogger.com when I try.  I also, for some odd reason, can't leave a response on your blogs (which I never had a problem doing before, so why now, blogger????).  I'd love to be able to respond to your comments, so if you have a "noreply" in your settings, and you want to hear back from me, check out this post so that you can see how people can more easily respond to your comments that you leave!!  I'd love, love, love to get back to you all!!

A little birdie told me....

that Bella Bliss is going to have a monster sale on Wed. 

Not entirely sure what it entails, but I know I will be heading over to the website first thing Wed morning to check it out.  Spencer has a few outfits from them and I just love them.  Made of true pima cotton, they are so soft, wash up very well (no fading!), and are almost all monogrammable!  I think it's hard to find sweet, simple, yet high quality boy's clothes, and Bella Bliss definitely has great items.  They also have fantastic sweaters that are pricey, but worth it for the quality.  My mom found one for me at an upscale consignment boutique, and it's beyond adorable.  It's a 2T, so Spence can't wear it yet, but once he fits into it, it'll be a staple!!  There are also gorgeous things for girls!

Check it out and, if you get anything, let me know!  I'll do the same!

SYT's gonna look cute in August!!

I picked these darling lobster shorts up for Spence this weekend.  Won't they be perfect for the Lobster party??  I have been searching and searching for lobster stuff for him, and I bought these as soon as I saw them.  L-O-V-E!!

Knowing that Michigan weather is very, very fickle, I also found a rollneck navy sweater with a red lobster on the front that is by LL Bean on ebay.  I'll take it up north just in case!

My two boys will be soooo cute together.  Cannot wait!

Anyone else love lobsters??

Then you need to buy this from Zulily today!!  It could be the cutest little themed hair clip I've ever seen!!  I just bought 3 of them.  One for each of my nieces to wear to the lobster party this summer.  I have to say that I almost bought a 4th for me, but I restrained myself :)  It's only $6.99, and at that price, totally worth it (even with shipping!!). 

More lobster to come......

Anyone going to a party?

If you are, here are a few cute dresses and skirt for your consideration........

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via- in multiple colors!!

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I just love pretty dresses.  I wish I had an excuse to wear fun ones more often!  My work dresses are so much more staid than the ones above.  Any other fun summer dresses you love??  Or any great work dresses that you love (and I need to order?)?

Happy Tuesday!!

Pretty feet!!

Have you seen these darling flip-flops?

The bows are interchangeable with any grosgrain or satin ribbon you have.

They come in a range of colors- gold, white, black, pink, navy, green, aqua, yellow, etc.

They have arch support!!

And, while I've heard that the rubber can occasionally rub if your feet get sweaty, it's easy to put a little powder on your feet prior to going out for the day. 

I had the darling pair above and can no longer find them anywhere.  At $30 a pop, they are going to end up on my feet again this summer.  They're too cute not to!! 

Anyone else have them?  Love them?

Things I'm loving on Etsy

Darling girls dresses from The Laughing Giraffe

This lovely spring photograph from Simply Hue

These paintings by Duck to Swan Gallery

Anyone have anything they're loving that I should look at?