queen of style

2011 sure had it's fair share of "style".  hands-down the Middleton sisters win best dressed girls of the year.  girls everywhere are envious of Pippa's edgy yet still appropriate for the work-place style and  Kate's modern take on pantyhose, pumps, and knee-length dresses. Who else could make fascinators, lap-top bags, and jewels look so good?  The girls did no wrong this year on the fashion front. In the UK, Kate and Pippa top multiple polls of top beauty icons and InStyle Magazine even dedicated an article to Pippa's top 100 best outfits! Here's a look at some of their best looks of 2011:

both women were stunning at Kate and William's royal nuptials!

Princess Catherine wowed as the world looked on during her Canadian Tour 2011

Pippa carries her "pippa" bag [named after her, lucky gal]

best of 2011

as we welcome 2012, i am revisiting 2011 and reflecting on my "best of " list.  Here's to hoping 2012 is far more simple, prosperous, adventurous, and "lucky"!

January 2011

well, that's about how good it was.... nothing tops the list for January.

February 2011

I made my first solo trip home to SC from Texas... big steps (i hate flying and in general traveling by myself)..... and my longtime childhood bestie got engaged!!

March 2011

I celebrated my 25th birthday with fabulous friends (only those of you that were residing in Texas, of course)....and my college roommate and bff also got engaged!!

April 2011

the world watched as Kate Middleton walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey in a stunning Alexander McQueen [Sarah Burton] wedding gown...soon to be the most recreated wedding dress of the season (so we think!) and the entire male and female population of the world became infatuated with Pippa!

May 2011

we celebrated my husband's 25th birthday and packed our lives up again and made the move from Texas back to South Carolina... we also made a weekend trip to Charleston for Katie and Greg's engagement pictures!

June 2011

Jeff and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary 

July 2011

the girls and i celebrated Ashley's last couple weeks of being single with a Bachelorette wkend in Myrtle Beach and.... Ashley and David tie the knot in a fabulous wedding that both my mom and i helping her plan!I also did all the hair and makeup and was her Matron-of-honor. <3

August 2011

Cooper turned 5 (he will always be a puppy in my eyes) and my baby sister graduated from The University of South Carolina, honors of course!

September 2011

all I have to say here is... WILLIAMS BRICE STADIUM

October 2011

we [mom, jeff, bre, and i] volunteered for the Columbia Alzheimer's Walk to Remember [charity near and dear to all of our hearts] and.... more tailgating and GAMECOCK football

November 2011

Thanksgiving... we were thankful for a win over the Clemson Tigers.... 34-13.  Enough Said.

Jeff also starts his new job in Savannah, GA and we begin our countdown to the big move to Philadelphia! 

December 2011

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS!  

My sister [Bre] gets her [dream] job right out of school and moves to Greenville, SC

My year summed up :)  Looking forward to a happy and healthy 2012!!!

Yorkipoos don't wear PUGZ

I don't think I have formally introduced you [all 5 devoted readers of my blog ;)] to the man in my life (no, not my husband.. the other man).... this little man has four fuzzy legs and a face that will melt your heart....

cooper - yorkipoo, 5 years old, stands about 1 foot tall, no tail ;)

PUGZ.... the newest trend in shoes for dogs.  Let's just call them puppy uggs.  I have read on multiple occasions that it is important to protect a dog's paws when he/she is exposed to extreme weather/climates... such as snow and ice.  So..... I thought it would benefit Cooper to get some sort of doggie socks/shoes for our move up north.  I'll just keep this simple, Yorkipoos don't wear PUGZ.  

Not only do they not wear PUGZ, they don't walk in them either.... rendering the whole idea pointless and Cooper mad.

Christmas Hangover

I'm in holiday limbo... those days after Christmas that we dread taking down the glittering balls and hauling the tree out, while at the same time you are wondering what to do for NYE and what resolutions to make this year.   I like to call it the "Christmas Hangover"... too much merriment, too many cookies, turkey, and other favorite starches, not enough sleep... I could go on and on.  But yes, I still love Christmas... despite the "hangover"

So as well all prepare to "unaccessorize" Christmas, I wanted to share a little bit of my Christmas :)

My husband "tebowing" in celebration of the perfect winter's night fire

Philadelphia accessories :) Ralph Lauren Snow Boots (you fancy, huh?)   Leopard Mittens, and Jeff's Eagle wear (beanie and koozie, the essentials)

Blankets, Scarves, Sweet Flannel Owl Sheets (warm and toasty on those cold Philly nights) and a guide to see the city!

A little Christmas Cheer

4 days, 10 hours, and 5 minutes until Christmas!

Trending now this Christmas week:

fabulous Christmas jams. old school and new school.

a little bit of sparkle in my life - what better week to sport glitter nail polish?

"Save the neck for me, Clark!"  FAVE Christmas movie EVER

[de]clutter

declutter.  by definition is a verb meaning to simplify or get rid of mess, disorder, complications

We all have clutter [yes, I am talking to you] and it seems to just pile up in every corner, especially during the busy holiday rush.  I get so caught up in activities that I forget to clean out my closet, those pesky junk drawers, and to simply throw away "stuff".  So this past week, I took a day [or two ;)] to [de]clutter. Okay, let me know just admit to it... I am still working on it. :)

Jill Martin, author of I Have Nothing to Wear!,  has made multiple appearances over the past couple months on various morning talk shows and while I hadn't paid her [theory] much attention, I decided to delve in a bit.  Not only has Martin written this great "closet bible", but she also appears on the Today Show as a fashion correspondent [she is that tall pretty blonde that we see in the segment "Jill's Deals"].  Back to the point [word clutter] ......

Martin's book is a 12-step program to cleaning out your closet [and hopefully, ultimately your life!].  The program starts with admitting you have a problem [sounds familiar, what woman doesn't have a problem]. HA. The gist of her program is that to better "dress" or what I like to call [accessorizing yourself], is that you must get rid of items that don't fit, that you bought back in high school, clothes that have stains or rips, or items you simply don't wear.  If you are anything like me, you have multiple pairs of the [favorite] jeans in one or two sizes or different washes, you also might have an entire drawer of "comfy clothes" and you just might find in the back of that mess you call a closet a couple sweaters that don't fit.  GUILTY.  GUILTY. GUILTY.  [it took a lot to just type those words]

As we reflect on the year and gear up for the next three weeks of the holiday season, remember it's okay to accessorize with "stuff", just keep it to a couple things here and there.  Use your time and resources to help the less fortunate [accessorize].  Contact your local news stations and churches and get involved in adopting a family or help feed the homeless.  There are always ways we help our communities and others... and remember the best accessory a girl can have is her family, friends, and love for others :)

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS

[Everywhere you go] ;)  

I LOVE CHRISTMAS.  Don't take this statement lightly.  I LOVE CHRISTMAS. I start getting excited about Christmas during the hot summer months when I long for a holiday cup of hot chocolate from Starbucks and wrapping my favorite scarf around my neck.  I have enough Christmas music on my ipod to play it year-round [my husband doesn't much like that... so I politely save it for the months of October, November, and December].  I have two sets of stockings so Santa does not forget us at Mom's house!  I still send my list to "Santa" [somehow he always knows if I am naughty or nice].

This year I have been on the ball with my shopping [usually something that takes me weeks and I am out running around like a chicken with its head cut off on Christmas Eve].  I have actually finished almost all [two gifts shy] of my shopping.  It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders when I brought all the presents home and filled the living room floor with bags, green and red tissue paper, and curly bows. [and yes, I did take my own advice and wrap 3 gifts in re-usable eco-friendly bags ;)]

So now that I have the shopping behind me, I can truly focus on one of the best parts of the holidays.... DECORATING.  Tree bought [still undecorated], check.  Wreaths hung on doors, check.  Beautiful inverted chandelier tree [Martha Stewart, watch yourself], check. 

I have quite a bit left to do... let's turn on the Christmas music and get busy this week.  

GET FESTIVE PEOPLE... until next time.....

Must-Have Mondays

Holiday Season Must-Have.... A beautifully wrapped [eco-friendly] present!

According to the EPA, wrapping paper from holiday gifts is largely to blame for a 25 percent spike in curbside trash volume between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.  So why not be eco-friendly this year when swapping gifts?  Here are a couple ideas for GOING GREEN with gift-wrapping this holiday season:

1) Use a reusable bag or tote - this is a gift that keeps on giving ;)  Check out these totes below or go to customgrocerybags.com to create your own bag!

2) Use nature as a substitute for a bow!  Sprigs of berries, branches, shells and pine cones are all good present toppers.

3)  Recycle old or unwanted magazines and newspapers and use them as substitute for wrapping paper.