I LOVE to travel

I love to travel & didn't get to do that much last year, but this year is shaping up to be great!!!

February/March - going to visit these people who I love & miss! :-) (I don't have a picture of their parents, but I'm excited to see them too)



April - Going to this amazing place - mostly for work, but will have a little play/beach time!



May - Back to the city I love!!!!! It's been 3 1/2 years & I can't wait!

It's been an expensive week...

This is what my week has consisted of. Some good, some not so good, but all of it $$$. Hoping the coming weeks will be much cheaper!

Her first Little Marc Jacobs!!!!

I love this little girl...



And I'm a huge fan of this guy...



And in not too long that adorable little girl will have a cute skirt designed by that guy! Is it weird that I'm excited???

I've hit a stall in my front room makeover

I've realized I really don't like painting chairs, recovering cushions, making curtains, etc. I like the fun stuff - the shopping & picking out items that you get to bring home and instantly look perfect! Sadly my budget doesn't exactly allow for that so I will have to continue with all the projects. I currently have 2 chairs painted (only 4 to go), but still have to design & make the back cushions, make curtains, figure out a curtain rod for a bay window, pick out or make throw pillows and so much more. But here's some of the fun stuff (see above) that is in that room or will be when it's all done.








And lastly one of my favorite (if not my favorite) addition to my house! I fell in love when I saw it in the catalog & when still thinking about it a week later knew I had to have it. So I have a little less light and there are some shadows, but I couldn't be happier!

*I don't have a picture of it in my kitchen right now, but will at some point. It's above my round table in my kitchen nook.


Some other great & exciting changes to my house:

I finally have grass!!!!!

It's amazing the difference it makes. So much more still needs to be done in the backyard, but the grass makes it nice enough to eat outside or to lounge on one of the chaises. Weeds and dirt were just so unappealing. I have a few trees and bushes that I'm hoping to not kill with all the winter freeze warnings and to water deep enough I don't get surface roots. :-)

I've even had a family BBQ where I finally got to use my BBQ grill (or at least my mom did) and use the table outside. Sadly I didn't think to take pictures. But we had a great time & I was grateful everyone made the trip out to see me (my family thinks I've moved out of state sometimes!). I'm especially grateful to a dad who spent that night fixing my garbage disposal after I put carrot peels down it - apparently a big no no and a great brother in law who changed my kitchen light fixture. I've promised Robert only 1 light fixture to go and no more fans, but he's been so kind to make multiple trips to my house to change fans and/or light fixtures. Thank you both!

New Goal - the last time my sister in law came to visit (beginning of October) I wanted to have my front room done. Clearly that didn't happen, but they are coming again at Christmas and by then my chairs, curtains and pillows will be done! I have 3 weeks so wish me luck!!!

Just in case you didn't know...

Out today - New Shopaholic book - can't wait!

It's Official - I am a Gleek!

I am apparently coming very late into the whole Glee thing, but I'm officially obsessed! I started watching some recorded episodes on my DVR last week when nothing else was on & before the weekend was over had watched all of season 1 & can't wait for season 2 to start. Below are two of my favorites!

I Die! (for Marc Jacobs at least)

I wanted to just post the below video but as I started posting it made me think of Rachel Zoe (see title) and how each week after watching her show I just can't believe that's her job. I think I'd be in heaven to have my job include sitting front row at fashion shows in NY & Paris, plus picking out gowns, jewelry, shoes, etc. for celebs to wear. Where were the fashion stylists on career day in high school??? Who knew this was an option?

On to my original post. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure or pain (depending on who you are) of talking to me about fashion knows I love Marc Jacobs. I've tried to slowly (and cheaply) pick up things here or there from his lines & am lucky enough to have shoes, a purse and a wallet all courtesy of the wonderful Mr. Jacobs'. Below is his show from New York for Fall. Love so many of the clothes & then just the set up of the show, music, runway, etc. Plus, the bags - in the words of Rachel Zoe - 'I die!' Now if only I could somehow be able to afford one of his bags when I go to his store in Boston in October. Sadly, landscaping a backyard it going to trump that purchase! :) So for now, I just get to enjoy on video!