clutch love-blog love

totally understandable.

i need another bag 

like i need a hole in the head.

sometimes can't help myself 

 

mostly i stalk.

like this amazing

american apparel large leather to-die-for pouch

 not bad for just $56

real leather

tons of solid colors

want the stripes?  

have to add those bad boys yourselves.

please visit

 atlantic-pacific

(i regularly stalk this style icon...

impeccable master at layering)

you'll drool over her outfits,

much like i do.

also love this little

envelope clutch

this  is sydney over at 

the daybook

love her.

she's one of  my bff's

but she just doesn't know it yet.

you know.

one of those girls, 

you know you'll love the second you meet them.

tell me

if you share my sentiment

new shoe love: clogs

heidi struts in her's

Julianne Moore rocks her's

jessica prefers red ones

kate like's 'em high.

this is what i just picked up.

 

in them now.

love them.

i like to call them my outdoor slippers.

tell me about a pair of your comfies.

i didn't know i needed you so badly

i love you, new iphone

 

seriously.

not the most techie person around.

perhaps i can hold my own,

but definitely not the

'have to have the latest' 

kind of girl.

my girls were teasing me about 

my slow as molasses

hip and happening 

iphone 3g 

(all of 8g by the way)

so after 2 1/2 years 

and 

one free upgrade i decided it was time.

can you say,

know your socks off?

lightening speedy?

and i haven't even met siri yet, 

but i know i'll love her.

just so happy in iphone land right now.

do you have one? 

do tell.

as always,

Welcome Tory Burch

had to take grag back to the airport

after a full month of unadulterated
pure estrogen fun.

not sad.
happy
we had a whole month.

this is one of those
unforgettable outings
i am still smiling about.

went into one of our local malls
only to stumble upon
the grand smack opening of...
that's right,

what for it....

Tory Burch

you remember this post?

never did i think i'd
be strolling her new digs
and checking her stuff out
not through the screen of my computer.

oh glory be.

can you say
"jack pot?"

thank goodness for my trusty
iphone camera.

throw in a little
picnik
and
voila!

look at all this eye candy...

that's right.
champagne,
baby.

and special
tory burch cookies.

this handsome gent
was offering the goodies
for the taking...

we enjoyed both.

i snapped shots of
the products,
the furnishings,
even the throw rug.

coudldn't get enough.

this is us,
giddy.

maybe i can check out
the sale rack?

tell me of your favorite shop
to stroll?

Stop the presses...drool worthy return address labels

We military families

pack up and relocate
more often,
sometimes,
than we'd like.

I, for one,
like to,
at least,
make the process
enjoyable.

We are again,
packing up
in just 4 weeks.

Oh.
Let the craziness begin.

One way I try to make it
fun is with
return address labels.

Check these out.

You will love.

Those three were my personal faves.

Here are some more top picks.

Love the Indonesian flare.

You can find these
adore labels at
iomoi

I have always had an affinity for
cool address labels.

Giddy about my new find.

I'm probably late to
stumble upon these diddy's.

Tell me about any fave finds
you have right now.

Would love to hear.

5 Friends

Five Friends

Yes.
Five friends I think about every day.

Let me give you a little background here.

I have decided these five items have become my friends
because I have a goal, you see.

I am very goal oriented,
if you want to know the truth.

Hence,
let me tell you about my goal.
Retract, let me show you my goal.

This is the new
NOOKcolor

Normally, I'm not the most gadget-y gal.
But I made one mistake, one fatal mistake.

I went to the Nook station at
Barnes & Noble
to take a little looksie.

Uh oh.
Danger zone.
Turn back!

Too late.

I was sold.

And when I found out that the Nook has an e-reader contract
with all Public Librarys across our great nation.
That's right all my fellow readers out there.
Translation: FREE E-READER DOWNLOADS!

Not to mention this little e-reader is in FULL color
AND
it has wi-fi.
Need to check email? Facebook? Your fav bloggie?
You have arrived, my friend.
This has it all.

Needless to say, meet my new goal:

NOOKcolor.

So,
why haven't I up and bought it yet?

I've got to save for it.
(remember that goal oriented part?)
This bad boy ain't cheap,
but I do believe it's well worth the $249 (ouch!)

So, back to the reason I'm telling you about my 5 friends...
These 5 friends are going to be good to me to meet my goal.
They will make me money and save me money.

Friend #1:
The public Library
I've mentioned this guy before but I can't deny my love affair with him.
This guy will help me utilize my future new e-reader without breaking the bank.
I will save money and prevent from spending money when I spend more time here.
Who doesn't love that deal?

Friend #2:
eBay

This is the greatest invention since sliced bread.
I'm sure most of you know the value of this bad boy.
If you have not met him, please, please, please
familiarize yourself with him.
He will not only make you lots of moolah,
but de-clutter your cabinets, closets and life.

Hint:
Anything that is easily shippable AND has a brand name
is even more friendly to this guy.
Get to know him!

Friend #3:
Mr. Craig and his famous list

See Friend #2 for easily shippable items.
This guy is for the big, bulky and "too much hassle" to ship.

Think:
furniture, appliances, wall mirrors.
You get the picture.

Smaller audience than Friend #2 but just as valuable for
making and saving money.
Plus, it's environmentally sound
(ahh, you can sleep a little better knowing you are
recycling good stuff to people who need it for cheap prices.)

Friend #4:
Home Made Lunches

Paying for lunches out can be a serious money pit.
If small people in your house pack lunches,
and big people in the house pack lunches this
can add up to oodles and oodles of money saved.

*Just make sure you've got good and healthy stuff to pack in those lunches.

Easy!

Finally,
Friend #5:
Still thinking about this one.
Thought you people out there in cyberland
might be able to help me out.

What is your favorite friend (method)
that helps save or earn you cold hard cash-ola?

Spill.

I'm all ears.

Can't wait to hear your ideas.

The Last Four Days...

Gal Pals

Sorry gang.
No posts.
I know.
And I probably wouldn't change a thing, though.
You see....

I was off with my home town gal pals.
You remember the gals I talked about a bit ago.
These gals.

I'm not going to talk about how I feel now
that they are gone.
No.
I won't be sad.

I'm only going to highlight the fun we had,
the traditions we started and the
luck we have knowing each other.

Here we are.
I can hardly stand it.
I have my fav peeps on my own turf.

We did a lot of this.
That's right.
Laughing till our sides hurt.


I think this is one of my favorite shots.
Would you look at Heath's face?

I'm telling you...we did a lot of those hearty gut laughs.
It felt great.
I even considered it my ab workout for the day.

Miss Corine did the girls hair for the
chorus production.

This was their "thank you" picture
for the A+ job she did with the curling iron.

Did I mention that Corine and Heath made all 5 dozen cookies
for my upcoming book club cookie exchange?

They are the best

We surfed our favorite blogs,
websites and
Facebook friends.

Aunt Heathie was the crafting queen

Madison was in heaven.

We went on a 5 hour shopping spree
and shopped til we dropped.
I think the store clerk at the Nordstrom Shoe Department
is still wondering who we were and why
we were laughing so much.
Just good company, lady.

Matching Eddie Bauer First Ascent 365 Down-light Sweaters?

Why yes...they are.

And thank you Alex at Eddie Bauer for letting
us talk you into an on-the-spot 30 percent off discount.
Vera, you too, did a great job closing the deal.

New Girl-Outing Tradition:
buy matching coats/jackets

Scary but Corine and I bought matching coats one year ago...
do you see the trend here?
Now we are calling it our new tradition.

Thanks, Heath, for the Eddie Bauer heads up.

This is us at
Old Ebbett Grill
Downtown DC
Oldest restaurant in DC proper
Yummy

Do you not love the wood paneling?
It's everywhere!

This day was chilly willy.
We parked.
Then ran to our restaurant.
Poor Corine didn't think she needed her
coat, "I have a big sweater on..."
Oh, Cali girl. Let me show you the ways.

We managed not to get frost bite.

We did everything I said we'd do:
1. We ate well...very well.
Thanks Corine, for your generosity and treating us to not one but two
fantastic lunches out!
You are the best!

2. We enjoyed the beverage...
but only at night, no driving and in jams.

3. We definitely laughed hearty...
all four days straight.

I don't have sisters but I think if I did it would feel a lot like this.
It was such a joy to watch my daughters have three mothers.
I loved showing my girls what good friends look like.
Heather with her vacuum.
Corine with her curling iron.

I loved every second of my girl time.
I even think my hubby was a little bummed he missed most of the action.
Darn that work schedule.

I am already looking on the calendar for our next visit.
I love you, ladies.

You raise my bar.
You show me understanding and love.
It is so normal and natural having you in my home.

Thanks for making the trip out.

Tell me about your best buds and how you do girl time.

As always,


for visiting.