{favorite spring polish}

Soon it will be Spring and time to polish our little piggies with something cheery!  Here are my favorite nail polishes for this time of year:

Essie Dramatic Drachmas

Essie Forget-Me-Nots

(perfect with Lilly's hot pinks!)

Essie Castaway

(lovely with Lilly's lighter pinks)

Essie Limo-Scene

(for that clean sheer look)

...and new for Spring '09 is Chanel's Vendetta!  What do you think???

I love this color, but will look for a similar one by Essie or OPI (the best brands IMO).

Chanel polish is not my favorite--it chips!!!  Not worth the price to me!

It reminds me a bit of OPI's Eiffel For This Color:

{pretty and pink}

{CHANEL Glossimer in Sideral}

I don't like lip glosses.  I really don't.  They mostly mess up my lipliner and lipstick which would have lasted much longer if I hadn't used gloss in the first place.  But, if I am feeling the need to be shimmering, shiny, laquered and glazed--then I reach for this one.  Mostly it is pretty to look at!

{drawing at my new desk}

Happy Monday!  (That's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one.)  

Although, my boss gave me the day off!   :-)

confessions of a shopaholic

Lil Petunia and I saw Confessions of a Shopaholic today and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The movie was quite cute and funny, even though I couldn't relate {{cough}} at all to the situation.  Ahem.

  Anywhoo, there was just one little weird thing that bothered me.  If Rebecca has such a flair for fashion, then why on Earth would Hollywood choose such wacky ensembles for her to wear?  I mean, really......check out these outfits and tell me if you would ever be seen in public in such over-the-top get-ups---not that Isla Fisher didn't look adorable in all of them---just that there were too many colors and statement pieces going on all at once.  But, what do I know...



To me, this is more like it:

And who knew that Isla was a natural brunette?  Which hair color do you prefer?

{dazzling}

I have been admiring these Ferrare frames for a couple of years & thought I'd share them with you.  They are the most beautiful picture frames that I have ever seen.  They are more stunning in person than even any L'Objet frame.  Each frame is made by hand using Swarovski crystals, semi-precious gems, and polished shells.

You must see them in person to appreciate all of the detail which extends all of the way around the thick crystal-encrusted sides of these beauties.  They are about an inch thick and very heavy.  Any one of these would make an incredible wedding present.  I think the one below is my favorite, and I would love to put my wedding photo in it.  The problem is that the largest size it comes in is 5x7 matted.  I suppose I could remove the mat and just put my 8x10 photo in there without a mat.  Indecision combined with sticker shock ($400 for the large 5x7 size!!!) has crippled me and prevented me from purchasing.  So I go in and drool over each and every one -- and then promtly leave.

My personal favorite, the Antoinette frame:

My other favorite--the incredible Katherine frame (you have to see this one!):

The matching Katherine lamp:

The fabulous and fun Linea frame:

The Susan frame:

The Ilona frame:

The Layla frame:

King Cake

It is that time of year and I am Lil Petunia is suddenly consumed by a craving for New Orleans King Cake!  The top picture is from Randazzo's which makes a delicious "Pecan Praline King Cake".  The bottom picture is from Haydel's bakery and the reason we love this one is for the abundant use of pure sugar on top.  Yum!  More sugar and less white icing = delicious!!!

You know who you are NOLA peeps!  Please send me sweet Lil Petunia one!

  

I'll even make it a trade...let's see...I can offer up a brand new unopened DVD of Momma Mia and some locally dipped Hoffman's chocolate covered pretzels!!!

{my desk}

My desk finally arrived today!  Thanks to all of you who helped me to choose.  I had heard a few negatives about the Pottery Barn desk, so that one was out.  I really liked the Ballard Designs desk, but upon closer magnification I noticed that the finish was a shabby "antiqued" type with a rubbed finish.  I do like the shabby cottage look, but it would not have worked with the rest of my bedroom decor.  So, I chose the Barbara Barry desk and it just fits in the space alloted.  Now I can read all of your blogs in comfort!

handbag game

Pretty In Pink tagged me with the handbag meme.  The rules are as follows:

1) Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house. No cheating!
2) I want to know how much it cost:) And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.
3) Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your bag. 

This is the bag I have carried since last Thursday when we went away.  It is pretty big which is a requirement these days since in addition to all of my stuff I am usually carrying Lil Petunia's: Nintendo DS, iPod, and a random stuffed animal.  At one point this weekend I found myself also carrying a pink feather boa in it!  You may remember this bag from several months ago when I was having a hard time deciding between two.  I am loving this one and definitely made the right choice.  

I know that several of you have already done this meme, so if I tag you and you've already played then just ignore this!!  I tag:

1. Muffy Martini
2. According To Erin
3. Caffeine Court
4. Mrs K

Amelia Island

Hubby, Lil Petunia, & I arrived at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island on Thursday for an extended Valentine's Day weekend.  Amelia Island is a beautiful place with tons of old moss-draped Oak trees canopied over the roadways.  We went into the old town of Fernandina Beach today for lunch.  There is this little place that makes the most delicious homemade fudge that I have ever had!  Yum!

Here is the view from our room:
A Valentine's present from Hubby--the cutest Twill 22 red jacket.  It is actually a deep blood-red color IRL.  Sorry for the bad cell-phone pictures, but I forgot my camera!   
Hope you are all having a LOVE-LY Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day special offer

Hearst magazines is once again offering their fabulous $5 magazine subscriptions!  Five dollars!  I have verified that this offer is totally legitimate.  I went ahead and tried it out although I already have subscriptions to my favorite Veranda, Town & Country, and House Beautiful magazines.  Well, not only did it work, but when I went independently to the House Beautiful website to check, it had added the extra 12 month subscription onto the end of my previous subscription.  Woo hoo!  So, basically, you can keep adding subscriptions for as many $5 renewals as you want.  I am all set until June of 2010.  :)  

By the way--regardless of what it says, these offers don't seem to expire as long as you use the specific link below.  

Click here:   Valentine's Day sale

Here is the list of magazines available for this offer:

Cosmopolitan	12 issues
		Country Living	12 issues
		Esquire	12 issues
		Good Housekeeping	12 issues
		Harper's BAZAAR	12 issues
		House Beautiful	12 issues
		Marie Claire	12 issues
		O, The Oprah Magazine	12 issues
		Popular Mechanics	12 issues
		Redbook	12 issues
		Seventeen	12 issues
		SmartMoney	12 issues
		Town & Country	12 issues
		Veranda	8 issues

New Moon

Well, I had to put New Moon down for a couple of days.  I was too upset after page 84 to read further!  I miss Edward!  Boo-hoo.  Seriously, I have been in a bad mood about it, so he better come back soon or.......or else!

The good news is that the Twilight DVD release date is March 21st.  I've heard that the movie is very different from the book so I'm prepared!   

Also, New Moon is set to be released in movie theaters on November 21st! 

Update:  New Moon does get better towards the end.   I am now into Eclipse and holding my breath! 

{Monty and Me}

My version of Marley and Me......Monty was the best dog ever!  I was six years old in this picture.  He was so smart that I would play hide and seek with him.  Just the two of us.  He would sit and stay in the kitchen while I went and hid myself.  Then I would call for him once and the sniffing would begin!  He would search the house over until he found me!

 

I have decided to stay public with my blog--with just a few minor changes.  ;-)  Thanks for hanging in there with me!