Merry FAMILY Christmas!!!!

 

 

 

a lovely christmas indeed! Some DC time and some Richmond time... traditions continue... traditions begin... and wonderful news is shared!!! We all feel very blessed for time together and being able to provide one another with some beautiful and thoughtful gifts. I have to say, receiving gifts is so much fun, but I LOVE GIVING the perfect gift!!!!

Vijay is thrilled about his ipad...

Mom is thrilled about her lovely new Lilly clothes...

John is excited for some baking goodies from the Loveless cafe..

Carmen loves her christmas platter and first Lilly Murfee scarf...

Camille loves her Wii...

Sam is excited for gift cards...

Boat Shoes loves his photo book of Lilly and Murphy...

I love my new fabulous fancy camera, my adorable Longchamp bag, fabulous Tiffany's bow neclace, Poppy Coach perfume, smoothie blender, lilly magnets, True Prep book... ok so I really loved all of my gifts... but one of the greatest blessings of all...
is that on June 14, I will be Aunt B or Aunt Flip Flops and Derek will be Uncle Boat Shoes! Boat Shoes little sister Camille and Sam are expecting a bouncing little bean!

Christmas WISHES!

 

a wish for a lovely evening with two very special, dear friends to celebrate the season! Wish granted!

a wish or a Lillly Pulitzer stocking.... a combination of Me and Kate...I found that scarf... and Kate TRANSFORMED it into a Lilly masterpiece!!! Wish granted!

and a wish for a splendiferous christmas for the strongest lady we know who has to celebrate christmas in the hospital, but will smile and make the most of it. We heart you Jen!



OH! and I have been WISHING for a pandora bracelet... and now I am officially part of the club! What a thoughtful, beautiful and timeless gift. I LOVE IT!!!!

Merry Christmas PARTY!

 

 

Christmas Parties are my favorite... but I have never hosted one... until this year!!! It was a first, and it was a success! We had a wonderful time celebrating this happy time of year with dear friends. I did have the moment of, Oh gosh, what if noone comes? But that quickly went away as fun guests with treats began arriving!

We had desserts in one room... with a cookie decorating station, choclate nut cracker cookies and CUPCAKES! Dont you love that cupcake stand? a wonderful gift from brother flip flops! I made Oprah's favorite Peppermint cupcakes with buttercream peppermint icing! YUM! (the only set back to the evening came at about 6 pm, Kate and I were getting everything together when I noticed LIlly and Murphy were nowhere to be found... we found them EATING chocolate cupcakes... SO... after a quick call to the emergency vet and lots of advice... we watched them and they were fine! whew!)

For the savory section I served spinach artichoke dip, buffalo chicken dip, black bean brackett dip, hummus and veggies and of course some wonderful Trader Joes apps!

it was a lovely party if I do say so myself!

MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS SPARKLE!

merry christmas! New York Rewind (and a little bit of Phill!)

 

 

 

 

What a lovely trip to New York!!!! We adventured to the city for The Rockette's Christmas Spectacular... and it was just that!

A very cold day (see the collage with the sock purchase... quite a sight!) but we enjoeyed every minute. New York is a special place this time of year... Tiffany's (and a blue box with a red bow!)... store fronts...a yummy lunch at PJ Clarke's...and of course Radio City Music Hall!

It was SPECTACULAR!


Philly was a fun day too... Rittenhouse Square... Walnut street shopping and a lovely lunch at Reading Terminal Market! fun fun fun!

what is your ministry?

What is your ministry to others? How do you serve?

I think it is the perfect time of year to ponder this question. The season of GIVING. The season of SHARING. The season of HELPING others.

What is it that you do, or can do for that matter, each and every day to "minister" to others?

"Minister." The word can have many meanings. Some may think that the word has to be religiously tied, others may not. Do you care for others? Help others either directly or indirectly? How do you make an impact and what will you do to make an impact? Do you minister to strangers, friends, family members, or people that you have grown close to that were once strangers?


All questions to ponder, and then give thanks when you are told by someone who was once a stranger, "you have found your ministry."

happy birthday little one.

happy birthday to you sweet elizabeth grace!!!

a few things that you should know dear little one on your BIRTHday!

first, what a wonderful blessing you are. to your mom... your dad... your precious grandparents... and all those that love you. you are already touching lives and you just came into this world.

you have two very special parents. i will never forget meeting your sweet mom. pink and pearls... we were destined to be best buddies from the beginning... and now for you... pearls, bows, pink & green! Its dress up time!

you and I are going to be buddies lil EG! I chatted with you when you were just a tiny little peanut...and was already thinking how I cant wait to hold you, read stories to you, sing to you and giggle with you and your sweet mom. girl time will be the best!

One day when we take family vacations together... we will all go on bike rides... to the salty dog cafe in hilton head... all around naples... on the carousel in chattanooga... oh the adventures we will have!

But for now little EGS...you rest well in your mom & dad's arms. Let Ace give you big kisses when you get home and know that we can't wait to meet you!!!!

A big congratulations to my dear Angel and Todd... we are so happy for yall!

OH!

one more thing...

one of the happiest days of December... receiving your shipment of Christmas cards in the mail! It happened for boat shoes and I today... and we love them! Christmas cards are one of the happiest decisions of the season...and receiving them is just as fun!

Oh what fun!

...it is to spend time with fam...ily...hey!


mom and vijay are headed this way for a New York City adventure.... to see the Rockette's! For as many Christmases as I can remember, my mom has watched and listened to the Rockette's Christmas spectacular show throughout the holiday season. I can picture the VHS tape, with the tattered label and the crisp red writing across the front. Now, we will see it in person... and we can't wait!

We are all excited for this adventure for a lovely lunch, some time in Rockefeller center and the Rockette's show! We will also have some time here in Philadelphia for some holiday frolicking! As I research fun ideas, I will keep you posted!

Also, on the horizon... boat shoes and I are having a festive fancy Christmas get together next weekend... Oh what fun...it will be!!!!

my life is a sitcom.

I boarded the train as always this morning. I finished putting on my makeup (yes, I am that girl, but I enjoy an extra 5 minutes of sleep!) and then it was time for my good morning song. I plug in my earphones, get itunes situated and press play. I lean back to chill and jam to my good morning song as always. But today was different. I think, "hmmm my song is not loud enough today" so I turn up the volume. A few seconds later I think, "hmm still not loud enough for my morning jam session." And then I realized my life is a sitcom.

the song is BLARING, yes playing very loudly for the ENTIRE train to hear. I am officially "that girl" and then I can't figure out how to get the darn thing to stop. awesome. to make the story more classic.. guess what my good morning song was! Not some classy sophisticated song for a main line lady on the train in adorable shoes.... nope... but it was a fabulous song... Ordinary girl by Miley Cyrus. Have you heard it? If not, you should try it. It will have you bopping and singing along in no time.

Boat shoes finds it interesting to have a good morning song, but as a train rider for almost 4 years, I have had many good morning songs. (just to name a few..in no particular order)

What a beautiful day Chris Cagle
Its a Great Day to be Alive Tim McGraw
Perfect Day Hoku
Breathe Michelle Branch
Ordinary Miracle Sarah McLachlan
Alone Heart
Chicken Fried Zac Brown Band
A Thousand Miles Vanessa Carlton
Settlin' Sugarland
Lip Gloss Lil Mama
Red Dirt Road Brooks and Dunn
Wonderful tonight Hullabahoos
Copperline James Taylor


So.. whats your good morning song?

and the thankfulness continues!

 

thankful for the lilly sale and dear friends to share the pink and green excitement!

 

thankful for my dear friend running shoes, or kate! we are so proud of her qualifying for the boston marathon! way to go!

 

thankful for Noble, home safe and sound after 11 traveling months of service to 11 different countries!

 

thankful for ThanksMas with the flip flop family and the boat shoes family! we celebrated thanksgiving in DC with both of our familes and then had an early christmas with the flip flop family in Richmond as brother flip flop and his wife will be spending christmas in knoxville, TN.



We are thankful!

thankful.

today is a day to be thankful. happy thanksgiving!

boat shoes and i are thankful for so many wonderful blessings in our lives...


B - Boat shoes mom and dad hosting thanksgiving for
both of our families

L - Laughter, and lots of it

E - ELF, seen it on Broadway and watched the movie
this evening

S - Singing loud for all to hear

S - Santa clause is coming to town!

I - I can't believe I missed the first Philadelphia
snow fall. I love snow.

N - Nothing tops time with loved ones.

G - Got cute puppies? We do!

S - slippers. i love slippers, tory burch
slippers to be exact.

the waiting game...

1 hour and 19 minutes 'till ticket time!!!!


while we wait:

we eat great snacks
we visit with friends
we hold precious newborn babies
we laugh
we play games
and we think of all of the wonderful things we will find tomorrow... and the great gifts we will give!!!

Lilly Warehouse Sale update

our bags are packed.. we are ready to go!

It is now 12:05.

We have been in line since 9:30 this morning and are around number 28, 29 and 30 if I had to guess! The line is quiet this year, with many people reading rather than playing games and chatting. We changed that when we arrived! Chatting, laughing and having fun snacks!!!

The signs say that tickets will be given out between 6 and 8 this evening... we have some more friends joining later this afternoon but for now Sam, Rebecca (fellow lilly lover from charlotte!) are enjoying chilling and relaxing in our beach chairs waiting for some lilly sale fun!

picture this...

happy halloween!

 

happy 28 bday! complete with a lovely dinner out with my fabulous husband boat shoes, a trip to new york city to see ELF on broadway and drinks with two of my favorite people, miss fresh basil and mr fresh basil! what a happy way to celebrate!

 

happy new pup to my dear friend sam! maggie has such a happy and wonderful home now :) *maggie is a great dane rescue that sam and joe saved!

 

happy first 5k to boat shoes! Way to go! So proud! We had a wonderful time running for a great cause, Alex's Lemonade Stand!

 

Tomorrow

Is one of the greatest days of the year!!!

Lilly pulitzer warehouse ticket day! Two fellow Lilly lovers and I will be up and in line by 9 am tomorrow!!!

Will post updates!

Simple joys.

Pictures are coming soon but this weekend we experienced quite a few simple joys...

-holding a newborn baby for hours
-watching a big brother tickle "his babys" toes
-running a race for a great cause
-Boat shoes running across the finish line at his first 5k
-a 2 year olds laughter, a 5 year olds sense of humor and an 8 year olds pride for a job well done at soccer practice
-Starbucks on a chilly evening
-hooded sweatshirts
-signing up for a cycling race for a very dear friend... One whose strength is truly inspiring.. Having hope & faith.








What simple joys have you experienced lately?

Coming soon!

Updates about...

Halloween (lobsters and bees oh my!), bday fun, new York adventure and great Christmas ideas!

To start you off check out uncommongoods.com. Such a great spot for that unique gift you have been searching for!


Lilly Pulitzer warehouse sale countdown... 6 days till ticket day and 7 days till the best shopping day of the entire year!!!!

happy birthday!

a very special birthday calls for a special celebration!!!

what a joy to plan, surprise and celebrate parents for their special birthdays! they provide excitement, celebration and parties for us for so many years... what a joy to then celebrate with and for them!

A night out at The Capital Grille in DC was the perfect way to celebrate Carmen's birthday!

The invitations were sent, the preparations were made.... the birthday girl opened her new lovely coach purse for a night out!

The flowers were beautiful, the favors from Sweet Stuff in Ardmore were adorable, the guest book was ready and her dearest friends were arriving...

 

 

 

 

....all for a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY and a lovely dinner to celebrate Carmen! (complete with a chocolate martini WITH a candle on top!)

and a wonderful date night...

 

out on the beach and then out on the town!

puerto rico.

 

Relaxation at its finest...

 

Time to meet Abuela!!!!

 

where's bbl?!?!

 

While boat shoes works...

3 very simple words. 3 very simple pleasures in life.

Waves.

Wine.

Blogs.

flip flops... boat shoes... where have you been?

Well let me update you!!!


we have been... enjoying fall... finding the perfect pumpkins.. discovering a wonderful new fresh market...and celebrating Boat Shoes promotion at work!!!! (and finding a fabulous little mexican spot where they make fresh guacamole at your table!)...

 

going to a super fun block party complete with a chili cookoff... mummy wrapping competition... puppies... kiddos... and dear friends... (note murphy trying to escape his time with other pups to be with people)

 

and now... we are enjoying beautiful sunny PUERTO RICO! Boat Shoes is here for work and I tagged along for a little fun in the sun! Yes.. that is a trawberry daquiri IN a pineapple. I love this place!

 

off ot the beach.. catch ya later!

a chocolate brown marley.

we just witnessed a real life chocolate brown marley & me.

I have a soft spot in my heart for older dogs. very old dogs make me sad... I know what it means when a dog is "too old" and it breaks my heart.

dogs are family members. they are loved like family members and love in the most unconditional way. they listen to anything and everything, wipe tears with their fluffy ears and always know when something is wrong... or something is wonderful. they just know.



we walked into the vet for lilly bean's annual exam and updated vaccines to see the most beautiful old, chocolate lab with a gray hair all around her nose and eyes. a sweet gentle face. old eyes. and two humans, tearful, who clearly love her with their whole hearts.

the vet was running a little behind so the dear gentleman at the front desk addressed them both by name and offered them to take some time outside together. they walked thankfully out the door, embraced and helped their 4 legged friend walk to a grassy patch.

then they cried.

and then I cried, in the vet, holding lilly with boat shoes by my side.
heartache for two complete strangers.

In the past 24 hours I have learned...

That lots of rain, 3 children and 2 dogs makes for an exciting evening of splashing in puddles, giggles of delight and fun.

I learned that puppies love licking wet hands!
Puppies also love pepperidge farm goldfish.

I have also learned how to use a wet dry vacuum, that bounty really is the quicker picker upper ... A new 12 pack weighs about 80 pounds when soaked. I have learned that my new Uggs really were worth every penny, and basements that are flooded are not a great thing to wake up to.

And today I am thankful that boat shoes and I are a great team!

always the little sister

 

 

 

 

once the little sister... always the little sister!


this weekend was an ADVENTURE! My big brother Bentley and his wife Jessica traveled from Knoxville TN... in their car... to come and visit!!!! Bella, The wonder dog, as my brother calls her, joined as well!

the puppies all loved meeting each other~ as you can tell Bella is approximately 15 times Lilly's size. Quite funny when Lilly set her mind on a specific toy! Murphy learned to play at the park with no leash... and all of the puppies tried out the slide with Bentleys guidance! As you can tell, the park was full of laughter!

We did some adventuring in the city and in the burbs... teaching Bentley and Jess about city life was quite fun. Quite different than Knoxvegas :) We enjoyed some wonderful restaurants while they were here... two of our favorite BYOB's Thai Pepper and Cafe San Pietro. Thai Pepper is unique as it serves both Thai and Sushi... we all had wonderful food and sat in the traditional table on the floor. Boat Shoes and I adore Cafe San Pietro, we love taking special people there... and we never order off the menu. They have fabulous specials so we never order the same meal and wait with excitement for the chef's ideas of the day. B and J enjoyed this spot!

What better way to explore Philly than by a 5K for a great cause? We ran the 5K Parkway Run which allowed for some great sites along the way... including the Rocky steps that B and J ran twice! Following the 5K we enjoyed a great brungh with family and friends at Marathon. J and I both indulged~ her with Ricotta and blueberry stuffed french toast and I with dark chocolate chip pancakes... mmmm. We decided to continue our active day by adventuring to a climbing gym that my brothers buddy built! I love trying to be like big brother flip flops... hahahha! Quite humorous... watching them move across the wall like spiderman... and I bopped up for a quick photo shoot!

weekends with family are the best!


oh and by the way... MY BROTHER... YES... MY BIG BROTHER came to the LILLY STORE with me! and Jessica and I LOVED perusing lululemon.