Confessions of a Straw Addict

Much like my addiction to the color pink, I have been greedily hoarding straws for a while now.

I love straws. The more colorful and funky, the better.

I need one with every single drink. Southern Hubby knows better than to bring me a glass of anything without first putting in one of my beloved straws. :) I even store a couple in my purse and use them when I go out to eat.

My addiction started several years ago. I had been happily buying the disposable plastic kind at the grocery store for a while when I began to start becoming more conscious of my carbon footprint. I searched for ways to recycle them to no avail. Then lo and behold, Sara and her pretty straws blogged their way into my life. The moment I saw hers, I knew I had to have them. They were cute and reusable. How perfect!

I searched high and low for pretty reusable straws and amassed quite the collection. :) The best places to find them are Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Amazon. Here are the newest additions to my little family, my stainless steel bent straws, a la Oprah Winfrey.

They're not expensive. They bring color and fun to my life. They can reduce the chance of teeth staining and/or cavaties. They are more eco-friendly than the disposable kind. And they make me happy. If those aren't good enough reasons for collecting and hoarding straws, then I don't know what is. ;)

Why I Love Aprons

I am a firm lover of aprons. I always wonder why they have been given such a bad rap. It isn't too often that I see women wearing aprons any more. The feminist movement declared them shackles to the home. I might be in the minority, but I love being 'shackled to my home.'

Because I have devoted my time and energy to my home, it is a place of love and refuge for us. And each day that I do the things that some women now consider drudgery, I'm wearing a beloved apron. The pockets hold mismatched socks and the mail. The bib keeps my clothes from getting soiled and wet. And when I tie on the strings, I'm reminded that this is exactly where I want to be.

Aprons are feminine and beautiful. To me, they are more than ties to home in terms of the cooking and cleaning. When I don my apron, I'm expressing my role as a female and where I stand in my marriage. I'm a wife and a homemaker. And that does not put me behind Southern Hubby. We both regard my job just as important as his.

I think they should be cherished, for they speak of our creativity and resourcefulness as women in today's demanding and often chaotic world. They remind us of simpler times gone by when being a homemaker and mother was an honorable job.

I'm thrilled to hear they are making a small comeback. Hopefully women will see them for what they truly are- a beautiful symbol of what it means to be a woman and the glorious work that God has entrusted us to do. 

My New Lovey

I've been wanting a bike for the longest time. I had been looking forever and couldn't decide so I put it on the back burner. Then Southern Hubby decided to surprise me a couple of weeks ago with this beauty. :) {For those that might ask, she's a Micargi Beach Cruiser Rover}

Isn't she precious?! I love her so!

He also got a cute wire basket that is perfect for holding things like a Blackberry, some ugly pink gloves, and a garage remote. :)

I'm wanting some other cool bike accessories.

I'm really digging this custom basket liner from Betty's Basket Liners. Can you imagine all the goodies I could put inside?

And I think I might want a plain bell like this so I can put a monogram sticker on it. Pretty clever, huh?

There are so many other things I want to do to 'me' up my bike... a new seat, some pretty handle bars, a cup holder (for the trips to Starbucks)...The world is my bike oyster!

The only thing missing is a cute name! I need suggestions... help!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Southern Hubby and I have plenty of bike riding to do. ;)

PS- Don't forget to check out my awesome giveaway! :) It ends on Monday.

What the Font?!

ee what happens when I have insomina?

I start looking at all kinds of things on my Blackberry and Twitter and just can't stop. Heaven help me if I venture over to Facebook.

Which leads me to the first edition of my {hopefully not re-occurring} Southern Insomniac's Find o' the Night! I found this sweet website while blog hopping. Scrolling through my tiny phone screen wasn't enough so I had to get out of my warm bed to see it up close!

nter graphic designer, Jessica Hische. Each day on her website, Daily Drop Cap, she gives us one super cool decorative initial capital to beautiful our blogs with. Ummm, love. her. seriously.

I think graphic designers and typographers are some of my creative heroes. And the ones that give away their stuff for free, well, I just want to marry them. {Ahem, Kevin and Amanda. love you, too.}

credit: Jessica Jones

o check her out and I promise you'll heart her just as much as I do! :) Hopefully it's a much more sane time of day that you're scrolling through her beautiful work. As for me, I'm gonna give the sleep thing another shot. Night!

PS- Don't forget to sign up for my latest giveaway! Enter here: Mend Mark of Love bracelet Giveaway.

 

Skoy and Me

For all my whining and pleading about recyling and being green, there was one nasty, un-green thing that Southern Hubby and myself were addicted to- paper towels.

Now, when I say addicted, I mean you'd have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands. We used them for everything...as napkins, to wipe up spills, to cover items in the microwave, to dry our hands, to wipe the counters with...you name it.

Enter this article that was passed along to me via Twitter: 10 Things to Try Really Hard Not to Buy Again. Lord have mercy, you could have speared my heart when I read just how bad paper towels were.

Fact: If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of 180-sheet virgin-fiber paper towels with 100% recycled paper towels, it could save: 1.4 million trees, 3.7 million cubic feet of landfill space, 526 million gallons of water, and prevent 89,400 pounds of pollution.


Fact: About 900,000,000 trees are required to feed America's paper consumption each year, according to the Clean Air Council.



Fact: With over 90% of US households taking advantage of the convenience of paper towels we produce over 3,000 tons of waste each day.

Is that enough to convinvce you? It was for us! Now, enter my new best friend- Skoy Cloths. I won't list all the reasons why these are a much better alternative to paper towels, but they're 100% biodegradable, are reuseable, and are highly absorbant. One Skoy cloth is equivalent to 15 paper towels in an average home.

Now, I won't lie, I still have a roll handy in case of pet accidents and the like, but we've drastically cut our use.

I keep mine right by the kitchen sink in a cute little basket. Unassuming and handy. :) And the good news is that since I've brought these into our home at the end of May, we've only gone through ONE roll of paper towels. Seriously.

Alright, enough of my whining and begging. Go buy some and save a tree. :)

xoxo

Kiel James Patrick Comes to Texas!

When God doles out looks, brains, creativity, style, and business sense all to one person it can seem quite unfair. That is, until you realize that person is not only incredibly gracious, but also kind and generous as well.

Meet Kiel James Patrick. Owner and designer of the wonderfully successful brand that shares his name. When I first talked to Kiel, he seemed like a seriously down to earth guy, humble, well mannered and funny. I knew I had to get a couple of questions in to get to know him a bit better. :) I think I'm going to give Baba Wawa a run for her money!

HSC: What inspires your accessories? Where do you get your inspiration from?
KJP: Since I was a kid my eyes were always drawn to unusual outfit combinations… plaids with stripes, polka dots and zig zags, bright silk icon ties & bowties. I would truly say my inspiration comes from high society folk who dare wear those outfits that turn your head and make you grin, yet inside you wonder if you could pull it off yourself.

www.kieljamespatrick.com

HSC: Who are your style/fashion icons?

KJP: You will never see me browsing through any type of fashion publication unless it is pre 1960. Our studio is a historical museum of the originators in effortless American elegance. Bobby, Jack & Jackie are 3 icons that I am constantly looking to for guidance. I truly believe that members of a lifestyle company need to literally be living the lifestyle in order to truly understand and represent the company image. We do this by building our company the old fashion way utilizing skilled workers in our area to make products that will make older generation say “they make ‘em like they used to”.

HSC: If were deserted on a desert island, what 3 things would you take with you?
KJP: A Genie, The Hatch from LOST & plenty of sunscreen.

HSC: You carry yourself like a southern gentleman- humble, generous and gracious. Are you sure you weren't born in the South?
KJP: Hmmmm… you haven’t heard my Boston accent yet have you? I was brought up in the Ocean State by a loving Irish Catholic couple Jim & Jayne. They always taught me that I wouldn’t stand out much in life if I was arrogant, greedy & ill-mannered ; ) I suppose I have a southern heart with a strong love for the New England shores.

How cute is he?! Love those answers! Ok, now on to the goodies!

When I got my KJP products in the mail, I was astonished at how much attention was paid to details in the packaging.

Everything was wrapped in a preppy fabric and came tied with white string, lending an air of nautical preppiness to it all. I'm a sucker for details.
But not only were the details in the packaging, they also extended to the products themselves. Each bracelet is backed by cute fabric and comes with the signature KJP button. And on top of that, you get to choose what color you want your button to be!! Fun!

We're living in a headband world and I'm a headband girl! This is going to be just perfect for my summer dresses! And because it's a neutral style, I'll be able to wear it with so many things. Loving this guy's style even more!

You guys are in on the beginnings of the new 'it' boy. Head over to his shop and get some goodies for yourself. I swear, they are going to be the things to wear when the warm weather gets here. :) And PS for all the single ladies out there...he sends a postcard of his cutie patootie face with each order! Now if that isn't motivation to place an order, then I don't know what is! :)

Many thanks to Mr. Patrick for giving me a chance to review some of his awesome products and get in some nosy questions. ;) I wore some stuff this weekend and got many compliments. Can't wait for summer now!

xoxo

A True Prep...

* ... will always choose a classic style over fad/trendy fashions.

*... will always treat everyone, from the Queen of England to the bus boy at restaurant with courtesy and respect.

* A true prep's wardrobe consists of some expensive clothing, but they've had it for the better part of a decade.

*... knows the importance of manners. And uses them!

* does not pop the collars of American Eagle/Abercrombie & Fitch polo shirts. A true prep abhors flaunting labels, choosing to maintain subtle fashion over gaudiness.

* prefers a well-built car, like a Volvo sedan over flashy vehicles. You will not see them driving a yellow Hummer or red Ferrari.

*...would rather spending the evening at home, hosting dinner and drinks with friends, than at a loud and smoky bar paying $12 for the latest mixed drink craze.

*...knows the concept of 'trying too hard,' and avoids it by being practical and sticking with the classics.

* is a classy individual. They know where to go, who to know and they seriously believe in class. They do the right things, whether it's holding the door for a lady, mixing a Gin and Tonic with the right proportions, or double-spacing after every period when drafting an essay. Being a prep is not a trend, it is a way of life.

Now, I want to hear your thoughts! Fill in the blank, sweet readers! A True Prep ______.

xoxo

Drooling over Farmhouse Styles

As most of you have seen, my home is filled with dark woods, wrought iron, reds, tans, browns, etc. People have described it as 'old world', but my younger sisters describe it as 'old lady'. (At 19 and 21, they can't appreciate the fine art of a nicely placed wrought iron piece.)

But lately, I've been day dreaming about slowly changing my home to give off a more farmhouse feel. Do I know how I'm going to do it? No. But I can't help but drool over these inspiration pictures.

Even Pottery Barn has jumped on the farmhouse style bandwagon. Those quilts and that white, shabby table keep me up at nights.

Look at these wood ceiling beams! And the hardwood plank floor boards!

Oh, plank wood floors...why do you tempt me so?

I told Southern Hubby one of my non-negotiables in our next home is a kitchen sink that is in front of a window. I'm a big fan of natural light.

Kill me now, this kitchen is gawgeous!!!

Loving the iron bedframe!

Alright, alright. I'm done envying and wanting for now.

What home decor styles are YOU drawn to right now? Leave me a link so we can all take a peek!

xoxo

The Fabulous Thank You Note

I'd like to welcome my first guest post written by Nationally Renowned Etiquette Expert, Author, and Speaker, Joy Weaver. Today, she highlights the wonderful, yet ever elusive thank you note.

***************************************

The Fabulous Thank-You Note 

It is an honor to be a guest blogger for the very popular Her Southern Charm. So with out further adieu, let me say thank-you to her which goes hand in hand with our topic today: the power of a fabulous thank–you note.

Oh how I love to receive thank-you notes. I adore the words, the thoughtfulness, the look and the feel of the paper, and what I’m impressed with mostly is the timeliness of many “etiquetteistas” (cousin of the fashionista). To receive a thank-you note within three days is considered superior manners. And we all want to have Jackie O. manners - right!

If you subscribe to my tip of the week from my website (www.justaskjoy.com) you received this tip two weeks ago.


The Christmas gifts have all been unwrapped and hopefully your thank-you notes have already been sent to those who gave you a gift, or included you in a celebration in their home.


Remember: This is the perfect time to teach children to write thank-you notes.
If you are not current on your thank-you notes – it is never too late to send, maybe a little embarrassing, but never too late.


The use of the handwritten note is often overlooked in our fast-paced society. Thus, a note written promptly and sincerely is an important practice of etiquette that is more effective, and much more appreciated than an e-mail. Most of our snail-mail contains mostly junk mail and bills so something as special as handwritten notes are rare, which makes them much more meaningful to the recipient. The words and thoughts written shows the other person your sincerity, character and appreciation and many times the notes will be saved to share with others, and kept to read repeatedly.


Writing a thank-you note really can be your secret to success—the real difference maker. Let’s say, you ask someone for a donation to a charity – send a thank-you note immediately for their time and ... watch the money roll in!


Or perhaps you interviewed for a job - immediately send a thank-you note to each person who interviewed you. Most likely you will be the only candidate who sends a note, and should the decision be a close one between you and another person – guess who gets the job … You! Why? Because you took the time to take that extra step showing not only that you are polished, but that you really want the job, and most of all it shows your sincere gratefulness for the opportunity to interview for the position.


Reasons to write note cards are limitless. I always suggest keeping a box of embossed note cards on your desk with a roll of stamps near-by. Immediately send a quick note to thank the person who took you to lunch, bought you a gift, did a favor for you, or perhaps gave you words of encouragement. There are many reasons to send a note to others, and the only inappropriate note card is the card that is never sent!

How late is too late? The sooner the better! But, it is never too late to send a note of thanks. It is best to send it within the first week, preferable within 48 hours, it seems much more sincere when sent immediately.

How do I choose a note card? The 4 x 6 flat, heavy cards are called “correspondence cards” and are the best choice for all around note cards. A more feminine approach would be the “informals” also known as “fold-overs.”


What do I say? Start by using the person’s name and expressing appreciation for what they have done. Example:

Dear Jen,


Thank you for the delicious lunch today. How did you know that The Mediterranean Grill is one of my favorite places to dine. I truly enjoyed getting to know you and learning more about your family business.
I will not forget your kindness anytime soon nor will I forget the amazing dessert!


We must meet there again soon – my treat!

All my best,
Joy


If you are writing a note of thanks for a gift, mention how you will use the gift - "the photo album is the exactly what we needed for our family vacation photos.” If you are thanking someone for a thoughtful gesture say, “thank you for kind words ….” And mention how they impacted you.

Other tips: Only write on the front of the card, never finish your thoughts on the back. Write the date on the bottom left of the note card. (yes, you read that correctly – bottom left!)


Remember: Your stationery is a reflection of you! Keep in mind the impression you hope to make. If you are a professional executive, it is not appropriate to send pink polka-dotted cards to your clients. It is best to order solid color correspondence cards with your name or initials engraved or embossed on the front along with your return address on the envelope flap. Choose a font that is readable. The swirled scripted fonts can be difficult to read, try the blocked letters for a visible and clear print.

The thank-you note has helped numerous Presidents be elected over the years. The savvy candidates recognize the power of the thank-you note and carries a box of cards on the campaign trail. They write notes immediately following each event to the volunteers and hosts in each town and city. Many believe it is this personal touch of the notes that is so special and is what propels them into the White House.


We are beginning a New Year and this is a perfect time to incorporate new and fabulous habits into our personal and professional lives. The power of a sincere thank-you note could be the exact reason you keep an existing relationship, make a new one, receive a promotion or even get elected as President. It is up to you … why not order that box of note cards and starting writing fabulous thank-you notes now!
 

Joy Weaver is a nationally renowned etiquette expert, speaker, spokesperson, and author of “Just Ask Joy… How to Be Socially Savvy in All Situations”—a book highly endorsed by Jean and Zig Ziglar. Joy represents designer Joseph Ribkoff and is a regular guest on ABC’s Good Morning Texas. She is nationally published and has been featured on ABC’s The View, in the Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Southern Living Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and The Dallas Business Journal. Protocol Enterprises/Just Ask Joy is based in Dallas and has served clients across the country since 2000. You can learn more at www.justaskjoy.com or follow her at http://twitter.com/SociallySavvy or visit her blog at http://www.allthingsrefined.blogspot.com/

Sisters on the Fly

So, ever since we started researching travel trailers, I began Googling everything that had to do with trialers non-stop.

I came across a cute blog that was both about being a housewife and vintage trailers. I was thrilled! Who knew those things were ridiculously cute!?

Ok, so maybe they start as diamonds in the rough. But after a little bit of elbow grease and love, they can shine.

You cannot tell me that you are just drooling over a Cat's *pink* vintage trailer. (She's actually doing a series on vintage trailer owner blogs this week. Head on over there asap to see all the cute pictures!)

This adorable one belongs to Mary Jane over at the Beehive Cottage. Now you tell me the inside of this trailer doesn't make your heart go pitter patter! By the way, her name is Button Willow.

And there is much more adorableness to be found....

And maybe an odd character or two..

And if all this didn't overwhelm my cuteness tolerance level, I happened to stumble on the Sisters on the Fly website. These ladies, who like to call themselves 'glampers', not campers, know how to plan a trip in the wild!

In order to join this fun group of gals, you must own a small trailer (I do!), have a love of camping (me! me!), love to have fun (still me!) and love having girl time (I swear, this group was made for me!). And when you do join, you have the chance to earn merit badges. How cute is that? And they aren't your run of the mill Girl Scout badges- these badges are called Martini badges, Cowgirl Finishing School badges, River Rats with Cowgirl Hats badges, Cigar Aficionado badges.

Each 'sister' gets their own number (Mary Jane's is #595 and Cat's is #997) and must name her trailer and decorate it with some sort of cute, kitchy theme. Many gals stick with something I'd call 'cowgirl chic' but there are other themes out there.

I guess you could call it Girl Scouts for grown-up gals. :)

And I wanted in soooooo badly. So, I told Southern Hubby that after we get our trailer all squared away, I want to start looking for a vintage camper. I'd love to restore it and make it super cute. In fact, I already sent in my registration and yearly dues so I'll be getting my number just as soon as they send it to me! I'm so excited. :)

And yeah, maybe I'm jumping the gun. So I don't have a vintage trailer just yet. But I swear I'm getting one. (The Bee Hive will do for now since it does qualify as a small camper since it's under 30ft.) And I need some other gals to get one, too! I want to bring some preppy 'glampers' into the group! Think of all the fun we'd have on those all girl travel adventures! It would be a blast!! :)

Eeek! I can't wait to see what my number is!! Head on over to SOTF and let me know what you think and if you're as in love with them as I am!

Happy trails to you!

xoxo Y