Coast Preppy Polo Giveaway!

Riddle me this: Can a preppy girl have too many polos?

Me thinks not.

I'm an avid collector of them and I don't discriminate. I love them all. From the alligators to the lobsters to the cute blue whales.

But I've got a new one for you- Coast's crab! :) It's my new favorite!

I was introduced to Coast apparel when a rep for the company contacted me about doing a giveaway on my blog. I am one lucky gal, cause they sent me all kinds of goodies! The newest upscale clothing line, Coast is all about comfortable living without sacrificing style.

Best known for their popular Winyah polo shirts, they also make men's button up shirts, fleece outerwear, pants, visors, tees, koozies, croakies, pretty much everything you need for a preppy wardrobe.

 

Their motto is "Where taking it easy is serious business". Sounds like a lifestyle I can get behind! ;)

And you can be one lucky gal, too! Coast sent me a men's polo shirt, koozie and stickers to giveaway to one of my readers! Yay for easy peasy holiday shopping- these are fabulous gifts to give daddy, hubby or your boyfriend! If you win, you will receive this fun package: one Men's Winyah polo shirt, a koozie and some adorable Coast stickers. ;)

To enter:

1. Leave a comment (include your email address if you do not have a blog)

2. Post this on your blog, Facebook or Twitter (include the link)

3. Become a follower of my blog (scout's honor system)

That's it! Remember, separate comments for each entry! The contest will end next Friday the 17th at midnight. Winner will be announced that weekend.

Pssst, even if you don't win or enter, you can still get 25% off everything in their online store. Use code GRAFCOW. Expires 12/31/10 And, all their women's polos are on sale right now, too. Bonus! Seriously. Go check them out. http://www.coastapparel.com/

Good luck!

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

Swoon, I'm in Love.

Swoon, I'm in Love. KJP, you've stolen my heart!

More to come Monday!

Yay!

Want a preppy Burberry Headband?

Want an uber cute and chic Burberry headband?

Yeah, me too!!!

Want to pay $95 for it?

Yeah, me neither.

I'm SO loving this headband that mimics the infamous Burberry Nova Check. And I'm OH SO loving the price. Ummmm, $14.95. I'll take one, thank you very much! Throw in a 10% coupon code, and I may be sweet and get one for my preppy sissy, too! {{ prep10 }}

The good folks at American Chic were so kind and they sent me one to review. It's been a rotating staple in my wardrobe ever since. I love it! The quality is divine and it fits like a glove. And no one knows I spent under $15 for it! I love when I look good. And I love when it fits my budget. :)

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

An Outdoorsy Prep?

Is there such a thing?

Click on here for details on a couple of things I'd pack on a camping trip or just to hang out and play tennis or golf.

As I twittered a couple days back, I'm struggling between my love for camping, kayaking, hiking, and grosgrain, monograms and Lilly! What is a girl to do?!

Am I the only one stuck in between the great outdoors and the great J.Crew, and Ralph Lauren? What do you think?

Happy camper ready for the next adventure!
xoxo Y

PS- I'll have a Churchill update tomorrow. I spoke with the great people at the San Antonio Animal Services and got some good news and bad news. :( Please continuing keeping our sweet boy in your prayers.

Preppy Blog Club Mondays: Being Mrs. Cullins

Welcome back to Preppy Blog Club Mondays! As you can see, Kappa Prep and I changed it to Mondays for a little bit because of some scheduling issues. If we change it back to Fridays, we'll be sure to let you know!

This week, Ms. Hopsy has chosen an absolute FAB prep! Her name is Lindsey and she is just as cute as button! And I'm not biased because she lives in my hometown, promise! ;) This lady just embodies the preppy spirit and attitude.

Ladies, may I introduce Ms. Cullins...

1. How did you come up with your blog name?

My blog actually started as a way for friends and family to stay updated on our wedding planning progress, therefore I chose, "Our Baylor Wedding" for the title. (We were married on Baylor campus atthe Armstrong Browning Library). Once we were married the blog name had to change to reflect the new challenges and excitements of being a newlywed. I went to New York with Kent's family about two weeks afterthe wedding, and while sitting in Mary Poppins on Broadway listening to "Being Mrs. Banks," I thought: Perfect! And "Being Mrs. Cullins" was created.

2. What preppy item could you not live without aka the one thing you would take with you to a deserted preppy island?

The wooden duck sitting on our coffee table, gifted down two generations now. Maybe it could be my "Wilson" on my deserted island, though obviously his name would be "Drake."

3. Who is your preppy icon?

I would have to say Grace Kelly. She was always so poised, with theperfect proportion of modesty and style. She's someone that any generation could turn to for inspiration, and she looked absolutely fabulous in To Catch a Thief!

4. Where do you find your daily blog inspiration?

I write about things that I experience, see, or read about in my daily life. When I learn something new, whether it's cooking, cleaning, decorating, fashion, or spiritually related that I believe could be valuable or helpful to someone else, I post about it. My mother made being a mom and a wife look so easy, but there are tricks of the trade she learned along the way. These posts are essentially the notes from my journey. Some will be more personal in nature, while others will seek a more general audience.

5. What is your favorite preppy photo of yourself?

6. If you could have one celeb's wardrobe including shoes and bags,whose would you get?

Could I just have Betty Draper's stylist, please. I'm obsessed withthe clothes from Mad Men, so tasteful and preppy...If I had to pick a real person, I would say Angelina Jolie (Mr. & Mrs. Smith era and beyond) She had a deal with St. John, which should be reason enough, but those emerald earrings would be awesome for Baylor games!

7. What clubs, societies, or volunteer organizations are you involved in? Were you in a sorority in college?

Kappa Kappa Gamma! I just moved to Dallas with my husband. We've only been married a little over three months now, and I officially walked the stage in August, so I'm just now getting aquainted with everything. I registered with the Dallas alumni chapter yesterday, and I hope to get involved with the Dallas junior league. While in college, I was a Panhellenic chair for Kappa and a Supreme Court Justice for the Baylor Student Government.

8. What were your plans for the weekend?

Friday night Kent and I stayed at home and watched Lawrence of Arabia. I made us a loaf of Pecan Praline Apple Bread. If you don't have thel atest Southern Living check my blog; I'll post the recipe. Saturday was a Baylor football day in Waco! Sic 'Em Bears!!!

9. Describe your perfect preppy outfit. Don't forget to include accesories.

Preppy wardrobe Fall edition: nude leather quilted Burberry headband, pearl studs and necklace, silk ivory ruffle blouse from Ralph Lauren, brown wool plaid Brooks Brothers trousers possibly with a Carmel colored cardigan and Salvatore Ferragamo suede signiture flats. Or you can substitute the cardigan for a sweater tied around your neck. Add the LV bag the mister gave me for a wedding gift and the pearl Yurman bangle from our first Christmas and I'm ready to go!

10. What designer do you think embodies classic American prep and why?

Definitely Brooks Brothers. It fills all the requirements: tweed, argyle, herringbone, plaid, houndstooth, seersucker, blazers, shiftdresses, GTH pants, oxfords, polos, cuff links, scarfs, and etiquetbooks. It also has a rich preppy history; I learned this summer that Brooks Brothers invented the seersucker suit. It's a classic brand that sticks to it's traditional roots. It never flirts with the trendy like Ralph Lauren and J.Crew sometimes do, but remains a staple for the preppy and conservative at heart. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Preppy Blog Club Fridays!

It's here! It's here! Preppy Blog Club Fridays are here!

Hopsy and I have been scheming together for the past month for ideas on how we could make PBCFs a success, and we decided the best way to do this is to choose one preppy blogger to highlight for that week. We'd send several questions ahead of time to 'interview' them and they would send their answers back. We'd get a better view of the people we read about, as well as some fun tips and facts about the preppy lifestyle.

I cannot wait for this Friday! We will be choosing our first Preppy Blogger tonight and will have it all up this week. :)

Some extra info:

• Click here to read more about PBCF.
  
• To be considered for Preppy Blogger, you must have your preppy badge on your blog. This is the easiest way to identify those who wish to participate. If we don't see it, we'll assume you don't want to be asked.
  
• If you are asked to be featured, you will receive a special button highlighting that you were a featured preppy blogger. Please do not steal these from another's blog.

Pink is My Favorite Crayon

From wikipedia, my fave!

• In Western culture, the practice of assigning pink to an individual gender began in the 1920s. From then until the 1940s, pink was considered appropriate for boys because being related to red it was the more masculine and decided color, while blue was considered appropriate for girls because it was the more delicate and dainty color, or related to the Virgin Mary. Since the 1940s, the societal norm apparently inverted so that pink became appropriate for girls and blue appropriate for boys, a practice that has continued into the 21st century.
• The is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Pink was chosen partially because it is so strongly associated with femininity.
• Most flamingo species are pink in color due to pink pigments in their diet.
• A pink lady is an alcoholic beverage made with gin and grenadine syrup and may include other ingredients. A pink squirrel is made of white creme de cacao, creme de noyaux and cream.
• Pink Gin is a cocktail made by rinsing a glass with bitters and filling with gin
• It has been asserted that people with pink auras are those who strongly desire relationships
• In the 17th century, the word pink was also used to describe a greenish or yellowish color.

Who knew? I could spend hours on that website!

Happy nights to you all! Smooch!

xoxo Y

PS: Bonus points to those who know what song my title came from!

Fore!: Ame & Lulu Golf Belt Giveaway!

Thanks for being patient while I got my blog legs back. While it wasn't the commenters that got me upset, it was the whole situation. If I lose readers over my true opinions and feelings, then that's their prerogative. Believe me, I don't lose any sleep.

It's what the situation was about that upset me. Thank you to all those sweet girls who emailed me, showing me their support or to check in to see how I was doing. I really appreciate and thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. After spending a few good quality days with my boys, both 4 legged and 2 legged, I got around to feeling much better. :) And this good mood (fueled by a couple of mango'ritas- yes, they are as delicious as they sound) led me to make a foursome date this weekend with Southern Hubby and two of our good friends.

The Southern Housewife does not know how to play golf. The Southern Housewife has taken many lessons and tried to play golf. But the Southern Housewife is going to make quiet a fool of herself this weekend.

At least I will look super cute while playing! Here is the outfit I intend to wear. (please excuse the wrinklies!) Lilly white polo, J.Crew cardigan with my last initial embroidered on the chest, pink Vineyard Vines pants and an Ame & Lulu golf belt) And even though my fave preppy color combo is pink and navy, I can't resist a good pink and green anything! To me, they are both classic.

I think what really makes this outfit stand out is my super cute Ame & Lulu golf belt. The cardigan brings out the green in the belt and the belt ties the whole outfit together, don't you think? And the little tee holders are just too perfect- you can't beat a short cut!

After perusing this store, I just fell in love! I love playing tennis and I've just got to get my hands on their whole tennis line! It is to die for! Of course I'm partial to the resort tennis bag for obvious reasons, but the whole line is just adorable. Every color combo is perfect! And the kicker? They can monogram pretty much anything!!! Now, that is the cherry on any preppy's pie!

And just because Ame & Lulu are fabulous with a capital F, they have decided to have a giveaway! The winner gets their own super cute golf belt to take to the golf course this summer. Even if you lose, you're still the best dressed! You can't go wrong!

Oh, and did I mention they also carry accessories for yoga!? They have everything for any activity a girl could want to participate in! Genius, I tell ya!

Rules to Enter:

1. Go visit Amy & Lulu. Tell me what your favorite color combo is! (counts at one entry)

2. For two entries, twitter a link to this giveaway. Don't forget to write another comment showing me your twitter name with the link!

3. For three entries, blog about it. Comment with the link to your blog. Again, please enter a whole new comment with this link.

*This makes it MUCH easier for me to count all the entries and make sure I have everything fair. If you don't do this, I'm afraid I can't include your extra entries. :( So, make sure you enter a separate comment for each entry.

That's it! Oh, and the contest ends next Wednesday, August 26th at 11:59pm Central standard time. Good luck!

Happy tee time and good luck!

xoxo Y

Monograms: Yours, Mine, Ours?

Being a Southern girl, I have an admitted penchant for monograms. Whenever I can, I like to emblazon my letters on my possessions. It doesn't matter what it is. If there's room, I can make it work.

However, I often wonder if there are unspoken rules concerning monograms. For example, how much is too much? A monogrammed headband, necklace, polo shirt and flip-flops...going too far? Does is scream, "Look at my initials! See how cute they are together?" Generally speaking, I like to limit my monograms to appear on just a couple select pieces, with one being descreet, like a signet ring. Personally, I do not like to call attention to myself or my attire. You do not want to be the loudest, most extravagant, most branded, most colorful, most anything in your group.

Another rule that isn't often discussed is one that I am particularly picky about. It concerns wearing a monogram/brand name that is not your own. Sweet readers, it is not my intention to make anyone feel badly, as this rule is not often followed, but I simply cannot wear someone else's initials. I just can't do it. I know that there are millions that adore Louis Vuitton and Gucci, but my name starts with a J, not an L or a G, I won't be putting those letters on anything of mine. My sweet and generous husband gave me a gorgeous Gucci bag for Christmas several years ago. I love it and use it often because it was a lovely gift. But I would have never purchased it on my own. This is why I don't own one of those "big C" Coach bags, but have a collection Kate Spades, who often embosses her name on the leather making it difficult to find. I much prefer a simple bag, in a single color, in a classic silhouette. I am not trying to impress anybody with brands and an array of letters all over my clothes. And besides, someone with good taste will always be able to spot another person with good taste. And for the record, good taste does not always equal 'most expensive.'

Classic. Simple. Me.

Loud. Obnoxious. Orange. Not me.

Timeless. Elegant. *swoon* Hermes. Grace Kelly. (who sadly is not me)

Tacky. Obvious. Definitely not me.

You will also never see me in shirt with the word, "GAP" slapped across my chest. You can go through my closet and not see one "Abercrombie," or "Polo," or "Tommy." And please do not even get me started on those Armani Exchange t-shirts. A/X?! No thanks.

However you will see the little horse and man, some whales, crocodiles, and a few scattered palm trees. (Whenever I can get around to reading my embroidery machine instructions, I will be purchasing the non-tagged J.Crew polos and embroider my monogram in place of an icon.) I try my best to be discreet about the brand I am wearing, therefore making it much easier to pair beautiful linen J.Crew summer slacks with a fitted boatneck shirt from Target. It is much more budget friendly to mix and match quality pieces with inexpensive ones. But always make sure that your more quality items are what the outfit is built around. Make that piece the highlight.

Hmmm... no, not so much.

I just spent the better part of two hours looking through my collection of etiquette and manners books to find the source of this rule. I know it is out there but I just cannot find it. If anyone has an idea, please let me know as it is driving me crazy.

What is your opinion on this? Where do you draw the line on monograms? I know I am probably in the minority on this one, but the only name brand I want to market is my own. ;)

Happy weekend! We are halfway finished with summer, Texas! Yay!
xoxo Y

Another Preppy Giveaway!!

The Southern's Silhouettes

Any girl from the south has probably seen a vintage silhouette of an ancestor hanging in their grandparents house. If not, she probably had one commissioned especially for her wedding invitations or personal stationary. Since I changed my blog header to show my love of silhouettes, I thought I'd touch on them a bit more and show you ours. :)

Although this fine art started in France back in the late 1750s, it took America by storm, serving as the best way to capture someone's likeness. Before photography was invented, having a person's silhouette was the most affordable way of recording one's features.

After photography, talented silhouette artists were forced to take their trade on the circus and carnival rode. Sadly the art was lost for a very long time. But fortunately a resurgence of traditional silhouette art has been coming back for quite some time. I've always loved the nostalgia and formality of well done silhouettes. To see them hanging, preferably two and facing each other always makes me wonder about the lives of those frozen in time.

In late 2006, I commissioned artist Karl Johnson to make our silhouette. What he sent back was nothing short of perfection. Considered one of America's finest artists in this field, he's had his work featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style, O Magazine, Traditional Home, and list goes on. I went back to check out his web page and saw that even though almost 4 years has passed he has not changed his prices! I was astonished because they are very affordable. As sought after as he is, I was surprised. But very happy because I want to get Matty and Jack's profile made as well. Wouldn't that just be darling to have all 4 of us framed on a wall? Currently ours is on a side table in the downstairs living room.

I also want him to do one of just me, so that I can have it made into personalized stationary. How cute would that be?! I've seen on Etsy that you can get some digitally made and printed. guess I'm a purist- there's something about knowing that a skillful artist made this- without tracing, without lines drawn. Amazing. Do any of you other gals have silhouettes? Any from the 1800's? I'd love to see them!

Oh, and I also wanted to let those girls that were having problems downloading my cleaning schedule that I'll try to work on figuring out a universal way for you all to view it. Mailing it out individually can be very time consuming, and I think the problem lies in the fact that I'm using the most updated Microsoft Office version. I'll see if I can format it back to an older version.

Happy rainy Tuesday y'all!

xoxo Y

Preppy Button Love

Have you noticed my new button on the sidebar? I finally got around to designing one and that inspired me to start a new feature on my blog. I'll be joined in hosting with one of my favorite preps, Hopsy!

Each week, we'll both feature a fab preppy blogger. It will sort of be like we're introducing you to a friend that you might not have known about otherwise. :) Social networking for the preppy blog crowd, lol. And we'll give that girl her very own button to show she was featured. That's about all we've figured out so far. We still need to decide on a name. Any suggestions? We'll be starting in late August (busy summer schedules, you know?)

I'm really excited about this, y'all! Don't forget to snag a member button. By doing so, you'll put yourself in group to get chosen from. It's our way of seeing who we can choose from and your way of giving us permission to feature your blog and use your pictures and/or quotes.

And thanks to those who entered the Vineyard Vines giveaway yesterday. If you haven't, head on over there and enter. It ends on the 29th.

Happy "My very first Kindle arrives today!" Day to me!
xoxo Y

UPDATE: Click here to get simple instructions on how to add a button to your blog.

Giveaway!! Oh, Vineyard Vines, how I love thee!

Can I just tell you how awesome the guys at Vineyard Vines are?!

They sent me a super cute koozie (in the patch design that I love) and a pink whale sticker. :) Haven't decided where I'm going to put it...on my clipboard that I put my daily to do list every morning so I can see it daily, on the back of the Land Rover *it's dark navy blue so it totally matches!*, or on the ceiling above my bed so that it can grant me a preppy dream each night. ;) Hmmmm....decisions, decisions.

Oh, and they also gave me another set so I can giveaway to one of my lucky preppy readers! Yay!! Here's the 411 on the giveaway:



To enter: Leave a comment telling us what your favorite VV piece of clothing- it can either be something you own or something you are drooling over. My current covets are that super cute white polo dress, the whale bermudas and the patchwork shorts. I mean, come on- so precious!

Contest Ends: July 27th at 11:59pm Central Time

And I'll be having another awesome preppy giveaway in the upcoming weeks. That is how much I Y my readers! And for those that were asking, I'm working on getting up my daily schedule for y'all to download. Oh, and you'll get a chance to download my actual handwriting and doodle fonts. It's so weird seeing being typed on the computer but it's really fun. :)

Just think of how cute and chic you're going to look at all the summer BBQs with your VV koozie and hand! Good luck y'all!

Happy Giveaway Day!

xoxo Y

Update: So I just finished ordering too much stuff from VV- they are having a 40% off sale, so you can't beat it. Especially when you find a coupon code for an extra 20% off! Yikes- coupon overload! INSTYLE09. Have fun shopping!

Q & A Part 2: Tassels, Moms and Paint Colors

Thanks for coming back! Here are the last few questions. I left out those that had already been answered previously, so check back in the archives if your question wasn't answered. :)

Did you relationship with your mom change after you got married?

The majority of my relationship changes occurred when I went off to college. Before I did, my mother and I butted heads all the time. Our relationship was very tumultuous. We were the same, her and I- stubborn, spoiled, opinionated, did I mention stubborn?

Since I left the house, I think we've both mellowed out. Meeting Southern Hubby has had such an amazing impact on my personality. Marrying him made me put someone else first for once. When I became a wife, I got involved in my Catholic church and once again became interested in my faith and strengthening my relationship with God. My mother has used this time to age wisely- realizing that the little things that tended mess up her day weren't that big of a deal. We both used to be pretty high strung (okay, I still struggle with this) but my mother has really become a more calm and relaxed person.

That being said, we don't fight as much anymore. I see all the stuff she did for me and see that it was for my own good, not because she wanted to ruin my life. I guess you could say I grew up a bit. I definitely wish she we were closer, wish she cried when she saw me in my wedding dress for the first time, wish she came over more often, wish she wanted to go shopping, or to lunch. But I don't think that's the type of relationship we have, for whatever reason. All I can do is pray about it- leave it in God's hands. It is this way for a reason and I don't know what that reason is yet.

I could go into it further, but I'd have to make an emergency appointment with my shrink for Monday. ;)

You poor dear, another household management question! ;) I was wondering what program you used to create your daily schedule- Excel, Word, or something else?

Oh, Lulu! I used Microsoft Word to create my schedule. You can find a picture of it here. But for some reason I wasn't able to get it onto Adobe so that other people can download it. Does anyone have an idea on how to do this? I'd send you a thousand air kisses! I probably should put out another one, as I've changed it up a bit here and there.

I want the sweater you have in the picture with your friends! It's absolutely darling! And your headband matches so well! Where did you get it?

Thanks so much! I love that sweater, too. Both are actually from J.Crew. But they were purchased a couple of years ago. :( I love fashion, but don't like to buy things that are trendy. My style is more preppy classic so that I am able to wear them season after season. And I don't mind spending a little bit more if it's made well because I know it will last a lot longer.

I don't have a blog account but I wanted to know where you get your tassels from. Did you ever get that one you showed us a couple months ago? I really like the way they look.

I make no attempt at hiding my tassel obsession. To date, I have one on every lamp on my downstairs floor. Yes, this is a bit much but I did use the word obsession, didn't I?

My latest tassel gems came from this wonderful Etsy shop! Her name is Megan and her shop is Megitys. I love love love her tassels. You can tell they are made with the best materials and her talent is plainly obvious in the craftsmanship. We did a little trade, some necklaces for some tassels and it was the best decision. And I just headed over there the other day for little looksie and she's having a sale! :) Shop away!

Happy Saturday, y'all! Go pick some flowers and put them in your hair. :)

xoxo Y

Giveaway winners! And a Sweet Gesture.

I was so overwhelmed by all of the entries and ideas to fall asleep. Please know that this sleep-deprived girl will be trying each and every one of them!

I do know that when I pray while laying down, I drift off to sleep quickly. So, it was funny to see that so many others have that same little trick! But once I get that "why can't I fall asleep!?" thought in my head, it becomes twice as hard. All that pressure plus quick glances at the clock makes it almost impossible.

And here are the winners! :)

Commenters number 15 and 9...

Sara Beth from Southern Sister in a Western World

The Wife from The Wife: What Do I Do All Day?

Congrats gals! The only fair way I can think of this is the first to email me with their first choice gets it. :) Hopefully you each like different ones, lol! :) Please send me your address and I can get these out tomorrow!

And speaking of winners, guess who won the super awesome giveaway over at Molly Lou Gifts... ME! How shocked was I? I never win these things!

I got a ton of goodies, including this super cute note set. Y'all know I love me some stationary! And Molly Lou Gifts has a ton of it! I can't wait to get my swag!

Included will be my swap goodies cause the angels shined on me a little more and gave me Molly Lou as my swap partner for the Christmas in July swap! Eeek! I couldn't be happier!

Now all I need to do is figure out what to get the girl who has everything! lol! She's a preppy gals, just like myself. Any suggestions are more than welcome.

And I'll leave you with reason number 4,334,482 why I love my sweet Southern Hubby...

I just ordered a ton of these tiny muslin bags for my jewelry. If you haven't ordered from me before, this cute bag is what your necklace will come in. I had a custom stamp made so that I could put my logo on each bag. I got through about 50 of them one night. When I went upstairs the next morning to my craft room to start working, I saw that he had finished stamping the rest. And there were a couple hundred more. Is he a sweetie poo or what?! This one totally makes up for all the times he throws his socks on the floor when the hamper is 2 feet away. ;) Love you, SH! Girls, go do a sweet gesture for your hubbies today- he'll appreciate it more than you'll ever know!

Happy fresh start Mondays!

xoxo Y

Cotton Candy Shop Giveaway!

OK, I know I said I wouldn't be back until Monday, but when I have such a great giveaway for me readers, I knew I couldn't hold out for two more days. I'm so impatient!

Even though I'm not a mama, I can still recognize super cute baby clothes when I see them. And the Cotton Candy Shop, my friends, makes some of *the* cutest baby clothes around! Known for their ridiculously adorable tutus, they've recently expanded their line to include embroidered outfits, jumpers, jon jons (a southern tradition, y'all!) and they even have Halloween costumes. And Lauren, owner of the couture boutique, has graciously offered to give away one of her most popular sellers. She is definitely in the know of baby fashion, having dressed the likes of celeb blog star, Miss Harper!

Around the south, especially during these hot months, you'll find little girls of all ages running around in jumpers. They're comfy, cool and this one is just plain fabulous! Lovin' the bold colors and you know it would be just perfect for summer picnics!

Lauren didn't forget her boys either! If you win and have a boy, you'll just love what she has in store. This seersucker whale jon jon is classic Southern at it's finest! He'll be the cutest mini-prep on the playground.

To enter, make a visit to the Cotton Candy Shop and find your favorite outfit. Leave a comment tell me about it and who the Bubble Machine Jumper would be for if you won. Even us non-Mommy gals should enter- wouldn't this be a great and unique present for all these summer birthdays? That's what I love about buying handmade- you're not going to be giving the same Target outfit like everyone else. Now, I love me some Target, but I know what it's like to give something unoriginal- embarrassing!

The contest ends at midnight Central time on Tuesday. I'll announce a winner on Wednesday morning. Good luck!

UPDATE! : Because we have now put a jon jon into the mix, I'm extending the deadline giveaway to this Thursday! All entries must be in my 11:59pm Central time Thursday night with the winner announced on Friday morning. GL!

Happy browsing!

xoxo Y