My 2010 Wish List

With  anniversary, birthday, and Christmas around the corner, I decided to create a Polyvore of my Dream Wish List this year.  Who knows, maybe I will be surprised and get items from it!

Clockwise from top left:
- Apple iPad
- Tiffany open heart necklace
- "Amble" Uncommon premade case for Apple iPhone
- Apple 4G iPhone
- Nine West "Trinity" boots
- Coco Chanel Madmoiselle perfume
- Valentino Themes & Variations

Stylish Addition

Last year, I went through the exhausting but exhilarating process of redoing Lil. Miss Diva's bedroom.  She had just turned 10 years old that winter and we both knew it was time to transform it into a young lady's room.

{BEFORE}

I asked her what would she like her room to look like.  After giving it some thought she responded, "Mom, I want my room to have a mature, girly travel theme.  I'd like to visit beautiful far away places some day and I love girly accessories....so if there is a way to combine the two, I'd like that."

I let her pick out the color for her walls and we agreed on the complimentary colors for her bedding and window treatments and then I went to town.  I spent countless hours scouring online websites, visiting yard sales, little shops, super stores and chatting with online friends of mine for inspiration.  July 3rd, I got down to business.  Lil Miss remained downstairs during the whole process, since she wanted to be totally surprised for the reveal.  She was extremely excited with the end result.

{AFTER}

A year later, she is still in love with her room.  She gets many compliments from her friends when they come to visit.  My only desire was to find a lovely chair that would fit the young travel chic decor of her room.  Today, I went to drop off Lil Man at a play date and was chatting with the mom.  She was telling me how she obtained the beautiful furniture she had in her family room.  Out of the blue, she asked me if I would have any use for a white wing back chair. I looked at her and asked, "May I see it?"  She took me to her bedroom where, there in the middle of the room, stood the chair I had only dreamed of getting for her room.

The chair, although slightly smaller, is almost an exact replica of this one:

We plan to wash down the upholstery and place it beside her window.  What a perfect chair to sit and read a book while enjoying the brisk autumn breeze, or for a friend to sit on while visiting.

{Friday Five} Things I Am Loving Today

1} This J Crew dress featured on Katie Holmes with cast of The Romantics.

2} This lovely book jacket Jen, @ MadebyGirl, featured in this week's blog post by Etsy Shop, Neopolotian

3} Pocket Posh chic crossword puzzle book I treated myself to which is an incredibly girly and stylish addition to my purse.

4} Having carved out a block of time to sit and relax this afternoon and thoroughly enjoy Nina Garcia's Look Book. (I've read the first few pages and I am already in love with it!)

5} The grateful hug and thank you by Lil Miss when she saw her back to school ready and organized closet.

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Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

{I} Covet M.A.C. Leopard Luxe Collection

In particular, their lustre lipstick shade, The Prowl.

Great autumn shade!  I will be treating myself to this beauty this weekend!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile,
a kind word, a listening ear,

 an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, 

all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

– Leo Buscaglia

Feeling Under the Weather

I've been feeling a tad bit under the weather....I suffer from debilitating migraines.  I went to my physician today and hopefully the new medication she prescribed will have me feeling as good as new soon.  Till then, a photo by my favorite photographer, http://zhangjingna.com/.

Have a wonderful week.

{Sweet Deal} Anthropologie

Anthropologie Deletta sleeveless 100% cotton dress

Retail Price $138

My Price?  $29

Sweet Deal indeed!

{Friday Five} Beauty Care Products I Can't Live Without

{1} Water.  Hydrated skin is healthy skin.  I do my very best to drink the recommended 8 glasses a day.

{2} Baby Wipes.  Yes, you read that correctly, LOL. Way before MAC and L'Oreal & all the other makeup manufacturers started selling makeup removal wipes, I was a 14 year old participating in a pageant and taking a modeling classes.  What did the makeup instructor use to remove our makeup? You got it... Pampers baby wipes.  I get the Natural Care hypoallergenic ones.  I have always had clear skin, so instead of using products with chemicals that may end up irritating my skin, I make sure I use those formulated for sensitive skin and play it safe.

{3} Smith's Rosebud Salve. If you suffer from dry or chapped lips over the winter, this is most definitely the cure.  I tend to subconsciously lick my lips from time to time when I am engrossed in reading or writing. If I do it enough times, I end up with dry lips.  This little tin filled of magic always saves the day!  This salve even works great for dry skin.  It has had a cult following for over 100 years, it has to be amazing.

{4} Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.  It is mild and leaves your face feeling extra clean and refreshed.

{5} Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Facial Peel. I only use this once a month when I want to deep clean my face. It is extremely mild and leaves your face feeling silky soft.

{Rules to Live By}

Happy Thursday!

source

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

People, even more than things, have to be

restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,

and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

- Audrey Hepburn

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{Getting Ready for Fall}

The heat is back in the Northeast and I am so looking forward to the cool brisk weather to come in.  I am not much of a fan of temperatures over 70° F (21° C).  During the summer, when we get those unseasonably mild days, I can't help but get excited.  This can only mean that autumn is around the corner!

Lil' Miss Diva had quite the busy schedule this weekend which required her to be occupied from 10am-5pm dancing and singing to her hearts content in a town 40 minutes from home.  Mr. Man and I decided to make a day of it and spent the day doing what I do best.....shopping!  With the temperatures at a mild for August 80° F (26° C) with a beautiful ocean breeze, I was enthusiastically looking forward to adding a few new pieces to my Fall wardrobe.  Lucky for me, the often times restless men in my life were wonderful during this all day shopping expedition.   When i entered stores they had no interest in, they busied themselves by entering gaming stores or would sit at a bench and play hand-held video games.  Since we had the whole day, the boys didn't rush me which was pure heaven!  

Below are the items that made it into my wardrobe. None, of which, I paid full price for, I am happy to report.

Charlotte Russe button down camp shirt - regularly 14.99 on sale $8.99

Charlotte Russe Sequins Inside Pocket Tee- Regularly $14.00 On Sale $6.99

BOGO 50% off- Final Price $3.49

GAP Ribbed Military Cardigan - Regularly $69.50

40% card member One Day Only Sale- Final Price $41.70

GAP skinny studded belt- regularly 19.50, on sale $3.97

40% card member One Day Only Sale- Final Price $2.38

Forever 21 knit circle scarf- Regularly $7.80, On Sale $4.00

Grand total for my late summer shopping spree? $60.56

{A Girl Can Never Have Enough} Jewelry

No matter where I am going...whether it be a dinner gathering or out food shopping, a wedding or volunteering at school, there are two things I do not leave home without.  A little lipstick/lipgloss and jewelry.  My engagement ring and wedding band is a given.  But I always like to change up earrings, necklace, and bracelets to my mood.

I guess it is apparent to those individuals I associate with, because before school ended, Lil Miss' teacher approached me about hosting a Lia Sophia party.  To be honest, I had been invited to countless of these parties years ago.  My thoughts were always..."what if I don't like anything?  Then I will feel as though I am obligated to buy something in order to cooperate with the hostess."  Since most of these parties took place on a weekday early evening, and Mr. Man never gets home that early, I had an legitimate excuse to not attend.   Needless to say, I never knew what I was missing out on.  Until this past Christmas....

Lil Miss' teacher was very generous and gave me a present during the class Christmas party I assisted in organizing.  "You are so incredibly helpful and sweet, I wanted to get you a little something as a thank you for all that you do.  Do know also, your help is always much appreciated."  I thanked her profusely for the kind words and the gift.  She really didn't have to.  I was going to wait till Christmas morning to open her present, but Lil' Miss insisted I open it right away.  Inside, delicately displayed inside a cornflower blue box, was this beautiful necklace.

And on the last day of school, she again presented me with a Lia Sophia gift...a necklace with matching earrings. 

  The offer she had going for July made it too hard for me to pass up.  Buy one full price item, get TWO half off. Best thing about this, you choose which items you want to pay half price. The date was set and I invited my friends who I knew would be interested.  Unfortunately, July is a busy summer month and many people go away.  So instead of a home show, we decided I would host a catalog show.  I ended up selling over $500 in items.  I ended up getting close to $200  in free jewelry, and paid $60 for almost $300 worth of additional jewelry.  Heavenly!

A girl can never have enough jewelry!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

A sure way to lose happiness, I found, is to want it at the expense of everything else.

- Bette Davis

{I} Covet

Maiden Leather Bolero Jacket - French Connection

Nine West - Val Booties

Cause for Celebration

A little over a century ago today, a baby girl was born to a 16 year old girl in a small town outside of a major city.  She was the second daughter to this young mother and her military husband (who at the time of her birth was serving his country overseas).  When the baby girl was placed on her mother's chest, doctor's told the young woman that unfortunately her child was stillborn.  "That can't be", said the young woman.  The doctors, believing the young mother was in denial, continued working on the mom.  As she gazed at her baby girl, she stroked her back, and suddenly she felt a slight movement.  "Doctor!  Doctor! See? She's not stillborn! She was just sleeping soundly!" she said.  The doctor picked the baby up off the young mother's chest and slapped her bottom again.  Whereas the first time, no wail came out of the baby girl, the second time, the infant let out a big strong cry (or roar, as her astrological sign, the lion, would do).

Her upbringing wasn't easy.  She was provided the basics: food, clothes, shelter.  And seeing that the her mother loved laughter, she had plenty of that.  But as it is to be expected when you are raised by a young naive girl who quit school at 14 to marry a serviceman and quickly started having children (she would have 4 by the age of 19), obtaining an education and setting goals and chasing your dreams were not things this little girl was taught to do.  Once she became old enough, she was given chores upon chores and was told she was only allowed to go to school, hurry home, and stay inside.  As a teen, she would sit by the window and dream of what the world outside her window was like.  So it wasn't too surprising that at age 16 she would start carrying on a conversation with the neighbor's 25 year old son through the window.  He would soon court her and charm her mother into letting him date her.  By the following year, at the tender age of 17, she married him as a means of escaping the home she felt trapped in.

By her first wedding anniversary she was the mother of baby girl.  Three years later, she went on to have another child, a boy.  And if she thought she was trapped before, she quickly realized marrying as a means to get out was not the right decision.  She attempted to get help from her mother, but to no avail.  Her mother locked her door and told her to go back to her husband.  And she did just that....but this time the wheels were turning.  She took her GED exam since she was prohibited by her husband from completing the mere 4 months she had left to graduate. She enrolled in a vocational school, obtained a job, and bravely took her two children and walked away from an emotionally and mentally abusive, loveless marriage.  Shortly afterward, she met a man her age, a divorcee as well.  He would provide the love and support she knew was out there.  More importantly, he would become the father to her children she had always wanted.

That baby girl born over half a century ago, I am proud to call my Mother.She is living proof that the vicious cycle of repeating our parents mistakes can be broken, if you have the determination, drive, and will to succeed.  She went on to complete a Bachelors degree in psychology and early childhood education, the only person in her family to do this.  She made it a point to teach her children the importance and value of an education.  When she saw any of us hanging around the wrong people or teetering in the wrong direction, she made it a point to communicate to us what is wrong with this decision and more importantly, what are the consequences.  Growing up I may not have had all the material things my friends proudly boasted about.  What I did have in abundance was a mother who truly loved me and showed me the wonders the world has to offer to me.  She taught me the importance of dreaming and setting goals to work towards making those dreams a reality.  When my friends were saying that an athlete, singer, or movie star was their inspiration in life, I was never ashamed to say my mother was my role model.  Today, I am proud to call her one of my closest dearest friends.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

{Friday Five} Things I'd Like to Do This Weekend

1- Catch up on my beauty sleep.

2- Have Chicken Pad Thai for dinner.

3- Uninterrupted reading time.

4- Bake a batch of these delectable Baklava Muffins (found it here)

5- Spend some quality time as a family.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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Wednesday Words of Wisdom

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"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

-Marilyn Monroe