Traveling

Oh traveling - sweet traveling. Anyone who knows me know I do a lot of traveling. My frequent flier miles have ballooned in light of this little wedding I am working on. But I can't really complain and as an accidental housewife my schedule has been thankfully open so that I can take care of things. But seriously I step on a plane about once every four weeks - and lately its even more frequently.

I have a love-hate relationship with traveling. I love going somewhere new, I love going to see my friends and family. I hate (dislike) the myriad of variables that can make your travel experience smooth as butter or a positively hellish. Admittedly, one of my biggest flaws is that I am a travel snob. What is a travel snob? I'll tell you ... A travel snob is the person in the security line screaming inside as the person in front of you forgets to take his shoes off, sets off the alarm with their belt then proceeds to hold up the line as they confiscate his jumbo size bottle of shampoo. A travel snob is tersely smiling at the two parents and their four children and the hullabaloo that ensues as they break down their multiple strollers and check their car seat on the jet bridge.

Some airports have accommodated us travel snobs with the "Expert Travelers" line which I interpret to mean those who have getting their lap top, shoes, and plastic bag of travel size toiletries into the bins down to a science. Other people, not as skilled in the art of the security line, interpret it to mean a shorter line and so despite the fact that they haven't traveled since the shoe-bomber fiasco, you are trying to mooch off those of us who have remembered that it is not ok to fly with our hunting knife in our carry-on. And this line was shorter until you brought your knee-high lace-up boots into the equation ... come on people, wear loafers!!

But in all honestly, despite being a travel snob there are a few tips to make your travel experience much easier.

1) Smile and be friendly. Screaming inside is fine as long as your not verbally abusing those who are trying to do the best, either in their professional roles like flight attendants or just as people dealing with the stress of traveling. Besides, grace under pressure is a true test of a southern lady - make it a challenge to see how calm and collected you can remain. (Though I understand it doesn't always work this way ... we all have our moments of shame a la Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents .. "You can't say bomb on an airplane!" "Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb!" )

2) Be assertive. There have been times when I have been too nice and too friendly and it has bitten me like a snake. Balance a good disposition with assertiveness. Example, when you're deplaning and the person in front of you is freaking out about making their connection which is in an hour when yours is in 15 minutes in another terminal you can politely turn around and say "I know what you mean, mine leaves from Terminal D and 15 minutes - I don't know how I am going to make it." (With a smile, of course.) This way they understand that when you finally get off you need to sprint without the jet bridge being blocked by the their questionable sized luggage.

3) Travel with the right accessories. To make it easier I travel carry-on 99% of the time. Voila my go-to suitcase.

Brics is my favorite travel brand. With this lovely by my side (and my Longchamp pliage obviously) I am always equipped for the "Expert Traveler" line.

4) Bring a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer and remember to hydrate! In between your in-flight cocktails make sure to drink lots of water. (As my doctor dad would say, "Keep those mucus membranes moist!") That plus hand sanitizing can help combat H1N1.

5) Look cute and be comfortable. I always travel with a pashmina in my Lonchamp. It is a wonderful and clean substitute for a blanket. Furthermore I generally wear close toed shoes (preferably slip on for the security line) because my toes get cold! And then I love to travel in dresses or something with a stretchy waistline (like a tunic with leggings, not pajama pants ....) Take a look at yesterdays airport look. My favorite TB flats - they're not clear like they look in this picture, but black and white. The dress is a 20$ Target steal and I loveee the zipper detail on the back.

All -in-all, we are lucky to live in a time where you can hop on an airplane and get to where ever we want for a reasonable fee and in a reasonable amount of time. Yesterday I was on the beach in Sarasota at 4:30 and I was on the plane to Atlanta by 6:15 - amazing. So when you're traveling be considerate, keep a good sense of style and above all else ....

Stay chic,

HSG

I am a terrible blogger - I have been extremely busy the past few days and have procrastinated to the max! But no fear, I am alive! I was only temporarily distracted by wedding planning. I came home to sweet Florida early Friday morning and hit the ground running meeting with my wedding planner within 30 minutes of stepping off the plane. (Shout out to Nicole Kaney at NK Productions in Sarasota, FL- she is wonderfully organized and has been a fabulous wedding planner.) This lunch meeting was followed by my 3rd trial run for my hair (I'm not a control freak, I swear ...) and I have more meetings lined up for the next few days. In the mean time I am working on my seating chart template - with a potential guest list just short of 300 that isn't something I want to leave to the last minute. Finally I have been inspecting the various shipments of wedding products that have come in and everything looked good until I got to the jars.

The jars are for our favors which I am going to tell you a little about. As I mentioned, our wedding has a vintage Florida feel to it - I am planning to post some of our "motifs" this week for you to see that include a great looking alligator and flamingo that we had as our stamps and that will also be making appearances on things like the menus and escort cards, etc ... For many of our guests, this will be a vacation of sorts to Florida and if you can imagine what a Florida vacation in the 50's and 60's would include (more elegance than tacky) then you can probably visualize a happy family bringing back a box of salt water taffy. So inkeeping with that idea, vacationing to a beach town, we are going to have salt water taffy as our favors. But the favors are really just a little token for our guests. Our main favor is a donation in honor of our wedding guests to the animal shelter in Dallas where we found Scout. Times are tough for shelters these days. But back to the taffy ... we are going to have a favor table with a bunch of apothecary jars clustered in the middle filled with taffy (this is really just decoration for the table) and then guests can take a jar like this one below pre-filled with taffy and attached with a vintage looking tag that details the donation to the shelter and a "thank you for coming" message.

I ordered hundreds of jars like this online and I must have misinterpreted the dimensions because the jars came to my mother's house and they are tiny. Tiny as in they could fit about one piece of taffy in them. So now I have to go through the hassle of sending them back and hoping I get my refund. I found bigger jars at Crate and Barell outlet in Dallas that are not much more expensive but still, it is always frustrating when you think something is going to work and BAM! you get a tiny jar.

Oh by the way, we are above a 90% acceptance rate so far so I have decided that I will just relax and smile at how all of these wonderful people want to share our wedding day with us ... how special!

Guilty Pleasure

This might come as a shock to some, but there was a day when my music of choice was primarily Punk Rock. I think we all get permission to have some ridiculous yet developmentally important phase in our life. An important part of being a teenager is self-discovery. Part of that is dressing in clothes your mother says are "too mature" or listening to music that shocks your father.

I had been a little prepster all my life. I wore uniforms up until 6th grade when we transitioned into a dress code. Always the lady, I opted for the uniform jumper instead of the shorts which were incredibly unflattering. My middle school fashion was primarily made up of sweater sets, polo shirt dresses and knee socks - the usual preppy suspects. I think I can attribute the moment I lost my style to 8th grade. My new boyfriend was quite the little punk. He was actually suspended a few times and finally expelled halfway through 8th grade after spray painting our school. I am sure my parents were completely terrified for me since this was my first boyfriend. The truth is that he had a great heart and was having a tough time in life- so he acted out. I know my parents saw this too which is the only reason they allowed this relationship. But I digress... I completely changed my style for him and started shopping at Pac Sun. My new ensembles usually consisted of Roxy, Independent and Vans. As a newly "punk" girlfriend I began listening to punk rock including Blink 182, New Found Glory, Yellowcard, Good Charlotte and Sum 41. Keep in mind I was still only in 8th grade - my parents, ever the safeguards of my innocence, required I get the bleeped out version.

My first punk rock concert was Blink 182 - my favorite. Since BF and I were in 9th grade at this point, our fathers came with us to the concert - tres cool. We took our seats and as Tom strung the first few notes on his guitar suddenly giant, flaming letters spelling out an explicative that rhymes with "duck" erupted and was the backdrop for the first set. At this moment our fathers said, "We'll be in the bar ..." Admittedly, even then I thought it was a tad crude and unnecessary. But I was at a punk rock concert with my cool, punk, bad boy BF!

For those of you concerned as to how I must've looked let me assure you, I was my own unique version of punk. My uniform for the Good Charlotte concert was this: Khaki Bermuda shorts, a hot pink Good Charlotte Tee that was kind of vintage looking, a matching pink grosgrain ribbon tied in my perky pony tail, and pink and white Vans. Looking back, I am positive I was the butt of many jokes. (i.e. I wasn't hardcore enough)

Eventually in 9th grade BF and I broke up because I had my eye on a certain older gentleman (gasp - a high school senior). I'll give you a hint as to who I am talking about - I am marrying him in a little over 6 weeks. The funny thing about this is that Mr. SG was also into "punk". The difference is he was not a bad boy - while previous BF was spray painting our school, Mr. SG was at a math competition. Over the last 7+ years of being together, Mr. SG and I have evolved our styles back to a more classic look. No more skater shoes and no more Pac Sun. By my senior year in HS I had fully progressed to Longchamp totes and Sperry's. Here is my senior prom picture. A classic David Meister dress in coral and my accessories were voluminous hair and a single strand of pearls.

The Vans may be gone but my love for Punk Rock has persisted which is why Mr. SG and I are going to the Blink 182, Fall Out Boy and All American Rejects concert tonight .... Woo Hoo!!! This is why the title is "Guilty Pleasure" ... for some its Britney, for some its Miley, for me is Britney, Miley and Punk!!

Rest assured chickadees - I will be Punk Chic tonight. I am wearing skinny jeans, a black crew neck tee, black flats and possibly a Northface for warmth since its getting kind of chilly. No doubt I will look out of place - that's growing up. At least I'll have the right punk by my side this time in an outfit that equally says "I am an old fuddy duddy."

Stay Chic,

HSG

Lilly Pulitzer Bridesmaids Luncheon

So thoughts on the Bridesmaids Luncheon differ. My grandmother was under the impression that someone hosted this luncheon for the Bride and her attendants and I have been to a few events where this is the case. But from what I have researched, it is more and more often hosted by the Bride as a means to thank her attendantsso that is exactly what I am doing! Since the wedding is Florida-centric, what better theme than Lilly Pulitzer?! I have definitely made this little soiree a labor of love- much of the decor is DIY. My grandmother is creating LP table runners from fabric purchased off of eBay and the list of fun Lilly touches goes on - I pinky swear there will be pictures and updates about the details in the future. Maybe we can do one day a week devoted to the luncheon?!

Today I want to fill you in on a new DIY idea I had! Sarasota, where I grew up, is a huge boating town. Take a look at this picture or lovely Sarasota below and you'll understand why.

Growing up we lived on the water and had a boat for as long as I can remember. So instead of a country club we were members of a Yacht Club. The Bridesmaids Luncheon is taking place at the club which by itself is "vintage Florida". The Field Club (pictured below) was originally built in 1927 as the winter home for Stanley and Sara Carrol Brown Field, of Chicago-based department store, Marshall Fields. This beautiful home was turned into The Field Club which is where I had many happy memories boating to meals with the family, playing tennis and spending nearly every Labor Day and Memorial Day playing in the Round Robbin Tennis Tournament followed by chocolate milk-shakes from the Galley.

The Field Club "Then".

The Field Club "Now".

One of my favorite memories of the Field Club was how in the various dining rooms, tables were reserved by burgees. For those of you who don't know what a burgee is, it is the unique flag that identifies a yacht or yacht club (pictured below). So the tables would have precious little miniature burgees denoting who was reserved to sit where. What a preppy sight it is to behold a room filled with nautical flags.

For the Bridesmaids Luncheon there are going to be three tables of ten or eleven ladies. I was planning on naming each table after a different preppy location (i.e. Palm Beach, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Hilton Head ...). This way as they pick up their escort cards it will say " Her Southern Grace - Nantucket". Now, instead of having a little picture frame containing the table name, I am going to make my own little flag (burgee) for each table marker out of Lilly fabric!!

Check out this banner from 42ndandorange.typepad.com. This flag shape should give you and idea and was in part the inspiration because I just looovveee banners and if I can figure out a way to incorporate them when I go home to lovely Sarasota this weekend I will!!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Wedding Fun

Mr. SG and I had a lovely, laid-back weekend. One of our fun errands, squeezed in between college football of course, was a trip to one of my favorite vintage stores, Gratitude. We were on a mission for a second vintage suitcase for our wedding. Since the soiree is going to be outdoors in November, we're guessing it'll get a little nippy as the sun sets. For those who have forgotten a wrap we plan to have pashminas. So we're stacking the suitcases on top of a side table with one of the suitcases open featuring the emergency wraps. Here is a test display of our idea.

The whole wedding has a vintage vibe - vintage Florida to be exact. I love old suitcases and wanted to find a way to incorporate them - this seems to work well! Another way that could work (maybe for a smaller wedding) would be to have a few different suitcases open around a table with the escort cards pinned in them! For those who are planning a wedding have fun with it - it is the unique touches that give a wedding character.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Churchill

I found this heartbreaking story on one of my favorite reads, HerSouthernCharm.blogspot.com. This precious dog, a 2-year-old English Bulldog was recently set on fire by a teenager. Subsequently his body is nearly 100% covered in burns. The Animal Care Services in San Antonio estimates it will cost $10,000 to bring this little guy back to health. Once he's healthy, Churchill will be put up for adoption! If you feel so compelled to help out a furry friend, this is a great opportunity. Every little bit counts so drink a latte or two less this week and send it in for Churchill. Send donations to:

"Churchill's Fund"Animal Care Services

4710 State Highway 151

San Antonio, Texas 78227

If you want to donate via Credit Card, head on over to HerSouthernCharm.blogspot.com and use her PayPal feature.

You can read the story here. What kills me is that in my opinion animal cruelty is not prosecuted as severely as I believe it should be. Since Churchill's attacker was a teenager, he might (as in possibly) be ordered to counseling. He might face jail time, though it is unlikely and he might be fined. This kid, for his own sake, needs counseling. It should be mandatory for anyone found guilty of animal cruelty. But there are some serious flaws in Texas - don't even get me started on the fact that Texas' scope of animal cruelty laws doesn't include circus animals, wild animals, or animals used in laboratories.

If you want to read up more on fighting animal cruelty, click here to go to the ASPCA website.

I will leave you with a beautiful Prayer for Dogs that I found in the comments on HSC's initial post. This prayer left me weeping - I told you I am a mess when it comes to animals!!

A DOG'S PRAYER

Treat me kindly, my beloved master,

for no heart in all the world is more

grateful for kindness than the loving

heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick,

for although I should lick your hand

between blows, your patience and

understanding will more quickly teach

me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is

world’s sweetest music, as you must know

by the fierce wagging of my tail when

your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me

inside, for I am now a domesticated animal,

no longer used to bitter elements.

And I ask no greater glory than the

privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Though had you no home,I would rather follow you

through ice and snow than rest upon the

softest pillow in the warmest home in the land,

for you are my god and I am your devoted worshipper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water,

for although I should not reproach you were it dry,

I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me

clean food so that I may stay well to romp and play

and do your bidding, to walk by your side,

and stand ready willing and able to protect you

with my life should your life be in danger.

And beloved master, should the Great Master

see fit to deprive me of my health or sight,

do not turn me away from you. Rather, hold me gently

in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful

boon of eternal rest...and I will leave you

knowing with the last breath I draw, my fate was ever

safest in your hands.

--- Beth Norman Harris ---

Stay Chic,

HSG

Dirty Dancing

I bet that most of you out there have seen (and loved) Dirty Dancing. It is a classic with almost a cultish following - complete with t-shirts and accessories available that say "Nobody puts Baby in the corner." There is something about the movie that is raw and sexy ... oh wait, it's Patrick Swayze.

Dirty Dancing and I go way back. When I was elementary school age, my parents had a collection of CD's that I would occasionally steal. My usual suspects were Nat King Cole, Phantom of the Opera and Dirty Dancing. To this day the DD soundtrack is one of my all-time favorites.

Well I loved this music so much that when the talent show at my new school rolled around in third grade I knew that my talent would be performing a routine to DD's "Time of my Life." Let me make this clear - I had never seen DD. My parents were verrryyy strict about movies so I don't think I actually saw the movie until high school. But that didn't stop my determination.

So as Mr. Boyd passed around the Talent Show forms, under the Talent section I confidently wrote "Dirty Dancing." Needless to say, the next day he called me over to his desk with a concerned look on his face, "Grace, I am going to need you to explain this because I can't exactly let someone who plans to do 'dirty dancing' on the stage." I started to tear up, completely not understanding this man's problem with DD. I blubbered that it was my favorite song and he finally understood I was talking about a song from the movie.

So a few weeks later I donned a leotard and danced on-stage in front of hundreds of people to "Time of my Life" by myself. Let me tell you a little bit more about this. I did not choreograph a dance or have some specific moves - no, I literally got up there and just danced for approximately 4 minutes.

In the wake of the death of a great man and actor perhaps we can honor him by putting on "Time of my Life" or "Love is Strange" and just dance. Dance like an 8-year-old being watched by hundreds of people at her new school - completely uninhibited and satisfied to be dancing to a really great song.

I couldn't get the You Tube video in here but try this link to go to one of my favorite scenes in the movie!

YouTube

Stay Chic,

HSG

The September Issue

Well I officially am marrying the most wonderful man around ... sorry ladies. I randomly insisted that I wanted to make tonight a date night and tack a movie on to an already planned dinner. So I chose the September Issue - the documentary featuring Anna Wintour and the planning/execution of the September issue of Vogue.

I love fashion and though I might rock the "Errand Chic" look in Nike "Tempo Tracks" ... I love love love fashion.

The pages of Vogue very much direct the looks of the interior design world. If the editorials feature equestrian style boots and Scottish heritage plaids you can feel confident that a similar vibe will make its way into Architectural Digest. So I feel that fashion design and interior design are inextricably linked! But we can all agree this isn't a "manly Movie" - whatever that means ... But as we left the Angelika Film Center he said "That was really good." So I guess it wasn't too tortuous. Though I have to confess, this particular cinema sells beer and wine for patrons so perhaps the invitation to bring in a glass of vino aided in his appreciation for the film. Upon exiting we were accosted with an invitation to a Private Movie Screening of an action film (apparently it is legit and has famous actors, etc ...) so I guess Karma decided that one film about fashion for dutiful fiances equals one free action movie.

So my chic readers I encourage you to see this film. It was funny, interesting, and eye candy. My favorite "character" was Grace Coddington. No, it wasn't because we share the same, fabulous name. It was because she was endearingly sarcastic and knew how to handle Anna (coincidentally my sisters name?) with "Grace". Her talent for styling and for producing engaging and intelligent story lines for Vogue took our breath away. I say "our" because Mr. SG would occasionally take a sharp inhale and say "Wow" to some of her shoots. They truly were art.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Classroom Chic

I have mentioned that this past summer I was a camp counselor at a local science camp which was a blast. The director of the camp is a teacher at a neighboring middle school. Until my substitute papers process she has been kind enough to let me sit in and observe her classes. Today was the first day I went in and it was amazing! Getting up earlier in the morning was easy-as-pie because the thought of where I was going was exciting - that's how camp was too! If getting up earlier than 7 a.m. is easy, I take it as a good sign. After observing her, I feel energized and a little more confident that I'll have some new tools in my chest when I step in the classroom in a matter of weeks! She is a great person to learn from and has such a wonderful, lighthearted demeanor that I can tell makes her a likable teacher.

The kids in the classroom seem great - very "with it" and overall good students. Aside from their scholastic talents I couldn't help but notice some great back to school accessories! The back pack du jour for the young ladies was a Vera Bradley like this:

I was happy to see some Sperry's - these were my favorites of the day.

Then I spied one of my favorite accessories - binders in these prints! Just this weekend I purchased the blue option to house my eight-weeks-till-wedding-day notes and information. This gal was rocking an eco-friendly and incredibly chic binder options for a middle school student. These binders and other desk accessories can be found at your local Target. The brand is called Greenroom and they have some other wonderful prints. The material is 100% recyclable, the ink is soy-based and the price tag is great at around 3$. Go get some before its too late!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Like much of this country, here in Dallas we have been drenched in rain for about 48 hours straight. I have been waffling between loving the cozy feeling that comes when I am snuggled up under the duvet while rain softly drops outside my window and loathing how I always seem to step off the curb into an enormous puddle that fills my top-siders. The animals seem to be perplexed by our Noah-esque rainfall and are constantly staring out our front door. But to be fair, this weather has given me an excuse to wear rain gear, which I have a soft-spot for so it all works out.

Today I went to the precious pink-themed birthday party of the baby (now a big girl) who I babysat for during college. The party was filled with teetering tots ranging from 4 months to about 5 years and then their parents. This celebration was like a fashion show of adorable children's clothes! Every corner I turned I was met by an adorable boy or girl in smocked dresses or embroidered overalls. Which reminds me ... any SMU alumni or grad students with little ones, head over to the SMU bookstore and scoop up one of these.
Note the SMU smocking ... I was dying and Mr. SG even said "Well maybe we can put it on Scout?" With a price tag of around 75$ the doggie option was a no-go but that shouldn't stop those of you with real children from purchasing this adorable ensemble. For those of another alma mater, I have heard etsy.com is a great place to have custom smocking done. This outfit also came in overalls and would be perfect for tailgating!!

But since chillins (the Southern pronunciation of children) are in the much distant future for Mr. SG and I, we are content with our babies. But lets not kid ourselves, cats and dogs are a handful. Take this weekend for example. Harper loves flowers ... she has a particular weakness for tulips, lilies and peonies - she has her mother's taste. Anyways, I dared to bring in some lilies and forgot to snip off the pollen. (IF you don't do this yet, heed my advice - snip off the pollen stems with scissors to avoid a finding a shower of the yellow stuff a day or two later.) While we were sleeping, someone had herself a little party in the dining room. I awoke to lilies strewn across our table - they had lost to their opponent. And it was very clear who had brought them to their knees ... see the evidence on her face below.




Since I was running out the door to make an early meeting, I quickly cleaned up the mess, attempted to wipe her face with a kitty bath-wipe and stored the remaining flowers in the guest bath. Somewhere along the way, Mr. SG opened the door and let Harper in. I asked him how it had not looked odd that a giant arrangement of lilies was in the guest bath? (It is usually a small arrangement in a julep cup.) No, he hadn't noticed anything odd ... so Harper is now covered in the pollen yet again. It does not come off and she now reminds us of David Bowie.


My soon-to-be mother-in-law was concerned that I had not already downloaded a list of flowers poisonous to cats and will be forwarding one my way. Any suggestions on how to remove the pollen off of her beautiful white fur are welcome.


Stay Chic,

HSG

We will always remember ...

If you're like most of us, you will never forget where you were standing on September 11, 2001. Though America has many days in its calendar filled with joy and success we also have our fair share of days we remember because they were marked by tragedy. For my parents it was the assassination of JFK here in Dallas. For my grandparents it was the attack on Pearl Harbor. For my generation it was 9/11. In the months following the hijackings and the senseless deaths of American civilians, our nation was brimming with brotherhood and patriotism. Sadly, the years to follow brought turmoil and discord as we engaged in a war controversial to some. I think we can all agree with politics aside, that the soldiers who are putting themselves at a daily risk, who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to fight the kind of terrorism we all remember watching as the towers crumbled, should be honored.

A few weeks ago, Mr. SG and I decided that to honor our men and women in the armed forces we would commit to sending monthly care packages. We couldn't think of a better day to start than today. We found a great organization called Any Soldier. http://www.anysoldier.com/ Any Soldier was started by a soldier who found inspiration from troops in his command that weren't receiving any letters or packages. Now, commanding officers can register troops that they have observed don't receive any mail. The thought of this of course tugged at my heart strings ... these soldiers, in all of their selflessness ask for so little - they deserve some deodorant and Easy Mac now-and-then. So we picked a group of soldiers living in a tent meant for 20 but actually housing 30, who are hopefully coming home in September 2010. Their requests were simple; a variety of body wash for the 3 men and 3 women registered and then feminine products and some pajama pants for the ladies. They mentioned some food would be nice but they'd appreciate anything. Well .... it being our first time and all we went a little overboard. Below are the pictures of our loot ....

Included in this collection is: Chapstick, sun block, body wash, foot powder, deodorants, lotion, baby wipes, face cleansing towels, pads, tampons, panty liners, aspirin, cushion sole inserts, pajama pants, pens, hot pink nail polish for the ladies, a pink brush/mirror combo, Easy Mac, granola bars, cereal, fruit roll ups, gold fish, power bars, peanut butter crackers, breakfast bars, Oreo's, magazines like Glamour and Men's Health and of course, candy corn since Halloween is coming up.

The website provided the ideas for the extraneous items. Most of them came from the 1$ toiletries section at Target. And like I said - this was overboard. Next month we're thinking doing a few bubble-wrap envelopes with just chap stick, sunscreen and baby wipes.

But think how fun this could be?! If you're a teacher or in an office you can make this a group thing. Someone is in charge of lotion, someone is in charge of batteries, etc ...

There is also http://www.treatanysoldier.com/ that creates and sends the packages for you. They are extremely well priced and it requires a few clicks of the mouse. Mr. SG and I see ourselves alternating between making our own and the pre-made boxes.

No matter your circumstance, you can at least take the time and postage to send a letter. Think about the kind of sacrifice these men and women make and write from the heart.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Back-to-School

As I pass through the aisles of my favorite super stores, it's hard to believe that those enormous tins filled with pencils, pens, spiral-bound note books and binders are no longer intended for me. After nearly 20 back-to-school seasons I felt incredibly left out this year! So what have I gone and done ..... I have become a substitute teacher at a school district here in Dallas! Yes dears, I had my official orientation today and it got me so excited but nervous as well. The expectations for substitutes are just as high as they are for the full time teachers. There should be a seamless transition between the full-time teacher's performance and yours as a sub. Mostly I am looking forward to stepping into the classroom and gaining some great experience so that perhaps I can become a full-time teacher and go back-to-school for the rest of my life! I realize that to some of you this sounds like living hades but I have always loved loved loved school.


Yesterday I mentioned to a longtime family friend that I was going to said orientation today and she exclaimed excitedly, "Oh good! You're not messing around with any of that 'waitressing stuff' - I'm so relieved!" I thought it was kind of funny. No - if there is one thing I won't mess around with its' being a waitress. I don't have a great deal of upper-body strength so its pretty much out of the question what with all that lifting of the trays.


I am incredibly thrilled with the opportunity to do something beyond making shopping lists and stocking our pantry each week. And since I have officially begun to talk to the pets like they are my children I figure its time to do something. I loooovveee kids - even the sassy ones. And Mr. SG's jokes about being an "Accidental Breadwinner" are getting old ... he is a clever one though. Today after the orientation I popped into a department store to try on some shoes I had been eyeing. (After all, as an official substitute teacher I need the proper foot attire.) The salesman greeted me and after I told him what I was looking for he started up an odd conversation that went something like this:


Him: " So, are you on your lunch break?"
Me: "No, no just out shopping for the afternoon."
Him: "No wonder you're smiling, you don't have to work for a living."
Me: (insert awkward laugh and an is-this-really-happening side-glance) "Yep, I guess ..."


I mean, it was a little out-of-bounds but he was probably having a rough day in the ladies shoe department. SO on that note, I am excited to substitute. I could potentially work every day if I want to or its flexible enough that I can really customize my schedule.


In anticipation of my new position I ordered some Target dresses that are great IRL! Back-to-school necessities of course ...

These dresses are perfect for the working girl. (Think Melanie Griffith and not a lady-of-the-night ...) The Geo Print tie dress below looks like a giraffe print which I love and is a great transition into fall. I actually wore it with red flats but I think brown would be super. (Hence my shopping trip.) And the blue dress is a great, bright fall color -very peacock -that can transition into cooler weather with some fabulous tights. (The J-Crew ones are my faves right now ...) I envision this dress with my nude flats and some pearls for a simple, classic look.

Lets face it, no matter what you do you want to look and feel your best. So throwing around $24.99 every now-and-then for some great office or classroom looks can be that confidence booster you need. Because standing up in front of 60 + eyeballs teaching chemistry can be scary. So can pitching a marketing strategy to your boss. Admittedly, "rush hour" at the grocery store can be scary too but the dress code is a little more casual at Tom Thumb. There is no denying the psychological benefits that come when you feel like you look great. (Are you reading this Accidental Breadwinner?) So go get em' girls and find a great, new look to do it in!!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Pets

Warning: This is a sad post about animals. If you're like me and specifically avoid Petsmart on adoption days so that you don't make a scene (since you become an emotional train wreck at the sight of homeless animals) then grab a box of tissues before reading this.

Yesterday my families beloved Doberman, Bella, was hit by a car. My mom just picked her up from the Emergency Vet where she spent the night and she is going to be okay despite head trauma, facial nerve damage and a hurt leg. My family is obsessed with animals and especially dogs. My first dog was named Tuesday. She was a collie mix that my parents found wandering the streets of Memphis before I was born and you guessed it, it was a Tuesday night. I will never forget the day Tuesday died ... I was around five and when my dad came home from the vet and told us I remember clutching to my mom's yellow nightgown and crying until my tears had made a little spot of her gown nearly transparent.

After Tuesday's passing, we got Atticus - our first doberman. My mom's favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird - thus Atticus (you'll see a trend shortly). Atticus, like his namesake, was quietly dignified. He loved his family. Every night as I feel asleep, I would hear him come up the stairs before he nudged open my door to peek in and make sure I was okay. He would do the same to my sister and then head down the front steps for bed. His domain was the family den which was carpeted. But after we got our second dog, a dapple dachshund named Boo (after Boo Radley, of course) we decided to replace the carpet that had become a favorite toilet for the puppy with wood laminate. Atticus was getting old and this laminate was just too slippery for him and after a particularly bad fall he somehow hurt his shoulders and suddenly couldn't walk. We rushed him to the emergency vet, one we had never used before, and they operated on him. My mom and sister headed to Greystone for a mother -daughter weekend camp while my dad and I stayed home. We checked on Atticus constantly and noticed he was not being cared for properly. Before we could do anything, the irresponsible emergency vet gave him too many pain pills and he had a heart attack. It still kills my mom and sister that they weren't there to say good bye and for me, the thought that he died alone on the concrete floor of his stall pains me greatly. They were criminals.

So Boo was all alone until we got Hattie (named after Hattie McDaniel who played Mammy in Gone With the Wind - my favorite movie/book at the time and one of my favorites still). Hattie is a dachshund who has since gone to live with my grandparents (after their beloved cat Coco died) but Hattie was my little dog even though she had been chosen for my sister. Then we got Bella. And Bella was the first to break the tradition of being named after literary characters. My sister insisted on the name and my parents obliged. I was none too thrilled that we bucked the trend. I remember picking Bella up from the breeder. She was the last of her litter to be adopted. She is a little crazy ... not as dignified as Atticus. As we drove home with her I held her in my lap and about 5 minutes into the ride she vomited Alpo all over me. I can't blame her since it was during my "Preppy Surfer" phase and my outfit was probably a bit sad. But at the time it was my favorite Roxy shirt. Bella grew on me and she became a wonderful sister to Boo and Hattie.

A few years ago, sweet Boo was also hit by a car. But unlike Bella, his time was up though he was so young. He is buried in our Rose garden alongside Atticus and Tuesday.

Let me use this as a venue for a public service announcement. SLOW DOWN!!! Both of these precious animals were hit because people were speeding and not paying attention. Don't just do it for the animals, what if it were a child for God's sake?!

Mr. SG's and my pets are both adopted. Harper (yes, after Harper Lee) and Scout (To Kill A Mockingbird - you got it). Harper was from a litter about to be taken to a shelter and Scout was about to be put down at the Irving Pound (it was literally the day of) and she was so sweet that they called a no-kill shelter here in Dallas to see if they had room for her. Luckily they did and just a week later she was adopted by us. But most of those dogs we saw in there had been there for at least a year. One had been there for twelve years - never adopted. And dogs like Scout, perfectly angelic and potty trained to boot, are killed every day. Though my family got their dogs from breeders (except Tuesday) Mr. SG and I will get our pets only from shelters and rescues. Don't be afraid of all the misconceptions you've heard. You can find perfectly wonderful dogs and cats (even puppies - even lab mixes!) at shelters and they need your support. Because precious dogs like Scout were wandering around the streets, avoiding speeding cars, and now need a home. If you can't adopt a pet but want to give back, find a shelter and donate time or money. If you can't donate money or time be sure there are many things you can do. Mr. SG and I are donating all of our old towels and sheets so that these wonderful animals have something soft to sleep on. Scout's shelter was Dog and Kitty City and they certainly need help. This economic climate has meant less donations for them, less adoptions and more animals being dropped off since people can't afford to keep their pets. They have less room and less money which means more animals like Scout are being killed every day.

Please Pray for Bella's speedy recovery and pray for all of those animals out there who have not and may never find their forever home. I'll leave you with some pictures of happy animals who have found their forever home. Below is Harper with her favorite toy - a lobster. And Scout snoozing on the couch.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Never again will I drive in New Jersey ...

Hello chickadees ... are we all rested (or more tired) after Labor Day weekend? Mr. SG and I had yet another out-of-town weekend while we traveled to New Jersey for NLB and TNB 's wedding. We got to see so many of our wonderful friends and it was sad to say goodbye. Like I mentioned on Friday, we stopped in Princeton, NJ to stay with SVB. Her new place is just adorable!! Her blend of DIY projects and Pottery Barn classics created a tailored and sweet look with the right amount of cozy thrown in there. On Saturday, SVB's brother, WCB and girlfriend TMS joined up with us. TMS and I hit the road to make it to the shore in time for the bridesmaids luncheon. In order to do this, I had to drive our incredible rental car (a 2010 mustang complete with leather interior) on the mean streets of Jersey ... absolutely insane. I may or may not be receiving a ticket for driving through a toll without paying (there were NO attendants and I only had bills!!) and it is safe to say that I need a massage after trying to figure out where we were! But we made it, arrived almost on-time and had a lovely brunch at the most beautiful restaurant, Avenue, which was in Pier Village. The bride, NLB, was rockin' some amazing shoes and was positively glowing! The luncheon was hosted by the groom's mother and grandmother and they were as gracious and as thoughtful as always. We returned to Princeton safely due to some great team work, and TMS and I were happy the boys were the ones driving to our hotel later that evening. The next day was wedding day and we ventured back to the shore to the very same restaurant for another delicious brunch. Here is Mr. SG and I (above) and WCB and TMS (below) posing on the boardwalk.

That evening we put on our finest and made our way to the ceremony and reception site - a beautiful river house that hosted views of happy seagulls, sea oats bending in the wind and of course a beautiful river. But none of that beauty could take away from the stunning bride, NLB. I think all of the guests would agree that the night was a wonderful success and the newlyweds are a great couple who deserves all the best life has to offer them. We were honored to be a part of their special day. The picturebelow is us on the left, TMS and WCB on the end and Mr. SG's best man (and the best man in this wedding since the groom was his brother!) JBB and his wife MHB who was a bridesmaid, in the middle.

On Monday, after dropping off WCB and TMS at the airport, we drove into NYC to walk around and grab a quick bite to eat before our plane took off later that evening. I swear to you, driving in NYC was easier than NJ. We found a free parking space in Tribeca easy-as-pie and had a wonderful Prosciutto i Parma pizza at Bread later that night. I was sad to see our sweet mustang go as we hopped onto the Air Train to head to our terminal, but I was also resolved that never again would I drive in NJ ... thank heavens for trains!

I hope you all had as wonderful of a weekend as we did.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Laundry

Laundry is a joy of life. But it becomes especially relevant when you're an AH. Our flight to New Jersey is later today so of course I am prepping our place to go out of town. For me, I like a house to be spotless when you come home from a trip. That means the beds are made, the pillows are fluffed, the surfaces wiped down and the laundry is finished. Side note, make sure you put all of your dirty dishes in the dishwasher before you leave OR have them all clean and put away. Why you ask? One time before Mr. SG and I lived together, we went out of town for a long weekend or something and that night when went back to his place to eat our take-out I went to the kitchen and screamed bloody murder! There were maggots crawling around the disposal where he had left some sort of food and dirty dishes. Tres disgusting. I obviously could not eat my fried rice after that sight.

So as I write this the last load of laundry is spinning away in the dryer. Ahhh close to the end! I remember the first time I washed someone's clothes for them. It was Mr. SG in fact. I was visiting him at his college in Pennsylvania and was left with nothing to do while he went to class. I decided that to fill my day I would clean up around his place. We can pretend that this was a nice, selfless thing to do but really ladies and gentlemen his apartment was revolting and I couldn't stand it anymore. The carpet was somewhat moist, the livingroom furniture had belonged to someone else ... in the 80's and Mr. SG's mattress was on the floor - close to the moist carpet, yes. To compound this horror of a place, it literally sloped down so that if you were walking to the kitchen you were going down hill but if you were going to his bedroom from the kitchen you had to put your hiking shoes on. This made baking some pre-tailgate brownies very difficult when it came to pouring the batter into the baking pan. (Which obviously I had to buy ... college boys with baking pans? Only at SMU ...)

So I walked down to the corner store to buy some all-purpose cleaner, which Mr. SG informed me later I shouldn't have done since someone had been shot at that exact location only a few weeks prior. (Great ...) So I cleaned and did laundry and Mr. SG was quite surprised when he came home. He was very appreciative but did have one thing to say - apparently I folded his shirts incorrectly. I didn't fold them the way his mother folds them. Though he is a southern boy he is not a mama's boy so this particular comparison I felt must be important if he was going to bring his mama into the mix. I filed it away for the next time - if there would ever be a next time. But alas every time one of his shirts made it into a load of my laundry I succumbed to my old ways of folding. Which for the record, his preference is the store way of folding and mine was the old fold-it-in-half down-the-middle way. In our original conversation he explained that the down-the-middle didn't work because it left a crease. Well excuse me! So cut to present day, I finally am able to fold all of our t-shirts 'correctly'. a few days ago I finally asked if he had noticed. Of course he hadn't but claimed he had ...

Well what have we learned from this?

• Don't walk to that corner store because you might get shot.
• Everyone has to have "that apartment" at some point in their lives. It helps you to appreciate the finer things later on.
• You might be an AH if you write a blog entry about laundry.

Until later ....

Stay Chic,

HSG

Weddings!

This evening I had a lovely dinner filled with pasta and prosecco at Highland Park staple, Patrizios, with my dahhhliing dinner companion, DBK. But after filling up on carbs and carbonation I had to go home to pack because ...

Mr. SG and I have a wedding to go to this weekend at the Jersey Shore! I am so excited! Since I love all things coastal and have never been to this particular coast, I am tingling with anticipation. Not only do we get to see a bunch of wonderful friends at this soiree but Mr. SG and I are making an overnight stop to Princeton, NJ to see my dear friend and MOH SVB. A Princeton Alum and all-around smartie pants, she has a wonderful job and subsequently her first place! This calls for a housewarming and hostess present! Double the pleasure!


Anyways, all great wedding weekends require a great wedding weekend wardrobe. Here is a sneak peek into my suitcase.

Its hard to tell but this dress is a delicious color navy - not the dark color it appears to be. Here are some close-ups of my fun XXI necklace and St. Vincents steal of a purse.

Then the ceremony is at 4:00 on Sunday so the reception attire is cocktail best. The dress below is a silky purple and Mr. SG picked out the necklace so how could I say no. The purse is a vintage 1980's model acquired from a local vintage store, Gratitude. Its a little bold so I might scale it back with a smaller silver clutch, depending how I feel. And then the shoes are fabulous - no denying it. Gotta love Nieman's Last Call!!

Weddings are a wonderful time to showcase your etiquette know-how. We are all allowed some misunderstandings ... no one is perfect and I mess up all-the-time. That being said, there are a few must-remember rules to follow when enjoying in some nuptial festivities:

Ladies, DON'T wear white. I don't care if it's cream, ivory, ivory with gold thread, cream with silver thread, etc ... if you are even slightly reminded of white then step away from the dress. If you're feeling the urge to wear white then ... get a grip!! You have 364 other days of the year to wear white except today. Deal with it and find something not white which shouldn't be hard to do.

DON'T be that person who brings a giant toaster to the reception. I am aware that in some cultures bringing gifts to the reception is tradition. But by and large in our modern world it is not a tradition and is in fact being lazy and cheap ... go to the post office and pay for postage. Better yet, order it online (most registries are set up for that) click a few buttons and voila - it is sent to the couples desired address (either the brides, the brides parents or the couples shared address). I am sure there are special circumstances - I don't doubt it. However, let's try and avoid this snafu. It is just plain inconvenient for the newlywed couple. When you bring it to the wedding you're essentially saying, "Here's your gift now have fun figuring out how to get a 27 lb mixer back to New Hampshire." or wherever the couple is from which is often not the location of the wedding.

DO think before you drink. A wedding is a joyous time. A time to celebrate. It is not a time to pass out on your duo plate of seared tenderloin and sea bass. Hydrate in between libations and be mindful of your intake.

DON'T make this about you. This weekend is all about the couple. It is not a time to share with everyone what your wedding is going to be like (p.s. you're not even engaged). It is amazing how many people have congratulated me on my engagement, checked out the bling and in the same sentence filled me in on what their dream ring/dream proposal/dream man is ... this is inappropriate. Maybe its just my selfishness - perhaps - and it doesn't bother me that much. But just picture yourself trying on dresses, you're finally engaged to a wonderful man and you've brought along a friend and she says, "Ohh I want to try on dresses too." If you can picture yourself saying that to your friend the bride then you also need to refocus and get a grip! I can only hope that on our big day we don't get "What a beautiful wedding, I love the hydrangeas, at my wedding I want peonies and tea roses in shades of peach ..." ridiculous. When or if these little moments happen I just breathe and move on because you cannot control other people. But "other people ", you can control yourself so DO IT! This day is not about you - it is about the bride and groom. Be gracious. Be engaged in the process. Show them that you care and you are happy to be there supporting them. Even if this is your 5th wedding weekend in a row. Stop whining, put a smile on your face and in your heart. Plus on the bright side it means you're popular ... or you just have a big family.

Finally, DO twist all the way down to the ground whenever "Shout" is played - even if it means ripping your gold brocade Chetta B dress right down the seam. Yes that happened to me. Shout out to the MHB and JBB wedding June 2007. Needless to say this weekend's dress is not pencil-like in nature and will be much more foriving when I get "A little bit softer now ..."

Stay Chic,

HSG

St. Bernard Sports

I don't think I have mentioned it but Mr. SG and I will be taking two honeymoons post nuptials. I know, it sounds so glamorous, but it was rooted in practicality. Our wedding is really close to Thanksgiving Week. Since we knew whatever my job situation I would automatically have Thursday and Friday off, we figured we could add a day or two to that and then he and I wouldn't have to be so concerned about finding two weeks to vacation. Then in the summer we are going to go to Greece. By then, he will have stashed enough vacation days and if I progress with teaching I should have it off! We talked about doing no honeymoon until Greece in June but I was adamant! You get married and so much is going on that week, you two need time to recoup, rejuvenate and enjoy being newly weds. Plus we would've had to fly to Florida for family time (which the flights were actually more expensive) and then once we found our amazing deal at the Ritz (pay for 3 nights get 2 nights free plus breakfast) we knew what we had to do!!

So we picked the Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch (at Beaver Creek basically) for our mini-honeymoon. It should be amazing. It is opening weekend of ski season - not too cold, not too warm and they practically guarantee good snow. We'll have Thanksgiving dinner at Spago (I die ...) and somewhere in there take a sleigh ride up to Beano's cabin for a delectable dinner. I have to thank SVB and her family for taking me here when I was 14. It was spring break and all of my other friends families would go to Vail, Beaver Creek, Jackson Hole, etc ... I was so jealous. I had only skied a few times and my family was never up for a spring break ski trip. This particular year they were going to Italy. They gave me the choice of going to Beaver Creek with SVB's family or Italy with them. I know it sounds crazy but I chose Beaver Creek. (Those who love Italy are gasping now I am sure ...) I told myself I may never get to go back to Beaver Creek but I would surely make my way to Italy. (Sounds illogical I am aware ... ) But would you believe I have since been to Italy three times and never once have I been back to Beaver Creek?! I was a wise 14-year-old and even then I could see the romance of this winter wonderland. So when Mr. SG and I were picking locations we figured Mexico would be easy enough since we are so close but then I had a brainstorm to go skiing and he jumped on it! So here we are, in need of a fresh winter wardrobe... and we're in luck because St. Bernard Sports is having an amazing sidewalk sale that ends on Labor Day.

I never mentioned that in effort to get back to our fighting weights, Mr. SG and I have been going to Weight Watchers for the past six weeks. So far I've shed 11 pounds and have still been eating pretty great food. (We love this program - it is always our go-to!) So as we were on our way to WW we were distracted by rows of ski apparel out on the parking lot. In a matter of minutes I found a Lilly Pulitzer tech vest in a great winter white for 75% off and a soft, grey Northface fleece for 50% off!

We are going back today to try on some pants and a jacket for Mr. SG. My trusty Obermeyer is somewhere in this house - but I need to make sure it still fits since I am a bit bustier than I was in my high school days.

But lets say you're not going skiing this season like we are - fear not, you can still take advantage of this sale! As we went inside to pay for our treats, I saw rack after rack of 50% off signs with Lilly and Vineyard Vines sundresses, shorts, skirts, shirts, you name it!! Mr. SG muttered an "Oh Jeez .." when he saw the glint in my eye.

So if you're in Dallas, whether you're going to Beaver Creek, Seaside of Mexico - you are sure to find good deals at St. Bernard Sports up until this Labor day!! Get over there!!

I know my fan base is small but I'd love to hear comments about your favorite romantic getaway ... where would you go - did you go - will you go on your honeymoon. Or where have you been that you want to take a special someone to? Post em' below!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Sisters

Recently my wonderful grandmother Mimi passed away after a horrible battle with vascular dementia. The last time I saw her I was up in Nashville for her birthday, just a few weeks before she passed, and even in her foggy state, laying in her bed at the nursing home, she was asking what she should wear to our wedding. She is missed every day. At her funeral, one of her sisters gave a eulogy centering around the notion of "sisters". It was beautiful. As I sat next to my own sister, AEW, I felt happy and sad at the same time. On the one hand, putting her eulogy in the context of sisters brought sadness to my heart at the thought of what pain it must be to lose a beloved sister. But on the other hand, it was a beautiful message filled with the encouragement to love and cherish the special bond with you sister.

When dear AEW was born, I turned to my mother in her hospital bed and said, "She is just what I wanted." Now I assure you, there are moments when what I wanted was some peace and quiet, but I urge all who have the distinct privilege of having a sister to nurture that relationship. It is a sacred bond that is like no other. For those who don't have a sister, think of that special friend with whom your relationship is so close it is like a surrogate sister. And if you think about it our society loves sisters. We have the Greek system that gave me hundreds of Kappa sisters. And then our Debutante Society called us Debs, "Deb sisters".

At home this weekend in sunny Florida, I was so proud to be a sister. My wonderful AEW was the epitome of class and elegance at her Debutante party. Though most of her Deb Sisters carried themselves well, there were a few questionable instances.

Here she is dressed as Ginger from Gilligan's island. My sweet Mother is Lavern. (Her sister was Shirley!) As I mentioned, the theme was TV Land.

This is me and my best friend, Deb Sister, and other MOH, SVB at our Debutante ball five years ago.

A great quote from Maya Angelou says;

"I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at."

This is so true. You must not take your sister for granted. Just because you're related doesn't mean you don't have to work on it. She might get on your nerves from time to time but she is a lifelong friend with whom the potential for love is indescribable. Love her, support her, laugh with her, cry with her and take joy in knowing you have been blessed with a sister.