Southern Grace

Modern Wedding Etiquette

2010-08-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

Last week my wedding planner extraordinaire asked me to guest blog on her new wedding etiquette blog. How could I say no? I love weddings. I loved my wedding. So click on this link to check out my entry on the modern wedding etiquette on family heirlooms and traditions. And if any one in the South Florida area is getting married or know someone who is, don't do it without Nicole Kaney by your side!

Brought back to reality, thanks to Kate Spade ...

2010-08-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

So the title might be a little confusing .. how does retail bring you back to reality? I mean, typically I turn to retail to escape reality? Let me explain ... As I mentioned in my last post, I disappeared into the whirling vortex of Teach For America training for the summer. Some people probably found the time to blog, I however spent any of my free time (which was only on the weekends if there was any ... ) with my husband.

Most of the summer training was down in Houston, but once we got back to Dallas we had a bit more stuff to do. Now that we are finishing up most of our TFA summer training, we are in our Dallas ISD summer training ... all of these things are valuable of course, but the time I am spending planning my first unit plus, getting everything ready for my students (all 150 of whom enter my classroom in a little over two weeks) plus the actual time spent training during the day has been quite a lot!

As someone who tends to obsess over things anyways, this environment has been insane and I find myself getting worked up. Sooooooo ... when I got an invitation in the mail to a 'Sips and Snacks' party at Kate Spade (plus discounts for Slipper Club), I decided to jump on it. I knew I needed to break out of my work zone and do something fun. I called my dear friend (and new bride-to-be ESS) to have some pre-shopping chat time at La Duni and it was just what I needed! Followed with some more girl time and 20% off at Kate Spade - I was feeling really positive. I swiped up these earrings and called it a night.

But this isn't where Mrs. Spade saved me ... As I pulled up to home-sweet-home, with a full night of work ahead of me, a familiar feeling of discouragement washed over me. "How am I ever going to get all of these things done, be an amazing teacher, change lives,etc ..." I took a deep sigh, grabbed my bags from the passenger seat and prepared to head inside ... but before I did, my eyes caught a certain something. "Have Courage".

Clearly a message from Kate Spade ... and God. I am grateful for the reminder that His love is great and everywhere and most importantly, I am not on this mission alone ...

Alternate Universe

2010-06-27T08:11:00.001-07:00

I have literally been in an alternate universe ... I have mentioned before that I am doing Teach For America and as a part of that commitment, I have to spend 6 weeks this summer doing induction/Institute. Induction was the week after I stopped working so I literally got one day to get things done (doctors appointment, dry cleaning, alterations, errands in general ...) before reporting for duty at SMU. I actually had to stay in the SMU dorms (without Mr. SG) for that first week. This was an especially interesting experience for me since my house is about a 2 minute drive from SMU. But the week was a great time to get to know other Dallas corps members (we are called corps members) and get to know what our next two years will be like.

Then immediately I drove down to Houston to move into more dorms at Rice University and begin my journey of Institute.

For those of you who have never known a TFA corps member or had anyone explain Institute to you then you probably have no concept of what this experience is like. So I am going to paint a little picture. The logic behind Institute is to take classes (our sessions) to learn how to be a teacher in a low-income, high-risk school. Really, to learn how to be a good teacher period. The second part of Institute is that we get to teach summer school.

This schedule is abnormal. I have never worked this hard in my entire life. My whole day is taken up by TFA material. My brain has no room to think about anything else. If you do not use every moment you have to work, you will drown in the expectations.

Here is my sample schedule with alternate endings, because the evening isn't always the same.

Morning:

5 AM Wake-Up (Get stuff together, get dressed for the day, walk to the cafeteria to pack my lunch in my lunch box, get breakfast. )

6:36 AM Load Buses (we take buses to our school sites)

7:15 AM Session with our advisor
7:30 -9:00AM - First session of the day
9:00-10:30 AM - Second session of the day
10:30-11:30 AM Lesson Planning Time (Or time to meet with students/ mentor teachers)
11:30-12:10 PM Lunch Duty
12:10-1:10PM Lesson Planning Clinic (session on different aspects of lesson planning)
1:20-3:35 Teaching/Observations
3:35-4:00PM Meeting with Advisor
4:05 Load onto School buses to go back to Rice
4:30 -12:00 Eat dinner, work, work, work, work, work, work ..... literally I do not stop working. On a GOOD night, I get to bed at 12. The alternate ending is this:
4:30 - 3:00 AM Work ....

I barely talk to my husband ... and thank God it was my birthday on Thursday or I may have never had taken the time to talk to my friends and family.

I am learning amazing things and have never been so inspired in my life. I cannot wait to get started teaching again in August.

BUT as you can see, blogging is not feasible. BUT when I get back we have sooooooo many fun things to catch up on. We are throwing an engagement party, have some fun house design updates and many more things NOT related to teaching. So bare with me and you'll have a working blog to come back to in late July.

No rain in Spain!

2010-05-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my neglect - between an unwelcome sinus/ear infection and a Honeymoon in Spain (yes, round two) culminating in an ER trip for a crazy bout with Vertigo ... I have been super busy!

When Mr. SG and I started planning our Honeymoon well over a year ago, we had initially decided to take a two-week cruise in the Greek Isles this summer (a delayed Honeymoon). But when I found out about Teach For America, we knew that wouldn't be possible since TFA requires a lengthy summer commitment that would prohibit us from going anywhere. So we decided to split up our honeymoon. Y'all saw pictures from our trip to Beaver Creek over Thanksgiving which was round one. We just finished another short (but equally divine) Honeymoon to Marbella, Spain which served as a temporary replacement for Greece and was all that a Honeymoon should be.

We picked Spain because we could fly their for "free" with our air miles and it would be a place where to relax with a delicious beverage in hand while basking in the sun and indulging in frivolity. Being in Texas, we could have easily gone to Mexico but we wanted something a bit more interesting. Through teamwork, Mr. SG and I found amazing deal at the Ritz-Carlton property in Marbella (an enormous Mediterranean facing suite with an insane breakfast included for under 300$ a night). And it was good fortune for us (not them) that the Euro has just been tanking over the past few months. The exchange rate was at about 1.25 the entire vacation.

The especially neat thing about this location in Spain is that it is part of the Costa Del Sol which faces the northern coast of Africa - specifically Morocco. We had been told by the hotel that on clear days you could see the coast of Morocco from the property and so every day, Mr. SG and I squinted towards the Mediterranean- straining to see land. We kept saying "Is that the coastline or are we imagining it?" We both swore we saw something. Alas, on the third day we saw definite coast line!! Had we had more time, we would have gone over to Morocco- they had easy boat trips with guides for around 80 Euro per person - a steal! And we are pretty adventurous people who normally would do something like this, but we decided to focus the little time we had on Spain.

Our activities included going to the Beach Club, lounging by the pool at the hotel, relaxing in the Spa, drinking Cava and READING!!

I promise pictures - I'll do a separate post. For now, I will leave you with book recommendations. Since summer is fast approaching many of you will depart on your own vacations - be it involving a transatlantic flight or shipping the kiddos off to the grandparents for a few days of "staycation". In any case, I give you a few ideas for your summer reading list ...

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein:

A beautifully moving book told from a dogs perspective. Animal lovers will especially enjoy this. It is a quick, fun read for a diverse set of tastes. Looks like it might be made into a movie in 2012? If so it will make for a great family flick.

One Fifth Avenue, by Candace Bushnell:

We all know Candace Bushnell for Sex and the City, but if you haven't yet dug in to her other books do so now! If you need a mindless getaway and crave the opportunity to be transported to a life on 5th Avenue then pick up One Fifth Avenue. Very girly. Very Sex-and-the-City. Very Manhatten.

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler:

I was a bit embarrassed at first to share with you all that I have even read this book. As an English teacher, I am especially mortified ... but I wanted to put it out there that yes - I enjoy potty humor every now and then. For those of you who watch Chelsea Lately, on E! you know what I mean ... her third book is even more crude. On my last flight two weeks ago I packed a bag of etiquette books (one of my FAVORITE things to read) but this week Chelsea's vodka fueled snark was what I was craving! Emily Post would disapprove (and so would my grandparents) but I'll make it up to them by striving to be a lady 99% of the time and correctly setting a table for 10.

So whether you wish to satisfy your potty-mouth side, sexy side, or sentimental side here are some summer reading list suggestions!

Talbots

2010-04-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

As far as clothes go, I have always been attracted to classic styles and when I wasn't falling victim to the depressing Abercrombie trend that reigned during my high school years, I was shopping at places like Ann Taylor and Talbots. I still own my first Talbots purchase - a beautiful black, silk suit. (It was for Mock Trial competitions.) This stunning suit will always be in style ... now if only I was the size of my 14-year-old self ... I may have had some dowdy moments but for the most part, I loved making these conservative looks youthful and was pretty successful I might add. (I've been rocking the whole blazer/white tee/ jean combo for a while now - thanks for the great fashion tips mom!!)

Now Talbots isn't making me work as hard to look chic, classic and youthful at the same time! Their new line is positively revitalized and I honestly think anyone, at any age (and any size since they carry petites AND plus sizes!!) Fabulous blogger Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S has partnered with Talbots blog redchairconfessions.com for a BIG giveaway. To enter, you have to post about your favorite new Talbots item. This is eassssyyyyyy to do since I was going to do it anyways!! (Now I just might win something for it ...)

This dress has summer written all over it! Mixing the classic silhouette of a shirt dress with the delicacy of eyelet lace, this is a perfect ensemble for your Memorial Day celebration. Hit up your nearest Talbots (or the website) to scoop it up for yourself.

Happy shopping!!

Let the chips fall ... into your mouth!!!

2010-04-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

These are the most amazing chips I have ever had. Seriously. They are made out of baked lentils which means high in fiber, low in fat and calories! The bag pictured is just naked, natural sea salt flavor and I highly recommend it. A serving of 30 chips is about 110 calories - tell me that is not insane! It can even be a substitute for tortilla chips - pair this with salsa, a spread of goat cheese and mango chutney or hummus and voila! you have a healthy, delicious snack.

I found mine at Central Market, so those of you not in the DFW area might have luck at a Fresh Market or Whole Foods type of grocer. They are made by the Mediterranean Snack Food Co. - So scoop them up and enjoy!!

Mad Men and Barbie

2010-03-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

Attention all Mad Men fans ... Collector's Edition Mad Men Barbies will hit the shelves this July. They are expected to retail for about $75 and can be purchased at BarbieCollector.com.

AMCTV.com reports that,

"Gracefully molded of Silkstone®, a material that resembles the look and weight of porcelain, each doll is stylized in iconic costumes from the series, and comes with accessories true to their show counterparts. Don Draper wears his classic, polished red-lined suit and comes accessorized with a hat, overcoat and brief case; Betty Draper's classic look is captured with unparalleled detail, from her faux pearl necklace to her pumps; Joan Holloway looks chic in a purple skirt suit and perfectly styled coif with her staple accessory - a pen necklace; and Roger Sterling is looking dapper in his monogrammed shirt."

Since I don't have any little girls to "give" these dolls to ( i.e. buy them because I want them and have a legitimate excuse) I'll have to find a creative excuse to get one of these beauties this summer. My choice would probably be Joan because it reminds me of the original Barbie that my grandmother had for us to play with.

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for Mad Men to come back this summer!

Mrs. SG In A New Classroom Adventure!

2010-03-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

Obviously I have been absent for a while now ... every day as I check up on other fun blogs I feel such guilt that somehow I can't work it into my routine more consistently! Typical ... I have amassed a collection of journals and diaries that are empty minus a few entries at the beginning all starting with some semblance of the phrase "This time I'm going to write in you dear diary!!" I could never stick to it! I have done much better with this blog but could still use some improvement ...

As you might remember I finished my first long-term substitute position right before my Spring Break trip to New York. After my week-long hiatus, I started a new long-term position, filling in for a teacher who has permanently left the school. This new job is at a different school. In fact, different is an understatement ... My previous position was in one of the best school districts in the country. They have abundance in all sense of the word. Almost 100% of the students graduate high school and continue on to some of our nation's most competitive colleges and universities.

This new school (where I am currently) resides in the worst zip-code in Dallas, i.e. the zip code with the most violent crimes. Here it is more likely that a student will drop out than graduate - let alone go to college. Teen pregnancy, drugs, crime, discrimination, gangs, abuse, neglect ... these are just a few of the challenges that these students are faced with daily. There are currently Teach For America corps members at this high school, one of whom (and old friend of mine) contacted me about this position when it became available. It is possible that this school will be my TFA home starting next Fall.

I would call this past week at my new school a mind-blowing experience. I can already see what immense challenges these students and I will be facing together. What I can also see is how wonderful it will be to have a network like TFA supporting me. Furthermore, the faculty at this new school has been so warm and welcoming that it made what could have been an over-whelming, hellish week very rewarding and inspiring.

So my blogging absence has been due to starting this new position with an entirely unfamiliar set of challenges. But every late night has been a window into how important my commitment to TFA is and how potentially rewarding it can be for me and my students. Initially I was a bit sad to have to go down to Houston this summer and leave my hubby and sweet animals in Dallas, this past week has gotten me amped for June to come! I know that those 5 weeks and the rest of this summer's prep with TFA will make me an even better teacher for my kiddos next year!

"One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an exellent education."

Happy Spring

2010-03-16T12:41:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I wrapped up my Southern Wedding posts! My only excuse for such a dry spell is being a busy little bee. I finished up my most recent interim teaching position- those three months absolutely flew by! In these last two weeks I had some serious grading to do, an Open House and many more little tasks to keep me more than occupied.

One of the definite perks of being a teacher is Spring Break!! And ladies and gentlemen that is what I am doing right now - relaxing. This past weekend I kicked off my week of freedom by jetting up to NYC to visit my dear friend ACR and her lovely beau. Despite the psychotic nor'easter like weather, we made the best of our time together and spent Saturday hopping from one fabulous NYC location to another. I have been lucky enough to travel to NYC with family and friends enough times that there was no pressure to "see the sights" - this weekend was all about catching up with a friend I miss having in Dallas. We kicked off the day at Park Avenue Winter and enjoyed a fabulous brunch including pastries, a pear and prosciutto salad and a breakfast Risotto. I recommend this location to anyone heading up to Manhattan - it was wonderfully done.

We then headed out for a bit of shopping at the Time Warner center (William Sonoma Home - one of my all-time favorites.) I was overjoyed to find this pillow (below) which I snapped up to put on our master bed. We took a break at the Mandarin Oriental and sipped on some sparkling water, iced tea and a yummy glass of chardonnay. After soaking in these amazing views (below) we took a taxi over to SoHo to meet ACR's friends and Godparents at the ultra-chic Crosby Street Hotel.

The decor is so unique - a perfect blend of tailoring and quirkiness. This was a perfect place to sip champagne while the wind howled outside, threatening to turn our umbrellas inside out the second we stepped out the door.

While we were lounging, munching on green olive stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, ACR's Godmother said, "Look at the cute little boy in the top-hat." That statement would encourage anyone to look and so we did. This precious little boy was wearing a miniature version of a hipster hat (see below). But quickly I was distracted from the adorable mini-hipster to find that the beautiful man holding him was Matthew Mcconaughey. I have never seen him look as handsome as he did right then. The inclement weather had forced the infamous shirtless version of Matthew to put on a wonderfully cut jacket. His hair was tastefully slicked back and his skin was beautifully tanned. As we exited the bar we were within a foot of him (this bar was not packed - very intimate) - at this moment I could hear his thick, southern drawl ... oh what a delightful surprise this spotting was. I apologize for not taking a picture, just trust me when I say it would have been ridiculously awkward and I hate making celebrities like that who are just trying to relax on a Saturday afternoon with their son feel uncomfortable.

We were sad to leave but happy to get ready for our next and final stop of the day to The Modern Restaurant - A Danny Meyer creation. This delectable gem of a restaurant is at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and looks out onto a beautiful sculpture garden. We feasted on a 7 course tasting, finished by the most amazing chocolate cart I have ever seen. The fabulous, food, atmosphere and most importantly company made this one of the most memorable meals I have ever had.

The next day, the weather began cooperating a bit more and I took a train into Princeton, NJ to meet up with darling SVB and her sweet bf.

Though I have visited her in Princeton a number of times, I had never eaten at Witherspoon Grill. From here on out when I think of the best burger of my life, I will remember this lunch. The meat was superb, they actually listened to me and cooked it medium rare. The caramelized onions and blue cheese were the finishing touches. (Can you tell by now my priority was food ...)

We then headed off to do some shopping and SVB found a top-secret-not-to-be-mentioned-something (a gift) and I found a darling rain/spring coat that I have already worn! We met up with some of their friends for dinner and then headed back to her adorable apartment for some Sunday Night TV (Desperate and Brothers & Sisters -obviously) We were both pretty zonked and poor SVB had work the next day so we headed to bed before evening finished B&Ss. The next day I interrupted her work day and met her for Indian Food (I love Masala Grill in Princeton.) After we said our goodbye's, I headed back to pack up and her sweet bf took me to the airport. And that was that! I made it back to Dallas and here I am, blogging in my PJ's ... basking in the glory of this beautiful weather and enjoying my adult Spring Break. I already miss both SVB and ACR and cannot wait to see them again!

I hope some of you found at least some good restaurant recommendations for any upcoming travels to NYC or Princeton .... and I promise to not let so much time lapse between entries that I leave you with a novel!! Happy Spring!

Southern Wedding: Happily Ever After

2010-03-01T20:28:00.001-08:00

Thank you for joining me in reminiscing on what was a wonderful wedding week that was really just a few months ago! I'll leave you with a pic my hubby snapped the morning after the wedding on our way out of the Honeymoon suite to meet our family and friends at the wedding brunch. The night of the wedding, our sweet wedding planner snuck up to our room to fill the vintage suitcase with flowers, stuff our suite with gifts, champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, etc ... The next day, this scene was too sweet not to capture - the dress and veil hung up to be put away, the guests were on their way home, the party was coming to an end. But we know for the rest of our lives we will keep dear to us this sweet celebration that ushered in a new phase in our life together.

Southern Grace Wedding: Reception II

2010-02-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

These reception pictures will be more people oriented! After the ceremony, hubby and I headed over to the marina that is across the street from our church. We hopped on a family friend's boat that is absolutely stunning. The sun started to get that orange, sunset glow and I couldn't think of a more perfect way to spend the first few minutes of our wedded lives together than with fresh, ocean air and salty sea spray greeting our smiling faces.

Even though it was our wedding day, we had to wear the appropriate non-scuff shoes so of course Mr. SG and I rocked our Sperry's for the boat ride.

One of my favorite pics.

Doesn't she look beautiful!!

Our shoes were awaiting our arrival at the Ritz's dock.

As were all of our fabulous wedding guests!!!

After a quick champagne toast on the dock, we walked straight to our first dance (Sunday Kind of Love by Etta James) Funny story about the dance ... the shoes you saw on the dock were my "reception shoes" and about 2 inch shorter than my "ceremony Manolo's" ... Mr. SG and I spent 6 weeks perfectly choreographing our first dance and when we hit the floor, I was suddenly tripping all over my dress. I was able to cover it and I whispered into his ear "I'm stepping on my dress, we have to improvise!" So we threw our dance out the window and freelanced! Everyone kept saying how they were so impressed - little did they know it was our Plan B!

At least we were able to nail the dip ... I was still a little scared since the mister had dropped me during our practice two nights prior (on concrete no less) but we pulled it off perfectly!!

Then came time for the Father- Daughter dance ... same issue with the dress so once again we had to wing it! We had a blast dancing to "How Sweet It Is". Throughout the week leading up to the wedding I made some incredible memories. Some of theme were positively grand like arriving to my reception on a boat but some of them were deliciously simple. For example, on the Tuesday night before the wedding, Mr. SG and I took our parents, my sister and our grandparents out to dinner to exchange presents of gratitude and share our thankful hearts with them. Before joining together, I met my dad at the hospital where he works for some last minute dance practice- I will never forget just the two of us, dancing in an empty conference room and singing to ourselves "How Sweet It Is".

About 3/4 of the way through the dance, Mr. SG and his mother joined in and really surprised everyone with their moves!

The rest of the night was filled with toasts (as seen above) ...

Cake cutting ... (no smashing cake in each others faces ...)

And dancing!! We had a fabulous band called The Venturas ... our guests could not stop talking about how great they were!!

My sweet mom and her new son-in-law dancing!

My grandparents, Gaya and Geedad kicking their heels up!!

Dancing with everyone ... this may have been on of my favorite songs "Shout"!

Husband and I were able to steal a few private moments throughout the night.

Tossed the bouquet and guess what ... my sister caught it!! So not only did she get the silver ring charm in the bridesmaids cupcakes but now this?!?! She must be next .... uh oh!!

I love the pictures where I can see the whole scene like this with the palm trees and the night sky ... it just takes me back to such a magical night!

This is us at the very end of the night ... one of our friends snapped it. It completely summarizes how we felt ... happily exhausted!!

Southern Grace Wedding: The Reception Details

2010-02-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

After our nuptial mass, guests traveled to the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota for the celebration!! The reception site was perfection. Mr. SG and I elected to have our reception on the lawn by Sarasota Bay. We always had the back-up plan of a ballroom which made us more comfortable risking the elements. But when November 14th came, the weather was by far one of the most beautiful, Florida days. Not even close to being hot, hardly any humidity in the air and only got a tad chilly once the sun set.

Here is the reception site being set up by the illustrious Ritz staffers.

The hotel as viewed from our boat approaching the reception post Mass.

Guests were greeted by a table filled with silver trays holding their place cards ... you can see the little green alligator for a touch of Florida whimsy.

Continuing on with our Florida theme and fitting right into the coral color story, a sweet Flamingo graced the bottom of the menus, tucked into the guests napkins.

Later in the evening, Mr. SG and I toasted our first toast as husband and wife in these beautiful, crystal champagne glasses from 18th century France, given to us by my grandparents, Gaya and Geedad.

Our cake was covered in a simple ecru fondant and adorned with clusters of coral-hued flowers and kumquats to give it that Florida flare!

In lieu of guest books, guests signed the same vintage Florida post cards that had been our Save-the-Dates. They dropped them into an old suitcase bearing a sign that said "Best wishes for the new Mr. and Mrs. " Also on the table are silver picture frames filled with wedding pictures of family members.

This is the head table. I am not a fan of the head table that sits on a platform and looks out over the party with members of the wedding party on one side. Instead, we had one enormous table running down the center of all of the guests tables where all of our wedding party, including ushers, and their dates could sit with us. Now realistically we were only able to talk to those sitting closest to us, but it was so cool to be able to look down the table and around us to see our loved ones. During dinner were were able to make rounds to about 75% of the people to personally thank them for being there and to see how their evening is going. With a reception as large as ours, it was impossible to have a receiving line. Our parents were able to take care of anyone else and as the hosts of the event, it all worked out how it was supposed to.

The flowers were mostly antique green hydrangeas, English Garden Roses in shades of coral, and kumquats - my personal favorite.

Each arrangement was done in a piece of silver. No container was exactly alike as I had been collecting them for over a year from various thrift stores. We used Revere bowls of all shapes and sizes, julep cups, trophies, and even little silver serving sets like sugar bowls and creamers.

The flowers for everything were done by Tiger Lilly. I wish there was a Tiger Lilly in Dallas because I would use them for everything!! They provided the tall silver vases for the arrangements. Having arrangements in all different containers was a somewhat risky move that could have made the arrangements look disjointed. But it since the containers were all silver and the flowers were all the same, it was actually very visually interesting!

And I realized that y'all have never see pictures of the rings! So I will leave you with that ... stay tuned, because the next post will be the Reception with people!! (Dancing, toasting, chatting, bouquet tossing and cake cutting!!)

Southern Grace Wedding: The Ceremony

2010-02-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

Silly me ... the ceremony is next, not the reception!! I skipped over the most important part! After getting ready we headed over to the church for our Nuptial Mass, which means wedding + Communion. Our guests (a little over 200 when all were counted) received these invitations below with my favorite script, Bickham. They are Vera Wang by William Arthur which we found again at Write On.The little stamp you see is an Alligator (for the RSVP envelopes) and a Flamingo, which you cannot see but is found again on our menus (so you'll see later) was on our main envelopes. I wish I could show you a picture of the beautiful calligraphy we had (but I can't without totally revealing an address!) The paper was ecru with chocolate brown script. The lining of the envelopes were a terracotta/coral - which was the "color" of the wedding.

The guests were told to be at the church for a 3:00 wedding. With a service that lasted an hour and a half, this timing lent perfectly to cocktails starting at five, a first dance danced while the sun was setting over Sarasota Bay, and an evening filled with dinner and dancing under swaying palm trees and a twinkling Florida nighttime sky.

Below are some very important men in my life - the ushers. Front and center, my darling friend MEH - a bit lower, is the ring bearer ASB, next with the beard, the future Dr. BCP and finally my sweet cousin CLS.

Here is a close up of ASB, preparing for his walk down the aisle as ring bearer. He is carrying a silver tray that we found, covered by the handkerchief my grandmother carried in her prayer book during her walk down the aisle to my grandfather. So no ring pillow .. but I loved this mode of transportation instead!

My Dad and I as the doors swung open and everyone looked back!!

Here is a view of the whole church - so neat!

Below is one of my favorite pictures, even though you can't see our faces. We are listening to the homily given by the Rector of my childhood church. He has known me for many years not just in the capacity as our Rector, but as a family friend. Our families used to get together for holidays, birthdays and special occasions. His daughter babysat my sister and I, and his wife was my 5th grade teacher who might even be reading this blog!! It was so special to have him officiate. His homily was beautiful and a true testament to how Mr. SG and I choose to live our marriage daily.

Here we are saying our vows ... such a beautiful memory.

Now we are officially married!! Mr. and Mrs. SG!!!

Post ceremony pictures ...

Outside with the whole gang!!

Now its just us (and the photographer and the videographer and our wedding planner etc .... )

Gangs all here!! Cheers to a beautiful ceremony filled with spiritual love and pure joy.

Southern Grace Wedding: Getting Ready

2010-02-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry for missing yesterdays wedding post! Blogging just completely slipping my mind ... BUT I am back with a bang because today is Wedding Day! These pictures below are of the Bride (me) and the Groom (Mr. SG) getting ready for our big day!

Getting ready at the hotel! Little known fact about me ... I love suspenders!

Almost ready ...

All the boys looking good!

Mr. SG and his best man, and friend since he was 5 - JBB.

Picture time with his momma!!

His precious grandparents, Grandma H and Dan Dan.

Officially on their way to the wedding in the trolley!! (Mr. SG didn't actually drive ...) In the mean time, the girls were getting ready at chez Southern Grace ...

Above we are standing in my kitchen - the girls are sporting their monogrammed waffle robes - and we are snacking on finger sandwiches, fruit, quiche etc .. and obviously mimosas! I limited myself to just one which was enough to feel festive and not get woozy! My grandparents were staying with us and lovingly prepped this delectable spread for us - it was so special to have them around and added so much to the day. Overall, getting ready was super relaxed - we just lounged, munched, got our hair done and even got in some pool time out back! It was a beautiful day!!

More relaxing in my childhood room ... it was so special to be able to get ready where I grew up!

Finally getting the dress on - it was quite a task! Check out my bridesmaid ACR giving me support as I stepped in my beautiful, white wedding dress! (Romona Keveza from Stanley Korshak)

Lipstick touch ups - gotta have kissable lips!!

My beautiful sister pause for some close-up shots and sister time! She was the first to make me teary -eyed because she started to choke up during the pictures!!

Me and the girls - I loved their dresses!

Mom fluffing my veil - my sweet grandmother Gaya (pictured below) made this veil over 40 years ago for my Aunt. My mom then wore it in her wedding and now me! We all wore it different ways, representative of our decade (my mom had a ring of daisies attached to it. Below is how I did it. I found these two antique shoe buckles and wired them together on a clip - voila!! The results. The total cost was no more than 40$ ... this was one of my favorite details.

My dear grandparents, Gaya and Geedad - Geedad was another crier! Made it a bit difficult to stay composed with all of these precious people getting choked up!

STAY TUNED for tomorrow - the reception!!

Southern Grace Wedding: Rehearsal Dinner

2010-02-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

When we last left each other, the girls had been brunching at Lilly Bridesmaids Luncheon and the guys had been soaking up the sun on a lunch time boat trip. Post luncheon, the girls and I headed to the hotel for a Spa afternoon (my other gift) and then met up with more friends (and some of the boys) by the pool to catch up and relax before the big rehearsal!

After the rehearsal, we headed over to the Sarasota Garden Club for the Rehearsal Dinner hosted by Mr. SG's parents, J and V. His mom, J, is super involved in Garden Club in not only their hometown chapter but the state of Florida as well. She made the centerpieces you see here out of woven palm fronds and anthuriums and sewed the fun table cloths herself. I love her DIY attitude.

Here again are the palm fronds, hung from the ceiling as chandeliers. So unique!

The had an awesome selection of Texas and Pennsylvania beer (where Mr. SG went to undergrad).

Mr. SG with his parents V and J. The lovely hosts of the evening.

One of my favorite details of the night were our koozies that J had ordered for the event! We use ours all the time and smile with the memory of an awesome weekend. Another fun detail was her favor - she made Mango Chutney for everyone to take home! So fun and so Florida.

Southern Grace Wedding: Bridesmaids Luncheon and Boys Day Out

2010-02-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies! As promise, this week will be filled with wedding goodies so I hope you're ready for some serious pictures!!

I figured I would walk you through the wedding weekend as if you were my guest. The festivities started Friday with the Bridesmaids Luncheon, given by me and my family at our yacht club. The attendees included my inspirational female family members including Aunts that aren't really Aunts ... (you know how we are in the South, you can't just call an adult by their first name- it has to be Aunt this or Uncle that ...). I invited old girlfriends and new girlfriends (many of whom are the wives and fiances of the groomsmen) and then of course, my flower girls and bridesmaids.

So without further adieu ....

The Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Bridesmaid Luncheon (Afterall, we are in Florida aren't we?!)

The invitation - part of the Lilly Stationary line, I took it to Write On in Sarasota, FL where they printed up the invitation information. Any Sarasota bloggers out there, Write On is the best!!

One of my favorite details - I made these little placecards using Lilly wrapping paper as the backing and then traced the dress detail from the invite onto card board - add some glue and voila! I had three tables, each named after a preppy, Florida city - Palm Beach, Sea Side and SRQ (Sarasota).

My beautiful momma and I!!

The thank you gifts for my bridesmaids, junior bridesmaid and flower girls. I gave my girlies monogrammed waffle robes to wear while getting ready on wedding day. My junior bridesmaid got the robe and some pearls to wear with her dress. My flower girls loved their Lilly Pulitzer coloring books and own little pearl necklaces.

Pink and Green flower arrangements of course! I made the table markers with some Lilly Fabric and stick on felt letters from Michaels. This is the SRQ table. I wanted them to look like little burgees so I had them on a stand that Mr. SG and I built and painted. Unfortunately, the weather was beautiful but a bit windy so I had to take them off the stand. Still cute though!

In the upper far left corner of this little scene you, you can see evidence of the little banner I made that I strung over the tables. It was a good 70 feet of tiny pink, green and aqua fabric flags fluttering in the wind.

The beautiful cake and cupcakes by Lindsey at Pastries by Design. The cupcakes have little silver charms in them that fortell the future (supposedly) of the bridemaids. My sister got the ring charm which means she's the bridesmaid who will get married next ... I hope not since she's only 18!!

While the girls were at the luncheon, the boys set sail for an afternoon boat ride! Doesn't it look like a beautiful day?!? My dad planned this afternoon with his friend, the captain of the wonderful boat that took them out. They hand sandwhiches, beer, sun and fun - a great way to unwind before the Rehersal.

Even dogs get to have a little pre-wedding fun!

The boys enjoying their R&R.

Keep checking throughout the week for more wedding pics!!

(Photography by Katie Beyer)

Congratulations to the Le Creuset Give Away Winner!!!

2010-02-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Le Creuset Give Away winner, KateLinda!! KateLinda was one of my first 5 followers and has been a wonderful, lifelong friend!! Since this was my first give away, I learned by example from fellow bloggers and used Random.org to pick the winner. I numbered the entries in order and then added the extra entries for those who became new followers (see below).

1. Cristin
2. Katelinda – Winner
3. Suburban Prep
4. Linda Robinson
5. Dana MC
6. Meghan
7. Johntuttle
8. Heather
9. Cristin
10. Suburban prep
11. Dana MC

Then random.org picked a number (at random). See below.

I'll be getting in touch with dear KateLinda to get her darling Le Creuset tart dishes to her. See how she's going to use them!

"Oh Grace! I would take those with me to Virginia to make tarts for Nick while I am there for VDay weekend (since I know his kitchen is lacking such fineries)!So fantastic!"

Tomorrow (or later today for most people) I will kick of wedding week! I have had such fun getting the pictures in order, (literally sorting through thousands of shots for y'all!!) Thanks to those of you who entered the giveaway and I promise there will be more opportunities for you to win fabulous prizes!

Stay Tuned For A Wedding Story ...

2010-02-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the week of LOVE, I will (finally) be posting pictures of the Southern Grace wedding! I can't think of a better way to ring in our 3 month anniversary than by sharing with our friends, family and bloggie friends the most amazing day of our life. Don't forget to leave a comment on the give away entry below or become a follower for a chance to win the Le Creuset mini tart dishes! Until then, here are some teasers for the week to come ...

Valentine's Day Give Away!!

2010-02-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite holidays is coming up – Valentine’s Day! Say what you want about it being a “Hallmark created day to generate profits" … I’ve heard it all before. And I can be a cynic like the rest of them, but for Valentine’s Day I choose love. It is a nationally adopted day on which we can celebrate all kinds of love! On the kitschy side of things, is there anything better that filling those adorable miniature (or real) mailboxes with sweet Valentines??

(Image courtesy of creativeorganizing.typepad.com)

Anyways, let me cut to the chase … CSN Stores, the great people behind cooking.com, have teamed up with my little blog to sponsor a giveaway for you loyal followers (and new followers). Cooking.com is a go-to site for your cooking needs – I currently am lusting over their aqua colored Le Creuset skillet!

The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive two, Cherry Red (or Valentine’s Red, if you will …) Le Creuset tart dishes!!
With this lovely holiday right around the corner, what better way to show your sweetie that you care than by making something sweet!! I have been craving cherry tart lately, and wouldn’t that just be a perfect Valentines dish!?! But of course, you can never go wrong with a good chocolate tart!

So here’s how you win:

Step 1) Leave a Comment on this post telling me how you see yourself using these precious tart dishes
** If you leave a comment and become a follower you get TWO entries!!
Step 2) Make sure you leave this comment by Sunday, February 7th at 11:00 PM EST.
Step 3) I will randomly select a winner (using random.org) and your tart dishes will be mailed to you!

Who will win the Le Creuset tart dishses?? It could be you, so leave your comment and become a follower!!

Upgrades

2010-01-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I made a huge purchase on Tuesday that I could not be more excited about. We have officially started the upgrades to our little home. We are replacing our kitchen counter tops with solid granite (right now they are tiles) as well as our bathroom.

Voila, the inspiration for our kitchen ...

We have about one-third of that space ... our kitchen is small and with not much light (a detail that is difficult to change due to our condo's layout). But I love the dark counter top with the white cabinetry. We have existing cabinetry that we are going to stick with for now and add knobs to make it look more custom. We will stick to these classic stainless steel knobs you see here. Our floor is travertine, not as cool as this black and white - but still, it will be a huge improvement.

Tonight we are getting one last quote on extending our wood flooring into the Master and Guest bedroom before we make our decision. Nothing says "We're married" like a date night that includes getting a flooring estimate ...

I will keep updates of our progress - next step is to inspect our granite at the granite yard - woo hoo!!

The Guest Room

2010-01-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

One of my most favorite rooms in a house is the "guest room". With all of our family, and many of our friends being out of town, the guest room is one room that I really want to get right! Ever since we bought our place and started combining our stuff, decorating and nesting has been quite a process.

This weekend my mom and sister came out to Dallas for an impromptu visit which made me refocus my attention to the guest room.

I'm not in love with the bedding anymore (I am incredibly fickle ...) and I think I am going to change the bedding to an all white ensemble. And secondly, we have officially decided to extend the wood/laminate flooring into the guestroom (and master for that matter ...) which will make a huge difference. But, with only a few days of warning, obviously these things couldn't happen over night. Even if your guests are staying on a futon or air mattress, there are still some a few thoughtful touches that can be added to make someone welcome during their stay in your home.

1. Fresh Flowers

I love fresh flowers. They are proven to lower blood pressure, make people optimistic, and make a room pretty!! Put it in your guest room (or the room that is serving as a guestroom), the guest bath, the living and dining room, etc ... I think you should have fresh flowers any ways whenever you can.

2. Ample snacks/cocktails/breakfast options.

Before sister and mom came out, I went to Central Market and stocked up on dips and spreads, scones, fresh juices, cheese etc ... My mom is a Coca Cola lover so we grabbed a few cans of Coke so if you're guest can't wake up without a good cup of joe, get some fresh grounds. I fill the fridge with wine, champagne, etc ...

3. Instructions on how to work electronics.

Every one's TV and electronic system is different. Every one's coffee maker is different. Every one's shower is different .... you get my drift. Take the time to type u all of the channels and leave a little list (like in a hotel) that says , CNN is 32, HGTV is 57, press "xyz" button to start the coffee maker, etc ...

4. Toiletries

Mr. SG and I save any of our unused toiletries for our guest bath. Consequently, we have many products, slippers, etc ... anything else you can't save from a hotel, we make sure we have from the travel section of Target, i.e. mini-toothpaste, hairspray, Advil, etc ... The newest thing we were thinking of adding to our guest bath are a pair of robes embroidered with the word "guest" so that loved ones in our home can swaddle themselves post shower .. no one likes to get caught in a towel, running back to the guest room!!

I ordered a bunch of robes for my bridesmaids to wear while they were getting their hair done for my wedding (they were monogrammed, of course ...) and I used http://www.towelbathrobe.com/. You can get a great robe for around 20$.

5. Pictures of you and the guest

Put a picture of you and the guest(s) in the room. I have heard this suggestion before and don't always remember to do it, but never-the-less its a nice touch.

6. Water

Every May, Mr. SG and I travel to Jacksonville, FL to attend The Player's Championship at Sawgrass. Our good friends (and a ton of our family) live in the area and we always stay with MHB and JBB, Mr. SG's good childhood friend and best man and his wife. I love their guestroom and I swear, we always have the best nights sleep!! But one of the most memorable details is the water carafe they had set out for us! I found the greatest water carafe to add to your guest's bedside at William-Sonoma! Now, they'll never have to make the awkward walk in their pajamas to your kitchen! 8. Add your own special touches ...

Make sure they know where the spare blankets are, keep your closets stocked with board games and a spare key so they can come and go as they please. How about making a list of the area attractions - art museums, zoos, restaurants ... Make your home a loving place for guests to come and find joy in it!!

Martha Stewart Wine

2010-01-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

The first week back in the ol' classroom has been wonderful. The kids are generally great, I am feeling in the groove (as much as a long-term substitute can, I suppose) and I am fully taking advantage of this blessed learning experience! That being said, a girl can only get through so much before she needs a good glass of wine!

Enter, Martha Stewart.

Apparently, according to this USA Today article, MS came into the vino scene in 2007! How did I miss this??!!

Last week, while shopping at World Market, I found a bottle of her Chardonnay for around 5$ ... I was initially drawn in by the label which is stunning and reminds me of our wedding invitations ( which I have yet to post about ...) Then I saw that it was by MS and I was intrigued. But THEN I saw that it was 5$ and I was sold.

Well, I uncorked this baby and it is delicious ... I cannot believe I am drinking 5$ wine. And since the USA Today article said she was intending to sell it for 15$ a bottle, I am wondering what happened ...

As I type this I am plotting to perform an ambush on Mr. SG and ask to swing by World Market on our way to dinner with a friend tonight. Little does he know, his scheming wife intends on buying a whole case of this delicious deal (if they still have it!!!) Though he loves a good deal on wine so I am sure he will happily oblige once my plan has been revealed.

In Summary ...

2010-01-03T13:51:00.001-08:00

We took some time and traveled back to our families in Florida where we spent our first Christmas together. These two weeks have been a whirlwind and though I got to catch up on my rest, the trip wasn't exactly "restful" since we were bouncing around from my Mom's house to my Dad's to Mr. SG's parents and grandparents ... we wanted to see everyone!! Se below are a few pictures to summarize the holiday since I was a negligent blogger.

Our first big social event as Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin ... my little sister's Debutante Ball! I am actually wearing the bridesmaid dress from my wedding that she wore!

Here she is with her sweet escorts in her beautiful dress - she was by far the most stunning Debutante.

We wrapped up some last minute Christmas shopping and were reminded what a paradise Florida is when we spotted Mr. Egret hanging out on a shoppers car - note the beautiful sunset and swaying palms - this is just a parking lot!

Christmas finally came and it was chilly enough that we were able to light a fire at my house. We spent Christmas Eve with my mom and sister and reveled in the fact that for the first time in our lives we were able to snuggle up together and wake up next to each other on Christmas morning! The night before Christmas we gave my mom and sister pajamas that matched ours so that we could all be coordinated come Christmas morning. We had Christmas Day dinner with Mr. SG's parents and grandparents - it was delicious!

I took this picture a few days after Christmas ... the big Doberman on the right is sweet Bella and the hairy dauschund is Hobbes to the left of her. Just days after our wedding we found out Bella was suffering from lymphoma and had just months to live. Sadly, this was her last Christmas and we had to put her down on New Years Eve. Bella was a wonderful dog who will be truly missed.

This is a cropped version of our New Years Card ... a twist on the Christmas card that we couldn't do because we were so busy in the weeks following the wedding. We rang in the New Year with delicious champagne and some of our oldest and dearest friends. Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and leave on our 19 hour drive from Sarasota, FL to Dallas, TX .... we loaded all of our wedding gifts, suitcases and even our little dog Scout (who had been vacationing with her grandparents since we were traveling and working so much after the wedding) into a rented minivan and took off!

Picture one ... not so bad. But that's nothing ... Check out our guest room below!! I spy Waterford, Riedel, and Cuisinart - Oh My!

And finally, our living room has been taken over ... won't this be fun to unpack!

Mr. SG and I feel so blessed to start this decade off with so much love and support. We are happy to be back in Texas but already missing our family and friends. Stay Tuned - I will get back in the blogging grove! We have home improvements planned, trips to make and a life to get on with! Happy New Year!

Christmas Q & A

2009-12-17T16:24:00.000-08:00

I found this on Preppy Little Dress, a great blog I stumbled upon today. If you like it then copy and paste and put it in your blog! Or, just leave a comment with an answer to one of these questions ....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both – But I prefer paper if I have time! And real ribbon, preferably grosgrain!

2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually at least a week into December.

4. When do you take the tree down? After the Twelve Days of Christmas, of course. So January 6ish …

5. Do you like eggnog? Uh, I’d rather have champagne please! Or spiked cider … yummmmm.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My American Girl Doll, Samantha! Or the Easy Bake Oven ... how to choose!?

7. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone else, though it is helpful when my Mom or sister make a list!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself …

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes! That reminds me, I should get that while I am home since I now have my own house to decorate.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail – except this year, our wedding pictures didn’t get to us in time for a Christmas card so we are going with a New Years Card!!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
The one I didn't receive ... I always wanted one of those little electric cars - like a Barbie Jeep or something and my mother, ever so careful that I don't crack my skull open, never obliged ... every time I see one I still get jealous. Sad.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I know it is not a “classic” but I adore Love Actually. The Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas are always on my play list.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I collect things as I find them – a trick I learned from my darling mother.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I am going to this year … but shhh, I can’t say what it was so I don’t get caught!!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas Cookies! I love my mom’s Raisen Drops. Maybe I’ll post the recipie if you’re lucky!!

16. Lights on the tree? I used to be the white light police in my family. However, now I appreciate the fact that all holiday décor was most likely put up with a heart full of joy so I will admire any light, gaudy or stylish … but for the Southern Grace household, there will only be white lights …

17. Favorite Christmas song? Santa Baby … but as far as hymns go, I love Once in Royal David’s City and O Holy Night.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home is where the family is … but from now on, that involves traveling …

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donder and Blitzen … but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?? (That would be Rudolph …)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Growing up, an angel … when I decorated the tree for my roommate and I in college I had this beautiful pearl and crystal topper that looked like an old broach … it is beautiful. But I am toying of starting my own tradition which is that the broach topper stays on until Christmas and then on Christmas Eve, we change it to an angel … kind of the way you wait until Christmas Eve/Day to add Jesus to the manger … But, we would need to have our own tree in our own house to begin said tradition.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Naturally, we open our matching/coordinating pajamas on Christmas Eve so that we can wear them and look cute on Christmas morning. Then everything else waits to the “big day’.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people lose the meaning and bad attitudes ensue …

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? My favorite theme is natural greenery. Anywhere you can have live holly, live paper whites, live amaryllis, live poinsettia, live garland, live wreaths, live trees … I like it alive!!!

Me and my dear friend, MEH, in front of my little tree when ACR and I lived together during college. You can almost see the pretty pearl and crystal broach topper!!

Whirlwind Week

2009-12-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

So it has obviously been a while since I have put the ol' fingers to keyboard and the simple excuse is because I have been busy beyond belief. Since we last chatted, the Mr. and I took a weekend trip to his beloved Pittsburgh to attend the Pitt V. Cincinnati game. This was actually my wedding gift to him and oh how I would have loved it if the Panthers could have pulled one out for us but they lost, tragically, by one point in a game that can only be described as dishearteningly epic. By the way, it was freezing (as in hovering around the 20's and SNOWING for the entire game) As you can see by this picture below, tailgating at Pitt games actually involves ... a car ... unlike my four years tailgating on the Boulevard at SMU.

While tailgating last Saturday, I had this odd inclination to check my email. I had been subbing for the past two days for the teacher who was preparing to go on maternity leave and though she was two weeks away from her due date, I just had this feeling that her bundle of joy would be arriving early. Lo and behold, I checked my email only to discover that she had gone in to labor early that Saturday morning. My time had come! So enter in the second reason I have been missing in action ... this week has been CRAZY adjusting to my new schedule.

I don't think my husband truly grasped how hard teaching would be. And in this situation I have an unbelievable team to work with and for the most part, the lessons are totally planned out - I just have to make sure there are enough copies for my new crop of 140 students and that their assignments are graded. But never-the-less, the earliest I have made it home this past week was 6:15 PM ... and I get to school at 7:30 AM. Considering I have five, 50 minutes periods where I do nothing but stand and talk, this teaching gig is unbelievably exhausting!! But I will tell you my little secret ... at the end of the day, I walk to my car with my legs aching and feet throbbing with the voice of a man and I have never felt so fulfilled in my life. Granted I have only been teaching for 7 actual school days but I could have easily had the opposite experience where I end my day going "Get me out of here!!" So I take this as a good sign ...

Anyways - I will try my best to update this little blog better throughout this week. SO many exciting things to chat about how will I choose! My sweet sister, AEW has been accepted to The Florida State University (FSU) so woo hoo for her!! She also has her debutante ball coming up in just 6 days!! For this, Mr. SG and I will be journeying home to Florida and then will stay the week and spend it celebrating with family and loved ones.

Have a fabulous Monday everyone!!

The Front Door Mat

2009-12-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

Here is my front door mat - not blatantly Christmas but I really like the design. I could also use it for Valentines Day! Mr. SG was not this mat's biggest fan at first. We found it at Nordstrom Rack (the Nordstrom outlet) in their home section back in November. I think it was between $12 -$15 dollars and is the TAG brand. Anyways, he doesn't understand my need for holiday appropriate front door mats (getting the Halloween mat was quite the discussion but ultimately I won when I found one on sale). So we fought about this silly little mat while in Nordstrom - it ended when I said, "Fine ... whatever you think."

We continued on shopping in the area and as we passed the store again, I said "That really was a nice mat ... Are we really not going to have a Christmas mat?" The next week while I was at home tying up last minute wedding details, Mr. SG snuck back to Nordstrom and bought the mat in secret. It was waiting for me at home when we got back from the airport. What a nice surprise ... then I felt like a brat. But I was happy to get my festive foot wiper after all.

Thanks for the mat dear ... doesn't it look good after all??

December

2009-11-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Last night, Mr. SG and I bought our wreath. This wreath is incredibly important to me because I haven't yet been able to persuade hubby to get a tree due to the fact that we are leaving to spend Christmas with our families in just three weeks. I have always had a tree ... obviously growing up we had one and when I went to college, I had a miniature tree in my dorm, my roommate ACR and I had one in our apartment every year and when we moved into the Kappa house they had a tree! So this will be one, sad, treeless year ... But at least I get my wreath! We went to a Christmas tree lot that had some beautiful, BEAUTIFUL trees (the lot by the TCBY at Mockingbird and Abrams). And they had this glorious wreath that is made up of evergreen and boxwood - an interesting combo that I wasn't even sure I liked at first but now I am in love!

Notice my beloved wreath is not artificial ... I am a big proponent of live greenery. I don't know what it is except that growing up, our greenery was always real except for one garland on the front staircase (and that was just in case we couldn't get fresh greenery in time). I love the smell of the real thing. And even though living in Florida made it difficult to get our hands on the 'good stuff' - we always ordered from LL Bean if our typical tree lot was lacking. Anyways, here are some images below of beautiful, live winter accessories (minus one) ...

Here is some triple wreath action - I am loving the hurricanes flanking the doorway.

Here is a beautiful example of staircase swagging with a eucalyptus/evergreen combo ... I am really loving these unique greenery combos!!

These beautiful pepperberry wreaths are a fun way to have an alternative to evergreen if you don't want to deal with the sap. I love wreaths on the staircase instead of garland. But I love both ... how could I ever choose!

And finally, the holiday ball wreath. If you don't want to do evergreen then this is a great, long-lasting and allergy friendly alternative. And I think the garland in the back is some sort of faux ... I guess if Martha can do it then its ok ....

Honeymoon Recap

2009-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

The Mr. and I are back from our honeymoon in Bachelor Gulch (Beaver Creek), CO. It was amazing but certainly not for the faint of heart. We were in bed by 9:30 PM each night and up by 8:00 AM ... I am sure to some people those times represent a normal bedtime and sleeping in BUT I don't usually nod off until midnight and if I have no where to be on a weekend or vacation, I am in bed until 10:00 AM!! Bottom line, at the end of the day we were exhausted!!

Skiing was pretty decent for opening weekend. Everyone right and left was complaining about the conditions (there was definitely some "packed powder") but seriously - what do you expect at the end of November people!? This was Mr. SG's first time skiing and in his words, on the first day he " wanted to kill me for dragging him out here!" The next day he was much better (even his instructor was impressed) and the by the third day, my little ski bunny was speeding down some pretty steep faces!

The hotel was amazing. The Ritz backed up to its own lift so that you could literally head downstairs, grab breakfast at Spago, walk out the back of the hotel where the Ski Valets would have your equipment ready and then voila - you hop on the lift! The Spa facilities were to-die-for and I had one of the best massages of my life. For those who know me, my life has had many massages in it thanks to my generous and homeopathic believing mother - so that's saying something about this masseuse!

The food never disappointed. We dined at Grouse Mountain Grill, Splendido, and Spago (the other two nights we canceled our reservations because we were too exhausted and just munched on the Club Floor fair).

But now we are back to Dallas-land. Husband is back to work and I am heading into the classroom because the sweet teacher I will be subbing for is due any day now! I am "on call" and fully expect to be telephoned at any hour to find out I must step in and teach these lovelies some Science for the next few months!

The Easiest Appetizer

2009-11-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

I am in love with this amazingly easy and delicious recipe that I discovered this week. If you don't like goat cheese then this isn't the recipe for you ..

This reminds me of a story actually ... One of my best friends and roommate of 3 years, ACR and I loved to entertain in college. We had amazing dinner parties - seriously, they were not your average college dinner party. On one such occasion, we were having a post "Celebration of Lights" (an SMU Christmas tradition) dinner of homemade Chicken Pot Pie and as we were setting out our salad with Pear, Raspberries, toasted walnuts and goat cheese she asked me, "What if they don't like goat cheese?" I matter-of-factly replied, "Then they are not welcome in our house." This cracked her up and became a personal joke/standard of judging potential friends from this point on.

So the recipe ...

Goat Cheese Crostini

You need one baguette (some places will give you half of a baguette which is preferable when you are cooking for two) and you should have the grocery store slice your baguette on the diagonal to get the "crostinis". Toast the crostinis in the oven (approx. 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees).

Use a fork to mash together the following ingredients: a 5 oz. pack of soft goat cheese, 1/4 cup of chives (the skinny ones), and two TBSP of shredded Parmesan.

Spread this delicious concoction on your toasted crostinis and voila! You could also stuff cherry tomatoes with this, use it as dip for vegetables, etc ... It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

We munched on ours while cooking a casual, weeknight dinner for two but it could easily be swanked up! The chives (being green and all) made this look a little wintry too so maybe for your next holiday gathering you could serve this.

And if you don't like goat cheese then you are not welcome at my blog ... just kidding!!

One week anniversary

2009-11-21T12:44:00.000-08:00

We have officially been married for one week. I have been trying to get a copy of our marriage license (which is in Florida) so that I can change my name here in Texas, so I know for a fact that our license has been processed which means it is truly official!

When trying to find out our status, I would call the clerks office and say "I am calling to see if my marriage license has been processed yet ..." I wonder how funny that must have sounded, like maybe I had changed my mind and wanted to stop it before it was too late! But no, just trying to make the name change!

We have begun getting social invitations addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. H " which is fun to see. But poor husband thought my name change would be official before our honeymoon next week so he reserved my lift ticket with my new last name ... sadly it doesn't work that fast (especially in Texas - Florida is much easier which is ultimately where I am going to do the change I have since figured out ...) Never-the-less I am hoping that they can keep our name on the ticket as a fun, honeymoon souvenir!!

I know there are many arguments for a woman keeping her name, most of which I agree with, but seeing as I have nothing professional (or reasons otherwise) tying me down to my maiden name, the choice was easy for me. I will be thrilled to take his last name as a means to unify the two of us as a family. There are so many other options out there tailored to each individual couple (hyphenating, combining, new name, etc ...), but taking his name was the right one for us. Someone asked me once if (by my logic of taking a name to become a family) I would have him take my name and I couldn't really come up with a good reason why that wouldn't accomplish the same goal, but for whatever reason, becoming Mrs. H just felt like the way to go. Maybe its because I have always wanted to move up the alphabet ... being a "W" for so long has its rough times! The one somewhat unique thing I am doing is keeping all of my names ... I couldn't bear to part with my first name, as it is my mothers and I go by my middle name but how could I drop my last name when I have identified with it for so long! So we'll see how that works out at the DMV ... four names on a drivers license will look interesting!

I will leave you with a hilarious picture of our cat, Harper. Scout is staying with Grandma and Grandpa in Florida for the next few weeks due to all of our traveling so Harper is looovvviinnnnggg her vacation. Here she is passed out on her Daddy's lap, oblivious to the fact that her sister will be returning in a few weeks ... enjoy it while you can Harper!

Kitchens

2009-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

Not that its happening soon (Mr. SG, if you're reading this don't freak out ...) but the SG household has some changes happening in its future. Now that we know we'll be here for at least 2.5 more years due to my Teach For America commitment, its time to start customizing our little dwelling place. Last year we bought a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo near the Park Cities and while we know it is not smart to make serious changes to a place like this, there are definitely some movements on the horizon. It is my opinion that if you make some small changes that get you even the slightest return (or none) it is worth it because it enhances your lifestyle while you are living there. I have a small wish list of changes to make, that are simple, neutral and some that I believe will impact buyers when we eventually decided to move on.

I totally agree with the thought process that kitchens sell houses! Our kitchen is nice enough - stainless appliances, a decent amount of storage and granite tile counter tops. But we can do much better. For starters, I would like to get granite slab. The tiles irk me. It is like they went half way.

Secondly, I'd like to change the cabinets a little. Right now, they are builder standard - you know, no handles and some curvy grooves to 'add interest'. They are blah is what they are. So I am thinking of mixing in some glass pane cabinets with lighting.

So for our new kitchen, which is happening in the next six months, I am going the white kitchen route. I remember the day when I was watching an HGTV special on kitchens and they were talking all about "white kitchens" and I thought - oh, how boring. My kitchen growing up was a tastefully done French Provincial with a customized china blue hutch and warm cabinets with beautiful molding etc, etc ... So in my mind, that is what kitchens were! And I still love my mother's kitchen - however, I am warming to the white -especially since we have to create a buyer friendly look. So below are some images that have my mind running around!

Note the openness that this kitchen (above) creates. Yum Yum!! The glass, I really feel, make it feel warm yet spacious. (Granted, it is an enormous kitchen .... jealous!!)

This example shows Ikea cabinets - they are so reasonably priced and give an effect similar to its more expensive counterparts. I love the chopping block counter tops, and they are tres reasonable, but they do not sell kitchens. Granite sells!

I do love the white marble, but as a more affordable and universal compromise, I am thinking about a granite in the warm grey tones like this one. Our current granite is black, with some interesting flecks in it which I surprisingly like. It gives a similar look to slate, which is also an awesome counter look.

I suppose we have some time. My understanding is that the decor priority list is as follows: Replace closet and household doors (we are not loving our current ones ...), get towels, pillows and silver frames monogrammed with our new monogram, paint and reupholster our desk chair, paint our steal-of-a-deal china cabinet (another blog post in its entirety ...) figure out the hole in the bathroom wall .... tricky ... and then the kitchen!!!

Kitchen suggestions are welcome!!!

Mrs. Southern Teacher

2009-11-18T09:01:00.001-08:00

So I have to share with you some good, non-wedding related news first. One of the pieces of news I have been bubbling at the brim to share with you all and the other I just found out!

The First Piece

Starting in the next few weeks I am going to be long-term subbing for an amazing middle school science class while their teacher has her beautiful baby! This little deal has been in the works for a while but now I am fortunate enough to say it is pretty official and I am simply waiting for the call that she is in labor and I will grab my coat, run out the door and teach science! My position here could last anywhere from 6 - 12 weeks depending on what she chooses to take. Most likely it will be on the longer side (more time to spend with the precious bundle of joy!). The position falls over Christmas break which extends the actual time period a bit, but I am so looking forward to getting to know these wonderful students and doing my best to fill her shoes for the time being.

The Second Piece

It is a good thing that I am getting this sort of subbing practice because next year I will have my very own classroom. Yes dears, I was just offered a position with Teach For America. For those of you unfamiliar with this wonderful program, here is the short of it. TFA is a non-profit organization celebrating its 20th anniversary this year of helping to eradicate the inequality this country sees in its education system. Last year, over 35,000 graduating college students and professionals applied to be a part of this movement and approximately 15% percent were chosen to fill teaching positions within underprivileged rural and urban school districts. TFA is considered highly competitive and in fact, around 10% of the Ivy League's graduating classes apply for a position. Each of these applicants share a common interest in being a part of the solution.

Next August, I will teach High School English right here in Dallas, TX. I am so honored to have the opportunity to make this kind of difference. I am already hatching and scheming to develop a fun curriculum that covers a broad range of English subject matter ranging from literature, grammar to public speaking. After spending 6 weeks in Houston this summer, developing lesson plans, I know I will be ready to walk into my classroom. My substituting experience this year I am sure will only help in my classroom management abilities.

One thing I must figure out once all of the lesson plans are in order and the classroom is organized is what to wear on my feet! If subbing so far has taught me nothing, its that teachers need a good army of stylish yet comfortable shoes. I am considering the Cole Haan Nike Air variety - especially these simple and classic pumps.

If you have any good shoe or teaching advice it is definitely welcome!

Mr. and Mrs.

2009-11-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

It is official dear readers! I am a Mrs!! Our wedding was this past Saturday and let me tell you it went off without a hitch. The weather was unbelievable, every detail fell into place and it was absolutely stunning. Walking down the aisle of the church I grew up in, surrounded by loved ones and meeting my husband at the alter was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had.

I have been MIA obviously because I was a little tied up over in Florida but I am prepared to come back to this blog gradually and bringing with me fun treats! There are so many amazing events and moments to share with you all and just a gigantic pile of good news!!!

Before I head off to the grocery store to stock up on supplies to cook our first dinner in our home as husband and wife, I will leave you with a picture (though a tad blurry) of Mr. SG and I dancing our first dance to Etta James, Sunday Kind of Love.

Sexy Little Post ...

2009-11-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

One of the fun things about planning for my wedding is getting to buy lingerie. I love a great bra and underwear set - matching lace, little bow details, etc ... But 9 times out of 10, I take home the "practical" choice. My sweet bridesmaids and friends threw me a lingerie shower and I'll tell you, this spurred my desire to don more sexified undergarments - at least during the honeymoon! So they set me up with some great little numbers that were totally "me" and meanwhile, inspired my inner -vixen to come out!! So for this post I am going to show you some "sexy little things" that caught my eye the other day while I was shopping for my "trousseau".

My relationship with lingerie has been a funny one for many reasons. But let me share with you a trip down memory lane with 14 year-old Southern Grace. It was the summer before freshman year and all the cool girls had started wearing thongs. When I relayed this to my Mom she thought I meant flip -flops. Oh my sweet, optimistic mother, how wrong you were. Of course, like the responsible mother she was, she denied my request for a panty-line-free existence.

One afternoon, while on a mall trip with Dad, I snuck away to Victoria Secret to purchase my contraband undergarment. I quickly picked out a plain thong and nervously brought it up to the counter. I said "It's for my mother - a present." Can we say 'awkward' all together now? What teenager buys their mom a nude thong as a present? Its not like they looked at me funny - I mean, I was a 5' 7" 14 year old who was constantly offered a glass of wine while out to dinner with the parents, it wouldn't have been so inconceivable that I would be buying a thong. So there you have it. My one thong. And I didn't even have the courage to wear it because there was the laundry issue ... whoops! Didn't think that one through ... I am not sure my sweet mom even knows this story. Oh well, she does now ... Hi mom!! Sorry about that one ...

Before getting into the choices another story ... I was in Claire's today, picking out some little pearl necklaces for the three flower girls in my wedding. I was horrified to find white, fishnet thigh highs with red bows on top. In Claires!! The target demographic is girls - young girls - middle schoolers!! I tried to find a picture on Claires.com but couldnt. Instead, these pictures are literally exactly what they look like but made to fit you 8-13 year old daughter thankyouverymuch!!! Ugh - an abomination. Picture me, having bought lingerie for my wedding all morning, which may I add while doing so felt like it was a special rite of passage or something, only to come into this tweenage store and see that sexy numbers like these are being made for and marketed to children? My mind was going crazy - thus this rant. But now, on to the main point - buying lingerie when it is appropriate - you are a grown-up, you are getting married, etc ...

If you're like me, you have discerning taste even when it comes to lingerie. I, therefore, am drawn to things that are sweet and sexy. I like the items that are bombshell-esque but that I can still sleep in with out strangling myself on multiple straps in the middle of the night.

I love the color, not to mention the bow across the chest! The sweet three tiered bottom is modest enough yet playful being a little bit sheer.

This one definitely says "Bride". Again, sweet and reasonable! It has an elegance to it. If you want to really send the "marital message", find something like this - white, frilly, girly and innocent looking.

Finally, my personal favorites - thigh highs. Nothing makes me feel sexier than putting on a pair of these babies. This is that "1 out of 10" times I was talking about when I didn't make the practical choice. Dress your gams in thigh highs under a cocktail dress this winter and you'll feel sexy, confident and powerful.

Which brings me to my most important point. Yes, I am writing this because I am getting married and thus have made the proverbial pilgrimage to the land of lace in preparation - but even when this lingerie has been for my eyes only, that 10% when I indulged was wonderful. Putting on a cute pair of boy shorts instead of Hanes "to-the-belly-button" might just be the thing you need that day to give you an extra boost. One night, find a silky slip to sleep in instead of an over sized tee. Obviously everyone has their own feelings about lingerie - some will be 100% and feel like they're vamping it up even in a man's flannel shirt and Hanes finest but find your "lingerie" - the occasional red lipstick, curling your hair when you don't have anywhere to go or painting your nails hot pink. The most important thing is that you're doing this for you. Nothing is more beautiful or sexy then that inner glow!!

Arrive in Style

2009-11-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

Early on in the wedding planning process I knew that transportation had to be about more than getting from Point A to Point B. I love a good limo - I really do -but, I have been very anti-limo until recently when I reconciled with the fact that it was the most practical transpotation option for the Lilly Bridesmaids Luncheon. But I digress ... the main point of this post is to highlight some fun nuptial transportation options if you're tired of the limo.

Having lived on the water nearly my entire life, I developed a fantasy early on in the planning process (i.e. in high school - don't judge me) that Groom and I would be transported some how on an antique Chris Craft. See below.

So when the ring was on the finger, my lovely father made a call to our good friends and former next-door-neighbors who we believed had such a boat. He called me later only to say, "Grace honey, I called them and they have a different boat ... something called a Hinckley ... they'd love to do it but would this Hinckley be alright?" You check out the photo of this beautiful boat and tell me if it would be all right ... the answer, was yes. This boat is verrryyy similar to the kind that Martha Stewart owns.

So after our church service, we are crossing the street to the Marina (yes, the church is across from a marina - isn't it fun!) and then our dear neighbors are driving us, my sister and the photographer in this beautiful boat to our reception site (The Ritz Carlton) where we will get off at the dock that enters onto the lawn on which our dinner and dancing is taking place. Now, had the boat suddenly not become an option we would have taken a vintage Rolls Royce - something like this.

For our esteemed wedding party (all 20 plus ...) we are chauffering them from the church to the Ritz in trolley! We reasoned that squeezing 10 people in per limo (thus getting two limos) to drive literally .82 miles from the church to the Ritz Carlton would be a tad ridiculous ... so in comes SRQ Trolley. Those of you who read up on wedding trends I am sure have heard of the trolley tactic, but seriously it offers a fun and creative way to transport a large group of people. And heck, if it rains you better believe Mr. SG and I will be on that trolley with everyone and will be happy to arrive in style. So in 9 days (wowza) picture me and the Mr. lounging in the beautiful boat with the sun setting behind us enjoying our first few moments of wedded bliss. I challenge any bride out there to find creative ways to transport yourself and loved ones. And please, don't get a Hummer limo ... I won't love any of you less but those beasts just don't sit right with me!

Chicago was "All that Jazz" and more ...

2009-11-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

My crazy dad called me up on Saturday to see if I wanted to come to Chicago with him for one night leaving that Monday (yesterday) and coming back Tuesday (today). He would be in a conference all afternoon Monday but we would be able to spend time together Monday night and Tuesday morning. Having been bitten by the travel bug at an early age, it would have been a violation of all things I hold dear to say 'no' to an opportunity such as this. I immediately booked a flight and yesterday morning at 5:45 AM I waved good-bye to Dallas and headed to the Windy City.

I had never been to Chicago but boy, did it live up to my expectations. I could not have paid for better weather. It was cool, crisp and not very windy ... Dad and I stayed at the Drake and thoroughly enjoyed its' historical elegance and prime location. I immediately headed to the cafe at Ralph Lauren or RL's it is also called, for a wonderful lunch with Dallas transplant, friend and blog reader CP, who is currently studying law at the University of Chicago.

I started with a delicious spinach salad, followed by toasted cheese (Gruyere) on Rye with a side of tomato soup and then finished it off by sharing a banana split. (Oh yes, and the glass of wine ...) The meal was perfectly American and a great introduction to Chicago. We sat in the library looking area surrounded by eye-candy art books that were mixing and mingling with tartan and crocodile accessories. There were monograms galore punctuated by the ever-so-necessary Ming vases and English hunting scenes. I was essentially eating in a heaven of sorts.

I spent the rest of the day shopping on Michigan Avenue which was absolutely lovely, though still a reminder of how wonderful our shopping is here in Dallas. Mostly I found joy looking up at the fantastic diversity of architecture that the city is so known for. After wandering the beautiful streets I headed back to the Drake to get ready for the evening.

Dad and I started off with cocktails at the Ritz and then went to dinner at Spiaggia - a to-die-for, contemporary Italian restaurant that is reportedly President Obama's favorite. (Pictured below) This restaurant is a true experience and a special treat. One of the highlights was a rare wine from Cinqueterre (one of our favorite Italian vacation spots) and then dessert was a chocolate filled crepe drizzled with olive oil and accompanied by olive oil gelato - unbelievable!

We ended our whirlwind trip with a visit to the John Hancock observatory to take in the views of Lake Michigan. All-in-all, this little jaunt was a special time for my dad and I to spend together before his little girl gets married in 11 (or 10 if your on Eastern Time as I am writing this) days ... yes, it freaks me out a little that it is flying by so fast!

Bottom line, I highly recommend considering Chicago for a long weekend - it seems like it could be wonderfully romantic or just a great family trip. There is a beautiful observatory, a great Zoo and Aquarium, the Field Museum is breathtaking (see picture below) and Lake Michigan is a sight to see!

In keeping with my corny title (Broadway enthusiasts will see the pun ...) I have to say that Chicago really "Razzle Dazzled"me ... and I cannot wait to return!

Lilly Bridesmaid Luncheon Attire

2009-10-30T20:46:00.001-07:00

It is the Friday night before Halloween and I am sitting at home blogging while hubby-to-be (2 weeks from tomorrow .. omg ...) is walking Miss Scout and Miss Harper is keeping my lap company. This is how I know I am growing up ... I am not in a costume nor am I sipping non-descript but highly potent punch. Not that I don't enjoy those occasions, they are just more few an far between. Tonight was a success and fun in its own right! I finally decided on my dress for my Lilly themed Bridesmaids Luncheon .... The Memsey Dress (in Aqua) ...

I am loving these "originals" - even Mr. SG agreed as I tried it on that "it goes with the more classic vibe you seem to be aiming for ..." Yes, he actually said that. He is amazing.

We capped the shopping off by splitting our new favorite salad (turkey, green apples, dried cranberries and a lime vinaigrette) at Northpark's La Duni and of course, some happy hour Vino de Casa.

How am I celebrating Halloween? By having my final dress fitting of course! Accompanied by some dear friends, I will be trying on my wedding dress for the last time before it is shipped home in preparation for the Big Day! Lets hope all goes well ... PS - For any Dallas ladies wondering where my fabulous dress was found, it was none other than Stanley Korshak! The Bridal Salon has a wonderful selection and fabulous consultants. My consultant, Becky Tananbaum, has been extremely helpful and made the experience memorable and easy-going. I highly recommend her to any bride!

So wish me luck that the zippers zip and the buttons button!!

Happy Halloween - may you have either nights filled with costumes and candy or Lilly and turkey salad ... whatever floats your boat!

I'm a gleek!

2009-10-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

My new obsession ... glee on Fox!! Normally it would come on Fox on Wednesday but tonight some baseball thingy is on instead (I kid ... I know its the World Series). Anyways, I found this show a little late but better late than never I always say!. For those of you who haven't found this fabulous show yet I encourage you to give it a go. And those of you who are skeptical, here are a few reasons to love it!

1) The Music

If you've never heard of it, "Glee Club" is typically a high school program that performs (dances and sings) at a competitive level. This particular version of Glee incorporates modern songs like (Usher's Confessions) with Broadway staples (think Cabaret) and song Classic Rock (Journey, yes please!). There is something for every taste - The Thong Song was even performed! My personal favorites were Carrie Underwood and Jordan Sparks. I love musicals, but I think even those of you who fall asleep during musicals like dear friend SVB (though she has gotten better) will love this show!If you don't believe me, check out the following reasons.

2) The Clothes

Not all of the clothes are good, there is some Aeropostal and such ... But there are some great prepsters i.e. Rachel Berry, the lead female vocalist. The only consistent thing that I love about Rachel's wardrobe is that she frequently wears socks with her penny loafers. Very classic - very prep. Emma Pilsbury is my favorite though. She looks like JCrew, Talbots (the good stuff) and Anthropologie had a baby. Emma wears broaches and cardigans like its her job. If I didn't already love teaching I'd go into the profession just to try and look like her! The only other noteworthy clothes that I can think of are the football uniforms ... its okay people, all of the actors playing high school jocks are actually older than me in real life so my drooling is legal ... see reason number three...

3) Finn Hudson

You may not know this about me but I rarely get crushes. In real life I have had maybe seven ... that's not a lot. Think about it ladies, that includes those days when we had as many crushes as we did Teddy Grahams. There are many "heart throbs" who I do not find too terribly appealing. I don't get the whole Orlando Bloom thing ... I just don't ... I mean I know he's technically attractive but that "spark" is missing for me. My celebrity crushes have tended to be directly related to the characters they portray. For example, I fell in love with Heath Ledger when he played a soldier from the American Revolution in The Patriot. I'm a sucker for uniforms ... I love Prince William in spite of his bald spot because he is a Prince. Titles are sexy - get on it gentlemen! And for some unknown reason I love Robert Pattinson because I have a thing for Vampires ... uh, just kidding. Actually I don't know why I like him - maybe its the brooding, I'm-obsessed-with-you vibe ... who knows ... Anyways, back to Finn - my newest crush. I am obsessed with a capital O ... Obsessed. His boyish looks (he's 27 in real life so relax), his football uniform, the fact that he is secure enough to be the lead singer of Glee Club AND the quarterback ... so many reasons. But see reason numero uno below .. ahh ... his face ... adorable and as far as I can tell from the episodes he is tall which is incredibly important to me as a member of the "Tall Girl Club"

So darlings, even though baseball is taking over tonight, next week tune into FOX at 9 PM Eastern 8 PM Central, I hope you will take my recommendation seriously! And in advance, you're welcome ...

Engagement Shoot

2009-10-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

So I disappeared for a little while because this whole "Bride" thing can be a little time consuming. Mr. SG and I went home to good ole' Florida for a bit to attend a Lobster Bake Couples Shower that was thrown by the parents of my dear friend and MOH, SVB. It was positively smashing. Every detail was amazing - the lobster was delicious, the decor was adorable and the favor (homemade blueberry jam) was superb.

While at home, Mr. SG and I finally took some engagement shots with a photographer who is a friend of my mothers, Billy. We shot for over 5 hours at multiple locations around Sarasota. Below you'll see some of our favorite shots. We had an absolute blast. Time flew by and even Mr. SG (who I was worried about wilting a little bit during such a long shoot) thought that it felt like an hour. The bathing suit shot was taken at some retro looking cabanas on Siesta Key. The picnic varieties were taken on the grounds of the Phillipi Creek Mansion (it was verrryyy windy there!). The Vespa shots were taken on my mom's Vespa in our neighborhood. And the rest were taken around our house and on our dock.

This photographer is incredibly talented - none of these photographs have been photo shopped or airbrushed (though he'll do it if you want him to). He is a master at picking the rights spots, poses and light to maximize the potential for the best shots.

Follow this link to his blog if you'd like to find out more about his work.

http://encompasscreative.net/blog/

Otherwise ENJOY out photos and tune in this week because I am baaccckkkk from wedding world. Well, sort of .... 20 days until I become a Mrs !!!

Hair today, gone tomorrow ...

2009-10-15T12:29:00.001-07:00

So I have been a bad blogger but for someone with a sizeable amount of time on my hands, I have been alarmingly busy with wedding stuff. Some days it seems like I go from one phone call to another - bouncing around modifications and requests and people who didn't RSVP! It really is amazing at how much time the little things take. I am very grateful to be able to put thought into this special day and to have the time to be at my best as a hostess.

Tonight on the agenda while Mr. SG is in class, is wine sampling with dear friend and bridesmaid, CLK later on at the Hamlin -Williams household, to make some decisions on the vino for the carving party next week. I am packing for our trip back to sunny Florida for our Lobster Bake themed couples shower! The parents of SVB, my MOH alongside sweet sister AEW, are hosting said fete at their lovely home and personally cooking lobster for 40 of our wedding party, family and friends! They are wonderfully generous and champion party throwers. I am thinking about wearing a Target dress that I have already taken it for a "test run" at the New Members reception for Slipper Club (a social & philanthropy club here in Dallas). It is comfortable, flattering and great for Fall! I am sooo excited about the shower - I will hopefully remember to post pics!

But before all that I have a haircut!! It has been too long and now it is too long (haha) and as a consequence is easily tangled. So I am going in for a trim. But this cut has got me thinking seriously about my post-wedding locks. Many ladies do a big chop after the nuptials. I don't necessarily want to do that, however my hair has been lacking a certain "je ne sais quois" lately. Really though I know what it is lacking and that is a good shape!! It is just blah! But Mr. SG loves it long (don't most men seem to feel this way??) and many of my friends gasp in horror when I suggest removing inches ... but we'll see. For now this type of style below pictured on two of my absolute LEAST favorite celebrities, is what I am thinking about ...

After November 14th, I think I am feeling more of the Lauren Conrad style - her color is somewhat similar to mine even though I am a little darker. Ah the things to think about!

On the Menu

2009-10-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Like a good AH, I have been musing with the menu for the week. I already know that one night we are going to a restaurant that my friend CLK and I tried last week and I having been craving ever since. It is called Bliss Cafe and for you Dallas dears, it is on Greenville Ave, very close to Nordstrom rack. Bliss focuses on Raw and organic food. Totally Gluten free. I had their version of a Margarita Pizza and I would rather eat theirs than the real thing!! The crust is made out of pumpkin seeds with basil and pistachio pesto topped by cashew cheese and of course, tomatoes. Sounds odd I am sure but it is delicious and nutrient packed. Because it is so full of nutrients you feel full very quickly and you stay full because your body recognizes that it has gotten what it needs!

Despite feeling full, we had to try their "brownies" made with dates and raw cocoa. They are rich, heavenly and healthy!! For those of you who know me, I am not one who actively seeks out healthy food. I hate whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta etc .. my body literally rejects that stuff. But this?? This is amazing and convinced one southern gal that if I could eat at Bliss for every meal for the rest of my life (all raw food) I would be okay!!

This is not to say I don't like healthy food - I am just not the gal that orders brown rice. I but there are things that are healthy that I just happen to like. I have always been a huge veggie and fruit fan. (I generally don't like legumes however.) What I really like is to find something that is healthy but feels like its indulgent. One of the favorites in the Southern Grace household that falls into this category is bison! Here are some quick bison facts:

72% to 92% less fat (depending upon the cut of the meat.)
An average if 50% less cholesterol.
30% higher in protein and less calories.
No growth-inducing hormones or steroids.
No known human allergies.

Per 3 oz. serving, Bison has 47 less calories than chicken, 90 less than lean ground beef, 32 less than fish and turkey and it has the least cholesterol of all of them!! This delicious meat taste richer than any of these aforementioned meats. I would rather eat a bison burger any day!! Think of the possibilities - bison meatballs, bison meatloaf, bison meat sauce and bison chili!! If your palate is like mine then if you substitute bison for beef in anyone of these instances you will find a much richer and tastier end result. So one the weekly menu, we are going to try bison chili. Here is the recipe that I got off the Food Network. If all goes well, we might serve this up at our pumpkin carving party next week!!

Ingredients

4 cups diced onions
1 roasted poblano, seeded and diced
1/2 cup diced celery

2 cups diced bell peppers
1/2 cup minced garlic
2 1/2 pounds ground Bison
9 ounces dark chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 (10-pound) can diced tomatoes
1 (5-pound) can kidney beans

1 (5-pound) can black beans
24 ounces tomato-vegetable juice

Directions

Saute onions, poblanos, celery, bell peppers, and garlic until translucent. Add meat and saute together. Mix together chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper and add to meat and vegetable mixture. Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and black beans. Add tomato-vegetable juice. Let simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I have made regular chili before of course and found a way to leave out the beans but I can't remember how I did it or what I added more of in place. Today I am going to leave you with a picture of beautiful Montana. Why you ask? Because one day I hope Mr. SG and I can make it to this beautiful state but also because lots of bison roam in Montana and I couldn't put up a picture of a precious bison. A nod to last nights "Bored to Death" on HBO - "In my heart I am a Vegan. In my mouth I lack discipline"

Stay Chic,

HSG

Mom for a day ...

2009-10-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Early morning tomorrow I leave for St. Louis - a suprise trip that I booked just last night. While an undergrad at SMU I competed on the Mock Trial team (like law school Moot Court but the undergrad version) - I have always considered law school and who knows, may eventually end up there! But in the mean time I have been helping out as a Coach to two of the three SMU teams. At the last minute I am jetting up to a competition at St. Louis University to coach them through the weekend. The other Coach is a friend I have spoken of, and blog follower, DBK who is leaving for St. Louis tonight. So last night we took his precious dog, Cheney, to dog-sit for the weekend. Today I am the proud stay-at-home-mom of two dogs and one cat. (Below is a picture of Cheney). Adding another dog to the dynamic is crazy!!!! Scout stays with DBK and Cheney occasionally when we go out of town so they already know each other but these girlies loooveee to rough-and-tumble around the house. Before noon, Cheney had already pooped in the house three times (because she is nervous, I'm sure, since she is well trained) and every time I put the leash on her to go outside she pees - so I have used out go-to carpet cleaner (Spot Shot) about 5 times. When the delivery man came (we have been getting daily wedding gift deliveries so he and I are becoming friends) the two dogs freaked out started running around like wild animals. I began to lose my mind at the constant rough housing and scampering and so I just instituted a mandatory nap time and put both the little angels in their kennels. Now as I type they are snoring away. So if I have learned something from the past few hours (yes, mere hours!!) it is that Mr. SG and I cannot get another dog until we have a house and a yard - condo living is a bit tough with two active pooches.

While we are on the topic of dogs, I have been toying with the idea of ordering booties for dear Scout now that winter and sad weather is on the way. She absolutely hates going outside when it is cold and wet. She'll do it - but she doesn't enjoy it. I found these boots (below) for a very reasonable $13 ... these things tend to be over priced but I think I would plunk down $13 for little Scout's comfort. These are from Handsnpaws.com. I am sure some of you dear readers are rolling your eyes at the thought of booties ... I know, I know ... but couldn't it be bad for her feet? Or are their little pads enough? Something to think about ... we still have some time until Dallas consistently stays below 55.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Monogrammed Madness

2009-10-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

Today's post is monogrammed themed because all three things on my mind have to do with monogramming!!

1) At our Target, women's crew neck sweatshirts are on sale for $6. I scooped up a white one and am having it monogrammed in navy. Since it is starting to get cold, I figured I could add a little prep to my step by wearing a monogrammed sweatshirt when out walking scout on a chilly morning! But the most exciting part is that I am going to have it monogrammed with my new, post-marital initials!

2) Now that the wedding gifts have started to pour in, I ordered stationary with our new monogram. My stationary expert suggested that we do this and write thank yous as they come in but send them out the day after the wedding. I had been writing the notes as they came on my personal stationary but now we are going to switch to this tactic. The stationary came in today and I was so excited to the the very first thing with our new monogram and sadly they were the wrong size! As I opened the box and saw how positively microscopic they were, I said to Scout "What is this, a thank you note for ants?!" Making Zoolander references to the dog is a sign that I need to get a life ... Anyhow, I somehow ordered 2" x 3" cards which are tiny!! We'll still be able to use them as gift enclosures but now I have to order more in the correct size!!

3) I ordered my monogrammed decal to put on my pink and green drink tub for the Lilly Bridesmaids Luncheon. I am having a "Juice Bar" as a nod to the famous shifts dress' origins. So I am ordering two decals (one for each tub) to preppy-fy the tubs. Of course, I am doing it in my new monogram (for practical purposes so that I can use it again post nuptials).

Picture courtesy of JustStuffItGifts.com

P.S. If you are looking for a fun shower theme for your Southern Bride or Southern Mommy-to-Be then why not throw a monogram shower! Think of all the fun party supplies you could have, not to mention all of the fabulous fun gifts for the lucky Southern Gal!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Halloween!!

2009-10-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love October. It has to be one of my favorite months. I think if I lived on the East Coast I would start packing up my summery clothes in September. But having lived the majority of my life in Florida and Texas, October has been my signature summer clothes storage month. I also LOVE Halloween - such a fun and whimsical holiday. I have happily decided that this week I am going to start getting into the spirit and slowly setting out Halloween decor. By slowly I mean like this - I start with a bowl full of gourds and pumpkins (redundant, I am aware ...) on our dining room table. I then move to tea towels in our kitchen. Next, our glass pumpkin filled with candy corn and finally I bring on the front doormat, scary cats, cute bats, etc ... The picture below is exactly like our glass pumpkin - I found one just like my mom had for us growing up at Crate and Barrel.

I have also put our annual pumpkin carving party on the books for a little over two weeks from now.

My mom plays a big part in my thought process that each family should have holiday traditions and one step further, a "signature" holiday party. Her signature party is the New Year's Day Hop 'n' John - Hop 'n' John being a southern dish of black eyed peas traditionally served on the New Year to bring luck and prosperity.

But back to Halloween! Following her example, my signature party so far seems to be a pumpkin carving party. My roommate and great friend ACR started this party as a mini birthday for some good friends of ours. The next year when Mr. SG moved to Dallas, we picked it up and have had it every year since!

So today I am running to Swoozies and Michaels to get some supplies to make our invitations later tonight. My go-to source for Halloween (and all Holidays ...) is Martha. Her Holiday decor is always so chic! I will be trying to replicate these invitations below for the pumpkin carving party.

More details to come on our menu and party decor. Until then, wish me luck on the invites!!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Bachelorette

2009-10-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

We have made it to October and boy have these months flown by. October brings for Mr. SG and I so many fun events kicked off by my Bachelorette party! My lovely bridesmaids have come together and planned what is going to be a wonderful day of girly fun here in Dallas. Most of the details are a surprise to me which is so incredibly fun. But what i do know is that we're starting off with a luncheon of sorts, then moving on to a Spa afternoon and ending up parting our ways at the SMU v. TCU game in Ft. Worth.

This just shows you that Bachelorette parties come in all shapes and sizes. Not everyone has to end up bar hopping. If an afternoon affair is more your style then do it! I was talking to my wedding planner today and she reminded me of the movie "The Wedding Date" which I happen to love. If you've seen it then you probably remember the Hen Party (the British term for Bachelorette Party) where the girls dressed up in sexy and cute golf and tennis attire. So those of you charged with planning your Bride's Bachelorette, think about how you can make it uniquely tailored to the Bride and everyone's style. It doesn't always have to be Vegas or Vegas -eqsue (though that's where Mr. SG had his Bachelor Party ... )

Something I like for birthday parties and really any party is a fun theme. When my friend CLK turned 22 we celebrated with an 80's style Whirly Ball party. If that sounds like your Bride then look up a something like Whirly Ball, bowling, roller skating, etc .. and hearken back to a carefree fun time when our birthday parties were spent gliding around an ice rink and snatching up a goody bag filled with whistles, candy and pogs. (remember pogs?) Below is a (somewhat racy) pic from The Wedding Date where she's wearing her Golf outfit for the bachelorette - you barely see her argyle knee socks ... how cute!

So thank you to my wonderful bridesmaids and friends - I am so excited about this weekend! And my blogger loves, I might be out of pocket for a few days since I am entertaining house guests (Bridesmaids KMP and SVB) but we'll see!!

Stay Chic,

HSG

Traveling

2009-09-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-23T09:44:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-17T08:18:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

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 ...

2009-09-11T14:54:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

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 ...

2009-09-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

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.

Likes and Dislikes

2009-08-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Today we're going to talk about my likes and dislikes.

Likes:

Finding Good Deals

Successful DIY Wedding Projects

Dislikes:

Bad Etiquette

Bad Hangovers

Likes ...

Finding Good Deals

This week has been a fabulous one for bargain hunting. One dear reader messaged me that she loves fashion but just doesn't have the funds to shop as much as her heart desires. Well darling, many of us are in that boat. I have two suggestions. The first would be to consign your unwanted clothes or go to a store that buys your clothes upfront and recycle that money to keep your styles current. Secondly - Thrift stores. Consignment stores. Clothes swap! You know my love for thrift stores. As long as you're not bothered by wearing previously worn clothing (just get it dry cleaned!) then this is a fabulous solution for you. Consignments Stores are generally more upscale and my favorite here in Dallas, Clothes Circuit, is dripping in designer brands. I once got a pair of $300 Tory Burches, unworn, for $80 and unworn Lilly flats for $25. If you have a good friend in your same size, do some clothing swaps! But for me my greatest success is at thrift stores. Take the other day for example - I was performing my weekly ritual of antique silver hunting at the Salvation Army (for my wedding centerpieces) and I decided to hop over to the clothes since the green tags were 50% off. I found two fabulous fall items. One brown, Herringbone blazer - fits like it was made for me and is a Ralph Lauren brand to boot. I got this lovely for $6 - you may gasp.

Secondly, I got this navy wool crepe beauty for $12. This jacket is authentic vintage. I looked up the label inside - turns out Herbert Grossman was a designer for Nieman Marcus. This jacket is legit 1970's and has an old Niemans label sewn in. Very good find.

These jackets will be perfect with some skinny jeans (picture Audrey Hepburn cigarette pants not painted-on-the-thigh Beyonce jeans) and a nice J-Crew tee. Throw on some long pearls and cute flats and you're ready to go!

Secondly, I went to Marshalls. I was not shopping for myself - I was looking for a gift, I promise. But I couldn't help myself from browsing and its a good thing a did. I found this Lilly tennis skirt that was once $168 and I paid $10!! As I mentioned, I play tennis. So technically I need this skirt. Plus at $10, I would be silly not to grab it!

Finally, I went to St. Vincents to drop off a donation and decided it couldn't hurt to browse. I found this darling purse for $3 - reminds me of Kate Spade or atleast 1950s and 1960's Florida. Then, bargain of all bargains, I found Wedgewood hiding in the homegoods section. Dear readers, I purchased 8 cups and saucers and 6 luncheon plates of the iconic Nantucket Basketweave pattern for just $60. Do you know how much it would cost to buy these items full price? I checked ... nearly $600!!!!! I called my mom immediately, who of course shared in my joy. Yes darlings, I really, really like finding good deals.

Successful DIY Wedding Projects

I have three flowergirls - yes three. Dresses for those little munchkins are expensive! I have looked around Crew Cuts (my favorite) and other child boutiques and cannot find good dresses for under $100 a piece. And when I do, I rarely find the three sizes I need let alone dresses that I actually like. So I took matters into my own hands. I purchased these t]Target dresses below for $30 a piece and since I spent over $50 I got free shipping. But affordable dresses like these only come in a rather cheesy, bright white. Not chic at all. So I tea stained them! Tea staining is a wonderful idea for making clothes look more antique - it gives a warmth to the fabric like you wouldn't believe! To do this I filled up a giant pot with water, brought it to a boil, let about 25 tea bags steep for 5 minutes, took the tea bags out, put the dress in and stirred it around for 10 minutes, washed it off with clean, cold water and hung to dry. Repeat for each dress. Voila, the finished products!! They are topped off with a silk sash that is made out of the bridesmaid dress material that was purchased for $25 dollars. Success!! I really do like when DIY goes well!

Dislikes ...

Bad Etiquette

My sweet sister, AEW, is a debutante in our hometown. Our debutante program invites 22 girls to debut who throw their own parties, either alone or with another debutante, before the big ball in December. My sister's party is tomorrow. We are taking the red-eye to Florida in order to make it. The parties are always themed and her theme is TV Land so Mr. SG and I are going as Mr. and Mrs. Howell (pictures to come). I have never heard of more horribble etiquette than what my sweet sister has had to put up with leading up to this soiree. When I was a debutante, we never had problems like these. AEW has had to approach so many of her invitees because they did not R.S.V.P! Can you believe it? She says some of them claim to not know what an R.S.V.P means?!? I find it hard to believe that among my sister's friends who are 18 and all have a private school background, don't know what R.S.V.P means. And if that is the case where are their parents?! What ever happened to good party etiquette? Remembering to R.S.V.P should be the easiest rule to follow! Wonder what they'll do once they get to the receiving line? It should be a wonderful party, inspite of these troubles... but I hate that little AEW is having to deal with this nonsense! These kids need to get a copy of an Emily Post or Amy Vanderbilt etiqutte book tout de suite!

Bad Hangovers

When stunning Betty Draper has her hangover moments in Season Two she somehow makes it look glamorous. Though I suspect she would make anything look glamorous. I however, do not make it look glamorous. Though I love my cocktails, I am not a heavy drinker or 'hard partier' if you will. I never really was in college either. With SMU back in session, perhaps it was the scent of over-indulgence wafting in the air of Highland Park that led me to enjoy one too many. Or rather, too much variety. See it wasn't the number - because my number over the night was incredibly tame - it was the variety. I started with a declious, dirty martini before dinner with my dear friend DBK at Neighborhood Services (delicious). Then moved on to a chardonnay to enjoy with my avocado and crab salad for dinner. Then my last variety was light beer while enjoying some great live music on the outdoor patio of a bar. This is a recipie for disaster and I woke up this morning not in the mood to do any laundry or vacuuming. So note to self, at my sisters debutante party, find a drink and stick to it!

Attention: Lost Topsider

2009-08-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

We have a very serious matter on our hands. My favorite pair of topsiders (Sperrys, of course ...) is no longer a pair. For the past few weeks I have opened my closet to find only one, sad topsider looking confused and alone in his little shoe nook. Now that we have passed a month of his absence, I am getting concerned. This pair of shoes is not just another pair of shoes. It is my oldest pair of boat shoes - 7 years old! I have so many memories in these shoes. Boat shoes are practically part of the uniform at SMU. I know what you're thinking, "Isn't SMU in Dallas?"But as I have eluded to in my profile, SMU students take pride in their repertoire of 'prep' and what that means is you don't need a horse to wear riding boots come November and you certainly don't need the ocean to wear topsiders.

One fond memory is of a sweet, freshman boy marveling at how my Sperry's could look so broken-in. Boy did I throw him for a loop when I let him in on my secret - I wear them boating ... Yes my dears, these kinds of conversations did really happen at my Southern Alma Mater. (I assure you though, SMU wasn't all ribbon belts and canvas totes- I was privileged to go to school with some of the best and the brightest.) Anyways, back to Operation: Find The Topsider. If you see this shoe and it seems lost and confused,please return it to me! Otherwise, if you see a pair at your local Boat U.S. buy it! It will be a faithful friend for many years and many dunks in the salty sea. It will stand by you as you jump off the boat and into higher tide than planned. Its' non-skid sole will ensure you don't slip as you dock at the yacht club to grab a gin and tonic. And it might just be a conversation starter for a timid freshman girl, on her own at an out-of-state college, eager and ready for life to begin.

Mad Men

2009-08-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Mad Men. If you're not watching it, start watching it. It comes on Sunday nights on AMC 10 P.M. Eastern and 9 P.M. Central. I have to admit, I am a late fan. As the promos started rolling for Season 3, Mr. SG and I wondered why we had never watched this show. So we picked up Season 1 and 2 at Best Buy and spent a weekend watching episode after episode until we were ready for Season 3 which debuted last Sunday. Since our jump on the bandwagon I have just been obsessed! The era, the clothes, the decor, the cocktails ... it is sensory overload! The story lines are seductive, the people are attractive and the set design is like eye candy.

Today we had to bug-bomb our little abode to get rid of fleas plaguing Harper and Scout. Since we had to be out of our place for 6 hours we headed over to Northpark and filled our day with The Time Traveler's Wife (tear) and shopping. For whatever reason I rarely stop by The Limited but I feel like when I do I am always surprised by the items I find. These skirts fit into the "surprise category." Plus, the delicious sweater was a bonus- hiding in the clearance racks and a steal of a deal.

They are perfect fall fabrics; a wool blend that reminds me of a tweed. The yellow is a wonderful neutral but with a 'pop' - it will look fabulous with navy, but can always be paired with a rich, cream sweater. The multi-colored, textured skirt has fun studs around the waistband ththat bring a very Sex-in-the-City vibe to an otherwise conservative and preppy skirt. Something about them remind me of Mad Men - something Joan would wear. (The skirts accentuate curves in a good way.) Turns out this is perfect because on the "Which Mad Men character are you?" quiz I am apparently Joan Holloway, the "sassy and complicated" Office Manager. Though her morals are questionable at times, she has a savvy fashion sense that I will surely channel when building my business professional wardrobe. Mr. SG took the same test and some how is like Jane Siegel. For those of you who don't know, Jane is a home-wrecking hussy who is manipulating her way into a marriage to a partner at Sterling Cooper. Perhaps given this information I should re-think the wedding plans ... (Just kidding dears!)

To finish this Mad Men inspired post I'll leave you with one of my favorite retro drinks. A Bloody Mary! Zing Zang is my all-time favorite, introduced to me by my good friend (and another bridesmaid) ACR. This mix is spicy and delicious and at only 20 calories a serving its as healthy as an adult beverage can be. I like extra lime in my concoctions.

The next time you watch this fabulous show, whether its your first time or your're a regular, mix up an era appropriate cocktail. For next time I'm thinking Vodka Gimlet ...

Stay Chic,

HSG

Super Skate

2009-08-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you went to a skating party? For me, until recently it had been my little sister's 9th birthday party at an ice skating rink in Florida. This was a particularly memorable event because the cake we ordered, complete with pink ice skates on top, said "Happy Birthday Nana." My sisters name is Anna ... Mind you, the bakery was delivering said cake to a skating rink. Did they ever stop to ask themselves, "Why would a "Nana" be having her birthday at an ice skating rink?" But almost 10 years later I was able to dust off my skating skills (or lack of ...) for a skate party at a local roller rink!

My sweet friend ESS (one of my bridesmaids) had a hankering for musty, florescent carpets and roller skates with laces that look like a rodent has been gnawing on them. So since it was her birthday, how could we say 'No" when she suggested such an adventure? We traveled out of our bubble - way out of our bubble - to Super Skate. We're still not entirely sure where this delightful establishment is (somewhere in Dallas County) but one look at the pirouetting pig and we knew we were in the right place.

So we skated around the wooden rink and though we were definitely the oldest participants, it conjured up memories of fog machine filled birthday parties that ended in loot bags stuffed with plastic whistles and chocolate gold coins. Mr. SG was quite the athlete, a former hockey player, he strode around the rink, effortlessly gliding across the laminated wood. He even escorted a stranded and very scared little skater back to the side lines - a precious look into the future for me. The evening's grand total was $8 for four adult skaters - rentals and all. It was a simple celebration. The birthday dinner before skating was bison burgers accompanied by sweet potato fries - easy but delicious. That capped off with some red velvet cupcakes and a fine evening of skating made for a fun, lighthearted and affordable celebration. Check out the pics below of the birthday girl and her dear BF skating to the tunes of Michael Jackson, I believe.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Target

2009-08-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Apparently I didn't get the memo, but you must wear spandex to the Lake Highlands Super Target if you intend to shop around noon during the week. Seriously, the population during this hour was primarily women, some with young children in tow, and 90% of said group were wearing black, spandex athletic pants! I looked out-of-place in my dark wash denim skirt. (This time I was the dad at the meat counter!) Note to self: Must wear black, spandex athletic pants if I want to fit in ...

Target, or "Tar -jhey" as my mother used to pronounce it, is like heaven-on-earth. It never fails that if I walk in for dish soap I will come out with a new dress, salad plates, wrapping paper and possibly the original dish soap if I remember. This habit of buying extraneous items can be traced to back-to-school trips with mom and dad. With school supply list in hand, we would swear to buy only necessary items and inevitably walk out with a picture frame I couldn't live without, the latest CD and a bathing suit - items that certainly weren't on the list sent home by St. Stephen's Episcopal School.

So today as I made my way to Super Target I told myself that I would stick to the list. We needed groceries and household goodies like an additional laundry basket and more dog bones. Well the moment I saw a miniature cardboard school bus filled with Macintosh apples I was done for. Lucky for you I can spread the wealth.

I snatched up these precious, preppy sleep shorts - 2 for $10!! Can you believe it? These darlings are perfect for your favorite college freshman or yourself! I encourage you to run, not walk, to your nearest Target before these lovelies are all gone!

Aside from preppy sleep shorts I did make a few more discoveries at Target. Since I have had more time on my hands, I have had the luxury of price comparison shopping and have found that for the most part, 100 calorie packs of things are much cheaper at Target. Especially the 100 calorie packs of candy like M&M's and Sour Patch Kids. They come in packs of 5 for only $2.44 (Great for the movies by the way ...) And the Organic Milk is much more affordable at Target than at Tom Thumb. Even some of the produce! So for those of you who find yourself with more time on your hands than normal, take the opportunity to do some price comparisons! A penny saved ...

Stay Chic,

HSG

Salvation Army

2009-08-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

These days, I am in love with the Salvation Army. In preparation for the wedding I have been scouring thrift stores for unique silver pieces like trays, trophies, revere bowls and julep cups. What is more southern than a great piece of silver!
Everytime I go to the Salvation Army on Inwood in Dallas, I come away with tons of great pieces! But this shopping has opened my eyes to more than just silver - I found some fabulous blue and white salad plates, 10 for just $6!! I scooped up two awesome vintage pieces that I promptly put to use last night. (Pictures to come ...) A great old glass that I repurposed as a vase and a 50's fabulous tray that I used as a coaster for a condensating water pitcher at a casual dinner with a friend of ours, Brett. (Shout out to my first follower!)
But truly, the Salvation Army and St. Vincents Thrift Store in Dallas have become my favorite new hot spots! I have found so many fun items not just for the wedding but for the house and for me! I encourage you to get creative and see what you can find at your local thrift store - you can be southern, chic and cheap all at the same time.

Stay Chic,

HSG

The Grocery Store ...

2009-08-12T22:14:00.001-07:00

I am not alone. Yes my dears, there are more accidental housewives than I give credit. Take today, there were at least 50 ladies, between the ages of 22 and 60, at Central Market and Tom Thumb. But there was also one man - poor sweetheart. He didn't know how the meat counter number system worked. There he was with his precious toddler in a jogging stroller, waiting for his cut of sirloin. But it was I who pulled the first ticket. "71" they called. And I came forward - I gestured toward the sweet man with the jogging stroller, "He was here first," I say ... the guy at the meat counter says, "That's not how it works, to bad for him ..." and I get my chicken breast first.

His "fish-out-of-water" look gave him away as an AH (my new abbreviation for accidental housewife). In this tough economic climate we are all called to just do our best and play the hand we're dealt. My hope is that he at least learns the meat counter protocol and either gets back in the game where meat counter protocol doesn't matter or he settles in to what can be a wonderful life with his darling son. I personally will take this time to enjoy the small things. I love that I could take Scout for a longer walk today. I love that I wasn't running out the door at 7 AM and instead could scratch Harper behind the ears for a few lazy moments in bed. Whatever your deck looks like, embrace the challenge and find the joy. And when that is too hard and the world seems too unbearable, take a moment and pray or meditate- then breathe. This too shall pass.

Stay Chic,

HSG

Day One ...

2009-08-11T09:44:00.001-07:00

So here we are, it is officially 'Day One' of my time as an "accidental housewife." What exactly does that mean? I'll explain ... See, as I worked diligently through college, picking those perfect internships, finding perfect recommendations - I never imagined myself as being unemployed post-graduation. But here I am - jobless. Many of my peers were happy to loaf around in college, so imagine how pleased they are to be loafing around now? I, however, am not a loafer, though I love loafers, but only those that come with darling tassels and might have a penny in them. Even in college - ask my friends - I was a busy little bee. For a while I was going to both SMU and The Art Institute of Dallas - pursuing my little-girl dream job of being an Interior Designer. At one point, I was taking a total of 25 hours of class - plus extracurriculars and life! But alas, Interior Design school is on a hiatus - it is quite costly!! So I returned to the root question I had asked myself before starting ID school - "What would you enjoy doing with your life?" and listened more carefully to the answer I had given along side of ID - Teaching.

So ladies (and gentlemen?) I pursued my Alternative Teaching Certification (Which just means beyond Undergraduate studies) and am now considered Highly Qualified to teach Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. Giving in my sincere all, I worked as a summer teacher for a Science Camp for July and now this part of August. I loved it - I love the kids, I loved the learning - I really think teaching could be my calling. I had a great opportunity to interview for a fabulous district here in Dallas but sadly I did not get recommended for the position. (One day chickadees, one day ... ) But I will perservere - my plan B is to substitute. But for now, I must wait and see. Waiting and seeing is the hardest part isn't it? Good things come to those who wait - I sincerely believe this. Until I have an occupation however, I will fill my days with grocery runs, lingering lunches with friends, wedding planning, laundry, and the luxury of going to the gym at 1:30 in the afternoon.

So this was a long post - I promise, they will get shorter and be filled with goodies. But today I will leave my darlings with something. As part of my ritualistic induction into the Park Cities Housewife Club I got a pedicure ... at 10:30 in the morning ... don't hate me. But what it left me with, beside intense curiosity, was a great nail polish color!!

It's called OK Coral. It's a play on words since it's Coral (not Corral). Coral, I should tell you, is my absolute favorite color! And for those of you in the Park Cities area, I really enjoy Delux Nails across from SMU and near Goff's Burgers. It is clean and clean - my #1 test.

Stay Chic,

HSG