Boo!

Mad Men Season Finale

Now that the second season has ended for Mad Men, what am I going to do on Sunday nights? 

If you aren't watching this show, you ARE missing out.  It is the most compelling, well produced show (that I know of)  on television.   Rent/download the first season and watch it.  You will be hooked.  You may as well get the second season at the same time.  You can make it a Mad Men marathon!

   

Kristin Davis/Belk Fashion Show

The fashion show was such a fun girl's night out.  Most importantly, it was a great fund raiser for an amazing charitable organization.     

Here's how it went:

6:30  Cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres--all while registering for door prizes, listening to a jazz band, and talking.   

7:45  The Fashion Shows  

Belk's Fall 2008 Style Statements

Belk divided up the current fashions into six categories as follows: 

 

 1.  Form and Fabric-"Set your sights on today's hi-def dressing.   Asymmetrical forms and calculated lines are at the top of this season's 'it' list.  Sleek shapes...controlled volume...designer details...and so much more." (21 outfits shown)

 2.  His and Hers-"Anything he can wear, you can wear better.  Menswear gets a make-over.  His patterns.  His tailored lines.  His rich fabrics.  Reinvented and reborn with a feminine twist." (22 outfits shown)

  3.  Lush and Ladylike-"High class fashion and refined feminie dressing returns.  Dressmaker details-ruffles, gathers and bows pair oh so perfectly with rich fabrics and elegant patterns.  This look defines retro-inspired glamor." (25 outfits shown)

     

 4.  Art and Craft-"Here the season's silhouettes get the personal touch.   Handcrafted elements and artsy embellishments inspire the soloist in all of  us.  Anything and everything expressive makes this style statement sing." (24 outfits shown)

5.  Then The Kristin Davis Collection  (25 outfits shown)

I think I wanted more "Charlotte York" than "Kristin Davis".  I just wouldn't wear the outfit shown below.  Don't get me wrong, there were many "cute" clothes.  I just don't do "cute" very well.  Maybe that's why I'm Granny.  

  This on the other hand-  I would wear this--but I don't think this is from her Belk's line.  Oh, well!  

  

6.  Ball Gown Finale-  (21 outfits shown) Sorry no gowns to show you here-there just weren't any pictures.  I did find you some of the shoes:

 I can't forget the door prizes and goodie bags!  They were great.  Autographed hand bags were given away as were diamond rings!  Guess what I came home with?  A gift card and  an 18" pearl necklace!  How perfect!  A girl can never have too many pearls--or gift cards!  

Thank you, Belk!

Fashion Show Teaser

Sorry friends, I'm just too tired to post my full review tonight on the fashion show .  I did want to show you two of my favorites specifically from the Kristin Davis Collection:

    

 

A Non-Kitchen, Kitchen

We've seen kitchens go to the other extreme--sterile and utilitarian.  I think it's time for a little warmth.  After all, don't we all end up in the kitchen anyway? 

Here's my proposal: a real room that just happens to have a kitchen inside!  Take a look at this Charlotte, North Carolina kitchen.  I think this is WONDERFUL!  Join me for a cup of coffee at the zinc covered table, won't you? 

How amazingly clever is this?   

Who would have ever guessed?    

photo credit: by Ellen McDermott

Now, what are your kitchen "must haves"?  It can be anything - from your grandmother's iron skillet to the ice maker?  

(I'm leaning towards laughter and smiling faces!)

'Kristin Davis, The Show must go On'

Remember the Kristin Davis event I told you about earlier?  Here is an email I received this morning:

'As they say in Hollywood, "the show must go on!"

We learned over the weekend that Kristin Davis will not be able to leave the location where she is currently shooting a movie to join us in *****.  Belk is extremely disappointed and they've done everything they can to bring Kristin to us.

All arrangements have been made and the event will go on, in grander style. The event Belk was planning with the ***** is also being cancelled and, since no date had been set for that event, all of the ***** giveaways are being sent to our party. In an attempt to make up for the loss of Kristin Davis, there will be double the giveways, the gift certificates you'll receive in your gift bags will be larger and Belk is giving an additional $10,000 donation to the *****.'

I'll admit, I'm actually more excited about the fashion show now!  I'm thrilled with the additional donation to our organization and double the gift certificates!  Woo hoo!   I'll keep you posted and let you all know what's in the goodie bag!    

 

Farm Fantasy V-The Kitchen

 
Remember the Farmhouse?

The kitchen in the farmhouse at Blackberry Farm is lovely and understated. Encompassing only the footprint of one of the upstairs bathrooms, it's not that large.  See the ice maker and microwave tucked neatly in the corner under the countertop?

The view outside was bucolic.  There were no upper cabinets-why take away from the view? All appliances were from Mississippi, made by Viking.  The range's back splash is mosaic tile. The cabinetry has somewhat of a pickled finnish.  The countertops are marble, although they resemble limestone in color.     

I adored the handmade pottery.  Besides the glasses and mugs, everything you see in the hutch is Southern.  The beige pottery (plates and bowls) were all made in Tennessee. 
 

Last but not least, a pretty floral arrangement that sat to the left of the sink.  

(We'll pretend that they are for Pearls and Grace-a get well bouquet!)  

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  

An Army General, Entertaining and Funny?

Every heard of this fellow?  You Southern girls may recognize him, especially if you are from New Orleans.  This is Ret. Army General Russell Honore.  He was sent by President Bush to the water covered region to lead the Joint Task Force after Hurricane Katrina.  He was responsible for coordinating the military relief efforts in the water-soaked Gulf Coast.  Remember Mayor Nagin referring to him as the "John Wayne dude"?  

I heard him speak the other night.  He was surprisingly funny, entertaining, and insightful.   I have embeded a video clip from YouTube.  This is from a talk he gave at Coca-Cola.  It's not the same talk I heard, but similar.  Watch the entire thing if you are interested, if not, at least catch the first minute or so introduction.  It's funny and tells you a great deal about his personality.  Enjoy!        

One take away quote from the night was, "God gave you two hands for a reason.  One to take care of yourself, and the other to help others."  Now that's a good one! 

Now, more along our usual line, a few Louisianna lovelies for you to enjoy:

Send Prayers for Pearls and Grace

A quick note to say that we all need to say a special prayer for our dear, dear blogger at Pearls and Grace. Two of her precious children have been in the hospital this weekend. Please pray for Bennett and Ashton.  

As many of you know, Pearls and Grace is one of the VERY BEST inspirations around.  Please  send her encouraging words by leaving a comment on her blog.     Thank you.

An Award!

How very thoughtful of  ALLABOUTSOMEPINK/Pink is my Signature Color to bestow the Kreative Blogger Award to old Granny!  Thank you so much!

Here are my 6 happy things:

1.  puppies

2.  hugs

 

3.  babies

4.  friends

5.  a cozy fire

  

6.  laughter

The six bloggers that I send this award to are:

The Blue Eyed Bride

Magnolias, Marriage and Manhattan

Objection Perfection

Dancing Round in a Ring

Adventures of a Southern Newlywed

The Unperfect Mom

Please check out their blogs.  They have recently "introduced" themselves to me and I hope you find a new blog friend too!

Updating My Blog Roll

 I have met so many kind bloggers in the past few months.  I need to update my blog roll and want to share some of my favorite reads.  Would you like to be considered for my blog roll?  If so, please leave a comment on this post.  As always, thanks for visiting!

Psalm 19:14
King James Version
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

More Notable Cousins

Sarah Palin's other cousin is F.D.R.!   From Ancestry.com, "Palin is also a distant cousin to Franklin D. Roosevelt – through common ancestor named Rev. John Lothrop, who arrived in Massachusetts colony in 1634."
 

According to this website, John McCain is 6th cousins to Laura Bush.  I haven't checked sources on this one.  If you go to the link here, you'll see the ancestral line to their common ancestor.

This website also claims that John Kerry and President Bush are related eight different ways!  It seems like a stretch, but as genealogist will tell you, "you may be 12th cousins with just about anyone in the world."    

Princess Palin?

Did you hear the news last night? Sarah Palin is a 10th cousin to Princess Diana.   She is also a 9th cousin to a U.S. President.  Do you know which one?  (Just a teaser--I'm making you work for this one!)

   

 Ancestry.com has done a study of the candidates families and reported this news yesterday.  Check out their website for more information.  A warning:  genealogy is addictive.  You never get to a stopping place.  It just goes on and on--and is such fun.

Morning Inspiration

Be still my heart!

BENJAMIN MOORE AGANTHUS GREEN 472: "This soft green has a wonderful mossy quality. It feels like a cool walk through a deeply shaded woods. I like the way it grounds a room. Anything looks good against it — blues, reds, corals, browns. How can you do better than a color found in nature?" —PHOEBE HOWARD

Computer + Coffee + Toddler = NOT GOOD

So, not good.

Well, the picture says it all.  Yes, my little one poured an entire cup of coffee (cream and sugar) all over the computer keyboard.  Let's just say, it was a lesson in patience!   There was no response to the computer for about 16 hours.  After following the instructions of tech support, still nothing.  Following much stress and admitted, excitement, over the thoughts of a new computer...I simply tried again.  I plugged it in and surprise!  The computer is working!  Yeah!  All of the keys aren't properly working--backspace just won't BACKSPACE!  I haven't tried to burn a disc yet.  I'm a bit anxious about that, considering the quantity of java that flowed from it earlier!  

In the mean time, look what I found online.  A waterproof, roll-up keyboard!  I think this is a great idea.  I thought you all might be fond of the color too!   
In the event you don't hear from me in a timely manner, you'll have a good idea of why.  Cross your fingers that the computer is back to normal.  Maybe the caffeine gave it a boost! 

Farm Fantasy Part IV-Living & Dining

Well, by popular request, more Blackberry Farm pictures:

(The picture above shows where I spent one afternoon, doing absolutely nothing!  It was great!)

As I mentioned in earlier posts, these pictures are from the inside of the Farm House.  

When we first arrived at the house, we were welcomed with delicious chocolate chip pecan cookies.  They were huge!  The only thing missing in the stocked refrigerator was the milk!  (Although, there was cream for the coffee in a precious little pitcher.)

Here is the main living room.  The building you can see outside the window is the amazing Barn-restaurant and wine cellar.  Traditional Home magazine did a story on the Farm House just after it's completion in July 2007.  If you have back issues, you can see the colors much better than in my photos.   There was a fair amount of sea foam green.

Here is a wider shot of the dining room, which opens to the living room (imagine it is to your back in this particular photo).  The doorway to the kitchen was to the right of the fireplace.  If I recall correctly, the round table, extended like it is, seats ten.  The dining room reminds me of Restoration Hardware's Camden collection--round table and white dishes displayed.    

There were so many things about the design that I found interesting.  Use the dining room chairs as an example:  I would have never picked these out for this room, especially painted white.  Standing alone, I don't know that they would work.  As an entire room, it just all works.

Some of you have asked about design sources.  Well, the main desk keeps a file with all paint colors and some other information.  All 65 rooms have been designed under the direction of Kreis Beall with some consultation from Suzanne Kasler.  Kasler has an amazing talent and beautiful website.  

Hope you have enjoyed this latest installment!