Welcoming Anthropologie to Oklahoma!

I must have died and gone to heaven. This is so exciting that I can barely contain my glee!!! I almost want to apply for a part-time weekend job JUST so I can get the discount. She and I were just meant to be..........

2009 Music Picks

Last year I blogged my top songs of 2008. You can reflect here. Another year has passed and in keeping with tradition here's a quick rundown of some of my favorite music from 2009. Enjoy!

1. Atlas Sound - Shelia
2. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home
3. Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (there is something wrong with you if you don't like this song)
4. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead or Moth's Wings
5. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (whole album)
6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (whole album)
7. Camera Obscura - French Navy
8. Modest Mouse - Satellite Skin
9. Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes
10. Regina Spektor - The Calculation
11. The xx - Islands
**Bonus song that I wish I owned - The xx did a remix of Florence And The Machine You've Got The Love. It is incredible.
12. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
13. Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You
14. The Decemberists - The Rake Song
**I should mention....this was the ONLY song on this album that I liked. I was extremely disappointed in this album as a whole but thought this song was worthy of a nod.
15. Andrew Bird - Fitz & the Dizzyspells
16. M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel - Never Had Nobody Like You
17. Fanfarlo - Reservoir (whole album)
18. Julian Casablancas - Out of the Blue
19. Dirty Projectors - No Intention
20. Broken Bells - The High Road (Thanks, Layni!)

I compiled my list independently, not to be swayed by anything on the Internet. After I was done I went to Pitchfork to see what people nominated for 2009. I also looked on NPR: All Songs Considered (b/c Bob Boilen is a musical god). There were a few variations but all in all I was right on target. I think this means I am a trustworthy source with excellent musical taste and you should give at least 5 of these songs an honest listen. In closing, I have admitted my minor obsession with Lady GaGa. I just couldn't pick one song. You know you would be lying to yourself if you said you never drove to work in the morning humming Poker Face or belted out a few lines of Bad Romance while in the shower. Happy listening in 2010.

Project Runway Week 3

This was my favorite design. I really liked the bolero type jacket and this was the only garment that I thought looked like true couture.

I cannot believe this was the design that won. I am still shocked. Please tell me someone else thought this was awful? I can appreciate a well constructed/tailored garment but that doesn't make this "winner" worthy. I felt sorry for Jonathan. He did a majority of the work and Mila got all the recognition.

In addition:
1. I was very underwhelmed by this episode. Nothing really stuck me as fantastic. Therefore, I don't have a lot to say about it.
2. I am trying to imagine what I would have done if I had been standing that close to real couture. I was insanely jealous.
3. I love, love Anthony's one liners. He is hilarious.

Project Runway Week 2

This was a clever challenge. Designers were to create a look for an industry event out of a burlap potato sack. The finished products were absolutely amazing. Minus the hideous "flasher" dress that Ping made. Here were my favorites....

This dress was incredible!
I would have ever known it was made out of entirely burlap.
Very elegant. Jay deserved to win this challenge.

I think Amy used the fabric in the most inventive way.
I would definitely wear this.

I liked the sexiness of this dress.
Again, you would have never known this was burlap.
The fit was impeccable.

I don't really have any follow up remarks this week. Except for, does Lauren Hutton not look fantastic. I googled her...she is 67 years old. Amazing!

Valentine's Day is around the corner

.......perfect for a night out on the town with your sweetie.

Taking a break from heels

Frye moccasin style flats. I love these shoes!

Growth in 2010

My blog underwent a small face lift. 2010 has already proved to be a year of new beginnings and transitions personally and professionally. This is a really exciting time for me and I thought that this small change would get me back into the swing of blogging and being excited about writing again. Once again, I have my very talented hubby to thank for the design work. Hope you all enjoy. Happy 2010 to all my fellow readers!!

Project Runway Week 1

The start of another season of Project Runway. I was thrilled Season 7 aired so shortly after the ending of Season 6. The show returned to New York. The first challenge was pretty easy. Who are you as a designer? These were some of my favorites.....

This dress is incredible! The detail Emilio put into it is just amazing.....even if it is purple :)

I love how she wasn't afraid to mix and match patterns. This is a classy look.

I really thought the detail in this dress was incredible.
It isn't really so much my style but Sean Aaron can sew and knows what
moves well on a woman's body.

Afterthoughts:
1. Anthony saying "It's hell being black and gay in the ghetto." That guy is funny.
2. Ping. Enough said. She is definitely out there.
3. Is it just me or is Heidi always pregnant. Wow.

A New Year and a new season.....

Season 7 is back tonight on Lifetime at 9:00 (Central)
I am so excited!!!

Little Black Dress

This trench coat dress is incredible. I love the collar.
It is so classy with all the hair swept up off the neck.
Reminds me of something Audrey Hepburn would have worn.

Brrrrrrrrrrr! Why is it so cold outside??

Can you imagine getting to sleep in this bed every night? Perfection!

New Anthropologie catalog showed up today.
Of course, I love every single thing in it.
However, this particular photo/outfit is my favorite.

Reading revisited

Now that I have some time, I have decided to start reading again. My bestie recommended this book to me a year ago. I purchased it for $1 at the Friends of the Library book sale last February and it sat on my bookshelf for almost a year. I have been so engrossed in all the million other things that we have had going on and forgot about the thing that I love doing most....reading a quality book. Alice Sebold's writing is fantastic. She can make a dark subject light hearted and I hate to say this but almost comical in a way. I wanted to finish it before the movie comes out. Watched the trailer today. It is always so weird to me the way characters look when a book is turned into a movie. I have them pictured in my mind totally different. Anyway, just thought I would share. I am a quarter of the way through and I would highly recommend this read.

Handmade is always better

A very dear friend gave me this ornament yesterday. I absolutely love it. She admitted to "stalking" my blog so she got a pretty heavy dose of the things that I really like. I will hang it on my tree every year and think of her.

My dad made this for Zach. Fitting and perfectly made.

I really do have the best group of family and friends. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Mustard Tory Burch's

These shoes should most definitely be mine.....

NYC Christmas on your coffee table

I would really like to have this book. I have always wanted to go to New York for Christmas and see the tree lit, walk through Central Park in the snow or actually watch people ice skate in Rockefeller Plaza in December and not April. There is just something so wonderful and infectious about NYC. Plus, "Miranda" wrote the foreword. Nice touch!

Holiday Cheer

My dearest Anthropologie, you never cease to amaze me..........

Earflap hat candle

Sweater sleeve candle

These are just plain creative.
I want to make some with old mason jars.
They are essentially a cooler version of a snow globe.

These boots melt my heart

I need another pair of boots like I need a hole in the head.
But who can resist the perfect construction
of these beautiful Frye boots.
I laid awake last night thinking about all the outfits I could wear pair these with.

Friday finds

I love these snow globes from West Elm. The silver tree is my favorite.
Would be a classy addition to any holiday decorating.

I can't resist owls. How adorable. This would look so good in my living room :)

Project Runway - Finale

Only three remain! Who will win???? I can't wait for tonight......

At home eye chart

This pillow really caught my eye. I am not sure why I like it. It's unusual and something I have never seen before. That combined with the clean white palette....makes a great combo. However, I don't 95 bucks like it. I will continue to admire it on the world wide web.

White on white

This tee is awesome.
Taking a plain white tee and dressing it up with hand sewn embellishments.
Genius.

Spiced Chestnut

Williams-Sonoma brought back this hand soap much to my husband's delight. It really does smell good. Imagine manly meets festive. I have our lovely friend Marina to thank for getting him started on this soap obsession. For me it's more about acquiring something that he really likes and better yet getting it on sale. Pretty much ever since we have been together, I have gone after Christmas and stocked up. Not last year. They didn't even carry this fragrance last year. The word "discontinued" was even uttered. And they changed the shape of the bottles so you had to buy a new metal holder. In our family things being discontinued is like the world ending. First it was Zach's GAP pants. That was a rough day. *He claims he still has not found the prefect fitting replacement pair. Then it was the only hair product that ever really worked well on my hair. Basically, we just gave up on WS. Until I got my holiday catalog in the mail. There is was. Bottle was even back to it's original size and shape. That was a good day. Heck, I even purchased Zach a full price bottle to ring in the holidays.

Edward & Bella

I cannot stop laughing. Don't get me wrong.......I love Twilight just like every other woman these days. However, this is slightly disturbing. Seems if Barbie decided to cash in on the Twilight phenomenon. Did I mention that I saw a woman my mother's age wearing a skin tight Twilight t-shirt in the airport. It was all I could do not to Tweet it for proof.

Warning: This post will likely bore you to pieces.....

I think all my problems are about to be solved. My lips are painfully dry pretty much all year around. The problem is worse in the colder months when the air is drier. I have never found anything that works great....just temporarily fixes the issue. I am obsessive about keeping something on my lips at all times. I can't sleep until I have applied chapstick. I always have lipstick or gloss on. In fact, I know a certain someone who used to poke fun at how perfectly it was always applied and wondered if I slept in my lipstick in college. I am not naming names....but she knows who she is!

I will be purchasing this product ASAP. I am hoping to leave the days of dry lips far behind me.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year....

The holidays are just around the corner. I love the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I go overboard and decorate every inch of my house. Zach gets annoyed at what a production getting all the decorations down turns into. It's an all day affair complete with hot chocolate, Christmas tunes and Love Actually on in the background. I remind him how his father has it so much worse. My mother-in-law loves Christmas more than I do. Ie: double the amount of stuff to put up and even worse take down.

I was driving down Western the other day and Chesapeake was already stringing lights on the trees. I imagine they do have to start in October to be done by Christmas. I have never in my life seen that amount of LED lights in one area. I forget how spectacular it is and every year the first time I drive through is almost breath taking.

Anyway, I decided to write this blog because Christmas ornaments are a huge deal to me. I like to buy/receive ornaments that are symbolic. A trip we have gone on, a memory that is important to us, an inside joke. When we lived Downtown we had a mouse in our house for about a week. It was a rather traumatic experience for both of us. I got a mouse ornament for Christmas that year. Every year I unwrap it I makes me remember how horrified I was to find out we had a little rodent living in our house and that they could climb onto things like the bed and the kitchen counters.

Urban Outfitters has some pretty cute ornaments this year. Here are a couple of my favorites.

GG Fashion

This necklace was worn on Gossip Girl last night. Don't laugh.....I know it's not award winning television but the fashion is wonderful. I am totally in love with the color of this necklace. I have always been drawn to anything turquoise. It's perfect with the dress she has on and the chunky ring & bracelet. Lily wore the matching earrings in a different episode. The vivid blueish color looked amazing with the fuchsia dress she wore.

Project Runway Week 8 & 9

I am painfully behind on my PR blogging. I'm finally all caught up. I was going to write this grand combination blog of the last two weeks. It did not happen. Sorry loyal readers. Here are a few tidbits for discussion.

1. I cannot stand Irina. She just annoys me. That hateful face she makes. News flash: You aren't that talented and are far to cocky to be that mean.

2. I love, love the grey nail polish Heidi is wearing in week 9 (I think). I will be locating some very soon.

3. I want Carol Hannah and Logan to date. They are too cute!

4. Tim comforting Shirin. I felt truly bad for her. I thought Christopher was a goner. I was pretty shocked.

My very own LV

Wednesday was an exciting day for Mixed Handbag. For my third wedding anniversary my dear husband put his personal feeling about this particular thing aside and bought me an amazing gift.

He gave me the traditional 3rd anniversary gift (leather) in the form of a beautiful Louis Vuitton. It sort of reminded me of when I got engaged. The first week or two all you can do it stare at your hand all day long. Well, I find myself looking at this purse at least 10 times a day. Thanks for a memorable anniversary, Z.

The Year of Three's

I would like to veer from my typical blog posting to wish my husband a Happy 30th Birthday! Also, Happy 3 Year Anniversary, lover. We got married on his birthday. Birthdays are a huge deal to me. I didn't want him to have to share "his" special day with "our" special day. He has been very cool about it all. Things like that don't bother Zach. One of many things that I find endearing about him. Which brings me to a short list of things that I love. I will do my best to leave out all the mushy crap.

1. He wears Birkenstocks or Vans with dress pants and a sport coat.
2. He is the most inappropriate person I know. But also one of the funniest.
3. He is giving. Incredibly giving.
4. He is everyone's best friend. It is rare to hear someone speaking negatively about him....unless it is in regards to his political views.
5. He knows all the words to all the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan songs. And sings them really loud when he thinks I am not listening.
6. He likes to shop. Would never admit it. I love that he cares about his appearance. The man has more clothes than I do.
7. Until last May, he didn't own a swimsuit. He said......"why do I need one, I don't swim."
8. He gets really nervous if there isn't something vegan on the menu when we got out to dinner with Layni. He truly cares about his friends.
9. He likes to leave the house for work by 7:00 a.m. or earlier. He doesn't want to be late.
10. He is wildly talented. I am sure he is mortified right now. But there, I said it. I am allowed to brag on him today!
11. He doesn't know who any celebrities are. Or the names to any songs or who sings them. It's totally cute.
12. He is a total social engineer. Some would call him just plain nosey. I call it a man who knows how to do his research.
13. He is in a scooter club that he made up.
14. He cannot eat anything without some sort of dipping sauce.
15. He does not like to be the center of attention.

Green light.....

....as in the hubby said I could paint one wall in the kitchen with chalkboard paint. He always shoots down my ideas for making our adorable love nest more cozy. What he does not realize is, I will never stop striving for the perfect little home. I think special touches like this are easy and can bring out the character of a home. Wish me luck. I always think painting is a grand idea until I actually start doing it. Then I remember why I said "never again" last time.

Antlers

How awesome are these?
I would love to mix them in with some of the new "sophisticated" Halloween decorations.
I think I can locate some that are a little less pricey.

Random finds

These note cards made me laugh so hard. I would love to get them. People at work give me a hard time about Twitter all the time. They just don't know what they are missing out on.


How cute is this scarf? Adorable! Collected Thread has them. I love that place. I have gotten some really great, unique gifts in there. This I think I would need to go ahead and keep for myself.

Project Runway Week 7

The challenge this week was to design something to be sold commercially at Macy's and fit into the INC. holiday line. I love INC. One of my favorite Macy's lines. Blue was the chosen color palette. They worked with partners and it was a one day challenge.

All the judges were ooohing and ahhing over that dress that Irina made. I don't get it. It was so ugly. I cannot believe she won. Both of those looks were so ugly. I don't care for Irina.

Carol Hannah and Shirin's designs were my favorite. Followed by the look Logan did. I didn't care for the suit that Althea made. That skirt was WAY too short. I loved the detail on the shirt that Logan did. I would have worn both of those outfits.


After thoughts:
1. Tim Gunn revealing his distaste for leggings. I think my heart broke a little.
2. Michael Kors comparing Louise's dress to a shower loofa.
3. The birds noises Louise was making while sewing....WTF?
4. Layni asking me Saturday night if Heidi says Oopsy Daisy to people when they get eliminated. I could not stop laughing. I guess it sort of sounds like Auf Wiedersehen.

Messy hair

I love this look. I have this kind of hair. Or at least I did when it was longer. This made me want to grow it back out. I really like the messy bun with that cute headband. I took this picture off Anthropologie's website. I know that is shocking to most of you :) I love every single thing about that store. I cannot wait to go browse with Amanda in 28 days!

The Perfect Pair

My friend, Jena painted this for me. It is exactly what I requested. Anyone who knows me already knows my fond affinity for things in pairs. I also love pears. Not to eat. Just to look at. They are so cute. I decorate with them frequently. Oddly enough, so does Alanda. We discovered our mutual love of the fruit during the parade of homes. Anyway, I just wanted to show off my fancy new artwork. Thanks, Jena. This looks quite nice in our kitchen.