The Lost Art Of The Thank You Note

What is with people today?


People are invited to parties and don't RSVP even on an Evite.
They take their kids to restaurants and let them run all over the place. 
They don't bring a hostess gift to a dinner party....OY VEY!


Come on people! We have to get it together! And whether you like it or not ladies, it is up to us because women carry the torch of decorum and manners. That's just the facts.

How have things gotten so bad? Remember as Dolly Parton says in Steel Magnolias:

"What separates us from animals is our ability to accessorize...."


Can we be civilized please?

The thing that irritates me the most is lack of thank you notes. People buy you a gift, or your children a gift and you don't have the time to write a note? Really? But you're all caught up on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!


Maybe we should just start simple. Tell someone, lots of people, thank you. The guy who opens the door for you (it happens) thank you. Someone at work gets you out of hot water? Thank you. You're friend talks you off the ledge (you know who you are (JEM), thank you. A simple thank you will do.


Then get some good stationery and write a bunch of thank you notes.


Phew, I'm done with my rant now...

Tina Fey's Prayer For Her Daughters

Had to show you this. Too funny!!!



A Prayer for My Daughter

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.
May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.
When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.
Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.
Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.
(What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.)
May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.
Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.
O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.
And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.
And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.
“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.

Too good! Had to post!

Chinoiserie Crock Pots- Running out to get this!

Just when you think the tacky people are taking over the world, a glimmer of preppy hope comes into your life.


Presenting:


The Chinoiserie Crock Pot!


What really freaks me out is this is the EXACT pattern of my Jonathan Adler wallpaper going up in my kitchen!!! Hahahhaaa.


This one is fabulous too:



Ain't life grand? See more here.http://www.aestheticoiseau.com/2012/02/chinoiserie-slow-cookers.html

Happy Presidents Day Gals!

So Emotional - Whitney Houston

Oh friends. I have to tell you the news of Whitney's passing really upset me. Yes, I know she was battling addictions and demons but to die at 48, it just breaks my heart.


Thinking of her daughter Krissy, who clearly was the only thing holding Whitney together, feeling so alone, is so sad. I know she will never get over her Mothers passing.


There's something devastating to me about addiction. It robs you of your talent, creativity, vitality and finally your life. Look at Michael Jackson, how frail he was in the end. There was so much more music in him. And Whitney, "The Voice", was not what it used to be. If she had taken care of herself, she could have been singing her whole life. Such a shame.


Whitney's funeral was tragic, inspiring, and loving. I wanted to share a few of my favorite moments:

Alicia Keys, tears streaming down her face, singing "Send Me An Angel":




She sang her heart out.

Kevin Costner spoke about Whitney and it was heartfelt and wonderful.





Stevie Wonder sang Ribbon In Sky, Cece Winans sang "Don't Cry For Me"...it was hard to not boohoo through the whole thing.

The Winan's family was like family to her. Bebe and Cece like brothers and sisters to Whitney. I wanted to share my all time favorite performance I have ever seen of Whitney. Here she is doing a gospel version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Cece in 1995.





This is how I will remember her. Singing her heart out.

Princess and Pirate Party!

I am planning Coco's 3rd birthday and getting so excited! Last year we took her to Disneyland for her birthday. I like to do a big party every other year. Seems less overwhelming that way!

This year the theme is Princess and Pirate. Since she is loving her ballet class, we are doing the party at her dance studio. There will be face painting, games, dancing and pink cupcakes!!


I asked Papercourt Press to design her invitations of course. She is such a genius I couldn't wait to see what she would come up with! How cute is this!!!??



Could you die? I love everything about this from the pink background to the wand and sword at the top!

Valentines Day Is On The Way!

I have been a busy bee helping Landon and Coco with their Valentines for class. For Landons, I had ordered these from Amy Adele.





They are beyond cute! His teacher had asked that he write the name of each of his classmates on each one. Let me tell you this has been like pulling teeth! He only wants to do about 2 before he is "soooo tiyurd." Me too buddy!




Coco's are more home made. Found this idea on Pinterest, the holy bible of creativity. (If you aren't on Pinterest you are missing out!)


Happy Valentines Day to all the Mama's and Mama's to be out there! Thanks to Jenna for all her help with my Valentines!

Pink Swap!

Hopsy over at Monograms and Manicures hosted a Pink Swap and I was only a little too excited to be a part of it! My partner was Summer Is A Verb, so I had to make it good!!!


Here are the goodies I found and sent to her!


Remember we had a budget of $30! I think I did pretty well! 
1) Pink Dish Towels with circles
2) Mojito soaps in pink and green bamboo pattern box
3) Golf Princess notes and post its
4) Pink gardening tools!
5) Pink flower note cards
and last but not least...


6) Lilly Pulitzer Lemon Notecards! (That was a serious find!)


Can't wait to open my box from her! It arrived yesterday and I am about to rip it open!

One Fabulous Husband- He's With The Band! Supporting your mates passion!

There's something that happens when you get married. At first it's cute. You get comfortable around each other, let loose a little...next thing you know you're wearing cotton undies and sweatpants.



For God Sakes Brit put on a bra...
No Bueno.

Thank God she is now engaged again and looking like this:


Anyhooo...

Remember when you were dating? Engaged? First married? Ooooh the diamond was sparkling and you were feeling sassy! That was before kids, bills, life....dragged you down!

One sure fire way to keep that spark alive is to make sure you cultivate and support each others passions. I mean that is what life is all about. Now you could be jealous of a passion, because that passion of your husbands could take him out of the house and leave you home with the kids! I know ladies, it's tough. Trust me though, in the end, this makes a better marriage.

Case and point:

One Fabulous Husband is a drummer. A good one. Now there was a time, not so long ago, where we were in a financial tailspin and Fab Hubby wanted to SELL those drums. I said "hell to the no". I knew he needed them one day. That day has come.


Husband has been playing with a band around town. Let me tell you not only is he good, it's HOT! Look at him back there. He is so cute!


What a blast to see everyone dancing and having the best time while One Fab Hubby was on the drums. Made both of us feel good. Keeping the spark alive! I am all for the drums. Or anything else that makes a man feel like I do when I've got a mani/pedi, a nice tan, and a fabulous Lilly Pulitzer dress on. It's good times I tell ya.


What's your husbands passion? Do you support it?

One Fabulous Mom Channels Kelly Wearstler- Our newest addition!

No, we didn't have another baby.


But baby this is fabulous!

I had seen the fabulous book cases at the Viceroy Hotel many times. 


I always loves the concept and the way the books we laying on their side! I asked The Mr. to build one, the preppy modern version, for our house. Guess what? He did!



I am loving it. Look closely and you can see I have even grouped the books.


Of course I have all the required reading. In The Pink, A Privileged Life, How We Lived Then, True Prep, and of course Social Climbers by the fabulous Beth Dunn!

Here let our model Coco step in to really do these shelves justice...


She's standing awfully close to "How To Be Rich".... she's a smart one that Coco.

Michael Jackson Cirque Du Soleil

Oh my goodness. 
If you have the chance to see this show GO!

I love Michael Jackson and I love Cirque Du Soleil so this was the perfect show for me! I found myself bawling through the entire thing because I can't believe he's gone! It was moving, gorgeous, creative, exciting and worth every penny!!! Here's the official preview:






The thing that really blew me away was how proud and happy the dancers seemed to be a part of this show. It was so moving!!! What's your favorite MJ song?