Tis' The Season...

 My family seems to be spreading out farther and farther. This Christmas Caroline and I managed to visit family in Miami and Orlando. While in Miami I came to the obvious realization that I am obsessed with my aunt's apartment. It's almost entirely white yet surprisingly warm and she goes all out for the holidays, my next apartment will be inspired by her classic good taste!

Love the recently reupholstered couches-great way to update furniture!

Perfect Bar Cart

Love the art on this wall-so simple and elegant.

I love that her Christmas tree has no star because it hits the ceiling. Also you can't tell from this photo but this tree is candy themed, wrapped in peppermint garland and glittery sweets!

            Every nook of this place was perfectly decorated, never cluttered but always considered!

 Love these white poinsettias with the pearls in the center.

Caroline and I before the family holiday party in Miami!

 By far my fave holiday look yet. Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft,

Skirt: Thrifted, Emerald tights: J.Crew,

Tartan headband: J.Crew 

 Can't wait to start putting the ideas for my next place together! And can't wait to see my aunts again soon! Big xoxo to Sandi and Sonia for putting up with Caroline and I!

Obsession of the Week: Tartan

I would have thought after a decade in Catholic school plaid skirts I would hate tartan but I just can't. Even more at Christmas do I find myself loving the green and red pattern, so here is a little about it.



"Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours."     -Thanks wikipedia!

Here are some pics of my favorite pieces right now!


First up is a gorgeous strapless dress from Alexander McQueen:

Dress from Lyst




This dress would be perfect for a Christmas party....or a Scottish wedding! It reminds me of Charlotte's dress in SATC-just wish I could find a full length pic of her dress! 

                           


TH: Prep World


 



(Source: MDLawson)

 

 



According to the ever brillant Mari McMurray plaid on plaid will soon be trending. She's deemed it the Scottish tuxedo, in honor of the Canadian Tuxedo before it. As she is the most fashionable person I know I would be will to stake my reputation on her being right...
 



Source











J. Crew

P.S. J. Crew is having 30% off and free shipping on all orders with the Promo Code: Wishlist!

 

8 DAYS and counting til Christmas!

Gators Looking Hot in 2013

We all know at heart I'm a Southern girl and therfore when football season starts to come to an end I do what any girl would, I focus on recruiting for next year and basketball. For the most part my girlfriends do not understand or follow recruiting, and yet the ones that I have forced to learn have come out loving it. The more you understand about the game the more fun it is. So here is a quick-

Girls Guide to Recruiting:

So here is a look at the HOT Gator class coming up next year, and I have to say I can't wait for Coach Boom to get ahold of these guys and work them into one cohesive team--I'm seeing a National Championship in 2 years!

So the names you gonna be hearing a lot over the next 4-5 years (and keep in mind this isn't even half of the amazing talent looking to play for Florida I just didn't want to overwhelm y'all all at once) are as follows Vernon Hargreaves III, Marcel Harris, Darious Cummings, Jordan Sherit, Ahmad Fulwood, Quinton Powell, Keanu Neal, Kelvin Taylor, Nick Washington, Adam Lane, and my personal favorite Caleb Brantley.

Now why is CB my favorite? Is it his undisputable talent? No. It's the fact that he showed up to FSU, in Gator gear and started chompin'! Love that a) he's already getting pumped for 4 years at UF and b) when those trashy FSU fans tried to hate on him and make false accusations as to illegal school visits he handled himself like a true Gator-he remained classy while obviously mocking the ignorance that is Florida State.

So is everyone ready for another National Championship?? Because I am and I think these guys are gonna give it to us!!

Meagen Franks and me at NC 2008

So ladies and gents, this is obviously a Gator-centric post, but that's because I love my school and I highly doubt that I have more than 3 FSU readers....

Almost December! Let the Crafting Begin...

Christmas Time! Love this time of year--the lights, parades, decorations and my sister miserable over the amount of Christmas music on the radio, it really is 'the most wonderful time of the year.' Plus it gives me endless reasons to craft...for my house, the restaurant, my brothers house, random people on the street...you get the point. Saw this wreath and think I have to make one too!

Taken from Pinterest

                                                        
Now if you're anything like me you too have a board on Pinterest dedicated solely to Christmas crafts! Mine started last year and therefore has a decent amount on there....I also promised myself that this year I would start in October to spread out the time and cost...oops. Here are some of my favorites!

 

 

 

 

 

 From the top left: Wreath made from two packs of Dollar Store snowflakes and some ribbon, no-sew burlap Christmas skirt, black and white copies of pics of you and the gift receipiant instead of cards, a yearn wreath and pepermint tray. All of these craft and a ton more are on my Pinterest.

I'll be sure to take lots of pics of these and the other crafts I'm making this week to share!

Birthday, Thanksgiving and Gator Dominance

I can't believe my favorite month is almost over!
A quick visual recap:

My Birthday at Disney! -And yes, my little sister was a good sport about me wanting to be the center of attention...

                    Monogrammed Shirts: Periwinkle Monogram Boutique, Shorts: J.Crew 
                    Picture taken by: Samantha Stratton at Disney's Magic Kingdom!!

                                 *Periwinkle does not technically sell these shirts you have to call and inquire-you can reference this blog and they can make them for you!

                                **Periwinkle is having their Cyber Monday Sale and everything online is 20% off!!
                                 ***J.Crew is having their cyber Monday sale today with 25% off and free shipping-no minimum! Last year I got their seersucker bathing suit on an amazing sale and then had the girls at Periwinkle monogram the bottoms for me!






My Birthday weekend was followed by seeing Love and Theft in concert at The Moon in Tallahassee!!

                                          Pictured: (Left to Right) Meagan Chestnut, Caroline Navarro and Me!
                                          Picture provided: by Matt Nixon

Downtown Get Down and Easton Corbin--Reunion with the Besties!

                                           Photos provided by: Caroline Navarro
                                           Pictured (Left to Right): Meagan Chestnut, Courtney Manders, and ME!


                                  GAMEDAY: UF vs. FSU

                                  My Dress: Banana Republic, Caroline's Dress: Cole Couture
                                   *Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy are doing 30% off today for Cyber Monday!!

What a fantastic gameday! My Gators won and I got to spend the day with freinds and family! Plus the weather was gorgeous all day. Couldn't ask for a more perfect Saturday down South.

All in all this was one fantastic November! Now it's time for me to start prepping for December-decorating, baking and gifting!
And I'm already looking for Gift Ideas for family and friends so if you have an amazing idea feel free to comment it!

It's November!

It's finally November-home of my birthday, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, UF vs. FSU and did I mention my BIRTHDAY?!? Which means November needs to be started off right!

Sweater: LL Bean (old) similar-here, Jeans: Forever21 skinnies, and Boots: Sperry Hingham boot-here.




November in Tallahassee is already full of potential for an amazing Southern Fall starting with an event put on by the ever classy gentlemen over at Wm Lamb and Son. This coming Thursday, November 8, 2012 they will be hosting a Duck Call Night.

"We will be doing calling tips, hunting tips, PLUS A BONUS RETREIVER SHOW and just talking ducks in general, bring the kids or just bring yourself .... probably have a cooler of oysters..... Next Thursday 5:30-7:30 at The Barn, 2772 Millstone Plantation Road."

This event is open to the public and promises fun for everyone, I personally can't wait to get out there and see what it's all about! Now I just have to figure out what to wear!

Finally, my amazing friends Meagan and Matt threw me a perfect (early) birthday complete with twinkile lights in the barn, firepit and spiked apple cider-- as soon as I get all the photos together you can expect another post!

Football, Fans and Freezing Temperatures!

So this weekend was Florida-Georgia in Jacksonville, FL. The game was TERRIBLE- and not just because I'm a Gator and we lost but because both teams played awfully! Every other part of the day however was, in my opinion, perfect! I spent the day in Jax tailgating with my best friends and family, humorously chastised some barking "dawgs" by firmly responding "bad dog, sit!" and finish the night by dancing like an idiot with my friends to 90's classics such as Tootsie Roll. Overall not the outcome I would of liked, but not a half bad way to spend the weekend.

                                                          (Photos by: Samantha Stratton)
Still not totally sure about the face I'm making in the photo with Danny but I think it had something to do with Samantha-our amazing photographer for this photo and pictured above-aiming the camera at what seemed to be our sandals even though the pic came out beautifully. with the exception of the face I'm making.

 So I took this little gem with my cell while sittin' smack dab in the middle of the Georgia section, I love that UF fans have a reputation for "jorts" and yet every school I see at least one middle aged man rocking these. I was also confused as to why he had his back to the field for a significant amount of time...

The Dream Team was more or less reunited this weekend, though if we had our choice there would be roughly 10 more girls we love in this pic who couldn't make it to Jax. Also this was taken during a pause in our 5 hours of post game 90's dancing and therefore I felt the black and white was more flattering.

Possibly my favorite part of the weekend was our custom koozies from Periwinkle Monogram Boutique, I can't tell you how many compliments we received on these but they were fantastic!

So regardless of who you choose to cheer for on Saturday...or Sunday you need to order one of these bad boys-did I mention they're only $10 and can say anything you want! We made up our sayings, so get creative yourself or call Elizabeth the owner and she'll help you come up with the perfect gift for the sports fan in your life! If you can't tell I'm still a little giddy over how well mine came out!

Alabama Road Trippin'

So this past weekend I took a little road trip up to Montgomery Alabama and Thursday night we drove the 45 minutes over to the Bourbon St. bar in Auburn Alabama to see the Casey Donahew Band. Haven't heard of them yet? If you listen to country and you haven't then you're missing out. They started back in 2002 in Texas and even refusing to sign with a major label are gaining recognition for their fun old school country songs. Influenced by the story telling style of country in the 80's and 90's they put on a great live show that I have to fully recommend, they remind me a lot of Robert Earl Keen--yet another Texas musician that if you don't know his music you should. Check out their latest song Double Wide Dream.

The second most interesting part of my trip came when I went into the ladies room of a bar in Montgomery called 1048 where they had a pay by the minute flat iron mounted on the wall! I am still undecided about my feelings on this, it's not often that I am truly torn between whether something is gross or genius. I do wonder if in a few years these will be everywhere..all the same I'm still holding out for the 'straight hair pill' that I know has to be right around the corner.

Finally I rounded out the weekend by spending Sunday night with Caroline, Meagan and Matt in Tallahassee doing a walking ghost tour. The tour is about an hour of walking through guided historical spots in downtown with actual accounts and histories of spooky encounters at some of the towns oldest buildings. With the occasional costumed story teller jumping out from behind a bush this was definitely some good clean family fun though I wish they had some of the buildings open to the tour.

                                          (Ghost Tour photo taken by Meagan Chestnut)

My Favorite Fall Things-Part 1

My absolute favorite season of the year is Fall! It could be because the leaves are changing, there's bonfire smoke in the air, and comfy sweaters and boots are finally a possibility in Florida....or it could be because it means my Birthday is coming and anyone who knows me knows how I feel about my Birthday!! (And my half-Birthday for that matter, but that is for a different post.)

So my favorite parts of Fall are finally in season, starting with all things pumpkin and pumpkin spice! This includes the now mandatory pumpkin spice latte (which you can make for pennies on the Starbucks dollar by buying pumpkin spice ~$2 at any grocery store and just add a shake or two to you coffee at home-instant yum!) I also love to add pumpkin and pumpkin spice to pancakes, cookies, and now pumpkin butter! I was absolutely amazed to realize how many of my friends had never heard of it! It is the less known sibling of apple butter and follows the same idea, first of which it is NOT butter. Apple butter has an applesauce consistency and goes great on toast, pancakes, really any breakfast carb. Similarly pumpkin butter can make breakfast even taste like Fall, but is even more versatile in that you can also add it to cheesecake base to make pumpkin cheesecake or any other number of bases to make a pumpkin treat in no time!

My Recipe:

1 can pumpkin puree-not pie filling
1 cup apple cider
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice

Mix all together and bring to a boil-should be pretty liquid-y at this point, if it's not add more cider. Once boiling lower to simmer and simmer roughly 2 hours until it has an "applesauce" consistency and has a nice dark brown color. This recipe is super simple and bonus will make your whole house smell delicious!

Additionally Fall has made me appreciate even more my new favorite 'local' discovery http://wmlambandson.com/ Wm Lamb and Son is a company founded by Tallahassee native William Lamb an artist whose work depicts the beauty of Southern living, and is now gaining national exposure for his collaborations with Brooks Brothers and other classic staples of American apparel, He also has extended his designs into iphone cases, tshirts, and croakies just to name a few. Definitely a company to watch, they eye for detail and quality is sure to impress.

(Photo credit: William Lamb Brings Prep to the South. Southern Style Preppy

tallahasseemagazine.com)

This is part 1-I'll follow up with Fall fashions and football in a day or two, but it must be noted that as of yesterday's 1st BCS poll my Gators are ranked #2!!

My 1st Blog!

So excited about my first blog! My obvious inspiration is Mari McMurray over at  clumsybartender.blogspot.com she is a trend genius and over all hilarious writer. Also I feel the need to document my exploits as I have recently moved (back) to Tallahassee, Fl. As a die hard Gator fan it is my responsibility to 'Bring Civilization to the Savages' as the Gator club of Tallahassee so aptly put it. This will mostly be an account of my favorite things, misadventures and the hilarity that my friends bring to my life!

Who I am: as the title implies I am a Southern girl who loves pearls, football, traveling, Lilly Pulitzer, my friends and anything monogrammed! My favorite monogrammed things come from http://www.periwinklemonogramboutique.com/!!

I am also in constant need of life advice, so if you have any let me know!