Embarrassment of Riches

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Mother's Day. My little ones were so sweet and tried to be good and helpful all day. Plus, there was the loot . . .

My husband knows me all too well. He surprised me with this book. It's very cool, I just wish there were fewer designers featured but more photos from the individual homes. Too much of a tease. But I still love it! More importantly, I got lots of expressions of love . . .

and . . . 

a ticket to shop. What else could a mother ask for?

Hope your Monday is starting off well. Mine will be spent at the pediatrician's office where my little one will undoubtedly be diagnosed with yet another ear infection. I fear another set of tubes is in our future. Boo.

Dreaming of Fall

It is almost too hot to move here in Nashville. There's no relief in sight either. Sigh. Luckily, when I went to my mailbox today I received the new Anthropologie catalog chocked full of fabulous fall merchandise.


It was somehow good for my psyche to see clothing and accessories that I might be able to wear in - oh, I don't know - maybe three months, if I'm lucky. This is the South after all, fall is sometimes a very short season between a hot humid summer and a freezing winter. Which is sad because it's my favorite season. But, I digress - on to the good Anthropologie stuff. 

The one that made me stop in my tracks . . .

This Sliced Eggplant Bag. Isn't it fabulous? I love a little purple in the fall. This bag is calling my name loudly.

Next, was this . . .

I swooned over this Terrace House Jacket. It may look terrible on, but it's worth a shot. I need a fun jacket for fall.

And lastly (although there were several other loves), these . . .

Upwards Boots made my heart go pitter patter. 

A girl can dream about fall, can't she?

The Look for Less

Okay, my blogging has really been lagging lately. I apologize again. Summer is just getting all hectic on me, my cable/internet connection has been out, and I'm trying to finish a book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (you must read it if you have not. I'm almost done and I can't wait to read the next one!). Anyway, I digress. I've hit the mall a couple of times in the past week while my kiddos have been in their respective camps and found some pretty good deals that I thought I would share with you.


First up, the bohemian look. Have you seen the cute tunic/caftan type tops at J. Crew with all the ethnic details?

Flower mosaic embroidered tunic from J. Crew - $78

Well, I found this similar style the other day at JC Penney - yes, you read that right - for $20 (I looked on the website and now it's $17.99)! I thought it was a pretty color and a pretty good deal so I snagged it. Now, obviously it's not exactly the same, but for an almost $60 savings and a similar look, I thought it wasn't bad. It also has an ombre effect (gradually getting darker at the bottom) which is a nice detail.

Please excuse the photo. JCP's photos wouldn't load so I made my son take this picture. He's 5 and didn't really understand what I was doing or why I interrupted his Wii game.

Next up, a sort of Anthropologie-esque look combining two of their popular themes right now - flowers and stripes.

Painted Hillside Tank - Anthropologie - $78

Claude's Retreat Tank - Anthropologie - $78

Nell Tank - Anthropologie - $48

Here's the tank I found again at JCP (I know, I usually don't shop there, but I gave it a shot) in the Juniors' department for $14.99.

Lastly, I found some cropped white jeans (seen in photos above) at Ann Taylor Loft for 50% off today. They were originally $54.50, so I got them for $27.25 (plus tax, of course). A similar pair at J. Crew (seen below) cost $98.

Cropped Matchstick Jean - J. Crew - $98

Not bad, huh? Happy summer sale shopping!

Happy Day

With the historic flood that hit Nashville over the weekend, I never thought today would be a happy day, but I was wrong. For a couple of hours this morning, I got the opportunity to help someone in need. Someone I didn't even know. I couldn't do much in the short time I had - just helped haul out some soaked carpet. But it truly puts things in perspective. People's entire lives were sitting out on the curb. Makes you count your blessings.


Then when I got home, some mail arrived that made me smile . . .

This sweet little birthday card - complete with a candle necklace - from Anthropologie offering me 15% off any purchase in May (my birthday's at the end of the month). Isn't it cute?

And this skirt that I ordered from Sevier Skirts arrived too . . . 

just in time for me to wear to my son's pre-school Mother's Day Tea tomorrow!

Then, out of the blue, my husband came home with these . . .

just because he knows I love peonies and that they're blooming now. They are beautiful and smell wonderful. Thanks, honey!

I am very lucky indeed. 

Sidenote: If you are interested in spiffing up your (or your child's) wardrobe this spring and helping out Nashville at the same time, check out Kayce Hughes blog/store. She's donating 50% of all sales made over the next week to the American Red Cross for flood relief efforts in Nashville.