Holly Halloween!

I hope you all had a great Halloween! I love seeing all the creative costumes & party recaps! Mine was fun, I will give you three hints as to what I dressed up as...

Hey, you gotta have a prop and mine was CAT!

ECM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

ECM

I'm ♥ing

Pumpkin - check! Yummy - check! Weight Watcher Point friendly - checkidy, check, check!!! I just LOVE this time of year...

ECM

Quote of the Day

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Winston Churchill

ECM

Over The Top

I was tagged by the fabulous Preppy Sue.

So here are the rules:
You Can Only Use One Word!
Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!
Alert them that you have given them this award!
Have Fun!

1. Where is your cell phone? charging
2. Your hair? highlighted
3. Your mother? amazing
4. Your father? heaven
5. Your favorite food? Mexican (I'm pretty sure I have enchilada sauce running through my veins)
6. Your dream last night? bizarre
7. Your favorite drink? Limonata
8. Your dream/goal? family
9. What room are you in? bedroom
10. Your hobby? many
11. Your fear? death (not so much for me but my loved ones)
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? teaching
13. Where were you last night? movie (Coco Before Chanel)
14. Something that you aren’t? skinny (see #5)
15. Muffins? Lemon Poppyseed (Paradise Bakery to be exact)
16. Wish list item? 02554 (I wish big)
17. Where did you grow up? Arizona
18. Last thing you did? exfoliate
19. What are you wearing? p.j's
20. Your TV? E!
21. Your pets? none :-(
22. Friends? kind
23. Your life? happy
24. Your mood? calm
25. Missing someone? family
26. Vehicle? Land Rover
27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
28. Your favorite store? Nordstrom & Bloomingdale's
29. Your favorite color? navy
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? mom
33. One place that I go to over and over? Foodstuffs
34. One person who emails me regularly? Janie
35. Favorite place to eat? steakhouse (funny since I don't eat red meat but I LOVE Morton's, Fleming's, Gibson's, Capital Grille, Primehouse, The Palm, etc.- good thing I live in steakhouse capital U.S.A)

I'm passing it along to these fabulous ladies. A few gave me awards when I was being bad blogger - Thank You ladies! I appreciate it, sorry I didn't pass it on.

Pink Peony (thanks for the award)

Little Bow Prep (thanks for the award)

Saving The Best For Last (MCW) (thanks for the award)

Hemstitch & Hydrangea (YAY-welcome back)

Tickled Pink & Green

Adventures of a Southern Newlywed

ECM

Pink & Green Fall Treats

How cute are these pink & green caramel apple popcorn balls on a stick?!? What a fun project for a rainy fall day...

ECM

Cute As A Cupcake

I have a few Smathers & Branson key fobs (the American Flag, elephant and tennis racquet are my faves) and think I might also need the cupcake design, it's pretty darn cute!

ECM

5 Things I ♥ Right Now - Natural Skincare

1. I'm a big fan of the Korres Lip Butters. They are great when you want some pigment without all the fuss. They are very moisturizing and great on the go. I've used a few products from the Greek skin care line and have had great luck. Contains no parabens, sulfates or petro products.

2. OK, I know... you've heard enough about this peel but it's always a favorite and especially during this time of year, yum. A light enzyme peel (5%) that's organic and especially great for pigmentation and fine lines while keeping the skin looking plump during the dry months. I've had the 20% peel done at my dermatologist's office and it's amazing! I love the Eminence line, such great organic products without all the harsh chemicals. Certified Organic and Paraben free.

3. As it starts to get colder, my skin gets drier and needs more hydration. I'm a big fan of facial mist sprays (I don't travel without them). I'm a fan of Evian and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water but especially LOVE using the Thayers Witch Hazel in a spray bottle for that refreshing boost in the summer. Not only are they refreshing, they have a built-in astringent to keep skin clear. I love them all - the rose, aloe, cucumber, lemon, peach and lavender. For the drier months, extra hydration is great and that's why John Master's Organics Rose & Aloe Hydrating Toning Mist is super at keeping the skin nice a plump. As you can tell, I'm all about the plumpness! Certified Organic.

4. Dry skin meet your match. I'm a fan of Argan Oil and love, love, love the Josie Maran stick form. Great for lips, cuticles, fine lines, dry patches, flyaways, burns, scars... you name it, Argan Oil is a fantastic remedy. I just love how portable this stick is, you get all the benefits of the oil but without the mess. 100% organic with no parabens, sulfates, petro or phthalates. Argan Oil is produced from female co-ops in Morocco and help support local Moroccan women with education, heath care as well as other needs. Josie Maran has a video of how to make your own Organic Lavender Mist with 100% Organic Argan Oil.

5. I'm a big fan of body butters. My favorite scented ones are from Pacifica (paraben, sulfate and phthalate free ) and I tend to rotate the scents around the seasons. I do like Yes To Carrots because it's a lighter (everyday use) body butter with a light scent that you can definitely layer with your own fragrance, unlike some others. This is great because it's easy to find at your local drug store and the price is right! Paraben free.

I have to give a special THANKS to St. Ives. They have recently reformulated their products and are now paraben and phthalate free. In my book, that is great news and I can only hope that other drug store brands follow suit. It's nice that you don't have to spend a lot of money or seek out products to keep your body healthy. I'm personally a huge fan of their Invigorating Apricot Scrub for body exfoliation. I LOVE the smell and buy it in the huge tub as it's great for sunless tanning as well as a great foot scrub in between pedicures.

*NOTE-I'm no expert and by no means use all natural/organic skincare products. I try to use as many as I can but I do have many HG products that I can't part with and I'm just hoping they will someday take out all the harmful chemicals. I do what I can...

What are some of your favorite natural/organic skincare products? I do WANT to know, the skin care junkie in me NEEDS to know! ;-)

ECM

Nothing Says Fall Like Caramel & Candy Apples!

I love caramel and candy apples! Mrs. Prindable's has been a favorite of mine for many years, I fell in love with them while working at Neiman Marcus in college. This weekend, I'm going to one of my favorite Chicagoland fall festivities, the Long Grove Apple Festival and I always come back with such delicious apples. I'm planning on making my own creations. Any favorite combinations you recommend or have had luck with?

Have a great weekend!

ECM

Bobbi Brown: Ivy League Collection

Yes, fall has arrived. YAY! This weekend I will be doing a little fall makeup shopping and like always, Bobbi Brown will be one of my stops. The Ivy League Collection looks lovely- see video. I wear neutrals all year round but I like to update my lip and blush color to a slightly richer tone for fall/winter. I love the lip crayons with a balm or gloss on top-great for girls on the go! Do you update your makeup colors for the seasons?

ECM

Preppy Destination: Sandy Lane Country Club

Sandy Lane in Barbados is simply divine, there is no other way to put it. I thought I would share some photos of the very preppy Club House. It has many feminine touches which aren't often visible in the typical masculine club house (which I also happen to love). Make yourself a Dark 'n' Stormy (or other tropical cocktail) and enjoy the tour.

The large stone pillars on each side of the entrance with the SL monogram. I love that it's understated and who doesn't love a good monogram?!? ;-)

The Country Club

Welcome, come on in!

The gorgeous main club house with shades of blue, pink and dark woods.

Another view, isn't it lovely?

The open air dining area off the main club house.

Gorgeous views of the course and the Caribbean. You might even see Tiger, this is where he plays when in Barbados.

ECM

eos Lip Balm Sphere

Have you tried these lip balms? Of course, I had to purchase since they come in pink and green. They are so fun! Pink, green, mostly organic and natural... what's not to like. I got mine at Walgreen's for 2/$6.00. As previously stated, I have an addiction to lip balm so there was no way I was passing on these cuties!

ECM

Charlotte In Pink & Green

Is anyone else loving how fabulous Charlotte is looking for Sex and the City 2?!? I can't wait for the movie...

ECM

Pink & Green Photo Of The Day

ECM

It's That Time Of Year Again - Back To School!

Back, back to school again! I loved this commercial years ago and so glad to see it's back!

I hope you've all been enjoying the summer! I can't believe it's almost over! I have lots of catching up to do with all of you!

ECM

Happy 4th of July

I hope you all have a Happy 4th of July! Enjoy! We are so blessed to live in this Great Nation! A few of the things my holiday will be filled with...

The lake

Small town parades

Fireworks

Patriotic cupcakes

BBQ

Happy Birthday America!

ECM

Vintage Pink & Green Photo Of The Day

Happy Summer!

ECM

Latest Obsession...

Viceroy Palm Springs











Kate Spade

One of my signature scents of the 80's...

How fabulous is this!!!

J. Crew Stripe Beach Hat

Anyone see a pattern here?!? So classic and clean. So summer, it makes me smile! Have a great weekend!

ECM

Twitter

With every party, I like to arrive fashionably late (yeah, that's my story)... I've connected with a few of you. Tweet ya later.

ECM

Bueller? Bueller?

One of the homes (Cameron's) in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is for sale. Anyone? Anyone? I live quite close to it as I once showed you in a tour of my hood. Not really my style (or my budget) but it would be fun to say you lived in that home. It's on one of my walking routes so it will be interesting to see what the new owners do with it. Since it's getting so beautiful here now, I might do another tour of my area. Perhaps my walking route/bike path... so many gorgeous homes and areas to see.

ECM

Think PINK!

It's pedicure time again... Has anyone tried Essie's Funny Face? It looks so pretty (online that is). You know I had to leave you with this! Because if you've gotta think, think pink!

ECM

In Memoriam

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

-Kelly Strong-

ECM

Memorial Day

I hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend! I will be at the lake, it's Kilwin's time! Of course, Martha has some fabulous patriotic ideas. Enjoy!

ECM

Entrenched

It's been raining here in Chicago... I don't mind the rain so much because it allows one to break out the trench coats. A preppy staple, no doubt. A few of my favorite ladies trenching it up!







Have a great weekend! Stay dry.

ECM

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all of you moms out there have a wonderful day, you deserve it! It goes without saying... to the best mom ever, mine! :-)

ECM

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Pink & Green style!

ECM

Ric Rac Lovin'

I love me some ric rac and these Kate Spade bracelets just make me smile!

ECM

Kentucky Derby Dreaming

Anyone going to the Kentucky Derby? If so, please have a mint julep or two for me! There are lots of fun party ideas on Kentucky Derby Party for all of you hosting. As far as the race, I'm thinking West Side Bernie looks good, for obvious reasons... the pink and orange silks, duh!?! ;-)

ECM

Jackie & Lilly = Simply Lovely

ECM

Spring in Chicago

Pink Nail Polish: $8

J. Crew Grosgrain Flip-Flops: $24.50

Spa Pedicure: $40

Being able to walk out of the spa in flip-flops and not having to worry about slipping on ice. Priceless.

Welcome SPRING, welcome to Chicago! :-) It was sunny and in the mid 70's on Friday, raining and in the 50's today and will be in the 40's mid week and then up in the 80's for the weekend. Indeed, spring in Chicago.

ECM