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

A Preppy Setting

I really appreciate a beautiful table setting and LOVE all the preppy linens at Pomegranate. So many great choices to choose from. I can't wait for warmer weather and dining alfresco! Some of my favorites. So fun!










ECM

Happy Easter

ECM

Break Out The Bagpipes & Kilts!

My family's ancestry dates back to one of the oldest clans in Scotland originating from the Isle of Colansay. In celebration of National Tartan Day, the family tartan.

ECM

Classic!

Did anyone else LOVE this? Bawk, Bawk!

Have a great weekend!

ECM

Pink & Green Photo Of The Day

In celebration of all the Lilly love!

ECM

Think Spring!

Spring in Chicago isn't all that warm but we are on the downhill, right?!? Some people think flowers for spring and since I don't have a yard or garden, I think sandals! Makes sense, right? It's time to get prepared for summer! Let's see... what combo do I need? Better yet, what combo don't I need! ;-)

Happy spring and have a great weekend!

ECM

Cruising The Caribbean

Thanks for all the holiday well wishes! It was such a great trip and I enjoyed a break from the Chicago winter. No worries, it was waiting here for me when I got back. Although, the past few days have been fabulous! My family and I went on a Caribbean cruise and loved every minute of it (it was a big hit with my 2yr old nephew even though he was missing his regularly scheduled program watching of Wow Wow Wubbzy). We started our Caribbean trip in San Juan at the San Juan Intercontinental to explore Old San Juan and then it was off cruising to St. Thomas, St. John, St. Marteen/St. Martin, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados. Here are a few photos from the trip.

View from the San Juan Intercontinental

View from the balcony

Lunch and drinks poolside

El Morro Fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Our home for the week on the Serenade

Our cozy but very comfy accomodations

My favorite towel animal of the week

A view of superyacht Octopus from our cabin balcony in San Juan


View from Trunk Bay, St. John (AMAZING)

View from Paradise Point, St. Thomas (the Bailey's Bushwacker was yummy, I plan on recreating at home)

A view of the planes coming in over Maho Beach, St. Marteen

A view from Orient Beach, St. Martin (the non-nude side) ;-)

View from Shirley Heights, Antigua

A view of the Pitons, St. Lucia

View of the piton from the beach

View from the 18th hole at Sandy Lane Country Club in Barbados (this is where Tiger Woods got married- it's amazing!)

The shopping in the Caribbean is fabulous (duty free) and I think the shops are so cute. Here are a few of my favorites.

Burberry

Cartier

Longchamp

Tommy Hilfiger

Ralph Lauren

Tiffany

Back to reality!

ECM

Lilly & Martha Envy

I'm so excited for all the preppy bloggers that were lucky enough to be in NYC at the Lilly Pulitzer Jubilee extravaganza! The Martha show was fabulous! Hopsy, you looked amazing! I need to catch up with everyone to see photos and all the fun that was had! So fun!

ECM

I Will Soon Be Off...

To the islands! I'm so excited to see my family! I'm looking forward to 10 days of warm weather and can almost see the clear blue water, hear the calypso music and taste the rum punch (and other fruity concoctions). Take care!

ECM

Tag

I was tagged by the lovely Lauren at Lauren Says So.

Step 1: Answer all, replace if you don't like, and add one of your own.

Step 2: Tag eight others!


1. What are you wearing right now? I just got back from yoga and am wearing my yoga pants, coordinating top, a North Face fleece pullover and UGG coquettes. I know, a LOVELY look but it's comfy!

2. What is your biggest fear? A family member or friend dying. Or, being in a plane crash.

3. Do you nap a lot? I love naps so I take one whenever I get a chance but mostly only on weekends and not too long or it will mess with my bedtime.

4. Who is the last person you hugged? My friend as I left her Oscar party last night.

5. What websites do you visit when you go online? Let's see, lots... yahoo mail, bloglines, blogger, ebay, epicurious/food network, etc., martha stewart, weight watchers, the drudge report, daily candy (via email), j. crew, lilly, tory burch, fox news, plum tv, people, fandango, wwd... on and on.

6. What is the last item you bought? A cup of Cheddar Broccoli soup & roll from Corner Bakery for dinner. Yum!

7. Umm. I can't think of a question...

8. If you woke up tomorrow and were a boy, what is the first thing you would do and why? I would throw out all feminine and makeup/skincare products and look forward to sleeping in since I don't have a beauty regime to follow.

9. Has a celebrity's hair cut ever influenced your own hairstyle? Way back in the day... I had the Brooke Shields look (I was obsessed with her look) and circa 1985/86 (gotta love the 80's), Sarah Jessica Parker had the long, soft spiral perm hairstyle. After Square Pegs and Footloose, she was on the tv show A Year In The Life, I loved the show and her hair so I had to have it! I also loved Alicia Silverstone's hair in Clueless. Today, I have tear outs of hair looks mostly from Brooke Shields (still) and Carolyn Murphy (mostly from her Estee campaign). I pretty much have naturally straight hair so I pull it back, wear with headbands or just super straight and sleek.

10. What is your most embarrassing moment? Probably falling down the stairs at a dance club while in college, wait for it...while in a skirt! It wasn't my finest moment. Those darn wine coolers... (gotta love the 80's). Still laugh about it!

11. How old were you when you had your first kiss? Kindergarten I'm sure... But my first real kiss was in 8th grade, and I can remember it like it was yesterday...

12. If you had a whole day to yourself with no work, commitments, or interruptions what would you do? Sleep in, get a smoothie for breakfast, work out or yoga, have a spa treatment, do some local boutique shopping, maybe see a movie, and have a nice dinner with friends.

13. If you were able to see into the future, would you look? No, you can't change destiny.

I've seen this around so not sure who's been tagged so if you haven't done it, I tag YOU!

ECM

Is It Weird...

That my vision home

coordinates with my vision ride???

I think not! ;-)

Have a great weekend!

ECM

Nantucket Dreaming

It's bloody dreary here in Chicago and I'd much rather be somewhere else with a Bloody in hand, if you know what I mean (and I know you do). It's times like these that I dream of summer and having fun in the sun (of course, with spf)! Which takes me to Nantucket, it's my most favorite place. When I lived in Rhode Island, I went all the time... it was a hop, skip and a ferry ride/uber small plane ride away. Good times, good times. I really need to plan a trip, it's been waaay too long. In my book it's the perfect place-preppy, patriotic (4th of July in Nantucket is amazing) and fun!

What's your favorite preppy destination?










ECM

Lands' End Tassel Driving Mocs

Are too cute! I'm ordering the navy today (on sale). FYI-I'm sure all of you know this but if you're near a Sears, you can use their computer (at the Lands' End section) near the register and get FREE shipping on your LE purchases! I do love FREE shipping.

ECM

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you have a lovely day!

ECM

L.L. Bean Must Haves For Spring!

I love almost anything & everything in the green/navy combo and the Maine Isle Canvas Sneakers are no exception! Too cute!

I have SO many LLB totes (I can always use another-right!) but I love the fact that this Patchwork Madras Tote comes in the large size (to lug stuff to Ravinia, parades, the beach, etc.)!

ECM