viva mexico!

adios ladies, i'm mexico-bound! i'll be celebrating with my friend andrea for her 30th year by relaxing beach-side with margarita in hand. just look at that pic from the hotel's website - i mean, REALLY!? i'll be sure to take as many photos of the fashions i find along the way to share with you on the ole' blog. arriba!

while i'm gone, nick and his dad will be painting the guest room for me. i've never forgotten how much i loved my room at the viceroy santa monica when i visited on a work trip a few years ago - so i decided to do my guest room just like it. more on that tomorrow!

living room curtains are up!

but i hate them! this girl (pointing at myself) waited too long to buy them from anthropologie before they sold out so decided to go semi-DIY. i went to joann's and m&j trimmings (online) and bought the supplies, and found a seamstress in south austin who was up for the challenge. we spent part of sunday with our friend/designer/contractor peter getting them hung and although i'm loving the daintiness, the lightweight fabric and the navy blue ball fringe, i had them made too skinny so they don't cover the windows when they're closed. such a novice move! needless to say this girl (pointing at myself again) went to west elm to buy replacements and is in the doghouse with my hubs.

before

after

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fat guy in a little cooooaaaaat

i think i mentioned that nick and i went to VA last weekend for his aunt's wedding. not only was it awesome to catch up with family and celebrate with denise and steve, but i also got in a little shopping time (obviously) with my sister-in-law jen. i found this little number at old navy on sale for $50 and couldn't resist. it's a great weight for cold(ish) winter mornings in texas and i can't wait to break it out in a month or two.

PS. that's my best "fat guy in a little coat" face.

thank god halloween is over

i haven't been a fan of halloween since i got accidentally trapped in the nyc halloween parade about 8 years ago. something about drunk adults in masks freaks this sista out. anyway, i spent halloween cruising around austin in the convertible with nick and emilio, working on some house stuff with our awesome friend/designer/contractor peter, cooking up some meals for the week, and hanging out waiting for trick-or-treaters. all-in-all, an awesome sunday - especially since it was 80 and beautiful and i didn't have to go anywhere near adults in costumes. what did you guys do for halloween?

haagen dazs doesn't have to be fattening

we had dinner at a friend's home a few months ago where i was introduced to haagen dazs' line of irresistable sorbets. literally so delicious that when i glanced at the side of the carton and saw a big fat zero next to the fat line i almost went back for thirds. not only that, but the colors are simply beautiful. scoop up the raspberry and the mango during your next grocery store visit; you and your guests won't be disappointed.

in keeping with the black and white

i think the chevron-curtain-searching has gone to my fashion head. decorate with some bold black and white chevrons and wear some black and white stripes! from spiegel, no less. it's a less expensive version of the one i fell in love with at anthropologie a few months back that has since sold out. on sale for $69.

this one's for you, saundra (michelle, tell her to check it out).

bring on some chevrons

now that the hoodlums have decided to target our home, i'm taking this window treatment thing seriously. i was taking my sweet @ss time finding something for the kitchen but i've decided to speed up the process. i'm considering doing a DIY chevron curtain situation like the one below by kristen f davis designs. am i crazy, you ask? yes. i think i am. if anyone knows of a killer navy blue and white chevron drape material, send it my way. k, thanks.

below: kristen f davis designs

below: lonny mag

below: i couldn't find a source :( contact me if it's yours.