the short of it...

Fall and winter had my hair going in this direction:






































but I'm so ready to jump into this short, blonde bob after seeing tonight's Oscars.
Cate is so GORGEOUSSSSSSSS!

...and we're off

off for the weekend. Weather forecast calls for snow. In San Francisco on Friday and Phoenix on Sunday. Crazy. I am so over winter. Stay warm and cozy at your house!

working for the weekend

How many times can I wash, hand sanitize, and wipe down the kids reading table at my school this week? As many times as it takes to stay healthy so I can see Miss RubyBird this weekend. There's an ugly respiratory virus that's going around and I don't want to get it. The sweet thing is that the kids totally understood once they saw Ruby's pic. Even the "tough" 4 th grade boy said "awwww...she's so cute. here; give me a wipe so I can sanitize the keyboard for you."

And, if you're at home this weekend and looking for something to do...remember that Emily Henderson's Secrets of a Stylist will be on HGTV starting 2/26 (that's her house in the top pic and so perfect with the red cross for this post.)

wrap your head around it

The "it" accessory for spring/summer is the turban in all shapes and sizes and Love by Headmistress has got them all. Unfortunately the kids at my school get freaked out if I don't straighten my hair and wear my natural curls; so I can only imagine what they would say to this! Maybe on the weekend?
We loved the Headmistress feather headband that our model, Nicole, wore in one of our Dressing on the Side photo shoots. And will you be rocking some head gear this year?

first dish

For our anniversary I told mentioned to my husband that I would like to start a collection of Le Creuset for our kitchen. The bonus is that he would never have to worry about what to buy me for birthdays, mother's day, etc...just keep adding to the collection (and..hello! new recipes and great meals). He began his detective work...
Measuring the pans we already had in comparison to those offered; finding the best price available...he was on a mission. Finally, he chose the 9 quart round french oven in flame orange--perfection!
Then the fun began of deciding what the first meal prepared would be and husband was totally on board for this one as well. We chose Ina Garten's Company Pot Roast and if you have never tried this recipe...do it! The sauce is heavenly- and makes enough to enjoy over noodles later in the week.
The start of meal preparation:

three day

It's going to be a wet and possibly snowy weekend; but whatever weather may happen...Monday is a holiday, so we'll take it. Enjoy yours!

*image janeroarty

moovelous

We have two new guests at our house...Margaret and Nidge.
I wanted something modern but quirky/fresh but fun for one of the walls in our kitchen/dining room and when I saw these two as a free high resolution download at The Pioneer Woman I knew I had found it.
The idea was inspired from "Nine by Design" and a few of the interiors they have created. I ordered this in a 40x30 size from Nations Photolab which happens to be having a great sale + add on a promo code for 50% off your first order and you got yourself something to smile about when you're drinking that morning cup of coffee.

she's got legs

I'll be the first to admit that a nice pair of legs on a woman is enviable; hence the reason for my Scottsdale trip tomorrow. Late winter/early spring is the perfect time to have sclerotherapy for the spider veins (ugh...hate that term...but it's true) that have popped up.
Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to eliminate varicose veins and spider veins. It involves an injection of a solution (generally a salt solution) directly into the vein and over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view.
Does it hurt? Not really. At most, like a rubber band snapping your skin when your dermatologist gets near your ankles. Does it work? You bet. My thighs used to be the worst (I swear it was from all the years of cheerleading and slapping your thighs during a cheer...) but there's nothing visible now.
I'll wear some very attractive support hose through the weekend (and with the cooler temps it actually isn't too horrible to endure) and after a few bruises heal...we'll be good to go. The last time I had this done was a few years ago so the effects last quite a long time.

marry me

My husband and I were married on Valentine's Day. I never really thought too much about it...but now that we've been married longer than most of you have been alive I realize what a perfect day it was to choose.
When you first fall in love it is like an arrow in your heart...the ups, the downs, the insanity of a beginning relationship. Thankfully as you grow older, the insanity seems to calm down into a deep, rich love that (hopefully) will last for years and years.
We looked at each other last night and laughed and laughed that we are still here and how old this anniversay could make us feel. but we still hold hands. and we are still truly,madly,deeply in love .

kiss

these shots make me swoon.
a morning kiss. a goodbye kiss. a weak in the knees kiss.
a stolen moment kiss. an oh my god I was wrong you were right let's never be apart as the rain comes pouring down kiss. love.

*most images from here

teach your husband well

In the past when I would wear stripes my husband would say "oh! you look like a pirate today!" He was completely serious. I had to teach him that I looked french. It's the frenchgirls who wear stripes...the only pirates we know are around Africa and I don't think they wear stripes nowadays. So today I wore a stripe shirt and husband says: "Oh! You look french today!" merci beaucoup.
On a sad note it looks as if I lost a follower. Now that they're gone I think we should talk about them...it's only fair. Just kidding...but I guess I wasn't their cup of tea :( Thank you to all of my other readers, friends, and family who stick around and enjoy the babble.

getaway

really. can you believe this? amazing.

monday, monday

we'll need more than a cup to get this Monday going...make yours a good one!

*image here

the men will hate it...

but the women will love it. This is not a "pretty, ooh look how sexy I am, queen bee" brassiere. Oh no my friends; this is a basic "worker bee" bra that will get you through the 9-5 without a fuss or fidget. Spanx Bra-llelujah has no back hooks and is amazingly comfortable when wearing.
Spanx inventor Sara Blakely's empire is mouth dropping and the website fills you in on all the charitable things Spanx does for women (making it easier to fork over the $62 retail for the bra) plus all the other products they create to slim, trim, and make our body a little more beautiful.

party

having friends over for the Superbowl this weekend? crossing my fingers for warmer temps so I can get a hike in. Whatever, wherever...have fun!

brrrrr

No snow but bitter cold in Arizona. Look out midwest and east coast...here it comes.

color my world

I think husband and I have cabin fever because we've painted a wall in the guest room (and by "we" I mean "he") and now comparing swatches of paint in the living room. I'm also thinking of doing some "shopping" in my house to switch a few furniture pieces from this room to that room. Guess you know what our plans are for this weekend.