You've Got Great Clothes

My daughter and I watched You've Got Mail last weekend. I adore this show. I haven't seen it in a few years. This time, I was especially taken with all of Meg Ryan's clothes. How can a movie made over 10 years ago still have in-style wardrobe? Maybe I am getting old.

I loved this outfit in particular.

It reminded me of this dress from the Gap that I posted about previously. With a short sleeved cardigan?

New Family Update

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31 Cent Scoop Night

Don't Forget Today* is 31 cent Scoop Night.

*There may be some crazy out there who thought it was last night. She probably took her whole family to Baskin Robbins thinking it was yesterday, but she would have been wrong. Not that the family will complain about eating ice cream two days in a row.

Reorganize

You might not be able to tell by only 2 pictures, but I spent the entire day organizing and cleaning.

Top half: Game cupboard. Please note: EMPTY space. Bottom half: All of this organizing gave me a cupboard for all my sewing/projects.

It also freed out some room in my closet for my summer-y shoes.

Need a Change

Before:
After:

I dug out my slip-covers. I would really like new chairs but putting on the slip-covers will pacify me for now.

All I Need Are These Signs

I saw these on a room somewhere. I think they are pretty fabulous, even though I really don't listen to the Beattles.

More Spring/Summer-ish clothes

Old Navy has some new really cute clothes for little girls.

Want: Pottery Barn

Just got the new Pottery Barn catalog and fell in love immediately:

Finally, and this is really something to get excited about, THIS QUILT.

This is the quilt my friend had in her daughter's room probably 5 years ago from Pottery Barn. I adore this quilt. Then they stopped making it. And then my friend gave it to her sister.

I can't believe they are making it again. Unfortunately, I have no use for it at this time. I am content just knowing that if I want to own it, I can.

I think you're crazy . . . possibly

It was 80 degrees here today. It was gorgeous. Spring is finally here!

So if I was out running errands today, I'd be crazy to buy this:
Down-proof ripstop with 550-fill duck down.
Down-proof embossed taffeta lining.
Zip-secure hand pockets with brushed tricot lining for added warmth.
Internal media-player pocket.

It would be crazy to purchase this when I was out looking for summer tops and capris.

Unless of course I really need a new coat for next winter and it was only $26 (full price $130.) Then I would be a genius.

Books

On my never ending quest to add color to my home, I came across these gorgeous books several weeks ago on A Little Sussy. I haven't been able to stop thinking of them.

Can you imagine anything more Carie? I am thinking they would make a nice Mother's Day gift.

Wall Art

I love these prints from West Elm.

I think these might be fun in my boys' room. Instead of Brooklyn, I think it would be fun to print up my son's name.



I absolutely love this one, I can't really say why. I am wondering if I can find a place for this in my house. You know, since I am all about color.

Free Clothes

My friend had an impromptu clothes give-away the other night. She was in the process of cleaning out her closet and I was the lucky recipient of some of her cast offs, now happily residing in my closet:

How about this with a skinny belt?

I actually own this shirt in the smaller size but it shrunk - as did hers - so now I own one that fits me. (This is one of the best layering shirts of all time, I could wear this 4 days a week.)

Just a regular tee with cute sleeves.

Another fantastic layering shirt - again, most of my white collar button ups have mysteriously shrunk so this is a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

This one is my most favorite. I already wore it today.

Thinking Ahead, Summer Clothes

A few years ago, I was hard pressed to find anything I liked at the Gap. Which was saying a lot because I have been a die-hard Gap shopper since High School.

Then suddenly for the last 1+ years I'd happily take everything in the store.

True to form, I love their new line:

I liked these swim suits from http://www.downeastbasics.com/

I will never buy this one (it only comes in white!) but I love the style

and this cover-up is super cute:

Love letter

Dear Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Baskin Robbins,

You are my favorite ice cream flavor of all time.

I could eat you anytime, anywhere.

That is why my family and I frequent 31 Flavors at least once a week. (Side note: even though the same lady helps us everytime, she still has yet to recognize us. We are talking once or twice and week here and nothing.)

I especially love that your chips are more like flakes or slivers instead of huge chunks.

Thinking of you fondly,

Carie

Finally

The Skinny on the Skinners Early April:

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

The Painted Veil

Lately I have been dreaming of Hong Kong and China, Walter and Kitty.

One of my fabulous sisters recommended this book to me.

I loved the book, I loved the way it was written. One critic described the book as, "sharp, quick, subdued, casual." Exactly. I love the growth and developement of people in this novel, especially Kitty.

Also, the movie:

*Sigh* I happened to check this out from the library also. I loved, loved, loved the movie, even more then the book. Some of the dialogue is straight out of the book, but it does not follow the story exactly, which was just fine with me. I watched the movie last night and the night before. I might watch it again tonight. I am not a repeat movie watcher, but I will most definitely be buying this movie.

I have found the characters swimming around in my head for the last few days. I can't seem to bring myself to read anything else. I am still not finished with Kitty and Walter.

(I might add: the movie earns it's PG-13 rating.)

Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?

I love the wheat grass with the Gerber Daisies. So springy.


(from Real Simple magazine July 2008.)

Kryptonite

If I was a super-hero, this would be my kryptonite:


**I've made these twice this week for my son's bday. I probably ate at least half of each batch myself.**

Homemade Oreo's

2 Devils Food Cake mixes

1 1/4 C Butter

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:Mix well. Roll into cherry sized balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Cream Cheese Filling

(1) 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1/4 C butter

1 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 C Powdered Sugar.

Mix well and spread between cooled cookies.

Clipboards

My dear friend made me this fab clipboard. I totally love it. Do you notice how the cute Amy Butler paper matches my house and me exactly? Can you see my initial at the bottom? How much do you love the curly ribbon on the clip?

It's lovely to have such a nice friend who knows me so well.

This clipboard made me think about this picture I saw on designmom and oh happy day (originally from Martha Stewart Living).

I think I am going to make a clipboard for each of my kids. Seems like a nice way to organize all their flyers and school papers and permission slips. Thanks for the idea friend!

Not To Brag

Last year I took up running, for real. I have always loved running and ran off and on but never in an actual race. I spent late summer/early fall training for a half-marathon that I completed in October. It was LOVE at first race.

When not running outside, I work out at a local Community College's Recreation Center.

Let me set the stage for you so you can fully visualize my gym: with the exception of me and my friends, everyone at the gym is a Senior Citizen. There are people who come to the gym with their oxygen tanks and canes(I'm not kidding.) The best attended Aerobics Class is the class where the participants stay in their chair for the whole class, the close second is a class called Young at Heart. I guess what I am trying to say is this: my gym is not a meat market.

Fast forward to this week at the gym. I was finished with my workout and headed downstairs when the man behind the desk (early 50's grandfather type - always dressed in chinos and a button down) stopped me for a conversation.

Him: "The cross country coach at the community college was wondering if you would be interested in joining the cross country team."

Me (choking on my water): "Me?"

Him: "Yeah, he pointed you out to me while you were in spin class. He's watched you run a couple of times and says when you run you look like you could go forever."

He explained that the coach felt a little awkward approaching me while I was running because he didn't want me to misinterpret his intentions.

Me: (laughing) "Does it matter that I am turning 35 this year and already graduated from college?"

Him (shrugging): "We had a mom on the team a couple of years ago whose oldest was 16. You just have to take 12 credit hours and have not previously competed collegiately."

(You have no idea how hilarious it is that I would have competed in track in college.)

Me: "I ran track in middle school does that count?"

Him: "We could probably work some sort of scholarship . . . but that practices are in the mornings which make it hard for the moms who are busy getting their kids to school."
___

This conversation really happened, I have a witness to back me up. I am still unsure it if it was some elaborate April Fool's joke played by this complete stranger who works at the desk.

I probably shouldn't admit how flattered I was by this. I mean, I am not an athlete. I am not good at sports, but to have the Cross Country coach say that I am a good runner? We are talking cloud nine. It's like one of my friend's said, "It's not everyday you are offered a Athletic Scholarship for college." Especially at my age.