Me in Melange

05.22.09

Last Friday I turned the big 3-0, and I have to say it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had.  My husband got me an amazing new digital camera (right in time, since I'll have a new lil' subject to photograph soon!) and took me out to an orchid farm in Eugene... Briggs Hill Orchids... wall to wall orchids in their greenhouse, it was like heaven for the 2 of us.  Thought I'd share some of my favorites, can you guess which one of these beauties came home with us?

   

Simply gorgeous!  Wish I could have brought them all home.  If you ever find yourself in Eugene, a trip to Briggs is definitely worth the drive (it's a scenic one out bailey hill road).  signed, me {CA}

nesting...

And so it has begun... my little house is getting all cleaned up and ready to go so that when my little one arrives she can mess it all back up again from scratch.  I've gathered all the little odds and ends that I think I might need to make life a little easier and so now I'm left to think about frivolous things like... where can I find a cute photo album to put all her pictures in??

I've always been a fan of these, by Aspinal of London.  I love that I could collect different colors for each year, I think that would be so adorable to have them all lined up on a book shelf. The outside is a gorgeous suede and the inside pages are plain so I could use photo corners to hold everything in place. Only downside is that they're a little spendy.

Second idea is more up-to-date (and maybe less time consuming) to do a digital photo album... they have loads of these online, but this one by mypulisher.com is the one I would proabably go for, LV's hubby got her one for mother's day and so the quality has been approved.  I like the layout options and the modern feel that the book takes on.

 

Alas, if I had all the money in the world (and time) I'd probably do both... but I think I just need to decide, hmmmmm...  signed, me {CA}

The new Alex & Ani bracelets!

 

I love wearing bangles...but my problem has always been that I have really slim wrists so some of them can fall too far down my hand and they hurt when I move my hand.  This is why I love the new Alex & Ani bracclets.  They are completely adjustable, so you can cinch them nice and tight so they don't fall down your hand at all!  I absolutely love the soft jingle of wearing them!

As a side note, I'm down here in San Francisco, and I really, REALLY wish I had one of the new Keats & Bloom scarves because the wind is making it chilly and at night I am freezing my bum off!  I just need something light around my neck and these scarves would be perfect!  I did bring my Prairie Underground sweatshirt and I'm awfully glad :-)!    Signed, ME {lv}

Project E and Sanctuary for fall....

I just saw both Project E and Sanctuary for fall and I wanted to fill everyone in.  First off, Project E has a TON of adorable t-shirts.  Just simple short sleeve and long sleeves with cool graphics.  They also did an open front, shawl collar cardigan with multi tie waist that I really loved (so we are getting it in both cream and black)!  You'll be excited, it is pretty darn cute stuff!

Sanctuary had some very fabulous pieces too...and then some seriously, seriously hideous styles (sorry Sanctuary).  I just can never, NEVER embrace a jump suit again??!!!   Didn't we do that back in the day and shouldn't we have learned from our mistakes?  I completely "get" bringing back the best of the best....the '80's weren't a style mecca, but I understand we can have fun with a few of the old favs (hello skinny jeans with zippers), but honestly....do we have to go nuts??   Luckily the Sanctuary rep is awesome and I could express myself without feeling bad....needless to say, "hideous" escaped my lips more than a few times.  BUT...when they weren't interpreting the 1980's, there were some adorable pieces that I know you'll love.  One of which is a really neat leather motorcycle jacket that comes in September!!   No worries people, I will shelter you from the extra scary 1980's styles :-).

Signed, ME {lv}

Too funny to not see!

For all you gals out there who fell asleep before SNL on Saturday night.... mothers lover video -- hy-ste-ri-cal  Signed, ME {lv}

In case you are wondering what to wear to hip hop class....

Turns out, the attire is different in a hip hop workout class than say, your average workout class.  I ventured out today to a "street funk" class at my gym.  The proper and appropriately cool attire might be a pair of wide leg Hard Tail yoga pants and a Michael Stars beater tank.  Regular tennis shoes...NO...you need something like this pair of Pumas below.  Hip hop is stylish, so you've got to look the part.  Note to self for next time you go.

You know....it wasn't that long ago that I was living in L.A. and I regularly went to a funk class down the street from my house.  I remember feeling like I held my own--that I could get my groove on with the rest of the "youngin's (of course, back then I actually WAS young, so that helped.)  Well...let me tell you, there is nothing like living in the burbs, having three kids and being dangerously close to 40 to lower your street cred.  It took me about 3/4 of the class to lower down my dance guard so that I could actually move like a normal person and not like a "burb-ite" with a stick up my butt.  Big sigh.....  I kept thinking to myself during class, "this would be a lot easier if I could have had a beer before class."  Not sure showing up for my workout with a beer-buzz is a mature way of loosing up (what am I, in high school??)--but I was definitely liking the idea of being able to let go easier.

I'm going back next Tuesday and if I could actually remember any of the steps I'd practice them at home.  Alas, I can't remember a single one.  Maybe I need to watch some M.T.V.    I love dancing, always have, and I never thought I would loose my groove but I think some of it is missing.  At least I'll be appropriately dressed.  Double big sigh.

Signed, ME {lv}
     

A new style....hair style that is!

Ever been slow on the style uptake...."oh, are skinny jeans popular?"...."wait, are ripped jeans in?"....well, you'll understand my moment when I realized there was a new hairstyle in town, and I had been absolutely in the dark on it.

Anyone see this month's Playboy Magazine?  Lisa Rhinna is on the cover, and she is smokin' hot.  I think she is in her 40's--something like that...and has this unbelievable figure (yes, she's had kids).  Who knows what "work" she's had, but suffice it to say, I was inspired to start going to the gym.  I also noted that, umm, the Brazilian appears to be old school and there is a new "hair" style that says, "bigger and bolder" than the painful waxing jobs of yester-year.   The porn style, pre-pub, naked nethers are no more as far as Ms. Rhinna is concerned.  Good to know, good to know.

Anyway, just had to share, as usual.  Hunt down a copy of the magazine, it'll keep you working out for weeks, possibly months.....and apparently will update you on "naked style"!  :-)  Signed, ME {lv}