Art with a Heart at West Elm

One of the unexpected and happy results from the 2011 St. Louis City Guide that I wrote for DesignSponge* is my friendship with Darraugh. She was moving to St. Louis from Florida and because of my DesignsSponge contribution, contacted me with some questions about St. Louis. We continued emailing, she moved here, we met, and we've been friends ever since. She's got impeccable taste, is totally down-to-earth, and is just a genuinely sweet and sincere person. Her partner Bob is an awesome guy too, so we've gone on dinner dates a few times, but not nearly as often as we'd like. One of the first places the four of us went together was an annual fundraiser for Turner Center for the Arts and we were all blown away with how great it was. (More here and here.) Darraugh is the Visual Merchandising Manager at West Elm and has put together a fundraiser for the artists of Turner at West Elm. I think this is a fantastic idea and can't wait to go. Congrats to my dear friend and I hope you consider supporting Turner.

*I'm hoping someone else from St. Louis will update the guide. It is woefully out of date, but I don't have the time. Plus, I'm just not into all the hip scenes, as evident by my use of the phrase "hip scenes".

Weekend Bits & Pieces

This is a real "family edition" blog post. This was the annual "shopping weekend" with my mom, aunts, and cousins. The second generation (my cousins and I) has been going for probably the last 25 years. Our moms, probably the last 40-45 years. There have been snowstorms, pregnancies, and calamities small and large, but no matter. Around the first weekend of December we descend upon St. Louis for shopping, dining, and mostly laughs. The past several years, everyone has spent the night with me and my brother. This will be the last shopping trip headquartered from our little Magnolia house. I drove them by the new house and they gushed-so happy for us. After our Friday night ritualistic feed at Biggie's, I took them to Ted Drewes and then through Candy Cane Lane. It was another wonderful weekend. We sure missed Aunt Debbie, but are looking forward to seeing her at Christmas.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER
(The bar at Red Lobster on the Rock Road. No kidding.)

Mollie's girls. I love all the aunt's hands in this picture.

Nephew Jacob played "Tex Glitter" in school's holiday music program. What a star!
(And isn't my brother handsome? Such a great dad.)

My sweet girl woke with a terrible fever. Secretly, I'm just glad this happened this morning and not later in the week. Her school birthday party is Friday and real birthday party is Saturday. 

Vintage

Chicago Score. Isn't she lovely?

The Red Dress

I can't believe I almost let National Poetry month go by with no acknowledgement on my blog. This poem isn't anything deep, but Dorothy Parker is always fun. And isn't that vintage red dress beyond marvelous?

The Red Dress

I always saw, I always said

If I were grown and free,
I'd have a gown of reddest red
As fine as you could see,

To wear out walking, sleek and slow,
Upon a Summer day,
And there'd be one to see me so
And flip the world away.

And he would be a gallant one,
With stars behind his eyes,
And hair like metal in the sun,
And lips too warm for lies.

I always saw us, gay and good,
High honored in the town.
Now I am grown to womanhood....
I have the silly gown.

Fall 2011

A little something called fall.

Shoes are ordered. Appointment made for new glasses. Scarf and vintage jewelry, I have.

Now, if I could just find a coat in this color and a little less old lady.

Fall Shoes 2011

Here are some of my favorite shoes for fall. I don't event know if these are 2011 season, but if I had money to blow, these would be my picks. Those red oxford wedges are just ridic.

1. Gravity Pope Une Harness Boot 2. Melissa Herchcovitch Red Oxford Wedge 3. Rag & Bone Open Oxford 4. Audley Round Toe Green Suede Pumps 5. Church’s Brogue Black Boot 6. Chie Mihara Stacked Heel Green Boot

Spring Shoes

After all the gallery hopping on Friday night, I realized I am in dire need of some sassy summer walking shoes. I know...the Naturalizers and Privos are a little "old lady" but they look like good kickers for the grocery store and serious sight seeing jaunts. But sorry Donald J. Pliner...as sweet as you look, this gal refuses to pay $150 for flats. I'll probably end up with the Clarks. Such a sucker for red shoes.

Rings & Things

My new computer is live, but none of my editing software is loaded, so I'm still a bit crippled. Audrey started preschool today and I have loads to share about how flippin' cute she is right now, but my mind is in a million places. Trying to get organized and focused for the new year. For now, just some quick hits of jewelry on Etsy (glittery, rustic, cute, and vintage). Escapism, my friends. I'm embracing it, for now.

 

{Etsy Shop: Anakim}

{Etsy Shop: Kristincoffin}

{Etsy Shop: Homako}

{Etsy Shop: LaComtesseDeTalaru}

{Etsy Shop: LaComtesseDeTalaru}

Wrapping The Week

{Flickr}

The beach house is a go. Yipeee! We’ll be spending at least two nights of our Thanksgiving holiday at a beachfront home on Emerald Isle. Audrey will want to play in the sand, no matter how chilly the weather might be. 

This week:

• I thought these Painted People were amazing (Cup of Jo and The Sense of Five).
• The Slits version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. RIP Ari Up.
• This was blogged all over the place this week, but still YES to the mamas! Please consider joining Moms Rising, which works to raise awareness for family issues (paid maternity leave, flex time, quality childcare, healthcare, etc.). Look at the U.S. Maternity/Paternity Benefits vs. the rest of the world. Really?!

Etsy Finds This Week

• Girly Clothes & Accessories: Citron Leaf Rounds Scarf, Frida Earrings, Stacking Rings , Long Shirt Happiness Flower (the description on this is so funny)
• Pink and Gold Cups (so cute)
• Any of the dictionary prints from MemoryDust 

Rainy weekend in store. Stay cozy. Love.

Swedish Shoe Love

{Asa Westlund}

{Maguba}

{Hasbeens}

I've been a little shoe obsessed lately. Odd since I'm rarely in anything other than my Born  or Keene Mary Janes. But these Swedish shoes all make me swoon. I seriously love the hand painted floral clogs from Swedish designer Åsa Westlund. At Maguba, you can design your own clogs, including silver! The blue Hasbeens are lovely, and not cheap. Their day glow boots are fun, but a little too much...I'm having a hard time imaging them on anyone really.

Food Face

I just bought Food Face at Border's yesterday for the wee one. Not sure she will get how cute it is, but it makes me laugh. Plus, it is ceramic, not melamine. 

Summer Shoes

The green shoes (MIA) I wore to a birthday party on Saturday and they didn't hurt my feet once. Joy! I love them so. The other two pair are on my summer shoe shopping list. I need another pair of red shoes (Rocket Dog) like a hole in the head. And the brown shoes (Privo) don't exactly scream summer, but they are soooo comfortable. I could probably use some sandals, but nothing is exciting me on that front.

Jipsi

I hadn't visited SKIF for months, but went over the weekend with Tracy and Katy. The display windows on the Daggett side entrance are filled with goodies from a new boutique. Jipsi is a gorgeous amalgamation of rust and glitter, sort of a more authentic and organic Anthropologie. The owner (Jenny Baca) was super sweet and had I not been chasing Audrey away from the sherbert colored typewriters, I would have loved to have talked to her more. Tracy left with a boatload of new Skifwear, and Nina generously gave Lindsey a super foxy blue/slate sweater. I desperately need some new clothes, but there was too much mayhem for me to do serious shopping. Nina gave us a mini tour of Herbaria soap company next door and then we went to k. hall, where a warehouse sale was happening. I'd never been in there and scored some some lemon verbena shower scrub and a clary sage candle for a mere $10 total. A delightful day.

Tiny Books 2

I am all crazy for and inspired by the tiny books lately. These are by Jenny Meilihove, who has all kinds of cute tiny things on her site. Oh, and an Etsy shop called behappynow.

Rock Star

People, I'm having a heart attack over here...American Apparel has gold or silver lamé leggings for kids. Maybe I'm too old to dress like a Rock Star, but Audrey sure isn't. And she just started KidzRock last weekend. On order. Can't wait!

Ring Thing

I love these rings made from china and coffee mug shards.
Kari Crump Mosaics on Etsy.

Red Shoes

Happy Accident! Audrey's collection of red shoes.
All $3 or less except Ked's, which were Sylvie's.

She loves red shoes. Just like her mama!

Dream Home

This is it. Farm house on 20 acres about 30 minutes southwest of Columbia, MO.
So dreamy. I love it.

Christmas Shopping in July

Audrey's birthday is just one week from Christmas. I want to get her cowgirl boots. Most of them in her size are pink, but I'm shopping for red. Oh, we have some contenders.

Good: Red boots

Better: Boots that light up...for my rhinestone cowgirl.
BEST: Red and turquoise AND the hearts light up? Seriously?

Blue Skies From Now On

My mom told me a couple of weeks ago that she heard on the radio that January 22nd is "the most depressing" day of the year. Some doctor based this finding on the weather, failed new year’s resolutions and consumer debt from holiday spending. The winter blues are not foreign to me. I’m feeling it. The inauguration was a bright spot, to be sure. But I was more tearful than normal—full of joy, but but my emotions were and continue to be right on the surface. So I’m trying to take care of myself…reading really good and funny books, journaling every day, trying to stay “in the moment” with Audrey.

Today, the sun was shining very brightly so around Audrey’s morning nap time, I threw her in the car and I took off for Lone Elk Park. I was reluctant because she is in the car so long on the three days that I work, but I had to get out of the house. She took a very decent nap and I got to drive through the park and look at a herd of bison, two deer, and one elk. Afterwards, I headed to Eureka where I remembered there to be a huge antique mall—great for walking. But it was no longer there. So instead, we checked out Ben Franklin and Dickey Bub Farm & Home—both amazing. I am a sucker for a Ben Franklin—so much crafty junk and weird candy. And I needed some brown thread anyway. Dickey Bub was incredible. It smelled like the MFA feed store I would go to sometimes with my mom or dad when I was little. Most impressive—the variety of bird feeders, the hot pink horse halters, and the cowboy boots.

Afterwards we got some lunch then headed home. Audrey napped most of the way with the sun shining on her cheeky little face. She has one little bottom chicklet tooth and a lateral incisor has popped out—which is not the normal order. She looks postively wacky at times. So flippin' cute I can't stand it. Once home I watched Mad Men (Netflix) and folded clothes and chased her around.

My new work schedule is Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays. It will take some getting used to—but I love working three ten hour days. I know it won’t last forever—but I love it.