Velvet Band Jacket

The most awesome little girl's band jacket. I wish Cami would wear other things besides just pink an frilly things—currently we are constantly at odds about her clothing. Whatever I dress her in, she wiggles out of again within minutes of me leaving the room. She is so determined and head strong—much like her mom, so I can't blame her!

Band Jacket in navy blue velvet, $50.00 at gap.com

Feeling Lucky

Cross your fingers—$500 million is on the line.

The British Standard

Perfect plum luggage from British luxury retailer Asprey of London in collaboration with Globetrotter. Super dreamy [but probably way too nice to drag onto a commercial airliner].

Asprey Londoner Luggage Collection, asprey.com

Feeling Thankful

Thanksgiving break was so nice, and I actually had some time to completely relax and spend some quality time with my beautiful little girl and handsome husband. Even took a few days off the blog to just decompress a little before the pre-holiday madness start kicking in. With Christmas just around the corner and a packed schedule leading up to it—it's going to be a busy month. Between getting the house finished up for our holiday guests, decorating, christmas shopping, cooking and of course taking some time off to enjoy the holidays, there is not much time left for anything else.

Talking about holiday plans—this will be the first time in 15 years that we will not celebrate Lucia in the city. Heading up to Essex, Connecticut instead for the North Pole Express and the Mystic Aquarium with Cami. Should be so much fun!

Gobble Gobble

Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!

Happy [Almost] Thanksgiving!

Just wrapped up a few hectic days, and I'm about to get a jump start on this Thanksgiving weekend channeling grandma with a glass of sweet vermouth.

I made a quick trip to Home Deport this morning, and $429 poorer we are finally ready to start painting. I'm sitting contemplating if I should spend this afternoon with some trashy TV, or actually be productive and start rolling on the paint in the guest room downstairs. Alicia is coming over Friday to help out—I have such amazing sister-in-laws. Always willing to help out—painting, baby sitting, whatever we need!

Spending Thanksgiving with Rich's cousin in Garden City. Every time we go there I have complete house envy. Huge old tudor house with tons of character placed on a beautiful corner lot. Absolutely amazing. Just scheduled girls' drinks on Saturday. I feel I haven't had any time to spend with my girlfriends since I had Cami. Being a mom and working full-time is filling up every minute of every day. I think I need to get better at scheduling some alone time; I think everyone needs it to be a better person and a better mommy. So girls' night out it is. Should be so much fun.

Cheers!

Home Stretch

I can't wait to see how far the construction crew has gotten while I was away for the past two days. I was thinking of not posting any photos until we were a little further along, but I can't help myself. Here's a little sneak peek of the work-in-progress. Tape and mud has been started, and I think i can invite Alicia for our wine and paint party soon!

xoxo.

Peplum

I'm thinking of getting this dress for the holidays. I think it's a nice and pretty simple LBD. I have tons of upcoming business lunches, holiday parties and family get togethers, and I think this one could serve double duty. What do you guys think? Is peplum still cute, or kind of on its way out? I can't decide.

Vince Camuto Peplum Sheath Dress, $150.00 @ nordstom.com

Good Morning St. Louis!

Wonderful night's sleep—soft sheets and black out shades do really help. I feel ready to go and get this done. Water is running for a nice hot bath, dress is pressed and shoes polished, AND the malfunctioning laptop [with the final presentation on it] is running again, and we are back in business!

If I now could just get my hands on a yummy latte, everything would be right in the world.

10,000 Feet

On a flight headed back to St. Louis for another pitch. With a 90 minute delay heading out from LaGuardia, I kind of wish I was home instead of 10,000 feet up in the sky. Missing my two loves so much, but I'll be on my way back tomorrow night again. If I can squeeze it in, I'll try to surprise them with some Pappy's BBQ, if I can squeeze in a quick pit stop on my way to the airport tomorrow. Full rack of ribs coming right up—long distance delivery!

Typically stressful going through security—I just hate it. Slightly sweaty and rushed trying to pull of your coat and boots, get the lap top out of the bag, followed by a quick run through in my head of the contents of my notoriously disorganized bag; just hoping that I don't have anything in there that will be confiscated. [Don't worry—noting illegal.] Last trio to DC I took the train down, and proceeded to forget that I had full sized beauty products in my carry-on on my flight home. $100 down the drain—literally.

Anyway, final rehearsal tonight in the bar at Four Seasons. At least we are staying in style! I swear the restaurant at the hotel has the best roasted chicken I have ever tasted. Maybe paired with a glass of Pinot Gris, I'll sleep like a baby tonight. This time I have made a full commitment to take a bubble bath in their amazing bath tub. It's so big it takes half an hour to fill it up—but it will be well worth it.

Will try to gig eye guys a quick update again a little later if time permits. If not, good night, kids.

La Mer

Not sure why, but I'm obsessed with this song right now.

I Heard a Rumor

That there is a utility truck in my neighborhood repairing lines. I think I'm going to be able to take a warm shower tonight after all and sleep in a warm room. Ahh, heaven!

And to sweeten my day, dry wallers are coming in on Monday to start work. Yay! It's down to the wire but it's getting done.

Patience

Patiently waiting for the dry wallers that again had to reschedule due to yesterday's storm. In the meantime I'm continuing to look for furniture inspiration for out soon to be finished basement.

Pretty things. Draper Lounge Chair by Zuo Modern, $280.00 @ ideeli.com

Dream Vacation: Sipadan

I would give a million dollars to be here right now—dive paradise Sipadan and Mabul in Borneo, Malaysia. So amazingly beautiful.

Who wouldn't want to live in one of those bungalows for a couple of weeks?

Darkness

Just managed to make it home after a 3.5 hour commute home. My train was the last train out of Penn Station before the whole system was suspended due to the nor'easter.

And just my luck—power just went out again—what are the chances if that. Another night in the cold and dark. Four inches of heavy, wet snow on top of already weakened tree limbs is spelling disaster...

Beat it Athena!

These storms just need to stop now—parts of Long Island is losing power again. It better not be us!

Photo by Matt Moroni

I Need This Lamp

Greyline table lamp, $99.90 @ cb2.com

Pretty Little Bags

Keeping Warm

Winter is definitely coming—it's freezing out. Brrr!! Just went online to buy some warm winter gear—all super cute stuff from GAP. Nice winter white woolly sweaters, gloves and hats. And a pop of color with a leather zip clutch and an infinity scarf. I think i should be set for the snow coming!

The Last Plea

I'm hoping this will be my last post about this horrible event that destroyed so much of Long Island, NY and New Jersey. This video was posted today on YouTube and it really touched my heart. Listening to this voicemail just brought back memories of the days that followed of 9/11 some ten odd years ago.

When things felt really hard this past week, when we were freezing cold, complaining of the lack of gas, hot water, cell service; I just reminded myself of all the people who lost everything they had and some, even their lives.

I beg you all to dig deep in your pockets and donate to one of the communities that are in such desperate need of help.

New York

Cover of New York magazine this week. Scary and pretty amazing, all at once.

Dire Straights

I apologize for not updating each and every one of you individually, but it's difficult to get any messages through out here on Long Island. It's day four of no power, so we still have no lights, heat or hot water, and of course no cable, wifi, internet or phone. Trying to get by, but it's getting more and more difficult. Currently sitting in a parking lot at Burger King where I managed to get a connection, so  my update here will be for everyone. 

Managed to order a generator online today (at least UPS is still delivering.) There is a waiting list of hundreds of people at the local Home Deport store, so I double we will be able to get one from there any sooner. Currently all of Long Island is out of gasoline, which means no fuel for the car or generators. I heard that some of the gas companies had parked their delivery trucks in areas where they got damaged by the incoming salt water storm surge—which means no way of delving more gas. Hoping that deliveries will be up an running soon...

We have managed to get an extension cord to our neighbor's generator, so at least we have power for the fridge. Little things that makes life so much easier! Our biggest problem is now boredom. We are all going a little stir crazy in the house with absolutely nothing to do. How do you keep a two and a half year old entertained for days on end cooked up in the house?