Putting the pieces together

Crew neck top, $62
Open toe canvas wedges, $448
Melie Bianco handbag, $64
Avanessi rose gold ring, $298
Lise Sewing Date, 1866, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Wash it all away

Ruched dress, $560
Luichiny wedge shoes, $72
Tote bag, $590
Sequin chain link necklace, $60 
View River Bank in Springtime Date,Vincent Van Gogh

Mudbug madness

Being from Louisiana it is mandatory that one know how to quickly peel a crawfish.  This is a delicacy that we enjoy when we get to visit our families in the spring time.  Having gone home a few weeks ago we dove right in and dirtied our hands with the sweet and spicy juices that burn your mouth and remind you of your childhood.  Crawfish never fail to make me forget all that is going on around me and enjoy a mental renewal offered by friends and family.

 

• Take a boiled crawfish and hold it with both hands, the tail in one hand and the head in the other.
  
• Twist the crawfish in half, tearing the head portion away from the tail. You may find it easier to twist the tail from the head while holding the head still.
• Throw the head away unless you want to gently suck the juices out of it. There will be golden colored fat inside the head that retains the seasonings from the water.
• Hold the tail in one hand and peel a few of the little sections off of the tail with the other, starting at the side where the head was.
• Pinch or squeeze the end of the tail while using the other hand to gently pull the meat of the tail out. You may have to peel back more sections of the tail if the meat will not come out or try pinching the end of the tail harder.
• Eat the meat from the tail and discard the shell.
  
  
  

  

  {so steamy - they fogged my lens}

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

COV8T

1. Movement sweater, $80
2. Avery top handle tote, $895
3. Wide belt, $7
4. Paradise stripe maxi dress, $160
5. Milano cotton dress, $360
6. Floral rush bikini, $200
7. Wide strap sandal, $70
8. Copper dachshund, $48

Black, white, and red all over

When recently packing for vacation I began a list in order to help save myself from the normal night before rush and panic and I cleared off the guest bed and started compiling my things.  Low and behold I found a theme within my list that I hadn't recognized until I could visually see it.  I had chosen items consisting of black, cream, charcoal, and white, with a hint of red - how Parisian of me!  I've always wanted to be a classic French woman who consistently looks perfectly put together without any effort and now my sub-concious had taken over.   With a classic palette of colors and a tube of red lipstick I could see my dreams coming true - too bad it was only a trip to Louisiana and Tennessee, not Paris.

7. Vintage lace shift, $160
3. Charcoal tunic, $460
1. Winged peasant top, $78
2. Fire & ice lipstick, $8
5. Slim leg pants, $57
4. Suede pumps, $198
8. Cream flats, $158
6. Snake clutch, $231

Painterly wears

Cashmere cardigan, $435
Leather belt, $54
Wool short, $90
Leather tote bag, $1,625
Artist in her studio, Charles Camoin

Two year blues

I think I about gave my mother a heart attack the other day when I told her I would have a wedding every year if I could.  It has been the most magical day of my life and what a wonderful tribute to you and your loved one to have everyone you hold dear all in the same place for at least a fleeting moment yet permanent memory.  That is one reason I would redo a wedding every year and the other is that I simply have too many ideas for just one wedding.  My best friend was completely right when she told me to choose a theme, her theme was cotton while I chose . . . birdcages (go figure!)  A theme gives you a starting point and something to stick to so your ideas don't get too far out of scope.  Here are some photos from some barn inspired weddings that I would just die to emulate!  

Provencal

Issa striped dress, $600
Knit sweater, $100
Sandal, $70
Embroidery handbag, $118
The Duck Pond Date, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Would you . . .

. . . collect this work of art for your collection?  (yes, this a pickled lamb floating in a bath of formaldehyde)

{Damien Hirst, "Away from the Flock", 1994}

Inspiration

Look at these fabulous yard makeovers - I can't wait to utilize some of these ideas in my own backyard paradise that I am anxiously ready to achieve!

 

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Ash Wednesday

1. Stripe dress, $298
2. Sydney cardigan, $138
3. Chain mesh necklace, $88
4. Long maxi skirt, $75
5. Mail tote, $995
6. Lily print blouse, $52
7. Retro Vintage Wedges, $90

Laissez les bon temps rouler

If I can't be in Louisiana for Mardi Gras then I will bring Mardi to myself - with a homemade King Cake.  For those of you not familiar with this undeniably perfect cinnamon treat here is a short history of its meaning:

The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6 and continues until Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.  On the Christian calendar, the twelfth day after Christmas is known as "Epiphany", "Twelfth Night", or "Kings Day." It is the day the gift-bearing Magi visited the baby Jesus, and is celebrated with its own unique rituals.

The Louisiana tradition, begun in the 1870s, borrows heavily from European customs. As part of the celebration of Mardi Gras, it is traditional to bake an oval cake in honor of the three kings - the King Cake. The shape of a King Cake symbolizes the unity of faiths. Each cake is decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. A small baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is placed in each cake.

While custom holds that the person who finds the baby in their slice will be rewarded with good luck, that person is also traditionally responsible for bringing the King Cake to the next party or gathering.

 HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!!!!

Stealing time

Who doesn't wish there were more hours in day?  I'm the queen of making a plethora of plans for myself and then running out of time.  It probably doesn't help that I quit wearing my watch when the battery died and haven't worn one since.  I'm finding it increasingly more important to have a watch again and I've listed a few that I think would be fun to wear.  Modern watches can make a definite statement and come in any color and shape you could imagine.

1. Graystone plastic watchTriwa face jewelry, $195
2. Rose gold watch, $225
3. Champagne watch, $135
4. Gold boyfriend watch, $125
5. Toy Watch link jewelry, $489
6. Gold studded leather watch, $128
Salvador Dalí. The Persistence of Memory. 1931

COV8T

1. Feather box, $38
2. Tibi sleeveless dress, $149
3. Kate Spade logo umbrella, $55
4. Freshen Up Shower Curtain, $53
5. Rebecca Minkoff bag, $550
6. Steve Madden stiletto pumps, $90
7. Buono Kettle, $62
8. Feather snow pillow, $325

Color field

Chiffon blouse, $90
Yellow short, $190
Wedge heels, $135
Yellow Band 1956 | Mark Rothko

What length are you?

In the past I wore a multitude of skirts but as of late I haven't found too many that catch my fancy.  My skirt of choice while in my twenties was a bold, bright print or something with a lot of jazz, however, the skirt of my thirties has a much more subdued look - sleeker, slightly more tailored, and a bit more neutral with a more sophisticated palette of pattern.

[ floor-length ]  The most popular choice for a gown, it’s always right for a formal occasion.

[ mini ]  This fun and informal choice works well for the girl who is comfortable showing her legs.

[ just-below-the-knee ]  Flatters many body types and all ages.

[ chanel length ]  A graceful hemline that falls a finger-length below the knee.

[ mid-calf ]  The shape of this skirt can vary from graceful draping to full volume. Best to pair with low or medium heels.

[ ankle length ]  Shorter than floor-length, but longer than mid-calf, this dress could be paired with mules or sandals.

[ short-to-long ]  A graduated hemline reveals the lower leg and ankles in front.  
 

1. Shadowbox skirt, $198
2. Weekend pleated skirt, $190   
3. Linen skirt, $75
4. Georgia skirt, $198
5. Organza skirt, $120
6. Bow waist mini, $66

POP of color

A pop of color can never hurt.  I know that neutrals are practical and useful at all times but sometimes a girl just needs to break out of the monotony of everyday life and let a bright colored shoe brighten her day.  I love that all of these shoes correspond with this Warhol print - it just proves that color never goes out of style. 

1. Platform pumps, $90
2. Suede flats, $69
3. Bolivar wedge, $50
4. Wedge heel sandal, $159
5. Diba beaded sandal, $70
6. Ballet shoes, $178
Shoes print, Andy Warhol