Friday Favorites - Let's start with Dolly Parton!

Loving this look!  Check out a modern day beauty look inspired by Dolly Parton circa 1970.

Top five scandals of Marie Antoinette.

Loving this classic little girls dress.  So happy I have a reason to order it now!

Pretty wall treatment - It makes me want to re-do my powder bath.

I'm giving away something from this jewelry designer in September!  Don't miss it!

My sister, Krystal's, favorite things.

This is the color for fall and I love the idea of adding it with a clutch. 

Monograms for Mother and Daughter

How cute are these?

The children's size starts at 2T so I suppose I can wait a year to order these for my baby girl and I.  She is only 8 weeks old!

Check out The Pink Monogram to order.

Party Skirts!

Well, you know how much I love a party, right?
Did you know that I love dressing the part for a party just as much?

Two of my favorite gals have created one of the most versatile party necessities ever and I feel like a proud "aunt."  (Sort of too old to be their sister.  Too young to be their mother!)  Forget searching high and low for the perfect dress for your next event. The PartySkirt is super flattering and will steal the show. You can also forget about splurging on an outfit that you can only wear once!  The PartySkirt can be mixed and matched with all sorts of items and accessories in your closet.

Designers and sisters, Lauren and Mariel Armstrong, have been "playing" with my sisters since they were tiny tots.  The precious blonds were always ready to celebrate any occasion and they haven't stopped as they have matured - thank goodness!

They have celebrated many special occasions with us in the perfect "looks" created with their party skirts. From the short gingham party skirts paired with button down blouses and cowboy boots at our ranch to floor length party skirts with fine knit black turtlenecks and heels at a black-tie debutante ball, they always show up ready for the occasion.

Their talented mother made the first skirt to fill a void in their wardrobes (I didn't notice the void but I am glad they dreamed this up!) and now they are sold across the US and Canada.

All of this is to say...You need one.  Or maybe two or three.  

Oh, and don't forget to follow them on the most adorable instagram feed every created!

Rules for Mothers of Girls

While on holiday this summer we were able to take a photo of Four generations of girls on my Instagram.

Back in January of 2012 I posted a beautiful write up by Tab Studer with 25 rules for Mothers of Sons.
At the time, I didn't dream that I would be the Mother of a Daughter as well!  Well, Tab Studer's friend Sarah at Diapers and Daisies Blog has written her own 25 rules for Mothers of Daughters and it is just as lovely!  Click here to read it. 

I am feeling inspired to write my own rules!

A few that come to the top of my mind:

-Teach her to celebrate the little things.  My mother always went "all out" to remind us to make the most of every moment.  It is important to cherish life's special occasions but don't forget to celebrate every day occasions as well.

-Admire God's beauty.  My Grandmother is so good at this one and I want to pass it down to my daughter.  There isn't a flower or an interesting cloud that my Grandmother doesn't acknowledge. I hope that my daughter remembers to appreciate these natural beauties as well.

-Have an attitude of gratitude.  I try my best with this one but I hope I can model this for her as she grows.  I once read that writing a Thank You note to someone every night as part of a bed time ritual can help!  I have my son write notes for gifts he receives but I think I would like to make it a nightly family project. It would be a great habit to instill in our children and a great reminder for me as well!

-Respect Traditions.  I have always loved honoring family traditions.  I carried the same bouquet as my grandmother at our wedding.  I want to do the needlework on the stockings for my kids just like my grandmother did.  I love that my mother makes sure Christmas Day is full of traditions, right down to getting oranges in our stockings just like she did when she was growing up.  I hope that my daughter cherishes these traditions as well.  Not only do I want her to pass them down to her children but I hope that she finds comfort in them just like I do.

I am going to keep working on my personal list of rules for being the mother of girl but I think I have a good start here.  What are your rules?

Friday Favorites

Have a great Friday y'all!  Check the links below to see some of my favorite on-line treats of the week. 

Are you going to try my friend Alex Hitz's recipes from House Beautiful?

Absolutely signing up for a trip like Gwyneth's when my kids are a little bit older.

I love keeping up with Carolyne Roehm's Charleston Project and can't wait to see the finished home.

Looking for a new color obsession? I love Privet Berry Blue.

Hosting a baby shower?  This is cracking me up!  I have to do it sometime.

Missing my sisters today.  I'll be emailing them this quote in a moment.

Do I spy a Chiang Mai Dragon swatch on the floor in this kitchen?  I can't wait to see the finished project!

Sneak Peek: Right on Target

I can't tell you what fun it was to be a part of the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Stylescape.  The photo shoot was an incredible experience.  Maybe you saw my Instagram photos from the day of the shoot?

Even though it was only four weeks after I had the baby, I pulled on my Spanx and set out for the Coyote Drive In in Fort Worth for the shoot.  

The collection is going to be amazing.  I got a sneak peek and I can assure you that I will be in line at Target for the collection on the 15th of September!

Here are a few snaps from the shoot.  The final stylescape, which will debut at a Fashion Week party on September 5th, will feature style setters from six cities across the country and Canada.  The really cool part: We will move in the image!  It is kind of a photo/kind of a video!  I can't wait to see it.

My beautiful sister getting her hair done.

Back in the make-up chair only four weeks after baby!  I wasn't feeling very glam but I knew I was in good hands.

Jan Strimple is so amazing.

Amazing custom door lock!

Friends on the set, including the amazing Bag Snob who organized all of us and kept us in line!

My friend and TV co-host, Courtney Kerr, tweeting away on the set.

A sneak peek at the collection.  I love the navy and black dress.

Love the license plates!

Check out the adorable pup on set.

Check out my sister, Krystal's, blog and Bag Snob for more!

Blue and White Eye Candy

I love this photograph of Elena Perminova in the new Harpers Bazaar.  Isn't it just precious?

Elena's Cinderella Story is amazing. 

The dress put me in the mood for some pretty Blue and White eye candy with a Country House vibe!  

Enjoy!

A collection of Blue and White Porcelain from Valentino's collection.

Carolyne Roehm

A detail from Pauline de Rothschild's Paris home.

I learned something new today!  Did you know that the Duchess of Windsor wrote a cookbook filled with 140 of her favorite Southern Recipes?  I had no idea that the infamous American divorcee who shook up the British Throne had such a charming domestic side! The book was published in 1942 by Charles Scribner's Sons, and the royalties from the book were donated to the British War Relief Society.  Eleanor Roosevelt wrote the introduction!

Town & Country Magazine published her recipe for Fried Chicken and I think I need to give it a try!

You can order a copy by clicking here.

If you aren't into this recipe, click here for a list of Southern Living's favorite Fried Chicken Recipes.

Want to know if there is a polite way to eat fried chicken?   Click here to watch my video. 

Friday Favorites

It's a good Friday y'all!  This was my view at dinner last night.  I posted it on my Instagram 
Who do you follow on Instagram that I would like?  Let me know in the comments section of the blog.  I need some new people to follow!

Here are a few of my Friday Favorites:

What a sweet idea for birthday scavenger hunt.  

I love figs and I love this blog post about how to use them! 

Do the words Appliqué Monogram mean anything to you?  If so, check this out.

It's hot out but fall is just around the corner.  I am obsessing with adding a touch of fall to the house by covering everything in velvet!

Don't miss this giveaway.

One of the wealthiest women in the world and she served Jell-O to her dinner party guests!
Read more about her here!

Get in line for Bernard Maisner and Julia B's collaborative collection!

I can hardly wait for the beautiful collaboration between two of my favorite artists to be available starting in September.  Bernard Maisner has been my go-to calligrapher for special projects since I got married eight years ago.   Julia B. is the creator of a gorgeous line of linens that impresses even the most discerning eye.  They have now joined forces to create a magnificent line of linens featuring Bernard's intricate designs.

Above is a selection of Bernard Maisner's beautiful Tree Cards.  Below is the gorgeous embroidery on linen created by Julia B for the new Bernard Maisner for Julia B. collection.  Isn't it beautiful?

Black and White and Worn All Over

I've been looking for an outfit for fall that with do two things: hopefully mask my baby weight gain that I am trying hard to lose and be that go-to look that can be worn all over.  I think I found it at Moda Operandi.  I love the print and cut of the dress (hopefully it will disguise a few troubled spots) and I love the way a statement necklace draws the eye up!  

Ek Thongprasert on Moda Operandi

Michael Angel on Moda Operandi

Sergio Rossi

Currently Obsessed: Herend for Baby!

As new mothers, we all think that our baby is the most special baby on earth!  Of course, no new baby is getting as much attention as HRH Prince George Alexander Louis!

It makes me sad to think that Princess Diana will not ever hold her little grandson.  I like to think that she would have been a very warm and loving grandmother. I am sure that there are many things that Prince William will pass down to his son that he learned from his mother.  One of them might be a set of china!

As the story goes, Princess Diana loved her Herend Birds China.

Rumor has it that the new young royals also love Herend and the company has released the beautiful Royal Garden Commemorative Royal Baby Collection in honor of the young Prince.

Isn't it pretty?  It is a limited edition of 2013 pieces and is inscribed with the name and birthday of the HRH Prince George.

But if that isn't your style, here are a few more of my favorite Herend baby pieces: