You will never believe what happened...

I was coming out of the grocery store and I saw Anna Wintour! I was flabbergasted.  I was so astonished I didn't even look for my camera. I'm just standing there, in the middle of the parking lot and other people are walking around me and I'm sorta pointing and she goes in the store.  So then I'm like should I follow her, where is my phone I should call someone. Then I start looking around for her limo or driver or something, nada. Then I remember an article I read recently by Tim Dunn stating she always has a body guard so I start looking for men in black while I'm walking back to the enterance. There are none. Wait, why would she go into a grocery in Florida alone? I'm outside the entry sliding doors ie blocking the enterance to the grocery store debating if I should start stalking  I mean reenter the store. It doesn't seem right. So I decide to just sneek a quick peek cause the bags are starting to get super heavy and it's too hot to wait outside. She is in the floral department. Right there! Why doesn't anyone else notice her? I have no idea. People are walking around me while I gawk. I get a little closer and she has on a pink polo, white jeans, a green sweater tossed over the shoulders and some sort of sandals, chanel sunglasses earrings and bracelet (at least I think the jewelry was chanel def on the glasses) anyway she turns around looks up smiles at me then turns around to finish her convo with the clerk in floral. Thats when I think this can't be her cause the polo has the Saddlebrook tennis academy embroidered on it and I don't think Anna Wintour smiles. In anycase I couldn't hold the bags anymore so I left, but holy cow I think that's one of the coolist celebrity sightings ever.

Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't her...I still think it was pretty cool.

Thank You

I was reading a blog recently and I thought to myself  'this sounds exactly like me'.

Then  a few days go by and 'that happened to me too'

and a few more days or weeks go by and I read some more and I'm like 'she could be my sister'  and that leads to 'we should be best friends!'

I am so lucky to have made such great bloggy friends like you and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your comments, suggestions and words of wisdom.

Reading the blogs has really educated me in so many ways and taught me to really open up so I just wanted to say Thank you. I know I don't always delve as deep as many of you do. Maybe someday I'll be as brave but till then Thank you  :)

The Carrie Diaries

Summer Reading

If you can only read 1 book this summer I'd put the Carrie Diaries at the top of the list. i loved it.

Now I know there are some who have read and were miffed cause it doesn't follow with the TV show. That's because TV & Movies never follow the book exactly. I mean we all know in real life she married the ballerina, right?

But it does match up with the books and let me tell you, I could not put it down. The original Sex in the City book had numerous points of view where this is the story of Carries youth. And OMG the ending is AWSOME! Can you say hooked?

I actually ended up buying this book cause the library copy had chocolate and cheeto fingerprints on the first 50 pages (yuck) so that tells you it's getting a lot of use but an excellent read none the less

and it's so good it was a fast read too.

Neiman Marcus

I am on the email list for Neiman's and sometimes they have some very interesting items at 50% off or more which I LOVE with a capital L

It is sometimes called the midday dash and I think I am addicted

Today at 12:28 EST I was at the computer refreshing 20 times a minute!

Then when my computer said it was 12:33 the page was there! YEAH

after 1 minute I realized there was nothing that I could fit into or liked

hum

This has happened at every mid day dash since Feb

think there is a pattern?

think I'd change my behavior?

uh, no

It's kinda like gambling I guess

You push the button hoping for 3 cherries

but end up with a bunch of useless images

but one of these days I'll get my 3 cherries

and the deal will be mine all mine!

Have a great day!

LILLY LOVE

I had seen this dress on

Beth Dunn

of Social Climbers fame

and fell in love

the print goes around to the back of the dress

of course I immediately thought of

Kate

from Nautical by Nature

and had to share

LOVE

have a great day!

Shout Out!

Who went to the Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse Sale

TODAY?

I want to hear all about it!

Please leave in comments cause I now have a free voucher for

Southwest Airlines and I'm thinking this is how I want to

use it but I want to know what kinda deals there

are this year!

$69 Dresses?

$25 POLO's?

$39 Mens Shorts?

$69 Shoes?

Let me know ladies

SHOUT IT OUT!

One Kings Lane Super Deal

Ladies this is a super fantastic deal

if you are a stationary lover like myself

you will love this deal at One Kings Lane

from 2 designing ladies

Regularly $72 you get

1 gift certificate to make a custom stamp

and 2 packages of

10 foldover note cards

for $29!

That's less than just the stamp at Expressionary

with the 40% off

coupon code!

Use my invitation link

https://www.onekingslane.com/SignUp.aspx?Sponsor=Patricia_Murphy%40verizon.net

then choose the button for

OKL Must Haves

It may only be for today so hurry!

The time is NOW

This is the moment for the Senate to enact comprehensive energy and climate legislation in 2010 to create jobs, reduce dependence on foreign oil and limit global warming. The NRDC Action Fund has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio to ask you to urge your senators to support strong climate and energy legislation.

To join the fight, go to:

http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/thisisourmoment/

Sincerely,

The NRDC Action Fund

I just read, again...

The best summer read yet!

I am a fan of Lisah's blog

Grosgrain Garage

and she mentioned one day that she was reading

Preppy in Plaid

It looked adorable so I went staight to the library and picked it up

Hilarious

Then I read the rest of the series

Hilarious x 100

oh my gosh

this girl says things I only think of

and I love it

Now I must say that my fair lazy wasn't my favorite

but I did buy the entire set from Amazon

and re-read them again

try them and see...

Bitter is the New Black

Preppy in Plaid

Such a Pretty Fat

Bright Lights Big Ass

My Fair Lazy

Ideeli

Have I ever said how much I LOVE this site?

Well, I do.

There has been 1 exception and thats the bag I ordered for my mother in law for mothers day never shipped

Yeah, oops

I guess they over sold

but today I got these Pearl Havianas for only $10

so they are back on my good side.

Have a great day!

Thar' they are...

Yep, those are my chubby nubbys

the reason for this photo is I couldn't figure out why I had cut my toenails at an angle

then I realized I stand like a duck

with my feet spread apart

so my big toes are painted at an angle....

in red

like this   /

NICE

but when I just stand like I always do you can't tell

so HORAY for duck feet!

Cheecky

Have a great day!

HAPPY DAYS! or Pasco Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Hi  Ladies!

I had my meetup group over for a potluck and boy was it fun!

What a great group and we always have so many laughs, I love it!

Some of you were asking for the recipes so here goes ;)

Turkey

Ingredients


1 (12 pound) whole turkey

6 tablespoons butter, divided

4 cups warm water

3 tablespoons chicken bouillon

2 tablespoons dried parsley

2 tablespoons  minced onion

2 tablespoons seasoning salt

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse and wash turkey. Discard the giblets, or add to pan if they are anyone's favorites.

2.Place turkey in a Dutch oven or roasting pan. Separate the skin over the breast to make little pockets. Put 3 tablespoons of the butter on both sides between the skin and breast meat. This makes for very juicy breast meat.
(I accidentally put the butter on the butt then realized it was the wrong side so I had double butter, Oops)
3.In a medium bowl, combine the water with the bouillon. Sprinkle in the parsley and minced onion. Pour over the top of the turkey. Sprinkle seasoning salt over the turkey.

4.Cover with foil, and bake in the preheated oven 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). For the last 45 minutes or so, remove the foil so the turkey will brown nicely.

Sweet Potatos

4 1/2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes


1/2 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup milk

1 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2.In a large bowl, mix together mashed sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup butter, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs. Spread sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and flour. Cut in 1/3 cup butter until mixture is crumbly, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over the sweet potatoes.

3.Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Mac and Cheese

Kosher salt

12 ounces gemelli, cavatappi or other spiral-shaped pasta

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon dry mustard

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

1/2 cup whole milk

3/4 cup shredded yellow sharp cheddar cheese

3/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, chives and/or scallions

Directions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil; add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, mustard and cayenne and stir with a wooden spoon to make a paste. Cook, stirring, until the paste puffs slightly, about 1 minute. Whisk in both milks and 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened and creamy, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the cheddar and jack cheeses and all but 2 tablespoons of the parmesan and whisk until melted; keep warm.

Combine the panko, herbs and/or scallions, 1 tablespoon butter and the remaining parmesan in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the butter melts, about 1 minute; toss.

Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup cooking water, and return to the pot. Toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then stir in the cheese sauce, adding the reserved cooking water if needed. Season with salt and top with the breadcrumb mixture.

Key Lime Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting
From the kitchen of Michele McCarthy

Mix:

1 Box Lemon Cake Mix

1 Small Box Lime Gelatin

1 ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil

½ Cup Orange Juice

5 Eggs

Glaze:

4 Tablespoons Confectioner Sugar

½ Cup Fresh Lime Juice (2 ½ - 3 Limes)

Frosting:

1 Stick Butter (Softened)

1 (8 oz) Cream Cheese (Softened)

1 Box Confectioner Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Cake: Mix first five ingredients beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour into 3 (9 Inch) round cake pans. Bake 350˚ for 25 minutes (or till done in the middle)

Glaze: Mix Confectioner Sugar and Lime Juice. Drizzle over layers while cake is still warm.

Frosting: Cream together Cream Cheese and Butter. Blend in Sugar and Vanilla.

Let cake cool completely before frosting.

if there is another one you wanted let me know and I'll e-mail the cook  ;)

Also, I asked Cess to send be the hash browns recipe and I'll post it when it is received!

I just gotta say it.....

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

Ok, I shouldn't still be angry.

It's been almost 2 weeks but I can't stop thinking about him...

This is Trooper.

We met last week at the Tails & Tuxes Gala

for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay

I am totally in love!

:)

The hubs, not so much.

I want want want to adopt him

but the hubs is beyond allergic to practically everything

so I have been terminally SAD.

But this is not the sad story.

I met Trooper at the Benefit because he had been adopted

but his adoptive parents were not very attentive

and Trooper got hit by a car.

I'm not sure how he got back to the Humane Society

if he walked there all smooshed up

but somehow he got back.

The car crushed his front leg

The Humane Society had a super awsome vet

volunteer to take care of him (YEAH)

but he had to have his leg amputated

OMG

Just hearing the story made me want to hit someone

I DO NOT condone violence at all

but boy I was angry

and this was not the only rescue story that brought me to tears.

He was wearing a body cast

that the volunteers decorated to look like a tux

and he was hobbling around on three legs.

He was SO happy and excited to meet everyone and I was thinking

boy he is a star tonight

what a great personality

I'd love to have a dog like him.

Frankly, I'd love to have an attitude like that.

That is a great lesson.

Bad stuff happens and it can get worse

but don't let it get you down

cause I'm way better off than most peple and

I thank "god" everyday

for my amazing husband

and that I'm so lucky to stay home and take care of him.

So I will always think of Trooper when I'm down

and resolve to be a happy, good person

cause at least I have all my fingers and toes.

Shopping Addiction

Hi Ladies  :)

For those of you who are not aware

I have a little shopping problem

the hubs calls it an addiction

silly man

I'm not sure when it started but it peaked last June.

Yes, June at the Lilly Pulitzer warehouse sale ;)

Now, I am a Ross/TJ Maxx person and so when I see a deal I buy it.

Unfortunately there are times when things don't fit or look as cute with something as I thought. Also, I'm not very good at holding onto receipts to return things. (Thank god Target has the Credit Card system thing where they scan and poof there's your receipt)

Anyhow, when the guest bedroom closet got full of things that didn't "work", I opened a little Ebay store to move them off to a new home.

Then last year I went to my first LP Warehouse sale while the hubs sat home watching baseball. I got VERY caught up in the excitement of $39 flats So, essentially, I bought one of everything I loved

for myself, my sister (who I don't speak to) her kids, the hubs, my nephew in Oklahoma.

Oh yeah it was great!  Till I got home and had over $1000 of Lilly that didn't fit.

Cheeky

So when I got the email from Lilly anouncing the Warehouse Sale next month I immediately told the hubs I wasn't going. Who was I going to buy it for? I've gained a little weight and don't fit in the clothing

so escentially I'd be going for shoes and handbags and the handbags were gone by noon

on the first day last year.
So...what to do?

(ummm, handbags....)

Well then the hubs says, "Haven't you made a nice little profit from Ebay?

That extra money could pay for your trip and a few things for yourself."

This is why I married him.

Joy Joy Happy Happy

I still haven't decided if I'm going to the "PARTY"

but at least I have the green light

Can you believe this is from Talbots too?

I think I love Talbots

Ring: $39

Bracelet:  $59

Happy Mothers Day!

Hi there!

I hope all the moms are having a great day

I got my mother in law this Rowallen Hope Tote for Mothers day

I totally LOVE it!

I thought it would be perfect cause she can carry her laptop and magazines etc

rather than this giant duffle that she usually carries everywhere

 Plus it's a lovely Khaki that will go with everything

and frankly I think it looks very professional

When I showed the hubs

he wasn't excited

hum

She works for a company that distributes magazines to specialty grocers

so she has tons of magazines everywhere

and I mean everywhere

So I thought this was perfect

fortunately he didn't think it was that bad cause

he didn't ask me to return it

and he didn't get something else

but now I'm paranoid that she'll hate it, UGH!

Men

I don't know why I'm beating myself up

it's not like she'll tell me she hates it

it will just sit in her closet and she lives 2000 miles away

I hope she likes it

Vern Yip: Art of Giving

(this is a picture of him projected on a screen)

Last week I attended the Art of Giving Benefit with guest speaker Vern Yip

What a cutie pie

It was super fun and they had a special Martini

the Yiptini for everyone during the Silent Auction

Delish

I, of course, cried during "this is how you help change children’s lives" segment.

The food was marvelous & I won 2 Silent Auction items!

YEAH

The Benefit raised over $150,000 for the United Way summer programs

Silent Auctions are the BEST!!!

Publix is a grocery chain in the south and they have a department called Aprons that does in store demonstrations of quick and easy meals but they also have a cooking school and I won seats for 2 to the beginner class! YEAH!  So the hubs and I will be attending classes for the next 6 weeks in order to increase our (my) cooking proficiencies. heh.  I'm really excited about the chopping/knives class. Maybe I'll be chopping like Julia Childs at the end!

Talbots: Who knew?

I always thought Talbots was for old ladies...

Until I saw this

WOW

This is definately not my mothers Talbots

a few weeks ago Puttin' on the Grits

had a very interesting blog item about the new Talbots

and today she is having a giveaway

Talbots Giveaway via Puttin' on the GRITS

it is in conjunction with

Red Chair Confessions

and is adorable

Be sure to pop in and enter! 

MAY EDITION: Town and Country Magazine

Ladies, the May edition of Town and Country Magazine is tres' fab

However, my most favorite part is the interview with

Nadja Swarovski

at her parents home in Windsor Florida

Ok, not only is she beautiful

and an heiress to the Swarovski crystal fortune

her mother must be amazing.

Why you ask. Because of the 21 pictures in the spread

2 full page photos include her mothers desk + 1 little photo.

How do I know this? Well other than they said it was her parents house

this beyond amazing desk is PINK!

Oh yes. The entire desk is wrapped in pink embossed leather.

TO DIE FOR

If my mom had a giant pink leather desk I would think she was cool too.

Ps. did I mention she has 3 beautiful children and her hubs is british?

Are these preppy or what?

I finally started reading Town & Country magazine

and I saw the most marvelous preppy item EVER!

18kt gold pink sapphire and peridot drop earrings

OMG

Paolo Costagli Florentine Collection

I couldn't, um, borrow the image from the website

but seeing is believing

Posts

I've been thinking I will try to post more regularly.

It seems my bloggy peeps try to blog every day

but I really go in spurts

so I think I'll TRY to post 3 times a week.

What do you think?

Simply Vera: KOHLS

I need to stop reading INSTYLE

Once again my hopes are dashed by the retail gods

I saw this in INSTYLE magazine and thought it was tres' chic

so I flew over to KOHLS to pick it up

Did they have it?

NO

Silly me thinking an advertised product would actually be at the store, huh

So I went to the online store, uh, none their either

What is going on?

This shirt is $40

and it's a T-shirt

aren't we in a recession?

Suck-o-la

The UPS Man

Last week the UPS man came rang the bell

and went back to his truck

I made it in time for the bendy Butt shot

as he was getting into the truck

When he sat down he turned

and saw me drooling waving

He smiled and drove off into the sunset

Today he droped off the package

NO DOORBELL RING

RACED BACK TO THE TRUCK

AND SQUEELED OUT OF THE CUL D SAC

Geesh

He acts like he never saw a woman

waving before

humf

H & M

Living in Florida has its drawbacks

one of them being there are only 2 H and M's

in the entire state

I became especially upset by this while perusing

this months INSTYLE magazine

I thought this was beyond adorable and totally suited to Florida living

Unfortunately the closest H and M is in Orlando

90 minutes away

ARRRGH

H and M gods

if you are listening

Please open an online store

STAT

Thanks

WHAT IS GOING ON!

The hubs has been getting up for work

and going directly to the kitchen

to make a loaf of bread

every morning for the last 2 weeks.

No this is not a euphamism

FANTAS-EYES.com

Fantastic Eyes dot com

Why do you tease me?

I LOVE the glasses by XOXO

and they are INSTYLE this month

WHY OH WHY

Did you offer a coupon code that doesn't work?

Silly Fantastic Eyes don't you know I will search hi and low now

for a better deal

PS. Get a new shopping cart yours stinks

PPS. Yes I did try it several days ago before the promotion ended

Titan Luggage Update

I was reading INSTYLE today and lookie lookie

A 40% off Coupon for Titan Luggage at

http://www.titanluggageusa.com/

The coupon Code is
INSTYLE40

Sweeeeeet

So of course I had to see if there was anything cute

and one of the new spring colors is:

FUSHIA

holy cow, must have now

I think I'm in Love

Lisagh of Grosgrain Garage mentioned this book on her blog

Pretty in Plaid

Jen Lancaster

I thought the cover looked adorable so I picked it up at the library

I LOVED IT!

I think I should be her best friend  ;)

So I spent the day scouring the internet for all of her books

and then I pre-ordered her new book on amazon

This book was so funny I would burst out laughing and startled the hubs

although he sorta deserved it for veto-ing the pink chair purchase.

If your looking for a good laugh pick up any one of the books by

Jen Lancaster

Bitter is the New Black

Bright Lights Big Ass

Pretty in Plaid

Such a Pretty Fat

My Fair Lazy

and visit her blog it's Hilarious!

Jennsylvania.com

Nutty, Maybe.....

Getting snail mail is one of my most favorite things.

My mail carrier usually arrives at noon and it is now almost 3pm.

I realized how manic I have become when

1. I started tapping my foot incessantly

2. I checked 3 websites to be sure today isn't some weird holiday

3. I started looking out the window every 5 minutes.

Obsess much? Me? Pfft