Sweet Sweaters!

When I am not wearing fleece,

I can be found in a sweater almost any time of the year.

 

I love cashmere sweaters, but those are not always practical for my job.

I also love turtleneck sweaters, or wearing crew neck sweaters with a turtleneck.

I like turtlenecks because they keep me warm...

I would say no one sees my neck from mid-November to early March...lol.

 

I have a zillion sweaters, and don't NEED any new ones,

but are a few that I have my eye on....

This is ADORABLE!

My sweet husband (who spoils me) bought this for me last weekend.

I plan to wear it with jeans, a navy gingham shirt as shown, and red suede flats!

 

 

This cable knit sweater from Talbots

comes in a rainbow of colors and I actually have my eye

on the one in bright Kelly green.

 

This chunky cable knit sweater from J Crew

is both cozy and cute. Loving the baby pink color...of course!

 

This is a new twist on an old classic...

the LL Bean bird's eye sweater, only in a zip front cardigan.

I had the pullover version for MANY years before it finally bit the dust.

It is a great weekend sweater with jeans or khakis in the winter...it is WARM!

This Lilly Pulitzer sweater says it all....

I hate winter....well, I hate cold weather to be more specific.

Winter in Hawaii is fine.

 

What sweaters do you have your eye on?

 



Monogram-a-holic

Thank you to Eva at the adorable blog Nothingbutprep

for tagging me as a Monogram-a-holic!

I posted here about my love for monograms

and nothing has changed!

 

 

Here are the directions...

-thank the blogger who tagged you, and include the link to their blog

-include the logo of this post (The First Impressions picture) 

-Use a monogram app or draw a picture of your monogram and include it in this post.

-Answer the questions

-tag 5 or more bloggers to complete this tag 

 

Here is my monogram...

 

Here are the answers to the questions Eva asked...

 

1. What is your favorite monogramming font?

Interlocking circle script is always a classic, and probably my favorite.

 

2.  "If it's not moving..." 

then monogram it.

 

3. Which statement best describes you?

A- I have so many monogrammed items that it's hard to remember exactly how many I have.

B- 10 or more monogrammed items

C- 9 or less monogrammed items

Definitely A for me.

 

4.What item do you wish you owned with your monogram on it? 

Hmmm...that's a hard one....probably sterling silver flatware with a monogram.

 

5. What is your favorite online monogramming company?

For cute clothing, I like Sweet Tea Monograms...

For housewares, it would be Mark and Graham.

 

6. What is your favorite monogrammed item you own? 

I would have to say the monogrammed handkerchief

that my sweet husband, D, had delivered to me on our wedding day.

 

And here are my questions...

1. Do you follow "traditional" monogramming etiquette,

or do you follow "contemporary" monogramming etiquette?

 

2. What is the most outrageous thing you have monogrammed?

 

3. Have you ever regretted monogramming something?

 

4. What's your favorite monogram style?

 

5. At what age did you first discover your love of monograms?

 

I tag these fabulous bloggers

who also are monogram lovers...

Summer Wind

Tickled Pink

Monograms and Manicures

Miss Southern Prep

Southern State of Mind

 

Happy Monogramming!

 

 



More Decorating Baby Steps....

Today was an exciting day for me...

we had carpeting installed on our stairs today!

I spent hours and hours looking for something I loved.

After looking for a year, I found exactly what I wanted.

It was discontinued...no possible way to get it.

Fortunately my Virginia mom was able to find something I liked even better,

and after waiting six weeks for it to arrive,

it was installed today!

Baby steps in my decorating....

 

Here is the "before" when we bought the house....

Hard to see but the stairs were carpeted with white plush carpeting,

as was the entire upstairs,

which happened to be ruined from cat urine

in-between our home inspection and the walk through on our closing date.

Needless to say ALL of the carpet was ripped out before we moved in.

 

Here is what it looked like this morning.... 

And now....

The carpet is a creamy white wool with a blue/gray lattice.

For all who think I am insane getting a creamy white carpet on my stairs having eight children,

I have the same color on the second and third floors of our home,

and with the "no shoes on the carpet rule" we have managed to keep it clean.

Here's hoping for the same for the stairs!

 

Here is an update on my powder room....

just a reminder of the "before"

and after....

My Virginia mom found exactly what I was looking for in terms of the rug.

It's a black hooked wool with a floral pattern

in greens, blues, pinks, and yellows.

I had a pair of botanical prints in my bedroom

that look great and tie in with the colors of the rug.

I just have to find a light fixture

and something for the opposite wall of the bathroom

and I will be done with it!

 

 

I still have yet to finish my ORC....

I will finish week six about six weeks late.

My next project is my kitchen window treatment,

and I need to put the finishing touches on my sunroom.

Then, I plan to tackle our master bedroom...

baby steps.



Gotta Love Gingham!

 

In keeping with my love of all things plaid,

I am devoting this post to gingham,

which I also LOVE.

  

Here are some fabulous ways to use gingham

in your home, your wardrobe, and in your entertaining...

These chairs were an the inspiration for this...

I had this chair recovered in the pink and white gingham...

(room is a work in progress)

Love the freshness of this blue and white gingham bedding.

Calm and tranquil sitting area, again loving the blue and white.

 

MacKenzie Childs inspired table....cute!

I REALLY want this Sabre flatware in the blue and white gingham!
It is cute in the green too...and red...and the yellow....

Loving this table...

Cute and easy way to make centerpieces!

Red gingham is always a festive picnic setting!

My girls are far past this stage....but grandchildren!!!!

  

Perfect for a rainy day!

Adorable summer dress...cute with a  red patent Tory Miller sandal!

 

OK this is totally ME.

 

 
And so is this....I wear an apron every time I am in the kitchen.

 
Precious...I have this one in the hot pink but love the baby pink too.

Hope you enjoyed some of my gingham favorites...
You can find these posts and more on my
Gotta Love Gingham
Pintrest board.
 

Connect Richmond Bloggers

I am linking with Kelly's Korner today

to find other bloggers in the RVA area...

I already know of a few fab ones....

 

Miss Southern Prep

A darling preppy blog written by a southern sorority girl,

who has fabulous taste and a great sense of style.

 

 

Richmond Real Estate Mom

This fabulous blog is full of fantastic recipes...

she does a menu planner every Monday with links to the recipes!

It's fun to catch a peek at Allison's busy life with her

ADORABLE children and sweet husband.

 

Cherries On The Hill

Claire is another darling preppy newlywed

with great taste, and she is enjoying decorating her lovely new home

with her hubby...in-between their excursions to the beach and the farm!

 

If you are a blogger from RVA, please leave your blog address in my comments section!



Guest Post....My Christmas List

I was thrilled when my eldest daughter agreed to do a guest post

about what she wants for Christmas...

my comments are in italics.

 

Being the second oldest of eight children, and this my 20^th Christmas season quickly approaching,

I try to be ahead of the game and organized when it comes to making my Christmas list.

 

I start my Christmas List around the time I head to school.

I do this for two reasons:

 a. having a July birthday, I think of things I didn’t get for my birthday and

 b. I get to school and realize there are some things I wish I had.

 

I add items to my “virtual sticky notes” on my Mac.

Mid fall, I transfer all this over to an excel spreadsheet;

I have a column for: item, size, color, price, and a direct link to where it can be purchased.
(she gets the compulsive organizational gene from my Virginia Mom)

 

 Once I’ve finished, I email it to my mom and Mumsie (Suburban Charm’s VA Mom).

When Mom asked me to do a guest blog post about my Christmas list, I was a little hesitant,

because I did not want to sound like a spoiled diva!

 I always give my family plenty of options,

and do not by any means expect to receive everything on my list.

Using this excel strategy ensures no confusion in what I’m asking for.

 

Here are a few of the top things on my list this year:

 

Tory Burch Tan Ballet Flats

 

I have always loved the Reva flat.

Even before they became popular.

(yes, you are a trend setter)

In middle school/early high school, it was my dream to have Tory Burch ballet flats.

When my mom told me that dream could become a reality (for my birthday/Christmas of course)

I could not decide which pair I wanted.

Black leather with the gold logo? Or the silver logo? or tan?

I am the most indecisive person to walk the earth and could never commit.

(I beg to differ)

So I never asked for them.

Finally this fall, my awesome mom surprised me

and sent me the black leather pair with a sliver logo along with the sweetest note.

I burst into tears. I was so happy and thankful and fell in love.

I want to wear them so badly, but a college campus walking up and down hills,

 as well as Fraternity basements on the weekend is not the place for my prized possessions.
(not sure I want to know what you are doing in fraternity basements on the weekend???)

Now that I have the black (which I LOVE) I have FINALLY made a decision

and decided I want the tan as well.

I wear SO much navy, and would get great use out of the ran as well.

Hoping I come back to school in January with a new pair!

 

Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC Cross Body in Tawny

 

I will be the FIRST to admit I have a bag obsession.

It's bad.

(Gee, I wonder where she gets this???)

But I NEED this one.

I really do.

(I can empathize)

I don't have a cross body bag that I love and enjoy taking out on the weekends.

I also like this one a lot because the chain is adjustable

so you can make it long and it'll hit your hip,

or you can double the chain and make it short and it'll hit around mid torso.

I really like it A LOT!

If I don't end up getting it for Christmas, it may be my

 "good job Caroline for working so hard and getting your life together this last semester"

gift to myself.

(you did not have your life together before this???)

 

Patagonia Women's Retro X Vest in Natural

 

I have had my eye on this vest since my senior year of high school.

It is so practical.

I could wear it with a plaid button up to work, a t-shirt and leggings to class,

or with a red long sleeve sweater to a football or basketball game.

I need this vest.

I also think our family keeps Patagonia in business.

Everyone in our family has at least one Patagonia item, if not two or three.

(or maybe four or five...)

They're so warm and come in a bunch of different styles and colors

to accommodate everyone.

 

Lululemon Skinny Will Pant in Black

 

There are a number of reasons I want these pants.

Don't be fooled by the "lululemon" brand.

THESE ARE NOT THE PANTS THAT WERE RECALLED.

(thank goodness...)

I am well aware that LLL is on the more pricy side,

but you really do get what you pay for.

(so she does listen when I pass out advice)

Everyone I know has had their lulu gear for 3+ years and they are still good as new.

I have the Wunder Under capri leggings, and I wear them almost every day.

Mom calls the yoga pants/legging attire the "uniform" for sorority girls.

(what ever happened to wearing jeans and a cute sweater to class?)
Here are the main two reasons I love the skinny will pant:

a. they aren't flare at the bottom, but they're not tight to my ankle.

They're kind of a yoga pant and legging crossover.

b. I am a grandma and like to wear my pants really high up.

(so I guess that puts me in the grandma category)

All my friends make fun of me for it, but I have a HUGE irrational fear of belly buttons

(seriously? where does she get these weird fears?)

and my belly button has to be protected by my pants at all time,

so I wear all my pants/shorts/skirts/tights above my belly button.

(so thankful you are not into the "low rise" jeans that don't cover your backside)

There is NO explanation as to why belly buttons gross me out, they just do.

BUT the skinny pants ARE MADE to wear above your belly button.

I love them.

They're so comfy and I would wear them EVERYDAY.

I'm not kidding.

Mom, take note, I may need two pairs!

They come in cool patterns as well as navy and gray too!

 

iPad Smart Cover in Green

 

When it comes to technology (computer, iPhone, iPad) cases, I have a major case of ADD.

I have to change my covers all the time.

I've had my new iPhone for barely two months and am already on the second case.

It sounds rather pathetic, but my iPad is my best friend.

I got it for high school graduation and I use it everyday.

I play games, I take notes, I watch Netflix, I do schoolwork,

I make to-do lists, I check emails, and the list goes on.

(hopefully the majority is on the schoolwork...not Netflix)

I currently have the Lilly Pulitzer Smart Cover on my iPad and it's cute, but I have one complaint:

when you take the front of the cover and wrap it around the back of the iPad (while in use)

it does not lay flat.

My mom tried to tell me that before I bought it (because she had previously had it)

but to be honest, I had no idea what she was trying to tell me,

so if you have no idea what I’m saying, don’t worry, but don’t buy it.

It’s really annoying.

 I also like how the apple case doesn’t have a back.

I plan to put a pink vinyl monogram decal on the back of my iPad

and have the green case on the front.

It’ll be super cute and I’m excited about it.

(so she likes pink and green and monograms too...see why people call her mini-me?)

 

Gamma Phi Beta Monogrammed T-Shirt

Don't think this needs much explaining!

 

Not only am I excited to maybe get a few of these items,

I'm so excited to be home with my family for an entire month!

Our holiday season is full of tradition, and I'm anxiously awaiting it!

 

Thank you my sweet daughter for your wonderful post!

Anxiously awaiting for your arrival home!

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advice for New Moms

I have written several posts about mothering,

my most recent one being here about mothering multiples.

In case you are a new reader, I am a mother to four children

and a step-mother to four more children.

I have a daughter who is 19, a daughter who is 16, and twin boys who are 13.

My step-children range in age from seven to nineteen.

I am also a working mom,

but I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with my children

for twelve years, until my twins started kindergarten.

 

Here area a few things I have learned as a mother that I would like to pass on:

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

This is a big one, and I had a major problem with this...and still do sometimes. What may seem really important today may not be so important in the long run. We all have dreams of being the "perfect" mother and no one is...some mothers may appear that way, but they have issues just like the rest of us. Try to figure out what is REALLY important to you, and then spend your time fulfilling those dreams, not the silly little things that will not add value to your life.

 

Cherish Every Moment...Even the Bad Ones

They grow up in a FLASH...I swear it feels like yesterday that I was playing beauty shop with my #1when she was a toddler and here she is a Sophomore in college. I have another one who is now a Junior in high school. The older my children get, the faster the times seems to fly by. I can remember the midnight feedings, being dead tired, dying for my babies to sleep through the night....but now I miss those intimate moments with my babies, in the wee hours of the morning, when everything is so still and quiet, and I could just cuddle and hold them while I was feeding them....there is no more cuddling and holding with 13 year old twin boys....I am lucky if I can get a hug from them these days!

 

Take Care of Yourself

I am still horrible at this....so learn from my mistakes. You CAN NOT be a good mother to your children if you are not taking care of yourself. For some people, that is as simple as taking 15 minutes to read a book or maybe 30 minutes to work out...for others it may be a weekend at the spa or a girls' night out once a week. Whatever renews your soul and lifts your spirit, MAKE the time to do it. Being a mother is often an overwhelming job...in the early years it's physically exhausting and in the later years it's emotionally exhausting. Be kind to yourself and you will be kind to your children.

 

Love Your Children For Who They Are....Not Who You Want Them To Be

All parents have hopes and dreams for their children....and that is exactly what they are...YOUR hopes and dreams. I mean let's be realistic here...who dreams for their child to fail a class or get fired from a job? We raise our children with the morals and values that we hope to instill in them, but ultimately they are going to make their own decisions at some point, and sometimes those decisions are not going to be good ones. It is so hard to sit back and watch your child make a really bad choice....but it is even harder to remain calm, loving, and supportive when their failures happen. We can offer advice, we can discuss benefits and consequences, but we can't (and shouldn't) control our children's lives. Part of their growing up is learning from the mistakes they make. You may wish for a football player who in his heart, wants to be in theater. You may wish for your child to attend your Alma Mater, but your child may not want to go to college. Look beyond your children's choices and past your own expectations into the heart and soul of your child, and love them for the unique and special individual that they are.

 

Make Your Marriage A Priority

One of the best things you can do for your children is to keep your marriage strong and healthy. Your children are going to learn from you what a good relationship is, what to expect in a relationship, and how to deal with conflict. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race and before you know it, you no longer feel connected to your husband and you have grown apart. Schedule date nights...even if they are date nights at home where you play cards or watch a movie...stay connected and really love each other...especially through the tough times.

Being a new mom is such a special time in your life.
It can also be a very scary time and a stressful time as you navigate your way
thought new adventures such as potty training and preschool.
Hang on to the precious moments!