Guest Post from Snow Central

Checking Facebook for the 40th time while stranded in the some 11 inches of snow we have,

(it's another snow day at the University of Kansas)

 I came across this little article: "16 things we forget to thank our moms for." 

Since I've been in college (and being 2000 miles away from my best friend aka mom) 

I've become much more appreciative of her and all that she does for me and our family. 

It's almost as if the writer of this list spies on my life 

and then wrote this article on everything my mom does for me.

Snow Day!

16 Things We Forget To Thank Our Moms For  

1. All the times she had to double as best friend/counselor/therapist/costume designer/hair stylist/coach/all-around-solver-of-every-problem-ever. I remain unconvinced that moms aren’t actually superheroes in disguise.

2. Forgiving us when we forget to call.

3. Listening to all our pointless dramas when we do remember.

4. Being the kind of person that we actually do want to become — because as we all know, it’s inevitable.

5. Having the incredible prowess only a mother whose babes have been scorned could — mama bear protects her cubs, sometimes excessively, but we love it, let’s be honest.

6. All those times we yelled “MOOOOMMM!!” through the house to find out where our white shirt was or what time so-and-so was getting home and all the other questions we just couldn’t go to Dad for.

7. All the things she reluctantly bought us at the cash register of any given store, all the clothes and things we didn’t really need (but insisted we did). Growing up and understanding the value of a dollar really makes you reconsider just how much moms sacrifice.

8. For all the home cooked meals or pizzas we didn’t have to pay for ourselves. Equally phenomenal. Equally missed.

9. Putting up with our middle school phase.

10. For giving us our siblings, whom we simultaneously once wished to sell and now are best friends with.

11. And oh yeah, for that whole “giving birth to us” thing.

12. For being our first, and at some points, only cheerleaders, who were and are proud of every little thing we do.

13. All the time she spent picking us up from practices; bending over backwards to make sure we had new cleats and costumes; and were at every game, rehearsal, and play date we planned.

14. Doing her best, even when things were most difficult in the family. Moms have this incredible magic sparkle glue that keeps it all together when it would otherwise fall apart.

15. Dealing with Dad.

16. Being the boss woman of the house (and of our lives). And for being living proof that there truly are people who can honestly just do it all.

source

 Love you much mama!!!! 

Patagonia Sale!

Just in case you didn't know it...I LOVE fleece.

I especially love Patagonia fleece because it is just WARM.

Patagonia happens to be having a 30% off sale through February 5th so check it out!

Here is what I may have purchased...

Women's Re-Tool Snap Pullover in Red Delicious

This will look great in the fall and winter with jeans...

and I don't have any red fleece in my current wardrobe.

(I can justify just about any clothing or accessory purchase...it's a talent of mine)

Do you have a favorite fleece?

Blue and White Monday

I am linking with one of my very favorite blogs today,

The Pink Pagoda

Jennifer is hosting a blue and white linking party......

Please visit her blog to see all of the fabulous posts!

Virginia Mom's Foyer

My Virginia mom has been a lover of blue and white for as long as I can remember.

She has even lured me away from my pink and green obsession,

and I've started my own collection of blue and white porcelian.

My Virginia parents' have a beautiful home which is decorated with blue and white throughout,

and my Virginia mom was kind enough to let me give you a tour.

The Foyer

Their formal dining room is to the right when you walk in.

Some of my VM's best pieces are displayed in here,

as well as her Mottahedeh Imperial Blue plate collection.

Close up of some of her pieces...

I LOVE her giant ginger jar and the three men!

Another view from in their dining room...more Mottahedeh Imperial Blue plates...(drooling).

Closer up view...

Their formal living room is to the left when you enter, 

and it is just stunning with the navy blue walls and the white woodwork. 

LOVE this lamp...

And this lamp...

Here is their family room...this is where we all gather when we are together.

If it's not blue and white, it's blue and yellow!

Although there are blue and white pieces in every room...

I love the unique shape of these plates.

Here is a picture of "The Quiet Room"

which is basically where my Virginia dad hangs out when things get a little "loud"

(meaning when we are over with ALL of the children)

It's a sun room with windows on three sides.

Moving upstairs to Virginia mom's office...she has a nautical theme going on.

Notice the built in bookshelves in the hallway displaying more of her blue and white.

There is a sofa sleeper in here for "overflow" which happens more than you would guess. 

Here is their Master Bedroom....

There is a large sitting area in their room...

My girls and I hang out up here with my VM when my boys are being too noisy downstairs.

Loving the monogrammed pillow.

Her game table...we actually do use it for jigsaw puzzles!

Another close up...

Love this lamp...and the tiny ginger jar to the far left is another one of my favorites! 

They have a pair of these lamps...jealous. 

Just another close up of her collection.

My Virginia parents' home is beautiful,

yet it is very family friendly and the kids and I spend a lot of time there.

We are so very fortunate that my Virginia parents live in our development...

Clearly my Virginia mom is a lover of blue and white!

She still collects, and she also collects for me since she is running out of room in her own home!

The other rooms in their home also incorporate blue into the color scheme,

but I wanted to try and stick strictly to the blue and white!

I hope you enjoyed the tour of their lovely home!

Family Favorite Recipe

Tonight I made chili for dinner...perfect for the cold weather we have been having!

This recipe has been in my family for many years, 

originating from my great aunt on my Michigan dad's side.

There are two KEY ingredients to this chili...

the first being BACON....I love bacon,

and the second being the beans...they must be BROOKS CHILI HOT BEANS.

Forgot to include the ground beef in the picture.

Now, this is definitely a "Midwestern" chili because they only sell Brooks Chili Hot beans in the Midwest.

So every summer when I am in Michigan, 

I buy about a case of the chili beans and import them to Virginia,

or my Michigan mom brings me a case when she comes to visit.

I might have been stopped by TSA once or twice

for trying to bring a suitcase full of beans on the plane...

apparently giant cans of beans look like possible explosives on x-ray machines.

Embarrassing.
I digress...

If you are desperate to try this recipe,

you can buy the beans on Amazon.com here.

Clearly many Mid-westerners who no longer live in the Midwest

 must LOVE these beans if they are selling beans on Amazon.com.

I don't usually grocery shop on Amazon.com. 

I now have to wear my cheaters when cooking or I fear I will chop off a finger.

This picture reminds me that every spring people complement me for losing 10 lbs...

I don't actually lose weight, I am just not wearing four layers of clothing (as shown in the picture) anymore.

I am wearing a "vintage" Vineyard Vines fleece with long underwear, a long sleeve t-shirt, and a turtleneck.

I digress again...

"Ahhh no, I didn't eat the bacon..."

Here is the recipe....it's very simple

Aunt Trudee's Chili

6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 large onion, chopped

2 lbs. ground beef

2 cans tomato soup

2 medium or 1 large can of Brooks Chili Hot beans

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp chili powder

pepper to taste

Brown ground beef with onion and drain any fat.

Add soup, beans, seasonings, and bacon.

Simmer on low for at least 30 minutes.

Freezes well.

(I have been known to use more than 6 slices of bacon)

Was not able to figure out how to photoshop out all of the bacon grease on the cook top.

This is a thick chili...very hearty.

We like to eat it with fritos and cheddar cheese.

As we say in our family,

YUM OUT or NOM NOM!

Hope everyone is staying warm!

Nautical News from Talbots

As I mentioned earlier this week,

I am enjoying daydreaming about spring as the spring catalogs flood my mailbox.

One of my favorites arrived yesterday...Talbots

and they have a fabulous line of Nautical inspired pieces!

I love navy and white for spring and summer and I have a "thing" for anchors!

(Go Navy!)

Here are some of my top picks from their Spring catalog...

 This Anchor Stripe Sweater would look adorable with navy cropped pants!

 This Rope Print Tunic is a perfect cover up to go with my navy swimsuit!

 How adorable are these shoes???? LOVE them!

This Anchor and Rope Bangle comes in red and navy as well! 

Love this Anchor Shirt....would wear it with red, white, or bright green cropped pants!

Have you had a look at the Talbots spring catalog?

A Sandal Scandal

Just about everyone has heard of the classically preppy Jack Rogers sandal.
My girls and I have been wearing them for as long as I can remember...
long before they became the current trend with the high school and college set.

They come in tons of colors and you can even get them monogrammed!

Classic Jack Rogers Navajo Sandals

I have a pair of these in light pink and another pair in navy blue,

and I love them...they are my go-to summer shoe.

Jack Rogers Monogrammed Sandal

You can select a circle monogram or a diamond monogram in a variety of colors.

While Jack Rogers has been around for a long time,

the original Palm Beach sandals are 

Stephen Bonanno Palm Beach Sandals

Almost identical to the Jack Rogers and they come in a MILLION colors.

These are the one that Jackie Kennedy wore, 

and they have many more color combinations than Jack Rogers.

Also offering several different monogrammed styles in a million color combinations.

Well this fabulous sandal company had an anniversary sale last January....

Woohoo...50% off!!!

I ordered four pairs of monogrammed sandals...two for me and one pair for each of my girls.

Well.....here we are a YEAR later and NO sandals.

Seems Stephen has disappeared off the face of the earth with my money... and about 200 other women's.

These sandals are custom, 

and each sandal is made to order so it is expected to take 6-12 weeks to receive your order.

Unfortunately, this is past the time frame that most credit card companies will refund your money.

I was expecting the sandals by May
and their website advised that it may be longer due to the overwhelming response to their sale.
I did not become alarmed until I read this post on one of my favorite blogs,
The Preppy Princess

That's when I started calling...and calling....and calling....
and their voicemail was either full or it would just ring forever with no answer.
I started emailing customer service almost daily.
Never heard back from anyone.
As of today, all of the phone numbers have been disconnected
and their warehouse is vacant.
Here is a news story about the sad situation...
(for some reason, this video works on my computer
 but does not show up when viewing my blog on my iPad)

I am not optimistic that I will ever see our sandals...or my money.
I am not optimistic that I will figure out how to insert a video properly on to my blog...lol.
I'm sure my son Teddy will be able to teach me.

Go here to view the complaints with the Better Business Bureau...

and here to view the official Stephen Bonanno Facebook page, where can read hundreds of complaints.

So here I continue to wait....doubtful that they will ever arrive.
I will probably end up ordering the same things through Jack Rogers,
however Jack Rogers doesn't have the color selections that Stephan Bonanno did,
so I won't be able to purchase exactly what I really wanted.

Did anyone else get tied up in this sandal scandal?

Vineyard Vines Wish List

So excited to see all of the Spring catalogs arriving in my mailbox!

I am so over winter...we had a STORM last Tuesday...

and got 1.5 inches of snow...and school was CANCELLED all week!

Being from Michigan, that just makes me laugh.

In fact, here is my Michigan dad shoveling the latest dump on their front walkway...

They had to get a front end loader to do the driveway...no joke.

I digress....

I got the newest Vineyard Vines catalog and found some things for my birthday list!

Ribbon Neck Fleece....this is a MUST have.

Multi Gingham Shirt...one can never have too many gingham shirts!

Whale Embroidered Dayboat Skirt...this is just adorable...cute with the pink fleece above.

Party Seersucker Visor...perfect tennis visor....or baseball mom visor!

Sea Patchwork Make Up Bags...great for your handbag or pool bag!

Have you checked out the Vineyard Vines new arrivals?