This has been on my want list for some time.  I almost always find one at Home Goods.  The problem with Home Goods is it is always in an ugly fabric.  So my master plan is to buy the next one I find at Home Goods and then take it to be recovered.  I almost think it's worth the time and trouble to purchase the Restoration Hardware bench and be happy. I really love the nail head trim on this particular bench, and the pillow top seat.   By the time I run around ordering and gathering the fabric, and drop off and pick up from the upholsterer, I would be even in price I think. The ultimate score would be to find a vintage bench at a resale shop and save big on the price there! 

What would you do? Buy the ugly and have it redone? or bite the bullet and purchase the bench ready?   Don't you wish sometimes you could twitch your nose and the room would be finished? 

I had the privilege of attending  a private preview of the newly remodeled J Crew store and their fall line last week, along with a few other KC bloggers.  It was a treat!  The colors and textures were fabulous along with the sequins and sparkles!  We nibbled on treats from Gram and Dun and shopped.  There was a lot of buzz in the dressing room over the sequin chevron sweater.  Darling!!!! I think every single one of us tried it on!   

I am so happy to see bright colors for the transition into fall.  The drab greens and oranges are not my favorite. With  bright pinks, greens and blues, it won't feel so bad when fall finally does arrive.   They had goodie bags for each of us, and a drawing for a $100 gift card for two lucky shoppers.  I won one of the gift cards and am so excited to spend it!  I have my eye on several polka dot sweaters!   And the sequin chevron?  Well let me just say, don't be surprised if it's in an outfit post soon! 

Have you shopped the new J Crew designs? 

Look how rich these colors are.  And the jewels in pink and green are brilliant! 

I am sure you have heard the saying "Have confidence in what your wearing".  Well these are all things that are currently in style and trending.  However, they are not in my comfort zone of fashion.  It is important to know what you can wear and what you can't wear.  Don't get me wrong.  I am not saying I don't like them, or that I think they are hideous.  I am simply stating they are not in my Fashion Comfort Zone.   

Lets break this down.  A peplum is super cute.  And this black number trimmed in leather? Fabulous.  Great for a business meeting, or a early dinner date.  The Jeffrey Campbell bootie, not my style, but a tall slender girl could for sure pull these off.  (I am a little short for a heavy bootie at 5'4).   Moving on to the shorts...... Crochet shorts are a wonderful way to add texture to your outfit, just make sure you don't get them caught on anything when you stand up from sitting.  It could get really drafting quickly!!   Floral shorts? not happening on me since high school, and we won't date that time!  

Wide leg pants make a lady seem tall and elegant.  They add height to you.  They elongate your leg and hide any areas of shall we say roundness in the hippish area? Sometime a brighter color on the bottom is fun!    Lastly lets talk glitter nails..... its great if you like glitter, and they are fun on some girls.  I even really like the idea of painting your nails in a bright color and then paint one in glitter.  But I am the kind of girl that would wipe that off in the first 48 hours.  Iridescent, glitter, sparkly, non of which I am highly fond of on nails!  Sorry, love my french mani! 

Dress ~ Bootie ~ Crochet shorts ~ Floral Shorts ~ Pants ~ Nails 

1.  Love Print  * 2. Pig Bank * 3.  Sandals * 4.  Link Bracelet * 5.  Spike Bracelet  * 6.  Gold Fleck Clutch * 7.  Chevron Tray * 8. Burst Mirror * 9.  Initial Necklace  * 10. Triangle Glassware * 11.  Stack Rings  * 12.  Monogram Platter  * 13. Bar Cart  * 14.  Silver Heels  * 15.  Skull Bracelet

16. Ampersand print

See that first set of chairs?  Those are the chairs I reserved every morning for 7 straight days!  Pure bliss!  The pool steward would come out of the pool house every morning when you reserved your chairs and place an umbrella between them for you. 

Pool view in action from my chair. You would float right up to the bar and order your cocktail.  Now thats what I call service! We did alot of floating to the bar that week! 

My birthday is in two weeks and I created a wish list of items I am currently crushing.  I am not expecting to receive all of these but it would be super nice if I did!  I picked some of my favorite items that I love. 

Key chains ~ Jawbone Jambox ~ Calendar ~ Lens ~ Sweaters ~ Skull bangle 

Scarf ~ Colorful Skulls ~ Drivers ~ Sandals ~ Pillow ~ Candle Holder 

Blair Ritchey key chains are so colorful and girly.  The Jawbone jambox is for wireless portable tunes.  Our neighbor has one and it is so cool to just sync up wireless from any device that is bluetooth.   The Inslee calendar has not been released yet but I am patiently waiting.  The Lens is top of the list! The J Crew sweaters appear so soft and I love the stripes. 

 Skulls and more skulls.  I am crushing big time over the Alexander McQueen rose cuff and the scarf is awesome.  The cranium bracelets I already own in blue but feel like a pink and white need to be added to the party.  I would live all fall and winter in a good driver and Car Shoes has a wonderful shoe, the only problem is they don't ship to the US!   

Two favorites combined in one, personalized Jack Rogers, pink!  This Jonathan Adler pillow will go beautifully on my bed with the rest of the new bedding, and I have the perfect spot for this candle holder from Z Gallerie.  Hope this helps with your shopping and let me know if you need my address! (Insert big smile here)

I never have posted outfit pics.   Well let me clarify that comment.  I have never posted a picture with more than say maybe an arm party, or an outfit from the midsection down on instagram sporting a new pair of sandals, or a great color combo of an outfit and arm party!  This is all about baby steps for me!! And no, I am not sunburned!


I recently purchased this dress from J Crew and have worn it already several times.  It is so comfortable and I love that it has pockets.  

 Dress/JCrew,(on sale) Necklace/Little Glamour c/o, Bracelet/Bfrend, Watch/Toy Watch, earrings/private collection, handbag/Louis Vuitton, Shoes/Tory Burch, (similar)

Obviously photos not by me!

Sunday was the Madewell styling event and preview of the new fall 2012 line.  There were so many bloggers attending and their invited guest.  It was a great evening.  Big thanks to Meggy for hosting the event, and Madewell for allowing us to pretty much take over their store!  Here are a few highlights from my evening and of course my purchase. 

So many pretty colors, there was a braid bar and  Meggy having her hair done. We sipped on Peach Bellinis, nibbled on a few sweet snacks and lots of shopping.  Erin from Pretty Polished Perfect won the gift card!  Yay for Erin!  Katie, the store manager had pulled a few items for me before I arrived to try on.  She did great and I purchased several of the items she thought I would like!  So here is what I purchased.  This fabulous cream tank with heavy black embroidery work all on the front, a black tank with chevron open stitching on the front, (the detail doesn't show too well in the photo) this  great scarf in an ombre fashion of black and cream that has hello goodbye printed all over it.

This past Saturday morning a group of KC Bloggers met at the Coca Cola distribution facility for a tour and presentation of the plant.  Who doesn't love Coke?  Erin and I met before hand for a coffee and had no idea that we color coordinated!

Katie was our presenter and we learned so much about our local plant.  I must admit I had no idea all the brands that were coke products.   We had a brief overview of how Coke contributes in our community and the products that are their brand.  Then a tour of the distribution center.  The production side of the plant was not available for us, but maybe they thought we were gonna steal a secret formula!?  There were rows upon rows of beverages stacked high to the ceiling with forklift drivers picking up pallets and moving them from one location to another for loading onto trucks to be delivered into the community.  The loyalty these works show for their company was phenomenal... We met a few of the employees that have been there for 21+ years, and another for 40+ years.  That is dedication. Did you know that a pallet of Diet coke weighs around 1200 lb., add sugar to Coke Classic and it weighs in at over 1400 lb., and all the sugar in a NOS Energy drink brings a pallet up to over 4800 lb.  Thats a lot of sugar! 

After the plant tour, which as informative as it was, we were rapidly melting in, we met back in the board room for lunch catered by a local BBQ establishment famous here in KC.  Jack Stack Bar-B-Que is wonderful.  When guest visit in KC, that is generally a must have meal for out of towners who love good BBQ.