Ready For Easter?

Happy Wednesday, my friends! This week is an absolute blur so far, I had to check the calendar to even know what day of the week it was this morning! Whew!

Are you ready for Easter weekend? I'm not. I have no idea what I'm wearing - or what DH is wearing! I feel a little behind here....obviously I have about 100 options in my closet but don't we all want to look "perfect"? Ugh. Perfection is an ideal that is increasingly difficult to maintain.

What are you wearing for Easter? Tell me all about it. I need inspiration here!

Have a wonderful Wednesday! My family is coming down to the beach today, so I'm getting ready. Looking forward to that - and having a little more of a tan in my Easter frock - whatever it ends up being! :-)

Mini Family Reunion

Happy Tuesday my friends! Last night I enjoyed an evening with my family here from out of town. My sister hosted a mini "family reunion" of sorts, complete with blackened fish, boiled shrimp, and adult beverages. :-) 

We also had a wonderful surprise, my aunt and cousin's son came down with him from Oklahoma. Everyone was completely shocked, as we didn't expect them! What a great surprise! Thought you might enjoy some photos (naturally I'm wearing my Lilly!) 

With cousin Tom from VA

With my sister and Tom's wife Theresa

Dad with all the nephews and Tom's boys, making their "silly faces"

With cousin Steve and his son, Brady, from OK

Of course I have to show pics of me and the nephews. This is Jake, he's the oldest and quick to tell you he is 5. :-)

Last but not least, my nephew Wilson who is 2.5 yrs. He's going to break a few hearts...

It's great to see family, especially when it's been so long! :-) And I have to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Lilly Pulitzer Elsa top in Surf Blue Checking In. I want to purchase every single Elsa top produced, any print and every color! I'm working on it....

Have a fantastic day!

Company's Coming!

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a nice weekend, the weather on Sunday was fantastic around these parts! I finally made it to the beach for about 3 hours and it was nirvana. I got a little bit of "color" on my winter skin. My motto is "tan fat always looks better than white fat". :-)

I'm so excited about this week - it's going to be fun! My cousin Tom and his family are down from Northern VA/DC area. I haven't seen them in about 5 years and have never met their youngest son. Crazy! I'm hoping they will have time to spend a day at the beach. Tom's younger brother, Steve, is driving in today from Oklahoma. Get this - Tom and Steve haven't seen each other in almost 10 years and they are brothers!!! So the visit is quickly becoming a small family reunion!

Another exciting visitor is making her way down to the beach this week - my favorite jewelry designer and Twitter BFF, Caroline Grace. Can't wait to finally meet her and beach, shop and dine! Be sure to follow us both on Twitter (@shopaholicinal and @xoCarolineGrace), we're bound to get into some trouble around here!

Have a great Monday! I'm cleaning and then hitting the pavement for my 4 miles shortly. It's swimsuit season after all, time to get serious and stay that way on the exercise front!

Shopaholic Sunday Sale Roundup

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you're having a fantastic weekend so far. Unfortunately our Saturday was too windy and cool for the beach :-( but DH and I went out for a nice dinner so all was not lost! Be sure to try "DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen" if you ever make it to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Today I thought I'd round up a few good sales for you, just in case you "need" something. I'm trying to get back to my normal self after an extremely rough week!

Honestly, do we ever really "need" a reason to purchase a Kate Spade piece? How about "the sale is on sale"! From now though April 4, all items currently on sale are an additional 25% off. Discount is applied at checkout and website can be accessed HERE. I'm coveting the Medium Serena bag in Mettalic Cheltenham shown above. Gold is just so neutral for spring and summer, don't you think?

Our friends at Under the Palm Tree, one of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer Via shoppes, are offering 20% off one item on their website. You can view the site HERE. Please use "HAWTHORNE" in the order notes section and the discount will be taken at the register. FYI, the discount is not applicable to special order items or items that are already on sale. You can order that special Easter dress and have it arrive in time if you hurry! :-) Be sure to tell them Shopaholic sent you!

Another Shopaholic favorite, Caroline Grace Jewelry, is offering 10% off and FREE Shipping to their Facebook fans and Shopaholic readers through March 31, 2010. You can become a Facebook fan HERE and access the Etsy shop HERE. Be sure to "convo" Caroline after purchasing and prior to payment, and she can adjust your invoice for the 10% off and free shipping. Remember, it's a great time to order that special piece for Mother's Day, and there are a ton of beautiful cuffs in her shop. Please let CGJ know Shopaholic sent you!

Last but certainly not least, I can't forget about my friends at Sandal World. For a limited time, they are offering FREE Shipping and a FREE necklace to all Shopaholic readers with your online order. Sandal World carries some of the prettiest sandals for spring and summer. They offer top brands such as Mystique, Jack Rogers, Bernardo and others. You can access their website HERE.  To qualify for the FREE Shipping and FREE necklace, be sure to note "Shopaholic" in the Order Notes Section. What a great time to pick up your special sandals for Spring Break or Summer vacation!

Hope you enjoyed my Sunday Sale Roundup. I might make this a regular feature, so if you like it, please let me know! Have a great rest of the weekend!

Socialite Saturday!

Happy Saturday, Socialite Shopaholics! :-) I am gradually recovering from my dental work on Thursday, and hope to spend the day at the beach working on getting a little color on this pale skin. I absolutely must get better soon, as I have two groups of company coming in the next few days. Can't wait to see them!

Earlier this week, my buddy and socialite idol Beth over at Social Climbers crowned me a socialite! Little ole' me??? I was so excited, what an honor! A few days later, I was also tagged by my friend Town and Country. Now I am passing the love on to other blogger friends! 

The rules-



Click on the above button and paste onto your blog/website


Answer the below questions


Pass onto 10 bloggers that you Love, go to their blog and let them know they've been tagged


1. Who is your style icon? A tie between Lilly Pulitzer and fellow Leo, Coco Chanel 


2. What is your favorite socialite lit book? The Devil In The Junior League by Linda Francis Lee (this may change as I just received my copy of Social Climbers by Beth Dunn, which I plan to read over the weekend)


3. Favorite party theme? Summer pink and green, with a beautiful cake adorned by palm trees and beach scenes


4. Go to Halloween costume? Don't judge but I'm not a big fan of Halloween and usually don't dress up


5. Extravagance you cannot live without? Lilly Pulitzer dresses, Miss Trish of Capri jeweled sandals


6. Living person you admire? My parents


7. Greatest Fear? Death by fire


8. Trait you deplore in yourself? Inability to keep my weight down


9. Which talent would you most like to have? Creative skills - drawing, painting, crafting


10. Greatest Achievement? Strong and healthy relationship with DH for 17 years






Bloggers I love (I tried to select bloggers who haven't been tagged yet - I read ALL of you though!)


1. Nola Girl


2. Peace.Love.Lipgloss


3. Bumpkin On A Swing


4. Bon Bon Rose Girls


5. My Life Through Pink (Green and Blue, too) Colored Glasses


6. Pink Preppy Lilly Lover


7. The Fashionista Diaries


8. DC GOP Girl


9. MRM


10. Petunia In Paradise


Socialites, have fun and be sure to pass the torch! If you have a blog and are reading, please consider yourself tagged too. I can't wait to see all your answers.

If you're not reading any of the blogs I mentioned above, be sure to check them out! I know you'll enjoy them all.  Have a wonderful Saturday!

Dental Induced Coma

Happy Thursday Shopaholics!

Several of you have contacted me through email or Facebook today to find out how my dental work went. Well..........it was a significantly worse than expected. I was originally scheduled for one cap removal, filling buildup and new cap. Also two other teeth that needed filling "build ups". However, I was concerned about the tooth they were removing the old cap, as it had been quite uncomfortable. 

Turns out, that tooth needed a root canal. Additionally (and just to keep things fun) one of the teeth that had the filling build up, had a really bad fracture that required a cap and there isn't a guarantee that it won't also require a root canal. Can you say "o-m-g"??? I was in the dentist chair for 4 hours today, and just woke up from my drug induced coma.

Now that I'm a little more coherent, I just realized I could have purchased a small (albeit used) boat with the $$$$ I've spent at the dentist the past 6 months. Or another dozen or so Lilly Pulitzer dresses, at full price...I'm actually wondering how in the world it got like this! The things that make you go "hmmmm".....

A few reminders so you won't suffer this same fate.....

ONE - If you have a problem, go to the dentist. Do NOT wait. This isn't something that gets better, it only gets worse. The worse it gets, the more expensive it gets. And the more painful and inconvenient it will be when you finally deal with your problem. Remember, they don't judge. They're not going to fuss at you, they want to help!

TWO - If you grit your teeth (especially while you sleep), please please please have your dentist fit you for a custom mouth guard. They can be worn while sleeping. I hear these guards are quite comfortable, all things considered. The prices for these vary, $400-$700, but it's an investment in your future dental health. I'm getting one just as soon as all my treatments are completed! Shopaholic confession - I have been one to grit my teeth for years. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and my jaw is absolutely killing me. When I had that 'corporate' job, I would catch myself doing it while sitting at my desk, in meetings, etc. Can you say "stress"??? Soooo NOT worth it! Lots of the problems I'm dealing with now are as a result of teeth grinding. Sure wish I could bill someone back for all the hassles. :-(

THREE - Get those six month checkups. They're very important so issues can be dealt with immediately, before they turn into a big ole mess.

FOUR - Try to limit the drinks with acid and sugar. This one is very, very difficult for me, as I'm a 100% Bona Fide Diet Coke Addict. If there were a support group, I'd be the President. I don't drink coffee, but Diet Coke. I wake up with a Diet Coke in the morning, I go to bed with a Diet Coke at night. Diet Coke is my BFF. It's the friend who has never let me down! However.......I'm going to have to find the strength to lay off them, at least a little. You know, maybe just one 2-liter a day instead of two! Please don't judge.... :-)

Back to bed now! I hope everyone has a nice weekend, and don't worry about me. I should be back to my normal Shopaholic self very soon. Thanks again for your kind emails and comments wishing me well. You guys are the best! XOXO

p.s. DH is still working on becoming tobacco free. We're quite the combo this week!

Shrimp Pasta Salad for Spring

Happy Wednesday to you! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and enjoying a little bit of Spring! :-)

When the weather turns warmer, I enjoy making Shrimp Pasta Salad. This dish is a hit, every single time! It lasts for several days in the refrigerator (although it won't last that long - promise). Today I thought I'd share the recipe with you.

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD

(1) Large bottle of Italian Dressing (I use Wish Bone)
1/2 small green Bell Pepper, chopped
1/2 small red Bell Pepper, chopped
Broccoli & Cauliflower florets, chopped in small, bite size pieces
(1) Box of Rotini pasta, tri-color
(2) Lbs. Boiled Shrimp
(1) Small can Black Olives, halved
Fresh parmesan cheese, finely shredded (to taste, I use a ton of cheese!)

Boil pasta according to package directions. Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Marinate for 8 hours, or overnight. Enjoy!

Provided my dental work goes well on Thursday, I plan to make Shrimp Pasta Salad for the upcoming weekend! DH absolutely loves it, and honestly while trying to kick the tobacco, he's eating everything in sight.

Thank you for your sweet comments after yesterday's post. This week has been a real doozie so far, but we're going to get through it. Hopefully by Saturday, I will have the computer situated again. I miss posting photos here!

Have a great day!

Rough Start To A New Week!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today's post is bare bones basic, I'm on a different computer and it's driving me nuts.

Monday was a rough day around here - started my "spring cleaning" process - which admittedly, is never fun. I loathe housework, but since I don't have a housekeeper it's one of those things that must be done. Ugh.

My laptop is acting all whacky, shutting down on it's own for no apparent reason, etc. It's currently undergoing the full body scan, I'm just *crossing fingers* no major viruses or issues. Double ugh.

Yesterday was DH's first day of trying (for the umpeenth millioneth time) to kick the tobacco habit. It happens several times a year, he tries to quit and usually makes it 30-60 days....only to start again. :-( These are the times that when I had a "real job" - I would request to go out of town!!! Triple ugh.

Please send good vibes my way - I have a feeling it's going to be a stressful week! Combine all of the above with a major dental appointment on Thursday (possible root canal, cap and three fillings) which I'm already a tad anxious about....

At least the sun is shining and it's warmer today. Thank goodness for the small things. Hope you have a great day!

p.s. I have a lovely Socialite tag from my friend Beth at SOCIAL CLIMBERS to pass on....as soon as I can have fun with pictures and graphics again. Thank you SC for tagging me. XOXO

Under The Palm Tree's Shopaholic Special

Happy Monday, Fashionistas! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend filled with lots of fun times with family and friends....or just relaxing!

Our friends at Under The Palm Tree ran the BEST sale last week. With the correct promotion code, you received 30% off one FULL priced item. Did you order or were you like me, trying to "behave" and missed the sale??? How about this? I have some great news for you!

For Shopaholic readers - the sale has been extended for Monday only! Even if you already ordered on the 30% off promotion, you can now do it again! How cool is that?

Do you still need the perfect dress for Easter (only 13 days from today!) or Passover? UTPT has a fantastic selection of new Spring collection Lilly dresses. Check out their website HERE. When placing your order online, enter the code "SHOPAHOLIC" in the notes/comments section to receive 30% off one full priced item. If you haven't shopped with UTPT yet, they service is wonderful! Shipping is super fast and your order/pricing are confirmed back to you via email. You won't be disappointed!

A few of my favorite dresses (all are eligible for the 30% off promotion) include the following:

Adelson Shift Gold Lace $278

Betsey Dress Jacquard, Wave Blue $248

Twyla Dress, Prep Green Hits The Spot $278

What are you wearing for Easter? I haven't decided yet, the weather is always so crazy this time of year. But I have several dresses ready, and I'm going to be prepared!

Happy Shopping and Happy Monday!

Spring, where did you go?

Hi there, Shopaholic pals! Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Saturday was the first "official" day of Spring, but honestly you wouldn't know it here! We were all set for a beach day - new chairs, new Lilly beach towel and bathing suit, and a new 55 calorie beer. The forecast was a high of 71-73 degrees. It should have been perfection......but alas, it was not to be.

The day was mostly cloudy, with a few peeks of sun here and there. The wind was blowing, about 15-20 MPH. The temperature couldn't have reached anywhere close to 70. We were in total denial for over an hour, DH and I both refusing to give up on our first full beach day and the promise of a tan line. After I put a towel over my legs, and then a second one over my shoulders, we knew it was a lost cause. Time to come inside.

Shopaholic's lesson of the day - when you see a Spring Breaker walking down the beach in a bikini topped by a North Face jacket, pack it up! You're probably not getting a sun tan anyway!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and be sure to check in first thing Monday morning. Details of a ONE DAY ONLY sale, just for Shopaholic readers! :-)

The Best Hair Straightening Product Ever!

TGIF, my friends! It's a gorgeous day here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, with a forecast high of 73 tomorrow. Do you know what that means? Time to start working on the tan and get a king sized dose of Vitamin D. Remember, today is the very last day of winter! I'm ready to kiss it "bye bye" and get on with warmer weather.

While I love the warm weather and loathe the cold, hot weather brings a new problem to my house. Frizzy and out of control hair! You probably don't know this yet, but my hair is naturally wavy. Not curly, just wavy. And enough natural wave to be a constant pain in the bootie. Lucky me, I'm one of those people who have to work to make my hair curly, or work to make it straight.  I know, you probably find it hard to believe, because in most of the pictures you see here, my hair is stick straight! This, my friends, is the miracle of product. :-)

Meet "Heat-Protective Silk Straightening Cream" by Kiehl's, another one of My Favorite Things.  

I discovered this product while living in Charlotte. At the time, I made the committment that I was going to wear my wavy hair straight all the time, even if I had to work hard to do it. I quickly discovered that without the right tools for the job I would probably pull all my hair OUT and it wouldn't matter anyway! One Saturday I was at the Kiehl's counter in Belk, and the consultant recommended the product to me. Of course I bought it - promise me straight hair, and I'm dragging out the $$$ immediately, duh.

This is applied to my hair when it's soaking wet, and then I dry it with my trusty Aveda paddle brush (after using the Aveda light elements I've discussed here before). Honestly, this straightening cream is a miracle for my hair! Many days (think low humidity ones), I don't even have to use the flat iron. 

Here's what the Kiehl's folks have to say about the product:

Formulated especially for wavy, frizzy, or curly hair in need of smoothing, our unique straightening cream contains a blend of natural ingredients to help straighten out hair and tame frizz without weighing hair down. Infused with extracts derived from Soy Beans, Sesame Seeds and Sunflower Seeds, this unique formulation locks out humidity while conditioning and protecting hair from over-drying and breakage. Light and greaseless, our straightening cream gives hair an ultra-straight and silky-smooth look with incredible shine.

Believe me when I tell you this, if you're looking for a new straightening cream, try this one before you invest big $$$ on other products. Heat Protective Silk Straightening Cream retails for only $17, and a bottle lasts about 60 days for me. It's available on the Kiehl's website and of course at all major retailers who carry the Kiehl's line. Give it a try, I can't wait to hear what you think! 

Here's to a Frizz-Free Spring and Summer! 

p.s. Just sharing my experiences with you - Shopaholic is not endorsed or compensated by Kiehl's in any way! But hey Kiehl's folks, if you're listening out there and you need a tester that lives in humidity, I'm your girl!!!   

Meet Kiel James Patrick - A New Preppy Favorite!

Happy Thursday, Fashionistas! Today I'm so excited to introduce you (or help you become more familiar) with a wonderful preppy favorite brand, Kiel James Patrick.

Through the miracle of Twitter, I met Kiel James Patrick several weeks ago. After looking over the website, I was in love with the designs. Everything is so, shall we say, Preppy? And you'll notice by looking on their website, everyone is just Pretty. The models are surrounded by boats and water, the sun is shining and it all makes me think summer. :-) What's not to love, right?

Recently I placed an order for a few things that were my absolute favorites. My new goodies, in no particular order below. 

Drift Oak Ear Knot, Tipsy at Black Pearl Pub $35.
Let me share a secret with you about Shopaholic and earrings. I never, ever, wear studs. The backs usually just bother me. When I talk on the phone (which I do - a LOT), they dig into the back of my head. They always make my ear lobes itch. I know, I have issues. Anyway......these earrings did not cause ANY of the above mentioned problems for me. Honestly! They were green with pink elephants. You know I had to have them, and I can't wait to wear them tomorrow with some Lilly Pulitzer.

Turk's Head Knot Rope Bracelet, Sanibel Trails $35.
The first thing I noticed and loved about this bracelet - you can customize the color of the button. I selected Fuschia, which is a perfect complement to the pink, green, blue and tan in the rope design. Are you noticing the theme here? Again, pink and green. Matches all my Lilly Pulitzer, as well as the Lacoste and Burberry polos I don't wear as often as I should. Additionally, you can order this bracelet in five different sizes (XS, S, M, L and XL from 6.5" to 8.5") to accomodate your size wrist. I'm thrilled to be able to "make" my own bracelet, between the button and the size! This weekend I will be wearing my new bracelet, hopefully on the beach if the weatherman is correct....

Next up on my "must have" list are the following two pieces.

Toggelash Falls Bracelet, Trenton Burrows Prep, $35.
Do I really need to explain? Pink, green and blue - again. However I will change up the button on this piece by ordering it in turquoise.

Vicker Leed Headband, Fitzwilliam Prescott, $35.
Headbands are a staple in my spring and summer wardrobe. We do a lot of boating, and we also live at the beach. Heat and humidity make my hair a hot mess eight months out of the year, and headbands help me not to lose my mind. I really, really need this one!

A few more things I've learned about the KJP brand. All their fabrics, buttons, etc are purchased in the United States in the New England area. All production (as well as the company headquarters) are housed in Kiel's home state of Rhode Island. Kiel is 100% committed to providing jobs in his local community and supporting local businesses. I truly believe this is rare in today's "global marketplace" and this makes me want to purchase from KJP!

Check out their website HERE and tell me what you love! Shopaholic tip - be sure to sign up to receive the KJP newsletter (see left sidebar on the site) to receive an email coupon code worth $5 off your purchase. Additionally, all orders ship FREE via USPS first class mail. No worries, other shipping options are available if you're in a big hurry! 

Happy Shopping, and have a fantastic Thursday! 

St. Patrick's Day Eye Candy.....and a WINNER in the Elise Francesca Giveaway!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, my friends! If you are celebrating today, please be careful but have fun! As you could see from Monday's post, my celebrating was done on Sunday. :-)

In honor of St. Patrick, today I thought it would be fun to show you some accessories I'm currently loving that are green, or at least green with pink. (I'm happy to admit, most of my wardrobe is green and pink).

Kate Spade Mardi Gras Glass Studs in Green, $38

Later Gator Sandal by Lilly Pulitzer, $168

LeSportsac for Lilly Pulitzer Weekender Bag, $108

Havaianas "Top Mix", $22

What are your favorite green accessories? And are you wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Tell me all about it! I plan to start the day in a green exercise top with black pants, and who knows where it will go from there!

Have a great day, fellow Shopaholics! 

p.s. Congratulations to AHARBIN88, the lucky winner of the Elise Francesca tank dress giveaway (see original post HERE to view Elise's fabulous designs). Apparently the luck of the Irish was with you on this St. Patrick's Day! :-)
Please contact me at lori.driver@hotmail.com with your shipping address and size preference (S, M, L or XL) so I can provide to Elise. Thanks to everyone who entered!

St. Patrick's Parade & Party!

Happy Monday to you! This Shopaholic is moving a little slower than normal today, we had way too much fun yesterday at the St. Patrick's Parade in Metairie. :-) For those who don't know the area, Metairie is a suburb of New Orleans and is known by the locals as the "south shore". The city is south of Lake Pontchartrain, and north of New Orleans.

This was the second year we've participated in what has quickly become a fun tradition. DH and I ride a chartered bus from Fairhope, AL with a huge group of friends. The party starts VERY early - the bus leaves at 5:30AM and shortly thereafter, the adult beverages begin to flow. We started with champagne mimosas (me) and bloody marys (DH). Later we were boring, and just drank beer. HA.

The bus ride takes about 2.5-3 hours, but honestly you're having so much fun, the time flies by! The ladies who coordinate the arrangements for the bus (collect everyone's $$$, make reservations, etc) always sell raffle tickets and draw for "door prizes" on the way. Some of the prizes you want to win - bottles of champagne, wine, etc; cool party gear such as "light up" cups and funky glasses. Other prizes are fairly irreverent and just plain hilarious (occasionally they're of the adult variety, minimum bus age is 21 after all!).

This year we were thrilled when my BFF Priscilla and her DH decided to make the trip with us. Also my BFF Ashleigh goes on the trip every year, and introduced us to this party last year. So it was a perfect day for me - a fun party with DH and two of my BFF's - honestly, does it get any better than that???

The parade lasts a long time - well over 2 hours. I have no idea how many floats are actually in the parade, but I'd guess at least 50! They throw all sorts of fun things - beads, cups and candy (like Mardi Gras). One of my favorite things is all the vegetables. Cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, etc are also thrown. I even caught a banana yesterday! Crazy huh? It's all very civilized - they "hand" you the stuff, not try to nail you in the head with a cabbage.....Promise!

DH and I with Priscilla and her DH. Aren't we cute?

Now, who has recipes for cabbage??? Not sure what I'm going to do with all this stuff...

Just for fun, I'm leaving you today with my "all day party" pointers, Shopaholic style.

1) Get a good nights sleep before the party - think at least 7-8 hours.
2) Be sure to eat - before, during and after the party - your liver will thank you!
3) Alternate adult beverages with water, Diet Coke or Gatorade. (I'm not good at following this advice, but I know it works).
4) Drink a huge Gatorade before you go to bed - and one when your feet hit the floor the next morning.
5) Take Aleve or Tylenol before hitting the hay (wash it down with the Gatorade mentioned above). The doctors would probably not advise this, but it works for me.
6) Take the majority of your photos early in the day. To quote an old friend "Let's take pictures now - you know - while we still look good".

Happy St. Patrick's Day my dear friends! What are you doing to celebrate?

Shopaholic Sunday Sabbatical

Happy Sunday to all! This Shopaholic is taking a much needed break today, to party hard in the burbs of NOLA for St. Patrick's Day. I'll be back on Monday with all the juicy details. :-)

Have a great day!

Havaianas Shopping Nirvana

Happy Saturday my friends! Hope you have a fantastic weekend planned - relaxing, shopping, spending time with family and friends, or perhaps enjoying a little sunshine?

Today we're preparing for a quick trip over to the Big Easy on Sunday for the St. Patrick's Day parade in Metairie. Can you say PAR-TAY? I'll tell you all about it on Monday....when I feel human again. :-)

So you'll remember that I was going to lunch with BFF Priscilla on Thursday for the big birthday celebration, and then she got sick? My "alternate" lunch date was DH, which was a nice treat. He happened to be working close by, and we had a quick Mexican lunch. Not the wine and crab cakes that were planned, but hey at that point I was glad to HAVE a lunch partner!

Anyway, after I left lunch I popped into this major discount store called "Burke's Outlet". Note: this is a place I don't normally shop, not my brands, etc...but I'd heard from a reliable source that some Lilly Pulitzer stationery was hanging around there and it was my Shopaholic duty to check it out.

Sadly, there was not one little tiny piece of LP stationery in sight. However I figured what the heck, I'll look around some. I ended up in the shoe department. Again, not my brands! Really can I be honest? This store has a bunch of JUNK. Seriously, I think I'm wasting my time. But then........out of the corner of my eye.......I spied something that looked like Havaianas.

Of course I bolted over to the display (not really sure why I was in such a hurry, clearly the other shoppers had never noticed them, so what exactly was the rush?). At any rate, get this - Havs are regular price $18.00 (solid colors of course, no bling, no designs, etc). The store or discount price was $12.99. Sounds good, right??? They had little pink stickers which indicated clearance of some type....so I strain to see the chart thinking "what does the pink sticker mean???". Try 95% OFF. Yes, you're reading this right. 95% OFF $12.99, save for a few pair of mens Havs that were a few $$'s more.

Go ahead. Ask. You KNOW you want to know now...

Did you buy them? Yes. Guilty as charged. Did you really think I could walk away?

How many pairs? Sixteen. Every pair I could find. And I'm not even embarrased to admit it. 

What was your total purchase? $11.56. A number I'm quite proud to admit.

Here's the funny thing - I wear size 9 - none of them fit me! A few will fit my mother, and a few friends are receiving new flip flops.  I'm also saving a few for my niece's birthday.

Save this in the total FLUKE category. You know what I call this? Luck. I should have crossed the line into Florida and purchased a lottery ticket when I left the store!

Have a great day and enjoy your weekend!

P.S. Be sure to check the Shopaholic FACEBOOK fan page today for some too-good-to-be-true deals on the Fall 2009 collection Lilly at Dillards. $19.99 and $39.99 pieces!!! Peeps, this is way cheaper than even Lilly warehouse sale prices. Do not delay......

Tomato Pie You Must Try!

TGIF, my fabulous friends! I hate to report that my dear BFF Priscilla woke up on Thursday morning with an awful virus and we weren't able to do lunch. All three men in her house had suffered from the virus over the past week and she thought she'd escaped. Not so fast.....so lunch was postponed until a day she's feeling better. Hated it, I spent the rest of the day chasing bargains!

As our days get longer and turn warmer (it was 76 on Thursday!), I think of making Tomato Pie. This is a very traditional southern recipe and served at many of our family gatherings, including Easter! It's a perfect compliment to the obligatory Honey-Baked Ham.

When I cook, I make things that are super easy. I'm a good cook, but I believe in the KISS method - Keep It Simple Stupid. This is probably why I don't make candy or bake elaborate cookies, cakes, etc. I'm also not known for my patience, so if I can master this, you can too! (Side note: wish I had a photo to share, but I generally don't think to photograph food I prepare.)

Today I'd like to share the recipe with you, who knows? Maybe it will become a favorite dish for your family!

TOMATO PIE

(An old Louisiana favorite!)

Pillsbury all ready pie crust or frozen/prepared pie crust

¼ Cup Parmesan cheese

4-5 home grown tomatoes, sliced and drained

½ Cup Chopped Onion

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Cup Hellman’s mayonnaise

2 Cups grated Cheddar cheese

Bake crust according to package directions (for 1 filling), remove from oven before end of cooking time. Sprinkle bottom of crust with Parmesan cheese. Filling: Fill crust with 2 layers sliced tomatoes, ½ of the onions, ½ of the basil, salt and pepper to taste. Repeat layer. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Topping: mix mayonnaise and grated cheese – spread on top of layers. Place back in oven and cook 30-40 minutes until topping is slighting brown. Servings: 6. Oven temp 350 degrees.

NOTE: great with chopped bacon or ham, additional herbs and other cheese – create your own! 

Hey, I NEVER said it was diet food. Remember calories consumed on holidays, with family or great friends, they don't count!  :-)

Women & Friendships - Complicated, But Precious!

Happy Thursday, everyone! Hope you're having a great day!

Pardon me today while we interrupt the spring shopping season to discuss something very near and dear to my heart. Today we're talking about our female friendships, all the complications of maintaining them, but all the joy they bring.

How many "best friends" did you have in middle school? Probably at least a dozen, right? Don't you remember, we all signed each others yearbooks and said "You'll be my Best Friend Forever".  We wrote "notes" that were signed "BFF". Middle school was a strange time for me, I was moving out of my ugly duckling stage and slowly into the young woman that I would ultimately become. Even with all the awkwardness and self discovery, I knew survival required me to have many BFF's. (You all would NOT believe my pictures from this period of time, trust me when I tell you, they'll never be posted around here!)

Then we all moved to high school. Some of us changed schools - I moved from a private school to a public school. Talk about a rude awakening! Everyone around me had been together since elementary school, and I was the stranger. Looking back, this is probably where I learned how to tap into my inner chameleon and fit into a place I wasn't sure I belonged. And guess what??? My best friend count went up! Amazing. More yearbooks and letters written with "BFF" signatures. With at least 2 of my BFF's that we had those heart necklaces that came in two pieces. Do you remember those? The ones where each of you kept a piece of the heart on a chain? A gold chain of course, and thick, it was the 80's after all! Think back - how many BFF's did you have?

Fast forward.........how many do you have today??? How many "best friends" can you pick up the phone and celebrate with, grieve with, or meet for a quick lunch just because? That number is significantly different today, isn't it? Mine certainly is. I feel blessed to have 3 BFF's in my life. Some will say "well it's easier for you - you don't have children - you have time". That drives me nuts........we all have 24 hours in a day! It's the little things we all can do to keep these friendships going.

You know what they say - life gets in the way. It really does. We have husbands, jobs, children, mortgages, aging parent responsibilities, and volunteer commitments. We have the everyday stress of getting it all done. We think, oh I need to call so and so, maybe when I get finished with (whatever you're doing that moment). Little by little, these friendships suffer as a result. We lose touch - we forget important events like birthdays or anniversaries. Then we feel embarrased and guilty about it, so we gradually give up. We don't call and we don't write. One day we wake up and we haven't talked to our friend in over a year!

Please don't let this happen to your friendships! Your friends will always support you! They know you're always right, but will tell you honestly when you need to buy a different size jeans, never wear that color lipstick again, or ditch a relationship. They'll tell you, yes, your hair is too blonde and perhaps low lights are in order. You won't get this honesty anywhere else. :-)

Reach out to your friends. Call them when you're in the carpool line or commuting to work. Send them a card when you know they're down. Offer to watch their children so they can have a date night with their spouse or partner. Email them for no reason other than to say "hi". Schedule a monthly lunch or girls night out. Make it a date in your calendar!

Today I'm thinking of this topic because we're celebrating my BFF Priscilla's birthday. We have been BFF's for TWENTY ONE YEARS. It's a big deal - every year we take a full afternoon - we have lunch at a great restaurant, open presents, and drink wine or some other appropriate adult beverage. We linger. Her DH scoops up their children from school. She doesn't have a time to be home. My DH knows I'll be home when I get there. We always give each other fabulous gifts. It's absolutely perfect, and oh so necessary!

Happy Birthday my dear friend, I am so thankful we met all those years ago while dating those awful boys; dumped their sorry bums and never looked back. We found the wonderful DH's we have today, you had 2 children, I moved away, then I moved back (sort of), then I moved back again (for real). I'm thrilled we live close to each other again and are able to spend quality time together. I love you to death girl, and am so happy to call you my BFF. Just don't get mad because your picture is on here. I know it didn't go through the approval process, but you go to bed with the chickens. :-)