Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day Monday! We are enjoying time with family and friends during the holiday, and remembering why we celebrate the day! What are you doing to celebrate? We are supposed to go fishing today and Tuesday (start of red snapper season), but.....

Life as we know it is getting ready to change around here, as our "oil forecast" now has oil approximately 10 miles off the Alabama coast. The whole deal has put a huge damper on our spirits and our celebration, but we're going to enjoy the next few days and take them one at a time.

Congratulations BP, you've managed to kill the Gulf of Mexico. We'll be lucky if it's not a dead zone for the next fifty years. I'm pretty disgusted by your behavior and "management" of the situation. Then to find out you are having food trucked into the coast from far far away, rather than dine in and provide much needed business to local restaurants. Seriously, where does your God-complex end? Not only is that insulting, it's quite stupid.

Have a great Memorial Day and stay safe out there!

Gilligan's Island Internet Connection!

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! I had planned to actually blog from here at Dauphin Island - maybe I mean Gilligan's Island though! The internet connection is awful - to use my laptop, I have to get in the car and go to a "hot spot" (code: seafood market) to get online. Ugh.

I'll be back to civilization soon and have lots of fun things planned. Until then, have a great Memorial Day holiday and don't forget why we celebrate the day. It's not just about the beach, boat and barbequing! Thank a veteran this weekend!

p.s. Need your suggestions - how do I handle shopping next week while the DH is on vacation!?!?!? Ugh - so much "together time". Code: how do I pull the UPS boxes inside without him seeing them? Help!

XOXO

The Fashion Police Owes Some People A Ticket...

TGIF, Shopaholics! Hope you're having a wonderful day and a fun Memorial Day celebration planned!

Originally I had planned to talk about something else today, but after attending my nephew's high school graduation ceremony last night, I have other things on my mind.

I stressed all day about whether I would be dressed up enough for this graduation. I was feeling really FAT in everything I wanted to wear - and ended up wearing a Lilly dress in a very flattering wrap style. (This hides a multitude of sins, if you need one - search for Lilly Pulitzer CORBIN wrap dress).

When I arrived, I immediately knew it had been silly to worry! I observed the following fashion violations, wish I had pictures to share (like the Glamour "don't" section), but would've been in extremely poor taste to snap.

1) Jeans and flip flops are not acceptable graduation attire.
2) If the dress is too tight, don't wear it. Matter of fact, if it's too tight, don't BUY it to begin with. Don't be obsessed with the number on the size tag, be concerned whether you look like a stuffed sausage.
3) Crocs and strappy sundresses don't go together, not in any state in this union. Maybe if you're less than 4 years old, and if you're not, don't attempt this look.
4) Jeans with super size muffin tops = Shopaholic don't.
5) Same goes for tank tops with your Ta Tas hanging out. Grandpa didn't come to see your boobs, he came to see his first grandson graduate high school.
6) If you have a tattoo on the cleavage, you should consider covering it when going into a church. Just sayin'.

In defense of those who looked lovely, I saw some gorgeous ladies last night. They were wearing beautiful dresses and suits that fit perfectly, were accessorized to the nines, and had full hair and makeup. 

What have you seen lately that deserves a ticket from the fashion police? Hot weather always brings out the worst around these parts, it's an excuse for some folks to dress awful!  

Beach Bag Essentials - Day One!

Happy Thursday everyone! Are you like me and running around getting ready for the Memorial Day holiday?

Today I wanted to share my tanning secret with you! I know, I know.....we shouldn't "lay out" in the sun. It's bad for us, and skin cancer is rampant. Yep - I understand. Here's my theory - we all have bad habits that might kill us later. For some, it's smoking. I don't smoke. For others, it's drinking. I don't....well I enjoy the occasional beverage but I don't "over" indulge. I'm married and lead a rather calm existence, but I do lay out in the sun.

Unlike the days of youth gone by, now I always use sunscreen with SPF - every time I'm in the sun! I always start the season with SPF 30, later backing down to SPF 15 and eventually SPF 8. (just so you know - I'm using 15 and sometimes 8 right now). I never use LESS than SPF 8.

Years ago, I found the Australian Gold tanning products. They're available everywhere here at the beach - even the grocery stores! However, when we lived in Charlotte, I couldn't find this stuff anywhere. I was DYING. I finally found it on a vacation to Hilton Head Island and stocked up!

The products are fantastic! I use the Spray Gel with Instant Bronzer formulation. It has a slightly sweet smell and is very moisturizing to the skin. If I use something different, I can sure tell a big difference. And I think the bronzer helps you deepen the tan, and keep it longer. That's always a hit in my book!

What's your favorite tanning product? Have you ever tried Australian Gold? If not, you should! Let me know if you need help finding it though - especially if you're land locked! :-)

Have a fab Thursday - our nephew is graduating high school tonight. Wow how the time flies!

Under The Palm Tree - Huge Memorial Day Sale - and a Shopaholic Special!

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope your "Hump Day" is going great so far, I'm hoping for nice weather and a productive day around these parts. That's not much is it? :-)

One of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer Via Shoppes, Under The Palm Tree, has a HUGE sale! Just in time for Memorial Day! And - they've been so generous to offer an EXCLUSIVE special - just for Shopaholic readers!

You can access their website HERE, contact via email: underpalmtree77@aol.com or call 913-451-1445.

First, "The Memorial Day Sale".

Spend $200 on any store merchandise and receive $50 Off
Spend $300 on any store merchandise and receive $100 Off
Spend $400 on any store merchandise and receive $150 Off
Spend $500 on any store merchandise and receive $200 Off
Spend $1000 on any store merchandise and receive $450 Off
This offer does include Sale Merchandise.
 Not valid on Special Orders or Prior Purchases.
 Discount will be applied when your order is processed.
Place the words "Under the Palm Tree" in the Order Notes Section to receive your discount.
Offer Expires: 6-1-10. We ship daily all orders placed by 3PM CST and update the site daily.
 Remember, no returns or exchanges on sale items.

Now, the Shopaholic Special:

For FREE SHIPPING (in addition to the sale - wow!) - type the word "Shopaholic" in the Order Notes Section when placing your order online. If you're ordering via phone, be sure to mention the Shopaholic code. This saves you another $12!

Remember, your new total will be confirmed back to you via email (as well as item availability). I look for them to run out of a lot of our favorite items, so order early! This sale includes all in stock items, including the new Summer collection and items already on sale. Additionally, Lifeguard Press is included (which is generally excluded from sales). What a fantastic sale!

Thanks to Under The Palm Tree for offering such generous discounts and Shopaholic Specials! I absolutely love shopping with Sara, Martha Jane, Hadley and the rest of the crew! Fast Shipping, Great Sales and Wonderful Service! You can't ask for much more!

Happy Shopping!

Olay Quench Body Lotion......Yes, Really!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope you're doing great and getting ready for a wonderful Memorial Day holiday. Later this week I will have some special treats, including my Beach Bag Essentials!

Even though it's not "officially" summer yet, it might as well be. We've had temperatures of 90+ degrees for days, and more coming. This is the time of year I take 2-3 showers a day. Before exercise, after exercise; Before beach, after beach; one right before bed because it makes me rest so well. Heck, sometimes you just want to take one after walking outside on the deck to water the plants! All this showering, scrubbing and skin exfoliation brings a new problem - dry skin. I loathe dry skin, can't stand it. In the past, I have used fairly expensive products like Creme de Corps from Kiehls. However, I discovered something much more economical that I'd like to share with you!

Welcome to my daily routine, Olay Quench Body Lotion (Deep Moisture). A while back, I received an email from Olay with an offer for this lotion. When you purchased the lotion, you could mail in your receipt for a full rebate of the purchase price. You guys should know by now........I'm a sucker for a sale or a freebie, so I went to Target and bought the lotion. Then I printed the form and sent off for my rebate.

I received a check for $7.79 in yesterday's mail, and I'm still using the lotion. It is a miracle worker - my skin feels so soft and hydrated. The product has a slight cocoa butter smell, which screams "summer" to me. Additionally, it has a very slight bit of shimmer. I can't believe I'd never discovered it. Goes to show you - just because a product is expensive doesn't always mean it's better! And - this is not your grandmother's Olay! :-)

Do yourself a favor - try this lotion! Your summer tan will just glow, and you'll save lots of moolah (I'm sure you can guess - I'll be using my savings on Lilly!). Be sure to sign up on the http://www.olay.com/ website to "Join Club Olay" - then you'll receive those special offers via email!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

A Very Sad TV Week...

Happy Monday, my friends! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I'm happy to say, migraine is now gone and I'm ready to hit on all cylinders this week! DH is on vacation next week so lots to do around here!

Fess up - did you watch the Series finale of "Lost" last night? What did you think? Now of course there are a ton of thoughts about what happened - were they dead the whole time? Was the island a "purgatory" of sorts? Why were some of the characters like Richard, Miles and Frank - they made it on the plane but weren't in the church? So many unanswered questions!

Three years ago, DH said "I think they're already dead". Was he right all along? I have a feeling this will all be debated for quite some time. Similar to the ending of "The Sopranos".....BTW, do you guys think Tony is dead? :-)

To add insult to injury, tonight I must say goodbye to my long time favorite drama, "24". Yes at times it has been unbelievable, and perhaps unrealistic, but it makes my Monday nights bearable. I'm secretly in love with Kiefer Sutherland........yes I know, I know. He drinks a little too much. He gets into a bunch of trouble. This is probably partially why he's so appealing.

I've watched Jack mature, grow and change. I can't believe it's coming to an end tonight. I really wish the writers hadn't killed Renee off earlier this year. It's time for Jack to sail off into the sunset - a happy man that isn't a fugitive. We'll see!

What's a Shopaholic to do without her two favorite shows? Only time will tell what replaces them in my hearts, but I've enjoyed them both! What are your current favorites? Obviously I have two free hours at night, starting next week!

Have a wonderful Monday - don't forget that Lilly coupon for 20% off expires today! See Sunday's post for a link to the original writeup!

Off The Wagon...

Happy Sunday, Shopaholics! Hope your weekend has been fabulous so far. I'm sad to report that I still have a slight headache, but at this point I'm not sure whether it's from a Migraine or a Mojito. Oops.

Remember my resolve to lose 10 more pounds before I purchased another Lilly dress??? Double Oops, I fell off the wagon on Saturday. BUT - it was for this highly coveted Lilly Pulitzer Sullivan dress...

Isn't it fabulous? I plan to find a red belt (possibly patent leather) to wear with the dress - or my red starfish Miss Trish sandals.  Perfect for 4th of July, yes? :-) If you have this on your summer "must have" shopping list - get it quickly. My sources report it is literally *flying* out of the stores! And remember, you can still use the 20% coupon at the Lilly Pulitzer corporate stores (my favorite is Southlake, TX) until May 24. I posted about it HERE originally.

Now I attempt to climb back on the wagon. Stay tuned. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Migraine Break

TGIF, Shopaholics! I'm taking a break today due to a migraine - DAY TWO. Ugh. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, don't forget about the GWP at Lilly Pulitzer Southlake (and other corp. locations) on Saturday! :-)

Shrimp Vermicelli Salad - it's Lucky too!

Happy Thursday everyone! Many of you have commented in the past about my "southern/seafood" recipes and how you've enjoyed them, so today I have a new treat for you!

Below is our family recipe for Shrimp Vermicelli Salad. I have no idea where this originated, my Mother has been preparing it for years and we've tweaked it to suit our tastes. (you will notice from my notes what I adjust)

Shopaholic note: I firmly believe this is also a "lucky" recipe - as we had it the night Alabama won the college football national championship. If you're looking for something new, refreshing and different - give this recipe a try! You will not be disappointed! PERFECT for summer gatherings, BBQ's, parties, etc.


SHRIMP VERMICELLI SALAD



5 Cups water
1.5 lbs. unpeeled medium-size fresh shrimp
1 (12 oz) package vermicelli
3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1.5 Cups chopped green onions
1 Cup chopped dill pickle (I reduced to approx. 1/2 cup)
¼ Cup minced fresh parsley
1 small green pepper, chopped (I reduced to appox. ½ small bell pepper )
1 (2 oz) jar diced pimento, drained
1 (10-oz) package tiny English peas, thawed and drained
1 Cup mayonnaise
1 (8 oz) carton commercial sour cream
¼ cup lemon juice
2 Tablespoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon peeper
Leaf lettuce
¼ to ½ teaspoon paprika


Bring water to boil; add shrimp, and cook 3-5 minutes. Drain well; rinse with cold water. Chill. Peel and devein shrimp.

Break vermicelli into 3-inch pieces and cook according to package directions; drain. Add shrimp, eggs, onions, pickle, parsley, green pepper, pimiento, and peas; set aside.


Combine mayonnaise and next 6 ingredients; stir well. Pour over shrimp mixture; toss gently. Cover & chill 2 hours. Serve on a lettuce-lined platter; sprinkle with paprika.


Yield: 8 servings.


Bon appetit! Have a great Thursday!

The Thank You Note (and a Shopaholic DISCOUNT from our friends at MCC Designs!)

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful "hump day" - today the DH has a day off work. One would think that might mean "Fun Day" but alas, no. We have an appointment and then some work happening in our kitchen...guess the beach will have to wait!

With graduation and wedding season in full swing, I'd like to talk about thank you notes and their importance. Is it just me, or does it seem people just don't write handwritten notes much anymore? I know many bloggers have discussed this in the past, and of course we all have our own opinion. For me personally, I feel it's extremely bad manners to not send a thank you note that is handwritten. Email just won't do in most cases!

My Rules/Suggestions for Thank you notes:

1) When someone sends me a gift, I send them a thank you note, unless I live under the same roof as the gift giver. That's only DH, so everyone else receives a note! :-)

2) If someone does a favor or goes out of their way for me, I send a thank you note.

3) When I am invited to spend the night at someone's home, I always follow up after my visit with a thank you note and a small gift or token of appreciation. (my only exceptions - parents or IL's)

4) If I were to interview for a job (haven't done that in a loooonnnnggg time!), I would send a handwritten thank you note to the interviewer. Back in the days when this Shopaholic managed a large operation, one of my responsibilities was interviewing potential new employees. I was constantly amazed at how many people do not send these notes. I never understood it; back in high school we were taught to send a note thanking the interviewer for their time and expressing your true interest in the position. Want to stand out in a tough job market? Send a thank you note! Trust me on this one.

Other situations you should send a note - wedding or graduation gifts, bridal/baby shower gifts, expressions of sympathy such as flowers, donations, etc and housewarming gifts.

I'd love to hear what you think about the "Importance of the Written Word". I actually enjoy writing notes and sending cards - and love receiving them. Isn't it nice to check the mail and find something besides junk or bills?

Great news! I've found a wonderful source for all my handwritten note "needs" - mcc designs! Melissa at mcc designs sponsored one of the Shopaholic Mother's Day giveaways, and I absolutely love her Etsy shop!

If you aren't familiar with mcc designs yet, you absolutely must check it out! A few of my new favorites from the Etsy store include the personalized, flat note cards and flip flop note pad:

Now for some fun - how about a Shopaholic Special? :-) For the next 7 days, Melissa is offering a generous 15% DISCOUNT to all Shopaholic readers! Just complete your purchase as normal through Etsy, remit payment via Paypal, and then "convo" (email) mcc designs and let her know you're a Shopaholic reader. The 15% discount will be refunded back to you via Paypal. It's a very simple process, and I promise you will love your new goodies.

Remember - those graduates need a huge, fresh pile of thank you notes to send. You might need a teacher gift, as the end of the school year is rapidly approaching (ready or not). For my purchase, I'm considering the wine gift tags - as I'm always taking a bottle of wine somewhere!

A special thanks to Melissa at mcc designs for offering such a great deal to Shopaholic readers! Happy Shopping and have a great day!

86 Days and Counting.....

Happy Tuesday, Shopaholics! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a great start to a new week. I've been a little down the past few days, hence my lack of posts. I just haven't felt like there was anything extraordinary to tell you about - and certainly not as exciting as some of my blogger friends out there. Remember, this Shopaholic doesn't live in a major metro area so my life and events tend to be a little simple - beach, time with DH, family and friends. Not necessarily in that order, of course. :-)

Moving on...I was just brave enough to take a look at the calendar and I couldn't believe what I saw! There are 86 days until my 40th birthday! Un.Flippin.Believable. For the record, I do NOT "feel" almost 40. I don't "think" I look almost 40. (If you think I do, just don't tell me, not sure I could handle it this week).

Here's the thing - I promised myself I was going to lose a whole bunch of weight before I turned 40. So far, I've lost 25 pounds but goodness I have a lot to go! So today I have a new goal - hold on tight, 'cause this is huge.

Shopaholic Pledge - Tuesday, May 18, 2010

1) In the next 30 days, I will lose 10 pounds. I will keep you updated - but will not be posting weight numbers. Nope, not around these parts.

2) Until I lose those 10 pounds, I.will.not.purchase.one.more.Lilly.Pulitzer.Dress.  Before you think I've lost my mind, notice I didn't mention cosmetics, jewelry, skin care, accessories, etc. I'm not insane over here.

Don't get me wrong, I don't really believe it's important to weigh a certain number on the scale. I've always judged myself by how I felt in my clothes, and what size I wore. However, it's time to bring in the big guns now...and maybe if I won't allow myself to buy clothes, I will finally get (and stay!) serious. Let's be honest - the weight will only get more difficult to lose as I get older. Oy.

Wish me luck! I finished up my movie theatre size box of Raisinets as I wrote this up on Monday night, haha. Now - can I do it!?!?! Stay tuned!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

LORAC Cosmetics $3 Lip Gloss Sale

Happy Weekend, my Shopaholic friends! Hope you're enjoying good times and nice weather. DH was off work on Friday, so we spent Friday and Saturday at the beach working on our tans. Sadly, we must attend a wake on Sunday evening. One of my Dad's lifelong best friends passed away on Thursday from complications of lung cancer. Dad is taking this very hard, he's known Randy since before he married my Mom. Please say a little prayer for him, as well as Randy's family. He was only 64. :-(  

Today I wanted to tell you about another one of "My Favorite Things".  Are you familiar with LORAC Cosmetics? Have you tried any of the products this brand offers? Naturally it's sold in Sephora, Ulta, etc but I actually prefer to purchase LORAC directly from their retail website (access it HERE). Get this - I am totally - 100+% - addicted to their Lip Polish. It comes in a small bottle that looks like nail polish - how cute is that?

My favorite colors of lip polish are "Da Bomb" for fall and winter, and a tie between "Groovy Fruit" and "Bliss" for spring and summer wear!

My other favorite lip gloss from LORAC is the "Mocktail" - high gloss that tastes like your favorite cocktail (minus the calories or alcohol of course!). With names/flavors like "Tropical Dream", "Tequila Sunrise" and "Sex on The Beach" - how can you resist???

Here's the deal - both of these lip glosses are on sale right now for $3 each! Yes! You read that right! $3 each! Shopaholics, I don't have to tell you what a deal this is.......honestly you couldn't buy the cheap stuff at Target for $3. LORAC also ships free when you spend $50, which would be a ton of lip gloss at $3 each, haha. Seriously, be sure to check their "VIP Discount" section HERE for other fantastic deals, some as much as 75% off! If you're like me, you'll find a ton of things you "need"!

Now.....how many of those lip glosses should I order for my stockpile??? Decisions, decisions....they don't call me the "Lip Gloss Queen" for nothing!

Have a great weekend!

Shopping Lilly Pulitzer Southlake - 20% off Coupon & New Sale Merchandise!

TGIF Shopaholics! Fess up now - did you order from the Lilly Pulitzer sale on Rue La La yesterday? I was *gasp* without an internet connection most of the day, so I had to enlist the help of a trusted friend to finally score my coveted Mar A Lago tote handbag in gold. The Shopaholic was VERY happy to get the call of sweet success! And yes, before you tell me, I realize you can shop RLL from a web enabled phone....that is if your phone does not also qualify as a boat anchor or tin can with a string...Mine is in serious need of an upgrade, haha!

Today we move on to the current Lilly Pulitzer collections which are still in stores, these are Resort 2009/2010, Spring 2010 and Summer 2010. Did you see the coupon in the People Style Watch Issue of May 2010? If not, I have a copy for you below! 

 Great news to report! This coupon can be used at the Lilly Pulitzer corporate (retail) stores as well as online at http://www.lillypulitzer.com/ (promo code PEOPLE). Please note the coupon is only applicable to Full Price merchandise and expires on May 24, 2010.

You all know from previous posts, the Lilly Pulitzer store in Southlake, TX is my absolute favorite Lilly corporate store! Sh'Lika, Amy, Sarah....everyone there is so nice and helpful! They have all the recent shipments of the new Summer collection (and are expecting the third shipment next week!). Keep in mind, you can use the 20% coupon on your entire order of full priced merchandise......and guess what!?!?! If you're like me and have to "phone shop", shipping is FREE with the purchase of at least one full priced item. (Even if the coupon is applied). Now that is a deal! You guys know I'm always excited about free shipping!

In addition to having a tempting selection of the Summer collection, Southlake also has a wonderful selection of sale merchandise in store! Please see the list below, by style and price:

Lee cardigan – seabreeze stripe pink/green – $118 to $79

Jet Set polo - sebago stripe - hibiscus pink/lime, turquoise/lime - $78 to $49
Lela Ruffle henley - hibiscus pink, keen peach - $78 to $49
Halle v-neck - white (XS, XL only), pink salmon (size M, L only), shorely blue (XL only), navy (XS, L only) - $98 to $59
Cassine quilted vest - shorely blue (size L only), pink salmon (size L only) - $148 to $49
Overboard Hoodie - white, daiquiri pink - $128 to $79
Cedar tank - madly glamorous (size 6 only) - $168 to $99
Quinn caftan - twirly, coral me crazy daiquiri pink, tropical beauty - $198 to $119
Elina caftan - white - $98 to $59
Elina caftan – shorely blue, lilly’s pink – $98 to $49
Pilar tunic - lock me up, coral me crazy daiquiri pink, dirty shirley - $148 to $89
Jonni shirt – big bam, checking in – $118 to $69
Eliot shirt – lock me up, daiquiri coral me crazy, keen peach leaf it to me – $128 to $79
Beach pant - lock me up, coral me crazy daiquiri pink, tropical beauty – $128 to $49
Society corduroy pant - classic white (size 6 and 12 only) - $138 to $34
Nikki maxi skirt - biggy stripe - $298 to $179
Adrianna dress - lock me up, coral me crazy limeade, wishing you were here daiquiri pink - $158 to $59
Andover dress - leaf it to me keen peach - $168 to $99
Anya dress - elite status (6,8,10 only) - $298 to $79
Genevieve dress - wishing you were here daiquiri pink (4, 6 only) - $298 to $99
Saemus dress - boarding aquamarine (size 10 only) - $298 to $179
Darcia - wishing you were here limeade - $258 to $99
Lara dress - big bam navy (size S only) - $248 to $89
Fiesta dress – falling for you – $258 to $154
Petula dress – big bam – $148 to $89
Kelsea dress – big bam, limeade coral me crazy – $138 to $89
Taryn dress – white lilly eyelet lace – $298 to $179

If you are lucky, you just might find that special piece of Lilly you've been looking for, and it might be on sale! Note - the shipping policy is a little different for sale merchandise. If you order JUST sale items, there is a flat shipping fee of $7. If you combine a sale item with a full priced item, the shipping is still free, since you have at least one full priced item! :-)

You might be wondering, could this get any better? Yep! You know it can and usually does around here. :-) Starting on May 22, a new promotion! With every $250 purchase (full price or sale items), you receive a Lilly cooler or beach towel as a gift with purchase! If you have a $500 purchase, you could receive both the cooler and beach towel!

Here's how you can reach the Southlake store, don't forget to tell them Shopaholic sent you!

Lilly Pulitzer Southlake
405 Grand Ave. East
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 310-3947
southlake@lillypulitzer.com

What a great time to stock up for a fun Memorial Day weekend wearing Lilly! By the way, I'm sure the coupon could be used at your local Lilly Pulitzer corporate store. Be sure to print a copy and take it in with you! 

Have a Fab Friday and Happy Shopping, I can't wait to hear about your deals!

SATC 2 Cocktails - Bye Bye, Cosmo!

Happy Thursday, Shopaholics! Thanks so much for all your kind emails and comments about the oil spill. Admittedly, I have been consumed with this event; as well as a little depressed. :-(

Today I thought it would be fun to talk about the new SATC 2 movie! I don't know about you, but I cannot wait for the movie to premiere! I get even more excited every time I see the trailer, and want to plan a Girls Night Out to see the movie! I wish all of you lived close, and we could go together! Wouldn't that be fun?!?!?!?!

Of course we all remember watching the SATC series, and being inspired by the fashion. Who else wanted Carrie's show wardrobe? TDF, in my opinion of course! Didn't we all start drinking Cosmos just because Carrie and the girls did??? The pink drink, which is a mixture of vodka, Triple Sec and cranberry juice, found its way into bars all over the country after SATC made it famous.

Lucky for us, SKYY Vodka has created a signature drink for each girl - there's even one for Big! How fun is that? For your enjoyment, here are the drinks (along with the recipes for each). Drink up!

THE CARRIE:

2 oz. SKYY Vodka
0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice

0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. sugar
Drop of crème de cassis

Rim a crystallized Swarovski martini glass with crème de cassis and sugar (first dip the rim in a shallow dish filled with crème de cassis and then into a dish of sugar). Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into the martini glass. Finish the cocktail with a drop of crème de cassis on top.

THE SAMANTHA:

2 oz. SKYY Infusions Pineapple

1 oz. fresh lime juice
0.75 oz. Triple Sec
0.75 oz. crème de cacao

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

THE CHARLOTTE:

1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Grape

3 oz. 7-Up
0.25 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.25 oz. red wine

Squeeze and drop half a lemon into a cocktail shaker. Add SKYY Infusions Grape and 7-Up with ice and stir. Strain into a tall Collins glass with fresh ice and float red wine over the top of the drink.

THE MIRANDA:

2 oz. SKYY Infusions Ginger

1 oz. honey syrup
0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice


Combine all ingredients (to create honey syrup, combine 0.5 oz. water with 0.5 oz. honey) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Set a lemon peel twirl across the rim of the glass with a cocktail pick.

THE MR. BIG:

2 oz. SKYY Infusions Cherry

0.5 oz. Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
0.75 oz. cola

Combine SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka, Wild Turkey Bourbon and cola in a cocktail shaker with ice and stir. Pour into a double rocks glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Which cocktail sounds the best to you? Are you planning to see the movie when it premieres? I think I need to check my vodka stash and possibly stock up!

Have a great day!

The Difference Between A Hurricane & An Oil Spill...(Beach Bum Rant Coming)

Happy Tuesday, Shopaholics! Yesterday I took the day "off" from blogging, after a weekend packed with Mother's Day activities! Hope you're all having a great start to the week!

Living on (or even NEAR) the coast, we spend plenty of time and effort preparing for potential tropical weather or hurricanes. During hurricane season, we watch the news and weather updates with great interest and a bit of nervousness. We watch the water temperature, as hot water is extremely favorable for development of tropical weather. As nerve wracking as all this sounds, it's just a part of life on the coast. The other 350 or so days of the year, life is grand and immensely pleasant.

Here's how it works - you watch a tropical system develop - generally around the Lesser Antilles, Bay of Campiche or south of Cuba. At that point, the system is about 5-7 days from the Northern Gulf Coast. And the good news, it's so early you have no idea where it will hit. You just "keep an eye out" for the updates. You don't stress yet. A few days after the tropical systems enter the Gulf of Mexico, and mixes with warmer water temperatures, THEN you stress. You fill up the cars with gas, buy canned goods, stock up on bottled water, make sure you have plenty of cash $$ on hand, stockpile propane or charcoal so you can grill, secure all patio furniture/outdoor objects, decide whether to evacuate, etc. Get your business done and move on. Tropical storm or God forbid, hurricane, then hits land and in 24 hours, the weather is gorgeous again. The day after a hurricane is one of the most beautiful days you'll ever see on the coast. Then....the real fun - the cleanup - begins. But hey, at least it's over then. No more worrying, stressing, watching the news like a crazy person. Your biggest fight then is with the insurance company, and while that is no fun, you can handle it.

Here we are today - May 11, 2010. It's not even hurricane season yet (that fun begins on June 1, 2010). However, Since April 20, 2010, we've had the pleasure (not) of watching the oil spill drama unfold. That's 22 DAYS you guys!!! We've been watching the news like crazy and surfing 100's of sites on the internet in an attempt to know "What is going to happen"? The sad truth - no one knows. The oil continues to gush - approximately 210,000 gallons a day. As of my writing this post, 4,320,000+ gallons of oil have gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. BP continues to try all sorts of things, to stop the leak. None have been successful. We have an "oil spill forecast" daily now - you know, what's the temperature outside and where is the oil going today? It's unbelievable to me that in the year 2010, with all the technology that is available in this world, THE FOURTH LARGEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD - BP - can't figure out how to stop this gushing of oil into our Gulf. That's right- OUR Gulf. MY Gulf. It's right across the street. I get up every morning, look out the bedroom window and say "whew - I don't see any oil today. this is a good day." I go for my 4 mile walk and look at all the birds (even the seagulls, which I normally loathe) and hope they aren't ingesting oil south of MY beach. I haven't seen a sea turtle or dolphin (dolphin sightings are very common across the street) since the oil spill. I hope they are swimming somewhere safe. Another bad thing - animals have a "sense" about the tropical weather. When it's headed this way, they know. They go somewhere else. In this case, they have no built in radar that says "Oil spill ahead - swim south please".

Another item of huge concern to me - BP is using a "chemical dispersant" at the oil spill source (underwater via remote controlled submarine, not like you can send a diver into 5,000 feet of water). The EPA had halted this dispersant use two times previously, but apparently the third time was a charm and yesterday, they began to use it again. The EPA was concerned about potential impacts to sea life, water quality and health concerns for coastal residents. Is this dispersant safe??? Does anyone really know at this point? Nope, it isn't. That's what I'm hearing and reading. Who is going to tell us the truth? Seriously? BP? The EPA? I'm getting concerned, my friends.

Just some numbers for you:

4,325,311 gallons now spilled in the Gulf (notice how it's gone up since I started this post)
11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon Rig (leased by BP for oil production) killed/lost at sea in the oil rig explosion
$2.6 BILLION DOLLARS - BP Profit - 1st quarter, 2010
$16.58 BILLION DOLLARS - BP Profit - 2009
$350 MILLION Dollars - what BP has paid so far to clean up spill
$25 MILLION Dollars - BP has given to each state - LA, MS, AL and FL - to pay for their efforts related to the oil spill
$75 MILLION Dollars - BP's "liability" for this spill, according to federal law

Fisherman are out of work, no shrimping, no crabbing, no oystering, nothing is happening right now. I'm going to try to post a video - this was taken on a fly over of the oil spill by a local reporter from WALA-Fox 10 TV in Mobile, AL. It's absolutely heartbreaking. DH and I both had tears in our eyes when we watched it last night. It's probably the most comprehensive view of the oil that is heading to someone's coast - likely to LA, MS, and AL - and maybe a small amount to the FL panhandle.



I'm starting to get MAD now - until Sunday night, I've mostly "just" been sad. Almost a depressive state of sorts, but now my mood is changing. I'm ticked off, and you should be also. Whether you live in Maine or Mississippi, Alabama or Alaska, Florida or California, you will be impacted by this awful disaster. The gas prices, the economy, the seafood supply (and the impact on pricing). You name it.

I leave today (tonight) with one question: if this spill isn't stopped soon (some are now speculating it could be weeks or MONTHS for BP to drill a relief well)............

WHAT IF A HURRICANE COMES??????

By the way, my "oil spill counter"....

Gallons spilled are now at 4,328,239......see how fast that number adds up???

Please say a prayer for the Gulf Coast. We need it.

Toast To All The Moms!

Happy Mother's Day! Before I begin the Mother's Day tribute, I want to thank you ALL for your lovely comments on yesterday's post. Honestly, I wasn't sure whether I should post about being "childless by choice" and was slightly concerned I would look super selfish to you all. I should have known better, I had tears in my eyes reading your sweet and heartfelt comments. You all have stories that were just amazing to me, and I can't wait to get to know everyone better! Thank you for being so kind and supporting me. I consider you all my friends and love you! :-) 

Last night I had a fantastic dinner out with my Mother, Nanny, and my sister Amy. I wanted to share a few photos with you - and tell you we had some of the most fabulous seafood I've had in a very long time! Felt like a "last supper" of sorts, considering we're starting to hear about tar balls from the oil spill rolling up on the beaches at Dauphin Island, AL.

Mom and Nanny

 Lori and Nanny

Lori and Amy

To Mom - Thank you for not desiring the "childless by choice" lifestyle. I'm only here to lead this beautiful life because of you (with a little help from Dad, HAHA). If I could choose my own Mother, it would have been you. You somehow manage to take care of everyone around you, and you can get more done before lunch than anyone I've ever seen! You're my best friend and I love you!

To Nanny - You're one of the strongest women I know, and have been a wonderful example to all the women in our family. When Grandpa left you to pick up a loaf of bread and never returned, you bucked up and did what you had to do to raise four children on your own. The pain you live in with RA would be debiliating to most, but somehow you manage. I hope I'm half as strong as you when I'm your age. Love you, Nanny! p.s. I'm convinced there's a book deal in your story...

To Amy - Thank you for being such a wonderful sister, for being a sounding board, confidant and best friend, and never judging. Thank you for having two beautiful boys that I love to death, and for taking the pressure off me to have children. Much appreciated. We share a love of Lilly and all things fabulous, because of course we ARE Fabulous. Know this - I will always have your back, no matter what! Love you baby sis!

To Meme - Thank you for loving me, and teaching me so many things. It's almost surreal that you are no longer here with us, I think of you every single day. I do feel somewhat comforted knowing that you are no longer suffering the symptoms of pancreatic, bone and lung cancer. Dad is very sad without you on this Mother's Day, but as you know, he is very strong and we'll help him get through the day. I went to your gravesite on Friday and placed flowers, because I know how much you loved them. I could feel you smiling down on me.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day celebration with your families! Love and honor your Mothers, Grandmothers and Sisters today. I leave you with a photo of me and Meme, taken a few months before she passed away in July 2009.

Childless By Choice.....Sort Of!

Happy Saturday, my friends! Hopefully you're out enjoying a nice weekend with family and/or friends. We're having sunny and warm weather; it's absolutely gorgeous outside! Warning you ahead of time here - my post today is a little different than normal, but I wanted to share an extremely personal story with you all. I debated about whether to post this, but I hope you'll find it heartfelt and honest.

I'm preparing a Mother's Day celebration tonight and tomorrow. Tonight I'm going to dinner with my Mother, my Nanny (my only living grandmother), and my younger Sister. My Dad arranged a nice dinner for us (and is paying the bill!). Don't feel too sorry for the boys though, word has it they're going to eat raw oysters and have a few cold ones. After spending a little time with Mother on Sunday morning, we will go visit DH's Mother.

Seriously though, today I would like to tell you all about me and the DH being "childless by choice" - at least that's how the story begins....

As a child and later a teenager, college student and young adult woman, my "mothering" desires and skills were not honed. It's difficult to explain, but I had ZERO desire to ever become a Mother. I knew it from a very young age. You know when you're a young girl and you're talking to your friends, slumber parties and such where you tell secrets. "Are you ever going to get married"? Sure. "How many children are you going to have"? None.

Try feeling this way and living in the SOUTH. Don't think I'm being judgemental here, I'm FROM the South. I can say this. I've always lived in the South (is Charlotte, NC really the South? I think so, but it's close to the North). Anyway, having a family is pretty important to folks down here. It validates you. It proves you are an adult and you're responsible. It forms a family.

When DH and I started dating, we didn't discuss children. About a year into our relationship, maybe after a few glasses of wine one night, I told him that I thought we should discuss something....that I didn't know where our relationship was headed, but there was something he should know about me. *Silence*. Do you think THAT scared him??? HAHA, yes it did. So I told him then that I was never interested in having children, it just wasn't something I felt I needed to do in life to be "whole". He told me at that time, fine I don't really care if I have them either - I never really wanted them. Viola! He was the man for me. Approximately 18 months later, we were married.

I should tell you now - I got married when I was 25 years old. I was YOUNG to be married (DH was only 26). Again, this is more traditional in the South (my opinion here folks). I was one of the last girls in my "crowd" to get married. By the time DH and I were married in October 1994, several friends were already having babies. Time marched on, a few more years went by. More friends had babies. To this very day, I can only think of one great friend of mine who does NOT have a baby or any children. This began to bother DH. He started to feel he was missing out on something. He asked me to do silly things, like one night after a few too many wines, he wanted me to sign a piece of paper saying I would have a baby!!! LOL, he thought he was being smart AND funny.

Finally we were at the beach for the weekend, and I sat DH down for an honest conversation. I told him that I just didn't want children, it didn't mean I had any less love for him - matter of fact, he wouldn't have to share me with anyone if there were no children. However, I told him that if a baby was that important to him, I would grant him the quickest and easiest divorce known to man. We could sell our house, split the proceeds, split the 401K's, split everything, use the same attorney, and he could go find another woman and start making some babies. This is the night that I knew, without a doubt, my DH loved me unconditionally. He told me that if having a child meant he couldn't have me, he didn't want one either.

We rocked along like this for YEARS. What I heard constantly: "WHEN are you going to have a baby" -- "Y'all would make the prettiest babies" -- "Your parents need and DESERVE a grandchild" (that's my personal favorite) -- "I just can't believe you don't want a baby" -- "why are you depriving DH of not having a son/daughter" (my 2nd personal favorite) "Don't you like children"???

Just to give you a good laugh, two of my favorite responses to those questions were: "Just because I HAVE a uterus, doesn't mean I have to USE it" (favorite) and "I just don't look at a baby like a piece of Gucci and think, I MUST HAVE THIS IMMEDIATELY" (favorite of everyone else). Seriously though, I never thought it was FAIR to have a child when you 1) weren't ready and 2) weren't even sure you wanted to! I see way too many people that almost act like they resent their children, and hate the seeming imposition in their daily lives. Some folks, their nerves just can't take it, but unfortunately - they usually don't realize it ahead of time. I always felt like that, so I knew it wouldn't be fair for a child to be born under those circumstances.

Mind you - in many ways, we have paid a hefty price for our decision. For years we were left out of everything. Friends had birthday parties for their children - we weren't invited. (You know, if you don't have children, you must not like them. This is what people think, seriously!). Silly friends, we would have come to the party, and brought your children a great present! We would have been the coolest aunt/uncle figure they'd ever know. As a result of this, we grew apart from some of our oldest friends. It wasn't on purpose - it just happened. They were going to soccer games and swim lessons on Saturday mornings, and we could still go to the beach and hang out for five hours without having to coordinate babysitters, carpools, etc. Dare I say.....we had a little more "freedom" than most folks our age, because we didn't have children.

Five years ago, my younger sister had her first baby boy. He was born several weeks early, and we were living in Charlotte at the time. We didn't get to see him for a while, but of course when we did, we feel in love with him immediately. My sister had a second son about 2 years later, and now we have two beautiful and oh so active and fun nephews! Thank goodness I thought, she is taking the pressure off me! There are finally some babies around here and everyone will stop BUGGING ME about having one!!!

Not long after Jake's birth, we moved to Destin, FL and were much closer to our family (only 2 hours away!). I suppose being around a child constantly gives you a different perspective....as I started to think, hey maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all....Approximately THREE years ago, I stopped using all "preventative measures" and thought, if it's meant to be for me to have a baby, I will. If it isn't, I won't. Simple.

Guess what??? NO - I'm not pregnant. I've never even been scared I was pregnant!!! My body seems to be one that will never carry a baby. I should say, I had LOTS of female problems, two surgeries and endometrosis that was pretty bad. My dr. said years ago that it was "possible" to get pregnant, but might be more difficult for me that other people.

I have friends who have gone to such extreme measures to have children, at great cost to them physically, emotionally and financially. DH and I decided long ago that IVF, Surrogates, Adoption, etc were not options we would explore. Those options are great to have, but they weren't for us.

Sometimes the body just isn't build to do it, for whatever reason. There was another purpose for us. I believe that purpose was being a doting Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. I like to think DH and I have made, and will make later, a huge impact in the lives of the children around us. For now and for us, that's perfect and it works. It's enough.  

Tomorrow we will honor our Mothers. Let's not forget the sacrifices they've made, and what they might have endured physically or emotionally to bring us into this world. Be thankful for your relationships and show your love.

p.s. Every year we receive a ton of holiday cards with photos of children, so last year we sent one of just us! You know, I'm showing off my family too! :-)

Senorita Margarita Baby!

TGIF, my Shopaholic friends! What do you have planned for this Mother's Day weekend? We are having a "girls night out" on Saturday - just me, Mom, Nanny and my baby sister. Then on Sunday, DH and I will go visit the in-laws. There's only one down side to all this - everything is inland so no beach for me. THAT I'm not loving! :-(

Today I wanted to share one of "My Favorite Things" from Philosophy. If you're not familiar, Philosophy is a skin care, cosmetics, bath and body/fragrance line that is fantastic! I use many of their products (especially love their moisturizers, but I'll blog about those another day).

Yesterday I remembered that I had a brand new bottle of Senorita Margarita, one of the 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash products. Note: I would NEVER wash my hair with this. My stylist would kill me dead for fear of ruining highlights that he slaves over.....However, I absolutely LOVE this product as a Shower Gel. I also shave my legs with it, as I don't use shave cream. To me, this product just smells like SUMMER.

Philosophy also makes this fragrance in a hot salt scrub, which I use every few days on the bottoms of my feet. It sure helps to keep them in tip top shape for cute sandals and flip flops, which I live in until at least November! :-)

What is your favorite bath and body product? Do you have one that just screams SUMMER? Tell me about it!

Have a Fantastic Friday!

Confessions of a Shopaholic in Alabama...

Happy Thursday my friends! Hope you're having a fantastic day and enjoying beautiful late Spring weather! We're lucky here - no oil - at least yet. The longer it takes to get here, the more hopeful I am for a reprieve. *Fingers and toes are crossed*

Welcome to Confessions of a Shopaholic - I felt the need to confess to someone - and it just didn't seem appropriate to tell DH. (insert wink and smile). Do you remember about the fantastic sale at one of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer Via Shoppes, Under The Palm Tree? Purchase 4 or more items and receive 50% off? Do you remember how stressed I've been over the oil spill crisis? A little retail therapy was on yesterday's agenda........

These goodies are on their way to me and I'm thrilled!

Lilly Pulitzer Worth Shift in Stuffed Shells

Lilly Pulitzer Sandra Dress in Starfruit Yellow Dahlia

Lilly Pulitzer Hightide Tankini Top & Beachy Briefs (I'm so optimistic about the oil spill I purchased a new swimsuit - surely this is a good sign!)

If you can believe it, I actually wanted to purchase a few more pieces but decided to leave them for the next great sale. Too bad I'm not a Mother, I could tell DH "these are my Mother's Day gifts, and I saved you the trouble of going shopping!". Does that really work??? Hmmmm.....do let me know! :-)

Remember, Shopaholic Confessions are always welcome here - and they don't always need to be MY Confessions. It makes me feel less guilty to know I'm not the only one trying to create a healthy economy!

Have a lovely Thursday!

Shopaholic Is Cleaning House!

Happy Wednesday, my friends and fellow Shopaholics! Today I'm happy to report that our Coastal Cleanup went off without a hitch yesterday, the weather was gorgeous and lots of items were collected in advance of the oil arriving on our coast. The current "oil forecast" says we might have landfall on Friday. Never in a million years, did I think we would have an oil forecast. It's like a surreal experience around these parts.

Anyway, today I wanted to offer up some FUN items to my blog readers in a Shopaholic Blog Sale. I'm constantly cleaning up and rotating things, and I buy way more than I should (don't laugh - please!). As a result, I always have LOTS of sell. Contact me if you're interested in anything (lori.driver@hotmail.com) - Paypal payments only, please.

Contact me if you have any questions about anything! If you guys like this, I might start hosting a "blog sale" once a month. We'll see how it goes. :-) Until tomorrow.....DH is off today and we're headed to the beach, then I'm going to get blonde again. Have a fantastic Wednesday!

Lilly Pulitzer Bailey Capris, Shell Yeah print. Size 0 and Size 6 available. $35 shipped, retail $148. (NEW WITH TAGS)

TORY BURCH Lifesaver Tee, Navy with Nautical motif. Size SMALL. $75 shipped, $150 retail. (NEW WITH TAGS)

Lilly Pulitzer Hillview Halter, Size 14, Buena Vista (designed by Brooke Shields for Celebrity collection). $100 shipped, $168 retail. (NEW WITH TAGS)

Lilly Pulitzer Sherman Tunic Dress, Size 10, Bucket of Goodies Embroidery. $95 shipped, $258 retail. (NEW WITH TAGS)

Young Fabulous & Broke, Sequin Tunic/Dress, Size MEDIUM. $50 shipped, $245 retail. (NEW WITH TAGS)

Kate Spade Heddy Cosmetics/Travel Bag, $55 shipped, $80 retail. (NEW WITH TAGS). 12"L x 3" D x 8.5" H. PVC Covered Cotton Twill. Trimmed in Leather. 

FELIX REY Nautical Raffia Tote, glitter sequin anchor on one side and heart on the other. Double rope top handles, Magnetic Snap Closure. Inside zipper pocket. Canvas lining. 20" W x 12" H x 5" D. $120 shipped, $195 retail. (BRAND NEW - Never used or carried)

LORELEI Mary Shimmer Clutch, Leopard Print. Italian animal print shimmer embossed lambskin. Drop-in chain hardware. 11" w x 6" D. $100 shipped, $250 retail. BRAND NEW - Never used or carried.