Dream Homes

One of the most famous homes in New Orleans is for sale!  It could be yours if you love Nola, incredible architecture and have $9.5M.  It's the house at 1415 3rd Street.

I think I was born to live in a grand home and this one would suit me just fine.  If I stepped into this entrance, I'd never want to leave!

Gorgeous stairway.  I could really make an entrance on this baby.  Or an exit!  Remember when Rhett carried Scarlett up that huge staircase to um, make passionate love to her?  Poor DH, what chance does he stand with my love for romantic scenes in literature?

Lovely backyard, if you can call it that!  

Beautiful sitting room, though maybe a little too much dark wood.  Is this an old-fashioned man cave?

Now we're talking.  I'd feel like Marie Antoinette in this stunning room.  Where's my crown?

I think 25 of my closest friends would enjoy a dinner party here.  I wonder if Emeril caters?

And for only my closest friends, an intimate dining room.  No boys allowed.

Sweet, girly dreams.

Loving these windows and that feminine pink wall paint.

What kind of bathing suit would you wear at this pool?  What would a modern-day Marie Antoinette wear?

This might work, with an enormous hat or feathers in my coif.

I'm also loving this bikini - Geri by Next.  Notice the French blue?

It's 87 degrees in Texas today, so I guess I've got pool-lounging on my mind!

If I decide to purchase this property (while dreaming), I invite you to stay with me in my guest room!

Healthy Motivation

Some people can't stand her.  I don't know if I could stand to work out with her even once.  Surprisingly, however, her weekly podcast is a fantastic source of motivation as well as education for me.

Sometimes my commute can take an hour after work!  My solution has been to download and listen to podcasts that motivate me to accomplish my goals.  You may not like her bossy-screaming-attitude on The Biggest Loser, but fortunately, you'll find none of that in her podcast.  What you will find is a woman who knows her stuff.  After working in the fitness industry for more than five years and reading countless health mags, I can tell you that Jillian does her research on all things health and fitness.  I have learned the truth about diet and exercise through this woman.  She explains the science behind everything and makes it easy for a non-pro to understand.  

She invites her friend Dr. Herle, an endocrinologist, to speak on multitudes of topics, sharing her wisdom about how our 'insides' work.  Her producer, Janis (below on right), is witty and enhances the show with her spirit.

While I can't agree with some of her politics, I think she is one of the most important advocates of health and fitness in America.  Sometimes she'll talk about eating healthy and other times speak about challenges in her personal life, making you feel like she's a normal person!  I don't know about you, but I like to know that fitness superstars are somewhat human.  I look forward to her weekly podcast and have even gone back to listen to my favorites a second and even third time.

Here's a fun fact - Jillian doesn't even like to work out.  Intriguing, right?

If you haven't listened to her podcast I highly recommend it - especially if you are trying to make a health change this year!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jillian-michaels-show/id418368811

Go for it!

Ebay Searching

I am an eBay search-a-holic.  Checking eBay has now become a habit before bedtime, when I'm bored, after reading a shelter mag or design blog.  With that being said, I have created multiple 'saved searches' in 'My eBay' that make it easy to indulge in my new habit.

Just for fun, I thought I'd share some of my saved searches in the hopes that I am not the only one out there frequently searching eBay for their dream purchases.  

A few of my favorites:

Silver Mint Julep (for future Kentucky Derby entertaining & mint julep serving)

Silver Tea Set

Noritake Silver Palace (my wedding china)

Sevres

Reed & Barton Francis I (my silverware pattern)

Blanc de Chine

Hollywood Regency

Sigh...I want to eat a beautifully decorated piece of cake with this fork!

I love blanc de chine temple/ginger jars, so pretty!

Handpainted Sevres porcelain is exquisite!  The gilding on this vase makes my heart go pitter-patter!  Oh, to feel like Marie Antoinette...

For what items do you frequently search eBay?  Or are you a One Kings Lane, RubyLane or Etsy searcher?  I'd love to hear!

Better Late Than Never

I have to admit - I'm LATE in sending out thank you notes for my Christmas gifts!  I've made my list, selected my cards, but have yet to sit down and write them.  I hope I'm not the only one to be late on this!  My mother taught me from a very early age to send a thank you note for every occasion that warrants one.  An old fashioned thank you note is a lovely gesture, albeit a fading tradition in the digital age.  It certainly beats the more frequently used 'Thx' text message.  Receiving a note or invitation in the mail always makes me a little giddy - what could be in this envelope?

A wonderful surprise to receive in the mail - a thank you note from my friend Jenny's son.  This special note has been displayed on my refrigerator since October.

I purchased Crane's Blue Book of Stationery this year to use as a fun and traditional guide to influence my correspondence.  Inside, you'll find etiquette advice on all manner of stationery from the types you should have in your 'wardrobe' to the proper way to address a Governor.  Not sure what to include on an invitation?  This book has the answer.  

According to Crane, a thank you note, "is brief and generally consists of four parts: 1. The greeting 2. An appreciation of the item or favor 3. Mention how useful it will be 4. Sign off with a suggestion of a future meeting."

I'll share more wisdom from this book as well as its information on the history of stationery in a future post, but for now, I've got to start writing!

New Year's Resolution Fun

"Mama, why are we out walking when it's such a cooooold day?"

Mama - "Because Mama's NY resolution plan began today."

Just thought I'd share an update on my progress - Day One ;)

At least the sky was beautiful while I was out freezing my tush off!

I Heart Books

I am just so tickled to have been voted onto the San Antonio Library Foundation!  I received this lovely set of bilingual children's books, which are printed in collaboration by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation, Trinity University Press and the San Antonio Museum of Art.

I have loved to read since I was very young, so promoting literacy and reading is a passion of mine.  What a great opportunity I have in working with the library!  I remember my first trip to the downtown library and how exciting it was to see the rows and rows of books - all available to me through a library card.

Another favorite memory of mine was library time at my elementary school - where they had lots of cushions and comfy chairs to sit and read.  But the most prized nook was an old claw foot tub filled with pillows!  My friend's daughter recently started kindergarten at that very same elementary school and she assured me that the claw foot tub was still in action!

I call myself a literary nerd babe because many of my favorite books are classic novels.  Try as I may, I just haven't found a modern book that I love as much as my old standbys.  I even bought the book 1000 Books to Read Before You Die to make sure I don't miss any truly important works.

A few of my favorite classic novels: To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women & Sense and Sensibility.  Of course, there are many more and I definitely can't write this post without mentioning The Count of Monte Cristo or Gone With the Wind!  I'm still looking for some nicely bound, yet affordable copies of these two.  The three leather bound books in the middle are by Easton Press.  I try to buy these on Ebay because they are a little expensive, but I would like to own nice copies of my favorites, so I will splurge.

What are your favorite books?  Do you appreciate classics or are you more of a NY Times Best Seller fan?

Happy New Year!

May 2013 be filled with meaningful change, incredible memories, peals of laughter and sparkly heels!