Thursday, December 29, 2011

...and i'm back!!!

sorry it's been forever since my last post!

if you follow me on twitter you probably know why. last week my husband went in for a physical. turns out one of the tests the doctor performed was a test for colon cancer. unfortunately, a few days before christmas he got the results and tested positive for colon cancer.

normally colon cancer isn't tested until you are around 50! well, thankfully this doctor checks well before!

needless to say, for about a week we were on pins & needles! the "unknown" was killing me! 

to make a long story short he had a colonoscopy yesterday and it turns out he had 3 small polyps and a few hemroids. the doctor is going to do a biopsy on the polyps but he's pretty sure they will be pre-cancerous! Thank God!

apparently, all the anti-inflamatory meds he's been taking for his knees are probably the culpurts for the postitive colon cancer test results! ugh!!!!!! sorry boy, tylenol from here on out!

of course, you can only imagine what a going through my head over the past week! so thankful, this story has a positive ending! thankfully, we bite the bullet this time!

christmas on the other hand, wasn't so joyous considering the circumstances. yeah, it was pretty much just a blur! 

now that we have answers, i feel up to posting again! with that said, below are two of my favorite presents! i got the concord mariner watch [which i picked out, of course! sorry, i'm not one for surprises!] and a matching GUCCI vintage web wallet to go with my GUCCI vintage web hobo!
i don't know about you, but my wallet and purse must match! ha! ha!

oh well, after christmas i stopped over at bloomingdales and actually found the TORY BURCH Christopher Radko ornament i wanted for 1/2 off, plus a few LITTLE GREEN BAG totes. 



today i stopped over a HOBBY LOBBY! why, i really need to stay away from that place! anyway, i found these adorable urns to go with my 2 vases - one shown in the picture below.

so cute!!!

yeah, funny that everything in the photos above has blue in it! lol! what can i say i have a thing for navy blue!

UPDATE: just stopped over at rue la la and saw this adorable silver hampton's leather tote from jack rogers! fyi...rue la la also has it available in gold, stellar deal too!!

wouldn't this hampton's leather tote look perfect with my silver jack rogers! so cute!! so tempted to order this tote! ugh, as if i need another tote! lol!

not a member of rue la la? no problem, click here for your personal link. the sale is located under the rue associate sample sale link. sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE!

okay, i'll try and post before new year's, but if not i hope you all have a save and happy new year! later!

Monday, December 19, 2011

don't miss this post!

hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! we spent saturday night up in lake geneva, wisconsin and then yesterday afternoon i decided to head over to michigan avenue. surprisingly, michigan avenue was not packed!

here's the tree inside 900 n. michigan. don't you just love the floors of bloomingdales in the background!
here's a view of michigan ave. i thought for sure the sunday before christmas that the stores would be packed! nope!
having lived in chicago for about 13 years, i still enjoy looking up at all the skyscrapers. especially the john hancock, which holds a place in my heart. after all, the signature room on the 95th is where my husband proposed to me.
oh, in case you haven't heard filene's basement is going out of business. i decided to venture up the escalator for one last trip.
i wonder what will go in place of filene's? hmmmm!

oh well, back to lake geneva. it was a so nice to get away. we stayed at the geneva inn, which is right on geneva lake. here are some photos from our visit:
the geneva inn did a fabulous job decorating the outside.


here's a view from the lakeside looking back up at the inn:
and of course a view of geneva lake:
while wondering the shops i came across a few cute items. of course i fell in love with this nautical themed tree. so cute!
here's a close up of a few of the ornaments, so cute!
how about this beautiful topiary...LOVE!
this bucket was really cute too! perfect to keep in the foyer during the holidays to hold misc. gloves, scarves, earmuffs, etc.
needless to say, it was a fabulous weekend!

also, if you happen to be in the lake geneva area at all during the holiday, you MUST drive through the grand geneva resort & spa. they have a spectacular lighting display, def. worth checking out!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

the WINNER is....

as promised, the winner of the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap from GRAPHIC IMAGE is...
DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

...congratulations!

let me know what color you would like and if you would like to have it monogrammed. the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap is available in the following three colors: Orange, Taupe and Fuchsia:
in case you missed entering this fabulous giveaway, be sure and check out GRAPHIC IMAGE's new GIGI NEW YORK line:

http://www.graphicimage.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=gigi+new+york

hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! we spent the evening up in lake geneva, wisconsin, which i will post about tomorrow.

have a great evening!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY! Plus, my artwork is finally complete! YEAH!

so excited, SANTA came a little early this year! ha! ha!

i've been searching for months for the perfect antique brass picture lights. i finally found them at a lighting shop back in michigan. i ordered 3 wishing i ordered more, however, considering the cost for 3 was around $150.00, i decided to wait! ha! ha!

my parents have picture lights hanging over all of their oil paintings at their house and my dad loves to remind me that he paid around $20 for the same picture lights some 30 years ago, lol! nice, huh! meanwhile, i kept telling him i could always just steal his! ha! ha! 

oh well, below are two of my oil paintings that i purchased from a local artist back in michigan attached with the picture lights!
here's a view with the lights on:
BEAUTIFUL!!!!

now i just have one more oil painting to be framed before i can put on the picture light. at that point, i'll be all set! that is until i am ready to invest in another beautiful oil painting. it's quite an investment considering the cost for the oil painting, the cost to have the painting matted & framed and finally the cost for the picture light, but in the end worth every scent! plus, each painting is insured under my personal articles policy, of course!

i must have been a really good girl this year, i hear SANTA also bought me a new CONCORD watch for christmas! i also received notification from RUE LA LA that it's shipped, hee! hee!

shopping is so much easier with sites like RUE LA LA, ONE KINGS LANE, JOSS & MAIN and GILT GROUPE. don't you agree, ha! ha!

oh, in case you missed my last post! i am hosting a fabulous GRAPHIC IMAGE giveaway, click HERE for the link.

 check out the fabulous color choices:

...GOOD LUCK!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

it's GIVEAWAY time, stop on over! good luck!

wow, hard to believe christmas is 12 days away! yikes, i don't know about you but it's been crazy busy around here! thankfully, i finished my christmas shopping weeks ago! ha! ha!

just in time for 2012, i'm excited to announce another fabulous giveaway from our friends over at GRAPHIC IMAGE.

GRAPHIC IMAGE has kindly offered to give one lucky FOLLOWER a Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap [Size: 5-3/8" x 7-3/8"] and have the option of having the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap personalized!

the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap is part of their new GIGI NEW YORK line which the full line is set to debut in the spring of 2012 on their website: http://www.graphicimage.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=gigi+new+york

NOTE: the GIGI NEW YORK line doesn't debut until the spring of 2012, however, there are a number products and color options available today! be sure to stop on over to GRAPHIC IMAGE's website and check them out!

the "python-embossed leather-bound notebook with snap-tab closure is perfect for everyday note taking or journal writing."

Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap fits great in my louis vuitton, ha! ha! plus, it's perfect for on-the-go notes! i don't know about you, if i don't write something down i forget! i have a bad case of out of sight, out of mind! lol!

the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap is available in the following three colors: Fuchsia, Orange and Taupe:



please note the giveaway is open to U.S. residents ONLY! if you'd like to WIN, below are the giveaway rules:

GIVEAWAY RULES

1.  in order to WIN, you MUST be a FOLLOWER of this blog and leave a comment on this post, including the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap color you would like to win! be sure to include your email address. (1 entry)
2.  become a fan of GRAPHIC IMAGE on FACEBOOK, click HERE. you MUST let me know if you are a follower of GRAPHIC IMAGE, so i can give you credit! (1 entry)
3.  POST this giveaway on your blog and receive a BONUS (2 entries) you MUST let me know if you blog about this giveaway, so i can give you credit! otherwise, no dice! sorry!
4.  the WINNER will be announced saturday, december 17th. contest entries will be accepted until friday, december 16th at 11:59pm cst. GOOD LUCK!


finally, follow GRAPHIC IMAGE on TWITTER over at http://twitter.com/GraphicImageNY  

below is the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap GRAPHIC IMAGE sent me to review. beautiful, isn't it! i love it!

i have to tell you, one of the best features about the Wire-O-Notebook Refillable Journal with Snap is how the journal cover snaps together with the notebook.

seriously, no need to worry about the notebook falling out of the journal cover! i thought this was a brilliant idea! if only checkbook covers came this way, lol!

if you remember the days of writing checks, you'll probably appreciate this feature! ha! ha!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

another ALMOST fabulous weekend!!!

greetings!

hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! we did, although the outcome isn't what i hoped! saturday we ventured down to indianapolis, indiana for the first ever legends/leaders big 10 championship game! in other words, the michigan state/wisconsin football game! sadly, wisconsin won! it was an awesome game up until the very end, which i won't even comment on! ;(

earlier in the afternoon i ventured over to the fashion mall at keystone crossing. it was my first visit back since the closing of the williams-sonoma home store. i still can't understand why they opened up a store in indianapolis and not in chicago! no wonder they closed, lol! however, all their locations have closed and now it is purely online.  boo!!!!!!

i also found an awesome new store call the accent shop inc. and found the antique brass picture easels i've  been searching forever for! YEAH!!!!  too bad they didn't have more, i was ready to buy what they had in stock! plus, i found a great deal on caspari monogrammed napkins! BONUS!

the easels are going to work perfectly to display my oil paintings in my secretary! yeah!
oh, today i also picked up a 2012 mini calender from papersouce for my desk! i been using these for 3 years now, love 'em!

so back to the big 10 championship game in indianapolis! i was hoping to report a win, but unfortunately that is not the case! sadly, michigan state's hopes for the rose bowl has dwindled to a bowl in florida!
that's okay, i still love my spartans! GO STATE!!!
oh well, there's always next year folks!

okay, now back to finishing up my christmas cards! ;)

Sunday, November 27, 2011

if you are a fan or tory burch and christopher radko, check this out....

hopefully everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving! it was nice to be back in grosse pointe for the weekend.

as far as shopping, i didn't take advantage of any "black friday" sales. instead friday morning we watched the annual grosse pointe santa claus parade. of course, only in "grosse pointe" would you find pink & green clowns, lol!
saturday, i did take advantage of ace hardware's 1/2 off any 1 item under $30.00 coupon deal! good thing i picked up 3 coupons from the inserts on friday! otherwise i would have missed out on this stellar deal!

basically, i bought 30 yards of red tartan plaid ribbon for just under $24.00! such an awesome deal if you ask me! YEAH!!!
this afternoon i headed over to bloomingdales and came across this amazing chirstopher radko ornament designed by tory burch!
100% of the proceeds benefit the child mind institute.
what do you think?

love it, i do! best of all it's only $40.00!

other notable designers include heidi klum, michael kors, rebecca taylor, al roker, rebecca minkoff and yes, even kim kardashian created her own ornament, lol!

the ornament designed by tory burch is definitely my favorite!
oh well, hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!

any cyber monday deals i should check out tomorrow? i haven't seen anything i have to check out, just curious?!?!!?

time to get those holiday cards addressed and out in the mail! normally, i have mine finished and in the mail the day ofter thanksgiving! ops, not this year! i hope to them out this week! ha! ha! ha!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

love the plaid!

hopefully everyone made it safely to your holiday destination!

we left chicago early yesterday, but apparently not early enough! traffic SUCKED, but eventually we made it safely home to grosse pointe! i have to tell you it's great to be back in michigan for thanksgiving!

i don't plan on participating in any black friday blockbuster sales! although, i will probably head over to somerset at some point tomorrow and pick up an early christmas present from GUCCI! i think? time will tell!

curious if anyone took advantage of NEIMAN-MARCUS' midday dash sale yesterday?

i ended up ordering this adorable scottie cookie jar:
love the plaid sweater, so cute!!

best of all NEIMAN MARCUS finally accepts VISA & M/C! it's about time!!!!

oh well, have a wonderful thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

jayes, lilly pulitzer and nordstrom rack...oh my!!!

i wasn't going to add to my jayes collection, but i saw the adorable coptic coaster over at ONE KING LANE and i couldn't resist! so cute!!!
after all, it is going to look fabulous holding one of my favorite bottles of wine on my bar cart! YEAH!
the jayes sale is going on right now over at ONE KING LANE.
still lots of great ideas to purchase. not a member of ONE KING LANE? no problem, click HERE for your personal invite. sales are private, membership is free!  check it out today.

i also received an email from a little birdie over at RUE LA LA that LILLY PULITZER is coming back!
yup, be sure to check out RUE LA LA tomorrow! not a member of RUE LA LA? no problem, click HERE for your personal invite. just like OKL, sales are private and membership is free!

also, anyone else receive a fabulous $20 coupon for NORDSTROM RACK from HAUTELOOK?!?!?!

if not, check your email!

glad i did, i could have used it when i bought my VIA SPIGA boots last weekend! LOL!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

new purchases...

finally, after searching forever for the perfect black pair of black riding boots i found them, yipppeee! i posted about them on twitter and a photo was requested. here is a photo of the boots:
they are from via spiga and i got them for $199.00 over at nordstrom rack! beats the $398.00 retail price, lol!
the leather is so soft and the boots are so comfy! now if only i could find a matching pair in brown!

i also scored a good deal on a pair of black carrera sunglasses. normally $140, i got them for $49.95. never heard of the brand before, but i figured they are sold a nordstrom's so they can't be that bad! ha! ha!
i have to tell you the fit is so much better than the chanel pair i bought 2 weeks ago at nordstrom's and returned a few days later! plus, i actually feel like i am getting a little protection from the sun. so not impressed with the chanel sunglasses i bought!

as if i needed another pair of sunglasses, lol! what's one more pair!
too bad my favorite fendi and tory burch sunglasses are still missing along with my mason pearson hairbrush. i know i'll find them someday, unless i accidentally threw them out?!?!! stranger things have happened around here, lol!