...so much fun!!!

hope y'all had a wonderful weekend!  we were up in lake geneva, wisconsin for the weekend. it was so hot up there, ick! so hot i spent saturday at the beach instead of shopping! lol!!

saturday morning we had breakfast over at our favorite restaurant, scuttlebutt's! we had the usual eggs benedict....YUM!

below is our view of geneva lake from our table. of course, i forgot to charge my phone last night and requested a table next to the closest outlet, lol!

after breakfast we ventured across the street to the beach  for the rest of the day.

sunday morning we got off to an early start and headed back to chicago. i ended up having lunch over at the dusable marina harbor at friendship chinese. i ended up having sushi. sushi OR chinese....no brainer!!

friendship chinese is located along the riverfront between navy pier and the chicago yacht club.

it would have been perfect if it wasn't 99 degrees outside, UGH! all i really wanted to do was jump into Lake Michigan! UGH!!

on my way back i couldn't help but take a photo of this fabulous shot over looking navy pier!

nothing like summertime in chicago!

don't forget to check out the following upcoming sales over at RUE LA LA! first up, the VINEYARD VINES ~  KIDS sale, which starts tomorrow, monday, august [GULP!] 1st at 11AM EST!

can't believe august begins tomorrow! just in time for back to school, ha! ha! ha!

also, tuesday, august 2nd RUE LA LA will be hosting the SERENA & LILY sale event starts at 11AM EST!

...can't wait!

oh, no she didn't! oh, yes i did!!!

greetings! we are up in lake geneva, wi this weekend. i just love it up here! just a short drive from chicago, can't beat it! although i would really like to be out in newport, rhode island with my family! oh well, next year for sure! plus, i won't wait until the last minute to "try" and purchase a flight at a reasonable price! the prices have gotten so outrageously expensive and i refuse to fly anything buy a direct flight if at all possible!

so lake geneva it is! ha! ha!

so did anyone buy anything at the JAYES sale event over at ONE KINGS LANE?

after 3 orders, a phone call and 2 shipping charges i am estatic to report i bought the following items:

super excited because these a going to be my new office accessories! at least for now anyway, we all know how i love change, LOL!!

i really wish they didn't give just a 15 minute window to add to your order once it's placed! ARGH!!! needless to say i'm not happy i had to pay a 2nd shipping fee but at least i didn't have to pay for a 3rd, lol!

it's not too late to head over to ONE KINGS LANE and check out the JAYES event. if you aren't a member, click HERE.  sales are private and membership is free! sign up today!

i'm a huge fan of JAYES, check out my previous purchases in my previous post - click HERE.

oh well, time to enjoy the evening along the shores of geneva lake! hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

later!

can't wait!!!

greetings! so excited, guess what's coming back?

jaye's sale event is back over at one kings lane. super excited!

the sale starts tomorrow, july 29th!

can't wait to see what will be on SALE this time around!

below are a few photos of my recent jaye's  purchases.
if you have read my blog before you know i am a huge fan of jaye's!

below is one of my favorites, my"flip flop" bucket!

and then there is this adorable pink monkey set.

not a member of one kings lane, click here for your personal invite. sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE!

also, don't forget to check out vineyard vines over at rue la la. the sale starts monday, august 1st at 11 o'clock EST!

....just in time for "back to school" shopping!

not a member of rue la la, click here. sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE! 

happy shopping!

sidewalk sales...

don't you just you love it when you're wrong!!! especially when it's in your favor! HA! HA! HA! after shopping on michigan avenue i  decided to head over to armitage in lincoln park. for some reason i thought the sidewalk sale was last weekend! well, to my joy was WRONG!

first stop...ALL SHE WROTE where i purchased this adorable small ROSANNEBECK tray for ONLY $15.00! the tray originally retailed for $40, but since there were a few scratches they ended up selling it to me for $15.00! SOLD!!!!

 i also bought a set of matching coasters for only $5.00! such a good deal i probably should have bought more!

best of all, i was there a few weeks ago and inquired about buying a plastic holder for my monogrammed [initals covered for personal reasons] PREPPY PLATES coasters below. glad i didn't place the order, lol!

i also picked up a few more boxes of christmas cards! one can never have enough extra christmas cards, especially ones that are WILLIAM ARTHUR! yup, 3 boxes for $20.00! HELLO!!!  such an awesome deal considering they retail for $32.00/box!

after leaving downtown i made a stop over in hinsdale to check out some fabric over at CALICO CORNERS. then i had to make a quick stop over at FULLER'S. i ended up purchasing this box to match my small fan vase and frame from GLOBAL VIEWS.

don't you love it when you find a good deal!

i know i do!

have a great evening! i'm off to the pool!

a few more goodies....

okay, i am all refreshed! just got back from an hour workout in the pool! one of these days i'll remember a ponytail holder, so i can get back into doing laps like i did when i swam for the detroit yacht club years ago, you know back when we did 20 laps for a warm up! LOL!!!

anyway, saturday i ventured over to edina, minnesota. also home to our friend, hospy, over at monograms & manicures. last year she recommended that i check out the galleria and 50th & france. so of course, that's were i went again this year.

if anyone else has any shopping recommendations around minneapolis, please share! thanks!

i've to the mall of america once, back in 1999 and haven't been back since! ha! ha! ha! anywhere else i could add to my visit next year?

anyway, while at my favorite store at the galleria i bought two of these leather photo albums from graphic image --- pink & green, of course!

on my way out of epitome papers, almost forgot to post a photo of the store front:

anyway, i came across this adorable ornament on the clearance table. i ended it paying only $1.50, which is awesome considering it was $17.50 full price!

...so fitting, right! love it!! HA! HA!

check out the mouse on the back...too cute!!!

over at twill, i saw a huge table of ties that were a mess! so of course i had to go inside and check it out. turns out every tie on the table was marked down to $19.99! seriously?!?!?!?!! robert talbott, breen, hickey freeman, etc. --- HELLO! you know ties that range from $85-$150 and up!

i'm kicking myself now, because my husband and father have enough ties that i didn't buy more than one for each! darn it!!!

below are the two ties i ended up buying. the robert talbott on the left retailed for $125.00 and the hickey freeman tie on the right retailed for $85l00. can't beat 1st quality ties for ONLY $19.99!

....plus, NO SALES TAX in MN!!! oh, why didn't i buy more! HA! HA!

hopefully, i'll be lucky and next year they will have the same sale! one can hope, right! LOL!

while wondering around the mall, i couldn't help but check out the black damier louis vuitton duffel below. black leather or in this case maybe vachetta trim with the monogram pattern...OKAY??!?! ugh, as much as i love louis vuitton i am NOT feeling this color combo! 

what do you think?

oh well, i love this photo from one of their display windows:

....love the wallets as passengers, lol!

oh well, before i forget i wanted to post photos from another fabulous store called ampersand over at the galleria.

yeah, one could do some serious damage here!

finally, here's a photo outside of melly. notice the lilly pulitzer SALE table! ha! ha! ha!

afterwards i headed over to 50th & france and bought a few tops over at talbot's! couldn't visit minnesota without taking advantage of not having to pay sales tax on clothing!

can't wait to visit again next year!

i'm back....

hey there, i'm back from vacation in northern wisconsin. it was great to get away, but the there's nothing like coming home to your own bed! HA! HA! HA!

friday, after it rained i ventured over to stillwater, minnesota, which is located along the st. croix river at the wisconsin/minnesota border. hard to believe the last time i visited was back in 1999! so much has changed, although the kitchen store i remember was still there! LOL! 

first up, i wanted to share photos from a store called mara mi.  OMG, i fell in love with this store which is actually a store, studio and cafe in one! check out the cool photos below:

 NOTE the AMAZING selection of wrapping paper above and ribbon below!

OKAY, am i the only person who did NOT know DUFF GOLDMAN had his own line of fondant, sprinkles, baking dishes etc.?!?!?? REALLY!?!?!! guess, i haven't watched enough CHARM CITY CAKES lately! seriously, i had no clue!

i couldn't help but purchasing the BANANA SPLIT favored sprinkles! HA! HA! HA!

...YUM!!!!!

oh, let's not forget about the cafe! check out the yummy cupcakes below:

next up i came across a store called ALFRESCO. another place one could do some serious damage shopping! lol!

 the store had a little of everything, home decor, gifts, furniture, clothing, etc. check out beautiful couch below! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

across the street was actually the only store i remember, which is called THE CHEF'S GALLERY.

this store kept going and going....so much fun to wonder around!

finally, the last place i wanted to mention is called STILLWATER OLIVE OIL CO.

i have to say the DARK CHOCOLATE olive oil was my favorite! YUM! 

great way to get away from being cooped up at the lakehouse for a day and a half due to the rain! lol!

be sure and check back tomorrow, as i plan on posting about my little shopping trip over to edina, minnesota.

hopefully, you are all staying cool! it's a hot one out there, ick! thankfully, i've been spending a lot of time at the pool! meanwhile the central air has been on full blast, lol!

oh before i forget, rue la la will be hosting the GUCCI sale boutique tomorrow!

in case you aren't a member of ruelala, click here for your personal invite. sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE!