Things that make you go hmmm....

Pregnancy is a great thing. I did it 3 times and would do it again if I weren't getting so darn old.

Mothering is a great thing. It's hard some days but mostly great.

Twist both of those things and toss it in to the life of one of my children's favorite babysitters and it's a bit of a mess.

I happen to hear her parents telling a group of neighborhood friends at a party last night that they were going to be grandparents. I laughed it off thinking it was the cocktails talking. Um no, in fact, it's true. Their oldest of 3 daughters, a freshman in college, had to drop out because she is 3 months pregnant from a one night stand.

Oh my goodness...

And to make it even more heart wrenching, I remember a discussion in the Spring about this dear babysitter's promiscuous activities at her Prom and whether or not they should share it with her mother. Oh my goodness, what if we had said something. What if we could have turned her around.

I'll have to get more details...perhaps when she sits for my kids next week! I thought she was home from college mighty early and surprisingly available. Now it's more clear.

What a dilemma...thankfully she isn't showing. I am thinking that I need to speak to the mom, a neighborhood friend, about "the situation" before she comes to sit and ask that they not share it with my children? Will she only sit for my children while she isn't showing? Yikes! Anyone been in this situation? Advice? Thoughts?

Winner!

Congratulations to Elisabeth of Sweet Southern Girl! Random.org generated number 93 and that was your entry on my excel spreadsheet.

You are the lucky winner of the Lilly bracelet.

Thanks to all who entered! I loved each and every one of your sweet comments. Thank you for following, commenting, and being such a fun part of each day.

Who needs school photos?

I am kind of glad I missed school picture day...

She was a very good sport about squeezing in to last year's dress...I love the colors, thought it was festive without being too Christmas...these were school photos after all. I guess she was a good sport about this dress because she refused to wear the pink smocked dress I had picked. This was our compromise! The first of many wardrobe compromises, I am sure!

Don't forget my Lilly giveaway...it ends tonight!

Girl's Lunch

Here is a horrible scan of an invitation (from Sharp & Sally) I recently did for a friend... It's a get together I look forward to every season. She has done it for a number of years, always serves a beautiful lunch and you leave feeling part of treasured friendships.

This year she is enlarging the group and combining the holiday lunch with a birthday celebration for one of the guests "significant" birthday. I offered to help because it's a larger group and she was busy with Thanksgiving preparations.

I chose this holiday invitation because I thought it was fun and perfect for a girl's lunch. The internet is a wonderful source for invitation wordings. It takes a bit of time to scroll through stationery websites but it's always worth it.

Just be sure when you are printing invitations for a friend that you type her address correctly...wink;)...wink ;) Emails have been sent and apologies offered...

Don't forget my Lilly bracelet giveaway. The comments and entries have been so much fun to receive. I am so thankful for all of you! If you haven't entered, don't forget it closes Friday.

I FOUND IT!

That' right...I found my Lilly Pulitzer Shere Sweater for which I have been searching high and low! I was in the attic today, getting out some Christmas decorations to appease our little one, and decided to look in a few containers of summer clothing. No luck...until I was on my way out, noticed a few Lilly things from the October Charity sale, and decided to take a look. Sure enough, on the bottom, my Lilly sweater! Thank you Saint Anthony and Thank you bloggers.

Let's have a giveaway to continue the celebration. I picked up two of these at the sale. One for me and one for you! They are the LILLY CUFF in Multi Bam Patch fabric. They have a retail tag of $198(...were they really that much in the stores?)

I just love it and hope you do too...

To enter...

1) for one entry leave a comment

2) for two entries leave a comment and let me know that you are follower

3) for three entries leave a comment, let me know that you are a follower, and post about it on your blog.

The deadline is Friday, December 4th at midnight. I will pick a winner and post on Saturday morning.

Did I forget anything?

Good Luck!

Homemade for the Holidays - part 2

Things are feeling crafty around the Bickie house...my littlest Bickie loves to craft with Mommy. I think she might wish her Mama would let her help a little more. I am trying to get better.

I found this great flower pin idea from Edie at Life in Grace. I thought it looked like fun. Honestly, I love this pin but have no clue about where or how to wear it. Just like it!

It started at the Goodwill with a $4 sweater purchase...Lands End wool and cashmere. It was in great shape so it was a little hard to ruin it in the washer and dryer but that's exactly what I did. Washed in hot, dried in hot and out it came shriveled up to a child's size sweater in no time. It was officially "felted", as a real crafter would call it.

I printed out the smaller flower templates, cut them out and dug out my Gingher scissors and pinking shears. I love my Gingher scissors!

My mangled sweater...I started with the sleeve, can you tell?

Cut the cuff ribbing in 1/4" strips, very approximate ;), rolled each one up, stitch or glue to stay, and they became the center of my flower.

My flower on my black coat...lousy photo. The templates are for the outer 2 layers of the flower. The smallest layer on the top was completely fudged by trimming down a flower cut from the smallest template. I like odd numbers! A button center would look really cute too.

My littlest Bickie and I are now on to making poinsettia flower hairclips. That'll be next....

ps...still can't find the Lilly black sweater :( Took my closet apart again yesterday and my family went through the mudroom closet, the holiday shopping bags and we called my mother in law in Australia. We're all praying to St. Anthony too. My husband's mantra, "it will show up." Hmmmm...

Lilly Photo of the Week

Etiquette with Miss Janice was nice of enough to have us as her guests on her most recent Lilly Photo of the Week. I love this photo of the two of us from Christmas 2008. This is about as matching as I get. Little Miss was wearing her silk Lilly Pulitzer party dress and I was wearing a black skirt and turtlenck with matching wrap. It was Christmas Eve and we were headed out to church.

The sale was great and I showed some restraint...an improvement for me. Literally, after the closet mishap and not being able to find my Shere Sweater, I was feeling like I had no reason to shop. Best advice I can give you, misplace an adored item of clothing and it will take away any desire to shop for yourself. Only temporary I am sure!

My favorite find of the day...Gold Mini McKims in my daughter's size for $5. They were just sitting there and I kept checking and rechecking them. They were left and right feet, the same size, and never worn. I don't know if I will ever know why they were only $5 but I do know that my daughter is going to think I rock when she opens these!

These were "defective" in black...the size stamp pressed through the black patent strips and was sort of embossed. I can't notice it and will thoroughly enjoy them for $30.

There weren't many of these ruffle sweater coats. I heard today at soccer that there were only a few in ladies and they were snapped up quickly. I found this one for my daughter. It's a 5 but we are going to make it work. Add to it the turtleneck and pants below and we have a super cute outfit!

I couldn't find this for me...

so bought this one for her...

A tie for hubby...ours is a pink background with navy corkscrews...so cute...

I got this shirt for me in blue and white stripes with the cutest contrast trim in the neck and cuff. I'm not sure if you can tell but it is ruffled down the front...I love it!

Last season's linen skirt...so comfy. $20

I found a few other things as well...bracelets, tunics & bathing suits for a Baltimore friend, shoes for a California friend, and matching silk ties for my boys that coordinate with a shirt for my daughter. It was a gamble but they all like them. Now, the big question, will they wear them all at the same time so I can get a Christmas card photo?

Kim of 3 Peanuts....I had these in my hand for you and then couldn't decide if you would want them or not. $40...should I have gotten them for you?

Lilly Blogger Playdate

Updated to add a few more photos...Thanks Amanda!

Preppy Bloggers and Social Climbers

Preppy Coastee and Me

Hopsy and me

The Lilly Blogger get together was so much fun! It was a first for me and an evening that I thoroughly enjoyed.

It got off to a rough start...I had planned to wear my black Lilly SHERE sweater coat and couldn't find it anywhere in my closet. Clearly I should have pulled my outfit together earlier. I was too consumed with children off of school, playdates, bake sales, dentist appointments and the regular "excitement" of my days.

I last wore the sweater when my mother in law was in town. I wore it shopping...to Lilly, of course. I really hope I didn't leave it somewhere or worse...leave it in a bag and donate it accidentally! My husband is sure it will turn up. Me...notsomuch.

So, I was 15 minutes late and walked in to a party in full swing. I saw friendly and sort of familiar faces everywhere. I just wish I had more time to talk with each of them. I had "studied" the RSVP list because I am terrible with names and wanted to be able to put faces, names and blogs together quickly. I'm not sure how well I did but I sure had fun. As a result, my photos stink. I was so caught up in the moment that taking photos took a back seat. I took a few "action" photos and have borrowed a couple from my new friends...thank you!

Cancer Sucks is doing so well and is so sweet and fun!

Sweet Beth Dunn of Social Climbers. I emailed her at the last minute to bring me a book that I would purchase. She was way ahead of me...she brought a signed book for EVERYONE! Thank you Beth!

Everyone I met was so friendly and easy to talk to. It was great to talk with Preppy Coastee, Cancer Sucks, Social Climbers, Grove Gal K, Northern Magnolia, Preppy 50 and Loving Lilly, Hopsy from Monograms & Manicures, and a few more. I wasn't able to talk with everyone and am not even sure if every one there had a blog.

My treats...Hopsy's cakeballs, Beth's Book, and Preppy 50's palm tree cookies....thank you so much ladies!

Hopsy's cakeballs were delicious. I took small bites, tucked them away, and finished them the next day. They were too good. Red Velvet, Chocolate, and Funfetti dipped in a variety of chocolate coatings. They were as delicious as they were cute. Packaged so well in true Hopsy style...monogram green toile boxes tied with pink ribbons.

During dinner I sat with 3 of Hopsy's adorable friends/co-workers from Dallas. They were great fun to chat with and such good sports to travel at early hours and join us for dinner! I felt like they got stuck with the "old lady" for dinner but we all rallied and had a great time. They sure made out like bandits at the sale!

Did I miss anything girls? If I did, let me know.

Questions? Comment away.

Tomorrow...my finds.

I am still working on that giveaway...I promise...stay tuned for a Lilly giveaway.

Lilly Sale Blogger Get Together

I'm not sure what is more exciting...the Lilly warehouse sale that starts tomorrow or the blog get together tonight organized by Hopsy of Monograms & Manicures. I get to meet Hopsy, Cancer Sucks, Social Climbers, Preppy 50 and Loving Lilly, Grove Gal K, and more! What to wear is easy...Lilly, of course. Plenty of pictures tomorrow!

PS...I hope to make the patch wrap skirt pictured below mine tomorrow! It reminds me so much of the wrap skirts that my grandmother made my mother and aunt.

Homemade for the Holidays - part 1

I was just reading my December REAL SIMPLE magazine that arrived yesterday. I always love the December issue because is always extra thick with good ideas. In the 'Homemade for the Holidays' section they show a darling sugar bowl candle and give instructions for how to make one. Total time to make is 25 minutes!

I recently went to a barn sale hosted by two very clever and talented sisters that used to have a retail store in our little town. Their store was one of my favorites until it closed a couple of years ago. Apparently one of the sisters, the founder of Hartstrings children's clothing, purchased a barn and rebuilt it on her property. They used the barn for the sale of decorative Christmas items and accessories. Their displays are always fabulous.

One of the items I came home with is pictured here. I think it's really clever. It's an old cut class covered bowl that they filled with a candle. Just like REAL SIMPLE's sugar bowl candle.

The simplest thrift store or Goodwill find could so easily be transformed in to a candle. The barn sale display had champagne flute candles, wine glass candles, cream and sugar candles...clearly anything with good bones and some sparkle would make a cute candle. They had multiple candles on mirrored squares. Just like a good party, the more the merrier!

True Meaning of Christmas

I am organizing a True Meaning of Christmas Party at our church in early December for the children who attend our church and summer Vacation Bible School.

We are planning three stations
1) craft
2) bible story
3) games

Anyone have any experience with this kind of event. Any ideas for game or craft? Thankfully, the bible story is an easy selection!

I know there are lots of very talented women who stop by here. I would love your thoughts!

Thanks!

Nice Clothes

It's Monday. I like to leave Mondays free. Usually to recover from the weekend and gear up for the week ahead.

Today is no different. It's a gorgeous fall day today so I walked the children to school, stopped for coffee with a couple of Moms, and headed home to dive in to the laundry, clean up the kitchen, etc.

All that said, I am not dressed for a morning out. I am dressed for a morning workout and doing laundry. You get my drift...nike exercise pants, sweatshirt, bed head, etc. I am sure the mental picture is sufficient!

After Kindergarten pick up, as I was making lunch for my little one and her last minute play date, we started talking about visitation day tomorrow for their class. The teacher reviewed some very important rules about the day as in don't scream and yell when it's time for your parent to leave. That was a good one.

So my little one said to me, "Mommy...when you come visit me tomorrow will you wear nice clothes. Please don't wear what you are wearing now."

Wardrobe pressure from my Kindergartener. I got the message...loud and clear!

Daddy Wants to Know

My husband handed me our recent J. Crew catalog open to this page and asked,

"Why is it ok for J. Crew to dress children like this but if I did it you would laugh at me and send her upstairs to change?"

Hmmm...he's got a point.

Bears and Hair

My Little Pocahontas as we were leaving for her Native American Celebration. My braids made her hair stick out like Pippi Longstocking. She wasn't quite so understanding. I didn't know how to braid them otherwise.


I pulled out my fetish necklace and big cross earrings from Santa Fe...that was as Native American as I have in my wardrobe. We had a fun morning. Note to self, don't let your 8 year old take your photo in front of the chair full of crap in the mudroom....it's hard to crop out.

I am significantly blonder thanks to a hair appointment the day before. Nothing puts spring in my step more than blonde roots and a fresh cut.

Our hair situation around here has changed. The previous hair group disbanded. Mostly because the other host didn't want to do it any more and every one was happy to go it alone. I went to the city once since to have my hair cut by our regular stylist and it was a fortune...my $40 haircut was now $50 along with $15 for parking and 4 hours of my day. I heard of a suburban stylist who left his salon to go it alone by traveling from house to house. He came last Wednesday and was great. Thankfully, a good friend who already used him came over for a cut while my blonde because blonde.

It's another rainy day here in the northeast. We are going to make the most of it by going from soccer party to birthday party to cocktail party. I know which one will be my favorite. And you?