Olivia Riegel...I Love You!

     No - I'm not gay, but yes, I'm in love with a picture frame designer named Olivia Riegel.  I was so happy when I got to put together my wedding registry at Bloomingdales and I selected one of her frames and got it as a bridal shower gift (see left).  It displays the one and only photo that I have out of the wedding and it's prominately displayed in my living room.  I've even turned my mom onto her and she assures me that she is going to get them for me as gifts from time to time.  I absolutely cannot wait. 
     Here is a brief description from one of her retailers:  "Olivia Riegel products are gorgeous handmade enameled and Austrian crystal jeweled frames, candlesticks, trays, bottle stoppers, and boxes. We know that you will be extremely thrilled with the quality of these items, hand enameled, and decorated with Swarovski crystals. Olivia Riegel hails from Texas and her works are collected worldwide."
     I only collect her frames (for now), but I can definitely see why people collect her work.  She creates the perfect mix of flash and understated.  I've attached some of my favorite designs below.  Let me know what you think of Olivia Riegel - if you haven't heard of her before take some time to learn about her now.  I guarantee that even if you don't become obsessed like myself, you'll certainly appreciate her creativity. 
     The frames start at $50 and go all the way up to $300+, but on average these are very reasonable and will last forever.  They also usually go on sale whenever Bloomingdales has a home sale - unlike some other high end brands that use Swarovski crystals - the ones that come to mind are Jay Strongwater and L'Objet (these never go on sale).  If you're trying to think of a nice gift for a mom, grandma, or friend don't forget about Olivia Riegel!

Shabby Chic

     Years ago I used to watch the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic television show.  I can't even remember what station it was on, maybe Style Network, maybe not - that's neither here nor there, but something about the Shabby Chic Lifestyle really rings my bell and it sings to me.  I like that it is feminine, clean, formal and comfortable all at the same time. If I was millionares living in a beach house in Malibu, sans my husband, I would decorate my beach front cottage from top to bottom in shabby chic.  I love antique furniture, painted furniture, china, flowers, linens - I love it all - I'm an uber-girly-girl.  I grew up in a bedroom that I frequently joke looked like "Laura Ashley threw up all over it."  I've attached a picture for your viewing pleasure (please disregard the mess, I had just graduated from college and found out my parents had sold our house). 

     In a land far far away from my Malibu fantasy - a young girl (insert me) was walking through Target one day after work and somehow without fail ended up looking at the Simply Shabby Chic collection in the bedding and bath section.  This particular line, which is one of three for Rachel Ashwell, is carried exclusively at Target.  There are two reasons that I never buy anything (1) I don't think Matt would appreciate it, he's a sport, but I can't have chintz and flowers everywhere and (2) I feel like a fake because isn't the whole premise behind Rachel Ashwell's designs the antithesis of a big warehouse type store?  Isn't the premise of work to find an old chair at a salvage yard, refinish it, upholster it with antique linens, and then resale it for a lot money? 
     Lucky for Matt, I'm over my "pink phase," but I still love hints of pink and adore the beachy, french country, vibe.  Here are some things that I think every home needs:

(1) A peticoat hanging lampshade - it would be perfect for a bedroom.  I kid here, but it's pretty creative.  I love crystal chandeliers and Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture has plenty of those - I don't want to even think of the price.  

(2) No dining room is complete without farmhouse table.  In my opinion the bigger a table and more rustic a table is the better.  I like when wood tells a story.  Don't you? 

     And unfortunately, for those of us that are just starting out - riddled with student loan debt (courtesy of my husband's schooling) there is always Target and the stuff is pretty nice. Maybe I'll buy something one of these days, because like Rachel says "Homestyle that fits your lifestyle and pocketbook:" Simply Shabby Chic.  Maybe one day, when I hit the lottery I'll be able to afford her higher end brands, but it's fun to look: Shabby Chic.

Does 3D Make Anyone Else Out There Nauseous?

     It only took us three months since the movie's release to see "Avatar" in 3D.  I've been to the IMAX one time, on a high school field trip, and had to leave the theater after about one hour because I got motion sickness.  I had not gone to the IMAX or to a 3D movie since that horrifying experience (almost ten years had passed before I gave that type of movie experience a chance again). 
    A couple of years ago we went to see "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3D and I did okay.  When I left, I realized that movie had 3D elements, but the entire film was not in 3D to the caliber of James Cameron's "Avatar."  Last night I felt dizzy, nauseous, and left the theater with a horrible headache.  I still enjoyed every moment of the film.  Visually it was beautiful and the underlying messages about how we're all connected to one another and to the planet was moving.  However, I would be lying if I didn't say that 2 hours and 40 minutes, plus 10 minutes of 3D previews didn't make me wish I'd just saved the extra $5 and gone to "Avatar" not in 3D.  Am I a wimp?  Does anyone else out there in the blogosphere suffer from 3D Movie Motion Sickness? 

Holla @ My Sister

     This is a first since my blog's inception in October 2009.  My younger sister, Liz, is blogging now too and she's a fantastic writer.  Her blog is what you would consider a "Lifestyle Blog," and all of my readers and followers should do a solid and check it out - maybe even start following her blog too.  There are four categories, (1) Fabulous Finds, (2) People's Politics - she's a Washington, DC insider, (3) Music Musts, and (4) Everything Else.  Check it out and let me know what you think!  Happy reading: holla-at-me-blog.blogspot.com

What to do with the wedding dress, shoes, and veil?

    When I first started planning my wedding - around a year ago I didn't think that I'd be one of those overly sentimental girls when it came to the dress, the veil, and the shoes.  News flash: I fell in love with my dress, I adore my veil, and my shoes are beautiful.  However, I calculated last night that Matt and I have been married for almost seven months and here's the sitch: My dress is in the hanging bag between jeans in my closet, my veil is on a hanger drapping over my closet door, and my shoes are in their box and I'm fairly certain that they are somewhere in the back of my closet, but I'm not sure.  On 8/1/10, my one year anniversary, is the deadline to decide what I'm going to do with these items.  I want to put them all on again at my one year anniversary for two reasons: (1) I want to be able to fit into the dress and (2) because it gives me 5 more months to figure it all out. 
    I WILL NOT do a trash my beautiful Jenny Packham, cut on the bias and covered in crystals in a cheesy photo shoot.  I cannot understand why anyone would want to destroy their wedding dress for the sake of good photos, but that is just me.  I WILL NOT sell or donate my dress, I love it too much, too much to part with it for money or to feel like a good person.  I've turned into one of those sappy women that actually think their daughter would wear it one day.  Maybe my daughter will, but did anyone watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians "The Wedding?"  Poor Kris and her 70's dress, they really shot that one down.  I think that the only alternative that would really work for me would be to preserve the dress, in a box, for posterity...for my imaginary future daughter...and if she isn't into it, maybe a grandaughter. 

    The veil is either going to be preserved with the dress OR that is something that I would consider lending to my friends/family should they love it as much as I do.  It is extremely long and lined in crystals around the entire border, hand sewn onto it, and the designer isn't making them anymore because it is too labor intensive, which makes me think it's a one-of-a-kind and how could I not want to keep it?  Besides, I think it's good luck to wear a veil worn by a married woman.  However, anyone who does borrow it should be forwarned, I will hunt them down in their sleep to get it back!  My shoes are Manolo Blahnik white satin closed toe slingbacks - 3 inch heel - perfect for my wedding day, but I don't think I'll ever have a need for white satin, close toe, slingback shoes ever again.  My shoe repair man suggested that I dye them black.  I've been going back and forth on this one.  What do you guys out there think that I should do?

Lindsey Yawn...I'm Sorry Vonn

    I typically do not blog two times in one day, but seeing as The Vancouver Winter Olympics is my guilty pleasure - I must address our Women's Downhill Gold Medalist, Lindsey Vonn.  Don't get me wrong, she's a champion, she's a competitor, she's a Barbie doll on men's skis.  Here comes the but...I'm sure she hurt her shin and I'm glad she told the world about it one week before the events began, but aren't Olympians supposed to be like the US Postal Service, "not rain, nor hail, nor snow" will stop them from what they need to do?  Do you think it was preemptive excuse should she fail miserably like she did in the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics?  Wouldn't it be sufficient had she not told us about the injury and just done what she's been doing for the past two days?  Are we really supposed to praise her because she skis on a bruised shin...really...isn't that what an Olympic caliber athlete does? 
     If I must watch one more Bob Costas or Matt Lauer interview with Lindsey discussing how strong she is for skiing with an injury, I might change the channel.  Pat yourself on the back Lindsey - let's cry when you win the race and sympathize mid-competition with you when you start kvetching about how your shin hurts and then praise you at the end when you get a medal again.  I like that Julia Mancuso, the unsung silver medalist from yesterday's downhill race. She is the shorter more soft spoken Lindsey Vonn. I would much rather congratulate that Anja Paerson who really and truly ate it during the downhill yesterday and I'd venture to say probably bruised a lot more than her shin and still managed to come back today and compete - she's Swedish, they are tough, they don't complain.
    As I am finishing this up the Women's Downhill/Slalom race just ended.  German Best Friend of Vonn, Gold - Mancuso, Silver - Paerson, Bronze...Lindsey Yawn disqualified.  All is right with the world.

The Laundry Blues

     I recently traveled to Buffalo, NY to meet my new nephew.  We had a wonderful weekend from Thursday to Sunday and when we got home I started my first round of laundry - all the clothes that we wore during the weekend that we pulled out of our bags.  I recalled that I had done about three loads of laundry before we left, but someone must have moved into our house over the weekend, wore all of our clothes, and then left them for me to clean this past week.  I've done at least one load each day (usually two though) since I got home on Sunday and there is still more to do.  I'm about to lose my mind!

     I always feel a great, but shortlived, sense of accomplishment when every single piece of worn clothing is clean in my house.  I feel lighter and for some reason think everything smells better when there are no dirty socks or underwear in the hampers.  With that said though, I absolutely, positively cannot stand folding and putting away clean clothes.  Folding clothes has got to be one of the worst activities around and by the time I finish the last thing I want to do is neatly put them all away. 

     Ironing is not in my job description.  If I can't hang it and let it air dry to avoid wrinkles - I either wear it with wrinkles or take it to the cleaners.  Usually I'm too cheap for the later so I wear a lot of things with wrinkles!  Sue me.  I'm not the least bit ashamed when someone points out that something I have on is wrinkled...ironing is not in my job description, remember?!?  Ironing has got to be one of the most complicated things to do, I manage to injure myself everytime I attempt to iron.  I even went out and bought an expensive steamer to avoid ironing.  That thing is such a pain in the butt to use that it is sitting in my closet collecting dust. 

     Laundry is truly a chore...a necessary evil...I think I liked it better when I was a little kid and "magically" anything that I left in my hamper or on the floor wound up clean, neatly folded, and put away in my drawer. 

Groundhog's Day

     My husband recently told me that I'm "a woman with a plan." Once I complete one task or achieve one dream, I'm onto the next thing, and so on and so forth. I would have to disagree with my husband here because while I'd like to think I've got a plan, I've really got nothing. I'm a Gemini, we're naturally focused and all over the place at the same time (All you May 22-June 21 babies should agree with that statement). And on top of that - I don't have a plan, the universe has a plan for me, and that is that my life is like Groundhog's Day. I'm the female human reincarnate of Punxsutaney Phil. On Feb 2nd 2010 he said we had six more weeks of winter...I wish I could break this pattern of mine before then.
     Each morning I wake up at 6:55am, head to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee, watch 30-45 minutes of the Today Show (America's "Most Watched Morning News Program"), get in the shower, pick out my clothes, if I'm lucky brush my hair and put on make-up (this very rarely happens lately). Then, I take a 5 minute drive to work spend the next 8-9 hours there, and head home to do it all over again the next day.
     Don't get me wrong, I'm not in a rut, I'm not depressed, I'm not unsatisfied with my life...I think I'm just one of those people that enjoys having things to look forward to, weddings, babies, birthdays. I love to buy gifts and send cards. I'm happiest when I get to wrap a present or pick out flowers. Pretty much all the day to day monotonous stuff though is not my cup of tea. I've never been good at "enjoying the moment," "seizing the day," or "living in the present." I'm ALWAYS thinking about what else I could be doing, what else I have to do, or somewhere else I'd rather be. I've tried yoga, which I liked, but I hated the mandatory meditation portion of the classes. I do not have ADD or ADHD. I'm very content sitting still, but I like constant stimulation. I read a lot, I watch a lot of TV, and when I get sick of all of those things, I blog. Can anyone identify with me?

My Fruit Basket is Famous

This post is in reference to my November 11th 2009 - "Let There Be Fruit" post, which discussed in length one of my obsessions, my Pottery Barn 3-Tier French Wire stand. If any of you watch "Modern Family," (another favorite show of mine) you'll notice that during the Dunphy's interviews set with the kitchen in the backgroud...the pottery barn stand (check out the upper right corner of the photo courtesy of ABC.com). If you didn't take my advice and buy one back in November, take my advice and buy one now. Even ABC loves it!

Starla Isn't Chad's Dog!

I found out from a friend and Hollywood insider of mine that Chad doesn't own Starla - he rents her out for the show. Normally, finding something like this out would make me extremely upset - but in this case, I'm just glad that the poor dog gets to go home to what is hopefully normal and caring owners. Starla's real owners...you should be ashamed of yourselves to let a lunatic treat your pet the way that Chad does on the BravoTV show!