Uh.Mazing Giveaway For a Good Cause

I have the most amazing giveaway for you. I'm not even kidding. I wish I could enter!

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Bonus: It's a chance to give and receive at the same time. I am the Chief Event Planner for Operation Shower - we honor the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating unit-wide baby showers and "showers in a box" for pregnant or expecting military families in a deployment or high stress situation.

We're having a party! Go here for all the details by this Thursday at noon and then join the Twitter party that night!

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I generally don't mix my "serious business with my silly pleasure" but A) we need your help and B) The prizes are buhnanas and I want you all to win!

For real, over $3000 in awesome prizes (Apple iPad, anyone?). Be sure and go here for details. It’s easy. Promise!

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We also ask that you consider donating $1 (or more!) to Operation Shower to help us reach our goal. If you text in your donation (see text instructions here), xipwire will match each donation up to 5,000! Must be by this Thursday.

Blog to Win
1. Touchstone Marketing Group is giving away a $100 VISA gift card
To Enter: We will be giving a $100 Visa Gift Card to one randomly selected person who blogs about the party. See here for instructions.

Before the Party
You can enter to win the following prizes at any time before Noon, Eastern Time,
Thursday, Dec 2.

Here is a small sample of what you can win.

• An Apple iPad with Wi-Fi 16GB
  • An Epson Stylus Printer Scanner NX510
  • Build A Bear Frosty the Snowman
  • Amazon Kindle
  • Golf - The Blur Fujikura Shaft
  • Huggies care package: 3 months of free diapers and wipes and a Huggies branded Flip Camera.
  • $250 Aprica Cadence style stroller
  • OllyShoes.com $100 gift voucher
  
  An unreal Grand Prize package: See all prizes listed here for the Shower Me with Luxury Grand Prize.

We so hope you can join us for this amazing event as we try to break records, give to you all for your support and give back to our military moms-to-be.

Please consider taking a minute to donate and also reposting this on your blog, FB, Twitter, etc. to help spread the word. Let's see if we can take over Twitter for a good cause for one night!

Huge Merci,

Amy

Lofty Ideals

Typically I don't set out to coordinate my daily ensemble with my mantle OR my Christmas decor, but today, it was a happy accident. Yep, the mantle in the kitchen may be the ONLY place we have Christmas decorations this year, because I have no doubt that any tree I attempt to put up would be taken down systematically and immediately by The Trips (the little jerks). Hopefully NEXT year we can do the real deal.


Shirt (originally from F21) and jacket (from Loft) are both courtesy of Goodwill. Speaking of Loft, meet me at camera three.

I have never been a huge fan of Ann Taylor or Loft, despite the fact that I see people wearing their stuff, think it's cute, and when I ask them, am always surprised that it's Loft. Then I go in to find said article, try it on, and it looks like crap. Not because it IS crap, just because I apparently have an un-Loft-like body. Or maybe I'm just so used to seeing it in junior-style F21 stuff. Until today.

I went into Loft on my lunch hour to find something for our upcoming holiday par-tay, and was amazed - AMAZED - I tell you - at the amount of freaking adorable stuff they had. Seriously. It was that kind of trip where you almost break out in the sweats because there is too much cute stuff and not enough time (or money) for it all. Have they changed, or have I?

Suffice it to say I maaaay have picked up an item or two.

And speaking of junebugs, don't you love how I always soft focus the close-ups of my face, like Cybil Shepherd in Moonlighting always did? Bitch, please. NO ONE wants to see that close up in the HDR high-def sh!t.

Ha. That peace sign on the mantle is the ONLY peace we have in our casa these days, what with 2 year old Trips. And just in case you're wondering, I did that painting on the mantle (and the one above the sofa). SOOOOOO easy. Just stand your canvas up, drip paint down it, let it dry, and hang that bitch sideways. Total ripoff of something I saw on Design Star a few years back.

My mantle has big balls. What can I say? That's how we roll in our crib.

Jacket: Loft (via Goodwill)

Shirt: F21 (via Goodwill)

Pants: F21

Shoes: ZooShoo

Necklace and Earrings: World Market

Merci!
Shannan

Stuff We Would Kiss On the Mouf: The Christmas Edition

If these aren't the cutest teacups and ceramics I've ever seen, from Make International, I don't know what is. I supah dupah giant puffy heart the punk line, complete with safety pin piercings.

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Merci!
Shannan

All Aboard The Pain Traaaaainnnnn

Thank GOD I am back on the working out train (as opposed to the Hot Tamale Train - see Mary Murphy and insert annoying WOO WOOOOOOO here...). I think I have done some sort of physical activity every day for the last week, whether it has been P90X stuff at home, or a class at the gym. Today my hamstrings and lower back are KILLING from doing 987 dead lifts in class yesterday. I think Trish the instructor (who is like Jillian Michaels tough) was trying to punish us for having eaten Nutter Butters the night before. She admitted having eaten them, and said, "They have NOTHING to do with Thanksgiving, so I have no idea why I ate them, and I am feeling sluggish this morning," then proceeded to punish us mightily. Uh, thanks?

No matter, I love the feeling of sore muscles, and am actually looking forward to yoga today. For the love of John Cougar Mellencamp, that is going to HURT SO GOOD. She also made the comment in class, "I feel SORRY for people who don't work out, who don't get it." It's true, but I am also conflicted about that statement, having been on the other side of the equation. I have worked out enough now to know how much better I feel (in general, about myself, etc.) when I am more active, but it is soooo easy to fall off the wagon, lay around and eat McVitie's Milk Chocolate Digestives and watch TV, and so much harder to force oneself to get up at 5 a.m. to get in a workout before everyone else gets up.

I don't know why I have chosen now to get back into it, after being in a totally sluggish rut through the dog days of summer, when there are fewer (and thinner) layers of clothing to hide behind, but I am glad my brainial region is back in that frame of mind to JUST DO IT. Hey Nike - I GET IT.

I also appreciate the fact that Trish, who told me once she is 46, easily looked better than anyone in the class (granted, she is TEACHING the class) but even compared to girls less than half her age? No contest. It reinforces the lesson that the hard work pays off. Yes, I realize for some people it's in your genes, but I also know that there is no magic pill, there is no overnight fix. It's simple yet the hardest thing ever all rolled into one big complex ball - calories burned should exceed calories in. Get up and MOVE, and not just cardio - it's too easy to become one of those skinny people with no definition - it's resistance too.

Find something enjoyable, something you like to do, and do it. Is it running (for me, HELL to the no), cycling (see running), dance (sign me up, please), kickboxing (DOUBLE yes), boot camp (I'm a sucker for punishment), or a good old weight class (I was amazed at all of the lean bodies in class yesterday - but Trish STILL looked best :-)

Don't get me wrong. I'm human and believe you me I know there will come a time when I may possibly fall off the wagon again - I've done it before. But eventually I also know I'll get back on and start again. I'll deal with those demons when they decide to visit. So how bout you? What gets you moving? Or conversely, what holds you back? Share. This is a safe place.

Tuxedo jacket: NY&Co

Grey tee: Target

Faux leatha skinnies: Target (seven dollah to make you hollah)

Flats: Old Navy

Earrings: F21

Shorter tassel necklace: F21

Long tassel necklace: Thrifted

Merci!
Shannan

Are the Angels Singing?

Cuz that's what I heard when I found the above photo in the November 2010 issue of Living, Etc. This may be the answer to my previous question regarding what we could do to liven up our living space. I knew it was a great solution when I peed myself upon finding it. LOVE how they framed out the photos in those ornate antique frames, and am KICKING myself that I got rid of several a few years back.

Merci!
Shan

I Need Help, The Home Edition.

So. We have this giant wall in our living room, and right now I have a painting over our sofa. Howevs, I feel like I need something else, and I'm not sure what to DO with it. Just turn it into an art wall? Find an even bigger piece to trade out? The ceilings are 12 feet, so it can definitely handle something large and in charge. What do you think? Here are some pics of the space.

Since The Trips have been so mobile, I have avoided putting a lot of stuff out to avoid having them tear into it (which they totally would/have/arrrggghh), and I feel like a lot of our home is just devoid of personality, which drives me to the brink of insanity. There, I'm insane. Didn't take much. I guess that's what the overuse of duct tape and zip ties will do to a girl.

I love the room, espesh with our windows, but I'm also wondering if I should add another color to the space. Whaddaya fink? I have a funky octagonal side table that Ames got me at thrift that I STILL need to paint, and have been thinking about an orange lacquer - would that be too much with the peacockulous curtains?

What's this, you ask? Well, it's pegboard to hide our TV components. And zip-ties. A triplet mom's best friend.

And lookie here - someone has taken the liberty of decorating it themselves. Nice.

So let's hear it, peeps. Give me your feedback on what to do with that big giant wall. Tell me your thoughts, opinions, hopes, dreams. Share. This is a safe place.

Merci!
Shannan

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, gobble, yo!

Shannan

...And the Winner Is.....

Lucky number 17 - Ms-Texas! Congrats on your big win with CSN! I will send you an e-mail with gift certificate details. In honor of your big win, Conan O'Brien will perform the string dance JUST FOR YOU:




Thank you to everyone who participated!

Merci,
Shannan

Black Swan

Do you ever get an idea for an outfit, and suddenly, it's like the heavens open up, the angels sing, and you think, "Why haven't I thought to put this together before now? It's so simple?!" No? Just me?

This summer I found a black sheer chiffony knife pleated hugely full vintage skirt - I'm guessing from the 50s, and snapped it up for about $1.50 at a local charity shop. Loved it, had some ideas for it, was inspired by similar things I had seen on the fabulous Nini Style (check her pink Comme des Garcons skirt and tank here, and sheer pleated lingere/dress + OTKs here) and Aureta's Blog (ch-ch-check her DOPE gold thread vintage pleated skirt here) but for whatever reason, I just had never worn it. Until now. And I fear you, lurvly readers, may grow weary of it because I have truly discovered how frigging AWESOME it is. I feel like a bad-ass ballerina in it.

Because it IS sheer (and I don't have the balls to wear it with a pair of black bloomers a la Nini), I dug out an old BCBG sequin skirt to wear under it. I love how you can juuuust see a bit of sparkle depending on the light. Then I added a simple black vee neck sweater, and of course, my wide black buckle belt, along with some nude pumps and studded and snakey accessories. J'adore!

Speaking of J'adore, I think my next spin-o-the-skirt may be with a DIY j'adore tee, lady-like cardi, and my OTKs. Can't waaaaait.

I also did my nails last night, and they are one of my favorite parts of the whole ensemble. Did them in two coats of black, then topped them with two coats of sparkly opalescent topcoat. The end result makes me think of a shiny black beetle.

I apologize for geeking out about the ensemble. I really reeeeally prefer for my posts these days to be about "something" rather than just, "hey, here's what I wore," but it was like Christmas came early when this inspiration struck.

So tell me - what's YOUR favorite "inspired ensemble" that you've put togeva lately?

Sweater: Target

Skirt: Charity shop

Underskirt: BCBG

Shoes: Steve Madden

Snake Necklace/Studded cuff: Charming Charlie's
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Merci!
Shan

It's the Most Guilt-Laden Time Of the Yeeeear

Ahhhh, nothing says Happy Holidays like familial guilt. Let me start by saying I have a HUGE extended family. My parents each have eight siblings, so there are literally a sh!t ton of aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides. My dad's side are older and more spread out, so we really don't see them except at Christmas, but my mom's side live closer, so each Thanksgiving and Christmas, mom and I begin the "who are you inviting to dinner" dance, which I loathe.

I don't mind hosting Turkey Day at my house for a smaller, intimate group, but when the group starts to number in the 20s or 30s, I have to draw the line. You see, in our family, you can't invite this bunch without inviting that bunch, or these people without all of their chillruns and chillruns' chillruns. It is ridic.

So I invited my parents (duh) and one of my aunts, who was widowed many years ago. Last week, mom calls up to ask if I also "wanted to invite XXX to dinner." I did not. I said, "I don't really have it in my to do dinner for XXX and all of their kids."

"But their kids all have to work on Thanksgiving."

"Really?" I said, "I didn't know they all had a job, and who works on Thanksgiving? I'll think about it."

"Well, I'm going to see XXX at lunch today."

"I'll THINK about it. If I decide to, I'll e-mail her."

"Well, Thanksgiving is next week. You need to do it now."

(Really? I thought - Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK???? You don't say...)

"I can e-mail her on Monday if I decide to."

Fast forward to Monday. Mom called at work to see if I had invited her. I had not. Went thru the scenario again. Said, "Mom - if you want to spend Thanksgiving with XXX, invite them to your house." Fast forward to mom saying, "Well, whatever. I'll talk to you later. Bye." and hanging up snippily.

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RAWR!!!!!

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Lord, thank you for my family. ALL of them. But give me patience to get through this season without having a melt-down.

P.S.

I'm getting a big fat cold-sore on my lip. Courtesy of stress. THANKS, MOM.

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P.S.S.

In honor of the many 1970s family holidays I personally attended, I am dressed entirely in thrifted/vintage (except for shoes and urrings). HOLLA!

P.S.S.S.
Don't forget to enter our CSN giveaway here. I was kind of vague on the original post, so I'm giving you until midnight tonight to enter, and will announce the winnah winnah chicken dinnah tomorrow. Good luck!!

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Suede Jacket: Goodwill
Blouse: Goodwill

Jeans that veer DANGEROUSLY into mom jeans territory: Garage sale

Necklace: Twas me mum's, and still has pics of me and my sis inside, to which the Trips refer to as "Baby Mommy" and "Baby Aunt Jenny." So frigging cute I just died.

Shoes: Target

Urrings: Charming Charlie's

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Merci!
Shan

I Need Help.

Oh Good Gawd no - I just googled Black Friday images, and this one came up, and I can't believe I am even FATHOMING going out on Friday to score a $250 40" flat screen TV from TEEER-get. Surrsly. Please don't make me.

As much as I love to shop, I have never gone out on B.F. and don't want to now, but word on the streets is that Target is going to have said flat screen on the cheap. To those of you who live for B.F., is there an online version of it? How do I take advantage of it? I googled a bit this morning but just got overwhelmed.

Any tips to score that particular piece of electronica, or do The Hubs and I continue to live with our 13" (no lie) teeeeny tiny TV and a set of binoculars on our bedside table?

Merci,
Shan

WWD: Score

I cannot even compete with the cuteness posted below. Rully, none of us can. We should collectively fold. The new haircuts on the Trips. Thud. I die.


I did kinda die before this a little though when I scored this Nili Lotan shirtdress for $10 at The Scholar Shop. Like Shan said, "A whoosie whatsie?" Nili Lotan. I wasn't familiar with this designer but could tell I might have stumbled on something, so I asked my friend Google. Lo (Bosworth) and Behold, I scored a $357 frock for $347 off.



Mine has covered buttons but that is about the only difference.

I love it because it's a shirt, it's a dress, it's a shirtdress. It can be loose, belted, with tights, without tights, over pants, sans pants, with heels, with flat sandals when it's warmer. I.Love.


And, let's be honest, don't you love something just a leeeetle bit more knowing what an amazing deal you scored? Don't lie to me.

Dress and vest: resale; Jewelry: local trinket shop; Scarf: tie off of a leopard dress

Merci!

Ames

WWD: WhoseeWhatsit????

Took the boys for their first haircut on Saturday and can't believe how MUCH it changed them. They don't look like babies with mullets anymore. Now they look like little hooligans with faux-hawks. Two things that amaze me about the experience? How GOOD they were. I was expecting full-on screaming tantrums, and had psyshed myself up for that, so it was a pleasant surprise that they both sat (fairly) quietly, and only tried to ransak the shelves of hurr product AFTER we were finished. And also? We can hardly tell them apart AT ALL now. That may not be good. Here's Simon at breakfast that morning, rocking the mullet.

And Gavin, looking like a teeny-tiny businessman with a bad comb-over.

And Simon after, with his big boy hurr-cut...

And Gavie, a la new hurr (and unknown stain on his shirt)...

One good thing came out of it - I finally figured out what to get them for Christmas.

EMPTY BOXES FOR EVERYONE!!!! Scarlett is cheesing it up here juuuust a bit.

What could be better than maxin and relaxin in your own cardboard box? Not much, I can tell you that much fo shizzle.

Except maybe maxin and relaxin with ginormous slices of apple.

I L-O-V-E my new studded cuff from Charming Charlie's. Wish I would've gotten two - I may have to go back and get one more.

Jacket: Loft, via Goodwill
Tee: Charlotte Russe

Dare Flares: Old Naaaavy
Agate necklace: Urban Outfitters
Other necklace: Twas me mum's

Urrings/Cuff/Ring: Charming Charlie's

Don't forget to enter our giveaway here.

Merci,

Shan