R 'n R Needed

Mama just flew home from Greenville and, since we feel we were jipped of a family weekend, we're salvaging what we can and keeping her to ourselves for the night. We'll let you have her back tomorrow...

Kindness of Babe and the Bips for holding down the fort while I attended Emma's graduation. There is nothing, and i mean NUTHIN', like walking in from a long weekend of travel on bare minimum sleep to a house that's been vacuumed for you. Annnd, you thought Hermès was the key to my heart...XXOO

Nada, Nil, Zilch...

Welp. We've got nuthin'...

Not a cotton pickin' thing...

Just a whole lotta whining, coughing and laying around with juuust enough energy for Pinteresting. Pretty soon we'll be pinning our cocktail du jour, Tylenol Severe Cold Formula on the rocks, in a Simon Pearce glass, rimmed in pink pop rocks and served up with a green and white swizzle straw...

Kindness of Babe for agreeing to an early lights out tonight. Between our shared flu and our pre-dawn smoke detector wake up alarm, we're plum tuckered out. Apparently, EVACUATE! EVACUATE! SMOKE AND OR GAS DETECTED IN THE GUEST ROOM! can also mean, Oh hey, btw, the battery in the guest room may need changing...XXOO

Grade School Flu

I haven't suffered from a 5 day long flu since grade school and, in fact, had started to wonder if I was remembering incorrectly and they had just seemed like they lasted forever. Turns out, I had not manufactured some urban flu myth as I've just spent the last 5 days dying...

And, since I spent most of my sick bed time lurking 'round Pinterest, I'd thought I'd share some of my fav pic finds like these nifty Valentine bacon hearts...

What I'd rather be doing...

Loving all the classic beauty...

And, classic duds finds...

 Just a waitin' for an excuse to make these hydrangea cupcakes...

Still lusting after Ali's perfect camel pea coat...

Annnd, the Hermès perf riding boot...

Merci to Steven Stoleman for adding a Queen of Cashmere monogram sweater to my wish list queue...

 And, to Lauren for reminding me to make a laser tooth whitening appointment...

Now, it's back to bed,stalking and nursing a now in the throws of day 2 sick Babe while he tries to convince me he has it worse than I did insert heavy eye rolling...

Kindness of everyone I lifted these pics from including Pinterest buds, Facebook friends and, I Love Your Style blog. Truth be told, I'm too weak to figure out how to pin pics from FB and flash players so, I figured if I posted them here theeeen I could lift them from myself. That's called pinning two birds with one grade school flu...XXOO

A Christmas Break Break

Well my li'l chickadees, I've decided to extend my vacation through this week. Christmas was an absolute blur of packing, unpacking, repacking, going, coming, going again; G'wich to the beach to Baltimore to NYC baaack to the beach to Salisbury to the beach again annnd final stop G'wich. I over ate, over drank and over packed. I did not send out Christmas cards, workout, get a full night's sleep, crack any one of the 15 magazines I packed or watch a single Christmas movie. I need this time to recalibrate...   

Buuut...since my largest concentration of readers happens to be in Manhattan, I would feel remiss if I didn't mention the Daphne Guinness exhibit at the Museum at FIT which ends this coming Saturday. Def a must see...

Brief pit stop at Amazon pour moi to load this into my cart and then I'm off to plot my week of long runs in my new tights, a massage appointment, The Family Stone on Demand, needlepointing, a hot chocolate date with May December, PVE and The Zhush, a marathon of Downton Abbey, strolling 'round the blogging hood, hunting down the sold out navy and gold Hermès click clack and that stinking nightstand, finding a church, a dermatologist and proper winter jackets, not having salad for dinz, sleeping in, switching from this lousy cable to FIOS annnd booking a flight to Mexico. Cue the sweatpants!

Kindness of Babe for encouraging this small break and everyone else for indulging it...XXOO

In House Call

I don't know if it's due to sinuses, chocolate withdrawal or ole Maxminimus harassing me to constantly make my move on Words With Friends but, I have one wooorld class headache...

Pilgie, M.D. had me take one of my big gun Advil 800's...

And, Lolly, R.N. is sending me to my our new bed and issuing stern warnings to Maxminimus and Daddy that her patient is NOT to be disturbed by demands for Scrabble moves ooor a too loud Dave Chappelle show. Only chocolate and massage interruptions allowed pleaseee...

Kindness of my medical team for knowing when I feel bad and tending to me so well. Now, if they could learn to rub my temples we'd really be in business...XXOO

Hermès Take Me Away...

I've spent all day hunched over in a crawl space trying to organize storage bins on all fours and I've got another full day of it on deck for tomorrow...

I think hobbit labor like that deserves a li'l recognition.  A li'l medium size, black with gold recognition s'il vous plait...

Kindness of the weekend that can't get here soon enough.  I may even suggest a train ride into the city for something juicy at Peter Luger.  Something juicy could lead to something click-clacky...XXOO

Salt Therapy Needed

Babe loooves to compare me with the world's largest particle accelerator in Switzerland. Like the infamous LHC, I am capable of performing at the highest-energy intensity but, if ooooone weensie bolt, or magnet is disrupted the entire system shuts down. Just the mere threat of change to my routine and I fold like a house o' cards...

I came thiiis close to holding it together through the move but, right now this house o' cards looks more like 52 pick up. And, since there are no immediate trips to the beach planned, and I haven't worked out all week, I think my salt therapy's gonna come in the form of my 7:30pm margarita date with Amy. Mucho salt por favor! I'll save the tears for Babe. He's been expecting them...

Kindness of anyone around the new hood for not judging the half bottle of Mario Badescu Drying Lotion I have on my face every time I walk out the door. And, the Butt Police for allowing me this extended week of probation. I prooomise come Monday it's back ON the workout wagon and back OFF the Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookies...XXOO

All Bark And No Bite

Fortunately for us, Irene was all bark and no bite...

She loomed big on Friday night...

And, by Saturday night she had taken our beach...

But, the water's receded, the sun's back out and Babe and I are going to try and salvage the remainder of our last weekend at the beach...

The only real damage incurred from Irene was to my tan and diet. Sooo, all's well that ends well, except for summer, natch...

Kindness of all who tweeted, texted, emailed and FB'd their concern and well wishes. Pshaw, I've seen Nor'esters pack a bigger punch. Off to eat the last crabs of summer. Take that Irene...XXOO

Trombone Shorty To The Rescue

Cue the New Orleans funeral march cuz the death of summer is upon us. It's always a tell-tale sign when I start coming off the beach more Indian burned than tan. And, the nail in the coffin is inevitably marked by Emma and Hilbil's leaving for school tap tap...



screeeechhh...changing that N'awlins funeral record to some Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue to lift my spirits. 'Twas a smidge over 14 mins into this video when Trombone's insaaane display of talent flicked that li'l mood switch reminding me that in less than two months my parents open their Ixtapa home for the season. Always nice to know there's a life vest on board this sinkin' summer ship...

Kindness of Johnson's Produce for keeping it SC (seasonally correct) for us summer sensitive souls. The last thing I want to see when I run in to grab my lopes are shelves of Christmas ornaments...XXOO

Hermès Benadryl Dreams

It's gonna be Benadryl lala land for me momentarily due to yet another drug allergy. Babe's right, I better hope I never come down with a severe infection cuz I'm quickly running out of meds that my body doesn't reject...

It's très small window of time between popping a Benadryl and goodnight Gracie pour moi so, I'm throwing up my Hermès lust item du jour, ordering a salad from Oceanside and setting up camp on the sofa. And, as my itching is slowly starting to subside, and my lids fall to half mast, I'll end on my Click H Narrow Bracelet in purple enamel thought. Orrr, as the Matters of Style gals refer to it, my enamel Click-Clack...

Kindness of Hermès for taking under consideration the addition of a Medical Alert ID bracelet to their enamel lineup...XXOO

Ohhh It's Insane Alright

There's a whooole lotta this going on round the beach house and a certain Furman campus apartment two days into our Insanity workouts...

Right down to the curled toes and, not to mention numerous other body parts...

Maybe we'll luck out and sleep straight on through tomorrow's torture...

Kindness of Babe who will start limbering up those massaging hands for an already sore moi...XXOO

They're Hostess Pajamas, That's My Story And I'm Stickin' To It

After getting rooked into back to back days of car shopping with Babe, I spent Sunday in a near vegetative state. I went from my my jammies, to the shower, back to a pair of jammies...

Queue up the Claridge + King's boxer to segue me into warm weather lounge wear...

Since Julie and the girls all have the crisp white and light blue set on order, I think I'll go for the ice pink and charcoal stripe...

With a thumbing my nose at the Butt Police right cheek monogram placement ...

In the still looking stylish in my jammies even though it's noon Avery Script...

White thread for my ice pink pair, and Peony Pink glammin' up the charcoal stripe...

Babe just called en route home from my reprieve his West Coast and back in a day jaunt to let me know the car shopping will resume upon his return. Gulp. Better add these to my lounge wear wish list...

Kindness of Diane at Gracie in Easton for expecting my Claridge + King boxer order to roll in bright and early post Easter Monday. And, Babe, for understanding that all day car shopping for a girl is the equivalent of all day clothes shopping for a guy. I like watching you test driving sports cars about as much as you like watching me try on half the Hermès store. Seveeere boredom mixed with sweat trickling down your back inducing hefty price tag anxiety...XXOO

Holaaa...

I'm hooome...exhausted, dehydrated, operating on a two hour deficit with laundry and cat hair up to my eyeballs but, home annnd tan...

Not to mention, seveeerely in need of a massage after luggin these South of the Border hand painted goodies in my Bean tote along with my laptop, book and other crapola for nearly eleven hours through three airports...

It took less than 30 seconds for ole Lollylocks to stake her claim on Mummy Bear's new wares...

But, the clay platter was a bit too big...

And, the chip bowl a wee too small...

But, that wooden bread bowl was juuust right...

Just another day or two to catch up on sleep since I'm only now rolling in to Daylight Savings, repair my hacked Facebook and debit card messes, Hazmat this place and, most importantly, win back the heart of one very wounded li'l soul who is mucho upset at the length of time Mummy Bear was gone. Two weeks no es bueno...

Kindness of Babe who tried very hard to get the beach house spiffied up for my arrival home. Have a good week Gorgie and hurry home to us...XXOO

Mandatory Respite

I've been coming and going or otherwise mentally occupied and run down for over a month and the natives are getting restless. So, I've promised Babe and the Ti-Babes a weekend full of quality family time with mandatory recouping pour moi. None of my type A compulsions, only relaxing allowed...



Sooo, I've booked myself a massage, had our special croissants overnighted from Williams-Sonoma, and I'm working on getting Babe's The Rape of Europa movie request filled. All I need are a box of those Patrick Roger truffles and a wee online Hermès purchase and I juuust may start to feel like my old self again...

Kindness of Babe for knowing when I'm outta gas and forcing a refuel. And, Amy for her The Rape of Europa recommendation during our afternoon at the Louvre. I'll be buttering up a croissant, sipping my tea avec crème and mentally narrowing down my silk and cashmere shawl picks while enjoying a li'l art history with the fam...XXOO

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity thud

Four days, five states, three cities, two colleges, one sick niece, too many sunrises, beaucoup Venti Soy Lattes, a big ole speeding ticket, and one predawn, white knuckle drive through whiteout conditions and, looong sigh, I'm finally home. Filthy, beyond tired, dangerously close to developing scurvy but, home...

I did muster enough energy to snag a very reduced in price Ralph Lauren Black Label cashmere Circle Sweater at the South Park Polo during my 12 hour pit stop in Charlotte. Now, if I had known, when I donned it at 3am the following morn, that I was facing a death defying drive through a blinding blizzard with a strooong possibility of a rendezvous with the jaws of life, I may have thought twice about pairing it with bleached out old cords, a sports bra, and bedroom slippers. I would have at least tossed on an Hermès bangle or two for the Rescue Crew...

Kindness of everyone for allowing me this brief respite from the Paris posts while I helped my sister caravan the girls back to school and then chauffeur her highness back home through the blinding snow storm while she sipped her hot chocolate, did her crossword, and periodically tossed a "MUSH!" my petrified way. And, Babe, who will NOT call asking for a translation of "very reduced in price"...XXOO

I'll Trade Ya Some Hermès Eye Candy...

I'm bartering some Hermès eye candy for oooone more sick day...

I can only take sitting up for short periods of time before collapsing with exhaustion...

And, I now completely understand how Mrs. Fahrenkopf, convalescing from the same bug, could literally have the Louis Vuitton scarf picknecked from her person at the Grand Palais while we ogled the Monet exhibit...

Someone could strip me down to my Cosabellas and I'd be none the wiser in this state...

Sooo I'm hoping the gorgeous pics of the Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré Hermès flagship store windows will buy me another day of bed rest. Although, I must admit it's not all heartbreak here folks. I ate juuust about as many macaroons as it took to make the above display so a li'l stomach flu ain't gonna hurt me...

Kindness of Pilgie M.D. and Lolly R.N for their round the clock care and kisses. And, of course Babe who has called from his NYC office throughout the past two days to tend to my whining and crying. Althooo, I'd be willing to bet that's not all heartbreak on his end either...XXOO

Pardonnez-Moi S'il Vous Plaît...

Looks like I brought back more than Roger Vivier and Hermès shopping bags from Paris. Juuust when I thought I'd escaped the horrible flu that brought down Amy and her mother during our trip, I awoke to find I had counted my blessing a l'il too soon. So, pardonnez-moi s'il vous plaít, while I crawl back into the bed I've been in since this morning and back to my OWN marathon and Gatorade. Fingers crossed it's a 24 hour thing...XXOO

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day...

But, apparently the stats are in on how quickly it can crumble...

Sooo, after a month and a half of...no working out, several back to back wine soaked weeks annnd the past weekend of gluttony which included (but was not limited to) Barefoot Contessa's California Pizzas and Outrageous Brownies, 3 lb lobsters and copious amounts of melted butter to go with...the piper came a calling.

But, evidently his flute is only heard by overweight, outta shape human ears cuz my support staff nodded off halfway through the first of my two P90Xhaustive punishments...

No doubt resting up for a big night of dumpster wastebasket diving while I'm attempting to sleep off the day's torture...

Pull it together puddies cuz the bff has roped Mummy into signing up for her first half marathon and we only have til early December to build Rome back up. And no more chocolate allowed in this house! Butcept, on Saturdays...

Kindness of Sgt. Slims of the Maxminimus Butt Police for only issuing me a stern warning after being "tipped" off concerning my recent slippage by a certain Belgian Shoe wearing Deep Throat. It actually worked out quite well. I bribed an officer of the Butt law AND got the rest of the brownies out of the house. That's whatcha call killing two problems with one Tupperware full of chocolate...XXOO

A Week Of Recovery And Almost Good As New

It became apparent just how much fun I was having in NYC and Montauk last week when I downloaded my pics and realized I had my flash off half the time...

Fortunately, my friends can handle their Savie a smidge better than my lightweight self...

But, the fun we had was very much worth the last several days of detox...

We hung at the Surf Lodge...

We played bikini tops optional Gypset at Cavet's Cove...

Behaved when asked...

But, that never lasted for long...

We had magical sunsets...

Incredible evenings...

And, a perfect crescent moon right on cue. I couldn't have asked for a better time. Unless...

You add bumping into Rafa Nadal at 1am as he's returning to your hotel. See, it pays to endure second hand smoke as your friends have a cig outside. Sooo worth smelling like an ashtray in bed all night...

Kindness of Annie Wannie for hijacking my Merkin clutch and whipping out my camera for the moment cuz I would NOT have had the guts to do it. Now excuse me while I go make my same ressie at the St. Regis for next year. Intel says the second floor's the place to be...XXOO