One Pot, Two Pot, Looks Like New Pot

When I arrived at my parent's for Easter dinz, along with an All-Clad skillet they needed to borrow, my father immediately whisked it away to the sink and moments later held up what looked like a brand new pot. All thoughts of buttercream were temporarily replaced with the magic of Bar Keepers Friend...

This was just as exciting as the time I discovered Goo Gone...

And, nooobody likes things Spic 'n Span clean like moi sooo, the very next day, my task that began with one pot...

Led to two pots...

Led to four then more...

Now they ALL look like new pots...

Even passing inspection by Le Commandant...

And, although I gave it a valiant effort, along with tooons of tennis elbow grease...

My Bar Keepers Friend could not resurrect the Simplex English Whistling Teapot I recently offed when I forgot to put water in before boiling. I think it may be time to plan the funeral...

Kindness of my Dad for my new Bar Kepper's Friend OCD tool and anyone who knows where I can find a new Simplex English Whistling Teapot in chrome that doesn't cost as much as an actually flight to London...XXOO

Sip, Shop & Share

The Lilly Pulitzer Ardmore, PA store is hosting Sip, Shop and Share this Wednesday to benefit 10 month old Baby Julia who is fighting brain cancer...

Everyone is welcome to attend and phone in orders are accepted as of right now. If ever there was an excuse to buy Lilly, this is the one. It certainly sent me scrambling back to the Lilly wish list drawing board in a jiffy...

And, I have until the store's opening bell tomorrow to narrow down whether I want another heavily complimented on Easter Whitley Skirt, this time in the Multi Dashing...

Orrr...that print in the would look spiffy with my new white AG Stilts Jonni Shirt?

In my book, shirts barely count as an item since they're only half an outfit, so that's reason enough for me to round it out with the Benicia Top to make it feel more complete...

But, then there's the Cindy...

And, the Adelson both in Hotty Pink It Can Be Arranged tugging at my heart strings...

The UVA Sunrise Orange Jacqueline to feed my C'villian loyalties...

And, the Tate Skirt in Bright Navy Look at me steppin' outta my new whip Lady. Regardless of what I chose, I'll feel like a million bucks in it cuz I'll know it helped a little girl who needed it...

Lilly Pulitzer Ardmore in Suburban Square
25 Coulter Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
610.658.0387

Kindness of everyone who can stop by the event or make a purchase, no matter how small, over the phone to help Baby Julia. Purchase or no purchase, all are welcome to stop by Julia's Caring Bridge page to read her story and leave an encouraging comment for her parents and big sister Isabella. And, of course, prayers are invaluable...XXOO

Lolly's And My Wedding Report From Propped Up On Our Shared Pillow

Lolly and I were propped up in bed, Vivien Sheriff fascinators on in spirit, by 5:15 am on Friday and, within 15 minutes, had the bff Kimba conferenced in. When she asked her barely awake hubby Bryan if he planned on watching the Royal Wedding with us, he asked where our support had been the previous night when he stayed up watching the NFL draft...



Lolls and I may as well have stayed up watching the draft cuz we barely slept imagining Kate's nerves and excitement and wondering if she was tossing and turning as well. And, of course we cried at the beauty and pageantry of the entire ceremony...



Although, while everyone else seemed to be comparing Kate to Grace Kelly, Lolly and I were of a different opinion and hummed How Do You Solve a Problem Like Mariaaa the rest of the day...

And, as beautiful as Kate was, we found ourselves obsessing over how skinny smashing Pippa looked...

And, we're officially beginning our Pippa whittled waist Diet today. According to intel from Pink Julep Abroad, Kate and Mrs. Middleton have been on the Duken Diet. We're gonna assume Pippa would have most likely followed suit and dedicate a good portion of the morning to some Duken Diet due diligence...

After that we plan on perusing Vivien Sheriff and Philip Treacy for hats and then work on figuring out where to get Babe some of those nifty brass kick stands for his dress shoes...

Kindness of Emma for forgiving me one missed Insanity workout due to wedding festivities even though she has managed to squeeze hers in alongside exams, travel and celebrating Sally's 21st birthday. I'll make up for it with my Pippa Diet I promise...XXOO

Sinchy English Monarchy

In honor of today's Royal Wedding, I thought I'd trot out this li'l gem from the archives. This way I can focus all my energies into waking up at 4am to watch the hoopla while propped up in the cheap seat bed...

Babe has a team in India that assists him with documents, I have my sister Genevieve. So as part of my due diligence, prior to seeing The Young Victoria, I was boning up on the history of English Monarchs. Being the good assistant that she is, Genny unearthed this Royal crutch to help me keep them straight forever more...



Sung to the tune of Good King Wenceslaus...

Willie Willie Harry Stee

Harry Dick John Harry three;

One two three Neds, Richard two

Harrys four five six....then who?

Edwards four five, Dick the bad,

Harrys (twain), Ned six (the lad);

Mary, Bessie, James you ken,

Then Charlie, Charlie, James again...

Will and Mary, Anna Gloria,

Georges four, Will four Victoria;

Edward seven next, and then

Came George the fifth in nineteen ten;

Ned the eighth soon abdicated

Then George six was coronated;

After which Elizabeth

And that's all folks until her death.

Kindness of Genevieve who will be receiving a "very strong" this coming review cycle. This makes up for her inability to put my tea bags and honey back on the proper shelf after each use...XXOO

Pair O' Blues

Mummy would give anything to have a pair of baby blues like her gorgeous boy but, sigh...I'll just have to settle for the kind that accept VISA...

My Jules Reid Leo blouse in Daisy Stream Turquoise just arrived and it even elicited an ohhh and ahhh from the bff during our recent show and tell. I've declared it theee item of my Summer '11 wardrobe and predict trottin' it out at least once a week...

And, since I need a pair of blues from Jules, I've got a hanger cooling it's heels in the closet awaiting the arrival of the Wyatts in Dragon Print Ikat...

I've been drooling over KEP's Maggie earrings for quite awhile and even more so now that I saw the bff's during her show and tell. But, I've been torn between the turquoise, which goes with more in my summer lineup...

And, the sapphire, which are just too pretty to pass by. Sooo, a pair 'tis...

The bikinis have stared rolling in and my inner Helen Roper is craving a couple new cover ups. I'll take this Lotty B Mustique caftan in turquoise and coral...

And, another Glamourpuss NYC Beach Poncho this time in Island with Blue Lagoon...

What's a good pair o' blues wish list without the requisite Hermès contenders? Snatched this quick pic of the mousseline stole in Paddock during my last visit and have lovingly carried around the card in my wallet since. My Machiavellian plan involves reclaiming my tan, getting another month of Insanity under my abs and working my scarf tying magic in the dressing room. Babe's a sucker for the scarf as a halter trick...

That's right. My pink one's getting lonely...

Kindness of Babe who will read of my Machiavellian plan and fall for it anyway. Men...XXOO

Barefoot Contessa's Tzatziki Dip

My sister Mandy has been serving up Ina Garten's Tzatziki Dip for years and Hilbils and I are it's biggest fans. We've gotten in the habit of placing our request for it the minute we hear she's hosting any family function. Lately, my sister Julie's been giving us some stiff competition and beating us to the punch with her request for blue cheese dip. Figured it was time to take matters into my own hands kitchen...

4 cups plain yogurt, whole milk or low fat (I used non-fat Chobani)2 hothouse cucumbers, unpeeled and seeded (I used regular cucs)2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 cloves)
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place the yogurt in a cheesecloth-lined sieve and set it over a bowl...

Grate the cucumber and toss it with 2 tablespoons salt (reserve the 1 teaspoon for later); place it in another sieve and set it over another bowl. Place both bowls in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours so the yogurt and cucumber can drain...

Transfer the thickened yogurt to a large bowl. Squeeze as much liquid from the cucumbers as you can and add the cucumbers to the yogurt...

Mix in the sour cream, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. You can serve immediately, but I prefer to allow the tzatziki to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to blend...

Perfect served with pita chips or, the more Butt Police approved crudités...

This recipe makes a whopping 5 cups which, not only generously served as an appetizer for 7 adults on Easter Sunday but, had plenty left for recycling Tuesday evening. And, forget the baking soda! Can I just tell you how good freshly grated cucs make your refrigerator smell?

Kindness of Babe who will not mind when this tzatziki dip gets a third life tomorrow night as I plan on spreading some on salmon filets before baking. The left over crudités shall be roasted. That's a lot of mileage outta one dip...XXOO

Thinking Pink

I'm about one month out from getting my Mrs. Roper meets Pamela Lee on for the summer and I need to start stockpiling the pink to keep me securely tethered in Prepville...

Speaking of tethering, I'd like to start my li'l pink spree with tracking down the reversible Hermès belt strap I spied over at q9y8 blog which would give my H buckle a whooole second season...

Rubis, which I guess is Hermès speak for reddish pink, on one side...

And, Iris on t'other...

After 60 days of Insanity and starvation healthy eating my legs should be Butt Police approved for Calypso's Tori Ikat Shorts...

I've been carrying a torch for these Tod's Suede Gommini mocs in fuchsia since I spied them in Paris. Along with the orange and white pairs...

A pair of the shocking pink J. Crew 5 inchers to add to my ever expanding pile...

And, the Lilly Seamus Dress Multi Dripping in Jewels which I've been stalking for months. Fingers crossed good ole Jack at Lilly will be able to track one down in my size...

And, if I start to stray too far from my preppy roots, I'll always have Summer in Newport to send me pink snapshots of her Twitter screen reminding me my Summer's Verb ilk are the likes of her, Hopsy, Rosemary and Camilla. Nooot so much Pamela...

Kindness of my UPS man for accepting that his vacay ended at midnight this past Saturday. And, QBS, a member of my white bikini wearin' ilk, for the Mrs. Roper Barbie pic...XXOO