Beach Towel Smeach Towel

It may not be the Hermes beach towel but, it is Hermes and it does go in my beach bag...

And, this memory game is just the thing to squeeze another hour of beach time out of an otherwise antsy Babe. Hmmm...Now, if I only had the perfect towel for spreading the cards out on...

Kindness of Babe for realizing this lil deck of cards is a stand in. NOT, I repeat NOT, a substitute...XXOO

Art In The Hand Is Worth Two On A Museum Wall

Exactly what I expect the floors of Willem de Kooning's studio to have resembled...

A de Kooning, I can not yet afford. But, a swanky Lauren Merkin multi splatter Eve clutch, quite doable...

Thanks to Whitney at Pink and Green Pup who alerted me to the Daily Candy discount code "candy30" which saved me Babe nearly fifty dollars. I have no idea how long this discount is valid so giddy up!

Kindness of my dear friend and old G'town neighbor Alexandra Lee Small. Babe has amassed quite the Ledbury collection since you brought them to my attention, so I think it only fair that I get to benefit from the your great taste too...XXOO

Holiday Lite

This is what the heat, too much sun, and another weekend of gluttonous feasting will do to you. Sooo, we've decided to declare this entire week a holiday and take our duties down a notch. We'll still be here every morn but, we're going Reader's Digest on ya'll. Still good loot...still a bon mot or two...just more chill. Less heavy lifting, more beach time...

Annnd, since the theme of the week is "lite", I kindly ask my mother and my sister Genevieve to keep their cakes, pies, cream soups and all other homemade treats at THEIR house and away from my back on the dieting bandwagon self. And, no phone calls inviting me over for them either. And, while we're at it Emma, those Lime Tortilla chips are now verboten in THIS house thankyouverymuch...XXOO

Trash Talkin

Orrr, what has affectionately been Christened by Babe as, my "BFM". The "F" being either of two interchangeable words depending on the severity of my crime...

So, although I would loooove to take advantage of this eBay Pucci towel deal sent to me via Anne Lake...

Or, forward Babe the email of this shwanky, très pricey Hermes beach mat courtesy of my good friend, and partner in over the top shopping crime, Lauren...

I may likely be reduced to Pedro por Hermes, courtesy of ole Maxminimus, since the "price of my Pucci bikinis" cat is outta the bag. You see, ever the humble gal, I was prancing around the beach, debuting one of my Pooches last weekend, and bragging up a storm about hooow special they were. Babe hardly missed a beat. "Just HOOOW special were they???" WHAAAwhaaa (Debbie Downer sound effect). Me and my BFM...

Kindness of Anne Lake and Lauren Seppi for thinking of me. Unfortunately, it looks like I may be carrying the Hermes beach towel torch awhile longer. Yup, I'll be the girl hiding my million dollar bikini wearing buns with the dime store towel from the Camp Maxminimus butt police...XXOO

Lightning Bolt Surf Brand Revival

I was all over Hilary's June issue of Vogue once I spied the layout Blake Lively did with legendary surfer Rob Machado...


I was rapid reading the accompanying Hamish Bowles article, skimming for any important tidbits, when I hit pay dirt...

Jonathan Paskowitz, of the infamous Paskowitz surfing family, has revived 70's iconic brand, Lightning Bolt. Well, after some fast and furious due diligence, including a phone call to Emma and Hilary's daddy who owns the Fenwick Island Surf Shop, I was on my way downtown to the only store at the beach with any of the relaunched merch...

Half an hour later I was two Lightning Bolt tees richer...

And, anxiously awaiting more of the brand to hit the East Coast...

Already on my wish list for next summer, a Lightning Bolt long board...

And, some trunks for Babe....

Til then, I'm gonna appease my appetite for some "eye soul candy" with Rob Machado's The Drifter...

Kindness of Babe who drove me all the way downtown during weekend beach traffic and bought me my blast from the past Lightning Bolt tees from some hippie store. The traffic, he shrugged off, walking into Raggamuffin, took some sacrifice. Thanks Babe. I owe ya a cigar store visit without nary a complaint...XXOO

Dress Stalking

Last summer it was the CK Bradley Islesboro dress that we all had to have, annnd ALL got...

This summer, it's her silk Sonoma dress in green picadilly that has me lurking in the shadows with my night vision goggles and Babe's moola, waiting for juuust the right pounce moment...

And, just when all my attention was focused on my first victim, into my life waltzed this pretty Lilly obsession...

First sighting logged, Facebook...

Next couple of sightings, New York Social Diary and the Lilly blog. Third and, hopefully final sighting, my closet...

Kindness of Babe who is sooo busy he will barely skim today's post, not at all absorbing it's content or intent. Pay nooo attention to the dress behind the curtain...XXOO

Scavenger Hunt Loot Received

At last, my fabulous winnings from Summer is a Verb! Neatly packaged of course . . . Gucci loafer image on the address label a dead give away as to what was inside. Merci beaucoup Alice - this was above and beyond - I love everything and have had so much fun telling friends the story of my winnings that I won fair and square

XO,
Charlotte

Last week I finally mailed off Charlotte Goldfarb's Scavenger Hunt winnings as soon her custom Bonnano's rolled in...

She was kind enough to send along pics of all her goodies with her thank you...

Unfortunately, with the heat wave sweeping the South, the Berger Cookies suffered a fate similar to Babe's birthday cake...

I will have to give the royal taste tester a demerit for his packing skills...

Well Charlotte, all I can say is, just think of all the water retention you saved yourself passing that one giant, melted cookie off to your sons. All the better to fit into your new platinum and gold Bonanno's my dear...

Now, put those pretty feet up and immerse yourself in some mean girls and eyebrow dying...

Don your Meg Carter swank, gloss your lips and enjoy your loot...

And, as much as I love the Preppy Cards you chose...

I like my homemade card the best! Burger Cookie finger smudges and all...

Kindness of Charlotte Goldfarb for being so patient while her pretty Bonnano's were custom made. And, as a gesture of gratitude for all her goodies, she would like to let all my readers know that if they are ever in the Atlanta or Buckhead area they need to head straight to Miller Brothers for great preppy haberdashery with superior customer service and Beth Ann's boutique for boho chic. Noted in my virtual shopping address book Charlotte. Oh, sooo very noted...XXOO

Diet Monday, Again...

We are modestly only posing for head shots after another guilt inducing weekend of stuffing our faces with junk-o-rama including our fav Southern Mint Chocolate brownies and...

THIS monster, who required nearly a half a stick 'o buttah and more than my share of Rumbauer. Vogue on the Range, looks like we have no choice but to accept your challenge of "5 by the 4th". Off for the dreaded Monday weigh in...

Kindness of the search party that will be dispatched if I don't return tomorrow. I suggest sending the hounds in the direction of the bathroom scale where I will likely be found in the fetal position with bits of brownie under my nails...XXOO

It's A Slow Climb 'Round Here

I finally finished Beth Dunn's très funny roman à clé, Social Climbers, and I have my hand shyly raised with a few questions (pauses to flip to pink highlighted sections). Like...

People get their brows dyed? And, there is a facial for your bikini area? And what, pray tell, are the Laura Norman reflexology and Skylar Moriss hypnosis that help with weight loss annnd where do I sign up??? This social climber is apparently cross bred with a smidgie too much country bumpkin...

On the cinema front, I am waiting with bated breath for the new Sofia Coppola movie Somewhere...

Please, please, puhhhleeeze let it make it somewhere within a 20 mile radius of the beach. Us country bumpkins need culture too...

Kindness of Iomoi for the heads up on the Sofia Coppola movie. If I can bribe Babe into going with me, I think there will be enough of a time buffer between this and August's Eat Pray Love for him to recover without me doing penance by way of The A Team or, God help me, Transformers...XXOO

The JDR Wannabe

Last year I ran the following post. I guess someone from either Coca-Cola or Burger King was reading and taking notes cuz lookie at this link that Southern Gent sent me. At least I know Babe and I have SG looking out for our "little guy" backs. And, our piece of the tacky drink pie...

Babe has developed an eponymous caffeinated morning drink that has become his signature and addiction. It's known as the "JDR" and it's ingredients are Diet Mountain Dew and orange juice...

I recommend drinking from a proper glass, like the above pictured Simon Pearce, to feel a little less Appalachian about the whole endeavor...

It is important to pour the orange juice, approximately 6oz, first to achieve the maximum "fizz" effect. We like to use the orange juice with calcium to feign health consciousness and have even gone as far as juicing organic oranges...

Follow with a full 12oz can of Diet Mountain Dew. Cans rather than bottles make for a more authentic PWT experience...

When the mixology is done correctly, it results in the perfect "Orange Julius" head of fizz which Babe swears is the best part. Cheers!!! And, best wishes in rehab...

Disclaimer...JDR's are highly addictive and reputation tarnishing. I started with just a sip and before I knew it I had a two a day habit. Undergoing IVF forced me to go cold turkey and endure some of the most debilitating headaches of my life. And, I would venture that no amount of Brooks Brothers or Hermes can trump the très declassé first impression making power a JDR has in a high level breakfast meeting with Partners and CEO's.

Lunch With Meg Carter

Last week Meg Carter was nearby in Rehoboth Beach shooting her Fall, Holiday and Cruise lines so Kimba and I took advantage and met her for lunch...

She is as nice and as unassuming as she is talented. And, that was not just the four Diet Cokes I had talking...

Lucky us got a sneak peek at her soon to debut lines but, I ended up getting so distracted by the need to try everything on while creating my virtual wish list...

That these were the only shots I got off before self preservation kicked in. All I can say about the upcoming lines is, think Calypso...think white cashmere...think St. Barts...think, I gotta have it all!

So in order to make room on my Meg Carter wish list for the new stuff, I need to clear off the items currently queued up. Half of that list arrived today...

No silly Pilgie, you rub your nose on Buddha's belly, not his face...

And, biting Mummy's hand certainly won't bring you any luck...

Next up is the Mallorca necklace in pink which Meg was sporting at lunch. Stylish see, stylish do...

And, the Ibiza dangles in garden. Perf accompaniment to my current Lilly obsession. Post on that to follow. Too much at once and Babe will go into cardiac arrest in the back of some Town car...

Kindness of Meg Carter for meeting Kimba and me for lunch. We oooed and ahhhed so loudly over all her loot we drew a crowd and inaugurated some new fans into the MCD club...XXOO

Last Stop On The Birthday Tour Of Gluttony

Okay, so the birthday boy wanted one last celebratory dinner out before we closed down the weekend tour of gluttony...

I was dragged kicking and screaming, from a très comfy perch at the pool, and given mere minutes to throw on some fancy duds and get my wet head presentable for the Blue Coast in Bethany Beach...

We dined on oysters, raw...

And, oysters stuffed (from cooler waters north so don't judge!)...

There was fried calamari...Caesar salad...spinach salad...penne with lobster and peas...lobster gumbo with cheese grits and okra...ugh, I'm getting queasy just listing it.

Suuuure...it's all fun and games til...

I spy "Homemade Twinkie" on the dessert menu...

And, I laugh through the tears cuz I know there is penance to pay come Monday morning in the form of TWO! P90Xhaustive workouts and a 3 miler with an afterburner last half mile for extra measure. Not so funny now is it?

Kindness of Babe who I luuuv having home but, will be relieved to have heading back to the Big Apple on Tuesday so I can get back to Diet Coke and salad city. Til the next weekend, natch...XXOO