The Ballad Of Lolly Crockett

Daddy bestowed Lolly and her Coon tail with a new theme song and we had the loop playing allll weekend...


Looolleee...Laaally CROCKETT kaaaween of the wild frontierrr...


Home fer the winter with her family,
Happy watching squirrels in the ol' pine tree,
Bein' the kitten she wanted to be,
Close to her Pilgie as the pod and the pea.
Looolleee, Laaally CROCKETT, Holdin' her family dear!

But the ice went out and the warm winds came
And the meltin' snow showed tracks of fun and game

And the flowers of Spring filled Mummy's Simon Pearce vase with flame

And all of a sudden life got too tame.
Loooleee, Laaally CROCKETT, Headin' for trouble again!

Kindness of our li'l too cool for school Lolly Crockett for not growing up too fast. Just cuz your tails fillin out girlfriend doesn't mean you don't need your Mama anymore...XXOO

Desk Setting

Spoiler alert for whomever Hopsy pairs me with in the "Pink Swap". These swanky Raval Page Flags are sooo gonna help me stay within the "four pinkish items" for $30 budget. Not quite taking into account the cost of my own personal flagging habit, natch...

And, at only $3 a pop I can afford a whole wardrobe of these Bamboo Pens. Additionally, they're too pretty for Babe to use, ultimately sucking the ink dry, during one of his, DON'T you OR the Ti-Babes MAKE A PEEP conference call marathons while working remotely in a teensie beach house Fridays...

Kindness of everyone for their patience as I ease into implementing Friday Drive by Postings with short and sweet finds that would otherwise fall by the posting wayside. Something light or inspirational to send ya'll into the weekend feeling a smidge less encumbered. WHICH, is a covert way of saying, the "least expensive item" post most fresh on Babe's mind as he arrives home for the weekend...XXOO

The Rob Lowe Of Arm Real Estate

Think Rob Lowe in Masquerade...

If Rob Lowe had been a true prep and not just playing one to pull the wool over poor li'l Meg Twilley's rich prep eyes...

Annnd, if Rob Lowe had been the king of prepster arm real estate from Newport to Palm Beach...

Think aaall that, and you have Kiel James Patrick...

Designer of prep arm candy...

With an obvious eye for detail...

And, a rep for quality...

BAND: Has always been Weezer
SPORT: Archery
BOOK: Atlas Shrugged is second to the Bible
BEER: Anything bottled by Woodstock Inn Brewery. This beer is the real deal and kicks ass in taste, old school bottling and unique marketing.
MOVIE: Back to the Future Trilogy
BAR: My in-studio bar
FOOD: Mom's Blueberry/apple pie
GADGET: Global GPS (don’t leave America without it)
SHOPPING SPOT: Island Outfitters in Newport, Vineyard
MENSWEAR: For leather goods: Lotuff & Clegg and for clothes it’s been L.L. Bean since I was just a youngin'...also digging Gant Rugger as of recent.
GETAWAY: Deer Isle, Maine
GUILTY PLEASURE: Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee twice a day
I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY: Hair

So, when Jessica at The Love List crafted the above Kiel's Essentials in her recent KJP post, I juuust knew Kiel's rec of Lotuff & Clegg for leather goods held promise. And finally...after a year of searching from here to Paris...

Searching from Orvis to Louis Vuitton...

Babe and I have fallen for a Lotuff & Clegg hand made computer briefcase. See, I knew I could count on a good craftsman to ferret out another...

Now I can turn my attention toward opening up some of that Hermès bangle arm real estate for my briefcase finder's fee...

Kindness of Kiel James Patrick for the fabulous Lotuff & Clegg rec. I've got Valentines in the bag annnd an excuse for my inaugural KJP purchase all thanks to your great taste. And, to Jessica at The Love List for generously allowing me to lift borrow from her post. Again...XXOO

And, In Other Boot News...

While I was in Paris, my sister Genevieve borrowed and fell in love with my black Hunters. But, when she went to order a pair for herself, she discovered that they were "outsourced". Quelle horreur! Suddenly, my once coveted boots, were now deemed second class citizens...

In spite of our snubbing, my boots and I dispatched the mice deep into the mental file vault for her to dig up a four year old endorsement I recalled Mel giving Le Chameau wellies...

The Le Chameaus passed muster and arrived at the beach house notaxindelaware family distribution center the very next day. And, just like that, I wasn't feelin so loyal anymore...

Outsourced shhhmoutsourced...I want those Le Chameau slender ankles and shapely legs! Emma, looks like your Cinderella size 9's can expect a large package containing a pair of thick ankled castoffs...

Kindness of those readers who sent me the Barney's intel on the Fiorentini and Baker Elisa boots. But, after several days of consideration, and a lukewarm review from my sister Julie and the bff Kimba, I'm contemplating switching allegiance from the Elisa to the Emma. (hangs head in shame) Once a boot turncoat, always a boot turncoat...XXOO

Paris Through My Eyes

When PVE said she "couldn't wait to see Paris through my eyes" I wondered, what exactly does that mean and how will I translate that into a post?

Well, by George Sanc, I think I've got it! What interesting tidbits, besides the Hermès scarf as a sleep mask trick, did I cull from my Parisienne adventure? Welp, according to the annotations the mice in my head made while abroad, I did notice a thing or two...

Anyone else recognize this obelisk from an embossed image on a certain, worn Van Cleef and Arpels business card? One that has been lovingly, wistfully carried around with Alhambra pricing written on the back for the past year and a half...

Ding!Ding!Ding! went the alarms in my head when the recognition settled in. Turns out VC&A first opened it's doors in 1906 at the Place Vendome (home to the obelisk) in Paris. A fact that I, regretfully, did not parlay into a purchase...

Although, it seems like nearly everyone in Paris smokes, you'll see nary a discarded butt on the ground...

It's considered très gauche to eat or drink while walking. I gave myself special dispensation upon leaving Ladurée with my first, of many, macaroon purchase...

Whether it's teen girls, older women, or father and son, you'll commonly see the French link arms when walking à deux...

Black puffers may peg you for American but, apparently Lilly Pulitzer does not for I spied a French woman in a Murfee scarf on Saint-Germain...

If you think Goat cheese couldn't possibly be improved upon ya haven't tried it deep fried atop a bed of field greens...

Even when it's 20° outside you'll be hard pressed to find an empty table at any of the beaucoup cafes with outdoor seating. And, coming from someone who's usually clamoring for a table under a heat lamp in Florida, in Paris it's not cold, it's romaaantic...

Purchases by French designers, such as Hermès and Roger Vivier, are less expensive than in the states. Purchases by American designers, such as Ralph Lauren, are more expensive than in the states. A fact, that Amy deemed necessary to disseminate while in Polo with Babe thiiis close to buying me a black velvet Collection opera coat of his choosing...

Chanel hasn't made headbands in years. You kill my Collection coat purchase in Polooo, I'll embarrass you in Chanel...

Advil PM is da bomb for jet lag...

Apparently, the French Police are still chasing Jason Bourne through the city night AND day...

Again, kindness of Mr. Fahrenkopf for snagging us those coveted tickets to the sold out Monet retrospective which, we're learning, has people, including Jodie Foster, queued for up to 5 hours in frigid weather just to see the exhibition. I guess the least I can do is absolve your daughter of her Polo store sin...XXOO

Saddle Up!

No more lounging around looking pretty Lollyburgers...

It's been 7 weeks worth of lazin about rehabbing my Achilles tendon injury and today's the day we get back on that running and P90Xhaustion horse so, saddle up Pilgie! I want those priorities in check and those muscles screaming Uncle! by Friday...

Kindness of Babe who stuffed my stocking with numerous massage gift cards. I'm sooo gonna need them...XXOO

Boots On The Brain

I came back from Paris with boots on the brain and have been using the bff's pair of Alberto Fermani's as my mental barometer of quality and good looks with not much luck. Until today...

Must be an Italian boot attraction I've got cuz this pair of Fiorentini + Baker Elisa's stopped me dead in my tracks. Ohhh per favORe let them come in both brown annnd black...

Kindness of Scout Charlottesville for the brand introduction and LPC at Amid Privilege for the brand validation. And, Babe, who will know I've tracked down a pair of the seemingly sold out size 39.5's when he is suddenly and inexplicably let off the Country Strong hook this weekend out of the goodness of my heart...XXOO

Hair We Go Again...

It was hair highlights time yesterday which meant that, right on cue, I started agonizing over whether I was going to keep it short or grow it long...

Was it gonna be the Gwynnie in Sliding Doors?

Orrr...was I going to commit to the Gigi Mortimer and, for once in my life, make it past the cowlick stage shoulder length in?

I polled the masses and the scales finally tipped in favor of a toomanytocount attempt to grow it out. Sooo, highlights and a smidgen of a trim to shape s'il vous plait...

I like to think of it as, my Gwynnie in a Perfect Murder stage. Scarf please...

Kindness of all my regular commenters who will not be run off by the "word verification" velvet rope I had to install. I held the spammers at bay as long as possible but, all signs started pointing to "Carpal Tunnel please use headlights" from the endless "delete on mailbox and handheld" taunts from my Crackberry. I was beginning to feel a bit like a Tokyo elevator operator. Besides, I'll need to preserve my hand strength for all that long hair grooming...XXOO

Have Nearly Entire Hermès Scarf Wardrobe Will Travel...

I've received a few inquiries about my Parisienne wardrobe. Now, if ya'll kindly recall, I was given less than an hour to be, showereddressedpackedforparisandinthecar in Babe's "get outta Dodge during a raging blizzard" strategy. There was no thought involved. I packed...with sheer instinct...

Nearly my entire wardrobe of Hermès scarves including a Plisse, Pochettes, and a wee pile of 90's. Lone Twilly, left at home, holding down the scarf basket fort

Half a suitcase full of Ralph Lauren cashmere sweaters

J. Crew black trousers, black Pixies, black Minnies annnd black Majestic leggings

Waaay too many dresses

All the usual shoe suspects made the cut (Belgians, Ferragamos, fresh outta the box Viviers...) but, Babe and I can not sing the praises of the Blundstone/Patagonia mid-weight skiing and hiking sock combo loud enough. Uuup and dooown Rue du Fauboug Saint-Honoré, hooours traipsing through the Louvre, Hermès store hopping, right bank, left bank, right bank, annnd...not even once were our footsies tired or cold. Nooow, next year, I hope to have a pair of tall black equestrian boots in my arsenal but, that's an item that's being put on the summersjustaroundthecorner back burner...

I think Amy and her mother suspected me of having a clown car suitcase of coats. I was so scared off by the "puffer" backlash that I opted for mink, Persian lamb, boiled wool, waxed canvas and strong armed the B² long, black wool wrap coat right off of my sister Mandy's back on Christmas Eve (Ladurée apology soon followed). And, sure enough, all those annons were right, those Moncler's would have looked down their French noses at the Searle. Add that to the packing wish list, along with the black boots and draped in Alhambra saysyoubelongattheRitz, for next year...

Kindness of Diane Francis and Stephanie Shockley DeMallie of Gracie in Easton, MD for the Claridge + King Tuxedo shirt which, paired with black Majestic leggings and an Hermès scarf, was theee perfect flying outfit. And, Amy, who spied a French woman on her flight take the Hermès scarf from her neck and refashion it into a sleep mask. I am SOOO adding that to my bag o'tricks...XXOO

Weekend Pâtisserie

The choppered in items du jour are, Master French pastry chef, Jean-Yves Charon's scrumptious Croissants and Mini Croissants from Williams-Sonoma. They arrive frozen and are to be immediately whisked into your freezer...

The night before serving, pull out the number you your guests plan on consuming and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Cover with parchment and let rise overnight...

Arise yourself the next morn et voilà!

Brush the croissants with a li'l beaten egg for a showstopping glossy finish annnd to prove to your husband that you did indeed need the Williams-Sonoma Pastry Brush Set that recently arrived...

Alsooo, the perf opportunity to validate your new must have oven thermometer ensuring you don't burn the croissants as they cook...

Once the aroma of those babies baking wafts through the house it's like Paris all over again except, theeese are actually warm right from the oven...

Besides, the price of choppering in frozen croissants is much better than the price of sending me back to a real Parisienne Pâtisserie. That's an all inclusive package with plane fare, Hermès scarves and Roger Vivier shoes...

Kindness of BRM for the intel revealing that Jean-Yves Charon also sells his croissants, including the tryingtorefrainfrombuying chocolate ones, at Trader Jo's for a fraction of the cost. Well, looks as though Babe's got a Sophie's Choice on his hands; either I can continue to have mine choppered in from Williams-Sonoma orrr he can send me to the closest Trader Jo's which lands me dangerously close to several HIGH end malls. I have a feeling I better keep that landing pad salted...XXOO