That Wily CK Bradley

Last week I was perusing CK Bradley's blog looking for some Newport inspiration before writing my post about Margaret Elizabeth Designs when suddenly it hit me...I am the victim of subliminal messaging!

As I perused the pics, it dawned on me...I have purchased almost every item Camilla models in her posts!

Sure you do CKB girls...First she reeled me in with the now sold out Tenley shirt, which by the way Babe is going to start hiding from me I wear it so often...

Then it was the Calidora Top, that I think I actually rocked two days in a row last week but, that's okay cuz only family could divulge that secret...

Followed up by another seemingly innocuous thank you note...clever, clever Ms. Bradley...

She even ensnared Babe in her subliminal blog pics and he fell for AND bought me the Islesboro Dress and tries to put me in it at every turn! I didn't want to wear a dress to a fried chicken dinner, Baaabe, where everyone else had on jeans. Sooo, the Tenley top and white capris it was. Again.

And, now I realize why I've been harassing Emma to get the Logan Shorts!

Then there's the Bombardino Dress that's at the top of my realistic Bday wish list (unrealistic list includes the Hermes Beach Towel and Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra loot)...Not to mention that I already own the other dress in the above picture! How long has this scheme been going on???

And, to add insult to injury I caught myself trying on the Calidora Dress (while wearing the Calidora top!) in Tickled Pink and mentally adding it to the bday request pile after leaving Blue Mercury right next door with my 8 bottles of Kiehl's Chamomile Shampoo! Uncle I say, UNCLE! That wily, wily CKB...Not only a design genius but a marketing magician as well. Well played Camilla, well played...

Laying Groundwork For Bday Gifts

Last week I was on Amazon trying to track Teague's Jungle Book when something caught my eye as I was screaming through pages. The foreman mouse in my head called for all of the other mice to come to a screaching halt running the wheel that turns the cogs and to throw it in reverse. So, a couple clicks back and there it was, listed under "Recommendations For Me", the sequel to one of Babe's and my favorite coffee table books, VOGUE LIVING Houses Gardens People by Hamish Bowles.

I can hardly wait til the mid November release date for THE WORLD IN VOGUE People Parties Places but, fortunately it's available for pre-order on Amazon. Just in time for a certain looming August birthday...

Fashionably Late Post

Rolled back into DC yesterday from the beach and only had a 24 hour window to unpack, launder, then repack before leaving town again. Just enough time to find the last 7 bottles of Kiehl's Chamomile Shampoo in the district and, fingers crossed, get my camera fixed. Writing posts remotely from the beach minus a camera and with four wireless scanners that refused to work has been like pulling a rabbit out of a hat on a daily basis. Although, my tan is killer which made it all worthwhile...

Also, i wanted to mention that Meg at Margaret Elizabeth Designs is offering 10% off your entire order when you put in the code "Summer10" at checkout. Happy shopping and toodles til Monday...XXOO

Cookies can be found at O'My Goodness and the find credited to Hopsey over at the infamous Kappa Prep.

Pamela vs C.Z.

One of my besties from back in the day fondly calls me C.Z. Anderson. Am I an aspiring Socialite or Baywatch babe??? Or, as another grade school chum eloquently put it many years ago, "you never could decide if it was going to be diamonds or pearls".

But, it's summer now so I'm a little more Anderson and a little less C.Z. and I grow nostalgic for my Beach Patrol days.

Fortunately, for me, my stint as a guard was post the Jack Tripper bathing trunks that bff Kimba's dad sported so well back in the day.

That's me, the seated blond doing my best Pam impression with the rest of the girls of OCBP.

Three of my siblings did Beach Patrol too starting with my brother Keith.

He was Crew Chief midtown back when my job was just full time tanning on his beach...

Eventually, he moved slightly north where you know who became his assistant and only chick on what was affectionately known as the "J. Crew". A bunch of preps in sheeps clothing...

Pretty soon I was a Crew Chief myself living la vita Pamela, or as Babe fondly refers to this picture, doing my best Dog the Bounty Hunter impression with my scraggly long blond locks.

Ahhh...the days when I just thought I was fat (second from right), as opposed to now, when I know I am and would give my eye teeth to be "that fat" again.

These days I just sit on the beach and watch Fenwick Island Junior Beach Patrol having fun and resist sharing "back when I was..." stories.

No longer the queen of the paddle board catching waves and riding them in on my knees...

I watch from my comfy beach chair and Lilly towel as the wee ones learn semaphore.

And, secretly practice reading so as not to loose the language...

As they are taught the starting position for beach flags competition I roll onto my stomach too to ensure even tanning...

The whistle blows and the race is on for the hoses. I reach for my whole wheat pretzels...

Maybe I'll just hold on to the semaphore reading and the tanning but bid adieu to the Baywatch dream. One more month and I'll be back on the Socialite wagon. Til next May...

It's A Dark Day For Blonds

I have an Elaine "sponge" situation on my hands. Kiehl's has discontinued one of my summer staples; my never blond enough Chamomile shampoo!


I became hooked on Chamomile shampoo after reading that Christie Brinkley swore by the stuff for the blondest of locks, even washing her hair in the salty ocean water for maximum blondness. Of course, she being the pied piper of blondness, I became an immediate acolyte and followed her right into the sea...

So, what's a gal to do??? I'm taking a cue from Elaine and buying up every bottle on the NW side of DC during my 48 hour window back into town! Lookout Kiehl's of G'town and Blue Mercury, I'll be there first thing Friday morn, forklift in tow...

The Lilly Love Continues

Summer is already halfway over and I still have a Lilly wish list a mile long with no end in sight.

The pièce de résistance of Lilly's Jubilee Collection is hands down the Saemus Dress and this was solidified (in my mind at least) once I saw a pic of Brooke Sheilds sporting it while hosting an event in NYC.

I've been stalking this Pucci-esque dress since I fist spied it at the Lilly Pulitzer flagship store on Madison Avenue waaay back in December.

All that's needed with this beauty is a tan and a certain pair of gold Manola Blankchecks that have been gathering dust and are ready for a comeback.

Also sighted during the Christmas outing in NYC, the Elias Dress in yellow silk dupioni. The beading is so heavy you could take out an eye pulling on over your head.

The Fiesta Dress in Lilly's Pink Tiger Lilly fits like a glove and looked puuurfect with my hot pink Ferragamo Varinas that I just happened to have on during our most recent rendezvous in the Tickled Pink dressing room.

Ditto for the Bowen Dress in Lilly's Pink Seeing Double. It's low dress on the totem pole but just too darn cute with the Varinas to pass up.

Finally, I told Babe I would definitely play his beloved Monopoly with him if we can get this edition. His golf version just isn't much of a lure for moi.

Thank you to ADG for the Manola Blankcheck quote that I will take to my grave. Still makes me laugh every time I use it...

What Money Can't Buy

It's easy to dress the part, but significantly more impressive to act it. Let's start this week off on the proper foot...

Thank you to LPC at Privilege and Bitsy at Bitsy and Olive for the kind awards they bestowed upon me. I truly, truly appreciate the thoughtful sentiments. Especially so when they arrive via two true blue preps! XXOO