Using Your Best

I recently read Lessons From Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott (of The Daily Connoisseur), and loved it.  I read the posts on her blog, so knew what to expect, but I love the expansion on the topics.  For the most part, the life she describes is already the one we live, with the other things being ones we're working on.

One topic is about using your best items, rather than saving them for special occasions.  From dishes to dresses you should be enjoying the beautiful things you have, rather than tucking them away in a cupboard.  I have always kind of lived this mantra.  I don't save my pearls for a special event, I wear them with jeans and a t-shirt.  I don't have any special treat I make that I would save for guests...I make those things for G as well.  And I use my china daily, which recently got commented on.

My friend called it my "wedding china" on Friday while over for coffee.  I looked at her perplexed, forgetting that I had indeed gotten the china for my wedding.  To us, it's just the dishes.  Lovely and oft used, we had made the decision when moving back to the States to get rid of our huge cereal bowls and corelle dishes because we rarely used them, choosing to use our china instead.  Once I caught on to what my friend was saying I laughed a bit, because it's true.  Whether take-out or an exquisite meal, we use our china.  And more recently we've made an attempt to really use our silver for meals as well!

I feel strongly that your best should not be reserved for guests but rather used daily for those you love.  This means everything from your manners (we all know someone who people think is much nicer than they really are because of a persona they adapt for the public) to your home items.  And more than anyone else, your best should be used for you!  Everyday is a special occasion, and you and your loved ones should be the most honored people you know!

French Friday Mini Adventure

 Blue necklace from 31 Bits, made by women in Uganda....I get compliments on it everywhere!

Yesterday we were out of power all day.  All the dang day.  It came on at exactly 3:25 this morning, waking me.  What a way to start the day! 

However, yesterday I had gone for coffee and window shopping with a friend.  At an antiques store I had spied a milkglass crucifix candle that was beautiful, but didn't pick it up.  It called to me last night and so today I spoke with G about it and decided to go back and get it before it was snatched up.  Luckily it was still there, and now is sitting with a beeswax candle in it (so I could show G).

Then I stepped in next door and found a carved wood frame that suits our home perfectly.  We're not shabby chic, and in fact, our home certainly has more of a chic with antiques, but not too worn look.  However these pieces are excellent to make it look a little less stuffy.  Look for it when I finish up one of our art walls.

And then I stopped for lunch at a little place called Soups On.  It was pretty good food.  The asparagus salad with chopped eggs was delicious.  And they served Kerrygold butter with the bread, which took this place from nice to wonderful in 2 seconds flat.  These stores are in old homes with front porches (much like the homes a bit north of us).  So I sat outside on the porch to eat and watch the world pass by. 

A simple day, I'm home now browsing etsy for other pieces for our home.  I keep an eye out for chalkware statues of saints, antique christening gowns, and even came across a carousel horse G and I have both decided is a necessity for a future playroom (who doesn't want their own actual carousel horse?).  Life is beautiful.

Like A Museum

I want my home to eventually be like a museum.  Not off limits, but simply thoughtfully and carefully put together to form a beautiful place to relax and just be.  So I'm indecisive about things that come into my home sometime because it has to be right.  Not okay.  Not, "well, it will work."  But perfection. 

This afternoon G and I spend the time on Skype discussing life.  I've finally found a sort of peace here in Charm City.  It is not Home, but I am working on making it a home of sorts for me.  We perused oil portraits online.  There are a few that I would love to drop $10,000 on (total), but we'll be considering one.  A large purchase yes, but one we've been planning on for a long time.  (and yes we'll have it appraised and insured when the time comes.)  We love art and incorporating it into our home seems perfectly natural, no matter the price point.  We have original art in our home that is mixed in with high quality prints and pieces we picked up for a song at thrift stores... it all just sort of works because we love each piece. 

I think that you have to love what you own.  For us, we know this house is not our forever home (if I get my way that place will be in someplace like Cork Co. Ireland), so each piece needs to fit not just the house, but us.  That mirror I was able to pick up for free is fantastic.  I've set it up on the bar and I smile each time I walk past it.  I feel that it was clearly meant for us, it's perfection.  I love finding pieces that I know we'll have until we no longer own anything.  I feel fortunate that my love of old things has been a lifetime passion; I used to peruse antique store with my grandmama, even when I was in elementary school.  I love their history, the story that a scratch can tell.  Sometimes they need to be repaired and sometimes they need to be loved because of their flaws.  Sort of like people, non?

So while it may be incredibly frustrating to have a home that feels like it is taking so long to put together, I know that it's a lifetime journey.  Of searching to find the pieces that will make a home look like we live here.  Sometimes it's a little eccentric or over the top.  But so are we at times.  And your home should be a reflection of you, of the things you love.  I think that's why minimalist homes leave me feeling cold, like I have no idea who the people are.  When there is nothing around that speaks of you, I wonder who you are and why you feel the need to hide it.  (Mind you, I think they're beautfiul but still leave me hanging.)

If you had one thing in your home that speaks the most of you, what is it, or what would it be?  A piano front and center to show your love of music?  A snow globe that represents childhood summers? 

House Updates 2

Here is our living room.  It gets lots of light during the day!  Some of the photos are blurry, but I didn't realize it until it was too late!

 Sofas:  Base furniture store when we were first married:

"Coffee Table":  side table, thrifted

Pillows: Dark blue from IKEA, teal from Target

Blanket: TJMaxx

Peacock Artwork: Thrifted

Rugs: TJMaxx (they were originally bought for kitchen, but both won't work, so temporarily placed here.)

Smoke Glass Candle Holder:  Actually has fruit cut into it on bottom, thrifted

Candles: Store on base in England....they stain they things they sit on, hence a glass piece.

Mini Dachshund: Ours!

 Bar Tray: thrifted

Decanters: thrifted

Cranberry cordial: Homemade, in a bottle that used to hold apricot liqueur from a castle in England.

Martini Pick Holder: Crystal glass, thrifted

Martini Picks: Crate and Barrel

Runner: Target (Christmas)

Large Artwork:  Free from Airman's Attic in England

French Sign: Won Giveaway from My French Corner

Silhouette Art:  Vintage, thrifted England

Holy Family: thrifted

Humidor: thrifted

Cork Glass Holder: thrifted

Corks:  do you have to ask?

I should mention the beauty of this piece is the storage.  The cabinets hold bar glasses (the vintage gold cane glasses).  The drawers hold candles, both beeswax tapers and the soy jar candles I love so much (that I stalk TJMaxx for them).  They also hold some random peacock dishes I bought, wine bottle stoppers, and silver metal trays I love, including a clover shaped one!

Dresser where we drop things as we come in.

Tray: Target

Paperweight: Hobby Lobby

Black and White Sugar Bowl: Charity shop in England, we use it to hold matches.

Beaded Candle Holder: Target

Glamourous Candle Holder: Hobby Lobby

Toast Rack Used As Letter Holder: Thrift Store

Geode: TJMaxx (G picked this out)

Owl Perfume Bottle:  Vintage Avon, from my grandmama's home

Photo Frames: TJMaxx

Mirror: Target

 I just noticed that in this closeup one of the bar glasses is on the back of the tray!  These photos were taken on Sunday and G *might* have been drinking Scotch in the afternoon.

The final post will be the kitchen!

Fleurs

"To create is to go forth with your passion and make it visible." ~ Moi

In an effort to really ramp up my creativity, as well as make pretties for myself and my home I've decided to forcefully make myself make things.  Sounds painful, but in reality I think I'm really going to enjoy it.  To keep it simple and keep me from getting overwhelmed I figure I will set one simple goal that will snowball into much more creativity.

Tutorial here from Creative Little Daisy

Every month this year I am going to attempt to make one flower item.  I love flowers.  My H&M pin I keep on my green coat gets a compliment nearly every time I wear it. And usually I try to explain to the person that it's something that is really easy to recreate.  But they give me that look that tells me that they don't think it's as simple as I'm describing.  And since I've never made one myself I have to admit maybe it's not so easy.  But the tutorials make it seem that way, so I'm going to give it a whirl.

 Tutorial here at Billie Monster

I'm also going to make rolled flowers like the one Daily Chocolate made for the hairpin of hers I have.  I'm planning to add them to hair pins, brooches, t-shirts, headbands, bracelets, and even make a necklace out of a bunch of them.  

 Tutorial here at Mandipidy

I think they're pretty, a little more challenging, and will allow me to add some lovely accessories that keep with my romantic side.

Tutotial here at Mandipidy

I also would like to try making an "inspired by" flower pillow like the ones I see out at Pier One.  The kind where the whole front is one big flower, but also ones with little flowers on them too.  

 Tutorial here at V & Co.

 Tutorial here at Brassy Apple

And I have a table decoration idea that G says sounds nice.  I love a man who lets me decorate with flowers!  And I better get started soon....January is almost over!

*All images belong to their respective bloggers!  I am hoping mine turn out so well!

New Barware

We picked up these glasses a month or so ago on two different occasions.  We have both the double old fashioned glasses and the highballs.  I love the pattern and they are a nice weight.  Makes for a substantial drink all around.  This was G's glass of scotch while he was baking my birthday cake, which should be out of the oven any time now!

Birthday Wish List

We're not doing anything big for my birthday this year.  Maybe heading to D.C. to take in some sun and sketch a bit.  But if we were having a night out I would want this:

Paired with a leather biker jacket.  I love the idea of the floaty soft dress matched with the tougher leather.  Add some perfectly colored heels and a long silver necklace and it's perfection.  

Elsa Peretti Aegean Necklace from Tiffany 

I would kill for this necklace.  I really should set up a savings account just for it since I've been drooling over it since I first saw it well over a year ago.  I love the simplicity of it. (And I would love it in 18K gold too, but that's a damn car.)

More reasonably I would love this:  

Jonathan Adler ceramic elephant bottle stopper.  I just think it's cute. 

Marine Antoinette necklace by Untamed Menagerie on etsy. 

Beeswax Pillars by Brookingham on etsy.

(we have beeswax tapers throughout our home and they have such a divine light scent.  Best thing ever, seriously.)

And the Blue Satin nail colour by Chanel.  I love the deep blue of it, without it being as black as some I own.  

I also plan on picking up a novel or three for myself as a gift.  Because honestly I've made a no gift rule for G.  There are many many things I want, but so little I need.  I've got everything essential right where I am now.  And that calmness inside is worth more than the 18K necklace or an Audi TT.  (well, it was a close call with that last one....)

Fantastic Find!

Or Why My Husband Puts Up With My Craigslist Stalking


G is super smart, I know I've mentioned that a time or two, but it's true.  He's also a huge nerd.  He eventually wants to get a couple physics degrees and teach (my ex is currently working on a physics degree, so apparently I attract smarties!).  Anyhoo, that being said, G goes absolutely crazy for science stuff, even stupid things that he should have done as a child (*ahem* cornstarch and water).  So when I found a listing on craigslist for a bunch of science equipment he said "Yes, I want that, just pay them their money for the love of God woman!"  (I may be paraphrasing)  Excitable, non?


So tonight, in the middle of a snowstorm we trekked out for this:

The lids with the bottles will be getting used in our bathroom for now.  I'm looking forward to filling them with lotion, salts, oils.  Should make for a pretty little display.  The rest is G's to figure out what to do with once we have kids.  He's in charge of the science portion of homeschooling (well, physics anyways, I will be doing biology and we'll share chemistry), so this is the beginning to a nice collection. We will also be using some of them as vases occasionally to put G's aesthetic in the house as well!

Most excitedly, nearly all the pieces are Pyrex (some much older than others) but we have a few pieces by Kimax, including this:

                                         

Now can't you just see my giddyness at a science instrument that was monogrammed just for me?  

This is what I get for never checking anything in the objects section of West Elm.  I miss something.  I was over reading Young House Love and a blog reader of theirs had sent them a snow globe with a white peacock in it.  G and I are doing our living room in the deep peacock colors, and I'm even looking for some great huge wall prints of peacocks to go on either side of the fireplace.  And we're doing our downstairs Christmas tree in white, silver, and mercury glass so it doesn't clash with the room.  So the peacock would be perfect.  


Alas, they no longer sell it.  So dear readers, I am sending this out there.  If you happen to know of a West Elm still carrying them, please let me know.  I will figure out how to Paypal it if you can find it.  Or if you see it online (ebay, etc) please give me a heads up.  I will be eternally grateful! (as will G who said, "that will be perfect" as he got a huge grin and I could see him imagining shaking it every time he passed because that's just how he is.)

It's 4:44 a.m.

My husband is sitting/lying on the couch next to me.  He's been ill all night, something we've never experienced before.  He hasn't had the flu since he was a senior in high school.  It's the time of day when all is silent, still.  The niece is downstairs sleeping, Grandmama is dreaming away, and my parents I think are finally asleep (although they aren't feeling well either).  I'm wide awake.  For once it's not from a lack of sleep but rather I curled up with G at about 8 because he wanted me to, and fell asleep.  I got 7 1/2 hours and now it's the wrong time of day to be awake.  It happens.


It was my mother's birthday yesterday.  She's always like a kid on her birthday, wanting her gifts right away, nearly clapping with the excitement.  I'll have to post photos of everything later as my camera battery has died and the charger was the first on the list of "things we probably shouldn't have forgotten."  I took her out to lunch for Mexican.  As usual it was unfortunate that my brother was the topic of the day.  He's a jerk, and to my knowledge didn't call my mother to wish her a happy birthday.  Oh, nor did he call these 2 days to check in on his daughter.  He also got pissed that her mother called and wished my parents a merry Christmas from her and my niece, but didn't call him.  As my maman and I discussed, he didn't call his daughter on Christmas either.  


I need to vent, and if you don't want to read, don't.  I've tried really hard to not talk about this on here.  Mainly because I kept hoping he would change, turn out different.  Where did my little brother who would spend hours playing outdoor imaginary land games with me go?  Hell, where did the annoying brat from high school who loved to sing and wanted to teach go?  Instead I'm left with a sad impression of a formerly great person.  Instead I get to see his actions rip my family apart, with him accusing my maman of attempting to steal his daughter from him.  No dear, you're giving her away.  You don't call to check on her, you spent less than an hour with her on our "Christmas" with her, and we haven't seen or heard from you since.  Two days off and you chose to go with your girlfriend and her son rather than spend the time with your daughter.  It's sad.  I always assumed you would be a good father, instead you are an embarrassment.  A member of my family that I am trying to ignore.  You don't deserve her, and she never notices when you go.


My niece is a blessing from God.  I truly believe he made her so wonderful so that this whole thing would never taint her.  She doesn't notice when her father leaves.  And as a comparison, twice today when I walked away she started crying and wouldn't stop until I came back.  When she's here we focus on her.  She's going to be incredibly spoiled, but I am loving every second of it.  The first night she was here she woke up at 12:40 and didn't go back to sleep until 3:30.  We played for nearly 3 hours, making her fly through the air, singing to her.  We even e-mailed her father and my maman.  I enjoyed the sheer exhaustion of it all.  Of getting to drift back off to sleep curled up with her.  I wasn't irritated that I lost those hours of sleep, rather I was grateful to have had that time with her.  My brother is missing all these great moments and there will be no way to get them back if he ever wakes up from the land of selfishness.  


She's incredibly smart, watching everything we do.  After I made kiss-y noises at her I began to giggle when she immediately tried to imitate me.  In less than 10 minutes I taught her how to pucker up her lips and make a kiss.  Her favorite trick of the week has been fake coughing.  She was coughing (for real) and I imitated her.  Now it amuses her to have me cough after her, so we go back and forth until she's giggling.  She's learned to say "ta-da!"  and she thinks my husband is the biggest sucker in the world.  She knows he will hold her until his arms fall off, and she utilizes that knowledge to the best of her abilities.  She has no fear and takes of crawling to the edge of the bed, only to turn and roll the other way.  She jabbers incessantly and I'm working on getting her to say "bye bye."  My heart is so near bursting that I cannot imagine how my brother doesn't make her the number one thing.  She's so easy to love.  I should know, I was hoping I wouldn't even like her, now we spend most days pretending we're plotting a grand kidnapping scheme that involves the Swiss guard.  


She will not be tainted by this.  She will go untouched.  Her mother, my maman and I will make sure of it.  She will have all the things she is meant to have, mainly lots and lots of love.  And she will grow up never knowing all of this.  He'll have to answer to her someday, but only as a blank to be filled in.  Never because she wasn't loved enough.  We've got that part covered.

Reflection

Slowing down.  
Taking time for me, myself, and my husband too.  
Using my hands to stir, knead, sew, write.  
Lighting candles.
Making a house into a home one bit at a time.
Remembering why we celebrate this time of year.
Anxiously waiting for what's to come while cherishing the past.


How is your year winding up/down?  

Homesick

Lately I get whiny a lot.  Some days I even cry....in the grocery store.  Oh, it doesn't take much, just seeing a can of Heinz beans and missing going to a pub for breakfast is enough to do it.  Because, well, as much as I was glad to leave G's job, I miss England.  We both do.  


It's strange to feel out of place in your own home country.  But we do.  We miss market days (yes they have them here, complete with rude people who run over your feet with a stroller and never notice, much less care, and no people yelling hawking their goods).  We miss coffee at the Portuguese grocer.  We miss the abbeys, the nature reserves, the tea.  We miss the slower pace, the store keepers who don't get in your face, the excitement this time of year because of preparing for Christmas fayres, not because of crazy materialism.  

I don't want anyone thinking I hate the US, I don't.  It has it's perks (certainly one is that not everything is closed after 5 p.m. here).  And we're adjusting, but just enough to make do, because we want to leave.  We thought we would stay here for 8, maybe even 12 years, and now all we talk of when the topic comes up is of going home.  Maybe England, hopefully Belgium, and we would not scoff at Germany.  And as a pick me up, I decided to post pics of England.  Enjoy!

Things About City Life

I really do love living here in this city.  The lights, the noise, the surprising friendliness of neighbors.  But some parts make me horribly sad.  It's cold and rainy here a lot, and I see plenty of homeless on our drive towards and coming back from base.  Garret had bought apples the other day and gave one to a man he saw, feeling bad that was all he had.  So we try and pack sandwiches and apples in the car when we're heading out and about.  The economy kinda sucks here, (as in a lot of places) and so we try to do a little.  I encourage you to consider doing similar things.  A peanut butter sandwich can sit in your car for a bit, and it's a source of protein.  We're hoping to remember to do things like baked potatoes as it gets colder.  Pop them in the oven an hour or so before you're leaving and it's something that provides some heat and a lot of nutrients.

We've been in the house a little over a week, and while it seems like there is always something new to worry about, we're loving it.  Baby steps, deep breaths, and lots of coffee!  This city is full of life, and the homes are colorful.  This is what I see when I look out our back window, the colors are stunning.  

Our heat hasn't been on in a few days.  It's cold outside, but our house is quite well insulated apparently.  The thermostat is set to 65, and yet it's been 70+ in here with our furnace turned off.  I don't think we're going to mind this next bill too much!  We got our new laundry machines this past week, and I am loving the little music they play when they begin and end.  Because our house is so empty with hardwood floors, you can hear it in the kitchen (and our laundry is up on the third floor).  G's become our local handyman, installing blinds and curtains.  Last night he went downstairs to check the breaker box, and accidentally set off our house alarm....boy is it loud!  I think he nearly had a heart attack as he came up muttering about needing to stick his finger in a light socket to re-start his heart!  

Sorry for the lack of posting and the lack of pics.  The house still has plenty of boxes as we figure out what will stay, what we're donating.  It keeps us busy, running errands, picking up things we forgot we would need.  I hope everyone is enjoying the fall, it's been beautiful around here, I need to take pics of the changing trees! Here is a pic on base of a grate that I fell in love with the pattern.  Very Moroccan tile-esque!

Oh, and our sweet realtor brought these over this week:

A book on Baltimore and pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting (that she made from scratch!).  The muffins were delicious and she was kind enough to give me the recipe, making G a very happy man.  Ahh, making a man happy by feeding him simple quick breads!

Etsy Users

Has anyone ever sold on Etsy?  I am looking into it as a way to purge the overage of things that G and I have accumulated (I mean, seriously, we might have picked up too many dishes while in England....I think that's to be expected).  I am wondering if it would be a worthwhile venture, and so if you have sold on there, please leave a comment or e-mail me at :  kaleemarie (at) yahoo (dot) com

I know they have a price to list things, and also a percentage after something sells.  And so I am just wondering if it will be worth it.  But seriously, we have too many things (and lots of it smaller items), and not enough space.  For instance....we have 2 prams, a Silvercross one and a brown corduroy one.  Both cute, I love them I do, but I am thinking of selling one or both.  For an item like that I would probably use craigslist, but for smaller items I am not sure craigslist is the way to go.  

Any advice is welcome!

Dinner Out

Well, obviously after last night's frustrations with knitting, I needed a night out.  So we had a nice dinner out at a local Indian restaurant.  We were a bit nervous, since we loved our Indian place in England so much, and knew that this place would be different.  

It was.

Really, really good. 

We had it all, from appetizers to soup (well, we shared a bowl I ordered, because holy crap was it ginormous, and how on earth was I to even eat a small bite of my main if I ate all the appetizers plus the soup?!?) to mains and dessert.  I really wish I had taken more pics.  But the appetizers were amazing.  We had a variety platter with meat samosas, chicken tikka, veggie samosas (which were definitely our fav.), homemade cheese that was fried, and potato something or other that was the weirdest texture and taste, but boy did G love them!  We shared the mulligatawny soup (lentil with veggies, blended, then had cilantro on top....cilantro and lentils?  delicious!).  For our mains we had our usual.  I got my Chicken Rogan Josh, extra spicy (although next time I want it on fire, if need be) and G had Chicken with Mushrooms that was really quite good.  I think the hardest thing for us was being open to new tastes, new flavors.....every kind of food possible has a million recipes for it, so you're rarely going to get food that tastes exactly like you had it before.  

( I loved the little individual heaters for the main course....beautiful copper!)

I should mention that one of the waiters was flirting with me.  Oh yes, very much so.  At one point G murmured that he might have to duel him.  Unfortunately for G it's illegal to duel in the military, so he just had to sit there and behave himself.  The first thing the waiter said was that my necklace was beautiful.  Definitely a good necklace, almost every time I wear it out, I get compliments on it!  It's old costume jewelry though, so unfortunately while it could be replicated, you can't really buy it anymore (I think it was my great-great aunt's.....that woman dressed to the nines, everyday.  She had a very impressive closet).  

So when we ordered desserts (rice pudding for me, and something called milk balls in honey for G, which was like donut holes in melted honey....I about died and went to heaven when I tasted it!) was it any surprise that this waiter brought them out, said I was to be served first, and when I jokingly said, "it's because I'm prettier" he said, "that is true"?  Then he brought out a little plate which he told us was so that G could put one of the balls on it for me to try.  Sadly G was not given a little bowl to try mine, but I shared anyways.

So, amazing 2 hour dinner with very friendly staff (the other staff members were amazingly nice too) and a confidence boost?  Definitely the night I needed.  

One Year

I was searching through old comments trying to find a blogger who had commented once whose blog I had enjoyed but lost track of.  And scrolling down to the first post ever it hit me.

Holy Crap.  It's been a year today since I posted my first blog post, Becoming Who You Are.

Really?  A year?  

Am I the same? 

Well, I still like the nice things in life.  Champagne still tickles my fancy, and I own even more silk, linen, cashmere and lace then I did then.  

I'm currently having to hunt down a new affordable bordeaux to drink regularly, since I haven't seen my old love since England.

We plan on having a coffee table with actual coffee table books in the new house.  I am more excited about that than you could possibly know!

However I still don't own an Hermes scarf.  Damn. (not from lack of trying, but I am particular about what pattern I want, so we always leave the stores empty handed)

(I am really wanting the one Les Cles with keys all over it, and a scarf that had tassels on it.....the key one is easy to find, but hard to find in the colors I want, a deep navy blue or black all over with silver or gold keys.)

(this scarf can be found on ebay here)

But I am so different than who I was a year ago.  I've allowed myself to change, to accept who I am.  I'm more in love with G than ever.  Because what I never shared was that a year ago I was on the phone with my family trying to figure out how to get the hell out of England and my marriage.  That's hard for me to write, but it's what it was.  

I'm looking at moving into the inner city.  I'm exhilarated and terrified.  I'm pretty sure it won't be permanent, but who knows?  We may love it.  

Still no babies, and that's ok.  We go back and forth trying to decide the right time.  We thought it was sooner, now we think it might be later.  There's a lot of life here in this city and we're too preoccupied letting the rhythm pulse through our veins.

I'm braver than I was a year ago.  I wanted to be me, but was still scared.  Now I am who I am.  My family and friends have learned the hard lesson that they either have to accept it or move on.  I don't have time for people who want me to fit into a mold of who they think I should be.  

And I've gotten to know some amazing bloggers out there.  I've e-mailed for recipes, advice, or to compliment them on the fantastic women that they are.  I've struck up a friendship with someone on the other side of the world (hi J!) who rocks.  I've kept my sanity (which G loves this blog for).  

One year.  A blink.  My how time flies.

I think we all have different facets to our personality.  For me, it's the fact that I can come off very stoic at times (let's face it, Miss Manners is my hero, and I love etiquette), however I also have a darker side.  And really who doesn't?  Mine just manifests in the fact that I have a thing for bad boys.  For unfixable men.  It really explains my past relationships I tell you.  Ever since I was little I found the idea of the mafia, gangs, etc very alluring. Quite frankly it's odd that I didn't end up in a really bad relationship.  So is it really any surprise that I'm addicted to the show Sons of Anarchy?  No, no it isn't.  But I can tell you that G finds it amusing.


But as attractive as I find the whole tattoos and leather thing, I am a classier gal.  Which means that I like the nice version of biker wear.  When I was in England I fell in love with Jaeger.  No, not the damn liquor.  The clothing line.  And right before we left I fell in love with a leather jacket that is part biker gang, part Jackie Kennedy.  Now how the hell does one jacket accomplish that?  By looking like this (click on link to see bigger):

The jacket is on my wish list of things to get this fall.  It's a bit pricey, but should last a couple decades, so definitely worth it.  I actually had to convince G that we could not buy it when I tried it on in England, simply because we needed to keep a hold of our money for things like a car and house. 


I would love to pair this jacket with this necklace, the Elsa Peretti's Aegean necklace.  But until I can find a good look-a-like I definitely think the necklace will have to wait!


And pairing a silk ruffly top with a skirt like this leather one?  Joan Holloway meets biker gang indeed.  

Of course I should mention that clean cut G has always had a thing for bikes, leather and tattoos.  He doesn't have any tats yet, but he is all over me getting this look!  Although how one earth I would wear a leather pencil skirt on the back of a bike is beyond me....