Jenny Snyder

The folks at Damn I Like That posted this sexy little number today.  I love love love hats... and this is by far one of the hottest fedoras I have ever seen - it makes me want to drink dry martinis and listen to old scratch Frank Sinatra albums.  Can you imagine this with a white button down, a couple of long strands of pearls, and a great pair of boyfriend jeans?

And, side note, the folks at Banana Republic did an amazing job on the model's eye make up - love the use of grey/silver with the grey fedora!

 

I just got this new Michael Kors dress for the event tomorrow night (except my dress is black).  I picked it because it seems relatively timeless... plus I can carry it from season to season.  For winter, I can pair it with tights and a wrap or jacket; during the summer, I can wear it as is with any color sandals!

 

I think I am almost as excited to wear the dress as I am for the event! 

So its 53 degrees today.  Eight days ago, I was cleaning the remainder of my winter clothes out of my closet and replacing them with cotton sundressesand flowy skirts.  This morning, I was struggling to pull wool out of the back of the guest bedroom closet again.  April always kills me.

Well, when life hands you lemons... you shoot tequila, right?  I came across these cute little Michael Kors numbers to wear if my feet MUST be cold:

If I had adorable boots like that, I maybe able to brave the cold a few more weeks out of the year...!

These boots are made for puddle jumpin'!  Pink wellies with high heels, lipstick, and martini glasses?  Be still my heart!!  I've been dying for a pair of really adorable Wellies for a couple of years now.  I came close last year at J Crew when I found a pair with pugs on them, but couldn't pull the trigger since I don't have a pug in my dog collection.  But this pair might just be too cute for me to pass up!

On a different note, today is the 6 month anniversary of Dad's passing.  I told Kevin last night that I couldn't believe the last conversation we had was 6 months ago [the night before he died].  I talked to Mom earlier today - she was going up to the gravesite this afternoon to put fresh flowers on his headrest.  We were saying that it just didn't feel like that much time had gone by - it was so hard to believe.  Mom has just amazed me... she's so strong and has really learned to keep her chin up and make the best of her new life.  She knows that's what Dad would want for her. 

And funny thing - Dad and I always picked our NCAA brackets together when we entered our respective pools.  What a week for me to be missing him... who is going to help me pick my brackets!?!?!

Love you and miss you, Dad.

... finding a pair of pink argyle golf shoes.

Uber-happiness is getting them at 50% off!

I also found these cute outfits:

   

Soooo many reasons to love golf!

Even after a short week at work, I stayed late on Friday then came home and passed out early to prepare for a busy Saturday.  Saturday afternoon brought about 2 fun events with work friends:  Sara's baby shower and Emily's birthday party.

Sara had her hubby, Riggs, had a fun couples shower... complete with a taco/burrito bar (GREAT idea!) and lots of beer and wine to go around!  Baby Max is due in February, so they don't have much longer to go.  And Sara makes such a cute mom-to-be!

(Courtney, Emily, and Em's boyfriend, Jay)

(Nothing completes a baby shower like 3 white girls throwing gang signs in the kitchen)

Later that night, I met up with Courtney and her friends for Emily's annual birthday throw-down at Belle Acres.  TONS of people and great music in a fun, laid-back bar.  My only regret is STILL not getting to hear Emily sing with the band!  (I was pooped and had to check out early than I had hoped.)

This morning, I woke up... did a little work to get ahead for the week... then went downstairs and reorganized and cleaned the heck out of my kitchen.  I love walking in there now because it feels more organized than it did before.

I took a quick trip to J Crew afterwards and found a few pieces I'm excited about:

And I also found this adorable outfit for Braxton on my way out via Macy's:

She would have been 8 today.  We still think about her all the time... and there is certainly a sadness wrapped into those thoughts that won't go away for a while.  She was so special to us... even more to Kevin.  And I see SO much of her day-to-day in Kieran.  Anway, Happy Birthday, Tempo.

On a lighter note, I think I need to look into Shopaholics Anonymous soon.  Here's what I'm obsessed with today:

 

TORY BURCH BALLET FLATS

I've never been big into flats.  I'm 5'7" -- 5'8" on a good day -- but I always wanted to appear as tall as possible.  But in light of gradually becoming more a clutz as a I get older (did I mention that I fell on my 30th birthday?), I'm starting to explore less dangerous shoe options.  And these are just darn cute.

Did I get the song stuck in your head?  :)

I keep running across things I'd like to have for spring.  Sadly, the list has gotten a bit too long, but these are my top contenders:

STRIKE BOWLING BAG BY MARC JACOBS

(from Net-a-Porter.com) Cream patent leather bowling bag with brass hardware. Marc by Marc Jacobs bag has a large faux buckle detailed fastening across top, a handle on each side, two vertical red stripes on front, feet on base, a small designer embossed plaque on back, black-and-white monogrammed lining and a zip fastening across top.

PUMA LE SET

(From Puma.com) Part of the French 77 collection by PUMA inspired by Guillermo Vilas, the 1970s playboy tennis star, are these womens Le Set trainers. Featuring a perforated form stripe on the outstep with embroidered classic green trim and a large Cat logo on the instep.

BANANA REPUBLIC ENAMEL RING

   

J CREW CHINO COLLETTE JACKET

(From JCrew.com) Midweight cotton twill. Inspired by a couture jacket from the early '60s, we designed a casual version with the short, boxier "it" shape of the season. Stand-up collar. Flap pockets. Bracelet sleeves. Hits at high hip. Import. Machine wash.

J CREW MADRAS SUNDRESS

(From JCrew.com) The quintessential dress for sun-filled days on or off the beach, light and breezy in authentic cotton madras. Fitted bodice, full A-line skirt. Back zip. Fully lined. Falls just below knee; 27" from natural waist. Import. Machine wash.

While talking to a Vera Wang-clad Rachel Weisz, Ryan Seacrest notes that the designer is popular on this red carpet, musing, "There's a lot of Wang here tonight."

 

As I've gotten older, I've learned that I have some sort obsessive fleeting fashion compulsion.  I will see something that I like, then fixate on it non-stop until another shiny object comes along.  I just got over an Ugg phase (resulting in my ordering 2 pair), before that a Victoria's Secret Pink phase, before that a Kate Spade phase, and am now moving into my Puma phase.  Now I don't know how on Earth I missed this trend, but since Kevin pointed it out to me, I've seen women everywhere wearing them.  And, naturally, I've caved in to the peer pressure.  I've got a pair of brown Pumas and black Pumas on my wishlist for any of the major holidays this year (yes, I do accept gifts for Arbor Day and Flag Day).  I even bought a new pair of pants to match the brown ones.  Ah, the power of positive thinking!

This all started last Saturday when we took a trip out to Southpark Mall.  Entering into the mall through Belks, you automatically enter a wing that includes a Tiffanys, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Kate Spade, and Neiman Marcus... I call this mecca.  But I digress...

We went to Journeys to try to exchange a pair of Doc Martens that Kevin had been given for Christmas.  He pointed out the Puma sneakers to me and thus started the cycle of my obsession.  And then I started noticing women in the mall wearing them.  And more women.  And more women.  And I had to have a pair. 

So now, here I sit, patiently awaiting the arrival of my new Pumas.  Soon.  hint hint.