And the Oscar goes to.....

So I guess I have an awards ceremony to attend.

I better call Rachel Zoe and tell her to find me that perfect dress.....

Yeah, this one is pretty amazing.
So is Penelope.

Too bad I was really wearing something more along the lines
of jeans and flip-flops when I received my award:

WHAT?!
Stylish??
Me?!

I had do a double take.

I coulda swore it said

"Stylish Booger Award"

That would be more fitting.....

I am so so honored.

Thank you Kelley!
Have you guys met Kelley?

She is pretty damn cool.
And a fellow Cali girl :)

She's an interior designer who likes to play in the dirt.

And by play I mean grow and amazing garden.....

She also has ridiculously cool creations:

But what I love about Kelley is her "Tale of  Five Buckets"

She is my kinda people.

Please go stop over at the Polished Pebble and say howdy to my Cali friend!

:)

Ok, back to the awards ceremony.......


So apparently the rules are divulge 7 things about me
and pass this award off to 10 amazing stylish blogs.

Sheesh.

Talk about tough.

I just got the award and now I have to give it away??!
Just kidding.

The hardest part is going to pick 10 blogs.
I have so many favorites.

So lets start with the easy part.

Me.
Haha....easy, ya right.
(just ask the Stig) 

Here we go.............

#1 - Hoarders. 

The Stig and I are addicted to the show.
I have a secret fear that one day I will turn into the crazy cat lady hoarder.

Oh my gawd.

After looking up photos on the internet I think I am sick.

I need to take a break.
Its like a car wreck....why do we even look?

*Note to self:

I will only have 2 cats and 1 dog at a time.

I will never eat and throw my trash on the ground and leave it there.....for 2 years.

I promise to clean my fridge out every month....errrr every 3 months.

Yeah.

I promise to go to the dentist.

 I swear that I will always sleep in my bed. Every nite.
(unless Starz' "Spartacus" is on TV and I fall asleep on the couch) 

Every time I watch Hoarders I will throw/donate something the next day.

Promise.

#2 -  I wear my wedding ring everyday.

Every day.
24 hours a day.
It is very symbolic to me.

One of my favorite quotes:

i carry your heart with me 
(i carry it in my heart) 

i am never without it 
(anywhere i go you go, my dear; 
and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

~ EE Cummings 

I can look down at any time, anywhere and know this.....

I love my husband and I value our marriage.

#3 -  I am a tomboy.

I grew up with 4 brothers. Whats a girl to do??

Well,
play in the street,
wear shorts under my dresses,
be the only girl to get picked up to play on the boys' team,
have "rats nests" in my long blond hair 24-7,
scabby knees,
set a mean screen (basketball),
have boys tell me "your cool", but not "your really pretty",
dirty fingernails,
pretty ribbons in my hair,
throw a touchdown pass,
wear no makeup until 16

So most of these things dont hold true today,
but they made me who I am.
And I kinda sorta like myself.

I still play in the street
(and the baseball fields)

thank goodness I don't need to wear shorts under my dresses
(I can wear sexy boyshort undies now :)

I can still play on the boy's team!

Most days I don't have rats nests" in my hair....
(thanks for brushing my crazy mop growing up mom! xoxo) 

still get scabby knees
(thank goodness my hubby thinks its sexy - love him!) 

definitely get dirty nails
(from playing in the backyard dirt ;)

 pretty sure I can still throw a mean football.

Very proud of the fact that I wear minimal makeup for my age.....
I am almost 34
*gasp*

#4 - Love a good roadtrip.

Every once in a while the Stig and I will plan a trip to drive
and just hang out.

We both love a fun roadtrip.

I love to drive
listen to music
and chat.

We actually just planned on going to the Rose Bowl
for Valentine's gift to each other.

Sunday February 13th.

Gonna leave early Sunday am.
Hit up the Rose.
Stop in Arcadia and hit up our favorite Italian Deli "Claro's"
(even though its outta the way)

F.U.N.
"Finding Ur-inner Nerd" 

#5 -  I never lied to my kids and told them there was a Santa.

 *GASP!*

You are all about to nominate me for the worst mom award, huh?
It wasn't planned.
Really.

But when my then 3 year old at the time asked me why Santa was at the mall,
and at the Christmas tree farm,
and at his pre-school.....

I told him the truth.
I couldn't lie.

And you know what?

He turned out just fine.
Swear.

I cant say how the other kids in his future Kinder class turned out though.....

Its kinda a funny story.
 The story happened when he was in Kindergarden.
It was Easter.
And he told the kids in his class that Bunnies don't lay eggs.
(well, they don't, so why would I lie and tell him they do?)

Started the Great Debate of 2001.
He then proceeded to tell them there was no Santa either.

Yikes.
(that wasnt part of the plan).

I wont get into too many gory details,
but it involved a call from the school
and 3 kids in his class crying.

Hey, better they find out at 5 then 12.
J/K.

Lesson: Parenting doesn't come with an instruction manual.
You kinda have to figure it out along the way.

* ps - my kids still get gifts from Santa
they just know its us - playing the game ....
and not the same guy they just saw handing out candy canes at Target
:)

#6 - I still think that there are Piranhas in the lake

I know.
DUMB.

I still remember when it started.
I was 9.
We were at Bass Lake.
I was next in line to take my turn on the rope swing.
My older brother had already went 3 times .
And was waiting in line behind me.
Eager and ready for his 4th time.

Me.....stalling.

Trying to look tough around all the boys.
Being the only girl as usual.

He proceeded to tell me there was nothing to be afraid of.
The reports of the piranha in the lake were from the North Fork area.

WHAT??!!

Needless to say I did not swim that entire summer in the lake.

I am a grown woman and still freak out when something brushes
my leg in the water.

I swear its a Piranha.

Remember that line in Disney's Tarzan?

"ITS A PIRANHA!!" 

Hey, it just might be one time.....

#7 - I am a DORK.

See #1-6 above.

It's ok.
I am alright with it.

Thankfully the Stig likes me being a dork.
And so do all of my other friends.

 thats me in the crown and the 80's Madonna attire

I am the friend that makes everyone laugh.

on a cruise with my "coconut monkey bra" 

I make the goofy faces.

I tell the corny jokes.

Uhhh...no explanantion :)

I make fun of myself.

Yep. Thats me.

And guess what.....I am ok with it.

:)



Now.......
on to the REAL winners!!!

These are in my opinion 10 very stylish bloggers out there!

Drumrolllll.........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

the "OG" Mrs Stiggy...Tracy of Loving Pretty Things 
she is real.
she is a doll.
she loves her home and family.
that's my homegirl......
crazy truestory -
we found out that we have the same last name!
Seriously.
Crazy.....

the amazing Jen @  The Chronicles of Windy Ridge
her talent, her home, her kiddies.
it's like a fairytale I tell ya.
I dont know how she does it all.
but I want it. all.
especially those ruffle valances.
they will be mine.
soon.
very soon.
** update - right after I posted this I got an email from her stating those valances are 30% off!
Yep, into my cart they went.... 

the gorgeous Kate @   Salvage Dior 
her style is unmatched.
im gonna say hi in real-person to her booth soon.
one of these road trips....
Kate, Im gonna give you a heads up so we can meet and hug
:)
oh and *ps - she really is gorgeous.

the darling Alice of Thoughts from Alice 
she is really the cutest thing since sliced bread.
she makes the loveliest vintage creations and has lovely photo skillz.
her hubby also makes the coolest jewelry out of vintage clock parts.
what a duo I tell ya.
they are like two super-heroes.
Vintage Girl and Clock Man.
see.....told you I was a dork.

the incredible duo of Jenni & Lisa @ The House of White 
they have an eye for style. I know this.
thats why I have one of their adorable ruffled aprons
and some paper garlands that they made!
I have been trying to figure out how I can get that butterfly wreath in my daughters room....

my chickie Sarah over at Modern Country
she is sweet. she has that incredible simple style that we all desire.
she lives in the heart of England. Literally.
Im such a sucker for cute British girls.
she is my pond pal :)

the very talented Marcy of Antique Chase
she has my home.
if I were a home, I would want to be Marcy's.
check it out and tell me otherwise....

thought so.

  the extremely stylish Tracey over at French Larkspur
I want to bottle up Tracey and spread her all over
just like a packet of wildflower seeds.
that is Tracey.
tell me, who doesnt love wildflowers??
exactly.

  sweet girlie Andrea of Faded Plains
when I think of a vintage farmhouse I think of Andrea.
simple.country.living.
her home is featured in "Romantic Praire Style"  - the new book
by Fifi O'neill.
'nuff said.

 the uber amazing Suzanne on Meridian Road
I always feel like such a dork when I comment on her blog.
Why?
Because I am always like:
"Oh my gosh!"
"Amazing"
"You rock!"

I swear you would think she was a celebrity.
Wait.....
I think she quite could be.

She is totally cool.
We could kick it together and have a blast.
At her farm that has been in the family for 90 years.
How cool is that?!
Love that......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You gals out there have been more helpful
than any book or design school
I would have ever attended.

Your blogs inspire, teach and create.

You either got style or you don't.

And my blog friends....

YOU GOT IT GIRLFRIENDS!
*insert z-formation hand snap* 

Hope you all will play along and post about yourselves 
and pass the award along to 10 other deserving blogs!! 

 Oh, before I have to give away my award.....
I almost forgot my acceptance speech!

First off I want to thank the Academy,
and all those who voted for me.
(even though it was just one!) 

Thank you Kelley!

I couldn't have done it without
my grande Cinnamon Latte from Starbucks,
my amazing flat iron,
the ever wonderful Stig and our 2 kiddies (aka stiglets),
Pandora,
my cozy Uggs,

 and YOU.

My bloggity blog friends.....

Love you all!

XOXOXOXO 

Now go on - get!

I have an after-party to attend to ......

:)