last post of 2009....

can't wait, tomorrow we are heading to florida! YIPPEE!!! although i am so NOT looking forward to dealing with airport security....UGH!! 3-4 hours before departure....SERIOUSLY - do you have any idea what time i have to get up tomorrow, UGH!!!!!!

curious, if you flew anywhere since christmas? if so, what changes did you notice at the airport? do we really need to get to the airport 3-4 hours early.....UGH!! our flight is at 10:32 on thursday...........guess it's going to be a EARLY morning fur us!!! UGH!!!!

oh well, it will be worth it once we get down to florida so i guess i really can't complain. plus, i will be able to wear my jack rogers/steven bonanno sandals --- at least i hope! i hear it's chilly down there, but it's certainly not as chilly as it is here in chicago! ha! ha!

i am going to try and pack "light" ---- well, see how that goes! check or not to check my luggage? UGH!!!! so much for the days of hassle free flying!!

on another note....rue la la is hosting their hunter boot sale as part of the jan. 1 -- gifts you didn't get sale event. check out the photo below:

if you aren't part of rue la la, click here for your personal invite. sales are private! membership is free!

hope you all have a happy & healthy new year! may 2010 be filled with peace, happiness and prosperity!

~ PLD

greetings!

hope you all had a wonderful christmas! i know i did! hard to believe christmas is over and now it's time to ring in 2010!!! i don't know about you but i hope 2010 is a better year for everyone!

not sure where you live but we got about a foot of snow yesterday! YUCK! although that didn't stop me from going to hobby lobby to check out their after xmas sales. too bad the wrapping paper is still only 50% off! does ANYONE know when it goes up to 80%? i want to stock up on some more wrapping paper. i bought a bunch last year but can't remember when the good deals started? before or after florida? if you know, please comment and let me know--- thanks!!

also, ventured over to oak brook to do a little shopping --- i wasn't going to let all that SNOW stop me! although if you weren't driving in 4-wheel drive you had no business being on the road! there were so many accidents, spin outs, etc. oh yea, after leaving the mall i picked up sushi --- needed my sushi fix!

last night we watched revolutionary road. can't believe this movie received 4 STARS???? i just don't get it. the movie stared leonardo dicaprio, kate winslet and kathy bates. i don't know if it is just me, but i just didn't get this movie.

did you like this movie? i am curious....trying to figure out how it managed to get 4 STARS?

i think lenoardo and kate did a great job portraying their characters but overall i found this movie disturbing in many ways!

without going into details....am i the only person who did NOT know that back in the 50's there were home abortion kits! SERIOUSLY?!?!?! that's all i am going to say w/out giving the movie away. if you haven't watched it, you can catch it on hbo on demand.

oh yea, before i forget....did you happen to watch barfeoot contessa this morning? well, ina garten made bay scallop gratin....YUMMY! check out the photo below....i think i know what we are going to have for dinner tonight! very simple recipe and it looks scrumptious! here's the link to the recipe in case you want it -- click here.

oh well, i need to hop in the shower and venture over to starbucks. then it's back home to clean and start packing for florida!

have a great day!

so excited!!!

happy holidays!

well, i am SO excited! next week we will be on our way to sunny florida! yup, we FINALLY booked tickets to florida! can't wait...winter has "officially" been around for what a couple of days and i am already done with the snow, sleet and rain!! you know the current winter mess around chicago! so glad we left this morning for wisconsin so we avoided the travel mess!

if you are traveling over the next couple of days --- please take it easy out there! are you heading out of town? if so, where are you headed? i'd love to hear...if you are staying home, consider yourself lucky! nothing like waking up in your own bed!!

oh well, hope you all have a wonderful christmas and a happy new year! i know santa will be good to you, he told me so! he even told me about the items he bought me at rue la la --- the gucci watch, christofle silver frame [ops, i think this came from gilt groupe], mariposa napkin holder w/the monkey and elephant...yea, santa has been pretty good to me this year! hee! hee! who knows what else he has up his sleeve for me this christmas???? although, i think our tickets to florida top the list for this christmas!

happy holidays!

~ PLD

can't wait....

so i ended up baking a few dozen cookies and they turned out just fine! decorated them with royale icing, thank you for the recommendations! well, let's just say i won't be posting any photos but they taste great! so i am happy and i know my family will devour them within no time. although the odd thing is my recipes ONLY called for confectioners sugar....interesting!

oh well, so if you are on the mid-atlantic you are probably dealing with quite a bit of snow! WOW! sort of reminds me of the 1993 when my sorority sisters and i were heading back from florida on spring break and got stranded in atlanta.

uuuuummmmm, yea --- one place i do not want to be in the mist of a snow/ice storm! we were stranded there for a couple of days...college students, NO money --- spent it all over spring break [small exaggeration] and the only place open to eat was pretty much a pizza hut. we stayed at some marriott around atlanta but that is one experience i wish to forget! 1/2 of our party in another car actually got stranded on the highway for over 24 hours and needless to say they weren't too happy with us! OPS! .........ahhhhh, the memories!! :)

anyway, i am SO excited i checked out the upcoming sales at hautelook and they are going to be hosting an APLICO sale on wednesday, december 22nd!!!! all you APLICO fans out there....now might be the time to add to your collection! so mark your calendars ---- who am i kiddin' this close to christmas! ha! ha!

if you aren't a member of hautelook....no problem! consider yourself pesonally invited, click here.

oh well, enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

~ PLD

my dilemma...

so i love to cook but baking....well, that's another story. this morning i woke up and decided i wanted to bake homemade sugar cookies for the holidays. one problem, check out my cookie cutters:ummmmmmmmmmmm yea, not really "christmas" theme cutters. ops!!

although, i could use the cookie cutters above and embellish them with wreath necklaces or something festive along that line? what do you think?

let's see i have a dragonfly, a frog, a bunny, a chick, a dog and a fish. i think it could work? any thoughts?

although i do have this cookie press from williams-sonoma. never used it but i guess it would work, although won't these cookies be fluffy? i want flat cookies? anyone familiar with this cookie press? there are 18 themes i can choose from, of which some are chirstmas --- note candy cane in the photo below:
so here's my dilemma, i need a good icing recipe. do you have one? if so, please share it with me. i am at a total loss. i know i need to purchase confectioners sugar, food coloring -- what else?

wish me luck! hee! hee!

~ PLD

ho! ho! ho!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your blogger friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post on your blog, if you have one. Change all the answers so that they apply to you.
Yes, I know you're thinking "Please, another list?" Yes. Another list. I like hearing this kind of stuff about you all! LOVE IT. I can't wait to read your answers!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper, although i have used gift bags at times.

2. Real tree or Artificial? prefer real, but have artificial ---the cats!!

3. When do you put up the tree? anytime from the weekend before thanksgiving to the weekend after.

4. When do you take the tree down? some time in january.

5. Do you like eggnog? YUMMO!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? my large madame alexander "susie" doll -- I named her susie! with in two hours i cut her bangs --- ohhhhh, that was so NOT a good call!!! i can laugh about it now!

7. Hardest person to buy for? that would be my father. although when it doubt a nice pair of pj's from brooks brothers works!

8. Easiest person to buy for? my brother

9. Do you have a nativity scene? no

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail! nothing like racing home to check the mail to see what christmas cards arrived....just like a little kid!!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hmmmm....maybe a unicorn ornament from a co-worker. it was huge and UGLY!!!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? i shop throughout the year!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? YUP....when i was 7 or 8, i had a stretchy incredible hulk with jelly crap inside....well, it had a little hole and i wrapped it up and gave it to my cousin who is 10+ years older --- hee! hee! what a riot, still pretty funny if you ask me!!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? prime rib

16. Lights on the tree? white lights --- not a fan of color lights. as far as LED lights, sorry people -- turn off the lights in the room and all i can say is --- beam me up scottie!!! my parent's bought LED lights this year --- oh they are UGLY!!! sorry to offend anyone who has LED lights on their tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song? silent night --- esp. when the church choir signs it!!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? travel --- we rotate every year.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Not this year. Actually, I have a flying santa with a little brown bag from bloomingdales.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? as a child we could open one present on christmas eve. normally it was our "big" present from our parents. everything else was opened on christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? people stress out over the littlest stuff!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? let me show you a few. i am a huge fan of bunnies! so below are two christopher radko bunny ornaments, one patriotic and the other the easter bunny. i have also included the muppet's, also a christopher radko ornament---who doesn't love the muppet's! :)and then one of my favorite ornaments i purchased last year is this little santa number below. i actually picked up 12 of these:
24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? prime rib w/horsey sauce!

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? spend time with family and friends.

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up? attending church on christmas eve and then having prime rib w/my family.

27. Favorite tradition now? staying in on christmas day and enjoying a fire in the fireplace and staying in our pj's all day long.

28. Favorite Christmas Memory? spending christmas w/my family members who have since passed on. such wonderful memories i have to cheerish forever!!

thank you princess freckles for posting this on your blog.

:) PLD

online shopping...

nothing i hate more than shopping at the mall at this time of year. i hate crowds of rude people, parking wars and rude sales associates. not to mention long lines, ugh! i used to love shopping during the holiday's but now prefer to shop from the comfort of my own home.

hard to believe when i 1st moved to chicago, i worked on michigan ave. part-time at talbot's. time's have changed that's for sure! ha! ha!

speaking of online shopping rue la la has some great sales coming up including a couple of my favorites:

nambe - december 17thand prada - december 19th...............OKAY, isn't this purse AMAZING!!! I love how the LARGE prada logo is branded into the leather...STUNNING!!

mark your calendars!

for all you kate spade fans, be sure and check out the kate spade home event going on right now over at rue la la!

if you aren't a member of rue la la, click here for your personal invitation link. i've mentioned this before -- sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE! check it out today!

happy shopping!

~ PLD

a few of my favorites!

finally, i got around to looking at the latest ballard designs catalog. all i can say is i am SO jealous of all you ATLANTA ladies!!! last time i was down there i visited 2 ballard design stores and there are SO many deals to be found!

below are a few items that caught my eye:

alphabet ornaments, perfect for the holidays but in a big bowl they could be used all year long. they are on sale for $49.99 for a set of 26. love 'em!

next up:sorry the clarity of my photo isn't the greatest. anyway, these alphabet wreaths are always a favorite of mine. right now they are on clearance for $29.99 and to the left is an AWESOME brass pocket watch clock --- I WANT THIS!! on sale for $169.99 00 30'H x 24" diam....so cute!!! 1st need need to find a job before i buy it....poohy!! ;(

and then you can go wrong with the following scottie tote! another great deal for $29.99.
all of these items can be found at http://www.ballarddesigns.com/ - as if this site isn't already under your "favorites" --ha! ha!

finally, for all of you around chicago did you see a special $10 coupon from fannie may inside sunday's chicago tribune inserts? if not, double check your paper! i bought 3 papers, so i had $30.00 worth of FREE fannie may to cash in on!!

personally, i am not a fan of fannie may chocolates but living in chicago for so many years it has grown on me. ask someone who was born and raised in chicago, fannie may is a MUST! i prefer godiva, but FREE is FREE so i got the following for less than $2.00. I had 3 papers, so $30.00 worth of FREE fannie may to cash in on. it's not cheap, as you can tell from the photo below $30.00 so it doesn't go very far. ha! ha!

i tried the pixie hot chocolate....okay, it's awesome!!

oh well, have a great week!

hard to believe christmas is next week...WOW! and that means 2010 is shortly after! i don't know about you but i hope 2010 will be a more promising year! hopefully means a job in my near future too!

:) PLD

sample sales...

so did you catch the CBS news morning segment about "sample sales" and the thrill of the hunt from your computer instead of fighting the crowds! well, below i thought i would provide you all with invitations to all of the sample sale sites mentioned on CBS. memberships are FREE! sales are PRIVATE! join today and let the thrill begin!! :)

great sites for the latest brands including such coveted brands: vineyard vines, burberry, gucci, ralph lauren, vera bradley, movado, christopher radko, kate spade, christofle, treetorn, wusthof and much MORE!!

RUE LA LA:
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/plittledress

GILT GROUPE:
http://www.gilt.com/invite/pld

HAUTELOOK:
http://www.hautelook.com/invite/257860

ONE KINGS LANE:
www.onekingslane.com/invite/preppylittledress

happy shopping!

lots of great deals to be found! check out my blog and see some of my latest purchases!

~ PLD

anyone??!?!!

curious if anyone has smelled tommy bahama's set sail st. barts perfume? i can't tell if this is a unisex scent or if it is for women since it states perfume? i bought this not knowing what it actually smelled like --- my bad! it was a great deal [yesterday on tommy bahama's site i saw it for $60 -- or was it $54 --- can't remember?]

anyway, it was on sale for $19.99 at walgreens --- so i bought it! too good of a deal to pass up! now i am trying to decide is it for me or shall i turn around and give it to my husband? anyone ---- is this for a male, female or is it unisex? i can't tell --- please help, ha! ha! ;)
plus, i just bought him some blue ralph lauren cologne but he could always have another bottle to choose from? ha! ha!

oh well, question for all of you....today while at walgreens cashing in on some register rewards deals --- bummed i am starting now, being stuck in bed for the past 2 days really sucked! anyway, i picked up the following magazines --oprah's O, country living and martha stewart living. my question to you....what do all 3 of these have in common this month?
answer: $5.00 off your purchase of $5 or more at hallmark! good through 12/24/09! check your magazines you too could be sitting on a $5.00 coupon at hallmark!!
so of course i took those 3 $5 coupons and cashed in on some more plaid wrapping paper like the pattern shown in a previous post. right now if you buy 1 roll at $4.99, get a 2nd for .99 cents! use the $5 coupon and pay .99 cents, plus tax!!! pretty sweet deal for wrapping paper!

below is the photo from before, i didn't feel like taking another photo but i now have 8 rolls of the plaid and will probably end up buying another 4--- i just love this pattern! ha! ha!
oh well, still not feeling 100% but i needed to get out! i bought some crab legs to cook for dinner......with a little old bay, YUMMO!!!

have a great weekend!!

:) PLD

it's official...

i have the same "bug" my husband just got over! lucky me, not! i just don't understand why? both of us take vitamin D, vitamin C and a multi-vitamin. oh well, thank good for a box of kleenex, a cup of tea and a husband that works from home! yes, he made me some chicken soup for lunch --- so sweet of him, i know! ;)

oh well, guess i will be spending the afternoon watching the food network! too bad nothing sounds good to me at the moment!

as for all the snow that was predicted....where is it? we got maybe an inch, if that! as for all the "wind" --- none of that either! oh well, maybe the sunshine will come out soon? ha! ha!

:) - PLD

it's here!

so excited! my mariposa order finally arrived from rue la la ! isn't it cute!
also, check some great wrapping paper i bought at hallmark. i am going to go back to buy more of the plaid, they only had 2 rolls left! it's almost too cute to use and the plaid i could pretty much use for almost ANY present....okay, except for maybe a baby gift! ha! ha!

right now rue la la has a pretty SWEET promo [good until 12/24]! sign up now and get a $10 credit added to your account [within 24 hours it will show up] and then basically use that to get $10 off your 1st order! click here for your personal invite. sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE! be sure and check out all the upcoming sales ---- lots of deals to be found that's for sure! happy shopping!

below is a close up of the plaid --- isn't it awesome! anyway, i got happy with the paint program on my computer and created this abstract masterpiece which i have titled....blah! very fitting to the way i feel today! i am not feeling well! i have some sort of bug and it's just hanging around....go away!!!

hope your day is going better than mine!

~PLD

vera bradley....

so, i was just on vera bradley's facebook page and it turns out there is a vera bradley outlet in chicago. really? i had NOOOOOOOOO idea! so i followed the link off their FB page and it turns out it is in the far west suburb of aurora. wow, where have i been? ha! ha!

guess i will be making a trip out there soon! my question is....like other outlets, if anyone has been to this outlet --- are there really any good deals to be found? please share!

so if you are a vera bradley fan in illinois.....head on over to the outlet in aurora. i am tempted to go over there this afternoon just to see what kind of deals they have. however, i am not feeling good so i probably won't!

hope your day is going well!

~ PLD

hilarious...don't miss this one!!

happy holidays! just what you....okay, just what i wanted! ha! ha!
i rec'd this email today and thought i would share it with you. hope you got a little chuckle out of this one! i did!

;) PLD

look what i found....

an empty mason pearson brush box! great, but where is my brush? i thought i would have found it by now! but nope, no dice!
it seems to have disappeared along with a pair of jack rogers - white multi, or are they bonanno's? i can't remember anymore....i could look at the box but my "friend" decided to pay me a visit today....nice! UGH!! the joys of being a woman, not! ha! ha!

anyway, i hope they turn up and soon!

oh well, my christofle albi frame is due to arrive anytime! no sign of the UPS guy....but i am waiting!! then once the frame arrives we are heading up to wisconsin for the weekend. should be fun! mr. PLD's aunt is having her annual christmas party on sunday.

any big plans for the weekend? i plan on doing some shopping while i am up there. too bad one of my favorite outlets in oshkosh, wisconsin is closed ---- miles kimball outlet. why? it was the ONLY store for deals on items from exposures http://www.blogger.com/www.exposuresonline.com --- sooooo bummed! they always had cute frames, furniture items, display pieces and tons of albums....oh well! if anyone knows if they have moved....please let me know!

oh well, have a wonderful weekend!

:) PLD

...............oh UPS guy...hurry on up and get over here!!! ;)

UPDATE: guess what just arrived? i wonder, ha! ha! a sterling silver heirloom piece that i will have forever! my motto: pay for quality, quality lasts! it's that simple! ha! ha!

.......okay, we are outta here! later folks!!

:) PLD

i just don't get it?!?!?!!?

such a double standard....men cheat and it really doesn't seem to be frowned upon! meanwhile women cheat and they are considered...well you know! so what are your thoughts on tiger woods?

turns out after all the "tiger woods" drama from this weekend he came out and well you know the rest of the story. TMZ pegged it and now the cell phone calls have been released. what's next?

the only people i feel sorry for in all of this is his wife and his children! but no, his career won't suffer --- he's tiger woods! just like all the other famous cheaters out there! it's sad, very sad!

just like all the other public figures that have extramarital affairs and once the word is out they ask for their privacy ----------seriously! you can't keep your pants on and you expect this to just go away so what you can do it again and again!.......seriously! sorry...this seems to be such a double standard to me!

does anyone watch the new drama the good wife? it's actually really good! after watching the couple of episodes i wasn't sold, but i continued to watch and now i am hooked!

cheating is not right, why hasn't anyone commented on his wrongdoing? this is probably the reason men will continue to cheat, they know they can get away with it over and over again!

i know friends who have had their husband cheat on them, they stayed together for the children's sake. personally, i don't know what i would do if my husband cheated on me? hopefully, i NEVER have to face that reality --- KNOCK ON WOOD!!

however, i can say i agree with tiger's wife on this one! ha! ha!

oh well, hope you all have a wonderful day!

~ PLD

guess what i just bought? hmmm...

another christmas goody for myself....yes, i am done with my holiday shopping and now tis the time of year to stock up on a few goodies for maw!

i just ordered a christofle albi sterling silver 3 x 5 frame. such a great deal at gilt, too good i couldn't pass up! check out the image below:

once again i will await a visit from the UPS guy! ha! ha! yesterday they stopped, put a sticker on the door and proceeded around the court yard --- okay, didn't even ring the door bell! i tracked him down, he was like --- ohhhhhh, you are home? ---DUH!!!!! oh well, i had a package and so did my husband. they are getting sneaky!!!

oh well, i am still waiting for the mariposa napkin holder i ordered last week from gilt, should be here shortly....can't wait to see the monkey/elephant design!

i have mentioned this numerous times but if you aren't part of gilt, click here for your invite. sales are PRIVATE! membership is FREE! lots of great sales coming up including tory burch, waterford writing instruments, serena & lily, burberry shoes and much more! stop by and check out the site!

have a great day!

~ PLD