last post of 2010....

it's almost time to say "good-bye" to 2010 and "hello" 2011! any big new year's resolutions? i hope to cut back on my shopping, yeah right - who am i kiddin', LOL!

oh well, i'll be thinking about you as i spend the next few days in florida! thank G this year we won't have to worry about SNOW!!!!! it was brutal this past new year's in florida, brrrr!!! it will still be on the cool side at night, so i have my lightweight barbour jacket! hopefully, i won't have to use it too much, ha! ha!

so it's time to say hello to this little guy...
and time to ring in 2011!
be careful and have fun celebrating!

not sure what we will be doing? but i know we will be some where along the beach!

tomorrow we are heading to bahama breeze for lunch and then my aunt and are are going to get pedicures. i didn't have time to get them done before we left, oh well!!

take care! ...see ya around in 2011!

PLD

presents, lilly pulitzer giveaway WINNER mentioned and more!!

hey there, hope you all had a wonderful christmas! now it's time to start focusing on new year's eve! big plans?!?!!? we are going to be on the beach some where in florida, can't wait!

as promised i've posted a few photos of some of my loot from christmas. can't believe i actually have time to post photos! i should be packing since i am only leaving for florida in a day....UGH!!!!

oh well, guess i was a pretty good girl this year..LOL! let's see...for christmas i got a pair of gucci horsebit sunglasses, tory burch revas in brown, a pocket planner [by graphic image] from neiman marcus, a ralph lauren candle and a north face metropolis parka in NAVY blue.

~ just in time for the chicago winter season...YEEHAW!! plus, i got this adorable little porcelain bowl from ann marie murray. i just love her stuff! isn't this cute! i love the holly and the red trim around the edge...so cute!plus, i also got this ornament that my parents actually picked up while on vacation in williamsburg earlier in the year. represents time spent away at boarding school..LOL!! my sister also lived in arlington for a few years and worked in alexandria, so of course she got one too! ironically, we never lived there the same time!

plus, my mom also bought us an awesome digital ornament that holds up to 200 photos.pretty cool, can't wait to start loading some fond christmas memories!!

i also got the two prints below from laura trevey, be sure and check out her blog -- click here.

i also got a 32" LG tv which i actually got back at thanksgiving. plus, i got some towels, a monogrammed boudoir pillow from williams-sonoma home, phone accessories for my mytouch4 [t-mobile], a subscription to my hometown newspaper [the grosse pointe news] and an awesome painting of my house.

almost forgot about this adorable metal basket...prefect for entertaining, holding mail, etc.
overall, it was a fabulous christmas! oh, let's not forget a few gift cards and a gift certificate to the village palm [the lilly pulitzer store] back home in grosse pointe!

speaking of lilly pulitzer, it's time to announce the winner of my lilly pulitzer giveaway!

drum roll please.....

the WINNER is

LILLY KATE

...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

email me your address, so i can get your lilly pulitzer address book in the mail to you. however, i won't be able to mail it until after i am back from florida! everyone else, check back next month for another fabulous giveaway from yours truly!

well, enough stalling i better start packing! plus, i have some bills to pay before we head out of town! so if you don't hear from me until next week, i hope you all have a wonderful new year's! be safe, watch out for the other guy and have fun!

~ PLD

ops, i did it again...

seriously, anyone else ever buy a gift and you end up keeping it for yourself?!?!? well, unfortunately it happens to me ALL the time, UGH! then again, why would i give a gift i wouldn't want myself, right! LOL!

oh well, i am heading back to work tomorrow for one day before heading to florida for new year's. anyway, i decided to stop over at tuesday morning and found this adorable candle and greek key candle holder in orange to give to a co-worker.

we are having our holiday gift exchange tomorrow, since a lot of people were out last week on vacation for christmas! we each have a $10.00 limit.

don't you just love this pattern! i couldn't resist buying myself one in pink and another in blue.
so cute! i think i might just have to go back and buy some more! wouldn't they make great hostess gifts....i know! definitely going back to buy buy more!

guess how much i paid for one?

would you believe i paid ONLY $3.99/each! such a steal, they look so much more expensive that $3.99 for sure! they are by MICHEL design works. ....love 'em!
guess what i decided about 30 minutes ago?

you got it, i am keeping all three for myself, LOL! shame on me! now i have to run out to homegoods and find something else...darn it! ha! ha!

well, the candle is lit, guess it's definitely not going anywhere! ha! ha!i also picked up this candy cane box to store miscellaneous christmas items. too good of a deal to pass up at under $5.00! ha! ha!
oh well, i still haven't unpacked from our visit to michigan. i have tons of laundry and packing to do before we leave for florida. why do i constantly leave everything until the last minute? UGH! not sure when i am going to find time to get a manicure and pedicure? UGH, why am i such a procrastinator?!?!? ha! ha! ha!

don't forget tonight is the last night to enter my lilly pulitzer giveaway! click here to enter, if you have not done so already! the winner will be announced tomorrow!

good luck!

~PLD

merry christmas! don't 4get to ENTER my lilly pulitzer giveaway...

merry christmas!

hope you all had a fabulous christmas and santa was good to everyone one! i'll save my loot for another post! let's just say, PLD must have been a very good girl this year....LOL!

well, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here in grosse pointe, michigan. it was great to visit lots of family and friends. however, tomorrow it's time to head back to chicago for a few days and then off to florida for new year's...can't wait!!before i forget, if you haven't entered my lilly pulitzer giveaway - click here. the winner will be announced on monday, december 27th! good luck!

oh well, i don't know about you but i don't think i can eat again! last night we had crab legs & prime rib, this morning i made eggs benedict for everyone and tonight we had turkey...sheesh! can you say food coma! ha! ha!

although, speaking of food i can't wait to make our annual trek over to tommy bahama's in naples! love that place, did you know it's the original tommy bahama restaurant? speaking of tommy bahama's, it was almost a year ago that we ate next to sen. john boehner. below is a photo i secretly snapped with my cell phone, hee! hee! maybe we will be lucky enough to see him again this year!!

have a great night!

~ PLD

it's almost here....

ahhhhhh, nothing like home for the holidays!

hope you all have a fabulous christmas! we've already been to mass, had prime rib and crab for dinner and after a few stops over to a couple of friend's houses we are going to settle in and watch some movies!

however, christmas eve would not be complete without the annual reading of the night before christmas! so glad my parents bought two copies when we were young, one for me and one for my sister! ha! ha! my father asked me if i wanted to take my copy back to chicago...i don't think i am ready to give up that tradition quite yet! ha! ha!

speaking of traditions, did you have a favorite cup, glass or mug when you were a child? below my sister and my favorite mugs....check out the PINK and GREEN rims, ha! ha!

nothing like growing up in the 70's, LOL!!

well, before i sign off i wanted to share a few of my favorite childhood ornaments. there are others but these are the ones on my parents tree this christmas....enjoy!

those ornaments make me want to go to disney world! ha! ha!

oh well, below is another ornament. i know my parents used to have several of them, i wonder if this is the only one that has survived all these years?

have a wonderful christmas folks!

~ PLD

lilly pulizter giveaway time, come on over...

happy holidays!

hope y'all had a wonderful weekend! my weekend was perfect until about a 45 mins ago when i attempted to make my 1st batch of cakeballs! so excited, i baked another box of cake mix! what the hell was i thinking? it was a complete FAILURE! seriously, what is the secret to getting the chocolate over the cakeball w/out breaking? UGH....so basically, i FAILED cakeballs 101! so embarrassed, i know! LOL!!

don't get me wrong, i can cook! baking, well that's another story! guess i'll go back to leaving my baking needs to the professionals, LOL!

oh well, just a couple more days until i am officially on break! can't wait!!! we are having a "white elephant" gift exchange at work and below is my gift... doesn't it look pretty! i wonder what crappy gift i will come home with, LOL! we are also doing secret santa's but won't be exchanging until after christmas since some people are already on vacay!
in case you missed yesterday's post, don't forget to head over to nordstrom to take advantage of their FREE GIFT with $100 PRADA fragrance purchase. let's just say this offer was too good of a deal to pass up!you'll get this beautiful NAVY BLUE Prada makeup case above and all the stuff [including a PRADA box] below:

...talk about a deal! did i mention i LOVE nordstrom's!!!

oh well, now to the reason many of you ventured over to my blog....PLD's lilly pulitzer giveaway!

in keeping up with the spirit of the holiday's i have decided to giveaway the following lilly pulitzer address book featured in yeah baby:

if you are interested in a chance to WIN this lilly pulitzer address and phone book read on!

the WINNER will be announced on monday, december 27th! contest entries will be accepted until monday, december 27th at 11:59pm cst. GOOD LUCK!!

if you'd like to win, here's what you need to do:

1. the obvious --- you MUST leave a comment on this post and be sure to include your email address, if i can't click on your profile and email.

2. if you are a "FOLLOWER" of this blog you will get 2 entries. if you are not a follower, become on today. below are two ways you can follow me: 3. if you POST this giveaway on your blog i will give you a total of 4 entries. [you MUST let me know if you blog about this giveaway, so i can give you credit! otherwise, no dice! sorry!]

NOTE: U.S. residents only! i apologize if you live outside of the united states, truly i am but i am only making this available to U.S. residents only. sorry! :(

if i have left out any detail about this giveaway i will update this post accordingly. thank you and good luck!

GOOD LUCK!!!

~ PLD

don't walk, run to nordstrom! HURRY!!!

happy holidays!

before i tell you why you should run over to nordstrom's i want to share some random photos i took this afternoon.

check out the festive brownstone below, i think this family did a beautiful job decorating the exterior of this place!

i really like what they did with the ribbon & bows and i really like those topiaries!!!

speaking of holiday decorations, is it just me or have you ever noticed how some people are clueless when it comes to hanging bows on wreaths? you know, either the bow is TOO SMALL or TOO BIG for the wreath?!?! well, it drives me nuts!
for example, check out the wreaths below. i think the bows are the ideal size for this size wreath. then again, they probably hired a professional. ha! ha!

here's another beautiful display! i really like the garland hanging over the entrance and strung over the fence...very nice!
oh, while driving down state street i couldn't help take a photo of p.j. clarkes. this is actually where friends of ours had our couples shower. it was held in a room upstairs, good times! come to think about it, not sure how we managed to get all of our presents home that night? after all, we certainly didn't have a car at that point? ha! ha!

here's one of the brown line passing over the chicago river heading into the loop! does this photo represent chicago or what?!?!!? ha! ha!

although, i will admit i do NOT miss riding the "EL" every morning! something about being packed into a train like a sardine is so unappealing to me! yet i did it for many years, ha! ha!

for those crazy enough to SHOP michigan avenue the saturday before christmas...more power to ya! check out the crowds below, ha! ha!

so i stopped over at nordstrom's JUST because i was craving a black and white mocha....NOTHING ELSE!

okay, who am i kidding, LOL!

anyway, the following PRADA display caught my eye....

of course, two seconds later a SA came over and told me about the GIFT w/$100 PURCHASE! instantly, i was SOLD!!!!!

seriously, i would pay $100 alone for the PRADA cosmetic bag below. plus, it was in NAVY BLUE --- BONUS, my favorite color!! you know that's a steal in itself, lol!!

so i bought another bottle of 2.7oz. bottle of perfume for $104 [before tax]. i wore this scent from PRADA a few years back, so i am happy to add it back to my collection!

best of all, the gift with purchase deal included not only the cosmetic case but also all the items below and this awesome PRADA storage box!i think i recall the SA saying the gift with purchase was worth $165 alone!!! SO excited, check out all of these fabulous PRADA items.....HELLO!!
so basically, i bought all of the stuff below for just under $108.00!
...pretty cool, huh!

so if you are fan of PRADA i HIGHLY recommend you hightail it over to nordstrom's before this gift w/purchase is GONE!

oh, and i also spotted a bijou quilted hobo from tory burch that i really liked! i think i might have to put it on my short list, ha! ha!

have a great night!

~ PLD

preppy humor, enjoy!!!

here's a little humor for all you preps out there, lol!! i came across this article last night and couldn't help but share it with y'all, hee! hee!

not sure, but doesn't that wall look pale pink? i could be wrong?!?!? luckily, the only time i "toured" the grosse pointe farms jail way back when i was an indian princess....so many years ago! ha! ha! anyone else ever an indian princess? oh, those were the days, ha! ha!

anyway, enjoy....

quoted directly from an article written by ammi white in the grosse pointe times, "It's appropriate that the preppiest of the Pointes, the Farms, has emblazoned each of the cells in its lockup with the emblem on every preppy's favorite article of clothing – and in pink and green, no less. "

...love it, only in GPF! ha! ha! ha!

you probably cant's see it, but the gator is even wearing boat shoes and an ascot with grosse pointe farms painted on it!

interested in reading the story, click here.

on another note, do you ever do random searches on twitter? it's amazing the stuff people tweet about, sheesh! last night i also did a random search for "grosse pointe" and below are two of my favorite tweets:

hilarious!

as for the second tweet, one word "TAXES" -- DUH, have you seen my tax bill!!!! ha! ha! ha!

okay, enough chatter about grosse pointe! it makes me a little homesick, luckily we'll be heading back there for christmas!

oh well, hope you enjoyed some preppy humor! ha! ha! ha!

have a great day!!!

~ PLD

[photo credit: www.grossepointetoday.com ]

so excited....

so excited, looks like santa gave us [okay, "me" since my husband really doesn't care about a subscription to the grosse pointe news, since we moved away a few years ago. ha! ha!] an early christmas present! how did he know i wanted subscription to the grosse pointe news? i haven't subscribed to the grosse pointe news in at least 2 years?!?!? so excited, i'm used to reading the online version every thursday, but the information is limited! it will be nice to have this in my mailbox every thursday for the next 52 week or so! YIPPEE!!!

CURIOUS, DO YOU STILL SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER?

if you have been following my blog, you would know that i really don't want anything for christmas. pathetic, i know! ha! ha! after all, i am constantly shopping and treating myself to whatever i want, so for this subscription to my hometown newspaper to arrive is pretty awesome!

i wonder who bought us the subscription? hmmmmm, i have a few of guesses! ha! ha!

UPDATE: i opened up the gpnews to find out it was last thursday's issue? i should have known better than to think it was today's copy! ha! ha! ha!

speaking of hometown newspapers, what sections do you frequent? a few years ago when everyone was getting married it was the engagement section, then everyone started getting pregnant so it was the birth announcement section and now for some unknown reason i find myself checking out the obituaries...sheesh, what's up with that? ha! ha! then of course i check out the real estate section, but that's been pretty depressing for years!!!!

we still have our house in grosse pointe, but we have had it leased for the past 4 years. we bought during the height of the market and unfortunately our house has probably lost at least $125,000 worth of it's value [GULP!!!!] if we tried selling it today! totally sucks, but the man above has a plan for everyone so i know everything will work out in the end!

enough about the housing market, it turns me into debbie downer!

...so the boursin cheese and pretzel chips was a hit! i knew it would be, ha! ha! thanks to costco, i have 2 more things of boursin to share with friends and family over the holidays!
oh, i forgot to post this on sunday but did anyone who subscribes to the chicago tribune notice the $10 coupon from fannie may candies?!?!? just like last year, so of course i bought 3 more papers!!

unfortunately, $10 doesn't go very far over at fannie may candies. i am not a fan of fannie may, but FREE is FREE ---- and you know i am all about FREE, who wouldn't be - DUH!!!

so i bought some hot chocolate and gummy bears....OOP cost a mere .53 cents!! can't beat it, lol!! i will admit i love their "mint" and "pixie" hot chocolate, along with their ice cream! YUMMY!!! well, it's finally snowing out! we were supposed to get some snow last night and of course the weather guy was WRONG!!! ha! ha!

oh well, have a great night!

~ PLD