Purple Passion at the Oscars

Finally, purple is making it's way to the red carpet!  I love purple.  My bridesmaids wore it seven years ago and they all looked stunning despite their different hair colors and complexions. 

I must say my favorite for the night was Cate Blanchett in Givency.  Pure perfection from head to toe.  I thought the neckline on Mila Kunis was a bit low and distracting but overall the dress was gorgeous.  Scarlett never disappoints and is always sultry but I would have liked to see her hair a little more "done"  and her makeup less shiny. 

Other "non-purple" favorites were Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein and Michelle Williams in Chanel.

I can't wait to hear more from her and get her feedback on the glamorous event.

Who were you best dressed picks for the evening?

In Bloom

How was your weekend fellow peaches?  Ours was great and I made a mess of my kitchen cooking up a storm.  I can't wait to show you some pics and recipes this week.

Yesterday I snapped some photos as I walked around the yard.  Spring is so close I can smell it!  I pruned my rose bushes and will be fertilizing some shrubs this week.  By the way, remind me next fall to plant more spring flowering bulbs.  They make me so happy!  I'm still a little disappointed that more of my daffodils didn't do well with their recent transfer.  Do bulbs have a lifespan?  Anyone know?

Here's what's in bloom down South in my yard.

A lilac bush in a pot on the back deck.  I purchased it last spring and have been thinking about the perfect spot for it.  I've heard they're temperamental but my mom loves them.   This plant is for her!  I hope I can make it work.

A hydrangea cutting (also in a pot on the back deck) from my sister's yard.  Love free plants.

One of two lonely daffodil blooms.  Must plant more...

One of two forsythia bushes I butchered two years ago during a heavy pruning. Apparently, you can't kill them!  Thank goodness, because I do love them despite their awkward branches and sporadic growth patterns.

One of two Loropetalum shrubs I planted last year.  These things are gorgeous, evergreen and grow quickly!

Rows of Daylillies...I love their hardiness but I dread dividing them (again) this year.  Anyone want some?

And this blooming Amaryllis literally took my breathe away when I walked into the kitchen this morning.  I've been watering it for six weeks and now here she is in all her beauty on our back deck for some fresh air!  It was a Christmas gift so I felt a bit of pressure to have some success with this plant.  

What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

Sunday Best

Untitled by yoursouthernpeach on Polyvore.com

Valentino dress
$795 - valentino.com

Lanvin bow heel
$795 - aloharag.com

Marc Jacobs leather handbag
350 GBP - harveynichols.com

Kate spade earring
$66 - katespade.com

Sydney Evan rose gold ring
$3,100 - ylang23.com

Hat
$225 - barneys.com

Ray Ban ray ban sunglass
$145 - ray-ban.com

Loose Powder Blush in Rosy
$16 - topshop.com

Rouge Volupte Pearle - 102: Coral Sun
$34 - barneys.com

What's Cookin' this Weekend?

Le Creuset, Flexible Angled Spatula, Deviled Egg Platter, Mortar & Pestle, Cheese Plane

I plan on getting some cooking hours under my belt this weekend and I'm looking forward to sharing some recipes with you next week.  

In the meantime, I've been thinking about some essentials that my kitchen is missing and  while I try to keep kitchen gadgets to a minimum, I think these items would last me a lifetime.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Pocket Full of Sunshine

I'm not sure what all today has in store for me, but I do plan to soak up some sunshine...

(Photo Credit: Thank you to the talented Morning Light in My Room)

Picture Perfect Day

We went picnicking up at my in-laws farm yesterday and had a picture perfect day.  

Fed the fish and spotted "the" turtle....

  

I confess, these little creatures are growing on me...slowly.

 Can't visit the farm without a tractor ride...

A surprise Oreo for Grandpa! Signed independently and proudly by Luke.  

I hope you're having a picture perfect day.  

Bloom

We've been spending a lot of time outside lately since the weather has been so heavenly here in Georgia. All over the garden, I see little green tips peeking through the dirt and I can't help but daydream about the gorgeous blooms that are soon to come. One of the most rewarding part about gardening for me is bringing in cut flowers to enjoy. Here are some of my favorites that I'm looking forward to.

Dahlias

Daffodils

Peonies

This week I planted some lily of the valley in hopes that they'll bloom this summer.  Fingers crossed!

What blooms are you most anticipating with warmer weather?

7 Must Have Accessories for New Moms

It was exactly a one year ago today that I was pregnant with my youngest son and enjoying my baby shower hosted by my sisters.  Now I'm thrilled that my little sister is expecting her first child and I'm in the process of planning a fabulous celebration for her.  I also have several closest friends expecting so I thought now would be a great time to pass along some style advice for new moms.

For me, transitioning to motherhood was tricky as I found myself in uncharted territory.  There were so many changes going on both physically and emotionally that there were times I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone.  Fear Not!  That won't happen to you my dear because I'm going to give you 7 secret weapons to combat those zombies.

While you're obsessing over how to decorate the nursery, what kind of bottles to use and what to name the little angel, I'm thinking of you!  Before that bundle of joy shows up on your doorstep, make sure to stock up on these seven stylish accessories every new mom (and seasoned mom) needs to look and feel your best.

1.  Uber-Stylish Diaper Bag- Just because your little darling will be decked out in pastel pink or baby blue doesn't mean you need to look like a walking nursery too.  Trust me when I tell you that you will get tired of carrying around a "diaper" bag.

2.  The sidekick to the uber-stylish diaper bag and one of my personal must have baby items, the Skip Hop Pronto changing pad.  It slides right into your bag and makes changing diapers a snap when you're on the go.

3.   A comfortable and cute pair of flats.  I'm not suggesting you throw out your collection of heels but they may not see as much action as they used to.  That doesn't give you a free pass to wear tennis shoes everyday though. 

4.  A great pair of stud earrings, ones with sparkle preferably!  You can wear these anywhere and still look gorgeous.  All those hoops and dangle earrings are too tempting for baby.  Let's keep those earlobes intact.

5.  Okay ladies, this next one is probably the most overlooked.  Invest in a new and well made bra.  I love this place and they'll make sure you walk out feeling like a million bucks.  

6.  No one has to know you were up all night!  Hide those dark circles and hit the town celebrity style by throwing on a pair of glamorous shades.

7.  Last but not least, a quick coat of gloss can do wonders for your complexion and your confidence.  I have lipsticks and glosses tucked away in my bag, my car, my kitchen drawer, my nightstand...

Take note that these 7 things would look great with jeans and a tee or a little black dress.  Being a new mom is all about flexibility and while you may sacrifice some sleep, don't sacrifice your sense of style.  Look great, feel great and stay among the living!

Best Wishes to all!

Sunday Best

Untitled by yoursouthernpeach featuring court shoes

Green/orange stripe dress
40 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
Green cotton dress »

Rag & Bone / Highbury Coat
$895 - lagarconne.com
Double breasted coats »

ASYMMETRIC COURT SHOE - Shoes - Woman - New collection - ZARA Italy
zara.com
Court shoes »

5 Zip Clutch
$295 - rebeccaminkoff.com
Rebecca minkoff handbags »

Pin Ball Stud Earrings - Plain - Necklaces - Gold | Ippolita
$425 - ippolita.com
Gold jewelry »

4K Gold Plated Sunburst Cocktail Ring
50 GBP - coggles.com
House of harlow 1960 jewelry »

Beige Exotic Country Glove
$350 - stylebop.com
Beige gloves »

Kate Spade Women's Clementine Sunglasses
$138 - endless.com
Glass shades »

Buckled Fedora Hat at Spiegel.com
$29 - spiegel.com
Fedora hats »

Blush in Pinch
$12 - topshop.com

Bumble and Bumble - Styling Creme 250ml/8oz
$40 - yesstyle.com

Land's End Canvas

Maybe I'm getting old....maybe I'm getting wiser...but I've gotten to the point in my life where I want quality over quantity.

After cleaning out my closets, I realized how many of my clothing purchases made in my twenties were based on trends, which is fine.  But now that I'm in my 30's, I've come to expect a little more for my money.  In comes Land's End Canvas.

I originally discovered this line a few months ago while shopping for a jacket for my son.  I'm not a regular Sears shopper but one of the Land's End catalogs got me into their store to see the product line in person.  While there, I was drawn to the classic yet youthful vibe of Land's End Canvas but simply browsed without purchasing anything for myself.  While checking out, the representative informed me of the Land's End guarantee and I was sold instantly.

I later returned to pick up a few things for myself from the Land's End Canvas line like this and these and these.  I also love these new spring arrivals like this and this and these.

To top it off, I received this in the mail a few days ago.  Yes, it's a hand written note from my local Land's End Canvas representative.  If that doesn't say quality, I don't know what does.

I think Land's End and I will be friends for a very long time.

I am a superhero

When you become a mother, you become part superhero.  At least to your kids anyway.  I thought I'd share what that looks like.  

On any given day, you can find me searching for three-eyed space aliens...

Building enormous roads and bridges with the local construction crew....

Rushing to the call of duty with emergency crews...

Constructing the tallest buildings in the world...

Rescuing Thomas and friends from a dangerous derailment....

And saving Sir Topham Hat from an unsightly death...

All in a days work.  The best part is I get paid in hugs and kisses.  It's really a dream job.

Thanks for visiting today.

Green Space

I like gardening...not to be confused with love.  Truth be told, I get all my motivation from my older sister who is an amazing gardener.  She makes it look so easy.  Yes, she's one of those kind.  My mother in law is also an inspiration because she's not afraid to experiment which is how my brain works best.

At times, I get overwhelmed when I think about my yard because it's so big that I don't really know where to start.  It's not as big as the farm, but it's plenty of space for us.  Most of the trees and shrubs are very mature so just keeping those pruned and neat is a challenge in itself.  

A few years back I added some perennial garden space for me to play with as somewhat of an experiment.  Remember, it was my inspiration for my very first post?  (Don't ya just love how I just jumped right into blogging?  No introduction at all, just here ya go world....this is how I start my day!)  Oh, and by the way, that rose bush ended up dying so I hope that's not foreshadowing the life of this blog.  Let's look at it as an opportunity for a new beginning!  Back to green spaces.

I know that for many of us a large yard is a luxury but sometimes I wonder if a smaller space would be just as sufficient at meeting my need for some green space.  During my trip to Tokyo a few years ago, I was surprised at the amount of green space in the city.  They take advantage of every nook and cranny and it looks quite lovely amid the structure of the city.  I love how Hello Sandwich captures the smaller gardens of Tokyo.  (Thank you for allowing me to share your lovely images HS.)

With spring right around the corner here in Georgia, I'm curious how you approach gardening?  Do you carefully plan out designs and layouts or are you a go with the flow kinda gardener who experiments season to season?