Kitty Claws

Hello kitties! I am so super sorry it has been so long. I am certain that I could make up a hundred different reasons for neglecting my loyal followers (all 8 of you, I love you dearly), but it would all be simply words. So, let me say that I am sorry and leave it at that. Also, I am a mother to a one-year old who works full time and has a very demanding social life, so get off my back. Just kidding! :)

So on to the post ...

Those of you who know me know that I NEVER wear nail polish. Never. I've tried it. It lasts for about a day, and then it chips and looks terrible. Apparently I am very rough on my nails. Who knew? I do, however, file them and shape them constantly, and keep them relatively long-ish. You can thank MamaDukes for that, I remember watching her filing her pretty long nails as she watched her evening programs ... she's the one who inspired me to finally stop biting them off!

Anyway, I am a loyal follower of Erika over at Cafe Fashionista. My decidedly un-fashionable self lives vicariously through her Tightwad Tuesdays, Thrifty Thursdays, Fashionably Moi, and various other amazing contests and giveaways that I drool over and desperatly try to win but never do (pick me, Erika, pick me!). As I was browsing I found that she mentioned a nail polish blog she adores, and curious me decided to take a look. You see, I do do the toesies - I love me a good pedicure, and try to get one at LEAST once a month - and I am always looking for the funnest shades. Lo and behold, this kitten has been smitten with the nail stylings of Scrangie.

Oh. My. God. For really, I don't think I even knew you could DO this to nails!!! And the colors! Oh dear lord, so pretty!!!! Here is just a sampling of my favorites .... enjoy my sweet kitties!

This is a manicure technique she is calling the "Ruffian manucure" - soooo super cute!!! i love the colors! I really do wonder if I could pull something like this off ...

I love these colors too -- the gold is so pretty!

And here we go with THREE different colors . sooo pretty! I don't know about the red on the bottom though, it kind of looks like her cuticles are bleeding ....

I am simply MAD for this color!!! It's called Nicole ... Spotted and its in OPI's new Gossip Girl collection. For really? LOVE! I kind of have a thing for sparkly anyway, and this is just to die.

This gorgeous black matte polish is something I'm not sure I could EVER pull off, but maybe if I get braver I'd give it a shot. It's called Obscure, and it's by OPI.

I kind of really love this too. I went through a phase in high school where I would ONLY wear this color blue. I had it in sweaters, shirts, t-shirts ... and as soon as I saw this polish, it brought me right back there. Man, I loved that color .... this one is very fittingly called Raindrops, by Illamasqua. Never heard of the brand, but they sure make purty colors!

Razzle Dazzle. Um, OK. If I had to pick a color now to wear every day like I did in high school, I would TOTALLY pick this color. But it would have to have all the luminescent shine that this polish does, otherwise, forget it. Just gorgeous. And sparkly! Me likey! Oh - this is called Razzle Dazzle, by Deborah Lippmann.

I am really liking this one a lot too. It's softer, and I think it would be a good foray for me into the world of polish. Nice for every day wear, but still pretty and sparkly enough if I plan to go out ... 'cuz I do that all the time. Really. Stop laughing. Moms can have a life too, you know. OK. I'm lying. This would like nice on my nails as I sit on my couch feeling sorry for myself and my lack of a life. And its called Scandal, Secrets and Sparkle, all of which I need in my life, by OPI.

Oh this is another one by Deborah Lippman. SO pretty! Look at how many different sizes there are of the sparklies!!! I love this, but I wonder if it would look really juvenile on my nails ... still. Love. And, it's called Some Enchanted Evening. Man, I'd love to have a job naming nail polishes I'll never wear. What a cool job that must be. Nail Polish Namer.

Ready for the similarities between different nail polish colors? Take a look here. I really love this (well, these) color(s). Again, I'm just not sure I could wear this, it's super dark, but I do really love it. Again, maybe I can work my way up to this ... but these are 4 different colors! For really! Scrangie says its, from left to right (pinkie to index), OPI Party at 3 AM, OPI Blues in the Night, OPI Unripened, & Jessica Casablanca. Interesting that 3 of these shades are made by the same company! How do they not see it and say, oh, gee whiz, this looks just like Blues in the Night!

Anyhoo, kittens, what do you think? Do you experiment with nail polish? Scrangie talks about layering different shades, and uses all kinds of neat manicure techniques and all that ... what's the wildest thing you've ever done to your nails?

--XOXO, Bree.

Ruche Lookbook is out!

Wheeeeeeeeee! I love this time of year! You are oh-so-sad to see the gorgeous weather go, but the stores start to fill with riding boots and sweaters and cardigans --- oh my! And in my humble opinion, Ruche has captured what I wish I could look like this fall. If I had my way, this would be me, all season long. Thank you!

Open publication - Free publishing - More shopruche

I recently came across these AWESOME jewelery designs from Finestra Designs. I know my all my kitties know that I am the biggest bleeding heart, like, ever, so it warms my little, er, heart, that Finestra donates 20% of all profits to a wide array of wonderful causes - from the Red Cross, to Doctors Without Borders, to the Nature Conservatory, to Susan G. Komen (plus many more!). What I LOVE about these pieces is that each and every design can be made into earrings, bracelets or pendants - you pick the style, she'll set it for you. LOVE!

There are so many gorgeous pieces it's hard to choose the few I love the mostest, but I'll try!!!

I give you the Orion Nebula on a chain:

Don't like it in gold? This accomodating artist will do it for you in sterling silver or "antique finish" - which is basically like brushed silver. Gorj!

At about the size of a quarter, you can now wear the artist's own photograph of the sun setting over the Alaskan forest:

Aren't these just Oh-My-Word beautiful?

In an ode to my affinity for all things country, how about this beautiful, lonely looking little barn, in a stunning black and white photo from the artist's own work:

I will leave you with one last one, from the artist's artist friend (oh man I am good at the words) John Sherman- how can you not want ALL of these?!! For $35 each, they are a steal & a half!!!

And just so you can see how gorg they would would be sitting on your pretty little neck:

OK, kittens, now trot on over to Finestra and buy yourself a pretty little something.  :)  Enjoy!!!

Farm Weddings

Good afternoon Kittens!

Sorry its been so long - this has been the craziest, wedding/birthday/BBQ/getaway filled summer I think I have ever had. Its been a whirwind of fun-ness, but that makes me one tired Kitty Cat! Ah well, what can you do - it makes me happy to have so many people who want me to share in their special celebrations!

After this past weekend, I can scratch yet another wedding off my list - which leaves me with just one very special day left of the season. In the spirit of all things nuptial, I'd like to present to you a little wedding inspiration. Lord knows my asthetic leans towards country/rustic-chic. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the frilly, girly romantic sort of weddings, as well as the vintage, classic style, and drool over the modern chic - but if I could plan my own wedding again, I'd stick with the sunflowers and barns and sunshiny-yellows. Oddly enough, there aren't many working farms that lend out their lands for us to hold a fete in Worcester county, otherwise you know you would have seen this bride petting cows in her bridal portraits ...

And so, I live vicariously through the gorgeous pictures I find on the interweb. Like, hey, here's one now!

Oh, South Carolina, I love you and your stylish weddings!!!

Ashley Baber sure knows how to throw a gorgeous wedding - the details of this one just make you want to savor each moment. Somehow they have made a farm wedding frilly and girly and sooooo pretty!

Where else but Vermont would some of the most stunning farm weddings be held - and who else but Kingdom Photography would shoot such a gorgeous day?!

Finally, for your viewing pleasure, a few from my extensive archives .... credit given when I can remember where it was from (hey, nobody reads this thing anyway, I doubt I'll be sued for copywrite infringement or whatever).

Pollen

OnceWed

Don't Remember - Sorry pretty Egg Bride!

StyleMePretty

Sweetest Occasion

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Sweetest Occasion

Style Me Pretty

Style Me Pretty

Babycakes is One

Holy-moly-britches. It is really amazing how fast time passes. I mean, I know people say that, but really ... I remember the days leading up to today last year, sitting in the rocker in her room, petting my giant fat ginormous belly and telling Miss Chloe that it was OK to come out, that her room was all set and ready for her, and she would really like it here, and I promised to hug her and kiss her every day. I told her that her daddy gave great hugs too, and begged her to come out so we could meet her ... and then she did.

And she was so teeny and cute and sleepy. Its hard to believe that she was really this small once ...

There are a lot of things I really miss about those first few days with my funny little girl ...

And then some things that I don't miss quite so much ....

I must say that I feel so blessed to wake up every single morning, and I see this little face staring up at me, loving me unconditionally, always with a big smile (she's not like her mommy in the morning!)

There was something almost surreal about her first year photo shoot with the amazingly talented Lynn Quinlivan. On the one hand, it was so awesome that my baby girl is now SO fun, and seemingly happy all the time, and actually seems to understand what I say to her sometimes. There are parts of her being a one-year-old that is just so cool - but the mommy in me can't help but think if this first year went by this fast --- will the rest of it go by like that too?

Either way, I think the only thing that I can really do is just sit back, relax, and enjoy the Peanut's childhood. I've decided to make it my mission in life to make sure that I see that smile every single day, and that she has the happiest possible childhood that me and her Daddy can give her.

I hope you all enjoy these gorgeous photos as much as we do! Thank you SO much Lynn, you were truly a joy to work with! If you want any more information about Lynn Quinlivan's work, please feel free to shoot me a message!!!

Edible Crayons!

Oh heck yes!!!!

Luxirare, you are genius.

Haaat.

Not for you, for your darling little one! There is nothing cuter than a little baby - except maybe a little baby in a little hat. Sooo cute! I began my search looking for sun hats for the babe, and OH! I found so much more than sun hats ... but sun hats sure are a greeeaatt place to start!

This first one comes from Bee in Your Bonnet - a super sweet company that specializes in kids bonnets. Everyone knows how much adore yellow, so not terribly shocking that was drawn to this one!

Next we have this SUPER cute and REVERSIBLE sun hat from Madame Jordan, over at - where else - etsy! I love the colors - red and navy is so cute, and I am a sucker for polka dots on the wee one!

I know its barely even August, but if you ask all the shops out there, apparently its time to start preparing for fall. So, OK!!! I will prepare the Peanut for her fall hat collection, starting with this sweetie from Monnalisa!!!!

I kinda want to die for loving this so much. I can just SEE Miss Chloe in this darling ... for about 10 seconds until she pulls it off her head. But still! Those are an amazingly cute 10 seconds!!!

This cloche from Simonetta is super cute too --- the white isn't terrible practical, but the cloche shape is really sweet on little ones.

OK, you really can't blog about baby hats unless you mention the DOZENS of sweet little crocheted things over on etsy (and just about everywhere else). They lend themselves to some SUPER cute baby pics, and there is such a variety of colors and styles available its almost daunting trying to pick one. So, I go buy how cute the model is ... and this one is pretty darn cute -- I love animal ears! Squee! Lets just pinch those squishy little cheeks!!!! Oh ... and the photographer's name is apparently Bree. Weird, right?!

Moms of boys, don't despair! There are some super cute options for YOUR little one too! From fedoras to this sweet little newsboy cap from Dolce & Gabbana, your DS can be decked out in hat-rockin' style too!

Cold weather isn't so far away, and when you live in New England, its never a bad idea to prepare for it early - it could be just around the corner for all we know!!! This comfy looking set from Juicy Couture is perfect for the frigid temperatures we see - ugh, I don't even really want to think about it! Unless they have this in my size, in which case, I'll think about it for a little while ...

OK, excuse me while I go max out my credit card on hats ... ta-ta for now!