Happy PINK Friday!!!

Yesterday, I hope you ate like no one was watching. I did!!! 

Today, I hope you shop like the bill isn't coming. I definitely will!!!

Get your spiked heels on and elbows out ... this is the biggest shopping day of the year. 

I can just feel the endorphins release!!! Let's support the economy and shop our hearts out!!! 

Happy Pink Friday to you and yours!!! Xoxo-BLC

PS: I spent my PINK Friday morning with Beantown Prepster!!! She is an absolute hoot and I sooo wish we lived closer so we could get together more often. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and yours!!! It is time to give thanks and be glad it in. I am very thankful for a wonderful family, entertaining friends, and good times. Our family celebration requires tryptophan hangovers and breaking out the fat pants. I had my cake (and turkey, and pie, and stuffing) and ate it too!!! Time to run in a Turkey Trot, watch the Macy's Parade, and, of course eat, drink, and be merry. What are you thankful for today??? Enjoy!!! Xoxo-BLC

PS: I am also thankful for TCSK and all her readers --- YOU!!! Today is TCSK's second birthday. Let's celebrate!!! :)

Pre-Thanksmas Thinspiration

Thanksmas (n.): Thanksgiving + Christmas.
Over-indulge at Thanksmas? Me? I would never ... 

Just as a precautionary measure, a little pre-Thanksmas thinspiration is in order.

I think I can manage Mary Phillips balanced diet!!! 

I am going to keep the fat pants close by, just in case. :) Xoxo-BLC

Come Bearing Gifts

My childhood best friend and her sweet husband came over for our first holiday dinner party tonight. Gracious as always, she came with a beautiful bouquet of Fall flowers in hand. We are thoroughly enjoying the sight and smell of that bunch! Her gift made me think: it is a gift to give the right gift. Hostess gifts are unexpected, yet immensely appreciated. As we all gear up for holiday soirees, I thought I would share my favorite hostess gifts to give: (1) fun cocktail napkins and a cutsy corkscrew; (2) a nice bottle of wine in a decorative bag that compliments dinner or dessert; (3) a decorative match box and accompanying candle; (4) ornaments tailored to the hostess passion are sure to please; (5) reusable market bags filled with fresh herbs from your garden; or, (6) as my BFF did, flowers are always a perfect fit!!! Remember to know your hostess well (ex: if they do not partake in adult beverages, do not bring vino). Do you have fantastic hostess gift to share? Cheers to giving the right hostess gift!!! Xoxo-BLC

Artworks by AK Daves

I do believe I have the most talented friends and family. My dear friend AK is no exception!!! She is a self-taught artist and rather fabulous at painting. In fact, she is sooo great, she was recently featured in the magazine In Style!!! I snatched up my copy, told the check-out girl, and even called home about it. I am just sooo proud of her and I am beyond thrilled for her success. That painting sold quick, but these are available:

Brigid's Sunset

Size: 11 x 9 inches

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Frame: Gallery WrapBright

Acrylic painting with hot pinks, blues, and yellows

Grass

Size: 14 x 14 inches

Medium: Acrylic and Colored Pencil

Frame: Unframed

Bright Acrylic paint with colored pencil

http://www.artandak.com/

Waynesville Garden

Size 36 x 24 inches

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Frame: Unframed

Bright colors blended together create the impression of a flower garden.

http://www.artandak.com/

Newest Bedroom

Size 48 x 48 inches

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Frame: Gallery Wrap

Acrylic painting with lots of texture

Newest Bedroom is AK's newbie painting. Don't you want to take it home with you??? I do!!! I could decorate an entire room around these warm, inviting colors. In Style and I agree: Artworks by AK is a must-have one-of-a-kind!!! Cheers to AK and many thanks for making my life more colorful sweet friend. Xoxo-BLC

Touchdowns and Tailgate Trivia

Stepmadre, Daddy, me, and Ale  attended the Wake Forest v. Clemson football game in Winston-Salem. We are alllll smiles after our Tigers won. I do believe this makes us bowl-eligible. Woohoo!!!

You cannot tell from the picture, but I wore this dress with dark brown riding boots:

And I learned a little tailgate trivia too. Which story do you believe??? Ale would surely pick the grilled sausages at Princeton and I pick picnic baskets at Yale!!! Tailgate cheers to you and yours. Xoxo-BLC

Some More Please

One of my favorite things about Fall is campfires!!! And no campfire is complete without s'mores. My favorite recipes:

1. Back to Basics: 1 regular marshmallow, 4 Hershey chocolate squares, and 1 graham cracker sheet. Toast the marshmallow and place on chocolate loaded graham cracker. Squeeze and enjoy!!!

2. Peanut-Butter-Cup: 1 regular marshmallow, 1 Reese cup, and 1 graham cracker sheet. Toast the marshmallow and place on top of Reese cup. Squish with the graham cracker and dive in!!!

3. Pretty in Pink: 1 strawberry marshmallow, 1 whole strawberry, and 1 graham cracker sheet. Lightly toast marshmallow and strawberry. Place on graham cracker and enjoy!!!

Do you have a favorite s'more recipe!??? Do share!!! Cheers to enjoying Fall to the fullest. Xoxo-BLC

PS: Did you know they make "campfire marshmallows"??? They are jumbo-huge ... as big as my fist!!! 

Worth every fat-free calorie. :)

The Latest Dish {G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y}

Always ready to dish, are we??? I am!!! 

Well then, these decked-out plates by Dani Notes Stationary are the perfect dish to talk of. 

The latest dish: Dani Notes Stationary is graciously offering one TCSK reader a set of four plates. 

Aren't these custom dishes d-i-v-i-n-e???

Check out her shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/daninotes. To enter to win, leave a comment by Monday, November 29th. No blog? Just leave your email address. For extra entries, blog, tweet, like Dani Notes Stationary on Facebook, or follow Dani Notes Blog. Be sure to leave an extra comment for an extra entry!!! A big thanks to Dani Notes Stationary for hosting this super giveaway and many thanks to all TCSK readers. Cheers to the latest dish!!! Xoxo-BLC

Bootie Call

I prefer timeless, classic pieces than fall victim to fashion trends. 

I counted myself out when "booties" became fashionable last Fall. 

Well, I did until this Fall when I saw these black beauty booties.

How could I say no to the darrrling ruffle edge???

Comfortablish and fashion forward, I fell prey to this $22.00 bootie call.

Do you do the bootie too??? Xoxo-BLC

MarTEAni

I recently picked up the magazine Traditional Home ...

...  only to find this untraditional, but divine marTEAni recipe.

Cheers to merging tea time with cocktail hour!!! Xoxo-BLC

The New Queens of Green

A big congratulations to Kat of Pretty in Pink and Green!!! According to random.org, you are commenter number eight and that makes you the lucky winner of The Pink Pelican's Tote-ally Green Giveaway!!! Please email me at thecompanyshekeeps@gmail.com to collect your Loose Lilly Tote Queen of Green. Congratulations and enjoy enjoy enjoy. Many thanks to all TCSK readers who entered!!! All TCSK readers receive 10% off at The Pink Pelican by entering "irecycle10" when checking out.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your recycling tips and everyone had such great ideas. My first favorite: Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore who said, "I like to use tissue paper for wrapping gifts because it is a lot better for the environment than all of that heavy stock wrapping paper! xx" Well I never knew that!!! More tissue wrapping for me. My second favorite: Daninotes who said, "My three little guys are great at recycling, reducing, and reusing. Junk mail, magazines, and cardboard packing from food are great toys! They will cut, color, and create the most amazing things ... and then I can still put it in the recycling bins!" I bet their creations are divine --- and green too. If you two email me at thecompanyshekeeps@gmail.com, I will send you a little surcie for sharing such great green tips!!! Cheers to living life more green (and pink too)!!! Xoxo-BLC

The Bangles

I absolutely adore bangles.

The band and the bracelets. All sizes, shapes, and colors.

Too high? Nonsense! Wear bangles well by stacking high or keeping it simple with just one.

 I am fond of bangles by Devon Baer, Alexis Bittar, and Lilly Pulitzer.

Do you love bangles too? The band or the bracelets???

Happy (manic) Friday!!! Xoxo-BLC

Happy Veterans Day!!!

Happy Veterans Day to you and yours!!! Today I am respectfully honoring and remembering the service our military veterans have generously given to our great country. A special thanks to my paternal grandfather, my maternal grandfather, Paparazzi, and my father-in-law for their military commitment and service. To all veterans, your sacrifice does not go unnoticed nor will we ever forget your bravery. Many thanks all you Veterans!!! Attend a ceremony, parade, or say a prayer to celebrate our veterans!!! Xoxo-BLC

Birthday Wishes

Wishing my childhood best friend the very best birthday today!!! She made my childhood more colorful and she makes my life sooo much fuller. She is and will always be my very best friend.

Her bangs and my pigtails are sooo circa early 1990s, but face-painted elephants never go out of style!!! Neither do fabulous friendships. I am thrilled my bestie shares a birthday with the great style icon Lilly Pulitzer!!! Two favorites, one fun day: a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both. Xoxo-BLC

A Bloomie's Birthday Bash!!!

Did you know tomorrow is a VERY special day??? 

Two of my favorite people celebrate birthdays tomorrow. Let's celebrate!!!

One of the birthday girls is hosting this birthday offer with Bloomies: 20% off the Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2010 Collection? Count me in!!! $500.00 spent wins a Resort tote??? Count me in!!! No Bloomies in my area ... boo hoo hoo. It's Lilly's birthday party and I will cry if I want to. Wishing the Queen of the Jungle, Mrs. Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau, the very best birthday tomorrow!!! Xoxo-BLC

The Real Housewives of SNL

I have a large guilty pleasure appetite for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, New York, New Jersey, DC, Orange County, Atlanta, etc. The new girls on the block, The Real Housewives of SNL, are no exception:

Talk about the perfect spoof and what a hoot!!! Based on the tweets from most of my favorite housewives, they found it rather funny too. If you cannot laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at??? Cheers to making lots and lots and lots of funnies. Xoxo-BLC

Tote-ally Green {G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y}

Did you know November 15th is America Recycles Day? This calls for a celebration: The Pink Pelican is graciously offerring one TCSK reader this Loose Lilly Tote in Queen of Green!!! Isn't it lovely? Well it gets better, The Pink Pelican is also giving away this tote and four other Queen of Green items on their blog. Be sure to enter that giveaway too for an extra chance to win. To enter to win this giveaway, leave a comment by November 15th, 2010. No blog? Just leave your email address. If you have a great recycling tip, be sure to share that tip!!! I started The Clothes She Kept as an attempt to go green and keep my closet clean (The average American throws away 68lbs of clothing a year. Yikes!!!). Don't forget to enter The Pink Pelican's giveaway for a second chance to win this tote and other Queen of Green items!!! A very special thanks to The Pink Pelican for offering such a generous giveaway. Xoxo-BLC

PS: The Pink Pelican is also offering ALL The Company She Keeps readers 10% off. Just enter "irecycle10" when checking out!!! Happy shopping to you and yours. :)

Cruise into Christmas ...

Did you know ALL the Lilly Pulitzer cruisers sold out??? Well almost.

You still have a chance to win a Lilly Pulitzer cruiser when you spend $500.00 at Pink Boulevard. With flip-flop friendly pedals this ride is perfect "at beaches, around town, along boardwalks, to farmer's markets, to wherever your stylish life takes you." So go on: do a little Christmas shopping at Pink Boulevard and keep your fingers crossed that you win!!! Xoxo-BLC

For the Love of Democracy

When it comes to politics, 

I think the King said it best: 

"I little less conversation, 

a little more action please." 

Exercise your freedom of choice ...

... and go VOTE today!!! 

Xoxo-BLC

Happy All Saints' Day!!!

I am wishing you a very happpppy All Saints' Day!!! This holiday celebrates all of the holy apostles, saints, martyrs, and confessors that were made perfect by His grace and who rest throughout the world. An extra bonus: half priced candy corn. Cheers to the Saints!!! Xoxo-BLC