Tori Anna Designs

I came across this vendor over the Christmas holiday and fell in love.  The line includes handbags, tote bags, cosmetic bag.  Some are equestrian-inspired like this bag below.  See it here.

I like this one even better!

You can select the leather you want on your bag too.  Love it!

The Cutest Monogram Wreath Ever

I also wanted to share with you one of my favorite Christmas gifts, a custom monogrammed wreath.  I added the pink and black bow and plan to change the bow with the seasons.  Love this! 

The Most Adorble Magazine Rack, I Mean Grooming Tote

I wanted to share with you this lovely custom grooming tote that I ordered for someone for Christmas. It came from Etsy and it is lovely.  These make wonderful gifts or better yet, order one for yourself. You can see them here.  It has many uses.......grooming tote, magazine rack, do-dad holder, office organizer......

Needless to say, the new owner loves it!

Prep is Not Dead

Prep is not dead.  At least when it comes to needlepoint.  I love this Christmas ornament (which is really the mascot of Sweet Briar College) but you don't need to be an alum to love this.  The only place to get this is from Adornment Needlepoint in Winston-Salem, NC.  Thinking I might need one of these for my tree next year!

Are you old enough to remember when we wore gold belt buckles with changeable strips? Yes, I am.  Now they are back but with these adorable needlepoint belts strips.  The bottom one is my favorite, so Pucci.

And of course, the needlepoint cumberbum.  How many of these did you see many moons ago?  They are back!

Most of this stuff is from Kate Dickerson (the designer) and can be purchased or ordered at most needlepoint shops.  Stitch til you drop!

Jolly January

Some people get the "January Blues" when winter finally sets in (unless you live in the Southwestern US, since you had winter already) but I have learned to cherish the month as a time of "down time" to do things I typically don't have time to do once I get over feeding horses and mucking stalls in 14 degree weather.  Like what you might be asking?  Well.......

1) Go to the Movies
The Big Short is on my list for later this week and then I have an entire list of about 15 movies to see. I never have time to go to the movies but this year I want to see as many Oscar contenders as possible.

2) Clean My House
Spring cleaning?  Not here.  Winter is more like it.  By the time the birds are singing outside I am ready to join them.

3) Needlepoint
That West Point belt may finally be finished by month's end.  I want to tackle the powder room rug that has been sitting in my closet for four years too! I have been wanting to stitch this for my living room.

4) Dinner Parties
There's nothing more fun to me than planning and giving a great dinner party with the right mix of guests, a gorgeous table, linens, crystal, silver flatware and great food.

5) Watch Downton Abbey Reruns
Reruns as well as the new season which started Sunday.  I am so sad it is all ending but then I am on to House of Cards.  A friend is lending me the entire series.

6) The Playoffs
My team is well positioned this year.  Need I say more?

 7) The Australian Open 

Tennis returns with a vengance this month and the Open and all of the warm-ups are so much fun to watch.  Cannot wait!!!

2016 Resolutions

2016 will be a year of many changes.  I am hoping that I can adopt some of these resolutions this year and ingrain them into my busy life. We'll see......

1) Learn More
Starting this week, I am devoting one evening a week to taking an on-line class.  There are so many options out there, mostly free of charge, that enable you to broaden your horizons with some great minds. Here's one for you to start with.... No excuses not to learn anymore.  None.

2) Read More Books
I used to be a voracious reader but have gotten out of the habit and now don't read that much. Turn off your television, get off your cell phone and computer and read a great book.  Here are a few that I plan to tackle this year.

3) Yoga
Farm chores have taken a toll on me and I am struggling with some new issues that have kept me from my regular runs for many months.  I am hoping that some yoga lessons will help me and enable me to get back some of my old favorites like running and swimming.

4) Learn Dressage
Baby April (if we can keep her sound) will be enlisted in a new program starting this month (that is the plan anyway).  She will be put in front of two very knowledgeable trainers for evaluation first and then lessons. Who knows, maybe we'll be turning in our jumping saddle for a dressage saddle by midyear.

5) Travel More Often
We have a great trip to Lake Louise and Banff planned for 2016 but I also hope to spend more time at the family beach cottage and also in the mountains of North Carolina.

6) Eat Better
Like many Americans I have terrible eating habits but my goal this year is to get off processed food.  

7) Spend More Quality Time with My Horses and Get Lola Started
2015 was an "out of control" year in many ways.  Too busy, too fast, too focused, too everything.  Slow it down this year!  Enjoy the moments, spend more time just listening and observing.  Lola will start her horse show career this year, hopefully!

So what did we accomplish in 2015?  Well, let's see.......

1) Alfie won his first year-end title and he'll collect his trophies next week. We finally did it!

2) We ended the broken arm saga, three surgeries and many months of physical therapy.

3) Completed the living room renovation.

4) Completed the cabin decorating.


5) Traveled A lot!
We made two trips to Boston, one trip to Beaufort, one trip to Florida, one trip to NYC, two trips to Pittsburgh and two to Blowing Rock.  That's a lot for us in one year.  We likely won't travel that much this year but it was fun!

Whatever Happened to Carroll Reed?

Are you old enough and preppy enough to remember Carroll Reed?  I loved getting their catalog in the mail, it was like Christmas every time it came (although I was rarely allowed to buy anything).

The stores are long gone but at one time there were as many as 54 stores. The Carroll Reed Ski Shops Inc. was started by Carroll Purinton Reed who built his company around skiing.  He became involved in retailing with Saks Fifth Avenue, which had a ski store (way cool idea, by the way) in North Conway, NH. When that store was shut down, Reed re-opened the shop under his own name.
Reed sold the chain in 1969. By 1985, it was owned by Charles M. Leighton’s CML Group, which also owned prep icon Boston Whaler and The Nature Company. CML sold the company to Swire Pacific in 1990. It was mostly downhill after that. Reed died in 1995. It was later purchased by D.M. Management, which later became J. Jill, for just over $6 million.

Carroll Reed had a sad ending, with the company shutting it down in 1996. You can read about Mr. Reed here who was instrumental in promoting skiing in New England.

Remember the old Geiger Jackets?  You can buy them vintage on Etsy.

At one time Talbots (the old one, not the one we have today) and Carroll Reed were "the" places to shop for preppy girls.  Sad ending for a great brand. Seems like J Crew is headed down the same path to destruction. Love seeing the vintage pieces on Ebay and Etsy. Fun to stroll down memory lane from time-to-time isn't it?