J Crew Holiday Picks

J Crew is waiting a bit late this year to roll out their holiday attire but I don't think you'll be disappointed as I personally have been underwhelmed by what I am seeing online at other retailers.  Some of these clothes remind me of the J. Crew of old, so let's hope they are trending in that direction.  There are a ton of things I love and the real roll out comes next week but some things are available for preorder online.  Some of these will surely sell-out quickly!

I can't figure out why they put three pockets on this jacket.  I'd be tempted to take the one off up top if that is possible.  But even with that, this is really cute.  See it here.

While this does not immediately scream "holiday" I do like that it's cotton and silk so I would dress this up a bit for the holidays.  I love this print that they took out of the decorating books.  Zebras are everywhere at J Crew right now.  I'd pair this with white wool pants, a black cardigan and a string of pearls. See it here.

The zebra shirt could also be worn with this skirt.

I love this shell and it also comes in navy which I like better.  I'd pair a white blouse underneath this and wear it throughout the holidays.  See it here.  I have an older model that is all sequins, black and burgundy color block and I love it.  You'd be surprised at how often you can make an occasion festive with sequins.

This is my favorite from this roll out. This will sell out very quickly. Love this and will wear this with jeans, with wool pants with various turtlenecks underneath. See it here.

There is a lot of tartan in this roll out. Here are a few more peaks:

Holiday Attire

Christmas is coming and that means parties and events, and dressing up.  I love this season and what fun it is to pull out a great dress or top for a festive evening.  Here are some of my picks for this fabulous season.

Alice and Trixie is one of my favorite brands and this dress will look great for the holidays.  It's already sold out on their website but likely is available somewhere on the web.

(Alice and Trixie)

I love this outfit from Trina Turk.

(Trina Turk)

If you have a formal get-together in which you can go long and dress up I love this outfit which to me screams "hunt ball."  You can custom order the skirt in tea length and a short version.

(Middy n Me)

This dress is quite versatile and would work well for the holidays from Joie.

(Joie)

This Alice + Olivia skirt is versatile and chic. Pair it with black, white, a wild color like hot pink and make a fun statement for the holidays.

(Alice + Olivia)

I love these pants from J Crew and have an old pair that I wear every season. They come in four colors now and will go well with sweaters for the holidays.

(J Crew)

Little Sorrel

If you love Civil War history and horses, then you'll want to include this book on your holiday shopping list. You can buy it here.

From the book:

Little Sorrel, the beloved war horse of one of the South's greatest generals, was originally a Northerner, and at fourteen hands, was among the smallest mounts of any officer on either side. A Confederate general once called him "a sorry chestnut with a shambling gait," but one of Jackson's aides said that in battle "the old sorrel horse seemed endowed with the style and form of an Arabian." Although he was the regular mount of one the war's greatest risk-takers, he survived Stonewall Jackson by twenty-three years and received a hero's funeral more than a century after the end of the Civil War.

The horse is preserved and stuffed and can be seen at the Virginia Military Institute Museum (for real). 

Vintage Virginia Horse Show Photos

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of seeing a treasure trove of old photos, a Chronicle of the Horse magazine from the 1940's and a prize list from the Deep Run Horse Show (near Richmond, VA) from 1946.  Things were so different back then.  This is an advertisement from Brooks Brothers that appeared in the Deep Run prize list.

This photo is from the 20's or 30's and is in Culpepper, VA.  The van supposedly belonged to Hope Scott, who was a Du Pont and owned near-by Montpelier, the homeplace of President James Madison.

These photos are from various shows, some we were able to recognize. Upperville for sure below....

lll

The photo above could be from Culpepper or Warrenton or maybe some other show in Virginia. Not sure. Ideas?

Winter Essentials for the Farm

It was a chilly 23 degrees F yesterday morning so while our fall has been warm and mild, winter is warning us that it's on its way.  So I am gearing up for the winter months when I venture out to barn when it's in the single digits on a regular basis.  And this season, I'm keeping the horses in regular work all winter.  So what helps me out in these conditions?  I have a few favorites......

1) Smart Wool Socks
These are the warmest socks bar none.  They don't hold up as well as other ones, so you'll go through a pair every year or so but worth it!

2) Good Winter Gloves
This is my "go to brand" and these are very warm.  I can use them for chores and I ride in them.  

3) Dubarry Boots
I just bought my second pair. My first pair is over 5 years old and still going.  These are warm, comfortable and they last.  Totally worth the expense.

5) Anything Rambo
My horses love me for this.  These last and they don't rub.  

5) Thermatex Blankets
For horses in winter work these are a great way to cool them out.  I love wool but you don't have to dry clean these.  

6) Pool Noodles for the Water Hydrants
Sounds crazy doesn't it?  For your hydrants, never attach a hose during winter ever again.  These won't freeze ever.  Once it gets cold, take your hoses away use these to get the water into your outside water buckets.

7) Heated Water Buckets
Horses won't drink really cold water.  Eliminate this problem with bucket warmers.  

8) Anything Arcteryx
I dress in layers and the Arcteryx brand is the warmest by far. And this stuff lasts forever.  One of my shirts is 15 years old and still going strong. 

9) A Good Bottle of Wine
Nothing warms like a great Chardonnay at the end of the long cold day.

Friday Update - Fresh From the Farm

It's been a wild week hasn't it?  Who would have guessed that we would be looking at President Trump come January?  It's been a busy week here at the farm, settling into winter, with darkness now falling at 5:30 pm.  Cuts the day very short for sure.

Here are a few updates from the farm.....

1) Lola
Lola has been back in regular work after a summer hiatus due to injury and hard ground.  We have slowly brought her back, she is doing well and is at the farm where she's ridden almost every day.  Hoping to have her "show ready" by early spring.  She shows great promise as a 2'6/2'9 horse and will do very well in the OTTB shows and divisions.  She is fascinated by the cows.

2) Alfie
I decided to skip our year-end horse show this year with Alfie as we have not been showing much and were out of our routine.  The year got too busy.  He likes his limited schedule but he'll stay in work this winter for sure and will do some showing early next year.  We have a new trainer for next year and am starting a regular lesson program which we badly need.  He still has a few more year-end awards in him.

3) Sega
Sega is enjoying her retirement and loves having Lola back home.  They hang out together.  She loves the warm fall days.

4) April
My hubby has decided that April is his horse and now rides her a few days a week.  She loves having a job and the match was indeed made in heaven.

I am hoping some of you watched the Breeders' Cup.  Loved seeing Classic Empire win again (we saw him win at Keeneland in October) and hope to see him in the Derby.  Arrogate is the "real" deal.  Who thought we'd see another horse as fast as American Pharoah this soon?  He is a freak.  And hats off to Beholder who pulled out her last win in classic style like the real champion she is.  Cannot wait to see her baby!  She is being bred to Uncle Mo next year.

Happy Friday! 

Fuzzy Logic

Fur feels so good on your feet once the cold weather sets in and it's coming.  There seems to be a lot of fur flying between the catalogs I've seen this week.

Love, love, love these Gucci flat mules, if you can find them.  These were sold out last year and it's looking again like they are just as popular despite their lofty price tag.

These Nordic boots from J Crew are sure to keep the feet warm outside this winter.  I love them with the red shoe laces.  If you aren't so bold, you can use the more demure version.  See them here.

J McLaughlin is full of fur for the holidays.

These will keep your feet warm for sure.

And if you've got a slim budget, you'll love this one from Target, for less than $50.  Love it.  

Love this vest from BR.  See it here.

Stay warm out there.  Hope you voted!!!!!