Drawing to a Close

Farewell, February.  Not only is the shortest month of the year now over, it's also the end of Black History Month.  So, I'm jumping in today to write a little something about it.  Yesterday, a statue of Rosa Parks was unveiled at the Capitol building.  It is fitting that her statue was presented not only during Black History Month, but also just after what would have been Rosa Parks' 100th birthday, on February 4.

Some may think that all she did was refuse to get up.  I think that she refused to give in.  

Little Pleasures

What's better than tea and cookies?

A sumptuous centerpiece from a friend's recent wedding

Delicate lace and darling polka dots on Bee's birthday party dress

Read Any Good Books Lately?

Bee has good taste! I love Mindy Kaling. Just when I needed something fun to read, my best friend stepped in and loaned me Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Kaling's essays are honest, clever, and absolutely funny. You'll wish she was one of your closest friends after reading this book. But since it's unlikely that we'll be hanging out with her any time soon, let's watch her new show on Fox, The Mindy Project.  

What books are you reading right now?  I'd love some recommendations.

Sole Society

I have always wanted a dog. When I was a baby, we had one... A cairn terrier named Buffy. To my surprise, we were blessed with a new puppy about 5 months ago.

Continuing with the "B" theme, our new puppy is actually Baby Bee. I thought only puppies ate shoes! Truly, she chews on everything. Ah, the glories of teething!

Little Pleasures

Delicious almond cookies from Phoenix Bakery in honor of Chinese New Year

Pretty blossoms on a mimosa tree

The scent of cotton candy in the air while passing by a pop-up carnival

My new Elizabeth and James darkers

Abeille Bakes: Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Do you have any special plans for the day? We're keeping things low-key by staying in. But, I still wanted to do something special, so I made chocolate and almond croissants for breakfast.

Now before you ask, "How did you find time to make croissants for breakfast?" My secret is... Trader Joe's. That store is the best because it offers delicious, wholesome, and gourmet food for reasonable prices. I've known about the chocolate croissants (in the frozen section) for a while now, and recently discovered the almond version. They are a cinch to make (just leave them to proof on a baking sheet overnight)*. Besides, any baked good that is ready to eat in under 20 minutes is always a winner in my book.

*Tip: Just before baking, brush the croissants with egg wash (1 beaten egg and a splash of water) to make them glistening and golden brown. You don't have to use all of it, just lightly coat the surface of each croissant.

Enjoy!

Bridesmaids Redux

Dress: Alfred Angelo / Jacket: Banana Republic

Shoes: Calvin Klein / Clutch: Marc Jacobs (for Neiman Marcus & Target)

Earrings: Jewelmint

And they said it couldn't be done... In most cases, if you're asked to be a bridesmaid, you resign yourself to the idea that you'll NEVER wear the dress again. All brides say "It's a cute style, and you could totally wear it later!" I was such a bride.

However, I am pleased to say that I was recently a bridesmaid matron of honor for my best friend, and I seized opportunity to wear my dress again at a wedding this past weekend. Maybe the ultimate goal in repeating a bridesmaid dress is to take it out of the wedding realm, but I'll take what I can get.

To change the style from it's original beach wedding look, I matched the halter dress with a sleek tuxedo jacket, strappy sandals, glam ombre earrings, and a shiny clutch. The best part was that I didn't buy any of these items for the occasion! Ah, the benefits of shopping your closet. From daytime demureness to evening elegance. 

In Love

Prabal Gurung's new collection for Target, "Love" is available now.  

Bee's Birthday

The cliche is true... Kids grow up really fast. It seems nearly impossible that one whole year has passed since Baby Bee was born.

Have A Good Week

Hi there. Just a short post for today. I hope that you have a great week! Mondays can be dreary, but here's a pretty rose to get the week off to a good start.