Beyond Words

So funny.  So true.

Happy Friday!

“It is difficult to know what counts most in the world but I am beginning to see that the things that really matter take place not in the boardrooms but in the kitchens of the world.”  Gary Allen Sledge

  

Pottery Barn

 

 

I recently returned from a girls trip to Washington, D.C. with girls who are all foodies and/or excellent cooks.   Me, I’m a “foodie” in that I love food but I am in no way, shape, or form an excellent cook.  While on our trip we ate at many fabulous restaurants and talked about many a delectable dish.  It’s just amazing how amazing amazingly prepared food is!

 

I also recently joined a group that doesn’t just get together for potlucks, we get together and cook!  Everyone signs up to bring something according that month’s theme and we all prepare the dishes together.  So.  Much.  Fun.  The woman who organized the whole thing is, of course, a fabulous cook and her kitchen showed it.  Although her home is beautiful it is also modest but her kitchen is anything but and has all the ingredients of someone who loves to cook.  So impressed.

 

We can’t all travel and eat out all the time, but we can become better cooks and it all naturally starts in your kitchen.  That kitchen, however, must be stocked and set up in a way that will allow anyone to cook not only better but more efficiently.   Creating a gourmet kitchen can be expensive, but there are ways to cut costs and still end up with a room that works.

 

 

True Palate or Just Good Taste?

Although many believe their food knowledge makes them a culinary connoisseur, it’s important to note that there’s a distinct difference between “palate” and “taste.”  I would venture to guess that most non-professionals have good taste as opposed to a true palate.

 

In a nutshell, someone with good taste can distinguish subtle differences between versions of dishes and may be able to name the ingredients in that dish, but a person with a true palate can taste a dish and recreate it and/or improve it just by that:  tasting it. Make no mistake, it’s a talent acquired and refined and is something quite special.

 

 

 

Your Dream Kitchen

Before you attempt any kitchen redo, think about how you use the kitchen and what you cook most.  Do you bake a lot?  What appliances do you tend to use every day?  How many people do you normally cook for and how many people regularly cook at one time?  All of this will help with layout and function, both of which are paramount and permanent.  From there, you can move on to a kitchen’s Holy Grail:  large appliances.

 

Red oven:  does it get any better?

Whether your goal is to have better taste or to acquire a unique palate, first and foremost you need top-notch appliances.  Commercial or industrial-grade are preferred and gourmet cooks prefer gas ranges.   Induction cooktops are also popular, as they heat up faster and deliver a more direct heat, but they are not for everyone.  As for ovens, two is better than one, but one will work.  If you are fortunate to have two, try to make one of them convection, which means the oven has a fan that circulates hot air so food cooks more evenly and efficiently.  Again, not for everyone and I wouldn’t suggest one being your sole oven choice.  Warming drawers are also popular, as they keep food warm while protecting the moisture in it.

 

The other two big appliances in a kitchen, refrigerators and dishwashers, can get just as expensive and equally complicated.  When it comes to refrigerators, Sub-Zero is at the top, but just because it’s the most expensive and will tell your guests “I spent a lot of money on my refrigerator,” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the only good ‘fridge.  In fact, “Consumer Reports” ranks Thermador and Jenn-Air higher than Sub-Zero .  The attractiveness of Sub-Zero, other than owning the Mercedes of refrigerators, is that they have two compressors:  one for refrigeration and one for freezing.  This helps the appliance last longer (up to twice as long as other models) and also improves food quality and freshness but also contributes to them being particularly noisy.   But, unless you want to spend upwards of $7,000 dollars on an appliance, you might want to consider way more affordable French-door bottom-freezers refrigerators that also received top scores with “Consumer Reports.”  The style is the fastest-growing configuration in refrigerators and allows you to have more affordable function and style.   Also popular and trendy are built-in integrated appliances that virtually disappear into kitchen cabinetry. These painted or natural wood panels match a kitchen’s décor and according to realtors, often help with resale, as do Sub-Zeros.

 

As for dishwashers, even “Consumer Reports” says you don’t need to spend a fortune on one.  First, decide which features best fit your lifestyle and home.  Do you have a large family that will use the appliance daily?  How big is the space opening for your dishwasher…sizes vary?!   Today many dishwashers boast the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Energy Star” rating, meaning they use minimal water and electricity, and still others have electronic sensors that measure dish soil levels and adjust water and cycles accordingly.  Wow!  Other features you want to look for are greater loading options and a quiet operation.  For many, quietness is a key deciding factor.  Keep in mind that dishwashers with base-pan mounted motors are the quietest and that the more expensive a dishwasher is, the quieter it will probably be.  European models tend to be less noisy and almost always have a stainless steel interior, which is a sign of a higher-end appliance.  Finally, one-piece designs are quieter than two-piece ones.

 

 

Absolutely adore the “mantel” above this cook area.

 

Countertops and Cabinetry

Counter surfaces and cabinetry are the next biggest expenses in a kitchen and choosing them can be stressful and exhausting.  In general, easy-to-clean and sturdy surfaces like quartz and granite are the most durable, but other popular surfaces include marble, stainless steel, butcher block, and the ever-affordable laminate.

 

Today’s top countertop choice remains granite, which offers a high-end look while providing a durable surface.  Very similar to granite is engineered quartz , which is also stain, acid, scratch, heat and impact resistant but doesn’t need to be sealed like natural stone countertops.  Laminate is the most budget-friendly surface and thanks to patterns that resemble stone, wood, and even quartz, laminate is proving not only inexpensive but trendy.  I love the look of butcher-block wood counter tops, which once sealed properly, are both decorative and functional.  My favorite look is mixing wood with a solid surface countertop.

 

 

Joel-Snayd and HGTV

The hottest countertop trend right now is probably marble.  This history-filled stone gives a kitchen a high-end feel but it is very porous.  Stainless steel counters are also popping up everywhere, but they are not a favorite of mine.  Too industrial.  Too cold.  Still, the grayish metal coordinates well with any color scheme, stains wipe right off, and is considered the most hygienic  countertop available.    In the end, choose the countertop you can afford and the one that best suits your style.

 

 

 

Cabinets made to look like furniture.  Yes.

Now it’s time to pick cabinets.  These can make or break a kitchen.  Without going into too much detail, here’s a snapshot of which woods may work best for you.  Light woods will generally make a small kitchen look bigger and include oak (strong and resists wear and tear), maple (uniform in color), pine (inexpensive with a bold grain…also is good if you want to paint or stain them), and ash (also good to stain.)  Medium woods can tend to add warmth to a room and include beech and cherry, which is reddish-brown and expensive.  Dark woods make a statement, including high-priced mahogany or walnut, which is the most sought after wood for high-end paneling and cabinetry.   Me?  I kinda prefer white cabinets (but I do love the non-white ones in my current home) and I’m obsessed with bead board.  I also really, really like when the wood of a kitchen island is a different color than the cabinets and I love “legs” on lower cabinets that create the look of a piece of furniture.  Cabinetry hardware is a total personal preference and I definitely prefer it.  To me it’s a cabinet accessory, much like jewelry.

 

 

Lighting is also important in a cook area and is something I am a fanatic about.  I’m all about light fixtures and they are usually one of the first things I notice in a home.  As with most things, I prefer traditional-style lighting, especially lanterns, and am not a big fan of track lighting.  Under-cabinet, recessed or can, and pendants help focus light in work areas, and if done correctly, add form and function to a kitchen.

 

 

 

Now it’s time to stock that gourmet kitchen you just built.  I will focus on cooking and storage items and leave the dishes for your personal tastes.  Most experts say splurge on small appliances and cookware, as they are the building blocks of any kitchen.  I love my Keurig and I love my cast iron.  Dutch ovens are also popular and are perfect for a variety of cooking methods and dishes.  A professional chef’s knife is also a must.  This is something you’ll want to spend money on after doing some research.  I love my Messermeister and use it religiously for slicing, chopping, and mincing.  Other recommended knives are a straight-bladed paring knife for peeling and cutting, a utility knife for slicing items like cheeses and sandwiches, and a serrated knife for tough-to-slice foods like tomatoes.  Whatever you do and whatever you buy, never put your knives in the dishwasher!  Finally, if I could recommend one type of storage item, it would be all things square not round, and glass not plastic.  Square containers take up less space and fill every corner of a cabinet.

 

Kitchens are all about innovation and should be all about fun too.  Here are some very innovative and very fun ideas for your next kitchen:

 

Spices underneath cooktop, pull-out pantry, and appliance shelf inside pantry

 

 

Flatware drawer and cutting board above trash bin

 

“Dead space” shelf for cookbooks and coffee station

 

Appliance garage and mini fridge for kids or often used items

 

Some of my favorite kitchens:

 

That island!  Blue walls and oven!  Those formal chairs!   Subway tile!

 

 

Exposed brick or dramatic beams.

 

Bon appetit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!  Today is all about love, right?  Right!

 

What girl doesn’t love a reason to celebrate love?  As luck would have it, I get to celebrate it two days in a row, as February 15 is my anniversary.  Yay me!

 

In honor of Valentine’s Day and of all brides, today I’m writing about…or mostly posting photos of…all things weddings.

 

Truth be told I could have easily simply included photos from my wedding day and been happy.  To this day, 29 years later, I am in love with my dress and would pick it all over again.  I also still love that my bouquet was long-stem Calla Lilies with a splash of red through a sole Anthurium, which complimented my wedding party’s red taffeta dresses.  In hindsight I might have worn some stunning red shoes.  It was Valentine’s weekend after all!  But, it’s not about me today; it’s about weddings!

 

 

I love weddings and have an entire Pinterest page to prove it.  I also DVR “Say Yes to the Dress” and am so excited for my nephew Michael’s wedding to his gal Vicki this May.  Can’t wait!

 

I originally planned on just including a few favorite wedding photos for today’s blog, photographs I’ve come across, caught my eye, and grabbed my heart, but I couldn’t stop there.  I just could not.  Did I mention I’m obsessed with weddings?!

 

 

So, here then are some of my favorite wedding photos, gowns, cakes, and a whole slew of fun tips and ideas.  (I’ve intentionally left out wedding party and mother-of-the-bride dresses because they could easily comprise a whole other blog!)  I know, I  know.  These ideas would cost a mint and more, but a girl can dream, right?   If you want more, check out my Pinterest board under Carla Smith.  I’m the one with a pearl necklace as my profile pic.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Some seriously awesome wedding day photos…

   

 

       

 

Gorgeous veil photo and church doors photos:

   

 

Parents and newlyweds, kissing dad, and three generations:

    

 

          

 

 

Gorgeous Gowns…

Love these:

        

 

Simple elegance:

 

 

A little bling and a whole lot of back:

   

 

This one has a detachable overskirt!

 

A sweet way to cover up those shoulders:

 

A stunning vintage Dior:

 

LOVE the back on this one and the pink embellishments on the second one:

 

 

If a ball gown is your dream:

    

 

If I won the lottery, Carolina Herrera would by my dream designer.  Here are a few of hers I’m dying over:  (Love the gold and gold, didn’t see “Twilight” but Bella’s dress was a masterpiece, and not loving the feather but look at the detail in that dress!)

 

 

Let’s not forget him… 

  

 

 

I give you this ring…

     Add your hubby’s birthstone to your bands

  3 bands. A promise between God, you, and your husband. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 …

       Three classics

 

   Tie rings to bible instead of pillow

 

Sweet photo ideas with rings:

   

 

 

 

 

Bouquets and Flowers…

 

Long-stem Calla Lilies and how perfect are those pearls?

  

 

 

Simple daisies and baby’s breath…or a stunning traditional bouquet:

        

 

 

I’m a big fan of all greenery bouquets and I’m liking this berry and evergreen-accented “perfect for winter” bouquet:

 

 

 

Stunning table arrangement.  Look at the Calla Lilies inside the vase!

 

 

Cakes and Toppers…

 

First one is so elegant, second one so fun, and I love me some petit fours:

 

 

I’m liking the idea of a monogrammed cake:

 

 

 

Uh-mazing Wedgewood and satin-inspired cakes.  Wow!

     

 

Can’t go wrong with quilting, pearls, and something for everyone:

      

 

Fun toppers:

  

 

Just for fun:

 

 

Vows…

The classic and a cute “instead of til death to us part” idea:

   

 

 

Guest book alternatives…

Guests’ fingerprints, Sharpies and wine bottles, river rocks to sign:

 

 

Every Cinderella needs the right shoes…

If it’s glitter, I’m all in:

    

 

 

Carrie’s “something blue” Manolo’s…the best ever, a pop of color is always fun and these bows are adorable, and some Loub’s for the girl who has everything:

     

 

 

Simple and yet so pretty and some Kate Spade pearls for a beach wedding:

 

 

And she needs the right jewelry…

Pearls and diamonds, that’s all:

 

 

And finally, here are some great tips and ideas…

 

Take a photo of your young daughter in your wedding dress, plan ahead and take a “thank you” photo on your wedding day, fill “get-away” car with balloons that festively escape when the doors are opened, provide crayons and cards at the kids’ table and have them make cards for the bride and groom:

     

 

Provide hand-outs of who’s who in the wedding party and attach garter to football…no man ever drops a football!

      

 

Wear a necklace with your new initials at reception and take “first kiss” photo with attendees in the background rather than priest or officiator:

  

 

Have notecards with “5 things you should know about the bride and groom” to get conversations started, adorable coasters to have at tables, and take a wedding party photo using chalkboards that say how each one knows the bride:

    

 

Other ideas I love:

Have bridesmaids wear silver or gray dresses with “pop of color” shoes that match bouquets.

After the wedding, deliver wedding flowers to a nursing home.

Provide “dancing shoes” flip-flops at reception for guests.

Have maid-of-honor wear a brighter or bolder version of bridesmaids’ dresses.

On RSVPs, include a space for a song request.  Guests will love it when their song is played.

Put the petals of your bridal bouquet in a clear Christmas ornament ball.

 

 

Just for the fun of it…

Poms or sprinkles to walk out to:

  

 

A photo after my own heart and clever little matches:

 

 

Photos of bride and groom at ages that correspond with reception table numbers and how cute is this ring bearer sign?

      

 

Two fun RSVP ideas:

 

 

Gift ideas…

Every girl’s dream…pearls, Tiffany, and Cartier’s Love Bracelet:

 

Monogram menswear shirts for bridal party hair and make-up session:

 

From groom to bride after ceremony:

 

 

Adorable flower girls…

 

 

And finally, some of my favorite brides ever…

Di and Maria from “Sound of Music”:

 

 

Kate, Carrie in her “label-less” dress, and Caroline Bisset with JFK, Jr:

 

The fact that Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Albert of Monaco’s bride Charlene both wore simple gowns speaks volumes about true class and style.  So in love with both of them and with Victoria’s crown of pearls and cameos:

    

 

 

Give me some love…

 

 

 

It’s “Super Bowl Sunday” but you are clueless when it comes to football.  What to do, what to do?  I’m here to help!

 

Any of you who know me know I love football, particularly college football.  Today however is professional  football’s big day:  Super Bowl Sunday.  It’s the biggest sporting event of the year with more than 110 million people expected to watch the New England Patriots battle the Seattle Seahawks for the Vince Lombardi trophy.

 

I’m aware that many of you could care less about football but will nonetheless be watching the game at various watch parties and get togethers.  Here then is a “cheat sheet” for my friends who don’t know a first down from a first love.

 

 

Teams:  New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.  The Seahawks won last year’s Super Bowl, making them the first defending champs to return to the big game since 2000…when the Patriots did so.  The Patriots are battling not only Seahawk QB Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch, but also the rumor that won’t go away that they intentionally deflated balls in the AFC championship game, which they won and which put them in the Super Bowl.

 

Known as “Deflategate,” Patriots QB Tom Brady (he of the model-like face and supermodel wife…see above photo) is hoping to silence the critics and the noises in his head and take home a coveted fourth Super Bowl ring.  Amazingly, Wilson hopes to do the same and become the youngest QB in history to win back-to-back Super Bowls since….Tom Brady!  This is going to be good.

 

When and Where:  Kick-off is at 5:30 p.m. CST but pre-game shenanigans will be on TV all day.  No worries about that dreaded second dumping of snow headed to much of the northeast, as the game will be played inside at room temperature in The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

 

Why the letters after “Super Bowl?”  We’re talking XLIX, Roman Numerals for Super Bowl 49.  Not sure why, but it’s a tradition.  Just go with it.

 

Half-time:  Katy Perry is set to take the stage at half-time so be ready for some sugary pop, dancing girls, and an appearance by Lenny Kravtiz.  People will be talking about the show tomorrow at work so this is where you can feel a part of it all.

 

Ads:  Yep, they’re back and yet another thing people will be talking about.  The Super Bowl is probably the only televised show during which viewers actually watch the ads.  The spots are sure to be clever, thought-provoking, and maybe even a little controversial and they cost mega-bucks to run:  $4.5 million for 30 seconds to be exact.  That’s a lot of Doritos!

 

Pro football:  Basically “professional” football  run by the NFL, the National Football League.  These players make big bucks!

 

 

The game:  Here’s the real nitty-gritty.  Basically each team wants to make touchdowns, ie:  get the ball in the end zone.  Touchdowns earn six points and with the customary “extra point” kick after, an even seven is the result.

 

You’ll hear lots of “first down,” “fourth down,” etc., talk, which can be summarized in lay-men’s terms as this:  each team gets three chances to go 10 yards (three “downs”), if they don’t, they have “fourth down.”  They can try to get the 10 or less yards on fourth down but if they don’t the opposing team gets the ball where it is on the field.  Most teams will “punt” on fourth down unless they only need a few yards or the game is on the line.

 

Punts vs. Kicks:  the only time a team “kicks” the ball is after a score or to begin each half.  This is when the team lines up dance team style in a long line.  Any other time a player’s foot hits the ball, it’s a punt.

 

There are also field goals, which is when a player’s team kicks the ball through the uprights (those big yellow posts in the end zone).  They do this when they were unable to score a touchdown and they are in “field goal range.”  A field goal is worth three points.

 

That’s all on “offense,” when the team has possession of the ball.  On “defense,” the team is essentially “defending” their end zone and trying to stop the other team from getting in it through those first downs and scoring.  They say defenses win championships so “stops,” “loss of yardage,” “incomplete pass,” and “sack” are what you want to hear when your team is playing defense.

 

So….basically you want your team to make touchdowns or field goals, get first downs, and never have to punt the ball!

 

This is always a festive but somewhat sad day for me, as I know it’s the last football game of the year until next fall.  I don’t have a “dog in the hunt” today so I’m basically just hoping for a good, competitive game.  If I had to choose, I’d say “Go Hawks” as I count down the days til next year.  Until then, here’s one more photo of Tom Brady to get us through the baseball and golf season.

“You know you’re living right when you wake up, brush your hair, and confetti falls out.”

Katy Perry

 

 

Katy Perry.  She who kissed a girl and liked it, woke up in Vegas, and is every boy’s teenage dream.  Okay maybe not, but according to her song lyrics, all of those are true.  Perry is also one of the most popular and successful pop artists in the world right.  Google her and you’ll see she’s “trending.”  Not because she loves glitter and all things cupcakey, but because she will be the half-time entertainment at tomorrow’s Super Bowl, an uber-highly coveted spot by any and all entertainers.  Sing maybe less than 10 of my biggest hits on sports’ biggest stage and be seen by more than 100 million viewers?  I’m in!  In other words, Katy Perry has scored big on this one and is the winner of the “where would I like to sing this year” contest.  If she were playing in the big game, she’d probably wear this Nicole Miller Helemt:

 

 

 

Katy Perry is also something else.  She is a “Manic Pixie Dream Girl.”  Say what?  Yep, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, or a MPDG.  I heard about all this from my amazing niece Tessa months ago and was so intrigued by the concept.  What better time to explain it all to my followers and friends than today….thanks to Katy Perry tomorrow.

 

Coined by Nathan Rabin of The Onion AV Club after seeing the film “Elizabethtown” (one of my all-time favorites BTW), which features actress Kirsten Dunst in a role now dubbed a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  According to Rabin, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a character type in films and TV shows who is forever positive and unabashedly girlish.  She is almost always the love interest of a grumpy, unpleasant male who learns he simply can’t resist her charm and allure.  These girls love life, love their man, and aren’t afraid to show either.

 

 

And before you get your feminist panties in a wad, know that these dream girls do things their way.  It’s just a way that others simply can’t or won’t pursue.  More power to them.   Much like many a Doris Day character, they may seem a little goofy or odd, they are fun and they don’t hurt anyone, and in the end they are tough cookies…albeit probably ones with icing and sprinkles. I think they live by one of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

 

 

Think about it, don’t we all want to be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl is some way?

 

Many have “played one on TV” and others like Katy Perry seem to live the Pixie Dream in real life.

 

“I rock a lot of polka dots.  I have touched glitter in the past 24 hours.  I find it fundamentally strange that you’re not a dessert person.  I hate your pantsuit.  I wish it had ribbons.”

Jess on “New Girl”

 

One of the most often identified MPDG is actress Zooey Deschanel.  (the perfect name for a MPDG I must say!)  Her characters in films like “Elf” and “Failure to Launch” were spot on and have you seen her in the hit TV series “New Girl?”  It’s textbook MPDG.  In a way, Deschanel also seems to meld her MPDG characters with her real life.  Not only is she a sought out actress but she is a very talented singer.  (Remember the scene in “Elf” when she so delicately nailed “Baby, It’s Cold Outside?”)  One half of the indie duo “She & Him,” Deschanel sings and plays ukulele (a MPDG instrument if there ever was one!) while M. Ward sings and plays guitar.  Yep, she’s got my vote as a solid MPDG.  (And has anyone else noticed that Perry and Deschanel look remarkably alike?  Coincidence?  Creepy?  Both?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

“When I first moved to New York I was totally broke.  Sometimes I would buy Vogue instead of dinner.  I felt it fed me more.”

Carrie Bradshaw, “Sex and the City”

 

I immediately think of two of my favorites:  Doris Day and the Carrie Bradshaw character on “Sex and the City.”  Many would say Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was probably the original Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and the quirky character was indeed a MPDG but ironically it’s another famous actress with the surname Hepburn that is credited for originating the MPDG model.  And it may surprise you.

 

Katharine Hepburn, known as Katharine the Great for her immense acting talents, probably does not come to mind when thinking of girly glitter loving roles, but  her scatter-brained character opposite the brooding Cary Grant in the 1938 film “Bringing Up Baby” is recognized as being one of the earliest examples of a lovable MPDG.  The Hepburn and Hepburn coincidence is one thing, but there’s even a second generation MPDG line with Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn!  Who is more MPDG than Goldie?!

 

Other examples that you might make you say “oh yeah, right” include:

Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like It Hot”

Winona Ryder in “Autumn in New York”

Many a Jennifer Aniston role and of course Phoebe on “Friends”

Kate Hudson in “Almost Famous”

Hudson’s mom Goldie Hawn in “Butterflies are Free”

Amy Adams in a number of films

Mila Kunis in “Moving McAllister”

Geena Davis in “The Accidental Tourist” and Grace’s sister on “Will & Grace.”

Jaime Murray on Dexter

Charlize Theron in “Sweet November”

Dharma in the hit TV series “Dharma and Greg”

Natalie Portman in “Garden State”

Even Belle in “Beauty and the Beast!”

 

Maybe Dr. Seuss was onto something all along when he wrote…

    

 

So just when you thought Katy Perry was just a cuh-razy singer with blue hair and a weird wardrobe, now you know she’s more than that.  She’s a dream girl!

 

Happy Friday!

 

So very true, right?  Above water, people may only see the finished product and your image, but underneath that water what they don’t see is all the effort you have put into your success.  I’d like to add to that underwater list integrity, unselfishness, team player, honesty, respect, knowledge, loyalty, fairness, and even a little humility and humor.

 

At the same time, we are all sure to run across many who project an image that is anything but genuine and yet achieve success without exhibiting few if any of those underwater truths.  The real truth is, swim on, swim past them, dive in, and enjoy getting a little sand in your toes!

 

Success is never an easy road, but it can be an exciting one.

 

 

Let’s just say last night was one royal evening on TV.  What, with Miss Universe, the Screen Actors Guild awards, and Downton Abbey competing for viewers, it was the perfect evening to play favorites with who wore what.

 

At the SAG awards, Emma Stone killed it once again, this time in Dior.  The girl knows how to pick them and she knows how to work it.  Love this about her!

 

For the most part I thought the SAG gowns failed and that Jennifer Aniston’s breasts were again saggy (maybe it’s all those years of not wearing a bra on “Friends,” but something has taken its toll on her otherwise perfect bod.)  In addition to Stone, I died for only three other gowns:

 

Camila Alves looked dropped dead gorge again in a stunning eggplant Donna Karan Atelier mermaid with train.  Hash-tag she gets it every time.

 

I also think Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting looked beyond sweet in her tomato red Romona Keveza.

 

I loved, loved, loved the pale pink and oh so simple yet stunning Balenciaga column on Felicity Jones.  Perfect hair.  Perfect jewelry.  Perfect bag.  Perfection.

 

 

 

Meanwhile in Miami, the Miss Universe contestants were throwing down their best starlet imitations in gowns that put many a SAG star to shame.  My faves?

 

Miss Jamaica not only reminded me of a brunette Jennifer Lawrence but was also so poised and I am crazy about her super short hair.   The back of this red stunner was to…die…for.

 

Miss USA also looked radiant in red, as did Miss Russia…

 

 

 

Miss Korea and Miss Hungary blew me away in blue…

 

Miss St. Lucia and Miss Czech Republic went for the gold…and scored big in my book…

 

I’m all about glitter so I loved Miss Peru’s sparkler but I also found Miss South Africa’s classy white number a real winner…

 

I have a love-hate feeling about Miss Ukraine’s busy and bright pink friller but Miss Guyana’s emerald green gown was a gem.

 

I love watching these shows and I love picking my favorites.  I wonder if you do too?  Please share!

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

It seems like more and more people I know have kids who are either special needs or just needing some special medical or educational care.  I work with children, all of who have different needs, and I have a talented and beautiful daughter who has special needs uniquely her own.  It’s tough seeing your child struggle but God is there every step of the way.  God also thinks YOU are very special as He gave that child to you and only you.   I don’t know about you, but I consider that a huge honor.  He trusts you and supports you, as this poem someone gave me years ago attests.  It made me feel better way back then, and it still does to this day.  Here’s hoping it helps whoever else needs it.

 

Heaven’s Very Special Child

A meeting was held quite far from earth

It’s time again for another birth

Said the angels to the Lord above

This child will need much, much love

His progress may seem very slow

Accomplishments he may not show

And she’ll require extra care

From the folks she meets way down there

He may not run or laugh or play

His thoughts may seem quite far away

In many ways she won’t adapt

She might be known as handicapped

So let’s be careful where he’s sent

We want his life to be content

Lord find the parents who will do

A very special job for You

They may not realize right away

The special role they’re asked to play

But with this child sent from above

Comes stronger faith and richer love

And soon they’ll know the privilege given

In caring for this gift from heaven

Their precious charge, so meek and mild

Is heaven’s very special child.