Belated Farewell and Best Wishes To a Friend

I am completely copying Millitini, but I don't think Bama Belle will mind. I was just reading her post about everything she did and accomplished while living in the city. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Bama Belle dated A's best friend from high school way back when. That's right, she has know my husband longer than me! =) I had heard Bama Belle's name before, but when I moved to the city I was glad to know there was another Bama girl in town. She was so sweet and invited us to her bday party immediately. I can't remember what we had planned, but we did not get the chance to meet then. A few months later, in a desperate attempt to meet new friends I joined the Junior League. I received one of the very last spots in the fall provisional classes. I was at work and so excited about meeting new people when I got an email from Bama Belle. I had never met her and all her email said, was "Are you joining Jr. League?" I was kinda in shock. Strange stalker ex girlfriend that I've never met...I wrote back to her that in fact I was joining up. She wrote back: "Ha, Ha! I'm your provisional leader." I was so relieved and excited that I would know someone on my first day. I met Bama Belle very soon after in the beautiful league house. She was dressed to the nines and so pretty and sweet. =) We were friends immediately. Very soon after we had the first of many margaritas together and the rest was the beginning of an awesome friendship!

When my Grandmother died two weeks before Baby J was born, I was devastated. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to be pregnant and cry. Two dozen white roses showed up at my apartment door and I just started crying more. My sweet friend thinks of everything. There are very few moments in life when flowers don't make it better for just a few minutes. They always make me smile and, I too, love to send them when a friend needs a little love. Bama Belle was also our very first visitor at the hospital when Baby J was born. It was so nice to see a Bama face there. She brought me red velvet cupcakes. Can a friend get any better?

When Bama Belle called me to tell me her plans to move back "home," to the place we both had spent countless hours talking about going back to...I was both elated and extremely jealous. This move could not have come at a better time for her. When God closes a door he opens a window, and this is Bama Belle's window. I often told her via our daily G-chats that the time she spent worrying about her NYC dating disasters was a waste because I knew her price charming was waiting back in the South. I'm sorry but Bama Belle was just not going to end up with a Yankee Boy. It's just not the way the story was meant to end. =) Bama Belle, he is there and HE'LL find you. Don't go looking just yet, be patient my friend. Sit back and take a nice long swing on the porch. Drive around in your car (just not between 4pm-7pm on 280.) Wander the LARGE isles at the grocery store and Target. Try to enjoy each and every moment of all things Southern that we both missed so much. Please conference call me in when you describe that first bite of your Chick fil A chicken biscuit to Millitini. Go grab a fruit and cheese platter from O'Carrs, a smiley face cookie from Savages, and a bowl of delicous La Paz cheese dip. Oh heavens, I'm homesick already.

At our last meeting together, Baby J pooped on her new jeans and we enjoyed early afternoon vino at a local outdoor cafe. (And spinach dip, of course.) Bama Belle presented some leftover swag from her old job. Thanks friend. (Secret word, we are enjoying LOTS of Captain Crunch!)
L, I miss you already. I can't tell you what a wonderful person you are. Some guy is going to be so lucky to finally sweep you off your pretty little heels. The Bham League is going to be so lucky to have you as member. La Paz's business just increased by at least 2%. (As did Hot and Hot, Bottega and Highlands...) So, I raise a glass of sweet tea to you my friend. I hold an Orange Thing up high. Cheers to your next chapter. I'm glad you'll be at "home" when I'm there for my required holidays with the in laws. I miss you already. Baby J sends kisses to his Aunt L. See you the last weekend of June. Please have my cheese dip waiting.

XOXO

More Ebay Items Listed

J Crew Size 4 Top
J Crew Size 8 Strapless White Beach Embossed Dress
J Crew Navy and White Polo Medium
BCBG Medium Floral Top

There is more...just look for other items listed! Happy Shopping!

My First Ebay Sales

I've bought plenty of items on Ebay, but this is my first attempt to sell a few items to make some room in my closet. (And this will also enable me to buy more baby clothes for Baby J.) Over the next few weeks, I'll be selling things that don't fit me anymore (or never did), maternity clothes, baby clothes that I won't be saving and whatever else I can find to help make some more room in our closets! I would love to do business with my readers so here is the link to the things I'm selling. Feel free to ask me questions. Happy Shopping!

See below for the first few links that include some Haviannas, BCBG Girls, JCrew Flats and Flip Flops and Anne Klein heels. I'll continue to update y'all as I list things.

My Ebay Shoe Sale

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160337305386

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160337298784

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160337308676

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160337310869

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160337294994

Ebates Big Fat Check Arrived!

I received a check for $107.33 from Ebates the other day via my paypal account! I have only been doing this since January! That means more fun ebay purchases! =) I talked about Ebates before here.

But, if you are new to the game...basically you sign up and then you go to their website before you buy anything online. So, when I go to diapers.com to buy Baby J his diapers, I click on ebates and THEN diapers.com and I get a portion of my purchase back. Ebates works with Ebay, Jcrew, Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, Gap.com (Gap Kids, Gap Maternity, etc), Kodak Easy Share Gallery, Macys, LL Bean, Sephora, Old Navy, Orvis, Babies R Us, Nordstrom, shoes.com, Target, Victoria's Secret, drugstore.com, walmart.com...the list goes on and on. You should not be buying something online without doing this! Cash back in your pocket and it works!

Sign up here and you'll get a $5.00 bonus and I get a little bonus too! =) Happy Shopping!

Spring Cleaning!

I recently won a blog makeover from The Gift Closet by Krizzy Designs. Krystyn did a great job, don't you think? She put up with about my bad schedule and about a million changes and I'm quite pleased with the results! What ya think?

I'm also going to update my blog roll. If you are a frequent reader, let me know so I can check your blog out and add you to my list! I'm also going to update the Preppy Preggo club. If you recently had your baby or are expecting please let me know...and congrats!

Thanks Krystyn and please check in with her if you need a bloggy lift! Make sure to tell her Mrs. MMM sent you. =)

3 Reasons...

...I Don't Have as Much Time to Blog

A's hours have been AWFUL these past two weeks. (He's getting home btwn 10pm-2am.) I told him either he was sending me home or sending my Mom or sister up here to help me. My sister arrived bright and early yesterday morning. =) I am so glad she is here and I feel better already. I was able to run out and get my eyebrows waxed and a mani/pedi today. It was DELIGHTFUL.

Baby J is four months old today. Time is going so quickly. I love him to pieces, but it is much easier when A's schedule isn't this bad. Thank goodness Aunt A is here! Since I don't have a ton of time to blog right now, I would love to take this time to answer a few questions you might have for me. I don't think I've done this is awhile. So, floor is open...ask away and I'll try to answer a few of your questions.

Hope everyone is doing great! Sweet dreams.

Hello Baby...Bag

Come to Mommy!

Snuggie Love

Just out of curiousity how many of you own a Snuggie? A bought me one right after Baby J was born and I LOVE it! (And yes, I'm wearing pearls with my snuggie in the picture above--I also have it on backwards for nursing purposes--ha, ha!) They just had a pub crawl in NYC a few months ago where everyone wore their snuggies. I so jealous I missed out. Here is a fabulous article in the New York Times about all the Snuggie Love.

I'm a Winner!

I won this fabulous monogrammed lampshade from one of my favorite preppy shops, The Pink Giraffe. I ordered my monogrammed wedding albums from The Pink Giraffe so I knew when I won that this was going to be a top notch product. I mean does it get any cuter? I just ordered this lamp base to go with my new lampshade. But, when things are set up, I believe I owe y'all a tour of Baby J's nursery. It has come a long ways!



If you want your own monogrammed lampshade, lamp, or nightlight The Pink Giraffe is the place to go!



I am hoping to order Baby J a few more items soon. Like this, this, this, this and these. A boy can't have too much monogramming, right? Poor kid.



Good new for y'all. In case you didn't notice on my sidebar there is a 10% off coupon to The Pink Giraffe if you mention code GIRAFFE.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there! I hope you have a relaxing and wonderful day. A is on a very big deal right now, so unfortunately he had to work all weekend. He got home at 2am on Fri/Sat and then went straight to work at 8am on Saturday and worked until almost 6pm. This morning he was gone by 7:30am. With all that he has going on , he still managed to leave two cards next to my pillow this morning. One was from Baby J and was one from him with the sweetest note you have ever seen. We went to dinner last night and he bought be some beautiful pink peonies. There is a gift (that he even wrapped) sitting on the kitchen table, but I can't open it until he gets home. Tick, tick, tick. =) I think it is what I asked for, but I'll let you know tomorrow. He also made lunch reservations for today, but had to change them to dinner because of the deal. I can't wait for a nice steak dinner tonight!! I love you honey!! Thanks for doing the very best you could to make my 1st Mother's Day special. Baby J is napping and he has been a very good boy for his Mommy today!

A special Happy Mother's Day to my Mommy! I love you so much. You are the best Mom and Grandma ever. I could not have made it through my first 3 1/2 months as a Mom without you. I have more appreciation for you then ever before in my life. I am so sorry I was a bad baby and cried a lot. =( I feel for you! I strive to be the type of Mom that you were to me. You were always there to listen to us and to help us with a school project. You were so supportive and you still are. I love talking to you everyday, but I wish we lived closer to you so that we could spend the day together today. Maybe someday. We can't wait to see you in June for J's baptism.

My Mom sent me the above card after Baby J was born. She also sent me some tea and homemade cookies and reminded me to take a break everyday at 4pm to enjoy a little time for myself. She is so thoughtful!

My brother, sister, and I got her this little beauty. She'll be styling at the beach this summer.

Baby J sent his Godmother a special surprise for her 1st Mother's Day, but she has not received it yet so I won't show you what it is yet. =)

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Step-Moms, Sisters, Godmothers, Mother Figures, and Moms-to-Be! Please join me in saying a special prayer today for all of those that are trying to become Moms and for all of you that have lost a child.

Not Soap, Radio Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Not Soap, Radio giveaway of the above two products is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

58

Timestamp: 2009-05-10 15:36:24 UTC

Congratulations BEAUFORT BELLE and Happy Mother's Day too!!

For all of you that did not win this time, Not Soap, Radio has generously offered you 20% off until May 16th with the coupon code "Magnolia." I hope you'll buy something for yourself. You deserve it after all.

Thanks Not Soap, Radio for hosting this fabulous giveaway! Don't worry ladies there are more to come. You'll win eventually! Beaufort Belle did ALL the entries so goes to show it does help!

Help a Bride-to-Be Out!

I received the below email from a reader. We did this once before for this sweet reader and she made it to the finals, but did not win. Let's help this bride-to-be win her dream wedding! Please read the letter and click on the link to vote. Good luck Gwen!

******************************************************

We've never exchanged emails before, but I'm actually an avid reader of your blog! Since being engaged, I've been searching the web for unique, creative and fun wedding ideas and have actually found blogs to be an amazing source of information and inspiration! And it just so happens that my wedding is the reason I'm emailing you.

My fiance and I are funding the entire wedding ourselves and are well on our way to the longest engagement in history! It's been almost two years with no end in sight! If it were up to us and money wasn't an option, we'd be married in a heartbeat. But unfortunately everyday expenses and student loans have gotten in the way and saving for our wedding has been much more difficult than we ever expected.

So we figured if you can't pay for a wedding...why not try and win one!

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is jumping on the "bailout" bandwagon and holding a contest called the "Bahamas Bridal Bailout". Five very lucky couples will win round trip airfare for them and eight others, hotel accommodations for four days and three nights for ten people, a photographer, wedding coordinator, wedding cake, flowers and champagne. All you have to do to be eligible to win is submit a 500 word essay detailing how you met, why you want to get married, how you got engaged, why you want to get married in The Bahamas, why they should bail you out, and basically why The Bahamas is so awesome.

How do you win? Well the "voting round" lasts from April 25 to May 17. This is the period during which anyone and everyone can go to the website and cast their vote for the couple of their choosing. Unfortunately each vote is associated with an email address and each email address can only vote once. After you place your vote on the website, you must log into your email account to "validate" your vote. Then on May 18 the "judging round" begins. The top 20 vote-getters from the website will then be judged based on the quality of their essay and how well they answered the questions asked of them, and five couples are chosen as winners.


As long as we get past the voting round, I think we have a pretty good chance of getting chosen by the "judges." Mostly because some of the other entries are just flat out terrible, but also because our essay is one of the very few that's written from a male's perspective. Yes, you read that correctly! My wonderful, amazing fiance took the liberty to not only come across this contest from an email he received from The Bahamas tourism office, he also wrote the essay. Well, he wrote most of it and then I added in the rest of the cheesy "Bahamas are great" stuff at the end so we were sure to address all of the questions. If your future husband trying to win a Caribbean wedding doesn't say "I love you", then I don't know what does.

We are sending out the link to all of our friends, family, coworkers, etc., but I thought I'd go another step and send it to a few of the bloggers whose websites have given me such great ideas (and hours of very entertaining reading) for my own wedding! There aren't too many blogs I follow, but I figured I'd send it out to the few individuals whose blogs I do enjoy reading since maybe a couple of votes could wind up making a huge difference for us in the long run!

http://www.bahamasbridalbailout.com/photo/1030/our-wedding-lifetime-making

Thank you in advance for your vote!

All the best,

Gwen

************************************

Thanks for helping out a fellow reader!!

Purely Elegant Giveaway Winner!

Preppy ladies you love your pearls don't you! =) We had 132 entries (had to delete a few that were done wrong), and most of you wanted those pearls. They are so pretty. I hope Jen has been working hard to make many more so that you can all order one! Enough of that. You want to know if you have to buy your own or if you get one for free. Drum roll please....

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:113
Timestamp: 2009-05-06 20:04:52 UTC

Congratulations SHANNON from The Wolfpacker's Angel!! Shannon picked this lovely bracelet (you can change your mind if you want Shannon, just email me at magnoliasmarriageandmanhattan @ gmail dot com and let me know your address and your favorite pick from Purely Elegant.

Thanks ladies for playing and thanks Jen for the fabulous giveaway!

Ok, you lost. I'm sorry. I know you still want that pearl bracelet. Well, if you order $30.00 worth of merchandise from Purely Elegant then you will receive free shipping AND 10% off if you enter MAGNOLIA DISCOUNT when you are checking out. This offer is good for one week (until May 17th) . Treat yourself to something nice. You deserve it. Please support Jen. She was recently laid off and has a baby on the way. She needs your support and you need some new pearls! Win. Win.

Don't forget to enter my other giveaway, free makeup and body souffle from Not Soap, Radio and there are more to come because I love y'all that much.

Photofiddle.com

Have y'all heard of Photofiddle.com? Photofiddle.com has been featured on the Today Show, The New York Times, Oprah's O list and more. Photofiddle.com instantly online transforms any photo into artwork in minutes. We are the only website that gives the user an instant preview of their design before ordering. If the user is not happy with the design their art department will create a custom design with no additional fee.

Here is the Photofiddle before & after gallery

I sent in these two pictures (I had a really hard time narrowing down a picture out the THOUSAND we have already taken of sweet Baby J)

We went with the charcoal drawing. (See pictures of the canvas at the top.) The canvas arrived in just a few days and it is so amazing! It looks like someone actually did a drawing of my sweet baby boy! The service I received from Photofiddle was top notch. I highly recommend them! Now where to hang our sweet angel?

Here are a few of the photofiddle options: Oil, High Detail Watercolor, Soft Pastel, Deep Sponge, Impasto, Fantasy, Modern, Low Detail , Watercolor, Color Edge, Kaleidoscopic, Comic Book, Color Sketch, Color Pencil, Charcoal, Color Box, Abstract, Air Brush, Pop Art, Light Pegs Sepia, Blue, Green, Red, Photo On Canvas

Photofiddle would make a great Mother's Day or Father's Day gift! A 15% discount code has been set up for MMM readers. The code magnolias15 just needs to be entered on the shopping cart page in the promotion code box and click apply.

You can also join Photofiddle on Twitter on Facebook by clicking these links:
Follow Us On Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook

Not Soap, Radio Product Review and Giveaway

I was recently asked to review a few products from Not Soap, Radio. Here are the things I was sent:


Here is the inside of the I'm Not Here, I'm Really Lounging Poolside at a Beachfront Resort (4 eye shadows, 4 warm tones of pressed powder and 4 lip glosses)

I'm Not Here, I'm Really Walking the Red Carpet Face Palette (3 eyeshadows, 3 lipglosses and blush)

Check out all of these fun lipgloss colors! I received Diane. It is a orangy pink shimmer color. It will look fabulous this summer with a tan. It kinda reminds me of Nars Orgasm, but with a fabulous summery flavor and a better gloss to it! All the glosses feature a creamsicle like taste and are quite yummy!

I tried the makeup out this past weekend. I love the blush from the I'm Not Here, I'm Really Walking the Red Carpet face palette and the eyeshadows are really soft and pretty! The bronzer from the I'm Not Here, I'm Really Lunging Poolside at a Beachfront Resort (that's a mouth full) gives you a great summery glow and the lip glosses give you that sun kissed look. The Body Souffle is so yummy! It has a light scent (the website says it is lavender infused with apricot and a hint of eucalyptus) and smells much better than the cocoa butter lotion I became so accustomed to during my pregnancy.


For the big test, I did not tell A about my new makeup, I just put it on. He walked in the door and the during the first five minutes he was talking to me, he kept looking at me funny. Finally I asked him what was up. He replied, "You look really pretty, that's all." Hmmm. I would say that Not Soap, Radio passed the ultimate husband test.



While I have been out of college now for almost 7 years (yikes), I was still excited to receive one treat in my sorority letters (see the KD lip gloss above.) I am a Kappa Delta and I still get excited when I see our letters and that green and white. I wish this stuff had been around when I was in college searching for the latest and greatest thing to give my Little Sisters (I had two!) If you are still in college, I would seriously consider talking to the person in charge of rush (oops, I mean recruitment)about getting some of these cute items to put in your bid day baskets. The glosses I received are fabulous!




Greek Line of Not Soap, Radio
You can find it here.

Here are a few other things from their website that look like fun:

How yummy does this chocolate souffle set look?

How fun are these cocktail candles? They would be a great in a gift bag for a friend, a welcome basket for a wedding, or a cute little something to give someone as a thank you or birthday treat.

Speaking of birthdays, if you are looking for a little something to give your friend for her birthday...how about some birthday suds. It's bubble bath with a message! A usable card if you will.

I know there are a lot of Preppy Preggos out there. If I were rich I would send you all one of these. This would be a great little something to send your BFF that just told you she was expecting.

Preppy Puppy Daisy is a little sad she didn't get to try this one out. I might just have to order some for her and so she can do her own product review!

This would be great to add to your bridesmaid gifts!

Still looking for fun little things to give to your Mom? How about some Mom suds?

Here's the whole collection! I'm hoping to try them all!

I don't have a whole lot of time for bubble baths these days, but I can't wait to try one of these. They have great titles and descriptions. There is one to make you happy, one to help you sleep, even one for a little luck that has real shamrocks in it! =)

Not Soap, Radio has also been featured in all the beauty and fashion magazines including People, Oprah, Glamour, Lucky, InStyle, Allure, Vogue, Star, US and on The TODAY SHOW. The collection will be featured in the Style Watch section of PEOPLE later this year.

Their celeb following includes Jennifer Garner, Mischa Barton, Kate Hudson, Jessica Simpson, Reese Witherspoon, Courteney Cox, Naomi Watts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Aguilera, Niki Talyor, Selma Blair, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Beckinsale, Ricki Lake, Amy Smart, Julia Ormond and me (ha, ha)…to name a few.

Not Soap, Radio has been placed in Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Westin Hotels, Sephora, Henri Bendel and numerous spas and boutiques. But, you can buy it right on their website!

OR...do you want to win some of your very own? Yeah, I thought so.

How about the I'm Not Here, I'm Really at the Spa Body Souffle:

AND

I'm Not Here, I'm Really at the Spa Face Palette.

Here are the rules:
1) Go to Not Soap, Radio and pick out your favorite product (other than the two you will win.)
2) Come back here and leave a comment telling me what you picked.

For Additional Entries:
1) Post this contest on your blog
2) Send a tweet out about this contest
3) Become a Follower (or let me know you are already a follower)
4) Follow me on Twitter (or let me know you are following me on Twitter)

Please note that EACH of the additional entries need to be left in a separate comment to qualify for an additional entry. If you write "I follow your blog, I tweeted and I want to win lipgloss" in one comment it DOES not count but for ONE entry. I use the random number generator because Baby J does not leave time for anything else, so if you want additional entries you can leave up to FIVE SEPARATE comments on this post. Please make sure your comments are linked either to you blog or you include an email address. If there is no way to contact you, you will not win.

The contest starts today and will go until May 9th.

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!

Have you entered my other giveaway for free jewelry. If not, click here to sign up!

Have You Entered My Purely Elegant Giveaway Yet?

What to win you choice of ANY of these? Or ANYTHING at Purely Elegant?

Click here for the rules and to enter.

A. Tierney Baby!

A. Tierney has some of the cuteste baby gear around! Alyssa gifted me some of their fabulous burp cloths and I have to tell you they are my absolute FAVORITE burp cloths and I swear I'm not just saying that. They are thick, durable, they have ribbon on them AND they are personalized. Does it get any better? I am certainly going to order some for my friends who have babies and I reccomend you do the same. They will thank you!

I also recently ordered Baby J a monogrammed hat for the beach. He wore it while he watched the Masters in his polo green onesie. What do you think? He's been a hit in Central Park and at our New Mommies and Babies discussion group that I go to on Mondays!