New Year's Eve

I'm off and away to Hickory until 2012! Spending New Year's Eve with my family is my idea of perfect. We are ringing in the New Year with bubbly, great food, hats, and noise makers all at my parents home. We always have the best time when we get together so I know that this party will not disappoint! While I will no doubt not be wearing sequins or a ballgown this year, it's always nice to have a little inspiration. Skinny jeans (if I can squeeze!) and a pair of big diamond studs can be just as festive, no?

This year has been an incredible year of blessings, change, and happiness. 

Your comments and support have brought so much joy to 2011. 

I can't wait to see you all in 2012!

xoxo

Fresh for the New Year

This week I have been organizing and compartmentalizing our house. Cleaning out closets and our kitchen and make-up drawers feels so good! Life is so much simpler when things are uncluttered and organized. Here are a few images that got me on this clutter busting train. Hopefully it will last past the New Year!

What are your tips to staying organized?

 

Glittering Gold

all images via

Merry Christmas Y'all!

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here! This is my first year not going to my parents house (tears are coming out now) but it's time for the husband and I to start our own traditions. When I think of Christmas, I think of going to church, seeing my family, exchanging gifts, reading the Christmas story, watching The Christmas Story over and over on TBS, and of course, eating lots and lots of great food. While I may not be able to replicate all of those traditions exactly here, I can certainly try by starting our own traditions. First on the list... food. And lots of it!

We are going to my in-laws tonight but will be back in town tomorrow in time for me to make a decadent Christmas Eve dinner of fettuccine Alfredo. We hardly ever eat pasta, but I think it's a great one pot dish and will be perfect with a good bottle of red wine. Our neighbors are doing fondue Christmas Eve night, so what's better than pasta, wine, and dark chocolate? 

Christmas morning, we will wake up, open presents, and of course Tilley-Gray will have presents to open from Santa! I'm making an overnight French Toast Casserole that I made last year from Ezra Pound Cake. It is so good and super easy to make. 

For Christmas dinner, we are making a short rib pot pie. I'm a bit nervous about this because I have never made it, but I'm thinking that if all else fails, we can have cheese, bread, and wine for dinner! 

It looks so yummy and cozy and perfect for a Christmas Day dinner!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! 

xoxo

Tis the Season

Tilley-Gray strikes a pose 

(She is 3 weeks today!)

My sweet step-sisters sent me my absolute favorite treat in the world, macaroons from Laduree in NYC on Tuesday. Our neighbors gave us a bottle of Veuve Clicquot when we got home from the hospital. What a perfect combination? It was pretty fancy for a Tuesday night!

Grayson is one proud daddy. 

And believe it or not, I was given macaroons two days in a row! Heaven! 

First, from Laduree and then from my favorite local bakery, Flower and Flour. They dropped off Christmas treats yesterday and it was such a sweet surprise. So much for eating healthy this week. My no sweets policy might just have to start after the new year!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing what I'm going to make this weekend for our very first Christmas at home as a family! In the meantime, check out these gift guides I did for I Love You Crazy and Delightfully Chic. 

Gifts for the Hostess

Wish List this Christmas

The sunny weather around here makes me think of what it would be like to spend the holidays in the tropics. A lot of color,  fruity cocktails, flirty dresses,  and candy coated malt balls? Yes please!

Camilla and Marc Dress / Oscar de la Renta jacket / Kate Spade wallet /

Miu Miu suede pumps /  Ice Cream Sundae Malted Milk Balls

When I was in Paris last November, I saw these boots  on chic Parisian girls everywhere. A year later, I finally have a pair and love them!

Isabel Marant Dicker boots $580/  Sam Edelman Petty Boots $160

I'm Back!

Happy Monday! A little over a week since Tilley-Gray arrived and we are adjusting to a family of three pretty well. My mom left on Friday (I balled like a baby) and got me back to feeling good, taught me a ton about babies and being a mom, and fed us like kings for a week. I begged her to stay; aren't moms just the best?

I can't wait to share the details of our birth day, but there are so many so I am trying to cut it down. We had to stay in the hospital an extra day because I had to have a blood transfusion (more on that later) so I'm still not 100% but I'm on the up and up. In the meantime, I have more guest bloggers, a few of my own post, and these darling pictures to hold you over!

How to Stock a Bar from Society Social

Hello Fifi Cheek readers! It's truly a delight to be here while Lindsey enjoys her first few weeks of being a new momma! I think I speak for all of us in saying that's it's been simply wonderful to follow along with her pregnancy and see an already beautiful family of two turn into a most precious family of three! Seeing as I design bar carts for a living, Lindsey asked me to share a few tips on stocking a bar. I kept it short and sweet because after all, I have a cocktail to attend to ;)

Cheers!
Roxy, My Cup of Te & Society Social

pssst, fun fact! The model is our mutual, dearest friend Kristin who introduced us!

Gift Guide from Second Street East

Hello, Fifi Cheek readers! Michelle from Second Street East here. I can't believe it is already time to be putting together a holiday wish list. My mom and mother-in-law have been hounding me for mine, so I will be sending this over to them, too! Take a peek at what I am coveting this season :) Happy Holidays!

1. The Perfectly Imperfect Home: I have been wanting this book for a while as it sounds like the perfect approach to take when decorating your home!

2. Beetle Paperweight: Planning on setting up my office soon and this would be the perfect little guy to have.

3. Ball Studs: I recently pierced my ears (I know, right? Lonnnnng story) and these would be perfect for everyday wear!

4. Moccasins: Great price + cute color! What more do you need in a house shoe?

5. Ikat Throw: Pink and red ikat? Just the thing I need for my impending master bedroom makeover. Hope my husband likes pink!

6. Glitter Servers: How amazing would these be for hosting brunch with the girls? I am hoping to receive them and find out! I will report back :)

7. Hunter Boots: I might be the last person to get these darn boots but I have decided that I really do need some. Can't wait to style them up!

8. Lacquered Boxes: Who doesn't need more storage? These chic boxes will be perfect in any room in my house!

9. Watch: This watch is a GREAT price. A classic piece that can be worn often!

10. Nightie: Sleepwear is always a great present. I have my eye on this cute little number from Target of all places!

11. Leopard Pillow: Last but not least, a leopard pillow. I am a true believer in a little leopard. It's a neutral, right?

A big thank you to Lindsey for letting me share what's on my Christmas Wish List! Can't wait to "meet" Miss Tilley-Gray! She sure is going to have one stylish momma!

Gift Guide from Design Darling

Hi there! I'm Mackenzie from Design Darling and I'm delighted to be filling in for Lindsey while she welcomes her new baby girl! I thought I'd share a few of the things I'm coveting at this most wonderful time of year...

Poppin tape dispenser ($8) / J.Crew/Timex traveler watch (on sale for $78)

Zara sequin top ($89) / Topshop mittens, $20

Archie Grand notebook ($10) / Container Store lacquered box, $10

J.Crew calf hair watch strap ($18.50) / Loren Hope necklace, $175

'Tis the season for sequins so this top is a must-have! I'll accessorize with a new watch — leopard strap not optional! — and a statement necklace and fight the chill with a pair of faux fur mittens. I'm positively obsessed with office supplies so a chic tape dispenser, lacquer box, and witty notebook will be perfect for my desktop!

Thank you so much for having me, Lindsey, and happy holidays to all!

Welcome Tilley-Gray

Tilley-Gray Gwyneth Cheek, the second love of my life, arrived in fantastic style Thursday, December 1, at 5:00 pm.  She was 8 pounds and 21.75 inches beautiful.  Lindsey did an amazing job and she is such a wonderful mom.  

This is Grayson, better known here as "The Husband."  Lindsey asked that I please update all of you because she wants to share this special moment in our lives.  I have tried to wrap my head around how to tell the greatest story of our lives.  I have decided to give you what I can and Lindsey will fill in the rest.  Here goes:

Serendipitous is the only word I can find to describe the unfolding of this beautiful story.  To start, Lindsey was scheduled to be induced Thursday morning.  We were to call the hospital at 5:00 am to see if a bed was available, but Lindsey went into natural labor at 3:30 am.   Her water broke at home just an hour later, which  was so important to Lindsey, as she wanted to give birth as naturally as possible (with the absolute exception that she accept the gift of an epidural).   Today was meant to be the day.  

I gathered our bags, numerous as they were, and helped Lindsey to the car to travel the 1.8 miles to the hospital.  We were having our baby TODAY.  This is where things got even better.  In our delivery room we were introduced to our nurse named, and get this, Fifi.  No, kidding!  So here we are with two Fifis in the room, and they both instantly had a calm sense of purpose about them.  

Lindsey labored until about 3:40 pm when Fifi told her that it was time to start pushing - we were about to have our beautiful baby girl.  This prompted Lindsey to tell Fifi that she needed 15 minutes to hot roll her hair and do her makeup.   Lindsey would not have Tilley-Gray arrive to anything other than her mother at her absolute best.  She is the most beautiful mother there ever was (this shot was taken seconds after we became a family). 

Lindsey pushed for one hour and our little girl arrived with the prettiest, fullest head of brown hair.  She is going to give her father so many happy days and a ton of gray hair. 

The photos in this post were taken by Millie Holloman.  Up until Thursday, Lindsey and I were fortunate enough to call Millie a close friend.  Now, she is simply part of our family.  Millie, who is in my opinion the world's best photographer, was the only other person in the room with us.  She, in addition to capturing the special moments you see here, was also helping Lindsey count through her contractions.  After Tilley-Gray's arrival, I saw her with camera in one hand and bulb syringe in the other.  She was wonderful.  

Today we are a happy family of Three.  There are so many more details that I want to share, but Lindsey is excited about coming back.  I will save the rest for her.  In the meantime, here is one more picture of one proud father who just fell in love all over again.