Digging a hole to China

One of the biggest items on my "To-Do List" whilst I am in Houston is to begin tackling our Wedding Registry. I have to admit, I am kind of overwhelmed. Where does a girl begin? Other than, of course, with the necessities like a hand-churned ice cream maker...

...or a Mickey Mouse Waffle Iron...

I know picking china and stuff is supposed to be fun, but it just seems like such an oddly defining moment. I am not sure I am ready to declare what kind of couple Pete and I will be in place settings.

{What would the Helloise pattern by Raynaud say about me? Hmm...}

These plates by Rust Designs are definitely off-the-beaten-registry, but are super sweet. thoughtful, customizable, and would make a great Wedding gift.

Love Bug Collection- The couples name and wedding date painted on the getaway car...

Love Bird Collection, The couples name and wedding date painted on the birds' banner

Birch Tree Collection, The couples initials and anniversary year "carved" into a birch tree

They have custom ideas for other occasions as well.

House warming party...

The home owners new address painted on various door styles...

Childs Birthday...

Baby Shower, a customizable family tree plate

Little girls birthday fairy plates...

Thanks to Lake Jane for the great tip!

Will you be my bridesmaid?

I have finally asked all of the members of my Bridal and House Parties to be part of Pete's and My wedding, and I am so excited to have so many of my best friends supporting me on our big day! All of the etiquette books say that you are supposed to ask everyone at the same time, in the same place if possible. Since all of my nearest and dearest are scattered across the hinterlands, getting them all together at the same time pretty much won't happen until our wedding. However, if I were able to throw such a soiree, I think this idea from The Party Dress would do just fine!

Bailey's Favorite Things Episode

I forgot to post this a few weeks back when the Gossip Girl Episode originally aired, but I couldn't just let this go unpublished. If you recall the episode when Blair tried to host her annual sleepover, Deroda came out holding this stack of luscious blankies.

Which she then used to make up beds for the girls...

Now, this blankie isn't just any blankie. It is the Kumi Kookoon blankie, and if I were Oprah, it would definitely be the star item on my Favorite Things episode.

You may not know this about me, but I am an expert snuggler (why do you think I chose to pursue a career in blogging where I can stay safely wrapped in my blankie all day if I so choose) and so really, I do consider myself an authority on blankies.

It comes in an array of colors, sizes, and styles.

And now they even offer baby blankies!

Perrfect for snuggling up for a long winters nap!

Rethinking Clifford, The Big Red house

Clifford, The Big Red House has been gutted and empty for weeks now. I highly underestimated the level of corruption and incompetence in the Chicago Permit Offices. I was warned, but I just could not fathom it could be this bad. Just to give you an idea of how far behind we are, the third floor edition (which includes ripping off and rebuilding the roof and the back wall of the house) and all outside work was supposed to be completed and sealed up by November 1. It is November 3rd and no such work has begun.

Serenity Now.

All of this time sitting and waiting knocked my design brain all out of whack, I have scrapped all of my previous plans for the living spaces and am now starting from scratch. I have heard many talented designers complain in the past that when it comes to doing their own spaces, they are often at a loss. Not that I, a lowly assistant, put myself in their shoes, but I now know what they are talking about. When you work in design, you see SO many different ideas every day it can make your head spin! Working for clients who have different tastes than you, you learn to train yourself to see the merit in many different design styles, so that sometimes it is hard to remember to Follow Your Bliss!

See how I did that??

Anyway, a voice has been whispering in the back of my head for awhile now that my bliss is Peacock Blue. Our house is such a dignified old gentleman I think it is time for me to shed my girlish ways (i.e. neon) and embrace a more mature attitude towards color. I think that peacock blue is the key.

But now I am wracked with insecurity over my new design persona. Thank the Decorating Gods for House of Turquoise, otherwise I would be a lost little rower in a giant sea of peacock blue. H.O.T. is a blog completely dedicated to the authors love of Turquoise interiors, which really amounts to a keenly edited array of blue hued rooms and accessories. Trust me, even if blue isn't your bliss, it is a great resource. By scouring H.O.T.'s archives and my own I have come up with zillions of examples of what Blue can be:

{Contemporary: via Domino}

{Girly: House of Turquoise}

{Glam: Kendall Wilkinson}

{Classic: House of Turquoise}

{Soothing: Domino}

{Preppy: Michael Robinson}

{Equestrian: Diamond Baratta}

{Studious: Cote de Texas}

{Warm, House of Turquoise}

And now these, are my favorites:

Miles Redd because can't he just come to Chicago and design my house FOR me!?

{Miles Redd again, the high gloss is funky but the dark floors and color palette ground the room.}

{I have posted this before, I think Clifford is a classic American, just like this room: Southern Accents}

{Miles Redd again, I'm sorry, I luff heeem}

{This room is just so cozy, but might it get too dark? I don't know...But I love it. Jan Showers}

{The walls here might be a bit too turquoise for my purposes, but I love it with the white accents and green velvet chair. House of Turquoise}

{This has been in my favorites file forever, I love the high gloss and the pop of pink}

In the end I think Clifford, The Big Red House, should be a mix of preppy Ralph Lauren, classic, and cozy with a contemporary twist.

So what do we think, have I become completely unmoored, or is this just what the Design Doctor ordered?

You know you love me...

Tonight I will be indulging in my favorite guilty pleasure, Gossip Girl, with a few of my Houston girlfriends. While I appreciate Pete's patience and feigned interest with my Gossip Girl habit, it is hard to try to explain the complex story lines to a newbie.

Pete: Wait who is that? (referring to Dan)

Bailey: That is the tall blonde girls ex boyfriend, but their parents used to date and are now remarried, so they aren't together anymore since they are step brother/sister, but they just found out they SHARE a sibling...

It gets confusing.

So, I am excited for tonight. And, I am excited for the fashion. I have been known to take to the interweb after each episode to try and claim some of Blair's wardrobe for my own. In my endless search I have stumbled upon CelebStyle.com, which provides the exact outfit (when they can) or suitable recreations of the Gossip Girl wardrobe.

Remember this Serena Look?

They found it for you here! Click here to recreate the entire look.

And my girl, Blair?

Here ya go! For the rest of the look click here.

You know you love me.

xoxo

Bailey

Halloween Re-Cap **UPDATE**

**Update: Now with more pictures of The Surprise!**

So for all of you waiting with bated breath to find out how Pete and I followed up our wildly popular Peppermint Ice Cream/Karl Lagerfeld:

Dorothy/Wizard:

Costumes from Halloweens past, I bring you Taylor Swift and Kanye West from the 2009 VMAs.

I admit that while we get points for creativity, we definitely lost some in the execution. We lost focus a bit as we were simultaneously planning a super fun SURPRISE!

{Belen in complete shock after seeing Pete}

As I have mentioned, I have always thrown a huge Pumpkin-a-Palooza extravaganza every year, and this year my dear friends Kathleen, Belen, and Sarah were throwing a fab Halloween Party in Houston. I had been mourning that I would not be donning my hostess hat this year, and Petey came up with the brills beyond brills idea that we should fly down to Houston and crash the party!

{What the WHAT!?}

Now, I love a good surprise (although I have been known to majorly snoop thus making it very hard to pull one off on me) but I am terrible at executing them! I just get too excited! But I am happy to report that the girls were INCREDIBLY surprised and it made all of the nervous planning worth it.

{Wig came off in all of the excitement!}

I recall there being some adorable paparazzi during the big moment, so if I track down those pics I will bring them to you later today!

HERE THEY ARE!!

Now I am staying in Houston and spending some quality time with the fam for a few weeks, but I promise to stay up on my posting. Although it will be hard in all of this GORGEOUS weather. Come on Chicago, what's your problem, 70s and sunny in November is DEFINITELY far more civilized than the crud you have been slangin' lately.

p.s. The dress I wore to recreate the look Taylor wore when she finally got to give her speach thanks to the fabulous Beyonce:

Was this dress by Shoshanna, which was very flattering and would be quite festive for upcoming Christmas Fetes.