Target and Neiman Marcus

I just scoped out the upcoming Target + Neiman Marcus collection that debuts Saturday in both brand's stores and online. The much-buzzed about holiday collaboration features over 50 limited-edition products from top American designers that range in price from $7.99 to $499.99.

Have you taken a look at the line-up yet? You can find the full round-up here, and below are a few of my favorites. That dress, in paticular, is to-die, and how great would that bar set be for the bachelor in your life?

Like the Missoni and Jason Wu special Target lines of past, expect these items to sell out FAST! Happy Shopping!!

Lela Rose for Target + Neiman Marcus, $99

Altuzarra for Target + Neiman Marcus, Shaker, Glasses and Tray set, $49.99

Prabal Gurung for Target + Neiman Marcus, $79.99

Robert Rodriguez for Target + Neiman Marcus, $79.99

Liebster Award: Some Fun Facts

A few weeks ago, Elizabeth over at Southern Color nominated me for the Liebster Award. How fun! Elizabeth and her twin sister Julia write a super cute blog about their crafting, cooking and adventures around Atlanta. Even though they went to UGA (humph), I still like following along ;) I loved this tutorial for a flower arrangement that lives in a pumpkin. I just pinned it to remember for next year :)

Anyways, this award ...

The Liebster Award is given to new or up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. It's a great way to find new and noteworthy blogs.

 

There are a few rules to follow:

1) Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

 
2) Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

 
3) Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
 

4)  Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
 

5) No tag backs

 

Ok, here goes! I am going to try my best with this one :) Thanks, Elizabeth, for the nom!

Random Facts About Katherine

1. I am a shoe addict (after all, these are only supposed to be random facts, not unknown facts, ha!)

2. I have discovered that I am mildly intolerant to gluten ...

3. ... But even though I haven't given up pasta (yet!), I switched years ago to corn and rice (Chex/Crispix) for cereal and will never go back.

4. I have three piercings in my left ear and two in my right. The second holes in both are uneven with each other. 

5. I think mayonnaise on a ham sandwich is the grossest sandwich combination ever. 

6. As an adult, I have grown to love onions when sauteed, but still hate them when they are raw. 

7. I hate cake.

8. I could drink Diet Coke with every meal.

9. I got into and considered attending Notre Dame instead of Georgia Tech.

10. I "do" my hair in some fashion even if I am staying at home alone all day.

11.  I wiggle my toes when I am thinking or reading <wiggling right now>

Tagger Questions

1.  How long have you been blogging? Three and a half years

2.  Do you do it full-time? No.

3.  What is your favorite kind of ice cream? Chocolate Peanut Butter. But the ice cream has to be chocolate with the peanut butter swirled in, like Baskins-Robbins. The reverse just isn't the same. Other Choc-PB fans know what I mean!

4.  What is the first blog you started reading/following? I started reading Marriage Confessions (written by my friend's sister) way back before they even had kids - now they have two toddlers!

5.  Do you have a pet? A fish, St. Thomas.

6.  Where was your last vacation to? I went to Charleston over the summer for a bachelorette trip. Ever since then, we have been saving for the honeymoon!!

7.  What is your favorite work out? Spin class.

8.  What is the last book you read? Oh, I am so lame, probably The Hunger Games like EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

9.  What is your favorite meal from growing up? For years and years and years, I requested bean and cheese burritos as my birthday meal. Why? They are awesome, that's why. Thanksfully, my taste buds have evolved as my age has increased!

10.  Are your ears pierced? Multiple times, actually - see above.

11.  How are you celebrating did you celebrate Thanksgiving? We spent Thanksgiving Day and the weekend at home with my family in Roswell, and also got to celebrate with my fiance's family with a few visits, too. 

Questions for Nominees

1. Dog or cat?
2. Where do you live?
3. What do you love most about blogging?
4. What is your biggest challenge with blogging?
5. Camera phone or digital camera?
6. What is your hands-down favorite blog (big or small!)?
7. You just got a free round trip airplane ticket for anywhere in the U.S. Where would you go?
8. Where is your favorite vacation destination?
9. Your ideal night: Fancy night on the town or low-key at home?
10. Heels or flats?
11. What make-up item must be in your purse at all times?

My Nominees ... Oops, I only list seven instead of eleven. Deal with it ;)
1. Savvy Young Something
2. The Curtis Casa
3. Your Modern Couple
4. Our Life Down Unda
5. Life With a Lab
6. Ward Family Adventures
7. Floating Along

Flying Through the Air

I just turned on the TV to get a little down time this evening, and what is on but Wall-E, one of my favorite recent Disney/Pixar flicks. I simply adore how Wall-E introduces himself to all of the other robots and slowly "wakes up" the humans on the ship. When he and Eve fly through space, it is like magic, and it makes me so happy :)

This coming weekend, I will get to witness some flying similar to Wall-E's in person, because I am getting to attend my first ever Cirque du Soleil show here in Atlanta!! 

The dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Atlantic Station, 2012.
Credit: Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Here's a little bit about the show, TOTEM:

TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Fun! I have heard that the Cirque du Soleil shows are always a creative experience, and it sounds like this one will be no exception. This show world-premiered in Montreal in 2010, and has been traveling the world ever since. This TOTEM “hybrid show” is the first Cirque du Soleil Big Top show to be created in such a way that it can be adapted to the reality of arenas and other venues from the very outset.

Anyone driving by Atlantic Station when Cirque du Soleil is in town can't help but notice the show site off to the right of the stores. Their mobile village includes the distinguishable blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (or Big Top, which can seat 2,600!), an artistic tent, box office, kitchen, school, offices, warehouses and more. Completely self-sufficient for electrical power, the site relies only on a local water supply and telecommunication facilities to support its infrastructure.

The dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Atlantic Station, 2012.
Credit: Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Every time Cirque du Soleil has come to Atlanta in the past, I seem to miss it. One thing leads to another, time flies past and their big yellow and blue tents at Atlantic Station come down before I know it. This year, that isn't going to happen! We are having a special date night out on Friday before the busy holiday season begins and I can barely wait.

You, too, can check out the show this year, which will be in town until Sunday, December 30, 2012. What's more, due to popular demand, six performances have been added to the Atlanta engagement; 8 pm performances on December 19, 20, 26 and 27 as well as 4 pm performances on December 21 and 28.

I will be back next week with a bit more about the show, including what we learn on a behind the scenes tour! In the meantime, grab up tickets, if you haven't already, and I will see you under the Big Top!

About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Disclaimer: I have been provided a pair of press tickets for this weekend's show, however, all opinions are my own. 

Positive Vibes (and a huge sale)

Hello, all!

I hope you had a marvelous week and Thanksgiving holiday! I was beyond ready for this break and have spent a few nights unplugged up in the big R with my family. We have laughed a lot, eaten a lot and slept a lot, too. We also may have done some worthy Black Friday shopping online! Keep reading for a sneak peek at what I picked up :)

As another Thanksgiving came and went, I realized there was a lot that I am thankful for. Big things and small things ... realizing and remembering these things makes every day life that much better :)

* Family members that are safe and sound and with power up north ... It was so hard to hear that their homes were pitch black and cold for days on end, but the most important thing is that everyone is alright after the hurricane whipped through earlier this month!

* Chilly, lazy weekend days spent outdoors ... As the last fall hues fall from the trees and the cold air moves in to stay, I have loved spending time outside, just looking UP at the clear, blue skies!

* New prospects on the horizon ... I am really excited!! I am starting a new job on Monday and am just so thrilled. I will be joining a full-service marketing agency, and it's pretty much the best early Christmas present EVER! Hit me up offline if you want to hear more :)

* Chais, cozy loungewear, manicures and pedicures ... These are pretty much on my "favorites" list all the time, what can I say? 

* Football games ending in things other than a L ... Thankfully, after a rough season, both Auburn and Georgia Tech have managed to pull a few more W's out of the hat. Here's hoping for at least not a depressing blow-out against both teams today for their in-state rivalry games (gah).

Image Source: summersnowart.com via Merideth on Pinterest

Now ... for some serious shopping!

I don't know if you are in need of an area rug for your home, but if you are, you MUST head to RugsUSA.com right now! They have been running a Black Friday sale all week long, with a majority of their rugs featured at 75% off regular price and free shipping. Amazingness. In the rug industry, free shipping is super clutch because that can really add up. I ordered this beauty off there earlier this week, and can't wait for it to come in.

I think it is going to look perfect in the living room, adding just the pop of color that I have been looking for. Let me know if you find anything that fits your decor needs!

I hope you have a wonderful end to your Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

 

Gift Ideas for the Gifting Challenged

Are you starting your holiday shopping early this year? I just had a twinge of anxiety once I realized I have only gotten two out of the ten+ gifts for the celebrations ahead. Yikes! Looks like my Thanksgiving weekend might be filled with a good deal of e-shopping (forget Black Friday, I prefer online ;) ).

Image Credit: RedEnvelope.com

It's always hard to shop for friends and family members that seem to have everything. What do you get for your BFF that just got married and received gifts all year from that, anyways? And mothers-in-law and bosses at work are a whole other category. I consider myself an expert gifter-in-training (I learned from the best - my mom is genius at this stuff) but even I get stumped sometimes for these types of people.

For those times when you get stuck on what to buy for that special someone, I would recommend two online sites, even if just as a thought-starter. The first is Red Envelope. They are stocked full of gift ideas for anyone in your life. Last year, we got a great bottle opener station personalized for Brad's dad from there. He loved it! All the guys use it when they visit his home and the caps drop right into the container below. Brad and his dad brew beer together, so this was the perfect addition to their brewing set-up. I highly recommend this gift for the brewer or beer-lover in your life. Plus, the opener is attractive and would look great with most decor in most homes (or in the garage by the beer fridge!).

And many, many thanks to Lauren for this find earlier this week! The people behind Williams-Sonoma have recently launched Mark and Graham, a gifting site that features "the artful mingling of typography and design." Monogram lovers? This online store is for you! Here's a quick preview of what the store is all about:



After a quick browse, I am already lusting over the hammered coasters, the vintage pool bar stopper, and the linen satin stitch cocktail napkins.

Image Credit: Mark and Graham

Adorable! I can't wait to dive into this site a bit more as soon as I figure out who is left on my list ;)

Happy (early) shopping!!

Grand Opening: The Container Store Buckhead

Organizing friends, get ready for some visual lust. Last week I had the opportunity to join in with a fabulous group of local bloggers to tour the brandy-new Buckhead location of The Container Store! 

The Container Store, which proudly says that they never close stores, they only move stores to bigger and better locations, is a favorite spot for city dwellers like me. Whether you are living in tight quarters like a condo or apartment, or in a larger home with so much space that you don't know what to do with yourself (I envy you!), The Container Store has you set. No other retailer offers the depth and breadth of storage solutions that The Container Store does.

I was so honored to be invited to the preview event at the new location. The Container Store outdid themelves this time! The new space is gorgeous, and makes you want to run home and tear every piece of clothing out of your closet and start over with a new organizing system in place. I had to literally hold myself back from the displays as we got a tour. My OCD side was in absolute heaven.

Did you know? The Buckhead store location, originally at the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont, was The Container Store's first store outside of Texas! Our store goes way back, y'all! This new 28,000 sq. foot, two-level store is now at the corner of Peachtree and Wieuca, and takes the place of the Borders that closed many months ago.

I had heard about the go-getter attitudes of the associates at the stores, but was surprised to learn how that comes about. Each full-time salesperson gets more than 263 hours of training in their first year. That is compared to a retail industry average of only seven to ten hours. Wow. These people know what they are talking about!

Clockwise, from top left: The wall of hangers at The Container Store, an Elfa
closet system demo, a flyer announcing the Gift Registry and the wall of wrapping paper

The Container Store is home to more than 120 food storage solutions (seen below on this amazing curved wall at the back end of the store which faces Peachtree Rd.), 700 organized office products, 45 types of laundry hampers, 350 products to organize a traveler, 80 styles of hangers (seriously - see that wall of them above!) and more. This store alone features more than 10,000 multifunctional and innovative products.

One of the items that caught my eye were the clear shoe boxes. Retailing at $1.69 each when you buy 20 or more, they are totally clear and see-through. You know how you usually have to put a photo or a label on the front of some other "clear" box so you can tell your black stilletos from the dark purple ones? You don't need to do that on these -- you can actually see right through them because they are made of such a high-grade plastic.

 

Another thing I was excited to see -- they now offer a registry! Obviously, this is awesome news for fellow organized brides, but also for recent high school and college grads, new homeowners and new parents (hello, baby food containers!).

Ready to get your OCD on? This brand new addition to the Buckhead shopping area is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Parking is available in front of the store by the CVS and Pinkberry. Learn more about The Container Store's principles, community events and celebrations on their blog, What We Stand For.

Disclosure: I was invited to and attended a grand opening luncheon hosted by The Container Store, and received products as part of that event. This post represents my own opinions.

Look Good, Feel Better

While Breast Cancer Awareness Month may be over (where did October go this year? And half of November, for that matter?!), I always love hearing about organizations that support breast cancer research initiatives, patients and survivors all the year round. Breast cancer is something that has hit my family all too often, and I hope with everything that I have that over the next number of years, a cure can be found.

Look Good, Feel Better is one of those organizations. When I heard about them, I wanted to share the word with each of you!

Ladies, I don't know about you, but on days when I am feeling down and out, doing my make-up and hair can make me feel like a whole new person. It's hard to imagine having to battle not feeling well AND not being able to easily "fix yourself up" with a quick coat of mascara. For women battling cancer, that is the reality, though. Look Good Feel Better is an organization that helps them feel like themselves again.

Here's a little bit about what they are all about: 

For the past two decades, the Personal Care Products Foundation, supported by the cosmetics industry, the American Cancer Society and the Professional Beauty Association, has worked to give confidence to people undergoing cancer treatment through the Look Good Feel Better program.  

Founded more than 23 years ago, the Look Good Feel Better program has helped more than 1.2 million people across the U.S. and in 24 countries around the world regain confidence during cancer treatment by helping them to cope with the appearance side effects of cancer treatment. Workshops are FREE, available in all 50 states, and staffed by local expert volunteers that offer lessons in how to apply cosmetics and hair accessories that help address the changes in skin and hair loss that often accompany cancer treatment, as well as tips on wardrobe/styling to help mask weight changes, surgical alterations, and other changes.  

Look Good Feel Better is dedicated to changing the way people with cancer approach their disease, reminding them that they are beautiful inside AND out. The program helps women regain confidence some normalcy in a life that is by no means normal.

If you are like me, you are sitting here smiling, just thinking about how awesome this organization is! A woman who is battling cancer deserves to feel pretty just like anyone else. This group helps makes that happen.

If you'd like to help the Look Good Feel Better cause, definitely head over and check out their website. However, Elizabeth Arden is also on board to donate on your behalf with just a quick click over on Pinterest! For each repin of an image from Elizabeth Arden’s “Pin It to Give It” Pinterest board, they will donate an eyeliner to the Personal Care Products Council Foundation for use in the kits used in the Look Good Feel Better group workshops. 

Love it! Head on over to their Pinterest board to get pinning. And please, help us spread the word about this awesome organization by sending out a quick tweet or Facebook post!

Look Good Feel Better is dedicated to improving the self-esteem and quality of life of people undergoing treatment for cancer. It is our aim to improve their self-image and appearance through complimentary group, individual, and self-help beauty sessions that create a sense of support, confidence, courage, and community. 

More information on Look Good Feel Better, including a program finder, virtual workshops
and web‐based tips, expert posts on the LGFB Blog and a donation mechanism can be found
at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org. Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lookgoodfeelbetter or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LGFB.

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between my site and LGFB. This could include the LGFB providing me w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Five Months To Go: Parties and Fun

Last night I had a terrifying dream ... about our wedding plans. Ugh. I had heard through the bride grapevine that, no matter how stressed or relaxed I might be about our wedding, the wedding nightmares would arrive. Sure enough, just as I am feeling in-control and really excited about what's coming up in April, a very detailed nightmare shows up. In it, our invites never went out in time, we never got wedding bands and I somehow forget the entire night and didn't get a videographer so the memories were lost forever. What?!

Of course, beyond the sheer ridiculousness of it all (um, hello, shopping for more jewelry? That is a MUST on any girl's list!), the nightmare did prompt me to check into our to-do lists and see where we stand. Just as I had thought, we are totally on par with where we need to be. Honeymoon plans are coming together, the invite proofs just came in and the first chatter of showers and bachelor/bachelorette parties have begun. We are entering the super fun time of wedding planning, and couldn't be more excited!

Here's a run-down of a few of the things on the list to knock out in upcoming weeks (according to my go-to Erin Condren planner!):

* Book the Rehearsal Dinner
* Book transportation
* Purchase shoes ... as if they had to tell me to do this one ;)
* Work on favors

Speaking of our wedding plans, Brad's best friend and his wife threw us an amazing engagement party a few weeks ago. It was Mad Men-themed, perfect for die-hard fans like Brad and me :)

Look at some of the adorable decor they set up in their home!

I loved how she included vintage-hued photos of us throughout the home.

And the drink stations were clutch. Bourbon for him, vodka for me! Each station had a few drink cards with recipes so that guests could help themselves. As you might guess, the men hovered very near to the bourbon bar for most of the night!

A Mad Men theme would be a fun way to class things up for a holiday party. You can find similar ideas and resources for yours over here on Pizzazzerie, and Etsy is full of retailers ready to create the paper for the party. AMC also has a full Man Men party guide that you could customize for the holidays with cranberry hued cocktails and a holiday-ish menu.

Me and my 'maid Annemarie, enjoying the party!

Happy Partying! And YAY wedding fun! Thanks to Kyle and Victoria for the sweet soiree last month :)

The groom and me in our Mad Men best :) I channeled my namesake "Joan" for the night!

Dressy Casual

With the holiday season right around the corner, I thought we might take a bit and talk dress codes for those shin-digs that will soon be filling up your social calendars. For most of us, there will be some sort of holiday party at work, and then, if you are on Santa's Nice List, also some sort of social gathering with friends. Whether it's a cookie or ornament exchange, a Secret Santa/White Elephant party (my least favorite one, ugh) or a holiday dinner, a girl's gotta look her best while still giving off that holiday cheer vibe! 

Source: stylemepretty.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Last year, I selected some work-appropriate holiday party attire to share with you, but today, I want to focus instead around the whole "dressy casual" phrase. What can that phrase really mean for a real girl with a real budget and a (maybe a little boring, last-season) real wardrobe to choose from? 

First, when I hear the phrase "dressy casual," I immediately think of the age-old classic of dark jeans and a sparkly top. Seriously, it might be the safest go-to that anyone can choose, and you likely already own at least half of the outfit! When paired with a pair of heels, you can go from work during the day directly to the party at night with this look.

I love this sparkly tank option from the Simply Vera line at Kohl's. It's a steal at only $33, and would look fantastic with your favorite pair of dark rinse skinny jeans. Add some blingy earrings and a chunky black bracelet to complete the look.

And look, they even have a holiday ruby-colored version, too! I love that the belt on both of these adds emphasis to your middle, but the flowy structure keeps things safe just in case you eat one too many cookies at the swap :)

I also love the combination of unexpected textures and materials to step things up for a dressy casual event. This combo of chambray plus glitz equals a South Beach holiday party gold mine, if you ask me. Just swap out that lavender scarf for a black one and add some black heels, and you are set for the evening.

Source: wendyslookbook.com via Megan on Pinterest

In the same vein, a basic gray tee can be glammed up with the addition of a sparkly skirt:

Source: glamorouschiclife.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

I also LOVE this look of a chunky cableknit worn over some sparkle on the bottom! This just screams "winter lodge semiformal" to me, ha!

Source: capecodcollegiate.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

No sparkly clothes in your closet? I also love stepping up an otherwise pretty casual outfit for a dressier holiday event by adding in some special accessories. An oversized clutch with some shine can do the trick ...

Source: hautemamasfaves.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Source: brunchatsaks.blogspot.com via Anne on Pinterest

Or some blingy, oversized costume (or real!) jewelry, of course. Add these to an all-black outfit and your "dressy casual" look for the night is complete.

Source: ssasychic.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Source: instyle.com via Loloma on Pinterest

I hope this helps you look at your own wardrobe with some renewed interest this holiday season! I'd love to feature your dressy casual "looks" as you create them, so snap a shot and send it my way -- I might just feature you right here on the blog! :)

Past and Present

As this little old blog has grown in readership, I have had lots of opportunities to explain the background of its name to my new visitors and followers. Those of you local to the Atlanta area are of course hip to the "Buckhead Betty" phrase and all that the "Buckhead" word means, but to outsiders, our little neighborhood is not much more a span of blocks within the gigantic metropolis of ATL. And while I can sum up why I love living here in a single blog post, there is a ton of history that even I don't know all about yet, all these years later.

Luckily for all of us, tourists and locals alike, the Atlanta History Center has us set. They are hosting a new series of history lessons made just for adults. They are combining the past with pints ... of beer!

From their website:

Huzzah!  We’re pumped to tell you about a new monthly event designed to introduce you to the history of Atlanta… We think the name says it all - Party With the Past: Free History, Cold Beer. This free history series will take place at a different historic spot in the city each month. Here at the AHC, history is our passion, and we hope this event series will be a great way to introduce people to Atlanta, our museum staff, and famous Atlantans (alive and dead).

Fun! Luckily for us, this month's topic is all about Buckhead, and how our neighborhood got its name. This preview video pokes a little fun at our uppity area and also hints at our true background:

Who wants to join in with me for the event coming up in a few weeks? This sounds intriguing, and how can you go wrong with a happy hour that also educates?! You can RSVP for the event here on their website. Let me know if you decide to attend. I am planning on being there because, after all, no Betty can be TOO prepared for a pop history quiz ;)