Blue + White Ginger Jar Chinoiserie Pillow

Blue and white ginger jars are a favorite motif for home decor. The rich blue and white watercolor print on this quilt set the stage for elegance in any bedroom. Bold blue stripes on the reverse side add contrast.

Quilt

The accent pillows work well in the bedroom or as an accent piece in any room. I plan to pick up a few of these for several rooms in my house. The blue and white chinoiserie ginger jar pillow matches almost anything. The 18" square pillow is delicately embroidered with a ginger jar scroll work motif. 

Ginger Jar Pillow 

Elephants also top my list of favorite motifs, so this complementary blue embroidered elephant pillow to the ensemble is an added bonus. I love the detailed embroidery of the elephant's blanket on this square pillow.

Elephant Pillow 

Right now, these gorgeous pillows and the bedding collection is on sale for 50% off the original price. Take an extra 15% off the already reduced price with the code WKND. 

Pink Puffer Vest

Finally! Yesterday we were finally able to get out of our house after the blizzard, but travel was not easy. In our neighborhood, every road that we encountered had only one travel lane for 2-way traffic. This led to some interesting maneuvering on my part, backing up to the next cross street, or dodging into an open plowed parking space. Major state and county roads didn't offer much better options. One transit lane on multi-lane roads seemed to be the rule. To be honest, I was shocked at the conditions. I had hoped to be able to return to school, but my heart sank a little bit when I realized that buses couldn't possibly navigate the narrow drive lane on most streets. Hopefully the crews can make some progress today.

I went to the post office to mail several packages that I had. Surprisingly, I felt comfortable in a warm puffer vest and layers; no heavy parka needed! The Isabelle Puffer Vest is feminine and fitted, offering a flattering shape. Gold tone buttons and accents add style to this stunning piece. I sized up in this to a medium.

Vest (some colors on sale here!) /  Scarf (old)  /  Shirt  /  Jeans  /  Boots

Hope that you have a fantastic day!

Bundle Up Without Building Up

When it was 75 degrees around Christmas, I had hoped to avoid extreme temperatures this year. But with winter here in full force for quite a few more weeks, I choose warm layers that keep me bundled up without adding extra puffiness to my silhouette. Best of all, these choices are all on sale right now for amazing prices!

Patagonia Down Vest  

Barbour Tourer International Jacket

Chateau Parka

Since we're still trapped at home post-blizzard, I'm baking up a storm and will probably need an intervention soon with all of the comfort foods that I am eating. Yesterday I made a chocolate chip Coca Cola cake. Delicious.

Fingers crossed that we can get out of the house today!

After Blizzard Clean Up + Draper James 75% Sale

We're slowly trying to dig out of all of the snow from this weekend's blizzard. Truly, it's a monumental task that will take quite a bit of time. Since I couldn't get to the gym, I did the next best thing...the shoveling snow aka crossfit workout. Seriously, shoveling + feet of snow from the front and back of the house gave me quite a workout, but we did it! John and I cleared our front porch, entrance, sidewalk, back patio, walkway to the garage, and the area behind the garage. In some places, the snow drifts were almost 5 feet tall.

Our cars are in the garage which backs onto an alley. The alley has not been touched, so we're essentially trapped for the time being. Hopefully a plow will get to us soon.

After our hard work, we took a walk around the neighborhood.

Parka  /  Fleece Pullover

I'm standing directly in the middle of a busy, highly transited street that serves as a primary entrance to the neighborhood. There's only one driving lane open at this point!

Parka  /  Gloves  /  Scarf  /  Boots

If you've ever wanted to order from Draper James, but were reluctant to purchase because of the price point, today's your lucky day! Get up to 75% off original retail prices with the Lucky You Sale. Highlights of the sale include: 

Eyelet Love Circle Dress  /  Magnolia Belt  /  Gingham Thank You Cards

Key Fob  /  Charm Bracelet

Sunday Shopping

Happy Sunday! Hopefully you're reading this from the comfort of your home, snuggled up with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate. While my town looks like a winter wonderland, the snow totals top over 30 inches with drifts around our house over 6 feet. Despite shoveling in multiple shifts yesterday, we didn't make much progress and are essentially stuck at home for the next few days. The governor has declared a state of emergency and there is a travel ban in effect.

I am grateful to have heat, food, and electricity. It's just a waiting game at this point.

I love this picture of the twin spires of my church! Alexia plans to organize a little bible study for us today since we are obviously not going to church.

via

My crock pot also sees some good action from all of the blizzard grocery story panic purchases. Thank goodness I bought that extra loaf of bread! Yesterday I made chicken and biscuits and today's menu includes Mexican chicken with black corn tortilla chips.

Of course, there's always online shopping to keep me busy, too! Some pretty amazing sales tempt me right now.

Sales To Shop:
Patagonia winter clearance offers fantastic savings on pieces that rarely go on sale. Remember to check Nordstrom if your size is sold out because they'll match the price.
Vineyard Vines currently has an additional 50% off already reduced sale prices. Lots of great items including Shep Shirts and vests.
Anthropologie is quickly becoming one of my favorite stores. I love their warm sweaters and sweater dresses for winter and the home goods are TDF.
J. Crew

Down Sweater Hoody

Stripe Shoulder Fleece Shep Shirt  /  Fleece Full Zip With Pockets

Sea View Quilted Vest

Laced Funnel Neck Pullover

Enjoy a beautiful day and stay warm!

Blizzard + Easy Pizza Bread Recipe

What do I do when I'm at home weathering a historic blizzard? I cook and eat the grocery store panic purchases! Truly, every day prior to the storm, I thought of at least one thing that I "needed" to pick up from the store. Being a perpetual girl scout, I already had bottled water, candles, bread, and the like, but these latest necessities offered more comfort than anything else.

I now have ingredients for at least 4 crock pot dishes as well as necessary items for brownie sundae supreme including everything needed to bake brownies, ice cream, hot fudge, sprinkles, and Cool Whip. Add random bags of chips, granola bars, and other treats to the list and we're prepared to stay in the house for quite a while if needed. Of course, I picked up a box of clementines and have bananas and other fruit on hand, too!

Last night I tried a recipe that I had seen floating around on Facebook and Pinterest for pizza bread. The end result tasted amazing.

The pepperoni minis made my prep work easier and I simply tore the pizza dough into small pieces. I did end up adding 5 minutes to the overall bake time and had perfect results.

If you're in the path of the blizzard, stay safe and warm! I'd love to know if you're making any special foods. Please share your favorite recipes in the comments.

Black + White Color Block Dress

TGIF! Here at Casa Pink and Green, we're getting ready for a "major snow event." Every model that I've seen puts us right in the bulls eye of the action. I'm grateful that the snow is going to fall over a weekend so hopefully we won't have to miss too much snow. I remember about 5 years ago when something similar happened, we were out of school for a week. In my mind, it's much better to enjoy more free days of summer than to have a "snow day" in 20 degree, snowy weather that keeps me trapped at home! Stay warm and dry if you live in the affected areas.

Yes...that's me in the 24 to 36 zone!

Via

Sometimes horizontal stripes are not a good choice for my body type, but careful color block stripes in just the right places slim and flatter any body type. I love the combination of black and winter white in this cozy knit long sleeve color block dress. The fabric is almost like a sweater knit, but is substantial in weight, keeping it's shape all day long. After carefully reading the website reviews, I chose a size medium and the fit is perfect for me. I paired the dress with super opaque tights that remind me more of a thick legging than a tight. Finally, comfort is key since I'm standing for the majority of the day while I teach. These comfortable shoes feel like I'm walking on air!

Long Sleeve Color Block Dress  /  Super Opaque Tights  /  Shoes

Sweat In Style

My daughters introduced me to an incredibly fun and addicting app called Stop! It's similar to a game of Scattergories. As a challenge, I started to compete against some dear friends in Mexico and had the idea that it might be fun for my students to play. I created a low-tech version of the game and played it in the Advanced Studies class. Students were so engaged with the activity and learned from each other by hearing what words everyone wrote.

Staying fit and losing weight are among the most common New Year's resolutions, but also the most commonly neglected. While there are many reasons people neglect their goal to get in shape, working out in the cold is less than desirable, especially with major snow events like the storm Jonas that is headed towards Maryland.

Research shows the weather has a significant impact on Americans' exercise habits, as people typically exercise more in the spring and summer and less in the fall and winter, with the amount of exercise usually dropping to its lowest point each December and slightly improving in January after the holidays. Even though I’ve tried to be diligent with my walking, the steps that I recently logged on my fitbit are much lower than they were in the summer when I was outside all day. This week I accepted a workweek challenge from a co-worker...and then I found out that he is at Disney World. I’m still giving him a “run” for the money, quite literally.

Running in the cold does not appeal to me at all, especially with the perils of ice and snow covering my path. So I choose to workout indoors during the winter. It’s often a challenge to find clothing that is warm, but not hot, for indoor workouts.

Here are some of my favorite workout picks for winter.

Bow Neck Jacket

Weekender Cropped Pant

Live In Capri Pant

In case you do decide to venture outdoors for your run, stay warm with this jacket. My daughters say that this is a lifesaver. 

Nano Puff Jacket

Tuesday Already + Kate Spade

Happy Tuesday! Whenever there is a holiday on a Monday, I get a little bit off track. Imagine my surprise when realized that it's already Tuesday. After an incredibly mild winter, it looks like we'll be getting hit with some substantial snowfall this weekend. It's so cold...even the walls of my house are cold. Some school districts announced a delayed opening, but my school is open and on time.

I'm keeping warm with a cozy sweater dress, thick fleece lined leggings, and a plaid blanket scarf from Zara that I picked up on a trip to Barcelona last year.

This weekend, John and I participated in a fun Murder Mystery Dinner. I spotted the deal on Living Social and thought that it would be an entertaining and unique activity. We sat with others at a table for 10 and worked as a team to solve the mystery. Audience members took roles in the plot of the story and we interrogated suspects. It enjoyed it so much! I'm happy to tell you that our team correctly solved the crime, too! Although the food at the restaurant hardly rated as fine cuisine, it was perfectly acceptable for the event. Whenever I go to a dinner theater or show, I'm going for the main event, not the food. I highly recommend this activity; it would be especially fun with a group.

During cold winter months, I tend to focus on purchases for the home instead of clothing. Luckily for me (and unluckily for my wallet) Kate Spade recently launched many new additions to their home and decor collection, including dozens of items for the kitchen. Prices for the items start at only $10, so these make extraordinary hostess gifts. Here are a few of my favorites:

Appetizer Plate Set  /  Deco Dot Tea Kettle  /  Square Baking Pan

3 Piece Pancake Set  /  Bow Trivet  /  Apron

Denim Every Day

Jeans offer versatility and comfort, but most people cannot wear jeans every day. Incorporate the comfort and style of denim and chambray to your wardrobe every day. These styles work well for a myriad of activities and make perfect pieces in any season. 

Laced Chambray Top (was $118, on sale for $35)

Chambray Keds ($50, on sale for $26)

Anchor Tunic 

Kate Spade Shift Dress (was $348, on sale for $156)

Chambray Shirt Dress

How do you wear denim every day? 

Shopping Guide

Laced Chambray Top  /  Chambray Keds  /  Anchor Tunic  /  Kate Spade Shift Dress  /  Chambray Shirt Dress

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Any holiday is an excellent excuse to let special friends and family know that I am thinking about them. Gifts don't have to be extravagant or expensive, in fact, I really enjoy tiny little gifts that are more delightful than luxurious.

Cupcake Kit  /  Kate Spade Heart Shaped Tray

Heart Shaped Picnic Basket  /  Compliment Postcards  /  Mad Libs

Taking a little trip for a long weekend is a romantic splurge for Valentine's Day. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is one of my favorite resort destinations. Luckily, I found a great deal on room rates just in time for Valentine's Day!

Adorn your house with a light up marquee heart, now 40% off the original price. Add a heart charm to your favorite Tory Burch shoes for only $2! At this price, you can put one of these charms in every valentine you send.

You're never too old to send valentines to friends! Delight your friends with these compliment postcards. Easy to send and fun to receive, it's a perfect option for Valentine's Day. It's an incredibly inexpensive and sophisticated way to send cheer.

Bake some cupcakes and share happiness and love with cupcakes that look like they came from a fancy bakery with a delightful cupcake kit.

Do you still send valentines to your friends? What little gifts do you like to send?

Monday Musings + Lilly + $14 dress

Happy Monday! This past weekend, I enjoyed fun activities with my mother and my daughters. My mother treated me to a movie. I rarely have the opportunity to see a movie in the theater, so I jumped at her kind invitation. We always watched Saturday Night Live together when I was growing up, so we saw Sisters. The movie's humor was hilarious and we enjoyed it so much!

Later that day, we went to the mall so that Natalia and Alexia could browse a bit to spend some gift cards that they received for Christmas. Although I had not planned to visit Lilly Pulitzer, when I spotted cats in the store, I needed to see why these cuties were there! As it turned out, the store hosted a shop for a cause benefit, with 10% of sales benefiting Pet Connect Rescue. Natalia and Alexia begged me to adopt a kitten, but sadly, that is impossible right now.

So I did the next best thing; I supported a good cause by shopping! I picked up this adorable Isabelle Vest on sale along with some other goodies. The green sheen color perfectly complements my Pop print Murfee scarf. Vests and scarves add a pop of color to my winter wardrobe. Paired with a comfortable (and warm!) gray turtleneck dress, the look is colorful, warm, and seasonally appropriate.

Vest  /  Scarf (old, but new ones here)  /  Dress (only $14!) /  Boots

I love the pop print with blue background. It's so festive and works well for any special occasion, such as a birthday, or anytime you want to add a little fiesta to your Monday.

The gray dress is actually a space dye color, adding depth and dimension to the simple and flattering silhouette. After reading the measurements on the website very carefully, I ended up ordering a small in this dress. I'm pleased with the length and overall fit. At only $14 with free shipping, I highly recommend this incredibly inexpensive dress!

P.S. Did you notice that I cut my hair? My stylist couldn't believe that I asked her to cut nearly 5 inches off the ends! I love the new look and it's so much easier to style.

Have a wonderful start to your week!

Williamsburg Holiday Decorations

Although I enjoy a visit to Colonial Williamsburg any time during the year, the winter holiday season paints an especially beautiful picture. Festive decorations include wreaths, swags, and garlands. Only materials that existed during the colonial period may be used in the decoration. Natural components  like fruit, leaves, shells, and tobacco are popular, but residents also use other items such as corks, paper, or cloth. The endless possibilities lead to an array of design options.

The Governor's Palace

Residents compete for prizes and bragging rights in a decorating contest. Here are a few of my favorites...The combination of apples and pineapples remains one of my top choices for any holiday display. I bought a form to try my hand at an apple and pineapple centerpiece next year.

These two look way too happy for people who are locked up!

Travel Tips: If you go to see the decorations at Colonial Williamsburg, I highly recommend the Christmas Decorations Walking Tour.