Tally Prep

Well, hello dolly...

2010-07-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

I seem to be at war with the culture these days. I feel that young children are assaulted at every turn with over-commercialized, over-sexualized tripe. From Bratz dolls to high heels for toddlers, slick marketing is aimed at readying little girls for pole dancing. It is evil.

The island in this storm is the classic, the pure and the true. I try very hard to steer my children toward classic clothes, healthy toys and good activities. Here are a few of my favorite things for kids...

Madame Alexander Dolls -

There are a bazillion Madame Alexander dolls to choose from. They are so lovely and sweet. They are a treasure to pass on to future generations. Here are some more beautiful dolls from MA.

I love American Girl. I love that they encourage girls to be little girls for as long as possible. They present great historically based characters that are age appropriate but not dumbed down. They have new features on their website to allow for more interactive play. Bravo!

Wild for Westies...

2010-07-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

We got princess 1 her own puppy this year, a wild little Westie. I found these cute little purses, one with a little Westie on it that I am getting for her, from Warm Biscuit. Cute!

Happy Independence Day!..... Early that is.

2010-07-02T23:56:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July! I love watching presidential biographies, planning the menu and spending time with my family. I love driving through the beautiful, patriotic community that I live in during this time because the houses are all decorated with bunting and flags. It so beautiful and makes me feel very proud.

Here are some beautiful images of beautifully decorated houses that I found online.

I love this cozy porch featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

... from Country Living

Also from Country Living.

And I love, love, LOVE these decorations using Hydrangeas from Good Housekeeping. Lovely!

I wish you a happy and safe 4th of July!

~Tally

Clothes for kids...

2010-06-13T20:36:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been overwhelmed by the volume of inappropriate clothing for young girls.
Tacky clothing has always been something to avoid, but choices for classic children's clothing
seem to be dwindling when compared to the commercialized, sexualized offerings being
marketed to the "tweens." I think this trend is heinous. I decided to post some cute clothes
that exist amongst the ick out there.

Love these ensembles from Ralph Lauren.

But what the heck is with the humongo logo from RL. Ick.

Lands End stripped polo dress is always a nice choice.

Lilly is pretty and feminine.

Spring babies

2010-05-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring!
I love Spring. And one of the things I love about it is buying outfits for my daughters. There is nothing sweeter than seeing well dressed kiddos. Here are a few outfits I bought for my sweeties from Orient Expressed. Their smocking is gorgeous as is everything else they make. To me, OE captures the innocent sweetness of children in their clothes. www.orientexpressed.com

Interview with Lisa Birbach...

2010-05-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ivy-style has a fun interview with the queen of prep Lisa Birbach.

http://www.ivy-style.com/

Charmed I'm sure...

2010-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

Do you love charm bracelets? Then you just may be a southern prep. So-preps just love them some charm bracelets. I have the old fashioned kind with charms signifying things I love or things I have done. My Mom has told me she is going to give me hers from when I was a child sometime this year.

I also like pandoras.

My little girls have bracelets similar to these that my mom bought them at a little boutique in Palm Desert.

When my oldest daughter turns twelve, she will receive a big girl bracelet. The family will add charms each year for her activities and things that mean something to her. I love this tradition.

Charmed,

~Tally

Rainy Days

2010-04-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

Yay! It is rainy today in my normally sunny neck of the world. Rain is also expected for tomorrow. I love the rain. I love to snuggle in and have a fire in the fireplace. It is a cozy gift from heaven. Since I know that the searing heat is right around the corner, I especially love April showers.

In honor of the rain, I am posting a link to the Best of Scotland store in NYC, home of some very yummy cashmere. I love this cape and happen to love gray as a wardrobe staple.

~Tally

Resort wear.....

2010-04-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

So I am trying to pack for our spring holiday coming up between work and kids stuff (activities, school testing, play dates.) I did quite a bit of shopping already for the children at Easter so they are pretty much set. But like most mothers, I now have to get myself ready.

So starting from the bottom up. I just ordered these Jacks. Love the yummy lime green.

And just for fun this headband from Tucker Blair.

And I got this cute hb and flips from Tucker Blair also.

My totes are beyond repair so tomorrow I will be on the prowl for bags.

Tally

More Needlepoint

2010-04-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am obsessed with needlepoint at the moment, but who can resist these faces?

www.horseandhound.com

And for the equestrienne-obsessed w.a.s.p. (moi, bien sur) these pillows are irresistible.

Tally Ho,

Tally

Needlepoint

2010-04-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday All!

I happen to like Mondays. Today I was thinking about, and missing, my Scottish granny who passed away many years ago. Feeling sentimental, I started perusing through many of the needlepoint dollies and pillows she made for me. I have several displayed throughout my house and several I keep tucked away. My house is filled with things from my family and it makes me feel forever connected to them.

I love needlepoint although I don't have the time for it right now. Here is an adorable passport case from The Point of it All in D.C.

If you are ever in the area, go and visit this lovely store. I love this shop.

http://www.thepointofitallonline.com

Where to holiday

2010-04-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

My family and I are trying to decide where to holiday this spring. As usual I am late planning. And because I am late, skiing is out because we are looking to leave mid May. Soooo, we are now considering breaking with tradition and going to South Carolina.

I have never been to this resort but it looks lovely.

True Prep - Looks like fun

2010-04-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

Easter

2010-04-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter day after!

My dear hubby has the patience of a saint! These beautiful eggs were lovingly made by my husband with our children. He showed them how to hollow the eggs by poking a hole in the shell and blowing the egg out and then dying them with red onion peels. It was precious to watch. It is very old fashioned and sweet and I love him for it!

More Easter fun.... beautiful baskets and yummies.

I got these beautiful embroidered Easter baskets from Target. They were a lovely change from the abundance of plastic baskets out there. I filled the baskets with Beatrix Potter booty and adorable little madras purses for each daughter. I added gardening items such as these adorable pink dotted gloves and seeds. My children and I spent the afternoon planting in the garden. Working side by side in the garden gives us a wonderful opportunity to chat. It was a lovely day.

Hello World

2010-04-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

I am late in coming to the blogosphere party, but better late than never I guess. I have been asking myself why I am compelled to do a blog at this time. Well, I think there are two reasons. The tone of the country is so down these days that I thought it would be good to lighten the dialogue a bit by writing about things I love, that compliment my life and lift my spirit. And by doing so, hopefully lighten the load of someone else.

Secondly, this displaced Dixie chick is longing for home. Since destiny determines that I must remain on the west coast for now, I will console myself by writing about the traditions and customs which molded my young soul; and which now, as a mature woman with a family of my own, comfort me, guide me and fill me with pride.

I come from a long line of steel magnolias and southern gentlemen, a nice southern family. Church was compulsory. Manners were without question. The child who answered yes or no to an adult without the requisite ma'am or sir was considered to have committed a crime equal to high treason. Family name and family tradition were sacred and valued. The hundred year old christening dress worn by your great-grandmother is far preferred to the new, albeit more ornate, department store purchase.

Nice southern girls are feminine. (Yes, they tend to wear a bit more make-up than their northern prep counterparts) But they are not pushovers. God bless the soul who crosses a southern woman. Will she yell? Perhaps not. But you will feel her sting nonetheless.

Now, as a forty-something mother, my heritage calls to me louder than ever before. Perhaps it is like nature's instinct to ensure that the species survives, or perhaps I am just fed up with all the pervasive tackiness of popular culture and the accompanying polyester. But whatever the case, I am here to share, to rant, or to celebrate as is appropriate.

Cheers,

Tally