Fourth of July Yummies for the Beach!

Headed to the Beach this weekend with my family for the 4th of July Holiday. Super excited to get away and celebrate and relax! Found some cute and easy ideas for Red, White & Blue goodies - I especially love the pizza with the pepperoni stripes. Have a great 4th everyone!

All White Master Retreat - AHHHH Bliss

I am getting ready to redo my master bedroom and am super surprised at the direction I am going. If you are not familiar with my fashion accessory line Wimberly inc, it is CRAZY colorful - I mean the line is really punchy and bright and happy - in a good way. I realize that because I am bombarded with that level of color all day, everyday - I need a master retreat that is super calm and serene. A place where I can come at the end of the day to recharge, relax and clear my head. So that being said - I am gravitating toward all white and off white spaces. Not only are they beautiful , peaceful and dreamy - but they are absent of color. Above are some of my favorites inspirations. I'll post pictures when my version is done - Can"t wait for the bliss. AHHHHHH...

Affordable Diamonds - Who knew?

I am loving all the affordable Indian jewelry I stumbled onto at the last Gem show I attended. The workmanship is unbelievable and I love the handcrafted feel of the pieces. Very artisan. I would love to add an eternity band into my jewelry collection and I especially like this one. It is Indian-crafted with a big 2.40 ct. t.w. of diamonds. I love how this band piles on dozens of natural diamonds for a shimmering stacked effect. The diamonds are set in black rhodiumed sterling silver. The amazing part is that the price was under $500! Crazy right. For that price you don't have to wait. Done. I'm treating myself.

Want to Get Out of The Heat? At least in your mind - Check out Ralph Lauren's Mountain Retreat

Its REALLY, REALLY hot in Austin already and it is not even June. Scary to think what Summer 2011 has in store for us. I am already dreaming of getting away from the Texas heat to somewhere cool with beautiful mountains. Since school is not even out yet and I can't go anywhere for a while - I went searching for a DREAM place and came across this incredible picture.

Occupying some 16,000 acres beneath the snow capped San Juan Mountains is the Double RL Ranch, the Colorado getaway of fashion designer Ralph Lauren and his wife, Ricky.

Their pool which reflects the faraway mountainscape is just what - and so much more than - I was dreaming of. So now I have a place to go in my mind when it is hotter than - well you know what in Texas. See you soon mountains - but until then ...this will have to do.

Cowboy Boots......Footwear or Art?

Anyone who knows me is very clear on where I stand with Cowboy Boots. I am a HUGE collector. At last count I was up to almost 40 pairs. I purchased my last vintage pair in a dusty field at an antique festival in Roundtop, Texas from a woman with no teeth - but that's a whole different post. My friend Glynis who was with me at the time said, "You have to start displaying your boots." That got me to thinking...Do I buy them to wear or to look at? I guess both.

I have TOO many pairs of vintage Acme boots that I can't walk in for 5 minutes that I paid WAY too much for - So those, I for sure bought to look at. They are works of art. I always wonder about the history of the vintage pairs. Were have they been? Who has walked in them?

BUT, I buy a lot of new boots as well. I love the workmanship and design. Some of my favorite brands of new boots are Old Gringo, Corral, and Heritage. This pair of Old Gringo Marsha's are one of my favorites. Super comfortable from the day I bought them - I can wear them ALL day. These are short so they are great with a dress, a skirt, or jeans... AND... as you can see they are SUPER CUTE!

Vintage or new? Footwear or Art? BOTH

So then - I will wear these boots as footwear today and appreciate them as art tomorrow!

I Really Hate Snakes ...But not on shoes...

I hate snakes. I mean really, really hate them. They totally freak me out. But when it comes to snakeskin accessories - I LOVE. At Wimberly Inc we make python and lizard belts, buckles and cuffs in tons of colors. So naturally, I adore these sling back, peep toe natural python (my favorite skin) Mui Mui sandals to go with anything and everything. I even saw a model rock them with short shorts. I'm not THAT brave but you could go day to evening in these. They will be my Spring/Summer GO TO. And, as I was not blessed with height, anything with a platform works. So you can keep the live snakes - but leave the skins to me.

Obsessed - The Alexander McQueen Iris Skull Clutch

When I saw this bag the first time I seriously flipped. All the things I love in one piece - collage, sculpture, embroidery, BLACK with color, soft vs. hard - And more...Just perfection ..I'm so sad that Alexander McQueen is gone - especially when I see a piece like this. I mean what a loss... as a tribute I must have it.