*Remembering the good

Of course, even the so called "Decade from Hell' had its moments. 2 things I loved about the '00s...iPods...and my sister's amazing wedding to Joe in 2003 :)

Kissing off the worst decade EVER!

Ooh La La Du Jour is always and forever meant to be fun and while acknowledging that the '00s were just about the junkiest 10 years ever (ah, let's see...9/11, war, tsunami, Katrina, market meltdown...need I say more?) may not seem real positive...I do it only to highlight how much more awesome I think the next decade will be. I know (I can just feel it, I tell ya') that 2010 and beyond will be a whole hell of a lot better than what we just experienced. We survived and only the best is yet to come!

(Check out why Time agrees...goodbye and good riddance to a truly stupid decade)

Smashing bag for a smashing 2010

When my sister, Laura, was in town a few weeks ago for our (now) annual holiday shopping extravaganza, we were both searching for 'the perfect bag'. We looked and looked..Target...H&M...all over. Granted, neither of us wanted to break the bank on this new bag but to get exactly what we want, we might have to splurge. This bag from JCrew really fits the bill. Perfect for work...for everything really, I am really keeping my eye on this.

Let me know what you think Laura?!?!

Sushi and New Year's Eve

Up until the last few years, I was not much of a fan of New Year's Eve. I mean really...who cares about a holiday which is essentially about turning a calendar page. That all changed the first time I celebrated the holiday with friends over a big tray of sushi. If you know me, then you know sushi is my 'desert island' food. I could eat it every day, for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. It's beautiful...it's yummy...it's perfect! The New Year's Eve/Sushi tradition started for me about 10 years ago and while the friends have changed, the menu remains the same.

I am also much more aware of the passing of the years these days and I see the start of the new year as a time to reflect and a time to be optimistic about the future. Things can only get better...right!?!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, healthy New Year and here's to more fun at Ooh La La Dujour in 2010!

XOXO,
KatieP

Easy News Year's Resolution

Just another day of 2009 and then its (happily) time to put a close to the year. I have a few resolutions lined up for 2010 (you know...the usual...try to spend a little less...work out a little more) but my favorite is resolving to wear more brooches. I love love love them and there are so many fabulous directions you can take this fashion statement.
First on my list is this truly lovely brooch set from Anthropologie.

move over xmas, it's almost valentine's day!

It's shameful to even say this but we're now moving on to Valentine's Day! Paper Source has the cutest stickers for V-Day! Check them out....Who doesn't need a little macaron sticker in their lives???

Joyeux Noël

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you're all having a very pleasant Christmas evening...

From the sublime to the ridiculous...

Don't forget....December 23rd is Festivus so to put up the pole and air your grievances ala Frank Costanza!

A couple to go

Here we are now...2 days before Christmas. It seems like just yesterday that I did my first holiday post (remember...you laughed...it was back in October). With Christmas in sight, I just want wish everyone the best day ever. Whatever you are doing, wherever you are going and whoever you are spending it with, remember how lucky we all are to be here and as always...eat, drink and be very merry!

Merry Christmas All!!

In case you missed it...

...the always smashing Sadie the Scottish Terrier won 'Best in Show' yet again. This time she took the top honors at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship (she just won top honors last month in Philadephia at the National Dog Show). She's one of only 25 or so dogs in history to win 100 'Best in Show' titles. Wow! I love this girl!

No better boot

Nothing pleases me more than the combination of style and function. I'm not real psyched on anything that is one or the other. I think pretty much everything in life should have a touch of both. That is probably why I am just tickled that duck boots are making such a comeback these days. I see them all over various blogs...JCrew has paired up with Sperry, and is now carrying their own version. For all the talk though, there is no better duck boot than LLBean's 10" shearling-lined boot. I've had mine many, many...many... years and besides being indestructible, they are insanely practical and comfortable. I've shoveled several feet of snow in below-freezing temps. literally for hours and my feet are the only part of me that stay totally warm and dry. After so many years, I can't even remember half the things I have done in them. I get such a charge out of wearing them...function, with a dash of style and in a word, amazing.

Got my eye on this one

I have never been a Lord & Taylor fan. I've always thought it was just too stuffy and conservative and to be honest, I still pretty much think this way. But last weekend I was walking through L&T with my sister (we were cutting through to get to the mall) when we spotted these adorable Radley coin purses. I have to admit, I am coveting this little item.

JCrew-A Love Letter

Dear JCrew,
While perusing your website, searching for a new turtleneck, I stumbled across this lovely camel colored, tissue style top. The only problem? Just look at the gorgeous skirt you have it paired with?! Now I simply must have the felted-wool bistro mini too!

Why oh why, does every single thing in your shop have to be a must-have, drop-dead gorgeous piece?
You slay me.

Love always,
KatieP

The winter solstice....

And so it begins...winter. Of all people, places and things in the world, I think winter is the one I have the strongest love/hate relationship with. I look forward to it every year...I feel rejuvenated by the cold and the snow. I know I get toughened up by sub-zero temperatures and bone chilling wind. And there are very few things that I find more mesmerizing than snow...falling and endlessly falling...piling up everywhere. Of course I love the holiday season and in my opinion, celebrating in temperatures above 30 degrees is well, just lame.

But then, by the time March rolls around...and its still snowing...and snowing, frankly, I am pretty tired of it. I'm sick of bundling up to do the simplest things...I'm sick of shoveling and cleaning off the car. When March rolls around though...April is right behind...spring is around the corner and you know what...I'll kind of be missing winter already :)

(Beautiful photo by mailelani)

Green Party (aka...the most fun ever!)

This past Friday, I went to a 'Green Party' hosted by the church of a good friend. No, this party had nothing to do with global warming or carbon footprints. At this party, we made Christmas wreaths and centerpieces. The church supplied all the beautiful greens (pine, spruce...you name it). For practically nothing we bought candles, pine cones, ribbons. I never imagined it would be so much fun...and so festive. We laughed and listened to Christmas tunes, sipped tea and honey and made our creations. In the end, I had a wonderful fresh centerpiece for my home. It smells sensational and reminds me of my new Christmas tradition.