i'm back!

i have not left my readers. i was away with my family remembering my Papa Tony after he went home to be with Jesus last week. now back to reality...

but first... nostalgia. a picture of my grandpa and grandma years ago. i cherish the black and white classics. love framing them to decorate with as i hold close the impact they've had on my life.

grandpa was a romantic and wrote countless love letters to grandma while they were dating, that she kept in a scrap book all this time. i would love for just a day to walk through life in the 40s...

Anthony Joseph August Potochnik

he was a wonderful Grandpa. known more fondly as Growly Bear and Papa Tony.
born on December 6, 1929 and went home to meet Jesus last night around 1am.

i'll miss you always, Papa. holding onto the memories. so many that you made possible and my childhood would never be the same without what you've provided for your 6 kids and 10 grandkids. we miss you dearly. oxox.

distractions.

when i need distractions from other things in my life - i turn to fashion. (and God. and family. and friends.) but the passion for fashion gives me pretty things to look at.

love these.
courtesy Photos0.com

vince camuto edon.

so my order became unavailable on Piperlime after they were already on back order to ship June 12! sadness set in and i was once again determined to get these shoes and began googling, finding them at Macy's. of course the one across the street from where i work did not carry Vince. so they called the Lehigh Valley store which is on my way home form work - perfect. reserved a size 7 camel brown, thankyouverymuch. i'm a hard worker. and i work hard to get the fashion i want :)

in my hands. BEFORE June 12. YAY!

it only comes twice a year!

yessssss.....!!!!!!!

laundry man.

my dad rocks. reason number 104.
mom is away in Pittsburgh taking care of Grandpa Tony. has not been home for over a week to do laundry. my dad asked me for some instructions on how to use the washing machine before i left for my weekend away for a friend's birthday.

i came home to things neatly folded on my bed, courtesy of the world's best dad. please note he even folded my little tiny gym socks. the attention to detail is unmatched which is probably why his OCD of perfectionism wore off on me at birth. love you dad!

Piperlime.

new favorite webstite. (free shipping!)  http://www.piperlime.com/

one of my favorite blogs i follow is Emphasis Added by Emily. i love her style and it's similar to my own interests and tastes. she posted these fabulous shoes and i couldn't help indulge myself! thanks Em!

the originals...
by Louboutin on Right. the ones i purchased thanks to Emily on Left. sometimes knock-offs are ok!

Lululemon Scoop Dress

ecstatic that this arrived in the mail today.

timeline went something like this...
- went to Wayne Lululemon and they informed me it was only being sold in larger stores. they called Philadelphia store and they weren't not getting it in either. next "larger" store was in DC. no good.

- called the customer support line but they won't transfer merchandise or order by phone. no help.

- went online to the under construction website and saw it offered in white only. figured i would get a stain on it, so i opted to wait for another color. (should have just ordered!)

- checked back every day after that and they were sold out. every. single. day.

- FINALLY they listed it in lavender. fine. i'll take it. it only came in ONE SIZE and it happened to be a size larger than what i would have wanted to order. but i bought it anyway, hoping it may still fit or i'll get it altered.

you know, because i just "had to have it"!

a mother's day entry. one day late.

a different kind of mother's day.
for the first time in my life, i think... i was not able to be with my mom yesterday. she is out in Bessemer visiting her parents and able to be with her own mom! i'm happy for that. but i did miss her here. instead, i spent some time and memories with nanny & grandad.

took nanny and grandad to church for the first time since grandad's fall. overcome with emotion helping them around while reminiscing to myself about "the way things were". stood in church fighting back tears the entire time. couldn't even sing with a lump in my throat. God is SO good and i am SO blessed with these two incredible people that have helped raise me to be who i am. what will i ever do without them?

then i took them to lunch at their favorite family owned restaurant that they haven't been to since before my grandad's heart surgery (they normally go once a week!). i surprised them with reservations for lunch since they were sold out all day. i had called earlier in the week without telling my nanny i had made arrangements. she ALSO called on Friday and was informed they were booked. my dad met us there, straight off the highway from driving back from ohio. then my grandad wanted to take flowers to his mom's grave which he normally does alone but can't drive right now. so i obviously offered to take him. how powerful that was for me, i had never been to my great grandparents grave site that i pass on that road all the time. i walked my grandad out there and he prepared a little vase of fake flowers so they would last longer. he normally brings real ones but wasn't able to get them without driving. and he said "i love you mom, that's the best i can do this year". i then lost it again. more tears i hid from view. pics below i secretly snapped among the perfect weather.

i then took grandad to the grocery store so he could get his list of food for the week. was so touched to just be able to serve them all morning in their needs and be there for them. it was a day i'll never forget. i love them so much. (note: grandad does not "need" a cane. but is ordered by doctors to carry one around!)

TGIF.

love Anne Taintor!

 

simply stated.

i love this and would like a framed print hanging in my home someday.