It's been a while....

Well it has. Almost a year in fact. And so much has changed in the Metropolitan Magnolia household. The biggest: we'll be joined by our very own Magnolia Blossom!!! That's right, we're having a baby. She's expected to arrive June 12th. Will she be a true Southern Belle and show up a bit early? Or will she take after her momma and waltz in fashionably late? My money is on the latter. One thing is for sure, Blossom will be styling and profiling from the start. Check her out, along with one of her favorite outfits below.

Global Race for the Cure

Today, I ran 3.1 miles to cure breast cancer. Today, I moved with 50,000 other people down the streets of Washington for a better world. Today, I made a difference. As Hellen Keller said, "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”


And in the words of Mariann Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Today, 50,000 of us in DC and many more around the world played big, let our lights shine, laced up our sneakers and did something. It was great!

Houston, we have a problem.

I've been looking for a maxi dress in a fabulous print. So my search lead me to the House of Dereon. Yes, I know and no, I was not high. I was, however, desperate. So, I find myself on Beyonce's fleur-de-lis ridden website and initially, I'm pleasantly surprised. I encounter a couple of fairly cute maxi dresses.

And then I make the mistake of scrolling too far down the page. I encounter this:

And then, this:

Whaaaa? Huh?

Umm wow. I am thoroughly at a loss. The denim conjures up old school thoughts of Salt N Peppa and Lean on Me extras; it's really more '80s rap star Halloween costume than haute couture. The second, I can't even think of a rationale behind it. Hip hop I Dream of Jeannie? Wrong, just wrong.

I love Beyonce, but even I cannot justify this madness. If fact, I'm kind of mad about it. Despite living in the Washington DC metro area, I am Houstonian at heart. To paraphrase the cute New Yorker Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada (must see!) when he speaks of his love for Paris, "I live in Alexandria, but Houston is my hometown." I put on for my city. With this madness, Beyonce apparently does not. Houston, we have a problem. Or two.

Who is Maria?

First, let me congratulate Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her nomination to the Supreme Court by President Obama.

Second, Governor Huckabee (do you refer to former governors as "Governor"?), what the heck? Here's what he said, I go off below.

Huckabee Statement on Sotomayor

"The appointment of Maria Sotomayor for the Supreme Court is the clearest indication yet that President Obama's campaign promises to be a centrist and think in a bi-partisan way were mere rhetoric. Sotomayor comes from the far left and will likely leave us with something akin to the "Extreme Court" that could mark a major shift. The notion that appellate court decisions are to be interpreted by the "feelings" of the judge is a direct affront of the basic premise of our judicial system that is supposed to apply the law without personal emotion. If she is confirmed, then we need to take the blindfold off Lady Justice."

I am not even going to touch the substance of his comments. I cannot. I am too confused to even get to that point. Why is he calling her "Maria"? Is he trying to be cute? Is he just ignorant? Does he really not know that her first name is not Maria? If that is the case, did he just luckily guess the name "Maria", which happens to be Judge Sotomayor's middle name? Does't that seem too lucky to be possible?

Now, I don't want to jump to racism or the allegation that someone is once again trying to deny minorities their individuality (akin to calling all black men "boy" without regard to their names), but something seriously seems amiss here.

If you have a more salient explanation, I'm all ears.

Girl Crush?

Is it possible to have a girl crush on the First Lady? Or, if its the First Lady do these great feelings of adoration that I am experiencing go unnamed because they are inherent in the position of First Lady? The outfit she wore to the spoken word event at the White House is just fabulousness. I'm particularly in love with the top. First Lady Michelle, I covet your top.

I dare you to find another First Lady with such daring and developed personal style. I don't think you can. Sigh.....I think I'm in love.

Photo courtesy of Concrete Loop.

Afternoon Tea

Spring has sprung! One of my favorite spring traditions is the afternoon tea. What's not to love? Lovely ladies all dressed up in big hats, adorable dresses and dainty gloves are the hallmarks of this great spring fete. Last weekend, I attended an afternoon tea in Prince George's County, MD. Despite the drive to what I believe is the other side of the world, it was a great afternoon! We dined on finger sandwiches, were entertained by a talented teenage dance troupe, and best of all, there was a hat parade!

I, of course, labored for weeks over what I would wear to the tea. What hat? What dress? Gloves or no gloves? Should the hat match the dress, or simply coordinate? So many questions, only one fabulous outfit!!! Well, I finally decided on a simple palette with exciting accents. See my outfit below. I like that the focal points are at the very top of and bottom of the outfit, and there's elegant simplicity in between.





Also, we mustn't forget the closeup of the shoes! I think that they "make" the outfit! And, yes, I have lavender toes. :-)

Outfit rundown (current season unless otherwise noted)

Hat: Fine Millinery Collection by August Accessories, available at Macy's

Dress: Banana Republic

Cardigan: Express (Spring 2005)

Shoes: Beverly Feldman (purchased at Off Fifth two years ago, season unknown)

Just for the Recessionistas....

New York and Company is offering a coupon for $20 off a $60 purchase, click here to get your's. As I've gotten older, I've become less and less of a NY&Co fan, but I actually quite like the shirt dress on the coupon (shown above). Depending on the price, it may be worth checking out. I think the yellow is quite fetching!