montego bay to negril

I have to admit that this look on my face is of me being a total goof! Look closely and you will see that the pilot isn't even paying attention to me and my antics! Although our single engine plane was only comfortable enough for the two of us & the pilot, the ride was a fairly smooth one. The flight was about 15 minutes from Montego Bay to Negril, which would have been a 1-1.5 hour car ride. I rode in the front with the pilot. I joked about grabbing the wheel if I became nervous or afraid during turbulence. Thankfully, he had a great sense of humor but I think he kept an eye on me to make sure I didn't attempt to fly the plane myself. It was a beautiful ride over the homes of Ralph Lauren (you know he is my favorite person outside of friends & family), Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lennox Lewis among others. Here are shots of our flight along the way-

monday morning headline: memorial day on the water

Memorial Day brings means a fabulous get-a-way weekend for thousands of people around the country. It is also a time when preventable accidents happen-especially on the water. WXII's Kathy Cheek reports from High Rock Lake.

Southern Proper- haberdashery for the southern gentleman

Southern Proper’s new "Laid Back" Kelly Green polo for women We Southerners are so dang proper, and would we really have it any other way? Growing up below the Mason-Dixon Line, we are introduced, literally at birth, to our monogrammed nappy bags and thank you notes, which are written immediately to thank friends and family who showered us with such beautiful presents to celebrate our birth. As adults, those proper social graces make us the quintessential hostesses, while our Southern gents are groomed to open doors, offer handkerchiefs and walk along the street side of a sidewalk to protect their ladies. Now even the most northern Yankee can look like he or she is from the Old South, New South or the Deep South thanks to Southern Proper, the ultimate clothing store in attire for being properly Southern! Co-owners Reagan Hardy, Emmie Henderson Howard & beloved friend & mascot, Beau, truly modernize a traditional southern ensemble. Think back to when our Daddies donned bow ties while courting the ladies who wore preppy headbands. My parents were college students in the mid-1950’s and the Southern Proper Website is reminiscent of their old school photos that showed the students standing around the college courtyard. Or of the Phi Mu photos from my sorority’s history book of our sisters six decades ago in Georgia being serenaded by a fraternity from across campus. Some of my favorite items on the Southern Proper website obviously include my new Kelly Green polo with Beau on the logo, showing that man’s best friend will always lead the way for you. You can choose from a bevy of Southern clothing collections, including the Gents, Beaus, Field & Fancy, Southern Drawls, Belle Bands (including the most precious elephant-themed headband) and Sweet Tees. When your favorite Fraternity Gent is not wearing his tradition polo with the popped collar, he may very well be dressed from head to toe in a Fraternity hat or visor and a shotgun bowtie. And make sure you stop by and read about their unique Belles for Beaus ambassador program, representing 30 Southern Universities. You will certainly find the perfect Preppy pick befitting any Southern gentleman or lady at Southern Proper.

webcast wednesday: pioneer violinist

this little girl was playing her violin along our magnificent mile-

what does chicago deem a masterpiece?

The Art Institute of Chicago opened The Modern Wing this weekend featuring some very interesting pieces. The first room that art lovers are introduced to is a rather large one with bags of cat litter placed against each wall. The second room has pieces of hard candy poured into the corner on the floor and people are asked to take a piece and eat it. No, it is not a Jonestown memoir, but it was interesting to see people flocking to the corner to grab the candy, not knowing where it came from. We then followed one another into a dark room with a giant video playing on the wall of a clown sitting on a commode while sounds of bodily functions played on an audio reel. The photos of that I have included are what I deem appropriate enough to appear on my blog. I think there should have been a warning label for some of the art on display because it was graphic and extreme. Again I point out-a clown who makes his private business public! Before I sound too judgmental, let me begin by saying that I come from a long line of artists, which is a talent that has also been passed to my niece and nephews, so I can appreciate art across the spectrum. My mother studied under Heinz Trokes in Germany (all of the classes were taught in German). I love all types of art, but some of the artwork in the current exhibit left me scratching my head-and not in a positive way. Others were inspiring & thought provoking, as good art should. We did have a lot of fun, though, with an oversized box of tissues, a giant dress and a few sculptures and paintings. In case you are wondering, I decided not to take any photos of the clown & his "business"...it was a bit too gauche for me.

monday morning headline: nyc has first H1N1 death

Mitchell Wiener, an assistant principal at an intermediate school in Queens has died from complications linked to the H1N1 virus. He had been hospitalized for almost a week on a ventilator. His death has prompted more NYC schools to close. More from WCBS.

can i put this away now??

When can I put this sweater (and many others) away? While Dallas & Atlanta are sunny and warm-quite appropriate for Spring, my time in Chicago is rather chilly. I am still wearing my wool argyle sweater! My calendar says the time has come to rotate sweaters out of my wardrobe, but the weatherman points to the contrary. It is time to leave town = )

chanel on a shoestring

What’s a preppy gal to do when she wants to look ultra fabulous during a recession? Head to the Junior League…consignment shop of course! As one who has busily been in about six different Junior Leagues, I have seen first hand the merchandise that comes through the various consignment & thrift stores. That’s because I usually schlep about five or six bags of clothes out of my own closet to donate in the stores each year, only to walk out with a couple of outfits from the racks. I have noticed that consignment, vintage and thrifty bargain hunting is becoming a bigger trend with the masses during this economy. Women across the country are realizing they don't need to trade fashion for finance, at least not completely. Believe it or not, you can actually find Chanel and other great designers on a shoestring budget at some of these stores! Women are also learning to take their Burberry handbag and accent it with an inexpensive Hermes-inspired scarf from a JL Thrift Shop. Others are dressing up their madras with a pink, yellow or green popped collared golf shirt from the JL racks too. It is all about the blending! The neat thing is that these women really are walking away with designer goods. One of my Junior League meetings encouraged all of us board members to show off the thrifty goodies we had purchased from our own thrift house. One member had on a nifty pearl necklace while another’s entire ensemble cost no more than $45!! This included a RL blazer and a great pair of trousers. Yes, for UNDER $45!! Here is a round up of a few designer consignment and thrift stores in my favorite cities. Unlike eBay, there are no shipping charges and you have the chance to try on the merchandise before it reaches your doorstep. You just might walk away with a three piece Escada suit for under 100 bucks! And a shop like Michael's in Manhattan also offers bridal gowns for the very lucky bride. Be a Michael's Girl Glencoe's Thrift Store on Chicago's North Shore Sweet Repeats in Atlanta Junior League of Atlanta's Nearly New Junior League of Fort Worth's Double Exposure The Twig of Alexandria

webcast wednesday: michigan avenue bucket band

spring has sprung in chicago

monday morning headline: drew peterson's attorney

When Drew Peterson was arrested on Friday, his attorney, Joel Brodsky, was en route to NYC. He returned to Chicago Sunday afternoon and spoke to the media about his client. More from Chicago's ABC 7.

georgetown's designer cupcake!

Cupcakes are my absolute favorite! When my sister-in-law, Clare, asked us to pick some up from Georgetown Cupcake on our way back to their home one evening, we did not hesitate to head over to Potomac & M Streets for the sweet designer treats. Clare, my brother and their son have their favorite flavors and Cory & I would quickly find our favorites too. But first, we had to get through the queue that had steadily formed along Potomac Street and snaked along the sidewalk. Can you see Cory standing toward the back of the line? Well, it is well worth the wait! Once we were inside, the menu board listed the day's flavors. What a delicacy! Truly a taste of heaven. The cupcakery was the genius idea of two sisters who left other careers to open the doors of Georgetown Cupcake. Special thanks to their grandmothers who served as the inspiration for this Georgetown gem. We had a dozen goodies boxed up to take with us. As much as I wanted to nosh on one as we drove to my family's house, we kept the box in tact. I may as well have eaten one, though, because a couple of them began to melt a bit by the time we made it to their home. That's what we get for taking a shopping detour up Wisconsin & M! Their website will show you other masterpieces sans melted icing! The next time I will remember to get a baker's dozen and no one will know that I ate one before they have the chance to eat one too ;) Georgetown Cupcake is a definite must while strolling through G-town.

webcast wednesday: tribute to mommies