A Giveaway That Will Decorate Your Neck & It's Blog Roll Updating Time!

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest giveaway today! It's a gorgeous piece of neck candy from Etsy shop natashagrasso. One lucky winner will receive this fabulous fine silver pear pendant hung on a 16" sterling silver chain. I'm loving how this delicate piece is understated, yet has a bit of edge to it with its imperfect hammered finish! This is just one example of the shop's beautiful pieces. Here is a sampling of what else you'll find there. Please take a little time to visit and browse around. I bet you'll find some other little pretties that will strike your fancy!









As for the rules...Visit natashagrasso and tell us another piece that you would love to add to your jewelry box. Also, please let us know how you read BonBon Rose Girls whether it's by following, subscribing etc. If you've answered that question a bunch of times before, no worries, we know who you are. We just like to know who our new readers are too! This giveaway will be open until nest Tuesday. Best of luck lovelies!

Oh and one more thing. I have some new and exciting news on the home front. The dude figured out how to take off his diaper. We're entering uncharted territory people. Mama is not down with the calamities that could come of this. What? TMI? Ah ha ha ha. Have a fabulous day!



p.s. If you've been kind enough to add us to your blog roll or grabbed our button, but we haven't returned the favor, can you please let us know? Merci beaucoup!

Swingin' Holiday Tableware

Before we get going with today's post, we wanted to let you lovely readers know that we are having a huge sign up in December sale on our ad rates, with an additional special discount for Etsy vendors, so email us for info if you're interested in getting yourself some additional advertising!

Entertaining friends and hosting dinners is one of the reasons I most love the holiday season. I love spending all day carefully planning out a holiday menu and preparing the table for a festive night. I don't have many holiday dishes yet, but have found several ways to uniquely dress the table. Here are a few of my favorite holiday dishes and ideas to save a lackluster setting.














The Pottery Barn Reindeer collection has always been a favorite of mine. I get a chuckle out of "Vixen" every time I visit the store during the holidays.















No matter what holiday you celebrate, the elegant snowflake, shown here from Sur La Table, always works to set a festive mood. And you don't have to buy a whole setting. Why not just buy the dinner plates and mix and match with salad plates, napkins and table cloths of any color?!
















My Mom used to take me to see the Nutcracker almost every year. These plates from Williams-Sonoma remind me of my childhood memories in a grown up way.

Red chargers, like these inexpensive ones from Target make white dishes look like Christmas is here. Tuck a candy-cane into the napkin ring and the table will get everyone buzzing!

Need another fun way to make your dinner delightful? Why not anchor place cards with these Dove Peppermint Chocolates? Inside each is a holiday decorating tip from Martha Stewart herself. Lighten up the mood by having everyone read their tip aloud, using their best Martha impersonation of course!





p.s. Is anyone else having trouble publishing their Blogger comments today? It's maddening! They're being eaten by the evil Blogger monster.

p.p.s. Kristin here: Happy bday shout out to the lovely Summer. May your day be filled with bubbles (of the champagne variety)!

It's All About the Ruffles

One word...ruffles.Yup, I'm still talking about them and I'm still loving them! I've always been a girly girl, starting when my little sis and I used to throw on my Nonnie's nightgowns and high heels for dress up and bringing us right around to the present. I revel in glamour girl gear. And to me, ruffles are so deliciously glamorous and girly!

What better time to sport this look then around the holidays when there are so many occasions to get dressed up. And if you have no such occasion? I say, make one up! Have a small dinner party with some friends. Nothing is prettier than an elegant hostess. Go see the Nutcracker in holiday attire. My Mom, sister and I are usually more dressed up than most, but it's so much more fun that way. How about getting dolled up for a candlelit dinner at home with your hubs? Anywhere you go, I guarantee there is a ruffled pretty that could enhance your look. Below are some that I wouldn't mind calling my own! What do you think? Are ruffles for you my lovelies?

Forever 21 {Ruffles AND lace...I'm in heaven!}


flounce tbd at Nordstrom {Such a gorgeous color.}



Elizabeth and James at SSENSE {I'm thinking sequin pants and a beater. Yum.}



T Tahari at Nordstrom {I'm swooning over that collar.}



D&G Dolce & Gabbana at Net-A-Porter {The sleeves...need I say more?}



Anthropologie {I'd pair this yummy skirt with all black.}



Christian Louboutin at Net-A-Porter {Va-va-voom! Hello pin up girl.}



Etsy shop EmmaGordonLondon {A certain fashion rag recently said pale pink was passe for evening. I've never been big on rules. Ah ha.}



Etsy shop MPsen {A leather and ruffle collar necklace. So hot!}



BonBon Deal of the Day at Etsy shop BLinkDesign {A girl can NEVER have too many scarves. At least I can't! Especially at this $20.00 price tag.}



I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend! I'm feeling recharged and ready to rock and roll after mine! Don't forget to enter our Mandizzle Forever Scarf giveaway!



p.s. After a week of hard core home cookin', my body needs to detox. If anyone has some lighter fare recipes they want to throw my way I would be most appreciative!

I'm loving shopping responsibly!

I hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving and are enjoying your Friday! I'm still reveling in family time here in the mountains. I barely get cell phone service even when we drive into town. It was a bit hard to get used to at first, but I'm loving being unplugged now. It's been such a lovely little vacay! Here's a pic of the hubs and the dude among the Christmas decorations that are glittering all over the the main street.



We're about to head out and see what sort of black Friday deals we can find at the mom and pop shops. But before I go, I wanted to share with you an amazing website that I adore called Global Goods Partners. I've mentioned it in the past, but in case you missed it...All the goods are created by people in developing nations as a means to support themselves and better their communities. They have some beautiful items that I think would make fabulous holiday gifts!

Cotton Bus Style Shawl



Men's Silk Tie



Chunky Circula Tagua Bracelet



Blue Papier Mache Nesting Bowls



Felt Finger Puppets



Pleated Market Bag



Rice & Bag Reed Notebook



Silk Ornaments

From Our Table To Yours

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope this post finds you snuggled up watching the infamous Macy's Day Parade with the family while the turkey is in the oven. If you're not American or just don't do Thanksgiving please bear with us. We can't help but love this holiday, and this year especially we have so many reasons to be thankful! In an effort to stop and collect our thoughts we decided to share just a few things we are so grateful for right now.

Kristin:
1. The dude's giggles. Is there anything better than the way a little one's face lights up when their happy?

2. The camaraderie that has come from blogging and the fact that I get to share it with my bestie. You guys make this so worthwhile!

3. The roof over my head that I share with my beautiful boys. How could I ask for anything more?

Megan:
1. Dunkin Donuts making their coffee available for supermarket purchase. The stuff (commonly referred to as "nectar of the gods") has made 6:15 am each day just a little more bearable.

2. That while the economy has taken its toll on everyone and put us all on budgets, it has also given us all a renewed since of appreciation and responsibility. I didn't really need those black Chanel sunglasses (le sigh) anyway...

3. Blogging with Kristin. We've always been best of friends but Bon Bon Rose has brought us even closer and ensures we have an almost daily chat. Something that's rare and hard given our 1,000 mile separation, families, work and general day-to-day craziness. Anyone who has a close friend far away (just about everyone!) knows what I mean!

Happy Thanksgiving!

&

The Season of Giving

{Thanks to It's Unbeweavable for the image!}

I'm going to take a departure from my typical posts to chat with you about something a little more serious....the spirit of giving. I love opening Christmas gifts as much as anyone else. Ripping open one of my Mom's beautifully wrapped packages is still just as fun for me now as it was when I was a wee one. However, I get way more pleasure out of giving now than receiving. That's just a part of growing up I think.

I have a blast picking out special gifts for each and every one of my loved ones, but more than anything I can buy, I believe the greatest gift I can give to them is my time. Spending time with my loved ones is the greatest gift I can receive too, especially in these challenging financial times. And what better way to spend our time together than helping others? Our family volunteers at a local ministry that has a huge food and gift drive every year. They need the help more than ever this year with so many in need.

The other day I passed a young homeless man who had a poster with photos of his children. It just tore me up. As I'm a Mom now, it kills me to think of little ones going hungry. I handed him some cash and went on my way, but his eyes continue to haunt me. They were so sad. I'm sure they mirror so many others' eyes this holiday season. So, let all of us that have a roof over our heads and plenty of food to eat, each pledge to do something to help out those not as fortunate. If just one person can make a difference, imagine what we could all do together!

Crème de la Cream

November hit the Washington metro area with a vengeance. Not only has the temperature started to really drop, it's rained non-stop. Ok, well it stopped briefly this weekend, but the clouds loomed again today and the forecast shows nothing but grey, wet, gloom and doom through Thanksgiving. Luckily we're headed to sunnier skies later in the week!

Anyway, all that going in and out of the cold air has already got my hands feeling winter dry, not to mention the extra hand washing in a massive effort to avoid the swine flu at all costs! Over the years, I've discovered a few hand lotions that I swear by and thought I would share my secrets. All are great and would make a great stocking stuffer or Thanksgiving hostess gift!

Origins Ginger Hand Lotion is light-weight and the perfect way to combat winter hands!

L'Occitane makes the best thick hand lotion. This small size is perfect for your purse and you don't have to worry about those pesky TSA rules.











Antibacterial beads in this soap from Bath and Body Works is a great way to keep flu germs at arms length.
















A good friend gave me this peppermint soap and lotion set from Williams-Sonoma last year and everyne who uses it falls in love. The scent is so fun and festive!




p.s. Don't forget to enter our Mandizzle Forever Scarf giveaway!

We Have Mandizzle Giveaway Mania! (Closed)

First off, thank you so much for all the super sweet birthday wishes! I had a wonderful day at Disney World on Sunday with the fam! The dude had such a blast and I have a feeling that he's going to be a hard core Disney addict just like his mama, much to his daddy's chagrin. Ah ha. Ok, now that that's out of the way...

I am super psyched to announce that our latest giveaway is quite the doozy in my humble opinion. We've paired up up with none other than MANDIZZLE. One lucky winner will win this gorgeous forever scarf. As you can see, this ridiculously versatile beauty can be worn a multitude of ways. I, for one, would love to tote it around at the airport to ward off that frigid air you find on the plane sometimes. However you work it, you're sure to look fabulous!

The rules are simple. Let us know how you read our blog, whether you're a follower, subscribe to our feed, etc. And tell us how you would style your Mandizzle Forever Scarf. Become a follower of Mandizzle's blog or a fan on Facebook and you'll earn extra entries. If you haven't already visited this delicious shop. Make sure you browse around. Here are just a few more of the gorgeous pieces you will find there! Unfortunately, the amazing head of hair doesn't come with your order. Ah ha.









And today's BonBon Deal of the day...the playful mini. I would throw this adorable headband on to jazz up a plain white tee and jeans. Plus it taps into my eternally burning flame for the color grey. Only $16.00 gets you all that cuteness!



This giveaway will be open until next Monday! Best of luck lovelies!



p.s. Thank you to the lovely Lady Liz for originally introducing me to the fabulosity that is Mandizzle!

Sponsor Spotlight Saturday

Stop the presses people. I'm only going to be 30 for one more day. I'll be 31 by this time tomorrow. I'm perfectly aware that I'm still young. If 30 is the new 20, then in spirit I'm just a coltish 21 right? Ah ha. Even though I know I shouldn't be whining about my age, I can't help but be a bit bummed out that I'm firmly entrenched in my thirties now. My twenties are long gone. How did a whole decade just zoom past me?

A minute ago I was living in a garden apartment in DC with Meg and now we're both married with our own households. Am I really a grown up? Is it really no longer appropriate to have martinis and chocolate chip cookies for dinner? Sigh. Forgive me, but I'm going to be all self involved today and go pretend shopping for myself in our sponsors lovely shops. A little retail therapy outta cheer me up, no?

Some Like It Vintage

1950s Taffeta and Chiffon Dress {How glam is this little number? Swoon! The perfect hostess ensemble? Methinks so!}



1980s Bubble Dress {This fetching frock just makes me feel like dancing!}



Lightweight Black Shawl {What a lovely way to stave off the evening chill!}



1970s Silver Mesh Purse {You know how much I LOVE glitz!}



The Inglenook Decor

Antiqued Mercury Glass Bottle Tealight Holder{They're made out of recycled beer bottles. How cool is that?}



Cardinals Gift Wrap {How pretty would packages wrapped, in either of these adorable papers, look under the tree? My kitchen and family room are littered with aqua and red, so naturally I was immediately drawn to the pretty birdies!}





Winter Tree Candleholder {This would look so beautiful on my dining room table! As you may have noticed, I'm REALLY into candleholders. Ah ha.}



The Paris House Designs

French Wine Glasses {These have such a charming french country appeal. I would love to use them at my next dinner party!}



Toile Cake Plate {Toile reminds me of my Mom, so it always puts me in a happy place. I think this cake plate would be just divine to serve holiday desserts on!}



Toile Cake Server {Gotta have the matching server!}



French Bistro Plates {These are just begging for some delicious appetizers!}



Those are just a few of the beautiful things that our wonderful sponsors stock in their shops. Please go visit them and see what else they have to offer!

If you're interested in becoming one of our sponsors and being featured like this, please email us at bonbonrose9@gmail.com!

Have a fabulous weekend lovelies!

A Fabulous Party Look From Fred Flare

It seems like I come up with a new New Year's Eve dream ensemble every day lately. The hubs and I just hung out at home with our six month old last year. A couple glasses of bubbly is as wild as it got. I'm holding out hopes for an adults only NYE this year. I just have to convince my Mom that she REALLY wants to stay home and babysit her precious grandson. Ah ha.

No matter what we do, even if it is just dinner and drinks all by ourselves, I plan on getting decked out in proper holiday attire. This brocade number from Fred Flare could be just the ticket. Paired with these gorgeous chandelier earrings, I think it would be awfully hard not to feel super pretty in this frock! Shouldn't all us ladies have a pretty girl moment every now and again? I say this as I sit here in a horrid pair of (should be thrown away) pajama pants and the hubs' ancient tee shirt. My poor hubs. Good thing he has my party attire to look forward to.

Who am I kidding? He loves me in his tee shirts. I'm a lucky girl. I have a hubs who digs me sans makeup and sporting grungy pjs. Although, I'm sure he does appreciate it when his wife looks like a real woman again and not a mere Mommy machine. I got decked out for Megan's visit way more than I've done for him as of late. Ah ha ha. Shame on me. Bad wife. Don't worry babe. On New Year's Eve...I'll have you covered!








p.s. Make sure you tune in Monday. My bday is on Sunday, so we are having a killer giveaway to celebrate what an old crone I am. Ah ha. Has anybody ever heard of a little shop called....MANDIZZLE???

BonBon Deal of the Day

I am always up for a leopard print, whether it's a shoe, bag or dress. It's no matter that kitten prints go in and out of style, they always have a place in my heart. How cute are these flats? Metallic infused leopard? Yes please! Get yours at Buckle for only $16.41. Don't forget your red mani!

Meg's Guest Posting

Hi Everyone! If you want to read more about my recent trip to Ireland, be sure to check out my guest post at the Cheapoair.com blog today, where I team up the five most breathtaking sites in Ireland with some of my husband's stunning photos. Also, if you've never used their site, they are a great search engine for airline tickets and travel reservations.

The Comfortable Home Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to RN Mama, who won the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams book, The Comfortable Home. Thanks to all who entered and inspired me with their comments. RN Mama, I hope this book brings your coffee table much happiness!

I'm Craving Cardies!

Well, as you might have read about in our earlier posts this week, I had a fabulous weekend with my bestie. Unfortunately, following that wonderful time has been a wicked cold. At least it held off long enough for me to enjoy some delicious and not so delicious (ahem Ed Hardy wine) cocktails with Megan.

As I'm feeling rather achy and decidedly grumpy, all I can think about is hunkering down under a soft throw with a warm mug of something yummy, wrapped in a cozy cardigan. Seeing as I'm a Floridian, my cardi collection is frighteningly small. I've been trying to scale back the shopping, but since I'm going to the mountains for Thanksgiving, I think cardigans are a justifiable purchase. Don't you?

Here are some that just might find their way to my closet and some that are just a pipe dream. I don't feel the need to drop major dough on a sweater, but I sure do like to look at the pricey pretties! And some of you colder climate kids just might consider a cardi an investment piece.

Gap



Elizabeth and James at Saks Fifth Avenue



National Jean Company



Rebecca Taylor at Bloomingdale's



Old Navy



Topshop



Banana Republic



Forever 21



J. Crew

BonBon Deal of the Day

Did the muted color palette of my cardi post leave you wanting some color? How does this delightful floral belt work for you? It comes in bright red, blue and pink. What a fabulous way to dress up a plain LBD! Get yours for $34.99 at Modcloth.

Picture Perfect Weekend

Sometimes we all need a break from crazy errand running and working, and this weekend was just that. To kick-start the events, on Thursday night I headed to Baltimore for the Cranberries concert. That's right, 90's mega-band the Cranberries! I was beyond obsessed in my younger years and all that teen-age angst came rushing back as Dolores nailed every note of all her hits, including Zombie, Dreams and my personal fav Salvation.






















Sorry, this was the best we could do photo wise!

Next, as you all know, it was off to Tampa for a weekend with Kristin. It was great to relax and hang with Kristin, her hubs and of course "the dude". He is simply adorable and quite honestly stole my heart all weekend. After putting on some make-up and heading out for a nice dinner, we decided to hit up a new wine bar. All weekend long we had been lying around reading mags and swapping opinions on all the celebrity scandals, something we've done together since before we had driver's licenses! Of course while trying to avoid the topic, we had made some comments regarding a certain reality-tv Dad sporting the Ed Hardy t-shirts to the point of nausea. So, when we spotted some Ed Hardy wine on the menu we had a good laugh and HAD to sample. It was less the stellar but the novelty was worth every penny. Then low and behold they had a wine sporting our very own name. Awww....

In the end it was a great weekend and thanks to my bestie, I landed at BWI last night relaxed and ready to take on the week!

"Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Post"

For anyone who hasn't seen it, this is an amazing video, even for the non-Oprah die hards.

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090908-tows-flash-mob-dance

Puttin' on the Glitz

Well, I must say, it's great to be back! I took a lovely little respite to spend some QT with my bestie. There's not much that energizes me more than cocktails and conversation with my Meg. We talked, we worked and we drank (a wee bit). We simply had an amazing time as usual! Pictures will be headed your way later on this week!

Saturday night we got all dolled up and went out for dinner and drinks while the hubs rocked Daddy duty. Sometimes, I let myself go too long without putting on a dress and some pretty baubles. Mama's still got a little tread left on these tires! I need to remember that.

It felt just fabulous puttin' on the glitz and it only put me in the mood to do it again! Luckily, we are heading into the season that offers endless opportunities for workin' some glam gear. Below are some pieces that I've come across, which I would love to snag, in order to add a little more sparkle to my out on the town look!

Sequin Sleeveless Blazer from Topshop



Neon Beaded Roxie Bib from Fred Flare



Geo Sequin Front Top from Forever 21



Dyanne Earrings from Chico's



All That Jazz Dress from Modcloth



Runway Sparkler Ring from Shop The Look



3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Sequin Tuxedo Jacket from Net-A-Porter



Simply Vera Vera Wang Crystal Bib Necklace from Kohl's



Adam Sequin Wrap Skirt from Net-A-Porter



Stephen Webster Purple Sugalite & Sterling Silver Bracelet at Saks Fifth Avenue





p.s. Don't forget that tomorrow is the last day to enter Megan's home decor book giveaway!

The BonBon Rose Girls are in the Same Zip Code!

Woop woop. I'm back! I was without Internet for a day and I went a tad bonkers. Addicted much? I now realize that I am far to dependent on both Internet access and blogging. I hated not being able to return your lovely comments or visit my favorite blogs. Yikes. Time for an intervention! Ah ha.

Anyhoo, I have some incredibly exciting breaking news....Megan is in Florida! The BonBon Rose Girls are currently torturing my hubs with our incessant bestie chatter. He's an oh so patient man. Although, he was fully aware of what he was signing up for when he popped the old question. Us BFFs are a package deal. In honor of our reunion, we thought we would post about one of our common loves...Sex and the City. Here are some of our favorite SATC moments, both fashion and home decor
related. Have a fabulous weekend! We're off to partake in some cocktails. Wouldn't you like to join us?

The Giant Flower {They've come in and out of style over the years, but the flowers never get old with me.}



The Glam New Apartment {A grown-up apartment for a grown-up Carrie, I especially love the bold wall color and vibrant rug}.



The Blazer Over the Mickey Tee {I can't believe, I didn't rock this look sooner. So delightfully cute!}



The Sleek Fireplace {Love the candles and artwork. A sophisticated look any budget can achieve.}



The Versace 1000 Layer Gown {I was, and still am, awestruck by this divine creation!}



Charlotte's Study {Clean lines and a great lamp with a punch of color, who wouldn't want to tend to the bills?!}



Thank you to HBO.com for the images.

&

How to Be a Classy Lady in Red

This may be ridiculously cheesy but Chris de Burgh still does it for me! I'm a true sucker for eighties soft rock. Throw on Lady in Red and I'm yours. The hubs has yet to figure that out. Ah ha. It instantly makes me want to slow dance it up junior high style.

I've always loved the color red and stepping out as a lady in red is one of my clutch ways to make a style statement. It's a sure fire shade that will get me feeling less like Sesame Street and more like Sex and the City every time I wear it, which is tres important for a stay at home mama like myself!

Not everyone is comfortable sporting a scarlet frock, but I promise, it is possible to work some fire into anyone's look without looking like a lady of the night! Some of my favorite ways are below. Now go get all saucy with your sexy selves!

Red Mani or Pedi {My personal fav is O.P.I.'s Big Apple Red available at NailPolishDiva.com.}



Red Pout {Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire and Ice is available at Amazon.com.}



Red Soles {It doesn't get much classier than iconic Loub soles! This gorgeous pair can be find at Saks Fifth Avenue}



Red Bag {I think this adorable clutch from Etsy Shop mermaidsdream would be just perfect for the holidays.}



Red Outerwear {I adore my J Crew coat despite the fact that I only get to bust it out when I vacation somewhere cold.}



Red Neck Candy {This circular Scarf is available at AE.}



Red hair Adornment {I'm thinking about ordering this little pretty from blogger Lulu Letty, who owns Etsy Shop MariaConfer, for our family Christmas picture! Update: I so ordered one!}



Red Wrapping {If you're ready to go for it and rock a red dress, this Lauren by Ralph Lauren wrap number at Bloomingdale's is the way to go!}





p.s. Don't forget to enter Meg's home decor book giveaway!

Update: Nobody rocks a red pout quite like this gorgeous gal! AND she's having some killer sales on her fabulous jewelry!