OPPORTUNITY. Like hello. Blogfest was an invitation to the dinner table with the Editors in Chief of House Beautiful, Veranda, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor & Town & Country (Editor at Large). There were published designers at every turn....

Barbara Barry - I've had the sincere pleasure of meeting her once before. She did not disappoint this time either. Elegance appears effortless to Barbara. Her passion, her artistry, her soul are the very definition of INSPIRATION. She also thought that this particular colourway from her new collection should be worn by me because she loved how it looked with my hair.

COLLABORATION in unexpected, yet to be defined ways or already in progress. This is why we came. Every day, thousands of tweets, comments & emails are exchanged between the attendees of Blogfest. Virtual relationships brought to life. Partnerships begun in earnest or the promise of new found ones to be explored.

My new old friend Gretchen. She's having the baby that gets to come home to #ProjectNurseryGorgeous this August for HGTVCanada!

EXPERIENCE. I went to Blogfest to experience the people, the businesses, trades & the genius that I have admired since I got into design and those I've only met in the last year thanks to Twitter.

Elle Decor's Modern House - Room by Sara Story featuring the New Traditionalists had me at hello. I skipped ICFF & Kips Bay Show House the next morning to high tail it over to see the showroom of The New Traditionalists. That's a blog for another day. Ingenuity, Gorgeosity, Craftsmanship & Magic. They bring it.

CELEBRATION of design, that which inspires us to blog, the magazines that we relish & enjoy, the promise of new friendships, new partnerships & collaborations. Celebrating what makes us unique & all that we have in common - together.

These women inspire me to laugh, drink more wine, eat more desserts, be gracious, love motherhood, play poker, love my home & to be quintessentially me each & every day.

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notice the jade green & coral colours in my random sampling. This is going to be big. Mark my words. It's happening.

I'm sincerely hoping that this is happening too while in NYC.

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and maybe a little of this...

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YAY!!! Finally a Little Girl Aubuchon. You know, I just realized I've never even had the dreaded "Whatcha Gonna Name Her?" talk with G yet.

I get easily distracted these days. My brain is still recovering from my own blessed delivery 22 months ago.

Two Redheads, a Nursery & an Impending Delivery around August all mixed together & the fabulous people at HGTV.ca think that the mayhem, hijinx and inevitable battle of wills that will of course result are perfect for their August (conveniently the month Baby Girl Aubuchon is set to arrive) Kids' Month on their website. Join Gretch & Myself as we share the ups/downs/paint spills and all the gorgeosity one little girl can handle as we race to get this nursery done via long distance. #ProjectNurseryFabulous will be blogged about on both of our blogs.  We're saving the big reveal though for a 3 part series on HGTV.ca!! So excited for this incredible opportunity!!

My pinterest addiction has given birth to a stockpiling of outfits for inspiration. Truth is though, I'm not a devotee of Tracey Anderson, I am not a vegan and I like to eat & drink my chai. Oh and I'm also only 5'-6" and well we won't talk about my age except to say, I'm a real woman. Also, can we talk about Gwyneth here.  That blouse, I totally own it. However, if I wore it open the way GP is here, I'd get more than my fair share of raised eyebrows, hushed whispers & may violate State Laws barring bare breasts from public viewing. How is this ensemble made possible is what I want to know. Please, enlighten me - cause I totally dig it. Of course unless it means becoming a vegan.

Inspiration pics via; shoes - my own from B2 here in T.Dot. purse - Kate Spade (who I haven't figured out why exactly has yet to sponsor my entire wardrobe - call me Deborah!); bracelet is JCrew I own (but I should disclose that it tarnishes like the dickens & I have to send it out to be re-plated).

Many a discussion has been had regarding casual vs dressy chic for the various events we will be participating in. I'm a huge jeans fan and wear them in the office at least half the time I'm there. Pair them with a patent wedge like here (I also own) and you instantly up the chic-quotient. Loving the Marilyn Monroe do.. I think I can actually make that happen with my own hair. The classic shift, I own a version in black from Ann Taylor. It's jersey, it has stretch and is pretty much the perfect dress. Very Audrey. Throw on one of my umpteen turquoise bib necklaces or similar. Voila. Ready to run out the door and you know, have breakfast with Margaret (Peggy to her friends) Russell or Tea with Barbara Barry. SQUEE THIS IS MY LIFE THIS WEEK!

The forecast does not bode well for those of us with a rain aversion. I own this or very similar trench. J'adore. I could literally wear a white tank top and jeans under this jacket and look like I've stepped out of a Parisian Cafe after a power lunch. What I love most about the French way of dressing is that they wear a uniform of sorts & then play it up with accessories. J'adore. The Mango Patent bag is from Coach - I got it in Key West. Love that it isn't emblazened with logos all over it. Scarves - Club Monaco; Leopard Chiffon Scarf - found pale blue/navy leopard chiffon fabric at a Fabric Discounter. Bought 2 yards & had my seamstress hem on all four sides - voila.

Trolling the interwebs one day looking for fabulosity, I came across Anne Cramer. I died. Melodramatic scream preceding said death no less. Seriously, I lost the ability to speak for at least a minute. Okay, that's an exaggeration even for me. I can't be quiet for that long. 30 seconds. They were long seconds though. I visited her website daily. I couldn't decide which skirt to buy. I wanted them all. One day, I was all a twitter on the Twitter and I threw out a request to the gods of all things gorgeous & said something along the lines of.. "I would love love love if Anne Cramer or Kate Spade would sponsor my wardrobe for Blogfest."

Anne Cramer replied.

I died again. When I revived, there was loud, boisterous, jumping up and down screaming that came from my office. Tears of joy. Even Eve joined in on the fun.

While speaking with Anne, I explained my dilemma on which colour to choose. Classic black or fun and funky coral red. I decided that black and white was the way to go.

Fast forward to this week when a gorgeous box of stupendous beauty arrived at my office. I was on a conference call with equally as gorgeous Gretch & Eve had box cutter in hand before I could even see the box, it was opened. Anne's gift of a black and white Flynn skirt  was lifted out to the audible gasps of both Eve & myself. Perfection. I think Gretchen was saying something, I hope it wasn't too important because Eve went back into the box and out came a Cherry & White Flynn too. At that point, I think I may have lost consciousness. I do think I managed to hold on to the phone just barely.

I can not WAIT to wear these beautiful, comfortable (they have POCKETS!) jewels in my wardrobe to Blogfest. Purses are both mine - a patent Kelly (vintage) & a London Baylor by Kate Spade. Spectator pumps I own and maybe a few bracelets to finish off, also by Kate Spade.

Check out Anne's amazing line here. You will not be disappointed with a Flynn in every colour. I'm thinking green is a must too!

Thank You Anne - Your Skirts are Bringing the Magic to Blogfest!!