BAH is back!

Sorry for the ultra-long hiatus everyone, but I've finally returned to the blogging world! Here's what's been going on since we spoke last ...

I visited the gorgeous Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens in Delray for the first time since I was a kid. If you're ever in the area, it's a must-see!

Got a Lilly for MAC makeover!

Spent some time at the Shore Club in South Beach!

Celebrated the beau's birthday and our first anniversary in Palm Beach.

Watched the Super Bowl in downtown Fort Lauderdale with one of my best friends, RLD. So happy to see a victory for the Saints!

BAH takes a break

I was in the middle of working on my latest post when my laptop spontaneously shut off. It has yet to turn back on.

I've had this laptop for about four years, and considering it was an off-brand, I'm surprised it lasted this long. Unfortunately, I haven't backed up in a long time, so I'm not sure at this point if I lost all my files.

Preppy Panache will be back when I get a new computer (fingers crossed for a MacBook)!

New year, new beginnings

I had the loveliest NYE. I spent it with my boyfriend and some of my best friends from high school. My friend's dad has a large piece of property on the water with several houses, so they had a pig roast, cleared the porch for dancing and karaoke and set up tables in the grass for feasting. The weather, company and food couldn't have been more perfect.

My favorite guy.

They were serious about roasting that pig ...

Dance party on the porch!

I've been thinking a lot about resolutions. I guess my greatest resolution this year is to find a journalism job, but things like that don't just fall into your lap. I am taking steps necessary to making my dream come true (I will be writing for one of my favorite blogs soon ... stay tuned), so this is the year those dreams become reality. Besides that, I'd really like to get out of Florida (like really, really ... I just renewed my Southern Living subscription for only six months, in the vain hope I won't be living here). Boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to Tennessee ... his dad's from there and I've been a few times and loved it. Of course, the job and the move come hand in hand.

At least I had my black-eyed peas for luck.

Dear John

I am pleased to announce that one of my all-time favorite books is being made into a movie! For those of you who haven't read "Dear John," you are truly missing out. I've read every single Nicholas Sparks book and I think it is his best!

The ghost of New Year's past

New Year's Eve has always been one of my favorite holidays. It's glitzy, glamorous and an excuse to drink champagne and kiss boys! My last few have been full of great memories (and dresses), so here's a recap.

2009

Went to a dive bar in downtown Orlando. My dear friend Stephanie ran up to the bar to order our Ketel and sodas, and was told that the best vodka they had was Smirnoff. We thought the night was saved when we noticed how many UGA boys were there (their bowl game was the next day). Unfortunately, we towered over all of them in our stilettos.

2008

The only pictures from the night are of me sitting on my ex-boyfriend's lap. Moving on ...

2007

Cocktail party with all of my high school friends. I brought over mini cans of Sofia Coppola's champagne. I then switched to whiskey after deeming the champagne "too girly." Needless to say, the night did not end well ... for me or my gorgeous brocade BCBG dress.

Here's to new beginnings.

Christmas Traditions

I wrote about my favorite Christmas gift yesterday, so today I thought I'd share how my holidays went. Christmas is a big deal in my house. On Christmas Eve every year we go to church and then to a German restaurant. My father was born in Germany, and so this tradition is very near to his heart. This year, due to my mom's work schedule, things were a little different and we instead celebrated on Christmas day. I spent Christmas Eve at my boyfriend's house in Palm Beach Gardens, where they had a huge party with his extended family. Christmas day we had our German lunch and then my best friend and her sister came over for appetizers and to play with the Wii I got for Christmas! I have to say, this was one of the best Christmases in a long time.

Getting ready to play the ribbon game at Eric's on Christmas Eve. Each ribbon is attached to a gift, and you get the one you pull!

Christmas dinner

Cheese plate! The pig cutting board was a gift from my dear friend, RLD.

In unrelated news, today I got to meet a blog friend for the first time! I finally got to meet the lovely JGIWC. Teddi and I have a ton in common - we went to same college, both worked at the Lilly store in Winter Park, not to mention we're fabulous girls with boys' names! It was such a treat to meet her, and I hope that one day I'll get a chance to meet some of my other blog buddies, too!

Bonannos or barefoot!

It's been a debate among preps for years ... Bonannos or Jack Rogers? I was always in the JR camp until one of my sandals broke and I fell down a flight of stairs on my spring break cruise last year. Needless to say, I was looking for something new.

So when I had trouble making my Christmas list this year, I asked my preppy pal EP what was on hers. She mentioned monogrammed Bonannos and I was quickly sold on the idea. Honestly, I'll monogram anything and for a Floridian, sandals are a must.

My beau offered to get them for me as my Christmas gift and so we took a trip to the Stephen Bonanno signature store in Stuart. The salesgirl helped me pick out my perfect pair (I went with light pink with white stitching ... I figured it would match most of my Lillys!). And when I unwrapped them on Christmas Eve, I have to say that I was quite pleased. Bonannos are completely custom - they measure both the width and length of your foot for the perfect fit.

Here's a photo of me in downtown Stuart on the day we went to pick them out. If you're ever in the area, be sure to check it out!