Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Red lipstick

I apologize in advance to the males that read this blog. This post will not interest you, so I suggest going to youtube and watching this video right now instead of continuing to read.

I wanted to give a shout out to my recent purchase of Laura Mercier' lipstick: Truly Red.


There is nothing more glamorous in the makeup world than red lipstick and I have thouroughly enjoyed wearing it. It may seem scary at first, but red is very friendly! So grab your lip liner and enjoy!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Haley Barbour: GOP Kingmaker or Candidate?

I hope you take a moment to read this interesting article about Mississippi’s (my) governor, Haley Barbour. It was in Time Magazine last week and highlighted some of the Governor’s qualities and mused at his potential run for President in 2012. I have met Governor Barbour several times and needless to say, I’m a huge fan. He is very down to earth and easy to have a conversation with. Recently, he spoke at a reception in DC at the Newseum to honor the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. He teared up just talking about the coast and the devastation that he saw. We are still dealing with aftermath of Katrina, but if not for Governor Barbour, we would be much more behind.

So will he run?

“In the brazen Tea Party era, Barbour can seem a bit old-fashioned. Some of his own associates say he lacks flesh-and-blood passion in his public performances. Unlike Reagan, Barbour only infrequently mentions real people to make his points. His speeches are spiked with quick humor and biting rhetoric, but he rarely inspires emotion or fervor. And though he hails from the buckle of the Bible Belt, he is an unabashed big-tent, Big Business Republican who has never drunk very deeply from the social-values trough. Democrats from Donna Brazile to David Axelrod consider him cooperative and, in some cases, a friend. And Barbour would return the compliment. Several decades in Washington taught him never to make an enemy he doesn't need.

Barbour's status as an elder statesman from something of a bygone era in a restive party adds to doubts about whether he will run. More than that, he has commented to friends that as he ages, his family is a priority, and Marsha, his wife of some 40 years (they have two sons and four grandchildren), has never been particularly enthusiastic about the high-flying lifestyle her husband has led in politics. He is visibly overweight and shuffles as much as he walks. (He once owned a piece of one of Washington's more artery-clogging steak houses.)


As said by the Gov himself: "If I run for President, what you see is what you get. And I am from Mississippi. I do have a Southern accent," he said. "I was a lobbyist — and a pretty damned good one... The next President of the United States, on Jan. 21, 2013, is going to start lobbying. He's going to be lobbying Congress. He's going to be lobbying other countries. He's going to be lobbying the business community. He's going to be lobbying the labor unions and the governors, because that's what Presidents do, and I feel like it's an advantage for me to have the chance to do that."

And then he added, "As far as Southern accent and Mississippi, the country may be looking for the anti-Obama in 2012. Don't know. Could be."

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Meeting the FLOTUS

Laura Bush spoke to the Congressional Club last week and promoted her new book, Spoken from the Heart. My boss' wife was kind enough to invite me to go along with her. I was ecstatic--I did not know exactly what to expect, but it was better than I imagined!

Mrs. Bush spoke for about 15 minutes, then read a short section from her book. There were 10 tables of 10 women--so it was a very intimate crowd. I was one table away from her! I was impressed by her beauty--so natural, her quiet manner that directly connected with everyone in the room, her soft wit that made us all laugh. While she was personalizing my book she asked me if I would like a picture...to which I answered, "YES!" I didn't want to ask her, but was so happy that she offered.

I highly recommend Spoken from the Heart. I'm reading through it now and loving it!

FLOTUS

Congressman Harper's wife, Sidney and me

Signed photographs from previous FLOTUS's adorned the walls at the Congressional Club

The note on this table is hand written by Mrs. Bush

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Corporate Sponsor Reception

In thanks to the Mississippi Society's corporate sponsors, we held a rooftop reception at the Homer Building last Tuesday evening! The fall weather was perfect and we had a great view of our beloved city.

Kern and me with the Washington Monument behind us
Mary Ellis and Katie with me
Paul, Barr, Ty and Kern
Charles with our wonderful welcome sign
Great view

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Happy Birthday Daddy!

September 16th is my dad's birthday! I surprised him last week (early) by showing up in Mississippi, but I wish I could be with him to celebrate on the actual day. My dad plays so many roles--husband, father, teacher, church leader, scout master, mentor...the list goes on! He has touched so many lives, and although he may not remember everyone's name...he can always have a 15 minute conversation with a person who greets him: "Hey! Dr. Penn...great to see you!" I am so thankful to have him as my father and I look up to him. I value his advice and love to hear his thoughts and opinions. I've put a few fun photos (some old and some new) up to pay tribute to our special father/daughter relationship.

Dad and me in July 2010

Our most recent golf game in September 2010

My 20th birthday

Funny faces (2005..I think?)

At a wedding in 2006

Monday, September 13, 2010

Project time!

Mom and I are famous for our projects...everything from scrapbooks to cooking to organizing (well, I guess that would be me forcing mom to organize...but that's another blog). We decided to embark upon our first furniture re-doing project. Mom just bought a new duvet for my room at home and we wanted to repaint the side table to match the pinkish flowers in it. So we....

sanded the old table (note the lovely water mark)

primed the drawers and table (I got primer in my hair and couldn't get it out for 2 days!)

painted the first coat of "St. Charles Street" (repeated again)

Mom and I found adorable new hardware at Anthropologie. Here are my cute
parents drilling new holes in the drawers

Finished! I wish I had a better shot of the duvet, but trust me, it matches perfectly!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Mississippi!

I'm spending a few days in Mississippi doing a combination of work and play...of course trying to squeeze in as much play as possible. It's so good to be in the Magnolia State for a few days without a pressing agenda. No weddings, engagement parties, major holidays...not that I don't LOVE all those things, but they leave less time for sitting, talking, and drinking coffee with my family.

I surprised my dad on Wednesday night by showing up at his office unannounced. I told him that his birthday present was arriving a week earlier...then...I arrived! Today I went to Christ Covenant Pre-school where my Mom teaches and got to meet her class--adorable! After lunch at Beagle Bagel, I told my mom I keep getting excited whenever I see a Mississippi license plate, then I remember..."Oh, I'm in Mississippi...not in DC...so that's normal."

Mom and I have started our first furniture refinishing project. We are taking a side table that's in my bedroom, (I use this term lightly...I suppose it could also be "the room I sleep in when I'm home) sanding it, and painting it "St. Charles Street"--a color that matches the flowers in the new Pottery Barn duvet Mom just bought! I will post pictures of all the stages once we are done!

On Friday afternoon, Dad and I are going to tackle the golf course and enjoy some Father/daughter time. I made sure to pack my mint green and white golf shoes along with a matching Lilly outfit--I have to look the part even if I'm a pretty terrible player. (Looking legit is 90% of it, right?)

On Saturday, I will go with Mary Jane to her final wedding dress fitting! I was able to be in Jackson for her last fitting too...special times! I'm so excited for my best friend--she will be married in just a little over a month!

Then on Sunday, it's back to the cit-ay and Congress is back in session next week! I doubt I'll be ready to leave Mississippi, but I will be ready to see Kern! And...I'll be back in a month!