I Fancy Thank You’s

I am sure Emily Post would cringe at the stack of Christmas thank-you’s I still have stacked on my kitchen table. They merely need to be addressed and stamped; but I just haven’t gotten around to it for the last 2½ months. At least yours truly managed to write the notes in a timely manner, now if only I could work on my follow through.

I personally received two thank you’s in the mail today and was delighted to find something other than bills in the post. Now I’m motivated to spread the cheer and get these thank you’s in the mail.

Writing thank you’s has always been a passion of mine. I can remember all the way back to my early birthdays, being diligent in making sure I hand wrote a friendly thank you to every guest who attended my birthday fete. These notes were true works of art, with swirly cursive, lots of hearts and pink ink! My mum always praised me for my well-thought out thank you cards and how she NEVER had to remind, bribe or beg me to do so.

Princess Diana was known for writing her own hand-written notes after every special occasion. At 6 p.m., every week night she had the two princes writing out thank you’s from their day’s adventures.

I propose that everyone should add a little bit of grace to everyday living. Take 15 minutes out of a week that is consumed with responding to e-mails or updating your Facebook status, and instead pen a note to a relative, a girlfriend or a long lost pen pal. With so much technology at our fingertips, a hand written note is a rarity in this day and age. It can kick start a hand written chain reaction that will bring you joy when you open your mailbox to find lovely letters from those you care about. And it’s also an excuse to use pink stationary as the canvas for your thoughtfulness.

Cheers,
Mitzy

P.S. I'm hosting Girl's Night Out at the shoppe this Thursday, 26 March. Do drop in for a fun and fashionable evening. The shoppe will offer one night only discounts from 6 - 8 p.m.


www.mitzylondons.com

Lucky Shamrock Love

Who could have asked for more beautiful weather on Tuesday for us to enjoy our St. Patty’s day tradition in lovely Kansas City. The Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day parade has been going strong and steady for over 100 years now! If you’re still feeling “green” from one too many pints, try a cuppa of peppermint and chamomile tea – our British friends swear by it!

Wouldn’t it be divine if there was a “Mitzy Day?” A national holiday for one's diary in which we are united in pink, pearls and sipping pink champagne!

Cheers,
~Mitzy

www.mitzylondons.com

Shopaholics, Spring & Smart-Looking Men!

Dear Friends,
It’s a very exciting week at Mitzy London’s. This week we have a fashion show, movie premiere and the arrival of our brand new Spring Line!

First of all, I am so excited for the premiere of “Confessions of a Shopaholic” this weekend. I cannot wait to see all the fashions! It’s been a long winter and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to put some fun back in fashion. In the movie, Rebecca Bloomwood pairs beautiful bright colors with a very eclectic style. I adore her whimsical look and I’m already incorporating fun pieces and colors into the Spring line at the shoppe.

“Confessions of a Shopaholic” Event
This weekend, Mitzy London’s will be participating in the premiere of “Confessions of a Shopaholic” at the AMC 20 Theatre in Leawood. Pop in and register for a Mitzy London’s shopping spree! We will also be giving away goodies all weekend long.

Mitzy in the News
Will the ‘Shopaholic’ look catch on in KC?
The girls at the shoppe pulled together a great ‘shopaholic’ look that was featured in the Kansas City Star this week.

Eligible Bachelors Auction & Fashion Show
Mitzy London’s will featuring six shopaholic-inspired looks at the 3rd annual 435 South Most Eligible Bachelors Auction on Thursday, 12 February. It should be a great pre-Valentine’s night to enjoy fashion, cocktails and smart looking men. The event starts at 7:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Overland Park

Visit www.435southmag.com for more information and tickets.

Spring Line Debut
On Saturday, the shoppe opens at 10 a.m., do drop in and be the first to see the newest looks for Spring!

This week is the perfect excuse to enjoy the color combinations pink and hot pink in celebration of Valentine’s Day, not that we need an excuse here at Mitzy London’s - the more pink the better is our philosophy. Have a romantic and shopaholic splendid weekend to you & yours!

Cheers!
Mitzy

www.mitzylondons.com

Resolutions

I find myself cringing as I have realized we are 28 days into the New Year. Where have those weeks, days and hours went to? I hope your NYE holiday was safe and you sipped pink bubbly champagne. As I get ready for the annual New Year’s party every year I am so excited to see friends, even more excited to see their frocks & frilly accessories, and just ecstatic about the New Year’s resolutions I plan to begin at midnight sharp each and every NYE night. I always vow to eat minimal carbs, consume lots of fruit and veggies and make good use of the gym membership I have had for the last seven years. That, after all, is the equation for a happy and healthy lifestyle, isn’t it?

Thirty minutes after our NYE disco ball dropped, I found myself ragged tired. I said my good-bye’s and gave my muah’s to all my fabulous fashionistas and was on my way home. That’s when disaster struck. I found I have no discipline and I can justify about anything that comes my way. So I found myself pulling into a Waffle House at 12:35PM on NYE night. What was I thinking -- was I planning to order a yogurt parfait and a fruit smoothie??? So typical of me. Cheers to carbs, soda and some good down-home grease! Success, my New Year's resolution made it a solid 35 minutes.

As usual, I do my “spring cleaning” in January. I make ‘keep it’ and ‘toss it’ piles while going through my closet. Again this is another project with big intentions; I so seldom have the will power to toss anything out! This year was even more enlightening than the past, as I had found my journals from the past three years. Only the first two to three pages were written on in all of them, all notable dated January 1st – January 5th. They all included the usual NYE vitals; current weight, career issues, relationship issues and then a sappy ending that vowed to fix all of them by the next NYE. This brings me to January 28, 2009 – I have “cleaned” out my closet the best I can and I have pitched the idea of ever getting a journal to track my progress or jot down thoughts ever again.

I am going to keep it simple from here on out:

I vow to wear more pink.

Celebrate with pink champagne.

And indulge in red velvet cupcakes as I see fit.

Cheers to you & yours in 2009!!!
~Mitzy

www.mitzylondons.com

Mitzy's Guards: Exploring Kansas City

Well, I am quickly becoming acclimated to my new surroundings here in Kansas City. I absolutely adore the BBQ, the whole buying in bulk thing and the McDonald’s drive thru (what a marvelous idea).


When I moved stateside, I brought two special helpers with me, members of the Queen’s Guard. In Britain, the Queen’s Guards are famous for standing at attention and not batting so much as an eye, regardless of tourist’s antics. My own Queen’s Guards have come in quite handy around the shoppe, perhaps I should call them Mitzy’s Guards? I must admit the Guards are a bit quiet, but it is so nice to have help with all the heavy lifting at the shoppe, especially during the past few weeks when new treasures for the holidays have been arriving daily. During December, you can catch the Guards in action as they greet guests at the front doors.


I plan to send my two Queen’s Guards out across the city this Sunday, 21 December to seek out more interesting restaurants and sights for me to explore in 2009. Be on the lookout for these Brits, you can’t miss them in their smart uniforms. When you spot the Guards, be sure to take a photo with them. (They won’t mind, at Buckingham Palace, people are always snapping their photos.) You can bring your photo into the shoppe and receive $25 off your purchase. All of you little techie divas with the smart phones and cameras should be able to snap up some good photos with the guards and beautiful landscape of Kansas City. I am looking forward to adding these great photos of you and the Queen’s Guards to my shoppe scrapbook.

Snap to it and be on the lookout for my Guards -- I will make sure they have goodies from the shoppe with them as well!

Cheers!
Mitzy

www.mitzylondons.com

Holiday Cheer to You & Yours

Holiday greetings to all of my favorite fashionista’s! I do hope this holiday season has you out mingling with your favorite friends in festive frocks, creating special memories to last a lifetime.

I am absolutely loving my time in Kansas City; the Christmas lights, the non-stop holiday music on the radio and the huge portions of holiday treats that are in abundance all make my heart go pitter patter a little bit faster than normal. I haven’t seen anything quite as impressive as the Costco’s and Hy-Vee’s with their holiday feasts and treats – in Britain we have very very teeny tiny grocery markets that are about equivalent to the size of a filling station or Quik Trip as you call them state side. To prepare a holiday meal in London would take several weeks of planning and multiple trips to the grocery store because what you purchase at the grocery store, you must carry all the way back to your flat. I learned this lesson the hard way about three years ago. . .

I had just moved into my new, modern, freshly built flat that was so conveniently located about a block away from Paddington Station. I was hosting a group of Americans at my flat for a European buying trip in late November. Once my guests had arrived, I quickly learned that they would all be with me in London over their Thanksgiving holiday, so I decided to surprise them with an American Thanksgiving Feast.

As I put my list of ingredients together, I realized that I would have to start mini trips to the store to start collecting everything I would need. About seven grocery trips later, one home delivery of groceries and one trip to the American grocery store (yes, they have one in London, it’s quite popular with the American ex-pat’s working abroad – the store is filled with Fruit Loops, Oreo’s and Rotel), I had everything I needed to make a proper Thanksgiving meal.

Now, cooking a feast like this in a kitchen that has appliances that could fit in a Barbie house was a fiasco in itself, but it was a success! I was able to pull off a “spot on” traditional American Thanksgiving for my guests and we had a splendid time together on that day.

Cheers to this holiday season to you and your family.
Mitzy

www.mitzylondons.com

Mitzy's Markdown Mania

Dear Friends,
Make your list and check it twice, at Mitzy London’s you’ll find gifts that are nifty & nice! With only 16 more shopping days until Christmas, Mitzy London’s presents Mitzy’s Markdown Mania! Starting today, select items are 25-50% off throughout the shoppe.

All Denim is 50% off!
Pair a dark pair of denim trousers with a smart jacket for instant chic.

All Gift Items are 40% off!
May I suggest hand-milled soaps direct from London? I especially love the Peony soaps!

All Jewellery is 40% off!
A girl can never have too many earrings or pearls or pendants! I’d love to find a chunky cocktail ring in my stocking.

All Christmas Ornaments are 50% off!
Deck your tree with Big Ben, miniature riding hats or petite purses.

All Fabric is 30% off!
These vintage fabrics would make charming pillows.

All Lamps are 30% off!
Add style to an end table with a unique lamp.

All Artwork is 30% off!
These ladylike prints are perfect for the boudoir or a pretty powder room.

All Shoes are 40% off!
A smart pair of shoes brings polish to any look.

Cheers!
Mitzy

www.mitzylondons.com