Big Lilly News in Key West!

This is the pattern of my dress.

I can't believe my good fortune, Lillywise. I had googled and found a Lilly Pulitzer store in Key West before arriving. Fig and I hopped on our rental bikes [$15 per person per day through the Wicker House, where we're staying] and headed to 600 Front Street this morning.

We walk in, and hooray!, it's a party, just for today, as though somehow the pink and green Lilly gods knew I was coming. I can't believe it. Here's what the handout says:

Lilly Pulitzer

CELEBRATE our 16th ANNIVERSARY

in KEY WEST!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28th

ALL DAY! 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM

Start your NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION

early at the LILLY PULITZER

ANNIVERSARY EVENT!

600 FRONT STREET/KEY WEST, FL

I sensed a party coming on when I saw a caterer walking in with a tray of brushetta! 

It gets better. There's a raffle, the first prize being a bright and beautiful painting of Key West by the Lilly print design team. It says Lilly loves Key West and includes pretty images of a white picket fence, bicycles, Jimmy Buffett's original Margaritaville restaurant and more. Figgy and I filled out chances to win. Other prizes included a Lilly ice bucket and clear acrylic Lilly RECIPE BOX with Lilly recipe cards--which I am dying to own. I know the Lilly line well and haven't seen that yet. "Can I just buy one?" I asked the saleswoman. The answer was no. Hello?!!! When can we buy it? I love to cook and want a Lilly recipe box! [I just found them on THE PREPPY PRINCESS WEBSITE, out of Michigan. Will buy one someday.]

There were even gifts with purchase, based on how much you spent. At the lowest level [me, I bought a pretty beach dress in blue and lavender pattern] you got two great Lilly bangles in a floral Lilly box.

I wanted to see how they'd spell fun, fashionable Lilly with food and drink. They hired local Small Chef at Large catering to bring in platters of chic, ladylike foods--basil, tomato & roasted garlic brushetta [excellent], tiny shots of soup with fresh lavender on top, and cucumber boats with blue cheese and roasted red pepper mousse. After lunch with Fig and a phone chat with Sis, I thought, Let me go back and see if they put a birthday cake out now, since it was 3:06 P.M. And yes, even better, there were little key lime tarts with kiwi palm trees on top [thinly sliced kiwi makes the leaves], dainty shots of chocolate mousse with whipped cream, and strawberries and pineapple chunks dipped in chocolate.

I biked back with my mini key lime tart in my basket, to show Figgy. H. doesn't always understand my Lilly fixation.

Going to take a little cat nap.

Pink in Key West.

TCOY

1. Good tooth care.
2. Short bike ride.
3. Reading.