Me in Melange

Indigenous just arrived!

 

It's here! But for a limited time and in limited quatities... so shop fast before they all get snatched up!Coupon code: indig09 will get you 15% off all indigenous pieces.  Now what a sweet start to spring is that?!  Happy shopping!  signed, me {CA}

Good for the earth AND looks good!

I'll admit, I'm not always as green as I want to be...or should be.  I try to recycle everything, but I drive a big car, AND I don't always turn off all the lights.  I'm sure there is more on the list.  It is hard to make the sacrifices sometimes, I would love to buy earth friendly clothing, but I'm also not keen on wearing fabric that feels yuck, or clothing that looks like it was born from the ''60's (and not in a cute retro way, just a hippy, patchouli lovin' way).

So, it is with a lot of happiness that we've found Indigenous.  Totally earth friendly, yet very stylish, wearable, and the fabric and knits are wonderful.  We are getting ready to do a trunk show of their spring/summer styles, so I thought I would preview a little about the company.

They use only fair trade produced knit, which means they find wonderfully skilled artisans in other countries (focused in South America) and form artisan co-ops in which the artists are povided better knitting tools, additional training, and learn the value of what they are producing (instead of simply trading for food which is what they often do because they don't understand their value.) They pay them fair wages, and form healthy and positive relationships with the artists in these countries, making them self-sufficient and putting more money directly into their pockets and into the health of their villages.
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They use organic and natural fibers, and only use low impact dyes.  Why is this important?  Toxic chemicals are traditionally used in the dying process.  Just think of how MUCH of those toxic chemicals must be out there JUST for dying clothing!!

It is important that when we support any company, that we know that their values are strong, and that our precious dollars aren't being spent on garmets made by children in some dank factory , being paid pennies for the day.

When I buy something made in America, I want to know that the workers aren't in a sweatshop and that they are being paid a livable wage, when i buy something made abroad, I want to know that it wasn't made by children, and I want to know that the person was paid a fair wage (instead of being paid nothing, and barely surviving while the company makes huge profits.) 

Anyway, Indigenous is the real deal, the way in which they produce clothing is as important as the clothing itself so I feel really good purchasing from them.  I am truly hopeful that the fashion industry will slowly go the way of "sustainability", and that we as the customers keep demanding the product!   Stay tuned for super cute Indigenous, the trunk show will be coming shortly!!
Signed, ME {lv}

a new twist... a new blog!

We're excited for our stylish next-door neighbors, New Twist, as they just launched their brand new blog this week!  It already has us lusting after a gorgeous Jamie Joesph Peruvian opal ring!  Be sure to bookmark this one, it's sure to be a keeper.  signed, me {CA}

  

Living Large...

Everytime we go to the doc's to get baby girl checked on, I immediately search for this old issue of Elle Decor they have in the waiting room...  it has a full story on Nanette Lepore's NY townhouse designed by Jonathan Adler... and I sit there and drool while we wait for them to call my name.  True eye candy, especially that 'dressing room' of hers, I also love her daughter's room... what a cool bed.  signed, me {CA}

      

 

Puttin' a little groove into Thursday.

The Seed by Cody Chesnutt    , here is a link to my new favorite song....Gia and I just "danced it out" and I thought I would share the groove....  Signed, ME {lv}

My new book club.

I just wanted to share my latest reads....I joined a new book club this last month and I'm really excited that it will force me to consistently read at least one grown up book a month :-).  Last month was My Antonia by Willa Cather--an old classic that I bet many of you have already read.  I actually hadn't read it (somehow missed it in middle school, high school AND college).  Excellent book though, I strongly recommend it if you haven't read it yet. 

Our next book is Riven Rock by T.C. Boyle which I just ordered on Amazon...can't wait to read this--looks super interesting.  I also bought the book, Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future by Peter M. Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers.   Apparently it is Eileen Fisher's favorite book and I'm really curious to read it.  Sounds interesting...will keep you posted!

Signed, ME {lv}

How to wear the boyfriend...

as in jean. ;)  We haven't gotten around to doing an outfit with the brand-new boyfriend Citizens so I wanted to share this pic... 

 

{it's from the satorialist} This is the super cute way that all the reps at market were sporting this new trend.  Fitted top, jeans rolled at the hem, with fabulous heels.  It's such an adorable look!  Of course you can always dress them down as well, with your favorite sneakers for a Saturday jaunt to the market.  But I love the alternative, fun and carefree, yet still very put together.  signed, me {CA}

What is the oldest thing in your closet?

I'm a huge purge fanatic.  I love to get rid of stuff I don't need, want or use.  That being said, I realize today that I was wearing a sweater that has to be TWENTY-FIVE years old!!!!  Can you believe that?  I honestly think it must be older, but I don't want to really figure it out because it makes me feel sort of old.  It is a Norm Thompson handknit sweater that was my MOM'S--seriously, no joke--I think she was sick of it and gave it to me a gazillion years ago.  It is super simple, and a sort of neutral celery green color that manages to go with everything.  Cardigan style, v-neck, with knit buttons and little front pockets.  It is alpaca wool, and I tell you, I doubt anyone could tell whether I bought it last month, or 25 years ago--the knit has held up that well.  I don't even know if the company Norm Thompson is still around (I recall it as being a stuffy-ish outdoors-ish style company) but kudos to quality Norm, because this particular sweater is timeless and I don't plan on purging it any time soon.  Signed, ME {lv}

Do you ever feel like a dog?

You know me, I like to use sensational titles to get people to read my posts :-).  This is one of those such titles.  But here is what I mean...

Last night I lay down in bed with my 15 month old to try and put her to sleep.  She does this thing when she is really, really, REALLY tired, this nervous body twitching, fidgeting, manic-pre-sleep stage where she just can't let herself sleep.  She keeps herself awake with babbling, with kicking covers around, with grabbing me, playing with her belly button...you name it, she does it.  So as I'm laying there I start thinking about how someone once told me about Labs (as in the dog breed, not the science room), and how if you throw them a ball into the water (which they love), they will just keep running and running until they keel over from a heart attack.

So I started to think as I lay with Gia, that I felt a bit like that dog...and my daughter, at the same time.  Running, running, going, going, and even when I'm trying to sleep, or take some down time I sabotage myself from rest (but instead of playing with my belly button I'm running through my grocery list or my plan for the next day.)  I love my life, and I have so many things I love that I want to cram into it (well, and so many things I have to cram in that I'm not particularly excited about, yet must get done), that I find myself running for the ball in the water until I might just pass out because even when the ball isn't being thrown, I'm still looking for it.

So this is just a shout out reminder to everyone else out there who is doing this very thing (which is just about every woman I meet)...we need to take a real breather and let everything go for a moment, or we might keel over from sheer exhaustion--or worse, have a heart attack. :-)  On that note, I will say that my 3 minutes of meditation in the morning that I've been doing is really great.  I think I might adopt it at night too actually.  It is simple, for 3 minutes I sit and think about the sun, that is it, just the sun.  My mind wanders, and the sun takes on some random forms and shapes, but it doesn't matter.  When I do it, I feel more centered, more relaxed, and less like a harried dog.   The fact that it is only 3 minutes makes it easier for me to commit to, and I still get benefit from it (who knows if I'd get 10 times more if I did it for 30 minutes, but since I don't have 30 minutes it doesn't much matter.)   I highly recommend it!

Signed, ME {lv}

Sure fire way to feel really, REALLY old!!

So yesterday I went shopping for my dear girlfriend's 9 year old son.  Having no idea what 9 year old boys like, I asked her for direction.  She said, "he is really into Hollister clothing."  Now, I'd heard of Hollister, but never actually been IN a Hollister.  So Lucia and I put that on our list of errands and set off.  Have you ever been in a Hollister?  It is similar to Abercombie & Fich.  Really dark, blaring music, no service (all the 18 years that work there are huddle around talking--probably about the fact they can wear flip flops to work.)  The first thing Lucia said was, "mommy it is dark in here, I can't see you."  To which I responded, "WHAT???  I can't hear you, it is too loud!!!"  It is a wonder I walked out of there with the correct sizes (I had to really squint to see the sizes), and I was so irritated at having to actually ASK the kid behind the counter to "uh, help me please" (translation...."put down your freakin' magazine before I come over this counter and beat you.")  Yet, I walked out of there with a lighter pocket book, and hopefully a bag full of shirts a 9 year old would feel "cool" in.  Wow, I felt old, really really old.  Even older when instead of thinking of buying any of the clothing for myself, all I could think about was the marketing strategy they employed and who they were targeting...and how brilliant this horrible little store actually was because those pre-tweens thru teens have quite a bit of buying force (and what parent can resist badgering on the level that kids employ when it comes to dressing and looking cool for school?) 

I will say on a side note, that the cotton for the tees was AWESOME...super thick and fab feeling.  I'd probably have to take an XXXXXL to even fit into one, and if I could stand to ever walk into one of those stores again I might try one, but alas, I think not. 

Signed, ME {lv}