Me in Melange

California Dreamin'

 

 

 

 

Hellooo, darlings! Just back from Spring Break in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Palm Springs! I am so inspired by the sunshine, the fragrant desert flora, the ocean....all I want to wear is lightwash denim trousers, silk kaftans, and huge sunglasses! Unfortunately, my suitcase is not kaftan-friendly, BUT I did manage to pack some of my favorite Melange items, including this striped top from Velvet! Rodeo drive was fun to wander with my

 

14 year-old daughter who took pictures of Versace, Tiffany's and Chanel. (I told her she should get a good job so she could have such high-brow tastes, and she rolled her eyes at me and said, I will, Mom, duh!)

One of my favorite things about California is the cactus. Like prehistoric time-capsules they rise up everywhere, along the freeway, between buildings, tucked away in old alleys. Huge, thick branches that suddenly bloom with fierce color. Absolutely stunning! I wish I could wear them!

One of my favorite places in SoCal is the beautiful Topanga Canyon. Eucalyptus, sage, and bougainvilla fill the air with sweet and spicy scents. The ocean air blows in, Fleetwood Mac comes on the radio, and suddenly, I'm in heaven!

So get yourself to California when you can, darlings. And bring that lightwash denim!  xoxoxo (love me, DR)

Summer Looks from Head to Toe

 

Oh, how we welcome the coming of Spring, and not just because the flowers start to bloom....but because we also start to bloom! With the advent of warmer weather, we finally can let our skin breath and escape the confines of our winter coats! We can don light, easy dolman tops and sexy racer back tanks. We can bare our calves in cute cropped jeans, or walk with swingy steps in wide-leg trouser jeans and platform strappy sandals! We can stretch our arms out in delight in the new   sunshine and float along on the scented spring air, resplendent in our colorful skirts and dresses. Ahhhh, good for the spirit, good for the soul! 

Pictured: Velvet's new Loulou Sebu Open Sleeve Dress and my new favorite shoes!!!!!

(love, DR)

Taking my crazy to a new level.

This post isn't about anything more than my newest OCD accomplishment that I thought I would share.  In part because it is a good idea, in part because it is indicative of just how crazy I have become.  I have blogged before on my love of lists...and Ava's love of lists (genetically inclinded I suppose), but here is my latest organization/list making strategy.

Every morning Monday-Friday at 6 a.m. I knock out 3 lunches...I usually labor over what to put in there because I want them to actually eat (self serving because if they don't eat they are crazy maniacs by the time they get home).  So to avoid 1/2 eaten lunches and complaints, I now have a lunch "check off" sheet....the girls fill it out the night before and voila, I have a "list" for the morning.   That's right....crazy.  Signed, {ME}

 
 

 

for your weekend...

I recommend you buy this little number...

and wear it to go see...

not because SATC2 got rave reviews, it certainly did not... but we ALL know it's really just about the fashion.  And you will want to look good while eating your tub of popcorn. ;)  signed, me {CA}

tightrope...

Just in case you need to have yourself a little dance break this fine Tuesday morning...

signed, me {CA}

The '80's fashion, Rick Astley, and being in the social "know".

So, I learned something Saturday night, that I didn't know about the 1980's.  Apparently, Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" is the "worst" most popular song of the era.  Really?  Because there were a LOT of bad songs back then, and a lot of them were popular.  Well, apparently there is a new "social phenom" (among younger people who don't actually remember the '80's but like to make fun of it) , and it is called "Rick Rolling".  Here is the Wickipedia breakdown:  Rick Rolling Definition .  It is akin to Flash Mob Dancing, because basically a group just suddenly "breaks out" and serenades someone the Rick Astley song all together.

So the best part about learning about Rick Rolling, was getting to watch the Rick Astley video... Rick Astley Video.  OK, seriously, you can't watch that without laughing hysterically can you?  First, note the hair.  Second, note the high waisted jeans and the oversized tee shirt....note skinny belt.  WOW...and we thought he was hot.    I remember wearing my high waisted jeans and oversized rugby shirt to dance to this song (hopefully better than Rick dances in this song, but I can't be sure).  The other scary thing I noted, was that I STILL sort of like the song, brings back some keen memories, and I really can't imagine that it is the very WORST of the whole era??

Well, you know how I like to keep you all in the know (well at least all of you who are already woefully behind like me and need to catch up) :-). 

Signed, ME {lv}

picture below for all of you who've forgotten what dear Rick looks like!

Happy thoughts for 2010!

I was listening to NPR the other morning and they were having a whole discussion/debate on "how people stay happy".  They had all different kinds of theories...from the layman, to the professional.  Larry David (actor/producer) said, "you need a job you like doing and sex".  Then there was a doctor who said that you need, simple, to think, "happy thoughts", and THAT will create happiness.  Hhhhmmmmmm.  O.K., well, I'm looking down at my beloved AG Tomboy jeans that I'm wearing and my Om Girl thermal tee from earlier this season and they are giving me some happy thoughts :-).  Apparently this particular "happiness school of thought" believes you can actually cure illnesses by methodically conjuring up "happy thoughts" (changes your body's chemistry). 

I have spun this into a whole new reason to re-evaluate my closet and perhaps give myself a mini shopping spree.  I've concluded that everything in my closet should make me HAPPY!  I should feel good, and think a nice positive happy thought when I put it on.  I think I've probably done pretty good in that department, but my plan is to purge and evaluate this weekend.  I'm on the road to good health and happiness-ville :-)!

Signed, ME {lv}

Must see movie!

It has been a long time since I've seen a regular "grown up" movie, so perhaps my standards are all skewed, but I just saw the most beautiful children's movie EVER....it was called "Up".  We got it for the kids to watch, and I really thought it wouldn't be much more than a brightly color, cutesy, animated children's movie.  It was wonderful though, and even without children I would see it.  Honestly, I think it was one of the better love stories I've seen all year, if not in years.  I cried...TWICE (and I can't remember the last movie that made me cried...especially in the first 20 minutes WITHOUT any words actually being spoken).   I strongly recommend renting this movie if you haven't, it is completely appropriate for children obviously, but it had a beautiful story line that kept this adult completely entertained.   Signed, ME {lv}

Glamour Rodents

When I tell my friends that I bought the kids two gerbils, the first response I usually get is, "what were you smokin'?"  No one, and I mean no one, has said "hey, that is so cool, I can't wait to meet them!"  Kind of sad for the little critters.

That is right,  gerbils are pretty low on the totem pole of pets.  BUT...they are small, don't smell that bad, and don't bite (unlike their brothers the hamsters).   The girls wanted a puppy, but since that involves considerably more of my energy, gerbils it was. 

The real clincher however, was that when I went to scope them out at the pet store, they had a pretty pink cage.  That is right, a totally pink cage complete with pink paper for their bedding.  Cool right?  I had to get them when I saw that...I mean, they MATCH the playroom, how cute is that?  Signed, {lv}

Meet Rascal and Sneaker....

Biting off more than I could chew...

We are getting ready to change the decor in the store to prepare for the festive holidays ahead.  This year we decided to do something a bit "non-traditional".  We ordered red and white parasols which we are going to hang upside down from the ceiling with lights trailed down the handles.  So we also thought it would be really pretty to hang origami cranes from the ceiling in a "mobile" sort of pattern near each of the parasols.  So, as we are talking this out (Cara & I), I'm thinking to myself...."o.k., got to figure out how to fold a crane, and then I've got to do it quickly because we are going to need a lot of them...." within moments in my brain I had figured out when I could fit it in, and how they were going to look.  Never mind that I have no time, and in my free time the last thing I feel like doing is folding origamil.  So, a couple of days later I decide to "test run" folding an origami crane.  Turns out it isn't that easy (well, that coupled with the fact that I'm a little dim and it was pretty late at night and post-glass of wine).  30 minutes after watching the video on YouTube, I still didn't have the crane completed.

Then I get a wild hair to just check and make sure that I can't somehow buy these little cranes and save myself hours and hours of frustration and paper cuts.  Turns out you CAN buy them, and for $15 I got 100 perfectly folded cranes.  How is that even possible?  And to think, I almost sat up night after night trying to do it all myself.  Moral of the story...SEEK HELP whenever possible! :-)  Don't be a chronic "biter of more than you can chew."

If anyone out there ever needs to buy an abundance of origami cranes I highly recommend this Ebay seller (Avanatgarde789).  Besides being very, VERY affordable, she was the sweetest woman, and even sent a baggy of extra cranes in a variety of beautiful colors (which my girls absolutely LOVE).   I haven't figured out when else I'll need cranes (maybe if someone has a wedding I'll buy 1000 of them for good luck which I think is the tradition right?...at least i won't try to make them)  Signed, ME {lv}