Me in Melange

Such a great movie I saw.....

I saw a really good movie last night called "Away from Her".  Probably would be termed a "chick flick", but I saw it with my husband and we both thought it was a really beautiful movie.  Let me warn you though, it is SAD, I cried throughout the movie.  It is a slow moving, simple, but powerful movie about this couple dealing with Alzheimer (the wife gets it).  It is very well done though, and there were some really interesting things said by the characters.   One of my favorite lines was something to the effect of, "you just never know how things will turn out, you have a pretty good idea, but you never really know."    It is one of those movies that is the pictorial of a true love affair...the good, bad, and the ugly.  Signed, ME {lv}

New parenting tricks!

I thought by #3 I'd have it down pat, and wouldn't need to pull out any "how to books" or stress about new things.   But the thing about babies is that they are all different, and in many ways it is like going through the whole thing for the first time.  First because she has different things going on than the other two kids, and two, because I've managed to block out all those little things that happen when you have an infant (my theory is that if we didn't forget how difficult it was we'd never be stupid enough to have more kids.)  I had no nursing problems the first two times, but with this one my milk supply is huge, and she is gulping.....anyway, a nurse my sister works with recommended this site and it actually has some great tips!  www.kellymom.com.   Just in case someone reading this is also in the midst of sleepness nights, and gassy crying spells....  Signed, ME {lv}

Cool art site!

www.creativethursday.com, this is a great site for really fun artwork.  I received three prints for Christmas that are perfect for a child's room or bathroom and I thought some of the other pieces on the site were fantastic!  Signed, ME {lv}

Christmas gifts from the hubby....

I'm not one of those people who emails links to their husband detailing what they want for Christmas.  I would say most of my friends are though, they don't monkey around, they just get right to the point so they end up with something they actually want.  Me...well, I think it is my husband's ONE responsibility at Christmas time, to come up with gifts for me that are thoughtful.  He doesn't really have much to do with buying any other gifts for any other people so I figure this is the least he can do.  I don't give him hints, I leave it totally up to him and my expectations are not low....this is his chance to show that he pays attention a little to what I would like.

Some might say I'm crazy....

So this year what did I get?  Well....one of my gifts is a Clarisonic.  I had no idea what this was pre-Christmas morning, absolutely never heard of it.  Apparently I was one of the few people because it was on Oprah's favorite things and since that time has been impossible to get anywhere.   Basically it is a super deluxe face cleaning system, comparable to a sonic toothbrush, but for your face.  The reviews say it is amazing, and for a $200 price tag I should hope so.  Hope it does more than my wash cloth.  I'll let you guys know in a couple of weeks.  I think my sister must have encouraged this gift, and then when my husband checked into it and found it sold out everywhere he figured it was the hottest thing around......kind of random gift, but if this thing help with fine lines like it claims I'll be grateful!  I will say I am a bit of a gadget geek, so I'm sure if I saw this at Sephora I would really want it but probably not spring for the thing.

He also bought perfume, a brand  I personally never heard of because I can't remember the last time I shopped the perfume counters at a department store.  But my brave husband thought it was romantic to buy perfume, and hit the bloomingdales perfume counter in search of the "perfect scent".  But here is the deal....while it is a pretty scent for sure, it reminds me of his MOTHER a bit!!!!  Isn't that kind of creepy?  I don't want to return it because it obviously spent some time on this one, but seriously, I don't know if I can smell like his mom every day???

My husband also went with a "safe" gift....a Luis Vuitton wallet which he knew I would like.  Most men know the formula by now, they are pretty safe with certain "boxes".....the Luis Vuitton box, the Tiffany box, etc. you can't go too wrong.  I do love my new wallet.

Lets see, what else...oh yes, of course....my deluxe blue tooth gadget that he promises I will love (I haven't taken it out of the box yet, it looks kind of intimidating).   He is afraid that my one hand driving is going to kill me.

All in all he did good this year, and I know he put some thought into his gifts, at least some and that makes me happy.  I'm not returning anything, and that should make him happy.

I did go down to Melange though and do a little of "me" shopping, to complete my Christmas :-).  Bought a new pair of AG Legends jeans, an Urban Junket bag, a Hard Tail t-neck, and the C & C double layer tee.  Last but not least, I bought Gia one of the Om Girl onesie since I hadn't bought her a Christmas present!  Merry Christmas to me :-).  Hope you all had good Christmas, filled with thoughtful gifts that made you feel as special as you are!  Signed, ME {lv} 

Christmas PJs

It hasn't felt much like Christmas to me this year.  So, I was thinking about all of my favorite things about Christmas today and remembering some of the traditions from my childhood.  One of my favorite traditions was the Christmas PJs we always got.  Every year my Mom would buy me and my brothers and sister a new pair of PJs for Christmas.  We would get to open them on Christmas Eve and wear them to bed that night, and when we woke up the next morning we would all race down stairs and open our gifts in our Christmas PJs.  It was very magical!  Unfortunately, I don't think my mom did it to create magic.  She really just wanted to have cute pictures of all us opening our gifts...wearing our oftentimes matching PJs.  I guess that's a sneaky Mom trick because there is no way we would have volunteered to wear matching sleepwear otherwise! 

I was thinking about this memory today as I opened our latest shipment of PJ Salvage.  And having finished all of my Christmas shopping, but still feeling the itch to buy something...I've decide to buy myself some Christmas PJs!  I know that this is the time of year for giving...but I can't resist.  Usually by the time Christmas morning rolls around I'm tired from the shopping and cooking and work associated with the holidays and not looking so cute in all of those candid pictures my parents still love to take.  But, this year will be different.  I'll be wearing my PJ Salvage Pants, Cami, and maybe even matching Slippers...and feeling the magic once again.

{JS} 

Why you shouldn't wait to look good!

I've decided that I am not going to "wait" to wear something decent post baby.  After three solid weeks in loungy sweatpants and drawstring pants, I'm really, REALLY tired of how I look.  I've actually dropped most of my baby weight, with the exception of maybe 10 lbs.  My hips are physically bigger though and I'm a long way from actually being able to wear any of my old pants.  I decided though this morning that I'm going to splurge for some new things....a pair of jeans that fit for example.  The logical side of me says, "wait until you are wearing the same size, don't waste money on jeans that won't fit in 3 months".  The other side of me says, "each day is important, don't go on feeling scrappy".  I think a lot of woman do this with dieting too, they are working on the last 10 lbs, so they won't allow themselves to buy 'those jeans" or "those pants" because they don't want to de-incentivize themselves from loosing that last 10 lbs. (or 20 lbs etc.)  The problem is you can't live for some day in the future.  You've got to give yourself permission to wake up each day and feel good about how you look regardless if it isn't practical.   I'm not suggesting we go out and buy a whole new wardrobe when we are planning on loosing weight, but have a handful of things that you feel good in is essential.  Wouldn't it be a huge bummer if you were constantly "waiting" to look good and then got run over by a bus in some unattractive clothing?  Well....the point is made anyway!  Signed, ME {lv}

How people get wrongly convincted!

I was thinking after this happened to me, that this is exactly how people get wrongly convincted based on eye witness accounts.....sometimes your eyes are just WRONG.  I went to take the kids to school yesterday, and we were running late.  I was talking to the kids while trying to get Gia's carseat out of the car.....it was raining, we were late and I'm running on little sleep.  We finally get into the school and we go to Ava's classroom to drop her off and as I stand there saying goodbye I realize that I don't have any keys in my hand.....I had left them in the car.  Crappo.  So after dropping of Lucia, I go back out to the car, it is in fact unlocked, but I can't find the keys ANYWAY.  I proceed to spend a solid 30 minutes looking everywhere in that car.  My theory was that I had taken the keys out of the ignition and placed them somewhere while trying to get the carseat out.  I looked under the car, on the siderails, on the grass next to the car.  All in the pouring rain.  I was 100% convinced that I had never walked into the school with the keys so they simply had to be in the car or car vicinity.  Luckily for me I had a spare set in my purse, so we left after 30 minutes so I could look in the comfort of my own garage.  I was obsessed with finding them and it drove me crazy.  I was SO SURE though that I didn't take the keys inside with me, that I didn't call the school until 2 hours later.  By the time I picked up the girls at 12:30, they had found my keys, IN THE SCHOOL.  It is a little scary when you are absolutley SURE that you think one thing, only to find out that you were totally wrong.  Good thing I wasn't a witness using my key testimony to convinct someone!!!  Signed, ME {lv}

Nail Polish Remover does dissolve super glue!

Aren't we all allowed a "dumb moment" every once in a while?  This is my question for all of you because I had one of these "dumb moments" last night and I'm afraid my husband will never let me live it down.  I first have to set up this story by explaining to you that I was very, very tired last night and very annoyed that my favorite pair of flats...the ones that are so comfortable and match just about anything...were coming apart at the soul.  So, I thought I would be crafty and super glue things back together until I found their replacement.  This idea came to me as I was standing in line at the grocery store looking over all the junk that is placed by the checkout with the hopes that someone will impulse buy it.  Well...it worked on me. 

If you've never used super glue before it comes in a tiny little tube and you have to cut the end off to open it.  I've done this before, successfully.  However, this time the glue came spring loaded.  So, the glue comes flying out everywhere...on the floor, my pants, and of course all over my hands.  I (not thinking...that's were the very tired part comes in) pick up my shoes and try to quickly get everything glued up before it starts drying.  Well you can probably guess that I was too slow.  My husband walks into the room just in time to see me sitting on the floor with a my shoe glued to one hand and the tube of super glue glued to the other.  And all he says is "maybe you shouldn't be doing that over the carpet".  Really?  Not, are you doing OK?  Do you need help?  And, when has he ever been worried about the carpet until now?

So, I start crying only because I'm picturing myself walking into the ER shoe and super glue in-tow.  My husband stops laughing because he feels bad.  And, we read the directions on the tub...yeah the one that's stuck to my hand :)  An entire bottle of nail polish remover later, along with a lot of picking and pulling, and some choice words, I was freed!  A little worse for wear, but not bleeding, therefore happy.  So, my helpful hint for today:  Nail polish remover does dissolve super glue!  Now that my embarrassment has hit the world-wide-web, I'm hoping that everyone will get their laughs out and move on.

Thanks Elmer's {JS}

Warning about shopping at Nordstroms!!

It is with HUGE aggravation that I tell you about this shopping experience!  I went to Nordstrom.com and bought a few things on line for my husband.  The UPS man came today and dropped off the boxes...he happened to open the door, and wouldn't you know it....Nordstrom puts the packing list on the outside of the box--on a big huge sticker that you can't miss.  I don't think he intended to try and figure out what it was, but he was trying to figure out if the box was for him, or me, and couldn't help but notice telltale signs that it was for him!  Way to ruin the surprise guys, I'm so bummed!!!  Gift giver beware!  Signed, ME {lv}

Finally got my cut-art!

Some of you might remember I blogged about this cool site a few months ago.  www.cutarts.com is the name, and the artist will take a profile picture of what you send him, and do a black silhouette "cutting".  I sent in my in-laws profiles, and he did a picture of my mother-in-law facing my father-in-law.  It is really great...looks just like them, and will be beautiful when framed.  It took longer than they anticipated (a bit over 4 weeks instead of the 3 weeks initially promised), but the end result is worth it.  This would be a great thing to do for a kids room of a child--maybe in a colored paper instead of the classic black!  I paid $100 for an 8 x 10 picture with two profiles.  Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that in person it is even better than expected!  Signed, ME {lv}

Knowing your style limits!

I was in a coffee shop the other day with my sister, and in walked this super cute mom toting a little one....she had an adorable sassy bob, skinny jeans tucked into fabulous boots, and in general looked great.  I was ready to run out and get my hair cut--that very minute!  That is when my sister brought me back down to earth.  My hair would NEVER lay flat like that without major work every day, and even then if it rained---forget about it.  My hair is naturally pretty curly and loves to frizz....plus I have a lot of it, so getting it to look smooth and flat is pretty hopeless (big and out of control is more its style).  You would think that I would know this all, since I've tried the "sleek bob" many times and EVERY time have to struggle like crazy with it.  Why do I keep making the mistake?  I guess we all want and like what we don't have, and it always looks more tempting than reality.  Those of us with curvy hips would love to wear the skinny jeans, those of us with no hips beg to wear a curvy number. 

It was a good reminder that we all need to know our style limits, what to accentuate and work with.  Don't fight your nature, work with it instead or you will just be ridiculously frustrated and on top of that not even look your best. 

Signed, ME {lv]

Online Christmas Shopping Newbie

So, I have to admit that even though I work in online retailing...I've never been an online Christmas shopper myself.  Something about hitting the malls and finding the perfect gift in person always appealed to me.  Last Saturday I set out on one of these missions, dragging my husband along with me.  (He hates shopping!)  We hit the malls hard...and I was exhausted by it all before we could even find a parking spot.  I don't know why I was so surprised by this because every year is the same.  We wander the mall looking for the perfect gift for hours, can't find what we're looking for, buy nothing, and leave frustrated. 

So, after spending all day accomplishing nothing...we hit the web.  Now, this is something that I've never done before...purchased a gift online...Gasp!  But, I have to say that it was a wonderful experience!!!   I sat on the couch in my PJs, drinking tea, and went from store to store...and back at my leisure.  My husband thought it was great because he could watch football while we shopped.  We bought all our gifts in about an hour.  I felt like I got a deal...which I love!!!  And the best part,  everything comes gift wrapped (one last thing for me to worry about), shipping was free...and I don't have to go stand in line at the post office with all the other holiday shoppers who haven't discovered the joy of shopping online.  I will never go back to my old ways...and I don't think I'm going to miss the mall one bit!

{JS}

A stroller worth the ticket price!

I made a splurge purchase....the Bugaboo Bee stroller.  I really was skeptical about spending this much on yet ANOTHER stroller--I feel like I've had so many and never really "loved" any of them all that much.  I've had bad luck with both of the Peg Peragos that I've had (one was stolen and the double stroller I had never worked all that well).  Anyway, this stroller I'm crazy about.  It is so easy to push and navigate and it is so compact you really notice it when you get out and about to places that normally would be a trick to move around in (like a crowded Williams and Sonoma on a Saturday.)   I bought the Bee instead of one of the other Bugaboos because the Bee is the easiest to use when traveling and getting in and out of the car.  I think if I was going to be doing a lot of "neighborhood" strolling I might have done one of the other Bugaboos, but the most important thing to me was ease and convenience when traveling and running errands.  The Bee is definitely worth the price!!

Just thought I would pass my thoughts on, in case anyone out there was thinking about one of these strollers! Signed, ME {lv}

Cool gift for the cook you know!

I found this personalized recipe book at Williams Sonoma and I think it is a great gift for someone you know who likes to cook AND be organized.  I actually bought this for my husband because he is the chef in our family and I'm sick of his scraps of paper and ripped out magazine pages of new recipes.  Pretty cool that it is personalized too, makes it a bit more special!  Signed, ME {lv}

Thank you note reminder!

I've just spent a solid 20 minutes obsessing about whether I wrote a thank you note to a particular person.  I sent a stack of "thank you notes" a couple of days ago, but never wrote down who I actually wrote notes to.  Well....now I'm unsure as to whether I wrote a note to this person and I am totally at a lose as to whether I should write ANOTHER note, and risk being duplicative and appearing to be a total fool loosing her marbles, or whether to just risk it and perhaps be "that" person who doesn't write a thank you??!!  I haven't figured out which is worse yet.  Anyway, moral of the story....this is the gift season, and since you will want to be that nice person who remembers to write thank you notes....make sure to keep a list of who gave you what and who you send notes to!!  Signed, ME {lv}

Great documentary....

If you have HBO, you should make a point of seeing the documentary "Sand and Sorrow" about Darfur.  Excellent, horrific, necessary to see....  Signed, ME {lv}

Great baby gift idea!

Just spied this book, and it is ADORABLE!  "This little piggy went to Prada" , by Amy Allen.....A book dedicated to nursery rhymes of the fashionable kind!  Signed, ME {lv| 

"oh gee, I'd love to but..."

A coworker and I were scheming up ways to get out of a girly holiday party (where way too many calories would be consumed in not so fun ways... ie. dozens and dozens of cookies instead of mimosas).  The only valuable excuse we could come up with is 'work', which still isn't so bad.  But now, there's the Holiday Party Excuse Generator to save the day... or at least make it a little more entertaining! Simply tell the generator about your holiday bash dilemma and it will generate an email-able excuse to your hostess expressing just how sorry, (or not sorry) you really are for not making it.  signed, me {CA}

Cute idea for your children's artwork!

This is actually my husband's idea, but I thought it was pretty darn good and worth sharing.  He suggested we order stamps for the kids (like these Three Designing Women stamps) with their name and the year on it.  This way we could stamp their artwork throughout the year so when we look back on stuff we know who did it, and when!  I have a sweater box that we keep the artwork that we are going to save from both children in, but I'll admit, 99% off it I am not sure WHO exactly drew.  I think the stamp idea is a great one--would totally solve the problem of figuring out whose purple squiggle that was on the page :-).  Signed, ME {lv}

My Hard Tail pants!

I bought these Hard Tail Fitted Drawstring Pants and today was the first day I wore them.  I LOVE them.  Now, I have to disclose that they are probably the only pants that actually fit post baby arrival, but the amazing part isn't that they fit, it is that they look pretty good too.  They are super comfortable, and are a nice variation to the "jeans/casual" pant routine.  Wore it with a white tee and a cute pair of tennis shoes!  I know they look fairly basic on the computer screen--but these are really a great pair of relaxed casual pants, I love the fit!  Signed, ME {lv}