Me in Melange

5 Things, Summer Excitement & Early Wake Up Call

Do you want to know how I woke up this morning?  I'll tell you right now, it wasn't in a relaxing manner.  I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating on my side table.  My phone sound is shut off between 11-6, but it does vibrate from 6:00 a.m. onward.  So at 6:04 a.m. the phone starts vibrating, which immediately woke me up, much the way you can be dead asleep and your kid barely says your name all the way in the next room and immediately you are up.  No one calls this early, I knew it had to be something bad. 

My unconscious brain immediately feared something must be wrong.  I looked down at the phone and it was my dad's number.  So instantly I'm thinking, "oh crap, what is wrong?"  I tried to answer but no one was there.  I then texted, "are you ok??"  The response?  "Oh yeah, how are you?  Good morning."  Huh?  Turns out, my dad had butt dialed me.  Not emergency at all.  I did my sun salutations after that but it didn't quite get me in the zone like it should have.

On a totally other note, Amanda told me a great idea that I started to use today.  Her idea (which isn't her idea at all, she read it somewhere, so it's really someone else's good idea), is to go thru each room of your house and write down 5 things you could do to improve it.   I started that today, and it's sort of brilliant because I regularly walk into rooms in my house and think, "Oh, I need to do that", but then walk out and  promptly forget.  So now you have a list of things you could do, or that you might need, that will improve a room.  Thinks like "wash walls", "need new trash can", or "need bath caddy".  I don't know why this silly exercise was so useful to me, but it was.  I think because I just lack the organization or memory to actually follow thru with any of the things I need to do around the house.  I have a weekend coming up that is going to have some free time in it, and while I don't want to pressure myself with anything hugely ambitious, it would be nice to at least knock a few things off of my "room improvement" list.

Lastly, I felt such a rush of summer optimism with the new Siganka shipment that arrived today!  I absolutely love the airy cotton, and the easy styles...it just feels like sun to me!!  I love this line, and I love it because the styles are easy and I've worn them to death (some of my favorite summer travel pieces), but also because I love the designer. She's  a wonderful soul, loves what she does, and has this beautiful hybrid of a spirit....she lives in both Hawaii and Vermont (although I think more Vermont now) , and there is something about her balance that just comes across in everything she does.   It's exactly the zen, relaxed vibe you'd expect.   Anyway, it makes me feel even better supporting the line.  Bring. On. The. Sun.

Signed, ME {lv}

Wine & Books

Sunday is for being lazy right?  I hung out in my super comfortable Velvet sweats (from a couple of years ago...they are wide legged with a racing stripe down the outside of each leg and I love them), a long sleeve tee with a short sleeve tee layered over it, and a scarf (because it was cold today and I took two walks and ended up keeping my scarf on all day).  I read my new book and drank wine.  How's that for a productive day?  

Did I do anything else?  I did do a yoga class this morning, and I think I threw in one load of laundry.  The kids were all equally lazy, and were happy to be left to their own devices.

It's pretty unimpressive.  I'm going to gather some strength to start the week out with some purpose because it's going to be Monday shortly, AND it's going to be a brand new month in just a couple of days.

I can't stand the thought of April just going by in a hazy state, with an aimless, distracted stress existence.  I can't do the things I thought I would do, but I can do a lot in a month with extra time, right?

So I'm going to come up with some April goals.  Some quarantine goals.  I know some of us are still are working full time (some of us at home and some of us at essential jobs out in the world) but regardless most of us find ourselves with buckets of time that we normally would have allotted to other things that we now can't do.  So the question, before April arrives, is what are we going to get done during this time?  

Meanwhile, my book is good, and my loungy day was restorative.  Going to hit the ground running tomorrow.

Signed, ME {lv} 

Looking Ahead

I tend to be a big planner.  I have fun looking ahead and getting excited for what's coming.  I know that doesn't sound very "in the moment" but I do get a lot of enjoyment from thinking in the NOW about what's ahead.  Planning trips, special holidays, birthdays...yep, most all of it.  And if course, planning my wardrobe too - I'm always starting super early. Some people like to react spur of the moment...."oh, I need a summer dress, I'll go look for one right now."  Me, I'm looking NOW for that Summer dress because those impromptu shopping trips stress me out.  So it's no surprise that being in the clothing world has suited me perfectly, because it's ALL about planning and looking ahead.

Today Amanda and I went to look at FALL PJ Salvage, and FALL Lilla P.(the NW Apparel show is going on--it's small but there are still a few good designers there).  Yes, that's right, FALL.  Is it crazy that I can't wait to wear white linen, yet simultaneously I'm excited to wear the fuzzy PJ Salvage olive green vest that comes in September?  Wish I had taken a picture of that vest, it's seriously adorable (this is the little drawing from the line sheet to the right, but imagine something super soft and cuddle-icious).  I love our PJ Salvage rep, she's
absolutely hysterical and isn't fake or salesperson-y at all.  We can also manage to slip in all kinds of fun topics while still getting thru the huge line....like what bio-identicals she's taking, and the latest on what her son is doing (I met her son when he was probably 9 and she came to my house because she was on the road with her lines and I think I was probably pregnant or had a newborn, so she came to me instead of me seeing her at a show).  That 9 year old son is now 25 and works in LA.  Nothing like those numbers to make you feel old right?  

We also found a few other nuggets of goodness today (new designers that we really liked), so that was fun.  

I hit all elevator buttons with my elbow, and adhered to social distancing.  Just kidding, I didn't really adhere to social distancing, but I did use my elbow to touch the elevator buttons but to be fair, I kind of do that all the time because those things are SO dirty.  No, I'm still working hard to do the opposite of freaking out....instead, I'm just being my normal level of crazy.  Here's to having a happy, and freakout-free week.  

Signed, ME {lv}

Less is More

I'm reminded this week that less can be more.  I've been off my regular yoga schedule--no hot yoga until my brows are cemented down.  So I've been taking a mixture of slow flow classes, and this morning I did a slow restorative meditation yoga class.  First I will say, it takes some mental flexibility for me to change things up, I am so married to my routine (which I love) that going outside of it throws me off more than it should.

What I will say, as I've gone thru my "new" week is that it's been really nice.  My regular classes are really physically demanding, and they are so dang hot.  They feel intense, always.  Sometimes though, less is more, and I feel like I've gotten so much out of going at a slower, less intense, and more reflective pace.  The stranger thing?  I've been SORE and it's like I took harder classes, but they were harder in new, softer ways (which apparently still made me sore).

On a new stuff note, I'm crazy for the little dainty rings from Jennifer Cervelli.  They come in gold, rose gold and silver, and they are wonderful solo but also stacked up.  I love the idea of making a wish and putting on the ring....three rings, three wishes.  When my brother in law (years and years ago), wanted to propose and used the excuse he had no money to buy a ring for the reason he wasn't doing it (not really the reason), I tried to convince him to buy these rings and pledge three romantic things to my sister (like I promise to love you forever, support your soul, and rug your feet when your tired....or whatever).  For the record, he didn't use my good idea.  Can't remember what he did, but it wasn't nearly as good...not even close.  

Oh, and I ALSO love the long Salt + Slate necklaces!!  How awesome is that going to look with a simple white
tank and white linen pants??   Also super cute wrapped around the wrist!!

Signed, ME {lv}

Jumping to Conclusions, Sabotaged Yoga & Costco Mania

This is my daily reminder to myself to NOT make assumptions.  We all do it constantly, and sometimes it’s just utilitarian and necessary.  Sometimes it’s unfair and counter-productive.  I do it a lot with my older girls.  I got my undies all in a wad this morning when I couldn’t find a shirt I wanted to wear.  I was ready to tear into someone for stealing it without permission.  I had my finger on the trigger the second I realized the shirt wasn’t there.  To be fair, I’m not entirely crazy, they have stolen MANY things from me (their version is that it was “borrowed”), and it’s been a lot more than once that I’ve found things crumbled up on their bedroom floor.  Once Lucia even CUT a shirt of mine (cropping shirts is a big thing with teens and her excuse was that I never wear it).

Anyway, I was about to hit the fan this morning, angry energy was pouring out every pore of my body….and then I found the shirt, in the place I had put it away, and then forgotten I had put it away there (only to remember when I actually found it).  OOOOOHHHHH, yeah.

My point is this...Get your finger off the trigger, don't jump to conclusions.

My morning yoga class was sabotaged because I forgot to leave my door unlocked.   It’s house cleaning day, my one day where I get to enjoy a few hours of a clean house before the minors ravish it again.  It’s basically my favorite day.  I am suppose to leave the door unlocked, and even though I remembered everything else this morning and had plenty of time to finish the laundry, write their check, pick up all over the house (basically do a mini-clean before the deep clean), somehow I forgot the most important part. I know, first world problem, but still a bummer. 

So 5 minutes into the class my watch vibrates, and I can see it’s the cleaning service, and instantly I remember that I had forgotten.  I was so mad at myself!  Why is it that I have to literally write everything down or I forgot?  Can I blame it on peramenopause? I had to pack up all my crap and dash because otherwise my window of time would be over and they would write me off.  I get so much joy from yoga, but I DO also really love a clean house….there were clearly conflicting worlds today.

Almost lastly, I had my normal Costco food delivery today (there isn’t a Costco very close to us so I just have it delivered every couple of weeks).  The guy that usually comes is hysterical, with dreadlocks that go past his butt, a big laugh, and he's always full of jokes.  So we got to chatting and he told me stories about the current Costco mania.  Apparently people are stocking up x 10.  Understandably people are nervous, but I didn’t realize quite how bad until he showed me pictures of the line for checkout on Saturday (no joke, it was like a 4 hour line), and the huge cart flats he was filling for orders.  I had ordered garbanzo beans and he informed me there wasn’t a “bean to be had” in all of Costco…and apparently it was a good thing I didn’t need toilet paper either because there was a run on that too.    I’ll say it again, my goal is to NOT freak out despite all the current events.  He told me that he delivered a big flat shopping cart of soda pop to a woman.   No joke, he showed me the cart, and there had to be 50 big things of soda stacked on it, every kind imaginable.  I said it must have been for the woman's restaurant, or a school carnival or SOMETHING other than 'end of the world prep'?  No such luck, he actually asked her, and indeed, she wasn't worried about running out of water, but she was REAL worried about running out of pop.  True story.

Lastly, for real, how cute does Amanda look in in the header picture wearing the new EF (tee, cardigan and scarf)??  Such a cute group!

Signed, ME {lv}

Brow Update, Cold Confusion & Beet Chips

I went shopping with Gia this morning because she announced yesterday that she needed new clothes and Gia rarely shops, and when she does, rarely buys anything because she's 12 year old picky.  So this was a big deal.  Apparently the 6th grade styling is changing, and now everyone is wearing a dress to school (and she has none).  So we we went shopping, and I will tell you, never in my life have I noticed how many sick people there are!  It's of course because everywhere you turn people are saying, "avoid sick people".  You also hear constantly that corvid-19 can be contagious even if people have mild symptoms.  Well, everyone seemed to be coughing and or sniffling.  It's still winter, so it's totally normal of course, but now when you hear it all you can think is "cold, or corona?  It's confusing.  We stopped to get gas and the guy who took my credit card literally took it, coughed on it, put it into the machine and then handed it back.  Time to find the hand sanitizer.   I'm sticking with my effort to not freak out, so this is more of just a commentary, but how the heck can we stop a virus when literally everyone seems to be sick and unless they are the 1 out of 5 people who get serious enough symptoms to go to the doctor, they could be passing it all over the place and not realize it.  How many times have I muscled thru and gone to the grocery store, or run errands feeling sick (because you kind of have to sometimes)?  Too many to count.   

Update on my microbladed brows...it's still hard to tell whether they will be amazing.  I only had them done yesterday, so I'm still very much in the healing process.  Microblading is basically tiny cuts that they fill with ink--it's sort of like a tattoo, but not as deep and they're strokes rather than dots.  The procedure itself didn't hurt, but my face sort of ached last night from it. They warn you though that your brows will be sort of an odd auburn color for a 3-4 days (because the cuts basically are red, and that combines with the ink to form an auburn color), and then your brows go DARK....Groucho Marx dark, 'I took a sharpie to my brows' dark.  They also shrink over the first week, so they are, as of now, still very large and in charge, AND dark (but with a funky auburn tint).  It's not pretty and I can't look at anyone very long because I know they are inevitable going to stare at my eyebrows.  I think when I'm healed up though, and they lighten up, I'm going to love them...but right now it's still a little hard to tell.  

I did also make the most delicious beet chips last night, and they were so easy that I'm going to rethink my whole attitude toward beets (which use to be that they are hard to cook).  I simply sliced them thin (if I had a mandolin I'd really be in business).  Then I drizzled them with olive oil and chunky salt and cooked them until crispy.  YUM.  Really yum.  I'm a firm advocate of any vegetable drowned in olive oil and salt and crisped in the oven--it's like a chip, and I love chips.

Also very delightful is the new Eileen Fisher.  It's full of white, and I LOVE white, especially paired with little punches of color.  You know how lots of people gravitate toward classic black?  I gravitate toward white, love white head to toe, and feel like it's my preferred essential color.  I'd wear white linen 100% of the time if I lived in a tropical climate.  No joke.  It's a pretty awesome group though, with lots of wonderful pieces (this might have been my personal favorite Spring EF group)!

Signed, ME 

Uncomfortable Change, Microblading & Summer Cover Ups

Yoga was tough today.  All around.  It was definitely a day I felt like I might just have to NOT do one more forearm plank.  The message was good though, it was all about how uncomfortable any change was, and how even the changes you want to make, need to make, or are otherwise totally welcome, come with the uncomfortableness of making the change and losing your old patterns.   We all gravitate toward what we know, good or bad, and that makes the "new" inherently tougher to embrace.  It was a good reminder, and I for one need constant reminders.

The big news....I've got an appointment for microblading Saturday morning.  I'm super excited, and I'm really, REALLY hoping that it looks ok.  In my head it'll be great because my brows will always be perfect--no maintenance needed.  As it is now, I usually grab my eyebrow pencil and do them in the car rearview mirror at a stoplight and then inevitably they look a little wonky in some way or another.  Maybe if we did them in a real mirror each morning and took some time it would be fine, but that NEVER happens.  So here's to hoping they will look amazing.  Downside is that you aren't suppose to do any super sweaty workouts for 4 days (so no hot yoga), AND they look freakishly dark the first few days until they flake off and mellow out.  So it may not be my best looking weekend unfortunately, but that's the price.  Come Tuesday or Wednesday though, look out...I'll keep you posted.

Lastly, my mission is to start stock piling light and airy things for summer that will protect my skin.  We're going to Greece and Turkey, and it's going to be warm and sunny--really warm, and really sunny.  I'm not sure if its and age thing or what, but last summer was a freaky intro into pigment malfunction.  I do not need even ONE more sunspot, and I've now spent all winter trying to get rid of them so I'm going to do everything short of carry around an umbrella this summer (and I'm not even totally opposed to that).  I'm looking to find light and airy fabrics, with as much coverage as possible, AND hats.  The new Margaret O'Leary skirt caught my eye--perfect example of coverage, yet light and airy.  I also want one of the Shebobo hats (super silly name, cute hats). I'm going to pop that brim out and  protect my face (along with 10 layer of SPF).  I'll admit, I'm super jealous of all the women I see who have gorgeous olive skin and tan perfectly the second they are out in the sun.  I'm just a sea of sun spot freckles.  Ugh.  

Signed, ME {lv}

 

Cards, Burmese Food & Layering Perfection

I’m currently obsessed with cards.  Real cards that you hold in your hand and stick in the mail with a stamp (remember those things?)  Not ecards, or emoji-cards, or anything electronic. Not to be hating on the modern era, but I really do miss the days when people sent mail, and your mailbox might actually contain something other than junk mail or catalogues.  I get SO excited when I get a card in the mail...which I will tell you right now, is next to never.

We got in a new shipment of All My Layers, which I think are just darling cards, with sweet simple sentiments.  I also love that they are $5 which is totally reasonable (no joke, I went into a fancy paper store the other day and it was $7.95 for a card which just seems excessive.)  I took a moment to send out a card today for a girlfriend just because I missed her (she lives in town but I never see her enough) and I even went to the supermarket to get stamps (there is ONE small supermarket near me that still sells stamps…even my bank doesn’t do it anymore)!   It’s up to our generation to keep this art alive and teach our kids otherwise it’ll be no time before they are baffled by the possibility that something might come in the mailbox that they might have to read.  

I find it fascinating that my teens do ALL of their communicating via snapchat and Instagram stories.  They don’t text, they don’t email.  My 15 year old wasn’t even sure what her email was when I asked her the other day. They don’t use landlines, and they don’t write letters or send cards.  I hate to sound like an old timer, but what is the world coming to?

On a totally other note (and I mean a complete and total pivot), I have recently become obsessed with Burmese food.  Actually, mostly just ONE Burmese dish, and lots of their coconut rice.  It’s a pickled green tea leaf salad and it’s amazing (cabbage, tea leaves, peanuts, some oil and sesame seeds...and other stuff I'm sure.)  I can’t even branch out to order anything different because I’m so obsessed with the salad.  John and I went to lunch today and I ordered the salad and he ordered a curry beef.  She brought this huge salad bowl out, two plates and big serving tongs.  Then I had to inform her that no, I didn’t plan on sharing, and yes, I did plan on eating that thing myself.  And I did. So here’s a nod to Burmese food, which I would have probably never rush to try except my friend served take out from this place at a little impromptu dinner she invited us to.  It was amazing and I was instantly hooked.  What if I hadn’t ever tried it?  I would never have known how delicious it was.  That’s a real argument for trying new things.  I will also note, that I zoned in on this today in yoga too when the teacher specifically said, "today try something you've never tried before, reach for something new."  Side crow here I come.

We got in Lilla P. today, and I know it’s probably the most boring aspect of the group (actually, not probably, it’s most definitely), but the new stretch layering pieces are fantastic. They come in all the usual suspects (black, white and nude) and in a camisole version and the scoop tank version. They are fantastic!  Great length, great stretch fabric, great fit.  These are the perfect foundational pieces I always need and never have handy.   I’ve tried a lot of basics like this, from all kinds of places (including Target, and big box stores), and I’ve been very disappointed overall.   Target actually has a decent tank for sleeping in, but it’s not nice enough to actually wear under something where it might peek out  (like a low cut v-neck or a partially unbuttoned shirt).  These pieces from Lilla P. look super nice, and they wear really well (plus I love that it's primarily cotton.)  There is nothing worse than not having the right layering piece to go under something you have that you want to wear and with all the slightly sheer stuff that comes with spring/summer styles, these are going to be perfect!

One last note....has anyone noticed that it's staying noticeably lighter later?  It's 5:45 p.m. and it's still light outside!!!  That's progress, Spring is definitely coming!

Signed, ME {lv} 

Telomeres, Waxed Canvas Totes, Health Vibes & BO

I’ve got a lot to say, but I’m going to try and make it short and sweet (which just means it’ll be slightly shorter than a novel.)

First, I went to yoga this morning and I almost died.  Not from the class itself, but from SOMEONE in the class with the most alarming body odor ever.  I could not for the life of me figure out where it was coming from.  It was so strong at first I thought, with genuine alarm, “could that be ME??”  So I spent a good chunk of time analyzing that possibility.  First, would you even smell yourself?  I mean, if it was THAT bad, wouldn’t you notice it….OR would be the opposite, maybe you don’t even notice it the way you don’t notice that your house smells like a dog when you own a dog?  That was my first contemplation.  I had been using John’s deodorant because I ran out weeks ago and have been uncommitted with which direction to go (Megababe again, or something else?)  As my mind is racing I'm considering the fact that maybe men's deodorant doesn't work on women?  This is how crazy I was getting.  Anyway, I confirmed there was no way it was me, but the smell was so overpowering at times I honestly thought I might have to leave.   A rather traumatic, and not very peaceful, yoga class.  My yoga take away was this: make sure you wear deodorant. 

My focus today (and anyone reading this please focus all your health energy on this too) is on my dear friend who is going in for testing today.  She had cancer last year, beat it after a grueling chemo round, and has been clear since but they saw a suspicious spot on her lung in her last scan, and then she has some symptoms that make me entirely too nervous.  I’ve been trying to channel lots of good energy her way all week.  She’s the most amazing person, and I think of her as family (an older and wiser sister….she could probably technically be my mom if she had me at in her teens.)  She’s definitely given me enough guidance to be a mom, she’s one wise woman.   I’m nervous though, it would be devastating to hear anything but good news.  

Because I love to pivot from the serious to the frivolous (and let's face it, life is a weird combo of both), I will do so by saying that my Newton Supply field tote that I recently bought is quickly becoming my favorite thing ever. That waxed canvas gets better as it wears in, it takes on this cool patina as it creases and gets tumbled. It's even on sale--even better.

Lastly, I have been known to go down many-o-rabbit hole regarding health, longevity, eating for health etc. I don’t waste time on Instagram, or facebook, but I do waste a crap-ton of time reading about health stuff online….and also in books (but is that really wasting?)  Right now I’m knee deep in the book, The Telomere Effect.  In a nutshell, telomeres sit at the end of your chromosomes.  They can be short, or long.  You want long ones because that is what keeps you young and healthy. The book tries to sum up all the ways our telomeres gets shortened so that we can stop doing that, and start doing the stuff that keeps them long and keeps us young.  Since I want to live forever, AND would prefer to do it looking wrinkle free and perpetually 40, I like to deep dive into all of this. 

Pessimism is not good for telomeres, but mindfulness and focus IS good.  I won’t bore you with all the details of why those are both true, but unitasking and keeping my mind from wandering like a monkey are attributed with longer telomeres.  I was just saying the other day to my friend when I was talking about the Moment  app (that tracks how much I pick up and use my phone each day), that my one goal out of it was just to try and condense my usage, not necessarily limit it, but condense it so I’m not constantly flitting around from thing to think.   So far I haven’t improved, but I’ve definitely confirmed that I suck and pick up my phone WAY too much.  I haven’t been disciplined enough to try and limit my “check in’s” on the phone to hourly (which is absolutely enough, but my self control and ability to let go of the concept that I need to know everything right this second, is real, real bad.). First step is recognizing your addiction right? I do really want to stop involuntarily multi-tasking.

I'm excited for Valentine's Day.  Prepping my love gifts today, can't wait for our all heart dinner (yes, silly tradition with the kids where dinner involves only heart shaped foods).  

Signed, ME {lv}

Car Butt, Polar Express & Froggy Destresses

You know those days that move along like a breeze, where you are floating on clouds, everything works like clockwork, your skin is perfect, your outfit adorable, the kids are healthy, your husband isn’t bugging you, birds chirp and the sun shines?  Well, this was just like that, but the exact opposite.  Ugh, seriously, not sure what was in the air but Wednesday takes the award for craptastic day of 2020 so far.  Was it a full moon?

I won’t bore you with all the details, but I’ll give you the briefest of highlights so you can adequately sense my pain.  Ava decided to sleep thru her alarm feigning some illness (that only kept her home until 11:30, after which time she got dressed and went to school—I drove her adding to my list of drives.) Gia felt well enough to go back to school but started machine gun texting me at 9:30 a.m. to be picked up at 10:45 because essentially her “friends” said she couldn’t sit with them at lunch due to some pre-planned lunch activity that she wasn’t privy too since she’d been out with the flu for two days.  Those little…..  

So she was upset, wanted to come home during lunch, and not only was it 20 minutes there and back, it was also heart breaking to hear her talk about it.  On the way to get her I logged in to the store cameras to see who was working....oh, look at that, it's 10:30 and the store is DARK.  Literally every owner or manager's worst nightmare, the morning shift person was a no-show.  That little episode took a year off my life--and that's conservative.  A crisis I didn't see coming, sneak attack crisis.

Lucia texted me at 1:30 with dramatic complaints of her "killer period", so then I had to pick her up.  Then it was on to pick up Romeo, then Ava again, and then Gia again.  Normally I would just be picking Gia up at the bus stop a mile away, but because the day was out to get me, she called (along with her frienemy from the earlier saga), and announced that the bus driver didn't let them on the bus because it was "too full."   If you are counting, that's my THIRD trip to a school 20 minutes away.   Honestly, I have car butt today from sitting so long in the car, I could feel my hips getting bigger.

The brightest spot of my day was coming home after I picked Romeo up, and he declared he was “going poop ASAP”—which he does daily at exactly the same time.  He’s also declared that no matter HOW bad he has to go during school, he’ll never actually GO at school. Is there a psychological term for a fear of pooping in public??  Anyway, he got home, and shouted that he was going to do his business, and then 5 minutes later I hear coming out of bathroom the sound of him singing, and not so quietly, the hot chocolate theme song from Polar Express.  What the hell?  Where does that even come from out of the blue?  It was HYSTERICAL though, and lifted my spirits.

Lastly, I texted my dear friend a picture of yoga froggy trying to destress in shivasana, but he had to put a wrap around his eyes to mellow out.  That’s because froggy never closes his eyes, which is how I feel right now, like my eyes have been tooth-picked open all day and all I want to do is to close them and drift off into my shivasana.

Real life comes in between all the fun stuff at Melange--you heard the real life part, now on to the fun stuff--like the cool new Sarah Liller group that arrived today.  I do love her fabrics—and I will say that I’ve tried and tested them all (machine washed and accidently super hot dried), and it still looks great.  It’s one of my favorite travel fabrics.  Check out the new icy blue top to the right, the Petunia, that is actually a new gauze fabric that she did this spring and it feels like sunshine—light and airy and wonderful.  

Signed, ME {lv}

Living Under a Rock, Music Instead of Politics, Confirmation Bias & New EF

My day started out less than great, with a series of 20 or so heartbreaking texts from Gia as she rode the bus to school. The short version is that "no one likes her, school is horrible, all her friends left her and got rides to school instead, life sucks, she might cry, and we forgot to buy art class materials."  That last one is on me because I did in fact get two emails reminding me, but I still forgot.  Suffice it to say, NOT a pleasant way to start the day because there is nothing worse than watching your kid struggle thru the awkward middle school social years. She was fine by the end of the day, and I knew she would be, but it still sucked.

Yoga was good though and it helped me separate myself from her temporary angst (always a parents' struggle.) I am loving my new mat that I can use for hot class because it doesn't require a sweat mat on top of it.  It’s from Manduka, and the thing is brilliant.  I’ve used it twice now in a hot class (98 degrees), and indeed, I did NOT need my sweat towel over my mat.   Take note hot yoga class lovers.

Music is on my mind because I’ve officially listened to WAY too much of the impeachment trial.  I waffle between wanting to be informed, and then being SO sick of hearing about it and listening to the same things over and over.  It makes matters worse that so much of the news is bias to the left or right, you have to pull from SO many different news sources just to get a global perspective on anything or hear fair representation of both sides of the arguments. Who has time for that? Infuriating, exhausting, and more and more I think the answer is to just shut it all off and listen to music. Which I did today, and I can tell you right now, it was much more enjoyable.

Sometimes I feel like I’m in the know, and then I’m reminded that NOPE, I’m not…I’ve actually been living under a rock.  Have you heard of Sofar Sounds?  Google it if you haven’t.  It’s a super cool music dealio that until very recently, I didn’t know existed.   Just figured I should pass it on since we are talkin’ music.

I also listened to more of my self help book (Everything is Figureoutable), which I wasn’t lovin’ on yesterday, but it’s growing on me because it reiterates some solid points that are good to have hammered in again and again (and if it’s delivered in a self-help format, I’ll just have to tolerate it.)  I was reminded while reading today of confirmation bias, which amounts to seeing and hearing what you want to see and hear—what confirms your already held beliefs (whether those are accurate or not).  We all have a story we tell ourselves in our head, we all have those beliefs that are cemented down in there and then we filter the world based on what confirms those beliefs, EVEN in the face of contradictory information. My other favorite thing I read today from her book was the key distinction between I can’t, and I won’t. I am guilty of this…saying “I can’t do that”, or “I can’t make that happen” or whatever it is, when REALLY the word should be “I won’t do that”, or “ I won’t make that happen.”  It’s just simply more accurate most of the time, and more empowering to use the word “I won’t.”  Example: The only time I have to work out is at 5:00 a.m., so I say, “I can’t fit in a workout”.  It’s not that you can’t, but you WON’T because you aren’t willing to do what it takes to fit it in (and no judgment there, working out at 5 a.m. sounds dreadful and sleep is the most important thing ever.)  But if you own the decision, doesn’t it instantly feel different? Doesn't it give you control back?

The new Eileen Fisher is dreamy.  I’ve got a love affair going on with that wisteria color.  So gorgeous.  Love all the white too with just that little pop of fuchsia…it’s all very spring inspiring. For all of those people out there knee deep in cold weather, maybe even snow, who are currently wondering how they can possibly even think about spring, I've got two things. First: We’ve got to think about spring because we are all getting just a tiny bit tired of our Winter clothes. Two: If we don’t snatch up the cool spring clothes now, they will be long gone by the time we actually have weather that warrants wearing them.  I don’t make the rules, I just follow them.

Signed, ME {lv}

Tiny Transitions

Today’s yoga wisdom was about tiny transitions.  Tiny shifts or changes that can make a big impact on your yoga practice, your life and your happiness.  Her point was that sometimes it's the little things that make a difference--more than you'd think.  Everyone is always thinking BIG...but tiny is good too.

I’ve been pondering that all day.  Sometimes changing just small little things in your life CAN make such a big difference in your overall happiness.  I’m not even sure I have an example.  Wait, yes I do.  This really is a silly example, but I’m going to use it anyway because it illustrates the point (sort of.) 

We have a big hairy dog, Milo.  He’s not horribly stinky, and that’s just mostly because he is lazy and doesn’t go outside much so he doesn’t get dirty and wet often.  But he’s a dog, and generally speaking, they give off a doggy smell.  I almost always notice it when I walk into someone’s house that has a dog, because while YOU the dog owner might get use to the dog smell, other people coming over haven’t.   Anyway, I think of my doggy-house-smell on a regular basis…basically whenever I notice that Milo is indeed, a little smelly.

So recently I decided to stop hating on the dog smell and do something about it (something more than lighting a candle here or there).  I bought myself a new fancy air diffuser that sits in a little corner in the entry way right before the living room. You barely notice it because it’s tucked to the side of a entry table and it’s small.  I bought one with a timer, so it goes off for a number of hours when I hit the button.  Now, when I get up in the morning and walk thru the entry way, I hit the button.  My house smells AWESOME now, all the time.  I’ve got some yummy Nest diffuser oil that smells heavenly and it makes me happy every time I smell it.  

So I guess my point is only this.  I spent a lot of little milliseconds thinking about the stinky dog issue with negative energy, and those are gone now and replaced with something so simple that makes me happy. Is it subtle?  Of course.  We’re talking about a diffuser, nothing of consequence I realize.  Yet still, it adds something nice to my day and it took little money or energy to make the shift.  It was more just the small intention to change it up, and not run the same stupid negative dialogue in my head.  And before you wonder how it is I'm sitting around obsessing about my dog issues, I'm not really (at least intentionally), but I think I read somewhere that 90% of our thoughts are actually repetitive--we don't even NOTICE it.  Those silly stupid things that run around in a loop in your head, that involuntarily pop up whether you like it or not.  Like seeing a coaster on your coffee table that you actually hate but haven't gotten around to changing.  Every time you look at that coaster, that thought is there involuntarily.  Remove the coaster, remove the thought.  Replace with a beautiful coaster you love, create a new happy thought loop.

So now I’m going to try to make a list of some other small subtle transitions I can make in my life that either make me happy, or align me closer to where I want to go somehow (oh yeah, I have to figure that out too.)  I do believe that life is in the details, and that's definitely true with yoga too.  

I will conclude by saying, I’m also very grateful today for the tiny thing called hair scrunchies.  Who isn’t just over the moon that these silly little things came back into “du jour” and now we can get cute ones all the time?  They are SO much more comfortable than rubber bands. I’m particularly sweet on the new polka dotted ones from Pretty Simple.  Cute right?  

 

Signed, ME {lv}

Just. because you can....

This post will be short and sweet (lucky you).  My yoga inspiration today was when the teacher said, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."  For some reason that really resonated with me.  We don't have to do everything, just because we CAN do everything.  The other focus she had was on making sure that we asked ourselves during that hour on our mat, "what do YOU need?"  Which is an important reminder because if I'm not on the mat, it's pretty darn hard for me to remember to ask myself what I need.  Mostly because everyone else is clamoring for their needs so loudly I can't even hear myself think.  Note to self, ask me what I need.

I'm in love with the Satya tree of life prayer box....you can pop it open and put in a teeny tiny keepsake, or a tiny piece of paper with a word.  It's pretty awesome, and I love how rich the 24k gold plate looks!

See, I told you, short and sweet.  OH...lastly, I will note that based on the beauty deserted island entries, I'm going to try Vintner's Daughter Serum which I've heard is amazing and you all confirmed that yesterday!  Today's question (how long is your morning routine for real?) confuses me.  Does it mean morning routine when I want to look good, or just on a normal day?  Because on a normal day my routine includes a swipe of toner, moisturizer and 3 minute makeup while at stoplights on the morning drop offs.  However, if I wanted to look good every day, I think my routine could easily be a solid 30 minutes, more if I paid attention to anything below my neck.  So curious how much time the average person spends?  Side note, I did just read that the granddaughter of Estée Lauder (who is a theater actress of some kind) spends an hour in the morning getting ready, and she really looks like she spent an hour (i.e. she looks perfect.) Who has an hour though?  FYI, I read that on the Violet Grey blog which I'm a little hooked on.

Happy Thursday.

Signed, ME {lv}

Bittersweet, Don’t Forget, & Things To Come

I have two conflicting feelings as we go into the first “non-holiday week” of January.  Kids are going back to school, and part of me is really sad that our break is over, that the “lounge-y-ness” of the holiday break is over.  The grind of the week with all the lunch making and activities starts and I'll be living in my car most of the day.  On the other hand, I’m also a little excited to get back into a proper routine, which couldn’t really happen until the kids were back into school.  Their sleep routine has been all messed up, there has been a video game blitz that might have actually done retinal damage to their eyes, they are snacking all day long (I’ve been grocery shopping constantly and I still hear “there’s nothing to eat”—I just can’t keep up.). For their own good they need to get back to school so they don’t get sucked into the vortex of laziness permanently. 

The first morning is going to be rough though, real rough.  It doesn’t help that at 7:30 a.m. when I’ve been waking up (that’s a full two hours later than normal for me), it STILL looks like nighttime outside.  We are in deep winter mode.  Hope everyone survives their Monday, it might not be that easy.

Also, simply because I’m in birthday mode (‘ve got three birthdays to contend with before the 15^th), here’s a shout out to remember January birthdays NOW.  January babies get the shaft basically—blame that on holiday fatigue.  Get your calendars out right now and figure out how you are going to make your January friends feel special (need an idea?  I just took a super cute Maika makeup bag (or the brand new Julie Mollo bags are A-dorable and fun), filled it with masks from new Kocostar, threw a jade face roller in there….voila, perfect January pick me up).

New Prairie Underground arrives today, and then my favorite inspirational pillow of all time.  Stay tuned....

Signed, ME {lv}

Non-Attachment, Self-Care, Bullet Journals & P50 1970

My first act of self-care for 2020 was, no surprise, taking a yoga class.  The offering/message for the class was the topic of non-attachment.   The idea that you can have goals and resolutions, but at the end of the day you have to come to terms with the idea that we have control over some things, and not other things.  So you release yourself from the result or end goal, and concentrate on what you can control/do day to day and you hope the process carries you where you want to go, knowing there are things you simply can’t control in life.

Personally I find myself obsessing about all kinds of things I KNOW I don’t have control over, and worrying about them excessively.  That’s definitely on my list of things to try and let go in 2020.  It’s especially easy to do when you are raising teens because they do so much that you can't control.  You stress that they won’t study hard enough, you stress that even if they do it won’t be good enough.  You worry that they won’t make the right decision when it’s important, or that what they think is the right decision really isn’t the best decision.  For me the only way I can prevent combusting into a stress ball is to realize that I only have control over one piece of the puzzle, I will make my piece as good as I can, but they have to fit the other pieces into place and they might end up fitting (or not) but that is true no matter how much worrying I do.  We all want everything to be perfect—and if not perfect—just really, really good.  They might be sometimes, and likely won’t a lot of the time.  Non attachment for me is allowing that to be true, while still doing every last thing I can possibly do (within my control) to make my end game possible.

So with my yoga self-care behind me, I’m getting organized with the start of the new year.  Putting away the last of the Christmas/holiday stuff (always a long, dreaded process).  I’m doing a little “winter organizing” of things, regrouping after last two frantic months.  My closet is a mess, I’ve got a lot of little things that I’ve put off (going to the dry cleaner, hand washing certain clothes, ordering more sport clothes detergent…all those little naggy things that are seemingly unimportant but when you pile them all up they drive you crazy). 

I’ve got my new bullet journal ready for action (I love this one)
 and it seems like a good time to start making lists to check off.  This time the list has all those things that I NEED on it vs. whatever else needed for the holidays.  I really think the top resolution any of us can have for 2020 is to dedicate yourself to the best self-care you can give yourself.  Good healthy food, exercise, things or rituals that feed your soul.  We have to take care of ourselves because without that foundational self-love there simply isn’t the same quality of strength, energy, and creativity to turn around and give to the world and those you love in the world.  So start getting organized and make that list of what you need for YOU.

I made a list and then checked off "re-order P50 1970", which is one of my top coveted products that I can't live without.  I start getting nervous when there is only a 1/3 of a bottle left.  

I also ordered one of the new YaY re-usable bags in a cool lace print because I'm doubling my effort to actually use re-usable bags more.  I am chronically forgetting them, but noticed my husband John always has his and he's really good at leaving it in his driver's side door pocket.  I'll notice the bag sitting on the step next to the front door in the house because he'll use it, and then set it right by the door so he puts it back into his car the next time he goes out.  I'm not sure what my problem is, but in the past I can't seem to get the habit going to consistently use them.  I would like to remove the annoyance of the clerk asking if I have my own bags and having to say no

Happy first day of January 2020!

Signed, ME {lv}

 

 

 

 

Why We Should Look Good (In Case You Need A Reason)

The question on our home page, “Are you looking good for fall?”, it has me thinking.... 

I went to a last minute dinner this past weekend at Ava’s friend’s parent’s house.  She probably had 10 friends there, and then all of the various parentals etc. that came with them.  For a moment as I walked in, I had this thought of seeing myself thru Ava’s eyes. What she thought of her mom, at 16, in this big group of her friends and all their parents.   Did she think I looked good?  Did she like my outfit, was I cool enough, or dressed well enough to get her teenage street cred approval?  

Once, years and years ago, I had a Ukrainian woman named Olga who watched Ava during the day.  I will never forget the day that she said to me, and sadly I don’t even remember the context of what we were talking about, but she said with her thick accent, “yes, you need to look good for Ava.”  I remember at the time thinking, "what the heck is she talking about? Ava is two and I’m not “trying” to look good for anyone let alone my two year old."  Her statement stuck with me all these years though.

I think I get it now though. I think I finally get what she meant, and why people sometimes need to be pushed to make the effort.  She meant  that I would want Ava to look at me and see the person I wanted her to see (and I'm pretty sure that wasn't a haggard 30 year old in sweats.) I think when she said that to me I was still very much in the mindset that I looked how I looked (which I didn’t think was all that bad), but that I didn’t make it habit of “trying” to look better for anyone.  At that stage I feel like I was doing pretty good just putting on clothes in the morning given the fact that I was juggling a toddler, work, and a husband that traveled.  I don't know if I cared if I looked good so much as I cared that I remembered to put pants on.

Maybe it’s just age, but my perspective has changed.  I DO want my kids to think I look good.  I DO want them to remember me as looking nice and dressing cool, hopefully not looking boring and frumpy.  I don’t want my husband, who yes, I know loves me, to not even notice what I look like anymore or what I’m wearing because it’s same-old-same-old and it just fades into the background.

Every once in awhile I’ll put something on and everyone will say, “OH mom, you are dressed up, you look nice where are you going?”  The really sad part is when what I'm wearing is just your average good outfit.   It’s not like I am decked out. It’s not like I bought something SO amazing that actually warranted all those compliments.  It just means I was going thru a super boring stage during which I probably wore the same thing over and over and/or looked so much the same that no one even noticed me anymore.  Then when I did one small thing different, it was BIG.  Sad, but true.  If you wear yoga clothes every day for three month and suddenly one day put on a pretty dress, people go crazy (and no, I didn't do this.)

So this is a reminder that how you dress today, is how someone is going to remember you tomorrow.  That your kids and loved ones adore you no matter what, but it would still be nice to look nice for them too.   If you are in a rut, get out of it.  Believe me, I totally get being in utility mode, which is completely fine, and totally necessary sometimes.  But, equally important, is to shake yourself out of it and feel really good about how you dress.  To feel beautiful and project yourself the way you want to be seen.  I've felt both indifferent about my wardrobe before, AND also have felt really good about it.  It's better to feel really good.

So in case the answer the question, “are you looking good for fall?” is “Eh”, just know that you can kick it up a notch pretty easily.  Yes, first for yourself, but because we don’t live solo on a deserted island (and if we did we’d really not care about kicking it up), it’s also for those people around you that you love.  Your kids, your partner, the person you want to be your partner.  Maybe they want to see your glorious fab self in something beautiful, even if you've forgotten how great it feels!

Signed, ME. {lv}

 

 

Why I deserve some Lilla P.

Today, was less than amazing.  It was one of those days where you wake up, things seemingly go fine, you are naively thinking that it's going to be smooth sailing, everything is going like clockwork.  Then it goes off the rails. It's like life decides to slap you up side the head because you "think" you have a handle on things.

This was officially day 4 of school for the kids.  Everyone got off TO school just fine.  My morning routine is no picnic, but it could be worse.  I wake up, make 4 lunches, drive Ava & Lucia to school, then do a loop and drop Romeo.  Then I come home, get Gia and drop her at the bus stop (which is about 7 minutes away). None of the drives are long, it's just a lot of in and out of the car for micro-drives.

I then came home and spent an hour and a half furiously picking up the house because this was the day the house was going to be cleaned and you have to pre-clean on those days or else they can't even get down to the bottom level TO clean.  We had a lot of layers lying around.

Then mid-morning Lucia busts open the front door and declares she's dropping out of high school.  She yells that she hates school and wants to go to another high school (and rattles off three schools that she can't go to).  She had walked the 1.5 miles home from school and bailed out on P.E. So that was fun talking her down, and trying to make her understand that a new school is brutal, and it would feel brutal for awhile, but she had to soldier on because it WOULD get better.  Plus if she didn't go to school she couldn't do anything fun on the weekend on account of the fact she'd be grounded. She decided she'd go back.

In the midst of that mania, I got a call from the school nurse at Gia's school.  Apparently Gia was in horrible pain and I needed to come get her-ASAP.  Gia, notorious for her amazingly LOW pain threshold, was apparently dying of a stomach ache.  I drove the 20 minutes to her school, signed her out, helped her hobble to the car, ruled out appendicitis and diagnosed her with needing to have a bowel movement.  Yep, that's right.  Gia was literally crying her eyes out because of stomach pains due entirely to having to poop.  I drove her home, talked her off her pain ledge, put her in a bath, and within 30 minutes she was ok...but weak from all the horrible pain.  No joke.

Then I went to finish picking up the house and found six empty hard cider cans in Ava's room, among other alcohol remnants which included Smirnoff and orange juice.  I'm guessing her sleep over with 6 girls a couple of weekends ago involved some kind of party (BTW, she claims her friends brought it...but would you expect any other response?)  So that was wonderful.  Parenting teens is torture, seriously torture.  I was a naughty teen myself, so my eyes are wide open.  You'd think it would make it easier for me because despite my naughtiness I didn't end up homeless or a pathological liar, yet that gives me very little comfort. 

Did I mention that John was gone to LA for two days?  It's a law of the universe that whenever the stomach flu hits, a bone is broken, or the kids have any crisis over 8.0 on the Richter scale, he's gone.

And that my friends, was my day.  Those are the worst of the highlights, but there were also plenty semi-crappy highlights that I'm sparing you.  You're welcome.

Suffice it to say, I can safely say that I deserve a little retail treat, and because Lilla P. is our "it" designer today, I'm going to find something wonderful from LP.  It's a pretty new line for us truthfully, we've only carried it for a couple of years, but we've all completely fallen in love with the line.  It sells out too quick, I keep missing out on my size, but the pieces I've bought have been so fantastic.  They manage to do some really great basics, but that feel fresh with little added details to make them special.  The quality is great, and the fit is beloved for a reason.

 I'm currently crazy for the reversible sleeveless poncho...it's SO adorable on, and I'm in love with the fact that it's reversible.  It's like two poncho's in one.  It's fantastic layered over a long sleeve tee, and thrown on with jeans.  That will make me happy, and right now, I deserve a little happy right? I might even have to splurge on a little LP cashmere....also a weakness of mine.  Yes, I think adding a little cashmere would actually make me feel better.  At the very least look better right?

Signed, ME {lv}

 

More Sleep Please

I'm a little obsessed with sleep right now.  Like crazy obsessed.  That doesn't mean I've actually had a lot, but I think about having a lot ALL the time.  I am reading, Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker.  It's all about the science of sleep and dreams.  All I can say is you should get it ASAP, and you will be as obsessed as I am in the first 25 pages.

Here's what I'm doing, and this is big for me.  First you have to understand that up until now my sleep ritual was to frantically get the kids to bed, and then do all the necessary chores in a hurry and then get into bed, with my laptop, and my favorite t.v. show.  There I would try to multi-task to fit in all the stuff I needed/wanted to do. My vice is watching  a series/show before I go to bed (Handmaid's Tail, or something in that vein...intense and engaging).   Sometimes I'm solo because John is gone, often he's with me doing the same thing.  I am on my laptop either finishing up some work, or trolling the internet catching up on news, buying groceries etc.  I do both of those things until I'm so tired that I literally fall asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow.  It's a positively UN-SEXY routine, but I won't lie, I love it, it's a hard vice to give up.  I will also note that this is probably the best I've ever been--despite how flawed this routine is, it's been FAR worse.  In the past. I went years with horrible sleep from babies waking up many times a night (and I never bothered to try to nap during the day), and super late nights from too much work.  Basically I was living on adrenal alone and felt confident that I didn't need sleep. Big mistake.

So now?  Well, my goal is to be off electronics entirely by 9:30 p.m., and that includes television shut off.  Then I have the opportunity to read for 30-60 minutes and then "hopefully" be sleeping by 10:30 p.m., which its the time I need to be sleeping in order to give myself the opportunity to sleep 8 hours.  After reading a good chunk of this book I can safely say, it's my number one health mission to sleep 8 hours of quality sleep.   As ambitious as this routine sounds, I'm totally convinced it should be my top priority for my own health (mental and physical.)

I'm also trying to start a nice sleep ritual, which includes showering, my face routine, putting on lovely pj's, using an sleep mask (complete darkness is essential),  and lavender scented sachets to make my linens and pjs smell soothing.  Having a really good sleep ritual helps me mentally start preparing for slowing down and eventual sleep.

I'll tell you right now, my old habits have been hard to break, and I'm not going to claim I"m perfect every night but I'm trying really hard and I can definitely, 100% feel and see the difference when I am in my good sleep routine--I feel SO, so much better.

Which all leads me to eye the new PU Salvage.  I think these new pink pants with stars are so sweet, and I'm going to throw these on with a little white tank, comfy socks and start my pre-bed ritual looking adorable.  In an effort to make sleep my new and beautiful friend, I have totally purged and spiffed up my pajama wardrobe.  Nothing ratty, nothing unattractive, nothing uncomfortable.  I want to feel happy, comfortable, and really good.  Perfect time for PJ Salvage to show up!

Here's to getting more sleep, and looking good doing it.

Signed, ME {lv}

 

Things I Need & Some I Got

I found myself on a quick and rigorous shopping spree this weekend because I had my 30th high school reunion, and despite the fact that I didn't actually buy anything that I WORE to the reunion, I decided that it was a good excuse to buy things I could wear.  Our reunion was at an upscale bowling alley (very marginally upscale--it's still a bowling alley), so it was a low-key event that required casual cool.

First off, the Citizens of Humanity Harlow jean in chit chat wash.  I didn't realize I would love these jeans so much at first glance.  The wash is lighter, there is light distressing, some abrasions (they are like your old favorite jeans that have been thru the ringer), and it's a mid-rise.  I don't often like lighter jeans, I don't often wear jeans in the summer period, and I don't really like mid-rise because they usually are too high for me.  I tried these on though and was instantly converted.  The denim is really lightweight and super soft, and the rise is comfortable, but without feeling too high.  They are fitted, but don't feel sausage tight, and the lighter wash ended up looking great with everything.  I wore these the next night to an evening barbecue on an 88 degree day....the evening was still warm, and I put these jeans on and they didn't feel too heavy, or constricting--which is usually how I think of jeans in the summer.  They were totally comfortable and I cuffed them up and wore them with leather flip flops.  They will be a great jean straight thru fall.  Love them!

Next I bought the Think Royln cross body bag that converts into a fanny pack (it comes with two different straps).  I've been wanting a fanny pack (they were all over Europe, worn slung across the body in the front or back, and I wanted one the whole time.)  These bags are fun and sporty, with a little bit of bling (with the shine and the metallic on some of the bags).  It's super cute on, and I love it with my new jeans and my white button down Velvet shirt, and then just simple slides.

Also love the new Pauline Stanley Studio hair accessories.  It's so hard to find something nice for your hair.  I'm constantly grabbing rubber bangs or those butterfly clips to pull my hair back, but when I saw this little piece of art I got super excited.   What a lovely way to pull back your hair right?  I mean, I love a good scrunchie, who doesn't, but this is just SO much cooler!

Lastly, I haven't bought this yet but I think this MOL poncho is super cool and I want it, it's high up on my list.  What a great piece to throw on over everything, and I love the thermal waffle knit, the kangaroo pocket and hoodie.  It feels like the perfect fall transition piece.  A must have for me.  I'm starting to scope out and stockpile my favorite pieces before they are gone, and this is one of them!

And just in case you are wondering.....

The reunion was weird.  First off, I didn't recognize anyone, except my best friend (who was the one who forced me to go), and maybe 3 other people.  The rest of them were literally unrecognizable.  I was pretty lost in space at 28, so I barely remember my 10 year reunion, I didn't go to my 20 year reunion, so seeing these people was literally seeing people after 30 years, and all I could think of was, "seriously, why does everyone look SO flippin' old".  Then I got really sad/stressed and freaked out by the idea that perhaps people said the same thing about ME.  Horrifying thought.  We stayed an hour and a half and almost the entire hour and a half was hideous small talk.  Note to self, no more high school reunions.  I'm excited that it gave me an excuse to go shopping though.

Signed, ME {lv}

 

Euro Adventure 2019: Day 19, Street Coffee, Alone Time, Spinners & Angry Tapas

We were up and out, sitting at a street cafe in front of our apartment by 10:00 a.m.  John wanted to enjoy his street coffee for much longer, but the kids were antsy, and weren't interested in coffee or croissants.  So much for a relaxing start, but it was beautiful, sunny and just the right amount of morning crisp was in the air.

We strolled all around, and it's official, San Sebastian really is an incredibly beautiful, and crowded, but overall awesome place to be.  It wasn't a terribly warm day, I think the high was suppose to be 75 degrees, but the kids wanted to go to the beach regardless.  I felt like I didn't need to be included in the beach time, so I made off and walked around myself, enjoying some quality alone time.  It's just so fun to meander...I went slow, and without any agenda.  There are a couple large churches right in town that are beautiful, and lots of little shops to walk into.  Everyone is up and eating and drinking, despite it only be 11:30 a.m. on a Sunday.  Tapas bars line the little car-less streets in Old Town.  Full on day drinking, no holding back,.  

Eventually I teamed back up with the family and we had lunch at an off the beat and path place that was fantastic--hence the salad worthy pic.  The only thing inexpensive in this city is wine, but so far the food has been delicious.  The kids were all dying to go on the big carousel near the water front.  Well, actually, I think it was Gia that spearheaded that (and by spearheaded I mean she incessantly talked about it and drove us crazy.)  All the kids went on it, and decided to all sit on the spinner together.  They spent a solid 3 or 4 minutes spinning feverishly because the thing seemed to be greased quite recently--and it MOVED.  Romeo came off of it and looked green, declaring he was "going to puke."  He didn't, but we had to regroup after that.

We spent the rest of the afternoon just milling around.  There was probably a solid hour spent on Romeo in a toy store deliberating on whether he should buy a doll.  Earlier in the day, Lucia came upon the same toy store and declared she wanted to spend her allowance on a baby doll.  Really?  I wasn't going argue, it's her money.  She, for some crazy reason, fell hard in love with this infant baby doll, hard enough to part with what I considered to be some serious cash. So later that afternoon Romeo decided maybe he wanted to follow in her footsteps, since he looks up to his awesome big sis sometimes, and his plan was to buy a boy doll so they could play together.  It was also right around this time that the bloom fell off the love rose for Lucia and she decided she wasn't so enamored with her "creepy doll" after all.  Honestly, I can't keep up.  But the upshot was that she decided she hated her doll and Romeo, while deliberating on his own doll, came across the MOTHER of Fluffy.  Fluffy is a stuffed toy that he bought in Germany probably 3 or 4 years ago.  He fell in love with Fluffy, who was sitting in an overpriced gift shop at the base of some castle we were going up to tour.  I remember at the time I was kind of aghast that he was spending so much of his allowance on that thing but unlike Lucia, his love for Fluffy stuck so in retrospect it seems like a darn good deal.  That dog has come on every trip with us, and is in Romeo's bed or near his bed, each night.  So, he found Fluffy's mom--literally the same doggie, but bigger.  She's officially named M-Fluff and he was so happy he quickly forgot any desires for a boy baby doll. 

The evening was less than wonderful because I wanted to kill John and was so angry I couldn't even go tapas tasting.  I blame him entirely.  As are most of our non-political arguments, it had to do with parenting.  Ava and Lucia, at 6:45 p.m. announced they wanted to go bike riding--alone.  He said, "ok, sure."  I guess in his head it was totally ok for two teens to go biking around a crowded city, with cars etc., without helmets, and without knowing where they are going.  I on the other hand, saw this as a really bad idea.  Ava has a hard time following rules, and assumes every one of them she doesn't like is "stupid".  Lucia is pretty much the same and the two of them together are one bad decision away from sure death.  If there had been a bike path I could have put them on and known they would stay on, I would have felt better, but unleashing them on the city in the evening just seemed risky.  Back home I come close to hitting bikers ALL the time--they are hard to see--and I'm actually paying attention.  Here there are European drivers (and let's face it, they driver crazier, maybe it's the less stringent Tort liability) and there are so many people walking around.  Then add in that there are no helmets when you rent those city bikes  --  it's just not smart.  John thought it was fine, and "just what kids do."  

Anyway, per usual I was the bad guy by saying no, blah blah blah.  I was not happy, and was tired, and cranky.  It wasn't pretty.  I'm ready to be in a city where we aren't staying hyper-center.  I know it's super convenient, but it's also super loud and even though the location for all our city apartments are great, I can't sleep and it raises my aggravation level way too high when I'm sleep deprived.  The next city is Bordeaux, we have 5 nights there and I specifically chose a place that is just a bit outside of the center and promises to be a much more quite quiet.  Plus the French don't party like the Spanish.

Love San Sebastian though, definitely could be here another couple of days.  I know the kids were disappointed it wasn't 85 degrees, but I am sure that toward the end of this month when temps go up, it's an out of control madhouse of tourists, so I'm glad we hit it a little early.

Signed, ME {lv}

Euro Adventure 2019: Day 9, Fruits, Piglets, and Another 15 Seconds

We were lucky enough to have an apartment literally across the street from a huge Wednesday farmer's market.  Our landlady had given us a heads up yesterday, so I was ready for action this morning.  I LOVE going to local farmer's markets, it's one of my favorite things to do when traveling.  Such a fun way to try new foods, and see local goods. We were out the door at a totally reasonable 10 a.m. (which I was impressed with), and strolled the row after row of fruits and veggies.  5 euros got me a huge bag of peaches, and a huge bag of strawberries. It was nice, not too busy, and everything was absolutely beautiful.  I grabbed a 6 euro blanket at the flea market attached to the fruits/veggies market and like that we had a nice big beach blanket.

It was cool and cloudy for the first half of the day, and a mild 70 degrees, but manage to heat up as the day went on.  We strolled to the beach, and everyone radiated out to different take out restaurants to get what they wanted to eat. Gia had a pork sandwich, and didn't seem to notice the sign which called it a "piglet sandwich",  or if she did, she was fine eating piglet.  The actual pig on display, roasted snout at all, definitely gave me pause.  

We sat on the beach, argued over who would sit where on our big blanket that in reality was only big if you were a family of 3 not 6.  The ocean is beautiful, and the beaches are still mellow and not over crowded because it's early in the season.  We strolled around, split into groups for a bit and eventually all met back at the apartment.  Everything we do seems to take a long time.  Where you might stroll thru this town with one other person in a matter of an hour or two, it takes us four because someone is always darting off into one store or another, we stop for water, we stop to listen to street musicians, we stop for coffee, Ava and Lucia stop to take selfies, then someone is hungry so we stop at the bakery, then everyone declares they are starving to death for a "real" meal (I can't stress enough how dire they make it sound...you'd think they had been trapped for days without food or water).  A food frenzy basically.

Late in the afternoon John and I went on our two mile run which felt really hard for some reason, but we shaved off 15 seconds.  It might almost qualify as a jog now.  I feel like I read somewhere that they can determine your "health age" by the speed of your one mile run.  That's not good for us.  We strategized the whole time on where we'd live part of the year when we retire (to escape rain and cold.)  Madrid could be added to the list of possibilities.  I kind of agree, simply because it's a really cool bigger city, so you could "live" there easily, without feeling like you were stuck in a tourist zone all the time.  I love Seville, but it might be hard to live there for 4 months (John's issue with Oregon is strictly the 4 months between 1/15-4/15.)

We fed the kids a random assortment of dinner foods after dashing to the store, and then John and I went out to a vegetarian restaurant.  This was done entirely for me, because John would rather go to a restaurant with ALL meat and nothing else.  They had wine though so he promised he would be ok.  I've noticed a lot of the vegetarian or vegan restaurants seem to have a buffet sort of approach.  This restaurant had a cold salad bar with maybe 8 or 9 different types of salads, veggies, potatoes etc., and then you also picked two hot vegetarian dishes from an assortment of maybe 8.  John didn't even touch the cold salads so he paid a lot for two small dishes of polenta and two chickpea balls with sauce (since the whole thing was a flat rate.)  I can't feel too bad, I'm almost always the one putting my dietary preferences aside for the benefit of other people's food happiness.  Every once in awhile it can be my turn right?  At least in this town it seems that everyone eats earlier, and no one is coming out to dinner at 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. just starting their night.  Definitely more mellow here.

It was a nice, quiet, and pretty day,  It was good to slow the speed down, especially since Ava seemed better, but still a little touch and go at times.  Ava tends to go down hard but she bounces back pretty quick.

Signed, ME {lv}

Taking Scissors To Your Tees....

I will just start out by saying, that if you have a teen you are likely familiar with tee-cutting.  My girls regularly destroy perfectly nice tees and tanks and cut them into crop tops that are lucky to be long enough to cover their bras. We even had one REAL bad day about 6 months ago when Lucia took the scissors to a "borrowed" leopard cami of mine.  Things got ugly, mamma was not happy.

The similarity to the girls notwithstanding, I am a big advocate of taking scissors to Hard Tail skinny tees.  I'll admit, it took me awhile to get up the nerve.  It feels destructive, and after all, you pay a not so small sum for it.  Here's the deal though, it's designed to have the option to cut, and what that actually means is that you can tailor it to fit what you want--AND get the benefits of the great fabric that holds it shape and washes perfectly.   I've had Hard Tails for YEARS (embarrassing how old some are) and they still look great.  The exception are the black tees--those do tend to fade over time, but that color aside, I beat them up (hot water and hot dryer) and they totally stand the test.

So why cut them?  Well, here are some good reasons.  Sometimes the body length is great and you want it long, but sometimes you want it 2-3 inches shorter.  I've even gone shorter than that and cut it at bellybutton length for yoga class.  Same with the arm length.  I have long arms so if I want a long sleeve tee I leave them alone, but for some people who don't have abnormally long arms like me, it might be nice to be shorter.  

I have even cut the arms off entirely.  I know, I know...it sounds crazy, but I really like the higher neckline AND the sleeveless style for yoga....I couple it with cropping the length too.   I'm wearing a sports bra under it so I can make the arm holes wider too.  It has a cool sort of edgy Flashdance-esq vibe.   Basically, I go crazy Edward Scissorhand on it, but it totally WORKS, and I wear it even more than I would otherwise (which is saying a lot.)

I might be on the extreme end of the Hard Tail tee cutting mania, but my point is that it's a really nice feature of the tee to be able to cut the hem and sleeves.  The hemline will roll perfectly and will not run or fray.  The key is to use super sharp scissors, a straight edge as a guide (I used a cutting board the last time which worked just fine.  You want to be conservative at first, and go back for more if you didn't trim enough.  

My recommendation is to take one of your "on the way out" tees from Hard Tail, and practice on it.  You'll get the hang of it and won't have the nerves you might feel if it was brand new purchase.  Once you get in the groove, you'll be hooked because you'll LOVE having your favorite tee tweaked to be even better.

I'm loving the new fresh shades we just got in.  I have my eye on the Agave color....I might make that into a high elbow sleeve tee with a shortened to the waist body length.  I've done this before and love the style, but when I do I size up to a medium (the XS fits but is very fitted on me), and then I get a more relaxed looking tee that works really well with the elbow sleeve length and shorter body length (then it's no longer super fitted thru the body.)

There you go, you've been schooled on cutting Hard Tail Tees.  You're welcome. :-)

Signed, ME {lv}

 

 

 

Summer Roadtrip, 7 Days ETD....

Estimated time of departure...7 days!  I've got a packed suitcase and I'm fine tuning the final items that make the cut since space is real limited.  I picked up our travel itinerary books the other day which turned out almost, sorta of, perfect (ignoring the typo that I had to manually white out.)   This is something I try to do every time we do a long trip because it gives the kids the chance to see what's happening play by play without asking (and irritating) me 4 million different times.  I leave room for them to draw something, or journal, or tape mementos in (which sometimes they do, and sometimes they could care less about.)  Each travel day shows the route, how long, the destination, and things we'll do when we are there.  Each day also includes a place at the bottom for them to write something they are grateful for....so they can remember what lucky buggers they are. Like much of what you do out of love and tenderness for your kids, you have no idea if they really give a crap or notice. Still, the book is pretty cool right?  In case you are wondering, I designed it in In Design, and then if you save it to a PDF file you can take it right into Kinkos.

I also am excited that my sister bought me a travel yoga mat, which truthfully I never even considered buying before.  I usually BRING my mat, then I lament the fact that it counts as carryon bag #2 thereby forcing some tough decisions because everything else has to fit in my other bag (computer too).  Plus it's just never easy to carry even with my awesome mat carrier, it lays across my back but usually I tack my travel backpack so you see the problem...one back, to back needing bags.  This one from my sister folds down into a nice pouch and is so light.  Brilliant!!

I picked up one real book for the plane just because I love to actually hold a real book, but the rest of my summer reading will have to be on the Kindle or Ipad due to lack of room.  Can't wait to read  though!

Lastly, I bought my huge king sized Elta MD sun screen so I can try to lather up everyone head to toe.  No more freckles for me.  And by freckles I mean sunspots, I just think freckles sound more youthful.

I am bringing the Velvet Kora pants in dillweed, and I just bought the new Velvet Joy tank in white because it's super fresh with the pants--and I know I'll wear it a ton. I've tried to buy higher neck tanks because of the aforementioned sunspot epidemic I'm having, but I can't resist the Joy tank and its pretty neckline.  I'm  always  layering  3 or  4 necklaces,  and that looks particularly pretty with this neckline!!  I just will have to double up on the sunscreen application.  I seriously love the Kora pant....so relaxed and easy, and they have this slightly rumpled linen look that I just adore and feels so summery to me.  Stay tuned...I plan on boring everyone with my packing play by play this week because I'm SO excited to leave!  Signed, {ME}

Sarah Liller is my travel-fashion guru.

I might be just a wee bit focused on myself right now, but the new Sarah Liller group is PERFECT to be my travel co-partner in Europe.  I know Sarah’s a big traveler, so maybe that’s why her designs are so travel-friendly.  Her fabrics are so perfect for the suitcase.  They don’t wrinkle, they come out of your bag looking great.   The weight of the fabric is light, but it has enough heft to it that the drape is flattering and you can’t see thru it.   Everything she designs looks put together and like something you could wear to dinner but then somehow you can also pull it off with your tennis shoes during the day.   Miraculous.

I’m wary of shorts.  Always. I didn’t think I looked great in them when I was 25, and now at 48 I’m definitely hesitant (and turns out I
actually DID look good in them at 25 so I should have just enjoyed that more).  I do think there are some shorts though that I can wear and feel like they actually look good now….meaning they are long enough, but not too long because then I just feel like an old lady wearing walking shorts. I’d rather not wear shorts at all if that’s the case.  So this pair by Sarah Liller kind of gets me excited.  These, with the navy/white striped tank, and a great pair of heeled wedges—that’s a perfectly respectable outfit for dining al fresco on vaca. Plus I’d be fine to throw on that same outfit, grab my sunhat and white pumas and walk the city during the day.    I'm going to throw up a picture of the sunhat I just bought for the trip because I'm super digging it and it was only $36.  (Roxy, Sound of the Ocean hat).  It runs small though, the M/L fit well but the S/M would need a  small head because I definitely don't have a big one and I definitely needed the M/L.  FYI, it's on Amazon Prime (actually not where I bought it, but in case you are leaving and need it asap there you go)!

I’m also in love with the ease of her dresses.  I have to do a lot of wash on these long trips to Europe, and their machines aren’t always the best, and half the time the detergent I’m buying is based solely on whether I like the packaging because I have NO idea what it actually says on the box.  It’s probably harsh and extreme, which would be fine for the kid’s clothes but probably not what I would use on mine at home.  My point is though, I’ve taken her stuff traveling and I wash it along with everything else and it stands up just fine.  I’d say better than just fine because it doesn’t fade because I do know that the biggest problem I have with some cottons that I take traveling is the fading (again, probably just because the detergents are harsh and I have to dry it with funky driers, OR out on a clothes line in the hot sun…good for towels, but not so great for black cotton).

My other plug for Sarah’s clothes is that the fabric is the perfect weight.  I HATE when I buy a lightweight summer dress and the fabric clings to my body in the wrong places or literally  settles right between my thighs and butt—it’s not a good look on anyone and it can happen no matter what your size because it's a fabric issue.  Her fabric has enough weight to it that it drapes really well, and I find that it’s lightweight enough to be cool, but heavy enough to actually be flattering.  That’s a tough balance to strike.

I’m kind of a fan of the über cool jumpsuit.  I know most people will see this on the hanger and think, what the what??  It’s a little hapless when you see it on the hanger, and even on the body it’s got a relaxed vibe that people might shy away from because they are worried it makes them look bigger than average, but the drape is so great, I think it's really not the case.  It’s got this cool vibe to it that I love and I think you can play with belts, long necklaces, flip flops or cute hip platform shoes to change the look. 

I'm so excited this group has arrived before I leave, it solves ALL kinds of packing issues for me!  Going somewhere too?  She's got your back.

Signed, ME {lv}

Why I love Anni Kuan Tops

I feel bad singling out just Anni Kuan tops, when in fact I do love MORE than just her tops, but right now I'm going to drop some love on the tops specifically.  I just tried on Anni's Urbano top, and it managed to reconfirm why Anni adorns the upper half of the bod so well.  The top has the oddest tucks and angles, and when you look at it on the hanger you just aren't sure how it's all going to play out.  Then you put it on and you instantly "get it".  It just lays correctly, and this top (but really, all her tops) manage to be body skimming and flattering, but also forgiving and even a little relaxed.  The Urbano in particular is super forgiving, but has the gorgeous wide neckline that accents the shoulders beautifully, and the middle section is almost a tad slouchy, but still sexy and body skimming.  I absolutely love that I could just as easily pair it with jeans for lunch, or a pencil skirt and power heels for a "take no prisoner's" day.  I try to ignore the fabric content of all her clothes, because I have a knee jerk response to anything that is, or sounds, synthetic.  The truth is though, Anni is incredibly selective and isn't picking cheap synthetics, she is picking the top shelf, modern fabrics from around the world that feel amazing and travel perfectly (her jersey is a traveler's dream.) That's why I ignore the labels and I trust in what I know to be true year after year...she's got fabric dialed.  

Anni is my hero and my designer girl crush.  I can't wait to wear my Urbano...and the Misto and Cita are going to be mine too.  They are all that perfect blend of relaxed, but polished, day-to-night tops.  These are what my wardrobe needs, thank you Anni, I bow to you.

Signed, ME {lv}

Why We Buy People Tree

We get excited when we find a designer that we love not just for their great styles, but also for what they stand for, and what they contribute to the world.  People Tree is a perfect example of why we buy AND feel good.  Here's why....

1.   They adhere to Fair Trade practices, with the farmers, worker's and companies in their supply chain.  So we're not just talking about one aspect, we're talking the whole deal.  This ensures that worker's, farmers, artisans...the people making and growing what we need and love, are treated with respect and fair trade and wage practices.  These are the people that are most often discriminated against, and taken advantages of.  The poorest and weakest in countries around the world.  When you know something is produced with and thru Fair Trade, you can feel good.

2.    They use certified organic cotton.   No harmful chemicals, additives, or otherwise toxic stuff can be used in the growing of the cotton they use.  This makes the soil better, makes the air better, and it makes the world better.

3.  People Tree works with different trade groups around the world to produce different products.  They tell you exactly who those groups are, how they are making the product and how their trade agreement helps that particular group or community.  You are in the know, no mystery.

4.  People Tree utilizes special hand skills, giving artisans around the globe the ability to work in their rural communities, utilizing their unique talents such as embroidery and hand weaving.  They honor traditional artisan skills, and help support traditional small rural communities.

5.  People Tree is located in England.  The English are cool.  They have their pulse on wearable fashion that is always balancing the edge of classic and hip perfectly.  It's hard to deny it, they do fashion enviably well.  We don't want to get into a fashion feud, but we'll give them the props due....English women always look pretty fantastic.

These darlings are coming!

I'm a little obsessed with these cute pleated head scarves from Elizabeth Gillett and they are due in any day. Super cute right?  They  come  in three different color ways  and  are  ALL  adorable!  $38 worth  of  super  cool!

Signed ME {lv}

2019 here we are.

We posted a blog almost every day in November.  Then we went silent in December, but to be fair, that's a month you have to conserve whatever energy you have left or you might flip out.  But December 2018 is behind us, the decorations are put away, trash and recycle are finally NOT filling our garages to the max, and I even got my husband to take down the Christmas lights.   If it was up to him, he'd start considering it around the 15th.  If it was up to me, I've have everything down and packed away by noon on the 26th of December.

So now what?  I find that the first week of January I have a lot of left over manic energy from the holidays.  The weird kind that couples with extreme fatigue in an odd way.  So I've cleaned, organized, and otherwise ran around like I have an agenda, which I can't really say that I do because I haven't formulated one yet.  Here are 10 random things I'm pondering.

1.  It  feels very dark in the morning.  It's been hard to wake up, and even though technically the days are getting longer I suddenly am realizing how short they are.  I'm definitely feeling hibernation mode.
2. Someone gave me a Nest Sicilian tangerine candle for Christmas and that thing is magic.  I want to have them on hand ALL the time.  It makes me feel like coming OUT of hibernation.
3. The return of the biker short style is very disturbing to me.  I was shopping with Ava yesterday and there is simply no escaping that trend, and it's traumatic for all of us who lived thru the original bike short fad.  Plus, I like to think I'm "young" enough to pull off most styles in some form or another.  I own a pair of Brandy Melville sweatpants for God's sake, I can roll with my teens.  This one though?  No. Can. Do.
4. I splurged and bought some La Mer renewal oil and the stuff is magic...MAGIC.  I want more already.  At $130 for .5 ounces it's a luxury for sure, but seriously, the stuff is awesome and I'd put myself on a budget to buy it.
5. I went to yoga the other day and the teacher talked about the grace of letting go of goals.  Everyone instantly prickles when you read that because that sounds like a loser's approach right?  But really, it did make perfect sense after she unpacked it.  We start off the year with so many heavy, lofty goals.  Most of which, if statistics mean anything, won't be met.  Her point is that making yourself some goals is great, but if you head in that direction and can't seems to make enough progress mid-way thru, then you need to cut your goal in half and shoot for that.  Something is better than nothing mentality.  Again, sort of sounds negative to an over achiever, but there's some logic to it and what I especially liked is just the concept that there is grace in letting go of what you don't need, can't obtain (for whatever reason), or otherwise want to move past.
6. This is a weird time of year.  You want spring to come, winter clothes are on sale, you want something new, but you definitely are freezing your butt off.  It's the perfect time to buy accessories, and exactly why we brought in our favorite Tees by Tina poncho wrap, because that will pop in some fresh color (or fresh neutral), but it will work squarely with your Spring wardrobe, AND you can wear it now.  That's win-win right there. I bought the cobalt color.  It's got a little punch, and if I had a dollar for every time people commented on that color...it lures people.
7. Ava is leaving for a semester abroad in less than two weeks.  She'll be living in Provence, France for 6 months.  I'm freaking out a little, but trying really hard to hold it together.  It's such an exciting opportunity for her, but she'll be really, REALLY far away.  She's fearless for the most part, but in a way that makes me nervous.  The entire thing is a reminder to me of how quickly time moves, how quickly things change, and how conflicting parenting can be.   I'm going to miss Ava a lot, but what I won't miss is the day to day battles with her (having a kid with ADHD is just not easy, and when you layer that on top of general teenager stuff, it's exhausting).  I'm not even sure what my day to day life will feel like without focusing so much energy in that direction.   It's hard to imagine to be honest. 
8. If you haven't seen Beautiful Boy on Netflix, see it.  If you have teenagers it will freak you out tremendously, but it's really well done.
9. The things I want to BE in 2019 are... centered, calm, healthy and open to new opportunities.
10. I feel grateful to be starting 2019 happy and healthy.

I hope everyone is coming down gently after the mania of last month.  We're going to have a really fun year, I can feel lit!

ox

Signed, ME {lv}

November 3rd & 4th: First Week Of November, Wreaths, Breathing and Seattle Style

Happy first weekend of November!  Can barely believe those words, even in print.  Time goes so quickly, I just want to slow it down.  Soak up each and every day. 

So, as promised, a full breakdown of my other obsession--the wreaths I made WITH my bottle brush trees. These were so easy to make,
and are part of our holiday décor in the store this year.  The inspiration picture was this (from a blog called lollyjane.com). Loved this, but had a really hard time finding


those small houses. Just couldn’t find them small enough online and there were none at any of the craft stores I hit up.  So, this is my modified variation.  I bought cheap gold hoops at the craft store, then I wrapped them in this big fluffy yarn I had in a cream color. I added greenery, trees, and little Christmas balls. I used a glue gun, and gave myself some severe burns, but they turned out adorable. 

 I also did big wreaths wrapped in sisal (which I found online on Amazon—you need the fine sisal, not the wider basket stuffing width). I added a vintage car ornament and of course, more trees and Christmas balls. See for yourself, pretty awesome huh? 

We got in some beautiful Prairie Underground today which I’m excited about. I have to say, I love this company, and really think that they have stayed true to their vision and beliefs for the last 15+ years that we’ve carried them and that’s saying a lot in an industry where so many designers come and go, sell out, or burn out.  They start and
finish the whole process in Seattle, Washington, where all their magic happens. How adorable is this cobalt color?

My parting note, passed on from this morning’s yoga class, is to remember to take some time to breath deeply. The instructor today emphasized how important it was for the body to take full, deep inhales and exhales, and that during this time of year we tend to hold on to our breath, and take in shallower sips of air.  Breathing full and deep in and out triggers the parasympathetic nervous system which counters the fight or flight  instinct (i.e. the stress you find welling up), it calms the mind and body almost instantly.  Upshot is that you WILL feel calmer if you take two minutes, and breath really deep and slow, thru the nose, inhales and exhales.

Enjoy the weekend, hope it's slow and peaceful!

Signed, ME {lv}

 

 

November 2: Friday Flash Sale, Bottle Brush Trees & Body Gratitude

You know when you get obsessed with something and it’s embarrassing enough to keep secret because you are bordering on being a little/lot crazy?  Well, I’ve got that right now with bottle brush trees. Seriously, I’m nuts-o for them. Our Melange 18^th anniversary is coming up next week, and we designed an adorable, “delight in the little things,” motif which included a picture with a bottle brush tree on the invitation.  So obviously, from that point on, I had to do a deep dive.  I’ve watched every Youtube video and analyzed every Pinterest post on how to bleach them, re-dye them, and from there of course, glitter-fest finish them.

I’ve found some online, but the cheapest are really just at Michael’s craft store.  Just make sure you get the natural sisal bristles—NOT the plastic ones (sometimes it is hard to tell the difference).  Obviously you can’t bleach the plastic (and I know for sure because I tried,  like an idiot).  You make a bleach/water bath, throw in your trees  (mine were mostly green, some were a super deep red), and then you
bleach until they are either all cream, or I left some minty green, and some pink. Then you make color baths--the simplest is just to use acrylic paint and mix it with water until you get the depth of color you want.  Dip your trees, let them soak until you reach your color, and boom, you’re done.  Dry them overnight, paint them with glue the next day and shake glitter to your heart’s content (or no glitter, because they are  pretty cool au natural too).  

The color options are limitless, it's dreamy and delightful.  I love how you can create little forests with all the different sized trees.  I’m just sad that I've made so many I really can't justify making anymore, I’ve made SO many, it's time to stop.   

I’ll leave you hanging, but WAIT until you see the cute wreaths I made WITH those trees….I’m still. mid-obsession with the wreaths.

Other wonderful stuff.,,well, today we got in the Ruana Tees by Tina cashmere poncho scarf, which I’m a huge  fan of and declare it the easiest and possibly the best girlfriend gift ever. It’s more than just a poncho, and more than just a  scarf (there are 4 ways you can wear it), AND it’s cashmere.  No worries about fit (love that ease), and there are a ton of
colors to pick from.  I bought them for a handful of friends last year, and everyone who didn’t get one last year is getting one this year.  Bam, shopping done.

Lastly, there are some gems on the Flash Friday sale on Eileen Fisher.  We’re making room because our next shipment arrives Tuesday and we literally need rack space.  50% off all in stock styles.  Yep, it’s shaping up to be a pretty fine Friday.

OH, and on the real last note, my yoga-inspired-nugget-of-wisdom is to remember to show gratitude to your body.  Pay attention to what it needs, and what it is telling you. You do you as the instructor said, don't let the class (insert the word world) dictate what is good for you.  That's the way to show true thankfulness for your wonderful body--to give it what it really needs and be still enough to hear what it has to say!

Signed,  ME {lv}

Shoes, Plaid and Fall

I haven't posted  any words forever...and there's no good reason.  (But I'll make some excuses anyway.) Summer ended with a bang (i.e. we came back from Europe to a house filled with boxes and impending start of school and there was no time to think let alone write).  I've used all my free time to go to yoga so that I don't lose my mind in the mania of things.  It's only sort of helped.

Finally though, things are mellowing out.   I still have a hundred house projects to do in order to really be settled, and I can't get a contractor to call me back to save my life, but overall, it's mellow.  So of course, that leaves a little bit more time and a clear opportunity to buy some new shoes.  I showed these to my best friend on Sunday and she said "yikes, those are ugly.'  You be the judge, I think they are super cute on...they've got a Lauren Hutton vibe -- she always pulls off the menswear look so well!  Besides, my feeling is that we can't always be predictable right?  Sometimes you have to step out and wear something that isn't in your style soundtrack (and I don't really have any shoes like this at all.)  I think it's super cute to cuff up the jeans and let your darling Little River socks show (and the slouchy style is perfect with my Emerson COH boyfriend jeans).   I also own this Velvet plaid shirt and I LOVE it...feels like fall but it's lightweight and easy to  layer on these confusing days where it is freezing in the morning and 80 degrees at 3 p.m.!

oxox,

ME {lv}

 

My Diggity.....

My sister sent this to me this morning and it made me laugh--is anyone feeling low on their diggity level?!!  What does have diggity?  These new COH jeans which I wore a couple of nights ago and LOVE.  They are the tried and true Rocket fit (med rise, slim fit), but with this super cool frayed and "chewed" hemline the makes you feel just a wee bit edgy.  It also has some distressing which is cool (look at the model's upper thigh)--these are my new favorite white jean for sure.  I'm adding a close up of the hemline since the model pic doesn't really show the detail!!

 

 

Giant Denim Poncho?

 

I woke up this morning, all fired up and ready for action because it's #1 Friday, #2 I have to make lunches (2 of them to be exact) and get 4 kids out the door and hopefully on time.  There's no messing about really, it's go time...distractions are my enemy.  Buuuuutttttt.......as I was moving around the kitchen I happen to glance at the Amazon Alexa thingy, and there was a news headline that said "Lenny Kravitz sports a giant denim poncho."  What the what?  THAT caught my attention because, well, the obvious....Lenny Kravitz is awesome and always has been, and we're talking about a giant denim poncho.  My curiosity was killing me.

So I detoured to do a quick google search.  Yep, he did in fact use his coolness to sport a giant denim poncho.  I don't recommend this for the average person, but he was definitely killin' it.  The rest of us can turn toward something a bit more manageable....like Margaret's ruffle  poncho in a demure ivory.   You can wear it and make the peace sign.

Back to unloading the dishwasher....

Signed, ME {lv}

 

 

 

Spring Dreams and Stylish Accents

I am sick of puffer coats. I am also sick of water-resistant shoes. I need the weather to cooperate with my style goals, and give me a perfect outfit day - cool, but not cold, and dry!  Bring on the January sunshine please! 

Speaking of style goals, we're loving these beautiful new scarves from Banaris - just the thing to brighten up any look with spring color and natural beauty!!! An instant wardrobe-freshener!!!

They look perfect paired with these casually-cool and very colorful tops from Velvet, and of course styling them with Citizens legendary jeans and this adorable new bling from CAI jewelry is just plain adorable!!! And with Valentine's Day approaching....girrrrl.......!!!!

My personal, pro-active style plan this week is going to be: to assemble a few pre-styled outfits on hangers in the front of my closet so I can grab-and-go, with no muss, fuss, or clothes tantrums which are one of the B.O.M.E.s. (Banes Of My Existence). Why haven't I done this before?! 

Stay tuned for more new arrivals this week at Melange - new treasures and special pieces to make your spring wardrobe sing and your transitional wardrobe POP! xoxoxo 

 

My New Obsession

Hello again and so many apologies for the lapse in posts lately - we have all been so busy around here that writing anything besides HELP! would have taken too long. :)

But now there's a quick lull before the weekend list begins, so let's all chill out and talk about fashion for a minute, wanna? It would be a treat to leave all the daily chores and heavy stuff aside, and just dish about the clothes, are you with me? I thought you would be!

k, first up: my new obsession. FESTIVE JACKETS.

I have always loved menswear, since the 70's when I was a girl and would button my shirts all the way up to the top, driving my more groovy hippy mother to distraction. I parted my hair severely in the middle and took a minimalist route to fashion, which is very au courrant, now. My mother thought me very uncool, but I was actually 40 years ahead of my time.

But these days - WOW, the fashion world is saturated with menswear-inspired clothing! It's everywhere! Blazers, jackets, trenches, collared shirts, jeans, suits - all must-haves, in every color and print. The wide-spread availability of my personal style does not make me jealous, on the contrary - it thrills me no end! And affords me countless variations on the same, flattering, totally rockin', classic-with-a-modern-edge, super-cool theme! 

In the spirit of which - enter The Festive Jacket.  

I am obsessed. I have always been obsessed, they just haven't really been available outside vintage shops, where the jackets I want are all from the actual 1960's or '70's and the fabric is disgusting, they smell and they don't fit. NOW there are replications everywhere - in surprisingly cool fabrics. I am particularly fond of a bright print paired with distressed denim. It's Lauren Bacall-meets-Charlie Girl-meets-Heidi Klum-meets-Parker Posey. In other words - it's AWESOME. 

Check out my latest favorite: my Crane Blazer. I had to have it, I bought it, I'm in love with it. Now I'm looking for other cool blazers like this one.   
It just screams playful sophistication to me. A breezy, confident jacket in a lightweight viscose that has the perfect drape. A classic silhouette in a modern, artful pattern of beautiful cranes - symbolic of longevity and prosperity - in classic colors that look great with different accessories.I love to wear a splash of red lipstick with the crane jacket, go minimal, or dress it up with a long silver necklace - it looks great with my hair down, in a ponytail, or a bun.It has a relaxed kind of cool polish, and one that flatters the figure. Is there any wonder why I'm obsessed? Plus - it's a perfect look for any age, trust me - I'm 51! 

My other recent fashion moment was in last year's beautiful Velvet jacket. I had visions then of rocking it with a graphic tee and jeans, because it is so glam and when I first saw it was not only completely covered in clear glass beads but ALSO has gun-metal bronzed studs mixed among them -  I thought This jacket rocks! It's like Kate Moss at a cool party in Paris!!! I saw her in my mind wearing it with ripped skinny jeans and a high heel, her hair kind of messy, and smokey eye makeup. I certainly did not recreate that look, but I did my at-home version, turned up the music, and had a delicious beer to debut it in. So fun! (You can read about that extra-fun evening here.) 

There is a lot of velvet out there right now, it's totally on-trend - and for the first time ever, I'm really digging it! Before, velvet clothing was too dated, too hippy, too Stevie Nicks in a bad way. But now - it's been updated, refreshed with clean lines and cut in modern silhouettes that toughen it up just enough.  

Like the velvet bomber jacket. So many cute options of this silhouette right now, tons of little sporty luxe jackets that look great with jeans and sneakers. I'm usually not one to wear actual sportswear - I don't care for sports as a rule, and unlike most of the world I don't own a lot of nylon, but I can get behind this trend. It's comfortable, it's cool, it's edgy but sophisticated, with a touch of feminine charm. What's not to love? 

In the shop right now we have the incredibly cool and totally posh Prairie Underground Brocade Spencer Jacket! I am SO crazy about this piece - love to style it different ways like over a silk top with long lace cuffs that poke out and ripped jeans, very 1760. :) 

Or, worn open over a tight, striped tee, again with distressed jeans. (I think I may be as obsessed with ripped jeans right now as i am with jackets - a killer combo, IMO!) By the way - pssst: The Prairie Brocade Jacket is on sale right now, size L and XL! Hurry before it's gone! And how cute would it be with some super-skinnies like these?! And with a beautiful luxe scarf like this one from EF?! The whole ensemble is very "Rock and Roll English Prep School" or "Harry Potter meets The Killers". Just too cool for (wizard) school! 

I am so looking forward to a new year of style. I have a feeling my penchant for jackets will only increase as spring rolls around and layering creatively will become the name of the game. Until then...

Happy fashion, and happy holidays! xoxoxo  

 

 

Celebrate!

"Because there is always joy." My new mantra.

I was watching a movie called "Into the Whirlwind" where a character in the most dire of circumstances (and I mean dire, I'm talking The Purge in 1930's Russia) is asked by another suffering prisoner how he can bear his losses and pain, and he says simply "There is always joy." And, there it is. The switch of life. The ability to choose joy. It's right there, waiting to be chosen. No matter what the hardships, there still is always joy. 

So I choose to celebrate this season. I am creating joy, all around me, for everyone. I will greet every stranger with a light and friendly heart, I will speak only kind and thoughtful words, I will look for new opportunities with courage and as much grace as I can muster. This is enough. This is reason enough to celebrate, come join me will you? Let's raise a glass together - of wine, of cranberry juice, of Martinelli's sparkling apple juice, of cocoa - any glass at all - and let's CLINK, toast and drink to each other's health and happiness. xoxoxo 

Oh and hey while we're at this little virtual party, let's dress up, shall we? Here, let me refill your glass, push the virtual hors d'oeuvres a little closer and I'll show you some fun party ensembles, k? Allons-y!!! 

We are still dancing with joy over our new holiday arrivals from Velvet!!! It is definitely time to get this party started when GORGEOUS pieces like these show up on your doorstep!!!

How about this look to knock 'em dead this party season? We have the inspiring Velvet Roma Lurex Chiffon Sheer Blouse with shimmering silver accents! This top is everything. Like a midnight sky strewn with sparkling stars, this piece conjures up everything magical about the season. Twinkle and shine as you move through the room! We love the sweet neckline, sheer overlay and beautiful sleeves. An easy fit keeps this piece soft and romantic, and we love it paired with some seriously sexy jeans like these ultra skinnies from Citizens!!! Add a bit of starry-eyed bling like this beautiful bracelet from Charlie and Xander, or these diamond-cut earrings from Sosie, and of course wear your sassiest party shoes - for an incredibly festive, flirty look!!! 

Another alluring party look we can't get enough of is the incredible Lara Dress from Velvet - paired with something WOW. Like these amazing Peridot earrings from Sosie - that pop of sparkling green with the midnight of the dress is SO beautiful!!!! 

Now let's get cozy. Because after the parties comes coffee. And baked goods. And Christmas shopping. Well, if you're early birds like us. ;) And for that we need COMFORT, and of course CUTE. And not necessarily in that order!

First up - the amazing Alissa coat from Velvet!!!! When this piece came in the door we had to have it! So much style - the texture alone is edgy and modern, a faux-fur effect in beautiful navy AND olive?! The coat is reversible! Plus it has a hood! We can't wait to rock this cutie over some super-skinny jeans, a graphic tee and boots for a street-smart ensemble, or posh it up a bit with dark wash jeans and a heeled boot - add a bright scarf for another layer of color and style! Wear it open over a boldly-striped tee and light wash jeans, and slip on sneaks for an adorable, casual look! Whatever the weather this unique piece will keep you cozy, cute and ready for anything! 

Finally, at the end of the day - slip into something more adorbs with these perfect pj's from PJ Salvage. They have our number - actually they have everyone's number - with these beautiful kitty cat pj's!!! Love that navy blue! There are pj's for everyone, whether you're more of a dog person, or a pink elephant person, or a wine person or a bumble bee enthusiast - they've got you covered. These socks are particular must-haves, lol - and would make some hilarious stocking stuffers!

So yes - it's time to have fun. It's time to celebrate friendship and joy and the good things in life!!! CHEERS all, and happy Thursday to you!!! xoxoxo Diane 

 

 

 

Sweet September Style

It hardly needs saying that we LOVE Fall fashion. Who doesn't? After the long summer months of heat we are ready for that cool bite in the air, that crisp breeze that promises a cozy season ahead. And with that we start rotating our summer clothes out and transitional pieces in. First up? Jeans. 

Now is the perfect time to restock our denim wardrobe with fall's latest jeans and leggings, and we're crushed-out on these amazing high-waisted Rocket jeans in black from Citizens - they are gorgeous! So comfortable, so sexy, and the ultimate in versatility. We can pair them with so many things - we love them with fall tunics - like this gorgeous midnight blue Gretchen tunic! So cute with the sleek black jeans, that sweet neckline and beautiful knit take this look to the next level. Just add some great boots for fall-perfection! 

Or go earth-tones and pair them with Prairie's fabulous Feint Blouse in Shitake - the clean lines of this top with its subtle military flair is too cute this fall with a little coppery bling and a great bag - to die for! 

A chic look in fall colors would be with MOL's luxe cashmere crew in Forest green - so yummy -  and layered under her incredible leather jacket. 

We're so ready for September, October, November - this is one of our favorite times of year, not only in fashion but in nature - Oregon will soon be dressed in her autumnal best, and we plan on doing the same!!! 

Happy Monday! xoxoxo Diane 

Autumnal Awesomeness

Hooray, it's fall fashion time!!! We can't let the biggest fashion season of the year go by without several huzzahs and a bottle of bubbly popped open, now can we? And in light of today's eclipse (or in the lack thereof) - we really have a reason to celebrate!!! So huzzah, huzzah, clink clink and down the bubbly - and let's go shopping for fall's finest fashion!!! 

Ok, let's talk luxury. And by that I mean cashmere. Is there anything better for fall and the winter months ahead? These sweeeeeeet little cashmere shrugs from Tees by Tina are our new BFFF's - Best Friends For Fall! Light, breezy - they ward off any cool evening chill, and set the tone for fall's knits and wraps.  The perfect transitional piece!!! We are totally in looove with this sweet little ballet-pink cashmere dream! 

Pair that pink beauty with a simple white tee like this one from Eileen Fisher. This soft, organic slub cotton  classic will be an MVP in your year-round wardrobe. Wear it over some slender jeans like these from Citizens of Humanity for a dressed down-with-a-touch-of-luxury transitional look!

Just add a sweet oxford shoe or a low-heeled bootie for the perfect urban edge. Then, add a little touch of gold with these beautiful earrings from Sosie! Or any gold, rose gold, or copper accent - so hot for fall!

Change it up and go day to night with this lovely, wine-red top from Velvet. This is the beautiful blouse to take you from late-summer through the holidays! And looks great with all of fall's accessories, denim, and jackets! The kind of top to dress up or down and wear with pants, jeans or skirts, and any fall or holiday jacket! 

A little later in the season we need warmth, and layering is the name of the game. We love this beautifully soft, chunky sweater from Velvet - that military color is rich and sophisticated and looks great layered over a crisp, fresh collared shirt like this one. Add some seriously sexy jeans, your favorite bootie and voila - fall-fabulosity! 

While you're shopping for fall finery, check out our incredible ECLIPSE SALE going on - it will eclipse your wildest dreams at AN ADDITIONAL 40% OFF all sale items (code: eclipse)!!!

 xoxoxo Have a great week everyone! 

 Diane

 

 

Summer Breeze, Makes Me Feel Fine...

This sweet, breezy summer collection from Eileen Fisher is transporting us to sun-splashed boardwalks along pristine beaches. Bare feet, sexy sandals, sun-bronzed (or faux-bronzed) skin dressed in cool cottons and the softest linens, full of rich color and flattering silhouettes. We LOVE the easy elegance of Eileen Fisher's designs - each one is a style star, and they all seem to go together!!! Here are a couple of our favorite looks, for playing in, for travelling in, for living in. 

First up this sweeeeeet dress. Instant crush! Super-soft linen in a silvery PLAID - a chic, slimming sheath silhouette with the SEXIEST little v-back!!!! Short sleeves and sweet patch pockets in the front to hold your shades and your cell phone - we're hooked. Love this with a simple sandal and a little summer bling. 

Next up the amazing white boyfriend jeans - so smooth, so fresh in this beautiful white stretch denim - and they add the perfectly sexy slouch to ALL of your summer tops! Pair it with Eileen's aptly named "Blue Angel" top and add a fresh pop of summer print with this scarf - a sweet sandal and you're sunshine itself!  

We also adore the deliciously soft and light Handkerchief Linen Tunic, also in white. It's the season to lighten up ladies, and there's nothing like a fresh white summer dress to rock with any accessory! Add that scarf we just showed you, and a great summer bag, perhaps a little color at the wrists or ears, and those fab sandals we know you own, and step out to a day of super-summer-style!!!! We're inspired.  

And here's a little video from Eileen herself for more summer sartorial inspiration! Happy first of June!!!! xoxoxo Diane 

Sweet Summer Style!

We are over the moon about our new summer arrivals! This is one of our favorite times of year - when the rain takes a break and the sun comes out and best of all - WE CAN WEAR OUR SUMMER WARDROBE!!! Take a look a few of our favorite new pieces, and imagine how you could switch them up to create even more looks! To begin, we're drooling over this gorgeous off-the-shoulder Corra Dress from Velvet! 

She's a red-hot flirt, that one! That beautiful ruffle, easy, flowing fit, perfect length, and COLOR! We love this "Marc" (is that Marc Jacobs?) RED with summer skin and a touch of gold, plus your favorite sexy sandals - a gladiator or lace-up sandal would be divine. Just add Velvet's amazing straw tote to add contrast and to carry everything you need. LOVE! 

We also LOVE the Velvet Tracia Tank. Omg, where is the nearest festival?! This beautiful, sexy tank is perfect for any summer fun - we love those fresh, colorful stripes, easy, breezy silhouette, and that super-sexy back! Not to mention the gleaming silver thread that runs through the fabric - it catches the light and makes you glimmer with summer beauty. SO stinkin' cute with any jean, or cut-off shorts! Add your favorite accessories - we love these beautiful glass bead bracelets from Satori Rue! 

Another super-fresh look is this amazing Elizabeth Gillette scarf with this super fresh Ann top from Amadi, and these go-to Arielle Mid Rise jeans from Citizen. The scarf looks great with all kinds of tees and tanks, try it with the Adeline Top from Amadi, it's one of our spring favorites! 

Lastly, check out the amazing Genna Dress! The viscose feels like a cool whisper against summer skin, and the off-the-shoulder look is perfect for date night on a warm evening. Try adding a little silver bling to this one - it's like a summer moonlit night. Sigh. Did we say this is one of our favorite times of year?  

 

Happy weekend everyone, may you look and feel amazing and inspire others to do the same! xoxoxoxo Diane 

 

The Sartorialist Wasn't Always A Glamour-Puss!

It all started when he was a 31 year-old, stay-at-home dad. My second-favorite street style photographer (behind Bill Cunningham, of course.) talks about his origins and the development of his incredible website. xoxo A great look behind the scenes of The Sartorialist. :) 

Taco Bell Hell, Spain and Raw Edges

We took the long car drive home today. I’ll stress the word long. Our strategy, the one that actually works, is to leave so early that the kids sleep for the first 3 or 4 hours and therefore have less time to bug us with requests. We left at 9:30 today…WAY too late.

We were in the middle of nowhere, literally, and the kids were off the charts hungry. I quote, “I’m so hungry I’m going to throw up” (Ava). There were nothing but mobile meth labs, questionable motels, gas stations and….yes, you guessed it.  We were forced to stop at a Taco Bell. We not only stopped at Taco Bell drive thru, we spent $40 at said TB drive thru. Just picture how much disgusting Taco Bell food you have to order to even get over $30. I think I’d rather starve. Literally. 

Besides that particular hell, the drive did allow for at least a few hours during which the kids were engrossed in movies, and John and I could talk TRAVEL.   I think this summer we are going to fly into Paris (already have tickets in and out of this city), fly to Barcelona, rent a car, travel thru Spain , Portugal, and back up to France. What I REALLY want to do, is detour to the very Southern tip of Spain, and cross over into Morocco.   John and I went there once before, 15+ years ago, pre-kids. I think it would be such an exotic and amazing place to go with the kids. I remember loving it, and provided that I can figure out a nice safe way to bring 4 kids there, I definitely want to go again. Also, good news, one of the world’s best shell beaches is in Portugal, and that got me all excited. That’s probably my favorite thing to do on beaches…troll for shells. I could spend HOURS and hours doing it. Apparently a fantastic shell beach is right there in Portugal, that gets me even more excited for the beach portion of the trip.  Anyone have any great ideas about Spain, Portugal or Morocco?  I can use them!

Now the research begins. A bit daunting, but just talking about it gets me super fired up. Usually we start our planning much earlier, but this year we’ve got some other big changes in the works (a move), and it’s been hard to nail anything down concretely since so much has been unknown. But the thing is…Ava is 14, and how many summers do I have left when all the kids are with me and willing to spend a big chunk of it trapped in a car, road tripping around Europe? It sounds fantastic to me, I can’t imagine why they kids wouldn’t always want to do it, but I know there interest will end and get taken over by their need for summer jobs, classes, boyfriends they can’t part with, internships…all that stuff.  I have to grab my time while I have it.

Lastly for today, we got in fantastic Amadi. Can I just tell you how much I love raw edges? Amadi does them constantly, and I LOVE IT. There’s something so carefree and fresh about it. It’s glam and homeless-y at the same time, super cool yeah?  Plus I really love that it's designed and manufactured in Los Angeles.  It pretty much IS springtime embodied!

Signed, ME {lv}

Bandwidth, Growing & The Unexpected

This weekend was filled with unexpected easy, and unexpected hard. Easy? The 8-hour drive to go skiing. We left early and it blew by painlessly (and anyone who does long car trips with their kids knows it’s a crap shoot, sometimes it’s so bad you want to jump out of the car while it’s going 70 mph).

Hard? I tried to make a cake for my sister’s birthday and it was a disaster, despite using a mix. It stuck to the pan, then I tried to get it out of the pan and it broke into chunks, and then I tried to glue the chunks together with frosting and it just crumbled. Then I tried to make cake balls, and that didn’t work either. Entire thing went in the trash, and I ended up buying a cake. Not to self, buying a cake is easier.

This week is all about thinking of new ideas to accomplish a little “spring growing”. It takes a lot of energy to get thru the holidays, and it leaves us all a little depleted. All our efforts to regroup, make our environment nurturing, organized and ready for action, leads us to this moment. Now what? What do we do to step into the zone where we finally have the bandwidth to think of new things that keep us engaged, stimulated, interested…that recharges us with that feeling of learning, and newness.

I’m always happiest when I’m in that zone of learning something exciting, whether it’s in work, or personal life.  The feeling that makes you want to stay up late, get up early, and makes you feel completely energized.

I think honestly the last time I was charged like that was when I scheduled a one on one class with “Carlos” in Bologna Italy last summer, when I was trying to learn this super cool bracelet making method. He couldn’t meet until 11:30 p.m. That’s right, 11:30 p.m. That’s when his world “got started” (he was a street vendor near the main plaza where they would set up late at night after people had finished dinner and were milling around.) There were 5 million weird bugs flying around, and it was late, and I was being eaten alive, and Carlos smelled sort of funky (although he was the nicest guy despite questionable showering protocol), but none of that mattered, I was completely and totally excited.  

All that being said, I never really did master the technique all that well,, and really needed 2 or 3 more classes, but it’s sort of beside the point. I miss that feeling, and that’s what I’m after now. I want to be super excited about something new. Doesn’t matter if it’s a psychology class at the JC, or a croissant making class at Sur La Table.  Just something.

Ask yourself, what’s the last thing you did that made you feel that way? This week is dedicated to thinking of fresh ways to get us intrigued, and in the zone to grow.

I also realized this weekend, for the millionth time, how much I LOVE Margaret O’Leary. I wore my thermal turtleneck today (it was 25 degrees in the mountains this morning), and I brought two, so Ava borrowed one because she needed a layering piece for skiing. I loved my MOL, it’s always my favorites. I washed this turtleneck too, just normal wash, put it on the rack to dry, and it looks great. As soon as I get home I’m buying this new spring MOL poncho, because it’s a fantastic color, and would be a great throw on over a tank this spring or summer!! Margaret never disappoints!!

Signed, ME {lv}

Miley Cyrus, Multi-Tasking & Time Tips

I am so excited to embrace time saving tips and secrets.  Today was a jammed packed day, which was not super productive, and I realized why AFTER the fact.  But just to illustrate the faults with my day, I’ll explain Romeo’s guitar practice. 

I’m "suppose" to facilitate a practice with him 5 days a week, his teacher comes once a week and he gets a “day-o-rest”.  I’m “suppose” to be fully present during practice, no matter how many minutes it does or doesn’t take.  I’d say right now we are lucky to hit 4 days a week of practice, and I’m lucky if I’m genuinely engaged twice.  Terrible to admit, but he goes into the studio, and while he’s setting up his guitar and turning on the amp, I’m checking my work emails, and then he starts in on this practice and I sometimes do NOT put my phone down…mostly because I’ve been inefficient some or most of the day so I am trying to multi-task at the wrong time.

Anyway, today, I’m looking at my emails, totally engrossed in that, when all of sudden I realize that Romeo is playing Star Spangled Banner, but SINGING Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball song (insert major 6 year old rock out emotion).  See what I almost missed? FYI, the wrecking ball song does NOT pair well with the notes from Star Spangled Banner, It literally hurt my brain to listen to that combo.  Miley Cyrus....really?
 
So that is illustrative of bad multi-tasking (and bad parenting). 
 
BUT…here’s just a handful of great time tips passed on from you smart people.......

1. Double recipes : So simple, but I forget this one. Every weekend John cooks something labor intensive at least once. Bolognese, or his famous meatballs (which somehow take ½ a day to make). Why we aren’t doubling and freezing I have no idea. Easy time saver.
2. Create a gift box. I use to do this when the kids were younger and always going to birthday parties and somehow got out of the habit but It’s SO nice to need a little “something” and just be able to grab it. Hostess gift, quick thank you gift…makes it awfully easy to be thoughtful and saves you from running out to find something (and inevitably it’s at the worst possible time, like 5 p.m. on a Friday).
3. Plan your outfit. Simple, but definitely makes the mornings way easier.
4. Delegate:  Again, simple, but there are a lot of things that you can delegate that sometimes you just don’t even think about. They say good delegation is the key to good management. Since women are usually managing many areas at once, it would seem to follow that we can apply delegation to all of them and save ourselves some time.
5. Laundry help:  Sort laundry in large mesh bags, one for lights one for darks (and give them to each kid). Throw entire bag in the wash, and dryer, and they are responsible for folding.  It would work great for older kids! I didn’t even realize they made super big mesh bags for wash, but they do.
6. Amazon Prime, Amazon Fresh or Amazon Pantry: So many options. All allow you to order basic household or food items, get them delivered, quickly, and foAmazon Prime, Amazon Fresh or Amazon Pantrr free if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. I actually am pretty good at using the subscription program at Amazon, although you have to pay attention because if you don’t you end up with no toothpaste, but 10 jars of dandruff shampoo. Amazon will remind me to double check my order in early in the month, I just tend to ignore it which turns out, is not smart.

I think I am going to add, “double duty clothing” as a time saving tip. It’s really great to find pieces that can go from day, to cocktail hour seamlessly. I’m sort of crazy about the new Curator pieces. The top, in it’s rich turmeric (super striking color), can be worn with jeans, but if you wore it tucked into high waisted black pants, or black jeans at night, with great heels…you’ve got a fantastic outfit. In fact, I’d wear that blouse with black jeans and flat black boots to pick up the kids, and go out that night in the same outfit, but kick off the boots and throw on heeled ankle boots and my beaded cross body mini-purse.  Easy.

Keep the great little tips coming, they are fantastic!  (just click here to send us yours)!

Signed, ME {lv}

Hygge, Fuchsia, and March's Mission

We've thought a lot about what has made us joyful this past month, and how we can make March's mission meaningful. We want to take the very best aspects of spring, the concept of rebirth, rejuvenation and growth, and marry it with some extra attention to our own personal feeling of safety, nourishment, contentment and well being.  We looked to the Danish concept of "hygge" to help lead us in the right   direction.  Denmark enjoys the reputation of being the happiest country in the world, and we did some digging as to why (since arguably they had the worst weather ever, and their taxes are insane).  It all goes to their very deep revelry for the concept of hygge, which is the artful attainment of the feeling of comfort, safety, and happiness. It's pervasive in everything they do and there are 50 variations of the word hygge (adjective, verb, you name it).  Here's our thinking, we want to marry our need to rejuvenate and refresh, with hygge.  The feeling of being cared for and contentment--because let's face it, right now everyone needs a little extra nurturing.  So that's what March is all about, nurturing ourselves and others, and then having the room to grow and rejuvenate.

I'm excited, we've compiled lots of great tips from lots of sources, and we're sharing them all this month.  With the world storming outside, the tweets wearing out vibrate mode on our phones, crazy life with work, kids, significant others....it's exhausting and we need a way to reconnect with comfort and nurturing so that we can gain the bandwidth to grow and rejuvenate ourselves this spring.

Who's in?

To finalize our joy-fest month, today's joy goal is to put something on your March calendar that gives you joyful anticipation.  Doesn't matter what, just something you are excited for and that will bring you joy.  Remember, kindness is contagious, and that give me hope that we are all making a difference.

What also give me hope :-), Prairie Underground did something in pop fuchsia!  FUCHSIA!!  If you are a Prairie fan you know that normally we don't see pop colors..normally it's all shades of neutral, and if we are lucky a little navy and beet.  This is going to be a TREAT, can't wait!

Signed, ME {lv}