My Latest Obsessions

One of my favorite pics of all three kiddos!

WOW, I cannot believe that Christmas is over and we are now getting ready to ring in 2011!!! New Year's Day last year we announced our exciting baby news!! Time flies!

We had a great Christmas and it was so much fun having little GMC with us - his first Christmas! The girls explained EVERYTHING to him from Santa and the cookies we leave out for him to how we open our stockings last!

Some of my latest faves...

Laura Cook of Laura Cook Photography did an awesome job this year taking pics of the kids. She ROCKS! I wholeheartedly recommend her if you are in the Chicago area!

Some of my favorite gifts from Christmas are as follows:
Lucky Brand slippers - cozy and warm - LOVE
My 2011 Linda & Harriett letterpress calendar - beautiful calendar
Gift Card to Lululemon - who doesn't LOVE Lulu???!!!! Seriously, Lulu and Anthropologie are my all time faves...!

I love the brand Splendid - super soft and cozy but not always so budget friendly. In comes Target...check it out - they just launched a line with Target for baby clothes. OMG, LOVE this little set for a baby girl. Love the little ruffle on the onesie!

I love the restaurant Graham Elliot - and fun, a newbie opened up called Grahamwich! I cannot wait to check it out!

Cute NYE bingo cards to play with the kiddos!

My Latest Obsessions

Countdown until Christmas...crazy that the holidays are literally around the corner. Time is flying. It has been a week filled with school holiday parties and programs for the kiddos and lots of gingerbread houses were made and carols were sung.

I always love checking out the different gift guides out there. Some of my faves:

• Dear friend Taryn's December Dozen on her Sage & Style blog.


• Joanna Goddard of A Cup of Jo always has such fun finds in her Gift Guides. I love her guide for Beloved Husband Who Makes Peppery Eggs, Sings Rolling Stones to your Baby and Can Always Make You Laugh. Here is Goddard's Gift Guide regarding all things Etsy.


• Gwenyth Paltrow's GOOP Gift Guide. For instance, how cute are these personalized recipe cards (would be fun to "gift" along with a homemade treat). And this season I'm all about cozy shoes (as it has been FREEZING these days)...so I loved her recent post on just that...cozy shoes. Totally dig the Ugg-esque bow boots.


• Daily Candy always has great Gift Guides for everyone on your list. This is where I discovered Mast Brothers Chocolates (BEAUTIFUL packaging - which I'm always a sucker for...). I LOVE just looking at the wrapping of these chocolates. LOVE.


• Enjoyed reading Elements of Style's Gift Guide for kids. So many fun items!!!
  

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! Winter is HERE - game on - trying to stay positive and remember why I live in Chicago...

My latest favorite pic of GMC is above. LOVE it. I cannot believe the little guy is 4 months old!

OMG, I love anything ikat print. The other day I received an email from Anthropologie featuring all things ikat. So fun! I think I may have to pick up some of these adorable ikat bowls. LOVE them.

I'm always looking for accessories to turn a basic black shirt into something more glam and fun. How about this great necklace?

How fun are these "city" blanket maps?!

Peter loves bow ties. I think they are so fun and he looks adorable in them. I hope little GMC takes after his daddy and wears them! Here are some fun bow ties.

How great is this "Darling" mug. The other day Margaret asked me what Darling meant. The little gal had overhead me describe something she had done as "darling." It's a shame that I cannot get away with throwing around "darling" as it sounds so fun...maybe if I were british!

My Latest Obsessions

I'm still stuffed from last week's Thanksgiving. Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday. It was our first year hosting - LOVED having everyone over - so fun!

Are you looking for a super cute gift that has meaning behind it? Check out The Kenana Story and the hand knitted critters they are selling. Pretty cool.

I LOVE hot chocolate. The moment there is a chill in the air I start to end my evenings with a warm mug of yummy hot chocolate. Aren't these little Gingerbread houses a cute addition to a mug of hot chocolate? ADORABLE. And you gotta love this gal's not martha blog. Good stuff.

Peter's BIG 40th birthday was this past Sunday. He wanted to quietly slide under the radar and I promised no parties - especially a surprise party. So, the gals and I set forth and created a keepsake for him - we made a book (via Tiny Prints) entitled "40 reasons why we love you." We spent the last couple of weeks making signs and taking pictures and then this weekend we uploaded all 40 pics and created a book via Tiny Prints. The gift was a HUGE success!

And speaking of Tiny Prints...the gals made their debut in Minted's online 2010 holiday cards and can be found in an ad in Martha Stewart, Town & Country, US Magazine and some others (with this photo). Some other ones can be found online. Here is a cute one - and so is this one! How fun! We had no idea until some of our friends spotted them. Ha - and here are Peter/myself - as Liz and Alex. How funny!

During the holidays I am always looking for hostess gifts for all the holiday parties we attend. These cutely wrapped breads remind me of my mom and how she always passes out YUMMY lemon poppyseed breads (very cutely wrapped of course) to neighbors and take aways from their own parties.

Two of Peter's cousins just got engaged so we have some more fun weddings coming up this summer. Their engagement stories got me in wedding mode! How cute are these wallpaper napkin rings?!

What a fun idea - blackboard oil cloth...FUN FUN! That post led me to this adorable store = Bell 'occhio.

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Thursday! I'm going to be running around tomorrow so I thought I would post my Friday Faves a day early.

OMG, crazy to think that Sunday is our 1 year anniversary! I cannot believe it! Time flies. It was such a wonderful weekend - I loved our rehearsal dinner (still have dreams about the "monkey" bread) and the wedding was exactly what we had hoped for! And I will always LOVE my dress. And yes, I wish I was heading off to another 10 day vacation with Peter...that was fantastic!

Lots going on...Sunday is our anniversary and we happen to be hosting a dinner party for our dear friend Val and her fiance James (who are in from London) along w/a bevy of fun folks from the city. Next week we are hosting Thanksgiving at our house. My Dad and Bonnie are making the trip out here - should be fun! They haven't seen GMC since he was about 5 weeks old - they are in for a "smiley" treat! George is "babbling" away and the gals are loving "chatting" with him.

Some of my faves...

First, one of GMC's latest faves = his friend Sophie the Giraffe. See pic above. He is IN LOVE.

Ummm, adorable Prince William is now officially engaged to Miss Kate Middleton. Everyone loves a royal wedding. Just before this was announced I read the article in Vanity Fair about the two of them (they seem very normal and cute together). Nice work Prince W.

Stella McCartney did a line for Gap and it was so popular that she started her own clothing line for kiddos. Very cute stuff!

This would be a fun skirt for all those holiday parties!

I'm always looking for ways to spice up an ordinary outfit or some of my staples. LOVE these shoe clips from ban.do. Super cute.

I think I found the perfect Christmas present for my mom (don't look JuJu!).

Dwell Studio just came out w/custom wallpaper for kiddos. How fun! I love all the great patterns. You can change the scale of the patterns = perfect! On Dwell's blog I found this great post on Thanksgiving - love the festive decor!

I LOVE creative people - especially those that take what they are passionate about and do something w/it. This esty site Pocketful of Posies is a friend of a friend's new endeavor. Pretty cute stuff. Check it out.

My Latest Obsessions

Above is my new favorite picture of GMC - dressed as a lil cowboy! I cannot believe he is over 3 months old! Time flies!

LOVE Rachel Pally's stuff. She has a dress at Target that is exclusive to them (pretty nice because the price point is lower than her usual stuff).

LOVE all of Vince's sweaters - in particular I'm fond of the Drop Needle Cowl Sweater. Sweater season is upon us!

Aren't these Paper Turkey Pins adorable? Maybe I'll make these with the gals for Thanksgiving.

I love wrapping presents! Isn't this wrapping paper from Snow & Graham adorable? LOVE IT! These Elves are pretty cute as well. Their new tiny cards are quite cute as well.

Fun new Etsy find = Babette (handmade jewelry). Isn't this necklace unique and different?

Favorite Quote of the Week:

"Mom - who sings this song?" (while humming to 'Baby')

"Justin Bieber."

"Umm, are you sure, because it sounds like a girl!"

(LOL. Well, the guy is ONLY 16).

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! The temps are starting to drop a bit and now that chill is in the air. Time to bust out the coats! My mom JuJu was in town and she left Monday - slightly depressed as it was so much fun having her around (she loved seeing George and the gals and it was nice to have those evening chats with her after the kiddos went to bed). Until next time!

After the temps drop a bit I begin my fall/winter evening ritual = mug of hot chocolate. YUM!

CUTE gifts to keep your loved ones warm!

I saw this vest in Daily Candy's Editor's Wish List and immediately thought of my mom. She shops at Double D Ranchwear. Doesn't this vest look SUPER WARM and cozy. If only I was heading to AZ for the holidays!

My laptop seems to be on its last leg and lately I have been thinking about the I-Pad. Wouldn't this be a great case for it?

I'm digging this side chignon for the holidays.

Cute gingerbread men wrapping paper for the holidays!

Free People just launched a line called Wee People. Cute.

Lately I have been in "year" review mode (especially as we approach our 1 year wedding anniversary) and remembering that this time last year we were in major wedding mode. Sometimes I wish I kept a journal so when I get in "year" review mode I could look back a year and see what I was doing/thinking/feeling at the time. So, I looked back to my post from about a year ago - so fun!

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! Two days until Halloween! Cate is going as Velma from Scooby Doo and Margaret is going as Cinderella. So fun.

It has been a fun and relaxing week. My mom (JuJu) is in town and hasn't seen GMC since he was born. Peter and I were also talking today that 2 years ago this weekend (Halloween Weekend) he met my mom and stepdad for the first time and asked them for my hand in marriage. Crazy how time flies!

In honor of my mom = OMG, my mom would have LOVED these placemats for us as kids. She was always testing us on how to set a table.

Check out these Wooly Egg Box Toy Sets by asherjasper on Etsy. Pretty fun! Look at these cute little ocean creatures.

I've recommitted to trying a new recipe a week (or at least cooking an adult meal) for the two of us. One of our latest faves is a Green Chile Chicken Casserole - YUMMY. This one has been added to the rotation.

Love this merino ruffled strata cardigan. Very cute and one that I would wear all the time.

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! So excited - JuJu comes next Tuesday - and she is going to be blown away by how big GMC is these days. So fun. I have a date night w/GMC Saturday as Peter ("Howling Wolf) is taking "Little Dipper" and "Lily Pad" on an Indian Princess excursion. Super cute.

I love Snow & Graham - love all their letterpress stationary. How fun that Garnet Hill is selling cardigans with some of Snow & Graham's celebrated designs!

Every year I buy a Linda & Harriet letterpress calendar. I LOVE calendars and letterpress so her calendars are the perfect combo. Here are some other great calendars out there (via Oh So Beautiful Paper).

Yesterday I bought some more of my favorite tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier. The gal helping me asked me if I had run out of my under eye concealer. I laughed. Ummm, I don't really use any. I guess my sleep deprivation has caught up with me (I'm not sure if my 11 week old baby in tow or coffee in my other hand gave me away)! So, I went ahead w/her suggestion and bought some concealer. I loved the nail polish color of the gal that was helping me - so pretty - the color fashion by Deborah Lippmann.

I'm excited for Essie's new Winter colors - out November 1st.

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE this coat from J.Crew (vintage inspired).

So fun - doesn't this baking mix from Vosges look DIVINE (Mo's Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix)? YUMMY.

My Latest Obsessions

I love trumpette socks. I love giving them as gifts. So adorable. Love this little halloween set of socks. Cute. We received these adorable argyle trumpette socks.

I bought a pair of these city flats from Gap. LOVE them. I'm always looking for comfortable flats. These rock and the price tag is fab. And wow, what an outcry when they tried to change the logo - it is now back to the original.

These Lightning Bolts are cute - turn your little one's shoes into superhero shoes!

Confetti is fun. Just think about all the fun things you could do with this confetti garland!

Do you ever have a fabulous meal at a restaurant but just want to pass out in a food coma on the table next to you? Well, the restaurant Longman & Eagle brilliantly came up with a solution - 6 rooms above the restaurant to sleep. Interesting idea. I have not been to Longman & Eagle yet but would love to check it out - Esquire named it one of the top 20 new restaurants for 2010. Epic in Chicago was also listed. We have a few things to check out soon!

"Van" Confessions

Monday evening I was in the car with the gals and George. We were in the car driving back from visiting their cousins that live about an hour away. I know how these (longer distance) car rides go - "How much longer until we are home?" and then again about 5 minutes later I get the same question. However, Cate now loves when I use the GPS to get home because she can read how much time we have left (on the screen) - which she then relays to Margaret.

I was in the zone driving and not really paying attention to Cate and Margaret's conversation in the back. I tuned in when I heard the following conversation:

"The 'F' word is really bad, you cannot say it," Margaret stated to Cate.

"I KNOW," said Cate.

AHHH. YIKES. I immediately tuned in to hear what 'F' word she was referring to.

"You cannot say the word FAT. Unless you are saying something is Fat Free." Margaret stated matter of factly. I almost burst out laughing. I honestly thought the four letter 'F' word was going to come out of her mouth (thank goodness it did not). I chuckled to myself because awhile ago I had spoken to both of them and told them that they cannot use the word 'fat' to describe a person. I explained to them that it was not polite to describe someone as such. I was laughing even harder because Peter is always saying, "really, you had to buy the fat free version of this/that." Phew...in the clear as I really didn't want to talk to them about the other 'F' word.

The conversation continued as such. "And Mom says we cannot say the 'S' word," Margaret relayed to Cate.

AHHHH. Yikes. Sh*t. And just when I thought I was in the clear.

"We cannot call someone skinny, but we can say 'skinny cow'" - OMG, I was laughing even harder now because yes, I did talk to them about not calling people skinny, but the fact that she was talking about my 'skinny cow' ice cream sandwiches (that I refer to as 'adult desserts') was pretty hilarious.

Good. I didn't have to figure out how to tell them what the four letter 'F' word meant nor did I have to wonder where they heard the 'F' word or the 'S' word. In the clear for the time being!

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! What a GORGEOUS fall day (warm too!). Little "GMC" is 10 weeks old today! Have a fabulous weekend. Tomorrow is the Chicago Marathon - good luck to all the runners! I cannot believe I ran the marathon years ago - what an awesome experience. Some of my latest faves...

I saw this post on Daily Candy about this "crafter" who makes pillows. LOVE this Lovebird pillow.

Great gift - Prudent Advice: Life Lessons for my Baby Daughter - by Jaime Morrison Curtis. I saw a Daily Candy on it.

Check out these 50 Best Design Blogs for Mom. Love the site BoysBeCool - finally a site dedicated to all stuff "boys." Here is another site dedicated to all things boys and stylish called coos and ahhs. I checked out Style Milk as well - good stuff and I also looked at Designing Moms.

Isn't this an adorable mod sheep baby blanket. LOVE it! Check out their other quilts, mats, dresses, blankets and more - adorable!

Check out these adorable little rain boots for a little boy. So cute!

Ummm...I think George needs this adorable military coat. LOVE it. I've decided that there are cute boy clothes out there...you just have to look a bit harder!

I receive Gwenyth Paltrow's blog called Goop and this week she listed some Food Blogs that she visits on a regular basis. I took a look at one she listed - Smitten Kitchen - pretty good. Doesn't this mushroom lasagna look yummy?

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! Have a fabulous weekend. The weather this week has been amazing - sunny fall weather. LOVE it. And GMC is 9 weeks old today - crazy!

I have always enjoyed HALLOWEEN. Last year both Cate and I were Snow White.

Here are some of my favorite halloween costumes around the web:

• A little French Fry - super cute!
• These Zoodies are great - love the ballerina mouse!
• Adorable cupcake costume!
• How cute are these costumes - Pebbles and Bam Bam! LOVE them! Would be perfect for adorable twins!
• This little lion costume is so cute!
• This otter hat is hilarious!

What are you being for Halloween? Your kids?

My Latest Obsession

I love mums and fall weather. I have always said that I would try and make one of Paper Source's paper wreaths - love this one! We are hosting Thanksgiving this year - might have to pick up these adorable owl placecards!

Love this gold Linea Pelle leather bracelet

Umm, OMG, these clothes are adorable from Zara Kids. Too cute.

Fall is here (however, it doesn't feel like it w/this unseasonably warm weather) and this is when I start to think about coats. I LOVE coats especially since it is sometimes the only thing people see during the winter! I'm kind of digging this long studio waistcoat from Zara. Ohhh, and I love this dress with frilled shirt - LOVE ruffles!

LOVE this Loosely Looped Tee from Anthro. Adorable.

I love Mrs. Meyers cleaning products. I recently bought some of her Lavender Liquid Hand Soapfor the powder room. It smells SO GOOD! These Kitchen Basics gift sets are a perfect housewarming gift or hostess gift (and a steal for under $10).

I had diaper bag envy a few days ago when I had a bunch of new moms over...a friend had this diaper bag - LOVE it (hers was in black w/red interior). So chic. However, I will say that I love the Kate Spade diaper bag my mom gifted me.

Birth Stories

I never truly appreciated Birth Stories before having George. To be honest, I thought they were a bit weird (why would anyone want to know the details of someone else's birth story). However, now I LOVE hearing birth stories. I love hearing the entire process and all the details leading up to meeting the new little guy or gal. While I have heard the story of how I was born I would love now to know more details.

I've contemplated writing out my birth story for George so that I can remember it down the road. I read Joanna Goddard's A Cup of Jo blog from time to time and yesterday she posted her birth story. She may have inspired me to write mine out as well! Stay tuned!

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Thursday! I'm going to be running around a lot tomorrow so I thought I would send out my Friday faves a day early! ENJOY!

If you are going to wear a band aid - why not wear a super stylish one from Cynthia Rowley?

Love this Buffalo Check Boyfriend Shirt for the fall (and what great colors).

Love this striped scarf from lemlem. I also love this obi scarf! And check out lemlem's story.

How cute is this Pink Heart Sunglasses case by Jonathan Adler? And here is the blue Sunglasses case - cute as well. LOVE. This would make a great gift. I also love his monogrammed pillows - fun!

I keep one of these Shanghijava solid perfume sticks in my bag. I love the Musc and Patchouli scent.

Love the ruffles on these Pebbled & Primped Boots.

I saw this White Zoe Bow Short Sleeve Swing V-Neck Tee by Lauren Moshi on a few celebs - very cute tee! Love this Bunny on a canvas by Lauren Moshi.

I ordered these Sticky Bellies - to take pics of GMC - so cute! You get a sticker for each month. Great idea!

GMC is 6 weeks OLD!

Happy Tuesday! All weekend we watched the US Open and I just finished "Open" by Andre Agassi. I couldn't put the book down! WOW - such an intimate look into his life. He was a huge part of my growing up - as we used to watch him play in Cincinnati.

I cannot believe that little "GMC" (George Martin Carr) is now 6 weeks old (as of Friday). Amazing how quickly time flies. He is getting so big. His sisters adore him and are taking their roles as "big sisters" quite seriously -- always hovering around the little guy to make sure he is all good. Very cute.

It has been a whirlwind 6 weeks - we moved back into our house / had George on his due date / the gals started school (first grade - HUGE / and pre-kindergarten). I've learned a lot in 6 weeks - patience being KEY! AND I think I have officially come to peace with my status as a SUBURBANITE.

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend. I will be thinking about all those affected by September 11th. Some of my latest faves...

Summer is all about spending times with friends and family. I always like to have hostess gifts on hand. Here are some ideas from Daily Candy. These napkins are pretty hilarious (and practical) for messy ribs! Pretty cool heirloom recipe card box.

Hey there little "Cupcake" - too cute!

Check out these Henrietta birds - CUTE.

Very cool corsage - and one that you can keep forever!

Love these San Miguel Lanterns from Serena & Lily (part of their new fall items).

I have never been a huge fan of TOMS shoes but aren't these Tiny TOMS cute for your little one?

Check out these cute gold moccasins - adorable. LOVE them.

British Style Icon Alexa Chung designed some items for Madewell. Nice work. Love this cotton voile dress. The Annie blouse is pretty cute too.

My Status = Official Suburbanite

I have been living in the suburbs for over a year now and have finally (and officially) accepted my status from "CITY" living to the suburbs. I'm a suburbanite and now can admit that I love it. Believe me, it took me a LONG time to get over the fact that I had left the city. However, now I cannot imagine raising a family of 5 in the city (yet I wholehearted appreciate anyone that does). Wow, how times (and thoughts) change!

Oh how times have changed (if only I have been keeping a journal about a year ago):

• NEVER would I have been disappointed to have missed a block party (two weekends ago we were double booked but I still wanted to stop by the block party to say hello to everyone).
• TARGET - is now my GO TO store for one stop shopping. My sister and I used to have a standing Sunday date at Anthropologie (lunch and shopping). Oh how times change...
• I said I WOULD NEVER wear sweatpants or workout pants all day long. Ummm, well, I have. However, I will NEVER wear sweatpants that have elastic at the bottom (NO way) - as they still need to have some sort of flattering shape to them (something like these) and if I wear a "hoodie" it needs to be cute like this one. And yes, I have been known to wear my workout gear all day long - and I love anything Lululemon!
• I love our van (yes, I did just say that). Sliding doors are key. And when given the opportunity to drive our other car I sometimes even prefer the Honda Odyssey over the "real" car! This reminds me of my From Cabs to a Van post.
• And yes, I have recently purchased briefs after having George. Does that mean I'm a true suburban mom?

Don't get me wrong, I still love trying new restaurants and keeping up with all things hip/trendy but life has changed. I now know restaurants that are deemed "kid friendly" versus the latest ones to open! However, I wouldn't change any of this for the life I have now with Peter, Cate, Margaret and now our latest addition - little George Martin. All is well and life is good.

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has fun plans for the long weekend. I'm so ready for a 3 day weekend as I feel like we have been going full speed ahead for several weeks now. My Dad (George's namesake!) and Bonnie are coming in to town this afternoon for the weekend. They are meeting the little guy.

Love these new jeans from Gap that have bird graphics on the cuff. I love birds. I saw these jeans in several ads in mags and I think I want to check them out in person! And how cute is their "American in Paris" collection for little girls? ADORABLE.

A friend of mine from high school lives in NYC and on the side is doing some stand up comedy. She is pretty funny - check her out.

We have moved back into our house however, there is still a steady stream of items still being worked on. Yesterday the painters put up the wallpaper in the powder room. It looks AWESOME - I'm thrilled with it. Here is a sneak peak of the wallpaper.

LOVE this Three Rivers Top from Anthropologie. I like the "sky" color.

This Silly Bandz craze is NUTS - these bracelets are EVERYWHERE. Why didn't I invent them? Seriously. Here is another bracelet craze from Jac Vanek. My favorite = the Let it Be bracelet.

Cute card.

Stumbled upon this Reluctant Father - via Anthropologist.

Fashion Advice - From a 4 yr old

Happy Monday! "GMC" is just over a month old (as he was 4 weeks old on Friday). He is starting to smile which is so much fun. We had a busy weekend - two 40th birthday parties - which George attended.

Margaret has always been into clothes, accessories, jewelry and shoes. The term "girly" doesn't do her justice. I can NEVER get her to wear shorts or pants - she will ONLY wear dresses or skirts. And she definitely has her own sense of style and knows what matches versus her sister who really doesn't care.

Margaret LOVES being with me when I'm getting ready in the morning or when I'm getting ready to go out. She is one of my biggest critiques and picks up on the smallest details (if I change out a belt or wear unique shoes). I find it hilarious and quite endearing. So, of course, Margaret was hanging out with me Friday early evening as I was scrambling to get ready for a party. In my mind I had mapped out what I was wearing and thought I had it all figured out. However, I was a bit too optimistic when I mentally had planned on wearing some jeans that are probably more on the "skinny" side. Margaret was with me when I tried them on. I heard, "Mom, I think those jeans are too small for you, they don't fit over your legs." Ummm - true, yes, did I want to hear that OUT loud = NO. I smiled as she then said, "Maybe you should wear a dress, dresses are much prettier than jeans anyways. And Mom, I think you should wear this necklace." I didn't pull out a dress but I did change into some other jeans that did fit (and I was already planning on wearing the necklace Margaret had suggested). I chuckled to myself as a friend of mine had talked about the "fourth trimester" that no one talks about - where you are not at your pre-pregnancy weight just yet (so some of your old clothes are still a bit snug while you don't want to wear your maternity clothes anymore!). Sorry, not all of us can be like Gisele and appear in a Victoria Secret lingerie 6 weeks after giving birth!

I will be excited to fit back into those particular jeans and I am certain that Margaret will notice them! Patience...

My Latest Obsessions

Happy Friday! George is 4 weeks old today and is getting bigger and changing by the day. The gals started school this week so we are back on a schedule! The weather has been fab so I haven't driven since the weekend - as we have been walking to/from school! We have two 40th birthday parties this weekend and GMC will be making his debut! The house is coming along - a few more weeks of little items - and as we speak I'm surrounded by workers doing some last touches. The house looks FAB!

I have always had good luck w/Rachel Pally's items. I love her dresses - comfortable and cute. Here is a cute dress from her fall collection.

I love this little coat - the ruffles are ADORABLE.

Don't these Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries and Pecans look YUMMY? A good friend of mine forwarded me Bethenny Frankel's cookies - may make these!

Love this raincoat from Boden. Also, LOVE this giant houndstooth coat in the rose color.

Cate and Margaret already have backpacks for this year but aren't these puffer backpacks from Serena & Lily adorable? I love the carrot colored one!

Love this headboard. And the Bone Jaipur fabric would look great on it!

What I've Learned - Beating the CLOCK

Wow, it is crazy how time flies. George is already 3 weeks old (as of this past Friday)! I adore the little guy and Cate and Margaret cannot get enough of him.

I have been home with Cate and Margaret for a little over a year - and wow - I probably have learned more in one year (about myself / parenting) than I have ever learned. I'll never forget when I pulled out in the mini-van for the first time (or the first time I found myself LOVING the van for the sliding doors)!

I am always trying to beat the clock and squeeze as much as possible in to small increments of time. I remember driving downtown for my doctor appointments and trying to strategically find a parking spot that didn't require me the extra 5-7 minutes of time in the maze of a parking garage. Those extra 5 minutes matter (as I was racing to pick up Cate or Margaret from camp / school / a playdate). Now, I'm even more buckled to a schedule - as George feeds every two hours during the day (and he is like clockwork - literally on the dot he will start to fuss). My mind is always racing - 8 minutes to shower and get dressed / 7 minutes to get the girls out the door / 9 minutes to make mac and cheese / 5 minutes to stop at dunkin donuts / the list goes on and on!

Time management gives new meaning to the luxury of time! Lucky for me that my mind operates like a calendar.

My Latest Obsessions

George is THREE weeks today! Amazing how times FLIES!

LOVE all these items from Anthro - drapey and layered - perfect for the fall to come. LOVE. Oh no, my love of clothes is coming back...(after 10 months of being pregnant)!

Cute dress from ModCloth! Adorable mod flower canisters from Modcloth.

I spent the first couple of days home (w/George) chilling on the couch (something that I NEVER do, so it was a bit of a luxury). My youngest sister was here at the time and turned me on to Mad Men. Where have I been? Kind of crushing on Don Draper - umm, he is dreamy. And yes, I have been watching Bethenny Frankel's show...and yes, a bit addicted to that one as well (has been interested watching someone's unedited version of being prego and giving birth). Peter has been dying laughing at all the "series" I have gone through the last couple of weeks.

If I had a baby girl I would have jumped on this Paper Flower Chandelier from Pottery Barn Kids (as I LOVE anything paper). The gals already have an adorable chandelier (love that it looks vintage) in their room - so we are set.

Loving this heart pocket dress from Mini Boden. So cute. And this Stripy Long Top is ADORABLE. LOVE IT!

Check out Target's Newest Designer Collaboration with Gilt Groupe - starts today at Noon EST.

My Latest Obsessions

I LOVE the image above (great colors). Happy Friday! George is 2 weeks old today. Amazing to think that 2 weeks ago at this time we had just met little "GMC" because now I cannot imagine life without him.

I love this pillow that my friend Cynthia Espy dropped off the other day for GMC (from her company Amenities Home Design)! ADORABLE. Pillow reads, "Party in my room 2 AM." And a little birdie (my mom JuJu) relayed to her the nursery colors. How perfect! Check out all the quotes - my fave = "Wear cute pajamas to bed - you never know who you might meet in your dreams."

My youngest sister forwarded me this article on Designer Diapers. Pretty hilarious.

A friend of mine turned me on to Pint Size Social - pretty cute online mag. Yesterday's post was about Bake it Pretty. I may need to try to make these Quiche Enfant - sounds YUMMY! And how fun to serve them in these fun baking cups! Love these pink peacock baking cups. Cute.

A friend of mine from the gym (we share a love of Anthropologie / blogs / working out) dropped off some AMAZING (divine and so YUMMY) snicker brownies the other day in honor of George. I read about these amazing brownies on her blog (that she and her daughter co-author). OMG - talk about FAB! The entire pan was gone in less than 2 days!

My youngest sister Carrie was here for a few days visiting and she introduced me to Yogi Tea's Egyptian Licorice Tea - love it! Carrie fell in LOVE with George (which was so cute to see - and she took tons of pics - check them out).

What I have learned...

George is now 2 weeks old (amazing how time flies)! It has been an amazing two weeks - filled with lots of learning experiences and lots of smiles/laughter and JOY. Wow - having a baby is such an amazing experience. During my pregnancy Peter was super excited for me to experience giving birth and having a baby (he said - from his experience - that there is nothing like it). I now look at Cate and Margaret differently and our entire little family with a new level of love.

Oh, the things I have learned these last 2 weeks:

• MODESTY - goes out the window when in labor. I now laugh as I honestly didn't care who was in the room at that moment (you forget what is truly going on and that you are in a compromised position). I now laugh that the nervous 23 year old medical student was holding one of my legs while I was pushing (poor guy looked like he was about to pass out and me asking him questions about where he was from was not helping!). And it is hard to be modest about feeding your baby when their are a million workers still working on your house!
• EPIDURALS are a godsend. I respect and appreciate woman that decide to give birth naturally but OMG - once I received the epidural everything was serene/chill/zen. LOVED it! It allowed me to truly enjoy the moments up until I met George.
• FAMILY/GOOD FRIENDS - I feel so grateful that Peter's parents live down the street and that his siblings live close by as well. One of his sister's was so helpful in the beginning when I was struggling with breast feeding. And my mom and stepdad have been AWESOME - they flew in the Friday that George was born and helped us move that next day back in to our house the next day. And my mom (who has been our chief advisor throughout our renovation) has been our designing diva and has been putting the house back together! Little sister Carrie flew in from NYC and now adores George and had a hard time leaving. And friends have been incredible - w/their visits / calls / cute gifts for George and the girls / homemade dinners (YUMMY!) and just overall thoughtfulness.
• BRIEFS - I've gotten over the fact that they are not sexy and secretly (or not so secretly) have grown to like them!

My Latest Obsessions

Wow, so little George Martin Carr ("GMC") is a WEEK OLD today. I still cannot believe we have our little guy home with us. He is AMAZING - super chill and so adorable. I'm SO IN LOVE. And I love watching Peter and GMC sleep together (their morning ritual after my last feeding before we officially get out of bed) -- see above PIC.

Some of my latest faves...

Some of my latest baby faves (tried out in the last week) =

Aden + Adais swaddle blankets (so soft and cozy and super CUTE)

Uppa Baby Vista Stroller (LOVE it) and GMC sleeps in the bassinet by our bed every night

These would make a fun gift for someone - cute Lacey Hooplets.

This would make for a unique gift - Made to Order Custom Graphic Art Typography Collage.

Love these silhouettes - Thanks Dear!

I discovered Smythson when I studied abroad in Bath, England. I have a few of their Little Books. How cute is this Pink or Blue Baby Notes book? Quite a stylish way to keep track of all those little notes about your wee one!

I didn't realize that you could customize one of Land's Ends signature totes with your kid's artwork. What a great idea!

Kind of a fun way to make healthcare "remedies" CUTE!

LOVE this new Rimini Cardigan from J.Crew - FUN!

My Lastest Obsession - BABY BOY CARR

Pic = moments after "BBC" was born! Such a happy MOMENT!

WOW - so today was an AMAZING day! I delivered Baby Boy Carr this morning at 5:46 am and I'm now typing next to our beautiful little boy as we speak. Peter headed home for a bit to pack up our rental house as tomorrow we are moving back in to our HOUSE - hooray! Ironically he had taken the day off to pack - but "BBC" arrived just on TIME (his due date).

"BBC's" STATS:

FULL NAME = George Martin Carr

(George is my Dad and Grandfather's name and Martin is Peter's maternal Grandfather's name -- and also referred to as the "fifth Beattle")

WEIGHT / HEIGHT = 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 19.5 inches (love that day 1 in your life is the ONLY time that your "weight" is freely announced to EVERYONE)

PERSONALITY = CHILL CHILL CHILL (like his Daddy) and very expressive and prompt/calendar oriented (like his Mother!)

He met his Aunt Stephie and Uncle Sean / Aunt Michele / and Grandpa Carr today. Tonight he may meet JuJu and Grandpa T depending on their flight. And tomorrow George Martin gets to meet some of his so-called "Aunties" - some of my buddies that are making an appearance. The gals are at their grandparents lake house this weekend - and they will meet their baby brother on Sunday - cannot wait for them to meet him! We've officially gone from a FAM of FOUR to a FAM of FIVE!

I'm IN LOVE (with George Martin) and have an entire new level of love for Cate and Margaret as his big sisters. And I have this new level of love for Peter as the Daddy of our little guy. I melt everytime I see him hold little George. So cute!

Latest Obsessions

Okay, so usually I post on Friday about my Latest Obsessions, however, I wonder if I'll be going into labor w/BBC...so here goes. My mom (fondly known as JuJu) and Travis arrive Friday and we move back into our house SATURDAY! SO excited for all these fun events!

Finally, I can start to think about wearing non-maternity clothes (soon, a couple days maybe) again - wahoo! Doesn't this cardigan look cozy and fun for fall? LOVE it!

I'm kind of obsessed with our master bedroom and bathroom paint color - Benjamin Moore's Palladium Blue which is one of their historical colors. And hilarious...if you "google" it, it seems to get quite the praise from others as well. Cannot wait to MOVE IN! The blue will look fab with our new bedding.

Ever since my mom (fondly known as "JuJu" - she self-named herself this after deciding that she did not want to be "Grandma" - name = Julie) and Stepdad Travis moved to the mountains in AZ...I've come to appreciate cowboy boots / cowboy hats / turquoise jewelry / rustic decor. I saw this post on Shopbop entitled "Boho Goes West" -- LOVE IT! These Zuni Pyramid earrings are cute.

I too am swooning over Caroline Seikaly's stunning pieces.

I just discovered a new blog that I think will become a new FAVE = Paper Crave. Trolling around on Paper Crave I discovered some fun items = Starshaped Press (who happen to be in Chicago and their tag line is something my mom always says "old - timey") /

LOVE these soda shop straws. Super cute. And LOVE these cupcake wrappers. Love these princess cupcake wrappers and toppers. FUN! LOVE this colored baker's twine - so many fun colors.

A friend of mine passed along the following article entitled "Tell Me About It" - definitely feel like it describes the moment at hand as a stay at home mom!

I love tea parties. Isn't this High Tea blouse from Anthropologie adorable? LOVE IT! Makes me want to plan a little tea party w/some gals!

My sister bought a Helen Ficalora necklace some time ago and actually met Ms. Ficalora when she opened the Lincoln Park store in Chicago. I LOVE her stamped initial charms. HMMMM. Maybe a prezzie for myself after "BBC" is born (w/his first name, M and C's).

Check out some of these vintage party goods for Kids! Super cute and different.

And a good friend of mine - Taryn/Brian - their wedding is featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. FUN FUN! And our wedding was featured in Brides Chicago - wow, that seems so long ago now that I'm on to all things BLUE and BABY!

39 Weeks - Our Mini Watermelon

One of our last pics as a FAM of FOUR (before we are a FAM of FIVE)!!! LOVE IT.

So, we are in the final stretch for sure. Baby Boy Carr hit 39 weeks this past Friday - so any day now. One of my dear friends was two days behind me and had her baby boy this Saturday (so exciting). It has been amazing to share this experience step by step with a close friend who is having a baby for the first time as well. SO FUN. I never understood before the connection you have with other women once you are pregnant - this underlying sense of unity (amazing really). Everyone loves sharing their experiences of birth, babies and being a mom. Lots of perspectives, opinions and views.

"BBC" weighs a little over 7 pounds now (mini watermelon) and is about 20 inches long (according to BabyCenter). And he is ready to ROCK!

Latest Obsessions

Happy Thursday! The COUNTDOWN for Baby Boy Carr is ON!

Tonight Peter/I are having one last Date Night before "BBC" is born - dinner and a movie. We are checking out Leo's new movie Inception. Anyone seen it yet? I cannot believe that "BBC" is due here in a week - wild. He could come at any moment! My mom (JuJu) and stepdad are heading into town next Friday (so excited to see them) to help us get organized and back into our house and hopefully meet the little guy SOON!

How fun are these alphabet bags! LOVE THEM. This "You Look Lovely" bag is fun. And then there is the "OMG" bag - fun!

Saw that Edun is doing something for Sephora. Nice work! And Julianne Moore partnered with Kiehl's on a Limited Edition Acai Damage Protection spray.

Love Egg Press' new Happy Birthday card - as I have a thing for birds on them!

I think I may do something similar to this in our master bedroom. LOVE it! This idea is pretty neat too using a salvaged window.

LOVE these reinterpreted classic book covers by Mikey Burton. Very cool!

Tie dye is back in - completely reminds me of summer and camp! My nephew had on the most adorable tie dye shirt (that he made in camp). I saw Joanna Goddard's post on Tie Dye = FUN! And here is Shopbop's Sophisticated Side of Tie Dye.

Cute blog dedicated to fun projects, ideas for Kids Birthday Parties. FUN FUN! For instance, check out this ADORABLE Wizard of Oz party - beyond cute. And what a great company - party in a box.

38 Weeks - Our little "Leek"

So, this past Friday Baby Boy Carr hit the 38 week mark! Less than 2 weeks to go. The countdown is on - not only for "BBC" - but for our house (we move in the day after I'm due!!!). So many exciting things happening at the moment - hard to focus on just one or the other. According to Baby Center, little "BBC" has now plumped up to about 6.8 pounds and is about 19.5 inches long.

I cannot wait to meet the little guy who I have grown quite attached to - his kicking seems to be on a schedule (hmmm...maybe he will be a total schedule/calendar freak like me!).

So, now time to start thinking of what to pack for the hospital. Some items that will definitely go in my bag =

• Smith's Minted Rose's Lip Balm (have always loved this stuff - cheap/and love the old school packaging)
• Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer
• My Kindle and my i-pod

My Latest Obsessions

HAPPY THURSDAY! Love the above image - Love Flowers and THINGS Yellow!

I love Minted for their unique Holiday Photo Cards and Birth Announcements. Randomly I saw an email come through re: a contest (Minted's Next Top Model) they were holding...and SO FUN = WE WON (scroll down to see the pic they chose - which is one of my faves taken by Pen Carlson - that will be in their holiday collection)! Kind of FUN!

I love this lantern - simple and different and LOVE the red.

I saw this Portable LED Lantern on Daily Candy - what a fabulous idea for when you are dining al fresco in your backyard.

I was in Williams-Sonoma the other day and love looking around at all of their fun items (note that my goal of learning to cook = 2012). Don't these Puffy Apple Oven Pancakes look YUMMY! I love Le Creuset iron cookware -- and they have so many awesome colors to chose from. We have a couple of pieces in the cherry red but how fun is the green kiwi. They have come out with a pretty new color Cassis (LOVE IT). I'm VERY tempted to buy the set of limited edition flame colored Mini Cocottes (would make the perfect gift) - okay, so maybe I'm just drawn to them because of the Mac and Cheese recipe or the Molten Chocolate.

LOVE these vintage lawn chairs from Anthropologie. Colorful, fun and different.

Love this handmade platter from Mud Studio. Pretty scalloped cake stand. And how fun - you can thread ribbon through the holes. Apparently their Mud Chandelier has won them much acclaim. And how pretty is this Versailles dinnerware.

Cute old school looking bikini from Rachel Pally. This parlays into the NY Times article about retailers looking to profit from last century's styles. Check out this past spring's Jantzen collection (inspired by the glamour days of the 50's).

Week 37 - Our little "stalk of swiss chard"

I'm sitting down and getting ready to start another week. This past Friday I hit week 37 - so little Baby Boy Carr is officially considered full term, with just under three weeks left! According to BabyCenter "BBC" is about 6 1/3 pounds and measures a little over 19 inches.

Peter and I continue to wonder about "BBC" and what he will look like and what type of personality he will come out w/. I'm hopeful for a super chill little guy that goes with the flow (sort of like his Daddy!). If "BBC" stays put and arrives on or after July 23rd he will be a Leo and if he comes a bit early we will have a Cancer.

"BBC" as a potential Leo =

• Warm of Spirit, eager for action, eager for a desire to be loved for what they bring to others.
  
• Motto may be "What you see is what you get."


• Greatest strenght is a playful and loving nature.


• Party personality = Natural magnetism and flair for the dramatic gives the whole party a celebrity aura.


• Famous Leos = Tom Brady, John Stamos, Patrick Swayze, Matthew Perry.

"BBC" as a potenital Cancer =

• Fiercely loyal and has a difficult time letting go.


• Greatest strength = ability to nuture others.


• Favorite Ice Cream = Dairy products are a Cancer's favorite indulgence. And he likes his ice cream rich and gooey. Because he is security-oriented, vanilla is his favorite flavor -- Haagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche or Vanilla Swiss Almond. He may try making his own ice cream too, since he is handy in the kitchen.


• Famous Cancers = Kevin Bacon, Chris O'Donnell, Matthew Fox, Tobey McGuire.

Soon enough we will see if we have a little Leo or Cancer on our hands!