Monday, August 30, 2010

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...

Friday, August 27, 2010

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!

Monday, August 23, 2010

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.


Friday, August 20, 2010

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.

Friday, August 13, 2010

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).

Thursday, August 12, 2010

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!

Friday, August 6, 2010

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!