My Latest Obsessions

M + C gearing up for a day of skiing and GMC just chilling

GMC chilling w/Daddy

Happy Friday! WOW, I am all out of sorts schedule wise due to the long weekend. We were literally gone for less than 30 hours last Sunday/Monday to ski and hit the waterpark. However, you would have thought we were gone for a WEEK! So, it was a very pleasant surprise when I woke up this morning to the kiddos doing the HAPPY DANCE (= FRIDAY)!

We get to dress up tomorrow evening for an event (= FANCY FUN) and then Sunday we get to wear whatever we want and watch everyone all dressed up at the Oscars (even better, right?)! I LOVE watching the Oscars - not sure what I enjoy more = seeing who wins best picture OR my favorite part altogether = checking out what everyone is wearing! Okay, so I answered my own question!

Some of my latest faves:

• TOTALLY digging this long asymmetric skirt. Great color too.
• OMG, how ADORABLE is this tweed jacket for a little gal?! LOVE. Oh, and I always seem to be drawn to birds somehow = maybe even more adorable than the tweed jacket - bird print dress for a little gal.
• Cool little vintage treasure trove in Chicago. And the gal behind this apartment has a blog = my little apartment. And here we have some French Farmhouse Style in PA. Love it! And she is the gal behind Miss Mustard Seed.
• I am a firm believer in authenticity. I can appreciate blogger A Cup of Jo's mother's thoughts on this topic. And here is one of her Motherhood Monday posts that I thought was so courageously written - real and heartfelt. We are all human. Bravo. And personally I never truly understood the ups and downs of nursing until I experienced it myself. I can now look back (over a year ago) and clearly see that I experienced some of the complexities that can occur during the weaning process. Definitely real stuff. Oh, motherhood...the good, the bad, the reality!
• 1stdibs article on the gals behind Serena & Lily = very interesting. Cool to see how the two have partnered and come together to create what we ultimately know as Serena & Lily.
• Okay, so I've stumbled upon another FAVE etsy site = sidney ann. FABULOUS. LOVE. Totally dig the gold envelope clutch. Gold tote bag = FAB. LOVE this zipper pouch w/vintage fabric. Sidney Ann's blog = such fun finds!
• OMG = LOVE this vintage handkerchief letterpress calendar. AMAZING. You can reserve one here.  I'm a little bit nutty when it comes to the calendar so I love having pretty ones around. And I love that little C appreciates the concept of calendars too. It makes me laugh seeing her get so giddy when she lists out different dates. I GET it. Calendars to me = comforting. 

And lastly, one of GMC's new things to do when sitting at the island eating = patting the stool next to him (meaning - set your booty there Mom or Dad or C or M). It is so endearing. His little face lights up if you sit there w/him while he eats (for some reason it is not the same to him when you are standing across from him). Very cute.

My Latest Obsessions

M, PFC, C (Daddy Daughter Valentine's Day Dance) 

Happy Friday! Lots of PINK, RED and PURPLE this week for Valentine's Day. M had her big Kindergarten Valentine's Day concert and reception on Tuesday. Their very talented and amazing music teacher does something right - as they don't miss a beat. Very cute. We are heading to Lake Geneva at the end of the long weekend for some waterpark and ski action (not exactly sure about the skiing though due to the warm weather we are having this February).

The month of February always seems to bring up the topics of love, friendship, relationships, and how we relate to one another. I appreciate the concept of social emotional learning (SEL) and emotional intelligence and believe that they are HUGELY important in life. I LOVE that both C and M have been working on topics in the classroom that have given both of them a better sense of SEL. Today Margaret and I were talking about her own "bucket" and what she puts in it. At school they read the book, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today."  And all month C's class has been talking about small acts of kindness and they even started a project called "daily heart prints." It has been great to use the words "heart print" to use around the house when talking about kindness, appreciation and love.

Some of my latest faves:

• Sneak peek at Diane Von Furstenberg for Gap - debuting March 15th. Cannot wait to check it out! Looks adorable. 
• These Homemade Skinny Chocolate cakes look YUMMY! 
• Good looking Octagonal Earrings - to wear w/a crisp black dress = perfect.  
• Wow - cutie little shoes for little gals. 
• If you have a moment you MUST read this HILARIOUS post about a Mom and her son. It is like a chapter in a book about one of her kids. LOVE IT. I'm still laughing about it. This blogger is an amazing writer and I was just turned on to her a few days ago (and honestly have not stopped laughing since). You will most definitely laugh (out loud)! 
• Love, Laughter and Lunch = Helen Tsanos Sheinman's book. 
• Border Cards and Handkerchief envelopes. LOVE THESE. 
• How appropriate for Chicago travelers = the O'Hare shopper tote. 
• This Cat Eyeglasses Sweater made me laugh. I don't truly care much for cats. But something about it made me smile. 

My Latest Obsessions

Take me back = view from my Mom's front deck (good MORNING)

Anguilla = enough said!

Happy FRIDAY! WOW, I feel as though it has been awhile since my last post. When I start to feel frazzled or drained by the daily grind I think back to both of the above pics (and instantly I relax).

My last post was right before I left (alone = no kids and no PFC) to visit my Mom in Prescott, AZ. I was joking with friends that I stayed at my own private version of Canyon Ranch (and that I was the only guest). One of the ideas behind Canyon Ranch = revitilize your spirit. And honestly, that is exactly what I did. I relaxed. I ate great food. I was able to fully catch up with my mom (and sister who was there as well) minus the usual daily obligations and distractions. I slept in = PURE BLISS. Amazing how simple things (especially when you have young kids) like sleeping in becomes such a luxury. It was so nice to take some days off and just BE. Special thanks to PFC for making the trip happen and giving me some much needed mom/sister and alone time. He held down the fort at home w/the kiddos and that in and of itself was great (as it gave us both some perspective - especially for PFC as he caught a glimpse into my daily world).

And literally within days of returning from Arizona, PFC and I took off for a trip to Anguilla (w/ two other couples). We love Anguilla and got to know the island fairly well when we were there for our honeymoon a little over two years ago. LOVE LOVE LOVE. It was great to catch up w/PFC one on one and also hang w/our friends in such a gorgeous setting. And random, but I usually never wear hotel robes when on vacation (even though I love wearing my own robe at home). They always seem impersonal to me, but WOWser LOVED the robes while away = the Sferra Berkley (did a little digging and found the maker...). Honestly, the BEST ROBE EVER.

Now we are back to our daily GO GO GO. I missed the kiddos. It is interesting though when you step outside of your GO GO GO world for a bit and just BE you are able to introspectively look at your life and things w/ some perspective.

And lastly, I'll leave you w/some of my latest faves and findings:

• Top Ten Sites to Help Develop Your Creative Side. For me, I find that my blog posts tap into my creative side and they have become a nice reprieve from the daily grind. LOVE.
• World Happy Day = Tomorrow (2/11/12). Unfortunately, I'm unable to see the Happy Day movie tomorrow when it debuts but I DEFINITELY want to get my hands on a copy of it. Check out the trailer. Happiness is a choice.
• Some Valentine's Day ideas - GOOP (Gwenyth Paltrow) style. CUTE ideas.
• One of my dear mom buds passed along this great idea to make w/the kiddos = How to Recycle Old Crayons into New Crayons (V.Day style). We started w/step 1 yesterday = crayon wrapper peeling party! Tomorrow we'll start breaking up the crayons and putting them into our heart shaped pan. FUN stuff!
• Speaking of Valentine's Day and all things sweet, check out these yummy treats = Knock You Naked Brownies (by the lovely Pioneer Woman). I haven't made them yet but they are on MY MUST BAKE ASAP list.
• Oh, and I saw The Artist. LOVED it. I don't believe I have ever seen a silent movie before (maybe clips here and there from a Chaplin flick) but WOWser. AMAZING. And you can't go wrong in the eye candy department =  Jean Dujardin (France's answer to George Clooney) and the gorgeous Bérénice Bejo (TOTAL girl crush).
• And speaking of the French = Why French Parents Are Superior (interesting article). And here is a post that has been making the rounds = 2011 Lesson #2: Don't Carpe Diem = can totally RELATE.
• And lastly, I'm signing off w/a video that makes me LAUGH so hard = LMFAO's Sexy and I Know It. ENJOY. I can honestly watch it over and over again. TOO funny.

And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY next TUES!!!