Frivolous, Feminine Accessories this Spring! May 12, 2009

Today, at work, I was paging through the June issue of Lucky magazine.  (I know, don’t you feel so bad for me?  Being forced to read fashion magazines at work…)  Anyhow, one little snippet highlighted some cute hair accessories, mainly frivolous headbands the likes of which I’ve never owned. 

All of the sudden I’m wondering if I could pull off one of these feminine concoctions.  I don’t know if it’s because my 4-year-old daughter prefers a headband to having her hair “fixed” or because my 2-year-old son is known to dance around our house in a floral headband while me daughter dances in a matching one, but know I’m sure I’d like to try one.   It seems that everyone else in my house who has hair wears them with gusto.  And then, I did wear them constantly as a child, and the 80’s are coming back.  I wonder…

A bit of browsing around online unearths some inspiring styles at a few of my favorite boutiques and on Etsy.com.  The three I’ve posted here are from Anthropologie. Now, how do I choose?  The coral poppies are so springy!  The duchess headband looks soft and comfortable, plus neutral.  But, I do looooove mustard, so this headband with mustard felt flowers catches my eye.  Feel free to chime in here.  Which one do you like?

And then, I get sucked into shopping for a sunhat, because I need one (really, I lost mine).  But can I settle for sensible neutral choice, like this lovely hat from Ann Taylor?  Nooooo, I really love this colorful sunhat from Anthropologie, because doesn’t it just look perfect on the model?  I know, I know, it has to look good on me.  But, what can I say, I do love color!       

And that’s how my day turned into an expose on frivolous, delightful, utterly fashionable accessories.  I can just imagine what my husband will say (or try not to say) when I pull these out of the box!  Oh well, like I always tell him.. I’m the fashion expert!

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Spring Trend – Maxi Dresses April 7, 2009

Have you tried one yet?  This season the Maxi Dress is making it big.  On our maternity site, we’ve been shipping more maxi dresses than jeans!  I can see why, the long length makes you look taller and the roomy skirt skims over the figure to hide trouble spots.  It’s nice to see fashion embrace something that can be worn by every woman. 

Maxi dresses are great for outdoor events, from weddings to baby showers (for you pregnant mamas).  Entertaining guests for a cookout?  Strolling with the kids at the zoo?  Maxis go from casual to formal with a change of jewelry and shoes. 

What makes for a stylish maxi dress, other than length?  Fabric!  The best maxi looks feature exotic printed fabrics or statement colors.  Add to that, a sexy cut.  A long dress with too much coverage up top can be a bit boring.  Bare your shoulders with a halter style or show some decollete, and enjoy the sun this spring!

Time for Two February 26, 2009

I’m back!  On Sunday my husband and I got away for our first trip alone together in 7 years.  Yes, it’s been that long!  Between having babies and not having too much extra cash, we’ve skimped on too many anniversaries.  Times have been hard for us lately, so my husband really had to convince me that now was the time for a romantic getaway.  I insisted we kept it relatively cheap, so we found a modest Bed and Breakfast in nearby Charleston. 

It was wonderful!  Three days of no schedule, kid-free shopping, culture and food – perfect.  I love my kids.  So much.  But, it was just amazing to be spontaneous, spend all-day doing “grown-up” things and go out for a late movie without a care.  In fact, the highlight of our trip was an afternoon nap in the bed and breakfast!  Oh the pure luxury of adult napping!

If you have relegated time alone with your spouse to the back-burner, take some action.  I know that the kids are pure joy and that outings with other families are great for all… but there’s something magical about rediscovering your spouse and your love unencumbered by the realities of life.  Especially if you’re pregnant, take time for two while you have the chance! 

Here are some ideas for keeping down costs:

• Plan your trip during the week to take advantage of mid-week prices
• Limit your destination to a two-hour driving radius
• Schedule 1-2 activities and leave the rest of your time open.  Spontaneity is wonderful!  Naps and long walks in nature are more restful and rejuvenating than touristy activities.
• To limit food expenses, pack a lunch for the first day, choose a lodging that provides breakfast and save dinner leftovers for lunch or snacks!

In the Spirit of the New Year January 2, 2009

It’s 2009, a fresh new year.  My daughter, Aria, was thrilled to be told yesterday that it was the first day of the whole year.  A change of month, plus a change of year was just so much fun for her.  She kept saying, “It’s January, the coldest month of the year!” with great enthusiasm.  Perhaps it helped that we baked a chocolate raspberry New Years cake together… but really, she just loves to mark the days. 

I don’t like resolutions.  They always seem birthed from the negative as in “I’ll eat better,”  “I’ll exercise more,” or “I won’t neglect the garden.”  But, in the spirit of the New Year, I’m reflecting on some goals for 2009.

1. Build a set of compost bins and start composting
2. Start dancing again for exercise (and therapy… oh, what an hour of ballet can do for my soul!)
3. Get a flock of egg-laying chickens
4. Research and plan our vegetable garden for 2010
5. Develop my cooking skills with an eye towards economics and health.  Specifically, I hope to learn to cook our sandwich bread and salad dressings, buy/cook beans in bulk, and find our way into a weekly dinner rhythm that allows our afternoons to fall together without stress and with savings!  
6. Enrich our lives with  more Waldorf inspired ways – more simple traditions, more seasonal festivals, more time outside, more crafting, more beauty in our home.  A lifestyle of togetherness, spirituality, and less is more mentality.   
7. Worship and honor God in all that we do.

Fashion this Fall (with a Sneak Peak into Spring) August 26, 2008

I know that we all care most about healthy pregnancies, joyful births and thriving babies… but a girl’s gotta take a break now and then to indulge in some clothes.  My mom and I just returned from fashion week, where we shop ahead for our maternity and nursing designer clothing store.  Just as we start to see hints of summer’s end, we go to market to shop for Spring of 2009.  So, now I’m in the mood to talk fashion.

Our fall collections are just starting to arrive.  Key trends this fall include playful sleeves, bold colors and that full tunic/slim pants or leggings combination.  Last fall women started to get comfortable with playful sleeves.  In 2008 we’ll be embracing endless variations: lantern shapes, full kimono styles, poet sleeves, dramatic puffs and more.   If your arms aren’t your favorite asset, this is the trend for you because these full sleeve styles hide everything!

As for color, it’s bold and beautiful, ladies!  Less of the soft plums and gentle browns, more of the vivid jewel tones (sapphire, emerald, ruby) paired with gray or black for contrast.  You’ll also see lots of bold prints, often with a mod influence.  Choose a color or print that reflects your personality.  Bold color looks good on most anyone!

And then there’s the tunic concept.  Are we ready this year?  Last year all the magazines, runways and movie stars trotted around in leggings and full tunic tops.  Did you try it?  I haven’t mustered up the guts to buy leggings, but I did embrace the long, full top paired with slim jeans concept last fall.  I can tell you it’s a great way to camouflage that postpartum baby bulge!  More of that to come for fall and it’s not letting up for spring.  Go on – try it.

Well, that’s fall, but spring is on my mind as well.  I’m not allowed to publish any pictures, but I can tell you what it looks like.  Colors are bold and bright: coral, magenta, yellow, emerald green and scarlet.  Most of those colors are easy to wear, but yellow can be difficult.  One of our favorite designers used yellow in combination with navy, white and navy/white stripes to create a fun, nautical-inspired look that’s really fresh.  Dresses are very strong for spring, as well as vivid prints.  More options in organic and eco-friendly printing processes were a great surprise.  You can bet we’ll be buying those.

So that’s fashion.  I love this time of year, when fall is almost here and the holidays too.  My birthday’s in September… which is a great time to indulge in some new stylish things.

I love Etsy.com July 8, 2008

Once you discover Etsy.com you’ll be addicted.  Etsy is the place to buy and sell all things handmade.  It’s full of amazing, gorgeous products (most of them one-of-a-kind) and all sold directly from the artist.  Because you buy direct, you enjoy decent prices on premium goods and get to support stay at home moms too! 

My first purchase at Etsy.com was for my 3 1/2 year old daughter, Aria.  I found some adorable cloth diapers for her baby dolls.  If you have an older child, you may have noticed that they love to diaper their babies, just like mommy.  Sadly, the diapers that come with dolls in big box stores are ridiculously hard for little fingers to use.  So, I found some cute printed diapers with easy velcro closure in this mama’s store.  She even made me a custom sized “mini” diaper for one of Aria’s favorite tiny dolls.

And that brings up another good point.  At Etsy, so many artists would love to make custom projects, and often at no extra charge.  My current project is having the woman at Tiara’s Tutus make us a mermaid crown that will match a skirt we already have. How fun!

Get Your Free Cloth Shopping Bag! May 22, 2008

Today I discovered the self-dubbed “Green Bag Lady “.  This “bag” lady makes cloth shopping bags for people – for free – in an effort to cut down on the ridiculous number of plastic bags our society consumes.  It’s really as good as it sounds.  You just ask for a free bag, she ships you one, and you promise to use it!   I was tempted to request one, but I’m already stocked with canvas shopping bags.  So, I will live vicariously through you.  Go, get your free Green Bag Lady bag!

P.S. Do you have unused fabric just sitting in your closets?  Send it to the Green Bag Lady!  She makes her bags only from donated fabrics.