Wish List: Summer Edition

Rain, Rain, go away.  Come again next year.

Okay, so the rain actually did go away but it is still too cold to feel like summer.

These clothes make it feel like perhaps, it is closer than I think (fingers crossed).  

Thakoon Addition Tie Dye-Print Playsuit

Zimmerman Dreamer Ruffled Swimsuit

Missoni Cannes Crochet-Knit Kaftan

Burberry Leather Espadrille Wedges

A Place to Eat

Now that we are unpacked and settled into the new place, we need a LOT of furniture.  There is no way we are going to be able to do this all at once so I am starting with the kitchen since it is almost done.  The one thing we desperately need is a new kitchen table.  The one we had broke (thank you Baby Girl) and I was not willing to buy a new one, knowing that we were moving.  A couple weeks ago I went to Comforts of Home, an Orange County based custom furniture store and came across this little floor model (sorry, iPhone quality).

Refurbished wood?  Check.  Bench seating on one side?  Check.  Can be made to fit 6 people?  Check.  This table was perfect.  Yes, we need to wait 4-6 weeks to get it, which means a few more meals at the dining room table (that thing has been used and abused by my kids), but it will be worth the wait.  I think it is going to look great in the new kitchen and being a family of 5, we will finally have a kitchen table we can ALL sit around comfortably.  To finish out the look, I ordered this rug (in the navy stripe) to sit underneath the table.

Ballard Designs Striped Braided Indoor/Outdoor Rug

And with these two purchases, the kitchen will be finished!  Next stop, the family room!  But for right now I will be taking a little bit of a furniture break, compliments of my financial advisor (aka. hubby).

Seeing Red

After an evening of the French taking over (I must see The Artist), heartfelt speeches (love Octavia), and Angelina posing on stage, the one thing I loved the most was Michelle Williams dress.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton via

Followed by a love for Emma Watson's dress, and her fantastic humor on stage (I wish I was funny too).

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli via via

And what was my biggest take away from the night?

The excitement to see Titanic in 3D.

Yep, totally going.

Let's Pretend

This past Saturday Pretend City, Bloomingdale's and Juggling in Heels came together to play dress up, get pampered, do some shopping and support Mentoring USA.  I am not sure who had more fun, me or the kids.  Pretend City brought in lockers, each filled with different professions.  The children could dress up in their favorite career, get their picture taken or even make a flip book (this might have been my favorite).  Meanwhile, the moms were able to sit for a second and get pampered by Chanel, Lancome, Jo Malone and Estee Lauder.  The kids snacked on mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (I perhaps grabbed a few too...they were incredible) and sipped on purple lemonade while the moms enjoyed mini cupcakes and a delicious mocktail.  Here are just a few photos of the day.  Thank you so much Bloomingdale's for letting me be a part of such a great event!

Me with Jaime Strong, PR Manager for Bloomingdale's

Even Baby Girl took part in the pampering

For privacy reasons, if I did not speak to you about posting your child on the blog, I did not include the photos here.  If you are interested in any pictures of your children, feel free to email me!

Midnight in Paris

Have you seen this movie?

I am obsessed.

I watched it on the flight home from France (Remember that trip here, here, here, and here?) and at the time was hoping the plane would turn around and take me back.  The soundtrack is also incredible and I call it my musical xanax.

This movie and music remind me of just how much I just adore France.  I am inspired by French design, love French fashion, enjoy French wine and dream of living in the French countryside.  I may not be able to go there again right away, but there is plenty of items that can take me back for just a bit.

ASOS Bonjour Sweater

French Bistro Tray

Plain Patent Flats

Bouchard Pere and Fils Wine
One of our wine tasting stops in Beune.  Amazing.

Chanel No. 5

The uber-exciting Kid's (and Mom's) Day Out is TOMORROW at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza.  Click here for all the details and I hope to see you there!

Sassy Satchels

Remember this super old post on The Cambridge Satchel Company cross-body I ordered for our trip to France?  Well, it turned out to be the perfect accessory to walk through the streets of Paris and bike ride through the Palace of Versailles with.  I was so happy with the purchase and still use it all the time as both a cross-body and a clutch.

Recently, Cambridge Satchel Co. has taken the classic up a notch and introduced some incredible new colors including neons and metallics.  They are fab!  Yes, I love my Classic, but I could definitely use one with a little sass too.

Beyond their bags being extremely fashionable,  they also withstand EVERYTHING (believe me, I have three kids, I know) and their customer service was incredible.

All the above items are available here.

Portobello Mushroom Lasagna

After a LOOOOONG weekend of moving and unpacking, I was tired of eating out and decided to put our new kitchen to the test.  We had some friends come over for dinner Monday night and I wanted to make something hearty, yummy and not so "everyday".  The hubby of this couple is a Chef so imagine the pressure.  I decided to go with Barefoot Contessa's Portobello Mushroom Lasagna, a nice French twist on a traditional lasagna.  They brought the caesar salad (with homemade croutons and dressing...see what I mean!) and we added some delicious rolls to finish off the dish.  Served with some wine, it was the perfect meal to rejuvenate this exhausted lady.

Change

Who doesn't love change?  I do!  In fact, I am obsessed with it and as soon as I decide one thing, I want to go in a different direction.  Perhaps Bi-Polar or perhaps, I am just a woman and that is what we do.  Anyway, when we purchased our house, part of the buying agreement was that the seller would redo the kitchen and butler pantry for us.  Why?  Because this is what it looked like.

Excuse the realtor and hubby

Not terrible, just SO NOT my taste,  Too dark, not a huge granite fan, no comment on the backsplash and overall, it was definitely something we would want changed.  So imagine our excitement when it all worked out and we knew the kitchen would be done before moving in.  Nothing like planning a kitchen remodel while packing up your house, having a sick family and living the crazy I call life.  BUT, I could not be more happy with the finished product.

Excuse my box of randoms coming from the old house.  I was too lazy to move it.

Baby Girl would not move, no matter how nicely I asked.

So MUCH BETTER!!  The countertops are a grey quartz, the backsplash is marble cararra, the paint is obviously white and I now know that I could never build a house because picking out three items was incredible stressful.  I cannot even imagine what designing an entire house would be like.

MOVING DAY!

Moving Day is finally here.  I have been buried under boxes for weeks and I am just so excited to get settled in the new house.  I am going to take a little break from blogging over this holiday weekend but will return on Tuesday with a very fun change that was made to the house before we moved in.  I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and I will "talk" to you all next week.

To send you off for this long weekend, here are just five of the thousands of looks I loved from New York Fashion Week's Fall 2012 Collections.

Marchesa

Michael Kors

Proenza Schouler

Rodarte

Donna Karen

I am dying to go to New York Fashion Week and attend some shows at some point.  It is on my Bucket List and I am hoping I can cross it off my list soon.  

Don't forget!  The Bloomingdale's event that I am hosting is ONE WEEK away!  Click here for details.  Bloomingdale's, Pretend City and me?  Why would you not come?!

Tiger vs. Bebe

It is the Battle of the Tigers vs. the Bebes 

(as my friend K so eloquently put it....I did not want to take credit)

or, in other words,

-VS-

Parenting books have now taken a new turn, determining which culture is actually superior in parenting.  The question I want to ask is, why do we need books on how to parent?  Aren't we supposed to figure this out on our own?  I mean, my mom did not read all these parenting books, raised 6 children and we all turned out okay.  If anything, it seems these books are only creating more stress in moms.  Giving us pointers on how to be "the perfect parent".

I have not read either of these books, just simple excerpts.  If I had to choose, I would take the path of the French.  I think Tiger Mom might be a little too much for me.  I have issues with over-scheduled children, classes for babies, and having my children depend on me for entertainment 100% of the time.  So, perhaps I am more French than I realized.  But that is my personal opinion.  You are welcome to completely disagree.  To each their own, right?

What about you?

Have you read either of these books?

What do you think?

Also, where is the parenting book on American parenting?  Does no one want to write a book about us?