L&H in Real Simple

Real Simple included our 2011 Calendar in their round up of nine calendars!  We're in good company, too.  Check out the round up here.

Thanks, so much Real Simple!

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On

You might be one of the over 4 million people who have already seen this, but I thought I'd share this really cute & funny video my nieces & nephews shared with me over Christmas. 

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Wishing you & yours a very happy & healthy holiday and new year!

Be back in January with (hopefully) more regular content:)

Vintage Wrapping Paper

How great is this wrapping paper I picked up at the Brooklyn Flea this week?  I don't think I can bare to use it, though.  (I'll never shake that paper/stationery hording thing in me.)  I love the patterns & wish they were on fabric.  Of course the crafting possibilities are endless with paper, but lately, I've been drawn to fabric - little pouches, drawstring bags, zip purses.  With holiday fabric in these patterns, I'd wrap up a wine bottle or make a little stocking or maybe some simple coasters or napkins.  (Making anything these days besides warm bottles seems a world away, but I'm looking forward to getting back there next month!)

Santa

No tears!

I think Griffin is too young to get what's going on.  (And when I said this to John, he said, "No really?!")  He was way more interested in the 30 other kids running around than Santa.  And forget about telling Santa what he wants for Christmas:)  Maybe next year we'll get some more action.

ps, We're really getting our money's worth with this little Christmas sweater jumper I bought Griffin.  Pat on the back for Mom... for humiliating the poor guy over & over:)

From the {Nursery} Fridays: Santa Baby

Griffin gets to meet Santa this weekend!  I'm hoping for no tears, but I'm pretty sure that's just part of the deal when you're almost 11 weeks old.  Poor Santa.  :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Lucky Mag Deal of the Day

Did you know about Lucky Magazine's daily email announcing sales of 40-50% off?  I didn't, until they asked me to participate.  That's a huge savings!  And I swear they didn't make me say that.  I just signed up for it.

Anyway - until tomorrow you can get our 2011 Calendar at 50% off.  As they say, sneeze and you'll miss it.  :)

Visit Lucky here to check it out.

From the {Nursery} Fridays: New Favorite Book

Last weekend at my mother's family's Christmas party, my aunt gave me this book for Griffin: On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman.  I had never heard of it before, but after reading it to Griffin with tears in my eyes, it has quickly become my favorite and has been read to him at least once every day since.  I thought I'd quote you the last part, my favorite part:

If the moon stays up until morning one day,

or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,

or a little bird sits at your window awhile,

it's because they're all hoping to see you smile...

For never before in story or rhyme

(not even once upon a time)

has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, not ever again...

Heaven blew every trumpet

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous

night you were born.

You must read the whole thing, though.  It's short, but so very sweet.  It's going to be my new gift-must for parents to be.  (Thanks for the introduction, Aunt Beth! xoxo)

Brrrr!

I looooove this coat.  But it's sold out:(  I'm waiting to hear if it's available at any retail stores.  I love my puffy Patagonia for keeping me super toasty - but I ski in that jacket.  I need a proper coat.  And this one, in this color, looks perfect.  My cold fingers are crossed! 

RIP iPhone

That's right.  Rest in peace, iPhone.  See ya!  Never wanna be ya!

I finally acted on my frustrations and threats.  Frustration in not reliably being able to make or receive a phone call from my couch, or on my block, or three blocks from here.  And threats like "I'm switching to a flip phone!" or "I'm going to throw you out the window!"  And let's not even talk about the amount of times I've apologized for dropping calls.  I used to make excuses: "Sorry, I must have hit a dead spot."  "Sorry, I'm driving. Service is spotty."  After about 50 of those, I started cursing myself:  "Sorry, I'm an idiot & still have this stupid phone."  I even told my friend to punch me in the face if I didn't have a new phone by the following week.

Well, that week was last week.  I'm now iPhone free and couldn't be happier.  I'm able to walk and talk - imagine that!  I will say that the iPhone is King of Pretty & I do miss that.  But with a 9 week old, when Pretty can't make calls, Pretty turns Ugly real quick.

This all said, if things go well with the iPhone/Verizon partnership in January, I might just have to switch back.  What?  I like Pretty.  :)

From the {Nursery} Fridays: What I've Learned

In the past nine weeks, I feel like I've done an Ironman, taken 100 exams (& stayed up all night studying for them), and had my body used as a science experiment.  Being a new mom is the hardest thing I've ever done.  And as I've heard it described, "hardest and best" thing I've ever done.

Now that I feel like I'm finally getting back on my feet a bit, I thought I'd share a few things I've learned along this relatively short roller coaster ride:

1) Breastfeeding (sorry, I have to go here b/c it's the number one thing I've learned) is hard!  It's not "natural" or "intuitive" and is certainly not easy.  Well, maybe to some three lucky women out there it is, but not this one.  It takes work, and as I've learned, not doing it right can lead you to the doctor's office (and then a specialist & then a dermatologist) many times for many different meds.
2) Women don't talk about things like number 1.  (Why that is is something I don't know.)
3) I can get by on four hours of sleep.  Barely & bleery-eyed, but I can do it.  And a full stretch of four hours seems like a good night's sleep.
4) I've never felt love like this before.  It was said to me by many moms, and it is absolutely true.
5) When I get up in the middle of the night, I forget that I'm tired as soon as I see Griffin.
6) Kingsley isn't jealous of Griffin, she just wants as much attention now as she got before he was born.
7) I can do this.  (Took me a while to get here.)
8) Time flies.
9) Happy Mommy, happy baby.  And happy Daddy.  And happy dog.
10) I'm starting to see why people do this more than once.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

[photo of me & Griffin the day we left the hospital]

Famille Summerbelle Wallpaper

How gorg are these wallpapers from Famille Summerbelle?!  I'm picturing them in a powder room or a childrens room or a hallway.  Perfection.  I have yet to wallpaper a room in our apartment, but I'm dying to & these are high up on the list.

Trumpette Socks

How cute are these seasonal Nordic socks by Trumpette?  Griffin loves his Vans ones & these are just too cute to pass up for the holidays - especially when they're being offered right now on Gilt Groupe for half the price.

Cyber Monday Sale!

 

Now that Turkey Day is over & Christmas is a mere four weeks away, we think you might need to start checking people off your list.  For today only, we're offering 25% off your entire order when you enter code MONDAY25 at checkout.  And, as a extra bonus, UPS ground shipping is only $5!  (As always, orders over $100 ship for free.)  This offer is only available through midnight tonight, so hop to it!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

I couldn't resist this Kindergarden crafty favorite today, Griffin's first holiday.

Happy Turkey Day!

xoxo, 

Griffin & his mom:)

iPhone Flip Book?

Wouldn't it be genius if you could export your iPhone photos to be made into a little flip book?  I know you can do that with Kodak or Mac, but I'm talking one step, here.  In other words, Mommy-friendly.  The easier & simpler, the better - because we're running on very little sleep.  I use my iPhone for the camera more than I do the phone these days, and I'd love a little book of all these photos.  Until I figure out how to get my little flip book made, I'll just post some here. Get ready:)

I'm baaaaaaack

Hello friends!! 

I'm so happy to be back blogging again.  It's been nice (and necessary) to have unplugged for the past six weeks, but I do miss the online chatter - and a big part of that being this little blog.  I'll be posting a few times a week for now, and they're likely to be baby-heavy in content, but that's my life right now.  I'm sure it'll eventually balance out, but for now, it's Mister time all the time - so it would be a serious challenge to share anything else. 

So what's been going on with you guys?  Any news in the blog world I missed?? 

A big BIG thanks to Lizzy for posting while I was out.  She was fab, no?!  If you want more from miss Lizzy, check out her blog here.

[above: Griffin, taking a cue from his pre-teen celeb heroes, giving the peace sign]

Happy weekending !

Hooray ! Liz is back Monday. I leaving you with more balloons, and, of course, a favorite quote.

To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable; and
wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think
quietly, talk gently, act frankly...to
listen to stars and buds, to babes and
sages, with open heart; await occasions,
hurry never...this is my symphony.

-- William Henry Channing

Happy

So I stopped posting because Liz thought she was ready for her return. And while I'm sure she's very close, I think our fearless blogger hasn't been feeling very well. I have a whole folder of Balloon pics on my desktop I started saving a long time ago, and was hoping to incorporate into Liz's "30 for 30" birthday gift this past July.

Somehow I never got to them though. She's bananas for balloons, so I thought Id share a few in hopes that she looks + they make her smile. Such a childhood pleasure, right ? And what makes these floating shapes so happy + celebratory ? I don't even know that I can pinpoint it. But since early high school liz was delivering huge butterflies, and bees and birthday cakes floating high above our heads. I've loved them ever since. Hope everyone's having a good week !

An Email

Somehow guest blogging has warranted me receiving flattering emails about L&H. But instead of just passing it along to Liz, I figured I'd share it here where you + she can see it :). Last Wednesday, I got this in my inbox from my dear friend Ginger ::

Just got my 2011 calendar and couldn't wait to put up Jan and Feb... I always have 4 months on my bulletin board, and Nov and Dec have been lonely!

Looks great, right ?? Best Corporate Lawyer bulletin board I've ever seen...

From The (virtual) Desk

So I won't pretend to actually be at Liz's creative epicenter in Brooklyn, but when I received the coolest most prettiest Paperless Post in the whole wide world I realized - Duh ! - I hadn't even looked at the Linda & Harriett array on the classiest way to send an invite sans postage stamp website. Drool inducing. I'm glad I don't have anywhere to invite people right now because I don't know how I would choose. They're like commissioning Liz to make you the chicest letterpress invites ever, but they're instantaneous and the cost of the e-stamp. Start party planning this weekend kids, these won't be around forever + you probably need them to up your good taste party planning ranking.

Great Minds Think Alike.

You guys remember Liz's awesome paper quilt beginnings, right ?? Her use of scrap pieces of her beautiful prints ? Well it seems as though the amazing French clothing line A.P.C. had the same idea ! Look at these awesome quilts they've begun making from years and years of old A.P.C. fabric. Each is handmade by women in Bangalore, India. Pretty awesome -- as are all their clothes.

Paint Pots.

This is the back cover of the Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Studies Catalog. I have it on my desktop in pdf form + on my kitchen counter in book form. I just love the cover too much to dispose.

this is the front cover with their labeling chopped off. I just think it's so well done I don't know what to do with myself. The color, the absence of, the combination, the words and the neon (can't tell in the PDF below) binding to pull it all together, leave it to RISD, right ??

And When He Hides

Make you're own ! I learned in my color class last week that we usually use matching color intensity to our environment--meaning that if we live in Seattle of Vancouver, we keep our interiors more grey, more neutral. While if we live in Africa or the Caribbean we use vibrant high chroma colors. Maybe this makes sense to you (think coral pink + turquoise houses in the Islands), but it was sort of shocking to me. I just kept thinking about how when its grey outside I want to wear bright + happy. Well maybe our interiors and exteriors are different than our clothing, especially on a changeability level.

But I digress -- clearly this woman had the same idea as me last week on a rainy Manhattan day. Her yellow, red, turquoise, and pink ensemble stopped me in my tracks, and I don't think they would have on a gorgeous sunny day. Look at how her hat makes that flower bed and pipe covers pop ! Fantastic. I hope she stayed their all day (but stopped smoking) for all other passersby.

Mr. Golden Sun

Makes all the difference in my day and my mood. I hope whatever corner of the world you inhabit, you had all shades of fall and yellow this weekend. I was working with yellow last week, and looked up to see my palette filled with shades. They reminded me of the beautiful late afternoon light at this time of year that really is golden. If you're holed up in an office at 5 or 6 pm these months, take a minute to run outside and enjoy it. I know it always rejuvenates my mind and my soul. Happy November friends !!

Get Candy.

In case this Month ran by you in a blur I'm here to tell you it's Halloween ! I'm sure by now everyone has fun plans and creative costumes, but here are a few fun products I've come across this year and have been posting on my blog this week. Whether for your own party or for your hostess... Above are "Cinderella pumpkins." Aren't they darling ?? Not carving friendly, but fairytale friendly for sure.
I'm also LOVING this "Vodka in a Skull." An awesome vessel for the whole year really. A friend said today her boyfriend wast trying to figure out how to make it a mini fish tank post vodka. I think it would be great as a bud vase on a shelf. You could also use it as a water jug for the dinner table. And if you're not one for skulls (shame on your if you're not), black vodka is another fun unusual option.
And off topic of spirits is this fantastic black toilet paper. It's amazing how much its the little things in life, right ?

And if you're up for a fun baking project I made these last year. A lot of fun, but a lot of time :). And if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, THIS is the best. Liz and I both adore him.

Vintage L&H Part Three.

K, I promise no more for a while, but I had to post these because they are sort of my favorite. Ever. Have you ever seen something sweeter, more darling or more precious (did I just say the same thing three times ?) than this little doll above my initials ? This was one of the very first stationary gifts Liz bestowed on me and it was definitely Christmas, because I remember opening them in my mother's kitchen.

I got a mix of little gift tags and flats (above + below), and if I'm being honest ? I still have most of them. I just love this little sweet girl so much I can't bear to part. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge proponent of "why buy the good china if you're not gonna use it ?" but in this case using means losing, and I'm sort of too selfish. Love her. Know that if you ever see her little profile show up in your mailbox you are very very special.

Vintage L&H Part Two.

I held this post off so that 3 week old Griffin could get some air time. And my posts seem silly with a little life to talk about, but I guess for now, back to moi.

This one isn't so vintage as the time line is concerned, but vintage in the sense that L&H personalized stationary is not just a click away like it used to be. Liz made me these beautiful flats on the thickest most luscious paper ever, in my favorite color (blue), with perfect envelopes to match for one birthday. My favorite part about them is how versatile they are. They are mature and simple so they work for everything from a quick hello to a thank you or a more serious condolence not. They are such high quality and so sophisticated I could send them to the queen, but cool enough with the awesome font that I could send them to the pied piper of hipsters (heehee. The two extremes of monetary/image snootiness). Like Elaine and her discontinued sponges, I take out my precious flats, hold the thick card stock, and think long and hard about whether or not the recipient deserves one :).

Griffin: Three Weeks

Just a little break in Lizzy's guest blogging to say hi.  So far, Griffin is a pretty good sleeper, but I hear that can change around now - yikes!  He especially loves this blanket his Farmor ("Grandmother" in Swedish) made for him.  I like to think he sleeps better with it over him because I sleep better with heavier blankets:) 

We'll check in again soon.  Until then, send us lots of Zzzzzz vibes!

xo
Liz

Vintage L&H Part One.

As I said Friday, I was searching for some old school L&H last week. And as I said, Liz and I share a deep love for the State of Maine. In our early creative meeting days, when we'd daydream about where our companies were headed + about packing up and pitter-pattering around on the cobble stone streets of Portland, Liz made me this. A faux moving announcement for my fantasy move. How darling is it ?? And see that clear string on the right ? For years it had a cutie little plastic buoy hanging down (sorta kinda like the one below), and it hung on the wall over my desk. When I moved, I ripped the buoy off so that it could lay flat with other things. But I love my little whale tails, and the dream of the move.

Have a Wonderful Fall Weekend !

I figure by now you must be missing L&H sneak peeks and new products. Yesterday I started digging around some boxes of mine for vintage pieces that might be fun to see. In doing so I came across this (bad) print I had taken + developed in College, from when Liz visited me on a beautiful fall weekend my senior year, and we had gone apple picking. It was sunny and crisp and Maine. Bliss :). And we had come home and had a dinner party for a friend's birthday in our big old (decaying) Victorian home -- complete with cored baby apples as tea candle votives, and a college favorite -- share your knife with your neighbor (cause we don't own enough !).

A perfect fall weekend, and this weekend feels like it could be very similar for all you fall dwelling folk. For an unknown reason I wrote a Virginia Woolf quote around the apple tree print. I don't think there was any assignment or motive, except that clearly the image + text matched in their innocence. I just adore Virginia Woolf so I'll leave you with her quote + Hope you have a fantastic, and carefree, and sunshine filled weekend.

"A ten penny tea set made Cam happy for days. She heard them stamping and crowing on the floor above her head the moment they woke. They came bustling along the passage. Then the door sprang open and in they came, fresh as roses, staring, wide awake, as if this coming into the dining room after breakfast, which they did everyday of their lives, was a positive event on them, and so on, with one thing after another, all day long, until she went up to say goodnight to them, and found them netted in their cots like birds among cherries and raspberries, still making up stories about some bit of rubbish--something they had heard, something they had picked up in the garden. They had all their little treasures...And so she went down to her husband and said, why must they grow up and lose it all ? Never will they be so happy again."

+ One More For Good Measure ...

Also from the nymag design issue :: Brothers Evan + Oliver Haslegrave's home. Brothers that work together and live together (if you've read Eventide or Plainsong by Keith Haruf I'm thinking McPheron Brothers. If you haven't + you like sad books, I recommend). What really got me was the outdoor shovel in picture #1 in place of a faucet. First to think of this, and then to repurpose the item without making it look kitchy is sheer talent. Then there is the hammer door handle + lock, and this amazing lofted bed. It says he did it so that his dog wouldn't climb in ?! Seems drastic, but the billowing sheets look fairytale like + perfect. And don't feel sorry for the pup -- he takes two steps up to the right, and gets a lofted bed as well !

PS. As a frame of reference for their work if you live in New York, they designed Elsa in the East Village, Manhattan Inn, and Pauly Gee's, both in Greenpoint.

Simplicity is Bliss.

Speaking of simple design working well... I've had a Remodelista daily email sitting in my inbox for a month (actually, exactly ! September 20th), that showed the work of Michaela Scherrer, interior designer from Pasadena, CA (you'll die if you go through the projects on her site. Above is the tip of the iceberg). I am downright obsessed with these clean images, uses of white, and details of chroma and color. She really visually teaches that there is no "white." Everything is a color. Couldn't you move in to any one of these rooms ? Bathrooms included ? In love.

[images courtesy of Remodelista]