Married with Style

Another Great Day

Some days, everything just jives and I feel like Super Mom. Emilia plays independently. Caroline is engrossed in whatever I’ve set out for her for 15 to 20 minutes straight. I can sip a cup of coffee in relative peace. Everyone is happy with whatever foods I offer and no one spills on me. Or the floor. Somehow, I also don’t make poor “mom” decisions like letting C self-feed herself oatmeal. I somehow manage to coordinate both girls’ naps (in the same room) simultaneously. We might even successfully enjoy lunch out just the three of us, in a restaurant, without me needing to hold anyone in my lap, like we did yesterday. These are GREAT days.

And then there are days like today. Naps were a disaster so I quickly pivoted and decided that we all needed to just get out of the house. We’ll visit a local farm to see the baby animals after a quick run to Trader Joe’s and hopefully, Miss I-Won’t-Nap will doze in the car on the way.

I masterfully pack an array of snacks and “lunch” options for my opinionated toddler and remember C’s puffs and purees. I have the most caffeinated, Iced Vanilla Starbucks coffee I could manage to create and I had the coordinated foresight to order it with the Starbucks app so it’s ready and waiting as I pull up. And I was as patient as Mother Teresa while letting E dawdle putting her shoes on. And then again with buckling herself into her carseat before doing the usual song + dance WE DO EVERY SINGLE CAR TRIP which entails me asking her, theatrically: “Do you feel safe??!

::: E enthusiastically wriggles her body and punches her arms and kicks her feet and shakes her head back and forth. :::

Then replies: “Safe!:::

[This is my sneaky mom hack for empowering my toddler while simultaneously ensuring her 5-point harness is tight enough.]

I feel invincible.

Then, as we park at our first destination, I realize I don’t have my wallet. Despite packing the car with supplies for an entire morning of errands, I’ve neglected to switch over my wallet to today’s sexy tote bag.

We have to scrap plans to see the bunnies and baby chicks and definitely won’t be going to the playground at the farm because it’s so out of the way and in such blisteringly hot sun that not being able to pick-up the herbs that were secretly the whole purpose of this entire expedition renders the effort and energy just to carry it all out with an overtired baby an energetic toddler just not worth it.

On these days, all I want to hear from anyone — a stranger, a friend, my husband… is: you’re doing so well. You’re a rock star. Great job. I couldn’t have done that. I appreciate you. What you’re doing is SO important, and most of all, tomorrow is a new day.

Maybe give me a long, long hug. Maybe (for said husband) rub my shoulders, unasked, which are clenched up from the permanent tension all moms probably suffer from, from constantly scooping their toddlers up all day, every day, and schlepping heavy carseat carriers in and out of the house along with all the packhorse supplies necessary for traveling anywhere with children: snacks, drinks, toys, wipes, changes of clothes, jackets, sun protection, etc.

And that nursing moms develop from rocking and nursing and rocking and nursing until the end of time which is exactly what it feels like when you exclusively nurse 8-9 times a day, and that’s 10-months out. And maybe try your damn hardest to not fall asleep while doing this because YOU think you have had an exhausting day.

And just keep reminding me that tomorrow could very well be another great day.

New for April

20 Apr

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Spring, where for art thou? I bought pansies last week intending to plant my window boxes but New England had other ideas. Today it snowed.

In my attempt to escape the misery of this endless winter season and trick myself into patience as I await the bright and early AM coverage of the royal wedding, a few weeks ago I decided to investigate who this Meghan Markle was and what her show “Suits” was all about.

Now I’m not usually one to gush about something as low brow as television. But before you stop reading — I promise, this is leading somewhere you want to go. I should note that I am NOT a network TV-watcher. I was never a huge consumer of television before I met my husband, but Brian slowly turned me into a television snob. It started slowly: The Office. Thirty Rock. Parks & Recreation. Do you see where this is going? The quality shows. Now I almost exclusively watch Netflix and Amazon original series’ because they are just so damn good.

Suits - Season 6 But Suits blew me away. I didn’t expect too much so I happily dove ahead, right into Season 7, (skipping seasons 1-6 because I’m impatient like that) but quickly fell hard for the snappy, intelligent, hilarious bromance between Harvey and Mike. The writing is superb and I find myself laughing over various lines, or often, little facial expressions I’ll recall Donna or Harvey or Mike making in something I’ve just watched. IT’S JUST SO GOOD, so trust me and watch. And Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane, well.

Meghan-Markle-Suits-Pictures She. Is. Exquisite.

Full on girl crush over here. Move over Price Harry, because I get it. If Meghan is at all like her character on the show, Rachel Zane, it all makes sense. Also, her HAIR IS ALWAYS AMAZING. I don’t know if I tooootally buy that “a mutual friend set them up” all blind date like, because if I was him and I watched the show which I have a sneaking suspicion that he did, you bet I’d be pulling all the strings to find a mutual friend to help get it set up, too. But watching almost five whole seasons of her has been such a luxurious treat and I can’t wait to see what her choices are as far as the wedding goes because she clearly has incredible taste and is stunning.

Also, as someone who used to watch Gossip Girl purely to admire the fashion and to figure out how (HOW) Blake Lively’s mane was as glorious as it was, between Donna, Rachel, and Gina, (ok, and Harvey, with his peaked lapels and Windsor-knotted ties; see a great Suits style breakdown here), Suits fills a void in me that is starved for elevated, subtle, corporate-world style. Jolie Andreatta, the costume designer, is killing it. Here’s a great collection of some amazing looks from the show. I had been getting my fill from Mireille Enos on The Catch, but it hasn’t had as long a run and the witty banter between the two leads isn’t quite as quippy.

Suits - Season 6 But back to Suits. The first few seasons are especially amazing, so I’ve been loving the opportunity to watch them back to back, en masse like this. I say opportunity like I have no children, job, or life. As I write this, I’m hiding in our office, kids asleep, laundry and housework all in need of attention, yet all I can think is: do I have time for one more ‘Suits’? It helps that episodes are only about 40 minutes long. I feel like it’s also worth mentioning that it took me almost all of Seasons 7 and 1 before I stopped confusing Gabriel Macht for Johnny Lee Miller, of Hackers fame. I KNEW I’d seen and loved him in something but couldn’t quite place him. Well, when it finally hit me, it was like I was hit in the face with a ton of bricks: He was Johnny from one of my fav ever Diane Keaton collabs.

harvey

Does anyone reading remember a little film called Because I Said So? It was the movie that first introduced me to the magic of a Diane Keaton film set. (How about that Hampton’s House, am I right?) Also, knitwear. This is totally an aside but, do you know that Diane Keaton had her knitwear for that film specially made by a luxury knitwear designer? I learned this during a deep dive one night while I was fantasizing about how I will one day, eventually, (in my spare time), master knitting my daughters’ luxurious, Norwegian-inspired, heirloom-quality knitwear. Obviously.

Anyways, in the film, which is terrible but I love anyway, Mandy Moore plays one of Keaton’s daughters. The love-afflicted one. She also happens to be a chef which is the real reason this film has a special place in my heart. I love movies about chefs — even if they’re terrible. I can’t help it. Anyways, this specific film introduced me to the magic of a “Lady Baltimore” cake — Keaton baked it for Mandy Moore in the film, and ever since, it has topped my “To Try Someday” list and I will go to my grave with it still at the top of that list probably, seeing as it’s been like 10 years since I first saw this damn movie, and have yet to make the cake.

Johnny, played to adorable affect by Gabriel Macht, was the guy I’ve had in my fantasies forever more or less, since the first pages of Pride and Prejudice were seared into my heart, in that he appreciated “Milly” (Mandy Moore’s character), just as she is. Much like Mark Darcy appreciated Bridget Jones, just as she is. (Hang on, there is an amazing connection here that I’m rambling my way to. Just hang on!) That, and those brooding, dark brown eyes. Because good God, what is he wearing throughout that film. And why is his hair that color? Yikes.

jacinda 2

Although the second Bridget Jones’s Diary was absolutely horrid, this is in direct inverse contrast to the bright beacon of light HIS REAL LIFE WIFE, Jacinda Barrett was in the film, as the misconstrued love interest of none other than… Bridget. The fact that these two real life celebs had two roles I absolutely adored them in in two films I really appreciated just makes me all that much more certain that there is someone pulling the celestial strings somewhere and that deja vu really is something important… but, I digress. If you’re still even with me and were able to follow any of that…

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Then the last thing I need to mention as far as weird celestial coincidences is this: Amanda Schull from Center Stage is ALSO on Suits, as is Gina Torres, from the previously mentioned The Catch. And both are absolute bad ass bitches (excuse my French) in their roles. I particularly adore Amanda as Katarina, Louis’ devoted Associate. She plays her absolutely perfectly and I love to see the dancer I wanted to BE way back when, resurface in a totally different role. And as for Gina, well — I can’t wait for her spinoff.

jessica

But back to the show. It is really amazing and you need to watch. Trust me! Seasons 1-6 are free on Amazon Prime right now.

If you need more convincing, the stories about what they’re like on set make me chuckle. As do the bloopers. Enjoy and happy weekend!

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Author Wendy

Ice Cream Social Birthday Party

16 Mar

It threw me for a bit of a loop when my daughter decided she wanted “an ice cream” party last month since she had been talking about a “Moana” themed party for months. Luckily, we hadn’t started to buy any supplies and the invitations hadn’t gone out yet, so we were able to quickly pivot. I was a little disappointed at first, but I have to admit that the creative decor and food ideas I’ve been coming across have made me SO excited for this party.

My first task for any planned event I’m working on is always designing or selecting an invitation. I usually spend WAY too much time on this part, since I’ll spend hours looking for design inspiration, but since we were planning to email it, I kept it simple. I really love the watercolor look but with I’d spent a little more time selecting some better fonts. These are just system fonts in Photoshop; I usually look for fun, free script-y ones on website like dafont.com. Or if you don’t want to go the DIY invite route like I did, I found so many beautiful option on Etsy. I LOVED the colors and design on this invitation by Grey Fox Illustration. I actually reached out to Diana, the shop owner, to create something custom inspired by that invite I loved so much for the party which I’ll be sharing closer to the big day.

I scooped up (hah, get it?) these adorable bowls by Greenco shortly after I sent out the invitations. According to the reviews they’re on the small side and the spoons are more for cuteness factor, but if my daughter’s reaction is any indicator, the kids will love them. E hasn’t stopped playing with hers since they came. I’m going to have them double as the favor for just the kids, so I still need to figure out a favor for the adult invitees.

Plastic sprinkles for sale. Photo: Clay Larsen/LAist

Another ice cream social favor idea I had was inspired by the The Museum of Ice Cream, a pop-up, installation-type “experience” I read about last summer when it was in LA. I could purchase some bulk sprinkles (in bold, fun colors and fun star and ball shapes) then send guests home with little customized jars. Adorable but probably a lot of work and rather pricey. I could do little cellophane bags, but I feel like it would really lack the wow-facotr of a nice substantially-sized glass jar, right? If you’re going to splurge for a special occasion, Sweetapolita on Etsy sells the most beautiful combinations I’ve ever seen. Check her out!

Decor
I’ll snap a pic and post to my Insta-story soon, but I found the CUTEST ice cream cone print fabric at JoAnne Fabric the other day. Just need to decide what to do with it. Maybe a table runner?

Food and drinks
As far as food, I was texting with a good friend shortly after the announcement that ice cream was IN and Moana was OUT. It had been a rough few weeks at home with the kids for both of us, so we were joking about our next “mimosas playdate” with our kids when I threw out there that I should offer mimosas at the party and serve chicken + waffles for the adults while the kids indulged in sundaes, floats and candy-covered, ice cream waffle masterpieces.

It’s kind of cute too because when Brian and I first started dating, he constantly surprised me with these unexpected little hidden gems for us to try and one of my favorites from these early first dates together was a Chicken + Waffles place in Jamaica Plains, just outside Boston. Check it out, The Hen House — it’s seriously delicious. Or if you want to try making some at home, this recipe for Chicken and Hummingbird Waffles with Banana Bourbon maple syrup sounds like absolute heaven.

Anyways, if there is one thing I have learned since I started making regular appearances on the “young kids’ birthday parties” circuit, it’s that a cocktail option is always a good idea. I don’t believe in turning my children’s parties into keggers by any means, but for a day party, I think some sort of Bloody Mary or champagne cocktail option is exactly what most frazzled parents (or good-willed, non-parent best friends) need to help them loosen up a bit after they’ve dragged themselves out, forfeiting precious weekend time attending a party that will likely leave their child undoubtedly very overtired and sugar high, the perfect storm. So we’ll be serving mimosas!

Rounding out the ice cream social part of the party, we’ve decided we’ll offer the following options:

1. Ice Cream Sundaes, with all the toppings you’d expect at an ice cream parlor like hot fudge, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, various candy toppings and nuts.

2. Ice Cream Floats — I’m thinking classic options only: Root Beer and Vanilla Cherry. This recipe for a Vanilla Cherry Ice Cream Floats from Leah Anne Wilkes sounds amazing.

3. Belgian Waffles a la mode: Both children and adults will likely enjoy covering a waffle with whatever their heart desires. Personally, I’m going straight for the fried chicken.

Fashion
For someone as obsessed with style and fashion, you’d think I’d devote more time to scouting out the perfect ensembles for myself and my kids. But the truth is, I don’t. I buy 99% of my kids clothes second hand and the rest of their wardrobe is either bespoke (in that I either ordered it handmade or monogrammed or custom in some way) or vintage; think: Polly Flinders dresses. Thankfully my mom dressed my sister and I incredibly well as kids and meticulously preserved and stored our stuff. My older daughter’s first birthday dress is a great example of one of these pieces. I treasure that little pinafore! But my point is, I just buy it as I see it; I very rarely, if ever shop for a specific occasion. Still, since I was putting together this post, I couldn’t resist a quick search for “ice cream” related outfits. Here are a few of my favorites. How sweet would any of these be? I’m such a sucker for hand smocking and those flutter shoulder ruffle details.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a kids party at my house without some sort of art project component of the party. I’m partial to the inspo picture at the very very top right of this post. It’s a paper plate/tissue paper ice cream cone with a heart-shaped cherry. So cute and I have all the supplies already, so it won’t add to the overall party cost. Thankfully I stockpiled glue sticks (I found a pack of 20 on Amazon) just after Christmas for my glueing-project-obsessed toddler and we’ve already put quite a dent in them.

Anyways, that’s where I am with party planning at this point. I have a million details to coordinate and decisions to make, but I’m exciting to have devoted this much thought so far ahead of schedule to some of the bigger To Dos. It can be a little stressful to reign in my ambition sometimes, but with two kids, the fact that I can even stay away long enough to write this at the end of the day is a miracle! I constantly joke that by about 6 PM, I don’t have two functioning brain cells left over, let alone enough juice to sit down and write a coherent sentence. But talking about details that will make a party or an outfit or a room — whatever — makes me so incredibly happy and fuels a part of my soul that is on the backburner for so much of my day that here I am. Coincidentally, I was paging through a copy of Martha Stewart’s Appetizer earlier today and opened to a page with Martha Quoted: Remember, it’s a party. Not a competition.” Oh Martha. You saucy minx. You can say that because you always win! Haha, I’m kidding though. Seriously though, it was a nice reminder to take the pressure off and to just have fun with it. Hope you all enjoyed this little peek into what’s going on over here at party central.

Tags: favor ideas, ice cream birthday party, ice cream party decor ideas, ice cream party menu ideas, ice cream social birthday party, sprinkles favor ideas, toddler birthday party ideas