Even though Christmas has now passed---I want to post our cute (if I do say so myself!) Christmas card I created on tinyprints.com. They have so many unique cards and this one with a little pink in it was just perfect! We didn't send out a ton this year because I got them out a little late. But I will definitely use that site again.
Too bad I am not having a Christmas party this year... because I keep running across the most adorable and tasty looking ideas! Like this cute vintage pastel Christmas dessert table from Hostess with the Mostess blog! Always good inspiration on there. This reminds me of going shopping when you really don't have money to spend... you always find what you really like--same as looking party pics---when you aren't having a party. File away for next year when I'm feeling less pregnant--and more domestic diva. Oooh, but it makes me really crave iced sugar cookies. :)
Ok. Maybe it's the holiday tunes but I'm starting to feel more festive! I've run across some CUTE Christmas decor online and in catalogs lately. Some loves that I am putting on my list....
I can't post the image of the next one on my list...(copyrighted!) So you'll have to click on the link to see the adorable Christmas ribbon wreath. It is all handmade and so sweet!
Rosanna, Inc. has great stuff! All her collections are super-cute and her holiday patterns say "Christmas" with a modern-twist. I am loving the baby blue background here. I already have her "12 Days of Christmas" plates--which I don't think you can order anymore.
They inspired my whole holiday color scheme.. (as far as one can have a holiday color scheme)
How cute is this?? I haven't even had my little girl yet... but oh my! Look at this Nutcracker Suite Ballet Party featured on Kate Landers Events' blog! Waaayy over the top and waaaay expensive, I'm sure! But so sweet. Check out more pictures of the ballet-inspired party here.
Her website is full cute ideas---and lots of pictures! I'm going to start storing up ideas for Baby E's first birthday...hmmm....
I haven't really been ready to get in the Christmas spirit so far this season. I'm just not feeling it yet! But I'm getting there after I ran across the "lite" radio station here in Louisville that has already gone to ALL holiday songs! Today I heard a few favorites in a row...including John Denver and the Muppets singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". My favorite part is Animal in the background singing "won't go, won't go" and Scooter's snide comment about bacon. (Check out the YouTube link below--it's short!)
Matt bought this album on vinyl for me earlier this year for a quarter! I'm going to cue it up and get festive! Meantime... a few other recommendations....
Two discs! Disc 1 covers your classics--Bing singing "White Christmas", Nat King Cole singing "The Christmas Song". Disc 2 you get your modern-day favorites (or 80's nuggets)--"Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid and "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney.
A word of warning--it was released in 2001 so towards the end you suffer with Boys II Men and Britney Spears.
I remember my mom had this record and would always play it at Christmas. Its original release was 1962. Six tracks of kitchy, retro glory! I love the first track--Medley, Jolly Old St. Nick/The Little Drummer Boy. It takes me back! And you have to dig that foxy Santa outfit on the cover.
Yes, yes, Phil Spector may have been convicted of murder. But before that he was a hell of a producer! Great girl group numbers from Darlene Love and The Ronettes---just don't get freaked out when Phil himself starts wishing you Happy Holidays on the last track.
I really want to pick up this book, Let's Bring Back! I've read about it several places (Vanity Fair, Country Living.) See below from the author's website. You'll get an idea of what it focuses on...Everything old is new again! What would you bring back? For me---manners and hats.
In the pages of Let’s Bring Back, you’ll rediscover the merits of many things, such as: * Sealing wax, quill pens, and telegrams ...
* The old Orient Express and the grand Palm Beach sleeper ...
* Fainting couches, quizzing glasses, and zinc bars ...
* Top hats, liveried footmen, and the devilish French caricaturist “Sem” ...
* The barbed wit and deliciously vile bon mots of Algonquin Round Table legends Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, and Tallulah Bankhead ...
* The unapologetically eccentric styles of fashion icons Diana Vreeland, Isabella Blow, and the Marchesa Casasti ...
* Delectable ambrosia, Tipsy Parson, and star-gazey pie ...
... and much more.
Baby mania has ensued in our home! Current adorable loves include:
This handmade cocoon and beanie hat set from this Etsy seller. So cute for a newborn photo shoot.
"He made me a bottle I couldn't refuse."
Onesies and t-shirts from Baby Fish Mouth (which is a fantastic name, by the way. See below!) I think they're more appropriate for a boy...but still cute!
Matt promises to buy this for Baby E! I especially like letter "U".
Matt and I had been on a major going-to-the-movies drought but this weekend we went to see The Town--directed by and starring Ben Affleck. And Jon Hamm (yum!)
Don Draper goes FBI agent in The Town
It was a pretty good movie--a tad long--a tad predictable, but good nonetheless. Maybe a renter, if you haven't seen it yet. We've been favoring using On-Demand or the Red Box but there is something about going to the theater and seeing a movie. ( That something is probably the popcorn.One whiff of that and it's over!)
There are two upcoming movies I really want to see. One is out soon.. and looks so scary/disturbing! Perfect for this time of year with Halloween not too far off! See below.
Like Matt said, it looks like one of those you have to see early before there's too much talk about it!
I think it's out in theaters soon.
The other movie I'm anxious to see is Somewhere, directed by Sofia Coppola. I believe this is out around Christmas. Of course, the movie is tres chic, like Sofia...(yes, she was horrible in Godfather III but she is an awesome director.) and the movie features music by Phoenix, featuring her studly, lead-singer, french-rock star boyfriend, Thomas Mars (whom I drooled over back in April!)
Ok, Summer! With your humidity and 90 degree+ heat---I've about had it with you! Time to go! Time to let Autumn do its thing with cool, crisp days and cozy coats and sweaters. I just looked at the week ahead forecast here--still in the 90's, one day predicted for 98!! Noooo!--it's making me incredibly crabby just thinking about it.
Maybe if I bake these:
Pumpkin cupcakes with maple frosting (YUM!)...from the Barefoot Contessa in House Beautiful magazine (recipe here!)...
And play this, Sun Kil Moon--Ghosts of the Great Highway,
(don't know why--but this is my fall go-to album--it has a very autumnish feel to me!)
FALL WILL ARRIVE!
(Technically, the first official day of Autumn is Wednesday, September 22nd. So if we could just see a big change by then, I'd be happy, Mother Nature--that means you!)
**I'd like to edit the oldie Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy to say "all bad things (meaning summer) must end some day"
I discovered while exploring baby items in several stores these CDs... Rockabye Baby! They take all kinds of music--and "lullaby" it making all the tunes baby appropriate. I've heard Queen, Johnny Cash. But I just recently visited their website to discover the full catalog. Oh, yes--they have Nirvana, the Pixies, AC/DC, Kanye West, Elvis--even the Ramones and the Rolling Stones. I see some of these in Baby E's future.
The version for when they're a little older...(much older.)
I also absolutely need these:
They are called bellybuds... little headphones you can plug into your ipod and suction on to your bump so your baby can hear music! Good for brain development. (I swear I won't only play him/her Wilco, I'll throw in some Mozart, too!)
"Is this a fun Friday night or what, honey?"--Matt, should I purchase these.
Since I haven't been blogging lately and I missed posting on the actual day and I know you check this, Mom... here's the birthday cake you didn't get on Monday! Happy Birthday!! (Just think... this way it's calorie and fat-free.)
When you google "62nd Birthday cake"... you find all kinds of things...
THIS IS NOT MY MOTHER!
Like this lady... who apparently had an exciting "fiesta" themed party. Maybe next year!!
It's probably one of the most famous pedestrian crosswalks ever. (Ok, the most famous pedestrian walkway--I can't think of another one that is actually famous.) Abbey Road Studios has a live web cam up 24/7 at "The Crossing" (yes, I guess you capitalize it--it's that important.) You can go here and check it out anytime.
The best part is all the tourists flocking to take pictures and recreate the Abbey Road album cover. I saw one guy sit down in the middle of it for a photo, with traffic whizzing by! Obviously, the locals are like--"get the hell out of the road, bloody morons!"---they aren't braking for anything! A few near misses with a double-decker bus and you'll be hooked!
(Credit to my mega-Beatles fan brother, Reed for discovering this.)
So you thought I'd post a Beatles song, did you?... but The Smiths are more appropriate here. Wait for the chorus.
Sooo... it's been exactly a month since I posted anything! Ooops...I'm going to blame the excessive summer heat and the fact that I'm growing another small human inside me... and that has left me exhausted!
The big news in our world is that we are adding to the family. It's an amazing endeavor. Thrilled is the word I can't stop using.
We will definitely need to purchase this onesie for future Baby E. Get them started on the right track early. He/she has already been to some pretty good concerts---including a 3 day weekend at Pitchfork--- so hopefully that will rub off in utero.
Just when the music on your ipod was getting a little moldy... Stereogum comes to the rescue!
You can get on the website and download two "mix tapes" of sorts.. Cruel Summer Volume 1 & 2. Totally free and totally awesome. (The reference to the 80's song is bringing out my inner-valley girl)
Prepare yourself---it's a crazy cat lady post! I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that July 3rd is my cat Sammie's 10th Sammie-versary. (Ah, that's the anniversary of the day I got her--I'm a nerd, I know. But other people, in other states even know this day and refer to it as the "Sammie-versary")
Since I got her July 3rd--the day before the fourth of July--I named her Sammie, after Uncle Sam. But she's a girl so.. you get it. If I could pose her in a cute Uncle Sam hat as pictured above I would but we all know that ain't going to happen! Plus, aside from Matt and me no one even ever really sees Sammie.She's somewhat shy and sheltered although she's very cute and a very good pet for a decade now :)
This is how you'll find her most days. It's the life.
This is the only song I know of with Sam in it. By Ryan Adams. It's a good song, too. Maybe I'll have to go dig that album out....
(I love how the editor of this video is very literal with his interpretation. Fruit stand. Rain.Engineer.)
Darci Kistler, a ballerina with the New York City Ballet, retired Sunday. This how I'd like to retire. In amazing shape, being showered with rose petals and loud applause. She is 46 and has been dancing for 30 years. At 16, she was hired and trained by famed choreographer George Balachine. She is the last "Balachine ballerina" to retire.
One dance in her last performance Sunday was with Charles Akegard, above. Here's a small world story. I danced with him (well, not with him, with him--in the same production) of the The Nutcracker one year when I was in the Southold Dance Theater back in South Bend! He was one of the guest artists.
(And P.S. he's married to Sex and the City writer/creator Candace Bushnell! She is the real life "Carrie Bradshaw".)
If you ever watch the 1993 movie The Nutcracker, Darci Kistler is the Sugar Plum Fairy. Watch her in action below! Beautiful...
I just read an article in the The New York Times Home & Garden section about Sandra Foster (that's her above) and her adorable Victorian cottage that sits on the land she and her husband own in the Catskills.
It's her own little retreat--with a shabby chic, all white look that's right up my alley. And this little slideshow gives you a good peek inside.
After you see the pictures --and the one of her above looking oh-so-cute in her pink wellies-- you will crack up reading about her husband and the 70's-era trailer home they share nicknamed the "groove tube".
In writing about her husband, the author offers up one of the best descriptions of a person I've ever read:
"Mr. Foster, 51, is a man whose chest gives the impression that he has to go through doors sideways."
I also love that Sandra says through tough times "Her solace was listening to the band Rush and gardening,..."
To each his own! What a great little story. Read it here.
If you need your own solace, here's a little Rush.
* Sealing wax, quill pens, and telegrams ... 
