My Box of Secrets

Push Present?!?

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:15:00 +0000

I sure wouldn't mind a new Longchamp bag in Reptiligne Toile! All my handbags are so beat up. And the last time I bought a new Longchamp bag was when I was preggo with Little M. What do you think? New baby, new handbag?

I want to have a waist again.

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:14:00 +0000

This cute pic of Rose Byrne makes me want to wear normal clothes again :(

50 shades of...

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:13:00 +0000

...awesomeness? With all the hype surrounding the "50 Shades" trilogy, I was eager to read it. And I really enjoyed it - first because it's HOT and second because it's romantic. Although, the erotic parts do get a little repetitive. There's more than a dozen detailed sex scenes, which is great, but they all blend together after awhile.

Be warned that it is SUPER cheesy, every bit as cheesy as the "Twilight" series. But that's part of the fun. It's like watching reality TV, it's not going to win any awards but it's totally entertaining. The media is calling it "Mommy Porn", which is pretty accurate. But why shouldn't we mommies be entitled to a little racy literature?

The Big 3

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:41:00 +0000

As in the the 3rd trimester - and I'm in it. I'm frequently uncomfortable because of a condition I shall not name (if you really want to know, then click here). Other than that, I'm good - no swelling, I sleep just fine, the acne cleared up and I'm still able to exercise. I'm fairly certain that my final weight gain will be under 30 lbs, which was always my goal.

I just went to Babies "R" Us to get some baby neccesities - bottles, diapers, etc. But I got totally overwhelmed and left empty handed. I'm not sure what happened, maybe it was the "last nail in the coffin". Like once I start buying diapers then I'm really having another baby. As if I wasn't already in deep.

The Night Circus

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:33:00 +0000

I just finished reading "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.

This book is right up my alley - fantasy, magic, romance and healthy dose if Victorian gothic. It got good marks from major book review sources and contemporary authors. It would make a fantastic movie. Of course, now I regret finishing it so quickly. It's still in hardback, so if you are interested you are going to have to fork over the big book bucks or put your name on the library wait list ASAP.

finito!

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:45:00 +0000

So I figured I've talked enough about the new nursery that I ought to give you a tour of the finished product. Especially since my BFF in NYC has not been able to see it in person. Here goes:

Yup. That's the name our sweet lil' miss. I made this plaque for the closet doors.

Left side view from door

Middle view from door. Why 2 sets of curtains? The pink ones are black-out curtains.

The porcelain dolls on the wall shelf are from my childhood.

Close-up of antique plates purchased from Goodwill.

View of crib and bookshelf.

Goodies.

More goodies.

0-6 months layette - all washed and ready!

Zou Bisou Bisou

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:44:00 +0000

So tell me, are you in love with Megan Draper yet?

I die for the polka dot blouse and black pencil skirt.

Bully

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:27:00 +0000

OMG. This makes me so sad. And anxious.

Three's Company

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:18:00 +0000

As you already know, I'm a huge of fan of Pamela Druckerman's book "Bringing Up Bebe". It has really, truly influenced my parenting methods and I'm more than pleased with the results. Little M has been eating vegetables. Green ones. No joke. Don't even get me started.

Which is why I was absolutely tickled to find out that before she became my parenting guru, Druckerman wrote an article for Marie Claire magazine about setting up a ménage à trois for her husband's 40th birthday. Which is either repulsive or hilarious, possibly both.

Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir?

Apparently, Marie Claire agreed to temporarily yank the article while Druckerman promoted "Bringing Up Bebe". But I tracked down a copy of the article here. I found it to be sweet, honest and funny. She does a really good job conveying a sense of how awkward the whole experience was. I actually felt really uncomfortable while I was reading it, in a good way. I don't find anything incompatible with a woman who writes about parenting also writing about sex. And it's not really a "sexy" article, it's about doing something for your spouse that is outside your comfort zone. And we can all something learn from that.

Jazz Funeral

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Grab a pen and write this down: "When Mai Weston dies, she wants a Jazz Funeral". What's a Jazz Funeral? It's a funeral procession with dancers and a brass band (click this Wiki link for more information). And I want one.

In Vogue

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:50:00 +0000

I've been reading a lot of hoopla about Dara-Lynn Weiss' article in the April 2012 edition of Vogue about putting her obese 7 year old daughter, Bea, on a diet. The overall reaction has been highly critical (like this), going as far as calling Weiss "a monster". And Weiss admits in the article she received a lot negative feedback while Bea was on the diet.

Weiss and Bea

I have two thoughts on this. One, society is so quick to crucify mothers for making tough decisions. Our society is sending a message loud and clear - damned if you, damned if you don't. Instead, we should ackowledge that every mother is doing what they think is best for their child, however misguided their decisions may seem. A little sensitivity and lot of empathy would go a long way.

Two, I may not agree with Ms. Weiss' exact methods, but I agree with her goal. Her child was obese, potentially facing a lifetime of physical and emotional stress. So she took action. She controlled her daughter's portions and cut down on her junk food intake, ultimately helping Bea lose 16 lbs. Ms. Weiss admits that she was not consistent, and that she let her own unhealthy attitude about food and body image interfere with her diet plan for Bea. In other words, she did not model healthy habits as she should have.

Notwithstanding Ms. Weiss shortcomings, what would we have her do? Ignore the problem? Allow her daughter to carry on eating too many of the wrong foods and portions too large for her little body? Set her up for a lifetime of health problems and public ridicule? Of course not. We are responsible for the health and happiness of our children. It may not be "PC" to put a 7 year old on a diet, but I think it was the responsible thing to do. Any time we see a child engaing in an unhealthy behavior, we correct it. This is no different.

My mom has never hesitated to tell me when she thinks I'm getting chunky (even when I was Bea's age). And that taught me to be responsible for my body. As our society faces an epidemic of childhood obesity, I think we should wake up - stop arguing against teaching children to be responsible for their bodies. Being tough with our children now means saving them from a lot of unpleasant experiences later on.

Somebody that I used to know

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:39:00 +0000

This song reminds me of a really rad 80's song.

Movie Envy

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:52:00 +0000

Over the weekend I hatched a plan for my husband to take Little M to see The Lorax (2012) while I went to see The Hunger Games (2012). But my plans were foiled when we showed up at the theatre only to find out that The Hunger Games (2012) was sold out. So being a good sport, I went with the boys to see The Lorax (2012).

Which was really cute, but... let's be honest, it's a kid's movie. It can only be so entertaining. So I took a very satisfying little cat nap and then woke up and pretended it never happened. I was surprised that Little M actually understood the plot. In fact, he gave us a pretty accurate recap on the way home. And while I'm happy to spend time with my kid, and I'm happy to he enjoyed the movie, I'm still dying to see The Hunger Games (2012) [insert whining noises here].

Corolle Dolls

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:52:00 +0000

One of the most delicious things about having a baby girl is that I get to buy dolls. I love dolls from Corolle, a French company that has been manufacturing dolls for more than 30 years. I love that their dolls are classic and well made - no gimics. These dolls capture the sweetness of girlhood without the all gaudiness that toy companies are selling to little girls these days.

Corolle has dolls appropriate for every age:

Babicorolle 9.5" Baby's First Rag Doll

Mon Premier Calin 12" Baby Doll

Miss Corolle Classic 14" Doll

And what about our sweet little girl? I chose the 9.5" Babicorolle Elf Doll because it's soft, machine washable and makes a jingling noise. The perfect dolly for my little dolly.

The Adventures of Tintin

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:22:00 +0000

This week, as a special treat for Little M I ordered The Adventures of Tintin (2011) from Netflix. I assumed that since it's an animated full length feature film, it must be appropriate for children. Wrong.

There is some violence, and the plot was way too complicated for a toddler to follow. Fear not, it was not a total wash since I really enjoyed it. It's really funny and engaging and the animation is amazing. And it tickled the Francophile in me since Tintin is a major instution in France and Europe.

Which made me think about how neat it would be decorate a boys room with some vintage Tintin posters (I found some online at Bloomsbury & Co.)

Earworm - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:51:00 +0000

Earworm - A song that sticks in your mind, and will not leave no matter how much you try.

Product Review - Drop Tech iPad Case

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:51:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago the inevitable happened - Little M dropped my iPad and broke the LCD. Apple charged me $249 to replace the iPad, which stung, but it was certainly better than having to pay $599 for a new one. With my new iPad in hand, I got down to business researching the most durable, shock resistant iPad case on the market. Ultimately, I chose Gumdrop's Drop Tech iPad case for it's high reviews. At $59.95, it seemed like a lot of money for an iPad case, but I don't want to replace my iPad again anytime soon so I ponied up.

And I'm glad I did. The back cover is made of rubber with reinforced corners, and a replacable screen protects the iPad touch screen without hindering it's usage. All of the slots and controls are covered to make it nearly waterproof. It makes the iPad significantly heavier, but I don't really mind. Overall, I highly reccomend the case to anyone who is rough on their electronics (like me) or has small children (like me).

P.S. Since Little M was born, I/we have damaged or destroyed: 3 cameras, 2 iPods, 2 cell phones, and 1 iPad. I've also replaced the power cable on my laptop twice and the hard drive once. Put a fork in me, I'm done.

Farewell My Queen

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:52:00 +0000

You know me, I can't resist a period film. Especially if it's French and stars one of my girl crushes, Diane Kruger, as Marie Antoinette. Les adieux à la reine (Farewell, My Queen)(2012) opens in France and other parts of Europe this week, but I could not find a definitive US release date. Don't worry, I'm on the case.

Virginie Ledoyen, Diane Kruger and Lea Seydoux at last week's Paris premiere.

I can't decide how I feel about Diane's Derek Lam dress - is it cool? Is it ugly? Should it be shorter? Speaking of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution, I read "Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution" by Michelle Moran a couple weeks ago. A nice read if you like historical fiction, romance, etc.

Mini Icon

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Check out this outfit on Molly Ringwald's 8 year old daughter Mathilda:

Killer boots, flirty dress, leather motorcycle jacket? Nicely done Ms. Mathilda!

Lost in Translation

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:36:00 +0000

Here are a few of Little M's most recent and most hilarious mispronunciations:

"Toyota Loco" for "El Pollo Loco"
"St. Plastics Day" for "St. Patrick's Day"
"The Rolex" for "The Lorax"

Midway

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:05:00 +0000

Last month we bought an annual pass to the USS Midway Naval Aviation Museum. It's a decomissioned aircraft carrier located in the San Diego harbor. Little M has already been 4 times in the last 6 weeks. It's a neat place and well worth the $90 annual fee (especially since it lets you bring 4 adults every visit).

But, I can't help but look forward to the day we get to do girly stuff too. Since Little M was born, I've spent more time looking at planes, trains and automobiles (not to mention construction sites) then I ever thought I would in a lifetime!

Color Changes Everything!

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Love this Target commercial! Well frankly, I just love Target.

Bootie Time

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:22:00 +0000

I tried these on these Sam Edelman booties at Bloomie's the other day. The only reason I didn't buy them was they didn't have my size and the they wanted to charge my $14 to ship me the right size. Out of principle, I said no. But now I'm having second thoughts... I would wear the heck out of them. They should be mine, right?

send help

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:19:00 +0000

As I mentioned before, I was generously given lots and lots and lots of hand-me-downs for this baby girl. It's fantastic. And since the bulk of little miss' wardrobe for 0-24 months is already taken care of, I have no real need to buy any clothes for her. I bought one Baby Boden outfit from Nordstrom's and I was feeling very smug about having gotten it out of my system.

And then this eBay thing happened. As in, I discovered that people are selling very cute, completely new (or almost new) designer baby girls' clothing on eBay for super cheap. Like, Target cheap. Here's a few of my favorite brands to scout on eBay:

Jacadi (my favorite)

Bonpoint (still pricey, but worth a try)

Tartine et Chocolat

Room Seven

3 Pommes

Oilily

Petit Bateau

Catimini

DPAM

Case in point - I bought this Jacadi sleep sack, new with tags, for $20. It's from Jacadi's current collection, which means it's selling at Jacadi for the full retail price of $114. Woot woot!

The only saving grace to this new obsession is that I never buy as much as I intend to. People outbid me at the last minute all the time, which is fine by me because I generally only end up with the really sweet deals. And then I have a whole new reason to feel smug.

P.S. None of this applies to boys clothes. As far as I'm concerned, if you have a boy you better resign yourself to the fact that cute boys clothes cannot be gotten easily or for cheap.

no more excuses

noreply@blogger.com (Mai) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:53:00 +0000

So I've noticed that every time I go a few days without blogging, I come back with some explanation, excuse, etc. for the absence. Well, I'm going to stop. Basically, I will blog when I have time or when I have something I want to share. I'm pregnant, I have a job, a toddler and a household to run. I'm sure everybody gets that and nobody is expecting any explanation. So no more excuses. For now, we'll just be like friends who get together for a glass of wine or tea and sympathy every now and then.