the lil bee

Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:46:00 +0000

This is the hardest post I've ever written. It's the post I never imagined, the thing I never dreamed would happen to me. But it has, and I've put off sharing it for as long as possible.

When I write about my daughters... their laughs, their favorite things... the words come easy, because they come from a place of love. It's fun and freeing and feels not at all like work.

This feels different. It comes from a place of emptiness, and I can only try my best to articulate what feels more unnatural than anything I've ever known. Shortly before Christmas, just a few weeks ago, Paul and I decided to end our marriage. It took me a while to say the words out loud because I didn't want to believe that they were true. I thought that if I gave it some time, it might all go away. We might go back to the way we once were.

But, people grow and people change. Sometimes forever is just for a long time.

As a mother, my respect for my children drives every decision I make, and because of this I will not share the who, what, and why of this difficult time. My marriage, even as it is ending, remains sacred to me. There are people in my life who might not understand that, but it's how I feel in my heart. I want to protect the memories of walking our dogs through Central Park, making each other laugh, finding out I was pregnant, becoming parents together, taking trips, and hugging each other after hard days at work or sleepless nights or just because. At times it is nearly impossible to keep this perspective, but I'm trying, because this love is so incredibly hard to relinquish. I am mourning the loss of growing old with my best friend. I will miss my husband forever.

Each moment I spend in this new stage of my life feels slightly less foreign than the last. But I'm painfully aware that the hardest, longest road is in many ways yet to come. Writing has always been therapeutic for me. But, this story, moving forward, is not one I can share. I need time, and my family needs time, to heal. So, I hope you'll understand when I tell you that this post is a goodbye from me to you, too. Maybe forever or just for a long time. I don't know. But I need to move on.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for the support you've given me, the thoughtful comments, the touching emails, the stories we've shared over these last four years. Your words have lifted my spirits and reminded me countless times to stay true to myself, trust my gut, and believe. Nobody goes through life unscathed, but my life is hardly one to feel sorry about, and I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have my daughters, my family, my dear friends, and my character. I'm walking forward with my head held high.

This blog has taught me that there are so many people in this world who just want to be happy, create, laugh, grow, learn, and give. Thank you so much for the time we have spent here together. I am a better person for having known you.

Sunshine on a cloudy day

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:23:00 +0000

Just a little hello to start your Monday off on the right foot. I had kind of a tough weekend, and nothing lifts my spirits like seeing this little munchkin laugh or smile.

xo!

For anyone who's ever shopped at Tar-jay*

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Last week, Joslyn coined the best quote of 2012. I believe her exact words were, "I would rather get a bikini wax than eat at a Chuck E. Cheese." What can I say? The girl speaks the truth.

But, you know...

While I'm proud to say that I've never stepped foot in a Chuck E. Cheese—if I did, I would totally upgrade the experience, like: "Mother and I took the girls to an adorable little eatery today called Charles Cheddar. Have you been?"—I am all for a restaurant that has decent food and will not make you feel like a leper if your children go apeshit at the dinner table. And so, last week, Grandma Nina and I took the littles to:

"A cute little factory up in Connecticut that specializes in CHEESECAKE!"

"Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner?" -Biggie {my girl's quoting him A LOT lately}

★

*Tar-jay {this link is for my aunt Nancy, who is undoubtedly googling "Connecticut-based dessert factories" and amassing a long list of concerns, including the unsanitary conditions of factories, as well as kid-friendly restaurants that specialize in bulgur wheat and organic poultry.}

How to bridge the Mommy/Lifestyle/Design Blogger gap

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:32:00 +0000

"Call the crib, same number, same hood. It's all good" -Biggie

Hello! Oh, I bet your brow is furrowed right now, trying to figure out the connection between the title of this post and the striking similarity between my daughter and Notorious B.I.G. Well, here's what. Aside from Blake having a {very obvious} career as a hip-hop artist to look forward to, great photos are the cornerstone of a well-designed blog. So, with that in mind, my discussion on this topic at the Alt Design Summit consisted of me sharing the above image of Blake and her doppelgänger {hip-hoppelganger? doppelgangsta?}, and then BLASTING Biggie thru my laptop speakers while saying "Uh" periodically in that cocky, grunting sort of way.

WHAT.

Since so many of you have asked about my presentation, I thought I would share with you a few more tips on how to bridge the mommy/design/lifestyle blogger gap. What I mean by this is how to have a mommy or lifestyle blog that is aesthetically pleasing, has beautiful images, and is appealing to mommies and more. Disclaimer: I promise this will be the very last Alt-related entry for at least 352 days. Footnote to the disclaimer: if you are finding these blog-building, entrepreneurial-themed posts to be helpful, or if you just want to know what Alt is all about, search the #altsummit hashtag on Twitter, or check out any one of these great posts.

So, here we go!

1. Stay true to yourself.

2. If your blog has evolved into a mommy blog, stay true to your readers, too. {The Lil Bee has always been about my life and loves, so it feels only natural to hang onto the pop culture references, fashion, and occasional design posts that still interest me.}

3. Being a lifestyle blogger is not only OK, it's fantastic! Not everyone needs to fit neatly inside a Design or Fashion or Photography Blogger niche. Declare yourself a Lifestyle Blogger and LOVE. IT!

4. If you are a parent, blog about life, not just dirty diapers and teething tips. Your perspective on parenting is one part of your full and layered life that interests people.

5. Your blog is not Facebook. Your photos should be high quality, move the story forward, and keep the reader's attention.

6. The less posing, the less photo-editing, the better. People want honesty—crow's feet, laughter, light. My favorite photos are ones that make you feel like you walked into a room and spotted something beautiful, without anyone even hearing the camera click.

7. You don't need an expensive camera to take interesting photos. Instagram, as well as apps like Diptic, Photoshop, and Luminex are amazingly fun and easy to use.

8. Take your lead from photography blogs, like my friend Bentley's or Alt speaker Jasmine Star's, which tend to be wider {600px or more} and have clean, white backgrounds, so as not to detract from the images.

9. Everyone is busy. Save yourself some time by editing and uploading your photos once or twice a week, then writing your posts when you have a quiet moment {I like to blog on my phone while commuting or getting a pedi}.

10. Your blog is an extension of YOU, so treat it as you would a favorite outfit, heirloom, or drawing from your child.

♥

And since this blog is always a work in progress, I'd like to point out some of the blogs I turn to for inspiration, such as Rockstar Diaries, Freckle Wonder, NYC Taught Me, and Nat the Fat Rat. Hope you all got something out of this little rundown. Big thanks to Gabby for including me as a speaker. The jitters were totally worth it!

P.S. Did YOU attend Alt? Or do you have any pointers you'd like to share in the comments for fellow bloggers? Maybe you're not a blogger, but a reader with a point of view on what kinds of blogs you find most appealing? Thanks!

I'm back from Alt!

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:59:00 +0000

Last week I went to Salt Lake City with 500 talented bloggers, entrepreneurs, artists, and friends I've known for four years but have never actually met. It was my first-ever Altitude Design Summit, and I was beyond honored to actually be a speaker!

The summit included three days of panels and keynote speakers, including Ben Silbermann, the founder of Pinterest, who blew us all away with his determination and spirit. I learned tons of invaluable tips, made some new friends, and spent an exorbitant amount of time eating cheesecake and posing in photo booths with some of my favorite gals {and guy!} People like my roomies, Amy and Natalie, an adorably pregnant Melanie of You Are My Fave, two beautiful Melissas {of Melissa Loves and Reverie Daydream fame}, and the infamous Uncle Beefy, who's wearing a look I like to call Santa Sauce.

P.S. See my white dress up above? I bought it for a DOLLAR! Nobody believes me, but look! It's really true! {Anna Sui from theOutnet.com}

On the morning of my roundtable, I was super nervous. So, like any normal girl, I stood in the mirror and took pictures of myself from every angle to ensure that there were no fatty deposits lurking in my blind spot. The photo on the left says, "I'm looking forward to eating you with a side of fava beans!" while the one on the right is all, "I nursed two babies, but hot damn is my 18-hour bra on fi-ya!"

And since I know there are a few of you who are just dying to know what the décor looked like, here are some obligatory interiors shots of the chandeliers, gold everything, and glitter. Pretty gorge.

Thanks, Alt Summit, for an amazing four days! Hope to see you again in 2013.

On my mind this Monday morning...

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:19:00 +0000

Holocene
I'm back from Alt. Can't believe it's come and gone.
An old playlist and a brand new beginning.
There is so much to tell you. So much to declare.
But, for now, just a train ride to work.
Music on, spitting rain, and a Super Bowl on the horizon.
Go Blue! Go Giants! GO BLUE!
I met people this weekend that were everything I hoped they'd be, and some even much, much more.
People who know me in a way that is different than real-life, and more real than this life in ways, too.
Oh. Just SO. Much to say.
But, stopping.
Choking traffic, looking up to the light. Inching forward, daring our train to race.
Snow drifts, train tracks, fog horns, bass.
The energy, it's like a campus waking up after a game. Waking up or never fully falling asleep.
Laughing and dancing, yawning as the dew turns from green-white to silver to gold.
Maybe life is just St. Elmo's Fire, a blinding burst and it's gone.
If you want more life, why don't you say so?
This is vague. And annoying. I said it. So there!
But, I promise that soon I will share.
There is comfort in familiarity, but opportunity in change.
Heartbreak Warfare

Your turn.

photo: Taken yesterday on my flight back home, somewhere outside Chicago

On stage.

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +0000

I'm going to let you in on a not-so-well-kept secret: I have a HUGE fear of public speaking. Enormous. It's a fear that was compounded exponentially when I was given the incredible honor of interviewing with HGTV two and a half years ago and subsequently PEED my PANTS on CAMERA. {Seriously. Read the post. This is one of those rare examples where the word "literally" actually applies.}

But, you know what the great thing is about wetting yourself on television in front of a group of talented professionals?

- pause for effect -

The great thing about that is that the next time you're asked to speak in front of a group of talented professionals, you know that it can't possibly get any worse! Unless, of course, you are incontinent.

And so, on that note, I'd love to share with you this little video of my sweet girls entertaining each other last week. Big sister Devon is VERY comfortable on stage, so to speak, and little sister Blake makes for a great audience. Here's hoping I'll have some of their confidence, good attitude, and happiness this morning when I present here at Alt Summit. xo!

Update: Just realized you can't view the video on a mobile device. oof! But, you can view it on your laptop!

I'm live blogging from 30,000 feet, y'all!*

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Not really. I didn't feel like paying for WiFi on my flight over to Dallas this a.m. But, since I have a spare thirty minutes to kill until my connection to Salt Lake City, I thought I'd hop on my iPhone and give myself carpal tunnel for the sake of a late-day post. Hello!

The reason I'm flying to Salt Lake is to attend the Alt Design Summit, where I'm hosting a little round table on how to bridge the mommy/lifestyle/design blogger gap. This layover would be a great time to review my presentation and practice it {silently} to perfection {in my head}. However, all I can focus on is the giant piece of chicken lodged in my top right molar, and the dental floss lodged defiantly within my carry-on bag. Damn floss. OMG, Blue Ivy just rolled her little newborn eyes at me and was like, "SO not flossin', Flossie," with one hand up. Back OFF, Blue.

I've gotta go. I'm flying first class, and it's important to me that I line up IMMEDIATELY when first-class passengers are invited to board, as these moments are exceedingly rare, and I like to be seated when the steerage trudges by. Like, "Oh, you're just boarding now? You must be that economy class I've heard so much about." #clearlyanupgrade

In honor of my flights of fancy, please enjoy this trip down memory lane and I'll catch up with you soon. mwah!

photo: landing in NYC after our Miami trip

*Update: I really am live blogging from 30,000 feet, y'all! I was rushed onto the plane! I paid $9.95 for GoGo in-flight WiFi so I could finish my post! I feel futuristic! Choke on that, SOPA!

What to feed picky eaters, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Last week my mom forwarded me an article in the Wall Street Journal about how children eat. It was really interesting and focused on the difference between how kids process a plate vs. adults, as well as ways to persuade picky eaters. In short, it's all about presentation. Children prefer six colors and seven different meal components on their plates, are more apt to eat something that resembles a design {such as a smiley face}, and will typically go for the items at the bottom of the plate, whereas adults gravitate towards the center.

With this in mind, I've been heading into the kitchen 15 minutes before mealtime to design Devon's plates. {I just said that out loud, didn't I?} And when Devon sits down in her chair, I present everything to her the way the waiters at our favorite sushi restaurant explain each of the fishes: "Devon, look! We have cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados, broccoli, chicken, raisins, and cheese! Mmmm!"

Other tricks I employ are serving the stuff I know she's not interested in first {"DEVON! Check out this delicious plate of meatloaf!"}, alternating recipes {hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs... chicken cutlets with lemon, chicken soup with wild rice}, adding butter and parmesan to nearly everything {green beans, pasta}, and putting a scoop of whipped cream or raspberry jelly on her yogurt to make it taste more like dessert.

Blake, on the other hand, would gladly eat from a trough filled with anything and everything—carrots, squash, crayons, paper, zucchini, Cheerios—you name it, she'll eat it, just NO t-u-r-k-e-y, not happening, no thank you, bye-bye.

Do you have any picky eaters in your home? My mom is the pickiest eater I know and often stocks the entire top shelf of her fridge with one item only—seltzer, cottage cheese, cranberry juice—it is bizarre. And my friend Lauren puts ketchup on everything, including bagels with cream cheese! I'm not picky AT ALL, though I am most definitely a creature of habit. Below are the foods I'm currently eating en masse: salads with walnuts, cranberries, and grapes... spicy vegetable udon... apples, and avocados. Yum!

P.S. What to feed picky eaters, part 1 {read the comments if you need ideas...they're great!}

11 months

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Hello, and happy Monday, sweet peas! It's been a long time since I've done an update on the girls' milestones, but since yesterday was Blake's 11-month birthday, I thought I'd check in with some of the girls' newest tricks. Blake is now walking while holding onto things, waves hello/goodbye, says "Mama," "Dada," and "Ba" {which I like to pretend means "bottle," but which could also mean absolutely nothing}, does a fake cough, cough, chair-dances, and claps her hands, as seen in this video. Our littlest is a *great* eater, thankfully, and loves everything we've given her so far, except for turkey. And if you've ever wondered how someone with only two front teeth can eat a full meal, well let me just state for the record that this little hillbilly eats like a champ.

Big sister Devon enjoys dancing, singing, kicking a soccer ball, doing puzzles, and drawing. She is also saying a TON of new words these last few weeks, which makes me infinitely proud. Her favorite thing to say right now is, "Noooo," but we're also getting lots of "apple," "cheese," "please," and "eat." With so many words focused around food, you'd think Little Miss would be a great eater, too—but, no. I spend more time preparing colorful dishes that resemble smiley faces and rainbows than one would ever think possible. And that's OK. If I can get Devon to eat two bites of beets and three pieces of strawberry for every helping of pinwheel pasta, then that's good enough for me.

But, perhaps the best milestones are the ones these two girls share together. Sisters now for almost a year, Devon and Blake love to play hide & seek {Blake seeks}, they love to hug and hold hands, watch cartoons {Sesame Street is now a big hit!}, and they love to make each other laugh. There are definitely moments when the other side of sisterhood comes out {hehem, sharing crayons and toys can often be a problem}, but all in all this stage has been one of happiness, laughter, curiosity, compassion, and smiles.

Here are my two favorite girls.

P.S. The girls at 6 months together, 4 months, 2.5 months, 9 weeks, and 3 weeks {my fave}.

Winter with littles

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Living in New York, it can be tough to find things to do when it's 20 degrees outside or freezing rain, like today. And while I make it my mission to get the girls outside every day, I had to laugh as I flipped through my photos from the last several weeks—probably 75% of them were taken indoors, in our family room or dining room, pajama-clad babies on hand. {What can I say? It's hard to photograph kiddos when they're outside/not contained. Toddler legs are speedy!}

So, here's a glimpse at some of the things we do on a day-to-day basis, outside of our music + movement class and other scheduled activities. Just the run-of-the-mill stuff that keeps things interesting, silly, and fun. We like to:

Color
Read books
Pull out every baby wipe in the container {ditto for the Kleenex box}*
Play hide-and-seek
Take walks and look in store windows
Turn on music and have dance parties
Visit friends for play dates
Ride the carousel at the mall by Grandma Nina's house
Walk the pups down the block
Help Mommy cook
Play instruments
Do puzzles, play with blocks, throw balls
Collect leaves
Draw on our crib, nose, and floor*
Play with magnets {ours make animal sounds}
Sing songs
Visit the bookstore
Help Mommy get dressed {Devon has surprisingly great taste in clothes, for a peanut. That's my girl!}

*unapproved activities

Warm and toasty thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:23:00 +0000

This weekend was a tough one. After our furnace finally spurted out its very last breath, we were forced to move into my mom's while the 30-year-old clunker was replaced. The girls have never really slept outside their cribs, so, needless to say, there wasn't much sleep going on Friday night. To top things off, both babies caught colds over the weekend, so I was up with Blake all last night, who was coughing and nestling deep into my arm, like a cocoon.

Thankfully, we're back in our warm home this week, with hot showers and beds and heat. And in other good news, Blake is starting to wave hello, and Devon now recognizes a handful of numbers and letters—"1," "2," "3," and "O," "D," "E," and "Z," which I'm just now noticing come together to spell "doze."

Happy Monday, sleepy Monday. Did you have a good weekend?

Working girl.

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Twice a day on the days that I work, I walk through the gorgeous and massive Grand Central Terminal. Its crystal chandeliers and zodiac ceiling always make me feel like I'm traveling through some sort of New York City fairytale. A Virgo marching beneath the bouncing lights...

"A wooly gray scarf tucked inside a fitted coat.
Clicking heels and a quilted bag at her waist.
The doors burst open and cold air nips feverishly at her ears!
Headphones speaking in treble and bass."

Commuting is fun if you make it your downtime to think, nap, read, listen, watch, learn. Do you commute, too? Do you work? What do you do?
★

P.S. I wrote a song once, too, about champagne.

Aunt Abby comes to town

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:46:00 +0000

Last week Aunt Abby came to visit and the four of us girls had a wonderful day. Devon and Blake got two new animal books and I got to catch up with my sister, who's in grad school and working but always makes time for her nieces. No matter how busy we get or how much time elapses between visits, there is nothing quite like spending time with the one girl in this world who appreciates airplane food and astrology and cheesy Vin Diesel movies as much as I do. It comforts me to know that Devon and Blake share that same unbreakable bond for life, too. We love you, Aunt Abby!

P.S. I love the photo of Devon and Abby on the couch, with Blake crawling around. It's like they're discussing important life lessons, like how to keep a tidy home or look slim in cheetah pants.

Spirit of giving

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Even before I became a mom, I knew I'd invoke a "one toy in, one toy donated" rule when the time was right. It just seems like having too much of something can be overwhelming to kids, whereas a few special toys are more likely to pique their interest. Plus, I'd rather pay a little extra for wooden instruments or a handmade doll than have our home look like a plastic knickknack explosion. {As you can see from the pics below, this goal is a work in progress.}

For Christmas, Devon and Blake got a bunch of beautiful books, stacking toys, clothes {including matching striped pajamas from Nonna and the cutest Polarn O. Pyret red rain boots from my mom!}, and arts & crafts supplies. Since we don't live in a big house, it seemed like the perfect time to gather up some toys that the girls no longer play with, to make room for the new. I found a site called Donation Town, which looks like a good option for people who live in big cities, however they don't have agencies in my neighborhood, so I'd love to know if you've used a reputable service for toy donations before. These puppies are in excellent condition, and we'd like to pass them along to a new set of curious hands or two. Two things I will not miss? The enormous plastic jumpy seat that's taken up half of our playroom since Devon was born, and something called a Singamajig, which sounds like a drunk cabaret singer when you squeeze its belly. Bah-byeeeee!

P.S. 1) excuse the low-lit photo of me and B, but I'm determined to get myself in at least a few pics with my girlies, if only so they know what Mommy looked like when they were peanuts; and 2) see that yellow and orange shopping cart on the top right? It was mine when I was a kid! What was/are your favorite toys?

Adventure 2012

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Happy new year, everyone! I have a few big resolutions for 2012, namely to be kinder to myself and surround myself with people who have my best interests at heart. Every time I make a resolution to give something up, I end up failing {chocolate, carbs, TV}, but when I focus on adding more good things into my life {tea, yoga, dog walks}, it feels more like an adventure than a chore. And if there's one thing I've learned from 2011, it's that life is most certainly an adventure.

So, here are a few of my favorite photos from Christmas morning—Blake's first! Devon got a huge box of crayons from Grandma Nina, and I will *never* forget the look on her face when she saw the fresh new crayons. A simple gift that made her whole day. I live for these munchkins.

P.S. On My Mind... the yellow crayon moment.

Happy holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:46:00 +0000

Posting is going to be light around here while I take some time off to spend with family and friends. But I had to share this photo of the girls and Santa Claus from last week. Blake tugged at Santa's white beard absentmindedly, while an enthusiastic elf with a bell and a bullhorn tried to make my kids smile, to no avail. This was the ONLY photo in which Devon wasn't staring blankly at the ground in a move I like to call the "I can't see or hear you because the faded beige mall carpet is just so very interesting, MOM." Flash.

P.S. Here's a look back at our "holiday card" from last year—I cannot believe how much my girl has grown. Do you send out holiday cards?

P.P.S. Last chance to do your online holiday shopping!

Smiley faces.

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:31:00 +0000

This past weekend Devon drew her first smiley face. Before I had a chance to save it, Blake grabbed the paper and shoved it straight into her mouth like a crumpled up piece of candy. Who knew smiles could taste so darn good?

Every day we partake in some variation of a routine that is clearly a comfort to my girls. We draw suns, hearts, and stars, and rainbows with tons of different colors—so far Devon has learned Orange and is starting to grasp Green, Red, and Yellow with some regularity, too. In the afternoon we take walks and look at the moon, eat a yummy snack, and read books. We turn on the music, dance and laugh, stomp our feet, and watch our favorite show after dinner, Little Bear. Here's a little peek at our world.

Just be.

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Lately I've been taking little mental vacations—a hot shower, a walk with the dogs, sneaking in a nap on the couch during the day. For a while I ignored my need to breathe deeply and unwind, because my free time seemed better spent washing dishes, doing laundry, or working. I'm learning that when I don't carve out little moments for myself, everything else begins to unravel.

One of the most relaxing and fulfilling things I can do is spend time with my family, taking photos, dancing in the living room, watching football, or all of the above. The girls do their thing, exploring little trinkets like a camera cap or hair bow. Everything is an adventure and everything is new. When I step back and look at the world through my daughters' eyes, I see past the blanket on the couch as being that thing we do to cover up Paco's dog hair, and instead I see a cozy place for Blake to play with her socks. I get over all the scratches that surround our back door, because the light around Reggie's face is pure magic and I love his honest, brown face, his loyalty. This life, it is really, really good when you let yourself live it, when you allow yourself to just be.

kelly + olive giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:44:00 +0000

I am so excited to present today's giveaway to you. It's SO not my doing, but the timing... just a couple weeks before the holidays... makes this feel like the biggest, most special giveaway I could possibly share with you!

kelly + olive is one of the chicest design firms I have ever encountered. They're based in Chicago but have a huge online following, and I can honestly say I've been a fan of their work for a long time. What clients and fans LOVE about kelly + olive is that they work with what you already have and layer in things that perfectly suit your personality, so that your room feels less decorated, more YOU.

Their gift to one lucky Lil Bee reader will be a virtual mini moodboard, worth $350! The design package features a 5-7 page presentation, including a color consultation, collage of furniture suggestions, ideas for DIY-ing your own pieces, and suggestions for new ones—all within your specified budget. It is completely amazing. Just look at what kelly + olive did for their client, rebecca!

So, let's give one of you amazing readers a virtual mini moodboard of your own, shall we? For a chance to win, just leave your name and email address in the comment section below, and tell me the room in your house that could really use some kelly + olive love. One reader will be chosen at random next Friday to receive the virtual mini mood board. GOOD LUCK!

UPDATE: Elizabeth is the winner! Email me to claim your prize, Elizabeth. Congratulations!

The thing that keeps me going.

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:46:00 +0000

I never had an inkling of how chaotic life could be once I was married with children. It's like trying to wrap your head around being a member of the opposite sex, or a dog, or Madonna. There are days when we wake up, get the girls ready for the babysitter's, get ourselves ready for work, and leave the house looking human. And then there are days when a favorite toy is missing and simply *must* accompany us, or days when we wake up late and another level of panic is added to the rush, or days when it seems like nothing at all can go right. It's not that these moments didn't occur before we had children or when I was single—believe me, they did—it's just that before I had kids, I could close my eyes and put on my headphones, take a bubble bath or take a walk, and know that the world was still spinning. There weren't little lives depending on me. And that's a fact that, despite being somewhat terrifying on occasion, keeps me going on even the hardest days.

Yesterday was one of those moments. It was all I could do to just get through the day, remember to eat, and come home. I didn't finish my final gift guide, I didn't meet up with my two friends for a birthday dinner, and I didn't have a chance to dive into two days' worth of laundry and little messes. But, I did get to see my mom, play with my girls, and fall asleep with Paul and the dogs by my side. And that's a comfort that can overcome any amount of chaos.

On my mind this Monday morning...

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:01:00 +0000

You Still Hurt Me
There is something so romantic about books.
Piles of reading material, stacked upon bedside tables and insulating living rooms.
With fireplaces and paintings and tea.
Tattered... loved up...
I cannot wait for this year to be over. To close the chapter on this year.
With the exception of my baby girl being born, 2011 has been really, really difficult.
Filled with the kinds of stories I'd rather use as kindling than tuck into a bookshelf for safe-keeping.
But the upside is that 2012 is just 2 and a half weeks away.
A new story and plenty of places to go.
Maybe... The Russos Move to Rye...? What will the story of 2012 be?
The guy next to me is listening to Korn. I know this because my iPod just shut off and his iPod has a big Korn album lighting up the screen.
Are Korn fans called Kornos? Korn dogs? Korn huskers? Shut up, Melisa.
Isn't it funny how people sometimes date more than one person with the same name?
I know a girl who has dated three Daves, and my uncle married two Nancies. My friend Tina dated two Anthonies, both of whom had the same birthday.
I would assume this both complicates and simplifies things.
I am not entirely certain that the pluralization of the aforementioned names is correct. Are correct?
However, Dave Matthews {Dave, Dave, Dave} sang of Dancing Nancies, so I believe my spelling is right.
Fancy, dancing Nancy.
Could I have been anyone other than me...?
Nope, I can only be me. Melisa.
Silence, train engines, something awful by Korn.
We are here.

Your turn.

Photo: here

Babies running rampant

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:56:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, Devon woke up from her nap and was in a super silly mood. Blake was being Blake, as we say {the most laid-back baby ever}, so I sat in the living room while the light was still decent and snapped a few photos of them playing. There's not much natural light in our house, enough, at least, to take constant photos. But, I've had SO many fun moments just setting the camera in one spot and watching how quickly the girls run in and out of the frame like two blurry balls of energy. This was one of those moments. Blake was content to just jump in her swing and blow bubbles, so Paco watched curiously as Devon did her thing.

P.S. See those Target boxes? It was my Missoni for Target shipment, from which I returned nearly everything but the girls' crib sheets and the little outfit Devon's wearing from her aunt Lisa. I did not like any of the other stuff! Did you?

New York state of mind

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:11:00 +0000

Last week I had dinner with Monica and Emily, who mentioned that I have a bit of an accent. "Certain words," they explained. {You can probably guess the ones.} Then yesterday I heard the same thing from two Twitter friends who'd watched this home video. I grew up outside of the city, so my accent isn't really New York. But at the same time I don't mind a little accent. Accents are fun! Accents add character.

It got me thinking, New Yorkers are known for their accents, but what are some other characteristics about this city that make it what it is? What is the personality of this city really like? For starters...

You would *think* a simple thing like making dinner plans or meeting for a drink would be easy, but ask a New Yorker where to go and you'll undoubtedly get a list of 5-10 suggestions, based on neighborhood, cuisine, even head chef. There are SO many options that making a choice can be overwhelming. My friend Lauren keeps an excel spreadsheet of places she's been to or wants to try.
New Yorkers are big fans of delivery. Years ago, I was on the phone with my friend Steve from Chicago, who pointed out that, in the course of an hour, I'd had my laundry, wine, and dinner all delivered from separate locations. God, I miss that!
Most New Yorkers don't have any interaction with their neighbors. Aside from one other couple and a girl who lived upstairs from our old apartment, I didn't know a single neighbor in the 9 years that I lived in NYC.
New Yorkers are actually really nice! It's rare that you meet the kind of jerks you see in movies.
And speaking of movies, the way cab drivers are often depicted is a myth. They almost never turn around to face you and ask, "Where ya headed?" nor do the vacant cabs speed past people who are trying to hail them down. Cabs stop. Always.
Unless you're on 34th Street or Rockefeller Center, the sidewalks of New York are not a giant, crowded mass.
The tap water is delicious and actually good for you.

So, New Yorkers, did I miss anything? And what about you all—what are some fun characteristics about YOUR current city or hometown?

P.S. The war of the takeout menus, plus some more things I love about New York.

P.P.S. Joanna made a really cute and helpful guide to New York this summer!

GIFT GUIDE: For her...

noreply@blogger.com (the lil bee) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

My grandma was the most difficult person to shop for, ever. Each year when we'd ask what she wanted, she'd hem and haw and eventually ask for a cardigan—one with 5,000 requirements. Grandma's cardigan needed pockets, it had to be a specific length {too short and it would make her "look boxy"; too long and it'd cut her "in half"}, it should be cotton—nothing synthetic!, and navy, white or pink {NOT mauve}.

After years of searching for the elusive cardigan, only to end up returning it for her the following week, I suggested we give her a card that read, "We bought and returned the *almost-perfect* cardigan for you, just like you wanted!" along with a gift certificate to pick out something she'd love. However, this was deemed too impersonal by my mom, who I think secretly liked the challenge of hunting down the rainbow-colored unicorn that was my grandma's sweater.

So, here's to gifts that are special, sweet, and universally appealing to your favorite quirky gal. Not a synthetic mauve in sight.

A beautiful coffee table book: Simon Doonan Eccentric Glamour, $11.99, or Suzanne Lovell's Artistic Interiors, $39.88
The prettiest, daintiest emerald ring by Jennifer Meyer, $150
Oilily Spoetnik Long Wallet, $65.99 {pretty enough to double as a clutch}
The perfect neutral bag, Steven Alan, $239
Moxi Lolly Roller Skates, $299 {maybe not for the over-40 set. maybe}
Yellow Kate Spade note cards, $20 {so your nana can send you notes the old-fashioned way}
Olive Bungalow 14k Gold Branch Ring, $130 {use code LB10 for 10% off thru December 11}
Metallic + Sequins + Stripes? Yes, please. J.Crew sweater, $120
Joya Mittens, $45, Room 6 {pair with the prettiest pink lip gloss or Max Brenner's hot chocolate for your little sis}
Marc By Marc Jacobs Colorblock Bolt Bangle, $49, and Resin Stripe Bangle, $30 {you just can't go wrong with Marc}
If she's as hard on her laptop as she is her favorite shoes... the Rebecca Minkoff Pyramid Neoprene Laptop Case, $78
Diane von Furstenberg Heart-print Earbuds, $25, or Marc by Marc Jacobs Heart-Shaped Acetate Earbuds, $40 {pair with a mix for your BFF...so fun!}
The prettiest linen/cotton Tea Towels, $24-28 each {wrap one around a tin of homemade cookies for mom}

+ check out the gift guide for kiddos and for your love!