August Showers

If there is one thing my mom has passed on to me, it's her love of entertaining. She's the food behind the operation and I add decor (evidence seen here and here). When she and my aunt wanted to throw a baby shower for #2, they had a delicious menu planned months before and I pitched in with the last minute theme, invite and some decorations. Yes, I helped plan my own shower. The other thing she passed on to me is her semi-controlling nature. (Sorry, mom...and my children.)

The photographer decided not to show up, so you'll have to settle for my crappy iPhone pictures. It's a good thing the photographer is related (read: free) so all is quickly forgiven.

*I edited out the personal information, for obvious reasons.

But you get the idea.

I decided on one of our favorite goodnight books as the theme for the shower. We used pages from the book ("Goodnight light, and the red balloon. Goodnight clocks, goodnight socks. Goodnight bears, goodnight chairs...") and made tissue puffs in complementary colors. The banner on the mirror was the contribution of my dear husband, who carefully cut out letters while I took #1 to swim lessons and frantically showered and dressed for the party.

1. Guests wrote sweet notes and wishes to the new baby
2. One of the shower games was decorating onsies and bibs.
3. The main decor wall.
4. Guests received gourmet popcorn bags with a red balloon that read: "Ready to POP"

This party, like the others, was done on a small decor budget (to spend more on food!). We used blue and green plastic tablecloths for the walls, yellow paper for the stars, and colored tissue for the blue, green and orange puffs.

I wish I had more to show you because the food was DELICIOUS and there were more adorable decoration spread throughout. If any shower guests are reading this and took other pictures, please email them to me!

Only a few more weeks to go....then I'll have plenty of time to get back into blogging, right?

Suri's burn book

Everyone reading this has seen Mean Girls, right? If not, you must go and NetFlix it tonight and watch it 25 times (coming in at different parts of the movie, if you wish, just like if you were catching it on TV on a lazy sick day) and then we can all be on the same page.

Anyway, Suri Cruise has her own burn book and it makes my day with it's snarky rhetoric. Here's a clip:

image via

Reports of my toy store temper tantrum are greatly exaggerated.

Yes, I teared up. But it was only because the display of polar bears was accompanied by truly heartbreaking information on the plight of polar bears and their natural habitats due to global warming.

It was certainly not because Katie tried to act like I wasn’t going home with a Swarovski-encrusted wristwatch.


I would never do that.

She's so fetch.

B is for Birthday

My mom loves to cook and entertain. We had such fun birthday parties when we were young and now that we're all grown, she hosts big family dinners every week. It comes as no surprise, then, that the party-planning gene was passed down to me. (I actually used to be an event planner!)

So when my little Bean turned 2 this past weekend, we celebrated in style with his current favorite thing - the alphabet! Seriously, he loves singing the ABC's more than Yo Gabba Gabba, Dora, Sesame Street, or any other annoying educational TV show. So last week was spent drawing letters on card stock, cutting them out, sticking them on walls and hanging them from the ceiling, designing the food labels, and frantically cleaning and decorating the house.

My mom made all the food and the birthday cake topped with alphabet block letters (pictures to come). We had small bites for different letters of the alphabet: "A - apple pie" "D - dates wrapped in bacon" "F- french fries with garlic parmesan" (served in paper cones - so cute!) "P - pizzas" (small, bite-sized white pizzas)...you get the point.

Even though we're all (still) sick, we all had a great time, filled up on sugar and presents, and had enough excitement to keep us worn out through this week.

Baby Crew Cuts

Finally - J. Crew is making clothes for the bebes! You know, for the parents that can't wait til their newborn is 2 so he can fit into Crew Cuts. It's a small offering right now, but you know there's more good stuff to come. There's always good stuff to come...

 

 

 

all images via jcrew.com

Warm hands melt hearts

How cute are these mittens for moms to keep little bitty hands warm?

Source: veetje.be via Pinterest

All about Eve

Hello lovelies - allow me to introduce you to Miss Ayla Eve. She's five. She has her own fashion blog. And she styles it all by herself. If only I could be so fearless and fashionable...

 

image: credit, source: via

 

Seriously - how adorbs is she??? 

I'm wearing my sequin mask and Hunter boots to work tomorrow.

Zara Fall '11 - kids

How cute is this video? Great song. Great looks. Great prices. Now shipping in US. 

Before and After

I'm pretty sure this cool little girl...

Source: None via Domenic

Grew up to be this chic lady...

Source: everythingfab.com

Seriously - were you ever this cool when you were little?

Bonkers for Babybonkie & GIVEAWAY

I believe a swaddle is the must-have baby item on every registry.  We kept the Bitty swaddled the first three months of his life - and he was perfectly happy.  Since he was born in the winter months, we used his velour-ish baby blanket and wrapped him in it like a baby egg roll.  Although we had organic cotton and bamboo swaddles, we didn't have one thick enough to keep him warm and cozy.

Enter Babybonkie.  When they sent me my Bonkie, I was pretty excited...when I pulled it out of the packaging, I was obsessed.  The fabric is as soft as...wait for it...a baby's bottom *wink*.  I considered sewing a couple of them together and making a "mommy bonkie" for myself.

You can find Babybonkie at select boutiques across the US, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys. They retail at $64 for the cotton swaddle and $68 for the eco-bonkie. But in final celebration of Mommy Chic's blogiversary month - we are giving one away to a lucky reader! Even if you don't have a baby, it is the perfect luxury baby gift - or pick a neutral color to keep for future babies.  Here are a few of the super cute patterns they offer:

HOW TO WIN:
Mandatory entries:
Go to Babybonkieswaddle.com and pick out the the Bonkie color of your choice.
Leave a comment below with your email (or how to reach you if you win) and the Bonkie you love.

Additional entries:
Follow {mommy chic} blog. Leave a comment with your follower name.
Follow {mommy chic} on Twitter.
Re-tweet the giveaway. You may re-tweet once a day until the giveaway ends. Each tweet is another entry!
Post the giveaway link on your Facebook page.
Leave a comment for each entry telling me you've done so.

Contest ends Tuesday, Sept 6. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Open to US or Canadian residents. Good luck!

Congrats to comment #7 (via random.org): Alyssa!  

Blogiversary Giveaway: Littyle Accents

Hello mommies and friends-of-mommies - It's time for another Blogiversary Giveaway!

Today's Giveaway is courtesy of Littyle Accents, an online shop for trendy kids' accessories.

{Little + Style = Littyle Accents}

 

Littyle Accents is giving one of you lucky readers a pair of Baby Legs leg warmers!  If you're a new mom or mom-to-be and aren't familiar with Baby Legs, picture: chubby little legs stuffed into cute little leg warmers in fun prints.  They're perfect to layer under shorts or skirts to keep those sausages warm, but leaves one less layer to remove during diaper changes.  Even if you don't have kids of your own, these are a great little gift to give!

Littyle Accents offers these and many other accessories on their site.  Check out these super cute ruffled baby bloomers diaper cover, a cool striped baby beanie, or must-have swaddle Woombie.

Want more?

ANOTHER lucky reader will win 

a $10 gift certificate 

for anything on the site!  

That's right - TWO giveaways today! 

And, as another treat for all readers, Littyle Accents is offering 10% off anything on their site thru Aug 31 if you use the code: mommychic.  (Shipping is free if you spend $49 - who doesn't love free shipping??)

Mandatory entries:
Follow {mommy chic} blog
Go to Littyle Accents site, pick the pair of leg warmers you want to win and leave a comment below with your name and email to reach you  

Extra entries:
Follow @mommychicblog on Twitter and re-tweet the contest.
"Like" Littyle Accents on Facebook

Leave separate comments telling me you've done each.  You have through Monday to enter.  Winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Good luck!

Steve McQueen vintage nursery

How super cool is this inspiration board from Lay Baby Lay???  I've never liked a 'themed' nursery, but she makes the vintage speedster theme look so chic, I'm already redecorating in my mind. The toy Schylling Racecar is a must-have for the Bitty and the charcoal rug and credenza with gold hardware could easily go anywhere in the house.  What an original idea for a nursery/kids room - I'm obsessed with the design and the hubs will love the vintage race cars.  What do you think?

Source: laybabylay.com

1  2. 3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12

{chic finds} in the kids section

I took my own advice (because it's really that good) and picked up a couple items from my favorite children's stores.  The striped top is from Crew Cuts boys and with the additional 30% off sale prices, I paid only $6.99!  The watch is a silicone slap bracelet (remember those?) from Nordstrom girls.  At $16, you can buy several colors and layer them on like you did back in the day when you were looking at Zack Morris pictures in Teen Bop magazine. It's, like, totally.

We're off to begin our Fourth of July weekend festivities which will include eating, eating and more eating.  Cause the "honey badger's a hungry bastard."  (Watch the video.  Make sure you empty your bladder first.  It's that funny.)

{mini} Lanvin

Even as I type this, I have to catch my breath.

We all know that DVF is coming out with a line for Gap Kids.  Very exciting and possibly a new, bargain score for me. (Because I can still fit into a girls' 14 - I know, hate me all you want.  At least you're taller than a 5th grader.)

But c'mon, Lanvin? For kids?  Be still my beating heart.

See?  I told you you would die.  I wasn't just being over-dramatic.  Now I have to go make some baby girls in time for pre-spring/resort 2012.

Source credit

Borrowed from the boys (and girls)

You've probably seen a lot of ideas and inspiration for stealing from your man's closet and making his pieces work for you.  But what happens if you're an extra-small-petite married to an extra-large-husky?  You steal from your kids.

Mine isn't old enough to share clothes yet (I can almost fit into his size 18-24 mo hoodies, but not quite) but that doesn't mean I can't justify a few early purchases at Crew Cuts.  Here are a few tops from the boys and bottoms from the girls that can easily pass as grown-up weekend style.

• An acid lemon tee with ikat shorts for early morning estate sale-ing
• A gingham poplin (roll up the sleeves!) with a lace skirt for brunch with friends
• A striped cotton sweater with striped drawstring shorts for a cool sunset picnic

Click on image to view product on retailer's site.

(Those are grown up sandals, though Crew Cuts shoes go up to sz 37 if you really wanted.)

And a few more pieces I loved from the kiddos:

More J.Crew...

{DIY} Easy kids pants

via

Is it just me, or are kids clothes getting just as expensive as mine?  If you calculate the cost per wear, they're practically the same as a Lanvin.  (Exaggerate, much?  And can I use that argument to buy this dress?)

My mother and grandmother used to sew some of our clothing when we were little, but the sewing gene seems to have skipped a generation. <Insert Asian seamstress joke here.  No, I don't do alterations.  No, I don't run a small sweat shop.>  Well, Dana at MADE has a great tutorial for pants that makes it look so easy even I might be able to whip up a pair when the Bitty outgrows his every two weeks.  If only I were so ambitious to clean off my dining table and whip out the sewing machine.

Play with your food

My little Bitty is officially enrolled in school next fall. *sniff*  You may say that two days a week for a 15-month-old isn't technically "school" but they have a curriculum and lesson plans, he brings a backpack and lunch, and there's a teacher telling someone to keep his finger out of his nose.  That's pretty much what my primary education looked like.

Each week, they learn in thematic units, which means if the week is about bugs, all the week's songs, crafts, numbers. letters, and lessons will be about bugs as well.  To add to this learning experience, I thought it would only be appropriate to have his daily lunches correspond to those thematic units.

Thanks to Jill at Meet the Dubiens, I have already started cataloging ideas.  Eating veggies has never been so fun:

 all images via

Now, I just need those lesson plans in advance so I can also make sure his outfits match the week's theme.  School is going to be so much fun....for me.