Lucky 13

So, I started writing a very fun post about fun accessories for little girls and how addicting the shopping can be when there are so many options. That process started early afternoon, and I am going to shelve it for a while to address the "ominous qualities" of today. Most people have probably noticed that today is Friday the 13th. Thirteen has always been my lucky number, jersey number in high school, and Friday the 13th holds a special place in my heart.
Three years ago my boyfriend at the time (now my husband, so don't think I'm talking about some other guy!), took me out on a date. It was the night before Valentine's day which is not one of my most favorite days, and he had to work at a restaurant Valentine's night anyway. So alas, we joined the masses of people celebrating nothing in particular and headed off to the movies. What was on the docket? "He's Just not That into You", perfect date night movie right? To start our pre-movie super duper fun we went to Cici's Pizza for dinner first. Yes, we're talking $5.99 per person pizza, salad, and dessert. Again, super duper date night!
For some reason I wasn't in the best of moods, the movie was funny, the pizza was surprisingly good, and I was with a fabulous guy for the evening. We had been in the process of building a house in the area and Kyle asked me if I would go take a look at the progress with him. We arrived at the lot and there was no progress...needless to say, my night didn't get much better. I wanted to stay in the car, he asked me (several times) to get out. We walked around the lot and he started talking about all of the amazing memories we would create here, "on this dirt". My mood started to lift a little. Then, Kyle looked at me and said, "Let's start now". Me, (being me), said, "what are you talking about?" As I turned to look at him, I realized he was down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I am pretty sure the next words out of my mouth were, "are you serious?"
Of course, I said "YES"  and my night was remarkably better. That started my 15 month whirlwind of wedding planning and graduating college. I graduated on May 14th and was married May 22nd. We moved into our new house and spend the first night June 22nd....No, it was not the same house he proposed to me at. That builder had some "issues" and we found a fabulous house in Durham, NC.
So 13 has always been a lucky number for me, and I always get slightly giddy when Friday the 13th comes around.
This year, this April....April 12th was one of those days where bad things came in threes. First, I took my favorite cat "Teaser" to the vet because one of his main canine teeth (big top one) had just fallen out on the dining room floor. Vet tells me he needs to have jaw surgery and might have a bone disease.

 Fantastic...there went just about $1,000 of our tax refund. Speaking of tax refunds that brings us to number 2; our return was rejected. Why? I had typed Abby's SS# wrong so it delayed our return direct deposit by 2 days. Needless to say, that kind of hurt paying for the cat's surgery. Number three you ask? I was leaving Kyle's softball game (where I learned of the refund situation) and started hearing this "thump thump" noise when I moved. Sure enough I had picked up a bolt...a nice BIG ~3" long .75" diameter bolt screw side up into my tire. The car is 6 weeks old...20" tires....I practically started crying.
I knew that all of this would "come to face" today, and given my history I had luck on my side. How did it all turn out? Teaser had his surgery, 8 teeth removed, and a lot of other "things" done I won't get into. Sure it cost $990, but I don't have pets for any reason less than another member of the family. I have had this cat since he was 2 weeks old, I bottle fed him, and he is a total mama's boy. It was well worth it to have him healthy and pain free. Next, we had brought the car to the dealer expecting to shell out somewhere around $350 for a new tire...and they were able to FIX the hole for $20!!!!
Once again Friday the 13th is my "lucky day"!!
Until Next Time....and the next 13th!

Dabble

Getting ready for BHI - Part 1

"Have baby, will travel" is getting ready for the summer edition! This year we have two "big" vacations planned that will somehow work their way into the schedule of softball games and culinary classes. The first will be back to Bald Head Island for the fourth year! This is the same spot the Kyle and I had our wedding almost two years ago....how time flys! The second will be to Wellfleet, MA, on Cape Cod. This is the same town I used to vacation with my family when I was growing up; over 14 summers straight! Given that BHI comes first, it will be Abby's first trip to the beach and it will be a family affair!

This picture is one I took two years ago on Bald Head. This is by far one of my favorite places in the entire world! You have the fantastic beach and ocean scenery (as well as some great shells!), and then if you go into the island you have an entirely wooded area that makes you feel like you're in the middle of a rain forest. They have everything you'd need: grocery store, spa, and a surprisingly high number of fun shops! The food is incredible (no matter where you eat), and our favorite place to "dig in" is Eb and Flo's for the steamed crab legs!!!!

Of course, if we're planning a beach trip for our little girl I started looking at some beach fashion. Here are some of my favorites...maybe I can have a mini splurge with some of our tax refund....

All of the above are from Polo. I really love the little kid boat shoes...and have been eying a "grown up" pair for myself as well. The "mommy version" are Sperry's and can be found at Nordstrom

I love the rose gold color, and the mesh sides!
Going to the beach, or even thinking about going to the beach, makes me instantly relax. Whenever I pack I inevitably over pack because what if the weather changes, or I miraculously decide not to lounge around the entire time we're there? Maybe I'll get all of my outfit decisions out of the way through the blog so I only over pack for Abby this year!
Hope you enjoyed the little girl clothes...so much more to come!
Until Next Time
Dabble



And we're walking...

Well, we're not actually walking, but Kyle and I went to Babies R Us today and bought a walker for Abby. She is standing up more and more every day, not so much on her own but with a little balancing help. Earlier tonight we were all sitting up in her bedroom playing and reading books, and I looked at our little girl and had a flash back to when she couldn't even hold her own head up that well. Now we have a sitting child who is trying SO hard to move herself places seeking independence. I'm not sure if I should relish it or be slightly fearful that we may in fact be dealing with a mini independent me.
Somehow when I started this post it made sense to me to talk about my darling daughter's new independence and doing our taxes, and yet now I cannot for the life of me find the connection. Every time I have ever filed my taxes, since I was filing for myself, I find it a personal challenge to find every LEGAL way to get money back from the IRS. One of my cousins works for the IRS and for some reason that has always frightened me. I have heard so many stories of people "cheating" the IRS, or some other governmental institution and it all continues to scare me. How is the temporary "reward" worth the massive amount of chance you are taking.
Obviously that mentality isn't something you are born with. If you are going to try and work the system, or respect it, that decision came from somewhere. Here's my attempt at a "connection" between taxes and my daughter. Children are full of exploratory instincts. Everything goes in their mouth, they drop things in succession learning how their actions affect outcomes. If you try and stifle the child climbing on the couch because you think they might fall, they might NEVER really learn that they can fall. OK, so that might be a bit of a reach because you'd hope that they'd listen to their parents about right and wrong. My family was always of the idea to lead my example and learn for yourself. Sure, I made mistakes but I really learned what end results were worth, and that the end doesn't always justify the means.
Sure, Abby will bump into things and have her face slimed my several dogs, but she is going to learn the meaning of freedom in travel. Ah Ha! See?!?! I think several of my English professors would be proud (and maybe judge me for the somewhat shaky connection), but I managed a connection!
No matter how independent Abby may become, I will always be her mom. There will always be something I can teach her. There will always be an experience I've had that she hasn't, and probably the other way around as well. At the end of it all, we will be walking together. We will be each other's support system. We will be a family, and we will be together until the end and beyond.
That may not be so Chic, but that's my mommy moment for the day!
Until Next Time

Dabble

Outdoor touches

The weather is getting nicer by the second, and that inspires more time outdoors. A lot of the time people do spring cleaning trying to purge the inside of their homes, but what about the outside? Don't we all need a little "pick me up" in the spaces we will be spending most of our time? I'm not suggesting a total re-decorating, unless of course that's in your budget (not in mine!), but maybe a few fun touches that can make a space POP!
Do you have a nest chair? This is a great way to bring that chair outside and have an outdoor cushion use. In my house I am the only one who uses this chair because Kyle is afraid he'll fall out of it. I can't wait to get Abby in it because she can't get out yet! You an find this one and others at Pier 1

If you're planning on doing outdoor entertaining such as some grilling and beers, or even some signature cocktails one of these beverage tubs would be a perfect addition

To me the best part of spring are the candles I get to break out. It's also the best part of the fall/holiday season too...so I might be a bit bias. The Lemon Lavender candles from Yankee Candle are one of my favorites. It's a fresh clean floral scent that can also work in a kitchen because of the crispness of the lemon.

Do you need a great drink recipe to fill that bucket? These are Virgin Pomegranate and Cranberry Bellinis and can be made "adult friendly" by adding some champagne!

Enjoy your outdoor living and your little Chic Moments!

Until Next Time

Dabble

Monday Moments

I think that every weekend we all play this little game of "ready or not here I come" with Monday. Last night Abby had a rough night and didn't go to sleep until about 3 hours later than her normal bedtime. As a parent of an incredibly fantastic child, I realized just how lucky we are. When you have a newborn you very quickly adjust to life with irregular sleep patterns, and then once you have a more regular nighttime sleep pattern it is incredible just how quickly I am used to that again.
As you may know from previous posts my husband, Kyle, is going to culinary school. Because of this I have been fantasising over all of the kitchen gadgets and fun recipes and thought it would only be appropriate to share some of the finds with you. This is, of course, much more fun of a kitchen concentration than looking into my kitchen that desperately needs to be cleaned. That project can wait until later!
Best investment:
Kitchen Aid stand mixer - this little beauty is from a special line for the Susan G. Koman foundation, and it is a fabulous addition to any kitchen. There are attachments to grind meat, make pasta dough, juice veggies and fruits, and so much more!

This next one speaks to a personal love of mine...GARLIC! The Garlic Rocker crushes garlic without becoming impossible to clean after.

If you have kids, you should at least know how to make cupcakes from the boxed brands. Occasionally I find myself glued to Cupcake Wars...and if you didn't know I am a secret cupcake-a-holic indulging in the excuse of having a child to order them! I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of silicone baking cups, but here are some fun footed buddies!

If you have kids, and bake cupcakes, or know anything about shifting sleep schedules then you probably would appreciate the next product as well! Kyle and I went to Rome for about a week last year around this time. We went with family, four other women, and I was almost 20 weeks pregnant. He is one BRAVE man let's just say that. Needless to say, there is an incredible amount of decadent food and amazing wine to be enjoyed in Rome. I ate plenty of the food, but could not partake in the wine. While Kyle and I had dabbled in red wines before our trip, he came home with a love for it and pairing it with food. Here's a little something that comes highly recommended for all of us who can't take the hours to let something properly decant from Wine Weaver

I've never personally tried the above product, but it came recommended on a blog I've read a few times written by a sommelier, so he must have a pretty good base of judgement! We use one of the kinds you can "plug into" the top of the bottle...great stocking stuffer from last Christmas, but this looks pretty cool!

It's probably time to move onto the kitchen because Abby finally went down for a nap about 30 minutes ago and I think I started trying to write this entry about 2 hours ago. Oh well! I hope you all have enjoyed my Monday moment, and the Culinary Chic segment!
Until Next Time

Dabble

This is how blogging is done!

I would like to give a BIG congratulations to one of my favorite blogs Fifi Cheek! This blog is written by Lindsey who was the event planner at the Bald Head Island club when Kyle and I were married there almost two years ago. Since meeting her over a year before that I have (sometimes not so secretly) coveted her style, and now that of her little girl Tilley-Gray who was born about two months after Abby.
Fifi Cheek has over 70,000 page views each month, and has its first official sponsor. Lindsey gives Chic Moments and Chic Mommy Moments from an amazing perspective. Not only that, but she has genuine care for all of her followers.
Three CHEERS to Fifi Cheek on all the blogging success! Keep bringing us those Chic Moments!

Feeding you soul...and your stomach too

Something you should know about me is that I am an amateur foodie. I have all of the passion for fine food and wine, and the creativity to pull together tasty meals, but I lack any formal kind of training. As I mentioned in the previous post, Kyle is going back to school to get a culinary degree. From now on, I will be living vicariously through him and taking full advantage of all of the training he will bring home. I'm not exactly the type of "chef" to follow a cookbook (unless I'm baking), yet I have about 40 of them in my kitchen. I'm more the type that opens the fridge and thinks "what can I make with the random things in here". Personally, I think I would do fantastically on "Chopped".
We are turning weekends in our house into cooking classes. Kyle has the syllabus and I have the "experience". I have to say, I wish my syllabi in college looked like his...I drool when I look at what he is going to make and it's only the first class. All of the students were told to get a "mentor chef" and he asked me if I would be one of his. Major "Awww" moment for me, but maybe he was doing it in part to preserve the balance of our marriage because he knows that I'm (not so secretly) jealous of him taking all of these cooking classes. This weekend it's sauces, next weekend will be soups, and the weekend after that will be everything eggs. We're going to practice what he has coming up, and let's just say I cannot wait for the baking class.
There has to be a Chic Moment for every mom when it comes to the kitchen. Maybe you're not the best cook, that's ok. Maybe you have set a thing or two on fire when it didn't call for it, that's ok too, as long as there were no small children injured in the making of your meal. My new blog related task is to think of a name for these themed weekends related to chic cooking. I love to cook, and I think that it should be accessible to everyone. There is something very satisfying about being able to put a snack, dinner, or any meal on the table for the people you love that you loved making. It's even better when you can make it look effortless!
I'll have a recipe tomorrow for you to drool over, but until then....

Dabble

Constant Reinvention

Last weekend one of my friends from high school came to visit and meet Abby for the first time. Steph is the perfect "wild child" aunt for Abby! I was SO excited to see her and just hang out for the weekend and let whatever shenanigans we always end up getting into just fall into place. We of course took a trip to the outlets and spiced up our house with a fantastic sale at Yankee Candle. I took a little bit out of my "emergency" fund for candles. Emergency? Absolutely....it's the little things that make you feel better when sometimes you feel like everything is falling apart.
In between the running around moments Steph was able to witness a big change moment for our family. Abby attempted to crawl. Ok, she lifted up her arm from the crawling position and immediately toppled over, but it was a start and incredible cute! More importantly, Kyle went back to school. I have been hinting for a while that there were big changes coming, going on, circling around, and I have been virtually ripping away at the pages to find the best way to talk about it all. We have made the decision to sell the brand that we have built as a custom printing company, and that's about all I can get into with that side of things at the moment. Kyle and "the guys" are working on potentially buying a restaurant and with that Kyle is going to get a culinary degree. I admire his ambition and drive to yet again take on the task of mastering a truly specialized field, and I know that he will be beyond successful in whatever he chooses to do.
Of course, that means more $$ out of our pockets to pay for school. Having Steph here reminded me of how easy we had it in high school. We were essentially care free and finding our footing, ourselves, and dreaming of where we were going to go in life. I would like to think that I still have that dreamer in me, and for better or worse I am constantly reinventing myself. Luckily enough, Kyle is in the same boat with me and we can go through the constant changing together supporting each other. However, it's very different now that we have Abby.
Parenting "forces" you to have a sense of security for your family unit and your child(ren). It creates a sense of selflessness in you that says "no matter what is going on in life and how much I have to sacrifice, my child(ren) will be taken care of". I am blessed enough to have incredibly supportive family, but every day I strive to take care of my own on my own. Maybe I finally know how my parents feel when they tell me they want to make sure I am taken care of, but as a parent I want to be able to provide for my family as my own parent. I guess the days of carefree living are over, but to all the parents, supportive families, and everyone else out there do NOT read that to mean that the days of DREAMING are over.
This blog was started with the idea that we all need a moment every day to make ourselves feel absolutely fabulous, even if it's only in a dream!

Until Next Time
Dabble

Learning to relax

I'll admit, I've had moments as a new mom when I find myself literally walking around in circles wondering to myself what I'm looking for. Inevitably when I sit down I remember, and quite often it just isn't worth getting up again to go get whatever it may have been. To every mom out there remember that you still need some privacy (just like you did when you and your man first lived together). Abby's Fairy Godmommy got me a door hanging sign that has a picture of a bathtub and says "Can mommy PLEASE just have ONE minute of privacy". Of course, that sign might lead me to use some more Lush Products in the tub, but today it allowed me to get a massage!
For Valentine's Day LAST year, Mimi (Abby's name for Kyle's mom) got us a couple's massage. After our "experience" with a couple's massage on our honeymoon, Kyle decided he didn't want to go. Sure, I could have been mad, but what it meant is I got to have it all to myself! Just over a year later I finally used it today and had a "Touch of Three" massage. It featured deep tissue (my favorite), aromatherapy, and hot stones. I had never had a hot stone massage before, but I was pleasantly surprised. Big thanks to Mimi!
I've been paying more attention to taking care of myself inside and out. As any good "friend" should do, I'd like to give you some recommendations!
Dabble's Favorite Pamper Products:
Bath products: Twilight Bath Bomb, or if you don't want the shimmer in that one; Sex bomb (yes, I went there...I'm old enough and I have a child....c'mon)
Hair Products: Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint shampoo, this is relaxation in a bottle. It's a moisturizing shampoo with the mint for the scalp tingle feeling I love!
Pedicure: There's a salon by me that has a sugar scrub and a seaweed masque for your legs. The sugar scrub smells like fruity pebbles, and they put the seaweed masque on under HOT towels. It's the most amazing hot to cold sensation and it makes me feel like I'm not really going JUST to sit in the chair...

Dablet has woken up from her "nap...bedtime" schedule confusion so this mama's gotta run. Maybe she wants to share her favorite baby pamper products! I'll ask her!

Until Next Time
Dabble

Mailbox Magic

After a visit to my mom's new townhouse this morning to meet the inspector (more on that later), and a quick run by the office, I came home to actually get some work done. A couple hours went by and then I heard one of my favorite sounds of the day...the mailman. I cannot explain to you why, but for as long as I can remember I have LOVED getting mail. I get giddy at the thought of something fantastic in my mailbox, and today I was a lucky girl. I found a breaking point in my financial review and scooted out to find this lovely specimen inside:

This 282 page Outdoor Sourcebook from Restoration Hardware is the "baby sister" to the prized possestion of the 655 page Spring 2012 main book. Coming it at 3/4" thick I can only imagine the close look Kyle would give this book to see the production process behind it. Me, I am drooling over the things on the inside. I think it's an accurate statement to steal from the Sex and the City 2 movie "I've been cheating on fashion with furniture" because I never knew that accent chairs, lighting, and headboards could get me so flustered!
I've only had a chance to flip through it quickly, but I am seeing a lot of natural wood, linen, and the traditionally loved rope and metal work that evokes classic tones to the type of furniture I dream about being able to afford....
I suppose with that said I should get back to working on my retail platform so I can put some $$ in my "Furniture Fund"!

Until Next Time
Dabble

Why even blog? She's why...

If you've been following me in any way, shape, or form, you'll notice one thing first and foremost: I am a mother, mom, mommy, mama, parent, and due to that I am slightly all over the place. At least, I'd like to say that it's because I'm a mom that I'm all over the place. Honestly, I wish that I had "new mommy brain" years ago to blame thing on. So why do I put all of my anecdotes on "paper" and give whomever is following me some inspiration on style both personal and home oriented? Because I have a fabulous fashion consultant who guides me every moment of every day. Would you like to meet her? While my little "Dablet" is in bed, I think I might be able to do a pretty good introduction.

Abigail Rose graced us with her presence (finally) on September 14th. Now, I say finally not because I was late in delivering (she was 5 days early), but because I was in "early labor" for almost two weeks. I had NEVER heard of early labor, but apparently my version consisted of contractions every 2-10 minutes in increasing intensity for TEN DAYS!!!! Holy $&#)*%. They predicted her to be over 9 pounds, which was better than I expected (Kyle was 10lb 14 oz and I was 9lb 6oz...yes I really said 10) and I gracefully accepted a scheduled c-section. Of course, this little girl decided she needed to have an active say in the matter and my water broke in the shower the morning of my scheduled c-section. Rather than getting to go to the hospital "like a lady" I was leaking everywhere and Kyle and I could not stop laughing!

This is the fabulous style advisor she has turned into:

At 6 and a half months old now my little diva is the happiest child in the world! She has her moments, but even in total screaming painful moments she can find it in herself to flash you a smile. My New Year's Resolution of perseverance comes from her unwavering faith in us as parents.
Let's be honest....we've never been parents before so we didn't know what we were doing (really). I found out in recovery that Kyle had never held a newborn before Abby was born...not sure how that didn't come up. Dabs (one of her MANY other nicknames) has gently broken us into the idea and is putting us through a fantastic parental training program. For a child who started sleeping through the night at 2 months old, we might even decide to give it another go. We've already decided to extend her contract for another 6 months...she agreed to our terms! I will mention that our pediatrician told me not to mention her sleeping habits too loudly because I might have mothers commissioning hits on me, so I won't tell you where I live. If you already know where I live, I'll allow you to verbally abuse me for a bit because she's more than worth it!

This little girl gives me all the drive in the world to be a better person, mother, writer, and to provide her with the environment to grow up and be as creative as she can be. You might be seeing posts in a year or so about design ideas that SCREAM "mismatched", but if she's into it...so am I!
Here's a special nod to all of the working moms out there, and that includes the ones who stay at home with their little ones every day. YOU are WORKING moms too! Let's put our heads together and have some Chic Mommy Moments

Until Next Time
Dabble



Making home workable

Anyone who has ever worked from home knows that you have to have a space that is both inspirational and workable. Sometimes a desk is not enough. Paint adds dimension and character, and organization is key. However, if you asked anyone who has ever worked with me they would tell you it might take a search and rescue team to find something in my office. Let's just say that I have always had my own type of office organization, yet I love how I feel when I get my space "publicly organized".
Given that I will be working from home exclusively for a while in the not so distant future with our corporate shift, I decided to dedicate a blog to office inspiration and organization. I immediately went to pottery barn (virtually of course) to look at desks....and it kind of spiraled from there. Here are some of my favorites:

This appropriately named Printer's Suite (above) offers up SO much in the realm of organization with all of the drawers. I'm not sure I would know what to make out of all of this possibility but the desk itself makes me inspired to try and find out!

This Bedford "build your own" desk allows you to be creative even in the process. Personally I LOVE the industrial handles, but even more so the inspirational boards on the walls. I always have bulletin boards with photos, cards, paint swatches, and anything else that I am drawn to. Sometimes when you see something it draws you without a direct significance, and then *BAM* you find the perfect use for that piece of inspiration.

This above fabric from Serena and Lily is one of my favorites. It is shown in a mocha, but also comes in a sky blue and a grass green. I have been eyeing it for Abby's nursery, but think it would be a great accent for a home office as well...Chair, curtain, pillow....

Just so we can better look at ourselves being creative, Serena and Lily gave us the Bungalow Mirror. I am personally obsessed with turquoise this year, and I always love natural-esq items. Of course I might need to get a little more work done before I can add this piece to my office collection, but that's what inspiration is for...Right??

I must take my inspiration to cleaning out my home office now and getting it ready to be the home to so many fun and exciting projects!

Until Next Time
Dabble

Oh yes...it's Monday...

I think I am going to adopt a new practice for Mondays. I need a "fun" way of saying a pro and con list...but essentially that's what it will be. Normally coming out of the weekend you're happy about something, and of course upset that you're coming out of the weekend. I think that if you can find just ONE thing to make you happy about your Monday then we can avoid the phrase "Someone has a case of the Mondays". Today my something to be happy about is that Monday is OVER and I have a fabulous glass of wine in my hand.
My New Year's resolution was perseverance, and here we are at the end of Quarter one and I feel like I'm on the stairsteppper of perseverance more than ever before. I just keep climbing and climbing and everyone at the gym moves on to another machine while I just keep on stepping.
I wish this virtual life gym of mine would automatically lead to toned legs, abs, and a nice ass to boot (hah!), but right now I am less worried about how my dedication could make my body look (because let's face it, I'm not hitting the gym on a regular basis), and I'm more concerned with how my Monday experiences can be turned into life lessons to pass onto my daughter.
Every day I see more free will open up from her and while she is proving to be a VERY decisive child it is mixed with sweet moments of reaching for me to pick her up, and throwing herself backwards while chucking her Nuk across the floor. She is after all my daughter, strong willed. I hope she grows up to be a person who isn't afraid of telling you exactly what she wants. If you fear honesty, who can you look to if you don't end up with what you want? At least if you voice your desires you have a chance of them coming to you; if you stay silent, you have no one to blame but yourself.

OK, so this post is a tad "deep" and not so much "fun Chic Moment Mommy"....but this Chic Mommy needed to have a moment.
Moment over, moving to Mexican food....wish the wine was a margarita. THEN it'd be a great Monday Moment!! Maybe that's the answer...Monday Moments....hmmmm

Until Next Time

Dabble

Let's talk baby

I don't mean, "Baby, let's talk", but seriously "let's talk about babies". Before someone in my family (or Kyle) sees this and thinks "Holy $#*% she's pregnant", I assure you I'm not. However, I am utterly IN LOVE with my little diva! Recently I have been satisfying my inner design demons by virtually flipping through inspirational books of home decor photos. Everything I think about doing to our house right now orbits around Abby.
 She's going to be 6 months old next week (minor mommy freak out moment), and we have ordered a dozen cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes (featured on TLCs DC Cupcakes), AND I just found out that they are going to open a store in Boston!!!!!! Unfortunately, I no longer live there, but my mom does, and I can assure you it will be added to my list of "must visit" places as soon as I get off a plane. Of course, Abby won't be able to actually eat the cupcakes, (her pediatrician would probably verbally abuse me), but she can play with the frosting!
Anyway, I recently did a post about her playroom, or the idea of her playroom. What I have recently come to decide is that our second floor NEEDS HARDWOOD floors!!!! Carpet is great, but with 3 dogs, 4 cats, and a soon to be crawling still drooling child....they have got to go.
Personally I'm loving how this new (potential) home improvement also means I get to pick out area rugs...but I'm getting ahead of myself. The BIG change next week will be Abby moving to her big girl room. It's funny that I still call it a nursery at the same time, but she has been sleeping in our room since she was born. Before I get chastised by the people against room-sharing, she goes to bed by herself, sleeps through the night, and does just fine thank you very much. It has been SO much easier because our master is on the first floor. Also, I'll add that it's been MUCH CHEAPER because we only have to worry about climate control on one floor!
Since my darling diva will be upgrading very soon, I feel it's time I finish decorating her modern safari themed room. Here are a few pictures of what we have so far (thanks to Britten Berry Photography from my maternity shoot)

Tree hand painted by yours truly...Giraffe from Melissa & Doug

Crib is from the Catalina collection of Pottery Barn Kids (big thanks to Kyle's mom aka "Mimi")

Changing table is literally the Ultimate Changing Table also from pottery barn (big thanks go to my mom on this one, aka "Grandy")
We also have hot pink framed black and white photos I took on a safari in Africa, but I am dying for a little more "omph". I know, it's a room for an infant, but I want her to be able to explore and discover things in it. I have some ideas up my sleeve, and a strong desire to pull something off this weekend.
I'll post my dreams (and some fun before/after shots of Abby's closet renovation *BIG thanks to Kyle*) later tonight or tomorrow.

Until Next Time....

Dabble

Interview attire....

Interviews can be scary enough without worrying about what you are going to wear. In today's technology era, we can often get away with only looking pulled together from the waist up (via Skype), or even interviewing in our PJs if it's over the phone. However, let me make a suggestion....wear something that makes you feel like a million dollars. Why??
If you feel good, you'll be confident. Think about going out to a bar to grab drinks with your girlfriends. (OK, I haven't really done this activity in years...but just play along). You want to wear something that makes you look like the knockout you are, even if you're married or engaged. It makes you take notice of yourself! So if you're going into an interview, or to meet a new potential client (you're still selling yourself there!) do your make-up, pick out a fun pair of shoes, and look your best.
Key points to remember:
Wear something that represents YOU
Shoes - practical, fun, pop of color
Jewelry - If you're meeting with someone who designs it...wear something of theirs if you can find it...even on a clearance rack
Tops - Don't let your "girls" hang out...unless it's that type of job...often something a bit flowy works best
Bottoms - Repeat it with me....If you can't sit down without taking a trip to Grand Canyon National Park...DON'T WEAR IT. Pencil skirt, trousers, even jeans (wide leg or skinny are my favorite) work depending on the rest of your outfit.

This goes for work clothes too....want an example? Even though I'm a CEO and Director of Marketing/Design I personally feel like you can make jeans work on a professional level. Today I'm wearing Joe's skinny jeans (medium wash), black patent Tory Burch flats, Navy blue silk top (gathered neck line with a Grecian zigzag ribbon pattern and silver beaded shoulders).
Jewelry: My Abby necklace, pearl flower stud Stella and Dot earrings, tennis bracelet, and my wedding rings
I'd walk into just about any business meeting without skipping a beat, but this look is my personality.
Sure, I can wear stockings, a skirt, and a "formal" top....but I'll get out of it as soon as I get home.

Fashion is a representation of yourself! Rock it out!!


Until Next Time

Dabble

Showing the love....

Did you thank someone today? Tell someone you love them?
About 30 minutes ago my phone buzzed with an email saying I had a comment on my blog. REALLY?!?! Someone wanted to leave me some feedback? I had a flash of a moment of "Julie and Julia" thinking, "well, it must me my mom"...nope. I got a thank you from Kendra Scott for "showing her some love" when I posted a pair of her earrings. I think I blushed slightly and was giddy like a 5 year old, then Kyle reminded me Abby was sleeping and I had to kick back into mommy mode....shhhhh....
Sure, my blog has about 1,000 views. Not too shabby for someone without a "following".  What I realized in the moment of awe was that just a simple thank you means the world sometimes when you've had a rough day, and most of all, when you are not expecting to receive it. So, what should I do in return?
How about a feature blog around Kendra Scott's jewelry. If you love what I post here check out her online store!
In the spirit of "statement pieces"m because I have been drooling over things like this to pair with a simple top and cut off shorts....we'll start with a Paley Cuff

I have to add another cuff, because she has SO many that I am dying over. I could absolutely build an outfit around some of these pieces. Fashion has moments when it's not about turning heads from across the street, but when you reach up to tuck your hair back and "BAM"...there's the Lande Cuff

Ok, so to all of my friends and family who are thinking "Who is blogging in place of Kate...she doesn't like yellow gold", I have to admit that with pieces like these and against the bright corals, (and you should SEE the teal version of this!) and a tan....I'm starting to accept yellow gold into my family!

When it comes to necklaces, I'm usually wearing a piece Kyle bought me when Abby was born that is an engraved "birth certificate" with her "specs" on it...so I'm a hard sell on pieces to replace it, but this is classic. Also, it's the logo for Kendra Scott, so it will stand the test of time of her brand

Not to leave the upper atmosphere of ourselves "unattended" let's jump to earrings. If you are the type of person that likes statement pieces - you'll trip over your feet running to her site...if you like vintage - you'll feel right at home in your own era. You've seen my pick of long, so let's look at the Carly Botanical Stud

If you haven't already bookmarked her site, well....hopefully you've at least visited it. And at the very least, you'll notice that all of this free press or word of "mouth" came because she thanked me. Maybe I'm only blogging to a small pool of people, but my people LOVE jewelry! So if you like something, talk about it...pay it forward, and the thanks you get will make you feel warm and fuzzy!

That's my Chic Moment for the day, and the idea behind it all is my Chic Mommy Moment, I hope Abby learns the power of saying "thank you"

Until Next Time

Dabble

Coral and nude - work in shorts

 I have been trying to find something that I would go to work in that could be comfortable, functional, yet classy enough that it's work appropriate AND I can run to the beach after. So maybe the heels are a bit tall for my 5'10" self, but I would love to rock them anyway. and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the vintage Chanel earrings and Tory clutch, and the high waist shorts....YES please! Any shoe that can include a colored heel (that I can match to jewelry!) is a bonus. This is my clothing chic moment of the day!

 coral and nude - work in shorts by kdsessoms featuring lace tops


Until Next Time

Dabble

Where do you wake up?

Putting my little bear cub down last night was about a two hour process, THAT hasn't happened in a long time, and it got me to thinking about how much the night before determines how we wake up in the morning. The thing is, Abby was still bright and bubbly this morning talking to herself when she woke up until someone came to get her. She didn't seem to care about her two hour crying and screaming marathon from the night before, but was simply happy to have her bunny and the tags to play with. Why can't my mornings work like that?!?!
It got me to thinking about what we do either the night before, or when we first wake up in the morning. Before getting into bed, and then out of bed when you wake up, I'd bet that you find yourself in the bathroom, and more importantly in the tub or shower. Since we moved into our house I have had a love/hate relationship with our master bathroom. For the LOVE side, we have a HUGE garden tub and a separate shower, lots of cabinet space and an L shaped counter for our sinks so Kyle and I are not on top of each other getting ready. For the HATE side, our shower surround is a blah white marble (as is the tub) and I don't really think the dark cherry cabinets go with the sandy colored tile floor.
I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I want to wake up and jump in a shower like this:

I must give credit for the above to Kohler (of course)....they make your water dreams come true.

I'm still not a HUGE fan of the grey, but would love a look like this:

Personally I'm a sucker for sinks that are bowls on tables. The first time I saw this done outside of a hotel was in my dad's phenomenal condo in Rhode Island. The table was a black granite and the bowl plays off of the fire red/black lacquer look of the oriental themed half bath. Not too shabby for a guy who lives by himself....he had decorating help!
If you don't have a fabulous bathroom to wake up to, you might be better served with some suggestions for how to make using the one you do have more enjoyable. I'll also mention that this will be DRAMATICALLY less costly then a bathroom renovation, and thus why I stick with these products.
Look no further than LUSH Handmade Cosmetics
When I was pregnant I developed a personal relationship with my bath and my FAVORITE product to de-stress, deal with body aches, and attack pregnancy insomnia was the Dreamtime Bath Melt
This little bar of lavender, jasmine,and sandalwood has transformed my blah bathroom into a perpetual Chic Mommy Moment!

Until Next Time and the next room....

Dabble, and a special hello from Dablet (Abby)

Dreaming of Summer Fashion

Abby is normally in bed by now, but a combination of teething and a late afternoon car induced nap on the way home from Nordstrom rack is preventing that. So, she's blogging with me. As I anticipated, the change of season has me drooling over bright hues that beg for sun-kissed skin (with plenty of SPF of course Abby would like to remind everyone!) I felt this way when  the jewel tones came out last fall and I could dream of the cool nights snuggled up on the couch with homemade soup.....but that was last season.
Now that I'm in the position to, I'm adding homemade cocktails to the outfits, and trying to find the perfect navy and white striped bathing suit. Last summer I had one, but it was maternity, a one-piece, and  not quite the look I'm going for this year. I rocked a bikini with my 7 month pregnant belly, and will again this summer with my 7 month post-baby belly!
Sticking to  the navy and white, my first early summer find is from Tory Burch (did you really expect something different?)

Simple and classic enough, and then you can add a pair of these Kendra Scott earrings available for purchase here



And back to Tory for the shoes.....Now I'll give you two options. One with a heel, and one without. Either you're 5'10" like me and worry about towering over everyone in heels, or would rather be in a "flip flop" type shoe because, let's face it, they're more comfortable.

Now, it's only fair that I include Abby on this navy and white summer clothing dream fest. After all, she is my guest (albeit up past her bedtime blogger) I LOVE the yellow button accents on this from Nautica

Chic moments for the day....
Time to get this little bear cub to bed!

Until Next Time.....

Dabble

Designing a Playroom....

When I was pregnant with Abby I was very much into the lime greens and neutral tones, there was something in me that wouldn't let me go SUPER girly. Whatever "that" was, it's TOTALLY gone now and I love having a little diva to remind me of all of the fabulous parts of just being a girl!
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about how we're re-doing our house. I should probably just say "doing our house" because in the (almost) two years we've lived here we have grown more personally than we've grown into the house. The walls are still the off-white color, and there is not much feel to our surroundings. Now that I'm going to have some "change of schedule", and potentially a shift in concentration of subject matter within my schedule (yes I know I'm being vague)...design can pull itself into the fire of the front burners of my brain.
Here are some chic moments, and chic mommy moments for Abby's playroom...Enjoy!
I have been ALL about vintage/modern (crazy combo I know)
 Dwell Studio Kids rug found at Layla Grayce

This worlds Away Star Light reminds me of how toddlers are everywhere at once!

Changing table/toy trunk...LOVE THIS!!

Abby will be 6 months old in just 11 short days. The time has FLOWN by so quickly, and I await the days to come with excitement and a few tears for the days that have past. She is an absolute joy of a child, and makes me proud to be her mom! I cannot wait to help her explore her creativity and artistic abilities!! (I should probably make sure I have plenty of stain remover handy....)

Until Next Time...and the next room....

Dabble

Sanity...it's crazy-making

The past few weeks have involved a never ending roller coaster of events, emotions, tasks, and trying to somehow come out alive on the other side. The worst part about all of it? I can't talk about it yet....
Inside, I'm a writer. This is my outlet, and I think that Kyle loves that I have it, because there are only so many times he can listen to me vent, or talk out my strategy to "take on the big guys". But the nature about this entire situation is protected by a looming necessity for confidentiality, and if I even started to talk about why I could be making things even harder for myself.
What I can say is that everything will be ok, life will go on, and at the end of it all, I will be a more valuable business person from the experience we're having.
What I hate about this....it makes me feel like I'm a bad mother. I cannot physically do everything during the day and night that I need to do, and do everything that Abby needs me, as her mom, to do. Yes, I accept help, and I have a super nanny, and Abby is completely well taken care of. For me personally, it's not enough. When we started trying to have a baby I knew it would be a challenge to balance everything, but I knew that we had the most amazing support system to make sure that we are all ok.
I grew up with working parents, and I know that I need to work (at least part-time) so I have something else to do. I never wanted to be in a position where I was there for the morning and bedtime...and nothing more.
Once this is all over, I'll be happy to take at least a day or two to spend with just my little girl.
Some mommy and Abby time....and maybe a glass of celebratory wine.

Until Next Time.....

Dabble

What are you doing?

Today I had a VERY thought provoking meeting about direct marketing with a fellow digital print professional who trumps me in experience on more levels than one. Yet I walked away from the meeting feeling very secure in the business mindset that I had, the values, goals, principles, and direction of our company. We were talking about his new advertising/marketing firm and the dilemma of a direct marketing campaign. How many times have you received something in the mail trying to sell you something? SOOO MANY! Sure, they personalize a salutation, or even a unique feature about you, but there is SO much more that can be done!
Think about this....
You have a business, and you have clients. Are ANY two people exactly the same? Nope. Does every one of your clients need or want something you offer? Sure! Are you trying to close a sale, or open a streamline channel of business? Well, both. Yes, you want to make money, but if you look at every customer as a single deal, that's all they will ever be. Same goes for non-profits; don't just go for one donation, go for perpetual giving! Once you look at your customers as unique creatures, you need to find an effective and cost-effective way to market to them not only in a WAY that is pertinent to them, but also at the right TIME for them.
The idea is mass production with a unit of one....
We have a printing company with no minimums. Seriously. It's more than a quantity system, it's a customer based model. If a company or association comes to us with the desire to send our a direct mail marketing campaign, we might produce 5,000 pieces. However, we are producing 5,000 sets of ONE.
After our meeting finished, I felt like asking him "Is there anything you want to do that you haven't done?" I'm sure there might have been something, but as I opened the door by saying, "anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask", he returned the open door. I am inspired everyday by people who are willing to let me pick their brain of experience, and humbled when they tell me I have the right mindset to get to where they are.
So again I sit here wanting to conquer the world, waiting for my next big break. Why wait? Here's my offer to anyone reading this that has a customer base and needs a better way to reach them. Email me!
kdsessoms@greetingexpress.com
I don't care if you have 5 customers, or 5,000....we can help you reach them in units of one, and I will give you my prep time at no cost. I will brainstorm with you and help you reach all of your dreams, and your revenue goals. Sales pitch? sure....but realize that it's almost 8:30 on a Friday night and I'm doing work market research while my 4.5 month old sleeps. Personally, I think that's a nice quality in a collaborative partner!

Looking forward to Kyle's return home and a nice weekend with my family. I might even be lucky enough to get some "grown up girl time" on Sunday with Courtney. Maybe a mani/pedi, a little shopping, and some lunch. After all, even working moms get some personal time!

Until next time

Dabble

Milestones

It's only Wednesday and I feel like I've been running around for months this week...if that makes any sense. Abby officially started rolling from tummy to back, and is SO close from back to tummy but her stinking arm keeps getting in the way. We are decorating our house, finally, New Orleans Purple guest room, Girly Paris guest room (aka Fairy Godmommy room), Africa Living room, St. Lucia half bath, and a few other "undecided" areas. I find myself with the TV on in the background daydreaming of fashion, travel, cooking, decorating, things to blog about, and experiences I want Abby to have.
She'll be 5 months old in 13 days....it's CRAZY how time flys. I also find myself thinking about what it's going to be like to be pregnant with a little girl running around. No, I'm not pregnant yet....notice how I said while she's running around, clearly at 4.5 months old she's not quite there YET. It'll happen when it happens for us for #2, but for now I do not want to miss a single moment of her growing up.
Our company is finally hitting the biggest event that I feel like we've been planning for for YEARS (it literally has been). Pretty soon we'll have a website "facelift" complete with a live custom design studio. **Que high pitched girly squeel now**
The dreams I have for non-profits as affiliates, bringing them new ways to reach the public, make money for their causes, expand, I get giddy. Odd, ok, maybe.
In other news....
We had a FABULOUS trip to Daytona last weekend. Abby was a TOTAL champ, so was Courtney stuck in a car with us for 10 hours each way. Abby slept most of it, and Courtney didn't kill us at the end, all in all a success I'd say! Abs (one of Abby's nicknames) got to go to the track for a bit, just long enough to smell the rubber and exhaust, but not long enough for ear/lung damage! I got to watch my dad race for the first time (that I can remember) in my life. He amazes me, at 69 years old he was determined to race in the Rolex 24 hour race. I wish I had his ambition and dedication to the things I love. I guess I have years to get to that point, one that involves knowing exactly what is important to you.
I officially want either a Yukon.Tahoe XL or a Suburban. But more than anything right now I want to take a bath with some of my favorite products from www.lushusa.com/shop All fresh handmade natural products and the BEST bath bombs in the world. Yes...they're that good.
A nice hot bath is my Chic Moment of the day!

Until Next Time

Dabble

Have baby...will travel - Daytona Prep

We are getting ready to embark on our first road trip this weekend, leaving Friday morning for Daytona, Florida to watch my dad drive in the Rolex 24 hour race. He will be driving a Ford Mustang (not exactly the kind that you or I could get into on the street though) for my brother's race team (Rick Ware Racing). It's a big deal all around; we'll have 5 drivers including the 2011 Nationwide Rookie of the Year Timmy Hill. On my end, it will be my second traveling adventure with Abby, this time by car and not plane.
We will begin our journey around 9am Friday morning so that we can be in Florida in time for dinner. Kyle and I will take Ms. Abby (and all of her "things") with our fabulous nanny in one car, and the "uncles" (aka godfathers) Anthony and Clay will follow with Clay's girlfriend Faith behind. Yes, I did say the "n-word" Nanny....
We hired my saving grace in the middle of December, a little earlier than expected, and despite whatever ideas you may have in your head, or stigma that comes with a nanny, our family could not be happier. In our area daycare does not offer any part-time options until the kids are over one year, and I am planning on working from home one day per week going forward. So, I would have to pay for full-time whether we used it or not, and full-time doesn't come cheap. We're near RTP...aka...pharmaceuticals, NC based BIG companies, and high-income people....so....daycare = $$$$$ and still a 4:1 ratio for infants. Plus, it's cold and flu season, and our pediatrician pointed out that if we had her at this age in daycare, she'd probably end up sick pretty frequently so I wouldn't be able to send her and would either have to stay home with her, or quickly find someone to babysit. UGH!
I went to http://www.care.com/ (BIG RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM THIS MOM!) and found the perfect match. It's kind of like a dating site for moms and nannys, or babysitters, or pet-sitters, or elder care (yes, they have it ALL). We found Courtney and since then she has allowed me to get rid of the cleaning people, have a ridiculously flexible schedule, and provides us with 1:1 attention for Abby while there is SO much development going on. Courtney is my perpetual Chic Moment for a mom....
Anyway, since a race track isn't the perfect place for a 4 month old to be for long periods of time, Abby will get to hang out with Courtney on the beach, in the hotel, and wherever else they venture off to.
This adventure will also be our dry run for what will likely become our next vehicle:

Meet the Tahoe (or Yukon)...even though we'll likely need to get ourselves into the XL version, I'm excited to see how our family fits into this car, and how it does on a long drive. With Abby and our 3 dogs, plus any kind of luggage....there really isn't another option short of an 18 wheeler (slight exaggeration, but you get the picture). Kyle's lease is up soon, so we might be playing a bit of shuffle with our cars and getting me into this sooner rather than later. I'm SLIGHTLY RIDICULOUSLY excited, and maybe it makes me feel better about how we'd flee if a natural disaster hit...
So from the nanny (although sometimes I feel like I'm paying for a new friend) to the new potential car, today is full of Chic Mommy Moments....

Until next time...

Dabble

Can a disaster be Chic?

So I have had WAY too many dreams recently about natural disasters and it made me look into emergency kits a little more seriously; at least that way I could be a little more at ease. Ever since I had Abby I have the dramatically increased level of protectiveness that seems to be inherent with parents. When we used to have a tornado warning or hurricane watch I would think about how I would get myself out and be able to bring the animals with us. They're easy compared to leaving with a child (food water and you're good). I've realized that I don't care if I have clean clothing, anything that would be considered nutritious, enough blankets, or even my toothbrush as long as we have everything Abby might need.
So I went to google and found some fun ideas to make the idea of an emergency kit a little less terrifying and a little more fun:

OK, so this is for a wedding day, but everyone assumes that a wedding day should be chic. Why can't evacuation be chic? You're probably wondering why in the world anyone should care about being chic when they're trying to escape a disaster, and might even think that I'm being too "impractical" or "superficial"...let me ask you this....when you're in a tight situation, stressed, or in face of peril...would you appreciate something trivial to make you feel a little better about yourself or the situation? So it may be a candle, or pillow mist, or a nice suitcase for you to have a little something just for you to calm the fear of everything you could have lost.
Of course the essentials...literal essentials, not the candles and pillow mist....are important too, so here are some of those:

If you have pets, check these out. First Aid kits geared for your animals. Make sure to at least remember to bring extra clean drinking water for them. Dogs can get enough nutrients by eating things you bring for yourself if you are out of food for them, or don't have enough of theirs to bring in a tight situation, but water is essential. Cats are a bit harder, but canned food lasts for a LONG time, and we all know they'll eat tuna (if you force them!) :)

 For all of my mommy friends out there, I thought this was fabulous! A trendy silver carrying case, and 17 supermom essentials! Contains:
lip balm, breath freshener, dental floss, emery board, clear elastics, earring backs, mending kit, stain remover, deodorant towelette, pain reliever, caffeine gum, facial tissues, adhesive bandages, hand sanitizing towelettes, thermometer, mini crayon set, mini playing cards

EARRING BACKS!!! That's fabulous! Already Abby at 4 months old is into grabbing any of my jewelry and if I lost and earring from some of my pairs I would be devastated! 


So that's all for now....Crisis averted and in a Chic manner!


Until Next Time....

Dabble