full heart = glass half full

not much to say. just feeling blessed. thought i'd give a update on little e and summarize her favorite, topics, words and actions that blow her mama and papa away and often cause our hearts to be full.

too many words to list, but here are some that are significant or just plain cute!
bano = banjo
up = you got it (over and over and over again)
poo poo (she now tugs at my arm to let me know)
paw-ye = potty
ah-go-sveeng-now (i go to the swings now)
hi-yo = hello (grabs any telephone, remote or object resembling a phone)

actions
turns around to crawl down stairs
pushes your hand away if you try to hold her hand while walking
walks around with her dolly on her shoulder, rocks her, gives her a bottle or water
puts animals and dollies on the rocking horse to give them a ride
makes a yum yum noise to show she's hungry or pertending to eat
shows with her hands how the rain comes down (when talking about rain or singing itsy-bitsy)
bounces or bobs to music or songs
sits in laps when being red a story (and always hugs during a hug part of the story)
flips to the page where she knows the word ("sveeng" "boom,boom,boom")
puts her hand out for her papa to kiss, she sees a picture of him doing that to her in a book
goes through the family album and picks out every picture of emily and says "emi"
wants to look at emi on the wall of family photos (even when emi is there in person).
goes around the house and says no to things she's been told about
makes our technology wacky with one fell swoop
plays baby aps on mama's phone
goes to the ("paw-ye-o")patio to look for papa out side and the front picture window
**gives us the biggest hugs around the neck and slobbery kisses on the lips out of the blue**


topics
loves to listen to the potty book and flush the potty and say "paw-ye"
loves to go the swings and see the ("patos") ducks at the park
loves to discuss the birds in the sky and search for them, she can do a crow (caaw) and a dove (whowho,who)



we love you sweet girl.
(one additional 14month-love-of-hers, is to the play the "pano" (piano) and sing along. she first started playing with her great-grandma lu and now plays at her auntie jackies. the word and task is taking a close second to her love for the "sveengs.") ;)

relating to reality?

should i feel bad about my happiness for reality tv? i am in my ultimate vice of relaxation when sitting back and watching k & k take new york/or k & k take miami, ....or bethenny after rhwnyc. why have we turned into a tv nation of watching other people go about their daily tasks? i've contemplated this questions on one too many occasions, mainly because the hubby says i'm obsessed. obsessed, i would say i'm not (it's a documentary, right?). i've dropped every other regularly scheduled tv program that used to be part of my weekly schedule, after having the babe. nothing is more entertaining then just watching her! but after she closes her little eyes, i like to sit back and enjoy a little mommy-tv.

i've discovered my interest in the shows - is "relating to reality." both ladies: kourtney and bethenny had babies the same year i had little e. i found myself watching these programs, as if to check in on my mommy-friends bethenny and kourtney. as if they were the mom's in my playgroup (as a full time working mom, it's not too often i hang out with my real mommy friends). i was tuning-in to see what their babies were doing, how they were coping with lack of sleep and what their challenges were. funny thing is, you don't really get "reality" from watching. not because they're not experiencing the same things i am, but because the fun of the show (what airs) are primarily the other aspects of their lives. that has to be part of why i watch it. there aren't too many days when i lease a store front and hire designers to create a hot new york retail spot, or visit the factory of the top shelf beverage i created, or tell the live-in nanny where the formula and onesies are located. hats off to these women who have created wonderful lives for their families, serious dedication. and doing it all with lots of love, kisses and smiles for their little ones.

i think the real reason i look forward to both programs is to the contrary, they're my break from reality. 

below kourtney and bethenny doing the daily things so many of us can relate to:

locks of love

a friend told me several years ago, as women get older their hair gets shorter. she read, that a woman subconsciously make herself less attractive, after they find their "mate." she relayed that for some, long tresses are used to reel their partners in and then cutting it shorter to take oneself off the market. i have never forgotten this and it's always bothered me. for one, not everyone has long hair. i had short hair in 4th grade and it's been 25 years since my hair has been above my shoulders. most of my childhood, teenage years and adulthood has been spent with hair down my back. i've enjoyed it's versatility and ability to style however i choose - up, down, in a bun, braid, curly straight, down the middle, side part, product, or natural. 

i felt like if i cut it, i was somehow succumbing to a domestic world that no longer enjoyed being sexy and having fun (rubbish!). was i checking off: married, child and impending birthday? would i be proving the theory instead of proving it wrong? but then i was reminded of locks of love. a great organization that makes prosthetic hair pieces for disadvantaged children,  that have lost their hair primarily due to medical conditions. a fellow mom had just done it, my dad grew his buzz cut for locks of love a decade ago and my sister had done it. seemed like the perfect inspiration to  just go for it. it's the first time i really felt, "it's just hair and it will grow back." thanks to mimi for taking such good care of me, in what was a bit of a leap of faith. I LOVE my makeover hair!! it's been so easy, i feel lighter and fresh. the best part, as if a goal i've always had has finally been realized. who knew so much thought and emotion was tied to those locks?

less time on hair = more time with baby

storybook romance

i'm not sure if it is the "pretty-woman-esq" fairytale, of the "prince" finding his bride among the common folk, the simple love of weddings or the fascination we all had with princess diana, but the impending wedding of kate middleton to prince william has spurred anticipation and excitement among millions, including me! i don't think of myself as getting overly excited about the daily lives of the "celebrity," but what is it about royalty that is so dreamy?

for me, i think it's tradition. i adore tradition, etiquette and the poised ways of yesteryear. looking back on the photos of this royal family, reading about the english traditions and centuries of grand weddings is a peek into a fanciful world most of us will never know except in storybooks. it will be fun to sit back, this week and watch the story unfold, perhaps with a glass of bubbly in hand and cozied up to my prince.

royal proposal woodcut

queen elizabeth coronation royal family

designers guild fabric collection, inspired by bukingham palace

queen elizabeth & prince philip - coronation

ladies of yesteryear at high tea

princess grace of monaco

princess diana and prince charles, wedding day

chocolate biscuit cake, by daren mcgrady
 chosen by prince williams for his grooms cake

cake designer fiona cairns was chosen for kate and william's wedding
to create a traditional multi-layered fruit cake similar to tiers seen here

raw mother earth

today is earth day. we're pretty darn conscious in our household about the effects we have on the planet and are constantly trying to make a positive difference in our daily routines. today, in an effort to recognize the beauty and resources that our planet provides, i thought i would set some goals for myself. walk more on this earth, eat more raw and non-processed foods from this earth, get my hands dirty more from the dirt of this earth. 

this sunday we'll celebrate easter and of course will be contributing dishes to the wonderful feasts held with our families. i tend to eat more than i need to around any holiday and am always motivated to bring something fresh and sometimes raw to the table. my thanksgiving contribution wasn't the yummiest dish at dinner, but it was full of good stuff...bok choy, kale, collards, pomegranate seeds and roasted pepitas - with a pomegranate molasses dressing. this holiday i'm going to try and make use of the papaya we have on hand and attempt to make these mango cone papaya salad works of art below. aren't they lovely? please share with me, what you'll be making this holiday. would love ideas!

mango cones with papaya salad from gliving, green chef golubka

haute hats :: kentucky derby style

this year my birthday falls on churchill down's famous kentucky derby. my grandpa frank was an avid fan of the races. in fact one year, in honor of him, my dad placed bets on any horse in the derby my sisters and i chose. i won that year! "silver charm" was the name of my blue ribbon choice. the horse races have since held a special place in my heart. i've always wanted to go to the derby, wear a big hat and feast southern style. this year, i may make my own celebration at home...sip mint juleps under a fancy brim and put down a bill or two on my favorite thoroughbred. here are a couple of beautiful images:

Kentucky Derby 1926

Beautiful Marilyn

Mint Julep by Martha Stewart

VonUnwerth Archives

Mint Julep Panna Cotta by Leites Culinaria

Arturo Rios Etsy

Silver Charm

backyard bliss

with our little e on the move, private outdoor space has become even more important than it was before. thankfully we are at a point where making our backyard our oasis has become a reality and the patio is in progress! i can't help but dream of the decor aspects of the patio - as it's completion is so near...pillows, plants and pots, umbrellas (we're being frugal and sticking with the current outdoor furniture). several years ago we purchased a wrought iron vintage set from a friend's roommate - a round table and five chairs for a mere $45. i painted it an eggshell white which has since chipped and a little rust has shown through, but i'm going with it. 

thought i would share some of the fun images i fancy! would love to carry the "french" garden theme we have in the front yard, of gravel, roses, rosemary and lavendar, but with less water...so perhaps succulents or drought tolerant native plants. we're using flagstone and sand as our surface and i would like to throw in some bold colors like yellow and maybe stripes and prints. yellow is my new fav this season - can you tell? before and after photos to come.