Annnnd....we're off!

It's that time.


And it will look a lot like...
pool.beach.shop.REPEAT.


Have a great couple of weeks!

Cheap Thrill

So, how do you entertain a toddler for hours for under $10?

Why with her very own shopping cart ofcourse!

Yes, we know kids are not allowed to sit in the actual cart. 

But this is Dora. She has her own rules.

It kinda went on like this all day.

Dora in. Dora out. Push cart. Repeat.

Mommy, I am not worthy.

B.E.S.T. $7.49 I've ever spent.
Happy Monday!

Anonymous

I couldn't resist linking up with Elena at Selfie Magic again for this week's photo challenge...

Anonymous - in her own words, "a part of a whole sometimes tells a better story".

I hope the photos I captured manage to do that. At least a little bit.

Afternoon sun...

Below, the nape of the neck, one of the most sensual parts of any woman. 
In this girl's opinion.

And my very favorite of all of the body part's.

Baby feet...utterly delicious.

Take 2. 
I couldn't choose which was sweeter.

And I understand the beautiful Elena will have her very own to eat up very soon...heartfelt congrats from one mama to another!

Such happy news on this lovely Saturday.

My date with Birkin

I was out for a dinner a few weeks ago with a friend of mine.

Since we were going into the city, we decided to meet halfway and park one car.

Before we headed down, I had a peek at her new wheels.

I decided to sit in the passenger seat for just a little minute.

And when I did, this was already sitting there.

In all it's Hermes glory.

Chocolate brown buttery goodness.

I held it. I may have stroked it. (just a little)

I pretended it was mine.

They were visiting Peru when she and her wonderful (he paid for the bag) husband saw the Hermes store.

And popped in for a moment.

Just to check.

For those of you who may not know, these bags are not so easy to get.

As in, two year waiting list for a black one. Or something ridiculous like that.

A book, written about this very subject, is literally titled Bringing Home The Birkin.

Which she did.

Because they had not one...not two...but three to choose from.

And she, being the smart fashionista that she is, chose a neutral brown.

Since it's not everyday that you buy a Hermes bag.

Or ever.

For some of us. (pout)

Throughout the course of the evening, the bag sometimes got in the way.

Because it's not so small.

Also because I insisted she keep it on the table.

God forbid you would even think of putting it on the floor.

Plus I needed to stare at it some more.

Can you please move "my daughter's college education" out of the way?

Yes, I named it.

Hope she wasn't offended as my dear friend has been longing for this bag for almost as long as I have.

Sadly, I will never have one.

As said daughter wants to go to college.

Dang.

Here is little miss with her own "it" bag.

"Mama, I will trade mine for that brown one in the picture".

Little miss' can talk AND sing.

Fair trade I say.

This post is dedicated to one of my favorite fashionistas. You know who you are. Be strong. This too shall pass and you will be stronger (and more fabulous) because of it.

What that baby Wore : Zara Kids

Little miss finally decided it was ok to wear white. 

And touch the grass with her bare feet.

Blouse + pants - Zara Kids
Hair clip - LV inspired

The hair clip was salvaged from The Original BabyGirl.

We'll call it vintage. 
Because we can.

The Nap Maximized

So, if you are a frequent visitor to this blog, you will know that our little miss is not much of a sleeper. 

Like, really bad. 

So bad, that for the first year of her life, we called her "forty". As in sleeps for 40 minute intervals only. Not fun.

Today, at almost 15 months, she has gotten better. I am still up a few times most nights but all in all, not so bad. Definitely not where we were. Naps have improved as well. 

Some days I get a blessed 2 hours (!) which I have really learned to maximize.

 As this is all I got. 

2 hours. 

Max.

So today, during nap time, I have:

1. Scanned and sent 14 documents (yes you read that right) that have arrived from the Canadian government and are required for us to bring the nanny on. I am sure this is probably not the end of it.

2. Sent said documents to agency.

3. Brought water out to papa who is here today taking down a tree in the backyard. Don't ask.

4. Peeled and boiled 2 potatoes for inclusion in little miss' soup. Which her nana sent over for lunch. Because she rocks.

5. Cleaned out my email.

6. Checked out my pinterest re-pins. Here I must tread carefully. I DO NOT under any circumstance actually visit pinterest as entire nap time will be consumed and I will be left to wonder where the time went.

7. Folded 2 loads of laundry.

8. Mopped the sunroom floor. Which the cleaning lady forgot to do. Again.

9. Ignored 2 phone calls. I did glance at my blackberry. Talking on the phone during nap time is another HUGE no-no. 

10. Checked out Pottery Barn Teen. Which now ships to Canada. Who knew?

11. Confirmed Gymboree Play & Music locations in the Florida area so I can take little miss when we are there in exactly 8 days. Insert happy dance here.

12. Searched for stores that might have the large black Lug Puddle Jumper I am after. Which I need for our trip. And which I saw at Costco for $30 less than 3 weeks ago and decided I did not need.

13. Ate one crusty italian bun. Yes, all of it.

Impressive? Yeah, not so much.

Because I am a woman.

And I am a mommy.

And that's just what we do. 

Like, every day.

Annnnnnd...she's up.

Nap time over.

Them Then, Them Now

I have been a fan of Ms. Elena's photography blog, SelfieMagic for some time. 

She takes unbelievably good self-photos (like crazy good) and makes it look SO easy (which it is certainly not). She also hosts a weekly challenge where she provides a tutorial and then challenges you to attempt it. 

You follow?

This week she challenged readers to recreate old photos of themselves. 

Sounded simple enough. 

First problem, digging through my folk's basement to find said old photos of myself. Maybe not this week. Instead, I chose to use my very favorite subjects, and an extension of myself, my two eldest. 

They were surprisingly eager to participate. 

The first attempt.

My Isabella. 

Yes, it's the same bear.

And yes, I am weird like that.

Next, Julian takes a turn.

He so enjoyed (has been trying to since we set it up) getting back into "his crib".

Lord help me, I kept that crib sheet from Pottery Barn Kids. Yes indeed.

And his favorite blue bear...a little worse from wear but still intact. 

I couldn't resist just one more of Isabella's.

On the original glider which is now in Little Miss' room (albeit covered up - who chose that print?)

Getting the color the same was next to impossible for this amateur.

I seriously need a lesson in Photoshop. 

Still so much fun.

Happy Saturday!

Prerequisite Shades

Any good diva in training  fashionista knows that sunglasses are a must-have. 

As in must-have at least 10 pairs. 

You never know what a day might bring.

I was literally stopped in my shopping tracks at the mall the other day when I spied these lovelies...

OK she (whoever she is) wasn't there, but the sunglasses were.

In all their beautiful Prada glory. Sigh.

Not that these are glasses one would actually ever have occasion to wear. 

Not this one anyway.

But they are stunning non?

These are more my style.

From a few years back and still the greatest sunglasses of all time.

In this girl's opinion.

Fondly known as the 19is's. 

Here's my friend Freida (yes, as in Pinto) rocking them.

Oversized.

Lightweight frame.

Prada Perfection.

Again.

A tad challenging to still find.

But definitely worth the hunt.

Our resident fashionista tries a pair on for size.

These are not by Prada.

Yet.

The sunglasses as pseudo-headband look.

Another must-know.

Is that the mamarazzi again?!

Italian hand gesture.

Read between the lines.

Happy Friday Fashionistas!