Hello?

I've got a lot on my plate for the next 2 weeks, but I will try to post here and there...

3 Years Strong

Three years ago today, I married the kindest, loving, thoughtful, patient, positive, hard-working, fun-loving, even-tempered, wise, and handsome man. I thank God every day for the blessing that my husband is in my life. He is a devoted father to Baby Bee, and my best friend. I love you, Hubby!  
Happy anniversary.

Little Pleasures: Purple and Pink

Nighttime moisturizer

Pretty tools

       Egyptian lillies... I'm jonesing for nail polish in this shade. 

(Any suggestions?)

There's nothing like an afternoon snooze in the car.

Have a great weekend!

One and Only?

One and Only is a new book about parenting and the questions surrounding the existence of an only child.

It is a deeply personal choice to decide to have a child at all, and the fact that there is still a stigma regarding families with one kid is saddening.

Kids are a LOT of work. While the joys of parenting are tremendous, one's inner and financial resources can be dramatically strained by the responsibilities that come with having multiple children. 

The author, Lauren Sandler, explains:

Here are some things I want: I want to do meaningful work. I want to travel. I want to eat in restaurants and drink in bars. I want to go to movies and concerts. I want to read novels. I want to marinate in solitude. I want to have friendships that regularly sustain and exhilarate me. I want a romantic relationship that involves daily communication beyond interrogatives and imperatives—I want to be known. 

Hubby and I are dealing with the decision to have more children. I am a sibling, and I love my brother dearly—it has been wonderful to have that indescribable bond—we are essentially built-in best friends. I would love Baby Bee to have a similar experience. On the other hand, Hubby is an only child, and doesn't feel like he missed out on anything. He's extremely well-adjusted and one of the happiest people I know.

I think you just have to know what you want for your life, and follow through in kind. If you're prepared and willing to make sacrifices, then go for it Duggar-style. If not, then stick with one (or none). The choice is yours.

Mental Floss: For the Grammarian in You

Last month, Hubby came across this YouTube video and thought that I would like it. He was wrong... I LOVED it! If you are a word nerd, it will make you double over with laughter and cause you to do mental fist bumps. Grammar know-it-alls like me can't get enough of this kind of stuff. It's a bit on the lengthy side, but well worth watching.

Enjoy!

Crowning Glory?

Back for another installment of "trends I can't get behind"...

Floral crowns. Is it 1969? Why am I seeing them everywhere these days? A hefty bloom or two in a woman's hair is lovely. Look to Billie Holiday for inspiration on that score. But, I just don't understand the crowns on anyone who isn't a flower girl. Flower girl, yes! Flower child, no!

The crowns come in a multitude of varieties: real flora, silk, metal, paper, etc. Now, I tried this out. As with all posts of this ilk, I won't say "no" to a trend unless I have actually tested the waters. I bought a floral crown/headband to wear to a wedding. My mistake was making the purchase online. I had no true idea of how large or small the flowers were. As soon as I placed the glittering band onto my head, I looked like my 8-year-old self at my cousin's wedding, in which I was (you guessed it) the flower girl.

Help me... Is this a summertime trend that you're wearing with abandon, or is it not your style either?

Summer Reading

Although I'm not sure when I'll have the time to lay out on a beach towel and read for hours on end, I really want to read these books before the summer is over:

The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling
      (I've had it for months now!)

Inferno, Dan Brown
     (The DaVinci code was excellent, and I took a class on Dante in college.)

The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
     (10 years later, the sequel is out: Revenge Wears Prada, but I want to read the original first.)

What will you read this summer? Here, 12 writers talk about their most memorable summer reading.

Solo Vacation

Have you ever taken a vacation alone? I did exactly that for my best friend's wedding last year, and while it was tough to be away from Baby Bee (for the very first time), it was great to have a few days to myself. Although, I must confess that I found it challenging to think of something to do on that first evening, since I didn't have to feed or put my little one to bed by 8pm.

The concept of the "mom-cation" is not new, but I don't think that it has to be only for mothers who need some personal time... doesn't everyone need personal time? Think about it: what better way to get all of the benefits of doing whatever you want, whenever you want, than on vacation by yourself?

Would to take a solo vacation, and if so, where would you go?