Birthday Planning

For a one year old can be a full-time job. I have decided to make it mine for this week, and am diligently scouring the kitchen, Pinterest, and my own imagination. In varying degrees.

Spoiler alert: There will be flags.
They will be pink and orange and fuschia and hurriedly sewn by someone who has not been sleeping enough. Because of the flags. Those darn flags, I tell ya. 

Also, on a completely separate subject, I would like my garden to look a bit more like Versailles, and less like our neighbor's cat's litter box, please. Cheers.

Um, oh yeah. Btw, the head count is currently at 80. There will be 80 PEOPLE at my house this coming Sunday. Come on by--the more the merrier.

Gulp.

Um, also, does anyone know a very good masseuse (who also can juggle and cook well and entertain 30 kids? Just wondering)... xoxo!

As You Wish...

Oh so fun!
My favorite movie and guaranteed smile on my face is Princess Bride, which is endlessly quotable and just one of the best part of the 80's.

So if there are any other fans out there, enjoy this clip I stumbled upon (I mean, who has the chance to watch GMA themselves?)
http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/2011/10/princess-bride-cast-reunites-on-gma

No one goes up against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ahahah! Ahahah! Ahaha...

Anthro Pinterest

I'm finding that pinterest is a good way to keep track of Anthro items I'm looking for. However, once in a while, I end up with the label, no picture, like in the bottom mid-right. I guess I'm willing to still go with it for now.
Does anyone else have a better way to organize their wishlist? Other than the Anthro website?
xo
shelia

ps. unrelated: did anyone else read Hunger Games in one day? And is suddenly unable to function until she finishes the trilogy?

Big Girl

Our tiny baby turned ONE today!

We celebrated with pink and white cupcakes, new and old friends, lots of gifts, and a nice, long Skype session with Chris (who sadly, is on a business trip).

I took Avery to the park AND let her play with our rock garden for at least 45 minutes (her favorite thing to do right now). 

Our sweet friend Gabby, made Avery her first doll. MADE. Knitted. From SCRATCH. It's exquisitely made. And casually dressed. Like our little girl.

The glamorous jetsetters, Aunt Teresa and Uncle Michael got Avery her second doll, from Tanzania! They just came back from their whirlwind world tour--including an African safari, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and 4 different continents(Whew! A wee jealous).

It's a mama with her baby in a wrap on her back. It's just like me and Avery--except a little darker and a lot more cheerful...as we are both a bit jetlagged.

What a warm, wonderful year it's been. Happy Birthday, my sweet girl.

Emaline Pullover

Hi girlfriends,
     I know all of us have some wallet exhaustion to some degree, right? I went to Anthro 3 times in 2 days before we went to Thailand, and luckily enough, I got some price adjustments at this last sale. Which meant that I got to pick up the Emaline Pullover from Puella.

     I love Puella--they make perfectly shaped tunics that are easy pieces, soft and yet fitted. They seem to excel at the empire waist and the slightly gathered sleeve. Especially this one.
     This time, though, a bit of an odd fit. I usually wear an xs/0, but the waist is so stringently fitted that I only tugged comfortably into a medium.

     Nevertheless, there were plenty left online and at my local store. So I picked up both the purple and grey. And since the Dulcie dress went on sale, still got money back. Hooray for price adjustments!

    

A Love Story: Unconditional...Ossier

Anyone want to hear a true love story? It stars my friends, Shilpa and Iyan. And Anthro. Seriously.

Here's the Dress. The Unconditional Ossier.

Here's the Girl (on the right), Shilpa with her husband, Iyan.

She's my very good friend from school, who now lives up north (where my family lives), while I live down south (where her family lives). Got it?

 

In short, Iyan wanted to buy Shilpa a Christmas gift--the Unconditional Ossier. See the emails below.

 

A few days later: 

A week later:

Then:

December 15: My dad brings the dress up north, from my house.

December 21: I come up north to visit my family, including my newborn nephew (hi Carson!)

December 23, 4 pm: Iyan comes to pick up the dress from our family's house during the daytime.

December 23, 9 pm:  I go to their house to say hi to Shilpa, pretending not to have seen Iyan a mere 5 hours earlier.

December 23, 10 pm: We take a picture in front of their Christmas tree. I'm smirking bc Iyan is taking the picture and I'm trying NOT to shout out,"He bought the Unconditional Ossier for you!!"

Btw, she always looks this good. Even in her jammies.

I had even offered to bring the dress over that night, and sneak it by Shilpa somehow but Iyan thought she would be suspicious. He was THAT devoted to the cause--so he drove all over town and rolled back his odometer and covered his tracks.

December 25: Iyan gives the dress to Shilpa. Fireworks ensue.

Isn't that a sweet story? See? Chivalry isn't dead.

I've been overseas with Chris' family for the holidays, so haven't blogged or been to the store in the last 10 days. Hope you all have been merry and bright.

Happy belated holidays, everyone!

Much love,
Shelia

Anthro Sale

Oh Anthro. You with your hour long lines for discounted dinnerwares. And lovely, luscious loungewear. And ivy-covered walls.

What an unexpected surprise to have another 50% off sale, right, girls?!

I was lucky enough to have been with my dear sister in law, Holly, who a) drove me to Santana Row Anthro, b) bought me coffee for good sale energy, and c) stood in line for 45 minutes for checkout while I tried on a 22 items in the fitting rooms. Devoted family beats soulless online shopping anytime.

SR's windows were so inviting and festive. Much like the tinfoil horses on the fitting room walls. Next to the go-back racks, where I found more things to try on. Thanks, SAs!

 

Avery and I were visiting my family for a few days, but will be going back down south tonight. I found my new favorite app for my iPhone, photogene2, where you can create stamps, cinema strips, black and whites and lots of other cool images. Will show more soon!

xo

shelia

Ugly Curtain Contest

"U-G-L-Y! You ain't got no alibi..."

No, no, not you. You are lovely and smart/kind/important, as Aibee would say. It's our ug-to-the-LY drapes. UGH.

They came with the house. We should have gotten a discount on the house, since the curtains are so horrific, they really devalue the property.

Is this why it was on the market for over 7 months? Maybe our nation's real estate slump would benefit from better drapes all around!

 Chris, bless his heart, tried to bleach them and soaked them in Clorox and vinegar. For 2 days. Then 2 more days because they smelled awful. Like Clorox and vinegar.

As you can see, they just transformed into a brighter, more hideous version of themselves. Like some Aliens nightmare. 

 Not sure which ones are uglier. But now the bleached ones are highwaters.

Anyone care to vote on which are the worst?

We both like these from Anthro, but they're unlined and boy, they sure ain't cheap. But at least they ain't ugly.

But seriously, which ones are uglier? I know, I know...so hard to choose--either way, I think we have a winner.

xo
shelia

Love Tate Relationship

Hi girls!
     Did anyone score some goodies at the sweater/coat sale today? I only bought the Orchard House Cardi, which I'd read good things about. 

     Would have LOVED to have gotten a shot at the Runway Lapel Coat, but that has been long gone online, and I never saw it in our store.

     Anyway, thanks, girls for the opinions on the big bootie controversy of 2011. The Tate Boots had it! I ordered them from Anthro a few days ago online, using my 25% online coupon, but still pricey at around $320 or so. 


     And I was satisfied. AND THEN. I got this comment from Ally:

     OMG. I screeched to a halt, and careened onto RLL's site, and get this--FOUND them not for $169, but for NINETY BUCKS. That's right. 

     Only 3 left, and whaddya know...one is the right size for lil' ol' me.

 Le SAME!

     So, now guess who's going to be getting 2 pairs of boots (now that I can also get the Herringbone, too) for Christmas? Just like Jenny suggested?

     Good idea, Jenny. And thanks, Ally! Rue La La now has a new customer, and any extra shekels will go toward our new curtain fund. Our neighbors will be grateful.

     Have I told you about how excessively ugly our curtains are yet? Oh boy. Just wait. Chris thinks they're award-worthy. Like Yoda, 2011's ugliest dog.


xoxo
shelia

Anthro Inspired Baby Nursery

Oh December. You with your whipping winds and chilled icy mornings. I remember it was a year ago when we cobbled together our little nursery with great excitement and nervousness for our new tiny baby--I guess I haven't shown you guys any pictures yet, so here they are.

vintage Winnie the Pooh, handmade wool lamb's cap, A. Anguish

I wanted to call this post "Anthrobaby Nursery," but it just wouldn't have been honest since a lot of our items are from non-Anthro places. Plus, there's already another person who has an Anthrobaby profile on Facebook.
And this ain't her nursery. 

And it's not like we live and die and are fed by Anthro. Maybe once they start selling food...(cream puffs and peppermint mochas, please!)

Anthro banner, circa 2008.

My friend, Julie (the original AnthroNUT!) to whom the local SA's write "Miss you!" cards to when they haven't seen her in a week, gave me the Happy Holidays banner, which I LOVE.

It's all patchy, owly goodness, and they're perched on actual branches.
Whoooo wouldn't love that?

Anthro padded letter, Stuffed sheep family, various

Shelf, ikea. Canvas bins, Martha Stewart.

I love the quilted padded letters, and a is of course, for Avery...and maybe also for Anthro.

Area rug, Gilt. Diaper changing table, Pottery Barn Kids. Activity Gym, Target.

Chris, my hubs has a serious Gilt addiction. I have been considering doing an intervention, HIMYM-style, but he has such good taste, that I haven't actually gone through with it.

He bought the rug and the animal bins--all without showing me or telling me. They just showed up on our doorstep. Our UPS guy knows us by NAME (Hi Bert!).

I'm sure that's normal in like, Ohio, but in Southern California, land of averting your gaze and stranger neighbors? Not so much.

Animal Canvas Bins, Gilt. Crib Bedding, Pottery Barn Kids.

Aren't these adorable? They're also pretty sturdy and can fit essentially anything--diaper boxes, clean laundry, extra blankets. ..curious babies.

Sweater, LiaMolly, Legging, Gift. Socks, No idea.

Drawer set, Ikea. Knobs, Anthro.

The drawers are a bit basic, from Ikea. And not so well made, since the bottom drawer is now stuck at quarter-mast.

But this is perfect since Avery likes to stick her little sausage fingers in and bang drawers shut. So this saves her at least a little trauma everyday.

And I added some favorite Anthro knobs, like in our kitchen, to spice things up. From basic to suddenly quirkily charming. Or just plain quirky.

Sham and Crib Bedding, Pottery Barn Kids.

And of course, PB kids had such cute bedding last year. I love the little quilted birds...Next up, posters of Justin Bieber and New Kids on the Block! Oh...I mean, I guess that would have been just for me.
xoxo
shelia