Beauty Girl

EJT 6-26-06

I can't believe my baby girl is 7 years old! Daddy was the first to say, "It's a girl!" and from that moment on I was completely in love (and surprised...i was convinced you were a boy!) You were the sweetest, most delicious baby who molded me into the mom that I am today. Your sweet smile and gentle disposition were there from the start...It's been amazing to watch you grow into the girl you are today!

• I love your quiet confidence...it's one of the most amazing things about you
• You are an observer...always have been...it's so cool to watch you assess a new situation before you decide how you are going to tackle it
• You are an incredible artist who wows me with your work every single time
• I love how you suck on your top lip, holding your mimi when you are tired, just like you did when you were a baby
• You are the best friend...kind, helpful, caring, empathetic, sweet, sensitive and loving
• You have your favorite things to wear...and if you had it your way, you would wear the same faves over and over again
• J and Z are so incredibly lucky to have you as a big sister...you are the best role model, teacher and friend to both of them
• Daddy's chocolate chip pancakes are your favorite and I think they always will be! 
• I love listening to you read to me...your expression is the best! Ivy & Bean and Amelia Bedelia are your definite favorites
• Your black high top converse were your favorites and you wore them until they couldn't be worn anymore (decorated with your own duck tape design!)
• Wearing your hair in tiny braids in front was your thing this year
• Your face always says it all...you have the most incredible way of expressing how you feel with your eyes
• Your beauty sparkles on the inside and out...I am so lucky to be your mom
• You light up a room with your gentle spirit and beautiful smile 
  
  
  
  
  Happy Birthday EJT! Always remember you are kind. You are beautiful. You are smart. Don't ever let anyone tell you any different...you will always be our "Beauty Girl" and on your 7th birthday my wish for you is days filled with love, laughter and lots of kisses.
  
  

Anniversary "BMF"

Greg and I recently celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary with an amazing meal at Ninety Acres, a beautiful restaurant set in Somerset County, N.J. It is a restaurant that supports local agriculture with a menu that offers fresh, local ingredients. They have over 1,200 different wine selections, many of which are sustainably, organically and biodynamically produced. The restaurant is set in the rolling hills of their farm and is breathtakingly beautiful. Most people would call this "Farm to Table' dining...they like to say "we are a Table at the Farm"....and they are 100% right!

Let me start by saying that Greg and I, independent of one another, made surprise reservations at the exact same restaurant. The only difference was that he decided to try something new (we've been there a bunch) and try their tasting menu, where you are seated by the open kitchen with a linen covered bistro-style table.

It was the perfect summer night for a romantic dinner at Ninety Acres and we were pumped. You pull onto the property and almost feel like you could be in Napa Valley, CA! We decided to arrive an hour before our reservation so that we could have time to enjoy a drink and some apps at their outdoor bar area which is just gorgeous. I had a yummy glass of champagne and we enjoyed a delicious appetizer of fresh ricotta cheese and toast.  Really, what's better than fresh ricotta cheese? :) while enjoying this view?

We were seated for our reservation exactly on time and were looking forward to our "tasting menu" dining experience. The waitress walks over and hands us our menus, takes our drink order, and leaves us to ponder the meal that lay ahead for us. Greg and I took one look at this menu and were totally baffled....the menu was simply a list of ingredients! She must have seen the confusion on our faces because she immediately walked back over and asked if she could help clarify anything for us. We proceeded to explain that we had never done the tasting menu before and we weren't sure how to order. "You've never dined BMF with us?" she replies. BMF? "What is BMF?" was our response.

Basically, BMF stands for "Bring Me Food"-- clever, cute and to the point! As diners, you are privy to the ingredients that are local, seasonal and delicious at the moment, however you know nothing more! It is up to the chef to prepare a seven course meal, pairing these ingredients how he sees best, and surprising you each course with something brilliantly yummy! Let me also mention that there would be wine pairings with each course too! I wasn't so sure I was up for the culinary challenge. I'm not the most adventurous eater and wasn't sure I was going to fully enjoy everything on my big night out. However, with a little push from Greg, I decided to get crazy and go for it....let the eating begin!

Course #1- Cold Strawberry Gazpacho...sweet to savory!

Course #2- Sopressata with chili flakes and herbs

Course #3- Chicken Egg with asparagus and arugula and arugula puree

Course #4- Soft Shelled Crab

Don't you love the blue sequin top? 

Course #5- Pork 2 ways

Course #6- Cheese and Toast with something lemony on it

Course #7- Everything Strawberry Dessert- AMAZING!

And just cause I wasn't a huge fan of the cheese I got this too!

These pics speak for themselves...it was an outrageously delicious, special and romantic meal. Cant' wait for the next special occasion! Oh, and did I mention how much I'm loving my new royal blue sequin top? It's my new "go to" go out top! Gotta love Alice & Olivia :)

Happy Anniversary GST! To many, many, many more....XOXO

Black & White

Black & White....milkshakes, photography, home decor, fashion, weddings, Hollywood movies, nature, drawings...it's a new love/obsession of mine...and the inspiration is all around us. Okay, I've always loved black and white milkshakes...but from a decorative standpoint, the old "go to" of black and white has really been catching my eye lately. I think it's the perfect combination of sophisticated/classic/soothing/modern....if done the right way. Acclaimed interior designer Celerie Kemble shows exactly how it should be done in her book Black & White (and a bit in between).
She says it perfectly in her introduction..."In The Wizard of Oz, after Dorothy falls asleep in black-and-white Kansas and wakes in the multicolor fairyland of Oz, she exults, 'We must be over the rainbow!' In writing this book, I found the same spirit of exultation by traveling in the reverse direction, from profusion to simplicity-away from the rainbow. This book invites you to see that this palette can be freeing instead of limiting."

Of course I also have to look at the spiritual side and ask...Are you a black and white thinker? Do you approach a situation from a very literal point of view or are you somewhere in between in a grey area? Last week in yoga, my teacher D made the following statement...."Every day we choose light or dark (white or black in a spiritual sense)." We are faced with temptation day in and day out to make the right choices, whether it's at work, with our children, a conversation with a friend...and we have a choice to make it a "light" day or a "dark" day. Something to think about the next time you find yourself in a complicated scenario.....

I'd have to say that I am a pretty black-and-white thinker. My new favorite mantra to get me through the day sometimes is...."It is what it is!"

Here is to getting black-and-white inspired!

The Sound of Silence

Do you ever have five minutes of complete and total silence in your day? This week in yoga my teacher D focused on our fifth chakra (energy centers in the body), the throat chakra, which is all about sound. It represents your ability to communicate. Do you use your voice to convey your true self to the world? Are you a talker? Are you a listener? Most importantly, do you have enough faith in yourself to have your own voice be heard?

There is a lot of "white noise" in the world around us (and in my house after 7:30 pm! Yes...I have several noise machines going at once to avoid hearing middle of the night crying)....televisions on just for the sake of background noise, chatter that we are listening to but don't necessarily want to hear, if you are a parent maybe whining/crying/tantrums. Stepping away from all that and seeing the value of pure silence is really worth recognizing...because with that silence can come clarity, peace and maybe even a great sense of calm. I definitely take note of the nights when I get in bed at the end of the day and I have my moment of total quiet (except of course for the noise machine at full blast behind my closed door in the hallway). But I'm also fortunate enough to have these moments of silence while practicing yoga, which are so beneficial and healing for me on a weekly basis.

Have you ever meditated? According to Andy Puddicombe, author of the book Get Some Headspace: How Mindfullness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day, meditation can do the following things:

• Change the shape of your brain in order to lower pain sensitivity
• Enhance quality of life
• Can help to clear your skin
• Relieve anxiety and depression
• Improve your chances of conceiving

This is only a fraction of the amazing insight this book has to offer. I am in the middle of reading it now and highly recommend it to anyone who has even thought about making meditation a part of their life. I know...finding ten minutes a day to meditate...easier said than done! However, those ten minutes a day might just change your life for the better. It may just provide you with the clarity you need to make your voice be heard amongst all the white noise.

So many of us do a lot of talking about beliefs we have or things we want to accomplish. But there is a big difference between talking and doing. I am so impressed by those individuals who actually take action so that their voice is heard in this world. On that note, I'd like to introduce you to a charity organization created by a group of friends of mine called GLORY...giving life, opportunities and resources to the young. The mission of this charity is to "provide direct, sustainable aid to families in need, with a focus on creating opportunities for children." These seven guys have created time in their life outside of their busy careers and growing families to give back to their community and have their voice make a difference. You should all be really proud of yourselves...I know I am truly impressed with your ability to make your voice be heard.

And the LIST goes on....

Okay...so I've been MIA for weeks. I could give you a long list of excuses, but let's face it...writing needs to move up on my list of priorities. The past couple of weeks have been one of those times where life just keeps on throwing curve balls and I haven't done such a great job of juggling so that none of them fall. I returned from my very relaxing and much needed Mexican getaway with my hubby to kids on spring break and an unexpected obstacle with our much loved Lab and first "baby", Zoe. But I promised I wasn't going to give my excuses, so to get back to the point...I made a list.

I don't know about you, but when life gets overwhelming and I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, I always make a list. A handwritten list...with paper and a pen. Not a list on my iphone. Not reminders on my ical. A real list....and suddenly, everything seems possible again. There is something about writing a list the old school way that just feels good, but even better is crossing things off my list as they get done. My most recent accessory obsession for making lists are these amazing pads by russel+hazel. They are perfect for making a "to do" list and are self adhesive, great for hanging on the bathroom mirror or sticking to the dashboard of your car.

So here is my "to do" list this week

• Can cross of #2!
• Camp forms- The date to have these in always sneaks up on me and I always get them in under the wire. Okay...maybe late this time. Hope Meadowbrook forgives me!
• Coop auction project- have to come up with something created by the kids in J's preschool to auction off to the parents at the end of the year. Anything you would love to have made by a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds? Ideas are welcome!
• Thank You Notes J&Z- really past the deadline here...is it awful that their birthdays were over a month ago and I still haven't' written thank you notes? Don't answer that. How do you feel about electronic thank you notes?

• E's bday party- She has decided for her 7th birthday she would like to have a roller blading party. Have to make sure I call the Florham Park Roller Rink where yes, I also had a birthday party as a kid!
• Stella bday present- Any ideas for what a very special 7 year old girl might like for her birthday?
• Land of Nod order- I've been eyeing nightstands for E's new room makeover (more to come on that at a later date) and some new bedding for J (for those of you who don't know...I have a little bit of a bedding addiction)
• Email coop families- Met the new incoming families for the Millburn Coop Nursery School next year at tonight's meeting and thought it might be nice to send them a personal welcome email!
• Cooking Club app- yes, i'm in a cooking club...and yes, I can't cook! This time around the app is getting bought (shhh! Don't tell)
• Desk chair- Now that I have restored my old MacBook to working order I can finally take advantage of writing from my beautiful desk (but mine is mirrored not steel, from West Elm) in my amazing bedroom. There is definitely something to be said for the connection between your work environment and productivity (talk more about this later). Now I need the perfect desk chair. 
  
  
  

  

  My "happy thoughts" journal where I keep a running LIST of blog ideas from J Crew

  
  

  

  These amazing bookends (and many of the books) were bought at Shed in Maplewood...my favorite place to shop for everything in my home! Not to mention that the owner has become such a good friend!

  
  

  

  Artwork from Shed also!

What's on your "to do" list this week? Would love to hear! 

My Boys

I missed writing last week cause I was celebrating two important, special boys in my life. So today I am lucky enough to be writing from my lounge chair by the ocean in Mexico, celebrating life with the third special boy in my life. :) (there is the #3 again!)







JDT

I can't believe you are four years old! To celebrate you I want to tell you all the things I absolutely love about you....

• Your inquisitive nature...the questions are endless, smart, entertaining and sensitive. You are so curious about your world and your wheels are always spinning...in a great way!
• Your expressive face...your amazing, big green eyes say it all! You make all of us laugh every day...especially your little bro!
• You have the most kissable lips...I'm gonna kiss you 100 times a day for as long as you will let me :)
• You create the most amazing block buildings and your imagination allows you to tell stories that go with them
• Your love for hockey and soccer...it makes daddy so happy to see your enthusiasm and happy face when you watch the Rangers together
• The way you chew
• How you look up to your sister
• Your dimples which are just like daddy's
• Snuggling with you in your bed when reading bedtime stories
• The way you have mastered your scooter and how you speedily ride through town
• You have the most incredible memory and you are constantly surprising daddy and I with the things you remember 
• How you sniff your cow and Mimi and know when you are tired
• How you dance when you hear music...you've got rhythm baby
• How you are able to express yourself whether its saying how you feel or asking a question about something that is new to you

Every day with you is an adventure. JD...you fill my heart with love and laughter and I love you to the moon and back!

ZMT 4-6-12

I can't believe it was just one year ago that you were born...making our family complete. I knew the moment you were placed on my chest (and maybe even before then) that you were going to be a headstrong, outgoing and loving person with a huge presence. 

• You make yourself known in a room full of people
• You have the biggest belly laugh contagious to those around you
• You love meeting new people and are so friendly
• Music makes you move and is definitely going to be a part of who you are
• You eat almost anything but your faves include blueberries, pancakes and spinach empanadas
• You love your Mimi just like your brother and sister
• You love (and so do I) snuggling into my neck, resting your head on my shoulder when I sing you songs at bedtime
• You smile so big
• You smell delicious at bedtime
• In our family of loud people, you might be the loudest :)
• You are my Zekeyboo/Schmoo

Our adventure together is just beginning. I am so lucky to be your mom and on your first birthday my wish for you is that you always stay true to who you are, surround yourself with people who make you feel special and loved and to always remember that you have four cheerleaders in your corner supporting you and loving you on this journey we call life!

Sweet Dreams

I have sleep on the brain this week...probably because the past three nights have been the worst night's sleep, but not to the fault of my three loves (okay, maybe one night) but because of myself. All my tossing and turning was due to the fact that I just couldn't "turn it off" at the end of the day. Yup, me, miss yoga, could not get into that savasana frame of mind. So I got to thinking...what was bringing me to such a restless night's sleep?

First let me begin by saying I am definitely a sleeper! I require a lot of sleep (8 hours is ideal) and am definitely not one of those people who can function on six hours of sleep or less.  When I crawl into bed my ideal conditions are the following: TV off, lights off, quiet and Greg by my side. If the TV has to be on cause that's what Greg needs, then my stipulations include shows that are happy, lighthearted and funny. Nothing that is gonna boost anxiety right before drifting off to sleep. Now, most nights I don't get lucky enough to have all four of those things happen, but when they do I am the most relaxed.

So as for my restless nights...I think I am gonna have to blame technology. With my two boys birthday's both coming up next week, I have spent my evenings on my iPad, navigating pinterest, amazon, party websites, etc. looking for the perfect gift, just right party decor, menu and cake ideas. Needless to say, my head was spinning by the time I turned out the light. So tonight I am going to do an experiment...no technology in the form of surfing the net tonight right before bed, and let's see what happens! I am going to put my ideal sleep conditions in motion and hope for the best!


I have to say, I think sleep is totally underestimated, for both kids and adults. Let's talk little ones first. I am a big proponent of sleep training at an early age, teaching my kids to soothe themselves, and sticking to a predictable sleep schedule especially when they are babies. Some may say I'm a little crazy when it comes to sleep for my kids, but I am a strong believer that good sleep breeds more good sleep. E has always been an amazing sleeper and continues to be today at almost seven years old. J was a great sleeper until his baby brother was born, and then we experienced a rough patch. I drove myself crazy trying to figure out what shifted for him that was causing him to wake up in the middle of the night? After months and months of searching for answers, I let it go and chalked it up to a "phase." I am happy to report that I think that "phase" is coming to a close. Then there is Z, who has been sleeping through the night since he is four months old. His nights continue to be good for the most part (there is definitely the occasional screaming in the middle of the night) but there is some shifting with naps. We are in between that two naps or one nap place. Lucky for me, all three of my kids love their "Mimis" (named by E when she was a baby), which is essentially like a lovie or blanket. Thanks to a little lamb, monkey and dog my three loves snuggle up at night and drift off to sleep. That being said, my kids are at their best when they are well rested...and they know this about themselves too. It is not uncommon for J to say to me, "Mommy, I think I wanna take a rest today." He is snug in bed as I type my blog now, taking a mid-day snooze.

They say in yoga that savasana (also known as corpse pose or final relaxation) is the most difficult to master. You might beg to differ. What could be so difficult about resting your body flat on a mat at the end of a rigorous yoga class? Well, this point was proven perfectly earlier in my blog. The ability to completely relax and let go can sometimes be the most challenging of all. However, with that challenge comes great rejuvenation, clarity and sense of peace.  So the next time you are tossing and turning in your bed, or maybe in a yoga class or lying on a beach...think of the benefits of "turning it all off" and being present with yourself in a complete state of relaxation and calm.

And then of course there is sleep from a decorative point of view. Might sound weird to you but there is real truth to this.  Have you designed your bedroom to be the kind of place that will allow you to feel calm, relaxed and happy at the end of the day? Everything from colors to furniture to lighting can effect how feel in that space. Is there a desk in your room piled with "to do" lists" Is your ipad sitting on your nightstand? Do you sleep with a baby monitor on? Do your window treatments block out enough light on those sunny mornings? Does your wall color feel soothing and calm to you? Does the lighting in your bedroom enable you to relax at the end of the day? All things to be considered.... :)

What do you do to ensure a good night's rest? :)

Spring Cleaning

Miss me? It's been a few weeks since my last post (which is not in keeping with my weekly goal), but sometimes life gets in the way...so my apologies! Today marks the official first day of spring! And while the temperatures may not tell us so, there are signs of spring all around us. E and I were noticing the crocus's in bloom on our front yard. I have already begun to think about spring wardrobes for the kids. And the sun was still out last night at 6:00 when my kids came in from playing outside.

Spring marks a time of rebirth, renewal, and regrowth in our physical world. Trees are in bloom. The sun is brighter. The birds return from their winter away. But how can this apply to you as well? There is a reason why the idea of "spring cleaning" exists! It's a great time of year to clear the clutter, both physically and mentally.

I am a major organizer! Everything has to have a place, things need to be neat, countertops need to be clear. I can attack physical clutter with the best of them! It even makes me feel good to clean sometimes. I also happen to be more of a "tosser" than a "saver" (which are you?). However, in a recent conversation with my mom, I started to question my quick inclinations to toss. My mom has been asking me for quite some time to pack up all my childhood memories (physical memories that is) and bring them to my attic instead of hers.  You know the kinds of things I am referring to....old yearbooks, college textbooks, sentimental stuffed animals, old dolls, all of my riding equipment from my days of being an equestrian, photographs, etc. "Maybe E wants your old storybook dolls for her room now?" my mom said. It got me thinking....do I want to pack up all this "stuff" to have it sit in a box in my attic? Do I want to add it to the tremendous amount of "stuff" that already exists in my house? Or do I want to part ways with it, but keep it with me and pass it on to my kids in stories I can tell or pictures that I can show them? How important is a physical item in making you feel connected to or nostalgic for times past?

I am coming to understand that less is more. We live in a society that places such a tremendous value on physical things. This past holiday season, before purchasing gifts for my very fortunate and lucky children, I took inventory of what they already had.  I came to a very quick conclusion...they had way more than they needed.  I did a major clean up of toys that were never touched or used (some even unopened!) and donated them to children who would appreciate them. It always feels good to pay it forward.

However, even more gratifying than clearing up physical clutter is clearing up your mental clutter! I recently had a conversation with someone that helped me do a major mental clean up. I felt amazing. I felt at peace. I felt confident about  the choices I have made for myself and my family. In a recent yoga class, my yoga teacher D spoke about making three wishes. The first wish was something you wanted to release, a lesson in letting go. The second wish was something to ripen, something you wanted to explore or bloom within you.  The third wish was something you hope to receive.  Release, ripen, receive. What a perfect way to clear your mental clutter and once again help you define who you want to be.

What are your three wishes? They may just come true!

Spring Cleaning Ideas (if you need to be inspired)

• Kids Toys
• Your closet
• Pantry/Fridge
• Kids schoolwork/art (let's face it...we can't save every piece of paper that comes home! I actually gave E this job the other day so she got to decide what was important to her and what wasn't)
• Paperwork
• Garage
• Your Inbox
• The junk drawer in your kitchen (everyone has one!)

Parenthood

So lately I've been struggling a little bit from a "mom" perspective. I just seem to be in one of those places where no matter what I do for my three little loves, nothing feels good enough. And on top of that, two out of three of my loves seem to prefer daddy these days, which I know I shouldn't be taking personally, but let's face it, my feelings are hurt. Last week on our February "stay-cation" we took E and J skiing for the day.  Excited for this adventure as it was J's very first time on skis, my mood was good that morning.  But by the time we reached the diner for breakfast I found myself sitting at the table, snapping at all of them, and pouting a little myself. Immature??? Maybe. Yet, this small moment where the two of them were arguing over who got to sit next to daddy just pushed me over the edge. All I could think was, "Really?! I'm the one who makes your lunches, makes sure your days are filled with fun, takes you to the doctor when you are sick, greets you with a smile when you walk out of school, makes sure to have your favorite snack, grew you inside my body for nine months, (I could go on :)) and nobody wants to sit next to me?!" Sure it might have been petty and childish at the time, and when I was able to step back and think about it all, I can say my reaction could have been different. Yet it doesn't change the fact that I find myself at a real crossroads, or place of transition, with both E and J.

My struggle with E, now in first grade, seems to be allowing her to have more control and myself less. She has grown so much this year and is truly becoming her own person, with her own opinions, her own likes and dislikes. And while I feel like there are certain things that I should allow her to express or explore herself, I also feel like she is only six, and I am her mom. Gone are the days of wearing dresses that I picked out for her, making her for dinner what I want her to eat, or signing her up for activities that I think she should try. At the end of the day, my little girl is growing up and what I'm learning is that it is better for us to grow together than grow apart.  This requires me to pick and choose my battles, give a little on things that aren't SO important, while still reminding her that my job as her mom is to make sure that I am doing my best by her. So if wearing a top from Justice instead of Crewcuts makes her happy, so be it! E....I love your kind heart, your sensitivity, your sweetness and quiet sparkle.

Then there is my "love boy." Amazing and delicious and funny and full of personality, he has also challenged me in ways that I have never been challenged this past year.  Since the arrival of his baby brother, J has definitely been finding his place, doing a lot of growing up himself and adjusting to our new family of five. While he loves Z, it has definitely been a bumpy road the past ten months, but mostly between he and I. He has taught me to think before I act, to validate his feelings even if I think he is wrong and to dig deep to find patience and calm in moments where it seems impossible. I am so proud of both of them in so many ways, cause they have made such tremendous leaps this past year.  Maybe it's time for me to do some growing up myself......

However, you can't help as a mom but think about whether or not you are doing you're best on a daily basis.  Thanks to my yoga teachers C and D, I have learned that my "best" is not always the same, it is subjective and contextual.  I have learned that my "best" is being able to keep all parts of my life in check and balancing all areas with ease and effort. It is a real effort to not allow the guilt to creep in on a daily basis that I'm not being everything to all three of them. Some days are better than others and that is to be expected.  At the end of the day, as long as they feel loved, I am doing my best!

I also have to say thanks again to my amazing husband for being my partner in these moments, calling me out when I'm wrong, supporting me when it's hard, and loving me through it all.  Happy birthday Greg(3-2-13)...the kids can't wait to celebrate their daddy!