Birthday party on the fly

Since it doesn't appear that Isla's visa will come through this week, I'm putting together a last-minute birthday party for Avery. I found some cute cupcake invitations, so I'm thinking of basing the other party items along that theme (I know, soooo original!) Cupcakes have really become sort of a cult, haven't they? I'm cool with that. In fact, I'll join.

Anyway, I Googled "cupcake-themed party," to get some decoration or party favor inspiration....

Note: This is for an ELEVEN year-old.

Topiaries, patterned paper lanterns, and Izze pop. Works for me.

Lady bug soiree. Cute. Original.

It seems I'm way out of my league.

*party boards via thepartydress.net

Yes, I know...

These images of designers John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross' home from the latest Elle Decor will be (or already are) plastered all over the blogosphere. I don't care, I'm freakin' my freak. Have I ever told you how much I love art hung in front of bookshelves? Even more so when it's modern, and BIG.

Oh, and the tuxedo sofa with nailhead trim, perfect for a tête-à-tête.

There's so much going on in this space I'm adoring, I don't know where to begin. Regency armchairs gone Turq-WAZ, Saarinen table befriending an antique, French settee, Buddha, and what? Is that clematis in a vase? Brilliant!

Classic, kilims or persians in the kitchen - another fave of mine. Unfortunate choice of gingham on the sink skirt, but I'll overlook it.

OK, I'll take a breath now. For more - go here.

Things I Swear By

You can imagine, with a preschooler and a newborn (and functioning as a single parent until we get back to Brazil - passport/visa issues = ugh), I don't get much of a chance to enjoy the so-called "finer" things in life. Not that I don't consider these challenging days memorable and precious, I certainly do.
I think any Mom, new or not, or any busy woman for that matter, learns to appreciate life's small luxuries. Over the past two months, these have provided me something resembling Calgon moments...

I had seen the ads for the Moroccan Oil products, but didn't pay them much heed, until my colorist suggested them at my last appointment. Their claim to fame being the proprietary Argan oil used in the products to make your hair soft, silky, and manageable - without making it greasy. Read more of the PR here. I don't know about all that jazz, but I DO know it cuts my dry time in half, as my stylist promised it would, makes my hair feel amazing, oh, and the scent is freakin' DEE-VINE. Worth the salon price - trust.

Next up: my Clarisonic face scrubber doo-dad. I used the sonic toothbrush when it came out, and figured if this thing cleaned my face like the toothbrush did my teeth, I'd be impressed. Well, impressed I am. Noticeably smoother skin. Noticeably smaller pores. Nice little mini-facial experience when I use it in the shower. I use the travel-friendly Mia, and am thinking about pairing it up with the oh-so-touted Wonderbar I keep hearing about.

The Reebok Easytone flip flop. These dear friends suffered under the weight of my pregnancy, and still have a bounce in their step. I don't know what they're doing in the tone department of my quads and buttocks, but they're certainly not making them flabbier. Yes, I do have a white trash tan on my feet because I absolutely LIVE in them. I don't care - they rock my world.

Breastfeeding. OK, I KNOW this won't apply to many of you. I'm no La Leche sista, but I am very pro-BF. If you can do it, and want to do it, you should. It is Mother Nature's best weight loss plan, and of course, the ultimate (free, btw) Superfood. For me, it provides a moment of respite and quiet (well, at least when Avery isn't crawling all over us!) If you could package the feel-good hormones that come from nursing, you'd have the ultimate anti-depressant. It's helping me keep my sanity, fo sho!

Picture Perfect

A few months ago, I posted about looking for a photographer to take portraits of Avery, and then newborn shots when the baby was born. I ended up hiring Angelique with Dragonfly Design Photography, after my sister-in-law recommended her. Last week, I received Isla's birth announcements that Dragonfly designed, and thought you might enjoy a peek. My sweet baby girl (who hardly even looks like this anymore!)

See? (Nice spit-up bubbles, too!)

(Thanks, cousin Lindsey, for being a part of our impromptu session this weekend!)

Anyway, here's some of my other favorites from the two photo sessions...

I can't even tell you how much this expression is her daddy.

Not really wanting to smile

Very Anne Geddes, isn't it?

Something about the loveseat and those pom poms...

A little vintage editing...

...And a rare, candid shot with Mommy

**All photos except the second one, by Dragonfly**

Thumbs Up!

Do you have IKEA furniture? I do - the casual Ektorp sofa resides at Casa Giese! So many of us can't resist the clever design, paired with insanely-good prices that the Swedish furniture store offers. However, we are also much too discerning, and don't want our homes looking like an IKEA showroom.
Enter Comfort Works, the Melbourne-based His-n-Her company that specializes in custom covers for Ikea sofas, armchairs and daybeds (they also do curtains, too!) The "Her" end of the company contacted me recently about doing a feature post about their wares. I don't normally submit to such solicitations, but their "We left the 9-to-5 to follow our creative yearnings" story found a soft spot in my heart, and I couldn't help but be intrigued.

I checked out their website, and have to say, the selection of fabrics is fun - a nice combo of playful patterns or simple solids. Their website allows you to "try" the fabric on a variety of IKEA sofa styles, and they'll send you swatches for free.
So, you say, yeah, yeah, but they're based in Australia - yes, AND they're now offering FREE shipping to USA customers, so chill that excuse!

Here's some ideas I'd work on my aforementioned Ektorp line...

For my everyday home, where I need something to hide drool marks and juice spills...the solid, Kino in charcoal would do.

For my more edgy, urban loft (that still has to be child-friendly), I'd rock their faux leather, "Urbanskin" in silver.

...And for that beach house getaway I'll always dream about, the crisp, minty, Elizabeth stripe. (Throwing in some orange, ethnic-y pillows 'course!)

So, go on, hit their site, play around with the fabrics, and say hello to Rachel and Henry for me!

Steppin' it up a notch

Have you seen the latest offerings from Home Decorator's Collection? I think they're certainly headed in the right direction with their new, "French Flair" collection - stated to be "treasures inspired by Parisian flea markets."

I appreciate the Morroccan influence of these Keys Collection side tables (and kinda lust for something in this pretty, aqua color!)

...And, I'd suggest their Left Bank Settee to someone wanting a French-ish look, without forking out a ton of cash for the Real Deal.

Although HDC claims the pieces offer a Parisian flair, I'd use the Madeline Chest in a room for a touch of Chinoiserie

The discount catalog has also teamed up with Martha to offer two lines of furniture based on the domestic diva's own furnishings. I'm kinda digging this scalloped mirror from the Ingrid Collection, and would love to use one in a room with black walls. Mirror, mirror, on the wall....

In Casa Giese news...my baby girl is 8 weeks old today - can you BELIEVE that? I can't. She and I are in recovery mode today, because we were in the ER last night for four hours. Little Munchkin' caught some sort of viral crud, and has been running a really high temp. Things are looking better, we just have a lot of rest to catch up on.

Are they Serious?

Apparently, my coolness factor is sub par, for I fail to see how American Apparel can sell any of these micro mesh bodysuits. What would you do if you saw someone walking down the street in one of these get ups?

Impulse Buy

So, I'm in WallyWorld picking up diapers and what not, and a cool, Morroccan-ish pattern catches my eye...

It turns out to be a sort of tunic, that, at least in my sleep-deprived state seems kinda cute. I mean, not gawd-awful, right?

You know, put together with something along these lines...

Summer Style by atexski featuring Francesco Biasia bags

It's not too "momo/new mommy-with-no-style" style, right? If you say yes, it truly IS geriatric (description borrowed from Erika and Darby), then I won't sweat - since my impulse was rather contained...

I know someone who approves, though, and her opinion matters most!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend, and in some way, honored those to whom we owe the three-day start of Summer.