Cool Traveler...

Dear Junebug,

I'm happy to report that on the flight back from Albuquerque you chilled out...a lot. Let's hope this is the baby traveler of the future!

XO

Mommy

Baby Beethoven!

Dear Junebug,

You look like quite a natural on this piano... You're so silly. And cute.

XO

Mommy

Santa Fe...

Dear Junebug,

We spent the day in Santa Fe, New Mexico which is one of my favorite places in America. Your "Ama" Cynthia showed you around the great outdoors and Mommy was of course more interested in the great INDOORS. I took you to my favorite rug store in the whole world... Seret and Sons. By the look on your face I think you like rugs too! Every rug that was presented was met with a reaction of "WOW!"...the sales people at the shop said they wished every customer expressed this much excitement over being shown a rug. Needless to say, this did not make your Daddy very happy. Oops.

XO

Me

Thanksgiving Dinner...

Dear Junebug,

I'm not sure who was inhabiting your body at this year's Thanksgiving dinner but you sure weren't behaving like the perfect little angel baby I'm used to having in my house. It was more like some unknown crazy devil child. Sigh. Mommy still loves you.

XO

Me

Thanksgiving 2010

Dear Junebug,

We went to Albuquerque, NM to see your Gaga Ricci (Gigi) and Gaga Phil for Thanksgiving. You were so difficult on the airplane and it was only a 50 minute flight! It's no mystery why you are not yet a world traveler.

XO

Mommy

Vintage Lily Pulitzer!

Dear Junebug,

Living in Los Angeles means we get to enjoy the surf and sand year round. I loved your choice of this Vintage Lily Pulitzer shift dress for a Sunday morning breakfast on the beach. Pairing it with pink and white gingham Converse one-stars made it a little less South Beach and a little more California Gurl. Good work!

XO

Mommy

P.S. by "vintage" I mean it was a hand me down from Sophie but hey... in baby years I think it qualifies.

Product Test: Booster Seats

A booster seat is a great investment especially when you go to a restaurant or someone else's house where you may not have access to a high chair. We got the Fisher-Price Rainforest seat and Junebug used it for months... she still does! She started using it at about 4 months and at 18 months it still comes in handy. A lot of my friends have the Phil & Teds me too chair which I always thought was way cool too.

Tea Party!

Dear Junebug,

When are you going to start having tea parties? I saw this painting by Mark Ryden and I thought it might inspire you. Don't forget to invite Mommy!

XO

Me

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Dear Junebug,

Mommy turned 39 today... I'm sad we weren't together and that I wasn't able to get a birthday kiss-kiss from you. I was in New York City with Katy for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Maybe someday you can go to the show, you would LOVE the costumes. They are very impressive. I thought I'd try this Peacock outfit on for size but I think they were smart to put Karolina Kurkova on the cat walk instead.

XO

Mommy

Mommy Tips: Anti-Aging!

As I begin my 40th year on this earth I realize it's time to take this aging thing a bit more seriously so I've come up with some tips for slowing the clock down. This is kind of my "Top 5" tips meets my New Year's resolutions for this coming year. I'm no expert, mind you...

1. Wear sunscreen every single day not just when I think I need protection from the sun. I've read that getting in and out of the car and just general walking around is a lot more damaging than anyone realizes.

2. Driving gloves! "They" say that the number one way of showing your age is your hands so I think it's time to protect my hands from sun exposure. Looks like Posh Spice already knew something I didn't. I'm going to put SPF on my hands too and keep them moisturized with hand cream especially at night before bed.

3. Wear HUGE sunglasses. I've been doing this for awhile but now it's going to be all the time. Protecting the eyes is KEY. Again... Posh knows what's up.

4. Apply night cream everyday and eye cream day and night. Gotta keep that skin moisturized!

5. Keep the eyebrows THICK! and no more waxing... I've read that thick eyebrows are a sign of youth so I'm going for the Camilla Belle look (she's flawless). AND I've discovered threading as an alternative to waxing. As the skin around the eyes gets older I just cannot imagine that yanking on it once a month with hot wax is a good idea if you're trying to get the skin not to sag.

Bonus: I should really give up both soda AND coffee... Daily green tea and tons of water would probably do me a world of good.

I want a TEE-PEE!

Dear Junebug,

Every since Ruby got a tee-pee I've been dying to get you one. She had hers hand painted by a friend for her first birthday which I think is CUTE... I also found this one in a magazine spread about Rosetta Getty... double CUTE! I'm on the case.

XO

Mommy

Trend Alert: Just Shades

Dear Junebug,

You are simply OBSESSED with sunglasses. Here are some of your best "shade moments".

Enjoy!

XO

Mommy

Mommy Tips: Planning Ahead...

I'm so impressed by people that plan early for Christmas. My Mother-in-law Cynthia and my husband's Aunt Kathy were completely genius when they set out to make succulent potted arrangements for this year's Christmas presents. They are beautiful, easy and affordable. The project was done 2 months before Christmas. This inspires me to think ahead for next year. After all, when you're a Mommy, if you don't plan ahead your whole life can be become complete chaos.

WOW!

Dear Junebug,

I brought this tapestry back from India for you. When you opened it you said... "WOW!" What can I say? Maybe you've inherited Mommy's illness for beautiful things. We've since had to hide it because you're obsessed with it. If I hang it in your nursery you probably won't be able to nap and if I hang it in your playroom you won't quit until you rip it off the wall. According to nanny (my mole) you want it on the ground so you can dance all over it. I think we need to learn the difference between rug and tapestry! I guess it might have to wait for your big girl room.

XO

Mommy