SS13 trends | In the buff

                

Hello everyone! Do you like sheer clothing?

I don't do sheer. In fact, I avoid it like the plague. There is something about showing my underwear or my skin underneath that just does not agree with me. (This has made the search for the perfect white tee similar to the quest for the Holy Graal, but that's another story).

Transparent accessories such as handbags (which are very much in fashion this season) are also not my thing. However, if there is one thing I do hope or rather obsess about, it is that either pair of these Louboutin flats will be included in Net-a-porter upcoming summer sale on May 28. Please, pretty please.

Apps in review | iHealth Trax

Hello everyone! Do you use apps to monitor your kids' health?

This morning I rushed to the paediatrician because I had the impression that my baby boy was a bit sick. No big sign -- just a slightly higher temperature (but no fever, using the cutoff of 38.5C, so confusing with babies), a few signs of gastro, a bit more fussiness than usual. I could read in my husband's facial expression that he thought I was exaggerating, as usual (yes, I do have this tendency, I admit it, but this time was different...)

Anyway, it turns out my gut feeling was right and my baby as an ear infection and needs to take antibiotics for 10 days. First dose, first entry into his newly-created profile in iHealth Trax. It is one of my favorite apps, for all those (numerous) moments where sleep deprivation and busy lives come between me and remembering when I administered the last Tylenol or for how long I have already given antibiotics. If you do not have this app, give it a try! You will not regret it.

P.S. I do not review apps often, but if you are looking for the perfect note-taking one, check out this post.
P.P.S. iHealth Trax is one of Babble's top 50 apps for moms.

Photo: Winkpass Creations.

On my mind, Mother's Day edition

Hello everyone! Are you having a good weekend?

I am still high after following Alt for Everyone in the past couple of days. Plus, we have a long weekend (Monday is Canada Day) and the weather is supposed to be beautiful!

Taking advantage of this hiatus, I am catching up with this post, which I had intended for last week. I had a reflective Mother's Day more than a fashion-oriented one. Pardon me if all that has been on my mind has thus to do with parenting and the meaning of motherhood...

Francis and I (Zumba Beach, California, 2012), by photographer Claudia Lucia. 

She told Real Simple Magazine that "I took this photograph using a tripod when my son 

was three months old. I was so overwhelmed. My life had changed drastically and I wondered 

when it would slowdown. In this image, the ocean is motherhood-vas, engulfing, beyond my 

control. Looking out at it, I am struck by both the challenge and the beauty of parenting. 

Holding my son, taking in his view, I know that everything will be ok."

Another beautiful picture about the bond between mother and child: The Mother's Hand, 

by Antanak Sutkus (1966). I discovered it, and its story, through Swiss Lark, one of the

participants to Alt for Everyone.

What have you learned from your mom (via A Cup of Jo). This post prompted a lot of thinking 

on my part (I told you, I had a reflective Mother's Day, probably the hormones...). My mom and 

I are very, very different people, and with a great deal of sadness I realized that the way I am has 

been defined by not wanting to be like her. As I am writing this I actually realized the most valuable thing I learned from my mom: how to be my own person. Better, I would say how to 

struggle to be my own person, because our differences still are source of endless discussions 

between us, way more often than I'd like.

Great with Child (discovered via A Cup of Jo). It has gone straight on top my reading list.

The idea of a Momtract makes me uncomfortable on a number of levels 

(see above blabbering about me and my mother).

Alt for Everyone: first impressions

Hello everyone! Did you attend Alt for Everyone?

Last month, I posted about my enthusiasm for being able to attend Alt from the comfort of my own home, and that's what has kept me busy in the past couple of days. Literally. As it always happens, this week we have all come down with the flu... I have missed a couple of sessions, but was able to attend the whole Graphic Design for Bloggers series by Laurie Smithwick and the Keynote speech by Joy Cho.

Overall, it was inspiring, and the ultimate multitasking experience. On the inspiration part, many more posts will follow. Let me spend a few words on the latter. Conferences are the bread and butter of academics, and I have attended a fair share. This was my first online conference, and I was blown away. You obviously miss the mingling and connecting part -- my husband, who is also an academic, is  not in favor of online conferences exactly for this reason. For me, right now, with a three-months old baby who is still nursing every few hours and a house to run, this platform was perfect. Boy did I multitask. Today I attended my last session while nursing, then taking care of the baby and cooking lunch!


I am not sure I will make it to Alt NYC, SL or SF (this year they are all sold out already anyway), so I am making a mental note next time I attend Alt for Everyone (because I totally will) to download Silverback rather than just taking screenshots with command+shift+3. :)

P.S. Along the way, I finally discovered where to download this awesome screensaver.

P.P.S. I cannot wait to get my goodie bag! If you are also still waiting for yours, you can get a sneak preview on at least few sites, but my favorite is the one beautifully documented by Diana Elizabeth.

The "when I lose 2 kilos" pants

Hello everyone! Have you ever bought something that did not fit you anticipating a weight loss?

I never did, it just seemed such a waste of money. Post-pregnancy style is challenging all my fashion principles (remember buying the exact same item in different colors?), and this has been the next one to go. I admit it, letting go was easy because it costed me only 50$ -- for a pair of Incotex (read: Brunello Cucinelli) pants I could not resist to. Now I need to either wait to lose a couple of kilos, or try a girdle. Just sayin'.

Lost in transition

Hello everyone! Are you having a good week?

After enjoying summer-like temperatures for almost two weeks,  in the past few days we have been back in the grip of winter. Our puffer jackets are enjoying a revival, at least for leaving the house in the morning. (Which is something I personally have not done in two days, due to a cold that has made my baby boy extra-fussy and me extra-tired).

The show of travel, summer, and swimwear issues goes on unabated though. How best to forget the freezing temperature than lusting over a new bikini? Thank goodness for the disconnect between fashion marketing and the Canadian weather.


Photo: Lenny Niemeyer one-piece bathing suit via Real Simple.

Memories from Mother's Day

Hello everyone! Did you have a good Mother's Day celebration?

I had a wonderful, relaxing day filled with love and laughter. I was celebrated with flowers and my first bike (soooo pretty! It makes me want to go for the biking style à la Jane Aldrige, or at least for Loeffer Randall's Rider bag -- if only it would not be sold out in mint, which would match my bike's lemon yellow color and achieve one of my favorite color combination for spring). We braved the chilly weather outside just to go for brunch at our nearby favorite place (but I wore sandals because it is still spring, right?). In the afternoon we had room for homemade gelato nonetheless (more details on this one tomorrow). I had big reading plans, and I am sure you know how it went: I read T Magazine this morning and the book is still unopened. :)