The fortune cookie

Hello everyone! What is the nicest thing you have ever picked up from the street curb?

I confess: I have never done it. Something about not knowing where things are coming from grosses me out a bit. Today, we picked this up though. A nice couple living a couple of blocks away was getting rid of it (why would anyone want to?). It came from their grandmother's house, and when they told me my heart sunk a little, because my beloved grandmother had an incredibly similar piece of furniture that I always wanted to have in my home (but that would be impossible to transport here from Italy). The nice couple promised it to us, and kept their promise even though somebody showed up a few minutes later and offered to pay for it.

I am convinced this is why my fortune cookie today read: "a recent misfortune is just the beginning of your lucky streak."

Like in the picture, for once

Hello everyone! Are you bikini-ready?

This is not me. Nonetheless the bathing suit in the picture (by Sunflair) must be designed by a wizard and is made of some kind of miraculous fabric that holds all my bits. Believe or not, I look like the model in the picture (minus the blond hair). Of all clothing purchases I had to make to accommodate my post-baby figure, I would have never thought this was going to be the easiest, or the most gratifying. 

Pregnancy-related weight gain: 0. Me: 1.

Major juggling on a Thursday

Today I got a pedicure. And a color touch-up. And a haircut. And much more.

As soon as I woke up, I took my baby boy for a quick checkup at the pediatrician (all good, fortunately), and while he slept off the unpleasant encounter I picked up the dry cleaning and the vacuum bags we had ran out of a month ago. I had lunch with my lovely friend from grad school Sarah, who is sadly leaving tomorrow. With a few stops due to a baby breakdown, Sarah and I made it to the Crocs store downtown, where I picked up two summer styles for my older son. I was spot on at my hairdresser appointment, and spot on again I met with my husband to go out for dinner at some friends' house. I even had the time to get changed before going out, and wear the new James Perse t-shirt I picked up today to make up for all the times I have used the store dressing room to nurse my baby boy in the past month.

I have no idea how I made it through the day.

Think outfit

Hello everyone! Are you traveling this summer?

I am taking the kids to Italy to visit my parents while my husband is away for business. Let me give you the math of this trip. Post-pregnancy weight gain + unsuitable weather for most of what I purchased in the past two months + breastfeeding-unfriendly dresses = nothing that feels worthy to wear around my mother and my best friend. 

I need another major style rethink. All of a sudden, I have started obsessing over my mom's recurrent words when we go shopping together. "Why don't you buy that as well, so that you can have an outfit?". Generally I dismiss her words because a) I cannot afford all she suggests I buy, and b) I have a closet full of stuff that is just waiting to be mixed and matched with the purchase I am about to make.

But. Now I have nothing in my closet that I can mix-and-match. And I will definitely not get away everyone-I-know's scrutinizing look with just a few GAP t-shirts. The only way I can avoid the social stigma associated with the fact that I have not yet lost the baby weight is by looking faboulous. 

Think outfit then. Where to start? It will be hot in Italy, so I need clothes that are breezy. Light colors and fabric. I searched Pinterest endlessly for outfit inspiration along these lines. Then I had another epiphany. I thought back at my pre-second pregnancy style, and at the one item that always made me feel pulled together even around my mom and my best friend. Easy answer: my treasured pair of Brunello Cucinelli pants.

So I pulled up Brunello Cucinelli's SS13 lookbook, and I started from there. I am sure now you are thinking: right. It is easy to look faboulous in Brunello Cucinelli, but nobody can afford it. Neither can I. But I am resourceful. 

It turns out that, if you have time, you can find Brunello Cucinelli pants majorly discounted at Yoox (and, if you are not lucky, you can definitely score a under-50$ pair of Incotex pants, Brunello Cucinelli's low-cost label). With that, two pairs of GAP khakis, and two James Perse's scoop-neck tees, I feel ready. Italy, here I come.

Pink is not my favorite color

Hello everyone! What is your favorite colour?

Since yesterday was National Pink Day, I will let you into a little secret. I struggled with this question for a long time. It all started when my older son developed the passion for his first favorite colour, red. When asked, he would then proceed saying that daddy's favorite colour was blue and mommy's favorite colour was pink. I am a girl so my favorite colour had to be pink, right?

As many little girls, my first room was indeed decorated in pink. When I turned 18, my mom asked what gift I would have liked and I answered: a blue room. Many years later, I still had not figured out what was my favorite colour to wear though. Yes, I love navy blue everything (remember this coat?), and I have a jeans addiction, but is blue really my favorite colour? I think I have come to the conclusion that it is. But not any blue... and pink somehow always seeps in.

Tumblr

Hello everyone! Have you checked out our Tumblr feed?

I started it a while ago as a sort of digital diary, inspired by The Coveteur's "behind the scenes" Tumblr feed. I have not been good in keeping it updated though, because my life lately has been difficult to keep up with...

I am committing to change things around this summer. To start off well, I have updated it extensively. Enjoy!

SS13 trends | The shape of things to come

Hello everyone! Thinking about a new pair of sunglasses?

I am not somebody who swears by one shape of sunglasses (and not just because I am a bit accessories-obsessed...). Every year, I have fun in updating my sunnies to a trendy shape. If you are like me, go and get into the 80s groove with a pair of round sunglasses! Otherwise, hold on to your cat-eye sunglasses from last year, they are still very much in fashion too.

P.S. The sunnies above are by Emporio Armani, available here.

Not Monday ready, today

Hello everyone! Are you generally ready for Mondays?

Since the birth of my baby boy last February, I have been looking forward to Monday morning naps, after fun-packed family weekends. Today it was different though, because it had such a feeling of endings.

My older son's last week of kindergarden. His last soccer game of the season. My last mom and baby yoga class. My last DVD of Girlmore Girls, which has accompanied me since my baby's birth through many, many hours of breastfeeding.

Fortunately, there were first giggles, too.

Photo: Design Mom.

On my mind

Hello everyone! Are you ready for the end of the school year?

I know that technically it is already mid-June, but I have not yet posted what has been on my mind in May (I know, I know, shame on me). So here it comes...

My obsession with the shots over at Yvonne Koné continues (as my Pinterest board attests quite well). This is possibly my favorite shoes + handbag shot EVER. (Where does she get that light?)

I have gotten a Girl Crush. Actually, two (the latter discovered via Victoria).

This beautiful netted bag with leather straps would be perfect for a quick run to the store in 

the summer. As usual though it is unfortunately not yet available for Canadians... (via Oh Joy!)

The already-almost-all-sold-out creations of "Dries Van Noten of the East", Biyan Wanaatmadja. 

(Lookbook via Erica; purchase what's left through Net-a-porter)

Hosting garden parties is all I want to do during the summer (via Design Mom).

Happy Father's Day!

Good morning everyone and happy Father's Day!

Waking up at 6 am has its advantages. I have washed up, brushed my hair (bonus these days), cleaned the kitchen, set up the table for breakfast... and I have a few minutes to spare before my husband comes back from his run and the kids wake up!

This is just enough to reinsure you that I am back blogging -- expect many posts in the next few days...

P.S. This is our 400th post! Thanks for following us!

What a Safari!

Hello everyone! What was the inspiring concept behind your kids' rooms?

For my older son's room I had chosen a blue-and-stripes nautical theme. Six years have passed, and now I love essential nurseries like this one. I also wanted to choose a theme that could grow with my baby boy.

This is why I fell in love with Sharon Montrose's baby animals pictures, and I built my baby boy's room around them. These four ones hang on top of his changing dresser, and they are complemented by this larger IKEA canvas print that sits atop his crib. Jacadi, my favorite baby store, was my resource for bedding and other accessories. Who knows? For his first birthday, I may follow Martha's footsteps and throw him a Safari-inspired party...

Memories from the Ottawa Marathon

Hello everyone! Have you ever been to Ottawa?

This is Gigi. It was my son's school project for last weekend to write a diary of activities he did with Gigi during the weekend, and it worked out great because we were all going to Ottawa. We had already been there several times, the last one a couple of years ago right before our departure to Italy. This time, my husband was running the marathon, and he was so fast that we almost missed seeing him pass by.

Gigi got to see the House of Parliament and discover her heritage at the Museum of Civilization, which remains my top recommendation if you are going to Ottawa with kids. Her outfit was foolproof, mine wasn't. It was so cold, I wished the whole time I had her fur coat rather than the two spring tops I had taken along :)

P.S. Forget the French bakeries in Montreal! We had the best bread ever at Michel's Bakery Café on the ground floor of Rideau Centre, and we took plenty home.