Octomom

Eight is enough

Honestly, even after watching the Nadya Suleman AKA Octomom on Oprah, I still don’t know how she’s doing it, and why. Not that she really has a choice now….  I have 2 children, and I knew as I was having them that I was never going to be one of those Super Moms that can do it all, and still look good doing it. After being a mom for 6 years, I’ve convinced myself that those moms who look like they’ve go it all together – have a secret – and that secret is either a Nanny or a messy home. You just can’t do it all !!!! Let me rephrase that- I can’t do it all. And then one day a year, and maybe a the week leading up to it, being a mom becomes a national holiday-being a being a mom means getting candy and cards, being a mom means I go to the kids school and am served tea and sandwiches by my own daughter- and she says L” this is the best mommy day EVER” and I realize that it doesn’t matter how hard being a parent  may be sometimes, and it doesn’t matter that your dining room table has turned into a toy/arts/ homework station, , and it doesn’t matter that you spend your mornings serving at what feels like an all you can eat diner, and it doesn’t matter that you don’t remember what you liked to do before you had kids…We are all Octomoms, even if it’s just one child, because they fill your world so immensely that it feel like you have 8-14 kids. hhhmmm, maybe not really, I have seen her on Oprah, and it is freaking impossible to imagine. I am just GRATEFUL for what I have, and the closest I get to being an Octo-anything is I feel I NEED 8 arms to be and do everything, and that once a year I make a photos with 8 Zoe or Kyle.

and just one last thing- I remember, when I was pregnant, people wold smile at me, and open the door for me, and look at me as a source of LIFE….Nature’s miracle. NOW? Have you ever tried flying with children? I can read their minds ” JUST DON’T SIT WITHIN 5 ROWS OF ME, PLEASE….!!!!!!”

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms!!!!!!

I just LLOOVVEE being in the Kitchen

S and A

The twins turn 13

I’ve known these kids since they were 3 years old. In fact I used to babysit them, just like their mother babysat me. The circle of life that is. And now I have a couple of those myself, and soon enough they will be babysitting mine! Until then, they’re too busy enjoying life and preparing for their big day. This is the first installment of their photos- check in soon for the rest. Yes, there’s more. it’s just the middle of the night.

A boy

S girl

Shake it!

And after another change of clothes...

the rest in the next post

he asked for it

Before and After

I swear, it wasn’t me, or us, or anyone but him. He wanted his hair cut, I didn’t, at least not yet. Come summer, the real summer, I am the first to support the loss of heavy sweaty, getting in the eyes, wash every day hair, but I was trying to hang on to it for a few more weeks- I just LOVED his hair, especially when it was clean. But he asked to have it cut, and assuming that when he’s 15 I will be begging HIM to get a hair cut, I thought it would be a good example to comply to his request. So what’s with the sad face? it’s his “foto-face” I trained him well. Fierce. or is it Zoolander?

So here he is, my new Kyle. Ready for summer 2010.

american girl

Happy Birthday Sophia

Time flies when you’re having fun, and as everyone around me celebrates their 5th birthday I realize, you know, that I’m not getting any younger, and more importantly, I have my own daughter’s party to plan…..I should ask Sophia’s mom for help because she always plans fantastic girls’ parties! And what fun it was- you can view the whole event right here in this slideshow.

This was my first time at The American Girl Store, and I was as anxious as the 5 year-olds to run inside and see the wonders this place offersr- and oh my god, it’s like the candy store for sugar lovers, the Disney store for Mickey fans and the photo store for photo-graphers…a sweet dream come true- or a nightmare come alive, depending on how you look at it, or what’s in your wallet… American Girl was started over twenty years ago and was originally available by catalog order only, A catalog that I used we would receive in the mail for the previous tenant where we lived, and even though I didn’t have kids back then, nor were there American Girl stores, nor was there a website- I would look through the pages and fantasize about the day I’d have a daughter and we’d get matching dolls with matching clothes, and sip pretend tea at our pretend little tables…….ok, if you know me at all you know it’s a lie!  I really did enjoy flipping through the pages, but my true fantasy world is a room full of Playmobil coming to life….and that was always one of my three wishes I would ask a magical fairy should she ever grant me three wishes ( I was 9 years old! I think it was right up there with world piece and health for humanity) but anyway- Sophia, turned 5 and her friends came to celebrate with her, with games, dolls, food and fun!

It's going to be a HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Sophia waiting for the place to open

Yes, I am 5!!!!

We are all American Girls

But which one is MY American Girl?

A perfect match

A moment

All American Girls

Lunch with friends

A very special friend

Like I said, lunch with friends

Happy Birthday to YOOOOUUUUUU!

Cyanotype is an old form of photography

It's time to go

What a perfect day!

Paris, je t’aime

Vintage Weave

Just across the street from the LA landmark that is the Farmer’s Market, is a hidden away treasure that is more like a porthole to another continent- the old land, Europe, or more specifically, France. Once you step across the entry way, you’ll find yourself in the flea market in the south of Paris, Porte de Cligniancourt for example. When I lived in Paris a million years ago, I used to go there every week- I even bought my first striped shirt there, and knowing Vintage Weave was intended to feel like a market, I wore it, especially for the occasion- (that, and the fact that after clearing my pantry from food from 2006, the next natural step was to clean out my closet – so yes, if you know me and wants some clothes….anyway; at the bottom of the long  pile sleeve was my sailor shirt* I hadn’t worn since I had my first child,  at least! But let’s go back to Paris for a moment- for some people, and they know who they are, shopping at Vintage Weave would be like letting a kids loose in a  candy store  or a  photographer at B&H…

* My first sailor striped shirt

If you don’t have the time, or if you live on the other side of the world (you might be really close to Paris though) check out Kathy’s blog- it’s not just an update of all the new (old) stuff that makes it to the store, it’s a funny blog to read, with touches of personal life and plenty of ideas for anyone with an affinity for design or antiquity or anything French, English, or you know what, it’s a blog to visit!  and I might even have to copy this sign…I think it will go really well on the front door of my kid’s photography studio….I even know someone who will make it for me….hint hint.

But the weirdest thing, or maybe it’s not surprising, on the way back home, while driving through the Hollywood Hills, I felt a huge urge overcome me and I started chatting in French like a teenager on La Boom, fluently ( I understood everything I was saying..) I did most of the talking, well all of it, scaringly, to MYSELF…..and as I got hungrier and hungrier I had a terrible craving for a fresh baguette with Camembert cheese, a crunchy on the outside, warm on the inside…wait, it’s food we’re talking about here, so I had to stop at Trader Joe’s for a poor substitute, that you know what, it scratched the french itch.

Paris, Je t’aime, I miss you, and I hoep to be there soon, for a real Cafe au Lait et un croissant s’il vous plait! Garcon, l’addition, ou sont les toileets, elle es mon copin, j’adore la photographie, je prefere un pain au chocolt, NON! allo, c’set phillipe le Doux, bisous! a demain, voulez vous parler avec moi?

Dream

Bistro

There's something for everyone

Secret compartments

Table top

Doll up

As you walk in

And everything else

WALLPAPER

Black Crow Studios

You might think your grandma’s kitchen wallpaper from 1971 is making a comeback and that if you moved in there you would totally keep it…but seriously,(Don’t)  AND that is not what Tracy Hiner of Black Crow Studios is talking about when she designs, and I quote :Black Crow Studios is a custom wallpaper company that pushes the traditional idea of wallpaper into the realm of Art. Her designs are bad ass wallpaper custom made for you! (end of quotes) and if you go to her website ( great music too) or her Blog you’ll see that Tracy is talented, edgy, unique, and will make you want to cover each wall in a huge wallpaper designed by her. Not from the 70’s. (and give yourself a good hour to follow the inspiring links on her blog….but be warned- you will get Art-Fever, and high! I met Tracy as part of the CRAVE book – I am participating in, featuring Women Business owners in LA, that have stuff we CRAVE!

and I can’t stop thinking about it because my bedroom is in DESPERATE need of a total makeover, so if anyone out there has connection with HGTV please hook me up, I finally have a room I have no idea how to handle!

Tracy

The inspirations wall

Seriously, I love Tracy’s work ? creation area. Everywhere I looked there was some I liked and wanted. I was inspired to move my office space reorganization date after this hoot. And I did. I even have a n ispiration wall, and it has two tear sheets on it already.  Ineed to look through magazines more often, I have 20 feet of wall to fill.

With all the high-tech tools tracy uses, every design starts with real materials

Pencils. I envy those who know how to use them