Wildhorse Letterpress

My favorite trade show of the year, the National Stationery Show, is just two weeks away and I am starting to receive pitches from some of the debut designers. One that has stood out so far is Wildhorse Letterpress (shown above), a small Kansas studio that prints its card sets and art prints on two 100-year-old Chandler and Price presses. Wildhorse Letterpress is one of a stellar group called Ladies of Letterpress which is all kinds of awesome. Check out the work of these talented gals at NSS Booth #'s: 2362, 2364, 2366, 2368. I will be covering (and Tweeting) the entire stationery show live from the Javits center starting Sunday, May 15th, so stay tuned.

Did You Love It?

I am still catching up after yesterday's glorious festivities (and exhausted after a 19-hour day). I want to tell you about my Royal Wedding viewing party and give you my "expert" opinions (I was just quoted in this article at the Christian Science Monitor) on everything from Kate's dress to the ceremony in Westminster Abbey. Spectacular, right?

Thanks for being patient...in the meantime, please check out my live-time tweets from the Big Day.

p.s. Official wedding photos just released by Buckingham Palace this morning. Check them out!

Oh Happy Day

I'll be glued to TV coverage today (and hosting my own party). Follow me on Twitter for the latest. I'd love to hear your comments about the wedding, too. Enjoy!

Newest photo of the couple by Mario Testino, courtesy BBC.

Sibling Gift Labels

Birthday party high season is coming up for my kids, and to make gift-giving easier (and save money on cards), I just ordered these kids' personalized gift labels from sarah + abraham (I purchased them using a gift voucher from Heartsy, my new favorite site). These cute gift stickers allow you to personalize the design to look like your kids, and there are versions available for 1, 2, 3, or 4 kids. I just saw the proof for my order and they are so sweet! Can't wait to use them. They cost $21.50 for 40 stickers--visit sarah + abraham to order yours.

Bahamas Vacation: The Food

I promised to do more show and tell of our trip to the Bahamas two weeks ago. Today, a quick look at some of the delectables we enjoyed (or just eyed):

This Bahamas Goombay Punch was everywhere--from the supermarket aisles to the vending machines down the hall at our hotel. It's a sweet, pineapple-flavored soda. I skipped it though in favor of my usual Diet Coke.



One of our best meals was at a local Bahamian hangout called Twin Brothers. This was my dinner- "Bahama style" baked chicken, rice and beans, and fried plantains. It was delish. The kids ate plain chicken fingers...of course!



Twin Brothers is known for its daquiris--I sampled a half daquiri/half pina colada. Mmmm.



Thanks to the former British rule over the Bahamas, you can find all the Cadbury chocolate and other hard-to-find candy bars (Crunchie, Picnic, and Bounty) that Anglophiles like me enjoy. R. was skeptical of the Kit Kat wrappers which look different than here in the U.S.




When you travel with picky eaters, there's a good chance you'll end up at the Golden Arches, as we did in Nassau. R. and S. got Happy Meals which included these animal cookies. Who else remembers these? Grimace was always my favorite. By the way, I used Instamatic (my latest obsession) for this photo:



Next up: the prettiest scenery in the Bahamas, including the clearest Caribbean waters I've ever seen. Seriously, it looks like a swimming pool!

Almost Party Day

Check out these awesome Kate & William-themed party supplies I bought from Plum Party for my wedding-watching fete this Friday morning:

Royal Family Tea Teabags ($12.50 for set of 6)

Keep Calm & Carry On Shatterproof Cups ($18 for a set of 10)


Royal Wedding Cup Cake Papers & Toppers ($10)

Wordless Wednesday: It's Finally Spring

Pretty flowers outside my apartment building...I love springtime in NYC!

Bargain Alert: Allergy Tees by Jeeto

If your child has allergies, check out these Jeeto Onesies and Tees that proudly proclaim everything from "Dairy and Egg Free" to "No Tree Nuts". The tees, which usually cost about $19, are on sale at The Mini Social for just $8 apiece. And, good news--some are available in sizes all the way up to 10/12.

10 Mother's Day Gift Picks

Is it me, or is the calendar going faster and faster? I can't believe we are less than 2 weeks away from Mother's Day. I don't do a comprehensive "Mother's Day gift guide" here because, after all, most of my readers are mothers and I assume you know what you want ;-) But for those of you (husbands, perhaps?) who might need some inspiration, here are 10 gifts I think would be hits for Mother's Day 2011. The last four are splurges...because, you never know.

Silver Heart Beats For You Necklace ($148) from Sundance. I've never seen this take on "mommy necklaces" before. I love it. Artist Jes MaHarry hand inscribes from one to six letters on a row of sterling silver hearts.



Organic Cotton Ruched Pajamas ($58) from Garnet Hill. I have two pairs of these myself, even though I consider $58 pricey for pajamas. The organic cotton is that soft and comfortable.


Mother/Daughter Cupcake Aprons by Jessie Steele ($24 and $34) from Cambria Cove. Do you have a mini-me who loves baking as much as you do? Check out these vintage-styled, cherry-cupcake-patterned mother/daughter aprons.



Flower Patch Large Stud Earrings ($65) from Kate Spade. The perfect spring/summer dress-up earrings made with gold-plated metal, crystal, and mother-of-pearl.


Full Body Silhouette Print ($35) from Le Papier Studio. Designer Vana Chupp makes beautiful art prints based on your original photos. Frame it and you have a gorgeous keepsake gift.



Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf perfume ($25-$100) at Sephora. It's tough to describe scents, but "Flowerbomb" reminds me of "Angel" by Thierry Mugler, which I wore years ago. Sophisticated but a bit vanilla-y. It's one of Sephora's bestsellers--try it out.


Lilly Pulitzer Printed Cruiser ($450) from Lilly Pulitzer. Oh wow. For those of you who miss your pink banana seat bike with streamers, here is an equally girly, designer-chic grown-up bicycle.



Apple Ipad 2 (starts at $499) at Apple. Need I say more? Any tuned-in mom would love this for Mother's Day. I sure would!




Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera ($899) from Amazon.com . I've been investigating DSLR cameras that include HD video, and this is the newest, most highly recommended model. If you're ready to ditch your separate DSLR camera and camcorder, this is the combo for you.



Audrey Jeweled Large Leigh slim tote ($498.00) from Coach. It's been a long time since a Coach bag was in my budget (I'm still holding onto my modest leather handbag from high school), but I adore their newest bling-y bags. This one is made from metallic linen.


Psst! Want some other ideas? Search all of our past Mother's Day gift ideas, including dozens of gifts priced below $25.

Your Undivided Attention

I always find clever gifts at UncommonGoods. In their latest catalog I spotted this tongue-in-cheek Phonekerchief that allows you to give your undivided attention to your dining companion. Made of silver fibers that will block out your incoming texts and calls, the "phonekerchief" is a witty hint to your Blackberry-addicted partner. Buy it for $15 at Uncommon Goods,

Princess Diana on her 30th Birthday

A while ago I promised to share more snapshots I took over the years of my childhood idol, Princess Diana. I took this photo of her on July 1, 1991, which was her 30th birthday (she died in 1997 at age 36). I happened to be in London for a summer program before my sophomore year of college, and I read that she would be attending a luncheon at the Savoy Hotel on her birthday (Phil Collins attended and sang "Groovy Kind of Love"...that's how long ago this was). I waited in the crowds for hours to see her, and was rewarded with a brief conversation with her (I asked her what she got for her birthday and she diplomatically answered, "Many lovely things!"). I took this picture, which I will always cherish. She was taller and prettier in person than she was in photos, with a very soft, high voice. She always took extra time to make sure she had greeted the very young--or very old--people who had waited to see her. It is a cliche that she was the "People's Princess," but I saw this first-hand several times.

I was only 18 years old when I took this picture...and now I am 38, older than Diana was when she died. With the next big Royal Wedding just days away, I've been thinking a lot about weddings, fairy tales, "happily ever afters" (or not), and fate. Not only Diana's (and William's and Kate's), but mine too. And how for the past 30 years my childhood idolization of Diana has woven in and out of my life...from that first fateful day I woke up early at age 8 to watch her wedding, to the excitement when she had her children, to those once-in-a-lifetime moments when I met her in person, to the horrifying late summer morning in 1997 when over 30 friends (past and present) left condolence messages on my answering machine--they knew just how much she had meant to me for years. Back at my parents' house in NJ, there are the hundreds of books and magazines I collected and scrapbooks I made of my idol. Other teens in the 1980s worshipped Duran Duran; for me, there was nothing better than a famous princess who not only did good for so many people, but looked so beautiful doing so.

I know that many naysayers ("Royal Wedding scrooges", I call them) vow they won't watch one moment of Friday's wedding coverage. And why should they, I guess. Their lives were not--and are not--touched in the same way by Diana and her legacy. For me, though, it represents something coming full circle....Diana's son taking his own wedding vows, and embarking on a future that will hopefully be much happier and luckier than his mother's.

In this photo, Diana is 30. It is hard to believe, but were she still alive today, this mother-of-the-groom would be nearly 50 years old.

Shop Report: Taroo Too

A new children's store called Taroo Too (a sibling store of Taroo for women) opened in our neighborhood last month, replacing another store called Tutti Bambini where I never bought anything due to 1) high prices and 2) snooty sales clerks. Taroo Too is a welcome additional to the 'hood. Here are some pictures I took of the store and its inventory of trendy kids' togs:

There are lots of cute layette outfits (if you love pink/brown or pink/black combos, and animal prints, this is the store for you) plus accessories from brands like Mud Pie:



Here is a view of the little kids' section of the store--there are many printed graphic tees but also useful cotton basics like tees, skirts, and leggings.


This was one of my favorite boys' tees, I think available in sizes up to 4T.


For 'tweens and big girls, there's a decent assortment of casual wear plus some dresses. Nothing too flashy, which I appreciate as the mom of a 7-year-old.


This red-and-white cotton sundress by LeLe for Kids particularly caught my eye.


It's also a handy shop to pop into for a baby shower gift--there are pre-packaged gift items like booties, bibs, and burpcloths.


Stop by and visit Taroo Too, located at 1480 First Avenue (northeast corner of 77th St. and First Avenue) in Manhattan. Call 212-772-0400 for store hours or more info.

Bargain Alert: Family DVDs at Amazon.com

S. has been asking for the Megamind DVD for awhile and I just noticed its price drop wayyyy down in my Amazon.com shopping cart--it's now just $8.99 (originally $29.99). Turns out a bunch of other kid-friendly box office hits are also on sale for less than $10, including How to Train Your Dragon, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. See if there's a flick you've wanted to add to your collection for under 10 bucks from Amazon.com's Kids' DVDs on sale.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to those who are celebrating! (Those who are not: have a relaxing Sunday!)

At left: Hopping Bunnies infant/toddler dress ($38) at the Etsy shop Silly Hilli.

Free Shipping at Garnet Hill Today

Through tonight only, you can get free shipping on any order at Garnet Hill. You must click through this link to activate free shipping (no code necessary). I like these go-to Signature Maillot Swimsuits ($88, sizes 2-16), especially in the patchwork-style Paisley Provencal version. You can even buy coordinating flipflops ($14/pair).

Enjoy free shipping on any order at Garnet Hill via this link. Expires at midnight EST.

Cinema Verite: An American Family

If you're secretly a reality TV fan (or just a US cultural/social history buff), set your DVR to record Cinema Verite on HBO tonight. It's a highly-anticipated dramatic version of the making of the landmark 1970s PBS documentary "An American Family (The Louds)." The original series first aired in 1973, and was, in essence, the first "reality TV" show that filmed a U.S. family as they lived their everyday lives (the most famous scenes where when Pat asked Bill for a divorce, and pretty much any scene featuring their openly gay son Lance...this stuff was unheard of on TV at the time). I first watched the series when it re-aired on its 10th anniversary in 1983, and when I started working at the Museum & Television & Radio (now called the Paley Center) years later, it was one of the very first series I borrowed from the archives to watch during my lunch hour. HBO's film tonight, starring James Gandolfini, Diane Lane, and Tim Robbins, dramatizes the intrigue behind the filming of The Louds--from ethical questions about what is "OK" to film, to the implied affair (always denied) between mom Pat Loud (played by Lane) and director/creator Craig Gilbert (played by Gandolfini). It's fascinating stuff...and will probably make you thirst to see the original series. The Paley Center in New York and L.A. is screening the original episodes in their entirety over the next few weekends; you can also catch a rare compilation of An American Family clips on You Tube.

Mom Talks to the Director of Special Education

Omigosh, how is it possible that have I never seen these Xtranormal videos before? I had to share this one, called "Mom Talks with the Director of Special Education," with you. It is hysterical--sad, funny, and true all at the same time. Who else can relate to this one???

Boden Beach Dress

Speaking of beach getaways, I just adore this photo of Boden's new-for-summer Delphinium Vases Beach Shirt Dress. Check out those fantastic matching suitcases (not for sale, sadly). The dress is made of washed cotton canvas and costs $98. I am loving its retro feel...it reminds me of something Pat Loud might have worn in southern California in 1971 (more on The Louds here tomorrow). Check out all of the new summer dresses at Boden.

A tip: Subscribe to Boden's email newsletter for the most up-to-date coupon codes, or search Boden at Retail Me Not for discount links you can click through.

p.s. I just realized I posted nothing for Earth Day, nor anything for Easter which is 2 days away. Sorry if you came here looking for those...I'm still catching up!

Bahamas Vacation, Part 1: Fun, Fun, Fun

The kids and I spent a few days last week in the Bahamas. This was our first "far away" vacation together in years. I'm sure you all know how challenging it sometimes can be traveling with young kids. When you have children with special needs--plus you are a single mom--it is that much trickier. So this was a major milestone for us, and, happily, it went swimmingly (pun intended). We enjoyed fun and laughter pretty much all-around (sorry you can't see the smiles in these photos). More vacation pictures--of food, sea, sun, and views--to follow soon.

We arrived in the Bahamas late in the day, but still caught about an hour of daylight at the beach. It was the clearest aqua water I have ever seen, and the beach was very calm and mild--perfect for the kids.



Our hotel (the Sheraton Nassau) had several fantastic swimming pools. R. could not get enough of what she called the "Cave Pool" with its waterfalls.


We chose the Sheraton Nassau over the showier Atlantis because the Sheraton was quieter and less overwhelming (and less expensive, too). We did buy guest passes to Atlantis one afternoon, though. OMG the sticker shock. But R. wanted to go there with a classmate who was also in the Bahamas in her family, so we splurged. R. loved the water slides there. Here she is making her entrance into one of the many pools:


R. (left) and her friend take in the incredible marine life at Atlantis. My girl has some curls, doesn't she??


Right outside its main grounds, Atlantis has a very pristine, cutesy village of shops including a Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor. S. does not eat sweets, so while everyone else cooled off with cones, he enjoyed a drive:


One of the highlights of our Bahamas trip was our visit to Blue Lagoon Island for our "close encounter" with a dolphin, through a company called Dolphin Encounters. This is our new friend Salvador the Dolphin, who is 6 years old (R. mused that he "must be a first grader at dolphin school"). I don't have pictures of it (our cameras were in lockers, so we had to buy a few souvenir prints instead), but R. and I danced with, hugged, and even kissed Salvador. It was definitely a memorable outing.


We spent one afternoon in downtown Nassau and visited the British Colonial Hilton, a historic property. S. was most impressed by the grand staircase, which he climbed up and down at least 5 times.



We didn't do much shopping in town, because mostly there are souvenirs of this variety:


Our evenings were filled with intense ping-pong tournaments...


...and, of course, it wouldn't be the Caribbean without some limbo contests. In S's case, his generous height (nearly 4 feet at age 4 1/2) worked against him!


The kids were sad to leave the Bahamas at the end of our stay, but we managed to have fun even at the airport ("Look, Mommy, it's a shell toilet!"):


I can't begin to tell you how fantastic it was to be "away" with the kids--to see them experience a new place, to relax and forget about our busy schedule at home, and to have real bonding time in such a beautiful setting (our life in New York isn't always so relaxing--or pretty). I think I fell in love with each of my kids a bit more during this trip. They are so amazing, each in their own special ways. It was a virtual lovefest...hopefully, the feeling is mutual.