Thirty Nine

Today I turn 39 years old, so I'm taking the day off to celebrate my birthday and, of course, go trick-or-treating with my kids. So far, this birthday (the first of many "39th" birthdays!) has been fantastic (notwithstanding my usual 5am wakeup with S.), and I am so grateful.

I hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween! See you tomorrow!

Monster Mash Colossal Cupcake by Crumbs Bakeshop.

Renovations

Remember how my apartment floor was partially ruined by Hurricane Irene and then, in a freak coincidence, one week later by a neighbor's exploded hot water faucet? Yeah, things have been a little nuts here. We are finally tackling the renovations and, as you can see from these pictures, things are very much in disarray (and I sure picked a helluva time to host my own Halloween birthday party--I hope my guests enjoy breathing in sawdust). It is really hard to get anything done; in fact, I had to crawl over my king-size bed--temporarily in the living room--to get to the computer to type this. So I'll be posting lite over the next few days. Thanks for bearing with me, and have a great weekend! p.s. I will happily share the "after" pictures with you once the work is done!

Boden Spring 2012 Preview

Hard to believe, but Boden has just unveiled its Spring 2012 preview for women, kids, and babies. You can get 20% off on pre-orders which will ship in January. Even I think this is pretty early to be thinking about Spring 2012 clothing, but since today in New York it suddenly felt freezing (time to dig out the gloves and scarves from our closet...), I kind of welcome the warmer frame of mind. One piece that jumped out at me--these new Fun Applique Polos ($34, 3 styles/colors available, sizes 1 1/2-2yrs to 13-14yrs). Take a look at what's available next Spring at Boden.

Best Black-and-White (and Orange) Cookies Ever

New Yorkers are notoriously picky about their black-and-white cookies (remember that Seinfeld episode?). My personal favorite are those from William J. Greenberg Jr. Desserts, a Big Apple institution since 1946. This time of year, "Greenberg's" offers "Orange-and-Black" cookies (plus some other fall hues). They are absolutely delectable and totally worth the price ($27 for 18 mini-cookies or about $3 for each large one). And, lo and behold, I see on the bakery's website that you can Design Your Own Custom Black-and-White Cookies with your choice of any 2 colors on the rainbow. How awesome is that?

Visit William J. Greenberg Jr. Desserts at 1100 Madison Avenue (betw. 82nd & 83rd) 212-861-1340. Store hours:Monday-Friday:8am-6:30pm, Saturday:8am-6pm, Sunday:10am-4pm.

From the Archives: The Best of Charlie Brown Holiday Specials

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2008.
It wouldn't be Halloween (or Thanksgiving, or Christmas) without Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Linus and the gang, would it? I've caught those well-known Peanuts holiday specials on TV almost each of the past 30 years (good grief!) and now, I am indulging in a nostalgia-fest with my five-year-old daughter while we watch them together (her favorite scene: the popcorn Thanksgiving dinner). This brand new Peanuts Holiday Collection-Deluxe Edition DVD boxed set includes three of the most beoved Peanuts holiday TV specials : It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas. All are digitally re-mastered and include special features like behind-the-scenes peeks, songs, and bonus episodes. It's a treat to watch- like a big ole dose of holiday-inspired TV nostalgia. Plus, I guarantee that you'll appreciate the subtle humor even more now than you did back in the Nixon era. Go ahead and treat yourself (I mean your kids) at Amazon.com (where it's on sale for about $33.99; regular retail price is $44.98).

Hanna Andersson's Get What You Wish Sale

Our affiliate Hanna Andersson is holding its twice-yearly "Get What You Wish Sale" now through November 13th. You'll save 20% on just about all regularly priced merchandise, including Hanna's popular organic striped PJs, kids' outerwear and sweaters, and holiday looks for the whole family; in fact some items are marked up to 50% off. Here are some of my favorites:

"Tis the Season" Organic Cotton Family Long John" (reduced to $33.60 from $42). If my family celebrated Christmas, I'd definitely want these.


Love to Twirl Velour Dress (reduced to $46.40 from $58). Hanna dresses wash so well and last for years; this is a classic holiday style (available in several colors) that will last through many hand-me-downs.



Our Warmest Reversible Down Jacket (reduced to $75.60 from $108). S. just got this jacket and I'm very pleased with it so far.


Little Bear Jacket Babies grow up very fast, and you can't dress them like cuddly animals for long. Enjoy clothes like this while you can!


Visit the Hanna Andersson Get What You Wish Sale and enjoy up to 50% off on Fall/Winter items. No coupon code needed; prices are already marked down.

My 1st Article at Huffington Post

I never thought I'd type a sentence like this, but I have an article up at The Huffington Post right now! I am so flattered that they asked me to contribute something to their new weddings section. My article is called "Don't Sweat the Wedding; It's the Marriage That Counts", and it's my take on weddings, marriage, and a lesson learned from my maternal grandmother. Please read it over at The Huffington Post and leave a comment about it if you're so inclined! Thanks.

p.s. Links have been corrected- thanks for pointing it out!

Family Portraits by Randi Baird

Last June, the kids and I had some professional photos taken on our beach vacation. The weather was a bit chilly and overcast that day--not so great for swimming, but perfect for picture-taking. Our photographer was Randi Baird, and if you ever find yourself in Martha's Vineyard, you should look her up. She was a total pro with my kids (and I can't say that about every photographer). I adore every image from our photo session. I'll be saving my absolute favorite ones to use in our holiday card this year, but in the meantime here are some other winners:





Photos by Randi Baird, June 2011.

Bargain Alert: PB Teen Fast Food Costumes

During playdates, my kids and their friends still get so much use out of our Pottery Barn Kids french fries and cheeseburger costumes from 3 years ago. I am so glad that I bought (and saved) those a few years ago. I'm thinking of doing the same with these larger PB Teen costumes--again, featuring my kids' favorite foods like hot dogs and popcorn. These costumes are all about 50% off now (the popcorn costume was reduced to $34 from $70), plus shipping is free. They're great quality and will last through many years of dress-up and make-believe. Browse the remaining costumes and sizes (I'm buying size XS for my 5-year-old and 8-year-old) at PB Teen.

p.s. Use code "HALLOWEENRUSH" to get free 3-day rush shipping on costumes.

Bargain Alert: Perfect Personalized Gifts at Zulily

Yesterday I mentioned an amazing personalized gift sale taking place at Zulily this week. There's a winning selection here of gifts for everyone--babies, toddlers, kids, and even mom. Shop ahead for the holidays, or for yourself now:


Someday Inc. Pink Gingham Flower Personalized Album (on sale for $21.99, originally $56). Perfect baby gift.



Retro Rags Black Personalized Women's Tee (on sale for $23.99, originally $40; sizes S-XL). Originally inspired by Laverne & Shirley (please tell me you're old enough to remember that show), initial tees for women are still on-trend.



Little Moonjumper Prince Personalized Stroller Blanket (on sale for $39.99, originally $66). Moms rave about Little Moonjumper baby blankets--this is a great deal on them.



Sofi Pink & Fuchsia Personalized Dress (on sale for $19.99, originally $32; sizes 0-6mos to 6x). I love the cute but subtle initial on this dress.



Preppy Plates Santorini Red Tray (on sale for $29.99, originally $43). This makes a great holiday hostess gift.


Shop the personalized gift boutique this week at Zulily.

Kids' Quotable Wall Art at Zulily

I am pretty much smitten with everything at the "All Things Personalized Boutique" sale at Zulily this week, and will share you more of my top picks tomorrow. But in the meantime I must show you this awesome Someday Inc. Quotable Kids' Personalized Wall Art. You choose the blue or red design and then add your child's name and one of their most insightful (or clever) quotes. For R. I'd use an unintentionally poignant one she said around her 7th birthday, while playing Freeze Dance: "Remember, Mommy, it's not about the stops. It's about the music." The ready-to-frame 12" square cotton canvases cost $21.99 at Zulily; their regular price is $56. I love this keepsake!

Shop Report: New York Costumes

A few weekends ago the kids and I got some early Halloween shopping done at New York Costumes, an incredible NYC Halloween mega-store that, shockingly, I had never visited in my 17 years of living here in the Big Apple. This place is amazing, and if you're a New Yorker still in need of costumes or decorations, it's worth braving the crowds to come here.

Here is the outside of the store. It's just south of Union Square at 104 Fourth Avenue:



Inside, you'll finds thousands of square feet housing everything you need for any Halloween costume or party. There's the standard fare--infant bunting costumes, superhero costumes, classic witch garb--plus costumes you've never even dreamed of, and any and all accessories (we bought R. a blond wig to wear with her Princess Peach costume).


I actually bought my costume here this year. Yep, I was inspired by Pan Am. No, I won't be showing photos here.



If your Halloween taste runs more scary than sweet (my children have reached the age where they prefer the former--the spookier, the better), this is your store. Even if you don't buy a thing, it is a feast for the eyes--if your eyes like to see blood, guts, and freaky things, that is:

Creepy cold cuts anyone?


A two-headed baby. I think I saw something like this on the Discovery Channel.



The sign around this guy's neck says it all.



This dummy had a revolving bloody head that the kids watched rotate about a dozen times.



The kids ate up all the theatrics (here, I believe they were petting fake furry rats):


I have never seen so many skeletons before:






And R. explained the finer points of mask-wearing to her little brother.



The "Clowns" section of the store was one of my favorites. Remember the Bethenny Ever After episode where she and Jason try on clown costumes with gigantic hands and boots? I'm pretty sure that was filmed here.


S. surveyed everything a clown might need, from rubber chickens to "bonkers" (I let him buy one...a major mistake).


Visit New York Costumes at 104 4th Ave @ 11th street in New York City, open every night this week till 10pm (and this weekend till 12am).

HGTV Magazine Debuts

If you enjoy shelter magazines and miss Domino (whose demise I still mourn), you may want to check out the newly launched HGTV Magazine. You can get a free trial issue by clicking through this link; subsequent issues will cost $15 for a year's subscription. The magazine promises to deliver plenty of practical design and decorating tips plus real estate advice and "insider secrets" from HGTV leading personalities such as Color Splash’s David Bromstad. If you get a subscription, let me know what you think.

Bet You've Never Seen a Holiday Card Like This

Yes, I know Halloween hasn't even passed yet, but, believe it or not, I'm starting to hear a lot about holiday cards. And I'll be giving you tons of ideas over the next month or so. First up are the tres unique, high-end wood holiday cards by one of my favorite designers, Night Owl Paper Goods. If you've never seen a wooden holiday card before, well, they're all kinds of awesome. Paperphiles like me love looking at (and feeling) these, and night Owl Paper Goods has just introduced over 50 new designs, many of which include calendars on the reverse side (my favorite: Cruisin' Christmas above; $3 per card before discount). These will surely impress everyone on your holiday card list. They're pricey, but I've got a great deal to pass along to you. Through October 26th, you'll get a 20% discount on all Personalized Holiday Cards plus free shipping on orders of $49 or more with code "CHEER2011". If you want to save even more money, opt for any design on paper rather than wooden card; the paper cards cost about $1.99 each instead before the discount. Visit Night Owl Paper Goods.

Wordless Weekend

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Somehow it is already late October (how is this possible?) and I haven't yet posted about products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Truthfully, each year I get more anxious doing so since I keep hearing about the "pinkwashing" of breast cancer in the retail industry, all while I continue to receive endless pitches about "pink" products from companies whose backgrounds I'm not sure about. And while I wholeheartedly support marketing efforts to help any disease that devastates so many (particularly since I have a background in health grant-making and a master's degree in public health), I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing by posting about each and every one of these products. I could probably write several posts about this dilemma, but I'm sure others have done so far more eloquently. In fact, I know that they have. Today I want to refer you to two other blogs that have given me more "awareness" about breast cancer than any marketing campaign has. Like most of you, I have very little free time to read blogs (and thank you for reading mine), but these are two that have moved and inspired me, and I check in on them regularly. Things are not easy for either of the authors right now--and they are young moms just like (most of) my readers:

Toddler Planet is written by Susan Niebur, a four time cancer survivor, brilliant astrophysicist, and mom to two little boys. She is fighting bravely against metastatic breast cancer in her spine, neck, ribs, and hips. Read Susan's post about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which informed me that only 3% of breast cancer research goes towards patients with metastatic cancer.

Family Bonding Time is a blog written by Nathan and Elisa Bond, a young couple from New York City. They are actually both fighting cancer--Nathan has colon cancer and Elisa has metastatic breast cancer. They also have a toddler-aged daughter, Sadie. Like Susan, Nathan and Elisa are real life examples of brave people fighting breast cancer, and the fights are ugly and horrifying to read about. No "pinkwashing" here.

Yes, please continue to "buy pink," but please also remember the faces and stories of those who are really in the trenches.


Wishing Susan, Nathan, and Elisa good health and good cheer this October, and always.

30% Off Kids and Tweens Clothing

It's always bittersweet to report on the closing of a store that I've recommended several times to you before. Juvie, an online boutique which offered trendy but age-appropriate brands for kids and tweens up to age 14, is closing its doors after 5 years. I'm sad to see them go, but the silver lining is that right now everything is marked down 30% (automatically applied; no code needed). You can get great deals on clothing by brands including Appaman, Claesen's, Splendid Tween, Quicksilver, and Desigual (shown above: Desigual's Bubble Hem Dress, now $43.05). Visit Juvie while inventory lasts.