Monday Links (and a post-op update!)

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First the update. I’m tired.

The surgery itself was fine. In fact – it was better than fine. I was able to sleep the night before, I never had to experience hunger pangs with the 7:30 a.m. scheduling and it was outpatient, so I I was in my own bed sleeping by mid-day.

I honestly expected to be a ball of anxiety, but instead I found myself quite practical and only minimally nervous. New maturity or talent for dissociation? Maybe a little of both with a major emphasis on the latter? Either way – it’s over and I’m recovering. And I’m exhausted.

The painkillers made me a little loopy over the weekend (as my friends on Twitter probably noticed), but we were lucky to have a cousin come stay for a couple of days and help Chris corral the children. I actually spent most of my time in bed like I was supposed to, and that was nothing short of miraculous.

I’ve now cut my dose in half and I’m really feeling it. But my previous experience with a c-section gives me hope that in a few days, I’ll be able to stop taking them altogether. And be able to DRIVE again. It’s very strange to be trapped at home. While there are places I could go within walking distance – I can’t walk that far yet!

Okay – my update is boring. There are probably a ton of funny stories I could tell (or stories I could tell with a humorous perspective) – but I’m feeling very dull. My brain is fuzzy. And my eyelids are numb. Have you ever had numb eyelids? It’s weird.

I was able to do some blog reading – but mostly just those of friends. So my links today are pretty friend and favorite-heavy. If we have the same friends, I’m sorry for the repetition. Maybe there will be a few you missed:

Anna was a snoop when she was a kid. Were you? I TOTALLY was.

Kacy wrote what will hopefully be the first post in a series on “Momness.”

Stacey said goodbye to the nursery and saw some new potential there.

Marinka continues to keep hard hitting issues on the forefront of our thoughts with her USWeekly chats.

My friend Christy is so freaking cute I can’t stand it! Check out her new outfits.

Renee wrote about having a “conspicuous” family.

Rene writes because…

and today, Amy posted a six and a half minute video showing exactly what it looks like when water destroys civilization. In minutes. It makes things horrifyingly real for those of us who have found the news reports to be so incredibly surreal. In addition to praying, Amy’s added a Global Living link for donations to her sidebar.

Posting may be light this week. I’m toast.

Surgery Today

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I set this to post automatically today since I will have been at the hospital since 6:00 a.m. this morning. Nothing serious. But still, yuck – surgery.

Wish me luck! I’ll be picturing this beautiful image I spotted on my photographer friend, Robin’s blog:


I really am a big baby – but I promise that I’ll stick with the pretty stuff here and do all of my post-op whining on The Big Piece of Cake.

Have a great weekend!

Check out more of Robin’s work on Around the Island (and of course, her Etsy shop!)

Wish me luck!

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I have my surgery tomorrow and big baby that I am, I’m really scared.

I’ve already admitted to my hospital phobia (with the exception of the 3-day spa vacation post twins c-section with that fab call button that made nurses take babies away for the night…) I also acknowledged the very brave women in my life who have been in the hospital for far more serious issues. And I’ve been focusing on the mandatory day or two in bed and the really good drugs that I’ll be taking…

So I’ve thought it through.

I’ll be fine. I’ll just be a little out of commission for a while.

The question is – will Chris and the kids be fine? Time will tell…

See you on the other side (of the surgery I mean – I promise that I won’t go into the light – although I do tend to get distracted by shiny objects)

Big hugs to all of you – even though I’m not much of a hugger. Special occasion and all…

-Me

Did you Like Natalie’s Tassel Earrings?

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I thought they were an elegant alternative to the usual sparklers that are borrowed for the red carpet. Not that I have any problem with the sparkle mind you!

I recently bookmarked an online jewelry shop, A Little Hamster, that works with pretty silk tassel details.








Obviously not the same kind of tassel that Natalie paired with her Rodarte gown…but if you’re looking for that, there are now TONS of DIY posts floating around online.

Personally? I’m wishing – for the very first time in my life – that I was an accountant. Why? To best pull off that adorable abacus (fifth pic down) of course! See more pretties HERE.

First image via Blame it on the Boogie.

When I open a bottle of wine at 5:00 PM…

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…the following thoughts (internal AND verbal) occur:

It’s a little early, but I deserve this. It’s been a long day of whining and crying and whining and crying and whining and crying…

What’s wrong – why are you crying? What do you mean he called you a penguin? Why is that bad? I’m confused.

This house is disgusting, I need to clean.

Don’t you even think about bringing that light saber up here! Light sabers are downstairs toys and you know it.

Is wine giving me wrinkles? I think it might be giving me wrinkles…or is it smoking that gives you wrinkles? Okay, maybe wine is safe. Glass number two!

Yes, I have to cook that in the oven. No the microwave won’t work. I don’t care if it’s faster – it won’t work…Because I know…Because I’m smart…Because it will make the dinner CATCH FIRE!…Of course that’s true.

I lie to the children a lot…

Did you finish your pizza? You can’t have dessert unless you finish your pizza. AND WHY is it exactly that you’re complaining about pizza, again? Other children are forced to eat green beans and you are crying about three more bites of pizza. What is wrong with this picture?

I think I’m spoiling the children…

Oliver – go downstairs and let me get some cleaning done. No you can’t have more ice cream. I’m serious – go downstairs and play. I said go DOWNSTAIRS and play with your brother and sister. That’s why I HAD them!

Now THAT didn’t sound good. And it’s not even true…George and Eleanor were totally an accident – I mean, surprise.

[insert ridiculous amount of aimless puttering]

THIRTY MINUTES! You have THIRTY MINUTES to play before we go brush teeth. Yes you do. No Eleanor, I said thirty minutes. And ten minutes is less than thirty. Your bargaining techniques need some polishing.

She really is the prettiest little girl. Thank god, she didn’t get my earlobes.

No you can’t watch that DVD – it’s too long. We’re going upstairs in twenty nine minutes. We can watch it tomorrow. Oh I’m sorry, do you want to go upstairs right now? Because we can do bedtime right now… No? I didn’t think so. Yes – you can color.

Twenty minutes…I’ll read some blogs and finish the dishes later. Glass number three!

Yes you can sit on my lap. Okay – you too.

Awww. She’s so sweet… I’m so glad the baby’s okay. Virtual hugs to her in comments! And he cracks me up. That middle boy reminds me of George. I’ll have to tell him about the time George got sent home for biting… And she is so brave. I need to tell her what an inspiration she is to me. I mean, to go through all of that and…it’s just so unbelievable that any single person would have to…I need a tissue.

Oliver! What is all over your…? You need a bath. No it’s okay – it’s too late anyway, but I need to at least wipe some of that off.

Do I still buy wipes?

George stop pinching my fat, that’s not nice. No – that’s not my butt – my butt is much lower, but thanks for asking. You are too cute! Yes – I’m squeezing too hard because I can’t help it. Because you’re my baby. No – you’re not A baby, you’re MY baby. So are you. Yes you too. How many kids can I pick up at one time? Oliver – climb on my back.

So running around the coffee table really IS fun. Who knew?

Oh my god – we should totally make nachos!

I’m starving.

No wait – it’s time to go upstairs. Who wants a piggy back ride!?

[20 minutes later, everyone is in bed]

I really need to cut back on the evening wine. It makes me so sleepy.

Interiors on the Runway

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Yesterday, I posted some amazing images that I pulled from Miss Moss. All of which were inspired by fashion designer, Mary Katrantzou.

When I followed Diane’s links to see the original collection, I read reviews referencing how her Spring/Summer 2011 collection (titled C’est Ci Nes Pas Une Chambre or This Is Not A Room) would be a hard act to follow. So of course I had to check that out as well.

And I’ve never seen anything quite like it. She actually used depictions of interiors as prints on her textiles. Here are several of the designs, each with close ups of the room scenes and accessories:
















Pretty cool. But probably not all that wearable for everyday life. At least not for me. But I can definitely see many of these looks (some with a few revisions) on socialites and celebrities who like to make fashion headlines.

What do you think? Lovely, innovative or weird? Or all of the above?

Brave Hands

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My son, George is four years old.

He is small and slim.

He looks fragile – huge brown eyes floating over a wisp of a body.

Tiny shoulders. Pale skin you can almost see through.

In his raggedy, end of season too short pants, he looks like he just walked out of a production of Oliver. Blow some soot on his elfin face for instant street urchin.

He’s scrappy like those pickpockets too. Grabby and squabbley. And LOUD. His voice carries.

Just in case you might miss him.

His looks deceive.

When he was born – the first of two babies in two minutes – he was red and screaming. Skinny legs kicking – a precursor to stamping tantrums that weren’t left behind in the terrible two’s.

He’s an angry elf.

But sometimes I think the rages are an expression of the just too muchness inside of him. He’s too big for his little body. You can see it in his eyes.

And for every frustrated outburst there is an equally spectacular explosion of enthusiasm.

Gathering acorns! Making a pile of rocks! The collections never end.

Money! I found money! My bright shiny penny.

My good luck charm.

Things happen around George. Of his making or not – he’s the Pied Piper of events. The ones that become stories we like to tell each other.

That time George opened the container of hot pepper spice and burned his face and insisted on wearing big superhero bandaids under his eyes like war paint…that time he walked around the community pool wearing a swim shirt, goggles, water wings AND and an inner tube…that time he told some guy in the men’s room that he forgot to flush… George makes an impression.

He’s always seen. You never miss him.

Because he’s brave.

He has no fear of not fitting in…of not being good at something. He’s that kid who won’t leave. The one who doesn’t ask if he can join in. He assumes his acceptance.

If the big kids are playing Wii, then he will learn how. And he will be just as good at it.

If the big kids are climbing trees, then he will climb too.

He may end up crying for mommy to get him down – but the next day, he’ll follow them back up that tree. He doesn’t give up on what he wants.

He’s a good climber. Always has been.

There is a pole in our basement – one with some support function that eludes me. In my everyday life, it’s a source of bumps and bruises – tears to be kissed away. It’s the origin of loud banging noises that let me know the natives are restless. The percussion section of a preschool rock band.

It’s also a good climbing pole. Or at least it is for George.

Oliver can climb trees – but not poles. And Eleanor isn’t much of a climber. But George shimmies up that pole every day.

He smacks the ceiling with the flat of his little hand and calls out to the ant-like forms of his siblings below. He likes his aerial view. He thinks he belongs at the top.

The other morning George came upstairs to tell me about his climbing.

“I’m a good climber! I climb very high!“

“Yes – I know. I’ve seen you.“

“I’m a good climber because I have brave hands.”

Yes he does. I admire this about him.

He’s brave. Always has been. I’ve seen it every day since I first caught sight of his screaming red face.

He’s brave and he has the hands to prove it. And every day, he holds my heart firmly between them.

Chinoiserie on the Runway

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Have you seen my header? My button? Have you read my posts about beautiful Chinoiserie inspired ceramics? Embroidery? ART depicting the two?

Well if so, you can only imagine my need for smelling salts when I happened upon these images from Miss Moss:






When she saw Mary Katrantzou’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, she was inspired to actually pull the additional images from online auction catalogs! (If you want links to these – drop by the original post – I started to include them, but I’d rather send you her way.)

First of all – I’m completely blown away by Diana’s ability to find and create these gorgeous matches. I wonder how much time it took… That post in and of itself provides enough eye candy to keep me satisfied for a week.

As far as the fashion goes – I wasn’t familiar with this designer, but she apparently wowed at last season’s fashion week in London. And after seeing THAT collection, I’ve decided that it deserves its own post. Look for that tomorrow.

Monday Links

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Running SOOOOOO far behind on everything right now – and that damn surgery is on Friday!

But I did pull some links from last week:

I just discovered Catalog Living.

I think Anna could start a whole new blog on her thrifting “finds.”

I’m really enjoying Pauline’s “Story of Me.”

I can’t stop laughing at what Averill describes as looking like “baby shower games gone very, very wrong.”

I think most mothers can relate to this charming “pentagram” of family illness.

I loved seeing a respected design blogger courageously to write this very unexpected and personal post.

And I’ll be spending some of my post-op recovery time in bed (hopefully in bed) reading Stacey’s online romance novel.

How about you? Any great finds from last week?