Momastery - A Must Read if you like to laugh till you cry

Who needs a new blog read?  I didn't know I did - but I did.  Glennon (the author of this fabulous blog) is spot-on, insightful, and hilarious.  I couldn't enjoy her posts any more than I do already.  I'm a fan.  You should be too.

http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/11/whatever-honestly-2/

Here she is with her beautiful family:

And if you don't want to 'follow' the blog, you can find her on Facebook too.

Happy Reading!

Living, Eating & Breathing Wonder!

Since my last blog post was September 18 (and it was also about Wonder!), it's safe to say that it briefly took over my life for the past month and a half.  We are finally open to the public, wahooooo!  Before I get back to my normal blogging about fashion and mommy life in general, i wanted to share some pictures from opening weekend. I don't know if I have ever worked harder in my life - for real.  Juggling the kids, maintaining the household, and working 9-5:30, then again from 8 to 11 a few nights a week was exhausting!  To those of you mommies who work hours like this - I applaud you - and i don't know how you do it.  

If you live in the Chicago area, come on by (and ask for me!), and if you don't, we're launching Shopwonder.com later this week so you will be able to shop us from afar.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to my fabulous Mom, and my kids' favorite 'Mimi.' 

Miss Missouri 1969

1977 (me!)

2008 with her first Grandchild, Griffin

2010 with baby Gemma

Mom, looking back, I wasn't always the easiest (think tenacious might be a good word) little girl to raise, and now that I am a Mom, I know how hard raising children is!  Thank you for teaching me everything that you did from taking me to swimming lessons, making me healthy lunches (although I'll never forget how Amy always got more cookies than I did), making my pretty dresses, my Halloween costumes, writing in my baby book about all things 'Mollie,' and for letting me make all of the mistakes that I made (oh those '90's bangs). 

I have learned and continue to learn innumerable life lessons from you and value our mother-daughter friendship daily.

I love you more than words can say!

PS.  I hope these photos are 'acceptable!'  hahahaha......

the Downtown Skinny

I"m always on the lookout for great jeans that are not 'Mom' jeans persay, but jeans that a Mommy can wear and do all the things you might do with young kids.  Bending over to pick little people/toys/food/cups etc up can get a little tricky with my low rise jeans of yesteryear.

Therefore I was so happy to find the Downtown Skinny jeans at J. Crew a couple of weeks ago.  They are a great medium wash that goes with everything, doesn't get too stretched out (but stretches just enough) and the length was perfect for flats or heels!  Yahoo!  Zero alterations!  AND.......the rise was perfect.  I intentionally wore them for a whole day with the kids (kind of shocking for me not to be in Lulu Lemon while around the house) and not once did my Hanky Pankys peek out.  

I hear there's a new darker wash in the store (a little bird over at the Apparently Obsessed blog told me) that I just may have to check out this weekend........

What are your favorite Mommy-friendly jeans?

Swimsuit Giveaway!!!

Need a new suit for yourself or your little one?

Head over to Scout - A Mom's Guide to Stylish Living and enter her Stella Cove Giveaway!  

Stella Cove is a beautiful line of swimwear based out of Europe that caters to Moms and kids alike!  Check it out on their website:  www.stellacove.com.  

Contest ends Monday so click HERE now to enter!

Obsessed, Apparently....

My title to this post is not so clever as I want to introduce you to a new blog out there you MUST read.  Apparently Obsessed is written and edited beautifully by an old friend of mine who resides in Kansas City. 

She writes about things that she's 'apparently obsessed' with, because that's something that many of her friends say she says A LOT.  I love it. 

For example: 

 "Apparently, I am obsessed with the ballet flats I just tried on."  Cute!

Here's a quick list of reasons I love her blog:

1.  she affectionately refers to her husband as 'The Texan' and her son as 'The Bug.'  I love this, it's like you're reading about fictional characters, but 'apparently' you're not!

2.  her taste is impeccable - from organization items to fashion to food, she's a gal from whom I would definitely take advice.

3.  the way her blog is set up is just gorge (for gorgeous, people).  Take for example the picture she chose under 'Meet Me.'  

Fabulous.

You can also find Apparently Obsessed on Facebook - click HERE. 

Lip Service

I have been getting a lot of lip service, that is, in the form of an almost 3 year old who enjoys pretending to be Mommy when she's mad.  eeeeyikes! 

That is when I think to myself, do I really sound like that?  I must, because like it or not, he's a pretty good imitator. 

The lip service that I wanted to share though with you is of a different form - a la Tarte!

Tarte is the maker of my fabulous and still favorite mascara, Lights, Camera, Lashes.  Seriously, if you haven't heard me mention this before, go out and buy it!  It's the BEST mascara out there!

To continue, I was at Sephora the other day browsing around and came across these Tarte LipSurgence lip tints.  I wasn't so sure, because usually these types of things dry out your lips and the color comes across WAY too bright.  Then, I tried them.  Hooooked!  There's a teency bit of sparkle in this 'natural lip luster lip tint,' a lot of shine, and a surprising amount of moisture!

The two I came away with were the bright pink, aka Frisky, and the peachy toned one, Glisten.  I like them both for different reasons, and I also will say they are Mom-tested.  Meaning, I can throw either on with just a coat of mascara and blush and hit up Lil' Kickers with the kiddos or just run to the grocery store.  Neither are too brash or bright or look like you're trying too hard, they look like you tried just hard enough.  ;-)

Anyone have any 'go-to' lipsticks or glosses or tints that you love?  I am always looking for yet another to add to the weight of my handbag (if you know me you know my lip gloss/lipstick collection is excessive).