Impossibly cool

You can get lost in the photos on A Conversation on Cool. (Ahh, Mick.)

Motherhood Mondays: Sleeping in Denmark (this made my jaw drop!)

We talked last week about taking kids outside to play every single day, even in cold weather. Well, listen to this...
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Fall trend #4: Polka dots!

The next fall trend is a fun one: polka dots! Playful and adorable, polka dots make you want to smile at passersby. I can imagine Zooey Deschanel wearing them. Thoughts? Will you wear polka dots this fall?

Here are a few lovely polka-dot pieces: small tights, big tights, a top, a dress, a silk blouse and a skirt.

(Phoos by Mr. Newton, the Locals, and Elle)

Sweet tooth

I told Alex I was going to eat only healthy foods for the next week, but now I can't stop looking through Bake or Break. Everything looks so delicious, how can a person resist? #Foiled!

Motherhood Mondays: Being outside

I really, really, really don't like winter. Grey skies and snowy streets make you feel cooped up, and I'm already getting nervous about having a busy energetic walking baby boy indoors! So, I have a plan...
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Do or don't: Surprise parties

My darlings, I have a question: Have you ever had (or thrown) a surprise party? My mom's 60th birthday is next year, and I'm trying to figure out whether we should throw a surprise party or tell her the fun plans ahead of time. Personally, I wonder if surprises are overrated; I like having months of giddy anticipation before an event, and I think walking into an unexpected party might feel surreal. But am I nuts? Would it be totally amazing? I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!
P.S. My mom is on vacation right now so she won't read this post! :)
(Top photo by Sharon Montrose; bottom photo unknown)

New Zealand in the 1960s

My grandparents lived in England almost all their lives, but in 1955 they moved around the world to New Zealand for six years. At the time, they had three little kids--my dad, the oldest, was just four years old. "We wanted to get out of post-war Europe," my dad remembers. "New Zealand was full of sunshine and light."
My aunt found some old family photographs (on slides) recently, and they're amazing for us to look through. "It was fantastic, just fabulous," remembers my dad. "Sailing, surfing, beaches, mountains, the most glorious place for outside living."
My grandfather got a job at the University of Christchurch, and the family lived in a little bungalow. We looked up their address on Google maps!  9 Champion St, Christchurch, New Zealand. So cool to see the actual street.
I asked my dad when he remembered about their time there, and he said, "We ate a lot of lamb. We'd buy half a sheep a week, which cost one pound. We'd get a shoulder, a leg, lamb chops, kidneys. The next Saturday, we'd get another half sheep! A half sheep would do it."
"We also had a pet lamb in the backyard," he said, "A family friend of ours was named Angus Lamb (a real person), so when we got an actual lamb, of course we called him Angus!"
During their six years in New Zealand, my grandmother had a fourth baby there--my aunt Lulu.
My dad, who was five in these christening photos, is wearing his red school uniform. "One thing (that still happens in old-fashioned families) is that English boys wear their school uniform when they want to look 'smart,' " said my aunt.
Here, they were on vacation at The Hermitage Hotel, which had just been built. "It was state of the art," said my dad, "Glorious big windows, modern, exciting. We usually camped, so this was quite a treat." My aunt Jackie, who is the little girl in this photo, remembers: "I remember swearing and my dad made me apologize to the manager. We skated on the wood floors in our socks, and saw snow for the first time. I was not allowed up the glacier, which really riled me; I was too small."
I think my dad looks just like Toby here!
New Zealand looks incredible! What an adventure! xoxo

Men's gold watches

There's something tomboyishly sexy about a woman wearing an oversized man's watch. This Dutch cutie looks adorable in her gold watch, and I'd love to wear one with wool sweaters and elbow patches this fall. Thoughts? Would you wear one?

(P.S. Here's a cheaper one:)

(Photo of Christine, via Kate)

Cleaning up

Swiss artist Ursus Wehrli is releasing a new book called The Art of Clean Up, which features photographs of everyday scenes rearranged into organized rows. The sunbathers made me laugh--look at their perpendicular feet! Very neat, indeed. :)

(Via Swissmiss)

Have a lovely (long) weekend.

My darlings, what are your plans for Labor Day weekend? Alex's mom and sister are visiting for a couple days. Alex's sister is obsessed with a piano bar near our apartment called Marie's Crisis Cafe--where an ex-Broadway actor plays the piano and everyone sings show tunes. Have you ever been there? It's a nutty scene. Meanwhile, hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few great posts from around the web...

Beautiful ship stamps from the post office.

Would you ever elope?

Bag-o-dresses is a cool idea.

Loafers. (My favorite are the Montauk loafers.)

He's not perfect.

How adorable is this striped dress for fall?

Pajama eaters.

Handmade wooden boats.

Win $1000 for your baby. :)

(Photo by Fieldguided)

Have a lovely weekend.

What are your plans for the weekend? Since Hurricane Irene is heading toward New York (eeps!), we're planning to stay indoors most of the time. I'm envisioning drinking wine, eating chips and dip, and letting Toby take like 18 splashy baths. Hope you stay safe wherever you are, and in the meantime, here are a few great links from around the web...(P.S. Thanks for a really fun relationships week!)

Clever decorating.

Finally saw Bridesmaids--it was hilarious.

The sweetest post. Someone hire Sharon, she is the best! (Also hard-working with a great blog.)

Love these heart earrings.

And heart tights!

A breakfast banana split.

How to swim with all your stuff.

Rainbow hair. Would you do it?

The funniest Craigslist roommate ad--I want to live with this dude. :)

My summer favorites at Felt + Wire.

The Zagat History of my last relationship. (Funny if you know what Zagats is:)

Plus, for relationships week, here are five romantic posts from Cup of Jo:
* A sweet framed receipt.
* What people look like before bed.
* Big or small wedding kiss?
* Old-fashioned veil.
* A short video about true love that will break your heart.

(Photo by Anne Parker, via Melanie)

New York City Hall wedding

Our good friends Maz and Lee tied the knot at New York's City Hall. The following evening, they threw a big party in Brooklyn for our friends. The weekend was so relaxed, easygoing and full of love. These photos look straight out of a 1960's French film!

Would you ever consider getting married at City Hall?

(Photos by Stephen K. Schuster. Lee's dress was from Theory; her veil, jewelry and shoes were vintage.)

What do you wear to bed?

My darlings, what do you wear to bed? A nightgown? Little shorts? Underwear? Do you sleep naked?
I usually wear a tank top and little shorts, but now and again, I'll shave my legs and wear something prettier. :) My favorite slip is the Eberjey Godiva chemise. I wore the pink one almost every night of our honeymoon.

What's your bedtime uniform?

(Top photo by Magdelena Fischer)