i heart TV.

which is one of the reasons, i'm terribly sad about the passing of James Gandolfini, or as most of us will always remember him, Tony Soprano.

Tony was one of the most complex characters ever created and James Gandolfini was a brilliant actor that nailed it every epi. {right down to the magnetic twinkle in Tony's eye}

the new york times did a great tribute just hours ago . . . read it here.

I don't like watching violence, but I do appreciate excellent writing and unfortch, some of the most well-written programs are dark, and can be downright haunting.  and most feature a protagonist we love to hate and hate to love.

here are my top 5 tortured souls.

1. tony soprano {rest in peace}

2. don draper

3. nicholas brody

4. walter white

5. nate fisher

yikes, that was heavy. . . 

and since this is a happy blog - here are my top 5 that make me smile.

1. jim halpert. OBVS. {and every other office character}

2. phil dunphy

3. doug heffernan

4. alex p. keaton

5. kevin arnold - yes, he was sort of annoying at times, but the nostalgia factor is huge here. 

------sigh-------

and of course i love many other shows, and it's not just dudes that are great actors in great roles . . .

obvs worship my sex in the city gals.  fave scene ever?

season 2, epi 8, "the man, the myth, the viagra"

you know the one i'm talking about.  when big is "late" to meet the girls.  and then shows up.  it takes my breath away.  every. time. . .  still.  such a sucker.

and i think you might know what my favorite show of all time is. . . yup,  i know you've heard it before. . . friday night lights.  but i seriously WORSHIP.  and it boggles my mind that people haven't seen it.  buy the box set here!  it's pretty much the best gift you can every give yourself.  and if you haven't seen it yet-  stop reading this post.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

best show ever.  best scene ever.  best line ever.  period.

but one last shout out to james gandolfini and thoughts & prayers to all of those feeling the depths of his loss . . .

we'll never "forget about it!"

birthday belatedness

seems that i took a week off unannounced.  whoopsy!

it's been a pretty big week, too.

some highlights--

1. B3 was born 3 weeks early. {sugar on top's third bebe} and he's perfect. 

congratulations, B fam!

2. got to escape into the big city to celebrate fellow gemini, the bob, with some hilare peeps.  drank. ate. drank. and laughed. a lot.

3. commodore's ball 2013.  not the best ball ever but the primping i.e. pretending i'm famous was fun.  and the pretty cake from pickwick was delish.  obvs.

{obligatory annual photo of myself on the blog! so awk.}

and bonus, that flame didn't burn the club down.

4. dad's day BBQ at my father in law's.  

5. I turned 107  37 and was graced with multiple birthday cakes and sing-a-longs to commemorate {more awkiness but true}.

6. so many glorious and generous gifties from my fave people, including the golden piggy!

7. major progress on the new venture with the help of chocolate creative design.

8. most redonk rainbow evah.

lowlights--

1. last day of school, which = limited childcare = limited blogging.

2. lots of rain.

3. commodore's ball 2013. {ha totes kidding, by totes i mean sort of}

4. oh, and the bruins are ruining my life.

check out some of my loot!

how lucky am i?!

totes adorbs pillow

loren hope earrings

jewelry tray

dress via my gals at milly & grace

beaded pouch

and back to my golden piggy. he's sold out!  that's how fabulous he is.  i'm so grateful for my friends that picked up on my "hints" {in the form of multiple blog posts} and i'm using him along with the jewelry dish and a lovely monogrammed tree stand {another uber thoughtful gift from anthro that i can't locate an image of} to actually get organized.  i know you don't believe me but it's happening.  stay tuned . . .

hmmm. . . i'm noticing a lot of booze?  that's not at all a coincidence. the grey goose was accompanied by a jar of local pickles from maitland mountain farm so we can make the blue ox's hot n dirty pickles in the comfort of our own home! 

{apparently, this particular friend wants me to live until my next birthday so she substituted vodka for the gin}

my mom spoiled me so rotten i can't even post it all.  she also drove all the way up here on a sunday night just so she could see me on my special day, which meant i was able to start the day off right with a dunks date for an iced with george and loo {no, you freaks, they don't drink coffee, they do enjoy munchkins however}. 

thanks, mom.  

she's also giving us the best gift of all by taking care of c & p this weekend so horseface and I can go get in a huge fight about the bruins enjoy a trip to my happy place for our anni.

so gifts are grand as well as FB wall posts, phone calls/ birthday texts and cards - all much appreciated- big thanks to all who made me feel so blessed yesterday- but it was the sight of a full double rainbow that made this one to remember.  

this is how it went down - we ventured out for an unremarkable but pleasant enough meal in foul weather, cranky girls in tow, and then were headed home to watch the Bs . . .  {it wasn't exactly my "best. birthday. evah."}

and then it happened.

a real life reminder that the best things in life cannot be bought or planned, they just happen.  and that after thirty-seven years i can still be completely astounded on an ordinary monday by the sheer beauty of life and the unexpected.

we pretty much ripped the girls out of the car to get a closer look at it.  it wasn't until later when i was looking back at the pics that i noticed what C had in her hand. {totes cheesy but sort of amaze}

                                           

even horseface knew this was ridiculously awesome.  we risked the prompt start of the big game to drive over for a different view.  one that happened to feature elihu smack dab in the middle! {more cheesy amazingness}

happy birthday to moi!

frenchie friday: a tale of two Lus

brought the gang to my happy place yesterday.

needed to hug my dear friend Lucinda of chocolate creative design.  she just lost her bestie, Mr. Hobbes, last week and my heart hurts for her and her family.

seeing as i cried when george turned ONE because he then actually had an age, i obviously cannot even fathom the extent of her sadness.

she thought holding this pork chop was very therapeutic. 

and miss looloo didn't seem to mind a bit!

it was such an amazing treat to spend time on the island.  the girls went to bed with the dirtiest feet . . . the best kind of dirt. . . island dirt.  we all five ran until we were out of breath {doesn't take much for me}

it's just magic.  pure elihu magic.

thank you, lu.  

gemini babies

so here we are, the fifth of JUNE, my birthday month! 

june is my absolute fave month of the year.  

summer starts in june.  

obvs, I was born this month, as were some of my very favoritest people on the planet.  

and GEORGE.  

need i say more?  because i'm about to . . . 

i married CBC in june {holla!}. . . 

and finally. . .  

i'm so so happy to announce that my latest baby - hold the phone, not a real baby -

 but my new blog, a true labor of love, as i've been working on it for quite some time, along with some uber- talented ladies, one in particular, ahem lucinda, will be born onto the internets . . . this month of june, 2013. 

i'm starting to realize it will never be perfect, much like myself, so i need to just put it out there, and what better month than june.

it's happening.  i said it.  

buy here

not sure how accurate this depiction of geminis is - particularly the independent part.  {scared to order pizza over the phone.  forreals.  it's a thing.} but it's super cute!  and i worship that twins are the gemini symbol.  {let's just go ahead and pretend it's not because we are  crazypants split personalities}

oh, and then there's these.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 

i really only want #2, which is unfortunate.

stay tuned for more of my birthday wishlist. 

pay attention, horseface!

frenchie friday: hot dogs

it's before noon on friday in may and george & loo are down for the count.  our house is hot.  {i'm just going to go ahead and add central air to the birthday list . . . obvs}

we'd all rather be at the beach with this munky.

origin unknown

enjoy this unseasonably warm weather--

happy happy weekend!

lobstah love

'tis the season!

1. blouse 2. bibs 3. lobster pot {who remembers this old school lobster pot?} 4. dress 5. wine tote 6. sweater 7. phone case {need} 8. heart sweater {HB had this beauty on last weekend}

even tho lobstah has become a bit of a new england cliche - i still worship.

almost 8 years ago, CBC and i had a clambake rehearsal dinner on our fave place evah. {also the new boat name!}

we were babies.  

*sigh*

the picture is faded but the love for my horseface has not.

pansy

short post today as i managed to squeeze in a pedi this am {priorities!}

 i was a little too reliant on the rainy forecast last week and i'm surprised my toes didn't get kicked out of the parties i attended the last couple of sunny days for being utterly offensive.

anyhoot, in an ideal world, i would have been lounging here and getting this nauti pedi.

{feet pics are gross, i know}

the next best thing was top nail and essie pansy.

i love lucky's guide to summer polish based on shoe color here.

 and for all you brides, maids and wedding guests . . .

martha's guide is great, too!

{my wedding piggies}

via corinna raznikov

what's your go-to pedi color?

merry merry mixers!

friend & stylist lindsey foley is on the committee of a phenomenal local charity, merry mixers, whose cause hits very close to home.

 i get choked up just thinking about the 22 days my C spent in the NICU.  i'm ashamed to admit, the hour long commute to see my little C didn't happen every day as I had the other peanut at home.   looking back, this just breaks my heart, as i can't imagine a day without "a charlotte hug" {unless i'm on ack drinking cocktails.  obvs}
point being, i knew she was in excellent hands but the opportunity for her to receive the care she needed at our local hospital would have been welcomed.

 this is the first pic ever taken with me holding both my babes together.  they were over two weeks old.  {we brought P in for a field trip}

this is getting heavy for a friday! {shouldn't i be posting pics of puppies and shiz?} 

anyhoot, the time in the NICU was a blip on the radar and a small price to pay for my two healthy and happy girls. 

 this pic was taken yesterday in grandpa's yard.  {round 245 of ring around the rosie.}

 i feel so indebted to the nurses and doctors that cared for my sweet C when I couldn't provide what she needed and I'm SO excited to support merry mixers!

"Sixty two years ago, a group of local women started the Merry Mixers, Friends of the North Shore Children’s Hospital, a non-profit organization designed with one sole purpose: to support and raise funds for this hospital that has cared for our children for the past 100 years. While the faces have changed over time, our goal remains steadfast. Funds raised by the Merry Mixers go directly to patient care services and the purchasing of critical medical equipment, enabling the Doctors and Nurses to provide first-class care to all patients.
The Merry Mixers has donated over $650,000 in just the last twenty years…something we are extremely proud of!  This year, the Mixers are embarking on their most exciting and challenging fundraising endeavor to date.  We are setting out to raise $200,000 in three years.  These funds will be utilized for the finishing touches after the expansion and renovation of the Special Care Nursery and for updates to the inpatient Pediatric Unit.

The project will include doubling the size of the Special Care Nursery to accommodate 12 high-risk infants, and their families.  The new floor plan includes space for mothers to sleep next to their babies, a family waiting room, a private bathroom and shower.  In addition, the nursery will include technological enhancements to ensure the highest level of care."

they are having a big event next weekend and i'm so happy to join in the fun this year!  they have amaze auction items and local band, better than nothing {how great is that name?} 

please please come support the cause and buy your tix HERE for June 1st

lindsey also shared some outfit ideas - because isn't getting dolled up half the fun?

option #1

strapless sundress

platform sandals

simple necklace

fun clutch

option #2

silk pant & silk top

statement necklace

simple sandal

option # 3

maxi dress

statement ring

heel

hope to see you there!

bauble bomb

have some recently freed up dresser space since we mounted the TV in our bedroom.  it currently looks like a bomb went off in clare's accessories but i desperately want to come up with the perfect jewelry display.  

you might recognize this piggy from my mum's day gift guide.  he doesn't live with me yet but i must have him and he needs to wear my necklaces.  luckily i have a birthday and an anni on the horizon. {ahem, horseface get on that}

via SMP

also love the ikat bowls for baubles.  and love mixing them with cute dishes/trays.

this is sorta cheese {the colors. obvs} but also cute gift - can customize the name and initial.  and whaddya know- there's my pink ring!

via caitlyn mcgauley

via matchbook mag

via lucky

via the short and the sweet of it

i dig this bracelet holder and ring holder from PB.  could be cute with a mix of other cool vestles, like the piggy, g-dammit.

via lonny

despise when i can't find a source on pinterest but love-love this idea so must share.  i'm always so sad to toss my used pretty candles.  

oh. . .hi.

yup.

and i'll just leave you with this.  OMFG.

via the coveteur

stay tuned, i'm sure i'll have this worked out in the next decade or so.  since i'm a hot effing mess super organized.  but something needs to change soon because accusing the cleaning lady of stealing every time i can't find my shiz is going over like a lead balloon.