New Mama Care Package

When I was just home from the hospital and friends started coming over to see us and meet the new baby, we received so many thoughtful presents. One of the best things people brought was definitely FOOD. There is something so meaningful about the gift of sustenance, made with love to give you strength in those first few days, something easy that you can just put in your tired face when your hands are too full of squirmy baby to do much beyond microwave. 

Through the miracle of Facebook, I recently reconnected with someone I worked with YEARS ago who now happens to live near me in NC and just had a baby herself, so I felt it was time I returned the favor that so many others helpfully granted me. Last night I whipped up a big batch of Lasagna Soup to bring over to her today (the very same that I made in advance of Graham's arrival), with all parts labeled for easy assembly and reheating. I also got her a couple bars of nice chocolate as well as a book for her baby because chocolate and books always make the best gifts. 

I can't wait to see her again and meet little baby Juniper for the first time! 

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: The Clasp

The Clasp by Tim Lahan

Last week was not as bad as I feared it would be. Don't get me wrong—there were plenty of moments that tested my mettle, but I did it. I ran necessary errands, I took morning walks, I kept us both fed, and I single-handedly bathed a little twisting mister five days in a row without (too many) tears or life-threatening incident. There's also this hyper-vigilance that sets in when you become the main person responsible for keeping your child alive. The 24-hour high alert state is exhausting. I know women everywhere do this kind of thing on their own all the time, and I deeply admire them. I only had a handful of days to get through, and I probably shouldn't be surprised that I did just fine, but I am. Still, I feel incredibly lucky to have the partner and the support that I do, and these last few days made me appreciate him all the more. The best part of my week was definitely when Micky came back. 

- Cathleen 

Fall Wishlist

With every season change, I lament the state of my wardrobe. To be honest, I have abused it. I've had four babies in three different seasons so sizing is just a nightmare, not to mention style changes which affect me pretty hard since I tend to latch onto a trend only to realize later that it totally doesn't suit me. At all.

So I perennially vow to streamline my purchases and only buy looks that are classic and versatile. Then I get my heart set on something that doesn't fit that category and I get derailed all over again. 

Enter this year's nominee:

J.Crew Pixie jodhpur pants

I know that to most people J.Crew is not exactly the cutting edge of trendiness, but when your fashion sense is shaky, at best, J.Crew shines like a beacon of hope. (It simultaneously causes your wallet to burst into flames as well.)

And these pants just kill me. I love the navy with the black leather. Only one problem though: they WON'T go on sale. I've been watching and waiting but no luck.

But don't worry friends, I will own these. Even if it is the only article of clothing that I buy this fall. And I might regret it next fall when they don't fit or I don't like them anymore (doubtful) but I'm not going to think about it too much.

I hope your weekend is full of crisp air, falling leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes. And a kick-arse new pair of pants. 

Happy Friday!

-Alissa

P.S. I'd take those black heels in a hot minute, too.

Artwork of the Week: Twelve Days of Twelve Nights

Twelve Days of Twelve Nights by Félix de la Concha

installation of 12 oil on canvas works of 28 × 23 cm

Micky's out of town on business for four nights this week. Yes, only 4 and not 12. But still. Our bed and our days are going to feel awfully empty while he's away. 

(Dear robbers and home invaders: this is not an open invitation to stop by.)

- Cathleen  

[Image courtesy of Open Museum]

Terrarium Anatomy

There was a definite and wonderful chill in the air this weekend. Whenever fall comes blowing in, I always get this feeling of excitement over new possibilities. With all of the years I've spent either as a student, taking ad hoc classes post-grad, or working in a school with my internal clock long set to the semester cycle, fall will forever signify fresh starts and renewal for me. (Suck it, spring.) And since we only got a yard a month ago and I missed the chance to sow anything into the ground this year, I think I'm gonna need to plant something inside instead. I found this informative drawing on Tamworth Lyceum's website along with detailed instructions on how to build a terrarium. I think I might go dig up some moss from our backyard this week and get started on one of my own. But if I don't end up getting around to it, I could always order this cute print instead.

Terrarium Diagram print, 5 x 7"

$16 by girlscantell via Etsy

- Cathleen 

Color Confusion and Josef Albers

Homage to the Square: Blue and Green, 1950

Ahhh, color. A rainbow display of almost anything is enough to induce a purchase on my part. Unfortunately, I get stymied when I try to select just one or two colors from that dazzling array. Color pairing tends to send me into a panic of insecurity. Heck, I can’t even handle color recognition: I just discovered that my (most recent) favorite color fuschia is actually magenta (or is it the other way around?) and that I can’t tell the difference between light orange, peach, and pink.

Homage to the Square: Blue, White, Grey, 1951

Homage to the Square, 1959

Trying to sort out my color issues lately has made me appreciate those people that are gifted with color even more. Enter: my love for Josef Albers. I was introduced to his work in college when my senior studio class went to visit an exhibit of his at the Dallas Museum of Art. His color theory work was incredible and I still carry those images in my head. I was blown away by how one color might appear  completely different depending on the color it was paired with.

Homage to the Square, 1967

Homage to the Square, 1969

So, on this slightly less than colorful morning, I thought I’d share some of Mr. Albers’ incredible work with you.

Homage to the Square, Guarded, 1952

I hope your day ends up being full of color. And slightly symmetrical.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa

Instagramming

One of mine. I try to keep the baby shots to a minimum, 

but it's HARD, you guys! 

I'm a pretty visual person, so I appreciate Instagram in that it shows me what's going on in my friends' (or friends of friends of friends') lives with the economy of one photo and a short caption. Because many of the feeds I follow are helmed by bloggers that I read regularly (so they feel like virtual friends!), I've been thinking a lot about how this has become a tool people can use to reinforce their brand and aesthetic. I subscribe to 130 different feeds now, and the ones I like the most have a genuine yet casual feel to them, a visual diary if you will. Behind-the-scenes type photos that give a glimpse into the private lives of people I don't actually know AND the people I do actually know, cuz the voyeur in me always likes to see the nitty-gritty of my IRL friends' days too. Here are a few that have brightened my feed lately and are definitely worth following:

jasonpolan - Illustrator Jason Polan posts his spare and clever drawings mostly. 

Particularly good ones come from his weekly Taco Bell Drawing Club.    

ohhappyday - The personal feed of blogger/fun-planner/entrepreneur/mom Jordan Ferney. 

Always impressed by how she keeps her kids' toys in check. 

white_lightning - Elizabeth S. Olson, Art Director of Bon Appetit magazine. 

Literal and figurative tastemaker.

lisacongdon - Artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon chronicles her daily happenings 

and sketchbook pages. Her recent honeymoon to Paris looked GORGEOUS. 

yellowowlworkshop - Christine Schmidt of Yellow Owl's Little Prints fame. 

Her #getwise2013 series is always teaching me something new in a neat papercut way.

janiewoodbridge - Janie Woodbridge, whom I happen to know PERSONALLY, 

is a textile designer with a keen eye for pattern in nature and beauty in the everyday.  

ericlundquist - Eric Lundquist (another IRL friend) has a great #mirrorgram series going. 

Plus some other stuff that constantly has me going "I really like this one!" 

- Cathleen