This is My Cup of Tea

You guys - I've been dying to tell you about a brand spanking new design blog written by my dear friend, Linsey Laidlaw.  Do you remember the Tapas Party in Brooklyn?  She was the genius behind that whole thing.  Or the Sexy Haikus?  She designed them!  This woman is one of the most talented I know and has the best taste in everything.  She seems to be in the "know" with everything cool.  I don't know quite how she does it.  And now I'm just glad that any ol' time we can all get a constant stream of what is going on in that brain of hers.....because at all times I really do have to restrain myself from asking....Where did you get that?  What is your best source for ____?  What would you do for these party decorations?  What is the best Indian restaurant in NY?  Where did you get those oxfords?  Exactly what color is that nailpolish?  And PLEASE give me that recipe!

To give you a sneak peak of what you'll find on her blog.......may I leave you with a link to these unbelievable baby birth announcements....Note: they are NOT IN PRINT....They are in VIDEO!  Oh my, they are beautiful!!!  I could just melt.  I can't help but tear up while watching these.  They make my heart just SWELL.  I want to keep watching them again and again.  Especially the one of my friends who had to get to the hospital during the blizzard of all blizzards here in New York last winter!  Luckily they had a JEEP & A POLICE ESCORT all the way from Brooklyn to Manhattan.  Ok, as I write this I just have to go watch it again.......my heart is already beating.

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Want to read some new stuff about us, including our favorite rapper?  :) We just got featured on Greetings from Texas!  We feel so honored every time someone wants to feature us!!!  Don't ever hesitate to reach out to us for guest posts....and we just might even send you a guest post for consideration :)

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And - I can't help but tell you how much I love the blogging community here in New York.
Last night, I had the pleasure of meeting up with two blogger friends, Natalie Holbrook and Jenny Komenda.  It was so great to get together and chat all things blogging.  Natalie's apartment could be the cutest thing ever.  (Sorry I didn't take more photos of it as I was gawking!)  And to my delight, Natalie had the most beautiful spread of tea & sweets for us.  You guys, the woman made sure every bit of it was gluten-free and dairy-free.  I can't tell you much that means because  - oh man, for someone GF/DF, you KNOW firsthand how tricky it is at the grocery store....so to have someone go to that effort for you....well, it could be one of the kindest gestures ever.

The menu?  Beautiful meringue cookies, homemade marshmallows from City Bakery (one of my favorites in the city), licorice & cinnamon bears, sweet tarts, strawberries, kettle corn, peppermint tea, blood orange sparkling French soda.  And dear Jenny brought macarons.  Oh, love those women.  And, love seeing them as moms.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!  We have lots planned for you for next week.  Can't wait to have you back.  In the meantime, we'll be going to this art exhibit today.  I'll be marching straight to NARS to buy this lipstick (Jenny had it on & it may be the most perfect pink lipstick ever).  And we have some good meals at home on the docket.  They will likely include some rice & beans and 3 kinds of salsas.

Love to all our readers,

Mara

P.S.   Watch for us in the Deseret News next week (the newspaper in Salt Lake City).  We did an interview with them recently.  Can't wait to see the article.

P.P.S.  LOVED this interview on the Happiness Project with Gabrielle Blair (Design Mom).  Hear what makes her happy.  It's honest & refreshing and really worthwhile read (per usual!)

P.P.P.S.  Just kidding.  I'll stop now :) :)  Even though there's always so much more I want to share with you.

I Choose HOPE

Two nights ago we got a call from family - the kind you never want to get.  Danny's sister, Laurie, has breast cancer.  She's 39, a mother of 7 children, the Stake Young Women's president, and the founder of the Great Artist Program.  She very well could be one of the most amazing women you'd ever meet. You'll see why when you read this post.  She wanted to record some of her thoughts while the emotions are still so raw.  Be prepared to be inspired....

My name is Laurie, I am a 39 year-old wife and mother of 7 awesome kids, and barely 48 hours ago I learned I have Breast Cancer.  It may sound strange to say this, but I have had the most amazing two days, especially considering the potential for fear and uncertainty associated with this diagnosis.  But instead of fear, I feel full of life, HOPE, love, and gratitude for what is to come.

I have always had an optimistic nature about me, and am an idealist as well as a romantic.  But, I know that my ability to look at this trial and challenge with hope and peace is due in part to the lessons I have learned from my little brother and his awesome wife.  I feel that I have been prepared for this difficult time.  I have had so many insights and “ah-ha” moments in the past few months as I’ve read along with all of you.  And I’ve been applying what they share to my day to day “practice trials” which has taught me so much about choosing a better perspective and really living the way we should.  I feel in doing so, I’ve come to better know God and His mercies, and I’ve learned to embrace more fully Jesus Christ and his ability not only to save, but to comfort and give us hope.

Everyone keeps asking if I’m OK, and I tell them...I AM GREAT! I feel alive, I feel blessed, I feel happy.  Today, there are dozens of people praying and fasting on my behalf, and I FEEL it!  I have had so many texts and phone calls from loving friends and family, and could open up a flower shop with all the beautiful bouquets!  I am in awe at the love and support from everyone around me.  I feel like I am walking on a cloud of hope and love.

I know there will be hard times ahead, things and feelings and hurts that I have never experienced.  I know it will be rough, but I look forward to what I will learn from this, and for the personal growth I know will come.  I know Danny and Mara have had an influence on many of you, but I feel like what they have been sharing (and what I’ve been applying) has personally been preparing me to fight this battle in a better way.  So many of their posts have touched my soul, and since I’m family, I have also had many heart to heart conversations with them, and I've thought long and hard over our topics.  I have opened my heart, mind, and soul to their message of CHOOSING hope, love, and faith over their opposites of doubt, anger, and fear.  I'm doing that right now, in what is most certainly the biggest trial of my life....and it is making all the difference.  A whole different kind of completeness, of peace and love and hope is building up inside of me.

Danny and Mara are sharing a message as old as the world, but they do it in a way many of us are listening to.  So, tomorrow as I head to my doctor for my first appointment as a cancer patient, I leave fear behind, and I go with HOPE.  I go with peace in my heart and an immense gratitude for all of my many blessings and for all those who love and support me and my precious family.

One Spring Trend I Already Love: Peplums

Would you guys wear a peplum for your wedding??  I almost did.  I still look at these photos of this Oscar de la Renta I tried on at Bergdorf's and think.......ahh.....what if......

 

Well, peplums are making the rounds and getting some widespread attention this Spring.  I think they just add some femininity - and a little bit of glamour.

So for some spring inspiration, here are a few peplums I love from around the web.... and a few from my own wardrobe.....

Love Announcements

This is one of my favorite photos as of late.  I just love my nieces & nephews.  These two cutie pies, Chloe & Jasper, recently visited me in New York.  Love them. 

Today, a few love announcements!

-Uniqlo collaborated with Orla Kiely to create some women's clothing - all inspired by her love for modern patterns and all things mid-century.  Danny bought me FOUR! shirts! (you should see him shopping for me....I could just melt.)

-Follow us on Twitter to see pics of the shirts Danny bought me, places we visit, things we love, things that inspire us, etc.

-Ikea has a new office supply line that is enticing me to go to Red Hook ASAP.

-Are you kidding me?  I love this bookend idea & need to get me some thrift store animal figurines.

-Muji now has all natural skin / organic care products.  (Bonus: seeing Asian symbols on your products.  I don't know why but I'm obsessed with Asian products.)

 -But more importantly, I am LOVING my new Apple Cider Vinegar routine (recommended by one of my favorite bloggers, The Daily Muse.)  It's like any crap on my face doesn't stand a chance.

-This phone cover caught my eye (I don't normally notice phone covers!)

-I looove this magnet idea!  

-If I was planning a party, the theme would be "sprinkles & confetti" - and I'd be making this.

-This glass cuff has my name on it...oh my...

...as does this collection of beaded cuffs (love!)

Our Lovely President's Day

 It was glorious for us to have a day off together.  It went like this....

"Let's go on an outing!   Let's just get on the train and see where it takes us..."

We found ourselves in Manhattan.  We got off at Union Square.  And we soon saw this huge letter "K", blinking all dandy in the window of Olde Good Things.  OH....I wanted it.  If only it wasn't $850!  (That place has awesome finds, by the way... for people with deep pockets.)

Then we meandered through the Farmer's Market at Union Square.  (One of my great loves.) 

And then, smiles all around at the........DOG PARK.  Danny & I have recently made a habit of visiting dog parks while on our dates.  Madison Sq. Park and Union Sq. have sweet ones (and Prospect Park has the best dog beach ever.)  We can sit for quite awhile and just laugh & enjoy all those dogs playing around.  You can't help but feel carefree yourself.

 

Then we went to Momofuku for lunch.  YUM!  Be prepared to pack in there.  Everyone sits tightly on modern wood tables and chairs.  We got so cozy with the couple sitting next to us that we ended up feeling like old friends by the time lunch was over.  At the end, after loads of conversation, they jokingly told us, "I think you guys need to write a blog....maybe a Blog About Love!"  :)


After lunch we discovered a GEM of a place there on the lower east side.......Casey Rubber Stamps.  It's not your typical stamp store.  You get the feeling it's been there for 100 years and it's a mess of a place.  But you can't help but be enamored by the old Irish man that owns it and makes the stamps on this ancient looking machine.  The shop seems like one of those New York institutions that probably everybody else already knows about.  By the way, he can turn ANY jpeg or pdf into a stamp (and he does mail orders!)  You wouldn't believe some of the stuff he's made.  What would you guys put on a stamp?  Any creative ideas for how you would you use a stamp?  I am trying to justify getting one.  I came across this list of unique ideas for using a stamp.

And, how could I not pass up Tu-Lu's Bakery, next to the stamp store?  The entire bakery is gluten-free, with lots of vegan options as well.  We devoured some delicious baked goods - yes, I said delicious gluten-free baked goods!!  (I couldn't keep Danny's hands off of them :).  Ask them for their best seller...and get two of them....(they also do mail order goods & custom birthday cakes!)

What did you guys do for President's Day?  Any great finds, places, activities, or events to recommend?  It's always fun to have something new to do.

[FYI - Wednesday at 7:00 PM in Carroll Gardens (Brooklyn) there is a J.Crew Stylist that will be teaching women of the community some tips on how to put together outfits & accessories.  I'm so excited to attend.  Send me an email if you want more info.!  (mara@ablogaboutlove dot com)]