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The Webbs

Here's to your happy holiday.

Squeeze your little ones, kiss your husband and celebrate in style.

 

 

behind the scenes

 

Holiday cheer rules.  

My top 5 merry moments during friday's Center City shopping trip -  

1. Driving scenic Kelly Drive and seeing a mom enjoy her morning run while pushing two toddlers in a stroller with fido jogging on a leash and a smile on her face.  Exercising, walking the dog, watching the kids and enjoying the outdoors - all at once.  That's multi-taking at its finest.  Well done.
2. Admiring great style.  My first sight after I parked my car and hit the street for shopping was that of an older gentleman walking at a clip with his nose down reading a rolled up newspaper, smoking a cigarette while wearing an impeccable trench coat and clearly worn newsboy cap.  Straight of of Paris he looked.  And, I now know, he was a sign of all good things to come. 
3. Seeing two tiny tots giving one another a heartfelt goodbye hug while their delighted parents and family smiled and laughed.  Right out of Rockwell.
4. Listening to the sounds of lone gentleman standing streetside singing Joy to the World acapella with the faint ringing of Salvation Army bells from a few blocks away.  If I carried cash, I would have emptied my wallet into his cup.  He rocked the house. 
5. And finally, enjoying the city of Brotherly Love on a gorgeous sunny December afternoon all. by. myself!!  Here's to quiet mommy moments, may you enjoy yours as much as I enjoyed mine.

 

 

 

 

today's no photos, no frills look at life.

keepin' it real because every blog has a behind-the-scenes

Holiday Awesomeness

 

I love clever.

Watch.

The Life of a Bauble on Nowness.com via FrenchByDesign

 

 

tie one on.

 

The style award from our Ramsey Holiday Dinner goes to the boys. 

I love a man in a tie. 

 

  Interestingly enough, purple and blue was the color combo of the night.

 

Well done, Gents.  And the ladies who dress them.  :) 

 

 

{perfect}

  editorial done right.

I'm seriously considering an all black wardrobe for 40.  Thoughts?

 

Vogue Japan 

 

 

naps.

 
Let's talk about sleep. 

My kids' sleep {and my lack of sleep, yawn} has been on my radar for the last 4 years.  And I see no end in sight.  I'm a HUGE believer in the importance of sleep for little ones.  Many, many studies have shown the negative effects of too little sleep during these impressionable years - ADD, Obesity, Behavior issues - many times can be connected to sleep.

My house keeps a sleep schedule.  At least two naps a day for babies, one nap a day for toddlers and beyond, and early bedtimes all around.  These days Miss Pippy's naps have been sketchy at best.  Some days she'll snooze at school, some days she won't.  At home, I could always count on her napping for about an hour and a half every weekend, but these days, not so much.  She's four, gets a solid 10-11 hours overnight, and often wakes near 8:00.  I knew it would happen and, it would seem it has, our midday nap is nearing gone.  

Mind you, we still retreat for nap on the weekends, but lately when I peak upstairs, I find little toys left in the hall "for Arabella" (our cat) and hear singing and laughter in her room.  So, for Emerson, naptime is turning to quiet time and for Max, I can only hope he lasts as long napping as she did.   Time will tell.

{out comes a little girl who should be napping.}

 

 

{Tell me, at what age did your kids stop napping?}

 

 

goodbye, mess.

{my sassy new-to-me "diaper bag" and pink heels}

  

"I'm getting rid of all my clothes and starting 40 fresh."

This was the declaration I made to my sister a few weeks ago.  Nearing 40 with nothing to wear (too small, years-old and looking worn, my clothes are a disgrace), I decided 2011 will be the end of my wardrobe woes.   My sister, of course, challenged me on the accuracy of my statement, to which I restated  - "ok, fine.  I'm getting rid of 90% of my wardrobe."  

What stays?  10 things.  That's it.   Let the selection process begin.

I'm lucky enough to have a great mix of consignment shops near me and have been busy bagging up my closet over the last 6 months.  This summer saw $200 on some loot I took to Greene St. Consignment in Lambertville, NJ.  "You've got great things" they told me at drop off.  "Yeah," I replied, "if only they still fit."  {sigh}    

Then last week I visited another local consignor, Platos Closet, who sways  more towards casual knits and jeans (something I didn't know).  Unfortunately, I had bagged-up mostly work wear - stuff they don't really want.   So, they picked three tops and handed me $20.  Which, I immediately used to purchase an awesome bag, shoes and jacket!  I walked away from a gorgeous black Burberry blazer (original tags still on) that would have been so cute with jeans or in the office, but it was $30 (a TOTAL steal!) and I promised myself I wasn't buying.  Mistake?  Probably.

 
{how cute is my new jacket!?!  $15.}

 

The rest of my weary wardrobe came back home with me.   Bummer.   Time to try Green St. again... 

 

 

{fit, fabulous, forty.  here i come.}

 

 

 

 

 

mornings.

 
Mornings are pretty routine at my house.  Max usually wakes first, he lounges in his crib, I greet him hello, we descend for food and play. 

Well, on this morning, baby bear decided he wasn't quite ready for morning.  After about 10 minutes of sitting on the sofa,  he glanced my way, said "night, night" and headed for the stairs.  He ascended the climb, went to his room, motioned to his crib and said "night, night".  So in he went.  Happy as a clam to sit and read books.  Sweet monkey.

Some mornings our mornings aren't so smooth.  Like many working moms, I often feel rushed to get out the door and get to work.  The other day it occurred to me I can get agitated a pinch too quickly when my toodling twosome want to dawdle.  And I sat back and thought to myself, their kids.  They dawdle.  Relax.

And with that I decided to introduce a new bit into our morning routine.  A team cheer and morning recap.  So now, after we don our jackets and right before we leave, we gather 'round, throw our hands in the middle and give a "1, 2, 3 - GO TEAM!'.  I like it.  It's fun.  Emerson is happy enough to play along and Maxi Bear just wants to do anything she does.  So he's delighted to throw his little arms in the air.  Team Webb.  It makes me smile right before we head out the door. 

Once we're all buckled in and on our way I give a little recap of all the good things we did, well before 9:00.  Today went something like this -

"Emerson, nice job eating your breakfast.  Excellent work brushing your hair.  Big props on keeping cool when you ripped the sticker.  And tomorrow let's work on not talking fresh."

"Max (who isn't really listening, but gets a pep talk anyway), nice job on listening in the bathroom and good work sharing a snake with Emerson.  Tomorrow, eat more breakfast".

 

Team Webb.   I like it.

 

 

 

 

wear this room

 {cool kid room, cool kid clothes}

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

am I the only one

 

 

 

 

Who can eat 1,000 hershey kisses in one sitting?

{I dare you, try and eat just one.}