And normally I am probably zero help at all, even though I sincerely want to be, because seriously? What the eff do I know? Not a whole lot, people. Not a whole lot.

There is so much “wha???” in front of you when you want to start a business or blog or find a job in your dream field or plan for your future, or go on an amazing vacation, or decorate your first apartment.

If you are lucky, you have a few friends or a mentor that know how to get junk done that can help you.

One of those people for me is Alaina. She is one of those people who seems to know stuff about everything, and always has amazing helpful practical advice. And even though I know she is incredibly busy, she always makes the time to powwow.

And because she is magnanimous like that, she is going to become that person for all of you.

via

The Everygirl

Which launches tomorrow.

Their self professed goal is:

“The focus of The Everygirl is to help shape creative, career-driven women.

The hub of the site is to feature career profiles of female entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and bloggers. We interview women to find out how they got to where they are (was it a connection? a killer interview that landed them the position? or a chance encounter through networking?), how they branched off and started their business, what does it take to do what they do, what advice do they have for others, what would they want to tell the 23-year-old version of themselves?”

The site will also feature fun, inspiring, non fantasyland based fashion and interior design ideas. Like how you turn your real teensy apartment into something cozy and uplifting. It will have city and travel guides. Detailed, non-cagey/vague, step by step guides to starting a successful blog or business in various creative fields. Practical junk that people like me struggle with like how to write a proper resume and cover letter. I mean…right? And I am sure, much much more.

And you know what I love about this? And what I think it says about Alaina and her partner, Danielle Moss? It is really about lifting us all up. About success not being a zero sum game. When you are really great and talented and smart, you don’t have to guard or hoard your success. You can share it and lift other people up with you. Which might sound obvious to some of you, but in my experience in the world that is a very special and inspiring thing.

So please, I implore all of you, go check out The Everygirl when it launches tomorrow. I think we all are going to discover something there that inspires, aids, and improves our lives!

More sneak peaks are up at Brunch At Saks, Stripes and Sequins, and Apartment 34.

Photos By Danielle Moss

I especially enjoy her version of an animal print.

Did you know female foxes are called vixens?

I did not. Learn something new every day.  

She also has some cool graphic patterns.

Nicely, Johnson!

Also, thank you for the Birthday wishes. It was lovely and completely random.

We met some new friends, caught up with some old, had a splish of champagne with my mom…

And dressed GMcBaby in some goofy outfits.

What more could you want, really?

Technically my birthday is tomorrow.

But still. Do we really have to do this?

I gave the side eye to my scale this morning and it told me:

And you know what? I believe it.

I will say that I have been working out twice a day this week. Either Jillian Michaels or a portion of Tracy Anderson or a walk with Gracie in the morning, and then I put in some hardcore time at the gym in the afternoon. I sound like such a meathead. But it’s true.

I have been drinking less. Ish. And I haven’t had any cake and will not even though it is my birthday.

But really all I want for my birthday is to not do this today.

And as the ruler of this blog, I am granting that birthday wish.

See you next week!

Go over to A Piece Of Toast to check out the details behind these coordinating looks I put together for McBaby and myself, as well as my thoughts on style after motherhood.

I never thought of myself as someone who would dress like their child. I  mean I have, at times, dressed like a child. But I always considered matching your mini me a little Katie & Suri in a bad way. Or like me with my American Girl Doll, Samantha. Can you even imagine how insane I looked to the average bear as an 8 year old going through airport security dressed in full on Victorian period gear clutching my identical doll?

AHHH THIS IS DEFINITELY THE EXACT LOOK I HAD IN MY SIZE!!

Gah, I can’t wait until Gracie has a bizarre little mind of her own.

Where were we, I seem to have gotten off track a bit.

ANYWAY, as soon as I can fit my bod into so neon skinnies, this is happening. Anyway, Molly and Sally-super sisters- were so sweet to ask me to contribute to their adorable blog, so go familiarize yourself, please!

He got us a cooking class at Whole Foods. Presh.

Gracie and I made him a cookie jar and cookies. We used this recipe, it was delicious.

And got him his favorite beer.

Well I did, Gracie isn’t 21.

And made him a Valentine.

Which was all sweet and lovely, but none of that really matters…

Because this is our Valentine.

Stop it, Gracie. AKA Fang. AKA Bubbles.

You are too much.

Source: polliblog.com via Bailey on Pinterest

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE!!

Anyone have fun plans they want to share?

Anyone else pick a fight with their husband because they said they didn’t want to do anything for Valentine’s Day when secretly they did and were sad that their husbands couldn’t read their super trixie minds?

Sorry Pete!

It’s true, I do.

And, I mean, what would you get a girl on a diet for Valentine’s Day anyway?

Good Point! I would definitely accept a squishy bunny, please and thank you!

♥

A bunch of y’all have emailed me about good places for baby clothes online!

I really only shop for Gracie online, as bringing her into a store for a productive shopping experience is pretty much impossible.

My first favorite store might seem super obvious…But Gap Baby is SO good. They have new inventory all the time, and Gracie loves her GapBaby Skinny Jeans.

Or I love them on her little chunkster bod. Either way. Plus, Sally just informed me that Diane Von Furstenberg will be designing for their children’s collection starting in march, so YES PLEASE to that!

I also like Petit Bateau for charming basics.

Their last collection was all pink and red so you can guess how I felt about that.

Another one most people probably know about is Ralph Lauren Baby.

Floral skinnies?? How HIP would Gracie look? Plus if I can’t wear ‘em, at least someone in this family can!

For funkier items…

I like Smallable.

Acorn Toy Shop…which is mostly fun toys but also has some cute clothing items as well.

This Etsy guy is SO cute. Etsy in general has some great baby stuff if you want to get sucked into a vortex for awhile. It also has some super tragic items as well, which are worth seeing in their own right. 

And I superlove Pink Chicken.

Being a southern lady, I also really enjoy a traditional smocked baby item.

For that, Best Dressed Child is almost a one stop shop.

Also, Orient Expressed.

Kelly’s Kids.

And Remember When…or Nguyen. Strange.

And then for the odd extra special item…

I like Flora and Henri.

And Bonpoint. This is one of their new girl looks but they also have baby and boys.

Those are all I have for now…And what I need from all of YOU is…

1. If you have emailed or commented with a question that so far has gone unanswered can you please repost it in the comments?? I am making it my mission to address them all TODAY!

also

2. Other online baby shops I should check out? I no longer clothes shop for myself for obvious reasons, dressing Gracie is just a lot more fun.

DoubleAlso, this post deleted TWICE so I apologize if this final version is a bit rushed. It was. Happy Monday!

Which is frustrating because in 4 weeks I have only lost 3 pounds and if I want to make my goal I need to be consistently losing 1-2 a week…But at least this week I know why I didn’t lose as much.

Wine.

Several goblets a night. Just couldn’t help myself. 6:00 pm 5:00 on the dot would roll around, and like a moth to a flame, I would find myself with a glass of wine in my hands. Oopsie doopsies.

Even though it is frustrating because it was a pound I had already lost and gained back, I still lost a pound. So yay. And for that I have to give credit to my girl Tracy, and my new frenemy Jillian Michaels. Yeah its hard, and watching her stare at me with those cold determined eyes, nostrils flaring kind of makes me feel like I am staring down a bull in Pamplona, but it is 20 minutes. I can do anything for 20 minutes, and I can find 20 minutes every day to do something for myself. So thanks everyone for suggesting that.

I also did my first cardio bar class. Holy Gwyneth. That was intense.

But totally worth it. I will definitely be working that into the routine as well! We don’t have anything going on this weekend, and weekends seem to be where I get myself into the most trouble. It is just hard to be social on a program. Yeah I can order healthyish, but I am not the most pleasant dinner partner if I am eating lettuce and you are enjoying queso. And also the cocktailing. I had my yearly physical and my doctor suggested I give up drinking to lose weight. I told him that wouldn’t work, it’s a quality of life issue.

So I guess all that considered 1 pound a week isn’t so bad. I AM JUST SO SICK OF MY MATERNITY CLOTHES.

Ok, so how are y’all doing?

Either way, I was super frustrated and y’all made me feel like a rock star, and now I don’t know how to proceed.

Should I just drop the mic all badass like and walk off the stage?

GIFSoup

“Sexual Chocolate, ladies and gentlemen!”-Coming to America

Or hows about I show you a pic of the awesome light I finally installed in my bathroom. Which is pretty rockstar in it’s own lighting way.

I bought it off 1st dibs when we were still in Chicago, and a bunch of the lights didn’t work and some of the lucite was chipped, and we never got a chance to hang it.

So for all of you who expressed concern that I am being too hard on myself about losing the baby weight, don’t you sweet little things worry, I have a very healthy self-confidence. I dare say I’m sexy and I know it.

Wink.Wink.Wink.Wink.Wink.

Dear Jenn,

The internet isn’t as anonymous as you think. I am sure you know all about IP addresses, as leaving hateful snarky comments seems to be a hobby of yours. But did you know I have traced yours back a year and a half on my blog? And have been in touch with other bloggers who have traced them as well? Even when you try to sneak a nice comment in for whatever reason, I know those are you too. Also, sometimes when you leave so many fake emails you get confused and leave your real one. Which then links to your actual real life information. Like pictures, employer information. Another fact, most states, including but not limited to Illinois, have online bullying laws. And most cell carriers, like Verizon, take issues of harassment very seriously. Employers also tend to frown upon using work computers for such nonsense. If you don’t stop commenting here and contacting me, and the other bloggers I know about, I will have to release your real name and pictures and all of your hateful/bizarre/crazy comments. I am also not above taking legal action if you decide to make that necessary.

Because, here’s the deal. Do I really care that some crazy pants out there is hating on me? No, not really when some of the comments are about my “rainbow brite cluster*ck” cupcakes. I just don’t take that kind of thing super personally. And I also am lucky to have such a great community of readers who are so wonderful and so encouraging and  I know not everyone out there has to like me. But this is beyond that. I hate that suddenly people think you can say and do whatever they want on the internet without consequence. I hate the general atmosphere of negativity that breeds. I am sure if your children were being bullied at school you would be horrified, but kids learn from their parents. The more hate you are exposed to, the more you become acclimated to it, and it doesn’t bother you so much. But it should. Criticism is fine, but you will never regret being kind.

So anyway, that is why I am not just going to go on a rampage and post your junk now, Jenn. Nor am I going to post the worst of your comments. Because I don’t want to be a part of the negativity, I just want it to stop. If you think I am bluffing, here are about 1/4 of the comments I have from you, with identifying info redacted. Next time it won’t be.

OK, well, I am glad we had this talk. Thanks.

Again, sorry for the waste of time everyone, but it had to be done.