I DID IT.

Guess what I'm wearing on May 22nd???


The Midnight Goddess dress by Badgley Mischka. That's right ladies, I'm Renting the Runway. Shazam! What do you think???


The detailing and the exaggerated sweetheart bustline really sold me on it- and a little gathering in the tummy area certainly never hurts. However, should I not be able to lift and separate the twins in such a way that it will no longer be obvious that they are deflated old milk bags? Never fear ladies, because I rented a back-up dress for just 25 smackers. Yep, you heard me right and I'm gettin' crazy with the shoulder...



Now, it's time to get my shoe on. More to come.....

POOF!

Well folks, she's at it again. As you may remember, our first official HMOM, the talented Lindsey of Lindsey Stafford Photography, is putting me to shame with her ridiculous talent, creativity and overall cuteness.

Miss Linds hosted a little Stella and Dot soiree at her new pad in SF last week and her place was looking super bright and cheery thanks to these whimsical little tissue pom poms she had whipped up. Linds got the surprisingly simple how-to from our monotone friend Martha. Check out the tutorial for yourself here.

Plus, to add insult to injury, she made these insanely cute and perfectly frosted cupcakes. I may not be the best at making cupcakes, but I sure can put them away. I ate three, obviously.

Just looking....

I don't want y'all to get the wrong idea from this post. I'm about to get a little gross here, so bear with me.

Someone once described their period to me as the "bloody tears of a disappointed uterus" (I know, I'm sorry, I warned you). Mine came a little late this month, but let me tell you, when it came, the only tears coming from my uterus were tears of joy, because girls, it knows I've got no business getting pregnant right now.

This is not to say that I am done having children, and I like the idea of having three children, perhaps because that's all I really know having come from a family with 2 other siblings. That said, this hypothetical third child (aka, the girl, or the boy who we will dress like a girl) will not be in the works for at least another year or two. We need to recuperate from the chaos that is life and Hudson in particular, and, more importantly, have lots of excess dough lying around for me to blow on an adorable nursery and, if it's a girl, and insane amount of clothing.

In the meantime, I've got a whole mess of knocked-up friends right now, so I can browse under the guise of helpful friend and we can ooh and ahh together at some fun nurseries I've happened upon in the past couple of weeks.

First up is this charming little gender neutral room I found over at Urban Grace Interiors. It almost makes me think I can wait to find out what I'm having next time....ALMOST. I'm obsessed with the incredible vintage chest of drawers being used as a changing table and the Jonathan Adler Giraffe Sconces, which just might be my favorite things in the whole world.

The color palette, which was derived from the gorgeous bird wallpaper that they used on the ceiling (I love that idea) is so warm and unexpected for a nursery.

Check out more pics of this beautiful space here.

One of my absolute fave bloggers of late, Melisa of The Lil Bee recently posted pics of her daughter Devon's nursery. It's both super soft and fem, but also minimalist and cool, thanks to some touches like the insanely cute baby version of Starck's Lucite Louis Ghost Chair, known as the "Lou Lou" which comes in a slew of adorbs pastels, like the yellow version seen below. I'm also dying for the yellow pom-pom detailing on the curtains.



See more pics of the nursery and adorable Devon here.

Max is all up in his ABC's these days ("What letter starts with lizard?" is how he phrases it), and I would love to replicate something like the brilliant and eclectic wall of letters in this nursery featured on Project Nursery.com.



How great is that giant button for the "O"???

Unfortunately, I lost the source for this next pic, but I have always been quite certain that I will have a Jenny Lind crib if I ever have a daughter, and after seeing this nursery, I'm even more certain that it will be yellow. I also love how they used fabric in the little sewing circles on the wall.

Super cute!

My very talented friend Lindsey of Anyon Design is expecting her first little guy in late Spring and I can't wait to share his gorgeous nursery with everyone! Pics and Baby B will be here soon so stay tuned!

xoxo J

Skorting the Issue

There are several trends I've succumbed to in the past that I've sworn I would never revisit. I'm fairly certain that "skorts" were, at one point, somewhere on that list.

Well, I guess the moral of this very brief story is, never say "never" ladies. My new skorts are hanging in the closet.

courtesy of Forever 21

I admit, they're not quite as cute or as classy as these linen tap pants by Built by Wendy that initially sparked my skort fire:

image courtesy of Built by Wendy

But they were also about 10 times cheaper- literally.

Ready to brave the skort? Check out Top Shop's uber feminine and slightly cheeky selection. Their sweetpea shorts are my fave:

image courtesy of TopShop

Just don't call them Culotts.
Happy Monday!

A very early start.

Little Man is, to say the very least, expressive. Though his range of expressions are countless, the three above are among the most common and my definite favorites. I saw none of these this morning between 3AM and 9AM, while we rocked, cried, barfed, did laundry, and cried some more, until we both collapsed for a mid-morning nap that lasted into the afternoon. By dinner time, he was back to his usual pranks, demanding that his older brother "share" (aka, give him whatever toy he is playing with immediately), talking about the horsie we saw this weekend that smelled like "fawts", and then attempting to ride his "horsie", Scooter, patron saint of wiener dog martyrs.

I love this naughty little man.

As for my big man, I love him too, and, as we all know, he loves him some road walkers.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

xoxo Jesse

Dear Haute Mama... Flowers for Alli

So, since the launch of Haute Mama, I've had all sorts of fun requests pop-up in my inbox from fellow hauties looking for this and that and wanting my suggestions, which I am more than happy to provide, because it means I have an excuse to be browsing the web when I should really be cleaning my house with eco-friendly products that just don't really work all that well (do you feel me on this one?). Thus, I've decided to start posting some "Dear Haute Mamas" so that the answers to your questions can be shared for the common good. Please feel free to email me or add comments if you've got a hankering for something in particular.

Let's get started, shall we? Miss Alli is looking for some floral dresses that are cute, affordable and flattering. I think I have the third part covered, cause Miss A has legs for miles and looks good in just about everything. I kept prices under a $100 (with one exception- I couldn't help myself) and I'm pretty sure I nailed the cute thing too. So, let's see here...check, check, and check! Enjoy!

I'm pretty much obsessed with the silky watercolor floral print on this gorg dress by Vintage Havana for $57 !!

Please try and disregard the model here, because she is clearly very hungry. However, this dress by Mine, for $78, won't break the bank and is uber-feminine perfection- and the soft pink and purple palette will flatter just about everyone.


This little Floral Kitty Dress from Fled Flare, has a slightly less forgiving shape, but Miss Alli, who is long and lithe can most definitely pull it off, and at $39, she most definitely should!


And ladies, our friends at Forever 21 have done it again. I think I'm buying this bargain beauty for an Easter Sunday debut. Just $24.80- yes, please.

Lastly, we've got the big splurge- but I'd hardly call $120 a major splurge. How gorge is this silk cut-away tank dress from Martin & Osa? Lovely enough for a summer wedding, but equally perfect for a fun lunch in flat sandals!

Let them eat cupcake!

Both of my boys were summer babies, so I've still got a few months to go before I start frantically trying to find ways to contain and satiate hoards of sugar-frenzied toddlers, and make myself look somewhat Martha Stewart-y in the process. While trying to replicate a miraculously perfect John Deere tractor cake that I had made for Max's 2nd birthday (which sadly, was seen only by family), for Hud's farm-themed bash the following year, I managed to butcher not one, but two whole cakes, before settling on a small chicken cupcake. The little hen actually turned out quite cute (thanks Living), but this year, I am coming to terms with my non-existent inner domestic goddess and saving myself the anxiety by making some good ol' fashion cupcakes and adorning them with these insanely adorable cupcake kits from Meri Meri.

Ready Set Go Cupcake Set, $11.95

Obviously, we'll end up going with something like cars or pirates, but how flippin' cute are these birds?

Tweet Tweet Treats Cupcake Kit, $11.95

And for those of you who are just dying to see my handy work from previous years....Check out my hall of fame.

What can I say, I lost my touch.

Tiers of Joy

In case you were all wondering, I did NOT forget to keep my date on March 18th, and although I didn't camp out Mervyn's-style as promised, I did manage to pop in that evening and see if my local H&M had the goods I'd been dreaming about. Sadly, either the campers beat me to them, or they just aren't that well stocked yet- but NONE of the Garden Collection items I was quite certain would be living in my closet this week were there. But don't you worry, my pretties, I did not leave empty-handed.

image courtesy of HM.com

Behold, my frilly little $40 friend, harbinger of spring and little dress season. Although I do admit that it's unabashedly feminine regardless of color, I didn't go pink, as pictured, but a slightly darker lavender. Don't get me wrong, had I known the pink existed, I probably would have gone balls-to-the-wall girly and snatched it up. For all of you that prefer to look a little less Easter egg-y, it also comes in black. This little tiered number fits like a glove, and was a hit both with hubby (despite his inquiring as to where the flapper convention was) and my fellow baby shower-goers alike.

Tiers, when done correctly, can be super flattering and forgiving and come in all shapes and sizes. Keep in mind that smaller, thicker tiers, while fun, can add volume to the body, but longer tiers can be great for camouflaging flaws. I've picked a few of each to suit the needs of all my Haute Mamas- which is your favorite?

Ali Ro Tiered Mini Dress, $240
I want.

BCBG Crepe Tiered Tank, $71
This color blows my mind. I would probably wear this everyday. Also comes in black.

ModCloth Curator Skirt, $70
Insanity.

Central Park West Napa Silk Tank, $97
The Minimalist tiers. Again- I'm going a little crazy with the spring color, but I can't help myself.

TopShop Tall Tiered Crop Blouse, $70
So lovely. TopShop is on hit these days. Cheers.

Luca Couture Chiffon Tiered Dress, $58
I'd break out my cowboy boots for this one.

BCBG Max Azria Tiered Cocktail Dress, $358
Finally, some black for my conservative mamas...

J.Crew Linen Cotton Tiered Bateau Shell, $58
..and some white. J.Crew is ALL ABOUT the tiers right now. Seriously.

Enjoy. xoxo
J

Ahoy Mamas!

So, for those of you that have been frequenting Haute Mama, it will come as no surprise that I love a good nautical stripe. There's something about a simple striped top that makes me feel polished and put-together, even if I'm just wearing it with jeans and flippies. I have an admittedly embarrassing number of striped tops, but the one I'm wearing above by Splendid is one of my all-time faves and it's on sale right now at Nordies! I've been spending some serious imaginary bucks online lately, and for some reason I keep blowing my imaginary wad on everything and anything stripey. Check out some of my fave looks below:

For the mama who brunches:

Tibi Silk Riffle Cream Blouse, $130

Alice & Olivia Striped Cotton Skirt, $165

Kate Spade Cammie Heels, $295

Kate Spade Gumdrop Necklace, 82

Marc Jacobs Quilted Bag, $625

For the Stripey Sexpot Mama

TopShop Petite Silk Bow Stripe tee, $50

Diane Von Furstenberg Martia Pencil Skirt, $225

Pour La Victoire Adalene Pumps, $150

Tory Burch Metallic Logo Clutch, $315

Bop Bijoux Pyramid Stud Earrings, $60

ModCloth Take a Bow Gloves, $50

For the cool, casual mama:

ModCloth Cardigan, $40

Rich & Skinny Boyfriend Skinny Jeans, $185

TopShop Stripe Swing Tank, $55

Longchamp Tote Bag, $125

Monica Vinader Pendant, $435

TopShop Metal Bow Detail Belt, $30

Belle by Sigerson Morrison sandals, $220

The Beginning of the End

I'm not sure what, exactly, I was en route to when I somehow found myself at Lands' End's new Canvas Site, but I have to say, I was not completely repulsed. They're aiming for a j.crew-esque aesthetic, but it's still coming off just a little, well, Lands' End-y.

Regardless, I did find a few pieces that I almost certainly will have to buy. For instance, I have been ogling this preppy little cotton shell from the Harvey Faircloth Spring line almost daily, but at $195, it simply taunts me with its exclusivity. Lands' End makes a surprisingly similar and timeless must-have version of this wardrobe staple, and at $39, I really must-have it!

Women's Boatneck Shell

I'm also a sucker for a nautical stripe, so I wouldn't mind swooping up one of these over-sized striped cardi's in every color.

Women's stripe Boyfriend V-neck Cardigan

How simple of a solution is this little tank dress for those hot summer Saturdays when you anticipate sweating like a pig and eating like one too? Love it and love the yellow.

Women's Slub Jersey Dress

And then, of course, we have what Lands' End does best- the canvas tote. They're offering up this essential in six sunny colors. I'm all about the kelly green.

Garment Washed Ragtop Tote

Now I just need a big ol' boat and some big ol' sunnies (since Hud, aka Thrash & Bash, destroyed mine this week) and I'm ALL SET.

Enjoy the weekend! xoxo

Bonus Post- Layers of Cuteness!

Ummm, looky what I found. How ridiculously cute is this set of animal nesting dolls from Modern Dose? Answer- so freakin' ridiculously cute. Doesn't that smiley lion just make you feel like everything is going to be ok? Tell me it is lion, oh tell me it is.

Teeny and the girls

Recently one of my mom's clients gave her a Matryoshka, one of those cute little Russian nesting dolls, and the boys have been completely intrigued by her. Naturally, Hud, my out-of-control 21-month-old who we also lovingly refer to as "Thrash and Bash", lost the littlest old lady almost immediately (we haven't ruled out the possibility that he ate her) and every time he gets his hands on her now, we have to hear him lament all about "teeny tiny" and how she's "all gone."

The love of little old Russian ladies must be genetic because I too have always had a soft spot for the Matryoshka. Aside from her orange Barbie camper, her swimming pool and a parrot that cried for his grandma all day, one of the things I remember most about going to my babysitter's house was sitting at her vanity and playing with her set of nesting dolls. Lately, I've been seeing these little cuties pop-up all over the place. Here are a few of my favorite appearances:

An absolutely precious piece of fabric artwork, handmade by one of my latest blog crushes, Viv of Ish & Chi and sold in her fun Etsy shop

Another fun print from the Keep Calm Gallery

How cute are these measuring cups from urban outfitters? They make me want to bake- almost.

These bobby pins from Magpie Lovely are perfect for little haute-ies, but I think Mamas could pull them off as well.

And lastly, it just doesn't get any cuter than this handmade dress from Etsy seller Illia's Kids

Happy Thursday lovelies- get to spendin'