Oh, Baby!

It seems everyone around me is pregnant these days. Our upstairs neighbor is due in December. My darling Alison is having her second in January. My sweet friend, Irma, is due in February.

Melissa of "Everything I want to tell you..." is giving away a gorgeous maternity dress from Shabby Apple's Mama Apple collection.

I know that this is a dress any one of them would love to cover her growing curves with.




Enter here!

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Grosgrain is giving away a Marseilles Dress by Shabby Apple.



It is dreamy, sophisticated, comfy ("generously fit"), and has a fun full skirt!

Go enter today!

Giveaway at Metropolitan Mama!

Blog friends, many of you are mama's and all of you have mama's. So, I suggest you all go over to Metropolitan Mama and enter her Mother's Day Giveaway of Toshiba Portege laptop and ST laptop bag which are valued in total at $1,800! You can enter up to a lucky 7 times!

One way to enter is to comment on her post. This was my comment:

This is an amazingly generous giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity! For 28 years my mother has been my greatest teacher. Now she teaches a room full of second graders every day. She is an amazing mom and teacher, but she is also a gifted writer. With her youngest child graduating from college this year, her mom duties will be significantly reduced. She is also nearing retirement which will give her more time to do the things she loves, writing included. Every week, on the computer she shares with my father, she writes a column for her local newspaper which can be seen here. If I could give her this laptop and bag, she could write anywhere and it would be of great encouragement to her, a show of support. After all of the encouragement and support that she has shown me and so many others over the years, she more than deserves this. Again, thanks for the opportunity and Happy Mother’s Day to you!

And Happy Mother's Day to all of you mama's and to your mama's for raising such amazing kids who've become my blog friends!

Marvelous Moms

Mother's Day is coming up on May 10th. For a chance to win one of 11 amazing gifts for mom, go to The Meanest Mom's blog here and comment.

Mr. B&B and I will be in San Francisco this Mother's Day. Oops...
We both have great moms, though. We wouldn't be here or have each other if it weren't for them. We will celebrate when we get back.

I have lots of moms in my life.

My mom who gave up her teaching career to be a stay-at-home mom and then bravely, eagerly, and successfully returned to said career 16 years later.

My mom-in-law who raised her son to be the man of my dreams and has always made me feel a part of the family.

My Grandma who was one of the few working moms of her time, the first female supervisor at a very large well-known company, and began her college degree at the age of forty and finished it four years later despite having to work full-time all the way through.

My Grammy who, after raising her six children, ran an in-home day care. She and my grandfather also, without judgment, welcomed their children back to their home when they were grown with families of their own, but hit hard times and needed a place to live.

My friend Alison, the first of my friends to have a baby. She is an amazing mother to Alexander. She has shown me how fun motherhood can be.

My best friend's little sister, single mom to Landon. She works full-time, has earned her associates degree, and will be working toward her bachelor's degree at a well-known college in Boston come Fall. Her sister is very proud of her and I think she is remarkable.

There are all kinds of moms out there and all are worth celebrating.

Beauty in Imperfection

I have to admit, I have been feeling a little bit down the past couple weeks. I've been struggling to keep up with just about everything which only exacerbates the blues. Usually I turn to writing to find my way out. Not until now have I been able to reveal this imperfection of mine to all of you. Trust me, there are many other imperfections where that came from. I am perfectly imperfect!

In spite of the blues, I am the eternal optimist, the seeker of the silver lining, the lady looking for the lesson to be learned. So, where is the beauty in the blues?

There is beauty in feeling, in being able to feel. Finding my way through the feelings is a gift.

There is beauty in recognition. Being able to identify my feelings and accept them instead of dismissing, ignoring, or avoiding them is a huge step.

There is beauty in vulnerability. Talking about this, seeking support from my husband and dearest friends, and letting them help me takes courage.

There is beauty in knowing I am imperfect. We all are. It is what makes us human. It is what makes us each uniquely who we are.

Inspired to celebrate your "imperfections"? Visit Marvelous Kiddo where Leigh is giving away a Beauty in Imperfection ring by Barbara Polinsky. Enter to win here!

Christmas Dress

Ok, I haven't written about Thanksgiving yet, but I will...

After I ask for a little advice.

Every year since my birth my mother has made sure I have a new dress or outfit, but usually I pick a dress, for Christmas. Yesterday I received a check in the amount of $105.00, Thank You Most Generous Mother, to purchase said dress or outfit.

This morning I have been perusing Anthropologie's website and can not choose between this amazing frock for $99.95:



OR this combo:

Farose Wide-Legs and Eastern Rays V-Neck

OR this combo:

Millicent Blouse with Light Field Skirt

OR this combo:

Inamorata Blouse with Midnight Theater Skirt

Help! I am open to other suggestions. and while you are checking these things out, do a little shopping for yourself, even if it is just "fantasy shopping"!

It is the season of giving... I might pick up a little something to giveaway right on this here blog to one helpful reader while I'm at the checkout ;-)

Thank you :-) and No, I do not get kickbacks from Anthro ;-)