Hello Friends. How are you? I am really looking forward to the weekend. Olive gets home from her big ski-trip tonight. And Oscar has invited a few friends over for a birthday party tomorrow. (His 7th birthday. Impossible!) Birthday parties seem to be very simple here, so I’m trying to tone down my instincts for themes-and-extras-and-big-big-big. Wish me luck! While we come up with a list of party games, here are a few things I’ve wanted to share you:
- Stunning ABC posters by Yoni Alter
- My sis-in-law relaunched Say Yes to Hoboken. Looks amazing + a big contest!
- Ralph sent me this and it made me laugh.
- 5 Ways to freshen up your house this year.
- Wire guy.
- I’ve only read the part about House Hunters, but it’s hilarious!
- This jar of lemon curd makes me want to lick the screen.
- Cute! They send Valentines instead of holiday cards.
- Is anyone else obsessed with Downton Abbey?
I also write for Babble. Here are this week’s posts:
- 30 of my favorite picture books.
- Double-duty robots.
- What I want for Valentine’s Day.
- A neat way to start your abstract art collection.
- A new app just for Moms (apparently Rachel Zoe is involved!).
I hope you have a terrific weekend! If you have any fun plans I’d love to hear about them. I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already.
kisses,
Gabrielle
P.S. — I put some of my favorite Valentine projects in the right sidebar if you’d like to see.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Birthday parties were similarly simple in Germany when I lived there. Pretty food, and everyone sat around and talked but no planned activities or anything like that. I actually preferred it to the hustle and bustle of American parties!
P.S. Congrats on the book!
random comment…some tips on how to keep working on your French, even while you’re away next week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edYHlnhxyOI&feature=share
Ob. Sessed. With Downton Abbey! I can’t wait for the next installment! :)
I stumbled across Downton Abbey as something to watch while walking on my treadmill. I loved it and was so excited for season 2 to begin that I made sure to get the kids to bed on time so I could could watch the first episode on tv–I no longer have the option to watch it online and definitely don’t want to wait for it to come out on dvd.
What kind of book will you be writing?
…’hoboken’ sister-in-law?!? Good grief. How can one extended family be gifted sooooo much crazy talent! Fascinating!
Yeah, really crazy obsessed with Downton Abbey. Don’t know what I find more interesting -the upstairs or downstairs? And yay for Elizabeth McGovern! Where has she been all this time?
EVERYONE is talking about Downton Abbey! I’m obsessed. LOVE it. Glad to know you are, too. :)
We do that too- send cards on different holidays. We’ve done Valentine’s Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Tax Day, Texas Independence Day. It’s fun to pick a new day and (I hope) it’s fun for our friends to get an unexpected card every year.
Just found Downton Abbey last week and watched all of season 1 while recovering from dental surgery. I was so happy to see that season 2 started the next day…how lucky is that!
Love from Lori C.
I read the HGTV article: “ham-beasts”? That one caught me off-guard. Hilariously mean…but pretty true.
Please tell Ralph thank-you. Hilarious! (Although I think they’re all awfully cute.)
I’d get the mom app if it weren’t for the fact that Rachel Zoe stalks me to imitate my stylish life. I can always spot her – all large eyes and collarbones – hiding in my hedge. It’s not easy being a fashion mommy icon. Off to change my phone number again.
I love the set design and the composition of the scenes of Downton Abbey. And, of course, the story line too! Glad to see Eluzabeth McGovern in a good role. And Maggie Smuth steals every scene!
Grantland was so on the mark about House Hunters international vs. domestic. One is a celebration of the adventurous spirit, while the other is a nauseating look into the American psyche. That and it was hilarious! I really wish I had the guts to try living overseas, but I don’t—yet. Thanks for sharing.
I have an internal conflict with DA. I feel it’s predictable and sometimes boring. But I could.NOT.miss an episode. You’ll have to canvass opinion once season 2 is finished in the US and the Christmas special has aired.
I think I just want Julian Fellowes to do another Gosford Park.
Best of luck with your toned down birthday party & I have been eyeing the Valentines for a while now! They all look so great – especially the friendship bracelets!
LOVE Downton Abbey so much! It truly makes me happy and feels like what TV should be…good writing, interesting characters, beautiful production design, twists and turns…it’s a high-brow soap opera!
a) Neville is waaay hot.
b) Downton Abbey is the best thing on television now that Homeland is over. Two totally different shows but I adore(d) them both.
My mom and I love Downton Abbey! We have tea every day and watch a few minutes of it to relax. Did you know that PBS cuts out some of the show? I am purchasing both seasons on Amazon to get the unedited versions. Check out the DVDs here: http://www.amazon.com/Masterpiece-Classic-Downton-Abbey/dp/B0047H7QD6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1326494146&sr=8-5
There are no words to describe how much I love Downton Abbey. It’s up there with FNL in my books!
Thanks so much for featuring MPMK’s shaving cream valentine on your side bar and congrats on the book!!
great links as always, loved and laughed hard at the the year in TV (House Hunters) my husband and I watch both and simply have the same reaction when it comes to Americans buying homes in the US… also congrats on the book deal, I can’t wait to read it, and have it signed by you!!!!
Love you Gabby. Congrats on you book deal, brava, well deserved and I hope I can see you on your book tour, we aren’t far from NYC.
xo
Sara
Hello Gabrielle,
Just dropped by to see how you’re doing. I’m so excited about the “3-D lollipop Valentine!” I’m so busy lately, but that’s something simple and it’s done in “no time”! Great idea. Thank you for sharing it.
By the way, your kids are incredibly cute! :-)
Have a blessed week.
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Really cute blog! I love your description the “intersection of design and motherhood”, as a graphic designer who designs mother and child related items I can completely relate. If you get a chance, stop by my little humble abode on the web, http://www.sweetntots.com I’ll definitely be back reading more of your posts!
we had a wonter “one”derland birthday party. now I’m starting to think about valentines day. I love your madlibs ones. ;)