What a morning. It’s Olive’s 9th birthday today (and Ralph’s 13th birthday tomorrow). We have a tradition of breakfast in bed on birthdays, so I got up extra early to cook some bacon at Olive’s request. The house still smells bacon-y wonderful. Then it was time to get cupcakes ready for Olive’s class. Once the big kids were off to school, the little ones helped me wrap Olive’s presents. She’s obsessed with lime green right now, so we picked out lots of green things and wrapped them like this:
After the presents were wrapped, I started on a project for Ralph’s birthday. (It turned out super cool. I’ll share photos and DIY after Ralph opens the present.) Around 11:15 this morning, I stopped at my computer to check in and the first thing I saw was an email with some very fun news:
Design Mom made Time Magazine’s 50 Best Websites of 2010. (!!!)
Holy moly. I can’t even believe it. I’m completely honored to be listed with sites like Etsy and Babble (who I write for). Of course, Oscar and Betty are impressed that I was listed with Sesame Street. And frankly, I’m not-a-little-stunned to be on any list with sites and services I love and frequent, like The Onion, LinkedIn, Tumblr and TED.
Three big thank yous: 1) thank you to Leap Design for working so hard to make my site awesome, 2) thank you to Time Magazine for the acknowledgment, and 3) thank YOU for reading — your comments and emails always make my day.
kisses,
Gabrielle
P.S. — I shared the news with Ben Blair and he immediately wanted to celebrate. Happily, cake and ice cream are already on the schedule today.
That is absolutely wonderful! What an honor! Of course you should be celebrated! You are a great example of a mother who is a giver and a nurturer to both her family and very importantly herself. Plus, you have this great creative outlet that many of us are still learning to balance. You’re good. And apparently so is your blog:)
Oops, and a very happy birthday to Olive and Ralph!!:)
So well deserved… seriously!
Happy Birthday Ralph & Olive!
Congrats on the Top 50! It’s such an awesome accomplishment to add to your other equally awesome accomplishments! As always I love your blog! Have fun celebrating =)
happy birthday to your kiddos!
I love the lime green theme. clever!
I thought you would enjoy this picture on my blog..
http://loveandtwentytoes.blogspot.com/2010/08/end-of-summer-love.html
That’s awesome!! Happy Birthday to Olive–one of my favorite nursery kids in NY. She and my Kate are getting so big!
Congrats! Seriously you rock! I want to shadow you for a day;) But only one day because more than that I would be worn out!!! How do you do it:)?!!!
I think this is absolutely a cause for celebration. Congratulations!!! You deserve it. I LOVE this site and always look forward to your posts. xoxoxo
Congratulations!
I really want to say that I love the color palette idea. What a great way to make a big impact no matter what size the gifts.
It’s useable ideas like this–bringing beauty into the small things–that make this one of my favorite websites, too.
Congratulations! You hardwork and heart show through day in and out! Happy birthday to Olive and Ralph!
Congrats! I too, love your site, and I think its a well-deserved thing! :)
Congratulations! I look forward to reading your blog and get so much yummy goodness. It’s delightful to see you recognized!
Congrats! It is well deserved. you are an inspiration to far more than you know.
What incredible news! That’s such a great compliment. You are definitely my first daily blog read. :) I love too how personal you make all of your kids celebrations, and what little individuals they seem to be. Inspires me to pay attention to the little things about my boys…thanks.
that’s GREAT!!! so glad you were recognized. you are still so grounded and….YOU JUST ROCKKKK!
happy bday to your little ones.
Wow! So many exciting things today. 1. I love all the lime green! Everything down to the wrapping paper. Adorable! 2. Happy Birthday to your little and 3. Congratulations! What a wonderful day!
You deserve every bit of that accolade! Congratulations and happy birthday to your darling kids.
WOW!!! Congrats on such a distinction!! And, happy birthday to your cute kids.
So happy for you! No one deserves it more! xoxo
Happy Birthday, Olive & Ralph!
Congratulations!!! You SO deserve it!! Hooray!!
Happy Birthday to Olive and Ralph, too!
Congrats on the top 50! I know you are human and all, but I’m still amazed at how much you do AND have the six kiddos. Go ahead, have two pieces of cake!
Wahoo, congratulations! I’m not surprised in the least, your blog is my favorite! Happy birthday to Olive and Ralph too, have a wonderful time celebrating. :)
Wonderful news, Gabrielle! Well-deserved recognition. :) So exciting.
Happy birthday Olive! today is my birthday too. And congrats on making Time magazine!
Congrats.. way to go… you are such an inspiration to all women esp mom’s out there…..
xxx
CEO
Mazel Tov- I love your blog!-
And I LOVE that even though you are a BIG blogger you still pay attention and comment and send emails to your followers/readers like ME!
Thank YOU!
Congratulations – on all three exciting things! I think you thoroughly deserve your spot in the Top 50. You bring us such interesting and beautiful things every day but each post also has such a warmth that is often lacking from many of the other bloggy arbiters of style and design.
And I hope Olive and Ralph both have very Happy Birthdays. It’s all off to a great celebratory start – I mean, how could that much lime green fail to bring happiness?!
xx
Congratulations! That’s fantastic news….but I have to admit, as a longtime reader I’m not that surprised :)
Congratulations!
What an accomplishment!!
Congratulations! So well deserved. Enjoy celebrating with your beautiful family!
Congratulations!! That is an amazing accomplishment-well deserved, I never miss a day of your blog :)
Happy birthday to your babies. Love the lime green package.
Congrats again-what a great day!
Woot woot! That is wonderful news for you! Your site is stupendous, you hear? A daily must stop.
Aww, happy birthday guys, and congratulations Gabrielle – truly well deserved! Please pass some cake and ice cream my way! And how great do those gifts look?!
What a wonderful day for all of the Blairs! Wow!! Congratulations for all of you.
Congratulations indeed. I’m shocked that you’re writing about this so calmly :)
Horray for Gabby!
What a cool acknowledgement of your great blog. I think I felt a little of that same excited thrill when you mentioned me on Design Mom…YOU ARE the big time!
Enjoy that cake and ice cream. You work hard for it.
And happy happy happy to the kiddos. I can’t wait to see Ralph’s gift!
So wonderful, Gabby! Congratulations on well-deserved acknowledgement of your good work! I’ll be bragging about you to my friends!
Happy Birthday wishes to Olive and Ralph!
the happiest birthday wishes for olive and ralph!! : ) …
and a huge congratulations to you!! you absolutely deserve that recognition. you are such a strong and kind mother, wife, friend, blogger….thank you for sharing your greatness with the world.
p.s. feels pretty darn cool to be a follower of “the best” haha
Congrats Gabrielle! That is very, very cool!
Congrats! That is so neat to be honored in Time Magazine. Well deserved.
Happy Birthday to olive and Ralph. Can’t wait to see what project you did for Ralph!
Please…it’s obvious you are one of the top 50…I tell people, if you aren’t reading Design Mom, you are missing out. Happy Birthday to little Olive and Ralph. Congratulations to you.
Oh so well deserved & happy birthdays to boot!
Oh, Gabrielle, you definitely deserve it! Your site is so refreshing in the hodgepodge that is the internet. Thank you for all your hard work, your interesting topics, letting us see a bit of your life and family, and of course, being such a great inspiration for me! Keep up the great work!!
WOW, that’s awesome – congratulations!!
I love what you wrote in a previous post, about the joy you get from knowing there are beautiful things in this world. I get that same joy from your blog. Thanks for that!
Whoooohoooo! So awesome to be recognized! You deserve it. Congratulations. Happy birthday to Olive too. Love the lime theme and the wrappings…
wowzers! congratulations.
you totally deserve it.
and, i was so excited to open my “womens day” magazine today and see your beautiful face staring back at me! loved the fashion tips…i think my faves were the benetton dress and the riding boots.
Congratulations! Your site it so great! Good luck with the birthday celebrations.
#11, congratulations!!! :D
wow, i always thought you were a graphic designer!!!
enjoy your day!!! we love your site!!
Congrats! What an amazing accomplishment! I know that I have found your story rather inspirational and am striving to create something that would receive the “Design Mom” seal of approval!