Ellen knows...

Ellen knows so many things.

 

She knows how to make a funny face...

 

and how to build a sand castle.

 

Ellen knows how to stomp in puddles...

 

and she really knows how to accessorize any outfit.

 

But the best thing that this princess knows...

 

Is that she is going to be a big sister at the end of February!

 

Love the Little Bee, her Momma and her Baby Bump!



So Many Cartoons...

Do you ever feel like this?  I love this picture because it captures so much about parenting.  Note the tired bags under my eyes, the glazed over look as I sit through another stinkin cartoon, and the glass of wine clutched in my hand to help me get through it all.  But, also note the sweet girl perched in my lap, happily sucking her thumb without a care in the world.  So happy to be snuggled into her Momma as she catches her favorite show, one more time.  I love any and every moment I get with Ellen.  She really is my world.  Sometimes this world just gets a little, well, boring or hard or just exhausting.  I wouldn't trade it for any other life though...

Love the Little Bee's Momma

(who is always in a better mood with a glass of wine in her hand)

Great Things: Lush Cosmetics

If you haven't tried Lush Cosmetics Bath Bombs and Bubble Bars, you don't know what you're missing!  I was first introduced to Lush, a UK company, by a friend who spent a semester in London.  Knowing how much I love taking baths they gifted me with a bunch of Bath Bombs.  Which was sweet except for one thing- they were only available in the UK at that time!  So I was hooked but had to wait for friends to travel to the UK before I could get another fix. 

So, the great news is that Lush is now readily available all over the world and being that it is an ethically responsible company, i.e. no animal testing, organic products that are hand-made by a green company, you can feel good about buying them.  I typically pick them up at their in-store location at Macy's.

Here's a look at some of my favorite products. 

 

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The Dorothy Bubble Bar is big enough to break up and use in three baths.  It is scented with ylang ylang, sweet figs and orange oil and makes a crazy amount of the softest bubbles.  These are bubbles with staying power too.  Usually bubble bath bubbles don't seem to hang around too long but with this Bubble Bar I am ready to get out of the tub long before the bubbles have disappeared.  Ellen has extremely sensitive skin and this Bar is gentle enough for her skin.  Now that she has been treated to a Bubble Bar "bubbly bath", this is the only kind for her.  Her old baby wash bubble bath isn't cutting it these days...

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My favorite Bath Bomb is the Sex Bomb.  This is one of the first Lush Products I tried and I always go back to it.  A Bomb differs from a Bubble Bar in that it does not produce bubbles but just fizzes and scents the water.  Some Bombs and Bars have flowers or glitter in them but I find that is too messy!  The Sex Bomb is jasmine, clary sage and ylang ylang scented and can be broken in half to use in two different baths. 

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The Honey Bee Bath Bomb is not new but I have never tried it before.  Inspired by my Little Bee, I decided to pick this honey, toffee, and sweet orange oil scented cutie.  I love the bee stripes and that it contains Moroccan Rhassoul mud.  I don't know what that is but it sounds fancy!  Now I have to figure out a way to sneak away to give it a try.  The minute Ellen hears my bath water running she runs into the bathroom while stripping off her clothes and saying,  "We take bubbly bath, Mommy".  Clearly she doesn't get why Mommy needs so many "bubbly baths"...

Love, The Little Bee's Momma

Vacation

Our Little Bee was quite the girl on the go this summer.  She really loved helping me pack her suitcase while we talked about the next fun trip we had planned.  Of course we took many trips to Tiki Island where Ellen loves to go to the beach, swim in whatever pool we can muster up, and get spoiled by Cece and Gramps.

We also enjoyed our second annual trip to Hunt, Texas with four of the sweetest little boys you will meet.  This trip is not for the faint of heart.  Five kiddos under three.  Just think about that for a moment.  We love all the chaos and memories though!



 We also made a long trek to Camden, Maine.  We stayed for eight days and can't wait to get back.  I'll dedicate a few posts to sharing some great memories from that trip. 

This was Ellen's best memory of any vacation she took all summer.  Riding the rent car bus to and from the airport.  She talked about this moment for months and didn't want her doll to miss a moment of it.  Every morning while I'm getting Ellen dressed for school she reminds me that she would rather be going on vacation.  Me too, Little Bee!

Love, The Little Bee and her Momma



Swimming Lessons

 This summer Cece and Gramps bought the Little Bee private swimming lessons at the Briar Club for her birthday.  We went twice a week and worked with the sweetest college student who is now spending a semester in Paris!  Oh to be that free of responsibility again!

 Ellen loved her lessons with Miss Sam and made so much progress over the summer.  She also loved coming home and pretending to be a swimming teacher to her dolls. 

One of the best things about these lessons is that Miss Sam taught Ellen about pool safety.  She taught her how to hold on to the edge and climb around to the steps, how to get out of the pool if she can't find the steps, and how to float on her back in case she can't find the edge of the pool.  I hope Miss Sam comes back next year because we would love to work with her again.  She was so proud of Ellen's progress and was so fun to work with. The down side to these lessons - Ellen tries to swim in her bath tub every night and I get soaked!

Love, The Little Bee and her Momma

Happy Place

Sand is definitely Little Bee's happy place.  The dirtier the better.  I can judge how much fun she was having by how much sand comes home with her.  Lots of sand in her shoes, diapers and hair means she had a very good day.  Today she woke up and told her daddy, "Today is going to be a fun day".  I love that she has such a sunny disposition in the morning. 

Love, The Little Bee and her Momma

What I'm Dying to be Wearing

Summer really is my favorite time of year but this year I am craving Fall weather and fashion.  This Fall you'll catch me wearing my typical uniform of tunics, leggings and tall boots. 

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Boden has some super cute tunics for women and girls this year.  Love this gold number and it's currently 20% off! 

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I wouldn't mind adding this bright orange Boden tunic with the smocking to my collection either.  It looks comfy but still polished.  Perfect for work and fun. 

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Ellen also lives in tunics and leggings during the Fall and I love this mini Boden option for her.  It's sophisticated without looking too grown-up. 

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I would pair my tunics with these Dana Davis boots from Nordstrom and Ellen's with these Minnetonka fringe boots, also from Nordstrom.  I'm dying to get her some fringe boots!

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Ok, I've got our Mommy and Me looks all planned!  Bring on the cool weather!

Love, The Little Bee's Momma





Happy 31st Birthday, Aunt Muffy!

Every kid should be lucky enough to have an Aunt Muffy.  In fact, one of Ellen's friends even asks about getting more Muffy time.  Aunt Muffy is there to teach children the importance of things like glitter, nakey time, loud noises, more glitter, and having fun.  Ellen is typically up for anything Aunt Muffy might bring her way, which leads to some hand wringing on Daddy's part but he's working through that...  Auny Muffy or Mawgahrhett, as Ellen sometimes calls her, is Ellen's favorite person to call on her shell phone.  (Yes, shell phone.  She carries a shell around and pretends it is a phone.)  She also gives rainbow pedicures, which is huge in Ellen's book.  Happy birthday to Ellen's favorite aunt, my favorite sister and Lloyd's favorite sister-in-law.  We love you and hope that 31 is an absolutely amazing year filled with lots of glitter and nakey time. 

Love, The Little Bee and her Momma



High Five for Friday!

I have to say that lately I have been feeling really blessed.  I decided a great way to show thanks for this and to help me to stay focused on these blessings is to link up the From My Grey Desk blog  for her series "High Five for Friday.  So here are some of the highlights of my week:

1. My family- It is my sister's birthday this weekend and we are throwing her a birthday party.  This picture is from her party last year.  We throw good parties, y'all!  I'm looking forward to this party but mostly I am grateful for a family who I enjoy being around. 

2. My job- This is not Col. Sanders, as most people who enter my office believe, it's my Freud action figure!  I never mention my job here because I am a therapist.  Last year I left a job I loved and took a risk.  The job ended up being different that I had expected and I had a really difficult year.  The good news is that this year I am filled with hope and peace that things are going to be different and good.  So far, so good! 

3. Houston Restaurant Weeks - August in Houston means Restaurant Weeks!  I have been enjoying some really great meals with different friends while also contributing funds to the Houston Food Bank.  Win/win!  The best thing I have had so far is the truffle mac and cheese at Shade in the Heights. 

4. Campaign - I am a big Will Ferrell fan and he does not disappoint in the movie  Campaign.  Lloyd and I both loved it and that is rare for movies!

5. New Shoes- My sister and I hit up Marshall's over the weekend where I found these great color blocked Nine West flats for under $40.  I plan to live in them until boot weather!

What have you been blessed with this week? 
Love, The Little Bee's Momma

Princess Bee

Have I mentioned, lately, how much I love being the mother of a girl.  All that pink and sassiness in one Little Bee.  I can't even stand it!  Over the summer we scheduled lots of play dates and Ellen was especially excited when her big girl friend, Caroline, came over for a Princess dress up dinner.  I couldn't keep her in the house because she wanted to watch for Caroline's car from the front yard.   

Love, The Little Bee and her Momma 

Back to School

Oh what fun my Little Bee and I had this summer.  I look forward to catching y'all up on all of the good times our family shared.  Ellen is back in school and getting to know her new teacher while I'm gearing up for a great semester at work.  We are so blessed to have enjoyed such a great summer together but I am finding myself anxiously awaiting Fall.  I'm ready for my favorite Spruce candle, tunics and leggings, and holidays that bring lots of family time.  It will be here before we know it! 

Love, The Little Bee and her Momma