A Blonde in Beijing Becomes…
28 JanA Blonde in Beijing becomes…
Blonde with a Baby!
I hope you will follow me on this new journey – full of blonde motherly moments, fashion advice for the spit-up savvy, fun tips on traveling with a tot, and must-have product reviews.
Great Bump Pics from The Great Wall
25 Jan
Morgan and Brett Hutchinson
From the day we found out we were expecting little Olive Bee, we joked about how one day she would reach an age when telling people that she was born in Beijing, China would seem like bragging rights. Well…since we stripped her of that joy – we thought the least we could do was take photos of her in utero on The Great Wall of China. A big thank you to photographer Diego Ferrini and to make-up artist Meili Autumn.

Brett and Morgan Hutchinson
Please stayed tuned for A Blonde in Beijing’s big blog move….coming soon!
All images courtesy of Diego Ferrini.
Bye-Bye Beijing
24 JanI am very aware that my last post has left me in a frozen state of 29 weeks of pregnancy – and well, that is obviously not my reality. I am happy to announce that we have a beautiful and healthy baby girl (but more about that later). For now, I would like to focus on why I was not around to finish my “Bump in Beijing” posts…or any other posts for that matter. You see – the very day after I posted the Bump in Beijing Weeks 25-29, my darling husband came home after work with big news. He announced that the company had sold, and we now had to make a decision…stay in Beijing or head to the mother land.
Honestly, it was a no brainer. While we loved our time in China’s capital city – it was time to move back, be closer to family, and share our bundle of joy with her grandmothers! (Not to mention saving her precious little lungs from Beijing’s off-the-charts pollution.) The preparations began immediately. Movers were hired and goodbye parties were planned. We were on a very strict 3-week time table before I would be on the NO-FLY list – so we couldn’t waste a single second.
Very grateful for the adrenaline rush created by the thought of an international move at 32-weeks preggers, my energy level soared to new heights, and I was able to cram in lunches, dinners, and shopping excursions with all of my favorite ladies. I finalized projects and Brett and I checked off some “Beijing must-sees” that had been overlooked during our 3 1/2 year stay. We even squeezed in one more visit from my parents. It was a jam packed 3-weeks – to say the least, but we survived!
A couple of days before the movers came to pack us up, I took several photos of our apartment. I realized that I had never posted images of it before. I will always think back with fond memories of this apartment…the first place Brett and I lived together, the countless dinners, the get-togethers with friends, the 3 Thanksgivings and Christmases, the many Saturday mornings we woke at dawn to watch Alabama football and drink pink champagne, and finally the place where our sweet baby Olive was made.

Our apartment, Dong Dai MOMA – a collection of seven towers linked together by skyways and centered around ponds, outdoor cafes, and an artsy movie theater (inside the gray structure). This view is from our apartment.

Inside our living room. I had the “Ni Hao” artwork made here at a local sign shop. One of my favorite creations. My version of a welcome sign…it means, “HELLO!”

A Chinese dragon – these things are a dime a dozen over in Beijing. Always amazing to see what they sell for in the States.

Vintage Gucci and Pucci scarves made into throw pillows. Precious Chinese baby face art in the background.

Guest Bedroom (i.e. Morgan’s closet). Complete with Barbie American Flag. Why use stars when you can use Barbie Heads?
Our last week was packed with activities…we squeezed in one last trip to the Great Wall, finally visited the Summer Palace, and had a “yard sale”.

We finally made it to the Summer Palace. Probably would have enjoyed it more when I wasn’t almost 8-months pregnant. LOTS of hills!
All the last minute sight seeing and visiting with friends was great – but honestly, the highlight of our last week was hosting a Chinese style yard sale. After cleaning out and organizing the apartment so the movers could come to pack everything, we needed a fast way to get rid of all the junk we had accumulated. For months we had been fighting the traffic outside our building due to a make shift Saturday morning market that brought the locals out in droves. Now it was our turn to get in on the action. I had to do some convincing to get Brett on board. He feared that we (okay he) would have to haul whatever items didn’t sell back up to the apartment. So naturally – his idea was to just trash everything. I, on the other hand, was confident in my understanding of the local Chinese. If we were selling Western goods (and I don’t mean cowboy boots) – they were buying. My hunch proved to be more than right. We couldn’t even make it to the sidewalk before a swarm of 75+ Chinese people started pawing and grabbing everything in our hands. It was mayhem…bedlam…anarchy – I honestly don’t know how to put it into words (nor does the thesaurus). And sadly, it happened so fast that my pictures do not even do it justice. FYI – Beijing might be the only place in the world where you can practically get dollar for dollar (or RMB for RMB) back for the crap you bought at Ikea.
After a busy week of goodbyes, it was finally time to head to the Beijing International Airport one last time. Somehow – although we came to Beijing with only 5 suitcases each, it took a shuttle bus to take us in order to hold all of our bags (not to mention the 76 boxes on the way to America via slow boat).
And just like that, after 3 1/2 wonderful years – full of once in a lifetime experiences, we said, “Bye Bye Beijing.”
Please stayed tuned for A Blonde in Beijing’s big blog move…coming soon!
Better Late Than Never: Hutchinson Visit
27 JulBetter Late Than Never, Right? Here is a very tardy post of our wonderful visit with the Hutchinsons last November.
What a treat it was to be able to spend time with Brett’s parents, his brother Cory, and beautiful Kara here in Beijing. There are just some things that cannot be expressed through words or photos – which is why we love visitors. It actually enables us to really show what our life is like in this crazy, polluted, overcrowded…but still pretty fascinating foreign land.
Unfortunately, their visit fell on an extremely busy week for Brett (which I think the majority of you, through deductive reasoning, will be able to tell by the absence of him in the photos below) which left us all missing him and forced the Hutchinsons to see China through the eyes of a Blonde in Beijing. I am hopeful that a good time was still had by all!
In addition to celebrating Brett’s Big 4-0 at Maison Boulud, we were able to show them quite a few of the sites – The Olympic Village, The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Wangfujing Snack Street, Tea Street, and The Forbidden City. And of course – we made sure that they tried all the top foods – Beijing Duck, Din Tai Fung dumplings, and don’t forget the street meat. (Okay – I don’t think Donna actually tried this…but Cory & Kara braved a variety of interesting delicacies – i.e. scorpions, silk worms, etc.)
As their tour guide for the week, I did my best to document the trip for them (a service I only provide for true VIP visitors!) Here are some of my favorites…

This would be a fantastic Christmas card if Cory was their only son! The Great Wall Mutianyu – November 2011

Quite possibly my favorite picture of the trip. Clearly, Cory is not pleased with Tom’s choice of speed. His face is the physical definition of boredom.

Brett finally makes it! Family dinner at Mao’s Red Capital Club. This restaurant, hidden in an ancient hutong alleyway, serves tasty food – but the main reason to visit is to step back in time and soak in a bit of “Mao’s China”.

Walking into the gardens surrounding the Temple of Heaven. We were so lucky to have such a beautiful Beijing day. A rarity to say the least.

I would say I was trying to be artistic…but perhaps Cory is just too tall! I still like it though. Temple of Heaven – Beijing, China.

A tiny Donna at the Temple of Heaven. It is terribly difficult to capture an image with no other tourists. I didn’t crop the original for this very reason. I love the emptiness of it. Temple of Heaven – Beijing, China

The beautiful and extremely old Cypress trees in the grounds that surround the temple. Temple of Heaven – Beijing, China

Another potentially great Christmas card if Tom and Donna only had one son and also decided to adopt a random blonde from Murray, Kentucky… Temple of Heaven Grounds – Beijing, China

Old school online dating?? We stumbled upon a mass of middle-aged, local Chinese men and women in the gardens surrounding the Temple of Heaven with dozens of papers like these taped to the ground. After chatting with a few of them, who were actually willing to talk with me in Chinese – I was able to learn that they were all there to find mates for their children. These “papers” are actually dating profiles including personal details such as height, age, and occupation. Some even go so far as to say if they are home or car owners. Amazing!

Okay…so this is obviously Cory, not Brett. But for those of you who truly know Brett…you know that this is an impersonation of his “intense face”. Complete with the drumming of the fingers. Nice tribute, Cory.

Tea Tasting on Tea Street. Somehow I didn’t snap a picture when they put Kara to work separating proper tea leaves from the bad ones…what a missed opportunity. I have a feeling that her daily wage might be more than they are used to paying.

This is the coup de gras of photos from the trip. Apparently, my harassing comments to Tom about the fact that of all things to bring to Beijing, he packed his “Turkey Trot 1997” t-shirt hit a nerve. His response to my torment was to jokingly wear it under his sport coat for Brett’s birthday dinner and party at Maison Boulud. Loved it. He did change – although I think I would have preferred him like this.
Through the Seasons: Suit Up
25 JulIn need of a suit? If so – lucky you! Thanks to numerous ready-to-wear designers, buying a suit is no longer a sentence into conformity. Not to suggest that the chicness of a well-tailored, classic black suit in a high quality fabric is on the outs – but why not jazz it up a bit with something a little more inspire? In reminiscing through seasons past – I tried to find options to “suit” a variety of tastes. Whether you are a lover of color, prints, or a modern take on shape – here are a few inspirations for SUITING UP!

An off-white look is a nice alternative to classic black. The cape-like sleeves offer an additional element of style. John Richmond Spring 2012

Only Balmain could take their typical motorcycle jacket look and turn it into a sexy, yet very wearable suit. Balmain Spring 2012

A bit of whimsy with a touch of sophistication. Although…the hat is really not that “office friendly”. Moschino Spring 2012

This could read “men’s pajamas” if not properly tailored – but suits with prints are certainly a current trend. Stella McCartney Spring 2012

Sleeveless in Suitville! Here is an alternative approach to the basic suit shape. Rachel Roy Pre-Fall 2012

This could go “part-time CLOWN” fast – so be sure you have the right body type and accessories to go with it. Duro Olowu Fall 2012

What a great way to liven up a basic black look. Also perfect for “dirty hair” days when you need to wear a pony. Dion Lee Resort 2013

I am liking the idea of a printed tux for ladies…not so much for our counterparts though. That just reads, “PIMP”. Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013
Happy Suiting!
A Bump in Beijing: Weeks 22-25
25 JulWe are certainly progressing in the “bump” area! For those of you who requested new shoes each week…I hope you are not disappointed. If you commented on the fact that my hair grew bigger in each photo during weeks 18-21…I am sorry but my thin, baby fine hair is pretty much maxed out with the teasing and “Big Sexy” aerosol hairspray.
Only 15 weeks to go until we meet our little Olive!
Check out Weeks 18-21 for a “Bump Comparison”!
Think Pink
23 JulWhile having a little girl on the way is relatively new to me…having the color pink on the brain is certainly not! That said – it has enhanced my love of the color even more – which I didn’t think was possible. And – it seems that I am not alone in my affinity for all things PINK. Numerous designers used the girly hue in their resort collections. I believe that many of them chose the specific Schiaparelli shade that you see below to pay tribute to the brand’s big comeback. I personally cannot wait to see who will be named the new head designer of the infamous label. Waiting on PINK pins and needles until September…
Images courtesy of http://www.style.com.