With less than 11 weeks to go until our little bun-in-the-oven makes her debut, her current home (my bump) is certainly making room for her growing baby body.
Tag Archives: love
Barbie Baby Shower in Beijing
7 AugIt is no secret to those who know me that I am a lover of all things Barbie. So when my dear friends here in Beijing decided to throw us a baby shower – the theme was apparently a “Barbie Doll Brainer”…i.e. a no brainer. Not to suggest that creators behind the famous doll do not have brains…it is just that if you literally squeeze the doll’s head, it is hollow – there is no plastic brain. Perhaps something Mattel should think about adding…
While my Ken doll, Brett, was in the know, the shower was a total surprise to me! What a fun treat to find all of my Beijing beauties dressed in their “Barbie Best” to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Olive Bee. And while the actual brunch baby shower was a surprise, I was not surprised at all to find that these special ladies had covered every detail – including a preggers Barbie centerpiece! I will now let the pictures do the talking…
The brunch menu – complete with my face super-imposed on the Original Barbie. Each place setting came with its own pair of shoes and matching handbag…Barbie size of course!
Playing with the pregnant Barbie. She and I really bonded that day as we were the only guests not partaking in the free-flow of pink champagne!
Preggers Barbie Centerpiece
How cute are these custom Barbie cupcakes??
More of the cutest cupcakes… by Lollipop Bakery in Beijing
Brett and I with KC Connolly – i.e. Ghetto Fabulous Barbie!
2 of our Barbie Hostesses with the Mostesses! Neon Barbie Megan Connolly and Lena Abed as Skipper.
The very pink party table sprinkled with Barbie Shoes…
GIFT TIME! The must-have onesie for our future New Yorker.
Thank you ladies for all of the amazing gifts…snuggly blankies, her first Qipao, the cutest teeny tiny socks I have ever seen, and enough clothes for me to change her “look” multiple times a day. Let’s just say…you all know me well!
With our very own petite size Happy Family Set – Ken, Barbie, and Baby!
It is tough to get this many Barbies to focus at the same time… Thank you to our wonderful hostesses!
Outside of MODO, a fabulous choice for the Barbie Brunch Baby Shower, in Sanlitun village.
I would like to say another BIG Barbie THANK YOU to all of our sweet friends who organized this celebration in honor of our little one. Being pregnant and planning to give birth in China is certainly a unique and sometimes challenging experience, but having the love and support of such great friends is a true blessing.
The Big Reveal
22 Jul
Next to the delicious “duckie” cupcakes at our couples’ shower in Murray to celebrate Baby Hutch. Thank you to our amazing hosts!
As I am sure I have mentioned before – one negative of living 6,800 miles away from family and friends back in the States is not celebrating the “big moments” of life with those who we love most. So when we had the opportunity to reveal our little one’s gender with our nearest and dearest in person…we could not pass up the opportunity!
I cannot take any credit for how fun and creative the “Big Reveal” turned out to be. Leave it to Kim Willson and Mary Kay Bowden, my best friends since we met as teeny little girls on Olive Street, to create the perfect “Margarita Mama” baby shower complete with a baby carriage piñata busting to announce GIRL or BOY! I think you will see in the short video clip below that we were completely SURPRISED!
It’s a GIRL!!
Well…in case you couldn’t see clearly enough – all the candy inside the piñata was PINK – revealing that we are in fact having a baby GIRL. And although Mary Kay and Kim obviously knew what we were having (as they filled the piñata themselves) they were totally shocked that we had not tried to milk it out of our mothers – who were with us the day before at the ultrasound when the doctors determined that our little bun-in-the-oven is of the female variety. To be fair – Donna (my mother-in-law) should also be given credit. She read the ultrasound herself!
Brett busted it open with one swing! What a big strong baby daddy!
Honestly, it was a bit of a risk to do a big reveal so early in the pregnancy. I was only 4 months at the time…which is still a little early to be 100% sure – but it was our only chance as it is not permitted to learn the baby’s sex here in China. At 6 months in – we are 100% that Brett has his hands full with another “little me” on the way. I believe my father’s words were “good luck with that”. I am thrilled to continue on with the pink parade…and I feel confident that Brett is too!
Excited and totally surprised! Full disclosure…we had taken the “Intelligender” test (an over-the-counter pee stick type thingy” while we were in New Orleans a few days before, and it said BOY! Well…that was fifty bucks down the toilet – literally.
Our sweet guests watching Brett bust the piñata. The joy of growing up in a community like Murray, Kentucky (officially American’s friendliest small town) never fades. Thank you to all of you for celebrating this moment with us!
Hugging my mom. As her side of family only seems to produce little girls – I think she was a bit relieved. I did overhear her telling Brett’s mom – “I don’t think I would have known what to do with a boy!” Mom…I have no doubt you would have figured it out!
Getting parenting tips from my dad. With my little brother, Bailey, having just turned six…his experience is not as dated as one might think!
With my sweet Mary Kay. Thank you to you and Kimmy for all the amazing details. What a treat to share this moment with you! I can’t wait to watch Annabelle, Drewsie, and Olive tell Sanders and Russell that “NO BOYS” are allowed just like we told Robert!
Drew, Kimmy, and Mary Kay enjoying some tasty treats!
“Baby Girl Talk” with the ladies of the family. My mother-in-law Donna, My Aunts Jane, Lorna, & Cindy, and My Grandmothers Bettie and Jean.
Admiring the gift from Nanny, my maternal grandmother, a necklace given to her when she was five by my great-grandparents. So precious! Can’t wait to give it to our little Olive Bee when she turns five.
Chatting with some of my favorite humans on the earth!
What a special day for our family of 2.5! Thank you again to our hosts and guests who made the day even more memorable for us. We are so blessed!
A big thank you to Tara Dennison for capturing this moment for us on video! It is such a treasure.
Beach Babymoon
20 JulWhile the word itself…”babymoon” seemed to turn my husband’s stomach – he had absolutely no problem with the concept of actually taking a fabulous trip before our little munchkin arrives. Personally – I don’t care what you call it. I will take a romantic get-away with my husband any chance I get! So off to the Maldives we went to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Hutch.
After rave reviews from my sweet friend and newlywed, Brandace Wilson, (who just returned from her honeymoon) we knew we must take advantage of the direct flight from Beijing to Malé while we still had the chance. And while it was difficult to choose a resort (because they are all quite amazing) – in the end we went with the W Resort & Spa on Fesdu Island…just 1 of the 1,200 that make up this beautiful island nation situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
On the W Jetty waiting for our seaplane take-off. The W has its own lounge full of cool drinks and tasty treats while you wait for “fins up”.
The sign of a good trip…the seaplane had my monogram.
The vast majority of our time in the Maldives was spent in our own little ocean oasis. When your “hut” has everything you need including direct ocean access, a plunge pool, a well stocked snack station and minibar, and the best in-room service…why leave? So – we basically didn’t. Except for breakfast. This preggers couldn’t resist the delicious spread of the buffet and the “fruit man” who created custom fruit plate masterpieces to suit one’s individual tastes.
Outdoor space on our Ocean Oasis. The W also offers beautiful beach bungalows – but I think the over-the-water option (with glass bottom floors inside) is the more interesting and fun of the two.
Brett’s backflip into the ocean off the deck. Reminding me that I was truly not cut out to be a “boy-mom”!
In-Water Dining! Even if it is a bit warm outside…the W makes sure that your feet are cool by allowing you to give them a dip while enjoying your morning meal.
One of many “bump” pictures…
One perk of traveling to a Muslim country while pregnant…the “mocktail” list is almost as long as the “cocktail” list!
The bird and the bump!
We decided to do a little photo shoot after breakfast one morning (mainly because I had finally washed my hair for real in a legitimate shower…as opposed to an ocean one!)
One night we decided to take advantage of the W’s In-Room BBQ Service. They provide all the “fixings” and you can choose between American or Asian style. Clearly, with the current lack of American BBQ in our lives …we opted for the potato salad and grilled corn-on-the-cob option. All that was left for us to do (after they delivered the spread and set-up the grill for us) was to actually throw the meat (ribs, burgers, and wings) on the grill and eat it!
My Grill Master!
Great food. Great view. Extra great company.
The proximity to China and the lack of visa issues for mainland Chinese makes the Maldives a great destination for Chinese honeymooners. Here were some of our favorites…
This couple wore matching outfits everyday. Not your typical “trousseau” to say the least!
Although we only caught a quick glimpse of their husbands, these ladies went all out for a not-so-impromptu photo shoot around the tiny island wearing formal gowns. We see this constantly in the Mainland!
On our last day at the resort, before heading back to Malé for a quick tour of the world’s smallest capital city and then back to Beijing, we decided to allow ourselves the ultimate cliché in destination drinking…Pina Coladas! (A virgin one for me of course!) But who could resist this packaging??
Puckering up for his Pineapple! His was much better than mine…I did have a tiny sip!
Until next time beautiful blue water and soft silky sand!
A parting message in honor of our little beach-bun-in-the-oven!
Look at Us in Lowveld Living Magazine!
28 JunAs a small town girl from Murray, Kentucky (population = tiny) marrying a mid-western boy – I never dreamed that my wedding might one day be featured in a South African magazine. But “Lowveld” and behold…here we are!
Below is a link to the entire magazine, although you can only view a few pages for free. We are on page 87.
Morgan & Brett in Lowveld Magazine Winter 2012
Lowveld Magazine Cover Winter 2012
Lowveld Living | Winter 2012 | Inside | Zinio Digital Magazines
The Look of Love – Met Gala 2012
8 MayThe list of beautiful gowns and ladies in them on the red carpet at the 2012 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala is endless. I will get to the standouts…but first – the real standout of the evening (for me anyway) – was the THE LOOK OF LOVE. There is just something about the look of a happy couple…it’s always in style.
Andre Balaz and Chelsea Handler
Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady
Funny Couple Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel (in Prada)
More of the Best Dressed at the Met to come…
Best Laid Beach Plans…
22 MarJust as I sit here in our apartment, looking out onto the pollution filled Beijing skyline – I am supposed to be sitting next to my marvelous man with a glass of something sparkling in hand, aboard a plane bound for Sanya. Specifically, Haitang Bay. Specifically, see below.
But as it has a way of doing from time to time…life got in our way. So, I decided to distract myself (from the cold…the smog…and our annoying neighbors’ cigarette smoke that permeates the hallway and seeps under our door – sorry for the bitterness of this beach deprived blonde) by writing about glory days of beaches past.
So onto to something much more marvelous…like Mozambique!
The Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique was the perfect way to end our 3 week stay in Africa. It was all sand, sailing, seafood, and fun in the sun. Even my third degree burns (see: A Burnt Bride) couldn’t put a damper on this to-die-for island.
Brett enjoying a local brew while taking in the sites of the island via an open air jeep.
Our home for the week in Mozambique was one of the 16 lovely villas at Azura on Benguerra. From the service to the activities to the natural beauty of these undiscovered beaches, Azura lived up to all of our expectations. Which – as my husband (I am sure will agree) are quite high…
TRAVEL TIP: For other South Africa bound honeymooners…there are many travel companies that will push the Seychelles for “end of the trip beach time” – BUT the islands of Mozambique will provide all the luxury with half the cost. Although…that will probably change as their popularity grows – so book fast!
Our Villa
Sailing around the archipelago.
Footloose and Fancy Free
Deep Sea Fishing Success!
Our Catch of the Day!
Enjoying our catch of the day by candlelight at a romantic table for two on the private beach. Perfection.
On a positive note…we are in the process of rescheduling our beach time trip. For now – the departure date is set for two weeks with an alternative destination: The Maldives (thanks to the recent non-stop flight offered by Mega Maldives Airlines). Fingers crossed.
If a Valentine Walked the Runway
15 FebI believe that if Hallmark cards up and decided to leave their “racks” for the runway that they would most likely look like this…
Meadham Kirchoff Spring 2012
Meadham Kirchoff Spring 2012
Thakoon Fall 2012
Meadham Kirchoff Spring 2012
I think it is very clear that Hallmark needs keep their cards in check…we can’t have these looks running around every day!
Images courtesy of http://www.style.com
FALLing for Valentine’s
15 FebPerhaps it is a coincidence. Perhaps it is just a true love for the color red. Or…perhaps the fact that New York Fashion Week fell during Valentine’s Day this year inspired designers to include the color of love into their Fall 2012 collections. Whatever the reason – I don’t care. I love red, and even more – I love the nod to the day set aside for romance. Let’s FALL in love…
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Monique Lhuillier Fall 2012
Diane von Furstenburg Fall 2012
Christian Siriano Fall 2012
Rachel Zoe Fall 2012
Kevork Kiledjian Fall 2012
Wes Gordan Fall 2012
Moncler Grenoble Fall 2012
Images courtesy of http://www.style.com
A Portrait of China – REVEALED!
5 FebFor some reason this post never actually POSTED! Sorry for the delay…
A Blonde in Beijing 