July 2011

better than barney

This has been the summer of downsizing, or at least, of trying to get rid of clutter. And yet, while we were donating (or trying to donate– a lot of our stuff wasn’t quite up to snuff) to a favorite local thrift shop, the last thing I expected was to leave the place with new treasures in hand.

But when my husband found this 1960 NY Philharmonic recording of Peter and the Wolf, with Leonard Bernstein narrating and conducting, we couldn’t resist and found ourselves listening, rapt, along with our three year old, while Peter and the bird captured the wolf that ate the hapless duck.

It’s a wonderful story in any form, but seriously, can you imagine anyone better to narrate the story than the most brilliant conductor ever? Plus he’s a great storyteller, and doesn’t talk down to his young listeners at all (something that drives me crazy with so many readings of kids books these days.) And he always leads his orchestras to play with such emotion that the entire story is palpable, from the sun shining down on the meadow to the grandfather’s anger at Peter’s waywardness.

So if you don’t already have it, please make this a part of your arsenal of things to do with your kids. If for no other reason than this– how much would you rather have this music running through your head all day than the theme from Blue’s Clues?

Come on, be honest.

zero swimming

A long long time ago, when desperate for something to use as a bathing suit bottom, I bought some black girdle underpants at Woolworth’s. Yep, Woolworth’s. Thus marked the beginning of my mix and match bikini wearing and it’s been going strong ever since.

Best part about it is, I get to pick and choose what tops and bottoms fit (and look) the best, while also being pretty damned sure that no one else on the beach is going to stroll by in the same exact suit. Which is more important to me than I care to admit.

I’ve had these beautiful bottoms from Araks for several years now, and loved them dearly, but it is only in the past week that I have found them a suitable mate.

Enter Maria Cornejo– artist, designer, genius– and her new line of swimwear. I found the perfect perfect top. Beautiful color and cut, and it actually stays on in the ocean (nothing worse than diving into the surf fully clothed and then coming up empty, so to speak.)

There are equally amazing one piece suits as well… it’s very much worth a trip to the shop if you are in NYC (or LA), as many of the styles aren’t available online. Maybe you already have the perfect suit. But if you’re anything like me, you’ll appreciate checking this out. Cause there’s nothing like a good bathing suit to make you feel like a grownup, in the best of ways.