Mensch: You Saw It HERE first!

I am so happy for the makers of the new "Jewish Elf on The Shelf." You know, the one with the similar name to my Mensch on the Mantle???!! The makers took a great idea and worked hard to make it a reality, so kudos to them. Just remember that the Mensch on the Mantle was here LAST year (before all the hype about this new little guy) and that I shared the idea with the world for free!!!

"Mom’s Summer Nights"

I have been so swamped with the kids that I am not sure that I'll ever get to the Flashback Friday series, but I did have time to write this little song about what I have been up to!


"Mom’s Summer Nights"
(to the Tune of Summer Nights from Grease)
Summer laundry, piles up so fast
Summer laundry, kids had a blast
My two kids crazy for me
Loads of wash for mommy
Summer days drifting away
To, uh oh, those summer nights

Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you get out the stains?
Tell me more; tell me more
Towels “drying” out in the rain!

Summer laundry, piles up so fast
Summer laundry, kids had a blast
My two kids crazy for me
Loads of wash for mommy
Summer days drifting away
To, uh oh, those summer nights

Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you travel far?
Tell me more; tell me more
Six whole hours in my car!

She swam twice at, J C C camp
He played golf, getting all damp
Sidewalk chalk, down on the ground
Made mud pies, knees are all browned
Summer sun, something's begun
But, uh oh, those summer nights

Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you wash every night?
Tell me more, tell me more
Do you sort dark and light?

Took them bowling in the arcade
We went strolling; spilled lemonade
We made paintings without a smock
then stayed up till nine o'clock
Dirty swings don't mean a thing
But, uh oh, those summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more
But you don't gotta brag
Tell me more, tell me more
'Cause it sounds like a drag

She was sticky ice cream in hand
Well, she got filthy down in the sand
By nighttime, we’re not vey clean
Smell like outside, you know what I mean
Summer heat, bug spray and feet
But, uh oh, those summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more
Lots of play dates that never end?
Tell me more, tell me more
Can they call their friends?

It turns colder; then will it end?
Me and whirlpool, we'll still be friends
So I’ll make my laundry vow
I’m okay if it not all done right' now
Summer clothes ripped at the seams
But, oh, those summer nights
Tell me more, tell me more

Divya and Andrew's American Celebration

I recently had the pleasure of styling an event for Divya and Andrew, a New York City based couple, whose love affair has taken them around the world. Their fairytale romance includes not one, but two, dreamy weddings—one in India and another smack dab in the middle of the US ! When I first spoke with Divya over the phone, she and Andrew had just returned from their multiple-day Indian wedding celebration. Divya’s dear friend, who just happens to be a Bollywood producer, planned all of the events with a swoon-worthy amount of fabric and floral that is simply unrivaled in the US. The Indian wedding truly had it all—except some American friends and family who could not make the trip.

Never fear, Andrew's mother DJ was planning a second celebration back on US soil. Andrew’s sister, Kate, is one of my dear friends from law school. Since I virtually hijacked the planning of Kate’s wedding a few years back (coming soon to my Flashback Friday series), DJ knew who to call for help!

DJ had already reserved the Colonel Bolton Home, a picturesque historic home with a quaint white barn on the property. She hoped that I could give her some floral ideas. Immediately sensing that any floral we could produce would pale in comparison to the celebrations in India, I suggested that we nix expensive floral arrangements in favor of rustic American decor! I began dreaming of bunting, party lights, sparklers, mason jars, apples and burlap. Not only have these items been on trend the past few years, they were just perfect for a barn wedding as American as apple pie.

With Andrew and Divya in New York, DJ in Jefferson City and me here in St. Louis, we began a series of phone calls and emails to find out the couple’s desires for their big day as well as the constraints of pulling everything together from three cities. I integrated the information from our communications into a vision board. Divya not only embraced the ideas, she got into the act and started on-line shopping for all of the items. We quickly realized that the cost of shipping items from multiple stores was too steep and, frankly, confusing. Thus, my “Teamwork” Package was born. I shopped my wholesalers and usual sources for décor, adding some handcrafted details and gave the whole box as a kit to the family along with instructions for how to put it all together. The kit included burlap runners, rustic french pots, worn tool boxes planters, and small details (Spanish moss, bunting to adorn the tool boxes,and even the rafia to tie on the mason jars). The couple assembled the components the day before the wedding with charming results. Click on the collage below for a few sneak peaks from their big day(I am awaiting the photographers' pictures):




Thanks to DJ, Divya, and Andrew for allowing me to be a part of their special day!