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Style

What To Wear: Engagement Photo Shoot

Q. I was wondering if I could ask your opinion on what to wear for an engagement shoot. We're going to be taking photos in a nearby park, and are a casual couple who appreciates comfort.

- Stacy

A. Congratulations!

My feeling about engagement shoots is that most important thing is that you a) look like yourselves, and b) have fun. What that means: simple pieces that you’re all comfortable in, and that feel like things you’d actually wear not just for a photo, but in “real life”, as it were. That said, feel free to dress up a little - a light, romantic dress is perfect for an engagement photo shoot.

Style

Toddler Find: Tie-Dyed Tee

One of my favorite-ever finds for our son: this tie-dyed tee from MimiMade Designs, purchased for just $5 at a local street fair last weekend (also available online; just contact her and she'll custom-make one for you).

I want him to never, ever grow out of it. (Of course, by the time he does I'll have someone all ready and waiting to hand it down to, and nothing ages quite as well as a good tie-dyed tee.)

Lifestyle

Is Instagram Ruining Blogs? …Or Making Them Better?

I think a flask used to go in this pocket.

Reading this IFB piece on How Instagram Ruined My Blog - in which the author describes how she essentially migrated all her "good" content over to Instagram, to the detriment of her blog - got me thinking. Because there's so much talk out there about how the bazillions of social media outlets available nowadays result in the fragmentation of content that could easily be streamlined onto a single platform…but there's also the reality that each platform really does have its own community, with its own personality, drawbacks, and benefits. And missing out on one can feel like missing out on an opportunity to connect.

The platforms I use: Wordpress (the main RG site), Tumblr, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. That is a lot of platforms. Some have unique content and some are essentially feeds for the main site, but I maintain them all on a pretty much daily basis.

SWEETS

Watermelon Lime Mocktail (Or Cocktail)

Being pregnant makes me way more inventive when it comes to my drink menu. I always like the idea of serving a "specialty drink" at a party, but usually it sounds like way too much of a pain to make, and I end up just setting out some beer and wine, having a few cans of soda on hand for anyone who wants something non-alcoholic, and calling it a day.

But I'm kind of sick of ginger ale and was feeling like something a little more fruity and summery, and so when I had a few friends over on Sunday afternoon I decided to make a drink (adapted from a recipe I spotted in US Weekly) that would work for equally well as a cocktail and as a mocktail (and for the kids).

My Looks

Beach Day

Gap TunicCrocs Flip-Flops }

Beach outfits are a little tricky at the moment. Basically…none of my bathing suits fit. And the bandeau-style ones that are adjustable and thus can be made technically the right size are nevertheless a little...

ah...

Lifestyle

Links & Love & Stuff

Indy and I spent Sunday morning frosting Funfetti cupcakes, mostly because my obsession with them knows no bounds (as you can see, he's more about the icing). We might need to try this Oreo Funfetti Cake With Oreo Cheesecake Filling next - or at least definitely for the next birthday that rolls around, because in addition to looking like it tastes incredible, it's so pretty.

This Page Six article on the madness that was the Kim/Kanye wedding, written by a spy planted at the event, is a national treasure and must not be missed. My favorite part: "Kanye danced five songs alone with Kim to John Legend (playing the marble piano), with no one else on the dance floor, and light only on them. It felt like it went on forever. Kanye then gave a 45-minute toast to himself."

If I were in the market for anything other than a maternity bathing suit (which I don't really want to buy, but it's sadly looking like I must), I would buy this one.

Decor

Zio Ziegler For PBteen Collection

Tell me this is not the coolest kid bedding ever.

I mean, it’s not even “kid” bedding; not really. It’s just “cool” bedding.

PBteen – a store that I’ve been patronizing for decades beyond when I qualified as a “teenager” (and that I suspect you have too; they have some very good stuff in there) – just released a limited-edition collection of bedding, backpacks and accessories created by artist Zio Ziegler.

DIARY

Making New Mama Friends

The below, about the difficult process that is trying to forge new friendships as an adult, is an excerpt from Ramshackle Glam

(Read the full book on your Kindle here.)

Making friends as a grown-up is a tough business - I personally spend approximately 90 percent of my first conversation with a new person trying to figure out exactly how much of my personality I can reveal while not freaking them out - and making friends as a new mom can be even tougher.

ENTREES

Easy Breaded Veal Cutlets

Veal almost never occurs to me as something you can actually eat.

When I see veal listed on a restaurant menu, my eyes skip right past it. I've bought it in the grocery store maybe five times in my life.

It even took me a second to remember what kind of meat it is (ssh). It's safe to say the stuff is off my radar.