Category Archives: life

05.27.15

best under eye concealers.

10 best under eye concealers | kiki's list

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Whether it’s being 38, lack of sleep or genetics (or a combination of the three) the dark circles under my eyes have really been bothering me as of late.  So, I did extensive research, tried out more than I can even imagine and have my round up of the best on the market.  Bye-Bye bags!

04.29.15

Happy Birthday Mom.

Mom  |  Kiki's List

Today would have been my Mom’s 70th birthday.  It’s hard to beleive she’s been gone almost 10 years.  I’m often sad to think of how much my girls are missing out on by not knowing her ridiculously loud voice, her abundant charisma and her loving spirit.  And just then, magically, one of them will tell one of the many “Grandma” stories that they have heard through the years while trying to imitate her in their best New York accent.

 My mom lost her 16 year battle with Thyroid Cancer two weeks before the birth of my first daughter (and her first grandchild.)  Something she so badly wanted to be there for.  My sister was also pregnant with her first child and was due two months after me.   The emotional pain of knowing what she would be missing seemed to wear on her so much more than the physical.

It took me a reaaaaaallly long time to move on.  But the fact is that I had a new family and a job and a lot of responsibility.  I didn’t have a choice.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I instinctively picked up the phone to call her when my newborn was sick, or something great happened in my life-  only to hear that her number had been disconnected.   Over the past 10 years I would have given anything to ask my mom questions about family medical history, how I was as a child, or even get a simple recipe that I loved growing up.  But that was no longer an option.

 Unfortunately, the real world is not an ideal place to grieve.  Our schedules don’t allow for it.  You take your bereavement leave, bury your loved ones and pick yourself up and dust yourself off and move on as best you can.  Picking up the pieces as you go.

But the pain of losing a parent doesn’t go away.  A piece of your heart is missing.  No one will ever love you like a parent.  That person that you’ve strived your entire life to make proud isn’t there for any of your future accomplishments.  The one who picked you up and loved you when you were at your lowest is no longer there to tell you everything is going to be ok.  One half of who you are and where you came from is gone forever.

but….

It’s now up to you to keep their memory alive.  Not just for your children, but for yourself.  And slowly that hole in your heart becomes a little smaller day by day.  It will never completely go away, but it changes, for the better.  I am so lucky to have an amazing father and two wonderful siblings.  I am so proud of how close we have kept our growing family and how well we have kept her spirit alive.  Now, 10 Grandchildren later, we make family time a priority.  Because that’s how we were raised.  I think Mom would’ve been proud.

06.06.14

fashion friday: sexy mom suits.

I have definitely been slack about getting my body into swimsuit shape.  I’ve never been how would you say…. a gym rat, but life’s been a bit stressful lately and let’s face it– it’s a lot easier to go out to eat after a day of work, school and activities than it is to figure out what to cook at 6:30 at night.  So, I am about 30 lbs. heavier than my realistic ideal weight.  Yes, I said it — 30 POUNDS.  Ugh.

 I have surrendered to the one pieces and the skirted suits…  Ruching has become my #1 swimsuit requirement to create the illusion of a toned stomach– I used to have abs that I was proud of… Now all I have is a muffin top. I am giving myself a one summer get out of jail free card of having this weight on.  But the reality is– there are a lot of sexy one pieces and skirted suits out there.  Let’s take a look, shall we?

sexy mom suits  |  kiki's list.

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05.15.14

a place to chill.

We have slowly been working on our basement the past few months.  The latest project was this set of orange built-ins.  kiki's list.This is a really big (and awkward space.)  The area on the left is about 9 inches deeper than the other two areas.  Here is the before.

kiki's list.

kiki's list.

While this side is pretty much done (aside from me finding a third matching basket at HomeGoods) the other side is a bit more laborious.

kiki's list.

I want this to be an area where the girls can hang out, read a book, or even serve as another bed for sleepovers (the length is that of a twin bed.)  I was just going to just add a custom cushion and call it a day.. but as I ponder it over in my head, the project seems to grow (story of my life.)

So, we will be creating an upholstered bench. Here are some pictures for inspiration.

kiki's list. kiki's list. kiki's list. kiki's list. kiki's list. kiki's list.

via

Wish me luck!

05.08.14

in case you were wondering….

Lola  |  Kiki's List.Last week a reader emailed me to see if Bailey was ok.  Then I realized, I’ve been Instagraming pictures of the newest member of our family, and have not shared any of her story with all of you!

So here is Lola’s story….

Two and a half months ago I received a call from a Bernese Mountain Dog Breeder that we know asking for help.  She had a Berner (Lola) who was poorly cared for and had lived in a barn her entire life. Her previous owners bred her way too young (she had 10 puppies!) and we think that stunted her growth. A pure-bred 2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog should weigh approximately 120 lbs, she weighed 48. We were thrilled to adopt her and couldn’t wait to spoil her to pieces but were heartbroken that two of her puppies were left behind in the barn.  The conditions in the barn were beyond horrible and the water bowls were frozen solid. I couldn’t bear them being left in the freezing weather without their momma to keep them warm!  So I reached out to everyone I knew and as it turns out, our friends down the street adopted BOTH puppies.  

Kiki's List.

Meet my grand-puppies… Stella Bella and Sadie Grace.  Their dad was a Golden Retriever.

Lola  |  Kiki's List.

We are so thrilled to have Lola in our lives.  We are fairly certain that she was abused because she is terrified of all inanimate objects and any sudden movement.  She’s now up to 59 lbs. and has come so incredibly far.  In fact, I’d say she’s feeling quite comfortable these days.  Maybe a little too comfortable.  Every time we think we’re almost there with the potty training.. she leaves us a little present.   It may take a little more time, after all- she was raised in a barn!

Lola  |  Kiki's List.

Oh, yes.. and Bailey is just fine!

05.06.14

sew fun!

sew fun  |  kiki's list

Last weekend we celebrated Anna Lou’s 6th birthday.  When I asked where she wanted to have it, without hesitation she voted for Little Pincushion Studio.  My girls adore Annabel and her classes.  If we only lived closer, they’d be there everyday!

sew fun  |  kiki's list

The girls had a blast!  It was a beautiful day and and as usual, Annabel had some great crafts!sew fun  |  kiki's list

Cydney Allen of Afton Photography took such amazing pictures and was so much fun to work with!sew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's list

We made these ombre cakes in jars.  All of the accoutrements for the cakes are from The Bakers Confections. 

sew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's listsew fun  |  kiki's list sew fun  |  kiki's listsew fun  |  kiki's listsew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's listsew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's listsew fun  |  kiki's list

sew fun  |  kiki's listIt was the perfect day.  We are so blessed!

Invitations  |  Little Pincushion Studio  |  Straws  |  Forks  |  Heart Sprinkles  |  Photography