Happy Halloween!

Hope y'alls Halloween is filled with lots of treats!

Here are a few posts from Halloween's past:

Daisy as Little Red Riding Hood

Amazing Kids Halloween Party

Preppy Halloween Finds

Happy Halloween 2008

A Special Trip

Tomorrow morning, we are packing up and heading to Memphis until Tuesday. This will be J's sixth state to visit in his 9 months of life (NY, GA, AL, FL, NJ.) We are going to Memphis so that J can meet his only living great grandparent, A's grandmother, "GaGa." (You might remember that my Grandmother passed away two weeks before Baby J was born.) GaGa has dementia so she probably will not understand our visit, but I know how much the trip means to A's Mom and A. I pray that she will have a few moments of understanding this wonderful event. We will be staying with A's Uncle and Aunt. I'm hoping to eat lots of good BBQ and maybe do a little Southern shopping. Any Memphis readers out there have suggestions for baby stores and stores for me?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'll be back on Wednesday. BTW, I'm typing this on my NEW laptop! Lots more posts to come.

Congrats Tucker Blair

Congrats to Tucker Blair for making it to the Upper East Side on Monday night. If you missed it, the cutest pink polka dot needlepoint Tucker Blair handband made an appearance on Gossip Girl. (See Blair's side kick.) You can buy your own here for $40.00.

Mommy Mitten

You better believe this is on my wish list! What a brilliant idea. The Mommy Mitten is a hand warmer that attaches to the handle bar of your stroller. It is water resistant and fleece lined. My only complaint, it doesn't come in chocolate brown to match my bugaboo! =)

Since I'm out and about in the elements at all times strolling Baby J, I'm looking everywhere for the best gear to help us get through the upcoming winter in the city. This is a great idea for us Moms that need to cover our hands in between handing out puffs, sippy cups and putting hats back on.

Buy it here for $29.99.

What do you think? Would you use it? Do you have any other suggestions for surviving the cold weather with a baby?

October Giveaway from Kim's Custom Cards

Check out this giveaway from Kim's Custom Cards.

Introducing Rice Designs

My sweet and very talented friend Ashley from Rice Designs has created countless baby shower

invitations (my friends even had her do my shower invite.) I email her info about each friend (bedding, nursery decor, name of baby, etc) and she works her magic to create something custom and frame worthy. Each of my friends always comments how the invitation is so "them." I also had her create Baby J's baptism invitation, which was absolutely perfect.

Big News...Ashley has her own blog now! Yeah Ashley!

Right now she is posting her wedding work. If you are a bride, you have to check it out. She's amazing! She creates whole collections of paper products for brides. I wish she had been around to help me with my wedding!

She is also doing Christmas cards this year. They are the cutest preppiest things I have ever seen. Click here to check them out. You're going to want to get in line!

I'm definitely ordering from Ashley this Christmas. We've already chatted and she's doing a custom "New York" card for us and I can't wait to see how it turns out. We are having our pictures done in Central Park in a few weeks (any suggestions on outfits for me or Baby J, please let me know.) I know she'll make our cards perfect. It's like she is inside my head and puts my ideas into stationery...but even better than I could imagine. Seriously, she is awesome and I'm going to share her with y'all before she hits the big time, because trust me she is the next Whitney English or Marie Katz from Paper Menu. =)

Please check her out and send her some business.
You can email her at: ricecustomdesigns@gmail.com
Don't forget to tell her I sent you. =)

CHEAP Monogrammed Scarves from The Palm Gifts

No, I don't have my new laptop yet. It's been shipped according to HP, but I'm watching the numbers (hubby says if the heater says 63, I have to stop or it will overheat...geeze...) on the desktop and typing fast so I can get this post to you. Ladies, this is one of those times where you just need to plan ahead. Christmas, birthdays, teacher gifts, stocking stuffer, special treat because you deserve it, etc...stock up on these precious (and extremely low priced at $12.00) scarves from The Palm Gifts. It is not often you can get a cute monogrammed gift for under $15.00!

This week only The Palm Gifts is selling their Monogrammed Scarves are for only $12.00! They are high quality and so affordable! Available in Grey, Light Pink, Black, Light Blue, and Red.

They will gift wrap each Monogrammed Scarf in a clear cello bag tied with coordinating ribbon. Ready for Gift Giving!It doesn't get any easier. Go ahead now, get your wallet out and click here to buy.

Your Welcome.

Yes, please!

Winner of Modern June Giveaway from The Paper Concierge

I'm sorry I've been MIA again. We have 2 laptops and a desktop in our NYC apt and last week ALL of them broke in one form or another. I now have a new power cord for the slow laptop I don't like, a new HP laptop being customized =) and a desktop that I'll just have to deal with and only use for very short periods so it doesn't overheat. We'll be back in full force when my new laptop arrives next week. Until then, I did go ahead and draw a winner for our Modern June giveaway from The Paper Concierge.



Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:42
Timestamp: 2009-10-16 15:20:27 UTC



Congrats to number 42, Lulu and Daisy!!!



Please send me an email to magnoliasmarriageandmanhattan at gmail dot com and I'll get you connected to Erica.



Thanks to everyone for entering and thank you to Erica for hosting this great contest. Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend. Baby is up, gotta run.

It's Giveaway Time Again-Modern June and The Paper Concierge

We have an exciting giveaway this week. Erica from The Paper Concierge is generously giving away one product from the Modern June collection.

Check out all the fun patterns some of the items come in:

A dog mat:
Cute oilcloth tote bag:
Kitty cat mat:
Fun party banners:
Oilcloth mats:




Rules:

1) Go to Erica's Modern June collection here.

2) Pick which item you would like the most.

3) Come back here and leave a comment about which item you like the most and why you want to win it.

For additional entries:

(Please remember because I use random number generator, each entry does not count unless it is in a SEPARATE comment.)

1) Tweet this contest

2) Follow me on twitter (or let me know you follow me)

3) Follow me

4) Blog about this contest and let me know you did so

The winner will be picked this weekend! Good luck friends!

Krizzy Designs Christmas Cards

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Baby J and I have been traveling a lot since he was born. He made his first trip when he was 7 weeks old to Atlanta to surprise my best friend at her wedding. Since he arrived 3 weeks early we decided to make the trip. The peditrician said he shouldn't travel until he was 8 weeks, but I couldn't miss her wedding so he gave us his blessing. It was our easiest trip to date. In fact, he's been on 16 plane segments and to 5 states in his short 8 months! A friend of mine had to make a last minute trip this past weekend and asked me for some tips. This is what I sent her and figured that I should share with y'all too. A lot of them are common tips, but who knows maybe they will help you too. Do you have any others? We are flying to Memphis in a few weeks so Baby J can meet his Great Grandmother.


Don't forget to pack:

As many diapers as you can (in case you get stuck)

Baby Tylenol (just in case)

2 changes of clothes (just in case)

Favorite toys

Tips:

Go slow and take your time through security. You don't know anyone and you can't worry about making them mad. EVERYTHING except the baby goes through the xray machine. (Side note for you non-Mom's: if you see a Mom struggling, help her out...she'll appreciate it!)

Give him a bottle on the way up and on the way down. It will help relieve the pressure in the ears and make him sleepy. Win, win.

A lot of people bring their baby carriers and say they are good.Don't be the first one on the plane, be the last. Even if they offer to let you go. The longer you are sitting there the longer you have to sit there. =)

Bring a blanket and let him roll around on the floor in the airport so he doesn't feel restrained the entire trip.

Give him a apple baby food if you have a layover. Get the gerber plastic one and don't forget a bib and a spoon. Apples are the least messy in public. =)

When you get on the plane get out a bunch of toys and his bottle and put it in the front pocket right when you sit down. That way you aren't fishing in the diaper bag the entire trip.

Don't worry about his schedule...the best thing you can do is get him to sleep on the plane!

You can bring bottled water through security if you tell them it is for the bottle. You can not bring water in the bottle already. You can bring it mixed already though. However, I have had different experiences with this at each airport and with each security person. I think they are confused by their own rules.

Good Luck! You'll do great!

One More Down-Roll Tide Roll!

The Tide pulled off another victory today! RTR! My sister is in town this weekend and we enjoyed watching the game and having a BBQ lunch at Brother Jimmy's. I love Saturdays during the fall. We've been watching football all day long!

Last night we got a babysitter and went to saw Rock of Ages. It was AMAZING! We can't quit singing 80's music today. Has anyone else seen it? Constantine from American Idol is one of the main characters and it was such a fun musical.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

If you were wondering about Baby J's cute t-shirt, it's from Sweet Pea Tees. Check their website out here to buy one is your favorite team and Check their blog out here.

Spicy Tortilla Soup

I got this recipe from Fresh Direct and made this the other night! Very yummy!

************************************************************************************

Spicy Tortilla Soup
From "Real Simple® magazine"
Among hot peppers, jalapeños fall in the medium-spicy range. If you prefer something certifiably hot, substitute Serrano peppers.

Hands-on time: 20 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes

Makes 4 servings
1 store-bought rotisserie chicken
2 32-ounce containers low-sodium chicken broth
1 small red onion, finely chopped
2 jalapeños, seeded and thinly sliced
2 large tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cup corn kernels, thawed if frozen, or fresh (from 2 ears)
A couple of handfuls of tortilla chips
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 ripe avocado, roughly chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled Feta
1 lime, cut into wedges
Click here to buy!



Remove and discard the skin from the chicken. Place the entire chicken and the broth in a large pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate to cool. Strain the broth into another saucepan. Shred the chicken meat and add it to the broth, along with the onion, jalapeños, and tomatoes and their juices. Place over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes. Add the corn and heat until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Place some of the tortilla chips in each bowl. Ladle in the soup and top with the cilantro, avocado, Feta, and the remaining chips. Serve the lime wedges on the side.