Angel Dear Lovies…Because Monogrammed Jellycat Bunnies are sooooo February 2013.

By Kelley | Published: May 23, 2013

Lately, we’ve seen a surge in sales in our Angel Dear Lovies and Angel Dear Blankets.   angel dear loveyangel dear loveyangel dear loveyAngel Dear loveyangel dear blanketAfter the Great Bunny Rush of 2013, we were wondering if ya’ll would remember about these tried and true lovies, and we’re happy to see that you have. Of course there’s no surprise these are popular-Angel Dear has been on our radar for years, as all of our children had a host of Angel Dear lovies when they were younger(and we still find them in their beds now!).  We knew when we launched Peekawhoo that we wanted to carry this line of lovies and blankets as they monogram well and are perfectly soft and sweet, and Angel Dear is well-known for their high-quality products.  We’ve come a long way since snuggling with these when I was a kid…to loving on these…and these!
jellycatOne of our customers sent us this photograph of her daughter with her monogrammed Jellycat bunny and Dream Blanket from aden + anais, and we fell in love.  She did too, from the looks of things!

Thanks for checking in, friends, and have a great Thursday!

#TBT, on the Eights.

By Kelley | Published: May 17, 2013

Recently I’ve been dipping into the closet in the guest bedroom, the one where more often than not I’ll find Lucy snoozing on the bed, pretending she can’t see me since she knows she’s not supposed to be on there and if she’s not looking at me, then I can’t see her, obviously.

This closet houses old longalls and jon jons of the kids that I can’t get rid of, the shiny purple strapless pantsuit type situation I wore to our rehearsal dinner(black feather boa included), a dress of my mom’s from a luau in Hawaii before I was born, a Saks Fifth Avenue dress I got in 1995 yet can’t seem to part with, a Magnolia Baby monogrammed converter that belonged to #3, my prom dresses…you get the picture.  We’ve established previously that I have trouble getting rid of stuff(romper, anyone?), and though I’ve improved since we moved back into our house, there are still a few pockets here and there where I’ve squirreled away stuff I can’t part with just yet.

Case in point: the pig and corn wrap skirt below.  I saw this gem hanging in the closet the other day and thought-it’s Friday.  Why not!  It was also almost Mother’s Day, and this skirt was my mom’s from 1978, so I decided to wrap it on up, bring it back, and pay homage to my mom’s awesome style.

I was a little surprised to find this old hoodie hidden amongst the dresses and the longalls, but once I spotted it, I put it on immediately and was more than a little shocked to discover that it still fit.  Given the year was 1988 and it likely draped over me like a giant mumu then, I shouldn’t be surprised that it fits well now.  If you’ll remember this post, you’ll know that a significant part of the 80s were spent watching my brother on the wrestling mat, and I used to wear this hoodie and my wrestling shoes while I was handing out towels to the wrestlers after their matches.  I was, obviously, an integral part of the team.   I have the sweatshirt to prove it.
In 2008, Jay and I left the kids for a week-the longest we’d been away-and went to Portland, Oregon for a friend’s wedding where I picked up this flowered frock at a little boutique in the Alberta Arts District.  Liked it then, like it now.

In case you’re new to this blog and are reading here for the first time, let me assure you that this is in no way a fashion blog.  I’m laughing at the notion that it would ever be a fashion blog, excepting the possibility of Heather taking the reigns, as she’s ridiculously fashionable and stylish and bejeweled and in the know about whether you should wear a wedge or a flat with this jean or that, about whether you should use chevron or seersucker or twill for your applique.  Not sure what pink goes on that adorable aden+anais Dream Blanket?  No worries.  She knows which pink.   Can’t decide between apple or turquoise on your new monogrammed Mixed Bag Tote?  She’ll steer you right and make it look good.  She can also wear white pants and tunics.  I’ve never been able to wear white pants and tunics.

I have white pants.  And a tunic-like thing.  They’re both in my actual closet, the one with the clothes hanging in them that I’m a little tired of looking at, that I stare at every morning, divining some inspiration, hoping something new will appear.  And that’s when I find myself moseying up the hall to the front bedroom, perusing the closet with all the leftovers.

The thing about the leftovers is this-just about every one has a story, a history that registers somewhere in the back of my mind when I run my fingers along the edge of the fabrics.  The crazy patterned wrap pants that I wore to one of my Mom’s art openings a few years ago?  They’re hers from when she and my Dad and brothers lived in San Francisco, before I came along.  The long cotton elephant-and-flower patterned (you know what I’m talking about, right?) sleeveless hippie dress?  From the days in high school and beyond when I wanted to follow the Dead.  The Mad Men-esque deep pink tweed suit with the offset fur collar from Bergdorf’s that belonged to Jay’s grandmother, the wildly impractical short-sleeved smocked bubble with the peter pan collar from the Eldest’s first Christmas, the delicate knee-length white knit sleeveless dress with knit picot trim that belonged to my grandmother, the too-short navy sleeveless dress I wore to my my brother and sister-in-law’s rehearsal dinner where I gave a 19 year-old’s version of a heart-felt toast and then drank too much and danced the night away…these clothes are, in the words of Jerry Garcia, “built to last while clouds roll past like cloudscapes in the sky.”  They matter to me and my story,  and even if their quality isn’t built to last, the tales that accompany them are.

1978, 1988, (we’ll skip 1998 since I was wearing XXL cotton sorority tees and purple Patagonia shorts that I finally, finally got rid of last year), and 2008.   I’m curious, naturally, what’s in store for 2018, what pieces of my current wardrobe and those of my kids will be moved to the front closet, what kinds of stories they’ll tell, what I’ll look back at and think I can’t believe I ever wore that or, more likely, if history is any indication… I think it’s time to bring that back!

What do you think that will be? What stories do you have in your closet?

Thanks for checking in, friends, and have a great weekend!

*Also, this post was ideally supposed to be published yesterday, on Thursday, but like usual, I’m behind…

 

 

 

 

HeArt and Soul

By Kelley | Published: May 2, 2013

On Thursday after the Boston Marathon, the kids’ school hosted its annual art show, where all the students proudly display the work they’ve created under the tutelage of Jill, the school’s amazingly talented and energetic art teacher.  It’s always such a lovely event, with art displayed all over the campus in the classrooms, in the office, on the walkways.  Jill, an artist herself, is one of those remarkable teachers who is able to convey fact, technique, and fun, instilling a love and appreciation for the process and study of art.

Jill teaches the kids about the great artists, the great works-Degas, Monet, Van Gogh this year, Picasso and Leonardo da Vinci in years past.  They listen, they learn, they emulate, they experiment, they create.  They learn the rules so that one day, they can break them, they can move beyond and outside the lines and make their own magic.

These are good things, these paintings.  The kids were proud to see their work displayed, to see their investments admired.  Though kids may not feel the anxiety as acutely as adults, it’s often difficult to release something you’ve made out into the world for fear of its critique or misunderstanding or that people just flat out won’t like it.  You’re putting a piece of yourself out there-writing, painting, drawing, dancing, singing-these forms of creativity allow us to express ourselves in ways different from our typical greetings and correspondences; they bring beauty and perspective and form to emotion, to feeling.

In our home, we have lots of art.  It’s not necessarily fine or expensive, but it covers our walls.  As a former Art History minor, the daughter of an artist, and someone often billed as “creative”, I enjoy the study and history of art, its relationship to and critical foundation in the formation of culture.

And what I’ve also learned through the years about art is that I like art because you made it.  Because it came from you.  Because you went out on a limb and put some of yourself into it, because you shared with the rest of the world.  

Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” is evidence that not all art is joyful, that what we sometimes need to share is darker, deeper, more reflective of ugliness rather than beauty.   But it’s all there within us-the light and the dark, the beautiful and the twisty.  The key, I think, is getting the light to shine brighter than the dark, in seeing the shared value of creating something, in putting ourselves out there so that we become a part of the collective good, of the energy that moves us forward.

It’s part of what we love so much at Peekawhoo that I’ve mentioned before-seeing your styles and your choices, recognizing the kind of joy that comes from putting together a color, fabric, and texture.  We monogram, yes.  And applique.  But we’re also working together with you to put some goodness out into the world, to bring a little love and light to your babies and your mamas and your kids.

The way I see it, the world could use a little more of that love and light now, and always.

Thanks for checking in, friends, and have a creative Thursday!

 

 

aden + anais Blankets…and an Interview with our Lucky aden + anais Dream Blanket Winner, Jaclyn!

By Kelley | Published: April 18, 2013
Good afternoon, friends!
As you know, we recently held a giveaway for our new aden+anais Dream Blankets!  If you missed it, it may be because you’re not following us on Facebook.  (Now would be a good time to do that so you don’t miss another giveaway opportunity!)aden and anais dream blanket
aden and anaisWe’re also carrying the aden+anais swaddle blankets, too, in case you hadn’t heard.  aden and anais swaddle blanketaden and anaisaden and anais
We are in love with these aden+anais blankets, especially when you personalize them!
Our lucky winner, Jaclyn, will be receiving the Pink Medallion aden +anais Dream Blanket, and we’ll be shipping it to her in Michigan.
We love hearing from every single one of you, and in the interest of learning more about our valued customers, I caught up with Jaclyn yesterday to find out a little bit more about her.  She is awesome-a mom of six, a homeschooler…I could go on and on, but her answers below speak for themselves.  Read on to find out more about this super-cool Peekawhoo fan!
1.  Tell us a little about yourself-where you’re from, where you live, family, etc.

Well, my name is Jaclyn and I’m from Michigan – born, raised and still here.  We (my husband Ryan (of almost 14 yrs) and our six children (2 boys ages 13 yrs and almost 4 yrs and 4 girls ages 10, 9, 5 1/2 and 17 months)) live in the Upper Peninsula, near Lake Superior.  I’m a homeschooling stay at home mom, I love to get my craft on, so it’s a good thing that my children love to craft as well!  I also love to be in my kitchen baking and cooking!  

2.  What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?
My favorite thing? Hmm…. The cuddles, no wait… It would be the sweet notes I get from them.  No, I think it’s being able to see them learn and grow, each day is an adventure!  Of course then there are the giggles – I love to hear them laughing!  They are all such a blessing!  Even on the days when they drive me batty! ;) I guess there is no ONE thing that is my favorite, there are many things!

3.  How’d you hear about Peekawhoo?  And what’s your favorite thing about Peekawhoo?
A few weeks before Easter I was browsing through my news feed on Facebook.  I happened upon a post by Lil Blue Boo about the Jellycat bunnies with a 10% off code for them as well!  I had been looking for something for our youngest and instantly fell in love with them and right away ordered one.  We could NOT be happier.  This bunny is soft, cuddly and adorable!  She takes it every where with her.  I had the ear monogrammed and every where we go, we get compliments on it!  I love how soft the light pink thread is against the beige bunny!  You are now my go-to place if I am in need of a gift, the quality of your items, the great customer service and communication are fantastic, so thank you for that!

4.  If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would that be and with whom?
Wow, this one is tough, but first pick would be Australia and with Ryan and ALL of the kids – what a great learning experience it would be for them!!!

5.  What was your first thought when you learned that you’d won the aden + anais Dream Blanket?
OH MY GOSH! NO WAY!  After having a really bad birthday, this certainly brightened my night to read that I had won!  I had to show my husband the post just to make sure I wasn’t reading it wrong!
Jaclyn, we’re so glad you found us and that we found you!  Thanks for being a loyal supporter and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
And thanks to all of you, too.  We wouldn’t be us without you!
Have a great day, friends, and thanks for checking in!

Simon Says.

By Kelley | Published: April 11, 2013

Last week before we were to leave town for spring break, we noticed that two out of three B boys were looking a little suspect and rashy.  The Eldest looked like he’d been slapped in the face a few times, and after karate, my mom noticed #3 had a little bumpy rash forming just below his ear.

Rather than head to the USC-Furman game at Fluor Field which would have been a lot more fun than hanging out with the whole family at the doctor’s office, we decided last minute to take them all to MD 360 on the off chance that what they had was catching.  Since we were  spending the remainder of the week with all the cousins, it seemed parentally wise to rule out something serious.

By the time we got in the room, it was 6:45, no one had eaten dinner, and they were all going ba-nanas.  Rather than hand one of them my phone so the other two could hover over the chosen one’s shoulder and fight about who gets to play what, I instead-in a fit of inspired old school fun- suggested that we all play Simon Says.

#3 immediately took the helm.

I was expecting a little hop-on-one-leg kind of business, or maybe  Simon Says turn around, touch the ground, tap your toes.  The usual kind of stuff.

(As an aside, you have to know that #3′s voice is unusually low and gravelly for a 4 year-old.  It sounds a little bit like he’s swallowed a few rocks and that they’re rolling around in his esophagus when he’s talking.  Though this isn’t an unlikely possibility, he’s always sounded this way, so his commands sound that much funnier barked out in a deep rasp.)

Instead, this is what #3 came up with.

Simon Says stick your finger in your eyeball even if your eyeball is open.

Simon Says kick your neighbor.

Simon Says fake burp.

Simon Says hit your brother.

Simon Says punch yourself in the face.

Simon Says stick your hand in your mouth.

Simon Says pick your nose.

Simon Says do this…

And so on and so on.

We all obliged, of course, and played perhaps the grossest, funniest, most visceral, most painful game of Simon Says ever.  Or at least that I’ve ever played.

It was loud and rambunctious and borderline obnoxious, and in hindsight I possibly should’ve just handed over my phone for the sake of the other patients and doctors and nurses in the office.  But it was funny and memorable, and made the strep and the Fifths Disease diagnosis a little more tolerable.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

 

Monogrammed Ruffle Butts Bikini…Stop the Press Because These Things Are CUTE.

By Kelley | Published: March 26, 2013

Y’all.  It’s cold here.

We had a baseball game on Friday night, and both kids had on four layers of shirts.  I know my roommate, Missy, who’s lived in  Chicago for the past 8 years, is shaking her head in disbelief at us right now seeing as her kids go outside and play at school as long as it’s above 20 degrees.  20 degrees!  But here in the sunny south, 48 degrees and damp is straight-up miserable.

Many of you may already be on spring break, hopefully some place warm, and even though it’s currently 38 degrees here(feels like 29!)ours technically starts Friday.

If I had a daughter, or if Heather’s daughter was, say, 8 years younger than she is right now, we’d totally, 100% have them in these adorable Ruffle Butts rash guard bikinis for spring break!

ruffle butts monogrammed bikini
ruffle butts rash guard bikiniWe have limited quantities of these Ruffle Butts monogrammed suits in sizes 6-12M, 12-18M, and 2T, and we’re loving them with the monogram!!  Now is the time to stock up on cute swimsuits because if you’re anything like me, when I finally am thinking about swimwear-at least for myself- the time has come and gone and I’m left with the sale rack at TJMaxx, which typically hosts a large portion of suits in the size 2 section, maybe a scattering in the 4s.  Basically nothing that would ever fit me ever ever ever.

And can you stand that monogram? I kind of thought of the ecard below when we decided to monogram these……but the truth is, we’d love to see some of your cute girls in Dollar Bay, Michigan, or Spokane, Washington, or Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania sporting these cute suits this spring and summer!!  They are so fun and functional they need to be all over the country, not just in the south!!

For the record, neither of our husbands have the urge to kill anything with fur or feathers.  Not that we’re hanging out at VeganVille or anything, we’re just not big hunters.

I digress.

Go buy some cute bathing suits by Ruffle Butts for your little girl or your niece or your neighbor.  Their protected skin and their sense of style will thank you for it!!

Thanks for checking in, friends, and enjoy this chilly Tuesday!

Friday Funnies: I Can’t Make This Stuff Up.

By Kelley | Published: March 15, 2013

Some of y’all have read about my carpool escapades, about the kinds of banter that gets batted around inside the automatic doors of the Hottessy.  Thanks to a very gracious co-carpooler who also happens to be a morning person, I only drive carpool one morning a week, but drive 4 of the 5 afternoons.  Though I do enjoy the afternoon shift, when the boys finally shove their way into the car, they’re all a little slap-happy, a little cranky, a little on the edge of their seat.  But in the mornings they are full-up with all kinds of optimism and genius, excited to see each other, ready for a new day.

Tuesday morning, AC/DC’s Back in Black was on the radio, playing in the background, when their conversation commenced.

C: Is Stonehenge real?

H: Yes.

C: How do you know?

H: I just know.

C: Is it in England?

H: Yes. But Bon Scott is from Scotland, even though you can’t hear his accent when he sings.  Hear that?  BACK IN BLACK?

C: What?

H: Bon Scott.  The lead singer of AC/DC.  When he talks, he sounds like “Sheeke the Fown-daaaay-shun” (he says this in a surprisingly good Scottish accent) but when he sings, he sounds like “SHAKE THE FOUNDATION!”

At this point we drive past a car with a dog in the back.

A: Oh look!  A lab!  Our neighbors have a lab.  She’s friends with Oscar and Rose.

H: Labs are blinding-eye dogs.

C: Labs make you blind?

H: No, they help you see.

A:  What?

H: They help blind people see.

C: What?

H: Did you know that LeBron James wears glasses when he’s not playing basketball?

A: Why?

H: I guess because he needs glasses.

A:  I bet his glasses are HUGE.

C: What if he doesn’t really need them?

H: Yeah!  What if his glasses are fake!

C: I’d like to see LeBron in a baseball uniform.  He’d be HUGE.  Dude.  One of the kids on my team, his dad is a pro baseball player.  He got drafted to play for the Braves when he was SIXTEEN.

H:  Did he play in the majors?

C: I think he played in the minors.

A: Or on a farm team?

C: Aren’t they the same thing?

H: No. It goes high school, farm team, minors, majors.

A:  Who does he play for now?

C: I don’t know.  But my neighbor is playing for the Mets.

A:  The Nets?

H: The Mets.  The Brooklyn Nets are a basketball team.

Somehow, and I’m not sure how I missed the segue, the conversation shifted to paralysis.

A: So if you’re paralyzed, you’re basically alive, you just can’t move?

H: You’re not basically alive.  You’re totally alive.  You just can’t move.

C: Being paralyzed is like being stuck in an iceberg.  Without the ice.

H:  Yeah.  But you could blink.  Because your eyes don’t have bones.

A: What if your hair was paralyzed?  Like the rest of your body wasn’t, but your hair was?

H: What if your hair was paralyzed in a mohawk!?!

There were more Q and A’s, more misunderstandings, more nuanced segues…but by the time we got to school and they opened the pressurized door of the cabin, exploded out into the gravel and then ran up the steps into the classroom, this was all I could remember.  I quickly scribbled down as much as I could when I got home, knowing that soon enough, my brain wouldn’t have any more space for this conversation, that it would be gone with the wind with the rest of the things I always think I’ll remember but never do.

What kinds of kid genius are you overhearing these days?

Thanks for checking in, friends, and have a great weekend!

 

 

What We’ve Been Up To: Jellycat Bunnies, Angel Dear Lovies, Zutano Gowns, Easter Baskets, and Justin Timberlake.

By Kelley | Published: March 8, 2013

It’s been quiet on the blog, but not in the studio.  We’ve been getting our Jellycat Bunny on over here, shipping them to every corner of the country, from Redondo Beach, California, to North Little Rock, Arkansas, to Jersey to Key West.  These bunnies don’t care if it’s hot or cold or snowy or sunny where you live, and if you’ve ordered one and not yet received it, take heart.  They’ll be back in stock tomorrow and shipped at the beginning of next week, so will most certainly hop your way before Easter!
Monogrammed JellycatWe’ve also been filling cute monogrammed Easter baskets with bunnies…

Easter Basket Monogrammed

…and Petit Ami Gingham bubbles, too.  Petit Ami BubbleFolks have been excited that our Flap Happy Sun Hats are back in stock just in time for Spring Break and warmer weather, and this year we’ve added an adorable pink hat to the mix!Flap Happy Sun Hat MonogrammedWe always love seeing what combinations y’all come up with on Zutano, like the pink and turquoise monogrammed romper here…Monogrammed Zutano

…and the adorable Zutano striped gowns here!Monogrammed Zutano

Also, we may be a tiny bit obsessed with the fact that Justin Timberlake is hosting SNL this Saturday, and that he’s on tour this summer, and with his History of Rap with Jimmy Fallon that’s been circulating on Facebook. So somewhere between running the Jellycat bunnies and the 3 Marthas bibs and the Angel Dear Blankets, our conversations go something like this:

HP: I just liked JT’s Facebook page.  And I’m following him on Instagram.

KB: I’m following him on Twitter.

HP:  We need to go see him this summer!  On TOUR!  Where can we go see him?

KB: I love him.

HP: I love him! (subtext-I love him more!)

KB: How about Chicago?  We can stay with Missy.

Lull while I look up tickets…

KB: THERE AREN’T ANY SEATS LEFT TOGETHER!  How about Maryland?  Or Miami?

HP: Who do you think he’ll be dressed as on Saturday night for my favorite skit?

KB: How do you think Brittany feels about all this JT madness and hotness and dancing and bringing sexy back and what not?

HP: What goes around comes around.

KB: Maybe we should watch the History of Rap again.

HP: Maybe you should come look at this photo from his Instagram stream.  Again.

KB: Maybe he should have married me instead of Jessica Biel.

HP:  True.

And so on and so forth.  Until we find our way back to the machines to run more Angel Dear Blankets and more bunnies.
Monogrammed Angel DearHope wherever you are it’s sunny and nice, and that you’re as excited as we are about Jellycat bunnies and Justin Timberlake.

Thanks for checking in, friends, and have a great weekend!!

 

Photo of JT from-you guessed it-his Facebook page.

25 Things(Throw Back Friday) and Jellycat Bunnies.

By Kelley | Published: February 22, 2013

First of all, I realize it’s supposed to be #TBT, but I’m behind.  So it’s #ThrowBackFriday here at Peekawhoo.

Remember about 4 years ago when that bit was circulating on Facebook, 25 Things?  Yes?  No?  Well I’m recycling it.  Partly because I’m lazy, and partly because we’re up to our (monogrammed) ears in Jellycat bunnies over here, which is awesome and fluffy and still 10% off with code BUNNYLOVE through today.

This little piece popped into my head the other day, and as it goes with most of the stuff I write, rereading it sometimes embarrasses me, sometimes makes me glad I wrote it down, sometimes makes me wish I’d never written it in the first place.  25 Things evoked a mix of all three.

Some of you may remember this list.  Some of you are mentioned on it.  Some of you  may want to write your own, and I’d love that.  I love those emails that people send that are all

First pet:

Color of Socks You’re Wearing Now:

First Love:

and so on.

They’re such an intriguing time-suck.  I haven’t gotten one in a while, so I’m basically forcing a form of an old one on you.  Enjoy!

25 THINGS

I’ve been hesitant to do this for fear that my deep, deep reservoirs of interesting material will actually come up empty. A nod to Rich, Sally, and Abby for actually thinking I might have 25 interesting things to note.
1. I rode my bike across Iowa in RAGBRAI (Registrar’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) in 1997 with my cousins Jeanne and Tommy with mom and my Aunt Lynne as our sag wagon. I was 25 pounds overweight from being overserved gelato, bread, and wine while studying abroad in Italy, as was Jeanne…none of us trained a lick and we still made it all the way. Ahhh, youth.

2. When I got deferred from UNC I wrote them a letter all about how I wanted to be a teacher, how UNC was the place for me to hone my teaching skills, to become an educator. When I went to UNC, I majored in English and minored in Art History–didn’t even go near the School of Ed. It wasn’t until after college when I was working as a temp at SeaLand in what I affectionately deem the wasteland of my existence that I realized I really DID want to become a teacher. That’s when I went back to ASU and got my teaching license and Masters.

3. I love teaching. I miss it though right now I’m not sure I could do it and do it well. I would, however, still like to go back to school for my Phd, though I don’t know if academia is the world for me.

4. Yes, I want another child. Yes, I’d love to have a girl. Give me two years and we’ll see.

5. I voted for Bush in 2000. There. I said it. So all you folks out there who think I’m some crazy tree-hugging liberal feminist freak should know that I don’t just vote party. I vote person. Usually. Or you could say another one bites the dust. Or goes to the dark side.

6. I realized I was going to marry Jay after going to Suzy Gill’s rehearsal dinner and wedding with him before our senior year in college. I came home that night and was ticked off because I knew that was it, no NYC, no travel, just marrying young and having a mess of kids.

7. Speaking of that, I used to think I had to have everything on my short list done before I turned 30. Like 30 was going to see me as some decrepit old hag. Thankfully I now know better. And thankfully I got married and had that mess of kids.

8. A marathon is on my short list, but after seeing what Jay had to do to successfully run one and run it well, I think I may be a bit crazy. Joy and Kelley in 2010!

9. There’s a guy at my gym who looks like Rick Flair. I wish Chris lived here so we could talk about it, but mainly I just wish he still lived here.

10. My parents moved to Greenville from Charlotte in November 2006. It was a bold move, to be sure, and I know they miss their friends, but I can’t imagine them not living here, can’t imagine my kids not getting to see them daily, to spend time with them. Dad says they like to come to Mimi and Bobo’s because there are fewer rules and more candy, but my parents are both such charismatic, funny, generous, interesting people, how could you not want to spend time with them?

11. As a 3rd child who’s just had my 3rd child, I’m beginning to understand why I was never all that interested in showering as a kid. Patrick, in his 4.5 months, has had maybe 8 baths? 9? Ironically, one of my roomates from college once told me I had a nice smell(we lived together for 3 years, our senior year in a house with 5 girls and one bathroom. We’re close) that was a good mix of detergent, shampoo, etc. What I didn’t tell her that the secret ingredient is a healthy dose of body odor. Birth order could also possibly explain my brother’s tendency to take up to 4 showers a day, depending on how much he sweats. He’s such a prima donna. Of course he would call me a dirty hippie…

12. Speaking of brothers, I want my kids to be best friends. It’s something I think about a lot. I never fought with my brother and consider him such a close friend; sibling rivalry is all new to me. I credit a lot of my self-confidence to the fact that Cameron let this buck-toothed crazy-haired awkward sister hang around him all the time and at least acted like he didn’t mind. Hat’s off to Joy, too, as she was there from when I was 10 on and also acted like she didn’t mind. I thought I was so cool. Then I became cool. Now I’m super cool.

13. Confidence has obviously never been a problem.

14. Though there are times when I’m with Missy or Katie Darby or other girls who have sisters that I think “ooohhh!!! I wish I could do makeup like that!” or “I wish I were that fabulous!” I think that about a lot of you girls! I get to feeling all frumpy and pasty. But I get over it pretty quickly.

15. I am a total snob about UNC. I like to think I’m not a snob about many things, but I know I am about UNC and I’m afraid it shows sometimes. I try to hide it. But I do think everyone should be a snob about their school.

16. I used to write poetry. Now I think most of it sucks. I do think I’m a decent writer, I’m just not sure what my genre is. Every now and then I’ll go back and read my Phillip Roth essay from comps just to remind myself that I can write more complex sentences than the ones I hear every day on Sesame Street.

17. Though I’m pretty good with words, I’m not all that great at Scrabble, word jumbles, etc. I can hold my own, I’m just not the Jedi that everyone thinks I should be. Jay and Joy, who can’t spell worth crap, are better. My mom is the best.

18. I once drove my blazer into the side of a QuickMart. For a split-second I contemplated driving away, and then my conscience got the best of me. When I went inside to tell them, they laughed and said “Well hell! We wondered what that big noise was back in the stock room!”

19. Julia Wood’s class, Comm 24, Gender and Communications, changed my life and the way that I view the world, as did meeting my mentor from ASU, Elaine O’Quinn. Womens’ Studies 54 was important too, as that’s where I met Matt.

20. I am a good knitter, a sub-par domestic, and a pretty good mom. Though I can’t lie–I wasn’t winning any awards at bedtime tonight. Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don’t. I just try to have it more often than I don’t.

21. My extended family has a tradition called the Naked Nine. I miss it.

22. I used to think I was a nerd. Then I read Mandy’s list.

23. I’ve considered many careers…paralegal, librarian, editor, local politician, lactation consultant(Katie G would be the best!) just to name a few. There are mornings when, to quote Caroline C, I think I “deserve a medal” for getting my kids dressed, fed, and out the door on time. And we’re talking 9 o’clock here. Other mornings I think, hey, I got this. What next?

24. I did NOLS and Outward Bound. I hope my kids will want to too.

25. I think my 2-year-old is smarter than me, a fact I find both terribly exciting and terribly frightening. He keeps me on my toes. They all do! They’ve redefined me in ways I never thought possible, made me realize that my mom was right in saying that i’d never understand the way she loves me until I have my own, made me realize what it’s all about.

You’re still reading???

Let me Count the Ways.

By Kelley | Published: February 14, 2013

Every time I call my 98 year-old grandfather, I have a little contest to see how long I can keep him on the phone.  Historically laconic in phone conversations, he comes from an era when long-distance calls were expensive and only saved for the most urgent or necessary of situations.

I’d say my record is 3 minutes, give or take, with the average phone call lasting around 1:25.  There’s rarely a “goodbye”, just an “ok”, or maybe not, and then the sound of the TV fade, fade, fading in the background as the receiver lands in the cradle with a loud click.

These days, whenever we’ve caught up and are signing off, the urgency with which Pap tells me he loves me is overwhelming.  He’s not a particularly emotional man, nor is he poetic or flowery.  But once I say “we’ll see you soon…I love you” he responds with such sincerity, such emphasis, it’s like the words aren’t quite enough to get at the feeling he’s trying to express, like those three words aren’t nearly sufficient.

I get it.

I suppose it’s the reason we try to find so many different ways to express our love, to tell each other we love one another.  ee cummings did it without punctuation, Shakespeare did it with iambic pentameter, Elizabeth Barrett Browning counted the ways.  The Beatles assured us all we need is love, Stevie Wonder just called to say I love you, and Aretha crooned that her love made her feel like a natural woman.  We paint about it, watch movies about it, write in journals and cards and letters about it, obsess with our friends about it, spend hours poring over words said or unsaid, long for the day when we find true love, wonder if we ever will.  Over and over and over again.

When Jay and I were in middle school we were best friends;  then in 10th grade, we weren’t.  That’s a topsy turvy loosey goosey doozy of a story that I’ll spare you now.  My point is, however, that after our friendship ended after three years, I always regretted not telling him I loved him.  Because I did love him-something fierce.

I finally got around to telling him, obviously.  And I tell him every day that I love him, probably because I do love him so dang much but also because I’m making up for lost time for all those years I lamented not doing so.  And I tell my mom and dad.  And my kids.  And my nieces and nephews.  And my brother and sister-in-law.  And my friends from high school and college that I don’t see nearly enough.

Have I told you?  If I haven’t, and if you’re reading this, it’s likely that I love you.  I’m not saying I want to marry you or anything, more that I appreciate you for who you are, what you do, how you love.

And though my grandfather not only told me but showed me in so many ways that he loved me-he came to my games, he warmed my shoes up by the fire in the morning, sang silly songs to me, took me fishing- he knows the importance of telling me he loves me now, and wants to be sure that I know it, that I feel it.

I’m lucky in that way, because I do.

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: A week (in an RV) in Photos.

By Kelley | Published: February 13, 2013

From Miami to Key West.


All the really good photos-courtesy of Jay.

All the rest by me.

Angel Dear Loveys and Angel Dear Blankets…just in time for Valentine’s Day!

By Kelley | Published: February 3, 2013

Good morning, friends!  Just a note to say we’ve received a big shipment of Angel Dear Lovies and Angel Dear Blankets, knowing that these will be perfect for your little ones for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter!   And finally, the Angel Dear pink elephant blanket is back in stock…hooray!

Considering I just threw away our Halloween candy (gross, I know), I’m trying to think in a different direction this holiday.  Don’t get me wrong-I love the conversation hearts as much as the next gal.  But I’ll never forget the day The Eldest came home from preschool after his Valentine’s party with a bag of candy that would make a dentist absolutely keel over.  He was three, and after dumping it all out on the table, he threw both hands in the air and proclaimed “HOLLA!”, like he’d just hit the jackpot.  And he had, if your currency is Reece Cups and Red Hots.

So this year, it’s embroidered Angel Dear all around from mom and dad, something that I know I won’t throw out in a few months, something that isn’t bad for their teeth, and something I’m certain they’ll all love.

If you’ve visited the site and it’s been down, know that it’s back up and running thanks to our awesome web gurus at See Site Run.

Hope everyone has had a great weekend!

 

The Hottessy: “Please Use Caution as Items May Have Shifted During Flight.”

By Kelley | Published: January 31, 2013

A few days ago, I haphazardly decided to tidy up my car a bit.

Now for most of you, this means bringing in your coffee cup from that morning and perhaps the jacket and scarf you were wearing that day, possibly your purse and your phone.

For me, this process is a bit more involved.  Heather can attest to my story: yesterday she had to ride around like Ms. Daisy in the backseat because the front was jam up with jackets, a birdfeeder, books, my scarf, LP’s light-up eyes from Halloween, the re-enrollment package for the kids’ school, my gym bag, and who knows what else.

I’ve never, ever kept a neat car.  I annoy myself in this regard, but it’s always been this way. Once in high school while cleaning out the back of my 1984 Rabbit convertible at the end of the school year in June, I found a cupcake container full of cupcakes that had been in there since my birthday.  In March.

Now add three sons who are all “collectors” of sorts, who aren’t exactly what I’d call neat and who, like most kids, are really into their stuff, and I’ve got a real roving dilemma on my hands.

I’ve taken a few photos-not of the car, heaven forbid, as I’ll spare you that gritty, dirty, anguish-but of just the contents of the center console, the 12 inch by 12 inch little space between the two front seats that seems to be the resting place for all manner of miscellany.

See below for the visual inventory of said space:

Skate egg case.  Naturally.


LP is obsessed with making these swans.  I find them everywhere. In addition to Gu, there were also running sleeves and headphones on top of all this mess.  With Altoids and sunglasses, too.  

That coin is from one of the sheds at my grandfather’s house where the kids found all sorts of 1996 fake Olympic coins.  There were also a few pennies, dimes, etc. on the console. But they’re likely stuck to it.  Bleh.  Gross.  
There were actually two of these cute little light-up keychain squeekers.  Wish I knew where the other earring was?

Baseball cards, legos, cds, greeting cards, #3′s current immunization record, socks, gloves, hats, jackets, more rocks, shoes, umbrellas, a coffee table book of Elvis Presley, more jackets…I could likely outfit a tiny little army with the amount of clothing in my car.  But the question always remains, as it does with the junk I just brought in from the center console…what do I do with it now?

A few months ago, Jay showed me these photos on Reddit of a lamp that a mother had made for her son.  The Reddit post is entitled “This lamp has my childhood in it.”  Apparently, the owner’s mom started saving everything she found in his pockets before washing his clothes and putting them in a glass jar on top of the washing machine.  She presented the lamp to him at his rehearsal dinner.  It’s the perfect visual representation of what our kids accrue on a daily basis, a hodge-podge of randomness that embodies the kind of treasures that are important-at least in that minute or second-to a little boy or girl.Yall know I can’t throw anything away and neither can this guy…this lamp idea may just be the ticket!

So I’m curious…what’s on your center console?  Is it clean as a whistle or do you also have a wasp’s nest and a skate egg sack sitting about??

Hope everyone has a great day and as always, thanks for checking in!

 

Throwback Thursday.

By Kelley | Published: January 17, 2013

Alternate Title: Why I’m Worried I Have the Same Haircut I Did in Seventh Grade.

Please see below:

Note how I surreptitiously slipped in that hoodie in the second photo?  Cute, isn’t it?  Local folks, head to Peekawhoo and let us make you one! And note the dress in the third photo; I took that out of my Mom’s closet last week after eyeing it for years.  She’s kept so many of her gems and I love wearing them, not only because she has great style, but also because I like thinking about my mom and dad out and about in the 60s and 70s, back when I was just a star in the sky, a wisp of an idea.

I wrote about the liberating haircut I got after the Richmond marathon back in November, and I loved it.  So when I went back last week, I decided to go no-holds-barred and cut the bangs super-short.  I loved it last week, but the non-stop rain this week has made my hair look like a q-tip, like less of an aged hipster and more of a clown.  Or, in other words, like I did in the first picture.

Given my laziness and lack of knowledge in the hair department, having naturally curly hair has always posed a bit of a stylistic problem, and though I like it fine, it’s wildly unpredictable and often big and out of control.  This crapshoot of a head of hair doesn’t really bother me, but occasionally I like to try to force the locks into some semblance of style, into something other than a ponytail-so I cut it.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.  You’ll note in the photo below from 8th grade that I’d wised up and grown out the bangs in an attempt to ditch the tiny afro.

You may also recognize the young lad sitting to my right.  

He’s been around for more than his fair share of bad hair days since back before I even realized I was having bad hair days, and I’m thankful for it.

Hope everyone’s hair is holding up in all this rain-or snow, or sun-wherever you are.  Thanks for checking in, friends, and have a great day!

Pin it to Win it.

By Kelley | Published: January 11, 2013

I’m not talking about the kind of pinning this stud used to do-

-though given the opportunity, I could write for days and days about the years 1984-1988, about undefeated seasons, singlets, wrestling shoes, rubber sweatsuits, about sweaty guys spitting in cups to make weight, about how I was the “Towel Girl” for the wrestling team, and how we traveled to Washington DC for the St. Alban’s Invitational, or a million other small and big towns in the Southeast, or to Lehigh, Pennsylvania for Nationals where I shared a room with my now sister-in-law when we were 11 and 16, or how people regarded my brother with a mixture of awe, fear, and respect, and rightfully so.  He was-and is, I should add-a complete badass.  I may be a bit biased, I know.  But it’s true.

I mean seriously.  Look at that face.  Shannon Chase, do you see that?  I make that face, but when I’m doing something like chopping an onion, or zipping a zipper-not when I’m humiliating some kid with a Figure Four after only 8 seconds on the mat.

Pinning or not, the intensity runs in the family.

But I’m not talking about that kind of pinning.

I’m talking about Pinterest!  Yay!  Peekawhoo is on Pinterest!  And here’s your opportunity to Pin it to Win it!

Here’s what you can win…This adorable Mudpie Tote in Ikat.  We LOVE this bag-perfect for the beach, for the pool, for your computer, for diapers, or for the kinds of stuff that just randomly accrues in my car, ie jackets, shoes, scarves, books, bottles of water, papers, crafts, etc.  

We’re also offering this…Angel Dear BlanketAn Angel Dear Blanket of your choice!  It’s the New Year!  Generosity and love abound!

Here’s what you need to do to enter to win.

Go to our Pinterest page.

In order to be entered in the drawing, you can either Follow Us by hitting that red button in the middle of the page!  Which you should do, because our page is cute and fun and I’ve recently added some pictures of Ryan Gosling that have absolutely nothing to do with monogramming, but will likely make you happy, and we’re here to do that too.

OR, you can follow one of our boards.

OR, you can repin a pin to win.

That’s it!  We’re notified every time someone follows us or repins, so you’ll be entered as soon as your name pops up.  Then we’ll follow you, and it will be a big Pinterest Party that’s Pintastically Pinning.

We’ll announce the winners here and on Facebook Monday morning, bright and early before we head to market.

Have a great weekend, friends, and happy pinning!!

The Great Outdoors.

By Kelley | Published: January 8, 2013

I don’t know about you, but I’m in a bit of a post-Christmas, post-New Years’, post- heyit’sbeforenoonbutwhowantsadrink? kind of situation over here, ie don’t want to get out of my pajamas, don’t want to run, don’t want to leave the house, do want to drink Mimosas at all hours, do want to watch movies, do want to read cookbooks and bake cakes.  So on Saturday when the kids started to go a little nutsy after several lazy hours watching TV and playing waaaaaaaay too much Subway Surfer on various Apple products, Jay wisely suggested that we get out of the house and take the kids on an adventure.

I was totally not wanting to go AT ALL, and instead wanted to sit around all day in my hoodie and read  was totally on board with this suggestion and immediately started suiting the kids up for a walk in the woods, so after lunch, we headed to Paris Mountain State Park and made our way to the top of the mountain, parked, and hit the Brissy Ridge Trail.

Despite Jay’s admonition to save their legs, the kids headed off full-tilt up the trail, lured by smooth dirt, rocks and trees.  And despite a whole mountain’s worth of mountain, the three of them did their best to occupy the smallest, tightest space possible, all elbows and fast feet and fleece, all vying for the same square inch of wide-open space.  I shouldn’t be surprised-despite the addition of a playroom and a craft room, not to mention a few extra square feet here and there, they all manage to wind up in approximately three square feet of house.  With the dogs.  And me.  And usually Jay.  At any rate, getting outside was, undoubtedly, the best activity for all of us. I tend to forget that hiking and camping and the great outdoors was one of “my things” before we had kids, that I’d promised to raise said kids in the outdoors as much as possible, that I’d pledged to take them camping tout suite as soon as they could toddle and that they’d learn how to boil water on a campfire, pee in the woods, make a lean-to, tie a bomb-proof knot.  And I still think they will, though I don’t feel quite as much of a sense of urgency as I did then-but that was also back when I thought my life was going to end at age 30.
Given the kinds of crazy stuff I used to do, I’m often surprised-and terribly grateful-that it didn’t.  Marathons are crazy.  But they’re typically not carried out in scree or snow on the side of a mountain.

I’m not sure if it’s laziness, proximity, or pragmatism that has kept us from heading to the woods more than we do-someone’s always been in diapers, or not quite fit for a longish hike, or I don’t want to hear them complain, or I would rather not make the effort, or I don’t want to hear myself complain when someone ends up on my shoulders.  But every time we do make the effort, we’re rewarded.

Whether it’s the discovery of soft green moss--or a cool climbing tree(that they can all climb together allinthesameplace)--or a collection of leaves, the happenstance of a single, spotted feather, the sight of a tiny, empty perfect wasp’s nest, the glint of mica, the threat of a snake in a deep hole, the cairns left by other hikers, the chill of the air as the sun starts to set-I’m reminded of the necessity of being outside in the world with the kids, where they can touch and feel and see and smell, where muscle and movement mix with earth and sky to get you back to where you need to be.

Maybe part of the reason these three desperately tried to occupy the same space was the subconscious realization of their smallness in relation to the mountain, the trees, the trails-that together, they were bigger, more of a force, than if they were alone.  It’s what I want for them after all; to recognize the deep, intrinsic connections they have one to the other-and to know the connections they have to the woods and to the world.

Thanks for checking in, friends.  Have a great day!

Photos courtesy of Jay.

Angel Dear, 3 Marthas, Mint, Mudpie…All 15% off through tomorrow!

By Kelley | Published: December 30, 2012

Good morning, friends!

Through tomorrow at midnight when the clock turns over and we kick off 2013 with a bang(likely asleep in our bed?), all inventory at Peekawhoo is 15% off with code 150ffsale.  Time to stock up on stork gifts for all your friends!

Happy New Year!

Heather and Kelley

Angel Dear Lovies…perfect stocking stuffers!

By Kelley | Published: December 14, 2012

Good morning, friends!

Today is the last day of our Stocking Stuffer Sale!  Use code STOCKING for 15% off some of these really cute stocking stuffers…

Angel Dear Lovies and Angel Dear Rattles…Angel Dear LovieMint Itsy Bags…and Mint Key Chains…and Mint Wallets…Zutano bloomers…and Flap Happy Sun Hats…3 Marthas Onesies, 3 Marthas Burps, and 3 Marthas Bibs…Mudpie Cosmetic Bags…And cute Holiday Bloomers too…Time to fill up those stockings with some cute monogrammed love!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Fried-up Squid.

By Kelley | Published: December 11, 2012

A note: Sorry I pulled the trigger and published this post early.  I know my legions of fans were desperate to read what I have to say and were clicking the link to no avail! Also-sorry I’ve been absent from ye ole’ blogosphere, but you know…life.  Holidays.  Monograms.  Kids.  I’ll try to get back on the writing bandwagon as I’ve missed it, I’ve missed hearing from you.  So-without further ado, I give you Fried-up Squid (which I started a month ago).

This is my nephew.

He’s the youngest of four, and he’s a force.  He’s also one of the best eaters I know, and feeding him is such joy because he’ll pretty much eat anything you put in front of him.  For his fourth birthday he requested short ribs in the crock pot as his special meal.  He’ll eat mushrooms like it’s his job.  He once asked Santa for a bag of Cheetos. And this past summer when we were all out to dinner and one of the adults ordered calamari, he could barely contain his excitement as the little red plastic basket with the thin greasy paper lining made its way down the table towards him.

“Oooooh! Is that fried-up squid?  Is it?  Oooooh!  I LOVE fried-up squid!”

Now, you have to know that this kid can drop his voice a few octaves when necessary, and at times he sounds a little bit like James Gandolfini from The Sopranos.  Imagine Gandolfini saying “Are you messing with me?” and instead insert “Is that fried-up squid?” and you’ve got the picture.  My nephew’s got a little bit of the Jersey in him-his mama is a Jersey girl after all, so it stands to reason that he’d be able to tap into that well of genius from time to time.

So he did his best to sell his cousins and brothers-the ones who would survive on a diet of chicken fingers and pizza and grilled cheese if they could-on the merits of “fried-up squid”, to no avail.

While we’re on the topic of fried-up squid, however, allow me to tell you a little about Edo’s Squid in Richmond, Virginia, an Italian restaurant that is now on my list of Best Restaurants Ever ever ever.

This restaurant was recommended by an old friend that lives in Richmond, so after the Richmond marathon (holla!), Anna Katherine and I decided to give it a go.  We made our way down Broad Street and found its dingy white sign on a side street, let ourselves in the squeaky glass door, and made our way up the 1970s style, carpeted stairs.  So far, so not promising.

We passed through the single door at the top of the stairs and found ourselves in the restaurant, a single room with hardwood floors, tall windows, and rustic brick walls; we spilled out of the doorway and were suddenly two feet from a table of restaurant folks peeling whole cloves of garlic.  It was early for dinner-four in the afternoon-but these two gals were ready to strap on a feedbag after running.

In short, don’t be fooled by the dingy facade-this restaurant is one of the best. Ever.  Their fried-up squid is hands’ down the most delectable version of that dish I’ve ever tasted, not to mention the braised fennel(who knew?), pasta, and the side of beef that AK and I shared.  Our waitress Virginia is now our new best friend and the impetus for my new(ok, not new because I’m a month late on posts…but new enough!) fancy haircut with bangs and without inches and inches of long long curly-ish hair.

The inspiration!  How cute is she?
And then the result!  Granted, I’m ten years older than she is, I’m without the benefit of ambient lighting, and what you’re seeing here is bed head, but all things considered, I’m happy with it.

Running marathons makes me a little brassy, a little bold, like I can do whatever I want, like I’m a bit of a superhero.  And one thing I’ve concluded after running this past marathon is that there’s some truth to that, there’s a grain of superhero in every person that decides to put him or herself out there-a marathon, a half, a 10K, a 5K.  Doesn’t matter.  The fact is you train, you sweat, you put your shoes on, you show up.  Then you see what you can do.  You can drink beer after the race while your friend, who just dropped the hammer and ran a 3:34 marathon, practices her pageant wave.You can wear 7 different stripe patterns(don’t forget the shoes, too!) and 8 different shades of purple and feel like a fashion icon, knowing you just ran 26.2 miles.  Richmond was such a neat city, such a fun place to visit and eat, such a lovely place to run!  I think both Anna Katherine and I would revisit the city and the race, perhaps even as soon as 2013!  Any takers?

Thanks for checking in, friends, and I promise to not be a stranger!Cathy and Meghan…this one’s for you!  Go Spiders!

Zutano Sale!

By Kelley | Published: November 15, 2012

Good afternoon, friends!

Because it’s pre-holiday holiday time, and because we are stocked up on adorable Zutano, we’re having a 15% off sale today through Saturday!

We have Zutano gowns in red and white stripe and green and white stripe, and Zutano pants in red and white stripe and green and white stripe, and Zutano diaper covers in red and white stripe and green and white stripe, and Zutano tees in red and white and aqua and pink…( I watched Forrest Gump this weekend while lounging before the race…details in another post to follow.  Not on Bubba Gump, but on Richmond!)

Basically, we have all kinds of fun combinations for you and your babies, or your friends’ babies, or your neighbors’ babies, or heck anybody that needs a cute monogrammed gift.  This is still my personal favorite holiday combination-

And check out this little nugget in his Zutano striped romper-

How about red and orange for Christmas?  Or Aqua and chocolate?  One trend we’ve noticed in the studio is atraditional colors on holiday shirts, ie pink and green or red and orange.  Mixes it up a little!Now that you’ve seen some of this cuteness, go out and spread the word about our Zutano sale, today through Saturday.

Have a great Thursday and as always, thanks for checking in!