Le Top Darling of the Day: Erin

This adorably little cutie pie, Erin (2 years-old), likes to dance and sing. Her favorite song is “we like to move it, move it” from the Madagascar movie and you’ll often find her walking or dancing around singing it. When Mom is waiting for red lights or stuck in traffic, she likes to tell the other cars “go guys, go guys”. Awe! She’s obsessed with camping and when Erin and her big brother Devon are playing pretend, she’ll flash those baby blues and say, “Bye mom I’m gonna go camping now”. Looks like a future adventurer. “Why” is currently her favorite word!

We think Erin is simply stunning in these outfits (left-to-right) from the Le Top “Secret Garden“, “Pizzazz“, and “Purrrfectly Pink” collections. Congratulations to Erin on being the Le Top Darling of the Day!

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No-Stress Birthday Party

Miranda is wearing the Le Top Spring 2010 " Wild About Monokinis" big dot beach dress

Every year since my daughter was born, I (as in, just ME because my husband thinks I always go overboard so he leaves me with the event planning since I’m the one who wants to make it so complicated :)) always have had a theme birthday party. For her 7th birthday, I decided to keep it simple and have a “no-stress” birthday party. She invited a handful of friends and met at a nearby park so they could play. It was like casually meeting for a playdate instead of a huge, overwhelming party. I’d have to say, it was quite refreshing.

• Instead of handcrafting personalized birthday invitations, I sent out electronic invitations (such as evite.com or pingg.com). This saves on stamps, too!
• Instead of ordering a customized theme cake, my daughter and I baked cupcakes. This was fun because we enjoyed quality time together which we hardly get to do when her little brother is around.
• Instead of ordering a multitude of dining courses and various drinks, we opted for pizza, juice boxes and popsicles.
• Instead of goody bags, we gave our guests cute water bottles filled with ice cold water to keep them cool while playing.

WOW! It was so simple and easy, and I was also able to relax and enjoy some time with the company instead of running around being the “hostess with the mostess.” Hmmm… I can get used to this.

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Darling of the Day: Ryland

Le Top model Ryland (3 years-old), holding brother Lucas (3 months), is mommy’s lil helper and loves to make his baby brother smile at him. Awe! His favorite hobbies are playing transformers and dancing to music especially Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

Mom had her boys all dressed up for this photo in Le Top’s “T-Rex Touchdown” collection outfits. Score!

Ryland, keep looking out for your little brother and congratulations for being the Le Top Darling of the Day!

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Le Top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did not say that!

Mommy, Paulo is going poo-poo because he’s making his poo-poo face.”

– Miranda, age 5

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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Le Top Darlings of the Day: Donny and Grayson

Brothers Grayson (6-months-old) and Donny (20 months-old) are an impressive pair. Their striking good looks and obvious charm will take them far in life. Congratulations to Donny and Grayson for being Le Top’s Darlings of the Day!

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Everyone Needs Playgroup

Paulo is wearing a zip hoodie and cargo pants set from rabbitmoon's Imagination collection.

I’m guilty! I am so guilty of not indulging my second child to the same enjoyable things as I did with my first. Miranda had playgroups, play dates, Mommy and Me classes, anything and everything that I could expose her to that would be fun, educational, and give us extra bonding/play time.

I remember someone telling me that having two kids is like having 10. I didn’t believe it! How can one little person make life complicated to the 10th degree? Well, let me tell you… Now that I have two kids, I AM A BELIEVER! I am so busy with the demands of motherhood, Miranda’s school, my freelance work, the housework, the grocery shopping (I have to go every week now because boys eat so much more than girls!) and all the voluntary roles I thought I would have time for (Classroom Mom, Yearbook Committee, Faith Formation Teacher, helping my parents). I’m lucky if I can keep my head above water. Poor Paulo! He gets whatever is left of my hectic schedule.

I jotted down my little guy’s schedule each day of the week:

• Monday: take Miranda to school, eat, very short nap, pick up Miranda, play
• Tuesday: take Miranda to school, eat, very short nap, pick up Miranda, play
• Wednesday : take Miranda to school, eat, longer nap, pick up Miranda, play
• Thursday: take Miranda to school, SWIM CLASS!!!, eat, longer nap, pick up Miranda, play
• Friday: take Miranda to school, eat, longer nap, pick up Miranda, play

Pretty boring, huh? At least he has weekly swim classes. But any free time I get, I’m either working, doing chores or running errands just so I can survive the day and actually get to bed at a decent time (midnight would be early for me!) But never mind about me. This is precious Paulo time I’m wasting. So… I’ve decided that I NEED take charge of my schedule and plan recreational activities for my little guy. He shouldn’t be penalized for being Child No. 2. He needs to have his own schedule, his own friends, and make his own memories. This sad little dude rarely sees a playground that when he does see one, he pees his pants in excitement! So I’m bringing back weekly playgroups.

His first play date was with my friend’s daughter. This little girl’s big brother was Miranda’s first playgroup friend and they have been very good friends ever since. (Coincidentally, my friend and I had our two kids roughly at the same time so each of our two kids are about the same age.) We met at a nearby playground to enjoy the fresh air and some outdoor fun, but it started to drizzle. Luckily, there was Toddler Storytime at the museum across the way that was just about to start. PERFECT!

The kids had a good time, AND the moms did as well. We both reminisced about our lives five years ago when we were both new mothers and only had one child each. We talked about how much more relaxed we were back then, how busy our lives have become, and how we missed connecting with each other just to talk about life in general (husbands, in-laws, school, broken appliances, the laundry…). We vowed to have our play dates each week for the sake of our second children AND for the sake of our sanity! What a revelation… I NEED PLAYGROUP, TOO!!! This is going to be a good thing.

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First Day of School… again

First Grade, First Grade, here we come
We know we’ll have lots of fun.
Lots of things to make and do.
Reading, Writing, Numbers, too.
First Grade, First Grade, here we come.
We know we’ll have lots of fun.

This isn’t the first day of school for Miranda, but her first day of First Grade. And although we’ve been through this before, this year seems to have hit me harder, maybe it’s because it’s a full-day of school now or maybe it’s because she’s my little helper and without her I’d have to take care of her little brother all by myself. The whole family woke up extra early to make sure we would get parking, find her classroom, meet her teacher, and take pictures while we lug all our donated school supplies to the classroom. I made sure that I prepared her First-Day-of School snack and lunch as requested: cheese stick and goldfish, a cutie tangerine, a PB&J sandwich (Mommy, make sure it’s raspberry jelly.), Fritos, a juice box (Mommy, I want the reduced-sugar kind.), and a water bottle. We also pre-selected her First-Day-of-School outfit: a Le Top two-piece shorts set from the Spring 2009 Bloomin’ Beauty collection. And on top of that, we still had the little guy to get dressed and fed. So much hustle and bustle in the morning that you don’t have time to get emotional.

Miranda’s classroom door closed and we headed back to the car, then Paulo looked around and said, “Maw-maw?” (That’s how he says “Miranda.”) —and that did it for me! In those two little syllables he uttered, I knew exactly how he felt. What are we going to do now that Miranda is at school? I missed her already and we’re only in the parking lot. (I know, pathetic!) Most stay-at-home mommies cherish this freedom of being able to go to the gym, or have coffee or lunch with the ladies, or even enjoy a day of uninterrupted shopping. But not me! I was a wreck all day. At lunch (after I fed Paulo) I sat at the table eating slowly, staring at Paulo who was banging a pair of drumsticks on everything in his path, and longing for the silly, endless chit-chat from Miranda as she talked about her crazy dream last night, or what she and her friend did at their playdate, or even just her singing the same lines from “Seussical the Musical” over and over. All I could think about was, “Is it 2:05 yet? Did I pack her enough lunch? Did she wash her hands before eating? Are her classmates nice to her? Is she sad?” So many worries to worry over.

At 2:05 pm sharp, I stood outside her classroom and waited for her to come out. As soon as the door opened, she ran straight to me and said, “Mommy, I had a SUPER day! I made 5 new friends and I got to eat in the lunch room and I played at recess but I was eating too long so I didn’t get to play that much because I couldn’t finish all my goldfish but tomorrow I want 2 cutie tangerines and I have my own desk and we made a dolphin carrying our rules on his back and I get to make a paper doll of myself just like we made in Kindergarten and Eamon is in my class this year and Daniel sits next to me and I didn’t get to sit with Lucas in the lunch room because Sullivan took the seat next to him so I sat next to Kaitlyn and I played exercise with Bella where she is the leader and the other girls follow what she does but it was too hot so I stopped playing to get some water…” Oh, dear! There’s the endless chit-chat that I was missing at lunch. It was so good to hear her stories (in one long sentence). She had a great first day and I was worried over nothing. On to Day 2… wish me luck!

For those back-to-school outfits
shop Le Top’s fall 2010 collection here

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Darlings of the Day: Judah and Emmy

Judah is a lucky boy to have a delightful doting sister like Emmy to hold his bottles and teach him to climb a jungle gym. I’m sure that little charmer appreciates her unending wisdom.

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Kerry Serves up an Ace

Photo: Tony DiMaio/Startraks

Kerry Walsh may have two gold Olympic medals in Volleyball but now I’m sure she has a lot more to be proud of!  Kerry gave birth to Sundance Thomas Jennings on Wednesday May 19 in Torrance California.

Kerry and her husband Casey Jennings are expanding the family; they are already proud parents of Joseph Michael who will be celebrating his 1^st birthday this coming Saturday.

According to Kerry’s rep, Sundance weighed in at 6lbs 12oz and measured 19 ¾ inches long.

Congratulations to Kerry and Casey on their newest addition to the family and happy 1^st birthday to Joseph Michael!

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Serenity in the Midst of Clamor

Paul and I are presently in Hong Kong – diligently working on the development of the upcoming Spring 2011 le•top, le•top baby and rabbitmoon collections.  We love Hong Kong (Paul’s birthplace) – it is a truly exciting city – the pace is fast and everyone seems to always have a purpose.  This is a fabulous place to absorb energy and excitement!  However, there are times that we miss our ‘other’ home in California – a place that is quiet and peaceful.  Yesterday we discovered that we could experience serenity – surprisingly enough right in the middle of Hong Kong!

Paul’s brother Anthony invited us and other family members to visit the Nan Lian Garden – a place we did not even know existed.  This is a classic Chinese style garden, in the style of the Tang dynasty, that was built over a period of more than 5 years.  The garden covers an area that is over 8 ½ acres – with meandering paths that take you on a journey that results in calm and tranquility.  Beautiful rocks – some so huge we wondered at how they could have possibly been transported – and grown trees were transported in from areas deep in China.  The garden was designed with attention to the minutest details – the buildings in the garden were all constructed using ancient building techniques – everything is put together without the use of nails, just as they did centuries ago.  There are ponds with large koi fish, waterfalls and beautiful plants. 

This garden is part of the Nan Lian Buddhist Nunnery – and held in trust for the enjoyment of the public.  There are no entrance fees – but a strict set of rules that everyone follows – no touching of the garden elements, no shouting or running and in general that visitors show respect.  The moment we entered the garden we felt a sense of peace descend – truly magical!

There is a special restaurant in the garden, maintained by the nuns, that serves vegetarian cuisine of the highest quality, appearance and taste.  We were treated to a very special dinner by Anthony – every one of the ten courses of the meal was entirely vegetarian – following Buddhist traditions that revere all living things.  I could not believe how delicious and varied the dishes could be!  We had a truly special experience – one that I will never forget.

If you are ever in Hong Kong take the time to visit this very extraordinary place, literally a stones throw from streets thronging with people and shopping areas filled with modern amenities.

Nan Lian Garden
60 Fung Tak Road
Diamond Hill – Kowloon – Hong Kong
www.nanliangarden.org
(click the English button on the bottom right)

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