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8.05.2013

Going Green ... With Smoothies At Least!

I'm not much of a health nut. I mean, I try. Sometimes. But most of the time, I'm satisfied when my girls (and I) eat fruits and veggies with at least two of our three meals, remember our vitamins and have at least one glass of milk a day. Working out is a total bonus.

But recently, a friend of mine asked to host a Green Smoothie Girl class at our little office space, and of course, I agreed and couldn't help but sit in on the class.

It's always fun to see a friend turn "teacher," and this friend in particular has been intriguing of late with her new blog, Fancy Plantcy, and all of her personal experiences with plant-based nutrition and plant-based medicine ... which before Friday, I had no idea what that meant : )

The class had about five attendees (who all loved browsing the Edit merchandise too!), and it started off with a tutorial on green smoothies, basically smoothies that include super healthy veggies like kale and spinach, along with berries, bananas, coconut water, etc. We all enjoyed our own little smoothie, pretty good but my biggest concern - how will I convince the girls to drink a GREEN smoothie?! My friend/teacher suggested using beets to turn the smoothie red - much more edible for my princess-loving girls!


So I'm totally on board with the green smoothies, it seems like a quick and easy way to stuff my girls with all the veggies they need in a day. Turn it red, add a straw, they're/I'm sold.

But up next in the class was a part I wasn't prepared for ... essential oils. Green Smoothie Girl promotes and sells doTerra Essential Oils for prevention and healing - this is the plant-based medicine I mentioned before.

I have to admit I was pretty skeptical at first. Rub a drop off oil on the bottom of your feet to treat anxiety, asthma, heartburn ... what?

But the more I listened and learned, especially from my trusted friend/teacher, the more it made sense. Essential oils have been around forever, dating back to the Egyptians and, most importantly, the Greeks. You know how much I love my heritage : )

It's not like I want to ditch all of our prescription medications or never take my girls to the doctor again, but if the Breathe blend of essential oils can help with my husband's asthma and allergies, why not try it?

Plus my friend/teacher swears she lost eight pounds in less than two weeks just by using the Slim and Sassy oil!

And I can't imagine how using the Serenity blend of oils in a diffuser at night wouldn't help put my house full of lovies to sleep.

Now I'm not selling these products, and I haven't even bought any, but I might. And I'm definitely pulling out the blender this week for some green/red smoothies to jump-start our days!

Are you a Green Smoothie Girl follower or addicted to essential oils? Do you have any tried-and-true recipes to share? I'd love to hear from you!

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- Kara

8.01.2013

On the Agenda: Farmer's Market at Anthro

We were so excited to hear one of our all-time favorite stores, Anthropologie, is hosting a pop-up farmers market this Saturday at the Plaza store.



We can't be there - we'll be at Go Blog Social (our post on that is coming up tomorrow), but we hope you'll try it out and then let us know what you think of this unique event ...

A farmer's market + Anthro clothing and accessories + yummy samples ... it all sounds good to be true!

And since we can't be there to shop along with you, we thought we'd do a little online browsing. There are so many gorgeous pieces right now ... It was hard to choose just a few to share, but here you go:

Spacedye Day Dress, $118

Mixed moto jacket, $348
Amabel chambray shirt, $88

Paige booties, $138

Traced mirrordrop necklace, $158
Let us know if you plan to stop by Saturday and, if so, what's on your Anthro wish list?

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- Kara






7.31.2013

Harvey's Hat

It's no secret that I love hats. I always have. In third grade, I'm pretty sure I was the first kid to wear a hat in their school photo. Seriously. The hat was denim and big, with an even bigger flower attached, but it made a statement. And I was all about statements. Since then, I've transitioned to everything from baseball caps to fedoras. When I met Matthew, I also pulled him on the hat train. He discovered he looked pretty cute in hats too.

Stewart doesn't like hats, but he doesn't eat them either, so that's good.

Before I even had Harvey and knew he was a boy, I bought three newsboy hats for him. I knew inside he'd be a boy, and it was my duty as a hat-loving mom to provide him with the largest selection of toppers for that sweet head.

What I didn't realize was that my sweet babe was going to get a different kind of hat. One that he couldn't take off when he wanted to or switch out to match with outfits.

Our new "hat" journey started when he was just eight weeks old. Matthew noticed a significant flat spot on the side of his head. I was in new mom bliss and thought Harvey was absolutely perfect (which he is), but we decided to bring it up to his pediatrician at his two month apt. Our doctor didn't think too much of it and said his head would probably round out on its own, but that we'd take a closer look at four months. Eight weeks passed with not much improvement, and we're back in the doctor's office. He recommended we visit a plastic surgeon at Children's Mercy who specializes in heads (I'm sure there's a smarter way to describe the guy...).

My first thought is: "Children's Mercy, that's where the sick kids go. That's where babies who need special care end up." And then I cried. I blamed myself. "Why didn't I do more tummy time?!"

We visited Dr. Jiang at Children's Mercy and he called Harvey's flat spot "severe" (also called plagiocephaly, for all you smarties). More tears followed. He then tasked us with keeping little man off his back, except when he sleeps, for the next six weeks. Again more tears, because as a new mom, how do you get by without the vibrating chair?! I had to hold my child or put him in a sling ALL DAY long for six weeks. There goes any sliver of "me time" I had left during the day.

Surprisingly, six weeks flew by and we saw some improvement with Harvey's head, but not enough. Dr. Jiang recommended we get the helmet, but because it's cosmetic, the decision to do it was completely up to us. At first the decision seemed hard, there were a few things to factor in:

1. The cost. If insurance didn't cover it, it could be up to 3K.
2. My baby's overall discomfort. I didn't want to put a helmet on him in the heat of the summer.
3. There was the possibility it could improve on its own, but we just didn't know how much.

But the biggest thing hanging over my head was "What if we don't do it and it doesn't get better on its own?" "What if he comes home crying from school because the kids made fun of his head shape, and I know that I could have prevented it?"

That thought was all it took for me to realize that even though he might be a tad uncomfortable while he adjusted to his new "hat", we would be doing what's best for him in the long run.

So, at six months old, Harvey got fitted for the hat he'd be wearing 23 hours a day for three to six months.

getting ready to have his head scanned for a perfect fit

hooked up to the scanner!
didn't take long to get adjusted to his new "hat"

The first week went smoother than I thought. Little man was a trooper and by day five, he was taking naps in his helmet and by day seven was wearing it 23 hours a day. I've read and heard that after a while, the helmet becomes a part of him and it's almost strange to see them without it. I haven't gotten to that point yet. The moment I take it off him before bath, I smother that sweet head with kisses. I miss seeing his wispy hair and nuzzling his neck without getting a mouthful of plastic, but I know he's doing fine. And I know it's temporary. And as soon as Harvey's head is back to perfect, I'll give him a few weeks of showing off his sweet new dome before the hats come back.

Harvey has completed his first month with his helmet and is showing great improvement!
 



I also want to take a minute to thank those who have approached us, whether they be friends or strangers, and told us their helmet story. It's so encouraging to hear that we're doing the right thing and that we're not alone!



- Melina

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7.30.2013

Loving Right Now: Items for Harvey

I LOVE shopping for Harvey. Most people find baby boys not nearly as fun as shopping for girls, but I think it's the total opposite. For moms with little girls, I think it can be easy to do dress after dress with matching bows, but for boys, you have to be a bit more creative. I love mixing prints with Harvey and as soon as he's in shoes and out of his helmet (more on that later), I'll be going accessory crazy with my little guy. Here are a few things I'm lusting after now.

Harvey's Wishlist
Top left clockwise: Freshly Picked Moccasins, My-Trike Tricycle, Boden Printed Shirt, Gap Top, Salt City Emporium Leggings, Boden Plaid Pants

7.28.2013

Edit Boutique {An Update}

So Melina and I have our own marketing and public relations agency ... plus we team up with our Mom to sell clothes, jewelry, purses, etc. And then there's the blog of course. We're pretty much trying to turn all of our passions into one amazing business ... an empire, if you will : ) ... and all on just a limited schedule - a few days a week while our kiddos are at school, nights and weekends when our hubbies are home.

It can be hectic at times, juggling everything at once, but we love it. We really do. And to try and make it even more successful, we're going to have actual boutique hours. Yep! Every week, we'll be in the office turned shop on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all of your shopping needs. Plus, we're going to open the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So this Wednesday, you can stop by - no appointment necessary - from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Edit, 4505 West 90th Street, Prairie Village, Kan. We'll be there with many new arrivals for summer, including these two dresses. Our popular maxi is back in two new colors/patterns we know you'll love! The first 12 we ordered of these sold out in two days - this dress looks awesome on everyone - so don't wait if you're interested in either of these ...

Navy and plum maxi, $56

Dark gray and white maxi, $56

If you can't make it on a Wednesday, come by Saturday, August 10 or any of these other Second Saturdays: September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14.

You can also set up an appointment and come in solo or with your friends. We always have wine and love to help our friends - and their friends - put together easy, fun and affordable outfits. You can email us anytime to set up an appointment: editkc@gmail.com. And, of course, don't forget to follow us on Facebook for photos of all of our new arrivals, including loads of "selfies," special sales and even giveaways!

We hope to see you soon!

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- Kara

7.22.2013

New Giveaway


We're doing a giveaway on Faith&Composition today! Our friend Shalene in Fort Worth started the blog a few months ago, and we're already obsessed! She has such great insight on motherhood and spirituality and isn't afraid to admit when she's struggling with both. We love an honest Mama!

Head on over to Faith&Composition to enter to win one of these two bracelets. While you're there, check out her blog posts - a few of our favorites include:


Ready, set, go! And have a happy Monday!

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- Kara

7.08.2013

Wash. Dry. Repeat

I'm six months in to being a mom, and I'm still trying to figure out how to wash and dry my hair on a regular basis. It's amazing how quickly you adapt to just not caring how you look. The first few months, I totally embraced the "I'm a new mom and I don't give a f***!" But now after six months, I think it's about time I started caring. At least for my poor husbands sake.

So, this morning, I showered, did my hair AND applied makeup. A trifecta that surely deserves some selfies right? So, here I am modeling a few Edit pieces. Who can top that sh**?! (sorry, funny Aziz video reference)

deep coral must-have top $52 (seriously, it's awesome)

cream and deep coral lace cardi $50

cream and tan utility dress $40

NEW lace mini dress $52 and tan cross body $40

And yes, I cursed twice in this brief blog post. I apologize, but it will happen again.


- Melina

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7.03.2013

My Baby is 4

Four years ago, we welcomed our second baby girl ... just 15 months after having our first.


Now our baby is no longer a baby, and I'm still in shock ...


Happy birthday Nora! We love you!

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- Kara

7.01.2013

An End to Our Hiatus

We're sorry we abandoned you, dear blog! We've been busy! Here's why:

In March, we moved into our new office space for Edit Communications.



We also decided to use the space for the occasional "pop up shop" for Edit Boutique. 



This spring, we also started working for several new clients, including The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Evenergy, Voltage Creative and Envelope Spot, and continuing our work for Travois and The Mission Project.

In May, the girls finished up school - Evie graduated from pre-k and Nora from preschool. We celebrated with an end-of-year outing at our favorite local park and lots of hugs for our favorite teachers.




Then we were off to Dallas for market, buying for summer, fall and winter! Harvey was an excellent shopper!


June was our vacation month - we took off for a much-needed family vacation in Seaside, Florida. A dedicated post on that trip is coming soon ...


Now it's July 1, and while we're still busy, we can't keep making excuses. WE MUST BLOG AGAIN!

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- Kara

5.16.2013

The Summer Bucket List

I can't claim to have come up with this idea on my own - Julie Blanner of Coordinately Yours inspired me with her post - but what a great thought ... a summer bucket list!

Photo by Alicia Abla Studio
Every summer, we spend all of June and July in the water ... either in Seaside, Florida where we spend two weeks with our families or at any number of area pools (Leawood, Prairie Village, the Jewish Community Center and, lucky us, our neighbor's). But inevitably by August, swimming starts to lose its luster and it's just too damn hot for another trip to see the cows at Deanna Rose.

This summer, I need to come up with a few new adventures. Here's what I have in mind:

  • Sign the girls up for an art class or two at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - the museum is a new client!
  • Go berry picking - strawberries, blueberries, whatever ... we just need to cross this one off the list so I can stop feeling like a bad mom who's kids think their food only comes from Price Chopper or Chick fil-a
  • Shop the Overland Park Farmer's Market - again with the guilt : )
  • Ride bikes (and rent them in Seaside)
  • Have a lemonade stand - have you seen this adorable sign at Pottery Barn Kids?
  • Play in the sprinkler 
  • Tennis camp - my favorite when I was young. The girls are both signed up through Leawood.
  • Visit St. Louis
  • Spend a week in Nixa - this one is for the girls, not Mark and me - whoo-hoo! 
  • Picnic whenever possible 
  • Enjoy an adults only weekend at the lake with our besties from Nashville, Denver and Kansas City! 
  • Cheer for Evie playing t-ball for the first time with a bunch of other incoming kinders at Trailwood
  • Visit the zoo ... in the morning ... and ride the trains. I am no longer pushing a double stroller with two 40-pound children in it all the way to Africa and back. Boo.
  • Tour Shatto Farms - will the girls love this? Not sure, but we have to try.
  • Sleep in! This one is for Nora and me; no one else will sleep past sun-up.

What are you planning for this summer? Any adventures we're missing? We'd love to hear from you!

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- Kara

4.28.2013

Face Cream Faves

I don't know if it's because I'm getting older (gasp!) or because skin care trends are changing, but I feel like face creams are the topic of conversation lately.

For the last two years or so, I've been using Oil of Olay's regenerist micro-sculpting cream  ...

$22.59 at Target
 which some magazines have claimed to rival much pricer-brands, such as  ...
$150 at Nordstrom


Most recently though, I keep hearing amazing reviews for two other face creams:


$102.95 on Amazon
And this much more affordable cream:

$20.99 at Target

Since I'm on a budget, I naturally chose the Boots No. 7 to try out next. So far, so good, but I'd love to know what you all like best? Any suggestions for a girl nearing 33?

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- Kara

4.16.2013

What Really Matters

We spend a lot of time here at Edit thinking, talking and blogging about things - new jewelry, our next trip to market, our homes, an event, what we'll be wearing to an event ... While we of course enjoy many things in life, yesterday's terrible tragedy in Boston has us focusing on what matters most - our loved ones.


Today, I spent the entire day at home with my two little girls. OK, we did go out once for Starbucks and Nora's speech lesson, but the rest of the day was spent together at home. That's pretty much a record for me! While we did a lot of catching up on laundry and cleaning, we also played princesses, made tissue paper flowers (now on display in a vase in our living room) and created more interesting pieces of art with sparkly piper cleaners (Evie, my serious/sensitive firstborn, seems a little obsessive about making religious crosses! Who knew pipe cleaners would only fuel this little interest of hers!)


We also watched a movie together, snuggled up on the couch, and when Mommy needed a quick nap, the girls were my "doctor," covering me up with blankets and checking me out head to toe - if you haven't played doctor with your children, this is a perfect opportunity to close your eyes for a good 10, sometimes 20, minutes! Although my ornery little rascal, Nora, woke me up with a few harsh jabs to the face!


The day wasn't perfect. No day ever really is, especially with two little ones only 15 months apart. But it was precious. The small bit of comfort I've been able to find in the midst of tragedies like the one is in the arms of my girls - and their dad too.

Now is definitely a time to hold your loved ones close.

All photos by Alicia Abla Studio

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- Kara