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!


- Kara

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!

- Kara

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!


- Kara

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?


- Kara

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

- Kara

Shop: Edit's New Jewelry

I am trying not to buy clothes right now. For one, I need to hold on to my money (we have several home projects in the works and summer tennis and swim lesson to pay for) ... plus, I've been working out and dieting (sigh), so I'm in between sizes. I'm trying not to buy anything unless it's the smaller of two sizes, which is definitely motivating as my friends (and poor husband) know how much I love shopping for new clothes.

Fortunately, Edit has a few new pieces of gorgeous jewelry ... shipping right this very moment to Juniper Lane! I want one of everything and keep reminding myself the goal is to SELL it all, not just WEAR it all! You'll understand when you see each piece - and they're arriving just in time for our big trunk show in St. Louis on Saturday! So a few sneak peeks ... Let us know if you'd like us to set one aside for you ...

Good friend Laura didn't let having a new baby at home derail her shopping - oh no! I already dropped off this lovely little number at her house last week. It'll look amazing with her lovely red hair and coloring!

Mint and gold link necklace, $30

Then there's this beauty of a bauble - perfect arm candy for any look!

Chunky faux pave gold bracelet, $18

My friends are huge friends of the bubble necklace trend, and who could resist this pretty shade of coral?

Coral bubble necklace and earrings, $30

I'm also in love with this bracelet - perfect with a summer tan!

Mint and gold link bracelet, $20

And a classic gold link necklace is always sophisticated and stunning ...

Chunky faux pave gold necklace, $30

Finally, another bubble necklace - this time in spring's must have mint. I know several girls whose eyes would sparkle with this necklace nearby!

Mint bubble necklace and earrings, $30

Which one is your favorite? Let us know! We're obsessed with them all and can't wait to share them with all of you!


- Kara 

Shop: In Clover's Rainy Day Sale

Just because we love all of our own merchandise at Edit doesn't mean we don't shop anywhere else. On the contrary! We love supporting other local boutiques, and of course, we're avid Gap, J. Crew and Target shoppers too.

This week, one of our favorite neighborhood boutiques is having a "rainy day sale" you won't want to miss. In Clover at 83rd and Mission in Prairie Village is offering 30% off one full-price item today through Saturday - and a free scarf with purchases of $75 and up.

Coincidentally, I stopped in yesterday to check out their selection - bestie Ashley was raving about all of their spring tops and dresses - and I was impressed! I found several items I wanted to take home, but alas, my clothing budget is a bit restricted this month. With 30% off, though, I may just be able to swing one of the cute patterned tops I picked up. Most were between $50 and $80.

Do you know of any good sales at local boutiques going on this weekend? If so, let us know! And maybe we'll see you this weekend at In Clover ... after brunch at another local favorite - Urban Table!


- Kara