A name!

We have been literally burning the midnight oil these days. The summer issue of Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon Magazine hits mailboxes this week! In addition, we're launching a brand new, awesome website in a few days. And, I'm in full-blown nesting mode (translation: every unorganized place in my house fills me with rage). I'll post pics of all of our house projects soon (our downstairs now has hardwood floors, and Bug’s big boy room now has moldings! Just needs paint…oh yeah, and a bed).

In the midst of all of this, a portion (okay, the majority) of my brain has been trying to process the idea that soon I'll be Mommy to kids. Did you catch that? There's an "s" on the end of that word. KidS.

I would be lying if I didn't say I am sooo excited about the upcoming arrival of our little girl in October. But I'd also be lying if I didn't say it scares the poop out of me. (Well, at least my potty language is in prime condition. Major mommy-is-funny points from our potty-training toddler for using the word poop in any context whatsoever).

While my brain is still processing the idea of two, my heart is really falling in love with this little girl. And, speaking of which, we have decided officially on a name. Mia Elizabeth.

For you etymologists out there, Mia means "mine" in Italian, and Elizabeth means "dedicated to God" in Hebrew. So, her name means that she's mine, but she's really God's. Which feels exactly right.

Nest image by mosswood.

Potty Party

We had an extraordinarily busy week with the second issue of our little mag hitting mailboxes. My inbox has been flooded with encouraging e-mails-- most of which are from people I have never even had the pleasure of meeting! How nice! And the response to our two giveaways has been overwhelmingly positive so far. Yea! Two lucky ladies are sure going to be in for a treat. :-)

So, after our busy week, Hunk and I decided that a nice quiet Sunday was in order. Unfortunately, Bug did not receive the memo on this one, as evidenced by how he greeted us when we went to get him out of his crib. He was sitting there with his footy pjs half off, his diaper completely off, and two fists full of the contents of his diaper. (Let's just say it wasn't pee.)

"That's it!" said I. "We're doing it! Today! It's time for the big boy potty."

Hunk looked at me incredulously for a fleeting moment, made some comment like, "Shouldn't we read a book about this, first?" and then, thinking better of arguing with a woman scrubbing poop from the spindles of a crib, obligingly trekked to the garage to retrieve the training potty I purchased a couple weeks ago (but had been procrastinating about bringing inside the house).

We announced to Bug that we were going to have a Potty Party. He was all ears. First, we put together the potty. Then, he got to pick out which pair of big boy pants he wanted to wear (it was a close call between Thomas the Train and a green brontosaurus, but Thomas won out). Then we broke out the apple juice (a rare occurrence in these parts).

Bug drank to his heart's content, promptly peed all over Thomas, plunked down on his potty, announced he didn't have to pee pee, got off his potty, put on brontosaurus, climbed on the couch, and promptly peed all over brontosaurus (and the couch).

So we abandoned the big boy pants in favor of going buff. Which worked! After one more accident, Bug caught on to the goal and began fervently broadcasting (about every 15 minutes), "B make pee pee!" He would then run to his potty and make good on his proclamation, to the jubilant glee of Mom and Dad, who showered him with kisses, praise and M&Ms.

By the end of the day, Bug only had one more accident (in his high chair during dinner--that was fun to clean up), but about 10 more successful trips to the potty! We're so proud of him!

And to celebrate his success and cap off our Potty Party, we had cake. Which Hunk declared to be more for the parents than for the kids. Let's just say we all needed a little sugar buzz after today.


Amendment, posted on Day Two:
Only one accident today (in the high chair, again-- but it was Mom's fault. I had the dog in the utility sink in the laundry room, washing off his muddy paws, and didn't hear Bug asking to get out of his high chair to go pee pee...until it was too late). And- no pee pee on Thomas, today. Go, Bug, go.

Cute Little Fishie

In our magazine’s current issue, we landed a very big client: The Georgia Aquarium. They're offering a special discount to Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon readers.... Just click on the cutie beluga whale below to save!

We're going for Mother's Day!

Spring Issue is Here!!!!

Check it out, check it out! The spring issue of Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon Magazine is OUT!



Once again, I have to give credit where credit is due. Our designer Tiffany Westbrook and our photographers Summer Adams and Jennifer Harris did an AMAZING job.





Tiffany: Your talent amazes me. You always knock it out of the park. Way out.

Summer: The covers are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! I love them, love them, love them. I can't thank you enough for the beautiful job you did capturing Kristin and Madelyn. (And I really like how you captured the wooden giraffe on the Unique Gift Guide, too. He looks so... noble. :-)

Jennifer: Awesome job!!!! I can't decide which of your pages is my favorite! I think either the fashion layout or the Femme Phenom feature. The lighting in your studio shots is amazing. LOVE them all!

And, without further adieu.... here it is!! (click to read it!)

Spring Issue Hits the Presses (including GIVEAWAYS)!

We're so excited! The spring issue of Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon Magazine hit the presses today and will be in mailboxes next week! While I've been sworn to strict secrecy regarding the contents, here's a fun little preview:

Here is our lovely cover model, Kristin Owens, with darling daughter Madelyn:

photograph by Summer Adams

We're also featuring two fabulous giveaways for Georgia gals.

1. Win a SPA DAY at the gorgeous Medalyn Salon and Medspa in Kennesaw, including an Aveda Calming Soothing Facial and a haircut and design with a master artist. What girl doesn't need a little FREE pampering?

To enter: Click here.


2. Win a makeover with celebrity makeup artist Lisa Revellese Mirante. I first met Lisa at an ice cream shop near my house. We struck up a conversation about the magazine, and she casually mentioned being a makeup artist from New York who recently moved to the area. Thinking this may provide a fun partnership with the magazine, we exchanged contact information. Well, I went home and Googled her. Ladies, she's the REAL DEAL. She's worked with more celebrities than I can list, including the Country Music Awards, the Grammys and the Obamas. So, I called her to see if she'd like to be the magazine's beauty contributor, and while we're chatting, another call comes through on her end. "Excuse me, Elizabeth," she says, "Denise Austin is on the other line. Could I call you right back?" Apparently, Lisa had done Denise's makeup for a television appearance the day before, and Denise's husband loved the look so much, she called Lisa to find out exactly what products she had used. Now, wouldn't you like Lisa to do your makeup?

To enter: click here. The winner will receive a free makeup lesson and application with Lisa PLUS a free haircut, style and color with Sandra Schell from Panosh Salon. A FULL-ON makeover! How fun is that??!!!

Stay tuned for more on the spring issue.... I'll post the link to the digital version next week!

Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon hit mailboxes today!

After months of planning, creating, selling, writing, strategizing, scheduling, interviewing, writing, photographing, designing, tweaking, writing, proofing, editing, mapping, writing, circulating, meeting, marketing and WRITING, we proudly announce the premiere of Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon Magazine, which officially hit the first round of mailboxes TODAY!

We will send out the online flipbook version SOON, but here's a little sneak peek at our covers:


Aren't they grand?! The cover model is my dear friend Jenica, with her son Owen. (See, it pays in life to have beautiful friends. You never know when you might need to slap one on the cover of your magazine!) And didn't Summer do a GORGEOUS job with the photography?

Thank YOU, again, to our awesome designer, Tiffany, and our two talented photographers, Summer and Jennifer. You guys knocked it out of the park. WAY out.

Extra! Extra!

We approved the first official proof for Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon Magazine today, and the presses are rolling! We should be able to pick up our copies within a week. (Yes, Mom, I'll mail you one). We'll send out the link for the online flipbook version SOON!

I have to give a quick shout-out to three very talented ladies who helped to make this issue happen: our gifted (and patient) designer, Tiffany Westbrook, and our two incredible photographers, Jennifer Harris and Summer Adams. Ladies, you ROCK! It's been an honor to work with you on our premiere issue.

Check 'em out:
Tiffany
Jennifer
Summer

My favorite new nailpolish!

A classic red from OPI, named... Little Red Wagon! A big thanks to Angela (www.crumbsinmybutter.com) for sharing this with me!

little black dress, little red wagon

Our biggest news of the year is... no, no, we're not expecting, silly. We've started our own business! This past fall, the local magazine I had been editing for the past three years suspended publication, and instead of throwing in the towel, we jumped at the opportunity to publish our own magazine. In early February, we're launching a local woman's and parenting magazine called Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon.

Check us out at: www.blackdressredwagon.com. (You can click on "read us" to sign up for a free e-subscription!)