Dealing With The Breakup of Friendships

This past weekend, I found myself sitting in the spa with three other girls that I met in grad school. While relaxing in the jacuzzi, we were recounting stories of life, career moves, love and loss, and lessons learned. We were having a really good time, but I couldn't help but notice that just a year ago, we were mere acquaintances and classmates. And now, I have a standing bi-weekly dinner date with one of them where we usually unwind while cooking dinner and drinking wine in her Harlem apartment. Her name is K. K and I have become really cool and really close and I'm glad that I met her. 

It's funny how life works. 

And friendship? Even funnier. This week I met up with an old friend whom I've known for about 15 years, maybe more. We were supposed to go to an event together, but it didn't quite work out that way. Yet still, it was nice to see him and hear how he' doing, albeit briefly. After he and I said our "goodbyes" the other day, I started thinking about our entire circle of friends. In addition to him and me, there were about six or seven more of us and we were all like best friends. The group of us who grew up together and did so many things together -- sleepovers, day outings, shopping trips, vacations, you name it. And now, it's almost as if we're not even friends anymore. We haven't had a "falling out" or anything like that. I love them. All of them. It's just that... we've grown apart. 

Maybe it's because I was the first one to have a baby and "move out" on my own. 

Maybe it' because a couple of them are married and I'm single. 

Maybe it's because our growing pains shifted us to move in different directions. 

Maybe it's all of the above. And more. 

I once read a quote along the lines of, "People can have a spot in your heart and not have a place in your life." Although this quote is bittersweet, right now, it's proving to be true. The circle and I haven't officially "broken up" as friends, but our communication -- or lack thereof -- paints a different picture. 

As I said before, it's funny the way friendship works. 

How would you deal with the "breakup" of a friendship? 

California Gurl

As you all know, last week I left the lovely NYC to hang out at the eBay Headquarters in San Jose, California with the rest of the eBay Parent Ambassador Bloggers. It was pure dopeness.

When we weren't talking about all things eBay, we were playing around with the eBay signs, touring San Francisco (what a great city!), and tasting enough Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos to last for the rest of March (and some of April). Splendid, quite splendid.

Here's what I wore while I was on the golden coast singing,

"California girls, we're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce, we got it on lock
West coast, represent
Now put your hands up
Oooooh oh oooooh" 

(Katy Perry, people.)

{Blouse and vest: F21; Black skinnies: American Eagle;
Suede wedges: Steve Madden; Ring: H&M}

{Short-Sleeve Tee with neck tie: Jason Wu for Target;
Sequined vest: American Eagle 77 Kids;
Gray skinnies: Levi's; Suede wedges: Steve Madden}

{Navy blazer, navy skinnies, blouse, canvas
bag: H&M; Suede Wedges: Steve Madden;
Oversized ring: Aldo Accessories;
Nails: Kardashian Kolor Khloe Had
A Lam Lam} 

I only packed two pair of shoes because I was adamant about carrying my luggage on the plane with me... baggage check is ex-pen-sive!) and as you can see from almost every picture, my latest obsession are my suede wedges from Steve Madden. Not only do they make me look five inches taller, but they are also super steady and comfortable. I literally wore them all day everyday! Score! (Oh yeah, and I love my Jason Wu for Target Tee with the neck tie.)

I also have a couple posts coming up about how to maximize on your eBay selling experience so stay tuned.

Who's ready for a fashionable week?!

Being The Best You

Yesterday I read a quote and I just had to share it with you on the Mommy Delicious Facebook page. It read, "Be your best you."

I must admit that it took me awhile to get to this point where I'm comfortable and content in just being who I am. (Chalk it up to my quarter-life crisis, where I was trying to find my way after an unexpected pregnancy and a not-so-sweet relationship gone sour.) And it has taken me a little bit longer to be comfortable and content in openly showing others who I am. (Now I see that it's totally worth it.)

This post comes to you live from the west coast. I'm in San Jose, California hanging out at the eBay offices, and talking it up and having a good time with other bloggers in the eBay Parent Panel Ambassador Program. (More on that in a later post.)

Although we've been playing a lot, we've also been working a lot, and during one of our sessions yesterday, I was given a compliment about the work that I do in the blogosphere and on the Internet. At first, I was like, "Huh, me?!"

But then I sat back. And I just listened. And I took it all in by absorbing what the people were saying about me. That's when I realized just how important it is to embrace who you truly are and to be your best and realest self. Wholly and completely.

People are observing you and all the things that you do, even if it's from a distance. Every time you make a move, you're leaving another footprint in your legacy. Shouldn't it be the best and most accurate "you" possible?

I think so!

In a world where people can pull you in many different directions, it's not always easy to maintain your sense of self. But it's imperative. And once you've maintained yourself, upgrade. And maintain that upgraded self. And then upgrade again. And again. And again.

Until you're at your best.

Until you are the best you.

What's one thing you can do to start that process today?

Love, Loss, and What I Wore {Review}

What do you get when you put a group of phenomenal women on stage, all dressed up in black, recounting stories of how different outfits have affected their lives?

A hit Off-Broadway show called, Love, Loss, and What I Wore!

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to see this show, and can I just say... wowsa! At some points, I laughed so hard that I almost cried. The show was written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, and opened in October 2009 at the charming Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street), where it has broken all box office records.

And I can see why. Although the stories that the ladies are recounting are personal, they are so relatable. When the women are not dishing about finding the "right" bra (we've all been there), trying on different pieces in the dressing room (is it me, or are those mirrors in dressing rooms the enemy?), or the perfect prom dress (it can make or break a young girls' experience), they are telling hilarious stories about a woman's purse (because, you know, we carry everything around in there).

And while they're at it, they are asking of one thing from us: "Can't we all just stop pretending anything is ever going to be the new black?"

Word!

Interestingly enough, the ladies all wear black dresses while recounting their clothing tales, which clearly serves as a metaphor. In fact, the entire show is a metaphor because it's no secret that the right (or wrong!) outfit can be the deciding factor in how we feel about ourselves at critical moments. And it's always funny how we'll always remember what we were wearing during those defining moments.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore captures all of that. And more. If you're in the NYC area, grab your gals and head to the Westside Theatre before March 25th, which is when the show's run will be over.  I'm glad I was able to see it because it's one that I didn't want to miss.

And I am so grateful to Playtime for allowing me to see the show. Playtime is a non-for-profit program that provides culture, arts, and childcare for kids while their parents enjoy the theatre. Who says parents only have to see child-oriented shows? Not I! And not Playtime! They exist all in the love of theatre so be sure to check them out!

{Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets to the play via Playtime and MamaDrama in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}

Sophisticated Bow Tie and Skinnies

{Basic Tee, Black cardigan, bag, cuff bracelet, ring: H&M;
Black skinnies: American Eagle;
Shoes, stacked bracelets: Aldo's; Earrings: Bauble Bar;
Eyes: YoungBlood; Lips: Rimmel London Berry Rose;
Nails: OPI Kardashian Kolor Khloe Had
A Lam Lam}

This week, we got a little taste of Spring here in NYC. And boy was it pretty sweet! Now I can't wait until the days of rooftop parties and outdoor happy hours are here to stay. To celebrate the increase in temps, I found myself wearing blouses and basic tees to the office.

On this particular day, I was totally feeling this basic burgundy tee that features cap sleeves, a scoop neck, and an over sized bow tie. I paired it with black skinnies because, well, they make my legs look longer. I didn't want to be that girl at the office who looks like she's ready for happy hour at 9:30am (although I was totally ready for happy hour at 9:30am) so I covered up a bit with a basic black cardigan.

Sophisticated. Sexy. Chic. Totally Mommy Delicious style.

How was the weather in your neck of the woods? Hope you guys had a fabulous and fashionable week!

Beyonce and Blue Ivy and My New Mommy Fears

You probably know this by now: Beyoncé and Jay-Z made their first public appearance with little Blue Ivy Carter at a New York City restaurant two weekends ago. Everyone seems to be in a tizzy over the fact that Beyoncé was wearing Isabel Marant Bekket High-Top Sneakers and leather leggings, including yours truly. I mean, what’s not to like? She’s comfortable and sexy! It’s a classic new mom look! But what Beyoncé wore is not really of importance here.

When I first saw the photos of the trio, I can see that Queen B is already playing the doting mother, holding baby Blue closely to her chest and covering her face with a blanket. And can you blame her? The first time I took my son Aiden out for fresh air, I did the exact same thing. Granted, I am not a celebrity mom and the paparazzi were never out to get a picture of my adorable son, but I remember my fears as a newbie mom, and can only imagine how Beyoncé must feel right now. 

Aiden was born on October 28, and I brought him home from the hospital on October 30. He did not feel fresh air again until December 24 because I didn’t take him out of our apartment. Wait, no; that's not true—I took him to my cousin's place on Thanksgiving three weeks after he was born. I bundled him up—making sure to cover everything (including his face)—went straight from my apartment building into a car, and then straight from the car into my cousin's place. When it was time to go home, I repeated the entire process. 

Friends and family members who knew I hadn’t left my apartment thought I'd gone crazy. Although I was suffering from cabin fever, I was too terrified to take my perfect newborn infant out into the dirty, disgusting world replete with germs. Dramatic, I know, but it’s how I felt at the time. And besides the germs, there were so many other things that I feared. 

What if I tripped on one of the cracks in the sidewalk and dropped him? I can be a total klutz sometimes, you know. What if the loud noises of the streets of Brooklyn, NY scared him? It is the Concrete Jungle, you know.


Head over to REDBOOK Magazine to read the rest of my article.
Did you have any "New Mommy Fears," irrational or otherwise?

When's the Last Time You Said, "Thank You"?

No doubt about it: this week kicked my ass. I mean, I like to think that I'm good at effectively handling stress. I always find good coping mechanisms and stress releases -- going for a run, having a glass of wine while reading a book, really playing with Aiden, taking a long and hot shower, etc. 

But this week? Hmph... none of that worked. 

Between dealing with changes at Aiden's school, sitting in Criminal Court with one of my teens at work (and other work stressors), and taking care of other personal issues, I am beat. Seriously. This week. Kicked my ass. Hard. 

But then there was yesterday. The silver lining. There's always a silver lining, right? Someone did something for me that was so touching and heartfelt. It warmed my heart so much that this morning I went to the store, purchased a "Thank You" card for them, and gave them a handwritten note. I'm usually one for sending a "Thank You" email, but I was so moved that I took the old school route. 

Which got me to thinking: when's the last time we said "thank you" to someone? Like really said "thank you" to someone for doing something nice/kind/special for us? 

Let today be that day. 

And so...

Thank you. For kicking it with me on this corner of the Internet. Thank you. For every link that you share on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you. For every comment. Thank you. For every email and/or message you send my way. Thank you. For forwarding posts that inspire you to friends. Thank you. For being so very dope. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. A million times... thank you.