Three Haute Mamas

This Holiday ... Make some room to give and feel your heart grow!!

Hello Mamas,

As you know Kate, Christina and I are all about Mamas helping Mamas and one of the charities we support are in need of our help.  As we begin our decent into the coldest months of the year Room to Grow posted this on their website. We have an urgent need for winter coats and snowsuits, especially in size newborn to 3 months.

 

You could help by getting the word out to friends and family,  host a collection drive or deliver your lightly used or new jackets to Room to Grow directly or to one of our collection sites.  Kate, Christina and I would gladly pick up any donations you may have and forward them along.  Just email us at [email protected]

Thanks in advance for helping make a difference!

XO Kimberly, Kate and Christina

Summer. Limited time only. Ends Labor day.

Talk in fashion these days is fall, fall, fall..bleh! It's not fall at all!!! It's August..Kim and I "lounged" oceanside with approximately 17 children in tow and lamented the fact that summer would in fact be over in the blink of an eye.  One thing we New Englander's do well is enjoy our season's because they are short lived and change so fast!!! So for the time being why not sit back, relax, and enjoy what's left of the lazy, hazy days of summer? Live in the PRESENT!!!! So grab your sun block, your sundresses, your adorable gladiators or wedge heeled sandals and....

Enjoy a summer gathering...

or go for a sail....

Don't forget your (clearance priced 29.99!) Trina Turk swimsuit! Thank you Marshalls!! 

 Spending  time with beautiful friends is so good for your well being, hit some hot Boston night spots for a Mama's night out!! Splash, Fenway Park, Ocean Club Marina Bay, Tia's, Strega or the festivals in the North End of Boston!! Oh Soooo much fun!!!!

 "reunite" with old friends.....

Joke around..have fun! 

and at the end of a day, if you're drink matches your bathing suit well then we've taught you well..... 

Kim scored this  La Blanca bathing suit at Marshall's two weeks ago for $29.99!!! Don't you just love a bargain!! 

For now don't stress about fall, live in the moment....... enjoy the rest of your summer with those you love!! While we still can feel the Summer WInd!!!

XO Kimberly, Kate, Christina

You had a baby! So..now that you're a mom.....

You do what other moms do..You search for other moms, beg them to befriend you, share their secrets to looking so good/feeding their families/dressing their children/finding the best of everything/blah blah.. After having my first babe I was traumatized.  Trau.Ma.Tized. Like deer in the headlights. I did not have a clue what I was doing, and here was alone in a town that I lived in for years, but had never really "lived in" after years of travel and commuting for work.  I knew no one and it was the coldest winter on record. So I did what I knew, I turned to my trusty friend the iMac and all those mamas out there in internet world.  I wasn't very fashionable back then.  I could barely put two sentences together, let alone a matching outfit but I found that I wasn't alone, and there were millions of other mamas out there who'd survived first babies and even went onto..second babies.... 

Nine months later...I was one of those mamas. 

I still use my iMac to turn to other mamas for meal ideas, fashion ideas and loads of other info only now I've got my matching outfit on.  Most of the time. 

-I just adore Verdemama and you will too! 

"I’ve learned a thing or two about livin’ la vida eco, but I’ve also learned that folks are green-fatigued out the wazoo and don’t want to be beaten about the head with all the eco-blahbity blah blah roaming the Interwebs. So I’ll take it easy on you, because I know how much we all dig on unsolicited advice and greener-than-thou proselytizing."-Verdemama

She's so pretty and nice, and eco-friendly.  But not in that "if you use that paper towel I'm gonna knock you down" type way.  There's also non "green" info like My top ten iphone camera apps, that are just fabulous if you are at all into taking photos with your iphone, a MUST read.  She's also running a great give away right now that ends soon so give her a visit! 

-Don't you love those mamas who swear "Oh, I only cook one meal at dinner and my kids eat it all".  Load of crap and they aren't foolin' a soul. Unless that one meal rhymes with Baft bacaroni + bees.. Enter... Weelicious.  

Hmm..there isn't a box of Baft bacaroni + bees in that kitchen. I also think she just might be perfect, but I'll let this one slide especially if she continues to provide such deelish recipes like Mac, cheese + chicken bites, pasta with corn + ricotta and pizza muffins?! Yes, we would sooo be friends in real life.  A lovely, informational site you will be lost in for hours, so be sure to have your Blackberry aqua fresca handy before you sit down!

-High heels and Nappies.  

Eye candy for all you fashionista mamas from a mama currently residing in Zurich, born and raised in Cape Town, and (love this) "lived, partied + worked" in Hong Kong for 5 years before getting married.  My kinda gal. Phenomenal taste, beautiful baby and lovely writing. 

Total haute mamas, all of them! 

Jewelry takes people's minds off your wrinkles. -- Sonja Henie

Hello Haute Mamas It's Kimberly!

It seems like every time I walk into a store I get lost in the jewelry department. I can't remember the last time I was in a jewelry store that sold real gems, jewelry and watches. I am talking about costume jewelry the jewelry that we can have fun with! We can afford to pile it on... not wear it for a while... won't cry for days if we break it or lose it!!! The anti-stress Haute Mommy Jewelry!! The FUN STUFF!!! Kate and I live on the Southcoast of Massachusetts and we have a lot of summer friends we will be seeing soon and we joke with them that it is time to start our summer stacking of the jewelry. When we have our girls nights here in Mattapoisett we like to pile on the accessories!! However, to quote the Fabulous Rachel Zoe " Just be honest with yourself when you look in the mirror: if you resemble a Christmas tree with one too many ornaments from one too many trends than lose something!" We have a lot of skin showing in the summer time and it is great to dress it up and have some fun with jewelry.

 A few of my favorite pieces and I probably would cry if I lost them or broke them are by a local designer here in Massachusetts and friend of mine Michelle Murphy of SeaLore Designs. Michelle is a Haute Mama of 5 children!! YES!! 5!!! She has been creating jewelry since she was a little girl and like all great designers was encouraged to pursue her talent and passion. Michelle burst onto the scene 2 years ago and is carrying her line in many stores along the south shore such as Shop Mermaids, Spa Scape Day Spa to name a few and now the south coast at Contrary Boutique. The inspiration for Michelle is free spirited, boho, beach chic. She also designs some symbolic jewelry as well. What I love about Michelle's jewelry is her use of metal with natural stones. Pictured below are some of Michelle's design's the perfect summer piece's to compliment your outfit!! 

f SeaLore Design's Jewelry you can find at Etsy.com. Way to go Michelle! I admire you for following your passion and finding a way to balance it all!! You are truly a Haute Mama!!

XO Kimberly

Sex and The City 2 will not disappoint even without its fifth character...... The City!!

Hello Everyone Kimberly Here,

After running around juggling kids, homework done, dinner, dressed for little league and getting them handed off to babysitters. Kate and I with about 20 minutes to spare got ourselves glamed up for the Premier of Sex and The City 2 at the Lowes theater in Boston. 

 
  

7:00 sharp the lights went out and the words Sex and The City lit up the big screen!!! I was so excited!! I couldn't wait to spend time with the girls from Manhattan! There will be no scene spoilers here so I can't get into too much detail but I can tell you I was happy to see them. All of them right off the bat all at once!!! Kate and I were in heaven!!

As always the Fashion's were out of this world!! My head was spinning but with this movie I found myself more involved in their personal struggles and what the outcome was going to be. I laughed out loud many times.... ( The Samantha we love is back) and to me stole the show!!! I cried as a few moments I felt myself in their shoes. As they struggled with who they were becoming as women as they enter new stages of their lives and as they question if they are where they are meant to be.  As I left the movie Kate and I were talking and we both agreed something was missing. Then it came to us. It was the City. Most of the movie was shot as the girls were on vacation and well being a Boston girl I am going to clear my throat and type this but.... We really missed Manhattan!! 

In our book however it is official!! We love those women!! Everything about them!! Samantha said that they were each other's soulmates! and I once read that.... you know you are with your soulmate when life comes to life!! These girls make it happen in high fashion they make life come to life on the big screen!! 

Enjoy the movie Haute Mamas!! We think it is HAUTE!!!!!! 

XO Kimberly

Haute Mamas out there we need to talk........... Umm....It's about the jeans!!

Hello Haute Mamas,

A wise friend pulled me aside one day and sat me down. I had no idea what she was about to tell me. Her eyes looked so serious and I thought I saw sweat beading up on her face. I could sense that whatever she was about to tell me it was of the utmost importance to her. She said, " It pains me to see you with saggy bum jeans on!" "Look at me, have you ever seen a saggy bum on me?" I thought to myself Hmmm did she really just say that to me and yes she always looks amazing in her jeans. "Okay" I said "you are right what is your secret!" She told me designer jeans.....  she went on to tell me the price and after she revived me with smelling salts I agreed to go with her to try a few pairs on.

  Ever since then I bypass the Costco jeans, the Target Jeans, the Old Navy Jeans... and I invest in two pairs of Designer Jeans. Paige Jeans are my favorite!! 

 I have some curves on me and her woman's jeans fit like a glove. They suck my bottom in and up and they never sag!!! I looovvvveeeee them!!!! When I wear them I feel like a million bucks!! God forbid in the event of a fire... I will save the jeans!!! You can find these jeans to try on at any department store that carry's high end designers. Everyone's body is different so take your time and learn what designer fits you best. They are truly an investment. I know here in Massachusetts we have Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's and Lord and Taylor. Once you know what designer's and styles fit your body the best, you can find great deals on Ebay, outlet stores and also take advantage of department store and boutique sales! I own a light wash for days and a dark wash for evenings!! Ahhhh the joys of Denim bliss!! By the way that friend was Christina.... and I got the lecture after my fourth child!!  Hey, that is what BFF's are for!! 

Love to all,

Kimberly 

Hey all!

It's Kate! I was kind of hoping Kim would say it was me who enlightened her, alas..

Christina really is the first know it all among us.  

Anywhooo..

Regarding jeans.  Yes. You cannot go wrong with investing in a good pair of jeans.  Spend your money on a rockin pair and you will never ever regret it.  Where Kim and I differ, however, is that I think you can find that awesome pair of jeans at a store like Old Navy or Gap, you just have to look and be prepared to try, try, try them on.  Try them alllll on.  

First off, realize you are not the size you want to be, you are the size you are.  That being said, if there's a fair amount of lycra (let us bow down and thank the heavens for Mr. Lycra the inventor of greatest fabric ever..moment of silence over), IF there is lycra involved in your denim, and honey there should be, let's get a size down.  

Lycra stretches.  

Think about it..you know how those little leggings look so small, yet they somehow manage to cover up our entire bottom half?

The magic of lycra. 

Lycra also loses stretch after time.  Like skin after a pregnancy? You know what..let's not go there yet on our first date.  

Jeans weren't meant to be washed daily.  Get over it.  I wash my hands a thousand and two times a day, and wash my jeans like never.  Jeans with lycra conform to your body over time.  They stretch out like a cat, and get all comfy and happy.  Wash them  and they shrink up and get all catty + tight again.  Which sounds better? Febreeze them, throw them in the dryer for a few minutes, hang them..you will survive.  It'll be our little secret you're wearing dirty jeans.  And when someone comes up and compliments you on your butt, you can thank ME!

the deets:

So I am a size 27/28 or a 4 (unless I don't stop eating this Easter candy).

Some of my favorites are:

Juicy Couture Cali fit.  I call these my "mom jeans".  Super duper comfy. Must be made of lycra and not much else. Flattering and no muffin top (holla!)

Paige Premium Denim Hollywood Hills.  Girlfriend when I tell you the compliments I get on my be. Hind. That's all I'm sayin'.  and it comes from other women, so you know it's actually legitamite.

who says you can't rock $15.00 jeans? Throw out that theory because I'm here to tell you, you can and you will.  

Old Navy Diva Skinnys.  

Cannot. Tell. You. Of. My. Love. Bought these babies on sale, and they are my go to's. Jeans fill my closet and I go to these almost daily.  Did someone say skinny's are going out? I can't see it happening.  Whether tucked into my equestrian boots or with thong sandals I turn to these old friends more than you know.  One downfall..not a ton of lycra.  Stick with normal size.  But do try the long version.  

and that my friends is the story of why denim and kate will be BFF

cheers!

Kate