ren's loves

No, not the regular office kind. Rather, the medical staple remover. 

Today, I had the 7 staples put in my back exactly two week sago today, removed. And thank god they are gone.

My recovery has really been great, but towards the end the staples became more and more uncomfortable. They were getting snagged on things. The heat of my heating pad would cause excessive heating INSIDE me. And that’s all besides the fact that having metal holding me together made me feel very Frankenstein-ish. 

I prefer to be metal-free, thank you very much.

And of course, I’m still sore. But it’s amazing how much better I feel already without them. And how much better I feel having had the surgery. 

Two weeks ago I would have said you were insane that by now I would be able to bend over and pick something up without holding on to my husband, with my back brace and several percocets. 

And yet, here I am.

Sure, my leg still goes numb for a majority of the time. But it fluctuates, which apparently is a good sign and that I can look forward to a day with no numbness. And my back is sore after bending over. 

But I can do it.

And that’s all that matters.

Beautiful painting by Terje Adler Mørk / terjeadlermork.com

For those of you who live in the DC area, you must check out the Old Town Boutique District sale this Saturday at the Old Town Alexandria George Washington Masonic Temple for the best deals of the year.

This is serious.

I’m talking DVF for 80%.

It’s a madhouse and first-come, first-served. The line to get in starts hours before the doors open. 

Don’t miss THE shopping event of the year for the DC area.

Check out their website for more deets.

Leave it to Alexander McQueen to make bones sexy. This dress’ delicate lace skeletal weave let’s you be edgy, a touch goth and super-sexy.

Them bones never looked so good.

Net-a-porter.

It’s Friday night. And as a mother of a toddler (and someone who’s recovering from back surgery), Friday nights are a lot more subdued than in years past. Gone are the days when at 9:42 I would be just getting ready to go out, as opposed to being on my computer, in bed already.

But times change and frankly, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My days and nights are filled with the absolute love from a child. And that beats anything - hands down.

So, as I’m playing around online, looking at all the pretty pictures of clothing, shoes, and closets that are larger than the 2nd floor of our home, I stumbled across this gorgeous blog, Under Spanish Moss, and had to share the peaceful, serene, and lush gardens she showcased.

This is the sort of garden I WILL have some day. Partially wild, partially manicured & structured - I’ve always wanted a maze - and with a water element. Maybe a pond, reflecting pool, swimming pool, fountain…something flowing. A place to retreat with a good book and let the rest of the world just melt away. 

It would be a place where I could either take in creations, such as books, or a place to be inspired. A place to write or paint. 

A space of my own.

The blog is Under Spanish Moss. And the blogger credits the photos: Thank you JoAnn Hymel for the most beautiful book by Jean-Loup Daraux in which these images came from and inspired me.

This is so ridiculous, that I love it: Karl Lagerfeld is was selling his notorious collar on net-a-porter for $95….and it’s already sold out!

I don’t know if I love it because it’ so krazy, or what….I can’t imagine actually wearing it, though. 

What I would give to be NYC for this

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is the premiere conference/showcase for all consumer electronics. It’s held each year in Las Vegas and it’s where the coolest prototypes are rolled out for geeks like me to drool over.

This year was all about tablets and mac book air knock offs…and these shoes which were PRINTED FROM A 3D PRINTER!

OMG. Can you imagine all the cool things that can be done with 3D printing? And the shoes? Talk about instant satisfaction!

Just think. You have not shoes for tonight. You go online, find a pair you like and click! You are printing your fab shoes at home.

So. Cool.

Elie Saab’s Spring 2012 Couture collection encapsulated Paris in the spring time. 

It’s light, feminine and in full-bloom and reminds me of when I spent some time in Paris.

Used to walk for hours, just wandering and exploring the City of Lights. I fancied myself an amateur photog. Anyway, one overcast day I was passing through the Jardins du Luxembourg, and was caught by these beautiful, pink flowering trees with ribbons strung to them. Someone had tied pink tape around them for an outdoor exhibit (I believe).  

Even though it wasn’t sunny, or even warm that day, it was windy, and the ribbons caught the wind fluttered. And Saab’s collection harkens me back to this moment in Paris and all it’s beauty.

Below are two of my favorites (though the second just possibly may need some sort of lining, for my taste ;-)

To check out the entire collection and quickly see just how the collection as a whole is truly a work of art.