Weekend Words of Wisdom.

{from Everything Fabulous}

All it's missing is:

Eat. Most problems can be solved over a good meal shared with family or friends. 

And sometimes shop! Because everyone feels better when wearing a new frock. 

Happy weekend!

A brilliant man.

I don't know why I'm posting so many tidbits I find inspiring. Maybe I just need to be inspired through all this dreary, rainy, tropical stormish weather. Maybe it's the kids going back to school. Maybe it is the big decade birthday looming large in the distance. Or perchance, it is my friends' troubles wearing on my heart. 

Whatever the reason, I really need another little bit of sunshine today.  

Today I found it in Johnathan Adler's company manifesto (which I saw when reading Sweet Nothings). His innate sense of whimsy puts a humongous smile on my face. 

Our Manifesto

We believe that your home should make you happy. 

We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. 

We believe in carbohydrates and to hell with the puffy consequences. 

We believe minimalism is a bummer. 

We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing. 

We believe tassels are the earrings of the home. 

We believe in our muses: David Hicks, Alexander Girard, 

Bonnie Cashin. Hans Coper, Gio Ponti, Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, 

Yves Saint Laurent, and Madonna.

We believe in the innate chicness of red with brown. 

We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always.

We believe in infantile, happy emblems like butterflies and hearts. 

We believe celebrities should pay full price. 

We believe in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-Frame beach houses,

raw beams, and geodesic dome homes. 

We believe in Palm Beach style: 

Louis chairs, chinoiserie, Lilly Pulitzer, The Breakers circa '72. 

We believe our designs are award winning even though 

they've never actually won any. 

We believe in Aid to Artisans. 

We believe dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants. 

We believe in mantiques - suits of armour, 

worn chesterfield sofas, heraldic tapestries. 

We believe you should throw out your Blackberry 

and go pick some actual blackberries. 

We believe colors can't clash. 

We believe in blowing your nest egg on our pots. 

We believe our lamps will make you look younger and thinner.

We believe in irreverent luxury.

To read more of his witty tidbits and other musings, click here.

Or read his husband's hysterical book,

Beautiful People: My Family and Other Gamorous Varmints 

by Simon Doonan. It will put a smile on your face and in your heart!

Inspired quote.

{I should really tape this to my bathroom mirror and read it everyday.}

{image via La Dolce Vita}

  

Things I wish I knew when I was 17, or 7.

My duo started 2nd grade last week.  They seem so old.  No longer my little babes listening to my every words and spending all day at my side.  I both relish in and am saddened by this realization.


And quite frankly, I am challenged daily by providing them with the right advice. The right words. The wisdom they'll need to make it in the world. I fear my words fall short.


They are both adjusting well to their new classes, schedules and friends, but I worry.  Am I alone here?  I fear not. I worry they will make the right friends. I worry we are in the right activities. I worry about giving them enough freedom so they can learn to make wise decisions.  But, of course, not too much freedom.


So, I decided to sit down and try to think of some words of wisdom I thought may help them through life. Not all are appropriate for them at 7, but over time.  One of the best parenting bits I've ever received. - a big picture bit - was to think about your values and your goals for their lives and work backwards to determine how you should parent and discipline. Sometimes we are all guilty of defensive or reflexive parenting.  I prefer to be on the offensive.


So, here are some of the principles I hope to instill over the next 10+ years:

• It's the accumulation of many small decisions over time, more so than the few big ones, that chart the paths you take in life.

• Be grateful for every thing no matter how inconsequential it may seem. Being grateful attracts more things into your life to be grateful for.

• There is a difference between being tenacious and swimming upstream. Learn to distinguish between the two for one leads to success and the other to frustration.

• Work daily on your relationship with God even, if it's just a simple "good morning" and "good night", for it will provide you with a level of peace, security and contentment that no person can give you.

• Be curious about the habits of highly evolved and successful people and apply them to your life.

• Exercise your physical talents as often as possible because the day you realize you can no longer do that gainer off the diving board you will experience a sense of lost that's like a death.

• Spend time with your grandparents and ask lots of questions because when you get older you will develop an insatiable curiosity about your heritage.

• There really is such a thing as karma. You will get back exactly what you put out.

• Your family loves you and cares more deeply about you than anyone and always has your best interest at heart.

• Trust your instincts for they are an invaluable tool. If something doesn't feel right, it usually isn't.

• Outward appearances mean nothing if you are not grounded and confident. It is never enough just to be a pretty girl / attractive guy.

• No boy / girl is worth pushing your values and instincts aside for.

• Although 'tis always nice to give people room to grow, most personalities are set by first grade. Adjust your expectations accordingly and you will save yourself a world of hurt and disappointment.

• Your grades and study habits will shape the rest of your life and provide you the best opportunity for a life of independence and success.

• Everything in moderation is best, time does heal all wounds and, this too will pass.

• And my newest motto from Katherine Center - "You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day. And my greatest hope for you, sweet child, is that I can teach you how to write a good one."
  

What are some of your parenting goals? Or what wisdom do you hope to instill over the years?