Happy Fourth of July!

Thank you for all the sweet notes and comments about the baby. My due date came and went, and we're still waiting for this little one to arrive. Cross your fingers for us this weekend! Hope you have a great holiday with lots of ice cream and hot dogs. If you're in a blog-reading mood, here are some fun posts from around the web...

A beautiful essay about waiting for a baby.

And this funny website is coming in handy.

Not your typical Paris apartment.

Made me laugh.

How to fold a shirt in less than 2 seconds. (Worth watching.)

Prince William and Kate Middleton look-a-likes!

Smart tips for choosing the right rug.

Sweetest tiny earrings.

How to make whipped feta.

This sunscreen slideshow made me smile. Been there.

Germans are now using this rude English word.

20 pies for the summer.

This funny book looks surprisingly reassuring.

Wearing this nail color this weekend.

Study: People with lots of self-control are happier.

Love you back.

Have a good one! xo

(Flag cake from Smitten Kitchen. "Love you back" via Swissmiss)

Summer movie

On August 10th, HBO will premiere Clear History, a new comedy directed by Greg Mottola (of Superbad fame) and starring Larry David and Jon Hamm. What a dream team. Larry David's face alone makes me laugh when I see it, and Jon Hamm was hilarious in 30 Rock. Doesn't the trailer look great? Will you watch it?
P.S. The 101 best written TV series, and Sh*t Liz Lemon Says.

The Best (French) Picnic Dish

What do you usually pack for picnics? We bring cheddar and crackers and grapes, but sometimes we're in the mood for something more inspired. Well, Rachel of The Little Paris Kitchen agreed to share her delicious recipe for fresh French cheese, which would be a great twist on a summer day. Here goes...
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Wednesday giveaway

Today's giveaway is from Bario Neal, a handcrafted jewelry studio in Philadelphia that uses reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones and environmentally conscious practices. They have beautiful engagement rings and wedding bands, as well as necklaces, earrings and bracelets. And good news for brides-to-be: They just opened a new showroom in downtown Manhattan. (To make an appointment, you can contact them here.)

Today they're offering one lucky winner their bronze twig barrette. Isn't it beautiful? I'd love to wear it on breezy days this summer. For a chance to win, please visit Bario Neal's online shop and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: The winner has been emailed. Thanks for playing.

Let's talk about summer...

Fake tattoos.
Wine sippy cups for sneaking on picnics.
Double wine tote, if you’re going the bottle route.
Picnic bag that unfolds into a blanket. Plus, 101 picnic dishes you can make in 20 minutes.
9 clever ways to top a sausage.
If you're looking for a summer uniform, ASOS has been killing it lately! (Above: grey tee, lace detail dress, embroidered tank, colorblock dress, sexy blank tank, floral midi skirt.)
Aviators are the most flattering sunglasses. Even Woody Allen looks cool in them.
If you can't play private ping pong at the Chateau Marmont, here's a fun tabletop alternative.
The proper way to make a Ben & Jerry's ice-cream sandwich. Awesome.
Three-tiered drink dispenser for summer entertaining.
A sweet book to read to your child.
And my good friend Gemma just published a book about five girls in Brooklyn. It's a hilarious and uplifting summer read. Congrats, Gemma!

P.S. My favorite summer sandals and sneakers.

(Ping pong table photo by David Swanson; wine sippy cups via Swissmiss)

Family vacation idea: Positano

Courtney Adamo of Babyccino lives in London with her husband and four children—ages 8, 6, 4 and 6 months. She and her husband first visited Positano ten years ago, and they loved it so much, they vowed to return every year. The locals now joke that Courtney and her husband show up with a new baby every summer! Here are her insider tips...Read More >

Motherhood Mondays: How long (or short) was your labor?

While we're on pins and needles waiting for our second baby to finally arrive, I'm curious: How quickly did your babies come, once you were in labor? A friend of a friend told me the freakiest thing the other day...Read More >