Life these days is finding something to keep a VERY active two year old engaged and exhausted for the next sleep. I have to thank my Perfect Husband for coming up with the idea to have The Critter “hike” up the hills of Beverly High. We are now going to add this to our daily routine! It wore him out, and gave me a little room to breathe and exercise some myself. Also brilliant is the fact that there is a wheelchair ramp winding around and around, leading up to the school, which Critter finds very amusing – it’s like a little maze, from his perspective. He giggled all over the place.

I can hardly believe my eyes! Well, if it can’t be me, then – he should go for Betty. But he’ll probably ask Veronica, because, well, she’s totally hot, complete with hot car and daddy’s money!

I just hope that he finally finished high school…

He was the first purveyor I met on the first day of my first job in Beverly Hills. He showed us the most beautiful fabrics and had a way of describing them and their applications that was irresistible. Behind the descriptions was devastatingly handsome and charming man with an indefinably aristocratic sounding accent – I was completely enchanted, as was everyone who ever knew Jacques Bouvet. Soon after he met Darrell and they’ve been inseparable since. The last time I saw him was at our baby shower, and we traded photos of vacations and baby occasionally. He was a most elegant man, and I will miss him very very much.

Rest in Peace dear Jacques.

…but WWOZ keeps me updated on Jazz Fest 2009…

So I haven’t been the most prolific blogger lately. And there’s a very good reason – the Critter is now a TODDLER! If you don’t have a toddler this probably will mean nothing to you. So for my friends who don’t know of this state of being, toddlerdom is a time when a little human can reach, run climb, want want want, and can’t necessarily tell you why or what he wants.

It is a time of supreme cuteness as even though I’m sad that the Critter is no longer the tiny baby, every day is an adventure of discovery. So now my once Sex and the City lifestyle is much more Real Housewives, except the Critter goes everywhere with me! I still keep up with the latest in design through all my awesome interior design purveyors, but life is becoming more an more focused on what the best of the best for my little family is, and how to still be fabulous while wrangling blueberry stained paws and yobaby yogurt.

So you’re going to start seeing more adventures of the Critter and me, and we have a lot of fun! Today we had breakfast at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills with my friend from college, who is a Director at the Four Seasons in Punta Mita, Mexico. She is telling me that luxury hotels are really focused on families, and are always interested in how to accomodate people like the Critter and me and my Perfect Husband.

The Critter had a great time with the coloring book he was given in the Garden Restaurant, and he was even served on his own little place setting of kid china and silver. He checked out the new cabanas on the roof deck and saw that the pool is under construction.

April second, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Valentino receives his Walk of Style award

Who knew that a cupcake challenge could command such exclusivity! But there it is, right on top of the page: SOLD OUT. I suppose I’d best be more proactive about my cake tasting plans next year! For now, I’ll just read up on what it’s like…

…who hates getting telephone voicemail. These days we have texts, email, twitter, Facebook and Lord knows what else, and I still have to dial up to get a message? Sigh. This article agrees…

…I can always find it in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Just a casual tea party in the Belhaven neighborhood – thanks to the Wiggintons for the party and Dr Edwin McAllister for the photo!

Great things I get to see because I have very creative friends who travel a lot – a perfect study of pattern, texture, light and line, disguised as a snapshot from a visit to the Prague Castle.