Modern Femme's Morning Must-Haves

My weekday mornings have become a bit of a blur.  In pre-Bebe days, I could take my time getting ready, rising early so that I could enjoy a leisurely bowl of yogurt with granola and fruit, then tidying up the house before getting dressed for the day.  In post-Bebe days, my morning routine has been paired down to the core essentials, aimed at getting me out the door in 30 minutes or less.

To that end, here are the top personal care products that I have to have nearby every morning, or woe to the world:

Hairdryer.  I will not leave the house with wet hair.  Wet hair is the professional woman's enemy.  It will ruin any effort put into assembling a tailored outfit, carefully applied makeup, and coordinating accessories - because if your hair is wet, that will be all I notice.  And the impression it leaves me with is that you either irresponsibly overslept and are running very late, or you simply don't care - neither of which are desirable impressions for a professional woman to make, n'est pas? 

Conair's Cord-Keeper.  Perfect for Chez MF's smaller bathroom.

Here is my suggestion for those modern femmes who find hair-dryers to be a nuisance:  instead of blow-drying every single strand, focus on drying the roots of your hair and those sections framing your face.  Once you've given those areas a concentrated blast, give the top layer of your hair a quick once-over with the dryer, then pull everything back into a bun or chignon. Presto!  You look pulled together, and no one will be the wiser that the undersides and ends of your hair are still damp.  (I can personally attest to this method, as it is one that I am known to employ myself.)

Concealer.  I am now facing the indignity of emerging wrinkles rubbing elbows with blemishes on my once-youthful face.  Is there no fairness in the world?

Bobbi Brown's foundation stick is MF's best friend.

Thank goodness for Bobbi Brown.  Time may not be on my side, but Bobbi is.

Eyelash curler.  Makeup gurus everywhere sing its praises, and for good reason.  Curled eyelashes make your eyes look bigger and therefore make you look more awake - a necessity for any overworked female (or male!) professional in the morning.  Two quick pumps to each set of lashes and a swipe of mascara, and you're done.

The trusty sidekick of any MF in the know.

Fan brush.  I only recently bought one of these brushes and now I wonder how I muddled along without it.

The fan brush is just as attractive to look at as it to use.

A quick dab into your blush and a feathery stroke across your cheekbone, and voila! The brush's shape helps to distribute the powder - concentrated in the center, diffuse at the ends - in a most flattering way.  I like to use blush with a bit of shimmer to it, for an extra glow.

Lip Balm.  I cannot abide dry lips.  I may be guilty of eschewing lipstick on in the morning, but the Chapstick goes on before anything else.

These are squirrelled away all around Chez MF.

Perfume.  I have fond schoolgirl memories of my mother hugging me goodbye each morning on her way to work.  Besides the lasting impression her smart suits and Ferragamo pumps left on me, I will always recall how her perfume - Caleche by Hermes - would envelope me in a comforting cloud. 

MF's signature fragrance.

My preferred fragrance is Coco Mademoiselle, followed closely by Ralph Lauren's Safari.  A lady should always leave an impression, no?

There are, of course, other products that I use in conjunction with the above in the morning, but these six are non-negotiable.  What about you, dear readers?  What are your weekday morning must-haves?

xoxo
MF

Modern Femme loves...all things Martha

We all know I am a Martha devotee, but even I couldn't help but laugh at myself this morning as I unpacked my breakfast and lunch at my desk. 

Do I own enough of Martha's products (and these are just the ones at work, mind you)?   From left to right: Martha's Sistema breakfast and lunch caddies, Martha's Avery Home Office file folders, Discbound notebook, and assorted Martha Stack and Fit desk accessories.

All hail the queen.
xoxo
MF

Modern Homme: Celebrating Father's Day with Style

I don't know about you, dear readers, but I have always found Father's Day to be a particular challenge.  My first challenge, shamefully, is to remember that it even takes place, coming as quickly as it does on the glittering heels of Mother's Day.    (Ahem, Father's Day 2013 is on Sunday, June 16th.  But I'm sure you knew that.) 

My second and more perplexing challenge is what to get dear old Dad.  The typical trifecta of Father's Day gifts (Golf - BBQ- Power Tools) certainly does not lend itself to my father's interests.  And while Mr. MF certainly enjoys a good home renovation project, I am disinclined to celebrate him with yet another impersonal Home Depot gift card.

In an effort to break out of my cycle of forgetfulness and gift-less-ness, I've been hunting through the inter webs for fun, stylish Father's Day gifts.  Here is what I've found so far:

The Hobbyist


Lego's Architecture series' White House.  Photo by same.

 Who doesn't love Legos?  Lego's Architecture series, designed for the 12+ crowd, includes the White House, the Space Needle, the Sydney Opera House, and Fallingwater, among many others.  The final product is small enough to be displayed on a desk or bookshelf.

Frescobol Carioca Lopes Mendes Set.  Photo by MSO.

For those fathers who enjoy some backyard sport, this Frescobol Carioca "Lopes Mendes" set would make a handsome addition to the rec kit.


The Gourmand

Olympic Provisions Salami of the Month Club.  Photo by MSO.

A salami of the month club is a fun novelty - and a perfect way to make Dad feel appreciated over the course of a year!

Home Brew Kit from Uncommon Goods.  Photo by same.

Artisanal and micro-brews are everywhere now - perhaps your guy would like to try his hand at making his own limited edition batch of suds with a home brewing kit.


The Sentimentalist

Metalmorphis' Silver Keychains.  Photo by same.

These sterling silver keychains with a younger family member's artwork would be a swell gift for a father who wears his heart on his sleeve.

Photo by MSO.

Or even better, have your little ones customize a notepad for Dad to use.  This would be an excellent gift for grandfathers as well.

My search for stylish Father's Day ideas continues - keep track of my finds on my Father's Day Pinterest Board.  And, as always, do share any gift ideas you might have with me in the comments!

xoxo to fathers everywhere and us that love 'em, 
MF

The Modern Femme (does NOT) love...Charitable House Calls

Dear Charities:

I understand that you are striving to make the world a better place, whether it is for children, animals, ecosystems, or social causes.  As a former not-for-profit employee myself, I understand that you operate on slender budgets, and rely on the largesse of the public to see the value of your cause, and to help you do your good work through donations. I understand that public outreach is needed to both spread your message and solicit contributions.  But listen to me closely here, because I have had enough. 

Stop coming to my home to ask for money.  It is inappropriate, it is presumptuous, and it is often a damned inconvenience.

Ding dong, annoyance calling.

In the last few months, my doorbell has been rung more than once by these donation-seeking pavement pounders.  As someone living in a city, I'm used to the occasional shyster coming to my door, peddling a slick deal. But what I cannot abide is someone seeking to guilt me into cleaning up our waterways, or sending a child in poverty to school.  And what especially sends me into a lather is that these people have no compunction about ringing your doorbell at dinner time, demanding to speak with you, and attempting to continue the conversation when you've indicated you are not interested. 

Here's what happened to me last night:
  
Scene:  6:30 pm, Weeknight.  MF is sitting with Bebe in the dining room, helping him eat his dinner. Ginger the dog is anxiously attending to Bebe's movements, waiting for a stray crumb.

DING-DONG!

Ginger sets off into a manic burst of barking - which, from an 88 pound dog, is loud and alarming.  Bebe, startled, bursts into tears.  MF hurries to the door, grabs Ginger by the collar, and attempts to crack open the door just enough to converse with whomever's outside.

Charity Worker:  Hello, my name is Sandra and I'm with Save the Snails.  I'm here to talk with you about the important place snails have in our ecosystem and what you can do to ensure that they maintain their rightful place in the digestive pecking order.  The continuation of the snail species is important to you, right?

MF (struggling to restrain Ginger from giving Charity Worker a tongue bath, while also checking to make sure shrieking Bebe is not falling from his high chair in hysterics):  SHHHH Ginger!  Hi, I'm sorry, but this is not a good time, my son is having his dinner.

Charity Worker:  Oh! Okay, no problem, I can come back...later tonight.  I'll be in the neighborhood until 9:00 pm.  When is a good time for you?

MF (dumbfounded):  Umm, no I'm sorry.  Tonight is not a good time.

Charity Worker:  Well, tonight's the only night I'll be in the neighborhood.  (Turns on her heel.) Snail-killer.

Charities, listen to me here.  This is NOT the way to get people to support your cause.  I suspect it's not doing much to pad your coffers, either.  Most of us folks think of our home as our sanctuary.  We do not want to engage in a conversation on our front porch with a complete stranger who is trying to brow beat us into giving up our money to a cause that we have given no thought to prior to them setting foot on our doorstep. 

Secondly, if you must send representatives out into the neighborhood to solicit funds, then instruct them that no means NO.  Do not encourage them to ask me if I'm really sure I want to see the snail species die off, or perhaps I can scrounge up a mere dollar a day to donate to snail saving research.  I said no, and I mean no. 

Finally, do not come to my house on a weeknight.  Ever.  I arrive home from work looking to relax and put the stress of the day behind me.  I do not appreciate having my evening routine interrupted.  You may solicit my attention and possible donations from 11:00 am - 2:00 on Saturday or Sunday.  I may or may not be home, in which case, you are welcome to leave a flyer.


Better yet, don't stop by, leave flyers, OR call me.  I'll call you, if I decide to help save those snails.

The Modern Femme lives!

My dearest readers.  WHERE have I been?

Please forgive my long absence.  I've been here, in the ether, but bogged down with uninteresting to-do lists (some of which I will post about later!) and other assorted odds and ends.   But who cares about me, how are YOU?

Since I last posted, here are some snippets of what I've been up to since February (mon Dieu!):

I enjoyed the one snowfall we received this winter, a light dusting at best.
 

No snowmaggedon for us this year.

Mr. MF, Bebe and I went to the National Aquarium - which is rather underwhelming, I must admit - and enjoyed watching Bebe experience his first fish sighting.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

I was delighted to see a new restaurant was opening in my neighborhood...

Les Fruits de Mer - be still my beating heart!

...and subsequently was delighted to eat there, thanks to the Maman and Papa of Modern Femme.  Merci buckets, mes parents!

Spring brought her own delights...

Curvy pink blossoms and linear marble.

Including picking out an adorable easter outfit for Bebe...

One is never too young to sport a blazer for holidays.

And preparing for someone's first birthday party!



Turning one is hard work! Thank goodness for this tower of cupcakes.

 The birthday presents Bebe received were all wonderful, especially this fun nylon tunnel.

Is that a light at the end of the tunnel, or is it Daddy?

Summer is bringing its own glorious diversions, like family strolls along the Billy Goat Trail...

Onwards, my men.

More pedantic (but no less exciting) things like a Costco near my house!

Gogo Squeeze - the snack of infant champions.

And, finally, this summer is witnessing Bebe's creative wearing of socks.

This is how we do footwear in Chez MF.

 My dear readers, I hope this post helps to smooth over my absence.  As you can see, there's been lots of fun and some work going on!  But never fear, the posts, they are a'coming.  With my new schedule (more to come on that), you can plan on two to three new posts a week.  Thanks for checking in and, naturellement, coming back.

Kisses!
MF