Going themeless

Not long ago one of my nearest and dearest girlfriends called to ask me if I had chosen a theme for my son's new room. I recoiled against the question and then had to confess, I am not a very themey kind of gal. It's all too much for me. I know I am probably about to offend, well, pretty much everyone I know, since I can't think of a lad or lass out there whose room isn't themed out to the max. Maybe I am a decor commitment phobe, or perhaps I just can't fathom adhering to a themed room when kids are so filled with imagination and ever-changing interests. But as far as my kids' rooms go, we'll be going themeless.

I am in the process of compiling ideas for Matteo's space in our new house. Not sure exactly what I want to do yet, but it's going to be a departure from his last room which, of course, was his nursery. It is time to say good bye to lullabies and sweet, soft baby blue... sniff. Matteo is almost three and all boy. Rough and tumbly and into everything from Tonkas and firetrucks to tools and robots to superheros and monsters. He has saved me from the dreaded theme concept for children's rooms just by being himself. Earlier this year it was Lightning McQueen, before Christmas it was Tonkas, then Spiderman and Transformers and no sooner had I lamented that he hadn't expressed any interest in animals when all of a sudden he is intrigued with owls, bats and chipmunks.

And so, in an effort to find design inspiration I've had to abandon the regular resources and think outside the box. Even Pottery Barn proved too themey for me (beautiful furniture though). As far as I am concerned, themes are for birthday parties when kids are into an of-the-moment thing. Then I stumbled across this modern mom's magazine called Cookie. In it was an article about kids rooms and lo and behold, they were so darn stylish and blessedly theme-free. Everything from nostalgic vintage-chic to modern-fabulous. The magazine's website provided even more food for thought. Mum's from all over the world emailed photos of their kid's rooms. What a breath of fresh air! Rooms painted crisp white and the color provided by artwork, accessories and toys. With a neutral backdrop and the right combination of shelving and furniture, I think Matteo's favourite things will provide more than enough colour and visual stimulation without any help from a wallpaper border, thank you very much.

I am looking for that perfect combination of classic and modern. I like funky, old-fashioned furniture painted up in bright colors and juxtaposed against modern graphic bedding. Oh! And I mustn't forget the thing I am most excited about- a giant World Map for my pint-sized explorer. Colourful, educational, classic and fun.

Finally, in addition to my eclectic take on design for kids I can feel good about recycling old pieces instead of outfitting a room with all-new furniture. Did I mention my boy is rough and tumbly? His furniture is going to see some serious wear and tear. But this isn't about filing my kid's room with junky cast-offs. It is about making a conscious effort to be environmentally responsible, re-use and re-purpose and to find items that can withstand the test of time and still stay stylish and functional so my darling boy has a room he can grow with, not into or out of over time.

A Trip for Three (and a half) To Paris

Ah, Paris in the fall! Arguably the most beautiful and romantic of European cities. The perfect place to stroll along the Seine or down lovely treed boulevards with your lover... and three-year-old.... and baby-to-be.

That's right. My memories of Paris include strollers, maternity jeans that refused to stay up and a sippy cup leaking milk on my husband's laptop. Isn't it romantic? Indeed, I had a few high expectations and pre-conceived notions to hurdle over once we learned we were going to the City of Lights. And pre-conceived they were, since we planned the trip before... before I got pregnant, that is. Before we realized we would have to tote our three-year-old. Before our lives changed forever.

It wasn't as though we could change our minds either, we were going to attend my sister's wedding, after all. If we didn't go, we would miss the wedding which would be unacceptable. Also, we knew this fact: if we didn't go now, it would be a very, very, very long time before the opportunity would come around again with a new baby on the way. And so we packed our bags and stroller and car seat and toys and blankies and to Paris we flew.

I was worried about what to wear in Paris. It is, after all, one of the most stylish cities in all the world and I, for one, didn't want to look like a slobby tourist. I was at the point in my pregnancy commonly known as "the beer gut stage" meaning that my belly had pooched out enough to be noticed, but the rest of me could pass for normal. I was growing out of my cute little regular clothes almost daily forcing me to spend travel dollars on stupid maternity clothes.

{Sidenote: Let it also be known that with second pregnancies, one's body gives in and surrenders to the wee babe a lot faster. With Sofia, no one knew I was pregnant until month eight unless I told them. It's also probably attributed to the caloric difference between craving watermelon during a heat wave in August and baked goods and chocolate truffles over Christmas and Valentine's.}

I realize that maternity clothes have come along way since the days of printed smocks and denim jumpers, but I can be a bit of a fashionista. I would rather have visited any other city in the world pregnant than Paris. There's just something about Paris in the fall that makes you want to put on your sexiest jeans, most stylish coat, tall, shiny boots, a fab scarf and dark glasses and parade down Champs Elysees in style. At least to me that only seemed appropriate.

This was not my fate. Nope. I was blossoming daily and destined to spend my days in gay Paris wearing bell-shaped knit tops, jeans with an elasticized waist band and (gasp!) runners. We walked everywhere. No boots, no designer denim, no adorable waist-cinching blazers for me. I was headed into a deep, dark fashion depression and the hormones (irrational at best and hysterical, even psychotic at worst) coursing through my veins did little to help matters.

I placated myself by eating endless croissants, cheese and baguettes, but with no vin to wash it down it just wasn't the same. We saw the sights, toured the Louvre, climbed the Eiffel tower and had an amazingly great time with our three-year-old in tow. I should give my sweet little Sofia props for being the most charming, sweet, well-behaved toddler tourist in all of France! With her sunshiny curls and luminous green eyes the Parisians were eating out of her cherubic little hands. She gave an Oscar-worthy performance as far as I was concerned. She was practically a celebrity amongst le French kids and their nannies at the playground in the park beneath the Eiffel Tower!

About halfway through our Paris adventure my husband, who knows me better than I know myself at times, dragged me into a shoe store and commanded me to sit down. Italian men know when their women need new shoes. An hour later I left wearing the cutest tall black suede wedge-heeled boots. They were high, but not too high; sexy, but not overtly skanky. They were pregnancy-chic! I was yanked from my fashion depression, elated by the new shoe high commonly experienced by shoe addicts.

I spent the rest of my time in Paris buoyed in height and spirit by my new boots and the fact there was still the big night- my sister's wedding, at The Ritz, no less. This wedding would fall into "the most amazing places to get married" category on anyone's list. And, as bridesmaids, we were to don not the predictable matching dresses and other accoutrements, but anything we wanted. As long as it was the most fabulous thing we could muster we were free birds.

I chose a rather slinky- by pregnant standards, anyway- matte jersey, empire-waisted BCBG gown in chocolate brown with a built-in sequined bosom. It was gorgeous and showed off my baby bump in a particularly glamorous Angelina Jolie kind of way. Of course, nothing less than stilettos would do, at least for this one night. So bronzy- brown strappy sandals with a rather fetching ankle strap and gold accents on the heel were de rigeur!

All too soon our week in Paris came to an end. To this day, every time I see those boots or that gown I take a walk, or should I say waddle down my own personal memory lane of fashion. And of course back to Paris.... I can practically smell the intoxicating scents of crepes and handbags right now!