wow. thanks.

Oh my! I can't begin to tell you how much the response to my last post has moved me. It is so wonderful, exciting, powerful to get a sense of who is actually out there reading my blog, and I want you to know that every single comment and email that I receive is so very deeply appreciated. Thank you so much for reading, and thank you so much for saying hello! You guys are the BEST and I love you!!!

These are two of my favorite photos from the weekend. Above, Jackson and me, mugging for Photobooth while still in bed, early Saturday morning. Below, Walker onstage with Taro for the introductory speech on opening night of the Our Time pre-teen shows.

Our Time Spring Shows

When Taro left home this morning, he was headed to the theater to start load-in for the Our Time Spring shows! I can't believe it's that time of year again already, but starting this weekend and continuing next weekend, you can see brand new original work written and performed by the Our Time pre-teen and teen companies. It's going to be a great run of really fun shows, and we would love to see you there! Click here for more info and to purchase tickets. Thank you so much for your support of this wonderful organization!

Epic Monday, Part 2

So, I know every other post has been all gala gala gala, but indulge me a bit more while I share a few more behind-the-scenes details about the amazing Our Time event ;) If you're just joining in, you can read Part 1, here.

It really was a special night, and even though every year the event gets fancier, the thing that makes it so memorable is not material. I am talking about the energy and intent that is at the heart of the organization, which has remained the same since Our Time's very first season, ten years ago. An ethos of acceptance, support, fun and LOVE pervades everything that Our Time does, but gala night is always the night that those things are celebrated with glamour and panache and a dash of showbiz, and it is always a thrill to be a part of it.

For many Our Time company members, the gala gives them their first opportunity to speak, sing, and dance onstage. Other company members have been in the spotlight many times but nevertheless are still thrilled to share their voices with the world. To say that the kids get excited about this opportunity is an understatement. They tend to dress for the occasion, revealing sartorial talents that rival those of seasoned red-carpet-walkers. Just look at the flair:

When I arrived at the venue on Monday night, it was just in time to steal backstage and join Taro for the traditional pre-show "hype" which is basically a rousing pep-talk crossed with a warm welcome of the Guest of Honor into the Our Time family, crossed with impassioned reminders about the power and importance of listening and being there for each other, and respecting one's own voice. Hype usually results in a room full of teary-eyed folks grinning from ear-to-ear, clapping and stomping a call-and-response with Taro:

"When I say Our Time, you say 'bout time -- OUR TIME"

"'BOUT TIME!"

"OUR TIME"

"'BOUT TIME!"

Pretty soon the whole room of kids, guest performers, Our Time volunteers and press were worked up into a cheering, stomping frenzy, and Carly Simon (last year's recipient of the Our Time Award) and David Seidler (this year's recipient) were busting a move in the middle of it all, arm-in-arm.

David, Taro, and Carly taking a breather after hype:

Members of the press interviewing our Oscar-Winning Honoree:

Yours truly. Happy, proud, and excited (and running to make it out to my seat in the auditorium before "places"):

Part 3 coming soon ;)

Photos by Mikiodo and C. Bay Milin.

another day, another piece in the New York Times!

Photo by Josh Haner/The New York Times

Check out today's edition of The New York Times to see a piece in the Arts Section about Our Time! It focuses on Oscar-Winner David Seidler's involvement with the company, and highlights the success of last week's benefit gala. On newsstands now, or click here to read.

Our Time in the Sunday New York Times

Photographed by the legendary, incomparable Bill Cunningham!

By the way,

I'm dying to see this documentary about him -- have you seen it?

More details and photos of the Our Time Gala coming soon...

Have a wonderful Sunday!

XOXO,

Leigh

Epic Monday, Part 1

We are still floating high over the amazing success of the Our Time Gala on Monday night. It was a phenomenal evening and I can't wait to tell you all the juicy details (like how Renee Zellweger told me she wished she had brought kleenex, Carly Simon accidentally gashed her shin at dinner -- she's OK -- and our live auction morphed into an amazing, entertaining, exceptionally joyous and over-the-top orgy of giving). It was so epic that I kind of don't know where to start.

So how about if I start by just sharing about our day as it unfolded? This was the first year that I have not taken the kiddos to the gala. In the past they were both so little that it was actually easier for me to take them to the event and wear them in slings so they could nurse and sleep through the evening rather than leaving them with a babysitter for so many hours. But this year, they're both at really rambunctious stages and they have become so close (they are truly best friends), so it seemed more appropriate and more fun for all to have them stay home. Still, I knew I would be away for up to seven hours, which would be a record for leaving them with a sitter late at night, so I put a lot of energy into making sure they had a lot of fun during the day.

We started off by going to the neighborhood diner for breakfast, Jackson's favorite restaurant. While there, he innovated a new technique for drinking from two straws at once ;) Then we went for a walk and picked up a couple of yellow balloons before resting on a stoop in front of an awesome sign...

Then we headed to the park, where Walker insisted on wearing his new silver Nutcase helmet while he climbed big rocks and hills...

It was a gorgeous Spring day -- downright balmy! Central Park was on the verge of exploding into a symphony of greens, pinks, and yellows...

Then we spent some quality time at the playground...

...before heading home for lunch and a nap...

...during which time i got dressed for the big night:

Stay tuned for more!

XOXO.

Rush Tickets

So, I know I said I wouldn't be back here for a few days, but I couldn't resist telling you the latest news:

A limited number of $35 rush tickets are now available for Our Time's 9th Annual Benefit Gala!

Rush tickets will be sold at the Skirball Center box office only (566 Laguardia Place, New York, NY 10012), first-come, first-served on the day of the event (this Monday, April 11th).

Sorry, no reservations can be made at this price level. The box office will open at 5pm.

EVENT DETAILS:

Monday, April 11, 2011

7:00pm Performance followed by dinner & live auction

(rush tickets are for performance only)

Skirball Center for the Performing Arts & Rosenthal Pavilion at NYU

Festive or Regal Attire

We look forward to seeing you on April 11th!

Also, I want you to know that new items have been added to the online auction, including this gorgeous Tucker dress donated by my friend Gaby Basora:

Click here to bid. Click here to see other Tucker items up for grabs ;)

And don't forget, there's also a Sakura Bloom Luxe sling available. Winner's choice of color!

Thank you so much for your support of this wonderful cause.

Leave a comment if you'll be there Monday night! XOXO.

Our Time Auction

I am excited to let you know about an opportunity to bid on amazing items to benefit a wonderful cause: the annual Our Time auction just went live today and there are some spectacular things up for grabs, including a trip to Paris, two Italy vacations, and tickets to many of the hottest shows in town.

Marvelous Kiddo readers will be especially interested in bidding on the Sakura Bloom Luxe sling in the stunningly gorgeous Sparrow colorway, and 3 months of advertising space on this here blog!

Find out more about Our Time here, and purchase tickets to the April 11th Gala (they're going fast!) here. Thank you for your support!

less than 3 weeks away! you're invited!

Join us at this celebration where Our Time will pay tribute to David Seidler, the Academy-Award-winning screenwriter of The King's Speech. Mr. Seidler's film demonstrates that there is no limit for people who stutter, as long as they believe in themselves and the value of their voices. The King's Speech, like Our Time, illuminates the importance of finding support through friendship, gaining confidence, and addressing the emotional impact of stuttering. The 4-time Academy Award winning film is promoting widespread awareness about stuttering, which is central to Our Time's mission.

"If you can survive a childhood of stuttering you can survive almost anything. It changes you forever. You know in your heart you survived something wretched, and it didn't kill you.

Indeed, quite the contrary, it made you determined to be heard, to have a voice.

Whether you control your stutter fully or just a bit, you know you have the right to be heard and you insist you will be heard. That's a great victory. No one can ever take it away from you. It will always give you a beacon of light in hours of darkness."

-- David Seidler

For more information, and to buy tickets to the event, click here. I hope to see you there!

Movie Magic

A few days ago Our Time hosted it's first-ever film festival, during which they screened the amazing films that its young company members have created over the last two years! The event was held at the gorgeous and esteemed Director's Guild of America Theater (which was generously donated to Our Time for the day 100% free of charge).

The glamorous atmosphere was heightened by the exciting greeting awaiting each kid filmmaker as they arrived in all their red-carpet finery...

There was a throng of press and paparazzi clamoring near the entrance (or were they well-rehearsed Our Time Volunteers?)...

...who rushed out to 57th street to snap shots of each Star as they arrived.

Then there was the parade of glitterati posing in front of the step-and-repeat...

Quite the bunch of style-setters, wouldn't you say?

Of course, our little fam was there to join in the fun...

After the grand entrance, and a few words from the hosts, all the kids and an audience of adoring fans (their friends, families, and the Our Time staff), took their seats and settled in to enjoy the festival...

23 short films later, everyone filed back out onto the street,

happy, inspired, celebratory...

and most of all,

triumphant.

All photos by C. Bay Milin.

Finding Their Voices

In case you missed it, here is the piece that aired today on CBS Sunday Morning.

I feel so proud of the courage and openness of the Our Time kids, who are so inspiring in their willingness to confront their fears and turn challenges into triumphs.

I am deeply moved by the response of friends, family, and readers to this piece.

Obviously, I am completely, madly, head-over-heels in love with my husband, who created this sanctuary of acceptance and love that is Our Time. He bravely and brilliantly turned his biggest obstacle into a path for healing for himself and countless others. I have no words to describe how much I admire him. I am such a lucky woman.

And I absolutely cannot believe that after three and a half years of avoiding blogging my children's names, they are rather dramatically outed on national TV. Too funny, but totally worth it. Thanks, Mo Rocca ;)

Sunday Morning

Be sure to tune in to the CBS Sunday Morning show tomorrow, January 30th. There will be a segment about stuttering that will include Taro and Our Time! Click here to check your local air times.

Weekend Wonderful & My Favorite Links of the Week

We're looking forward to an exciting weekend -- the Our Time one-act shows open tonight, there are two performances tomorrow, and then on Sunday we're going to the family matinee of Holidelic, (a hip alternative to the Rockettes, Holidelic blends the musical influences of Parliament Funkadelic and other 1970’s and ‘80’s funk and soul bands in songs that celebrate diversity, mild familial seasonal dysfunction, individuality, and holiday booty shaking, and of course it stars our dear friend Everett Bradley). Both events are always major highlights of our holidays.

What are you up to this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope you have a fun and festive weekend :)

Here are some links I've enjoyed recently...

The Human Incubator

Julia Margaret Cameron

A (Really) Big HBAC

Holiday House Tour

And, if you're reading, Santa, a couple of stocking stuffers this amateur photographer would swoon for:

The Pocket Square Digital Camera + Camera Ready

Love and cheer to you all! XOXO, Leigh

Our Time One-Acts

I'm posting this video for a few reasons:

1) Cool fact: the cute guy that Beyonce's canoodling with? The one with the halo? That's Michael Ealy, a friend of ours and one of the stars of the upcoming Our Time One-Act plays! He's every bit as handsome, sweet, and charming in person. And he's a damn good actor.

2) Tickets to the shows are still available, so click here to get more info and reserve a seat! We hope to see you there ;)

3) The kiddos and I have always liked this song (once, right before latching on to nurse, J sang "I can see your mammo" to the tune, LOL).

Camp Wonderful

These are a few of my favorite highlights from the last few days, all via the Camp Our Time blog. This is a place of great beauty, love, peace, creativity, triumph, acceptance and community. The enormous magnitude of fun just flows freely in that environment.

I'm so proud of my hubby for starting it all.