babyhood / everything else / home / life (in general) / out and about

up close and personal

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macro project 1:30

I just lost this whole post…firefox "closed unexpectedly" on me. It’s never as good the second time, so you’re going to have to settle for it in list form this time. I don’t have the heart to go back and find all my links…

1. Either I’m going to have to start working on my autobiography, or I’m going to have one heck of an "about page". Wow. When a girl asks for questions you all sure do come through! I don’t think there was a single question I didn’t like. I spent many a laundry-folding and dish-washing session pondering your fabulous questions. And since they all can’t be answered in a little old about page, I’ll think I’ll tackle some here over the next few weeks. Thank you for all the great ideas!
6a00e54eed1577883400e5518908c888338

2. I’ve joined orange flower’s 30-day macro photo challenge. (here is where I had lots of links to other creative projects on the web…) I’m jumping in a few days late…but I’ll just start my 30 days, today. I’m really looking forward to this. I love that little macro button on my camera, and I’ve been in the mood for a good creative project.
Mixtape_cover

3. You can pre-order the latest issue of MixTapeZine right over here. I wrote an article for this issue which was one of my "I can’t write under pressure" deadlines from the last few weeks. I won’t give you details on my review, but if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you can probably determine which favorite author I’ve written about.

And finally, some news from the home front that might bore anyone outside of my immediate family… (okay, might bore anyone but my husband):

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P1010011

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*Did I ever tell you that the way I discovered Elizabeth was ready for some solid food (like Cheerios) was when I found her pounding the cat food? It’s a constant battle in our home because I’m always forgetting to put the bowl up on the counter before putting Elizabeth down on the floor. The girl’s got cat food radar. She always knows when it’s down. And don’t worry, I don’t let her eat it. A simple, "Elizabeth???" Is there something in your mouth??" will cause her to spit all slimy contents into my palm.  She only has the occasional fit of lock jaw and refuses to give it up.

Emma has realized that if she plays with my hair while I’m at her bedside giving final kisses and hugs at night, I’ll stay there for a ridiculously long period of time. Last night, when I attempted to pull my weak, relaxed body from her fingers that were twisted up in my hair she said, "Mom. Just let me play with your hair one more time while I count to 100." And I didn’t even stop her when her brain got stuck on a loop between 40 and 60. How can I resist?

P1010030

At Emma’s riding lesson today she finally got it. Posting at a trot.(oddly, a video of a video) She’s been working so hard to figure it out, but it’s just one of those things you need to feel--like riding your bike without training wheels for the first time. I’m proud. And her sister is getting impatient for the day when it will be her turn. She’s getting sick of sitting on the fence.

P1010018_2

macro project 1:30

I just lost this whole post…firefox "closed unexpectedly" on me. It’s never as good the second time, so you’re going to have to settle for it in list form this time. I don’t have the heart to go back and find all my links…

1. Either I’m going to have to start working on my autobiography, or I’m going to have one heck of an "about page". Wow. When a girl asks for questions you all sure do come through! I don’t think there was a single question I didn’t like. I spent many a laundry-folding and dish-washing session pondering your fabulous questions. And since they all can’t be answered in a little old about page, I’ll think I’ll tackle some here over the next few weeks. Thank you for all the great ideas!
6a00e54eed1577883400e5518908c888338

2. I’ve joined orange flower’s 30-day macro photo challenge. (here is where I had lots of links to other creative projects on the web…) I’m jumping in a few days late…but I’ll just start my 30 days, today. I’m really looking forward to this. I love that little macro button on my camera, and I’ve been in the mood for a good creative project.
Mixtape_cover

3. You can pre-order the latest issue of MixTapeZine right over here. I wrote an article for this issue which was one of my "I can’t write under pressure" deadlines from the last few weeks. I won’t give you details on my review, but if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you can probably determine which favorite author I’ve written about.

And finally, some news from the home front that might bore anyone outside of my immediate family… (okay, might bore anyone but my husband):

P1010010

P1010011

P1010012

*Did I ever tell you that the way I discovered Elizabeth was ready for some solid food (like Cheerios) was when I found her pounding the cat food? It’s a constant battle in our home because I’m always forgetting to put the bowl up on the counter before putting Elizabeth down on the floor. The girl’s got cat food radar. She always knows when it’s down. And don’t worry, I don’t let her eat it. A simple, "Elizabeth???" Is there something in your mouth??" will cause her to spit all slimy contents into my palm.  She only has the occasional fit of lock jaw and refuses to give it up.

Emma has realized that if she plays with my hair while I’m at her bedside giving final kisses and hugs at night, I’ll stay there for a ridiculously long period of time. Last night, when I attempted to pull my weak, relaxed body from her fingers that were twisted up in my hair she said, "Mom. Just let me play with your hair one more time while I count to 100." And I didn’t even stop her when her brain got stuck on a loop between 40 and 60. How can I resist?

P1010030

At Emma’s riding lesson today she finally got it. Posting at a trot.(oddly, a video of a video) She’s been working so hard to figure it out, but it’s just one of those things you need to feel--like riding your bike without training wheels for the first time. I’m proud. And her sister is getting impatient for the day when it will be her turn. She’s getting sick of sitting on the fence.

12 Comments
everything else

go ahead, ask me anything

P1010076

I have no pictures for this post. So instead you get to see one of the few "say cheese" pictures I’ve ever taken of my children.

The children’s department in our library has a display case that features the collections of the young library patrons. Our family got "the call" for Emma to share her Schleich collection during the month of March. It was quite eye-opening to see them all together. Dan’s mother works in a toy store and one of the perks is that my children have been getting a little family of animals in the mail or for any and every holiday since birth. 

It was quite painful for the kids to have their collection on display. When Emma signed up, I don’t think she thought about what it would mean to have her whole collection taken away and locked up for a month.
Both of them sort of wandered around the house aimlessly, not exactly sure what their creative play life would look like without a handful of horses, zebras and deer. But they’re back and the reunion was sweet.

P1010078

So on a completely different note and my purpose for this post–questions. Spring fever is hitting my blog and I’m doing a little work on the old sidebar, including finally tackling my "about page". I’m really horrible at this stuff–sizing myself up, describing myself in a neat little paragraph. So instead, I thought I’d put out the all-call for questions. So fire away, ask me anything. Please. I don’t care what you ask–where were you born? What color are your eyes? What’s your favorite meal? Do you color your hair?  What college did you go to? As long as its not my social security number, home address or checkbook balance, I won’t care. Give me some material folks. I’d love to have some questions to answer in my about page, because the long-winded paragraphs I just wrote are no good. And if you don’t ask me some good questions, then you’ll just have to suffer with the gibberish I just wrote–at ten at night, dinner dishes untouched, dog scratching at the door and someone in ladybug pajamas taking up my spot in the bed.

Help a girl out. Ask me anything.

**PS. thank you for all the birthday wishes for miss mary. warmed my heart.**

P1010076

I have no pictures for this post. So instead you get to see one of the few "say cheese" pictures I’ve ever taken of my children.

The children’s department in our library has a display case that features the collections of the young library patrons. Our family got "the call" for Emma to share her Schleich collection during the month of March. It was quite eye-opening to see them all together. Dan’s mother works in a toy store and one of the perks is that my children have been getting a little family of animals in the mail or for any and every holiday since birth. 

It was quite painful for the kids to have their collection on display. When Emma signed up, I don’t think she thought about what it would mean to have her whole collection taken away and locked up for a month.
Both of them sort of wandered around the house aimlessly, not exactly sure what their creative play life would look like without a handful of horses, zebras and deer. But they’re back and the reunion was sweet.

P1010078

So on a completely different note and my purpose for this post–questions. Spring fever is hitting my blog and I’m doing a little work on the old sidebar, including finally tackling my "about page". I’m really horrible at this stuff–sizing myself up, describing myself in a neat little paragraph. So instead, I thought I’d put out the all-call for questions. So fire away, ask me anything. Please. I don’t care what you ask–where were you born? What color are your eyes? What’s your favorite meal? Do you color your hair?  What college did you go to? As long as its not my social security number, home address or checkbook balance, I won’t care. Give me some material folks. I’d love to have some questions to answer in my about page, because the long-winded paragraphs I just wrote are no good. And if you don’t ask me some good questions, then you’ll just have to suffer with the gibberish I just wrote–at ten at night, dinner dishes untouched, dog scratching at the door and someone in ladybug pajamas taking up my spot in the bed.

Help a girl out. Ask me anything.

**PS. thank you for all the birthday wishes for miss mary. warmed my heart.**

27 Comments
babyhood / book reviews / home / link love / sewing projects / swaps

the birds and the bees

P1010052

The birds:
I made cutting boards for my family two years ago in this sparrow shape and I’ve been wanting to do something else with it ever since. So last week when I had my sewing machine out, I tried a swallow-shaped pillow. However, I don’t think they are going to work as a pillow. I haven’t stuffed them yet, but I think they’ll lose their shape and charm when stuffed. Now I’m thinking they’d make a great applique on a pillow….any other ideas?
P1010057

My purpose for having out the machine was to make two of these friendly little turtles–a favorite homemade toy in our home, who are now wrapped up and safely on their way to a very, very, VERY patient family.

The bees:
Melissa sent me an email this week, asking me to blog about a very important project. The Great Sunflower Project is an effort to attract and count honeybees in personal and community gardens. If you sign up for the project they will send you a free packet of sunflower seeds to plant in your garden (or even a pot on your deck). All you need to do in return is take two bee counts (according to their simple instructions) and send in or fill out their online count. The whole count will take less than 30 minutes. I’m going to do it as a school project with Emma and Mary. I hope you’ll join Melissa and me and be a part of this important project. (I’d love to know if you decide to join in!) Here is an article in the NYTimes about our honeybees in peril.

The birds and the bees:
P1010059


First of all, no. I am not pregnant. But that doesn’t stop me from getting inspiration from an amazing new book that April at Chronicle Books sent me last week. The book is called Nursery Style and it is by Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter of the California-based store, Serena and Lily. I love these kinds of books because I find so much inspiration and ideas packed into them. And I love paying attention to the little details–the artwork, the pillows, how the toys are put away, how an armoire is utilized, the curtains.
Mosaic9419819_2

1. image 1, 2. image 2, 3. image 3, 4. image 4

Even though the book is aimed at nursery design, there are still so many great ideas in this book for anyone decorating a home with and for children.(stefani, I thought about you with those silhouettes in image 3. Can you do that?! 🙂 So baby on the way or not, this book is full of beautifully designed living spaces, new ideas and fantastic tips and hints for decorating. And April, I want everything on page 74 and 75.

Happy Weekend everyone. Sign up for your bee count, read a good book and take it easy.
See you Monday.

P1010052

The birds:
I made cutting boards for my family two years ago in this sparrow shape and I’ve been wanting to do something else with it ever since. So last week when I had my sewing machine out, I tried a swallow-shaped pillow. However, I don’t think they are going to work as a pillow. I haven’t stuffed them yet, but I think they’ll lose their shape and charm when stuffed. Now I’m thinking they’d make a great applique on a pillow….any other ideas?
P1010057

My purpose for having out the machine was to make two of these friendly little turtles–a favorite homemade toy in our home, who are now wrapped up and safely on their way to a very, very, VERY patient family.

The bees:
Melissa sent me an email this week, asking me to blog about a very important project. The Great Sunflower Project is an effort to attract and count honeybees in personal and community gardens. If you sign up for the project they will send you a free packet of sunflower seeds to plant in your garden (or even a pot on your deck). All you need to do in return is take two bee counts (according to their simple instructions) and send in or fill out their online count. The whole count will take less than 30 minutes. I’m going to do it as a school project with Emma and Mary. I hope you’ll join Melissa and me and be a part of this important project. (I’d love to know if you decide to join in!) Here is an article in the NYTimes about our honeybees in peril.

The birds and the bees:
P1010059


First of all, no. I am not pregnant. But that doesn’t stop me from getting inspiration from an amazing new book that April at Chronicle Books sent me last week. The book is called Nursery Style and it is by Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter of the California-based store, Serena and Lily. I love these kinds of books because I find so much inspiration and ideas packed into them. And I love paying attention to the little details–the artwork, the pillows, how the toys are put away, how an armoire is utilized, the curtains.
Mosaic9419819_2

1. image 1, 2. image 2, 3. image 3, 4. image 4

Even though the book is aimed at nursery design, there are still so many great ideas in this book for anyone decorating a home with and for children.(stefani, I thought about you with those silhouettes in image 3. Can you do that?! 🙂 So baby on the way or not, this book is full of beautifully designed living spaces, new ideas and fantastic tips and hints for decorating. And April, I want everything on page 74 and 75.

Happy Weekend everyone. Sign up for your bee count, read a good book and take it easy.
See you Monday.

15 Comments