Looking Forward

2010 was quite a year. If the past few years were devoted to mucking around in self-discovery, trying oh-so-hard to find my path, than this was the year that I saw it all come to fruition. For the first time in many years, I feel at peace. I appreciate everything that I have and I want for nothing. What a way to enter the New Year! As we set the tables for the festivities of tonight (including the adorable "kids table")- I can't help thinking about resolutions. I am not really feeling the traditional ones this year- no weight loss goals or vows to cut out sugar. No, not this year. This year I want to strive to keep on this path of contentment. I want to continue to enjoy every moment I spend with my little man. I want to continue to pursue work that I find to be inspiring and important. I want to continue to build a loving marriage (which I am finding to be especially important once a baby enters the picture!). I want to be appreciative of all of our many blessings and never, ever take them for granted.
That is what I wish for all of us this coming year- contentment and acceptance of where we are on our path. Thank you so much for joining me here this year. I treasure each and every comment, each and every visitor. I can't wait to discover (along with all of you) what 2011 has in store for us! Happy New Year.

Read more...

Baby's First Christmas

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas weekend. This was an extra special one for our family, as it was the little man's first Christmas. I couldn't help but dress him up in a Santa hat...what a good sport. There will be payback one day when he looks back on all of these ridiculous pictures! There was one present that was a huge hit this year- personalized calendars from Pinhole Press featuring the little man! Our nickname for him is "Munch" since he is such a hearty eater...so we have dubbed this coming year "The Year of the Munch." Things will be pretty quiet around here until after the New Year. We are busy basking in the glow of family and friends, and preparing for our little one's baptism later this week. It is so much fun introducing everyone to our boy...and let me tell you, I play the proud mama very well. I will stop in to wish everyone a Happy New Year...it has been quite a year, hasn't it?!

p.s. The very best Christmas present of all? Our little man is sleeping through the night! Hallelujah!

Read more...

To Grandma's House We Go

There is nothing like coming home for the holidays. The house is decked out in its holiday finest, my mom's collection of Christmas tunes are on constant rotation, and holiday baking is the only thing on our to-do list. Yes indeed...we are sinking deeply into this festive season. Tomorrow my parents have planned a Sip 'n See, where all of our friends and family are coming to 'sip' festive drinks and 'see' the new baby. They only invited about 100 of their closest friends. Proud grandparents? To say the least! What about the little man, you ask? Well he hasn't been put down since we arrived, and he is seriously loving the attention, hamming it up whenever he has the chance!
A little side note: I had completely forgotten about these star ornaments that I made for my mom a few years ago from this tutorial. If you are in need of a last minute gift...these sew up super fast and look beautiful on the tree!

Read more...

Little Noses

The picture above pretty much sums up what we have been up to around these parts. The little guy has his very first cold, nothing serious, just a little case of the sniffles. A few saline drops and a couple of nights with the humidifier running on high and he will be back in top form. But I am a new mom...so I couldn't let it be that simple. Nope...had to make a spur-of-the-moment trip to the pediatricians. When I called, I let them know that my little man was under the weather and I was worried it might be more serious than a little winter cold.
Of course he made a total liar out of his mama. When we got to the doctors, he was all smiles and giggles. Seriously, he couldn't stop smiling...we're talking ear to ear grinning. The doctor couldn't help but laugh as he told me, "Umm, he seems just fine to me!"Either way...I think this case of the sniffles calls for extra rest and plenty of cuddling, so I will see you back here on Monday with some holiday baking stories and recipes to share. Have a fabulous wintry weekend and stay well!

Read more...

Day Tripping

Yesterday I loaded my little one in the car, packed it to the brim with extra diapers and onesies (and all that other stuff you just might need on a day trip with a newborn) and headed to Boston to visit my friend Nina. The last time we had plans to spend the day together, I went into labor at 6am and obviously had to cancel...seems like a lifetime ago! Now here we are almost two months later, and I am introducing her to the new little man in my life.Although it was overcast, the weather was unseasonably warm and we walked along the streets of Beacon Hill, which are simply charming when decked out in their holiday finest. The little man slept in the Bjorn on my chest the entire time...even through lunch, which was beyond scrumptious.
Nina and I exchanged small gifts...I made her a camera strap since she is a photography enthusiast. I love how it turned out (and so did she!). She gave the little one the cutest set of Eric Carle stroller cards...which will be perfect for his busy little hands one day soon.
Finally the little guy woke up and proceeded to charm Nina (as he does with all the pretty ladies) with his perfect behavior.

(photo by Nina)

He quickly and discreetly fed, and then just looked around, taking in all of his new surroundings before drifting off to sleep again. All in all, an absolutely perfect day with one of my favorite friends!

(photo by Nina)

Read more...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I finally brought the Christmas decorations out of storage this weekend. It was long overdue...but I have had my hands a little full this holiday season, so I will give myself a break!
We decided not to get a big 'ole tree this year since we are spending Christmas in Michigan with my family. Instead, I decorated our tiny gold tree with little glass ornaments in pinks, reds and oranges. It fits perfectly into our (already) brightly decorated home!
I placed my favorite little Christmas tree boy, as well as my caroling mice and bunny, next to my beautiful crystal candlestick holders (which happen to look like icicles...perfect!). And finally, I lined the mantel with white felt cut to look like a snowy ledge. Hanging from its icicles...tiny little felt mittens (made from this pattern). Upon its wintry surface sits my nativity. This year, I see the figurine of Mary cradling the baby Jesus in a whole new light. Yes...it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. Now if only all this rain would magically turn into powdery snow.

Read more...

Everything is Better in a Bucket

That is my new motto for this holiday season: because honestly, everything is better in a bucket. Once I made one of these fabric buckets, I was hooked! So when I was trying to figure out what to get my friend Kate and her family for the holidays, I decided to put together a little fun-in-a-bucket gift!
Kate is one of those amazing people that I was lucky enough to meet by chance working on an article for Edible Rhody. She had designed and built a garden for a local school, and when I saw how incredible her work was, I hired her to help me with my backyard. Somewhere along the way, we became good friends...maybe we bonded that day animal control came to take my chickens (she was there with me, and together, we took on city hall to legalize chickens...and won!). Drama like that can really bring people together!
Not only is Kate totally amazing, but so is her family. They had us over last week for fish tacos...and we're talking handmade tortillas, guacamole and salsa...handmade. Ridiculously good stuff! So into their basket went a chicken ornament (of course), some games for her boys, some fabulously good coffee, a silly monster keychain and somewhere, hidden away in there, is the worlds tiniest chicken. What exactly do you do with the worlds tiniest chicken? No idea, but it was too cute to pass up!*A note on bucket sewing: If you aren't into winging it, like I do with my sewing projects, check out this tutorial for guidance (although you will have to figure out the handles on your own). Or, purchase this PDF pattern from Maya*Made. Although I haven't tried it myself, Maya is an incredible seamstress and teacher, so I have no doubt her pattern is darn-near perfect!

Read more...

Winter?

We had our first cold day yesterday...which is a bit scary considering it is already a week into December, but I will save my global warming concerns for another day. I bundled up my little one in his bear suit and out we went, into the windy, wintry weather. As we walked, I thought about the first snow, and how excited I am for him to experience the cold, raw beauty of his first New England winter.

I am convinced there is a bit of bravery involved with having a winter baby. As we walked, I found myself constantly checking his little cheeks and tiny nose to make sure they weren't too chilly. But when we arrived home, he was perfectly happy, all warm and snugly in his stroller heaped with blankets. He had a healthy flush about him, as if the cold air had reinvigorated every ounce of his little being. I felt a huge rush of relief knowing that we will be okay this winter...we will take beautiful long walks and enjoy the snow...there will be no house-bound stir-crazy mama here. Phew.

Read more...

For the Sake of Appearences

(photo by Elizabeth)

There is a little secret that no one seems to want to tell you about being a new mom; it's going to take some time for you to feel like yourself again, and I am not just talking about the baby weight. This may seem obvious to some, but I guess I thought that once that baby popped out, my body would just whip itself back into it's pre-pregnancy state and I would jump right back into my old wardrobe. Not so much...

I am just now, after six weeks, starting to feel like myself again. For the first month I felt like a human burp cloth, constantly covered in spit up and struggling to find the time to shower every day. I have finally gotten into a daily routine that allows for a quick morning shower and this alone feels like a huge accomplishment. I have also become quicker and cleaner when it comes to breastfeeding- fewer leaks, fewer drips- which means I can actually keep my outfit clean for the entire day!

This weekend, I took my first solo trip away from the little guy- for two hours! I got a massage and when I returned home, not only was I super excited to see my little one (absence truly makes this new mama's heart grow fonder) but I felt like a whole new person. We went over to our friends for dinner that night and I put on some makeup and a super cute nursing shirt, not to mention my pre-pregnancy jeans (yippee!), and I left the house feeling like a million bucks. I'll tell you... it did wonders for my confidence.

Now...I am not saying that appearance is everything, but it is an important part of who we are. So whether you are a new mom, someone who works at home (and is prone to spending the day in pajamas- been there, done that), or just someone whose spirit is in need of a lift, might I recommend pampering yourself a bit?

Whether you treat yourself to a pedicure, put on a new shade of lipstick, or change out of your ratty sneakers into a cute pair of boots- I guarantee your new and improved outward appearance will do wonders for your sense of self. Sometimes, it's the little things that make the biggest difference. Do you have any spirit-lifting tips and tricks you'd like to share? Things that are helping me feel beautiful:
*My perfectly worn-in Kerry Cassill button-down in Black Ashley (as seen above): one of the only non-nursing shirts I can wear.
*Supportive, cute nursing tanks.
*My gorgeous new necklace, which my husband gave to me on the day our boy was born (the circular pendant, as seen above).
*Burts Bees lip shimmer in Rhubarb; the perfect color.
*These fabulous organic cotton nursing pads, which are so soft and absorbent.
*A luxurious cashmere sweater from my mom, that is long enough to wear over leggings. It is my MOST favorite thing in my closet these days.
*My Bugaboo Frog stroller (which I bought for a steal on craigslist). This stroller makes walking a complete joy.

Read more...

Packing

It seems so hard to believe...our little one has already outgrown his first set of clothes. I knew he was on the big side (weighing in at 11 lbs. 3 oz. at his 5 week check-up), but I wasn't prepared for him to already be squeezing out of his 0-3 month clothing. Today, I am packing them away and it is a little heartbreaking, to be honest. He is growing so quickly. Last night my husband and I found ourselves reminiscing about the night he was born...how tiny he was. The moment he came into the world, his little face all red and scrunched in a cry until the nurse put him on my chest, and just like that...his big brown eyes popped open and he gazed up at me. In that moment, I discovered a new kind of love...all consuming, unmeasurable, never-ending love. It seems like a lifetime ago, and yet, in many ways it seems like only yesterday. What a journey...

Read more...

Handmade Holiday

December 1st, already... really? Where did November disappear to? It must have passed me by in a fog of diapers, onesies and plentiful feedings! Now that Christmas is quickly approaching, it's time to get my act together. I am aiming for a stress free holiday, so I have really whittled down my gift-giving list. I want each person on my list to receive a thoughtful, handmade item. Starting with the fabulous Ms. Elizabeth, whose visit forced me to sit down at my sewing machine and get to work. She is just learning to knit (a little late to the party), so I decided to make her a fabric basket to hold her supplies. She had been carrying her projects around in a plastic bag...and for someone with so much style, that just wasn't cutting it.
As much as I would love to provide a tutorial, it was just not happening. It was all I could do to find the time just to make it...and besides, it's a little wonky seeing as I didn't follow a pattern or pay much attention to measurements...but hey, isn't that the beauty of a handmade gift!?

Read more...