Christine Chitnis

Letting Go?

2012-01-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

With the arrival of our second baby in July, we are going to have to make some changes around the house. I will be giving up my studio so that we can turn it into a nursery. While there is a part of me that believes kids should share a room- and I have no doubt that ours will at some point in the future- I don't always think it is in the parents best interest to have their babies share a room. I have watched my friends and family members struggle with two little ones sharing a room. One cries, the other wakes up- and so on, and so forth throughout the night. I know I am not strong enough to endure a nighttime chorus of crying- it would push me right over the edge.

And so...the studio must go. But before I throw in the towel on having a space of my own, we are considering what might be done with our attic. It looks like this, minus the bed and furniture (this is a picture from when the previous owners lived here):

It is a nice enough space, and right now, we use it for nothing but storage. The only issue is the temperature- freezing in the winter, and steamy sauna in the summer. To make this a year-round room, we would need to make a few improvements- new windows, a new layer of paint, perhaps some carpet. Once you have kids, I have noticed that it becomes harder to justify spending money on yourself. When we redid the basement, it was to make a playroom. When I splurge on something, it is usually for my little guy. So I am wondering whether I can justify splurging on creating a nice space for myself to continue my crafty pursuits?

Along those lines- feeling inspired by this article that my mom sent me!

As well as Anna Marie Horner's attic studio!

15 Months

2012-01-19T07:08:00.000-05:00

I was looking back through my recent posts and realized that it has been quite a while since I shared a picture of my little man- you know, the one who is running me in circles and keeping me on my toes. Whenever I pull out my camera he either runs away, or becomes pout-y. Would you just look at that face? And those lips? Such attitude! And how can I not mention the hair- so curly, and wild- it seems to suit his personality just perfectly. I'm not sure, when the day comes, that I will be able to cut it without tears (mine, and most likely his, too). Anyway...here we are....15 months old.

In the Quiet of the Snow

2012-01-17T09:48:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, I visited my family in Michigan, and was lucky enough to encounter a beautiful snowfall. I have missed the quiet beauty of snow this winter, although I haven't missed the shoveling, and general inconvenience of it, especially with a wiggly toddler to bundle.

While Vijay was napping, all warm and cuddly, I headed out into the serene whiteness with Honey, our family dog. As soon as we stepped foot outside, she stopped, leaned back her head, shut her eyes, and took a deep breath, as if to savor the moment. It was the sweetest thing...and reminded me to do the same. Isn't it funny how much animals can teach us about interacting with our natural world?

Ever since Vijay was born, I have been running hard, maybe too hard. Between full-time child care and part-time work (don't even ask me how that works), I am finding myself becoming more and more tired...which leads to me becoming uninspired. In that moment, Honey reminded me that this year, I need to learn to pause, and breath deep. Appreciate the little, fleeting moments that make up my day, and stop rushing from one thing to the next. As our family grows, I want to slow down, and appreciate this time that we have together. Soon- with one more added to the mix- the days will become even more hectic. Until that time...I am practicing deep breathing, one quiet, snowy day at a time.

Two Under Two

2012-01-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

I am still reeling from the shock of it...but here we are, expecting our second at the end of July. Come this summer, I will be mother to two under the age of two. A recipe for insanity? Perhaps...but we are feeling so very blessed!

(also feeling a big dose of relief- this helps explain the overwhelming sense of exhaustion I have been feeling for the past three months...it all makes sense now! and here i thought I just needed to eat more greens!)

In the Shadows

2012-01-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken back in 2006, while vacationing in Sevilla, Spain. I was watching a religious parade, where burning floats adorned with crosses and saints weave their way through the streets in celebration of Easter, when a man approached me in the crowd. He started speaking in rapid Spanish, pausing only for a moment when I asked, "English?" He laughed, and asked me (in perfect English), if he could take my picture. He was trying to capture the faces of Sevilla woman- which was the reason for his laugh, as I was clearly a foreigner. He snapped one picture, that's it, then handed me his card, telling me I could email him if I wanted a copy of the picture- and as fast as he had appeared, he was gone.

I didn't think of it again until months later, when I found his card tucked in my purse. I wrote him, and requested a copy of the picture, which he sent right away. "So beautiful," read his email, "I love this picture. I hope you too." In all honesty, I was disappointed- it was dark, and you can hardly see my face. I tucked the email into a folder and never really thought of it again. Until yesterday...

Cleaning out my email, I happened upon this picture. It has been over 5 years since I last laid eyes on it. Time has changed my view. I am absolutely and utterly in love with this picture, and it speaks to me in volumes now. This captures so many of my emotions right now- feeling at times like I am cloaked in the shadows of motherhood. The "real me"- the one who showers everyday, can hold an adult conversation and stay awake past 9pm, whose floors are not covered in stale Cheerios- is still there, with hopes and dreams that will one day have the space to be fully realized. For now, there are pieces of me that remain in the shadows. Which is just fine- this is life, as it is now, and there is such beauty, joy, struggle and tenderness in this life. The other stuff can wait- it's there, building and growing, but it can wait.

photo credit: michel fraile

Looking Ahead

2012-01-03T08:42:00.000-05:00

While others were busy making resolutions and ringing in the New Year, I was nodding off, trying my very best just to make it to midnight. I wanted to be excited about the coming year, and yet all I really felt was exhaustion. This past month has been a trying month- we have fully entered the toddler phase- and frankly, I think they should make pills for this. A mix of Red Bull, Espresso and a shot of Tequila- in easy-to-swallow pill form. A little something to give you energy, and a lot of something to calm the nerves.

My little guy is beyond adorable- and I cherish the time I spend with him- but the day to day reality of chasing after a toddler is exhausting. The respect that I have for all mothers (especially those of toddler boys!) is through the roof. If you make it through the toddler years with your sanity intact, you deserve a serious gold star.

Vijay happens to be of the variety that is not interested in playing with toys, or reading books, or doing crafty projects- he simply likes to walk/run, jump off ledges/ beds/ couches/ stairs, and throw everything and anything- you can't take your eyes off of him for a minute or he will find some life-threatening trouble to get himself into. He is a whirling ball of motion- only stopping to collapse into bed twice a day- once for a nap, and once at night. And I am right there ready to collapse along with him. As we move into the New Year, I find myself lacking the energy to make a resolution. My only goal: survival. Make it through the day, plan enough activities to wear him out, stumble into bed by 8:30pm, wake up and do it all over again.

Does it get easier? Next year, at this time, will I have the energy to adjust my goals to something other than just surviving? Here's hoping!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T12:56:00.000-05:00

Keeping busy working on a few last-minute Christmas gifts, including homemade granola in a pretty package! Wishing you a very, very merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year. I'll see you back here on January 2nd!

(Btw: Congrats Jill- you're the winner of The Nimbus Factory Giveaway- shoot me an email, and we'll get your cards in the mail. We can switch out the holiday cards for a new set, since I am so late drawing a winner!)

Detroit Garden Works

2011-12-19T14:04:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend we took a little adventure to a beautiful shop- an Anthropologie-type store for gardening enthusiasts called Detroit Garden Works. All decked out for the holidays, I found it to be a magical-feeling wonderland of Christmas inspiration.

I especially loved all the natural adornments- pinecones painted in silvery and gold hues, festive wreathes, artfully potted succulents, and jewel-tone dyed eucalyptus branches. With a bit of imagination, you could turn your house into a wintry wonderland with the help of these gorgeous props.

I could have spent all day, camera in hand, capturing the many treasures so artfully arranged. However, with my toddler-in-tow, those days of leisure are distant memories. Shopping excursions tend to be fast and furious, no matter how much mama would like it to be otherwise.

Still, while my mom distracted my little one, I managed to capture a few images, and pick up a few treasures to take home.

If you are in the Michigan area, I would highly suggest a trip to the Detroit Garden Works- consider it a delicious holiday treat to yourself!

Holiday Baking

2011-12-16T11:09:00.000-05:00

I was cruising around a few of my favorite blogs yesterday, when I came across these gorgeous, rich, chocolate Biscotti over at Nectar. I grabbed a mixing bowl and immediately began throwing together the ingredients, the batter quickly coming together in a dark, pillow-y cloud of sweetness.

Although it takes a bit of patience- there is quite a bit of baking, cooling, re-baking, and re-cooling to be done- it is always worth it come coffee time. Dunking these long, slender, crunchy cookies in a rich cup of coffee laced with milk...there is nothing better. Any good holiday baking recipes or links that you care to share with me? I'm inspired to get some more baking done today!

New Beginnings

2011-12-15T13:15:00.000-05:00

Squam has been an instrumental component of my creative journey, providing me with endless inspiration, and a community of like-minded souls. I first attended the spring retreat back in 2009, and I have returned every year since as an attendee, and this past fall, for the first time, as a teacher.

Elizabeth- the amazing tour-de-force behind Squam has since become a good friend, and in fact, lives just around the block from me in Providence. We frequently talk of our visions for our creative careers- where we see ourselves next year, in five years, in ten. At the beginning of this year, Elizabeth shared with me her visions for Squam- seeing it grow to new heights, offering brand new, never-been-seen-before classes, and incredible, top-of-their-field teachers. She even shared her vision for taking Squam international.

I'm so proud to announce that she has brought these visions to life- 2012 is the year of Squam. Mark my words! It all started today, with the launch of a brand new website. Go ahead, take a peek- it is beyond lovely.

I am equally proud to have been asked to join the Squam team, a secret I have been sitting on for a few months now. Yes- I was one of the little worker bees helping to bring this vision to life- and I couldn't be more honored to be a part of this amazing team.

Head over, take a look around, and perhaps I will see you at one of the retreats this year! Squam in Italy- oh, yes please!!

Home for the Holidays

2011-12-12T08:48:00.002-05:00

We flew home to Michigan over the weekend- just me and the little guy. We are spending a couple weeks here, through the New Year. It's wonderful to be home for Christmas, crafting, baking, spending time with family- all of the things that the holidays are about.

Last night, little Vijay fell asleep in my arms. I rocked him to sleep- my busy, walking toddler. I kissed his little curls and thought- all I want for Christmas is to stop time in this very moment.

We've been making these vintage Christmas ornaments, here's how:

Instructions to Make Vintage Postcard Ornaments.
*Find a vintage postcard, and cut the image to the size you desire.
*Cut a piece of foam board to match, and glue the image on.
*Pick a ribbon that is the width of the foam board, and glue it over the raw edge of the foam board.
*Frame the picture in rick-rack, gluing it in place.
*Poke holes through the top of the foam board using a thin piece of wire, and thread the wire through, forming a hanger.
*You can decorate with beads, if you desire. Secure the hanger by twisting the ends with pliers.

Giveaway: The Nimbus Factory

2011-12-09T08:26:00.003-05:00

Oh my, Friday already. It seems as we get close to the holidays, the days start to move at warp speed. To kick off the weekend, how about a giveaway! I am a huge fan of The Nimbus Factory's work- from adorable journals, to cheery greeting cards, their work is always unique.

I love these cheeky greeting cards!

Totally obsessed with this adorable pig journal!

Oh my- this wrapping paper would be perfect for little Vijay's Christmas presents!

Now for a giveaway...just in time for the holiday! The Nimbus Factory is offering one lucky reader a set of their Mythical Creatures Holiday Card set, which includes 12 cards, each with a different whimsical creature, from a unicorn to a yeti, elf to mermaid! Just leave a comment to win...I will draw a winner next week! Happy weekending!

Inspired

2011-12-05T08:46:00.000-05:00

I took some time recently to update my inspiration board. When I first posted the board on my wall, the idea was to change it frequently, as I collected bits and pieces of inspiring ephemera. I had a baby- so that plan changed! However, during a recent nap time, I took an hour, and sat down with a pile of magazines, and started cutting. It was a playful and relaxing process, and it was actually a great exercise in seeing where my inspiration is coming from these days. Lots of beautiful pictures with great light, images of artists, perfectly styled still life and rural settings. I highly recommend indulging in an hour of this sort of play- it can lead to some interesting revelations!

And now for some winners....email me at christine.chitnis@gmail.com with your mailing address, and I will pop your books in the mail!

Crafternoon winners:

Winner of both books-
Jennifer, who said:
"I just shrunk/felted a bunch of moth holed sweaters to make Christmas stockings.....I have loads of scraps that I thought would be fun to make garlands, ornaments, or gifts out of."

Winner of the beading book:
Sapna, who said:
"I am making a car track on a bed sheet by using different coloured felt for the track and stop and go signs. I am making this for the quite time play for my 4 year old son so that mum and little baby can catch up with some sleep...:)"

Lincoln Park aka My Old Stomping Ground

2011-12-02T08:11:00.000-05:00

While in Chicago, we made our way, bright and early one morning, to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The brisk, sunny weather was perfect for strolling, looking at the animals...or should I say, the empty cages! We were there before the zoo opened, although the grounds are always open for strolling, so most of the animals were inside, being fed and groomed.

We saw lions and giraffes from a distance, but I'm not even sure little Vijay spotted them. It wasn't until we went into the Botanical Gardens that he really perked up. Perhaps it was the colorful flowers, or maybe it was the steamy, warm air.

Either way, it was a morning filled with memories of my time living in Lincoln Park. I used to walk through the park, and stop in the garden, whenever I had a free morning. But that's the thing...I almost never had a free morning. Working six days a week left very little time for anything else. That is one of the greatest joys of my life these days- time to spend lazy mornings and afternoons out in the world, exploring, wandering and taking it all in- with my little guy along for the ride, of course.

Worth It

2011-11-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

We returned from Chicago on an evening flight, and as we began our descent, I looked out the window and saw the most glorious sunset. I panicked- my camera was in the overhead compartment, and I was seated at the window, with Little Vijay on my lap, my husband in the middle and a crabby, sour-faced man in the aisle seat.

And I am talking seriously crabby- like when we got on the plane and sat down next to him, he looked at the baby and smirked, "Oh great, lucky me." And not with an ounce of humor. What....????? You are welcome to think that, and I will even admit to having those same feelings on flights where I am seated next to a baby, but you NEVER, EVER say it out loud, especially not to the parents of said baby, who are already exhausted and nervous for the 2 1/2 confined hours ahead.

But in the end, I figured that Little Vijay had been on his very best behavior for (most of) the flight, and I deserved a little favor, so I asked crabby man to grab my camera bag. I am so glad that I did.

The Shedd Aquarium

2011-11-28T09:07:00.001-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving in Chicago, with my parents, brothers, and extended family. It was such a lovely trip, although at times, bittersweet. I lived in Chicago after graduating from college, until I married and moved to Providence. It is a city filled with memories of an amazing time in my life, and it was hard not to miss the independence and freedom I had when I was living there in my early twenties.

And yet, it was absolutely amazing to introduce my little guy to the many Chicago landmarks that defined my time there. I have always loved the Shedd Aquarium- I used to take the kids I worked with there at least once a semester. I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it more than they did- I am such a water baby at heart. Someday I will live on the water, where I can swim, and possibly even scuba dive whenever the urge strikes. Until that time, I will have to be content to press my face against the glass and marvel at the wonders of the sea.

The jellyfish exhibit is at the Shedd for a limited time- I was so thrilled to be able to see it. How beautiful, and intricate are these guys?

Little Vijay was fascinated by the sea life, wanting to touch the fish through the glass with his chubby little hands. He was mesmerized by the sea lion that kept surfacing to breath only inches away from us. He also loved the sea anemones, beluga whales, and the eerie green eel. I think, given how captivated he was by the whole experience, that we might have a future ocean explorer on our hands. Nothing would make his mama more proud!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, lovely readers. I hope you have a chance to celebrate with those nearest and dearest to you. While on the topic of giving thanks, I would like to thank you for continuing to stop by my little corner of the web. It's hard to believe that I have been blogging for almost 4 year now. This space has encouraged me to grow in ways that I never thought possible. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

(Thanksgiving cupcake topper instructions over at Yankee!)

Drinking My Greens

2011-11-21T07:41:00.000-05:00

Nowhere is the shift in seasons more apparent than at the farmers' market. Berries, peaches and tomatoes have long since been replaced with root vegetables, cranberries, apples and greens- every variety of greens you could possibly imagine!

This is a particularly good thing for me right now, as I am trying very hard to incorporate more dark, leafy greens into my diet. I now begin each morning with a green smoothie for breakfast.

Here is my current fave:
1 cup coconut water
1 date
1 heaping tablespoon almond butter
1 frozen banana
1 big handful of greens (I rotate between kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, bok choy and swiss chard)

Blend it all together until it is nice and smooth. Enjoy!
Any great green smoothie recipes you care to share?

Of course no one is perfect, so I will readily admit to swinging by the bakery booth too!

Speaking of markets...I wanted to let my local readers know about a very cool holiday market happening in Providence this coming weekend. I will be out of town, so unfortunately, I will miss it. However, if you're hanging around these parts, be sure to check out Festival Fete's Holiday Market!

*by the way...have you entered my GIVEAWAY, yet? No...well, what are you waiting for?

Giveaway: Kid's Crafternoon

2011-11-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

Let's kick the weekend off with a giveaway! I was honored to be asked by Kathreen of WhipUp to contribute a project to her Kid's Crafternoon Felting book. The entire Kids' Crafternoon series is adorable, and super user-friendly for crafters of all ages.

The first two books in the series- Papercraft and Sewing came out this past summer, and now, the other two titles in the series- Beading and Felting, have just been released. To celebrate, I am hosting a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive both the Beading and Felting books, and a second winner will receive the Beading book, all thanks to Hardie Grant! That's TWO WINNERS! Just leave a comment to enter- any comment will do, but I would love to know what kind of crafts you are thinking of making for those special people on your holiday list! Anything fun in the works?

If you would like to purchase your own copies, the entire series is available on Amazon. I'll admit- I thought of keeping the books all to myself...they really would make the perfect Christmas gift for some of the little crafters on my list!

my contribution- book blanket

(photo by mmmcrafts)

You can catch the rest of the book blog tour here:

14 Nov - red thread
15 Nov - soozs big adventure
16 Nov - mmmcrafts
17 Nov - // Between the lines //
19 Nov - Chez Beeper Bebe
20 Nov - The Happy Zombie
21 Nov - a work in progress
22 Nov - loveinthemummyhood
23 Nov - jcasa handmade
24 Nov - picklebums
25 Nov - modern parents messy kids
26 Nov - little eco footprints
27 Nov - li'l magoolie
28 Nov - ohdeedoh
29 Nov - Simple Kids
30 Nov - sadie and lance

An Island Retreat

2011-11-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

On Monday morning, right around nap time, my friend Sarah and I loaded our little guys into the car and set off for an adventure. When traveling with toddlers, it is all about planning, and I have to say, we pulled it off like two pros. As the boys slept soundly, we drove to Cape Cod and caught the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. It was the loveliest two-day escape imaginable.

I love visiting popular summer destinations during the off-season. We had gorgeous, warm fall weather, and there were no crowds to contend with. When we arrived, we immediately set off for the beach, where my little beach bum knew exactly what to do. I was surprised that he didn't make a beeline for the water, but he seemed to know that there was just enough chill in the air to stay clear of the water.

After our beach break, we Chilmark's working docks to pick up fish for dinner. There were some gorgeous cod fillets that ended up catching our eye, though the boys were mesmerized by the lobsters wiggling and clawing in their tanks.

With the sun quickly making its decent, we headed 'home.' It was the coziest of cottages- an old barn, lovingly refurbished by Sarah's father. More importantly, there was an amazing playroom, and the boys enjoyed many hours playing with the trains, blocks and dinosaurs. There is something about other kids toys...so much better than your own.

Once the boys had been fed and put to bed, the serious cooking began. We baked the cod with lemon and fresh herbs, roasted potatoes, tossed a large salad, warmed the butternut squash soup, caramelized pears with honey and made some delicious kale (which had survived the frost) and brussel sprouts.

The next morning, bright and early, we walked across the street for breakfast sandwiches and coffee, then spent the morning back at the beach, and touring a few farms. The wooly sheep, awaiting their sheering, captured my full attention.

After the boys afternoon nap, we headed into town, poking into a few shops before we had to get on the ferry. We were all exhausted by the time we arrived home late last night- fresh air and an incredible adventure will do that to you!

36 Hours in Providence

2011-11-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Elizabeth and I played tour guide to the lovely Kayte Terry, visiting from Philly. You know how the New York Times does "36 Hours in ...." travel articles? Well...though they covered Providence, I'd like to offer up my own version.

Kayte arrived late Friday night, so our official Providence tour began on Saturday morning with a leisurely walk down Thayer Street, through the Brown Campus and down College Hill to the RISD campus, where we visited the Nature Lab, and the RISD Store. Three crafty ladies let loose in the mecca of all art supply stores- look out.

We lunched at AS220, which has the most amazing, cheap, healthy, local food. Over lunch we talked of our creative visions, what it means to live the life of a freelancer, and the puzzling landscape of blogs these days! I'm pretty sure we solved the world's problems over our kale and roasted butternut squash salad.

We walked home, through the afternoon shadows and gorgeous fall foliage, and spent the early evening playing blocks and cars with little Vijay (he was quite taken with Kayte...in fact, I think he might have a crush!). That night, dinner at La Laiterie. Good wine and cheese, mussels and fresh salads. It was heavenly.

Sunday, after Elizabeth hosted us for a gorgeous breakfast, we spent the afternoon walking down Hope Street, poking in the adorable shops and stopping for an afternoon treat at Seven Stars. A casual dinner at home, and dessert at the world-famous Pastiche. Today, Kayte hops on the train and heads home to Philly...and I can only hope that we have indeed shown her the very best of our little town!

Time

2011-11-09T11:53:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth and I took a walk a few days ago, with the dogs and baby in tow...it was a gorgeous afternoon, the leaves still golden on the trees. Despite an early frost, we still have beautiful weather, and gorgeous fall foliage here in Providence. We haven't yet moved our routine inside- our afternoons are still filled with visits to the park, and long walks through Brown's campus. But on this particular walk, I confided in Elizabeth that I was feeling a bit blue. I explained to her that I feel like I discovered my true passion in life a bit too late- my love for photography is all-consuming at times. I just want to immerse myself fully in the study of photography. And yet, as a young, stay-at-home mother, just starting my family, this just can't happen right now, there simply isn't the time needed to devote to my hobby. I vented further- why couldn't I have discovered this passion in high school, and gone to college to study photography, and graduated to work at some fancy travel magazine, hopping on planes with nothing but my camera bag and jetting off to exotic locations? Why? Why? Why?

Luckily, Elizabeth didn't slap me, and tell me I sounded like a spoiled child- she would have been totally justified in doing so. Instead, she gently reminded me that every life experience up until the present has brought me to where I am today- those life experiences have shaped my passions, and my drive. To look back, and wish for different, is not only a waste of time (for you cannot change the past), but it would alter who I am at my core. I haven't completely gotten over my blues- and there might be one or two more temper tantrums needing to come out- but it did give me something to think about. Time- it is such a tricky beast- when you have an excess of it, you don't appreciate it, and when you have none, you would give anything to have more.

Lately...

2011-11-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

I have been feeling the passing of time in a deep way- having a toddler will do that to you. He seems to be growing and changing right before our very eyes. Most recently, I made the decision to wean him...and that, for me, was an extremely emotional decision to make. After a year of nursing, a year of spending precious, still moments together, we have closed that chapter. It is a bit overwhelming to think about what that means- never again will I nurse this baby of mine- it is so very final. It means that our "baby days" have come to an end, and we have officially entered the toddler years. I am feeling rather melancholy about the whole thing...a tad bit blue, if I'm being honest. It is most likely a mix of hormones, with a touch of grief at how quickly the first year flew by.

However, there is exciting news on the toddler front:
-He took his first steps this past Friday. Three steps, from me, to my husband. We felt so lucky to both witness this milestone. His drunken sailor walk is just precious.
-Nothing in the world is more exciting than doggies. Although, the idea of them is much more appealing to him than the reality! The reality is a bit slobbery, and hairy, and just a wee bit scary.
-When he is no longer hungry, it's just hilarious to throw the rest of the food on his tray at the wall, and watch how it sticks. On my end- not finding this too hilarious.
-And finally, in case you can't tell what a mischievous little man he is from the pictures, I will share this anecdote: This weekend, he was playing nicely in his playroom, and I was talking on the phone. He hates when I talk on the phone and don't pay full attention to him. When I was turned the other way, he crawled over, stood up and bit me right on the butt- sinking his sharp little teeth right through my jeans. When I yelped and tried to scold him, he thought it was the funniest thing in the world. He laughed until he fell over. Lord help us when the terrible two's come round.

Oh yes...time is marching forward, whether I like it or not.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

2011-11-04T09:26:00.000-04:00

I can hardly believe it is already time to start planning and preparing for the holiday season. It seems like only days ago I was laying on the beach, playing in the sand with my little one, and basking in the glow of the summer sun. Now...we are bundling up in down coats, hats and mittens for our morning walk.

This wintery weather can only mean one thing...the holidays are approaching...and fast! It's easy for me to lose track of the "crafting season" since I tend to make my crafts for Yankee Magazine about 6 months in advance- which means I designed, crafted and photographed these ornaments in July!

The idea behind these felt ornaments is that they are super quick and easy- and they require no sewing (although you can add sewn details if you desire), and they help to make the outer-wrapping a gift in and of itself. The mittens, and sailboat are a subtle nod to New England, and the polka-dot ornament is modeled off a vintage mercury glass beauty that I have in my collection! I accessorized with bits of vintage rick-rack and lace ribbon! You can find the templates and instructions over on Yankee's site...it's none too early to start your holiday crafting!

Cranberry Orange Spice Muffins

2011-11-03T09:17:00.000-04:00

We are on a big homemade muffin kick lately. They make the perfect portable snack, and if you use the right ingredients, they can be super nutritious, and filling. Here is another of our fall favorites (have you tried our other favorite yet?)...

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
1 egg
1/2 cup orange juice
Grated peel of 1 orange
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
2 tablespoons hot water
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, beat egg. Add orange juice, peel, butter and hot water. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Gently fold in cranberries and toasted pecans. Spoon into greased and floured muffin tins (or use liners). Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Halloween Recap

2011-11-01T10:07:00.000-04:00

I think Halloween might be best when your kids are too young to tell you what they want to be- in that case, you can dress them up as anything you want! And they can't say a word. So since I had my pick of costumes, I decided that Vijay should be a fluffy little chicken. I was all set to make his costume, and I was sweating it just a bit (how exactly was I going to attach all those feathers?), when I found this adorable Old Navy chicken costume at a second hand store for $3. Seriously- couldn't have planned that better if I had tried!

He was less than amused at the reality of being stuffed into a chicken costume and hindered with bulky chicken feet- but he got used to it enough to enjoy our local playground's little Halloween party.

My favorite costume- my friend's son came as a sock monkey, and the costume was homemade FROM SOCKS. Amazing!

We were home by 5:30, Vijay asleep by 6:30. It was then that I realized, Halloween is not so fun with a sleeping baby upstairs. I taped over our doorbell and put a little sign (which no one read) asking everyone to knock instead. I know, I know- I was pretty much asking for the older kids to ring the doorbell, I probably would have too. By about 8:30, we were pretty much over Halloween, and the stress of wondering if the next group of trick-or-treaters would wake the baby. Real party poopers, we are.

Join Me...

2011-10-31T10:13:00.000-04:00

A quick note to let you know that on Tuesday, November 8, at 7pm, I will be hosting a delicious dinner event at Tavolo restaurant in Dorchester, MA. Chefs Chris Douglass and Nuno Alves will present a three course prix fixe menu of foods from Boston's urban farmers markets, and I will be on hand signing my book! The Markets of New England dinner costs $40, and includes an autographed copy of my book- what a deal!

To reserve a seat, call 617-822-1918, or visit Tavolo at 1918 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA. I would love to see you there!

Spooky Bat Garland

2011-10-28T09:11:00.000-04:00

Here is a quick Halloween craft for your weekend. I am totally loving how this garland turned out...and it only took about 10 minutes to make! Click on over to The Crafty Yankee for the template and instructions.

By the way- what do you think of our colorful home? We painted it this summer, opting for a beautiful blue and a popping pink door! Here is a picture of our home before....quite a difference, huh!? It took a big dose of bravery to go for such bright colors, but here in Providence, it seems like every house is a beautiful, bright color. I was ready to join the club- and I am so glad I did. Our house seems cheery no matter what the weather.

Have a great weekend!

A Yankee Roadtrip

2011-10-27T12:11:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to spend the entire day at the Yankee Magazine offices in Dublin, New Hampshire. EXCITING NEWS: I have signed on as a contributing editor for Yankee, so in addition to my Crafty Yankee online column, I will be contributing an "Inspired Idea" for every print issue.

I am absolutely thrilled with this news, as you can imagine. I never wanted to be a freelancer forever- let's face it, I am OVER getting rejected multiple times a week by different magazines. It is exhausting and time consuming, and I no longer have the time I once had to devote to scrounging for jobs. To sign on with a magazine as wonderful as Yankee is just what I have always wanted- a home, a regular gig, a chance to spread my creative, crafty wings!

So...back to the road trip. It was the longest I had ever been away from my little guy- I left at 8am, and returned home at 7pm. My husband stayed home to watch him, which gave me a stress- free day to enjoy the beauty of New Hampshire and the welcoming, warm attitude of the Yankee staffers.

Besides editorial meetings and work related stuff, we did have a chance to sneak out for a long lunch, and to peruse some of the amazing antique shops in the neighboring town of Peterborough. My two favorite shops, as seen here: Grove & Main, and Bowerbird. Amazing, simple, beautiful- and so well styled. I bought a few props for upcoming Yankee photo shoots!

On my way home, I managed to sneak a few shots of the gorgeous NH countryside, with the changing leaves in all of their glory. It was a peaceful drive, and I arrived home in just enough time to tuck my little one in for the night!

Vijay's First Birthday Party

2011-10-25T10:07:00.000-04:00

It only seems appropriate to give you a party recap on Vijay's actual birthday! Today, exactly one year ago, our little man came rocketing into this world! Life hasn't been the same since...in fact, it just keeps getting better and better.

This weekend's party was epic, as far as first birthdays go. We're talking 90 guests, jugglers, and an acapella group. Clearly, we weren't messing around!

The wonderful thing about living near a college campus is that we have the opportunity to interact with young people all the time. When we are out and about, walking around campus, we end up meeting the coolest students- and student groups. Our jugglers and singers were both Brown student groups who had met little Vijay on one of our many walks around campus. They were so excited to perform at his birthday- their enthusiasm was incredible!

With the entertainment taken care of, I was able to focus on the party decorations, and desserts. The theme was "polka-dots" and decor included polka-dot paper garland, polka-dot mini-cupcakes, polka-dot balloons, a double layer cake, paper lanterns, and little signs with Vijay's picture dotted around the yard, sticking out of plants. We also had finger food provided by our favorite Indian restaurant, Rasoi. Samosas, tandoori chicken, vegetable fritters- seriously good eats!

So now the only question that remains- how the heck are we supposed to top this for his second birthday? I'm thinking elephants and acrobats, or perhaps the Brown Marching Band. Luckily- we have a year to get on that- first, a week-long nap. We are pretty beat from all of the festivities!

The First Year

2011-10-20T09:15:00.000-04:00

We are celebrating my baby's first birthday this coming weekend (though his official birthday is October 25), and the mix of emotions that I am feeling is startling. I can hardly believe a year has past, and yet, I cannot imagine a time when he was not in my life. I can hardly believe I survived this first sleepless year, and yet, I feel like I have fully come into my own since becoming a mother.

There have been many long hours, frustrations and tears, but the year...oh, the year...it has flown by in a flurry of midnight feedings, afternoons at the playground, morning snuggles, and endless miles logged with the stroller. There have been day trips, and road trips, plane rides and beach vacations. But mostly- there have been so many moments where it is just me and my baby- going about our simple daily life- enjoying each others company, and learning each others quirks. It has been the most joyful year of my life- without a single doubt. I wouldn't trade a moment of it- not even those difficult, exhausting, painful moments- because every moment was necessary on this road to learning how to become a mother.

This past month has been one of my favorites. His little personality is continuing to show itself in the most amazing ways. He loves doggies and buses, his favorite foods are hummus and blueberries, his first word was mama, and he knows, when the door opens in the evening, his daddy is home- and his while face lights up. But most of all, what continues to amaze me, is that he is just the happiest little soul. He spends most of his day outside- that is where he feels truly content- free to crawl without limits. And if he can be naked, while roaming...well...that is simply unbeatable!

I have never been more thankful for this blog, than I am now. It is a recording of our moments together- all of those moments that were supposed to be journaled, or recorded in his baby book. The baby book is a bit dusty, and that motherhood journal I kept meaning to start, well- it never really happened. But this blog- and all of your loving comments- give me a precious record of this past year.

So now, as I furiously prepare for his blow-out birthday bash, I give you a look back at Vijay's first year- not so much in events, but in these pictures that for me, capture his essence so perfectly.... Happy first birthday, bunny-boo.

Playing Hooky

2011-10-18T08:45:00.000-04:00

Every now and then, I think we all need to play hooky. Leave behind our responsibilities, jump in the car and see where the road takes us. For the past two weeks, I have been single parenting. My husband was in India for business, which left me on-duty full time. He arrived home on Friday, and we enjoyed being back together as a family with a quiet weekend.

He surprised me yesterday by taking the day off! We decided to spend the afternoon exploring the FarmCoast region of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We set out without much of a destination in mind- we knew we wanted to see farm animals (the little one is obsessed with animals right now- especially doggies and sheep), and we wanted to pick our own pumpkins.

It was pretty much the best afternoon ever- no agenda, no schedule, nowhere to be. We pulled off the road whenever we saw animals, or interesting signs.

When we got hungry, we nibbled on pears and apples from a little farm stand that we discovered. When we needed something a bit more substantial, we found an old fashioned diner (with the coolest light fixtures!), where we indulged in chicken pot pie and fish and chips. To top off our health food fest- yellow cake with chocolate frosting. We were pretty sure it came from a box- but we were certain that it was ridiculously delicious.

The raw beauty of our little state simply takes my breath away. I feel lucky to live here- lucky to be alive to experience it all- lucky to have a little one to share it with- and lucky that every now and then, we decide to put down our to-do lists and live a little. Yesterday was a great reminder that you are never too busy to play a little hooky.

Carrot Apple Muffins

2011-10-13T11:56:00.000-04:00

The selection at our outdoor farmers market is dwindling, and there are only a few weeks left before the whole operation moves indoors. Luckily, there is still a delicious abundance of greens, root vegetables and apples- so with these few items making up the bulk of my purchases yesterday, I set out to make something sweet, combining carrots and apples for a healthy, hearty muffin.

I used this Whole Foods recipe, tweaking a few ingredients here and there. The result- a delicious, fiber-packed breakfast or snack option that the whole family enjoyed. Little Vijay scarfed down an entire muffin for breakfast, and if I had offered, I am pretty sure he would have had seconds!

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup of rolled oats
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon non-aluminum baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup grated apples
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
1 teaspoon molasses

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 12-cup standard muffin tin or use muffin papers. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, combine carrots, apples, applesauce, eggs, milk, oil and molasses. Add the carrot mixture to the flour mixture, stir until blended. Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Serve warm. Try them topped with honey for an extra special treat!)

Jeweled Pumpkins

2011-10-11T20:37:00.001-04:00

This here blog world is a funny place- you never really know which posts are going to hit it big. Who would have thought that my most popular post EVER was this craft, where I used Modge Podge and pretty fabric to decorate pots? Everyone went crazy over it...and it was so very simple. As Halloween approaches, I figured, how about I bust out my Modge Podge and give myself another shot at crafting fame.

This craft came to me while I was at the farmers market, admiring the beautiful variety of pumpkins- their different colors, shapes and sizes- all occurring naturally. I thought that perhaps I could give the simple white pumpkins that I went home with, a little pop of color.

Click on over to my Yankee Magazine craft column for the complete how-to. These little pumpkins are looking quite sweet on our tabletop!

The Colors of Fall

2011-10-07T11:58:00.002-04:00

Is there anything as beautiful as the colors of fall...seen here at the Providence Farmers' Market. Have a beautiful, beautiful weekend.

Finding My Rhythm

2011-10-06T08:01:00.000-04:00

I am in a place of real gratitude at the moment, simply because this week has been so full. Full of beauty, new friendships, and shared wisdom. Earlier this week, Elizabeth and I journeyed to Portland, ME to meet with the incredible Amanda Blake Soule. While her adorable new babe, Miss Annabel, napped peacefully in her arms, we had a chance to wile away the afternoon, first over coffee and then over the most delectable lunch of Belgium hand-cut french fries and rich, creamy shakes at Duckfat.

Equally as dreamy as the food and conversation was the fact that my little one was free to run around like a wild hooligan at the Portland Children's Museum with his beloved sitter, Amy- freeing me up to actually sit and eat lunch. Gratitude, indeed!

The weather was rainy and gray, but inside, our conversation was warm and inspiring. I am in awe of Amanda, and all that she does. She lives with such intention- five kids, a homestead, complete with chickens, pigs, bees and an overflowing garden, and a beautiful blog...not to mention three books. When we spoke of the rhythm of her day, I was so inspired- two hours of computer in the morning, and a quick check-in at night. The rest of the day is devoted to family and home. I love that gentle rhythm- it gives me something to strive for...

And speaking of gratitude- Amanda gifted us gorgeous, amber honey from her first bee keeping season, and a bag of ridiculously amazing bagels, which I have been slathering in cream cheese and avocado, topped with freshly chopped veggies. Like I said...a week of gratitude.

The Crafty List

2011-10-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

My time was equally split this weekend between family, crafting and work. It was the perfect mix! I pulled my knitting basket out from the closet, where it hibernates during the summer months, and finished up a few projects that I had on my needles from last winter...including this gorgeous, luscious cowl.

I also broke out the sewing machine, and made several simple fabric bags, which are going to be used for wrapping Christmas presents (yes- I am already starting to plan for Christmas!), and two pom-pom scarves (from this Purl tutorial), also Christmas presents.

With my final bit of crafty time and energy, I started cutting out the pieces to make Posie Gets Cozy's adorable felt ornaments- although I fear I may be in over my head when it comes to the embroidery- actually, the whole thing in general.

And finally, although I hardly count this as crafty- this is just what needs to happen when your first born is celebrating his first birthday- I made birthday invitations! We are going with the polka-dot theme, mainly because I feel like there are so many fun things that come in little round packages. Gumballs, bouncy balls, balloons (kind of)- ummm, whatever, I am sure there are plenty more that will pop into my head before the big day!

Big City, Little Shopper

2011-09-29T13:21:00.000-04:00

Seriously...this week flew by in the blink of an eye, and it was chock full of good stuff. Wednesday found us packing up and heading to Philadelphia for a short business trip. I was fortunate enough to connect with the amazing Kayte Terry, whom I met at Squam just a few weeks ago, and we chatted about all things creative. She works as a visual director for Anthropologie- so I trusted her style enough to let her guide me to the best shopping spots around town!

She suggested that little Vijay and I take a stroll through Old Town, where we were completely taken with the cobblestone streets, charming shop fronts, and historic sights. Of course we started our journey with a quick Anthropologie stop. Their Philly store is located in an old, historic building in Rittenhouse Square- a very cool browsing experience. Can you spot my helpful little shopping buddy in the last picture?

He was such a trooper, enduring a couple hours in the stroller before he busted loose and had some fun at a cute little park that we happened upon. A few notes from our day: colorful stores will buy you some time with your little shopper, but colorful berries within arms length from the stroller, but forbidden by mama, might result in a mini-tantrum!

The Last Dance

2011-09-26T09:15:00.000-04:00

We had a heat wave...or should I say a humidity wave...this weekend here in Providence. It was the type of weather that left us a bit lethargic, a bit cranky, so we decided that a trip to the beach was the only way to cure our mood. It might very well be the last swim of the season. It's hard to know what the rest of fall has in store for us. But, we plan on making the most of these nice days, for us New Englanders know well enough that the first snow could be just around the corner.

How our little man loves to be outside...he craves the freedom of long stretches of beach, and rolling grassy slopes. He hates to be constrained- and that includes not only indoor spaces, but clothes, diapers and especially socks. I am not sure what we are going to do this winter, as going naked in 30 below weather is clearly not an option.

In fact, I am quite nervous about this winter. Right now, most of our days are spent outside, at the park, playing on the lush lawns around Brown's campus, visiting farms and beaches, taking long, winding bike rides and walks. Of course many of these things can be done during the winter months, just not with the same amount of comfort and ease, and not for long stretches of time.

(ohhh...those curls....how I love those curls)

I have been tearing through our local newspapers, and studying the archives over at KidOInfo, trying to find fun activities to partake in this winter. Music class, swim lessons, story time- half of these activities are designed to keep mothers from going crazy during the long, dark stretch of winter.

(is there anything sexier than watching the man you love become a father? when i see my two boys together, i simply melt)

But alas, I am getting ahead of myself. I suppose I need to be reminded to live in the here...in the now. There are still glimpses of color, a few flowers giving us their last hooray. The weather is still perfect for our rugged little mountain man baby. Life is good...oh so good... and that is enough for now.

It's All Coming Together

2011-09-21T13:01:00.000-04:00

Most days, I feel like I am treading water, desperately trying to keep afloat, juggling endless chores, errands, emails, and work to-do's, all while caring for my baby. But there are those days where everything comes together in perfect harmony, and yesterday was one of those days. My husband took Vijay to work with him in the morning, to show him off to his colleagues, and to give me a chance to shower and eat breakfast in peace. When they got home, we played for a little bit, and then I put him down for a nap.

My babysitter arrived shortly after, and I jumped in my car and headed to the Mens' Maximum Security Prison to write a story on their new garden project. I am covering the story for one of my favorite publications, Edible Rhody, and am lucky enough to be both writing and photographing the story. It was the most inspiring subjects I have covered in a long time. I had a moment, while interviewing an inmate, where I thought to myself, "This is it, you've done it. You have accomplished what you set out to do...write about things that matter to you, exciting, inspiring, thrilling stories that matter."

I arrived home on an adrenaline high, and settled in to an afternoon of playground duty and a walk through campus. Once Vijay was tucked in, after a warm bath and homemade dinner, it occurred to me that for this one day, that balance between working and being a mom struck a perfect equilibrium...and it felt oh-so-good.

Just the Two of Us

2011-09-19T11:37:00.000-04:00

Squam was absolutely magical, and, I'll admit it...totally exhausting too. Coming at it from a different angle, that of a teacher, was an interesting experience. It was quite a bit to juggle, even with all of the wonderful support that my mom provided. I would rush home from morning class to spend lunch with Vijay, and do the same for dinner. We have never spent that much time away from each other, so it was a tearful reunion each and every time. He would just melt into me, wanting to be held, cuddled and nursed. He was afraid to take his eyes off of me...for fear that I would leave again.

So today we are back home, spending time together, just the two of us. I have so much more to say...but there are greater needs demanding my attention. To see my little one today, clinging to me for dear life, you would think I just returned from an epic journey. It's all a matter of perspective, wouldn't you agree?!

Change of Scenery

2011-09-13T16:47:00.001-04:00

It's a bit hectic around these parts, to say the least. Little Vijay and I are off to Squam Art Workshops tomorrow, where I will be teaching for the first time. I am a bundle of nerves and excitement, but luckily, there has been no time to dwell on the butterflies in my stomach. Not when there is laundry to be done, class material to be printed, dishes to be washed, a car to be packed and a house to be cleaned. All of this on less than four hours of sleep. The little guy is cutting his two front teeth, which has meant a week of sleepless nights for this little household of ours. We have yet to figure out the magic touch- baby advil, midnight nursing, gum numbing gel- nothing seems to help.

And so...off we go...hoping that maybe a change of scenery will be just what the doctor ordered. We will be picking my mom up at the airport along the way for babysitting duty. All I know for sure is that the crib will most definitely be in her room!

Have a great week, and I will see you back here on Monday!

Fragility

2011-09-12T08:10:00.000-04:00

Life moves at such a fast pace, but there are days that are meant for slowing down, for remembering and for being thankful. Yesterday was one of those days. We sat outside on a patch of earth, appreciating the warmth of the fall sun, just the three of us, our little family. We felt immensely fragile and immensely thankful. Together... we do not take that lightly...we do not take that for granted.

In the midst of remembering, there are also the pressing issues of today. While most of us have recovered from Irene, there is a neighboring state that is still suffering. It just so happens that Waitsfield, Vermont- the town that welcomed me with open arms during my book writing adventures- was hit incredibly hard by the storm. It absolutely breaks my heart to think of their charming Main Street completely underwater, their historic covered bridges collapsed and swept away. It also breaks my heart to think of the farmers- those hardworking, innovative farmers- who have lost their entire late summer, fall and winter crops. Just like that- their livelihood is gone. Waitsfield- and really, all of Vermont- is such a magical place, and they need our help.

Please visit Love Vermont for a great list of places to donate. I donated to the Mad River Valley Community Fund. If you feel so inclined, lend this incredible place a helping hand. There will come a time when we all feel our fragility...when we could all use a helping hand.

Learning New Tricks

2011-09-09T09:44:00.000-04:00

You can't teach an old dog new tricks...but if we're talking about a tired, worn-out old mom...that is a different story. Turns out, I can learn new tricks...and I am, thanks to two amazing photography courses that I am taking simultaneously. I figured, why not just pile it all on at once and see what my harried mom-brain can handle.

I am taking a film photography course at AS220, an incredible non-profit art organization in downtown Providence. My equipment- two old 35mm cameras that I purchased for a total of $30 at a thrift store. I am excited to start experimenting with film. This week, my assignment is to shoot a role of black-and-white while trying to learn my manual settings. Next week, we'll head to the darkroom to see what develops.

The second course is an online class, Photo 101, taught by Nicole Gerulat of A Little Sussy. She is going to teach us how to get comfortable shooting manually. I spent Vijay's nap time fooling around with still life shots, and playing with my shutter speed, ISO and f-stop. Would you believe that despite having done all of the photography for my book, and for several magazine articles, I don't know how to shoot in manual mode? That is a crying shame...one I am trying to rectify.

I can't believe how energized I feel learning something new, challenging my brain again after spending the past year mainly focusing on my baby. I am consumed by my love of photography, and I am hungry to learn more. Are there any workshops, classes or retreats that you have found helpful in your pursuit of photographic knowledge?

Last Minute Garden Party

2011-09-06T09:31:00.000-04:00

I love my husband, but, oh, there are times.... Take this weekend, for example, when he asked me on Friday afternoon, "Do you think we could host a luncheon for 20 people at our house...tomorrow?"

Once I got over my initial shock, I agreed, as it was for business, and I knew it was important to him. I also told him...as nicely as I could manage...that in the future, I would love more than a one-day warning!

Thank goodness the weather was beautiful, and the crowd, all visiting from India, would be thrilled with a catered, buffet style Indian lunch. Phew- that took the cooking off my plate, and gave me time to spruce up the backyard. With the addition of some hand-sewn garland, paper lanterns, pillows and farmers' market bouquets, I created a festive, colorful garden-party vibe.

The party was a great success and when I collapsed into bed, exhausted at the end of the day, I gave my hubby a knowing smile. You know the one I mean...the one that says..."You owe me one, darling!"

Four Years Ago Today...

2011-09-01T11:04:00.000-04:00

Four years ago today I stood next to the turquiose depths of my childhood lake, and promised my lifelong love to a man I had met only months prior. I have never regretted it...not for a moment.

At that time, I was not yet immersed in the world of blogs, so there was no pressure, no overwhelming amount of inspiration and ideas. I had never seen Once Wed, or Style Me Pretty, and for that I am so, so grateful. Ours was a simple, personal, beautiful wedding, spent with friends and family. It was perfect.

Happy Anniversary Vijay...it's been quite a ride.

Oh Boy

2011-08-31T10:14:00.000-04:00

As a mother to a little boy, I have some concerns. Mainly, I want to try and balance his physicality with a bit of mental exercise. He is a flat-out physical being, and we pretty much need to run him, as you would a dog, to get him tired enough to sleep. This includes biking, swimming, multiple playground visits a day and climbing steps (we have scoped out all of the best steps around Providence- who knew there were so many!). I know it sounds odd, but I am sure that any of you who have busy little boys are nodding in agreement.

The thing is, he is physically advanced for his age...at 10 months, he is just about walking, but more than that, it is his coordination and speed. But he has absolutely no interest in reading, or learning in any form. I try to teach him words, and letters through songs, through playing with alphabet blocks, and various other toys. But he simply has no use for any of it. Forget trying to read a book to him, he lunges for the book, grabs it out of my hands and bites through the pages. I have other friends with baby girls, and they sit together, for hours at a time, and actually read books. Are you kidding me?

One of my friends has a similarly active little boy, and someone said to her that because he is advanced physically, he will have a harder time with the mental stuff. I panicked...this is exactly my fear for little Vijay.

So moms... do you have any advice, stories to share, words of wisdom? I feel like a lunatic bringing this up to my pediatrician, so I will turn here instead. God forbid I Google this problem, it always seems to point me to some panic-inducing answer!

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-29T08:57:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Irene paid a visit to our neck of the woods this weekend, but luckily for us, she left our street more-or-less intact. Tree limbs were flung about, some old, gorgeous trees were ripped right out of the ground, power lines were severed and over 250,000 Rhode Islanders across the state are without power, but we will recover.

We had to spend all of Sunday hunkered down in our basement, playing endless hours of puzzles and games to entertain our little guy. I realized that it was the first time we spent the entire day indoors, and I hope it is the last. We were all pretty stir crazy by the time the storm moved on, but so thankful that we have a sturdy, dry house over our head.

The minute the wind died down and it was safe, we headed out to see what had happened to our little section of town. It was a bit funny because everyone we saw had young kids, and they all looked beyond happy to be out of the house.

But the destruction was very real, and very sobering, and we felt extremely lucky to have escaped unscathed. For all of you who found yourselves in the path of Irene, I hope you are safe and sound.

Closet Confidential

2011-08-25T08:52:00.000-04:00

I am starting to play around a bit with Polyvore...a little late to the game, and a little slow with the learning curve, hence the many random posts that went up on my blog yesterday, but I have figured it out, and I am loving it.

I have made it a goal this fall to start putting some thought into what I wear. This past year, with the craziness of having a newborn, I have fallen into a bit of a rut when it comes to my wardrobe. Summer let me off the hook- how easy is it to throw on cute jersey dresses?! But fall will require a bit more thought- matching pants and shirts...sounds overwhelming!

I guess this seems a bit vain, as far as goals go, but I think it is more about feeling like my old self again (although, to be honest, my old self was never that pulled together to begin with). So...fall it is...the season of being pulled together! We'll see if I can stick to it for more than a week!

*visit my Polyvore account to see the source for each of these images*

End of Summer Sale

2011-08-24T08:19:00.000-04:00

I wanted to tell you that my book is on sale right now. My wonderful publisher, The Little Bookroom, is having an end-of-summer-sale. So...if you haven't purchased a copy yet, head over to the sale!

As I looked for pictures to accompany this post, it occurred to me that I haven't shown you some of my favorite pictures from the book...the ones that didn't make the cut. Like these from artist Candy Barr's studio.

I wish I could have captured the sheer number of paintings that she had scattered around her studio space. Paintings that most of us would pay good money for, and hang in a prominent place...she just had stacks of them, bins of them, covering every inch. It was amazing. I guess when you have the kind of raw talent that she has, you take for granted how priceless even your sorriest painting would be to most people.

Candy also teaches painting classes in conjunction with the Vermont Festival of the Arts. The setting...a gorgeous vineyard surrounded by rolling hills of farmland. I think that could inspire even the saddest painter (that would be me!) to greatness.

Candy is just one of the many artists whose work I fell in love with while writing my book. I can't believe I haven't shown you some of my favorites before now!

Simplicity

2011-08-22T09:37:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, the very best weekends are those made up of simple moments....like waking up to the most perfect iced latte, with just the right combination of espresso, milk and ice.

Eager little face waiting at the door for my return.

The juiciest late summer peaches.

Watching the sunlight play off the reeds by the water.

Staying up late to read The Hunger Games from cover to cover...and thinking about the power of a handful of berries!

Tea Time

2011-08-19T12:19:00.000-04:00

I keep this blog as a place of personal reflection. It is a space in which to expand on my love of words and pictures. I have never opened it up to advertising, and yet, there are times, when I put hours into a post, editing each picture, choosing each word, that I think it would be nice to receive a little bit of compensation. It would, of course, have to be the right fit. That is where Tea Collection comes in...

They contacted me about a month ago, asking if they could send little Vijay some clothing. I was already a big fan of their baby clothes...especially their soft, snuggly footy pajamas...so I decided that this was an absolutely welcomed reward for my blogging efforts, not to mention a great personal fit. Tea Collection is a company devoted to exploring travel and cultural diversity through fashion. I believe our little family could be their poster child!

Upon further research, I came across their history and mission statement, and I fell in love. "Hello world. We're Tea. Welcome to caring and creation. Discovery and exuberance. Welcome to inspiration and connection. Welcome to our world. Welcome to your world. Like you, we were born to explore it, to experience it with every bit of our souls. We started Tea in 2002 in San Francisco with 3 beautiful, pima cotton baby sweaters and a vision of bringing the fusion of worldwide cultures and modern design to fashion."

Their clothing is bright and colorful, soft and comfortable. Vijay is at this funny stage where he hates getting dressed. He would much prefer to be naked...and so comfortable, loose clothing is a lifesaver right now. He has been living in his striped romper and koi fish pajamas. As for me...I simply had to try one of their colorful dresses...Vijay can't be the only stylish one.

photo by Elizabeth

Thank you Tea Collection, for your gorgeous clothing, and your generous gift. Now to justify adding a few of their amazing winter pieces to my overflowing closet!

Have a great weekend!

Reading...

2011-08-17T13:48:00.000-04:00

I am a voracious reader....or at least I used to be. I have started carving out time, once again, to read, and it feels fabulous. I used to flip my computer open right after dinner and get to work. When you are self-employed, it is often difficult to set work boundaries.

I have come to understand that just like a 9-5 working woman, I deserve a break at the end of the day. I have also noticed that I am much more productive overall if I allow myself to "shut down" at the end of each day. Now, after dinner, once the dishes are washed and put away, and the house tidied up, I crawl into bed and read. Our library has a 'Netflix-like' queue system, which allows me to reserve any book that I want, and usually, within a week or two, it is available for me to pick up. My queue is always maxed out with 25 books... here are a few of the titles I am currently enjoying:

This Life Is in Your Hands: One Dream, Sixty Acres and a Family Undone by Melissa Coleman
I am currently in the middle of this gripping memoir. Melissa's parents were part of the "back to the land movement" of the 70's. They left behind all of their possessions, and moved to rural Maine to build an organic farm. For all of us (including me) that have an idyllic notion of what it's like to run a farm, this book is a real eye-opener. I am gingerly turning each page, because I know that soon, tragedy is going to strike this young family. Melissa's younger sister drowns in the pond on their property, and the family slowly begins to unravel. I can't put this book down...but I am just not ready

Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton
I haven't started this one yet...but it promises to be excellent!

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
Told through the eyes of Dr. Jennifer White, an orthopedic surgeon with severe dementia, this is a gripping story of friendship, love and the power of memory. A murder mystery intertwined with a family drama, it's simply incredible.

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott
Anne writes about her foray into motherhood with brutal honesty and amazing wit. Every new mom should be required to read this heartwarming book.

The First Husband by Laura Dave
A "beach read"- fun, easy and entertaining. I enjoyed it because the main character is a travel writer...what a dream job...or is it?!

Do you have any good recommendations for me?

*these super cool midnight moon pictures were taken by my mom...aren't they hauntingly beautiful?

To Live Amongst the Trees

2011-08-15T12:25:00.000-04:00

While in Vermont last week, we stopped by Yestermorrow, a teaching community dedicated to sustainable design and building. Their property is full of interesting structures...including this incredible treehouse.

I remember wanting a treehouse, so badly, as a child. I couldn't imagine anything cooler than my own little space, nestled high in the branches of an old, sturdy tree. Recently, up at our family cottage, my parents built a treehouse for my little brother. He had been wanting a treehouse for years, but it was funny to watch how quickly the novelty wore off.

It occurred to me that perhaps, treehouses are better suited for adults. Can you imagine having a quiet, peaceful place, to which to escape? You could lounge in the hammock, reading your favorite book, daydreaming, writing, knitting, escaping from household chores...

Yes...I think treehouses are much better suited for adults. After all, we're the ones in need of a little quiet escape now and then.

Weekending

2011-08-12T08:44:00.000-04:00

These are the plans for the weekend...I hope you enjoy yours half as much as our naked little beach baby. Thanks for being here.

Surfacing Fears

2011-08-11T10:12:00.000-04:00

Two of my good friends are in the middle of scary, life-altering moves. I have always found moving to be a stressful, awful process, so I am glad that I am now safely tucked away in our home here in Providence. But hearing about their fears caused me to pause, and question my own fears. Since having little Vijay (almost 10 months ago now), I have been so busy, so fully immersed in the day-to-day that I have not had a chance to examine my own fears. Sure- there are the "infant fears"- why isn't he sleeping, why is he crying, am I doing everything right? But I am talking about personal fears.

When I took a hard look at the thoughts bouncing around my head, there was one fear that seemed to surface in a big way. I know it's been lurking there for quite some time, but it has chosen to surface. That fear is creative irrelevance. I want, so badly, to be relevant in both my writing and photography. The question is- relevant to who? This is what I don't know...who is this mysterious panel of judges out there, ready to weigh in on my state of relevance? I'm not sure.

I do know that I am feeling as though I have reached a creative stalemate. I feel as though my photography is stuck...I am ready to learn more, see more, shoot more. I signed up for this class...and I am hoping that it will unstick me, push me to learn how to better use my camera.

As for my writing, one of the challenged of being a nonficiton writer is coming up with stories. Being at home with a baby, I have less interactions, which means less chances to find story ideas. I need to work on that. I have a few ideas bouncing around in my head on how to go about doing that....starting with a lunch date today with a community gardener activist. I know she has some stories to tell.

Anyway...I am rambling now. But I wanted to share this peculiar fear, and I wonder...do you feel it too? Do you have a deep desire to make your work important and relevant? Have you figured out who judges relevance? How do you deal with creative staleness? How...why...where...what?

I am not even sure any of this makes sense...but don't I get a few point for putting it out there!?

Away We Go

2011-08-09T12:46:00.000-04:00

Vermont was such a great success. I guess I will chalk our prior roadtrips up to "learning experiences," and can now rest assured knowing we can travel...and travel well...with our little guy. What an exciting revelation!

Of course, it helped to have my husband and mom along for the ride. Many hands do, in fact, make light work. It also helped that Waitsfield, VT is an absolute playground for both kids and adults alike. There were swimming holes, gently sloping riverside beaches, open air picnics, interesting barnyard friends, and plenty of beautiful green space.

It was a gorgeous, successful weekend roadtrip. I came home feeling so thankful to live in New England. We can hop in the car and be in a whole other world in just a few hours.

Growing up in the Midwest, this was just not the case. In fact, crossing state lines was such a big deal that we would honk enthusiastically every time we passed a sign welcoming us to a new state. Here in New England, that would mean laying on your horn for practically the entire car ride.

Another reason to love New England...the emphasis on fresh, local food. It's everywhere, it's fabulous, and it's a big part of the reason we loved Vermont.

So we are home now, settling back in, playing catch up. I have a perma-grin on my face from having successfully pulled off the trip...I think these positive vibes bode well for the week ahead!

Vermont Bound

2011-08-05T08:25:00.000-04:00

We leave today for another road trip and I am hoping and praying that we don't have a repeat of our New Hampshire disaster. I am trying to envision sing-along car rides, restful nights and a happy little road-warrior. We'll see how if the reality matches my daydreams.

Luckily, I have my husband and mom along for the ride this time. They will be helping me out as I do a few book events in conjunction with the Vermont Festival of the Arts (one of my favorite events in my book). I am not sure the specific events that I will be attending, but I know for sure that I will be at the Waitsfield Farmers Market this Saturday...I would love to see you there!

Oh...and please, please...wish me luck on this road trip!

The Family Meal

2011-08-04T11:24:00.000-04:00

Babies are funny. The minute you think you have them figured out, they go and switch things up. If you start feeling too comfortable in your routine, they decide it is high-time to throw that routine out the window and start down a whole new road.

At this very moment, we are finding great humor in little Vijay's ever changing mealtime antics. He has been enthusiastic about food since day one...never, ever missing a meal. When we started him on solid foods, he pretty much loved every single food that we gave him. And now, we are moving out of "baby food world" into "real food world," which means that most of the time, he can eat what we are eating...with a little modification.

Last week, we went out for Indian food, and he gobbled down tandoori chicken, curried spinach and dal (a lentil dish). This week, we attended the annual Local Food Fest in Newport, and he snacked on smoked haddock potato salad, farm fresh nectarines and peaches, blueberry scones, creamed corn soup, and duck sausage.

I tried to feed him his apple sauce and mashed sweet potato and he gave me this look like, "Get real mom- I am so done with baby food." To which I wanted to reply, "Really...because you are only nine months old and you have one and a half teeth. I am not sure duck sausage is all that appropriate."

But if we don't offer him a taste of what we are eating, he puts on this little angry face, and starts slapping the table. He can be very convincing.

I guess this is all part of the growing up process, and I am thrilled that he is an adventurous eater, but I still get nervous that I am breaking all kinds of baby food rules.

I still have some scruples left...I have managed to say no to coffee, cupcakes and ice cream :) But he senses that I am holding out on him...and tends to give me this look, just to let me know that he is not fooled.

However, when it comes to sugars, food dyes, and artificial flavoring...I am holding my ground. I want to encourage his adventurous eating, while keeping a close eye on the quality of food that nourished his little body. It is a delicate balance...and a humorous journey, but we are finding out way, one food festival, one farmers market, one chaotic meal at a time.

**by the way...don't you love Vijay's little striped outfit. tea collection was sweet enough to send us a few outfits...I can't wait to share more. thanks to them, we are looking pretty cool and comfortable this summer.

One Stitch at a Time

2011-08-02T08:26:00.000-04:00

I finished my last quilt shortly before Vijay was born, over nine months ago now. I never shared a picture of it in all of its finished glory...so finally, here it is. Back in March of 2010, I showed it all coming together...

and now, well over a year later, I decided it was time to show the finished product. So why now? Am I desperately searching for something to blog about? Nope. Promise that is not the case.

Here's the thing. I have decided it might be time to quilt again. To take a quilt from start to finish is a huge task...at least that's the case for me (I don't know how this new mom does it- she's making it look way too easy!). I didn't feel ready to start a quilting project until now, and I'm thinking my new-found energy might have something to do with this tempting pile of fabric that I have waiting for me in my stash (I kinda just re-discovered it while cleaning my studio!).

I purchased this fabric from Lizzy House at Squam Art Workshops over a year ago. I was surprised by the purchase, since normally, as seen above, my quilts tend to be girly and sophisticated in their color scheme. I even debated putting the two of these projects in the same blog post. I like cohesion in my posts, and these projects are just so different in their look and feel. This stack of fabric is nothing but fun and color. I was pregnant at the time of the purchase, and I knew I was having a boy...I guess this fabric feels playful to me, and that makes it perfect for little Vijay.

I am especially loving the blues and greens...with pops of orange and red.

I haven't decided on a pattern yet (totally open to suggestions!), and it will probably be another year before you ever hear about this quilt, or see any progress. In all honesty, my goal is to have it ready for Vijay's eventual move to a toddler bed. These days, that seems like a pretty reasonable deadline for me!

The Baby Dunk

2011-07-29T09:58:00.000-04:00

I have always been drawn to the water. My mom tells the story of my very first swim class, when I was six-months old. The instructor had the parents take a big breath of air, and blow into their baby's face, which causes them to hold their breath and shut their eyes, and then dunk them under quickly. All of the other babies were screaming when they came up from their surprise underwater adventure...but not me. I was happy as a little water-logged clam- and so started my love affair with the water. It seems only right that little Vijay follow in my footsteps. He loves the water...splashing, laughing and squealing with delight. Want to see how a baby dunk works? Here, Vijay and his grandpa take a little swim...

Have a great weekend, and if you are in the Mystic, CT area on Saturday, stop by from 11-1 and pay me a visit at Bank Square Books! Hope to see you there!

Embracing the Change

2011-07-27T09:34:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I still think of myself as young...as in teenager, early twenties. I realize that 28 is not old by any stretch of the imagination...but I am no longer the same girl that I was in those years. I feel this in terms of my responsibilities (does anything make you grow up faster than having a baby, caring for another life so fully?), and in terms of my body.

At the end of each long day, my back is aching from carrying a 25 pound baby, my hands are chapped from washing incessantly, and my hair, when left to its own devises, sprouts gray. I look in the mirror and see how tired my face looks. And my stomach, once I am tired from all of the bending and lifting, and can no longer hold it together, relaxes into a little pooch. This is new to me, and I am still getting used to seeing myself in this light.

These thoughts played on my mind when it came time to choose a new swimsuit. I have always been a bikini girl, but no longer. Somehow, a one-piece felt more appropriate. I wanted the coverage for all of the aforementioned bending and lifting, and frankly, I didn't want to have to worry about sucking in my stomach on top of everything else. Lucky for me, one-pieces are all the rage, and I was able to find two super cute suits (and on sale, nonetheless). While on vacation, I asked my mom to capture a few candid shots of me in my new suits. When she showed me the pictures, I was so surprised to see a youthful 'me' reflected back. I look tan, and relaxed, and that smile...well, it is the real deal. Perhaps, just perhaps, I have been a bit hard on myself. What a good reminder to stop focusing on the negatives, and start appreciating just what this body of mine has been through in the past year.

Anyone else out there made the switch to one-pieces recently?

Wild Blackberries

2011-07-25T05:36:00.000-04:00

On one of our last days in Northern Michigan, we discovered a hidden treasure by the side of our country lane. A seemingly endless supply of blackberries, growing completely wild and untamed.

We ran home for a basket, and quickly returned to the thorny patch. Within twenty minutes or so, we had completely filled our basket (and our bellies!).

We decided to mix the berries, along with granola, into softened vanilla ice cream...the perfect treat for a hot summer day (speaking of granola...does anyone have a great recipe for a crunchy, oat-y, nutty, healthy, granola?). While the little one couldn't indulge in our frozen treat, he seemed to enjoy his berry mash.

Cottage Living

2011-07-21T08:39:00.000-04:00

Whenever I pick up a magazine and see a perfectly styled cottage, or one with all white decor, I laugh to myself...clearly, those people do not know the true joys of cottage living.

Our family cottage has been a mainstay of our summers for the last twenty years. It has undergone a few changes here and there, mainly an addition to add a bathroom and a few bedrooms, but all in all, the footprint, and decor has stayed the same. It is a cottage, in every sense of the word...no pretenses, no fussiness, just pure, sweet cottage living. What exactly is cottage living, you might ask?

Cottage living is mismatched pillows, kooky signs (people seem to think these make great hostess gifts), stacks of boardgames, and vintage kitchenware (that wasn't even close to 'vintage' when it was purchased).

Cottage living is wearing your bathing suit from sun-up to sun-down, running in and out of the house with sandy feet (and hoping mom doesn't notice), and wiling away the afternoon on the old wicker porch rockers.

Cottage living is swimming until even the dog tires, playing with decade-old toys (and realizing they beat plastic toys, hands down), and napping whenever and wherever.

Cottage living is eating family dinner on the porch (or, sometimes, on special nights, in the tree-house), passing platters of corn, watermelon and bbq chicken...but it can also mean being too tired to cook by the end of a sun-and-sand soaked day...and having a cold beer and a bowl of cereal for dinner, instead.

Cottage living is what you look forward to for the entire year...and then just like that, its over...nothing but a perfect memory.

Summering

2011-07-19T07:32:00.000-04:00

I stayed true to my promise and actually allowed myself to have a real vacation- no work, no blogging, no email...just swimming, sunsets, family dinners, and relaxation. It was heavenly. Perhaps best of all, we missed the East Coast heat wave, and instead floated the days away in the cool, clear waters of Torch Lake in Northern Michigan.

My little one is such a water baby. He would take a morning, afternoon and evening swim, splashing in the gentle waves, allowing us to dunk him under, and squealing with glee. He is going to quite the little fish, taking after his mom (that would be me). If I may brag...I dove right back in to water skiing and wakeboarding as if no time had passed (it had been awhile, since no one would allow me to indulge in my love of water sports while pregnant!). But there was plenty of other summering activities, besides water sports and infant dunking, to be had...

We picked bushels of cherries and raspberries, which we promptly baked into all kinds of sweet goodness.

We celebrated the 4th with sparklers and a sunset that rivaled the fireworks.

We visited picturesque farms, and introduced the little one to skittish sheep and noisy roosters.

There were garden walks at dusk, to soothe a baby that was cutting his first tooth. It finally came through...an exciting, but altogether exhausting endeavor for all of us!

And finally...on the nights that we had visitors, the guitar would make an appearance, and in between heated games of gin rummy, we would listen as our guests serenaded us. We make you sing for your supper at the lake house.

All in all...it was a perfect vacation. I am coming home with a clean slate...spending time away from the online world did wonders for my head space. Before this trip, I had been stressing over the silliest things, and spending too much time questioning and doubting my unique talents.

I find that, for me, too much time spent on blogs, pouring over others words, and pictures, and comparing numbers of comments, can be a dangerous pastime. It often leads me down a dark road of self-doubt. It was nice to come up for air, and to clear out my mental space to make room for my voice to come back through. It's nice to be back here...I missed this space, I missed engaging with my readers, I missed sharing little glimpses of my life. Thanks for being here...

All's Well That Ends Well

2011-06-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

Some of you might have caught the blog post that I wrote on Monday, and deleted about fifteen minutes later. It was the sob story of my lost luggage- and I am happy to report that a mere fifteen minutes after posting my story, I received a call letting me know that my bag had been found in Atlanta (of all places) and was on the next flight to Detroit. Phew...and it only took four nerve-wracking days.

I am embarrassed to admit that I actually hugged my camera once my bag was back in my possession. How I love my Canon, let me count the ways. So now...with a much lighter heart...I feel like my vacation is really, truly starting.

By the way...these gorgeous pictures (taken by the lovely Jamie) are from a book signing party my parents hosted for me in Michigan- lots of pressure to make my next book Markets of the Midwest! I can't help but agree- Chicago, Detroit, Madison, Traverse City...this book could practically write itself. Or maybe that's just my Michigan roots talking! Okay...I'm off...on vacation...here I go...

Summer Break

2011-06-21T15:56:00.001-04:00

I lay my head down on the pillow every night feeling overwhelmingly exhausted...happy, but tired right down to my bones. Somewhere between caring for my little guy, promoting my book, finishing up a few writing assignments and work commitments, and attempting to continue to cook, clean and have a social life, I realized that I am doing too much, and am desperately in need a break. So, with this in mind, I booked a plane ticket home a few weeks ago, and we are going to spend some much needed vacation time with my family in Michigan.

I am looking at this month as something of a self-imposed maternity leave. Nothing but relaxing, and cherishing these lazy summer days. Not that I won't be busy- little Vijay is into everything these days, and chasing after him is an exhausting endeavor. He is doing a serious army crawl and is as quick as lighting. Look away for a minute and he is gone, most likely putting something in his mouth that doesn't belong there.

As for what does belong in his sweet little mouth- homemade baby food! That's right- now that I have a bit more free time, I am making baby food, and I have to say, it is quite satisfying. He has a huge appetite and is a big fan of everything I make. I have found these two books to be very helpful, and full of inspiring, interesting recipes!

While on vacation, I am going to take a wee break from blogging, but I will be back at the end of July with plenty to share. In the meantime, a few tidbits:

-My book has received some wonderful press...so make sure to be on the lookout for the following magazine, and see if you can spot Markets of New England! I am trying to keep my press page updated with all of the latest mentions...check it out here.

-I recently did an interview on NPR's, The Public Eye with Al Vuona. It was on the air this past Sunday, and a podcast should be available soon. It was recorded right after my New Hampshire trip, and I was so tired, I could hardly see straight...which would explain why I started talking about the wonderful farmers markets of Spain (instead of Maine). Super.

-UPPERCASE just released a sneak peek of the (2!) covers for Issue 10. Aren't they adorable?! I am super excited about this issue...mainly because I was able to interview the incredibly talented Pia Jane Bijkerk, and review her latest book, My Heart Wanders. What an honor...and what a gorgeous book! I can't wait to see how the article turns out.

That's all for now!

Have a lovely June/ July, and I will see you back here in a few weeks with plenty of summer goodness to share!

Multi-Tasking Fitness

2011-06-17T08:42:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning with legs that felt like jelly. I had a painful flash back to high school lacrosse...we lost one championship game in my entire high school lacrosse career, and as punishment, our coach made us do lunges across the football field, stopping only when one of my teammates threw up (i know...great coach, huh?). Oh, what fond memories.

So what, you might ask, triggered that memory? Strawberry picking....which apparently, when picking with a 25 pound baby strapped to your chest, results in the same pain as football fields worth of lunges. Good to know.

But stay with me here...this story has a point. For those of us that enjoy multi-tasking (and really, who doesn't), strawberry picking with a baby offers the perfect workout. And the best part about it- you get to spend a perfect afternoon at the farm, come home and bake a fresh strawberry rhubarb crumble with your hard-won loot.

That is my kind of fitness.

Memory

2011-06-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

I have the worst memory, which is a fact that causes me great sadness. I have lost so many once-cherished memories from my childhood- the years pass and the details just grow foggier, and foggier, until there is almost nothing left.

But the one thing that never fades, is the immense feeling of love that I remember from my younger years. That is something that is impossible to forget...it stays with me everywhere I go, and it has completely shaped who I have become. I think about this quite a bit these days as I am now responsible for shaping a new life...one that I want to be filled with memories of love.

He may not remember the specifics of these early years, but he will remember the love, and the fact that I worked hard to incorporate him into my daily adventures. Like our day yesterday...spent exploring art galleries and museums, having lunch with friends, laughing, talking, learning, experiencing.

We visited the New Bedford gallery of our friend (and potter extraordinaire) Charlie, whose gorgeous work I first spotted during my book writing adventures. We then made our way to the Whaling Museum, where the little one was completely taken with the enormous whale skeletons hanging from the ceiling.

It was a day of memory making...whether he will remember or not. Perhaps that is why I have come to cherish this space, which acts as a journal, cataloging all that we do together with words and images. Maybe there will be a day in the distant future where my boy, all grown up, will come back to this space and read of all that we did together. And I hope he will read in between the lines, and feel my immense love for the life we are living together.

Reflections

2011-06-13T14:50:00.000-04:00

Despite a rather cold and wet weekend, we did manage to take the loveliest walk yesterday. I came home with an acute case of garden envy.

I am in awe of people who have figured out how to make it so that there is always something blooming in their garden- cherry and apple blossoms in the spring, roses and peonies in early summer, bluebeard shrubs and butterfly bushes in late summer, and multi-colored mums in the fall. My garden is getting there...but I haven't quite figured out the seasonal blooming rhythm yet.

I have found, through careful observation, that I love gardens that are a bit wild, a bit untamed. They somehow seem more enthusiastic their manicured counterparts. You can always spot them- they're the ones spilling onto the sidewalk, and tumbling into the neighbors yard.

Perhaps one day soon, I will just throw caution to the wind, rip up my entire front lawn, sprinkle wild flower seeds and watch to see what happens when we step out of the way and let nature run its course.

If you are as intrigued with shaping your yard as I am, might I suggest picking up Dominique Browning's Around the House and In the Garden? The depth with which she writes about our ties to home and garden resonate deeply with me at this moment in time. I am building, day by day, a home and garden for my young family, to give them memories filled with beauty and comfort...which is no small task. I will take all the guidance I can.

Tasting Summer for the First Time

2011-06-10T13:33:00.000-04:00

I know there are rules regarding this sort of thing...somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I remember hearing that babies and berries don't mix until a certain age. Well, rules be damned. When strawberries, grown right on our porch, are hanging on the vine looking so delicious and plump, I think the babe deserves a bite. It was the sweetest sight to behold...him grasping the berry in his chubby little hands, gumming it with glee. How can that be wrong?

We have been spending our afternoons in the garden, rolling around in the grass, running our hands through the herbs, playing in the sprinkler. I love teaching little Vijay about the garden, where our food comes from, how it grows out of the rich soil with nothing more than sun, water and some tlc. Our favorite song to sing together is The Garden Song...it never, ever gets old.

He especially loves the brightly colored flowers we pick on our long walks around the neighborhood. He is just dying to grab them and stuff them into his mouth, which is what he wants to do with everything these days. For now, he will have to settle for his little helicopter...and the occasional forbidden berry!

Empty Nest

2011-06-08T13:11:00.000-04:00

I returned from New Hampshire to find that the little robin's nest, perched on the fir tree outside our front door, is now empty. Before our trip, we had been eagerly observing the nest, peering through the branches as the little blue eggs turned into naked chicks. I felt a kinship with the mother, watching as she tirelessly searched for food, returning to the nest with plump worms. My heart warmed as I watched her babies peek their heads over the edge of the nest, mouths wide open, waiting for their meal. I knew that look...my own babe does the same thing when its time to nurse. His little mouth has always reminded me of a baby bird.

Now the nest is empty, and I am not sure what happened to the mom and her babes, but my heart breaks for her. I have a sinking feeling that a predator of some kind attacked the nest, wiping out the entire brood. I searched online, late last night, to see if it might be possible that the chicks had fledged the nest...but everything I read told me that it was too soon for that.

And so I am left to wonder, and to empathize. Do mother bird's feel pain and grief for the loss of their babies? I believe they do- as I watched her fiercely protect the nest that she had lovingly built, I had no doubt that she felt as strongly for her young as I do for mine. Perhaps it is these crazy hormones that cause me to tear up every time I pass her nest...or perhaps I am already mourning the passing of time as I watch my baby become more grown up with each passing day. No longer does he passively lay in my arms, or sleep on my chest.

He is busy now, sitting, crawling, trying to stand. I am so proud of all that he is learning to do...but at the same time, I miss those early days, when he was content to lay peacefully, his soft little head right next to my heart, for hours on end.

A friend, after reading of my trying travels, wrote me an email reminding me that, "The days are long, but the years are short," as her baby was now graduating from college, and she was left to wonder where the time had gone. It was the perfect reminder to savor every single moment spent with my little guy, even those exhausting, trying moments. He is learning to venture farther from his mama, crawling furiously from room to room, and I am running after him, learning how to hold on, learning how to let go.

Suffice to Say...

2011-06-06T13:08:00.001-04:00

New Hampshire kicked my ass. Yup, that about covers it.

Would you like me to elaborate? My first two book events- signings in Peterborough and Portsmouth- were disastrous. The first was rained out (only after I took the time to set up my entire booth), and the second was completely dead, due to the fact there was a huge theater event going on in town. Add to it the fact that little Vijay was not quite the road warrior I was hoping for (pretty much refusing to sleep during the night), and you have a recipe for disaster.

By the time I arrived at Squam, I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Luckily, I held it together for the Squam Art Fair- which was a huge success. Elizabeth, my dear, YOU know how to throw an event!

I shared a table with Sarah Ahearn Bellemare, whose darling little Ada is the model road warrior. I wish she would give Vijay some tips.

After the fair, I decided to make the push for home, driving through the night and arriving, in tears, on our doorstep at a little after midnight. Most babies would sleep during a quiet, dark ride...but not mine! Nope- he decided to cry for the last hour of the ride, and soon, I was crying right along with him.

Once home, I vowed never to leave again. But we rested on Sunday, and by this morning, I was feeling much better. Who's up for a roadtrip? Kidding- I think we are going to take it easy for a while. Vijay has morphed into the "happiest baby alive" now that we are home. What a homebody!

A few things that I am loving right now:

*My book received a mention in The New York Times Sunday Book Review yesterday. A big thanks to Dominique Browning for including me in her review!

*I bought this little pouch (but in blue vintage ticking) from Jill Bent at the Squam Art Fair and it has changed my life. Seriously. I used to have my wallet, keys, lip balm and phone flying around the diaper bag, and I was forever digging for them. Now, I keep my things separate in this pouch, and never have to search. Why didn't I think of this sooner?!

**all picture here are from my time at Squam Art Workshops**

And...we're off

2011-06-01T08:26:00.000-04:00

all photos here by Thea Coughlin

"Have baby...will travel." If there ever were a bumper sticker I needed to slap on the rear of my ride, it would be that. We are heading off on a New Hampshire roadtrip- me, the little one, and our lovely babysitter, Amy. Three book signings in four day- throw in a 7 month old for good measure, and you have yourself the makings of an adventure (or potential disaster, depending how you look at it)!

I owe you a post dedicated to the amazing FarmCoast blogger retreat (which is where these pictures were all taken by the gorgeous and talented Thea)...but it will have to wait. I still need to empty the trash, clean out the fridge, shower, change and feed the little one, finish an article due today, pack the car, and hit the road by noon. Good lord...what am I doing blogging right now?

In the meantime- here are some lovely posts about our time spent exploring the FarmCoast region, and be sure not to miss the FarmCoast flickr group for some inspiring images:
Mystic Vixen
A New England Life
Paintings in Dutch
Poppy & Leo

I will see you back here next week- or perhaps I will see a few of you in New Hampshire at book signings (see my sidebar for event details), or at the Squam Art Fair (where I get to hang with the beautiful Elizabeth, below)! Did I mention that there will be free beer at the Squam Art Fair- by Saturday night, I will most likely be in dire need of a cold one!

Memorial Day

2011-05-31T11:57:00.000-04:00

I think this is the very first year that Memorial Day meant more to me than simply a "day off." I have spent 27 years being blind to what this day really means. Now, with a brother in the service, currently stationed overseas, I have a heightened awareness as to what this holiday means to so many families, who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

So although we spent the day with friends (at their gorgeous, seaside home, seen throughout this post), eating clams and hanging out with the kiddos...we also spent time listening to stories on NPR, stories of our servicemen and women. We took time out of our day to remember and reflect, and to wish our troops, especially my brother, a safe return home.

FarmCoast Blogger Retreat

2011-05-27T14:15:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you bring together eleven amazing bloggers in a setting as magical as the FarmCoast region?

You get a day filled with flowers, shopping, behind-the-scenes tours, pastries, glimpses into artist studios, wine tastings, coffee breaks, picnic lunches, a farm visit and a harbor tour...to say the least.

You also get a plethora of images. Bloggers are nothing, if not photo-happy!

I have so much to share from this lovely day...the first (hopefully annual) FarmCoast Bloggers Retreat. Remember when Nina and I visited the region a little while back? We were actually on a secret scouting mission for yesterday's event! But...the rest of the details will have to wait. I am absolutely exhausted from running so, so hard these past few weeks.

I am learning that sometimes, being a good mother is knowing when to ask for help. So today, my husband has the baby and I am resting up for what promises to be a busy weekend, including Sunday's book signing at Frog and Toad here in Providence. Will I see you there, perhaps?

Whatever your plans may be...I wish you a warm, sunny, restful long weekend!

At Last

2011-05-25T13:27:00.000-04:00

Perhaps Spring decided to take a vacation this year, and instead, invited Summer to arrive in its place. It seems like we went straight from winter to summer, the only evidence of spring was found in the blossoming trees...but the weather, oh my.

We have been dealing with freezing temps and lots of rain- until yesterday, that is. Yesterday was sunny, and beautiful. The little one and I threw on our summer clothes and headed to the park...where we saw just about every mama and baby pair that we know! At last...welcome back summer, we sure have missed you!

Life is good indeed.

p.s. Would you take a look at those rolls? Is there anything better than chubby baby thighs...I think not?

Truth

2011-05-23T18:57:00.000-04:00

What a fabulous weekend...a book signing at Joanne Rossman's gorgeous shop in Roslindale followed by a Sunday full of lounging and walks to the park. But more on the signing.... for Saturday's book signing will forever hold a special place in my heart.

I was introduced to Joanne by my dearest friend Elizabeth...and that introduction led to the creation of my book. Somehow, upon our first meeting, we happened onto the subject of travel, and Joanne mentioned that she knew Susan Simon, who wrote Shopping in Marrakesh, a travel guide by The Little Bookroom. I almost fainted with excitement as I asked Joanne if she was willing to put us in touch.

You see, I had been ~~stalking~~ researching The Little Bookroom ever since I laid eyes on Pia's Paris: Made by Hand, and I knew that this was the company I wanted to publish with, but I couldn't, for the life of me, find their contact information, and I know well enough that sending a query to the info@... email never seems to elicit a response.

Long story short...Joanne put me in touch with Susan, who graciously introduced me to her publisher...and the rest, as they say, is history.

So, I am forever indebted to Joanne... of course, it doesn't hurt that she has the loveliest shop on the planet! It feels a bit like a personalized Anthropologie...everything carefully curated and beautifully arraigned. I couldn't stop taking pictures of all the artful product vignettes...but at some point, I had to put the camera down and engage with all of the lovely shoppers that came to purchase my book!

It was a magical afternoon, and I have decided that Joanne has the nicest customers that one could ever hope for. We almost sold out of the book, which was thrilling. In all...a perfect day!

After such a lovely weekend, Monday hit us like a slap in the face- rain, gray skies, and a cranky baby who is either teething, or constipated. Time will tell. But we are making the best of it...or at least we are trying. I am loving the energy going on over at Susannah's blog- truth in blogging, what a concept! It's okay to admit to having struggles and tough days- not everything needs to be rainbows and butterflies.

It's funny, because this post started out about my amazing, perfect weekend...but as the day wore on, I didn't have a moment to come back and finish writing...so now, as I finish what I started this morning, my mood is not quite as cheery, and I am teetering on the brink of exhaustion. But it is okay...

Bad days happen... although I like to cushion my bad days with loads of pretty pictures...butterflies included!

Motherhood with a Side of Guilt

2011-05-19T13:37:00.000-04:00

I had heard rumors from my publicist that my book was being carried by Anthropologie. This is really beyond my wildest dreams...Anthropologie is the epitome of style, and everything in the store is perfection...and now my book is there. Wow. So yesterday, I decided to visit our local store, in Cranston, and see if they had my book. This meant packing up my little guy, and taking him along, on what would be his first mall experience. I hate malls- they give me extreme anxiety. The crowds of people, complicated parking structures, stale food-court air. I usually last about 30 minutes and then begin to panic. Luckily, our Anthropologie is located in an "outdoor mall"...much better.

Long story short...they had my book. I was thrilled, and snapped a few pictures. Then I saw some pretty dresses, and little Vijay seemed happy in his stroller, so I decided to try a few on...just for kicks, since I really haven't been shopping in about 7 months. I am currently on a buying hiatus, but it is fun to play dress up. And so I did...until Vijay began to have a melt-down, and we had to hustle back to the car and make a beeline for home.

He was exhausted when we got home, and all out of sorts (I guess he is not a fan of the mall either, even the outdoor one), and it took me quite some time to settle him down and get him to sleep. Then the mom-guilt hit me over taking him on such a "selfish" outing. I'll admit to getting hit with the mom guilt quite a bit lately.

This is one of those tricky subjects...but I want to talk about it honestly. There are certain aspects of being a work-at-home and stay-at-home mom that I have found to be extremely difficult. My career seems to be just now taking flight (seriously, why couldn't that have happened when I was childless and twiddling my thumbs for months on end?), and while it is a wonderful thing, it also means that there is a never ending to-do list. I find myself working like a mad women during his nap time, and often, after he wakes up, and I feed him, I let him play on the floor while I send out a few last emails, or wrap up the end of a writing assignment. I do not have the time to make all of his baby food (which I really want to do), or join a mom's group, or become a regular at our library's story hour. When Vijay is awake, I am completely devoted to him, and we stay busy doing enriching activities- long walks, playing at the library, trips to the children's museum, playdates with friends. But there are days where I wonder if I am doing enough- enough work, enough mothering, enough engaging with other moms and babies. There are days were I am barely clinging on to my sanity- trying to be ensure that my book will be a success, and be the best mom that I can be.

I try not to let the "mom-guilt" get to me...but when I find myself feeding him sweet potato out of a jar, while talking to a work-contact on the phone, while at the same time trying to eat a bit of lunch myself, and type an email- I wonder if this sentiment might apply to my life: "You can do everything, but you can't do everything well."

Ugh....any thoughts?

Official Book Launch Party

2011-05-17T09:46:00.000-04:00

It was a night to remember...oh, was it ever! Family, friends, blog readers, and local community members all gathered to celebrate the launch of Markets of New England. The food was all local...from oysters and cupcakes, to locally brewed beer and wine...it was truly a celebration of all that Rhode Island has to offer.

I'll admit to being a bit intimidated when I cracked open the first pristine copy of my book to sign. It felt like a very important moment...lending my signature to my book. But I quickly got into the groove, and enjoyed personalizing each copy.

It helped that so many of my amazing friends and family were there to lend their support...especially my mom, dad, brother, and cousin (all the way from Michigan), Aiden (and her adorable family), Elizabeth, and Nina...who took all of these gorgeous pictures! I think I will let the images speak for themselves...and really, I am a bit too exhausted to try and put my feelings on the evening into words. Suffice to say...it was perfect!

Brimfield

2011-05-11T06:43:00.000-04:00

Who in their right mind would attempt the Brimfield Antique Show with a baby on board? Ummm...that would be me.

When I received an invitation from the staff of Yankee Magazine to meet them at Brimfield, I couldn't resist. I figured that with some planning, a MacGyver-style bag full of baby supplies, and a good attitude...we could handle it! And I suppose we did handle it...but not quite as planned.

I have learned that the trick to day-tripping with a baby, is to leave at morning nap time. That way, baby naps during the drive, and upon arriving, wakes up refreshed and ready to hit the ground running.

Yesterday, my plan worked perfectly...however, the drive to Brimfield is a mere hour, and my little guy needs a two-hour nap in the morning, no question about it. I paid dearly for this lost hour.

He was charming for the first hour- smiling up at everyone from his stroller, cooing away, taking in the hustle and bustle of the antique show. But as soon as we hit hour number two, it was a steady decline. I fed him, held him, rocked him, bundled him in the stroller...but to no avail. He wouldn't stop wailing.

I could tell by his droopy little eyelids that he was exhausted, but he just wouldn't nap in his stroller. And so, after many, many attempts to get him asleep, I finally gave up and made for the car. Would you believe, the second the car came into sight, he fell asleep...seriously....we were about five feet from the car when he finally nodded off. I was so exhausted by this point, that there was no turning back. I transferred him into his carseat, and headed for home.

So was it worth it? Absolutely. I was reading Aura's post yesterday on continuing to pursue your passions once you have a baby, and I couldn't agree more. I was thrilled to meet the wonderful ladies of Yankee Magazine (and they were so understanding of the situation, even helping to try and rock him to sleep!), and we had a ball perusing the wares for sale, and snapping picture here and there. It was a great afternoon...not ideal mind you, not quite as planned...but great, nonetheless.

And to all of those sour-faced people who shot me "evil looks" while I pushed my crying baby through Brimfield, accusing me, with their eyes, of being an outrageous mother for taking my baby to such a place, let me tell you something: Yes, my baby might be crying, but I assure you that he is warm, dry, well-fed and incredibly loved. I am not a "bad mother" for taking him along on my adventures. In fact, just the opposite. My son will grow up realizing that I am a person, with passions, dreams, and goals. One day, I will share with him all of the adventures that he took with me as a baby, and I think that it will make him proud. He is the biggest piece of my life, but not the only piece. Together, we will continue to explore, and even though we may hit some bumps in the road...it will be well worth it.