That moment

This is what we were doing yesterday when I heard some sad news. We lost a friend, unexpectedly. I wanted to preserve that moment. Somehow.

Playing in the warm spring air, doing a little shimmy to get to the toy.

Rest in peace, my beautiful Luiza.

Flying Solo

Happy Friday! Enjoying the extra bit of sunlight in the evening? Twas quiet here on the blog because baby and I were spending some serious time together. Tim took a job out of state for the first time since Dash was born, so I was flying solo. Extra tiring, but breaks from the significant other can be so, so good, yes? Next week, Dash and I are flying up north to hang in Half Moon Bay, because I like it there and we can. Only a wee bit nervous about flying with him alone, but he's been a pretty good flier on past trips. So it will surely be the same this time. HA. Thinking positive thoughts.

Have a good weekend, lovelies. Anything planned? We have reservations at Manhattan Beach Post to try their new brunch menu. We're getting the sticky buns and the truffle honey laced fried chicken. My mouth is watering at the thought.

xoxo. 

P.S. Exciting news coming on Monday and fun things happening in the next several months. Stay tuned :) 

P.P.S More balloon inspiration, here. 

Photo via, un-fathomable.

Currently craving french bread + olive oil...

cloud cutting board // tea towels // olive oil decanter

Raindrops

It rains! So effectively, today has been canceled and we're taking the opportunity to stay in, drink hot chocolate, and catch up on this week's episode of The Voice. Which, if you aren't watching, you should be, by the way. I know I promised a lot of things for the blog (birth story!), but, it's raining! And we've had a busy couple of weeks. And I'm tired. And the baby is just so darn cute to play with. So that's what we're going to do today, because we can.

This colorful print is perfect for this gloomy, rainy day.

Photo by funnelcloud.

Thoughts on a Friday

 

My thoughts of late, baby related, and otherwise.

 

1. He teethes! Already?! The signs have been there for weeks but I ignored them, naturally. He is super drooly, chomping madly on everything, rosy cheeked, and just out of sorts. Methinks there is even a little white tooth peeking through along his lower gums. I wish I were a dentist. I need someone to look at this and tell me that I'm wrong. Either way, Sophie and my sling have been getting a real workout. Camilia and amber necklace on deck. I am really not ready to kiss Dashie's gummy smile good bye.  

 

2. He laughs! This week he erupted in some serious belly laughs. Daddy makes funny noises. So different from his little chuckles and so much better.

 

3. He babbles! The kid has things to say. So we gab, for hours on end. It is most fun.  

 

4. He grows! I swear Dashiell grew inches this week. He's suddenly looking all grown up. 

 

5. Remember that cleanse I was going to do? It was perhaps a wee bit ambitious. I realized it requires far too much planning than I'm willing to do. But we have been making some yum things. Like a wild rice salad with miso dressing. I'll have to share.

6. Trader Joe's is currently stocking very pretty white tulips. Buy yourself some flowers.

7. I'm currently reading this book by Steve Martin and I'm liking it. I've always been partial to Steve. 

 

8. Speaking of reading, I have spent, do spend, and will continue to spend a lot of time reading all about this baby business. Would it be helpful if I shared my crunchy reading lists for you mamas?

 

9. I've been asked about my "Baby Team." Find them linked to on the right. They were the best. 

 

10. Next week, I will post my birth story. It must happen before Dash turns one. 

 

I'm very much looking forward to this weekend. A lot going on around these parts, and I'd like a chance to regroup. A couple birthdays to celebrate this weekend. Plus, this talk on menu design and the evolution of American eating habits. Must try to go. Then maybe make a day of it exploring downtown? And you? Are you celebrating Valentine's Day? I'm not too interested in the romance of it all, but it does make me think of this family we're growing. And that I love.

 

Enjoy the weekend, lovelies.

 

P.S. Gifts to give best friends, ladies with bumps, new dads, and new moms + newborns.

 

P.P.S. A healthy dessert with avocado + chocolate. 

 

Photo by tokketok.

I feel sooo balanced right now

Let this hilarious video welcome you into this Friday morning.

Happy weekend, lovelies. See you on Monday, and until then... namaste motherf*ckahs!

The Cookie Guru

These days, I am all about the sugar. I used to always prefer salty to sweet, then I got pregnant, developed a huge sweet tooth, and have yet to let it go. One of my favorites? Chocolate chip cookies. In all forms. With nuts, without, with oatmeal, espresso, you name it. And my favorite cookie maker?  Aurélie, The Cookie Guru. She makes chocolate chip cookies in all forms, with organic ingredients and fair-trade chocolate. A cookie you won't feel guilty about. HA!

You can even submit a flavor idea that might get added to her monthly rotation of specially flavored choc chip cookies. I'm lusting for a Mexican Chocolate Chip Cookie, spiced with cinnamon and cayenne. Or Vanilla Chai, with hints of cardamom. Or S'more! With crunchy bits of graham cracker and marshmallows. Or Orange Caramel Chocolate Chip, with a hint of zest and swirls of gooey caramel. Oh man, Aurélie, call me girl! I have about a million delicious ideas!

I'm bumming hard about being miles away from home, left to daydream of fantastic combinations. The cookie is always sweeter on the other side. It will be a pit stop between the airport and home :)

Stop by the store front at the Santa Monica Place or order online.

Image from The Cookie Guru.

Venn diagram

Let's get technical with love. These venn diagrams are a uniquely personal way to display your best relationships. Use them for you and your beau or for your littlest ones.

Designer, Molly Meg.

P.S.: These baby announcements are a perfect match!

Colorblocked boards

Do you have any belated holiday entertaining planned? Wouldn't you love to have a wine and cheese party with these boards? The colorblocking and the unique shapes are a winning combination.

  

Baguette, Balloon/blue, Balloon/green, Bread

On slowing down & being selfish

We had a quiet New Year's Eve this year. Hunkered down at home with my sister and a few close friends. We counted down and watched another fireworks show from the window. Dashiell was asleep by 8:30 and didn't wake up again until well after midnight. Party animal.

I woke up early on New Year's Day and spent a few minutes to myself, reflecting on what I wanted to bring to 2012, when I came across this article in the NY Times on The Joy of Quiet. It talks about how nothing can make you feel calmer, clearer, and happier than unplugging and being present in the things you enjoy. It's a sort of joy that is purely selfish.

Where does the noise in your life come from? What is stopping you from losing yourself in the things that bring you joy? Find it, and filter it out.

The timing is perfect for us. We've taken time off of work to grow our family and our passions. So here we go into 2012, to seek that kind of happiness that doesn't depend on what happens.



Beach picnic, first sunset of the year.

Edna

She might sound dowdy, but she certainly doesn't look it! Check out her color! Her curves! Edna is among the sexiest of drawers.

{via}

Designer, Anthony Hartley.

Pouf

Dying over these poufs I found on Etsy, from Little Miss Loolies. They're made from upcycled sweaters. Brilliant! The colors, the texture. I need these in my home to cozy up with. Maybe for Dashiell's room? Maybe if the shipping costs weren't equivalent to the actual cost of said pouf? Sigh. Once again, the best things come from across the pond. 

Celebrating Fall

The first day of fall is easily my single, most favorite day of the entire year. It signals cooler days, brisk evenings, the holidays.

Each year, on the first day of fall I take my little ones on a hike in the canyon just behind the school. We stroll along the trail and settle into a cozy spot shaded with trees and perfectly shaped rocks for sitting. We read the story of Miss Rumphius, who wants to make the world a more beautiful place by planting lupins in the wild. We take in the fresh air and imagine what we could do to make the world more beautiful.

This year, the hike back was blustery and leaves danced around us. It felt like the season was welcoming us and wishing us well. 

Making the world a more beautiful place. An inspiring pledge for a new season, wouldn't you agree?

Hello, Third Trimester!

Say what? Yes, my dears I've been mysteriously MIA because things got busy around here. Like, whoa. Today marks Day 1 of the third tri with my little guy in the belly. As a friend so eloquently puts it, I am with child. HA.

So, I last left you in the spring, just before our trip to London and Paris. It was très magnifique. And in fact, we left just a few days after we found out we were expecting. So it turned out to be a celebration trip of sorts. Since then, I've taken the belly on more than half a dozen flights. Such the world traveler, this baby. And, we celebrated our one year anniversary. I'm telling you, big things happening around these parts!

I'm crossing my fingers that I'll make it back to this little piece of internet soon. I have so many photos, updates and pretty things to share.

Until then...

For Japan With Love

Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours have teamed up and given us another opportunity to send our love to Japan. For Japan With Love will send you to a fundraising page for ShelterBox. ShelterBox was one of the first organizations asked by Japan to help and were on hand on the Saturday after the quake. Each  ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Please join us. We must believe that every little bit helps.  Give here.

Tomorrow, the blog will be silent in honor of Japan and to those that are affected. It hasn't been busy here lately, but tomorrow the silence will be purposeful.

Japan

Our hearts are heavy today for the people in Japan and their loved ones. What an incredibly sad day. When I sit down to think about it, I'm a very lucky girl, aren't I? Thinking of those less fortunate.

Visit Red Cross to make a donation.

Have a safe weekend, my loves.

Valentine's Day Fort

Build me a fort and I will be your Valentine. I'll even send you the step-by-step. You know, to make it easier on you.

  {photo credit: Carla Richmond via Design*Sponge}

Influenza

 In bed, surrounded by meds and h20. So hot right now @ 102 degrees.

{via}

Handmade Nation

I've been on a documentary kick as of late. To continue the trend, I might visit The Urban Craft Center, tonight, for a free screening of Handmade Nation. It chronicles the rise of diy, art, craft, and design, and showcases artists, crafters, makers, curators, and community members across 15 cities and 19,000 miles.

Sounds like it might be up my alley.

The Urban Craft Center, tonight, 7pm.

For folks not in LA, or busy tonight, or whatever else, check the blog for other screening dates and locales.

Or buy the DVD, which not surprisingly, comes in the coolest neon packaging. For the bibliophiles, a book.

See you tonight, maybe. 

A Teepee

I am in need of one more than ever. It's been many, many months since I've clamored for one and I think it's about time I clamor some more. Perhaps if I make my clamoring public, I won't have to wait another year. 

A teepee undoubtedly makes for a quaint hideaway at home. And to think that I could have one for but a few wooden rods and canvas cloth- and some embellishments to make it pretty, of course, makes me wonder why I don't have one already.

It's a bit Virginia Woolf like. Except I seem to be seeking a teepee of one's own, instead.

 {photo credit: Tonya Williams Ruanto {Life a Mundo}, Rachel Denbow {Smile and Wave}, 
via sfgirlbay}

 Full tutorial, here. 

I have the perfect corner saved for my little hideout. And I am quite prepared to use it.