small + friendly

weekending

This weekend has been a mix of busy and fun . . .

:: Friday was a tour of a preschool (not going to happen right now).

:: A wellness check up at the best pediatrician in the world: See those raspberries up there? He picked a whole quart of them, special for Jude.

:: A quiet lunch spent outside soaking up the last days of summer.

:: Friday night this mama got to go have drinks with her best friend.

:: Saturday was spent celebrating my cousin's upcoming nuptials with a bachelorette day at the amusement park (roller coasters and I don't mix, and my dogs are still barking). It was a pleasure to celebrate with a great group of gals.

:: Sunday was a meeting with a catering client (oh, I never mentioned that I cooked professionally, there's a lot of things you don't know about me, like I don't answer the door when I'm eating).

:: Now, I'm off the the grocery store and then hopefully a little rest before another full week.

Here's hoping your weekend was beyond lovely.

P.S. - Don't forget there's still time to enter the Vanity Fair Sweepstakes and the Crafting Connections Giveaway.  

P.P.S. - linking up with Amanda

Monster Jams

Has anyone else noticed that they make pj's so tight that you literally have to wrestle your little one into them?  I know it's for fire safety, but come on!  Fitted, sure, but skin tight?  No, thanks.  I decided to take matters into my own hands and sew Jude some pajamas that fit.

 I was thrilled to find this adorable (thick, soft) knit at Joann's.  Hooray for cute boy knits!  It was a really simple sew.  The pants are the sleeping john pattern from Growing Up Sew Liberated (I used the 3T and added a ribbed cuff) and the shirt is a self-drafted raglan (tutorial here) with ribbed cuffs.  But I couldn't stop there.  Jude lives for pockets and the monsters were too cute.  

So I made a tiny stuffed monster with his own little pocket to sleep in.  

I'm pleased as punch with how they came out, and they were a very big hit . . .  (Warning, we had way to much fun taking pictures, and I struggled to edit)  

Here's to sleeping all comfy and cozy!

Crafting Connections

Crafting Connections is a new digital quarterly magazine that feels as though it was made for me.  The magazine is all about connecting with your little one through crafting.  The pictures are beautiful, the ideas are simple yet fun, and the seasonal focus makes it even better.  I think we all have those days when we would really like to do something special with our little one, but lack inspiration.  Crafting Connections is like a perfectly curated activity guide with suggestions both big and small.  In addition, they have a lovely website full of extras to keep you and your child busy all season long.  

I would say most of the ideas are just right for toddlers and preschoolers.  The project I knew I wanted to make with Jude was a treasure bag.  The instructions called for helping your little one sew their own bag out of burlap (brilliant!); except I didn't have any burlap on hand (psst ... they sell supply kits to help with this problem), and I had a feeling Jude wouldn't sit still long enough to stitch a whole pouch.  Instead we decorated a bag I already had.  I asked Jude what he thought we should draw on our nature treasure bag, and he replied, " A tree, and a bird, and a talking mushroom."  So I did my best to draw just that:

Then I let him color it in. (I taped the bag to the table first to lower frustration.)  Lastly, he helped me sew on the felt strap, and we were ready for adventure.   

It was a great experience from start to finish.  We both had fun creating the bag, and we had even more fun on our nature walk.  The magazine has lots of ideas for what to do with our treasure, and I look forward to our next crafty connection.   

Would you like a chance to win a copy of the Autumn 2012 issue?  I've got a copy to give away!  Just leave a comment here before Oct 1st to enter the giveaway.  

Full disclosure: I was given a copy of the fall issue to review, but this is not a sponsored post.  My opinions are my own, I just really love what these gals are doing.

He's Got a Black Belt in Keepin' it Real

When I saw Jason adding this t-shirt to my refashion pile, I did a little back flip (in my head).  I knew it would make the perfect ringer tee for my little straight talkin' kung fu monster master.  When he's not practicing his kung fu moves (or firefighting), he's busy pointing out that I have a mustache or telling me to take a deep breath and "just relax". He needed this shirt.  I used this tutorial, which I highly recommend.  I even busted out the twin needle for the hem.  

Ready for the action shots?

Here's to keepin' it real.

P.S. - It's on:

The Magic of a Simple Swing

Today I am guest posting over at Rowan & Oak.  The post is about how a little special outside time saved our afternoons.  Please head on over, you are going to love Amber's blog.  Beautiful photos, great writing, amazing recipes and sewing, PLUS she's an herbalist who graciously shares lots of wonderful information: there's a lot to love!

(This is Jude's preferred method of swinging, he calls it floating.)   

Happy Monday Everyone!  Here's hoping this week floats by.

4 Years

(Engagement Photo by Meg Messina Photography)

Dearest Jason,

I love you for so many huge reasons and so very many tiny ones.  Those tiny ones really add up you know.  Like how you make my coffee every morning, even though you drink tea (okay, that one's pretty huge).  Or how you still leave me voicemails full of lies about how you love me more.  Or how you read every blog post and listen to every "pinteresting" anecdote.  All those everyday moments have added up to one spectacular marriage.        

The vows I wrote four years ago couldn't be any truer today:

You are my heart's passion and my soul's inspiration

You are my safe haven, my partner in all things

You free me to be my truest self

You are my sweetest gift

In your arms I have found my home

And in your smile I have found my joy

How is it possible that I love you more with each passing day?  Because you are amazing, that's how.  Here's to many, many more.

All my love,

Carla  

On Bras and Bodies: A Vanity Fair Review and Giveaway

When I was given the opportunity to review the Vanity Fair® Modern Coverage Collection of Bras and Illumination® Underwear, I was excited and nervous. New bras and I haven't always gotten along. My first post-baby, post-breastfeeding bra-shopping experience was not a pretty sight. I hadn't successfully breastfed for as long as I'd hoped, and I was struggling to make peace with my new figure. I went into the whole experience feeling, quite literally, deflated. I visited a nice department store for a proper fitting, and while my mom wandered the mall with Jude in the stroller, I tried on what felt like every bra in the store. When the poor sales gal came to check on me for the twentieth time, she found me in tears.

I had somehow imagined that a new great fitting bra would magically make me feel better about a body that felt very different from the one I'd had prior to getting pregnant. The bras all fit fine, but my state of mind was such that they only seemed to accentuate the negative body-image I was so stubbornly stuck on. (I don't think the fluorescent lights were helping either.) I ended up going to a store that sells their bras by promising that you will look like an impossibly thin super model with even more impossibly ample breasts. I bought two very padded push-up bras and have been wearing that style ever since.

The Vanity Fair® Modern Coverage bras are lightly lined and designed to complement one's natural shape, not transform it. The first thing I noticed when I tried them on was how comfortable they were. The second thing I noticed was how much I liked how they looked or, rather, how I looked in them. A lot has changed since that hideous shopping day. My body hasn't changed drastically, but my body image has. I have learned to love my body for all the amazing things it can do. Now I treat it with the respect it deserves: no more restrictive diets, grueling workouts or harsh words. I can honestly say that I've never felt better about my body, stretch marks and all. So why was I still wearing the high-heel equivalent of a bra every day?

The Vanity Fair® Modern Coverage bras are great for every day. They lift and have a nice smooth, non-pointy shape under clothes. The Modern Coverage bras have a lower neckline which means you are supported without worrying about your bra showing under a deep V-neck tee (my current uniform). Plus the sides are designed to lay nice and flat, no dreaded back fat. My favorite is the Vanity Fair® Front Close Underwire Bra. The straps have this awesome little clip, so you can link them in the back; no more visible bra straps in a racer back! As for the underwear, they are much cuter on, but you'll have to take my word for it. The Illumination® Hipster would be my favorite: great fit and no visible panty lines. However, I also really liked the Illumination® Hi-Cut, very cute in a vintage kind of way.

Now the really cool part. You have a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card courtesy of BlogHer. Here's how to enter: Visit the Vanity Fair® page on Facebook and leave a comment on this post telling me which bra you like the most.

SWEEPSTAKES/GIVEAWAY RULES

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/10 - 10/7.

Be sure to visit the Vanity Fair brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers' reviews and find more chances to win!

4 Creative Ways to Occupy a Two Year Old

My son really prefers to dwell within my personal space at all times, and yet he wants to do everything himself.  He's two going on three, it's not uncommon.  I'm pretty sure if he could figure out how to be glued to my leg and totally independent at the same time, he would be thrilled.  Whilst I love all the snuggles, sometimes I'd like to do something without a very large two-year-old leaning into me with all his might.  Many of my efforts to release the static cling have been unsuccessful: cool toys, sensory play, art ... all great, as long as mom is sitting next to him.  So I've had to get creative.  In case you are looking for some unconventional solo play ideas, I thought I'd share them here.  Most of these fall into what Montessori followers would call practical life skills.  I call them practical life savers.

What sets these activities apart and makes them intriguing (and engrossing) are that they are "grown up" activities, performed with "grown up" tools.  In most cases a step stool or kitchen chair are needed, so use your best judgement; I am usually in the same room with him.  Safety first!  (Fire helmet optional.)   

1.  Correspondence.

Jude calls this paying bills.  He runs "paperwork" through the typewriter and does a lot of highlighting.  I pay my bills online and then pass them on to him for "processing."  Someday I hope to create a letter writing station like this one, but for now, the novelty of mom's desk and typewriter seem to be doing the trick.  

2. Organizing.

Jude loves to go though things, especially "adult" things.  And so "organizing" the pantry was born.  First, I stack a number of unbreakable items on the shelf, and then I ask him to grab his stool and get things straightened up.  This is especially helpful when I need to get dinner on the table.

3.  Watering the garden.

To save water we have a cap on hose time.  He can fill several buckets and then use those to water the flowers (and sometimes the concrete).  Between the filling of buckets, the transferring to water cans, and the actual watering, this activity buys me some serious free time.

4.  Washing dishes.

Or simply washing the sink.  Again, water waste is an issue, so once the sink is half full, the faucet goes off.  He doesn't wash my best china or anything sharp, but he does a great job rinsing our daily dishes.  And if we've beat him to the dishes, the sink can always use a good scrub.

Do you have any good tricks for occupying your little one?  Any and all suggestions welcome!