The List 8.12.10

Hi all! Wow, time is flying by for this pregnant mama! I am officially in the "viable" zone and feel like I can breathe a little sigh of relief that if for some reason Miss M decided to enter the world now she would make it. (I am definitely telling her everyday though to keep on baking for another 13-14 weeks!)

Here are some things that I have discovered on the web that have really caught my eye!

I am really getting back into jewelry with the cooler temps not far in the future... this entire Etsy store has caught my eye for their yoga jewelry. I specifically am adoring this pretty piece, perfect for fall!

We have two very special birthdays coming up and I want to decorate the house a little bit to celebrate... these cute and simple Paper Lanterns will be perfect!

Even with the gardening season almost over, I would love to make this cute apron for crafting or attending craft fairs... a great tutorial for sure.

I am sure that I am not the only mama who has run out of ideas for entertaining the kids, especially on these sweltering days. I would love to make some of these stepping stones with the girls for our garden out front.

Zulily has to be just about my new best friend and my wallet's worst enemy! The deals there are too good to pass up and I am finding outfits for Miss M to come home in daily. The bad part is that the featured shops are not up for long, but it is truly worth checking out. Did I mention membership is free? =)

We love fruit in this house, especially bananas. Don't these grilled stuffed bananas look yummy?

But who wants bananas when you can have these awe-inspiring chocolate cheesecake bars? I know I would love to enjoy these at any function... or just on my couch in my pj's!

Finally, I am loving all the punched paper butterfly art that I am seeing... this is my favorite one so far though!

Ciao and happy shopping/crafting/eating!

Eat Pray Love

Even though I have seen this book at the library and passed by the preview without a thought, I wasn't really interested in anything about it until I saw the Eat Pray Love collection from Dogeared Jewelry. And then my heart skipped a beat.... this jewelry collection is everything that I love about my spiritual beliefs. Simple, colorful, balancing, and mindfulness.... (And luck has it that AJ just recently broke my lucky necklace by Dogeared so I am looking around for something new!)

Anyhow, after drooling for a few on Dogeared's site I hopped over to check out this movie that has everyone talking. How the heck did I miss this one? I guess that is what happens when you don't have TV and pay little attention to current media.

Eat Pray Love is one woman's true story about her personal journey to bring balance back into her life, find long lost passions for food and spirituality, and maybe even some love along the way. It is a journey I think each of us hopes to take at some point, a rediscovery of the person we were when we thought anything was possible. I can't wait to see this movie and will be reading or listening to the book asap! Oh, did I mention Julia Roberts is the starring actress? Now, you KNOW it is going to be good!

An Anthropological Discovery

I usually am not an Anthropologie shopper, especially for home decor. (Pottery Barn type of stuff is my usual cup of tea) But I was checking out their site after seeing a cool tutorial for a tank knockoff here and fell in LOVE with a few things....

This quilt is calling my name... the colors and the Gypsy feel of it... 

Our old house had these awesome maple leaf knobs on all the cabinets...

I think this house needs some crabs in the kitchen!

I think meditating on this rug would be sooo much fun!

Strawberries.... in French... need I say more?

Yes, it is a shower curtain! And would make me want to dance every time I got clean! 

So there ya have it... I may be spending all my fortune at Anthroplogie if I ever win the lottery...

Where would you spend all your fortune to decorate your nest? 

A Word

Today I am stressed, annoyed, and struggling. I know it has a lot to do with hormones, but really I just want to run away for a bit.... I don't even know where to begin.... so instead I will ask you for words:

If you could choose one word, just one, to describe your mood today what would it be? 
Be brutally honest and let 'er rip! 

Sneak Peek at Miss M's Nursery

My-Bands

Anyone with a child who has allergies or another medical condition knows the worries that passes through your mind when you hand your child off to another's care. Sure you can write all the important information down on a piece of paper and hope that in case of an emergency the instructions are remembered.... but there is always that worry. Even though Gabby has allergies that are not life threatening, it would still be nice to have a way to communicate what medicines she takes for her pet allergies and how to reach us and her pediatrician in case of an emergency. Which is why when I was browsing Zulily for deals I stopped at these ingenious ID "bracelets" called My-Bands.

Basically they are an updated version of the standard medical ID bracelet, perfect for the 21st century parent. Not only can you store identifying information on the USB drive, but medical data, a current photo, and even fingerprints!

Of course no parent wants to imagine an emergency situation where the bracelet is needed, but when your child has severe allergies like nuts, has a condition such as autism, or even has a tendency to wander in crowded areas, this bracelet might save a life.

The 64MB USB comes with a questionable to fill out so nothing is there unless you want it to be, there is no additional software needed, and it is waterproof- perfect for water parks and such. But the most important thing is that the information in it can be accessed from any computer, something that may be priceless in an emergency.




** If you want a My-Bands, sign up at Zulily (it is free) and buy a My-Bands here for only $19.99 instead of the normal $29.99. Sale ends on August 11th though so hurry up!**

My Daddy is a Pretzel!

Few people, when glancing at my husband, would guess that it is him and not me who really enjoys doing yoga, Although I appreciate the meditative nature of it, I require a faster paced form of exercise like Zumba to really get my blood pumping. Klint however is AWESOME at yoga, has become so much more flexible, and I think the meditative nature of it appeals to him as well.

Well, of course when Daddy is doing yoga the kids HAVE to join in... AJ likes to crawl under Klint during Downward Dog and Gabby likes to mimic his moves. So when I saw this book at the library- "My Daddy is a Pretzel" by Baron Baptiste I had to grab it!

What is so cool about this book is that it is not only a yoga book but also introduces kids to 9 different professions that mommy and daddy may have, and links the yoga poses to everyday life.

For example, the first job introduced is a gardener and so the yoga pose is the Tree Pose. "The tree pose teaches us to support ourselves with strong roots, so we can reach high and remain stable, yet be flexible, at the same time." Isn't that lovely?? I love how the illustration demonstrates the way to get into the pose as well, perfect for little ones to follow!

The best part is that if you and your kids enjoy the book, the company that made this book -Barefoot Books-also has yoga card decks! I am really interested in the yoga deck that has 50 yoga poses and activities that are good for the earth called Yoga Planet. Definitely a company and a purpose that I can support whole heartedly!

Oh! Don't forget that signups for the Moveable Feast Swap ends tomorrow at midnight!!! Come swap some foodie goodness!!

♥♥♥ This!

I ♥ this!

Lol, perfect for Miss M's room...

If you want one and don't feel like making it yourself, click here...

p.s.- the whole shop is as adorable.... budget beware!

Whip 'Em Out!

"If a multinational company developed a product that was a nutritionally balanced and delicious food, a wonder drug that both prevented and treated disease, cost almost nothing to produce and could be delivered in quantities controlled by the consumers' needs, the very announcement of their find would send their shares rocketing to the top of the stock market. The scientists who developed the product would win prizes and the wealth and influence of everyone involved would increase dramatically. Women have been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence..."

-- Gabrielle Palmer, in The Politics of Breastfeeding, London: Pandora Press, 1988, page 1.

August is National Breastfeeding Month and this week is World Breastfeeding Week. In a culture that views breasts purely on a sexual level the new mother is constantly bombarded with free formula samples, formula ads on pages that are supposed to support breastfeeding, and only 1 in 5 mothers are still breastfeeding after 6 months.

I have heard many first time soon-to-be moms say that they think breastfeeding is unnatural, gross, too hard, inconvenient. It shocks me because I think that breastfeeding is so convenient, natural, and even though it takes some practice way easier than buying, preparing, heating up bottles.

This is a great video that my friend Melissa shared on Facebook and I wanted to share it with all of you. I truly believe that the more people know about the benefits of breastfeeding that we can turn around the cultural standard of formula and bottle feeding.

** I am not against formula is the baby truly needs it, there are plenty of women who can't breastfeed for various reasons and that is why formula was created. I am against women who are perfectly able to breastfeed but won't for selfish reasons. Modesty should not take preference over the best nutrition available!**




This site is a great resource for breastfeeding advice, concerns, and tips! Check it out!

The List 8.3.10

Hello folks! Does it seem like this summer just flew by and that already leaves look like they are tinged brown to you or is it just my wishful thinking? (Fall is my ULTIMATE favorite season)

Here are some things that have caught my eye this week:

I love painting and these all-natural paints are really cool! Not expensive and perfect for crafting with little ones!

Speaking of crafting with little ones, how about letting them make a mess outside that will stimulate their senses? Here is how to do it without losing your sanity!

I have been making lots of rice heating pads and other small fabric goodies... here is an interesting Japanese game called Otedama that involves little rice bags.

Even though I am not a poet by nature, there are poems that inspire me. What better way to combine poetry and my love of embroidery than by entering this contest at Checkout Girl? The prizes are fabulous and you have almost a month to enter. I am trying to decide on a poem to enter but can't wait to get started!

I am smitten with this awesome little nylon bunny who hides a reusable grocery bag.... absolutely smitten!

I believe that I am ready to try sewing a piece of clothing and think that this pattern from Citronille is perfect for a beginner like me. (However, they are in french so that may be a challenge!) See the cuteness brought to life here!

My favorite necklace was sacrificed this week when AJ grabbed onto it to save her from falling down our front steps....while I am really glad AJ didn't fall I am seriously sad that my lucky necklace is broken because it is from Dogeared Jewelry. Time for a new one I think, I am digging this Sailboat charm to celebrate the course my life is taking!

Even though I have resisted buying maternity clothes thus far thanks to my Belly Band, I really love the look of these pretty (and pricey) tops! The wraparound shirt is my favorite, especially with how versatile it is.

If you have a house rule about taking your shoes off when you come on, but hate telling people, here is a cute and crafty way to do it!

With school right around the corner, go check out Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide! I love the items that they find for every budget! (Feel free to click on the button on my sidebar too at any time!)

Ok, well that is it! Oh, and if you are curious about how my VBAC journey is going please check out my new Birth Blog, lots of great information there.

Don't forget too- the signup deadline for my foodie swap A Moveable Feast is on August 7th!!!!!