Bluebirdbaby

Tuesday Links

Hmm. It's Tuesday. How did that happen? And tomorrow is December. Hmm. How did that happen? And I just started my holiday crafting. As I'm writing this, I'm also doing three other things. Which means this first part has already taken me 45 minutes to write. That seems to be my life these days! Gotta love it. I added up the hours I've worked in the last three months and on a weekly basis, I am usually over 40 hours. Holy moly. That's on top of being a mama (with working during my non-wee one time!!). Phew! So very grateful for every single minute I work too.

I have been taking so many photos with my film cameras, that I have little to show you. I'm making it a priority to break out the DSLR this week though. The above was taken with Photo Booth last week...

And I have an exciting giveaway tomorrow, so stay tuned!! She's one of my favorite people/crafter/mama/business owners. She just rocks...so don't forget to visit tomorrow!

Okay, enough of my blabbering...here are some rad links ::

• Sasa's music pick for the week is Gorillaz Pandora station
• scored a mini pair of Dansko's today at the thrift shop for the little one. so very cute. matchy matchy!
• we celebrated the birthday of one of our awesomest friends last night. had a blast. drank too much. ate lots of yummy yummy things. messed around with the Super 8 cameras (big thanks to Martha for the film!! xoxo). watched crazy funny videos. went to bed with a full tummy, a smile, good memories, and feeling so very grateful for our super sweet friends.
• i will take these please. my eyes need a lift.
• my style has somehow gone from layers galore to "hello. i am erin the new librarian."
• this website rocks for all those handsome, but slightly bookish men with style. (i told sasa he should go for the look in Nov. 6th, but he replied with, "no way! i'm totally Nov. 17th!"! hahaha.)
• inspiring
• need this.
• oh my awesomeness
• loving all her work
• cool beans (does anyone ever say that anymore? i used to ALL the time in school...)
• her prints just plain rock
• can't stop listening to this
• i knit. at other people's houses. and have so much fun.
• i harvested the last of the kale and chard today. currently soaking it. then it gets chopped up, put in bags, and frozen for soups this winter! yum!
• you MUST watch this.
• it snowed last week. for about 15 minutes, but oh...the joy it gave a 4 year old was endless.

Okay, I'm off to work on my 40+ hours! Be sure to check back tomorrow for the giveaway!!

My Little Elf

Well, our little town had a holiday festival this past weekend. Complete with a parade (we were in it!), Santa in his sleigh, and a free showing of the Grinch in the local theater. It was so sweet. The little one got to ride in the front of a snow plow in the parade, while I rode in the back (haha!), and dressed as an elf. She met Santa at the start of the parade, then after the parade it seemed like all the kids in the town lined up to sit on Santa's lap in the theater. The line filled the theater, went out the doors, down the stairs, and into the street!

She sat on Santa's lap and asked him for the present she wants the most (Santa's elves and I are workin' on it! She's getting a completely handmade Christmas this year...). I snapped this photo. Wasn't it such a sweet moment?

We left before the movie and talked about Santa the rest of the day. The little one already has us listening to Christmas music...nothing like a four year old to get you in a festive mood!

Hope your weekend was full of fun too!!

Black Friday Rockin' Sale

Check it out!

Gratitude Tree

With Thanksgiving coming, the little one and I got started on our yearly gratitude tree. We did the same last year (see here) and it was so much fun!

I made more leaves (the tracings came from Martha Stewart online...we used the same for our felt leaf garland) and we got to chat a little bit about what we were grateful for this year. The little one listed all the animals in her life first, then went on to draw many things found outside (grass, snow, trees, etc.). I made a few as well and it was fun to think of all the things I am grateful for in my life. There is just so much!

The little one's favorite part was punching holes in the leaves and stringing some yarn through. Then we went outside to find the perfect fallen branch to hang them from.

Once it was done, we placed it in a vase on the top of our piano, where we would see it all day long.

It's an easy, fun project for little ones and adults, and what could be better than thinking about the little things in your life that bring you joy?!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'll be back after the holidays. xoxo.

Rad Monday Links and an Under My Umbrella Couple

 

Why, hello there! It's been awhile, huh? Yea...we've been busy and lots of stuff has been going on. Sorry to be MIA, but I'm back for some super late Monday links which is all that really matters!

I am so swamped with work, which is awesome but it means every "free" second I have I am working. Shoots on the weekends, meetings, editing into the wee hours of the morning. It's exhausting balancing all of this, but I am ever so grateful for every bit of it! I have a great Thanksgiving craft post coming up tomorrow for you, so check back for that!

Above are a couple of photos from a super awesome shoot my assistant and I had over the weekend. You really, definitely, truly must check out their full preview here.

My link list is going to be short and sweet tonight. It's late and I'm beat!

• Sasa's music pick for the week is Glee's "Umbrella" which inspired the umbrella pic in my recent shoot!
• need this for two Super 8 movie cameras I scored for $1 (box, manual and all!) at a thrift shop recently
• bacon makes everything better. for sure.
• gotta love doilies
• so excited about shooting in the snow. anyone want a winter shoot??! it will be awesomely magical, i promise you!
• ah, film. i'm on my second role of color slides. i even shot some at the shoot yesterday.
• love
• i think after all the late nights, i deserve this
• sasa's waiting for me with a glass of wine, some good music, and a shoulder rub. um, he rocks. have i mentioned that lately?

Happy Monday!! xoxo.

And It Starts...

Oh my. I can't believe the holidays are approaching so very quickly.

Still here, my friends. Just using a film camera (!!) a lot more than my digital one. So I don't have much to show for myself.

I would like to know if anyone has a recommendation for developing film...do you send it away? Our only choice in our wee town is a drugstore one hour photo place, which I'm assuming isn't the best quality...

It's Monday (Already?!)

Hmmm...somebody left me a little surprise on her bedroom floor the other morning. The outfit she wanted to wear "the next day." It's her "polka dotted outfit" and she left it on the floor for me to find, complete with a popsicle stick head that Sasa had made eons ago when he left us a fun note. She is so very funny. Her humor and wit completely crack me up. So yea...today she wore her polka dot outfit. All dots from head to toe. We joked about getting polka dot shoes, which she used to have (Primigi wool felt polka dot shoes...when she was a very wee one. How she wishes those still fit!). Oh, my sweet girl and her sweet quirky style!

Okay, for the links!

• Sasa's music pick for the week is another Tribe Called Quest song. He's such a thug! (He adds, "world's smallest thug" as he sits on the couch totally groovin' to the beat. Oh my, he rocks my world.)
• so, i'm totally in love with Glee. I mean, who isn't?! Why can't real life be like this? Seriously?!!! I would break into song every other minute if I could. When I was a kid, I used to believe I would invent this device that would be implanted into everyone's ears and would provide each person with a personal life soundtrack. How awesome would that be?!
• this wall is freakin' fantastic! (and her photos are pretty dang awesome too!)
• her outfit is so sweet.
• loving her artwork (and she's our "next town neighbor!")
• so, um, we saw the awesomest concert ever. when we were in the big city a couple of months ago, Sasa saw a poster for and Elizabeth Mitchell concert at a gallery. we immediately bought tickets and told the little one (who's been listening to her since she was a wee babe) that we would be seeing her live. the little one was beyond excited. she was up almost the whole night before asking if it was time to go yet. when we got there she became completely mesmorized with Elizabeth's daughter, Story. She also asked if we could go every Saturday to see Elizabeth. So sweet. If you don't have one of Elizabeth's albums, you need to go NOW and buy one. They are amazing. Seriously. Here are some shots I captured from the concert. Oh, and the harmonica, ukulele, fiddle, piano, and tamborine have never seen so much use here! Inspired, indeed!
• Toast Travels and the diary of a cheesemaker rocks.
• i want this print
• and this one (because it's true. our house is full of wonderful things happenin')
• i enjoy bananas. do you?!
• have you seen this shop? i adore her dresses!
• this is a sweet shop for wee ones. Christmas is coming!
• oh my gosh. want want want. speaking of instruments with string, i'm thinking of starting up guitar lessons for real this winter. any guitar teachers out there wanna trade?!
• loving this alphabet print
• i've been feeling really grateful lately. for the little one, for sasa, for our home, for our life, for my business, for my wonderful friends, for our amazing family. the little one and i have been listening to this and it's SO true. i love that i am in a place in my life where i can see past the "darkness" and see the sun. because there is SO much sun and it's all that really matters. so yea darkness, do your thing. but you know that for me, the sun will always be there because i know where to find it! ha!
• the little one and i are practicing for a big concert. i'm seeing a ukulele (Meghan..that's you. i know i haven't asked you yet, but will you play in a concert with us?!), a tamborine, a harmonica, piano, and fiddle in our future. and yea...Sasa will be there video taping the whole thing. the little one has big ambitions with her instruments! i love it.

Okie dokie. I'm off to work. Finishing up some weddings and other shoots. Sasa made delicata squash soup and it smells delicious! So I need to eat and work. Happy Monday to y'all!! What are YOU loving this week?

A Little Bit About Toys

Each fall I go through our home and make it ready for the long winter ahead. It's not just getting out the winter woolens, boots, and coats, but about making what's inside seem a little bit "newer" to inspire more play, creativity, and fun during these dark, cold months. I've spent the last couple of weeks doing this...putting the odds and ends of toys no longer played with in the thrift store bag and switching around toys that are played with to inspire new creative play.

I can't say it enough...less is more when it comes to toys. I think it's so very important to have a calm, peaceful, inviting play area. Everything must have a place, and the quality of toys is essential. We really strive for handmade, wooden, and natural toys. This could be as simple as a basket of river stones, chestnuts, sections of tree branches for stacking, and a basket of felted figures. The little one plays with a bowl of chestnuts and acorns as much as she does her dollhouse! Simple things are often the best!

Sasa and I occasionally look around saying, "There are too many toys!" and we know when we are saying that, we really need to think about what we are bringing in our home and what the little one's play is like. There are many times when she can't get a good play rhythm going. It's quite often due to the fact that she is too overwhelmed by the things she does have to play with! So we go through, get rid of stuff, and create simple corners inspired by the natural rhythm/season around us.

The little one has three main playing areas. A nature table corner with a basketfull of wooden animals and people, barn and gnome home, an embroidery kit, and a basket of playsilks. The main play area has a wooden kitchen, doll play area (swing, bed, and high chair), shelves full of felted people and animals and wooden stacking toys. She has a dress up corner with a box of all my old ballet outfits (12 years worth!), dress up shoes and face paint.

Upstairs in her room is her reading corner and her beloved dollhouse made by grandpa. We recently moved her room around to allow more space for play. AND it encouraged her to sleep in there again. Phew!

Our mudroom is all decked out in wool. I love it.

So those are our newly arranged play corners just in time for the long winter ahead. I love that these beautiful toys exist. I love that they inspire hours of creative play. I love that she is aware of the quality, the beautiful handmade details, and the connection to the natural world. To learn more about creative play, I love Sarah's description of Waldorf education, but also love the creative play piece.

So here's to lots of creative play this winter! Care to share with me your play spaces? Leave a link in the comments!

Martinmas Baking

Another tradition we have on Martinmas is baking something seasonal and sharing it with friends in town. Yesterday we spent the morning baking pumpkin bread, made butter again, and loaded it up in our basket. We then took a walk into town (thank goodness the sun is out again! it's so wonderful) and delivered it to all our pals.

Our family lantern walk last night was so lovely. A trip around the neighborhood after dinner, with our lanterns lighting the way. So magical!

Happy Friday!

Happy Martinmas!!

The sunlight fast is dwindling,

My little lamp needs kindling,

Its beam shines far in darkest night

Dear Lantern guard me with your light.

~ Festivals, Family, and Food

A beautiful evening at a local Waldorf school. A gathering with hot cider, fall snacks, and outside play. Then a lantern lit walk through the field to a circle where we listened to a Martinmas story, and then sang our way back to the cars. 

Happy Martinmas!!

A Martinmas Lantern How-To

So we're gearing up for Martinmas tomorrow. (By the time you read this, it will probably be Martinmas! I write my posts last at night...) I love, love, love Martinmas. Somehow it gears me up for winter and snow. The lanterns are just in time for the beginnings of dark nights. I wrote about last Martinmas here and had a mini-tutorial about our papermache lanterns. Now I'd like to share another way to make lanterns! This would be a good project for tomorrow morning with your wee ones, then you can light them at night while you eat hot soup and warm bread. Yum.

Here we go...

You'll need ::

• large piece of thick(ish) watercolor paper (I think our paper was about 20x30. we got three lanters out of this)
• watercolor paints (we used blue, purple, and red for sunset colors)
• paint brushes
• stapler
• glue (we used Elmer's and a glue-stick)

Set your wee one(s) up with the paint and let them cover the entire paper. I like wet-on-wet watercoloring, so I drenched the paper with a wet sponge first. I told the little one we wanted to paint a brilliant winter sunset and didn't want any of the white showing. She did a pretty good job!

Then kiss your little one for being so dang cute.

Tada! All done. Now it needs to dry. Our paper was pretty drenched and thick, so we let it dry overnight.

Okay, once your paper is dry, I cut ours into pieces about 12 inches in length by 10 inches in height. On the bottom (the long side) cut 2 inches up into the paper every 2 inches across the entire length.

Now, join the sides (your cut edge will be at the bottom) and staple. We stapled just 4 times down the length of the side.

Turn your lantern "tube" bottom side up. Fold in the cuts you made. It should make a nice round bottom.

Cut a circle the diameter of the bottom and glue the heck out of it. We tried a glue stick first (purple, of course), then moved on to Elmer's which was a tad stronger.

Place it in the bottom inside of the lantern, on top of all those cut tabs joined together. Put something heavy on it and let it sit to dry for a while. (We used a pumpkin!)

Now get ready for your handle. Cut a long strip about 2 inches by 20 inches or so. (You could just punch holes in the side and use yarn if you are out of paper at this point.)

Fold the paper into itself to create a nice, strong handle.

Staple each end to the sides.

Tada! Finished lanterns! Yay!

You can also cut out shapes and fill them with tissue paper. We didn't opt to do this because we liked our watercolors. We put tea lights on the bottom and taped the bottoms down. So pretty.

But it's such a fun project and I love this little celebration. More on our Martinmas celebration tomorrow...happy lantern making!!

xoxo.

Monday Links

So, it's been rainy and dreary and COLD for far too long now. Sure, we're all excited about the fall weather when it first starts, but then after the leaves fall off the trees and we're left with bare branches and frost on our windsheilds in the morning, then we've had enough, right? I think the problem is as we age, it starts going by at a lightning fast speed. Fall seems like a mere week, then winter (which actually doesn't follow this hypothesis because it feels like it lasts years), then spring flies by, then summer is over in a blink.

I mean, I'm trying not to complain but I guess this winter thing is going to have to grow on me this year. The little one has been asking for snow since this past May. When Jack Frost finally arrived in October she was over the moon with joy. Silly girl. So I'm learning on a day to day basis to love it. I'm really trying to! I think my poor body has converted most of its fat stores to muscles with my daily running and that means I'm freezing all the time. Last night I took my temperature as a joke because I was shivering uncontrollably, even though our thermostat read at 68 degrees. My temp? A mere 95.9. Is that, um, normal?! Ha!

So where am I going with all this? I'm far too dang cold to take a picture of myself. I'm dressed in so many layers you can't see my body. So this picture was taken on a family shoot. The little boy was pretty much done with having his picture taken after a few minutes, but his reward at the end was MY CAMERA. So he had a blast taking photo after photo after photo. He snapped this one, which was supposed to be his family portrait with me in it, but he only captured myself and his baby sister. So cute! So Tate...this one's for you buddy!! Thanks for the sweet shot :)

Here's some links for ya....

• Sasa found a really cool music station called Blip.fm. Check it out!
• have you seen these two engagement videos? SO clever. Oh man.
• awesome guide to Polaroids. Thanks Meghan for the link!
• enjoying groovin' to the roots
• really, really, really into vintage leather backpacks lately. i want one. like this or this.
• also really liking this. seriously...i can see myself biking to the farmer's market and filling this baby up with fresh veggies and cheese.
• i'd like to send some of these
• there's something about this that i love (I think I may be entering an 80's love stage. oh my.)
• something is on my needles for a wee little one. i'd love to share more but it's a surprise! i'm loving knitting these days...
• i love this picture. it makes me thirsty though. is that weird? i want to drink a tall glass of ice cold water when i look at it! maybe it's all that blue...
• his portraits are so deep
• did i link to this already? i love it.
• loving my pal's photos. she's working so hard. 
• snuggling in to watch a movie tonight with my man. this whole dark early thing is making me sleeeepy!

Happy Monday everyone!!

Two Love Birds Preview

Oh, these two. I really, honestly, truly can't describe how incredibly sweet and loving they are. They took the train up from Boston where they live and we met in Portland for the shoot.

At the beginning of the shoot I said my usual words about feeling awkward in front of the camera, and told them just to pretend I'm not even there. Well, these two just settled in with each other immediately. You could tell their comfort with each other was extraordinary. They talked and talked, laughed, kissed, joked, and had a blast. And their photos show it! Their love is so inspiring.

One of my favorite parts of this shoot was a series I took in front of a wall covered in grape vines. They started telling me how they met...a hip-hop bar in Ireland (which Rachel said, "Well, that should tell you how good the hip-hop was!"). Matt said he was there with a friend and in walked Rachel. He turned to his friend said, "I'm going to marry that girl." And he did. That was five years ago and these two haven't lost any of that love.

You two...you ROCK. Big time. Thanks for the amazing afternoon. Enjoy your preview...(bigger here)

Change

So very fitting many of you thought my food baby (which, by the way, I named Charlie) was another little one brewing. But no, just delicious NYC food, three layers, and a wool sweater. But the same night I posted that, I was going through my old external hard drive and came across this photo from last summer.

Just last summer! And Sasa and I both let out a long "awwwww" and commented on her curly hair, pudgy cheeks, and tiny legs. It was only a year ago. I remember the day well...in the midst of a hard spell. We were outside doing watercolors on the outside table. Our one lonely chicken (Penelope) were running around us and eventually tried to paint with us. The little one ended up climbing on the table with the chicken, sporting her striped undies, and painted with Penelope by her side.

It's amazing how fast they grow. And it seems like such a cliché to say that. I mean, parents say it all the time, don't they? But it's true. And because we are so oblivious to it on a daily basis, when it finally catches up to us, we are overwhelmed with the information. Really? They grew another inch in a month?! You mean, instead of going to the toddler section to buy clothing, I'm in the big kid's section? No, it can't be!

It's one of those bittersweet things...marveling at their new accomplishments and milestones while packing away the clothes that no longer fit after a mere three months. You think, "how did my baby get so big?" But you are so proud of them. That pride is always there, but behind it is a slight sorrow that they will indeed keep on growing. It doesn't stop.

Someone recently asked me what my favorite age so far has been. I would love to have a 12 month old forever. I think that age is the greatest. And every age after that is amazing too. But I still miss those days. Everything is new and interesting and exciting. The love, the complete comfort and security, and the sweet dependence is all there too. But this new age of four, where they are embarking on a new course of independence, security in their self, and comfort in others and their environment is so very interesting and exciting in itself. Human beings are amazing creatures.

I continue to marvel at how much is gained in the first few years. How impressionable kids are at this age and how what happens now is what shapes their future self forever. They are amazing. Isn't this parenting adventure so very crazy wonderful?

While I am missing those chubby cheeks and teensy legs, I am still creating higher marks on the growth chart almost every other week. And she beams with pride with every new mark, while Mama grins and thinks to herself, "Just not too fast, okay sweet one?"

It's nice to be present for this crazy fast ride called childhood. I remind myself each and every day to be here, right now. No matter where else my head might want to be. Because I know that I will never get these moments back, because they go all too quickly.

Here's to all the little ones out there. May your childhood be filled with comfort, strength, joy, and security. xoxo.

Woohoo!

Hey y'all. It's midweek and I'm working working working on something pretty darn awesome. Can't wait to show you all soon!!

This Polaroid was taken by Katie in NYC of Blink of an Eye Photography. And no, that is not a pregnant belly. That is my food baby. NYC food is GOOOOOD.

For now, see Laura and Noah's wedding featured on Inspired By This!

Cheers!! xoxo

Making Butter

After our violin lesson this morning (oh, she is getting good!) we returned home to do some baking. I had some heavy whipping cream left over from the soup yesterday and wanted to make butter again. We did it long ago and had such fun. It's such an easy and fun project for little ones.

Simply pour heavy cream into a mason jar, add a little salt, put on the lid, and take turns shaking it. In about 15 minutes you'll have the tastiest butter!

Our recipe today was skillet cornbread. I love this simple and easy recipe from the Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book. And it is so delicious.

While that was baking, we ate a light lunch. We had the cornbread, homemade butter, and local honey for dessert.

It was so yummy. Tomorrow is apple crisp day! What's happening in your kitchen?!

A Chilly Monday

Wow. It's getting cold. Fall is quickly passing us by and we find ourselves welcoming the chilly winter air. Today we bundled up in our wool layers and drank hot cocoa (with homemade whip cream. yum.) to keep warm.

We just started attending a sweet little Spanish group at a friend's farm on Mondays. We decided to come with some goodies, so we baked honey muffins, topped off with some of Mary Beth's nectarine jam straight from the opposite coast. (We did a trade a couple months ago. Jams from coast to coast!) It was so delicious. They were a hit for sure.

And after two hours of chilly outdoor afternoon play (we made rocket ships, collected treasures, and even went to the moon and back) we picked some carrots, chard, and kale for supper. I made dumpling squash soup. It was so very delicious. I got the recipe from the latest Martha Stewart magazine. What can I say? I'm a sucker for any magazine with pie on the cover! I highly recommend the recipe...so simple and delicious.

I loved cooking in the kitchen while the little one played in the corner. She had a Christmas tree with presents underneath, she was Saint Nicholas, and her doll carriage was the sleigh full of gifts. So sweet.

Happy Monday! No link list today. I'm beat! Next week...