I’m thinking about my packing list for BlogHer next week and wishing I had new pajamas. I think these fabric choices from PajamaSutra are so pretty! And I love the feminine cut and contrasting trim.
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Hooray! There will be two winners for today’s giveaway. The prize is sponsored by Lisa Leonard Designs. Two people will each win a $50 gift certificate. Fun!
I’m sure you’ll adore Lisa’a offerings. Lisa sent me this numbered necklace when Baby June arrived. Isn’t it great? When I wear it, my kids love finding the silver circle with their name. Also. Don’t laugh, but we didn’t realize the connection that June is our 6th baby and June is the 6th month until we saw this necklace. Too funny! We just liked the name June. : )
You’ll have so much fun picking something beautiful from Lisa’s wares. I love this songbird necklace and this keychain.
To enter, visit Lisa’s site and leave a comment below. The winners will be announced on Monday. Good luck!
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I really liked this post on Laura Day about buildings that incorporate a lot of reuse — like a building made from giant orange shipping containers and a store display wall made from old printing plates. So interesting. One of my daydreams is using reclaimed materials to build a home. I wonder if I could blend a home made from unusual materials into a typical neighborhood or if it would be too weird looking?
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Fabulous Jen of Jen Loves Kev is having a baby. Yay! To celebrate, her friends gathered for a vintage backyard baby shower. So many great details! I love that guests dressed up. Go take a peek at all the photos.
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What a funny day! It was one of those phone call after phone call after phone call scenes. I wasn’t able to sit down in front of my computer until scandalously late at night.
But. When I did finally get some internet time I happened upon these gorgeous garlands. Knowing something so fantastic exists out there made everything better. Something about these makes me want to make things. : )
P.S. — Your haircut comments are brilliant! All the positive feedback is making me feel daring. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I just left a message with my hairdresser…
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I’ve been thinking about a new haircut. I saw this girl in the most recent J.Crew catalog and I’m loving her hair. Taking into account that I’m not an 18-year-old model, do you think I could pull off this haircut?
I usually only do long or super short. I’m not sure how I feel about in-between lengths.
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For this week’s book entry, I’m going to send you to elsewhere. Jenny & Andy had their 8-year-old daughter, Phoebe, write up a review of her favorite comic books (with rankings!). The reviews are adorable:
“Whoever likes mystery stories and gangsters and people like that should read Tintin. It’s about a little boy who tries to catch a lot of bad guys. He has a white dog named Snowy. Ummm. My favorite one is… I can’t pick a favorite. Daddy, before you write this, tell the people that I thought of all this, okay?”
The whole post opened my eyes to a book world I’m only vaguely aware of. I can’t wait to look closer. Jenny promises that much of the illustration work is Art with a capital A — like the image above. Are your kids into comic books? I keep thinking Ralph would adore them, but he’s never really been introduced.
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How adorable is this photo? I remember being very young and wearing the traditional black leotard and the palest of pink tights while standing at the barre. I would stare out the studio window at the library next door. I liked the idea of ballet classes, but found them too slow, so I would beg my mom to let me take more exciting dance classes. Eventually she let me try out for Super Steppers where the uniform was a red sequin leotard and white knee socks (and you had to perform the ever challenging jump splits).
Did you take dance classes as a child? Do your kids take dance lessons?
P.S. — Dancing reminds me of this amazing video. I’ve seen it a thousand times and I never get sick of it.
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Ask Design Mom Question:
Hi Gabrielle. I feel like all I do is buy shoes for my toddlers. How many types of shoes do you purchase for your children each year and how many sizes do they go through in a year. Please tell me these bi-monthly foot growth spurts will end. Also, is it okay for children to wear hand-me-down shoes? Many thanks — Amy
Design Mom Answer:
Hah! This made me laugh, Amy. Shoe buying can definitely take over your life. I’ll break my response into 3 parts.
1) In the summer, I like to have a pair of slip on sneakers (like Vans), a pair of flip flops and a pair of sandals for each toddler or preschooler (if I choose carefully on the sandals, they’ll work for church too!). In the fall and winter, I like a pair of sneakers, loafers or maryjanes (or something similar), and some sort of leather boot.
Of course, this doesn’t count specialty shoes. Tap shoes or ballet shoes. Soccer cleats. Fancy shoes for a reception. Snowboots… Also. I’m a big fan of Original Saltwater Sandals. They come in colors for girls or boys. They’re good for at the beach. They’re good at a picnic. They’re event sweet with a little dress.
2) Yes, the bi-monthly growth spurts will end. : )
3) Foot experts will tell you hand-me-down shoes are not a good idea. Real life mothers that scored a pair of gorgeous Italian toddler shoes at their favorite consignment shop will tell you hand-me-down shoes are rad.
What about you, Dear Readers? How do you like to handle toddler shoes?
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This made me smile. During naptime, Mila’s mom sets up a photo shoot around her. She guesses what Mila is dreaming about. Go see.
Thanks for the link, Steph. Also. These remind me of the work of Jan Von Holleben.
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This has been a fun week. Ralph is attending a Film Camp and yesterday, my older girls were able to attend a day of shooting as extras. The film is a western, so they were dressed in any cowboy duds they could find around the house. Adorable! Also. Ben Blair and I had an impromptu date on Wednesday night. We stopped for dessert at a new restaurant in our neighborhood. They have an old school menu — I had the banana cream pie and he had cookies and milk.
While I think about that pie (and my stomach grumbles), here are a few links I’ve been wanting to share with you:
-bikes by Public
-melting
-DIY Memory Game
-5 great outdoor lighting options
-a lazy lawn
-hotel style (makes me crave a trip so bad!)
-donate your tent or tarp for Haiti
-tin foil dinners
-Did you see Double Rainbow? I think Ben Blair has watched it 30 times.
-what an appealing kitchen
-Stripey favorite Polarn O. Pyret is having a huge 50% off sale.
-the impact of light
-good looking email buttons
I write a daily post for Babble’s Family Style blog. Here are my posts from this week:
-a market bag (with a baguette compartment!)
-Rikshaw Design summer sale
-rad summer posters from Binth — plus 20% off!
-Peek Aren’t You Curious is clearing things out
-make a sippy cup out of canning jar
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I will be making photo props for the BlogHer Kirtsy Party. Woot! I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already.
kisses,
Gabrielle
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Sometimes I crave a really simple dress like these from newly launched K. Grace.
Extra fun: K. Grace would like to offer Design Mom Readers a discount. Use code LAUNCH15 for 15% off.
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[Note from Design Mom: Last month, Thermador invited me to a neat event at a luxe resort in Arizona. But Baby June was just too wee for a big trip, so I asked Lindsey of Fresh Clean Start to go in my place. Lindsey is one of my favorite foodies, so I hoped she would especially enjoy it. Following is Lindsey's wrap up of the event.]
Gabby asked me to represent Design Mom at the unveiling of the new Thermador Steam and Convection Oven. I’m so excited to tell you all about it.
I’ve been a mother since 2004 and I have never taken a vacation away from my kids. And when I dreamed of going on a vacation all by my lonesome, it definitely included a hotel room of my very own.
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Fantastic giveaway today. A really good one. You could win a $150 gift certificate to Polka Dot Peacock. Yay!
This shop has such a fun collection of goodies for your babies and toddlers. Clothes, bedding, room decor, baby gear. $150 will buy you all sorts of wonderful items from brands you love. I would be tempted by the Dwell Studio backpacks and lunchboxes, and the Serena & Lily embroidered slings, and this pretty Rooftop wall print. Or maybe I would use the whole thing for some cute new bedding.
Check out Polka Dot Peacock and leave a comment below to enter. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck!
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Congratulations brenna! You’re the lucky winner.
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Wow. These images of Jeffrey Moss’s apartment made me catch my breath. I LOVE this and want to copy every last detail. You can see more photos of the apartment here.
What do you think? Do wall displays like this appeal to you? Or is it too much craziness for your taste?
(via Poppytalk)
P.S. — Thank you so much for chiming in about my bizarre chest yesterday. Your comments were fantastic! You guys make me so happy.
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I have been working like crazy on the BlogHer Kirtsy Party for the last few weeks and Friends, it is going to be the raddest party ever! The event actually has an official name, and it’s a mouthful: BlogHer 2010 Voices of the Year Gala and Art Auction Curated by Kirtsy.
So I’ve been calling it the BlogHer Kirtsy Party instead. : )
I don’t want to reveal all the awesomeness that will happen, because if you’re coming, I want you to be surprised, but here are some hints:
-The party is going to range all over an entire floor of the hotel — with unexpected things to see and do in every area.
-In one section there will be type of performance art. By bloggers like Jenny of The Bloggess. I’m not even kidding.
-In another section, bloggers like Karen of Chookooloonks (and maybe me too!) will be wielding a paint brush. You won’t want to miss it, I promise.
-Throughout the party there will be an Art Exhibit with artwork and photography from 90 of your favorite bloggers — including superstars like Ree of Pioneer Woman. And each of these art pieces were created with the 90 winning Voices of the Year blog posts as inspiration. Which means: this party might be your best chance to meet your favorite blog stars. Blog Stars who will be at the party, checking out their words and artwork on display.
-There will be music. There will be food. There will be drinks. There will be the coolest photo opps ever. And there will be a dozen different ways for you to add your own voice to this Voices of the Year Gala.
-Also. During the Gala, there won’t actually be an auction. The auction part will happen a few weeks after BlogHer is over. It will be held online and everyone will have access to it — even if they didn’t attend BlogHer. All proceeds will go to the Nature Conservancy to assist with Gulf Cleanup. Fabulous!
At BlogHer, there has always been a big Friday Night party after the Community Keynote and it’s always been a lot of fun. But I’m telling you, this is a completely new event. Kirtsy pulled in my sister, Jordan of Oh Happy Day, to help. And friends, she is an event genius. It’s going to blow your mind. And your head. And your brain.
When you make your Friday Night BlogHer plans, put the Gala at the top of your list.
P.S. — Are you going to the party? Are you being honored at the party? Fantastic! Pick up some blog bling here (scroll down) .
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Have I told you about my crazy breasts? They are vastly different sizes. I am so lopsided that when I catch a glimpse of myself just out of the shower, I have to call Ben Blair to come witness the insanity (Ben! Come see! You will not believe this!!).
Click here to find out why my breasts are so lopsided.
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Have you seen this? Cricut (the die-cutting machines I wrote about here) has a food version. It cuts out sheets of edible materials like gum paste, cookie dough, and frosting sheets. The cutouts can then be used for decorating cupcakes or cookies. And just this week, Martha Stewart introduced a collaboration with Cricut Cake. The Martha team has come up with 3 cartridges full of gorgeous designs.
I’m fascinated with the idea of these precise food cutouts. They look so pretty — and I can imagine all sorts of gorgeous creations made from them. But I secretly wonder if this preciseness will signal some sort of food backlash — where the newest, coolest cupcakes will be sloppily slathered with something yummy in a very un-precise, undecorated way. : )
What do you think? Are you a food cut-out fan?
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I’ve been craving change in my house (do you think it’s the summer doldrums?). Sometimes, something simple like new pillow covers will do the trick nicely. I like the fun offerings from Annily Green. The Beep Pillow made me laugh.
What do you do when you’re craving change?
P.S. — Know what else makes me laugh? This series of Tips for Not Very Good Homemakers from Kacy. (The tips are actually totally useful. But everything Kacy writes makes me laugh.)
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Ask Design Mom Question:
Dear Design Mom, I’ve just had my third child, and finally invested in a nice DSLR to photograph my kids. I already carry around a huge bag for baby stuff and kids snacks and my stuff. I want to have my DSLR handy for outings or day trips, but I don’t want to carry an ugly clumsy camera bag along with my usual bag. Any recommendations on a nice DSLR camera bag, that maybe big enough to carry a changing pad and sippy and personal items? or maybe a DSLR bag that’s small enough to protect the camera and fit into a big diaper bag? What do you carry your DSLR in? Thanks! — Beverly
Design Mom Answer:
Great question, Beverly! And I have a great answer for you. When I was at Mom 2.0 in February, all the hip photographers (like Chookooloonks and Tracey Clark) were carrying very chic handbag/camera bags. They’re called Epiphanie Bags and they come in a great colors and styles.
What about you, Dear Readers? What do you use to tote your camera plus kid supplies?
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