Ask Design Mom — Curly Hair

Ask Design Mom Question:
I have to know about your hair! I have naturally curly hair as well and I NEED to know what products you use in your hair. (Shampoo, Conditioner, Gel or Mousse... seems so personal but all of these things affect the result.) I have wasted tons of money on so many products and they all give different results. Also, do you air dry or diffuse? Thanks, Missy

Design Mom Answer:
Thanks for the question, Missy. I actually find this question in my inbox frequently. And then I totally nod my head in sympathy because as a fellow curly headed person I totally know the frustration of figuring out a hair process and knowing how to deal with curls in all sorts of situations (like humid New York vs. bone dry Denver).

Here's the basic process that works for me: In the shower, I shampoo lightly and then heavily condition and let the conditioner soak in for a few minutes while I'm soaping up. I'm fairly relaxed about products — something luxurious from the salon is always a treat, but I'm equally satisfied with a variety of drugstore brands. Right now, my favorite is Infusium because the conditioner is really thick.

After the shower, I gently(!) towel dry my hair. I don't run my fingers through it or brush or comb it — the key is to not separate the curls. Next, I fill my palm with a mix of leave-in conditioner and hair gel — again, I'm not too particular about brands — and work the combo through my hair. (Note: don't brush or comb or pull your fingers through your hair to work in the product, just kind of moosh/scrunch it in everywhere.)

Then I let my hair air-dry till it's about 75% dry — while I put on my makeup and get dressed. Finally I flip my head upside down and use a hair-dryer with a diffuser to finish drying the roots. Diffusing with my hair upside down gives more lift at the roots so the curls don't look like they're dragging.

Last two tips: 1) I only get my hair fully wet every 3rd or 4th day. For showers during non-shampoo days, I just pull it up into a bun so it doesn't get wet. 2) At hair appointments, I make sure to keep my layers trimmed — especially around my face. Otherwise the curls get too heavy and my hair forms a gigantic triangle.

And that's it. The book Curly Girl helped me quite a bit in how I approach my hair. I don't follow all of its guidelines, but it's definitely a great place to start if you're frustrated with your curls (or your child's curls). In fact, if you like it, you could totally give a copy to your hairdresser.

What about you Fellow Curly Girls? Do you have any favorite haircare products or haircare tips?

Images of curly haired peeps from Bumble & Bumble.

Ask Design Mom — Flowergirl Dresses

Ask Design Mom Question:

Hi Gabrielle. My daughter will be the flowergirl in my sister's wedding on 10/10/10 here in Southern California. (She is 5 years old.) We are looking for unique flowergirl dresses for the outdoor event. Any clothing company recommendations? We are thinking non-white for the little ones in the wedding. Thanks. Stephanie

Design Mom Answer:
Thanks for the question, Stephanie! What a memorable date for a wedding. Love it. My first thought is to send you to Crewcuts. It's a super-dependable source for wedding-appropriate kid stuff. Check their everyday dresses and their wedding/party dresses.

But there are also a million other great sources. Depending on how formal the wedding will be, you might like the offerings at Dagmar Daley, Ses Petites Mains or this Hanji dress from Tea Collection.

What about you, Dear Readers? Where do you shop for wedding clothes for little kids?

Ask Design Mom — DIY Baby Photos

Ask Design Mom Question:
My question is this, I am wanting to research how to take the best baby photos DIY style and I swear there is a website out there that you can sign up for (pay a subscription to) to get tips, hints, etc. I also swear I learned about it here on Design Mom. Does this ring a bell to you? Thank you so much. Danya (like Tanya but with a D)

Design Mom Answer:
Great question, Danya! I'm not sure if it's pregnancy brain or what, but I only have the vague-est memory of mentioning a website about DIY baby photos. I can not for the life of me remember what the site is. So I'm going to put this lovely question to my readers, and I'm sure they'll come up with wonderful answers.

Dear Readers, do you have any favorite sources for learning how to take photos of your babies? Maybe a website or book that has taught you some terrific tips? (This doesn't answer the question, but I love these polaroids my sister Jordan had taken during Roman's birth.)

Ask Design Mom — Calendars

Ask-Design-Mom-Question:
I'm looking for the perfect wall calendar that has beautiful pictures and squares for writing in each day. Have you found anything unique out there? Thanks! — Caroline

Design Mom Answer:
Great question, Caroline. Embarrassingly, I am super late to the calendar shopping game this year. I mean, goodness gracious, it's February! Please excuse me. And now to your question. Since you're looking for squares to write in, here are four beautiful options:

-This pretty patterned one by Letter C Design.
-A colorful, illustrated calendar by Jess Gonacha.
-Monthly illustrations featuring urban landscapes by Jen Oaks.
-Gorgeous, spare, collages from Gretchen Mist (on sale!).

These don't have squares to write in, but I thought they were interesting and have been meaning to share them:



-I ADORE the illustrations on this one by Stephanie Fizer. Only 3 left!
-A print-your-own version to track birthdays.
-Are you a maker, a sewer, a crafter? You'll love the pretty photos on the Purl Soho Calendar.



-A print-your-own version that would be perfect in a smaller space.
-That's fun. A calendar printed on fabric at Spoonflower.
-Use Shutter Sister's template to add your own photos and display in a CD Case.
-This animal-themed calendar for kids is adorable. You can customize it. And then frame it as a series.



-Looking for a bold statement on the wall? This is your calendar. By SusyJack.
-Oh! I love this very modern letterpress design from See Saw. And it's a bargain at $15.

How about you, Dear Readers? What is your calendar this year?

Ask Design Mom — Striped Socks

Ask-Design-Mom-Question:
I am having a hard time finding some really cool striped socks for my husband. Any suggestions? Thanks. — Candace.

Design Mom Answer:
Thanks for your question, Candace! Stripey socks make me happy. I went straight to Ben Blair for suggestions and he sent me to Smart Turnout and JCrew for good-looking, colorful choices. Also, I noticed in a recent issue of GQ, Glenn O'Brien, the style guy, recommends both J. Press and Corgi.

Dear Readers, let's help Candace out. Do you have any terrific striped sock sources?

Ask Design Mom — File Cabinets

Ask Design Mom Question:
I was wondering if you could recommend some websites that sell attractive file cabinets. Specifically, I am looking for a vertical 4 drawer unit that will be visible from my open family room. We live in a condo. Maybe something silvery and retro? Many thanks — Elissa

Design Mom Answer:
Hi Elissa. Thanks for the question! Here are a few ideas. If you're looking for silvery and retro, ebay or college surplus sales are a good place to start. In fact, one of the pieces of furniture we left behind in New York was an old-school, Steelcase, 4-drawer filing cabinet that I picked up at a university surplus sale for $10. Woot! And then spray painted black. (We've since switched to file boxes stored in a closet — in case you're curious.)



If I was to do it again, after hunting down an older file cabinet, instead of painting it, I would take it to a metal shop and have it stripped and polished to look like one of the beauties from The Old Cinema pictured above.

Want something new? I think the Precision Kurve cabinets from Metalon are very good-looking.

Feeling a DIY moment coming on? You could buy a standard cabinet from Staples and customize. Decoupage? Huge shipping stencils? Giant magnets?



What about you, Dear Readers? Seen any good-looking file cabinets lately? How do you like this wall of extra-tall file drawers — as seen in Jill Brown's store. Lovely, no?

Ask Design Mom — Wrapping Paper Sources

Ask Design Mom Question:
My parents (probably by accident) started a tradition of wrapping all my presents in the same wrapping paper every year. I think it was a super sale of a hardware store that was going out of business and they sold their commercial sized wrapping paper roll. I am finally about to run out! Hah! I would like to find a way to have that same paper design reproduced on a new commercial sized roll of wrapping paper for my five month-old. Any sources? As a backup option, any sources for buying commercial sized wrapping paper to start a new design? Thanks — Nicole

Design Mom Answer:
What a fun tradition and great question, Nicole. If I was trying to reproduce a roll of wrapping, I would start by taking a sample of the remaining paper to any local printer. They would be able to a) scan and print the paper, b) outsource the work for me to a different printer with correct machinery, or c) direct me toward other printers in my area who could handle printing a commercial size roll. Be aware — this will not be an inexpensive project — but I'm guessing you know that already.

If you decide to start again with a brand new design (a much more economical option), here are some links to online sources that sell commercial-size rolls — Mac Paper, Nu-Era and Gift Wrap Gifts. Good luck on your hunt! I hope you can find/print something wonderful.

What would you advise Nicole, Dear Readers? Any good bulk-size wrapping paper sources? Also, I wonder if I could contact Paper Source and get bulk-rolls of some of the pretty designs above?

Ask Design Mom — What Kind of Camera do You Use?

Ask Design Mom Question: Hi Gabrielle, I just had to write and ask about your photography skills. What kind of camera do you use? The light is always perfect! Thanks for the blog. — Sally

Design Mom Answer: Thanks for writing, Sally. The what-kind-of-camera-do-you-use question actually shows up in my inbox pretty often — but I don't know that I've ever answered it on the blog. So here it is. On Christmas 2008, Ben Blair gave me a Canon 50D with a 50mm 1:1.4 lens. (Neither of us knows much about cameras, so Ben asked my brother Jared for advice and Jared told him exactly what to buy.)

A year has now passed and I still (shamefully) use this very good camera like a point and shoot. I keep intending to take a photography class and I keep not doing it. But honestly, it's hard to go wrong with this set up — it just seems to take beautiful pictures despite my very amateur skills. (Do you like the shot above?) My advice: if you're in need of good photography advice, stop in at Shutter Sisters and ask away.

In related news, Nikon sent me a Coolpix L100 to use for a couple of months. (I used it for the first time at the rodeo.) I'm looking forward to seeing what it can do.

What about you, Dear Readers? What do you shoot with? Do you have a pocket camera? A favorite lens? Where do you like to go for photography advice/learning?

Ask Design Mom — Having Another Child

Ask-Design-Mom-Questions:
I have a strong yearning for another child and am looking for an infallible way to decide whether to take the plunge (just joking, I know it’s a leap of faith, but am looking for advice from people who might know about these things). What factors would do you take into consideration upon deciding whether to have another child? Thanks for taking the time to answer. — Sarah

Hi Gabrielle. I would like to have a big family as well. I'm married almost 2 years and we are looking to start our family in a year or so. A few questions: How far apart are your children in age? Did you plan to have so many children? Did you plan to have them x amount of years apart? Thanks. — Venessa

Design Mom Answer: These are such worthy questions. Thank you for sending them, Sarah and Venessa. The answer to how many kids you should have and how they should be spaced is, of course, super personal. And everyone reading has a different opinion and answer.

I'll share what my basic plan was. And hopefully readers will let you know how they've come to their family-size decisions as well. I need to make very clear: this was our plan. I'm not advocating it to anyone else. Period.

When I married at 21, I talked with Ben Blair about a basic plan. We both came from big families and wanted lots of kids. I wanted to be done bearing children by 35 — the age many risks increase. (Edit: apparently 35-as-riskier is a bit of a myth — but I didn't know that at 21.) So I thought: let's have our 1st at 23 (when we're done with school) and then have one every other year at 25, 27, 29, 31. And if we want more, we can have #6 at 33 and #7 at 35. Done and done.

How it really happened: we had our first at 23, our 2nd at 24, our 3rd at 27, our 4th at 30 and 5th at 31. Number 6 is due when I'm 35.

Basically, as soon as we made the plan we discovered we had no control over the plan. Very few of us are lucky enough to conceive or adopt exactly when and where we want to. And very few of us have such an ordered life and are wise enough that the plans we make at 21 still make sense at 31.

Bottom line: feel free to make a plan, but get really comfortable with the idea that the plan might not work. Some people (including me) find praying helps them feel settled about the decisions they make for their family. Others depend on counsel from friends and loved ones. Ultimately, I hope you'll feel confident that you can know what's best for your family.

Dear Readers, how about you? How many kids do you want to have? Are you done? How do you decide when to add more children to your families?

Ask Design Mom — Homemade Gifts Kids can Make

Ask-Design-Mom-Question: I was inspired by your site to have my children make gifts for one another this year. I was trying to find your previous posts about the gifts you have made in the past, but I was only able to find one. I would love it if you could gather all of these ideas in one place. Thanks in advance. — Kristin

Design Mom Answer: Thanks for the question, Kristin. I've actually been getting lots of similar requests — readers wanting to know what we've made in the past, and what we're making this year. I'll start with a short explanation — four years ago, based on the artsy-craftsy tendencies of my kids, we decided that the siblings would make each other gifts for Christmas. It's become a fun tradition. One the whole family looks forward to. You can read my original post about it here.



What our plans are for this year:
Note: these plans are subject to change depending on my whims. Or if a better idea falls in my lap.

Ralph is making —
-Jump Ropes for Maude and Olive
The girls want to learn double-dutch, so we'll be happy to have two long jump-ropes to add to the family sports equipment.
-Blurb Photo Books for Oscar and Betty

Maude is making —
-A Night Light Cover for Oscar and Betty's room
-A Sketch Book with a Decoupaged Cover for Ralph
-Legwarmers for Olive (inspired by the comments on this post)



Olive is making —
Olive will be using potato stamps (a la Martha Stewart) and fabric ink to customize...
-Boxers for Ralph
-A hoodie for Maude
-A t-shirt for Oscar
-A t-shirt dress for Betty



Oscar and Betty are making —
Not sure yet, but I'm thinking about these darling cakes in a jar — both Oscar and Betty love helping in the kitchen, so this might be a perfect fit. They could give an individual jar to each sibling.

Links to what we've made in past years:
- Tutu, decoupaged bucket for matchbox cars, after-school bags, tiedye tees
- Flower headbands
- Wool mittens from recycled sweaters, embellished dragon mittens, sculpey bracelets, bibs, snowglobes and romper stompers made from cans 

- Bubble bath, circle loom scarf
- Ribbon barrettes, painted t-shirt
- Bean bags, heating pad, hand chalk (for gymnastics), iPod cover

I hope you find these links and ideas helpful. What about you Dear Readers? Do your kids make gifts for their siblings? What are they making this year?

Ask Design Mom — Embroidery on Stockings

Ask Design Mom Question:
I've made felt stockings for Christmas and want to embroider our names on the top. Any suggestions for how to do this without an embroidery machine?? I want a chic style (I think I have the ability to do a satin stitch on my machine though...) Thank you so much. — Carissa R



Design Mom Answer:
Sounds like fun! I haven't personally done much embroidery since my tween years in the 4-H, but I've noticed a couple of inspiring embroidery images on my sister Jordan's blog. I'm not sure that they are the styles you have in mind, but both the ribbon embroidery and the negative space embroidery seem super chic to me.

What do you suggest, Dear Readers? Any embroidery experts out there that can offer advice, ideas or source links?

Fruit & veggie image here. Hello image here.

Ask Design Mom — First Christmas Present

Ask Design Mom Question:
So, here is my dilemma. Because of when my baby is due — and the latest date my doctor will let me go before inducing — the little guy's first Christmas will be when he is at most a few weeks old and at least, 3 days old. So what to do? What kind of gifts do you get for a brand new baby? I, of course, want it to be special since it will be his first Christmas but it seems silly to buy a bunch of stuff that he will be too young to use or even know exists. Any feedback you or the readers could give would be great! Thanks. — Jennifer

Design Mom Answer:
Early Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your baby, Jennifer! How exciting. I think many mothers with babies born in December stress about the closeness of the birthday and the holidays. I don't blame them — it's a lot to think about in one month.

But for this first Christmas, you're super lucky. I agree that it's "silly to buy a bunch of stuff that he will be too young to use or even know exists." Instead think "heirloom" and look for something more commemorative that he'll appreciate when he's older. For example, when the new millenium was coming, I had two babies and wanted to give them both something to mark the event. For Ralph, I had a sterling silver yo-yo engraved with an R. For Maude, I had a sterling silver star-shaped pendant engraved with her name and "2000." My thinking was that they'll be able to tell their grandkids they were alive (just barely) when the new millenium arrived — and pull out their souvenirs to make the story more interesting. : )



Julian & Co. just introduced a product that might be perfect for this. It's a 6-sided pendant that can be engraved on each side — and further used as a wax seal imprinter. Very cool. You can read more about it here.

What about you Dear Readers? What would you do to celebrate a newborn's first Christmas?

Ask Design Mom — Dinner Help

Ask Design Mom Question:
Dear Design Mom, dinnertime and menu making is my nemesis. How do you handle your dinner planning? — Margo

Design Mom Answer:
Oh Margo. This is a question I should be asking. Dinner is my nemesis too! Tonight we ate spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread — so exotic. I have a few suggestions, but I'll mostly leave this to my Dear Readers, who no doubt will give you excellent advice.

1) Look for blogs and websites that post weekly menus. My lovely sister-in-law Erin posts hers occasionally (all menu links are in her sidebar). And there are other great menu sites as well.

2) Look for recipe books that focus on fast or simple dinners. Martha Stewart just published one called Dinner at Home. Her company sent me a copy and the first recipe I tried was #3:

Roast Salmon and Potatoes
Mustard-Herb Butter
Haricots Verts with Tapenade

We used green beans instead of Haricots Verts and skipped the Tapenade, but otherwise, made it as directed and it was a big winner with the whole family. Plus, it really was easy and fast. Plus also, since it's a Martha Stewart book, it's really beautiful to look at.

Dear Readers, how do you handle meal-planning, menus and dinner ideas?

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Note from Design Mom:
Hey Friends! My inbox is still crazy full of Ask-Design-Mom questions. So instead of waiting a few months and then hosting another Ask-Design-Mom-Week, I thought I'd try dedicating Mondays to your questions. If I get feedback that no one is into it, I'll definitely rethink. — kisses, Gabrielle

Ask Design Mom Week — Baby Names

Question:
I'm wondering about baby names. I love love love your kids names and wonder where you got them. Is there a story behind each one or are they just favorites? Also, do you have any favorite resources for baby name finding? Ideas for baby #6? Thanks! — Sarah

photo credit here

Answer:
For Ben Blair and I, baby names have sometimes come easily and sometimes taken forever to decide. What we look for: well-recognized names (not invented ones), easy to pronounce, possibly fallen out of fashion — so that they're relatively unusual. If they have family connection, that's even better. Our baby name stories in brief:

-During my first pregnancy, once we knew it was a boy, he was instantly Ralph Wallace Blair. Ralph is my dad's dad. Wallace is Ben's dad's dad (and Ben's middle name). We really liked the name Ralph. And my father passed away while I was pregnant with Ralph, so we like honoring his family.

-Once Ralph was picked, we felt like our future kids' names should fit with it — maybe come from the same time or generation. We decided on the name Maude at a family funeral on Ben's side of the family, where we discovered it on two family gravestones (Ben's great grandmother and great aunt). At the last minute we added Emma as a middle name, because there was some nervousness that the name Maude would be too unusual. So she's Maude Emma Blair. (Sometimes we regret the Emma. It's a little random.)

-The name Olive we found in a book. It was the name of the mother of a great man (can not remember for the life of me what the book was). I could imagine two old ladies named Maude and Olive playing canasta at a card table and I knew it fit. Olive's full name is Olive Jean Blair. Jean is my mother's middle name and a popular name on Ben's side of the family as well.

-Oscar was suggested by our friends. It was on their short list, but they ended up not using it. The full name is Oscar Stanley Groberg Blair. (Stanley is my maiden name. Groberg is Ben's Mom's maiden name.) Once, someone (mis)heard the name and said, wow, Oscar and Grover? You guys must really love Sesame Street.

-I have no memory of where or when we decided on the name Betty. But we deliberately did not give her a middle name. Because Betty Blair sounds so great — like the name of the alter ego of a superhero.

-We don't know what we're naming baby #6. We've decided we won't even think about it till we know if it's a boy or a girl. Any suggestions?

I'd love to hear your name stories, Dear Readers. How do you come up with names? What are your favorite name sources?

Ask Design Mom Week — 6-Year-Old Birthday Party Ideas

Question:
My niece is turning 6 next year and I'd like to plan a birthday party for her. Do you have any suggestions for party plans? I'd like to know! — love, Priscilia


Answer:
What a nice Aunt! Here are links to some of the favorite parties I've hosted or posted about over the last few years. Any of these could be adapted for a 6-year-old.

-Round & Round Circles Party (you could also make this a polka-dot party)
-Young Einsteins Science Party
-Spa Day or Yoga Party
-Adventure Rock-Climbing Party
-Les Petites Chefs Cooking Party

How about you, Dear Readers, what are your favorite birthday themes?

Ask Design Mom Week — Playroom Mats

Question:
Have you ever put together a play room for an infant learning to crawl and walk? I'm looking for something for the floor. I've been looking at Jigsaw Mats but wondered if you've ever come across anything a little nicer looking. Thanks. — Sarah



Answer:
Fun to put together a playroom! Those jigsaw mats look cute, but I think an easy upgrade would be Flor tiles. They come in dozens and dozens of patterns, thicknesses and colors. And they are designed to be easy to care for. In fact, with some of Flor's options, if you have a spill, you can just pick up the individual tile and run it under the sink. Nice.

In the Room To Grow article I designed for Parents Magazine, we used Flor's circular rug kits and they were adorable.

Dear Readers, what do you like on your playroom floor?

Ask Design Mom Week — Teacher Gifts

Question:
I need help with an idea! I'm on the PTA hospitality committee and we do Christmas gifts for all the teachers and staff (about 70 people — men and women). We are struggling to come up with an idea for this year — our budget is very limited (about $200 - TOTAL). In the past we've done: homemade caramel apples, white chocolate popcorn, Christmas potpourri.... Do you have any craft or cooking ideas for us? — Thanks, Cherie'




Answer:
Hi Cherie! Here's the first thing to come to my mind. Last Christmas, my friends Laura and Lisa made homemade vanilla extract (you know, like you'd use in baking) and packaged it in charming little bottles. I've been wanting to try the same idea for ages! In addition to vanilla extract, they also made vanilla sugar, vanilla almonds and lip gloss too. You can find more photos and instructions (and label pdfs!) here. Between those 4 ideas, hopefully everyone on your list will be covered. But if not, I'm sure my super smart readers will have tons more suggestions.

Dear Readers, what would you do if you were Cherie and needed to find gifts (on a limited budget) for teachers and staff at your school?

Ask Design Mom Week — Family Christmas Gift

Question:
My husband's family always draws names for gift giving. This year we are gifting to his sister's family; they have six kids and a total of eight people. (Which made me think of you ;)). I'm wondering if you know of any good gift ideas that the whole family could enjoy, or perhaps a something we could get for each family member that wouldn't break the bank. The kids range in age from 3-14. Thanks! — Lynnette



Answer:
Another great question. My family picks names as well. One of the favorite gifts we've ever received was a collection of Nativity Dress-ups my sister put together from thrift store finds. It's awesome. And really good for a wide range of ages. You can see my post about it here.

Dear Readers, I'm sure you have tons of good suggestions for Lynnette. What do you like to give for "family" gifts?

Ask Design Mom Week — Blogging Advice

Question:
I just started my own blog this month! It looks boring, I have no followers, and I feel left out of the "Blogging Circle." Can you give me some tips on how to make my blog better? — Tanya



Answer:
Thanks for the question, Tanya. I'll start by saying, you're not alone. I think I get questions along these lines more than any others. How do I grow my blog? How do I get sponsors? How do I change my header? How do I decide on a blog topic?

But I confess, I don't answer as often as I'd like. For a few reasons. One, the answers are long. Long enough that people teach multiple classes and hold multi-day conferences to try to cover the answers adequately. Two, because I try (I can't say I always succeed) to limit this blog to topics at the intersection of design and motherhood. Three, because bummer for me, in a given week, I'm only able to respond to about 20% of my email. If that.

But since it is Ask-Design-Mom-Week, I thought I'd at least take a minute to say: it's not too late. You can still get into the blogging and social media scene. You can still start a site. You can still participate. You can still build something new. You can still grow what you've created.

If you feel like you've missed the boat, you haven't. If you feel like you're not in the club, it's a false perception. Period. This whole scene is still new enough that people are reinventing it everyday. Starting from scratch. Coming up with new and brilliant interpretations of how this whole thing could work. Just yesterday, I received an email from two friends who have started a new blog. It's called the Sweeterie and it's different than anything I've seen before. A super smart, simple concept. And it's beautiful. And I have no doubt it will grow. What will it grow into? Who knows. We'll find out in a couple of years.

Can I promise that your audience will grow super fast? Nope. Most audiences don't. There are a few instant successes, but most people that are doing this for a living, built their audiences slowly over several years. Just like any small business. Are there techniques to help you jumpstart growing your community? For sure. And that's why people attend conferences (like Alt and Mom2Summit — two conferences that Kirtsy plans the programming and panels for). To find out the best ideas and most effective ways to work in this space.

But the advice you'll hear most often, every time the topic of growing your audience comes up, is: comment and participate. Get out there. Comment on the blogs you like, big and small. If there's a blog party or Mr. Linky, try it out. If you see people mentioning NaBloPoMo, click the link and find out what it is. If you see buttons for a conference, ask about it. The more you explore, the more likely you'll find the perfect social media fit for you.

Dear Readers, what advice would you add to this topic?

Ask Design Mom Week — Christmas Tree Decor

Question:
I'm in a new house, new life and looking ahead to the holidays, I realized that our decade plus years of marriage/college/med school/residency tree decor might be in need of a slight makeover this year. I'm just looking for ideas — new, old, swanky, homestyle, yadda, yadda. Any advice or pictures to find, etc.? Thanks! — Stacey



Answer:
Love this question, Stacey. People have strong opinions about Christmas Trees: They should have the same decorations each year — it's tradition! They should be filled with ornaments made by children! They should be flocked! Flocked trees should be outlawed! They should change themes every year! Only fresh trees count! If it's not pre-lit, I won't use it!

Feel free to have whatever opinions you prefer for your own tree. It seems to be such a personal, emotional thing. Depending on some mix of childhood memories, current marketing schemes and adult expectations. And there's no right answer. Just know this, when you put lots of twinkling lights and pretty baubles on a tree. In your living room. And turn the house lights low. It's bound to be beautiful.

But if you're really wanting a change this year, Stacey, this is what I'd recommend. Hit the holiday aisle at your favorite store (let's say Target) and find an ornament you love the best. Your very favorite one. And then build a tree around it.

If it's a white feathered bird, then you could do the whole tree in birds and nests and white accents. If your favorite ornament is a gold glittery ball. Why not go gold all the way. Gold ornaments. Gold snowflakes. Gold ribbon. If you're starting from scratch, focusing on one color will definitely give you the biggest impact for the least amount of money. (I love the ornament pictured from Crate & Barrel.)

Looking for more inspiration? Martha has dozens of Christmas Tree ideas here.

What about you, Dear Readers? Any opinions on Christmas Tree decor?

Ask Design Mom Week — Book Binding Service

Question:
I am looking for an inexpensive way to print and bind books. Is there a website you have used and would recommend? Or an easy do it yourself technique? All the best to you and your family. — Becca




Answer:
For sure, Becca. This is actually a great time for people like you and I, who might want to get one or two books bound — but not necessarily a thousand. There are several online sources that provide such a service. Most are designed for uploading and showcasing photographs. But there's no reason you can't use them for showcasing writing or drawings as well. And in my opinion, they're all surprisingly economical — not that long ago it was very expensive to get a single book bound.

The service I'm most familiar with is Blurb. (You can see their samples in the photos above.) And I know my sister-in-law, had good luck printing a book with Shutterfly. If you prefer the handmade route, I recommend looking up a local class. It is very satisfying (but not necessarily easy) to bind your own book.

Dear Readers, do you have a favorite book-printing service?

Ask Design Mom Week — Thanksgiving Invitations

Question:
I was hoping you might have some ideas on cute handmade Thanksgiving invitations. If you can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it! Thanks for all the great ideas. — Christine B



Answer:
Oooh. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever sent out Thanksgiving invitations. But now I'm loving the idea. How much fun to receive an actual invitation — instead of text message confirming your attendance. : )

Having never sent Thanksgiving Invitations, I can't say that I have a ton of good sources at my finger tips. But I do remember seeing the cute invitations above, designed by Good On Paper, on Anh Mihn's blog last year. They're not handmade, but they are fantastic.

Dear Readers, how about you? What are the prettiest handmade Thanksgiving Invitations you've spotted?

Ask Design Mom Week — Journals

Question:
I'm looking for a journal that's appropriate for kids. Any good ideas? Thanks. — Kathryn



Answer:
Great question. The favorite kids journal at our house is called This Is Me. It's full of great prompter questions. Lots of space for drawings or pasting in ticket stubs. And it has a handy little pocket at the back for tucking away keepsakes.

Also, I haven't tried these myself, but I think the Between You & Me journals look good too. Inside each are fun, non-sappy, sometimes humorous questions. Give them to the people you love and they are returned with handwritten responses.

Want more ideas? One of my recent guest moms wrote a terrific round-up of all sorts of journals.

Dear Readers, do your kids have a favorite journal?

Ask Design Mom Week — Legwarmers

Question:
My daughter Rosie has just started kindergarten, and her school requires uniforms (white tops + navy or khaki bottoms or dresses). Of course she prefers skirts and dresses or jumpers, but all the ones we have are above the knee, and she complains her legs get chilly. In my school uniform days, cable-knit knee socks were the norm, but I've got my heart set on finding her some sweet scrunchy legwarmers, preferably in cream or navy — not sure wild colors would be uniform-approved. Have you seen any darling school-day legwarmers recently? Thanks!! — Amanda T.



Answer:
Legwarmers! Love the question, but I don't have a ready answer. For baby-size, there are several options (like the leggies pictured from Oeuf). And I remember my last 3 pairs of grown-up-size legwarmers were purchased at a dance supply store, H&M and Target. But I don't remember seeing kid-size legwarmers lately. So I'll turn this question over to my Dear Readers.

Dear Readers, have you seen any great sources for school-kid legwarmers?

Ask Design Mom Week — Family Pictures

Question:
What is your advice for taking a great family picture? (Note: I do not wish to have a statuesque portrait of my toddler and newborn in khaki and white on the beach — this is a real family picture. So lets keep it real.) Thanks. — Leslie



Answer:
Loving all these questions! And this is no exception, Leslie. We should probably turn to a photographer to answer this one, but I'll do my best.

1) Take the time to find a great photographer. Look through portfolios. Keep your eye open for someone who's style you like. I love my family photos by Candace Stringham. I love Jared & Liz's family photos by Jonathon Canlas. I love my portrait by Justin Hackworth. And I love Nie's family photos by Blue Lily. But all have very different styles.

2) Once you've scheduled a date with a photographer, take some time to think about what you want. Talk over your ideas and plans with the photographer. Or look to them for guidance. You may want to discuss whether or not you need a photo stylist. Here's a post I wrote about getting ready for our Central Park photo shoot.

3) As far as family photo trends go, this is what I've observed: 10 or 15 years ago it was all about matching denim shirts. (Awesome!) Then. DSLR cameras became more afforable and thus widespread. Suddenly, everyone was a photographer. And family photos trended to candid, up close shots — photographed by your best friend or neighbor. What's happening now? A more editorial style — as if the family photo is being shot for your favorite magazine.

My main advice for right this minute: feel free to pick a color scheme, but you don't need to wear matching shirts. Unless you're going for this look. Which is admittedly rad (I'm #7).

What about you, Dear Readers? What do you do to ensure great family photos?