Design Mom — The Intersection of Design & Motherhood

Kayaking in the Fjords

May 15, 2013

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai.
Text by Gabrielle. Images by Gabrielle and Ben Blair.

I’m still going through the bazillion photos from our trip to Norway, but I’m impatient to share one of the trip highlights: Kayaking in the Fjords. As you may remember, a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Jordan and Liz zip-lining through the Redwoods. Well, the whole family was really inspired by their adventure and we’ve been craving an epic family playdate for ourselves.

Since I knew we had a trip to Norway on the schedule, I started searching out activities that would be amazing and that the whole family could participate in — which is sometimes tricky when the youngest is 2 (actually 3! she had her birthday on this trip) and the oldest is 15. Kayaking was perfect!

kayaking in the fjords_1

We weren’t sure when and where we would find kayaks during our stay, but in this case, flying by the seat of our pants worked out really well. On one night of our trip, we stayed in charming cabins that were right on a fjord in a tiny town called Aurland.

We knew we needed to catch a ferry at 3:00 the next day, but the morning was free for exploring. And luckily, there were kayaks to rent just down the road (just look for the “padling” sign). Fantastic!

More photos and more report ahead.

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Not Just A Girl

May 15, 2013

By Gabrielle. Images from Jaime C. Moore.

On the occasion of her daughter’s fifth birthday, Jaime thought and thought and thought some more about the perfect way to capture this age and all the hopes that go along with it. (She’s a photographer, and her pictures really are worth a thousand words!)

But instead of a pink princess theme, Jaime and Emma went a tad more realistic, honoring five women — five real women — who have changed Emma’s life for the better. Who have changed all of our lives for the better, even though we’ve probably never met them. Susan B. Anthony, Coco Chanel, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, and Jane Goodall.

In Jaime’s words, “My daughter wasn’t born into royalty, but she was born into a country where she can now vote, become a doctor, a pilot, an astronaut, or even President if she wants…I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything.”

This put a lump in my throat. Hope gets me every single time.

P.S. — Thank you for the link, Sunshine!

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Living With Kids: DeNai Jones

May 14, 2013

By Gabrielle. Photography on location by Nancy Neil.

As soon as I learned I was pregnant with Ralph (or maybe it was Maude!), I started the search for the perfect diaper bag. It seemed very, very important at the time to choose the one that would convey the following messages: I have a new baby, I am stylish, and Even though I may look a little overwhelmed and as though I’m flying by the seat of my pants, look at my cool diaper bag. I am still stylish. Whatever I need to calm this baby is definitely inside this amazing diaper bag. My expectations were high!

Back then and ever since, the one bag that practically sang “I am still stylish!” from every boutique shelf was most likely a Petunia Pickle Bottom. An unforgettably playful name, bold designs I’d never seen used for a utility bag, and constructed so smartly in fabrics strong enough to withstand spit-up and park grime while chic enough to bring along on date night for three. Needless to say, I’ve been an admirer of DeNai Jones before I even knew she existed! Imagine my delight that she and her stunning home are decorating the front page of Design Mom today. Friends, meet the designer behind the brilliant Petunia Pickle Bottom. Welcome, DeNai!

Q: Please tell us who makes this house a home.

A: Come on in! We’re happy to have you. Alongside me are my husband Braden, who I’m lucky to say is also one of my business partners as Petunia Pickle Bottom’s CEO, and our two sons, Sutton (7) and Miller (5). We’re privileged to live in the seaside town of Ventura, California, just south of the Central Coast, close enough to L.A. to make use of the airport and just down the hill from Ojai.

My hope is that anybody who comes over feels at home in our house. I’ve tried to create a space that reflects our lifestyle as a beach-loving family who loves to travel, have friends and family over, and share good meals and conversation around the dinner table. The house was built in 1926 and is a classic California beach town bungalow that soaks up lots of natural light, has a good amount of sunny outdoor space, and is the perfect place for us to do our favorite things like playing hide n’ seek, doing arts and crafts projects, gardening, baking cookies, reading books in our hammock, and walking down to the beach or local Farmer’s Market. We’re lucky to have a climate and a home that allows us to live outdoors during most of the year, and keep the windows open to take in the ocean breeze.

There’s a hammock that will make you wish for lazy summer days, up next!

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Flying Houses

May 14, 2013

By Gabrielle. Flying Houses by Laurent Chehere.

Here. A few photos to kick your imagination into overdrive just in case your week already needs a little lift.

Wouldn’t it be fun to travel by house? Think of the time you’d save on packing! Ha. (Oh, dear. I think the Fjordieth festivities and travel fatigue are getting to me!)

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Home

May 13, 2013

Flam Train Stop, Norway

Image and text by Gabrielle.

We are on our way home today. Taxi to shuttle to airplane to car. It will be a long day, and it will feel so good to get home again!

Friends, have you ever felt like you’ve had your fill of travel? I confess, I’m ready to sit still for awhile and put the suitcases away. And I keep wondering how long the feeling will last. A year? Only a few weeks? Will I be feeling the wanderlust again by Friday? : )

This trip has been epic. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s the last big trip before we move back to the United States. And it definitely felt like a grand finale. I can’t wait to share a full report!

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Are You a Helicopter Parent?

May 13, 2013

Are You a Helicopter Parent?

By Amy Hackworth. Image by Lizzy Stewart for the New York Times.

When our first child was about a year old, my husband and I took him to the neighborhood park, more for ourselves, I suppose, than for our baby since he was far too small for any of the playground equipment. My husband put our big-eyed baby boy about an arm’s length up the tube slide a few times and held him as he slid down.

Justin was enthusiastic about this new experience, but our son didn’t seem to like it much. He whimpered, and to my surprise, Justin continued to slide him down. Frustrated with this lack of parental response, I rushed over and grabbed our baby with some searing indictment about lackadaisical parenting.

I’d no sooner rescued him from his offending father and that awful tube slide than I turned indignantly away and conked little baby’s head full force on the metal playground pole.

Oops.

Find out if you’re a helicopter parent — click here.

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Book of the Week: Strega Nona

May 13, 2013

Images and text by Carter.

When I moved across the country almost seven years ago, my younger sister travelled with me. And when I arrived on the west coast after a long week of driving, it was late and dark. I didn’t know my roommate, my neighborhood, or why one of the only possessions I stuffed into the back of my little car was a broken green lamp with a crumpled shade.

Morning shed some light on my unfamiliar street, and on my unfamiliar house, and my sister said simply, “Looks like Strega Nona’s.” This book was woven into our history. With one quiet observation, all of the unsettled grumbles that echo around a new place hushed, and it became a little more like home. This is why stories matter.

Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola, is timeless. It’s the story of a grandma with a magic touch and hungry Big Anthony, who doesn’t. This is a book with an overeager heart and an overflowing pasta pot. I love my cautionary tales with a side of spaghetti, don’t you? And ever astute, Strega Nona rests comfortably once she takes care of that pasta problem — in her house, the one etched in my heart.

Do you have a book like this, one that stirs shared souls? Something wonderfully haunting and deeply comforting?

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A Few Things

May 10, 2013

Aurland, Norway

Image and text by Gabrielle.

Hello, Friends! How’s it going? We are still in jaw-dropping Norway. It is seriously stunning. We arrived in Bergen late last night, but it was so light, and we were so hungry, we took the whole family to dinner at around 10:00 PM. Hah! We are off our normal schedule for sure.

Hey. It’s Mother’s Day this Sunday. I hope you’re feeling okay about that. I know that for a lot of people, Mother’s Day is the most emotionally fraught holiday of the year. Maybe they feel they’re not a good mother. Or maybe they have a strained or chaotic relationship with their own mother. Or maybe their mother died and they’re heartbroken. Or maybe they long to be a mother themselves. It can be a rough day!

We go really light on Mother’s Day celebrations at our house — especially this particular weekend because we’re traveling — but if you’re in the mood for something festive, I can highly recommend this charming banner, these Big & Small projects, or this Momtract that made me laugh.

While we make site-seeing plans for the day, here are a few things I thought you might enjoy:

- Someone to thank the next time Downton Abbey airs before you have a chance to watch it!

- Cyber-parenting. (Do you friend your kids and your kids’ friends? Are you obsessive about monitoring their online behavior? So much to discuss here!)

- Mesmerizing. And I want a yoghurt. (Tell me if you got a little misty, too! Or am I just travel-weepy?)

- Such a beautiful story. Via Dooce.

- A lip-sync contest to make you smile and chair-dance at your computers!

- It’s true, isn’t it? Compliments from other women are the best.

- I know the April 15th deadline came and went, but our taxes were filed last weekend. Hooray! To celebrate, I invite everyone to watch this.

- Let’s get ready for picnic season!

- What Ali Wore. The many dapper outfits of an older Brooklyn gentleman.

- An artist collects DNA from found objects (like chewed gum!) to create 3D Portraits.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that you feel peace and joy on Mother’s Day whatever your circumstances. I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already.

kisses,
Gabrielle

P.S. — We’ve had 2 birthdays this week (Flora June and Betty) and have been celebrating on the go. We packed up balloons, birthday candles and some colorful papergoods so we could throw together an instant party — just add cake!

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Cooking Class

May 10, 2013

By Raleigh-Elizabeth. Image by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Falling in love with cooking is easy. Learning to cook is not.

Yesterday, Lindsey shared incredibly helpful cooking shortcuts, but what if you don’t know how to cook at all? It was years before I knew how to make pasta correctly. Even longer before I learned not to be afraid of risotto. And it’s only in the last few years that I learned what combination cooking is — and how it’s the absolute best way to make mouth-watering short-ribs, which I also learned I love.

And that’s all thanks to Rouxbe, our online cooking school.

As you know, I read cookbooks at bedtime and consider food memoirs the best fairytales out there. But no matter how delicious the story or salivating the food porn, none of these things taught me to cook. That’s a hands-on skill… one you’ll only perfect by watching someone else do it. For many people, that’s watching mom or dad. For others, it’s fond memories of a flour-dusted grandmother who executed baking prowess in the kitchen the likes of which the rest of us can only dream about.

For me, it’s paying a video-based cooking program out of Vancouver to school me in knife skills, frying, mastering homemade baguettes, and — life-changingly — how to poach an egg. Without the little poaching pods. (I’ll admit: Bill is the official egg poacher in our house. I make the hollandaise. Left to my own devices, I actually make ruffled eggs, which are the poor man’s saran-wrapped version of poaching pod eggs. It turns out that we all have skills, and poaching eggs is not one of mine. Eating them, yes.)

Keep reading — lots of good stuff ahead.

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Tea Collection Giveaway

May 9, 2013

By Gabrielle.

Here it comes. Another terrific giveaway that I know you’ll love! Tea Collection, which is one of my very favorite brands for kids, is offering a generous $150 gift certificate. Sweet!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m such a Tea Collection fan. They offer modern designs for kids and babies that are incredibly appealing. Their tagline is: Globally-inspired children’s clothes for little citizens of the world. And it’s so fitting! Browsing their catalog is like adding a little dose of travel to your day.

Over the last year, I’ve been lucky enough to get to know Emily, the founder of Tea Collection, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the company her team has created and the philosophy they build on.

Some of my favorites in their current line up are the Kwaito wrap romper for baby, the Venda twirl skort for girls, and the Whale tee for boys. And I adore the shoes they carry! In fact, Betty is wearing a pair of boots from Tea Collection in Little Red Riding Hood.

Extra fun: Tea Collection is having a sale right this minute — shorts are 20% off!

Check out Tea Collection’s wares and leave a comment below to enter. I’d love to hear if there’s a particular piece that catches your eye. The winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck!

——

Jayme is the lucky winner. Thanks for playing!

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Living Well: 10 Secrets (Actually, Shortcuts!) For Better Cooking

May 9, 2013

10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking | Design Mom

Photos and text by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

I remember my mother wishing there were more hours in the day. So much to do! So little time! Now that I’m a grown-up and a mother, I totally understand what she meant. Our days are filled with many necessary tasks — laundry, dishes, running errands, helping kids with homework. And making meals. As much as I like spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking, I’m always looking for new ways to save time in the process. Anything to hurry dinner along is appreciated by me and my hungry children.

We live in a fast paced society and we don’t like to wait for things. Specifically, if you’re my children, you don’t like to wait for your dinner to cook all night. We have the internet at our fingertips giving us this and that instantly with the tap of a screen or press of a button. And it might feel like the drive-thru is the only way to get a fast, hot meal. But happily, it’s possible to make a healthy, wholesome, quick meal while cooking from scratch at home.

10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking | Design Mom

So this brings me to my 10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking. You may already know some of the tips I’m going to share with you, but even if you do, consider this a nice reminder. And it’s pretty great to have them listed in one place!

[click to continue…]

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Saul Bass

May 9, 2013

By Koseli.

Yesterday, Saul Bass, the famed designer behind the Alfred Hitchcock opening credits, would have been 93. To commemorate his talent, Google rendered their logo in his trademark style in a short film. The result is beautiful.

Are you a designer? Do you have a favorite icon you look to for inspiration?

P.S. — Speaking of Alfred Hitchcock films, I finally saw Rear Window for the first time this week. I could not get over how absolutely perfect Grace Kelly’s style was!

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Scandinavian Design

May 8, 2013

Telephone Booth in Oslo, Norway

Image and text by Gabrielle.

Just a quick hello from Norway! We spent yesterday in gorgeous, sunny Oslo, and today we’re on a train headed to Aurland, and eventually Bergen. You can bet I’ve already fallen in love with this beautiful country.

Wishing you a lovely Wednesday!

P.S. — Norwegian phone booths win.

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Not At The Table, Dear

May 8, 2013

By Gabrielle. Anti-Loneliness Ramen Bowl via MisoSoupDesign.

Do your kids try to sneak their iEverythings to the dinner table? It’s tempting to allow it some nights, especially when you’re in desperate need of adult conversation without interruption! But I worry that it’s a slippery slope; allowing Minecraft once during dinnertime so I can get Ben Blair all to myself for a few minutes could turn into a regular expectation. And I really enjoy the conversations that happen when we’re all away from our electronics. I guess I’ll have to steal away Ben Blair another way.

What are your screen time rules at the table, at home or in a restaurant? (Have you ever seen an entire family on their devices at the same time while dining out? Me, too! And it kind of makes me sad, yet I totally get it.)

P.S. – If I’m out by myself, I admit, I feel more comfortable with my iPhone in hand. The Anti-Loneliness Ramen Bowl would be more than welcome! How about you? Can you eat in public without catching up with everything happening online?

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Epic Playdate

May 8, 2013

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai.
By Gabrielle.

Last week I told you about the day my sisters spent in the redwoods on a zip-lining adventure. Well, there was also a second-part of the campaign with Hyundai that looks like it was all sorts of amazing fun, and has me taking notes for the next birthday party we host.

beach balls

Hyundai invited bloggers + kids, and local residents too, to an Epic Playdate on the beach in southern California. There was an entire day’s worth of engaging activities like giant beach balls, and making tin-foil armor, and paper rocket ships. Once again, the images of my nephews make me want to eat them up. (Man I miss those cute kids!)

Also, I think Liz and Jordan’s activities might be my favorite.

Liz led the Sand Art Installation, and I think it’s genius! She taped out sections on a tarp, and provided squeeze bottles full of colored sand that the kids used to “draw” with in their assigned section. I think it’s so smart, because it’s one of those activities where one child might finish in about 5 seconds, and another might spend an hour — everyone’s happy! And it looks really cool, too. You can read more about how she organized this activity here.

Jordan led the giant bubble activity — made from hula hoops dipped in bubble solution. Fun fact: This has been a family favorite of ours since my brother Jared made giant bubbles for a 4th grade science fair. : ) If you haven’t tried this with your kids, I highly recommend putting it on your list of summer-fun activities. It’s the sort of thing that will gather all the kids in the neighborhood in an instant.

The most jaw-dropping part? At the end of the day, the Epic Playdate attendees were invited to camp (in the most amazing tents!) on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Dreamy as can be.

I loved seeing the photos from the event and watching things unfold on the attendee’s instagram feeds. It made me so excited for summer!

Just curious: Have you ever tried any of these activities? Are there any that you’d bookmark for a future event?

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Living With Kids: Karin Katherine

May 7, 2013

By Gabrielle.

I gasped when I saw the first few photos of Karin‘s backyard. And then I gasped even louder when I learned that five kids live here. By the time I reached the part about all five kids being homeschooled in this wonderland, I finally remembered to cover my mouth! Which was a good thing, because the next shot was of the most gorgeous ceiling I’ve ever seen in a living room. Friends, when Karin says she’s addicted to the details, she is telling the truth. And, truth be told, I’m addicted to her details, too.

Make sure you tear your eyes away from the gorgeous photos and read her thoughts about being a mother and wife and home educator. They are equally gorgeous.

Q: Tell us who lives in this stunning home!

A: Welcome! I live in Sunny South Florida with my Road Warrior CEO husband, our five children (twin boys and three girls), four tortoises, five Koi fish, and a Labradoodle named Bunker. Our children are ages nine, nine, seven, five, and two, and we’re currently homeschooling them.

Before you ask, yes, they’ve always been homeschooled and no, I don’t know how long we will homeschool them. But right now, homeschooling works for our family and we love everything about it! In addition to being a home educator I am also a blogger, writer, and our family’s head party planner.

The living room ceiling, up next. Prepare to swoon.

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Big & Small DIY: Wrapped Washer Necklaces

May 7, 2013

Images and text by Gina Vide for Design Mom. Edited by Amy Christie.

This side-by-side project is so simple, but at the same time, creates such a beautiful and meaningful piece for both Bigs and Smalls. Grownups, you can create a Mother’s Day necklace by wrapping one washer per child in a color/colors of your choosing. The disks can then be bound together to create a beautiful geometric necklace full of meaning.

For you Smalls, create a necklace with a wrapped washer, one for each year of your age, in whatever colors you like, and string them on a chain.

We’ve made these for a Mother’s Day gift, and made another set for ourselves — and we’ve been wearing them all the time!

In addition to Mother’s Day, the Small version would be a wonderful birthday tradition, don’t you think? Create the first necklace together and then, every year bind a new colorful disk and add it to your “small’s” necklace. The necklace would be a perfect gift for a friend too.

Let’s start creating!

Click here for the full tutorial.

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Favorite Pinners: Cecilie Ellefsen

May 7, 2013

By Koseli.

A few weeks ago I introduced a new series to spotlight favorite pinners and find out what inspires them most. Here’s the second post in the series — nicely coinciding with Gabrielle trip to Norway. Enjoy!

We’re so excited to feature fabulous pinner, Cecilie Ellefsen. She’s a Norwegian illustrator living and working in Oslo. Here‘s what she has to say about her colorful and whimsical aesthetic:

Growing up in a rural part of Norway, nature and animals have always inspired me. The feeling of finding that secret childhood forest with enchanted critters, hollow trees, traps and hideaways fascinates and inspire me. I love to draw and always bring my sketchbook with me. When I`m not drawing, I like to eat good food, watch strange animated films and visit fleamarkets to find treasures for my ever growing collections.”

We asked her to pick a couple of her favorite recent pins and share just why she loves them.

Cecilie’s favorite pins, straight ahead!

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Norway

May 7, 2013

Fjordieth

Photo and text by Gabrielle.

We’re in Norway! The big Fjordieth trip is finally happening. We checked into our hotel late last night and I can hardly believe we’re here. Hooray for Ben Blair!

Ben Blair | Fjordieth

I love this photo of him donning his gloves that I snapped last winter. I think he’s definitely channeling some inner viking!

Rain is scheduled for much of our trip, but right this minute, we have a perfectly sunny day in Oslo, so we’re going to make the most of it. Feel free to join us on our adventure via Instagram.

P.S. — Something else I can’t believe: Flora June Blair is 3 years old today! Remember her birth? (Wasn’t it two seconds ago?) We woke up early and filled her bed with balloons, then served the traditional breakfast in bed. She was over the moon about it! Man oh man we love that little girl.

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Olive Us: Episode 23: Little Red Riding Hood

May 6, 2013

Images and text by Gabrielle.

Friends, I’m kind of freaking out about how wonderfully Episode 23 of Olive Us turned out. (Sorry for the brag!) It’s called Le Petit Chaperon Rouge which is the French way of saying Little Red Riding Hood. This video is stunning. It’s simply magical. Oh. And it’s all in French! Entirely narrated by Betty, who also plays the girl in the red cape.

Now don’t you worry, even if you don’t speak a lick of French, I’m betting you’ll be able to follow along with the very familiar story line. : ) If you’d like a translation, you’re in luck. Ben Blair made a pdf with a side-by-side French and English translation — you can find the pdf link here.

I’m dying to hear what you think! And if your kids watch it, I’d love to hear if they enjoyed it — or if the French threw them off too much. From what we’ve seen so far, for little ones, the language doesn’t seem to matter at all! Consider this a great way to expose your kids to a foreign language in a familiar context.

I also want to say that we didn’t make this alone. Not at all. A huge thanks goes out to Miranda of One Little Minute. who put together the stunning costumes. She started with what we had in our closet, added pieces from thrift stores, then sewed the rest. She re-made the iconic red cape from a women’s red wool coat she found at a second hand shop. It’s thick and cozy and wonderful — and it kept Betty warm on the cold November day when we filmed this.

Another big thanks goes to Merrilee Liddiard of Mer Mag for the title illustration. I love how it turned out! I think it would be cool to have a poster of it made for our wall. Lastly, we are over the moon about Tiger in a Jar’s vision for this episode. We think they captured the story perfectly.

Fun Fact: the forest scenes were filmed around the corner from our house, in the same trees that we filmed Christmas Tree Hunt. For the exteriors of Little Red’s house and Grandma’s house, we actually filmed at the Apple Juice Farm you’ll remember from this video. Fantastic, right? The old half-timber buildings on the property were absolutely perfect for a fairy tale!

If it’s not showing up for you in this post, watch it on vimeo here, and find all the Olive Us videos here.

Click here for more photos. It was so fun to take photos on this shoot!