Shutterbug

I learned how to use a camera, develop my own film, and print in a darkroom in high school. I got my first camera then too (a Pentax that looked very close to this adorable ring) and spent a lot of time roaming around shooting images.

I also spent a lot of my teen years in a dark room. Alone. Just me and my boombox. No wonder i'm a bit of a loner. One that could kick your arse in "name that tune" the early 90's version.

I believe that means I must own it, yes?

Camera Ring
by The Dainty Squid
$8.00 at Shanalogic.com

circle of love

I was clicking around in cool mom picks and saw a link to this great personalized jewelry site. I never was one for displaying my name on myself (a la Carrie Bradshaw and the Necklace that People Copied 'round the World) - but I've become slightly addicted to personalized pieces since having my daughter. I :love: her name (as I should, yes?) in both long and nickname forms. I do have to apologize in advance to my girly as I've found out that its one of those names. The one that people just say wrong. I blame it on my husband, he took advantage of the pain meds in the mothering unit hours after she was born and spelled it with two n's - nn- instead of my preference, n. Annika/Ani (pronounced "ahh nika" or "Ahh-knee" - not Ann-ika or Annie) I apologize because I too have one of those names. I'm called Kristina, Christian, Kristine, Kirstin and always have to clarify (mostly for email sake) that its "i", not "e". It's really not that big a deal. I've rolled with it for 34 years! I'm digressing... this was about Ani and the necklace I simply must have for my head!

circle of love

A beautiful sterling silver circle that measures about 1 1/4" across. It is handstamped with up to 40 letters/spaces and then polished.

Hung on a sterling silver ball chain.

*Please allow 2-3 weeks for your custom creation to be shipped.

$38 thevintagepearl.com/

Back to School

It's that time of year again. I used to :love: back to school shopping. Hello...new threads! My little one is no where near Back To School but I am very much looking forward to helping her pick out her First Day outfit!!

Cool Mom Picks has created the Back To School Guide 2009 with tons of great stuff for your kiddo.

Go see what they dig!



discounts they are offering:

EMTanner Designs - 20% off with code COOLMOM through 9/9
Moxie Kids - $10 off orders over $50 plus free shipping with code CPM10 through 8/31 (choose in-store pick up to receive free shipping)

Pretty Peonies

In general I'm very vanilla with my outfits. I dont wear patterns, or bold colors. I have a green sweater I got at Banana this winter and wore it once. It looked much more Kelly green in the store but at my office its neon, lime snot. I look tan in it the thing is that :bright:. So imagine my surprise when I saw and fell in love with this top.

Its teal. And patterned!

Its got to be the peonies. I pink puffy heart with an arrow through it love Peonies!

Best part? Its Indie. I don't have a sewing bone in my body (or a machine to attempt anything) so I like to support those that I envy.

Indiefixxgalleria.com
$32

life between naps

This blog is a frozen coke on a hot day. A big bucket of butter-slathered popcorn at the movies. A pair of jeans that you found in the closet that to your surprise and happy-squealing-glee aren't painted on tight.

Its just good. And funny. Going to get me fired from my stall from bursts of laughter funny.

Jim is a stay-at-home daddy (like my bro) who isn't afraid to tell the stories that you keep from the other parent. I'll give credit where credit is due. Stay at homers have little to no smoke breaks (stop that, it will kill you), run-to-the-bathroom-without-thinking-what-could-happen-in-that-minute-and-a-half breaks, whatever breaks those of us working for the Man rather than the Baby get. I have a day off a week (two for a short period) and I'm happy to be strapped to my baby rather than my not-quite-a-Herman-Miller chair because those other days I can move about the cabin as I please. Even though while I'm moving about I'm thinking of my little fly-eating, death-defying stunt trick, innocent little babe.

So on my next potty break I might just write on the stall: Read this guy - Life Between Naps - for a good time!

Girl

The opening scene to Across the Universe. (and the movie scene I play in my head to make me smile)

Queen of Hearts

I :heart: this dress.

In college I did my senior project (photo major) on how shadows can play tricks with your eyes in an image so its no surprise that I love this fabric. The mod feel with some not-so-subliminal love winding through it.

My little grain of sand is too small for this right now but it might just have to make its way into her already stocked closet and hang out until fall. Ooh...first birthday dress??

Allthenumbers ETSY shop
$40

Switchfoot

Cant find shoes to go with that outfit? Grab a different ribbon!!

I found these awesome shoes on a friends Facebook page. There are a few different styles and you can put whatever ribbon on them in any way you can think of. So clever.

If you're lucky enough to wear the sizes she has on her etsy page they are on sale. Otherwise check out the website for more.

mohop etsy shop - $75

www.mohop.com - $118 - 148

next time won't you sing with me

Although my girly is only 5 months old she already knows the abc's....song. She gets the biggest grin when we start singing (despite the fact that mama cant carry a tune in her handbag) so these adorable cards have gone in my mental cart for the next time I find money in the washing machine.

Illustrated Alphabet Cards by Ida Pearle at Sonny Botique
$44

For the Boys

I'll admit I've had to eat my words nearly everyday. My girl wears pink way more than I ever thought she would before I knew she was a she. (I think its because she has a gorgeous head of thick hair but its styled like a 40 year old mans for now) But her nursery is still a modern black and white room with lime accents.

As I said I had a dickens of a time finding something for her crib but had I found this then...the bumper and quilt would be mine. Its gorgeous. And technically for a boy, but Ani could rock it.

MiGi Classic 6 Piece Crib Set
$143.99
rightstart.com

not your mothers crib

After exhausting all my web searching skills and coming up empty-handed I decided to have my mother make black and white cribs sheets for me. I'd checked ETSY back then with no luck but just ran across this super cute (but not too cutesy) set from HushBabyCo.

Now, its a little over most budgets - but I thought i'd show that your nursery doesn't have to be all bunnies and bears.

$215
HushBabyCo at ETSY.com

Konnichiwa

I can not express enough how much I dig this little Japanese inspired dress by Redfish. Unfortunately I don't have $70 dollars hanging around (and darn it why didn't I pay more attention in sewing class in jr high!) to make it my own.

Party Dress
$76
spunky sprout.com

Tiny Traveler

As adorable as the onesie is, its not the point of this post. (Fret not, I will give the link at the end) We are traveling to Hawaii in a few weeks. Girly will be 3.5 months and I've been researching tiny travel like its my job. It will be our first plane trip and my head is whirling thinking of all the gear we have to take!

To avoid looking like a pack mule I got a great tip from a friend. RENT. After some google magic I found a site that might help some of you in the future. (Unfortunately and true to my luck, its not available in Kauai but there are areas in Hawaii.) Now, yes there are some things you want only your babes spit, hurl, juicy toot, etc. to be on but for those things you can live without strapping to yourself or checking for an additional cost on the plane babysaway is genius!
They rent:
cribs | strollers | portable cribs | car seats | high chairs | toys | swings & saucers | beach equipment | etc.
They site says if you cant find something you need on the site call and they will try to find it.

Smart mama - 1, Pack Mule - 0

Oh, and that sweet little plane onesie. Its personalized (though one of my BFF's babes is Eloise) and goes for $26 at Savvy Tot

one large letter

I copied this image to my desktop as a reminder to add this to girly's nursery when we knew
a. if he was a she or she was a he
b. the initial to paint

I quickly realized that the space between the window and wall was too small in my nursery, but its only paint so I should give it a whirl, yes?

a girl can never have too many shoes

Imelda had it right. Priorities people.

My Ani will have these adorable kicks...once mama finally decides which color! (The red would be superfantastic with the previously posted kimono!)

Cherry infant mary jane shoes sizes 0-24 months - $20

smallbeans etsy shop

kim oh no - hide the credit card

This blog is about to shift a gear. I will post more in this gear. I know this because I'm completely addicted to finding anti babybabyish baby clothes. I used to window shop, but i've recently been blessed with an adorable little chubby cheek girly! So, in the words of my favorite baby gear blog...
mama said shop!! <-- check her out too!

I cant stand how much I LUFF this kimono outfit!! I've definitely got a favorite style for my girl... the onepiece. Comfortable, and it stays in place. I constantly have to pull shirts down on her and she doesnt even sit on her own yet!

lucky cat wawa playsuit - red | 3,6,9mo
www.shopluckywang.com