elle keeps moving

Family: life lately & why i love blogging

2012-01-27T14:37:00.001-07:00

As Jared has started his most recent internship, life has gotten ~~crazy~~ crazier again. After a rough day like yesterday (as in all three of us in tears by 5 o'clock with two+ more hours to go before Jared was off), I start to think that maybe I am not so crazy about my life and I even get a little grumpy. Then I come to my computer and put together images of everything that has been good and I am full again.

This is why I blog. Now tell me, why do you?

DIY: 10-Minute Pencil Skirt

2012-01-25T06:51:00.003-07:00

I have always been a big fan of the pencil skirt. It looks good on almost everyone, it is simultaneously hip and traditional, and...you can make one in ten minutes. How do I know this?

Family function + "desperate" need of a black skirt + hundreds of yards of jersey knit "hanging" around + 10 minutes + husband-kid duty = the birth of the 10-min pencil.

A few disclaimers: you HAVE to use jersey knit so it won't fray and it will hug just right, you need to own a pencil skirt already (and like the fit of) to use for shape and sizing, and you'll probably want a belt to wear over it for a finishing touch. H&M and Nordstrom in the junior's section are great places for cute, cheap belts ($8-$15). This is a super basic, functional skirt, that looks best in darker colors, layered and with fun tights. If you want to go the extra mile and serge the side seams or hem the bottom and top then go for it, but then it will be a 30 to 40-minute pencil skirt, which doesn't sound as cool.

{Check out more skirt photos at bottom of post}

*If the skirt you are tracing doesn't have much of a high waist, add a few inches, you can always trim it down later if it's too high or you can fold it over.

*Two things to watch for: Your fabric will most likely naturally curl under one way. Make the side it curls UNDER the INSIDE of your skirt. In other words, the curl should be facing you when it's on, not out. Make sure top and bottom are cut evenly across since the raw edge will be exposed.

*Make sure you leave about a one-inch hem on both sides for an extra-snug fit. Use a slight zig-zag stitch to allow for the stretch.

*Make sure the fit is right and the side seams are secure.

* Turn right side out so the seams are on the inside of the skirt and there you have it! Your new 10-minute pencil skirt.

Oh the beautiful things money shortages force a person to come up with.

Betting on me.

2012-01-23T07:40:00.001-07:00

Well, hello! I've missed you. (Yes, I'm talking to you...and my blogger dashboard.)

I was busy with the Alt Design Summit all last week and guess what? I didn't cry in the bathroom even once, no one accused me of shopping at Coldwater Creek (at least to my face) and I was able to learn so much and meet so many great women (and one man...who I already knew...because he's my brother-in-law) that I just can't seem to get this stupid smile off my face.

Now I'd like to talk about 2012. I know it's been weeks since New Years, but being behind is my thing, remember?

I've had a few epiphanies come to me while I was at the conference that I am pretty sure are going to change my life.

I couldn't be more serious.

It all started with Ben Silbermann. (Yeah, the dude who started my favorite virtual toy Pinterest.) He spoke at the conference and he said something that his parents used to tell him growing up. The words struck me so intensely that they took the breath right out of me. As soon as he said it, I knew that this was going to change everything:

If you don't bet on yourself nobody else will.

Suddenly my life made sense. As confident as I am in my abilities, I've never put all my eggs in my own basket. I've always let something like not having enough money or beauty or brains stop me from putting all of my money on ME. I love putting it on other people (which is also a good thing), but not on myself.

In that moment I realized that if I don't overcome this I will never be who I want to be. Never. Somehow that epiphany allowed me to push out those insecurities (though I'm sure they'll attempt to make an encore) and when I did that I felt a surge of strength. This feeling that I can be the person I was meant to be.

This is the year that I bet on me. I hope it's the year that you bet on you too.

Watch out 2012, this basket is full.

(Photo of the new me courtesy of Alt Design Summit and Heather Nan Photo)

Note to self: I like me.

2012-01-17T09:28:00.002-07:00

In case I let that little devil on my shoulder win at Alt conference this week and I end up feeling like a frumped-out, awkward nerd with a mom-butt (you know what I'm talking about) and I find myself curled up in a bathroom stall with mascara running down my face like junior prom all because some hot, hipster, fashion blogger asks me if I shop at Coldwater Creek, I want to remind myself now that I like me. And while we are on the topic, you should like you.

I'm so tempted to make a stunning parallel from The Bachelor, but I will resist so that I can retain some level of credibility. And dignity.

me circa a million (or 6) years ago.

P.S. If you want to know more about me than even my husband knows, check out this interview with the lovely Lauren's blog "Boy Loves Girl". Thanks again, Lauren!

a pony party in 24 hours or less

2012-01-16T00:08:00.002-07:00

Thursday afternoon, around 2:00 pm, I committed myself to throwing Lucy a "Pony Party" for her 3rd birthday. I'd been throwing the idea around for a week previous and had, luckily, gone as far to have horse die-cuts made, but Lucy kept insisting that she did not want a friend party, which I found confusing enough to not move forward.

I pushed the issue only because she has such good friends in our neighborhood and, with all the moves coming up over the next few years, she may not be so lucky for the next few birthdays. {The downside of being a ~~transient~~ adventurous family.}

So after a long (minute and a half, tops) talk on Thursday and a promise that she would not have to give away all of her juice boxes, she decided that this "friend party" notion sounded somewhat appealing.

I then quickly threw together an invite, emailed it, ordered three dozen balloons, tiny hats, and went to Costco {no-brainer}. I made frosting and cookies the night before, scanned and scaled down the horse die-cut for cupcake toppers, and enlisted my MIL, who happened to be in town, to help. The next morning I threw together the rest of it {thanks to my MIL}, including the ugliest layer cake that has ever been made. So bad that every time I looked at I laughed. And you should too. Really.

The kids all showed up at 11 am, ready for a party and to stuff their faces. And that's what they did. Turns out all you need at a kid's party is a whole lotta balloons and frosting.

I know it wasn't Martha Stewart mag-worthy, but for two hours our house was full of squealing and laughing and running and hugging and a little bit of crying and singing and love.

I can't imagine a better way to usher in 3.

Lucy Mack Rowley Was Born.

2012-01-10T22:39:00.001-07:00

A few months ago we stopped reading as many books to Lucy before bed and started telling "Lucy Mack Rowley" stories also known as "stories we make up involving Lucy that teach her the good things we want her to be". She can't get enough of these stories and, honest to goodness, they've worked. Maybe she hasn't held a benefit dance recital to raise money for children in poverty yet, but she's on her way, I tell you.

Today was her third birthday so before bed I told her a story called "Lucy Mack Rowley Was Born". There was no hero or antagonist and besides the part where she interjected with, "So they gave you a shot in your belly and then poof there I was, right?" it was all exactly as it happened.

I told her about meeting Jared and falling in love with him and getting married. I told her how we were happy, but we wanted to be a mommy and a daddy so we decided to have a baby. I told her how we never thought she'd come. I told her how when we held her for the first time we cried because we instantly loved her so much. I told her that we couldn't stop staring at her as we attempted to figure out who she was even though, somehow, we already knew. I told her I couldn't be prouder to be her momma. I thought she'd find it boring, but she didn't. Instead she abruptly wrapped her arms around my neck and told me she loved me.

Happy Birthday, Lucy Mack Rowley. Please don't have another one soon.

She found the scissors.

2012-01-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

And she cut her hair. And her friend's hair. Who is a boy. And she thought it was hilarious. And so did he. And, unfortunately, so did I. Now she has mullet bangs on one side. Thankfully, the salon helped out by doing some blending. The experience was so thrilling, however, that it didn't help Lucy's desire to want do wicked things in the bathroom. Three days later we found her and said boy playing in the toilet with toilet paper and water ALL over the bathroom. They were laughing. This time, I was not.

Moral of the story: a lot can go down when moms start talking reality television.

(pre-salon)

Christmas part ii/// california & my new thing

2012-01-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Even though it's almost gross to see Christmas photos this long after Christmas (like having Halloween decorations up on Valentine's Day), it can't be skipped over. Plus, being slightly behind is kind of "my thing". Speaking of which, JLo has her booty, Conan has his hair, Lindsay Lohan has her crazy, so why can't I have tardiness? Next time I'm late to church, everyone should just say, "Oh yeah, being late, that's just her thing. It's kind of cute." I feel a belated New Years resolution coming on.

Anyway, Christmas in California was a dream. Although my children were slightly less "flexible" (I'm attempting to be diplomatic) this trip, we still enjoyed delicious food, family and friends, including the meeting of a new nephew, warm weather, a trip to the garment district, singing around the piano, an endless supply of tangerines, and the building of a clay oven (because every Rowley vacation includes a family project). What I wouldn't give to be there baking a margherita pizza in it right now...until we meet again, California.

first family music video: home

2012-01-03T11:08:00.002-07:00

I used to work for a filmmaker who said that a montage is just lazy storytelling, but sometimes it's the only way. A good montage can also make you feel pretty good about your life. It makes everything look pretty and exciting.

So...here it is: 2011 in review, made at one a.m., using one of my very favorite songs "Home" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros because it's nostalgic, sweet, fun, and full of love. Everything my family is to me. I was prepared to give quite a few disclaimers, but I've decided against apologizing for our messy, old house and dirty kids because it's just as it should be.

My cup runneth over.

Christmas part i/// las vegas

2011-12-29T22:34:00.002-07:00

Jared and I wanted to squeeze in a mini-family vacation into our extended-family vacation in California this year so we found a $40 hotel room on the Las Vegas Strip at the last minute. As soon as we got to our room and watched Lucy and Solomon squeal in sheer exuberant delight, we realized that, apparently, we don't do things like that very often. Lucy, who is always avoiding her toothbrush, kept asking if she could brush her teeth repeatedly, I'm assuming to more fully "experience" the bathroom.

We don't gamble or drink and we like to keep our private parts covered in public so the Strip doesn't usually have much to offer us in terms of entertainment. We made our own fun, however, with a large pizza from Sbarro, a tram to see the Bellagio's Christmas decor, a cheap, breakfast buffet, and a speedy stop by the M&M ~~gift shop~~ museum and, of course, Zara.

And so it began with the things every good family vacation should: bright lights and a cheap hotel room.

Rowley Christmas Card

2011-12-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

me + costco = it's serious.

2011-12-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

I can't say it was love at first sight, but I think it began in the bakery aisle on a winter afternoon in 2010. Things started slowly, but after a few visits and a sale on agave nectar and Ecos Magnolia & Lily laundry detergent, it's been like a whirlwind romance. I'm not sure if it's the assortment of samples, the double-seated cart, the extraordinarily cheap (& equally greasy) pizza, seeing my favorite foods in super-sized boxes, the vast expanse of concrete that allows for a solid, fifteen-minute conversation, the sense of power and importance that the word "executive" on my membership card gives me, or the illusion that I'm getting a good deal, but it's a good thing that Costco is not a person because... we are getting very serious.

P.S. Today is the last day you can use the DAYBOOK30 code for 30% off your purchase in my shop!

Daybook Blog & a discount code

2011-12-19T07:53:00.002-07:00

I'm having a big giveaway today over at the Daybook blog. I don't know if I'm more excited to see Sydney and her adorable baby in a Lulu Wrap or so many people excited about them! In honor of this grand occasion I'm giving a 30% off discount for today and tomorrow on my adult wraps. I've never, ever, ever given a discount code that big, but it's Christmas and I'm feeling festive. That means a wrap is only $32! Use the code: DAYBOOK30. If you haven't seen my new wrap tutorial video, check out all of my awkwardness below (not exaggerating).

Solomon is eating the Christmas tree, which means I'd better go so I can google "Douglas Fir poisonous for baby?".

Friends: sister wives

2011-12-16T09:06:00.003-07:00

I still can't totally explain my devotion/obsession with Sister Wives, a reality show about a polygamist and his four wives and 17 children, but last night's little girl's party that included matching turtlenecks with the phrase "If I were a Mormon Fundamentalist I'd want you as my sister wife" on them, gave me a few insights. It basically comes down to these simple truisms: women are awesome, my kids could use at least one more mom, and this show supports my claim that biweekly girl's night out activities are not merely recreational, but a necessary part of life.

See more of our wild night here.

*Note to my husband: Don't even think about it.

Family: lucy says santa is "nice" & more dance recital

2011-12-15T00:09:00.001-07:00

{1} Don't judge me for my blinding bangs. It is hard work growing these things out and I don't care how many bad Christmas 2011 photos it is going to take to get through this stage. I'm committed. (Too much? I just watched The Biggest Loser finale and now I really want to be devoted to something.)

{2} After 45 minutes of bribing, coercing, pep talks, and the whole family agreeing to come with her, Lucy decided to introduce herself to Santa. She's been spontaneously thanking and hugging us for days exclaiming, "You were RIGHT! Santa was SO nice. And I was SO brave."

{3} I feel sorry for the next Christmas party planner for our church's annual party. My friend Tammy, also an interior designer, is a hard act to follow. Everything about it screamed perfection. I mean, check out that Santa she hired. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's the real deal. (Oh my, I just quoted Miracle on 34th Street verbatim without realizing it. Or meaning it. Darn you and your raspy voice, James Remar.)

{4} I've been super grateful for my family lately. I was listening to the song "Home" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros today as I was driving home from the gym and started tearing up. The chorus line is the old saying "home is wherever I'm with you" and as they sang it I instantly thought of all the places I've lived and times I've gone through with Jared. He truly is home for me. (I'm pretty sure that's not a quote from Miracle on 34th Street but I'm not making any promises.)

Family: must do before christmas

2011-12-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

We are headed out to California for Christmas next week (two more days until finals are over for Jared - there aren't enough exclamation points to show my excitement so I'm not using any), which I am thrilled about, but there are a few celebratory activities that must be done before we leave:

Dinner at Cafe Rio followed by the lights at Temple Square. It doesn't get more Utah than that.
Have friends over to make abelskivers and have a fire.
Plan and carry out a family service project.
Watch It's a Wonderful Life after the kids are in bed with a fire and cookies and milk, obviously.
Go on a hot date with my husband.
Go bowling at the University with the kids (before 5pm it's super cheap).
Get a babysitter and go Christmas shopping with Jared for the kids then stay up late wrapping them and watching Elf.
Bring chocolate covered pretzels, peppermint bark or some other treat around the neighborhood with the kids. Make sure to visit the widows.
Pizza and The Original Christmas Classics night with the kids.
Drive around and look at Christmas lights while listening to Sufjan Steven's Christmas album.

Hopefully we can do all of this! If not, I'm okay with it, as long as I'm hanging out with this fella:

Raising: work it, gurrl.

2011-12-13T14:10:00.001-07:00

Remember how Lucy goes to a tap and ballet class at a hot pink studio in our neighborhood? Well, last Saturday marked her first dance recital. (Sadly, it took place at an elementary school instead of her teacher's hot pink studio.) For weeks I've been asking Lucy to show me the dances she's been learning for her recital, only to have her show me a very strained first position about one thousand times.

This led me to believe she had learned nothing (which I was okay with) and that her dance recital was going to be a very long song in first position. Turns out, however, that she did learn something. It would be an overstatement to claim it was organized chaos, but it was perfect in a two-year-old way. Absolutely perfect. Her performance definitely merited the ice cream cone from Chick-fil-a she was awarded with after.

I know that this kind of shottily filmed home video can be torturous for everyone but family, but I'm only sharing 13 seconds and...what can I say? I'm a proud mama.

Lucy is in the front middle with the white headband, black leotard, and pink tutu. She emerges from the back with some awesome arm and hip movements in the very beginning. They are almost as good as the head moves from the girl in red next to her. I recommend watching the first 3 seconds a few times, that's where the magic happens. Her finish is pretty stellar, though, too.

Polar Express Giveaway Winner

2011-12-12T13:00:00.001-07:00

I'm so glad you liked this post so much, Kaycie, because you won! Send me your address (email to elle@ellekeepsmoving.com) and I'll get your book out to you right away!

Kaycie- Redhead Memories said...

I follow! I love love lvoe this post. I want to start collecting Christmas books now to have great reading traditions for Christmas. My favorite right now is probably How the Grinch Stole christmas. :)

December 7, 2011 2:00 PM

Raising: My Christmas List for Lucy

2011-12-11T21:38:00.006-07:00

(**Clockwise starting with the doll: Pearl doll by Viola Studio, rain boot, counting poster, deer clock, cashmere sweater, medical kit, floral dress, april showers shoes, the little house)

I was already stretching it when I claimed that Solomon's Christmas list includes a boy bonnet and camel leggings so I'm not going to even pretend that these are all of the items Lucy's little heart is aching for this Christmas. Nevertheless, a mother can always dream that one day her daughter will grow to abhor the new, I-didn't-know-ponies-could-be-sexy, line of My Little Pony and 90% of everything that comes in pink or purple.

I think it's worth mentioning that Lucy has already been given the best gift she'll get this Christmas. We have these amazing neighbors who have three of the sweetest, most humble girls from ages 9-12 that you'll ever meet. They are very kind (and patient) with Lucy, letting her come over a few times a week to play dress-up and do other activities they have outgrown, but know Lucy loves.

A few nights ago they excitedly asked if Lucy could come over so they could give her a Christmas gift. Lucy excitedly opened the used graham cracker box with a bow on it to find a little Latino baby doll with a handwritten card on a piece of construction paper. Turns out they'd been saving their allowance for weeks so they could buy Lucy that doll. Warmed my heart and slapped me right across the face with the true spirit of Christmas.

Raising: Sol's Christmas List

2011-12-09T15:42:00.004-07:00

(starting at the shoes going clockwise: derby shoes, wooden car, boy bonnet, leggings, eco truck, bedding, book, snake)

Okay, okay, so this isn't actually Solomon's Christmas list. It is MY 75% unrealistic list for him since he can't talk, but I think if he could, he'd tell me he approves.

Lucy's coming soon...

Giveaway & Guest Post: Choosing 25 Christmas Books

2011-12-07T10:40:00.004-07:00

On Sunday I shared my favorite Christmas tradition, that was handed down by Jared's mom, of collecting 25 Christmas books, wrapping them, and opening a different one each night to read with your little ones. Today I'm so excited to share my mother-in-law's all-time favorite Christmas stories.

Let me just preface her list by saying that the woman KNOWS children's books. She's the kind of person you can call when your kids are at ANY age and ask, "What books are good for kids around 3-4 that like dogs and pop-up books?" and she'll respond with a detailed list of titles and authors, new and old. It's pretty handy to have a mother-in-law who can do that. She has a magical library of children's books in her home that all of her grandchildren adore visiting almost as much as they adore snuggling with "Grams" to read them. Thanks so much for sharing, Diane!

Christmas Classics by Diane Rowley:

Starting with a Christmas Treasury--a collection of poems, carols, stories, international traditions--I have to admit that itʼs hard to choose a favorite. If I really had to choose one, I would choose Mary Engelbreitʼs BELIEVE CHRISTMAS TREASURY because I think her illustrations are magical and it has a grand variety of Christmas delights; including my childhood favorite, The Sugar Plum Tree.

Letʼs face it, the illustrations are so important to children. What do you remember about certain stories? Often those memories come from the illustrations and the picture they painted in your mind or emotions they evoked. Chris Van Allsburgʼs famous classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS, is a good example. My all-time favorite Christmas illustration depicts the children, dressed in pajamas, being served hot chocolate on their Polar Express journey to the North Pole. That page, especially, has a certain warmth & is smothered in magic. Or think of the tenderness displayed in the illustration depicting his discovery that he has lost the silver bell. I love a tender story for Christmas, too. It needs a touch of touch of love or Christmas warmth. And those are the sort of things I often look for in a childrenʼs Christmas book.

So, let the magic begin...

SANTA CLAUS by Rod Green (for older children)

MAKING A FRIEND by Alison McGhee

DECK THE HALLS a collection of Norman Rockwell

ROCKING HORSE CHRISTMAS by Mary Pope Osborne

THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY by Susan Wojciechowski

A CHRISTMAS BLESSING by Welleran Poltarnees

THE CHRISTMAS SHIP by Dean Morrissey

A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens & illustrated by Dean Morrissey

STRANGER IN THE WOODS by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick

REDHEADED ROBBIEʼS CHRISTMAS STORY by Bill Luttrell

AN ORANGE FOR FRANKIE by Patricia Polacco

BEAR STAYS UP FOR CHRISTMAS by Karma Wilson

SILVER PACKAGES by Cynthia Rylant

SUPER SNOW DAY (a SEEK & FIND book for older children) by Michael Garland

WHY CHRISTMAS TREES ARENʼT PERFECT by Richard H. Schneider

CLEAR MOON, SNOW SOON by Tony Johnston

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT a narration by Walter Cronkite (for young adult)

THE TOMTEN by Astrid Lindgren

NUTCRACKER by E.T.A. Hoffman

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement C. Moore & beautifully illustrated by Tom Browning

DRUMMER BOY by Loren Long

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT by Joseph Mohr & illustrated by Maja Dusikova

and last, but definitely not least...

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Seuss

Merry Christmas, everyone!

GIVEAWAY: I will be giving away a copy of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, my favorite Christmas book, to one of my dear readers. I will send it Priority mail, wrapped and ready to go under your Christmas tree! To enter make sure you are a follower of my blog and leave a comment sharing your favorite Christmas book! (Ends Sunday 12/11 at midnight.)

Family & Friends: you-tubing

2011-12-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

I love it when I randomly YouTube something and up comes a video made by a good friend of another good friend making great music...and then as an added bonus find that my brother and his (then pregnant) wife happen to be in the video too. Good work being so cool Jordan, Drew, Jefferson and Abigail.

Family: grand america & lucy visits the north pole

2011-12-06T11:08:00.003-07:00

If you live in the Salt Lake area, I highly recommend going to the Grand America Hotel before Christmas to go on a free holiday scavenger hunt that ends in a free cookie. We went with our good friends last weekend and even though our children "accidentally" spilled jelly beans from the candy dispenser ALL over the store (Cortney and I decided to sit this one out. We pretended like we didn't know them and let our husbands take care of the mess and apologies.) we still had a fantastic time. I'll take an excuse to walk around that gorgeous hotel any day.

I also can't help but mention that Lucy had the opportunity to go to the North Pole last week with the brilliant photographer Nicole Hill Gerulat. I can't remember what the photos from the shoot will be used for.

While we have no child star aspirations for Lucy, this just kind of happened and it was a lot of fun. More pictures to come, but you can see one on Nicole's blog here.

tweeter

2011-12-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

So I joined Twitter. I can't promise I'll say anything that interesting, but I am pretty sure I'll say things I will later regret since it is such a spontaneous, unscripted means of communication. Like writing on the bathroom stall.

me + you + twitter = friends? Follow me here.

Home: 25 christmas books

2011-12-04T09:55:00.003-07:00

(Chevron wrapping paper made by Fifth & Hazel)

I talked about my favorite Christmas tradition last year, but I want to present it again this year for anyone that missed it because I'm pretty obsessed with this one. How could I not be? It mixes two of my loves: books and traditions. My mother-in-law, an avid collector of children's books, started this with her children and has now passed it down to us. She has very generously purchased the books for our family, although I like to throw in a few from my own childhood collection for nostalgia.

Wrap up twenty-five Christmas children's books and put them under the tree with a special Christmas quilt or blanket next to them. Before bed each evening, your kids choose one book to open and read together until Christmas. Of course cuddling under the blanket as you read and partake in some special treat like hot chocolate is mandatory. We each pick one chocolate truffle from Jared's chocolate box (yes, I married a 70-year-old man in a 28-year-old's body). It's something we all look forward to every night and I'm always surprised by how quickly it brings in the Christmas spirit. Even though we reuse the same books every year, they feel brand new once they are wrapped-up and we all look forward to opening our favorites.

I know I am posting this late, but I suggest doing the twelve days of Christmas with them (starting on the 13th of December) until you've collected all twenty-five. After Christmas is, of course, the best time to purchase the books for a good deal.

To help jumpstart your collection, I'm going to ask my mother-in-law to share some of her favorite Christmas children's book titles with us this week and I'll be giving away one of them to one of you! That's how much I love this tradition.

Now let me hear your favorite Christmas tradition! I love getting new ideas.

Let's Get Real: a word on crafting

2011-12-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

I can safely say that I've always been a dedicated crafter, with only brief periods of rebellion in first grade when I learned to write and tenth through twelfth when I preferred sparkly makeup and listening to music. Even in elementary school I could be found painting tacky, pre-made ceramics, pouring wax into hideous star and moon candle molds without the wicks because I never had enough money for them, using a hot glue gun to attach things from nature and the dollar store on anything and everything, and sewing my clothing with my grandmother on my visits to her home in Alabama.

As extroverted as I am, crafting fulfills the needs of the introvert in me. It puts some healthy space between me and the rest of the world for a few hours and uses a part of my mind that is often undernourished. I love picking up new materials and, in a small way, feeling the power of creation in my hands and the almost infinite possibilities.

With all of that said, I think we live in a strange, crafting world. One that often puts pressure on, mostly, women and mothers, to make absolutely EVERYTHING. Some projects are as simple and benign as baby blankets and tote bags while others border on necessitating engineering pre-reqs. A gift isn't a gift unless it's handmade, organic, vintage, upcycled, and taken more than twenty hours to create.

What's more is the feeling that the "best" mothers are the ones that sew, knit, quilt, bake, and create when there is no necessary correlation. Crafting may make me a better mother when I consciously use those talents to teach and uplift my family, but the mere fact that I "make stuff" does not make me a better mother. As much as I love making Lucy and Solomon's clothing and toys, and while I sincerely hope that they are learning to be producers rather than just consumers, it is mostly a selfish activity. I am positive that I am getting something greater from the process than they are.

My friend was going to make her child a very time-consuming rainbow layer cake for his last birthday, but then asked herself, "Who am I doing this for? Is it for him or is it for me?" She realized that it would take her away from her son for most of the morning and that he likes ice cream way more than cake any way so she opted for his favorite tub from the grocery store.

Lately I've been trying to be more thoughtful about the projects I undertake. I ask myself if the end product is something we really want or need, if I can make my children a part of the process (or if I can do it while they are asleep), and if the time and cost investment is worth it or if I could instead support someone else who is already making it.

Sometimes I believe it is worth the time and cost and effort, but other times I am afraid many women, including myself, are just responding to this pressure that we feel from...who really knows where, I suspect it's mostly the temptation to "do it all" and make everything perfect. Or maybe it's backlash from the TV dinner era of the 80s and 90s, when everything came from the store, half a world away, and individually wrapped. We've again realized that most things are better when they are carefully made by hand and with care, but sometimes I wonder if we have swung that pendulum too far the other way and are now overly-romanticizing the idea of doing it all ourselves.

Do you agree? Disagree? Have something to add? I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Solomon: peaceable

2011-11-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

I know I will forget on the day Solomon turns eight months so I am posting an official update photo of this little guy today.

After we decided on Solomon's name (which is a family name) I looked up the meaning and found that in Hebrew it means "peaceable". I thought it was a good omen as I was in the thick of the terrible twos with Lucy and very nervous about a new baby. I've since been profoundly grateful to discover how perfectly his name suits him. No matter how many times he falls off the couch or rams his head into the coffee table, he never cries for more than a moment, no one knows how to make Lucy smile faster than he does, and he couldn't be a more gracious recipient of my incessant squeezing and kissing.

There is this selfish part of me that wants to stop him from growing up and would prefer he sit on my hip for the next twenty years, but luckily there is another part of me that really dislikes smelling like baby poop so I suppose I will let him keep on keeping on.

Here's to another eight months, baby boy.

Family: thankful thanksgiving is over.

2011-11-28T11:28:00.004-07:00

Our Thanksgiving was so bad that it was funny. I'm serious, that's one thing Jared and I have figured out in these last five years: when things are really bad you need to laugh. And laugh we did.

We laughed as Lucy vomited all over the car and then the couch and then the floor the day before Thanksgiving and spent half the night awake. We laughed all week long as Solomon diarrhea-ed (yes, that is a verb) all over himself and me and our house for six days and then we laughed some more after Thanksgiving dinner at my mom's house (which was delicious and fun, not funny) when Jared threw it all up directly and continued to for the rest of the evening.

We stopped laughing for a while Friday morning when both of our children woke up a little before five a.m., for the day, more than a little cranky, but then our frustration was replaced with sheer joy when my thoughtful mother called and offered to take Lucy home with her on the train to have her spend the night. At that point Jared, Solomon, and I went shopping, to eat, to the movie theater, and stayed up way too late watching Sister Wives (possibly the best reality television show since The World's Most Smartest Model). On Saturday we made chocolate truffles before happily saying goodbye to our pumpkins and all other Thanksgiving reminders and then said hello to a new Christmas tree that we trimmed and have been making garland out of ever since.

Some years Thanksgiving is like that. Even in Australia. (Except that they don't have Thanksgiving there so I guess that is not very comforting.)

ellemnop shop: Small Business Saturday Sale

2011-11-26T09:23:00.003-07:00

Small Business Saturday Sale

Going on today through Monday:

20% Off select Lulu Wraps

Use Discount Code: SMALLBIZSATURDAY

Shop My Etsy or EllemnopShop.com

(P.S. Aren't Katie and little Oliver darling?!)

Raising: thankful tree

2011-11-23T08:30:00.002-07:00

Preschool was at my house this week. To celebrate Thanksgiving we had a First Thanksgiving reenactment that was successful despite ending with the destruction of a paper bonnet and the slamming of a door ("I don't EVER like PILGRIMS!!" -Lucy). Then we put leaves on a "thankful tree" after writing things the kids were thankful for on the leaves. I loved hearing the things these sweet little two-and-three-year-olds were grateful for and thought you might too:

teeth

Easter & eggs

trucks

books

lawn mowers

trees with leaves

leaves AND trees

candy

healthy body

rocks

baby sisters

baby brothers

prayers

Jesus

walks

dolls

Cars 2

regular cars

preschool

cats & dogs

toys

Sunday

momma and dadda

mouths

playing outside

buildings

pilgrims (not Lucy's idea, I assure you)

friends

family

rainbows

Thanksgiving

houses

Cailou

doors & "mans" (still trying to figure that one out)

food

LOVE

(Yes, Lucy wore her "jammy-mammies" for preschool. She claimed that I shouldn't worry, she didn't need "new clothes". So noble.)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Outlets: little lucy's riding hood

2011-11-22T10:21:00.003-07:00

I finally forced my will upon the universe and made time to make Lucy's new winter coat. Technically, it's a cape, which is fitting since vampires wear capes and the new Twilight just came out. (Which I am so going to see with my very willing husband.)

I used an Oliver+S pattern, like I did with Lulu & Sol's cozy bear hats. In fact, it's out of the same material as Lucy's winter hat: tweed and corduroy. It was very simple to follow, but I wish I'd used a lighter fabric for either the outer fabric or lining because it's quite heavy, which is great for warmth but not so great to sew with (i.e. I'm sure I've overlooked some bad seams, etc.). It took about three to four hours to make and cost about $15, but could've been made for less with less expensive fabrics.

I love how it is easily thrown on over anything and she will be able to wear it for years to come because of the arm holes. It also must be noted that Lucy really enjoys pretending to be a bird in it and "chirping" all around the house and neighborhood.

Family: post-children weekend

2011-11-21T08:25:00.001-07:00

To be brutally honest, sometimes weekends don't feel like weekends when you have small children. Or at least this has been my experience. Pre-children the weekend = sleeping in, staying up late, eating out, sleeping in, doing little to no work, and sleeping in some more. Post-children the weekend = ... none of those things.

However, every once in a while the stars align and we have an amazing weekend that feels like a pre-children weekend but way better because everything is more meaningful with our sweet babes. This weekend falls into the amazing category (besides the incident involving me throwing one of Lucy's Minnetonka moccasin boots at Jared's face because he said he thinks they're ugly, but we recovered).

A few things that made this weekend feel cosmically good: I sold my wraps in another boutique sale that was fun, festive, and full of good friends (and received more excited feedback), ate my favorite Indian food, went to the new H&M and Crate & Barrel, took a beautiful fall/winter walk (Utah is going through a seasonal identity crisis), played in an old fashioned toy store that made Solomon shake with excitement, had a fire and brownies while watching The Original Christmas Classics, went to the post office and Costco alone (shockingly exhilarating), and pigged out at In N Out after bedtime.

Hope the stars were aligned for your weekend as well. By the way, if you have any suggestions for how you make the weekends enjoyable for you and your small ones I'd love to hear them!

Family: lately & decisions, decisions

2011-11-17T09:11:00.002-07:00

Like I've said before, this blog is a coming of age story, so I like to periodically record where we are in life and where we are going. Jared and I have struggled to not feel like we have been treading water for the last few years so I am hoping this will be therapeutic.

Fall 2011: Jared's last "real" semester before he graduates. Besides 16 credit hours, he has been working on a senate campaign and researching for another senator's book so it has kind of put our schedules into overdrive. Ready for this semester to end. So. Ready. It is a rarity to have him home before the kids are asleep so we have done our best to party hard, in a popcorn and Curious George kind of way, on the weekends. I attempt to sell 500 Lulu Wraps. Lucy is in her first dance class. Solomon learns to crawl and enjoys his first Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and everything else.

Winter 2012: Jared interns for a state senator at the Capitol. 40 hours a week and he'll also be studying for the LSAT (law school entrance exam) so I need to keep my expectations in check. (I.E. keep them LOW.) I start my Spring line of Lulu Wraps and hopefully go to a design conference. Lucy starts preschool and turns three (I cheer and cry at the same time). Solomon looks cute and learns things.

Spring/Summer 2012: Graduation. Wahoo! (Would be more exciting if he didn't have to take one more course.) Jared takes the LSAT. I just broke into a sweat. I possibly teach a writing course for young girls. Lucy takes a swim class and overcomes tantrum phase (I am forcing my will upon the universe.) Solomon turns one. I cry.

Fall 2012: London? (We are looking at two internships, one with a political think tank and one with Parliament, but unsure about uprooting our family for four + months and the mega-expenses out there. Every time we think about it, though, we always come back to this question: If not now, WHEN?!) The law school application adventure begins. Things are difficult but magical.

Winter 2013: We return to Jared's parents' house in California broke. We wait to hear back from law schools. I create a new product or write a book. Lucy turns four. I cry. Solomon walks and talks. Weird. Start contemplating more children.

As my mother-in-law says: life is plan B so if everything changes next month I won't be surprised. Regardless of what happens, the day to day can feel mundane, so it feels good to look ahead and see we are moving forward, slowly but surely, and that our lives are our own to create.

Speaking of which, here are a few phone pics from this week:

Costco for dinner. Some days are like that...

Last trip to the zoo before snow.

During a late-night, "what-are-we-going-to-do-with-our-lives"-talk.

Outlets: bijou market

2011-11-15T10:58:00.001-07:00

Gonna be here this weekend:

Let's Get Real: lifeboat

2011-11-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

I had been preparing for my first "big" show, 25,000 people over three days, to sell my Lulu Wraps for months, but all of my preparation seemed to be for naught last Thursday when I found myself with far fewer wraps than I anticipated, overdue fabric tags barely arriving on my porch still needing to be sewn on, 100 pieces of fabric yet to be turned into bags, and my make-it-happen-husband in the library almost 24/7 finishing two massive papers. Did I mention I had a nightmare that I had a stomach virus the night before the show? And then that nightmare came true and I actually had a stomach virus?

I was completely bedridden. I was supposed to have all of my merchandise ready and set up my entire booth. The booth that I had already paid way too much money for and that would be full of people less than twenty-four hours later. I curled up in a ball and cried. I was so proud of the product I'd created and all the hard work and thought I'd put into making it, that the thought of not being able to share it was heartbreaking.

I was prepared to throw in the towel and spend the weekend in my stretch pants watching Season 8 of "The Biggest Loser" with a barf bowl. In fact, that is how I spent the morning once my mother-in-law took Lucy for me and Solomon fell asleep until something miraculous happened.

A lifeboat arrived and it was full of people who love me. They must love me (unless they were fooled by Jared's leather books and think we're loaded, in which case they are sorely mistaken) because they all showed up with willing hands and cleared schedules. If I only had the time to share all that was done and all that was sacrificed on the part of these beloved family members and friends.

It was humbling. Even after giving birth, I am quick to send helpers away and prove that I can do it on my own, grateful but embarrassed for the attention paid. This time I wasn't able to do that, they weren't going to let me and I was fully aware of my dependence on them.

By the next morning I was well enough to go to the show. The help kept coming and by the end of the show I was a blubbering whale, tearing up every time I would start to say the word "thank" because I was so full of gratitude. It was strengthening and such a good reminder that, for lack of a more original phrase, we all need each other.

In case you're wondering, the show went very well. I was overjoyed to see so many people excited about my color and fabric choices, and baby wearing, in general. I even had people return the next day to tell me how much they loved their wrap and how happy their babies were in them, which was very gratifying.

As memorable as this weekend was, I am definitely relieved that it's over and that today I could just sprawl out on my living room floor with Lucy and Solomon to build castles and "Greek temples" (a sure sign Jared has been babysitting) out of wooden blocks and eat string cheese.

Raising: slow down, you're moving too fast

2011-11-07T14:22:00.002-07:00

Lucy is this ever-moving and evolving ball of energy and it seems that the only time I really get to look at her is when she is sleeping or when I capture some glimpse of her on my camera like I did this morning. It makes me grateful for photography and feel like I've somehow beaten the clock, for a moment, and slowed down time. It helps me remember how sweet and perfect she is, even with all of her two-year-old drama, and that she is becoming something even more beautiful than she already is.

Outlets: gift wrapping ideas

2011-11-03T10:37:00.001-06:00

The holidays are finally here!!! I have attempted to rewrite that first sentence a dozen different ways with fewer exclamation marks to avoid looking like such a nerd, but I can't help it! In fact, it took everything in me to not open this post with the most trite lyric of all time, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Because...it is.

Jared has informed me that I'm not allowed to put up Christmas decor or play Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving (he was the kind of kid that rationed out Halloween candy through Valentine's Day and is currently petitioning to open presents at SIX PM on Christmas day - worst idea ever) so, instead, I'm posting on some of my favorite, very random gift-wrapping inspiration I've come across on Pinterest. Because gift-wrapping is so not Christmas. (*insert heavy-handed wink-wink*)

Ridiculously darling free gift tag printables - love them (& most things) on brown paper. Found here.

Love the idea of using a button with twine. Found here.

If you know me at all, you know I'm in a longterm relationship with cookies so the more ways I can wrap them and share the love, the better. Tutorial found on here.

Can't find a tutorial or source link for this one besides Pinterest, but I love fabric packaging. So simple and sophisticated.

Darling free printables found here. Especially love the bottle labels.

How many ways could you use a mini pom pom in your gift-wrapping? The options are endless. Tutorial found here. This blog has a ton of other amazing tutorials and downloadable tags.

Love envelopes. Love them even more when they are teeny-tiny. Perfect for gift cards or jewelry or a love note. Learn how to make them here.

One more piece of gift-wrapping eye candy from here. Can't get enough of brown paper packages...tied up with string. Someone stop me.

Raising: Halloween Party

2011-11-01T10:39:00.000-06:00

My friend, Shannon, asked me months ago if I would have a kid Halloween party at my house if she took care of the food and games. I told her no thanks. I've been trying to simplify life and parties tend to be antithesis of simplification.

However, I'm a bit of a pushover and a real sucker for a party so right after I said no thanks I then said okay. And I'm glad I did. Because it was the most perfect Halloween night I've had since I wore fake nails and dressed up like a gangster the year "Gangsta's Paradise" and Dangerous Minds came out in the early 90s.

It was the first Utah Halloween I can remember where it was over 50 degrees, sunny, and the leaves still covered streets and trees. It was a Norman Rockwell Halloween to a T. I just wish I had better pictures to prove it.

Two highlights of the night: 1 - My friend Eleanor and Michael's three-year-old son, Calvin, crying at every door because he wanted to go inside and hang out. Eventually, he stopped knocking doors all together and stayed back in his stroller when he realized no one was going to let him in. He's a quality time kind of guy. 2 - When Lucy was going to bed last night I asked her if she had a good night and she said, "It was absolutely wonderful."

Kid Style: cozy bear hats

2011-10-28T11:32:00.002-06:00

I'm the kind of mom that other moms and grandmothers (and Jared) stop to scold for not putting socks on her child in the middle of winter. This year I'm determined to have warm winter gear for my babies and to not cave at the last minute and buy it from the dollar bins at Target. I decided to take on winter hats as my first project from Oliver + S.

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out and even more pleased with Lucy and Sol's faces peeking out of them. The first one took 45 minutes and the second only 30. It took less than a yard total for each so even though the outer material was more expensive, they still were each under five dollars. I used tweed for the outer fabric and corduroy for the lining. Getting a bear roar out of Lucy while she's wearing it cost me just a bit more. But, luckily, she accepts trades in the form of sweet treats.

LOVE: the big 5

2011-10-27T09:15:00.002-06:00

After a few grueling days with a sick and incredibly cranky child and a solid 36 hours without seeing each other once, our five year anniversary started out lackluster. We both mumbled "happy anniversary" followed by "see you later" as Jared hurried out the door to make it to class on time and I wiped Solomon's bum, still in my pajamas. The thought crossed my mind, "Is this really what five years looks like?"

The thought followed/haunted me all morning long as I negotiated hairstyles and Halloween candy with Lucy and lugged around a thirty pound car seat all over town with my hunched over, 80 year-old-woman back. Then Jared called. He energetically announced he was skipping his second class and we were all going to lunch. All negative thoughts dissipated at the sound of his voice.

We ended up at Subway (very chic) and ate subs together. Lucy's sandwich came in a Lion King tote bag and we ordered SIX cookies. Solomon cooed and blew bubbles while Jared and I talked about the third wave of feminism and Joe Lieberman. Lucy would interject every few minutes to tell us about how she's going to marry William and how she's going to kiss him (a shocking new addition to the story). It was delightful.

He left again for one of his internships with one of the senators (it's all becoming a blur) and I allowed a Kirby vacuum salesman who was down on his luck do a demonstration for over an hour on our gross carpet. The salesman asked me what I was going to do for my anniversary and I told him we just wanted to spend time together and eat good food. He surprised me with his reply, "Really? To be honest, I can't stand hanging out with my wife. We have nothing in common." I felt sad for him and grateful to have never shared his sentiment.

Jared arrived home and rang the doorbell. I answered to find him holding red roses, the cheap but now nostalgic flowers we used for our wedding, and very surprised to find two Kirby vacuum salesman in our living room who looked like they just came from the Las Vegas strip.

My sweet mother watched the kids while the rest of the night was spent walking around the temple we were married in, a search for an inexpensive strand of pearls (we were unsuccessful), samples at Costco (don't ask me how this happened), Indian food, and more conversation.

Yes, this is what five years looks like. And I like it.

("love. we're still in it." inspired by a brilliant card by sycamore street press.)

Outlets: the princess and the goblin-caterpillar

2011-10-25T10:41:00.002-06:00

Lucy was really getting into character yesterday so she would not cooperate for pictures (or anything), but I'll get better ones this weekend. Underneath her skirt is 10 yards of tulle. I did not make Solomon's, I found it at a shop up the road.

Family: the dog days are over

2011-10-23T20:26:00.002-06:00

It was the kind of weekend where the windows were open all day long and just sitting on the lawn felt like an event. We had an itinerary, but we didn't stick to any of it and even I was okay with that.

Jared discovered the app Spotify, which he has been obsessing over, so we played all the music we've wanted to listen to in the last year, quite loudly, and had multiple family dance parties in almost every room of the house. Florence + The Machine and Gin Wigmore proved to be the most successful family dancing songs, in case you were wondering.

We also ate Indian food that was so good we're still talking about it, thanks to Jared's dad leaving us $20 on the table with strict instructions to do something fun with it when he was in town for a meeting earlier this week, and I made Lucy's Halloween costume for less than $10. I'm dying to share more than the snippet below, but I think I'll wait until Lucy's all done up for her first party tomorrow night. Although I was originally against her costume proposal, now that it's done I feel like I am fulfilling a childhood dream of mine as well...but hopefully in a non-crazy-stage-mom-kind-of-way.

My goal for the next week/two months is to not over-schedule or over-extend myself even though it's Halloween and there are a million activities I want to do and treats and costumes I want to make. No late-night sewing projects or bringing baked goods around the neighborhood in cute packaging. Instead, I'm going to spend that time reading silly Halloween books under blankets, in front of a fire, with Lucy and staying up late to drink hot chocolate with Jared and talk about how we fell in love and got married FIVE years ago this week.

Raising: i'm baaaccckkk.

2011-10-20T10:32:00.001-06:00

5 things that have put the skip back in my step:

1: Church bake sale for charity. Well, this one put some skip in my metaphorical step, but some extra junk in my trunk leading to a slower, frumpier step the next day. We collected food and goods for a local food pantry in exchange for bake sale items, a kids carnival, and a car wash. It was the perfect fall morning and seeing so many people come together to serve is always invigorating. We collected two truck loads full of donations. And the orange rolls were life changing.

2: A girls night out at a non-alcoholic night club (oxymoron, right?) playing the top 40. We acted like it was a joke, but by the end of the night there was no denying that we were into it and we will be returning with our coupons for a free dessert. ASAP. The only thing I was embarrassed about was that I brought my diaper bag. And a breast pump. Joking. (This time.)

3: My stellar family. Jared has landed another internship (yes, this is #4) with the state legislature for next semester. He's a crazy hard worker in school, but still manages to make it home each night to put the kids in bed and watch a mind-numbing reality show with me. And he looks ~~pretty~~ incredibly handsome doing it.

Lucy has turned a corner. She has suddenly become much more reasonable and less emotional and just so sweet and hilarious that I find myself attacking her with kisses and squeezes almost constantly (in spite of the fact that she told me I'm "just a little crazy" yesterday). I'm just praying that this means the terrible twos are over, but keeping expectations low enough to be okay with an encore.

Even though Solomon is more mobile than I'd like him to be now, every time I look at him my heart turns into gooey mush. My favorite thing right now is that any time he is sad, all you have to do is start singing the first line of "Patty Cake, Patty Cake" and he will immediately smile and laugh. (Not the first time a reference to baked goods has made someone in this family happy...)

4: This Utah fall lasting longer than a week. I know it will end any day so we have been enjoying every 65 degree and sunny afternoon at the park or on walks or on our porch, hanging out with our pumpkins that Lucy keeps rearranging and I keep rearranging back.

5: Painting ceramics with the fam. My mom is obsessed with getting her "group-on" so she's always calling us to invite us to do random activities or eat random food before one of her groupons expires. This is kind of a win-win for us. Last night we went to paint ceramics together and, while the last time Jared and I did this as newlyweds I gave Jared some serious concerns about choosing me as a marriage partner because I kept threatening to throw my cup across the room out of frustration, this time it turned out to be a huge success. (i.e. I only made one violent threat.)

Let's Get Real: lies, damn lies, and statistics

2011-10-14T13:20:00.000-06:00

You know that statistic about smiling that found that if you force yourself to smile for a minute or so then it will become genuine? Well, that statistic is a lie. This smile I've been sporting is just as fake as it was on Monday.

Maybe it's all these cleanses I've been doing or this mythical fall break Jared was supposed to be on all week or serious sleep deprivation due to Solomon's mystery illness or all the serious illnesses friends of mine of have had recently or this anxiety that I'm not doing enough or doing things well, but whatever it is it has led/forced me to take a step back from this here blog for a few days or maybe even a week to recharge and enjoy the last of fall with my babies before the snow comes.

Here's a goodbye from Lucy (that she spontaneously made on Tuesday). Wait for the bow.

Giveaway: lulu wrap

2011-10-13T10:13:00.000-06:00

My dear friend, Bon Bon, over at The Whim Wham Life is doing a giveaway for one of my wraps today. Just thought I'd let you know...

Outlets: i'm freaking out.

2011-10-11T12:21:00.002-06:00

It's finally up! All of my new wraps are up in my shop and I am so thrilled about it that I think I'm going to take a nap to celebrate. Seriously, though, I feel so satisfied with this product and every color and bag and tag and I hope you like them too!

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive of me and my little business. It's not always easy having two little ones and a husband who is a full-time student (though unbelievably supportive) and so your encouragement and kindness has helped pull me through quite a few obstacles the last few months.

To say thank you, here is a 10% off coupon code for you: BLOGGINGFRIENDS10

xo

Family: it's time to wear pants again...

2011-10-10T22:56:00.002-06:00

But we were happy to fit in one last day where we could get away bottomless. Or at least our babies could. Reason #1,005 why babies have it way better than adults.

Outlets: i'll be here this weekend...

2011-10-05T13:36:00.002-06:00

and, boy, would I be so happy if I saw some of you there for a little encouragement. This is the first time I've sold my wraps in person, which is exciting and nerve-racking. I'd like to think I'm too confident to get intimidated by a little boutique sale, but I am...so wish me luck.

Outlets: vintage-inspired christmas cards

2011-10-04T21:56:00.001-06:00

Even though my girl, Heather, is pregnant and has kidney stones right now, she has still somehow managed to come up with these darling, vintage-inspired Christmas cards. Too fun. Makes me even more excited than I already am about Christmas being less than three months away.

(Did you miss the embedded link? Here's another one.)

Family: us lately

2011-10-03T23:54:00.001-06:00

Things have been ridiculously busy lately. It's gotten to the point where days and weeks have become a bit of a blur and I'll find myself looking through photos and videos on my phone late at night trying to post-organize my life, if that makes sense. That's what I've done tonight instead of going to sleep, which I ~~probably~~ definitely need more of than a decompressing session, but sometimes you've just got to go for the gold. Or whatever. So here are a few things I've remembered tonight:

Sitting at General Conference (thanks to my sweet friend Heather) and listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir thinking that, next to Lucy's first laugh, I'd never heard anything so angelic in my life.
Proudly watching Lucy flail and kick her way through her two-week swim class, completely overcoming her fear of water. Few things are as rewarding as seeing your child progress.
Enduring a Costco trip from you know where. Don't be deceived by Lucy's loving arm around her brother while she sweetly sits in her Halloween costume from last year or Solomon's innocent gaze and squeezable, chubby feet, they were hellions and it took me a solid twenty (or five) minutes and a phone call to Jared before we were on speaking terms again.
Falling in love with this Anatolian Shepherd, the newest member of Jared's family. He's like Solomon, but a dog.
Going on a date to get gelato with Jared from the cornerstore and remembering how much I love talking to him about absolutely everything.
Volunteering to clean the Salt Lake Temple while my kids were at home sleeping on a Friday night. Loving every minute of being somewhere so peaceful for so long and realizing that I have a hard time letting my mind be still. I need to work on that.

Outlets: hot chocolate by ticket

2011-10-03T10:03:00.001-06:00

I felt quite honored to be chosen by The Ticket Kitchen (especially because the owner's blog is one of my all-time favorites) to do some test-tasting of some hot chocolate flavors they're trying out. It felt like Christmas morning when I received their little package in the mail. Enclosed were four types of hot chocolate samples to devour and paper to jot down a few notes.

Jared and I could hardly wait until the kids were asleep, a movie was on, and chocolate chip cookies were baked (because nothing goes better with chocolate than more chocolate) to partake. When the time finally came to taste the first sample our jaws dropped. Heaven. on. earth.

I've had a lot of jobs in my day. Most of them I was paid a lot more than samples of chocolate in ziploc baggies, but I'm thinking chocolate is my new currency.

Raising: nature walk

2011-09-29T10:47:00.002-06:00

We quickly sewed "nature backpacks" to collect beautiful or interesting things they found and packed sack lunches that we ate right off the trail on a patch of dirt. The drive into the canyon, with each tree we passed bursting with the liquid gold that is autumn, was as stunning as the hike. Our children screamed and giggled and ran around like children are supposed to, grabbing at every leaf and pointing out every tree and patch of moss or body of water water like it was the first time they'd ever been outside. I wore impractical shoes and slid down the mountain with Lucy, both of us squealing and laughing with each stumble. How I wish every day as a mother looked like this one.

Family: who wore it best?

2011-09-28T10:20:00.002-06:00

As I was driving and squinting my eyes to read an exit sign the other day, I suddenly remembered that I'm supposed to wear glasses. Right after Jared and I were married, I failed an eye exam and was given a prescription for glasses, but I never got in the habit of wearing them and ended up losing the one pair I owned.

When I mentioned my renewed interest in wearing glasses to the designer I'm working with on my Lulu wraps, she suggested I check out Warby Parker. So I did and happily discovered that this company is genius! Not only are all of their glasses $95, but I was able to check out five pairs that they sent to me for free and now, five days later, I'm sending them back for free.

In case you don't already know this, Jared and I never tire of putting our children in adult scenarios. Unfortunately, our children do. Solomon indulged me just long enough to take these pictures for our family's version of US Weekly's "Who Wore it Best?". Yeah, I know, he did.

I think I like the last pair the best. For both of us.

Family: movie night in the park

2011-09-25T23:45:00.000-06:00

My friend, Tammy, and her husband invited us to a family movie night on a grassy field in our neighborhood Friday. They rented a popcorn machine and had juice boxes and Red Vines for all, along with a projector playing the Pixar shorts. Tammy is an interior designer, so while it was relatively simple, all the details were perfect and the whole evening felt like a 1950s time-warp (in all the right ways). She said she'd always wanted to do this and so...she did. I like that about her.

There were half a dozen young families there, all sprawled out on old blankets, cuddling kids and savoring one of the last nights of summer. I don't know how to explain it, but there was something very comforting about the whole evening. It was nice to see that there are people left in the world who prefer a night together with their family, drinking juice boxes under the stars, over a swanky night on the town.

Outlets: fall/winter lulu wrap line

2011-09-23T15:29:00.002-06:00

A couple thousand yards of fabric arrived at my doorstep yesterday (thanks to a long list of family members) for my fall/winter line of Lulu Wraps and I'm obsessed. I can't stop touching, smelling, photographing, or talking about/to them. Lucy and I even had a preschool lesson about animals on top of the five-foot pile this morning. She may be the only other person that's as excited about this as I am.

I have more colors than this, but these are some of my favorites and I thought I'd share with you just in case you share my adoration of soft, gorgeous fabrics oozing with potential. In just a few weeks I'll be posting pictures of my final product, which, if you can believe it, I'm even more excited about than smelling it.

Outlets: my new look

2011-09-22T15:16:00.002-06:00

I contemplated writing something metaphorical about change and then connecting the metaphor to the change in the look of my blog (thanks to Smitten Blog Design), but Lucy is so sick of me being on the computer that she is pretending her foot is bleeding and that my phone is ringing (even though I'm holding it).

So I'll save you all the heavy-handed metaphor and instead surprise Lucy by having dinner ready for her before bedtime.

Raising: the montessori method

2011-09-22T08:57:00.008-06:00

(photo via)

Remember how I started studying educational theorists a while ago in an attempt to provide some philosophical backing to my child-rearing "method" (a.k.a.: day-to-day survival techniques)?

Well, this post is a long time coming, but I think I'm finally ready to discuss Maria Montessori. This is probably the most interesting method to me because it's had such a comeback in our schools over the last fifteen years. There are private and charter Montessori elementary and preschools all over the world and many of her ideas have been implemented into the public schools here in America.

The only problem is that Maria Montessori wrote many lengthy books on the subject, not to mention the other hundreds not by her, which lead me to constantly doubt my knowledge since I haven't read them all. I'm over that way of thinking now, though, as I've come to the realization that some people like to repeat themselves. A lot. And Maria Montessori might just be one of those people.

I know, I know, I am incapable of writing short, concise introductions.

Let's get to it. (I'm also incapable of writing a good transition.)

Once again, this is not even close to a full explanation of this method, especially because the Montessori method is so specific that she even tells you what material your chairs should be made from, but it does hit on what I feel are some of the most fundamental ideas and the ideas I found most interesting and for easy application.

Basic Ideas:

• Each child is born with unique potential to be revealed or discovered, rather than a "blank slate" as many other theorists believe.

• For this reason, education should be "child-led" rather than teacher-led.

• Liberty of the pupil is core. Liberty to learn, to make mistakes, to set the pace, and to move freely in his or her own environment.

• Environment is key and should be constantly adapted for the child's greatest learning potential. It should be:

◦ in proper proportion to the child

◦ beautiful and clean

◦ orderly

◦ stocked only with a limited amount of materials that will aid in development

◦ arranged in a way that facilitates movement and activity

• The Process of Learning:  (Stage 1) introduction to a concept by means of a lecture, lesson, something read in a book, etc. (Stage 2) processing the information, developing an understanding of the concept through work, experimentation, creation.(Stage 3) "knowing", to possessing an understanding of, demonstrated by the ability to pass a test with confidence, to teach another, or to express with ease. (excerpt via)

Unique Applications:

• An uninterrupted, daily 3-hour work period where children are free to work and move freely.

• Mixed-age classrooms with large numbers

• Work centers, arranged in the room according to subject

• Teachers observe and record children's progress rather than having formal assessments

• Practical life skills are fundamental to learning and building confidence (cooking, cleaning, dressing oneself, etc.) to help children become independent

• Specially-designed and prepared classroom materials/toys to learn concepts through exploration

• Lessons should be taught as simply as possible, removing useless words and "stripped of all that is not absolute truth" (page 108)

Resources and Ideas for Implementing:

• Website for Practical life skills ideas (and many other Montessori ideas)

• Melissa and Doug toys are all Montessori-based toys

• Montessori toy and materials website

• Article on using Montessori ideas at home

• I've posted a couple ideas for making your own Montessori toys here and will post several more soon.

Critique of Method: I agree with the idea of teaching children to become independent physically at a young age as I believe it does increase confidence and is really fun for kids to learn things like how to cut an apple and to do their own buttons. I also agree with child-led teaching, though, I am okay with teachers teaching at the head of a classroom as well at times. Some Montessori schools, including Maria Montessori's "Children's Houses" have very long and intense schedules, working under the notion that children must be engulfed in this method from an early age (two-and-a-half) and all day long (from about 8-6). I think it's more important for little children to be at home in a family environment for their development rather than in a school environment, if possible, and the large classroom sizes could actually hinder the development of a small child. I don't have these concerns for an older child.

Now that I've bored you to tears, will you tell me your thoughts or ideas or experiences working with this method? I would love it if you'd share. I mean, L.O.V.E. it.

Raising: mommy-daughter DTR

2011-09-19T10:25:00.004-06:00

After a tumultuous week with my two-year-old, I admitted to Jared that I've been having a very difficult time enjoying my time with her lately. Our days have felt more like a test of endurance with few of the usual signs of improvement that provide just enough motivation to keep going. Every visit to timeout the worry that I am raising Veruca Salt deepens and is usually followed by serious contemplation of taking all ten of her toys away and package of go-gurts.

Once Lucy fell asleep in the backseat on a drive, I expressed my concerns to Jared. It was another one of those guilt-ridden mothering confessions, not unlike my confessions after the family meltdown a few months ago. Luckily, there were no tears this time, just a long and earnest discussion to figure out a solution accompanied with a sprinkling of typical, parenting guilt.

Jared, being the sensitive and thoughtful husband that he is, suggested that Lucy and I spend more quality time together. At first, this seemed counter-intuitive to me. I mean, for all intents and purposes I am a single mother from 8:30 a.m. Monday morning until 6:00 p.m. Friday evening so I feel that time together is something Lucy and I have an ~~over-~~abundance of. He emphasized the word "quality" and declared that the next day Lucy and I were going to go on a date together (something he and Lucy do weekly).

The next day Lucy and I left Solomon and Jared for a father-son date while we drove downtown to pick out a new book, eat kid's meals, people-watch, loiter in Build-a-Bear, and skip down the sidewalk together. There was no rush or schedule to keep, and Lucy could feel it as much as I could. By the time we met up with the boys for gelato, we were back to the dynamic mother-daughter duo we were born to be. Sometimes all it takes is a little QT.

Home: dinner menu & how i learned to make more than pb&js

2011-09-15T14:19:00.004-06:00

When Jared and I were first married, I was such an incompetent cook that I had trouble making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I take that back, I've always made a killer pb&j. (It's all about getting the peanut butter and jelly all the way to the edges.)
The fact that I am trying to defend my pb&j skills right now is a testament to just how bad of a cook I was. I remember anxiously buying meat for the FIRST time in my life months after we were married, hoping that it was the kind without bones in it and totally convinced that I was going to give us all E-coli. I'm actually surprised I didn't.

After months of Costco freezer meals, a lot of stops to Diego's (our local taco stand), and about fifteen extra pounds later, I decided I should probably learn how to cook, especially because Jared didn't seem too eager to take on the task. In fact, he was frighteningly content to subsist solely on peanut M&Ms and five buck pizzas.

I digress.

I slowly took on one very simple recipe at a time (mostly from the following cookbooks: Joy of Cooking, Better Homes & Gardens: The Bridal Edition, The New Best Recipe from Cooks Ill.) and then I compiled a cookbook for Christmas using all of my family's favorite recipes. Pretty soon, I was an average cook and, just as importantly, I was having fun.

Ever since then, I've been just as bad at sticking to a food budget as I was when we were eating tacos every night, but I've had a pretty good menu plan each week that has simplified cooking at home. And there are few things in life that are as satisfying to me than cooking a good meal for my family.

Wow...I just keep rambling and rambling...get to the point, Elle! (If I had a nickel for every time I talked to myself in third person on this blog...)

My point is that this semester, Jared and I have, out of pure necessity, decided to get our food bill down as much as possible. We are attempting to accomplish this by sticking to this very simple food menu we've made for the next four months (too much of a good thing does not exist in this house). I thought I'd share it with you because I like posting on things I wish other people would post on.

Monday: pasta (usually this fresh spaghetti, but sometimes fettuccine alfredo, orzo, spinach lasagna or one like this or this), veggies, fruit side, and bread

Tuesday: soup (tomato, potato, coconut & curry or a white bean & herb) with fruit and a crusty bread (I've been buying the big packs of artisan bread at Costco and freezing them individually so then I just quickly reheat it for 10 min. in the oven before dinner time)

Wednesday: veggie pizza (using this recipe from my friend, Kim, because it's amazing and it makes enough for four pizza doughs so then you have dinner for two nights, you can also use wheat flour for this dough) or southwest taco salad

Thursday: black bean chicken burritos with tortilla chips and fruit

Friday: margherita pizza using the leftover dough from Wednesday

Saturday: mix-it-up-night: chicken curry in a hurry (from Mark Bittman) or a baked meat with veggies and fruit OR we split something at a restaurant

Sunday: beef or chicken stew with vegetables in the crock pot in cream of chicken soup with thyme and minced garlic (I know, it's something your grandmother would make, but I throw it in first thing in the morning, it's done when we get home from church, and Jared loves it.) or a chicken and potatoes dish like this one by Gwyneth

Desserts: fruit crisp (thank you again, Bittman) with whatever fruit is in season, peach milkshakes when peaches are in season, fried bananas, lemon bars, fudge bars from Costco or the ultimate classic: chocolate chip cookies

Okay, now let me hear your menu or your favorite, easy meal. This isn't a rhetorical question used to make you feel like you are a part of this post. I'm very serious, please give me some more ideas!

Thank you in advance for your help and participation.
(photo via)

Update: farm life

2011-09-13T14:23:00.007-06:00

I know that it's the hip thing right now to be into farming and urban homesteading and diy-ing your entire house, and I jumped on that bandwagon long ago (primarily because my problem with authority forces me to be more self-sufficient), but I do think it's funny how easily it gets overly-romanticized, especially in the case of farm-life.

Last weekend my sweet mother took us to a real family farm where you can visit farm animals, buy produce, and go on "farm rides". We had a LOT of fun, but it also served as a good reminder that there's a reason why we don't have as many farmers today and I'd like to share my stunningly insightful thoughts with you:

It's hard. An unbelievable amount of time, work, patience, and even faith goes into growing produce and taking care of animals for an even more unbelievably small amount of money.
Animals smell bad. There's no way around it. Sure, they're cute, but they seriously smell horrible. Like poop.
Speaking of poop, there is a lot of poop on farms. I already feel like I'm up to my elbows in it with two kids, but those pigs are in it from head to toe. On purpose.
I know I was thanking the goats for making our day a few months ago, but they're kind of mean. And annoying. Don't call PETA on me, I don't condone goat-tipping (did I just make that word up?) or even pulling on their horns like Jared kept doing (see picture below), but I can tell I'm not the only one they bother. The cows and horses they were fenced in with were super bugged by them too. I promise.
Let's talk about mating rituals. It's kind of funny, but also awkward and weird. Especially if your two-year-old is present. How many birds and the bees talks can a parent handle?

I'm really having to restrain myself to stop here. I had so many more brilliant thoughts about farm life come to my mind when I was there, but I'm afraid our hardworking farmers would start abandoning their farms left and right if they were to read more so we'll call it good.

P.S. Best part about farm life: slides made out of pvc pipes. Lucy couldn't get enough.

Raising: lulu the dancer

2011-09-10T12:47:00.004-06:00

For months now Lucy has been telling, literally, every family member, friend, and stranger she's met that she is about to, "Go to dance at Miss Julie's in a tutu because Miss Julie's my friend." For once, she was correct on both counts.

The time finally came this week to drop her off at her seasoned dance teacher's garage-add-on dance studio to learn tap and ballet. Her studio is covered in glitter hats, canes, ribbons, 80s dancing posters, and, most importantly, brightly-painted pink flooring. Miss Julie met us at the door with a grandmotherly hug and even a kiss for Lucy. Lucy scurried in and found her friends without so much as a look behind her. For about the tenth time this year, I felt a pang of separation anxiety as I walked to the car, leaving Lucy as she she sat on the floor, almost shaking with anticipation and excitement.

Not too long ago I heard someone say that parenting is really just a process of letting go. When our children are born they are wholly dependent upon us and as they grow they slowly become autonomous individuals, little by little needing us less and less to get along in life. Some days that's a beautiful thing and some days it pulls on my heartstrings just a little bit.

Friends: poor man's naomi

2011-09-08T11:14:00.005-06:00

My good friend from college, Naomi, came into town this week from Philadelphia quite randomly, all too briefly and, unfortunately, sans her husband and darling little one. I'll take that girl any way I can get her, though, so I jumped at the opportunity to spend some quality time.

We have a lot in common, but she's just the better version. Think: first generation iPhone versus the iPhone4. On top of it all she's British. Can we say: bombshell?

Somehow we were able to cover everything from international politics and modern feminism to poopy diapers and blogging in a 24-hour period.

Where's my hot pink, purple, and yellow thread? I think it's BFF bracelet-making time.

Never mind, apparently we already have matching BFF outfits.

Family: family photos by yan

2011-09-07T08:09:00.002-06:00

I've been borderline obsessed with the work of Diana a.k.a. Yan of Yan Photography for years now, but family photos aren't generally in the budget so having her do a family session has stayed in the "someday" file until last month. This is when Diana ran a special before she up and moved the state with her family for Colorado that we could not necessarily afford, but could justify buying anyway since she was moving.

We had the pictures taken in our old neighborhood in Provo. It was the street I lived on when we dated and fell in love, the house I came home to after he broke up with me for two weeks and I cried my eyes out, the house we un-broke-up in, the backyard where we talked about getting married and having kids following the un-breaking-up, the house I stared at my engagement ring in all night long in after he proposed in the mountains, and the last house I lived in before we were married. A street over is the house I lived in when I met him in and a street over the other way is the house we lived in for a year when we came back to Provo after we had Lucy. Over the last six years, we've taken at least 300 walks on that street. No exaggeration. Probably more. We would walk and talk about love, religion, our colicky baby, philosophy, our crazy, drunken neighbors, parenting, sleep deprivation, politics, our families, and growing up.

Those years, all of them, will be the years that when we look back on them when we're old (and maybe even now, as in right now) we'll cry because they were so beautiful.

So now you know why I'm so excited to have had these photos taken on this street. Especially with these three people. And so grateful that Diana captured it perfectly. That's why she's so incredible. She captures her photos, she doesn't create them.

Let me say for the hundredth time: thank you, thank you, thank you, Diana.

Update: labor day weekend

2011-09-05T08:14:00.005-06:00

Let me start by saying: Bless you, Autumnal Equinox! Even though it's only the beginning of September, there has already been a change in the wind and it is absolutely enchanting. (Yes, I meant to use the word "enchanting".) This wind carries with it a feeling that makes me want to take my Victorian literature course all over again, cuddle Jared next to a campfire in the mountains, and can peaches all at the same time.

While I did none of those things this weekend, I did have a lovely weekend with my little family and some of my best girls. Jared gave me Friday afternoon "off" and so I was able to...clean. It sounds boring, but cleaning by myself is a luxury and shockingly more effective.

Saturday I woke up early and walked over to one of my besties' houses for a morning of yard sale-ing followed by brunch with two other friends. Kid-free. The four of us piled in together like we sixteen, going to a high school football game, and drove around, stirring up half a dozen of our neighborhood yard sales. Apparently, yard sales provide amazing comedic material. We spent the entire morning laughing as we bartered (usually over 50 cents), dug around piles of what was seemingly junk, found treasures, and sorted through hilariously bad books from the 90s. Brunch at a neighborhood restaurant Eggs in the City was just icing on the cake. It was a great morning.

The rest of our weekend (I know today is a holiday, but Jared is back in the library today so our holiday has already ended) consisted of driving up into the mountains to check out Swiss Days, an annual festival held in Midway, Utah (one of Utah's most beautiful, lesser-known towns with Swiss heritage), taking an early-morning, Sunday walk, going to church, and enduring a particularly torturous Sunday evening with two, extremely overly-tired children.

Hope my American friends are doing something more exciting than reading this today! I'm off to wear my white jeans for the first and last time this year in order to have some sort of Labor Day celebration. As well as play at my mom's house with some of her D.C. friends.

P.S. I am beyond excited to post family pictures taken by the brilliant photographer Diana Palmer of Yan Photography later this week!!

Updates: lucy & sol

2011-09-02T14:40:00.002-06:00

Remember how my five-month-old is the same size as my almost three-year-old? Pretty sure my almost three-year-old hasn't noticed.

2011-09-02T13:59:00.002-06:00

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family: old pics by heather

2011-09-01T22:55:00.010-06:00

Just found these family pictures (circa 2009) taken by my good friend/photographer Heather and instantly missed living in Provo (the little-ish Utah town where Jared and I went to college, met, dated, married, owned a home, and lived with Lucy for a year) and my long hair. It's a close tie as to which one I miss more, but I'm pretty sure the hair wins. Pathetic, I know.

Since my husband didn't laugh hard enough...

2011-08-31T22:59:00.003-06:00

I am going to share with you my favorite google search term that has brought up my blog for THREE people (according to my blogger stats):

like to poop in my pants

I don't recall ever posting about pooping my pants, much less liking it, but there may be a few posts on this general topic soon enough since I've decided to finally take on potty-training Lucy.

Hopefully, I'll make a more substantive post by the end of the week, but I'm not making any promises.

P.S. Two marks for Jared tonight. Not only did he not appreciate this finding as he should've, but he is also currently watching and enjoying the painfully dumb, old 90s film With Honors where we are supposed to believe that Brendan Fraser could go to Harvard. And not as a caveman.

P.P.S. Mom, relax, poop jokes are funny.

Seasonal: top 10 things to do in salt lake city with kids

2011-08-30T11:41:00.003-06:00

These are my top ten favorite things to do in Salt Lake City, with little kids, in the summer. It's taken a lot of failed play dates and wasted money (and, of course, a lot of fun) to come up with this so I hope someone gets some use out of it:

Laird Park followed by lunch at Schmidt's Pastry Cottage on 2100 S. Laird is my favorite because it has a great sandbox, the playground is geared for toddlers, and it is in a private, safe neighborhood. Schmidt's has great soups, sandwiches on homemade bread, and, obviously, pastries galore.
Temple Square followed by lunch at Hagermann's Bakehouse across the street. The Church History Museum has the best kids play area.
Red Butte Gardens with a sack lunch or Einstein's at 15th and 15th followed by a trip to the King's English bookstore children's section.
Hogle Zoo with a sack lunch.
Discovery Gateway followed by lunch at Costa Vida.
Murray Swimming Pool or splashing in the fountains at the Gateway. The Murray pool has a great kids area and an amazing water slide.
Picnics in Little or Big Cottonwood Canyon (this link has good picnic spots).
This is the Place Heritage Park and eating bbq pulled pork sandwich at their restaurant. The petting zoo and pony rides are the best.
Memory Grove Park with a sack lunch. It is kind of an enclosed, private park right next to the Capitol with a little stream running through. A lot of people have their bridals taken there, which caused Lucy some heart palpitations.
Cinemark Sugarhouse Movies 10: our almost dollar theater that plays a lot of children's shows followed by TCBY after across the street (and often a trip to Nordstrom Rack following ice cream).

Salt Lake City, come next summer, I'm actually going to miss you. A lot. Despite my California leanings.

Update: everyone's birthday but lucy's

2011-08-29T14:34:00.003-06:00

I've never given so many birthday wishes or attended so many birthday parties in all my life! We had five birthdays to celebrate this weekend, three of which were Lucy's friends, so we were busy eating a lot of cake and having a lot of fun. Somehow Jared missed all of the celebrations while he helped a neighbor move over the course of a few days and for the one where he was technically present, he ended up walking the kids around outside, by the restaurant, so I could finish eating. What a man of a man.

Lucy could not figure out how, when so many people were having birthdays, it wasn't hers too. Nevertheless, somehow she survived so much playing, party favors, and having to eat so many cupcakes. What a brave soul.

Family: study break

2011-08-25T14:05:00.002-06:00

We went to buy peaches from the University Farmer's Market today and "just so happened" to run into a very handsome scholar. This led to lying around in the grass, under a tree, for the remainder of his study break, while we discussed for the umpteenth time if preschool is right for Lucy, how beautiful the U of U campus is, and how we are so blessed to have such a mellow second child. Jared then started asking Lucy questions to see if we if we treat her differently than Solomon. It took me less than 3 seconds to figure out he just came from a "Gender Roles" class.

I can read that boy like a book. (Which he likes on account of his love for books and me.)

It's been a nice morning.

Kid-Speak: tears and bowties

2011-08-24T15:31:00.001-06:00

Two sweet things I don't want to forget Lulu saying:

1: Ever since my sister got married last month, Lucy has been obsessed with the idea. She keeps telling everyone, "I am going to get married to William when he get a little older and bigger and bigger. He a pretty good guy. He's gonna wear a BOWTIE!" Poor William, he doesn't know what he's in for.

2: When Jared was getting ready to go back to school on Monday Lucy started sobbing because she was so sad (which, of course, made Jared tear up too - keep that on the DL). This morning when he was preparing to go she exclaimed:

"Daddy, I'm not gonna cry when you go to school today!"

"You're not?"

Pause.

"Mmm, no. I AM gonna cry when you go today."

"How come?"

While animatedly throwing her arms out by her sides, "Because I'm gonna miss you SO MUCH!"

This picture is for my brother, Jefferson, who thinks it's just gross when people take messy pictures of their kids while they're eating.

Raising: progress

2011-08-23T21:42:00.004-06:00

After I put the kids to bed tonight following an exhausting hour of negotiating bedtime rituals with Lucy, I walked out of my little sewing room into the backyard. I wanted to spend some time in my garden, with the hope that I could gain some kind of perspective there and that my mind could be still for a moment.

As I walked past Lucy's tacky, blow-up, hippo pool and all of the unripened Roma tomatoes that she and her friends pulled off yesterday and tossed in the yard, I stood face to face with my garden.

It didn't look very therapeutic. In fact, it was overgrown, weed-infested, ransacked and even a little frightening. It was not the metaphor for my life that I was looking for.

I gave up and began to look for anything ready to harvest. I doubted that I'd find much because of the choking overgrowth. I lifted up leaves and dug through layers of Virginia Creeper vines. To my surprise, I found vegetables hidden all over, perfectly ripened and just waiting to be picked.

Then a more palatable metaphor came.

I thought about how incredible it was that even a single tomato could survive in that jungle of insidious weeds, much less a dozen. Then the quote from a most beloved church leader came to mind, "You're making better progress than you realize..." So maybe these plants aren't producing all that they normally could've, under more "ideal" circumstances, but they are progressing in their little sphere of life and that's all that matters. Life is usually not ideal, but that doesn't mean we aren't moving forward. I know it sounds overly-simplistic, but it's true.

It's difficult to understand the whole context of our lives while we are in it. Looking back we understand much more clearly why a certain trial in life was so challenging and we often realize that we actually did better than we gave ourselves credit for.

Well, that's it. It wasn't an earth-shattering epiphany and I'll probably forget it tomorrow, but I hope not. I hope that I'll try harder to give myself the benefit of the doubt every once in a while, trusting that even though it seems like I've been standing in the same place for months, even years, I haven't been. Sometimes progress is hard to see underneath the weeds.

One more reason I love this company...

2011-08-22T22:39:00.002-06:00

Ever/After Clothing (you remember that socially conscious and totally hip clothing brand I can't stop talking about, right?) was so thrilled that so many of us fell in love with their company that they wanted to extend a discount to all of you (and me I'm hoping) for 20% off your purchase through 8/31/11. Just put in the following coupon code and order away: ELLEREADERS

I'm thinking of these little ditties for Lulu and Sol:

P.S. They are having a major sale right now so I'd hop on it while they still have the sizes you need! Thanks again, Ever/After!

Family: california wrap-up

2011-08-21T09:00:00.005-06:00

Forgive this endless post of pictures from our trip to the in-laws'. This vacation was jam-packed with fun activities and day trips, and I don't want to forget any of it. I know I'll be referring back to this post of pictures all winter long in an effort to remember warm days and family I miss, so I decided I'd take the risk of boring you to death with photos.

These pics are of hanging out at the in-laws' house and mini-farm (+smog layer), going up to Lake Arrowhead with the girls overnight in a gorgeous cabin where we spilled our guts, ate like pigs, and taught each other things like how to arrange flowers and to make pizza, playing in the lake the next day when the boys and kids came up, Moonlight beach, Jared's new surfboard, our favorite donut shop, singing hymns with the family and neighbors on Sunday night, the Mission Inn in Riverside, Tio's Tacos in Riverside with Jared's cousin and family, Oceanside beach, and, my favorite, the Getty art museum.

A few things I'm missing photos of: a day in the ER with Lucy, two days in downtown LA visiting places like the fashion district and UCLA, as well as the 10-hour, intermittent scream-a-thon we endured with Lucy on the way home from California. So grateful to have our sweet Lucy back now that we're home.

Growing Up: leaving the garden

2011-08-20T08:42:00.006-06:00

After living with my in-laws in California for four months, we drove away in our technically “old”, but new to us, 4Runner with a trailer attached carrying all of the possessions that one-year of marriage had brought us. It was New Years Eve and although the use of a sweater was optional on this typical, sunny day in California, we kept our down jackets close to us, knowing that they would soon be mandatory in the blizzard-like conditions awaiting us in Cedar City, Utah.

Jared’s parents loaded our trunk with brown paper bags, overflowing with citrus from their fruit trees and slipped some extra cash into Jared’s pocket to help with gas as we said our goodbyes and piled in. We waved to them out of the car windows and they waved from the end of their driveway until we had made it the half-mile down the hill, like they always do.

I put my knees up to my chin and hugged them. I cried and didn’t stop until we crossed the Utah border.

We’ve lived there twice since then for a few months at a time, visited a dozen times, and I’m sure we’ll live there five more times before Jared finishes law school, but every time we‘ve left I’ve had that same sinking feeling. It’s the feeling that Adam and Eve must’ve felt when they were kicked out of the Garden, forced to face the world alone, left to survive by the sweat of their brows. Well, whatever it is, I don’t like it and I can never quite figure out why we ever decided to leave in the first place.

This trip was no exception.

I don’t feel quite ready to face another semester where I have to share my husband with the library for twelve hours a day or rubbing nickels together every month for random hospital bills and student loan payments. I just want to crawl up in a ball in the twin bed upstairs under the quilt Jared slept in as a boy and take another nap and then go feed the chickens with Solomon and pick nectarines from the tree with Lucy and eat them on the porch overlooking the city.

Alas, such is life and I am being ungrateful. Give me a few days and I’ll be back in the swing of things and breathing in the crisp autumn air with all the energy that my little, west-coast heart can handle.

featured: diligent joy

2011-08-17T18:58:00.000-06:00

The lovely Abby of Diligent Joy, a sweet and witty blog about life and other musings, is featuring seven new-er bloggers this week and today I am the guest blogger. She put together a fabulous list of words to comment on like philosophy and love, which produced some long-winded, but hopefully moderately interesting answers from me.

Thanks again, Abby! You can check it out here. Happy...what day is it? Wednesday? Yes, Happy Wednesday! Ah...let this vacation never end!

Marriage: my surfer boy & {Ever/After Giveaway Winner}

2011-08-17T09:41:00.005-06:00

I have a feeling that when the time comes to choose a law school next year-ish, distance to the nearest "rip tide" (I can already hear Jared mocking my surfing terminology) may be factored in multiple times.

Jared has been surfing since he was seven so whenever we visit or temporarily live in California he instantly becomes his twelve year-old self, checking the surf report each morning and weeks before we get here.

This trip was no exception so when we left for the beach on Monday Jared got it into his head that he needed a new surfboard. He was convinced he could find one for $50 on craigslist on our way to the beach. Because it's that easy, right? All of our purchases that day he would note what fraction of a surfboard that purchase was. Wet Ones at the gas station were 1/10, a honeydew melon was 1/6, gas was 100%, etc. Jared ended up dropping us off at the beach while he drove around, calling people on craigslist and running into surf shops up and down the PCH.

I kept reminding him that we live in Utah, not California, and that it seems a little unnecessary to own a surfboard for our annual trip to the beach. Undaunted, he pointed out that his chances of getting into UCLA law school are pretty good. When that wasn't too convincing, he then reminded kindly me of my upcoming online photo class, the family photos I recently worked into the "budget", and the annual sidewalk sale I recently hit up. That was slightly more convincing.

I would've protested more except that I know my husband. When he zeroes in on something, the blinders come up and my protests become little more than white noise. (Disclaimer: When it comes to something important, Jared is shockingly easy to talk to and work with. #5,089 that I'm head over heels for this guy.)

To make a short story shorter, three hours and $200 later he showed up to the beach looking like he'd actually just gotten into UCLA with a surfboard under his arm and the grin of a champion.

I will say that he tore it up out there and so I'm pretty sure he is not experiencing any buyer's remorse.

I'm so excited to announce that the winner of our Ever/After Clothing Giveaway is my dear friend ONE! Oh, if only I had time to tell you all about this girl/woman/mother/genius/babe. I feel a feature post coming on...

And I happen to know that Phineas and Hettie will both look darling in this outfit! Congratulations and thanks again to Ever/After Clothing!

(One, email me your contact info and sizing at elle@ellekeepsmoving.com)

One said...

Phineas wants this! (But maybe a size big so Hettie can borrow it :-)

August 11, 2011 9:54 AM

One said...

...and I liked them. Socially conscious adorableness - What's not to like?

August 11, 2011 9:59 AM

updates: moonlight beach

2011-08-16T08:52:00.003-06:00

don't take it personally, utah, but i might never come back.

p.s. today is the LAST day to enter our ever/after clothing giveaway!

Updates: vacation in the ER

2011-08-13T19:59:00.001-06:00

Remember how we were going to "take so-cal by storm" on this trip? Well, apparently, it felt threatened by the declaration because the next day we spent almost the entire day in the emergency room with Lucy. We thought she had appendicitis so we had to rush her in before anything ruptured, but it turned out that she just had a severe bladder infection. I'll take a UTI over the removal of an appendix and a 72-hour hospital stay any day.

Poor little girl. It broke my heart to see her in there getting poked and prodded. I kept telling her during the ultrasound to say, "I am brave" to help her calm down during it, and the doctor teased her by saying, "No, I am brave." Lucy then started arguing with him about who was braver by yelling back, "NO! I'M BRAVE!" It went back and forth for a few a minutes, but he quickly conceded.

Her prayer that night went something like, "Thank you I could go to the doctor. I don't like the doctor. I cried and cried. I do not go back. They hurt my bum-bum (think suppositories) and now it feel better. I never ever do dat again."

We've had so much fun up in Lake Arrowhead since then, though, that the whole thing already feels like a distant dream. But I'm pretty sure it'll come back faster than you can say "$5,000 deductible" when the bill comes.

Let the storm continue.

(***Just a reminder to enter our giveaway for the cutest kids clothes ever.)

Giveaway: Ever/After Clothing {CLOSED}

2011-08-11T08:52:00.001-06:00

I have only had one blog giveaway before now so I am ecstatic that after I posted the picture of my "little gentleman" in the cardigan below, Ever/After Clothing so generously offered to give away a full infant/toddler outfit (a value of around $100) to one of the dear readers of this blog. They are made from Pima cotton (if you haven't experienced Pima then you haven't lived yet) and the fit is hipper than anything you've ever seen your little one in.

Ever/After didn't ask me to talk about who they are and what they do, but they are such an inspiring company that I can't not tell you about them. Seven years ago Gary & Christy Winston, owners and husband/wife duo, left the corporate fashion retail world when they had their darling baby girl, Ever, to simplify life, follow their dreams, and to find a way to give to children in need. Their exit resulted in the creation of Ever/After Clothing in Newport Beach.

Now their clothing is sold online and all across the country, and world, in boutiques and department stores like Fred Segal, Barneys, and Babinskis (for all of my Utah neighbors). They are a company that makes simple, stylish, and oh-so-soft clothing for all ages and gives back 25% of their net profit to charity. Talk about social entrepreneurship at its finest!

Okay, back to the giveaway. Leave me a comment to win either the girl or boy outfit below (boy = wide leg bottoms & girl = legging bottoms).

If you like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter you get a bonus entry (one for each!) so hop to it and drop me a line because this giveaway will end next Monday, August 15th!