Monday, February 28, 2011
a short film.
My friends Brittney and Marcella shared this on their respective blogs earlier today and I thought I would also post it here after it moved me to tears. Since becoming a Mom I've found that my respect for other parents has only grown, and the respect that I have for any single parent is just immeasurable. It's hard enough doing this job with two people, and I can only imagine the struggle it can be with one. I have a quite a few single mama friends, and quite simply, you are all amazing and inspire me every single day with your perseverance and strength. I thought this film was beautiful, and I wanted to share it here, with all of you.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
5 quick ways to make our blog world a more positive place
1. Take 20 minutes and click on 5 random blogs you otherwise wouldn't have visited. You can do this by checking out familiar blog's daily reads (mine will be updated this week!), profiles, or if you really want to get crazy you can use the "explore" option in Google Reader. Check them out, read through a few entries, and if you're intrigued, click the follow button. At the least, be sure to leave a comment saying hello and that you're just stopping by and share how you found them.
2. Really read. And really comment. It's hard to read through the hundreds of blogs many of us subscribe to, but if you find the time, really take in an entry or two, think about it, and leave some thoughts in the comment box. It's so fun to read comments that really tell me something and respond. And there's no greater feeling than hearing "me too" or "I love this, etc." with some details after you've put a little piece of yourself out into the world.
3. Reach out. Write an email to your favorite blogger or a new blog you recently discovered. I read a huge array of blogs, and I don't always reach out and say hello. Yes, I am one of those readers who takes in every word but doesn't always comment! It's something I'm definitely working on, because I know how much every single one of the comments here warms my heart. But even better is just writing a quick email that lets someone know how much you enjoy what they're creating. I finally reached out to one of my favorite blogs this week, and she responded and told me that she was actually thinking of stopping because she thought no one read it! Ahh! I would have been so sad, and it only made me think more about how great it is to actually reach out.
4. Share the love! I started doing a blog spotlight feature here because I feel like there's nothing better than supporting other people in their creative endeavors. It's so fun to pick a blog from your daily reads and share them with the world, and it's something everyone can do. I love discovering new sites, and a spotlight or links feature is always a great way to give exposure to others that you feel are just awesome!
5. Finally, try something new to keep YOUR creative self moving and grooving! Perhaps do one of the popular "photo an hour" posts, a "what's in my bag" post, or a random facts share session. Video blog, interview someone, reach out and create a feature series with a friend! When you feel inspired, you inspire others, and what better way to beautify the world around you than by starting with yourself!
Good luck and happy positive-blogging! xoxo
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thank goodness it was Friday!
What a great day! I spent the afternoon with some lovely ladies and it was so much fun. It was a little mama/baby meet up, and we enjoyed lunch, lots of girltalk, and topped our day off with sweets and cupcakes. Perfect. My friend Natalie is due so soon, so it was great to be able to see her adorable and pregnant. We did lunch at Joe's Farm Grill out in Gilbert and I can't say enough good things about this place. It's a really interesting restaurant. It's surrounded by farmland, and they use local, fresh food that's in season whenever possible. You can learn more about the Agritopia project and the Grill by clicking here, and I definitely recommend doing so- I was fascinated to find out the concept of this whole area. Super neat. And back to the food, last time I was there I had the grilled chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries, and today I had the hamburger and salad- it was delicious! I really, really need to remember to bring my Nikon when I go places and actually take a few minutes to snap some good photos- I'm starting to get annoyed with myself so I am not going to make that mistake again! But anyway, after lunch we walked over to The Coffee Shop to enjoy some sweet treats (my pal Chelsea actually blogged about it yesterday if you'd like to hear more about it). Natalie and I split a birthday cake cupcake (so good). It was really just the best day- it's refreshing to be around a group of mothers who are super like-minded. I'm not religious by any means and most of the Mom's groups I've encountered are more religion-based, meeting via church, etc...which is absolutely not for me. I have a few friends who are in Moms groups like that, and like I always say- to each their own, but that kind of thing just isn't up my alley whatsoever. With that said, I'm looking forward to hanging out again soon with these wonderful gals!
After lunch I hurried home to Prescott so I could get ready for our date night, and was greeted by a mysterious package at the front door. Upon further investigation I saw it was from one of our dearest friends Alex, and it then hit me why he asked me the other night while we were texting, "do you like presents?" haha. Oh, Alex. When Hank got home we opened it, and inside was an amazing amount of sweets from his bakery in San Francisco, Miette! OH LORD was everything good. And yes, don't worry, I sampled one of everything.
So, after getting super full on sweets, we dropped Henry off at Hank's Mom's and went over to Wild Iris for tea and (more) sweets. I indulged a bit too much (okay a lot too much) today and let's just say I'm already looking forward to a long walk tomorrow with Henry. Yikes. But anyway, it was so much fun. We spent two hours just drinking our coconut tea, splitting a slice of citrus cheesecake, and talking about everything and anything. I feel so lucky to be married to my best friend, and I love that we can sit and talk for hours and hours. While there I also ran into two old students which is always wonderful too- they were pretty much the cutest things ever and it warmed my heart to see them doing well. All in all it's been a really great night.
Tomorrow morning Henry and I are heading downtown to enjoy breakfast with my sister-in-law before she moves to Portland for a month for floral school. How neat is that?! I'm excited for her and I know she is going to have the best time. So tomorrow is a bit of a farewell breakfast before she heads to the airport. Afterward you can find Henry and I walking around town, trying to work off some of the sugar I consumed today. ;)
Here are some photos, taken with my point and shoot Canon and my phone.
present from Alex, thank you again sweet friend! Love you tons.
sunset from our front yard this evening
coconut tea, seriously AMAZING! Adie introduced it to Hank, who introduced it to me...and I can't wait to drink it a lot more often. Love it.
the citrus cheesecake. Yup.
I hope you all have a fantastic Saturday! Until next time, xoxo!
Friday links to love!
But now, here are some links to get your weekend started right:
I think this video on how to do a baby turban is the cutest. Plus, I adore Rachel/her blog.
Love this tea party.
You guys. I am DYING over Kristin's trip to India. Her photos are absolutely beautiful.
Shatter polish giveaway? Okay! Thanks Holly Sarah!
This is probably one of my fave blogs right now, which is ironic. Click the link and you'll see why. ha.
Super cute silhouette print. I think would make a darling wedding present.
I really like this Tumblr. And pretty much Tumblr in general.
Lindsay's hand screen-painted fabric is so, so pretty.
A new friend of mine, Megan, started a blog! I promise, you'll love it. She's super sweet, has great style, and blogs about her day to day life. Go say hi!
How adorable is this necklace? "Going steady," so cute.
Take a look at this proposal video. To die for adorable. !!!
So, I loved the '90s. And here, you can take a little quiz about the most popular names from the 90s. Kinda love it!
Spaghetti with lemon and olive oil. So simple but so perfect.
I was a Girl Scout growing up (stopped when I was a Brownie), and I've always been fascinated by the history of the organization. Here's a little bit about the rebranding they recently did. Be sure to click one the "more" button to read about each section. I'm a nerd, I know.
Both my Dad and Hank will love this: Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Greatest Toys!
The fabulous Jess is featured on my sweet friend Mandy's blog today!
Here's one of the most stylish grandmas I've ever seen! Too cute.
Mamas of adventurous kiddos: how neat is this "design your own superhero cape kit"? A DIY would be totally doable/cheaper/cooler, but I like how this all comes in one little package. Fun.
I'm constantly bookmarking cute party ideas for little ones- and yes, call me crazy but I'm already planning Henry's first birthday party.
I adore this photoshoot background. Well, I basically adore the whole photoshoot.
Vegan and fondue don't always seem like they'd go together. Well guess what? THEY DO!
And finally, I LOVE Katie's half up/half down milkmaid braids. Such a cute look.
Have a fabulous weekend everyone! xoxo
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Slice of...St. Louis, Missouri
Hi there! My name is Jillian Pye, I am a wife & a mommy and a do-er. haha. I blog about my family's little life here and that life currently consists of getting ready to take off on the road traveling in support of my husband's music. I love creating and just recently collaborated on a stop motion film for one of my husband's songs. I make pretty things, find pretty things & sell pretty things :) I am a calculated risk taker, a child & an old soul simultaneously, and I believe that love is a choice you have to make everyday.
So let's get started shall we?
I have lived on the Illinois side of St. Louis, MO my entire life--but I claim it as my own. ;) I have loved St. Louis for as long as I can remember, driving over the Mississippi River and being greeted by the Arch is always a great feeling. St. Louis may seem like a tough nut to crack, but you just have to be looking in the right places for the gems that you seek.
First, I will start with an area that is very dear to me currently: Soulard!
We attend church in this historic neighborhood, it hosts the second largest Mardi Gras celebration, and has the most amazing pubs & shops! My all time favorite spot in the neighborhood though is: Soulard Farmer's Market.
It is always bustling with people, you get amazing deals on produce, meat, cheese and so much more. I can rarely leave with out picking up some of the famous mini donuts and a fresh bouquet of flowers. The market not only supports and is the lifeline of many small farms & hardworking families--but also helps local artists by hosting craft shows at the park next door.
Another spot I love is The City Museum, which might sound boring--but it is the complete opposite of that my friends...it is AMAZING!
Where else can you find a theme park, aquarium, circus, art gallery, diner, vintage shop and so much more under one roof? A bonus is that pretty much everything is made from repurposed items...If you are ever in St Louis this is a MUST visit. They have something fun for every age and every taste--and the world's largest pair of underwear (totally not joking) :) I have an extremely fond memory of visiting the City Museum and painting a shoe---they do the zaniest things, but that's what makes it so fun.
St. Louis is really great because so much of what they have to offer is completely free---and that leads me to my next happy place in the city: Forest Park. The Park hosted the 1904 World's Fair! Pretty amazing. One of our favorite places to visit as a family in Forest Park is the St. Louis Zoo. it is a very large zoo full of incredible animals and exhibits.(two photos)
We took Cash there for the first time this past summer, and he adored it. Also topping my favorites in the park are Art Hill, The Jewel Box, & the Turtle Playground. (But they also have a figure skating rink, boat house, outdoor theater and more!)
I don't make it out dancing very much---but when I do, St. Louis has SO many great independent clubs! Our favorites are London Calling & That 80's Club.
We are friends with a few of the dj's in the city, and that makes it even more fun to go out. St. Louis also has some great music venues we love bigger venues like the Fox and the Pageant---but also intimate settings like The Firebird, my husband plays there from time to time.
Wheeew. I am already worn out and there are so many great spots left to talk about...
I think I will leave you wanting more, and end your virtual visit here. But just know that there is so much more for you to discover (Busch Stadium, the Botanical Gardens, The Loop) if you ever make it to town!
Thanks for letting me chat with you about a city that I have so much love for.
Wednesday/Thursday
I feel like I'm finishing up a great weekend, but no! It's only Thursday, and I'm loving it. One thing I am really, really grateful for is the freedom being a stay at home mama gives me. I'm able to kind of do as a please, and come down to Phoenix to see friends and family whenever I want. It's the best. And speaking of, this week something incredibly exciting happened for my darling Sarah...she got engaged! I am just beyond happy for her and Andy. Sarah has been one of my closest friends for a long, long time now, and we have one of those relationships that has grown and changed so much over time, and luckily, through all of it we are still here, together. It's amazing to see her so happy, and their wedding is going to be one for the books! So of course I had to come down and celebrate, and that's exactly what we did! We ended up going to Pita Jungle for dinner and spent a couple of hours talking and talking as usual. We talked wedding plans, engagement stories, future hopes and dreams...there were happy tears and it was just an all around amazing night. We got so wrapped up in conversation (and the good food!) that I forgot to snap photos of us, but I did manage one of our delicious dinner. Sar got the Macro platter (one of my all-time favorite dishes) and I got the Mediterranean salad. Now comes all the fun wedding planning, and I am so excited to be a part of it. Between my sister, Shirley, and now Sarah, my bridesmaid's card is full for 2011! So no one else go and get hitched! ;)
and here's a photo of the future Mr. and Mrs. Leubner just because I love them! Aren't they a gorgeous couple? Their babies are going to be beautiful.
Then this morning Henry and I woke up and headed over to the Phoenix Children's Museum to meet our sweet friends Anita and Natalie and their little ones, Lola Birdie and Victor. I'd driven by the museum before and had always been curious about what was inside...and now I know! I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go again, hopefully when Hank can make it because I know he'd love it too. There were so many different rooms, things to climb on, interactive tools, art everywhere, both to admire and create...in one word: awesome! It's a total kid's paradise and I can only imagine how much Henry will love it when he's a bit bigger. Even now though, at 3 months he was perfectly content to walk around and take it all in with wide, wide eyes. It was adorable. It was also great to have some good chats with Natalie and Anita, and I foresee more fun playdates in our future. Love it.
Here are some photos from our morning:
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mama Said, V.4
Mama Said number four already? Wow! I love this feature so much, and I have so many more amazing women to share with all of you in the upcoming months. Awesome.
This week two wonderful women will be sharing some advice with all of us, and first up is the darling Drea, who is another fabulous single mommy with tons of amazing advice. Be sure to check out her blog and say hello! And then second we have a blogging pal of mine, Kristi! She is super sweet and her family is just lovely, so be sure to hop over and say hi to her as well! Thanks for participating in this feature ladies!
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After reading one of the latest *Mama Said* editions, featuring single mama Marcella, I immediately wrote in to Danielle wanting to add my own input on being a single mama, accepting help, and the possibilities of future love. &I’m so happy she said Yes! So, hello everyone! I’m Drea. I’m a (vegan) food snob, a crafter, an artist, a blogger (over at ohdeardrea), a life-lover, and most importantly: I am a very happy single mama to a beautiful little girl, Miss. Marlowe Paloma. Here’s a few (hopefully helpful) words I’d like to share with you...
IT IS HARD! VERY HARD. GET HELP! Whether you are in a loving and wonderful relationship or completely alone: it is hard. As a very strong-willed and stubborn women I have always found it incredibly hard to ask for help. I now figure, once you’ve given birth and have had all your lady parts hanging out for people to see during labor... it is probably time to suck it up and put all pride aside. Take help where you can get it -- Seriously -- it’s okay! I promise. Look at it this way -- by putting your pride aside and taking in the help that is offered you are not only giving yourself some much needed help, but you are also providing for your child. We all need a little break or a little charity sometimes and a happy and healthy mama is the best kind of mama a baby can have! This brings me to...
LETTING THE LOVE IN. As hard and as difficult as it is being a single mom (or any mom) it can also be the most amazing and loving experience one can have. Embrace the love that pregnancy and motherhood bring in. It’s easy to become bitter and angry when you find yourself struggling or alone, but just like needing help -- one also needs friends, family, and sometimes a lover who will support and love you unconditionally... through the spit up, the poop, and the tears (from both you and your baby).
WAIT, WHAT? A new romance after having a baby? Yes, it is possible. I’m living proof that love can come when you least expect it. Now -- I’m not saying all you single pregnant ladies or single new mamas should just go around picking up men... but, what I am saying is: when you are pregnant or have a child: your priorities change, your friendships change, and well, EVERYTHING changes, and you will have the opportunity to see who is really important in you and your child’s life. I started dating my boyfriend (Eric), when I was pregnant. I pushed him away for quite a while out of fear he would leave just like Marlowe’s father did. I didn’t want to deal with a broken heart along with a baby. (Also, who dates someone while being pregnant? Er... no one? But sometimes things happen and it works). I wanted to be alone and wanted to do everything on my own (this goes with letting the love in...), but finally after weeks of pushing him away, I let my guard down a bit and realized there are caring men out there who will stick with you through the thick and thin -- these are real men. This can happen when you least expect it or want it the least. This can happen freakishly and overwhelming fast (like in my case) or it can happen years down the road. Be cautious, but not excessively cautious where you let it slip by. Whether the biological father is in your life or not, your child will have a family. There are all types of families: big, small, mish-mashed, whatever, but the most important person in your child’s life is you and no one else. Some men are meant to be fathers and some men aren’t, so if your child’s father is not in the picture, then maybe that is for the better. Eventually motherhood becomes easier, romance will come, a family will grow, and happiness will be an almost constant feeling in your life. Just remember, life does go on and the most important thing you can do is be the strongest and most amazing mother and woman possible.
Side note: “Mama said there’ll be days like this” was my secret Facebook status notifying a few selected friends that I was going into labor <3
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Hi there, My name is Kristi. I am a 26 year old, Married, stay at home Mama to a super handsome little nugget, Milo. He will be 2 in April! My Husband, Mercer works in the SF Bay area & we unfortunately live about 2 hours away from there. He commutes daily which leaves Milo & I lots of time to hang out, have fun, & grow our Mama-Son bond even stronger! Thanks for letting me hang out around here today, Danielle!
So here are three things that I've learned so far. Believe me, there is a LOT of trial & error in raising a kiddo. That's OK.
Not everything for child rearing is universal. Just because something works for your friends daughter doesn't mean it's going to go the same way for your son, & vice-versa. I learned that you have to be confident in your decisions as a parent. Confidence is key, I think. Being a parent is an entirely new ball game. Never in my wildest dreams would I expect to be judged for having a necessary c-section, or sleep training my son. But, it has happened, numerous times, & it doesn't bother me because I'm confident in the decisions we've made as parents, & we know that these decisions we've made over the past two years have really worked well for our family. Your family is what's important. Just remember that! Confidence has been KEY for me in some awkward situations. Older family members that have a few kids under their belt have tried to give advice to the "new parents". Once I give my opinion about something, & they see that I'm super confident in what I'm saying...they back off! Nothing is more annoying than unwarranted advice giving!
Ketchup. I've learned that Ketchup has been an important tool that was no where to be found on a baby registry, & that no one ever told me about. Who knew that I could get my picky, almost two year old to eat any vegetable if we put a little Ketchup on it. Seriously. Sometimes you just have to find what works, and RUN with it.
Enjoy it. Sometimes parenting can be stressful to say the least. But, that first year? SAVOR it. You'll never get it back. Nothing compares to it. Nothing. We're coming up on a second birthday over here & I find myself reminiscing about the first few months of Milo's life often. I regret not being more present & appreciative of what was happening. There were days when I just got everything "done" to make sure he was properly cared for but, was too tired to actually soak in his little newborn self. Nothing like snuggling close to a milk-drunk newborn. Before you know it, you'll blink your eyes & he will be bringing his cup to you asking for more milk. =( I had a strong feeling of I had to do everything, I wouldn't let anyone help with anything. I wish I let people help me more. If I let my friends do my laundry when they asked, or come cook me dinner, or watch Milo while I took a nap, I might of had more time awake & feeling rested so I was more present as a Mama. So, don't be afraid to accept a little help here & there. It doesn't make you a bad parent. I'll be taking my own advice on that one next time around. -- This is kind of a tangent. I'm trying to stick to three things but, this kinda falls into the asking for help category. If you are raising your child with a partner or husband communication is very important. I think as Mamas it's natural for us to take the reins & then get upset with our partner when they aren't reading our minds, or sleeping through a 3am feeding. Sometimes we just need to speak up & tell them exactly what we need from them. You'd be surprised how much that can help. Guys are guys, sometimes they are just oblivious, they don't mean to upset us & they really do want to help! (most of them at least) They just might need a little nudge in the right direction.
Giveaway winners!
Alright, here are the winners for February's bonus giveaway! I had a lot of fun working with these great companies, and I hope you had a great time checking out their sites. So, without further ado...
1) winner of the $100 credit to Tea Collection:
Jennie Garcia
2) winner of the $100 credit to My Wonderful Walls:
Lindsay Wingate
also as an added bonus to everyone who didn't win, My Wonderful Walls is offering coupon code "sweet85" which is good for 20% off all products! (valid from 2/22 to 3/01)
3) Rockabye Baby CD of your choice:
Jenna Keesling
Darlene Larsson
Jessica Youngsma
4) Chalkboard thought bubble via Red Velvet Shop
Ariel Wilkins
*winners please email me your contact and shipping information when you get a moment - sometimessweetblog (at) gmail (dot) com
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