Category Archives: Uncategorized

inspiring pages

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Someone asked me the other day if I had read any good books lately. I think they meant a thought-provoking novel, but I couldn’t honestly say that I’d finished an entire book in months. A magazine or two, yes. But an entire book? Cover to cover? Whew. But I do have a stack of books that I dive into almost every day. A snippet here, a chapter there. Some I just thumb through for inspiration or a mini-vacation. So I thought I’d share these with you to let you know what’s been filling my brain lately. I admit it. This Mamma does require some cerebral activity; blocks, puppets and cuddles are not quite enough.

A Field Guide to Wildflowers : Northeastern and North-Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)

My Kindergarten teacher (still a good friend, how cool is that?!) gave me this book when I graduated from high school. It’s one of my favorites for thumbing through.

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: 365 Simple Ways to Save Energy, Resources, and Money

I like how this book is presented. Maybe it’s because it’s a British perspective? Great graphics, ideas I can grasp and easily act on with enough science to make it more than fluff.

Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank

It’s a lot of science for me at 10 o’clock at night so it’s taken me a while to get through it. I do love the mix of science and social history though so I keep going back to it.

Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer

Because of my new tomato experiment (err, obsession), I am loving this book.

The Garden Primer: Second Edition

I was given the first edition several years ago and refer to this often. Great, basic advice. No color pictures, no fluff.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

Need I say more? A friend gave me her copy and I recommend this one to any new Mom who is breastfeeding. Great advice and encouraging words.

Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business

There are some inspiring profiles in here of crafters who are making a living doing what they love.

My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire

I refer to this a lot when I’m struggling with the business side of my *work* that helps to pay my bills so I can have my time at home with Wren. It especially spoke to me when the author realized she had to get serious about her freelance business and couldn’t rely on selling stuff on eBay to make ends meet. Been there. Oof.

The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections

Great ideas, especially for a family with toddlers and older. I love the focus on family and imagination. Waldorfian (is that a word?).

Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum

Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers

Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects

What can I say? I am a bit obsessed with Lotta. I love her sense of design that’s inspired by the land. I even love her hair. Did I mention that I’m a bit obsessed with her?

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures

By the same author as The Creative Family. Although I haven’t completed any of the projects in here yet, I have been stashing bits of material away for future projects. Funky but modern rag rug, anyone?

You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening

This is a fun perspective on digging in the dirt, especially for the urban gardener. Great ideas for container gardening and using whatchya got lyin’ around to make it work.

The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography

Last, but not least. This book is absolutely lovely. My friend, Bethany (she grows hops in her yard and works for the Walker. She is very cool!), gave it to me for my birthday. We share a love of maps. I think it was written for us!

Dear readers, what books have been inspiring you lately? Have you had time to dig deep into a good novel lately? Got any suggestions for some fun, easy, beachy summer reads that wouldn’t mind a few grains of sand and some smears of SPF 30? I’m on the hunt. If I’m lucky, I’ll finish ONE this summer so it better be a good one…

Best!

Birthday countdown!

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Happy Monday to you, lovelies. A bit scattered and restless (yet sleep-deprived) in our nest today. How ’bout with you? Did you have a good weekend?

’tis less than a month until our sweet little birdie turns one, woot woot! And I’ve been thinking a lot about her birthday, her party, this past year… whew. Chris and I keep mentioning how it’s so strange that the time with a baby is oh-so-ultra-vivid and amazing to us and yet she won’t remember a minute of it. Humans, you are so strange and perplexing. Oh! Here’s something silly about little humans that I wanted to share with you too. I better write it down now before I forget… It’s funny how so many little kids have said that Wren is still zero until she’s a year old. I want to get inside their heads. These are the same kids who say they are four and three quarters, thank you very much. Or five and one half. Since when did children become so exact? Love those little people and their big ideas, don’t you?

I’m thrilled to report that I was able to check one thing off my birthday party list. I finished the birthday banner! I had been pondering it for a while and finally got around to doing something about it. Actually, I owe it to my friend, Linda, because she suggested that we have a birthday banner day and work on them together. Brilliant! If it hadn’t been for that kind of deadline, I’d probably still be sewing the damn thing heirlooom a few hours before the little birdie’s party. And, you know what? I’m really happy with how it turned out. There are some things I would do differently next time around, but overall (don’t look too closely…), I think it’s lovely and I’m proud to hang it up in our nest.

Next? Invitations. Against my inner procrastinator’s wishes, I’m loosely following Martha’s party-planning timeline. And I’m already a tiny bit behind, but hey, I’m no Martha. I have a love/hate relationship with Martha, but I’ll save that drivel for a future post… I digress.

Speaking (err, writing) of invitations. I HATE e-vites. Yes, they’re eco-friendly, cheap, easy and everyone uses e-mail, blah blah. But I love getting a real invitation via snail mail, don’t you? I want to feel it and post it up and look at its loveliness every time I pass by it. And RSVP the host and the whole tradition of it all. You? So anyway, that’s next on my list. I’ll work on the design sometime this week and hope to pop them in the mail the first week of May (or so.) That’s optimistic, Pollyanna me talking. I’ll let you know how that goes… If it’s anything like my own wedding invitations, which I designed and hand-letterpress printed (a former life of mine), they didn’t make it in the mail until a couple weeks before the event. Oops!

Is it too early to worry about the weather for Wren’s party? Sigh. Would you like to be on the weather committee and take care of that for me? Let me know. Thanks.

Have a great day, dear readers. I’m off to clean up one of the many (many) disaster zones in our nest thanks to the 19 pound teething cyclone…

Best!

Family Wisdom Conference!

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What are you doing on Saturday, April 17? We hope to be checking out the Family Wisdom Conference in Traverse City. There are so many interesting sessions that it’ll be difficult to pick which ones we’ll go to… music, yoga, finger plays, oh my! Register by April 13 to secure your complimentary lunch from The Dish. Let me think about it for a minute… um, ok!

Check it out!

Family Wisdom Conference on Saturday, April 17

Welcoming Words and Slide Show Presentation set to Live Music by Kat Eldred 9:00-9:30

Session I ~ 9:45-10:45

Giving Birth Naturally with Kathi Mulder, CPM. What does a natural, physiological birth look like? Using Midwives as care providers, learn how to plan for natural birth in & out of hospital, including water birth.

Cleansing from Within with Jena Hullman, DC. We strive to clean up our lives, our homes, our cars… what about our bodies? A non-toxic body improves our physical, mental and emotional self. Learn easy whole-body internal cleansing ideas, recipes and programs.

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with Jill Donberg, MAcOM. Among the oldest healing practices in the world, Oriental medicine can do more than relieve symptoms. Learn the facts about its uses, benefits, and see how it can teach you about yourself. The session will close with an acupuncture demonstration.

Healthy Foundations: Talking with Your Child About Healthy Sexuality with Janna Deering. Learn about healthy sexuality & development from birth throughout childhood, how to answer sensitive questions, how to teach about appropriate public and private behavior, and how to become an “ask-able” parent or care-giver.

Music Together with Georgia O’Brien.  A hands-on demonstration of Music Together curriculum and classes will be provided for families of young children. Be prepared to move and shake with your kids, because making music as a family is what it’s all about!

Children’s Stories and Fingerplays with Rosie Flickinger. Wigglers Storytime is sharing the love of books and reading through stories, songs, fingerplays and fun. For preschoolers, their families & friends. Storytime lasts about 30 minutes followed by snacks and a craft.

Session II ~ 11:15-12:15

Elimination Communication with Zane Kathryne Schwaiger & Kristen Burgess. Can babies use the toilet? E. C. is a practice used by families all over the world to help babies eliminate out of their diapers. We will talk about our experiences with our own babies and share some helpful tips for successful infant and toddler pottying.

Getting Your Children to Follow Directions with Jerry O’Hearn MA, LLPC. Do you find yourself telling your child to do something several times? Does your comply only when you “yell” at him/her? Jerry will discuss giving Good Directions and demonstrate simple, practical steps that you’ll be able to apply immediately.

Maximizing Your Family’s Potential Through Health & Wellness with Kurt Froese, DC. Learn how simple lifestyle habits such as proper nutrition, exercise, coping with stress, and family unity can have a profound impact upon a family. Maximize your family’s human potential through these simple wellness measures!

The Revolution Has Been Funded. How a Bush Era program provides the funding to act locally and have an impact globally with Bill Watson. Learn more about SEEDS and its 21st Century Community Learning Centers which works with at risk youth and families in ten high needs schools in five counties. SEEDS After School teaches green collar job skills while working to connect disconnected students to the environment, improve academics and provide them with the support and life skills they need to be successful.

Vermicompost for Kids (and Adults!) with Angela Stricker. This session is a hands-on introduction to the world of worm composting. Learn what worms eat and why everyone should have worms.

Yoga for Kids with Kyna Getsinger. We will stretch, move, play and sing with yoga for kids and babies.

Lunch 12:15-1:15. Repeat Performance of Slideshow, 12:30-1:00

Session III ~ 1:15-2:15

Boys, Boys, Boys with Heather Shumaker. Perplexed by the boys in your life? Learn to help active kids—especially boys—channel energy. Learn how to talk and listen to boys. What are the benefits of rough-and-tumble play? Take home ideas to make your home or school more boy-friendly.  This session is focused on the preschool age group, and may benefit parents of girls as well as boys.

Good Weeds…. Medicine in Your Own Backyard with Anne Hughes, FNP. Plants are gentle, yet effective healers. In this session you will learn to identify and safely use plants that grow where you live. With a little advance planning and a few square feet of soil, you can plant a medicine garden for yourself and your family.

Momma-Baby Bellydance with Kim Barnes. New moms & moms-to-be connect to your growing & changing body in ways that empower and make you feel good about yourself. Improve balance, coordination, muscle tone and have a great time while preparing for or recovering from your own personal birthing experience.

Resources for Living with Food Allergies & Other Restricted Diets with Nessa Butler. Restricted diets due to allergies or other issues can be frustrating and expensive. This session will provide some basic info about discovering allergies and food intolerances in your own family, and what to do once you know what to avoid. We will focus on recipes; ingredient sourcing, breastfeeding the allergic child, and helping kids cope physically, mentally and emotionally.

Why Music? with Susan Raguse and Traverse Community Music. Susan and her team of teachers and students will discuss the personal and educational value of music lessons, answer audience questions and demonstrate various instruments in an interactive ” musical petting zoo” that children will be able to see and “try”.

Creative Dramatics for Children with Mychelle Hopkins. Traverse City Children’s Theatre Director, Mychelle Hopkins, will lead participants in some creative dramatic exercises and theatre games. Information will be given on various youth and family-friendly programs offered by TCCT and the Old Town Playhouse.

Session IV ~ 2:45-3:45

Mothering the Mother: Benefits of Doula Care with Megan Rizzo, Melissa Waterstripe & Sairy Franks. Three local doulas will discuss the benefits of doula support for women, their partners, and families during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period. If you are pregnant, you deserve a doula and we’ll show you why!

Cooking From Your CSA Share with Jennifer Welty. Grow your culinary talents! In this session you’ll learn easy techniques to prepare delicious meals using fruits and veggies from your CSA share or other local food source. Learn the basics of food preservation through freezing, pickling, drying, canning and jelly making.

Homeopathy for Family Health with Heidi Kistler. This session will cover a brief overview of Homeopathy, which includes the Homeopathic principles and how Homeopathy works. It will also include descriptions of some of the more widely used remedies and how they work with certain conditions.

Free & Low-Cost Family Outings in Northern Michigan Panel with Jenika Burden, Kristi Weadock, Pam Darling & Ethan Scott. Representatives from Traverse City Kids, TART Trails, & Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will provide a variety of practical & engaging activities for children to experience in the Grand Traverse region.

How to Draw Animals Using Simple Shapes and Letters with Russ Ryba. Kids will learn how to draw funny-looking cartoon animals using simple shapes and letters. Children as well as adults and parents are welcome. Materials will be provided. Clear space on the refrigerator to show your amazing creations when you get home!

Kid’s Fitness for the Mind & Body with Brandi Johnson. Children discover exercises they enjoy by experimenting with movement. Learning health habits can be simple and playful!

vicious cycle.

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I’ve got myself all caught up in a vicious cycle. Here goes…

Up with Wren about four times every night for a bit (yep, Little Miss Fussy Pants is still visiting…) Between 4 and 5 a.m., I am wide awake, thinking to myself, “You should just get up so you have some time to yourself. Get some much-needed work done. Get some much-needed exercise. Get some much-needed cleaning done.” Then I go back to bed and wake up when Wren and Chris get up. By then I’m more tired than I was at 4 a.m. Arrghh. Me-time? Lost. Except for a few moments here and there and of course, right now when the little birdie is taking a nap. Then I get a wee bit grumpier over the course of the day, but am too tired after putting Wren to bed to do my much-needed items. Plus I want to spend time with Chris so we can enjoy some much-needed time together–just the two of us. And the cycle begins again. I DID sneak in a shower today so I’ve got that going for me.

And I’m wearing my new orange scarf so I’ve got that to be cheerful about too. Thanks, Carolyn!

And there’s some new white stuff coming down out there and things are looking pretty again. Yeah!

Dear readers, any thoughts on breaking the cycle?

Confessions.

  • Finally was able to watch some of the Olympics. Funny how it makes me equal parts inspired and dejected at the same time. Those people work really hard! For a really long time! I don’t think I’ve ever worked that hard at one thing in my whole life.
  • Enjoyed watching some of Westminster last week too. Those dogs make me smile. Those trainer ladies do not. Well, they do, but that’s just me being mean. Schadenfreude. Can’t help it!
  • We’re headed to Chicago this coming weekend. So very excited to see family and friends and get out of our nest a bit. Can you say Cabin Fever?

best!

Storytelling.

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I’ve been thinking about imaginative storytelling lately and how I’m no good at it AT ALL, but would like to be. What kid doesn’t like to hear a good story, right? Every time I’m asked to tell a story, I clam up and the story goes nowhere. If only nowhere were an interesting place… Here are a few funky finds that could help all ages with storytelling. Enjoy!

The Small Object’s Tell Me a Story Set. According to their Web site, fork over $35 and…

The Tell Me A Story Set comes with three natural wooden Story Starter Dice, a 50-page Match + Write Notepad and laminated Index Sheet. To play, you roll the dice which features images of objects, people or settings and tell a story based on the pictures that appear. Younger children can then circle the images on the Match + Write Pad that correspond to the images on the dice, while older children can also enjoy writing down their story on the bottom half of the pad. The Index Sheet acts as a glossery and word speller helper for all the images on the dice. Whether they write down the stories, or you write them down, you can enjoy reading them over and over again after each round is played for tons of storytime fun.

Make sure to click around on The Small Object’s site. There is some funky handmade stuff, which makes me laugh and smile. I hope it brings you some Monday joy too!

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I don’t know what it’s like where you are (where are you, anyway?), but it’s COLD today here in northern Michigan. The man on the radio said 5. That’s what happens when the sky clears up and the ominous cloud cover dissipates. Damn sun! I know, we’re never happy. So today would be a great day to tell a story about some colorful penguins, right? I know that’s exactly what you were thinking too. Then you HAVE to have these penguin finger puppets.

Or perhaps you’d rather be playing in the garden, at least in the stories you will be telling… Well, folks, then I have found the finger puppet set for YOU!

Got some time on your hands this winter? Why not build your own puppet theatre! The one pictured below is not exactly like the one in Sound of Music, but we can’t all live like the Van Trapp family… Speaking of the Van Trapps, which one did you want to be? If Wren doesn’t LOVE that film, it’ll absolutely break my heart. Into lots and lots of very tiny pieces, which could not be put back together again.

You know what kind of storytelling I’m pretty good at? Mad Libs. Inside scoop: go to Wendy’s and order a kid’s meal. The toy right now? (At least in our neck-of-the-woods.) That’s right, dear readers, Mad Libs! Make haste and grab yourself a Frosty while you’re at it. Nothing like a mini Frosty when it’s 5 degrees.

Happy February! Someone told me once that we gain two HOURS of sunlight by the end of the 28 days of February and every year I pass this fun fact along. Actually, I don’t know if it’s a fact; it’s just one of those things I believe to be true. And it’s the age of Aquarius and you know what that means? Time for me to eat some birthday cupcakes soon, yee-haw!