Summer Pants

I am on a search for pants. Something to throw on when you're sick of shorts, don't feel like a dress/skirt, and it's too hot for jeans.... Summer Pants. Thinking something loose, comfortable yet slightly sexy.

I love the patterned pair this girl is wearing! (Although they might be slightly bold for me)

(via Spotding) Read More.. Read More..

To scrap or not to scrap scrapping, that is the question.

I jumped headlong into the realm of scrapbooking when my first child was just a baby. I see now why it lured me in with such force; 1) I had something to scrapbook about with my new super-cute baby, 2) I had plenty of time to scrapbook, and 3) I had space to leave my projects out. I was even a consultant for a home-based scrapbooking business for 2 years. I was terrible at it.... no, no, really terrible. I'm not being modest. The only plus for me to selling people things at parties was the free stuff and discounted product I received to feed my habit. And feed it I did.

I had Emma's baby book embossed. I loved putting it together for her.

I included the calendar pages from the First Year calendar that I kept. Look at all those things I filled in.

I had a calendar for Mandy too and filled in about 2 days for the year.

I didn't even get one for Rem and saved myself some guilt.

I love scrapbooking. The themes, the papers, oh my!

Not only are scrapbooks fun to make, they are also fun to look through. Emma enjoys paging through her book and "remembering" when she was a baby.

The picture above has me thinking about bangs again. Hmmm.... scrapbooks are good for so many things.

Mandy's baby book is a rare consultant only special from Creative Memories. I had so much left over pink paper, stickers, and embelishments from Emma's album that it was a cinch to work on her album.

I started gung-ho on the project and worked diligently on the album....

My stars! Is there anything more precious that a chubby baby fresh from the bath?

Yes, that's Mandy, not Rem. I'm willing to admit my children looking a whole bunch alike. 

So, I was working gung-ho on Mandy's album and somewhere about the 9th month of Mandy's life, my scrapbook supplies started disappearing. Mysterious?

Emma discovered crafting. There is nothing she loves more in the whole world than using my beautiful (and expensive) supplies. You would think I could work along side her, sending scraps her way, but it feels like a full time job keeping her and now Mandy occupied while I'm scrapping, productive, and out of my stuff.

And that's where the story ends....

And then Rem came along and said, "Where's my scrapbook?"

He may have not said it in so many words, but he and I have a connection. I know what he's thinking.

Now I'm wondering whether I should brave the expensive, time consuming spectrum of the scrapbooking world I love. I'm not going to even start to mention all the projects I have started on other scrapbooks that I haven't finished either... it's a sickness.

Such cute things for a baby boy's scrapbook!

 I'm heavily invested in the tools for scrapbooking, but I don't have any boy-ish anything. I would need to buy an album, the papers (the sets above are $9 each). The order I would make would be around $100.

Another option is to do digital scrapbooking. Instead of actual papers that you cut with actual tools, I would create the layouts in Photoshop and then print the whole page out and put it in an album. I would still need an album, and the digital papers cost money too (about $1 each or $5 for large sets of papers and embellishments). I estimate this route would be about $50.

Photobooks: no actual effort involved. I recently put together a photobook online through Blurb. Many sites are doing them now. I did the album for my cousin's wedding -- it was on Saturday, I designed the album on Monday and had it less than a week later. Fast and fun!

Philip & Melanie by Alysun Peters | Make Your Own Book

The prices start at about $30 for 15 pages and go up from there. I would probably spend around $50, but wouldn't do the book until Rem was a year old. It would be similar to blogging and I already enjoy that. It's a good option for Rem's baby book. Pretty sure my boy would forgive my laziness. Maybe.

Take a moment to leave a comment about what you would do or do do with scrapbooking for your babies. (Is it ever not awkward to have 3 do's in a sentence?)

I also have a poll on the sidebar that you can vote on. I'll let you know what I decide.

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Falling for good reason.

I looked good and I knew it. I was wearing my camel colored, wool pea-coat and my roommate's awesome light washed jeans with my standard winter snow boots. My hair was long and so many people told me how gorgeous it was that I was beginning to believe it. One of the 7 matching hat/scarf/glove sets that I got for Christmas completed my look. I walked across campus on a sunny spring day without a care in the world except a few icy patches on the sidewalk.

And then I fell on my butt. My legs came out from under me, my arms flailed and I landed with an "oomph." My physical pain jumped to the background as embarrassment rushed in and I quickly looked around. Had anyone seen me? I scrambled to my feet, dusting snow off my bruised rear end. It appeared no one had witnessed my clumsy act. Or so I thought until I entered the cafeteria that evening for dinner and many people were not shy about telling me they saw the whole thing. Apparently a whole classroom had a good view of me directly across from the sidewalk where I fell. Then my rear end was not the only thing smarting, but my ego as well.

Adults are not built to fall. It hurts. It's embarrassing. We like to be upright. Our pride demands it. From a very young age we try to achieve it. Remi is a power crawler, asserting his independence at just 7 months old. Just recently he started pushing himself up onto his knees. His little body is almost standing. Almost. Imagine how much independece and pride he will carry in just a few years.

We all have this pride. How many times have we heard, "pride comes before a fall"? Yet falling doesn't have to be a bad thing. Being humbled before our Maker is a very good thing. "Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our God" -- Psalm 95:6. So many times in Scripture, we see that voluntary humility is a sign of worship.

Exodus 4:31
...they bowed their heads and worshiped.


Exodus 12:27
...the people bowed their heads and worshiped.


Exodus 34:8
...Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.


2 Chronicles 7:3
...they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped...


2 Chronicles 20:18
...Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before YHWH, worshiping YHWH.


2 Chronicles 29:29
....the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped.


2 Chronicles 29:30
...they bowed their heads and worshiped.


Nehemiah 8:6
...they bowed their heads and worshiped YHWH with their faces to the ground.


Job 1:20
...[Job] fell to the ground and worshiped.


Isaiah 44:17
...He falls down before [the carved image] and worships it...


Isaiah 46:6
...They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.


And this is only a few of the many references to worship and falling down, bowing down, or kneeling. Volunteering to fall seems a tall order. Really? I want to do everything myself; I have pride in so many things. Finding the strength to be vulnerable before God is where the true strength resides. Even if it's hard, unnatural feeling and a bit embarrassing. Maybe God designed it that way, so that we couldn't fake our devotion. It is evident to anyone who observes us by the way we fall in worship that we are utterly dependent on Him, the One who gives us strength to stand.

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!!!

Great news!!! Madewell's e-commerce site is up! Naturally, I've already compiled a rather large "shopping bag"!



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The big picture how to.

I was inspired to include bigger pictures on my blog posts because it's what the cool people do. Cool people being all the photography blogs that I stalk.  Their pictures are HUGE. You can see every beautiful  detail. I did a bit of research. Okay, a lot of research and came up with a pretty simple way to post bigger pictures using Photobucket and the "Stetch Minima" Blogger template.

That worked for awhile, but then I got bored with ol' Stretchy. Plus, blogger included a new feature that allows you to upload pictures and post them in different sizes. It couldn't be easier....

small,

medium,

large,

or extra large.

I guess I am an extra large kinda of girl because I love this format. I can see the Fishy crackers in Mandy's teeth from a week ago Sunday. Beautiful.

The problem comes into play because blogger's templates don't support the extra large pictures. How not nice of them.

This is a picture of my blog in the Mr. Moto template. My toe-tingling post on Farm Animal Accessory Must-Haves is showing, but the extra large pictures are cut nearly in half.

So, this is what you do. You can easily host these big pictures, but you need to increase the "wrapper" size.

Go to "edit html." Do not be afraid. If you mess anything up, just choose another template and start over. You don't lose your links or any other sidebar information.

In the HTML mode, look for "header wrapper" and "outer wrapper." They are set to about 720px. Increase that number to 950px. Then, find "main wrapper" and "sidebar wrapper." Change those numbers to equal 950. I have my main wrapper as 670 and my sidebar wrapper as 250. You'll also need to allow space in the "padding" otherwise your sidebar writing will run smack-dab into your blog post. All the numbers together should equal 950px.

Play around with those numbers in HTML and click preview after each change. It will easily show you how badly you've messed with your blog.

Click save changes when you have things looking good.

This is a really good tutorial where I learned how to change my own blog.

I wanted to put a pretty background picture up. This is a very informative "how to" for installing pictures/paper in the background. It gives your blog a very unique look and is easy to do.

Doesn't look quite right?

I changed my template to the "Dot" and went through these steps again. It took me about 5 minutes with children biting my ankle. I am pretty sure I could do it in 3 minutes without distractions.

I uploaded a digital scrapbook paper from my computer to Photobucket. Follow the tutorial I linked above it is really easy, just make sure you use the direct link not the URL.

This template doesn't have a header across the top, so I went all artsy and decided to just ad a "P" for all things "P" related on this blog. Peters, Paradise, Pee, Poop, Please stop biting my ankles, Pray without ceasing. They are all good. If you want to install a header that doesn't have a specific color background, save your picture (that you created in Photoshop or like program -- use a clear background) as a PNG file. Then upload in blogger as usual using the "layout" setting.

Whew, was that confusing? It's really not so bad once you get the hang of it. Let me know if you give personalizing your blog a try.


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See by Chloe Sandals

It's quite possible that See by Chloe has the cutest sandal collection of the season. Although, starting around $225, they are all about $75 over the amount I would like to spend.... But still, fun to look at! I love the mustard + pale pink + tan palette!



Has anyone else been having hard time finding cute, affordable, everyday, flat sandals this year? And don't even mention Rachel Comey, those do not count as affordable summer sandals!

Available at La Garconne, Otte, Zappos. Read More.. Read More..

Must haves...

 A catalogue came to our house that got me all excited about the things I don't have that I never knew I needed to have.

I think these are the must haves in the farming world:

Did you know you needed a sheep chair? It looks comfy and it is only $100. It is ideal for hoof trimming.

If I had a sheep, I would really be needing a pair of lambajams, a glove-like body cover. The flame print is stunning.

Transport calves with ease with a hitch mounted calf carrier.

I wonder if this works for children.  Hmmmm.

For $159 dollars I suppose the car seats I already have work fine.

Swine Oral Medications.

You never know.

Jeff found something he couldn't live without: a long range tranquilizer rifle. Think of the possibilities...

Now this is ingenius! A drive-thru electric gate.

I need that. I really, really do.

In case you really, really need something I've mentioned above, you can find it here.

Now, what was I supposed to be doing? Oh ya, cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry.

Until I get distracted again,

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Monday - What I Wish I Wore

Striped Tee + Black Trousers = What I Wish I Wore today. I have been hot on the trail of a pair of black trousers for Spring. Criteria: Cropped, Pleated, Paper Bag Waist, Black, Light Weight.

LL Bean Tee ($23.50), Rachel Comey Bag ($276), CLU Pant ($184), JCrew Sandals ($135), Topshop Sunglasses ($36). Read More.. Read More..

Nursery Update [the great bumper debacle]

I'm sure everyone knows by now that bumpers in cribs are terrible. Terrible things. A baby can get caught up in the bumper and the experts say to not put them on a crib at all. Yet, all the crib bedding sets are still sold with quilt (which you aren't supposed to use with a baby), a bumper (not supposed to use that either), and a bed skirt. And these crib sets are super expensive.

($190 from Target)

You can see from the picture above that I listened to recommendations and did not use a crib bumper, or a crib quilt. And I used a curtain draped over the bottom of the crib as a "skirt."

The generic jungle-esque sheet is from Target for $12. Everything was working great until my not-so-little baby with his chubby thighs became mobile and started inserting his legs between the crib rails.

It doesn't take too many naps interrupted by crib-rail-tourniquet syndrome before I was on the lookout for a crib bumper. The thing is, cute jungle-y crib bumpers are not sold outside of the illusive "sets." You can find breathable mesh "rail protectors", but the reviews are not great for those. You can also find solid color bumpers for about $30-$40 sold separately.

When I came across a free bumper at our MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) swap, I quickly snatched it up.

And then shuddered after putting it on the crib. I have nothing against sports themed baby boy rooms, but the combination of sports and safari was more than my Martha-wanna-be mind could handle.

I had some extra jungle-giraffe fabric and a curtain panel (the other one is being used as the crib skirt).

I took measurements and sewed one really, really long sleeve for the bumper, giraffe on one side, plain taupe on the other and I used the curtain's tab tops for the ties.

I left both ends open so I could slide the bumper into the sleeve.

Then, I sewed straight seams down from the ties to keep the original bumper in place and I also finished off the ends.

The bumper now coordinates with the room (both Rem and I can sleep easier now). And no more legs through the rails. The bumper solved the problem completely.

Another change to the room since Rem's arrival is the woven grass rug we got in Africa in '06. I originally had it on the floor and it looked great, but was a major hassle because it was alway sliding around and puckering under the furniture.

I hung it on the wall under a cool elephant picture made out of bamboo -- a gift from a friend (from Kenya I think). The whole rug on the wall thing will work okay until Rem is pulling himself up. For now, it adds something to the wall and I still get to enjoy it.

Jeff said, "Wow, you put a rug on the wall."

I always enjoy his reactions to my decorating madness.

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Happy Weekend!

(photo via My Vintage Vogue)

My best friend from high school is coming to Portland for the first time this weekend! I am so looking forward to some girl-time (I only wish it was going to be spent on the beach like these girls!)

I've been feeling inspired by vintage swimwear - I love the vintage sihouettes... But on another note, I wonder what's in the little suitcase they brought with them??? Martinis I bet!

Anyhow - See you next week!

xo, Roberta Jane Read More.. Read More..

She gets her athletic abilities from me.

Really I am no athlete. Not even a little bit. I spent my whole childhood and young adulthood avoiding any and all forms of physical activity. I was contentedly happy as a music geek, faining injuries so that I wouldn't have to participate in anything that might make me work up a sweat. Or show how uncoordinated that I was. That method worked so well for me. I assumed that when I had children, they would naturally follow in my music-geekiness footsteps. From music they would learn poise, confidence, and discipline.

In my early twenties I began to see athletics in a different light. Softball is kinda okay with a group of friends. Water sports are a blast. Fall football games are entertaining. And frisbee golf? Well, now that is downright fun. And I began to admire those who enjoy sports and are actually good at them.

Then I went and married into a family who loves, loves, loves sports. Sports Nuts, I call them. (My mother-in-law even has a degree is Physical Education).

Now me and the man I married have a bit of a quandary: sports or music. While I still believe that poise, confidence, and discipline can be learned from music, I also see the added benefits of fitness that goes along with sports. Having my fingers in tip-top shape from playing piano comes in handy for concertos, but not so much when trying to lose pregnancy weight gain.

 Jeff and I have decided to expose our children to sport and music. Crazy. I know. If they show a natural aptitude and/or desire to participate in one more than the other, then fine. Discipline of character is the goal.

We signed Emma up for T-ball this month through the YMCA. Her cousins (Josh and Jake) were doing it and that made T-ball sound way more appealing than the swimming lessons I was planning on.

Twice a week we go to practice and Emma joins the other 4-6 year olds in learning the fine art of hitting a ball off a T with a bat and catching ground balls with a glove.

That's my girl. Or, I should say, my husband's child since the ball actually made it into the glove.

Notice the kids in the right side of the picture? There is a lot of scrambling and falling going on at PeeWee T-ball.

Emma really enjoys it and is learning new skills. She also does a lot of chewing on her glove and staring off into space. Maybe she is related to me after all. 

At the end of each practice there is a game. With so many kids participating, the bases are pretty hard to see. It's a free for all when a player makes a hit. 30 preschoolers swarming the same ball is a pretty funny event. Eventually one child will pop up from the dogpile with the ball in hand and exclaim, "I got it." Meanwhile, the guy up to bat could have made a home run if he knew where the bases were. They'll get it. Hopefully.

Emma is up to bat...

Looking as an objective observer, I see Emma's talents more in the musical realm. She has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. Her ear is very good too and can repeat tunes that I sing or play on the piano. Today I got Taylor Swift's White Horse stuck in my head. I was absently singing it and then heard Emma mimicking, "... it's too late for you and your white horse... to come around." 

Note to self: only absently sing songs that I want my preschooler repeating. Taylor Swift, go away.

For now, it's T-ball.

So, what do you think? Sports or music for children. Neither or all. Both or some?

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Sweater Alternative

Thinking of adding a surplus shirt to the Spring wardrobe as an alternative (and lighter weight) layering piece....



(JCrew, $78) Read More.. Read More..

Spring/Summer Inspiration

Hiya! I can already tell it's going to be a long week, so I am going to leave you with a couple inspiration pictures for Spring/Summer... And in the meantime I am going to try to come up with a plan to keep Camp Comfort more up-to-date while juggling a full plate.

For Spring: Striped tee, rolled light denim, military jacket, white Converse, cross-body bag. My favorite outfit, always. (Opening Ceremony)


For Summer: Rolled long sleeve tee, paper-bag shorts, top knot. Simple and lovely. (Vanessa Jackman)
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