Advent Calendar... with kids.

I embarked on a new mission this holiday season: an advent calendar. The possibilities are endless. I had in mind a calendar layout with pockets to hold different messages for each day... kinda like a cross between a scavenger hunt, a fortune cookie, and "Jesus is the reason" reminder.

Crafting with the girls in our new office. Yep, it works wonderfully.

I started by cutting pieces of paper 3" by 2.5" and the folding 1/2" under on 3 sides to form a little envelope. I made 25 of them and stuck them on with hot glue.

If there is something you should know about me, it is that I love hot glue. My girls are now addicted as well and we count ourselves fortunate that we left this crafting experience without any third degree burns.

A good blogger would have taken step-by step photos of each stage... but I've proven myself a not very good blogger these days.

I put the 12"x12" calendar on my Creative Memories wall frame.
It's magnetic and works perfectly for this project. 

We decorated each envelope and added stick on numbers. All the while I was trying to make this calendar someone grown-up looking, I was feeding craft supplies to the girls so they could work on their own things. They use stickers and glue at an excellerated pace, so rationing is necessary. But all in all, everything went smoothly, they completed 5 individual works of art  while I got my squares lookin good and they were happy to help me decorate the little boxes when the time came.



I tend to be a little Martha-esque. I'm being honest here. I love things perfect and nice and I would have enjoyed doing this project while the girls were having their quiet time. Yet, I also know they are learning how to be creative, using their imaginations, spending time with me, and making memories. No precious craft supplies or perfect projects are more important than these things. I have to remind myself somewhat constantly, but it was worth it and we had a lot of fun.

I made up advent ideas and wanted the phrases to be service related or good, practical projects. I threw in some scripture memorization in too. Here are a few of my ideas:

• Make a craft for someone else.

• Do something kind for a neighbor.

• Call a grandparent just to say “I love you."

• Wrap a Christmas present (or two).

• Make a Christmas card.

• Memorize Matthew 1:21, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

I hope you are inspired to try an advent calendar too! Let me know if you have any other creative ideas.


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Gift Giving Guide: KID Collective

Starting to get the holiday shopping bug? Check out this fantastic gift guide over at KID Collective. Several bloggers contributed some of their favorite gift giving items of the season (my picks included)... there are several drool-worthy items! Read More.. Read More..

Designer Bio: Odette

I am very excited to bring you this Designer Bio with Jennifer Sarkilahti of the beautiful jewelry line, Odette. As you've probably noticed before, Jennifer is a very talented designer with an equally lovely blog to boot! And this interview is just in time for the gift giving season as any Odette piece would make any girl wildly happy! Enjoy...


Roberta Jane: Tell us a little about yourself.

Jennifer: I'm a former art student who fell into jewelry making five years ago. I grew up in the suburbs of northern Virginia but I currently live in Brooklyn where I share a studio space in Greenpoint with two other designers, Jenny Gordy of the clothing line, Wiksten, and Shannon South of the recycled handbag line, Remade USA. I love our little studio community, it's a very inspiring and productive place to work.


Roberta Jane: When and Why did you start your line Odette?

Jennifer: Years ago, I finished my degree in painting and moved to New York City. I thought I would do something in the art world but I soon found it to be the wrong fit. I started making jewelry as a hobby, probably to fill some creative need I missed from not painting. I was just assembling parts then but as soon as I learned about the lost wax process for making jewelry, I totally fell head over heels. The process is like making tiny sculptures and every little detail comes across in the metal. It feels like an extension of myself as an artist and allows me to merge art and craft with commerce so that I can make a business out of it. I started my line in 2006 and currently have over 75 styles in the line. My newest collection, The Fells, is inspired by glacier hikes, fjords and Scandinavian mountain ranges.  


Roberta Jane: What are the 3 biggest inspirations for your designs?

Jennifer:
~ Nature. Just perfect and awe-inspiring. A glacier hike on a recent trip to New Zealand was an inspiration for some of the natural forms in The Fells.
~ Historical references. I love old things with a sense of history. Most things that are made these days are so bland and mass-produced, I love objects that are a little quirky or that have a story to them.
~ Art. It's where I started out so I think it always takes a part in my design process.

Roberta Jane: As a blogger yourself, what are your current top 5 favorite blogs?

Jennifer: I really do enjoy blogs, a few on heavy rotation right now: wikstenmade and reMade (my studio mates blogs), lena corwin, jeana sohn, nicomade.


Roberta Jane: Random Bonus Question: Lipstick or Lipgloss? What is your favorite brand?

Jennifer: I’m definitely more into a matte lip over a glossy one these days. Or maybe just chapstick. I love Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, I rotate between Dragon Girl and Red Square depending on my mood. That and Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment. Read More.. Read More..

Simply Perfect

A simple yet perfect look from Totokaelo...


Although I know some people may frown upon the combo - I love blue and black together!


When it gets warmer and I can bare my ankles again, I think I will be purchasing a pair of Dieppa Restrepo shoes. Until then I have been living in my No.6 ankle boots. Paired with thick, cozy socks they are so warm and comfortable! Read More.. Read More..

[Little] Man Cave

I've been curiously absent for nearly 2 weeks. The reason is because I am buried up to my eyes balls in the biggest organizational/purging episode of the century. The huge ordeal was brought on for a few reasons.  These things were bothering me:

• Why can our family of 5 go on vacation for days on end with only one small suitcase each, yet we have extra THINGS that fill our 1,600 square foot house?

• I feel stress when the house is messy and cluttered and at peace when it is picked up and clean. How can I keep it that way so I function as a happier wife and mother?

• WHY CAN'T I FIND ANYTHING? A pen, scissors, craft supplies, a bill that was due 2 days ago, tissue paper for a gift I want to give, that shirt I KNOW I bought for Mandy's birthday 3 months ago, white thread to fix a button, scissors (again!), a flashlight, batteries for the flashlight..... it goes on and on.

No matter the size of our houses, there is always going to be a way to arrange the spaces that is the most functional. The way things were wasn't working. I tried doing "The house that cleans itself" method many times, but never followed through with the steps:

• Pray through your house and ask for God's guidance.

• Get your family on board. I could not have done this big project without my husband's support, encouragement, and strong muscles (he moved the big desk downstairs, Rem's room upstairs, and the craft cupboard into another room).

• Make a list of what clutter collects in a trouble area. Define what needs to go in that space (if I try to re-train myself, if doesn't stay organized).

• Purge. And purge some more.

• Give away. I had so many things I wanted to give to this person or that person. The really important things I put in a gift-give-away-box, the rest I just gave to our local second-hand shop, Help and Hope 2 Others.

• "If it is not serving you, you are serving it." My friend Season told me this and it hit me hard. There are so many things in my home that I have been giving service to, causing me stress, and for what reason?

• Sort. General piles work best for a really bad mess -- mine was the craft cupboard and it was hard for me to keep it general like, craft supplies, pictures, kids craft stuff, school, office, business -- I tend to get stuck micro-organizing and get discouraged when I haven't made progress. I had a friend come help me and she kept me on task!

• Put-away box. For all those things that already have places, but need to return to their home. If you walk around putting them all away at that moment, I'll get side-tracked and start cleaning the grout in the entry-way. The put-away box has been a life-saver.

• Organize each GENERAL pile into catigories, but keep them broad. I've found that I can't put everything away quickly and consistently if things are micro-organized. Use boxes and containers you already have and make a list of what you need with dimensions after you already know what needs to go where.

There are lots more tips in the book and it is a great way to organize your home. I am still in the process and doing things the right way this time. Slowly but surely, I will have a functioning house.

So now for one reveal (Rem's room):

The floors are painted pine in dark blue and I stenciled a filigree around the edge back before I had children and had enough time to watch paint dry.

This room is at the top of the stairs and was formerly the "Gun Room." It was storage and Jeff kept his reloading supplies and gun cabinet in there. It also became the catch-all for all the stuff I didn't know what to do with. At a mammoth 6.6' x 10' feet and no closet, it isn't ideal for much. Jeff moved his stuff into the guest room and organized and purged all the "what do we do with this stuff?" stuff. Now we have a guest/gun room -- isn't that normal?

For Rem's room, we needed his crib, changing table, his clothes, diapers, sheets, storage for his "too-big" clothes, "outgrown clothes", and dirty clothes. That should fit in a 6.6' x 10' room, right?

It all fit! There is even enough room to make it pretty -- or as pretty as a Man Cave will allow.

I bought a rug and that was the only expense ($40 for a 6' x 9' rug at Bi-Mart). The tiny room is right above the dining room and we wanted to dampen the sound a little. It works well and cozies up the place too.

I painted and that was more of an ordeal than it should have been. Thinking I could mix white and brown to make mid-brown, I ended up with a gallon of pink paint. The end wall ended up brown, a delicious chocolate color I stole from my sister's kitchen redo. Thanks, Lou! The rest of the walls are just cream-ish. Boring, but Rem told me he doesn't care.

All other decorations were moved from one room to another, downstairs to upstairs. The wall being slanted made it tricky to hang some of the stuff, but I got over it. His room is cozy and warm and perfect for him.

 Easy-going fellow that he is, he doesn't need much: food, shelter, and his favorite toy, the toilet plunger. I wish I was kidding. On my list today is to find what the baby boy did with the toilet plunger... it is MIA and that's not a good thing.


Room number one is functioning beautifully. And that leaves a nice sized room downstairs (with a closet) available for.....


Stay tuned for the pictures of my next project.


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Weekend Wear

This weekend I want to be warm, casual and comfortable. An oversized cardigan, loose shirt, perfectly broken-in jeans and lace up booties. Partially inspired by this look via Streetfsn (LOVE her toggle sweater)!


Sweater by APC Madras ($), Shirt by Chance ($95), APC Pioneer Jeans ($310), Madewell Backroads Bootie ($198)

Hope you all have a relaxing weekend! And stay warm! Read More.. Read More..

Want!

Jewelry from Neëst. Love!

(found via Unruly Things) Read More.. Read More..

Winter Roundup: Wool Coats

It's officially cold and I am in need of a warm coat! Since I've spent the past hour browsing for options, I figured I would share my favorites with you!


Topshop Swing Coat ($170), A.P.C. Overcoat ($560).


Camel Coat ($169), Double Breasted Coat ($99.90) both Zara.


JCrew Factory Duffle ($238), JCrew Stadium Cloth Coat ($325). Read More.. Read More..

Ode to Emmaleigh, growing up.

April of 2007:

I needed a reminder of why I bother to be a mommy. It was a hard, terrible day, full of tears, anger, and tantrums. After picking up the house, I journeyed through my picture archives to find the child who I adore. I did NOT adore her today. I remembered the way I felt when I first saw her, the way she felt in my arms, the smile that spread across my face when she giggled for the first time. I remembered the hugs and kisses and they way she smells when she gets out of the bath. I love that child and she is a gift. All the warm memories helped me calm down, go and give my sleeping baby a kiss and then go to bed myself, thankful we made it through the day.




It all started many hours earlier when she got into the flour container in the kitchen while I was upstairs working on a project. She dumped the full container of flour on the floor after and she threw flour all over the bills. She also found a pan I had soaking with water in the sink. The water joined the flour on the floor and when I heard a splash, I came running. The sight I took in was complete disaster. The child herself was coated in paste, from head to bare feet and she looked quite guilty as I surveyed the piles of flour and puddles of water. I squeaked out, "Go to the bathroom and wash," as I stood in angry silence staring at the mess that lay before me. How was I going to clean up 5 pounds of wet flour?




As the reality soaked in, I realized the water was still running in the bath room and I heard Emma singing, "Clean-up, clean-up....". I went to the bath room to find her elbow deep in a sink plugged by wet toilet paper and water. She had emptied the roll in to the sink and was spreading the glops on her arms, over the four and water paste. Very, very angry, I drew a bath, wiped off the wet toilet paper from her body, scraped the pasted clothes off and put her in the bath. The strict instructions I gave her in the nice warm bubble bath were to stay put, clean off, and play while I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. 




I went to get the shop vac and began sucking up the disaster. A bit later, I heard the pitter-patter of wet feet come running and I looked up as Emma, naked and clean, came slipping onto the pasty kitchen floor. She fell on her back into the flour paste. I scooped her up and hauled her to her room. As I was finding clothes to put on her again dirty body, she peed on the floor. 




I lost it. I was SO angry. I cleaned up the mess and this time gave her strict instructions to stay in her room. I cleaned up the kitchen through my tears of frustration. By that time, the flour and water were drying into a crust and I scrubbed and scrubbed. It was hard work and all I wanted to do was run and hide and have my mother come clean up this mess. Well, I am the mommy now. It is my child, my child's mess, my anger, and my problem to cry to God about.




Emma's toddler years and beyond were full of stories like this. She was a trifecta of defiance:

• Speech delay (so she couldn't communicate her needs/wants/desires)
• Iron will (stubborn doesn't adequately describe it)
• Sneaky and quiet

Her fits were legendary. Her messes were endless and constant. It couldn't seem to watch her close enough, she was in to everything. As she got older, her behavior seemed motivated by what pushed mommy's buttons. And boy, did she push my buttons. Emma had to do EVERYTHING herself and was a fashion diva from birth -- it was her way or the screaming way. We fought, cried, and scraped along from about 15 months to 4 (or more) years old.


I was very strict with her and battled every point. I let her know who was boss and we fed off of each other's stubbornness.

Looking back, I wish I some things differently.

• More good attention! More snuggling, even though she didn't appear to appreciate it. More affirmation on the things she excelled at (just because she couldn't talk didn't mean she didn't need my positive words). 

• Less discipline when I was mad. I excellerated and exacerbated the situation with my temper and spanking her when I was high on frustration. Her temper made mine even worse and my attitude of "I WILL win this battle" was missing the point.

• Said "yes" more often. Saying "yes" instead of "no" requires a lot more listening. It also requires a lot more thought to make sure I'm not being manipulated, maintaining control, but also being kind and attentive to my child's wants/needs/desires. Picking battles instead of picking fights. For example, when I put her to bed, she often begged for one more book and I said "no" because I said, "Only one book tonight" in the first place. I wish I would have said, "You are right, we are having a lot of fun. Let's pick one more really special book and then sing a song. What song do you want to sing after this book?" Keeping one step ahead of her and keeping her thinking would have ended so many tantrums before they even started.

• Communicated more clearly. Again, with Emma's speech delay, I often stayed silent because I assumed she didn't have anything she wanted to talk about. I now realize she emotionally needed more communication. She needed to hear what our day was going to be like and what was expected from her. I read in " Raising Your Spirited Child" that all children, especially spirited ones, want to know what to expect and they feel vulnerable when things are unfamiliar. We were having such a horrible time leaving any place fun when Emma was small. 100% of the time, I ended up hauling her to the car kicking and screaming. After I read that book, I changed my tactic and talked to Emma about what was going on, what would happen when we needed to leave, what we were doing after we left, how I expected her to act, and the consequence if she threw a fit. "Do you understand?" I would ask her in the car as we drove.

I started changing my parenting when Mandy came along and I realized that what I was doing wasn't working. I had less time, a needy baby, a needy toddler, and I was at the end of my rope. I prayed for wisdom, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. And when he asks, he should believe and not doubt. Because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6-7). This was and is my favorite passage. Actually, all of the book of James speaks to me, but these verses meet me where I'm at. I don't have the answers, God does and He's willing to share!


By asking for more wisdom, I was far more receptive to other people's ideas.  Normally I would dismiss any parenting tip because I figured it didn't apply to my child -- no one had ever encountered a child as difficult as her! (or so I thought). There is usually a merit of truth in well-meant advice. I sought out older, wise parents and asked for help. I learned so much about teaching, training and especially discipling my child.


When she got older (like over 3 or so), I thought, "She's old enough to control her anger by now!" She was still having terrible fits, even into this last year. Her angry outbursts have nearly all disappeared since I've gained control over my own anger! Had someone told me that was the key 4 years ago, I would have vehemently denied it. Children are fantastic mimics of their parents, whether they are admirable characteristics or not. I hope to continue teaching Emma how to deal with life's normal frustrations in a healthy, non-destructive way. Being controlled by anger robs us of joy.

Even though those days during her trying years seems to crawl by, time still flew and my baby girl turned 6 years old yesterday. You wouldn't recognize this ray of sunshine from reading the post I wrote in 2007.  Even Emma can't believe the naughty things she did when I tell her the stories. We have long talks about her behavior and I can't tell you how it blesses my heart when she says, "I want to obey you so I can obey God." I am immensely proud of her.

I'm teaching her at home this year and she delights in learning as long as it is what she wants to learn. Her stubbornness hasn't taken a hike, but seeing it turn to diligence is a worthwhile goal. Emma's favorite subject is by far math.  She excels at it and is almost finished with an A Beka math book that I assumed would take us all year to complete.



Learning to read is a challenge for her and learning the sounds of the letters is still impacted by her speech delay. Her brain doesn't process the different sounds, so "b," "d" and "e" all sound the same. A friend of mine in a special ed teacher and did a few assessments with Emma. My teacher friend has been a huge source of advice and encouragement to me. We're working hard and Emma is making progress, wanting to read SO badly.

Compassion, generosity, and kindness are Emma's strongest characteristics and she constantly brings me joy with her thoughtfulness. She's my little gift giver and nearly has a panic attack if I tell her it is someone's birthday and we don't have a gift for them, "We have to go to the store. We have to make something. We HAVE to do SOMETHING!" Emma is constantly finding things at the store that someone else would really love. Mind you, occasionally her ideas are selfishly motivated like making sure we always have dad's favorite cookies (Oreos) in the house -- she knows dad will share.

I made so many mistakes. But thankfully, we came through those hard years stronger. I'm incredibly honored to be this little girl's mother. God is good to allow me to bumble through this job of raising her. I'm grateful for his ever sufficient grace. 

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Don't Want To Wait

While I am in no mood to think about Spring, I was excited to catch a peek at the JCrew Spring 2011 showing.... Lots of pretty colors and textures with spot-on styling (what's new?).


I am particularly in love with this cream dress... I believe it may be perfection in dress form - Both beautifully flowing and perfectly structured. I wish I didn't have to wait till Spring to get it because I've already imagined how I would wear it now...


Slouchy Cardigan + Wooly Socks + Bean Boots. Done and done.

Topshop Cardigan ($100) & Tights ($16), 8" Bean Boots ($94), Wigwam Wool Socks ($13). Read More.. Read More..

Motherhood is.

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think he enjoyed it."

~Mark Twain

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.  A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.  

~Sophia Loren

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?  

~Milton Berle

The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests. 

~Author Unknown

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease.  

~Lisa Alther

"Children seldom misquote you. They more often repeat word for word what you should not have said."

 ~Mae Maloo

It's not easy being a mother.  If it were easy, fathers would do it.  

~From the television show The Golden Girls

There came a moment quite suddenly a mother realized that a child was no longer hers. ... without bothering to ask or even give notice, her daughter had just grown up.

-Alice Hoffman

It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have...One pair that see through closed doors. Another in the back of her head...and, of course, the ones in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and reflect 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word.

-Erma Bombeck

Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of her family.

-Jean Rousseau











* These photos (except for the ones of just the girls) were taken by my friend Jenni. I was doing a session for her and mentioned I wish I had just one good picture of myself. She said she would love to give it a try. I fixed the settings on my camera and we switched places. We got in a lot of laughs as she played photographer. Then, we pulled the kids in and I believe these are priceless pictures I will smile at for the rest of my life.

Motherhood is.... I have no words. Read More.. Read More..

Coming Up

If you're in Portland, OR this weekend, I recommend you check out the Little Winter Handmade Market. There will be loads of great sellers and fashionable ladies in attendance!

I've got my eye on one of these totes made by Anabela.
Read More.. Read More..