new traditions: ADVENT CALENDAR

The countdown begins…ahh I can’t believe it’s December 1st! Jax is learning about advent in PSR so I thought it would be a good idea to start a new tradition and get an advent calendar. I looked all over the house last night to fill the little compartments with little things. I wanted them to discover the items and guess what activity or thing that we were going to do each day. Today was sprinkles which only means one thing…the donut shop! What’s in your advent calendar? 

If you want to make an advent calendar or want to save this idea for next year….DOWNLOAD my calendar tags here for FREE!

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wooden advent tree / Threshold for Target
toy snowboarder / Toy Boarders
left + right tattoos / Oliver Jeffers for Tattly
beeswax candle / Knot & Bow

giveaway: BABY FEVER GIVEAWAY

Of course I have baby fever! A few months ago we welcomed twins into our family…my sister-in-law delivered a baby boy and baby girl into the world after going through IVF several times. Miracles do happen! And my youngest sister is expecting her second child…a baby boy, he will be the 10th grandchild! Plus there are so many amazing baby brands out there, how could you not have baby fever?! So here’s to all the baby feels. I have teamed up with some of my favorite brands as well as new ones that I have recently discovered. One lucky winner will receive the following:

+ leather baby changing mat from Gathre
+ slouchy arrow beanie from The Tiny Company
+ organic footed overall from L’ovedbaby
+ baby booties from Bink & Boo
+ wooden organic bird rattle from Manzanita Kids

Enter to win below…the more brands you follow and more pages you like, the greater your chances are. Good luck!

halloween: BEST of the BEST COSTUMES on INSTAGRAM

@whitneyjohnson / Wyatt as Max, June and Cal as Wild Things

@kimbahanne / Bodie as The Joker and Indy as Harley Quinn 

@chrissyjpowers / Dad as Mr. Fredrickson, Mom (Chrissy) as Ellie, Waylon as Russell the Wilderness Explorer and Zeke as Kevin the bird

@_beckykimball / Sloane as Alice in Wonderland

@theresaholden / Rue as Pippi Longstocking

@tarynmarie / Finn and Foster as cacti

@inhonorofdesign / Veronica as a tight rope walker, Rocco as a lion, Dad (Gabe) as a lion tamer, Azelie as popcorn, Mom (Anna) as popcorn seller, Gabriel as a ringmaster and Max as strong man

@lisa_allen / Poppy as a Grady twin and Goldie as a cat lady 

@bellandpistol / Pistol as 1974 Gene Wilder (young) Dr. Frankenstein and Bell as 1935 bride of Frankenstein

@melissajoyboerger / Freya as Snow White

@sandidevenny / Penny as Princess Aurora and Wyeth as a pterodactyl

@_katie_ / Maiken as Harry Potter, Marlo as Bellatrix Lestrange and Mom (Katie) as Professor Sybill Trelawney 

@fawndesign / Mom (Jenny) as Veruca Salt and Dad (Cole) as Willy Wonka, Georgia and June as Oompa Loompas

@danabisi / Jack and Sophia as Danny & Sandy from Grease

@xoxo.richellecote / Dad (Ian) as a pirate, Mom (Richelle) as a pirate wench, Jude and Lincoln as their two pirate babies and Zoë as a mermaid

@kailawalls / Dawson as a clown

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Maybe because I love seeing all the costumes. This year they were seriously so good and that’s why my post has doubled in size. But these are some of the best I’ve seen on Instagram. A few of these littles have made my post all three years in a row…so cute seeing the grow. See last years bests here. And the year before here.

halloween: MY BULL RIDERS

It took the boys weeks to decide what they wanted to be for Halloween. I had to lay a few ground rules though…no all black costumes (last years realistic bat was super cool but really hard to see in the dark) and no weapons. Case almost went as Estaban the Magnificent from the Oliver Jeffer’s book, The Day the Crayons Came Home, but as soon as Jax decided he wanted to be a bull rider (not a cowboy) it was over. Two bull riders. We all cruised to the local western shop to pick up some hats and a pair of boots for Jax. Then it was time to make some chaps! Haha! I love making costumes…I had so much fun, the boys picked out the colors and shapes they wanted on them. They were cute as can be. We even got to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood and got a photo with their pals before heading over to Mimi and Papa’s house. It was the twins first Halloween…we had fun taking selfies on a sugar high!

tradition: PAINTING PUMPKINS + 7 helpful tips!

Painting pumpkins…I think this is our fourth year! The boys get better every year…and this year decided to add body painting to our tradition 😝 oh and remind me never to cave and buy silly string ever again. Love this tradition and this time of year. If you want to go down memory lane with me click here and here. But since this isn’t our first time I thought I would share a few pumpkin painting tips:

1. Eat lunch or have a snack before so little bellies are full.
2. Paint outside! You never know when paint will decide to fly.
3. Wear an apron, old shirt or better yet go shirtless.
3. Cover your table/surface with paper or a drop cloth.
4. Kids choose + adults pour the paint colors in trays or plates before painting.
5. Avoid orange paint, well because it doesn’t show up! 
6. Have a rinse jar for the brushes.
7. Let Miss Sunshine help dry your pumpkins masterpieces.

trending: THE GRID

Line up, the grid is everywhere…so simple and modern. I’m a graphic designer and the grid is one of our most important tools. In college, for my senior thesis, I screenprinted grid pattern on fabric and made a corset to help demonstrate to the public how design worked, how information was organized. 

Tiny Cottons is one to watch, they always have the most cohesive collections, this season, this grid one piece for your babes is included. DIYs all over Pinterest, this grid memo board will definitely keep your notes and photos straight. Mamas and all the gals out there can carry this Baggu grid backpack. And Knot & Bow just listed these glassine grid treat bags…perfect for halloween!

photo of baby from @hikacooo

weekend vibes: THE PUMPKIN PATCH

We didn’t let a few rain clouds or sprinkles stop us from a little family fun at the pumpkin patch. Aside from family photos (which haven’t happened yet) the pumpkin patch is on my fall bucket list every year. Even though Daddy would rather be hunting, picking pumpkins and getting lost in the corn maze with them makes mama happy! Watching the boys find all the dead ends was hilarious. 

new work: WESTERLY COMMONS

It’s so rad to see your work in print but seeing it worn by kids all over is like a dream come true. Thankful again for that little app called instagram where I ‘met’ Haydee the mama behind Westerly Commons. From teeny tiny thumbnail sketches, I’m so stoked to share this new work with you. Now go head over to snag one of these tees for your little one! And tag me so I can see!

photography by Jenni Corti

little spaces: RAFFERTY’S NURSERY

A few months ago (I know, I know and I’m just now sharing!) I had the honor of photographing my very best friend’s first born’s nursery. That’s a tongue twister. Natalie has been my friend since the sixth grade. I think she created a perfect space for her sweet baby Rafferty to grow and play. That quilt is incredible! Read what she says about his space…

I guess the room started with the pillow in the rocker. I saw it at West Elm months before I became pregnant. I loved it and knew I wanted it somewhere in our home…but secretly was hoping to put it in a nursery. So, when I found out a few months later I was pregnant I was super excited to be able to use it. I knew my mom was going to make the baby quilt. So I found a pattern I wanted and set out to search for the fabric. After a few trips to local fabric shops I found exactly what I wanted at Jackman’s, a local fabric shop. So, the inspiration began with the pillow but really started after I found the fabric. Before we did Rafferty’s room it was a spare bedroom that had yucky off-white walls (from when we bought the house). The trim was half white and wood…looked real bad. I decided white for the walls- which was WAY more difficult to pick out than I thought. We actually picked a different color first and my crazy pregnancy brain made my husband, Jon repaint it. I am glad we did though, because I am in love with the white that we decided on. After the walls and trim were painted we added a ceiling fan and new pull shades. I love natural light and did not want any blinds to be blocking it out. All the pieces in the room were carefully picked with things that portrayed our life and things we love. 

My few favorites are the globe, it was my dad’s when he was a little boy. The bookshelf was made by my dad. Rafferty was actually born while Phish was playing in the hospital room. He also went to three Phish shows in my belly when I was five months pregnant…the Phish poster is from one of those shows. Jon gifted me the Saint Louis poster as our first anniversary gift. The Fantastic fox canvas…we like Wes Anderson films. The tiny chicken because my parents have chickens and I know Raff will enjoy chasing them one of these days. For one of my showers the green wooden trout was made for all the guests to sign. The Raccoon from Jellycat,  it’s name is Rafferty…so appropriate and one of my favorite parts of the room. I also love the the quilt my mom made.

IKEA gulliver crib / IKEA dresser + nightstand / quilt and crib sheet made with serape fervor fabric from Wanderer Line by April Rhodes for Art Gallery Fabrics / diy valances made with sylphs freedom flower fabric / Second Stitch to the Right (crib Sheet) / Firecracker Press Saint Louis poster / crane mobile, diy using dowelrods, metallic twine, small beads, and white/tan paper / West Elm pillow / Noted Provision fantastic fox print 

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Proud of your little one’s space? Submit it here for a chance to be featured.

milestones: CASEN’S FIRST DAY OF PRE-K

He had to wear his green fish shirt, blew bubbles in his milk, threw a fit when I wanted to trim is hair, wanted to take a bath, complained about his lunch being too heavy, got to school and he wasn’t in the Rainbow room like he thought, but I’m just going to blame it all on the shoes. last year I forgot to buy his shoes for the first day and this year the kicks he wanted were out of stock. So anyone spot a pair of little kid Vans with sharks on the sidewalls size 11…snag em for me pretty please. I swear the second child always ends up with the short end of the stick. And I try so hard for that not to happen. We have search high and low for the shark backpack to match his lunch box. Thankful Case doesn’t mind using the same one from last year. I can’t believe this is his last year of preschool. He’s going to learn so much. I’m excited for all the piles and piles of artwork and seeing him write his name so carefully and learn the whole alphabet. If only they would stay little forever. 

milestones: JAXON’S FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE

Jaxon was, I mean, we were ever so prepared for first grade…I think that new camp he went to this summer wiped him out. But I don’t think we could have planned school supply shopping any better. Saturday, 8:12am, both boys, Target, tax-free weekend…in and out and no tears! And he was okay with using the same backpack. But a new snakeskin + neon lunch bag was necessary of course! 

I say prepared, what I really meant was…we didn’t miss meet the teacher night and had all the things on the school supply list. Definitely not prepared for his unenthusiastic teacher to basically kick me out as I stepped through the classroom doorway, saying ‘have a nice day’. All I wanted to do was help him remember where his desk was. If only brother were in his class he’d probably could have cheered her up. He was shy, yet so so brave. I’m so proud. I totally had that moment though where you didn’t know if you should leave or walk across the hall the other first grade classroom and see about switching so he could be with all his friends, who were up mingling, smiling you know what you do on the first. day. of. school. I already miss the kindergarten days when I was able to walk him in, you know ensuring that he made it to the classroom. I guess first grade means you have up your trust game and know that independence isn’t something that just teenagers have. 

He’s already been asking to do science projects, make posters for his room and is so eager for computer lab days. Maybe he doesn’t eat his lunch every day but I’m just guessing he’s just catching up with his pals’ he hasn’t seen all summer. It’s only the 8th day of school and he has over a hundred DoJos. Which by the way, Class DoJo App…I still think is the coolest thing his school does. Much needed to communicate to Mrs. Hobbs that Jax was super concerned last Friday that the lunch ladies were going to switch pizza day and if that is the case to let me know so I can bring a back up lunch. Haha! 

fashion: AMAE Co.

You might have been familiar with a brand called Dutchess and Lion Co…sister brands now merged together as AMAE Co., based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founder, co-owner and designer, Stacie Lucas runs the business with her husband, they make ethically-sourced modern women’s and children’s clothing inspired by the refreshingly distinct. They encourage play with no compromise to style. 

“We have soft hearts for kids everywhere and we think their futures are worth investing in. That is why we use fair labor manufacturers and hand source every bit of fabric, personally create each pattern, and carefully oversee the stitching of all our pieces. Because more than anything, we’re big on families. With our three partners, we’ve grown from the inside out and we love our talented contributors, interns, and contractors.”

I’m so drawn to their bold color palette and how simple the patterns are. Has a vintage vibe yet includes fresh and modern silhouettes. The little girls swimwear gets me every. time. If only I had a little gal to dress. I love following the brand on instagram @amae.co, they just shared a sneak peek of their fall collection. 

Oh and good news, they are having a mid-season sale so you can snag 25% OFF until Saturday, 7.16.