I kind of want to be her...

Kiersten Hathock is the founder of Mod Mom Furniture. She creates really cool mid-century inspired furniture for kids which I think is absolutely fantastic. After quitting her corporate job in 2003 to spend time with her young children, she turned her talents to creating these super fun pieces out of her garage when she found some free time.

All pieces are eco/child friendly...created out of birch plywood, non-toxic paints, water-based stains and low-voc, water-based finishes. 

She has an on-line store, or you can purchase the above pieces from Design Public. Read all about her here. Don't you want to be her too?

The best art show ever!

I couldn't be more proud...here's Jake's first watercolor in a art show. Ricardo was hoping for a little "color" in the living room, and I think we've found our answer.

The twist and pull

This is a close up of Jake's new trick...insert thumb up unsuspecting person's nose, wrap finger around top of nose, and twist. We're trying to learn the word "gentle". I'm not sure it's working.

Desperate Times...

After receiving an ASTRONOMICAL electric/gas bill, I've decided to redecorate. The above images of the Hotel de Glace are my inspiration. I wonder if they have an ice crib? We will no longer be using heat. Or electricity.

Call the limo!

I'm all set for the Oscars (if I was going)! I'm going to wear this lovely dress from Zac Posen, with these shoes from Manolo Blahnik, necklace, bracelet and clutch, all from Bergorf Goodman. Busy moms need one stop shopping...

For the husbands

These contemporary dog houses look cozy, and the perfect place for the man who utters to his wife those five little words, "why are you so tired?" after giving her a hard time about everything, and who has a baby that seems to be waking up for a looong time every night. Also for the husband who yells helpful hints like, "don't talk to him," when the baby continues to cry in the night. I'm just saying...

1. from Priscilla Zimmerman, Zimmerman Architecture

2. from Sustainable Pet Design

3. from Bernbaum Magadini Architects for "Barkitecture Dallas"

For the Birds

When we purchased our house, we inherited about 10 bird houses from the previous owners that are scattered all over our property. They're darling, and probably hand/home-made. However, some of them have fallen into disrepair over the last couple winters. Perhaps we'll try to give them a spring cleaning, or try adding a few of our own. Here are a that might give some lucky birds a new home! To locate , find them here:

Top left: Bacon Square Farm

Top right: Das Rote Paket

Middle left: Bacon Square Farm

Middle center: Bacon Square Farm

Middle right: Old Crow Farm

Lower left: Das Rote Paket

Lower right: Nathan Payne Art

Namaste

A great site called Yoga Today delivers FREE daily yoga workouts for all different levels that you can stream through your computer monitor. If you click the little icon on the bottom right of the workout photo, you can see the video full screen size. They're filmed in Jackson Hole Wyoming, so the scenery behind the calm-voiced instructors is just beautiful.

Happy Holidays!

Jake and I have been having fun making Valentine's Day cards. Here's a collection of the cards we've made to date.

Yum!

I love this book cover...it's so punchy! The colors, the bubblieness of it, it all says PUNCH!

Baby's First Block

Some friends of ours who had a baby boy just a few days after Jake was born gave us our own personalized version of this block as a baby gift. It was such a unique, special gift! Jake was chewing on it while we read our Peek-a-Boo lift the flap books last night. So much for an heirloom keepsake (but he enjoyed it...yummy!)

I really love this new decorator weight fabric from Amy Butler. I think this chair from IKEA would look great covered in the fabric...perhaps even combining two of the fabrics. There are many fabulous inspirational ideas on her website (like these two bottom images)...take a look! I could also see using the fabrics to make Roman shades...something I'm more adept at than reupholstering! I was pretty psyched to see this fabric has a pretty low price. Many decorator grade fabric is REALLY expensive, and hard to buy since you have to order it though an interior decorator or store. 

A River Runs Down It

So, the lights I ordered arrived...and while the 13" light is great for the bottom of the stairs, the two ADDITIONAL 13" lights I ordered for the upstairs are ridiculously huge. I even cut out a sample to measure before purchasing...I was so sure. But no. Way too big, and it would look like a well-lit stadium in the hall. So, back they go, and of course the sale is over. So much for my big bargain. AND, the rug...we were able to take this sample home...I like it, but perhaps it's a little too wide? Ricardo is NOT liking it (ergh). I could order 7 of the 2'x3' rugs and have them installed which might be tricky, BUT. I can't even tell you how discouraged I am!

Viva La Palm Springs!

Leah Hennen of the super-fun blog More Ways to Waste Time wrote a great post about her trip to Palm Springs. I've never wanted to go there, but her fun pictures of the places she visited make me want to hang out with her for the day and have drinks in all the cool hotels she photographed.

One of the photos Leah took of the Jonathan Adler designed Parker has given me inspiration. Jake's "playroom" is sort of a den/sunroom that was probably once a porch that has been converted to a room. It has what is really a second front door to the house (which everyone ends up using as the main front door, because it's the first one you come to). It's a terrific window-filled, sunny room that has a nice stone porch off the front, and faces our garden in the back. The room has a few issues that I need to deal with...but that's another story. 

There's a shelf above the front door that runs the width of the room. I've never known what to put up there, but I think the collection of colored glass vases and jars in the photo might look pretty fun. Thoughts? Something else? Would I risk having them crash on visitor's heads? And, yes, I know, those are still the plastic $5 faux blinds I bought the week we moved into the house.

If Everybody Had an Ocean...

They would be wearing this (if they were under 24 months of age!). It's made out of bamboo...I guess that's a good thing.

Soggy Bottom Boy

We are having a sleep-time problem. No matter what I try (and I really have tried), poor little Jake wakes up soaked to the armpits with a 10-lb. diaper. I won't embarrass Jake by revealing my methods to keep him dry, but I'm at a loss. However...I've just found a post on inhabitots, an eco-friendly design blog, about some earth friendly diapers with flushable inserts...called gdiapers. They've got a cute outer pant, an inner waterproof layer AND a flushable insert. Frankly, I think these are a lot more fashion-forward than the Mickey, Elmo etc. characters that are adorning the current land-fill clogging diapers we're using. Ricardo seems open to using the new method, so I think I'm going to get a starter kit!

Keeping It Lovely

Nicole, a very accomplished designer (of Smart & Lovely), blogger (of Making it Lovely fame), entrepreneur (of Pink Loves Brown), and inspiration to me, is expecting a baby girl soon. She and her husband have created a simply beautiful home for themselves which can be seen in detail on her blog which progresses their efforts to make their home...well..."lovely". As many new parents, Nicole has recently mentioned a concern about what a challenge it will be to keep her house inundated with "primary colored plastic objects".

In her own style, and as a new mother and designer with similar concerns, I've created some ideas for her...which I call "Keeping it Lovely". Fortunately, Nicole is having a girl, so her love of pink can hopefully extend to the future generation. UN-fortunately "baby pink", and "Nicole pink" may not be quite the same.

My first bit of advice is CANVAS STORAGE BINS of any sort. You can't (and really won't want to after all) NOT succumb to the primary color/plastic issue. BUT, you can chuck in all in a storage bin at the end of the day. (Not that I am advising anything new to Nicole who has THE most well-organized closet I've ever seen). 

The pink wiggle mat is TOO pink, but it IS wonderful to watch as your baby starts to reach, and then turn over on it. So, if you must have one...perhaps pink won't be too toxic? And, the swing. Your lifesaver. If you hope to get any work done in the first 6 months of baby's life...get the swing. The sling/wrap...I can see you wearing it. My baby was wiggly (and too heavy) from day one, so I never had one, but most of my friends have loved it. The piggy bank...never too early to start a college fund. All my lose change gets dumped in. When Jake is a year, I'm going to open him a bank account. I think my husband will be surprised how much money I've stashed away!

The "pair and a spare" monkey blankets...I've blogged about here. Can't recommend them enough. Nicole's baby might prefer a different creature. Also, I can see Nicole carrying the cute diaper bags/diaper holders from Etsy store owners. I would also advise maybe a rug pad under that great Madeline Wienrib rug she has in the living room. Newly standing babies tend to fall A LOT (ouch!).

So, good luck Nicole, I can't wait to read more of your blog, and am excited to read about your ventures into new motherhood...welcome!

I really wanted a treat

Ricardo indulged my cravings and surprised me with a yummy looking box of frozen cheesecakes. Alas, they were icky. Instead, I'll feast my eyes on these darling felt treats from the Fakery Bakery. Simply delicious!

Happy Groundhog's Day

I am very much hoping that that Groundhog does NOT see his shadow, and that spring is soon to come. It's only a matter of time before someone ends up in traction from our icy driveway. I actually burned rubber getting up it tonight. Here are a few cute things to get in the Groundhog/spring frame of mind...

My sister and I loved Madame Alexander dolls when we were little...what a treat to get one! These little paperdolls are so cute, and love the retro-esque letterpress sign.