Ain't No Mom Jeans

Friday

I got a Pap smear yesterday.  Whoa, maybe I should say good morning first.  Hope you already had your coffee!  But I booked my appointment in honor of Megan's recent health scare.  The Happiest Mom says go get it done, Mamas.  I did mine.  Now it's your turn.

In semi-related news, I am a MILF.  (Love the folks at True & Co. for coming up with a funny tilt to that ridiculous acronym.)

Have you heard of Sakroots?  They make really cool products, all covered with...art.  I love this clutch for date night, am dying for this water bottle, and would love any of their iPhone cases.   They are currently holding a contest to find their next print, if any of you are art-inclined....

Are any of you on Chictopia?  I joined recently, just to see what the fuss was about.  I'm not totally convinced it's worth my time....between Pinterest and Instagram and Facebook...there's just so much.  Thoughts?  

Also?  I'm loving my old overalls again and Sarah Jessica Parker demonstrates how cool shoes can make even a hoodie look good.

On Monday, I talked about my resolution to spend more time in nature just...sitting....and then I found this article from a local parent's group.  They call it a "sit spot".  Isn't that clever?

I love when books lead to creative play...and Play at Hom Mom found a good one.

If any of you are interested in Reggio-Emelia...Play Outside has created THE BEST series on the Reggio-Emelia approach.  Their emphasis is primarily for pre-school classrooms, but I find a ton of inspiration to pull into the home.  

I think we're headed out to the Creative Clubhouse today (if any of you are local, it's my hands-down fav place to take the kids)....and this weekend I hope to do a little star gazing.  Gosh, I love a good Science Festival.

Happy Friday!

xo,

S

 

Hello, Friday. We're (Barely) Surviving The Chill.

Mamas, I apologize for the light week.  I had intended to post the promised hair article, but man.  I'm wiped out.  Mike has been gone (since Sun!!) on a business trip, and in his absence, I've broken one coffee cup and two plates, lost the car keys six times, left Pax's winter coat somewhere in Easton, PA (Crayola "Experience" - LAME), and have had to deal with snotty noses and freezing weather ALL WEEK.  Ugh.  (To make matters worse, Mike's trip took him to freakin' HAWAII, so my week has been peppered with super annoying texts like, "Aloha Baby!" and pictures of the big waves on the North Shore.  Awesome, but GAH!!!)

During weeks like these, our Kiwi Crates (full review here) are worth their weight in gold.  If you haven't checked them out in a while...they currently have a charming limited edition crate for Valentine's Day.  It comes with enough (pop-up!) Valentine's for an entire class and is nicely gender-neutral.  But be warned:  unless your little one is pretty dexterous, gluing on the pop-ups is a challenge.  R did exactly one, loved it, and then went about just making his own (non-pop-up) cards.  (Kiwi Crate, if you see this, we'd love more regular cards next year.  And more gem stickers.)  I ended up supplementing with plain folded cards (aka cut-up paper, LOL), and am planning to pick up a few sheets of gem stickers to continue the fun.  

I've been perusing through Laura Barr's list of Games That Make Children (and their parents) Smarter.  Raines is just starting to get into games (the old-school board game kind) and if this cold front keeps up, I may be making a large Amazon game purchase.  (R keeps asking for a chess set after playing a bit at the Art Museum.  How awesome is that??)

Also?  I'm feeling fat and old.  Fat, because my body is no longer making all of those holiday goodies magically disappear (GET WITH THE PROGRAM, aging metabolism!!) and old, because next week is my thirty*cough*somehighnumber*cough* birthday.  WOO. HOO.  To invigorate said metabolism, I signed up for Barre3's 28-to-great program...however, I have only managed to work out THREE times since the beginning of Jan.  Therefore, in order to complete my "goal", I must workout 25 more times before Feb 1.  Right.  Shouldn't be a problem.  

And thank you to Refinery 29 for these tips on how to eat healthy in the dead of winter.  Soup, here I come.

In the midst of one of my (many) pity parties this week, I bought myself a cute, cozy sweater.  (With hearts on it.  For $30.)  It's now sold out, but SheInside is my new favorite place for cute & cheap.  This might be my next purchase.  Of course, their things sell out in roughly 10 minutes, so.....

I also can't stop thinking about these Keds snow boots.  They have a super cool 70's vibe, and would be a fun change-up for anyone sick of their serious snowboots.  Did I mention they are on sale for $30?

Lastly, the highlight of our week was Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  If any of you follow me on instagram (@shanachristine) you'll know that I brought the boys to the art museum to see EB Lewis read from his latest book, Each Kindness.  Well.  Add this one to the List of Books That Make Me Cry.  In this very amazing book, the main character frequently rebuffs the attempts of the "new girl" to be friends.  In the end, the new girl moves away, and the main character realizes too late how she had not chosen the path of kindness.  The book ends with, "I watched the water ripple as the sun set through the maples and the chance of a kindness with Maya became more and more forever gone."  Heavy, right?  But I think it was good for Raines to hear that sometimes, when you make bad choices, you can't always fix it. Since then, we've been talking a lot about kindness, what it means to be kind, and how very small acts of kindness, when added together, really can change the world.  During Mr. Lewis' reading, he mentioned that the concept of kindness is so important that he wished we focused on it for longer than just a day.  I couldn't agree more.  So.  I've decided to act like the time between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Valentine's Day is Kindness Month.  (I know it's not really a month, but still.)  I've been brainstorming ideas with the boys, and we're trying to do something kind everyday.  I'd love for you to join in - it's always so nice to get inspiration from others.  I'll be posting what we do to Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #kindnesscounts.  

Happy Weekend, Mamas!!  I can't wait for the love of my life to get back home...and I know he picked up some dried mango at the ABC store.  Yay!

xoxo

S

 

 

 

Little Boy Style Inspired by a Book: Iggy Peck, Architect

Mamas, do you know the book Iggy Peck, Architect?  It's awesome.  Not only does the entire family love to read it, but it's pretty much guaranteed to inspire a spurt of creative block-building in this house.  

Raines loves that Iggy builds with dirty diapers (among other things).  I love that this book reminds me that passion is everything, and that breaking the rules sometimes is a fabulously important life lesson.

But the other reason I love this book?  It has style in spades.  Whether you are marveling at the architectural engineering, or the mod, mod decor, or the fabulously dressed characters...there's plenty to inspire.  I particularly loved the little boy style - it hits the right mark between nerd and cool, yet is still so joyfully boy.  

Iggy Himself

Cowl Neck Sweater, $40 | Gap Black Skinny Jeans, $30 | Converse High Tops, $30 | Yellow Socks, $3

 

Iggy's Classmate

I so wish I could have found his striped pants...at least the red cord gives off a similarly cool vibe.  And how I love the quirky socks in this book!

Gap Fair Isle Sweater Vest, $30 | Polaryn O Pyret Slim Fit Cords, $50 | White Tee, $15 | Striped Socks, $9 | See Kai Run Christopher Shoe, $45

 

Mr. Gingham

We are all (Raines, Pax and I) obsessed with red sneaks lately. Love the shirt buttoned all the way up and the big cuffs.  

Gap Faux Selvidge Jeans, $35 | Crewcuts Secret Wash Shirt in Gingham, $40 | Red Converse, $35

 

Birkenstocks and Socks Guy

This little dude?  Is awesome. 

Levi's Plaid Shirt, $28 | LLBean Cords, $30 | Birks, $40 | Lafont Kid's Frames

Fab, no?

Also, we've done this before.  You might want to check out Little Girl Style Inspired by a Book - Charlotte Zolotow's I Like to be Little.  And Mamas, if you have any recommendations for our next literary style article, please let me know!!

xo,

S

Goodbye Summer

Oh, Mamas. Summer's lease hath all too short a date.  R is in pre-school, mornings have a chill in the air, and time marches on.  This was likely my very last summer with a baby.  Good things are ahead, certainly, but I can't help feeling a little lost. I'd like one more beer at the end of the dock, please.

If the back-to-school routine snuck up on you...here are a few good things I found:

An awesome list of back-to-school books.  The title "Hooway For Wodney Wat" cracked me up.

Raines' new backpack.  The half-pack size is perfect for pre-school, the nibbler size for younger.  If you are local to Philly, Nest has them in stock.

We've been using Skip Hop's Bento lunchbox and it's awesome.  It's technically a bento, but simpler and less intimidating.  I can still throw a sandwich in there (cut up into fourths) on busy mornings.  I actually bought this set a while ago, but somehow* lost all of the lids.  When I called Skip Hop for replacements, they sent me out a new set - gratis!  

Also, this thermos keeps soup warm for five hours.  Perfect for grabbing something out of the crock pot in the morning.

I'm so happy with the pre-school we found for R.  They go outside everyday, regardless of weather (except for insanely cold temps).  We have to keep a pair of rainboots at the school, so I wanted to find something cheap-ish, yet durable and cool (no crazy animals or cartoon characters, please).  These plain black Tingley Stormtrack rainboots were only $14, and are awesome.

 

What are you up to this weekend?  I think we're going to try and catch Philly's Open Air exhibit, which lets you record a voice message, and then uses robotic lights in the night sky that will react to your voice's frequency and volume.  No joke.  They even have an iPhone app.  R will be totally geeked out (and so will we).

Happy Fall!

xo,

S

*Pax went through a "throw things in the trash" phase.

 

 

A Hauntingly Beautiful ABC Book (and Wall Prints)

Mamas, I know I said we'd be taking it easy for a while, but I just came across this and had to share.  It's something so jaw-droppingly stunning and unique and wow.  Just...wow.

Kim Krans (who happens to be my mom's BFF's daughter...follow me?) is an amazing artist.  She recently created an ABC book for kids.  Instead of primary colors and juvenile B is for BORING BALLS and S is for SNOOZEFEST SNAKE (or whatever)....Kim's book is filled with black and white illustrations that strike a perfect balance between sophistication and whimsy.  The result is hauntingly beautiful.  Each page is, quite literally, a work of art. 

Here are a few of my favorite prints from her book:

 

Each letter is available as a 12" X 16" print (pictured above) or collectively in Kim's book, aptly named ABC Dream.

ABC Dream can be purchased on Kim's website, The Wild Unknown, for $25.  I can't imagine a more perfect gift for a new mom, a budding artist, or a curious, inquisitive toddler on a rainy summer day.  (You can see more of the book in this charming video.)

And I'm dying for the LOVE set of prints ($120).  Awesome for a nursery, and cool enough for a living room.

xo,

S

ps.  Mamas, thank you SO much for all of the love and support regarding my recent travel woes.  Your comments seriously cracked me up.  Life is funny, no?

Little Girl Style Inspired by a Book - Charlotte Zolotow's "I Like To Be Little"

One of my very favorite children's authors is Charlotte Zolotow.  I remember my mother reading her to me when I was a little girl.  Zolotow captures childhood so acutely that I am transported, with each reading, back to my own.  Her books are both heartfelt and sincere - and completely in tune with the rhythm of children, the simplicity of life to a child.  

Happily, Amazon has a nice selection of her books here.  A couple of my favorites are William's Doll and The Sleepy Book, but my all-time favorite?

I Like to Be Little (pictured).

This book is a conversation between a little girl and her mother.  The little girl is explaining to her mother why she likes to be little.  And Mammas?  If you were once a little girl who loved crayons, birthday cakes, skipping through leaves, catching snowflakes on your tongue, and pretending your dining room table was your own tiny house...this book will break your heart.  In the best possible way.

I love the illustrations.  It shows a little girl being a little girl.  A little girl without glitter.  Without princess dresses or shirts that say "Lil' Fashionista".  A little girl with messy hair and sneakers who runs and jumps and thinks and plays.  And her outfits?  Totally adorable, yet completely practical.

If I ever had my own little girl, this is how I would dress her.  (For at least as long as she'd let me.)  

Hate Throwing Your Kid In Front of the TV? Here's a DVD Collection You Will Love

There's all sorts of warnings about kids and TV exposure.  Too much TV may inhibit babies' language development.  And toddlers?  To summarize another recent study, too much TV makes toddlers fat and dumb.  Whoa.  Think I'm exaggerating?  Dr. Linda S. Pagani, the lead author of this study, says (much more eloquently than I do): 

We found every additional hour of TV exposure among toddlers corresponded to a future decrease in classroom engagement and success at math, increased victimization by classmates, have a more sedentary lifestyle, higher consumption of junk food and, ultimately, higher body mass index.

Bad enough, right?  But it doesn't end there.  Even in teenagers, there seems to be a link between too much TV and depression.  However, experts aren't sure if this link (or any of these links, really) are because of the programming itself, the commercials, or the fact that TV time takes away from other, healthier activities.

I don't know about you mammas, but this mamma has a serious case of guilt everytime I use the TV to
"parent".  

Scary Books For Kiddos Who Kinda Like To Be Scared (With Gloriously Gruesome Illustrations)

Not all kiddos like scary, but if yours does....we have some books for you!  The books below are just scary enough to capture a kiddo's attention, without going too far over the edge. And the illustrations in these books?  OH MAMA.  Crazy-amazing.

 

Listening: Best Lullaby CD Ever

Sure, music soothes even the most savage two-year-old human beast.  But for some of us, powering through a kids music CD is a cloying act of endurance, often precipitated by an already stressful meltdown situation.  Not so with Anya Jane & Friends’ Lullabies, a recent release of “old favorites and new gems,” beautifully rendered in acoustic guitar, requinto (a cute little guitar), mandolin, harmonica and piano, with amazing vocals that will leave both you and your tiny person breathing a sigh of relief.  

A soulful, toned-down rendition of the classic “Your Are My Sunshine” kicks off the perfect soundtrack for winding down after dinner and getting into the evening routine.  “Jamaican Farewell” follows in a mellow canter two songs in, then pretty much every soothing and reassuring thing you could ever say to your child is summed up in a miraculously un-saccharine “Everything is Gonna Be Alright” followed by a beautiful original instrumental, “Cowboy’s Lullaby.”  The CD wraps with one movement of Beethoven’s “Pathetique Sonata Op. 13,” and a traditional rendering of the classic “Tu Ra Loo Ra,” accompanied by harmonica and acoustic guitar.

Oh, and unlike most other lullaby CDs, Anya Jane & Friends’ Lullabies is suitable for listening all day long, any time you and your tiny people need to take a moment to chill.  I find it especially useful around hour 2-1/2 of any 3 hour drive, when it usually seems like everyone is about to lose their minds. 

Pick up your copy of Lullabies on the Music Train web site.  And if you’re in Denver, don’t forget to look into Anya’s kids music classes.  Anya is a dynamic, energetic teacher and great musician to boot.  Her classes are full of joy, dancing, ears-on fun and are easily the best kids music classes in town because they’re such a blast for moms and babes alike. 

Happy listening, mamas!
- M.

 

What We're Reading This Week: Potty Training Books

OK, yes, I know many of these books have been around for quite some time, but they are, in fact, what we're reading this week. With my sweet potato rounding out his 26th month of life on Earth and preschool starting in September, we're gearing up for the marathon that, apparently, is the feat of potty training a boy child.  We're loving reading these books as we sit on each of the three (yes, 3!) potties hanging around our happy home and wanted to share: