NEW THINGS.

Everything seems to be changing from what has been to what will;

from summer to fall, from outside to in, from free-time to "what's free time, again?"

The change from Summer to Fall is always a melancholy one for me,
but this time around, I'm welcoming every bit of it.

I won't bore you with what busies me at the moment, or rather, the list is too long to keep any sane person interested.

Today, for example, I slanged croissants from 7:30-3, I came home and got about 30 minutes of reading and sun-worshiping in
before my people came home, then I loved on my little girl and did two puzzles
before I tackled a sink full of dishes (sans dishwasher) and made dinner,
we showered together, did the whole bedtime dance,
then I registered for a social studies conference, put a load of laundry in, and here we are...

I said I wouldn't make a list, too. At least it isn't exhaustive.
You're welcome.

After the best six weeks of river-lounging, Hawaiian-vacationing, and garden-tending,

I am actually loving being back in the classroom, back in the real world.

➹my new hat.

A few other new things:

▲An author recently asked me to do a book review on one of his bilingual books.

As I am not bilingual myself I'll be gathering a few resources before I tackle this,

though I do feel that I have a pretty good understanding of the needs of children who are.

Stay tuned!

▲Ramona was rummaging through the refrigerator tonight as I was cooking dinner.

She apparently, desperately, needed a pickle.

I said, "Ramona, I don't think pickles go very well with stir-fry."

She said, without hesitation, "Relax mom, I only want one."

My three-year-old just told me to relax. 

That's precisely when you stop relaxing.

▲Not but twenty minutes after that last statement, she was banging her dinosaurs on the kitchen table.

I said, "Sweetie, please stop hitting the table."

Her reply, you ask? Oh the typical three-year-old response of:

"Our brain tells us to do stuff (moves her arms around really fast)

Look mama, my brain is telling me to do this. It isn't me."

Help me. I have nothing.

▲I went to buffalo exchange for the first time in awhile yesterday.

I sold a few old things and spent most of my time trying to corral my overly-tired child.

Somehow I still managed to find a few amazing fall pieces (that I didn't spend a dime on!) 

that I cannot wait for the weather to permit me to put on my body.

A vintage green felt hat a lot like this one, a chunky brown sweater, and a levi's jean jacket.
Let's do this, Fall!

▲My husband celebrated his 28th birthday on Thursday,

and likely sprouted another 28 grey hairs to add to his overall sex-appeal.

Unfortunately, I had a dermatologist appointment in the early morning (no cancer, woo!),
class from 12-2, and class again from 5:30-8:30.

Ramona was in preschool all day that day, so he went golfing with a friend,
and we had a midday date over German biers and pretzel sandwiches at Prost between classes.

I did, however, make this incredible carrot cake the night before with Ramona.

We all agreed that it really is the best carrot cake any of us have ever eaten.

(I made a few changes, as I always do. I cut the oil by about 1/4 cup, and replaced it with organic applesauce. 
I also used half brown sugar, half white sugar. 

I added a tablespoon vanilla, a few tablespoons of flax seed, and walnuts - no raisins.)

It's his favorite cake, and he loved it. 

I hope you're having a great weekend, friends!

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Favorite things: handmade raku hanging planter.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, we went to the Alberta Street Fair this past weekend.

I never expect to find anything besides countless people making ridiculous spectacles of themselves,

and I especially never expect to find anything that I would spend money on.

Never say never.

This little raku hanging planter by local artisan, Rachel Love, had to be mine.

(what you can't see in this photo is a handmade bead pulling the strings together at the top. seriously made with love.)

You can see more of her work on etsy here ➸ High Yield Studio,

although, she had way more hanging planters at the street fair than she has listed.

I have a feeling that if you contact her and express interest, she will be able to offer you a much larger selection.

Her style is unique, undone, and even though I went for a more muted hued one,
many of her planters are brightly colored with happy designs.

Yay for finding, loving, and promoting awesome local artists!

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//we are leaving this afternoon,

going camping for the next two nights. 

enjoy the rest of your week!//

Favorite Things: For Mama

//A few things that are sure to please the lovely mamas in your life//

Make her brunch, and one of these: Pear Nectar + Thyme Mimosa. 

Not your everyday mimosa; bubbles, pear nectar, and an herbal twist.

Let her relax in this airy, beautifully feminine hammock: cape cod canvas hammock.

Something pretty and colorful to look at, that you hardly have to tend to: air plant pods from Anthropologie.

The most beautiful handmade Swedish clogs: braided sky high clog by Swedish Hasbeens.

(if you buy a pair of the sky high or super high clogs before May 5th, you will get a free pair of children's Hasbeens with your order!)

A bullet crystal necklace from the golden tooth because these pieces are just so rad.

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Favorite Things: Spring Cleaning

We have started to feel little bits of Spring around here over the last few weeks;

the crocuses and daffodils are blooming everywhere, and Ramona even spotted a garden yesterday that had bees chaotically gathering the first pollen of the year.

We planted our herbs in the back, and have planned out this years garden which should be planted and done by next weekend.
We will be growing corn for our very first time this year, too... woo!

Spring makes me feel so full of energy and life, all the blooms and the slowly warming air take me back to one of the single most beautiful times in my life: the last weeks of my pregnancy with Ramona June. 

She was born in late March and, almost like a dream, the weeks preceding her arrival were colored with newly blossomed cherry trees. The whole city was pink. 

It was as if the universe knew I hated the color, or knew I was having a girl. It was magical, whatever the universe meant by it.

The energy that this time of year brings also turns me into a crazy, belongings-purging madwoman.

I donate, I sell, I organize. 

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Here are a few of my favorite organizers, for those of you who also jump on the spring organizing wagon:

The cutest shelf ever, Ferm Living The Little Dorm Shelf from fawn & forest. Perfect for showcasing all of your tiniest treasures.

I put everything in jars, and these are of the particularly cool variety. Vintage typography storage jars from The Grey Market.

This whimsical little Animals of Whittling Wood coatrack over at Theo, because I can't even count how many times a day I pick up coats and sweaters from the floor.

A super soft milled leather pouch from baggu. Fits inside a purse as a makeup bag, or it would be an adorable clutch all by itself.

A brilliant DIY from Martha Stewart. I never have a pen nearby when I want to write something on the grocery list, ahem...
problem solved.

And I just love this painted wire basket from retropops for storing everything from kids' toys to toilet paper to fabric scraps. 

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Well, this little post made it stridently clear that I need to organize my sewing supplies. 

Like, yesterday.

Happy almost-Spring, ya'll!

And don't forget to lose that hour tomorrow!

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Favorite Things: Valentines Day

Want: mineral magnets. 

to be perfectly honest, i love this.

A little brunch: peach, prosciutto, & ricotta crostini like this one at bon appetit.

I will eventually get the Kaj Franck Heart Bowl.

For the man in your life, this rad iphone case.

These sweet little leggings from hello apparel (Ramona has them, I love them).

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Ramona and I are going to be doing some valentines-y crafts this afternoon, 

and I am so close to driving to Target for a doughnut pan. 

(as you can tell, my no sugar resolution didn't last very long...)

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Favorite things: Indian vs Indian.

Indian vs Indian is a lovely and creative little shop based right out of Portland, Oregon.

They repurpose old Pendleton wools into amazing cots, pillows, camp stools, and hammocks, among other things.
They also have a few vintage pieces for men, women, and kids.

My dear friend, Heather, is the little lady who sews their pillows,

and I just couldn't love what they are doing any more!

Here are a few of my favorite things currently up for grabs:

Long indigo Pendleton pillow

Vintage knit hooded sweater, size 2T

this RAD Pendleton hammock!

Grey Pendleton camp stool

I love love the aesthetics of their pieces, and the fact that they reuse materials to create something new and fantastic, how very local it is (Pendleton wool, repurposed in Portland). Please, take a moment to click over and check it out!

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In other news, we finally got our tree yesterday.

Cody took Ramona to a tree farm to saw one down, 

I stayed home to finish some thoughts for school.

The lights went up on it this afternoon, I'm thinking ornaments will go up on Wednesday.

Slow, but steady, progress.

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Favorite things: green + gold.

In the spirit of small business Saturday, as well as this big day in college football, I have selected a few of my favorite green & gold things from small businesses I adore.

Vintage 1970s hand knit cardigan from drowsy swords.

Geometric gold and mint green necklace from gold & silver linings.

Southwest leggings from thief & bandit.

(who happen to be running a great sale at the moment!)

Jadeite mixing bowls from terrain.

Heart pillow from apartment redux.

Happy Saturday!

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Favorite things: Etsy

Here are a few of my favorite things, from a few of my favorite shops, currently up on Etsy.

Green pyrex nesting bowls from tearing up houses.

Vintage fur toddler slippers by Box of Hollyhocks

Ant tape from pi'lo.

Vintage book mobile by the shophouse.

Striped Peshtemal towel by bath style.

(I own two of these and can attest to their awesomeness)

Modern bunny clip by paperdoll.

(Will probably be a stocking stuffer this year.)

An amazing pink planter by Rellik Vintage.

Leather flats by the white ribbon. 

(I wore these at my wedding, and still wear them often. lovely shoes, lovely shoemaker.)

Firekind Jadeite mixing bowl by Box of Hollyhocks.

I'm off to write a few lesson plans before we go enjoy our 'Friendsgiving' this evening with some dear, sweet people we are so grateful to call our friends. I'm making a stuffing that I did two years ago; it's a sourdough, apple, fresh cranberry stuffing (I'll post my recipe later). I love this time of year; the gratitude, the amazing food, and the time spent reflecting on how wonderful life can be. 

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