Stay With Me!

I'm redesigning my blog and will be posting again after I close down the Cat in an Apron shopping site, tonight at midnight.

I'd love it if you would stay with me on my new adventures! Here is a little loveliness while you wait.  These sculptures are from Anna-Wili Highfield:

Each one is made of hand painted, archival cotton paper that she tears and sews together.  The are stunning.

You Should Go HERE for Valentine's Day!

 I seriously adore Pix patisserie.  They opened right after my first baby was born and I've sort of watched them grow up with him.  I went to a bridal shower while I was newly pregnant with my second baby and they had a dessert table by Pix.  Oh.  The love affair was cemented.  You know how everything tastes like manna from heaven when you are blissfully pregnant??  (Shhhh!  mamas out there!! I know sometimes things taste evil and will NEVER cross your lips again, but some girls don't know yet and there ARE some preggo GOOD times!)  I was in one of the "these bits of heaven have made my life better" preggo moments and we feasted on Framboise, Pâte de Fruits, The Pixie's, and of course their French Macarons.  It turns out, that the fact that my skirt was riding incredibly high over my new baby bump DID have to do with being preggo, but the sublime tastes didn't.  Everything is even better now. 

I could write volumes about their Macarons, but you must just go there and try them.  OR order them!!  The colors are perfect, the crisp outer shell and creamy insides, ugh.  They are perfection.  The colors are perfect to coordinate with any party color scheme, as well.  (That reminds me, I have to order some for my son's First Communion party.) 

If you are here in Portland, Pix is hosting a lovely Valentine's Tea.  Treat you and your sweetie, or your daughter, or your mama to heart shaped macarons, oysters on the half shell, plenty of chocolate and a bottle of A. Margaine, Brut Rose Premier Cru Grower Champagne.  "Enjoy a total of 16 sweet and savory bite sized treats per person and 2 pots of tea from Townshend’s Tea House. $100 per couple including Champagne ($60 without)"

OR, order the Take-Out…Make-Out! ~ A Chinese pagoda box perfect for 2! Includes 2 truffles, 2 heart-shaped French macarons, Cocoanuts, Champagne Bubbles and a demi of sparkling wine. $23 with wine, $13 without:

 OR, holy crap, they have HEART shaped macarons!!!  They come in Chocolate, Raspberry or Fleur de Sel Caramel.  I'm dying...

Pix is very local, and very, very, very good.  I can't make it to Paris any time soon, so I let their gorgeous French atmosphere swallow me up, sip some strong coffee and nibble these little pieces of heaven and dream.

PERFECT Christmas Card

This is SO funny!

All I want for Christmas is you (If you're holding a bunch of presents that are also for me.)
Perfect.  Please check out Sycamore Street Press!  This is a great online shop with stunning letterpress everything.  Here is another awesome one:

I think these people would be my friends.

Free Stocking Pattern

I know I've gushed about her before, but I simply adore Denyse Schmidt.  I'm pretty sure we would be fast friends and share ideas with each other and stay up all night sewing together.  We'd paint each other's fingernails and braid each other's hair - wait - that is my dream of what it would be like to have a sister - forget that last part....  She has done it again, not only has she created the MOST beautiful handmade stockings, but she is giving away the pattern for FREE.

This is such a great pattern, because like all of her designs, it is really open to personalizing it just for you and your kiddos!

Love it.  Oh please let me know if you make them!  I really want to, but I'm already running out of time with what I have to get done before Christmas!

Baby Jesus and Mr. O.

 

This is Baby Jesus.   He is my son's lovey.  None of my kids have ever had a 'blankie' or a specific lovey that they couldn't sleep without.  Until now.  Until Baby Jesus.  Our Mr. O. has always loved babies, and when his big sister took all of hers back, he was left with NONE.  That is until he found Baby Jesus.  Baby Jesus is just about two inches tall and came in the arms of his mother, Mary:

 

She was a gift from the kids' Fairy God parents.  Mary is safely tucked away in Miss Mae's room, but Mr. O. has taken Baby Jesus and will. not. let. go.  He can't sleep without him.  He sets a place for him at our table.  He buckles him into his stroller and pushes him around.  He calls him, "Baby Jesus."  He feeds him with a doll bottle that is two times his size.  Did I mention Baby Jesus is 2" tall?!  

It is very, very, sweet but DOES solicit quite a few giggles from all of us. "Don't throw Baby Jesus!"  and "Uh-oh, we lost Baby Jesus again!"  And every night before drifting off to sleep, O. says, "I love you Baby Jesus."

We all adore Baby Jesus but I was afraid he would lose him for good and would be devastated.  I also thought he needed a baby that would fill his arms - one he could really snuggle with all night.  We found this amazing woman on etsy.  She also writes a lovely blog that I would like to escape into for even just one day.  To be able to make the things she makes!!!  Find her at Driaa.  She was a dream to work with and makes personal dolls, too.  She'll make them perfect for your little person down to the embroidered shoes and hand knitted sweaters!  Look at Queen Elizabeth!!

(Mr. O. was asleep when he arrived in the mail and I ripped him out of bed to open the package.  He was a little groggy and grumpy...):

 

This is how our  new baby arrived, complete with a sweet sewn heart on a ribbon:

 

and he came with his own personal blanket!!

 The new baby is yet to be named, but he is clearly part of our family now.  Baby Jesus is still #1 in Mr. O.'s heart, but that is kind of how it should be!

West Elm Has Free Holiday Printables!

West Elm has free printables! So great!  This is the Botanical Suite for gifting:

 

 There are four suites:  Botanical, Animal, Snowflake, and Graphic, and all four come in the gifting option like I've shown, as well as an entertainment package with menu cards, labels and place cards.  Great idea!

Shop For Makenzie Day!

Our shop for Makenzie day was a huge success!  Our list of incredible retailers are so generous to help out a fellow mama / mamapreneur / family in need.  Erin Shirey wrote the most beautiful letter of thanks.  They have allowed Makenzie to go home to strengthen herself for the surgeries ahead of her.  They are at the hospital every day, and now Erin is taking care of the normal things we do at home everyday AND is a 24 hour nurse to Miss Makenzie.  I know how harried I am by the end of my days!  And at the same time, how wonderful to be able to hold Miss M. in her arms and let her sleep in her own bed. 

I'm so proud to be part of this amazing group of people who have rallied around this awesome family.  I'll let you know how much we get to send her when all of the paperwork dust has settled.  And don't forget the "donate" button will stay on our Shop for Makenzie page - feel free to use it or send people to it.

AND don't forget Cat in an Apron and more incredible vendors will be at our Shop for Makenzie day here in Portland at Purple Moon!

Want to Find That Lovely Outfit?

I forgot to post the link to the etsy shop: Choklit

Another Princess and Another Pea

I love Garnet Hill!!  I dream of having a life like the women on the pages of the catalog.  I would wake up in my over priced pajamas and they would be IRONED, and i would lounge in my slippers with my robe perfectly askew in my room that was decorated to the inch in what ever season i happened to be in.  We'd have a different Advent calendar in every room stuffed with little trinkets that are both exciting and somehow NOT materialistic clutter that I won't shove in a bag when my kids aren't looking in six months.  My children's hair will be the perfect mix of messy and glamour ad as they lounge in THEIR pajamas and robes and slippers on the painted rough hewn timber floors.  It would be WARM even though that very gaping flooring is nestled on a snowy hillside.  Oooo, did I mention I'd have a steaming mug of coffee in my hand?  I would.  I would be contemplating my day of dressing in my fabulous wrap sweater that is 3 inches thick and goes around me 4 times while i still look shockingly skinny, to take the train to visit my girlfriends in the city and do a little shopping for more non-materialistic sorts of goodies to fill my house with.  My warm house that has 1" holes between each floor board.  Because we are *rustic* like that.

All of this ties very clearly into the image above!  I'm in love with The Princess and the Pea, and we had a lovely party for my daughter's 5th birthday celebrating said princess.  I was SO going to make her a darling little set like this one, but of course ran out of time, but GARNET HILL didn't!!  It is quite charming, although not nearly as charming as viola & pearl's.  And seriously, $100?  Of course my daughter waaaants it, she says with her sweet little hands clasped in a pleeeease sort of grasp.  Maybe I'll make her one for Christmas?

Yahoo!

Our super awesome reversible hats from Flipside Hats (designed JUST for us) are featured in the denim section of Cool Mom Picks Back To School Guide!

We are beyond excited here!

And if anyone wants to find gifts for me or the kiddos, let's just say we want everything ELSE on this list!!  Make sure you check it out before you go school shopping - the prices are fantastic.  Our Flipside hats are all currently 50% off and there is a code to get 25% MORE off on their guide.  Happy shopping!

Pregnant? Just Get This Now.

You need a changing table.  Okay, you don't NEEED a changing table - you CAN change a baby on the floor or on your bed, or on the bathroom counter at your kids' school... anywhere really, but OH a changing table makes it SOOOO much easier.  We didn't have one with number 2, and I kept a pretty little canvas bin thing with me, complete with diapers, wipes, etc.  It was fine, but a changing table is better.  NOW we have a changing table and we went the "put a changing contour pad on top of your existing dresser" route.  It works fine.  Our dresser is only a teeny bit bigger than the pad, though, and so Baby O. kicks anything and everything at the end right off.  This is usually the dirty diaper I have just removed.  I have been using it for 20 months and I curse it.

If you are pregnant, save yourself the hassle.  Don't go searching around for the best one.  You've found it.   Buy this GORGEOUS changing table!!  If you are going to have more kids you will use it and use it and use it. 

Not only will your husband turn into a cool, "I'm still a skater punk at heart" kind of a dad, but you'll be able to keep everything together, and change that kid with plenty of room.  If you aren't going to have any more kids, make it a nifty desk for your one kid:

And, hey, while you are out, BUY THIS CHAIR!!!  I've wanted one for our kids for over 7 years now.  USE yours for those seven years.  JUST BUY IT!

If you want all the cool details about how this is the best highchair / kids chair / adult chair ever made check out their website.

Genius, If They Work!

These Tonytail wraps replace the little band of hair that you are supposed to pull out from your pony tail and wrap around your elastic.  I did that...  once.  I'm sure it would make my daily ponytail look ever so much more chic.  One of these days CHIC is what I am going to aim for again.  Now the highest I reach for is getting everyone dressed, brushed, fed and out the door on time.  Coats are an added bonus, as are library books, etc.  Drying my hair or wrapping the little piece of hair around the elastic?  They don't even make the list.

However, if this worked, it would be SO worth it!  Yeah, I want one.

Baby's First Year Collections at Campbell Salgado Studio

I've gushed about Campbell Salgado to anyone who will listen, but let me say again what a wonderful experience I had with them.  Now that I'm further away from the whole being preggo state, I look back at our sessions with them as actually part of my birthing experience.  The memories of those sessions are actually woven into my memories of having babies!   I was NOT an "I feel more beautiful than ever before" kind of preggo person, and really, the only time I slowed down enough to really celebrate being pregnant was during our photo shoot.  They made me proud of how I looked and the photos are treasures and our art in our home.

The photos at the left are of Mr. H. and I together when I was pregnant (and I actually went into labor that day!), and then when Mae was 7 weeks, and then again for her first birthday.  (YES, she now has hair finally!)  We have a computer and hard drive FULL of photos of our kids, but these are in a different league, obviously, and are framed and ON OUR WALLS.

Kim Campbell and Francisco Salgado have revamped their Baby's First Year package so you can choose which milestones you want to capture and how you want to present them!  Check out all the details here. 

AND now through May 30, 2010 you can save $50 on any Baby’s First Year Collection by mentioning promo code CSS053010A.  In addition, the first 10 soon-to-be or new moms who sign up for a Baby’s First Year Collection package will receive a Mamalates – mom+babe DVD and kit, for synthesized movement for pregnancy, postpartum and all mamas (reg. $35)!

How stinking cute is this collage from their blog?!!

The time flies SO fast, I know everyone will tell you that, but looking at those pics of my babies who are in ELEMENTARY school now, really, really, really, brings it home for me. 

GO SIGN UP. NOW.

PERFECT Mother's Day Card!

This is the perfect mother's day card from afavorite on etsy.  Not only is it incredibly great looking, it is SO TRUE!  I love "nutritionist" and "tutor"!  I adore letter press - this is two color - and it comes with the manila envelope!  And check out the rest of their great cards.  LOVE it!

Pretty Enough To Get Me Back To Yoga.

I was just explaining to someone about how I had JUST had a baby and had to answer, "well... he is 15 months old, actually" when asked. It has been 15 months since I worked out regularly. Yes, I worked out every single day of my pregnancy and then QUIT. Maybe if I had this gorgeous wrap to snuggle in after a workout I'd do it again? Seriously. Gorgeous.

Free Original Christmas Music!

Download 7 free ORIGINAL Christmas songs today!! The Hipwaders, Brady Rymer, Didi Pop, Gustafer Yellowgold, Princess Katie and Racer Steve, Rock Daddy Rock, and David Tobocman all share NEW Christmas songs!!

A Tudor Feast at Christmas

A Tudor Feast at Christmas Knowledge Network - oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. As crazy as it sounds, this sounds like absolute heaven to me! I would give almost anything to be able to be part of a project like this. I love my kitchenaid mixer. I love my Cuisinart food processor. I love my fresh market! Still, the idea of making everything from scratch from the ORIGINAL recipes makes my skin tingle. It was made a few years ago and seems to be a bit hard to find. If you can find it on t.v. in your area, don't miss it! If you happen to be in the area of Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, you can attend a recreation!! Yes, this is where they filmed Pride and Prejudice (deep breath).

Anthropologie... AGAIN.

I know I go on and on about Anthropologie, but SERIOUSLY? This image (and the shirt she is wearing that is cut off in the image) is STUNNING. Why do her smashed up messy curls looks so fantastically chic?? If I COULD manage a do like this, I would probably knock someone behind me over with the protruding pile without even noticing. and that sweet little bump in the front?? Why, on her, does it not look like Jr. High cheerleading hair??? Oh Anthropologie....

I have loved http://www.reprodepot.com/ since I started sewing! They just always have the best fabric and books and notions. I was SO pleased to hear this morning that the folks over there have put out TWO books filled with gorgeous design prints! Each book even has a CD for you to use in all of your crafty goodness! What a fantastic idea - what a gift to all of us! They are also giving away stationary with every purchase and giving away an entire set to one person. Check it here.
Mmmmm. Another reason to love Repro Depot!

The Frying Scotsman!

Eleven years ago my husband and I were married. We were just babies with almost no responsibilities... For our honeymoon we packed our backpacks and headed to the British Isles! We toured the most interesting and romantic places: London, Avalon, the windy Cornish coast, crumbling Irish castles... It was a beautiful month and we were both smitten with those funny people across the pond.

One of our first stops in London was for REAL fish and chips!! They were even served in newspaper!

Now Portland has true fish and chips by a real Scotsman! It is called The Frying Scotsman, and I can't WAIT to get there, although I'm afraid once I do, I'll not be able to go any where else!! This is a truly family friendly place - you can grab some food and sit outside or take it home to eat. Every kid (even my incredibly picky eater) loves fish and chips!

He is located at 2219 NW Raleigh St. You must go! And so must I!