Big Girl.

I have been running around like crazy the past few days trying to find bedding.  We decided it was time to get Greta a bed and get her out of her crib.  When Gus was her age, we had the side off the crib so he could climb in and out, but for some reason we never did that for her.  So instead of taking the side off we just figured we'd go the new bed route, so we ordered a bed and I tried like mad to find non-cheesy twin bedding, which is quite hard.  Everything I liked only came in the larger sizes.   I'm happy with how it ended up, and Greta's room is on its way to becoming a big girl room.

For the longest time we hadn't decorated her room.  We hadn't hung pictures or worried about furniture but as she's getting bigger we want her room to have a more finished look to it.  Some Etsy trades, some dump finds, and some creative pins from Pinterest have set us on our way.

New bed on sale from PB Kids. (Yep, hubby let me in there once more.)

Robin eggs (before) and baby robins (after) in our bushes a few years ago.

A painting done by the husband's late aunt.

Shelf found at the dump and repainted.

Pink rabbit handmade by Garden Birdie

Hoop art!  Scraps and pieces from my overflowing stash.

The changing table is right under this, but we're going to put a new dresser there soon.

Hello, Ikea.

 

Art print by Book and Bird

Cross stitch by me!

Overflowing shelves thanks to our loving family.

And a cute photo bomb by the poodle who wouldn't move.

Toy chest found at the dump, painted and a new latch installed inside.

I love that her room is a mix of nice pieces, thrifted finds, handmade goodies, and sentimental objects.  I think it's sweet and cozy and totally liveable.

I Heart Instagram.

The husband and I are not big on technology. We don't try to keep up with it, and are pretty firm believers that if it ain't broke, we don't need a new one.

We do have an iPhone. We decided to buy one just before Gus was born, in June 2009, already behind the trend. We wanted to be able to easily take pictures and videos of the new baby to send to the in-laws in Florida.

That phone died a few months ago, so we got a 4GS (whose camera is way better) and then discovered that though the phone itself wasn't working to make calls and to connect to the roaming network, it would indeed connect to our home network. And for that I was thrilled because it meant that I could use Instagram around the house during the day even when the new phone was off to work with the husband.

I love Instagram. I think it is such a neat app. I love that it can capture a quick snippet of your day and that it can be shared with followers. I have posted pictures of food, plants, things around the house, dump finds, library scores, and plenty of in-the-works Milo and Molly stuff (mostly taken at night while I'm working). I use it to advertise and to sell things. It's awesome.

Most of all, I love that it's real and real-time (for the most part). It's almost like a behind-the-scenes look into life. I love looking at friends' pictures because I realize just how different everyone's living situation is, from the place they live to how they decorate their house. You see what they're up to as it's happening. I don't think the photos need to be professionally done, then uploaded to your phone. I don't think you need to maintain a "wall" if you're a business. Everything you read points to the fact that customers want to know who they're buying from, and readers want to know who they're following, and I think that Instagram is a great tool for that.

I hope you'll follow along with me! 

Do you use IG?  How do you like it?

(The winner of the Baboo Art giveaway is Tara.  Congrats!  I'll be in touch!)

A Bit of Advice.

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Day 8, Wednesday: 

A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

I don't often try and tell people what to do, like, ever (because I'm not an expert), but there is one thing I think is really important in life: always speak kindly toward and about your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend in public settings at all times.  Don't put them down, don't talk about what a jerk they are.  You chose to be with that person and you should be respectful of them the way you would want them to be respectful of you.  And when you open yourself up like that, you may find yourself on the end of unsolicited advice or commentary that is likely not to be helpful.  This doesn't mean you need to be gushing about your loved one at all times- that can be equally annoying- but if something is wrong or they do something that drives you crazy, think first if other people really need to know about it, or if it just makes your relationship look bad.  If you love someone, keep the ins and outs between you.

What kind of advice would you share?

Baboo Art {Giveaway}

Meet Natasha.

She's a 34-year-old mother of a beautiful girl name Karin.  Her background is in graphic design and children's illustrations.  She's been doing children's book illustrations for awhile, and when she started decorating her daughter's room, her passion for illustrating got Natasha into drawing her cute canvas pictures. That set the first step for my new business.  As for her shop name?  She was looking for a word, a sound, something from the baby's world, but one that doesn't have a meaning- just a cute sound.  And when her daughter said "Baboo" (and having no idea what she meant!) it sounded to Natasha like the answer to her search.

I asked Natasha to tell me a little more about her process:

A nursery is a baby’s entire world, and that is why it’s so important to decorate it in an exciting, fun and bright way for your toddler.  Decorating my daughter’s room, I suddenly understood the responsibility that lies on a children’s illustrator, and that’s why I approached very thoroughly and carefully when choosing the composition and characters for my pictures.  In each illustration I strived for that- eventually, kind eyes, joyful smile and a naive silhouette would stare at me from the wall.  Choosing the color scheme was not a trivial task, as it is known that color have effect on child’s physical and mental state.  That’s why I’ve selected a white clear background and a splash of bright, yet calm, color in the form of adorable illustration, that will stimulate a baby’s imagination and create a joyful and cozy atmosphere in the baby’s room.

shop

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I love Natasha's shop and her bright colorful art.  It would be such a fun addition to any nursery, or any space where you would like to add something happy to look at.  Take a look at some of her work:

I could easily put that giraffe in my workroom and smile every time I saw it.

Natasha is giving one of you the chance to pick out your choice of a canvas picture from her shop.  Talk about a great gift for your own child, or as a gift for another special child in your life.  Want to order now?  Use MILOMOLLY for 15% off your order!

Good luck!

(U.S. and Canada residents only on this one, please.)

(The winner of the Noa Vider giveaway is Marija.  Congrats! I'll be in touch!)

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What Do You Do?

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The Blog Every Day In May Challenge:

Day 6, Monday:
If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?

I decided I didn't want to try and tackle the entire May challenge over at Story of My Life because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with it, and honestly, not all of the suggested topics posted are something I want to share or have an answer for.  But there are a few that I thought would make great posts and this is one of them.  (And clearly, not quite following the days as written since this is Tuesday.)

And honestly, I don't know if I even really have an answer for this one either.  It's kind of like when I was teaching: one of the most common interview questions was, "What are you passionate about about teaching?"  Like everyone becoming a teacher must have a vested interest in special needs kids, individualized instruction, making the classroom hands-on, or whatnot.  I never had an answer for this question.  Teaching was a job and my goal was to teach the kids what I was supposed to within the year.

Now that I'm not working and I stay at home, it's another odd question when someone asks what I do.  When I say I stay home with the kids, I usually get an answer along the lines of, "Oh, that's great!" which almost always comes out a little too happy, like they don't quite understand.  And if I try to talk about my Etsy shop (which I rarely do) it's equally awkward because it's hard to explain to someone that you make stuff.  And that's what I do: I make stuff.  In my shop I make stuff with fabric, at home I make food, I make beds, I make a schedule.  And I like what I do.

What do you do?

In the Groove. {Sale!}

I've been working- hooray!  I'm happy to report that I've finally been able to make some new stuff, and as you can see, I added a new item to my shop- jersey infinity scarves.  They are so incredibly soft.  There are 10 prints currently available with more on the way.  And I'm so excited, I'm doing a flash sale for today only.

Use code NEW15 for 15% off your entire Milo and Molly order, valid 5/5/13.

Have a wonderful Sunday!  What are you up to today?

Open Tabs.

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This is how I feel most days.  On my computer, I actually do have a ton of tabs open all the time.  Some I actively use throughout the day (e-mail, Etsy...) but some I keep open just to remind me to come back to them because otherwise I will forget.  And why will I forget?  Because my brain has a bunch of tabs open all the time.

At any given moment I am probably trying to do more than one thing at once, like cook and actively listen to Gus's questions and stories.  Or write an e-mail while watching the kids play outside.  And that's just the stuff I remember to do at the time.  I often forget that I've put laundry in because I get busy doing something else.  I'll tell Gus that we'll do something and then we never get to it.  My mind is like a steel sieve.

Now yes, I do make to-do lists (lists upon lists upon lists, actually).  I write one out, I post a list on my online calendar, I keep a notebook by my bed.  This helps, but inevitably I will not look at the list to get the big things done while I spend time doing the small things like emptying the dishes out of the sink and make lunch.  And so, very often, I feel scattered.

Ladies, can you relate?  (Men, do you feel this way too???)