Pottery Barn Kids Model!

Here it is, December 30th.  Not even NYE but Pottery Barn is thinking spring.  I don't really mind though, as I have been anticipating Spring 2012 for about 3 months!

My daughter did a shoot for PBK back in September, or was it August?  We were told it would be in the Spring 2012 catalogue ... and it is out TODAY!

Pottery Barn Kids "Stephanie" bedroom Spring 2012

So, for all of those who wonder what a shoot is like let me give you the "inside" scoop of this shot.  (This may also appease anyone who is critical of moms who have their kids model)

The set:  This was a house in San Francisco.  A house that a family lives in, but no, this was not the bedroom.  This was the living room (I think!) For the shoot, the furniture was moved out, walls seen repainted with a BEAUTIFUL stenciling.  The lighting is hung from a separate frame.  Viola!  You have a little girl's bedroom!

Waiting for the set to be ready ...

The shoot:  We arrived and V played while all of the final touches were put into place.  She turned on the shy mode which made me a little nervous.  They gave her the outfit & pulled her hair back (that was the extent of wardrobe / hair / makeup!).  Upstairs we went.  The room was set with the jewelry box filled with costume jewels.  The crew showed V the box & told her she could play with them, try them on.  The pictures started.  She was in little girl heaven!  She was moved in a few different spots, different shots.  The studio teacher & photographer joked with her told her NOT to smile & got some genuine laughs out of her.  After about 45 minutes ... we were done & went home.

V saw the picture today and asked, "Mom, can I go back to that house?  I want to play there again!"

UPDATE 1/7:

Just got the catalogue!  Vivienne is on TWO pages.  So fun.

Buy or Bake

Ok moms ... your four year old is having their class party & you volunteer to bring cookies for the kids to decorate. So here's the question:

Do you buy the cookies or bake the cookies?  My husband, the chef, says buy.  The kids are 4 & won't know the difference.  I say bake - I (and the other moms) will know the difference.  You gotta bake. 

I know this opinion is because of my mom who ONLY baked & even sewed all of our holiday dresses.  I couldn't look her in the eye if I bought.  Maybe that is the main reason.

What's your opinion?

Push Pack & Labor Looks Gown - FREE GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hello everyone!

It's the holidays & we all love gifts.  The best is when they're free!!  Labor Looks and Small Batch Studio have teamed up to give a lucky momma all she needs for the BIG DAY.  Go to my facebook page and like Small Batch Studio (if you already haven't) then head on over & like Labor Looks. On one of the pages tell us a pregnant momma you think deserves to win a Labor Looks hospital gown & a Push Pack.

BUT WAIT!!  What is in it for you??? If your momma wins, you get a $25 gift card to Target.

Share this page on FB so your friends know to enter, and can like your nomination.

Here's the "fine print":

For every 10 likes on your post you will be given one entry into the giveaway… Winner will be randomly selected on Monday, Dec 12th at 6:00 pm.
The expectant Mom will win a LaborLooks Gown & Push Pack and YOU will win a $25 Target Gift Card… HAVE FUN! Thanks for sharing with your friends. We love how much our fans have helped us grow! Happy Holidays.

I got one of "the questions" ....

The other night while saying my last good nights to Vivienne (age 4) she asked, "Mommy, why is your skin white & mine isn't?"  I assumed something like this would come up eventually, I just didn't know when or how. 

I explained to her that I had white skin & daddy has black skin.  Since she was our daughter, God made her a mix of both of us.  "Oh." She said.  About five minutes later, her dad came into the room & she asked him, "Daddy, why do we have different color skin?"   As he cuddled with her he explained (in French ... so translation is loose) almost exactly the same way that I did.   Simple.  To the point.  It has been several days, and not another mention of it.

I think that too many people try and over explain things to children when really, they just want a simple answer.  If you have kids, you know, if they don't get it .... they'll ask again (and again!)  Also I think that we (as adults) assume too many times that we know what our children are really asking about.  We give long answers that are very complicated when really, the answer is not at all what the kid was looking for!

Here's an cute example from a friend ...

He is black, and his whole family is black except for his grandmother.  She is white.  One day his sister asked grandma if she was really her grandma.  Grandma took a deep breath & asked, "What do you mean?"  His sister replied, "Well, the other kids grandmas have rocking chairs & sew.  You don't sew & you don't have a rocking chair."

Do you have biracial children?  I'd love to hear your stories of how they asked you about it - if they did.   How did you respond?