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?

A mom's car survival guide

Prior to having kids, I kept a pretty clean car.  Living in San Francisco, it was required not to have anything  in view - or your window would probably be smashed the next day.

Now, three kids later, my car is fully stocked with everything I could possibly need ... and more.   I realized how lucky I was to have all of these things, yet again the other day when my middle daughter got sick.  Yes, sick in the car while driving down a busy street.  Really sick.

So, I thought I'd give a list of all of the things I am now going to keep in my car & maybe you'll add some "must haves" too!

Non-perishable healthy snacks (special treat when they are a little crazy & hungry).
Water

Books & small activities.  Love the travel etch-a-shetch!
Diapers & wipes.  Wipes will be a staple now forever.
Change of clothes for all kids (including underwear!)
Change of clothes for mom (especially if you are nursing!)

First Aid kit, including travel packs of benadryl.

I have used all of these items.  They have all made their way into my car because I didn't have them & wish I had.  The first aid kit was one of those items.  Out playing & Vivienne fell, scraped her leg.  Not too badly but I realized I didn't have anything "just in case."  Also the benadryl was used by a friend who had a child having an allergic reaction & we were about 15 minutes from any store.

What things do you keep that you wouldn't leave home without?  What is my list missing?  Would love your comments!

BLACK WEEKEND SPECIAL!! 25% off!

Doughy Fun

I've decided to do a BLACK WEEKEND Doughy Fun Special.  Through Sunday, enjoy 25% off your purchase.  Just enter coupon code BLACK (click Black to go to my shop)

Doughy Fun is a home - made play dough that kids love.  Long lasting & a lot softer than the "mass produced" stuff.  It comes in an air tight container, that keeps it fresh & soft longer.  Great for STOCKING STUFFER or gifts for the kids in your child's class. 

I can do custom orders, just email me through ETSY .   I am also selling solid wood rolling pins.

Happy Shopping! 

It takes a village - I admit it!

Years ago, before I paid attention to politics, then First Lady Hillary Clinton wrote a book, It Takes A  Village.  I remember the controversy surrounding this book & what it implied, but I didn't really care at the time.

Now that I am a mom, I have much more appreciation and knowledge as to what is actually involved in raising a child.   I realize, it does take "a village".   I wonder, why as moms, so many of us don't acknowledge or thank our supportive "villages"?  We all see the interviews of the Hollywood mom who got back into shape just three months after the birth of her baby.  She just smiles as she is asked, "How did you do it?" and replies about working out three hours a day with a really tough trainer.  I am thinking, with a newborn ... I was happy getting three solid hours of SLEEP!!  Why do so few admit they have 24 hr nannies, cooks, housekeepers etc ... so they can do these things?  (Did you know there is a thing called a night nurse who is a night time nanny that brings your baby to you to breast feed & then takes the little angel away after they are done so you can go back to sleep???)

Vivienne & Coco playing with friends

In this season of Thanksgiving, I am saying THANK YOU to my support.  My village.  I don't do it all with out a lot of help, and even with help fall short in so many areas.  I have parents who babysit, drive, and cook for me & my family A LOT.  Many a phone calls have been made by me saying, "Can you please be here in 15 minutes to take the girls to school today? ... " I have grandmothers who offer to come by and babysit just so I can "get things done".  I have an amazing babysitter who gives me peace while I am away.  I have a husband who is extremely involved in the care of our children.  There are countless ways that I have been blessed with an amazing support system.

So, today .... I say THANK YOU and admit .... I can't do it all!

Some of my village!

Nature Walk

It was a beautiful fall day (yes, we have Fall in California!) and I decided to take my girls to Markham Park in Concord.  We've been going to a "playground" park almost every day (that I'm not working) for about two weeks.  My girls have so much energy!  A daily trip to the playground about 3:00, does us all good!

Today, however, it was a nature park.  When I was little my grandmother used to take me to Markham Park as she lives just a short walk away.  I also went to some special classes there when I was in elementary school.  I don't think I have been there in over 20 years ... and it has changed!

There are so many places to run, things to explore, and learn about.  The girls picked up leaves, threw rocks, and looked at the stream.  We spend over an hour there & could have stayed much longer. 

Have fun with your kids and just take them out exploring!  Really, my girls had as much fun today exploring nature as they do when they go to an amusement park.  So often, I think people believe that kids need "things" to stimulate them.  A kid can find fun & joy almost anywhere they want to.

Learning with Doughy Fun (play dough)

Doughy Fun - my line of home made play dough is always being played with at our home.  The other day, however we (the girls and I) played with a purpose.  I used the doughy fun to teach them about colors & how colors are made.

We started with the three primary colors and white.

We then talked about making other colors ... "Let's see what happens if ..."

and then we mixed, kneaded, and kneaded ... People who buy "stress balls" should just play with play dough!!

She could see bits of orange!!

Making purple!

Even Audrey love the sensation of playdough.  Fortunately, she doesn't eat it anymore!!

The next time your kids are playing with something ... think of how you can "teach" them something.  You may even surprise yourself at what you come up with!