Holiday Cookies

Handpainted Owl Cookie Jar

Baby Gap Fleece One-piece

Magenta Cookie Jar

The holidays always make me think of freshly baked cookies. My sister and I grew up making gingerbread cookies and houses. One year, we got fancy and crushed jolly ranchers to make stained glass windows.
I found the fleece one-piece in the infant girls section of Gap.com. How sad to deny this to the other half. I bought one for Jack.

Snack Pouches

Down Home Amy Snack Pouches

I've searched high and low and these are the cutest snack pouches. They are original drawings silkscreened onto recycled hemp/organic cotton. I have a bunch to gift around the holidays. Artist Amy is also offering a 15% discount until the end of November with code NOV15.

7 months and counting

What's been going on at 7 months:
(Technically, Jack the preemie is 5 1/2 months)

- He just got the game Peek-a-Boo. After weeks of me feeling stupid from his deadpan stare, Jack is finally finding the game hilarious.
- He loves yams and likes to take the spoon in his hands to feed himself. I think this empowers him.
- He flips like a pro after a day of training with dad. Flipping is teachable!
- My breast milk production can't keep up with him. I've been quite sensitive about the fact that I have to start giving him formula for his final feeding...it makes me feel like I'm not doing my job. That I'm inadequate. I have to keep telling myself that formula is giving him amazing vitamins that my breast milk can't.
- We found the courage to take J out to dinner with us so we could finally eat at a restaurant. He loved it. Stayed awake for over 3 hours straight, ate all his solids, cooed at his surroundings, didn't complain once and took a nap on the way home. My husband and I were so proud of him and ourselves.
- The hostess at the restaurant fawned over Jack and said, "He looks so...healthy." My husband and I laughed at the euphemism. It was a nice way of saying he's chunky. But that is actually the best compliment a premature baby can receive.

Cyber Monday picks

Pinecone Stocking Holder

Spare Stripe Mug

Ruffled Shower curtain

These are things I actually needed but waited to purchase until a beautiful day like Cyber Monday when there's free shipping and complimentary gifts.

Personalize It

Red Envelope Personalized Family Wall Art

This canvas would make a great gift for my sister, who has three kids. I want one too, but it'll look a bit bare with just the three of us.

Baby it's cold outside

Top Shop Knitted Crystal Sweater

3.1 Phillip Lim Jeweled Sweater

Alexander Wang Fishnet Sweater

A little sparkle to a solid sweater is so festive for the holidays. Love the fishnet detail on Alexander Wang's burgundy knit. These are no ordinary sweaters.

Jackson's daydreams

I was so enamored and inspired by Adele Enersen's blog Mila's Daydreams. She recently posted photos of her baby, Vincent, spinning records and playing the cello. I had the perfect shots of Jackson to do the same. I'm working on catching some additional photos of his other hobbies.

Tiny Tim

Wooden Cutout Trees

These wooden cutout trees remind me of the time I celebrated Christmas like Tiny Tim. My sister and I were visiting a friend who was studying in London and we were all broke students. We didn't have enough money for a tree, so we found a cardboard box in the dumpster and made one. We cut out pictures from a magazine to make ornaments and crafted a popcorn garland. It was the most memorable Christmas I've ever had. The times when I've had to overcome struggle are my most interesting memories and the ones I remember most fondly.

Speaking of creative trees, these colorful Vickerman laser trees look like so much fun. They'd be amazing as holiday decorations bunched on the front porch or lawn.

Succulent Party Favors

Succulent Designs Party Favor

These succulents are the perfect party favors for weddings and showers. The best favors are those that guests can actually use. I'd like to do something similar for Jackson's first birthday party since it will have a Spring theme. I could use the birds as part of the centerpiece or as table decorations. And because it's a bit pricey, I can gift one per couple or one per family.

Food for Thought

Neiman Marcus Fruit Sorbettos

This is dessert for my next dinner party. It's perfect for sharing and having sorbettos in their nautral fruit shells is decoration in itself.

Lace & Wallpaper

Chloe Lace blouse

Isabel Marant Devi Dress

Annet Van Egmond Lace Wallpaper

Lace Swirls Wallpaper

Dots and Tracks Wallpaper

Just when I thought I was sick of lace, Chloe and Isabel Marant keep me wanting more.
I'm thinking of adding lace, embossed wallpaper to give my guest bedroom texture. There is something warm and exciting about 3-dimensional walls. I love these by Annet Van Egmond.

Can you say, Pretty Bird?

I like a Christmas tree with a theme. It tells a story. I've had butterflies on mine for the past 6 years...time for a change. I was deciding on either birds or sweets (candy canes and gingerbread men), and became swayed by a Christmas Land of Nod video featuring blogger Oh Joy!. I spotted adorable bird ornaments that I've been looking for everywhere! Other birds look a little too shiny, too dull, too fancy, or too real. These are just right. Joy mentioned that she bought them a year ago at L.A. store, Yolk. Guess what? They're baack! They just got some new birdies in light blue, dark blue, green, purple and brown. I literally squealed when I opened the box. 

Keeping Tabs

Thought I'd be done with post-its after college. Didn't realize I'd have to keep learning my whole life. Now I've been needing tabs for my parenting books, noting the different brain development activities recommended for every age. I've also been using them in my recipe books and gardening book; tabs placed on the basil and beets chapters.
These Poketo bookmark tabs look like they want to help me.  

I heart...

Neiman Marcus S'mores Hearts

The Little Succulent Shoppe Wreath

Heart Print Scarf

Linea Carta Little Hearts linen napkins

These hearts make my heart flutter. They'd also make excellent hostess gifts!

Sweet and Edgy

On my wish list. Fleur of England Berry bra and brief for when I'm feeling sweet. Myla velvet set for when I'm feeling edgy.

Little Rascals

I received the same shock as the previous Halloween when kids would bury their little hands into my candy bowl and grab a rudely large amount of treats. I wonder, what are their parents not teaching them! It's such a reflection on their upbringing. I hope to raise J like the polite kids who take one and say, thank you. Or like the hustlers who ask for one more. Hah.

I felt like an adult last year when I handed out candy for the first time from my own home. Now I'm truly an adult...doing the same, with a baby in my arms. J celebrated his first Halloween in his shark robe. He went to a pumpkin patch with his cousins last week, and last night, we sat on our porch handing out candy. It's interesting how maternal the little girls are. Many of them had to comment. My favorite was, "I love your baby!"... as if he were some kind of item, like a cute purse. None of the male trick or treaters even acknowledged Jack. Funny how that is.