maus + nugget

Born at home

And still after 6 months, I have yet to sit down and write our story.

So please, be patient with me...

Project Baby

Really, all babies need is you. But in addition to you, your attention and presence, there are certain modern inventions that have become necessities or at least extremely helpful for new parents.

As my due date seemed to get closer and closer, I could feel the pressure of wanting to feel ready or prepared - somewhat of an illusion since I had absolutely no idea what was headed my way. But somehow having the right diapers, a few clothes and a Boppy made me think i was ready for anything.

I could feel myself getting all overwhelmed by the choices, so instead of going to Babies'R'Us and relying on the young employees there who have no idea, I simply asked 10 of my favorite moms (who are also my close friends) for their 10 lists - the things they wish they had or had that made all the difference. I asked them to include manufacturer or brand - why reinvent the wheel and make life harder - if something works, just go for it.

This list is made of the top 1o lists I received - when an item or brand was listed at least 5 times, I figured I couldn't go wrong. (I have added my 2 cents on favorite brands now that I am on the other side.)

Stuff for baby

Revised February 1, 2012 - after welcoming baby number 2 and doing it all over again

For baby

1. Graco Snug Ride Infant Carseat

2. Snap N Go stroller (to go with Infant carseat until you figure out what stroller you need)

3. Ergo Baby Carrier with infant insert

4. Boppy Breastfeeding Pillow (whether you are breast or bottle feeding)

5. Hat (knot hat from Kate Quinn is the best)

6. Miracle Swaddle Blanket or Swaddle Me Swaddler
7. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets (you can use these for everything!)

8. Dresser or storage unit w/changing pad

9. California Baby products

10. Onesies from Carters (long and short sleeve)
11. Sleep gowns (about 5-7 of them) and the footed one piece outfits from Baby Gap (save the cute clothes for after 3 months, maybe even 6)

12. Rocker or Glider

13. Diapers - Pampers Newborn (until you decide on cloth or disposable) and Huggies Nighttime (this is a trick to help sleep through the night)

For mom
1. Medela Pump-N-Style Breastpump and Lansinoh milk freezer storage bag
2. Sitz bath herbs (for mama), available at Scarlet Sage in San Francisco

Okay so it turned into 13 items, but I figured that in some circles that is considered lucky. So that is what I bought - no more, no less. The rest shall we say, you figure out one day at a time.

It was one of the perfect spring days in San Francisco - and this was the day that I joined a very pregnant group of women to walk the labrynth in front of the great towers of Grace Cathedral.

In a maze, there is the potential to get lost and confused - to take the wrong turn and end up at a dead end. But with a labrymth, there is only the path - the right path, that unfolds with each step and will present itself if you trust and simply follow. This is a beautiful metaphor for birth - for the process will reveal itself and it is our duty to listen, pay attention and simply follow the path that presents itself to us.

And so we walked.

Slowly and together - mindful of our feet on the pavement, mindful of the women ahead of us and behind us, mindful of the birds, the gentle breeze, mindful of the construction workers enjoying their lunch in the warmth of the sunshine, mindful of the bursting little boys bursting with energy as they walked to their next class.

And, it was all as it should have been - a perfect snapshot of life, with it's noises, laughter, distractions and imperfections.

Yes, I think she is great. I do.

And she has done it again - this time with GOOP, a lifestyle site for everything from hotels in Barcelona to adrenal fatigue.

And it's just really fun to read.

I've always wanted to buy an old truck and cross the United States - visiting every possible local flea market that I could find. In preparation for this "trip", I have this pile of magazine clippings about the best flea markets, and instead of keeping more paper, I am just going to start a list here...

Illinois

Kane County Flea Market

Massachuettes

Brimfield Antiques + Collectibles Show

New York

The Antiques Garage

Pennsylvania

Rennigers

Texas

First Monday Trade Days

US Flea Market Directory: A Guide to the Best Flea Markets in All 50 Statesby Albert LaFarge

Pictures from a very old Lucky magazine

It's Sunday morning - the first Sunday of the month and that means the Alameda Flea Market is taking place. All week I was thinking of right now - walking through the stalls, searching for treasures. But yesterday, as the rain was streaming from the heavens and I was cleaning up, I realized how many unfinished "projects" are sitting all around me - the paint chipped dresser, the dresser for baby in the trunk of our car, the box of "needs sewing", unframed artwork. So, instead of adding, which inevitably happens when I go to Alameda, I stayed put. But I am dreaming of the first Sunday of December...

Don't underestimate the power of space that is all your own.

Whether it's a corner altar, a closet or a whole room - find a nook that is yours for inspiration, rejuvenation, introspection or creation.

Perhaps inspired by Virgina Woolf's A Room of One's Own, designer Chris Madden's book showcases the intimate and private spaces of several women and helps to inspire others to create something for themselves. It is part how-to and part beautiful inspiration and is one of my favorite books to encourage authenticity and individuality.

from Organic Style, May 2005 : photos by Robert Lyons

I am always curious how people live. So when I recently re-read this article about a couple living completely sustainably on their self-built floating home, I decided to do some digging.

And sure enough, there is a video on U-tube video about the Freedom Cove Floating House, close to Tofino, Canada.

Catherine and Wayne Adams, the artist couple who built to pink and teal home themselves, grow their own food and live in the quiet serenity of this wilderness.

From Tofino you can take a boat to visit them and see how simply and intentionally one can live.

photo by marisol villaneuva

I have never really paid that much attention to my undergarments, to tell the truth. I am a hige fan of Old Navy cotton panties and do love my Hanky Panky thongs (if you don't know these - find them and you will never by anything else.) But I love this line of organic lovelies from loup charmant.

Perhaps its the styling that is so dreamy and the modern rusticness of it all.

Regardless, I might have to start thinking about lingerie in a whole new way.

Einstein said "Few real problems can be solved with the same consciousness from which they arose."

Where could you use some out of the box thinking?

Eloise at the Plaza, New York taken by me, 1998

There is a picture somewhere of me sitting on that marble and gold leaf table, at age 8, during my first visit to New York. How many 8 year olds who grew up in California know what the Plaza Hotel in New York City is?

"I am Eloise. I am six. I am a city child. I live at the Plaza."

That's how it started. Every time.

On Fridays I usually write about a woman who inspires me, but somehow today I was compelled to talk about a 6 year old who is so firmly rooted in my childhood memories and perhaps even the development of my personality. If you know the story of Eloise and you know, you might be smiling now.

It was before Hollywood made her into a movie princess and before she went off on adventures to Paris and Moscow. It was just Eloise, just at the Plaza. My tattered copy is one of my prized possessions because attached to it is not only the story of this precocious child but the very fond memories of my dad reading every single word to me. And he did it every time. If I close my eyes, I can feel him next to me and almost feel the rhythmic movement of his chest as he read the punctuationless text - in a steady stream, with all the right accents and intonations. I have tried in my adulthood to recreate this but it is impossible.

This post and this little girl and the memories of my dad are even more profound now because I am going to be a mother and I can't imagine how to do this without him.

image borrowed from nibsblog.wordpress.com

Creativity doesn't half to cost a lot.

Neither does good design - and if I have any kind of soap box, this is it. So when I see fancy people making beauty with simple every day things, I get excited.

String for example. Have you ever thought of using string for more than tying bundles of newspaper together or making sure that your latest IKEA purchase doesn't fly out of your car? I really hadn't, though I love the organic color and texture of string. So I was excited to see this article in the NY Times about out of the box design with simple and basic materials.

Enjoy the slideshow

I am a sponge. That's the word that we have come up with. When I was little, when things got uncomfortable or people were cruel, I took in their emotions, their feelings and could never let it go. It went in one ear and then got all mixed up inside. Now as a adult, I have realized how detrimental this sponging is to my own mental and physical well-being, but a million people can tell me to "Let it go" and I still have no idea what they are talking about.

I have never had a reference point. Until now.

I don't remember where I found this images or how long they have been stored on my hard-drive but I "saw" them for the first time the other day.

This, this is letting go.

I just don't really know what else to add.

It's been a long time since I wrote. Two weeks to be exact - which in the span of universal time is a mere wink, I know. But it feels long because I made a commitment to myself to write every week day for 30 days. Habits only change with practice and discipline I have learned.

But life gets in the way of changing habits - starting a new job has derailed my initial intention to write everyday and though I at first got down on myself, I realized that this was more a lesson in understanding and flexibility. I asked my husband to give me wiggle room for two weeks as I got adjusted to this new schedule but someone I forgot to allow myself the same thing.

So I wiggled and I didn't get anxious that I neglected my writings. Instead, I let myself sleep in and trusted that when the time was right I would find the time, or the time would find me.

And as always, here it is.

before: during : after

Furniture transformation: I have been known to drag home a poor abandoned chair or table from the sidewalk, because I see it's potential. Sadly, I do not have the space to collect my lost furniture, so this past time of mine is slightly on hold.

However, that doesn't keep me from seeing the potential in other pieces that we do have space for. We bought these two storage units at IKEA, knowing that they met our practical needs, but in no way met the pretty component. I spent a whole afternoon covering them in a heavy craft paper - which after time faded and slowly loosened itself - making the whole thing look worse than if I had just left them in their metal gray state.

But a month ago I was inspired to try it again. So I went to Flax and combed through the drawers of flat sheets to find the right shade and material - the paper needed to be malleable enough to cover the edges smoothly and the shade needed to blend with the dark walnut wood of the rest of our desk.

And viola - I am thrilled with the results.

Here are some suggestions for covering furniture with paper:

1. Remove all hardware
2. Start with a clean surface
3. Use a paper that is durable but bendable
4. PVA is my favorite adhesive - buy at Papersource
5. Work efficiently but patiently - smooth edges and flat surfaces to get all bubbles out
6. Measure twice, cut once - and give yourself wiggle room
7. Remember that paper adds depth - so open/close drawers to see how much room you have
8. Use a high-glass polyurethane sealer to make the final project durable

Everyday, I am inspired by the strength, determination, resiliency, vulnerability and creativity that women in my life show me. So Julia -buy the land and make it home - The Lady Farm is waiting to happen.

I am not alone in wanting more opportunities to gather and learn from other women. I have attended women in business conferences, am part of an outrageously splendid women's circle and think every women should read The Red Tent and dream of a day when we can learn from our elders and be in community with other women.

So I think it is also important to remind ourselves of the pioneers who have gone before us - the women who are breaking the molds, accepting themselves as they are and perhaps making it easier for us to accept the divine and authentic parts of ourselves.


I have a list of women who consistently inspire me...both creatively and personally. That is why every Friday, I pick one woman - famous or not - who knows her self and from afar, helps me to know myself better.

These images are my "inspiring women" mood board - a part of my inspiration wall that I see everyday. They remind me to smile and accept the fact that I love beautiful things.

What and who inspires you?

{you are always at the right place}

My favorite artist Penelope Dullaghan posted a response to this thing she read on her blog this morning and it got me thinking:

“act as if you know what’s going on. as if you are divinely guided. believe that you are always at the right place at the right time and everything you do and everything that happens is orchestrated for your higher growth.”

What if? What if we did? Jump and the parachute would appear is easy to say when you are not standing at the edge of the cliff - looking down into complete uncertainty and nothingness.

But if I really did believe that there is a plan, in which all is okay - and that really truly deeply - there is nothing wrong, I would have so much more time and energy to embrace life as it comes, instead of wanting to bend and push it into a form that makes me comfortable.

Believing that I am divinely guided might actually free me up from the worry and anxiety that I carry along in my purse - like a faithful companion who never lets me down. If there is nothing wrong, then there is SO much more room to breath and laugh and expand.

And to trust so exceptionally and fully is SO hard - so extremely difficult when you feel abandoned and loathed by the universe - but that is at the exact time when it is so necessary to trust the forces that are bigger than yourself. Trusting. Trusting yourself, trusting your path and trusting that in fact everything is exactly as it should be.

And trusting that what ever it is - from the greatest joy to the deepest sorrow - it too shall pass.

from the latest TOAST catalog

Everyone has a style. Perhaps you know yourself so well that you can pop out a two word catch phrase that explains your personal aesthetic: classic modern, vintage chic, preppy punk. But maybe you are like me and have split personalities that can appreciate anything from princess to preppy. But I have wanted a name - my own catch phrase that acts like an umbrella for all the things I love. The better you get to know yourself, the clearer things get and the more focused your eye becomes - you know what fits, what colors make you glow and what pieces of furniture will never get on your nerves. For me, this has been one of the beautiful parts of getting older - with each year there is more clarity, more precision and more acceptance.

So, after careful introspection and a lot of self-improvement books, I have come up with two options: earthy chic or modern rustic. It is a style defined by imperfections, reclaimed wood, heavy farm tables, washed linens, organic properties, clean lines, deep jeweled color, signs of aging, and classic elegance. It's what I gravitate towards - everytime.

Which is also why I began to salivate when I found - TOAST . From the UK, it promotes the use of organic cottons, local vendors and sustainable business practices. And it is beautiful.

From home goods to women's attire - I love every piece and want to melt into every photo. A bit Anthropologie, a bit Sundance, a bit cowgirl,a bit environmentalist, a bit romantic, a bit modern, a bit hippy, a bit classic, a bit eclectic, a bit gypsy, and a bit European - just like me.

Enjoy.


PS - They have cool wallpaper images (that are changed per catalog) that can be downloaded as screen savers for your computer.