Where is June?

IN THE DETAILS- NO. 36

May 11th, 2018

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Mothering is combination of being in state of awe, confusion, joy, discontent, and fear. But at its root, mothering is primal. Last summer, Little Man and I had a very unsettling experience in a river. For a few seconds, which seemed like an eternity, I felt like we were fighting for our lives. My only instinct was to protect him and find safety for him. I needed to get us out of that damn river. Once I knew he was out of the water and unharmed, my body went into shock. It took hours for the shaking to stop. (I am now realizing that this is an extremely depressing story to write about prior to Mother’s Day. Geeesh, sorry!) Not an experience I would ever like to repeat. However, the river taught me something about myself. I brought this precious life into the world and I would scratch, pull, hit and scream (with everything that is in me) to protect it. I now know that for a fact. When I get caught up in the frenzy of modern day parenting, I attempt to center myself by thinking about the long game. Will this matter in 6 months, 3 years, 10 years? For most things the answer is a resounding no. For the rest, just do your very best and try to give yourself some grace. Your children love you. Flaws and all, you are their mama. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! xo

And now on to lighter, happier images. (HA!)

1. I’m taking myself to see RBG this weekend …..while my boys see The Infinity Wars. She is my kind of superhero!

2. A gorgeous stack of rings by Dana Rebecca

3. Salt and Straw is open in Seattle.

4. Give me all the woven bags. That strap!

5. Yep, still want a tattoo! This moon is kind of perfect.

6. Dinner! Slow-Cooker Chicken Mole Tacos.

7. Blush and Green and Cactus. Spot on!

Happy Friday!

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BOSSLADY UNIFORM: URBAN FLOWER FARMER

April 4th, 2018

This was such a fun post for me! My sweet cousin, Tia, has become an urban flower farmer. She is turning her passion of flowers and gardening into a woman-owned business. In Bloom-Urban Flower Farm, located in Spokane, Washington, will offer weekly subscriptions to fresh flowers, bulk buckets, and flower arrangement parties. In Bloom also plans to be at local farmer’s markets. She asked me to help create an urban flower farmer uniform. (I added the Bossylady!) How could I say no? She wanted quick, easy options that would transition from garden, to workshop, to market with out a lot of fuss! But of course she wants to look her best! This is what I came up with:

In the Garden (pictured above):

Her backyard is going to a magical world of flowers. Time will be spent tending and harvesting in the garden. Needing something easy-yet not precious since she is going to get dirty- I pulled together vintage denim and t-shirts (new could work as well), chic waterproof boots, and an apron. She can throw on this easy uniform, down a cup of coffee, and get to work.

In the Workshop (below):

When she hosts evening flower arrangement classes, we cleaned it up a little. A colorful or striped t-shirt with high rise denim. AND my all time favorite idea……. the jumpsuit/coverall option. This is probably a stretch for any of us, but it fits perfectly with her aesthetic! I REALLY hope she goes for it. Paired with retro sneakers and an apron, she will be ready for the workshop!

At the Market (below):

During the months that flowers are in bloom, she plans to be at the local farmer’s market. It is usually very warm in Spokane during the summer months, so I wanted her to look great but still be comfortable. Long cut-off denim shorts and a breezy shirt is the perfect combo. A simple cotton dress could be equally easy and a great alternative to living in denim. A short bistro apron -to stash all her cash -and amazing clogs finish the market uniform.

I am so proud of Tia! Isn’t her logo just perfect? If you live in the Spokane area, be sure to check out her amazing offerings.

PS// If you are interested in the sources for any of the pieces I selected, find them on my Bosslady Uniform board.

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FOR THE LOVE OF BOYS

March 9th, 2018

It is no secret I have a soft spot for boys. I’m a mother to two amazing creatures of the boy variety. I have always taken the charge of raising them into good men extremely seriously. When they were little, I would fixate on toddler and preschool behaviors and strongly believe I was completely failing them (and society). Honestly, boys under the age of 8 are often little monsters …at least mine were. So far we are doing OK, but the stakes get higher as they get older and that is sometimes overwhelming.

Over the last week New York magazine has featured a series How to Raise a Boy. I have been transfixed. Pouring over each article like a text book. Topics including aggression, emotions, baseball, sex, porn, sexual assault and consent. I was so inspired reading the series, I asked our local bookstore to get the paper edition of New York magazine. If you are mother of boys, put aside time to read and absorb. Truly, it’s that good. If you are mother to girls, I ask that you read a few of the articles. Boys often get a real bad rap but are dealing with situations that are foreign to us as women. No doubt the my boys and your girls are going to eventually interact and it is helpful to be empathetic to the challenges all children face in the modern age.

We all want the absolute best for our children. Being open to conversations that we may find uncomfortable might be the pathway to understanding their world. My hope is that we are still in this together.

PS// My life with boys is pretty darn amazing and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

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MOM UNIFORM: SKI TOWN CHILL

January 26th, 2018

I’m off on an adventure this weekend. Lucky me, I get to spend three days skiing with my best girls. No guys (or kids) allowed! I didn’t buy anything new for the trip, but it is the perfect excuse to create a new mom uniform. If you know me and my friends, we are more chill than glam. Jeans, boots, outer wear, and wide selection of hats are the only necessary items. More time for apres ski- less time worrying about our hair.

Slim Beannie | Pom Pom | Patagonia Pom Pom | Trucker Hat

Camp Socks

Gloves

Shearling coat | Jeans | Puffer

Fair Isle Sweater | Gray Cable Knit | Sorel Slimpack Boot | Sorel Conquest Boot

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ONE YEAR LATER

January 25th, 2018

Does it feel like the last year has been one long winter? As I watched election results in November 2016, I happened to be on the beautiful island of Maui. It was strangely eerie being so far from the mainland, but the effects of our presidential election were immediately evident. Everyone we saw that night (being 6 hours behind Eastern time we knew the results by after dinner drinks) appeared to be walking around in haze. I sure was.

The next day as I laid by the pool, I felt uneasy. I knew in my heart that my life wasn’t probably going to dramatically change, but that many were about to feel an immediate and dramatic shift. I really couldn’t have imagined how quickly that reality would be for large groups of people in our country.

My intention is not to launch into political rhetoric or alienate others who share views in contrast to my own. I am of a strong belief that what we put out into the world comes back to us. Spewing hate or disgust will get us no where. Admittedly, I was dismayed by the election and felt a bit lost. I knew couldn’t wallow for 4 years, so I decided to act instead.

Here is what I have done in the past year instead of wallowing:

1) For the first time in my life I have become interested in the actual politics, policies, and the play makers of our democracy. I listen to the podcasts The Daily and The Axe Files to stay informed.

2) I subscribed to The New York Times. A free press is imperative. You can support good reporting by subscribing and purchasing newspapers.

3) I have called and/or written to my representatives in regards to legislation important to me.

4) Read articles and listened to interviews with alternative view points.

5) Looked for ways to get involved in a positive way. I’m super interested in the non-partisan organization, She Should Run, that is encouraging and supporting women to run for political office. We need diverse voices at the table!

What have you been doing the past year to navigate this uncertain time in our country?

Photo by Atle Mo on Unsplash

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READ ALOUD TO OLDER CHILDREN

January 22nd, 2018

The days of my boys being small enough to curl up in my lap for story time have long past. Board books, we literally have memorized, are a thing of the past. However, I still read to my kids and I encourage anyone with older kids to do the same. My teenager is an avid reader, but he loves story telling of any kind. My youngest is a reluctant reader. He does not read by choice and prefers graphic novels over any other text. I choose books I know they will both enjoy or that I want them to experience. They also ask for titles they are interested in hearing. We try to read nightly during the school week. It is the perfect opportunity to enjoy each other’s company late in the evening. No screens and a shared experience. Cozy moments don’t come as often anymore, so I trick them into being close when we read. Shhhh, don’t tell them!

Here are a few ideas to consider while selecting titles:

1 | Read a classic. A few titles we have enjoyed: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, A Cricket in Times Square, Where the Red Fern Grows.

2| Read a book before the movie is released. We finished reading A Wrinkle in Time and just started Ready Player One.

3| Read a book full of action. We loved Hatchet!

4| Listen to an audio book together. Perfect on long road trips. Try a funny title such as The Twits, The Minpins and The Magic Finger,

5| Read a book that contains themes and plot lines that are better read together. Consider the refuge story, A Long Walk to Water.

Image by Tom Hermans on Unsplash

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IN THE DETAILS – NO. 35

January 19th, 2018

Happy Friday! Each week I am inspired by articles I read, recipes I find, pictures I see, and music & podcasts that I hear. Little details from each one shape my week. I love passing along this inspiration. I hope you have an amazing weekend.

xo-d

1| I’m a little twisted but true crime stories get me every time. Atlanta Monster is a haunting story and this podcast hooked me!

2| Cutest handbag there ever was!

3| Ellen Pompeo just became the $20 million dollar woman. #timesup

4| Perfection.

5| What Unites Us? “In a polarizing climate, what unites Americans may be as powerful as what divides us.”

6| General Tso’s Chicken. Thank you Jessica Seinfeld!

7| Be Your Own Boss: Rony Vardi of Catbird Jewelery. We all have such interesting paths in life!

PS: I have written about Rookie and Catbird (and here) before. Still love both!!

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LOCAL GEM: SEATTLE PINBALL MUSEUM

January 18th, 2018

Last summer we found the Seattle Pinball Museum in the International District. It is a working collection of vintage pinball machines. The oldest dating back to the 1930’s. The greatest part of this museum??? You can play each and every machine! It was super chill afternoon activity! Although we went in the summer, winter is the perfect time to go with kids. ( Please note: you must be 7 or older to play the games.) I also think it would be a great start to a night out with friends or a cool spot for a corporate event. To add to the fun vibe, they sell vintage sodas, snacks, beer & cider. You pay an admission entry and play for as long as your heart desires!

Just a few extra pictures from our fun afternoon. My little retro-gamer gave it two thumbs up. He, of course, would have loved a few more old school arcade games (they have a few), but he made the best of it.

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4 ETSY SHOPS TO LOVE

January 16th, 2018

Some of favorite things in my home have been found in Etsy shops. I am consistently impressed by the creativity and quality of products offered by shop owners. I thought it would be fun to share a few shops that are saved as my favorites.

4 Shops to Love (clockwise, starting with top left image):

1| peastyle | Not a large shop, but her natural Seagrass baskets look versatile and perfectly imperfect.

2| MintThreads owned by Amanda Wade | Authentic vintage threads. Perfect way to find vintage clothing to add to your wardrobe without having to do all the hunting at thrift stores. The vintage T’s are my favorite!

3| TheLightFactory owned by Ashlie Ewen. | Gorgeous light fixtures. Her bubble chandeliers are striking!

4| ThePrintableStudio | Printable wall art. Unique and totally approachable. A great way to add art to your walls with out the heavy price tag. The prints are sold as instant digital downloads. Instant gratification.

Do you have any favorite Etsy shops? Please share!