My Nerdy Hobby

I've just entered week two of my work-free summer vacation and let me tell you, it really is all it's cracked up to be. Going back to teaching may have been the best decision I ever made.

Along with spending oodles of time with my 4 year old babe, I have so much free-time at night and I can stay up later because I don't have to be up at 6:15 AM, and it really is grand. (Sorry to all of you who are reading this and resenting the hell out of me right now.)  In addition to beginning no less than 4 books in the past 2 weeks, I have also started back with my favorite nerdy hobby: needlepoint.

I started cross-stitching when I was in middle school, and recently picked back up the needle-arts. The variety of patterns and kits these days is so much better than in the early nineties when most of what I could find was in the local craft store and most likely involved a teddy bear or a 'country kitchen' theme.

Etsy is a convenient place to find modern and "cool" needlepoint kits, and this SatsumaStreet cross stitch pattern is next on my list:

Pretty Little San Francisco via here

Target has some pretty cool new crafty-items, including this embroidery kit that I completed and framed for my mom for Mother's Day:

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They also have these kitschy little wooden boxes with a grid for cross-stitching on the top. I have bought several, and if you're in my family and have a birthday coming up soon, you can count on a trinket box with your initial on top, handmade by yours truly.

This one is for my soon-to-be-5-year-old nephew, Taylor:

And this one is for my brother-in-law, David:

Just yesterday I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Hey Natalie Jean, and she posted this: HNJ Needlepoint Club!  If you follow me on the Instagrams, you will be seeing periodic pics of my latest needlepoint creations. Feel free to join me in joining Natalie Jean's nerdy-needlepoint club! 

So, do you have any dorky hobbies you're willing to tell us about?

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Some Friday Fiction

My husband and I have an on-going debate about which is real-er, Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster.  He is solidly in the Big Foot camp, and I whole-heartedly believe Nessie is a sweet, misunderstood dinosour-like creature who lurks in the loch. 

A few months ago while perusing Etsy I came across these shirts and have fought the urge to buy them for our children ever since:

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So, which do you think is more real?  I argue Nessie because I think she'd be harder to fake. 

This post was spurred after reading this news story about a supposed Bigfoot-killing in Vegas.  The article is pretty funny, though I'm now a little worried that Bigfoot is indeed real.

Also, you can watch a live webcam of Loch Ness right here.  Pretty sure I just saw Nessie.

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Swizzle Sticks

Can we bring swizzle sticks back, please? I mean besides the fact that the term 'swizzle sticks' is pretty eff-ing cool, each one is unique, and not to mention useful.

Since adding the bar cart to the den, I have been working on displaying some cool vintage finds on it, and I've decided it needs some swizzle sticks.

I mean the plastic, kitschy kind that hotels and bars used to give out freely in every mixed drink.  My parents had them, and growing up I always liked to open the drawer where they were kept and look at the different designs and logos and colors.  I mean, they are really cool.  But, no one stocks these serviceable souvenirs anymore, do they?

Here are a few swizzle stick finds from my internet search...probably going to go digging in my parents drawer soon too.

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via here-- I am dying over that fox!

Wouldn't it be cool if local bars and hotels and even restaurants had their own unique swizzle stick?!  According to this LA Times article from 2010, swizzle sticks are making a comeback.  This company is still making custom-molded and custom-printed swizzle sticks...so, how 'bout it Columbia businesses?  It's pretty genius marketing, if you ask me.

Wouldn't it be cool if swizzle sticks made a comeback?

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Toddler Tantrums & Treats

Minute-to-minute my emotions and thoughts are so differently-focused these days...I blame the 34-week-pregnant-hormones.

Today's focus seems to have landed on how to prepare (and love-up) my sweet 2-year-old before this baby girl comes into the world.  I'm having the typical anxieties about how he will react...I have a feeling nursing time will be pretty brutal, as Jones is already mama-clingy these days.  And I'm pretty sure he totally gets that there is change coming, as he has already started wanting me to hold him and rock him "like baby" more and more.

I am reading up and asking advice on how to handle all of this, and for now, holding tight to the boy while also trying to lay down some discipline as his tantrums and willfulness seem to have spiked to the "terrible twos" level literally overnight.  One thing I have thought might help with the behavior issues is to create a reward system for chores.

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I know some might think 2 is a bit young to do chores, but Jones loves to help and he actually can do some helpful things around the house, (with a little oversight!)  I just ordered these brilliant little chore magnets from Etsy and am excited for Jones to use them!  I included Feed Dogs, Pick Up Toys, Brush Teeth, Try a New Food, and Water Garden, among other things...

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A friend of mine "pinned" a genius idea on Pinterest the other day, a "nursing basket," full of new/rarely allowed toys, games, and stuff for the older child to play with only when the baby is nursing.  As I've been thinking of what to put in Jones' basket, I came across these personalize-able flashcards from Pinhole Press that I had "pinned" a while ago, and I decided to order them for him.  I think it will be a fun and educational thing to put in Jones' "nursing basket."

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So, any advice for me on how to seamlessly (ha!) bring a new baby into a 2-year-old's world??  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

XO,
B

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Baby Girl Clothes

Baby Birdie should be making her appearance in the next 4-6 weeks, and since I seem to be able to do nothing but nest and prepare for her arrival at this point, (although, I promise I am forcing myself to do other things!), I thought I'd share a few of my favorite baby girl clothes from Pinterest and my searches around the web.  (Friends are giving me a baby shower this weekend, and I am giddy about the sweet things that I'm sure they picked out for this sure-to-be-spoiled-rotten little girl!)

via The Mini Social, by Polarn O. Pyret (no longer available, but I got Birdie's in the mail yesterday and it is perfection!)

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via here, (though no longer available)- I am a sucker for bloomers!

So far, my favorite places to find cute, unique--not too frilly--baby girl clothes (and boys' too!) are the following: Baby Gap, Polarn O. Pyret, Zara Kids, (they have great sales!), Winter Water Factory, The Mini Social, and Zulily.  Etsy is a great place to find handmade and vintage baby clothes too.

Got any other great places to find unique baby clothes; I'd love to know?  I need more ways to kill some time over here!

XO, B

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Holiday Entertaining Gift Guide

For that person who loves to entertain, (and we know who we are!):

Love this Tasto Chip and Dip Set by David Holcomb for the MOMA Store

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The bowl holds colorful, removable pouches to fill with different dips!

4 Placecard Holder-Ornaments from Crate & Barrel

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Simple, gold wire trees--and 4 for only $10!

Beautiful Topography Dessert Plates by Rebekah Maysles for Anthropologie

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The Little Pink Book of Cocktails by Madeline Teachett

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Creative cocktails and clever quotations, for only $9.95 from Urban Outfitters.

Vintage Silver Plate and Crystal Ice Bucket from Etsy

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Can you say classy and kitchy?!

And finally, a display piece for your gorgeous cookies, cupcakes or cake: 

Vintage Fenton Hobnail Milkglass Cake Stand from Etsy

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I adore hobnail and milkglass...and baking.  Perfect!

And there you have it--some super-cool, modern and vintage entertaining pieces for the entertainer on your list this holiday season!

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Etsy Loves

Here are some of my favorite recent Etsy finds:

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I am obsessed with finding a small terrarium to put on a bookshelf in the baby's room!

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Awesome blanket made from vintage materials.

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 Beautiful handmade scarf.

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Amazing, unique art print: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

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Handmade clutch--love the fabric!

Have you fallen in love with Etsy yet? 

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IKEA Finds and the Nursery

Being that I really hate the gender/sex stereotypes of "pink is for girls" and "blue is for boys," James and I decided to go ahead and decorate the baby's room before we find out what we are having. 

With some help from my IKEA purchases from 2 weekends ago, we spent this past Sunday painting, putting things together, hanging, decorating, and generally sweating-- all in the name of a cute, gender-neutral nursery.  Here are some pictures of the  (almost) finished product:

*The wall paint is a very pale blue--it matches the bedding that we got from Target on-line.
*The rocker is from IKEA.
*The green/white dresser is from Roundabouts Consignment store in Columbia, SC.  (Originally Pottery Barn).  All drawers were originally white and James spray-painted 3 of them green.
*Crib is from Babies R Us.
*Tree and birds wall decal from Target.  
*White bookshelf was ours already-originally blue, but sanded down and re-painted by my very handy husband.  
*Striped rug is from IKEA.
*Shelf on the wall is from IKEA.
*Beautiful and soft animal-print fleece blanket hanging on the end of the crib was made by my very talented mother.

*I used printed papers from a local Columbia stationery store, Jot, to paper the back of the bookshelf--hard to see from this shot, but really pretty--and so cheap to do!
*The alligator blocks and the 2 boxes with animals on them are also from IKEA.
*Vintage Fisher-Price airplane is from Etsy.  Love it--looking to purchase some vintage F-P little people to go in the plane now.

Sweet Abby and Fat Albert (cat) helping us paint the bedroom :)

There are some things left to hang on the walls and a couple more small purchases to be made--like a CD player for the nursery, so the baby can listen to the cool CD's I recently bought for him or her: Lullabye Renditions of Bob Marley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones:

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We are so ready to find out the baby's sex--ultrasound in 2 weeks!

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Local Etsyians V-Day Wish List

Valentine's Day is never a huge production in our house. My husband currently works in the service industry, (and has since we met), so he never has the day off, and besides, I'm just not an overly sentimental person. V-Day is generally a bit cheesy for my taste. (If you've ever heard the story of how James asked me to marry him, and the reason behind it, then you know exactly what I mean--if you haven't heard it, I'll post about it soon).

But, who doesn't enjoy getting a gift every now and then?! So, I reminded my hubs last night that I had indeed bought him a gift for V-Day...(not-so-subtly telling him that he better get me something too...).

Hence, the text that I got while at work today: "Babe, I looked on your blog to see what you wanted for Valentine's Day, but couldn't find anything." I hadn't even thought to post a Valentine's Wish List, but since he asked...

This is a list of items listed on Etsy, but from local sellers only:

From Nella Designs Fine Paper Studio, located in Columbia, SC:
Custom Couple Silhouette Print with Date This listing is for an 8x10 and is only $20.

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From Flash Forward Photography, located in Lexington, SC:
this Ole Oak Tree 8x10 print-- gorgeous, and only $10.

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From softspoken, located in West Columbia:
this Chain Drop Circle Scarf- you choose the color, $35. Tres chic, don't you think?

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{I also follow softspoken's blog here}
{softspoken's scarves are carried locally at The Bohemian, which just moved to 707 Saluda Ave in 5 Pts}

And finally, for the men, from Garnet & Moss of Columbia, SC:
this Travel Gift Set for Men, only $12.50! Isn't the packaging so fresh and clean!?

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I love finding locally-made gift items--such talent in Columbia, SC! What are you giving or receiving for V-Day?

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Check out Etsy

If you have never heard of Etsy, here is your introduction....and if you know what Etsy is, read on for some of my favorite items for holiday gifts.

Etsy is an on-line marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of handmade and vintage goods. The Etsy website, etsy.com says that "Etsy is the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace. Etsy provides a marketplace for crafters, artists and collectors to sell their handmade creations, vintage goods and crafting supplies."

Here are some awesome things that I have found in their Gift Guides section:

Snowflake Glasses

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Needle-Pointed Belt Buckle
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World Map Vinyl Decal

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Fine Art Print- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco edition

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Happy hunting for gifts on Etsy!

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Fall Fox

Pretty Fall Fox Cuff, courtesy of The Illuminated Owl on Etsy.com

I heart this fox...

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shouldn't we leave money out of it?

So, thus far I have left politics alone in this blog, and I do intend to continue to keep it light-hearted...but any of you who know me well know that I have a very definite political opinion about most things. I am a social worker, and I teach a policy class at USC...I believe that everyone should make it a point to be involved and knowledgeable about the political process and the policies that our law-makers enact on our behalf. It is also our duty as American citizens to educate our politicians and elected officials about issues that are important to us...contact your representatives!

{If you are bored now and not one for soap-boxes, please just keep reading...there are pictures and pieces of my frivolous mind after the next paragraph, I promise :) }

Here's what crossed my mind today as I read this. Can't we just leave money out of politics altogether? Now, I am not a complete idiot, I know that politicians have to make a living, and I also know that making sweeping reforms about campaign expenditures probably won't happen any time soon, but let me be idealistic for a moment. How amazing would it be if our politicians and candidates for offices such as mayor, governor, senator, representative, and yes, even President, ran on the validity of their own arguments and opinions, not on the amount of money they could raise from corporations and wealthy donors?

Is it that far-fetched of an idea? People will be elected into office based on their merits and not their fundraising capabilities...hmmm. Maybe someday that will be reality.

On a much lighter note, here are some other things I've been thinking about today:

The Season finale of The Rachel Zoe Project that was on Bravo last night...that show is totally my TV guilty pleasure. Totally bananas! PS--James and I may go as Rachel and Roger for Halloween, or he may go as Brad...I will def. post pics!
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These adorable hand-felted acorns by truLuxe on etsy that I want to buy for my nephew for Christmas...a bit odd as a present, but the kid adores acorns...he calls the tops of them "little hats" and puts them on his head--so cute! via here


This amazing J. Crew "jeweled garland bracelet" that I have been not-so-subtly asking my husband to get me for our 1-year anniversary coming up next month...hint, hint honey... via here

Happy Tuesday!

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