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Holiday Hits: Bookworm Bests

Since shopping is such a blast, I’m back with one more bonus list of gift suggestions for the holidays!  Now, if you’ve been reading this blog for more than… I don’t know… thirty seconds or so, you’ve probably figured out that I love to read.  I love pretty much everything there is about books.  Reading is my primary hobby, and I’m a huge fan of anything that celebrates reading and books.  So if you have a similarly obsessed bookworm in your life (or if you are a similarly obsessed bookworm and want to get a treat for yourself), here are some bookish gift ideas.  These are all things that I already have (Santa, I’ll write you separately) and love.  Speaking for my people, I can tell you that pretty much any of these things would be a huge hit with your word-loving pals:

Eclectic vintage typewriter key bracelet book worm(Image Source)

Vintage typewriter jewelry.  Yep, you read that right.  I am particularly obsessed with the offerings of Lizzy Bleu on Etsy.  I have this “Book Worm” bracelet, but there are plenty of other choices in this Etsy shop – you could get yourself a pendant with your initial or any one of her many bracelets made from vintage typewriter keys.  I love this stuff – not only is it a nod to my love of words and writing, but it’s eco-friendly to boot (I’m on a huge upcycling kick).  And the quality is great.  Typewriter jewelry is a fun, quirky way to advertise one’s love of words.

Jane Austen Bookmarks - Set of 6(Image Source)

Unique bookmarks.  Hubby got me these Jane Austen bookmarks for my birthday this year and I’m in love with them (and him too, obviously).  They worked for me on multiple levels – for one thing, I’m crazy about Jane Austen.  She might be my favorite author… but don’t hold me to that; I don’t want to be tied down.  And for another, y’all know I love bookmarks.  But if your bookworm isn’t into Jane Austen, just a quick search for the name of the recipient’s favorite author and “bookmark” in Etsy is practically guaranteed to yield you some great finds.  For example, I typed in “Tolkien bookmark” and found this gorgeous hand-stamped copper bookmark that would be a fantastic gift for a Lord of the Rings enthusiast.

Lavender Bookmark & Sachet Set(Image Source)

Scented bookmark.  That’s right, ish just got real.  You know that I can’t get enough lavender.  (Or maybe you didn’t.  Anyway, it’s true.  I can’t.)  Well, this is the extent of my mania: I have TWO lavender bookmarks.  As in, fabric bookmarks stuffed with dried lavender.  I got the first one from a lavender booth at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York.  Hubby and I were on our babymoon the week before Peanut was born (well, we didn’t know it was the week before Peanut was born, but that’s how things turned out) and we were wandering through the market when I ground to a halt in front of, basically, my mothership.  This booth had all things lavender and I wanted everything, but I had intentionally packed a small bag and I was saving room for a trip to the Strand, and then I saw the bookmarks and very sweetly said “I need this, it’s really important.”  And then, because I can’t leave well enough alone, I bought another lavender bookmark on Etsy later.  Look, I love the scent of book as much as the next girl, but sometimes you just want your reading material to smell like France, amirite?

READ Sign wooden wall art cottage decor - word sign - library sign - SLATE GRAY(Image Source)

Wooden “read” sign.  I think this would be a fantastic gift for a reader: a wooden sign proclaiming their favorite hobby!  I have one of these signs in my reading nook and I love it; it reminds me of one of my favorite activities and makes for some cool decor.  Plus, you get the good feeling that comes with supporting an independent artisan.

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Penguin Clothbound Classics.  Books!  What a novel idea!  (Hee hee.)  But here’s the thing – buying books for a bookworm can be a tricky business.  Yes, we love ’em.  But it’s easy to end up with repeats.  I love giving books as gifts, but I always worry that the recipient already has a copy of the book.  But when the books are this pretty, I personally don’t mind having more than one copy and many bookworms would probably agree.  I collect Penguin Clothbound Classics and keep them together on a shelf in my bedroom.  They publish some of my favorite classics in gorgeous editions.  There are other collections, put out by other publishing houses – this just happens to be the collection that I particularly like and am therefore dedicated to acquiring.  I can practically guarantee these will be a hit – even if the bookworm in question already has a copy of, say, Pride and Prejudice, it’s hard to take issue with a pretty printed cloth cover.

Pride and Prejudice book cover t-shirt(Image Source)

Nerdwear.  I love my Pride and Prejudice shirt from Out of Print Tees, and my Reading is Sexy shirt from Buy Olympia, both of which I wear un-ironically.  Seriously – cute, comfortable, and a message I can totally get behind (and I’m talking about both shirts here).  Of course, there is a danger here: you don’t want to buy your bookworm a shirt advertising a book they hate.  But if the recipient’s favorite book is available, they’ll love a fun new library-going outfit.

Mug: White Diner(Image Source)

Bookstore Swag.  Bookworms have bookstore radar.  It’s true.  We’re drawn to bookstores; it’s our nature.  And most bookworms have a favorite bookstore.  A place that they dream about.  For me, that place is the Strand in New York City.  I love that place.  Forget Disneyland – the Strand is the happiest place on Earth.  I’d totally live there, except that I don’t want to move to New York.  I own a not-embarrassing amount of Strand-logo merchandise, including the above mug.  And a few tote bags.  And some bookmarks.  But if your bookworm dreams about a different bookstore – maybe Powell’s, or City Lights, or Politics & Prose – you can make him or her very happy with a cool mug or bookmark or t-shirt proudly announcing his or her personal affinity.

Nerd alert – I really like all this stuff.  And that’s cool, because it’s cool to be who you are and… stuff.  So.  Nobody paid me to write this post, and nobody gave me anything free.  Like I said, I just really, genuinely like everything I’m recommending.

What do you buy for the bookworms on your list?  Anything worth making a collect call to Santa over?  Spill.

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Hug Someone

I don’t usually post on weekends, and I don’t have anything to say that won’t sound trite in the face of the terrible tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.  But it seems wrong to let something so sad go by without comment.  So I’m stopping in the midst of the whirlwind of diaper changes and bottles and tummy time and board books to think about the parents who will never squeeze their dear little ones again.

Tonight when I put Peanut down, I stayed a few extra moments in her room and gave her a few extra squeezes. Instead of thinking about the mounds of dishes I had to conquer downstairs once I laid her in her crib, instead of rushing out to get it all done so I could crash on my pillow, I snuggled her in the rocker and thought about our weeks in the NICU and about how happy I am to have a safe, healthy baby in my arms, despite the rocky road it took to get there. And I thought about the parents of Newtown, and about all the parents who have to send their little ones off on the school bus on Monday. No one should have to fear sending their child to school. I don’t know what that’s like, and I can’t imagine it right now, but I know what it’s like to stare down real fears about your little one’s health and safety and it’s the worst feeling in the world. So I rocked Peanut, and I cuddled her, and I wiped away tears of sadness for Newtown and gratitude for my beautiful little girl.

I don’t know anyone in Newtown; I’ve never been there.  And school shootings are always horrific.  But this is the first one that’s happened since I became a mother, and I’m deeply shocked.  My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who lost a loved one this week, especially the parents, and the heroic teachers who laid down their lives for their students, and to those sweet souls who will be young forever.  This weekend, hug someone you love.

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Repost: Holiday Wine Guide

I wrote this last year in response to a request from my father-in-law, and thought it would be nice to bring it out again this year.  If you’re having trouble deciding what wines to serve this holiday season, here’s a little something to get you started!

Well, friends, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Time to gather with family and friends around the fire… sing carols… light candles… generally make merry.  And what’s merrier than wine?  You might be wondering what bottle to bring to your in-laws, or what to pour if you’re hosting, or what to chug when your Aunt Matilda corners you and demands to know when you’re going to learn how to hold onto a man.  Look no further, darling readers, because I can answer all of those questions and more.

First things first – sparklers!

There’s nothing more festive than a glass of bubbles.  But please, oh please, don’t call these wines “champagne.”  Repeat after messy: “Champagne comes from the Champagne region of France.  Anything else is sparkling wine.”  Actually, sparklers can have different names depending on their country of origin.  For instance, a sparkling wine from France, but not from Champagne, is called cremant.  If it’s from Spain, it’s cava.  Italian vintners offer up Prosecco.  Listen up, now, there’s nothing, I repeat, nothing wrong with drinking a sparkling wine that’s not from Champagne. This weekend hubby and I had a wonderful rose Cremant d’Alsace (a.k.a. a rose sparkler from the Alsace region of France) by Wolfberger.  Check it out.  It was dry and berry-rific and luscious.  And you can’t go wrong with anything from my absolute favorite California sparkling wine producer – Domaine Carneros.  Anything from their widely-available brut to their lovely rose to their high end “Le Reve” wine is phenomenal.  There’s no better wine for a celebration, in my opinion, than a sparkling wine.

Winter whites…

White wines are always a good option at the holidays, because pretty much everyone will drink them.  There are a few people who will only drink red, but in my experience most people will happily drink white wine.  But they can be tricky at the same time, because they vary widely in terms of body, aroma and flavor.  For instance, while a crisp, refreshing sauvignon blanc is absolutely delicious, it’s probably better suited to quaffing pool-side while noshing on a farmers market salad sometime in July.  For fireside sipping, you want something with more heft.  Consider a California chardonnay (I love the offerings from Carneros, the Russian River Valley, or Santa Barbara).  One widely available chard that smells and tastes like a small-batch production instead of a mass market wine is the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from La Crema.  My parents introduced me to this wine and I could have sat with the full glass in my hand all night, just breathing in the aroma.  (Don’t worry, I did eventually drink it.)  La Crema’s Sonoma Coast is available in pretty much every wine shop I’ve been to, and at around $20, is a good value for an excellent wine.

Or you might consider a white Burgundy.  These wines are also, generally, made with chardonnay grapes, although a few Burgundy producers also offer up aligote.  (But it’s extremely difficult to find in the U.S., so don’t worry about accidentally buying it.  If you buy a bottle of white Burgundy from an American wine store and they’re not making it super obvious that it’s aligote, it’s definitely chard.)  Burgundy wines follow the French classification system, as they must.  French wines are generally classified into Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Village, and table wine, depending on the location of the vineyard the particular grapes hail from.  Grand Cru is the best, is almost certain to be prohibitively expensive (especially after you toss in the cost of importing it) and is hard to find.  Don’t waste your time looking for a Grand Cru, unless you are proposing and have a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket.  Premier Cru, the next-best designation, is still expensive, but you can find a reasonably-priced bottle now and then and it’s very, very good.  Village wines will – duh – include the name of the village on the bottle.  If you have a well-stocked wine shop with a French focus, you’ll likely find a bottle or two with a Village designation, and they’re generally very good.  And of course, you can’t go wrong with a wine from Burgundy sub-region Chablis.  Chablis produces all white, all chard, no oaked, and its wines have a delicious, refreshing flinty character.  Chablis wines are some of my absolute favorites.  Just please, please don’t buy anything labeled “California Chablis,” or my heart will shed tears of grape juice for you.

Red Red Wine…

If you are serving a roast, or you just like reds better than whites, there are many, many options that would work wonderfully for the holidays.  First of all – wine purists, please feel free to close your eyes and start humming now – you can’t ignore Beaujolais Nouveau.  Great wine it is not.  So what is it?  Fun, fruity, festive and cheap.  Yes, there are plenty who scoff at Beaujolais Nouveau, saying “if I want candy, I’ll eat candy, goshdarnit!” – and maybe, maybe those types will consider the slightly earthier Beaujolais-Villages.  Which is good too.  But you shouldn’t dismiss Nouveau.  The current season begins with a release of bottles in early November, and those bottles are really only good until Valentine’s Day.  But if you’re entertaining a group that likes their wines flighty and fruity – and drinks some volume – consider Nouveau.

Okay, say you’re too snobby for Beaujolais Nouveau.  (You’re missing out, but whatevs.)  Try bringing a little South of France sunshine to your holiday with a Cotes du Rhone.  The Cotes du Rhone region is found in Provence – land of suntans, olives and lavender, and lovely grapevine-planted hillsides (like in the picture heading this post).  The wines are luscious and fruity, but earthy at the same time.  Cotes du Rhone wines come at all different price points – you can pay top dollar for a bottle from neighboring region Chateauneuf-du-Pape – but many Rhone reds are a very good value for the excellent quality of the wine you get.  Hubby and I drove through several towns in the Cotes du Rhone last year, and we’re particularly fond of Gigondas, where we had lunch (and I drank a carafe of local rose, nearly without help, and then slept all the way to Burgundy).  A good wine shop will probably stock a few bottles from Gigondas and nearby Vacqueyras, but if you look even closer for offerings from tiny Provencal villages like Sablet and Seguret, you’ll be amply rewarded.  A good Cotes du Rhone will set you back anywhere from $15-30, so they’re not cheapie wines, but provided you like your dinner guests, you’ll find these wines are worth more than their price point.

What are your favorite holiday wines?  And happy sipping, friends!

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Holiday Hits: Treats for Tea-Lovers

Mmmmmm, tea.  You know I love it.  Maybe too much.  I can’t start my day without it (well, I can, but then I’m grouchy all day), and I’m sipping on herbals into the night.  I seek out tea experiences while traveling – whether that’s visiting the Mariage Freres boutique in Paris or sipping a traditional afternoon tea in London.  And I love anything that helps me celebrate my addiction hobby.  If you have a friend or relative who is similarly obsessed with tea, here are some delicious gift ideas, all things that I have and enjoy:

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Travette Tea Pot.  This is my number one recommendation, because no product has changed my tea-drinking life the way this little guy has.  When I first got into drinking loose leaf tea, I looked long and hard for a way to perfectly brew a cup.  M, my colleague who introduced me to the joys of drinking loose tea, brewed hers in a drip coffeemaker (which she only used for tea) and that worked for her.  But I wanted something smaller and more portable.  I tried tea balls, a teastick, and special mugs with tea infusers that fit into them – some were better than others, but none were perfect for me.  They either allowed too many leaves to escape, or they dripped all over my desk, or both.  Then I found the Travette Tea Pot at Teaism.  And the clouds parted, and I saw clearly for the first time.  The Travette has a fine mesh basket that fits into the pot and allows nothing – I mean nothing – to escape.  It makes enough for two mugs, and if you pour the first mug out the basket is suspended above the water line, preventing over-steeping.  And the double-walled construction means the pot keeps the second cup piping hot while remaining cool to the touch from the outside.  This would be a perfect gift for someone who is looking to get into drinking loose tea but is nervous about brewing it – the Travette makes brewing the perfect cup of tea absolutely foolproof.  I have two – one at home and one at work – and I can’t remember life without them.

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French Tea: Mariage Freres – Three Centuries of Savoir-Faire.  Mariage Freres is the ultimate tea purveyor.  I’d say “in my opinion” but I don’t think there can be any debate.  Mariage Freres is just the best.  This gorgeous book tells the story of the company, from its founding to present day, and includes some stunning photographs.  I keep my copy on the coffee table in my reading nook and flip through it whenever I want a little eye candy or relaxation.  Sipping a cup of Mariage Freres tea while reading isn’t required, but it sure does help.

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Mariage Freres Tea.  Mmmmmmmmm.  Since we’re already discussing Mariage Freres, let’s talk about how much any tea drinker would love a tin of this stuff in their stocking.  The answer: they’ll love it a LOT.  Plus, it would give you the opportunity to go to Paris to choose the perfect tea from among the hundreds of blends in the flagship store on Rue de Bourg-Tibourg.  (What’s that you say?   You weren’t planning to fly to Paris to get your holiday shopping done?  And you don’t want to pay through the nose to have tea shipped from France?  Well, Dean & Deluca also stocks many of the most popular Mariage Freres blends, and I guarantee you’ll find a blend your tea-lover will consider delicieux.)

Peace Love Tea - Organically Upcycled Vintage Silverware by Sycamore Hill(Image Source)

Upcycled Tea Spoon.  I have this “Peace Love Tea” spoon from SycamoreHill on Etsy and I use it every ding dong day to scoop my loose tea into my Travette Tea Pot – it scoops the perfect amount for one cuppa.  It’s a fun, unique gift and probably something the recipient would never think to buy for him- or herself.

Small Wood Fired Teacup with Ochre Celadon Liner, Beautiful Flashing, and Comfortable Handle(Image Source)

Handmade Teacup.  I love the sky blue handmade mugs that my mother-in-law gave to me (a Christmas gift one year) – in fact, I’m drinking my breakfast cuppa out of one of them as I write this post.  A beautiful mug or teacup can truly elevate the tea experience, and it’s an extra special bonus if the cup in question was a gift from a loved one.  You could search Etsy or craft fairs for the perfect ceramic mug (the mugs my mother-in-law chose happen to be one of my favorite colors, and the organic shape lifts my spirits every time I look at them – I know that she was truly thinking about me when she chose them), or you could pick up a pretty vintage teacup (maybe one with a saucer!) at your local antiques shop.  There are as many unique mugs out there as there are tea drinkers, and if you go this route, the recipient will think of you with a smile every time he or she takes a sip.

As cool as it would be if I was paid to write for a living, I’m not.  This post wasn’t perked or paid for by any of the manufacturers mentioned, and everything I recommended I actually own, use, like, and paid for with my own money or was gifted by a thoughtful friend or family member.  If I decide to run off and join a hippie commune… just a dream I had… I’d totally take this stuff with me but none of the sellers would ever know the difference.

Tea lovers – what gift would you love to get to celebrate or further enable your habit?

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Zero to Hero: A Plan for Getting There

Last month I told you that I finally managed to pull myself together enough to get in a sweaty workout – hurray!  And then I mentioned that I have a few goals now that pregnancy is behind me, Peanut is thriving and I’m over the worst of the C-section recovery.  Here’s my plan for getting to each of my goals.

Short Term: Run the GW Parkway Classic, April 2013

When I trained for the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler and the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon, I roughly used Hal Higdon’s novice half marathon training plan, but I wasn’t great about sticking to it.  It’s pretty much the perfect plan, though, so I’m going to use it again and try to be better about following the directions this time.  But it’s a 12 week plan and the race isn’t until April, so I have two months to fill before I even start officially “training.”  So here’s how I intend to get there:

  • November: Build up cardio endurance again with circuit training 3x/week, running 2-3x/week, and one “off” day or active recovery (yoga).  Try not to eat too much pie.
  • December: Continue November routine, but increase intensity.  Try not to eat too many Christmas cookies.
  • January: Continue December workouts, end with Hal Higdon week 1.
  • February: Hal Higdon weeks 2-5.
  • March: Hal Higdon weeks 6-9.
  • April: Hal Higdon weeks 10-12, then RACE DAY!

Medium Term: Lose the Baby Weight

  • I like to journal everything, and I’ve always found that I have the most success when I’m keeping track of my meals, snacks and workouts.  I love SparkPeople for this, but I stopped using it when I was pregnant.  I’m going to get back into daily food and exercise journaling on the site.  It keeps me honest, and I like how I get points for entering my meals and workouts and those points add up to little virtual trophies.  Plus, I get a “congratulations!” email with a picture when I win a trophy, and I’m seven years old inside.
  • Food is key – unfortunately.  I wish that we could just eat whatever we wanted and then pay for it in workouts.  I’d much rather enjoy any food I wanted, whenever I wanted it, and then burn it off with a furious tennis game, but sadly life doesn’t work that way.  I’ve noticed that I look and feel my best when I eat a whole foods diet, sticking with foods that are as little altered from their natural state as possible.  My way of eating, when I’m at my best, looks a lot like the Mediterranean Diet – lots of fresh veg and fruits, lots of fish, and healthy fats from nuts and oils, with a bit of wine and cheese tossed in there for good measure.  But that’s just where I naturally fall.  When I’m trying to eat well, those are the foods to which I gravitate.  The thing to remember is, the less processed, the better.
  • I was a strict vegetarian for a year, and a pescetarian (veg + fish) for a year after that.  I had some serious ethical concerns with eating meat.  However, since about midway through my pregnancy I have been thinking about eating poultry again in small quantities.  (I probably would have done it sooner, but I mentioned the possibility to meat-eaters on a couple of occasions, and they were just too happy about it, so I delayed.  I’m cantankerous that way.)  I had reasons for stopping eating poultry, and they still apply.  But now I have other reasons for being open to it again: mainly, I’m not currently up to the extreme amount of work it takes for me to get all the nutrients I need from a vegetarian diet, especially since Peanut’s food is still partially sourced from Mama.  In the event I do eat poultry, I’ll be very choosy about the way that it was raised and treated.  But it’s something I’m open to, in the name of better health.
  • No diet is sustainable if it doesn’t leave room for occasional treats.  For me, that would be dark chocolate and wine.  They’re not an everyday occurrence, but I have no intention of depriving myself completely.  Everything in moderation!
  • Although food is key, activity is important too.  I plan to get in at least 30 minutes of movement most days – less if it’s particularly strenuous or if I’m especially busy and can only fit in a shorter workout (although I’ll do my best to make it count).  My favorite activities are yoga, running, circuit training, cycling and hiking, so that’s how I’ll get most of my sweat in.  I’ll take at least one rest day each week to snuggle with Peanut and recover.  But I like the way I feel when I’m consistently exercising, I missed it when I was pregnant and recovering from my C-section, and I’m excited that I can finally get back into an exercise habit.

Long Term: Be a Healthy Mom

I don’t know that I have a specific plan for this.  Bottom line, I just want to live a healthy lifestyle in ways that include Peanut and teach her that eating well and being active can be fun.  In my hazy view of Peanut’s childhood, that looks something like this:

  • Continue to set and pursue my own active goals, whether that means more running races, getting into triathlons, a regular yoga practice, the 100 pushup challenge, or something else.  Talk to Peanut about goal-setting and how good it feels to pick a goal, work for it and achieve it (or at least, to try your very best).  Include her in the races I run (many of them have kids’ fun runs) when she’s a bit older.
  • Teach Peanut to cook and include her in meal preparations.  Before I got pregnant – even before I was at the point where I felt at all ready to have a baby – I loved looking at the kids’ cooking tools and child-sized aprons at Williams-Sonoma, and used to imagine my kid someday using that stuff to have fun in the kitchen.  It’s a well-known fact that it’s healthier (and cheaper, and usually tastier!) to cook for yourself rather than to rely on takeout or restaurant meals.  I’d like Peanut to have the skills to cook for herself – to know what to choose and how to prepare it – and for her to know that the kitchen can be a place for us to have fun together.
  • Encourage Peanut to participate in sports – whatever she wants (except for volleyball; I’m afraid of the ball).  There’s a sport for every kid.  When I was a little girl, I danced and it was never my cup of tea.  I was terrible at remembering the routines and I always felt like I was the worst one in the class.  Later I tried soccer before finally settling on tennis, and tennis ended up being my sweet spot; I played varsity for two years.  Peanut will have the chance to experiment with different sports and find the ways that she likes to be active.  And whether that’s track and field, softball, soccer, you name it, I’ll be at her games (matches, meets…) to cheer her on.
  • Keep finding ways to be active as a family, and include Peanut.  Hubby and I love to hike and before I got pregnant we would hike most weekends.  (We hiked a few times when I was pregnant but between first trimester fatigue and later activity restrictions, I wasn’t up for very much.)  I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the trails, this time with a baby.  Hubby and I also love to kayak and sail, and someday when Peanut is an older preschooler or young school-age kid, I’ll start getting her out on the water too.  I grew up in a family that made outdoor activity a way of life, whether that was sailing in the summer, skiing in the winter, or hiking in the fall and spring, and I want Peanut to enjoy lots of outdoor family fun and activity.

That’s my plan!  I’ll be sharing regular updates on here, especially as I prepare for the Parkway Classic, so check back!

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Holiday Hits: Mama Must-Haves

Do you have a new (or not-so-new) mom on your holiday shopping list?  Oh, man, then do I have some ideas for you!  Listen, the best thing you could get the moms in your life is the gift that keeps on giving: a clown to entertain them during those 3:00 a.m. feedings.  Hear me?

I kid, I kid.  I meant a magician.

Okay, but seriously.  If you are shopping for a mom, especially a new mom, here are some of the things that have made my life better, easier, or just plain nicer in the months since Peanut was born:

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Yoga pants.  For the mom who is afraid to try on her pre-pregnancy jeans.  (Holla back, ladies.)  I’ve been rocking the sweats from Target most days, but there are some days when I just want to look nice, dangit.  Like those days when I was just plain burnt out on the NICU, and I wanted to appear somewhat polished if only to make myself feel a wee bit better.  (Pretty scarves are good for that too.)  Or just days when I feel like looking pretty and I think nice yoga pants will distract from the bags under my eyes after a night of rocking and shushing (Peanut, not me).  Every mom will have her own preference; personally, my go-to is the Perfect Core Pant from Lucy Activewear.  It’s like wearing a hug.

Lavender Moisturizing Hand Lotion(Image Source)

Hand lotion.  With all the scrubbing I do to keep the ugly germs away from Peanut (especially now that flu season is underway) my hands are permanently reptilian.  I’ve taken to keeping lotion in strategic places throughout the house – I have a tube in the family room, one in the diaper bag, one in my bedroom, and one in the master bathroom – and I am constantly applying it.  Now, hand lotion doesn’t have to be fancy; it just has to work.  I learned that when I became addicted to the stuff that Peanut’s hospital stocked all over the NICU.  But nice, scented lotion in a pretty container makes me feel a little less like a zombie and a little more like a lady.  My favorites are the Organic Hand Cream from Oliviers & Co. (a gift from R) and Aveda Hand Relief (my sister-in-law turned me on to this stuff last year), or anything lavender scented.  Bonus points for would-be Santas if you can find a lotion in Mom’s favorite scent.

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Food!  My in-laws had a catering service deliver meals to us after Peanut came home from the hospital, and it was in.cred.i.ble.  If you like to cook or bake, moms love home-cooked food (this is something I generally do for my new mom friends as part of their baby shower gifts), but catered meals are just as amazing.  I can’t tell you how nice it was to have several days where I didn’t have to think about what to make for dinner because there were fresh, healthy meals already prepared in my freezer.  I’ve gotten into the swing of motherhood now and have made the time to prepare some freezer meals, and I am generally more organized and more able to put meals together than I was in those early days.  But darnit, that catering delivery sure was appreciated that first week.

i is babysitting ok(Image Source)

Babysitting services.  Here’s a great, FREE gift that I guarantee a mom will appreciate!  (And more than a lot of expensive items you might be thinking of getting, probably.)  Don’t get me wrong, we love those kiddos to pieces.  But any mom would appreciate a night out with her guy, or even just an afternoon “off” to go to yoga, read, or do whatever she likes (nap!) without worrying about the wee ones.  Especially for moms of young ‘uns, the idea of trusting the offspring to the neighborhood teenagers might not be the most appealing.  (And I say this as someone who spent almost every weekend of my teenaged years babysitting, and made a ton of money that way – there actually are responsible teenagers out there who will play with the kids instead of letting them watch TV and then clean the house after putting their charges to bed.  I was a very in-demand sitter.  And also a super cool person with tons of friends, okay???)  But most moms would probably be a bit more comfortable leaving the baby to a family member or trusted friend.  My Peanut is a little young to be left at all right now, but for moms of older babies, toddlers or school-aged kids, I would think this would be a great gift.

Sterling Silver Name Necklace. AzizaJewelry(Image Source)

Sentimental Jewelry.  It’s no secret – we moms are a sentimental bunch.  (Well, most of us are, anyway.  I think.  We’re also a diverse bunch, so I’m sure there are plenty of non-sentimental moms out there too.)  But for those moms who get all giddy over any mention of their kids – guilty, although I hear the infatuation drops off sharply after they hit age 13 or so – cute sentimental jewelry can make a great gift.  I have the above necklace with Peanut’s name (her actual name, not “Peanut”) in sterling silver, although it’s also available in 14k gold.  There are thousands of cute name necklaces out there – pick the style that most appeals to the recipient.  Or you could go with an initial necklace (not gonna lie, I’m in the market for a gold “E” pendant – still looking for the perfect one) or a picture locket (hey, they’re not all frumpy).  For moms with multiple kiddos, there are necklaces that can be customized with more than one name or initial.  I love Etsy for cute, personalized jewelry, but there are plenty of other options too.

I’m a lawyer and we like to wreck everything, so I’m just going to unnecessarily remind you that this post wasn’t paid for or perked.  I’m recommending the above items because I honestly have found them useful or nice, and everything on this list I bought with my own money, or received as a personal gift from someone else who bought the item with their own money.  If I fulfilled my long-held dream of moving to Canada tomorrow, not one of these companies or sellers would care.  Peace.

Friends, what are you buying for the mamas on your shopping list?  (Not me, I like to be surprised.)  Mamas, what items can’t you live without?

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Of Lavender and Friendship

Some of my favorite things in life are things I used to hate.  Peanut butter.  Stand-up comedy.  Ricotta cheese.

Lavender.

I used to hate all floral aromas.  I have allergies, so when I step outside and smell springy flowers everywhere, that’s a big gigantic red flag to me.  Hello, hay fever.  Goodbye, nose breathing.  In high school and college, I was into perfumes, but I was strictly a citrus fruits and herbals kind of girl.  Floral scents just screamed “grandma” to me.  I had a few friends who went for more traditional perfumes and I just didn’t get it.  The scent I hated more than any other?  Rose.  A close second?  Lavender.  Give me a bright grapefruit or a fresh grass aroma any day.  Florals?  Ick.

My BFF, R, was one of those girls who has loved a good floral perfume as long as I’ve known her.  R and I have a lot in common – we both love tea, yoga, miso soup, France…  But there are some things that R likes that I just can’t quite wrap my mind around.  Zucchini.  Snoop Dogg.  Shooting ranges.  Butterflies.  And for awhile, lavender was on that list.  R loved it, but the very idea made me gag.  I often gave her lavender-scented lotions, scrubs or bath salts as a gift.  She was thrilled to get them, and I’d just ask her not to open them up too close to me… because yech.  (In return, she’d gift me with products scented with orange, grapefruit, ginger.)

After college, R and I went our separate ways, and I mean we really went our separate ways.  I moved to Washington, D.C., for law school.  R joined the Peace Corps and jetted off to Africa.  We kept in touch via letters (hers left her village on the back of a camel) but it wasn’t the same.  I had a very full life: a cute fiance, a wedding to plan, great new law school friends and a full schedule of 1L classes… but without R, I felt like a piece of myself was missing.  The day we met up again after almost two years, shortly after she returned from Africa (she came home early to be in my wedding) was one of the happiest days of my life.  After my wedding, R moved to Florida for law school and while it wasn’t the same as college (when we were basically inseparable), at least I could call her on the phone whenever I wanted – and I did.  We talked almost every day.  I visited her in Florida and later in New York, and she visited me in Virginia.  We cooked together again – sometimes in person, more often on the phone – and I was so happy to have my friend back.

After a few years, R’s life again took her overseas, this time for a new job.  Before she left, we had a blissful summer while she trained in D.C.  On one of her last nights in the country, hubby and I spent the evening helping her pack.  R couldn’t take much with her, and she had to get rid of most of her teas and skincare products.  I promised to take what I could (including most of the tea) and enjoy it on her behalf.  That night, a few lavender body cremes ended up riding home with me in my shoulder bag.

Fortunately, I’d made my peace with lavender.  In fact, I rather liked it.  The smooth-yet-spicy scent didn’t bother me anymore; over the years I’d started to associate it with R and I’d amassed a growing lavender collection of my own.  A bouquet of dried lavender in my front hall.  Some lavender sachets that I brought home from the Arles Market in Provence.  A tube of lavender apple hand creme from Sabon in NYC, purchased while visiting R (who else?).  Lavender essential oil, a tiny vial of roll-on perfume, and a refreshing lavender facial spray.  Yes, I rather liked the stuff.

Over the year that R was gone, I sent her care packages filled with tea sachets, gourmet chocolate bars, and skincare products in her favorite scents, including lavender.  Meanwhile, I sipped her lavender black tea and smoothed her lavender shea butter over my hands and arms, and thought of her.  Technology being far better than it was when R was in the Peace Corps, we were able to keep in touch without resorting to camels.  We exchanged daily emails, chatted via Yahoo messenger, and even talked on the phone, so although she was on the other side of the world I didn’t feel as though she was far away – indeed, I was able to tell her that I was pregnant about an hour after taking the test (she was the first person to hear the news after hubby).

Then R came home, and now she lives closer to me (geographically speaking) than she has at any time since college.  We still chat on the phone almost daily.  And while we still have many things in common, it’s the scent of lavender that reminds me of her more than anything else.  Which means I think of her multiple times every day – when I use my lavender wash or face spray, when I sip my lavender tea or smell my lavender sachets or gaze at my lavender bouquet, I’m always thinking of R.  These days I enjoy the scent in its own right, but more because it reminds me so vividly of my friend.

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Holiday Hits: Baby Buys

It’s no secret that I love the holiday season.  Decorating the house, baking Christmas cookies, and picking out just the right gifts for my loved ones – that stuff really revs my engine.  This year I’m more excited than ever before to celebrate, because I’ve got a little Peanut who will be experiencing all the joys of her very first holiday season!  And even though she’s too young to remember any of it, I’m still pumped beyond belief.  So it probably comes as no surprise at all that I’ve been shopping for Peanut’s first Christmas gifts pretty much since September.  What can I say?  It’s fun to buy for baby!  If you have a baby coming to your celebrations, and you’re looking for some good ideas too, here are some things that Peanut has that we’ve really enjoyed, or that I’m planning to get for her this year:

Art cards.  Very young babies don’t see too well, but they LOVE looking at bold, high-contrast patterns and designs since those are the easiest for their little eyes to focus on.  The art cards from Wee Gallery feature bold, graphic designs for the babies, but they’re cool enough that mamas will enjoy the pictures too!  Peanut has a set of the Sea Collection cards and they’re so fun and funky that I’m considering framing them when she’s done with them.  (My favorite is the octopus, but Peanut especially loves staring at the stingray.)

BabyLit Board Books.  I first saw these books on the Quirky Bookworm blog when I was newly pregnant and filed the idea away for when Peanut’s arrival got closer.  I ended up going a little crazy and bought her Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Romeo + Juliet before she was born, and Alice in Wonderland shortly after she arrived.  She got Dracula as a Halloween present, and I’m planning to give her A Christmas Carol for Christmas, which will complete her collection.  These books are fun counting and color primers and make adorable introductions to classic literature.  Plus, I can’t get enough of the bold illustrations.  (The illustrations in Pride and Prejudice are my favorites.  I love the trees.)  If there’s a baby in your life who happens to hail from a bookworm family, these would be a huge hit.

In My… Board Books.  These board books feature finger puppets!  Let the wilding begin!  The illustrations in these books, which describe the cozy habitats of various animals (In My Tree, In My Pond, In My Meadow etc.), are really unique.  And the finger puppets are too cute.  Santa will be bringing a couple of these to Peanut this year.  Peanut will enjoy the pictures, and Mommy will have fun with the puppet.  Don’t judge.

Sophie the Giraffe.  Okay, you might feel a little silly buying baby an expensive status teether.  In fact, you might feel silly just for knowing that there is such a thing as a status teether.  And yes, I feel like an indescribably ridiculous yuppie when I hand Peanut her Sophie and wheel her around in her BOB stroller.  But… whatever, Sophie is magnifique.  This is one of the few toys that is appropriate for brand-new infants as well as older babies.  Peanut isn’t teething yet, but she likes to practice her grip on Sophie’s neck (poor Sophie), and Mommy encourages strangling Sophie instead of the alternative (generally, pulling Mommy’s hair).  And, bonus, when Peanut does start to teethe I can feel good about Sophie going in her mouth, because she’s made with food-safe dyes.  C’est delicieux.

Fabric ball.  Another gift that’s appropriate for tiny newborns on up, fabric balls are fab.  Babies love the different textures and colors (and some balls come with tags to grab too – fun!), and moms can feel okay knowing that if baby uses this to smack herself in the face (just my kid?) she won’t get hurt.  I like this one from Haba, because the bright colors are baby-friendly but the rainbow design is also kind of sophisticated.

Clutching toys.  Young babies love to clutch and grab things, and it’s good for them to practice their fine motor skills.  But if you’re like most moms, you’d rather baby clutched and grabbed at an age appropriate toy, instead of your hair or your jewelry.  Peanut has a few clutching toys from Haba (can you tell I like this company? they use food-safe dyes and earth-friendly materials; good for baby and good for the planet!) and I think this one is particularly cute.

Plan Toys.  Okay, most of the toys from this company are a little too advanced and not really appropriate for Peanut yet, but if you’re looking to shop for an older baby or young toddler, I’m obsessed with the Earth-friendly wooden toys from Plan Toys.  I love the green Stacking Tree, and I’m planning to get it for Peanut this Christmas and just play with it myself until she’s ready.  (What?  It’s cute!)  She already has the Lacing Sheep, another toy which is rather beyond her at the moment, and we just look at it together – she’ll take it apart and put it together under my watchful eye when she’s a bit bigger.  (Parents, note: there are some small parts to these toys.  They’re super cute and hard to resist, but if you do buy them for a younger baby, make sure you supervise baby’s play.  I’m sure you would anyway, but I’m a lawyer and we like to state the obvious.)

(All images sourced from Google Images.)

By the way, I should mention that this post isn’t paid for or perked.  Everything that I mentioned Peanut owns was bought for her by hubby and me or by our family and friends.  None of these companies has any idea who I am.  Nor, for that matter, do most of my neighbors.  Ten-four.

Are there any babies on your holiday shopping list?  What are you planning to get for them?  Share in the comments so I can shamelessly steal your ideas.

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Reading Round-Up: November 2012

Reading is my oldest and favorite hobby.  I literally can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love to curl up with a good book.  Here are my reads for November, 2012…

Arcadia, by Lauren Groff – This novel traces the rise and decline of a hippie commune through the eyes of one of its littlest residents.  Bit is the child of two of the founding members of the Arcadia community.  He spends his childhood within the folds of community, but by his adolescence the group is showing strain.  As an adult, Bit tries to live by the values he learned in Arcadia, but he must contend with the external world he never knew as a child.  I really enjoyed Arcadia – and not just because I once considered running off to join a commune, but decided not to because I was pretty sure they didn’t like lawyers much.  (True story.)  Fully reviewed here.

Miss Clare Remembers, by Miss Read (Fairacre #4) – The Fairacre books are fun, light, sweet reads.  This interlude tells the life story of Miss Clare, the retired infants’ teacher and friend to Miss Read, and also sneaks in some commentary about rural socioeconomic issues of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.  It lacks the dry wit of the books told from Miss Read’s perspective, but it was nice to learn Miss Clare’s backstory and spend a little bit of time in the Fairacre of an even simpler time.

Over the Gate, by Miss Read (Fairacre #5) – This is almost more of a short story collection than a novel, as Miss Read recounts several local fables and legends related to her by Fairacre residents, over cups of lemonade and garden gates.  The story of Sally Gray is particularly amusing, and the tale of the Fairacre Ghost is heart-wrenching.

The Fairacre Festival, by Miss Read (Fairacre #7) – The sixth Fairacre novel is a slim volume (only 103 pages!) but packed full of action and tension.  A fall storm wreaks havoc on the town and, most distressing of all, severely damages the roof of St. Patrick’s Church.  When the repair estimates come in at nearly two thousand pounds, the town must band together to raise the funds to fix their beloved church.  The resulting Fairacre Festival is an example of the town at its best – everyone works together, from the schoolchildren to the local gentry, to gather the needed monies.  But will their efforts be enough, or will the church be forced to supplement by selling a cherished piece of church silver?  I read this little book in a day and enjoyed it very much.

Seating Arrangements, by Maggie Shipstead – This debut novel kind of reminded me of a modern Gatsby.  In a sense.  With a bit of Wendy Wasserstein’s The Elements of Style thrown in for good measure.  Winn Van Meter is preparing for his daughter Daphne’s wedding.  Or, to be more precise, Winn is trying to stay out of the way as Daphne and her mother Biddy prepare for the wedding.  But it’s easier said than done: Winn has a lot on his mind.  For one thing, the bride is pregnant.  For another, Winn’s younger daughter Livia has recently broken up with her boyfriend, the son of Winn’s old rival Jack Fenn, and Winn is convinced that the breakup is why his application to the Pequod Golf Club is languishing.  (Well, it could be that, or it could be that Winn once had a hand in preventing Fenn from joining a collegian eating club… or that Winn once dated Jack’s wife.)  Livia continues to pine for her ex even while she falls into a rebound fling with the best man, and Winn’s eyes stray toward one of the bridesmaids.  I felt a bit like a cultural anthropologist, watching Winn and Livia go off the rails and toss a social hand grenade into Daphne’s very correct (well, except for the baby bump), very WASP wedding plans.  Seating Arrangements read like chick lit, but a bit more complex.  I can see why it was the book of the summer.

Emily Davis, by Miss Read (Fairacre #8) – Another interlude in the Chronicles of Fairacre, this volume examines the long, full life of Emily Davis, headmistress of Springbourne School and lifelong friend to Miss Clare.  Although Emily is not a character in most of the other Fairacre books, it’s clear that she left her mark on the residents of Fairacre, and of Beech Green and Caxley too.  A sweet read with plenty of subtle lessons about how to live a good life.

Growing a Reader from Birth, by Diane McGuinness – This was an impulse buy at the Book Bank in Old Town Alexandria.  It caught my eye because I’ve been pondering Peanut’s language development recently.  My mom taught me how to read (she had an advantage; she was a first grade teacher) and I’ve always dreamed of teaching my own child how to read, too.  This was an interesting book that set forth research into babies’ and children’s path to language, included some hilarious anecdotes from the author’s own experience as a mother and, my favorite part, concluded each chapter with concrete strategies for parents to use while interacting with their infants, older babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  I’ve already started to put some of McGuinness’s suggestions for newborns into practice when I talk to Peanut, and I’m more inspired than ever to help her along the path to literacy.

Young House Love, by Sherry and John Petersik – I am a huge fan of the Petersiks’ blog, Young House Love – I can’t get enough of their fresh, modern decor projects and the heaping helping of house inspiration Sherry and John serve up on a daily basis.  So obviously I was pumped when they got their book deal and I pre-ordered ASAP.  Young House Love the BOOK is Sherry and John at their finest: more of the same dorky wit, cheerleading, and great ideas to spruce up your space that their blog readers have come to love… BUT none of the book projects have been featured before on their blog.  Yep, they secretly whipped up 243 never-before-seen projects and avoided falling into the “rehash of the blog” trap that other blogs-turned-books are prone to.  The ideas in YHL the book range from quick and easy craft projects that take an hour and cost ten bucks or less, to big room upgrades.  But whether the project is large or small, Sherry and John are encouraging and inspiring.  I’m going to be taking on a few of their ideas, adapting some others to make them my own, and I’m super-inspired to get back to putting my own stamp on my builder house (a plan which went off the rails when ye olde pregnancy test came up positive).  Highly recommend!

The Chaperone, by Laura Moriarty – This one was rather hyped in the blogosphere a few months back, and I finally decided to reserve a copy at the library.  Usually when a book is hyped I’m at least a little disappointed, but I really wasn’t.  The Chaperone was wonderful!  I loved the period touches (most of the action takes place during the Roaring Twenties) and witnessing the character development of the main (and title) character, Cora Carlisle, who acts as a chaperone to a willful future starlet during one fateful summer in New York City.  Cora’s moral awakening is wonderful to watch.  She begins the book very set in her judgmental attitudes about everything from drinking to sexual orientation to birth control, and through her experiences in New York and then back home in Wichita, she comes to realize that not all is as it has always seemed to her and that there is much more ambiguity in life than her rigid moral code previously allowed.  Lovely writing and wonderful characters.

Tyler’s Row, by Miss Read (Fairacre #9) – Peter Hale, a soon-to-be retired schoolmaster from Caxley, is looking for a summer cottage with his wife Diana.  They discover Tyler’s Row, a house that has been converted into four cottages that have held some of the scrappiest citizens of Fairacre.  Two ne’er-do-well families, the Coggs and the Waites, have moved to council houses and left their cottages vacant, so Peter and Diana move in and begin renovating.  In the process of renovations, which are frustrating in and of themselves, they must deal with their two remaining neighbors, the loquacious Colonel Burnaby and the sour Mrs Fowler.  Peter and Diana’s trials and tribulations have only begun when they sign the deed!

Farther Afield, by Miss Read (Fairacre #11) – I think this might have been my favorite Fairacre book yet.  Miss Read, looking forward to a relaxing and productive summer vacation, is dismayed when she falls and breaks her arm.  But her old friend Amy steps in to nurse her back to health.  Later that summer, Amy asks Miss Read to accompany her on a trip to Crete while she ponders how to fix her failing marriage.  To be honest, I never understood why Miss Read was friends with Amy, who first appeared in Village Diary and who always struck me as a colossal pain in the neck.  But Farther Afield gives the reader a glimpse into Amy’s life and a better understanding of why Miss Read continues to socialize with Amy, who turns out to be a loving, caring friend.  The descriptions of Crete were luscious, too!

The Partly Cloudy Patriot, by Sarah Vowell – Something happens to me in November and I get this urge to read Sarah Vowell.  Last year it was The Wordy Shipmates, which I liked, and this year it was The Partly Cloudy Patriot, which I think I loved.  Vowell’s essays are smart, witty, funny and warm.  Her letter to President Clinton about how to structure his Presidential Library was slyly intelligent, and her essay “The Underground Lunchroom” was a stealthily informative hoot.  I don’t think I’ll be waiting for November, 2013 to pick up my next Sarah Vowell.

The Happiest Baby on the Block, by Harvey Karp, M.D. – I’d been meaning to get to this well-regarded book about how to calm a crying baby and promote good sleep, and when I finally did I found it well worth my time.  The book is primarily geared toward parents of infants with colic, which (thank goodness) Peanut does not seem to have.  I guess the baby gods figured they’d already dealt us a bad enough hand, what with the NICU and all, so we seem to have been spared colic.  Yay!  But even though Peanut is not a colicky baby, we still have found the Happiest Baby techniques useful for soothing her when she gets into her relatively mild fussy moods.  I’ve also used them to buy another hour or so of sleep during the night.  Intellectually, I found the book’s discussion of the more hands-on style of parenting in other cultures fascinating, too.  I’d definitely recommend this to parents of young babies, regardless of whether the babies are colicky.  And once Peanut gets older, I’ll be seeking out Dr. Karp’s other book, The Happiest Toddler on the Block.

Ummmmm, whaaaaaa?  That’s what I imagine you’re saying right now.  How on Earth did I manage to read thirteen books with an infant in the house?  I was sort of wondering that myself, until I looked back on exactly when I was doing most of my reading this month.  You see, Peanut is at a stage where she really only likes to nap on Mommy.  (She sleeps at night, thank goodness, but during the day she likes to be held.)  So we’ve spent most days this month lounging on the couch, Peanut napping in my arms while I lose myself (most of the time) in Fairacre.  These long afternoons of reading and cuddling are going to be one of my favorite memories of Peanut’s early childhood, I can already tell.  And there’s the fact that none of the books I read this month were particularly long or taxing.  But they were good!  I have been loving my time in Fairacre.  I just can’t get enough of Miss Read and the gang.  Other than the Fairacre books, I particularly enjoyed The Chaperone and The Partly Cloudy Patriot – both smart, fun reads.  A good month indeed!

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Nursery Tales: Happily Ever After

Well, friends, here it is: the long-awaited final chapter of Peanut’s nursery decorating saga.  (Long-awaited by ME, in any event.)

Let’s see… when we left off, we had cleared out the space, painted the walls a happy yellow shade, had a panic attack and a corresponding flurry of activity, and made an indecent number of trips to Home Depot.  And after this flurry of activity (a substantial portion of which was done during naptimes or feeding times – i.e. hubby would do a project while I fed Peanut, or vice versa – once Peanut came home from the hospital), we’ve got ourselves a sunny, cheery space for baby girl.  It’s the first room in the house that I actually consider “done” (the rest of the place has a long way to go before it goes from builder bland to personal and meaningful) and I think it’s currently my favorite room.  So let’s get to it, yeah?

Above you see the view from the door.  Peanut’s crib stands against the far wall, under a decal of tulips from Pottery Barn Kids.  I had grand plans of hanging a frame collage on that wall, a la Young House Love in their nursery, but I realized two things: (1) I have neither the time, nor the energy, to track down enough coordinating frames and DIY meaningful art; and (2) I don’t trust myself to anchor the frames to the wall securely enough for them to go over the crib.  So one evening, when I was sick of being greeted by a blank wall whenever I walked into Peanut’s room, yet was completely exhausted and unable to deal with the idea of doing anything more strenuous than slapping some stickers on the wall, I decided to look for a decal.  While I was planning the nursery, I firmly rejected the idea of decals: they were cop-outs, I told myself, and tacky to boot.  But when, in my state of near-zombie exhaustion, I finally caved, I was shocked to find some really adorable decals at not-outrageous prices.  I actually had a hard time deciding what to get, but I settled on the tulips because they fit perfectly in with my loose “handmade flower garden” theme for Peanut’s room.

Peanut’s other major wall art piece hangs between her two windows.  (Incidentally, the window treatments are the Pretty Pleats curtains from Land of Nod, the baby and kids’ arm of Crate & Barrel, and the curtain rods are from Home Depot.  We pull the blinds down to darken the room a bit, but we don’t use blackout curtains.  I know some parents swear by them, but in the NICU they cautioned us not to make the room too dark or quiet, since Peanut had gotten used to light and activity.)

The print, of a little girl reading a story to a group of bunnies, was the starting point for the nursery aesthetic.  It is from Trafalgars Square, an Etsy seller, and my heart melted the moment I saw it.  Isn’t it adorable?  Under the windows are two pink rope bins from Land of Nod; one holds Peanut’s receiving blankets and afghans, and the other is a landing spot for her cuddly toys.

Let’s take a closer look at Peanut’s bed and sitting area.  Her bedding is “Puzzle Patch” from Land of Nod.  I love the crazy quit, with its adorable pinks, yellows and greens, and the sheets that go with it.  The crib skirt is “Pretty Pleats” – like the curtains.  (Full disclosure: the quilt usually doesn’t hang over the side of the crib like that.  I “styled” it to look pretty for the photograph.  It’s dangerous to have anything in the crib but a fitted sheet – and mattress pad – and baby.  Safety first!  The quilt usually hangs over the back of Peanut’s upholstered rocker – which is from Pottery Barn Kids – and Clochette hangs out in one of Peanut’s toy bins.  She wanted to come say hi to the blog, though.)

The floor lamp in the corner is from Land of Nod – I love the pink shade and the sweet birds – and so is the crib.  The side table is from Pottery Barn Kids and makes a good landing spot for a bottle when hubby or I comes upstairs to feed and rock Peanut.  It’s also the resting place for Peanut’s AngelCare monitor.

Here’s a picture you’ve seen already!  Peanut’s dresser (which is from Land of Nod, although I replaced the pulls with blank matte knobs from Home Depot) holds her tiny clothes as well as burp cloths, bibs, swaddling blankets and sheets, pump accessories, extra diapers and wipes.  On top of the dresser is the changing mat, which hubby bolted tightly to the back of the dresser for added security (but we’ll be able to remove it when Peanut is a big girl, and no one will ever see the holes, since they’re facing the wall).  I also picked up a couple of pink baskets from the Container Store, which keep diapers and baby care supplies within easy reach for me.  And there’s a cute little Plan Toys sheep hanging out there too, just waiting for the day when Peanut is old enough to play with him (when she’s two or so).

And above the dresser, just in case we ever forget Peanut’s name (we’re pretty sleep-deprived) we hung her wall letters.  We got them from Pottery Barn Kids, but it’s plenty easy to find them in other stores too, or even to paint your own if you have the time and skill (I don’t).

 

One thing I really wanted to do was hang some of Peanut’s little dresses from hooks on her doors.  I was originally eyeing some patchwork bird hooks, but at the last minute these flower hooks (again, from Pottery Barn Kids) captured my heart.  The dresses are from Cherokee Baby – I got them at Target – and the hangers were her Nana’s.  One hook hangs on Peanut’s closet door and the other on the door to her room; both face into the room.

I think this is my favorite part (of course) – the book storage!  I had my heart set on wall ledges and found these at Land of Nod.  They don’t hold many books, but that’s okay – they’re more for display than anything else.  The bulk of the book storage is on the Library Cart, also from Land of Nod.  I am ridiculously in love with this thing.  Not only does it add great functional storage… but, well… you know how I feel about libraries.  The top shelf holds Peanut’s books (and the Dragonstone Castle from Haba, which I love), and on the bottom shelf, two pink tin cubes are devoted to more toy storage.  The elephant chair was a gift from Peanut’s Grandma (it was supposed to be a baby shower gift, but Peanut showed up ten days before my baby shower and all festivities were cancelled) – I can just see her sitting in it to look at her books when she’s a toddler!

So, there you have it: a bright, happy garden of a little girl’s room, with sweet touches and plenty of function.  My new favorite room in the house!

And they all lived happily ever after.