Ransacked Goods

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

I took my friend Katherine's lead on this little craft project after she mentioned the non-material traditions she was starting with her daughter for the holidays. It's such a great idea to give the birds their gift for Christmas too. So the day after Christmas we all went for a hike up in Tilden and The Chickpea and Daddy happily forged for pine cones off the trails (thank goodness the poison oak is dormant).

We brought them home and set up a place to get messy. She just lit up with excitement at the idea and execution of this project that I am already craving more. A creative nature based project was different than just pulling out the crayons and paint. I'm not going to lie, getting messy in the house is a bit of a challenge for me although I like to think that I'm all for it - artist that I am. It's easier to reserve the mess for warm summer weather outside where a garden hose does the clean up or preschool where the teachers have saintly patience. But when I asked her to help slather the pine cones and sprinkle the seeds she was so happy to dive in, although she did look at me like "Really? You sure? Okay, I'm game!" And then began the song... "We're painting with peanut butter... We're painting with peanut butter..." over and over. The whole day made me pick up my copy of The Creative Family and start looking for more ideas.

So while I'm at work today Chickpea and Daddy are going to find special places to hang them outside. I hope the squirrels don't sabotage our hard work. I'm sure we'll get some nibbles.

Big Girl Days

My daughter is only 2 1/2 but I just can't resist days when we're big girls together.We'll pack up for an adventure together, exploring new places. Some days we'll sit in a cafe and color with crayons sipping steamed milk and coffee or gather a pic-nic of some of our favorite foods to share on a blanket. She's a petite girlfriend of sorts. Of course I adore her but she's my little friend too, a confidant to share stories with, a companion in life and a person to admire. She is shaping me more than I could ever imagine. No doubt there are days when she bugs me and days when I can't get enough of her but our journey is still new and there is so much to learn and experience - for that I'm grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all that your grateful for. Enjoy!

Animal Bag

I'm so tempted to get one of these Animal Bags from Boon. I think they are just brilliant storage solutions for all those extra stuffies lying around the house. Plus they come in so many different configurations and they make a cute little comfy chair for playing on. Saw them on sale over at The Mini Social.

That's My Stuff

In anticipation of starting preschool this week I bought the Chickpea some name stickers from Label Daddy. Man these things are brilliant, I don't know why I didn't get them earlier. You can stick them on clothes, water bottles, shoes and they'll make it through the laundry and dishwasher unscathed. They have customizable little combo packs in different sizes and colors, what fun.

I can handle loosing a ratty old t-shirt or some tupperware but I'll get a little annoyed if the expensive SIGG water bottle (which is the same as 4 other kids at the playground) goes missing. Kid stuff is an investment, so hopefully we'll cut our losses and hold on to it. 

Iron-on T-shirts

One of the latest things I’ve been playing around with is ink-jet iron on transfers. I made this little rocket t-shirt for a friend’s daughter the other night (plus one for my own Chickpea). Besides being so easy to make… simply print, cut out, iron and peel…. I’ve been surprised at how well they hold up through the wash. I could make up a zillion of these in no time with a pile of illustrations and blank shirts. For the rocket I drew a doodle and placed it in a stock illustration. Fun and easy and definitely not what you’re going to find in the store. Great for easy gifts too! I’m sold.

Poopy Reading: Gross Books for Kids

Buttons by Buttonhead

Okay, so this is an icky post but hey gross stuff happens right, can't deny it can you. So we were given a few birthday books recently (I say we because children's books are just as much for the grown-ups that read them as they are for kids who listen) - lovely ones about sisters that explore, cows that type, and dinosaurs that share - good wholesome stuff. But the ones that have the Chickpea riveted to her fluffy chair are about poop and boogies. When we read them to her for the first time she looked up at us like this was the most amazing thing she'd ever heard. It was written all over her face. The monkey has a cold and there are boogers all over her face, she needs a tissue - sounds like a little someone else I know. But hey this sometimes gnarly stuff is what we're faced with the moment our babies are born, why not read about it? Aren't we constantly saying how amazing it is to watch our bellies miraculously grow through pregnancy, our babies motor development unfolding before our eyes and our toddlers becoming verbal and self-aware. The human body is pretty stinkin' cool so don't be squeamish, embrace it and get a few giggles out of it. I want my daughter to be proud of her body, it's strength, it's character, it's fascinating complexity, efficiency and beauty.

I mean come on, what kind of nut chooses to write about scabs? Maybe if you work for the CDC... Or poop? Don't tell me you haven't been to a dinner party with other parents where the conversation came around to poop. What about farts? My husband's new boss brings her hapless farting dog to work leaving his office smelling quite toxic, you know so he can have a great first impression with new co-workers or type on his computer while gagging and eyes watering over the smell. Every time he tells me a new story about this wretched dog we're both teary, giggling messes, plastered with smiles. Yes, icky stuff can make your day too.

These witty and matter of fact books are most appropriate for pre-schoolers, thanks mostly to some talented Japanese illustrators.

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi 

All About Scabs All About Scabs by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum 

The Holes in Your Nose by Genichiro Yagyu 

Breasts by Genichiro Yagyu 

The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts by Shinta Cho 

The Soles of Your Feet by Genichiro Yagyu

Books for Strong Girls

What Page Are You On? by tollipop

Every visit to the children's section of the library leaves me a bit flustered. While it's exciting to leave with a new pile of books in our bag I have this disappointing and unsettling feeling in my stomach. Why is it so hard to find books about strong girls and capable women for my intelligent little Chickpea? I find that I really have to seek them out ahead of time to reserve instead of pulling them off the shelf, and you know that just doesn't sit well with me.

What really irks me is that there are plenty of books out there that could have easily been written using a female pronoun for a fluffy little bear but the author chooses to use the male. I find myself switching all the he's for she's when we cuddle up for our evening story time. In fact most children's books are written from the male perspective and as my mother-in-law pointed out (mind you she's a retired middle school librarian so she knows her children's literature) most authors write from a male perspective because it's assumed that most boys and girls will read stories about boys but boys will not read stories about girls. Thus from a marketing perspective you'd have a more salable book if you make the main character a male. I know it's a generalization but an interesting theory right? Could that be why, Lama Lama Mad at Mama is dedicated to the author's daughter yet the main character is a boy? If so, shame on you.

Perhaps I'm being too synical and a little bitter. I already know that regardless of what she reads, my little girl will grow up with an intelligent mind, self-sufficient attitude and determined spirit but I'd like to think that times have really changed. And of course they have but to what extent? My little girl likes worms, garbage trucks, dinosaurs, kicking stuff and getting dirty, not to mention dolls, fountains, tea parties, cooking stuff and giving hugs. She's already a multi-dimensional girl who rock, so write about it alright!

Here's a list of books that we have or I'm going to get and a few more to check out. Any other suggestions? Even ones that bend the gender rolls for boys?

I Want to be a Cowgirl by Jeanne Willis

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Night Pirates by Peter Harris

The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke

Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson

The Seven Chinese Sisters by Kathy Tucker

Someday by Eileen Spinelli

Anna Banana and Me by Lenore Blegvad

Christina Katerina and the Box by Patricia Gauch

Update: Check out this post from Katherine at Rock-a-Dee-Da for a list of more books for with good messages for girls. Thanks Kath!

Lucky Me

I was lucky enough (or I should say the Chickpea was) to win one of these darling notebooks from lovelydesign. And I just love how they were wrapped up as such thoughtful party favors. People really do appreciate the time and thought that goes into creating such a gift. I'm going to start collecting more ideas for favors with the little one's birthday approaching.

Give a Girl a Paintbrush

Last month I was in our newly glamed-up and questionably re-branded Michaels ohh-ing and ahh-ing over all the new holiday items they had. I've been so tempted to start some little art projects with my daughter although she's a wee-bit young at 19 months. But, the over ambitious person that I am grabbed up all the supplies that I needed with a vision and a mission in mind. It did take me a little while to drum up the courage to start the mess (my house is already messy enough without giving my toddler a paintbrush).I think the results were quite charming though. We'll add one as a final touch on our gift bags this year or as a simple hostess gift.

Supplies we used:
Paper mache or unfinished wood ornaments
Non-toxic poster paint
Deer stickers, ribbon and glitter from Martha
Acrylic matte medium

 

If it cleans up with soap and water - there's no excuse for getting dirty!

Every Day of December Counts

I'm a December kid, the 9th to be exact. So that means every year my birthday has to fight the thick haze that is the holidays. Me and thousands of other people who try not to feel cheated. I'll admit it, I'm down right grumpy about it. I remember as a kid that it was actually special. My family went to great efforts to celebrate my birthday as an exception to the holidays. I'd get a double dose of presents when the boxes from the East Coast family arrived with Christmas presents in early December. I know my brother was always a little jealous of my haul come December. But there would be gifts in birthday paper and gifts in Christmas paper and it would make me feel so special. Or I would would bestow upon me the glorious "combined" birthday/Christmas present that was always worth it. Looking back at it I never remember my birthday even being near the holidays as I was growing up.

I was out running some errands the day after Halloween this year and wouldn't you know it, there were Christmas carols blaring everywhere. Slow it down people, one holiday at a time!! In our house I make it a point to take this season slow and recognize each event, in order. I'm a stickler about it. Thanksgiving menu plans mean mulling over stacks of back issues of magazines to try new dishes and techniques. That's a chore I savor and enjoy for weeks even if I don't cook any of them. And there is a rule that we don't put any Christmas decorations up until after my birthday.

I have been thinking about the advent calendar that I had as a kid and trying the find one for my daughter, or the inspiration to make one. I want her to savor each day of December as it should be, one day at a time. I remember coming down in the morning to find the exciting little treasure awaiting us in the pocket of that felt wall calendar that my Mom made. I want the responsibility of searching out those little treasures for my little chickpea, a little charm, a hand written note, a smooth rock - for her to stop an appreciate a little gift each day. I love the one above for it's modern flair and bright colors.This one below is a great idea with a new twist and is just a lovely decoration. I think I could love with it even around a little earlier than the 9th.